RO-0K let out an exasperated sigh, Who would be that mad with my service?

Bestin, let's wake the Bounty Hunter...

RO-0K led the way to where the hunter was secured to the bulkhead. It brought its arm down in a backhanded slap. Wake up!

The hunter starts, "Hu- wha- owww." His head lolls to the side, and he looks around the room, disoriented. "What the kriff?"

"Kriff" Indeed.. RO-0K responded, straightening. I would like to inquire about this annoying bounty on my person.. Let's start with who commissioned it.

He glares back defiantly, "Your momma. Where in Corellia's nine hells are my pants?"

My.... Ro-0K scoffed, Your pants are the least of your problems.. if you don't start cooperating, I will be letting my large associate here cut strips off of you.. I don't believe he has eaten in quite some time... It looked up at Bestin, Can you believe the rudeness of this being?

"You're the ones who stole my pants, and if you've been starving your pet lizard, that's not my fault. Maybe why your mom put out a hit on you. Ask her, I don't know."

Bestin starts laughing, doubling over helplessly.

RO-0K glares at Bestin, Really?

RO-0K calls out towards Raxel's work station, Do you have the name of this hunter?? It turned back to the hunter, I am going to write a scathing preview with your guild!

Bestin wheezes, leaning on the wall and still laughing.

"Aw, you wouldn't! I'm quaking in my boots. Oh wait, I'm not. You hid those too. Braxis Zaine's the name. Or is it Miko Neidra? I never can remember anymore." He smiles winningly at RO-0K, sending Bestin into further paroxysms of laughter.

RO-0K looked from the hunter, Bestin and back again.. then calmly drew the blaster slung across it's chest and pressed it to the hunters knee.

The hunter looked at the blaster and laughed.

Until RO-0K pulled the trigger, and the joint fragmented nearly severing the limb, the hunter stared at the smoking wound....then screamed in agony.

RO-0K half turned to Bestin, a swirl of vaper emanated from the blaster's barrel. Am I a joke now?

Bestin wheezes a few more times, then composes himself. "Tagwa lorda."

The hunter slumps over, passed out. "What now?" Bestin asks.

RO-0K watches dispassionately for a moment, as blood weeps from the partially cauterized wound.. the pool of blood grows for a bit. Bestin looks uncertain for a moment.. uhhh...

RO-0K slowly turns it's head to the Trandosian, Apply a tourniquet, and we will try again.. perhaps answers will be more forthcoming.

R1 beeps excitedly, congratulating RO-0K on his interrogation methods and waving his holdout blaster menacingly.

"Hsssk... We're out of ssstimpacksss, but I'll sssee what I can do." Bestin takes out the ship's emergency medpac and tries to stop the bleeding, but doesn't really succeed. He looks up at RO-0K, "Thisss isssn't my ssstrong sssuit. You want to give it a try?"

After a lot of work, Raxle manages to restore a chunk of the transmission: "-eed an expense account, for starters, and I want more information. What do you want with this courier anyway? You're talking a lot of money here." The bounty hunter says to the hologram of a middle-aged man in a smart suit.
The man straightens and says, "That's no business of yours. I want his body and brain, intact if you can manage it. Make sure he is sufficiently disabled first, though. This droid is a crafty one."
"Look, Mister Notka, I'm an independent operator, you're Republic intel. I'll take your job, but I've got to know if this is going to cross any of the big players. I don't want to jeopardize my future employment opportunities. Why do you want the droid?"
"It's a long story, far above your paygrade. But if it makes you feel any better, he works for a Mriss named Quissar. You may have heard of 'Pigeon'? He takes jobs for anybody who can pa-" Here, the rest of the transmission becomes unrecoverable.

Humph... RO-0K muttered, walked over to the hunter and leaned over so it's faceplate was millimeters from his face. So.. how are those future employment opportunities? Hmmm? Moron...

RO-0K looks around at the others, So.. we are being hunted because Republic Intelligence is after me.. I think it might be wise if I take time to upgrade our security procedures. I will understand if any of you wish to distance yourself from this situation.

Bestin hisses, "My clan on Trandosssha is counting on me. I need to ssstay out of trouble, and preferably alive... It would be bessst if I find a new line of work."

RO-0K nodded, I understand.. Let's call and ambulance for our two guests and leave them in a decent neighborhood. I can drop you all off on another planet, far from Republic reach... Until I can find out more information on why they are hunting me..

PART FOUR:

Cadena Ralvem, Sienna Ralvem, Magna Barda, Aleena Ti

CHAPTER ONE: OUT OF DARKNESS.

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It is five years after the fall of Emperor Palpatine and his Empire. In the first time in a millennia, Jedi and Sith have no direct influence in the galaxy, sects of Force users are beginning to come out of hiding. Many were fearful of losing their secrets or children to the Jedi or Sith, or becoming involved in their destructive, unending feuds.

The witches of Dathomir have long kept their collective presence secret from the known galaxy. Until the Clone wars, a sect of witches, known as Nightsisters, who had aided Sith Lords in the past, took sides in the ensuing conflict. Their actions were against the Sith and they were massacred for their betrayal.

In the following years, A surviving Nightsister has risen from the ashes and has made headway in bringing the more peaceful witch clans of Dathomir together to heal the wounds of generations of feuds, into establishing a new Nightsister coven. This new Coven would act to protect all of Dathomir from those who would seek to exploit them. In order to achieve her goal, the newly appointed Coven Mother; Celia, has summoned the best four of her newer members……

Dathomir.

Summoned to the ruins of the old Nightsister cavern, the four young witches approach, as they pass through the entrance they see the figures carved from the rock face are heavily worn and crumbling into gravel, a green glow emanates from small bowls spread throughout the cave. Young Dathomiri are collecting items into crates, baskets and canvas sacks.. anything that is able to hold the precious cargo.

Celia; newly elevated Mother of the new Coven, stands in front of a stone alter, the loose strands of her red wraps sway to a nonexistent breeze. The sides of her head are shaved exposing thin vine like tattoos, her white hair is pulled to her left side with a few thin braids mixed in as they too lightly dance in the breeze-less air.

Ahh.. Sisters, Celia spreads her arms open in greeting, her voice carries a subtle echo. Welcome to the ancestral home of our Coven. Her voice is heavy with sadness.

Sienna gazes around the entrance to the Nightsister cavern, fascinated by the ruins and artifacts, wondering at their purpose, use, methods of creation, and what she could learn from them given the chance.

Cadena is less enthralled by her surroundings, her mind already focused on the potential for a mission and considering what that might be. She's been eager to do something for the new coven, desiring to prove her worth and help protect the fragile peace. She protectively tries to stay slightly ahead and to the right of her sister, which isn't hard since Sienna slows down every two steps, something new catching her interest. " Do I need to hold your hand? " Cadena finally hisses. Sienna looks a bit bashful and refocuses to the front, picking up her pace. "No, no. I'm coming."

Neither sister has seen the cavern before, as their mother left the Nightsisters as a small girl along with her mother, who had split with the coven over their increased involvement in galactic affairs.

Sienna slows down again, something else catching her eye, then sheepishly speeds up as she realizes her distraction. "This isn't quite how mother described it... Or how I pictured it, at least."

"Mother left as a child," Cadena responds, "a few years before the droid attack. Any memories not clouded by time will have since had their origins eroded by the shifting sands of time."

"And blaster fire..." Sienna adds somewhat sadly.

They cease talking when they see Celia, coming to a stop when they get close to the stone alter. They are only a few seconds behind two other witches, one who they do not recognize, and one who they recognize as a fellow member of the Singing Mountain clan, though they are not well acquainted.

Aleena was contemplating the unexpected twists and turns of Dathomiri planetary politics as she entered the Nightsister cavern.

The complete irony of a Nightsister being the one to unite the clans of Dathomir peacefully, when previously the Nightsisters were considered to be a clan of outcasts who practised evil sorcery ... Mother Celia has shown some serious charisma and political savvy - not to mention a fascinating mastery of Dathomiri magic - while accomplishing all of that.

A rock sticking out of the uneven cavern floor caused her to stumble, bringing her attention back to her immediate surroundings.

I’d better focus on what’s going on around me. After all, I originally left Singing Mountain and joined Mother Celia’s new Dathomiri coven mainly so that I might study the remaining Nightsister artefacts. I wonder why they’re packing them up now?

Aleena looked up expectantly at her new coven mother.

Barda looked around curiously as she strode into the Nightsister cavern.

I wonder why’re they packing up? She shrugged mentally. Ah well, I guess that we’ll find out soon enough. As mother Te taught us about patience back home in Great Canyon: “water finds a way”.

She rolled her shoulders and stretched her neck as she came to a halt before Celia, noting as she did the arrival of three other young witches behind her. One stumbled over a rock in the cave floor as she walked distractedly through the open space, and the other two had slowed momentarily and were whispering together.

I guess that those two already know each other.

The whisperers exhibited similar features or possibly an actual family resemblance, including the white hair found in some Nightsister bloodlines. They also had the facial tattoos which were traditional amongst those same Nightsister bloodlines, unlike the tripper or Barda herself.

Time to be diplomatic - hah! I suspect that Te just wanted me out of the house, and found the perfect excuse when Celia asked each clan to send representatives to join her new, pan-Dathomiri coven. Well, I might not be diplomatic, but I can be patient.

Barda waited stoicly for the others to arrive and for Celia to speak about her reason for summoning the four of them.

Celia studied the young women as they approached; each flick of the eye, the subtle contrast of their interactions within the Force, even the clear differences in their physical appearance. So different than the Sisterhood of the past..

The corners of Celia's mouth curved upward in an amused smile. I can feel your un asked questions daughters, Celia's haunting words carried that ethereal echoing voice that some of them had heard stories about. A flick of her finger towards the individuals packing items, and carrying them out of the cavern. This site is not safe, too many of our enemies know of it and we are not strong enough to protect it. So, we will learn from our enemies; the Sith hid in the shadows for generations, building their power. After the Clone Wars, it was the Jedi who were in hiding.. So too will the witches of Dathomir... Celia's voice had held an even tone like a teacher of ancient history. Her voice tensed at the end, clearly the thought rankled.

Celia took a calming breath before continuing.

We have received word from our sisters, across many systems, that the Empire came into possession of at least one of our tools that was lost in the Clone Wars; a crystal orb that was used by the great Mother Talzin. It had the ability to look across great distances, even through time, with this artifact back in the Covin's possession we will once again be able to keep an eye on our enemies and allies.

Aleena became visibly excited by the last bit of Celia's speech.

Now that's why I agreed to join the new coven! An ancient relic like that must be returned to the Dathomiri covens, particularly this one.

Although Cadena seems utterly unimpressed, her interest has actually been further piqued. Such a powerful artifact would certainly do well to protect the clans.

Sienna absent-mindedly fingers one of the tassels on her satchel. She's grinning broadly, eyes are alight, clearly fascinated by the prospect and marveling at just how advanced the alchemical techniques used to create such an item must have been. Clearly far, far beyond anything she can do. Now, or possibly ever . "Do we know who has it? Can they use it? Would they know we're coming? Who are our enemies? Do we actually have any right now, or are you just keeping an eye to the future? How long..." Sienna stops, looking a bit embarrassed at having released such a deluge of questions without being prompted. " Sorry ... uh, Mother Celia."

Cadena simply looks ahead stoically, very used to this by now. But still irritated.

Celia's small grin spread into a full smile, she seemed to float towards Sienna, reaching out a thin figured hand to touch Sienna's chin with thumb and fore finger. Her thumb nail was sharp, but gentle against her skin. Oh, child.. Celia's voice was filled with true warmth. Your enthusiasm is a treasure.. Celia let go and glided back to the stone alter and retrieved a datapad. As to your questions; One of our sisters, an operative named Gala tracked down rumors of the orb to a man named Wakati Root. Root seems to be a man with long ties to Palpatine when they served together as representatives in the Republic Senate, it was Gala's mission to further track down information on him, so we have a better understanding of him before we moved against him. Celia handed out datasticks to the four women. These devices have Gala's preliminary report, she was unable to find out if this man is able to use the Force, but... Anyone with ties to the Sith Emperor must be approached with caution. Celia's warmth drained from her voice as she spoke. This report is the last we have heard from Gala, so we simply do not know if our enemies are fully aware of our actions..

Celia paused in front of Cadena and Magna. Your skills may be required, not only to protect your fellow sisters with you, but to avenge poor Gala..