We can rebuild her...whether she wants it or not

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

“Calibration can be provided,” Vess said with a nod. “I have made notes of movements and positions which could use improvements. The Repulse Hand is a device we are testing with you. We found it quite useful for some of our combat models but we felt it would work well as an extra line of defence for you.”

“There is an additional item installed in your other arm. After your cheek is seen to I will instruct you in its use.”

Vess glanced down at the broken droid. “Unit 116482 destroyed. Reclamation team will repair unit and install new head.”

XXX

“61%?! By Maelion's cheekbones that's a massive underestimation. I mean, sure there might be a little corporate padding there, but Luwin van Oodle would not lie about this sort of thing! But OK, I'll use a blastech...but if all this goes wrong and we end up escaping from angry miners I'm blaming you!” Amara said crossly.

Then she grinned. “Anyway, have you ever played Dejarik? Is that a program you have? For some reason there’s a game board in the back. Well, I sort of made one but that’s beside the point!”

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


"Alright, that's fine. Back in a bit," Enyo replied laconically. If her hand had still been flesh and blood, she would've tried to mitigate the pain by soothing her damaged jaw. But now they were harsh, cold metal. It was funny, but despite the pain she was not even particularly tired, even after fighting two HRDs.


Robots appeared in the training room to reclaim their damaged, deactivated cousin. Enyo paid the bots no mind. For her part, the clone was guided to the medbay, which was conveniently nearby.


"Sit down, please. This will not take long. We can mend your jaw," a medical droid instructed her. Medical bots tended to use more emotional inflection when speaking. Perhaps it was supposed to set patients more at ease. If yes, that effect was lost on Enyo.


"Yeah, whatever. Just get it done," she said gruffly.


"I'd advise you not to put too much pressure on it and shield it from hazardous contact. Otherwise replacement might become necessary," the bot droned on. Enyo wondered whether anyone would be cross if she punched it.


"I'm already mostly a droid anyway, and I break less easily now."


xxx


While Enyo was being a remarkably polite and cooperative patient, Kresis had to continue baby-sitting Amara. Ok, maybe that was a bit unfair since it's not like the blonde was making a mess. She was simply a chaotic, easily distracted organic.


"Yes, I can play Dejarik. My programming is highly sophisticated. We still have an hour before we arriven, so we can play if you like." One imagined that a super computer should be good at this sort of thing. Anyhow, they ought to reach Arkania in the next post or so so that Amara could have a little adventure and kick butt for truth, justice and the Archangel way.

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]
“Replacement of organic parts will make you still harder to break,” the droid put in ‘helpfully’. It probably wouldn’t earn Enyo a demerit for destroying it, though it would be viewed as inefficient and organic to destroy it.

And so with a mixture of a laser scalpel, bacta and a metallic brace, the bone was set.

“I suggest you get some rest. Organics find rest handy when it comes to recovering from injury.”
Hello Doctor Obvious!

XXX

Since there didn’t seem to be any available rules for the game, this writer will merely have to describe the outcome. Amara lost.

However, even though she lost, her inventive strategy had rather confused Kress. In chess terms she had basically formed a redoubt on one side of the board which was impenetrable whilst randomly charging the other side up the board and attacking. It almost worked, but then Kress managed a breakthrough and a win.

“Well…I’ll win next time!” Amara said. “I have studied your moves and know exactly what you’ll do!”

And so they came in to land. Amara got into a rough jumpsuit and picked up a toolbox whilst Kress did the same.
“So, we’re engineers here to look at their…uhh…ventilation polyform matrix.” Was that a real thing? Didn’t matter, she could speak with enough authority that most people would think it was.

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


"I suggest you make yourself scarce before I decide crushing your vocabulator would be very soothing for me," Enyo stated caustically, in a tone as cold as ice. Well, that was an awfully poetic way of saying 'feth off or I'll break you'! Regardless, Enyo would find some rest after the operation was done. However, true sleep was difficult and seemed to elude her for a long time. The incessant rasp of her breathing interfered too much. When she finally found it, sleep turned out to be a nightmarish, bizarre jumble of twisted memories that unfolded to terrible, excruciating sounds. She tossed and turned many times and accidentally broke the lamp on her bedside table.


xxx

Kresis gave Amara a look when they approached the installation after landing. "Do not overdo the, as organics call it, 'technobabble'. Too much and people just look suspicious," he said sternly. Amara was not allowed to overdo the technobabble? This was tyranny! Anyhow, their credentials were inspected by Firemane goons standing sentinel. This would give Amara her first look of the 'Main Enemy'. They looked disturbingly normal and had neither hooves nor cloven feet. Some were even men, though the Sergeant was obviously a cute Dahomian woman.


Someone had hung up an 'Auntie Tegs expects every employee to their duty' poster. One imagined that some soldiers had Ashira's Angels pinups in their lockers. The base was still under construction, but turrets had been set up and the entrance was monitored by holocameras. Two heavy ARGH war bots, which had a spider-like appearance and were armed with mighty shattercannons, were on patrol.

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]
Whilst Enyo had her nap, Amara was faced with an unpleasant shock.
“Pfft, so you say, Big K! But I reckon that if you don’t speak the lingo they won’t believe that you’re really who you say you are!”

A Firemane corporal checked their passes. “These check out, come this way. Stay with me at all times,” he said.

As he walked along the Dahomian Sergeant gave a little whistle. Workplace harassment…in reverse…seemed to be a problem at Firemane.

“So what are you here to fix?” the Corporal asked, trying to ignore that had just happened.

Amara glared at Kress. “We’re here to fix…the air machine. You know, the thing which moves air around.”

“Ventilation?”

“Sure…” Amara said sourly.

“Well follow me, and don’t wander off.”

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


((Waking up Enyo in a post or two))


The Corporal tried to pointedly ignore the wink his Sergeant gave him when she oggled his butt. Workplace harassment was an issue at Firemane, though it far from alone in that regard. Its institutional culture encouraged domineering alpha females, antifraternisation regulations did not exist and it had no government oversight.


The Masculine Anti-Defamation League often complained about men being harassed, given menial tasks or subjected to unwanted sexual advances from a horde of amazons who seemed to take their cue from the unrepentantly misandrist CEO Kerrigan. In all fairness, the Straight Women Coalition also complained that women not interested in Sapphic love were less likely to receive promotion than lesbians and bisexuals. Kerrigan had come under fire when she remarked that 'Straight women are a myth propagated by the patriarchy. All women like other women, and those that don't just aren't aware yet.'


"Of course, Corporal. We'll be out of your hair soon," Kress said agreeably.


"Yeah, whatever. Best keep your 'mistress' around if the Sergeant pops by for an inspection," the soldier muttered. "I did not just say that."


"Of course not, Corporal. We're just here to make you people don't breathe in polluted air. If your Sergeant is such a...bother, have you thought about writing a complaint?"


"A complaint? Don't be silly. She's a Dahomian." Everyone knew that the Dahomian clique wielded a disproportionate amount of power in Firemane, and they stuck together. Even the 2IC of the Order of Fire's Grandmistress was a Dahomian. "And this is a way better job than working on a plantation or Arkas - or joining the Silver army! The Jedi Lords barely pay us and their health package is crap."


Kress nodded gravely. "That is very true. You have my sympathies. I'm just a concerned citizen who opposes discrimination in all forms. Anyhow, we won't cause trouble." Inspirational posters hung on the wall. Some showed female, muscular Stakhanovs who accomplished seemingly impossible feats of production, others were of the 'Auntie Tegs/Sio expects every employee to do their duty' variety.

 

[Naamah Aesham]

Atrisia


Naamah remembered how the Citadel Inquisitorius had looked like in its glory days. It had been a fortress of darkness...yet also full of life. Her twisted little family had lived there. They'd schemed, plotted and hurt one another. Those who transgressed or tried to escape were dealt with harshly...but they also cared for and looked out for one another.


She remembered her first meeting with [member="Mirien Valdier"] in an interrogation room, when the Grand Inquisitor informed her in no uncertain terms that her life belonged to the Inquisition. Her first test: Investigate four Inquisitors and discover the traitor among them. "I, so do hope you are beginning to understand that you've no power here. It's you and me and a simple choice."


Her first lessons with a lightsabre, her first interrogation. Moments of pain and betrayal were intermixed with camaraderie. Mirien had been cruel to her, but also sweet. Naamah had felt privileged when she'd been allowed to make soup for her mistress and bring it to her private quarters.


But now the corridors were silent. The hum of lightsabres could no longer be heard coming from the training rooms. The same applied to screams from the dungeons. The garden had been left untended for years and now the plants were dead. Naamah remembered how Mirien had loved her orchids. This the Clawdite discovered when she visited the decayed garden. An ash cloud permeated the atmosphere of the planet. She could not help feeling a strong sense of loss.


"What a twisted little crew you got," Naamah was pulled from her musings, when she heard footsteps, then a voice. She turned around and saw her Eldorai ally, Lidanya Lizareios, had decided to join her. "I don't trust them," she remarked.


In response the Clawdite shrugged. "They're family. We're Inquisition. It's an awfully messed up family, but that's what we are. Not the one that encourages fuzzy, sappy feelings."


"Like the Angelii." There was a strong note of bitterness in her tone.


"You really hate them, don't you?"


"I love them as sisters. It's a bond that goes even deeper than that with my flesh and blood. And I hate them for their mindless obedience to a régime that propagates lies and abandoned Kaeshana. No help has been forthcoming for our world since the Exodites vanished into the stars. I chose to stand with the Forsaken and was branded Dashdae."


"Seems like a convenient label for anyone doesn't follow the party line. You realise that if we go up against Archangel, we'll need their support? I'll be blunt: Can I count on you not to jeopardise the mission for the sake of personal vengeance? Archangel must go down, whatever it takes."


The Eldorai looked her directly in the eye, never wavering. "You helped my people, so I shall answer this candidly and not take it as a slight against my honour: I hate the Queen, Kerrigan and their decadent, despotic system, but the devil machines endanger my people, so I can put my feelings aside to annihilate them. Enough Eldorai blood has been spilt."


"Good. That's what I need to hear."


"If you betray me, I will strike you down."


"Likewise."

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

Amara looked around. This was her first real interactions with people outside of combat and outside of the Firemane circle.

She nodded to the corporal. “Well don’t worry, we’re just contractors. We’re not going to oppress you.”
He didn’t seem to appreciate the joke. “See that you work quickly.”

At that moment they were interrupted by a female Lieutenant.
“Corporal Whin?”
“Ma’am?” he asked, trying to conceal a sigh.
However, she wasn’t there to request ‘special duties’. Rather, she pointed to Amara and Kress. “I’ll take over here. I got some directions from the Major. I’ll escort them back to the landing pad.”
“Very good, ma’am. Good luck,” Whin said to them.

When they were alone the Lieutenant leaned forward. “I am seeking knowledge. Can you tell me where I might find it?”

Amara looked puzzled, but this was presumably a code phrase so that they would know it was her, and presumably Kress would speak the other half of the phrase.

Or else the Lieutenant was crazy. Either was possible!

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


Recently, CEO Kerrigan had caused a chitstorm by allegedly remarking that sexual harassment does not happen to men. Likewise, she made no bones about her belief that an erection was a invitation. Anyhow, the poor Corporal was sent away and presumably went back to his normal routine. Hopefully he did not run into a certain Sergeant from the Dahomian Clique.


"The first step to knowledge is an open mind," Kress said solemly. The dramatic irony of this statement was staggering. It was interesting that both Firemane and Archangel were rather conformist, authoritarian cultures that demanded total obedience.


The difference was that the former represented matriarchal, bureaucratic despotism, but was sane, pursued rational goals and despite its manifold flaws gave many of its employees opportunities. By contrast, the latter was an insane, totalitarian cult that was built on deception and pursued genocidal, ideological fantasies.


xxx


It was probably no surprise that Enyo did have a long nap. She should have probably rested longer, but she found no peace in her slumber. So she opened her eyes and found herself in the sterile medbay.


"You should still be resting," the medical droid admonished her. "Even you are still human." She did not say 'for now', but one could infer it.


"Where's Amara?" Those were the first words that left Enyo's lips. She remembered the cold way she'd treated her sister and felt a stab of guilt. Alas, it was a bit late for that!


The medical bot looked at her blandly. "She's on a mission with Unit Kress. She should be back soon. I will inform Unit Vess that..."


At this moment Enyo interjected. "You sent her on a mission without me? What were you thinking? She's in no way ready for that. Where did Archangel send her?"


"You are reacting irrationally. In your own words, she has been coddled too much and must overcome her weakness. Please control yourself." That was all very true, but unfortunately not the best thing to say in this situation.


The gall of that thing, as rage gripped her like a vice and blackened her soul Enyo felt her vision expand. She could see beyond the mechanical shell of the bot, perceive the inner workings of the machine and, in extremely broad strokes, its droid brain.


She unleashed her anger and the machine suddenly exploded in a shower of broken circuits, pieces of metal and electronics. One shard struck Enyo's face, slicing across her cheek, but she barely felt the pain. Unconsciously, the clone had taken her first steps towards mechu-deru. She gazed down at her hands, which had been slightly affected by the explosion. It looked as if she could see their insides. This gave her a headache.

 

[Naamah Aesham]

Atrisia...


"She loved orchids. Woe to any minion who didn't take care of them while she was away. I imagine that hasn't changed."


"Your boss? The one who one who kept you leashed and collared."


"She has a sweeter side. It's just hard to find."


"Sugar and ice, is what monkei...humans call it? My commander was the bitchiest Angelii in the corps. She's also into pottery." Yes, dear reader, you read that write. Seraph Kaida Taldir, also known as the Ice Lady or the Full Ice queen, had an artistic side. "Your companions are gone. Are we done here? The air of this world is tainted. I do not wish to linger," Lidanya stated a bit brusquely.


"Yeah, we are...mostly," Naamah muttered, sounding a bit distracted. She could not quite place it, but there was something calling her. Like the voice of a siren. It had a presence, and she was drawn to it like moth to a flame. "I want to visit the archives first," she declared, her voice brokered no contradiction.


The Eldorai fowned. "The entire citadel has been looted. In your own words, there is nothing of value left. What could you possibly expect to find there?"


"I'll know when I find it." Without waiting for a reply, Naamah took off. Abandoning the garden, she moved into the interior of the citadel, going deeper and deeper. She moved like a woman on a mission, though she did not know the cause.


Lidanya sighed and thrust her hands into her trousers' pockets. "As long as you do so in a timely manner. I do not wish to still walk these halls when the Yedai appear on the spot and preach about their absurd Code. If subjected to such indignity, I shall not stay my hand."


"You have an awfully complicated way of talking sometimes."


"Basic is a rough and coarse language. Forgive me for trying to inject some culture into it."

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

The Lieutenant leaned forward. “Listen very carefully, we do not have much time. There will be a shift change in a quarter hour. If you’re planning to make your move, that’s the time. The ventilation system runs into all the personnel areas. Using that you can distribute the gas.”

Amara hadn’t been told the plan, but it was pretty easy for her to connect the dots. “We knock out all the workers and then do what we came here to do. Should be easy. How long does the gas last?”

Kress glanced at her. “Permanently. It’s toxic. Death will be near instantaneous.”

Amara frowned. There was a buzzing in her head. Killing all these people? That was extreme…but justified. Firemane were her enemies. Firemane wanted her head. It was required that they strike here first.

“Yes…I…see that is necessary. What are our goals?”

“Sabotage the mine, destroy the workers. There is a shipment of ore which is the Lieutenant’s prize.”

Amara shook off her doubts and concerns, nodded. “Very well, what is the first step?”

A distant voice on the wind. “Dance, little puppet, dance….”

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

“Her Majesty Queen Tirathana VII, High Priestess of Ashira and Star Queen of the Eldorai, bids you welcome!”
The attendant said loudly.

Tegaea frowned, but nodded, passing into the throne room. The chamber on the Ashira’s Light unlike the classical room in New Santaissa, was more airy and had a magnificent view of the planet and the stars.
Tirathana sat on her throne, a small Jester on her lap, and little Princess Ariane on her knee.
Two Angelii watched Tegaea warily as she approached. The human’s business attire contrasted with the flowing robes of the Queen and her attendants as well as the solid armour of the guards.

“Countess! So nice to see you. Please join me.” The Queen put Ariane down and handed her the Jester. “Go with Mirial and have your nap.”
Ariane looked up at her solemnly. “Yes, mummy.”
The toddler took the nanny’s hand and headed for the door, one of the Angelii following behind. The other remained.
“Please, leave us,” the Queen ordered her attendants and the Angelii. She saw the hesitation in the guard. “Leave us,” she repeated, a touch sterner.

Soon they were alone, and Queen Tirathana became Anya Venari again. She smiled at Tegaea.
“So glad you could come, Tegs!”
“Always happy to come visit…Anya?” the last word a question.
“There’s no one to overhear us. It’s just Anny and Tegs here. You and Siobhan are both dear friends, and I don’t want you to ever feel like outside the formal events that you have to treat me like that. But anyway, I wanted to discuss something with you. It’s a project which has been long on my mind and I was hoping I might obtain your help.”
“If we can, we will. What’s going on?”
Anya stared down at Tygara for a moment. “Kaeshana.”
“Ah. What about it?”
“I think about it every night. Despite what many people think, we have not forsaken the survivors. We have been bringing small numbers back ever since the disaster, setting up safe zones, working with companies to assist. However, now the Xioquo are pacified, the Qadiri are somewhat stable and the One Sith have collapsed we have an opportunity to do something meaningful. What I want to do, Tegs, is to send a large contingent of civilian and military escort ships to go and save as many survivors as we can. I have ordered surveying and preparation of new settlements in new regions on Tygara. I want to do all of this and more…but I will need your help.”
Tegaea nodded. “It’s a big project. How many ships were you thinking of? And of course, whilst we will be happy to help that help must have…commercial...underpinnings.”
“Of course. That is why I have waited this length of time as well. Whilst not ironclad our finances are improving. We will be able to pay either now, or with backed securities. As for how many? We cannot replicate the Exodus and to be brutally honest I don’t think there are enough people left for that. I will send agents ahead to assemble people in locations. I want to move ten million in the first wave, then see if there is demand for more.”

“Ten million, that is considerable,” Tegaea said. She consulted her datapad. “That should be doable though. We have a Connestoga and can bring in our Liorre freighters, along with other craft. For escorts we can provide our Dahomey squadron for escorting around the planet. With your ships we can provide escorting to and from Kaeshana.

“I’m so glad to hear you say that, Tegs. We can work out the payment side. I just want to get as many of my people back as I can. Maybe I could have acted sooner, but I have to consider everyone.” She closed her eyes.

Tegaea put an arm around Anya and pulled the Queen close to her, gave her a kiss. “You’ve done what you needed to, don’t second guess yourself now. We’re in this together, just like we were back in the old days.”
“Thank you, Tegs. And Siobhan. You’re both the best friends I could wish for.”
“And you’re the best Queen I could hope to have as a friend. Plus, I bet your mother would never have let me kiss her.”
Anya laughed. “Oh no, touching the Queen without Her approval was a capital crime.”
“Really? No warning?”
“That was the warning!”
“How’s the groom hunt going?”
“I have a list. Your wife is a very demanding judge. She dismissed one suitor because he was wearing a poor colour mix.”
“That sounds about right. Well, I hope you find the one you’re looking for. Little Ariane could use a father…and a sister.” Normally she’d never consider having a father as vitally important, but she understood royals were different and strange creatures.
“I’ll see what I can do. You should come around next week. Ariane is getting good at counting.”
“Give me a date and time and I’ll be there. Anything in particular she’s good at counting?”
“At the moment it’s fruit. The Priestess has been wanting me to read ‘Ashira’s Godly Primer for Young Eldorai’ to her but I can’t do it, so I’ve managed to sidestep it for now. I want her to think for herself before I try to fill her head with stories.”

There was the chime of a small silver bell near the door.
“Your Majesty, apologies, I have Lady Tarai to see you,” the attendant said politely.
“Ah yes, apologies, Countess Alcori, I have other duties to attend to.” Queen Tirathana was back.
“Thank you for words, Majesty. I shall be in contact regarding our discussion.”
“Thank you. Ashira vai seleth.”
“And to you.”

As she exited she caught the eye of Selene Tarai. They shared a knowing look before Tegaea was out of the doors and heading back to her escort and transport pod.

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


"Most of the crew will be in the barracks during shift. Then we must flood the vents with gas and seal the doors to prevent escape. The doors can be accessed from the control room," Kress explained. This would leave them pretty much in the clear.


At least if things went as planned. Amara would also be responsible for gassing many workers who'd done nothing to hurt her or Enyo. Naturally Firemane would investigate...and perhaps discover footage of 'Kaelin Isandros. "There's the possibility that the Order of Fire's Acolyte might survive. If she does, you'll dispose of her."


xxx


Naturally this was the ideal moment for Vess to show up. After all, the medbay was monitored by a camera. "I see the added personality matrix did not save this unit. Please refrain from needlessly destroying Archangel equipment," the HRD commented wryly.


Enyo looked up and glanced at her. There was an expression of indifference written across her face. "Send me the bill. I just needed to get that out of my system." Apparently even she was getting in the mood to use corny one-liners. Maybe there was hope for her yet. It was presumably better than sulking. "Her inane prattling annoyed me. Has there been any word from Amara? Where did you send her?" There was an edge to her demanding, caustic voice.


"No, and without having fully tested the functionality of your body, you may be more of a hindrance than an asset to her," Vess stated bluntly. "If she's supposed to be strong, she must function independently. She's participating in a strike against a Firemane outpost."


You don't really know what I can do, Enyo thought to herself. Now she was looking at Vess in a new light. No, this thread was not about to get smutty. But she could see beyond her synthetic skin and shiny metal, perceive her inner workings. Don't tell them. I don't intend to. I'm keeping it to myself. Yeees, we're making progress. There are so many things you can with machines, beyond breaking them.


"Firemane? You sent her there alone, with only a robot as backup?" A cup on the bedside table seemed to shake. There was a strong note of anger in her tone, but then she felt a buzzing inside her head. Inside, she was raging against invisible prison bars, but slowly her mind seemed to adjust to the idea. "I suppose she needs experience. She's been shielded for a long time. I'm sure she'll make me proud." The words leaving her lips were spoken in a robotic manner. "Where is this outpost? Is there any chance of..."


"Kerrigan or her inner circle being there?" Vess finished for her. "No. It is a minor mining outpost. By the time they hear anything, Amara'll be out."


"There'll be hell to pay if she doesn't make it." Unfortunately, right now there was little Enyo could do about this. "Fine. You said there was an additional item installed into my arm. Show me."

 

[Naamah Aesham]

[member="Amara Zarides"], [member="Mirien Valdier"]


They found the prize in the deepest vault of the Citadel. The durasteel door was old, enchanted and sealed. Naamah had not brought explosives with her and using telekinesis yielded no results. Finally, after a lot of grumbling, Lidanya Lizareios got annoyed, put her hands to the door and flooded it with cold until it became brittle and collapsed.


Naturally, she had a somewhat smug look on her face, for this was proof of Eldorai superiority. The insides of the chamber were in a state of decay. There were even cobwebs. Clearly no one had been here for a while. The whole room reeked of the Dark Side.


The prize was hidden inside a sealed compartment. It was opened by Naamah slicing across her palm with a dagger, letting the blood drip onto the container whilst muttering a Sithese incantation. Her aptitude for magicks was minor, but she remembered some of the tricks she'd been taught once. What was the prize, the gentle reader might ask? "Maker's breath. It's hers. I know it."


"It's a lightsabre. Truly an earth-shattering discovery. We spent almost an hour in these dusty archives."


"You don't get it. This is Mirien's lightsabre. But why was it hidden here?" Naamah picked up the unignited weapon, holding it reverently as if it were some sort of precious relic. She winced slightly when the dark echoes assaulted her. It was as if she was swimming in memories. "It must've been her original sabre. From back when she was a Sith, before she lost her memories. The Inquisition went to great lengths to ensure she never remembered her past."


"Pardon the puerile expression, but your family is fifty shades of messed up."


Naamah seemed so lost in the moment she ignored the grumpy Eldorai. The Dark Side radiated from the beautiful lightsabre. Clearly Sith Mirien had liked her toys elegant. "I doubt even she knew it was here. But it called to me. This has to be a sign." It was a weapon Mirien had wielded during her time as a monster. She'd tormented and hurt the innocent. But Atrisia had changed everything. Now it had been passed on to Naamah.


"Yes, yes, clearly this is all a sign from a higher power. Illyria or the Maker? You decide. If you're done with gushing about your old boss, I suggest we move on. Before ghosts show up and annoy us with their prattling. Or, heaven forbid, Yedai."


Naamah felt a bit annoyed, but nodded. "We're done."


"So what are you going to do with it? Give your lover a call and ask her if she wants it back?"


"I don't know. I'll hold on to it for now. It's more than just a weapon. It's a symbol." If there was hope for Mirien, perhaps there was hope for Naamah, too. "So...were you and your commander ever, how shall I put this, intimate?" she asked randomly.


Lidanya gave the Clawdite a look. "The sex was satisfying, everything else wasn't. I thought she was just acting cold and that underneath her armour there was a real woman. But no, she's as cold and unyielding as a glacier. Last I heard, she was involved with a human monkeigh. I pity the human. Could you go back to being broody and violent? It was far less disconcerting."


"Yeah, sure. If you yammer less. And I don't brood."


"You do. Incessantly. It is less annoying than you being sappy about finding an inanimate object."

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

From out of their toolboxes they produced small, plain canisters. Despite their dull appearance these contained powerful nerve gasses.
Attaching them was simply a matter of adding them as additions to the recycling ventilation system.

“The gas will take a few minutes to react. After then its progress will be unstoppable. I will go ahead to the control centre and seal the doors. You head to the mines and dispose of any opposition. Avoid combat where possible however. The Lieutenant will go with you and she will receive her reward there. We will reunite once our mission is accomplished.”
“Should we really be splitting up?”
“I am not affected by nerve gas; you are,” Kress commented.
“Right, fine.”
“Lieutenant, go ahead, Amara will join you soon.”
When she was gone, the HRD handed Amara a small earpiece. “I will issue instructions through this and monitor your progress once I am in the control room.”
“Sure! I won’t let you down.”

Something…happened. Amara shivered, looked at Kress.
He looked blankly back.
“I’ll…get going,” she said, frowning and turning away.
The Lieutenant was waiting for her. “What took you?”
“Oh, you know, chit-chat. Come on.”

Somewhere in the distance an alarm blared.

XXX

Vess tilted her head to the side, analysing the threat. If any consensus was reached, she did not say anything about it.

“Your arm has a prototype weapon built into it. Come, we will test it. As you can see, your left arm is sheathed in a phrik coating almost like skin. Inside it is housed a disrupter weapon. On a subvocal command keyed into the conduit in your skull, it will emerge from your palm, and can be fired either by said commands or by hand motions.”

“It is short ranged, but it has its uses, mainly as a weapon of last resort or as a surprise. The targeting is keyed into your eyes, but it will take some getting used to in order to aim efficiently.”

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Tegaea was silent as she rode back to her suite. When the pod came to a halt and one of her guards opened the door she nodded almost absentmindedly.
Heading inside she found Harmony waiting for her.
“Welcome back, Mistress. Did everything go well?”
“Yes, thank you, Harmony.”
“Is everything alright, Mistress?” Harmony asked, concerned by Tegaea’s distant look.

Tegaea focussed on her. “Yes, it just got me thinking. The Queen wishes us to assist her in rescuing more survivors from Kaeshana.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Of course! Just…brought back memories.” She frowned.
Harmony took her hand. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Tegaea smiled, gave the dark skinned girl a kiss. “Maybe later, dear. Thank you. I just want to be alone for a while.”
Harmony didn’t entirely lose her concern, but she nodded. “If you need me, I’m always around.”
“Thank you, Harmony.”

Tegaea dressed down into some regular clothes and sat on her bed, staring out into space.
Memories were indeed coming back, but not of Kaeshana. Of Fondor. A nightmare long since banished started to rear its head again.
Shaking her head, she stood and headed for the shower. She wasn’t going to mope. She would get busy, and thereby drive the idle thoughts out by being active.

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


Enyo seemed to cheer up a bit. "So I have a highly illegal arm cannon that can disintegrate organic matter at close range? Sounds useful. Can it be detected by scanners? How many shots do I have and how do I reload or rather recharge this this thing?"


You can do so much more than what your mechanical masters tell you, dear. You have so much potential. Her hand shifted slightly, as if the metal coating was morphing. The small hand cannon emerged, protruding from the open palm of her mechanical hand. "Is it an ion disruptor or a conventional one?"


xxx


Alarms blared, as gas filled the mine. Kress had knocked out one of the troopers in the control room, and gunned down two others. Then the HRD quickly sealed the doors. Gas was poured out of the vents, while Firemane minions tried to escape.


Some might get lucky, most would not. Being an empath, Amara would probably feel their pain as they died. You see, their deaths were not instant. Instead, they'd be in a lot of agony before their lives were extinquished. The empath would feel everything.


Deep in the mines, the Firemane minions were safe. Some would put up up a fght. One Firemane warrior in particular was not taken out so easily. It was the Acolyte Kress had spoken of earlier. She just happened to be coming Amara's way.

 

[Naamah Aesham]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


The way back to their ship - a tramp freighter - was uneventful. Naamah was being broody again, and it seemed Lidanya was not in the mood for small talk. Soon they'd returned to their vessel. Naamah took the controls, and the freighter lifted off into the ash-covered sky. While it ascended, the Clawdite looked through the cockpit. Beneath her lay the ruins of Jar'kai. The Atrisian capital was in an even worse state than after an Omega Pyre backed terrorist had detonated an anti-matter bomb. Pointless slaughter was what most Sith excelled at.


Casualties had been staggering. Millions must've died because the Sith had a temper tantrum. Time would tell whether the Alliance would bother to rebuild the planet, and let the Atrisian people have a say in things. Once the freighter had left the broken shell of a planet behind it and jumped to hyperspace, Naamah let it fly on auto-pilot, removed her seat belt and got up.


She found Lidanya sitting in the galley. Predictably, the Eldorai had made herself a a bunch of sandwiches and was gourging herself on them. "You sharing or eating all of that? You know that's all going to your hips," the Clawdite teased her.


Lidanya, who'd been munching on a bacon sandwich, looked up. "My people have a fast metabolism. Our graceful, lithe bodies do not turn into oversized blobs like aliens and monkeighs," she spoke haughtily.


"Funny. I'm quite certain that I saw a blob-sized Eldorai walking out of McYoda's," Naamah retorted and seized a sandwich. Lidanya glared at her, then kept munching.


"She should spend a week on Kaeshana. A week of Forsaken diet would make her slim and fit," the elf remarked sourly.


"Maybe you could recommend that to Weightwatchers. The participants would actually lose weight then!" There was an awkward pause, before the Clawdite broke the silence again. "So, I've been thinking," she began a bit awkwardly.


"That's always a dangerous thing for monkeighs and xenos to do. You're not supposed to get ideas!"


"Or we get uppity and behead our pointy-eared, blue-blooded overmistresses?" When was the last time she tried to make jokes? Naamah could not remember. It felt strange.


"Exactly, you're supposed to accept your place beneath our loving heel," Lidanya said with fervour in her eyes. "Well, out with it. I suppose you're dying to share your new insights with me, and you won't let me eat in peace. But the rest of the sandwiches are mine."


"There's a reason I found the sabre. Just as there's a reason why I was given a reprieve from being tormented in hell. I did reprehensible things, and I'll probably still pay for them when I die. Saving X amount of people doesn't make those you murdered any less dead. Heaven's closed to me. But I can do better than wallow in self-pity and flagellate myself."


"Oh, so you don't want to partake in Ardarvia's rites anymore? That's a shame. You were such a good Penitent, even a non-Eldorai," Naamah shot Lidanya an annoyed look. "I mean, continue."


"I was sent back to fight. There are many monsters in the Galaxy that the holier than thou powers that be don't notice or care to oppose. Archangel is just one of them. Slavers, serial killers, Jedi who did terrible things and get let off the hook because they said the dark side made them do it. Many deserve death, some can shown can be shown a different way, and I sure as hell understand atonement better than a bunch of prissy fools in an ivory tower. I want to found a new Inquisition. One that's not beholden to an incompetent emperor."

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]
“Ion disruptor,” Vess replied. “The phrik on your arms should shield it, but your arms will draw attention no matter what the situation. You will need to monitor the ammunition though and replace the power packs as needed. You can fire ten shots before you need to reload.”

They entered a training room where targets of different sizes and distances sat. More power cells sat on the bench between them.

“When the weapon is armed jerk your hand back to fire. It will take some getting used to become accurate, but the results can be devastating against an unprepared opponent.”

XXX

There was chaos. Amara could feel the people around her suffering and dying. It hurt her intensely, feeling like her heart was being squeezed. It burnt, and she could hear the psychic screams even as she pressed on.
Something drove her on. Duty? Determination? Desire to get Enyo’s respect?
Puppet.

She didn’t hear that. Didn’t want to hear it.

In the mines themselves there was a bit more organised. Walking wounded were coming in, and there were several people trying to communicate with the other areas.

“Lieutenant! You’re alive!” one crew member said, coming over.
“Yes, this is an engineer. She might be able to help us.”
The Corporal from before had survived, came over. “Where’s your friend?”
Amara shook her head sadly. “He didn’t make it, I’m afraid. He was trapped before he could get clear.”
“I’m sorry. Go in, we need help trying to regain control.”

However, once inside the mine they diverted to the side, moving swiftly towards the processing area and the loading bay.

It was there that Amara saw her. The Acolyte. Dressed in combat armour and with a lightsabre in her hand she was looking around carefully. Her eyes fixed on Amara.

Amara’s first instinct was to shift away, go back to the chaos and lose the woman. But her second instinct, almost executed without thought, was to stand her ground.

Her lightsabre came out and the purple blade activated.

The acolyte’s orange blade flared into equal life and they faced each other at last.

“You’re going to pay for what you’ve done,” the Acolyte hissed. She’d put two and two together. Lightsabre wielding stranger heading towards the loading docks when a disaster had hit. Open and shut case.

“I don’t think you’ll like the exchange rate!” Amara retorted. What did that mean? Who knew?

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


Anyone who used an ion disruptor had no respect for civility. This definitely applied to Enyo. Regardless, she had a new toy to try out. She gave Vess a nod and primed the hand cannon.


Her eyes focused on the target in front of her. She jerked her arm back, then there was a flash when a beam of light exited her palm and...totally missed the target. The clone looked a bit annoyed, then fired again. This time she disintegrated half the target. A third shot destroyed it. The clone practiced a bit more, hitting some targets and missing others, before she had to replace the power pack and recharge the gun.


"Keep up the practice and you'll become more proficient. We have prepared a live target for you," Vess commented blandly The door behind them opened and a battle droid dragged in a prisoner. The young woman was dressed in tattered Jedi robes, cuffed and collared, but still struggled. "This is a Silver Jedi. She was captured on Kessel. Terminate her."


The Jedi was knocked on to the floor. She stared at Enyo with frightened, but still defiant eyes. "You don't have to do this," she declared. The girl tried to call upon the Force, but it failed her.


"No, but I feel like doing it." Enyo stared at the helpless prisoner. At first she felt conflicted. Perhaps she saw a bit of herself in the girl, perhaps she realised how far she'd fallen. "We could make use of her. Show her the way. Killing her is a waste," she said coldly.


"She's part of the order that almost killed you on Korriban. We've already processed her mind and acquired a DNA sample. A clone will be grown. Unsullied by Jedi propaganda."


"You...I recognise your face, even with all the machinery. But you're not Kerrigan. She's a darksider but she doesn't murder the innocent!"


"She's not here. I am. And Jedi aren't innocent. Don't you remember Korriban? The light is just a fancy word." She raised her arm and prepared the weapon. Unfortunately for the Jedi, Enyo's aim was off and instead of delivering a kill shot by hitting her heart, the beam struck her foot. The Jedi cried out in anguish, feeling a horrible pain. The clone fired once more, ending her. This is what will happen to you when you outlive your usefulness. I'm aware. Then plan for it.