Demon - Part 2

Training was brutal, Feral had hunting experience but this was entirely different. He knew he was not the only one wishing Zaiya were here. She knew how to train armies. She was good at it. She had a kind of presence of respect and leadership that made most people want to listen to her.

Sithhells, even the former Darth Maul himself was hesitant to disobey her when she was frozen in Carbonite! Feral understood it too. That ache in his gut when he thought of her reaction to all of this.

The fear gnawed at him. This had to work. They had to get her and Savage back. He did not dare to voice those fears to his brother but he was sure Maul felt them too.

But the work was frustrating. These people were not warriors, yet he had to train them? It was infuriating.

"Great Warrior?" Came a familiar voice after a particularly rough session. Feral turned his head to see Jatenne approaching with a small canteen of water. Feral eyed them cautiously but did not speak. "May I ask you something?" Feral nodded as he took the canteen offered to him. "Will you tell me of the Dawnsister? You said she was more suited to the demon in the light? Did you mean that?"

There was a waver in the child's voice. Did they not trust him and Maul? His expression darkened slightly.

"She is… more experienced in training people." Feral began, not really sure what to say. "Some people fear her, because they think she looks frightening."

"What does she look like?" Jatenne leaned in, eyes wide and curious. Feral sat back in thought.

"She has very pale skin, and long white braids adorned with beads and feathers and bone. She has dark tattoos and one bright blue eye… and the other is green." His lips curled as he thought of her, hoping and determined to see her again. "She's also very strong, and protects those she cares for."

"What happened to her?" Jatenne's eyes became worried and Feral noticed a general stillness around him. That many of the others were listening to this description.

"She was captured trying to protect my other brother," he said, a little bitterly. "She is very powerful, and can make great beasts to listen to her."

"How does she do that?!" Jatenne gasped.

"She sings," Feral chuckled. "It is why she is called a Siren."

"A Siren…" The kid seemed to think about that for a moment. "Is a Siren like a demon?" They asked.

"I don't know. Perhaps it is." Feral took a mouthful of water. He suddenly had the feeling he was talking too much. His hand slid again to the handle, bringing a sense of ease to his chest.

"A white Siren…" Jatenne seemed to be putting together a whole 'nother imagining this time. Though if they decided she was their demon in the light… perhaps that was better. Feral still thought she was far better suited to the title.

"First, we have to get her. And I will do anything it takes to do so." Feral stood. Anything… perhaps she might be upset that they sacrificed an entire race of people to save her, but at least she'd be alive. That was the most important part. She'd get over it, right? He stepped away from Jatenne and the others, perhaps Maul would agree with him. He couldn't let them hold him back.


"I'd like to thank you for all that aid you did for me and my security force during this unpleasantness." Ja'boag began. He faced the two adult Jedi but his gaze was hardly grateful. "We are coming up to our peak export time and this disruption could have proved disastrous."

"With respect Ja'boag this would have never been disastrous in the first place had you not put a bounty on the heads of Darth Maul and his fellows." Jedi Master Salmara said with her ever-present air of calm. Ja'boag just laughed, a snickering high pitched sound. "The council-"

"Is the council upset that my bounty was more prevalent? I hear you were looking for them too," he chuckled. "But one of my trading partners was killed by these fools. It's bad for business if I just let it slide. However, I must say the situation has resolved itself perfectly. What better symbol of our strength and control than to have this rage, this monument of mayhem, and dare I say, a twisted love contained in the heart of our largest mine?" Ja'boag gesticulated with an errant hand and indicated the huge slab of Carbonite that now encapsulated both Savage and the Siren's frozen forms in some kind of horrific art piece.

Savage was stretched out, at the height of his swing, lightsaber in hand. The Siren, before him, her back to the room as though she were curled into his chest like a pair of lovers almost. Had she been trying to hold him? Or push him out of the way?

"Savage Opress and the Siren are monsters and killers. They aren't a decoration for your office." The blue skinned and reptilian Master Judd growled as the smaller alien.

"Really?" Ja'boag mocked, "certainly looks that way to me."

"Ja'boag," Salmara tried to intervene, "the Jedi council will want to bring both Savage and the Siren in for questioning and a trial. You cannot keep them."

"I can and I will." Ja'boag insisted, and continued to vaguely threaten the Jedi with their business relationship. It was a polite conversation but the undertone of hostility remained. Finally, the Jedi stated they would remain until the Padawan had healed. His severed hands reattached and his body healing in a bacta tank.

Meanwhile, unseen by the Jedi or the owner of the office, beginning by the face of the Nightsister, turned in toward Savage's chest… a sliver. A crack in the carbonite, vibrant and ethereal green peeking between the minute gaps of the cold grey stone-like substance. A tiny sound, unheard beyond the conversation… and the crack grew larger.


The attack was being readied. The outcast clan prepared what little they had, arrows, spears, blunt weapons. They barely had armour but for the cloth rags they wore. It was going to be a massacre. Surely they understood that. With such numbers and little training, stealth was not really an option.

There were a few hunters that could move silently, but there were still those with no experience such as the children, and for some reason the women were not regarded as warriors.

Maul was certain Zaiya would be deeply offended at such a thing. He found himself mildly offended at the idea. He currently sat in the command tent with the leaders of the clan, and for some reason Jatenne was included in this.

"The three suns rise tomorrow, we need to attack now! If we're still fighting when dawn breaks-" one of the higher ranked warriors was saying. Maul's hand slid along his jaw in thought. He'd waited until the last moments, the night before was a time least anticipated to mount a revolt, but the time was indeed cut finely.

"As soon as the sun's begin to set, we will launch our attack," Maul began. "It is the moment Ja'boag's forces will be at their most vulnerable and their guard dropped. Your people won't need advanced weaponry with the threat of a scorched world behind you."

"Grandfather, I don't want to kill anyone," Jatenne said quietly. Maul pursed his lips it was the eve of a revolution such weak thoughts would be the death of this child.

"Don't worry, Jatenne," Trisjon soothed, "the women and children-"

"Will die if they don't fight," Feral interrupted. The group all turned to him sharply. "They will burn on the surface if we fail. We cannot afford to leave them behind." The faces of the Moorjhone people grew tense and stricken.

"War is ugly. Revolution is deadly." Maul sneered, "I asked if your people were ready to die, they must also be willing to fight and kill, because if they do not, then they shall all burn." It was infuriating, no wonder they had been displaced. This weak mentality would bring them nothing but suffering. He turned and looked over at Jatenne. "Do you remember your cave, child?"

"I was little, very young-"

"They forced you from your home and sentenced all your people to death? How does that make you feel?" He asked pointedly.

"I feel angry." Jatenne's face screwed up in both sorrow and anger. Good, these were things Maul could work with.

"Yes, hold on to that rage. Let it sit in you and grow. Then when the time comes, unleash it." Maul instructed.

"When you do kill, and you will, won't they deserve it for what they did?" Feral added. Maul turned, there was a darkness to his little brother's face that he hadn't seen before. Feral's frustration with the people here had been growing steadily, he was harsh. But he was not wrong.

"Hmm, I would like a word with the warriors in private," the old man said with a thoughtful tone. Maul's eyes turned to him.

"Are you sure, Trisjon?" the elder warrior that had defied Maul earlier spoke up. Maul's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, please leave us." The rest filtered out, leaving Trisjon and the Zabraks behind. Feral bristled beside Maul. Something seemed to be bothering him, but Maul was a bit preoccupied right now.

"Your men don't want to leave us alone. They don't trust me." Maul folded his arms, the cloth tight across his biceps. He'd definitely bulked up since Kamino, his training was doing him good. Feral stood too as they watched the old Trisjon struggle to his feet, leaning heavily on his cane. How was he expecting to survive the coming battle?

"The Moorjhoni were born in a hole, warrior, they fear the outside. They only see the demon when they look at you. They don't see what lies beneath." Were Maul a weak man, he might have taken a step back as the old man approached. He didn't like where this was going. "I don't see at all, so this is not such a problem for me. You would not be the first to work in the light while looking like a monster." Maul almost thought he heard Zaiya's voice in the back of his head then. Trisjon moved closer and Feral let out a growl.

"My eyes cannot deceive me, not when I can sense the truth. Here, let me feel your heart." Trisjon reached out, placing a withered hand upon Maul's chest.

Which one? Maul thought to himself. The one withered and broken after so many years screaming in the dark? Or the one that belonged to another? As the man placed his hand upon Maul, he felt the tug of the Force. Perhaps the man didn't know what it was he used, but it was the Force. Despite being blind, his eyes widened and he stumbled back. Maul glared down at him. The old man was a nuisance now. He would not know Maul was going against his very nature to at least be mindful of how to minimise casualties… Though could that consideration win out against the endless darkness within him?

"I-I should go." Trisjon managed, and for the first time, there was evident fear in his voice. Well, there was no other choice left then. Without even waiting, Maul felt Feral reach out into the force, and squeeze. Trisjon let out a cry of pain and collapsed, gasping. Maul just looked at his brother, to his surprise, an expression of rage had spread across it.

"For a blind man, he's seen too much," Feral snarled.

"Then you clean it up. We have a battle to win." What… was happening to Feral? The thought lingered in his mind as he watched his brother's face change and charge out of the tent, carrying Trisjon and calling for help.

It was one way to avoid suspicion.

Maul watched as Trisjon tried to speak, but Feral closed a fist behind his back… and the old man was no more. He watched as Feral spoke of harnessing rage and pain to Jatenne and using it for revenge of Ja'boag's forces. The way Feral spoke, the darkness burning in him. He sounded like Maul. He could almost hear his voice speaking from his brother's mouth.

Maul could only watch, a twisted sense of pride… and horror festered within him. Had he done this? Had he been the one to turn Feral into such a cold warrior?

Had… had Maul become like Sidious?


They were under attack.

The planet only ever cooled slightly during the evening hours, and the quiet peace of the night was disturbed by the alarm system. Red light flooded the facility, alarms blaring and chaos erupted as it was announced the entire Moorjhoni clan was swarming in on the facility.

The Jedi that had remained were on alert, having called for back up from the nearby cruiser commanded by someone called General Kenobi. They seemed to fear the horned psychopaths would return, though Ja'boag knew they were dead. How could they have possibly survived? At least… he had thought that. Until his Guard Captain commed in with news of the attack. Led by the missing zabraks. How had everything gone so wrong?

"Hurry! Get them on board!" Ja'boag insisted. Two guards remained to assist him, and were currently struggling to use the gravi-lift and get the massive carbonite ornament onto his ship.

"Do we really need them, sir?" asked one of the guards.

"I'm not leaving them for the Jedi!" Ja'boag snapped as he waddled furiously on little legs towards his ship. He wasn't about to risk himself for this.

"Ah… sir?"

"Ahhh~!" Ja'boag heard the two screams and turned, only to come face to face with the ghostly figure of the Siren, looming over him, her one visible eye bloodshot and furious.

"Where are they?" she hissed. Green smoke spilled from behind her eyepatch and her hands glowed in vivid green flame. A quick glance showed similar traces of green on the edges of the carbonite… by the stars… she'd broken out herself?! Evident in Savage's frozen form still in place.

"Th-they're attacking the facility! If you go now-mmmph!" he gagged as suddenly he could barely breathe, his throat crushed as his feet left the floor. The Siren turned and walked back, as though she'd not just spent a week in carbonite, and tapped the button on the side panel of the slab. With a roar, Savage too was free, staring around in confusion.

"What..?" he began but his eyes, also bloodshot, landed on the Siren. "What happened?" he growled in a voice that sounded like it came from the abyss.

"I'm not sure, I only just awoke myself. But we need our ship-"

"Gghhkk!" Ja'boag flailed his little feet, perhaps information would temper their wrath! The merciless face of the Siren turned in his direction and he gulped down a breath of air. Salvation! "Y-your ship was found, transferred further down the hangar, we weren't able to get in but-"

"Where?" Ja'boag was silent in fear a moment, then pointed to a space past his ship. "Good. Savage, you take the mor'orn, Maul and Feral are here, I can sense them. I will bring them here, you prepare the ship." She tilted her head in his direction, a horrifying smirk crossed her freakish, tattooed face. "Try not to crush the insect, if you please, he may yet prove useful."

The big brute seemed to follow what she'd said and nodded. Ja'boag yelped as he was picked up by the massive mitts of the monster. A moment later, everything went dark.


Maul cut down another in his path, he watched as Moorjhoni and orange-clad guards fell like rain. It would be nothing short of a miracle for any of them to survive. He needed to keep the Moorjhoni between him and the Jedi. He could not afford to be captured and lose his chance to find Zaiya and his brother.

Feral took on every aspect of his assassin training, swifter, deadlier and more efficient in his kills. Even the young Jatenne, inspired by the hatred Feral had instilled, crushed the helmet of a guard with a blunt weapon.

Maul swung at the nearest guard rushing him as a shadow loomed above them, throwing the battlefield into greater darkness.

"Demon?" Jatenne asked, their neck craned as they looked up at the gigantic star cruiser that had arrived. "What is that?" Trooper drop ships spat out from the sides like some kind of infestation. Maul felt his rage rise in his gut as he felt a familiar presence.

"Kenobi."

Feral's back slammed into a large rock beside him, panting as he slashed at the neck of one of the guards with the twisted dark metal blade they'd found in the tomb. There was a feral look to his eyes and for the first time, he seemed to live up to his namesake.

"Of course those cowards called in Troopers," he snarled, his eyes wide and frantic as he looked around.

"Cease your attack and put down your weapons!" called the ever-pompous voice of his most hated enemy.

"Demon, what is this?" Jatenne called out and Maul snarled in frustration, he and Feral crouched behind cover to avoid any targeted shots from the accused Jedi.

"Ja'boag has called some powerful friends to protect him!" Maul called out. What else would the Jedi be there for? Protecting the corrupt interests of the Republic.

"They're here to wipe you out!" Feral added, his voice sounding strained. Maul glanced over and frowned, he looked unwell. There was a strange sheen to his eyes. Was his injury still afflicting him?

"Put down your weapons." Kenobi repeated. "No harm will come to you." Pompous arrogant fool. His voice echoed through the valley and grated on Maul's ears.

"They're lying!" Feral growled, pushing himself to his feet. He reached down to the ground, and clutched an errant spear, leaning from behind the boulder.

"We know who you work for! We will not die so easily!" cried one of the Moorjhoni. "We will not die here! Trisjon saw the future, the Demon in the Light is with us!"

Cries went up through the crowd, chanting over and over. Demon in the Light! Demon in the Light!

"We have to go." Feral was at his side, the spear ready. "These people can hold off the Jedi, we just need to get to Zaiya and Savage."

"Was it not you who said we must listen to her words?" Maul hissed, glaring at his brother in confusion.

"Better alive and angry at us than dead and not," Feral retorted. That was true. But something he'd never felt before, her voice lingered in his head, told him not to. He'd never felt such a conflict in him before. It was not the first time he had to wonder what she'd done to him.

Yes, you're right, let's go.

"You find them, I will hold them off." Was what actually came out of his mouth. Feral's lips curved into a snarl. His face, a visage of disappointment and disgust. A strange feeling, an ache formed in Maul's chest. What in the sithhells was happening?

"Fine." Feral turned and with incredible dexterity, flung the spear in his hand up to the cusp of soldiers. There was a resounding crack as one trooper was impaled straight through the helmet and he dropped back and hit the ground like a stone. Maul's eyes widened. He looked back, and there was nothing but a flutter of Feral's cloak as he darted inside.

"Inside!" Maul roared, just as the valley was lit up with the endless blaster fire of the clone troopers raining down on them, lighting up the bowl-like valley in blue laserbeams. "Kill them!" He screamed and used his lightsaber to deflect the incoming shots.

The Moorjhoni roared in conviction and Maul heard Jatenne's voice over the din.

"Where is he going?!" Maul didn't answer, but he was backing up towards the open blast doors, angling the blaster shots at what few guards remained. What was Feral thinking?! Was his brother trying to kill him?! Screams of pain and roars of rage filled his ears and his hands flexed in his gloves. Zaiya had better be alive.

He looked up at the previously dark horizon, the rising suns now beginning to crest.

They were out of time.


Zaiya bolted through the red-lit hallways and corridors. Too similar to the last time she was on Kamino. Too similar to the pain of losing her comrades. She had managed to slip through the shadow unseen, catching the dregs of conversations between guards as she made her way to the entrance of the mines.

There was a massive attack force out in front of the main gate. She could sense Maul and Feral above her and her hearts pounded, not willing to admit the fear biting in her like frost despite the incredible heat that seemed to grow the higher she moved through the facility.

She heard a rush of steps ahead, a scream and the sound of lightsaber blades clashing. With a jolt to her chest, she surged forward, hearing voices.

"...while the three suns rise?" Hissed a familiar voice. "They're dying out there!" A cruel laugh, so unfamiliar in that voice as she heard more steps. "You're going to run?!" The voice laughed again. Another rolling laugh, sounding almost manic as a gruff voice snarled an answer and grew quieter. More steps as she rounded the corner.

She ignited her own blade and slashed, blocking the attack from the burning red blade aimed at her head. She stared beyond it into Feral's wide eyes, bloodshot and his face seemingly gaunt. It seemed to fade a little as recognition flared in his eyes.

"Zaiya…?"

"What's happening? Are you alright? Where's Maul?" She grasped his shoulder as she lowered her lightsaber. A look of conflict and pain crossed his face.

"He sent me ahead to find you." Zaiya's chest ached and a voice in her head screamed that something was wrong. She didn't want to leave, but she couldn't wait.

"What did you mean they are dying?" She asked, her hands squeezing his upper arms.

"Three suns rise on the planet, if they stay they'll all be burned alive, Maul is keeping the Jedi occupied for now-" Zaiya started past him without waiting.

"Head to the hangar on the lower levels, Savage has our ship, secure the exit and we'll meet you!" She shouted as she bolted out towards the blazing landscape. She witnessed people rushing now as Feral disappeared behind her. Smaller cat-like people bearing spears and bows, clothed in rags. She didn't even spare a glance as she was almost blinded by the rising sun's glare. She still had time, but the heat was rising just as fast.

Troopers surrounded the area, and in the centre, more of the cat-like aliens rushed through, fighting against troopers and more of those orange clad guards. It was absolute chaos. She squinted her good eye, ignoring the stares from those around her. A small alien stumbled and fell at her feet just as she felt the Force flicker. She brought up her lightsaber with just enough time to block the incoming blaster shot.

"Get up," she hissed at the child, the scraggly blonde mop of hair on their head as they gazed up with wide eyes.

"The White Siren…" they whispered, staring at her. Zaiya yanked the child up from where they were almost leaning on her leg. Her mouth opened to answer but her eyes fixed ahead to see two figures, battling with sabers, one blue, one red. She also spotted another figure incoming. Troopers swarmed the area, they were being cut off.

"Get inside!" She cried and took off running towards Maul. She had to get him out of there before the Jedi swarmed in and trapped them out here.


Notes:

Hello my lovely friends, I hope you are all well.

Poor Feral is going through some stuff, isn't he? Well, hopefully it gets sorted out soon. :(

Some of the dialogue has been taken directly from the comic series 'Death Sentence' that these events follow, I did not write all of it, but like with the movies and shows, I incorporate the source material into the fic.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I have some stuff going on at, to do with my ex and the house we had together, but hopefully that's all nearly finished. :)

As always, I appreciate TF outta comments and I read every single one. It really helps keep me going even when It's very hard to write. I appreciate all of you.
If you have any guesses, I'd love to hear them. Until next time!