Claiming a Tower

**CLAIMING A TOWER**

***Part one: the abandoned tower***

Location; Prakith

The Nebuchadnezzar broke into orbit of the mountainous deep core world. This isolated world was once the home of Darth Andeddu, a dark lord that she had studied during her apprenticeship. She was fascinated by the history of this world and always wanted to vist and explore it. But this wasn’t a visit, the newly knighted Iktotchi had other plans. She was determined to find place to settle down, a home.

Slowly knight Bathori lowered the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle through the thick layer of clouds. As she glided the shuttle over the mountain tops she heard Khara playing in the back with Floki, the Kiros bird. In archives on Korriban she had found records of an old watch tower deep in the mountains of Prakith. Isolated and fortified, a perfect place for them to settle. She knew that the mountains would do Khara good, Korriban was to warm for the both of them.

“We are reaching the coordinates master" K-0R9 said sitting next to her in the co pilot’s seat. “Let’s hope that tower is still there" Ammit replied with  a faint smile. Realizing It would be quite funny if she had come all this way , after packing everything from her quarters on Korriban, to find the tower no longer existed. She slowed the Nebuchadnezzar down and gazed through the window. The Prak sun stood low on the horizon, a fog covered most of the mountain tops, like a thick blanket. Then suddenly she noticed something sticking out of the fog “over there" she said and turned the shuttle. Slowly as they moved closer the shape a big tower became more clear, a desolate place. “could we land here, Korg?” she asked the droid. “The ground is unstable Master, and with the fog it would be a risk to try land here.” K-0R9 replied as she checked the sensors. “there is a stable plateau on the other side of the mountain, we could land the ship there.” He then suggested.

Moments later, with the Nebuchadnezzar safely  on the plateau, Ammit walked down the ramp. She coule see a snow covered path that led up the mountain, it seemed to be the only way to reach the tower. “might I suggest I come with you Master. It might be dangerous.” The droid ssid behind her. The Iktotchi turned around “I’ll be fine, stay with Khara.” “yes Master. Take the bird with you, he could be useful” K-0R9 suggested as she stepped into the snow. Immediately she heard the fluttering sound of the purple little bird. “very well, come Floki.. let’s have a look at that tower.”

It was silent, only the fluttering of Floki's wings and the snow crunching under her boots was to be heard. The path led her to the entrance of a tunnel, with a beautiful manmade archway. Ammit couldn’t sense any presence, but still she clasped her hand firmly on the hilt of Serapis, the golden Khopesh Darth Skyllan had gifted her on her graduation. Floki landed on her shoulder wrapping his tale around her “Its ok little one, there is no one there.” She said as she grabbed her lightsaber and switched it on to give her some light.

Knight Bathori knew Prakith was a volcanic world, as soon as she stepped into the tunnel she felt a change of temperature, the stone carved walls felt warm to the touch. With the little purple bird on her shoulder Ammit continued her way through the curved tunnel, the glow or her lightsaber made the walls look purple. It took only a few minutes before she saw the light of the other side. The cold wind blew in her face as she came closer, Floki instantly flapped his wings and flew to the exit before her. Switching her lightsaber off she stepped outside into the crunchy snow again. The path continued along the cliff, the golden horned Iktotchi was now able to see the tower.

Excited she quickly continued the path, Floki flew next to her as she made her way through the snow. “Wow, it's much bigger then I thought” Ammit said as she approached the foot of the tower.

The snow covered the entrance, she grabbed her lightsaber once more and used it to melt the snow, revealing an old heavy door. With both hands placed on the door, she pushed against it, using telekinesis to give her more strength. Slowly with a loud grinding sound the door swung open. “Come Floki” she said as she tapped on her shoulder and immediately he landed on the spot.

Again with her lightsaber as her source of light she stepped inside. It was large circular space with a stone stairs that spiralled up against the curved walls. At the centre she found a trapdoor, when she knelt down and opened it to peek inside, it revealed what looked like a dungeon. “This could be useful” she mumbled as she closed the door again. “I know a few people I might throw in there” she continued as she rose to her feet. Ammit made her way to the top of the tower, exploring all the empty rooms, imagining what she could do with such a space.

By the time she reached the roof the fog had completely disappeared. Looking down through the battlements she could now clearly see the location. She could see the tunnel she came through but she could also see a place where the Nebuchadnezzar could land, closer to the tower..

Ammit smiled, “Home” she said with much determination. The Iktotchi Knight knew she still had much work to do to, but for the first time in her life she found a real home..

**~\*~ ~\*~ ~\*~ ~\*~ ~\*~ ~\*~**

***Part 2: Home sweet home:***

A chilling evening breeze brushed her face as she was meditating. The Iktotchi Knight was sitting cross legged on the roof of Bathori Tower, that was how she decided to call her new home. When she heard the swooshing sound of wings and the laughter of a little girl Ammit opened her eyes and looked up. Khara circled above the tower with Floki. The teal S’kytri girl had grown much and it seemed she felt happy in the cold mountains of Prakith.“enough flying for today, time to go inside" she said as she rose to her feet.

~ Ammit had been busy the past month, the tower needed much work. Being abandoned for a long time left it looking quite a mess. She had been to Prak city to hire droids to help her cleaning and fixing the tower up. It took them very long before they were done. ~

Climbing down the ladder she heard Khara land behind her. “you did well Khara, you are getting better every day" Ammit said as she turned around. Khara smiled at her, and suddenly said “mama." Her eyes grew bigger, not only shocked that Khara spook but also because she said “mama.” The S’kytri girl was one and half, she was better at flying than walking, she mumbled but never really said any words, this was the first. The golden horned Iktotchi never saw herself as her mother, it was obvious she wasn’t, but it never occurred to her that for the girl it was different. A little nervous she laughed and knelt down, “what did you say?” Khara approached with her arms open wide, “mama" she repeated and wrapped her arms around Ammit's neck. Ammit smiled, only thinking that moving to Prakith have been good decision.  “Let’s go inside sweetheart.” She said as Khara let go. “Are you hungry?” Khara smiled again “mamam". “I take that as a yes, come let’s go down.” They stepped through the door.

~ Ammit had turned the small room at the top of the tower into a meditation room. She had kept it simple, for meditation she didn’t need much. Just a couple of round pillows on the wooden floor.. an incense burner, scented candles and a tall dark mirror that stood against the wall.~

Ammit opened the trapdoor “come khara". The girl wasn’t able to climb the ladder and the opening in the floor was to narrow for her to spread her wings. Therefore the Knight grabbed Khara's arms and lowered her through the opening, now she could spread her wings and land on the floor below. Floki followed immediately, then it was the Iktotchi’s turn to climb down.

~ This floor used to be one big circular room but Ammit had walls inserted to divide the large open space into two rooms and a small hallway. On the right was Ammit’s bedroom, and on the left of the hallway she created a large study with all her books and a place to experiment with blood magic and alchemy. ~

Khara walked in front of her down the hallway to the big stone stairs while Floki landed on Ammit’s shoulder and wrapped his tail behind her back. The stairs circled down against the curved walls of the tower.

~ again Ammit had walls inserted to divide the large round space. Khara’s room, big enough for her to grow. A guest room for anyone who wished to visit, although the Iktotchi didn’t have many friends in the Empire. There was also a bathroom installed on this floor as she wasn’t keen on using an out house ~

The stairs continued spiralling down to the large living area. Floki flapped his wings and joined Khara.

~ This was the biggest space in the tower, no walls to divide it, it was all open. A sitting area, dining area and an open kitchen. Spacious enough for when Khara would be bigger, Ammit knew the little girl would eventually grow into a giant, like the girl’s brother: Darth Skyllan .~

As she stepped into the kitchen to prepare something to eat, she watched them playing. She felt happy but there was still someone missing, her son. Her Master had forbade her to go look for her boy, it was the reason she hated him. But now she was no longer an Apprentice, that chain was finally broken. Finally she could start her search to make her family complete.....

**~ End ~**