The Execution of Darth Skyllan

{THE DEATH OF DARTH SKYLLAN}

( \*161 ABY) set 5 years after The Punishment of Ammit Bathori and The Sleeper Amelia West

// Aboard the Harpy Battle Cruiser ”The Harpy”, Wild Space //

The Commander of The Harpy stands wide legged on the main bridge. Surveying the Battle Cruisers main viewport at the surrounding area she takes in a deep calming breath, her 5 year long mission now finally within her grasp.

They had only just finished ’dealing’ with an outpost of pirates they had followed into Wild space on a tip that several defecting Sith we're running a smuggling operation out here. The pirate starport or more what remained of it was now thousands of kilometers behind them but they had found no defectors, no high valued loot.. Just bodies and carnage. The Harpy though..was starting to show signs of battle fatigue as was it's now heavily reduced crew. Without the funding of the Duumvirate backing them they were forced to survive on what funds Darth Skyllan provided.. Which wasn't much. She had served them well, too well. Winning multiple battles, undermanned and outgunned. Using only her witts, skill and aggression on the field.

The black void of space was still now, silent, but Amelia West was always vigilant. Since the Civil war she had been on constant high alert. Her ships’ Master Darth Skyllan was still a devout follower of the God Emperor, and despite the disappearance of Emperor Dreadwar several years ago they still remained in active duty hunting down known and rumoured rebels and deserters. She had risked life and limb countless times for this ship and it's crew, and they were one of the few still known active ’Dread Hunters’ left in the Galaxy.

An intense light flashes on the control board in front of her and Commander West presses the holo-comlink. ”Hail Master Skyllan” she says, bowing her head. ”Status report Commander West?” says the Dread Master as their holo projection appears on the dash staring at the Commander.. ”The Ships Hull has major turbolaser cannon scoring, the main shields are sitting at just 55 percent efficiency. Several motivators need overhauling and the Ships close proximity thruster system has been knocked out with that last ion cannon volley from the pirate Starbase so we have very limited ability to pilot through anything that gets too close to us.. Such as an asteroid field or ice belt.” ”That, and we are now sitting at less than half crew after that last encounter”. She says looking downwards with a hint of sadness in her voice at reporting the devastating cost of lives over the last years. ”good crew, all of them.”

The Darth yawns and casually waives their hand… ”Spear me the details Commander West.. That's what I bought you for, remember?.” they say arrogantly. She grimaces under her breath and replies..”Yes, Master Skyllan.”

”Remember I DO own you.” The Darth continues, picking up on her frustration that the one they are risking their lives for doesn't actually care about the actual ship or crew, and mislabeling it as disrespecting their own lofty station.. ”You may think that you've done an amazing job with my ship and my crew hunting down weakling traitors, pirates and runaways but trust me when I tell you this. You will get only the praise I choose to send your way, I will get all the plaudits because it's MY ship and My right as a Dread Lord, where you.. YOU are simply nothing, little better than a droid or autopilot. Your life is forfeit to me as is the rest of the crew aboard MY ship. And I will end it and purchase another if I so wish..” he finishes.. Looking smug. ”And with this damage you subjected The Harpy to you'll need to impress me much more, and also remember your decorum if you wish to have any kind of promotion when the Emperor returns and the loyal devout are rewarded.” ”My Apologies Master Skyllan”.. I forgot my place. This war has been taxing.” Commander West replies straightening up.

”Well count yourself lucky Nightsister Zara is no longer with us, or she'd have your head Commander…” They pause again as if in thought, possibly remembering how their trusted companion had died in a dogfight piloting Maalik's Grace, their Kazellis-Class Light Freighter during an assault mission on rebelling Sith forces several years ago.

”So I'll ask again, Commander West. Status report, and this time only the information that actually concerns me..” ”Yes Master Skyllan” she replies, knowing exactly what they meant.

”We will be jumping into hyperspace on our way to Zoist next to try and repair and restock what we are able.” she says.. hyperspace ETA approximately 30 standard mins.

”Excellent, while we are there I'll be able to meet up with some actual higher ranking Sith again, I can't wait to actually have some quality conversation for once.” Darth Skyllan replies looking down his nose at the Commander. ”Please inform any crew on my personal deck that I’ll be in my private lounge and not to disturb me before we make the jump.” he pauses for a moment before adding, ”Oh and send up that service cyborg we hired a month ago, I need a drink and some Thyssel bark to relax me after all this Pirate killing. Try not to blow up the ship in the meantime.”

”Yes my lord, at once.” she says. Darth Skyllan smiles in the holo projection, they love when they are referred to as Lord. Even though it wasn't the true term for their station, they seldom corrected it.

”One level higher Commander West.” they say, smiling and killing the link.

Amelia smiles and pulls out her own personal comlink setting the frequency to the secret one she had been using to communicate to the new employee.  Putting her personal comlink to her ear she makes the call to the service Cyborg... “Nova…., prepare for Master Skyllans immediate arrival. You have your orders just like we planned. I’ll inform the others and be there shortly”. ~End transmission.

13 hours later.. // The Colonies / Batorine System / Batorine //

~ It's the middle of the night and a single small transport shuttle descends to the Forest planet with Amelia West, the Cyborrian Nova, Darth Skyllans pet KathHound Kronus, and a drugged up, heavily sedated Darth Skyllan as well as there remaining personal effects.

The staff they carried ”The Skybound Sceptre”, which was an alchemized Staff/Spear and personal darkside nexus made from the slaughtering of their clan. All except Skyllans sister (now Mab and Terrogates adopted daughter) Khara and of course Mab herself. A pair of golden bladed lightsabers they had taken from the Jedi Kemuel. An Attuned Dantari Crystal (see Meetra Surik Crystal) and a Dathomirian Talisman of Transformation, ”Dragonsnake”.

The shuttle descends down into the mists of the forest and lands gently on the landing pad opposite the Bathori villa where Knight Terrogate, the 4 meter tall, 4 Tonne custom security droid resembling a silverback Gorilla SH3-1LA, the Echani housecarl Jovian & KOR9 meet them.

”Welcome Amelia” says Terrogate with a wide smile as the transports unloading ramp lowers down and touches the landing platform's black granite floor, revealing the three occupants and the KathHound.

Amelia approaches Terrogate with the Darths' belongings as Jovian and K0R9 move into the ship to help Nova remove the unconscious winged Darth.

Terrogate steps forwards and hugs Amelia as Kronus runs past them and starts growling at the jet black Gorilla shaped droid Sheila, her glowing robotic blue eyes now staring down at the Kathhound with interest. Terrogate had waited nearly 5 years for her to finally make contact with him, with an opportunity to set things right. It was an uncomfortable moment at first, but then she relaxes, drops the bag containing the Darths belongings to the ground and hugs him back. ”You're welcome” She says smiling.

”I am forever in your debt Amelia West” says the Cathar,  ”Thank you for living up to your word” he releases the Commander and takes a step back wiping a tear from his eye.

”As discussed” he says, picking up the bag containing Darth Skyllans belongings and taking the Scepter from her. ”As payment for delivering Skyllan and the his staff” he continues looking up to the shadowy outline of the Battle Cruiser, ”The Harpy Battlecruiser is now your own personal starship, along with any funds, ships or other personal belongings the Darth may have left aboard that you could sell or use to help support your ventures”

Korg, Jovian & Nova emerge from the shuttle carrying the unconscious Skyllan with his Peg Leg and wings dragging along the ground, they pull him next to where Terrogate and Amelia we're standing.

”And thank you too Nova for accepting to help us in this dangerous mission on short notice.” Terrogate says to Darth Bathors Cyborrian head of security. ”I assure you that Sheila and Korg have been doing a good job as the family's primary security detail in your absence”.

Nova looks at Terrogate without smiling, her cybernetic eyes glowing blue in the darkness of the Batorine night. ”Of course Master Terrogate, the security of Mistress Bathori is my primary directive. This threat to her was too dangerous not to be nullified once given a clear chance to do so. Additionally, the target has Thyssel bark in it's system as well as the Tranqaret I mixed into its drink, then subsequent Tranqaret injected into it to maintain its sedated state.” Thank you Nova, you've done very well. Please move the Darth to his private quarters in the Dungeon”. He then looks to the Echani, Jovian please go to the armoury in the training room and bring back no less than 3 shots of Senflax tranquiliser. We wouldn't want the all powerful Darth to suddenly regain his strength.” ”Yes Master Terrogate”... Terrogate sighs, he hates when Jovian calls him Master after everything he risked to watch and protect the children while they were sent off into hiding. But he decides not to engage this time and instead nods in approval.

”K0R9 have you managed to repair the stasis capsule on Roar-1?” Terrogate asks the security droid as they begin to drag theDarth towards the house. ”I have Master Terrogate, Yes.” Korg replies. ”Excellent.” Terrogate replies with a smile.

Amelia smiles and extends her hand to shake his. ”Then this is goodbye,” she says.

Terrogate extends his own and shakes hers with his large furry paw ”I might call on you soon with a job if you're interested”? he says with a smile, then releasing her grip he furrows his brow as a thought hits him. ”But are you sure you have the full support of the crew? No one willing to get revenge?” he asks. She giggles at the question ”hhh, don't worry… It stopped being the Great Lord Skyllans ship a long ago..” And with that she turns and walks up the gangway back into the transport shuttle, once boarded she turns around and whistles.

Kronus who was now busy sniffing Sheila and had cocked his leg ready to relieve himself on her, stops instantly and runs up after Ameila onto the shuttle, stopping and sitting loyally next to her. ”Don't forget to call me about that job!” she shouts back to him as she closes the ramp. In a few moments the shuttle leaves the landing pad and takes off back into the sky heading towards The Harpy Battlecruiser still suspended in orbit over the planet.

~\*~

Terrogate, K0R9 and Nova drag Skyllan into the dungeon below the family Villa and hang him in chains from the ceiling in one of the cells. Jovian brings the syntax vials and they inject the first dose so when the Darth wakes, their body will be paralysed for ue, their mind groggy, unable to focus enough to gather the force but they will be conscious of everything, hear everything, and most importantly, they will be able to feel everything about to happen to them.

END 1-SHOT - The RP part of the execution will begin in the comments section

IC - Darth Bathor, Mistress of the Forest & Knight Terrogate, Artifex of Tollere & Kas’sparr Bathori

// several hours later //

Skyllan wakes, they are confused… they try to speak but the only thing they manage are  babbling murmurs, unable to gather their thoughts and their mouth won’t move the way they mean it to. They open their eyes only just managing the feat but can’t see clearly.. The world is nothing but shadows and blurred objects before them. They feel a sting in their neck but cannot move to either stop it or see the cause. They realise their arms are raised and bound. The only thing supporting their large stature from dropping to the floor. Even their wings are unresponsive to any attempt to move them.

“Wakey wakey Lord Skyllan.” says the familiar deep growling voice of Terrogate as he removes the now empty senflax injection from the Darths neck. “What? Don’t you recognise me? Well i don’t blame you I suppose. It’s been a while, what? 5 years now since we had spoken last? Since your visit to my staffing solutions business”... Terrogate pauses and looks into the Dreadlords eyes as if to savour the moment of realisation. It takes a moment but he Darth’s eyes seem to widen just a fraction and then mumbles, drool running down the side of their mouth as he now recognises who it is that has captured him.

Terrogate places his hand on the Darths cheek.. Pulling his chin up with his index finger so the Darth was now looking groggily but directly into his feline eyes. Terrogate could smell their stinking breath. It smelt of wine and narcotics, the cathar looked deep into the Dreadlords eyes… His expression now, as hard and cold as stone. “Almost six since you fucking killed her..” he said, extracting the claw in his thumb and slowly digging it into the flesh of the Darths cheek sqeezing his thumb in slow and hard, piercing the blue skin of the Darth and drawing blood. Retracting his thumb claw again he lets go of the darths face letting it drop once more, a trickle of blood running down their cheek and Terrogate instantly follows up with a right-handed punch to the Darths face sending his head swinging back and forth with the impact, the crunch of knucks on flesh and cartilage was sickening.

Terrogate turns his back on the Darth smiling. In the small cell was the Darths septer sat, propped up in the corner of the cell and a tray of surgical tools on a medical table next to the door. The Darths' other personal items had been removed and sat on the altar just outside the cell's open door. Jovian, Korg, Nova had been dismissed. The Cathar had waited years to get his revenge on the Darth that had destroyed his life, all but killed his life mate and forced her into a state of insanity so deep, she was forced to kill her old self and be reborn to survive, a change that drove her away from Terrogate for literal year's.

This was not going to be over quickly. And Terrogate would make sure the last thing the Darth sees as the life leaves his eyes, is the Cathar warriors face.

Only two floors up the Iktotchi witch lay asleep in her bed. Peaceful and unaware of what was happening beneath her. Her chest slowly rising and falling to the rhythm  of her breath, her eyes rapidly moving behind her eyelids, she was dreaming...

~ Mab stood at the edge of the terrace on Stav Kesh overlooking the snowy peaks of the Ice giant range. The volcanic landscape of the region reminded her of Prakith. Her eyes fell on the large pyramid below the ancient Je’daii temple. It was one of the Tho Yor, buried under a thick blanket of ice. “the work is almost finished” she said out loud as she turned to her left where Terrogate stood “the Temple of Martial Arts will be restored to its former glory" Mab added with a smile as she looked at her lifemate. “All it needs now is someone to lead it” her eyes shimmered in the bright sunlight as she spoke “I want you to be that leader.” The Cathar looked at her with surprise “Me my love?” The Iktotchi nodded “yes you. Stav Kesh will serve as a home for the protectors of the New Je’daii Order.” She paused, gazing into his eyes “but only if you want it of course.” Terrogate smiled brightly “I’d be honoured” and he took her hand, pulling her close into his warm embrace. Bathori felt happy and snuggled closer to him.

But suddenly something changed, it became dark and cold. Mab looked up and saw that the world around her had changed, Stav Kesh lay in ruins again as the wind started to pick up. “what’s happening?” she asked but Terrogate didn’t reply, he wasn’t even there. The sky was dark and it began to rain, in the distance she heard thunder rolling over the mountains. It rained so hard that she had to shield her face to be able to see. The thunder came closer and began to sound like a thousand booming voices screaming at her in unison. The shivers went down her spine as she looked up into the sky and saw winged shadowy figures descending from the clouds. “Who are you!! What do you want?” she yelled into the storm. She wasn’t able to see who they were but deep inside she already knew. Their voices thundered on, but she couldn’t hear what they said. “What do you want!!!!” Mab screamed at them.

Three of the shadowy figures landed before her and stepped closer. She recognized them at once; Bellaire, Shari and Pallas. “Ammit Mandulis, sorceress of Vahl" the elder Pallas said sharply as he approached her “you failed” he added as he slammed his staff on the ground. The ground shook as the other two slammed the staffs on the ground as well. “you are weaker than I imagined. You have fallen even lower than my son.” He said as he looked down at her. Behind the old S’kytri she heard Bellaire sneer “weak pathetic fledgling.” Trying to ignore the insults she turned to the elder Pallas again “why have you come here?!” But he didn’t answer her “at least my son isn’t afraid to use his power to get what he wants.. we gave you our power and all you do is hide from it.” On that moment Shari stepped forward “you are weak! You don’t deserve any of this! You promised to protect our daughter!” the female S’kytri screamed at her. The Bellaire stepped forward as well “look at yourself, see what that pathetic excuse of a S’kytri did to you” he pointed at her shoulder.

As the rain came down on her she dropped to the ground, overcome by intense pain. Unable to move she heard their booming voices screamed into her mind “you are not worthy to be part of clan Acherjon.” Powered by fear, hate and disgust the other S’kytri joined “Useless, child, fake, liar, idiot, earthbound, whore, fallen, weak, fledgling, pathetic.”

Then she felt them, Skyllan, leaning over her as they hissed into her ear “I taught you better than to embarrass me, 'Knight' Bathori.” An overwhelming fear came over her, she struggled as the memories of that horrible night flooded her mind. She couldn’t bare going through it again “please, let me go" she cried, “please!!!” she screamed and suddenly everything went black, she was pulled into a vortex, away from the S’kytri away from Skyllan ~

Covered in sweat Mab woke up. In the back of her mind she could still hear their whispers "Do you know how irritating it is to see someone I know to be smart, act so. kriffing. dumb?" Trembling she sat up straight, the sheets were kicked off the bed. To her surprise she didn’t find Terrogate next to her, his side of the bed was still cold to the touch. For some reason she still felt Skyllan’s dark presence, it didn’t make sense as it was only a nightmare. But then it struck her, Mab jumped of the bed and ran out of the room. “Terrogate!!” she yelled as she ran down the hall. “Terrogate, he is here! Terrogate!!” the Iktotchi rushed down the stairs and to her surprise she found the door to the basement open.

As quick as she could she went down and followed the voice of the Cathar coming from one of the cells. Mab reached for the door and opened it “Terrogate.. Skyllan is...” and then she saw them, her former master strung up in chains. “Is here....” She froze, their eyes met and then the Iktotchi dropped to the floor. She had fainted..

Terrogate walks over to the table of surgical tools in the corner of the room, scalpels, a bone saw, pliers as well as a small gas blowtorch and some adrenaline shots.

“Oh… I'd almost forgotten” he says with a chuckle as Terrogate moves out of the cell for just a moment and then returns with two large metal buckets, sitting them down next to the tools with a light clang. “Don't want to make too much of a mess while I'm cutting you into little pieces.”

Skyllan mumbled again, though his body was paralysed for the most part and his mind clouded his fiery eyes still showed his desperation to speak. To tell this knight, this low life exactly who he was speaking to, how powerful a Sith he was, how his highly-ranking station demanded total respect, admiration and utter obedience. And how sorry he would make the Cathar.

Smiling Terrogate picks up the scalpel off the table and turns to face the Darth as he hears the babbling mumbles coming from their mouth. “You know oh great and Powerful Lord Skyllan” Terrogate continues as he walks towards the bound S’kytri and begins cutting off their shirt revealing them naked from the waist up “I never could understand a damn thing that came out of your freaking mouth.”

The last of the cut cloth falls to the floor of the cell revealing Skyllans torso. “It all just sounds like lies and dribbled bantha shit.” Terrogate leans in closely.. “That was until I heard the playback from K0R-9… Ohhhh…. I understood your words and your threats perfectly then… My Lord..”

Terrogate then immediately delivered two hard punches one after the other directly into the Darths right and left ribs, the sound of ribs cracking and breaking fills the air as does the creaking of the heavy chains holding up the Darth now swinging with the momentum of the impact. “ I know you take pride in thinking you're a monster…” said Terrogate as he turns and walks back to the tray, placing the scalpel back down.. “But trust me..” he says picking up the gas blowtorch and igniting it..”you will meet a REAL monster tonight.” he turns once more and takes a step forwards towards his prisoner and then…

“Terrogate….Terrogate.” his ears prick up at the voice of his love Mab calling for him and he hears footsteps charging down the stairs... “Skyllan is...” and then she saw them both in the cell. “Is here....” She continued.. then suddenly dropped to the floor. ”Mab!” Terrogate says shutting off the gas torch and walking quickly out the cell door to his fallen love. She had fainted..

Several minutes later Terrogate stands next to Mab as she lies flat on her back on the stone altar, the Darth still bound in chains from the roof and drugged in the cell behind them. “Mab….. Mab…. Can you hear me”?

Fainted the Iktotchi lay on the floor, motionless and unresponsive to Terrogate’s call. Her body went into shock at the sight of the monster that had haunted her dreams the past five years

~ Mab stood in the dark, bare feet on a soft wet ground. Frightened, she gazed around, it was cold and silent. All she heard was her own heartbeat and somewhere in the distance Terrogate’s voice calling out to her. She felt their presence close by and suddenly heard their whispers into her ears "I expected you to break the spirits to your will. Like a sith. Not to be adopted by them." She felt their breath brushing over her ears bringing the shivers down her spine “You always obsessed over seeing the past and future Ammit, perhaps after this you will learn to pay more attention to the present.” They continued. The hairs in the back of neck stood up straight, the fear she felt that horrible night 5 years ago came back to her. All she wanted was to get away from them.

In the distance she still heard Terrogate calling her name, she started running towards it. No matter how hard she tried to get away from them she could still  hear them hissing at her “weak, pathetic little harlot!!” Glancing over her shoulder as she ran she saw their glowing eyes piercing at her from the darkness.  “listen close Ammit, I will find your little boy. I will track him down and bring him here. I will take Khara from you, I will put her in his arms. I will direct my full power at them, and then I will challenge you to stop it." They hissed at her with a vicious chuckle. In the distance she could still hear her lifemate calling for her “Mab... Mab... Can you hear me?” Terrogate called. “What have you done!!!” Mab cried out as she continued to run. With all her mental might she focussed on the Cathar and felt she was pulled up, sucked into a vortex ~

Mab eyes flung open and she let out a bone chilling scream. Slowly she turned her head towards Terrogate, who stood next to her with worry in his eyes. “What have you done?” she asked softly and slowly rose up. Wishing it had been a dream she turned around and looked into the open cell. It wasn’t a dream, her former Master, her tormentor hung in chains from the ceiling. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the ashen gray S’kytri. “What have you done?” she repeated and looked at the Cathar again. “why have you brought it here?”

Mab's face changed, she suddenly looked angry “why did you bring that thing to my home!!” she paused and let herself slide from the altar. Overwhelmed with emotions, sadness, fear, anger, she stood trembling before the Cathar, her golden eyes burning as the tears rolled down her face. “I don’t want that.. that... I don’t want it here” she stuttered as she glanced at the cell containing the dread master Skyllan.

“What have you done? Mab says regaining consciousness. What have you done?!! Why have you brought it here?” she continues, her anger now growing on seeing that the Darth hanging from the ceiling, blood trickling from it's cheek and struggling to breath wasn't a dream at all, indeed he was very real. “why did you bring that thing to my home?!!” she said sliding from the altar, her voice was like a viper spitting its venom as she spoke but down her face began a stream of tears. She was shaking as she spoke to the Cathar, her eyes flicking to the S’kytri in the cell. “I don’t want that.. that... I don’t want it here”

Terrogate steps up to her quickly, standing in front of her and taking her by the shoulders cutting off her view of the cell, “Mab..Mab look at me” he says in a steady voice trying to calm her and get her attention off the Darth and onto his face and his words. “I'm sorry my heart. I should have told you but I knew you wouldn't allow it” he says. I'm sorry, I am but I hope you understand that I needed to try and deal with this nightmare that has plagued our lives. destroyed our lives…” Terrogate then fills Mab on his plan he had implemented over 5 years ago after her punishment. Amelia West, Nova and the Harpy Battlecruiser.

The Cathar was almost pleading with her to understand as he spoke. Pleading with her to try and understand that had no choice, that he needed to find a way to balance the scale, to bring justice to the suffering her former Master and mentor had imposed on them. He had torn their worlds apart, divided them, and he had then threatened their children and left her to die maimed and bloodied... A life for a life. This was the old ways of his people. True Justice for unforgivable crimes such as this. And he would do anything to extract his revenge on this karking Hut'uun now hanging behind him.

“I’ve spent year's Mab, year's watching you be consumed by fear” Terrogate turns sideways so she can now clearly see past him to the Darth heavily sedated and bound, “Fear of the power they have over you. Over threat of them coming back for OUR children Mab.

“Terrogate pauses remembering the nightmares, needing to force his very reason for being into sedation, into madness. He remembers finding Khara crying in her bed, her wings cut off.. Tears well in his eyes. Above all he remembers the loneliness of not having her by his side after she all but killed Ammit and Mab took over. When she had cut off herself from him, how she looked at him like a total stranger. Recoiled at his touch. He still feels sick at the thought of losing her in the force once again.

“I can't live my life in this fear Mab, in the knowledge that he is still out there, bound to you, to Khara...” he looks now directly into her eyes.. “And I can't let you or the kids live like that any longer either.. This MUST end. And it will end… Tonight. With or without your permission.” Terrogate now looks back to the S’kytri Darth..  The anger of the reborn memories now lingering fresh on his mind. He snarls, bearing his large feline teeth in the Darths direction, his eyes piercing and full of fire…

A whirlwind of raw emotions rushed through the Iktotchi’s body, most felt like her own while others like her anger her fury felt like someone else’s. Terrogate stepped In front of her and grabbed her by her shoulders trying to get her attention. Cold to the touch she didn’t respond to him as he spoke.  “I’m sorry my heart" the Cathar continued trying to connect to the woman he loved. “I should have told you but I knew you wouldn't allow it” he said. Her eyes shifted to meet his, burning with her fury the veins in the sclera glowing oddly. The Cathar explained to her about everything, from the moment her former Master came to his shop for a crew till bringing them in. The glow in her eyes faded as she calmed down but even then she still looked angry.

He stepped aside and spoke about the fear she lived with the past years. She pulled herself away from him and stepped back. Quietly, containing herself she listened to Terrogate as he told her he couldn’t live in fear any day Ionger and wouldn’t let her and the children live in fear. “This MUST end. And it will end… Tonight" he told her. Mab was able to feel his anger smoldering inside him. “With or without your permission.”

He looked at the S’kytri and waited for her to respond. He was right, it had to end but somehow she couldn’t do it. Even after everything they had done to her there was a misplaced loyalty, the kind a child has for their parents, unconditional. They had seen potential in her and took her on as their Apprentice, during that time they became like a father for her, the one she never had. And like a loyal child she always tried to make them, ‘her father’, proud. Even when they kicked her through the dirt she was loyal, even when threatened her she remained loyal and even when they took her arm she still felt lloyal.

Something inside her broke, the tears poured down her pale face. “I can’t do this” she cried as she shook her head and stepped away from the Cather. “It took me years to forget, to be able to live.” She turned away and looked into the cell where her Master was strung up, they barely moved but then she noticed the corners of their mouth curling up into a satisfied smug smile. Their eyes pierced at her, slowly giving her a nod of approval. It was obvious they were pleased with her loyalty.

The Iktotchi froze staring at the S’kytri. Then all of a sudden the memory of that night resurfaced and she could hear their whispers in the back of her mind "So first I'm going to check your brain is in fact, still there." And she felt the sharp pain in her shoulder where they impaled their staff to pin her down to the floor.

Mab shook her head and the anger began to rage within her again. Terrogate was right, this had to end, the power they had over her had to be severed. “You are right...” she said out loud for the S’kytri to hear. At once their smile was gone and there was worry in their eyes. Mab turned to the Cathar “but first I need to take what they took from me.”

Terrogate was determined, tonight he would end their ties to his family once and for all. And he hoped she would understand and consent to the kill, to the justice that was long overdue. He had said it didn’t matter but deep down it did. He needed her approval, for her to realise she could be finally free and move on properly. “I can’t do this” she says and steps back from Terrogate. He turns and looks at her, she was crying. “It took me years to forget, to be able to live.” She said looking now past him to her old Master. Terrogate could scarcely believe what he was hearing, after everything she still felt a connection to this pathetic and pompous piece of garbage strung up behind him.

He shook his head.. “You don’t need to pretend anymore Mab” he says to her, “You haven't moved on, just look at us” he says raising his arms. “None of us have. And we won’t until we sever this sick hold he has over you and your children forever. We must bring him to justice, theu needs to die.” He says in earnest, but she no longer hears him. She looks past him, directly at the eyes of the S’kytri as if I’m a trance of remembering a long forgotten memory.

“You are right...” she suddenly said out loud, something had changed her mind. Prehaps she was listening to him, or prehaps it was somthing she had seen in the Darths eyes that convinced her but Terrogate now felt her anger rising like a storm inside her. Mab turned to the Cathar “but first I need to take what they took from me.”

“Of course.” He replies. The great Master here won’t be running off with is body almost completely paralysed so what did you have in mind? He said moving back into the cell and looking down to the surgical tools.

“Where should we start?” He says.

Mab wasn’t the only one who had woken up, her son, the 18 year old Kas’sparr abruptly woke when he heard noise on the roof. He remained in bed thinking it was none of his business but when he later heard his mother calling out to Terrogate in the dead of night he became curious. “Who is here?” he asked himself as he jumped out of bed and walked over to the door. He slowly pulled the door open and looked into the hallway where he saw his mother run down the stairs wearing only a pyjama dress. The horned Chiss slipped through the door and followed his mother, using the force to dampen the sound of his bare feet on the stairs.

To his surprise the hatch to the basement stood open. He wondered why as it was his mothers domain and she always locked it. Mab stepped through and went down, still calling to his stepfather “Terrogate... Terrogate!!” quickly Kas’sparr went down the hatches well, listening closely. He was struck by shock when he heard their name being mentioned “Terrogate... Skyllan is” then his mother paused for a moment “is here” she added softly. The next thing Kas’sparr heard was a soft thump and Terrogate calling out in shock “Mab!!”

Hidden around the corner the boy listened, he could hear Terrogate speak to someone in one of the cells but couldn’t make out what he said. Then he heard him speak to his mother. Kas’sparr peeked around the corner and saw how his stepfather carried his unconscious mother to the altar. “Mab Mab... can you hear me?” but she did not respond to him. The boy felt worried, the last time he saw his mother like this was 5 years ago after the mutilation. He wondered who was in that cell that made her go into shock.

After a few minutes Mab’s eyes finally opened and she let out a scream that gave her son the chills. “What have you done?” she asked the Cathar twice, “why have you brought that thing to \*my\* home!!” She said with a raised voice and got off the altar. Worried that they would notice him Kas’sparr leaned back again, hiding himself around the corner as he listened closely to what happened only a few metres from him. Mab's emotions filled the room, he could sense them clearly as she spoke “I dont want that... that.. I don’t want it here!” “Mab.. Mab look at me" Kas heard Terrogate say. “I’m sorry my heart, I should have told you but I knew you wouldn’t allow it.” The Cathar added. Kas’sparr was now leaning more closly to the corner, boiling with curiosity, he wanted to know who was in that cell..

His eyes grew bigger, his jaw dropped as the Cathar started to explain. ‘No kriffing way' the boy thought to himself when he found out it was Skyllan, the man who broke his mmother. His heart was racing as he continued to listen to his parents, to his surprise Mab said she couldn’t do it. ‘what?, then I’ll do it’ Kas’sparr thought. “You don’t need to pretend anymore Mab” Terrogate said “you haven't moved on, just look at us, none of us have. And we won’t until we sever this sick hold he has over you and your children forever. We must bring him to justice, they need to die.” Around the corner the boy nodded in agreement who at the same kept wondering who else was in that cell as his parents kept referring to ‘they'. Suddenly his mother’s voice changed, something had happened, because now she told Terrogate he was right “but first I need to take what they took from me.” His mother told her lifemate. ‘Yes' Kas’sparr thought to himself and balled his fist. “Of course. The great Master here won’t be running off with his body almost completely paralysed, but he can hear you.. and he can also feel everything. So what did you have in mind?” Kas’sparr heard his stepfather ask as he entered the cell again.. it was more difficult to hear so the boy leaned forward, peeking around the corner. But before his mother could respond he lost balance and stumbled into the room...

“Of course.” The Cathar replied, Mab could feel he was surprised by her sudden change of opinion. Seeing her Master being pleased with her loyalty made her realise how wrong it was. They didn’t deserve her loyalty, not after everything they had done to her. “The great Master here won’t be running off with is body almost completely paralysed, but he can hear you.. and he can also feel everything. So what did you have in mind”? Terrogate continued and stepped back into the cell. “Where should we start?” he asked her. Mab knew exactly what she would do, but before she could answer Terrogate’s question she saw a blue flash in the corner of her eyes.

At once she turned her head and to her surprise she saw her son standing at the corner. Their eyes met, Kas'Sparr was just as shocked as she was. “what the \*hell\* are you doing here?” she asked coldly, she understood very well that the noise had woken him and she knew his curiosity had brought him down to the basement. “You are not supposed to be here.” She continued, her son wanted to speak but Mab wouldn’t give him a chance. “go back to bed, this has nothing to do with you...” she insisted. But instantly she knew that he wouldn’t leave, this had everything to do with him. He had seen what happened to her, he had seen how she changed after the ‘punishment’. Like Terrogate, the boy had to walk on eggshells around her for the past 5 years. But still Mab didn’t want him to be part of this, in her opinion he was too young and not ready for what was going to happen. “Please Kas’sparr, you don’t need to be here”

Terrogate was just about to pick up the bone saw when he heard a series of thuds coming from around the corner of the cell towards the entrance of the basement. He looked over his shoulder at the strung up Darth “I’ll be back in just a moment, don't go running off..” he says with a wicked smile and looks out to see what the commotion was about.

“what the hell are you doing here?” Mab says intensely to the stunned Kas’sparr who seemingly was also woken up by the commotion in the basement and had come to investigate. “You are not supposed to be here.” She continued, Terrogate could tell his apprentice wanted to speak but Mab wouldn’t give him a chance. “go back to bed, this has nothing to do with you...” she insisted.

“Just wait a second”, Terrogate says out loud to Mab sensing an opportunity. An opportunity to teach his apprentice that pure evil will not go unpunished, and what you reap is often what you sow. This could even help him shed his fear of knowing and using the force. Of course Terrogate was still his father, and there was no way known he would let his son actually do the deed. But Terrogate would at least have him make the choice to stay or to go.

“Kas’sparr is no longer a boy my love. Yes, you are his mother. But I think Kas’sparr should be able to choose where he stays or leaves.” Terrogate looks to the blue-skinned young man. “It is just one of infinite critical choices he will need to make in his life, I say let him choose his own path on the way to becoming a man. What do you say Kas’sparr?” Terrogate could feel Mab’s worry, her reluctance. It was her right and duty to protect her son but he was now growing quickly into a man. There was no denying it. And this Darth Skyllan had also left a lasting scar on the boy, one that had yet to heal, and one that plagued him. Perhaps he could find some kind of peace knowing the Darth is dead, fina cleansing calm in the knowledge justice had finally been served for his Mom, and their family.

“Please Kas’sparr, you don’t need to be here” says Mab looking to her son.

Embarrassed that he had dropped in like that Kas’sparr stood before his mother. Her golden eyes wide in shock, “What the hell are you doing here?” she was angry but he could see she had been crying. “mom.. I...” he wanted to explain himself but Mab didn’t let him speak. “You are not supposed to be here, go back to bed, this has nothing to do with you” She said sternly, he wanted to respond saying he wanted to stay, that it had everything to do with him but before he could Terrogate re-emerged from the cell with the words  “Just wait a second.”

Surprised the boy looked at his stepfather who continued to speak “Kas’sparr is no longer a boy my love” he said. Kas felt a little pride the way the cathar spoke about him being old and wise enough to make his own choices. “What do you say Kas’sparr?” the Cathar asked him. The teen looked at his mother who shook her head in disagreement “Please Kas’sparr, you don’t need to be here" she softly said.

“mom.. I...” Kas’sparr stuttered, he didn’t want to hurt his mother’s feelings, he knew how difficult it was for to face her Master after everything that had happened. “It is my business, it has everything to do with me.” He straightened his back and took a stepped forward. He was now able to look into the cell and saw the Sith chained up. “what \*he\* did had effect on me as well. He took away my mother. I hear your screams at night, I know you still have nightmares.” He paused and glanced at the S’kytri for a moment and then back at Terrogate and his mother. I don’t want to stay for him" he pointed into the cell “I’m staying for you. I want to be by your side. I want to be there for you mom.”

Mab couldn’t believe her ears when Terrogate interrupted. Disagreeing with him she shook her head when the Cathar pleaded that the boy was old enough to make his own choices. He was eighteen, a young man, but she didn’t want him to see what darkness that she had within. She didn’t want him to see what she was capable of.

Her son stuttered when he began to speak, she sensed his caution around her. “It is my business, it has everything to do with me.” He told her as he moved closer and glanced into the cell. He told her that everything that had happened had an effect on him as well, that he still heard her screaming night even now after all those years. Tears welled up in her eyes but Mab tried to contain herself as she listened to him speak, but when he said “I’m staying for you. I want to be by your side. I want to be there for you mom” she broke down, tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt proud of her son and yet embarrassed of herself.

“You don’t have to do that Aro” she said as she looked away trying to hide her face. “I do not want you to take part in what I.. in what we will do to... to... \*that\* thing.” She wiped the tears away and turned back to her son “but if you must... you can stay... and observe...”

Terrogate smiles, his heart full of pride for his step-sons maturity, and also pride for his lifemate. It was not easy for her to let go like that, she had missed much of her son's life yet she still saw him through a loving mother’s eyes as a boy. Always looking out for him. Protecting him. That was not about to change, she really was a great mother. Terrogate sees the determination in the boy to see the end to this Monster that has plagued his family. But he also sensed the frustration of his apprentice, the desire to hurt the Darth and not just sit and watch. A dangerous path once the Darth is gone, and Kas’sparr unable to ever face those demons. Terrogate has an idea.

“Kas, come here son” he says to Kas’sparr. “I said he was allowed to observe only Terrogate.” Mab objects. Terrogate instantly probs outwards Mabs mind \*“please, look inside his mind love. I sense the boy feels a deep hatred and also still even now fear of the Darth, your son also needs to heal tonight. Let him cleanse himself of that fear and face the Monster.. I would suggest let Kas’sparr destroy the crystal that gives them power in front of them. Then he would have played his part.”\*

“Kas, come here son” Terrogate said as soon as her son finished speaking. At once Mab's eyes pierced at the Cathar “I said he was allowed to observe only Terrogate” she said sternly as she wiped her tears away. She didn’t like the idea of Kas’sparr getting his hands dirty. Kas’sparr never said so, but being his mother she knew her had never taken someone’s life and she did not want her former Master be his first kill.

Before she could say anything more she picked up on the Cathar trying connect to her telepathically. Terrogate tried to convince her to let Kas’sparr help, as he has sensed his hatred and fear for the S’kytri. \*”I can sense it, but that doesn’t mean he should give in to those feelings, act on them like a Sith would.”\* Mab responded to the Cathar as she glanced at her son who clearly understood his parents were discussing telepathically. Terrogate insisted, saying the boy should cleanse himself of his fear by facing the one who haunted them still. \*”I would suggest perhaps let Kas’sparr destroy the crystal that gives them power in front of them. Then he would have played his part.”\* Terrogate added.

The broken witch looked at her boy, he has grown much, becoming a man but to her he was still her little boy. She had sensed his fears, putting an end to the one who had brought so much pain could help him heal. She looked back at Terrogate and shook her head \*”No”\* she continued out loud for her son to hear “he will know when he is ready". Mab turned to her son again “I don’t want you to take part in this. But your father is right. You are old enough to decide for yourself.”

As soon as he finished speaking the Cathar looked at him “Kas, come here son” he said motioning him to join. As soon as he made the first step to join his stepfather he heard his mother's voice “I said he was allowed to observe only Terrogate” she said. The boy froze at once and saw how she wiped her tears away.

The next few minutes it was silent, but he knew that they were talking. He wasn’t stupid, he had the same ability but they had shielded him off from their discussion. Finally he saw Mab shake her head as she said “he will know when he is ready" and  turned to him once more continuing to speak “I don’t want you to take part in this. But your father is right. You are old enough to decide for yourself.”

The blue skinned Iktotchi looked down at his feet. He was angry, he wanted to hurt that monster that was strung up only a few meters from him. He wanted them to pay for what they had done but at the same time I felt frightened. He had never killed someone, he never even saw someone being killed. Kas’sparr was a thief and a smuggler, he was good at his job and never had to get his hands dirty in that way. He knew that one day he would but he wasn’t sure if it should be this night. “I want to stay” he repeated and looked up at his parents again. “I want to help, he needs to pay and I want to make sure he does..” he said trying to sound tough. “I will do what ever you ask me to do..” he added as he looked at the Cathar, his master..

* ”No”\* Mab said out loud “he will know when he is ready". Mab turned to look at Kas’sparr who knew his parents were communicating with the force rather than for him to hear “I don’t want you to take part in this. But your father is right. You are old enough to decide for yourself.”

“I want to stay” Kas’sparr repeated. “I want to help, he needs to pay and I want to make sure he does..” he said. Terrogate smiles at the boys confidence, but not so foolish as to let him bite off more than he can chew, cleansing himself from fear was one thing, allowing him to take that dreadful step of no return was another entirely. It was Kas’sparr after all, the same cocky blue skinned Chiss boy he’d known as his apprentice since he had come home. “I will do whatever you ask me to do..” Kas added as he looked at the Cathar, his master..

“Ok Kas’sparr, you may stay..” Terrogate says as he walks up to the bag sat on the altar that contained the Darths things. He reaches in and removes a crystal from the satchel and lifts it up above his face. It’s bright blue light glimmering and dancing in the moon light that shone down and reflected through the glass bottomed pool above. “Kas, my son, we will allow you to not only stay but will afford you a chance to face the Monster that hurt your mother.” Terrogate says looking down, shooting a sideways glance to Mab and then looking over to Kas’sparr. He holds the crystal outstretched in his hand. “You see this?” The Cathar Knight says to his apprentice, This…. this is an attuned Dantari crystal.. it significantly increases the Darths power. If he is to die, then this first must also be destroyed.” Terrogate explains, he looks to Mab as he motions to Kas’sparr to take the crystal from his large furry hand.

```
“I will ask you Kas’sparr to destroy this. You may do so in the cell, and you may speak to Darth Skyllan if you wish. He cannot speak back to you but he can see and hear you, so I encourage you, if there is anything you wish to say, make sure it is said. There will be no other chance. After that, you are to observe and observe only, unless your Mother or I say otherwise.  And if we both tell you to leave, you leave… am I understood?”

```

His Master told him that he was allowed to stay and showed him a crystal that belonged to the S’kytri. Terrogate explained it was an attuned Dantari crystal on which the Sith master could draw more power. Nodding that he understood he listened quietly to his stepfather as he continued to explain to him the crystal had to be destroyed.

Nervously he glanced at his mother, who for a moment looked like she was miles away, deep in thought. Terrogate held the crystal out for him to take but the boy didn’t until his mother finally gave a nod of approval. Kas’sparr approached the altar and took the crystal from the Cathar’s large hand.

Holding it up against the light the crystal shimmered beautifully but he could sense a dark energy as he held it in his hand. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and looked at his parents “I understand, I’ll do what must be done.” On the outside he looked confident but on the inside he felt extremely anxious to face the S’kytri.

With the crystal in his hand he stepped into the cell and looked the chained up Sith in their fiery eyes. For a moment he stared at the towering giant and remembered the day he met them for the first time. It was before they move to Batorine, they visited Prakith unannounced. The boy was then only 13 at the time and foolishly thought the S’kytri was his father and that Khara was is real half sister. "Now then, Kas'sparr was it? Neither you, nor Khara are my children. I have no children of my own” the S’kytri answered him all those years ago. Kas’sparr let out a soft chuckle, relieved that they weren’t related.

“Hello Darth Skyllan” he said as he approached the Sith. “I’m sure you remember me?” he continued trying his best to remain calm. The eighteen year did nor break eye contact, “we met 5 years ago, a few months before you ‘punishment’ my mother unjustly.” Kas’sparr tossed the crystal in the air and caught it again in his hand as he continued to speak. “we only met once but I remember you well. I remember you telling me that my mother was the closet thing you had to a child.”

~ He thought back to that day at tower Bathori. "Your mother is probably the closest thing I have to a child given that I helped nurture her talents, but we hardly have what you might call a loving relationship. Regardless, you and I are definitively \*not\* related." The Sith had said calmly to the boy. ~

“you made quite an impression on me, I looked up to you even, such a power independent being” He paused as he continued to toss the crystal in the air. “I couldn’t believe it when heard what you had done to my mother. No one knew why the Emperor wanted her to be punished, and neither did you.” Kas’sparr stepped closer and looked them dead in the eyes “Then I realized you were just a mindless puppet for the Empire. You are nothing without the Empire.... weak, pathetic. Just look at yourself.”

He stepped back and looking the chained up, paralyzed S’kytri up and down. “where is your Emperor now!?” the boy spat into the Sith's face as he raised his voice. On that moment the boy threw the crystal onto the hard stone floor and it shattered on impact. “No asses left to kiss... Who's going to save Skyllan!?... no one cares about you" Kas’sparr turned around and walked away, his heart nearly exploded out of his chest and he needed to gasp for air when he stepped out of the cell. Tears welled up his eyes but he tried to hide them...

“Terrogate felt the power of the Darth drain through the force immediately as he hears Kas’sparrs words and then following crack of crystal on stone floor sounding from the cell. There was pain, but not fear.. Not anymore. Only a stern resolve and determination eliminating from the young man. Terrogate now knew the crystal had been destroyed. Kas’sparr then exits the cell, tears welling in his eyes. “Go on son.. wait over there” the Cathar said to Kas’sparr indicating the boy went and take a break to gather himself by the stairs. The Cathar warrior then turns and looks to Mab, his betrothed. “How about you my love?. Will you face the beast of your past? Will you face the monster and have your revenge? If so.. It's now or never” he says looking at her.

She sensed his nerves when Kas’sparr entered the cell. There was fear when he approached her former Master but as the boy spoke she felt that fear turn into anger. Anxious herself she stepped closer, and quietly stood next to the door, out of sight with her back against the wall. Listening closely to the words her son spoke. His voice was calm but there was a sharpness to the words he spoke. Mab felt proud of him and yet she worried, the anger, the darkness within him grew stronger.

Then she heard the crystal shatter onto the hard floor, and only a moment after Kas’sparr stepped out of the cell. Mab looked at him, she could see he tried his best to hide the tears, the overwhelming emotions he felt. “You did well” she softly said with a faint, proud smile. “Go on Kas’.. wait over there” Terrogate said. “You don’t have to come back. But.. you may when you are ready” Mab added. The boy gave a silent nod and left the room and sat at the stairs. “How about you my love?. Will you face the beast of your past? Will you face the monster and have your revenge? If so.. It's now or never, for I intend to end your old masters life tonight,” Terrogate then said to her.

Looking at him she thought for a moment. For years she lived in fear, her misplaced loyalty kept her from wanting to find her Master and bring them down. Not once did she think about having revenge, but now it was her time, this was a chapter that needed closing if she ever wanted to move forward. Mab let out a sigh, and gave a silent nod. “I will..” was all she said, then she looked away, trying to think about what she would do. Then it came to her and she looked back up “I know what I have to do. But I’ll need your help moving it to the altar”

Without further words to the Cathar, Mab turned around and stepped into the cell. The S’kytri's eyes pierced at her as she approached them. “Greetings Master” she said calm and respectful, just as she used to. “it’s been a while” she added with a blank expression. At the surface she looked calm but inside the emotions were picking up like a breeze turning into a storm. “I wasn’t planning on meeting you ever again, but my betrothed had other plans.” Their eyes flinched, “does it come as a surprise? That we are to be wed?” Mab asked with a light chuckle in he voice. “Or does it surprise you that after everything I still managed to move on?” when she stepped closer she felt the shattered crystal under her bare feet. Looking down, brushing the shards and splinters aside she continued to speak “It wasn’t easy, but I’m sure you know that. You always enjoyed lurking from the shadows” she said remembering all those times they watched her from a distance, silently, enjoying to see her struggle.

“Anyway, were are my manners, let’s get you comfortable.” A smile appeared on her face. “You took something from me all those years ago, now it’s my turn to take something back.” She said and stepped aside, to let Terrogate pass and help moving the large S’kytri to the Altar..

“You did well” he heard his mother say, he didn’t look at her but he could sense she was proud of him, so was his Stepfather “Go on Kas’.. wait over there” he said. He looked up and nodded silently. His mother then said he didn’t have to come back if he didn’t want to, he was glad his part was over but still he wasn’t planning on leaving.

He walked to the stairs and sat down on the third step and leaned forward. His face buried into the palms of his hands, elbows leaning on his knees, he fought against the tears. He wasn’t sad, but all the emotions that he had bottled up the past five years now came out.

The boy heard his mother speak to her former Master, Calm and composed. He knew it was difficult for her, more than it had been for him. “You took something from me all those years ago, now it’s my turn to take something back.” He heard her finally say, at once he knew what that meant. He got up, and looked around the corner, watching as he saw the Cathar enter the cell to assist moving the Sith to the altar

Kas’sparr walks past Terrogate on the way to sit at the stairs, “You did well” his mother says to him but the young man remains silent. Terrogate still feels his emotions though. Raw, bubbling within him and when he turns his face betrays his silence. Tears welled in his eyes but Terrogate is not concerned, this was an emotionally charged moment for all of them including Kas’sparr, in truth this was the reason Terrogate would not have allowed the blue skinned boy to kill the dreadlord even if he wanted to. For one without the proper training in the force, who has not seen, tasted and handed out death before an execution was a very slippery slope. But one that Terrogate had been planning in his head for over 5 years now.

He turns to Mab to see if she is ready to proceed, ready to take her revenge on the Monster that at one time classed her as family then without provocation attacked her from behind in her moment of distress, alone and in the dark, nearly killing her.

After a momentary pause she takes a deep breath. “I will..” she replies, then turns away in thought, “I know what I have to do. But I’ll need your help moving it to the altar”

Mab walks into the cell first and approaches the S’kytri Darth hanging from the cell's ceiling chains. Terrogate steps to the entrance of the cell and waits as his betrothed takes a moment to speak to her Master. The one who had betrayed her like a starving dog killing it's own pup for a mouth of scraps thrown to the floor from the Emperor's dinner table. How the Cathar had hated them, the pain he had caused was irreparable and unforgivable. Terrogate had come far on his quest for a more neutral existence but inside he also knows he can not move on until they are dead, and killed by his own hand.

“Anyway, where are my manners?, let’s get you comfortable.” Mab said, smiling. “You took something from me all those years ago, now it’s my turn to take something back.” She said stepping aside clearly to let the Cathar in to assist..

Terrogate walks into the cell and past his love, he gets close to the Sithas he reaches up and begins to unlock his chains. Terrogate can hear them groaning and mumbling over the sound of the heavy chains swinging and shifting as he releases the cuffs. Terrogate gets close to them, his whiskers brushing against their ear as he whispers into the S’kytri’s ear while he releases him. “It's funny isn't it, he says… You probably thought yourself untouchable, that your being feared kept you powerful..? Who do you think betrayed you? Who do you think now has control of your ship and it's crew? None of which lifted a finger to save you.” The Cathar gives the Darth a moment for that question to sink in and the Darths eyes widen in realisation a long slob of drool runs from there mouth as the mumbles and garble gurgle up from their throat. Terrogate could tell the senflax was starting to wear. Good he thought, his crystal was shattered and their was still several hours before another injection was required. And Terrogate didn't plan on having the Darth survive that long. He leans in close as the last clasp flicks free from the chains. “In the end even your pet Kathound didn't give you a second look as it joined Commander West, sitting loyalty next to her as she left the planet in your transport ship.  hhhh…. Yes… You truly are alone.”

And with that the Darth drops from his shackles and Terrogate catches him in his muscular arms, drags him over to the Altar and lets him drop limply onto his front on the smooth slab. The Siths face, chin now covered in drool and blood was looking back into the cell he had just come from. Terrogate takes the bag of his belongings and places them in the corner of the room, out of reach. He turns back and then he places the Darths legs onto the altar and then faces Mab. “He's all yours”. The Cathar says.

With her back against the wall she watched how the Cathar entered the cell. She could feel his anger and hate towards the S’kytri resonate from his body as he got close. Skyllan’s eyes stared at her, she could see the panic. It was clear they were trying to communicate with her, but thanks to the senflax they were unable to connect to her mind.

Terrogate began to unshackle the Sith master, Mab knew he that wanted them dead, and there was nothing going to stop him from doing that, that night. He leaned in and whispered something in their ear, the Iktotchi was unable to hear what was said but from the S’kytri's reaction she knew enough.

“You were dead the very moment you fucking touched her..” the Cathar warrior growled as the last shackle opened. Skyllan’s dropped to the floor like a puppet and he grabbed their arm and dragged them out of the cell, across the main chamber. The Iktotchi followed silently, mentally preparing herself for what would happen next. After lifting the S’kytri unto the altar Terrogate turned around and looked her into the eyes with the words “He's all yours”.

Taking a deep breath she moved closer to the altar. The S’kytri lay face down on the stone slab, their wings draped over the side, touching the floor. Mab kicked them aside as she stepped closer and placed her ultrachrome hand on their back. “it's a shame you no longer are that beautifull shade of blue” she softly said as she traced their scars with her icy cold finger. “still, that’s no going to stop me.” She moved towards their head, her hand sliding over their spine to their neck. She leaned in and whispered in their ear “we’re going to play a little game called, ‘I’m going to remove your wings with my bare hands’” she said wwith a vicious smile and on the same tone as they did all those years ago when they made her remove her own arm.

She rose up, still looking down at then, thinking about how they had tortured her. Part of her wanted them to suffer they way she did, but deep inside she did not want to lower herself to their level. She stepped to their left side and used telekinesis to lift up their wing and fold it over to the right, exposing the joint between the scapula and the humerus of the large wing. With her right prosthetic arm she held the wing in place as she pointed her index finger of her ultrachrome hand. Using cryokinesis she cooled down the joint, narrowing the veins while she made an incision with the razor sharp nail of her index finger. The S’kytri could feel the sharp pain of the nail cutting through their skin, they flinched and gurgled.. Mab separated the tendons from joint and cut through the ligaments making the humerus bone pop loose. “I’m afraid I don’t the ability ‘darkside healing’ but I did learn pyrokinesis” she said and focused on her ultrachrome hand, the tip of her index finger began to heat up. It took much effort as the ultrachrome itself was freezing. When it began to glow she placed it the wound, categorizing the exposed veins. Again the S’kytri flinched, he wanted to scream but they couldn’t.

She lowered the wing and used the same technique. Cooling down the joint as she began to cut through the skin. Then she separated the  trapezius muscle tendons from the joints. A soon as she cur through the ligaments that held the bones together the wing dropped to the floor. “That’s one.. still one to go" she said. As she began to cauterize the wound.

Bathori looked up from her work and only now she noticed her son standing at the corner, watching her. “I could use your help” she paused allowing him to respond. “please get the bacta solution from my laboratory. And but some on the wing.” Kas’sparr looked surprised at her suggestion but without further explanation she added “then wrap some bandages around it.”

Sitting on the stairs he heard his stepfather step onto the cell. He recognized the sound of the shackles being loosened and wiped his tears away. He wanted to know what his mother was going to talk although he already an idea.

The boy waited until he heard Terrogate give Mab the room “he’s all yours" he heard the Cathar say. For a moment it was silent, all he heard was soft sound of moment but then “it's a shame you no longer are that beautiful shade of blue.” As quiet as possible Kas’sparr rose up and walked to the corner. “we’re going to play a little game called, ‘I’m going to remove your wings with my bare hands” he heard his mother say as he peeked around the corner.

Silently he watched his mother work, and as she began to cut into their flesh he realized that 5 years ago she did the same to Khara. A shiver went down his spine, imaging the little girl, then just three years old. He remembered hearing her scream in pain the following morning, seeing standing in her room, confused, unable to understand what had happened.

```
“That’s one.. still one to go" the voice of his mother brought him back to the present and he looked up again. Covered in blood, wearing only a night dress, she stood over the S’kytri. Her eyes shifted up and met his, for a moment there was a tension. Strangely enough, he did not sense any darkness, she was calm and composed. “I could use your help" she suddenly asked. He gave a nod, not sure how to respond. “please get the bacta solution from my laboratory. And put some on the wing.” With a frown he looked at her, confused to know why he had to treat the cut off wing. “then wrap some bandages around it.” She added.

```

Without questioning her he obeyed and went to her lab. He searched the shelves until he found a medkit. Before taking it he checked the contents, it had everything he needed. With the medkit under his arm he stepped towards the amputated wing and knelt down. Mab already stood on the Otherside of the S’kytri and lifted the other wing up to repeat the process. The teen opened the kit and took out the bacta solution. He opened the tube and squirted a large amount on the bloody stump. “mother? Why am I doing this? he asked softly and he spread the bacta. Finally he took a bandage and wrapped it around the stump, securing it with tape.

As he rose up he looked at his trembling hands, they were sticky covered in blood.

“We’re going to play a little game called, ‘I’m going to remove your wings with my bare hands” Mab said to the paralyized Darth as Terrogate then watched as his betrothed went to work expertly cutting into the Darths flesh as they lay on the table removing its wings. To his surprise she was relatively calm, balanced.. He had expected to see a fire and rage from within her but for now at least this revenge was being served ice cold. Terrogate grabs one of the buckets from the cell and brings it over to the Altar in case she would need it as Kas’sparr is sent from the room to retrieve the medkit from Mabs lab. He could sense confusion in the young apprentice with the request but he did as his mother had instructed.

Terrogate bends down at the Dread Hesperian and looks him in the eyes as the Darths back is opened up and squirts of blood erupt from his wing joints as the veins are severed spraying over his lovers nightdress. His body moves, shakes and flinches uncontrollably as she tears his most revered, more sacred of possessions. Gargles and a look of now released desperate horror are all that Terrogate sees in the large S'kytris eyes. Now is the only time in his memory that Terrogate actually wished to hear them speak. He wanted to hear the agony, the realisation that he would be ordinary, bound to the ground under foot and never to fly again. Hear them try to plead for their miserable life, and how it wasn't their fault.. They were only following orders...  Kas’sparrr returns and Terrogate snarls into Skyllans face before stepping back allowing Mab to continue her work. The stink of the coward Darth sickened him to his stomach, and very soon now.. His flame would be extinguished for good.

Kas’sparr applies the bacta and bandage as instructed and then ask’s his mom why he is wrapping the severed wings. Terrogate had a feeling he knew, but this was a moment best handled by Mab. If the warrior had his way there would be nothing left of the Darth, but Kas’sparrs mother almost always was thinking ahead, and she was also highly resourceful, it was one of the reasons he loved her so much. She was the calm to his storm often. His balance and she had plans for those wings there was no mistake about it.

“If you need somewhere to place them where they will keep we have finally fixed the stasis chamber on ROAR-1” he says to her. Not knowing her immediate plans but still trying to be of some assistance.

Kas’sparr on the other hand looks at his hands, covered in blood. The boy didn't seem to be taking what was going on too well and looked shaken. Terrogate knows that this will not be the only time in the young man's life where he will be forced to get blood on his hands. He tries pushing out with the force, probing his son's mind, trying to steel his thoughts. “\*Stay strong Kas, your mother needs you to be strong now. And so does Khara, after tonight he can never hurt them again. Sometimes doing the right thing to protect your family means getting your hands dirty. Take strength in that fact my son.\*”

While Mab walked over to the other side, to amputate the other wing, Terrogate moved closer and bent down to look the S’kytri into their eyes. Quietly she began to work, repeating the process, pushing the wing aside so that she could expose the joint. By the time she pulled their skin aside, Kas’sparr had returned with the medkid and bagan to treat the stump of the amputated wing. Mab cut away the tendons and ligaments making the humerus pop out of its socket. With a calm and satisfied grin she dropped the wing and began to cut into their ashen gray skin. “If you need somewhere to place them?” she heard Terrogate say and looked up as he suggested to keep the wings in the stasis chamber aboard his ship. “That is an excellent idea. We will probably have to wait a few years until she’s big enough.” Mab responded with a blank expression. She could sense the S’kytri's confusion next to the pain as she cut the last ligaments. Their wing dropped onto the floor and Mab motioned to Kas’sparr to treat it as he had done with the first.

As she reached out to the force, using pyrokinesis to heat up the tip of her ultrachrome finger she began to speak. “you must wonder what my plans are... you see... after what you did to me I couldn’t handle the sight of a S’kytri. The sound of flapping wings made me sick, I had to do something.” Her finger began to glow and she pressed it into the open wound, cauterizing it to stop them from bleeding from death. “The reason I’m so good at amputating wings is because I did it before, to Khara when she was only three years old.” Her calm facade began to ripple, raw emotions bubbled within as she thought back about what she had done to her daughter. Waking up to her cries in the morning, seeing her in pain, not understanding what had happened to her.

When the bleeding stopped she stepped in front of them, and looked into their eyes. “I looked up to you...I trusted you.. I even loved you.” She softly said, trying to compose her anger. “You were supposed to be on my side.. but you couldn’t wait to run to your emperor and suck up to him.. you couldn’t wait to dance to their tune and do what you were told to do. Even though you didn’t even know why...” she paused and took a deep breath. “it turns out you know very little.”

Mab circled around to the other side. Her eyes fell on the two anklets “I believe this is mine” she said and carefully removed both and placed them aside. Then she looked at the peg leg and let out a chuckle as she remembered they had removed their leg themselves in a pathetic attempt to impress the Tribune for a date. “I doubt you will be needing this.” And she yanked off their leg with a powerful telekinetic pull and threw it across the room. “I could turn you into a eunuch, but that would be a waste of my time as you will die anyway.” The witch said and she circled back to the front. Looking at Terrogate she added “Im done.. he's all yours” she turned her head and looked at them “but be careful, don’t break too many bones, I have use for them.”

And with those words Mab walked away from the altar, up the stairs.

At the top of the stairs she finally let go, and broke. Tears rolled down her face as she dropped to her knees. Soon the nightmare would be over, soon they would be dead..

Still looking at his hands he heard his stepfathers voice inside his mind, telling him to stay strong and reassuring him that it was right what they were doing. He hated that ashen gray prick, he wanted them to feel what they had felt, but still it was overwhelming. Their warm blood on his hands made it very vivid. Without saying a word he nodded to Terrogate, letting him know he heard what he said.

The second wing dropped to the floor and Mab motioned to him to repeat the process. Kas nodded and took the wing, smearing bacta on the bloody stump. Finally after the Cathar suggested to store the wings in stasis, the boy’s mother shared her plan. He sensed her emotions as she spoke about Khara, the pain and the shame of what she had done. Kas’sparr was only 13 when it happened, he still remembered it like yesterday. He couldn’t believe that his mother had done something so cruel. It was one of the reasons he didn’t want to use the force, the darkness surrounding his mother had frightened him.

When he wrapped the bandages around the stump, his mother told the S’kytri how she had looked up to them, trusted and even loved them. The horned Chiss knew this was true. Even when they treated her bad she spoke highly of them and even after what they had done she was loyal. But her anger began to flare up, there was darkness smoldering inside her. “You were supposed to be on my side.. but you couldn’t wait to run to your emperor and suck up to him..” she snarled at the S’kytri as Kas finished securing the bandages and got up. The next few seconds her words were sharp and venomous but then she turned towards Terrogate “Im done.. he's all yours but be careful, don’t break too many bones, I have use for them.” Without any further words she disappeared leaving the boy alone with his stepfather and the S’kytri.

For a moment he didn’t know what to do, he just stood there looking at the corner where his mother had disappeared. Even though she had left the room he could still sense her emotions as they had filled the air. “Now what?” Kas’sparr eventually asked and looked at his stepfather. “Do you want me to leave?”

“You may stay if you wish Kas’sparr. But you will play no further active part in this death my boy. You have faced the Monster for your closure, and you have shed your fear of him. I am proud of you. ” Terrogate says as he watches Mab leave the room. The cool balanced calm she had displayed was now wavering, giving way to her inner anger and hate that had come bubbling up to the surface while she was forced to face the betrayal of her former master for the last time. Terrogate was not ashamed of her. He was actually proud of her. Even after turning to the path of the Je’daii she could still harness her darkness when needed. Anger after all had its uses.. It could cleanse and help heal internally, and also fuel conviction and assist in battle if vented at the appropriate times. But one must always be weary of its seduction, and that is why he had decided to cease any further part in the boy's role.

“You have done well, but it is I who will perform the execution. And to be totally honest, you’re mother needs your support now more than I do. I know she is good at hiding her emotions, but tonight has been very taxing on her mind. Kas’sparr I’d appreciate it if you left to support her right now” the Cathar pauses a moment before continuing. “She loves you Kas.. you are her only real family, her only child, and she needs you.” Terrogate says looking at the boy before turning his gaze to them as he takes the Darth and rolls him onto his back on the Altar. The Ashen skinned S'kytri now looks up at the ceiling of the room. The moonlight reflecting off the water of the clear bottom pool that serves as the roof casting a rippling bluish light across his bloodied body.

Confused and overwhelmed, the boy looked up at his Stepfather. “You may stay if you wish Kas’sparr.” The Cathar replied to his question and added he would take no further part in the execution. “I am proud of you" he said to Kas as they watched Mab disappear from the room. There was a sense of relief, that he didn’t have to stay. “you’re mother needs your support now more than I do.” Terrogate continued to speak.

Silver moonlight casted through the glass roof onto the S’kytri. Kas’sparr wondered what his Master was planning to do, but he didn’t ask. The Cathar was right, his mother needed him more, he could still sense her emotions resonating through the walls. “i will go..” he softly said and turned around. Without further words he left the room and as he did so he could hear his mothers voice, her crying. Quickly he rushed up and found her on the floor, covered in blood, tears flowing. “mom!” he yelled and knelt down, grabbing her into his embrace. She didn’t speak, she barely responded to him, all he could do was cradling her softly, trying to calm her down..

As Kas’sparr leaves, Terrogate walks over and picks up the Darths bag with his belongings removing both of the Golden bladed lightsabers from it, he knows from the darths braggings that they used to belong to the Jedi Kemuel that Darth had so proudly defeated. Inside the bag was also still the Dathomirian Talisman of Transformation, a ILF-5000 Life Form Scanner and 2 vials of Blood. One marked ‘Dathomir Nightsister’. The other marked ‘Clan Acherjon’.

He places the bag back down and walks over to the Dreadlord holding the sabers. Terrogate then gets up onto the Altar, kneeling above them with one leg either side of the darths waist so that all the Dread Hesperian sees now as they look up is Terrogates large frame kneeling proud above him.

Terrogate holds up the twin Sabers in front of his chest so that the darth can also see them and then ignites the blades, their golden crackling beams bathing the two in their light. “It seems you enjoy taking arms Master Skyllan” said Terrogate as he remembers the details of the brutal and gruesome punishment, “So let's see how you enjoy having yours taken.. Lets see how perversely pleasurable you find it this time shall we..?” Terrogate says with a sinister and deep growl as he slowly lowers the blades simultaneously into the Darths shoulders, pushing the white hot blade downwards centimeter by centimeter, slow and steady. He could have quickly hacked off the darths head but  the S’kytri did not deserve a quick or clean death.

The smell of burning flesh rife in the air as the sabers burn their way very slowly down into the Sith shoulders severing their arms from their torso. Their body convulses under the warrior and white foam appears, bubbling and frothing from their mouth as the excruciating pain rips through their body. The Senflax weakening and now low weak agonising squeals come from the darth throat as he struggles to breathe, gasping and gurgling. With a last final push downwards with the saber blades the Darths arms fall from his body and land with a thud on either side of the altar now totally severed from their torso, the wounds fully cauterized, smoking and blackened.

Terrogate drops the sabers to the ground as soon as he feels the arms detach and speaks to the convulsing and screeching darth Skyllan. “Attacking a lone woman in the night while her back is turned.. You truly are a gutless coward. Actually, perhaps I should open you up and see if there is anything at all inside. With that Terrogate leans back to give himself a view of the Darths abdomen and then he protracts his razor sharp claws. With one vicious swipe he rips through the Ashen skin of the Dark Masters stomach opening up the darths belly and then plunges his hand into the gaping wound and squeezing the darths innards. The Darth gasps sucking in a mouthful of bloody foamy mess, eyes widened and their body goes limp underneath the Cathar and their eyes now closed passed out for the pain.

Terrogate, pulls his bloodied hand back out of the darths stomach, fingers and hand drenched in red sticky blood. The Cathar knew this may happen and had pocketed a hypodermic needle with an adrenaline shot just in case. He reaches into his pocket and removes the needle and its cap, then leans forwards and plunges it down hard, breaking through the breastplate and chest cavity sending a shot of adrenaline directly into the Darths black heart. Almost instantly the Darth responds and their eyes fling open like a sprung trap, looking directly at the Cathar in astonished horror they open their mouth fully and let out a high pitched and blood curdling scream of agony.

Terrogate quickly lets go of the needle, shifts his 117kg frame forwards and places his left hand and his weight onto the screaming Darths chest. Getting his feet quickly positioned underneath and ready to stand he reaches forward looking the darth in the eyes and grabs the Skyllans bottom jaw with his bloody right hand, gripping it hard he yanks it hard and sharply downwards with all his strength separating flesh and bone from the facial sockets. The dread lord's jaw now hangs loosely, connected only by a small amount of cartilage and skin on the right side of the jaw alone as it hangs lazily off the side of their face. The Darths tongue flailing around in the open licking wildly over its neck and their blood spraying up and then spilling freely over the altar from their stomach and exposed oesophagus, the smell of the S’kytri losing control of their bowls and their exposed intestines now rank in the air.

Terrogate stands to his full height now above the dying ashen skinned S’kytri, their body convulsing and spasming under him. Adrenaline surges through them keeping them from blacking out and allowing them to experience the full amount of pain tearing through their body. Terrogate snarls as he locks his gaze into the Darths eyes and reaches his right hand upwards and using the Force through telekinesis he calls the Darths own Skyborn Scepter to him, catching it in mid air without so much as blinking pointing the blue crystal at its owners head. Shear agony and madness is all that the Cathar sees in the Darths eyes now and gripping the spear with both hands he speaks for the very last time to the S’kytri that had nearly killed his betrothed and threatened her children, now his children, with death.  ““It's a shame how often 'prodigies' turn into corpses”. The Cathar says coldy to the Darth and then strikes forwards hard with the Skyborn scepter spearing it up into the Dread Hesperian’s opening that used to be a mouth and upwards, driving it into their brain.

After a moment of spasms and gargles their body finally lay still at the feet of the warrior. The Alter as well as the Cathar and the corpse below him awash with blood, the moonlight shimming over them from the glass ceiling. Terrogate pulls the scepter out of the dead darth and spits on the corpse. He already feels the darkness leaving the room as the Siths life is snuffed out.

(IC Kas’sparr & Mab)

Meanwhile upstairs, Mab lay on the floor until her son found her. The boy pulled the crying Iktotchi into his arms and tried to comfort her. But the tears kept pouring from her eyes and her body trembled. “Come mom, lets get you off the floor” Kas’sparr softly said and helped her up. Without any words he led her to the living, to a sofa. As she sat down the boy ran to the kitchen to get her a glass of water. The witch could feel the darkness welling up inside the basement, she could sense how the S’kytri tried to reach out to her but she blocked them. “here mom, drink this" Kas’sparr said whilst holding a glass in front of her. Stubborn she shook her head “I’m ok..” “just drink it” her son insisted. She hesitated but then took the glass and as she took a sip Kas’sparr walked away. Moments later he returned with a blanket and draped it over her.

~\*~

For what felt like ages, Mab sat on the sofa, waiting for it to be over. Her son did his best to distract her but the darkness that resonated from the basement was strong. It wasn’t just the Sith, Mab sensed her betrothed's anger growing each second but then, suddenly it stopped. For a moment the witch held hey breath as her eyes met her son’s. “What’s wrong mom?” he asked her with a worried look in his eyes. The darkness began to fade, she knew the deed was done. Gasping for air she said “He did it. Skyllan is dead.” Kas’sparr could feel it also, it felt like a relief.

Unexpectedly Mab stood up, the blanket dropped onto the floor. “mom?” Kas’sparr looked at her wondering what she was going to do. “Stay here. Don’t come to the basement” the witch replied and walked away. “mom?!, don’t go.” But it was no use, she had to go. They might be dead, but as long as their body remained it could be reanimated.

Barefoot she rushed down the steps into the basement. Without hesitation she walked around the corner and their in a puddle of blood lay what was left of the S’kytri. Strangely, Mab felt nothing at the gruesome sight, no shock, no grief, no anger or relief. She looked at the Cathar holding the Skybound Sceptre, the crystal tip dripping with blood. A smile appeared on her face, “you killed them with the Sceptre?” She asked as she slowly closer to Terrogate. “i guess you gave his clan their revenge as well.” She added as she stood before him. Slowly she reached for the blue crystal scepter “you see, this is what is left of Clan Acherjon, this is a Nexus they had created with their blood. Their souls are trapped within this crystal prison.” She explained as she took it from his hands. Instantly, when she touched it she felt the darkness, the pain and suffering that powered the nexus. “The biggest mistake they have made, was letting bond with it, so that I can draw power from it.” The blood glistened in the morning sun, as a new day had already begun. “I wish I knew how to trap them with his family. But I don’t have that ability. What I can do is get rid of what is left of them, and close this chapter for good.”

Terrogate stands on the altar, the armless, wingless skewered bloody body of the once proud and mighty S'kytri Dreadlord of the Sith underneath him and in his own hands the Darths Skybound Scepter. It's blue crystal and dripping with blood and fragments of brain tissue. Terrogate is still cautious though.. The peak of the darkness that emanated from their presence had faded with their death surely enough but still, something remained. Still a darkness lingered in the room that the Cathar could sense but not pinpoint.

“you killed them with the Sceptre?” Terrogates head turned quickly as his betrothed entered the room once more. He could tell she’d been crying and he had sensed her vulnerability once she left and Kas’sparr had followed. But he did not sense that now from her.. She was even.. Balanced in the force once more.

She slowly moved closer to Terrogate. “I guess you gave his clan their revenge as well.” Terrogate listened to Mab explain the significance of the Scepter as he climbs down from the Alter. About the Clansmen souls trapped in the crystal. Terrogate snarls at the through “So, the great Darth was nothing more than a weak hearted child killer and an opportunist?” The warrior says as Mab continues to explain and takes the Scepter From his hands“

“The biggest mistake they have made, was letting bond with it, so that I can draw power from it... I wish I knew how to trap them with his family. But I don’t have that ability. What I can do is get rid of what is left of them, and close this chapter for good.”

Mab says as she looks around the blood and flesh splayed around their basement dungeon.

Terrogates eyes raise at hearing his love confession to being bonded with the sceptre, the dark side nexus made from the suffering of her old Master's clan and family.

“You are right, death was too good for them, but rest assured.. They did not die well, or with any shred of honour. Just the same way as they lived.” he said to his lifemate.

Looking at the Septer and stairing at the crystal the Catharhas a plan. “Hmmm… If you have bonded with this it must not be destroyed. But its power is too great. Already I feel the rage and hate of the dark side surrounding it.” after a second he nods as if just convinced himself and reached to Mab to hand it back. “Yes, I shall take it to Tython, and store it permanently in the stasis vault in Stav Kesh. But first…. First I may have a use for it that will solve some issues I've been having at the forge.”  Terrogate takes the bag and off the ground but before he leaves to store the darkside Nexus in his ships stasis chamber he turns back to his love. “What are you planning to do?”

Still holding the with blood covered sceptre, Mab listened to Terrogate as he agreed to closing the chapter for good. “I am ready you move on, to live free from their memory. Free of the hold that has existed these many years” he said as his eyes were locked on the blue crystal scepter in her hands. He told her that her bond with the nexus made destroying it not an option. Mab wanted nothing to do with it, she had no intention on ever using the power from the Skybound sceptre, but they weren’t sure what effect destroying it would have on her as there was a bond between her and the dark Nexus. Terrogate suggested to take it so Stav Kesh and lock it up in stasis, this sounded like the best option and Mab gave a nod as she placed the sceptre against the wall.

“What are you planning to do?” the Cathar asked her. Slowly she turned around and looked at him. Calm and composed she replied “what I’m about to do will be dirty job, you don’t have to stay but it will take several hours.” With those words she walked away to her lab, not waiting for his response. She knew what to do, and brought everything she needed to get started.

~\*~

Moments later she stood at the altar again. The S’kytri was much bigger than her, and laying on the stone table made it difficult to the job she was about to do. Mab didn’t bother to be careful, using the force to strengthen her she dragged the lifeless body off the altar and with a loud wet thump it fell to the floor. Using the steps of the altar she made sure the body was on a slight incline leaving its head up the steps. For a moment she looked down at the corpse, calm but with a sense of disgust as she could smell the stench of their piss. With her razor sharp nail she cut off their remaining reeking cloths. Naked, they lay before her, “you don’t look high and mighty now, master" she whispered. With the piss stained cloths she wiped the blood away, to see the damage Terrogate had made. The abdominal cavity was slayed open, other than the arms and the jaw missing the corpse was still in tact.

Although they obviously had emptied their bladder, she didn’t want anymore of their piss staining the room, so with a string she tied off their member before she proceeded. She knelt down next to them, and with her golden nail Bathori began making an incision jusy beneath the skin, from their backside all the way to the opening Terrogate had created. The Iktotchi continued from the opening all the way to what was left of their chin. Next, she returned to their legs, and began to make an incision on the inside of their leg, all the way down to their ankle and ringed it. She did the same on the other side cutting into the skin to where the pegleg had been. After the incisions were made, the skinning began. Grabbing hold of the skin, she began to pull, using the ultrachrome nail to assist where the skin didn’t loosen. She worked slow, to make sure it was in one piece as she had plans for the ashen gray skin it later. The size of the S’kytri made it difficult the short Iktotchi, but her determination pulled her through, after a long process she successfully had removed the skin and brought it to the freezer. After she done that she removed the skin from the severed arms and put them in the freezer as well. Now she still had to gut and remove the flesh…

“what I’m about to do will be a dirty job, you don’t have to stay but it will take several hours.” With those words she walked away to her lab, not waiting for his response. Terrogate moves aside and lets her past. “I don’t want to get in your way.” he says, as she walks by on her way out the door. I’ll make us some caff, he says. But first.. I’ll take the ex-Darths items to somewhere more suitable.” Once Mab leaves the room Terrogate walks over to the altar and picks up the two golden bladed sabers. “Hmmm… time for a change.” he says out loud and attaches them to his belt. He then walks up to the bag sat on the floor containing the life scanner, two vials of blood and also the DragonSnake Talisman and straps it over his shoulder. He then picks up the Scepter with one hand and with the other he scoops up the severared and bandaged wings of the dead S’kytri and leaves the room, a trail of bloody footprints behind him. While Mab was doing her ‘work’ Terrogate would store the wings, the Talisman and the scepter into the now operational stasis chamber aboard his cruiser Roar-1 where decomposition of the wings would halt, and the force signature of the dark side nexus and the Dathomerian Talisman would be blocked until he could move them to Tython and into a more permanent secure location in the stasis vault on Stav Kesh. Once done he would then clean the sabers, clean himself up, check on Kas and make some hot caff for them all. It had been a long night, but one not yet finished.

Now it was time for the most dirty task, gutting the monster. For this Mab wasn’t going to use her claw, but a knife specially made for the task. A short but razor sharp gutting blade with a small hook on the tip. Beginning with the worst part, she spread their legs, using the gutting knife she cut around their rectum and carefully slicing around their member, freeing them up. Then the Iktotchi stepped over the dead S’kytri and began cutting in to the lower abdomen, through the flesh up to the opening Terrogate had made. From there all the way to the breast bone she Slipped her fingers into the cavity, lifting the abdominal lining to be sure she wouldn’t accidentally cut into the stomach.

Even though S’kytri bones are hallow Mab couldn’t use the gutting knife to cut the chest cavity open. Normally she’d use the tip of her lightsaber, but Mab didn’t have them at hand as she was only wearing a blood stained nightdress. So she used her ultrachrome nails to saw through the sternum, carefully without puncturing any of the organs. Then with both hands she ripped the chest cavity open, exposing their heart. “so you do have one" Mab softly said and stared at it for a moment.

Kneeling down, the witch reached inside and cut the heart out. After placing it aside she reached in once more and grabbed hold of the trachea to cut it free. All that was left was the diaphragm, using the knife she cut through it on each side of the chest cavity. Everything was freed up, and using telekinesis she pulled all of the organs and guts out of the corpse, leaving only an empty shell that once was her master. She removed the liver and kidney, placing them next to the heart. The rest of the guts she collected and threw in the incinerator.

As she was about to start boning out the S’kytri carcass she took a different knife to aid in this task, one with a narrow flexible blade. She pushed the carcas on its side and began cutting into the flesh following the spine. Pulling the meat she kept slicing until she removed it. Then she pushed the carcass to the other aide and did same. For more than an hour the witch removed all the flesh until there was nothing left but a skeleton.

Slicing the meat and organs into small cubes the threw it all into an empty cooling crate. “Kronus will have plenty to eat" she said as she closed the crate up. Then she walked back to the skeleton and took the skull. The skin, and flesh had already been removed, but there was one thing she needed for the tanning of the skin. Turning the skull upside down she peeked through the foramen magnum at the brain. It didn’t have to be in one piece, so Mab stuck the boning knife through the oval opening, slicing the brain up and pull it out. Putting it in a small container she placed it in the freezer with skins.

Finally she collected the skull and all the bones of the S’kytri skeleton. If she wanted to use them she would have to burry them to let nature remove any of the soft tissue that was still left. It was either that or maceration, but that would stink up the house.

After many hours, the S’kytri was no more. When Mab finally walked up the stairs it was already late in the afternoon. “It’s done" she said, exhausted to Terrogate who had waited for her

Terrogate sits alone waiting patiently in the kitchen for Mab to finish, it had been many hours and he the sun was already high in the afternoon sky above the trees of Batorine. He stands as he hears her walking up the stairs from the basement and moves towards her. She looked exhausted, her nightdress drenched in blood. “It’s done," She says. Terrogate says nothing for no words needed to be said. He simply walks to her, as she did to him and the two embrace. He strokes her blood speckled hair and Mab buries her head into his chest. He can hear her sobbing gently, but pushing out with the force all he feels is her relief, a feeling that matched his own. “he’s gone..” he said softly.. “It’s over.”

-END-