Coming Home

[Tarana]

Iridonia. Home.

For Tarana, those two words hadn't been together in a sentence for a very long time. She took her time walking through the city, peering into shops and looking at the goods and tech they had to offer. To her relief, no one had yet recognized her; past her war paint and the cowl that wrapped up around her head, hiding her long red hair. She didn't want to be found yet, oh no, she would prefer to stride right up to her family, give them a surprise that would wake them like a slap across the face. She wasn't cruel, but she did love to tease, to see the reactions of those closest to her. The redhead smiled at the thought of what expression might cross her fathers face when he finally recognized her, breaking her facepaint as her lips widened to show bright white teeth.

On to the palace then Tarana thought as she resumed her path once more, heading into the center of the city and beelining right for the palace, where the Novar family presided.

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Within the palace Krest sat on his throne, idly napping on and off. The past couple of days had been crazy busy between trying to prepare the factories to craft the new fleet that would represent his people. He had just nodded off again when his daughter, Asajj, burst into the room. "Father!" She had strode right up to the throne by the time he opened his eyes, his blue gaze unfocused for a moment as he tried to wake.

"Hmm? What's up?" Asajj openly pouted, setting her hands on her hips. "Why are you sleeping? We still have much more to do today. The newest batch of troops are on their way to the pit to be tested." Krest groaned as he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. "That time already? Gah, I was hoping to sleep a bit more.."

[member="Tarana"]

 

[Tarana]

Tarana came to a stop at the base of the grand stair that led its way up into the palace, gripping her spear in one hand while the other sat on her hip. She took a moment to calm herself, doing a few deep breaths to prepare herself for what she was about to do before she let an excited grin spread across her lips and made her way up the stair. She slowly strode up the palace stair with confidence, which probably made her look quite intimidating when it was paired with the skeletal type face paint she wore. Tarana continued on her path until she reached the top, her grin still wide across her painted face as she beelined right for the giant doors that led into the palace.

[member="Asajj Novar"] [member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Tarana"] was immediately met by a pair of guards at the door. A male and a female, standing there imposingly as they lowered their force pikes in a crossed shape on the doors. They were the twins, Kier and Van, dressed in the signature honorguard armor. Kier was the one to speak up, as she was the only one with a voice. "State your business and put your spear away. This is your only warning before we will bring you down. Weapons are not permitted to be drawn on palace grounds." She spoke with clear authority, glaring at [member="Tarana"] with an unfamiliarity and annoyance.

 

[Tarana]

Tarana's grin grew wicked as she smiled at the two guards, coming to a stop a few feet from their pikes. She had been expecting the guards to stop her, everyone thought she was dead. Her vibrant green eyes glinted from under her cowl, lifting her head a little so that her face paint showed along with her bright white teeth as she excitedly bared her incisors at them. She didn't speak though as she began to back up, until there was a good fifteen feet between them, before she ran for them, picking up her pace as she grew closer. As she drew close enough she slammed her spear to the ground, using it as leverage as she leaped into the air, flying over their pikes and landing in a crouch behind them. She turned to grin at the twins, holding out her arms in challenge.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

The twins slowly began to lower their force pikes as she backed away, accepting the retreat, or at least what they assumed was a retreat. Next thing they knew [member="Tarana"] had suddenly pole vaulted over their weapons, landing behind him with a smug expression on her face and her weapon ready for a fight. Kier and Van both jumped back to create enough space for their weapons to be brought around. Neither of them spoke as they both charged forward, their weapons brandished with lethal intent.

Kier was first to charge in, thrusting the weapon low in a quick fashion while Van came up behind her. They had been fighting side by side for their entire lives, moving as if they were one person. As she thrust out low she ducked, letting Van swing his own weapon in a wide arc above her to catch Tarana if she blocked Kier.

 

[Tarana]

Tarana grinned wider, clearly excited at the prospect of battle as she jumped into the air, using the staves of their pikes as stepping stones as she flipped once more. She swiped out with her own weapon as she flew through the air, aiming for Vans head with the dull side of her spear. She didn't want to hurt the guards, just humiliate them, or knock them out.

Tarana spun to face them, lashing out with the blunt end of her spear once more as she poked Van in the back side, silent all the while.


[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Tarana"] would find the pair of guards not so easily dealt with. As the dull part of her spear came around for Van's head Kier suddenly flipped onto her hands as she dropped her weapon. Her whole torso twisted as she swung her legs for the intruders weapon to knock it away from her brother's head. As she did Van too dropped his weapon, turning with Tarana's jump as his armored forearms crossed to protect himself from her spear.

Kier behind him flipped up onto her feet again, catching Van's spear from the air and swung it over Van's shoulder for the witch's torso once again.

 

[Tarana]

Tarana leaned back in just enough time to avoid the pike, before her hand shot out to grab the staff. She gave a harsh tug so as to pull the weapon from Kiers hands. Throughout it all a grin stayed plastered to her face, clearly enjoying it all. She heavily swung her spear back around to crash it into Vans midsection, her weapon bending with the force of the attack, though it didn't break.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Kier didn't bother to try to wrench the weapon from [member="Tarana"] 's grasp, assuming her own strength was more than enough to keep a grip. This belief lasted until she finally noticed the weapon wasn't in her hands anymore. "Wait, shi-" Whack. Van, who had stepped forward to swing his meaty fist into the trespassers stomach under the assumption the polearm was in control of his sister found himself sent back into Kier, slamming into her hard. The twins toppled over eachother, slamming into the dounle doors of the palace with a dull thud. There they laid for a moment, groaning as they tried to find their senses again.

 

[Tarana]

Tarana grinned as she dropped the pike, striding close to them before she swung her staff twice more, just hard enough to knock them out, landing her strikes against the sides of their heads. She stood there at the ready for a moment or more, just to make sure they'd been knocked out fully.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

They were easily knocked out cold as [member="Tarana"] brought her spear around to clock them in the head. But it didn't go unnoticed. The commotion seemed to have alerted other nearby guards who were shouting to one another just around the corner. Reinforcements were on their way. Inside, Krest and Asajj both looked to the door, each subtly reaching for their weapons. They were getting ready for what ever attack was coming.

 

[Tarana]

Tarana lifted her head, cocking it to the side gently as if to listen better to the noise growing around her. She'd stirred up some attention, her plan from the very beginning; she wanted to make a show of the fact that she'd come home. Take your seats, the show is about to begin. The words echoed out to any who were within fifteen feet of the door, appearing in their mind like a thought in a haunting, mischevious tone. Tarana grinned as she moved, gently lifting the twin guards out of the way of the door and propping them up against the wall beside it, making sure they were out of the way and their weapons out of their grasp before she turned to face the double doors once more.

She felt her breath catch in her throat for a moment as she stared at the obstacle before her, hesitating only for a moment before the smile found her lips once more. Tarana strode forward confidently and shoved the door open with ease, into the jaws of what awaited her on the other side. She banged the blunt end of her spear against the ground as she came to a stop, her eyes locked on one thing; the father and daughter that stood at the throne.

[member="Krest"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Father, this.. This is familiar." Asajj's voice was barely a whisper as she gazed at the door. The fight had shown something she had almost completely forgotten, but something she still couldn't put her finger on. Her bow came into her hand as the violet plasma formed the string and an arrow of pure energy was notched. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she waited for the door to be opened, and soon enough it was.

And she gasped. Her eyes widened as she saw [member="Tarana"] , a face she could never forget. Her own. The bow slowly lowered, the arrow fading away as she released the pull on her string. "Its.. Tarana?"

Krest who had stood beside his daughter had his axe in hand, ready for what ever fight was coming their way. He didn't recognized the woman immediately, instead tensing his body for a strong leap to attack. But as he readied his jump Asajj's voice fell on his ears, causing his whole body to loose all tension. "T.. Tarana?"

 

[Tarana]

Tarana felt her shoulders drop a little bit, her smile faltering slightly as she stared at her sister. Her green gaze stayed on her sister for a few moments before she turned it to her father to stare at him for a few moments as well. She coughed, to clear her throat, scratching the back of her neck as she turned her eyes away from them; they'd recognized her a bit quicker than she'd anticipated, even through the face paint. Her spear clattered to the ground as Tarana dropped it, slowly walking forward towards her father and sister, her expression sheepish behind the skull facepaint.

You, ah, sorta ruined the surprise there... Tarana's voice echoed through [member=[/FONT]"Asajj Novar"] 's and Krest's minds, the tone of it differing from the mischevious voice she'd had earlier as it took on a more joyful melancholy in the presence of her family. I had a carefully thought out plan.. W...with a light show and everything... Her smile resurfaced, softer this time instead of the wicked grin she had worn earlier. But I guess the- ah, Bantha's out of the bag now?

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Y.. You were dead." Asajj stuttered her words, just blinking dumbly at the sight of her sister stepping towards her. It was like a dream, an illusion that shouldn't be real. The young Dathomir slowly approached [member="Tarana"] , her bow clattering to the ground before she picked up her step, running and eventually jumping to tackle her twin into a tight hug. "But you're back. Just like Father you came back." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she numbly held the person she felt closest to in the whole galaxy. A woman who's bond couldn't be understood.

Krest kept to the back, a faint smile formed on his lips as he watched his daughters, setting his axe in it's holster behind his back. The guards came into the room now from the commotion before, where he held up a hand to diffuse any hostility they might have to the stranger.

 

[Tarana]

Tarana blinked in surprise at [member="Asajj Novar"] 's words, though she accepted the hug warmly as she held onto her crying twin. Like... Father? The woman looked up and past the shoulder of her sister as she hugged her, staring at Krest from across the room. What happened while I was gone? She gave Asajj a faint smile as she gave her a tight hug, her body moved as if a sigh was leaving her even though the sound was missing.

I'm sorry, Asa... It wasn't my plan to leave you behind... Tarana spoke directly into her twins mind now, setting her painted forehead against Asajj's, trying to cheer her up with a reassuring smile. And I won't leave you again, I promise... She raised her hand, brushing the tears from her twin's face, trying to keep her own composure in check as she did.

 

[Asajj Novar]

"No no, you're fine. Death isn't something you can control." Asajj pressed her forehead back onto [member="Tarana"] 's just so thankful to have her sister back in her life. She leaned into the Witch's hand before pulling away, looking back to their father. Krest stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a large smile on his face. Then he turned to leave, giving the twins their time to celebrate their reunion.

Asajj turned her attention back to her sister, smiling still. "You beat up Kier and Van huh? They're not easy to beat down you know."

 

[Tarana]

Tarana shrugged, her wicked grin once more crossing her face. They were in my way, and I felt like throwing you two a surprise party, rather than asking for an audience. I think that's how dad would do it anyway. He can be pretty dramatic too. They should be fine though, the biggest issue for them will probably be bruised egos. She crossed her arms over her chest, looking after where their dad had disappeared before turning her attention back to her twin. She stared at Asajj for a while, feeling the heaviness in her chest disappear as it was quickly replaced by the joy of being amongst her family once more.

So... Its been a few years. What's happened exactly in my absence? The young Dathomir woman pulled her cowl off of her head, revealing the bright red hair that [member="Asajj Novar"] and her shared, adjusting the long locks so that they sat outside of the clothing rather than trapped inside. It seems like a lot has changed? Tarana bent down to grab her spear, leaning on it purely out of habit.

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Father has really brought life back to Iridonia. While he was still Sith he brought so much tech and supplies, rebuilding all the lost cities. We're even building our own fleet so we can become self sufficient!" Asajj was pretty excited with what was going on. Almost as excited as seeing [member="Tarana"] again. The guards left, closing the doors behind them but not before the other set of twins glared at the silent witch, then to Asajj, then to each other as the door shut.

"What about you? How'd you get back here?"