[20 BBY]
[Temporary Encampment, Groundside Dathomir, Dathomir System, Quelii System, Outer Rim Territories]
Asajj Ventress watched from a distance, ignoring the drizzling rain as Mother Talzin spoke, drinking tea or beers; she wasn't sure, with General Stormcrow under a hastily erected pavilion. Hours had passed, and something important discussed, as she could recognise orders flowing up to the starship in orbit, and then an hour later a LAAT descended. Descended and then unloaded several secure cases, droids delivering them to the pavilion before withdrawing to the cordon of ships as the green-skinned alien spoke on a communicator, then back to Mother Talzin.
Even from here she could feel the tension in the Force, the build up towards something...something she couldn't understand, yet felt coming. Sidious was important, but Asajj wasn't entirely sure *why* based on what she knew from experience with her former, traitorous Master Count Dooku. There was also something else...something that had nearly led to violence, a breakdown between Asajj's new tribe and this ruthless, for all his pretences of civilized kindness, would be warlord.
Now though...he had removed his helmet, and the conversation involved a number of hand gestures by both, and these strange surges in the Force she felt. So, all she could do was watch the droids and small numbers of troopers in heavy armour guarding the Republic General that was either a Sith, or close enough not to matter in Asajj's opinion. Oh, he used the Light side heavily, but so had Dooku, and he was a Sith Master, and Mother Talzin's silence on certain things supported such in Ventress's mind. All she could...
A hand gesture and a flicker at the corner of her mind indicated she was to approach the pavilion and her line of thought was interrupted as she moved to do so. Some unnerved her as she neared them, a tense shimmering in the Force as the Stormcrow gave her a false smile as his body language, armour disguising it more than she'd like, and spoke of potential concerns. Still, he raised his bottle of whatever it was towards her "Ah, Asajj, Naa'leth, come join us, though it shan't be long as it seems our little discussion is about to be rudely interrupted"
"Naa'leth, return to the village immediately, they are to prepare. Daka will know..." Mother Talzin stated calmly but firmly, ignoring what the Stormcrow had said "...and Asajj, the time has come I think to deal with certain matters"
"Mother?" Asajj asked with concern as Naa'leth bowed and dashed off into the forest, another Nightsister joining her "How may I help?"
Silence greeted her a moment, the powerful gaze of the Mother Talzin glancing at the Stormcrow who sighed "I do believe your former Master is on his way here, and I've been tricked, and the bribed, into aiding these fair maidens you have joined in the noble cause of, hopefully, slaying Dooku and a certain cyborg who goes by the name of Grievous"
Asajj couldn't help but hiss out a breath "He will bring a fleet not just himself, and that will..."
Daron Stormcrow shrugged, gesturing at Mother Talzin as he cut Asajj off "Oh that I don't doubt, and I also suspect my escort force won't be enough to deal with it. Such as been said already, but she has given me a name to go with a name, and has her own plans, so...here we are, comrades in arms once again! Also, too good an opportunity to give up, chance at either..." the armoured warlord shrugged again "...well, worth a shot"
Mother Talzin nodded, gesturing at Asajj kindly "Yes, it seems my concerns in the Force have been realised, and...certain plans have been made to deal with them"
Almost without thought Asajj felt her hands start to move towards her lightsabers; this was her fault, she was the link that bound them, that brought her former Master and that mechanical abomination here. To her new home, to her new family...and there was little she could do but fight. But she forced herself to relax, to stop her desire to grab and ignite her blades at a glance from Mother Talzin; Daron seemed unbothered, but beyond the Stormcrows guards were tensing...
--
[20 BBY]
[Trachta Apartment Complex, Off Bilbousa Bazaar, Bilbousa City, Nal Hutta, Y'Toub System, Hutt Space, Mid-Rim]
Shaak Ti wrinkled her nose as she and her fellow council member stalked silently through the large, luxurious, complex that housed their quarry. Knights Secura and Swan were dealing with the local security forces, Hutt security forces, and that were as fetid and corrupt as this world felt in the Force. Why the Sith had come here they were not sure of, though it was likely due to the vile nature of the place matching the vile nature of the Sith she suspected.
Whatever the reason Republic informants had discovered what they had struggled to find with the Force; the mad, possessed, and rogue Dark Acolyte had arrived on the Hutt's world and established himself in this place. Adi Gallia and she herself were blessed in that; the search was absorbing resources the Order could not afford to spend with the war damaging the Republic as it was. Shaak herself should be in Kamino to ensure the place was protected, so the Clones continued being produced to serve the Republic, but as with the others this task demanded action and they could not turn away from the duty.
So far the gang of scum the Sith had recruited, despite being well armed and trained, had been weak-minded and allowed them enter and ascend without any great difficulty. Even now she merely had to motion with her hand, gesture at the door, and the bored looking guard opened and allowed them access without complaint. Sure they were in hooded robes, concealing the lightsabers at their belts along with their faces, but it was proving as successful as Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker had shown it to be in reports. Even now, as the last door hissed open softly and they stepped through to confront the vile Sith standing at a table pouring something from a bottle into a glass...
"Oh, good, the strippers the Hutts mentioned have arrived!" the vile creature stated in a cheerful tone as the others in the room, three armed humanoids, moved hands towards their weapons but did not draw "Hello Ladies! Lord Kallig, a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"
Shaak Ti paused in her advance, frowning darkly as she glanced at Adi Gallia before glaring back at the Sith giving them a friendly wave "We are not strippers Sith"
"Oh..." the human male replied with an awkward shrug "...sorry...Professional Dancers if you prefer"
The Force pulsed as she and Adi tapered down on their momentary surge of emotion as the Sith took a sip from his glass as she and Adi shed their hooded robes and stood in their 'light combat' robes "We are Jedi Sith! We are here for you!"
He blinked, glancing at the drink, then back at them "They have Jedi strippers now? What, did they phase out the Consulars? Because that works surprisingly well on certain planets..."
"FOR THE LAST TIME WE ARE NOT STRIPPERS! WE ARE JEDI!"
"Then why are you dressed like one!" he replied indignantly as Shaak Ti felt her eye twitch as he pointed at her with his glass "Ha! Gotch there now didn't I?"
"We are not strippers, nor dancers, we are Jedi here to arrest you!" Adi managed to get out in a calm and stoic tone despite the irritation of dealing with this kriffing buffoon.
"For what?" the Sith demanded sounding confused "...I'm pretty sure I haven't done anything yet...or that the statute of limitations would have run out on other stuff by dint of the old court system not existing anymore"
"You are a Sith..." Shaak Ti replied calming herself, focusing on the mission "...we are arresting you for that crime. Come quietly and your punishment shall be eased"
"I'm pretty sure that's not a crime, been reading up on Republic law and that isn't there" he replied drinking again, and Shaak Ti glared back.
"We are Jedi, and Darksiders and their crimes are ours to guard against within the Republic. Such petty things as the Senates rulings do not have any effect on us doing what is right and true for the good of all"
"Well lucky me then we aren't in the Republic..." the Sith replied making a relieved gesture with his free hand against his forehead "...so, unless you start with the stripping I suggest two lovely ladies turn around and...annoy someone else with your Jedi-ness"
Shaak Ti shook her head hand taking lightsaber into hand and igniting it, with Adi Gallia replicating her movements beside her "Sith, surrender! Two Master of the Council are beyond you!"
"Really?" he replied clearly afraid, flummoxed as he looked them up and down, then up and down again "Really? You're on the Jedi Council?...really, you're not yanking my chain?"
"There will be no more warnings Sith, yield or be slain..."
Adi had started to say before PAIN engulfed Shaak Ti as the humans hand arced out a torrent of lightning into her and her fellow Jedi Master. Agony suffused her being and she collapsed, the lightsaber flying from her hand as the darkness consumed her. The last thing she heard was the Sith's muttering as his strange Force signature expanded like a supernova over them as her eyes rolled up in her head "...kriffing Jedi...move again...now whats that number...Oh, hey, Security, I'd like to report two...breaking and entering...attempted assault...oh tell the Hutts their Jedi..."
--
[20 BBY[Plus Six Hours, Twenty Minutes]
[Temporary Encampment, Groundside Dathomir, Dathomir System, Quelii System, Outer Rim Territories]
"...low road, and I'll be in Scotland before you" I sang softly to myself as placed the helmet firmly back on my head as the reports came in from the Stormcrow that a massive Confederate Fleet had arrived in orbit. Arrived, and judging by the data, and bright flares of light visible in the sky, was launching assault craft; thankfully my small force was under a shielded encampment under the trees. So, with the 'turbolaser the planet to death' possibility removed I stepped back out of my gunship and prepared myself for battle.
The trade of a battle for that Name made this dangerous, dangerous, gamble seem worthwhile. Especially when one factored in the potential to assassinate Dooku and/or Greivous in the here and now while they made a beeline for capturing the witches. Now it came down to blood and violence, assassination and chaos causing, as my fleet, Stormcrow now included, hid in the other planets atmosphere or behind the moon shielded from the hyperspace emergence. Just a few 'ancient satellites' in orbit to warn of what was to come...
--