The halls of the academy on Korriban echoed with the sound of footsteps as a tall and proud figure walked out of the chamber of the Dark Council. Clad in his black battle armor, with his cape flowing as his every step clicked as the metal bottoms of his boots hit the floor, his twin lightsabers attached to his belt still cooling off from their recent use. Following behind the warrior with a little more bounce in her step was a beautiful blue skinned Twi'lek, clad in her own battle uniform. As the two reached the elevator that would take them down to their other teammates the Twi'lek turned to face the warrior with a big grin on her face.
"Nice work back there." She complimented. "Though I have to admit I was a little worried that something would go wrong."
Turning to face the Twi'lek the armored warrior reached up to remove his helmet. With a sharp pull upwards the mask let out a slight hiss as the mechanisms attaching it to the rest of the armor disengaged. Pulling the helmet off exposed the pale and smooth bald head of the male Rattataki, looking down with his own little smirk and a gleam of satisfaction in his white irises.
"Of course everything went right. Our luck was bound to get better sometime soon. And yes, it was a good thing I was able to defeat Baras and sentence him to exile without you getting involved in the fight. After all, I might not have been so merciful if anything happened to my wife" He spoke as he pulled the woman into a loving embrace and passionately pulled her lips to his. "I love you Vette." He then whispered as their lips pulled apart.
"And away goes the serious Sith, and returns my sappy husband." Vette chuckled out as she pulled her husband in for another kiss. "I love you too Dotarra-sadj."
With the sound of metal grinding to a halt the elevator arrived on the floor of the Dark Council's chamber. Quickly stepping onto the platform Dotarra and Vette stood in silence as they were lowered down to the upper level of the academy. Departing from the elevator and proceeding down the stairs Dotarra and Vette were greeted by their nervous and eagerly waiting teammates.
Standing together the group consisted of three humans, two males and one female, the first man was dressed in a specially designed combat uniform with a single pistol clipped to his belt. The second was the tallest of the humans clad in his heavy imperial armor with an assault rifle attached to the back of his chest plate. And finally the female was wearing a black and purple robe with a double bladed lightsaber on her belt. The last member waiting for them was a tall and fierce Talz warrior armed with a lethal looking vibrosword.
The first to take notice of the arrival of their leader was the woman eagerly running up to Dotarra and Vette. "Is it done master? Is Baras truly defeated?" She asked eagerly.
"Baras will soon be a long way from here in exile. We will never have to see his filthy face again Jaesa." Dotarra replied with a nod of his head.
The remainder of the team followed after to congratulate their leader on his victory. The first to step forward was the uniformed member.
"Congratulations my lord. I had no doubt that you would be victorious over your former master." Captain Malavai Quinn spoke with a salute to Dotarra.
"Don't go kissing up to him Mr. By-the-book, It'll get you nowhere. All the same though nice job." Lieutenant Pierce spoke up as he found a place to lean against by the staircase.
"We only wish we could have been there to witness Sith be victorious in battle." The Talz warrior, Broonmark, spoke enthusiastically.
"So, Mr. Emperors Wrath. What do you say we head to the cantina on Dromund Kaas and tell the story there, because I need a drink." Vette suggested after pulling Dotarra's attention away from the others.
"A good idea Vette, I could certainly use the chance to unwind. Follow me everyone." Dotarra spoke as he started to lead the others to the exit of the Sith academy.
However before they could reach the door leading to the harsh outside of Korriban a masked figure stepped into their path. The figure was escorted by a female Togrutan garbed in a black battle robe, a tall and frightening Dashade, two humans; one looking rather gruff and troublesome, and the other looking very well-kept, and finally a Kaleesh in assassins battle robes.
"Well, well, well. Dotarra-sadj, the honorable marauder. Merciful master of the dark side. And the Emperors Wrath." The masked man listed off as he took a few steps closer towards Dotarra, waving a hand in dismissal as the Togrutan and Kaleesh were about to move forward with him, resulting in both members backing up.
"I'm sorry. But I don't believe we've met before." Dotarra replied with a hint of sarcasm as he himself stepped forward to greet his obstacle.
"How could you forget me?" The masked man asked as he removed the face plate to reveal a male Zabrak with peach colored skin, four small horns on his forehead, black hair spiked back and tribal tattoos tracing along his jaw line, up the side of his face and spiking outward on his forehead, with portions branching out to touch the sides of his lips and surround his piercing yellow eyes.
"Now I remember you. Korokko Kallig. Or do you prefer Darth Imperious?" Dotarra spoke in realization as he came face to face with Korokko.
Starring into each other's eyes with a fiery look both men slowly began to reach down for their lightsabers. With tension rising members of both group slowly began to reach for their weapon of choice, be it blaster, lightsaber, or vibrosword. However when Vette looked back up to watch what her husband would do she found herself confused to see a smile forming on his face, and based on some more quick glances Korokko was getting a similar smile on his face. Every member however was thrown off when both Dotarra and Korokko pulled their hands away from their lightsabers and pulled each other into a hug.
"Oh Korokko! It's so good to see you my friend." Dotarra exclaimed, laughing not long after.
"It is good to see you as well brother." Korokko spoke, pulling away from the hug.
Seeing the sudden change in atmosphere both parties quickly holstered their weapons and moved forward. Pulling apart from the hug both Sith backed into their respective groups.
"Dotarra. You never told me you had a brother. Though, not to sound racist, how is he your brother and a Zabrak?" Vette questioned as she linked arms with her husband.
"Dotarra never told you about me?" Korokko asked with a stunned look. "Let me guess, tasks assigned by Baras kept you too busy?"
"Something like that." Dotarra replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
"We are not brothers by blood, but we come from the same planet and culture. We both originate from Dathomir, and we both are a part of the Nighbrothers. When we first met here on Korriban we bonded instantly despite our backgrounds. Mine of slavery, and Dotarra's life with all he needed handed to him on silver platters. We even helped each other through our Sith trials. However after our trials communication between us was few and far between." Explained Korokko.
"Well now is as good a time as any to catch up. Perhaps you and your crew would be willing to join us for some drinks? All drinks are on me." Offered Dotarra.
"That would be nice, but first introductions." Korokko answered as he turned to face his crew. Motioning to the Dashade "This is Khem Val, my Dashade shadow assassin." Pointing towards the two humans "That is Talos Drellik the archeologist, and Andronikus Revel the pirate." Gesturing to the Kaleesh "This is my apprentice Xalek." And leading the Togrutan forward by her hand and pulling her close to his side "And last, but certainly not least, this is my lover Ashara Zavros."
"Well…you have quite the crew. I'll introduce mine on the way to Dromund Kaas." Said Dotarra as he started to lead the two crews towards an imperial shuttle.
-Later on Dromund Kaas-
The members of the different crews had spit off to different tables to enjoy their drinks and tell stories. At one table Khem Val and Broonmark were telling stories of the battles they had fought in and the bloodshed they caused. At the next table Andronikus and Pierce where telling the other about their time as a pirate, and in black ops respectively. And sitting at the bar Talos was regaling Quinn, Jaesa, and Xalek, with tales from his days uncovering secrets of Sith archeology. And sitting at the VIP table in the back Vette and Ashara listened in as Dotarra and Korokko swapped stories about what happened after they when their separate ways on Korriban.
"And so then he says 'Come out and fight me face-to-face Sith scum!' and I sneak up behind him and stab him in the knee, and I whisper in his ear 'Sorry, but you picked the wrong opponent to fight face-to-face.' I mean duh, I'm an assassin. We don't commonly fight face to face." Korokko spoke, finishing up one of his stories.
"Speaking of!" Dotarra exclaimed, leaning forward over the table (admittedly having had one too many drinks) "Ashara. Based on what I can see, with your two lightsabers, and your choice of armor, you are more of the face-to-face fighter right? Cuz if so, how do you manage fighting alongside my I-never-get-into-a-real-fight-cuz-I'm-too-busy-sne aking-around over here?" He then asked.
"Well we train hard to learn each other's fighting manner and make up for what the other is lacking in." Ashara explained.
"Wow that sounds difficult." Vette responded, taking another sip of her drink.
"Not really. We just find the time to ourselves, and we train, no matter how long it takes before we get it right." Said Ashara as she placed her empty glass on the table.
"Oh, really." Spoke Dotarra, leaning over towards Korokko. "Anything else you do together while you are 'training'? Asked Dotarra, wiggling his brow in a suggestive manner. Only to be smacked upside the head by Vette.
"Ok. You have had way, way, waaaaaaaaay, too many drinks. If you all don't mind, I think I'll take him to our mansion." Vette spoke as she pulled her husband to his feet and placed his arm over her shoulders.
"You have a mansion!?" Asked Korokko, with a shocked look plastered on his face.
"Yeah. Dotarra becoming the Emperors Wrath really had its perks. Mansion, servant droids, lots of open room, and more rooms than our crazy little family can fill." Described Vette, suddenly getting a look of realization on her face. "Remind me again, but do you and your crew have a place to stay?"
"No, the Dark Council has yet to give me and my companions a place to live." Korokko answered with a frown.
"Then you could stay at our mansion, like I said we have plenty of spare rooms. And we would love to have you as our personal guests." Offered a smiling Vette.
"Well what kind of people would we be to refuse such generosity." Korokko answered as he motioned to the others they would be leaving.
"Just let me pay for the drinks and then we can go." Spoke Vette as she pulled Dotarra along to go pay for the drinks.
-Later at the Wrath's mansion-
"Alright, if you will just come in here. We will have your rooms sorted out momentarily." Spoke Vette as she led everyone through the front door inside the mansion.
The outside of the mansion was impressive, but the inside was certainly a sight to behold. Polished metal walls and floors with dark red carpets and curtains, a large double staircase lead to the upper levels of the mansion.
"Pierce, if you wouldn't mind, could you take Dotarra to our room?" Vette asked as she handed her husband off to the large soldier. "I need to figure out the room arrangement for our guests."
"Of course. As the lady commands." Responded Pierce as he started to lug Dotarra up the staircase. "Come on you lot, let's turn in." Pierce then spoke to the others, waving for them to follow to the upstairs.
After Dotarra's crew had made it to the upstairs Vette walked over to a small terminal the wall and opened a small holomap of the mansion. "So let's get your rooms figured out. We have four perfectly good rooms for you four up the stairs and down the left hallway." Vette offered towards Khem, Talos, Xalek, and Andronikus.
After the four men left for their rooms Vette turned to face Korokko and Ashara. "Judging by how you two are a couple, I guess you will want this room." Spoke Vette pointing at a larger room on the holomap. "It's basically a duplicate of mine and Dotarra's room. You'll like it, it's roomy, comfy, and soundproof." Vette described with a giggle at the last part, causing both Korokko and Ashara to turn red with blushing. "Upstairs, last room on the left. Now if you don't mind, I need my husband to rip my clothes off my body. Goodnight." Vette concluded as she made her way upstairs.
Once they made it to their room Korokko took the time to start removing his armor, while Ashara stepped into the shower to relax a bit before going to bed. After his armor was removed and a comfortable position was found on the bed Korokko waited patiently for his lover to join him in sleep. After a half hour had gone by Ashara exited the bathroom wearing nothing but one of the bathrobes, after slipping it off her body she slowly slid under the blanket and eased herself into a spooning position with her love.
After giving light kisses along the back of her lekku, Korokko and Ashara drifted off into a quiet and peaceful slumber.
So what do you think? Not a bad start if I do say so myself. Although I would like to see what you think, after all this is my first Star Wars story I have ever written. I also hope to have some form of reference material for Dotarra, and Korokko to be uploaded soon.
BTW: Those of you who are readers of my other story Light of a Lantern I replaced the Authors Note with Chapter 9, go check it out.