HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN

Quinn took his orders seriously. Vette found it annoying and yet understandable. Leena was on top of their little pyramid. The boss of their crew. And clearly, the Sith Lord earned their respect through thick and thin – she proved herself from time and time again that she was something more than a weapon. An apprentice who only follows orders from her Master, there was more, there was always more.

Leena herself, on the other hand viewed things rather differently. She suffered and endured, and yet she found it lacking – some things remained missing in her life. She wasn't so sure if it was Arrun – a man she loved, or her father and sister who haven't been in contact with her for years. Her mother who was nothing more but a soul inside a box. The mentors she had learned from and those she had killed.

Baras never missed an opportunity to remind her that she belongs to him. That she was the apprentice. The weapon that could bring him his endgame. It always starts with the unexpected loss of something dear.

Jaesa would glance at the door from time to time. Wondering when her Master would leave her quarters. There was still so much to ask, so much to learn – Vette assured the apprentice that Leena has always been like that.

The apprentice could feel it within her Master, she was suffering, lonely, and afraid. She was young, she didn't suffer under the Jedi but the pain within Leena – it was hurting her as well.

Even when someone tells her that 'everything will be alright', all she can feel would be fear and anger, one way or another. There would never be peace for a Sith, and neither will the Jedi. Peace is nothing more than an illusion that beings believe to exist but in reality, the only way for the galaxy to live long is to embrace the conflict. The never-ending drumbeat of warfare.

Her doors slid open, having the Captain enter her quarters without a single word. Carrying a tray of food for his Lord. She stayed silent. Laying down on her bed as he quietly watched the Sith play with her lightsaber that was floating in midair.

Quinn placed the tray on her desk as well as the datapad that needs to be reviewed.

He bowed in silence as he walked towards the door.

"Quinn," Leena called out. Holding her lightsaber as she sat up from the bed, having a rather stoic expression on her face as the Captain turned around to meet her gaze. She grew different from the mere apprentice he met on Balmorra. Her eyes can tell him a thousand stories, she's been through the worst and who knows what is yet to come for them. "I have… a very important task for you."

Moff Zabro was commended for his victory over the occupation of Balmorra. Rewarded handsomely by Darth Lacarus herself.

Off-world for another task, having thousands of men under his disposal – he was one of the very few Moffs who perform incomplete excellence in the name of the Empire. Alone in his chambers, drinking Corellian rum with only the company of the silence surrounding him. He was never the same man after Alderaan – the person who survived was a completely different person. Then again, the Empire was determined to burn the planet into ashes just to wound and burn down the Republic and their Jedi.

You know that in your heart, I have won. Her words kept on haunting him. A good man does everything in his power to better his children's positions. A man could say he committed treason for what he did back on Balmorra.

Allowing a Jedi to live – it was something that the Sith could never forgive him for. He would wander from time to time if his girls were doing well. To know that his sons were simply alive, he was already grateful for it – his resources as a father was so limited to his children, sometimes he curses himself for it.

Have you ever lost it before? Zabro remembered Azal's question before she left for the academy. She was a curious one, the youngest. And like her older siblings, none of them have been in contact with each other at all. All he knew was that his youngest girl was in good hands – a woman perfectly capable of handling herself.

Moff Erhart Zabro was quite the man.

The most promising military man of his generation. The smartest, the strongest – he is the best the Empire could ask for and probably the best there would ever be. Fellow soldiers would say that the Moff is as dangerous as any Sith in their Empire, he didn't need the Force for the enemy to know how truly dangerous he can be. Some say that this man lived his life without fear – but those close to the Moff knew how fear managed to consume him throughout the decades.

Years ago, he had a mission that brought him to the Hutt controlled moon named Nar Shaddaa. Zabro himself couldn't remember what the mission was, but he never forgot what awaited him on Dromand Kaas afterward and it scared him.

The Moff was commended for his participation in striking down the Balmorran resistance, another achievement, another kind of news that reached Occlus faster than most messages she would receive from her spies.

The Moff with no fear, they called him or Zabro the Bold – those who admire him would joke around and say that he must have Sith blood in him, to be so confident to just charge towards the battlefield himself or lead a mission.

Though he wouldn't recklessly go out on the battlefield often, he had a General to make sure he wouldn't do anything as reckless as a Sith would. His General would remark that as brilliant as Moff Zabro is, he can be a complete idiot when it comes to impulsive actions.

Everyone is a victim of war, not just those who were killed or caught up – the Moff knew that very well. If one's cause is to kill those who killed their loved ones, then it only induces others to kill for the one's others killed. The vicious cycle repeats – a war that will go on forever and they will all burn with it.

For some time during his youth, he had his special star. He did everything for Zylas.

One of the Ensigns stationed with him rushed into his quarters, informing him of the announcement that was given out by the Republic. Naturally, the Moff ordered his holoterminal to be on – listening to what the Republic leader had to say. So much has happened and yet there was so little time. Rumor has it – the Empire committed a massacre that fired up the war. From the classified report forwarded to him, Imperial Intelligence failed at their job.

Zabro couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose as he continued to listen to the broadcast given by the Republic's Supreme Chancellor. "—The Emperor and his proxies made their intent clear. Their fleets are entering the Core systems. They have broken the Treaty of Coruscant. Along with the Mid Rum, they herd our people into makeshift prisons out of fear of rebellion. Unspeakable crimes have been committed. Let there be no mistake, we are at war."

"Ensign." The Moff finally broke the silence as he forcibly ended the broadcast from his terminal. "Direct me immediately with the Minister of Intelligence and have a droid scan for listening devices in here."

"Yes, sir! Right away, sir!"

He took a deep inhale. Having the irritation get to him as the young lad began to press some buttons on the terminal. A droid came in and gave them a clear, with no listening devices found at all. After moments, the Ensign was dismissed and the Minister was online. He didn't seem pleased at all, much like the Moff himself.

Though they were familiar with each other, the two men were very well aware that they have to keep things professional despite their past. "A massacre on Isen Four? I didn't give my daughter to Imperial Intelligence to be a murderer, Minister."

The Minister raised his brow, not caring about who he is speaking to. "Cipher Nine lies and kills in the service of liars and killers. Do not act as if you weren't one of us before – Cipher Two. But, knowing you, you didn't simply call to be concerned about a simple Cipher Agent – you're here to know the details of the war."

"Harden said that Baras wants me on Taris for the War Trust," Zabro spoke his concern. "I'm here to pull a favor, Minister."

"If it's information on Cipher Nine, I cannot give you such details and you know that."

"As much as I am concerned for the Cipher I'm asking for something else." Zabro leaned back on his chair. Having his hands neatly folded on his lap, carefully constructing his words inside of his mind. "I know you have data on a specific Sith Lord. I'm certain you know who I am talking about. With the war happening, I expect that security codes are configured every six hours, I'm asking now before things go out of hand."

The Minister sighed. "Transmitting files on Lord Sern, now. Transmission confirmed."

"Received." The Moff acknowledged.

"I don't know how long you're planning to keep this up, Zabro but I do… have something personal that might pique your interest."

"I already have the files I need to win this battle against the War Trust, what more do you have for me – brother?" Zabro had his serious gaze on the Minister of Intelligence. Both of them were busy men, but for their kind of military family, the Empire and the family were the same. It was complicated, but all they had were each other.

"Cipher Nine has been in brief contact with Tyrral Sern."

"Does she know?" As much as he was shocked to hear such news with such a massive galaxy, it seems that the Force was testing him and his children.

The Minister shook his head sideways. "She's too preoccupied to worry about troublesome family affairs, brother. Though with everything that has happened… I am very certain that she resents me as an Uncle rather than her superior. I have no regrets, Erhart – everything we did is for the Empire, after all."

Zabro nodded. "Each of us has a choice to make, I pray we choose wisely."

"Farewell, little brother."

"I don't die easily, you should know that by now."

The amused look on the Minister's face made the Moff himself smile as well. Ending the transmission, Zabro sighed. Knowing how the monsters around him and his children are dangerous, the Sith and the Jedi are dying like flies around this war. Soldiers used as cannon fodder, corrupt leaders sending men to a complete massacre – witnessing their deaths was a rather horrifying experience.

Who's the real power behind Lord Sern's army? He leaned back on his chair, remembering his brother's question from all those years ago. Everyone knew the answer even when Zylas's name has already been forgotten by some.

He knew that his children – especially his daughters deserved to know the truth.

The truth about Lord Zylas Sern, the truth about their sons – everything. How Zylas's victories were built on a lie.

His children were never just weapons for war. He never wanted the title and the honors, he never asked for it even after his wife fell from battle. He's not in Imperial Intelligence anymore, he's one of the most promising Moffs in the Empire. Everyone in the galaxy would be given a hard-choices that seem to be wrong to others but, he knew were right – and he was obligated to live with it for the rest for his days.

And he did.

A different time. A different Lord Sern.

The Moff took out his datapad, scrolling through the data he needed about his daughter, Leena. He wasn't allowed to place in personal feelings when it came to working, but seeing the records – and how she seemed to be doing, he couldn't help but smile knowing that she has become a woman capable of protecting herself. But the galaxy is still a dangerous place, cruel even – and it is cruelest to the weak.

But his smile vanished, realizing that she might have become someone else. A different person from the little girl he sent away for her Sith teachings.

And after all these decades, he was afraid.

Afraid that his daughter would be like Zylas.