Talon woke up alone. She looked around and saw that Savage had left her a water cantine. Suddenly her throat felt parched and her stomach hurt,
"I bet you'd like a drink of something wouldn't you?" she said to her baby. She got up and grabbed the cantine. She gulped all the water.
"Now time to see what Savage has planned for us."
Talon walked out to the meeting bay, he wasn't in here. She decided to head for the cockpit. The doors slide open and Talon saw Savage's feet hanging out of the main control chair. He was slouched with his head drawn forward and arms crossed. Talon giggled,
"How adorable! I wish I had a HoloCam!"
Savage awoke with a start at the sound of her voice. He then realized it was only her and relaxed,
"Hello my beauty!" he said to her sleepily. Talon smiled,
"Hello. So where have you plummeted us to?"
Savage smiled back,
"My home."
"Which is?" Talon inquired.
"Dathomir."
Talon sat back. She had never been to Dathomir. She knew practically nothing of it, except it's name and witches had lived on it. Well now that she came to think about it they were probably living there now. She had to remember she was in a different time.
"So what's Dathomir like? I've never been." Talon said.
"It's a planet that was untouched by the Clone Wars until that wretched Asajj Ventress showed up. Luckily only her kind seemed to be the ones that the Separatists army eradicated. Hopefully my village and tribe survived." Savage told her. Talon stared out the window into space,
"Is it well populated like Coruscant or Naboo?"
Savage shook his head,
"No. It's more of a place of survival of the best. It does not have fancy restaurants, diners, or shops. It's just red dust, fog, and big trees. My side of the planet though isn't foggy at all. It's somewhat established. And we take care of our own."
Talon opened the doors to the meeting bay of the ship,
"Well judging by the coordinates of the ship, it looks like we have a long trip ahead of us."
Savage looked down,
"Indeed we do. What are you going to do?"
Talon looked back,
"Reorganize in here to a training area."
"In that case I'll help you." Savage said. He punched the hyperdrive action and felt the ship lurch forward.
The next few hours were spent ripping out the chairs and tables of the meeting bay. They used the flat metal of the tables and chairs to weld the holes they left shut. Next Talon rewired the deployer droids Savage had bought as training droids. She tossed one to Savage,
"Boot it up to test it."
Savage pressed a button and the droid floated out of his hand, it scanned the area and sensed Talon's ignited lightsaber. It started firing rapid shots at her. She deflected them easily, absorbing the shot into her saber. She slowly made her way towards the droid, circling it, and then quickly pressed the power button. It shut down and dropped into her hand. Talon was smiling,
"I haven't had deflection training since I was a girl! That was quite fun! Savage you should try it!"
Savage stood up,
"I've been shot at enough times by droids, clone troopers, bounty hunters, and Mandalorians to know that I don't need deflection training."
Talon huffed,
"Suit yourself."
She went back to wiring the rest of the deployer droids. She stopped and straightened her spine. She rubbed the muscles. Savage looked up from his welding work,
"You okay?"
Talon closed her eyes,
"Yes I'm fine. I'm about 4 months pregnant remember? It takes a toll on me sometimes."
Savage stood up and crouched next to her,
"You should be resting then. Eventually we need to start taking better care of you."
He picked her up and set her down in the maiden quarters and left the door open. He opened the cabinets and found dehydrated coral worms in a bag. He opened the bag up to smell them. They didn't smell that old. Savage popped one into his mouth. They tasted fine. His stomach growled, he remembered he had not eaten in a while. He could wait until they arrived onto Dathomir. He walked back to Talon and set the bag down in front of her.
"Eat this. It'll help."
He then went back to welding the holes shut. Talon sat in the maiden quarters watching him. Eventually she fell asleep. Savage noticed her and placed her onto the couch and covered her with a blanket. He placed his hand over her belly. Instantly he was hit with sleepy Force waves his baby was sending. Savage closed his eyes and concentrated on these and looked for any sign of emotion from their soon to-be baby. He found happiness and love. He sighed,
"I'm only sorry it happened like this little one. I wish we could have given you a better home than Dathomir."
He opened his eyes with a start. He was feeling something through his connection to the baby. It was almost as though it's happiness was magnified. Savage laughed quietly,
"I get it little one."
Just as Savage was about to leave Talon grabbed his hand. He looked at her, she appeared to be sleeping. He stood there for a few minutes, letting her hold his hand. Slowly he bent down and kissed her hand. She released his hand and curled up. Savage smiled.
Savage worked for a few more hours, repairing the holes, rewiring the droids, checking on Talon, checking on the fuel for the ship, and seeing how much farther they were from Dathomir. He saw that now they were maybe about an hour away from the planet. He decided now would be a good time to wake Talon from her slumber. He quietly walked into the maiden quarters and gently shook her awake,
"Talon, Talon. We are almost there."
Talon sat up and yawned.
"We are?" she asked sleepily and rubbed her eyes, "Let me go flush my eyes out and I'll meet you in the cockpit." Savage turned to go and heard Talon step into the refresher. He hoped she was going to be alright on his home world. He had not yet figured out how he was going to get the head leader of his village, Brother Viscus, to accept Talon as part of the village. He would debate it later. Talon followed him in a few minutes later.
"You are looking refreshed." he commented.
"Thank you. A nap will do wonders to a person. You look like you could use one. You look like hell." Talon replied.
"Keeping us safe is my primary concern at the moment until I am sure we are safe. Until then I will rest when I deem it to be necessary." Savage told her, "Look we are almost to our new home. I hope you will like it."
Talon gently grabbed his hand,
"Of course I will. It will be something new. Plus I am Sith. I can survive anywhere,"
Savage smiled faintly at her,
"Well it's not only you who has to survive."
Talon placed her other hand on her belly,
"Then we can survive anywhere."
For the next hour they sat there talking about their future.
"Talon, I should confess something to you. I have not a clue how to have you be accepted by my village. The village has mostly deemed females heartless and cruel, due to how the Nightsisters treated us," Savage confessed. Talon laughed,
"After they meet me maybe they'll see why you brought us here. Not to mention I'm not what you call a Nightsister."
"I hope you are right."
The ship started beeping to tell them that they were approaching the far side of Dathomir. Savage grabbed the controls and steered the ship to a clear area just outside the village. The ship landed with a groan. Savage stood up.
"This is it."
He grabbed his lightsaber and clipped it to his hilt. Talon did the same. They walked down the exit ramp and trudged to the village entrance. Savage took a deep breath. He hadn't been home in almost a year and a half.
Talon sensed his anxiety and through the Force she tried to send him calming waves. This wasn't her expertise, but she tried her best. She followed Savage through the village. She heard gasps everywhere.
"It's Opress!"
"He's alive!"
"How'd he get so big?!"
Talon heard these little comments everywhere and realized she had never asked Savage about his background. She didn't know much more than what he told her. Talon looked around, she also felt the prying eyes of the villagers latching onto her. She felt their anger rippling off in waves. It almost knocked her over. She could not believe how much these men hated her. Then she remembered what Savage had told her about the Nightsisters. Savage stopped in front of a tall clay building. As they stopped ten or so Dathomirian Zabraks dropped out of the buildings and landed around them. They all had weapons of sorts in their hands. Talon's hand went for her lightsaber.
"Don't." Savage instructed.
An older looking Zabrak male walked out of the clay building,
"Ah so they let you live?" he asked.
"Not exactly." Savage answered.
"I see the witches have worked their magic over you." The Zabrak replied.
"Yes they have, but they have not changed my warrior spirit. I am here to stay." Savage said.
"Who is this woman you have brought with you?" the Zabrak asked, gesturing to Talon.
"She is my mate, Darth Talon. If she must go then so will I." Savage told him.
The Zabrak male did not say anything. He looked at Talon inspecting her.
"Come." He finally said.
"What?" Talon asked. She had been thrown off guard. She was expecting this leader to throw a warrior at her. To test her. Savage gently pushed her forward. She snorted and swatted hi hand away. She was not intimidated by these men in the least bit. She followed the leader into the clay building.
Once inside her eyes took a moment to focus. Inside she saw a wooden table surrounded by chairs. The Zabrak male was seated at one. Talon stood there, unsure of what to do. The Zabrak gestured to a chair. Talon bowed and using the Forced she pulled one out and seated herself in it.
"So who are you?" The Zabrak asked her.
"I am Darth Talon as Savage has told you. I am a Sith assassin from the planet Korriban. I time travelled from the future after my master was killed to spread the teachings of the Sith." Talon told him, "Now who are you?"
"I am Brother Viscus. I keep all the tribes here in order. So you've taken a liking to Opress?" he asked her.
"Yes I have. We are expecting soon eventually." Talon answered. Viscus took a closer look at her,
"I see that. That makes your bond with him permanent. He was not bluffing. I have to ask, do you mean the Nightbrothers harm?"
Talon snorted,
"I have never been to this planet. I cannot mean harm to a civilization I've never met for no good reason."
Viscus considered her answer,
"What do you have to offer the Nightbrothers?"
"I'm not sure, but I am quite the warrior myself and I am skilled at technical projects. I could teach your men how to wire and make your village more efficient. I could also teach them new combat skills and how to handle an enemy much like myself." Talon told him.
Viscus sat there deep in thought for a few minutes,
"All that sounds quite helpful. But I will trust Opress's word against yours for I trust him more than you."
"Very understandable. Perhaps eventually you will learn to trust me." Talon said and got up to leave. Before she left she bowed to Viscus. When she got outside she found Savage right where he had been when she went in.
"How'd it go?" He asked.
"I believe he is going to let me stay here in the village with you." Talon said smiling. Savage let out a sigh of relief,
"Good because I didn't have a plan otherwise."
Viscus came out of the building and motioned they come back in. Savage saw this and obeyed with Talon right behind him.
"Opress I would like to know if you know anything about the whereabouts of your brother?" Viscus asked. Savage flinched a bit at this request,
"They took him prisoner after I was taken and killed him right in front of me to ensure my hatred so they could use and manipulate me."
Viscus stroked his chin,
"This sounds very much like the Nightsisters. We also have not had any come for the Selection for the past year. Quite strange is it not?"
Savage took a step forward,
"After the NightSisters passed me on to the Separatists my master at the time ordered the eradication of them. I know Mother Talzin survived, but I would not doubt if the Nightsister that took me survived too. She had superior skills."
Brother Viscus took this all in,
"Well it is quite a relief not to worry about who will live and who will fall. Mother Talzin should be no threat to us on her own besides her magic, but without her clan I doubt she will strike out on her own. You and your mate are free to go."
As Talon and Savage walked away Talon remembered how Savage had flinched at the mention of his brother whom Talon had not known about.
"Savage what was Viscus talking about a brother? I thought Maul was your only brother." Talon asked him.
Savage stopped and turn to her,
"There was three of us. Maul, my other brother Feral, and myself. Feral and I had not known about Maul because he was taken from us as a small baby. Actually Feral had not yet been conceived and I was only about a standard year old. The Nightsister who bore us was taken from us and Feral and I were sent to the village. I still do not know what became of her or why she was taken from us."
Talon pondered this, Savage had flinched more than a person should at the sight of someone they loved being killed by another person, 'There has to be another reason' she thought.
"So what was that bullshit answer you gave Viscus? I can tell your feelings are not along the answer you gave." Talon told him.
Savage looked around and grabbed Talon's hand. He led her to behind a clay building and made sure no one had followed. He sighed he never told anyone this. Not even Maul. Maul only knew of Savage as his last kin. He had no idea that there had been a 3rd brother.
"I killed him." Savage said quietly.
Talon seemed unfazed,
"Oh. So that's why you seemed more uncomfortable than a person shoul've. Why?"
"I was under the influence of the Nightsisters… They channeled all my hate and anger into a brutal killing monster. Some of that monster still remains, but I've kept it under control. But at the time as my final test of loyalty they made me kill someone very close to me and whom I loved. And who better than my own younger brother? Every day I carry the memory of the fear in his eyes. It's something I will never be able to forget. It's why I try not to get attached to people, except that didn't happen with you. I was under your spell the moment I met you." Savage smiled, "And I haven't regretted a minute of it."
Talon smiled gently up at him, she would tire of hearing that. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and planted a kiss on his lips,
"I haven't either. I've enjoyed every moment with you."
Together they explored the village. Savage already knew most of it from living there most of his life, but for Talon it was all new. She saw that all the buildings seem to have been handmade. 'There's not one droid in sight around here!' she thought. It was like going farther back in time to ancient times. They stopped in front of an abandoned looking home. Talon had a feeling of what was next, but she decided to ask anyway,
"Why are we stopping?"
Savage just stood silent for a moment,
"My…old home…"
Memories came flooding back of him and Feral. He shook his head and pushed his way inside. Everything was just the way it had been when he had left that fateful morning. Talon had followed him in. Savage walked through everything once. The memories came pushing back through his mental barrier, 'You killed him… Look what happened to him because of you… it's your fault…' his mind told him. Talon sensed anger rising in Savage. He roared and started pounding his fists against the walls and throwing whatever his hands came in contact with. Talon nimbly trying to dodge his swings. Savage grabbed his lightsaber and began to slash a the walls, door, beds, dressers, whatever was in his path. Talon saw his saber coming towards her. He hadn't even realized it in his blind rage. She quickly ignited hers and blocked his accidental attack. When he moved out of the doorway she dove for the exit. Whatever had thrown him into his fit she would let him deal with on his own. She stood outside the house and pitifully listened to him screaming inside the house,
"Blasted Nightsister bitches!"
"I hate you!"
"I will kill them all for you Feral!"
Talon then heard the sound of crashes end and the screaming stopped. She peeked through the door way. Savage was kneeled down in the room holding some sort of weapon in his hand. She crept into the house. It was an axe he was holding.
'That must've been Feral's…' she thought to herself. Slowly she walked towards Savage. He was silent. She knelt next down to him and stayed silent. They sat that way for a while. Finally Savage stood up. He motioned for Talon to follow him. She did. Savage walked back to their ship and walked up the ramp. He stopped and stood in the meeting bay. He sighed and turned to Talon,
"I'm sorry for my outburst… I've been haunted by Feral's memory since he died by my hands…"
Talon cocked her head at him,
"It's okay. I know somewhat of how you feel. I killed my own master. But I think of his death as an honorable sacrifice to my success. I was his best student. I know he would've wanted that."
Savaged closed his eyes and bowed his head,
"Maybe so… But I can't think of my younger brother that way. He would've died for me if it meant I lived, but not that way… I'm sorry Talon. I can't speak of this right now."
Talon walked to him and pulled him into an affectionate embrace,
"It's ok. It's still a fresh wound. Go relax. I'll see if I can hunt us some dinner."
She pushed Savage forward to where ever he pleased and she left the ship. She walked farther into the forest. Eventually she stopped and closed her eyes. She looked through the Force looking for life forms. She found one. It appeared to be somewhat large. She opened her eyes and pinpointed its location. She began to quietly creep towards it. She saw it finally. It was a flightless type bird. It had a skulled face, elongated neck and reddish orange feathers with a thin hairless tail. Talon leapt out from behind a tree and aimed her saber at its chest. She drove her saber into it. It screeched a cry and fell to the ground. Talon smiled. She remembered survival tests from back when she was still training. She grabbed the bird by the head and dragged it back to the center of the village. She stripped its feathers with her lightsaber. Some young Zabrak boys were watching her and watching the feathers fall to the ground. Talon looked at them. She looked at the feathers on the ground. She smiled slightly. Talon waved her hand over the fallen feathers. They blew towards the boys. The boys laughed and grabbed all the feathers they could and ran off. Talon focused back to skinning to bird. An orange Zabrak came up to her quietly. She continued cutting. The Zabrak finally spoke,
"The skin can be cooked into a tasteful meal."
"Why don't you demonstrate?" Talon retorted. The Zabrak huffed,
"Fine I will. Just because you're a woman does not mean I hate you or fear you. Your lightsaber does not intimidate us either."
Talon laughed,
"Then why am I sensing hate and anger rolling off you like water? You're not even worth my time."
The Zabrak smiled,
"Water trickles off the body. It rolls down mountains and waterfalls."
Talon turned to the Zabrak,
"How clever," she smiled, "What is your name?"
The Zabrak hulled the skin meat over a wooden rack to cook,
"My name is Verun." He answered.
"Pleasure to meet you." Talon replied.
"So how do you know Savage?" Verun asked her. Talon was caught off guard by his question. She heard the sizzling of her saber as it swiped into the carcass. She looked at it more closely now, it looked clean enough to cook. She used the Force to put onto the wooden rack Verun was using.
"I met him out of… circumstances. How do you know him?" Talon said. Verun looked sad,
"He, his brother, and I were all childhood friends and then they grew up to be tribal leaders and we stopped making contact. But I never forgot him and I watched him be chosen by the Nightsister and go through his Trials for her. He was quite impressive. But I thought he would've been long dead by now seeing as that's Dathomir tradition. But I am overjoyed to see his return. That's one more person I don't have to worry about losing. And he is still a passionate warrior. But any friend of his is a friend of mine. I would like to catch up with him when I can."
Verun removed the skin mean and bit off a piece,
"Mmm… Delicious! Here," he ripped off two pieces, "For you and Savage. So long Talon, I'll be seeing you around soon."
Talon smiled. 'There are kind people here after all.' She finished grilling the bird carcass. She cut two generous size pieces off. She turned to the village and winked. Talon then proceeded to her ship to serve Savage and herself dinner. As she walked away she hurt numerous Zabraks tear into her kill.
Talon set their dinner on the dashboard of the ship. She clapped her hands together,
"Savage!"
Savage's head popped out from under the cockpit. 'Oh that's where you were' she thought.
"Dinner's here." She smiled. Savage's stomach growled loudly. He remembered he hadn't eaten in quite a few days,
"Smells delicious!"
He sat down in the main pilot seat and Talon sat opposite to him. Savage wolfed down the main portion and savored the skin meat.
"Your quite the cook." He commented as he popped a slice of skin into his mouth. Talon smiled sheepishly,
"Actually the skin wasn't my handiwork… It was an old friend of yours. Verun?"
Savage's head snapped up, his eyes were wide.
"He's still here?! I thought he would've been picked in all the time I've been gone!"
"I take it as you're very fond of him?" Talon asked.
"He was like my other brother. I took care of him and Feral. I showed them battle moves, where to hunt, combat, and mostly everything else a Nightbrother needs to know." Savage replied. His eyes drifted off into a daze. Talon smiled. She loved seeing Savage this happy.
'Maybe this can be a way of him making up for Feral's death.' Talon thought. But she didn't say anything. She just got up from her meal, kissed Savage on the head, and went on to cleanse herself. Just as she was about to head into the refresher Savage pulled her out. He grabbed a robe from a hall closet.
"Come! Let us cleanse in the hot springs!"
Talon had no idea what he was talking about but she complied. He grabbed himself a towel. He took his clothes with him, he wanted to rinse them off to. He showed her where there was a hot spring before he had left. He smiled as he found it. It was blue but at the far end eruptions happened which gave off a gold hue light that extended to the entire spring. He dropped his clothes near the edge and let his towel fall. He turned his head to look back at Talon. She was looking him up and down.
Talon had mostly seen Savage naked when they made love and that one time she used the Force, but here he was full nude and standing on the edge of a glowing pool. Her mouth watered at the sight of him. She took in his broad shoulders, his muscled chest, and his strong abs. As her eyes travelled lower and lingered on something. She felt herself become a little hot and tense in her private area. She closed her eyes before her instincts overtook her. When she opened them she found Savage already submerged in the water, relaxed. Talon stripped her clothes and piled them neatly. She stood on the edge, dipping a toe in. How refreshing it would feel on her sore feet and back.
Savage opened his eyes from his relaxed state to find Talon looming over him. He gazed at her long legs and curvy figure. How he loved her legs. He watched her submerge into the water. She scooted over to him so she was resting in the crook of his shoulder. He turned his head and kissed her on the base of one of her lekku, she was perfection itself.
They sat in silence for a while just relaxing in the water. They both got relaxed to the point they almost drifted off. Talon was thoroughly enjoying the water. She had never experienced such a luxury. She smiled 'One upside of this planet'. Savage was dazing thinking back to when he, Feral, and Verun had been children and they use to play and foold around the springs. He smiled. At least he had someone else who was like a brother to him.
Eventually the duo decided it was time for them to return to their ship and settle down for the night. Savage wrapped his towel around his waist and knelt down to swish his clothes in the water. As he did so he saw a considerable amount of dirt fall from them. He was amused that it was not more. Talon was already robed. They headed back to the ship. Savage put his clothes down in the lower engine compartment of the ship. It was still considerably warm down there. His clothes would dry quickly. He walked back to the master bedroom and found Talon wrapped up in the sheets. She decided to sleep naked. Savage felt the same. He climbed in next to Talon and stroked her lekku.
Talon hummed. Savage's stroking was putting her to sleep. Eventually her humming turned into her quiet steady breaths. Savage's heart sang and eventually he calmed his mind to the point where he could drift off to sleep.