Senya barely had enough time to jump out of the pool, as Vaylin sent a flash of powerful Force lightning toward the water. There was a loud sound, as the surface of the water was being electrified. Quickly, she picked up one of the chairs and threw it at Vaylin. Then she bolted into the house.

"Oh, mother!" She chimed with a devilish smile, as she ignited her lightsaber and entered the kitchen. "Are you playing hide and seek?"

"Vaylin." Senya's voice came from upstairs. "Put down your weapon."

A small, evil chuckle left Vaylin's mouth, and then she said. "Oh, mother I stopped listening to you a long time ago. No one, not even you can control me ever again." Then she added as she looked up toward the second floor. "Come out and face me. We have unfinished business, don't you think?"

Stepping out of the room and holding her lightsaber, Senya approached the top of the stairs. As the bright blue glow enveloped her worried face, looking at Vaylin she said.

"Vaylin please, let's talk this through. I don't want to fight you."

"Hmmm." Vaylin hummed in her throat. With and wicked smile, she said.

"But I want to."

Swiftly, she sent another powerful lightning strike toward Senya, which she quickly blocked with her weapon. Then she sent another one, but this time aimed toward the staircase where Senya stood. From the impact, chunks of concrete pieces flew across the room, as part of the stairs exploded from Vaylin's vicious attack.

As Senya jumped out of the way, Vaylin sent another strike hitting the floor near her mother, destroying it.

Taking the stairs two at the time, Vaylin bolted upstairs determined to kill her mother.

Senya was about to rush into her bedroom when she suddenly stopped and turned around. She didn't want to run away from Vaylin. Instead, she wanted to face her and put an end to this pointless and ridiculous family feud. Arcann told her that Vaylin's hatred was fueled by Valkorion's despicable actions. However, he was gone and Senya knew Vaylin was not truly lost. She could still be saved, just like Arcann, she thought disheartened watching her daughter rushing toward her.

As their weapons collided, with a vicious look on her face, Vaylin spat at her.

"Did you think I wasn't going to be able to find you. Oh, how wrong you were mother."

"Please, Vaylin." Senya begged. "We need to talk this through like adults. Please stop being childish and put down your weapon."

Through gritted teeth Vaylin replied. "There is nothing to talk about. You are too late for that."

Trails of huge burn marks were left on the walls, and the side railing, as they fought. Slowly, Senya backed away toward her room. In her fury, Vaylin destroyed everything in her path. Pictures of Lana's parents were cut away; vases and side tables were turned upside down, littering the carpeted floor with shards of broken glass and wood pieces.

Before they ended up destroying the house completely, Senya needed to find a way to reason with her. She didn't want to hurt her, but on the other hand, she also wanted to stay alive. The pure hatred coming from Vaylin hurt her terribly, but she had to keep her head clear.

As they approached her room, Senya kept holding back from Vaylin's advances. She knew this was going nowhere and she had to change tactics to be able to make her listen.

As soon as Vaylin stepped through the threshold, using the Force, Senya swiftly shut the door, causing Vaylin to stumble as the door smacked her on the back. Quickly, Senya disarmed her and picked up her weapon. However, she wasn't counting on Vaylin's surprise attack when she lunged herself at her, smashing both of them against the wall.

With a low growl, she whispered into Senya's ear.

"You think you're so smart, mother? Think again."

"I thought about it plenty enough." Senya replied with a bitter tone, and then she pushed her daughter away. Then she smacked her elbow against Vaylin's head, causing her to get disoriented for a few seconds. Picking Vaylin up, Senya threw her onto the bed, and then she sat on her back. Gathering the sheets up, Senya swiftly made makeshift bondage, tying Vaylin's arms behind her back.

While Vaylin wriggled under her, leaning forward, and in a firm tone, Senya said.

"Now you listen to me, you petulant child. Even if you disagree with me I am still your mother. I love you no matter what and I would never hurt you. I want you to know that I have suffered tremendously about the decisions I made in the past. My soul was crushed when I lost all of you. Seeing my children turn against me was like setting my heart on fire. The painful burning never let up, not even with time passing."

"Get off me." Vaylin growled as she tried to shake her mother off.

"Not until you promise me you'll behave." Senya replied, firmly holding onto the end of the sheets.

"The only thing I can promise you is a slow and painful death." Vaylin growled.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Senya said. "I wish I could make you understand. But you are not a mother and until you become one, you will never understand how your cruel words make me feel."

For a few seconds, Vaylin stopped fidgeting. Blankly, she stared at the white, crumpled sheets. Just to imagine that one day her daughter would hate her and would want to kill her made her stomach ache. Biting her lips, she let out a big sigh, and then she said.

"Please get off me before you hurt the baby."

"Baby?" Senya asked confused.

"Yes, mother." Vaylin replied. "I am with child."

"What?" Senya asked puzzled. Swiftly, she loosened her ties, got off Vaylin's back, and sat on the bed beside her. "You are pregnant?"

Pushing herself up on her elbows, Vaylin looked at her mother and said.

"Yes. Two months."

The sudden mixture of happiness, amazement, and worry enveloped Senya. Before Vaylin could say a word, she wrapped her arms around her, and in a hushed tone, she said.

"Oh, my sweet daughter. You have no idea how much I've missed you."

Rolling her eyes, Vaylin gently pushed against her and said.

"Please, mother let's not get too sentimental."

"Alright." Senya replied wiping tears from her eyes. Then she asked. "Who is the father?"

Sitting up, Vaylin touched her throbbing left temple, and then she made a frown.

"Did I hurt you?" Senya asked with a worried tone.

"I'm fine." Vaylin replied.

Then pulling her knees up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around her legs, and then she said.

"He is a Jedi Master. His name is Ven Zallow."

"Oh." Senya said with a smile. "Is he nice?" She asked.

"Yes." Vaylin replied.

Then her smile turned to a scolding frown as she said. "And you made me fight with you? Why did you do that?"

Staring in front of her, with a sullen face Vaylin said.

"I wanted to hurt you for leaving me on Nathema."

"I should never have let your father get away with the things he did to this family." Senya replied with an upsetting tone. "I should have been stronger and stopped him."

Looking into her eyes, Vaylin said.

"We could have never measured up to him, you know that. No one could."

"But he is gone and now we can start over again." Senya replied with a warm smile. "Would you like that, Vaylin?"

A small chuckle left her mouth and then she said.

"I can't believe you and Arcann kept this from me."

"What do you mean?" Senya asked confused.

"He kept quiet about you living here." Vaylin replied. "Now I understand why he wanted me to go back to Zakuul so badly."

With a sorrowful face, Senya replied. "He told me that you hated me so much you wanted to kill me. That is why he didn't say anything to you."

Looking into her mother's eyes Vaylin replied.

"It's true. My hatred ran deep with you and with father. I just wish I had been the one who ended his life."

"What about me?" Senya asked. "Do you still want to hurt me?"

Taking Senya's hand into hers, Vaylin said.

"I think for the sake of my baby I want to give us a chance and start over."

As the tears started to swell in Senya's eyes again, with a gleeful face she said.

"Oh, I want that very much."

With a mischievous grin, Vaylin added. "Is it alright if I call you grandma from now on?"

Senya cracked a smile and then both women burst out in laughter.

A few hours later Vaylin walked into Malgus's home and went straight to the kitchen, where Satele and Malgus were just finishing their dinner.

"What happened to you?" Satele asked with a worried look on her face, looking at Vaylin's swollen complexion.

"Did someone hurt you?" Malgus asked staring at her.

With a frown Vaylin replied.

"I ran into my mother." Then she added. "Did you know she lived here?"

"What did you do to her?" Malgus asked feeling the anger rising within him.

"More like what did she do to me?" Vaylin said in a cynical tone pointing to her head.

"Is she alright?" Malgus asked looking from Satele to Vaylin.

"I didn't kill her if that's what you are asking." Vaylin replied with a wicked grin. Then she added. "She is at Lana's home cleaning up."

"Cleaning up?" Malgus inquired.

"We made a bit of a mess, but don't worry I'm going to make sure that everything is fixed by the time I have to leave."

Feeling relieved that both of them were okay, Satele got up and approached her.

"She's been with us for quite some time now. We didn't want to say anything fearing that you two would get into a fight. But as I see you already did that." A faint smile appeared on Satele's face as she said. "I hope that you two worked out your differences."

"Indeed." Vaylin replied feeling a little annoyed by their deception. I'll have a talk with my sweet brother once I get back to Zakuul, she thought gloomily. Then as she walked toward the sink to get some water she said. "I'm going to stay there tonight with her." Gulping down the water in one shot, she placed the empty glass on the counter, and then she said.

"We have a lot to catch up on."

"I bet you do." Malgus replied looking at her sullen face. He didn't mind her staying over there, not one bit.

"I'll take you." He said gesturing for her to go ahead.

A half an hour later, Vaylin was dropped off at Lana's home. After saying goodbye to Malgus, she went inside the home and found her mother cleaning up the debris from the ground floor.

"Do you need a hand?" Vaylin asked looking at Senya on her knees picking up pieces of concrete and throwing them into a bucket.

Looking up, Senya said. "Yes, that would be a great idea."

While Senya and Vaylin were busy tidying up the house, inside the Revanites camp, a shadow was passing by the unsuspected members as they patrolled the campsite. His presence felt no more than a gentle breeze, as he hungrily searched for the perfect specimen to become his new identity. He was looking for someone strong, preferably a Force-sensitive who could be easily controlled. There was another one strong with the Force that he had seen and recognized a few days ago, but he had other plans with that one.

It took him months of searching to find his way back to Dromund Kaas. Although he wasn't keen on seeing what the city had become, at last, he was back and he was eager to be reborn once again. Now he just had to find a perfect body and then he'll be unstoppable.

However, there was something or someone here that he hadn't felt in a long time. Through the Force, he sensed this presence on several occasions. It wasn't his wife or daughter, or the Sith he had encountered in the woods. But someone else, someone powerful enough that would have made him shiver if he had a body. As much as he tried to locate it, for some reason he was unable to find it. After giving up on his search, at last, he found the Revanites camp, and at last, he found what he was looking for.

Deep within the camp, Morrun Dokaas was having a nightmare again. The Chagrian Sith relentlessly tossed and turned on his cot. On his blue face and neck and on both of his muscular arms were a few telltale signs of abuse from Malgus and Marr's last visit. He was strong enough to resist them for a while, but eventually, he gave in when the pain got unbearable. To feel helpless and humiliated gave him nightmares. He hated the prison and wished to get out and return to his home planet Champala.

"I'll get you for that...I will." He murmured in his sleep as he faced Marr and Malgus again and again in his never-ending dream.

Suddenly, he felt a cold shiver running down his spine.

In an instant, his eyes flew open when something cold and dark slithered inside him.

For a few seconds, the bed violently shook while his body writhed in agony as the entity started to take over his whole being. With a gaping mouth, he stared at the ceiling that he had looked at countless nights before. However, little did he know that tonight was the last time he would gaze upon that wretched roof. As the final breath left Morrun Dokaas's mouth, the Chagrian opened his eyes again and looked around.

Vitiate curiously sized up the small, windowless prison cell.

With ease, he shook off the restraints, sat up, and stretched his limbs. It felt good to be in a body again, he thought as he patted down his chest and touched his legs. Then he stood up and walked to the heavy metal door. A few minutes later, after ripping the door out and killing the guards, unnoticed, he rushed through the camp and headed toward the ship.

Adraas was getting ready to leave when he heard something outside.

Quietly, he made his way to the control panel and looked at the radar. First, he didn't see anything. Then the radar screen started to act up like something was interfering with it.

"What is going on?" He muttered, as his eyes roamed over the screen.

Suddenly, the screen went blank, and then the whole ship started to tremble beneath his feet. Quickly, he grabbed his weapon and rushed toward the door. As he was about to open it, the door opened and a tall Chagrian Sith walked in.

For a split second, Adraas was confused. Swiftly igniting his weapon, he rushed toward the Sith wanting to cut him in half. However, he never got the chance when Vitiate suddenly Force grabbed him, lifted him off the floor, and ripped the lightsaber out of his hand.

With a wide smile, he pulled the astonished Adraas closer, and then he said.

"What are you up to Adraas? Why are you hiding here in the woods?"

Adraas wanted to ask how he managed to get out of the prison, but for some reason, he sensed that the Chagrian, the one he knew, was not the same. This person was much stronger and way more powerful.

"Who are you?" Adraas croaked.

"Oh, you don't recognize me?" Vitiate said with a devilish grin.

Adraas had no idea who he was, but he knew one thing, he needed to get out of this alive. Quickly, he glanced toward the suitcase hoping to get to the drug.

Noticing his interest in the suitcase, Vitiate turned his attention toward it. Lifting up his other hand, and using the Force, he pulled the bag closer and opened it. Inside were several vials full of clear liquid and a dart gun. Turning toward Adraas, he asked.

"Where were you going?"

"Go to hell." Adraas spat at him.

"I've been there, done that." Vitiate replied. Then he added. "I'm going to ask you again Adraas, where were you going?"

When Adraas refused to answer, Vitiate forcefully invaded his mind searching for answers. A few seconds later while Adraas writhed within his grip, like a jelly on a plate, he found what he was looking for. The excruciating pain the Sith caused was unexpected. Adraas felt utterly vulnerable while he ravaged his mind. As he pulled out of his mind, Adraas realized something. This person was none other than the Emperor he had known so long ago. While he was searching, Adraas was able to pick up a few threads that he left behind. He recognized certain traits that were unmistakable.

"Vitiate?" He whispered.

A deep, throaty chuckle left the Sith's mouth and then he said. "Ahh, you do remember me?" Then he added. "As you see I am reborn, and I chose you to serve me as my new Wrath. Are you up for the challenge… Adraas?"

Locking eyes with him, reluctantly Adraas replied. "As you wish, my Lord."

"Very well." Vitiate said as he put him down.

"What do you want me to do my Lord?" Adraas asked. He felt irritated to see the Emperor again, however, if he wanted to stay alive he had no choice but to comply.

"While I was in your head, I noticed a few things. You have acquired a secret code to control my daughter. I'm impressed. Also, your foolish desire for some woman that you are infatuated with is just pathetic. My advice to you is to forget about her and focus on your new task as my Wrath."

Adraas was awestruck to hear his words. Daughter? He thought perplexed. Vaylin is his daughter? He was not just Vitiate but also Valkorion as well? This revelation was disturbing. Adraas couldn't believe that Vitiate had tricked everyone. No one suspected anything and he ruled as he had never ruled in his life. As the head of the Eternal Empire inside a different body, conquering everything and everyone in his path. But when he mentioned Satele, he felt like someone had kicked him in the gut.

Adraas wanted nothing more than to finish what he came here for. He yearned to have Satele. However, he was not able to go through with it. The anger he felt had to be suppressed, otherwise, Vitiate will notice it. The last thing he wished was to anger him.

While he casually walked around the control room Vitiate continued.

"I want you to take me to Korriban. My new Empire will rise from the ancient world, as it should be. Dromund Kaas became infected with a cult that betrayed everything that a true Sith stands for. I will follow my ancestors and bring back the era of Sith to the galaxy. I have been imprudent and betrayed, but not anymore. This time, things are going back to the old ways, and you Adraas will be my right hand. I know you are an ambitious person and I know I can count on your cunning persona." Turning to him he added. "You wouldn't be foolish enough to betray me, right?"

Shaking his head, Adraas replied. "No, my Lord."

Stepping closer, and as he towered over Adraas he said.

"I sense a hint of anger coming from you. Why is that?"

"There is someone here that I want to take my revenge on."

"Oh." Vitiate said with a sly smile. "Are you talking about Malgus?"

"Yes, my Lord." Adraas replied, hoping that he would allow him to finish Malgus before they leave Dromund Kaas.

"You truly hate him, don't you?" He asked pulling up one of his eyebrows.

With an angry look on his face, Adraas replied. "Yes, I do."

Leaning closer, Vitiate stared into his eyes then a devilish smile appeared on his face, as he said.

"Let me tell you a secret."

Perplexed, Adraas listened to him as he explained something that was truly astonishing to hear.

"Why did you tell me this?" Adraas asked disheartened, feeling his heart rate elevating with each second. "And how do I know that you are telling me the truth?"

"Search your feelings." Vitiate replied. "You know I'm telling you the truth."

As Adraas's breathing became faster, with clenched fists he looked at the blue alien and said.

"It's still not going to change anything. One way or another, I am going to kill him."

For a few seconds, Vitiate curiously looked at him, and then he said.

"As you wish. However, this has to wait. My plans are a priority." Vitiate said. "But before we leave, I want to do something. Something I have wanted to do since the day, so to speak, I set foot on Dromund Kaas."

In the middle of the night, drenched in cold sweat, Vaylin bolted upright in bed. As she looked around the dark room, her heart felt like it was going to burst through her ribcage at any moment. Something was terribly wrong. Swiftly she jumped out of bed and ran through the house to get to her mother.

"Mother." She shook Senya's shoulders. "Wake up."

"What's wrong?" Senya asked as she slowly opened her eyes.

"He is here." Vaylin frantically said.

"Who is here?" Senya asked, and then she sat up and rubbed her eyes.

But before Vaylin had the chance to reply, the front door flew in with a loud bang, followed by the servant's scream coming from downstairs.

In an instant, Senya jumped out of bed and grabbed her lightsaber.

"Stay here." She ordered Vaylin.

"But mother." Vaylin protested.

In a firm tone, she said. "Stay and don't come out of the room."

Halfway down the hallway, she stopped when she saw a Chagrian followed by another person coming her way.

"Hello, Senya." The Chagrian Sith casually said.

Senya's hand instantly tightened around her weapon looking at them. She had no idea who the dark-haired man was, but she recognized the Chagrian. She wondered how he got out of prison.

"What do you think you are doing?" She asked trying to hide the worry in her voice. "How dare you barge in here like this?"

"I didn't come here to explain myself...wife." He replied as he gracefully lifted his hand and effortlessly pulled the lightsaber out of her hand.

Astonished, Senya stared at him stepping closer. Holding the end of the lightsaber to her throat, he said.

"I can tell, you are not as happy to see me as I had hoped."

"Valkorion?" Senya mumbled measuring him up.

"Valkorion is dead." Vitiate replied. "Killed by his son." With a bitter tone, he added. "How ironic."

"What are you then?" She asked feeling repulsed.

Turning the lightsaber off, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer.

"You know I've never told you how beautiful you are." Saying that a black, forked tongue shot out of his mouth and licked the side of her face.

Senya felt horrified. Not just for the fact that her dead husband was back, but he took the body of the Chagrian Sith from the Revanites and that truly disgusted her.

Pushing against his wide chest, she looked into his crimson eyes and said.

"Why did you come back? What do you want?"

A sly grin appeared on his face, and then looking over her shoulders, he said.

"You know exactly what I want, Senya."

"No, no, no." She begged him. "Please leave her alone. She has suffered so much because of you. We all have. Please stop."

"Your pitiful pleadings won't melt my heart. I can't allow my daughter to roam freely while I'm alive."

Putting her down, he shoved her aside and started to walk toward the closed door. Frantically, she grabbed hold of his hand and tried to pull him back.

"Please don't hurt her, she is with child."

Abruptly he stopped. Then turning to her, he asked.

"Who is the father?"

"Some Jedi master named Zallow." She replied as she frantically clutched his arm.

"Zallow?" He murmured thinking about where he had heard that name before. "Is he here?" He asked.

"No." She said shaking her head. "He is on a mission."

"A mission you say." He asked with a frown. "To where?"

"I don't know." Senya replied. "But he is coming back."

"He won't find her here once he is back." He said pulling his arm out of her grasp.

Rapid and shallow, Vaylin breathed in and out, while her damp fingertips tightly pressed against the wall as she stood in the room, trembling. She sensed his presence. She knew who he was and why he had come here. The utter fear she felt at the moment was overwhelming. Then the door exploded and as her frightened eyes followed the pieces of wood shards falling into the room, her breath hitched in her chest, when her father walked in followed by her mother.

"There you are little bird." His father chimed with the voice of a stranger. Although he looked different, he couldn't fool Vaylin. She knew him well enough to know it was him in the flesh.

"I am not your little bird anymore." She screamed as she lifted her hands and was ready to send him back to hell where he belonged. When she was a little girl, he used to call her little bird, but this time his words caused nothing but pure fear and sorrow. She wanted to erase this memory and erase his existence from this world for good.

However he was much faster, and before she could send a powerful Force blast into his body, he said the dreaded word.

"Keyword Mazkosdertanu."

Instantly, Vaylin lowered her arms, and then with a blank expression, she approached Vitiate.

Horrified, Senya looked at her daughter who became nothing but a mindless zombie.

"What have you done to her?" She asked with an accusing tone.

"We all know how dangerous she is." Vitiate said looking at Senya. "She needs to be controlled. I'm just looking out for her best interest."

"No, she doesn't!" Senya growled at him. With contempt, she added. "Bastard."

"Such an ungrateful mother." Vitiate replied with a sly grin. "But don't worry, you are coming with us. And with time I will also collect my son."

Astonished, Senya asked.

"Coming with you? What are you talking about?"

Grabbing Vaylin by the arm, Vitiate started to pull her with him.

"Where are you taking her?" Senya demanded following him out of the room. She didn't want to leave Vaylin alone, not now when she was pregnant.

"No more questions woman or I will leave you here." Vitiate replied as he approached Adraas who stood at the top of the stairs.

A small, evil grin appeared on Adraas's face watching Vaylin's blank expression. He would love to see Zallow's face when he returns and realizes that she was gone. Although his plans were compromised, for now, he was happy to see Vaylin and Zallow suffering. Eventually, he'll find a way to get rid of Vitiate, and then he'll continue with his plans.

Then the thoughts of what Vitiate told him invaded his mind, making him upset all over again. Quickly dismissing these disturbing thoughts, he took one last look around the destroyed hallway, and then he walked down the steps following them. On his way out, he casually stepped over the servant's dead body like it was nothing but a piece of furniture.

An hour later, a small ship was leaving the planet heading toward a new destination.

To be continued...