Sister - Part 1

The station was an absolute mess, 'Junkfort' was right. It looked like it was barely held together, no wonder Jango picked this place, no one would come here unless they were desperate. They must be in trouble.

"Where are you?" Zaiya asked into her comm very quietly.

"Northside of a sort of Market, I need a few parts after the last scuffle," Jango replied after about a minute or so, equally quiet.

"On my way, is she here?"

"I haven't seen her but I'm not taking risks," he hissed. Wise choice. Zaiya cut the comm and reached out through the Force as she hurried along. She had her hood up and deliberately hunched her shoulders as opposed to her regular walk in an effort to appear like some random occupant of the station. Learning how to imitate others, in appearance as well as different speech patterns, walks and posture had all been very helpful over the years, and it did well to ensure no one looked twice at her.

She felt Jango and Boba through the Force and made her way over, nearly earning a vibroblade to the gut from little Boba himself by accidentally startling the poor boy.

"Whoa kid, it's just me," she said in a soft laugh, his big chocolate eyes widened.

"Tahn'ti!" he gasped and immediately flung himself into her arms, thankfully the blade wasn't swung at her again. Zaiya just chuckled and looked up at Jango, he was without his helmet now, avoiding the look of being a Mandalorian. The classic fashion of a poncho thrown over his armour.

"So, how have you managed without me?" Jango asked casually, "terribly?"

"Oh yeah," Zaiya replied seriously, as she stood, Boba released her to look between them, "I don't know how I get through each day without you there to hold my hand," she said in a complete deadpan. The two made solid, stoic eye contact for ten seconds before cracking smiles.

"You're such an os'ika," he muttered.

"Huh… That's what Treshan calls me, did you see him too?" she asked with a smirk. Jango gestured for him to follow and Zaiya kept Boba between her and Jango. It was good to see them, and Jango began to relay the events of the past few months to her.

"Turns out that vision of yours was right, the arena, the red dust, the bugs." He shook his head. "Even the damn purple saber, the one called Windu carries it, some council member," Jango scoffed, "but Tyranus doesn't take betrayal well."

"Better than the alternative," she replied and Jango just hummed in thought.

"Not if it puts Boba in danger." Ah. Yes, well he was right about that.


The parts they needed were relatively easy to find and the food on this floating trash heap was only technically edible. Boba was dealing with it like a champ, eagerly telling her about their adventures while Zaiya helped the two Fetts to finish up their repairs. It was when they'd nearly gotten the last piece, and Zaiya had started to relax when she felt it. Mid conversation she cut off and spun on her heel. Jango was immediately on edge and looked to her.

"Where?" he whispered, knowing what her change in demeanour meant without having to ask.

"Close, pack it up and get in the ship, you need to go now," she hissed.

"And miss the party?" called a female voice, not one Zaiya recognised. She looked up and from the shadows stepped a feminine figure, she pushed back her hood to reveal a hairless head, icy eyes and… pale skin. Familiar pale skin, and tattoos that were eerily similar to those she had seen before. Zaiya's eyes widened while the woman's narrowed.

"I don't think we've been introduced," Zaiya called as she recovered from the surprise. Zaiya knew the woman only by her reputation, she was dangerous, and had to proceed cautously.

"My name is Asajj Ventress," the woman replied, droids began to appear, surrounding them, blasters drawn. "And you are in my way," Behind her, Jango was slowly backing Boba up the ramp of Slave I.

"They call me Siren," Zaiya replied, "your reputation precedes you, Asajj. It's nice to put a familiar face to the name." She kept her tone light, hands ready to reach for her mila hanska.

"We've never met," Asajj scowled, and Zaiya managed a smile.

"Perhaps not, but I recognise a Sister when I see one," Zaiya reached up slowly and pushed her own hood back with a free hand. Asajj's eyes widened slightly at the similarity.

"Sisters?" she asked and Zaiya felt anger begin to smoulder in her chest. This was too similar. Stolen from home to be brainwashed by the Dark Side.

"They told you nothing of your people?" Zaiya asked slowly, "of the Nightsisters? Of Dathomir?" Asajj stared back at her and Zaiya let out a scoff low in her throat. Of course not.

"If you think you can distract me-" her eyes flicked to the ship as Jango darted to safety. The twin blades were in Zaiya's hands at once, ignited in the neon green flame and raised to deflect the blaster bolts now being fired at her by the droids.

"Siren!" Jango cried from the top of the ramp, one of his westar's in his hand and firing back with deadly accuracy.

"Go!" she snapped back, "I'll be fine, just get out of here!" She couldn't allow this pawn of Dooku to lay hands on her people. She'd read the dossiers, the reports she had access to. She'd had little to go on, searching for information in the reports of those that had fought either Dooku or Ventress being restricted for the most part. She also had managed to get a glimpse of Kenobi's report from his time on Geonosis, she suspected what Dooku had said to Kenobi was the truth, and of course the Jedi had dismissed it… But Zaiya was not so sure.

As the other Nightsister charged her, twin red lightsabers drawn, she leapt forward to block her. She pushed Asajj back, keeping herself between the Sith agent and the ship. She heard the ship starting up, the droids firing on it as Zaiya struggled to keep up with both blaster fire and Asajj's blades. But Asajj was not as skilled as Maul, and once Slave I had lifted from the ground, Zaiya made a break for cover. Sure enough a hot blast from the thrusters sent the droids flying and scattering along the landing platform. They were out of reach so now it was Zaiya's turn to make a break for it. She darted across the platform and toward the main walkway, her ship was on the far side of the station from here.

She barely had a chance to think, her senses attuning her to danger and she brought her own blade up to block the hissing red plasma blade of the lightsaber. Asajj let out a frustrated growl.

"You'll pay for that!" she hissed.

"I can only imagine your Master is not the forgiving type," Zaiya retorted, causing Asajj's features to marr in a scowl.

"You know nothing!" she spat, shoving Zaiya back. The braided woman went with the momentum and flipped over a crate, taking off across the upper walkways to her ship.

"After her!" Asajj screamed and Zaiya heard the rapid thudding of droids following her. She raced along one walkway, then across a short bridge between two tall skinny and wonky-looking buildings. There was no time to stop, no time for mistakes, she had no doubt Asajj was powerful and would rend her into little pieces given half a chance. Zaiya could hardly blame her, she didn't know they were kin, Sisters of the same clan. She didn't want to fight this woman if she could help it. She was a pawn.

It seemed however that it didn't matter to Asajj as suddenly she dropped from somewhere above, slashing at her with one of the scarlet lightsabers. Zaiya only narrowly missed losing her head as she pitched forward into a roll.

"When did they get you? As a child?" Zaiya huffed as she blocked the next strike aimed at her throat.

"What are you talking about?" Asajj hissed at her with a curl of her lip.

"The Sith, did they steal you from your home? Fill your head with lies of greatness? Of destiny?" She pushed the assassin back, putting distance between them.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Asajj snapped back.

"No? I don't know about the punishments? The brutal training?" Zaiya retorted, "what happens when you fail?" Asajj's eyes widened slightly and Zaiya took her chance. She held out her palm and blew, green smoke billowed from her hand, obscuring her from view in an instant. Before she bolted, however, she left Asajj with the final words, "when they abandon you - and they will - come to Dathomir. Come home."

She dare not waste her chance and vanished into the darkness. Zaiya zipped through the shadows to get to her ship, thankful that the smoke had done its work.


She reached the ship in one piece at least. Though she could not say she was entirely unscarred. The realisation that yet another had been taken by the Sith, twisted into believing their sick visions… It was like she was back on Coruscant. Like Maul had been so easily replaced, but also just like then, Asajj spewed the same belief. Zaiya didn't care if they were right or wrong, the Sith had harmed the people she cared for. She would make them pay; seeing Asajj had brought it all boiling to the surface.

So much for an easy run. She'd thought that getting Slick off Kamino had been the hardest part. She'd looked forward to returning to her office and having a small nip of that delicious whiskey she'd procured. She'd wanted to save some for Alpha when he eventually returned, whether visit or assignment. Something to relax… Now she was more tense than ever.

Of course assisting Jango would never be a regret, and it had been good to see him and Boba. It was the other Nightsister. One of her own people… it had to have happened around the same time - hadn't it? Asajj had to be close to her age. But Zaiya couldn't remember another child being taken back then. Perhaps she was remembering wrong? Sidious hadn't stolen two children- he couldn't have, Talzin would have insisted Zaiya search for a Sister before a Brother. That thought in itself curled her lips and she wanted to break something.

In her blind rage she had failed to notice that she'd caught the attention of some undesirables… it seemed that she'd been too conspicuous in her little adventure.

[Slow your ascent and prepare for boarding!] A slurred voice spoke through the comms and she growled. A check to the sensors, found she was being pursued by what she guessed to be pirates of some description. None she recognised though. Zaiya was still running on adrenaline, hearing their hail just made her angry. A call for surrender? She snarled to herself, she was in no mood. As much as it might be nice to destroy these fools, let them board her to rip them limb from limb… She had responsibilities: she had to ensure that Jango had made it to safety! She had to get back to Kamino! Her visceral anger burned her chest, seeing Asajj had just reminded her of her own hatred for these Sith and what they had done to her family. Emotion - despite her best efforts - clouded her judgement.

She spat insults back at the pirates, taunting them for too long, because by the time she was ready to make the hyperspace jump… It was too late.

Alarms blared, lights flashed and she cursed herself for her stupidity. The hyperdrive was targeted - all she could do was brace for impact! As she felt the searing heat from the blast, and the metal debris bite into her skin… strangely her only thought as she faded from consciousness was; what a waste of whiskey.


Cold.

Sounds around, echoed voices and footsteps, the sound of water.

Zaiya's eyes snapped open and she ran a quick check, all extremities in place, though in pain, she was in one piece, albeit covered in small nicks and bruises. She also determined she was not on a ship, as she could not feel the rumbling of an engine. From the grogginess, she'd have to guess she'd been sedated. Her anxiety spiked. Sedatives. Medical ward. She jerked upright but her wrists pulled. Binders. Her chest rose and fell sharply. No. No, no, no… she checked her chest, then breathed a sigh of relief. The amulet was still there. She glanced around the room, dark, cramped, a heavy door opposite her. A cell. She couldn't be- she wasn't-

"You awake?"

A breath exploded from her as she recognised the voice. Well, not this specific one, but she had heard it many times.

"What's your name, Trooper?" she asked in a rasp, her throat burned as she forced her voice out.

"Hatchett, ma'am," came the reply. Her dry eyes rolled, there was that ma'am again. "You know clones?"

"Yeah, on Kamino," she muttered, "where are we?"

"Some old mining outpost, the seppies are using it as a base, we couldn't get more than that," Hatchett explained.

"We?"

"Yeah, me and some of the boys were snagged a few rotations ago." No wonder he sounded so tired. "I have Skillet and Gizmo with me."

"What legion?" she asked.

"21st Nova Corps, ma'am." Under pain of torture the only information they were allowed to give would be their rank, designation and legion.

"Galactic Marines… you're Bacara's men," she realised.

"You know the Commander?" spoke up another voice.

"I do," she replied with a grim smile to herself, "I trained him." There was a long silence.

"You're Siren…" gasped a third voice. She wasn't yet sure which was Gizmo and which was Skillet, but she would figure it out over time.

"That's Lieutenant-General to you!" Hatchett snapped.

"I don't think rank is a priority in here, but technically yes," she replied, already looking around for a way out. She couldn't stay here a moment longer than she had to. She needed to get back to Maul. To Kamino. She had to make sure Jango was alright.

"I overheard the droids, they said you were bartered for by pirates," Hatchett supplied. So that's what happened.

"Is that… Ventress woman here?" she asked curiously.

"Not that we've heard." Zaiya managed to make it to her feet, the cell she was in was not even big enough for her to lay down flat in, she either had to sit up or lay back with her legs bent. The taller troopers would have even worse of a time. At least Asajj was not the party she had been 'sold' to. Memories of Zygerria had her on edge, being sold and traded… she wanted to tear this place asunder, but she'd ended up in this mess by losing control of her emotions. She would have to focus.

It was quite a while later when they came for her. 'They' being a few battle droids, and a Neimoidian. If they let her out of the cell, she was sure she could take them.

"So this is the new addition," said the Neimoidian, "they say you are important,"

"Could be," Zaiya replied, standing and facing the alien. "With whom am I speaking?"

"I am Gume Saldin of the Trade Federation, and you are under Separatist jurisdiction," he began. "Things will be easier for you if you cooperate." She weighed her options, if they thought she was no one, they might leave her alone, but then they would turn their attentions to the troopers, and she knew the seppies were not above using torture. No, she could not let them do that, she owed Bacara this at least. One of her Commanders, her men. Her friend. She did not deserve the title of Ver'alor otherwise.

"I am Lieutenant-General Siren, I was stationed on Kamino," she said plainly. The Niemoidian as expected seemed pleased by this, his hands rubbed together and his weak lips turned up in a smile.

"Good, good…" he began, "then you will begin by telling us everything you know about the Troopers movements, battle strategies and the layouts to Kamino." Zaiya stared at him blankly, her old habits taking over.

Give them nothing.

Did they really think she would be so forthcoming?

"Did you hear me?" Gume Saldin sneered. Zaiya met his eyes in a hard glare, then gave a slight nod. Oh she heard his stupid question, and he was even more of a mor'orn if he thought that for one second she was going to give this slimy sewer rat a damn thing. His face twisted into an even more hideous visage and he raised his arm. With a tap of his finger from his other hand, he pressed a button, and a bolt of electricity surged through her, shooting up her spine. Muscles contracted, burning, her body contorting and she sank to one knee as she managed to grit her teeth and contain the cry of agony. She would not break. She would not scream. They would have nothing.

There was a brief respite, the cruel laughter from the Neimoidian did little to dampen her resolve, let them laugh.

This torture was nothing. They were nothing. They would have nothing.


Notes:

Here we are again, some more APOD for your week! What did we think? I know people wanted Zaiya and Asajj to fight more but don't worry, there is more to come. They will meet again!

So next week is MY BIRTHDAY! As a gift for you, I will be releasing TWO chapters of APOD as a way to celebrate! So huzzah! more reads! My other series Sins of the Father is also getting another chapter this week so if you like the cirme au -look out for that!

I am pretty low today so I don't have much to say. So I will say please send in the comments, I love them, and I will see you next week! I hope you are all well!