Chapter 6
Bane looked at her incredulously. He said, "You're playing with me right? You know, ha-ha joke-joke?" Ventress shook her head. She said, "No, I'm not joking. I can sense the life inside of me." Bane stretched out with his feelings and felt the small spark of life inside of Ventress. He said, "I can sense it too…What are we going to do? We have planets to take over, and Jedi to slay. We don't have time for a child." Ventress shrugged and said, "I mean it is true, we have plans. But as all of them are secret and nobody else knows about them, we won't keep anyone waiting. Besides, I have a feeling that the birth of this child will mean great things for us." Bane said, "Great things like a child throwing up on your robes or loud crying when you're trying to plan. Just terminate it Ventress, we have more important matters to attend to." Ventress looked at him with a hardened stare and said, "I want this child, I just know it will change things. You can sense it too, I know you can."
Bane sighed; he couldn't say that he didn't feel it because he did. The child, despite its being multiple cells at the time, had a sense of power surrounding it. He thought back, if he was not mistaken the same thing was said of Anakin Skywalker, but he did bring balance to the force. Bane sighed again and said, 'Alright Ventress, we'll have the child. I'll have someone come in to create the baby's room in one of the old planning rooms." Ventress clapped her hands in excitement and threw her arms around Bane. She said, "Thank you! Oh this is exciting. Force acceleration means that this pregnancy is only going to last five months, instead of the usual nine for humans. So I'll plan everything to go into the room, you just relax." She bustled away and Bane groaned. He didn't know what he had gotten himself into.
Over the next two months, the pair traveled undercover to buy a crib and various items for the baby's room. They both sensed it was to be a girl so they chose a pinkish theme. Bane had originally refused anything in his fortress to be anything but black but was one over by Ventress' pleading eyes. After they were finished buying all of the furniture they had a force builder put everything together. This took another month because he always demanded copious amounts of money and food for his job. Bane almost got close to blasting him away with lightning but Ventress stopped him because they could not find anybody else who would work. One day, they stopped to rest outside a café on Coruscant. They had left Korriban to find the final piece to bring the baby's room together, a lightsaber hilt was to be mounted over the dresser, to be given to the baby girl when the time was right. They could only get them from the black market on Coruscant. Bane ran his hand over Ventress' enormous belly. He felt his daughter kick and smiled, she recognized him. He said, "Come on, I think I see our contact now,"
After returning to Korriban with the lightsaber, it had a pink blade and a pure platinum hilt, the couple began to relax and finally prepare for the birth. It had only been three months and Ventress was starting to choose names for their girl. Bane suggested, 'Zellena' but was met with scorn. He remained by his choice though until, a month later, they came up with 'Via' which they both enjoyed. Their minds were made up and Via was nearing birth everyday.
The next few weeks followed uneventfully, Bane went on a couple of intelligence missions to find out if the Jedi forces that Jalen had spoken his last words about actually existed. Bane could find no trace of them so he returned to the castle. By Korribanian calendar it was January 26th on the 3000th year. Ventress began to feel sharp pains in her womb. She called Bane to her side and said, "I think labor…ahhh…is starting. Call a medic." Bane summoned a medic and aides and they moved to a delivery room. Bane was asked to wait outside. He angrily agreed after much prodding from the medic. Bane paced back and forth in front of the door wondering what his daughter would look like and worrying about his wife. Inside the room, however, the scenario was different. Ventress had put on a gown and the medic had set her up on the table and spread her legs. He said, "Okay, Ventress, your contractions have start-" Ventress screamed, "I KNOW!!" The medic fell silent and then said, "Alright your cer-"Ventress cut him off again with a scream of, "I FREAKING KNOW!!!" The medic again fell silent and waited a few minutes. He then said, "Now breathe and push!" Ventress grabbed the railings of the table and wailed. She pushed and the medic said, "Great job! The baby crowned okay now a little more will free hi-"Ventress screamed again, "SHUT UP YOU IDIOTIC SWINE I KNOW!!!" She then raised one hand and blasted him so hard with force lightning and he flew through the wall and past Bane waiting behind the door.
Bane jumped when the medic flew through the wall and hit the ground. He could only smile to himself as he knew Ventress was okay. The remaining aides delivered the baby without dying and she was handed to Bane, who had stepped through the hole in the wall. Bane cradled his baby daughter and said, "Via…you are beautiful. You have your mother's eyes and my nose. Haha…" He tickled her and she cooed and gurgled. Bane handed Via to Ventress and she kissed and rocked their daughter. The two parents locked eyes and in that moment more love than hate was shared between two Sith than had ever existed before.