Junked - Part 2

Zaiya looked at Maul as he turned away, her legs felt like jelly after a blistering kiss like that. How was she supposed to finish the deal when she couldn't think clearly? She flipped her eyepatch back down and straightened herself, then spotted Venn grinning like a nexu and she suddenly regretted coming to their aid earlier.

"What do I have to do to get you to kiss me like that?" Venn asked and the look that crossed Zaiya's face must have been enough because they immediately held up their hands, "I'm kidding… mostly."

Zaiya shook her head. What was she going to do with them?

Ahead was the ship they had been looking at, and Sixy seemed to be upsetting the vendor enough that he was willing to let the ship go at a steal, so long as they took the droid with them.

"Why is he so fearful?" Zaiya scoffed.

"Apparently the droid arrived a few years ago in decent condition, it was wiped and working fine, until one day it was damaged or something…" Venn shrugged, and Zaiya had to wonder how they always managed to find out information so easily. "Anyway, its leg was damaged and there was an incident when it went ballistic and killed anyone that came near it… It was screaming for you, so I hear." Zaiya pulled a face, killing people indiscriminately and she was likely to get the blame. Great.

"They discovered it wouldn't hurt kids, so there was a child on the station that managed to get a restraining bolt on it… though that dampened the effect, it still was able to defy the sentients that tried to control it. Whatever you did, it's powerful stuff…" Venn trailed off and stared at her. "Kark you're hot," they said in a distracted tone. Zaiya flicked them on the forehead with her middle finger to get them to focus.

"Then what?"

"Well, it just waited here, no one could manage to turn it off long enough to dismantle it and any threats to the droid ended in a lot of bloodshed, so mostly they avoided it." Venn shrugged again then looked past her to where Maul stood. "You uh… get a little moment there, did you?"

"I just needed to talk to him for a moment," she excused. She was not about to tell Venn he'd nearly had a panic attack.

"Mhm, talk… right… before or after you sucked his face off?" The Nightsister shot them an incredulous look. "Would you rather suck something el-"

"Keep going, and you will find the droid takes after me far more closely," Zaiya snapped. Venn grinned.

"Aren't you two proud parents? Does daddy like to give discipline- alright! I'll stop!" they held up their hands to cover their face in protection as Zaiya's hand had begun to rise threateningly.

"Has Darn settled on a price?" Zaiya asked, ignoring the ridiculous comments.

"Yep, that's all paid for - you just have to take the rustbucket with you," Venn grinned, that mischievous look remained as their eyes darted between the two Dathomirians. After a moment, it softened. "You call him your Lord but… you know he's not above you, right? He's a Sith, he's one of these crazy bastards that made the war in the first place, isn't he? You deserve so much better!" Their voice lowered to a harsh whisper - apparently Venn had some sense of self-preservation after all. Zaiya shook her head.

"It's more complicated than that, Venn, and like you, I don't let go of my friends," she petted Venn's shoulder but the Iridonian looked away, a deep sense of shame flooded through them in the Force though Zaiya was not sure why.

"I uh… suppose this is it for a while, huh?" Venn replied, changing the subject. "I gotta say, I was surprised to see you, I had heard you were stationed on a cruiser in the Mid-Rim playing for politicians and gangsters." Zaiya tilted her head, a deep frown crossing her features.

"Who told you that?"

"One of my contacts, maybe they heard wrong?" But the look on Venn's face suggested something far more intriguing. "Want me to look into it for you?"

"Indeed I do," Zaiya nodded. "I want to find out very much." Her gloved hand ran over her jawline in thought, was it misinformation? Or something more?

Venn lingered for a moment as they reached the ship. Sixy almost shoved the Iridonian aside to head into the ship itself, proclaiming it would prepare the ship and run diagnostics before takeoff. The vendor had all but disappeared, likely keen to put distance between himself and the infamous droid.

He'd said something odd, while she and Venn had been discussing the ship, he seemed to hold the Iridonian in very low regard, warning Zaiya she could rely on Venn Malang as much as she could a raging rancor. He had clearly meant it as a deterrent, but then he didn't know who Zaiya was. She wondered what he meant, her only guess was that Venn had changed in the years since they had last seen each other.

Still, her current company was a Former Sith and a homicidal droid. Her mentors were pirates and bounty hunters… her people were witches steeped in the Dark Side. She was pretty sure her trust in Venn was as well placed as it ever was.

Suddenly the smuggler stepped forward, as if they'd somehow sensed her thought and swept the taller zabrak into a hug, their horns barely missing Zaiya's face. The Dathomiri woman froze for a moment, then chuckled, relaxing into the hold and petting Venn's back between their shoulder blades.

"It was good to see you, Wakiya," she said softly against Venn's hair.

"Missed you," Venn mumbled, a strong emotion in their voice, the same emotion that echoed through the Force from the little zabrak. A moment later however, Venn pressed their face against Zaiya's breasts through her shirt and startled the woman, pushing her friend off immediately. The soft moment was gone but Venn was laughing again and Zaiya - while uncomfortable - was glad to see them smiling.

"You have the best tits…" Venn muttered, making Zaiya grimace. A menacing growl from behind them made Venn jump, seeing Maul standing there.

"You will not speak of my Lieutenant that way, nor will you disrespect her in such a manner," he snarled. The look on his face was rage personified and Zaiya could not help but feel a little giddy, it was… sweet. Despite the violent intent.

"Alright, alright, I won't touch your girlfriend, Lord Crabbypants," Venn backed up quickly as Maul reached for his saber again.

"It's time, sire," Zaiya interrupted and he looked at her, his expression softening slightly.

"Very well," he replied, but waited for her to walk ahead of him.

"I'll be in touch," she said to Venn with a small smile and nodded, heading up the ramp.

"You be good to her," Venn said quietly, and Zaiya realised they were speaking to Maul. She heard him let out a scoff of derision.

"Anyone that dares lay hands on her - I will burn them from the inside out. Including you." The venom dripped from his voice. Zaiya felt that warm feeling in her chest again.

"That's good enough for me," Venn chuckled. Zaiya shot a wave from the top of the ramp as the two Dathomirians made their way inside, inspecting the ship for a few minutes to get acquainted.

"Report," Maul said as they reached the cockpit. Sixy turned to face them.

[It seems the dealer was not foolish enough to offer us a malfunctioning vessel, everything seems to be in good order, however we have only enough fuel for one hyperspace jump,] Sixy informed them. It took a moment before looking between them. [I have… missed you.] Zaiya and Maul looked at each other and back to the droid. Neither of them knew what to say.

"Good to have you back, Sixy," Zaiya eventually said, and took over the pilot's chair while Maul took the co-pilot's seat beside her. Sixy moved to the diagnostics and readout station, and if needed it could easily make its way to the gunner's mount. Hopefully they wouldn't need that for a while.

The ship lifted from the junkyard and they made their way to the exit port, manoeuvring out into deep space. Zaiya tapped in coords for the nearest fuelling station and they began to make their way out.

The ship was of corellian make, though somewhat modified and Zaiya had plans to modify it far more, she just had to find a quality workshop where she could make the upgrades. Florrum certainly had what she needed, though she wondered how Hondo might take to company… or whether Maul would be able to put up with him.

That might be a whole other situation to deal with.


"I heard you encountered a certain sanctimonious ginger twit?" Zaiya said, speaking to the hologram of the tall hat-wearing individual.

[Hmph, 's nothin' I can't handle…] the Duros replied with a smirk. [Hear you was workin' fer em.]

"The Republic, not the Jedi," she corrected.

[Same thing, ain't it?] he chuckled dryly.

"I suppose it is," she mused and shrugged, "it's done now, made a bit of a mess of it."

[I hear you're as wan'ed as me these days, you comin' fer my crown?] he tilted his head but the slight lift of his mouth in the corners indicated he wasn't serious.

"I don't think the hat would suit me," she replied with a laugh of her own. She stood in the main bridge of her ship, Maul sat off to one side, one leg propped on the seat and the other hung lazily down, his body reclining in a languid and relaxed position, but his luminescent yellow eyes watched like a starhawk as she spoke to her former mentor.

[It suits you,] Bane replied with a rare little smile, she didn't think she'd seen many such moments on his face before, he must have been in a good mood.

"Pity you didn't get the better of Kenobi… but maybe I'll get him before you do?" Bane let out a real laugh at that one, it sounded hoarse and raspy but she liked the sound of it.

[Oh now dat I'd like to see lil' lady, do me a favour an' send me a holo if ye do.]

"I'll do my best," she grinned. "I heard a rumour that Siren was spotted on a cruiser in the Mid-Rim… know anything about it?" she asked curiously.

[Now dat ya mention it, I do, I asked 'round when I first heard it, somethin' about a minor gang, associated with Black Sun -answers to 'em or some such.]

"D'you get the name of the vessel? Malang told me it was a transport cruiser, a pretty big one, but also said you had come closer to it." Cad Bane ran one long-fingered hand across his face, touching his chin as he often did - she had noticed - when he was thinking.

[Malang huh? Good luck wit' dat one, not worth a womp-rat's hide these days…] he tapped one booted foot then nodded. [I think I remember it, Acclamator-class, they called it The Temptress would you believe,] he snorted and rolled his eyes as best a Duros with solidly red eyes could do.

"Temptress, huh? With a Siren on the ship… that makes sense," she scoffed. Her hands rested on her hips as she regarded him, he seemed unimpressed. "What do I owe you for the information?" she asked but he shook his head.

[Don' worry 'bout it, this one's the principle; I trained you, and no one I trained is gonna be some floozy singing for rich scumlords…] His lip curled and he seemed angry for a second. [Not after what I saw after Ohnaka picked you up from-]

"I assure you," Zaiya interrupted firmly, "they will not besmirch my name much longer, nor your reputation." She didn't want to talk about that time, and she didn't like the way Maul leaned forward. She wasn't ready to look at her like she was pathetic or broken. She couldn't go there. Not yet. His eyes narrowed and he watched her intently for a moment. Could he see through her? He had usually been very good at that. This time however he let it go and didn't push it. There was something in his face and it burned in her. Was it pity? She didn't know if she could bear it if it was.

[So, yer gonna go aft'r em?] he asked after a quiet moment.

"Our upgrades are mostly finished, and we've got a few things to finish but-" there was a strange feeling came over her and she trailed off for a moment. She felt something in the Force.

[Our?] Bane asked and she realised she'd neglected to tell him everything.

"Yes… do you remember-" she realised Maul hadn't given his name back then. "- the Zabrak with red skin and black tattoos?" Immediately the Duros seemed to tense up and his gaze darted around as if to look for him.

[I remember,] he said slowly.

"He and I have been working together again," she said simply.

[That right…?] Bane drawled with a raised brow. ['s he there?]

"He is." She nodded and the Bounty Hunter hummed with displeasure, it seemed that he approved of Maul about as much as he did the last time they had encountered each other. It was hard to focus on however, with that nagging sensation in the back of her mind.

[Hm, you'll have to bring 'im round when you're back,] Bane said with a tilt of his head. Zaiya frowned, 'bring him round'? What did that mean?

"I… sure… we have some business to attend to but we will be around," she said awkwardly, she didn't quite know what to make of the last comment. Bane stared at her for a few more seconds before signing off and disconnecting the call.

"That was weird," Zaiya muttered to herself, running her hand over her braid. That feeling stayed though, she couldn't push it aside. Why was she feeling these strange pulls in the Force?


Across the Galaxy, a lone figure was pulled from the debris of a crashed starship in the debris field of battle. The crew of the rescuing ship brought the strange looking sentient - a pale woman - on board their ship. After administering a stim shot, the blue-skinned Twi'lek regarded her.

"You took quite a beating there, didn't you missy?" he said with some small amusement. "Which side of the battle was you on?" He pointed a vibroblade in the bald woman's face but she only glared at him through groggy angry eyes and said nothing. "Aw, not too talkative, are you?" he asked mockingly. The woman shifted and propped herself up with her arms, when she spoke, it was in a rasping voice.

"Take me… to Dathomir…" was all she said.

"Now why would anyone go there?" the Twi'lek asked, still brandishing his knife, "Ain't nothing but fog and witches."

"Exactly." Suddenly the woman lunged, and he was thrown back -in a powerful display of anger, the five men of the crew surrounding her were lifted up by their necks through the Force and hurled to the floor, her sheer agony and rage slammed them in a heap. She heard the cruel snap of their necks as she forced herself up and forward.

Everything was gone. It had all come to pass.

The Sith - her Master - had betrayed her! Cast her aside like she was nothing. The words that her enemy had once spoken remained in her mind.

When they cast you out -and they will. Go home to Dathomir.

She took to the controls of the light freighter and began to chart a course. With what little strength she had after the battle, the woman piloted her newly acquired craft home.

Asajj Ventress was coming home. To Dathomir. Just as the Siren has told her.


Notes:

Hello! As promised, another chapter every fortnight and yes I have been writing away like a good little author in my little writing dungeon. ...I mean its a couch in front of a huge window, but you know what I mean.

I hope you enjoyed this one! These two are cute aren't they? Also yaaay! Bane poked his head in! Noone seems to be impressed by Maul do they? Poor Sith Lord. T^T Zaiya won't have it tho... is that a good or bad thing?

If you have any comments or feedback, I'd love to know what you think! As always your support really keeps me going. Thank you so much for all of you wonderful readers. Thank you all I think you're wonderful and I shall see you next week for Sins and in a fortnight another APOD chapter! 3