DUTY

The Empire is ruled by the strongest, the Empire is the strongest.

Words from her first conversation with her mother began to ring through her mind. The apprentice turned on the lightsaber of Naga Sadow, watching the energy that has been generated by the red lightsaber crystal. 'A lightsaber is an elegant weapon, a more civilized weapon for the slaying. I hope that I have no need to doubt your skills… and I must prepare you for war.'

Zylas had this strange tone in her voice – kind and the same time commanding, confident. War is a way of life for the Empire and conquest is a right. She was right on so many things, and Leena ignored her advice. There was no such thing as safety for a Sith and everyone close to her will live in constant danger. She would protect them, she said – but she can't even protect herself.

'Welcome to the lifetime of a Sith. It will not be the first and it won't be the last. It will go on and on until your death – because that's the way it works.' The apprentice had her concentration on the battle droids she ordered for a quick sparring session. Droids were nothing compared to the real thing, but for the past few days from dawn to dusk – the apprentice did nothing but cut off droids into hundreds of pieces.

'The person you are is Sith, and a favor for a favor keeps you in power.' Perhaps she will finally take her mother's words seriously, even though she doesn't open the Holocron too often. She was afraid that Baras would find out – it wasn't just a mere projection that was in the Holocron, it was Zylas's soul. Something Baras might put into use when he finds out. 'Every Sith walks the same path. And if we wish for the Sern Legacy to live, I need you to become the Sith Lord you are always meant to be – or you could collapse into nothing as I did before you.'

Zylas preached the ways of the Sith and pushed her daughter to embrace its traditions and beliefs – give into hatred and agony. But Arrun – Lord Zaine spoke of something else. He didn't want her to completely commune with the dark side of the Force, have her corrupted as it did to him.

Not all Sith are bad, Arrun was proof of that.

'Learn from your fears, don't let them consume you.' The apprentice remembered how her mother's eyes didn't seem corrupted. She had the same grey shade as her daughter. She remembered her few conversations, and yet she remembered how one in particular repeated with a gap of years.

Leena commented on how much her mother seemed to have plans beyond her death, she must have worked hard to think of these plans just so that she could undermine him. But she always smiled and would answer that she actually enjoyed him – and he would see the Empire burn if he could be Emperor of the ashes and in control of the Dark Council.

Her mother was nothing more than a stranger to her, with her soul stuck inside of the Holocron and her Master is nothing more than a man behind a mask. A man with all words and no actions, carefully working within the shadows watching others take the fall for him. Leena is his enforcer, and he wasn't yet aware of how much Zylas has already influenced her behind his back.

"Leena," Vette called to the apprentice, entering the training chamber to find so many slaughtered droids on the floor. "The armor you commission is here, I already made 2V bring it to your room."

"You are most helpful, Vette." Leena smiled at her companion as she turned off her lightsaber. Vette wondered why she kept on training with only one lightsaber, rather than two just as she usually does outside by the balcony every day for seven years.

"I'll be waiting for you in the living room then."

"Have 2V go on ahead by the spaceport, we'll meet it there." Vette nodded as she left the apprentice alone to reflect. She closed her eyes, remembering Arrun's words all those years ago. 'To experience those simple pleasures again… would be worth anything.'

She opened her eyes knowing that she was right all along. 'He's Sith.' She remembered her words to Vette very clearly. 'If we do become friends, if we do become close – one day he will leave me, betray me, leave me alone to die. Who knows maybe he'll kill me where it hurts.'

And he did.

He left her, betrayed her, left her alone – and killed here inside where it hurts. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have survived Dromand Kaas and nothing was more hateful than failing to protect those she loved.

'There is no truth in the Force. There is no such thing as a great revelation. No great secret…' "…there is only you." The apprentice mumbled to herself as she proceeded to her chambers. The Jedi made the Sith their monsters, the villains for their every heroic journey across the galaxy. But for her, Baras was the only monster she wanted dead. The Jedi broke her family – but she felt nothing for them, they're just another obstacle that she had to overcome to achieve her goal.

Her revenge was all she needed. 'Pretend to be weak, so he may grow arrogant.' Though there was no use for Baras to deny the power she holds in her hands, and he knows that she will grow stronger over time.

Baras and her mother wanted one thing – for her to become Sith. Leena can only be Sith if she is determined to take her life in her own hands, and she will not be a pawn in her Master's game.

She opened the crate that rested in her room, opening it to reveal the armor she commissioned, made out of refined cortosis ore. She lifted the helmet that she would wear on missions that Baras would send her to. As Leena Sern, she knew she would only be ignored – she knew she had to be something more, a symbol with a mask.

Leena's eyes turned to the mirror, finding the reflection of herself – she felt uncertain about what she should do. She saw her long white hair and the change in her eyes, the eyes that were once afraid were now nothing. She felt nothing much anymore after Arrun died, and the only thing that reminded her that she's still alive was Vette.

She took the blade from the table, holding onto her hair, thinking about the length. In position, she decided to cut it short, shoulder-length and later. Leena pushed her bangs back, allowing her white strands to stay where they wanted to stay. Later on, she tied her hair on a low ponytail with a deep sigh. She wore her armor carefully, making sure everything was in place. She placed the lightsabers of her mother strapped on her belt, took out a case and carefully placed the lightsabers of Naga Sadow and Arrun's inside.

With a heavy heart, the apprentice took the case in her hands as well as the helmet as she exited her chambers.

Vette turned around to find Leena to be someone new in her eyes. She didn't wear light red clothing anymore, she wore a completely back armor that was made out of refined cortosis ore, hair was short and her eyes didn't seem so lively – they felt dead even from afar. The Twi'lek couldn't help but give out a small smile.

When they arrived at the spaceport, Vette was more excited about the ship in comparison to the apprentice herself. Walking inside the ship, Vette proceeded to look around and see where her room would be – Leena on the other hand, proceeded to have a conversation with 2V-R8. "Ah! I mean – greetings, Master! I am programmed for a wide away of tasks, including but not limited to meal preparation, ship maintenance, janitorial duty and—"

"Etiquette. Yes, you said that seven years ago, 2V." Leena crossed her arms with an amused smile on her lips.

"Oh! Well, then I shall proceed, welcome aboard to this Fury-class Imperial Interceptor, a versatile craft combining a starfighter's maneuverability with armament to rival larger military vessels." The droid began to show her around the starship. "You'll find all of the standard amenities, including your own private captain's locker for storing valuables. The astrogation console contains a constantly updated map of the known galaxy. Interstellar communications are accessed via ships holoterminal. Priority alerts that you may find useful are available from the Imperial HoloNet console. Lastly, the ship's intercom will inform your crew that you wish to issue new orders. Any questions, Master?"

Leena nodded. "You are most helpful, as always 2V."

"I regret I am unable to offer you combat support, Master. Frankly, my chassis couldn't withstand the stress. However, should any errands arise that are beneath your superior status, please do not hesitate to call upon me. I function to serve you! Whenever you are ready to depart, consult the galaxy map on your bridge. It will program the proper astrogation coordinates and activate the main engines."

"I'll do just that, 2V… if it's not too much, I would like something sweet."

"Right away Master!" The droid rushed out of her way as the apprentice proceeded to the holoterminal, to have contact with Baras.

She wasn't a bit happy to see him at the very least but, it was better than being in the same room as him. "Apprentice, I trust you find your starship satisfactory."

"It's an outstanding vessel." She smiled. The ship is a piece of junk.

"I hope that it serves you well. There is much to be done. My interests must be protected and my enemies destroyed. Norman Karr's efforts to expose my spies and prove his Padawan's power to the Jedi Council must meet with systemic failure. You will exhaust yourself in this charge."

"You honor me," Leena spoke with no hesitation as Vette came out from the room, she found her friend discussing missions with her Master already. In silence, the Twi'lek just watched the exchange.

"The information we siphoned from that Republic agent will be our map. We know my spy on Nar Shaddaa was being surveilled. We know where this Padawan was discovered, where she trained and that the Jedi have sent to investigate my spy on Balmorra. The Padawan will have to be haunted down and destroyed, but first, you must secure my network by silencing my spies on Balmorra and Nar Shaddaa."

"Why not simply recall your spies?" Leena asked.

"Their disappearance would look suspicious and serve to confirm the Padawan's accusations. My spies must die. My contacts on Balmorra and Nar Shaddaa will detail what must be done. Your tasks are paramount, apprentice. Bring cruelty. Bring rage. Bring death."

"There won't be a heart left beating." Said the apprentice as the Master turned off his communication. Leena turned to Vette who stood by the side in silence. "It's smaller than the stronghold but, this will be our home for the time being."

"You, me and 2V – I'm guessing more people will be added to the crew."

"We'll be in hyperspace shortly, you'll need rest. I heard Balmorra is a warzone." Vette didn't take her words lightly. The HoloNets did say something about the Empire fighting some rebel resistance and some have speculated that the Republic is secretly backing them up, in fear that they will break the treaty. She watched the apprentice head to her chambers in silence.

As odd as it is, the Twi'lek knew that Leena was different from other Sith and at the same time, she was afraid of losing her to the Sith Order – especially now that Arrun died. By reputation, these were force-sensitives who utilized the dark side of the Force. In which the Sith believed that conflict was the true test of one's ability and so emphasized its importance.

Empowered by passion, it was the Sith's core – emotions. It was only rational, while the Jedi thought that fear, anger, and pain were negative emotions to be overcome, the Sith, on the other hand, believed that these strong emotions were natural and aided individuals in their survival.

They believed that passion was the one thing to fully understand the Force.

Once 2V set the hyperdrive, it would only take them a few moments to reach Balmorra and she didn't feel like resting. Curiosity was something that the blue-skinned Twi'lek was known for. Born into slavery on the planet Ryloth, she escaped for her life of servitude. Too daring for her own good, she managed to breach Imperial defenses and sneak onto Korriban, gaining entry into the most sacred Sith tombs before getting caught.

Perhaps, her being caught was fate – and it was slowly turning around for the better when she was given to Leena as a "gift" but, the apprentice didn't treat her as such for the past seven years. They were family along with the droid and Arrun, but now that the Sith Lord is gone, Vette didn't need the Force to know how miserable her friend was feeling.

Leena has devotion. She could see it and wonder; how long can she do this? Play charades with her Master? How long can Leena play this dangerous game? It was a gamble and she knew it.

When they were close to Balmorra's atmosphere, Vette decided to go into Leena's chambers to find her seated by the desk, staring at the holoprojector of a group of people. In which the Twi'lek could only assume was Leena's family.

"Hey, Leena." She heard her, but Leena didn't turn around to even look at her. "2V is just waiting for your orders…"

"Tell him to proceed to the spaceport."

Vette nodded but didn't leave the door. Instead, she continued. "You're a good person, Leena. With a good heart… I know how badly affected you are with Arrun's death, you're being unfair to yourself. How can you go on like this?"

Leena knew that to be a genuine concern. She killed Vemrin all those years ago because he was going to kill her, she spared a fellow acolyte who later came to save her. Leena took off Vette's shock collar and even gave her a home. She doesn't call her "slave" or treats her like one, she calls Vette by her name and was usually entertained by her humor when she had the chance.

But there was also this Leena who killed how many apprentices and acolytes to Baras's amusement. This Leena who proceeded to answer every whim of her Master's orders. This Leena who would kill anyone who stood in her way, stopping her for the vengeance she craved. She loved Arrun and look where that love got to them. She cherishes Vette and she didn't want to see what could happen to her if she continues to show weakness.

"I want to understand you, Leena." Vette plead. With the apprentice still looking at the portrait in front of her. "I just… every time I try, I can't read your face anymore. I can't predict what you're thinking. You work for these… bad people but your actions speak differently. You're not like them. Arrun wouldn't want you to become like them. I know you're better than them, Leena. You're a good person – so why? Why do you do this?"

"I have a duty, Vette." Was all she could muster. The apprentice stood up and looked into Vette's eyes. For the Twi'lek, she was starring into a cold, emotionless void. She was afraid that she doesn't know this person anymore. "I have a duty to follow orders and If I must, lay down my life for my Master to achieve his goals."

Lies were becoming natural to her now. "Do you believe that? Or is that what you were trained to think?"

"It is what I need him to think."

Vette couldn't hide her worry as Leena proceeded to take her helmet at hand and walked past her, the apprentice proceeded to have the conversation with her Master. "Ah, you've arrived on Balmorra. Excellent. Your contact there is Lieutenant Malavai Quinn. I trust you'll find him most helpful."

"I have no doubt, Master." Vette watched the apprentice lie from the sides. With her arms crossed and leaning back against the ship's walls, it seems like Leena's decision was final from thereon. She wanted to avenge Arrun and vengeance is currently the one thing she wants the most.

"This is an important mission, and I only entrust the finest. Quinn will meet you in his office at Sobrik headquarters. We will speak again as soon as he has briefed you."

As Leena nodded, Baras finally cut off communication. Putting on her helmet, the apprentice proceeded out of the ship along with Vette. As they did, Vette noticed that the apprentice stopped and had her hand resting on her forehead.

"Something wrong, Leena?" The Twi'lek asked.

The apprentice herself didn't even understand herself. "I feel a disturbance in the Force."