Monster

Ventress landed the shuttle in the mist. Welcome to Dathomir. "If we find something, we'll find it here." Etain nodded as she gave orders to Omega Squad and Erik.

The Platoon was returned back to Terra to rebuild the unit. Kelly, Morgan and McCord would choose the right people for their respective groups. Erik didn't need to as the bomb squad was still fully manned.

Recently Delta Squad had recovered the carcasses of two jedi who went missing. It wasn't a sith lord nor a droid. Kenobi's words were: "Animal!" Ventress had an idea what could have caused it so she offered to pursue the lead. Obi-Wan and Anakin couldn't come with her as the disappearance of a tugruta colony had a higher priority, especially since Skywalker's padawan was of that species. Master Ti could also have done it but she was needed on Kamino.

Darman checked his rifle and looked at Corr. The trooper who replaced Fi with them. The crosstrained clone had a Z-6 rotary blaster in his hands and his DC-17M hanging from his belt.

"We sure to trust her?" He asked. "We can. I can feel it." Etain muttered with closed eyes.

Darman had spent enough time around her to know when she was meditating. After their missions together Etain had requested to stay with Omega Squad to enhance the Squads effectiveness. She was like a squad brother. "Or my first love." Darman thought. He looked at her. The bulky commando armor didn't fit her. On Rex' offer they had gotten her the UST-Armor. He looked over to Erik who readjusted his rangefinder.

Asajj led them out into the fog.

"Switching to thermal vision." Erik said while the commandos turned their spotlights on.

He looked around. Several spots flashed on his movement heartbeat sensor but he couldn't see his six his view swope over a figure but when he looked back it disappeared.

"Don't bother. Mature nightsisters cannot be spotted. Our connection to the force is strong. They disguise themselves with it."

They proceeded until a temple appeared out of the mist.

"So this is it? Your clan's residence. Pretty impressive."

"Contact!" Etain shouted as she raised her DC-15S. Darman was right by her side and the commandos followed suit. Erik balanced his rifle of his leg as he used his sidearm with his right hand to aim at two of the attackers at the same time.

"We don't like strangers." A voice hissed. Ventress didn't resist as he lightsabers were taken away.

"Prepare to die." the woman said as she lifted his sword.

"Stop!" another nightsister landed. Ventress bowed to her. "Mother Talzin."

Talzin hushed her women away. "She's one of us." The commando unit remained in their tensed position. Ventress pointed at them. "They belong to me. We need something."

Talzin laid an arm around her like a mother. "I sense that you have matured. Let us wait and fulfill the ritual first.

Ventress laid down as she wanted to become a full member of the nightsisters. The others laid down green liquids around her. Mother Talzin began to move the vapor around and it soon lifted Asajj from her table and into it.

Etain checked the planet for other life forms. She soon discovered a village on the other side. Sensing that Asajj might need her she sended the soldier and the commandos to investigate.

Tracker landed the ship before he declared: "Welcome to the nightbrothers' village. Have fun out there."

"Very funny, vod." Niner replied before exiting. With raised rifles they scanned their surroundings before making it into the village. Suddenly three men charged with clubs and axes at them. Daman grabbed his opponent and pressed him into the ground, holding him at bay with his rifle.

Corr blocked the club with his arms before throwing him over his shoulder and Atin simply tackled his on the ground. Niner looked around and saw another attacker. Grabbing him in a head-lock he held his extended vibroblade at the man's neck. Erik fired a warning shot.

"Stand down! We don't come to harm you!"

"You are not with the witches?" the old man opposite to him asked.

"No we are here for answers. We have a lot of dead and the lead is here." Erik explained.

The man seemed to think about it. "One of the witches came here. She chose four possible warriors and tested them herself. All were killed but the one she took. We haven't seen him ever again since then."

Darman looked up. "Etain is still with the nightsisters!"

"Warn her." Niner ordered.

Etain was meditating when a familiar presence pushed her in the force. Shortly after her comm-unit went alive. "Yes, Darman?"

"We have interrogated some of the locals here. The nightsisters have taken one of them. The lead is right. Talzin is with them!"

Etain cut the connection and went over to Ventress. The former assassin had recovered from the ritual. Now as a full member of the Talzin clan she possessed the full power of a nightsister.

Etain's hand rested on her lightsaber. Just as she was about to ask Talzin entered. "Asajj. Now that you have recovered, I have a surprise for you. After he tried to terminate you Dooku asked us for an apprentice. We gave him a nightbrother, Savage Opress. He is loyal to Dooku now but when you touch his forehead you will be recognized as his master."

Asajj shook her head. "What? You send that monster to him?" "Just to help you with your revenge."

Rex beat down the guard as he and Kenobi fought in the command room. He had endured this for Ahsoka. Now it was payback time.

"I know that a jedi won't kill an unarmed man."

Rex took the spear he was tortured with so many times. Turning around he threw it. He put every strength of his being into it. "I'm no jedi."

Turning to his heneral he urged him to come. "We have to go."

Wolffe fired his cable. His squad followed suit. They watched the togruta using them to rapple down onto the cruiser. One fell down but before he or his men could react Commander Tano jumped down and caught her. Returning his sight onto the other prisoners two more fell down as they lost footage on the shrinking platform. Sinker and Boost used their jetpacks and intercepted them. Catching the falling women they landed safely on the deck. Wolffe looked up. The latform had fully disappeared. He turned towards the jedi. "That's everyone. We have to go."

Erik hated politics. Again he was on Mandalor. Asajj had gone with Kenobi and Skywalker to pursue Savage and Dooku.

He and Ahsoka were on guard duty for the summit on Mandalor's neutrality. While Ahsoka stood behind Padmè he stood behind Armanda.

Lux Bonteri was taken away by commando droids. Ahsoka was concerned and she desperately wanted to help. She looked over to Erik. Despite the visor she knew he was looking at her.

"Your majesty?" he then asked. "Yes?"

"Please excuse me, but I have received a message pf high importance and might need Padawan Tano's assistence. I you don't mind I would now leave this gathering."

Satine nodded. "You are excused."

In a military step he approached the door Ahsoka on his heels. As the door shut he didn't turn right to the republic ship but to the left, where Lux was taken. While they kept behind the commando droids, close enough to follow them but far enough to stay undetected he contacted a local friend.

"MPD, Captain Crytek."

"Crytek, this is Winston. I need a favor."

"Name it." was the short reply.

"We have a possible execution, Separatist dock. Might send a shield unit to the republic docks."

"I'll meet you there in five."

Crytek shook his head. A loose alliance with the Republic as Naboo and Terra had would be beneficial for Mandalor. At least an alliance with Terra. He waved his men forward as they took the speeders to the republic dock.

Erik opened fire on the droids chasing after Ahsoka. Falling in step behind them he covered Lux with his armor. As they reached the dock Ahsoka immediately alerted the guards: "Captain Tagger, we have incoming clankers."

"We'll cover you, Sir!" The man shouted before raising his rifle and firing at the droids.

Just in this moment mandalorian police officer stormed the dock and began shooting the droids and covering the senate guards with their shields.

"I owe you one!" Erik shouted as he rolled onto the closing ramp. Crytek waved before he resumed dismantling the commando droids.

Erik entered the cockpit. "She passed out. Should let her sleep it off." Lux said. The soldier knew immediately what had happened as his display showed him the stun gun. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "She trusts you. Don't let her down."

Lux nodded as he initiated the jump into hyperspace.

Erik watched as Death Watch took Lux and Ahsoka. Keeping in the shadows he followed the tracks.

Asajj hissed at the man. She had been fixated on him that she forgot Savage. The monster lost control and went for a killing spree of his own. Obi-Wan and Anakin had her back as they fought the two sith. But then they had split up While she pursued Dooku the two jedi heroes took on Savage. But the pure rage of the sith was too much for them as he pushed them from him and ran for the hangar.

Ventress reached out through the force. Using it she guided Dooku's lightsaber past her and into a water pipe. The steam clouded the sith's sight which she immediately used to escape into a pod. Slipping out she was picked up by Tracker, their shuttle pilot.

"Where are the generals?" he asked. "Take me into the hangar. We have to get them."

The Nu-shuttle approached the ship. Dropping off the escape pod it landed aside the luxury yacht. Suddenly droids attacked them. One rocket hit the ship and Tracker and his co-pilot Steam were just able to get out before their shuttle exploded. Taking cover behind the wreckage the clone pilots fired at the droids with their DC-17 hand blasters.

"Prepare the yacht. I'll look for Kenobi and his friend."

Just as she saw the doors droids assembled. As Obi-Wan and Anakin appeared the trio was surprised as the droids ignored them and went for Savage.

"Kenobi, get your ass over here!" Asajj shouted. They jumped through the open hatch into the ship just as it powered up. "Get us out of here." "Right away, Sir." Tracker reported as he pulled the ship out of the hangar. Steam checked the coordinates for the last time as he pulled the level. "Reaching Triple Zero in three hours."

On the snow planet Erik managed to sneak into the tent that contained the droids.

"R2, fill me in."

His helmet translated the sounds the astromech gave from it.

"Give me the lightswords. I make sure she gets them. You take care of the surprise." Activating his cloak he sneaked past the guards. The heavy snow fall and the wind made it easier to stay undetected. With a strong gust of wind he infiltrated the tent Artoo had pointed out. Directly behind Ahsoka he placed her lightswords in her hands. The togruto was surprised but hid it again as Pre Vizla turned his attention back to her. She cut her bindings and blocked his execution strike.

His pride got the best of him as he called his warriors back. "She's mine."

Erik threw two grenades: One smoke and one flash. While the smoke blinded Death Watch the flashbang disoriented them. Luckily Ahsoka's enhanced hearing wasn't as sensible to the sound as human ears were. Flipping out of the tent she faced battledroids.

"Looks like Artoo made some friends." Lux explained.

"Get the speeder ready!" She ordered. Lux nodded and ran for the speeder that took them to the camp. As he jumped in and began to hotwire it shots hit the speeder. Then blue blaster bolts shot across the camp and downed the Death Watch members. Erik jumped onto the front and provided cover fire. Hooking a lifeline to the windshield he gave the boy an okay. Lux steered the speeder towards the entrance. "Ahsoka!" The jedi jumped over the mandalorian and cut his backpack.

Running towards the speeder she jumped onto the engine cover she blocked laser shots as they sped away.

"Incoming!" Erik shouted as he opened fire on the pursuing mandalorians. One shot took one out of the sky. Ahsoka was suddenly thrown back as one tackled her onto the speeder. Her lightsabers fell into the cabin as she wrestled with the woman. The second attacked Erik and they rolled off. Erik was still attached onto it but the mandalorian kept his hold on the soldier and punched him. Erik managed to free one arm and pulled his sidearm, emptying the clip into the man. The female mandalorian fell past him and nearly hit him with her knife before disappearing in the distance.

Back on the ship he immediately powered it up and pulled into the atmosphere.

Just as he set the coordinates on Coruscant the escape pod detached. He wanted to stop but the level was already down. With a flash the ship disappeared.

Tracker took cover behind the tree. In the middle of the flight Ventress had suddenly urged to turn around to Dathomir. The generals approved of the situation but they went straight into a fight.

At least the yacht had decent fire equipment. He switched to the DC-15A rifle he had retrieved from the armory. He was a pilot but nevertheless a clone trooper. The distress beacon was still online and he hoped that reinforcements would arrive soon. The two kept close to the hijacked tank to keep the droids attention from them.

The battle was furious. The nightsisters had somehow awoken their dead and the zombies weren't downed easily. It was kind of creepy but it was good to have them on their side. He took another commando droid's head off. He heard a roar as a ship made a pass over them. The turbo lasers mowing the droids down.

Anakin defended Obi-Wan as he helped Ventress up. Many nightsisters had fallen. They were slowly pulling back to the wreckage of the tank they used a few minutes earlier. Droids surrounded them as suddenly a dual set of green lightsabers cut through the droids. Blue laser bolts from above joined them. It was a ship. According to the pure red markings a diplomatic one. He didn't care as the ramp lowered and Artoo stood there shaking.

"We have to evacuate!" Obi-Wan shouted.

"NO! We have to save Mother Talzin!" a night sister shouted. Just then the green mist disappeared and the zombies collapsed.

"She is probably dead. We have to go. You might have lost your clan leader but the clan is still alive!" Obi-Wan poured each part of his negotiator-authority into his voice.

Erik was multitasking. He hold the ship stable while he wrecked havoc onto the droids with the turbolasers.

"Everyone accounted for." Ahsoka's voice sounded over his earpiece.

He sealed the ramp and pulled the ship out into the outer atmosphere. As the clone pilots entered the cockpit he gave command to them. "Your ship."

Going into the back he saw the nightsisters arguing with the jedi.

"We will destroy Dooku for that." "I won't stop you. However you should be checked up. The Hall of Healing in the temple should be sufficient."

"We won't put a feet into that scum building of yours."

Arguments were exchangened until Erik had enough. "HEY! We just saved your sorry asses so shut up!" He turned to Obi-Wan. "They have the right to keep to their own. Don't press them."

He turned to Ventress, who now led the remaining nightsisters.

"You need allies for your revenge. And don't try to say you are good on your own. Last time I checked that's why you had to be saved in the first place."

The room was quiet.

"We'll come with you. A loose alliance with the jedi might be what we need." Ventress admitted.