My first 70 chapters.
This is a milestone for me cause I never would have thought that after the reboot of this story that I would ever reach this.
And I know there is still more to come but still, it's an amazing feeling getting this far but also knowing what's more to come.
I cannot thank you guys enough for being with me on this journey and above all else, Jebest4781 and BulletStormX, my two friends and comrades who have gotten me this far in this story and in others and with what's to come.
Thank you all so much for being with me and I hope to see you guys when this journey reaches its inevitable conclusion. No way in hell I'm leaving this at all.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.
Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 70: Birth of a Monster.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.
These are the tenants that make up the code of the Jedi Order, one that has been followed for countless Millennia now and one that has been unchanged in quite some time.
Every Jedi from Youngling to Master is meant to memorize these words as this is the code they are to abide by from the moment their training begins until they are one with the Force.
While it is never explicitly stated, following the code in practice is easier said than done. It is through personal trials and tribulations that a Jedi must go through to fully understand the meaning and context of these words as one would find them.
For many Jedi Masters who believe they have a better grasp then most, it is the application of the word When to every line of the Jedi Code that the mantra begins to make more sense.
When there is no emotion, there is Peace
When there is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
When there is no passion, there is serenity.
And so on and so forth.
When this is all said aloud, a proper context begins to be formed.
Jedi within the order begin to have a better understanding of the Code and its teachings as well as how to follow them.
It's why they speak of showing compassion for all without forming attachments.
Without attachments, without emotion, an internal peace can be achieved as a Jedi is able to focus on all rather than a select few.
However, in spite of all this, these sorts of practices are easier said than done.
Emotions, feelings are not as easy to suppress or ignore as one might think though that is really a universally accepted matter.
When one is born, the first thing they do is feel.
Discomfort, pain, joy, peace, all in a matter of seconds.
And feeling is what every sentient being shall and will do up from their birth all the way to their death.
Even Jedi, much as they like to tell themselves that they keep their emotions in check, feel just as much as anyone else.
Which is what one Luminara Unduli was currently experiencing right now.
Conflicted, confused and… was she cornered?
No, she was just unsure.
Within a small meditation room, the Mirialan Jedi Master and Council Member sat on her knees with her head bent forward and eyes closed, deep in meditation.
She had been there for a number of days really as she was given a revelation that deeply and profoundly troubled her.
Her Padawan Barriss along with Colonel James Rhodes had pulled her aside after the large meeting with the recently found Avenger known as Vision to speak with her on a serious matter.
So serious that it genuinely rattled, disturbed and startled the Jedi Master.
The Clones all had chips implanted into their heads that allowed for complete and total control over them.
On face value, the inhibitor chips were used to help repress the aggressive tendencies their donor -Jango Fett- has had in life. This was seen in the reports with the first batch of clones, making the Kaminoans to put in the biochips into the future clones from then on out.
Yet it seemed whoever is behind it all had plugged in a number of Orders, with the Kaminoans approval, which would greatly unbalance the galaxy.
In particular… Order 66.
The idea that the Clones, the brave men the Jedi had come to call comrades and brothers in arms, that they would turn on them in an instant…
For once, Luminara felt trepidation and anxiousness at the thought of Commander Gree turning his blaster on her when he had risked his life so many times to fight right beside her and Barriss.
Quite the backstabbing action, one which neither of them would see until too late.
She remembered her stunned and confused reaction, trying to understand whether or not what her Padawan and friend presented to her was a falsehood.
Rhodey proved it to be true, using the data their AI Tap had acquired and showed her everything.
It was… a sobering and humbling sight as well as a much needed wake up call.
She had never considered it or even thought about it but the Jedi had taken on a slave army with no will of their own.
And should they desire to get one, whichever action was needed to get them turned on would activate these Biochips and their free will would be stolen from them in an instant.
Luminara was unable to properly respond to such revelations, simply mumbling a small "thank you for telling me all of this" before walking away from them all.
She had been alone since, in a constant state of meditation as she tried to make sense of it all.
How could this have happened?
Who else knows?
She had forgotten to actually ask all these questions as she felt a bit… or a lot really, overwhelmed by all this information.
Even as a seasoned Jedi Master who was now a Council member, Luminara felt a great deal of loss in direction and reaction.
She trained herself for years to know how to manage her emotions, to keep them in check, in line so that they would never override her decisions nor her duty as a Jedi.
But this?
To know that the Order can be wiped out in an instance?
Only a droid would see their deaths as a statistic.
But Luminara, try as she might, cannot deny the absolute dread she felt when presented with this reality. Much as she would try to deny this, the Jedi Order, for all its pros and cons was her family.
This is all she had ever known, what gives her life purpose and meaning.
To lose it all… she couldn't comprehend it.
The door to the room opened and in walked a single man who looked down at the Jedi Master on her knees…
*cough* Should have phrased that better.
"You okay there?"
Unduli opened her eyes and slowly turned her head back towards the man standing at the door, his eyes sympathetic and expression understanding.
She gave him a weak, tired smile.
"I'm fine Rhodey." Luminara whispered quietly.
The Avenger known as War Machine raised a disbelieving eye, walking over to her and held out his hand for her to take.
"Are you?" He quietly asked. "Cause from where I stand, that couldn't be further from the truth."
Rather than deny it, the Mirialan Jedi shook her head and looked down.
"Am I that easy to read?"
"To those who know you." Rhodey remarked, gesturing his hand slightly again.
She looked back up to him with a small smile now. "And how well do you know me, Colonel Rhodes?"
"Well enough, Master Luminara." He rebuked, a tiny teasing smirk for her to see.
Daintily taking his hand, she was assisted back up to her feet.
Once standing to her full height, she felt Rhodey place a hand on her shoulder, a more concerned expression on his face now.
"But seriously, how're you holding up? Do ya need anything? Maybe somethin' to eat? Drink? Lie down for a bit?"
"I'm fine, Rhodey, honest."
James held a disbelieving look in his eyes. "How long have you been in here, Lumi?"
"A few days, I believe."
"And you hardly stepped out?"
"Yes."
The Colonel exhaled a sigh. "Well that changes today. Come on."
"Come on? Where are we going?" Luminara said in confusion, not fighting Rhodey's hand on her back that pushed her towards the door.
"Outside. You can't be cooped up in here." He explained. "Go get some fresh air or something."
"I'm quite alright, Rhodey."
"And I -quite poetically- don't believe you."
"Poetically?" She parroted in amusement.
"Whatever, don't haggle my vocabulary. Just keep walking."
Unduli let out a small chuckle. "Very well Colonel, at your insistence."
"You bet my insistence."
The pair walked side by side within the halls of the Temple, passing by a number of other Jedi and with them, some Clones.
Luminara looked at them with reservation, guilt and remorse.
Rhodey saw this, letting out a sigh as he patted her shoulder.
"You know you're gonna draw attention to yourself like that, Lumi." He stated.
She exhaled and turned her gaze downward.
"Apologies James." She murmured. "It's still a hard matter to process."
"Yeah, I get it." Rhodey quietly said. "It's something all of us are gonna need to get used to until we can counter it properly."
"How far goes the operation?" She asked in a low voice as to make sure none heard her.
"Slow and steady. Got a lot of ground to cover to be sure the present clones can get those chips out." Rhodey said, eyeing a Clone Captain that walked by him by the side of a Jedi Knight.
"And the ones presently being developed on Kamino?"
"The AIs were in their system and had cut out certain Orders in the clones' developments." He revealed. "So those made from here on out won't have the kill order, among other dangerous ones."
Luminara let out a breath of relief. "That's good at least."
As they continued to walk through the temple, the pair eventually arrived in the Jedi Archives, not really choosing to go here as they just went wherever their feet carried them.
"Who else knows?" She asked, walking in between the many data files of accumulated knowledge. "I understand that your entire team is aware since you were the ones who discovered this plot and Barriss is also informed of this matter."
"Aside from Barriss, it's Ahsoka, Obi-wan, Anakin and Senators Padme, Mon Mothma, Organa and Chuchi."
"Senators?" Unduli said in slight surprise.
"It's actually Padme, Organa and Mothma that put the idea in place." Rhodey revealed, taking a moment to check around and make sure they were alone. "Natasha met them when she reunited with us after the whole Cad Bane hostage crap. Nat was already curious about the Clone army since she and Sam talked about it apparently. No surprise really with what happened to them and Cap back on Earth with HYDRA."
"Yes, I recall Captain Rogers and Romanoff speaking about this."
"It's a long story I need to tell you about." Rhodey stated. "But back to what I was saying earlier. The whole SHIELD and HYDRA incident gave Sam and Cap a degree of paranoia. Not like Natasha's but enough where they can sniff out something funky if they pick up on it. Case and point, the Clones and the Biochips."
"Why tell us?" The Mirialan Jedi inquired.
Rhodey hummed in thought, shrugging slightly. "Well… we trust you guys. We've been fighting by your side, being here for the last few months and… you're our friends. We owe it to you guys to let you know this."
Luminara was unable to fight the smile blooming on her face as she reached out to place her hand on Rhodey's arm.
"Thank you for trusting us, James." She said in a kind and warm voice.
The former air force pilot blinked at her gratitude before he chuckled and looked away from her rather bashfully.
"Well shucks, Lumi, you're making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside." Rhodey said, grinning now.
Luminara simply chuckled at his response, shaking her head slightly at him.
She then became more quiet and contemplative, staring intently at the Colonel who looked back at her strangely.
"What? What is it?"
"What of the Council?" She inquired. "Have you told them yet?"
James scrunched his face up in thought, glancing upwards. "Well… do you and Obi-Wan count?"
Unduli was both amused and unamused.
"Rhodey…"
"Just you and Kenobi are the only Council members we've told."
"Why us?"
"We wanted to keep the information limited." Rhodey said in complete seriousness. "If we tell one after the other, the information would spread like wildfire and it would reach ears that can act on it sooner."
"The Jedi Council would keep this information a secret." Unduli declared.
War Machine shook his head. "We can't afford to take those risks yet. We must learn more about these plans, these chips and the head of it all before we begin to make moves to counter all of this."
"Then why tell only us?" Luminara said with a bit more force with a frown to match.
"It's cause we trust the ones we have told more than anyone else in this crazy galaxy." Rhodey admitted.
"And what's stopping me from taking this to the Council right here, right now?" She challenged him.
The Avenger clenched his fist tightly, shaking his head. "Not me, even if I wanted to. Not any of us honestly. We just… Lumi, please, we need to keep this as secretive as possible until more can be done. The entire team and several Senators and Jedi that we trust already know and that group is big enough as is. We gotta keep it contained for now until the time is right."
Luminara looked away, retaining a calm exterior yet for Rhodey, he was able to see the turmoil she held on the inside through her eyes.
It was uncharacteristically strange and unnatural to see one like Unduli appearing so openly troubled when she usually maintained a serene grace to her.
She appeared conflicted for a time until a sigh escaped from her and it appeared that she resigned herself to Rhodey's request.
"When should the rest of the Council know?"
He looked at her sympathetically. "That's the hard answer to give at this time. If we outright tell the rest, then it'll cause quite the amount of disorder and distrust towards the clones."
Luminara bit her inner cheek.
"Until we can get the majority of the clones debugged…"
"We must keep this between those in the know until more can be brought in."
"Yeah." Rhodey said with a disgruntled sigh. "Lumi, I know you don't like this and I don't feel any better about it than you do but-"
"I understand, James." Unduli quietly said, a tired smile directed at the war veteran. "And, at the very least, I thank you for trusting me and my Padawan like this."
Rhodey smiled back. "No problem, Lumi. We'll always help you guys out whenever we can."
"We appreciate the gesture, my friend." Luminara stated. "Both myself and Barriss and the Jedi Order."
All the while…
Said Padawan of Luminara Unduli was mulling over multiple historical texts with her two dear friends in Peter Parker and Ahsoka Tano.
This has started to become a routine of theirs as of late. One which the Mirialan padawan was rather fine with, just so long as she got to be with them.
They had recently reached the tail end, or start really, of the thousand years of peace that the Republic had enjoyed since the Seventh and final battle of Ruusan.
"What's with the spears?" Peter abruptly asked.
"Huh?" Both Padawans looked up from their data files at the New York native.
"The spears and… frankly, a lot of medieval weapons from what I'm looking at." Spidey clarified. "Are they like… Force-imbued weapons? I read of them a while back but-"
"Let me see that." Taking a look of the material Peter was looking over, the Togruta padawan scrawled through the information before giving a response. "I… am not exactly sure."
"Spears and medieval weaponry…" Barriss murmured. "I have actually noticed that in what I'm reading right now. The Schism of the Jedi and its head figure, Darth Ruin."
"Can I see that?" Peter inquired, holding out his hand for Offee's data texts and she handed it off to him.
He began skimming through the texts and notes, paragraphs and overall summaries of what had transpired in this era called the New Sith Wars.
"A lot of regression here." Parker noted with a frown.
"Regression?"
"Yeah, I mean… some of the weaponry looks archaic from where we are right now." Peter pointed out. "Hasn't the Republic stood for like a few thousand years?"
"25,000 I believe is the official count, reformations and all."
The brown haired teen only hummed, picking up a number of files and texts before laying it all out in front of him, rubbing his chin in thought.
Ahsoka and Barriss stood from their seats and walked around to stand behind Peter, looking down at a makeshift collage that he had made.
"What is all this?" Ahsoka asked.
"Timeline comparisons." Peter said. "Been jumping around from multiple points in the recorded history you guys have, despite some gaps here and there. I've noticed a strange blank spot in the middle of it all. Check this out here. When you look back in the different periods in your galaxy's overall history, I found an odd degradation of technology around the start of the New Sith Wars; a Dark Age if you will."
"Wasn't the galaxy recovering from centuries of war with the old Sith Empire?" Tano queried.
"I'm not too sure about that." Barriss murmured. "Frankly, nothing here truly tells us just how the old Sith Empire was taken down. Just that they vanished-"
"And a Dark Age followed." Peter remarked.
"A Dark Age after the old Sith's fall?" Ahsoka said. "Sounds appropriate? Or… wait, does it?"
"Not the way you're thinking of. You're thinking more of the Force aspects of it all but for me it's in the technological field." Peter said with conviction. "Like a massive leap back occurred as a result of whatever happened back then. A regression of technology and all."
"Technological regression is not uncommon but what does this have to do with the Dark Age?" The Mirialan Padawan inquired.
Peter rubbed the back of his head, wracking his brain for an idea on how to elaborate on this.
History may not have been his best subject but being a genius in his own right as acknowledged by individuals like Tony Stark and Hank Pym, he still excelled in most all subjects than others in his grade and generation.
"Ok, so, since we're on the topic of history, I think my planets can help here." Peter stated. "Millenia ago back on Earth, we had our own Dark Ages in the western world which ruined a lot of scientific discoveries and held many cultures back for so long. It was mostly due to religion, but that's beside the point. It took our people centuries to rediscover a good fraction of those findings, given what records we uncovered through archeological digs and research."
Both padawans were curious on how this came to pass, knowing there was more to this topic. Yet they were silent to hear Peter's explanation.
"I remember during the second world war on my planet, there was a big jump in advancement which all started in Germany. Them being the ones to introduce the fighter jets and rocket planes. And then came their really big guns that frightened everyone. This was mostly due to HYDRA obtaining the Tesseract. This had to make the Allied Forces work harder to gain the upper hand and win the war."
"What's this got to do with anything?"
"I'm getting to it." Peter patiently said. "It was really the Axis power as a whole that dominated the initial start to the war. But when the allied powers began closing in around them on all fronts, they started getting desperate. All the technological innovations that they had had now been adopted and advanced beyond their own capabilities. Sure they had some advantages still but being overwhelmed for the losing nations to resort to antiquated weapons and the enlistment of children and the elderly to fight their war for them."
"That feels like something that would happen to any losing side really." Ahsoka countered.
"I know but look at this." Peter pointed to one of the data files in the center. "From what I scrounged up, there was another galactic war between the Republic and Sith Empire and it went badly. Like really badly. So many lives were lost and it was really hard to recover from. It was so bad that a big chunk of its events were redacted or outright lost cause well, there were few people who actually recorded the events."
"That's… I can't properly put into words how saddening that is to hear." Barriss whispered with a saddened frown.
"Yeah." Peter murmured with a sigh.
"This web just keeps getting bigger." Ahsoka muttered, feeling overwhelmed by all the knowledge they both had and didn't have at their disposal. "Pun intended, mind you. I mean, look at how you spread everything out here."
"Spider-man, remember?" He cheekily said, patting Ahsoka's own cheek, earning him a light flick upon the side of his temple which didn't even phase him. "At least I'm not doing a big conspiracy thread work with everything gathered on a wall lookin' like a crazy person."
"...Do we wanna know what such a thing looks like?"
Peter shook his head. "Later. Getting back on track…"
"Right, demonstrations for another time."
The young Avenger nodded as he pulled up another thing he had questions about.
"I gotta ask, but what's the Eternal Empire?"
Both Padawans looked at what he spoke of with befuddled looks.
"I don't think either of us have ever read up on this matter." Barriss said in a quiet voice, Ahsoka voicing her agreement.
"Well, whatever it was, the history after it gets really muddied." Peter pointed out. "There was the Second Galactic War but after that, that's when history began to fracture and get lost."
"So that's the history we need to investigate?" Offee said.
"I think that's only a piece of it." Ahsoka said, unsure as to all this. "History isn't exactly my forte."
Peter grunted slightly. "You and me both, Soka. You still sure about doing this?"
Ahsoka put on a determined front and nodded. "I wanted to do this and will see it through to the end. Right Barriss?"
"Of course." Her close friend stated, raising a fist of promised solidarity.
"Alright then." Peter said with a shrug. "Where to next?"
"Dex's diner." Ahsoka announced. "Working through all this got me craving some more of that new Earth food."
Barriss hummed in agreement. "We do deserve a good meal break."
"And lesson break." Peter massaged part of his head as he exhaled a sigh of relief.
"So what do you think?" Ahsoka abruptly asked, nudging him with her shoulder.
"What?"
"Am I as "smart" as you thought I was?"
"Smrt and no, Barriss and I are still better."
"What?!" The Togruta Jedi squawked.
"Smrt?" Barriss parroted in confused amusement.
"Yeah, ya see, people like us Barriss are smart with an A whilst Ahsoka unfortunately struggles to have one…"
-Scene Cut-
On the red planet of Dathomir, a great number of things were occurring. Yet several moments in particular were more significant at this point in time.
Within the coven of the Nightsister clan of Mother Talzin, the Nightsister leader stood alongside Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku as the three of them had been in deep discussion for their plans in overthrowing Darth Sidious.
"To beat him is not a matter of outright confrontation but of whittling down his influence and power." Dooku stated outright. "His power eclipses our own with perhaps only Windu, Master Yoda and Skywalker among the few who can perhaps challenge him."
"The Avengers are of no laughing matter either with their own capabilities." Asajj said with a huff, arms crossed.
Dooku frowned at the mention of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, turning to Talzin.
"And where is the one called Wanda Maximoff?"
It had been a surprise for the Count of Serenno to learn the final wayward Avenger had been on this planet all along. For a part of him, he was fulfilling a task given to him by Sidious to find and perhaps sway the Earther to their side. Yet things changed due to recent events.
"Elsewhere at this time, Lord Dooku." Talzin said in her echoing voice. "I would rather have it that you did not clash as Asajj nearly had when they first encountered each other. I understand you are enemies and it's best you not meet one another as of this moment."
"She would not join us, Master." Ventress firmly said. "Her powers are beyond our understanding and she has the capacity of reading thoughts with near ease that's invasive really. It is better that we oppose Sidious on our ends whilst the Avengers and Jedi continue going about it separately from us."
Dooku's frown deepened as his apprentice spoke more on this "Scarlet Witch" and her capabilities, mentally filing her away as a foe to look out for in the future.
Sidious and Ultron may be the most demanding threats that they are up against right now but the Avengers will always be a present thorn in the side of the Sith, Separatists and really any who oppose their "heroism".
Still though, the title of the "Scarlet Witch '' was unusually familiar. He swore he heard of this somewhere before.
Was it at the Jedi Temple when he was once a Master?
Or his time away from the Order, exploring the galaxy on his own?
Or perhaps amongst the artifacts Sidious had collected over the years, in which Dooku had the privilege of looking over when he first became Darth Tyranus.
"Dooku." Talzin's disembodied voice broke through the Sith Lords deep thoughts, making him turn to her expectantly. "I may have a solution to the replacement you would need in the continued illusion of Ventress' death."
He silently nodded his head as his go ahead for her to speak.
"Are you familiar with the former apprentice to Sidious known as Darth Maul?"
The mention of his predecessor brought a bitter expression on the Count's face.
The Count closed his eyes momentarily, the recorded image of the Zabrak stabbing his former student in the chest still haunts him to this day.
"Yes, he had slain my former apprentice -Qui-Gon Jinn- before Obi-Wan Kenobi had avenged him on Naboo."
"A few still remain in his bloodline." Talzin revealed to Dooku. "The men dwell on the far side of Dathomir. What if I could provide another of his kind?"
That got Tyranus' attention. "A warrior of the same caliber?"
"Yes, but I warn you now the men are easy to acquire but harder to control."
"I admit Master, this is a suitable replacement." Asajj said, nodding her head to Talzin's suggestion. "Darth Sidious will not think much of a brute unless he is an exact replica of Darth Maul himself."
"Though they are of similar heritage and bloodline, they hold a different set of strengths that distinguishes them from one another." Talzin explained.
"It would be difficult to have such a person reach Maul's level of strength and skill in a small amount of time." Dooku drolled out. "I will need the help of the Dark Acolytes to get my new assassin up to my desired requirements."
"I shall assist in his selection, Master." Ventress said with a bow of her head.
"See that you do. I do not wish to see your "replacement" to sway under Sidious' control once his training is complete."
"He shall not fall to the sway of Sidious." The Nightsister mother assured. "With our magic combined with both your abilities, this new apprentice will serve our goals and ours alone."
"See that you do." Dooku said. "I shall leave this in your hands, my Apprentice. I must make my return to Serenno lest Sidious begins to grow suspicious over my prolonged absence."
The Count soon departed from Dathomir as he had to return to his homeworld to resume a plethora of responsibilities.
Hopefully within several days' time he will obtain his new assassin and thus the training process shall begin.
"Where can I find this Nightbrother of Darth Maul's bloodline?" Asajj asked, standing by Talzin as the pair watched Dooku's ship depart from Dathomir.
"Like I told Dooku, the far side of this planet. One of our associate clans. I will give you the coordinates by the time you finish your preparations."
Asajj nodded before voicing another inquiry. "And what of Maximoff?"
"She will be kept away for the time being." Talzin promised. "Her friendship with Ros Lai of Zalem's clan will keep her preoccupied as there is a great deal of rebuilding that is needed for her territory."
"And when she is back? What if Count Dooku opts for a sudden visit?"
"We shall handle it."
Asajj frowned, scrunching her face up irritably. "Why must you keep that wretched woman around? She is an enemy, can you not see?"
"To you, perhaps, but to us-"
"What if she turns on us? She has the power to wipe us out without much trouble if you are unaware." Ventress snapped back, growling now.
"I understand your animosity towards Wanda, my dear, but I am doing this for our clan." Talzin assured, confidently.
"Like you having me sent away."
"I did that for your sake as well, Ventress."
"And I have yet to learn the reason."
"You will, in time."
Asajj gave her coven leader a harsh gaze before turning away.
"Who was he?"
Talzin glanced at the young Dathomirian hybrid out of the corners of her eyes. "A man of unimaginable power who left his mark on this world and others. Had he come for you… who's to say what he may have done to you at the time."
"Was he a Jedi? A Sith? A Force user?"
"Something… more. Someone dangerous."
Asajj didn't know how to respond to that as she was still in the dark but shook her head. She walked away towards her hut to acquire a number of things. Upon exiting, she acquired a speeder that had been prepared for her voyage to the Nightbrothers clan.
Hopefully the selection process will not be troublesome.
-Scene Cut-
"It's good seeing you again, Wanda."
The Sokovian Avenger beamed at the sight of the beautiful Ros Lai as the two walked towards each other and embraced one another warmly.
"It hasn't been that long, Lai." Maximoff said with a kind smile as she pulled away from Ros yet kept her arms on her shoulders.
"When you're as busy as I am, a few days can be a few months in your mind." The Clan leader remarked, looking down to the two girls at Wanda's side. "Hello Merrin, Ilyana. Have you been behaving for Wanda?"
"We're not that bad." Merrin said with a puff of her cheeks, getting her hair ruffled by their guardian and having it intentionally messed up. "Wanda~~~"
Ilyana giggled until her hood was pulled over her head by Maximoff's telekinesis.
"I see Wanda is a bigger child than I had assumed." Ros remarked, laughing at Wanda's puffed out cheeks. "Come on, I have a place set up for us to eat and meet with the other coven leaders."
"They're already here?" Wanda asked in surprise, walking alongside Lai.
"Soon." She said with a tired sigh. "My mother's legacy has scarred Dathomir. It has been felt across the planet and I am hoping to mend the relationships and the image that she has tarnished for my people."
"Last I heard, there were some who had been resistant to that change." Maximoff brought up, making Ros scoff.
"There have always been fools such as those who wished to hold on to the power given to them."
"Are they still around?"
"They fled, taking what resources and other followers that they were able to and haven't been seen since." Lai said with a frown, the two now standing upon a balcony with Merrin and Ilyana peaking their heads over the railing as they all gazed out upon the horizon.
"Think they'd be a problem?"
"They are, they just haven't done anything yet." Ros firmly declared. "I know that fools such as those will never be satisfied with the lot in life they have now. They'll want to take it back somehow but know it can't be done now."
"So it's only a matter of time then." Wanda murmured, subconsciously placing her hands on Ilyana's and Merrin's shoulders.
They were silent for the most part as they all simply gazed out upon the horizon as the sun of Dathomir was setting in a fantastical display of light that illuminated the skies of the red planet.
"I heard of a visitor coming to this planet." Ros spoke up, breaking the silence between her and Wanda.
"Yes." Maximoff nodded slowly. "A lost Nightsister, if you will. Her name is Asajj Ventress and apparently is Ilyana's cousin."
This earned a mildly surprised look from the clan leader. "Is she now?"
"And she brought news that… has made me realize my time here on Dathomir may be short." Wanda revealed, making Merrin and Ilyana look up at her in shock.
"Y-You're leaving?" Merrin asked in disbelief and fear.
"I may have to, little one." The Scarlet Witch remorsefully stated. "I have a duty that I have long since neglected that is now demanding my attention."
"What is it?" Ros inquired, finding the Sokovian far more serious, gravely so even.
Wanda took a moment to herself before speaking again. "When Ventress arrived on Dathomir, she was weakened and injured. Her clan enacted a ritual to heal her physically and mentally. In that ritual, her mind was an open book. I saw her entire life play out and well… turns out she's more an enemy than an ally."
Ros frowned in confusion. "How did you come to this conclusion?"
"I saw her fighting my brother, my team, my friends." Maximoff listed off. "She has continually attempted to kill them in the ongoing war in this galaxy and well…"
"Yeah, wouldn't imagine such a pleasant exchange." Lai admitted. "But if she's here, what warrants you to depart from Dathomir?"
"Other than the fact that I now know my friends and my brother are alive and well, The Avengers were not the only one she had fought against."
The silent, quizzical expression from her friend made her sigh, turning to lean on the railing with her head hung down.
"She was fighting another enemy, one of my own, actually." Wanda said in a low voice. "One whom I thought dead and gone when I last saw him and what one of my comrades told me of."
Her eyes flared scarlet momentarily, subsiding a second later.
"Ultron." She quietly said in a grim tone.
While Ros Lai was curious about the name, there seemed to be a little recognition seen on the children's faces.
"Oh, right." Wanda shook her head, seeing their reaction. "I forgot I never told you about him. About everything I had done on Earth."
She exhaled for a few seconds, looking exhausted suddenly.
"See, back on Earth, when I got my powers, my brother and I met someone some time afterwards." Maximoff said, recalling her first meeting with the mad AI. "He called himself Ultron and had a mission in mind. To save our world from itself."
"Save your world from itself?" Ros repeated in confusion.
"He was a peacekeeping program or that's at least how he presented himself." Wanda clarified. "That he was created to "save the world"." She scoffed at that, more seemingly in self-deprecation than at what was said. "And my brother and I, radicalized idiots that we were, went along with it. He offered us something we wanted and we willingly went along with whatever plans he had cooked up. So long as we take out the so-called "heroes" of Earth."
A bitter resentment towards herself was easily detected and seen by all.
"Our alliance was short-lived as I learned the truth of his intentions." She stated. "His version of "saving the world" was the extinction of all life on our planet."
Ros's eyes widened in considerable shock.
"Extinction? And how could he accomplish that? Better yet, what does he accomplish with such a goal?"
"Peace in our time, as he called it." Wanda distantly said. "And his method was dropping a city that he would use as a meteor down which was enhanced with a unique metal. It's a complicated thing for me to describe. In the end we did stop his plans and we finished him off, but not well enough it seems. He's back and he's waging war on the whole galaxy now. I've been here whilst my friends have been fighting in a war against him. Some Avenger I am."
"But how could you have known?" Ros asked. "And better yet, you had your own hands full here, in case you forgot. If it wasn't for you, Dathomir would have fallen under my mother's control. We would all either be dead or service to her."
"But afterwards, I should have considered leaving and going to reunite with my team." Wanda countered.
"Where would you have gone?" Ros asked. "And better yet, how would you even get around? Do you even know how to fly a ship?"
"It's not about that." Wanda retorted vehemently. "It's about the fact that I've allowed this to happen."
"Ok, ok." Ros placatingly raised his hands. "If this troubles you so much, why didn't you just leave already?"
Maximoff snorted, expression softening as she pulled Merrin and Ilyana in close.
"Isn't it obvious?" She rhetorically asked, arms now around the two of them. "I can't leave these troublemakers by themselves now, can I?"
Ros smiled in understanding until she became a bit neutral now. "And now?"
Wanda silently leaned her head against Ilyana's. "I must go,"
Merrin and Ilyana looked at her in alarm now.
"But I can't leave just yet." Maximoff assured, her hands now gently cupping their faces.
"Yet it seems you still must eventually." Ros said with her mood diminishing slightly.
"It's my duty." Wanda stated. "I can't just ignore it. And I have to get back to my brother. He's completely lost without me."
Some chuckles emanated soon after this was said.
"Mother Ros."
The clan leader turned her head towards another Dathomirian and smiled in exasperation.
"Sona, you do know I've asked for you to not call me that, yes?"
Said woman looked down in sheepish embarrassment. "I am aware of that moth- Lady Lai."
Ros rolled her eyes good naturedly at the change in title. "Ok, how about sticking with Lady then. It's far better than mother."
As much as she'd like to be called mother, she'd rather have that happen once she had children of her own. Afterwards when she's older is when the other clan members and other leaders can call her Mother Ros.
"Of course Lady Lai." Sona quickly said, her clan leader looking up at the skies above, holding back a groan.
Wanda smirked at her friend's reaction.
"So, Sona." Ros said. "What is it?"
"The clan heads of the Dreaming River, Singing Mountains and Raining Leaves tribes have arrived." Sona said with a bow. "They await your presence."
"Ah, good." Lai said with a smile. "Come along Wanda. You have just as much right in meeting with them as I do."
"Are you certain?" Maximoff was hesitant. "This seems like Coven leader business to me."
"Be that as it may, I am certain these clan leaders would be curious to meet the outsider who helped save Dathomir from Zalem."
Silent for some moments, Wanda gave out a shrug. "If you insist."
Following Ros, the trio of Wanda, Merrin and Ilyana were led into a simplistic yet subtly lavish room with a hexagonal table and multiple chairs set around it.
Within a number of these chairs were women, all of whom represented different tribes of the Dathomiri witches.
"Sisters." Ros greeted aloud, announcing her arrival. "I am grateful to see you all here after answering my requests for your presence here. I thank you all for coming on such short notice."
"We are honored to for you to have us." A Nightsister with tanned skin and braided hair said, decorated in multiple charms and wearing brown and beige robes.
"And who might this be?" Asked another with an albino complexion and black markings on her nose and beneath her lower lip.
Ros looked to her side as Wanda was standing next to her.
"This is Wanda Maximoff." She introduced her to the Clan leaders. "Her disciples Merrin and Ilyana. Wanda, this is Kaminne Sihn, Astrinol Hja and Augwynne Djo. Leaders of the Dreaming River, Singing Mountain and Raining Leaves Clans."
Wanda bowed in respect, her two girls copying her gesture.
Augwynne Djo narrowed her eyes slightly at the Avenger, standing up from her chair and walking over to stand right in front of her.
She stared into the woman's eyes until a small smile was seen on her expression.
"This is the one who brought down Zalem, isn't she?"
Wanda blinked at the statement, eliciting a wider grin on Djo's expression.
"Ah, I see myself to be correct." Augwynne said good naturedly. "On behalf of my clan and all the Witch tribes of Dathomir, you have our undying gratitude. We owe you a great debt."
Seeing and sensing no falsehoods in these words, Wanda smiled back at the elderly Clan leader. "It's no problem at all. Just doing my job."
"So, she truly did bring her down." Kaminne Sihn murmured with clear intrigue. "And why are you here?"
"At this time I'm representing Mother Talzin and her coven of Nightsisters."
It may not be an official statement, but at least Wanda would relay what happened here to Talzin upon her return. And she believed Talzin wouldn't mind.
"Yet you aren't of our people."
"I know, but I've at least earned the right."
"I do wonder if you are aware of the longstanding animosity many of the other tribes hold between those of the Nightsister clans." Augwynne said with curiosity, lacing her tone.
"I know of it but I don't associate with such grievances." Wanda declared. "I'm here because Ros asked me to be here."
"And it is good that you are." Astrinol Hja spoke up. "We might need your help, Maximoff."
Wanda raised a brow at such a blatant statement.
"Pardon? But what for?"
Djo frowned now, gaining the Avengers' attention.
"Tell me, Lady Maximoff, have you been to the site of the invasive substance Zalem once utilized?"
It didn't take much for Wanda to realize what the clan leader was referring to.
"No…" Her eyes widened then. "Wait, don't tell me… what's happening there? Or has something happened?"
"Nothing has happened yet but…" Kaminne crossed her arms, a troubled expression for all to see. "There has been a shift in the air that is reminiscent of the presence Zalem once had."
Wanda was clearly off put by such information.
"Wait, are you talking about that blue dome thing? But I destroyed it."
"Such a thing cannot be fully destroyed so easily." Astrinol said. "There are its roots, its energy, its aura that can always remain in its wake despite it being destroyed. There is always something left behind that can be used by others."
The Sokovian exhaled a small groan. "Didn't realize that. We were on a rush back then to stop Zalem. We… I didn't think of doing a more thorough job in getting rid of it."
"How could you have known?" Augwynne asked sympathetically. "From what I had felt in your clash with Zalem, such an output of power could have left you spent. Exhausted. It would be difficult for anyone to even operate properly after such an ordeal."
"I still should have-"
"You did what you could." Ros cut her off, placing a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. "What's happened, happened. We can't change it."
"Right. Anyways, what's this about that blue blob?"
"I have seen a vision through a ritual with my clan." Djo said. "In our travels, we have sensed this shift in the air and wished to find the source of it. What we found… is disturbing."
With a wave of her hands, Wanda bore witness to a white mist appearing around Augwynne's hand, all concentrating upon a sphere floating above the Clan leader's hand.
Her use of magic was similar to that of the Nightsisters however wherein Talzin and her Coven utilized a sickly green side to it, Augwynne's appeared to be that of a bright white with a warm air exuding off of it.
Far more pleasant than what Wanda was used to by this point.
The white sphere expanded until it disbursed and reshaped itself into a litany of symbols that neither Ros nor Wanda recognized.
"What're these supposed to be?" Lai questioned, eyeing the strange emblems.
"These symbols belonged to a Nightsister and not just any Nightsister." Augwynne said in grave seriousness. "These are the symbols that were carved by the founder and first leader of the Nightsisters. A Witch, a vile one at that, who went by the name of Gethzerion."
"Gethzerion?" Wanda couldn't help but snort. "That feels a bit excessive for a name like that. What is she, a supervillain?"
"She is villainous, to say the least." Djo said, giving Scarlet Witch a wry look. "And extremely dangerous. She had ruled Dathomir under her tyrannical rule with an iron fist for a long time."
"Just as she is old." Astrinol spoke up.
Wanda tilted her head slightly. "I don't mean to pry, but how old is this Gethzerion?"
"Few centuries." Augwynne answered. "Three or four from my estimates."
"Estimates?"
"The order that dominates our planet has only been around for six hundred years, Ms. Maximoff. She's even my distant relative, given that my ancestor -who I was named after- was her mother." said Augwynne Djo.
"So then, how is she still alive?" Wanda paused. "She is alive, right?"
"We wouldn't be talking about her if she weren't." Hja dryly said.
"I've got a number of questions about that in particular." Muttered out the Sokovian. "But if she seems all so dangerous, why hasn't she been involved with Zalem, either going against her or being an ally."
"Like many here on Dathomir, Zalem feared Gethzerion." Said Ros Lai. "I wouldn't be surprised that if she was successful in obtaining the Star Chamber, she would've used her newfound power to kill Gethzerion before any other course of action."
"Right… I take it she's active again?"
The three clan heads all nodded.
"And where was she before all this?"
"Sealed away in the ancient found valley of the Dathomiri witches." Kammine said. "We believe that her freedom came in the battle you had with Zalem, the energies that were released being felt by Gethzerion, allowing her to be freed."
Wanda pondered for a few moments to digest some of the given information. Once processing it all, she voiced some thoughts.
"Would she have followers on Dathomir or perhaps beyond?"
"It wouldn't be much of a surprise if she didn't." Augwynne said with a shake of her head. "Evil so often always has those foolish or twisted enough to follow it."
"Like my mother's former followers." Ros darkly muttered.
"Likely they may be some who support her."
Wanda let out a loud groan, rubbing the sides of her head. "Typical. Leave it for one evil maniac to be killed only to be replaced by another."
"Last time you faced such a foe with few allies." Augwynne stated, going up to Wanda with a determined expression. "This time, my tribe shall help both you and Ros will work in assisting you."
"As will our tribes as well." Hja spoke up, Kaminne silently nodding.
Sounds too good to be true on this united front. Nothing can be perfect.
"What of the other Clans?" Wanda asked. "I know how divided they all are despite all calling themselves Dathomiri Witches."
"We should at least see what the other clans presently are on this issue. Some could perhaps be swayed to Gethzerion, just like how it was like with my mother. Or be too scared to act and remain "neutral". We can't just believe everyone is on board with this." Came Ros Lai's statement.
"Of course not." Hja said in complete agreement. "But at the very least, our four tribes can work together. Some unity is better than none."
"I'll be sure to inform Talzin of these developments. And hopefully she'll give you all her response when possible to correlate something with each of you." Wanda then stared hard at Augwynne, the one who seemed to be the oldest of all the Witches.
"But I gotta ask: why do this?" She suddenly questioned. "Why do any of this? What do you gain from this?"
Augwynne Djo was silent for a time, taking a moment to herself before answering.
"Never concede to evil. Never let it take root and grow." She stated with unyielding conviction. "That is the oldest and most sacred law of my tribe. Our first law in fact. When we concede to evil, even in a small way, we feed it, and it grows stronger. Gethzerion is an evil that should have been eliminated but in our complacency, has returned and may grow stronger if we do not act now. It's time we rectify this blight on our planet and make amends for our inactions against Zalem."
Wanda didn't respond at first, looking in the eyes of the elderly Clan Leader and saw no deceit of any kind, a small smile appearing a moment later.
"Alright then. Where do we start?"
While Wanda, Ros and Coven leaders of their alliance began their plans of combating Gethzerion's darkness, with the clan of Nightsisters, the Dark Sides began its next play.
Back at Talzin's territory…
Ventress had returned to the clan, successful in acquiring her "replacement" to Dooku.
This barbarian by the name of Savage Opress had passed her three trials, more so on the factor he gave himself up to protect his younger brother.
Selflessness in one who wields the Dark Side?
A trait that will be rectified in due time as her and Dooku's weapon against Sidious.
Despite the fact he has been chosen as "champion" there was much to be desired. Yes he was good in combat, both hand-to-hand and weapons but nothing else for she hardly felt a Force connection in him. But that may be expected as his potential to use it was never tapped into in his youth as he's presently a full grown man.
This would soon be rectified with the modification spells Mother Talzin will use to make Savage a proper "replacement" for the unforeseeable future.
Upon their return, they were greeted by Talzin who eagerly awaited them.
"And who is this, Asajj?"
"This is Savage. He has surrendered his life to me."
The Clan mother placed her hand on the Zabrak male's chest and gave an inspection. "This one is strong… a perfect male specimen." After giving a look around, she smiled when seeing Savage's sneer aimed towards her. "Oh, such hate, the sheer power of it."
"A tremendous gift from the galaxy, Mother Talzin. He will serve us well."
Talzin soon reached out and tapped Savage's forehead, causing him to immediately fall unconscious. He was soon placed onto an altar where a number of clanswomen began to chant an eerie spell.
"Geiss kan erde mak harden ob stein, geiss kan lewf mak krig ob blitz, geiss kan pire mak blud loge raga, geiss kan vass byn skol zum Asajj Dooku!"
As this went on, a green mist began warping around Savage as a litany of things were beginning to occur. As he began to float into the air, the green mist started to brighten significantly.
"Erde-blitz-raga-byn, erde-blitz-raga-byn, erde-blitz-raga-byn, zum Asajj Dooku!
The glowing mist rapidly swirled as the Zabrak male began to undergo a change in more ways than one.
At its end, Savage became a hulking monster. Having grown a few feet in height, his form became more musclebound, the horns on top of his head became longer and sharper. And whatever weak connection he had with the Force was heightened considerably for what his coming task will lead him.
"He is ready, Sisters." Said Talzin as the green mist began to dissipate and go back to the main conjurer. "Look at the strength in him, the power!"
Ventress took a closer look at the monster they had just created, just as Talzin awoke him up with a tap on his forehead. She was able to see his eyes were yellow, now showing his connection to the Dark Side of the Force.
In an instant, Savage's hand snapped out and ensnared her neck, causing her to choke.
"Let me go!" Grunted out Asajj.
"Calmly, Sister." Talzin instructed.
The Dark Jedi sneered a little before doing as instructed. "Let… me… go…"
Savage relents upon hearing her "calm" command, unclasping her neck. She began to cough and gasped for air all the while massaging her throat.
"Right, now then… I believe it's time we introduce him to Dooku. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Of course. Time is of the essence for the plans at hand."
-Scene Cut-
On the planet of Serenno, in front of the estate of the Separatist leader stood Count Dooku himself.
With him were a number of his Acolytes that had defected to his side, the Dark Jedi standing behind their Sith Lord as they all awaited the arrival of the Nightsisters of Dathomir.
Sora Bulq stood alongside Sev'Rance Tann, the pair standing at the head of the gathered Acolytes.
Kadrian Sey, Rodri, Chezo Niva, Prosset Dibs and a new Acolyte stood alongside them.
After the death of Valen on Kamino, Sora went to seek out a Jedi or Force user of any kind to fill in his spot. He found one in the Dowutin Jedi called Masana Tide.
She was a large, hulking mass of an Acolyte who was an excellent combatant though a brute.
Tide was rather easy to sway with Sora's convincing, showing her the fallacy and corruption rampant in the Republic and Jedi Order.
The Dowutin also held bitter resentment towards the Order after the death of her master and the lack of attention and care she had received after his death.
But her story is that for another time.
Currently, they all awaited the new Assassin that would be provided to them by the Nightsisters following Ventress' death.
Seeing the ship carrying their new addition to their ranks coming in from orbit, some little chit chat was made amongst the Acolytes.
"I do not trust them." Kadrian muttered.
"You don't trust anyone." Chezo said with a roll of her eyes.
"Enough." Sev'Rance spoke up, not even turning her head towards them. "You two can squabble at a later time and date. For now, be attentive. They've arrived."
All looked up at the shuttle flying down to them, spinning around whilst the back opened up.
Upon the ship making it's landing, the ramp soon came down with the connecting hatch opening up.
"At last." Muttered the Serenno Count.
A few Nightsisters came out first as they were armed with several of their signature weapons. And both Dooku and most of the Acolytes could sense a strong sense of the Force coming from some wielded items; giving the impression they were Force weapons.
It was only then did they sense something else in the craft, which would reveal themselves soon enough.
Before that could happen, Mother Talzin strolled out with a smile on her face.
"Mother Talzin." Dooku greeted cordially.
"Count Dooku." She nodded in return, stepping out of the way of the ramp. "May I present… Savage Opress."
The large Dathomirian Nightbrother walked out of the ship with his sickly yellow eyes locking on to Count Dooku. He walked down the ramp and stood before the Sith Lord and allowed his emotions to expunge out for the other Sith Acolytes to visibly flinch and squirm.
"He is certainly a sight to behold." Dooku spoke up with approval.
"The fiercest of his kind, my Lord. He shall serve you well." The Nightsister clan leader said with sadistic pride at her creation.
"Yes, he shall." Dooku remarked, smirking widely. "I thank you for your assistance, Mother Talzin."
"But of course, Count Dooku." Talzin said with a bow, locking eyes with the Count a moment later. "With this, our alliance is reaffirmed. I expect greatness to come from Savage under your tutelage, My Lord."
A silent conversation took place between the pair via eye contact. Them being sure their joint plan will work well with what's to come as long everything runs smoothly.
Opress soon knelt down to one knee, head bowed
"I live to serve, my Lord."
The Serenno Count nodded as he addressed his new "apprentice".
"I shall teach you the ways of the Dark Side, Savage Opress." The Sith assured. "Come. It is time we see if Talzin's promises of your skills hold true."
The group separated as Talzin and her clanswomen went back onto their ship and took off. Their transport makes an immediate path back to Dathomir in the safest way possible, due to recent times.
With Savage following through the rest of the Acolytes, the impromptu leader of the group conversed with the Sith Lord.
"I can't trust the word of this Dathomirian on Savage's skills." Said the Weequay Force sensitive. "They are not of the Sith nor the Jedi. We know very little of their motives and history."
"Be that as it may, Master Bulq, we shall begin training him immediately. I know you are not so foolish as to not recognize the power Opress possesses." Dooku said sternly. "I do not want to have problems out on the field if he isn't properly set to our standards."
Sora looked back at the hulking mass of the Dark side user for a moment. "There is much to be desired, Count, but we'll see things through."
"Most certainly, Sora. I foresee a great change is upon us."
Soon enough, they had all gathered within the main chamber of Dooku's estate, the Acolytes standing at the side whilst Savage stood at the bottom steps to Tyranus' desk.
"Mother Talzin has spoken very highly of your skills, Savage." Dooku began, looking down at the Zabrak male. "Yet I must see them in order to figure out your placement with what's to come. You have great potential within you, Savage. Now let us see if we can bring it out. Master Bulq."
"Yes my Lord."
"Are they ready?"
"Naturally, Lord Dooku." Sora said with a slight bow.
"Then we shall have your first test now, Savage." Dooku announced. "Prove to me you are what Mother Talzin says you are."
Savage simply inclined his head forward. "I will not disappoint you, my Master."
"We shall see." Tyranus said, hands behind his back.
Opress was guided to a training field just outside of Dooku's estate.
It was a plain circular field with several rocky pillars.
Standing there was Tann with Sey, Rodri and Masana Tide.
They all looked upon the Zabrak with a heavy display of skepticism, watching the yellow eyed Dathomirian enter the training field.
"Rodri." The Count spoke aloud. "You shall be the first to test him."
Rodri scoffed, glaring at the newcomer with judgmental eyes as the two stood adjacent to one another.
They both glared at each other, neither breaking eye contact whilst Dooku and his Acolytes stood off to the side.
"Begin." The Dark Lord announced.
In an instant, Rodri ran forward and Opress let out an audible growl before charging back at the humanoid.
Rodri reared his arm back, ready to strike when Savage's pupils constricted and unleashed a loud snarl.
Just as the gray humanoid was within arm's reach, Opress lunged forwards with him grabbing Rodri's arms and proceeded to fling him towards a pillar at full force.
Rather than crash onto it, Rodri crashed through the pillar, landing hard on the ground in a loud moan of pain.
The others stared in open surprise whilst Dooku had a pleased smirk on his face.
"Most impressive." He remarked. "He truly is from the lineage of Darth Maul."
"He's just a brute." Kadrian said dismissively, regaining herself. "Nothing more than an unhinged animal."
"Perhaps an animal is what we need." Sora mused. "One to throw at the Republic and Ultron and run rampant… for a time."
"Perhaps." Tann said thoughtfully. "But even a barbarian can be stricken down with precision."
Sev'Rance walked forward. "I shall be your next opponent, Oppress. Please don't disappoint."
The Zabrak soon approached the Chiss before he started to throw some punches towards her.
The blue skinned female ducked and weaved underneath the fists, landing a number of quick strikes upon his body. She blinked slightly in surprise when the large foe had actually managed to block several of these hits and found herself grinning.
"Oh~ so he has some skill." She teased. "Let us see where it stands."
She jumped into a spinning kick to the chest to stagger the Zabrak yet he remained standing, right hand going for her neck.
Tann snapped her knee up, hitting his wrist and making his arm go over her head. Grabbing his large arm, with his momentum plus a boost from the Force, she successfully tossed him over her.
He landed on the ground yet went into a roll that got him back up to his feet.
"Resilient, from the looks of it." Sora noted.
"Seems speed may outclass size and brute strength in this case." Kadrian countered. "Will need to rectify this like how I plan to work with Masana's present issues."
Dooku was silent as he continued observing the sparring match between the two.
There was indeed much to be desired. At the very least they were not going to rush on Savage's training in getting the desired results.
However, the Count was quick to recognize the growing rage within the savage, pun intended. Over time it started to rise from the frustrations the Zabrak Nightbrother had with his opponents. The latent Dark Side within him was potent to say the least.
In the midst of his analytical musing, Sev'rance's fist was caught by Savage and she was met with a kick to her gut that knocked the wind right out of her.
The Chiss sailed through the air for a few seconds before landing on the ground with an audible groan as she clutched her stomach.
"One strike." Bulq said with some astonishment. "He just needed one."
"He has power, that much is obvious." Sey murmured, frowning at the sight of Tann on her hands and knees, coughing violently.
"Power eh?" Masana Tide spoke up with a snort. "How about we test this "power" of his."
One brute going up against another in both size and stature. This will be interesting to see which of them will come up on top. While one has more experience in fighting, the other made up for it with their connection to the Force.
Masana trudged up to Opress, the Zabrak now eyeing her like a predator sizing up its next prey.
But she didn't intend on being his prey.
She planned on bringing this beast to heel.
Squaring her feet apart, Masana had a wide and sinister grin in place as the pair stared each other down.
Savage's face remained unchanged, the snarl he had on still in effect as he readied himself for his next opponent.
"Think we should stop the two?" Kadrian abruptly asked. "Feels like these two meatheads will just tear this arena apart."
"Masana is our most recent initiate in our order." Bulq knowingly said. "As is Opress. Perhaps this is the best way to break both of them in."
The duo circled each other for a few seconds until Savage went for the first attack.
Tide saw this coming and easily sidestepped his wild swing, leaning her head away from the second fist that came her way.
She avoided several more swings until Opress tripped himself up and fell to the floor.
"Getting frustrated?" Came Masana's taunt. "C'mon, hit me already!"
Opress growled, going in for a kick that was once again dodged only now Masana was on the offensive.
Yet in her first attempt at a strike, Savage successfully landed a single punch but it appeared the Dowutin was unaffected by it.
"That was nothing." She jabbed, elbowing him in the stomach and landing a wicked haymaker to his face. "That's one for me."
Savage snarled, shaking off the punch and tried for a counterattack.
"Oh~ just missed me."
Another kick.
"Another miss."
A dodged elbow.
"Just nicked me."
A knee that was held back.
"It's like you're not even trying."
Having enough of her taunts, Savage threw out his hand and felt the Force flowing out from his arm for the first time ever.
In an instant, Tide's snide and mocking grin turned into one of wide shock as she felt the invisible pressure of the Force around her neck and body. Her body floated up into the sky before Opress repeatedly slammed her down into the ground.
Letting go of her telekinetically, the Zabrak stomped over to the dazed Acolyte who stood up to her feet only to get uppercutted in the chin.
The large body of the Bowutin hung in the air briefly before she crashed down hard on the ground.
Opress stood over her and landed two powerful punches that would undoubtedly leave bruises.
She coughed as he elbowed her gut and chest, stomping on her for good measure until he let out a satisfied huff and walked away.
Blearily, Tide forced herself back to her feet and the first thing she saw was the mocking grin of the Nightbrother who had so thoroughly beaten her.
"Is that the best you can do?" Now he was the one taunting her.
Masana snarled and went in on the attack once more.
"We're not done!"
"Yes you are." Dooku suddenly called out. "Both of you, stand down."
Savage immediately dropped down to his knee and bowed his head whilst the Dowutin was breathing haggardly, glaring with pure venom in her eyes at the Zabrak male.
"Masana." Came Sora's sharp voice.
Letting out a frustrated grunt, Masana relented and stood down.
"I believe we've got everything needed for your set training regimen." Dooku said towards the Nightbrother before focusing his gaze towards other individuals present. "Moreso for others."
Tyranus stood in front of the still kneeling Zabrak.
"You hold great power within you, Opress. Great potential as Mother Talzin promised." He praised him. "We will refine that raw power you possess to become something greater. You have shown you can fight. Now, let us see if you are able to execute a mission."
Taking out a small transmitter from the inside of his robe, Dooku turned it on to reveal a small tower.
Opress rose to his full height, looking down at the holo-projection.
"What is it, my Lord?"
"A temple, Savage. This shall be your test." Dooku stated. "With the madness and confusion going on in the galaxy, several Republic bases have been left with minimal defenses. We shall eliminate the Republic forces guarding them and have them fall under our control."
"What is it you wish for me?"
"Secure this vital outpost on the jungle planet of Devaron." Dooku instructed. "Master Bulq will oversee you in this mission until your next assignment. You shall have several and cannot return until all of your targets have been eliminated. Is that understood?"
The Zabrak Nightbrother only nodded as he was soon escorted away to prepare for this first test under Dooku.
-Scene Cut-
"Hold the line!"
"We need reinforcements!"
"I'm not getting through, our hails aren't being answered!"
"They're flanking us!"
The Clone troopers under the command of the Roonan Jedi Master Halsey with his Nautolan Padawan Knox were fighting with all their strength against a surprise Separatist attack.
Droids coupled with Umbarans and several other Separatist species attacked the base on all sides and made quick work of a majority of the Republic forces stationed here.
It was becoming a slaughter as the Republic troops were whittled down bit by bit.
"Where did they come from?" Knox couldn't help but ask, deflecting every blaster bolt he could.
"We shall ask these questions later, Padawan." Halsey ordered. "Focus, my apprentice. We must hold the line."
"Yes master."
All the while, a single ship descended from on high with a sole passenger inside.
The craft made it's landing behind the droid lines. The moment the ramp came down, Savage stormed out, taking a moment to gauge the battlefield until his eyes spotted two glowing blades up ahead.
With a savage snarl, Savage ran forward, shoving aside Separatist forces whilst pulling out a metal spear that extended in his hands.
He rushed forward, heading straight for a sole ARF trooper that stood in his way.
The trooper got a shot in the Zabraks chest yet Opress barely flinched.
Savage got in close and impaled the trooper in his heart before flinging the body away.
"Take him down!" Yelled the Clone Commander of this battalion.
The clones began firing upon the rampaging Nightbrother who waded through their blaster fire with vicious ease.
He swung his spear around, swatting and killing any clone trooper in his way.
Once he got to the ARF commander, the Zabrak tripped the clone up until a small figure suddenly kicked him in the chest whilst his weapon was cut in two.
Savage stumbled back, spotting someone who was next to the downed Commander. Seeing who was the little culprit, he snarled and went on the offensive against Padawan Knox.
Knox whirled about and sent the Commander away with a Force push before engaging the beast.
"Knox, get back now!" Halsey called out to his student with a hint of clear worry in his voice.
The Padawan sought to follow through with his Master's order, given he was feeling outmatched.
Yet things would not be so easy for him.
The Zabrak rushed in, got into Knox's blindside and took him down. When he was lying on the ground, the Nautolan Jedi sought to evade a crushing blow, but he was too slow to react. His arm snapped under the Force Stomp Savage gave out, breaking the limb; resulting in the padawan to scream out in pain.
Before anything else could occur, the lightsaber the padawan possessed was quickly taken by the Nightbrother. He quickly activated it before swiping it across the ground to sever Knox's head from his body-
"Knox!"
"Commander!"
-All in front of his Jedi Master.
Halsey rushed in to avenge his padawan.
The Noonan Jedi went in for a flurry of attacks as Opress avoided practically all of them until one grazed his arm.
Using his pilfered Lightsaber, Savage did his best to evade and counter more blows. He was slightly clumsy with his new weapon as he never wielded a lightsaber until now.
He, however, had no choice but to quickly adapt and work with what he's got to see this mission through.
Savage successfully blocked a dozen rapid strikes and with one powerful counter swing, knocked Halsey's saber out of his hand.
However, Opress overexerted his swing and lost grip of his own weapon, the lightsaber flying out of his hand.
Seeing an opportunity, Halsey rushed forward in hopes of getting the advantage.
Savage, meanwhile, growled at losing such a valuable weapon at this time; one he will need to rectify very soon or else he'll lose his life.
Halsey managed to land several kicks to Opress' chest yet when he went for a spinning kick, Savage caught the Jedi by the ankle.
Widening his eyes in horror, he felt himself get hefted up into the sky with near ease before he was rapidly slammed into the ground like a ragdoll. Even being used as an impromptu bludgeoning weapon against some of the remaining clone troopers trying to come in and help the Jedi general.
Halsey lost consciousness in the first few slams until the back of his head burst open in the third with him being dead by the fifth.
Sensing the Jedi master's death, Savage held up the body for a brief inspection before tossing the Jedi aside as if he were trash.
Savage heard the ARF trooper Commander rushing him, firing at him with all he had but Opress simply raised his hand and caught the clone in a Force choke. With a quick clench of his fist, the snap of the clone's neck was heard, the body falling to the ground.
With Halsey lying on his feet, along with all of the other clones, Savage took the Noonan's lightsaber as proof of his kill before retrieving Knox's. Dooku will no doubt figure out what to do with the two lightsabers once they're presented to him.
Seeing this all happening, Sora soon contacted the Sith Lord.
"What is it, Master Bulq?"
"Savage has taken the temple."
"And?"
"He was brutal in quickly killing both the troopers and Jedi. And this was primarily without a lightsaber, until Savage took one from the Padawan. After that, his fight with Master Halsey was rather rough, given he has had no experience with a Force weapon until now. He lost possession of it before making up for his mistake by overwhelming Halsey with his strength and durability."
Dooku merely hummed as he processed this information. "Good to know. Be sure to head out to the coordinates I'll send out in a moment for his next test."
"Of course, Dooku."
Some time had passed as Savage had quickly and effectively taken care of his missions. During all this time, the Weequay Dark Jedi Master relayed everything of note to the Serenno Count.
More and more pieces started to fit together on what the full training regime will be, along with what Savage's lightsaber will be primarily designed in the end result.
Hopefully in the near future once the war against Ultron is resolved, the one against Sidious shall begin.
AN
Alright then, simple and easy.
We have a quick intro to our savage Zabrak Savage Opress and his first outing into the galaxy. Figured we should have some warmup to him at first before being sent out on a mission like killing two Jedi Masters cause we have that luxury being a written aspect of the story.
Jebest4781: And yes there are obvious changes to him as his training will not be a big rush job like what we've seen in canon as we'll see more developments with him during the present arc.
FMW: Yeah so this arc will likely have maybe and it's a big maybe, an additional chapter rather than three but that's to be seen.
Jeb: It all depends on how we get this next part played out, given the "big bad" of Gethzerion we're also going to bring in doesn't have much content outside of the Star Wars novel The Courtship of Princess Leia. And since we're primarily focusing on "canon" in a sense on the present setting than "legends", a certain amount of changes will be implemented from what we could scrounge up from lore and all that jazz.
FMW: Yeah, to be perfectly honest, she's a means to an end in this Arc cause of our more large-scale plans in mind for this season and the characters at play here. On an unrelated Marvel note, Jeb, Bullet and I saw The Batman and thoroughly loved it. Other than reviews for this chapter, would like to see who else saw the film and their opinions on it.
Whelp, thanks again for reading folks. Hope you guys are ready for more madness.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.