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As he spoke, the dark circles of his eyes seemed to fill with a swirling red mist, and for a brief instant the Emperor gave Scourge a glimpse of his true self.

Scourge cried out in anguish as the Emperor’s mind brushed against his, then he collapsed to the floor, shaking like a child. The touch lasted less than a second, but in that time he witnessed indescribable horrors that dwarfed anything the dark side could conjure even in his worst nightmares. And beneath the formless terrors lurked the unbearable Void, the pure emptiness of total annihilation.

It was over as quickly as it had begun, the awful vision retreating into his subconscious like a repressed memory as Scourge picked himself up off the floor. Neither Captain Yarri nor the robed Sith made any move to help him.

“Come with me,” the captain said once he was on his feet.

Only then did Scourge notice that the Emperor had retaken his seat on the throne, and that the pedestal had spun around to face away from him.

The dark-robed Sith stayed behind as Yarri led Scourge out of the throne room and into the hall beyond.

“I see why you tried to talk me out of this,” Scourge muttered as they made their way back toward the citadel’s main entrance.

“You took a great risk,” Yarri said, though it was hard to tell if she thought him admirable or foolish. “But if your information is good, it sounds like you’ll be on the Dark Council the next time we meet.”

“What about Nyriss?” Scourge asked. “What will the Emperor do to her?”

“She will be purged by the Imperial Guard,” Yarri said. “Along with her entire staff of followers.”

“I’d rather not be there when it happens,” Scourge said. “When will you make your move?”

“Soon,” the captain said. “For now, return to Nyriss so she doesn’t grow suspicious.”

They had reached the top of the staircase leading down from the citadel’s entrance to the street below.

“I will tell my people not to harm you,” Captain Yarri promised before turning away.

Just before she disappeared into the citadel she added, “But when the battle starts, try to stay out of the way just in case.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

MEETRA DIDN’T LIKE THE IDEA of pretending to be Scourge’s newly purchased slave, but the Sith had assured her it was the best way for her to infiltrate Nyriss’s stronghold without drawing unwanted attention.

To complete the ruse, she had changed her functional pants and top for a revealing purple outfit more suited to a dancer in one of the low-rent clubs she’d frequented during her days as a mercenary. The tight-fitting clothes left her arms and midriff bare, but an excess of exposed skin wasn’t the worst part of the disguise.

Scourge had also insisted she wear a slave’s shock collar around her neck. It was nonfunctional, of course—she’d had T3 carefully inspect it to make sure—but she still rankled at the idea of adorning herself with a symbol so closely linked to the galaxy’s most vile practice.

However, as distasteful as it was, she knew Scourge was right. Every slave on Dromund Kaas was forced to wear the collar; without it, no one would believe their story. T3 was accompanying them, as well, similarly equipped with a nonfunctioning restraining bolt.

“Welcome back, Lord Scourge,” a guard stationed just inside the main entrance said as the trio passed by. “Darth Nyriss was just asking about you.”

“In what regard?” the Sith asked, as Meetra struggled to hide her interest.

“Sechel and Murtog both left two days ago; she wondered if you knew where they had gone.”

“They didn’t include me in their plans,” Scourge said with a shrug. “I’ve been scouring the slave markets for the past few days, looking for a worthy purchase.”

“Of course, my lord,” the guard said with a slight bow. He snuck a quick peek at Meetra, a knowing glint in his eye and a faint smile on his lips, before turning his attention back to Lord Scourge. “I will inform Darth Nyriss that you have not seen the others,” he said.

“Good. Once I am settled, I will go speak with her myself to see if she wants me to inquire after them.”

He turned on his heel,