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The Fett Dynasty II: Siege of Orri Prime	By : WLTDNFADED Category: Star Wars (All) > General Views: 3810 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Star Wars movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Episode 2

Chapter 4

Awakenings in the Dark

"I'm not the one who's so far away
When I feel the snakebite enter my veins
Never did I want to be here again
And I don't remember why I came."

Godsmack, Voodoo
As the large sensory plate swept over her head and face, I'Lai grimaced and blinked her eyes hard while cracking her knuckles.

"Stop fidgeting," Dr. Him'bron chided in a mild sing-song. "Hold your hands at your sides, lie still and think happy thoughts."

"I never could stand this thing, you know," I'Lai grumbled as she complied.

"And you've never been what I would call an easy patient," the doctor responded with a smirk in his voice. "Something you and Master Fett seem to have in common, I think. Although your protests are, thankfully, far less volatile." I'Lai chuckled softly as she lay on the table, staring straight toward the ceiling. The medical scanner made a few more passes over her sheet-covered body while Dr. Him'bron continued to peruse the monitor for several lengthy, anxious minutes. The scanning plate finally stopped at I'Lai's feet as Him'bron chirped, "All done. You can sit up now."

I'Lai held the sheet to her breast as she rose. She took a deep breath before anxiously asking, "Well?"

Him'bron squinted at the monitor for a moment before glancing sideways at his patient. "If your health was any more perfect, then I'd be worried."

She sighed with both relief and frustration. "The brain scan shows nothing?"

"Absolutely nothing abnormal. Everything checks out. There seems to be no physical reason for these hallucinations, I'Lai."

"I don't understand this, Dr. Him'bron. The last time I had upsetting visions like this was when I was preg-" She stopped, throwing the doctor a wide-eyed, worried look. "I'm not, am I?"

Him'bron chuckled and patted her leg. "No, I'Lai, you're not pregnant again. The bio-mone treatment seems to working just fine."

"I shouldn't have gotten pregnant tirstirst time." She swung her legs over the side of the table. "Imperial courtesans were all sterilized, even those in the Gift Trove."

"Well, did you undergo the surgical procedure while in the Discipline?"

"Procedure?" I'Lai asked. She furrowed her brow. "I've never had any surgery."

"Well then, you were never sterilized." He looked at I'Lai with an amused twinkle in his eye. "How else do you think they do it, I'Lai?"

"I thought�well�hmmm." Her brow remained wrinkled up as she contemplated this. "I guess I never thought about it before. I just assumed�" This was very strange, indeed. The Emperor had decreed that all Imperial women of pleasure be sterilized. Why had she remained fertile�? "Well, I suppose that's neither here nor there right now," she sighed. "What about these hallucinations?"

"Lady I'Lai," Dr. Him'bron said, again gently patting her knee, "I don't think I'm the one to speak to about this."

"You mean I should talk to Luke Skywalker."

"I think that would be best, yes. There is nothing physically wrong with you, so I would assume it may be something in the Force."

I'Lai absently rubbed her arm as she gazed toward the window, her lips tugged down in a small frown. "That's what I was afraid of�" she whispered.

Him'bron suddenly snapped his fingers. "Oh yes, speaking of Luke Skywalker�he messaged me and asked me to run a particular test on both you and Lord Kai, so I will need a blood sample, if you please."

"What sort of test, Doctor?"

"A�oh, what did he call it?" He reached into his coat and pulled out a datapad, quickly reading the script. "Oh yes, a 'midichlorian' count. Supposedly, Force-sentients have an abundance of these organisms in their blood, which is why they are Force-sentients to begin with. Master Skywalker wants to know how many you and Kai have, so he can adjust your training accordingly."

"Oh. Well, then by all means." She extended her arm, and the doctor pressed a small hypo-cartridge into her skin, drawing a few drops into the tiny vial.

"There we go. I'll gather a sample from little Lord Kai when it is convenient. We are all finished here, my dear. I'll leave you to dress."

"Thank you, Dr. Him'bron." She answered his fatherly wink with a sweet smile as he left the examination room. She quickly donned her sky blue dress and soft sandals and left as well.

Well, I knew it would come to this, she thought as she traveled through the corridors to her apartments. I knew I would have to tell Luke sooner or later. I just didn't want to worry him needlessly�or have him think I'm neglecting my training�or that I have somehow lost control�If these visions are indeed Dark Side, why can't I feel anything?

And Boba�I can�t tell Boba�he is already so suspicious of the Force�if he thinks I can�t control it�

He may leave me�

With her head down and arms crossed and completely enveloped in her thoughts, I'Lai passed through the open door of her chambers�

Only to find her chambers gone and replaced by the landscape of Hell itself.

She whipped around to flee back out into the corridor, but the door had disappeared as well, and I'Lai found herself standing in the middle of a jagged, desolate desert the color of night slumbering under the blanket of a blood red sky. Slowly she turned, seeking out any shred of civilization, and finding none. Serrated towers of rock a hundred meters high seemed to curl like black talons from the ebon palm of the horizon with a hot acidic wind searing the very land. The sky was illuminated by not one, but three red dwarf stars that hung low across the rough horizon. The only evident sign of life were huge things flying in the distance, catching the rancid updrafts under their massive wings and perching themselves upon the jutting crags.

I�Lai�s mind seeped with fog. She stood flesh within a dream, thick in a realm of vapor. She wanted, almost frantically, to feel something, be it fear, rage, confusion or some impact, be it light or dark, within the Force. But as she continued to slowly spin about, perusing every detail of every stone and crag and jagged rock that surrounded her, she found she felt�nothing. Nothing but the sensation that her limbs were heavy and her consciousness light�she gazed out upon the arid valley before her, dotted with black boulders nestled within mounds of black sand.

Then one boulder, off in the near distance, moved.

I�Lai did nothing and felt nothing still. With her will as weightless as a scarf thrown to the wind, she merely stared as a hooded head slowly rose from the contour of the rock. Unhurriedly, fluently, turning and extending upwards like a pillar of smoke pulled by a draft, the boulder morphed from the sand until a man, swathed from head to toe in black silk, was born from the black desert floor.

He began walking toward her.

He came to her in steps heavy and long, but in a gait that made him seem to be merely an extension of the sands he kicked up with each driving stride. Indeed, he did not even walk like a man, but treaded with the same fierce bearing as a beast in rut.

Devoid of the will or desire to stop herself, I�Lai began walking toward the cloaked figure.

As they approached each other, she watched a hand the same colors of earth and sky slide out of the swaths of his cloak and reach to his throat. Unclasping his cloak, he shed it off his naked body and released it to the clutches of the acrid wind, revealing himself to her in one smooth, lupine motion.

It was HE.

An astounding feral animal shaped like a man, adorned in a sweat-slick pelt of red and black tattoos and crowned with horns. I�Lai gaped at him, her eyes consuming the details that began to emerge from his tattooed mask, the curve of his cheekbones and the jut of his jaw and nose. The sinews of his muscles seemed to thrash against the cage of his painted skin. And once again, she was entrapped in the snare of those eyes of gold and red, twin flames crackling under the weight of that smoldering brow. The stare in those eyes, the curl of his lip revealing the points of his fangs were that of a beast craving, hungering--- not for prey, but for gratification that could only be found in a worthy mate. He was

Hideous.

Magnificent.

Demon.

God.

And from where she stood, she could feel the beat of his savage heart drum within her ears.

Dropping his head down slightly but still holding her in his glare, he changed his course. He stalked in a slow circle around her, his nostrils flaring wide, panting, pulling her scent into them. Every few steps he would stop and pivot, drawing closer ever so slightly, so subtly�his muscles pulsing and fluid under his skin�his shoulders heaving with every breath� a prer par pacing�eyes burning� burning for her�

Her flesh rose into a thousand tiny points. Her breathing became quick, erratic, shallow. Her mind was reeling, spiraling. Her heart banged against her sternum. Her breasts heaved. Her loins clenched, and grew hot, tight�moist�

no�no�

Her hand lifted to the back of her neck, and pulled the tie of her dress loose�

stop, stop�don�t�

her other hand slid around, doing the same to the tie at her back�

�what are you doing�

her gown slid down her body,

�I�Lai, don�t�

over the crest of her breasts and the slight swell of her belly,

�I can�t stop�

flittering down to pool at her feet.

please�

She stood naked.

aah�

for him.

He stopped pacing. Little by little, he stepped closer, closer� until he stood no more than a breath from her. The searing heat of his body shrouded her naked flesh, caressed it. And his eyes, those languid flames, boring into hers�suddenly widened, softened�

He dropped to his knees before her. His hands were hot, soft, almost tender as they touched her calves and slid up over her thighs, her buttocks until�they pressed against the small of her back, and he buried his face into the silk pillow of her belly.

It was then she heard him sob. It was then she felt his scalding tears sear her flesh.

It was more maternal instinct than rational thought that caused I�Lai to gingerly stroke the nubs of his horns and cradle the back of his head. He responded by binding his arms around her. Confusion and concern filled her heart as the words formed in her mind and spoke to him, even before they could escape her lips�

*Why do you weep?*

The voice that answered through her consciousness was as sultry as a summer�s dusk, as languid as a slumbering volcano, and weighted with utter sorrow.

*This waiting�it burns, I�Lai�I so thirst for you�I cannot bear it�*

She dropped to her knees as well, sliding down within his embrace, meeting his tear-braised eyes. A thousand questions all battled to be first asked, but only one made it to the forefront of her mind.

*How� do you know my name?*

His hands glided up her back to her neck, his fingers tangling in the jungle of her raven curls, his palms cradling her soft face as he pathed into her mind�

*I named you.*

Panic seethed through her limbs as her eyes grew huge. But before the scream could escape her throat, he gripped her hair and jerked her face to his�

*Search your heart! You know it to be true!*

She only had to look into his eyes to realize�

It was.

And before she could fully grasp the horror, he caught her lower lip within his teeth in a savage kiss. He pierced the delicate flesh. She tasted her own blood.

His arms bound her like scarlet serpents, snaring her against his hard body. Releasing her lip, he nuzzled his face over hers, inhaling her pure, untainted scent. Again brutally gripping her hair, he yanked her head back, dropping his mouth to her throat where he sank his teeth into the subtle pulse point there�

She did nothing to stop him.

A gale blew through the crimson silk of her veins. Her hands kneaded into his painted flesh. She pierced her nails into his arms as he bit the round underside of her breast. Her back arched, her teeth clenched, and the scream that escaped her throat was unintelligible, guttural�inhuman.

His mouth and teeth made their journey down the fertile knoll of her belly� His tongue snaked the inner crease of her thigh�and when he viciously pushed her into the sand, he tangled his arms around her legs and, wrenching her pelvis to his lips, voraciously gorged upon her loins.

She shrieked, beating her fists into the sand,

*Yes, I�Lai�feel it� embrace it�*

thrashing violently, clutching her legs around his neck,

*The power of it�*

her entire being wrapped in a robe of angel�s songs,

*it is not what the Jedi said it was, is it?*

keening through her limbs, her belly, her heart�

*�it is not horror�*

An ebon rose bloomed from the crusted blood of innocents�

*it is rapture�*

his whispered voice filling her, penetrating her�

*PARADISE�*

A storm had begun in the black desert. The winds whipped the sand in frenzy, enveloping them�

A far off voice calling her name through the cacophony of the storm�

ZabrZabrak released her from his mouth, leaping to his feet and ningning toward the voice, clenching his fists. She sprang forward, crouching on her hands and knees. Through his legs, she saw a figure running toward them, shadowed against the scarlet horizon. As it came forward, the details of the form racing toward them began to emerge�she could hear the subtle clanking of armor plating�she saw him struggle in the deep soot of the sand�and soon, she could see a helmet with a t-shaped visor�she saw him reach for her�she could hear his voice�

�I�Lai!�

She stared blankly at the running armored man�his name silent on her lips�

Suddenly, another figure emerged from the horizon. Following him, running even faster, catching up and surpassing him�he seemed younger than the first in his stride and quickness�and this new man was also clad in the armor of the Mandelore�but slung about his shoulders was�

The robe of the Jedi.

Another name swirled into her mind� Kai�? She reached out and touched his essence�

It was not Kai.

She immediately felt the wrath of the tattooed Zabrak. He dragged her from the ground into his arms, clutching her naked body to his own. His head snapped around, his lips pulled back in a savage snarl, and his voice exploded from his chest to roar over the howling winds of the storm---

�MINE!�

And the sands beneath them rippled and separated, and they fell through the desert floor into a pit of starless night.

*It is time to go.*

*Go where?*

*Your destiny.*

I�Lai looked back up to the mouth of the pit, and saw the two Madelorian helms gawking helplessly at their falling bodies. The taller, younger Mandelore lunged over the side, and she heard him scream,

�MOTHER!�

She reached up�but it was too late. The two Mandelores grew smaller against the pallet of red sky as they plummeted down�

*We�re falling.*

*Yes.*

*We�ll die.*

*Never.* He traced a blunt talon tenderly along her jaw line. *We�ll never die.*

Falling, falling, wrapped around each other, twirling and spinning through veils of dark�until a shaft of red light broke through below them, illuminating their destination�Their descent slowed as a cradle of breath caught them. Still holding her firm against him, the ground rose up to meet them�

*Beloved, look. See.*

Dreamily, she turned her head from the crook of his arm. She saw they stood within an immense cavern. An enormous staircase carved from blackest obsidian greeted her eyes.

At the top of the stairs stood a man, silhouetted against the ruby sky.

Waves of sable black hair that grew to his knees blew in perfect accord with his black silk cloak in the piercing wind. He stood towering and splendid; his arms outstretched, his chin raised to the sky as a choir of innumerable voices from beyond the cavern chanted his name, over and over�

DOMEIN

DOMEIN

DOMEIN

DOMEIN

Instantly aware of their presence, he lowered his head and turned toward them. He descended the stairs with undulating grace and, as he passed into the dim light where they stood, I�Lai saw that he wore magnificent cobalt armor�

Sith armor.

She looked into his face. A swarthy, striking youth no more than twenty, with a square chin, broad nose and eyes�the color of teal.

Her eyes.

Her gasp of recognition was as fragile as a tummilin�s wing. �Kai�?�

The beautiful young man smiled, baring teeth of purest white. As he reached to cup her face, she saw tears beginning to ripple in the deepest pools of his eyes. A soft sob broke from his lips as he whispered,

�Mother�Welcome home.�

He looked to the Zabrak, and his smile broadened. He reached forth and tenderly cupped the Zabrak�s neck. �Father��

�Domein,� the Zabrak replied, who in turn laid an adoring hand on his shoulder.

The young man turned again to I�Lai. Unclasping his cloak, he pulled it from his shoulders and laid it upon her shoulders, lovingly wrapping it around her nude form. He delicately plucked a stray tendril from her eye and brushed his palm through her hair as he looked to the staircase. �Go on. They�re waiting for you.�

She turned toward the staircase, and began to walk. With every step she ascended, the tribal cadence of countless drums grew more fevered and extreme. She saw streaks of charcoal smoke ribbon throughout the scarlet heavens. She could smell the blazing tang of fire. She reached the top and stepped forward onto the stone precipice�

And froze at the spectacle she witnessed before her.

Hundreds of meters below her and for hundreds of miles, they glutted the colossal black valley, the cliffs, every peak, every crag completely to the boundary of the horizon. They writhed, they danced, they molested, assaulted, and slaughtered each other; they shrieked and screamed in a ravenous dark orgy of violence, desire, and destruction. There were millions of them. Millions of beings, human and alien, male and female of every known galactic race were displayed, a heaving ocean of anarchy. Massive bonfires dotted the rolling lake of bodies like islands of flame. Hundreds of drummers, naked and chained to their instruments by the throat, beat their hands so viciously at tashiashings of their black armor-clad masters that the skins of the massive drums spattered with their blood.

Then came the Star Destroyers, scores of them, descending through the red haze of the acidic atmosphere, hanging in the sky like harbingers of bereavement, chariots of annihilation.

Suddenly a hush rippled through the surging multitude. She saw all movement stop, all heads turn and look up at her, mouths agape open, eyes wide�

The chant started softly, no more than a sigh, but by every moment it grew shriller, thicker, ruthless � glorious�

Archae�el

Archae�el

ARCHAe�EL

ARCHAE�EL!

ARCHAE�EL!

What appeared to be black moons, seemingly called forth by the deafening hymn, rose from the seam of the horizon. One, two, three�until there were ten, hovering in the crimson fabric of the sky. As she watched them all slowly rotate in unison to face her, I�Lai gradually understood that they were not moons at all�

They were Death Stars.

Their bays, like thin jaws, all opened at once, and spewed forth squadron after squadron of black metallic TIE fighters. A swarm of furious wasps, the thousands of ships streaked across the skies, forming battle formations, swooping and plunging down upon the frenzied throng and sending them into even more hysterical abandon.

The bellowing hordes began to climb over each other, fighting and clawing their way to the cliff where she stood

ARCHAE�EL!

clothing shredded

ARCHAE�EL!

faces and bodies stained with blood

ARCHAE�EL!

screaming, hurling each other

ARCHAE�EL!

manic, climbing, frantic to adore their Goddess

ARCHAE�EL!

It was then the black flame began to lick at the stem of her mind.

It was then she felt the surge of ecstasy-- of domination-- flood up her legs and into her sex, her womb, her belly, her mind�she panted through her clenched teeth, her lip snarling into a smile of vile enchantment, shoulders heaving, her eyes tapering into green slits as she glared at the throng screaming that name�HER NAME�

ARCHAE�EL! ARCHAE�EL! ARCHAE�EL! ARCHAE�EL! ARCHAE�EL!

The massive drums beat again, faster, thunderous, ferocious, echoing against the hulls of the ships hanging in the sky, inciting the masses to more rage, more violence, more havoc�

She threw the cloak to the winds, baring her voluptuous body to these, her minions, her followers, her flock�her CHILDREN�

And through it all, she heard his voice keen through her�

*My gift to you, my beacon, my seraph, my beloved�*

She felt his rigid, nude phallus press into her back. Long painted fingers snaked around her throat as his other hand grasped her pliable breast, then slid down her belly to her soaking delta�hot, ravenous lips nipped at her neck�

*Darth Archae�el�*

The luxurious-haired, beautiful young Sith Lord stepped to the edge of the precipice, his cape billowing in the wind. He raised the hilt of his weapon above his head and ignited its red twin blades. His voice rose, resonant and majestic above the din as he roared, �WE�ARE��

The horde finished his statement in a shriek so thunderous it threatened to spilt the sky�

�LEGION!�

LEGION! LEGION! LEGION! LEGION! LEGION! LEGION! LEGION! LEGION!

And I�Lai threw back her head and laughed in a manner she never had before�darkly, wildly, sadistically�a cackle of sheer cruelty, of uninhibited malevolence relentlessly rolled from her gullet as she began to comprehend her TRUE place in the universe�

Until she snapped her head down to the horde again. The sinister smile suddenly thawed from her face. Her laughter stopped.

As she looked into the frenzied crowd, she saw two figures standing oddly and serenely still amongst the writhing throng. Their helmets tilted up to her, and she found herself gazing into eyes hidden by dark visors. Entwining their armored arms together, they reached their free hands to her, and she heard a young man�s anguished voice, not terribly different from the one who stood with her, softly drift into her ears�

�Mother, don�t do this�don�t give in� please��

Her gaze shifted to the older Mandelore, who somberly lowered his head. He said nothing. There was no need.

Her heart suddenly cleaved, and her from her eyes sprang forth a tempest of tears. She sobbed so heavily her body heaved.

*Oh�no.*

The imposing long-haired youth in Sith armor exploded in rage, lunging over the edge and screaming, �MONGREL! Deserter! She doesn�t belong to you! She�s ours! OURS!�

*What have I done�?*

The tattooed Zabrak savagely spun her around to face him, his talons slicing the soft flesh of her arms, his eyes blazing as he hissed, �He doesn�t love you, Archae�el! He is nothing! A filthy mercenary! You were not created for him! HE DOESN�T LOVE YOU!�

Suddenly, she grabbed the Zabrak�s wrists. She was hoarse and shrill when she screamed, �My name is�� But her voice shriveled and her throat seized when she realized�

She didn�t know her name anymore.

The howl she unleashed began somewhere in the depths of her bowels, surging up through her body until it ruptured from her throat�she tore away from the Sith, reeling, stumbling to the edge of the precipice�

�NO!� screamed the Zabrak. He sprang forward to catch her fall�

And missed�

* * *

Luke�s frantic footsteps ricocheted sharp and clean off the glimmering marble walls of the Jedi temple as he raced through its splendid corridors. He had to get to a holocom. He had to warn I�Lai�

As he ran he furiously wiped the sweat from his eyes. He only wished he could somehow do the same to the horrifying vision which still gnashed within his mind�s eye�

The nightmares no longer bound themselves to his times of slumber. They now assaulted him in wake too, while he was in the Temple meditation chamber. The vision had oozed into his mind, like black bile leached onto the wing of a dove.

The tattooed Zabrak had shown himself again, standing in his cavern�s maw, laughing through the screeching wail of a woman�s anguish.

*You�ve been asking about me, Vader-spawn. Is your curiosity peaked? Allow me to stoke it further�*

He had launched himself off the precipice, gliding through the dank air of the massive cave. He landed nimbly on his toes, squatting directly between the spread legs of a woman lying on a stone slab that jutted up from the void of a seemingly endless pit. The woman�s head and torso were covered with a black drape, but her lower half was completely bared and vulnerable. The woman screamed again, and Lukuld uld see her huge belly convulsing and contracting. He could hear the Zabrak�s unvoiced words echo through his mind�

*Without pain, my treasure, there is no life. Bring it forth.*

The woman�s body violently arced, and her deafening screams rattled Luke�s very soul as she bore down with all her strength one last time�and as her shrieks waned, those of a newborn life replaced them.

He watched the Zabrak catch the babe into his hands. He watched him lean forward and cut the umbilical with his own teeth.

Cradling the baby with the utmost tenderness, the Zabrak leapt off the slab and flew back to the precipice where Luke�s avatar stood. He presented the bloody babe forward. Luke could see that she was girl child.

*Recognize her, Vader-spawn?*

His brow furrowed as he peered at the crying, dark-haired child. With a Force tendril, he reached lightly toward the baby�s essence�

And felt as though his heart would stop.

�No�� he rasped, backing away, �it can�t be��

The Zabrak�s malicious chortle started deep within him, and his eyes of fire sparked and danced as he pathed the words�

*Look upon her, Skywalker. Look upon the mother of a new order. Look upon your DESTRUCTION.*

And with that, the Zabrak encircled the baby into his powerful arms, gazing at her with what could only be described as boundless love. And for the first time, he spoke in his physical voice, in a tone that lay somewhere between chaos and rapture�

�I�Lai��

It was then the vision exploded into an inferno of black flame, hurling Luke onto his back. When he opened his eyes, he was lying in the center of the serene meditation chamber�

And now he was running, gasping, leaping over the renovators� paints and supplies as they briefly stopped their work to wonder at him.

�DOORS!� he yelled as he came upon his apartments. They slid open at his command, and he leapt across the room to land behind his desk and hit the com.

�Be there, I�Lai�please be there��

His anxious spirit plummeted even furtheen ten the holographic image that appeared on his desktop was not I�Lai, but that of Nikoa.

The elderly woman�s wrinkled face creased even further as she smiled kindly. �General Skywalker! How wonderful to see you again!�

�Mistress Nikoa,� Luke panted into the holophone, �please forgive my rudeness, but I must speak to the Lady I�Lai immediately! Is she there?�

�Oh, I�m sorry, but her Ladyship is in a very important meeting at the moment. But I would be more than happy to have her get back to you��

�Mistress Nikoa, please! I must speak with her! Now!�

�I�m afraid she can�t be disturbed, General. This meeting has been planned for quite some time and she simply cannot be called away,� Nikoa replied with the firm tact of a velvet hammer.

Luke, exasperated, ran his cybernetic hand through his hair. �All right, all right. But please, please Mistress Nikoa, tell her to contact me immediately when she is finished! It�s extremely urgent.�

�I certainly will, General.�

�Mistress Nikoa, I know this is going to sound strange, but�is her Ladyship alright? You seem to be very close to her�do you know if she has been having nightmarVisiVisions?�

Nikoa frowned slightly as she thought this over. She shook her head. �No, sir. Her Ladyship has been quite content and has been sleeping well.�

�Oh,� Luke sighed, �well, that�s good to know.�

Her expression became concerned. �You seem terribly upset, General Skywalker. Is there anything I can do?�

He shook his head. �No, lady, thank you. I�don�t think you would understand��

Nikoa�s imsmilsmiled softly as she sighed, �No, I probably wouldn�t.�

�Thank you, Mistress Nikoa. And please, again, have I�Lai contact me as soon as she can. Out.�

�Out,� Nikoa chimed, hitting the com button.

She sat quietly for a moment at I�Lai�s desk, her hands folded in her lap. She sighed a deep, contented breath. Calmly, serenely, she turned her head to the center of the chamber.

There stood I�Lai, as she had the entire time, frozen and wide-eyed in her terrible trance. Nikoa watched her shudder slightly and her eyes roll back into her head. She watched her crumple to the floor, her body quaking in convulsions.

Nikoa rushed to the fallen woman, laying her palm against her forehead and hushing, �Ssshh��

I�Lai stopped seizing. Eyes clamped shut, her face suddenly twisted into grimace of sheer agony, and her wails of anguish pealed off the cathedral ceilings of her apartments.

With a strength completely unnatural for a woman her age, Nikoa slipped her arms under I�Lai�s prone form and lifted her from the floor. Cradling her tenderly in her arms and resting her head against her shoulder, Nikoa carried the weeping I�Lai to her large bed, gently setting her down.

I�Lai thrashed her head against the pillow as she whimpered, �Boba�Boba�come back�I need you�Kai�gods, Kai�� Suddenly, she became still, her face melting into soft serenity as a new name formed on her lips�and Nikoa felt her heart would burst from sheer joy�

�MAUL��

Gingerly, soothingly, Nikoa swept a lock of her thick curls from her throat, revealing the reddish lesion of teeth marks embedded there. Softly brushing her fingertips across the bite, Nikoa quietly chanted, "Si'at siikaa eusss'na Sith, sei ti'maa eusss'na criiah taee�" The marks pulsed, bubbled, folded, and eventually faded away, leaving her skin creamy and supple once again.

I�Lai�s eyes suddenly fluttered, then lifted open. Drowsily, she gazed up at Nikoa. She smiled softly. �Nikoa, hello.�

Nikoa smiled warmly, stroking I�Lai�s forehead. �Hello, your Ladyship. Did you have a nice nap?�

�Mmmm,� she moaned, sitting up slowly and stretching her arms over her head. �Quite refreshing, thank you.� She blinked a few times as she attempted to focus. �Nikoa�I just had the strangest dream��

�Really, I�Lai? What was it about?�

I�Lai paused, lightly knitting her brow, and let out a soft giggle. �Funny�I can�t remember��

�Well, that happens.� Nikoa took I�Lai�s hand in her own, still beaming warmly. �Now that you�ve had a good rest, how do you feel?�

�I feel�wonderful, Nikoa. Absolutely wonderful.�

Just then, the quiet cooing of a sleepy infant could be heard over the baby monitor. Nikoa laughed, �Seems someone else have just woken up too.�

�Mmmmm. Well then, his Lordship calls. I�m sure he�s hungry.� I�Lai swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. She elongated into one more refreshing stretch before casually strolling to the door, all the while humming a soft little tune to herself.

Nikoa waited until the doors had closed behind her before she allowed the tears of joy to gush from her eyes.

Destiny was at hand.

The Turning

Had Begun.
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The Fett Dynasty II: Siege of Orri Prime