The Search

~\*{ THE SEARCH: part one }\*~

CLOSED-ONESHOT

Location: Coronet city, Correlia

Ic: Knight Bathori

~\*~

Its had been more then ten years since she last came to Correlia, Valmir had made sure of that. Although at the time Ammit didn’t understand why he never took her there. They had many contacts at the capital but he always made sure she was busy so he could meet them alone.

Now she knew why, now she remembered. Her son lived there, and Valmir did not want her to remember him. Now after all those years she was back, even her Master could no longer stop her from going. Darth Skyllan had warned her that her boy maybe didn’t even want her, but still she had to find him. She wanted him to know the truth, the truth that she wanted to keep him, that it never was her choice to leave him like that.

\*

The ramp of the Nebuchadnezzar lowered, Ammit grabbed her cloak and put it on. “Master Bathori, I insist that I come along" the KX-SERIES security droid said as he watched her get ready. “no Korg, you stay here, make sure no one will try to take the ship.” The Iktotchi replied as she checked her belt. “There's a lot of criminal activity in this city.” K-0R9 insisted. Ammit chuckled, “I know. I was one of those criminals once.. I'll be fine.” She walked down the ramp and towards the exit of the spaceport.

She had used the resources of the Empire to track down the woman who helped her during birth. It was a Corellian names Nerys, the wife of one of Valmir’s associates. The woman still lived at the same location, above the pawnshop of her Twi’lek husband. Ammit remembered that back in the day Valmir used the pawnshop to fence off any stolen goods, she wondered if he still used that shop.

Using the Coronet junction, Ammit travelled through the city and make her way to the blue sector. It was considered the most dangerous part of the city, filled with cantinas, casinos, brothels, flophouses, tattoo parlours, pawnshops and Fences. And on the outskirts of this sector you’d find ‘The Pit', a large junkyard that according to the rumours wasn’t only used to dispose of scrap metal and trash. But the golden horned Iktotchi wasn’t afraid, she wasn’t even worried because she was a Sith.

\*

It didn’t take long for her to find the pawnshop, after all this time she still remembered her way through the blue sector. As she stood in front of the shop and gazed through the windows she remembered former master’s words

~”You can't go and become a mother for this child, not really. All you can do is take him away from the mother he knows.... If you chose to uproot this poor child's life. Will you be actually happy? If he wakes up from a nightmare calling for his mother but you aren't the one he means, will you be able to live with that? Because that may well break you far more than remembering this repressed memory ever did”~

The S’kytri's voice echoed through her mind, even remembering their conversation was painful but she knew there was truth in his words, her son might not want her. Still she was determined to find him and speak to him.

The Knight walked through the door into the shop, not much had changed, it still looked shady but with some upgrades here and there. She walked to the counter and rang the bell. “I’ll be with you in a moment” she heard a female voice say from the backroom.

While she waited she looked into the display cases and walked around the shop to see what they had to offer. A set of Sai daggers caught her attention, she was intrigued by the three pointed blades. “beautiful aren’t they?” a voice next to her said. Ammit quickly turned towards the voice and saw immediately it was Nerys. She hadn’t changed much part from gotten a little older. “yes, they are beautiful” Ammit said and she took the hood of her horned head. From the surprised reaction, Ammit could sense the woman recognized her. “It’s been a long time Nerys” the Iktotchi said as she locked eyes with the Corellian. With a nervous smile she said “it has been....what... what brings you here?” “you know why I am here...Where is he?” Ammit asked as she tried to use her senses to feel if the boy was near. “he is not here” Nerys replied as she stepped away,  looking a little frightened. “Where is he?” the Knight asked with a threatening tone. “Álbjørn took him a year ago.” “What! why?” just hearing his name made her blood boil, the man who forced her to give her son up had now taken him. “Álbjørn said he would train Kas’Sparr, like he did with you.” Nerys responded honestly.

Ammit couldn’t believe what she heard but it suddenly all made sense. When she was eleven, Álbjørn had taken her in and trained her. Her force abilities were useful for him, but when she became to powerful for him to control he had to let her go. When she asked to join the Sith he allowed her because he already had someone to fill her place. Her son was now the same age as she was when he had taken her in, the boy most likely was force sensitive like her.

Filled with rage Ammit looked af Nerys “you let him take my son!” the Correlian looked frightened and confused “take him? Kas’sparr wanted to go with him. Àlbjörn has been like family to him, you never came back.” The ground started to shake, the glass of the display cases trembled as the Sith let out a scream “AAAAhggg, family!!?” she felt betrayed by the man who had raised her, who she had trusted her entire life.  “Yes family. You abandoned him, I raised him, he is my son! why you care now?” tears started to form in the woman’s eyes. Ammit growled at her, “I never wanted to leave my son. It was Valmir who forced me to!!” Nerys shook her head in disbelief “no, that can’t be true. Àlbjörn has been very good to us. Kas’Sparr loves him.” “Nooo!!!” The glass of the display cases shattered as she yelled in anger. “he is a traitor!! He used me for my power.. and now he will use MY son as well!!” she continued as the glass rained down on them. Nerys covered her face, protecting it from the shards “what are you going to do?” “I am going to get my son back... and you are going to help me” filled with rage Ammit hold her hand up, using the force to grab Nerys by the neck, choking her. “please.. A.. Ammit. I helped you..  I raised Kas’Sparr. Please" she begged. “how can I find Valmir?” the Iktotchi asked as she stepped closer, looking her straight in her frightened eyes. She struggled as her throat was squeezed “Please. I.. they...”, Ammit was overwhelmed by her anger, she didn’t care about the woman, all she wanted was Valmir. “well?? Where are they?” “they.. they went to.. Dar...Darvannis.. please... let go...” her voice weakened. Ammit wasn’t satisfied with the answer “where on Darvannis? How will I find them?” “ruins...Oasisss..ci..” her body went limp. For a moment the Iktotchi just stared at the lifeless body, slowly her rage faded and she realized what she had done. Nerys’ body dropped to the floor as Ammit let go.

As quick as she could Ammit rushed out of the shop, before anyone would see what happened. Pulling the hood back up to cover her golden horns she made her way back to the station. This visit didn’t go as planned she thought as she stepped aboard of the rocket tram. She never meant to hurt Nerys, no matter what she had said it wasn’t the Correlian woman’s fault. But Ammit was overwhelmed by the anger, the feeling of betrayal by the man who had been a father to her, who she had been loyal to for two decades. As the train started to move and she sat down, the Knight noticed she was holding something. The Sai daggers from the pawnshop although she didn’t remember taking them. She covered them with her cloak and tried to focus on her mission to Darvannis.

\*

Throwing the cloak off she made her way to the cockpit. “Master how did it go?? Where is your son?” K-0R9 asked as he followed her. “he wasn’t here Korg. We will have to go to Oasis city on Darvannis.” She responded as she sat down. “Darvannis Master? That is in Hutt space.” “I know. But I have to find my son before it is to late...”

~\*{ THE SEARCH: part 2 }\*~

Location: Darvannis.

~\*~

The Nebuchadnezzar entered Calaron sector, the black lambda t4a shuttle was on it’s way to the remote desert world: Darvannis. Deep in Hutt space, not often visited by outsiders, a perfect place for black markets.

Before Ammit killed her in her rage, Nerys told her that Àlbjörn Valmir had taken her son to this world. He was to be trained to become his new partner in crime like she used to be.

“you will have to go to manual to pass the asteroid field Master” K-0R9 said as he checked the sensors. “yes you are right” Ammit said and switched to manual. Carefully she started to navigate through the field, her new shuttle moved swiftly past all the  asteroids then she entered orbit and made her descent. “Nerys mentioned ruins” she told the droid as she slowly lowered the shuttle. “we are approaching Oasis city Master. There are some ruins east of the city.” Ammit smiled as she heard K-0R9 talk “than that it were we will start” and she steered the shuttle eastward to the city outskirts. “check if there are any ships nearby, Valmir must have landed his somewhere out of sight.” She ordered the droid as she found a spot for her to land the Nebuchadnezzar. K-0R9 checked “There is a VCX-100 freighter further to the east.” “Correlian, that is Valmir” Ammit said with certainty

\*

With her lightsaber and serapis clasped on her belt Ammit walked to the exit. The security droid followed her but before he could say anything she said “yes, you will come with me. Take a blaster rifle.” “yes Master, I am glad you take me along.” The droid said as he grabbed a weapon from the locker.

Together they exited the shuttle and made their way further eastwards. It was night time but the moon gave enough light for them to make their way through sand dunes. It was cold and yet the wind felt pleasant as it blew her hair out of her face. “The freighter is located behind the next dune” K-0R9 suddenly said. “not so loud you fool" Ammit snarled at him, she didn’t want Valmir to be alerted that she was coming for him. “sorry Master” the droid said softer this time. Her feet kept sinking in the sand as they climbed to the top of the dune, it was exhausting. At the top they stopped for a moment “can you see anything out of the ordinary?” She asked the droid. The droid scanned the freighter and its surroundings with his optical sensors “no Master. It’s all clear.” The i Iktotchi nodded “ok, let’s see if I can see something” she said as she closed her eyes and reached out with the force to sense if they were there, but the ship was unmanned. “They are not there” she sighed as she opened her eyes and then continued “let’s have a closer look, maybe we can figure out where they went" “yes Master.” Carefully they walked down the dune, their feet kept sliding as the sand was pushed aside by their weight.

K-0R9 managed to unlock the hatch and they entered the freighter. “he did well for himself.” She mumbled as she entered. It was a different, a more new ship then when she was still his partner. Bigger for sure. Immediately she went to the cockpit, this was the place Valmir preferred to discuss their missions.

Ammit sat down on the pilot’s chair, and placed both hands on the controls. As the security droid watched she closed her eyes and used the force to see the past.

~ in the darkness of her closed eyes the cockpit started to materialize again, and she heard a familiar voice. “are you excited Kas’sparr?” Valmir asked, “yes I am looking forward to explore the ruins on Darvannis.” a blue skinned Iktotchi boy replied from the co-pilot's seat. “good.” The Corellian chuckled “now tell me again what we will do exactly?” he asked. “we will go east of Oasis city, and search the ruins nearby to retrieve a weapon stash that our employer hid there.” The boy replied with a twinkle in his red Chiss eyes. “very good my boy. And maybe we will find anything else interesting down there.” Valmir’s voice started to fade as Ammit returned back to the present  ~

Ammit took a moment to compose herself, it was the first time she saw her son and he reminded her a lot of his Chiss father. He had the same blue skin, dark hair and red eyes, but the boy had her oddly curved horns, his seemed to be even more curved then hers. “Are you alright Master?” K-0R9 asked. “yes Korg, they are in the ruins. Searching for a weapon stash.” The Iktotchi replied as she got up.

Moments later they entered the ruins nearby, it looked like an old fortress that had several underground tunnels. It was silent, only their footsteps could be heard as they walked through the dark crumbling tunnels. Ammit walks upfront using the force to guide her as she could sense Valmir and the boy within the tunnels. A part of her felt a little nervous to meet her son, she wondered how he would react to her, if he would be afraid of her. Another part was anxious to confront Valmir, she felt the anger smouldering within herself.

“Over there" Ammit pointed towards a light that was cast on the old walls. It was the glow of a fire burning inside a room. “I will go in alone, you wait here and make sure no one is leaving without my permission” She told the droid. “yes masters" it replied as it readied its weapon. As silently as she could Ammit walked towards the room, she felt her heart pounding in her chest. The boy was asleep, the Iktotchi had sensed that, but Valmir was still awake sitting at the fire cleaning his weapons like he used to do.

“Hello Àlbjörn” she said as she entered the room, startled the Corellian looked up. He reached for his weapons but with a flick of her hand, Ammit telekineticly pulled them away. “well.. that is not a nice way to greet a friend" she chuckled as she approached. “Ammit.. how.. why??” the old man stuttered as he rose to his feet. “I think you know why” she said as she nodded to the sleeping boy  “As to how? Nerys told me... before I killed her" Ammit said and watched how he looked at her in shock and then continued talking “I wasn’t planning on killing her, but when she told me you took my son I got angry.” A grin appeared on Valmir’s face “He begged me to take him, like you begged me once.” Using the force the grabbed him by the throat “it is unwise to make me more angry, although your fate is already sealed.” she said as she lifted him up.

As he struggled in her grip the boy started to wake, first he must have thought it was a dream because he didn’t react to seeing his mentor being lifted in the air. But then he jumped up and shot a beam of lightning at Ammit. But the Knight was more fast and stronger she lifted her defence and the lighting bounced off. Her fiery eyes locked on him “don’t be foolish boy” she said still holding Valmir in her grip. “Let go of my uncle!” The horned Chiss yelled at her. “your uncle?” she threw Valmir against the wall. “that is not your uncle" she said as she looked at the boy, meanwhile the Corellian pulled himself up, gasping for air. “that man is a monster!” Ammit growled. The boy looked confused, in his eyes she was the monster that attacked them. “what do you want?!” he asked as he stood with his back against the cracked wall. “you, I want you.” She replied, still keeping her eye on Valmir . “Me? Why? Who are you?” “I am your mother.” It felt strange to say those words but she had waited so long to say them.

In the corner of her eye she saw how Valmir reached for a hidden dagger, immediately she  used telekinesis to pull his hand away from the dagger, twisting it so hard that his arm dislocated. “Kas’sparr run!” he yelled. Ammit knew the boy wouldn’t be able to get far as K-0R9 was waiting in the tunnel. She let him run as she approached the old man who had dropped to his knees in pain. She kneeled down before him and looked him the eyes. “I used to worship you, you were my hero, you saved me and became the father I never had.” She whispered. “Ammit, please... I always wanted what was best for you.” “Wrong!! You only want what is best for you. You used me for my abilities and now you use my boy for his.” She snarled at him. The old man shook his head “no. That is not true. I am sorry for what I made you do. I believed it was the right thing, you were still so young.” His eyes started to become watery. “you were wrong.” She said as she got up. “I’m sorry Ammit. Please..” “From the moment you forced me to give my son up, a darkness has grown within me … until I no longer recognize the woman I have become... You must think I am monster”. She looked down at him, his eyes glistened “No. I believe there still good inside you.” “You really think so?” she asked as she circled him.  He nodded “yes, I believe so. I know you would do the right thing.” His voiced sounded hopeful like he really believed he had a chance to stay alive. But as she stood behind him she pulled the garrotte wire out of her bracer and wrapped it around his neck. He struggled and she whispered in his ear “I dwell in darkness, sir, and darkness is where I belong.” it didn’t take long for the old man to die. It was ironic, he was killed with the golden bracer he had gifted her all those years ago.

\*

Using telekinesis she lifted the lifeless body off the ground, it floated behind her as she walked out of the room. In the tunnel she found K-0R9 holding  her son. As soon as the boy saw the body he screamed “why!!! Why did you kill him?!” she could feel his hatred towards her, a part of her was sad but she knew this hatred could help him become a powerful Sith “one day I will tell you what really happened. But for now we will focus on your training.” The boy continued to scream and struggle but the droid didn’t budge.

Back on the Nebuchadnezzar Ammit gave the boy a sedative to make him sleep while she drained the body of Valmir of his blood. She would be able to put it to good use as she was planning to learn Alchemy. After she was done she put the rest of his remains in cold storage. Now it was time to go home, back to Prakith. There the real struggles would start.