CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
THE FOUNDRY
Teffa Darkstar slammed both fists into what remained of the warped and bent tabletop in the asteroid base command center. Shaking his head, the zabrak grit his teeth before looking at all those about him. Vette had finally ended her diatribe, once again swinging from anger to overly emotional and being upset. The twi'lek had been altering between wanting to rage and cry since they had gotten word of what Necrolis had done. How could he have done that, Teffa wondered? Better yet, how did I not see this coming, given the history we shared, the bounty hunter pondered silently in his own anger.
Asha Lightstar stood to the side and watched, frowning and sighing. She had waited until the first of them had awoken from sleep before letting them know. Necrolis had his head start no matter her own personal feelings on such. She had already faced the wrath of his wife, the twi'lek going so far as attempting to take a swing at her before Bloodshade had her deshade grab and hold the woman. Behind her, Tormen and Kira stood together quiet and watchful as she.
"Mako, I want a secure channel to him and I want it two minutes ago." Teffa growled.
Mako was busy at the main terminal. Hearing her husband's sharp edged words she cast a glance over her shoulder and smiled softly. She had already gotten to work on that, knowing it would be his first demand. She knew well enough Teffa was already blaming himself for not catching Necrolis before he had put into motion whatever plan he had come up with. The man always did have a way of doing things that seemed to surprise everyone, she had to admit.
"It's already set and ready. Sending the call now if you want to use the holo terminal."
Teffa made his way to the terminal only to have Vette beat him to it. With a chuckle the bounty hunter gave way to the blue skinned infuriated woman. Far be it from me to run interference here, he thought. He knew it was not going to be a pleasant call either way. What he already knew was that no matter what they said, no matter how they argued, Necrolis was going to continue forging ahead. Whatever his plan was, and he would have one Teffa knew, he would keep it to himself and deal with things. As annoyed as he was, Teffa knew enough to trust Necrolis. He had always been the one looking out for all of them, even when they had not wanted him to.
Standing there and waiting for the man to answer, Teffa thought back to Ziost and when they were younger. The arguments, all seeming so petty now, came rushing back to him. They had butted heads enough times, especially when Teffa was continuing to spiral into a self destructive pattern. One night came back to the zabrak and made him smile faintly. A night of revelry and drinking had left Teffa in very deep trouble, having started a brawl in the cantina and striking an Overseer in the melee that ensued. Drunk, he had staggered back to the barracks only to find Necrolis already waiting. They'd argued when he tried to talk sense to him. Logic was not something he was going to listen to at that point, and he had been in no mood for a lecture. Teffa remembered he had thrown the first punch only to find Necrolis taking a half dozen punches before finally lifting him off the ground and slamming him back down onto it with the force. Stunned, Teffa remembered Necrolis grabbing him, pulling him to the nearby fountain and dunking him repeatedly into the cold water, shocking him back to his senses some. Teffa had never thanked him or forgiven him for trying to take care of him. He had gotten off with a light punishment for that, he knew. What he had only learned later was that Necrolis had spoken on his behalf, arguing that he could not have known in the chaos of the fight who the man had been and had only struck him in self defence.
"Necrolis Darkstar answer the damn call." Vette fumed as she glared at the blinking light on the holo terminal display, snapping Teffa out of his thoughts.
Necrolis Darkstar sat in the command chair, reclined back, one booted foot raised against the control panel, elbow on knee and head resting in his hand as he stared at the swirling light through the viewport as the ship flew through hyperspace. The light blinking on the communications control grabbed his attention and drew a deep sigh from him. Here we go, Necrolis thought, noting that Asha had waited longer than he had expected. Hitting the control, he took the incoming call, not at all surprised to see the visage of his wife appear in the holographic display.
"You son of a bitch! You get your ass back here or so help me…" Vette fumed the moment the call connected.
"I love you too, Vette." Necrolis said calmly in reply watching as Vette stomped her foot and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Don't you dare try that!" Vette seethed at him. "Turn that ship around right now."
"Sorry, Vette, that is not going to happen no matter how you yell." Necrolis said and shook his head, knowing all too well she was going to be a handful for those left behind to deal with.
"Necrolis… please… please don't do this." Vette's anger gave way to her fear and tears fell from her eyes. "I can't lose you."
"I will always be with you." Necrolis said, trying hard not to be swayed by the show of emotion from her. Steeling himself and reminding himself he knew how hard this would be, he forced himself not to give in to such. "This is going to end, and you are going to be safe. You and our child."
"Necrolis, what are you up to? What child?"
Necrolis grinned hearing that familiar gruff voice. Teffa shifted Vette aside and took over being visible in the holo terminal. Necrolis gave a small wave of his hand in greeting. Of all of them, Teffa was the one he was unsure of just how the bounty hunter would respond. His brother had a bad habit of being touchy.
"Yours and mine, brother. Vette can explain that later." Necrolis answered.
"Turn around and lets go over this plan of yours." Teffa stated, though he knew it was futile. "No need to traipse off alone here."
"Sorry, brother." Necrolis shook his head. "That's about as likely to happen as you not leading everyone in a chase after me. I'd tell you to stay there, but you're too damn foolish and stubborn to heed such."
"I'm the foolish and stubborn one?" Teffa countered and asked.
"Take care of them, brother." Necrolis said. "I'll see you when I see you."
With that Necrolis closed the connection not willing to draw things out any more. It was pointless and only served to distract him. He could not think about Vette, about all of them. The only thing that mattered now was dealing with things and focusing on Marr. He had already taken care of everything that needed taking care of. His plans were made and set in motion. The moment was upon him and nothing could change that now.
Teffa growled as Necrolis terminated the call and the zabrak shook his head. Glancing over to Vette, he saw the twi'lek leaning against the terminal, head down as she cried. Moving over to her, the bounty hunter placed a hand on her slender shoulder and sighed. What could he say to her that would make any difference? Vette looked up at him, chewing on her lower lip as her teary gaze met his.
"Necrolis will be fine, Vette." Teffa said, trying to make it sound like he was positive about it. "He's faced the odds and always been the one standing, remember?!"
Vette gave a soft weak smile at that and reached up to wrap arms about the zabrak's neck, hugging him tightly. She wanted to believe such, but she couldn't. She knew all too well how strong and tough Necrolis was. It was true he had faced stacked odds against him and survived before, but this time it was different. Marr was not like Baras, not like Draagh, not like facing Jaesa's former Jedi Master. This fight, this time, Vette did not think he could win.
"When are we leaving?" Vette half whispered, looking at Teffa almost pleadingly.
"Right away." Teffa answered and gave his sister-in-law a small smile. "But what did he mean by his comment?"
Vette smiled back at that and gave a weak laugh. Reaching up to pat Teffa's cheek, the twi'lek winked. Teffa got a tight feeling in the pit of his stomach even before she answered.
"Mako isn't the only Darkstar carrying a child."
KORRIBAN
The academy cantina was quiet and almost completely deserted. Sitting at the bar alone, with only the robot bartender about, Raistlis Darkstar nursed the glass of alderian brandy. He had been freed after agreeing to stand with Darth Marr. It had been a simple enough choice for him to make, he knew. Soon enough he would get to face his father. Marr had assured him of that. Now that he knew that meeting was to take place and soon, Raistlis found himself hesitant and unsure.
"Liquid courage?" A soft and all too familiar purring voice questioned. "I thought your backbone was made of more stern stuff."
Raistlis grit his teeth and set his glass down on the bar top, turning in his seat to give a hard stare at the cathar woman who had entered and now stood behind him. Of all the people to come bother him, Raistlis thought sourly. The small smirking smile on the woman's face just made his jaw clench all the harder. She was wearing the familiar black and red armour he had always seen her in. There was no missing the revealing view of the underside of large breasts or the flat expanse of her stomach that drew his gaze. Pyrannus grinned at him, almost teasing and mocking him at the same time.
"Of all the cantinas in all the galaxy, and you have to walk into this one." Raistlis growled out.
"Poor little lost sith, trying to drown your sorrows?" Pyrannus mocked back. "Too hard remembering being beaten and captured, or is it the mommy and daddy issues of being lied to and not knowing who you are that shatters you so?"
Raistlis answered by moving quickly, striking the cathar with an upper cut palm strike to her jaw that sent her staggering backwards. Charging in, he tackled the woman driving them both back and through one of the small round bar tables, chairs scattering from it as they hit the floor. Pyrannus laughed as they hit the ground, digging her claws into the man, hearing the satisfied cry as she pierced skin. Rolling over she straddled over him, pushing her weight down to force his back onto her claws, digging them in deeper. Rocking herself hard against him, Pyrannus smiled and purred as she felt him growing hard against her as she moved.
"Mmm… not so broken after all."
"Get off me." Raistlis growled trying to ignore how his body reacted to the woman.
"I don't think you want that." Pyrannus leaned down and licked up along Raistlis' cheek even as he fought to pull his head away.
"Stop." Raistlis growled fighting against a groan that threatened to break as he felt her pressing and moving hard and slow against him.
"Make me." Pyrannus challenged, hovering her face above his. "You don't want that, do you?"
Raistlis growled again, hands grabbing into the dark black hair and yanking her head back hard before leaning up to lick along her neck up to her mouth to kiss her hard and deep. Pyrannus groaned and purred even as her tongue delved into the sith's mouth, dancing against his even as she rocked harder and faster on him, her hunger building. He was a challenge, and she liked facing and conquering such.
Grinding harder Pyrannus nipped at Raistlis' lip drawing blood. Raistlis growled, tongue sliding over the small split in his lip even as he watched the cathar woman trail her own tongue about her lips tasting him. Pyrannus let her hands cup her breasts, then drew the fabric of her armour up over them freeing them to his hands. Raistlis grabbed the large firm mounds and squeezed hard palming them bringing another purring growl from the woman. Even as he played with her so, Pyrannus reached down shifting the front of the armour off to the side, reaching under to part the silken panties she wore beneath to the side and out of the way. Raistlis watched her and groaned even as she undid and slid his pants down freeing his hardened length to her. Shifting over him, Pyrannus pushed back and down feeling the swelled head part her, opening and sinking into her heated core. Rising up, Raistlis buried his face between the soft furred mounds of her breasts even as Pyrannus cried out in pleasure feeling his cock bury inside her, stretching and filling her fully as she pressed herself down to the base before grinding slowly on him.
"Mmmm, I just knew you'd be worth the effort." Pyrannus purred grabbing a handful of hair and yanking the sith's head back from her breasts.
Raistlis growled back as fingers found and pinched and pulled hard on the woman's nipples. Pyrannus threw her head back and cried out as pain and pleasure mixed within her. Even as he did so, she slammed herself back and down, hips rocking and thrusting as she rode his hard length taking him into her as deep as she could until she felt his cock bottom out in her. Beige eyes closed to mere slits even as they looked down at the man underneath her.
"Harder." Pyrannus hissed at him. "Let go and take me."
Raistlis growled hard and deep, sitting up grabbing the long toned legs and wrapping them about his waist, hands going to her hips, digging in and driving her down with each bouncing motion she made to impale her. Pyrannus leaned forward, head nestling into Raistlis' neck as she rode him hard feeling every stroke and inch of him burying over and over into her. Growling and licking at his neck Pyrannus felt the wave of pleasure building even as she felt his cock twitch and pulse with each stroke inside the folds of her sex.
"Yes, that's it. Give it to me." Pyrannus whispered in Raistlis' ear as their bodies moved and slammed together hard.
Raistlis groaned and brought her down harder onto him in response. Giving over to his hunger he rolled over putting her under him, hands grasping and digging fingers hard into her breasts as he pushed with his feet slamming harder, working his length as deep as he could into her. Giving a loud cry, head tossed back and eyes squeezed closed, Raistlis gave over to the feel of her and came, flooding his release into her. Pyrannus let him roll her over, arching into the grip of his hands on her breasts, pushing them up to be tortured so, moaning and rocking into each thrust eager and hungry. With a feral snarl followed by a throaty moan Pyrannus allowed herself to slip over that fine edge of pleasure as she felt him cum, joining him.
"Oh shit."
The voice made Raistlis jump, head whipping towards the cantina door where a pair of troopers as well as a couple acolytes now stood, slack jawed and wide eyed as they watched them. Raistlis swore under his breath and made to move but Pyrannus locked her legs about him and squeezed hard pinning him where he was and keeping his cock inside her. Looking towards the door, the cathar grinned ferally at them.
"I hope you enjoyed the show, now if you don't mind I'm not at all sated and done getting fucked here."
Raistlis was sure he was blushing even as he looked between Pyrannus and the group who just stood there staring as if stunned into a frozen state. Growling Pyrannus reached out with the force and sent a bottle from the back of the bar sailing across the room to smash into the wall beside the doorway. When they all jumped and broke out of their staring the cathar growled low and menacingly.
"I think it is time you all leave." She stated flatly. "Now go!"
Raistlis watched as the group of them all fell over themselves trying to run back the way they had come. Looking down at the cathar he saw her grinning, beige eyes staring at him intently.
"And you had better be far from done!"
"What are we doing?" Raistlis had to ask, almost not believing the moment was happening. They hated each other utterly, didn't they?
"Don't be stupid, Raistlis. Stress relief is quite fun." Pyrannus said and rolled her eyes before reaching up to grab his head in her hands. "Fuck me and enjoy. No strings, no questions. Fuck me you son of a bitch!"
Growling Raistlis pressed forward driving himself back into the depths of her sex, mouth claiming hers hard and deep and just giving in to the moment. No strings, just some fun and relieving stress, he reminded himself of her words even as he gave over to the pleasure to be had from her body.
THE STARWOLF
Teffa Darkstar pushed his ship, urging every bit of power he could get from the engines to try and rush their travel time. Playing catch up, all he could do was try to reach Korriban as fast as he could. He had no doubts that time would be of the essence in catching up with Necrolis. We're not going to make it, Teffa thought, knowing that if the battle began it likely was going to be over before they could help. It was not a comforting thought at all.
Tormen Darklight shared the cockpit with the bounty hunter, sitting to the side quietly, lost in his own thoughts. The smuggler knew where they were headed and why, but it still to him was akin to doing a swan dive into the open mouth of a sarlaac pit. Suicide was not high on his list, and he valued breathing too much. Still, when things had been decided he had joined the group heading to the sith home world all the same without hesitation.
Teffa, Aela, Malavai Quinn, Vette, Asha, Blizz, Torian, Jaesa, Pierce, Bloodshade and her creature had all come along. Mako had remained behind with the former sith turned jedi Scourge, along with Havok Squad to hold the Foundry. Tormen had to admit he figured they got the luck of the draw on that one. They would remain out of the direct line of fire. Assuming we even make it to the planet, Tormen reminded himself.
"How long until we reach Korriban?" Teffa asked without even glancing to the smuggler.
"A while yet." Tormen admitted and leaned back in his seat. "You know this is crazy right?"
"If it wasn't would either of us be doing it?" Teffa cracked wise asking back to the man.
Tormen laughed hearing the question in answer to his own. He knew how right Teffa was. Neither of them had ever played it safe. They always walked a different path and avoided the easy escape from certain danger. Maybe we will pull this off after all, he thought, considering the two of them were both in the same spot right up to their necks in it.
"Where other fear to tread, hunters and smugglers dance right in." Tormen quipped bringing both men to laughter.
"Seems I missed something." Aela Darkstar commented as she walked into the cockpit.
Teffa gave his sister a nod in greeting and Tormen turned quickly about to try and make himself look busy. The white haired woman still made the smuggler nervous. Anyone who could force choke someone usually did, Tormen knew. Aela nodded back and moved to stand behind Teffa, looking out the viewport at the swirling miasma of hyperspace sliding by the ship. Korriban awaited them, whatever it would hold.
"How far behind are we?" Aela asked quietly.
"Too far." Teffa acknowledged in his answer and sighed. "We might well end up there too late."
"Do we have a plan?" Aela asked, almost fearing the answer to such.
"Get there and find Necrolis." Teffa answered and shrugged. "Other than trying not to die of course."
"Of course." Aela shook her head and rolled her eyes as she answered sarcastically back.
Patting Teffa's armoured shoulder, Aela turned and headed back out of the cockpit. She needed to speak with Quinn. He was the tactician, and if anyone could come up with a bit more detailed and likely more successful plan. It was one time Aela actually felt a twinge of fear, and she did not like it one bit.
