Thank you to the 9 people who reviewed the last chapter. You guys are the best. This chapter shall have an overview of "Monster" and then cover all of "Witches of the Mist". Then I will go on to the Mortis trilogy, which I am going to have fun writing. I hope that you like this chapter and reviews, as always, are much appreciated.
Chapter 35
His name was Savage Opress.
He grew up on the mysterious planet of Dathomir with others of his kin. He didn't know of the ways of the mysterious Nightsisters who dominated the mysterious planet. However, all of that changed when a Nightsister by the name of Asajj Ventress came to his home for what was known as the selection. The Selection was when a Nightsister chose a member of his kin who had the greatest fighting skills among other things.
Savage was one of the heads of the tribes as was his companion, and his brother, Feral. He had warned his brother to not draw attention to himself but Savage knew that he should have heeded his own warning.
The Selection was a grueling set of tests that Asajj Ventress put out for everyone who was called to participate in the Selection. Savage and Feral hadn't wanted to be a part of it but they knew they couldn't disobey an order from a member of the Nightsisters.
Savage remembered each of the three tests he had to partake in; each test was used to determine who would be Ventress's champion though no one, not even Savage, knew what that meant. The first thing that occurred wasn't so much a test as it was Ventress's way of eliminating those she felt wouldn't make it through the first test.
The first official test was putting everyone Ventress chose against her using clubs, vibroblades and other weapons at their disposal to prove vigilance. Whoever survived the fight would move on to the second test.
Savage and Feral had been among the four who moved on to the second test. The second test was a test in which the four remaining Nightbrothers would have to avoid Ventress while being unable to see her and the deadly weapon she carried with her.
Savage and Feral were the only ones who made it on to the third and final test. The third test was a test in which they had to be the last one standing against Ventress amidst pillars that rose and fell periodically. They also had to fight Ventress to prove to her whether or not they were worthy to be her champion and serve her. Savage and Feral both survived but only because Savage gave himself up for his brother and Ventress took him with her back to the Nightsister village.
Savage didn't remember much of what happened next. He remembered meeting Mother Talzin but everything after that was a blur until he woke up feeling stronger and more powerful than ever but also lacking control. He remembered that Asajj Ventress was the first person he saw and he tried to strangle her until she reminded him that she was his master by demanding that he let her go.
Then she asked for the prisoner to be brought in so that he could pass the final test, the test that was only meant for the winner of the Selection. Savage's brother, Feral, was then escorted into the room and Ventress ordered him to kill his brother. Twisted by power and the Nightsisters' magic, to where he was not the same person he was back at his home, Savage did as he was ordered.
Ventress gave him a piece of advice then; never sympathize with the enemy under any circumstances.
Mother Talzin then gave him an enchanted blade and decided it was time to introduce him to his new master; the Sith Lord Count Dooku.
He traveled with Mother Talzin and some other Nightsisters to meet with Count Dooku. Dooku, needing proof of his abilities, ordered him to go to Devaron as the Jedi had taken over a vital outpost at the temple on Devaron. His orders were simple; go to Devaron and reclaim the Temple of Eedit for the Separatists.
He went to Devaron and wasted no time taking everyone at the Temple of Eedit out including two Jedi. He was then ordered to return to Serenno where Dooku claimed that, after he was taught the dark side of the Force, the two of them would have more power than the Dark Lord of the Sith, Lord Sidious. It was then that Dooku officially named Savage Oppress his apprentice.
And thus a chain of possibly irreversible events were put into motion.
Obi-Wan Kenobi watched sadly as the Jedi shuttle came to a stop on the landing platform for he knew of who would be onboard; Jedi Master Halsey and his apprentice Knox. They were two causalities in an attack that Obi-Wan could not prevent even if he wanted to. They were also another reminder, not that Obi-Wan needed one, that he couldn't change everything.
He stood alongside Plo Koon, Adi Gallia and Saesee Tiin as Delta Squad walked down the boarding ramp of the shuttle with two caskets floating behind him.
The commander saluted. "There were no survivors on Devaron," he said. "Everyone was killed even Master Halsey and his Padawan."
"In the past, only Dooku's assassin was capable of such an effort," Adi said touching the casket. "But she was presumed dead at the Battle of Sullust."
"Not everything is what it seems," Plo said. "There may be a new threat or something has eluded us. Perhaps a newly appointed Sith Lord."
"I find that highly unlikely," Obi-Wan said resting a hand on his beard as he examined the caskets. "This is not the work of a Sith Lord. It's not even the work of a Jedi gone dark. It's the work of an animal." And it was true; Savage Oppress, brother to the Sith Lord Darth Maul, the one person Obi-Wan was hoping he could stop from coming back, was an animal, a monster.
And he was loose on the galaxy just like last time.
Savage stood across from his master within Dooku's audience chamber waiting for Dooku to start the training session. He had been training with his master almost nonstop since the event on Devaron and he seemed to be slowly getting the hang of lightsaber combat, which was making his master a bit short with him.
He ignited his lightsaber as Dooku ignited his before he dashed at the Sith Lord slicing downward but Dooku dodged the attack before quickly dodging the next attack and knocking Savage down.
"You have no technique," Dooku said lowering his blade.
Savage growled before getting back to his feet and attacking again with ferocity but Dooku managed to disarm him and grab his throat with the Force.
"Sloppy," the Sith Lord said before he released Savage.
Savage growled before attempting to attack the Sith Lord with his bare hands but Dooku pushed him down. He then called Savage's lightsaber into his hand before igniting both of them and crossing them at Savage's throat.
"With the proper training, you could be a powerful warrior," Dooku said deactivating both blades. "You have a natural ability. But we must hone it. Are you up for the challenge of putting your hate to better use?" He held out the double-bladed lightsaber.
Savage reached out to take it lowering his head. "Yes Master," he replied.
Obi-Wan walked into the Jedi Council chambers thinking. What was coming next was simple to discern; it was when he and Anakin journeyed to Dathomir to speak with Mother Talzin of the Nightsisters about Savage Oppress.
"You called for me, Master Yoda?" he asked and Yoda and Mace turned to look at him.
"Master Kenobi," Yoda said walking forward with Mace at his side. "Show you something we must."
"We recovered surveillance footage of the massacre that occurred on Devaron," Mace replied before he activated the holorecording. Obi-Wan watched the massacre before shaking his head slightly at Savage's ruthlessness.
"Such a heartless monster," he murmured.
"Yes, related to Darth Maul we believe him to be from Dathomir," said Yoda.
Obi-Wan nodded not surprised because he had learned that the first time around.
"Dathomir is the planet were Maul was raised," Mace added.
"Travel to Dathomir you must. Find the source of this threat you will," Yoda said resting his hands on his gimer stick.
Of that I have no doubt, Obi-Wan thought. He decided that he might as well go straight to Mother Talzin; he could always play it off as a hunch if Anakin got curious since he was going to be taking Anakin with him again. He inclined his head to the two Jedi Masters before walking out of the council chamber deep in thought.
Dooku faced his apprentice in the courtyard surrounded on both sides with tall obelisks of stone. "You must strengthen your connection with the Force, my apprentice," he said. "Feel its power within you." With that, he stretched out with the Force, removed the obelisks from their sockets and lifted them into the air. He held them there for about five seconds before he returned them to their sockets.
"Now, lift them," he ordered.
Savage stretched out with the Force but only shook the obelisks in their sockets.
"Concentrate," Dooku said.
Savage's eyes narrowed in concentration and managed to lift the obelisks out of their sockets. Dooku narrowed his eyes when he sensed Savage loose his concentration and the obelisks fell back into their sockets and Savage fell to one knee.
"What you ask is impossible," he growled.
Dooku's eyes flashed with anger. "Impossible?" He echoed walking forward. "The task is only impossible because you deem it so." He turned around and walked away before stopping.
"You must connect with your hatred," he added turning around and sending a surge of Force lightning flying at his apprentice sending him to the ground screaming in pain.
"Focus on your power building," Dooku added walking past Savage. "Do not think of anyone or anything else." He turned around and blasted Savage with Force lightning again.
"That's it," he said ignoring Savage's screams of pain. "Your anger is your strength."
"I hate you," Savage growled angrily as he pushed himself to his feet.
"Good," Dooku said before blasting Savage with Force lightning again sending him to the ground.
Savage screamed in pain before channeling his pain into his anger and hatred and stood up before using his anger to fuel the Force. He then used the Fore to lift the obelisks out of their sockets and into the air before holding them there for a couple of seconds and returning them to their sockets.
"How does one defend against such power?" Savage asked gasping in pain.
"A wise master does not reveal all his secrets at once," Dooku said before he turned around and began to walk away. "In due time, my apprentice."
Obi-Wan watched as Anakin guided the Jedi shuttle toward the mysterious red planet of Dathomir. "I do not think we need to go to the village of the Dathomirian zabraks, Anakin," he said.
Anakin glanced at him. "Why not, master?"
"I have a hunch that we will not find our answers here. The Dathomirian females are the rulers of Dathomir so it is more likely we will find the answers we seek with them," Obi-Wan replied.
Anakin raised an eyebrow. "If you say so, master. So where do we find them?" he asked.
Obi-Wan imputed the coordinates and Anakin veered to follow the new course the navicomputer had set. They flew onward over the dense, dark, mysterious forests of Dathomir toward the location of the Nightsister's village where Obi-Wan knew they would find Mother Talzin and the Nightsisters.
Anakin landed the shuttle flawlessly in the forest before the two of them walked out of the shuttle. "Okay, since you seem to know these Dathomirian females, care to fill me in?" Anakin asked.
"They're a part of an ancient order of witches known as the Nightsisters. Mother Talzin, whom will be the likely person to have the information we seek, is their leader," said Obi-Wan taking the lead.
"Great. Witches. Wonder what other fun thing is on this planet?" Anakin said with a small sigh.
Obi-Wan smiled faintly. "Come on," he said before he began walking deeper into the forest with his brother at his side.
He stopped when he sensed the Nightsisters as they approached and he stretched out a hand to stop Anakin. "We've got company. Show them we are not threatening them," he said.
Anakin, eyes narrowed, nodded before watching as a patrol of Nightsisters leapt to the ground to surround them with their energy bows pointed at them. One Nightsister stepped forward and took their lightsabers from them before stepping back.
"Jedi," another Nightsister said, her voice overlaid with what seemed like another voice, before she and the rest of the patrol guided them toward the village.
They were guided into the village and toward the conference room where Obi-Wan met with Mother Talzin the first time around. Taking a seat at the table without being prompted, Obi-Wan waited for Anakin to sit down as well and Talzin to speak.
"Master Kenobi," Talzin greeted the two Jedi.
"Mother Talzin," Obi-Wan replied calmly.
"You have a question for me?" Talzin asked standing up and walking around the table.
"Yes. We have received reports about a Dathomirian male on the loose that has already killed two Jedi. I am hoping you would know who he is," Obi-Wan said.
"Master Jedi, we have no control over the males. Our clan has been in exile for years," said Talzin.
"Everyone in the galaxy knows females are dominate on this planet, Mother Talzin," Obi-Wan said matter-of-factly. "That being said, I am sure that you know everything that happens on this planet."
"To think the Jedi collect their facts from mere rumors," Talzin said walking behind their seats.
"Rumors that have seeds of truth to them," Obi-Wan replied before Anakin could respond. "Nevertheless, this monster has already killed two Jedi, as I said before, and I fear he will kill more. If you know his whereabouts then you should tell us."
Talzin was silent before she lifted her hands up above the orb in front of her as she retook her seat at the head of the table. "Savage, Savage Oppress," she said and Savage's image appeared in the orb before it faded away.
"He is on Toydaria," she added opening her eyes.
"Thank you, Mother Talzin," Obi-Wan said before he and Anakin left the conference room and headed back toward their ship.
Ventress walked alongside Talzin as they walked down the main walkway of the village.
"The time has come, sister. You put your plot against Dooku into action now," said Talzin breaking the silence.
"He isn't ready, Mother, he needs more training," said Ventress glancing at the shaman.
"He has to be ready," Talzin said. "Together, the two of you will be able to eliminate the count. But you must act now. We cannot keep your new assassin a secret forever."
"I will have my revenge," Ventress said.
Talzin placed her hands on Ventress's shoulders. "You will, sister, you will," she said.
Ventress shrugged out of the shaman's shoulder before walking away to prepare to confront Dooku.
Savage guided the ship toward the green planet of Toydaria and, after he was passed the atmosphere, he flew toward the palace. When he reached the palace, he landed the ship on the landing pad before shutting down the main engines and making his way out of the ship.
Three Toydarian guards met him but Savage merely ignited his lightsaber and killed two of them swiftly before tossing the third one into the wall killing him. He then jogged down the boarding ramp and toward the entrance to the palace to find King Katuunko using his lightsaber to cut through the door causing the alarms to blare.
Savage Force pushed the door in knocking down several guards before dashing into the palace and down the hallway to the throne room. His blade made quick work of the Toydarians before he turned his gaze to King Katuunko. He walked onto the hover pad that would take him level to the king of the Toydarians.
"I will not be intimidated," Katuunko declared pulling out a curved dagger from his belt.
Anakin guided the Jedi shuttle to a stop next to the other ship before shutting down the main engines and glancing at Obi-Wan who was observing the palace. "Come on, master," he said to break his former master out of his trance.
Obi-Wan blinked before pulling himself from his thoughts. "Let's go," he said.
Anakin nodded before leading the way out of the shuttle and toward the palace. The doors had been blasted open and was lying in pieces in the hallway and there were bodies of Toydarians everywhere. Anakin shook his head before dashing toward the throne room with Obi-Wan at his side.
The Dathomirian Zabrak, Savage Oppress Mother Talzin called him, turned around on the lift to look at them carrying the unconscious body of King Katuunko over his shoulder.
"So we finally meet," Obi-Wan stated calmly igniting his lightsaber and Anakin followed suit while at the same time restraining the anger at the sight of what the monster before him did to the Toydarians.
He and Obi-Wan dashed toward the nearest hover pads and they lifted up until they were level with Oppress and the unconscious king he was carrying over his shoulder.
Oppress swung his blade at Obi-Wan who easily blocked it before using the Force to leap off the pad before Oppress could land a blow against him. Anakin used the Force to toss the pad at Oppress's causing him to stumble and release Katuunko.
Katuunko immediately flew away as Anakin and Obi-Wan tackled Oppress and pin him. Before he could get far, Oppress lashed out with the Force and caught him in a Force choke. He then elbowed Anakin in the face as but Obi-Wan managed to avoid getting hit. Oppress tightened his grip but then Obi-Wan slammed the hilt of his lightsaber into Oppress's arm forcing him to release Katuunko.
"Get out of here," he called sharply to the Toydarian king who immediately flew away.
Oppress snarled but Katuunko had flown too far away from him for him to get a grip on him. Before long, the Toydarian king disappeared and Oppress thrust himself upward and sent Anakin and Obi-Wan flying over the pad Anakin had been standing on earlier. Anakin grabbed hold of the edge although he noticed Obi-Wan flipping in midair to land on Katuunko's throne.
Oppress leapt onto the pad Anakin was clinging to before he stepped on Anakin's hand. Obi-Wan lashed out in a Force push that sent Oppress skidding backwards and Anakin let go of the pad before using the Force to help him land on his feet on the ground.
Obi-Wan leapt at Oppress who immediately leapt backwards to avoid Obi-Wan's blade before igniting his own lightsaber to catch Obi-Wan's attack. Anakin leapt upward to help his brother but Oppress sank his blade downward into the pad and it suddenly dropped rapidly to crash into the ground. Anakin and Obi-Wan leapt off the pad just in time and Oppress used that time to take off.
"We'd better go find King Katuunko and make sure he's safe," Obi-Wan said deactivating his lightsaber.
"Do you think that monster will go after him again?" Anakin asked also deactivating his blade.
"I find it likely." Without another word, Obi-Wan took off in the direction Anakin had seen Katuunko go and he followed him.
Blasted Jedi, Savage thought angrily gazing around for any sign of where King Katuunko was located. He had to find the king; he couldn't return to the king empty-handed but the blasted Jedi prevented him from taking the king. If he ran into those Jedi again then he was going to kill them one way or another.
But, for now, he had to find the Toydarian king.
He had also seen which way the king had gone when the Jedi had forced him to release his choke hold on the king and that was the direction in which he was traveling. He spotted the king surrounded by more Toydarians who immediately attacked him although some stayed near the Toydarian king.
Savage's lightsaber made quick work of the guards before he grabbed Katuunko in a Force choke hold again but a lightsaber nearly taking off his arm forced him to release the king yet again and he whirled around to glare at the pesky Jedi who had been the reason why he had been forced to release Katuunko the first time.
"Jedi," he growled before he ignited his double-bladed lightsaber and attacked the Jedi before the second Jedi attacked. The first Jedi again told Katuunko to get out of there but Savage was not going to let the king get away from him again.
He lashed out in a powerful Force push that sent the two Jedi stumbling backwards before he grabbed Katuunko with the Force and pulled the Toydarian toward him putting Katuunko between him and the Jedi.
Katuunko struggled to free himself and Savage, angry at the Jedi for their intervention and irritated with the Toydarian king continuing to fight him, snapped the king's neck. Katuunko fell limp in his arms. Without pausing, he utilized his anger at the Jedi's intervention to send out a powerful Force wave that sent the Jedi and any guards that were coming to help flying into the nearest wall.
Without waiting, Savage slung the dead king over his shoulder and dashed toward the doors to the palace before heading toward his ship. He spotted the Jedi's ship and used the Force to push it off the landing pad. Not pausing to see what happened next, he dashed up the boarding ramp into his ship, dropped the king's limp body on the ground, started the ship up and quickly guided the ship beyond the atmosphere of the planet toward the Separatist dreadnought that hung in the distance.
Obi-Wan rubbed his head as he pushed himself away from the wall. Savage was certainly as dangerous and as powerful as he was when Obi-Wan first fought him. He had hoped he could prevent Savage from killing or kidnapping King Katuunko but he guessed King Katuunko's death was something he couldn't change. The Force should really just make a list of what Obi-Wan can't change; it would make changing the future into a better one easier.
But then when has anything ever been easy?
"Come on," Obi-Wan said glancing at Anakin and the two of them dashed out of the palace toward the landing pad.
Anakin looked over the edge of the pad at what was left of their ship. "I guess that's what's left of our ship," he said.
"Let's borrow one from the Toydarians," Obi-Wan said before he led the way to the Toydarian ship.
Savage guided his ship into a small hangar of the Separatist dreadnought before shutting down the main engines after he landed. He then walked back into the hold of the ship, picked up King Katuunko's body and made his way out of the ship. He walked across the hangar floor to the doors before making his way to the room where he knew his master was.
When he reached the deck, he spotted Dooku standing with his back turned to the door, eyes fixed on the stars beyond the viewports, hands clasped behind his back. Dooku turned around as Savage entered the room fully and tossed Katuunko's body in front of him.
"You ignorant beast," Dooku snarled in fury as he moved forward eyes flashing with rage. "I told you I wanted him alive." He lashed out with Force lightning and Savage screamed in pain and fell to the ground as the lightning slammed into him.
"Forgive me, my master," Savage gasped when Dooku stopped the flow of lightning.
"That is not the way of the dark side," Dooku retorted before unleashing another torrent of lightning and Savage screamed in pain again, turned away from Dooku and fell onto his hands and knees near the doors to the room just as they opened.
He lifted his head to find a woman standing there and Dooku stopped the torrent of lightning.
"Ventress," Dooku said coolly.
"That's no way to treat your apprentice," Ventress said voice equally as cold as she stepped into the room. "I should know."
"Savage," Dooku said igniting his lightsaber. "You can make amends for your mistake by destroying this witch."
Savage pushed himself to his feet as Ventress laughed. "I don't think that'll be happening. Will it, Savage?" she asked stretching out a hand and touching her fingers to Savage's forehead. "Remember where your true loyalties lie."
Immediately, Savage remembered that Asajj Ventress was his master and he was to serve her. "With you, mistress," Savage said turning to face Dooku before igniting his double-bladed lightsaber as Ventress ignited her dual blades as well.
Anakin guided the ship toward the Separatist dreadnought that hung above the planet. "Look, a Separatist dreadnought. That must be where the king's murderer fled," he said.
"Yes, it is likely where we will find him," Obi-Wan agreed. "Dooku must have sent him after King Katuunko."
"Then we'll make him pay for that."
"Anakin," Obi-Wan chided the younger Jedi Knight gently.
Anakin glanced at his master. "Sorry master," he said. "But Oppress should be punished for killing King Katuunko."
"Yes, I know but not by us."
Anakin sighed but he knew his former master was right. "And if he does not come quietly?" he asked with a little sarcasm in his voice.
Obi-Wan shrugged. "We will do what we must," he replied.
Anakin nodded before guiding the Toydarian ship into the dreadnought's hangar bay. After shutting down the main engines, Anakin led the way toward the entrance to the ship and dropped to the ground after opening the hatch. Obi-Wan followed him.
The two of them dashed across the hangar floor to the doors and they slid open to reveal three droids.
"Halt, you are now prisoners…" one droid began until it was promptly sliced in half at the same time as the other two droids by Anakin and Obi-Wan's blades. Without pausing, they made their way deeper into the dreadnought.
Ventress, crying out in rage, dashed toward Dooku and the duel between the three of them began. She and Dooku began the duel but it wasn't long before Savage also entered the duel with his double-bladed lightsaber after Ventress was knocked to the ground. Dooku easily avoided Savage's blade both times he attacked before resuming his attack on Ventress.
Their blades clashed and sizzled as they clashed again before Dooku delivered a kick to Ventress's stomach that sent her flying to the ground. Immediately, Savage attacked leaping into the air before attempting to slam his blade into Dooku but Dooku dodged before dodging the other attacks Savage launched at him as well.
Ventress ignited her lightsabers again but didn't attack as Savage launched a vicious attack that sent Dooku, with a grunt, flying to the ground and his lightsaber flying out of his hand.
"Finish him, now," Ventress ordered moving forward a few steps.
Savage readied his blade to impale Dooku but Dooku unleashed a torrent of lightning that sent Savage flying over Ventress and into the wall where he landed with a grunt of pain. Dooku went to grab his lightsaber but Ventress used the Force to push it further away as she ran along the walls to attack Dooku again. Dooku kept dodging her attacks but Ventress knew that if she kept him away from his lightsaber, she would have an advantage aside from the Force lightning that she would have to keep an eye out for.
Savage ignited his lightsaber before rejoining in the fight but Dooku caught him in another blast of Force lightning that drove him nearly to his knees. Ventress used that distraction to her advantage and attacked Dooku's back but he sensed her attack and dodged out of the way. He then called his lightsaber to his hand, ignited it and blocked the two slashes Ventress launched at him before dodging the thrust. He swung his blade and would have taken off Ventress's head had she not dodged out of the way.
Savage pushed himself again to his feet before rejoining in the attack but was again blasted by Force lightning as a Force push sent Ventress stumbling backward a few meters. Ventress sliced downward with both her blades at Dooku's head but Dooku intercepted the blades.
"Get up," she ordered Savage. "We must defeat him. Get up."
Savage pushed himself to his feet before attacking Dooku again but again he was blasted by Force lightning and he fell to his knees.
"Kill him," Ventress shouted angrily as Savage looked up. "Kill him you fool." She, screaming in rage, unleashed two vicious slashes before aiming a kick at Dooku; he dodged all three attacks.
Savage again went to attack and, again, was blasted with Force lightning. "I can't," Savage gasped. "He's too powerful."
Ventress unleashed another series of attacks on Dooku. "Your weakness will not be my downfall," she growled angrily.
"A failed apprentice makes for a foolish master," Dooku retorted pushing Ventress's blades away and breaking the bladelock they had gotten caught in.
Savage suddenly deactivated his lightsaber and, with a scream of fury, lashed out with the Force grabbing Ventress and Dooku's throats with the Force.
"Savage, no," Ventress gasped struggling to break free from the hold.
Savage lashed out with the Force and Ventress and Dooku went flying into the wall of the room. He then attacked with such ferocity that he caught the dark acolyte and the Sith Lord by surprise and, again, they were sent flying into the wall. Ventress lashed out with a Force push at the same time Dooku unleashed a torrent of Force lightning that sent Savage flying into the wall next to the door.
Dooku then unleashed a torrent of Force lightning at Ventress who caught the lightning with her lightsaber. Dooku took off before using the Force to activate an escape hatch and leaping down it. Ventress, snarling, followed suit and the hatch closed before Savage could follow them.
Obi-Wan was tempted, very tempted, to just leave but he knew that if there was a chance he could change what occurred then he should take it. Besides, he didn't know what he could change and what he couldn't; he had to go through everything he went through the first time around and change whatever he could when the time came. It made him, yet again, wish the Force would just give him a list of what he couldn't change but that would have been too easy.
Either way, Obi-Wan prepared himself for the attack as they neared the room where Obi-Wan could sense Savage's presence.
Naturally, he should have expected Savage's rage and the power behind the Force push he launched at them. Nonetheless, the two Jedi were sent flying into the bulkhead behind them.
Well, let's see if this fight goes as it did last time, Obi-Wan thought igniting his lightsaber. He had a funny feeling it would.
Ventress dropped to the ground behind Dooku with her lightsabers still ignited and in her hand. "Leaving so soon, master?" she asked lifting her head to glare at Dooku's back.
"You are no match for me without the aid of your monster," Dooku said igniting his lightsaber.
"That remains to be seen," Ventress retorted.
"As you wish," Dooku replied.
Ventress ran at Dooku and the two of them began dueling again their blades clashing with each other as they made their way deeper into the belly of the dreadnought.
Meanwhile, in the upper levels of the dreadnought, Anakin and Obi-Wan were being pushed backwards by Savage Oppress whose double-bladed lightsaber seemed to block every one of their attacks.
Anakin ended up backing up into a droid and he grabbed the droid before tossing it at Savage who just grabbed it and tossed it behind him before attacking again.
In the lower levels of the dreadnought, Ventress and Dooku were still locked in a vicious battle. Their blades continued to blaze back and forth as they fought; attacks were blocked, counterattacks were dodged, strikes turned into thrusts, thrusts turned into slashes, slashes turned quickly into blocks. It was a never-ending cycle of similar attacks that only seemed to prolong the duel.
Ventress used the walls to her advantage running along them to keep ahead of Dooku and launch attacks from the sides. But Dooku wasn't a Sith Lord for nothing and he was able to counter all of her attacks. Seeing this, she flipped to land in front of Dooku her blades still held at a ready. She sliced downward at Dooku but Dooku caught the attack before lashing out with the Force and Ventress was sent flying into the wall.
Dooku, then, used the Force to deactivate and toss her lightsabers to the ground before unleashing a torrent of lightning that caused a scream of pain to escape Ventress's lips. She dropped to the ground gasping as Dooku advanced on her.
"Time to end this," Dooku said pointing his lightsaber downward in the beginnings of a killing thrust, "once and for all."
Ventress glared at her but she knew that the battle was lost and she would be a fool to stay. She moved just enough to where Dooku's blade slammed into the pipe unleashing a cloud of gas that temporarily blinded him giving Ventress the perfect opportunity to escape.
She dashed past him calling her lightsabers to her hands before she dived into the escape pod using the Force to open and close the hatch behind her. She quickly activated the pod before watching as it was jettisoned from the underbelly of the dreadnought. She sank down to the ground feeling failure wash over her as the escape pod floated in the silence of space.
The fight ended up in the same hangar where the Toydarian ship they had borrowed was parked and Obi-Wan knew that the droids there would be focused entirely on Savage, which meant that it was time for him and Anakin to leave.
"Come on, Anakin," he murmured blocking a blaster bolt before blocking Savage's attack. "They seem to be aiming only at him."
Anakin nodded in agreement.
Savage let out a shout of fury and unleashed a Force wave that sent everyone, Jedi and droids alike, flying to the ground. He then dashed to his ship and, before long, he was flying out of the dreadnought.
"Hey, you're not supposed to be here," one of the battle droids said and Anakin sliced it in half.
"Not sense in hanging around here," he said blocking several blaster bolts from the droids.
"I agree," Obi-Wan said before the two of them took off toward the Toydarian ship, entered it and guided the ship out of the hangar and away from the dreadnought.
Savage limped through the Nightsisters' village, eyes flaring with pain and exhaustion as he struggled to get to Mother Talzin before he collapsed.
"You have come home to us," Talzin said as Savage entered the conference room. He grabbed the back of the chair but collapsed before he could sit down.
Talzin knelt down beside Savage and helped him to sit up.
"I was betrayed by Ventress. The Jedi are after me. I wasn't strong enough to defeat them all," he said gritting his hands in frustration and anger.
"Calm yourself," Talzin said helping Savage to his feet. "You will be."
"I…I don't understand," Savage said as Talzin gestured and the glowing, orange orb drifted closer to them. "Who will teach me?"
"You have a brother," Talzin said gesturing to the orb.
"A brother?" Savage said looking into the glowing, orange light within the orb. "But all of my kin were killed."
"Not all of them. He lives in the Outer Rim," Talzin said as Savage looked at the Zabrak who closely resembled him but who's skin was red instead of yellow. "In exile. You will find him. He will teach you everything you need to learn to become even more powerful."
"My brother. How…How will I find him?" Savage asked turning away from the orb to look at Talzin.
"This talisman has been imbued with the power of our clan," she said holding out the talisman. "It will be your compass." She put the glowing talisman around Savage's neck and he took it in his hand to look at it.
"You have an important destiny to fulfill, Savage Oppress," the shaman added touching Savage's face. "You and your brother." She, again, gestured to the image of Savage's brother within the orb.
"Go, you will know where to find him," she added.
Savage turned around before calling his lightsaber to his hand and facing Mother Talzin again. "I will return, Mother," he said before he turned around and limped out of the room.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: and that was the end of the Nightsister duology
Darth: what's next?
Blaze: the Mortis trilogy, a special chapter that only one of my reviewers knows about, the Citadel trilogy then on to season four
Darth: cool. Are you going to have fun with the Mortis trilogy?
Blaze: (grins like Cheshire cat) hell yeah!
Darth: (chuckles and walks off to Starbucks)
Severus: will you get me a cappuccino?
Darth: sure thing
Harry: can I have a peppermint hot chocolate?
Darth: all right
Anakin: me too?
Darth: okay
Maul: me too?
Darth: screw you (blasts Maul with Waxer's bazooka)
Waxer: will you guys at least ask before you take my bazooka?
Darth: sorry dude (hands bazooka back and gets into line at Starbucks)
Blaze: (chuckles) please review and the next chapter, which will be covering "Overlords", part one of the Mortis trilogy, will be posted as soon as I finish writing it but, with college work and my original stories, it might take some time. I will try to get it up by Sunday but I make no promises.