Our New Mother

[EmilyHuene]

A little more time would pass until the four of them were all set up and ready to depart. With Sarabi, or Kitten, at the helm, the ship slowly pulled its way out of the Ra'Kul hanger and then up to open space. It wouldn't be a long journey to Dathomir, but it wasn't a quick one either. Bellatrix would accompany the apprentice by sitting in the co-pilot's chair and input the directions into their navi-computer since Kitten was not up to date on their adventure. When everything on the tech side of things was good to go and the ship in hyperspeed, she would leave her apprentice behind and go to her private room. After a quick nap, and some private alone time playing on her gamepad, she would get herself dressed in her battle suit which Lux had not seen her in before. She would walk out of the bedroom in a full suit of black and red armor. It was made of the same design of Clara's the last time he'd seen her.

"We should be nearing our destination. You're the hunter, Uncle Lux. Do you have a plan?"

 

[Caine]

" Simplest way would probably be to bait them out and they're unlikely to take the bait if they can see me around, it's quite obvious I'm dangerous so they'd probably just avoid us.
If the three of you cover up so your weapons are hidden and then move around they'll probably try to ambush you to convert you, I can stay close and out of sight until they decide to show up then disable anyone they've got controlled so that we can capture a couple of witches and you can convince them to explain how the spell works.

It's either that or we have to run around trying to locate them, I can track no problem but scent won't tell me who can or can't use the spell so it'd be blind luck whether or not the one I'm tracking is actually going to be any use to us or not. "

Yawning Lux stretched in his seat and looked over towards Bella for a moment studying her gear for a moment before he chuckled to himself as he started double checking his weapons to ensure they're all functional and secure still. " You like getting attention don't you. " He added in amusement after looking at how tightly the suit fit again.


@EmilyHuene

 

[EmilyHuene]

" Simplest way would probably be to bait them out and they're unlikely to take the bait if they can see me around, it's quite obvious I'm dangerous so they'd probably just avoid us. If the three of you cover up so your weapons are hidden and then move around they'll probably try to ambush you to convert you, I can stay close and out of sight until they decide to show up then disable anyone they've got controlled so that we can capture a couple of witches and you can convince them to explain how the spell works. It's either that or we have to run around trying to locate them, I can track no problem but scent won't tell me who can or can't use the spell so it'd be blind luck whether or not the one I'm tracking is actually going to be any use to us or not. "

Bellatrix would nod as he spoke, contemplating his words and if she believed his plan was worth following. Of course it would be better than anything she came up with, which would likely include them simply running into their base and taking one in the middle of the night. She sure was reckless. She would then look up and notice him staring at her, to which she'd give him a slightly annoyed look right back.

"What?"

" You like getting attention don't you. "

She would chuckle for a second and then lean forward and poke his chin with her nails, "Careful what you say next, dearest. You're speaking to your fiance' after all." She'd then stand upright and look over to Sarabi in the pilot seat. She'd come up behind the redhead and swing her arms over the girl's shoulders which made her tense up out of fear; Sarabi wasn't exactly at the point of trusting the sadistic teen. "But don't worry, Kitten, my love. You'll still get all my attention." The woman shivered thinking about the "attention" she'd be getting. Bellatrix wasn't the type of woman to give kind love. Lux would be able to tell the woman's skin would lose some of its color and her hands would start to sweat: both signs of nervousness and fear.

Turning her head to the side so she could lay her head on Sarabi's shoulder and still see Lux, she would then speak again to him, "If we're to be capturing some of them alive we'll need some way to restrain them as well as sedate them. I don't have any sort of carriers like those cages you and Clara kept the Force-doggies in. I don't want them using their magics to try and escape or bewitch us."

 

[Caine]

" I didn't say it was a bad thing, if anything it works out well for me. Enemies won't realize that me and my kids even exist if they're distracted by you. " Lux said raising his hands in mock surrender. At least not until I put a knife in there back anyway and by that point it's much much to late for them to do anything about it. "

I should probably be worried that I actually find her fondness for torture attractive but I'd be a hypocrite if I did. Lux mused to himself as he listened to her speaking to her pet. " I have some drugs with me strong enough to knock out a full grown Noghri if they lack my gifts so they should be more then capable of putting a witch out for a while but I doubt I'll need them.
I'm sure I can persuade them to behave like good little witches if not I find breaking a persons legs makes escaping quite difficult for them and there magic seems to require physical contact and I'm resistant so as long as you don't go within arms reach we should be fine. " He said after spending several moments thinking about it.

" I'll put on a demonstration for them when we find them to convince them to be helpful and even if they try anything I highly doubt any of them are strong enough to overpower you let alone fast enough to do anything before I can put a knife into there spine.
They won't be putting up a lot of resistance if I paralyze them, maybe we can give your an apprentice a pet witch to play with to help her lose those silly morals she's trying to hold onto after all what kind of Ra'Kul would she be if she was squeamish about hurting people. " As he spoke he looked over at the apprentice letting a little of his bloodlust seep into his voice as he grinned at chuckling sadistically under his breath.

@EmilyHuene

 

[EmilyHuene]

" I didn't say it was a bad thing, if anything it works out well for me. Enemies won't realize that me and my kids even exist if they're distracted by you. At least not until I put a knife in there back anyway and by that point it's much much to late for them to do anything about it. I have some drugs with me strong enough to knock out a full grown Noghri if they lack my gifts so they should be more then capable of putting a witch out for a while but I doubt I'll need them.
I'm sure I can persuade them to behave like good little witches if not I find breaking a persons legs makes escaping quite difficult for them and there magic seems to require physical contact and I'm resistant so as long as you don't go within arms reach we should be fine. "

"Aright," she would say agreeing to his plan. "If you think this is the best way I will trust you. Go get ready."

" I'll put on a demonstration for them when we find them to convince them to be helpful and even if they try anything I highly doubt any of them are strong enough to overpower you let alone fast enough to do anything before I can put a knife into there spine. They won't be putting up a lot of resistance if I paralyze them, maybe we can give your an apprentice a pet witch to play with to help her lose those silly morals she's trying to hold onto after all what kind of Ra'Kul would she be if she was squeamish about hurting people. "

Sarabi would look over with wide eyes as Lux mentioned the possibility of her torturing or tormenting another soul. What a cruel thought. She could never be so evil towards another life. Her own life had been given away to Bellatrix as part of her own will, but she would not obey an order like that. Bellatrix, however, smirked at the idea and would pat Sarabi on her head like a pet.

"As fun as that sounds, it would be rather boring watching this one trying to be mean. I just don't think she has it in her. Now come on. Let's get ready. I want to grab us a witch."

Not much longer and the small group of assassins would leave the Thunderstorm and head out into the red woods of Dathomir. Far in the distance was a tall mountain. From what little information Bellatrix could gather on the race of witches, she inferred that they had made some sort of domain in the caves there. That was her destination.

 

[Caine]

" Me and Inlustris are already good to go, she'll stick with you the witches will underestimate you all if they see you with a little girl nobody ever expects her to actually be a threat, at least until she puts a knife in there ribs anyway if she wasn't human I'd swear she had my blood in her. " Lux said patting her on the head before he stood up and walked back to the ships hatch. " Look after your new mum and make sure her pet behaves herself I'd rather not lose 2 fiances before I can marry them in 1 lifetime. Still need to kill the ones who killed the first but they'll come after me themselves one day. " Lux added muttering darkly under his breath.

" I'll be nearby when you need me Bella. " Lux said a few minutes later when the ships was closer to the ground as she looked for a place to land before he popped the hatch and stepped out into the air dropping the last 100 feet to the ground and dusting himself off before he vanished into the shadows trailing the ship's path and settling himself into the branches of a tree as it lowered to the ground reaching out with the force to check for any life signs nearby.

Finding nothing he relaxed back against the tree trunk to wait for the girls to come out and lightly brushed his force presence against Bella's for a moment to let her know he was in position nearby before doing the same to her pet chuckling quietly to himself as he imagined how the girl would react to feeling a presence as dark and bloodthirsty as his brushing against her.

@EmilyHuene

 

[EmilyHuene]

[beebox3=70%]

Dathomir
~The Red Woods~​

[/beebox3]

While Lux trailed behind them, Bellatrix had Sarabi fly a straight direct route to the mountain. They were they to be detected, this was the best way. However, they didn't want to be shot out of the sky so they couldn't risk getting too close to them. The ship would touch down a few miles away from the base of the valley and the girls would exit the ramp. Bellatrix looked over the red trees and remembered the last time she had come here. It was with her sister then. They were searching for a potential warrior for the Ra'Kul clan, possibly an apprentice even. However, it proved to be too much for the sisters to handle and Clara ended up with another nasty scar because of it. Her head wasn't in the game. She blamed that Border Alliance traitor she used to call a friend.

Having no fear of what lie beyond their sights, the female Ra'Kul led the party deep into the forests. She kept her hand firmly on her sword strapped to her back and was ready to whip it out should something happen. Inlustris could take care of herself; Bellatrix wouldn't need to worry about her. Sarabi, however, would be a painful liability to them in her current state. Her mind was shattered, her connection to the Force darkened and confused, and her weapons taken from her. She was frail and weak: a perfect target for the witches. Sarabi could feel that this place was filled with so much hatred and loss that it reminded her of Korriban. The Dark side was highly present here, regardless of the fact this system lay within the Border Alliance's control. Still, there was another source of darkness here with them: her mistress' newly betrothed. Lux was out there somewhere watching them like a predator. She could feel his aura flirting with her own, smothering what little light she tried to hold onto within his twisted mind.

Once they began to get closer to the hidden village, the group began to notice something bizarre. Hanging from several of the threes were mummified corpses. Each body had been dressed and wrapped up as a sign of respect to their fallen. But, the sight of seeing all these dead bodies hanging from the trees gave Sarabi a mind numbing chill. Her hands shook and her lips quivered. This culture clearly honored their dead in a much different way than her own culture. This was dark. Evil. Cruel. Soulless. There was no limit to the words. Although, Bellatrix was clearly enjoying herself. Her personality was a much more sadistic one.

It wouldn't be much longer for them to suddenly be surrounded by a group of them which all seemed to come out of hiding perfectly around them. True they were masters of shadows. Did Bellatrix sense them? Had she been blind to them? Or was she just pretending she had? Her hand was still holding the hilt of her blade for she did not trust a fight to not break out. Each of the witches would be armed with various weapons, but most of them were holding energy bows. Every bow was strung with an arrow fitted to strike. For a moment, no one spoke. The witches were waiting for the command to simply gut the trespassers where they stood.

"Sal-U-Tations," Bellatrix spoke with her usual greeting. "I'm hoping to seek an audience with one of your sorcerers."

A response would come from one of them in the group though it was impossible to identify who it was that had spoken, "We have no business with foreigners!"

 

[Caine]

Tracking Bella and her companions from the shadows of the trees around them Lux hummed to himself as he followed them letting his aura withdraw slightly from Sarabi only to smother her in it again the moment he felt her begin to recover from it's effects enjoying the way the scent of light about her seemed to be fractionally weaker each time he released her from his aura again.

Lux stopped tormenting her a short while later when he felt something in the small group's emotions shift, he could feel Bella becoming excited by something, Sarabi recoiling from whatever it was that was exciting her mistress and Inlustris force presence drawing in on itself tightly before another presence seemed to swallow it up so that he could only faintly sense her ahead of him. She's getting good at hiding herself if I didn't know her presence so well I wouldn't be able to find her at all and I'm certain nobody else will be able to detect her force presence now. Lux thought to himself proudly.

Passing by the first body Lux soon discovered what had caused the reaction in them as he felt something dark scratching at his mind growing stronger the closer he came to the hidden village until he opened himself up to it and his eyes instantly turned a pale yellow as he noticed faint presences in the shadows moving around Bella and her companions ahead of him and he realized that Inlustris had hidden her presence because she'd detected them as well.

Lux didn't notice as he bared his fangs slightly in a feral grin when he settled into the shadow of a tree when a group of presences suddenly became much clearer and he spotted Bella and her companions surrounded by a group of witches. Reaching out to her he brushed his presence against her for a moment again to let her know he was nearby before he noticed a second group of presences still trying to hide themselves.

There not bad I can't see them at all even knowing that they're close. Lux mused to himself pleased that at least these enemies had some potential. Unfortunately for them the dark might hide you from sight but it doesn't hide your scent. He added after a moments contemplation before he sniffed slightly and silently crept up behind one of the still hidden witches the feral grin on his face widening in anticipation before he drew a knife a drove it straight through the witches back and into her heart drawing an agonized scream from her that cut off half a second later as he ripped the knife out before driving it into her throat.

Over the next 30 seconds several more screams came out of the shadows around the visible group before cutting off, ahead of Bella a faint figure appeared moving between one shadow and another before another flashed past it and the first figure toppled over the body of a witch dropping out of the shadows it's head rolling away from the body shortly before the sound of metal striking metal was heard and a final witch came running out of the shadows with blood leaking down a slash to her face before a faint whirling sound came from the shadow the witch had just fled from and she was thrown forward to skid across the ground face down crying out in pain with the handle of a knife visible sticking out the back of her neck.

A moment later dark bone chilling laughter could be heard coming from the trees all around the group of witches before the severed heads of the other witches Lux had killed were thrown towards the living group and he appeared behind the pair pointing weapons at Bella's back with a knife resting point first against both witches spines.
" I dislike it when people point weapons at my fiance and daughter. " Lux said conversationally. " Want me to disarm them Bella? " Lux asked Bella the emphasis on disarm making it clear he meant it literally.

 

[EmilyHuene]

Lux's efforts against Bellatrix's pet was making her more and more anxious. SHe couldn't help herself, but her fear was rising. She wanted to stop it, to stop herself from feeling so scared, but she didn't know how. Maybe that's how the witches found them so easy. Fear always was a pretty good indication of weakness.

"Why have you come?"​

Words echoed in her head. But it was not a voice she recognized. She looked up and around, but saw no one. Who had this mysterious voice been? She tried to respond, letting her mental connection to the Force do its work. But she got no response. Not at first at least.

"You are trespassing"​

It was then that the hunters around them all came out of hiding and surrounded them, arrows pointed at the three of them uniquely. Sarabi gulped and scolded herself for not sensing this sooner. No one had ever snuck up on her before. Her senses were some of her strongest powers and because of her Miralukan heritage she could even see without the use of her eyes. So how had they taken her by surprise? Maybe she was distracted. Maybe her nerves were causing her to lose focus. Whatever the reason, she was trapped.

"Your friends will die"​

"Who is this?" Sarabi tried to call out. She couldn't sense this person anywhere. Her mind tried to reach out only to feel even more lost and confused. Her eyes started to get droopy as she felt herself becoming less aware of what was happening around her....

Bellatrix would sneak a quick look behind her and notice something strange happening with her apprentice. She could see it in the girl's eyes. One of the witches was hypnotizing her; exactly as she expected. But then she'd hear some clanging ahead of her so she'd whip her head back around to see a severed head roll across the ground. The mask that hid her face was covered with blood. Bellatrix looked up with a smirk and she felt her to-be-husband behind her.

" I dislike it when people point weapons at my fiance and daughter. Want me to disarm them Bella? "

"Not quite yet," the teen would say and turn around to see Lux holding two of the hunters captive. "I think my apprentice has something to say."

"Kill them"​

Sarabi suddenly hissed much like a rapid animal and lunged at Bellatrix. The mistress was ready for her apprentice to try something so foolish and used the girl's weight against her to throw her and pin her to the ground. She'd then use the Force to steal one of Inlustris' knives and place the it against the back of Sarabi's neck where her spine was.

"Wow that was pretty close, Kitten. Or I wonder...is someone else in control now. Who am I speaking to?"

The girl, formerly Sarabi, hissed and scowled at Bellatrix as she squirmed around trying to free herself. It was like the witch had placed a spell on her to turn her into a vicious killer, but nothing else. No senses, no right from wrong, just kill.

"I asked who I am speaking to," she would repeat.

"Why have you come here?"​

The three others would hear this strange woman's voice in their heads. How it had so easily broken into their minds to speak with them was nothing short of impressive. Bellatrix closed her eyes and tried to force the witch out, but she couldn't seem to do anything. Whatever spell the witch was using, it was nothing like the Force. Something she didn't understand, meant something she could't prevent. Lux likely would feel the same problem. Thankfully this stranger did not wish to place a spell over their minds...at least not yet.

 

[Caine]

When Sarabi lunged at Bella Lux immediately pushed the pair of knives he was holding into the pair of witches in front of him before his lands flew to his lower back ripping the pair of carbines strapped there out of there holsters and bringing them up to point at the rest of the witches gathered around them as the first 2 crumpled to the ground limply with there spines severed.

Feeling more secure now he had blasters in hand and his back secure he growled faintly as he tried closing his mind off and found that it had no effect on the voice in his head. Nobody can get into my head this easily. Lux thought growing angrier as he failed to push it out before he cut his connection to the force his eyes returning to there normal black as he concealed himself completely hoping that it would make it harder for whoever was in his head to maintain the connection.

After a moment the voice dulled slightly and Lux's anger began to dissipate before the voice stabilized again fainter then before as if the witch was finding it more difficult to find his mind but still there.
I can't get whoever that is out but maybe I bet she'll have trouble trying to influence me if she can't understand the way my mind is working let's see how she likes trying to control a Noghri's mind. Lux thought savagely before he completely surrendered to his more feral nature letting his mind be swallowed entirely by the darkness as he'd taught his children.

Usually Lux was cautious when dealing with an unknown threat but with defense having failed to repel the witch invading his mind and the darkness inside him having swallowed his consciousness in an effort to limit the influence the witch could have on him his instincts had taken over.
With no conscious thought to temper them his overriding instinct was to attack the presence that did not belong and he latched onto it and instead of trying to push it out he began trying to drag it down into the darkness with him but had little success.

As he began trying to attack the presence in his mind a small part of him registered Inlustris press herself against his back trembling with the strain of trying to resist as one of the witches attempted to hypnotize her as well expecting her to be to weak to resist.
The instant it registered that one of the witches was attacking his daughter an overwhelming rage rose up in him and threw his connection to the force wide open and completely forgetting why they'd come here to begin with he reached out finding the minds of every witch in the clearing and began taring at them.

A moment later most of the witches began trembling from the strain of trying to repel his attack, several had clutched there heads crying out in pain and the weakest among them had already dropped to her knees with blood leaking from her eyes, ears and nose as she scratched frantically at her face before letting out a blood curdling scream and collapsing entirely as her mind buckled slightly and then broke and was dragged down into the dark within Lux.

Even the presence in his head recoiled slightly in shock at the sheer amount of rage induced power pouring off of Lux as the rest of the witches dropped to there knees one by one and blood began leaking from them as well before they finally managed to pool there power together to resist only for it to shatter moments later as Inlustris now free of the witch attacking her sank into the dark herself before targeting the witch who'd attacked her and her target already straining to resist Lux was swallowed instantly as she retaliated her own rage at what her target had tried to force her to do giving her enough power to easily overwhelm the already weakened witch and drag her mind into the dark.

With the loss of a second witch the remaining witches weakened from Lux's initial attack lacked the power to resist him and began frantically trying to stop themselves being dragged down like the previous two, this all happened in the space of a bare dozen seconds and the pair of Tenebris feeding off each others rage didn't even hear the presence still in there minds ask Bella why they'd come as they focused solely on breaking the witches who'd dared attack them.

@EmilyHuene

 

[EmilyHuene]

While Lux tried to break the minds of the other witches, they all seemed to back off as he poured his attack into their heads. Two of them fell and cried out as their brains were basically crushed inside their heads. But the harder Lux pushed, the more the other presence of the woman came to defend her daughters. He'd feel her there, in each of their minds, blocking his will. However, in doing so, she lost her control over Inlustris, as well as Bellatrix, Sarabi, and Lux. She was using all of her power to subdue his own attack and save her people.

"Enough!"​

Her voice would echo in the witches head's loud enough to hopefully push him back. Immediately after the girls would all turn and flee toward the mountain to escape this strange man who could battle against their own mother. Such a thing was unheard of. For him to be so powerful......it was impossible. While the girls escaped the presence of the sorceress seemed to vanish altogether. As such, Sarabi would stir underneath Bellatrix's grasp and look up at her mistress in confusion.

"What happened? What are you doing?"

Bellatrix would prick the girl's neck with the blade making Sarabi wince in pain before getting off of her and saying, "You were put under that woman's control. I stopped you of course."

Rubbing her neck and getting to her feet, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

Bellatrix would just hold a hand up, not expecting the girl to apologize. Everything had gone exactly as she expected it to, whether or not Sarabi was aware of it. She would then hold out the knife back to Inlustris if she wished to take it back.

"It seems we found our witch. Would you like to go pay her a visit?"