Good. Time to leave before Thanaton gets back or the defenses come online.

Levitate Thanaton's apprentice, and back to the hangar.

Thanaton's men do not try shooting any of them. They'll just - not.

They even get the security system patched, and shortly after the force shields flicker on, they flicker back off. Clearly the people in charge would like Occlus and her apprentice to please leave immediately.

Occlus surmises Thanaton has not yet returned, and is not being apprised of the situation on a minute-to-minute basis. The people in charge may come to regret their decision to speed her departure. Not that that would be any skin off her nose.

Hangar! Ship! Back to Pyron's base which hopefully Thanaton has not destroyed in revenge!

Nope, Pyron's base is completely fine.

But there is a message waiting for Occlus.

Occlus first hands off her prisoner to a pair of soldiers, with instructions to lock him up somewhere secure. Then, she attends to the message. Who's it from and what do they have to say?

It's from Thanaton.

He's - well, livid doesn't quite do it justice. Skar's death was an annoying setback, a loss brought about when his apprentice failed to listen to him. A failure of loyalty as much as it was a failure of foresight. Kallous's death, though? Kallous was his heir. His most well trained, oldest, smartest apprentice. The one he'd hoped would one day take his place. And his death took place while Thanaton was keeping him safe.

Darth Thanaton is perhaps no longer thinking straight.

"Occlus," he growls, spitting the word like it's the foulest of curses. "Government Plaza. Tomorrow. Everyone will be there. The Kaggath ends, one way or another, either face me then or I will hunt you to the Outer Rim."

End message.

He doesn't look happy.

It's nice to connect with people on a personal level. Occlus is going to take this feeling of joy and save it deep in her heart.

"Moff Pyron. It seems this fight will be over tomorrow, one way or another. It has been a pleasure to work with you. You may begin preparations to deploy your forces more conventionally."

Moff Pyron nods, gravely.

"It has been an honor, my lord. Good luck. Not that I expect you'll need it."

Now, where did they stash that prisoner? She should at least learn his name before she kills him.

They stashed him in a set of holding cells built to A: withstand lightning, and B: with all furniture inside welded to the floor. As such, the apprentice is uselessly blasting lightning at the force shield to try to overload it, and getting exactly nowhere.

His name turns out to be Larsus. No title.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you. Bear in mind that your master will be dead by the end of tomorrow."

"You're mad," says Larsus. "When Thanaton comes for me, he'll turn you into a little smear on the ground-!"

Force choke.

"I said give me a reason not to kill you. One more chance." She will allow him just enough air to answer her.

Squeak.

"... I, could, be, useful to you?" he attempts.

"Do you possess any knowledge or skills I couldn't find on any of half a dozen other acolytes from Korriban?"

"I, have already begun training beyond that and could beat any of the acolytes fresh from Korriban -" An idea blossoms in his mind. "Let me prove it. You want the strongest apprentice, right? So - let me fight the redhead, and when I win you'll have a stronger apprentice."

"I possess strength in abundance already. What I require in an apprentice is intelligence."

And she is not impressed by what he has displayed thus far. Occlus twists her hand and snaps the boy's neck.

He dies without incident.

Pyron's men are rather relieved to have him out of the holding cell; just because a holding cell's built to hold a sith, doesn't mean it'll do it reliably. This is much tidier. A sith can't escape if they're dead, after all.

Where is her own apprentice?

Getting a crash course in basic tactics from Pyron, actually. He's preparing his forces for battle against the Republic, and explaining patiently as he goes. Nariveth's listening raptly, asking occasional questions about mechanics and the logic of the battlefield.

That's why she kept this one.

Occlus waits for an appropriate pause in the conversation, then says, "Apprentice, might I have a moment of your time?"

She glances up from the tactical holo, and nods.

"Of course, my lord. Thank you, Moff," she says, and she inclines her head to him in respect. Then she goes to follow Occlus.

Occlus goes over to the side of the room.

"In the unlikely event that I lose tomorrow, Thanaton will not let you live. It is traditional for the loser of the Kaggath to be erased from history, and any followers or apprentices killed. I will make arrangements for Khem Val's bond to be passed to you upon my death. He will see you safely to my ship, and the others will escape with you. Afterwards, you may continue with them or not as you choose, but you would be wise to disappear."

Nariveth swallows, and nods.

"Do you have an estimation on how hard he'd look for me?"

"You have not been with me very long, so he will probably not exert undue effort. If you change your name and avoid Sith, that should be enough. The pirate has experience that will be helpful."