Selection - Part 2

Maul had been engrossed in the knowledge of the Nightsisters' tomes all day, while usually he and Zaiya read together, she had been noticeably absent from the Temple Archive. The droid had not been able to tell him, but he had thankfully been distracted from worrying about it, when Talzin had entered and began speaking to him.

She told him of the power of the Nexus, of the spells that could be cast from it, and the history of the Nightsisters… all things he had heard Zaiya speak of during their Dreamwalks, but he did not let on to Talzin that he knew it.

She had spoken to him of his vision, the last time they had been there and he had taken part of the ritual and the hallucinogenic powder. He had seen himself in a position of power… and a great shift in the Galaxy. It was maddening that he could not recall it with great clarity.

Talzin had offered to help unlock the visions for him, if he were but to allow her to enter his mind. Maul had not been inclined to agree and had deflected while he contemplated her words.

Currently he found himself waiting for her return, meditating and trying not to think about Zaiya. He pretended not to be relieved when he sensed her presence. But she wasn't alone.

The curtain flung back and she entered the room followed a step or two later by… Feral?

"What is it, Lieutenant?" he asked with a scowl, the rage coming off her was palpable.

"She took Savage!" Zaiya snapped, "they have some plan and they keep avoiding me… I have to guess it's a ritual of some kind, and not a good one either! I don't know what they will do with him!" She was furious but not making sense. Where was Savage? What ritual did she mean? What was going on?

"Why did you agree to it then? Why did you help them?" Feral asked, accusingly, he seemed sullen and angry but Maul was lost on the specifics. What was Feral even doing here?

"I didn't help them! I need them to believe me and I just…"

"Then why did you claim me as your mate!?" Feral cried and Maul froze.

"You what!?" he snarled. After all her sweet words?! Would she really-? No… no she wouldn't!

"I didn't-" she let out a cry of frustration as a sharp ache formed in Maul's chest. "Feral… I had to say that… you think I could stand by and watch you be killed?!"

"She… she wouldn't have, it's not allowed!" Feral frowned.

"I couldn't trust her not to. She has killed people I care about before, and I will not allow it to happen again." She looked at Maul and with a sombre expression. "I claimed Feral as my mate, but they were only words, sire."

He didn't like this. He didn't like that she even had to pretend. She turned to Feral who seemed confused.

"So… we don't have to…?" he trailed off and Maul saw a stricken expression cross her face.

"Goddess no!" she gasped, "Feral, it's me! I would never-!" Then her shoulders slouched. "I suppose I have no grounds to be outraged; but I know how you feel about Brutus, I would never force that upon you, it was the only way I could think of that might save your life." Feral seemed more relaxed and Maul too… but he still hated this. All of it. Worse still, he was worried. Where was Savage? What were they doing to him?

"We should not have to hide like this, nor bend to the whim of these witches," Maul sneered. "We should take Savage and leave. Was that not the next step of our plan? To take my brothers and forge our own path?"

"If you think you could defeat an entire clan of Witches, be my guest," Zaiya snorted. "You are strong, My Lord, but you would need nothing short of an army."

Maul was indignant but even he knew his limits. Mother Talzin was powerful, and Zaiya was still learning so much from her, gaining power… but he didn't like it. He didn't like any of this. Feral kicked at the ground and rubbed the back of his neck.

"What do we do now?"

Zaiya stopped her pacing, and Maul caught a glimpse of her tight expression, her full lips pressed into a line.

"You stay here," she said with grim determination. "I will try to see what will happen, they didn't want to talk to me about it - but even less do they want to talk about it in front of the males." She ran a hand over her braid, a few of her curls had come loose from it and framed her strong face delicately, he watched her seem to search the air in front of her for answers as she spoke.

"You expect me to hide like a coward-"

"You are no coward," Zaiya said firmly, rounding on Maul with a fierce look, then her voice lowered. "We use their knowledge to increase our power… though the cost is beginning to far outweigh the gains." He still didn't like it, he had never liked pretending, even when his Master had required it in the past. He could of course, but that didn't mean he enjoyed a single minute of it.

"Very well," he muttered, "I will collect what I have studied today." He spoke quietly, his lips near her ear. He had the sudden urge to kiss her, as though it might help. But both the droid and his brother were present. He couldn't let them see his weakness.

She nodded and turned away, the beads dangling over the heavy cloth that hung over the doorway clattered lightly, and she was gone. Maul's teeth grit. He knew she made him weak. That he must never let another see the way he felt about her. He had revealed too much on the junk station to the smuggler, the emotion had overwhelmed him when he was always supposed to be the master of them. They had used him and not the other way around. He had returned to his training, meditating and strengthening his will.

Perhaps then he might be able to be free of this hold she had on him. Even at the thought, a primal part of him rallied, denying wanting to be rid of her. She was his. Passion was the path of the Sith… and yet he was not Sith anymore… was he? It was difficult to turn from everything he had ever known, he was unsure he could have done so without her. Yet another thing he fell into her debt with. He refused it. He did not owe her, he would never beholden to another ever again…

His fingers twitched and he turned back to his youngest sibling. Whose expression was rather quizzical. He just glared at the younger Zabrak and moved to the centre of the room, he would meditate, grow stronger and not think about what was happening outside.


Savage lay on the altar surrounded by the Nightsisters as they chanted. Zaiya nearly ran to him, only to be stopped by Talzin's raised hand, a warning for her not to interfere. She bit her lip as she watched the butter-skinned Zabrak as he lay unconscious and listened to the chanting. They were binding him to Asajj… invoking power. She stepped closer, at Talzin's side.

"What is this?" she hissed, her stomach churned and it was hard to breathe with her hearts in her throat.

"This male will become our instrument of vengeance for Asajj… loyal only to her, but that we shall send to Dooku under the guise of a replacement for her. He will learn the skills of the Sith, and when the time is right he will strike… and Asajj will have her revenge." Talzin explained and Zaiya turned her head slightly.

She had not offered such assistance to Zaiya. There had been no help from other Nightsisters. No plans. No rituals. She'd just been sent off-world as a child. On her own. No plan, no nothing. True enough she'd been stubborn enough to do it alone, and Talzin had offered credits to the Bounty Hunters but… corcitura. Maybe Sheena had been right after all.

The empty pit that opened in her chest as she looked back at Savage, all that didn't matter now.

"What is being done to him?" her voice wavered slightly, though her face was neutral. She'd had practice controlling her face, not her voice.

"You shall see," Talzin said coldly. It was as though she were being struck by multiple sharp objects. Her breath caught in her throat as Savage's body rose, swirled in the green mist.

"Surely there is another way-" Zaiya tried but her voice died as she watched his body begin to change. Glowing green smoke and magickal flames engulfed his form and he grew. His limbs, his horns, his torso, his muscles, his head. Suddenly he took up the entire space on the altar.

The back of her eye burned and Zaiya couldn't breathe - what had they done to him?! This was wrong. She could not allow this! She could not let this happen! She had to stop this. She promised to protect him! Short of attacking Talzin right then, she could do nothing to stop it. Zaiya stared in shock at the transformed Nightbrother.

"He is ready, Sisters!" Talzin said with confidence. She reached out and tapped Savage's forehead much as she had the first time. The Sleeping Touch, Talzin had called it, a powerful magick that had her able to induce sleep in even the strong-minded. Zaiya's guts twisted and she heard Savage groan as his eyes opened. He looked around for a second and his eyes landed on Asajj, a second later his huge hand wrapped around her neck and squeezed. Zaiya's eye lit up for a moment, had it backfired? Would he turn on the Sisters?

"Let… me… go…!" Asajj rasped, a hint of panic in her voice. No one rushed to her aid but that was unsurprising.

"Calmly, Sister," Talzin purred and Asajj relaxed.

"Let me go," she repeated with an even and firm tone. Savage seemed to snap to his senses and released her.

"That's better," Talzin praised and Savage moved to stand, swinging his legs over the side of the altar. He rose and Zaiya's eyes widened. He stood tall now, as tall as Mother Talzin and twice as broad.

"What have you done…?" Zaiya breathed.

"Bring in the prisoners!" Asajj called and Zaiya's head whipped around in alarm. From the temple, she witnessed two figures being escorted, to her horror, it was Feral and Maul!

"What is the meaning of this!?" Zaiya cried, finally forcing her legs to move.

"There is one final test," Asajj said and Zaiya was ready to tear her throat out. Asajj looked at the transformed Nightbrother. "Kill them."

"Savage?" she heard Feral gasp, and turned to see the two Zabrak looking at their middle brother in shock and horror. Savage took a step forward, his face blank like he was in a daze.

Zaiya darted forward, positioning herself between the males defiantly. She was going to make this woman pay.

"No." Zaiya spoke in that strong voice that made the ground shake. She saw Talzin look at her in surprise but ignored it. "You will not touch them!" Zaiya stood between Asajj and the males.

"We must remove his final weakness," Asajj scoffed, "are you upset that you have to share your toys-"

"You will not speak to me with such disrespect!" Zaiya snarled, and stepped closer, the smoke from the Nexus eye flowed upward. "I am Ale'sule of the Lu'lupta Mountain Clan! You just arrived here, Sister and I have been patient enough. You are not the leader of a Separatist army here, Asajj Ventress. You are lucky an outsider like you was accepted into this clan…!"

"I was born to the clan! As I understand it, you were not even born on Dathomir!" Asajj snapped back. Zaiya blinked. Talzin had told her that?! A scowl marred her features.

"Be that as it may, I am heir to the Matriarchy and I will not allow one that claims to be of our clan disrespect me." She stood nose to nose with the woman and jabbed a finger into her chest. " You will learn your place or I shall teach it to you-" Suddenly her arm was grabbed and yanked away from Asajj. Savage stood over her with a dark expression on his face. As she stared at him, she saw no recognition in his eyes.

He didn't know her.

"You will not touch my Mistress," he said in a baritone voice that sounded too deep. Everything about him was changed. His body, voice… and clearly his memories too if he did not know her. Zaiya jerked her arm away and glared at this creature that could not be her brother. His hand lowered as her power flared.

"And you. Will not touch me," she snarled and rounded back on Asajj. "Control your pet." She took a step past Asajj and it was then she turned to Talzin… who was smiling. "You allowed this?" Zaiya gestured between the two younger Nightsisters. Talzin just chuckled.

"Sometimes you must learn to fight your own battles, Zaiya Valessa." But apparently Asajj could have help in her battles. "He is ready," the Ma'tri said, returning to the task at hand apparently. Asajj's revenge.

"He has not been tested!" Asajj protested. "He must kill one of the-"

"Touch my Shi'kaa and I will show you what happened to the last Nightsister that defied me out of turn!" Zaiya snapped loudly. The other Nightsisters around them visibly flinched and shuffled back. Even Asajj grew wary. Talzin held up her hands.

"Enough. He is ready. Take the other two males back to the temple," Talzin said and two other Nightsisters began to escort Maul and Feral away. There was fury in their eyes and she mirrored it.

Talzin waved a hand and the green magicks sparked in the ground before her, a long handled glaive rose from seemingly nothing. "For you, an enchanted blade, blessed with our most potent magicks," she hissed. The weapon hovered near Savage as he reached to take it.

"I think it's time we introduced the apprentice to his new Master." Asajj said to Talzin, though the confidence in her voice had wavered somewhat after Zaiya's warning. "Wouldn't you agree, Mother?"

Talzin smirked and Zaiya had a sinking feeling in her stomach. What was she doing? It didn't make sense.

"Dooku will be very pleased with his new assassin," Talzin purred and Zaiya looked at Savage in alarm. Despite Talzin having claimed so before… it was still wrong. "Ready the ship and a convoy, we are going to Serenno."


Serenno was of moderate climate, far warmer than Dathomir, and the sun blinded him somewhat as Savage Opress stepped out of the ship and rose to his full height before his new Master. All he knew was that he had to serve the Lord well, that he would do everything in his power to grow stronger in the Dark Side.

His Mistress has given him a command. He did wish to be powerful. To take control and wield power enough that he might be able to lay waste to his enemies and all that he despised.

Oh how he hated. Awakening on the altar he was surrounded by witches, those that looked down on him, those that used and subjugated him. But they were strong. He too must become strong. Stronger than they. He hated those witches. Hated Mother Talzin and his Mistress Asajj Ventress. This pompous and powerful human before him. Savage hated him too.

He still did not understand the scene he had witnessed when he had awoken, that Nightsister that had defended the other Nightbrothers. Standing before him with such a fierce expression. She was powerful, he had felt it. But that meant nothing. If the Nightbrothers she defended needed protecting then they were weak, and she was a fool. She had looked at him so strangely and tried to speak to him… but he ignored her. He needed nothing more from the Nightsisters. He needed nothing. He would earn this power on his own, through his emotions. That is what his Mistress said, drawing power from his feelings was intense but dangerous, and the way of the Dark Side. He would succeed.

He would destroy them all.

Power was all that mattered now, and he would see through this training, and push himself to learn how to wield the Force. Some of it came more easily. He could feel the tendrils of the Force around him, and those with him. The incredible darkness within the man that appraised him.

How did he know this power so well? He knew he had been taught to strengthen his connection to the Force, though it was not his Mother nor his Mistress. He remembered being taught… but there was no hatred in the memory.

Savage scowled to himself. Dwelling on the past was futile. He needed his hatred and anger to make him more powerful. That is where he needed to focus, to meditate on his rage, focus that power and make it his weapon. Control and master it like a tool. Count Dooku would teach him this. Dooku himself gave some vague words of approval as he regarded the zabrak male and then Savage watched the Nightsisters depart. Leaving him there on the planet like some sort of cargo to be offloaded. A low growl formed in his throat and he turned to follow Dooku into the main building.

His training would now begin.


Feral glared at the wall. He sat in Zaiya's - and Maul's - chamber, the latter lounged unceremoniously on a chair by the fire, while the former paced the room. Feral scowled, the words he'd heard Zaiya say as he was almost dragged off… A pet? That's how she talked about them? No… no it was just for the Sister's benefit, right? He didn't know what to think but this entire day had thrown him. She had been here for a few weeks and hadn't said anything? Hadn't come to see them? And now this?

Not only that, watching Zaiya and Maul interact was odd. While it was refreshing to see a Nightsister being told what to do, Maul was being entirely too dismissive of what had just happened.

"He's on Serenno…" she muttered, "...security… can't get to… Jedi would…"

"Do not speak of the wretched Jedi," Maul sneered.

"If there were another attack, it would have to seem like the Jedi-"

"Yes that worked so well before," Maul replied with a scoff.

"I know!" she snapped but the look the crimson Zabrak gave her had her wilting. Something bristled in Feral. "My apologies, my Lord." She took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed. The Nightsister ran a hand over her braid and she groaned. She looked torn.

"There is little chance another attack would work, we cannot risk that he discovers Talzin and Ventress' plot. The Separatists and the Sith are ruthless, they would wipe out the entire clan." Zaiya sighed.

"Is that not what you want?" Maul asked.

"What?" She frowned.

"The Nightsisters subjugate you and cast you aside. Even now they favour an outsider over you." Feral watched Zaiya's face tighten, was she really so defensive of his and his brothers oppressors?

"They may be, but-"

"It is the Sisters themselves that are the reason for your suffering! Even now they treat us as cattle and do not acknowledge your true potential! They do not know your power!" Maul spoke passionately and if they were not who they were, it might be a heartwarming comment. Not to mention the malice evident in Maul's voice. Zaiya's mouth formed a line and she seemed wary.

"My mother is here," she said finally.

"A mother that abandoned you to the Galaxy at large, one that did not protect you and let a child wander the stars! She did nothing to stop what happened to you!"

"You aren't one of them," Feral said finally, and the other two looked at him. "They did this to Savage, shouldn't they pay for it?"

"Not if it means you two are hurt or injured!" she protested finally, "Or Savage is killed, or they target the Nightbrother village!" Feral quietened, she had a point. Maul however…

"Do not let your compassion weaken you, Zaiya! You must do what you can to destroy your enemies! If there are casualties, then so be it. You must be willing to do what you must in order to gain victory!" He stood, and Feral could barely believe it.

"And if they did kill Savage in punishment?" the youngest brother protested. The cold look Maul gave him was utterly terrifying.

"If it meant the enemy were defeated." He said plainly. Feral was stunned. He really had such little care for his brothers?! Was there anything he cared about?

"Sire!" Zaiya gasped, "you don't mean that." Maul just looked at her. A pained expression crossed her face and she stared, mouth agape. Then an anger Feral had not seen in her before sparked to life. "That is your brother! And whether you remember or not, he is family. Feral is family!" she gestured at him and he saw Maul look over briefly.

"There is no-"

"If you mention the Sith way one more time…!" she hissed and Maul sprang to his feet. His hand on her jaw firmly, forcing her head lower so he loomed over her.

"You do not speak to your Lord that way, Lieutenant," he glowered at her with a curled lip. Zaiya was frozen in place.

"What are you doing?" Feral whispered in shock. "You can't! She's a Nightsister!" Maul turned to look at Feral casually.

"Nightsisters, do not command me, brother. You and Savage will learn this. And my Lieutenant will learn to trust my orders," he added pointedly and let go of Zaiya. There was a look on her face that Feral did not understand.

"I trust you, sire," she said emphatically. "It is the one that trained you to not count on your family - it is he I do not trust."

"Th-then… we are just going to leave him?!" Feral asked, aghast.

"Unless you plan to fight a Sith Lord, the Separatist army and the entire Nightsister clan… then we must." Zaiya said, sinking back to the edge of the bed. Feral felt his hearts sink. This couldn't be happening. She said she'd protect them! She said she wouldn't let this happen!?

"When the moment comes…" Maul began, and the two others looked up. He met their gazes and continued. "We will get him out."

"You mean that?" Feral asked, his eyes widening.

"He is my brother," Maul said firmly and nodded, "we will get him back."


Notes:

Hello again my lovely readers!

Thank you so much for your patience! I hope you enjoyed this one! It's a little angsty but not the worst I can dish out! Haha! Maul got a little worried for a second there! Now, as for the next chapter... Zaiya enlists help from a powerful source... but will they choose to help her?

Thank you also so so much for all you comments too! I have been reading them, I just haven't had the chance to sit down and reply, I hope to do that soon! They really do keep me motivated and I love hearing your thoughts and how this story of mine makes you feel. I hope you all enjoy and I look forward to seeing you next time! :)