ASAJJ VENTRESS

She decided to return to Dathomir after her unsuccessful assassination attempt on Dooku. While she knew she would be punished for her failure, especially after she let Savage Opress betray her and escape, but she had no other options.

She lost her place in the confederacy, Dooku wanted her dead and she had no other allies she could turn to.

That was why, defeated and ashamed, she travelled to Dathomir to face the jusgement.

When she landed on the planet and saw Mother Talzin, she almost forgot about her failure, feeling happy to return to her home, one she just recently learned she had. She knew she had duty to report her failure though, so she approached Talzin with heavy heart.

She was about to explain situation to Mother Talzin and beg for her forgiveness when she noticed that someone else was also there, standing not far away from the clan mother.

When she raised her eyes, she saw someone she hoped she would never see again. Darth Imperius, the one she approached on Nar Shaddaa under the guise of relic buyer, was here. A sith lord, whose power vastly eclipsed hers, was standing close to Mother Talzin!

She hurriedly raised to her feet, reaching for her lightsabers. She knew she was outclassed by herself, but with Mother Talzin's help they would surely be able to defeat him!

She turned on her lighsabers and let out a battle scream, ready to jump at Imperius. She would make him focus on protecting himself from her attacks, allowing Mother Talzin to deal the killing blow!

She bent her knees, trying to throw herself at her opponent, when she felt a sharp pain in the back on her head.

Then, blackness.

ADAS KALLIG

"Well, that was awkward" I said after using force to hit the aggresive zabrak in the back of her head with a nearby rock, knocking her out.

I was quite confused to be honest. I didn't meet thus woman before and yet she tried to attack me instantly after seeing me. She really had some problems with her temper, didn't she? You shouldn't attack someone without at least introducing yourself. It is just bad manners.

"...so" I started the conversation, trying to understand the situation "I assume she is one of nightsisters? Is she in the middle of her rebelious phase or something?" I asked Talzin, hoping she would explain. Her every other subordinate seemed level headed, so it was quite a shock to see a nightsister with so much aggresion.

From what I was able to observe, the most probable explanation was that she was a troublesome child of the family, returning home after commiting a screw up, hoping to crash in her mother's place for a while.

It seems even people as powerful as Talzin had to deal with family troubles, huh?

"...Yes, her name is Asajj Ventress. I sent her with a very specific mission, but it appears she failed. Well, I knew it was a long shot, so I am not that mad" She looked at the unconcious woman with a specific mix of cold and fondly gaze, which quite fitted her status as stern but loving mother.

"Thank you for sparing her. She is quite temperamental, but she can be quite useful when used correctly" Telzin replied, before signaling some male zabraks to take a woman, Asajj, to let her rest. "I will have to speak with her. I assure you, it will not happen again" with this words, she left.

Well, that was...something.

For know I wouldn't involve myself in this situation. It would be in poor taste to intervene in family matters.

ASAJJ VENTRESS

she woke up.

Her head hurt, as she felt pulsating pain, as if there was a hammer hitting her every few seconds. She could feel a soft bed under her, which probably meant she was resting somewhere. She couldn't remember laying down though.

What happened?

She tried to remember. She returned to Darhomir after escaping drom Dooku. She was able to meet Mother Talzin and then...

She opened her eyes in panic.

Darth Imperius! She was about to attack the sith lord and then her memories ended. Did he do something to her? Was Mother Talzin safe?!

She lifted her upper body in alarm, trying to find out where she was. She started to get up from bed.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you" she heard a voice coming from the side. She turned her head, only to see Mother Talzin sitting next to her bed, reading some book.

Asajj was confused by this. Weren't they just attacked by a dangerous sith lord? Was Talzin able go defeat him?

"...what happened?" She asked. She had to know if they were safe there. If Imperius was looking for them, they would have to move soon. It would be too dangerous to stay in one place.

"After you foolishly decided to attack Darth Imperius, he incapacitated you and let me take you. You are lucky he is quite...special for a sith lord, so he decided to spare you. Most wouldn't grant you this luxury" Talzin replied, sounding completely serious.

What the fuck?

Why did she act like a sith lord being in nightsisters' Village was something normal? Wasn't Mother Talzin trying to kill sith lords exacly because they were trying to involve nightsisters in their schemes?

"He isn't an enemy?" She asked incredulously. Wait, maybe it was the same situation as with Dooku, where they would act friendly before attacking when he was least suspecting. That must had been the case.

"As nonsensical as it sounds, he is an ally. You apparently know his power, so you must know that he could have just conquer nightsisters of he wanted. I wouldn't be able to stop him if he were to do that" What? Mother Telzin was the strongest person she knew, more than equal to even the strongest jedi and sith lords. And now she was saying she wouldn't be able to do a thing against Imperius? Mother Talzin must had seen doubt in her eyes.

"I see you don't believe it, but it is the truth. He is so much stronger than me that he could effortlessly beat the entire Village on his own. And yet, he wants to work together with us" Talzin then sighed, apparently still suprised by that development. " with Darth Imperius being so powerful, joining him was the best course of action, especially with so many benefits he was willing to give us. Not to mention the risks of refusing. That's why you must control that temper of yours. Not only for your own, but also for village's sake" she said, with the voice brooking no argument.

"I understand" said Asajj through gritted teeth. She understood the situation clearly.

So her Village was forced to work with the sith lord, not by actual violence, but by the threat of it. It was so effective that Mother Talizn didn't even entertain the thought of going against their new master.

Asajj was furious. This sith lord dared to do that to her newly found family? She would find a way to stop him! She wasn't strong enough for now, but it would change! She would train even harder until she was able to end the threat to her people...

...But were they still her people? She failed her mission. She was given tools, she was given advice, she was even given a powerful nightbrother to use and she still failed her task. She wouldn't be surprised if Mother Talzin decided to exile or even kill her for her failure.

She looked at Mother Talzin, her gaze no longer furious, but uncertain and full of defeat.

"...Mother, I must confess. I failed my mission. Count Dooku is still alive, while Savage Opress betrayed me and ascaped on his own. I failed you, Mother. I am ready to recieve any punishment" she lowered her head, ashamed. She finally found people she thought she could belong to and now she failed them. She was alone again...

"What are you saying, my child?" Asked Mother Talzin, as if suprised by her words. Asajj raised her eyes, only to see her smiling warmly. She freezed in place, not expecting such reaction. "I knew your success wouldn't be certain. I know that you tried your best, doing everything you could to kill that worm Dooku. And most important of all, you survived. It brings me joy to see a daughter of Darhomir returning home"

Asajj held back tears beginning to form in her eyes. Were her failures truly forgiven? How could Talzin forgive her after such an embarassment?

"Now, it's time for nightsisters to welcome their sisters back. Are you ready to join us in truth, Asajj Ventress? Are you ready to join nightsisters?" Asked Mother Talzin, still looking at Asajj warmly, like a Mother watching her child.

Asajj Ventress replied instantly, as the choice was obvious.

ADAS KALLIG

apparently return of Asajj Ventress was a big deal or something, as nightsisters decided to throw a party to celebrate it. Well, it was more of the ritual than a party, as they formally welcomed Asajj a nightsister by casting some spells and chanting incantations, but there was alcohol and food there, so calling it a party wouldn't be wrong as well.

It was quite funny that the only ones celebrating were women, with men only acting like servants, but I guess it was women-only event, something like bachelorette party. The situation probably would be reversed with a nightbrother returning home. Forgein cultures were weird. Why can't everyone just follow sith culture? It would be easier for everyone.

I was celebrating as well, probably my status as an ally being more important than my gender. I probably could have refused to come, letting girls celebrate on their own, but it could have been considered rude, so I decided to just sit and enjoy myself.

I took particular pleasure at seeing Ventress, now a nighsister, constantly trying to sneak a hateful look in my direction without anyone knowing. I would sometimes send her a wink, infuriating her even further. She really had some problem with me, wasn't she?

Wait, was that some sort of flirtatious behaviour? Was she trying to seduce me or something? Maybe that was just how courtship worked in Darhomir wildness. Dangerous environment, dark side in the air, new male arriving, it all made sense.

I was flattered, but I had a girlfriend already (well, she was currently dead, but it was not something that couldn't be fixed). I would have to turn Asajj down as gently as I could, so she wouldn't have any false hopes.

But that was the problem for tommorow. Today I would just enjoy myself.

Party was good overall, but something was missing. I didn't know what it was, but I didn't have to wait long for the answer.

Hours were flying by as everyone was celebrating until something unexpected happened. One moment I was enjoying the sky of dathomir, somehow visible through the dust and corruption, the next the sky was covered by numerous starships, confederacy ones if I was correct.

"So that's what the party has been missing!" I exclaimed just as the people around me started screaming.