Shockwaves - Part 2

It was much later when she awoke. At first she didn't know what had disturbed her… then she realised she could hear breathing and felt someone sitting beside her on the bed. She laid still, listening to the sound and tried not to flinch when she felt something grasp her hand. The hand holding hers paused.

"I didn't intend to disturb you."

Maul.

Of course it was. She must have been exhausted to not have noticed his Force presence immediately. She said nothing, unsure what to tell him.

"Feral was… enlightening me when you left to rest," he confessed and shifted to lean against the wall, his warm leg resting just in front of her. "He told me that I… perhaps what I said was not what you needed to hear."

Zaiya frowned, what did that mean?

"You were being honest, sire," she croaked, still sleepy.

"Perhaps, but not in the way I needed to be…" he sounded like he was struggling to find the right words. "You know what I am. Where I have been. That I have never been permitted to feel or show weakness."

That pain gripped her hearts again and Zaiya shifted to rise, sitting up and looking at him, despite the difficulty she had in doing so.

"I know, sire. My weakness here will not affect you-"

"Stop." His hands gripped her shoulders and he looked at her with a pained yet intense expression. "I will not hear another word about your weakness." Zaiya stiffened, was he angry with her? For her failure to do better? "Do you regard Feral weak for his subjugation by the Nightsisters?"

The question threw her, why was he asking her…?

"Of course not."

"Do you begrudge Savage for suffering as a servant to that Sith pretender?" Maul snarled.

"No."

"Am I weak for what my Master did to me?" he asked, though the bitterness was still evident in his voice.

"What?! Sire, of course not! You did what you had to do to survive-" Her hand reached out to him and she stopped. "I… see your point. Though… does this mean you know now that what your Master did was cruel?"

"Of course it was! My master had to mould me into a warrior! His lessons were important…" he trailed off as he looked into her eyes. "I… have never spoken of this to anyone Zaiya," he began and squeezed her shoulders firmly. Were… were his hands shaking? "The truth is… I fear him. He tormented me for so long… in my nightmares I still hear his voice. If you are weak, then… so am I."

Zaiya stared at him. He looked like it caused him unimaginable pain to even speak these words. The anguish in his eyes…

"Never," she whispered and slid closer to him, reaching up to caress his cheek. His glowing golden eyes closed as he leaned in to her touch. "You have never been weak in my eyes, sire."

"This is why you kept it hidden?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.

"I feared… you would be ashamed of me." His eyes flew open and he looked at her in alarm.

"After all that has happened…?!" Zaiya looked down and sighed.

"I know the standards you have are high, you expect perfection of yourself, of those around you. You are merciless and fierce and powerful. I… I would not wish to be…" she trailed off, finding it hard to say it out loud.

"Zaiya…" She looked up as he tilted her chin with the crook of his finger. "I am loyal to you." His voice trembled slightly. "You are my Lieutenant, my Right Hand, my…" His hand slid from her chin to the back of her neck and drew her closer. "You are mine."

With a tug of his hands he brought her in close and closed the gap between them, his forehead pressed to hers.

"Sire…?"

"I will find this Harasan D'Sarr. If it means I must build a conquering army- I will tear him to shreds and leave his entire planet in ashes for every moment of pain they inflicted upon you." He hissed through gritted teeth.

A sense of ease began to settle over her shoulders and she let out a soft chuckle.

"How romantic…" she whispered. His eyes opened and he seemed to relax on seeing her face.

"I knew you had experienced pain… I did not realise how similar to mine it was." She felt his hands running over her braids gently. "You did not deserve such suffering… but it has made you stronger. It has given you an appreciation for power and what one can do with it."

"You're right…" she replied, realising that his earlier comment was not intended to disparage, but comfort. It was sweet in the way that only Maul could be. "I will no longer allow anything like this to happen again, to any of us."

"You are powerful, Zaiya, this rage and anger will give you that."

"You give me that," she corrected. "You, Savage and Feral give me the power I need, without you, I would have no one I would wish to protect."

"Careful, Lieutenant… you're sounding like a Jedi." He smirked at her and she laughed softly.

"Oh is that right?" she said with a wry grin.

"Yes. I cannot have a Lieutenant of mine grow too soft," he chuckled.

"And here I thought you enjoyed how soft I am," she retorted without thinking. Immediately she felt embarrassment crawl up her back. Maul's grin became lascivious.

"I see you're feeling more like yourself." His hands slid up her sides slowly. "Perhaps I should show you just how much I enjoy your softness…" His eyes met with hers and his own gaze softened. "When you wake."

Zaiya's mouth opened and she wasn't sure if she was going to protest or agree but his grin just grew and she shut her mouth with a snap.

"Very well," she said awkwardly and shuffled back across the bed to lay down, if she were the type to blush she was sure she'd be as red as he was… Thankfully she remained pale, though she certainly felt flushed.

This Zabrak was going to be the death of her.

Zaiya laid down and looked up at him, pouting slightly. It was a rather heartfelt moment between the two of them. Had Feral really convinced Maul to bare his hearts to her? Was he placating her? No… what he'd said was not something said in vain.

As Maul slid down to face her, lying on his side his eyes searched her face.

"As much as it bothers me that you would keep those events to yourself…" he said quietly as he reached out a hand. "I understand now." Zaiya flinched slightly as his thumb brushed the scar on her neck. "I had wondered why you touch them when you are in moments of anxiety."

"Poor habit on my behalf, I suppose." Zaiya replied.

"Does it bother you when I touch you here?" he asked, his fingers gently trailing her throat.

"No, strangely," she admitted. "The - the collar was cold, but your hands are so warm that it's… well it's rather pleasant." His hand wrapped around her throat and he squeezed slightly. Zaiya's breath caught in her throat.

"This is pleasant…?" he asked, studying her face, she couldn't help the flush of heat and the way her lashes fluttered. The former Sith emitted a chuckle, at least he seemed amused.

"You seem to enjoy it," she said in a whisper.

"Not as much as you seem to," he retorted in a low voice. Deciding for a drop of revenge, she reached out her own hand and squeezed the base of his throat slowly.

"I mean like this," she let out a short breath that was something of a laugh. Maul's eyes intensified and he let out a dangerous growl.

"If you keep that up, I will not be held responsible for depriving you of sleep." His eyes blazed in warning, the heat from them hotter than his body temperature. Zaiya smirked and removed her hand.

"I suppose I do need sleep." Maul almost looked disappointed.

Almost.

"You do. Rest Lieutenant. We can further figure out our plans after we wake." He removed his hand and looped his strong arm over her waist, drawing her in close. Space was cold but it appeared she had her own personal heat source. The warmth lulling her to sleep again swiftly. She felt lighter than she had in a long time.

Perhaps her dreams might be sweet for once.


The power balance in the Galaxy was shifting. There was something wrong… the forces of light and dark were in flux and there were too many lives in the balance that it would have no effect on the outside.

The place Zaiya Valessa found herself in was in flux as much as the Dreamscape, yet it felt familiar. A huge tower loomed in the dark, thunder and lightning cracked overhead and the Nightsister had a foreboding sense of deja vu.

The changing landscape, the biting cold, the sweeping staircases, everything appearing to be made of volcanic glass… the images in the walls and of course the throne room.

The Fanged God had called to her again.

He sat high on his throne as she approached, though unlike last time she knew to bow immediately when she reached the foot of the dias.

"Can you feel it?" His smooth voice slid over her like slipstreams.

"I can, your Eminence."

"The time I have foreseen is coming."

Zaiya's head slowly lifted. Her mismatched eyes searched his face for an explanation. The Fanged God smirked as she pushed himself to his feet and approached, gesturing for her to stand. As he drew closer, he reached out and grasped her hand, leading the docile Nightsister to walk with him. She was a little too stunned to protest… and even if she wanted to, she didn't think she could.

"I can sense the Chosen One will change everything, even here on Mortis."

"Mortis… it's a planet?" Zaiya asked.

"It is and it is not," he replied unhelpfully. "We exist in a space outside your known Galaxy - cut off from it." His voice dropped to a growl, a sneer contorting his white and red face. He led her through a door and out to… a garden. Ghostly white trees sprouted from the soil with little other plant life around other than what looked to be white flowers dotted the ground.

"How is that possible?"

"My father. He has trapped us here."

"Father?" Zaiya blinked. The Fanged God had a father?! This was not in any of the texts or writings…

"My sister, you will have heard of," he began, turning to face the now still mortal. As though he knew her thoughts. He likely did.

Zaiya's face was awash with confusion.

"Your sister…? The Winged Goddess," she nodded. "Your Father, he I have no knowledge of."

"Unsurprising, he has no desire to be known by mortals." The Fanged God spoke with such disdain and contempt. "But it does not matter, he will die and I will be free." His gaze lifted to the sky, staring out at the stars. Zaiya just stared at him, who would have thought Gods would be so fraught with interfamilial squabbles? Enough to resort to patricide.

"That is what you need this Chosen One for?" she asked.

"Have you heard of Him?" the Fanged God asked and Zaiya was struggling to keep up. She shook her head. "He is foretold to bring balance to the Force, Father has called for him and he will soon arrive."

"Do you know who he is?" Zaiya prodded. The Fanged God slowly looked back at her with those unnerving red and black eyes.

"Not yet. But I will."


The world seemed to fade, and Zaiya felt warmth against her face. When she opened her eyes, she was blinded by the sun, streaming down around her. She could hear water, and as she sat up, she realised she lay on grass, under the shade of a tree, near some kind of pond and waterfall.

Zaiya squinted as she looked around, spotting a tall dark figure in the bright haze, his back to her. The white-haired Zabrak pushed herself to her feet and approached.

"You return," the Fanged God mused.

"I don't know if I left," Zaiya admitted.

"Time is different here." She supposed that was the best explanation she would get. "I have seen him," he continued, glancing sideways at her.

"Was he what you expected?" she asked, not sure what some fated Chosen One might be like.

"He is human, and a Jedi-" Zaiya couldn't help the noise she made in the back of her throat. He turned to look at her with a curious expression and she felt embarrassment wash over her.

"My apologies, your Eminence, I… am not fond of Jedi."

"Unsurprising. You are strong with the Dark Side." The Fanged God seemed amused, his eerie gaze lingering on her a moment longer. "He has great power, I am sure he will be able to help me escape this prison."

Zaiya felt her hearts throb. There was such emotion in his words. Part of her knew it could be a ploy, he knew about the collar, he would know about her confinement… yet-

"May I help, your Eminence?" she asked, looking up at him. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"You offer your help freely?" he asked, a modicum of suspicion in his tone.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I suppose it is a selfish one… I do not like the idea of cages, and I would be willing to assist in destroying yours." She returned his gaze with a measured one of her own, then her dual-toned lips curved in a slight smile. "I am your Priestess, after all."

The Fanged God found this to be even more amusing, it seemed. Whether it was her comment or simply the idea she thought she could help at all, she did not know.

"Perhaps if you were here in more than spirit, you might…" he trailed off. "Come, and we shall see if you may yet assist me."

The Fanged God transformed, his body almost instantly changing shape. One the Nightsister knew; a great Gorgara! Zaiya's eyes widened as she witnessed him extend his wings, and hold out a talon for her to grasp. After a moment of her mind playing catch-up, she took hold of his leg, holding on as he flew her back to the tower. Perhaps one day she might see such a creature on Dathomir- only that she had all but banished herself from her home.

The Fanged God could not escape his, and she could not return to hers… Though had she not wished for escape, herself?

He brought her to his tower, a beacon atop it glowed a familiar green. She stood in some sort of courtyard, a huge window of stained transparisteel loomed over them.

"I have something to show you," the Fanged God said, having transformed into his regular form when she wasn't looking. She followed him into the tower, along stairs and down into what appeared to be a dungeon.

There, on the far wall, hung a skinny orange-skinned Togruta. A very familiar looking skinny orange-skinned Togruta. Zaiya blinked. She'd seen the girl in holos and knew her by reputation more than anything.

"Wh-what is Ahsoka Tano doing here?" the Nightsister gasped.

"You know this child?" the Fanged God asked.

"Not personally, but I know who she is, I've met her Jedi Master…" Zaiya trailed off. Human male Jedi was here… "She came here with others, didn't she? One or two human males?" She looked at the towering God sharply. The little Togruta appeared unconscious, and unable to hear them.

"You are a perceptive one. Yes, she did come with them." Zaiya ran a hand over her face.

"Which one of them is it? The brunette or the insufferable bearded one?" She dreaded the answer either way.

"The taller, young one, I believed they called him-"

"Anakin. Anakin Skywalker." Zaiya said with a heavy groan. "Of course it is."

"You know him?"

"Unfortunately. He's arrogant, immature and far too-quick to temper for a Jedi." She sighed. "Though he is skilled and clearly powerful, though… you would know more of him than I." She looked up at the bemused God. He could know her innermost memories, then he likely knew Skywalkers. "Is there something you would care to share?" she asked, hopefully.

"You are bold, little witch, and you favour knowledge more than raw power it seems." He regarded her with the tilt of his head.

"I favour what is useful." She shrugged, and noticed that the girl was starting to stir. "What will you do with her?"

But he did not answer, instead he moved forward into the shadows, taking the form of a squat rat-like creature. Something disturbing yet ultimately unthreatening. He spoke to the child and something he said nearly winded Zaiya.

the chains are the easy part… it's what goes on up here, that's hard…

She had heard that before.

Zaiya was so struck that she stepped forward, but the Togruta did not even seem to notice her. Instead, she seemed lightheaded, and turned her back on the God, much to her regret, as she did not see the bite coming. The girl cried out and collapsed, without thinking, Zaiya darted out and caught her head before she hit the cold ground, and passed out again.

"What- what are you doing?" Zaiya cried in shock.

"She is mine now," the Fanged God sneered.

"She's a child!" Zaiya protested.

"She is a Jedi, and a competent warrior, if inexperienced - watch." Zaiya looked down and saw black veins appear as the Padawan's skin became pale and translucent. The Nightsister felt the darkness grow and infest the girl. Then her eyes opened to reveal a sickly yellow colour, where once they had been blue. They locked onto Zaiya with predatory sharpness.

"By the…" she trailed off, remembering who she was with and the Fanged God himself chuckled.

"Yes. By me indeed." He stepped back. "She can see you now." The Togruta stood.

"I know you," Ahsoka said with a tilt of her head, seemingly ignoring the Fanged God for the moment.

"You probably would. I imagine my name is not a popular one among the Jedi," Zaiya replied flatly.

"You are Siren, former Lieutenant-General of Kamino."

"And you are Ahsoka Tano, Jedi Padawan." Zaiya held out a hand in greeting. Strange that even in this dreamscape, their hands could touch. It must have been the doing of the Fanged God.

"The Jedi…" Ahsoka sneered. "They are fools if they let power like this escape them!" The girl held up her hands, grinning wickedly. As impulsive as she had heard the Padawan could be, Zaiya was not foolish enough to think this was her natural personality. No, this was the influence of the Dark Side the Fanged God had infected her with.

"It is a shame we had not met before now," the white-haired woman responded.

"My Priestess, you will educate the child, we need the Chosen one to join us, and I shall be free of this wretched cage…!" The Fanged God spoke, his anger rippled through the air.

"As… you wish, your Eminence," Zaiya replied with a bow. She watched as the tall being smirked and turned away, leaving her alone with the child.

"Then, we shall be ready for my former Master?" Ahsoka asked, looking up at Zaiya with a sinister smile. Zaiya regarded the girl with a slightly disturbed expression, but nodded. She gestured for Ahsoka to follow and led her out of the dungeon and up the stairs.

"The Jedi have been searching for you," Ahsoka said as they walked.

"I can imagine…" Zaiya replied warily. If she went back to her master, she didn't exactly want the girl reporting anything she said. On the other hand… "tell me about this prophecy."


The two talked at length… before they were interrupted by the alleged Chosen One himself. It seemed that he indeed could not see Zaiya, and so when the fight between Master and Padawan broke out, she could do nothing.

There was absolute chaos in the coming moments, Zaiya could not respond as she witnessed the Fanged God not only kill the child, to Zaiya's disgust… but even his own Father! Or, he would have, if his sister had not stepped in front of the blade.

The anguish and regret that exploded from him in that moment as he fled was unrivalled. She felt it too, deep in her chest and dropped to her knees. The Winged Goddess… slain!

What had she done? In assisting him, had she caused this? By being here… was she the reason- No! No she was a Mortal, what sway could she have over Gods and their whims.

It all happened so fast!

She took a deep breath and stepped back. Zaiya witnessed the Father kneeling over both fallen females, and Anakin before him. She didn't know what was happening, exactly, and Zaiya stepped forward… But then the Father looked up at her. Meeting her eyes and it was like a bolt of lightning had struck. The Nightsister was thrown back, swallowed by the darkness and everything vanished.


Her vision stirred and she witnessed the stars begin to appear… then shift, as though the Galaxy itself moved around her. Her eye struggled to focus… and she realised she was in an arena of some kind.

A wide open space and tall walls, the sky was in chaos, the stars she thought she was seeing were just a swirling mess of light and dark. Her vision cleared a little and she witnessed the Jedi, and both Gods, Father and Son in the centre. She stepped forward again but this time paid her no heed. She didn't care much for the Jedi's actions, her eyes were on her Patron God.

He was in so much pain, she could feel it. She slowly began to creep closer, and in her shock, the knife he had used to kill the Goddess appeared once more… handed to the Father by the Jedi.

"No…" she whispered and reached out. The Father did not strike his child -but himself. She gasped in horror, hearing the Fanged God cry out in further anguish, his pain burning through him and herself. He cradled his father in a tender moment as the world around them crumbled.

Zaiya wondered what this could mean. He had succeeded and yet… he had lost everything he loved. An omen if ever there was one. Just when she thought he might rise - the Jedi struck!

"NO!" Zaiya screamed and she felt the Fanged God look at her. She could not hear his whispered words but as he faded, the betrayal burning in his heart, she felt the sensation of power grow inside her.

The pain and fury.

Red glowing embers rose in her vision, swirling from his hand and rushing toward her.

My power is yours… She heard the whispered voice in her head and felt the spots burn into her skin as she fell back once more, the planet itself seeming to swallow her whole.


Zaiya awoke with a start in her bed, body jerking slightly and her eyes snapping open. Her chest was heaving and she was sweating. Beside her, Maul leaned over her his face stricken as he grasped her shoulder.

"Zaiya?" he whispered hoarsely.

"...sire…?" she managed, forcing herself to sit up, despite her body's painful protests.

"Are you alright, was it a nightmare or…?" The visions she had been subjected to were always painful and bore a sense of doom, but this? She was not sure what it was, it was nothing like the visions or looming feelings of dread.

"I don't know what it was," Zaiya admitted, as she felt Maul brush her cheek.

"Why do you weep?" he asked.

"I didn't realise I was," she replied, looking at his hand. But she could not deny the sense of loss she felt. The empty hollow in her heart where something had once been. Even then, this feeling was not hers, but His. She looked at Maul with a grim expression.

"I believe things are only going to escalate," she told him softly. "We need to be ready." She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts from the nonsense that was the dream-vision she had seen, then she looked back up ito her Prine's golden eyes. "What do you know of a Prophecy?"


Notes: Hello! I hope you all are well! This one is a long one today, but I think it's interesting enough to justify the length.

I have been very busy lately, and doing a lot of art and drawing and making stickers, doing commissions and re-opening my with the hope to put some of the APOD art up there. ( linktr ee /kimageddon if you are interested in checking it out) I'm still trying to figure out what to put on my and etsy and all that (suggestions are welcome) so unfortunately it's meant that writing has been a little difficult.
Fair warning, I may have to take a short break in order to catch up on APOD just so I can have less pressure on myself. (I will let you know with plenty of warning if this is the case however.)

Anyway! Maul coming in to be a supportive evil boss/boyfriend(?) Then of course the Fanged God has gotta be weird about things. Did anyone think this was how she and Ahsoka would meet? ...will Ahsoka even remember it? Who knows!

Next chapter, the Datho-fam have got to begin making proper plans, they are free to build their own empire now. We're gonna see some new faces - as well as some favourites!

Until then - comments and feedback are the lifeblood of this fic and I would love, love, love to read what you think of this chapter or what you think will happen next. I've seen some new usernames and damn, it really gives me joy. But for now, I must retire for the evening, I shall see you all next time! 3