Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“A man can have anything, if he is willing to sacrifice everything.”

Lord Valkorion seemed to live by those words day after day, passing them down to Thexan and Arcann, his twin sons. Zillian wasn’t so familiar with the saying, but it seemed to be something his emperor believed strongly in. Valkorion was rarely attentive to anything outside of his duty to lead Zakuul, but seeing him was enough to inspire someone to become a knight. It was why the House of Vehirk was a line of Knights of Zakuul serving the royal family, most younglings of the House trained by Senya Tirall.

“Again.” She would say whenever someone fell from a hit, sternly, but commanding respect.

“And again.” She would continue making the kids stand up, until they couldn’t.

In her eyes there was something deeper than duty, something that Zillian couldn’t exactly understand; it was sadness, the sadness of a mother working children to the bone as if they were tools, weapons for her husband to use. But Zillian was taught by his father that to be a weapon wielded by the Eternal Emperor was a blessing, so he persisted.

But in his eyes, full of wonder about the world, the true blessing was the Emperor’s twin sons. During mornings he’d catch Arcann and Thexan sparring, with some more experienced Zakuul Knights. Sometimes the boys would dominate the battlefield, some others they’d lose, but Thexan always seemed to have a smile on his face and cheer Arcann up. But Zillian, he was too shy to approach, and he wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for Senya.

“Zillian.” She was dusting off his practice saber, handing it to the boy with a smile. “Why don’t you go practice with my boys today? I think you can use the break.”

His golden eyes lit up, reminding Senya of a bright yellow flower, still blooming. “Really? Can I really, Lady Senya?”

“But of course, just remember, don’t go easy on them.” And with a last warning, Senya just gave him a small push on his back.

That morning Zillian spent more time practicing than usual, but it was the first time that he laughed, had fun, experienced something other than the feeling of humiliation or achievement he had with the other Knights. Arcann was a bit rough around the edges, shielded off, guarded against others. But Thexan was welcoming, warm, kind, and assured Zillian that his brother was just ‘that kind of a grumpy guy’.

The rare mornings became routine soon enough, because apparently his skills with the blade were a good practice for the twins. Most often he did win, his physical attunement with a sword was greater than the one of his sons, Valkorion could see it. So he started watching the young boy closely, silently observing and sometimes giving him nods of approval, which was more than he ever did with his own flesh and blood.

“With your birth comes a solemn vow; you will have nothing. Your privilege is the dirt. In the darkness, only ambition will guide you. The oath you swear, the promises you make, they are yours… Alone.”

When it was time to swear as a Knight of Zakuul, Valkorion gave him the honor of being in the Royal Guard right away, calling him the ‘New Light of the Knights’. But the Emperor made sure that he understood that he would have to earn everything, that much like his own sons he’d have no privileges, and that whatever burdens he carried would be on his shoulders alone for him to handle.

Zillian was presented his armor in the throne room, Valkorion praising the rise of a new era for the Knights of Zakuul. He was handed a new lightsaber hilt, parts, and a bright yellow crystal. When he looked up at his ruler, Valkorion nodded, turned around, and took his position upon the Eternal Throne. Senya looked with intensity in her eyes, afraid for him, nervous that this boy, still a child, would fail and Valkorion would be disappointed… But he didn’t. The lightsaber soon came together, pieces clicking like a puzzle, and soon a beam of bright yellow buzzed from the emitter.

Valkorion pridefully smiled from his throne, but there was something in that smile that made Zillian shiver. He brushed it aside, looking around to see Thexan and Arcann, waiting to see his friends’ reaction… But his eyes met with just Thexan’s, who gave him a soft smile, even if his gaze screamed a silent apology.

“Your freedom will be the wars you wage.”

Most members of the Royal Guard remained back, protecting Valkorion and his children… But not Zillian. Valkorion was always eager to send him off to fight battles in the name of Zakuul, and then his battles became stories. Accompanied by Thexan and Arcann, Zillian had started to feel as if that is what he was meant to do, and found a purpose… That was until they started raiding the core worlds, wars in the name of Zakuul happened all over the galaxy, and Zillian was very often positioned in the front lines.

“Zillian… Don’t you get tired? Most Royal Knights stay back home, on Zakuul. You are being assigned mission after mission by father all the time.” Thexan pointed out as they were on a shuttle back to Zakuul, at least for a day or two at most. “You must have seen more battlefields than veteran soldiers at this point.”

“I guess you could say that…” smiling a bit he looked at Thexan and Arcann, but the latter looked away. “But at least I do it with friends.”

“Don’t let father hear you say that.” Thexan chuckled, giving him a nudge with his elbow to the side. “He won’t favor you anymore if you do.”

“Then maybe he should.” Arcann gritted his teeth, breathing out a breath he was holding for far too long. “Maybe it is about time to not have father’s favor for once.”

Thexan furrowed his brows and frowned. “Arcann…”

But his brother just went quiet and looked away. It wasn’t always like that, Zillian remembered Arcann being excited to fight, to explore the wilderness of Zakuul together, after a handful of mornings sparring when they were kids his guard had dropped and they had become best friends… Until the Emperor’s favoritism and interest had started showing.

“Your birthright, the losses you suffer.”

Zillian remembered the day he returned, scarred, alone, with nothing but his lightsaber clenched tightly in his hand.

He had failed.

He was sent alone, ordered by Arcann and Thexan to go to the other side of the planet they were raiding to cover more ground; and he failed to pull through. Every single man, all the Knights that followed him fell one after the other. He didn’t seek sympathy, or anything as a matter of fact, because he remembered Valkorion telling him that it was what he was born for. Losses was a right only a select few had the right to suffer, and to be worthy of being a Knight of Zakuul you should overlook them.

Thexan apologized, tried to comfort him, but Zillian brushed him off. Arcann on the other hand just scowled at the holo call they got from their father, with Valkorion claiming that the Knights they lost were valuable progress, and that if the raid failed it wasn’t because of Zillian, but because of poor leadership choices.

Once Valkorion disconnected the call, and before Zillian could leave, Arcann crushed the holo-transmitter using the Force, kicking sand over its remains and walking away, leaving Thexan and Zillian wondering what was going on with Arcann the past few months… But maybe it was more than just months, maybe it was years… And Zillian just came to realize that losing soldiers in a fight wasn’t what he had to face, but losing friends as the war progressed was, and it was far more painful than what he had imagined.

“Your entitlement, the pain you endure.”

Pain.

Torture.

He had felt his soul being ripped out of his body while they raided Korriban. He was leading a squad inside the Sith Temples, fighting valiantly and winning… Until a huge quake shook them down to their knees, and beyond that there was a scream.

Leaving his men behind with orders, Zillian jumped over rumble and stones, leaping over fallen obelisks, only to reach the open fields of Korriban and face an ongoing battle. He drew his lightsaber and rushed through, slicing through bodies, piling up kills as he went. But his mind was focused on the screams ahead, and when he reached the source of them, his eyes went wide.

There was Arcann, lying down on the burning sand, his face burnt, his left arm completely missing. Thexan was holding his right hand in his, tightly squeezing as a method to mitigate the pain his brother was feeling. But the emergency medical unit they had on the battlefield wasn’t enough, Zillian knew, but he also knew that they couldn’t win without Thexan’s guidance. So when the droids left Arcann’s side, with the prince cladded in white barely conscious, the Royal Knight picked him up on his shoulders and locked eyes with the other royal commander.

“Thexan… Keep moving forward, bring victory for Zakuul. I will take Arcann back to one of our medical frigates, he will be fine… I promise you.” He made that promise alone, and he knew the heaviness that laid within those words.

At his promise, Thexan nodded and then dashed off, opposite from where Zillian was headed. But when they returned to Zakuul, they were victorious indeed… And yet, Zillian was dubbed as a hero. It was Thexan’s leadership that led them to victory, and Arcann’s persistence… But instead, Valkorion portrayed a different battle, where his sons rushed in without confirmation from the Eternal Throne, and Arcann was still alive because Zillian was there to save and protect him.

“And when darkness finds you, you will face it, alone.”

After Korriban, Valkorion had started seeing what he wanted.

His son, Arcann, was fueling with rage and unstable envy. Jealous over the young knight, over the lavish attention he was getting. The Emperor had dubbed Zillian ‘The Hero of the Eternal Empire’, he was an icon for Zakuul, and that made Arcann’s anger ferment even faster. So he had started using his best asset as a conquering tool.

Of course Zillian didn’t complain. He missed being with ‘friends’ or at least acquaintances on missions, but he knew that it was a sacrifice he was willing to make, for Zakuul. And yet, when he returned from one of the Core Worlds, he heard news from Valkorion that blurred everything, making all the praises become nothing but buzzing echoes.

“I have to inform you, Thexan passed away during a training accident. Now…” the Emperor kept talking, but the rest fell to deaf ears.

Thexan was gone… Arcann’s bright eyes were dulled and clouded by a darkness Zillian couldn’t bear to look at directly… And he? He was the Light of Zakuul, the Hero of the Eternal Empire, the Burning Hope of the Royal Guards… And with all those titles, all the praise from Valkorion, from his fellow knights, from the people of Zakuul… Zillian felt empty.

Chapter Text

The news of an unknown vessel in their territory spreaded quickly, or at least quickly enough for Prince Arcann of Zakuul and his Royal Guard to dock on their Emperor’s flagship. They marched through corridors, with knights bowing and greeting them, but once they entered the Eternal Throne the knights inside stood like statues. The two men knelt before the Emperor, and he merely glanced at them over his shoulder.

“Father, they’ve come.” The Prince announced.

Emperor Valkorion turned around, looking at the horizon. “I already know.”

Valkorion walked around his throne, circling it once, and then occupied the seat. In front of him were holos of the fleet, his lips twisting into a confident smile. But before he pressed anything, or gave any particular orders, his eyes fell on the Royal Knight that still held his head low. His black shoulder length hair was covering his troubled expression, and his golden eyes were flickering between Arcann and Valkorion.

“What is your assessment on this?” Valkorion calmly gestured at the knight by his son’s side, smiling. “I’d appreciate your thoughts, Zillian.”

“Your majesty…” standing up slowly next to Arcann, Zillian rolled his shoulders a bit to click the bones in place. “I do not think I should have a say in this, with all due respect. This is a trespassing ship on Zakuul’s territory, it could be a threat to our people, so it should be up to-”

Valkorion shook his head and looked at Zillian with a disappointed look. “I asked you a question. What is your assessment? I won’t ask again.”

Stiffening up, Zillian met with Arcann’s glare. But he also knew that he couldn’t just stand there and not answer. “As I mentioned, that vessel could be a threat to our people. And it could be hiding more vessels cloaked that we still haven’t detected. I think we should focus on it with enough firepower to overpower them, but not too much to leave Zakuul unattended and unguarded.”

Nodding, the Emperor smiled, not even once glancing at his son. “A wise decision. As expected from the Hero of Zakuul.”

Without another word, Valkorion set course for the enemy. Within minutes they were there, facing not one ship, but a couple handfuls. Of course that wasn’t a problem for the Eternal Empire, for soon enough the Eternal Fleet had Skytroopers swarming the main vessel, and the smaller ones being taken care of by the ships’ gun systems. Arcann and Zillian looked from the main window as the enemy ship caught up in flames, engines exploding, and only a few smaller ships with a couple escape pods managed to escape.

“Zillian.” Valkorion’s voice echoed in the chamber, authoritarian as ever. “Board the enemy flagship, and bring me the man in charge here. Alive, I want him alive.”

Bowing, the knight wore his helmet and secured his lightsaber in his hold. “Yes, my Emperor.”

Shooting one last look at Arcann, Zillian departed for the enemy flagship. Inside he saw the ruin the Skytroopers caused, dead bodies of the crew piled up, but most importantly a masked man neutralized, in cuffs. He approached the Skytroopers, and the droids instantly handed him the prisoner. The Sith felt cold to the touch, his connection with the Force potent. But Zillian wasn’t there for that, he was there to take the prisoner before the flagship was completely blown to cinders, and that is what he did.

They isolated him, had knights guard his cell, one of them being Zillian. Once the prisoner woke up he informed both Valkorion and Arcann, with the prompt order to escort the Prince to and from the cell, alongside the Sith prisoner. Zillian paced himself close to Arcann‘s side, eyeing the prince from head to toe, sensing something off.

“Arcann-” he stopped himself, the prince glaring daggers at him from his one visible eye. “My Prince, if I may.”

“You may not.” Arcann retorted, cutting off any further conversations, opening the door to the cell and looking at their masked ‘visitor’. “You’ve awakened. I trust you can walk.”

The Sith Lord didn’t answer, but Zillian could feel him glaring at Arcann from behind his mask. In normal circumstances he’d warn his Prince and deescalate the situation, but nothing was normal regarding their circumstances, not now, and not for a long time. The Dark Lord just looked up at Arcann, waiting.

“Silence is a perfectly acceptable answer. But it won’t help you here.” He motioned for Zillian to step in, and the knight did, guiding the prisoner to his feet. “You are in the heart of our empire now.”

Arcann turned his heels and started heading to the throne room where Valkorion resided. Zillian followed, their prisoner in front of him, guided by the hilt of a saber pressing the small of his back. Eventually they reached a halt, waiting for confirmation for their departure towards the Eternal Throne. That is when the prisoner spoke up.

“What ‘empire’ have we entered?” His voice was low, his words filled with something more than simple rage, almost as if he was disgusted uttering those words.

“The Eternal Empire, Zakuul.” Prince Arcann answered him as a matter of fact. “You didn’t even know whose territory you were invading?”

Just to humor him, the Darth before them looked around. “We were notified of some destroyed outposts around the coordinates, your handiwork I assume?”

“We were simply testing your strength.” Arcann humored him back.

“And you seem to have suffered greatly for it.” The Sith barked his reply.

“Less than your people did.” Arcann let out a frustrated tone, turning his back on the prisoner and waiting for clearance.

Zillian waited next to Marr as they had been informed by recovered files from the destroyed flagship the prisoner’s name was. ‘Prince Arcann, final docking sequence is initiated.’ a voice said from the shuttle’s intercoms. Still not saying a word, the knight followed the Prince inside the corridor connecting the two ships, not interrupting when he hummed out preparing to speak again.

“We recovered the records from your ship’s computers.” Glancing at the prisoner, Arcann almost snarked. “Or what was left of them. Fascinating reading. You Sith are apparently quite formidable. You most of all. To alter the course of galactic events as you have…” the prince nodded, in somewhat genuine approval. “Quite impressive.”

At first Marr stayed silent, but he looked at both Arcann and Zillian. “I sense the Force is strong with both of you… Do you know how to use it?”

“You are not here to educate, Sith, merely to follow.” Arcann spotted someone approaching and stopped his conversation.

A man with short gray hair came into view, his eyes almost as silver as his hair, and his robes making a striking difference with the rest of his pale look by being black and gold. He bowed his head, briefly greeting both the Royal Guard and the Prince. Zillian recognized him, it was Heskal, the leader of the Scions.

“Heskal.” Arcann greeted back, not with pleasantries. “Still waiting on the catastrophe you and your Scions foretold?”

“You may close your ears to the whispers of fate, my Prince, but they cannot be silenced.” Heskal gestured at Zillian before offering him to continue, with a question. “What does your knight say to that?”

No matter how things changed over the years, Zillian did agree with Arcann on one thing; the Scions were too much trouble for the Knights of Zakuul. Therefore he sighed and shook his head, preferring to stay silent.

“See? Zillian knows better than to just open and close his mouth as he pleases.” Arcann crossed his arms, looking down at Heskal as he usually did. “I wonder if silencing you might suffice, instead of going out of my way to silence fate. Take your superstitions and prophecies elsewhere Heskal, you are not needed here.”

The knight nodded. “Go Heskal, I wouldn’t like to see what would happen to you if you didn’t.”

The soothsayer rushed off, and Marr stared at his escaping figure. When they started moving again he looked at the corridor and the door sealing their way up ahead. He pieced it together, the two men were taking him to their leader, at least so he hoped.

“You should be honored.” Arcann said before the doors. “We are taking you to an audience with my father. Valkorion, the Immortal Emperor of Zakuul.”

“An Emperor?” Darth Marr seemed to have an extra edge in his voice as he said that. “Just what I was searching for…”

“I wouldn’t be so hopeful.” Arcann opened the doors, revealing an elevator that they all boarded. “You won’t find what you want here.”

The elevator moved to the highest floor, and they reached the bridge. Left and right, unmoving, stood the Knights of Zakuul with their lightsabers on, greeting Zillian with subtle nods, but also some Scions, masked and looking just at Valkorion. The Emperor didn’t move from his throne, he simply readjusted to be more comfortable and motioned for his son to come forward, and for Zillian to follow and stand right behind Arcann. Obeying his commands, Zillian halted right behind Prince Arcann, stopping the prisoner as well, while Arcann dropped to one knee in front of his father.

“His Glorious Majesty, Immortal Master and Protector of Zakuul: Emperor Valkorion.” Arcann pridefully introduced his father to their new ‘guest’.

“Welcome.” Valkorion retorted calmly, looking over at Zillian bowing his head and stepping slightly aside from the prisoner.

“A new name, a new face…” Marr shook his head. “Those are not enough to hide from us. Your presence cannot be mistaken for anyone else, Sith Emperor Vitiate.”

Zillian looked up at their prisoner, visibly confused, but Valkorion simply let out a deep chuckle. “Oh, I think a mistake has been made. But by whom?”

“There is no mistake, Vitiate. But a whole second empire… A fleet… Not even you could build all this on your own.” Marr stood his ground, watching no one else but Valkorion. “How did you fool all these people? What did you do?”

“You seem to have assumed limits to my powers, when there are none.” Valkorion remained on his throne, unmoving.

“All the silence…” Marr eyed Arcann moving to the side of the bridge, then focused back on Valkorion. “All the silence was for you to create this distraction?”

“No… Zakuul isn’t a simple distraction, but my focus. Everything else…” waving one of his hands, nonchalant, Valkorion smiled. “The means to an end.” Finally standing up, the Immortal Emperor opened his arms, as if inviting the invaders. “You claim you have come all the way out here to find me… Well here I am, what do you want? Answers? Revenge? Proof? You claim that you know me. If that is true, Sith, then you know the depths of my power. Whatever you hoped to achieve by coming all the way here, it is all in vain. You know, deep inside, that failure is inevitable.”

Marr remained silent, Arcann looked at his father intensely waiting for his next move, and Zillian took deep breaths… Confused… Trying to piece everything together, trying to make sense of the situation and implications.

“But you don’t have to stand against me…” with one hand behind his back, and a wave from the other, Valkorion broke Marr’s binds. “Instead… You can kneel.”

“I kneeled before you once…” Marr took a stride forward, causing Zillian and Arcann to turn his way, stopped by Valkorion’s gesture to do so. “I will never kneel again!”

“You much prefer dying, over acknowledging my superiority?” Valkorion asked, still calm and collected as ever.

Marr pointed at the Emperor, scowling under his mask. “It is you who fears death, ‘Valkorion’! Not me! I will not kneel!”

Arcann remained at his position, but Zillian didn’t. The moment his eyes noticed the Sith trying to disarm one of the Knights to take their lance he brought his lightsaber to life, clashing with the Dark Lord. He pressed down, hard enough to make Marr take a few steps back. He tried telling the young knight to come to his senses, to listen to what he was saying before, but Zillian was faster than his tongue. Soon he felt his arm burning, missing, and soon he was also impaled with the yellow bright blade which shut off right before his eyes. It was like he watched the sun rise and set with one lightsaber swing.

The body of the Sith Lord fell and tumbled to the ground, the lance he was holding in the severed arm now off and freed from his now cold grasp. The Scions were evacuated from the room, and the Knights ran to recover the body, but they were stopped by a woman dressed in black, hooded, with brunette hair peeking from beneath.

“Quick, everybody out!” She commanded, pointing towards the exit, and the knights listened.

Taking deep breaths, Zillian looked over at Valkorion, who beconned him closer. Obeying, he passed by Arcann, feeling his eyes on the back of his neck, piercing his armor like daggers. But Valkorion wasn’t phased, he placed one hand on the young knight’s shoulder and smiled proudly, similarly to how he used to smile when Zillian was younger and returning from a very hard but not impossible task outside of Zakuul.

“I knew I was right picking you... In all my centuries, you alone have merited my full attention. You alone have grown worthy of my praises, and of the people of Zakuul.” Upon uttering those words, Valkorion tightened his grip on Zillian’s shoulder. “You leave the mark of this empire upon the galaxy wherever you go, just as I do, just as I have taught you to do.”

Looking down, Zillian shook his head, believing himself not worthy of such praise, especially not in front of the Prince. “My Lord-”

“Look around you Zillian, not down.” Valkorion extended his arm and gestured around the throne room. “Zakuul is poised to become the greatest civilization in the history of the galaxy. I have forged this empire to surmount all of my previous works. To span eternity as the Eternal Empire.” Now with both hands on the knight’s shoulders, Valkorion looked in his eyes. “The Eternal Throne commands our fleet, a fleet more vast than any other ever built. It has the power to reshape the galaxy into any image I choose. Into any image we choose.”

Taking ragged breaths, both from the intensity of his Emperor in front of him, but also from the pressure he felt all around, Zillian swallowed back a knot in his throat. “Your Majesty, I don’t understand… Why me?”

“Because you are perfect…” taking a few steps back to give him space, Valkorion offered Zillian his hand. “You inspire the people of Zakuul with something more than I had ever hoped for, and you have proven time and time again to be an excellent leader and conqueror. Ruthless, yet selfless, even now that you could have left me to die in order for my son to gain advantage over the throne you protected me. I am willing to share all of this, all of the Eternal Empire, with you. The only thing you need to do is kneel, Zillian.”

“Such an honor… My Lord… Who am I to refuse it?” Not having any more words, Zillian took a single step forward and allowed his body to fall to his knees, silently thankful for his Emperor’s praises.

Valkorion smiled, and soon a wave of energy started emitting from his hand towards the knight. It would soon be done, his work over the years finally coming into fruition… But Arcann took the stage, he could feel his son approaching, with steady but wide steps.

“Aren't you fortunate, hero? Years upon years, I struggled, sacrificed everything like father taught us trying to win such an invitation…” he narrowed his eye, shaking his head, ready to correct what he just said. “No… Not even an invitation. Just acceptance, just a look of approval, merely a praise for a job well done would have sufficed…”

The ritual, or whatever was what Valkorion was doing had started to hurt, but Zillian looked at Arcann, wheezing trying to take a breath. “A… Arcann…”

“You have done what I couldn’t… So, in exchange, allow me to do what our guest could not…” now behind his father Arcann unsheathed his lightsaber, and with one swift move impaled the Emperor right below the sternum. “You made the last wrong choice you could… Father.”

Valkorion didn’t flinch, didn’t move away. The ritual even continued, the Force pulsing strong around them until the Emperor’s body fell limp on the floor. Panting, Zillian crawled closer, hunched over the corpse, looking up at Arcann, begging for mercy with just his look. The doors to the elevator opened, revealing some fellow knights and the woman from before; Vaylin, Arcann’s younger sister. Surely they were there to help… Surely…

“The so-called ‘Hero of Zakuul’ tried to overthrow our Immortal Emperor by assassinating him at his commemoration.” Arcann started walking up the stairs to the throne, looking down at the tiles as he gave his next order. “Take him away.”

The Knights rushed in, wrestled Zillian into their hold and started dragging him out. The ‘Hero’ begged, tried to call out to his old friend, to reignite any of his old memories in hope that Arcann would take back his sudden cruelty… But nothing happened. The next thing he knew he was thrown inside an isolation cell, like some kind of criminal, able to see a holo-broadcast done by Arcann from the Eternal Throne.

“People of Zakuul. The unthinkable has happened. Our beloved Emperor Valkorion, is dead. He was murdered by the man we so believed to be our Hero, our Light and our Hope for the future, purely from greed and need of my father's power. He joined forces with the prisoner we had taken in, and Outlander, hoping to change our society and put a stop to our progress and evolution as an Empire.” An elaborate lie, hidden behind words of prestige and a royal facade. “I promise you, the assassin will receive swift and just punishment. And this act of unprovoked aggression will be answered. As your new Emperor, I declare that Zakuul's enemies will face the full power of the Eternal Throne. They will answer for their warmongering ways, for their cunning lies, for turning the Empire’s brightest star against it… Now, our hero is nothing more than a traitor, but worry not, for I will make sure that every last one of the Core Worlds will burn for these transgressions against Zakuul.”

Zillian tried to reach out with the Force, to try and at least escape… But he couldn’t. His body felt heavy, drugged, unable to even move. It also started feeling cold, and not even a minute later, after one heavy blink, everything went dark. There was nothing to see, nothing to feel, nothing to hear; just an empty void, an eternal abyss.

Chapter Text

When he opened his eyes, Zillian wasn’t in the real world. He was and wasn’t on Zakuul, he was somewhere where there was nothing but the Force around him. He glanced around, an environment of ruin and destruction, with ships of their fleet destroying others, and some getting destroyed in return. His confusion only escalated when in front of him walked Valkorion, the now dead Immortal Emperor of Zakuul.

“I have always loved the stars…” his eyes merely glanced at the knight before him, choosing to focus on the constellations in the horizon. “I think when you were young I told you about them, constellations, meaning, locations.”

Unsurely, hesitantly, Zillian nodded his head positively. “You did… Your Majesty, does this mean you are not dead?”

“My body is, but the Immortal Emperor is more than a body, Zillian. It is the soul that resides within, my connection to the Force and to you, that has kept my spirit alive.” Turning to the boy he smiled. “Ah, the Hero of Zakuul… It was almost a dishonor to hide your potential behind titles. Throughout the years you earned my attention, and my respect, I took this chance to talk to you undisturbed from outside influences.”

“Talk?” Shocked, Zillian leaned forwards, both hands on his chest. “We don’t have time to talk your Majesty, with all due respect, Zakuul is-”

“You are wrong, Zillian. Time is all you have, think of this chance as a moment to enlighten yourself.” Valkorion ushered him forward, standing on a cliff next to the knight, and gesturing ahead to what seemed to be frozen in place Knights of Zakuul. “Your comrades, they cling to you like believers praise a false savior. A group of knights that can’t think for themselves, needing orders to comply. My sons… A dead man, and a genocidal savage with thirst for power and leadership. And yet all they ever did was plague your progress.”

Not looking at Valkorion, Zillian chose to focus on the frozen scene in front of him, recognizing it as the start of the battle for Korriban. “They did guide my ambition… Offered me friendship and kindness, support when no one else could…”

“All that fades with time, Zillian. The only one alive drifts further and further from you, believing to be the center the universe needs.” Shaking his head, Valkorion smiled. “But we are. Without us, the universe will spiral into chaos, especially with the man that dubbed you a traitor on its helm.”

Before he could speak, Zillian felt something pounding against his head. His throat was suddenly burning, his hands gripping on it, struggling to breathe. He fell to his knees, clawing the dirt beneath his feet for some kind of support, but nothing helped, the pain only became worse. He hopelessly looked up at his Emperor, praying that he had an answer as to what was happening.

“I see…” troubled, Valkorion furrowed his brow. “Your carbonite imprisonment was imperfect. It is poisoning you, killing you as you are presumably frozen. Nightmares have come to kill you, but you have to fight back. You have to survive.”

Determined, Zillian stood up and grabbed his lightsaber. He slowly went through fight after fight, killing Skytroopers, republic soldiers, even Sith in the battle of Korriban. He fought Thexan and Arcann, reminiscing of the time they were kids in the woods, playing pretend with practice sabers. But as he went on, breathing became harder, walking became a chore, and when he finally stopped at a clearing, Valkorion appeared before him yet again.

“Making you a knight was just holding you back. I should have made you my personal apprentice, harnessed your potential to its fullest… Now, we have to do just that.” Before the young knight could react, Valkorion waved his hand, and the scenery changed.

In front of him was the Eternal Throne, with Knights of Zakuul standing still on both sides of the path that led to the throne itself, like they always did. But the throne was empty, Valkorion was there just in spirit beside him… And neither Arcann, nor Vaylin, was anywhere to be seen. Zillian took a couple steps forward, looking around. Everything looked and felt so real, but he knew that it was nothing more than a very plausible lie.

“You are Zakuul’s Hero, Zillian. But what if I told you that you could be something more?” Valkorion gestured at the throne, smiling. “You could rule. All the people you inspired, all the people you saved and can save… Even maybe my own son… They are all yours to take, as long as you desire it.”

“Your Majesty… What I desire is answers.” Standing his ground, Zilian didn’t look at his Emperor, knowing that if he did he’d fold out of fear. “I am trapped in carbonite, dying… Even if all you are saying is possible, I fail to see how we can achieve it.”

“A worm enters a chrysalis to grow wings. It never crawls again, and never looks back. It flies away into a bigger world… Don’t think of just Zakuul.” The scenery changed again, into two sides split in half. “The Core Worlds of the Republic, of the Empire, they all can be used to make Zakuul a bigger place, for more people to live in peace. All we need to do is look at that greater goal.”

“I am but a weapon in your hand to yield… You know this my Lord.” Zillian muttered, but it was almost too automated, like a mantra he learned to speak in situations like that one; mainly because it was.

Smiling, pleased with the way his plan was going, Valkorion nodded. “Of course, I do.”

The pain took over Zillian’s body yet again, the poisoning acting up. Furthermore, his vision blurred, the burning was worse, not just focused on his throat but everywhere inside him. He had to close his eyes, the dizziness too much for him to bear. He had dropped to his knees by the time it let go even a little bit, only for him to open his eyes and meet face to face with a buzzing lightsaber blade, bright yellow, and following it led up to Arcann’s masked face.

“My son wanted someone to blame for his incompetence and lack of ambition, thus he chose you. You were the target of his envy, of his jealousy… But you can also be his downfall.” Valkorion circled around his knight, eyeing for what he was going to do.

“I… I won’t fight Arcann… Not when he is not real…” he managed to choke out, through pants and hacks.

“These are not illusions… You must survive, save yourself so we can save the Eternal Throne.” Valkorion slowly faded, and the illusions came to life.

It wasn’t just Arcann, it was Maar, fighting fearlessly. And yet Zillian managed to duel them both, trying to survive, determined to push through; for Zakuul. Maar fell, impaled, dead, this time with his arm intact… But when Arcann dropped to the ground, Zillian couldn’t bring himself to kill the Prince. The Immortal Emperor stepped in, dealing the finishing blow, transporting them to a valley that held nothing but death and emptiness.

“You must learn to kill even your own to survive. I have seen past the shackles of mortality, Zillian. Our flesh is not who we are. Voices... Hands... Children... I no longer require those crude vessels. At long last I am truly free.” Valkorion looked around them, hands behind his back. “Tell me Zillian, looking around you, what do you see?”

“Death… A valley of nothing but death…” frowning, the knight closed his eyes, refusing yet again to look at his ruler. “I do not understand. Why visit me while I am dying? Why choose me to earn your favor? Why do I have to inherit your throne and not Arcann?”

“That will be explained in due time.” Much like in the throne room, the Emperor placed both of his hands on Zillian’s shoulders, gripping them to earn his attention. “I have done all I can, within my power, to keep you alive. You are a part of me that I wish to keep, someone I have high hopes for, and high expectations.”

The poisoning kicked in again, stronger, even manifesting a monster in the realm they resided. It was a monster he had fought before, in one of the Core Worlds. He remembered because Thexan and Arcann had both offered to help, and he refused. A knight’s honor was important, and the code even more so. Endangering the royals you are meant to protect was out of the question. So when Valkorion offered Zillian his hand, the knight gently pushed it away.

“No, your Majesty. I will fight this on my own. Dream or not, my duty is to protect the royal family of the Eternal Empire.” Standing on shaky legs, Zillian ignited his lightsaber and stumbled forward, shaking his head to clear his vision. “Stay where you are, this will take but a moment.”

Proud at the choice his knight made, Valkorion took a step back and observed the fight unfold. It was pretty straight forward, after all Zillian had faced this monster before once, a second time was nothing. But he was poisoned, and he was fatigued, and nothing held him back. Valkorion hummed when the beast fell, pleased, not that Zillian won, but with his own choices. He gave the knight a couple of seconds to catch his breath, before taking them back to the Eternal Throne.

This time the room was different, the lance sabers were buzzing, two ambassadors were walking and eventually kneeling before the throne… And Arcann took a seat on it, legs spreading, hand resting against his temple on the side of his face that wasn’t covered in metal. Vaylin was waiting by the ambassadors, arms crossed, as if expecting something. That is when Valkorion froze the scene again, walking up to his son, shaking his head disappointingly.

“The Eternal Throne, finally the new seat of power in the galaxy, ruled by such an unfit emperor…” he said looking at Arcann. “And yet even under his command, Zakuul has surpassed my expectations.”

Understanding what this was, Zillian looked at the ambassadors. “How… How long has it been?”

“Longer than you think.” The Emperor looked at his knight and sighed. “Zakuul is now the most powerful fleet in history, and with an army of guardians who know the Force is more than light or dark it was always bound to prevail... It is such a shame that it didn't with your guidance.”

“But Arcann… And even Lady Vaylin…” Zillian looked at the both royals, but earned Valkorion’s disdain.

“My children?” He let out a breathless chuckle. “All my children know to do, is to abuse their power. Zakuul is more than that. More than power and glory. It is where I could abandon my past, the Empire that brought me love. Who knows, even you can find it one day.”

At that moment, Valkorion talked like an actual father, softly, considerate of the young man he talked to. He looked behind his shoulder, noticing the glance that the knight gave upon Arcann’s frozen image… That is when he knew. Another piece to use in his favor. Valkorion walked from his son’s side down to Zillian, placing a supporting hand on the boy’s forearm.

“I see... You hope to save even my errant son that ruined all you had built for yourself. A noble cause…” Valkorion trailed off, looking behind his shoulder at his two offspring. “But we must deal with both my son and daughter quickly, or else they can ruin everything Zakuul came to be.”

Looking over at Arcann and Vaylin as well, Zillian frowned. “I… I cannot kill your children, your Majesty…”

“Do not underestimate the danger they can pose to our Empire, they are a threat bigger than what you can imagine.” Valkorion stood by his side, the scene in front of them unfolding normally once more.

The ambassadors were escorted out by four knights, Arcann unmoving from his throne. Vaylin stared at the two men as they were taken away, but something felt wrong. Whereas Arcann just stiffened up and relaxed once more, Vaylin ignited her lightsaber and turned around, pointing it straight to Zillian’s face.

“Lady Vaylin…” Zillian gasped out her title, taking a step back, and merely observing.

“Ah, yes, Vaylin was always my favorite of the three.” Valkorion circled the two, keeping a close eye on his daughter. “Interesting…”

“What is it?” Arcann narrowed his eye, but he could not see what Vaylin was seeing.

Zillian shook his head, closed his eyes shut, mumbling that this was all a nightmare and nothing more. But it became more, because mere seconds later Vaylin’s lightsaber went through his abdomen, causing him to take a deep breath and look at Valkorion. He panted, hands firmly planted on the ground.

“We… We are dying…” he managed to say. “The poisoning…”

“No… This isn't poisoning. This isn’t dying. We are being reborn.” Valkorion sounded further and further away, his voice disappearing alongside his figure.

And suddenly all blurred together into a flash of white, blinding the knight. Then, a woman’s voice woke him up, brought him back to reality: “Wake up, we have to go”.

Chapter Text

Zillian’s eyes fluttered open, but everything was blurry. He couldn’t recognize his surroundings, his bearings were unknown, his ears were buzzing and he felt as if he had really hit his head. But something clear was the fact that he was slowly dying. His body was shivering, his breaths were edged and he felt as if he was suffocating. His body was dragged a bit, and after fluttering his eyelids a handful of times, his vision cleared just enough to see a woman with chin length blonde hair hovering above him.

“Don’t try to move, you’re dying…” she whispered, rummaging through some pockets. “I may have your cure but I’m not going to lie… This will hurt.”

A gun was pointed at him, filled with some fluid, some kind of serum most likely. The woman injected it on the knight’s neck, and mere minutes later he sat up, gasping for air. His golden eyes widened, darting left and right, scanning the room and the woman as he stumbled to his feet. He didn’t recognize her… Not one bit… His defenses instantly rose, but she handed him something that he didn’t expect; his lightsaber.

“Thank you… You saved my life…” he accepted the weapon offered to him, clipping it on his belt. “But… Excuse me, I must ask, who are you?”

“My name is Lana, Lana Beniko. We will have time for introductions later, properly.” The woman nodded, scanning the knight with her eyes subtly. “I didn’t save your life, I saved you at this very moment, we still have ways to go ahead of us. Get ready.”

Zillian nodded, injecting some stims into his neck, mainly to shake off the fatigue and the stiffness build up. He then noticed a droid, right by the door, controlling the locks and the observation system. It beeped into some sequences that said: Vault guards = arriving / / Lana + Knight of Zakuul = get ready. He hadn’t seen a droid like that before, it spiked some questions, but Lana got the answers before he could even ask anything.

“This is Teeseven Oh-one, he is from Republic grounds. He's agreed to help rescue you.” She explained, nodding in the direction of the small droid.

Stretching out his limbs, Zillian smiled a bit. “Doesn’t seem like there are many performing this rescue mission.”

“Yes, well, I did the best I could with what we had.” Lana sighed. “It will suffice. It has to. The Empire and Republic have all but fallen to the man who imprisoned you. You're our last hope, and I was told you were also the brightest hope for the people of this Empire once too.”

“That is not true… Not anymore…” shaking his head, Zillian focused on the small droid taking away his spike from the door and beeping frantically.

From the vault’s door Skytroppers flooded the small room, and Lana wasted no time. She lit up her bright red lightsaber, and sliced one in half, deflecting shots from the rest. T7 beeped nervously, but Zillian ignited his own lightsaber and joined the fight. They rushed through corridors, up some stairs, everywhere Skytroopers ambushed them, and more guard droids fell upon their blades. The two of them managed to reach the central console, but the door separating them from the rest of the area was immovable, even with Lana’s powers.

“Lana, what about T7?” Zillian offered, his fingers gliding from key to key, trying to find something that could help them open the path forward.

Hurrying close to him to try the same on another panel, Lana looked at him for a split second, admiring how fast he recovered, or at least pretended to do so very well. “He is in different sectors, creating false alarms as a distraction to buy us time. Capable little astromech, I have to give him that.” But before Lana could continue her search for a way out, her comlink beeped.

A male voice made it through when she answered, appearing surprisingly both calm and nervous at the exact same time. “Do we have any updates on our timetable? It would be a good time if we did!”

“Why…?” Guarded, Lana took a step back. “Is there a problem?”

“Um… No, not a problem here, not one in sight…” the man from the com cleared his throat, and Zillian could picture him even rubbing the back of his neck. “But we are starting to feel a bit exposed out here. Tell me, did you find him yet?” At least nervousness was barely in that question, Zillian could even spot some… Excitement.

“Yes…” Lana looked at her rescue. “I’ve patched him in.”

“Great! Oh, that is great!” The man exclaimed, a bit louder than Zillian would like. “I'm Koth Vortena. Welcome sir to the most suicidal rescue mission in history. It is an honor to be part of it!”

“Stay grounded Koth, we will be there soon enough.” Lana lowered her comlink and spotted the knight’s confused look. “Koth is the one that orchestrated this mission, he will fly us out the moment we are through this door.”

The screen that Zillian was working on came to life, showcasing many camera angles of several feeds. They skipped through some, trying to find anything helpful… Until they stumbled at a live feed of a woman dressed in all black, hood over her head, approaching a Knight of Zakuul in full armor.

“Lady Vaylin…” Zillian took a couple of steps back, his hand reaching for his abdomen, remembering how she had stabbed him in that ‘vision’, or whatever that was.

“High Justice Vaylin!” The knight next to her bowed. “The... The intruders have released the Traitor. Skytroopers are scouring the building, but... Uh... Um…”

“But?” Sweetly, Vaylin leaned forward. “Go on~ Don’t be shy.”

“But there are alarms sounding in multiple sectors. We can’t seem to pin them down.” The knight reported, seemingly calmer than before.

Smiling, Vaylin lifted her hand. “Oh, don’t you worry.” That lifted hand closed, choking the guard to the death. But the chilling part is that Vaylin turned around, looked at the floor and then up at the camera monitoring the room she was in. “Everybody makes mistakes.”

The feed was cut off, the camera broken, and cold sweat was running down Zillian’s forehead. He shook his head, combed gloved hands through black locks of hair, ruffling them at the top like he often did when nervous before a mission. It was a habit he had developed, one that Thexan had to slap the back of his head to cut off way too often. Oh how he missed Thexan… At this very moment, if Thexan was alive, he’d know what to do.

“We need to go… We are not ready. Not for Vaylin.” Lana said quietly, almost trying to comfort her rescue.

“I know… Lady Vaylin is strong, her connection to the Force astounding, even when it comes to the Royal Family. And if Vaylin is coming after us, which she undoubtedly is, she will be far from alone.” Walking towards the door, Zillian looked at Lana. “Let me help you with this.”

With one last glance at the surveillance, which was now pure static, Lana rushed at the knight’s side and nodded. “I will get all the help I can get.”

Together they managed to pry the door open, just enough so they could roll through the opening. Lana went first, and Zillian followed, the door closing behind them right away. In front of them Skytroopers appeared, guns already in hand. Zillian fought back the urge to curse and just dashed to fight them off, but they felt endless. Corridor after corridor, room after room, it seemed that Vaylin really wanted to capture them and was putting effort in it.

“Hope you’re not too close yet!” Koth’s voice came from Lana’s com as they ran.

The woman sith could hear shooting from Koth’s line, which raised some concerns. “Koth, what is happening out there?”

“Nothing I can’t handle! But the pick up?” Koth maneuvered around a building, looking at his radars. “Yeah, that will have to be moved someplace else.”

“Koth!” Lana stopped, panting, Zillian right next to her, observing. “We don’t have time for this! We need to stick to the plan.”

“Well, if I land now, I'll be shot to pieces. So just think of it as a personal favor to me, huh? Duck through another tower and I'll find you!” Koth’s signal was static for a bit, obscured by the enemy’s shooting.

“I am already doing you a personal fa-” Lana cut herself off, groaning and looking over at Zillian. “I am sorry this has taken such a derail…”

“Do not worry, I am a knight, I know how to improvise. There is a tower that has easy access to a landing pad, just follow my lead.” He glanced at Lana’s com, concerned about Koth. “And Koth, be careful out there, watch your back.”

“Yes sir!” The pilot instantly agreed, although he sighed right after. “Although, lemme tell ya, these days it's all I ever do. Oh, and thank you for this Lana! Won’t forget it, always love our little excursions. Back with you shortly.”

The com connection died, and Zillian started guiding Lana through some narrow passages. The chaos didn’t make it easy to navigate the place, but considering how many captives he had to escort in and out, the now Traitor of Zakuul managed just fine. But then it dawned on him. Lana was a sith, or at least she was from the Empire… Why save a knight of Zakuul, captured by the empire, after he supposedly killed Valkorion?

“Lana… Excuse me for asking but… Why save me?” He paused, right outside of another passage, hopefully leading to their escape. “I am no one to you.”

“Koth told me about you.” She said, a bit awkwardly. “He is a native of Zakuul, and believe it or not, not all the people support what your current emperor is doing. Some are taking a stand, one of them being Koth, that is how I met him.”

“I see…” nodding in understanding, Zillian pressed the elevator button, but hesitated. A jolt ran through his body, and he could sense Vaylin approaching. “Let’s go.”

They passed by some more Skytroopers, slicing them all down. When they reached an elevator, Zillian slammed the doors shut by pressing the button from the inside and clicked on the assigned floor that would get them to safety the fastest; hopefully. Meanwhile Lana kept staring at him, at how he tapped his foot nervously, rolled his shoulders to get rid of the stiffness, at his nervous looks around, when eventually his eyes fell on Lana and noticed the woman’s staring.

“Um…” the knight trailed off, combing back his black hair as he did. “Is everything okay?”

“I am just noticing that Koth was right…” she smiled, it was small, barely there, but you could see it on her reddish lips. “He told me about you when we were talking, and I read up on your case… Whatever was published anyways. I am glad to say that they didn’t sweeten your combat skills at least.”

Unsure on how to take the compliment, Zillian just nodded. He had questions, oh so many of them, but he held his tongue. Asking them now would only complicate things, would twist and turn a lot of knots that he didn’t want, and furthermore it would delay their escape. Because even when they reached the safe floor Zillian had pressed, they had to lay low, sneak by some Knights of Zakuul, and even hide behind plants to avoid detection.

Up on the bridge they started running, sneaking was no longer an option when the tower was just within reach. T7 was already there, opening the door for them, but before they could reach it, Zillian dropped on his knees, holding his chest. The poisoning had been taken care of, but the side effects of being in carbonite for however long was still lingering. Lana said something to him, helped him up, and even supported his weight until they made it inside.

Once inside, Zillian thought he could catch his breath, but he was wrong. Something came crashing down on the tower, shaking the whole place up. Alarms blared, lights kept going in and out, sparks flew from whatever cables broke, and all the glass windows shattered. Terrified, the knight looked at Lana, hoping she’d have an explanation.

“It’s Vaylin! She will bring the whole city crashing down on you if she has to!” Lana shook her head, thinking, trying to find a way out, but Koth interrupted her through her comlink.

“Lana?! Are my scanners glitched? Malfunctioning?” Sounding completely shocked and in disbelief, the pilot huffed out a bit. “Did you just charge headfirst into a Skytrooper droid factory?”

“If Lana is right and Vaylin is onto us, options are a luxury we don’t have.” Zillian crossed his arms, side-eyeing an idle Skytrooper. “In front of wars against armies, those Skytroopers are nothing. I have faced many, me and Lana can go through this factory fast enough. Trust us, Koth, we know what we are doing.”

“Whatever you say, I am just also saying that if this turns like Altair Three again…” his tone was teasing, but also dreading what was to come.

Thankfully Zillian was right. He knew the ups and downs of fighting Skytroopers, proving to Lana that his combat knowledge and prowess were indeed excellent. They managed to reach the center of the factory, where the control reactor was, but they were not alone. Around the machinery people were gathered, researchers, looking panicked. Whatever was that crashed on the building probably caused the reactor to destabilize, so now they had another problem in their hands.

The technicians, scientists and researchers sounded the evacuation plan. They started running, passing them as if they weren’t there, and for them they probably weren’t. But the reactor core kept repeating its destruction, making Zillian increasingly uneasy. He practically caused this… Vaylin did this because of him, and now a whole factory of workers, if not blocks of civilians, were about to pay the price.

“There is nothing we can do.” Lana said, gesturing at the exit. “We should go, now.”

“Wait! Don’t you dare!” Koth’s voice made it through loud and clear, and Zillian couldn’t agree more. “If that thing blows up, it’s taking a lot of people down with it! You can still shut it down! Half the city will go dark, but the countless thousands who will survive will make it worth it.”

“Koth that is madness!” Lana marched forward in front of the reactor console where Zillian was, looking up at the knight. “They are just delaying us. They would prefer thousands to die to stop us. We need to get offworld now!”

Closing his eyes he could hear echoes of past screams, of people being slaughtered, by his hands… Zillian opened his eyes and started typing on the console, shaking his head. He knew how to stop this, he knew Koth was right, and he wasn’t about to be the reason thousands of the people he worked so hard to protect would be dead.

Lana sighed. “I… I hope you know what you are doing…”

“I am sorry Lana, but I am with Koth on this one…” his fingers tapped on the keys frantically. “These are the people I fought so many years as a knight to protect… Even if they see me as a Traitor, that is no reason for me to drop my ideals and turn my back to them. Not when they are innocents, and not when they don’t know the truth.”

“Well, whatever it is you’re doing, please hurry!” Looking around her, Lana lit up her lightsaber, just to be safe.

Electricity started flowing to the core, and Zillian kept working on the screen in front of him. “Stay calm, everything is going to work out.”

And just when he thought that he did it, the reactor overloaded, causing a small explosion that broke most monitors. “Okay… Staying calm didn’t work. What now?”

“Let me think…” Zillian paced around, trying to spot the emergency monitor, but when he did Lana caught him by the shoulder. “Lana!”

“I had enough of this, you are coming with me now, like it or not!” The sith woman glared at him, but couldn’t stop him in time when his lightsaber cut off a fuse to the reactor core. “Zillian!”

The alarm slowly died down, and the mechanical voice from the core announcing its destruction sent out a somewhat relieving message; ‘ Reactor shutdown sequence initiated. Warning: grid integrity at risk’ . The explosion caused by the lightsaber’s slash did throw Zillian down on his back, but the knight stood up and looked around. The room was a mess, but it was far better than having thousands die.

“Do you understand that you just now gambled with the fate of the entire galaxy?” Lana pinched the bridge of her nose. “This was incredibly dangerous, you shouldn’t have done this.”

“Are you upset because this was dangerous to the galaxy…” Zillian dusted off his pants, feeling the bubbling of doubt surfacing. “Or because I could have died and ruined your plans?”

Stunned, Lana blinked. “What?”

The question hung around until Zillian finished dusting off his clothes, frowning when he did. “Forget it, it’s not important. Let's move, there are some maintenance paths up ahead, Koth can meet us there. Send him the coordinates.”

Up on the catwalks Zillian remained quiet. The darkness was a good distraction, it covered their movements well, at least well enough. The next time they reached a stable platform Lana informed Koth, but was hit with unfortunate news. Of course he sounded confident, it was something Lana got used to about Koth, and something that Zillian had caught up on. He asked for three minutes, and judging by how the comlink call attracted Skytroopers’ attention, the two could give Koth more than just three minutes.

Fighting led them to the central platform, where Lana picked up her comlink again, asking for updates. But instead she got blaster fire grazing Koth’s comlink. “Koth, what is going on?”

“Nothing major! Just give us…” he paused for a bit, and Zillian could hear three blaster shots leaving from his side of the call. “Three more minutes!”

“Koth we-” Lana saw two bodies landing on their feet, armored, but they were not Skytroopers this time. “We don’t have three more minutes!”

“Two and a half then!” The pilot shouted back, trying to keep his cool.

Not letting Lana stand on her own, Zillian stood next  to her, observing the two Knights of Zakuul. The armor made him reminisce of his own days as a knight… Just how long ago had it been? Not when he was just Arcann’s retainer, but when he was fighting with the twins, or just played hide and seek outside of Zakuul’s swamps. It was so long ago, and yet the memories were so vivid… But now Thexan was gone, Arcann was a changed man, and he was a Traitor to his people.

“Former Captain of the Royal Knights, Zillian Vehirk, you are guilty of assassinating the Immortal Emperor, and of evading imprisonment.” One of the knights announced, pointing his lance at Zillian, still turned off.

The other knight strided forward and nodded. “We demand your immediate surrender!”

“You don’t understand…” Zillian placed a hand on his chest, trying to show his earnesty. “I would never harm our Emperor. I have been a knight for as long as I can remember, trained by Lord Valkorion. It is Prince Arcann and his lies that are leading us to this.”

The first knight shook his head, thrusting his lance forward to keep the traitorous man away. “Valkorion made Zakuul great, and now he is gone because of you! Emperor Arcann is doing what is best for our Empire, how dare you tarnish his name! Surrender now!”

Narrowing his eyes at the unique lightsaber the knights carried, Zillian took a couple of steps back, maintaining a safe distance. “You don’t want to attack us, you will be making a mistake that could cost Zakuul two great knights. I understand that you are doing your duty, but I beg of you to listen to reason.”

“He must be joking…” the second knight mumbled.

“Do not pay mind to what that Traitor says! Take them by force!” And at the first knight’s command, they both ignited their lances.

Lana looked at Zillian, who didn’t seem thrilled for this fight. She didn’t understand his hesitation. But that could be discussed later, because if what Koth told her was true, this man could be the key to defeating Arcann and the Eternal Empire. Instead of her self imposed questions, Lana focused on the fight, dueling one knight while Zillian dueled the other. They were strong, they were force sensitives after all, but they were no match for a sith and a captain of their own kind. Before Lana could strike the knight she was fighting down, he leaped onto one of the pipes around the catwalks.

“Tanek! Run! We'll fight another day!” The knight shouted, escaping after he did.

Zillian kept dueling the knight in front of him, disarming him and kicking away his lance, using the Force to keep him down on his knees. Even from under the helmet he could see the fear, so Zillian did what he felt right. He turned off his lightsaber, and let him go.

“You heard your friend… Run… Live to fight another day.” And as the knight ran off, Lana glared at Zillian for his merciful choice. “He was defenseless, unarmed, and already defeated… Let them lick their wounds, it will not be just them coming after us from the Knights of Zakuul. If I know Arcann, at least a little bit, mobilizing my own forces against me is like twisting a knife in an already deep wound.”

Disapproving of this mercy, Lana sighed, further troubled. “This kind of blinding morality is going to get us killed, you understand that, don't you?”

Another quake interrupted their conversation. In unison they started running towards the end of the catwalk, but it collapsed, leaving nothing but an endless abyss under them. Footsteps started falling against the metal flooring, small heels clicking against it delicately, but also with formidable power. Turning around they came face to face with Vaylin, and Lana ignited her lightsaber instantly.

“Lady Vaylin…” Zillian furrowed his brows, seeing her approach relaxed and confident.

“Zilly, tch tch tch, my brother won’t be happy that his pet escaped its cage~” she shook her head, ticked her tongue against her teeth, almost disappointed. “Don’t make me drag you back on a leash~”

“Go.” Lana said, standing between him and Vaylin. “I will hold her off for as long as I can, you have to escape.”

“Lana you said it yourself… We are not ready to face Vaylin, but I won’t let you face her alone.” He stood by the sith woman. “I am not trying to play it brave here, but you saved my life, I won’t let yours go to waste just like that.”

“You…” Lana narrowed her eyes and groaned. “You are impossible… I swear when I see Koth…”

Vaylin stretched and drew out her lightsaber, soon joined by Skytroopers behind her, swarming the duo at the edge of the catwalk. But she felt something, or rather, someone approaching. She sheathed back her lightsaber, and her feeling was right, proved when an aircraft pulled up right behind the two force users.

“Heads down! Eyes open! Run like hell!” A male voice warned from the ship’s coms before its cannons started shooting.

Swiftly, the High Justice of Zakuul pried away a piece of metal, shielding herself from the fire. Most of the Skytroopers fell, useless, rendered inoperative. But Vaylin wasn’t just about to give up. When the fire ceased, she launched the piece of the catwalk that she was using as a shield right onto the aircraft, damaging it, but not before the two could escape. Frustrated, she watched their escape, unable to do anything more about it. She glared at some knights that were still present, and before she could go report to her brother, a holo-transmitter in her hand gave her an alert, which she answered.

“The Traitor?” Arcann’s voice made it through, his holo clearly showing him with his hands behind his back. “Did you manage to halt his escape?”

Vaylin shook her head negatively. “No, he’s gone.”

“Gone?” Vaylin nodded at his question and her brother pointed at her through the holo. “I don't care what it takes, I want him found!”

The holo-call was cut off after that, and Vaylin smiled, for she knew her brother wasn’t bluffing.

Zillian jumped on the ship at the last minute, almost didn’t make it. But thankfully for him, a droid had pulled him up right when it was needed. It looked at him, dusted off its metallic hands and greeted. “Declaration: Meatbags can't fly.”

Normally he’d find it funny, at least somewhat, but the rumble of the engines caused Zillian to be more concerned about that. He rushed to the cockpit where he finally saw Koth. The man reminded him of something… But that could also be discussed later.

“Sorry Captain, we got a little engine trouble!” Koth tried to balance the ship, but the engines backfired on him. “Okay, a lot of engine trouble!”

“Problem or not, it is good to put a face to the man that came to rescue me alongside Lana.” With a gentle smile, Zillian allowed himself to slightly relax, even if they were in a peculiar situation. “It’s good to be out of carbonite, thank you.”

“Captain, as much as I appreciate it, hold it for when we are safe!” Grinning, Koth nodded behind his shoulder at Zillian and tried to find a solution. But with guns firing at them, and multiple buildings to zip through, it wasn’t the easiest thing to accomplish. “Come on…”

“Koth! Get us out of here!” Lana exclaimed, getting nervous.

“I am trying to Lana, don’t make me look bad in front of our rescue!” Koth gritted his teeth, but relaxed once he noticed that the guns stopped firing and got lowered.

On the main panel of the ship, a message popped up: ‘Guns = offline / T7 = start new mission’. It caused Koth to stand up, cheer, and even clap his hands above his head just from his excitement. Lana smiled, finally relieved at some good news. She knew that T7 was a commendable droid, and a very solid ally, she was getting more glad by the minute that she borrowed him for the mission.

“We owe Teeseven a lot when we see him again.” Lana mentioned, looking over at Koth nodding in agreement, but taking his seat again.

“Lament: No one has thanked me…” the droid that pulled up Zillian said, sounding pensive.

“Well…” the knight turned to him, bowing with respect. “If it means anything, albeit delayed, accept my humble thanks for saving me.”

“Humility: It was nothing.” The droid approached the knight and nodded. “Salutation: Greetings. I am HK-55, fully armed for combat and at your command.”

Chuckling, the knight nodded at the droid. “Good to know, HK-55.”

As they were leaving Zakuul, with at least some coordinates in mind, Koth turned around and winked at Lana, all proud of himself. “See? I told you that we’d succeed! Well… I didn’t count on losing my ship and almost blowing part of Zakuul up… But it was all worth it!” Lana rolled her eyes and crossed her arms at that.

“Now that we are somewhat calmer…” Zillian looked between the two, several questions going through his head but only one making it out. “What exactly happened?”

“It's going to be a short trip. Might want to start briefing our Hero here on what's been going on the last five years around the galaxy, you know it better than me!” Believing Lana to be the best for the job, Koth passed responsibility to her; typical. “HK, make yourself useful and check the stabilizers for me.”

Zillian stood still, almost frozen in time like his visions, or back in his cell imprisoned in carbonite.

Had Koth just said… Five years?

Chapter Text

Going through lanes filled with ships, the group managed to bypass them and drift to the outskirts of Zakuul. There lay swamps and forests, consisting of mud, fungi, and animals of many varieties. Koth did have a malfunction with the stolen aircraft, many to be exact, including spreading fires on the inside. Piloting became harder, so he passed the helm to the Hero of Zakuul, hoping he could at least crash land them somewhere safe while he and Lana tried to put out some of the inner flames. But with explosions happening next to his ear Zillian couldn’t do much but go off of memory.

He remembered roughly the location of a clearing, where he, Thexan and Arcann used to escape and stay for a day or two. Away from training, Knights, and repeated patrols. There they could be just kids, not warriors nor weapons. Senya was the one to find them if they were needed, scolding them while they made it back to the palace, but even then under her strict tone laid somewhat a cheery demeanor whenever she did so.

“Captain?!” Koth asked, peeking his head from the opening behind Zillian.

“Hold onto something!” Zillian pulled back the controls as much as he could to make the landing smooth. “I do not think this will be a smooth landing!”

Not able to escape their rough landing the crew managed to hold on to at least something to keep them stable. Once on the ground Zillian walked outside, helping Lana and Koth to get out alongside HK-55. Looking around he was right, it was a very familiar sight. Sure it was overgrown, the swamp had expanded, and it looked more dangerous than what it was around fifteen years ago… But it was in hindsight the same swamp.

“Lana…” Koth rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the sith lady. “This makes it two, two shuttles you owe me.”

“You didn’t even own this one, it hardly seems fair.” Lana shrugged. “I don’t think this should even count.”

“It was mine when it crashed, so I think it should.” Sighing, Koth looked around. “Great, we are in the middle of nowhere. I barely know anything about the Endless Swamp except the grumpy and hungry wild life, and some random scattered ruins.”

“Endless?” Lana looked around at the scenery. “Why endless?”

Zillian smiled a bit, crossing his arms. “People were dramatic, and still are. Eternal Empire, Endless Swamp, see a pattern?” He took a few steps forward and placed a hand flat on some moss covered tree, feeling some markings under the year built up greenery. “But thankfully I know my way around this place.”

“Admiration: You are indeed knowledgeable like Koth mentioned, master!” HK exclaimed, scanning the area. “Statement: I've detected a large metallic object nearby. Analysis suggests a technological construct, but there are no energy readings.” The droid pointed a finger towards the direction of his sensors.

Koth groaned, rubbing his face. “You know what, whatever it is, it has a better chance at flying than this thing. Engine is fried to a crisp, and I doubt we can have a repairman out in the wilds to go into the flames.”

Lana vaguely gestured at the wreckage they made. “Skytroopers won’t be far behind, we will have to hide all this, every single evidence of our landing will be putting us in danger.”

“I’ll scavenge…” Koth pointed at Lana with finger guns. “You bury.”

A small smile broke on Lana’s face. “Just like Aaron Prime.”

Looking at the two, Zillian smiled and relaxed a bit. He wasn’t easy to adjust to new allies, but he was fast to learn to work with new individuals. Truth be told he hadn’t been the most welcoming, and he hadn’t said a lot in the ship either, not that there were many chances… But it was about time he fixed that. He didn’t want the rest to just put up with him just to disprove whatever Koth had apparently told Lana about him, he wanted to at least live up to their expectations, within realistic levels of course.

“Lana… Koth…” he started off, earning their attention. “I just wanted to say thank you, to the both of you. I know this ain’t the time nor place for sentimentalities, but I understand that this rescue mission has placed you in extreme danger. Just know, I will fight by your side to the best of my abilities. You have my sincere appreciation.” With a hand over his heart, Zillian bowed.

Looking at the knight, Koth cleared his throat, rubbed the back of his head, averted his gaze and nodded a couple of times. “Yeah, no problem, you’re welcome Captain!”

Lana noticed that Koth was trying to act cool, calm and collected, but he was doing a horrid job at it. She just sighed, and smiled at the man. “Though the rescue isn’t quite over yet.” Properly collected, unlike Koth, Lana nodded. “I know you have more questions than answers, but we should really keep moving. I promise, we will explain everything as soon as we're safe.”

Zillian couldn’t agree more, but the surprising chime was HK, saluting. “Enthusiasm: Shall we investigate the technological object? I believe I can guide us to its location promptly with master's assistance.”

From then onward they split for the time being. Lana stayed back with Koth, to somewhat try and salvage whatever remained of the mess they created, and hopefully destroy or hide the rest to the best of their abilities. HK-55 and Zillian made it through the swamp with relative ease, fighting back whatever aggressive fauna was around. The HK droid was excellent with its rifle, and Zillian had started feeling comfortable using his lightsaber again.

“Admiration: It is a great pleasure to witness your skills firsthand, master.” HK complimented him as they stopped so Zillian could look at some tech parts he found buried under some moss and mud. “Relief: Master Vortena has told us a lot about you, it is good to see you living up to the name he has so fondly talked about.”

“Say… HK-55.” Zillian looked up, arching a brow at the droid. “Why do you keep calling me master?”

“Clarification: Master Beniko altered my programming before we secured your release.” HK answered. “I am to serve you with the same unexcelled loyalty with which I serve her. In fact, your survival has been made my highest priority.” He further explained.

“My survival?” Furrowing his brows, Zillian stood up, cleaning his gloves from whatever residue.

“Flattery: Yes master, but considering the skills Master Vortena has described, and your flawless demonstration of such, I believe you are capable of securing your own survival. Consider me as an assistant, if you need one.” HK bowed, making it very obvious that he considered him good enough to not need a babysitter, but that wasn’t why Zillian seemed troubled by what he heard.

“That is not what I was…” shaking his head with a sigh, Zillian looked over at HK. “My survival is not to come above Lana or Koth’s. Their survival should be your utmost priority, okay HK?”

“Affirmation: As you wish master, I will reroute my priorities.” Nodding, the HK droid gestured towards the open path of the swamp. “Resumption: Shall we continue?”

Further in the swamp, Zillian uncovered a heap of metal. It looked vaguely like part of a spacecraft. He placed his hand on its rusty surface, ran it across, and tried to piece together where this could have come from. It couldn’t be from their ship if it was what HK-55 had caught in his sensors, and around there were no more crashed aircrafts; at least not to the naked eye.

“HK?” He turned back to look at the droid. “Is this the object you mentioned before?”

HK lowered his weapon, placed it on his back, and got up closer. “Confirmation: Yes, master. A closer scan suggests that this object has been here for several centuries.”

Centuries? Zillian didn’t doubt HK, but it was hard to believe. But to be fair, five years in carbonite was also hard to believe and it has happened. They had to delve deeper, and from there onward the swamp became a place that not even Zillian had visited. They were in unknown territory, everything around them got darker and the animals way more aggressive. But through everything, one look up to see their coordinates gifted Zillian with a peek of machinery. They passed under several metallic arches, and when they had cleared the area of any potential danger, Zillian paged both Lana and Koth to their location.

The two joined them shortly, and they were briefed on the situation. “Centuries?” Koth didn’t sound happy with the briefing, not one bit. “Of everything in the galaxy, it was us who had to fall upon the antique.”

“Observation: Visible design elements do not match any from Zakuulan culture, antique or modern.” HK kept scanning, looking forward to finding more, if possible.

“Did you just say this was not from Zakuul?” Koth’s eyes suddenly sparkled. “Could it be?”

Going closer to the opening that spanned metallic flooring further inside what seemed to be a cave at first glance, Koth marched forward, with zero hesitation. He made Zillian question several things, including his survival instincts, and if Lana was the reason their pilot was alive still. But Lana, who had asked herself multiple questions about Koth’s survivability before, answered him without Zillian asking vocally.

“Don’t worry about Koth…” she shrugged. “He doesn’t really overthink things.”

And Lana was one hundred percent right about Koth. Before the others could even step into the hole, he had come running out. He was bending over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Koth lifted one finger up, giving the message to the trio to wait a minute. When he finally composed himself, the pilot stood fully up, fixed his locks and goggles, and grinned like a child waking up to a room full of wrapped gifts during Life Day.

“You won’t believe what this is!” He exclaimed, pointing in the direction of the entrance. “This is the Gravestone!”

Blinking, not sure if he should be surprised anymore with everything that had been happening, Zillian focused on Koth, while Lana tilted her head slightly. “And what exactly is the Gravestone, Koth?” She asked, trying to not sound confused.

“The Gravestone, Lana, was the only ship that ever went up against the Eternal Fleet and won! Do you have any idea how long people have been looking for this thing?!” Koth almost jumped up and down from his excitement, it was enough to even make Zillian crack a smile.

“And what…” Lana crossed her arms, suspicious of the situation. “We just happened to stumble upon it? And did you just say the Eternal Fleet? Are you overexaggerating again, Koth?”

“He is not.” Zillian kept smiling, looking at both Koth and the ship’s entrance behind him. “There are many legends revolving around the Gravestone. People believed it to be a rumor, considering the Eternal Fleet is still out there, but many archeologists and researchers, even scientists, are trying to find this exact ship. Trust me, on Zakuul you will even find Bounty Hunters and underworlders that want to take up clients only with specifications to the Gravestone… And yet no one has found it.”

“No one until now that is! It’s fate!” Koth clapped his hands together and grinned. “First we rescue the Hero of Zakuul, then we find the exact weapon we need to face off against the Eternal Fleet! We are going to win this thing, Lana! It is destiny!”

Lana’s golden eyes seemed troubled, even if she kept up her cool stance. “It’s certainly no coincidence, but destiny? I think there’s something else going on here.”

“I have to agree with Lana…” Zillian solemnly said, never too keen on ‘destiny’ and ‘fate’. “Destiny is but a tool for people to seem optimistic and hopeful, to turn a blind eye to the worse that is yet to come, or even excuse them. We should be careful.”

“Okay, okay.” Koth gestured with both open hands towards the entrance to the legendary ship. “We can be careful, once we get inside!”

“Assessment: Nearby signs of animal activity suggest local predators may be using this wreck as a nesting ground. Caution is advised.” HK even took out his weapon for good measure, expecting one of said predators to take the jump on them at any given moment.

“We can split.” Lana suggested. “Take care of both the predators around the area, the Gravestone, and meet up again.”

Zillian nodded in agreement. “Koth and I can go inside, take care of the wildlife there and try to see if we can find more about the aircraft, maybe even restore power. Lana, you and HK-55 scan the perimeter for any possible threats, eliminate them and meet us here by the entrance.”

Back at the throne room of the Eternal Fleet, Arcann was observing a holomap, with Vaylin by his side. His eye flickered on the map’s landslide, the swamp area known to him. He remembered, even if it was years ago, how they got their lightsabers on the same day and ran off playing. The trio had cut down several trees before they were collected. But that was in the past, he was no longer playing hide and seek with a friend, but with a traitor.

“After the damage you inflicted they couldn't have made a safe landing anywhere else but the Endless Swamp.” Arcann suggested, zooming in on the area.

“And…” Vaylin trailed off, teasing. “What if they didn’t make a safe landing?”

“We'll know soon enough.” Arcann pressed a spot upon the Eternal Throne, sending out a vocal command. “Skytroopers.” He addressed. “Sweep the area of the Endless Swamp. Focus on regions with high metallic sensor readings.”

As Arcann finished giving his command, three Zakuulan knights presented themselves. Vaylin didn’t seem pleased, walking up to them at the same time, meeting them in the middle of the hallway. She glared, crossing her arms, waiting to hear their story and hoping it would be at least somewhat entertaining.

“Emperor Arcann, High Justice Vaylin…” the knight up front bowed. “I oversee security in the carbonite prison. I…” he felt a knot at the back of his throat but continued. “I humbly submit myself to answer for this failure.”

“Did you do it on purpose?” Vaylin asked, pouting and batting her eyelashes. “He was one of your former captains after all, you must have thought of him as innocent.”

“No, of course not!” The knight shook his head, his voice trembling. “As much as I respected Captain Zillian, I respect Lord Arcann’s judgement and-”

Vaylin didn’t let him finish, igniting her lightsaber and impaling him in the gut, waiting long enough for his body to drop down, limp on the floor, before turning the blade off.

Arcann leaned forward in his throne, his eye widening slightly. “Sister?”

“I didn’t like his answer.” Vaylin said, as if it was the simplest reasoning she needed, right before placing her lightsaber on her belt again, eyeing the other two knights, waiting for their statements.

The current Emperor sighed and sat back down properly. He furrowed his brow, not visible behind the half black metal mask he wore… But he still contemplated. Zillian was a beloved Knight of Zakuul, by both the public and other knights. Sure, his announcement did cause people to turn against him… But what if it had the opposite effect on some? He should look into it further, carefully, making sure that whoever is against the Eternal Empire pays the price.

Inside the Gravestone, the four regrouped, going through the tech inside. Koth was trying to route the power supply, when he wasn’t distracted by everything else. The ship was truly a wonder, it has been there for who knows how long, probably thousands of years, and it was still in quite good condition; overlooking the ‘stranded and buried in the middle of a swamp’ part of its condition. Koth also managed to rundown a quick course of how the Gravestone came to be in the Endless Swamp as a crash down, not a shot down, purely from the damages it had sustained.

“I am guessing that whoever was piloting the Gravestone was the one that scuttled it here after defeating the Eternal Fleet, like legends say.” Koth said, walking a bit ahead of everyone else.

“And yet Valkorion brought it under his control a century ago because it was defeated, not destroyed.” Lana mumbled, solemnly looking around.

“The Eternal Fleet is a mystery…” Zillian touched one of the panels on the wall, admiring how well maintained it actually was. “No one knows how it came to be, who created it, and every theory is more obtuse than the last. You have stories including but not limited to renegades left behind after a successful droid revolution, or even representatives of an entire race of droids coming from beyond the known galaxy.”

“I have heard those too.” Koth followed up to what Zillian said, looking around a room they entered that looked like a lounge. “Crazy stories, and people love to just add stuff to it.”

“No matter where it came from, or from who, the important thing is that the Eternal Fleet is practically unstoppable…” clenching his fists, Zillian tried to contain his desperation, but failed, leading to a punch right against the doorframe they had just entered. “And now Arcann is controlling all the fleet, every single one of the ships and its crew, from the Eternal Throne.”

“All we have to do, in hindsight, is defeat Arcann and give the throne to someone other than Vaylin.” Lana said calmly, trying to pass on her energy to Zillian. “It won’t be that easy, but we are not up against impossible odds. Regardless of that, we have a lot to say. I believe Koth and I owe you five years’ worth of explanations.”

“Explanations can come alongside some parts so I can get this thing moving again.” Koth said, a bit nervous in the aspect of said explanations.

“That is a good idea…” Lana held her chin, thinking. “Finding water and supplies would also be wise if we are to travel and occupy this ship, even for a little bit.”

HK gripped his weapon, and started making his way outside. “Assertion: I will begin a patrol pattern to ensure that no enemy forces report our position.”

Letting Koth live out his excitement about the Gravestone, Zillian walked outside with Lana. They managed to install some water purifiers and collect supplies from nearby safety crates, possibly left there by runaways or criminals. It didn’t matter, what did matter was that they had food and water to last them enough days until they made it to a safe space. But Zillian wanted to ask several questions, and Lana had promised answers, so on their way back the knight decided to ask his first one.

“Before Valkorion died… We had captured a sith by the name of Marr…” he looked at Lana, making his steps slower. “Did you know him?”

“I did, and I know he died in that throne room... When he was struck down, it released ripples through the Force, I felt it.” Lana looked up at Zillian, hesitantly. “Marr was a great warrior, we all combined our forces to take down the Sith Emperor… But we were too late as it seems.”

“Marr mentioned that before… A Sith Emperor, being Valkorion, just with a different body and name.” Rubbing his temples together, Zillian tried to make sense of what he had heard back then. “But I don’t understand, how can he be your emperor when he was ours? One cannot be at two places, in two bodies, with different consciousnesses.”

“The Sith Emperor is a plague upon the galaxy, one that can take many forms, inhabit many bodies, and conquer many minds.” The sith woman sighed, fixing her gloves to keep herself busy. “Shortly after Marr’s passing, felt by many, Arcann invaded. He claimed that one of his own, a ‘Traitor’ helped the outlanders, and together they assassinated his father, the ‘Immortal Emperor’. It didn’t take long for us to unravel the truth, can’t say the same for the people of his own empire.”

“Who did Arcann strike first?” Zillian tried, he really tried to understand. “I know that there is you, the Sith Empire, and the Republic… Who suffered the first loss?”

“Both. Ships from the Eternal Fleet struck at shipyards and rallying points for both sides simultaneously.” Lana stopped, turning to fully face the knight. “They favored ambush tactics throughout the war. Zakuulan sensor technology has far greater range than our own, and their ships can fly much further on less resources, as you already know. And although some specialized ships of ours could outrun them, none could truly compete.”

“How…” he gulped, feeling choked. “How long did either side manage to last?”

A sad smile stretched on Lana’s face, her eyes looking at the ground. “Three months... Within three months the Eternal Fleet had disabled or eliminated most of our naval forces, not only the Empire's, the Republic suffered the same fate. With naval superiority, Arcann's forces started by choking off supply lines, trade... Any ship travel at all. The Eternal Fleet seemed to be everywhere at once, shackling both sides with unbearably heavy chains. The first planets to be completely blockaded by the end of the first year were the core planets of either side, Dromund Kaas and Coruscant.”

Unable to look at Lana anymore, Zillian shamefully looked at the moss gathering beneath his feet, awkwardly shuffling them. “How did it end…?” He asked, his voice breaking.

“From our side the members of what we call the Dark Council fought Arcann's invasion ruthlessly, and lost. After that the Empire's treaty was ultimately negotiated by the Minister of Logistics.” Lana looked up, focusing on the stars. “Chancellor Saresh, the woman responsible for the Republic, refused to discuss surrender. But the Republic Senate managed to overrule her, and had a cadre of Senators negotiating their own cease-fire terms. All of those Senators have since been disgraced or dismissed. There is no need for me to state who did it and why, you are smart enough to understand politics yourself even if they are not your own.”

“It sounds like living hell…” Zillian’s voice was quiet, his gaze still not moving from the moss.

“It was... But so far the treaties with Zakuul have been held. But that will not last forever, certainly not with Arcann in power.” Lana looked at Zillian, saw his state, and started walking again.

Following her, he frowned. “What is that treaty?”

“Both sides are forced to pay a heavy tribute to Zakuul, mainly raw materials and resources. They are also held under an arms limitation statute.” Chuckling softly, Lana smiled. “Both sides are breaking that statute, but none is strong enough to go up against the Throne directly. Both sides got new leaders, new rules, and yet they still see this only as an opportunity to eliminate one another at a time of weakness instead of combining what strength they have.”

“And Zakuul doesn’t interfere with their war?” Zillian looked at her finally, her laugh making him do so, mainly out of curiosity.

Lana lowered herself to another water source, a lake, using her scanner to make sure the water was safe before filling up another container. “Arcann doesn't prevent violence between them so long as their tribute is paid and no one challenges his reign.”

“You said that the tribute is mainly raw materials…” crossing his arms, Zillian hummed under his breath. “I wonder why Arcann agreed on such a tribute… Zakuul doesn’t need much, it never did, not even with Valkorion in power. Back then Zakuul was peaceful of course, so with Arcann’s tyranny, a lot could have changed.”

“Trust me, I don’t know the answer to that question, I have been investigating to find it.” Lana met with Zillian’s eyes, smiling at the other’s reasonable thoughts. “Zakuul is a big empire, spanning over a big area of Wild Space. Powerful battle stations have also been placed in orbit around key worlds to monitor uprisings, but there are no ongoing planetary occupations, thus no need for the materials Arcann requests in the sizable amounts he does. In fact even the monitoring happens upon random patrol sequences, I cannot make any sense of it, maybe together we will.”

“It sounds like a chokehold that both sides have to suffer without knowing as to why…” bowing his head slightly, the Knight of Zakuul closed his eyes. “I apologize, Lana, for this to happen to so many people, to so many worlds, just because of my naivety and Arcann’s lust for power… It must have been chaos for all of you. And yet you planned my rescue, and for that I will be forever grateful.”

“Speaking of that… I didn’t want to pry but, this is serious.” Lana dusted her hands, finishing up the water gathering. “Ever since I helped you out of the carbonite, I have felt a weird feeling. A power, an elusive surge of energy within you, it’s evading me but I know it’s there. For the sake of us trusting one another, I won’t ask you what it is, but if you-”

Zillian shook his head, interrupting her. “I do not know exactly myself. All I know is that during my carbonite imprisonment, I had an interaction with the Immortal Emperor. When I killed Marr, he made me bow. During that moment he started channeling something within the Force, but then Arcann struck him down. It felt overwhelming, like a whole storm got captured in my mind. I was barely conscious when I was frozen in carbonite, so I don’t remember much after that.”

“I…” stunned at all the information, she just nodded. “I appreciate your honesty. I have to admit, albeit a bit blunt, I appreciate it truly. If you want my advice, although I know he was your Emperor, keep your guard up and don’t trust him. He is planning something, for that I am sure, and although not in control of you yet, he will attempt to gain it eventually. You have my word, I will keep an eye out for any kind of influence he might show over you.”

As they started proceeding forward again, approaching the Gravestone, they heard rustling. With lightsabers in hand, both of them ignited, Lana and Zillian took defensive stances to prepare for whatever was to come… But to their surprise, from some bushes, came HK-55 seemingly chirpy. The two placed their lightsabers back in place by their sides, eyeing the droid.

“Salutation: It is a pleasure to see you again so soon, masters. I have encountered minimal resistance in my patrol.” HK stated, earning Lana’s curious stare.

“How ‘minimal’ are we talking about?” She of course wanted to know what the HK droid would consider minimal.

“Reassurance: Only one Skytrooper and three local predators with poor survival instincts.” HK’s voice box emitted a sound that passed on as almost disappointed. “Our position appears to be secure at this time, but I would still advise caution on your return inside the ship, masters.”

“Thank you HK, keep up the patrols. Lana will join you now that we finished up with the water and supplies, I will go join Koth inside to lend a hand with the repairs.” The knight passed the droid, patting its one shoulder plate.

“Appreciation: It will be my pleasure to do so, master!” And HK looked over at Lana, exchanging nods of understanding, but not departing until Zillian had made it fully inside the dormant spacecraft.

Once inside he spotted Koth on his knees, tinkering with some of the monitors and computers. This man was also from Zakuul, but Zillian didn’t remember him during his days as a knight. He wanted to learn more, but it felt like asking was too personal, and too invasive. Casually he walked up to Koth, observing how he worked; methodically, practiced, he knew what he was doing.

“Oh!” He exclaimed, putting his goggles back on his head upon seeing Zillian leaned against a wall nearby. “I didn’t see ya there Captain! Found anything tasty out there?”

Zillian could sense the nervousness in his voice, and it kind of made him smile. “We surely found something, don’t know if tasty is the word to properly describe it though.” Zillian cracked his neck, twisting it a bit left and right. “What about you Koth? Found the parts you were looking for yet?”

“Sure did, got a pretty good idea of what we'll need, if you'd be so kind as to help me find them it'd be awesome.” Koth asked, politely, his voice still a bit shaky. “It’s a bit of a drag though, just saying.”

“It will be no problem Koth, I will gladly accompany you.” Nodding, Zillian started following Koth to the parts he was in need of, and just couldn’t handle the silence. “Say… Lana told me you were also from Zakuul, and you keep calling me Captain. Were you a knight?”

“Oh! Oh no, nothing like that, just a simple soldier.” Koth did a small salute and grinned. “But I always looked up to you. You were a legend! Your feats in battle and towards the people were stories that kept us moving forward, and really rallied the troops. Every single one of my crew wished to serve under your command one day, even for one mission, some of us even wished it’d be our final one if that was the case. And look, here you are! We rescued you, found the Gravestone, and the parts that I dumped before we landed just happened to be what we needed? It is destiny, Captain! But Lana obviously doesn’t think so…”

“As I mentioned before, I do not believe fully in destiny, but I can tell you that the Force works in mysterious ways at times. So I am not about to fully disregard it.” Observing at Koth recovering some of the parts he needed, he frowned as he thought on what he said. “You spoke about stories… Like what?”

“Like how in the war of Korriban you rescued and protected Arcann, and even helped Thexan to victory! With your leadership all platoons came back almost unscathed, victorious, and with Arcann alive… Although now, I bet you wish you didn’t save him huh?” Koth asked bitterly, almost spatting out Arcann’s name as if it burnt his lips to say it.

“Save him…” Zillian looked confused, and surely was taken aback. He didn’t know that the story of the Korriban Invasion was so publicly twisted. “I didn’t save Arcann… I went there after giving orders to my knights when he was already treated. What I did was take him to the medical frigate at our landing zone so he could be properly treated. Thexan took care of himself and the groups led by him and Arcann.”

“What…” Koth blinked. “I can’t believe it…”

“I am sorry, I am probably disappointing you… And I also would never wish for Arcann to have died. Me and Arcann were always close, Thexan too, even after what he did to me.” Zillian sighed and bit his bottom lip. “I wish I could do more… Back then, and now.”

“You… You are as humble as they say!” Koth exclaimed, his eyes full of wonder and admiration when Zillian looked at them. “You even wish a better life for your worst enemy, so graceful of you Captain. Prince Thexan was noble too, I served under him once… And as for what Arcann said about you, it is a lie, we all knew. Many soldiers and knights alike found out the truth… Honestly it wouldn’t surprise me if Arcann didn’t just kill Valkorion, but his own brother too back then.”

Shaking his head, Zillian gathered some more parts that they needed to assist Koth. “That is not possible, I know that the public got to know Thexan as a martyr, but even with my knowledge of his death Arcann wouldn’t have done it. He loved Thexan, they were very close, and Thexan was the one person that really cared about Arcann. I will bet my own soul that Arcann didn’t kill Thexan. Valkorion, yes, and I am sure there was a reason behind it. Arcann, at least the one I know, doesn’t mindlessly kill.”

“R-Right, I am sorry Captain, I meant no offense.” Koth whispered, slightly regretful of his words, but not completely, for his own personal resentment towards the Zakuulan Tyrant was another thing altogether.

“Also um… Please don’t call me Captain.” And before Koth spoke, Zillian lifted a finger up. “Nor Sir, Hero, or anything title-like. Just Zillian will do.”

“Right, of course! But I know so much about you, that it seems unfair for you to know so little about me.” Koth returned to his cheerful demeanor, but a bit more tense than normal. “Lana told you that I was also from Zakuul. I was a soldier, a captain of a warship during Arcann's campaign against the Core Worlds. My crew and I deserted, but I'm not going to pretend we didn't do our share of damage beforehand. Just... I just wanted you to know what happened from me, and not from anyone else.”

Smiling and nodding kindly, Zillian focused on Koth. “I see, I appreciate it Koth, honesty is something that matters a lot to me. You obviously deserted for a reason, I do not have one ounce of doubt about that… But if you’d be okay with it, I’d like to know the reason.”

“We were given an order, which we disobeyed. My crew and I were holding territory on Denon. A local riot started and Arcann gave the order to open fire until they stopped.” Koth clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to keep himself calm as he talked. “None of us even wanted to be there... Especially not after Arcann dubbed you a Traitor out of so many others. First he took our Hero, and he was asking us to just massacre civilians as if they were nothing more than bugs in the dirt. That's not how Zakuul is supposed to operate.”

“I see… A good reason indeed.” Zillian smiled, genuinely smiled at Koth’s bravery. “You did the right thing standing up against Arcann’s commands. No civilian should suffer for someone else’s faults, especially not for just wanting their home to be safe and sound.”

“You truly are amazing…” Koth looked down, almost ashamed, suddenly finding his shoes way more interesting than anything else around. “Even when we saved you, you could have ran away with Lana, not once looking back at the Empire that imprisoned you… And yet, at the factory, you shut down that generator safely, saving thousands of lives. You are not only honest, but selfless, and courageous… You are a true knight, and I am just a deserter…”

“You are a true soldier Koth, and not a mindless puppet under royal law like the Skytroopers or some other knights of our homeland.” Extending a hand, Zillian patted Koth’s shoulder. “I encourage you to think like that, critically, and if I ever order such a thing, desert me too.”

“I doubt you will ever do such a thing. I know I can depend on you Cap-” before he could finish, he cleared his throat, correcting himself. “Zillian. You showed me that you care about Zakuul, so even if we take down Arcann, I’d like to keep our home afloat. And I am glad you understand that. The fact that you don’t want to add to their suffering, really means a lot.”

“Of course not Koth… They are still the people I worked so hard to protect all these years, Arcann’s farce and his lies aren’t going to take that away from me.” Zillian picked up the last parts and looked determined at Koth. “Not now, not ever.”

“Thank you.” Koth stretched and grinned, turning the tune into something more pleasant. “Let’s get these parts back to the Gravestone, or else Lana will start thinking that we were eaten by a big swamp monster.”

As they were moving to the location of the ship, Koth received a transmission from HK. The droid was requesting assistance, and the two rushed to his coordinates as asked. And just about when they thought that the talk of the ‘big swamp monster’ would become a reality, it turned out to be the exact opposite. Once they reached HK’s location they followed the droid behind some tries, where he pointed to a group of trembling, shaken up, and incredibly terrified humans, huddled together for safety.

The group of captives, upon seeing the two human faces, begged. “Please! Save us! Please!”

“What the hell is going on here? What'd you do to them?” Koth put back his own weapon upon seeing them, looking at HK, waiting for an explanation.

“Protestation: I have done nothing to these pittable meatbags, master!” HK-55 exclaimed, his gun still pointed at the group. “They were merely bystanders when I destroyed a group of Skytroopers in the area. They've requested our help in escaping the enemy's notice.”

The man up front raised his hands up, looking at Koth. “Please, we're no danger to you! We were exiled for protesting Emperor Arcann's war and…” his eyes fell on Zillian. “And on blaming you. Oh, it is true, the Hero of Zakuul lives! Skytroopers already claimed two of our friends... Please, is there anything you can do for us?”

“Please… Get up, no need to be afraid. HK, put your weapon away.” Obeying orders, the droid did as he was told, and Zillian helped the people up on their feet. “We are repairing a ship, with plenty of space for passengers, you are free to fly with us to safety if you so wish.”

“Oh, that would be an honor! Thank you! Thank you so much, Hero.” The man bowed, multiple times, and so did the rest of his group.

Not showing his awkwardness about the ‘Hero’ calling, Zillian nodded for the group of exiles to follow him. He accepted a whispered thank you from Koth on their way back, and rendezvoused with Lana outside the Gravestone. The exiles got stationed in one of the lounges, Lana got briefed by HK about the situation, and Koth took it upon himself to start repairing the ship. Zillian was convinced that if someone was to make this ship fly again, that someone was Koth Vortena.

Lana and HK started taking care of the supplies, rationing them, separating them, and storing them properly. Koth took care of the upper levels, restoring wiring, replacing parts when needed, while Zillian assisted him with the exact same responsibilities in the lower decks. It felt mere hours when everything lit up in the Gravestone, engines humming, electricity going through cables as if it had never stopped. Koth cheered, jumped and clapped, excitedly running out to find HK in order to tell him the news. But the droid was shooting some spiders, making Koth question his choice. But Zillian, alongside the humming of the engines he heard some more humming, like voices, whispering. He followed it, ignoring the voices in the back of his head that screamed for him not to, and when he reached the depths of the Gravestone he was met with a room he couldn’t understand, the Force whispering through it, and in front of the unknown object appeared Valkorion.

“I take it you have… Questions.” His voice echoed inside Zillian’s head, and the knight had indeed questions, many many questions.

Chapter Text

Chuckling, entertained at the knight’s confusion as much as his shock, Valkorion settled on a calm smile. “Don't be so surprised. Where you go, I go. We are indivisible now.” Looking around, the Emperor hummed. “The Gravestone…” he dragged out, almost as if he wanted to curse the place. “Not entirely what I’d envisioned. And for it to be in the swamps you played with my sons all those years ago, interesting.”

Since Valkorion had mentioned them, Zillian decided to ask the first question that came to his head. “Did you guide us here, your majesty?”

“The real question you should ask my boy, is not if I guided you here, it’s; why are we here.” Valkorion focused his gaze on his knightly vessel. “Now outside of your prison, you got a taste of Arcann’s empire and his reach in the galaxy. And as you know, Vaylin doesn’t believe in restraint, never did. The only way to defeat Arcann is if we work together.”

“I do not mean to disrespect you, my lord. But as far as Arcann goes, I would like to keep the peace between us, whatever of it is left.” Zillian bowed his head, hoping Valkorion would listen. “But if you have a plan on how to accomplish to save the worlds that Arcann has taken over, please, bestow me your wisdom.”

“I have... Ideas. But an unknown factor remains at the center of it all…” Valkorion paused, looking over at Zillian with a smile, hiding something more than just belief behind it. “You.”

“How so?” Zillian tilted his head, slightly confused. He’d never opposed Valkorion, so why was he an unknown factor. “I did have my doubts, but you are still my emperor, and-”

Valkorion lifted his hand up, shaking his head, disapproving of his knight’s attitude. “You must be willing to accept my help for what it is, Zillian. And you will have to come to this acceptance sooner than you think, for you are strong, but not strong enough to go against the whole empire I built.”

Before Zillian could ask any more questions, the ship shook, not from an earthquake but from enemy fire. Looking around, he tried to see if anything in the room resembled a scanner, or a monitor, but to no avail. Thankfully Koth’s voice came in through the speakers from the cockpit.

“Get ready for a fight, people! They found us! Skytroopers breaching the entrance!” It was more than a declaration, it was a warning so the people who couldn’t fight would hide as best as they could, and the ones that could fight would rush to Koth’s location.

Looking around, hoping to have one last word with his Emperor, Zillian noticed that every hint of Valkorion’s presence was gone. No more murmurs and whispers, no more Force weaving its way through the room, and certainly his Emperor’s ‘ghost’ was also gone. Shaking his head, clearing his mind with a deep breath, the knight made haste. He reached the cockpit, cutting through three Skytroopers to reach the trio, and just in time to hear Koth complaining about the ship, while HK complimented his dismantling skills.

“Don’t be relieved! This was only the first wave of them! There will be more!” Koth peeked over the front window, scanning for movement.

“I’ll head them off.” Zillian nodded, igniting his lightsaber and gripping it. “You focus on the Gravestone.”

Koth gave him a thumbs up. “The Gravestone will be ready soon. I just need-”

“Don’t say three minutes!” Lana and Zillian said simultaneously, glaring at their pilot.

“Just buy me some time, and I promise to get us airborne!” Koth exclaimed, already starting to work on some settings.

Lana huffed and turned to Zillian. “I will come with you. HK, stay behind and help Koth.”

Zillian nodded at Lana, but still heard Koth telling HK-55 to not touch anything, and to be careful where he pointed his gun at. But staying idle wouldn’t accomplish anything, so he followed Lana outside, and the view wasn’t pretty. Above them several ships started flying, halting, and from them landed several Skytroopers, guns at the ready. Zillian readied his lightsaber, alongside Lana.

“I always forget how persistent they are… Like bugs that never end…” Zillian mumbled, barely audible above the humming of his white-yellow blade.

“One thing I learned to expect when it comes to Arcann…” Lana braced herself, eyeing the Skytroopers. “There will always be more.”

The two fought against Skytroopers, many waves of them. They sliced down ten, and twenty appeared. They defeated their ‘captain’ and two more came. The ships above them kept circling like vultures, and Zillian surely felt like hunted prey. Panting he gripped his saber, and remembered when they were teenagers, at war, and how many Jedi and Sith he had to defeat. He kept going, one after the other they fell… But they kept coming.

“There are too many!” Lana exclaimed, backing up against a tree alongside Zillian.

“I know…” he mumbled. “But we have to keep fighting.”

“Hey, you two need any help down there?” Koth’s voice came from their coms, and just when Zillian was about to say yes, Lana motioned for him not to.

“No.” The sith smirked, gripping her lightsaber as she stared ahead, waiting for something specific. “We have help.”

“You what?” Koth sounded confused, and Zillian looked the part.

Before the knight could say anything a speeder rushed through, throwing bombs that he and Lana pushed with the force against the droid soldiers. They exploded, leaving many of them in pieces, and the speeder crashed into another upcoming group targeting their location. From the flames beamed a blue lightsaber, slicing the rest of the Skytroopers, and a woman with silver armor walked forward. Her eyes were cold, her expression stern, but it kind of softened once she saw Zillian’s face.

“Lana.” The woman’s voice was as stern as her face, but kind.

“You’re late.” Lana reprimanded, but Zillian was too stunned to notice.

“I can’t believe it…” taking a step forward, the knight smiled, relieved to see a familiar face in all this chaos. “Lady Senya, you’re here, with us.”

“Not all of us blindly follow Arcann.” Her scowl turned into a small smile, the corners of her lips barely tugged up, but it was there. “Zillian…” she reached out, but retracted her hand once another shipment of backup from Zakuulan bodies came. “We will talk later.”

They turned to face the threat. More Skytroopers, that was to be expected. But what Zillian didn’t expect to see was Knights. Their golden armor, unmistakeable, glistering against the peekings of the moon between the trees. Their boots protect them from the swamp, but making a well known and recognizable sound against the rock. They all held their lances out, not ignited, and their leader marched right in the middle of them, looking directly at Zillian.

“High Justice, we have the Traitor.” He announced, igniting his blue bladed lance.

“I hope you can hold up your own fights, Senya.” Lana said, eyeing the knights.

Shaking her head, the woman frowned. “My problem doesn’t lie with them…” her eyes shifted to Zillian for a moment, softening, then back at the knights, this time with her lightsaber pointed towards them. “But if they are going to stand in my way, then so be it.”

“I see that even after all these years, the fire of justice burns strong within you, Lady Senya.” Smiling, Zillian braced his own lightsaber. “I stand by you, once more.”

“Stow the chatter, child.” Senya gritted her teeth, and yet her tone wasn’t fully agitated. “Less words, more fighting, show me that all those lessons didn’t go to waste.”

The fight started off normal, but fierce. All three lightsaber wielders clashed with blue blades and golden plated armor, slicing through Skytroopers and then returning to the knights. It was sad, seeing two former Captains of Zakuul fighting their old comrades, but it was more than just a fight. This was survival, and Zillian had to win that fight, and Senya would help him do so. When their leader was almost defeated, a walker was delivered from one of the ships, and the group of knights quickly swarmed it, piloting it instantly against the Traitor. But even that weapon failed them, for all three of them managed to defeat it with relative ease.

“Knights! Zildrog’s Wedge!” One of the knights yelled, and all of them started using the force to make walls rise from the ground and trap them. “We have the Traitor! You may kill the others!”

“Get out of here!” Lana shouted, getting disarmed as she did. “Save yourself!”

But before anything was done, anything was said, the scene froze. Lana’s face was shocked, her lightsaber off by her feet. Senya was too focused on her own fight, and Zillian was trapped, unable to do anything to help, completely helpless at the knights’ mercy. That is when Valkorion showed up, stoic, hands behind his back as always, circling Zillian at first, then just pacing around the area.

“What… What is going on? What are you doing?” Zillian looked at him, seeing how he got close to Lana, then approached him again.

“Think of it as an opportunity.” Valkorion suggested. “This new friend of yours, trusts you yet not fully, and now death is all but certain for her. Just because you are outmatched in front of so many of your underlings. I can save her.” The Emperor placed a hand on his chest, trying to show sincerity. “I only require the briefest moment of control.”

Looking aside, not managing to look at Lana, Zillian bit his bottom lip. “But-”

“Accept my help or watch her die. Choose quickly, time has not stopped, merely slowed.” Valkorion gestured at the scene in front of them, forcing Zillian to look.

“Fine…” he forced himself to answer. “Please, your majesty, save her.”

Chuckling and vanishing slowly, Valkorion nodded. “Gladly, my child.”

After that everything went black. Everything was cold. He couldn’t feel anything around him. His thoughts became a blur, only whispers of hatred and rage, anger and something inhumane. Such darkness swallowed him, like he was sinking in a pit of tar, and by thrashing to get out was making it worse. He felt suffocated, like he was drowning in the deepest waters with no lifeline, no nothing. But before he could drown, someone pulled him out. It was Senya, having rushed to his side and lifting him to his feet from where he was on all fours, gripping the ground so hard his gloves were torn in some places.

“Zillian…” her voice was a whisper, noticing the terrified look on the knight’s face.

Looking around, there was nothing but destruction. Dismembered Skytroopers, with sparks coming out of their exposed circuits. Rumble from the walls the knights had made. And said knights, on the ground, dead, some with their heads rolled backwards, others with limbs twisted, some with their lightsabers impaled in their gut.

“What happened to the knights?” Lana asked, voice a bit shaken, dusting off the dirt from her clothes.

Koth came running out of the Gravestone, gun in hand. “I was coming to help, but…” he stared around for a bit. “Looks like you didn’t need it.”

They both looked at Zillian, but Koth focused on Senya, narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms. Lana tensed at his stance, but furthermore at Zillian’s condition. He looked absolutely terrified, almost lifeless. Senya was holding him against her, supporting his weight fully, but her eyes did land on Koth, and to deny that the tension was there would be impossible.

“Whoa, wait a minute! Hang on. She's your help?” Koth asked, pointing a finger at Senya. “If you think I'm letting that piece of work on my ship, you're out of your-”

“Interjection: Many more hostiles are approaching! Permission to defend with extreme prejudice?” HK-55 interrupted.

Lana took one last look at Zillian and shook her head. “No. No more fighting. We must leave Zakuul, and we must leave now. Is the Gravestone ready?”

“I’ll go prep the engines…” getting one last glare at Senya, Koth notioned towards the ship. “Come on Lana, let’s go.”

“Go ahead Koth, I am still needed out here.” Lana saw her friend begrudgingly going inside the aircraft, followed by the HK droid. “The ship will never pull itself up from the muck. We'll have to give it a push. Can he-”

“I… I will help, Lana.” Taking a deep breath, Zillian steadied his feet against the ground, and focused on the Gravestone. “Koth, updates?”

“Firing up the engines! I hope…” he mumbled the last part, not wanting to seem like a fool in front of the Hero of Zakuul.

“Zillian…” Senya placed a strong grip on the knight’s shoulder, giving him a firm nod. “Focus on the task at hand.”

“Right, of course… If we focus, and just do that, forget everything else that plagues us, then the force will hear us too…” Zillian whispered that, wanting to remember the feeling of being young and reciting them after Senya at the royal grounds.

He closed his eyes, lifted his hands, and pictured the ship getting high in the sky in his head. He channelled everything he had on it, and so did the two women besides him. Lana was taking deep breaths, circulating all her emotions at once, while Senya focused and tried to not pay attention to Zillian, or the constant feeling of being swarmed by the enemy. Much to their surprise, and Koth’s, it seemed to be working.

Flipping some switches, Koth felt the ship moving upwards from the murk of the swamp. “They're doing it! They're actually doing it! Can you believe it, HK?!”

“Observation: The ship is rising.” HK-55 stated. “Conclusion: Belief is not required.”

Koth rolled his eyes and held back the urge to call him a party pooper right then and there. “Glad you worked that out…”

The Gravestone was finally free, up in the sky, with Koth holding it steady. The bridge got lowered, Lana jumping in with ease, looking back down at Senya and Zillian that followed. Senya took a big leap and made it, extending her hand for the knight to grab. Zillian took the help, gripping Senya’s hand and allowing the other former royal captain to pull him up. The bridge closed behind them, and within minutes they were flying outside the atmosphere of Zakuul, departing for someplace else in the galaxy.

“Would you look at that?” Koth grinned, pointing at the stars and vast galaxy ahead of them, looking at the reflection of the three that just entered in the cockpit. “My Gravestone can fly!”

“Always knew we could count on you, Koth.” Zillian forced a smile to encourage their pilot.

“Thanks Cap- Ehem! Zillian!” Koth corrected himself and focused up ahead. “Now we can go somewhere safe and-” he glanced at the radar, noticing several ships coming their way. “Wait, incoming! Dropping out of hyperspace! It’s-”

And right in front of their eyes several Zakuulan vessels made it through hyperspace, swarming their field of vision. “The Eternal Fleet…” Senya observed them, eyeing Zillian who still seemed out of it. “Careful.”

“They aren’t firing…” Koth said, not stopping the Gravestone, but keeping his guard up.

Inside the main vessel of the Eternal Fleet, at the Eternal Throne, Arcann sat and observed through a holomap the positioning and direction that the Gravestone was taking. His fingers zoomed in, focused on its beeping signal, and then they started tapping over the throne’s right arm rest. Vaylin joined him, looked at the map, and did a grimace of disgust.

“Ugly ship. What are you even waiting for?” Vaylin asked, watching Arcann.

The Emperor narrowed his eye, observing, but after a bit he shook his head, shrugged, and pressed a couple of buttons, signaling the canons to aim and fire. The shots landed, and Arcann just felt a festering anger. How could they have found a ship, repaired it, all so fast after his escape? Was Zillian getting outside help? How much? And if people were helping him from inside Zakuul, how many and who?

Arcann just remained silent, observing the blasts landing on the hulk of the old aircraft.

Koth looked around him, shared one nod with Zillian and looked over at their droid. “HK! Go check the hyperdrive! Lana, go work the shields! And we will surely need a gunner!”

“I will-” Zillian was about to offer, but Senya grabbed his shoulder. “Lady Senya.”

“I will go, you stay here with Koth, clear your head.” And the female knight was off, going as fast as she could into position. “I am ready, Vortena.”

“Good... Um…” the pilot trailed off, a bit awkwardly. “The Omnicanon's up. There's a capital ship near the center.”

Senya focused the cannon's sensors up ahead. “I see it, I have it in focus.”

“Good, hit it now!” Koth shouted in the com, sitting into position.

The Gravestone, with shields up, and hyperdrive slowly getting repaired, started preparing the cannon. And when it shot, the ships that got destroyed from the Eternal Fleet’s blockade were too many for Koth to count. He tried, reaching from one, to five, to ten, and losing count after that. He stood up, hands on the console, leaning forward with the explosions reflected in his excited eyes.

“It is real…” he turned to Zillian, grinning from ear to ear. “It is real! We could take on the entire fleet!”

Some buzz came from the coms, and HK’s voice made it through. “Statement: The hyperdrive now meets minimum functionality requirements.”

“Very good, HK.” Zillian looked up at the droid, clutching his chest.

“Alright then!” Koth clapped his hands together, sitting back down and inputting coordinates. “Let’s get out of here!”

And when the Gravestone entered hyperspace, Koth finally relaxed, spinning in the pilot’s chair with excitement. HK observed him for a second, but then came at Zillian’s side and scanned him. He was gripping the fabric of his shirt over his chest, his breathing was heavy and raspy, and before HK could notify him or anyone, he collapsed. In his unconscious state he could only see and hear one thing; the knights, his old comrades, all slain in a single moment, weaknesses exploited, brutally murdered, screaming, begging for mercy, but silenced in an instant, and then darkness, cold, unwelcoming darkness.

Arcann stood up from his throne, eye widening upon seeing the holo projection of the battlefield. One, then five, then ten, and more Eternal Fleet vessels vanished. At first he thought that it was a glitch, but after trying to sense them and failing, Arcann admitted that the power of that ship was greater than he had anticipated.

“More than two dozen ships... Lost in a single shot…” he felt the danger.

“So… That’s the Gravestone.” Vaylin stepped up to his side, humming. “It’s as powerful as they say. Ugly, but powerful. It reminds me of when you, Zillian and Thexan would return from your ‘searches’ in the swamp for it. Oh, how ironic that-”

Arcann went up to his sister, glaring, making her gasp mockingly as he interrupted her. “Everything stands at risk! Zakuul! The throne! My vision for the galaxy! All because we let that Traitor slip away!” Taking a deep breath, Arcann stepped back and shook his head. “I am not… I am not blaming you.”

Vaylin pressed her lips together and shrugged. “Didn’t think you were, brother. It is okay to be touchy about your little boy toy.”

Choosing to ignore that, Arcann stood by the big glass, watching the remains of the Fleet. “Father held us all back, all but him, you more than any. Such raw power and yet you're still spreading your wings, finding your limits.”

“Nice to be appreciated for a change.” Vaylin watched as her brother walked away. “So what now?”

“Now…” Arcann clenched his mechanical fist. “Now I act. Now I go to the Traitor that our father allowed to fly freely, and cut his wings, leaving him bloody and helpless on the ground.”

On the Gravestone, Senya was sitting on the floor, Zillian’s head on her lap, when the ship broke out of hyperspace. Lana rushed to Koth’s side when he stood up, eyes wide, a mixture of disappointment and panic in his expression. Something had happened, that was for sure, but slowly Zillian opened his eyes, looking over at Koth instantly concerned.

“What happened?” He asked in a weak voice, making Senya frown.

That boy was always too kind for his own good, too caring, too selfless. Valkorion had tried to make her beat it out of him, several times in fact, even putting him up against incredibly experienced knights, or the twins… But Zillian’s kindness overcame his heroics, and even now, with him dubbed as a traitor, with most of Zakuul’s back turned on him, he cared about the few people that hadn’t abandoned him yet.

“The hyperdrive worked, one time. Omnicannon's fried too. What a mess…” Koth lowered his head, shaking it in shame. “I am sorry…” he whispered, not wanting others to hear.

Lana went up to him, gripping his shoulder firmly, making the pilot look up at her. “We’re safely away from the fleet, if nothing else.” She comforted him, at least tried to.

Koth stood up, looking at everyone, especially at Zillian who had managed it up on his feet with Senya’s help. “We should be able to make it to Asylum, but let’s not hold our breath.”

“Asylum…?” Confused, Zillian tilted his head.

“Not that kind of Asylum, Zillian.” Senya smiled, somewhat nostalgic. “Asylum is a skyport. A safe haven from Arcann's patrols.”

Koth groaned, gesturing at the female knight. “Was she really necessary?!”

Lana crossed her arms. “She helped us raise the Gravestone. Fought by our side. Helped your Hero when he passed out.”

“She also hunted me like an animal for years. She was Arcann's loyal Knight!” Koth furrowed his brows, genuinely concerned.

“I thought I was in service to Zakuul. You had abandoned your responsibilities!” Senya crossed her own arms, defending her stance.

“Both of you…” Zillian stepped between them, head still pounding. “We are achieving nothing by arguing. We should remain together, standing against Arcann as a team. Senya…” he turned to his mentor, with a soft frown. “Koth might have gone against Arcann’s orders, but it was to protect innocent, defenseless civilians that stood up against tyranny.” He then turned to Koth, his bottom lip bitten. “And Koth, may I remind you of my position as well. I might not have hunted you, but I was Arcann’s caretaker, personal Knight, and a captain of the Royal Guards. Who is to say that if I was still serving under Arcann, if he had someone else to dub a Traitor for his means to an end, that I wouldn’t be hunting you down too.”

Koth furrowed his brows and looked away, conflicted, arms crossed. Senya sighed, but smiled, proud that the boy in front of her turned out the way he did. Lana looked around, surprised that a Knight of Zakuul, a man taught merciless action is the best course of action, could deescalate such a situation in such a way.

“I suggest we all split within the Gravestone for a bit, calm down, and then focus on repairing it afterwards.” Zillian walked away, wanting to also clear his head from all this.

He took a few laps around the ship, making sure the survivors from Arcann’s exile were safe and sound. He made sure that Valkorion was nowhere around in his head before he approached any of the other crew members. Firstly he approached Koth, feeling that the tension he left before could have bothered the pilot. Zillian found him over an electrical supply, trying to fiddle with it, and failing.

“Damn it! Would it have killed them to have a maintenance manual laying around for this thing?!” Koth complained, seeing Zillian with the corner of his eye. “Zillian, could you cut off the power supply from that switch over there? Electrocuting myself on top of everything else today isn’t on my to-do list.”

Zillian nodded, going to the nearby control panel, and disabling the power supply for the room. He then approached Koth, handing him a bottle of water from the supplies they had gathered, figuring that he’d need it sooner or later.

“Thanks.” He took a sip from the bottle, sighing with relief. “She's really something, this ship. But no one's been taking care of her, and that has taken a toll.”

Looking around, Zillian hummed under his breath, nodding. “It is a great ship, with a great pilot. Got to say, you have been getting the hang of this ship very quickly, Koth. It shows how good of a soldier you must have been.”

“I mean it IS the Gravestone!” Koth said with emphasis, but focusing on the task at hand. “It is the ship that will defeat the Eternal Fleet! Not alone of course, it needs a pilot, and a leader… But it definitely doesn’t need Senya.” Koth frowned, not wanting to stir trouble. “Sorry, take no offense at what I said. Forget it.”

Tilting his head, Zillian pressed his lips together. “Why do you hold such a grudge against her?”

“She was ruthless. After we deserted, she hunted us for months. Everyone on my crew bled more than once on account of her.” Pinching the bridge of his nose, Koth took a deep breath, and returned to his mentaincing. “I put all my trust in Lana, and in you, but she goes to Senya for help. Out of everyone else in the galaxy, it just had to be Senya. She really doesn't know what she's getting us into by letting Senya in in all of this.”

“Koth, I know you have your worries, and they are valid.” Zillian walked closer to the ex-soldier, earning his attention. “But you have my word, Senya is not as hard and ruthless as you portray her to be. She is not a soulless machine, nor a servant that obeys without question. She was my Captain, and she is my mentor, I promise you-” that came out of his lips with a heavy heart, remembering Valkorion’s teachings. “I promise you that Senya is worthy of your trust, and if she does anything to jeopardize us dealing with Arcann, I will address it first and foremost myself. But to that woman, I trust my life.”

Shuffling his feet on the ground, Koth nodded a couple of times, understanding Zillian’s point of view. “Okay, okay… Just remember who dropped everything to storm the Spire and help you get out of that carbonite jail, alright?”

Smiling, Zillian chuckled, relaxing at the tension finally giving out. “Of course, I am forever grateful. If it wasn’t for you and Lana, I’d be a frozen corpse in one of Zakuul’s prison cells.”

“I have a good feeling, you know. We’ll get Arcann.” Dusting his hands on his jacket, Koth started tinkering again. “But I should focus here, make sure that the Gravestone is ready to set off towards the Asylum with no worries of us getting stranded into space. Maybe you should go check on Lana, she did seem pretty shaken up after that fight of yours, even if she is toughening it out.”

Zillian rolled his shoulders and got prepared to leave, but Koth earned his attention by clearing his throat. “Yes, Koth?” The knight asked, looking from over his shoulder.

“I just wanted to say… Thanks.” The pilot nodded, not even looking his way fully. “For the talk, both now and in the cockpit. I can’t say that I trust Senya, but I trust you. And the fact that you even heard my concerns, going as far as to properly handle them… I can see why your stories portray you as a kind leader. Thank you, Zillian.”

Not able to manage the compliments, Zillian just gave Koth a small wave before venturing forward. He searched around a bit for Lana, finding her in a room that looked like crew quarters, she stood there, quietly, letting silence envelop the room. Her back was turned towards the doorway, but she turned around as soon as she felt Zillian enter through the Force. Her face took a worried expression, and she relaxed, starting to pace around a bit.

“I'm still trying to wrap my head around what took place out there. One moment there were Knights, fighting us with everything they could muster, and the next…” she shook her head in disbelief.

Shamefully, Zillian looked to the side. “It… It was Valkorion. He offered his help, to save you… And I… I panicked, I accepted, I didn’t want you to die, Lana.”

“That… That was extremely dangerous, and risky. Such power…” Lana shivered, frowning. “I don’t know anyone alive that can achieve it. Be careful of him Zillian, if he truly is the Sith Emperor he will manipulate you until you are his perfect puppet. Keep me updated, in the loop, and I will do whatever I can to help you deal with him when time comes.”

“Thank you… I appreciate it.” Zillian smiled back at her, being polite, but also truthful about the appreciation he had for his newfound ally. “The choice you made for bringing Senya… I commend you on it Lana. You didn’t see an enemy, you saw an ally, an asset to the goal you were all trying to accomplish.”

“So… You’re with me? I’d figure you would be on Koth’s side, considering your past and all…” Lana looked genuinely surprised, her golden eyes widening just slightly, blinking with what seemed to be awe.

Shaking his head, Zillian crossed his arms. “I am on no one’s side per say. I see both the cons and pros of this choice. And, much to Koth’s possible dismay, the pros heavily outweigh the cons.” He let his hands fall to his sides, looping in his belt for something to fiddle with as he talked. “Senya is a great warrior, she even helped us raise the Gravestone from the swamp, without her we’d be Arcann’s prisoners again, at best.”

“And she doesn't give up, either. That was clear the first time I encountered her.” Lana chuckled, remembering the moment.

“Speaking of encountering her. How did you and Senya meet?” Zillian asked, hoping that Lana would answer his question.

“We met shortly after I arrived in Wild Space. Senya was hunting Koth, I was hoping to learn more about Arcann…” she trailed off, twirling a blonde strand of hair around her gloved finger as she continued to recall the events. “We exchanged some information, whatever we had and could exchange. That was all years before I met Koth, of course. But, say, Zillian. How do you know Senya?”

“Senya was my mentor.” He answered Lana casually, as if it was the most normal thing to say. “She raised me, and taught me how to be a knight, a fighter, a warrior worthy to fight for the royal family of Zakuul. So I am familiar with Senya, both the good side of her, and the bad. I understand Koth’s worries, but don’t worry Lana, I will try to keep the peace. We all have to combine our efforts towards defeating Arcann, not one another.”

“You’d make a very, very bad Sith.” The woman let out a small chuckle, her hand gripping her shoulder. “I will stop worrying and go back to try and wrap my head around all that has happened so far, and plan our next course of action when we reach Asylum. Call me if you need anything Zillian, really, do not hesitate.”

Smiling still, the knight gave the sith a bow, showing her recognition and true appreciation of her offer and time. But Zillian had someone else in mind. After checking with both Koth and Lana, he felt like it was about time he checked in with Senya. He started looking around, leaving Lana to tend to her wound as she saw fit, but surprisingly he couldn’t find his mentor, or his mentor didn’t want to be found. The one Zillian did find was HK-55, who came out of the shadows, startling the poor knight.

“HK, don’t appear in front of me like that. I could have cut you down.” Zillian combed back his black hair, relieved that he hadn’t pulled his lightsaber out.

“Statement: I apologize for alerting you master.” HK stood still in front of him. “Query: Has the meatbag bickering finally exhausted itself?”

For once Zillian laughed; full on laughter. “Well, HK, even after all these years I am glad that what you call ‘meatbag bickering’ hasn’t changed one bit.”

“Agreement: You said it, master.” HK pointed at Zillian and then took a look around the ship. “Report: I have taken the liberty of checking in on your band of refugees. They informed me of your own check in with them.”

“That is true.” Zillian confirmed. “I did check in with them, yes.”

“Assessment: They have quickly taken to their new lodging arrangements, master. I have warned them not to stray from their chosen location, for their own safety.” HK patted his gun, and composed himself quickly. “Analysis: There are many sealed passageways, and I am unable to detect what may be on the other side.”

Intrigued, Zillian gestured to the door behind HK. “Well maybe we should look into them once things have calmed down.”

“Revelation: I discovered an especially strange area, unlike anywhere else on the Gravestone. I had attempted to ascertain if any of its contents could be weaponized, but the new meatbag interrupted.” HK sounded almost disappointed, but he focused on the Hero in front of him.”Quarry: Any orders, master?”

Shaking his head, the knight started walking where he was headed, tring to ignore the fact that he had been in that exact room HK had mentioned. “Continue as you have now, HK.”

“Approval: I like your orders!” The HK series droid exclaimed, heading somewhere with a lighter step than usual, or maybe that was just in the ‘meatbags’ heads.

Walking further in the Gravestone led Zillian in the room he first was upon the ship’s reawakening. The Force was lingering, whispering, but not nearly as intensely as before. He closed his eyes, focusing, but footsteps pulled him out of it. From behind the central construction came Senya, boots clicking perfectly against the metal plates of the flooring.

“I know. I couldn't help but take this place in, either. Reminds me of a song I wrote.” She said softly, looking around the peculiar room.

“I haven’t heard you sing in many years, Lady Senya.” Zillian smiled, crossing his arms casually under his chest. “And I do not mean the five years I was in carbonite.”

“Probably because war plagued us both, and battles were all we ever did in our latest years.” Senya walked closer to Zillian, smiling, combing back a black lock away from his face. “Look at you, how you’ve grown. I wish I was there to see more of it… But I was serving Valkorion, I was serving Zakuul… Zillian I hope you do not feel discontent with me.”

“Never, Lady Senya.” Shaking his head, he leaned into the familiarity of that warm touch. “But I wonder if maybe that is a reason as to why Arcann is doing all this. I want to stop him, that much is obvious. But Lady Senya, what is driving you to oppose your own son?”

“Years after the death of Valkorion, most of the people of Zakuul are so afflicted with remorse and grief, that they don’t see what was really happening under Arcann’s reign.” Senya took a step back, shaking her head, disapproving visibly of what was happening. “My son has become oppressive and cruel. He'll crush anyone who doesn't share his plan for the galaxy, or stands in his way. You experienced that first hand.”

“I did… But I still have hope, Lady Senya.” The young knight stated, with conviction in his words.

“Hope?” Curious, and intrigued, Senya started pacing back to the cockpit with Zillian next to her. “Hope for what exactly?”

“Arcann. Maybe, somewhere in there, deep inside, I can reach out and grab the same boy I used to play in the swamp with.” Shaking his head, Zillian looked at Senya as they walked. “I don’t know if I can, I won’t be sure if I try, but I have heard of what Arcann has done to planets that aren’t following Zakuul until they break under his command, and I do not wish for him to continue in such a dark path.”

Smiling, but dropping it quickly, the female knight captain nodded. “Maybe if you hope for such a redemption, it is not impossible. I have personally seen what Arcann has done to those planets, and even if I don’t know much about them or their inhabitants, I don’t want any more planets to experience what he has caused so far.” Senya looked ahead, but stopped for a bit. “Zillian?”

Stopping as well, the young knight focused on his teacher. “Yes, Lady Senya?”

“I know you see Koth’s desertion as an act of kindness, but it was still a heavy betrayal against Zakuul. I saw your point, when you spoke before, but please be cautious of him. If I know you are, I can be more relaxed when he is also included.” When Zillian nodded, Senya smiled again and sighed with relief. “Good. Arcann betrayed you once, I won’t let another betrayal happen to you, not while I am here.”

Somewhere in the galaxy, between thick branches of trees, and foliage decorated with fireflies, cackled a fire. The flames caressed the freshly placed wood and rose up, its smoke waving against the night sky, and next to it was a small, thin, uncomfortable looking cushion. On top of the cushion though, was a woman, with short brunette hair, and several braids adorning her head. She wore jedi robes, and was focusing on something on the other side of the campfire.

“Valkorion lives. He is not himself, nor has he taken a new body. It is difficult to see…” a voice whispered next to her, a hooded figure, cladded in mystery.

“And yet it is unmistakable.” The woman said, following up to what the hooded man did.

Through the Force the man spoke again. “His presence in the Force has always been deceptive.”

“Like on the Yavin moon.” Standing up, the jedi lady just kept focusing in front of her, even if it had nothing more than trees and darkness.

“Yes, and many times before and since.” The spirit spoke up again, slowly taking form, taking the shape of a sith that was killed just five years prior. “Even when my life depended on it, I did not see him properly until it was too late.”

Darth Marr bowed to the woman, leaving them with a lot to discuss. About Valkorion, and his possibile new vessel that they knew absolutely nothing about.

Chapter Text

The Gravestone had managed to pick up the pace, flying towards the spaceport that Koth had mentioned. Asylum, Zillian spoke its name silently, trying to roll it off his tongue. It wasn’t a pleasant word to call, anything really, but it worked if someone, anyone, wanted the spaceport to be something that drove people away and not close. Koth was steadily docking the Gravestone when Senya joined them in the helm, watching the haven of refugees approach closer.

“Senya, I think you should notify your associates we have arrived.” Lana mentioned, looking up at the royal guard.

“They already know.” Senya said, looking at Zillian. “Trust me, they do.”

“Care to explain how?” Koth asked, already ticked off, even more so when Senya avoided his gaze. “Figures…”

“I think…” Senya started, looking at Koth directly this time. “It is better if they explain it themselves.”

“I have a feeling I won’t like the answer they will give…” Zillian crossed his arms, getting a familiar feeling of dread.

And in the midst of the small disagreement, there was HK-55, voicing his thoughts. “Demand: Are. We. There. Yet?”

Koth rolled his eyes, didn’t answer him, and just kept piloting. They passed through what looked to be mist, swirling, covering, cloaking the location of the spaceport pretty well. And there it was. It was haphazardly made, with rusty metal and people from all over the galaxy, but at least it was safe. The landing was rough to say the least, but they had survived, they were alive, and they couldn’t ask for anything else.

A bridge connected the ship to the port, lasers that kept it in place and acted as locks landed on the ship, and Zillian looked around, taking a few steps on the bridge and also taking in the view. The people were staring, both at the crew coming out of the Gravestone, and the ship on itself. One guy, big, muscular, pushed through the crowds with his own group, making his way through towards the Gravestone.

“Move it, gawkers! Let us through!” And when they did, he stared at the Gravestone as well. “Mighty fine ship you got there! We’ll be coming aboard.”

Zillian froze, brow furrowed, he had to hold himself back from instinctively reaching for his lightsaber. Koth helped, coming to his side and patting his shoulder. “Zillian, meet my crew! The best engine-burners in all of Wild Space.”

“This is your crew…” looking at them, the Knight nodded. “I see.”

“And they know all about you, wait until you meet them!” Koth grinned, motioning with his hand for the group to come to them. “Get up here, you mangy wooluks!”

And as the group swarmed the bridge, getting in the Gravestone, one of the men stopped right in front of Zillian. It was a guy that was right behind the one leading the group to the bridge, and one Koth seemed to be excited to introduce. The pilot came practically jumping to their side, grinning and pointing at the man with his thumb.

“Zillian, this is Ralo. Ralo, this is the Hero we have been talking about!” Koth gestured at Zillian with a bow and a courtesy. “The Light of Zakuul!”

“Please… Just… Just Zillian will do, no need for titles.” He waved his hands, looking up at Ralo. But beneath that admiration, he could also spot resentment. “Do I… Do I know you from somewhere?”

“You don’t even remember, do you?” Looking at Zillian dead in the eye, Ralo scoffed. “You might be Koth’s hero, and I have heard stories… But you will have to have more than a lightsaber and worn armor to prove you’re a hero to me.”

“E-Excuse me?” Stammering, Zillian took a step back, and even Koth looked surprised.

“I was on the ship, when you and your troopers came to raid it. You took Darth Marr, and bombed the remains. I was lucky to have crawled in an escape pod when I did…” huffing out a deep breath, Ralo walked past Zillian and Koth. “So, you will have to prove yourself more than simple stories.”

When Ralo followed the rest into the Gravestone, Koth panicked. He turned to Zillian, his face full of regret, one hand grabbing his head right on his goggles and the other on his waist. “I am so sorry.” He apologized. “I have no idea what got into him.”

“Don’t think about it Koth, it is not on you.” Zillian clenched his fists, biting the inside of his cheek. “It is on me… I might be a Hero to you, but to the people from the rest of the galaxy, I am just an invader that killed, slaughtered, raided, and enslaved their homes for the sake of our own empire.”

After a bit of awkward silence, the two were joined by Lana and Senya. Senya looked worried, while Lana was troubled. But neither of them touched the subject more than it needed to be discussed. Lana mentioned that she had to oversee some stuff with one of her contacts, privately, so she proceeded deeper into the port. And just when Zillian believed he could take a moment to himself, the big muscular guy that uniquely greeted them came out of the Gravestone and approached Koth.

“Len, what is it? You seem… Off.” Koth said, looking at his crewmate.

“Great ship, Captain. But it needs some repairs that we can’t do without Tora, and she hasn’t returned from her last supply run to the Free Zone…” the big guy mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. “I think she might be in trouble.”

“The Free Zone?” Zillian crossed his arms, looking at Koth or Senya to explain.

Koth spoke first. “It is a dodgy neighbourhood, one where they solve their problems with blasters, if you catch my drift.”

“It’s a black market.” Senya continued. “With rival gangs and syndicates arguing over who controls it.”

“She is definitely in trouble… And Lana just left. Damn it!” Koth ran his hands through his hair and tried to find a solution. “I can show the guys how to keep the Gravestone’s reactor stable and I can-”

“I will do it, Koth.” Zillian stepped forward and smiled. “You stay with your crew, show them the ropes. I can handle a rescue mission for one of your own.”

“Are you sure? I do not want to trouble you, and I hate sending you out there alone, but this is important and-” Koth was cut off by Zillian chuckling. “What is so funny?”

“I won’t be alone, and it is really not a problem Koth, I am doing this for you.” Zillian looked over at HK and Senya.

“Addendum: I will join you, master.” HK braced his weapon, ready for action. “Statement: I have Tora’s information and picture in my data banks for easier recognition.”

“It won’t be hard to find her, trust me…” Len said, still a bit awkwardly. “Tora has a… big personality.”

“What Len is trying to say, but subtly, is that Tora is surlier than a hungry rancor, but she's the best engineer you'll ever meet.” Koth walked up to Zillian and placed a hand on his forearm, squeezing. “Thanks again for the help, Captain.” A glare from Zillian, but a teasing one, was enough for Koth to clear his throat and correct himself. “Zillian. Thanks.”

Zillian and HK started leaving, but not before Senya stopped them right before entering an alleyway leading to what seemed to be the beginnings of the market.

“Good luck finding the girl Zillian, be careful.” With a few taps on her com, she sent Zillian a message. “And once you are done, come meet me at these coordinates. We will have to talk to some of our people.”

“I do not like the sound of that Lady Senya…” Zillian sighed, but nodded. “But alright, I will meet up with you there once I am done. Let’s get going HK.”

And with that their paths split. Koth remained back in the Gravestone, repairing what could be repaired, and keeping the reactor of the ship steady. Senya set off for her mysterious contact, which by the second Zillian could understand who it was, or better of who they were. Meanwhile HK followed the Knight faithfully, going through some poorly built bridges, under some rubble, and finally when the market and residential areas finished, the Free Zone started spreading its grounds.

Koth’s warning on everyone having a blaster in hand for a solution wasn’t an over exaggeration, it was the truth. No matter who they asked for info, a blaster was pointed at Zillian’s head, or sometimes even shoved in his stomach. HK was about to kill most assailants, but Zillian ordered him to keep them alive and just knock them out. Disappointed, the droid set his rifle to stun, and they managed to deal with everyone they came across with minimal casualties. Deeper into the Free Zone, they reached what seemed to be resembling a cantina, where a gang going by the name Blast Crew was located.

In front of them stood a door, and when Zillian tried to push it open, HK lifted his gun up.

“Query: Would you like me to blast this door open master?” HK-55 asked, hoping Zillian would tell him yes.

Shaking his head, the Knight focused on the waves of the Force, pushing the door and the barricade behind it open. “I think I got this under control HK, no need for property damage.”

As they walked in, some men were ready to come at them, but a male weequay stopped them with a wave of his hand. “You could've just knocked. My men spent hours on that barricade.” He mentioned casually, in a calm tone, heartfelt, joking around even if Zillian and HK-55 had broken into his hideout.

“Worry not, I am pretty sure they can rebuild it if necessary.” Smiling, Zillian looked at the barricade he had taken apart with just a force push. “It seems like a good pastime if you are not out there kidnapping others.”

“Hah!” A blue haired woman in the middle of the opposing group laughed, snorted a little bit at the end of it too.

HK, with his firearm now put away, pointed at her. “Identification: That snort issued from the brilliant engineer we were sent to rescue, master.”

“Thank you for the pointer, HK.” Zillian sighed, but smiled at the droid’s eagerness to assist him. He took a few steps forward, lightsaber turned off and on his hip, meaning no harm. “I am here for your hostage over there. I was sent by some of her friends to get her out of trouble, so if that trouble is with you, please, let me know what has transpired.”

“You…” crossing his arms, the gang leader chuckled. “You are something alright. First you come face to face with Aggo, he tries to sell me out, and you don’t even kill him. You spare whoever you could come here. You do not blow my door in my face. And instead of demanding the hostage, you are asking to make things right?”

Nodding, Zillian agreed with the man. “Precisely, if I can get her back while also fixing whatever happened between you two, I would appreciate it tremendously, mister...”

“Tanno, Tanno Vik.” He hummed, thinking about it. “Well for starters, she tried to rob me. Robbing is bad for business.”

“Charging fifty-thousand credits for a hundred thermal detonators? That's robbery!” Tora exploded, crossing her arms and huffing.

Tanno sighed. “You also insulted my mother.”

“I said she's uglier than a bantha wearing lipstick. It's not an insult if it's true.” Trying to earn sympathy, Tora looked over at Zillian.

“My mother died putting me on a refugee ship to Nar Shaddaa. I grew up an orphan.” Tanno looked over at Zillian as well. “See what I have to deal with here?”

Before Tora could say another thing, Zillian calmly took a breath. “I understand your frustrations. Sadly, I cannot deal with her insults. Most I can do is make her give you an empty apology, which won’t help anyone. But for the money, that I can cover.”

“You know… I heard people already spreading gossip and rumors of you coming here. But we thought that the Hero of the Eternal Empire would never grace backwater scum like us with his presence… Yet here you are, and your actions speak louder than anyone’s words.” Tanno crossed his arms and frowned. “I have dealt with many people, good and ugly, and to see a golden knight in a place like Asylum with your attitude, is beyond rare.”

“So, do we have a deal? I will pay what you were asking for the thermal detonators, and interest, and you let her go.” Zillian looked at Tora. “And I promise you that she won’t be an issue to you any further for as long as I am here.”

“I respect you, Hero of Zakuul, even if I do not respect your emperor, or your empire.” The weequay leader smiled and with a notion made his guild members release the hostage. “If you need weapons, or supplies from the Asylum, come and find me. I appreciate someone who can do good business like yourself.”

As they shook hands and credits were transferred, HK-55 and Zillian got out unscathed. Tora was mumbling under her breath, cursing at the robbery that was the amount of credits that Tanno asked for and took. Moreover she kept mentioning how ugly his mother was, and how he took after her, looks and personality, the whole package. Zillian turned to her, not to stop her, but to tell her the update on the situation.

“I have informed Koth of your safety. He is waiting for you at the docks with the rest of your crew.” Zillian put away his comlink, glancing at the coordinates Senya sent him once more.

“You're why the Captain risked his neck on Zakuul. Can't say I am impressed, 'Hero'.” The blue-haired woman narrowed her eyes, not pleased one bit, even if she had gotten the thermal detonators she wanted. “Spineless, aren’t you? Why couldn’t you just, I don’t know, try something drastic instead of talking to them?”

“Because sometimes a drastic course of action is not the best one to follow.” Zillian looked over at Tora and the packages they had just taken. “I suggest you go now, Koth will be waiting.”

“Yeah, yeah… As you wish, Hero.” Her voice was filled with doubt and sarcasm as she took her detonators and left.

“Redirection: We should proceed to the rendezvous with Senya, master.” HK mentioned after seeing him space out for a bit.

“Follow her HK, I want you to protect her from trouble as I promised Tanno.” Turning heel, Zillian started walking away from HK. “I will find Senya myself.”

As he walked Asylum’s streets, Zillian took out his lightsaber, weighing it in his hand. It floated, hovered just above his palm, and the crystal inside shone in the correct lighting. It made him frown. Normally, knights were given their sabers when they were admitted to the order of the Knights of Zakuul, but he was different. One night he was called by Valkorion at the Eternal Throne, he was just ten, sitting down with the Emperor and constructing what would be his weapon for every single war he waged.

He was special, people said. It was because he was a new hope for the people of Zakuul. And yet, now, after all those years, after all the events that transpired, all he felt was utter shame. The weapon he wielded was one of slaughter, and in the eyes of people outside of Zakuul he wasn’t a Hero, but a conqueror. In their eyes, he was no better than Arcann. The more he thought about it, the more the weight of his lightsaber took hold of him, making the cylindrical weapon fall in his palm right as he reached the end of his walk.

Senya wasn’t hard to find. She was meditating on a ledge outside of their meeting point. It was near the docks, so Zillian guessed that she must have patrolled the area first and then waited for them there. Koth had messaged him that HK-55 and Tora had made it back safe, and Zillian was sure he left out many details of Tora’s sourness. It didn’t matter; what Senya wanted him to do did.

“Right on time, as always. My friends have been looking forward to this.” Senya pressed some areas of a wall, revealing a secret passageway. “They’re inside, follow me.”

“Lady Senya… If inside is who I think it is, I really won’t like it.” Zillian crossed his arms, taking a defensive body stance, but still following his mentor.

You are free to leave whenever you like, and I promise no one will harm you for it. But they can help us, and if you want their help for our journey, you have to stay.” Senya guided him further inside, sensing his doubt and trying to sooth it.

“We have come this far. Let us see where it leads.” A known voice whispered behind Zillian, causing the Knight to snap his entire body in a turn, although he found nothing there.

“I needn't to remind you that before Arcann's betrayal, Zakuul was protected by two orders. Us, the Knights, and the Scions.” Senya sighed. “I know you won’t like this, Zillian, I know your stance with them. But I need you to trust me. They no longer serve Arcann, their visions could be helpful, we just need to prove to them that they can serve you instead.”

“Fate is a tale whispered to us by the Force. But the voices are silent about you, when once they were so loud. We must know why.” A voice that Zillian hadn’t heard in five years spoke up, and as the Knight turned to see the Scion, there was nothing.

“You don’t have to hide from me Heskal, this is not our first meeting…” Zillian said, pacing around the room cautiously. “Whatever you need to tell me, you can tell me in person, not from the shadows.”

“If we are to aid your rebellion, we must understand what role you play in Arcann's defeat.” Heskal wasn’t deterred by what Zillian had told him, instead he continued. “Once Arcann’s faithful Knight, now a Traitor or a Hero. We must test you, both physically and spiritually to pierce the veil and see the truth.”

Almost offended, Zillian opened his arms. “We can skip this Heskal! You have seen me in many trials ever since I was a kid, there is no need to repeat what has already been seen by your gaze, now is there?”

“Do not doubt the will of the Scions, child.” His voice echoed, now more distant. “These trials will be different.”

Two Scions appeared before them. “The Heart of Scyva is heavy with loss. In her pain, we lash out.” One of them recited, which caused Valkorion to chuckle.

“Ah, I do miss the old ways of Zakuul. Such mythology and pageantry.” The Immortal Emperor said with a smirk, obviously amused.

Senya on the other hand placed a firm hold on Zillian’s shoulder. “I will stand by you in these trials. I tie my fate to yours, for whatever is to come.”

The other Scion, a red haired woman, paced around and nodded in respect. “Please, defend yourselves.”

Their red lightsabers ignited to life, and started clashing with yellow and blue. Zillian and Senya fought back to back, like when she was teaching him about synchronization and following the lead of your partner in a fight. He remembered everything, from the most miniscule detail, even when it came to Scions and their fighting style. Soon the two were down, knocked unconscious, and Senya led Zillian silently to the upper floor of the enclave.

“Heskal, show yourself, this is pointless.” Tired, the Knight sheathed his lightsaber, hoping that he wouldn’t have to go through anymore fights.

“Such arrogance…” Heskal’s voice echoed again. “And yet, you feel empty. There is nothing inside you but guilt, sorrow, pain… But those are not enough. You might have spared those that posed a threat to you in the Free Zone, but what about the ones you slaughtered before in the Eternal Empire's name?”

Taking half a step back, Zillian looked around, trying to spot Heskal’s position. “You were watching me… Typical. I should have known.”

“You should know that we're always watching. Arcann took away years of your life, but he stole far more from the rest of us. Do you feel anything for those who suffered while you slept?” Heskal asked, waiting, prepared for the answer.

Clenching his fists, Zillian marched to the center of the room, still looking around to try and address Heskal properly. “Five years? This isn’t about the years, Heskal! But you wouldn’t understand. And of course I feel something for those who in my absence suffered, but I can’t do anything to change what has happened. All I can do is make sure Arcann gets what he deserves, and the people he wronged be redeemed.”

Crossing his arms behind his hiding spot, Heskal looked at the woman. “And you, Senya? What do you feel?”

Looking down, only one word made it out of Senya’s lips. “Shame…”

“Because you failed to protect our Immortal Emperor?” Heskal pressed on with more questions.

“I was in no position to do that.” Senya looked up, tense.

With venom in his voice, Heskal continued his questions relentlessly. “What of the Scions who were slaughtered by your fellow Knights because Arcann demanded it? Do you feel responsible for them?”

“When I joined the Knights, they were shields protecting our home world. Now they are weapons wielded by an insane child.” Senya looked at Zillian, locking eyes with yet another child she failed to protect. “The Knights shouldn’t have followed Arcann. We should have all rebelled against him. Instead, we have lost our honor… And Zillian, I am glad you at least weren’t there to see our downfall.”

Shaking his head, Zillian placed a hand on his chest, getting his lightsaber out upon seeing two more Scions coming forth from behind a pillar. “I am sorry that I wasn’t there, Lady Senya. Maybe it would have been a way to stop it. But the Knights are still comrades, and if I can help it, I will turn them on our side.”

“The Eyes of Esne claim what can never belong to her.” The woman that came from the pillar said, igniting her lightsaber.

Valkorion whispered again, trying to pretend as if his words were golden wisdom. “They speak of envy, my son’s weakness. Do not let it be yours.”

“We receive no pleasure from this trial, but we act as fate demands. Be strong, Hero.” The man said, twirling his lightsaber in hand.

And yet another fight started. Lightsabers clashed once more, but this time it was with more hesitation. Valkorion mentioned something that made Zillian wonder. He spoke of envy, and the Knight thought of all the moments of glory that he had stolen from Arcann because of the Immortal Emperor’s favor. So within the heat of battle, Zillian could think of only one thing; was he the cause of Arcann’s downfall?

Back at the Gravestone, upon Tora and HK’s arrival, repairs were happening at lightning speed. Koth was observing Tora, seeing her mumble several things under her breath, but ultimately she looked up from where she was working, wrench in hand, waving it towards Koth.

“It's a miracle this thing hasn't exploded a thousand times over after what you put it through!” She exclaimed, making Koth roll his eyes.

“It's not a miracle if it's meant to be. I'm living proof that all you need is faith.” Koth pointed at himself with his thumb, winking at his friend.

Tora stood up and cleaned her hands on her pants. “Uh-huh. I'd say you're living proof that Miss Spooky Eyes is a lot more patient than she looks.” She walked past Koth, looking at him from behind her shoulder. “And I don’t know if it’s meant to be, or just your knight in shining armor helping you.”

“Isn't there anything you still need to fix around here?” Koth asked, watching her leaning against the wall and popping a gumball in her mouth.

Tora just shook her head and chuckled. “Nope, I’m just too good at my job~”

But before Koth could say anything, Lana had rushed in with HK-55 in tow. The droid seemed alert, and the sith lady didn’t seem at ease either. Koth pieced together the pieces and concluded that their tension must have something to do with Senya and Zillian’s rendezvous with whatever mysterious group they were seeing.

“Koth. HK told me that Zillian ordered him to follow Tora here, and not escort him to Senya's location.” Lana stated, placing her hands on her hips. “They have been gone for quite a while, I start to worry.”

“I thought you trusted Senya.” Koth mentioned, crossing his arms across his chest. “What is there to worry about?”

“I trust Senya, and given her past with Zillian she isn’t the danger I am concerned about. Her contacts are.” Lana looked over to HK. “HK, do you still have those coordinates?”

“Statement: I never had them master Beniko, but I do have them memorized.” HK readied his weapon, ready as ever. “Do you wish to follow them?”

“I do.” Lana nodded, pointing at Koth. “Get ready Koth, I start to really worry about our Hero.”

Back at the enclave Senya and Zillian proceeded to the next room. A hall, more empty than the rest, hosting a hologram of Arcann in the middle, who ignited its lightsaber the moment the two knights made it into the room. Senya placed a protective arm in front of Zillian, waiting for Heskal to talk, not wanting her apprentice to make any hasty decisions.

“You seek to remove Arcann from the Eternal Throne. To right his wrongs. As well you should.” Heskal’s echoing voice made it through once again. “His destiny is to fall, we have foreseen that much. But his final fate remains unclear. When he is at your mercy, what will you do?”

Zillian slowly approached the holo of the masked prince, standing there, in front of it. The question made circles in his mind, repeating itself upon many situations. If he could go against Arcann now, what would he do? If he could go against Arcann when the prince killed the emperor, what would he do? And what if he could betray Arcann back in the wars they waged together as allies, what would he do? Shaking his head, Zillian frowned, finding only one answer inside of him right enough for his old friend’s fate.

“His fate will be dictated when we face him. Fate isn’t something you can just outright foresee, it changes, it shifts, afflicted by the world’s events.” Tightening his jaw, Zillian looked at Senya. “I will try to save Arcann, whatever it takes. Call it false heroics, arrogance, or hopeless hope. But there, somewhere, is the boy I used to trust more than anyone in the world, and I do not believe I have lost him completely just yet.”

“Arcann will never face justice for what he has done…” Senya walked forward, looking at Arcann’s hologram, frowning, pensive.

“A thousand Scions lie dead because of him. Blood calls out for blood. Do you agree?” Heskal waited, watching as the duo’s positions shifted. “Answer us.”

But before an answer could be made, Valkorion made his presence known momentarily again. “They question her commitment to them... Because they cannot foresee it. Ask yourself why.” Valkorion let out a breathless chuckle. “She always had a soft spot for you, above all other Knights you were like a son to her, a son she hoped she wouldn’t fail.”

“If you are not with us, you stand against the tides of destiny. Arcann and Vaylin must die.” Heskal’s voice sounded closer, and Zillian gripped his lightsaber at the sound of it. “Answer us, Senya.”

“You can leave Lady Senya out of this…” Zillian muttered protectively, but from the shadows Heskal made his presence finally known.

He jumped down, disarmed Senya and knocked her down on her back, rendering her unconscious. “She tied her fate to yours, and yours to her. We must leave nothing to remain uncertain.” Heskal ignited his own lightsaber and approached Zillian. “I will know your fate, even if I must tear you open to see it.”

Igniting his lightsaber, Zillian took a deep breath and looked over his shoulder, both at Senya and at Arcann’s holoprojection that flickered away. “You know Heskal…” the Knight slowly turned around, looking coldly at the Scion. “I didn’t side with Arcann on many things, but one thing I did agree with him was you. Fate, destiny, you all bind people to those values and forget that choices exist. So if you are so set on tearing me open to see my destiny, come and do it, maybe I will stay alive enough to see it myself.”

And the duel between Scion and Knight started. They clashed their sabers, several more Scions observing from all around them, standing still, eyes pinned on both combatants. But Zillian was obviously the more experienced fighter, so when he tried to disarm Heskal he thought it would be easy, flawless… Before his disarm could even land, time stopped, everything seemed to freeze, and Valkorion appeared next to the Knight again.

“His argument with you is pointless and destructive. I can end this without any more bloodshed if you accept the gift of my power once more.” He spoke as if the first time was natural, like it was fate, meant for it to happen. He expected nothing less of the Knight for the second time, but destiny had other plans in mind.

“No.” Shaking his head, Zillian just gripped his lightsaber harder. “I won’t give in to your help again, Valkorion. The last time was enough… I can handle this myself.”

Zillian’s voice was harsh, any kind of respect or loyalty he had for Valkorion wasn’t so ingrained in his words anymore, there was suspicion, doubt, and the Emperor took notice of that. “As you wish…” he bitterly said. “Stop wasting time then, and reveal his fate.”

Resuming time, and the fight, Zillian clashed lightsabers against Heskal a couple more times. Eventually, when time was right, he twisted his body enough, ducked under the swing the Scion took against him, and disarmed his lightsaber, kicking it away and elbowing Heskal in the gut to make him fall down. It was then that Senya found her senses again, slowly standing up to Zillian hovering over Heskal with his lightsaber still on.

His mentor rushed to his side, concerned. “Do not judge him harshly. This trial was necessary for all of us. Please, do not kill him. We need the Scions.”

“I wasn’t planning to.” Deactivating his lightsaber, Zillian took a few steps back and looked at all the Scions. “If you want to help us defeat Arcann, I am in no position to say no. But I won’t sit here and listen to what you call fate and destiny. I will determine what mine is myself.”

Heskal rose to his feet, dusting off his robes and looking at the Traitor of Zakuul. He waited, knowing this wasn’t the end of their charade. Right on cue the crew from the Gravestone stormed the floor, his Scions lit up their lightsabers, and Zillian looked at him with a spark of reason. He was willing to play the Hero’s game, at least for a bit to entertain him.

With one wave of his hand, the Scions put away their weapons, and Heskal cleared his throat, straightening his posture. “Every moment since you entered, even this one, was predestined. Everyone here played the role fate assigned them.” He turned to Zillian fully, locking eyes with the Knight. “I ask you a final question: what future do you see for this galaxy when Arcann and his Eternal Fleet are gone?”

Shaking his head, the Knight hung his head low. “I cannot answer that Heskal. I am not the only one that will determine the future of the galaxy, for all I know I will die before I get to see it. But if I am hopeful, I want to see a galaxy where the Empire of Zakuul harmonizes with the rest of the world, and lives in peace within the galaxy.” Placing a hand over his chest to show sincerity, Zillian lifted his head to look at Heskal. “When time comes, we can work towards a better future, together.”

“He will not live to do that.” Valkorion mocked, his voice passing through like a breeze of wind.

“You have nothing further to reveal. I now know what blinded us to the future. Our Immortal Emperor lives…” Heskal paused, gasping a bit for air. “Inside your mind.”

Lana walked forward. “It couldn’t stay a secret forever, although I hoped it would for a bit more.”

“You knew about this?” Koth asked her, and then he looked at Zillian, troubled. “You told her and not me?”

“I didn’t even tell Senya, Koth. I told Lana as a gesture of good faith…” smiling a bit, he tried to shake off yet another feeling of dread. “I thought you’d panic if I told you that Emperor Valkorion is alive inside my head.”

“Well… Um…” Koth rubbed the back of his head and sheepishly chuckled. “You wouldn’t be wrong.”

“Analysis: Scan reveals no evidence you possess a secondary personality matrix, master. It is possible your brain is simply malfunctioning.” HK interjected, making Zillian chuckle as well, as he exchanged looks with Koth.

Heskal took a step forward and nodded. “Our duel gave me a glimpse of what's to come. You will destroy the Eternal Throne... But many will suffer before that victory.”

“More vague sayings Heskal, that is all I am getting.” Crossing his arms, Zillian looked at the Scion. “If I can avoid that, I will. None will suffer needlessly if it is in my hand.”

“You don’t get to decide that, Traitor of Zakuul.” Heskal shook his head, scowling at their different views. “What must be, will be.”

“Doesn’t matter, this means we win!” Koth grinned, looking at Lana. “If Emperor Valkorion lives thanks to the Hero of Zakuul, there’s still hope!”

Lana closed her eyes. “Your beloved Immortal Emperor is a threat to all life, everywhere.” She then slowly looked at Zillian. “We must find a way to separate you from him.”

“I agree, Lana…” sighing Zillian held his head, rubbing his temples, feeling a headache rising. “But it isn’t going to be that simple, and until we find a way to do this, we have to focus on the war we have to fight.”

“We have a lot to discuss…” Lana trailed off, but took one good look at the Scions. “But not here, and not now. Time and place for everything.”

“Agreed.” Zillian gave her a small smile, and then looked at Heskal. “If you join us is up to you, Heskal. But I am done with this. I passed your trials, I completed them. Now I will be leaving.”

And he did, the whole group in tow, even Senya who hesitated a bit to follow. Koth didn’t argue with her at all until they reached the Gravestone, but when they did, and the four of them were alone, Senya took a deep breath and addressed the situation further.

“Zillian, besides my trust in you… I had to follow you through the trials for one more reason…” she shamefully looked down as she was the sole focus of Zillian, Lana and Koth. “So I could have hope, that the Knight I helped Valkorion raise, would maybe have a bit of faith in Arcann and Vaylin… In my children…”

Koth seemed surprised, Lana kept a stoic expression, but Zillian walked towards Senya and gave her a hug, surprising the female Knight. She didn’t say anything, he didn’t either. His hug just tightened for a bit and he released it moments later, bowing respectfully to his mentor. He respected Senya, more than anyone, and if he could be the beacon of hope she needed, then so be it.

At the Eternal Throne, Arcann was listening to Vaylin’s report, coming from some Knights of Zakuul that observed the fight in the swamp from above. The emperor leaned forward, fingers intertwined together, confused. Their mother always had interest in Zillian, she helped him rise to a perfect Knight because father had ordered so, but what if it was more than just that?

“You’re certain she helped them?” Arcann asked, finding it hard to do so.

“I killed three Knights to make sure they weren’t lying, and then another three because I hate odd numbers.” Vaylin shrugged. “Your Traitor escaped in the Gravestone with our mother’s help. She’s against us.”

“Senya was always strong-willed. That’s why father loved her…” Arcann trailed off a bit, thinking about that, about love.

“Is love betrayal? Maybe that is why you betrayed your friend~” Vaylin smirked when Arcann looked at her annoyed. “Do you think she knows he's alive? Has she betrayed us for him?”

Arcann tapped his metallic fingers against the throne, sitting back, looking at Vaylin. “It doesn’t matter. She’ll return to us, or face the consequences.”

“We don't need them. Our parents gave us the power to forge the future. They should've known we'd use it.” Vaylin turned her back on Arcann, ready to leave, but another thought came to her. “But Zilly has the same power now. Mother at his side, father in his head… He might be a consequence for us, brother.”

Arcann closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the throne. If Zillian proved to be a consequence, he’d deal with it. Love was something that wouldn’t cloud his judgement, something that he hadn’t felt in years ever since he was a teen. He had thrown that emotion aside and learned to navigate life without it, and he’d continue to do so, for it was a mere weakness, a compromise for his power he’d never make.

Chapter Text

The group remained in Asylum, repairing the Gravestone, and trying to upgrade the ship as much as their understanding allowed them to. A couple of days passed without incidents, with Tanno Vik upholding his promise and letting them buy any supplies they might need. Funnily enough, because he liked Zillian and his attitude, he offered them at a discounted price. But doubts lingered, and Lana and Koth decided to address them; mainly Koth.

“Listen… You two, I imagine there are concerns…” Senya stood calmly in the pilot’s cabin of the Gravestone, looking mainly at Koth.

“I can think of a few, but the main one is… How do you expect us to believe that you can fight or even kill your own children?” Koth crossed his arms, frowning. “You are their mother for crying out loud.”

“I can't deny my responsibility for what Vaylin and Arcann have become. I have to end their bloodshed. I never wanted my children to end that way…” Senya looked downwards, frowning, furrowing her brows. “None of them… But outside of my control, Vaylin and Arcann became tyrants, my other son is dead… And Zillian is now being haunted by Valkorion. All I am asking, Koth, is the belief that I want to make things right.”

Zillian joined them, appearing from behind Koth and Lana. “You must understand…” he started. “That Vaylin and Arcann weren’t like that. They were normal kids once, laughed, played, kicked mud puddles around… But things changed once Emperor Valkorion started his war campaigns… I trust Senya, and I hope you can find it in you to do it as well, Koth.”

“She lied to us, and it isn’t the only thing that bothers me…” Koth ran one hand through his hair. “When Valkorion was in charge, he wasn't fixated on waging war. If we can get him back on the throne…”

“You are wrong.” Zillian clenched his fists, looking away from Koth, not standing to look at his hurt look. “Valkorion created propaganda, excusing Zakuul’s actions, making it look like we had defended ourselves multiple times against invaders or whatnot. But that wasn’t the case Koth, it never was.”

Taking a step back, shocked, Koth blinked and looked over at Zillian from head to toe. “What… What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that I haven’t killed for defending Zakuul nearly as many times as I have murdered and slaughtered in the name of our Emperor so he could conquer a defenseless world to feed his ego.” Taking a breath, feeling his lungs burning, Zillian mustered up the courage to finally look at Koth; might as well do so as he crushed his world. “Arcann, Thexan and I, we fought on many battlefields, saw much bloodshed… But none as severe as what Arcann is doing now.”

“Valkorion is a world devourer, Koth.” Lana added. “Trust me Koth, you do not want that monster on the Eternal Throne again.”

“You don’t know him as I do, Lana!” Lost, Koth tried to defend what couldn’t be defended anymore. “But…” he paused and looked at Senya and Zillian. “If what Zillian said is true… I will need a moment, sorry.”

After that, the pilot left, trying to stomach all the newfound information. A couple days later their reconciliation got disturbed by a message from T7 who was still back on Zakuul, claiming that someone who could help them against Arcann was someone called ‘The Lady of Sorrows’ that was in search of the Gravestone, claiming that she could go as far as to even communicate with the ship. So they decided to split, with Lana and Koth remaining on the Gravestone and Asylum, while Zillian and Senya would go back to Zakuul to follow their lead with a shuttle provided by the port.

Zillian had zoned out, meditating somewhere quiet in the shuttle until it was time to get off, that is when he heard it. “A love the hand of Tyth could not deny…” Senya’s voice, singing.

“I haven’t heard that song in so many years…” the Knight whispered under his breath, following Senya inside a secret entrance, which was actually a simple sewage pipe. “But why sing now of all moments, Lady Senya?”

“Why not?” Senya turned around and smiled. “Plus, even if I sing, it shouldn’t worry you. Singing would be the last thing that would attract attention. The Old World is a unique place all of its own, sometimes I visited it dressed as a simple civilian, which held its own dangers of course. As you know, it is a place filled with criminals, so it will be easy for us to fit right in as we are now.”

“I remember about the Old World… I have been down there only once, or twice.” Zillian kept following Senya, not even turning around to see the shuttle that brought them there departing. “It was Emperor Valkorion’s first attempt at creating a grand society, but it devolved into an Underworld society with its own rules, and rulers.”

“You remember our history lessons.” Senya smiled, trying to find a hidden switch on the door obstructing them from going further in. “To him it was a failed attempt, not nearly grand enough. But it still remains a part of Zakuul’s history.”

“Speaking of Zakuul’s history… Lady Senya, I have to ask.” Snickering a bit from nervousness, Zillian looked at his mentor. “How did you and Valkorion meet?”

“Oh it isn’t that much of a story, really. We met after I earned a place in his elite guard. I never hesitated to speak my mind, which... Caught his attention I suppose.” Senya smiled at the fond memories. “He was fascinating. Bold. Always completely certain of his next step.”

“Reminds me of… Someone…” Zillian trailed off, his cheeks flaring slightly pink.

Knowingly, Senya nodded. “Yes, he has more in common with Valkorion than what he thinks. So did I, we had a fair bit in common. What we had wasn't a child's notion of romance, but... We were happy. Then Arcann, and Thexan were born.” She gestured at Zillian, with a sad smile on her face. “And you. You know the rest, of how I struggled with the boys. They wanted nothing to do with me, moreso Arcann than Thexan, and Valkorion wanted nothing with them. They strived to earn his attention, and always failed.”

Nodding, remembering moments, Zillian frowned. “I remember that yes… Arcann always glared at me after a certain age, and didn't want to even talk… But Thexan, as he grew up, became kinder. I remember him asking about you, but being ignored, and I was ordered to not reply to any of his questions. It felt cruel, but back then I thought that I couldn’t not follow every order Valkorion gave me.”

“His mind was somewhere else as the boys grew up. He barely spoke to them, or to me, barely acknowledged any of us for weeks at a time.” Senya focused her gaze on Zillian. “But he never once held that stance to you. He always spoke with you, acted like a father… That made me think that maybe, the man I fell in love with was there, somewhere.”

Taking that as a punch in the gut, Zillian bit his lip and looked away in shame. “I am sorry Lady Senya… I never once wanted-”

“It wasn’t your fault, you were a child, Zillian. A child I saw as mine while training you and helping you grow.” Going to a nearby railing, Senya supported himself and looked down below at the running water. “And to top it all off... Vaylin was born. She was troubled from the very beginning.”

“I remember… Vaylin joined us, in hunts, in fights… But she was always so, well, it looked like competitiveness to us back then. Like she wanted to be one with us, the boys…” closing his eyes, Zillian vividly remembered Vaylin’s cries one night. “But then… I remember her crying one night, and she was never seen again on Zakuul for a long, long time.”

“Vaylin was a danger to herself, and to others… Arcann and Thexan, even with you, they understood restraint and boundaries… Not my daughter. And when I saw Valkorion giving you his undivided attention, I snapped.” Senya gripped the rusty pipe under her gloved hands, tightly, so much that if her knuckles were showing they’d be pale white. “I told him that his daughter needed help, that his sons needed him in their lives… But all he did was find a solution that fitted his agenda. He caged Vaylin’s mind, locking away most of her powers and sense of self… And the rest of us? We were outright ignored.”

Not able to look at his master anymore, Zillian focused on his shoes, shuffling his feet around. “Valkorion simply told me that it was tough love back then, that it was the only way Arcann and Thexan would learn to be independent… But looking back at it… Hah, I was a fool for even believing him.”

Shaking her head, Senya turned around and grabbed the young Knight by his cheeks. “No… No Zillian, you weren’t a fool. You were a young boy, orphaned, and in need of love and care. Valkorion provided you it, for whatever his reasons might have been, and you, naturally, wanted to believe his every word. It didn’t matter if it made sense, to you it was the truth… And that’s okay.” She smiled, pushing back some strands of black hair that covered Zillian’s eyes. “One day… I tried to tell the kids to follow me, to leave with me… But they all called me weak, a coward. You know my children, they are powerful, more powerful than me, especially together. So… I left. I couldn’t force them to go. And you? Valkorion wouldn’t even allow me to come close to you to ask you to run with me.”

“I don’t know if I would have… Lady Senya… All you have gone through… And now-” he was cut off, by Senya giving him a tight hug. “Is that why you left back then?”

He remembered one morning, in his mid teens, waking up and not finding Senya anywhere. He had asked Arcann, and was met with a scowl, while Thexan just gave him silence. When Valkorion was asked, he smiled, and told him that Senya had to leave for some very important missions regarding our empire, leading front lines in important battles… And Zillian believed him, and oh how he wished he didn’t.

“I transferred to the Knight's enforcement division and took assignments at the outer fringes of our empire. Valkorion never spoke another word to me, and naturally, neither did the kids.” Taking a deep breath, Senya held back her tears, wanting to still appear like the strong mentor Zillian needed. “Since then, the only way I had managed to see my children, and you, were public broadcasts. Like your royal captain ceremony, Arcann's return from Korriban... Thexan's funeral. My boy, killed in the Core Worlds... And I hadn't managed to even say goodbye. I doubt they even remember me.”

“Thexan’s fu-” Zillian was interrupted by the door opening, a smile returning to his face upon seeing who it was behind it. “T7, my little astromech savior.”

Senya turned around and chuckled. “Well, hello there little one.”

The droid let out a series of beeps, roughly translating to: “You = welcome” and “T7 = ready to assist with mission!”

“What updates do you have for us, T7?” Zillian asked, keeping in the back of his head to inform Senya about Thexan, once the conversation brought it up again.

“Lady of Sorrows = difficult to locate.” The first series of beeps said, followed by a second wave. “Operations base = undetermined.”

Placing both of his hands on his waist, Zillian shook his head. “Koth was right to wish us luck before we left…”

“The Lady of Sorrows is wanted for murder and theft of state secrets, among other charges. The Knights have hunted her for years. No one's come close.” Senya grabbed her chin. “It is rare for someone to evade a Knight’s justice.”

“Then we will find her together.” Zillian walked up to T7, head patted the small droid, until Senya’s next question made his blood run cold.

“Is it…” the woman stammered, darting her eyes left and right. “Is it possible for me to talk to him? To Valkorion?”

Zillian stood up, started to walk forward, followed by T7. “That’s… Not how it works exactly. But if there is a way for you to talk to him, and I find out about it… I will let you know, Lady Senya.”

As they progressed, the creatures occupying the sewers didn’t make their trip easy. T7 had to electrocute plenty of creatures, while Senya and Zillian cut others down, causing the sewers to not only smell of dirty water and waste, but also rot and blood. But soon they made it out, and Senya managed to get them past a final gate, locked away with a passcode terminal. In front of their eyes spreaded an underground city, similar to Asylum, with shops, car lanes, elevators, and residential areas. People were walking around, talking, it almost didn’t feel like a criminal infested minefield.

“This is the Old World as most Zakuulans know it nowadays. Just a place to mingle with the rabble, and then go home to brag about it. They look at it like one big party.” Senya looked around at the flickering lights, the high buildings, the traffic lights. “I have a contact around here, an informant. I will have to go, alone. I won’t be long.”

Nodding, understanding of her position, Zillian smiled. “Just be careful, Lady Senya.” And as he watched her leave, his gaze turned to T7. “Guess it’s just me and you, huh, T7?”

“T7 = tapping Old World surveillance feeds. Mission = dangerous.” The original beeping sequence was calm, but then T7 beeped excitedly. “You + T7 = guaranteed success!”

Glad that T7 wanted to work with him, Zillian kept walking around the Old World. It didn’t feel any different, in fact it felt pretty normal. Sure, it didn’t have the bright white marbled buildings with the golden accents, or the sun shining on the city, but the people were just the same. Yes, they were more reserved and suspicious of strangers, but they were welcoming, greeting one another with grins and smiles.

As he passed by the marketplace, or at least what looked like it, with several stalls and shops, a young man came up to him and gave him a drink, telling him to relax. Of course he politely rejected, but the thought of this ‘world’ being looked down by the rest of Zakuul just because it wasn’t as grandiose made Zillian sick to his stomach.

When they passed a stall, T7 beeped. “T7 = detects contact nearby, Contact = droid.” He turned around to Zillian with a sad beep, its head lowered. “T7 = sorry + will return shortly.”

“Don’t worry T7, do what you have to do.” Smiling Zillian saw the droid rolling away, and there he was, alone in the Old World, although not really alone.

“I had always intended to visit the Old World. I thought I would have the time. Delightful.” Valkorion’s voice echoed in his head, without a physical projection this time.

Zillian didn’t entertain him that time, he remained silent.

“And you made Senya place her trust in you and your associates, fascinating.” The Immortal Emperor continued. “What do you think, my boy?”

Hearing Valkorion call him that, after everything that had come to light, it made Zillian’s throat dry up. “Well…” he started, taking a turn in an alley and finally seeing the Emperor’s physical projection. “I think she made the right choice.”

“Optimistic, aren’t you? Unusual for someone like you Zillian… But if you want to think like that, I cannot stop you.” Valkorion sensed a presence nearby and vanished.

Zillian didn’t think much of it, he shook it off and kept walking, taking turns and managing to drift further away from the noise of the central area. He leaned over a ledge, watching the cars pass by, some speeding, others driving at a relaxed pace. His eyes wandered around, and his mind drifted to childhood again, thinking that the twins and he would have had a blast exploring this underground Zakuul… And the Knight would probably drag him uptown once they found out they were skipping practice again.

The Knight was alerted by T7, rolling behind him and beeping. “Contact = highly informative. Valuable data feed location = identified.” He then added some more high pitched excited beeps. “You + T7 = almost done!”

For a second he felt uneasy, like someone was watching… But then again, Valkorion was always watching so he blamed it on that. He let T7 guide him to the relays and data feed locations he wanted them to acquire, not thinking that someone was following them, and eavesdropping on their conversation. The Knight focused on the task T7 gave him, protecting the little droid from any onlookers, and storing a backup of any info they got just in case something happened.

After a few different locations, T7 stopped and turned to Zillian. “Mission = complete! T7 = moving on to secondary objectives. You + T7 = great team!”

Chuckling at the droid's excitement, Zillian got on his knees to pet its top, and that is when he got a patched call from his comlink. “If you can read me, I made some new friends. Could use a hand.”

“As long as they are not Scions.” Zillian stood up and sighed, a smile still on his face. “I am on my way, hang tight.”

T7 waddled from one foot to the other. “T7 = beginning next mission. You + T7 = meet on Gravestone later. You + Senya = good luck!” The astromech exclaimed, and set off for his own personal objective.

Navigating to Senya’s coordinates wasn’t hard, and finding her was even easier. She was fighting some masked individuals outside a bar, earning the attention of many people that were just passing by. Zillian joined her to fend them off faster, not expecting the loud cheering from the small crowd that had occupied a corner near the location of the fight.

“Who were they?” Zillian asked, sheathing his lightsaber away.

Senya sheathed away hers as well. “Heralds of Zildrog. Cultists longing for the return of their god.” She explained, looking down at the unconscious bodies. “Used to be just a nuisance, now they’re militant.”

Ignoring the cheers and yelling, Zillian looked over at Senya. “I hope those weren’t your friends.”

Shaking her head, the woman walked behind the counter and spotted a man, scared, trembling. “There you are.” As she approached him, he crawled away, hands behind his back, bottom dragging on the floor. “Siccing Heralds on me, Reg? Not too bright.”

“It wasn't me!” The man named Reg exclaimed, raising his hands up. “The Heralds run the Old World now. They made a deal.”

“A… Deal?” Arching his brow, Zillian approached them and crossed his arms. “With who?”

“With… With Arcann.” Reg stammered. “Heralds keep crime down, and the Knights keep out. You stick around, they'll blame it on me. You two gotta go!”

Senya didn’t back down, even after she heard that, demanding info. “Tell me where the Lady of Sorrows is first, and then we’ll go.”

Widening his eyes, the man looked at Senya as if she had a second head. “Some kind of joke, right? I'll take my lumps from the Heralds over the Lady any day.”

“And where do I fit in that list?” Senya didn’t let the man speak, she caused him to choke with the Force, lifting him up a bit and dropping him again, just enough to shake him up. “You know what I can do Reg. Need another reminder?”

Zillian walked behind Senya, frowning a bit, but knowing to not interrupt a Knight’s interrogation. When the woman lifted her hand up, Reg tensed. “Wait, wait!” He gulped back, swallowing a knot at the back of his throat. “I was gonna say that you don't want to mess with the Lady. Then I was gonna say that it's your prerogative!” The man stumbled a bit but got up on his own, looking at Senya. “You’ve always been square with me, so I will be square with you. No need to hit me.”

“Could you tell us her location?” Zillian chimed in, tilting his head as he asked.

Shaking his head, the man coughed a bit, finding his breath. “No, but I know who you can talk to if you need the Lady. There's a data seller at Market Station. Her name is Mona Gale, and she works with the Lady of Sorrows all the time.”

“Mona Gale… Alright.” Senya nodded. “Sorry for this. Let’s go, Zillian.”

And the two knights departed, going to the Market Station to try and find Mona Gale. Hopefully she would be easier to find than the Lady of Sorrows, and hopefully they wouldn’t run into more cultists while minding their own business.

Hurrying past some Knights of Zakuul without stabbing them, Vaylin appeared before her brother with a smile on her lips. Sinister and teasing per usual she tried to hold back herself from outright annoying Arcann. She observed her brother, and when their eyes looked she chuckled and marched forward, her cape flowing with her every step.

“Guess who I found~” she said in a singing tone, swaying her body as she did.

Arcann rolled his eyes and sighed. “Our Traitor?”

Vaylin huffed, crossing her arms, pouting. “You could at least pretend to guess…” she kicked the air with her shoe, but quickly returned to her smirk. “Right under our noses too, in the Old World.”

“Alone?” Arcann readjusted in his throne, the feeling of it still foreign under his weight.

“Oh, no~ That’s the best bit.” mused the High Justice, pacing in a small pattern around the catwalk of the Eternal Throne. “Mother is here too~ Guess she couldn’t leave her actual favorite child alone in the cold, dark, scary Old World of Zakuul~”

Arcann stayed quiet… Thinking, trying to wrap his head around everything. His mother and best friend had gone into his empire just like that, that made them either fearless or idiots… But they were in the Old World… And there were so many dangers there, besides him.

Vaylin noticed her brother’s silence, snapping him out of his thoughts with a couple snaps of her fingers. “Shouldn't we go say hello? It’s the polite thing to do~”

“Why would they escape only to return?” Arcann narrowed his eye, trying to make sense of the situation. “Let them do what they came here for. I'll see that they don't dawdle.”

Huffing out, Vaylin placed both hands on her waist, leaning a bit forward to glare at her brother. “Are you being lenient with them because you are full of yourself, or is it because you are going soft for Zilly?”

“What?” Arcann barked out, offended, his hands gripping the handles of the throne.

“All I am saying is that we could get rid of our problems right now, and you are delaying… I will pass my time, you should enjoy your chair.” Fixing her hood, Vaylin turned around and walked away, leaving Arcann alone with his thoughts.

Senya and Zillian had walked all the way to the Market Station. A crowd gathered, cheering and yelling about bets earned their attention. The two Knights got closer, and they were out of the blue watching a holo match of what seemed to be wrestling. People were yelling curses, cheers, or even advice that obviously couldn’t be heard. A guy with short hair and black circle glasses seemed extremely upset when one wrestler lost, and with annoyance written all over his face proceeded into one of the tram carts repurposed for the match’s bets.

“Sixteen thousand, Mister Wendan.” The woman behind the counter said, with a smile on her face, as if his sour expression made hers all the more sweet.

“Six in a row. Random match-ups. You have to have an in, Mona. Tell me.” He pleaded, loud enough for the Knights to hear him considering their proximity, but they still kept their distance.

“Enough data at your disposal and anything's possible.” Smiling and pocketing her earnings, Mona leaned over the counter. “Want to see if seven's your lucky number?”

That is when Senya intervened, leaning against the entrance and looking at the possible transaction. “Scamming citizens isn’t legal, Mona Gale.” She said sternly, walking up to the counter, Zillian humbly following her lead.

Shrugging her shoulders, Mona seemed uninterested in whatever Senya had to say. “I'm not scamming anyone, and Knights have no authority here.” She stated bluntly, crossing her arms under her chest, side eyeing the male Knight.

“Yes you are, and you also have no right to talk to a Knight like that.” Senya stepped in, making the vendor focus on her. “The Lady of Sorrows, where is she?”

“If I knew where to find my most lucrative, reclusive, and dangerous meal ticket, I wouldn't give that up for two Knights.” The woman leaned back her head a bit, irony dripping from her voice, obviously not interested in providing information.

Zillian sighed, gesturing at her and the space around them. “She asked you a question, you can either answer, or-”

“Or what? I answered her question, just not the way she wanted me to.” With a theatrical bow, Mona’s tone went to a cheerful practiced one. “You’re welcome, have a great one!”

Before Zillian could interject further, a voice reached the whole Empire of Zakuul. “People of Zakuul, this is your Emperor. Hear me.” Arcann’s voice was steady, commanding everyone’s attention, and earning it. Even the vendor chuckled, mumbled something under her breath, and went closer to the holo projection feed in the center of the Market. “The criminal who plunged our great Spire into darkness and chaos has finally been identified. The craven Traitor who assassinated your Immortal Emperor, my dear father, has escaped custody and remains at large, aided by another rogue Knight of Zakuul.”

The lies festered his anger, but Zillian tried to keep a cool head. He turned around, approaching the holo feed, seeing his portrait flash up there as Arcann’s words dripped with poison. And then it flickered, died down, and from there emerged another projection; one of Senya’s. He was willing to bring him down alongside his own mother, that is what it has come to.

“These deadly agitators were last sighted in the Old World. If you encounter them, contact an authority figure immediately.” Arcann’s broadcast continued, giving out his final order, and then turning off as quickly as it turned on a minute before.

Senya and Zillian looked at each other, the woman seeing the hurt in the younger Knight’s eyes, but they had a task at hand. Carefully, menacingly even, she turned to look at Mona Gale and her associate, who looked paler than a bed sheet. She took a step towards them, merely to intimidate, and it worked. Mara gulped and chuckled, but not a happy chuckle, it was an awkward, tense, and scared little laugh for having to deal with what seemed to be Arcann’s most wanted.

“So... So... Where were we?” She stuttered with a polite smile, going back to their conversations as if they were originally talking business.

“You…” Wendan cleared his throat. “You were about to tell them where to find the Lady of Sorrows.”

“Except I can't. I really can't. I don't even know how to reach her. She only ever contacts me.” The data broker sounded truthful this time, so Zillian was about to call the whole thing off. “But!” Mona exclaimed. “She does occasionally meet with the Heralds in Breaktown. They have some kind of truce. That's the best I can do. Just don't... Agitate... us.”

Nodding, Zillian looked at Senya and then at the broker. “Thanks for the information.”

“You're thanking me for sending you to Breaktown? I mean... Sure, whatever, it's your funeral…” Mona shrugged, watching them leave her cart.

The woman let out a sigh of relief when they left, shooing her other customer out, ignoring his whining about his bet. She has more important matters to attend to, including one with the Lady of Sorrows, because Mona knew that the Lady was never too far, and never too close. And as if right on cue for a theatre play a call came through, one that Mona instantly answered.

“They seemed determined to meet you... No,I told them Breaktown, but that's all. Like I want to get on your bad side…” Mona answered one by one the questions given to her, but then she noticed someone approaching. “Can I help you?”

The Herald of Zildrog didn’t seem eager to chit chat, going into business right away. “Gale. You’ve seen the fugitives.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement, one the Herald waited to be confirmed.

Seeing the Herald joined by another one, Mona crossed her arms, trying to seem in her zone. “Come on. You know how this goes. You hand me credits, I hand you information.”

“We know they were sent here. Tell us everything, or end up like your associate.” Leaning forward the Herald looked at the woman’s eyes from behind his helmet. “I believe his name was Reg, or something like that.”

Mona watched as the second Herald produced a holo that showed Reg lying dead. “You know who I work for.” She poked the Herald in the chest.

The Herald simply pushed his chest against her finger, looming over her. “And you know who we work for.”

And although Senya and Zillian had left a long time ago, T7 was still around to record what happened, and rush away to take necessary precautions.

Senya waited until they were both out, far enough that they could discuss their next move. Breaktown was dangerous, no parties, no society mingling, no puffing up your chest and saying you survived a night… Because most people that didn’t belong didn’t, and the rest didn’t show up uptown to puff their chests. It was only filled with corruption and torment, and if the Heralds of Zildrog had now control over the underworld, the underbelly would be swarming with them.

“Even if we are going to the underbelly of the underbelly, we might owe Arcann a thank you for that broadcast. He unintentionally brought you some clout, which is bound to help us.” Senya mentioned, stopping for a minute.

Zillian seemed uneasy, but nodded. “Once I thought that clout was unnecessary embellishment and I never liked when Valkorion used my name in sauced up stories for announcements and broadcasts… But now I need it to survive, irony. I guess some clout with the underworld won’t hurt, for now.”

They moved further down, the air around them becoming more suffocating by the minute. The glares they got was enough of a sign that they didn’t belong, but they weren’t deterred. They had to reach Breaktown, and that is what they would do. As they approached the tram, the working line in the Undercity, a group of gang members approached them. Their words were slurred, most of them were obviously drunk, ready to pick a fight; but Zillian didn’t want one. Before his mentor could light up her saber, he had disarmed them, dusting off his gloves and pressing the button for the tram doors to slide open.

“Shall we?” He asked Senya with a smile, offering his hand to help her climb in the cart.

The tram shrieked, and after a minute started moving downwards, deeper into the underground. The lights around started getting snuffed out, lamps only flickering, the majority of the light came from fires around the area, either on buildings or scraps. Zillian looked around, mortified, he never once visited Breaktown. Knight’s rarely had to go that deep into Zakuul, the Enforcers part of the Knights of Zakuul dealt with the majority of the criminals in low areas and even then they didn’t stay in areas like Breaktown for a long time. His eyes darted from one huddled group to the other, exchanging what seemed to be drugs, or black market concoctions.

“This is it. Breaktown. Where people who fall on hard times keep falling.” Senya scanned the area, and it was exactly as she remembered it; rotten to the core.

“Even when the Knights policed the Old World, we never lingered around here for very long.” Zillian watched as two guys were beating each other up over some credits, with several others just watching. “But back then, it wasn’t that bad. Not Breaktown, but the Old World has changed a lot… It has become a lot rougher, way more dissociated than before.”

“You are not wrong… And now that the Heralds are patrolling it, it might become even worse…” Senya walked further, looking only up ahead, and Zillian did the same. “I know where the Heralds are headquartered, but they won't give up any information willingly.”

Not even looking at Senya, the other Knight nodded. “I understand… Then we will find a way to take it, hopefully with an agreement, but we have other ways if needed.”

Nodding back at her student, Senya agreed. “That we do.”

Going deeper into Breaktown, both made sure to not look at anyone, or at anything. They knew that one wrong look, one wrong step, could get them in deep trouble. And not in the trouble of insults and threats, in actual trouble where they’d have to defend themselves with their lightsabers. If Zillian could help it, he’d rather not deal with anyone if it meant including his lightsaber in said deal.

“A lot of firepower standing between us and their leader. They call him ‘the Exalted’.” Senya mentioned as they made it to what seemed to be the outside of the Heralds’ headquarters.

Zillian looked a bit inside the gate, not being able to see much. “We know how titles are being handed around here, let’s not be hasty about him.”

Senya looked inside as well. “I was here when Arcann put him in charge, but he's little more than a servant... And not a sane one.”

“I do not believe that any zealot, Zildrog’s or not, is sane Lady Senya.” Smiling a bit, Zillian went to take a step inside, but quickly noticed someone taking steps towards their position, so he acted by turning around and going to draw his lightsaber, until he saw a familiar figure coming around the corner. “Koth?”

“Glad to see that you are on edge~” he smiled and approached the two Knights. “Teeseven told me you were headed into Breaktown, figured the rest for myself. Didn't think there was a scenic route to get here.”

Senya turned to fully look at Koth, expression perplexed, and somewhat offended. “What in Scyva's name are you doing here? Couldn't trust us to get the job done?” She asked, now visibly annoyed at Koth’s surprise visit.

“I didn't stay ahead of you all of those years by trusting the wrong people.” Koth shook his head, remembering what Zillian had asked of him. “Sorry… I came here to warn our Hero. Listen Zillian, the Exalted hates Knights, I don’t know if he will say anything to you two.”

“What do you suggest we do?” Zillian seemed concerned by what Koth clued him about. “Even if I haven’t been a Knight officially for the past five years, Arcann has surely informed the Heralds of who I was. I mean, the Heralds were active even when I was a Knight, just not on the scale they are now.”

“Exactly, and sadly you still are a Knight in their eyes, Traitor or not. Listen, Zillian, I'm regular people. I speak their language. If you want to make a deal with the Heralds, I'm your man.” Koth pointed at himself with his thumb, lowering his arm when Senya crossed hers.

“Absolutely not.” The woman frowned, disapproving of that notion. “You are not going in on your own Vortena.”

“Is it because, just maybe, you don’t trust me Senya?” Koth narrowed his eyes, until Senya spoke up.

“No, I find you a capable soldier, and you have proved that you want to help Zakuul and Zillian equally with fervor. But right now, as you said, you are regular people, you are a civilian, and as a Knight I cannot let a civilian run inside a criminal headquarters on his own.” Senya sounded like a mother, even to someone like Koth, who she had barked orders and threats to just days ago.

Before Koth could speak, Zillian stood next to Senya and nodded. “Listen Koth, Arcann has informed them of me, of Senya, and probably everyone who is assisting us, including you. Inside, we don’t know how many zealots we will fight, or how their leader will turn out to be. You will be in equal danger with us there, so I’d prefer to continue the mission as I started it, with Lady Senya.”

Koth lifted a finger, trying to not back down, but what Zillian said actually made sense. “Okay… I will keep an eye out here, but promise you will message me if you need a hand, alright?”

“Deal.” Zillian smiled, nodded, and looked over at his mentor. “Let’s go Lady Senya, we have a zealot leader to request an audience with.”

Before Senya followed her student, she shot one last look at Koth. “Be careful Vortena, and stay safe.”

Koth stood there, conflicted, but steadfast, watching as the two Knights made it inside the stronghold. The headquarters ran deep, deep enough to create a more suffocating atmosphere than the entire Breaktown, if that was even possible. Senya and Zillian kept to each other’s side, circling, and even going back to back in some rooms. They had to defend themselves against some Heralds, but when they made it to the main room, they were surprisingly welcomed.

“Thank you, Traitor of Zakuul. you save me the trouble of hunting you down.” A man with chin-length gray hair that had gotten whiter on the roots said, a tattoo adorning his face, judging by the bows everyone else in the room was giving him, it was probably the Exalted; their leader.

Taking a step forward, Zillian placed his hand on his lightsaber preemptively, just to be safe. “We can talk, it doesn’t have to result in a fight.”

“Talk was over the moment you entered our house of worship. You contaminate the Old World, your presence stirs the balance and threatens the order we have fought to maintain.” The Exalted said, pointing at the two Knights with a scowl on his face.

“If your offer is to throw us out, before we get the information we seek, consider it declined.” Senya was serious, her hand also itching for her lightsaber.

“You've got a deal with the emperor, a deal that makes you have all the power you want. But you forget something.” Zillian gestured at the leader of the Heralds with his free hand. “Arcann ultimately still has a leash around your neck, and your followers' too. He could break the deal off at any given moment he saw you of no use to him. What if he couldn't?”

Senya turned around to Zillian with a shocked expression. “What are you doing?” She asked, her voice hushed, but frantic.

The Knight didn’t look at her, he just mouthed silently. “Trust me.”

Mildly interested, the Exalted ordered most of the Heralds in the room to leave, and kept his attention on the male Knight. “What do you mean?”

“Our plan is to pull Arcann from the throne, he has caused enough destruction as is, you won't have to answer to him anymore if we achieve that.” Zillian explained, making his point. “All we need is to meet with the Lady of Sorrows so we can convince her to come with us, to give us a better chance at victory. And you, in your position, I believe that a meeting of this scale is nothing compared to everything else you've done for the Old World.” He made sure to stroke his ego, knowing that it often worked.

“You want to supplant Valkorion's brat and take my greatest adversary out of the Old World?” The Exalted asked. “Sounds fantastic. But how do the two of you, just two Knights, plan to dethrone Arcann?”

The two Knights exchanged a look and then Zillian spoke. “Let us say that we have our ways in dealing with Arcann and getting under his skin.”

“If you think you have the means to defeat him, I have no qualms. Arcann gave us power, then implemented so many restrictions that we are in many ways powerless.” The leader of the zealots turned his back, hands behind it, clasped at the height of his waist. “And he has sapped the very spirit from Zakuul. Most don't even realize. But his undoing, it cannot be at your hands.”

“You don’t understand-” Zillian tried to interrupt, but one of the two Heralds that had remained in the room pointed a gun at his chest, causing him to back off.

“It is you that is too naive to understand.” The Exalted looked upwards, looking at the statue of the serpent as if it was god itself. “Valkorion's fall, Arcann's rise... It all conforms to prophecy. You do not. Only when the prophecy is realized will our great serpent return to cleanse Zakuul in fiery death. You cannot be allowed to succeed.”

Senya looked over at Zillian, troubled. “We shouldn’t have tried to cut a deal. Maybe it’s not too late-”

Before she could finish, the two Heralds took a step forward, guns whirring with plasma getting ready to shoot them at any given moment. The Exalted raised his hand and closed his eyes, confident in his victory. “On my mark!”

The two Knights drew their lightsabers, the leader of Zildrog’s followers almost placed his hand down, but a projector from the top of the room created a holo image of a nautolan. She wore a bodysuit, with some armor pieces here and there, but not enough to restrict her movements. She appeared right behind the Exalted, on a small podium, which was probably used for sacrifices or incense.

“Exalted~” she mused, her voice crystal clear through the holo. “The Lady of Sorrows demands your attention~”

“Now?” The Exalted barked out his question, turning around to look at the projection.

“Your grip on the Old World has become a stranglehold. You continue to act counter to the Lady's interests,most recently with the murder of her contractor, Mona Gale.” The nautolan woman’s voice remained steady, even when she had just announced such a horrid event.

“That can wait, I am busy as you can clearly see!” He tried to turn around, but something caught his eye, a change in the holo, a young man on his knees, tied up, calling him ‘father’. “Brennen! Release him at once!”

Now that the nautolan seemed to have his full attention, she smiled. “The Lady has decided to renegotiate the terms of your agreement. You will make a new deal. Come to the Razor, you and the Lady can discuss your son’s future.” Instead of closing the channel, her void-like eyes drifted to the male Knight. “And you… The Lady would like to speak with you as well.”

Putting back his lightsaber, the Traitor of Zakuul sighed, both in relief, and in disbelief. “You could have tried to reach out to us sooner, like when we were with Mona. Why waste so much important time?”

“We prefer caution over haste. Your identity had to be double-confirmed, and your motive made known. Mona was, sadly, a collateral loss we will recover from.” She didn’t seem phased by saying that either. “The Lady of Sorrows is fully aware of who you are, 'Hero and Light of Zakuul'. And now she also knows what you're after.” The woman backed up a bit, and the holo turned into one of Koth.

He was crossing his arms, looking pouty. “I assure you, I am not harmed, but the conditions aren’t the most welcoming here.”

“So that's that. Under no circumstances are you to kill the Hero. Understood?” She asked the Exalted, who bowed and nodded in response.

Him and his Heralds started walking away, but Zillian noticed his lips moving, whispering something to his followers. He had a good idea what it was, and one look with Senya said it all; the nautolan’s warning to not kill them had fallen to deaf ears. Once the Exalted was out of the hall, the rest of the Heralds stood obstacles between Senya, Zillian and the exit. Guns raised, pointed, and one of them even lit up a saber. Igniting their own, the two Knights started dueling in the hall. It wasn’t just the hall, the whole base was crawling with Heralds looking to jump them and try to kill them, but it was useless.

Senya deflected most of the attacks, and Zillian followed up on the offensive. Once out they didn’t even take a breath, or a break. They started going to what the nautolan called ‘the Razor’. But Zillian felt uneasy, as if he was being watched, but he shook his head, decided to blame it on paranoia and focus on the mission. But the further they walked, the more suspicious he got, and his worries became reality when two Knights of Zakuul landed in front of them.

“I knew I’d find you, Captain.” The Knight spat on the ground after calling Zillian that, his voice filled with irony, believing him to not be worthy of even being called that out of pity.

Narrowing his eyes, Zillian gasped a bit, recognizing the man chasing them. “Novo…”

“Do not sound surprised… This isn’t the first time we reunited.” He clenched his fists, glaring hatefully at the ‘Traitor’. “Back at the bridge of the Skytrooper factory, it was me and Tanek that fought against you.”

“Novo, this doesn’t have to be yet another fight. Turn around, pretend like you never saw us.” Zillian tried to step towards the Knights, but Senya grabbed his shoulder.

“Do you want me to step in, Zillian?” She asked with the voice of a protective mother.

Shaking his head, Zillian frowned. “No… I served with Novo, him and Tanek… Allow me to handle this.”

“There is nothing for you to handle, Zillian! Tanek is dead because of you!” Novo pointed his finger at his old comrade, gritting his teeth. “Vaylin killed him because he failed to stop you from escaping! Why did we have to suffer a loss because of your egotistical needs?! Was killing Emperor Valkorion not enough for you?!”

“You don’t understand, Novo… I did none of that.” Opening his arms to show no want to fight them, Zillian tried to tap into Novo’s reason. “Please, hear me out. I didn’t kill Valkorion, Arcann did. I don’t want to be a Hero, but I also don’t want to be a Traitor to an empire I fought so hard for. I believed in what we had as Zakuul… But now everything is falling apart. I am sorry for Tanek, I mourn your loss, but surviving to prove my innocence shouldn’t be considered egotistical, not when I gave you the chance to leave.”

“You think Vaylin would have spared him if we left?! No! She’d kill him, and mock me by pretending it was mercy for me to not go with him!” Swiftly he ignited his lightsaber, the Knight next to him following his lead. “I am glad we risked coming to the Old World. Now we will get credit for neutralizing two traitors!”

A lightsaber was close to decapitating him from how fast Novo dashed, but Senya pushed him back using her own lightsaber, grunting in frustration. Zillian remembered Novo and Tanek, they had served together in one of the early platoons, during Zillian’s test to become officially a Captain. They had mutual respect for one another, and now, thanks to Arcann’s megalomania they had to turn on each other. Unable to let Senya handle them on her own, Zillian joined her in the fight, but he tried to not harm his fellow Knights, deactivating his saber before critical hits and only using it to deflect attacks.

It took more than a few swings, but Novo was on his knees, clutching his side where Senya had hit and sliced him, his new partner also rolling on his back from a trip that Zillian had tricked him into. Novo looked up, locking eyes with his old Captain, the white from the yellow lightsaber that Zillian was holding reflecting in them.

“I don't need to be a Scion to see your epitaph. It will not be a pretty one, not even one comrade to remember you for a Hero. 'Here lies the Traitor, who brought disorder and ruin to Zakuul, snuffing out its light and hope, dooming it to darkness’.” Closing his eyes, Novo took a deep breath, bracing himself. “Do it, what are you waiting for?”

“You are wrong about me, Novo…” deactivating his lightsaber, Zillian hooked it on his belt and turned his back, feeling Novo’s eyes like daggers. “I am no traitor to Zakuul… But if that is what I have to be called to stop Arcann’s tyranny, then so be it. The Knights aren’t what they used to be from what I have seen… They follow the Throne blindly, when back then we had judgement, we had our own qualms and morals, and would oppose the Throne if need be for the good of Zakuul.” Holding back tears, Zillian started walking away. “Now… They are mere puppets… They have no more judgement about their actions than a Skytrooper deployed for a mission.”

Senya started following him, knocking out Novo’s partner, but looking out for Novo from behind her shoulder. “They will come after us again…”

“Let them if they want… But I believe that they will think before they act the next time…” not looking anywhere but up ahead, Zillian went on the elevator they were stopped from going onto, fixing his gloves as they descended into the Razor. “Keep sharp Lady Senya, we may be walking into a trap…”

Looking downwards, Senya closed her eyes, half-lidding them. “Did you know them well? Novo and Tanek?”

“They were in the first group of Knights I served on my promotion exam… I rarely saw them after that, but I rarely forget the people I served with…” Zillian looked at his hands, balling them into fists. “I feel like every single one of them that died, including Tanek, has stained my hands.”

The elevator stopped, silence circled around the two Knights, and as they stepped out, sprawled on the ground were the Heralds of Zildrog that had arrived before them; dead.

“I know. You didn't get the deal you wanted. But you did get the deal you deserved.” A mechanical female voice echoed, guiding them further in, past the Heralds’ corpses. “Think of it this way Exalted, you will finally be with your great serpent.”

The scene that played out in front of their eyes felt almost too surreal. There stood a droid, her body more akin to a human’s than most, holding the Exalted up from his neck. She was strangling him, until he squirmed, and then electrocuted him to death, letting his body fall down with a barely audible thud. Senya walked forward, encouraging Zillian to follow, to not get cold feet. When they approached they also saw the nautolan that invited them there, the son of the now dead Exalted, and Koth who seemed unharmed.

“I'm curious, Hero of Zakuul. What would you do with the Exalted's son?” The droid, assumingly the Lady of Sorrows, asked while referring to Zillian, turning to look at him with a piercing yellow gaze.

“You seem to have gotten what you needed out of him…” he said, eyeing the corpse of the young man’s father. “Let him go, he can choose for himself what he wants to do in his life next.”

Turning around, the Lady nodded stiffly. “Not unreasonable, but my full intent has yet to be achieved.” She announced, turning to the white-haired young man. “There is nothing to stop you from becoming the new Exalted now. I expect you to honor your end of our agreement.”

Brennen chuckled. “Of course. I can finally lead the Heralds to the glorious future we deserve, you will have your just rewards.” He bowed to the Lady, glad he had gotten this far without him in his father’s position.

“Then leave.” She said coldly, not even watching him go.

Koth approached both Senya and Zillian, rubbing the back of his neck but smiling, albeit a bit awkwardly. “Probably not the condition you wanted to find me in.” He looked at Senya, hesitantly. “Sorry I wasn’t as careful as I should have been, Senya.”

The woman shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, Koth, at least you’re alive.”

“Senya is right Koth, I am just glad you’re alright.” Zillian patted his forearm, making Koth’s eyes widen like saucers.

“Thanks…” he cleared his throat, composing himself. “The Lady knows all about the Gravestone, what we're using it for. I told her that much. But she already knew a lot about you, which is not surprising if she has been in Zakuul long enough.”

“You’re the Lady of Sorrows? But you’re-” Zillian stopped talking when she turned around to look at him.

“Before you say droid, allow me to interject. I am no droid, Hero. I am an intelligence beyond comprehension. You may call me SCORPIO.” She introduced herself, properly, removing the need to call her Lady. “I've come to Zakuul to further my heuristic directive of self-improvement. This self-iteration is number one-zero-eight-four. The proposal put forth by your colleague intrigues me enough that I've decided to accompany you.”

“I won’t say no to help during this difficult task, SCORPIO.” Although with restraint, Zillian agreed to the Lady’s statement since it was more of that than an offer.

“Continue operations in my stead. Annihilate the Heralds if you must. I will remain in touch.” She commanded the nautolan, who bowed and promised to follow her commands. SCORPIO then gazed at Zillian, from head to toe, almost analyzing him. “Not exactly what I expected, but close. Shall we depart?”

Senya looked tense, glancing back and forth between her student and the droid. “She is coming with us, just like that? Are you sure?”

“Trust me, Senya…” Koth whispered, courageous enough to speak up. “She is more dangerous than you on a bad day… I’d keep my eye out.”

“As I said… Any help we can get is welcomed.” Zillian started walking, but nodded at both Koth and Senya, showing silently that he trusted and heard their concerns and judgement. But when they all walked into the elevator leading up, a question popped in the Knight’s mind. “Why did you agree to help SCORPIO? I do not think dethroning Arcann is on your priority list.”

“But I wish to speak to the Gravestone. I look forward to communicating with an intellect that rivals my own for a change.” SCORPIO admitted, and if she could smile she would.

Senya, still tense, simply asked what Zillian wanted as well. “Then… What about Arcann?”

“He has something of mine. The severity of his error must be recognized.” SCORPIO didn’t even look at Senya, so she didn’t see the broken look she had when talking about her son.

Koth wanted to break the ice. “What did he take?” But his attempt at a funny question only resulted in pure silence, and a judgemental look from SCORPIO. “Just asking…”

Arcann observed. All his fleet arranged for him to see in a holo, and yet what burned was not the residual pain from his arm that still haunted him at times, it was the need to capture Zillian. He couldn’t let him escape again, not when he was with his mother, and not when his greatest plan could be brought to ruin by one old flame that was snuffed before it even began.

“Eternal Fleet units five-two-two, eight-six-five, and nine-eight-three will prepare for deployment. Combat protocols fully engaged.” He commanded, seeing those fleet units bolder on his diagram. “The Traitor will not escape us this time.”

The holo changed, shifted to what looked to be a droid, and then it spoke. “All GEMINI command units confirm. Preparations are already underway…” it answered Arcann's commands before it was dismissed.

The emperor stood up from his throne and walked around the throne room. He stared at his armada, a fleet for him to command… So why did it feel like he was failing? He could hear his mother, or even worse, his father commenting at how Thexan would do better, or Zillian would be a better emperor than he was. But then it all vanished, it buzzed away when his eyes fell on the stars.

“When we grow up, I hope we get to see many worlds together, Arcann~” a young Zillian said, giggling as his friend turned away, huffing. “What? Don’t you want to?”

“I don’t know… What if we get separated, or lost?” Arcann had asked, still little, still afraid.

“We won’t get lost, ever, I promise.” Zillian always promised things, but he did hold those promises, seeing them to the end; at least most of the time. “I got your back, and you got mine… And well, Thexan got both of our fronts!”

They both laughed, falling on their backs and seeing Thexan blocking the view of the stars. He scolded them for being out that late, dragging Arcann back inside their room, and Zillian to the barracks. But Arcann could never forget the sheepish grin Zillian gave him that night, so bright even the stars could envy it.

Envy…

Envy.

Envy burning so bright it caused Arcann to punch the glass covering the perimeter of the Eternal Throne, and he would have cracked it if it wasn’t for the protective field that was activated to prevent such damages. It had to be done, Zillian must be at his mercy, so he could face both him and Valkorion; both the target of his jealousy and the cause of it.

Chapter Text

They all had traveled back to Asylum, letting SCORPIO on board the Gravestone, allowing her to explore it under HK-55’s watchful visors, as Zillian explained things to Lana. Naturally she was suspicious, but she agreed that they needed the help, nevertheless keeping an eye out for the droid. Koth was getting updates on the Gravestone’s situation and updates, and when he had a full picture of how the repairs were going he approached SCORPIO and led her to the main control room.

Proudly he pressed some buttons, crossing his arms and smiling smugly as the Gravestone powered up, lights turning on and engines rumbling. But his confidence vanished when it backfired, making a small explosion in the console and almost frying some systems. The rest of the group looked at one another, and then Koth, especially SCORPIO. Tora, who was working right next to the console, stood up like a flash, glaring at Koth.

“Careful fat fingers! You almost fried the power core!” She yelled, pointing a key at Koth’s direction.

Rolling his eyes at his crew member’s brashness, Koth pointed back at her. “That is Captain fat fingers to you!”

“You do this vessel a disservice with your primitive hands. Give me full access, I will enhance the Gravestone's current parameters.” SCORPIO said, obviously disappointed by the condition some humans had managed to lead the legendary Gravestone. She turned to Zillian, expecting acceptance.

“Listen, SCORPIO…” he looked at the droid and sighed. “I need more details before I flat out agree with you directly influencing this vessel.”

“I do not have time for technical primers.” SCORPIO shook her head, disagreeing with the captain’s stance.

Koth waved his finger at her. “Nuuh, you heard Zillian. Keep your shiny metal mitts to yourself.”

“There is something I can allow you to tinker with, SCORPIO.” Koth looked at Zillian a bit puzzled, but didn’t intervene. “Focus on the hyperdrive for now, then afterwards, we can maybe discuss the rest.”

“Acceptable. For now.” SCORPIO turned to the console, a spike producing from the middle of her palm.

HK-55 drew his weapon, aiming at the other droid on board. “Statement: Ready to vaporize.”

SCORPIO let out a mechanical scoff. “Your lack of intelligence is insulting.”

Seeing Koth enamored by SCORPIO’s instant connection to the Gravestone’s hyperdrive systems when she plugged herself in, Lana whispered something in Zillian’s ear and the two started walking away. The Knight did a double take behind his shoulder, making sure all was in check, but he ended up following Lana away from the bridge.

“That bridge can only hold so many personalities.” Lana said as they walked, smiling, teasing almost.

Letting out a small snicker, he shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

“Is that so?” Lana stopped when they were privately stationed in the Gravestone, away from onlookers and gossipers.

“If you had met Thexan and Arcann like I did, then you’d understand.” Nostalgia flooded Zillian’s words, but he didn’t let it get to him.

“I see.” Lana nodded. “SCORPIO worked with Imperial Intelligence in the past. But she now operates independently. What are your thoughts on that?”

“I want to believe that she will be an asset to our mission, so I want to trust her…” pressing his lips together in thought, Zillian half-lidded his eyes. “But not give her control of the ship, that is where I draw the line.”

“Let’s hope she doesn’t get it on her own. She is the first droid I see that is that advanced.” Walking in further with Zillian by her side, Lana looked at the Knight. “I have some good news to inform you about. I had contact with my agents in Coruscant and Dromund Kaas, the two core planets of the Republic and Empire respectively.”

Hopeful, Zillian picked up his pace. “About?”

“The Eternal Throne. Certain elements of each government are willing to discuss an alliance to unite forces.” Lana stopped again to look Zillian in the eye. “And if I know anything about the governments, and trust me I do, this is a rare opportunity.”

“How long have you been planning this?” Zillian tilted his head, not mad, not upset, just impressed. “It seems like something you have been working on a long time.”

“Since I met Koth really, even before that too but not on such a large scale.” Lana looked at Zillian’s com, beeping with an incoming transmission.

The Knight lifted it up, pressed it in front of Lana, and a projection of Heskal came to life. “Your presence is requested. Come alone.” It wasn’t a question, a request, it was just an order, and one Zillian wasn’t so happy to oblige to.

Lana rolled her eyes. “Charmer that one…” she said with irony, watching as Zillian nodded in agreement. “Are all of your Scions like him?”

“They see and they do, for them Heskal was the prime role model, I wouldn’t have any high hopes that many of them hold actual charm.” He sighed, but he understood that no matter how unwilling he was to do Heskal’s demands, he had to, for the good of their mission.

“Just be careful... I have not interacted with Scions much, but they are crucial for our mission, and also unpredictable by nature.” Lana tensed up as she looked at Zillian. “Be very careful, I am serious Zillian.”

“Thank you for the worry, and trust me I know all about their unpredictability.” Zillian started walking towards the quarters of the Gravestone to get ready to step out. “Heskal used to visit the palace back in Zakuul, lectured me and the twins about… Everything really. He loves to ramble, so just give me an hour.”

“An… Hour?” She asked, confused. “What about?”

“If I am not back in an hour, storm in there and tear the place up if you need to.” Buckling up his boots, Zillian dusted off his armor, snapping it together. “That is when you should worry.”

As he tried to exit the Gravestone the small astromech rolled to his way and beeped. “T7 = escort you to the Scion hideout. T7 = exploring Asylum!”

Smiling at the astromech’s twirls around itself, Zillian just allowed it to follow, but instructed that T7 was to wait at the entrance and not come with him inside. Upon agreeing, T7 followed him through the Asylum’s streets towards the secret hideout, staying outside, keeping an eye out for unwanted guests. Zillian on the other hand entered, but from the moment he stepped into the building it felt different.

It was colder, cold enough to make him feel like shivering, or breathing out to see if the classic puff of smoke would come from his lips. But nothing happened. Everything felt more silent, more eerie, which was an achievement for Heskal and his Scions. Furthermore there was a sense of familiarity, not just acknowledgement, but Zillian tried to ignore everything and discuss it upon meeting with Heskal. What he didn’t expect was to find the other Scions laying on the floor, dead, and Heskal standing above them with his blade ignited.

“Heskal?” He asked wearily. “You asked to meet… What is going on?”

The Scion didn’t answer, he remained still, body trembling. His hand stiffened, dropped his lightsaber, deactivating the blade just before it hit the ground. The hilt rolled, and as Zillian watched it he heard another lightsaber being ignited in the room, behind Heskal. He tried to jump and pull the Scion towards him, but something was holding him in place using the Force. In the blink of an eye a yellow blade pierced through the Scion’s chest revealing the true culprit behind all this; the masked emperor of Zakuul.

“Arcann…” Zillian trailed off breathlessly, watching as his old friend twirled and deactivated his lightsaber. “You… You were supposed to be at Zakuul. You followed me, why?”

“Do not flatter yourself by believing that I followed you here, Zillian. It was Heskal.” Arcann started pacing around the room, calm, composed, eyeing the bodies of the Scions now scattered at his feet. “He arranged everything, all of this. The fool.”

“Heskal helped you even after you killed the other Scions?” Finding the whole thing borderline unbelievable, Zillian shook his head, combed back his hair, trying his best to wrap his head around all this. “He probably believed this was all fate, blaming everything to destiny, and excusing his actions to it too.”

“Indeed. Heskal believed that his destiny was to betray you.” Arcann turned his back on Zillian, knowing his friend would be unable to strike him down. “You know how our Scions have always worshipped at the false altar of fate. That is why I kill them. I am beyond prophecy. I forge my own destiny by making the hard choices. Now it's your turn.”

“My turn?!” Zillian watched as Arcann turned around again, locking eyes with him, feeling the envy burning inside his old friend. “I am already making a very hard choice Arcann, what else do you want me to do?! You know that I agree with you on fate and destiny, but this is beyond inhumane!”

“That comes from a Knight that has killed thousands… Ironic.” Arcann shrugged. “I am not unreasonable, Zillian. “Surrender to me. You will be returned to carbonite until I find a way to rid you of my father. That is all I want.”

Gasping in actual disbelief, Zillian took half a step back. “If that is all you wanted, you wouldn’t have imprisoned me in carbonite to die for five years Arcann! You… You betrayed me! I was there for you, and you betrayed me in broad daylight!”

“Betraying you was also one of the hard choices, but it had to be done.” Calmly, he gestured at his old companion. “Surrender, and I promise no harm to your friends.”

Zillian wanted to believe Arcann, to surrender to him and ensure everyone’s safety… But something, or rather, someone had something to say to that; a warning from the Immortal Emperor about his own kin. “Fear the snake who believes himself a dragon. My son will betray you again, since he already did once.”

“I'm a busy man now Zillian, you understand. I just want an answer.” Arcann felt something, a presence, but he blamed it on his uneasiness.

“I am sorry Arcann…” solemnly, Zillian lit up his saber. “I truly am, but there is no other way.”

“Hah! I knew you’d go against me eventually, after all why not, when you have father’s favor!” Arcann exclaimed, finally losing his cool facade.

The emperor lit up his lightsaber and launched himself in the air, slamming his body weight down on Zillian, who had managed to pull out his saber just in time to push back the blow. It almost brought him to his knees, and Zillian had to think fast. He ran around the room’s perimeter, dashing behind pillars, using distractions around the environment to confuse Arcann. He wasn’t attacking directly, just reflecting blows back to his old friend, doing almost everything mechanically from muscle memory. But Arcann had had enough, and when the Eternal Fleet could be heard attacking Asylum he pushed Zillian back into a pillar, hearing the material that it was made of cracking under the pressure of the Force.

Outside the shooting started happening early, and Len had gotten outside to inform people to start evacuating. When the Fleet was visible from the horizon he ran back to the docks, looking at the looming threat. He quickly reached the Gravestone, knowing who would be handling the communications.

“Hey! Shiny!” He shouted, referring to SCORPIO. “Do us all a favor and get those cannons firing, would ya?”

“This vessel's targeting algorithms were inferior. I am upgrading them.” SCORPIO made her statement, not seeing Len’s request as a necessity.

“That is not a priority right now!” The voice from the comlink shouted again, making her move away and take care of some final settings.

“Improvement is always a priority.” Pressing some buttons, SCORPIO seemed pleased. “Activating firing pattern.”

SCORPIO looked up from where she was stationed at the bridge, towards some Zakuulan vessels trying to land. The Gravestone’s canons creaked, moved upwards, and aimed. With one last press of a button, SCORPIO gave the command, and the Gravestone had already started firing, downing made of those Zakuulan shuttles.

“Whoo! I take it all back! This is some good shooting!” Len clapped, cheered, and was impressed with the whole performance, until one of the ships came crashing down close by. “Um… Didn't that just go down near the Scions' hideout? Someone better check up on our Hero.”

Inside the hideout, Arcann was about to launch another attack, readying himself. Zillian had managed to pull himself together, circling around one another, watching, waiting when one wrong move by the other would be a big enough opening to strike. But as they did, the shuttle SCORPIO had shot down, with the help of the Gravestone, came down on the building. It caused the wall to cave in, and a whole pillar to fall forward.

“Arcann…” quickly, Zillian used the Force, pushing the emperor away from beneath the falling pillar.

It shattered into tenths of pieces, but Zillian didn’t have time to dash and take Arcann out. He started running, escaping the ceiling and the walls of the building that fell as he approached the entrance. He had to roll under some already existing rumble, but thankfully he made it outside in one piece. The Knight took one last look inside, panting, before dialing his comlink hoping that someone would pick up.

“Zillian?” It was Lana, and she sounded severely concerned. “Tell me you’re alive.”

“I am alive, yes, and mostly okay…” T7 rolled up next to him, beeping happily, glad to see the Knight well.

“The Gravestone is under siege, but we're not leaving without you.” Lana’s voice was almost like Senya’s, meaning she would accept no ‘no’ for an answer.

Nodding, Zillian still stared at the building of the Scions. “Yes… I will be right there with you.”

“Good, stay safe, we’ll be in touch.” And that time Lana’s voice sounded slightly relieved.

Following the coms silent static came T7’s beep, earning Zillian’s attention. “Explosion = large, T7 = worried!” He beeped rapidly. “Gravestone = in danger! T7 + Hero = save the day!”

Smiling a bit, Zillian started following T7, who had started rolling off to go and reach the Gravestone. But before he did so, he turned one last time to stare at where Arcann would have been trapped under normal circumstances, or even dead. “Do not make me regret this… Please, Arcann.”

Towards the docks, T7 spiked a bridge entrance that was on lockdown. Opening it revealed two black-armored Knights of Zakuul, and one with the customary golden one. Once the door opened Zillian’s gaze meant with the one that wasn’t dragging a body, facing one of his old acquaintances; Captain Dasch Nilrann. They were in different groups, but often met for discussions within the military. They had joined forces on more than one occasion, and they were on relatively friendly terms.

“The Traitor!” The opposing Captain exclaimed, igniting his lance, followed by the other two. “Capture him alive!”

Looking behind them, Zillian noticed Heskal, still alive, managing to crawl away to a corner. “I didn’t want to fight…” looking over at T7 he frowned as the droid beeped with a sad undertone. “You are right, Teeseven, we will have to.”

Igniting his lightsaber, Zillian fought against his three old comrades. He tried to just avoid their attacks, retaliate back only when necessary, just like with Arcann… But Dasch was resilient. Him and his two knights kept getting up, again and again, until Zillian had to strike them down. His breathing was ragged, chopped up, and his hand that he held his lightsaber with trembled uncontrollably. He sheathed it away, approaching Heskal while also trying to compose himself properly.

“A new thread weaves through fate's tapestry. As I foresaw.” Heskal held the place that he was stabbed before, looking up at Zillian.

“You cannot be serious…” chuckling in nervousness, Zillian held his head in his hands. “Arcann was right… You did bring him here due to your delusions of fate and destiny.”

“It was necessary. You will see.” Pretending to not notice the blame shoved upon him by Zillian, Heskal continued. “The Scions remain your allies. Each of them will return to you when it is their time to die.”

“All I know is that people that came here for shelter found their fear knocking on their door! Many people are dying Heskal! People that thought of this as a safe haven are now dead because of your guidance!” Gritting his teeth, Zillian combed back his hair, trying to understand at least a little bit of what and why. “Don’t you feel any remorse?!”

“Did you feel any remorse when killing and massacring innocents for our Immortal Emperor’s plans? No, because it was written for you to do so.” Furrowing his brow, Heskal narrowed his eyes. Thousands weighed against trillions... They perish so the galaxy survives.” Taking a sharp breath, Heskal weighed his head against the doorframe behind him. “I have no regrets, for I have seen the future, and its glory.”

Widening his eyes, Zillian dropped to his knees and grabbed Heskal by the shoulders. “Then prove it to me Heskal! Tell me what you saw!” Panicked, seeing Heskal’s eyes turn cloudy, Zillian shook his body. “Heskal! Heskal, please, tell me! Heskal!”

When he saw that the Scion no longer responded to his name or to touch, Zillian laid his corpse down on the ground. Softly he closed his eyes, positioned him in a traditional pose that the Scions were buried back in Zakuul, with his head a bit higher than his body, and his hands intertwined on his abdomen. He looked peaceful, making Zillian hope he did indeed find peace in the depths of his madness.

At whatever remained of the Scions’ hideout flames had started roaring, covering the building’s remains and the rubble that was scattered around the ground floor. Slowly, from the smoke and darkness, Arcann’s figure managed to stand up and walk outside. His golden eye burned almost as brightly as the fire behind him, and his fist clenched tightly as he lifted up close to his mask, activating his comlink.

“Spare no one.” Was his command, and it was the harshest tone he had used.

A sinister laughter came from the other side of the call. “You always know just how to brighten my day!” Vaylin exclaimed, happily, as she swarmed the docks alongside her Skytroopers.

Zillian had dared to show him pity, kindness, or whatever he pretended it to be, just so what? Arcann knew Valkorion didn’t care about him surviving, he would bet his other arm that he was instructing Zillian on how to kill him… So why did his old friend not do it? During the fight he had multiple chances, many openings, Arcann could see it now. He was angry, careless, and he could have died so many times if Zillian wished to strike him down… But he didn’t.

“No… He doesn’t care…” he whispered to himself, biting his tongue. “He only wishes to show father how much better than you he is!”

Zillian did his best to rush to the Gravestone, and to his allies, especially when he saw Lana fighting hoards of Skytroopers alongside some of Koth’s buddies. He helped, clearing the back of the wave, and before he knew it the droids were dropping one after the other, and he joined the blonde agent right in front of the Gravestone.

“We have problems.” Lana admitted, not chewing her words.

“Please tell me that at least there is one piece of good news in all this chaos…” Zillian begged, trying to find a spark of hope in Lana’s eyes.

Nodding, Lana looked over at their aircraft. “SCORPIO managed to fix the hyperdrive. But Arcann's forces locked the docking clamps. We're grounded.” She reported, much to her dismay, hoping that she’d have more good news over bad ones.

“Is there anything we can do?” He asked, wanting to help as much as possible for the situation to turn in their favor. “What about Koth and HK?”

“They are en route to the Control Spar, but they need help.” Lana was about to propose that they go, until Len called out.

“The Gravestone is in good hands! Please go find our captain, he can get himself in serious trouble! Thanks, Blondie!” And after that silence, followed by Lana’s cold stare towards Len, and the man gulping back a heavy knot in his throat. “I… I mean, Miss Beniko.”

As Lana turned around with Zillian to leave, a wave of Skytroopers entered the docks. There were not many, but they were also accompanied by Knights of Zakuul, and not only that. Vaylin calmly walked through blaster fire, unbothered, approaching Zillian and smiling. Keeping his guard up, Zillian was ready to draw his lightsaber, but the woman just tiptoed a bit and booped his nose. She laughed at his surprised face, tilting her head and looking at her brother’s old friend very carefully, noticing all the cracks he tried to hide.

“Awww Zilly, you were not very nice to my brother you know~ Now look at me, I am forced to kill your friends!” She said, gesturing at Koth’s crew that remained on the platform. “A shame I know, but hard choices and all that~”

“Arcann is alive, Vaylin, and I didn’t try to kill him…” tightening his hold around his saber, Zillian narrowed his eyes, careful on how Vaylin inspected her nails. “I can kill if I so wish.”

“But not me, can you~?” She mused. “After all, I am just like a little sister to you, considering your crush on my brother.”

Taken aback, Zillian was pushed by Vaylin’s Force push, past the doors, back slamming against a wall. He slid down, head pounding, vision blurred. Lana tried to hold herself steady, ready to ignite her saber as soon as Vaylin did hers, but someone dashed between them, blue blade shining and acting like a barrier.

“Go, Lana. This is a family matter.” Senya said, standing right in front of her daughter, but nodding slightly once the Sith woman nodded first as a sign of appreciation and ran to ensure Zillian’s wellbeing. “Vaylin…”

“Hello, mother~” Vaylin kept smiling, looking into her mother’s eyes, feeling nothing but darkness.

Lana sliced through three Knights of Zakuul on her way to Zillian. He helped the man up and looked at him, her eyes visibly worried. The Knight readjusted his armor on some parts, tightening the straps on his boots to tighten them in order to stop the pain as much as possible by applying pressure.

“Can you walk?” Lana asked as she saw Zillian wincing with just one step.

“It doesn’t matter.” He continued, overcoming the limping the more he walked. “Koth and HK need us, don’t they?”

Going through Asylum proved to be tougher than the last time Zillian did. Knights of Zakuul were everywhere, so were Vaylin’s Skytroopers, and the duo had to deal with everything that stood in their way. Managing to reach the path that led to the Control Spar, witnessing how even its lower levels had a view of the entire port and more, no ship would come or go without the one in charge knowing it. There Koth was dealing with his own fair share of Skytroopers, which Lana assisted him with swiftly.

Koth whispered a short ‘phew’ and started pacing towards some controls. “Arcann locked down the whole network. He controls turbolifts, blast doors, docking clamps, you name it.” Koth turned around to face Lana and his hero, still walking, just backwards this time. “We need the main override station. That's on top of the Control Spar. I sent HK to clear a path.”

And right on cue, HK-55 had started a holo transmission for Koth. “Accommodation: I have left you a trail of meatbags to follow, master.” The droid saluted them with the hand that wasn’t holding his weapon, kicking over a corpse of a Knight of Zakuul, right before ending the transmission.

“I see he’s doing fine.” Zillian mentioned, earning a nod from Koth as the pilot turned to input something into the console behind him. “So what now Koth?”

“I'm securing all doors to the Control Spar. No more meatba-” Koth shook his head and groaned, HK rubbing off on him was showing. “Ugh, reinforcements will get in.” He corrected himself. “But someone has to hold this choke point.”

“That's my job. Senya's busy with Vaylin at the Gravestone. It's up to you and Koth.” Lana said, looking over at their Knight.

Koth’s eyes went wide. “Vaylin’s at the ship?! My crew!”

“If you wish to join them, Koth, you can.” Zillian smiled. “I can understand how it feels to worry about people you have served with. But we have to also think that Senya is there, they are fighters, and right now we are here because they are buying us time. Let’s use it well.”

Hanging his head, Koth nodded. “You’re right. We have to free the Gravestone, otherwise none of this will matter.”

The three of them exchanged a knowing look, nodded, and went their separate ways. Zillian tried to protect Koth to the best of his abilities, not that Koth needed it. He proved that he was a skilled soldier time and time again, something that Zillian appreciated and respected. They managed to reach the outside of the floor they were at, finding a shuttle and taking advantage of the situation. They boarded it, Koth started piloting it flawlessly, and off they went to the main fraction of the Control Spar.

“So… Pardon the question… But all the things that Lana told us about Emperor Valkorion… There was a lot to take in. Has he confirmed any of it with you or…?” Koth asked, hesitantly.

Shaking his head, Zillian crossed his arms. “He is giving me the silent treatment apparently. Maybe I did something to displease him.”

“I still believe that maybe he is still the key in helping us take down Arcann.” Koth didn’t let his eyes leave the horizon ahead. “He was always good to Zakuul… So I don’t know how much of what Lana said was true… I’d hope none, but she is not the type of woman to joke.”

HK came through in the shuttle’s holopad, still holding his weapon, but not on top of a corpse. “Reminder: The Gravestone remains under siege.” He informed them, meaning the situation back at the docks hadn’t changed.

Understanding the urgency, Koth and Zillian proceeded to speed up their landing, finally reaching the Control Spar. Koth knew exactly where to go and he guided the Knight, but also HK’s work with the scattered bodies, albeit disturbing, was helpful and guiding. Before Koth opened a gate, the one where the central controls were, he turned around to Zillian with a shy smile, sighing.

“Zillian, I want you to know… That no matter what happens, it’s an honor to fight alongside you. It’s like a dream come true.” He admitted, darting his eyes away.

Smiling back at Koth, Zillian nodded. “Likewise Koth. But this shouldn’t be a farewell between us, after all we are making it out alive. I promise.”

“Right!” Koth’s spark returned, making him grin. “Now let's find that droid!”

Progressing further in, they managed to locate HK-55, shooting the body of a Zakuulan Knight to death. The droid looked behind his shoulder, pointing his gun at the two men, but lowered it once he registered who they were. Happy to see them he walked with them further in, where he didn’t have time to scatter more bodies like cookie crumbs.

Just when Zillian thought they were in the clear he received a transmission from Lana. “There's a whole battalion of Zakuul Knights headed your way.” She warned them, but the buzz from her side was a sign she wanted to say more, which she did.

“What is it Lana?” Zillian urged, not wanting her to hold back something she might want to say.

“It's Arcann…” her voice came out worryingly. “I can't find him on the security grid, anywhere. It's like he's vanished.”

Koth joined HK in putting down some detonators and traps. “Me and HK will handle the Knights out here. You have to get the Gravestone flying, no matter what.”

“Koth…” Zillian crossed his arms, almost scolding the soldier. “No unnecessary acts of heroism to earn my favor, alright?”

“Me? Never!” He exclaimed, grinning brightly. “I make no promises for the droid though!”

HK stood up and looked at Koth. “Commentary: I am programmed for self-restraint. Usually.” And the moment the elevator opened to reveal two Knights of Zakuul he shot them down with Koth the instant the doors opened. “Commentary: As I said, usually.”

Zillian trusted them of course, so he started heading further up ahead. He heard explosions and shooting behind him, a sign that Koth and HK already got to work. But as the lift was taking him across the Spar towards the central control room, he felt a shiver. The same exact shiver he felt before entering the hideout, right before encountering Arcann. But Lana had said that he had vanished from the grids… And yet Zillian knew that that mattered not, not when it revolved around Arcann.

When the Knight reached the control room it was massive. A few steps only got you that far. It reminded him of the bridge back in the Eternal Throne. Lana was about to tell him that the security was surprisingly scarce for a place of such high importance, but her line was cut off, masked in silence. Zillian tried redialing her frequency, about three times, but he decided that freeing the Gravestone was of higher importance. He also trusted Lana to defend herself, she was more than capable of doing so.

The fight for the Gravestone had in fact escalated. Koth’s crew was shooting and trying to fight back as many Skytroopers and Knights as they could. Meanwhile Senya was still dueling Vaylin, noticing that the nights she had snuck out with the boys and the training she had as a kid had truly sharpened her skills with a blade. But one thing still didn’t make sense to Senya; why was her daughter doing this?

“You're free from your father's control. You don't have to serve Arcann. Vaylin, you can stop this mad war.” She urged her daughter, ducking from an overhead swing, and switching places with Vaylin as she deflected more attacks.

The High Justice just snickered. “We didn't follow when you left Father. Why would we listen to you now?” Vaylin swung her saber against her mother again, smiling. “After all, you have your favorite child right there, by your side!”

Their clash continued, with more aggression, more power, yellow and blue striking one another making sparks fly from the friction. Senya kept her eyes at Vaylin, softening her gaze, trying to understand. While Vaylin, although locked in on Senya, she couldn’t wait to see her mother’s helpless face as she struck her down.

But as the two fought the docking clamps buzzfeed, and the lasers were turned off. “Docking clamps have been released. I will prepare the ship for launch.” SCORPIO announced to everyone that could hear her transmission. Including Zillian.

“Whoo!” Len exclaimed, shooting down a Skytrooper with a blaster shot straight in its head. “Music to my ears!”

“Everybody pile in! Go!” Tora shouted.

Zillian was about to take a step back so he could start running towards Koth and HK, in order to join everybody else on the Gravestone. But instead he found himself ducking and rolling backwards, and a yellow blade destroying the keyboard of the controls. It was as he expected, danger was never gone if Arcann was involved, and the current emperor of Zakuul was looking at him with such hatred.

“Zillian, don’t tell me you thought that your little act of pity would save you!” Pointing his lightsaber towards his once friend, Arcann glared. “We have unfinished business, you and I.”

With a force push, Arcann yanked Zillian up, back, and the right in the middle of the control bridge. He dashed towards him, swinging his saber. Yet, every swing fell right onto the Knight’s whiter blade, causing Arcann to grunt and become more violent. Every attack held more anger in it, and eventually Zillian had to break the pattern. He used the force to push Arcann slightly back, and with his lightsaber grazed his mask, panting, brows furrowed, eyes troubled and worried.

“Arcann… Please, listen to me, listen to reason…” he begged, knowing it was in vain.

“You! Don’t think you can defeat me!” Standing up, Arcann gripped his saber tighter. “You can’t! I am the emperor of Zakuul! The master of the Eternal Fleet! Me! Not you!”

Shaking his head, Zillian took a defensive stance. “You are really not listening to me. I don’t want your throne, I don’t want Zakuul… I just want us to be on the same page like we were once. Arcann, please!”

“Silence! All those days were lies! Lies you used to try and make me overlook all the affirmation you got from father! Not anymore, I am no longer young and foolish!” Arcann launched himself again in a flurry of attacks. “I will have your head mounted on my throne!”

Relentlessly he kept bashing his lightsaber against Zillian’s, causing the Knight to back up more and more until he rolled away, panting. Arcann pushed away his lightsaber, tried to strike him down right then and there. But HK-55’s voice echoed in the room.

“Master!” He had followed right after Koth told him to, and seeing Arcann channel a powerful attack caused the droid to remember the talk he had with Zillian in the swamp. “Self-sacrifice!”

Zillian lifted himself up, only to see his friend blown up to the other side of the bridge by Arcann’s attack. He went there, clutching HK’s head in his hands, smelling the burnt circuits, seeing the sparks from the broken parts… He felt as if he had lost a comrade in a battle, but a comrade who was more a friend than an ally. His golden eyes lifted to meet Arcann’s, the emperor marching his way, lightsaber still in hand.

“Ah, I can’t wait to meet all your new friends… See their faces as I kill them, one by one, just how I did this one. Their realization that you failed them, that the Hero they so admired is nothing but a spineless coward!” Arcann let out a breathy chuckle. “That will be quite an entree before I kill you too, Zillian!”

“I won’t let you harm them, Arcann… Not more of them.” Using the Force, Zillian brought his saber in his grasp again, igniting it in the blink of an eye and going on the offensive against his old prince. “As I never let harm befall you, I will stand and serve them. As a friend, and as a Knight!”

“You stopped being a Knight the moment I branded you a Traitor!” Arcann growled, pressing his lightsaber against Zillian’s, the blades sizzling against one another. “Because that is what you always were to me. A filthy, backstabbing, Traitor!”

With another force push and even more clashes of their blades, Zillian felt the railing behind him, and saw Arcann pointing his saber right at him. But that is when time slowed, eventually stopped, and Valkorion appeared by his side. He felt strong, powerful enough to defeat Arcann, Zillian knew he was… Koth had hopes that Lana’s words were false, but Zillian’s hope had all but diminished after the last time he used Valkorion’s power.

“My son is too strong for you right now. You need my power! Only together can we strike him down.” Valkorion preached, trying to take the Knight with his side again.

“No, this is my battle not yours, Valkorion. I will defeat Arcann myself, weidling my own power, not some kind of monster’s!” Zillian answered to his temptations.

“I will not allow you to squander this moment because you have sympathy for my son! We must act! Now!” Valkorion scowled. “You bowed before me, you are in no position to disobey me!”

Unable to control it, Zillian fell on his hands and knees, energy surging through every pore of his body. Time returned to normal, and even Arcann was taken aback. He took a step back, placing his lightsaber in front of him, but instead of striking Zillian he created a barrier; one he desperately needed. A scream ripped itself from the Knight’s mouth, and lighting flew off his body, going everywhere. On Arcann’s force made shield, on the control panels, on the glass, it went far beyond the enclosed space of the Control Spar.

Ships trying to leave Asylum were struck down, shuttles from the Eternal Fleet went completely radio silent and fell to their doom. The only thing existing outside around the Spar were two things; Chaos and Death. Even from the Gravestone the destruction was visible, and SCORPIO, who was monitoring the situation around the entire Asylum noticed something unusual.

“Incredible…” she mused. “Life signs aboard all ships in the Spar's proximity have been neutralized.”

Senya looked up, shocked at the surge of power. As she was distracted, Vaylin tried to get in a lucky hit, but her mother’s quick reflexes caught up with her. With a couple of twists, Senya managed to disarm Vaylin, frowning as she did.

“I do not want to hurt you, Vaylin!” She held her lightsaber tightly, seeing her daughter scoff.

“You know…” using the Force, Vaylin effortlessly pried away a tower from a nearby array and threw it at her mother. “I liked you better when you were dead!”

Senya reflected the metal tower piece, elbowing Vaylin on the side of her head and letting her drop down. The young woman laughed looking as her mother walked away instead of killing her. Once again, Senya proved herself to be a coward in front of her kids. But something Vaylin said to her made her blood run cold, something that would have affected her if her eyes didn’t land on the disarray happening with the Skytroopers trying to siege the Gravestone.

But at the Control Spar, Zillian stood up, held one hand with the other, and tried to stop the energy surge. Arcann said something, something about his father’s attempt of winning being for naught, and this being meaningless. But he couldn’t hear him, not clearly. Opening his eyes he could only see purple lighting obscuring his vision, and suddenly Arcann’s yelp. The energy calmed down from his fingers, and his eyes fell on Arcann’s body falling off the bridge into the unknown. With a gasp, Zillian tried to crawl where Arcann was, whispering his name.

Before he could crawl any further, Koth had helped him up, supporting his weight on his side. “Zillian, we have to go, come on!”

“No… HK… Arcann…” he coughed, spitting out blood on the metal covered ground. “Koth… Is he dead?”

“The droid… Yes…” he whispered, a sad undertone in his voice. “Arcann… I don’t know.”

They both started heading to the shuttle, aiming to make it back in the Gravestone in time. Once in the port, with everyone aboard, Koth helped Zillian lay down as he commanded SCORPIO to help them take off, away from Asylum, which had become hell instead of haven. Obliging to his wishes, SCORPIO did just that, and Koth joined everyone else on the bridge, but once outside a big blockade of Eternal Fleet starships blocked their way to escape.

“That is one big blockade…” Tora mumbled, looking at the outrageous amount of ships.

“I know…” Koth said, pressing some buttons. “But not for long.”

“The omnicanon isn’t ready, Koth.” Lana was trying to help, calibrating, and calibrating again. “We can’t shoot our way out of this one.”

“I know.” Koth piloted the Gravestone to face the space with the least amount of ships, but even then they got targeted and the enemy started shooting.

“Enemy ships are opening fire.” SCORPIO stated, as if they couldn’t feel it.

“I know!” That time Koth said it louder, pressing buttons faster. “But you know what else I know? That we have to save ourselves, save our Hero, and get our asses out of here!”

“How do you plan to do that?” Lana arched one of her brows, curious.

“With the hyperdrive I just locked in, baby! Punching it now!” Koth pressed one last button, and the pieces fell all together once the Gravestone had successfully jumped into hyperspace.

Unhappy with the condition of the ship, SCORPIO turned to Koth. “The Gravestone suffered minor hull damage. This would have been avoided had I been allowed full access to the mainframe.” She pointed out while everyone else was cheering; almost everyone.

“Minor hull damage or you commanding an unstoppable alien warship… Decisions, decisions… You can take it up with the Captain once he wakes up if you want SCORPIO.” Koth shrugged and turned around, noticing that Senya wasn’t on the bridge.

Slowly he took off, walking towards the Captain quarters where he had put Zillian to rest, and as expected he found Senya there, sitting next to the sleeping Knight. Koth leaned against the doorframe, observing the scene in front of him, frowning and crossing his arms. He ended up deciding to approach Senya, that at least was a decision he could make.

“He will be fine… He’s strong, Senya.” He said, his voice low, tone calm, wanting to comfort her as much as he could.

“I know…” Senya’s voice was broken, barely above a whisper. “He always had been.”

“You raised him well… He truly is a Hero…” Koth placed a supportive hand on Senya’s shoulder, making her look at him. “We should just put our trust in him, just like he puts his trust in us.”

“I do… I just never wanted for him to experience all this…” standing up, Senya sighed and nodded at Koth. “Let’s give him some space, he does need the rest.”

Back in Asylum, or whatever remained of how it once was, Vaylin was taking a calming stroll through the burning ports, twirling her lightsaber in her grasp. She walked further in, counting how many little flames were lit up on her way to the main entrance to and from the port, but her attention was grabbed by the door opening. Through that door appeared her brother, not in the best of shapes, but alive.

Vaylin blinked, placed her lightsaber in its holder, her hands on her back, and leaned forward so she could look up at Arcann. “Hm! You’re not dead then! Zilly and his friends escaped~”

“An unexpected setback…” Arcann watched his sister turn her back on him and walk away. “But I learned much today. Father's power has changed. It's weaker somehow.”

“Mother let me live.” Vaylin side glanced at Arcann from behind her shoulder with the sweetest of smiles. “I’m going to kill her.” She took a pause, turned around to completely face Arcann, and then spoke again, passing him a question. “Just how you are going to kill Zilly, correct?”

“Are you assuming I cannot kill that foul Traitor, sister?” Arcann narrowed his eye, his mechanical hand clenching its fist. But he tried to keep as calm as possible, not wanting to agitate his sister.

“Hmmmm…” she hummed in thought. “I don’t know. You do seem to like him a lot, at least you did~ Who knows, maybe things have indeed changed.”

Vaylin walked away, watching the destruction their fleet caused at the getaway port… But Arcann, although standing to watch, was thinking about what Vaylin said. Maybe at some point he had felt something… Maybe as he had Zillian beneath him, almost killing him, he had felt those feelings resurface… If that was happening it was a sign of weakness, a distraction, and he would make sure it didn’t happen again.

After what had felt like a couple of hours of being unconscious, Zillian opened his eyes in the medical ward of the Gravestone that time, not just the quarters. He slowly lifted his body up on his elbows, looking around and noticing Lana and Koth rushing to his side. They both looked relieved, and by looking around and listening to the buzzing of the machinery, Zillian could guess that they were still traveling through Outer Space.

“Zillian please lay back down. Your body went through quite an ordeal. We weren't sure you'd ever wake up…” Lana frowned, recognizing that power surge once more, but that time she understood it was more intense, more powerful, more everything. “How are you feeling?”

“Hopefully I wasn’t out for five years…” massaging his temples, Zillian tried to suppress his headache. “I am feeling… As well as I can be feeling right now. But it isn’t important. Can you inform me of the situation?”

Koth took a step forward and nodded. “Don’t worry, you were knocked out for a little less than a day… But the Gravestone is safe… Can’t say the same about the people from Asylum. Many didn’t make it, including some of my crew. But most of them are here, with us, thanks to Senya. Everyone is thanking her, especially Len, and they cannot wait to thank you.” Looking behind him, Koth smiled. “Speak of the devil.”

Senya walked in with SCORPIO, and the sigh of relief that escaped her lips was a big one, as if she had been holding it in from the moment they got on the Gravestone.

“We did suffer another loss. I assume you were present when HK…” Lana trailed off, unable to finish her sentence properly.

Zillian closed his eyes, too ashamed to look any of his crew in the eye. “It’s my fault… The people of Asylum… HK… If I wasn’t so weak maybe-”

“No.” Koth shook his head and looked at Senya, then Lana, and then at Zillian’s hunched back and bowed head. “It wasn’t… It was Arcann’s, and Valkorion’s alike… And we will get to the bottom of this.”

“The HK unit was an inferior design. It was always destined to become scrap.” SCORPIO mentioned, not harboring any particularly fond feelings for her other droid crewmate.

Lana just glared at her, reminding herself that they needed her. “I will deactivate you if you say something like that again…” she threatened, calmly, but in complete seriousness.

Senya cleared her throat, making everyone pipe down as she sat next to Zillian, grabbing one of his shoulders. “Lana told us this all started when Heskal summoned you… Is it true?”

Nodding, Zillian confirmed what Lana had told Senya. “It doesn’t matter now… Heskal is dead. He died trying to bring both me and Arcann to Asylum. He said it was destiny, that his fate was completed now that he listened and followed her guidance…” shaking his head, Zillian still didn’t look up. “He said that the others were still on our side… But I don’t want to know, at least not right now.”

“Okay okay, enough with the depressing news! How about some good ones for a change of pace hm?” Koth grinned, placing both fists on his hips as Zillian looked at him. “Lana, if you please~”

The Sith woman smiled. “The battle of Asylum showed the galaxy that Zakuul isn't invincible. My contacts in the Core Worlds, those I had mentioned to you and more, have thrown their support behind us.... Especially behind you, Zillian. Seeing a Knight of Zakuul, a Hero to those people, fighting for what truly is just and right in the galaxy, it inspires them.” She sounded excited, looking at Zillian’s eyes constantly as she talked about all the updates. “You're about to become the leader of an alliance dedicated to bringing down the Eternal Throne once and for all.”

“I…” his voice trembling, Zillian couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.

“Everyone's waiting on a planet called Odessen. If you are feeling well, we should go and pay them a visit, say hello.” Lana offered.

Zillian just nodded, excusing himself, requesting some space to himself, and laying down on the bed he was already occupying. When the door closed he slowly let out a choked out sob, hands covered his face, slowly combing strands of raven hair away from his forehead as he took shaky breaths. He could hear Koth excitedly setting their course, Senya chuckling at his enthusiasm, Lana reprimanding SCORPIO for her behavior… Everything felt good, and it looked like things were progressing well… And yet Zillian couldn’t stop the feeling of dread bubbling up in his chest, and the feeling that all the people of Asylum that couldn’t escape were now bodies piled up on his feet, blood dripping down from his hands, deaths caused by his indecisiveness and cowardice.

Chapter Text

The trip to Odessen remained uneventful… But much to Senya’s worry, and Lana’s dismay, Zillian had refused to exit the medical ward. He had claimed to be feeling weak after the events that transpired, so he wished to remain there to rest. Koth made sure that Zillian was getting water, food, and first aid, but not even he could understand perfectly what was going on. The pilot had decided that discussing it with Senya now wouldn’t be a good moment, so he proceeded to assist SCORPIO getting the Gravestone to Odessen, even if the droid bluntly explained she didn’t need any assistance.

Their landing was smooth sailing, and even getting off was easy. For once they weren’t chased, or hunted, or shot at the moment they stepped on land. They were welcomed by some of Lana’s acquaintances, who welcomed Koth’s crew into their own infirmary, alongside the exiles that they had picked up from the swamps. The atmosphere felt peaceful, making Koth chuckle and turn to Senya with a smile.

“Odessen, huh? Could it be that there's really a place where no one wants to kill us?” Koth asked with a comedic undertone, making Senya sigh, shake her head, all while smiling.

“I hand picked it myself. We'll be safe.” Lana said, gesturing at the base that they had established on the planet, further away from the mountain port.

Zillian slowly got off the Gravestone, steps heavy as he descended the bridge. “At least we will be until Zakuul finds it… But I hope that won’t be any time soon.”

Senya watched him as he stood by everyone, arms crossed, but not defensively. It was almost as if the young man was trying to seal away everyone from him, but that was a conversation for another time. “Are we sure it's wise to leave SCORPIO in control of the bridge?” Senya asked, trying to lighten the mood but still keep it grounded.

“Oh, yeah.” Koth nodded. “Worry not Senya, I have locked everything down. The Gravestone ain’t going anywhere without my approval, not even with SCORPIO on board!”

“I trust you are right Koth, or else you will be flying after the Gravestone and SCORPIO by yourself.” Teasing, Senya elbowed him, making Koth snicker a bit.

Seeing everyone like that made even Zillian crack a smile, barely visible, but it was there. “So…” he started, turning towards Lana. “Why Odessen?”

“Well for starters it's remote, unsettled, and in addition strong in the Force. But unlike Korriban or Tython, Odessen is altogether balanced.” Lana explained. “It is difficult to explain further if you haven’t been to Korriban or Tython, but the Force there-”

“It’s suffocating… I know.” Zillian nodded, knowing all too well about Korriban’s affinity with the Force and how it spreaded it.

“Zillian had fought in the battle for Korriban when Valkorion had requested it.” Senya held Zillian’s shoulder supportively, rubbing the shoulderblade’s cavity with her thumb in circling motions. “But how did you find Odessen?”

“I've always had a strong affinity with the Force. It's what set me on this path to begin with, which led me to forge a certain alliance recently.” Lana turned to Zillian. “We will have to board a shuttle, all of us, to reach the Odessen base. There we will have more time to talk about everything.”

The shuttle landed, waiting for them to get on board. The four of them did so, promptly, leaving the Gravestone behind, and Koth’s crew in good hands. But when they landed on the actual base of Odessen, Zillian’s eyes, as well as Koth’s, traveled everywhere, to every corner. There were people standing almost in every square of the base, others training, some just talking, others discussing strategies, and some of them building new structures. Many were from the Republic, but equally as many were from the Empire; a perfectly mismatched world that strived for a single goal.

“This is your new alliance, you can even consider it a new home if you want.” Lana said, smiling by his side.

Seeing the Knight’s doubt in his eyes, Koth approached him and gave Zillian’s shoulder a friendly punch to snap his attention on him. “We all had a hand in getting here, but you've been the center. You've been a real hero, a Knight through and through, not just in title. You made it possible, Zillian.”

Looking around, Zillian could tell that their little group was gathering attention from all fronts. “I am not sure about that…”

“Koth is right, Zillian.” Senya smiled as the young man looked at her. “We are all here because you ended up being the piece of the puzzle that connected all of us… And all these people…” she trailed off, turning to look at the large crowd that had now gathered in front of him. “Are waiting to hear from you.”

Looking at everyone, Zillian took a big but shaky breath, stepping forward, trying to look confident, or at the very least sure of himself. “I… I can understand that all of you lived in a galaxy very different from the one that now exists… And I can also understand that a big portion of that galaxy has changed because of Zakuul…” he placed a hand on his chest, clenching it into a fist, and lowered his gaze. “But from my understanding we are all here for the same cause; to shape an alliance to stop what has now become a tyranny from the Eternal Empire. I am not here trying to play saint, far from it, I take responsibility for many of the planets that have fallen in the hands of my emperor… But I am here now, wanting to build together with you all an alliance that all of us can call home, no matter our different ideologies, backgrounds, or beliefs. This place that we will all build is one I want to succeed, so we all together can survive and emerge victorious, because I believe that we can all look past our differences, past our flaws, and achieve something greater.”

It felt like he was giving a speech before a fight to his soldiers, but way more personal. He showcased weakness, vulnerability, he showed those people that he too was just a human living in this big galaxy that had ended up being changed beyond recognition. His words were encouraging, landing in the hearts and minds of the crowd, earning him a big applause. Zillian stood there, seeing people swarming the almost bare base to build, to create.

I t didn’t take hours, nor days, it took about three weeks; but Odessen’s base was actually now there. It had a view towards the port, it even had landing pads for allied shuttles, rooms for conferences, meetings, strategy discussions. They had created quarters for everyone, a cantina to unwind in, training grounds where Sith and Jedi worked together to create and even trained against one another, without bloodshed, with pure intent of becoming better. In fact, by the time the base was done, Lana had found him looking out at the mountain tops at the exit the base had from the military hangar where Gravestone was now located.

“You have been avoiding everyone for the past few days…” concerned, she stood next to him, looking at the horizon. “Do you miss it? Zakuul?”

“It was my home… But every time I think about it, I feel like a foreigner…” sighing, Zillian clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to relieve some stress. “I do not feel welcomed, not even in my thoughts. It is not about being a Hero, or a Traitor… It’s about feeling like I belong.”

“And right now you feel like you belong nowhere, correct?” Lana frowned, knowing how that felt like for a long time, sometimes even now. “I understand how you feel… But we must move forward, especially with everything we have built here. Come, I will introduce you to a friend of mine, someone who helped me through some tough times.”

Following Lana down the elevator, Zillian delayed his steps, dragging his feet as they went through some rooms of the Alliance. People greeted him, saluted him with respect, with bright smiles on their faces, and wonder in their eyes… And yet Zillian felt like he deserved none of it, after all, in a way, he had played his part in the galaxy being governed by a tyrant and changing so drastically. But when they went outside, to the main entrance of the Alliance, the man who turned to face them didn’t greet them with admiration, or awe, he just smiled politely and greeted them with two fingers leaving his forehead in a casual salute movement.

“Zillian Vehirk, the Light of the Eternal Empire.” He charmingly held his smile. “Good to finally put a face to the name.”

He held his hand out, which Zillian stared at, until Lana cleared her throat. “This outgoing man is a friend, Theron Shan. Similarly to me he worked at the same work ethic, just for the Republic.”

“Lana has been putting my skills to work, but thankfully I haven’t been tortured by the enemy yet.” Theron was still smiling, trying to ease the situation. “Although in those five years a lot has changed, I don’t know what our enemy even considers torture anymore.”

“I… See…” nodding politely, Zillian hesitantly observed Theron.

“Don’t worry, Theron is trustworthy and capable, I assure you. And he is here to help you get acquainted with the important people of the Alliance.” Lana looked at Theron, giving him a smile. “I leave him in your care.”

“Rest easy, I got this!” Theron winked, and when Lana left he looked at Zillian as he started walking with him further inside. “I’d love to share more, about the world as we used to know it, and now, but I am sure you’ve heard everything ten times over.”

Shrugging, looking at Theron with side glances, Zillian tried to ease up. “People perceive things differently, so after all the necessary official introductions, I wouldn’t mind hearing your side of things.”

The two men walked inside the meeting room for the Alliance, hearing an argument coming from four individuals. It was something about a squadron run, and how understanding a power core would solve their issues. Theron walked close to the four officials of the Alliance, tapping the holo they were watching, and nodding at Zillian behind him. Suddenly the room became quiet, as they all conclusively decided to leave the talk for some other time.

“You are trying to figure out a battle station?” Zillian asked, watching the holo. “I… I can barely make sense of it…”

Theron dryly chuckled, shaking his head, holding it with one hand. “Yeah… Tell us about it. We could use help, once we understood Arcann’s battle stations ourselves. The Alliance is progressing healthily, especially since you arrived, but the Core Worlds are still suffering under the threat of Arcann's considerable reach.” Theron closed the holo projection and turned to the party that was discussing it. “But enough of that, I brought you down here to meet our four specialists in the Alliance. These four will help us tackle big problems we might face and even reach out to possible new recruits.”

“Doctor Juvard Iilip Oggurobb, I'm no biologist, but I admit I'm fascinated by the effects of long-term carbonite poisoning on your mental faculties.” The Hutt eagerly introduced himself, earning a polite smile from Zillian, even if he was visibly uneasy.

The bothan male next to the Hutt cleared his throat. “"Bey'wan Aygo. Former Fleet Admiral in the Republic Navy. Discharged, but still in this fight!” His introduction was short, straight to the point, as expected from an admiral.

Taking an interest in Zillian, the female of the group leaned against a console, crossing her arms and smiled. “Hylo Visz, some call me the legendary smuggler. Broke the toughest blockade in galactic history, Republic's greatest outlaw hero, basically.” She winked at the Knight, waving her hand as she spoke. “Thought that you wouldn’t have heard, being from Zakuul and all~”

“Your visage surfaced in my trials. I am the Mystic, Sana-Rae. I will assist you.” The other woman greeted him, bowing her head, respectful and soft spoken.

Zillian looked around the room, surprised but not completely taken aback. As he had mentioned to Lana, colorful and many personalities on a bridge didn’t surprise him, not anymore, not after he had to lead hundreds into war, and also deal with Arcann and Thexan back in their youth. His look drifted towards Theron, who confidently gave him a thumbs up, and a nod towards the four people in front of them.

“That’s the group!” He exclaimed. “Any questions?”

Zillian shook his head. “No… No need to take up more of your precious time. Just know that I am glad to be working with you, and I hope everything goes as smoothly as it can between you four and the Alliance.”

They all bid each other farewell, and Theron urged Zillian to go meet them in private later, which he did. He first visited the doctor, who seemed very intrigued by him surviving carbonite poisoning of that degree. Zillian was adamant on refusing any brain experiments, to which the doctor reluctantly agreed to. He mentioned something about a Gand hidden in Zakuul, a findsman, someone who could be useful; Zillian decided to keep that in the back of his head.

Secondly he visited Aygo. The man was instantly saluting him, calling him the new Commander, which made Zillian’s stomach twist. When he asked Aygo to not call him that, the man shook his head and respectfully told him no, claiming that it was out of respect that he called him that. They talked for a bit, mainly about military achievements, and Aygo was impressed by how many battlefields Zillian had conquered at such a young age.

He then approached the female Mirialan smuggler, and Hylo was warm to him as if they were friends going years back. She smiled, served him a cup of coffee, and chatted with him. She helped him get up to speed with the other three as well, explaining that Aygo had betted with the doctor, and how Sana-Rae was a bit weird but that is how the Voss always had been. She enlightened him on the ways of the ‘new galaxy’, and reassured him that whoever he found capable enough would have a place in the Alliance.

Sana-Rae was the last one he visited, and the mystic showed genuine interest in him and his connection to the Force. They talked about Zakuul, how Knights were force-sensitive humans that were taught from a young age how to fight, how to be warriors. Apparently in her culture, the Voss Mystics were bound to either envision events or interpret them. It sounded complex, but he didn’t raise any objections to how their world worked.

After a day that everyone had properly settled in, Theron was eager to host a party. It was still on Odessen, in its cantina to be exact, but that little cantina quickly filled up with Koth’s crew, the Gravestone Crew, and all of the Alliance members that wanted to come. Len and the guys had made themselves comfortable enough to make Odessen feel like home, and Hylo had helped them adjust and learn the mission program. But now it was time for a drink, some good food, and even better company.

Len was toasting, Hylo was betting with Aygo on who could drink the most, even Lana approached Koth and Theron at the bar with a drink and a smile. “Do you even recall the last time we relaxed?” She asked, sitting across from Koth, but scanning the room with her eyes in search of Zillian.

“I can. It was two-point-six million years ago, and Senya was still a jerk.” Koth joked, taking a sip, on which he choked when he saw Senya pass by. “I said was! I said was!”

Senya chuckled and looked from behind her shoulder. “You should be careful of what you say, Koth. I was planning on even singing for you all tonight~”

“You were what?” Koth blinked, eyes wide. “Oh come on! I gotta hear that!”

“Too late now, missed your chance, Koth~” she smiled as she teased him, walking around the cantina, searching for Zillian herself.

“Theron.” Lana spotted him on his tablet, reading messages. “You can't let the weight of the galaxy rest on our shoulders all the time.” She pointed out, gently lowering it from his hold.

“Isn't that why you talked me into coming here? To lighten your load?” Theron asked, arching his brow, but smirking.

“I brought you here because you’re good.” Lana approached Theron, gave him a small kiss on the cheek, but frowned. “But speaking of men who are good and are here because of it… Did you notice…”

She didn’t have to finish, Theron knew exactly what she was pointing at. “That our new Commander hasn’t shown up for the party, and more so has been avoiding us? Yeah, he even looks tense by being called Commander.”

“He still has doubts…” Lana trailed off, leaving her drink on the bar.

Koth crossed his arms, frowning. “You mean, about all this? About going against Arcann?”

“He surely seems determined to face off against Arcann… No, it’s not that…” Lana hummed, tapping her cheek. “I think he has doubts about himself, about Valkorion… About what he truly can achieve here.”

“How about we take him to somewhere where the Emperor’s power is still devastatingly lingering in the atmosphere?” Theron placed his tablet aside. “Let’s take him to Ziost, then he will have no room for doubt.”

“That sounds promising.” Koth nodded, agreeing with Theron. “You do that, I will round up the crew in around an hour and get to work, even if you haven’t come back.”

“Thanks Koth, sounds like a solid plan.” Theron offered him his fist, which Koth accepted, resulting in a fist bump between the two. “We will be back as soon as possible.”

The two went outside of the cantina, excusing themselves. Senya gave them a concerned look, to which Lana replied with a reassuring smile, and Theron with a cheeky grin and a thumbs up. The woman shook her head at his reaction, but didn’t comment any further. Zillian was found right outside of the cantina, at one of the observation platforms, looking stoic, melancholic, and being more silent than normal. He did turn around when the duo approached him, acknowledging their presence immediately, whether that be through the Force or their footsteps against the metal bridge connecting the base to the platform, it wasn’t important. What was important, was that they had his attention.

“Lana… Theron… If this is about the party, I-” he got hushed by Theron as he said that.

“Can you just follow us?” The ex-Republic agent said, retaining his smile.

Lana backed him up, with a sympathetic smile on her own. “We want to show you something.”

Showing no restraint, Zillian followed them to Theron’s shuttle and kept quiet. He was looking outside the window as they entered and exited hyperspace, Theron co-piloting with Lana gave him space, and thankfully Valkorion wasn’t there to invade his thoughts. Once they landed, Zillian lifted his head and accepted Lana’s hand to get up, following her and Theron outside. The moment his foot touched the ground, he shuddered. He looked around, recognizing the imprint of the Force in the planet's lifestream, or whatever had remained of it; it was Valkorion’s, or ninety-nine percent similar to his.

“What…” he felt cold, immensely cold. “What is this?”

“This used to be an advanced planet called Ziost, one of the best systems in terms of trade routes and weaponry… That was before the Emperor decided to strip it of everything…” Lana looked around them, whereas laid nothing but bare land.

“Everything alive on Ziost died that day… We were here to witness it, because we couldn’t stop him… Because he had everything planned, he had a backup in case he faced failure.” Theron looked at Zillian, his smile now turned into a frown.

“Valkorion…” Zillian whispered, choking back a gasp of disbelief. “Why… Why did you bring me here? Why now?”

“Because we know you are struggling with accepting who Valkorion was, and Lana telling you isn’t nearly enough evidence.” Theron held his shoulder, looking at him face to face. “This is. And this is also our way of telling you that you can achieve so much more just by helping others go against Valkorion… We need you to defeat Arcann, and Zakuul. You are the Commander of the Alliance by choice, not by chance.”

“It’s because people believe in you, Zillian.” Smiling Lana grabbed his other shoulder, feeling his shivers calming down, alongside his breathing. “And it is because Koth believed in you in the first place that we got this far. It’s time you start believing in yourself.”

Looking at both of them, Zillian straightened his back and took a couple of steps forward. He observed Ziost, whatever remained of it, and at first he didn’t say a thing. He stayed quiet, thinking, listening to his own thoughts for once. And he reached one single conclusion; they were delaying. He stepped back into the shuttle, strapped himself in one of the cockpit seats and looked at Lana and Theron, who had followed, visibly very confused.

“Let’s go.” For the first time in quite a while, Zillian gave them a truly heartwarming smile. “Odessen won’t build its own Alliance.”

“You said it Commander.” Lana chuckled, taking a seat properly next to Theron.

Positioning himself in the pilot’s seat, Theron flipped some switches so they could take off and jump into lightspeed, but he did so a tad bit faster than usual. “Whoo!” He cheered, not bothering to slow down. “That’s what I am talking about, let’s go!”

When they reached the base, everyone was gone. Not even Koth’s tipsy crew was outside working on whatever they were supposed to be working on. The base looked deserted, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. When the elevator descended to the meeting level, everyone was there, clapping, smiling. Zillian was confused as Lana escorted him to a small balcony that overlooked the entirety of the room, which was too crowded to even notice any flooring between the people gathered there.

“What…” Zillian smiled, looking around. “What is all this?”

“Your first official speech as Alliance Commander.”  Lana smiled, gestured at everyone. “Go on, they are waiting for you.”

Clearing his throat, Zillian looked at everyone, and this time he smiled. “I have to thank everyone here for showing me trust and confidence. I am honored that you believe in me so much. I talk to you not as a Commander right now, nor a Knight, just as a simple person that has survived Arcann’s cruelty and tyranny. We are all cut from the same torn and mangled cloth, we are all tired, we have all experienced loss of loved ones, have that be friends, family, or partners. Some of you lost your homes, but most importantly none of you has given up, not yet. You all stand here, proud, wanting to rise up and continue living. That alone must be commended. Together we stand here, having built and created something new, an Alliance I hope all of you can call home…” looking behind him at Koth, Lana, Theron and Senya, Zillian found himself finally relaxing. “Because I found a home in this Alliance. And I am honored to fight by your side, and lead you to take down Arcann, and claim the galaxy not to just return it as it once was, but to make it even better for all of us. All of the survivors.”

Somewhere, but not in the same room, a woman and a man observed that speech.

“They’ve come so far… They have a long way to go, but at this rate they might become strong enough to pose a threat to the Eternal Empire…” Satele said calmly, looking at the hooded man next to her.

“Indeed…” Darth Marr’s ghost agreed, but his voice was hindered with troubles. “But it’s a shame that so many of them will die…”

After Zillian’s speech work on Odessen had resumed smoothly for several days, Theron returned to occupying the meeting room, Lana helped him with her contacts, Zillian made frequent attempts to check in with the Alliance’s four officials. Doctor Juvard Iilip Oggurobb had found his findsman, Sana-Rae had started a whole exercise between Sith and Jedi trust, while Hylo and Aygo were planning supply runs. But even when Koth gave him a run down of what was happening, Zillian took a break from everything to go on top of the elevator, seeing Senya there, staring at the same mountain tops he did.

“It's impressive, you know. I always knew you were meant for greatness, but this... People from all over the galaxy want to stand behind you.” Senya turned around, smiled at her boy. “And yet it’s different than how Scions followed Heskal, or how Knights are blindly following Arcann. Heskal would have his followers die before his visions of destiny, which although needed, are not unfailable.”

“There is more to what you want to say, Lady Senya.” Zillian stood next to her and let her speak her mind.

“Say what you will about Valkorion, but he at least considered the viewpoints of others. He listened to me, at least most of the time.” She turned to look away, as if embarrassed to talk, ashamed. “He wouldn't have done… He couldn’t… What Arcann…”

Concerned by her stammering, Zillian held her forearm, spinning the woman around just enough to see her teary eyes. “Lady Senya… What happened? What… What did Arcann do?” He asked, not knowing if he truly wanted to know the answer.

“You… You remember Thexan, don’t you? The public, even I… We were informed that he died in battle, protecting the honor of Zakuul… And yet-” Zillian’s grip tightened around her forearm. “Zillian…”

“He died in a training accident… I know.” He nodded. “Valkorion told the false story of the battle because it wouldn’t be honorable if a Prince suffered such a disgracing death…”

Shocked, Senya shook her head, instantly grabbing Zillian’s cheeks. “No… No Zillian… Thexan… Vaylin told me, during our fight… That Thexan…” she swallowed back several knots in her throat, letting out just a shaky, whimperish breath. “Arcann killed him.”

The words echoed in his mind, again, and again, throbbing like a headache. “No…” Zillian shook his head as much as he could as it still was in Senya’s hold. “No, that’s a lie. Arcann would never…”

“Vaylin was honest, Zillian. I was so struck down to my core, that she escaped… But this has shown me one thing.” She pulled the boy in her arms, tightly embracing him. “If I had been more involved in raising my kids, maybe all this would have been avoided. Now more than ever, I realize my children must be stopped and I have to make peace with the choices I've made. And you must too, Zillian, it’s for the best.”

Kissing his forehead, Senya wiped the silent tears that ran down Zillian’s face. She whispered that she needed some time, and she understood the young Knight needed space as well. Senya retreated inside, down the elevator, and Zillian remained there, outside, frozen in place like a statue. There he was, being told that Arcann had killed Thexan, when a few weeks back he had sworn against it to Koth. Valkorion paced around him, humming, but Zillian didn’t even acknowledge his presence.

“She raises a good question. How do you look back on our path to this moment?” He asked, raising Senya’s question a bit further. But Zillian didn’t reply to him. “Personally, I think you are indeed made for greatness. I see you defeating Arcann, even if some others might disagree.”

“Leave…” he whispered, and even if it was more like a plea, Valkorion vanished.

There he was, the Commander of the Alliance, buckling his knees, falling on them, scraping his legs like a child. Crying, sobbing, clenching and unclenching his hands into fists around rocks, palming them on their sharp ends until they made his palms bleed, just to make him feel something. He remembered when other Knights were throwing rocks at Arcann and him for winning a tournament, and Thexan standing up for them… Thexan who did nothing wrong, Thexan who left way too soon… Thexan that could have stayed with Arcann and nothing would have happened, none of this… And Arcann, his old friend, the flame that kept him going as a Knight even after Thexan’s death, now slowly getting snuffed out.

For a moment there was silence.

‘No matter what father says, we three will stick together.’ They once made a promise under one of the trees in the center of the Endless Swamp. Carving their initials into the bark to seal their pact.

And then a scream.

At the Eternal Fleet, in the throne room, Arcann had finished some repairs on his prosthetics, now trying to relax while watching his fleet like myriads of stars against a dark background. But Vaylin joined him, and it wasn’t because of her that he couldn’t relax. No, he knew Valkorion was out there, planning their demise.

“He's out there somewhere. Our own father, plotting against us.” Arcann muttered, not exactly under his breath, but through clenched teeth.

“He's not the only one. After I told Mother that you killed Thexan, she probably wants your head.” Vaylin twirled a strand of brown hair around her gloved fingers. “But it's not a problem. You have the throne, the fleet, this whole empire... You're as safe from her as can be.”

“I am not worried about Mother… But…” he trailed off, holding back his tongue. “I wish Thexan could be here now. He'd see I was right to challenge Father. Imagine it: the three of us ruling this empire as it was meant to be ruled.”

“I’d like it if Thexan was here too…” she pouted, but shrugged. “But that is no longer possible, and Father had always picked his favorite. He wants Zilly to take all of this from you.”

Arcann shook his head. “I’ll die before I let that happen to us.”

“Of course you will…” Vaylin eyed him, from head to toe. “But when you say the three of us… Do you mean me, you and Thexan? Or you two and Zilly?”

Arcann spun around, fist clenched. “What?!”

“Don’t act so surprised, or look so angry and shocked. It’s not a good look on you.” Vaylin crossed her arms and smirked. “You are not worried about Mother… But you are worried about Zilly~ What if Mother told him about you killing Thexan? What would he think?”

“I do not care about what that Traitor thinks of me!” Arcann scrunched his nose, visible even from above his mask from his eye lines. “Zillian can rot! I will make sure I bury him next to Thexan if he wishes to-” Arcann couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence, he just groaned and grunted, turning around to not face Vaylin. “Leave! Go! I need to be alone!”

“Of course you do~” she chuckled, going a bit closer. “Just don’t think about Zilly too hard, alright, brother?” Vaylin whispered in a teasing tone, laughing as she left, leaving her brother alone with his thoughts.

Chapter Text

After the small outburst her brother had, Vaylin tried to find both Zillian and the Gravestone. She spent a week or two, searching, scouting, and yet she found nothing. Her patrols had reported nothing new, so she visited her brother. She was humming, enjoying her cape swishing behind her as she marched towards the throne, noticing Arcann’s restlessness. He wasn’t sitting, instead he was pacing around the throne, hands behind his back, footsteps heavy. But once Vaylin stood in front of him, he did stop.

“You are here…” his body turned to her, eye glaring. “The Traitor, the Gravestone! Where are they?! For you to be here, you must have found them, Vaylin!”

“Oh, I didn’t, I just wanted to see you~” she smirked, crossing her arms. “I have received word from patrols in five different sectors, they have been sighted nowhere. Maybe Zilly was just an imaginary friend, and the Gravestone a legend like we always thought.”

Shaking his head, Arcann let out a small growl in the back of his throat. “Do not test my patience, sister.” He turned his back on her, looking at the throne. “Someone knows the truth…”

Agitated, Arcann sat down, drumming his fingers against the throne’s armrest. His finger stroked some buttons, but as he thought of where Zillian was, the more his blood boiled. His palm tightened into a fist, and it crashed down on the arm of the throne. Arcann then looked at his sister, who walked up to him with an excited look on her face, almost beaming with excitement.

“Oooh, I know that look, and I like it!” Vaylin grinned. “You’re about to order something wonderful that will make my day!”

“Those five sectors you mentioned. Choose a populated planet out of each of them, whichever planet you want…” Arcann looked at Vaylin, his fist still clenched. “And dispatch the fleet to bombard them.”

Smiling, Vaylin tilted her head. “For how long do you want them to be bombarded?”

“Until they are dust.” Arcann narrowed his eye, unclenching and clenching his fist again. “Someone knows. Someone will talk. But only if we give them a reason.”

“Say… Brother…” Vaylin turned around to walk away, when she remembered something crucial. “What about you?”

Taken aback, going on the defensive, Arcann tensed. “Me? What about me?”

“You always had a connection with Zilly, can’t you-” Vaylin got cut off once Arcann slammed his fist down on the throne again, surprisingly harder than before. “Ouch, touchy much.”

“Don’t you ever have the audacity to even suggest such a thing! I am not dropping that low! Now go, and do as I said!” Arcann barked his order, and saw his sister roll her eyes, chuckle and leave.

As she did, Arcann dismissed the guards and remained alone in his throne room. He crossed his legs on the throne, closed his eyes, and tried to focus. But the more he did, the more he failed, and the more agitated he became. Eventually he jumped up and groaned, igniting his lightsaber and stabbing the ground with it. He found himself panting, gritting his teeth, trying hard to keep his composure. It was probably the tenth time he had tried to reach Zillian, trying to get a hint on his location through the Force, but yet again it was in vain.

On Odessen, the Alliance was smooth sailing, even if Zillian had been distant. After all he had learned he was keeping his distance from everyone and everything, but he wasn’t being disinterested or rude. Whenever Koth needed him, he was there, or even whenever Senya wanted to check up on him, he was honest. So when Theron Shan called him to the main room, he went alongside Koth, who was the messenger of the request without a second thought.

“You called for me Theron? Koth mentioned you had leads on potential allies.” Zillian looked at Theron, who smiled upon seeing him.

“Zillian, just about the man I hoped to see. Thanks for coming.” Sighing, but without losing his smile, Theron gestured at the holo in front of him. “Leads, yes. Commitments, no. Lana's still working on the major players. But there’s a potential ally on Zakuul we've been ignoring-” pressing a button, a holo of a woman got displayed. “Firebrand.”

Koth crossed his arms, tilting his head. “Your information is faulty. Firebrand's not on our side.”

Zillian arched a brow, not knowing who that was exactly. “Firebrand? On Zakuul?”

“Firebrand is an unidentified individual who arrived on Zakuul two years ago. She has carried out bombings in the Spire, targeting military and civilian venues.” SCORPIO explained from the other side of the table. “Her actions started while you were still asleep, so it is logical that you don’t know about her.”

“Exactly, civilian venues!” Koth exclaimed. “That makes her a terrorist, not an ally!”

“It makes her both, Koth.” Theron shook his head, slowly looking more tired. “Look, I'm not thrilled with the idea, but we're in no position to get choosy. She's done as much damage as we have. And we are desperate for allies, whether we like it or not.”

“But-” Koth bit the inside of his bottom lip, ran a hand through his locks, and groaned, knowing that Theron was right. “What do you think?” He asked, looking over at Zillian.

“I say we wait and judge ourselves…” sighing, the thought that they were going to Zakuul again was already taking a toll on him. “What do we know about her?”

Theron chuckled at Zillian’s reply, enjoying his realism. “Based on her rambling audio manifestos? She's an anarchist, looking to bring down Emperor Arcann's so-called perfect society.”

“There are elements of the Spire's population who create artwork in her honor. They even trade holograms of her handiwork. Similarly to your knightly escapades.” SCORPIO mentioned, pointing over at Zillian.

Hoping to clear the dilemma, Lana chimed in. “Listen, if she's survived fighting Zakuul for as long as she has, while also connected with the populace, she's worth investigating.”

“As much as I’d hate to do this, we should investigate her on Zakuul… But sadly I do not know much about its underworld.” Zillian turned to SCORPIO, praying silently that he wouldn’t regret his next move. “SCORPIO, do you believe you could help lure her out in the open?”

“The Lady of Sorrows could offer high-yield explosives to draw her out.” The droid offered, believing it to be the best course of action.

Thinking about it, Zillian nodded in agreement. “Proceed… I will head out for Zakuul shortly.”

“Hey, Zillian…” Theron placed a hand firmly on the knight’s shoulder. “I am backup, if you see the need arising.”

“I would appreciate that, thank you Theron.” Zillian politely thanked his ally, truly thankful for the company.

Lana took a step forward, looking at both men. “Just be careful... Arcann's still hunting for you, and Firebrand may not be the ally we're hoping for.”

“I will make sure we’re careful, Lana… Although…” Zillian turned his back, walking away with Theron just a few steps behind. “Trust me when I say that Arcann won’t stop hunting me, until I am laying dead by his feet.”

The two men departed for Zakuul merely an hour later, gathering all the information needed from public info banks, private ones, and of course SCORPIO. They landed on one of Zakuul’s most populated docks in the underground, blending in, pretending nothing was happening. Meanwhile they were following SCORPIO’s lead and hints around the area. They led the duo to the old tram station, where some Skytroopers were quickly dismantled to make sure the way towards ‘Firebrand’ was free and not loitering by Skytroopers.

“About five levels down, there's this one Skytrooper. Totally wrong program, likes to give backrubs. Best thing Zakuul ever did.” The woman from the holo said, grinning, but once she saw Zillian she pouted. “Although some people would argue about the last part.”

Theron looked at Zillian and shrugged. “Maybe we should visit that Skytrooper, huh?” He asked, trying to break the ice.

“You, quiet.” Firebrand demanded, pointing her gun at the Knight of Zakuul. “You, why do I think that you do not have my explosives?”

“You are Firebrand, yes?” Zillian asked, not concerned by the gun threats.

“What is it to ya? Aren’t you the Traitor of Zakuul? Is it so important to you to put names and titles on everyone?” She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

“Just trying to make conversation…” focusing on her instead of the gun, Zillian remained calm. “The Lady of Sorrows told you about a meeting here, about bombs and explosives. Although it is true that I don't have your care package, I am not here to fight you.”

“No explosives, nor a fight with the most famous Knight of Zakuul?” She chuckled, putting her gun away. “Color me disappointed.”

“The latter part could be arranged for later… For now we have more important things to look into.” Stepping aside, Zillian gestured at the man accompanying him. “Theron?”

“Right.” Clearing his throat, he braced himself. “So, Firebrand-”

“Firebrand's what the locals call me to brighten their sad little lives.” The trigger happy woman interrupted, waving her hand nonchalantly, disregarding the name Theron called her. “Just Kaliyo is fine. And you-” she pointed at Zillian. “I heard what you did at that droid factory. The blackout was kind of fun, not as fun as a whole factory meltdown, but what can you do? So, what brings the Traitor of Zakuul here to me?”

“A meltdown would have endangered a lot of innocents, something that wasn’t in my agenda.” Zillian crossed his arms, keeping his lightsaber on stand by in case something happened. “As for why I approached you, I’d like you to join us. By us I mean an alliance, working together to dethrone Arcann. You, Kaliyo, have skills and resources we need and would appreciate having on our side.”

Rolling her eyes, Kaliyo shook her head. “I am not a good team player…”

The woman started walking away, going towards the passages leading up and down from the pretty much abandoned tram station. Theron and Zillian exchanged all but one look before starting to follow her, not trying to hide, sneak, or even mask their footsteps. The female Rattataki anarchist sighed, placed both hands on her hips, and turned around to face the two men who kept pursuing her.

“Look, I'm in the middle of something big. You kind of stole my thunder with the factory, and you did lie about bringing explosives, so that's two points against you.” She stopped right in front of an elevator, eyeing them suspiciously up and down. “But you are nicknamed the Traitor of Zakuul… And you are going against Arcann…”

“And we did just save you from a bunch of Skytroopers.” Theron added.

“Yeah… True… And there will be more coming…” Kaliyo tapped her bottom lip, thinking. “How about you join me for back up and we can talk and work, if you agree to tag along.”

“Tagging along isn’t enough, Kaliyo.” Zillian sighed, but knowing that he had to go along her wimps for now. “I will need some explanations, but here is not the right place, or moment.”

“Like I said, you stole my thunder. Now I'm stealing it back.” The Rattataki said as a matter of fact, before walking up to the elevator doors.

Theron frowned, looking over at Zillian’s perplexed face. “I have to meet a contract… Will you be good to go on your own?”

Zillian wanted to argue, to say that since they came together they should see the whole mission together. Back when he was young, whenever he got assigned to a mission with Arcann or Thexan, they all saw the mission from start to finish together… But he understood that comparing then and now was unfair. Circumstances were different, people were different, and so was he. So he solemnly nodded slowly towards Theron, watching the Republic Agent walk away. After Theron vanished from his optic, Zillian joined Kaliyo inside the lift, waiting for her to press whatever button she wanted.

“First stop is the Old World power junctions. You know how to cold rig a detonator...?” Kaliyo pressed the button, accepting the nod from Zillian as a sufficient answer.

Reaching the power junctions wasn’t as easy as Kaliyo made it seem. She was nonchalant, and carefree, yet held an edge to her that Zillian hadn’t seen before. It almost reminded him of Vaylin, but not with the same fearful factor. He followed her though, and fought with her against every single Skytrooper they encountered. When they did reach the first of the power junctions, Zillian could finally take a deep breath as Kaliyo worked her way around it.

“Keep an eye out for Skytroopers, more are bound to come after us. I've got to wire a jury-rigged ion grenade into the power junction here. I mess up, we all fry.” Kaliyo started working on strapping the grenade on the junction, watching with sneaky glances at how Zillian was vigilant, guarding her back. “You know… That blackout you caused… It showed more than just your humanity. It proved that the whole system is vulnerable. You know about the Overwatch?”

Surprised, Zillian nodded, knowing that Kaliyo could glance and see him at any given moment. “The command center where half the droids, Skytroopers, and a lot of utility technical units of the Spire are powered and operated through. What about it?”

Kaliyo smirked, taking a few steps back to adjust but also admire her work. “Smart boy~” she mused, making Zillian unsure if it was a compliment or not. “We blow a couple junctions at once and Overwatch security goes down. Force fields, scanners, no power. We walk right in.”

Turning around, Zillian’s eyes widened and he slowly approached Kaliyo. “The entirety of Spire runs thanks to the Overwatch, Kaliyo. Shutting it down practically means shutting the Spire down, shutting the whole city down.”

“Yeah, that’s the point.” Kaliyo shrugged, turning to look at the knight face to face. “Zakuulans... Your people are so well off they don't even know it. The droids do everything for them. Most of the locals just sit around drooling while their tech feeds and protects them, acting even as a bib if need be.” Noticing Zillian’s troubled expression she rolled her eyes, not understanding his concern. “It will be for a day or two, just so they can experience life without droid helpers for a bit, until the damage is fixed.”

Still troubled, Zillian furrowed his brows. “It seems a bit extreme… But as long as no civilians are harmed in the process…”

“Look, you came to me, not the other way around. If you don’t like my methods, hero-boy, I don’t care, but I will throw in a bonus just for you.” Kaliyo smirked. “You know Tayvor Slen?”

“The administrator of the Overwatch? Of course.” Zillian remembered him, even from his practices, Tayvor was a key in learning how to fight against Skytroopers during the exams taken by Knights of Zakuul. “He is the man whose combat skills were the base for Skytroopers.”

“Bingo~ The data he uses to run those droids are practically a blueprint for the city, and I can tell you that ever since your beauty sleep, Zakuul has changed.” Kaliyo leaned forward, poking his armor with her finger. “You will need that data if you plan an attack against Arcann. It includes everything you need to know, defenses, vulnerabilities, everything. So there is that, we both can get something good and worthy of our time through this collaboration if we get in the Overwatch.”

“Only if I get to deal with the administrator.” He was firm, he wouldn’t allow someone he knew to die because someone held a grudge against Zakuul.

“Deal.” Kaliyo shrugged. “I was planning on shooting him in the head and call it a day, but if you want to take it upon yourself, no objections.”

Not wanting to risk getting caught by Skytroopers, the two of them kept moving to the next power junction. Kaliyo knew her way around the Old World, something that helped Zillian, but he was already second guessing this whole thing. While Kaliyo was strapping the bomb on the second junction, his mind was drifting, until he was snapped out of it by the anarchist walking towards him. He retracted his hand from his lightsaber, calming himself, and noticed how she checked the time on her wrist-com.

“Okay, how about you stay hidden for a bit? I am about to meet with a contact.” She announced, as if it wasn’t something that Zillian needed to know. “But keep your distance, you might startle her, it's not often someone from Zakuul meets its all time favorite hero.”

He didn’t argue, even if he very much wanted to. He hid behind a column, and noticed a girl coming down from the elevator platform nearby. Zillian recognized her, she had grown up, but that was surely Alianna Slen, Tayvor’s daughter. They talked with Kaliyo, about the data, about some others quitting, the girl looked tired, worn out from everything… She had a snuffed out spark in her eyes and she looked scared. Zillian didn’t come out to confront her, instead he stayed hidden until she left, and until Kaliyo got closer to him. She was frowning, pouting almost, leaning against the nearby railing.

“Idiots and cowards, every one of them. I've met Alderaanian nobles, less pampered, more backbone too.” She mumbled, huffing out a sigh. “Not that you know what Alderaan is…”

“First of all… I do know what Alderaan is…” he corrected, trying to tease a bit. “But I also know that many people from Zakuul, not just Knights or soldiers, are braver than you think, like that young woman… What is Alianna Slen doing with you?”

“Should have figured out that you knew her the moment you talked about her father.” Kaliyo turned around, pressing her back against the railing, her eyes looking up, wandering around. “I’ve picked up some fans over the years, all of them sheltered kids and rebellion is taboo. They don't really want Zakuul overthrown, they just want a rush of rebellious activity. Some scars and thrills before the droids fix them up again. You should know about fans.”

“Fans or followers, they did say they were indeed getting their scars fixed… Why? Why would they remove them if they were so keen on helping you?” He asked, genuinely confused by their change of heart.

“Becuase some kind of celebrity hero decided to jump in, take the stage, and sour them for a rebellion.” Kaliyo gave Zillian a side glance, but cracked her knuckles and started walking. “Let’s go, we have just one more conduit and we’re done.”

The two breached the last security gate for the conduit, reaching it, and Kaliyo worked her magic again while Zillian defended them against Skytroopers. But when she finished, she didn’t press any buttons, or did any explosions; not yet. She approached him, a tad bit weary. Zillian deactivated his lightsaber after stabbing the last Skytrooper that had come after them, and looked at Kaliyo, curious.

“Hey, Zillian?” She asked, earning a nod. “Let's make a deal. I checked on you after you did the blackout. Before all this, you used to be someone, someone that the empire of Zakuul held dear, even its late emperor… From my understanding, even Arcann himself. You were valuable, skilled, too smart to not have an angle. So, how about this, you tell me what you really are after, and I tell you why I am on Zakuul.”

Crossing his arms, Zillian smiled a tad bit. “I am not really hiding a secret agenda or anything like that Kaliyo. Zakuul used to be my home, so I do not seek to destroy it. What I do seek to stop though is Arcann. The man I once considered a friend is long gone, buried deep under envy, grief, and hatred. All that remains is a husk filled with megalomania and selfishness, and I want it gone from the empire I once called a place to belong.”

“Totally selfless huh? Guess the rumours about you are true after all.” Kaliyo smiled, just a small tug at the corners of her lips. “Before Zakuul showed up, I had a freelance thing going. Had a partner, money, and connections. We shot people. The war messed it all up. But even after all that I did what you did, I landed on my feet. I did some odd jobs, owned a club, the usual. But I pay my debts. A long time ago, I had an anarchist cell on Brentaal. I came to Zakuul to start the work again.”

Tilting his head, Zillian started following Kaliyo, walking by her as she slowly paced around the area not in any specific pattern. “Brentaal?”

“A very valuable Core World planet. But anyway…” Kaliyo stopped and gestured around them. “I was never hardcore about it, always in for the fun of it. But these people? Your people? Nothing hurts them! Blow up a building? The droids rebuild. Cut up a scumwad? The droids heal him. They don't understand the consequences of an action. Even you-” she cut herself short and pointed at Zillian. “You killed your emperor, got dubbed a Traitor, and most of them barely sniffled! They've barely got laws. It's not anarchy if nothing matters, it's just a sugar rush.”

“The Knights used to be the law around Zakuul… Until-” Zillian gasped, looking around. “Skytroopers… I feel them approach, we should go.”

“Yeah, you can finish your story at my apartment. We are all set and rigged for the Overwatch, but we need to make that stop.” Chuckling and winking at the Knight, Kaliyo started walking away, slipping her blaster and twirling it in her hand. “Might have some more droids on our way there, up for the challenge, ‘hero’?”

Zillian didn’t hesitate. He ignited his saber and ran behind Kaliyo, set to leave the junction. Skytroopers were all over the Old World, some attacking innocents. All had the same end, a blaster hole or two in the head, or a lightsaber cut cleanly through the middle. At some point Zillian found himself looking up as they jumped in a taxi speeder that Kaliyo drove to her private condo. He thought if Arcann knew, if he was watching, and if so how much of this was he allowing. But the doors of Kaliyo’s apartment opening caused him to look up ahead, and follow her inside. It was surprisingly tidy, with no visible weaponry, almost too normal.

“Don’t look so surprised, my fans bought me the furniture and everything you see, if it was up to me the vibe would be completely off.” Smiling, she went to a screen and held up a remote. “But I want you to see something.”

Two videos played on the big screen, back to back, two young adults, no older than twenty. They were experiencing Kaliyo’s aftermath, but they seemed thrilled, excited, recording with both relief and disappointment, even if the combination of emotions seemed almost unnatural. But then Kaliyo whispered for him to pay attention, and the next holo played. It was a young woman, recording after the blackout, the factory’s fire blazing behind her. She sounded scared, concerned about Zakuul’s safety, but there was no thrill hidden in her voice.

“Tone's a little different with this one huh? Suddenly blowing up a building matters.” Kaliyo looked up at Zillian, this time with a frown. “I got lazy, figured there was no way through to these people. Set my sights low with bridges and spaceports. But you scared them, and if you, their old hero, managed to do that, so can I. Guess I owe you a thanks for the wake up call.”

Frozen in place, Zillian’s thoughts were too occupied to notice how Kaliyo brightened up and smiled just because he had given her a push. He kept thinking back to that woman, her recording paused on the screen, making his golden eyes darken. He had made the people of Zakuul feel scared, not safe, not secure, but terrified through his actions… Is that how people felt when the Knights raided their planets? Is one little act of superiority for them terror for everyone else? Zillian’s mind buzzed with questions; questions about his own previous actions, but he had to focus.

“Now that the power junctions are rigged…” he took a deep breath, looking over at Kaliyo. “Can we proceed to the Overwatch safely?”

“Pretty much, as safely as we can, that is. Force fields cycle in an hour, so we'll trigger the blackout then. Meantime, I've got maps and everything, and you know Zakuul like the back of your hand. Let's talk tactics.” Kaliyo pulled out a data pad, pumped to start.

Placing down the data pad, Kaliyo projected her maps. They were detailed, with time stamps and everything. In fact, they reminded Zillian of Valkorion’s maps for other planets, which included biome details and accuracies. They were not as grandiose, but they would do the job just fine. With Kaliyo’s experience, and Zillian’s knowledge of Zakuul, their success was almost guaranteed. But Zillian knew that one wild factor they could never underestimate was Arcann, for he was sure around the corner, waiting for them to make themselves a visible threat.

“Everything goes down in the droid control center. You grab your data, I blow the machinery. And don't worry, I won't forget to let the administrator in your care.” Kaliyo explained after some talk around the Overwatch, pacing around her living room.

Zillian crossed his arms, scanning the schematics. “You are sure that the data is complete?”

“Every droid in the city runs on those specs. You ever go to war with the Spire, that's your winning card.” Kaliyo shut off the projection, walking towards a big window the apartment had, followed by Zillian close behind her. “Let’s begin then. Step one, blow up the junctions.”

The woman next to him pulled out a detonator from one of her back pouches, and with a smile so bright as if a child was watching fireworks for the first time, she pressed it. The whole city was covered in the sound of explosions, and from where they were the smoke and cinders were visible to whoever watched, slowly rising up to the sky from every single power conduit that they rigged.

“Ah, now that feels good!” Kaliyo exclaimed, dusting off her hands. “Come on, expect droids, maybe a few of your Knight pals, a grand old time.”

She started walking away, and Zilian followed. The duo jumped inside the speeder they had taken to come to Kaliyo’s apartment, and the Rattataki revved up the engine in an instant. With a chuckle, she pressed the pedals, piloting the speeder upwards. They never slowed down, only to land when the building of the Overwatch became visible. It was still as Zillian remembered, a fortress dressed in white and gold, screens depicting droids everywhere, from simple household models to private security Skytroopers. It was all too familiar, it felt as if he was a kid again visiting with Thexan and Arcann, but that wasn’t the case; his visit this time wasn’t a sightseeing one, but one holding greater meaning and value.

Him and Kaliyo headed up, with Zillian’s encouragement they avoided most confrontations except some guardian droids. Up at the control tower, Zillian started downloading the data onto a data pad Kaliyo had given him. His face contorted with nervousness and his hands shook, but the data was coming through successfully. He slowly looked up at Kaliyo, who was gripping her blaster, even if the rest of her body remained relaxed.

“The data's coming through. Complete schematics for every building in the Spire, old and new.” Zillian locked eyes with her, seeing her smile. “You were right, Kaliyo.”

“Of course I was~” smuggly she dusted her gloves and looked at the bomb she had strapped to a nearby power source. “I've got enough bombs here to slag the droid controls. Fancy automated city won't be automated anymore.”

Before they could finish, or before Kaliyo could even press the detonation, the alarms started blasting. The doors to the room opened up, Skytroopers rushed in, guns raised, pointing at the intruders. But after them came their commander, the man who they had been modeled after, and he looked at Zillian with disappointment and detestation. But apparently it wasn’t just towards Zillian, he shook his head and pointed at Kaliyo.

“Before I start... The damage can be repaired, but I'm disappointed, both in you Kaliyo... And in you Zillian.” Tayvor frowned, narrowed his eyes, addressing both of them.

Kaliyo mockingly rolled her eyes. “Tayvor! I was worried you ran away.”

“You should have turned yourself in, to the Skytroopers.” Tayvor shook his head. “I can't protect you from this, not your scheme, nor allying with the Traitor of Zakuul. And you, Zillian… If you had turned yourself in as well, maybe I could have helped…”

“To be fair.” Kaliyo chuckled, and pointed at Zillian with her thumb and a nod of her head behind her shoulder. “Your little hero came to me for help. He wanted to ally with me first, not vice versa.”

“I gave you friendship, a home! I even gave you a purpose Kaliyo!” Tayvor’s voice soured. “And now, you stand before me with an old acquaintance of mine, to do what exactly? Mock me?”

Zillian placed the data pad away, already completed when the administrator entered the room. “I will not go into detail as to why I didn’t give myself up, but I am innocent, Tayvor, even if you don’t believe it. And I do not know what you and Kaliyo had been doing before this, but I am standing by her side as of now.”

“Tayvor convinced me to sell out. Like I said before, when I saw I couldn't hurt the people here, I got lazy.” Kaliyo started explaining, gesturing at the administrator. “He offered me a pretty cage, nice house, free pass from the Skytroopers. I could bomb little targets and he'd make sure no one got killed.”

Furrowing his brow, Zillian looked at Tayvor. “You sponsored her, encouraged her even, and you have the nerve to call me a Traitor?”

“It was an outlet for our people's darker urges! A drop of poison to vaccinate against the disease of unrest, which you caused!” Tayvor pointed at Zillian, frustrated, angry, fed up with the situation. “But of course, you wouldn’t know about that. You didn’t care!”

Kaliyo ticked her tongue against her teeth. “He left out the part where he was very much into me~” as if to make a point, she crossed her arms underneath her chest. “But thanks to your friend here, I was reminded that comfort isn’t everything.”

“You are betrayal personified, Kaliyo! And you Zillian, don’t act as if you know us. You don’t, not anymore.” He braced himself, huffing out. “If I execute you both, I might make amends for my past actions. For both allowing Kaliyo to roam free, and for training such a Traitor.”

“This Traitor…” Zillian ignited his lightsaber the moment he saw Tayvor stabilizing his handgun. “Was trained by you once. Prototype for Skytroopers or not, I know how you fight.”

“Then you will be prepared…” the administrator drummed his fingers against the trigger. “For this.”

Before Tayvor could even blink, Zillian pulled Kaliyo behind some controls, dodging a grenade completely. He knew that a blaster shot would be predictable, almost too predictable for his old trainer to do. Lifting himself just enough he deflected some blaster bolts coming from the Skytroopers, noticing how Tayvor rushed to one side of the room, calibrating his weapon. Eyeing him carefully, Kaliyo shot his leg, and as he buckled, Zillian threw his lightsaber. The blade went through two of the four Skytroopers, making sparks fly, and then landing right next to Tayvor’s head. The man looked at the yellow blade, shining right before his eyes, but Zillian pulled it back with the Force, guiding it to slice through Tayvor’s gun. Kaliyo took care of the other Skytroopers, and Zillian approached his old friend, a frown decorating his lips.

“You poor, poor idiot…” Kaliyo followed Zillian, smiling. “Did you know that your daughter helped me set up phase two?”

Shocked, Tayvor panted, lifting his chin up to not get burnt by the lightsaber’s blade below it. “What?”

“We're not just taking out droids for a day. I've got explosives planted around the city. Roads, factories, security stations, news centers, you name it.” Kaliyo gestured at the window, where someone could see the main city of Zakuul clearly. “This time, when everything burns? No fire suppressor units. No medical droids. No Skytroopers stopping riots.”

Zillian glanced over at Kaliyo, feeling backstabbed. “You never mentioned all this. This is not what we agreed upon.”

“Come on now… This man tried to use me, to humiliate me. I just want to make him feel how getting hurt truly feels.” Kaliyo bent over, looking over at Tayvor. “I want to see his expression while his happy city burns to ashes.”

“Absolutely not…” Zillian stood up, sheathed his lightsaber, and simply used the Force to knock Tayvor out. “You forget that this happy city is also the city I call home Kaliyo. I understand your frustration, and your anger, but those people are innocents that have nothing to do with the torment you endured.”

“You were supposed to be backing me up, remember, hero?” Kaliyo narrowed her eyes, pulling a detonator from the inside of her coat. “I will remind you that this city also took away your life, named you a Traitor, and now you are nothing more than gum that people step on and wipe off at the nearest patch of grass. Wouldn’t it feel good to blow it all up?”

Shaking his head, Zillian looked over at the city under them. “No… Maybe it would feel good for a second. A twisted sense of satisfaction for all we have experienced, but then? What about after? Nothing can change what we had to go through, nor what we have lost. The past is something we should just leave buried where it lies, and we should move forward. Find something worth striving for, fighting for, existing for; even if that is yourself.”

Looking over at Zillian with a soured expression, Kaliyo glanced at the detonator in her hand. “Fine… We will do it your way, but I am still taking the droids down.” She pressed the secondary button, short circuiting every droid in Zakuul, at least earning some sort of satisfaction from that. “Your long term plan better work, hero, or else I will be coming after you like I did Tayvor.”

Kaliyo and Zillian ran off, outside, ready to flee back to Odessen. Some Knights of Zakuul were headed their way, sprinting, not stopping for anything. Zillian took a good look at them before the small group was knocked over by Kaliyo calling over her speeder, managing to lift their heads up just barely to see the duo flying off in the distance. They made a stop by Kaliyo’s apartment in the Old World, where Zillian called for pick up. In fact it was Theron that managed to pick them up, considering he was also on his way to Odessen.

Back at the Alliance base, Theron had managed to look over the schematics with Koth, while Zillian was reporting to Lana and Senya about his findings. But Theron hadn’t seen those schematics, ever before, and when Koth explained them in depth he understood just how important they were. So when Zillian walked through the automated doors of the meeting room, he smiled and nodded as a welcome.

“Hey, Commander, I just took a look at the data you stole. A schematic of the Spire is gonna come in handy.” Theron smiled, trying to pass his positivity to Zillian’s mood.

Koth walked next to Theron, looking relieved. “City's going to take a while to recover from the droid shutdown... But no one got killed, or even hurt. Thanks.” He patted Zillian’s shoulder and walked off. “I will let you and Theron discuss the further details, I will check up with Lana.”

Theron looked at Koth, saluting him a quick farewell, and then looked over at Zillian. “So… Kaliyo… She knows her stuff. What do you think of her?”

“She is a good fighter. She knows her way around the Spire, she is a fast thinker, improvises on the spot, plans ahead, and is good with a gun.” Crossing his arms, Zillian sighed, unsure. “But she is erratic, spontaneous, and with a short fuse. She will push many limits until she gets what she wants, or try her absolute darndest to get it. So I suggest we keep her in the Alliance, but keep a close eye on her. It is not that I don’t trust her, but her tendencies worry me, that is all.”

“Alright, assign her a bunk, keep her under surveillance, got it.” Theron grinned, saluted Zillian and walked off to make the necessary preparations.

But even with Theron gone, Zillian leaned over the monitor and observed the schematics. All of the Spire, detailed, even about the weaponry, droids, outposts. It was all so familiar, yet so foreign. And stealing it was almost certainly something that Arcann had learned by now, either by the Overwatch, or by his own watchful eyes that observed Zakuul.

“You were the Lady of Sorrows?” Kaliyo’s voice snapped him out of his deep thoughts.

“Yes.” SCORPIO’s voice followed Kaliyo’s making Zillian turn around to see the two approaching.

Kaliyo chuckled. “Guess you knew if I found out, I'd melt you down.”

Noticing the familiarity between the two made Zillian smile. “You two know each other?”

“Yeah, we're old buddies. Ask who built her sometime.” Kaliyo laughed, punching SCORPIO’s shoulder that did nothing to the droid.

Huffing, SCORPIO shook her head. “Don’t. You will receive no satisfactory answer.”

Almost childish-like, SCORPIO stormed off, and Kaliyo found herself genuinely laughing. Zillian took it upon himself to show her around, introducing her to the officials of the Alliance, her bunk location, and lastly the cantina. The bartender there made her a drink, on the house as a little welcoming toast, and Kaliyo gladly accepted it. She swirled the glass, looking at Zillian as she took a sip from it.

“Not a bad little operation you've got here. Can't promise to stick around all the time, but when you're making a big move, say the word and you can count on me.” She toasted at him, taking yet another sip.

Smiling at her toast, Zillian nodded. “Glad to have you on board Kaliyo, make sure to keep in touch.”

“Oh, I will~” she mused, leaving her empty glass down. “And, Zillian? Thanks. You were right, we both lost a lot of years thanks to Zakuul, one way or another. We should start making up for the lost time.”

Saying their goodbyes, and ‘see you soons’, Zillian escorted Kaliyo to the departures. Normally he’d go train in the enclave, finding Sana Rae’s environment of practice and meditation quite nurturing for his mental state… But from the main room came ruckus, arguments, and above all Senya’s voice.

“Millions dead. Their blood is on our hands.” The Captain of the guard exclaimed to Lana and Theron, her voice low, full of sorrow.

Lana frowned, crossing her arms. “Senya, with all due respect, we didn’t destroy those worlds. Your children did.”

“Lana is right.” Theron agreed, nodding, not noticing Zillian approaching them rapidly. “The atrocities on those planets were committed to hurt the Alliance, but we're not responsible for them.”

“What atrocities?” Zillian’s voice earned him the attention of everyone in the room, making everyone tense up by how serious and solemn it was. “What has happened now?”

Senya took a shaky breath, glancing at the holo projections of burning cities and collapsed buildings. “Warships from the Eternal Fleet bombarded five planets in a coordinated assault... The death toll is unimaginable. Whole cities leveled, millions dead…”

“Arcann issued a statement saying those worlds were protecting us, and their destruction was justice for our attacks on Zakuul. A lie, of course, but no one can prove it.” Lana continued Senya’s explanation, a tad bit calmer, but still shocked.

Theron chimed in, gesturing at the holo. “Arcann's desperate. He can't find us so he's taking the galaxy hostage.”

Zillian let all that sink in. Five planets, all gone. Millions, burnt, slaughtered, crushed to death. All because Arcann chose to play around. All because Arcann wanted to find and destroy the Alliance… All because Arcann wanted to find and destroy, not the Alliance, but him. He clenched his fists, taking the deepest breaths he had taken in quite a while, and when he opened his eyes he looked at the holo directly.

“If Arcann wants to find us… Let him.” His voice was cold, almost as cold as when he was talking to Valkorion. “If he wants to isolate us, let him. We will come out and say we have no allies in any of the planets, that we are who we are, and he should come and find us if he so wishes.”

“You can't protect people from his reprisals, or stop those who believe and want to join your Alliance from doing so, Zillian.” Lana interjected.

“No… But I can stop him just enough from taking innocent lives just because he wants to get to me.” Zillian looked over at Koth, who was walking up towards them. “Koth, what is it?”

“I just heard the news…” the soldier frowned, but he held Zillian’s gaze in his. “What is our plan of action, do we strike back and answer Arcann’s attack?”

“No, that is exactly what he wants.” Lana said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Senya crossed her arms, sceptical. “Is it?”

“We already have more objectives than resources, but we can make a course adjustment... If the Commander wishes.” Theron slowly looked at Zillian, waiting for orders.

“No matter what…” Senya also looked at Zillian, waiting. “You must remember Zillian, my children need to answer for what they’ve done and suffer the consequences of their vile actions.”

“For once more…” Koth mumbled, glancing at Senya. “I agree…”

Zillian turned his back on all of his group, and started pacing away from them. “There is no time for revenge hits, or uprisings. People have already been hurt, and I won’t allow even more to do so. People have lost homes, lives, families… More losses is not what I want. Theron, Lana, I want you to broadcast our deniability of allying with any planet or faction besides our own and those who want to join us on their own accord are welcome to do so. Koth, Senya, I want you to go find survivors, in pods, in ruins, rumble, whatever you can, and bring them here. I won’t let Arcann terrorize the galaxy just to find me… I will bring an end to this, sooner or later.”

Meanwhile, at the Eternal Throne, Vaylin had news for her brother. Deciding to visit wasn’t the best idea, once again Arcann was brooding. He was pacing left and right, mumbling things under his breath, his mask making it even harder for his whispers to be coherent. But even without words, Vaylin could feel his anger and his frustration. He had his back on her when she made it half way through the room when he spoke up.

“Where were you?” Arcann asked, gritting his teeth.

Vaylin chuckled, pleased with her adventures. “Bombing five worlds to dust. I made holos of it~ Do you want a copy?” She teased, going up the stairs and standing next to Arcann, leaning forward and tilting her head just enough to take a good look at her brother. “I'll take the grumpy silence as a no.”

“Father was on Zakuul…” Arcann didn’t look at her, but he did clenched his hands behind his back. “He used his pet to invade our home yet again, attacking it from the inside.”

Scoffing, Vaylin half-rolled her eyes. “I don’t remember him being so entertaining when he was alive. Oops, wait, he probably was with Zilly, just not us. Funny isn’t it?”

“Am I laughing?!” Arcann turned, glaring at Vaylin, his voice raised.

“You’ve never laughed…” Vaylin crossed her arms, pouting. “Not ever since Thexan died, and even before that you only laughed with Zilly. Guess that now he has new friends that he gets along with, he doesn’t have any use for you, thus no more laughing.”

Frustrated, Arcann tried to keep his cool. “Our Knights failed us. They must regain their honor. Send them to the dueling circle in pairs. They'll battle to the death.” He ordered, trying his best to ignore his sister’s comments.

“Finding Zilly and his hiding spot will be harder with half of the Knights dead…” Vaylin eyed her brother, looking at how casually he sat on the throne. “Especially if the ones he knew personally die.”

“The survivors will be motivated.” Arcann waved her off, noticing her scowling. “You know my command, now go, leave me be.”

Unhappy with her brother’s order, but unable to tell him so, Vaylin walked away trying to think at least how she could find some enjoyment out of all this madness. But Arcann stayed behind, playing the holo copies that Vaylin had already sent him, knowing that his answer didn’t matter when she had asked. People were screaming, begging, burning, yelling… And then silence. There was nothing but the silent hum of death. Arcann drummed his fingers against the throne’s armrest, eyeing carefully the scattered bodies all across the planets they had destroyed in hopes of rooting out their problem.

“Eventually Zillian… Eventually you will break…” Arcann clenched his metallic fist, closing his eyes and leaning his head back, pressing it against the throne’s back. “I will break you with my own two hands, you and your connection to my father. I will turn you both to dust…”

Chapter Text

On Odessen everything was running like clockwork. Lana and Senya were planning alongside Koth on their advances against Zakuul. SCORPIO was fine tuning the Gravestone, with Koth’s crew and Kaliyo’s inputs when it came to weaponry. Surprisingly, Zillian had found himself calming down after publicly broadcasting that the Alliance holds allies nowhere except those who come to join them personally, the enclave in the headquarters truly helped with that. Theron on the other hand wasn’t calm, he was stressing out, even if he was putting on a brave face for everyone in the base.

He was fidgeting around, looking at the big monitors and his data pads, both that he was holding. He was trying to track people down, erase their traces, find information even when there was none… His anxiousness was so intense that Zillian opened his eyes, stopping his meditation, and approached the main room where Theron was occupying a corner.

“Theron?” He earned the agent’s attention, making him quickly place down one of his data pads. “Is everything okay? It looks like something’s on your mind, you are a lot more tense than usual.”

Sighing, Theron placed aside his other data pad as well, freeing his hands. “I… I need your help with something.”

“You don’t need to feel anxious just because you need my help, Theron.” Zillian smiled, placing a hand over the tan colored robes, having shed the armor for when he was occupying his quarters in the base. “Please, tell me, what is it?”

“It is not anxiousness because I am asking for your help, it is more so because you are not obliged to give it. We are fighting against a common enemy, but I understand if you are still guarded against us, against people you don’t know that well.” Theron cleared his throat, trying to look more professional. “Back on topic. I passed a portion of that data you secured from Overwatch through an SIS contact of mine. It made a convincing invitation to some prospective allies in the Republic Special Forces.”

“No need to feel like that, especially when the news you bring is so good.” Smiling, Zillian found himself more at ease. “Who is it that our invitation attracted?”

“The sympathetic ear we attracted was none other than the leader of the Republic's most decorated military unit. The Havoc Squad has left their official duties. On one hand that is good for us, meaning we are doing something right in order to convince someone that it is important to quit the Republic…” crossing his arms, Theron sighed. “But on the other, I have it on good authority that they're conducting an 'unscheduled' operation on Zakuul. My contact set up a rendezvous, but it's up to you to sell them on this alliance for good and seal the deal permanently.”

“And let me take a guess and say that if it gets out that the Havoc Squad is waging a war of their own because of you, you will suddenly find yourself with more enemies than friends, is that right?” Zillian chuckled as Theron nodded. “Then what are we waiting for?”

Relieved, Theron grinned and started getting ready. He agreed for a pilot, a shuttle, and when Zillian wore his armor again with his lightsaber fastened to his side; then they were ready to leave. They boarded a small shuttle, just for transportation, and flew back to Zakuul. Zillian instantly felt more tense when they landed, but he did try easing his nerves. The swamp brought back memories again as they walked through it to find the rendezvous beacon, memories of him, Arcann and Thexan running, with sticks, chasing tadpoles. But those memories were starting to rot now that he knew what Arcann had done.

“I've got an anti-material rifle trained on your position and an unrestricted firing angle for at least a hundred meters. That's either really good, or really bad, depending on your reasons for being here.” A deep voice threatened, cold, calm, sounding kind of gruff.

“Wait… No need for all that. I am Zillian Vehirk, once a Knight of Zakuul, now the representative of the Alliance that is forming to go against Arcann, the current emperor.” He looked from where the voice was coming from, or at least where he felt it truly originate. “We thought that it might interest you.”

“So the message said…” a male Cathar stood up, rifle in one hand, gesturing down with the other. “Stand down, Havoc.”

Many soldiers stood up, lowered their weapons and marched forward. The Cathar guided them through the moss and the mud, presenting themselves in front of Zillian and Theron; the entirety of the Republic’s Havoc Squad in the flesh. Even the male Cathar, presumably their captain, lowered his weapon and nodded towards Theron.

“Don't take this situation personally. We aren't on the best terms with the Republic right now.” He looked at the Republic agent. “Isn’t that right, Theron?”

“Don’t look at me, I was never here.” Theron shrugged, smirking.

With his weapon now behind his back, the Cathar turned to the Alliance Commander, proud, shoulders straightened and tense, but not too much. “Major Jorgan, Havoc Squad. You're the one who's supposedly killed the Emperor, correct?”

Shaking his head, Zillian placed a hand on his chest, choosing to be sincere and truthful. “I am afraid that is not true. I killed a Dark Lord of the Sith in order to help the Emperor, but then I learned more than I could ever imagine about him… I cannot claim that I truly killed Valkorion, but what I can claim is that I want to put an end to whatever Arcann’s reign is causing to the galaxy.”

“Or maybe surpass him.” Valkorion’s voice whispered, but Zillian ignored it.

“I'm tired of seeing Arcann stomp all over the galaxy…” crossing his arms, Aric smiled and glanced at Zillian’s saber hilt for a moment. “You want to finally start giving as good as you're getting, I've got an op that can use your help.”

“Of course.” Nodding gracefully, Zillian kept his attention on Aric. “What do you need?”

“I will explain after we deal with this.” Jorgan lifted his weapon to the sky, where an observation vessel flew by, shooting it down. “Your landing didn’t go unnoticed.”

Zillian ignited his lightsaber, smiling. “It would be weird if it did.”

Together, both Havoc Squad and the duo of the Alliance, fought against the Skytroopers falling from the sky. It was like a storm, but instead of water there were bullets, wherever you looked blasters were being shot, a lightsaber would be slicing through metal, and eventually a droid body would hit the mud, already in half. It took them a while, but even when they successfully defended themselves against the Skytroopers, neither party relaxed.

“That won't be the last of them. Dengril, Xaben, split north. Abbeth, Torg, south. Kanner, take Theron,  fastest route back to camp. We'll regroup there.” Aric gave orders without hesitation, and Havoc followed. He approached Zillian and raised his chin a little bit in a signaling motion. “You, with me. We’re covering the retreat.”

Inspired, and impressed, Zillian nodded. “But of course. Trust me, your squad is in good hands Major. I will follow your lead.”

“The Skytroopers have numbers and mobility. Losing them is going to take a misdirection.” Aric tuned some settings in his weapon and looked around. “I need a good vantage.”

“I can take you to that.” Smiling, Zillian started heading up a slope. “Follow me.”

Following the Knight, Aric was looking around for any possible threats. When they reached the cliffside, and Zillian gestured towards an opening, the soldier didn’t hesitate to drop down on his stomach and crawl behind some leaves to hide. He looked around, placed his gun in its proper position, and waited. He had to admit, it was truly a great vantage spot.

“No sign of pursuit. Watch my six while I cover the retreat.” And as Zillian moved at his six, Aric cleared his throat. “So… The new emperor, Arcann, have you met him? I know that many Knights don’t ever meet their ruler so…”

“I have in fact met him, yes…” Zillian said with a solemn tone, gripping his lightsaber.

Aric sensed the man’s hesitation, but focused on duty more than feelings at that moment. “And what is your assessment?”

“I served under Arcann, for many years I was his personal guard… But before that we used to be more than just a prince and his caretaker… We used to be friends.” Taking a deep breath, Zillian closed his eyes, listening to the trees around him rustle from the breeze of the wind. “I believe that Arcann is a victim of Valkorion’s ideals, but that doesn’t make him any less responsible for the disasters he has caused, and the death he has spread.”

Once again Valkorion’s voice whispered in Zillian’s head. “And you can make him pay, and make things right for the galaxy once more.” And once again Zillian ignored it.

Aric remained quiet. He didn’t completely disagree with whatever Zillian had just said, but he didn’t like when soldiers placed his personal feelings into their judgement. But the Alliance Commander had proven himself, Aric couldn’t argue with that. He zoomed in through his scope, shooting about four or five Skytroopers that were patrolling close to their retreat route.

“Nothing but despots left in this galaxy.” The Cathar captain lifted himself up, helping the Knight get up as well. “The Republic I once served? It doesn’t exist. Once it was truly something I believed in, now? We gave the reins over to people who don't care how we win, just as long as we do. Saresh, the woman we once considered a good leader, is all but a dictator now.”

“Seems like the Republic and Zakuul have much more in common than what I originally thought.” Zillian frowned, not liking the sound of what Aric told him one bit. “I am sorry that you have to go through all that. Seeing something you believed in crumble, it is truly the worst feeling you can experience as a soldier.”

“Saresh has appointed a new Chancellor to rule over the Republic, at least for the public eye. The Chancellor is merely a puppet, and they have everyone convinced that the state of emergency requires executive action. She and the top brass just push through whatever suits their interests.” Aric zoomed in through his scope again, but sighed and lowered it once nothing was in sight. “Never thought I'd miss bureaucrats butting into military matters, but what we gained in efficiency we lost in soul.”

“I can understand that sentiment.” Crossing his arms, Zillian turned to look at Aric. “Even if the Knights of Zakuul are rumored to be the law, there have been many sectors where we have been overtaken by Skytroopers. There are few of us left knowing what Zakuul truly was before the raids, before the wars. We didn’t have much… But at least the people were happy, safe, our lives were somewhat mundane sure, but they were secure. Now look at us.”

“I hear y-” Aric lifted a hand. “Wait, I see something! Skytroopers… And Civvies! They’re in trouble.”

“Those must be more Zakuulans that dared to oppose Arcann’s rule…” Zillian ignited his lightsaber and stood next to Aric on the cliff. “Cover for me. Distract them as much as you can so I can close the gap.”

Nodding, the Cathar focused through his scope again. “Affirmative.”

Following Aric’s blaster shots, Zillian slid down the slope and with his lightsaber raised sliced through one Skytrooper about to shoot one of the men. He deflected blaster shots coming from the droids, helped the exiles to find a safe spot to hide from the fire, and proceeded to defeat the Skytroopers by hiding in the smoke Aric’s shots made to ambush them from their blind spots. Once the area was clear, Zillian gave a signal to Aric for him to see through the scope, and focused on the exiled civilians approaching him.

“You… You saved us.” A man said, grabbing Zillian’s hands. “Oh, great Hero of Zakuul, we knew you’d come for us. We all knew you weren’t a traitor like prince Arcann claimed.”

Aric slid down as well, looking at the scene. “Is everyone alright? Anyone injured?”

The man shook his head. “No, thanks to our Hero everyone is perfectly fine. Thank you.”

Timidly, a woman came from behind the man. “The Skytroopers, they just came from nowhere. We’ve done nothing, we promise. All we did was-”

“Did you oppose Arcann’s rule? In any way, try thinking…” Zillian frowned upon seeing the despair and fear plastered all over their faces.

“We only defended you…” the woman whispered. “And we were exiled here, and we were fine with that. But… We have homes here. We're no threat to the Spire, but the droids drove us from our homes and started burning everything!”

“Please, Captain Vehirk, you are our only hope.” The man knelt down, earning a small gasp from Zillian. “Please, stop them. Help the rest of the people there. Our families and friends, they all believed in you, they still do, like us. Our homes... There'll be nothing left if the Skytroopers continue their rampage.”

“Please…” the Knight knelt down, helping the man up, slowly by grabbing his shoulders and pulling him. “Don’t kneel. Don’t beg. Of course I will help, there is no need for all this. Gather anyone you find away from the fighting, there is an opening just north from here where you will be safe. I will meet you there, I promise.”

Aric looked over at Zillian and chuckled, just the tiniest of laughs. “You are an idol to them.”

“Well… Let’s hope they don’t have posters up on the walls of their homes then.” Smiling, Zillian nodded. “Let’s go.”

The two made sure that the exiles they just rescued were escorted to the safe location Zillian had mentioned. After that they got the coordinates of the small self-made village that the exiles had been calling home. It wasn’t far away, the smoke and the smell of cinders was very obvious. Zillian didn’t know if what bothered him more was the musk from the swamp waters, or the burning of wood coming from the distance.

Once they arrived, everything was up in flames. Skytroopers were terrorizing citizens, banging on doors, breaking windows, and supply crates. They were barbaric, almost like animals that had escaped confinement. Zillian and Aric shared all but one look before they set off. The Cathar captain helped survivors escape out of the flames, shooting whatever Skytrooper was in the sky. Meanwhile Zillian dealt with the ones on the ground, stopping the banging, and using the Force to move as many water pipes, move them and bend them enough to break in order to put out the fire.

It took more than what they would have wanted, and it wasn’t something they expected to encounter, but both Zillian and Aric smiled once they also headed to the opening. It was full with exiles, survivors, that they had managed to save. Many of them slowly stood up from whatever they were doing, approaching slowly, shyly. And then suddenly they all bowed.

“You have fans all over huh?” Aric arched a brow, looking over at Zillian. “The Skytroopers were probably looking for us, and they ended up being a way to draw us out.”

“Look at them…” Valkorion mumbled. “When I was still in reign, they wanted for nothing, they had everything. Now they are bowing to you, to their savior, praying to have everything once more.”

“We knew that if you ever came here, the Skytroopers would too.” A man said, collected, a bit older than Zillian but not by much. “The Emperor wants to make an example of you, and because we believe in your cause, he will use that as an excuse to crack down even harder.”

Frowning, Zillian shook his head. “You are all being targeted by Arcann because…” he trailed off, he didn’t want to say it.

“Because we doubt, because we believe in the Hero of Zakuul.” The man said, gesturing to a small group of people that had stood up from bowing. “Tell him.”

“I asked for proof on how our Immortal Emperor could ever die, especially from his most faithful Knight.” A woman said.

“I searched the Old Ways for guidance.” Another man admitted.

“I wondered why we continue to seek revenge on so many outsiders, for the actions of one, and how can we know that our Hero had anything to do with said outsider.” The man they had saved before spoke up.

“I…” the man that had urged them to speak sighed. “I sought justice for those condemned to exile. “We all had questions and the new Emperor does not suffer them. And with you here, the man he is so viciously after, he will try to silence us for good... Especially now that we have seen with our own eyes that you are still a Hero of our people.”

“I have a camp.” Aric offered. “I can provide you protection.”

Zillian nodded in agreement. “You have suffered enough out here. We can help, if you let us. I won’t let Arcann silence the voices of people who believe differently… Especially not when they are believing in me so fearlessly.”

The exiles looked at one another, their faces brightening as they eagerly nodded. The man who spoke for them also smiled, looking over at Zillian. “We will follow you. We all trust you, we always have trusted you.”

Aric tapped his com. “Kanner, we’re on our way back. We've got civvies in tow. A lot of them. Be on the lookout.” He tapped his com again, and looked at the Knight next to him. “Hope you're up for some trailblazing. We'll need to clear a path for a group this large.”

“Of course, you can count on me.” Zilian assured him. “Let’s go.”

And clear a path they did. Skytroopers were still in the area, but with both Zillian and Aric up front they posed no threat. The duo, alongside the exiled Zakuulans, managed to make it to Havoc’s camp, already welcomed at the entrance. Tents were set up, a campfire was blazing, rations were being counted, and everything looked incredibly organized. Kanner saluted them, escorting them further in.

“Refugees have been trailing in, but I am concerned about supplies sir.” She admitted, tensing a tad bit. “Those are a lot of mouths to feed.”

“Shelter and protection will have to do for now. We'll resume the mission tomorrow, after the refugees have settled in. Get some shut eye.” Aric commanded, and Havoc followed.

Looking around, Zillian just smiled, unclasping some of his armor, eager to get some sleep. “You’ve done an incredible job here, Aric.” He commended the Cathar captain.

“Thank you... But just to be clear.” Aric sat at a seat near a campfire, looking up at Zillian. “This alliance may be your show to run, but these soldiers are my responsibility. We clear?”

“Of course.” The Knight nodded, understanding perfectly. “Don’t worry Aric. Remember, I was a Captain and a Knight long before I became a Commander.”

Smiling a bit, Aric hunched over, hands on his knees. “Go rest, I’ll see you in the morning, seven sharp.”

They understood one another, captain to captain, soldier to soldier, a man whose home had been turned against him to another. They had a mutual respect, not just a mutual understanding, and Aric was glad he didn’t have to go in depth about what had to be done with Zillian. Night passed, almost uneventfully, since the Knight of Zakuul couldn’t sleep for the majority of it. Zillian found himself tossing and turning, and even taking a late night stroll, but he did eventually rest; at least well enough to show up in the morning meeting, where he also saw the man that led the exiles they saved yesterday.

“Pashna is going to be joining us in an advisory capacity. He knows a lot about Zakuul's current state, and alongside your knowledge I think he'd be a valuable asset.” Aric gestured at the man whose name was Pashna. “If you don’t have any objections that is.”

Shaking his head, Zillian offered his hand at the man, which he shook tightly. “I have none.” Zillian said, smiling, proud to be working with people that truly believed in him, even in those unorthodox situations. “Honored to have you with us, Pashna.”

“The honor is all mine sir!” The man exclaimed, almost giddy. “What you did yesterday… I had only dreamed of it. I never thought that it would be possible. I want to help you do more.”

“A source of mine in the SIS entrusted Havoc with an interesting piece of intelligence not too long ago.” Aric mentioned, glancing over at Theron. “I’m guessing we have Theron to thank for that, but it’s the reason we’re all here.”

Theron shrugged playfully. “No comment.”

“The data identified a planetary transmitter within a Zakuul Knight outpost. Our mission is to plant a wiretap on that equipment.” Aric looked over at Zillian, stepping towards the Knight. “We get a direct line on their communications, Havoc can start hitting high value targets all across the Spire.”

“And evade retaliation.” Kanner added.

“We’d be ghosts.” Xaban whispered.

Torg then cleared his throat. “Deadly, heavily armed, ghosts.”

Zillian nodded, seeing the vision, but not understanding one thing. “This all sounds good, but it also sounds like something that Havoc could have accomplished already.”

“Deploying the wiretap without it being discovered will either take a month of prep or a really big distraction.” Aric paced a bit around the room, but ultimately stopped next to Theron, hands behind his back, helping him stretch his muscles a bit. “If you're willing to commit the resources, we can move on this immediately.”

Although willing, the Captain couldn’t act without his first mate. “Theron? Is this going according to how you had planned for it to go?”

“Well…” Theron crossed his arms, furrowing his brow a bit. “The transmitter is a target we can hit and Havoc are the right ones to hit it. The sooner the better…”

“Good, it’s settled then.” Zillian looked at Theron smiling, confident of his friend’s decision. “Send a message to Oddessen, tell Lana to go on the offensive against Arcann’s forces. Not with everything we’ve got, but just enough to get their attention.”

“We have an agreement then.” Aric perked up, focusing on Zillian. “But I want you on the strike team with us. We will need as many heavy hitters as we can get, and you more than qualify for the job.” They exchanged a nod, and that was more than enough. “Let’s move out!”

Following Aric they all boarded a shuttle and flew over some parts of the swamp area. In the distance they could see it, something like a bunker, maybe a camp, and Knights patrolling the area or standing guard. Zillian knew their routines, so he guided Jorgan through the blind spots and managed to land them discretely a bit further from the Knights’ camp, but within walking distance.

“A few sentries on the exterior. Nothing out of the ordinary.” Aric confirmed, doublechecking from his rifle’s scope. “Give the order when ready.”

Zillian ran a hand through his raven hair and nodded, pressing his com and broadcasting to the members of Havoc and the Alliance. “Begin the attack, but minimize the casualties.”

“Copy, let’s go!” Theron’s voice came from the other side of the com, followed by an explosion.

The explosion escalated by smaller ones, blaster fire, and a raid from their handfuls of allies. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to earn the attention of the two guards and the sentry that were standing watch on the part of the facility that Zillian and Aric wanted to infiltrate. The three Knights jumped on their speeders, and started driving off to the lower floors to assist their fellow comrades. Meanwhile Aric was watching everything, and stood up, glancing at Zillian.

“I think that's the best we're going to get.” Aric jumped down, joining Zillian. “Havoc, keep us covered and watch for reinforcements. We're going in.” He transmitted, smiling slightly when Kenner responded positively.

The Major and the Commander rushed in, going through some leftover Knights that guarded the inner parts alongside some droids. There were not any Skytroopers, but defense droids were still around, especially in the central command room. Aric’s rifle and Zillian’s lightsaber made quick work of them, and just about when Zillian was finally about to say that luck was smiling upon them, Aric punched his fist against the control panel’s pad.

“Blast!” He exclaimed, gritting his teeth. “The good news? It works.”

“And… The bad?” Zillian asked, unsure if he truly wanted to hear them.

“They know we’re here. Reinforcements are already inbound.” Seeing Zillian’s sceptical look, Aric lifted his com up to his lips and informed his team. “We’ve got incoming. Brace for a fight, Havoc! Form up on the main entrance, we’re coming out!”

“If I know anything about Zakuulan reinforcements, it isn’t going to be just Knights.” Zillian gripped his lightsaber and threw it, cutting a Skytrooper that broke through a window in half, and speedily returning his weapon in his hold. “Let’s go.”

Their descent was definitely challenging. There were defense droids, soldiers, Knights, and a lot of Skytroopers. Theron commented that they were endless, even Lana agreed. Senya focused her efforts on defeating Knights before they reached the main platform, where Aric and Zillian were fighting against a mainframe defense droid unit. Kaliyo was causing wild explosions, killing as many Skytroopers as she could, but even that wasn’t enough. When they managed to break away behind cover, and through a passageway, a shuttle landed with more reinforcements.

“Great… More of them…” Zillian didn’t lower his weapon he braced for battle, much like Aric did.

“Ugh…” the Cathar groaned. “It just had to be droids.”

But before Zillian could use the Force to try and push at least some Skytroopers off the bridge, a rocket got launched straight into the shuttle carrying the Skytrooper troops. Havoc and the Commander grabbed the chance and hurried away to a safe spot, using the follow up bombs as a very welcome distraction. When arrived, Zillian came face to face with not Theron, not anyone from the Alliance, but Pashna and some other exiles.

“Pashna…” he cleared his throat, smiling, trying to ignore the smoke all around them. “I am glad you are here, we owe you.”

“I thought we might not make it. I'm glad to be wrong.” Pashna bowed, like a soldier to a king, but smiled; a gentle expression that was surprisingly fitting on his burly face. “When we heard your call, we knew what had to be done. We've spent our entire lives being protected by someone. By our droids, by you especially… We… We want to be able to stand up for ourselves, without burdening your shoulders with even more weight.”

Zillian suddenly became pensive, he needed time to think about that, but time wasn’t something they had. “We can talk about that later… For now we should return to camp.”

Through the smoke and sparks, the group made it into the shuttle that Havoc had used to land and departed for the base. There, Havoc treated whatever surface injuries others had, while being around a warm campfire for everyone to be as comfortable as possible. They were mumbling with one another, talking about old times, similar events. When Zillian passed them he found himself smiling, even as he approached Theron and Aric.

“We took a beating, but the mission was a success.” Theron grabbed Zillian’s shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. “And your connections yield us yet again news allies. A welcome surprise if you ask me. I’d say this is quite the progress we’ve made here.”

“Nobody else has made it this far. I’ll give us that.” Aric followed up, more grounded than Theron. “It's a bigger victory for Pashna and his people than us. Finding the will to fight back. Proving they could win. Arcann’s seeding his own defeat in these swamps.”

“They are just abandoned souls, Aric. Tossed away because Arcann didn’t want people to disagree with him… To turn them into proper soldiers, that will take work.” Zillian crossed his arms, thinking of what Pashna told him at the Knights’ base. “And a man willing to teach them.”

“If you agree, I want to embed Havoc with the rebels. I heard what Pashna told you, and I agree, they should fight for themselves. I want to train them to be a proper fighting force. Build an army right under their emperor's nose.” Aric offered, looking towards the Commander.

“I trust Havoc, they will too.” Zillian smiled, nodding. “Go for it, Aric. I think your plan has great room for potential, and the results can truly be life changing, especially for them.”

Placing a hand on his chest, Aric nodded. “You won’t regret this.”

Theron returned to their shuttle, readying the vessel to depart. That time there weren’t just two on board, Aric joined them, and while Zillian was briefing Lana on what Havoc will be doing, Theron was showing the Major around. Soon enough they joined Zillian in the main room, Aric walking surprisingly relaxed behind Theron, with an ever so subtle smile on his face.

“Interesting group you've got here. It takes all kinds, I guess.” Aric said, glancing around.

Nodding, Zillian smiled sympathetically. “Against someone like Arcann, anyone who is willing to join us is a welcomed ally.”

“Desperation makes for strange bed fellows.” Lana added, looking at SCORPIO, but also side glancing at Zillian.

Koth shrugged and cheekily grinned, looking at Senya. “Not the strangest for some of us.”

Senya elbowed him without even looking behind her. “One more word Vortena and I will have to fight you on it.”

Aric looked around and shook his head. “As fun as this is, I have to get back to Havoc. I've requisitioned passable training gear to issue the rebels, at least until they can keep from shooting their own toes off.”

“I can’t believe we’re asking civilians to fight our battles… It doesn’t feel right.” Koth mumbled, but it wasn’t low enough for Zillian to just ignore.

“We didn’t ask them, Koth.” Zillian said, looking at the soldier. “They wanted to fight. They wanted this fight to be theirs as well, because it already is.”

“Zillian is right.” Lana added, crossing her arms from beside SCORPIO. “They're going to do this whether we help or not. Teaching them how to is what's best for them, not just us.”

The Lady of Sorrows nodded. “A more rigorous analysis would suggest the cost benefit is more strictly in their favor.”

“That heavily depends on many things, SCORPIO.” Zillian turned to look at her, frowning. “You cannot just measure something like that on only one scale, it tips off the balance.”

“The projected impact of Havoc Squad's direct intervention versus a model of successful guerilla insurrections over the same duration, that is what I am measuring.” SCORPIO stated, looking over at Aric, who sighed.

“Pushy droid you got…” he whispered, side glancing at Zillian.

“You… Um…” the Commander trailed. “You don’t want to call her that…”

“What? Pushy?” Aric arched his brow, turning his body to face the droid that approached him.

“Droid. The extent of my being is beyond your comprehension.” SCORPIO stated, earning an eye roll from the Major.

“Yes… Clearly.” Aric looked at Zillian and gave him a small nod as a salute. “I will be heading off. If you need me, you know where to find me, Commander.”

Upon Aric’s departure, the base had some downtime. Downtime that Zillian spent training, and meditating. The Sith and the Jedi that Sana Rae had gathered at the enclave were very helpful, in teaching him through sparring, and through the Force. He learned ways to use the Force that he didn’t know before, and some lightsaber combat tricks that due to his noble training he wasn’t taught. But that downtime and calmness lasted only a couple of days, interrupted when SCORPIO transmitted him a holo-message that requested his presence in the main room of the Alliance.

“Good, you’re here!” Theron exclaimed, making Lana and SCORPIO turn to look at Zillian, who was just walking out of the elevator doors.

“Astute observation, Agent Shan. It is a wonder the SIS could get by without your deductive reasoning.” SCORPIO said, her voice dripping with irony, if that was even possible.

“You're a droid that's gotten too big for her own bolts.” Theron bit back, glaring at SCORPIO. “How's that for an astute observation?”

Lana rubbed her temples, and turned to look at their two bickering companions. “Five minutes, is five minutes too much to ask for some peace and quiet around you two? Zillian is here, and you are practically embarrassing yourselves.”

Zillian chuckled a bit, but crossed his arms like a strict parent, mimicking Senya; albeit unconsciously. “You two… Stop acting like children. Especially you Theron, you know better than to give in to her taunts. But you called me here for a reason I suppose, care to tell me?”

“Of… Of course.” Theron sighed and gestured at SCORPIO. “SCORPIO, show the Commander your findings… Please.”

“My analysis of enemy communications obtained by Havoc Squad revealed something rather interesting. Hidden inside a mundane signal, I discovered encrypted transmissions, code-named, the 'GEMINI Frequency'.” SCORPIO handed Zillian a data pad, which he scrolled through, looking at the information. “They are broadcast from the throne to every vessel in the Eternal Fleet. The Spire schematics provided by Kaliyo confirm this.”

“It's how Arcann commands his warships. This is the break we've been waiting for, a direct line to the enemy fleet.” Theron said, trying to hide his enthusiasm, but even with that Zillian didn’t look so sure. “Commander?”

“It won’t be this simple… This is something that is possibly known only to the royal family… I didn’t even know of the existence of GEMINI…” leaving the data pad behind, Zillian found himself twirling a piece of black hair around his fingers, pulling on it slightly. “But nevertheless, it is the best opening we have. Start a plan of attack, and let's hope that maybe it's Arcann's turn to be on the defensive.”

But Zillian wasn’t the only one who spent his time meditating and practicing lightsaber combat. Back in Zakuul, at the royal palace, Arcann had found himself dressed in way simpler attires, practicing with a practice saber in the training grounds he once used as a kid. He was practicing against mannequins, nothing serious, just playing around… But as he took a break, he heard laughter.

“What…” he whispered, to no one but himself, and followed the sound.

It went past the thicket behind their home, out to a small pond, where trees still grew, frogs sat on pads on top of the water, and fishes splashed around. There were flowers around, fruit, as if it was a small haven that the population of Zakuul hadn’t touched, and war was a term not known to this piece of land. Arcann remembered this place… He hadn’t set foot there ever since he was thirteen, ever since Valkorion started sending him to serious raids alongside Thexan. And yet there he was, younger, brighter, laughing as he ran behind a tree while a young boy around his age chased him with a wooden saber.

“You will have to try harder than that if you want to- Woah!” The young echo of him fell down, tripped by the practice saber the other boy carried. “That was unfair, and rude.”

“Rude, maybe. Unfair, no. All is allowed during a war, Arcann~” the boy mused, his dark hair up in a bun, showing his grinning face clearly as he helped the prince up. “But we should go, time has passed and Lady Senya will be looking for me, and Lord Valkorion-”

“Hah, my father won’t be bothered to search for me, Zillian.” The echo smiled and held the boy’s hand tighter. “So if you do not mind being yelled at by Mother for being late… Could we stay here, just a little bit more?”

Arcann found himself watching, observing… But nostalgia became envy, and soon enough it brewed to anger. He used his own wooden saber to slice down a stone he saw the two boys sitting on, panting as the practice saber broke into pieces, splinters mixing themselves with grass. One look around and the Emperor of Zakuul noticed that the serenity had shifted in the oasis. The frogs had jumped inside the water, the fish remained in the bottom of the pond, the birds flew away and didn’t chirp anymore… And suddenly, as the memory of the two boys happy and blissful faded away, so did the color of the little secret haven; revealing rotten trees, barren from leafage and fruit, a pond dried out, grass wilted, and most of all the feeling of dread all around the once peaceful hideout.

Chapter Text

Odessen was always in motion, that was something that Zillian could appreciate. Every time he moved through the corridors, or passed a room, people would be walking, talking, training, doing everything in their power to help their goal. Everyone had learned to coexist so it didn’t surprise him when he walked inside the meeting room, only to find it full of all the individuals that collectively made up their main group. The holotable showed Havoc Squad and Kaliyo, and Theron welcomed him in, placing a hand on Zillian’s back and guiding him further in.

“SCORPIO cross-referenced all the data Havoc Squad and Kaliyo stole from Zakuul. When we compared the enemy's comm logs to the Spire maps, we found something unexpected.” The agent started, pressing some buttons, all he said referring to what SCORPIO called the GEMINI frequency.

Zillian saw the holo spawning in front of his eyes, a big building, almost like an array. “What even… Is that?” He asked, squinting to try and make sense of it.

“That is a hyperwave relay station hidden ten thousand meters beneath the Spire. It's the only source of GEMINI frequency transmissions to and from the Eternal Throne.” Theron explained, expanding the schematic even further.

“I am both impressed, and concerned…” Zillian mumbled, crossing his arms. “I always thought that the Eternal Fleet was being solely controlled by the throne, and never questioned it. But now, thinking about it, it makes sense that the throne needs a broadcasting station.”

“Bingo. Broadcasting a signal to thousands of ships across the galaxy takes tremendous energy. The relay station's powered by two hundred reactors tapping directly into Zakuul's planetary core.” Theron nodded, looking up at Zillian from the little keyboard he was slightly hunching over.

“That relay station is our key to the GEMINI frequency. If we can decrypt it, we'll eavesdrop on the enemy and learn all about Arcann's plans.” Lana approached them, giving Zillian a small smile as a silent thank you for his presence and inputs.

And although Lana’s smile was lovely, Zillian couldn’t find it in himself to reciprocate it. “That is not wise… Maybe we can, for a bit… But if war has taught me something, it is that any means of communication, especially this large, should be destroyed with the first opportunity we get.”

“Disrupting enemy communications is the first step of guerilla warfare, the Commander is right. This is a demolition op, all the way.” Aric agreed through the holo, looking confident in Zillian’s judgement.

“You'll never get near that relay station... It's ten kilometers underground, and almost definitely defended by more safeguards than we can count.” Senya spoke up, her voice concerned, much like her look. “Unless…”

“Unless we have detailed plans of the security measures and how to defeat them!” Theron cheekily grinned.

Lana looked at Zillian, her face serious, but voice hopeful. “A strike team can disable the defenses right under Arcann's nose but only if we send it in now. Our intel's turning stale as we speak.” She didn’t want to push, but she had to, and Zillian knew.

“Kaliyo and Major Jorgan are already on Zakuul. They're in position to clear the Commander a path directly to the relay station.” Theron pointed out, gesturing at the two figures on the holo.

“You plan on sending Zillian there, alone?” Senya narrowed her eyes. “Absolutely-”

“Move with your plan…” Zillian sighed, looking up at Aric’s holo model. “I unknowledge that Major Jorgan would prefer to do this solo, as Havoc Squad have experiences with demolition ops, but-”

“Woah, woah, hold your speeders there Commander.” Kaliyo interrupted. “Why bomb the place? Why not control the GEMINI frequency? I can get in, and get you full control.”

“The idea… Has potential…” Lana mumbled. “She is a very skilled infiltrator…”

“This woman bombed my people. I can handle seeing her work for Zillian, but take the entirety of Zakuul’s fate on a single mission?” Senya crossed her arms, standing her ground. “Forget it.”

“Senya is right…” Koth stood by her, nodding. “We need to destroy this, not control it.”

“Controlling it is out of the question, at least for now.” Zillian pinched the bridge of his nose. “We will need to work together for this, so please, hear me out. We will need to draw Arcann's attention away from our true goal, and that means creating a diversion, one big enough to make even the emperor of Zakuul interested.”

“And let me guess, you want me for the job?” Kaliyo smirked. “Are pets allowed since civilians are out of the question?” She chuckled once she received a glare from Zillian. “Kidding, kidding. I am still on board with slicing and giving you control though.”

“I am not against the idea… But I need you to create the perfect chaos to lure Arcann’s attention, Kaliyo. Because if controlling the relay doesn’t work, destroying it is what we need to do no matter what, and I trust Aric with that task.” The Knight’s eyes moved to the soldier, who saluted.

The holotable turned off, Theron sighed and walked off, mumbling about something, something, and tea. Zillian started feeling overwhelmed, but tried to not show it, and he tried to not let it win him over. He relaxed his body, and slowly turned as Senya approached him, her face contorted with a frown, brow furrowed with thin lines that showed her age, but didn’t hide her concern.

“Zillian I trust you, with my life, you know that…” she started, and Zillian felt a ‘but’ coming. “But-” there it was. “I do not trust Kaliyo. If our people get in danger because of her so-called distraction, I will go out of my way to find her, and kill her.”

And as Senya started walking away, Koth nodded, following her. “And I will help.”

Zillian found himself hunched over, sighing, trying to think on how to proceed. There were so many variables, so many pieces of the puzzle they still didn’t know about. Thankfully he did have people by his side, cheering him on, and believing in him… But Arcann was his friend once… The thoughts of hesitation were stopped when Lana placed a hand on his shoulder, making the Knight look up.

“You can’t please everyone, Commander.” She said with genuine sympathy. “But it may be prudent to consult Valkorion. He built the Spire. He may tell you how to invade it.”

“I doubt he will be willing to talk after the past few encounters… But I can try.” Zillian straightened his back and gave Lana a smile. “Thank you.”

After retreating to the cantina for a drink, Zillian found himself staring at the lift platform leading to the Odessen Wilds. It was an area where few went, mainly used for sparring and combat practice. It was mainly unexplored, and vast in terms of land expanding even beyond what the eye could see. At first the Knight shooed the thought away from his mind and went to bed, feeling fatigued, but Lana’s thoughts lingered in his mind. Even his dreams revolved around meetings, planning… The stress was eating him alive.

He found himself tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Zillian lifted himself up, combing back his hair with both of his hands, rubbing them over his face after. His eyes looked around the empty and foreign room, and he reminded himself that there was no friend he could turn to for a nightmare, or a worrisome sleep this time. Slowly he found it within himself to get up, get dressed with his plain robes, and walk to the lift he was staring before as he was having a drink. A secret passcode only a handful on the base knew was pressed into the keypad, and Zillian closed his eyes as the platform ascended to the outside.

When the wind hit his face his golden eyes opened, taking in the scenery. The grass made a wonderful crunchy sound underneath his soles, the leaves rustled with the wind, and fireflies buzzed on several bushes. It reminded him of the old hideout he and Arcann used to have, where they trained and broke too many wooden sabers to count. He walked further, away from the base, right where the distant waterfall ended and rushed into a pond.

“Valkorion…” he took a deep breath, fidgeting with the hem of his robe. “We need to talk…”

The air around him grew colder, stiffer, that is when he knew Valkorion did heed his call. “Ah, a Knight once and always… You find yourself hopeful, Zillian. But I am hopeful too, that you and I might see eye to eye. You do understand I can help you, right? I am the one recognizing your potential, your true power, your talent. After all, I always did.”

“I will not go into this again…” Zillian turned around, facing his former Emperor. “I won’t explain why I am here, you already know… So please, cooperate with me.”

“Cooperate? With you? The man who found himself in need of help, who I helped with my power, and got by unappreciated? May I remind you that you’d be nothing without my help Zillian, nothing!” Valkorion gritted his teeth. “I am not your servant, that title was meant for you, and you have trifled with my patience for the last time, boy.”

A surge of energy overwhelmed the area, and Zillian along with it. It was suffocating, cold, dark, it felt as if he was dying. The water soaked through his clothes, making him shiver awake after what felt like hours. Immediately he stood up, looked around, and tried his comm, but it was painfully obvious that his messages weren’t going through.

“Your friends cannot hear you.” Valkorion’s voice echoed, but his mirage was nowhere to be seen.

Looking around, Zillian finally registered that this place wasn’t the one of the Odessen Wilds he was at. “You isolated me, yet again… For what reason?”

“Sometimes, evolution requires a push. Or a sacrifice.” A rumble came from the distance, and Zillian turned his body to face it. “You have forgotten what it feels like to face death alone, betrayed. You have forgotten the harm my son once caused you… Allow me to gracefully remind you.”

In front of him was a path going forward, with visible obstacles such as monsters lurking, hidden, blended with the environment. He tensed, reached for his lightsaber as he treaded forward, steps restrained, heavy against the dirt, and extremely careful. But Valkorion didn’t just leave him to his own devices, no, that would have been far too easy. That boy was his own creation, and much like he had made him, he had every right to undo him.

“A path has been laid before you, but you refuse to tread upon it. That will change.” His voice was a lower tone than usual, not a warning, but a threat. “Can you sense the predators closing in? They smell your weakness. They would feast on it.”

Ignoring Valkorion’s taunts, Zillian kept moving forward, defeating the predators. He was panting, exhausted from the lack of sleep and anxiousness. The looming danger of Valkorion also attacking him at any minute didn’t make this trial any easier, since the Knight knew very well that his stances and beliefs lately had shifted far away than his former Emperor’s wishes.

“You have a destiny to fulfill. I am tired of being disappointed by your lack of progress.” Valkorion continued, his voice closer. “The galaxy is finally united under a single banner. It should have been yours.”

Grunting as he pushed back a beast before slaying it, Zillian glanced around him, hopelessly trying to find the source of the voice hunting him. “I will choose my own destiny, I will dictate it. The galaxy is not united, it is enslaved, and I will free it.”

“My son would have struck a killing blow against you. Had I not interfered, you would be dead. Perhaps I should have let you go then…” Valkorion drawed out, slowly, observing his pawn as he slayed monster after monster. “Despite your precious warship, a legion of allies, and my immense power at your disposal, you remain... Incomplete.”

Zillian finally made it to the end of the path, his lightsaber still sizzling by his side, its hilt gripped so hard that Zillian’s knuckles were white. Around him were trees, caves, and fake routes of escape. There were none, Zillian knew that the moment his surroundings darkened, and the now familiar cold wind blew so hard it pushed him back. He had to cover his face with one arm raised, and dig his heels hard against the ground. But once the wind eased down, and the man lowered his arm, in front of him was Valkorion, calm as ever.

“You are strong, Zillian. You always were, but you doubt yourself, you are scared of bringing an end to my son, and that is your own personalized downfall.” The Immortal Emperor placed his hands behind his back, gripping them. “Your attunement to the Force could never be enough to defeat Arcann, not without my nurturing. Until you embrace your full potential, you will only be a pawn of fate, never its master.”

Shaking his head, Zillian frowned. “One way or another, I remain a pawn. Either to you, or fate, and I much prefer to be a pawn of fate. At least there, I can try and accept my destiny, if it actually exists.”

“You and my son, always skeptical when it comes to fate.” Valkorion shook his head, scowling, almost judgemental. “The future is not a river to carry us, Zillian. It is the ocean in which we drown, if we are not prepared.”

“Do not do this…” Zillian looked away as Valkorion approached. “Do not try to manipulate me by speaking in wise words, Valkorion.”

“I am merely stating the facts. You have two destinies, my boy. In one, you defeat Arcann,claim the Eternal Throne, remake the galaxy, become known as a Hero once more.” Valkorion circled his creation, turning his back on him for a moment as he continued. “In the other you die alone, unmoured and forgotten. I brought you here to make you taste that defeat.”

Bracing himself, Zillian took a deep breath and calmed himself down; as much as possible that is. He raised his lightsaber, deflecting some force lightning that Valkorion threw his way, but that wasn’t all. The former Emperor truly wanted to test him, with everything he had. He made Zillian hurt, groan in pain, suffer as he suffocated against a force grasp after deflecting another possible hit. Every time the Knight avoided an attack, the Emperor had another one coming. At the end of it all, Valkorion didn’t kill him, he just pushed him against some boulders after disarming him, scoffing at how pathetic the former Light of Zakuul looked.

“Pitiful… I am gone, and you lose your edge, you forget everything I taught you… You have become nothing more than a simple, disposable, soldier.” He lifted Zillian up, gripping him in a force choke, taking joy from hearing him gasp for air; air only he could provide. “Nothing more than my sons… Why did I believe you could change anything if this is how you will repay me for everything I have given you?”

Struggling to breathe, Zillian managed to cough out a response. “You don’t understand… You never understood me…”

“Neither did you, boy. Therein lies the problem.” Valkorion let him go, granting him the privilege of breathing again. “This was a fraction of the pain my children can inflict with the amount of power they have gained. If you do not finish your training with me, become something greater even than who you were before, you will feel the full weight of their rage. Especially Arcann’s, my son seems most eager to see your demise.”

Slowly lifting himself up, holding his neck as if a noose was still tightly wrapped around it, Zillian hacked a breath and glared at Valkorion. “I have trained to be the best I can be… If I face defeat against Arcann, so be it, at least I will know that I have tried to save him, and bring him back before your words and actions poisoned us both.”

“You do not perceive the path ahead, even when I myself have laid it out so obvious for you to follow. Let that be your first lesson.” Approaching his Knight, the Emperor gave him a small, yet mocking smile. “I cannot stay to protect you any longer, especially since I am not welcomed anymore. There are matters to which I must attend, but I will leave you with a final token of my favor. Consider this as my last hope of you rejoining my side.”

As Valkorion vanished, an energy emerged from where he was standing, creeping closer to Zillian even if the Knight backed away from it in order to avoid it. It embedded itself in him, the Force absorbing it like a sponge does liquid. It felt foreign, but familiar, similar to the power he felt against the Knights back on Zakuul at the Eternal Swamp.

“Wait…” Zillian whispered, trying to focus. “You are going, outside of my head… Where and why?”

“Explaining is pointless my boy. You will understand when the time comes.” And that was the last Zillian heard of Valkorion.

The Emperor’s voice vanished, as did his presence. But the power that surged in him reacted, sparking, exploding in his chest. It made Zillian drop to his knees, looking at the waterfall in the distance. He tried to crawl, to try and cool off, hoping that might help, but it was futile. The pain overpowered every other sense he had, creating a ringing in his ears, numbness in his fingers. He stretched his arm, trying to reach his discarded lightsaber, but one more spark from the ‘Emperor’s favor’ was enough to knock him out, face flat against the cold hard ground, fully unconscious.

At the Eternal Throne, with the usual entourage of Knights, Arcann had let his mind wonder. He was disassembling and putting back his brother’s lightsaber, watching as the crystal inside glittered differently than his, at the clicks the metal made… It reminded him of when he and Thexan made their first sabers, or when they sat down with Zillian and contested on who could disassemble and reassemble his lightsaber the fastest. But a feeling of unease dawned on him, causing Arcann to have a shortage of breath, gasping in shock as he slowly stopped the lightsaber for levitating, but before it could land in his palm, Vaylin had pulled it in hers.

“Cheer up, big brother. You're making me sad.” Vaylin walked up the stairs, and as Arcann stood up she handed him the lightsaber back.

Quickly, Arcann shook his head. “Father won’t face me himself…”

“He’s punishing you for stealing his chair.” Vaylin pointed at the throne and rolled her eyes. “And also imprisoning his puppy in carbonite, but that's a different thing altogether.”

“He isn't angry... Father never felt anything for us. Not even when I…” Arcann looked in front of him, right where he had done it. “When Thexan died.”

“He was a good brother. Brought me gifts from all the worlds he conquered.” Vaylin paced a bit back and forth, looking over at Arcann. “Sometimes he’d even tell me stories, tell me how brave Zilly was in a fight, or how stubborn you were.”

Arcann tensed and slowly turned to look at his sister. “I freed you from Father’s control. I hope that I've earned your support.”

“My loyalties lie here, Arcann.” Vaylin’s eyes softened, just for a bit. “Always.”

Vaylin patted his shoulder, and slowly left, not looking back once. Arcann found himself relaxing a bit, sitting back down, gripping Thexan’s saber… But he gasped and clenched his chest with his mechanical hand, gripping the white fabric tightly. He reached up to his mask, trying to release the hatches, but something in his chest tightened. It was almost an unexplainable pain, a surge of suffering from beyond his control… His eye widened, understanding what this was. Hunched, he lifted himself up and tried to walk to his room, but he almost felt himself suffocating and fell to his knees. The Knights around him rushed up the stairs, helping him recover back on his throne… But just what was his father planning for his body to have such a horrid reaction?

Waking up was the hardest thing Zillian had accomplished in a long time. But when he did, not only was he somewhere unknown, he was inside what seemed to be a spacecraft. He slowly lifted himself up on his elbows, looked around, and ever so carefully got on his feet. He found himself wobbling, so he reached out for support by grasping the walls around him. Sitting idle wasn’t a choice, moving forward was the only option he could take.

As he did just that, trying to reach the bottom floor, and the exit, he found data pads, forgotten, placed aside for later… He didn’t know. But he did recognize the legends of Zildrog. Those were Zakuulan data pads, filled with info. One of them was about a merchant, telling a passerby the legend of Zildrog in the Endless Swamp just to terrorize him. Another displayed a woman, a Jedi from the looks of it, talking about holocrons, and how Sith and Jedi alike, although different in philosophy, used them as wisdom safes for matters concerning the Force. As he ventured further, he found a camp, but this time it was not just him and a deserted fire, there was the same woman from the second data pad, slowly looking back at him, her lips lifting up to form a smile.

“I’ve waited for you, Hero of Zakuul. Welcome to my home.” She lifted herself up, giving the Knight a short bow as he approached. “You might not know me, but my name is Satele Shan. I was a Jedi Master, back when the Republic was still a safe ground that believed in peace.”

“A Jedi Master… Waiting for me?” Chuckling at the irony, Zillian frowned. “I see. Sorry to keep you waiting, Master Shan.” Her name, he knew that there must be some correlation between her and Theron, but he didn’t dare ask.

“No need for apologies.” The woman turned to what seemed like empty space, glaring. “Yes, I will offer a meal, stop rushing me.” She said sternly and then gestured at the crackling fire. “You survived quite an ordeal. Come, sit. There’s food.”

Making himself as comfortable as he could, Zillian looked up at the woman. “We aren’t alone, that much is obvious… But to call this place your home. A lot must have changed for you.”

“I believe for many, including you.” Satele started serving a portion of food in a wooden bowl. “Many things have changed in the past five years. I led the fight to save the Republic from Zakuul. Nothing prepared me to face that enemy. I failed, again and again.”

“And that led you here…” he found himself staring at the flames licking the wooden logs. “For some time now, as far as I can tell.”

“When the Republic surrendered to Arcann, I gave myself to the will of the Force. I left the Core Worlds and found this planet. We've been here for years. Waiting.” She turned around to face him, handing him the bowl of food. “Originally we didn’t come to Odessen for you. We sensed your awakening on Zakuul. Felt the presence of our old enemy guiding you. We witnessed the victories and defeats leading you here. When we found you in that clearing, we faced a choice. Bring you here, or end you there.”

Zillian placed the bowl to the side, standing up, and pacing alongside the Jedi woman. “And are you sure you made the right choice?”

“I am yes… For within you, we felt something that we’d lost for a long time.” Satele looked up at the sky and smiled. “Hope. Valkorion strengthened your bond to the Force. You may be the greatest warrior wielding it in our midst, but your training as it was couldn't prepare you for what's to come.”

“Nothing could have…” Zillian whispered, but felt the woman’s gaze strong on him.

“You have much to learn. Follow us. Seek the answers throughout the valley. You will know when you find them.” The Jedi master walked away, leaving in silence, but not without giving Zillian one more encouraging smile.

That was the first time that Zillian reached for his lightsaber, finding it by his side, untouched. He smiled, actually trusting someone wholeheartedly. It was hard to do, but he knew he had to, otherwise he would be just proving Valkorion right. He went through the valley Satele pointed him to, using the Force to bypass obstacles, his combat prowess to fend off monsters like the ones Valkorion had challenged him with. But this time it was different, he was much calmer, focused, he didn’t have the burden of judgement on his shoulders.

“There is no greater challenge than to change from within. But that is what we all must do to survive.” Satele’s voice came through in his mind as he treaded forward. “The most powerful Jedi couldn't stand against the endless legions of Zakuul. Even the Sith Empire learned that lesson too late. On countless worlds I watched Jedi sacrifice themselves to delay inevitable defeat. We will not let you meet their fate.”

The words weren’t manipulative, it was clear as day that Satele just wanted to help and guide him. At that moment, he felt more like a Jedi than a Knight of Zakuul, and that was okay. Above all he felt safe, encouraged, and ready to move past the obstacles ahead.

“I went to Zakuul in secret to see the Eternal Throne myself. I still bear the scars of that journey.” That time, Satele’s voice came from a closer proximity, and soon he could see her figure against some brazers. She turned around, pacing towards him as he paced towards her. “On Odessen, light and dark exist in perfect balance, forming a nexus in the Force. There is another world like it, your world, Zakuul. But you, Arcann, your Knights, you all have been taught the Force in a different way than Jedi or Sith.”

As Satele explained that, Zillian put away his lightsaber and just followed her. “What makes the way we have been taught so different?”

“Jedi approach the Force as a companion, and Sith try to enslave it. But you, and your people, believe that the Force is your reward for serving an ideal.” Satele smiled, a sad smile, almost sympathetic alongside a layer of melancholy. “You swear your lives to the Eternal Emperor. The more you honor his commandments, the greater your power. The knights obey their master without question, sacrificing everything for his triumph, much like you did. Devotion is what you believed to make you strong, but now you must become stronger. Stronger than the knights, than Arcann, and most importantly... Stronger than your past self.”

“You are right about many things, Master Satele. And one of them is about the sacrifice.” Zillian looked down, ashamed. “As Knights we are taught to sacrifice everything for the Emperor, for his vision is to be achieved without question. So what can we pay to exceed their power that they already won’t have paid themselves?”

“Everyone has limits. You must transcend your own.” A familiar voice made its way through, and a Sith Lord that Zillian hadn’t seen in many years appeared before them. “Greetings, Hero of Zakuul.”

“Darth Marr…” Zillian tried to understand how the man he himself had killed was standing before him. “But how…?”

“You might have destroyed my body, Knight. But not my reason for being.” Marr crossed his arms, staring at the Knight that brought his physical demise. “I have no quarrels with you, Hero of Zakuul. My goal remains the same, to defend the Empire.”

Looking between the Force ghost and the Jedi Master, Zillian sighed. “But you two…”

“After my defeat, I sought an ally to make things right again. But only one in all the galaxy was my equal.” Marr explained, gesturing at Satele. “We met on this world. We argued, explored, and found an understanding. We now pass that knowledge to you.”

“Back on the Alliance, I have witnessed Jedi and Sith working together.” Zillian placed a hand flat on his chest, bowing, just to properly respect the two Masters. “But if experienced ones like you have found a way to work together, surpassing your differences, I’d love to know how.”

“No one is more surprised than I am to be here, in this moment.” Satele nodded, glancing at Marr. “But I trust the will of the Force.”

“We do not offer empty platitudes. We do not promise easy victory.” Marr explained, looking at the Knight. “But as a warrior, you should know no easy victory through your fights.”

Satele’s eyes hardened. “All we ask is that you listen with an open mind, and learn from our failures, even if you don't know much about the Jedi, or the Sith.”

“To forge the future, you must first break with the past. Victory over Arcann requires new perspectives…” Marr looked at the lightsaber, tightly wrapped against the Knight’s hip. “And new weapons.”

The Jedi pointed behind Zillian at the forest behind him, making the Knight turn around and look at what was to come. “Follow the will of the Force into the wilderness beyond this camp. Find what we left for you, and meet us in the cave.”

Another instruction, another trial, but not an unwelcomed one.

Zillian proceeded forward, feeling Satele staring at him, but not in a judgemental way, not like Valkorion did. He pressed on, avoiding enemy encounters when he could, and fought against them when needed. That time, it wasn’t Satele’s voice guiding him and letting him know about the state of the world. But most of all he gave him insight about his views on something more important than just the world; Arcann.

“Arcann won't be conquered through passion, or righteousness. He has emptied himself of weaknesses like sentiment and morality. He isn't the man you once knew, he has fallen even further than how you remember him.” And Zillian could see that, could feel that, replaying the latest fight he had with Arcann constantly in his head.

“Then how?” The Knight asked. “How can I defeat someone who won’t even listen to reason? I once knew his weaknesses, now I feel like I know nothing. As if he has pushed me and cast me aside into the shadows.”

“Because he has…” Marr hummed. “Your enemy, your old friend, he stole his empire through deceit and murder. He's accustomed to the dark. You must strike where he's blind. From within.”

Satele, who like a ghost had been following him, sliced a monster in front of him and looked up at the Knight. “It will not be enough to defeat Arcann. His Eternal Throne and the fleet it commands are the greatest threats our galaxy has ever faced.”

“The Sith Code teaches us Sith to break our chains. But freedom is not what you are primarily after. Your ultimate goal is to anchor yourself, and feel the power steadily flow through you.” Marr followed up as they proceeded further into the valley, closer to the cave they had instructed Zillian to reach. “When Arcann lies defeated, your destiny is to take the Eternal Throne. Any other path will lead only into chaos.”

There it was again. Destiny. Taking the Eternal Throne… Defeating Arcann. Zillian wanted to deny all that, discard words such as Fate and Destiny. But surprisingly, coming from Darth Marr or Master Satele Shan, they didn’t sound that intimidating, or even that binding as they did coming from Valkorion or Heskal.

As they stopped to take a breather, Satele placed a hand on Zillian’s shoulder. “The Force is in motion, and we must follow. The old ways aren't enough. Not ours, not yours. We'll show you the new way, a way we forged from all sides, combining all of our knowledge and expertise.”

“In life, I dismissed the Jedi Core. I was wrong. There is no death. There is only the Force. And it has a plan.” Marr continued as they kept pacing upwards. “The will of the Force is a flowing current. You can follow or fight it, but it is always there.”

As the path started to come to an end, the entrance of the cave came into view. Zillian found himself entranced, being pulled inside by something unknown. The water was dripping from the ceiling, moss growing all over the walls, and the stone almost felt smalted. His steps felt heavy, and his breaths started to become harder to inhale and exhale in proper pacings. But his body stopped, halted, as his eyes connected with what looked like Vaylin; and yet it wasn’t, for that Zillian was certain.

“Tick, tock, tick, tock.” Her voice was the same, exactly the same. “Tell me… Do you believe in the future?”

“I believe in second chances…” Zillian whispered, looking at the dark yellow blade being ignited. “We don’t have to do this, Vaylin.”

“Isn’t this a bit too late coming from you, Zilly?” Smiling, Vaylin launched an attack, causing the Knight to ignite his own saber to defend himself. “You will see me, you will remember me, every time you close your eyes Zilly, I will be there.”

Grunting, Zillian pushed Vaylin away with the Force, but another attack was imminent. He kept defending himself, trying to talk some sense into her by wearing her down… But then he remembered that he was allowing personal feelings to cloud his judgement. This wasn’t Vaylin, it wasn’t the girl who rushed to him to listen to his war stories, it wasn’t the same girl who woke him up one night with screams for help that he had to ignore. Letting that settle in, Zillian twisted his body and slashed his lightsaber below Vaylin’s legs, making her trip and stare at him up in horror as his light yellow blade struck her right in the chest.

Zillian remained hunched over, panting, but slowly he lifted his head up looking over at Satele and Marr’s ghost approaching. “She wasn’t real… I know… But still, the feeling of striking Vaylin down…”

“This was a warning, Hero of Zakuul, a vision sent to you by the Force to prepare you.” Satele smiled, walking towards Zillian. “You have a strong bond to the Force, and a bond as intense as yours brings with it powerful insight.”

“Heed what you saw. Behind Arcann stands Vaylin, and behind her, many others you once considered allies and brothers in arms. They will all try to stop you, disregarding past bonds.” Marr also approached, his mask hiding his emotions. “The weapon you wield was built for a different war. A different enemy. It no longer serves you properly. It must change, as you have.”

Confused, Zillian lifted himself up, looking at his lightsaber. “You want me to… Build a new lightsaber? That is a hard ask, Lord Marr, for us Zakuulan’s building a lightsaber is not like when you Jedi or Sith do. It is a trial for our enlistment.”

“You won't need to create a completely new lightsaber, but an extension of the Force's will inside your already existing crystal. One that you alone will control. With it, you can unite a thousand stars.” Marr looked over at Satele, nodding, encouraging her to talk.

“We offer to add our strength to yours, but you must be the guiding hand. Focus the power, and decide what form it takes.” Satele smiled, much like an understanding and patient mentor. “Have that be your actual lightsaber, or your crystal, or a whole new weapon, that is up to you Hero.”

Closing his eyes, Zillian sat down crosslegged, and levitated his lightsaber in front of him. He started disassembling it, focusing and nodding at the two of the masters standing in front of him. They both sat across from him, and focused on the Force flowing through the crystal. After a minute or two, a crystal from an altar behind them floated, shining and absorbing an invisible energy. The new crystal shone brightly, and suddenly it broke into a hundred tiny pieces. The sound made Zillian open his eyes and witness the new crystal melding into the old one, creating an almost pure white crystal with a faint yellow glow.

Focusing again and lifting his arm, Zillian assembled his blade fully, grasping it and igniting it automatically. It emitted such a glow, soft like a welcoming sunrise, but burning hot like molded iron. Satele observed it, admiring it, while Marr silently approved of the craftsmanship and talent.

“That blade is part of you now. The next time you face Arcann in battle, he will not be ready for what is to come.” Crossing his arms he remained still as Satele cleared her throat.

“But remember, Hero of Zakuul, violence can only destroy. It doesn't inspire others to greatness, and it can never rebuild.” Her smile returned, although her eyes were tired. “Only a leader can do that.”

Much to Zillian's surprise, Marr nodded in agreement. “I once thought it enough to be the unstoppable force between my people and the enemy.” He lowered his head, his shoulders heavy. “I faced your Immortal Emperor, refused to bend, and that choice broke me. It doomed me in your hand, and it also doomed the worlds I sought to defend.”

“I faced your Immortal Emperor, refused to bend, and that choice broke me. It doomed me in your hand, and it also doomed the worlds I sought to defend.” The Jedi Master frowned, placing a hand on her chest. “We know what it means to fail those who counted on us. We would spare you that pain, but we are too late for that.”

Zillian placed his saber back where it belonged, by his side, but he was not frowning, he was smiling looking at the two mentors. “It is better for you to share your experiences with me so I can avoid your faults, rather than have me repeat them. Just the faith you have in me is an honor to have, and I thank you.”

“As an old general for the Zakuulan forces you know pain. It has made you who you are, but it also showed your limitations.” Satele looked at Marr, waiting for him to add to her reasoning.

“Surely you know about war, but leading this Alliance is unlike anything you've done before. Directing the war effort is a mere fraction of the burden you must bear.” He turned around, looking at Satele as well.

The woman smiled kindly. “You must not only know when to fight, but when to retreat, or even to make peace with your foe.” She then focused her gaze on Zillian. “There is an oasis not far from this save. Your final lesson waits there.”

Walking outside of the cave, Zillian looked around him, and everything looked more peaceful. There were no creatures screeching, just some sleens drinking water and eating wild fruit. Even the far away stalker predators were asleep, nesting against bushes and shadows. Nothing stopped Zillian from going up the hill and seeing the oasis from the top, sprawling from one side of the thicket to the other, glistering blue waters splashing with what probably were fishes, reminding him of the oasis hideout they had as kids back at Zakuul.

“Forget what your old masters taught you. Not even Valkorion understands. The Force is not an ally, slave, or transaction between ruler and ruled.” Marr’s voice came in his head clearly as Zillian descended his way to the oasis. “The Force is a paradox. It empowers, and imprisons. It destroys and unites. It binds the galaxy together, and tears people apart. It has a will... But it needs a commander.”

Reaching the oasis, Zillian’s eyes followed the waterfall’s current, going upwards, and meeting with a creature similar to the predators he was fighting beforehand. “You killed many of her children. Now she will devour you as revenge.” Satele explained, watching like a hawk from a higher point of the hill.

The predator jumped down, growling from the back of her throat. “What hope do you have to escape such raw fury?”

“Escape isn’t always possible…” reaching out with the Force, Zillian looked at the grieving mother. “But violence isn’t always necessary. Accepting that death is part of life, and as happiness when life is born is natural, so is grief for when life is taken away. I do understand her grief, much like I have felt sorrow for my fallen comrades in the past, and I do not undermine hers. I wish things were done differently… I truly bid my own apologies.”

When Zillian said his condolences he bowed, waiting for the mother to strike him, but instead she whimpered. It sounded almost like a cry, a cry of a mother that started to peacefully mourn her children. The Knight lifted his head and saw the beast claw his way up the rocky wall next to the waterfall. The fact that he didn’t have to result in killing the beast made him let out an exhale of relief, which made Satele chuckle as she came closer to the water.

“You created peace from a violent confrontation. Impressive.” When her eyes locked with Zillian’s she did one clap. “Some believe you're destined to walk this path. Others think you make the choices that decide their fates.”

“Your Alliance will collapse if you do not know yourself, and the ideal you serve. Do you understand?” Marr asked, his voice strict, almost like Senya’s at crucial moments.

“No matter what fate dictates, or what kind of destiny I am made to fulfill, I will try my best to push through and bring safety to the people that place their belief in me.” Zillian bowed deeply, not just for appreciation, but out of deep respect. “Thank you both, without you I would be feeling lost, this has helped me more than you think.”

“Your way is clear, and so is ours. Do you feel it, Marr? The Force draws us elsewhere.” They exchanged a look, and Satele could feel Marr’s relaxation.

“Indeed…” he mumbled softly. “The exile on Odessen is over.”

“A new path has opened, thanks to you. Our duty is to follow it.” Satele looked over at Zillian and smiled. “Trust in the path ahead. The Alliance awaits its Commander, and we have kept you for far too long. Farewell, Hero of the Alliance.”

“Farewell, to the both of you. Master Satele, Lord Marr, may the Force keep guiding you forward.” Zillian watched them walk away, and spotted the path upwards back to the Alliance. “And let us hope that your guidance and faith was well placed.”

“Recon team gave the all-clear. We're entering sublevel four.” Aric’s report made it through the holo to Theron and the rest of the base.

“Five by five, Major. Transmitting the optimal path to the next security checkpoint…” Theron typed out the coordinates and shortcuts of the map, sending it over to the Major.

“Try not to shoot everything this time. There are only so many storage lockers to put Skytroopers in.” Lana said, sighing, very much tired of being the only serious person without Zillian in that room.

Aric scoffed from the holo, his rifle in his arms ready to shoot. “That’s half the challenge. What kind of Sith are you?”

Holding her temples, Lana mumbled her answer. “A reasonable one from what I gather.”

“I've identified the hyperwave relay station's weak points. Demolition charges at each one will maximize the blast radius.” Senya chimed in, trying to break some of the formed tension.

“You want to destroy our best chance to take control of the Eternal Fleet?! Unbelievable! I feel my IQ dropping just hearing you talk.” This time it wasn’t Aric, but Kaliyo, being sarcastic to Senya from the other holo line.

Koth rolled his eyes. “Maybe you’ll forget how to breathe…”

“Koth.” Senya glared at him and then pinched the bridge of her nose. “Your mission's complete. Get off this channel and-” she cut herself off, hearing footsteps and turning around to see Zillian enter the room. “Zillian, oh thank Izax!”

“Where the blazes have you been?!” Lana turned around, just to notice how soaked and worn out Zillian looked.

“Sorry for worrying you…” smiling when Senya rushed over to grasp his shoulders, Zillian looked around, not at the room but at his companions. “Valkorion lured me in the wilderness and tried to kill me. But we came to an impasse, and he ended up leaving my head to go someplace he wouldn’t tell me about. But I do have some good news.”

“Please…” Senya took a step back, clearing her throat and composing herself. “Go on.”

“I found a Jedi Master by the name of Satele Shan, accompanied by the spirit of the Sith Lord I slayed five years ago, Darth Marr. They helped me create a new crystal for my lightsaber, which just might be the key for us defeating Arcann.” For a second Zillian took a look at Theron, noticing how he slightly tensed with him mentioning the woman’s name. “They left now, as a team, following the will of the Force together.”

“Well if you claim to have seen my mother…” Theron half-said and half-mumbled. “It sounds so farfetched that it must have actually happened.”

“Hold up. We've got trouble. A dozen Knights coming in behind us.” Aric frantically transmitted the urgency of the situation.

“Happened or not, Aric needs us.” Lana pressed a button, her blonde eyebrows furrowing together in thought. “Someone must have found your mess on level nineteen.”

“If that’s true there’d be twice as many.” The Cathar captain said through gritted teeth and some blaster shots.

“Major? Major, come in!” Theron tried to get across, attempted to get through to Jorgan, but he failed. Frustrated he let his fist down on the keypad and huffed. “We’ve lost the signal.”

“We could salvage the mission if we send our backup.” Lana offered, paying attention to both Theron and the holo that had now become just static.

Senya turned around and crossed her arms. “She isn’t backup. She’s collateral damage.”

Koth hummed and scratched his beard a little. “Wait, Senya what if the Knights-” he cut it off when Zillian glared at him, giving him a side-eyed glare that could make even the biggest of soldiers shiver. “Kidding, kidding.”

“Kaliyo…” Zillian went closer to the holotable, watching as Kaliyo’s holo was clearly transmitted to them. “I need you to follow up on Major Jorgan, and provide the necessary backup. Remember, minimize casualties, but finish the mission.”

The Rattataki saluted with a cheeky smirk. “I'm halfway through level ten. Consider the mission complete, Commander.”

The holofeed got shut off with some blaster shots and clanking of droids as a farewell. Zillian gripped the edges of the table and closed his eyes, thinking on his choices… But then he stopped. Thinking on choices wasn’t an option, not anymore. They had come way too far, too close, too near to their goal to think about choices. He only had to take them, believe in them, and hope his allies did too.

Chapter Text

Valkorion was nowhere to be found, complete silence, and for once Zillian could hear his own thoughts echoing in his skull. He slept without any nightmares or dreams, just rest, just a peaceful void. When he woke up he trained, meditated, caught up with everyone in the base, and repeated his routine. He found the Odessen wilds calming after the encounter with Satele and Marr, so he found himself going there again to meditate near the waterfall, or walk amidst the fireflies and sleens. But when he walked in the central room and saw everyone on edge, he knew what had happened.

“Do we still have no news of Major Jorgan or Kaliyo?” He asked, troubled, since their signals had gone completely null from their mission a couple of days ago.

“Everything within a kilometer of the Spire has been locked-down. No signal gets in or out of that zone.” Theron informed Zillian, pulling up the latest schematic they had of the relay. “So we’ve had… Well…”

“Nothing but silence.” Lana added, frowning and crossing her arms, but underneath her seriousness lay worry.

Senya frowned and paced forward. “I warned you that the GEMINI frequency mission was dangerous. If they're alive, it won't be for much longer.”

Zillian shook his head and leaned forward, inspecting the holo Theron had pulled up. “We don’t know that for sure… If they are alive, they will find a way and contact us. Or, if they get captured, they won’t be dead.” Straightening his back, the Knight looked at Senya. “Knowing Arcann, he will first make a public spectacle of them, to showcase our failure to destroy his plans, to demoralize the people of Zakuul that rally against him. That will instantly give us an edge to at least try and get them back.”

Koth chuckled. “Can’t say I will feel bad about Kaliyo, but Jorgan’s on the line too.”

“Any attempt to rescue them would be suicide… But I will leave that up to your judgement.”  Senya smiled, looking over at Zillian, whose face was calm and collected. “I haven’t seen you so determined in a long time, Zillian… I trust your decisions.”

“I'll alert you the moment I hear anything, but until then…” Theron trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck, nervous at the daggers Lana was glaring at him.

“There have only been two days, and a break is going to be useful for morale. That includes you too, Theron.” Lana kept glaring at him, briefly glancing at Zillian to request his agreement.

Zillian chuckled and nodded, looking over at Lana with confidence. “Lana is right, I believe some downtime will be useful for everyone.”

Letting out a sigh, the Republic Agent shook his head. “I am too tired to argue.” He rubbed his temples and almost walked off, when he suddenly remembered something. “Oh!” Theron exclaimed. “Almost forgot to tell you. Hylo asked to see you, she wouldn't say why, but it sounded important if she is requesting you specifically, Commander.”

“I will see to it then, but you go take a break and rest Theron, you deserve it.” Zillian patted him on the shoulder and looked around him. “Everyone does.”

He then bowed as a farewell, and retreated to the corridors that led to the hangar that Hylo resided with her team. Hylo had made a good impression, right from the start she has been supporting, she has been feeding the Alliance with important information, and she was a cog necessary for this machine to keep on moving forward. So when she approached him with a grin, Zillian smiled back, ready for whatever she had to throw at him.

“Commander!” Hylo exclaimed. “Got a sec? I guess Theron passed on my request to see you huh?”

“He did indeed.” He started walking with her, hands behind his back. “What’s on your mind?”

“We're doing our best to keep the supply lines running, but most of the people I deal with aren't exactly philanthropists.” The woman exclaimed, frowning. “We can't keep running this thing on goodwill and borrowed credits.”

“I won’t ask questions, besides one.” Zillian waited as Hylo inputted some codes, opening up a door for them to move further in the base’s newest entrance to the war room. “Do you have a plan?”

Hylo nodded. “I do. I didn't just come here with complaints, Commander, I know a guy with a habit of showing up when someone's in need, much like we are. He's reached out with an offer we can't really refuse, much as I might want to. You should meet him.”

The two rode up an elevator to the higher floors of their base. “Hm…” Zillian crossed his arms, thinking. “Alright. I am willing to at least hear him out, if you truly recommend him, Hylo.”

“Well, he's already here and it's probably best not to leave him to his own devices.” Hylo chuckled, going inside the cantina. “I recommend him for being reliable when he is needed, but keep a guard up with him, he can be quite eccentric.”

He noticed, in the further corner room of their cantina, Lana and Koth playing pazaak with someone. Lana confidently called, positive she would win. Koth folded, disappointed and shook his head at his loss. But the stranger revealed his hand and won, getting the better of Lana. The Sith woman stood up, agitated, pointing at the alien across from her for cheating, which in his defense, he didn’t refuse. Looking even more annoyed, Lana took a deep breath and walked off, right as Zillian approached the table along with Hylo.

“Wasted no time turning the card table into a graveyard.” She pointed at the cards on the cantina table, and gave a sneaky glance at Lana’s retreating figure.

The man shrugged with one shoulder, smirking. “It’s my preferred method of execution.”

“Commander, the most untrustworthy scoundrel I know.” Hylo said, sitting down and gesturing at the Devaronian across from her. “Untrustworthy scoundrel, the Commander.”

The man rolled his eyes. “She was never big on formalities. Gault Rennow, at your service.”

“Welcome to the base of the Alliance, Gault.” Zillian said, full of curtsey. “I am taking it that you know Hylo well?”

“Oh, we go way back!” He exclaimed, but Hylo chuckled.

“I don’t know~” she mused. “It seems like only yesterday that we first met.”

Gault cleared his throat. “Anyway, we really should get on to business.” He looked up at the Commander. “The Eternal Empire's spent the last five years pillaging every world in the known galaxy. How'd you like to turn all that plundering into a profit for you and yours?”

Seeing the man stand up and circle him, Zillian seemed intrigued. “Go on, I am all ears.”

“I happen to know where they're keeping all that ill-gotten gain. Better yet, I've got a surefire plan to steal it right out from under their noses.” Gault leaned against a nearby wall, fully facing Zillian, his gaze never wandering once. “I just need the help of a few talented, tough customers, to see it through. And your experience, is an added bonus~”

Zillian knew of people like Gault, people who tried to buy their way into more profit by seemingly turning it into yours as well. “All that sounds good… But what is this generous proposition of yours going to cost me?”

“Only your word, for now, and an even split after the fact. Fifty-fifty, couldn't be more fair!” Gault raised his hand as a promise, and once he got a nod from the Commander, he lowered it and nodded. “Ever heard of the Gilded Star, Commander?”

“As a matter of fact… I have.” Zillian nodded, recalling the ship’s name. “It is a safekept secret, even from people of Zakuul. The only reason why I know about it, is because me and my mentor once served Emperor Valkorion and were tasked with guarding it. But nowadays, I don’t know what has happened to it, besides the fact that I am guessing it remains a treasury.”

“I am impressed!” Gault said, hiding his sudden nervousness. “It is circling the depths of a massive gas giant. The ship and the treasure all wrapped up into one neat little package for us to receive.”

“I do not remember the Gilded Star being… Little, nor its cargo.” Zillian smirked, seeing as Gault became a tad bit more nervous.

“Well, maybe not little. By my estimation, it's the greatest sum of wealth gathered in one place since the Hutt Empire was a thing. So, you in?” Gault extended his hand for a handshake.

Zillian accepted it, shaking the Devaronian’s hand, and sealing the deal. “I do not think I need any more reasons to say yes, just the fact that this will cripple Arcann has me interested.”

“Great! Hope you’d feel that way!” Gault looked at Hylo approaching. “When you're ready to get this show on the road, we'll be heading to Vandin to lay some groundwork.” He winked, not sure at who, as he turned around and walked away. “Looking forward to this, partner!”

Zillian chuckled, looking at Hylo. “He sure is a character.”

Hylo just sighed, smiling. “Sure is, Commander. Sure is.”

Zillian allowed a day to go by, just so Gault and the rest of the base could become acquainted, which didn’t seem like a big challenge for the con artist. He was charming, fitted right in, even if Senya was glaring at him from time to time, suspicion brewing at the back of her mind. Even on their trip towards Vandin, Senya had her guard up, but not in a malicious way. Gault had eased his way through, passing people with soft ‘excuse me’s, reaching a spot next to Zillian to observe the planet as it came to orbit.

“There she is, Vandin. Mind the ledges when you're walking around, unless you fancy a death by scenic view.” He leaned in, supporting himself on Zillian’s shoulder, making the Commander jump up a bit. “Calm down Commander, I am not talking about this view.”

Clearing his throat to compose himself, Zillian side-glanced at Gault. “You haven’t mentioned why we’re here, Gault.”

“Giant barge. Full of money. Is this ringing any bells? It's out there, somewhere, swimming below sight and scan range.” The Devaronian walked forward, took in the view, and turned to look at Zillian again. “Something about the magnetism here plays havoc with sensors, and cheap fillings.”

“I see… So even with our best equipment, Gilded Star is beyond our reach.” The Knight held his chin as Gault approached.

“Bingo. We'll never find the Gilded Star out there, which is all the more reason to get our preparations underway.” Gault winked at the Commander, all cheeky, before going and grabbing a weapon from the appropriate storage. “Such as picking up the last member of our illustrious crew.”

Seeing Gault preparing his rifle, Zillian fiddled with his lightsaber, feeling it almost weightless. “Do we have any idea of how many people we will need for this whole operation?”

“Half a dozen, give or take? This is the last one unaccounted for.” Gault did some finger-gun motions, just to lighten the mood.

Zillian turned his back on the ‘scoundrel’, watching as they approached a nearby landing pad. But although the landing was smooth, the atmosphere outside wasn’t. The air was more suffocating than the depths of Zakuulan sewers, and looking around could easily trick you into thinking you were in a swamp, or a toxic wasteland, rather than a planet hiding the Eternal Empire’s most treasured relic. Gault walked in front of him, turning to look at Zillian, arms behind his head and whistling, too carefree for it to be normal.

“He should be in a warehouse not far from the dock yards, I'll point out the place when I see it.” Gault turned around properly, and motioned for Zillian to follow him.

Zillian noticed people at small stands, drinking, eating, taking a break. But the same people were talking about less hours of work, change of programs, some were concerned, others knew better and stopped the rest from asking any more questions. People were dissatisfied, but Zillian kept following Gault, who was pointing at a container up ahead.

“This is the place. That container, over there.” Gault approached the entrance before the container’s location, looking around to make sure they were alone and they weren’t followed. “So, this plan I mentioned. It's going to take the best identity forger this side of the galaxy to pull off.”

Zillian crossed his arms, drumming his fingers against his forearm platting. “But?”

“But, well, the problem is... He's been in hiding, specifically in that, for a long time. He probably won't be too thrilled to have visitors.” Gault nodded his head to the side, towards the container. “Especially not visitors who had his safehouse shipped a few thousand parsecs unannounced. Be on your toes.”

“Wait, hang on a second, Gault.” Shocked, Zillian blinked and looked at the container, then at the new ally he had with. “You kidnapped this man?!”

“Kidnapping is… Um… Harsh! I’d consider it more of a change of address.” Gault explained, smiling, as if he was caring no worries in the world.

Still in disbelief, Zillian followed Gault as the Devaronian approached the container. He started knocking on the metal door, and didn’t stop until the camera next to it moved to identify him. When it did, Gault proudly strided in the cone of vision of the camera, posing with his fists on his hips. He looked at Zillian momentarily, and winked, mouthing a silent ‘I got this’, which Zillian heavily doubted.

“Dretcher, is it? They always say retirement is a good time to travel. Why don't you come and check out the new scenery?” Gault asked, as if talking to an old friend.

The voice from the camera came through its speaker loud, clear, and very much annoyed. “Tyresius. You've got a lot of nerve showing your ugly mug to me again.”

Zillian approached Gault, getting into the view of the camera as well. “Tyresius?”

“Just a name I carried around for a while, no use to anybody now.” Gault shrugged, his voice just above a whisper, hoping the camera’s microphone wouldn’t catch what he had said. “Think you've got me confused for someone else, friend. Name's Gault Rennow, got a business proposition I think you'll want to hear about.”

Dretcher huffed, audibly through the camera. “You can't play dumb with me, Ty. I know that face better than you do.”

“Gault does speak highly and praises your work.” Zillian said, looking up at the camera.

“Of course he does!” Dretcher exclaimed. “He's seen a lot of my work. I even made him a perfect duplicate... Better than perfect. My version didn't talk. I've had enough of helping that fraud fake his own death. This time it's going to stick.”

Glaring at Gault, Zillian sighed. “Fake your death? Really?”

Gault’s sheepish grin was the last drop Dretcher needed. “A little gift for your hospitality.” Alarms blared as he hit some buttons, and from all around pipes opened to reveal gun wielding droids. “You can mail order just about anything these days.”

Gault took care of the right and Zillian took care of the left side of the room. They kept shooting and slicing the droids, piling up their bodies on the ground. Zillian even had to kick some aside so he could move more freely, making him wonder just how many Dretcher had ordered, and from where. But more importantly, when the hoard of droids stopped coming, Zillian found himself sighing a breath of relief, looking up at the camera, feeling Dretcher’s frustration even from far away.

“Oh, come on! That's not how this was supposed to go!” Dretcher’s disappointed voice came through as the duo approached the entrance of his container again.

“Still can't roll with the punches. You perfectionist types never learn, there is no such thing as a 'sure thing'.” Gault said, and Zillian found himself agreeing with him for once.

“Can you explain to me Gault, why are we trying to recruit someone who obviously doesn’t want to be found, and wants to kill you on top of that?” The Commander asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“He's the one with the grudge! After I made that body double he went and swindled half of Nar Shaddaa, in my name!” Dretcher became more and more exasperated.

Gault ignored the judgemental look given to him by the Commander, and decided to answer his question. “Because Dretcher's literally the only one I trust to pull this off.”

“It's taken everything I know to stay hidden in this little prison. Every time I start to think I can leave,someone snitches on my new identities!” The man in hiding said, borderline enraged. “Care to guess who?!”

“So maybe I encouraged Dretcher's early retirement. This little box is cozier than a coffin, and a better place to reflect on how stupid trying to blackmail me was.” Gault defended his position and choice, although poorly. “But hey, ancient history, am I right? I'm more than willing to forget about our past disagreements, if you do one more job for me.”

A scoff came from the inner parts of the container. “Like I’d ever help you again!”

“Dretcher…” Zillian frowned, understanding the man’s need to stay alone and away from someone who destroyed his life, but also understanding their own need to have him on board for their mission. “I don’t know how much you know about the outside world, considering your situation, but it is not a pretty sight to behold. The Eternal Empire has been taking the galaxy by storm, and soon they will reach every little pebble, and your hiding will not be possible anymore. I also don’t know the full extent of your history with Gault, but in front of the safety of the galaxy itself, I sincerely hope you can put it behind you, just this once.”

The camera’s speaker buzzed with static, and then it went dead. The little red light that spoiled the fact that it was operational turned off, and the camera itself retreated back to its original position. Zillian and Gault exchanged a look, with the latter shrugging, unsure of what was happening. But not long after their exchange, the second flap of the container opened, letting stairs come into view. The two climbed them up, and were met with an isolated space, alongside the identity forger who was standing quietly next to the panel he used to communicate with them from.

“Fine…” he mumbled from behind his mask. “I will help your damn mission.”

“Sit tight, Dretch, and get reacquainted with the concept of hygiene. We've got one more stop to make before we get to the fun part.” Gault patted his shoulder and then started leaving, wasting no time to put the next part of his plan in motion.

Dretcher shook his head, and looked at Zillian with a look that wished him good luck. The Knight nodded as a silent ‘thank you’, accompanied with a smile, right before he also set off to follow Gault up some ramps, through a corridor, and into another hangar-like area. The atmosphere of the planet remained suffocating, and Zillian couldn’t wait for them to get off this rock, but he also wanted to see what else Gault had planned; especially with what seemed to be like smugglers, who were arguing and fighting with one another.

“Punctual, gentlemen. Glad you could make it all this way. No trouble, securing my little request, I take?” Gault asked, marching in as if he owned the place.

“Hmpf…” the captain of the group turned around and scanned Gault through narrowed eyes. “It’s here. You got our money?”

Zillian stayed close to Gault, but allowed the Devaronian to keep going. “Of course, friend. But I'd be remiss if I didn't ask to see the good first.”

The captain sighed, turned around, and whistled. Fighting instantly ceased, the guys jumped down to controls, and maneuvered a missile in the view of Gault and their captain. Zillian tensed, especially as Gault moved to inspect the damn thing. Just what was in Gault’s mind?

“Satisfied?” The captain asked, in a lower voice, growing impatient.

Seeing the exchange, Zillian couldn’t just stay idle. “Gault.” He went right behind the Devaronian, whispering. “This needs explanation. You cannot expect me to just sit back and watch you buy a missile for unknown-”

“Shhh.” Gault winked, hushing him. “Calm down, Hero. I will explain everything once we’re done here.”

The rest of the crew jumped down completely, joining their captain, whose foot was tapping the metal plating impatiently. “So, you got our money or what?”

“About that…” Gault turned around to face the man he had made a deal with. “I was really thinking we should renegotiate the price you know, seeing as I don't need the whole missile.”

Zillian looked around as everyone was now pointing guns and rifles their way. “Gault…”

“I kinda knew you’d feel this way.” In his hand, Gault pressed a button, making the missile beep.

The panel that the missile had exposed lit up, and a voice came from it. “Launch sequence initiated. Target acquired. Total atomic dispersal in T-minus one minute!”

Everyone was shocked, well, everyone except Gault that is. “You son of a- Make it stop!” Shouted the captain, panic settled in his voice.

Gault’s eyes scanned the room and he simply shrugged. “Nah.”

“Gault!” Zillian said, sternly, but not without any panic. “Are you out of your mind, this might-”

Raising his finger, Gault ticked his tongue against his teeth a few times. “Not while I am negotiating, Hero.”

The missile beeped again. “T-minus fifty five seconds. Warhead primed, suffering index set to maximum!”

“You will pay for this!” The captain pointed at Gault as he rushed out, motioning and rallying his troops to do the same as well.

When the group left, and there were just Gault, Zillian, and the Devaronian’s package, Gault chuckled and pressed the button in his hand again three consecutive times. “Suckers.”

At the command, the missile beeped. “Abort sequence: aborted. No stopping me now!”

“Ugh, what did she do to this thing?” Gault went up to the panel, pressing some buttons, inputting some commands manually, but there was no response. “C'mon, c'mon! It's not responding!”

Zillian rushed to his side and looked at the panel. “Is there any way to rewire it, or override its commands? Any circuits to maybe cut in order to deactivate it?”

“Dozens!” Gault opened the panel, seeing the mess of cables behind it. “Got any idea which one we’re supposed to cut?!”

“Tampering detected. Emergency detonation in five seconds. Nice try, jerks!” The missile’s control said through its speaker, and it made Zillian more suspicious of this whole exchange.

“Ugh!” Gault held his hand, eyes darting in every cable, and every button. “I can't tell if she did a terrible job rewiring this thing, or too good of one!”

“Three... Ooo, so close! Two...! I can't wait! One-” and as Gault stumbled backwards, crawling on his hands to try and find cover, the top of the missile opened up to reveal a blue twi'lek girl, with her arms raised and her lips in a big grin. “Kaboom!” She laughed, pointing at both Gault’s failed attempt at getting up, and Zillian’s terrified expression. “Ahaha! That was great!”

Gault rolled his eyes, dusting his pants and letting out an ironic “Ha. Ha.” laughter.

“Oh, c’mon! You have to admit it was good!” The twi’lek smiled, placing her hands on her hips.

“It was a very believable distraction…” Zillian combed his hair back, taking a deep breath, trying to calm and ease his breathing. “If you ignore the fact that I probably saw several years of my life flashing before my eyes.”

She giggled, jumping down. “That’s the best part!”

“Allow me to introduce my partner, Vette. She has a habit of getting where she's not wanted. Like on your nerves, for instance.” Gault looked at the girl, who pouted at his comment. “Did you get the warhead? Or were you too busy practicing your lines?”

“Of course I got it, grumpy pants.” Vette brought forth her left hand, which was holding a container that she gestured to dramatically for Gault to see. “Though I guess those lizard-brains will have figured out nothing's exploded by now. I'll see if I can't distract them.”

Gault smiled, proud that his plan worked flawlessly; somewhat. “Time to make ourselves scarce. We'll see you back at the hideout.”

“Toodles!” Relaxed, Vette skipped with the container in hand.

Zillian didn’t comment, he didn’t find in himself the energy to do so. He just followed Gault silently, going back to Dretcher, to the ship, and wondering how Hylo could recommend such a reckless man. Sure, his plan worked, although his practices were questionable at best… But what if they hadn’t? There were way too many parameters that Zillian didn’t like, but he still kept quiet, watching Dretcher work, and observing while SCORPIO and Senya kept a close eye on their new on board ally. Vette joined them shortly after, and that was the signal that Gault waited, now with everyone there he could proceed.

“If you're still wondering why you're here, it isn't to check out the tibanna gas bars.” He raised his arm, holding a remote, which he pressed and from the holotable came forth a holo of a ship. “There's a stealth cruiser loaded with more precious metals than a Hutt's taste in art hiding down in the lower atmosphere, and it's about to come up for air.”

Vette clapped her hands and jumped up from her seat. “And while the Gilded Star is roosting at the skyhook for its annual resupply, we're going to rob it blind!”

Senya crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes, standing next to Zillian who still seemed distracted. “How do you even know about that?”

“A little bird told us!” Vette chirped up, smiling. “I speak stool-pigeon.”

“Even if you do know where it's going to be, it's got a full military compliment onboard and a vault that could survive the ship being reduced to atoms.” Senya looked at Gault, who chuckled, obviously having a plan.

“Most people would consider it impregnable, but we aren't most people.” Gault lifted a finger up, and winked. “Are we, Senya? After all we have at least one person that has served on board the Gilded Star.”

SCORPIO turned towards Zillian. “Then, the Commander was privy to its operational protocols.”

“So was I.” Senya furrowed her brows, shaking her head. “Overseeing the Gilded Star was one of my duties while serving Valkorion. But I doubt they still kept the protocols the same, especially not when not one, but two Knight Captains defected from the Eternal Empire.”

“You don't have to run the thing, just get SCORPIO to the ship's control center.” Vette explained, sounding positive.

Senya shook her head. “There's no way we could infiltrate that far into the ship undetected.”

“Lady Senya is right…” Zillian finally let his voice be heard, albeit softly. “Especially not with two criminals trying to do it, both heavily hunted by the emperor himself.”

“Maybe, maybe not, but I'm pretty sure High Justice Vaylin can go wherever she pleases.” Gault grinned, snapping his fingers, causing the holo to change to one of Vaylin.

Everything started clicking together. “That is why we had to recruit an identity forger… But what is your complete plan, Gault?” Zillian asked, noticing at how the Devaronian was looking at Senya. “You will have Lady Senya, pose as Vaylin?”

“Bingo, my Hero friend!” Gault nodded. “We've got the best identity doctor this side of the galaxy, and as close to a genetic match as we're going to get.”

“I could never match Vaylin's gene-sequence like that…” Dretcher stood up, swiping the back of his hand on his forehead, patting away some sweat. “Though, maybe simulating data corruption in her ID”

“And create enough doubt to bluff her way through. Dear old mom can manage that, right?” Gault added, smiling as he leaned into Senya’s personal space. “Once 'Vaylin' and her ‘attaché droid' are on board, they head to the bridge, seize control of the ship and allow the rest of us to do our parts.” He dramatically gestured at Senya and SCORPIO.

“Like cracking the vault!” Vette exclaimed. “It isn't controlled by the network, so I've got to get into the guts of the ship to reach the mechanism. I'll need your help.” She looked at Zillian, her smile softer, calmer.

Sighing, Zillian pinched his bridge, unable to deny helping someone. “I see.”

“Meanwhile, Lana and Koth will bridge airlocks with a tanker transport I've secured for the goods.” Gault had everything planned, every little detail.

“How are we going to carry an entire treasury's worth of loot out of the vault before anyone catches on?” Zillian asked, and Gault had that planned as well.

“Oh, we won't be carrying anything out of the vault. Into, that's another story.” Gault grinned, continuing to explain his plan. “Remember how Senya mentioned the vault could withstand everything outside being vaporized? Same applies to what we're setting off inside.”

Zillian felt a light bulb shining over his head for a second. “The warhead… This is what you wanted it for.”

“Exactly, Hero of the Alliance! I'll be pulling up the rear with the disintegration bomb. Once it's done its job, we pump the atmosphere into the waiting tanker and make our escape.” Gault did a swooping motion with his hands, theatrical as ever.

Nodding, the Knight could see the vision. “You do have an escape plan ready, I assume?”

Vette lifted a finger up, and then spoke up the ‘plan’. “Once that sucker explodes, the crew's going to notice. Everybody's just going to have to high tail it to the transport before they catch on.”

“Now, since we've got less than a day before the Gilded Star rolls into port, I'd suggest everybody get real familiar with their part.” Gault advised, retreating to his holos, and planning.

Everyone scattered, gathering their thoughts, and discussing their parts further. Zillian went to meditate, only to be found by Vette some hours later. The two got ready, Zillian buckled his armor pieces again, clipped his lightsaber properly, and followed Gault’s directions. Apparently he had found a perfect vantage point, discrete, away from prying eyes, and close to the skyhook that they were waiting for the arrival of the Gilded Star. As they arrived, Gault was already there, and the moment they got close he stood up, pointed a finger up at the sky, and there it was; the Gilded Star, in all its glory.

“There, as promised!” Gault beamed when the ship docked.

Vette on the other hand pouted. “I expected something shinier.”

Her reaction made Zillian chuckle. “Now, Vette, you must remember that the Gilded Star, besides a treasury, is also a stealth ship. If it was sparkling and bedazzled, it wouldn’t be stealthing through much now, would it?”

The twi’lek smiled at the Knight’s answer. “Yeah I guess not, would still make it pretty though.”

“Besides your chatter, all we have to do now is hope mommy dearest remembers her daughter's birthday.” Gault said, flinching a bit when Senya’s voice made it through the comm.

“I can kill you from here, Gault.” Senya’s voice sounded threatening, but what started off as her own voice slowly changed into Vaylin’s.

Gault grinned. “Great, really getting into the spirit of your character. At least, from what I hear.”

And of course Senya didn’t humor him any further, she just replied with a cold: “Shut up.”

“We are approaching the checkpoint. No further communications are warranted until the bridge is under our control.” SCORPIO’s tone came through as a warning.

Understanding, Gault nodded and hummed. “Roger, break a leg ladies!” And with that the comms died down, emitting only silence. “It's in their hands now. All we've got to do is wait.”

“So…” Vette piped up, looking over at Zillian. “You used to work on that ship?”

“Briefly, don’t think of it much. Not many Knights get to serve onboard the Gilded Star, and those that do are like passerbys.” Smiling gently, Zillian lifted a rock and levitated in his palm. “To Valkorion we were disposable, hence why the Skytroopers.”

“Ugh, I know. Nasty droids.” Vette shivered, but grinned right away. “But even for that little bit, it sounds cool! Hope your Lady can handle herself in there.”

“I trust Lady Senya with my life.” The Commander of the Alliance placed a hand over his chest, as if saying an oath. “I think everything will go just fine.”

“And hey, if they don’t, we can always run!” Gault exclaimed, earning a glare from Zillian, resulting in him raising his hands in a surrender motion. “Kidding, kidding.”

Gault’s comm buzzed, and from it SCORPIO was heard loud and clear. “I'm now in complete control of the Gilded Star's network. I will isolate the vessel's sentinels to the best of this system's ability.”

Gault grinned, looking at his two buddies. “Show time~”

The three of them managed to get on board the Gilded Star by following Gault’s maps and directions. They almost got caught by security, once too many times, but Gault claimed to be the thrill of sneaking on a treasury; Zillian on the other hand called it madness. Gault was right about one specific thing though, the Gilded Star hadn’t changed, not one bit. The layout had remained the same, the room locations only slightly altered, so when Vette approached a panel in the wall and motioned for Gault to help her pry it off, Zillian knew exactly what she had in mind.

“Planning to reach the vault mechanism?” Zillian asked as Vette climbed in, grinning at the Knight as she looked back. “Should have guessed.”

“Keep clearing a path for Gault and I'll see you soon!” But only a step in and Vette had her head banged on the top of the pathway. “Ouch!”

“I really really hope they check for mynocks.” Gault said, shaking his head but also smiling at the glare he received from Vette.

“Are you sure those schematics were scaled in meters? I can hardly move!” Vette rubbed her head, and the top of her lekku, but kept going.

Gault scoffed, playfully of course. “My last partner didn’t complain nearly as much.”

“Your last partner was crushed to death!” Vette exclaimed from deeper in the pathway.

“And never once complained about it!” Gault chuckled but looked at Zillian. “Let's keep going, the show must go on!”

As they went deeper into the aircraft, Zillian’s knowledge came in handy. They passed heavily guarded corridors, deactivated droids from the consoles, and cleared ways so they could retreat later with almost zero issues. But from Vette’s side of things they could hear clanking through their comms, making the Knight worry just a tad bit. When they reached the endgoal, where their meeting with Vette was supposed to be, having cleared the room before them, Gault looked around.

“Okay Vette, I’m here!” He tapped his foot, waiting, warhead in hand.

The twi’lek woman sighed. “Just… Give me… A sec…”

She sounded like she was struggling, but Gault knew she could do it. “Time’s a factor~” he teased.

“Hey, you wanna cut through a foot of cortosis and steel while hanging upside down in a half-meter crawlspace?” She asked, and Zillian could imagine her narrowing her eyes, pouting while looking at Gault.

And when Gault looked at him, Zillian shook his head. “Lightsabers won’t work, don’t even think about it.

After a short snicker the two men shared, Vette did a small cheerful clap. “There, you jerk! Try it.”

In front of the Vault’s door was a panel, one that Zillian started inputting codes in. He combined his older knowledge, alongside Gault’s instructions, and prayed that Vette’s handiwork was successful. And it indeed was, because before their very eyes, the hatch steamed open, revealing a big vault, filled with gold. Not just a case or two, but probably hundred cases of gold bars.

As they walked in, Gault looked around and whistled. “I've been rich, filthy rich, but nothing like this. Counting the zeros on a balance sheet can't even compare. There’s just something magical about the real thing.”

Sighing, but smiling a tad bit, allowing Gault’s carefree and mischievous attitude to get to him, Zillian looked around. “Fuller than when I was here.”

“That means more for us~” the Devaronian sang-along, setting up the warhead explosive canister, humming as he did. “It won't look nearly as impressive in a second, but it'll spend all the same.”

The two exited the vault room, the door closing behind them, hatch sealed once again under tight security protocols. Gault smirked, and turned to Zillian, offering him a detonator. He nodded to it, for the Knight to take it, but he shook his head and pushed it back into Gault’s palm instead, making the Devaronian’s fingers curl around it.

“Take the honors Gault, after all, you planned this.” Shrugging, Zillian winked, allowing himself to finally relax and see things a bit more easygoing… But even that was a struggle, and he silently swore to not do it again. “Go ahead.”

“Don’t mind if I do~” clearing his throat, and rolling his shoulders, Gault pressed the button and made everything inside that majestic vault practically dust; gold weighed dust, but dust all the same. “Payload's delivered, it's time for the paydirt.”

He proudly announced that through all the allied comms. That let Lana know that it was her turn and Theron’s to get into position. She maneuvered the transport, right next to where they were supposed to be, and announced that she was extending the umbilical. Zillian found himself balling his fists, feeling his nails digging into his gloves, noticing that he held his breath as Lana said the magic words: “Seal is tight. All green”.

“Airlock sidengaged. Awaiting order for depressurization.” SCORPIO followed up.

And Vette was quick to give her the nod. “Door is…” a pause, mainly for dramatics. “Open!”

“Commencing depressurization.” SCORPIO looked at Senya, nodded, and went back to the panels in front of her.

Lana noticed the tank levels rising, smiling as she looked at Theron. “The tank is filling, so far so good.” And the agent looked her way, giving an encouraging smile and thumbs up.

“It will take approximately ten minutes seventeen seconds to siphon a space of that volume.” SCORPIO informed everyone, after doing some calculations with the records in front of her.

Zillian looked concerned at that, but Gault grinned, snapping his fingers. “Plenty of time to make our exit!”

Right in front of their eyes, a big weapon dropped from the ceiling, alongside Vette. “Finally! Let's blow this joint!”

Concerned now for Vette, instead of escaping, Zillian pointed at the giant gun. “You dragged that thing all the way from the armory, into the tiny pipe you were working in, just to have it?”

The young woman just grinned and nodded. “Pretty much! Thought that nobody’s gonna miss it if it was just laying there!”

From the comms, SCORPIO was heard clearing her throat, or at least emulating the sound it would sound like. “It is unlikely the detonation went unnoticed. After we vacate the bridge, I will no longer be able to maintain a complete lockdown.”

“See? Perfectly justified acquisition! Come on, I want to try this thing out!” Vette struggled a bit, but managed to lift the weapon with a big grin on her face, similarly to a child in a candy shop with unlimited credits.

Gault sighed, half-expecting this chaotic turn of events from Vette. “Just scramble the systems as best you can and leg it to the tanker, we'll see you there.” He replied to SCORPIO, closing his comm for the time being.