Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prologue

Zannah was sitting at the campsite Caleb – the healer who had saved her former master twice- owned, she was thinking, was she really the right one to lead the sith?
She had just killed her master, Darth Bane, using her mastery of sith sorcery, he was about to begin the training of a replacement apprentice, an iktochti Nonetheless. bane had tried to disobey the very rule he made, the new way of the sith; The Rule Of Two. A master and an apprentice, one to embody the power, the other to crave it. Bane knew Zannah survived the explosion, and yet he had attempted to teach another.
“Master?” the iktochti – Darth Cognus she dubbed herself- said breaking Zannah’s deep line of thought.
Zannah replied with simple eye contact, hiding the yet another tremor in her hand.
Zannah knew what she was going to ask, she didn’t even know where exactly to go next. She did know what, she knew she had to find Set Karth before he spread the knees of a sith survivor.
“You shall find out soon enough.” Zannah replied sharply.
Set had been Zannah’s first attempt at teaching an apprentice, Although he had fled while she was confronting Bane. She had to find him, otherwise her and her new apprentice Would be dead in a few rotations.
One thing Zannah had that Bane didn’t however, was the fact that most men, wanted to please her. Zannah was exceptionally attractive, wherever she went someone noticed her. She didn’t appreciate the lustful stares she always got, but it happend common enough that she learned to overcome the annoyance. This gave made some of her missions easier, it was generally less difficult to politely ask than threaten. Bane had the build of a fit basilisk, with 20 pound of muscle in his arms and his height always intimidated anyone he questioned. However Zannah wasn’t intimidating so she used her beauty to her full advantage, men would always open up to her if she was willing to return their hopeless -and ultimately futile- flirting. She would use this tactic to bribe and achieve information and aid.
Set was unlikely to return to his home on Nal Hutta, he knew she would be looking for him. Or perhaps that’s why he wanted her to think. Set was smart and caught Zannah off balance twice in the same day, he was smart and cunning. Set Harth was in hiding and she had to find him.
Zannah fell into a light meditative state and saw that Seth had a sith holocron. Not just any holocron, Darth Andeddu’s holocron. Darth Andeddu unlocked the secret of eternal life, the same way Bane had attempted on her, He transferred his Conscious to a living host. And Set was unlocking the secrets of eternal life.
When Zannah had first become Bane’s apprentice, she had to find a way off a planet on her own, she accomplished it, at a young age too. The iktochti was older than when Zannah started her apprenticeship.
After a while, Zannah once again broke the silence between her and the former assassin.
“I am going Nal Hutta with the ship. Meet me there. You must find another way off Ambria.” Zannah announced, rising form her spot infront of the small fire.
“How?” the iktochti asked calmly.
“That is for you to find out, you have the power of the force and can look through time. Use your skills to an advantage as I have done with my formal master.” Zannah said walking to the ship.
“yes, master.” Cognus replied with a bow.
Zannah strayed to the pilots seat and began taking off towards Nal Hutta where hopefully she would find clues to where Set would go next.
I will find you.

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Cognus was slightly confused as to what her trying to find a way off Ambria was supposed to teach her. Then she realized it wasn’t for her to learn.
It was for her master to tell whether she was worthy of being her apprentice or not.
Cognus had no idea how she was going to escape Ambria, but then she thought of her master’s words; use your skills to an advantage.
Zannah had been gone for a little over a day, while the former assassin was still trying to find a way off Ambria.
Her master had given her a hint, she hadn’t been trained in the ways of the force yet and one of the few skills iktochti were Born with was the ability to look in the past and watch possible futures.
Cognus sat down cross-legged on the course and by the heat of the fire, and looked for anything from the past that could give her a clue.
She saw…. Zannah as a child, 10 years old at most, following Bane and struggling to keep up. She felt the wave of dark side energy flow through Zannah as she used it to Help her pick up speed.
Cognus saw that later, on another planet -Ruusan- Zannah was put in the exact same position she was in now. Zannah had received the aid from Another ship, another group. A pilot – a grown woman- laying dead in the hold with two teenage boys and a grown man. Zannah used their ship and steadily made her way off the battle-scarred planet, Zannah had met bane on a Forested planet. A planet teeming with life. Onderon.
She had received more than enough information on how to leave. As the former huntress, she was used to having little information and aid when it came to completing tasks. Cognus returned to reality, she felt a presence, one strong in the force. She slowly opened her eyes to see a shuttle descending from the lower atmosphere of Ambria. Moments later when the ship landed and the ramp lowered, she saw a woman swaying from her ship. The woman was thin; she Was clad in the clothes of a bounty hunter, but without the gadgets. She owned emerald green eyes that fit well with her tanned skin, she had raven colored hair that fell to her waist.
She was beautiful; she looked around 30 years old, however the woman caught her off guard with the lightsaber hilt attached to her hip; it was a unique design however. Her being strong in the force and having possession of a lightsaber told Cognus the woman was probably older than 30.
She’s either a Jedi or someone like I was.
“who are you?” the iktochti asked, prepared incase Bane’s lightsaber would come to be in use.
The woman didn’t answer but her piercing green eyes fell to the lightsaber in the iktochti's hand. She squinted her eyes; she was examining the hilt, then her eyes widened comically in surprise and worry.
“where did you get that lightsaber?!” the woman snapped.
“found it” Cognus said after a moment of thinking, She couldn’t give away she was the apprentice to the Sith Lord.
“do not lie to me! is he dead?” she asked more clamly.
Did she know?
“who?” Cognus asked, playing stupid. Hopefully the woman was simply delusional.
“you are either the most stupid or most stubborn person in the galaxy! Now I Will ask once more; is Bane dead?” she said slowly,
Even if she wasn’t yet trained, The iktochti could sense the anger building inside her.
How?
Cognus found no point in lying any longer, the woman was trained in the ways of the Darkside and could tell if she was lying or not.
“He is”
The woman looked to the ground sadly, she had a history with him.
“how do you know of him?” the iktochti asked.
“I am a survivor of the plan he devised. I am a surviving sith and a former Jedi. I was close to Bane at the academy, I helped him regain his power after he cut himself off from The force. I was known as Githany then, ever since I’ve had to hide my indentiity.” the woman replied leaving the ramp, her boots kicking sand.
“I was thought to be dead when bane unleashed the thought bomb . . . when the sith order was annihilated on Rusaan. I thought I was dead, I was caught roughly in the middle of the blast, I was resurrected. To this day I am not sure as to how.” She continued.
Cognus was standing with Bane’s lightsaber in her hand, with a look of shock written in her face.
A survivor? Maybe….
The woman -or Githany - knew everything that happened, Cognus guessed. The bomb, the prison, Zannah, the princess, everything.
“Now, I have been honest with you, now who are you and are you the one who defeated Bane?” she asked stepping casually to Cognus.
“I am Darth Cognus, and I was not the one to defeat him” she replied clipping the inactive blade hilt to her belt.
“Darth? Were you Bane’s apprentice?” Githany asked.
“No, I am the apprentice of his apprentice.” Cognus said.
She was being a bit too truthful and trusty with this woman and she didn’t know why.
“Does his apprentice lay in a grave as well?” Githany asked.
“No...” the iktochti groaned.
She was using persuasion on her!
Githany smiled at the iktochti's resistance which was pointless.
“get out of my head!” Cognus Screeched.
“I Require information, and you are going to Reveal it to me. I came here seeking bane. I wanted to tell him he was right, the brotherhood was weak. Weak enough, they inevitably caused their own destruction. And did Not see it even while it was right infront of them” Githany answered.
“I have been completely honest with you, and I have risked my life revealing this information. But I need to know, and trust is not easily built with those who have power and strength” She continued with ease.
There was something she was leaving out….
“How close were you to Lord Bane?” Cognus asked thinking she probably should’ve killed Githany already but if she trained bane, then perhaps she was of use to her.
“We were close friends” Githany responded not even attempting to use the persuasion on the iktochti.
The iktochti was confused for a moment but paid it no mind.
“Why are you here on Ambria?” Cognus asked.
“I was looking for Bane, perhaps to finish what we barley started before the events he put into place were unleashed.” Githany replied, she came this far and there was no point in either of them lying now.
The iktochti nodded in understanding.
“tell me how did Bane die? Whoever killed him must be powerful, but not invincible, and thus shall pay for his death with their life.” Githany asked quickly.
Cognus wasn’t sure as to what to do. If Githany was stronger than Zannah, then Githany had the right to ascend to the rank of master, not Zannah. However if Zannah was stronger than Githany, this indicates that Bane’s defeat was not simply luck.
“my master’s name is Zannah, she left me here and ordered me to find my own way off the planet. She is making her way to Nal Hutta.” The iktochti responded.
“Come with me. You may not trust me but it is my best interest to keep you alive And if I kill your master then you will not have to wonder around the galaxy again looking for purpose and power”
Again? This woman knew to much. if she lost, Zannah would not let her live.
“how do you know of my past?” Cognus asked.
“This is what the power of the dark side can show you, similar to the power Your species possess.” Githany said after a Moment of thinking how to respond.
“I am aware of the strength the Darkside has, as well as the power my people have.” Cognus snapped, clearly offended on just how Githany thought of her.
“Come, we shall find this “Zannah” and I shall avenge Bane.” Githany said stopping at the lever to close the ramp of the shuttle.
“my former master wanted Zannah to defeat him in combat, Lord Bane created the rule of two; one to embody the power, the other to crave it. When the apprentice has nothing more to learn from the master, the apprentice must eliminate them in combat. The point of the rule of two ensures that the power and strength of the sith continue to rise, the apprentice must kill the master in combat to prove their worthy of leading the sith to another generation, however if the apprentice fails then the master must seek out another and the process continues.” Cognus explained.
Githany laughed, she knew bane would never do something like defeat the entire brotherhood without replacing it with an enhanced system.
“Bane was right about the brotherhood . . . about everything. I owe him for showing me what path I may have followed if he didn’t do what had to be done.” Githany said over shoulder, almost letting a tear fall.
She would always remember Bane; it was weakness, she knew. A soft spot. Something to make her vulnerable in battle. It was pathetic, however she couldn’t help it.
Githany slowly made her way to the bridge only to find the iktochti close behind her. Githany closed the ramp and gracefully sat down in the pilots seat.
“so tell me: did Zannah have a close bond with bane?” Githany asked turning the seat around.
Cognus was leaning up against an ammunitions container closely inspecting the new weapon she acquired, when Githany asked the unexpected question.
The iktochti gave her a low chuckle before responding.
“you were that close to him?”
“Yes, it was weakness to both of us. I nearly succeeded in killing him multiple times because of it.” Githany replied softly.
“No, they didn’t as far as I know. There was another woman however, a woman from his past. He hesitated, allowing Zannah to kill her for him. However I am not sure if they were lovers like you and bane obviously were.”
Githany nodded and turned around again to hide the red climbing to her cheeks. She inputted the coordinates for Nal Hutta and jumped into the mysterious world of hyper space, grateful to get away form the cursed world where she had tried to poison bane, where he had died by another’s hand.
“how did you know where to find us?” Cognus said
“I had a bond with bane. I was able to track him here before . . . Before the brotherhood of darkness was obliterated.”
Cognus wasn’t sure how to respond so she didn’t. After a short time Githany stood up and gracefully Walked to the hold, the room with the most amount of space on the small -but comfortable- shuttle.
Cognus sent a look if curiosity and followed. Githany made a stop and unclipped the hilt from the black buckle clipped around her waist.
For a moment Cognus thought she the attack coming would be directed towards her and was surprised to see that Githany was just practicing with her weapon.
When Githany ignited her the blade, Cognus was also surprised to see wasn’t a blade at all, It was in fact a whip, Which was most likely why the hilt itself was so unique.
Seeing the expression on the iktochti’s face, made Githany stop her movements. A small smile crawled to her lips.
“You look like how I did when I survived the thought bomb.” She laughed.
“your weapon. Can a lightsaber cut through it or is it made of energy?” Cognus asked.
Githany laughed again, this iktochti was oblivious to what the weapon she held in her hands was.
“This whip is energy, it is powered the same way your lightsaber is. With a crystal. Except instead of a synthetic crystal, I bled the crystal I had when I was a Jedi. This gives it the color it is. The crystal in Bane’s blade was man-made, which is said to be stronger than a natural crystal.”
“Then why keep it? Why not make a new one if the synthetic ones are stronger?” Cognus interjected.
Githany took a moment of consideration.
“If I need and advantage over every adversary I face, then I do not have the right to command this weapon.”
Cognus nodded, knowing that she truly meant: more of a challenge.
“have you been trained how to handle that blade yet?” Githany asked.
“Why would you care?” Cognus snapped.
“if I defeat your master, then I wish to know in advance how much you already know.” Githany explained simply.
“Tell me, what is your master strength in the force?” Githany asked, still digging for any useful information.
“I can’t be certain, however to defeat bane, she used some spell. Dark tendrils rose from the ground and she gave Lord Bane illusions.”
Githany barked a laugh.
“You really don’t know much about the power of the force, not yet anyway. But from your description, I assume her strength is sith sorcery. A very complicated power. Conjured of many spells and r dangerous to the enemy and oneself” Githany briefly explained.
Suddenly there was a loud beeping form the cockpit.
Githany rushed to the pilots seat and read the chars.
There was a ship approaching.

Zannah had left her newly found and inexperienced apprentice on Ambria, Putting her in the same position Zannah was once in while she was on Rusaan with bane.
Zannah would have to grow accustomed to not having to her former master around. For the past two decades of her life, she was used to having the option of turning to Bane when she was lacking specific information. Now however, if she wanted or needed more information, Zannah would have to go in search of it herself.
And not only that, Bane was the one to show her the true power of the darkside, pushed her to her limits, and held exceptionally high expectations for her. She proved to her master she deserved the title of master. Zannah had excelled Bane’s expectations, he had encouraged her to continue her practice in sith sorcery. Zannah had spent much time enhancing her abilities and Responded to Bane’s -presumably immeasurable- power with her own. In the end, Zannah prevailed and she was now the master.
Zannah was taking the lessons bane taught her and give them to the former huntress.
Her new apprentice was unmistakably strong with the force. It was only after she defeated bane that she realized this. She had more than enough potential to defeat Zannah in combat one day.
The thought of Bane finding her such a worthy apprentice brought a smile to Zannah’s lips.
She turned her attention to the task at hand, she had to find Set Harth before he spread the secret that the sith were in fact, not extinct.
Zannah realized she would be in hyperspace for quiet some time before edge arrived on Nal Hutta, so she decided it was best to meditate and begin gathering information that could be of use to her during and after her voyage to Nal Hutta.
She sat on a small cushioned bench in the cargo bay of her ship. She sat with her legs crossed and her hands strewn across her thighs with her eyes closed gently.
She saw Set Harth, with a holocron laying on the floor only a foot away from himself.
The four sided pyramid looked similar to the one bane had found while he was on the inner core world of Tython, however the design on the sides were different. Symbols engraved on the sides, Zannah was unfamiliar with the particular language it was written in, however she was confident that if it was a necessity to know the meaning of the symbols carved in each side, she would find out what they meant.
Set was clearly meditating, eyes closed, Cross’s legged. Resembling the position Zannah was currently in. After a moment of his meditation, a hologrammic image appeared just infront of Set.
Zannah had read about holocron’s during her studies. they held an near infinite amount of knowledge from the specific Dark Lord who created it. It took much time, and many complicated steps. Bane had attempted to create a holocron of his own multiple times, and failed. He hadn’t known enough about designing a holocron, everytime he was near the finish, the lit up pyramid exploded.
Just before Zannah ascended to the rank of master for killing Bane, he had tried to find the secret to extending life. He ventured into the inner core, behind her back, and found Darth Andeddu’s Holocron. Bane had discovered Andeddu created a holocron that contained what Bane so desired and when he returned From the far reaches of the inner core, he was captured. Zannah had defeated him not long after his aided -by someone from his past- escape. Now the secrets within the holocron, were to be unlocked by Set. Unless she had something to say about it.
Set had not changed since their incounter. He still had the white hair and fierce blue eyes. Harth was a dangerous dark Jedi, he had surprised Zannah multiple times within the first few minutes of their introductions.
Zannah sensed he was still on Nal Hutta, although he was most likely prepared for Zannah. When he escaped the prison on Doan, he must’ve known Zannah wouldn’t let him live with the knowledge he possessed.
However, if set was seeking the wisdom of an ancient sith lord, and by all means succeeding, then he could be of use to her. Although he had betrayed her and the Jedi, so attempting to recruit him again, wasn’t exactly something she would do blindly.
Zannah woke from her light trance, her mediation wasn’t as knowledgeable as she would’ve liked, but it did clear her mind enough to think on what her next objective was.
What woke her from her meditation was another tremor in her left hand.
Bane experienced this, and he’s gone. So why am I? Zannah thought to herself, though she didn’t longer in the thought for long
The tremor wasn’t the only thing to wake her, a force signature. . . Familiar, yet she couldn’t find who it was. Whoever it was, they were strongly attuned to the force. Though if they were trained with the light or dark Side of the force, Zannah couldn’t say.
Something was going to change her life on her mission for revenge on Set Harth, in a good or bad way was unknown.
There are many peices to this puzzle that I am missing.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Set knew better than to simply return to his residence on Nal Hutta without a plan. That would be the first place Zannah would look for him, in fact his original plan was to not return at all. However this changed when Set found the holocron he currently had In his possession contained the secret to eternal life. He also had tomes, manuscripts and scrolls he had acquired over his years as a dark Jedi, that he had to retrieve before Zannah got a hold of them.
Set considered himself smart and cunning, he had fooled Zannah on their first encounter after all.
Set had to make a new life for himself, his life depended on it. If Set continued his life this way, the information he would acquire from the small pyramid in his hands, would be worthless.
Zannah would be looking for him and this time he was prepared. He would live what most people would call a “normal life”. It would take some getting used to but he would work through it.
It would all be a front a course, But that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy it. He would change his appearance as much as he could but still keep his handsome looks.
Get a job; Maybe a mercenary or an artesian, live on a moisture farm, whatever would give him a good story.
Force would know if he fell in love or actually had a family for once in his life.
But even all this wouldn’t be quite enough to keep Zannah from finding who he would be. He would find a way though, Set always did.
Set was approaching Nal Hutta already, the murky swamp lands visible from the upper atmosphere.
He would sell his estate quickly but hide his identity.
He would force Zannah to look around the galaxy for him, never stay in one place. It was a temporary solution, but it would do until he found a more permanent plan.
The shuttle had finally landed in the capital city of bilbousa. It took a few days in hyperspace plus multiple stops along the way to return.
Set couldn’t help but doubt the decision to Betray Zannah. Of course he didn’t care if she lived or not, he did care about the power he may have thrown away. . . Was it worth eternal life? Or was the secret of eternal life simply not obtainable?
He couldn’t afford these doubts now however, it was too late. Zannah most likely was already on her way here.
But set still had one advantage over her; he was the only person who knew what she truly was, who knew that the sith were still alive. Set knew the new sith code, the rule of two; one master and one apprentice; one to embody the power and the other to crave it.
Set could easily reveal their information to the Jedi, but that would mean to reveal his identity. He would be condemning himself to face the Senate and the Jedi order.
Then again, he didn’t have to meet face-to-face with the Jedi, he just had to send a transmission.
That was his advantage over Zannah, he could doom the sith; imprison them with pieces of their own puzzle.
If Zannah made an attempt on his life, she would most likely succeed; Set was powerful, but no match for a sith lord. . . Not yet at least. He would threaten to reveal her and her order to the Republic Senate, and she would be hunted down and be as helpless as a tooka wondering the streets of Coruscant.
After Set paid the driver the money they had earned bringing him to this crime ridden world.
The price was ridiculously high, however Set was in no mood to negotiate terms and he had the credits to pay.
Set handed two One-hundred credit chips. Perhaps when he arrived at the estate he would retrieve some of his many credits that some would consider “ill gotten”.
Next he would have to borrow a speeder or a bike. . . Or normally he would borrow, but the fly to Nal Hutta spent all the credits he had on him and it was unlikely anyone here would let him pay after he got to his estate.
So Set’s only real option was to steal a bike or speeder. Even as a dark Jedi he still frowned at the idea of stealing; it sometimes drew unwanted attention and if he got caught. . . Well, he risked staying longer than needed, and that was something he could not afford. But then again, he’s a dark Jedi, former Padawan of master Obba and had been noticed of a sith lord due to his potential.
Quit doubting yourself Set. That was A line he told himself everyday. His decision to leave the Jedi, his decision to leave the sith. . . He doubted these choices every day.
But he couldn’t afford it at the moment, it was too late to turn back. If the Jedi found him, he would be put on trial, and Zannah most likely found another apprentice so now he had to be wary of anyone strongly attuned to the dark side.
There were many vehicles Set could steal in Nal Hutta, anywhere to a simple low-tech swoop bike to a speeder automatically piloted from the Corellian shipyards.
It was only logical that stealing something with the lowest value wouldn’t have such a high risk; if the vehicle he stole was an expensive one, that would indicate the owner would have enough credits to pay the authorities to begin a man-hunt. If not, then the owner was someone with not nearly enough to pay for a search.
Set quickly decided on one of the landspeeders near the Landing pad. It was old, and covered with rust and a black liquid that accumulated chunks of itself to form little cubes in the oil.
Granted, the ride wouldn’t be pleasant, but he didn’t have enough time for luxury.
The landspeeder was locked in a small hut, A hut not fortified. The speeder would be easy to steal.
Set quietly snuck around the back, carful not to let anyone near notice him. Set pulled out the knife he had hidden in his boot while he was in the prison on Doan, when he reached a window in the back, he gently carved a whole into the window. Normally he would use his lightsaber or the force to aid him, however that would make to much noise and risk getting caught.
Before the circle of glass fell from the window ledge, Set caught it with the force and set it down gently, careful to make as little noise possible.
Set gingerly slid into the circular hole carved into the window, and slid into the driver’s seat of the speeder.
Set hadn’t learned much about older technology while he was a padawan, he was used to things like repairing newer equipment and control panels, not anything like Hotwiring an old land speeder.
This caused him to take a little longer than he would’ve liked to Hotwire it. However, it didn’t take him long enough for some one to notice him, he had finished in under a few minutes.
He jumped into the pilots seat and rushed away from the highly populated city.
The engines didn’t work as well as Set wanted, he was used to owning or borrowing high-quality products, not stealing something that looked as if it was put through a garbage masher, but it was enough to get him going.
On his way to his estate, set couldn’t help but notice an uneasiness settling in his mind; something was about to have a major impact on his life. Whether it was in a good or bad way, was unknown.
Maybe Zannah would try to recruit him again, that is if she was desperate enough. But that would mean she was a fool, and Set knew better than to underestimate her. After all, she was now the dark lord of the sith; that or she had perished by the hand of her master.
I could only hope.

Cognus watched as the ship outside began to rain fire on their engines, aiming for the reactor or any other life-support systems as a last resort.
The impending ship’s weapons had devastating effect on the small shuttle she and Githany were occupying.
In moments the ship was disabled with an ion beam that had struck one of the rear engine cooling tanks, inevitably overheating it and causing the adjacent one to implode as well.
“I take it piloting isn’t your specialty?” Cognus asked.
“You really think I’m that foolish? “ Githany barked. “I am a former Jedi and a surviving Sith, you think that I would fall into such a trap unintentionally?” Githany snapped.
Cognus want sure how to respond, so she stood there silently.
“No! I haven’t had the time to repair this ship. It had taken damage when I came out if the inner core a few rotations ago, if they refuse my request for help, I will simply take their ship.” Githany explained.
The enemy ship wouldn’t be able to hold more than ten passengers including a pilot and co-pilot. For a sith lord and former Jedi, taking over a simple vessel with a crew that numbered In at most ten, wouldn’t put them at much risk, that is unless they were all Jedi. However, The probability of that was slim, she may not have any training in the Darkside, but Cognus knew what a strong force signature felt like and none of the passengers onboard were attuned to neither light nor Darkside.
They were already being boarded when Githany turned in her chair and made graceful strides.
Cognus didn’t even bother to ask why Githany had begun to act more graceful than she previously was. She knew why.

She figured the iktochti was curious on why she seemed more graceful when she rose from her seat. Githany was genuinely surprised when she didn’t ask.
Perhaps This iktochti would be of more use to her than she realized.
However, whether she knew what Githany was planning or not was irrelevant; it only mattered if she was willing to play along.
Githany was almost at the airlock when she heard footsteps behind Her.
She caught on.
The airlock slid open to reveal an handsome human male; he owned icy blue eyes and black, straight hair hanging to his shoulders . He was tall and muscular; an intimidating figure. The man was clad In a brown jacket atop a gray shirt. A buckle strapped a blaster to his hip, dangling on a pair of loose black pants, he had a protective helmet pulled up to reveal his features, telling Githany he was most likely a pilot or de kind of mechanic or engineer.
“Why fire on us?” Githany asked, adding a heavy Mando’a accent to her voice.
“we don’t like to take chances, but we aren’t fans of disposing people when it’s not needed.” The man said.
“I see. You have my gratitude for not destroying my vessel. However, I require repairs. I hadn’t the time to my ship when I was on land.” Githany said with a flirtatious expression and wink.
The man seemed to pick up her meaning.
“I think would could be of some assistance.” The man replied looking behind him for his crews approval, then turning to face them again after they all nodded.
Githany sensed the iktochti was only a few steps behind her, she understood how she was doing this.
“follow me.” The man said.

The two women standing in the doorway obliged and fell into step behind him.
When they walked into the hold, Cognus noticed the crew was made of five; a human female, 2 other human males, and a purple-skinned female twi’lek. One of the rarer colored skin among their race.
“Who are you?” the human female said, standing from her seat on a crate.
“I am Yevra.” Githany said, taking the name from one of her former enemies at the academy on Korriban.
The woman tilted her head to the Cognus, standing behind Githany.
“I am Rain” Cognus replied, to the gesture, taking her name from Zannah’s childhood nickname.
“kai.” The man who greeted them claimed.
“ I am prepared to pay a large amount for your services, as long as no questions are asked.” Githany said.
“How much?” he asked.
Githany dug her hand into her robe and pulled it out again, in her hand she held Six hundred credits worth.
“six hundred.” She replied simply, as if the amount was nothing but a speck.
“have a seat, I’ll get someone to work on her.” kai said nodding to the human female.
Githany and Cognus obliged and sat down on a crate next to the man.
“we are travelers, my ship sustained damage in a trip back from Shantipole.” Cognus explained breifly
“Shantipole! What the kriff were you doing there?” kai barked.
“I thought there would be no questions?” Githany snapped.
Kai withdrew his question.
The human female stood up and went into their ship with a tool kit in her left hand.
Cognus noticed the all had blasters clipped to their waist, all but one. The female twi’lek, didn’t. Githany must’ve noticed too.
“why do you not carry a blaster?” Githany asked still adding an accent.
“it is not my role to.” She said pulling a vibroblade from the socket in her arm guard.
She stepped forward and held the blade to Githany’s Throat.
“My role is to inflict pain.” She snarled.
She was most likely jealous.
It was clear to Cognus, the twi’lek had romantic feelings for the assumed pilot, though he did not seem to harbour feelings for her. And Githany’s flirting was upsetting her.
“You may try in my case. But you will fail.” Githany said.
“thats enough sheeli!” kai snapped.
The twi’lek lowered the blade and slid it back into the socket of her arm guards.
“go help Setra with their repairs.” Kai interjected.
The twi’lek snarled and stomped towards where the human female was.
Githany took the act a little further, pretending to be helpless and weak, when in reality, she was quiet the opposite.
She brought her hand to her throat where the blade was held against her skin and coughed.
Why?

Pretending to be out of breath, Githany spoke with a slightly hoarse, Mando’a accented voice .
“you have my thanks.” Githany stated with a smile.
“sheeli needs to learn to keep her act up. Most people think she’s here as a slave, she’s actually here because she can fight well with nearly any weapon, though knives are her specialty.” Kai said.
“that explains a lot.” Githany replied letting go of her throat.
Githany could sense the doubt from Cognus, she didn’t believe why they were actually here. That was a good thing in Githany’s eyes, it meant she wasn’t foolish.
She nodded to the iktochti, telling her to leave.
As the iktochti left the room, kai had asked his crew to leave as well, heading in the opposite direction than Cognus.
Githany stood up to meet kai eye-to-eye.
“It’s been a long time.” Githany said breaking the silence and dropping the accent.
“it really has. . . Yevra.” Kai replied with a smile
“well, I can’t just reveal my identity to everyone in the galaxy you know?” Githany replied, the smile in her lips growing ever so slightly.
“I was hurt to find you fired on me.” Githany continued stepping closer.
“I didn’t know it was you, I raised you on your communicator but you didn’t answer. So I assumed you were tracking us and I couldn’t take the chance of you getting away if you were.”
Githany took another step toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.” She whispered.
Kai brought his hands to her lower back and pulled her close.
“I missed you Githany.” Kai said, kai was taller than her by a little bit allowing him to rest his chin on her head.
“the feeling is mutual.” Githany sighed into his chest.
“though, I wish this could last and I’m not complaining, but what are you doing here?” Kai whispered into Githany’s ear.
“What? Can I not visit my husband on occasion without being questioned?.” Githany asked innocently.
“Not usually. I know you better than that.” Kai said his lips less than a centimetre away from hers.
“although, it is part of the reason I came here, I need information.” Githany said brushing her lips lightly against his.
“I figured.” He mumbled softly into her lips.
Githany pulled away slowly, her lower back hit with a spike of cold that sent a shiver down her spine.
“this can wait, I need whatever information you can give me on a ritual known as the essence transfer.”

Chapter Text

Any of my stories on AO3 are canceled? I'm sorry, I will continue these stories on Wattpad though, someday. I just find Wattpad easier to work with.
So find me on Wattpad at:

Locked_writer

, so sorry for all those who've enjoyed. I hope you all understand!
- commander_rexsoka