Savage had his lightsaber in his hand, ready to defend himself against droids, Grievous, Maul, or even Dooku again. He tapped his comlink again,
"Asajj! Where are you?!"
"Oh now you want my help?" her voice cracked through.
"I'm locked inside this base and I don't know where I am exactly!" Savage snapped, "Come shoot a wall out!"
Asajj laughed through the static,
"And give them the location of me? Not a chance! I'll have D7 look up the base's blueprints and your location and give you directions out."
Savage growled,
"Better hurry up witch."
"Ah have we gone back to calling me that?" Asajj asked sarcastically.
"If you don't get me out of here we won't be calling you anything at all!" Savage threatened.
Asajj must've felt the threat because she shut up and went to downloading the blueprints.
Minutes later Asajj reappeared on the comlink,
"Go left in 30 feet!"
Savage ran and turned left,
"Now where?"
"Right in another 30." Asajj said quickly, "Then another right, 2 left and you'll be in the hangar which leads to outside. Once your out place your homing beacon and we'll come get you."
Savage growled, but followed her directions. Once he had reached the hangar all the battle droids looked at him. One tapped it's head,
"Master, the prisoner has escaped and is in the hangar!"
Savage blinked and ignited his lightsaber. He blew through the droids and deflected a few bullets, although they were still hitting him.
Savage just dove for the cover of the trees. Quickly he jammed his finger onto the homing beacon,
"Asajj! I've activated the beacon, come get me!"
"We're receiving it now." She said.
Savage kept running through the forest to avoid being caught by Dooku's forces. He heard the whir of the speedbikes race through the trees looking for him. He dove underneath a bush he hoped was big enough to cover him. He stayed very still waiting for Asajj's confirmation of him.
After a few minutes he heard a beeping. He slowly crept out from the bush and saw his ship. He had never been happier to see it. Asajj ran down the ramp,
"Hurry up Savage! D7 can only keep the droids busy for so long!"
Savage needed no more encouragement. He leapt up to the ramp, pushing himself and Asajj into the engine room. Asajj lifted her head,
"D7! Full power into space!"
The ship lurched forward and Savage fell back against a pipe. Once the ship leveled out he stood up. He offered a hand to Asajj,
"Thanks for coming to get me."
"What are partners for?"
Talon sat try to coax a fish to jump out of the water. She had wandered into the forest to see if anything awaited her or if Nomad had come back. She hadn't seen any signs of him, but she had seen stark beauty in Dathomir's forest. Her attention had been caught by a silver stream jumping out of the water. So far she had been able to coax it to come up and breathe, jump twice, and flap its tail. Now she was trying to delve herself far enough into its mind that she would ultimately control its fate. To her delight with only a little resistance the fish gave in and let her control it. She watched it haul itself up onto the dirt and flop around a bit and then it took it's last breathe. She picked it up, happy with her work. She felt a sharp kick. Talon looked down,
"I know you're upset little one, but this is the way of life."
The baby kicked again, but harder this time. Talon stooped a little,
"Damn you must really upset."
She straightened up and slowly made her way to the village. Once there she flopped the fish on a rock by the fire and settled down by it, wrapping her coat tighter around her. She pulled her saber out and studied the craftsmanship of it. She remembered building it and feeling it's pieces fit perfectly together, the perfect weapon. She was more proud of it because as a girl she had been the one to finish hers first. She remembered how Master Ruyn had congratulated her, but to her that approval meant very little. The approval she had wanted most was that of Krayt's, but he rarely met with the children. He tested the strength of the adults or talented teenagers. From that moment she had dedicated herself to being one of the "talented" teenagers.
Talon shook herself out of the memories,
"The only approval I want now is Savage's."
She looked around mournfully and envisioned him standing outside his old home and watching the youngest Nightbrothers rampaged through the village, pretending to be the little warriors they would be someday. She missed his presence. He hadn't communicated through the dark side to her. 'Probably doesn't know how' she thought to herself. Talon lurched forward as pain struck through her body,
"Damn! What is your deal today?!" she said irritably. She got up in a fuss and made her way back to the orphanage. She was going to meditate and possibly try to convey the fact to her child that he/she could wait on the bad behavior.
Savage walked out of the refresher with a clothe on his face. He walked into his bedroom and found Asajj sitting in front of the closet holding a shirt of Talon's.
"What did Maul mean by "ladyfriend"? Or "current means of a family"? In fact Savage you haven't bothered to explain to me what the whole contents of this ship are for?! There's women's clothing in this room, along with shoes! Women's products in the refresher! Not to mention a NURSERY?! What is going on Savage?" Asajj asked in frustration.
"What's going on in my life is none of your concern. It's my business and mine alone." Savage said simply.
"Guess I'll find out when I throw all this out in the trash dispenser." Asajj said quickly. She proceeded to gather all the pieces. Savage lunged to her and wrapped a hand around her throat and pinned her up high on a wall,
"Don't you dear touch any of those. Do it again and I'll sever your hands, along with everything else."
Asajj looked at him with her cold blue eyes,
"So there is a she."
Savage looked at her and then down. He dropped her to the floor and walked out of the room. He walked into the nursery, staring at it. He missed preparing for the arrival of his child. He'd been so caught up in this mission that he'd only been able to think about Talon and his baby in his dreams. It unsettled him a bit. Savage turned and walked into the control room,
"D7, set a course for Dathomir. We're headed home."
The little droid beeped. Savage walked over to the control panel and pulled up a holographic form of Dathomir, studying the planet. He saw something on it he had never seen before.
"Blue Desert City? What the hell?" he commented,
"When Talon's ready I'm taking her there."
He imagined taking her there and enjoying anything the city had to offer.
"Whatcha looking at?" Asajj asked lazily.
"A holo map of Dathomir. I never really knew anything about the planet except where I was and what survival skills were taught. I did just discover a city amongst it though. A real actual city. The galaxy never seems to be out of surprises for me." Savage murmured, staring off. Asajj rolled her eyes and twirled the map looking for something to study as well.
Talon opened her eyes, panting. What was this pain she was feeling? Her eyes squeezed shut as pain rippled through like earlier.
"Oh galaxies… Not now… Not yet…" she cried. She hauled herself up to her bed and gripped the sheets. She panted, preparing herself.
"Jorax! Kye! Someone!" she yelled.
Jorax popped his head through the door,
"Yes milady? What can I get for you?"
Savage's private comlink channel beeped wildly. His heart dropped at the sound of it,
"Kye?"
"Opress! You must make it back here now!" Kye said quickly.
"What is it? What's happening? Is she alright?" Savage asked.
"She's fine for the moment, but not for long. If you don't get here soon, you will miss it…" Kye explained.
"I'll be there soon. Keep her comfortable and tell her I'm on my way." Savage said. He then shut the channel off.
"D7, full power to the engines and get the hyperjump ready. We need to reach Dathomir in the next few hours."
Savage quickly walked to the back of the ship and paced, thinking and hoping he'd make it in time.
Asajj sat in the cockpit, confused on what conversation Savage had just had with whomever "Kye" was. 'What could it be? Who's she?' Asajj thought. She debated on whether to confront him over it or to leave it alone. She decided that she was going to ask him about it. She crept slowly through the ship to the back and stood outside the doorway.
"I know you're there." Savage said quietly.
"No use waiting then. What's happening? Why the rush back to Dathomir?" Asajj asked.
"Don't you want to return home?" Savage asked.
"Of course, but clearly not as much as you want to." Asajj said, "Which brings me to wonder what's rushing you back? Along with who the hell is this woman you're clearly worried over?"
Savage's eyes burned deadly when he turned to face her,
"What did I tell you earlier? It's my business. Why is this so damn important to you?!"
"Because it's obvious you care. Instead of caring for me even after all the time I took choosing you. Even after all the power I granted to you." Asajj said quietly.
Savage laughed irritably,
"You didn't grant me power. You ruined my life and destroyed the one thing I had held close to my heart. And yes, you chose me, but I didn't chose you! But you know… I have to thank you almost! For all the shit that you started and put me through, you helped put me on the path to find her. And to bring her into my life. So thank you for giving my life meaning."
Asajj stood there, confused on what the hell he was talking about. She turned to leave, 'I hope this woman is worth it to him.'
Talon was sweating. She had the two Nightbrothers holding her lekku up to help circulate cool air to her body. They had also placed a bucket of cool water next to her bed and a clothe over her head. Kye had barricaded the whole orphanage off and only had a few trusted Nightbrothers within the building.
"Master Talon, I just had contact with Opress. He says he is on his way. And if I know that Nightbrother and I do, he'll be here within a few hours. Just relax as much as you can and focus on waiting for him to come home to us." Kye told her, trying to calm her down.
Talon could only nod. She dropped her head back and grit her teeth as another contraction came on. She had no idea how this pain surpassed her training. She tried to focus her mind on that. A Nightbrother threw another cold clothe on her and lightly wiped her lekku down, trying to help relax her.
She could tell none of them knew much of what they were doing, but she appreciated them trying. She released her grip slightly on the sheets as the contraction subsided, but was hit with a wave of having to catch her breath. 'Savage better get his damn horned ass back here… so help me…' she thought.
Within hours the astromech beeped, alerting Asajj that they were within range of Dathomir.
"Go tell the self absorbed Nightbrother." Asajj replied grumpily. The droid rolled off to go report his findings to Savage. Within seconds Savage flew through the doors and into the pilot seat. He took control of the ship and aimed in down towards the lower part of Dathomir. The ship's alerts started screaming wildy.
"Savage! You're going to kill us! You're steering us in too hot!" Asajj screamed.
"I can't wait anymore time!" Savage shouted back.
"Well you'll be waiting forever at this rate if you don't slow it down!" Asajj retorted, "You need to let the ship natural adjust to the planet's orbit. It'll only take a few minutes instead of a few deathly seconds."
As much as Savage didn't want to he had to listen to the Nightsister witch. He pulled the controls back up and the ship groaned in appreciation.
Like Asajj said, Savage only had to wait a few minutes before the ship confirmed it was safe enough to land. Savage excitedly grabbed the controls and dashed through the trees and landed just outside his village. He jumped up from his seat and jammed the ramp open. At his arrival a few Nightbrothers had excitedly gathered at the edge of the village to greet him. Asajj quickly followed him. At the sight of her all the Nightbrothers stood abruptly.
"Who gave you permission to follow me?" Savage said half irritated, half distracted.
"No one."
Savage couldn't care less at the moment. He quickly made his way to orpanage.
"Kye! Open the doors! It's Savage! I'm back!" Savage shouted.
The doors opened and Jorax motioned for him to come in. Savage streamed in through the doors. Asajj tried to come in, but was blocked by Jorax,
"Only Opress is allowed inside at the orphanage at the moment."
"Allow her passage where ever she would like." Savage said quickly.
He turned and made his way up the stairs and stopped at Talon's door. He prepared himself for his heart to jump. He opened the door and felt his heart skip at beat at the sight of her.
"Talon!" he said lovingly. He raced to her side and pulled her lips to his.
"Savage…" she said weakly.
Savage pulled her head against his. He missed feeling her skin against his.
"Look how much of you there is… I'm here now, I'm here." He said quietly.
Talon tried to enjoy his return but she was stopped by a wave of multiple contractions. Savage held her hand and tried his best to console her.
Asajj stood at the doorway. She finally got everything that had happened and why Savage's behavior had changed so much since the last time she saw him. She was also studying the woman. She realized she had also never heard a name, except she. What startled Asajj most was the woman's appearance. Asajj could tell her tattoos were Sith tattoos because Asajj had seen them occasionally in books that Dooku had given her, but Asajj had never even heard of a Sith apprentice named Talon. She could tell that this red twi'lek was definitely a person of power and someone to be careful of but she was just astonished to see someone who had evaded the Sith forces for so long…
Talon screamed again as pain ripped through her body. Savage let go of her hand and positioned himself to catch his baby as it entered the world. No other Nightbrother had thought of to do it because it was a misdemeanor against their greatest warrior. Talon heaved again.
"Your almost there Talon. Just a little bit more…" Savage said soothingly.
Asajj felt out of place and left the room. She went downstairs. Asajj was not sure of what to do with herself. A pale yellow Zabrak walked up to her,
"You are a Nightsister are you not?"
"Yes I am. What's it to you?" She shot back.
"Easy. I am Kye. I have been Talon's caretaker along with one of our students, Jorax. I am just curious as to how you exist? Aren't Nightsisters extinct? Except for Talzin." Kye asked.
"Yes they were all killed, but I survived. Mother Talzin sent me away, but I guess after a year or two she's decided she's lonely and ready to build another empire." Asajj said.
Kye stayed stone face,
"Aren't you happy to be back on your home planet?"
"In a way yes, but I want to be useful here, not an object." Asajj snapped.
"Do this. We are running low on cool water for Master Talon and I can only spare the guards to get it, but then I'll have no guards. Why don't you stand guard until they come back with the water?" Kye suggested.
Asajj only nodded.
She took her place outside the building and awaited the return of the guards and the arrival of a new little lifeform.
Almost a day later, after many shifts of guarding, fetching, and tending to did all the hustle stop. Asajj had dozed off in a chair when she heard the faint cry of a small infant. 'An infant?' she thought. She looked up the stairs and wondered.
After almost two hours all the Nightbrothers that had been attending to Talon came down the stairs looking somewhat exhausted.
"Go out have yourself a little hunt to release any anxiety. Then you are free to come back and rest either in your rooms or down in the hot springs. If any Nightbrother bothers you about it tell them to report to me." Kye said and he sent them off.
He walked over to Asajj,
"Would you like anything?"
Asajj looked up,
"No I am fine." N
Kye shrugged his shoulders and left out the doors. Asajj slumped back in the chair and waited for whoever was next to come down the stairs.
After an hour or so Savage trumped down the stairs. Asajj looked up,
"So I'm assuming that's the big secret you refused to tell me?"
Savage looked at her,
"Yeah. I didn't want anyone knowing about her being here in case you decided to be a witch bitch and run off to tell Dooku or Maul."
Asajj stood up,
"I've told you! I wanted to get back here as much as you did!"
Savage just looked at her.
"Anyway who the hell is she?" Asajj asked, "I've never seen her, heard of her, hell I barely even recognize her tattoos."
Savage laughed slightly,
"She is of many wonders. She says she comes from the future of a rule with someone named Krayte. But how I met her was she appeared out of lightning on Maul's and I ship and we allowed her passage aboard it and one thing led to another with her and here we are."
"Wow." Asajj said, "So you picked a woman who's probably more deadly than I am?"
Savage laughed,
"Can you zap people like Dooku can?"
Asajj's jaw dropped,
"She can?!"
Savage smiled. Asajj pulled her mouth closed,
"So how is she?"
"She is fine at the moment. Very tired, but she's in good health." Savage answered.
"What'd you two make?" Asajj asked.
Savage folded his arms. Asajj laughed now,
"What it's on everyone's mind. No one just has the guts to ask."
"Fine. It's a baby girl. No sign of lekku or horns though so it'll be interesting to see how she turns out." Savage answered.
"Have you picked a name? She can't be nameless her whole life." Asajj asked.
"Sarria," Savage told her, "Don't you have to make your presence known to Talzin?"
"I'm sure she already knows I'm here. But I just wanted to say thank you for giving me passage here and helping somewhat ensuring my safety back." Asajj said.
She was just about to leave when Savage called her back,
"I'll give you one last thing to be thankful for. And because I know your dying to know."
He motioned for her to follow him upstairs. At Talon's door he opened it slowly,
"Hey Talon. This is the Nightsister that ruined my life and who I was sent to find. I just thought before she left that I'd give her one last thing to be thankful for. A look at Sarria."
Talon seemed a little unsure of Savage's idea. Asajj smiled,
"Don't worry I'm not going to do anything."
Talon nodded,
"Okay."
And she presented little Sarria to her. Asajj gasp a little. The baby's skin was a fire orange color. Sarria opened her eyes lazily, Asajj saw they were a greenish grey color. She also had Talon's long lashes. Asajj looked at Talon,
"You two have a very promising little one."
Asajj turned to leave,
"Savage thank you."
Savage didn't say anything, he was interested in Sarria's interest at his fingers.
Asajj shook her head and left the building. She walked out of the village and headed for her long journey to the Nightsisters coven.
Inside the orphanage Savage was admiring his little baby girl.
"Talon she's absolutely perfect. Good job." He kissed her.
Talon laughed,
"She's got her good looks from her father. Hopefully she'll have his skill too."
They both sat on the bed adoring the new little lifeforce that they could call theirs forever.