Private House Io: Base of Power

[Laertia Io]

Discovery of Khemost

Aboard: Leviathan of Sev Tok

Escorted by: House Io Star Destroyers (3)

Wearing: Hoodlum's Leathers

Armed with: De Lifte Crystal (Cross Guard)

With: The Battalion

"After months of brutal, seemingly unstoppable crusades, the Maw suffered significant losses at the desert world of Jedha when the combined might of the Alliance and Jedi Order finally threw them back but not before extensive casualties and irreplaceable cultural artifacts were destroyed...rumors that their ground forces suffered significant losses at the hands of some sort of humanoid monster witnesses describe as the Demon of Jedha have begun leaking out all over the Holonet--"

Xiphos snorted quietly in amusement as she shut off the Holoprojection in her private quarters. The Battalion was nearby, packing a bunch of survival gear away in a heavy duty duffle bag, clad in a red, ankle length gown with a hood, both her main Lightsabers clipped to her belt, a complete contrast to her own spiky biker leathers, the De Lifte Ankarres set in an Obsidian black Cross Guard Lightsaber dangling by her own belt.

"Well, surprise surprise, The Alliance got it's chit together. Poor Lynda..." Xiphos remarked, an Advanced Model 1 spying on events there having reported that Lynda had snapped.

"You're thinking of inviting her into the House?" The Battalion asked.

"She's gonna need some place to lay low when she goes too far in their eyes..." Xiphos replied...

"I saw the results of her handiwork...pity she's artificial. She'd have made a fantastic Brain Demon Cultist..." The Battalion remarked.

"Why do I find that so hard to debate?" Xiphos asked.

"Who knows? Maybe she should try indulging in savagery more...it did wonders for you, Julia..." The Battalion replied.

"Batty...?" Xiphos asked...

"What is it?" The Battalion asked.

"If you're going to call me Julia...may I call you Elaine every now and then?" Xiphos asked.

The Battalion folded her arms, looked Xiphos over a moment, thinking.

"Turn about is fair play, I suppose. Fine. But only in Private." The Battalion agreed.

"Fair enough..." Xiphos replied. "It's a lovely name..."

"Just don't wear it out..." The Battalion replied.

"I promise not to...Elaine..." Xiphos replied seductively, coiling her Organic arm around The Battalion's waistline and pulling her close.

The Battalion smiled, running a finger under Xiphos's chin.

"If anybody else dared to call me that who wasn't in House Io...I'd be pulling their lungs out..." she said coyly

"You already take my breath away." Xiphos replied quietly, drawing her Consort in for a kiss...

...which was interrupted by the Ship A.I. of the Leviathan of Sev Tok.

Mother, we've cleared Eternal Empire Space... the A.I. told her wirelessly, which she understood via her technopathy.

Excellent... Xiphos said. *Maintain present speed and course...we don't want anyone suspecting anything except that we go to the edge of the Galaxy.

Alert...ship exiting Hyperspace close to us... The Leviathan warned. CIS Transponder...It's the Castle Morpheus...

So Nine decided to come out and play... Xiphos mused...Very well then... extend the welcome mat...

Xiphos kissed The Battalion...

"We have visitors..." Xiphos told her.

"We still have leftovers from that massive dinner we had a while back..."

"Nine doesn't eat...food..." Xiphos explained.

"Well, there's plenty of alternatives..." The Battalion replied, "Especially when you live with someone who has unique appetites..."

"I got some celebratory prisoners on ice for you, when we find Khemost..." Xiphos promised...

"Always thinking of me..." The Battalion grinned.

Xiphos kissed her more passionately this time before she broke away from the embrace and headed out of her quarters to the turbolift.

Fifteen minutes later...

Xiphos finally reached one of many hangars where the Model 1's had set up an honor guard to receive the progenitor from which all of House Io's own tech descended from, who had flown in on a Lambda Class Shuttle, Black in color with red viewports. She found Maple Harte in her own non spiky black biker leathers already there.

"Ah. So that's how she found us before we were ready..." Xiphos remarked at Maple.

"You could not have constructed your children...ANY of your children, if you had not studied from her notes, her children..." Maple replied. "You owe Nine everything..."

Xiphos held up her cyborg hand in a placating fashion. "I dispute none of that, dear Sister...only the timing of telling her..."

"She has a right to be there when we discover Khemost." Maple asserted.

Xiphos really didn't have a counter-argument to this, so she remained silent as the hatch to the Lambda opened and down stepped the Arch Psy-Pire Nine Lives , wearing her hooded green kimono with white rose print embroidery, her face concealed mostly in the Shadow of her hood save for two pinpoints of purple light where her eyes were. She was tall, taller than Xiphos.

"Lady Li-Ves. A pleasant surprise. You honor us with your presence..." Xiphos said.

"You can dispense with the pleasantries Xiphos, I am here because I intend to be in on the ground floor with a Sith Treasure Planet at stake..." Nine said, in her deep, feminine contralto. "And after all the crazy chit you did with my technology, I think I'm owed that, given your repeated refusal to respect my wishes where The Amalgam's Cult is concerned."

"Have you informed the CIS?" Xiphos asked.

"I should have!" Nine snapped angrily. "It would be justified, given events at Rhand. But now I am in so deep with you that were my connections to you publicly revealed, your enemies would start gunning for me."

"Your wisdom helped crush the Bryn'adul. I never had any intention of leaving you out, Great Ancestor..." Xiphos replied. "But I stand by my decision to destroy The World Ship, even with all it's slaves."

"I guess you really are a fething magician, Laertia. An escape artist, to be exact, because only an escape artist could dodge the Death Penalty they would have given anyone else!" Nine grumbled, moving past her, the folds of her kimono disguising the movements of her legs, giving her an unsettling glide as she followed Maple, who had agreed to be her guide...

"You must admit, it was a rather impressive feat, only getting exiled rather than killed..." Xiphos said dryly following.

"Don't you get smartass with me!" Nine called back. "So tell me what you know about this Khemost you're going to..."

Meanwhile...

Countess Arianna Belasko headed to the personal Quarters of Akemi Io down the technogothic interior of the strange, Squid Like Battle Cruiser, past multiple Nuetralizers.

The Leviathan of Sev Tok, due to the Sensitive nature of where they were going, would only decided to release the full info of where they were truly going to everyone on this ship and the ships following at the last minute, disclosing full details of the years long search for Khemost to the Siren Corps, Organics, and all Nuetralizers that were not considered prototypes, imposing a strict information blackout on non essential communication even after Khemost was found. This had been so secret before that only Xiphos, her advisors, and her direct children had known beforehand. This now included Akemi, who would receive the info ahead of schedule about where they were going and why...and be sworn to secrecy afterward.

Arianna, clad in her white Ritual Gown, had in the months prior officially (Within the confines of the House, that is) adopted Xiphos as her own daughter, making the bio Nuetralizer Akemi her adopted Grand Daughter. Arianna had been so busy managing the House's financial affairs to keep them above water that she hadn't gotten out in weeks, and frankly was rather excited to meet yet another child of Xiphos.

The Countess, ever the prim and proper Aristocrat, looked the very image of dignified as she strode past the crew, stopping to observe a Model 1, an Advanced Model 1, and an organic citizen playing Dice. The Citizen looked to have won a great deal of credits.

"I can't believe I'm getting cleaned out like this..." The Model 1 complained. "This is such horse chit..."

"I guess I'll have to wait until next month to get that speeder bike." The Advanced Model 1 grumbled.

"Make it rain!" The Citizen exclaimed greedily rolling the dice again.

Arianna paused, observing what were ostensibly War Droids engaged in such unusual behavior would have been deeply unsettling to those who did not like their droids too intelligent, but it was everyday life in an organization where Droids and Organics worked together as equals.

The three noticed Arianna finally and stood up straight.

"Countess Belasko! We, um, we were off duty!" The Citizen explained.

"That is still no reason to play dice in the halls of all places. Please take it somewhere more private. The Leviathan of Sev Tok's halls are not a gambling den..." Arianna replied, annoyed and indignant before shooing them away with a hand gesture.

"ALERT. FIRST RANDOMIZED HYPERSPACE JUMP WILL COMMENCE IN TWENTY ONE MINUTES." the Leviathan announced over the PA system.

Arianna had particular reason to visit Akemi today of all days. Her expertise would be greatly needed when Khemost was reached, as Xiphos realized that even with the IFF codes they had obtained at Quethold, which would prevent them from being blasted from the sky by any planetary defenses, there were still likely to be vast security networks still semi functional on the ground, databanks, all sorts of stuff.

What they had on Khemost wasn't much beyond finally having it's coordinates. All they knew was that it was a lost treasure world of nearly unmatched wealth, most of it hidden, and one of the best kept secrets of all the old Sith empires...

Soon, it would be theirs...

Arianna watched the three scurry off, and resumed her journey to Akemi's quarters.

The Countess pressed the door alarm.

"Grand Daughter...it's Arianna. Your presence is requested on the bridge..."

Meanwhile...

"I see your study of my own vessel continues to pay dividends..." Nine said, observing the gold colored, giant power plant in engineering.

Xiphos nodded. The Leviathan of Sev Tok couldn't exist without the Castle Morpheus.

"It's a competent update, if nothing else..." Nine admitted. "I presume you intend to design all your ships with the Castle Morpheus System going forward.

"My enemies won't be able to cut off my fuel supplies when my fuel supplies are essentially everywhere..."

"Fuel supplies are the least of your problems, certainly. The real problem is just how many enemies do you want? Nine questioned.

"My enemies are at each other's throats more than they are mine. None of them are truly united together, merely allies of convenience." Xiphos dismissed.

"You still don't have the power to fight all of them. I would start investing more in Guerilla Warfare at this point."

"I have the means. And when we find Khemost, House Li-Ves shall have an important place in the resulting power structure, I promise you that. I don't forget the people who helped me."

"Especially animals like The Amalgam..." Nine replied, turning towards her as General Purpose Nuetralizer units busily scurried about.

"You have always infuriated me by maintaining the Alliance with that Abominable Beast."

Xiphos glowered.

"I had very few allies when I started out. I couldn't afford to be picky, Great Ancestor. These threats to the Galaxy, the Bryn'adul, the Maw, they must be stopped, even if I have to shake hands with The Devil."

"Or marrying one..." Nine replied.

"I see Maple's lips have caught a case of intel diarrhea..." Xiphos remarked.

"She would have found out sooner or later about The Battalion..." Maple contested.

"The heart is a stupid beast. Sue me." Xiphos replied. "Plans are afoot to...alter course in many ways..."

Nine raised an eyebrow at Xiphos's choice of words. They were the words of someone with something up their sleeve. Someone organizing a long term scheme, and clearly wanted Nine to know this.

Nine, being an opportunistic motherfether, in spite of her immense displeasure with many of Laertia's more recent decisions, including her ghastly decision at Rhand to kill all those slaves just to bring down the world ship (and Demonstrate her resolve to The Maw in the process), got curious as to what Laertia had in mind. But decided against asking for now.

"Enough with the tour. Let's head to the bridge...I presume you're going to make random hyperspace jumps before you actually go to Khemost?" Nine asked.

"Of course. Only a fool would make a straight jump to there without doing everything possible to prevent being followed..." Xiphos replied.

"Just signal The Morpheus when ready..." Nine said, going past both Xiphos and Maple to head to the bridge..."

"That could have been worse...that could have been a lot worse..." Xiphos remarked, turning to Maple. "You did a very good job talking her down, Sister."

"She demands I give up my humanity and become a Psy-Pire in exchange for continued peace between your house and hers." Maple said. "I agreed to it."

Xiphos was horrified.

"Sister...why didn't you tell me?" Xiphos asked, putting her hands on Maple's shoulders.

"Because I knew if you knew what had happened you might have done something stupid and tried to strongarm her. I've seen some of Nine's schematics, Laertia. Stuff she didn't even show you. There are good reasons she has for never employing them. She could crush you if she wanted. In order to properly thank me, you don't say or do chit to her over it." Maple replied, walking away.

Xiphos was left standing in front of the golden reactor, unable to show how crestfallen she was.


Cameron Crownwraithe

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Running Track - Gym, Leviathan of Sev Tok - Unknown Regions
Attire: xXx
Tags: Akemi Io Laertia Io

She hated running the track.

As she began to more consistently break the sound barrier (without her heels), Cameron hated that the course did not allow her to stretch her legs out to their maximum potential, even though it was quite large for a running track inside the gym of a starship. While the track was just fine for anyone else, for a speedster capable of breaking the sound barrier, it made her feel like a podracer racing a course meant for significantly less powerful machines. Nevertheless, Cameron trained on it because the track actually helped her build better control, which was the big weakness that had been identified in training under Meleena Io. The tight turns forced the speedster to slow down and shift her momentum, strengthening the muscles in her ankles and knees, ultimately giving her better control of the immense power her body could bring to bear.

Without control, more often than not, power was counterproductive.

Perhaps then, the rumored, legendary power that was Khemost, could finally be harnessed in service to a greater mission after being squandered by various Sith Lords, Ladies, Kings, and Queens of the ancient Sith Empires. Her mother had uncovered texts mentioning the treasure world in Darth Sris’ base on Trian, the Dark Lady who had created Cameron. However, finding the ancient world’s location had demanded far more than that, including expeditions to various worlds within the Unknown Territories, missions to maximum-security vaults, and many battlefields-worth of dead bodies, in pursuit of Khemost. Finally, after so much labor, House Io was on the verge of re-discovering the world, to hopefully make it their own.

…If it could be conquered.

Coming to a stop in a gust of artificial air, Cameron wiped the sweat pouring from her brow, before taking a long swig of her water and turning to look at the stunning, blonde-haired biot who was working with her as a trainer.

“How was that, Meleena?” Cameron asked, somewhat conscious of the sheen of sweat coating her features.

Then, there was a pause, before the speedster asked another question.

“Do you think this world…will be worth it? Is Khemost really as rich as the legends say?”

 

[Akemi Io]

Laertia Io Cameron Crownwraithe
Communication "verbal" <<technopathy>>

Akemi lay on her bed on her side with a lose fitting Raspberry coloured Kimono draped over her, reading a book, an old work of semi-fiction about the creation of Sithspawn. It turns out she enjoyed reading, and capping her processing speed at a fraction of 1% allowed her to read and enjoy the words like a normal organic, she had been reading for hours, other than recharging and diagnostics she couldn't think of anything that she had sent hours on before.

She shivered as she felt the Leviathan AI intrude and override her processor cap to download some information into her <<cheeky cow! Performing an intrusion when you know my RAM is capped. Next time we spar you are tying at least 3 petabytes behind your back>> Akemi allowed her processors to all come back online as she analysed the information, so that is where they were heading? The library and the forgotten starships were very interesting too her. She wondered what sort of security they would encounter, a new dance partner for her?

There was a buzz at her door, she shut her book and stood up, she stripped off the Kimono and quickly folded it, she disliked mess.

In moments the young Fixer was at the door "grand mother!" she said excitedly to Arianna Belasko "I finally get to meet you! I will come straight to the bridge with you."

She looked behind her and locked her door, she requested that the ship scramble to access codes for her again, a little bit of fun for her when she got back to the room later.

She walked alongside the her grandmother chatting about nothing, she didn't mention Khemost in case anyone was listening, there was a casual air about the ship, despite the importance of their trip. And everyone just seemed happy, were they happy because they were programmed to be happy or just because the family was such a good place.

Akemi's mind was awash with thoughts, she was still learning about the world around her and the finer points of her personality were still being written as she encountered different situations.[/COLOR]

 

[Westenra Mina]

"You're learning better control with turning in tight spaces than you were two months prior..." Meleena Io, a copy of Westenra-Prime said, flesh morphed to look like she wore a skintight golden catsuit, smiling at her beloved niece. Meleena had taken a special interest in helping Cameron Crownwraithe learn to control her speed and just spending time with her whenever Laertia could not (Let it be noted that Laertia always made sure to spend time with her immediate family) in general.

It had been immensely fulfilling emotionally to say the least. Cameron was so young, so eager to learn, and all Westenra copies battled loneliness due to their nature. It was the closest Meleena had ever come to knowing what having a child was like.

When Cameron expressed her question about Khemost, however, all Meleena could do was shrug.

"All I can say is, if it's even a tenth as rich as the legends say, House Io will have financial security for potentially decades. And if it's not...then if nothing else, House Io still has planetary real estate, which will eventually lead to the same thing. We could make a fortune just plundering the ruins on the basis of raw materials alone." she answered. "We'll just have to see...but your Mother seems convinced, or else she would not have kept her search secret for so long...she searched for this place long before you came into the picture, Niece. She was searching for it even when she still had a severe Speech Impediment."

Laertia tended not to bring that up too often, the old days, when she was essentially a Jedi Shadow turned failed stage magician who could barely get work performing at children's Birthday Parties, when she was essentially living hand to mouth with her now estranged Android Mother Moya Virtu . Laertia hid it, but Meleena knew Laertia deeply missed those days on some level. But she accepted the choices she made, good or bad.

Meleena smiled going to a nearby travel bag and taking out a few photos of a younger Laertia. One was taken from their time at Zeltros...

Given the fact Laertia seemed to age slowly, likely due to Themis having essentially made her a Super Soldier, it was actually hard to tell the difference between then and now. Laertia was on a couch with Melissa, Meleena, Melinda, Moya, and Maple (Who had been invited and arrived a few days later) right next to her on her sides, and all of her pet rabbits. Laertia had a big smile, one much wider than what she usually gave these days, and she wore an actual dress, a dress, that was blue in color, ankle length. Laertia hugged her favorite rabbit, Cortosis in the photo.

Just seeing it got Meleena emotional. Laertia, for one, brief, shining instant, had been truly unburdened. Truly happy. At peace.

And then Yurb. And Nar Kreeta afterward, where the Bryn'adul had traumatized her so badly no price was too high to pay to see them removed from the Galaxy. The Amalgam would have argued (And troublingly, not without justification) that Nar Kreeta had been the catalyst to her awakening, realizing that the Jedi approach would not cut it against such a foe if they continued as they were. Laertia's logic culminated in working with Empress Ingrid, someone who only a decade before Laertia might have tried to gut, and with prejudice.

The second was of a young, teenage Laertia, still in her spiky Jacket but her hair in Princess Leia type buns, posing next to a beautiful Twi'lek woman with purple skin, wearing a skintight white catsuit all too reminiscent of a certain set of murderous witches skulking around, offering the occasional smartass comment and fourth wall break. No doubt Cameron could work out who the Twi'lek actually was...

A third was of Laertia in full Magician's costume, wearing a purple leotard and stockings with a top hat and dyed green hair with red lipstick. Make-up was applied expertly to hide her facial scars. She was shown in the photo in the middle of a card trick with a wand.

If the color scheme of her magician look is troubling to you in anyway, that is because it's similar to the color scheme of the fething Joker.

"I know your Mother doesn't talk about her own past too much..." Meleena began. "That is why I think you should have this...so you can see past your mother's armor, and see where the routes of House Io began...and how your Mother came to be what she is now...maybe it will help you understand her better...

The Leviathan A.I. announced a random Jump in ten minutes.

"Hurry. Get cleaned up. We'll be headed to the bridge soon..." Meleena said gently.

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Running Track - Gym, Leviathan of Sev Tok - Unknown Regions
Attire: xXx
Tags: Akemi Io Laertia Io Westenra Mina

“I am?” Cameron answered, a soft smile coming over her features as she processed the compliment. She was glad that her training on this tight, boring track was helping, bringing her one step closer to her ultimate aspiration.

The fastest woman in the galaxy.

“This kind of running makes my ankles sore.” She winced as she took a seat on a nearby bench, before taking another swig of her water. “So glad tomorrow is a recovery day. I could eat two whole porgs.” The speedster added, speaking in quite in the literal sense. While the Force was a nigh-limitless well of power, Force Speed wasn't entirely free. The power demanded that she eat quite a lot for a woman of her stature. Fortunately, the training routine she was on had two scheduled rest days per week, incorporating flexibility exercises, meditation, swimming, and low-speed runs, which for a speedster of her level were slow jogs at the speed of a typical street groundcar.

“Planetary real estate is good enough for me!” She replied. “Training is much more fun with fresh scenery.” As she spoke, Cameron moved closer to see the pictures Meleena pulled from her travel bag, her eyes unblinking as they took in the picture of her mother in a dress, not heavy armor, spiky leathers, or jeans, but a real dress.

“I-I’ve never seen Mom in a dress…” Cameron said softly. “I don’t even think she owns one.”

Then, there was the picture of her mother when she was much younger, still under the influence of the Amalgam, who was in the disguise she had maintained for years. Cameron’s smile disappeared as she laid eyes on the picture, but even she could not turn away from the pseudo-Twi’lek’s obvious, glaring beauty.

Finally, taking in the third picture, which showed her mother clad in a magician’s outfit, Cameron’s eyes went wide as her mind went back to the first picture. Immediately, the speedster pulled the first picture from Meleena’s grasp, drawing a sharp, high-pitched gasp out from her lips as she did.

“Wait, Mom used to keep rabbits?!”

 

[Arianna Belasko]

Arianna smiled at Akemi Io as she walked with her.

"This is a time of great flux for the House. Securing a planet is not an insignificant thing. Without a planet to truly call our own, there will be only so much we can do to our enemies. Even The Mandalorians, a nomadic people, lay claim to planets. All societies with any ounce of real power have at least one planet to their name. Our people might have a sour taste in their mouths over it, given how they were gathered from planets that the Bryn'adul and Maw invaded and decimated, but it's essential to have at least one planet, even if we remain married to our ships in every other respect, so we are not murdered as easily as other peoples might be.

Arianna stopped by her own lavish quarters for a moment, and retrieved a long wooden case.

"Laertia already gave you a welcoming present, as I'm sure other members of House Io have, so here, dear Akemi, is mine..." Arianna explained, opening the case and removing a golden Laser Lance.

"I noticed you carrying that spear of yours. You take after your mother and myself in that regard, as well as Darth Themis who should arrive soon...

Once Akemi took it Arianna put the case back and began walking again.

Settling the planet of course will require, I sense, a radical reorganizing of how the house operates. Our Citizens, both Organic and mechanical, will have to work even more closely than they do now. But every one in the House is Family, from the least of citizens to an Advisor like myself..."

The real Arianna would never have felt such sentiment, but the creature hiding behind her flesh and a forgery of her mind did, and it was that creature who communicated that belief to Akemi.

"Whatever we find at Khemost is certain to be dangerous. Those such as yourself will be essential to taming it's mysteries, making it habitable for others. Life in the House is one of constant struggle and testing yourself against the Galaxy, against all it can throw against you. Whatever happens to our populace, rich or poor, we cannot allow them to grow soft. Your mother has a vision of strength for every refugee, every Nuetralizer. What we must do to tame where we are headed will play a massive part in how that vision manifests. If you ever feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities, don't hesitate to reach out to me or others. We will do everything we can to be there for you." Arianna assured as they stepped into a turbolift, the Leviathan automatically taking them upward.

Arianna winced, sensing the pain of her daughter.

Julia, my dear, whatever is the matter?

I'll tell you later. I'm at the bridge...

Arianna didn't like feeling Laertia in pain like that...

Soon, the turbolift stopped and they were greeted by large numbers of House Io's upper leadership. Xiphos in her spiky biker leathers, Nine Lives, the guest in this situation whose Technology had made Akemi possible, Melissa Io, a Westenra Copy, Lyssa Io a waypoint between the purely mechanical and biological Nuetralizers, Hadrian, the Gold Skeleton Prototype to all mechanical Nuetralizers, as well as the General if Military actions, with more no doubt on the way.

Xiphos smiled at both Arianna and Akemi.

"Mother. Akemi. Welcome." Xiphos said warmly.

"Ah, so this is one of your bio variants..." Nine said, the hooded Vampire gliding over to her. "Hello, Young Machine. I'm Nine. I'm your mother's only living blood relative. A pleasure to meet you..."

"Today is a great day daughter. We're ten minutes from our first random Jump into hyperspace...all that remains is to wait for Maple and Cameron and Meleena..." Xiphos mentioned.

"I'm curious, young one...what were you designed for, specifically?" Nine asked.

 

[Percival Io]

Two weeks earlier…

Percival’s green eyes were fixed on the young woman before him. Both of them were kneeling on floor mats in her private quarters aboard the Leviathan. The woman’s name was Rebecca, and she was pregnant. The father of her child had been killed during a recent battle against the Maw.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she was saying, her contralto voice almost a whisper. In her hand she clutched a set of wooden prayer beads, an heirloom from the destruction of her homeworld at the hands of the Bryn’adul. “I don’t know if I’m going to stay.”

“Where will you go?” Percival asked, his voice equally as soft. While she stared down at the floor, he looked right at her, watching the lines of her face. She was quite beautiful, her features doll-like enough that she could almost pass for one of his customized sisters.

“I don’t know. That’s why I can’t choose. I don’t know what my options even are.” Her expression grew pinched as she fought back tears, sniffling. “Now that the Bryn are gone, I thought we would get to go home. I knew things couldn’t go back to the way they were, but maybe we could rebuild, start new lives…”

She lost the battle against her emotions and began to sob. Percival laid his hand over hers. “You can never go home again,” he began, and while hearing him say it only made her weep all the more, he pressed on, applying the balm to her grief. “House Io can be your family now, and Khemost your home. We would be happy to have you and your child.”

“No, I…” She covered her face, her other hand still sifting the prayer beads through her fingers. “I’m afraid.”

“It’s natural to be afraid,” he said gently. “Anyone in your position would be. But you aren’t alone.”

“So much has changed since I joined this…” She trailed off, looking at Percival with suspicion. “This cult.”

He remained unphased. “A cult would never let you leave. No one here is forcing you to stay.”

Rising to his feet, he helped her up as well. She clung to his hand for a second or two too long before releasing her hold. He turned to go.

“Percival,” she blurted.

He paused in the doorway, turning back to face her.

“Thank you,” she said.

Rather than say anything, he just gave her a small smile before he left.

***​

Aboard the Leviathan
Present Day

Percival was among those already gathered in preparation for their arrival at Khemost. Already an unusual sight among the mostly female Chaplains, he also stood out due to his choice of clothing. Instead of a variation on their armorweave kimonos, he wore simple, unadorned robes made from linen. A cowl was draped loosely over his shoulders, the hood hanging behind him, and he had both a utility belt laden with survivalist tools and a backpack full of gear for the journey that lay ahead.

He observed the landing party with interest. There was Mother, his Creator, and her allies and children. One of them, Lady Li-Ves, was known to him, but he had never seen in person before. She had provided many of Mother’s resources in the early days of her crusades, and now it seemed she had come to collect by assisting in the plundering of Khemost.

There was one glaring absence among the group. The Amalgam was not here, and part of Percival hoped that she would never show up. Percival did not like the Amalgam, finding her too… possessive in her interactions with Xiphos and the Neutralizers, among other things. It was clear she desired to rule over Mother in any way she could, and by extension she would own all that Xiphos had ever created. Even Percival’s programming carried an ingrained warning that the Amalgam and the disciples of her Cult were not to be trusted.

A palpable excitement clung to the atmosphere of the room as the ship announced the impending hyperspace jump. Percival stood perfectly still, his hands clasped behind his back as he awaited further orders…

Cameron Crownwraithe Laertia Io Akemi Io​

 

[Laertia Io]

15 minutes before arriving on the Bridge...

Xiphos walked through the passages of the Leviathan, feeling her Citizens and Children working and interacting together, walking under the lantern like yellow running lights of the Leviathan's passageways. The design of the light system cast odd shadows throughout the tunnels of the vessel. It was sometimes referred to as gloomy. The Citizens and Sirens didn't like walking down them alone at the ships designated day and night cycle. The old her could never have imagined having all of this. The old her, the one that had only wanted her freighter, her rabbits, and the companionship of her Android Mother Moya, would have outright rejected it. Xiphos didn't have the luxury of rejecting it if she wanted her family to survive, if she wanted these refugees she had taken to survive.

As she walked down the passages, she felt the familiar, sickly brush of a rotted mind against hers.

It was The Amalgam . The Witch called to her and she couldn't help but answer. How could she ignore the creature who had retrieved the final piece of the puzzle? Short answer: She couldn't.

Xiphos reluctantly headed to The Amalgam's guest quarters aboard the ship, wondering how the Witch planned to mess with her. Maybe it was Phyre making another attempt at seduction--Xiphos was realizing Phyre was one of the thirstiest Sith she had ever met. But not even she could hold a candle to how thirsty Amy was, despite technically BEING Amy.

Xiphos would offer no complaint, in either case. Strangely, as time passed, her pity towards Phyre had grown, despite she herself understanding how hopeless and baffling it was to have such sentiment towards that...thing...

She wasn't exactly certain why she felt sorry for Phyre. It scared her that she could feel anything but raw, seething, disgust and hatred towards that monster, despite the fact that she did basically what Amy did.

She was not prepared for what awaited her.

The Amalgam wore the face of her false Jedi self, the purple skinned Twi'lek woman Ursula Sandraven, the woman who had mentored Laertia for years, wearing her old Catsuit.

She held a brush in her hand and a seat with a mirror nearby.

The Amalgam said nothing, only silently gesturing for her to sit in the seat.

Xiphos sat down, not saying anything either.

The Amalgam smiled, slowly turning Laertia while seated to face the mirror.

The Amalgam picked up a brush, and Xiphos and Laertia's heart leapt into their collective throat as the Witch began brushing her black hair.

Xiphos struggled to retain her composure as she watched herself in the mirror, discretely wiping a tear from her eyes as The Amalgam slowly brushed her hair. Xiphos struggled not to hyperventilate. The Amalgam smiled with Ursula's smile, and Xiphos was petrified almost, unable to really process the massive surge of emotions that hit her all at once.

This continued for 007 minutes straight, The Amalgam very careful not to accidentally rip away strands, before calmly setting the brush aside. Xiphos stood up, trying not to shiver, saying nothing. The Amalgam said nothing either, only continuing to smile with Ursula's smile...

Xiphos slowly backed away. The Amalgam made no move, said nothing, merely keeping up that Ursula smile.

Xiphos continued to back away more. The Amalgam still made no move. No words were said. Xiphos's lip trembled and she turned away and exited the Quarters, walking quickly until she found a Refresher that wasn't occupied and had a panic attack, hyperventilating. The Leviathan locked the door so no one would see her in this state.

It took about ten minutes to stop struggling to breathe before she composed herself and then she was heading to the Bridge, incredibly disturbed, both by what Maple told her and what she had just experienced.

She spotted The Battalion in her hooded red gown heading over quickly towards her.

"I felt your distress...is there something wrong?" The Battalion asked sincerely.

"I'll tell you about it later..." Xiphos answered. "You should join me in the bridge."

"Can't. I'm coordinating with the other Witches in case Khemost has some Force Based defenses we don't know about...why not Amy?" The Battalion suggested.

Xiphos shook her head. "Amy's...Amy's..."

Xiphos stopped.

"Amy won't be on the Bridge." she managed to say finally. "I'm not angry with her or anything, I'm just...Amy won't be on the Bridge..."

Xiphos began to walk away in the otherwise empty passage.

"Laertia?" The Battalion called out.

Xiphos turned around.

"One of these days, you're going to have to confront, really confront, just how much she means to you. It's the only way you'll ever break whatever hold remains..." The Battalion said, surprised she was giving such advice to overcome her own Master.

Xiphos nodded, knowing Batty would never have given out such advice to resisting The Amalgam previously. It was starting to work.

Xiphos then turned and headed for the Bridge, chatting it up with a subtly grumpy Nine. It wasn't long before Lyssa and her son, Percival Io showed up, followed by Arianna Belasko and Akemi Io , who Nine took an interest in, and immediately started chatting up. Xiphos, for her part, was waiting still for Cameron Crownwraithe and Meleena...

 

[Akemi Io]

Laertia Io Cameron Crownwraithe
Communication "verbal" <<technopathy>>

"Thank you grandmother, the spear is an excellent weapon for someone that values precision, a single strike can take out an important target with little collateral risk." she looked at the laser lance and smiled, her mind bringing up hundreds of images associates with lancers riding into battle, she felt the wind rush through her hair at hundreds of miles and hour before vanquishing her foes. So she fancied herself a Knight? Interesting. "again, thank you grandmother, although may I call you Arianna? Referring to you by your biological designation seems so impersonal, and may lead to confusing if there are other multigenerational female relations in the room?"

Akemi would not call her ship "ship" or her cat "cat" so why call her grandmother "grandmother". She continued along with Arianna until they reached the bridge where others of her gamely were waiting.

As she walked in she looked at Percival Io she was surprised for a few milliseconds while her database updated, previously she had only been aware of female Nuetralizer, "brother, it is a pleasure to meet you, you are a Chaplain model too?" she looked closely to him, she would deal love to interface with him but her programming had put in place barriers that prevented her intruding on her family without permission. "with your permission, I would like to analyse your performance, I am curious how your different body structure interacts with the core Chaplain chassis.

A very beautiful Atrisian looking woman approached her and looked closely at her, was she smelling her? She smiled at Nine Lives knowing this to be am important person to her mother.

"I'm curious, young one...what were you designed for, specifically?" Nine asked.

"I am Akemi, I am a Fixer model. The simplist description is cyber security warfare and maintenance. I am programmed to ensure the optimal performance of our digital assets, including but not limited to AI systems and Droid sytems. I am capable of covertly intruding and defending against intrusions into networks. I have more memory and processing speed than nearly all units of comparable size and mobility." The whole speech just came out, as is it was a preprogrammed core directive. It was a strange feeling, she began analysing it to look for code words, triggers and phrase books.

"I am made to ensure the safety of my family." that answer came from Akemi, not her code.

 

[Percival Io]

Upon further inspection, Percival noticed Mother's demeanor. Though she could appear quite stoic and hid her emotions well, Percival's psychology programming was sufficiently advanced that he could pick up on micro expressions that often went unseen by mere mortals. Extra moisture in the eyes; a slight flaring of the nostrils; a tiny quirk of the mouth that appeared for less than a second—all these minutiae gathered to form a portrait of Laertia's true feelings beneath the mask she wore.

She was disturbed by something that had occurred a short time ago, and the lingering effects of the experience had left their mark. Like all her creations, Percival harbored something akin to love for Laertia Io, even if it was only a facsimile of the human emotion. But he also knew that Mother did not want to be comforted or coddled. At least, not in public, and certainly not right before a mission of this importance. Perhaps he could arrange for a therapeutic session at a later date—

"Brother, it is a pleasure to meet you, you are a Chaplain model too?"

Percival turned toward the other Neutralizer. They had not met before, but his databases immediately supplied a name: Akemi Io. She was a Fixer—a less common subset of Neutralizer that performed engineering duties. With doll-like Atrisian features and burgundy hair, she also stood out, if only because there were no others of her type in the room.

"Yes," he replied. "I am a Chaplain." There was no need to introduce himself, since her databases no doubt also told her his name.

"With your permission, I would like to analyze your performance. I am curious how your different body structure interacts with the core Chaplain chassis."

Percival wasn't sure how his having alternate gender programming would affect his performance—perhaps it was more accurate to say he had never considered the possibility—but he was willing to indulge her curiosity. "Permission granted," he said, opening himself to a mind link. Keeping it open during their mission to Khemost, he would allow her to examine the data from his systems as he assisted in the taming of the planet.

Cameron Crownwraithe Laertia Io Akemi Io​

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Running Track - Gym -> Bridge, Leviathan of Sev Tok - Unknown Regions
Tags: Akemi Io Laertia Io Percival Io

Rabbits.

Cameron still could hardly believe it, or the fact that her mother had once had a speech impediment. The speedster had only known her as the powerful, charismatic Black Knight, scourge of the Jedi and the Teleporting Terror of Ziost. However, to learn that she had once been a humble stage magician, who had once used her powers to entertain children at birthday parties and traveling circuses, was almost beyond conception. Try as she might, the Zanshi could not begin to imagine her mother with a speech impediment, the soft hum of the sonic shower, which usually worked to stimulate her thoughts, failing to do so in this particular case.

Before long, Cameron was changed into her bodysuit and caparisoned for war, manifesting on the bridge in a gust of disturbed air as the speedster came to a sudden halt in the middle of her newest sister and brother, Akemi and Percivial Io.

“Little siblings! I almost forgot, these…” Cameron extended both of her hands out to the two Nuetralizers, each with the distinct, aggressively-shaped hilt of a lightsaber nestled in the palms. “Are for both of you!” She smiled, a wide grin borne across her features as she did. “You might…need to get the hilts fitted for your hands by an armorer, but may they serve you well!” The Zanshi continued. “Oh! And the kyber crystal…it’s pink, by the way. I traded the purple ones in a while back.” She giggled.

Having almost lost the lightsabers on Kerest, Cameron had only found them because of the tracking dust integrated into their hilts. Since then, the speedster had barely used the weapons, replacing them with her twin swords and the cryogenic lightsaber her mother had gifted to her a few months before.

“Sorry I’m late, Mom!” The speedster said, shifting her attention back to her mother, grandmother, and aunts in a snap of nigh-transonic motion, before the two Nuetralizers could respond further.

“Are we at Khemost yet?” She asked, a wide-eyed, effervescent glint manifesting in her magenta eyes as they dartied between each of her relatives, searching for answers.

Spoiler: Loadout

• FAE/A-09 “Hayai” Energized Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • Wide Beam Sonic Stunner - R/L
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Alchemical Equipment
    
    • Spirit Anchor
    • Supernal Infusion
  • Utility
    
    • Evasive-226-R Field Disruptor
    • The Tinfoil Hat
    • FAE/U-01 “Serenity” Anti-Signal Field System
• Twin Trajectories
• X8 “Gambit” Elite Disruptor Pistol (2)
• Flash Grenade (2)

 

[Arianna Belasko]

"You may call me Arianna, of course..." The Countess acknowledged, "But you are quite incorrect about the designation Grand Mother being so impersonal. If anything, it's use only emphasises how much we are family. It is not just a title here. It is literal. I am your Grand Mother, just like Laertia is your Mother, and you are my Grand Daughter who is absolutely adorable. Being not just your grandmother, but Percival's, and Alessandra's is something I take with the utmost seriousness. Grand Mother is not informal. Grand Mother is a sign of respect. Affection."

Arianna eyed Nine Lives as the tall Vampire sauntered over and asked about the functions of Akemi Io

"Akemi is an absolute darling when it comes to cyber security..." Arianna assured.

"My descendant has certainly taken my lessons to heart. I remember when it was just my Dear Vera Mina I had built. But your Mother was one of the quickest studies I had ever had. When I compare the woman I met, to the woman you call Mother, I can hardly believe I am talking to the same person..." Nine admitted.

"War changes all of us." Arianna said. "It changed me, certainly..."

Maple Harte finally arrived, her biker leathers only slightly less dark than Xiphos's own. Maple looked youthful still, yet was one of Xiphos's oldest allies, having been there when the Alliance between Arianna and Laertia was first cemented, having played a major part in it. Nine nodded at House Io's deadliest Sharpshooter. How deadly was Maple? Out of an entire cabal led by a Super Soldier with Genius Level Intelligence, surrounded by multiple, powerful Sorceresses, Shapeshifter Android's ten to twelve times more lethal than most elite soldiers, Maple was the only plain human amongst them who just had a powerful connection to the Force that rivalled Xiphos, and even possibly The Amalgam. No cybernetics. No magically enhanced physiology. Plain human. Xiphos feared few, but Maple was one of them. Nuetralizers had seen them spar. Maple was deadly fast, even by their standards. Not Cameron fast, but fast enough and skilled enough with staves and sticks to keep Xiphos wary in fights.

Arianna herself had had a go at Maple once. Arianna knew the silent, somewhat grim Bounty Hunter was no laughing matter. She made less waves then Xiphos, kept her head down, but every Mechanical Nuetralizer respected Maple's tactical acumen when she DID decide to make her presence known. She could leave a trail of corpses behind her like Xiphos could.

She was also known to be completely insane, like The Amalgam, but a different kind of insane. But Xiphos was fiercely protective of her...

"Welcome Sister..." Xiphos said. "Alright. I think that is everyone. Everyone who is going to show, anyway."

"Not quite..."

A woman walked into the bridge completely masked, wearing a skintight metallic and black purple Catsuit.

Arianna's attention was instantly fixed on that of Darth Themis , Prophet of House Io and one of Laertia's chief mentors beyond Arianna, Nine, and even The Amalgam, to some degree.

"Grand Mother. I thought you couldn't be here..." Xiphos said walking to her, glad to see her nonetheless.

"I started you on this path, child..." Themis said solemnly. "It is only fair I be here to watch you achieve what part of me thought impossible."

"Too true..." Xiphos agreed.

Xiphos sent a message to the Leviathan. The First Random Jump commenced...

Percival Io

Alessandra Io

 

[Akemi Io]

Laertia Io Cameron Crownwraithe
Communication "verbal" <<technopathy>>

Akemi acknowledged Arianna Belasko and corrected herself "My apologies grandmother, I am still ironing out my coding regards social interactions, I believe I understand what you mean now."

The bridge was full of her family and she could feel all of their different electrical transmissions as she sought to connect with them. With permission she connected with Percival Io and snooped at some of his performance logs, it was not the personality programming that made her curious, it was how his systems compensated for the different muscle and tissue distributions across his chassis that piqued her interest. She could see a couple of very minor adjustments had been made in his physical programming to compensate already. Very interesting, she thought to herself, all this taking mere seconds.

"Mother, I am not aware if the Leviathan has informed you, but her and I have detected a couple of aggressive intrusions into her system, they have not been able to pass our defences but they are persistent, my concern is that we have a tail. Random hyperspace jumps will hopefully allow us to shake them but I will keep you informed. The Leviathan would also like her digital maintenance scheduled early." Akemi smiled as the Leviathan downloaded some new fractals patterns in her favourite colours for her to enjoy as a thank you. The two of them had become fast friends, despite the slight rivalry for digital supremacy they were developing.

Akemi looked at her mother and wondered which pieces of her personality each of the nuetralizers had been gifted, she was glad she had received her taste for weaponry, she loved the spear, but then she would because of the personality gift, which was good because she enjoyed using it. Her anti-paradox safety mechanisms flipped on preventing circular arguments and the train of thought vanished.

 

[Percival Io]

Percival couldn’t feel Akemi greedily rifling through his data, but he assumed she was pleased with her newfound access. At any rate, her attention shifted away from him not long after the rest of the gang arrived.

The two last newcomers were of interest to Percival. Maple Harte was an old ally, but a surprisingly ordinary one. She was not a cyborg, not a droid, not a Force Spawn. Merely a Force sensitive human, with plenty of tools and gadgets to augment her skills in combat.

Darth Themis was an entirely different beast. He wasn’t sure what to make of the enigmatic shapeshifter. Shifty was a good word to describe the impression she gave. Of all Mother’s allies, she seemed both the most likely to betray her over conflicting ideals and principles, while also the least likely due to her profound sense of responsibility for Laertia.

She reminded Percival more of the Amalgam than Moya Virtu, even though she and Moya shared a face. Something about them seemed more similar than not, though he would never tell Themis that to her face. He’d risk losing his head if he even suggested it.

They made the jump. Khemost and her treasures awaited. A frosty world of endless snow, its few scattered settlements, chief among them the megalopolis of Midas, were sustained by thermal-powered shields to protect them from the cold. Theirs was a fragile existence, but House Io had not come to make war on the natives. At least, that wasn’t the plan…

Cameron Crownwraithe Laertia Io Akemi Io​

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Bridge, Leviathan of Sev Tok - Unknown Regions
Tags: Akemi Io Laertia Io

It was all one big family reunion and the speedster was over the galaxy with giddy excitement. Giving Maple Harte a cute, girlish wave and a smile as House Io’s deadliest sharpshooter strode into the bridge with all the confidence of an Empowered Badass Normal™ in a room full of Force Spawn, Sithspawn, Shapeshifter Gynoids, and yet more. Where Cameron possessed hard, brute speed and power in copious amounts, Maple was gifted with consummate skill, just as dangerous with a simple wooden stick as she was with a lightsaber or a high-powered rifle. While the speedster had never sparred with her, she had seen Maple in action on more than one occasion and knew that even with her advantage in Surge, the sharpshooter would be extremely difficult, if not even impossible for her to beat, much less survive.

Cuddling up against her mother, Cameron took a deep intake of air, staring into the viewport with pride and delight coloring her features as the command was given for the Leviathan to make the first jump. If Khemost was to be their home, then Cameron wanted nothing more than to reach it in the midst of her family...

Spoiler: Loadout

• FAE/A-09 “Hayai” Energized Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • Wide Beam Sonic Stunner - R/L
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Alchemical Equipment
    
    • Spirit Anchor
    • Supernal Infusion
  • Utility
    
    • Evasive-226-R Field Disruptor
    • The Tinfoil Hat
    • FAE/U-01 “Serenity” Anti-Signal Field System
• Twin Trajectories
• X8 “Gambit” Elite Disruptor Pistol (2)
• Flash Grenade (2)

 

[Laertia Io]

Xiphos was given pause as they jumped, Cameron Crownwraithe cuddling next to her.

Xiphos tried to smile as the jump was made. But her latest interaction with Amy had badly shaken her. Still, she was grateful for the contact. Maple was still grim faced about her own situation with Nine and said nothing as the jump completed and Akemi Io informed them of system penetration attempts.

Xiphos frowned, silently inquiring of the Leviathan who reconfirmed it. Laertia ordered an immediate and full sensor Sweep of itself, to locate any possible tracking beacons.

Initiate sensor search. We cannot afford to be tailed, not when we are so close.

If there was even the tiniest possibility they were being tailed, Xiphos treated it as a fact. She then mentally contacted The Battalion.

I need you.

You 'always' say that when I'm in your arms... The Battalion replied back.

I need an emergency ritual conducted immediately to try and detect any Stealth Ships...

You think we're being followed?

I'm certain of it. Fate would throw us a wrinkle at the last fething second...

We'll know soon... came the reply.

Xiphos turned to everyone.

"Everyone, we may have to delay the next jump a few minutes. A possible tail may be on us."

"Who? Eternal Empire?" Maple asked.

"It's not..." Themis said, shifting around in her purple catsuit. "My visions detect it is either a Jedi Stealth Vessel or Mandalorians, or Mawite..."

"No matter who it is, we're getting away and to our destination ...we cannot have our enemies know where we are going...it's discovery by our enemies would prove ruinous at this juncture..." Xiphos said. "We may have to add an extra jump..."

Xiphos turned to Themis. "Can you get a fix on their location?"

Themis closed her eyes. The visions never ceased.

She opened.

"Trailing us about two to three kilometers away..." Themis said..."Directly behind the Leviathan...trying to reposition, currently..."

Julia, whoever tipped you off was right...there is a Stealth Vessel. Life signs are too scrambled. I think there is a Sorcerer amongst them... The Battalion announced in her skull.

Is it Eternal Empire?

I'm afraid I cannot tell.

They were not jumping again until they found an answer as to who was trailing them and why...

Arianna frowned.

"No Khemost yet?" Arianna asked.

"The risk is too great." Xiphos said.

Mother... The Leviathan called out. Wireless Systems Intrusion attempt detected. I have traced it's location.

Where is it? Xiphos asked.

My Engineering Deck.

Xiphos turned to Percival, communicating with him via her technopathy once more.

Percival, I have a request. Please go to the Security Chief, that Model 1 Kristoff, and have him quietly seal off all the exits to engineering. Then apprehend whoever penetrated this ship. I want them alive. Someone else will handle the interrogation.

As if on cue, The Amalgam waltzed onto the bridge, still wearing her old catsuit from her time as Ursula.

"I couldn't help but sense your desire that I inflict pain and suffering on a moment's notice. It's better than speed dial. Hello, Percy..." The Amalgam said pleasantly, fixing a wicked smile on Percival that made Maple, Arianna, Melissa, even Themis retreat a few inches. The Amalgam's smile, though made with an absolutely gorgeous visage, had an unsettling, plastered quality to it. But the mania in her dead purple eyes, ever present when staring at Xiphos, or Maple who actively looked away from the horrible gaze, could almost choke the people in the room from it's sheer fixation on the two. Percival or Alessandra Io could likely detect the emotions playing out in micro twitches on The Amalgam's face.

"So, Julia, Batty tells me we have a tail...why was I not informed we're all bloody furries now? I have a furry suit for rubbing against people in a provacative and disturbing manner and I never get to use it..." The vicious Witch complained.

"Ummm...Amy...I think there may have been a teensy bit of miscommunication." Xiphos said. "We have a tail as in being followed. Not a tail like Furry Suits."

"Drat..." The Amalgam huffed, stomping her foot childishly. "I'll never get to wear that Furry Suit in a thread for a good reason..."

"A moment outside La-La Land would be nice, Amy..." Xiphos replied calmly, on the verge of grinding her teeth.

"Of course, Julia. Besides, how else are we going to keep the thread moving?" The Amalgam teased, but that dead mania in her stare as she fixed her gaze directly with Xiphos still kept everyone on edge.

"Batty thinks there's a Sorcerer aboard a Stealth vessel attempting to tail us. We also have an intruder..."

"Want me to crack into their mind like it's a hard boiled egg?" Amy asked gleefully.

"Disable the stealth field of whoever or whatever is tailing us..." Xiphos clarified. "Go with Percival to Engineering...

Even as she said this to her Mentor, she was mentally sending a warning to Percival Io :

Son, The Amalgam is crazy as feth. But she is 'not' stupid. Physical threats from you won't do anything but amuse her. If she talks to you, don't tell her anything personal. It's bad enough she knows all of MY secrets. She might get 'playful' with you verbally, like she did with me just now. Do not rise to the bait. Keep focused on the task at hand. The Amalgam is of immense value as an Advisor, but she is volatile, petulant, and a Troll that enjoys inflicting harm, be it physical or emotional. Only the fact you are my son may make her more hesitant than normal to truly mess with you beyond verbal jabs.

"Ready, Percy?" The Amalgam asked...

 

[Percival Io]

Of course, something went wrong. A tail was detected by the Leviathan’s sensors, believed by the Battalion to be a sorcerer aboard a stealth vessel, then signs of a stowaway aboard the Leviathan itself. Strange. Percival wondered who it could be. Some sort of spy, no doubt, but who would be crafty enough to infiltrate this ship?...

Two more unexpected developments occurred. Xiphos asked him to entrap and apprehend the infiltrator in Engineering—a task he would expect to be given to a Fixer like Akemi rather than a Chaplain, though he could not complain at the opportunity to please Mother—and the Amalgam arrived. Percival had been dreading this, but he hid his emotions, keeping his face placid.

He was already well aware of his status as untouchable, due to being one of Xiphos’ creations. As the Amalgam fixed him with a pernicious stare, he actually held her gaze, appearing totally unaffected. While he could detect her emotions (homicidal bloodlust, arrogant contempt, and complete insanity, among others) he could not sense her malicious presence in the Force. Thus, where others might find her spiritually hostile, he felt nothing of the sort. He wasn’t afraid of her so much as he found her unpleasant to be around, mainly because she was mad as a hatter on steroids.

Yet when Xiphos decided that the Amalgam should accompany him, Percival’s brow furrowed faintly. He could not find a good enough reason to argue against it, so he simply replied, “Acknowledged.”

If there were no further instructions, he would leave at once. Along the way, he contacted Kristoff remotely, using technopathy.

<<<Kristoff, orders from Mother. Seal the Engineering deck. We have an intruder on board.>>>

<<<Hey, Percival!>>> Kristoff’s reply was much more casual in nature, but then Percival found all the Model 1s rather laid-back in comparison to himself. <<<Engineering’s on lockdown. Always good to hear from you, man. How you been?>>>

<<<Fine. The Amalgam and I will be intercepting the intruder. Orders are to capture them alive for interrogation.>>> Approaching the lift, he stepped inside and pressed the button for Engineering. He would not relish standing in an elevator with the Amalgam, but at least the trip wouldn’t take more than a few seconds...

Cameron Crownwraithe Laertia Io Akemi Io​

 

[The Amalgam]

The Amalgam practically pranced next to Percival Io as they both went into the turbolift. The gorgeous Force Spawn kept her business, but that strange Cheshire Cat grin never left her face.

"I remember when you were all mechanical..." The Amalgam said pridefully. "Such warriors, marching fearlessly to war. I didn't actually know about the Nuetralizers before Generis happened...and when I saw you all the first time, I knew Julia was about to take multiple levels in badass." The Amalgam confessed as the lift took them downward.

"Though I cannot dispute her current choice to make the newest models Organic, obviously...your older brothers do tend to stand out...ever wonder why she made them skeletons? I've always wondered that...I suspect it's a lot deeper than them just being based off YVH Droids..."

The lift opened, and The Amalgam stepped off the lift first, spotting the Leviathan's Chief of Security, Kristoff, waiting for them. He had painted his chassis an entirely dark blue.

"Advisor..." Kristoff said neutrally, spotting her.

"Is the Leviathan still picking up intrusion attempts?" The Amalgam asked, snapping back to the task with a laser focus. It was clear where Laertia had gotten her own sense of focus from in that one instant, the ability to snap between professionalism and insanity in an instant.

"Yep. Decks completely sealed off. Battalion even did some sorta ritual to interfere with technological stealth fields."

"Batty...always the proactive sort..." The Amalgam sighed wistfully. She turned to Percival.

"I can feel him. He slipped aboard likely via one of our support craft. He's jittery. Panicked. Wouldn't be surprised if he planted explosives. We must be very stealthy as we draw near, lest he set off any contingencies. He'll be the one trying to 'not' act like something is wrong. Anyway, Julia figured this out when she was young, and you're purpose manufactured by her, so I expect you to catch on even faster. Would you care to do the apprehension, or look for sabotage?"

Akemi Io

Alessandra Io

 

[Percival Io]

The Amalgam talked to herself, Percival passively listening to her spiel about Neutralizers. He wasn’t sure what she was getting at, beyond asking questions, but her tone suggested she was implying something about his skeletal brethren.

After they arrived and met with Kristoff, she asked him whether he wanted to help with apprehending the intruder, or hunting for signs of sabotage.

“Apprehension is better suited to my skill set,” Percival replied. “I may even be able to convince him to surrender without a fight.”

Cameron Crownwraithe The Amalgam Akemi Io​

 

[The Battalion]

While The Amalgam and Percival Io searched for the sabotuer in Engineering, The Battalion, meditating and praying to the Brain Demon over the miracle that was today, the Unholy Spirit delivering them to a land of promise, mused about her position in this faction at the same time.

She was very high rank. Right up there with Amy and the Io Sisters.

But the Black Knight was a complicated catch...there was also the issue of her children.

I'm married...and have kids... she noted for the first time ever.

How the hell had that happened?

The Battalion slowly thought back on the day Xiphos had proposed to her, all covered in ritual scars. Xiphos could stare at her without blinking, even at her most beastly, and still ask to marry her.

That had been the moment The Battalion had realized just how much she was in love with Xiphos.

Now only this final delay. The pins and needles of it...

The Battalion rose from her meditation, striding over to a table and picking her Ring up, slipping it on and her flesh shuddered unnaturally in delight as she felt her bond to her wife artificially strengthen, letting the icy presence of her mind contrast nicely with the burning embers of her own corrupt soul.

She found herself starting to once more recall the day the knot had been tied. It had been a private ceremony...


Weeks earlier...


The Battalion waited in her long, hooded ceremonial red robes walking past a precession of Brain Demon Cultists all holding sticks of incense.

Xiphos had surprised her by requesting the ceremony be conducted in a Brain Demon temple. Whether that was to simply accommodate The Battalion's sensibilities, or because Xiphos wanted the one place she absolutely knew would have no spies was anyone's guess.

Or, it could be she simply wanted it done in a place familiar to her.

The Battalion walked through the stone halls, rows of Cultists lined through every passage, whispering and praying to the Unholy Spirit. Many rituals had been conducted in this place. Terrible things.

But there are first times for everything. And today House Io was to symbolically and literally wed itself to the Cult.

Reviving The Battalion had been a master stroke on The Amalgam's part. The Battalion had appealed to all in Xiphos that thirsted for and enjoyed Battle. That needed battle.

Xiphos, despite knowing it was a very bad idea, simply wanted The Battalion that much.

They were led into the chamber of their most precious Holocrons surrounded by naked Witches covered in Ritual scars, their flesh shuddering as they channeled The Dark Side.

The Pyramid like Holocrons glowed red as The Battalion was led to the front of the Tribunal. At the center was The Amalgam. To her Left was The Arena. To her right was The Conjoined, a witch in the guise of a Pure blood Sith Woman with slicked back dark hair. All wore red hooded Ritual Gowns.

There was a gong and The Battalion turned and saw Xiphos, face ritually painted with runes using The Battalion's blood on her forehead, the Amalgam's blood on her neck, The Arena's blood on her right cheek, and the Conjoined's blood on her left. She wore a white hooded ritual gown, and carried a simple black ceremonial Sith Lightsaber.

The Battalion eagerly entwined her essence with Xiphos, mentally sending waves of darkness into her mind to tempt her soul.

Xiphos came to a stop, and knelt before the Battalion and The Tribunal.

"This is a joyous day for the Cult of The Brain Demon..." The Amalgam proclaimed. "Today, we make this pact we long ago sealed with my darling, estranged protege official. She came to us with nothing. Nothing but a vision. And in spite of all we had done. All we had put her through over the years...and all her relentless pursuit of us in the years before..."

The Amalgam's flesh shuddered and bubbled into that of Darth Phyre.

"And after all that I had done to her..." Darth Phyre proclaimed. "We were the first among those she sought out. Though you are a known apprentice of the hated Serpents of Ashla, you were willing to do what few in your position ever would have done. You were willing to set aside your grudges to get the job done. You were willing to ask the question of just how much you could accomplish. We do not begrudge you for being one. We enjoy the competition! It'll be interesting to see what you finally choose." Phyre said.

"Julia Crownwraithe, you ask for the hand of The Battalion in Marriage. But to marry her is to marry the Cult. To take her hand in Marriage is to take our hand in it as well. And to take our hand is to become a member of the Cult. Whatever you tell yourself now, know this...later, you will wonder why you didn't marry us sooner."

The Arena, a curvy, orange skinned Twi'lek woman gazed upon her.

"Julia Crownwraithe, is it truly your desire to have for your Wife The Battalion, Blademaster of the Cult, rank of Collective? To submit yourself to her guidance on the spiritual, to show your devotion to your Wife by sacrificing people to her?"

"It is." Xiphos answered, eyes locked on The Battalion's.

The Conjoined stood up.

"Julia Crownwraithe, Ward of The Cult, is it your desire to become a member of this Cult to be with your Wife? To, in essence, become her apprentice, as you will be an inductee?"

"It is..." Xiphos answered, her urge to have her Dark Lover at her side at any cost overriding her judgement.

Darth Phyre stood up.

"Julia Crownwraithe..." Phyre trailed. "Champion of This Cult. Champion in Denial...is it your desire to permit The Cult free reign to preach in all territory you control? To kill in your name?"

"It is." Xiphos whispered, staring only at The Battalion.

The Arena turned to the Battalion.

"Collective Battalion, Blademaster of the Cult, is it truly your desire to take Julia Crownwraithe, Champion of The Cult, Rank of Coven, for your Wife? To guide her out of Sin? To show to her the truth of the Bogan, however long it takes?"

"It is..." The Battalion answered, entwining more of Xiphos's essence into her spirit.

The Conjoined turned now.

Collective Battalion, is it your desire to take your Wife as Formal Apprentice? To make her an ever more terrifying threat with the blade?"

"It is..." The Battalion answered

Darth Phyre now turned.

"Collective Battalion, Blademaster of the Cult, do you vow to uphold the special relationship between House Io and the Cult?"

"I do."

Phyre's flesh bubbled and warped back into The Amalgam.

Then by the power vested in me by the Unholy Spirit, I pronounce your marriage Official..." The Amalgam proclaimed, and the entire Tribunal activated their Lightsabers.

Xiphos activated her lightsaber, and a purple blade shot out, the only purple blade in the room other than Amy's.

The Tribunal and the other Witches soon cleared out of the Holocron Chamber, leaving The Matriarch and her Consort alone.

"Well?" The Battalion asked with a smirk.

"Well what?" Xiphos asked blankly, the full weight of what she had done to have The Battalion really hitting. But she needed her.

"It would be such a letdown..." The Battalion mused, striding over to her. "If after you go through all that to have me, I didn't get a barrage of kisses."

The Battalion's face was suddenly bombarded with them. In her bemusement she managed to return a few of them.

"Now..." The Battalion hissed after indulging in a few more kisses herself. "A Ritual Duel..."

Xiphos grinned the way The Battalion did, and teleported away, flashing her purple blade against her Wife's red....

Force fields turned on around the Holocrons as their blades clashed....

Present...

The Battalion uncovered a black lacquered box in the Darkness of her Quarters.

Their wedding Lightsabers had been converted into a single mechanism to symbolize their union. They had both been of the same construction, so it had been easy to do.

The Battalion took it out.

Slowly but surely, Xiphos was becoming what she was meant to be. All that remained would be hurdles inherent in Xiphos herself.

Xiphos meant something to her. Xiphos made her happy. The Battalion would do her best to save her wife's soul in turn...

(Fallen Order Upgrade Sound Plays)

(The Battalion got a new Weapon!)

Weapon: WEDDING STAFF

Spoiler

Ceremonial Exar Kun Length Double Bladed Lightsaber with dual phase mechanisms, physical symbol of Xiphos's unholy matrimony with The Battalion. One blade produced a red blade, the other a purple.

The Battalion decided to join her wife on the bridge.

Meanwhile...


The Amalgam had carefully searched the Engineering section for a half hour before she found it, a silvery device placed innocuously on a vital Regulator.

"Amy to Percival Io . Found an unknown device near one of the reactors...any luck finding it's planter?"