Sunny Skye: Complications

Adventure on Skye



Complications

by

Lordhadrian



"Oh, my dear Asajj!" Mother Talzin cackled "When shall we meet again?  In Thunder, lightning, or in the rain?"

Talzin had been performing a ritual over a large mummified body when the Pirate Witch, Sister Rama Dunk, approached to report that her mission to kidnap the valuable hippocrenes had been thwarted.

Talzin finished listening to the update by Dunk.  The plan to enslave the Hippocrenes had failed, all due to the energetic chutzpah of a small Togrutan girl Jedi.  The failure would have meant punishment for Dunk, whose pirate crew was taken completely by surprise from Ahsoka and her friends.

But that was hardly the most interesting news.  Talzin reconsidered punishing her lowly sister witch when Rama told her that Asajj Ventress was with Ahsoka Tano, plus there were others that helped to thwart the proceedings against the stubborn but valuable hippocrenes.

Talzin cackled at her own rhetorical question, but Rama was in no mood for humor.  She wanted revenge.

"Mother, please, let me go back to Skye and eliminate Ventress!  She has betrayed the sisterhood by siding with the Jedi!"

Talzin cackled again "They are not Jedi, they have been rejected by their order and the Republic!  Oh, the revenge will be mine when the battle's lost and won, that will be ere the setting of the sun!"

Rama Dunk looked at her fearfully and confused, but stayed quiet when Talzin started talking cryptically.  Whatever revenge the Mother had planned, it would be horrible indeed.  And it involved the large mummy she chanted over.

Lightning strafed the dark skies of Dathomir as her chanting became louder and more horrifying.

"Anael nathrakh, urth vas bethud, dokhjel djenve!!"

The ancient Sith languages of a long dead era echoed through the cavernous chamber, and thunder complimented the horrible words that Talzin imbued into the thing on the slab in front of her.

All became quiet as the storm noises pulled away.

The lights in the chamber dimmed from a supernatural dread that thickened around the mummy.

Rama Dunk watched in silence as Talzin trembled and dared to utter the greeting she whispered.

"General Pong Krell."

"Yes, my mistress?" a deep sarcophigal response echoed

"Rise!"  Rama Dunk screamed in terror at the sight, but her voice was drowned out by one last crack of thunder that could have split the planet into two great halves with its roar.  Talzin's revenge had come to life....and revenge would come to Planet Skye....




Lux Bonteri stayed near Ahsoka and the ladies of the Sophy, but wanted to make himself useful and went about getting work near Farhimmel.

He staked out a small apartment in a low rent cantina hotel, The Shady Krayt.

Ahsoka had offered to let him stay on the Sophy, but a combination of pride and modesty compelled him to get a place of his own.  Not that he would mind being on a ship with three attractive women, but living together would be awkward, and sharing the facilities of the ship would complicate things.

Riddick and Vincent struck out on their own, joining a mining operation, and Conradin also was learning to live on his own in Farhimmel, having rented the apartment next to Lux.

The day was coming to a close, and Lux had put in his 8 hours at an administration building.  He was a simple beaurocrat in a cubicle, handling reports of Farhimmel's finances and tax policies and business contracts with local stores and shops.

It was a welcome, boring change of pace, away from war and adventure.  It was all paperwork, life at a desk.  Lux welcomed it when his coworkers dreamed of fighting in the war that ravaged the galaxy.

Conradin also worked in the city's management, both relying on their past skills, but without displaying any notoriety.

Lux walked home as the sun went down.  He enjoyed the starry sky as the sun set, and the lights of ships coming and going.  Merchant ships, vacation shuttles, not the thunderous cruisers he had been used to.

"See you tomorrow, Conrad" he waved to Conradin as they entered the cantina below the aprtments.  Conradin went to his place, while Lux usually stopped in the bar for a quick, casual drink.

Lux finished his drink and went to his apartment.  There, he'd talk on the comlink with Ahsoka, where they often talked just before she went to bed on the Sophy.

"Hey, what's new?" He asked.

Ahsoka smiled, relaxed to be talking to Lux.  "It was a good day.  I found a job working in the Caecuban winery.  It's not bad work.  I get to help bottle up the wine, but I also provide security.  Nothing glamorous."

"That sounds great.  Maybe we can sample their stuff over a dinner."

Lux cleared his throat "I mean, if that's okay with you."

Ahsoka smiled at him "I think that would be fantastic!  It'll be nice to get away from the Sophy for a while.  Asajj has been....cranky lately.  Not sure what she's going through, but she's been moody.  I think she misses Riddick."

"Well, he's not far away.  Riddick went off to do what he does best.  Being a lone wolf."

Lux noticed she started to feel uneasy.  A chill went down her spine.  "You okay?"

"I don't know.  I suddenly got this funny feeling....like someone just walked on my grave."

"Something in the Force?  I know that it sometimes gives you an edge." Lux tried to decipher her expression.

"Well, the Force can be a little vague.  Maybe I just need some sleep.  How about dinner at the winery tomorrow?"

"Shiny!" Lux smiled.

Neither of them saw the light from above in orbit, the Dathomir pirates were landing a distance from Farhimmel, re-establishing themselves after being chased away by Ahsoka and her friends.  Witch Pirate Rama Dunk landed her ship in an obscure pit overshadowed by a small range of gray mountains.  

They brought reinforcements.

Rama Dunk started unloading supplies with her pirate slaves and henchmen.  Behind her, a large shadowy figure watched, crossing two of his four arms as the new pirate base was organized.

"I can't wait to get my hands on those Jedi brats!" Rama licked her lips in anticipation.  "Sister Lapin!  We need to have this base operational in 24 hours."

Sister Rasah Lapin bowed and went off to do her work setting up camouflage and outer defenses.  While the natural wildlife of Skye was mostly harmless, and the people of Farhimmel rarely ventured far from the settlements, one could never be too careful of stray tourists and unwary explorers.


Rama turned to her new brother of the coven, the Resurrected wraith like figure of Pong Krell.

"When the base is operational, we shall contact Mother Talzin, then I will let you do your work.  The Hippocrenes have many herds on this world. I  will continue the work of rounding them up with our sisters, you may use whatever methods to destroy any who oppose us...especially the traitor Asajj Ventress!"

"Yes, Sister Dunk." Pong Krell smiled.  Pale and ghastly looking, Pong Krell breathed deeply of new life, a new beginning. A chance to kill again.




The days that followed were rather busy with news.  Farhimmel had to deal with two murders occuring the past two nights.  The Clone wars were winding down with the announcement that the Separatist attempt to kidnap the Chancellor had failed.  Dooku was listed as killed in action, and the Jedi worked closely with Palpatine to prepare for a final offensive against Grievous' crumbling forces.


Ahsoka and Lux enjoyed more time together, Barriss meditated in the shrine of the Ru, while Ventress spent her waking ours needlessly cleaning and scrubbing and washing the ship, distressed over some intangible adversary that made sleeping difficult.  Conradin was very quiet about learning of Dooku's death, and chose to spend more time with Barriss in the Ru Temple.


Ahsoka spent most of her noon day outside the ship, away from the shouting.  Ventress was having an argument over the com link with Riddick, and though he was patient with her tirade, he was under duress at his location.

"I know you are stuck half way around the planet!  But I NEED you to-"

"-Asajj!  I will be there when I can.  Now is not the time to interrupt me.  We're handling explosives here.  I could use the peace and quiet for a moment!" Riddick tried to reason with her.

"Fine!"  Asajj turned off the link and threw her communicator up against the wall.

Ahsoka could hear her kicking things and throwing anything not bolted down.  Asajj Ventress, once a feared champion of the Sith, was having a lover's quarrel.  She marched outside, making sure Ahsoka and the world shared in her misery.

"Why are all men such scruffy NERF HERDERS!!!!???" She shouted.  She sat in a lawn chair under an umbrella that provided shade from the calm sun.

Ahsoka did not answer right away.  Usually, when Asajj was having these now frequent tantrums, Ahsoka just let the woman talk.  Talk and eat.

Ahsoka ate some food from her backpack and prepared to go off to meet the Hippocrenes.  "I wish I could help you, Asajj.  I've never seen you like this before."

Ventress was eating an icy flavored treat from a small bucket shaped container.  She looked down at her food, deep in thought.

"I'm scared, Ahsoka.  I don't think things will get better."

"What do you mean?" Ahsoka looked at her with concern.

Ventress sighed "Riddick and I need to sort some things out.  I've never thought of either of us as....what's the word?  Domestic?"

"What are you afraid of?  You killed a Monster God of the Dead and helped defeat a whole Separatist fleet.  You saved half of Coruscant from getting blown to pieces.  What's so bad about being domestic?"

"Because it's not who I am!  I don't know how to be a....I don't know HOW  to be a..."

"Look, I have to get going.  Riddick said he would return, okay?  Just relax!"

Ahsoka ran over to her new friend, The flying Hippocrene, Bucephalus.  The took off into the sky, Ahsoka excited by life on Skye.  She did not let Ventress finish her thoughts.  Asajj sat and stared out at the city in the distance and sighed.

Ahsoka flew around and screamed with excitement.  Bucephalus raced quickly, beating his wings and soaring, diving, and landing near the rest of his peaceful herd.

"That was amazing!!" Ahsoka jumped off and hugged Bucephalus.  The animal, more intelligent than previously thought of by the inhabitants of Skye, smiled in his own way and hopped a little with happiness.

"You really are wonderful.  I'm...I'm glad you let me ride on you....I mean, it must not be easy being treated the way your people have been treated.  But I hope to change that."

Bucephalus rubbed his face against hers and licked her playfully.

Lux ran up to her with a smile "Hey, you want to eat at the winery again?"

Ahsoka pulled out a bottle from her backpack.  "I'm three steps ahead of you!" She grinned.

Ahsoka and Lux hopped onto Bucephalus and they flew to a nice hill overlooking the winery.  The facility was rather quaint, like a huge villa with a warehouse where all the machinery and processing was held.  It was rather a nice looking farmstead structure in the middle of vast vines that grew the berries used to make the wine.

Ahsoka and Lux sat on wicker chairs and held their picnic on an elegant table, set up by the owner of the winery for such occasions, for employees to enjoy the splendor of the fields and the sun basking down on the beauty of Skye.

It was certainly a pleasant contrast to Beaudicca's harsher environment.

They drank a little wine and ate some toasted bread.  Ahsoka also brought a bowl of fruit.

"It's a gorgeous sunset" Lux smiled "Conradin and Barriss should try enjoying this." He chewed on a soft green star shaped fruit.

Ahsoka sipped her wine and smiled "Barriss and I have enjoyed many sunsets.  I think she has finally found peace while meditating with the Ru in their underground Temple."

Lux grinned "I think Conradin is enjoying meditating in the Ru temple also."

Ahsoka watched him pour a glass, and thought about the notion that Conradin was at the Temple probably for other reasons.  "I'm sure he has more than meditation on his mind.  I just wonder if Barriss notices it at all."

"I'm sure she will notice, just as I'm sure you have noticed also."

"What ever are you talking about?" Ahsoka held his hand and gave him an ironic smile.  They stared at eaxch other for a while.  Lux's heart raced a little at them being alone on a gorgeous day for a picnic.

Thoughts of intimacy danced in Lux's brain as he dreamed of all the possibilities of the next few days, weeks and months with Ahsoka free of any stifling Jedi duties, but he also knew that discretion was the better part of valor, and he was concerned about other things.

"It's time we headed home, I think" Ahsoka looked at the evening sky.  

There were still dangers even on such a tranquil planet.

Lux nodded "There was a second killing in Farhimmel last night.  A doctor, on his way home from work.  The first victim was a nurse.  The authorities suspect a serial killer who is targeting healers.  Why, I don't know, but I think you should head back to the ship."

Ahsoka gathered up their picnic stuff and put it in her backpack "Thanks for the nice evening." She gave him a small kiss on the cheek before they hopped up on Bucephalus to return home.

"I just want you to be safe.  Farhimmel is still....unpredictable."

"I know" Ahsoka held one hand to Lux's and the other to the reigns on Bucephalus.

Lux returned to his apartment that night, while Ahsoka boarded her ship and smiled at a grumpy Asajj Ventress.

"Has Barriss come home yet?"

"No.  She's still out with the Ru.  She's better off staying at their Temple." Ventress went to secure the ship, and activated a security measure that scanned the perimeter around the ship.  "Ever since the second killing, I'm not taking any chances.  We'll meet her for breakfast in the morning."


Barriss and Conradin meditated in the glowing underground structure of the Ru Temple, surrounded by flower gardens and glowing crystals of many colors. The Ru had their own living complexes carved out of the dirt and stone, an underground society, safe from poachers and hunters, though they were always in danger, given that they were considered rodents by the people in Farhimmel.

Conradin would meditate next to Barriss, but would peek an eye open every so often, just to watch her.

Conradin's feelings for Barriss, simply put, was the worst kept secret in the galaxy.  Barriss was very fond of him as well, but it was a long road for them to walk before they could be as freely expressive as Lux and Ahsoka, and miles before Barriss could ever contemplate the kind of "liberated explorations" conducted by Asajj and Riddick.

For now, they were content with their situation, though Conradin's more vivid imagination would dwell on Dooku's death, and on how he and Barriss  might progress together in the future.  Maybe Barriss thought of their future intimacies as well, though she was quite patient about not expressing such things.  Even after all they had been through, she was not ready for these new feelings and struggled to maintain peace in the Force.

Tonight, that peace would not last.  There had been a series of killings in Farhimmel.  Healers being brutally murdered in the cold streets of the vast city.

Conradin enjoyed being in her presence, he was particularly concerned for her, though Barriss had proven in the past she was capable of defending herself in any confrontation.

They were physically safe in the Ru Temple, far from the city.....but her meditations sensed a disturbance in the Force, a horrible vision of an event happening in that moment.

Barriss snapped out of her peaceful trance with a shudder and a gasp.  She had seen the face of death as it claimed a third victim in Farhimmel.  Hearing about the deaths seemed such a distant thing.  The Force had made Barriss witness an act of terror up close, a killing so terrifying she screamed.

Even more chilling, the thing that had killed its third victim could sense her as well in that moment when the Force connected them.

Conradin woke from his meditation and held her, trying to calm her down.  

His lazy discipline had not allowed him to see what she saw.  He would certainly go pale if he did.

Barriss calmed down, but was in shock.  She had witnessed a murder.  More importantly, and more terrifying, the thing knew who she was, and it would going hunting again soon.