บท 37: THE CONFLICT WITHIN
With the question of a regent, Leena had to make a quick decision as she decided to remain on Alderaan for a bit longer to sort things out. Vette decided to run a couple of errands since they were on a decent planet, unlike the previous ones. Baras did instruct her to proceed to what she was doing as long as it was done fast, and the Sith didn't have much of a choice but to wrap things up as soon as she could.
But she wasn't interested in the political position her name had to offer.
Reasons why she allowed Quinn to do such an important job on her part. It just didn't make sense even for her. Even with the security system down, House Sern has tight security with well-developed patrol routes in and out of the estate.
For a known military family, going inside would have been almost impossible.
The Sith apprentice found herself awake in the middle of the night. Studying the security and the patrol routes of the estate. She managed to observe that a number of soldiers would have been in the halls for a number of hours, and the only way through them would be immediately confrontation.
Her cousin Anthony reported that there was no indication that the soldiers were attacked in the middle of the power shut down she caused.
After hours of investigation, the Captain entered his Lord's room in silence. Though he didn't forget his manners as he bowed before entering. When the doors closed behind him, he immediately presented the datapad to the Sith.
Carefully analyzing the information, she was rather disappointed. "Is this everything, Captain?"
Quinn nodded. "Yes, my Lord. I did not leave a single stone unturned as you asked."
"I wish to speak with my cousin Anthony tomorrow, alone. If possible. You may call it a night, Captain."
"Very good, my Lord." The Captain excused himself as the Sith remained. Having her gaze locked on the holo in front of her, the display of the whole estate layout. Anthony was the first one to tell her of the incident of their grandmother, it was no surprise to him that she already knew. He had this idea that force-users knew what would be happening to their loved ones, then again – Leena had an odd idea in her mind on how all of this happened.
Lady Aletra had always been in bad blood with House Thul even before she was married to her husband, the late Lord Sern.
Perhaps even in death, Aletra had the last laugh of whatever she had been doing for decades. So many wanted the Sith dead, she slowly couldn't even remember their names. If she had a choice, Leena would have stayed and continued the work that was left behind but – she wasn't allowed to do so.
As a Sith and as her Master's prized apprentice and weapon, she was forced to be what everyone expected her to be.
She closed her eyes and tried to remember what Occlus said. Someone stronger than Norin but gentler than Anthony. Anthony was more outspoken in comparison to Norin.
She knew little about politics and yet she also knew how to play a little game.
Leena closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she wondered if all worlds began in darkness and if it shall end in darkness. She wondered if the heart is no different. How the darkness sprouts within, grow and eventually consumes. How the dark is part of nature as it is light. And in the end, every heart returns to the darkness – how the darkness can be the heart's true essence.
'Are you there, Sith?' She opened her eyes to find herself in the middle of the void. A lone Jedi standing in front of her with a calm expression, still confusion that lurks within him.
'I am here.' She answered. 'After all these years… we finally manage to see each other and not just hear.'
The Jedi nodded. 'Yes. I've been hearing your voice for years… I would mutter the word 'listen' in hopes I could hear you in return.'
'Are we certain that we were the ones who would say 'listen' or the Force trying to connect us?'
The Jedi paused and began to think. He turned to the Sith with a small smile upon his lips. He did seem familiar to her, as she is familiar to him – but none of them knew the answer. 'You study the mysteries of the Force?'
'I know a Jedi Master who had a deep understanding of it. Both the light and the dark. You could say I trained under him for more than a year.'
'Fascinating.' His smile widens even more. 'What is your name Sith?'
'Leena.'
'Cyrus.' He introduced himself. He couldn't help but smile as he felt something towards the Sith, sure she's supposed to be an enemy as the Order taught him but he felt – close to her, for some reason. 'You're always in pain, aren't you?'
'I can only assume that you felt them during the years.'
The Jedi nodded. 'The longer it goes, the more painful it becomes. I could sense fear and hatred inside of you, but you don't… use it as much as other Sith do. I also sense… mercy, you lean both sides of the Force, Sith.'
'I've been focused on survival for years, Jedi.' Though it bothered them both that they were looking into the same shade of grey eyes, Leena wondered if this was a message from the Force. Was this Jedi named Cyrus even real? Or is he only a projection that the Force wants her to see? 'I was forcing myself to go into the darkness and receive the power I so desperately needed to kill my Master. I cling onto the dark side to destroy him at the same time, I need the light to show mercy and kindness to those who deserve it.'
'Aren't you conflicted?' The Jedi asked curiously.
'The Force itself is conflict, Jedi.' The apprentice seemed to firmly believe that. How much both the Sith and the Jedi Code contradict each other. How much each side has its own form of corruption – with the dark side driving them to emotion and the light side driving them to the denseness of the galaxy. 'Let there be no mistake, we will soon be at war.'
'How sure are you?'
'The galaxy needs its betrayals. The Force is conflict. The Empire is a conflict. The Empire is war made manifest. That is why no one can avoid this conflict. I fight because that's what I was made to do, regardless which Master I serve – and believe me or not Jedi, you were made to fight too. You Jedi only understand the Force partially, you fail to understand the fundamental nature of the Force – that it is conflict.'
'We're keepers of the peace, Sith. Not soldiers.' The Jedi seemed to be firm on his own beliefs, and yet, even he knew that there were contradictions in the Jedi Code. 'The Sith crave for power and bloodshed, it empowers your very hatred – it feeds your power.'
'Say what you will about the Sith.' Her expression was visibly filled with concern as well as frustration in her eyes. Cyrus knew that Sith is emotional to the point where they can be unstable on the battlefield, marking them dangerous when needed. Channeling all that anger and hatred – he knew that there was hope for her. 'If it wasn't for the Jedi… I would still have a mother, I would still have my brothers, I wouldn't have suffered for decades – I wouldn't be in such pain!'
'Come with me then.' The Jedi offered his hand towards the Sith. For years of coldness and absence, Leena could feel the warmth of the light and yet the coldness of the dark. 'There's hope for you, Leena. You can still be redeemed.'
Redemption was also what Baras offered her when her husband was murdered. The Sith closed her eyes, able to hear the opening door. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in her chambers. The darkness was gone as well as the Jedi.
She found Quinn enter with a tray filled with a pot, a cup, and some food – she suspected that it was morning but it felt like she was talking to the Jedi for only a couple of minutes, not even for an hour.
"Captain." She addressed, but the Captain smiled as he placed the tray on the table.
"My Lord, it's not yet sunrise." He carefully informed the Sith as he began to pour some tea. "You should retire to your bed and have some sleep."
"I thought I already dismissed you?"
"Yes, my Lord." He confirmed as he gave the cup to his Lord. When Leena took the cup, she proceeded to take a small sip. A smile formed on her lips before she continued to drink the tea. The sweetness made her relaxed and calm, the tension she felt earlier was already gone. When the Captain saw how pleased his Lord, he was pleased himself and proceeded. "But it has come to my attention that you haven't been sleeping well for months. As your Captain, I find myself obligated to make sure that you too are at peak efficiency by the morning."
She couldn't help but chuckle in delight. "You're starting to sound just like my father. If you are my father, my ear would be pink by now…"
"Is that so, my Lord?"
"My father has always been strict with me and my sister. Maybe because we were girls or maybe he was traumatized."
"Moff Zabro does seem to be a promising man, my Lord." Quinn was very much aware of Moff Erhart Zabro's achievements even when he was stuck in Balmorra for a decade. All those victories he managed to achieve in a rather short time, all those medals and the outstanding loyalty of his men – it was rather impossible for even a Sith Lord to complain about his performance as long as he delivers the most excellent results.
If Quinn served Zabro in the Battle of Drukenwell, then he wouldn't have been court-martialed in the first place. Perhaps he would have been a Major by this time but if he did serve the other Moff instead of Broysc, he wouldn't have met the Leena – a Sith who values his military expertise.
"Thank you for looking out for me Quinn," The apprentice turned to him with a smile as she placed down her cup. "But I'll take it from here."
"Will you be fine, my Lord?" Quinn asked, wanting to make sure that she will actually sleep properly for once. When the apprentice nodded, the Captain quietly excused himself and proceeded to his quarters. The never-ending silence always haunts her as the darkness grants her company.
Laying down on the bed, she slowly remembered the day when Overseer Tremel took her away from her father and sister. Away from the family, she had left at the time.
She remembered all those painful moments of training, so she could be strong. She remembered the hours she spent, those countless hours she wasted on reading Sith philosophy. Those hours seated in the meditation chamber, channeling the Force from within.
She remembered how Baras tamed her, with all those pitiful punishments. She remembered her first kill, how the expressions of other acolytes wanted nothing more than to be Sith so they may be free. In her case, Leena was aware that if she did become Sith, she will never be free.
The following day, Anthony appeared in the presence of his new Lady. Unlike before, he now showed the proper respect toward Leena regardless of her allegiance in this war – as long as he could see that her loyalty relies on this family, he will no longer argue. She gestured her cousin to rise in her presence. He could tell that this was something of a family matter – with the absence of her Imperial companions.
"You wish to speak with me, Lady Sern?" Her cousin broke the silence. It was just the two of them – no distractions, no other audience, just him and her.
"I am very much aware that I am a Lady without a House," Leena spoke sternly, she was very much aware that it would take more than noble acknowledgment for her own blood to accept her new founding role in this family. Especially when she's Sith. "The nobles support me but they don't know me as anything than a symbol. I know I can't win. You dislike me because I am a woman and everyone else hates me because I am Sith."
Anthony couldn't help but look into the same grey eyes he has. She wasn't ignorant nor ambitious enough for political power. "You will soon marry into our customs and learn that ever since your mother, this House has become a fractured place of hate and distrust. Maybe if a great unifier appeared, a leader that we could all put our faith in – but the grandmother is gone. She's dead. Do you know who can be up to that task in your absence, my Lady?"
"I don't know." She was honest. She didn't know anything about her cousins besides the fact that they fear for the survival of this family, and eventually its extinction if they fail to find a worthy leader in the place of Leena. "I know as much that I am not fit to lead this family to the success of your expectations. This is a broken house, ripped apart by the Republic and the Empire. I know that you will not accept me or my return unless I agree to your terms – which I can only assume can be received only through marriage?"
"I am aware that you're already a widow." Anthony wasn't so shy about his opinion and Leena respected that. "I need to have the assurance that you are still pure."
"Is this because I am a woman?" Leena raised her brow.
"Because you must be viable to a strategic marriage. They have burned you and will soon deny you. Our cousins will never accept your return unless you agree to the terms of our traditions and customs in this household. Every noble need a clear heir to their throne as power can be passed down without bloodshed or fear, the fear you were raised to embrace every day. The Sern legacy may have been in your mind for all these years, but even I know it is not in your soul. You need a husband, cousin—"
Leena was aware that Anthony spoke the truth, but even she knows that she can be Lady of this house in name only. Marriage was an option she didn't want to take, not after what she's seen, not after what Baras did to her. "I had a husband. And I loved him and he was murdered in cold blood before my eyes. I have lived my entire life as a Sith warrior. I will not allow you or our cousins to bully me into being something I am not, not now, not ever."
"What this House needs is a person, a leader with power," Anthony argued. "Perhaps the spirit of a warrior is in every beating of your heart, but the survival of this family matters to everyone involved. It's time to accept your fate that after all those decades, you're finally home."
"The last time I was here, I was merely 3-years old." Leena closed her eyes for a moment as she spoke of the past. Opening her eyes, she had them focused on Anthony who was carefully listening to her words. "I barely even remember Alderaan. This castle, this estate is nothing but a romanticized picture in my mind and the truth is, I don't know is home anymore."
"You are Leena Ziare Sern and you have finally come for your throne. You need to fight our enemies the way you fight yours, to death. You need to be where your people can see you from now on. Help me bring this family together, cousin."
"Is that what you want, cousin?" The Sith apprentice asked with a rather cold gaze.
But the Sern did not hesitate and gave a firm nod with a determined expression. "I have a family to protect and I have already lost more than I can batter. My life is the sum of my choices, not someone else's."
"I am also Sern, cousin." Leena reminded him. "This family is in my blood as I can clearly see it is in yours, and we will not afford to let it burn. Even though our enemies spill our blood they will never take the spirit that powers in our veins. It doesn't matter where it began cousin, someone has to finish it. You can unite this family under your rule."
Anthony grew confused and surprised as he just stared into the eyes of Leena. She didn't twitch hesitate to even continue. She was very sure of her decision. "Anthony Sern. I hereby step down from my position name you Lord of House Sern."
"Are you certain about this decision of yours, cousin?"
"I already know what you want. You have my full confidence as well as my trust." She knew very well that she can be a pawn in this game or be the piece that crosses the board and become the Queen. Anthony spoke his mind at the same time, was mindful of his words – she wasn't wrong in choosing him at all.
She passed judgment and way pass of asking permission.
Leena retired to her chambers in silence, finalizing the papers and politics she needed to acknowledge before she turns everything to her cousin Anthony. Quinn was kind enough to bring his Lord her meal, Vette would come in from time to time to see if her friend needed a companion to kill the silence.
But the Sith insisted Vette that she wouldn't like what she might hear, and the mere reason why she wanted to be alone. Quinn, on the other hand, was very much aware of what his Lord was about to do.
The doors slid open breaking the silence but not her concentration towards the datapads at her disposal. Her cousin Norin came in with a smile upon his lips. He knew how to carry himself, a very diplomatic man as servants would describe him.
"How are you, cousin?" He greeted. He had his own set of concerns. "You must be feeling overwhelmed. Finally connecting to your roots after so many years and losing grandmother, not to mention proving yourself to Organa and the other noble houses in the middle of a civil war."
"Yes." Leena acknowledged his presence. "It seems that I must face every destructive storm at once."
"I was told that you are to leave Alderaan soon and you have named cousin Anthony your successor." He spoke his concern. He waited for her response.
Leena took a small sip from her cup of tea provided by her Captain. She turned her attention to the datapads still. "We're all bound by blood, cousin. But it has come to my attention that grandmother has taken both your council when she was alive. I seek Anthony's thoughts and now I turn to you. Do you think Anthony is the right choice?"
He nodded. "If it were me in your position, I would choose someone who our Lady Grandmother trusted the most. Anthony is fitted for the role. I trust that you made the right decision."
"Will you obey Anthony as you would obey me?"
"Of course," Her cousin smiled in respect with a humble response. "If you trust cousin Anthony that much. There is nothing I wouldn't do for your interests, cousin."
Before Leena could even take another sip from her cup, she slowly placed it down on the desk as well as the datapad she held in her hand. Turning her full attention to her cousin who smiled. "You would do that? Follow the commands of your greatest rival and expect no assurance from me? How selfless of you."
"It's for the family," Norin claimed. "My personal feelings don't matter to the situation."
"Personal feelings and passion always matter in the situation, cousin." The apprentice spoke as she slowly stood up from her chair. She was like a vulture, circling around her prey. "Darth Occlus gave me some good advice before I left Dromand Kaas. Everyone wants something from me, anyone claiming otherwise is a liar."
"Forgive me, cousin. Some elaboration is required."
The Sith darted her grey orbs towards her own cousin as he stood there, petrified. "After I retired Duke Kendo, I had my companion investigate the matter and even granted permission of interrogation to the men who infiltrated the estate. It seems like those soldiers knew which patrol routes to avoid at very… specific times, as if there was an inside job from a high-ranking nobleman…" She paused, turning her full attention to her cousin. "…who should have memorized these routes by heart."
"My Lady, you must understand." The tension grew around the chambers. His once confident and kind tone suddenly grew to shake and nervous, surrounded in fear. "There are several of us here in the household. You couldn't possibly think that I could even betray this family—"
"This family, no I don't have doubts." She spoke in consideration but the coldness in her tone. "I, on the other hand, you could – no. You already did, cousin. I don't distrust you because you can be second to me, I distrust you because you're not as smart as you think you are."
She continued to walk around him in circles, with her hands neatly folded behind her. "I'm confident that I'm not wrong. Cousin Anthony is too proud to work with Thul – you on the other hand… look how terrified you are." She could see the expression on his face. He was like an animal already trapped inside of a cage, caught by a poacher. "Has someone promised you something? Something like my position?"
"Leena, please." He pleaded in a tone of desperation.
"Who promised you this?" She stood behind him, with a terrifying presence. "Is it Baras? He has done something similar like this before, you would not be the first servant he has bribed into betraying me."
Norin tried to stay silent, though his body was clearly stating that he was already a terrified man in the presence of a Sith. Her patience was wearing thin, as a result, she raised her voice. "SPEAK! While there is still mercy in my mind—"
Norin turned around sharply, trying his best to maintain eye contact with his Lady. "Leena! Please! You must not let suspicion and fear blind you! I am your family! I am the only reliable family you have left!"
Though he showed clear paranoia and fright towards his Lady, Leena's serious demeanor turned into a pleasant and kind smile. Gently rubbing his arms, trying to calm him down. "Don't worry cousin. You don't have to answer me."
When she turned around and headed towards the door, even with that smile she wore – he continued to be nervous. And when the door opened, the Sith turned back to face her cousin with a smile still. "But you do have to answer to our interrogators. Take him for questioning."
When the Sern guards quickly scrambled into her chambers and took Norin by the arms. Quinn stood by the doorframe as if he was only awaiting his Lord's orders. As the soldiers began to drag Norin out, he constantly began to beg for his cousin's mercy. Leena made it clear to someone that she would grant mercy to those who deserve it.
In this case, Norin Sern did not deserve her mercy.
"Forgive me, my Lord. I expected you to kill him on the spot, much like with Duke Kendoh for this unbearable betrayal."
Leena faced Quinn with a small smile on her lips. "I don't waste resources, Captain." This was the same thing she did to the prisoner back on Korriban years ago.
"And if he has nothing more to say, my Lord?"
"Kill him." She spoke rather coldly. "Or let him burn with his betrayal."
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