Savage-Time Chapter 20 (Patreon)

[Orbit of Dathomir, Outer Rim]

Savage Opress

“I’ve never been to the planet’s surface so this will be an enlightening visit,” Nox was acting weirder than usual and there was no other explanation for it apart from the power surrounding the planet below “We should explore this world for a while!”

If him acting like a hyperactive squirrel was not enough of a clue the almost solid feel he had now certainly was one, he was far from being a corporeal being but now he had an almost life-like body even if it was just half of it currently.

“We don’t have time for that, besides the witches would restrict our access to certain places because of my gender” my well-rationalized argument netted me no points with Nox who decided to pull on one of my horns with the Force.

“Are you not a Sith Lord? Ignore them and do what you want”

“I’m still not powerful enough that I can throw away my allies” Nox nodded and patted my head with his ghostly fingers.

“Good! You didn’t give in to temptation and I could barely feel your mood swing even as I pulled on your love handle” this is the first time that I think anyone has talked about my horns in any kind of sexual way.

“Don’t call them that, it’s weird”

The witches’ temple was starting to come into view and at the entrance, my mother and new apprentice waited.

“She’s so tiny! If she was really your mate you would break her in a second, unless your package is not as large as the rest of your body…” Nox let the words hang in the air as he looked for any reaction but I refused to show him even a hint of emotion even as I was getting angrier by the second.

“I’m perfectly proportional”

“Gasp!” I threw him a look as Nox faked being scandalized by my answer.

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Merrin

Merrin played with her hands as she waited for her mate to arrive, Mother Talzin had told her that it was necessary and that it was a great honor to be chosen despite her lack of accomplishments, and Merrin understood that. Only those who were strong could take a mate and continue the lineage the rest would die alone.

That didn’t stop her from being nervous about her new partner, mostly because he would also be her master. Merrin hoped that he would wait for her to be a bit older before they had children together, she didn’t think herself ready to give up her child either to the witches or to the warriors if she had one now.

Finally, after what felt like years of waiting the ship that would take her away into the galaxy was arriving, and with it, something…strong!

The ship had barely touched the ground but already Merrin could feel the Dark Side growing stronger, the shadows danced as the power that normally was resting below the ground went wild, it was as if the Dark Side was howling its victory over the light that still remained on the planet.

The door opened and Savage Opress appeared, he was tall, taller than her by a good amount, his form exuded power and danger in an equal manner but what caught her attention was his face for a man like him he seemed to have a mostly average face, he was not ugly by any means but there was little to call handsome, then Merrin looked at his horns and blushed.

She had heard some of the sisters talking about how the horns of the males were a measure of their size and Savage seemed to have horns far larger than any other male she had heard of before.

He walked over to them at his own pace without, she was expecting him to bow to Mother Talzin, but Savage merely inclined his head as if he was an equal.

“Mother you will be happy to know Maul is doing better” Mother Talzin smiled at the words while Merrin tried to process the fact that Mother Talzin had smiled at all.

“I am happy, not long ago I felt him grow stronger in record time. Who is your new friend?” This was so bizarre, maybe this was all a dream, had Merrin fallen into one of the green pools by accident?

Her thoughts were cut short when a red figure made of vapor rose from Savage’s belt, it was an armored being that strengthened even her with just his mere presence as the Dark Side grew more dominant and oppressive around them.

“Darth Nox, at your service madam” the ghostly figure was not as ethereal as Merrin imagined given that the human took Mother Talzin’s hand and placed his lips on her knuckles.

“Nox!” the ground shook as Savage’s anger manifested itself at the ghost’s actions.

“You needn’t shout my son, I’ve learned my lesson and won’t play with any human Sith that happens to be charming” Savage looked as if he had accidentally kissed a rancor, and what little color he had on his face quickly vanished.

Wait! Did she just say, son? OH!

Her new mate was Mother Talzin’s son! That means that Mother Talzin would be her actual mother once they finally mated!

“Too bad, eternity can be so lonely” the ghost looked at her and Merrin felt him probe around her surface thoughts, if she made an effort, she was sure that he could be easily expelled but there was no need to do so right now and she was curious as to the reason this Nox was looking at her mind.

The probe retreated and the ghost smiled at her before going back to wherever ghosts go “So this is Merrin, she is stronger than I anticipated”

Merrin may still be only sixteen years old, but she was as good as any of her sisters that were eighteen, it was great that Savage quickly recognized her talent “She still has much to learn but your very presence shows that you will be a great master, remember that once you have a child with her it must come to Dathomir”

Savage grunted in assent and looked at her again if he was inspecting her Merrin had no doubt that she would not be found wanting, her sisters often complained about how she made them look bad without trying “Do you mind if I do a little test before I take her?”

“It is your right as a widowed male to check if she can be better than the one before, but if you choose to set her aside for another it will take time” Mother Talzin spoke calmly about it but Merrin knew that there was no one else for Savage so she couldn’t fail, the way Mother Talzin grabbed her neck was warning enough.

Something felt strange. Merrin’s sight clouded and the already dark world of Dathomir became a pitch-black nightmare, she felt fear as she watched the things that wriggled and moved around in the dark with glowing eyes, the sound of clinking belonging to metallic limbs was only broken by flashes of red and the sound of the air being burned by blaster fire, raspy breathing followed by a cough and then she saw it.

It was more machine than organic, bone white and with glowing yellow eyes a figure that resembled a skeleton approached, it crushed everything in its path and its arms broke apart to form another set, the limbs grabbed her and as much as she wished to wake up from the nightmare she was living Merin couldn’t escape.

Blue light shined in one of his hands revealing the corpses of her sisters on the ground their blood spilling from their broken bodies, she wanted to scream and cry but the metallic hand holding her throat wouldn’t let her. The blue light burned her stomach and came out from her back as the thing laughed.

It was too much, how dare it laugh at her, she was a Nightsister, a witch!

Her rage gave her enough strength to move her hands end even as Merrin felt her life fade away Merrin reached for the creature’s eyes and popped them with her fingers.

Color and light returned to the world, Merrin noticed that she was on her knees and saw a pair of legs that could only belong to Savage, Merrin looked up and saw the grin on his face.

“She’s perfect”

“Of course she is, I chose her” Mother Talzin’s words make Savage look at her but after a quick laugh he turns back to Merrin.

“Ready to leave this place?”

Not trusting her voice Merrin nods and smiles at him, brittle as it is the smile works and Savage turns to his ship without saying goodbye to his mother, Mother Talzin soon does the same and her figure disappears inside the temple.

Merrin now was going to walk a different part than her sisters but Dathomir would always be in her heart.

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[Sector Delta, Umbara]

Clone Sergeant CT-2323 “Rampage”

“I want those tinnies in pieces before the- incoming!” Rampage had to throw himself away as the explosive payload of the vultures blew a hole through the trenches his men had dug out in the last two days.

“There go two days of work”

“You don’t have to tell me Shiny” Rampage didn’t appreciate the sass his brother was throwing his way, he had become too familiar with him and while Rampage would like to put a stop to it he wasn’t going to, he was the last brother of his original squad.

“Not so shiny anymore” his brother patted his chest where the burn marks of their last mission remained, Rampage didn’t want to think about the mission, the voices pleading for mercy still haunted him some nights.

“You’re still a shiny to me, maybe that should be your name” Rampage’s good-natured ribbing was cut short when the figures of the Umbarans started coming out from the trees.

“Sir-“ One of the scouts assigned to their forward operations pointed to some figures moving between the foliage.

“I can see them, keep your head down and fire when I give the signal” The rest of the men moved to obey his orders.

The next ten seconds were pure agony as they watched a dozen Umbarans move around checking for survivors, the brief static that occurred deep within enemy territory whenever the clones communicated amongst themselves made Rampage look over where another scout was pointing with his rifle while clicking the comm on his helmet.

“Karking droids! They sent armor” Rampage cursed softly as he moved to the last of their crate of heavy weapons and was not overtly surprised to find it empty “I don’t suppose any of you have explosives on hand?”

The sight of a hand waving several detonators was never as beautiful as at this moment or at least Rampage thought so, he signaled the man with the bombs to come closer.

“Shiny you and the rest need to draw the attention of the infantry, don’t leave this hole no matter what you have to hold it, if you have any grenades left now is the time to use them, I will grab the attention of the Hover Tank and you my explosively minded brother are going to blow it up”

“Yes sir!” the overly excited answer was all he needed.

The Umbarans were closing in on their positions and soon they would be able to see them but if this was going to work they had to kill as many as they could before the tank focused on his brothers.

The moment had come and with one gesture the clones unleashed hell on the resisting natives, the hail of laser looked as pretty as it always did. Rampage looked to his right where the clone with the explosives was waiting and nodded.

“For the Republic!” with that battle cry Rampage charged the tank from the side intent on killing the driver.