Private Just A Drop [Taeli]

[Elani Zambrano]

The land below shuttered as the shadow of Emberwing swiped across the land towards the Outpost A-X3. The ship ripped through the skies until it reached it's destination, halting in mid air just before descending into the starport. The ship landed with a metallic thud. The engine slowly died down as the ship's systems were deactivating. The entrance ramp descended to the ground of the starport.

For a moment, a brief moment, there was silence.

Then the silence was broken. Four hooded individuals came running out of Emberwing. They surrounded a long flat metal board that floated with repulsorcraft engines. Atop this board was the bloodied body of Elani Zambrano. She groaned and moaned as pain coursed through her body. The group moved quickly towards a door that would lead to the rest of the facility. One broke off from the group and started banging on the door.

"Let us in!" said the one banging on the door. "She's dying! Let us in!"

Should any cameras be in the area, they would only get glimpses of the faces of the hooded figures, but Elani's battered visage was out in the open. Tears and blood covered her face. Agony contorted her face as she tried to fight the pain. It was a battle she was losing.

Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Outpost A-X3, otherwise known as the Lodge as the facility acted as a hunting reserve for Sith and other guests to test their skills against Sithspawn created by the Order of Arcane Syn and their dark mistress, was not generally where Taeli spent time while on Valrar. As fortune of the Force perhaps would have it, she had been there to entertain some bureaucrats from Jutrand that had a taste for the hunt when the ship arrived at the small spaceport that served the facility.

"Lady Arcanix, there's a situation that requires your attention," her aide whispered into her ear.

"Very well," she murmured back, before addressing her guests, "Gentlemen, something has come to my attention I must address. Verel will show you to the hunt preparations. If you'll excuse me."

A quick departure, and as soon as she was out of the lounge, a datapad was being handed to her and showing her security feed of the spaceport. She didn't recognize the ship, or the hooded figures, but she did recognize Elani Zambrano and clearly the young woman had been through some ordeal. Why she came to Taeli instead of her father was a question she was sure to come, but for now, orders would be sent for these new visitors to be escorted to the small medical facility at the Lodge and she would meet them there.

Elani Zambrano

 

[Elani Zambrano]

The door before them quickly opened, revealing four guards ready to escort Elani and her entourage. Her whines of pain died down, but blood continued pooling on the table. Crimson stained her flesh and caused her clothes to glisten and stick to her and the table. The guards would see that the hooded figures were all women and each one had a sullen look upon their faces. After a brief moment of silence, one of the women spoke up.

"Any longer and we'd lose her. Move." As she spoke, the women led the table through the facility until they reached the medical facility, whether their escorts followed closely or not. They were not prepared to lose the Zambrano sorceress. Not yet.

Medical equipment was prepared and medical staff were ready before they arrived. Elani was transferred onto an operating table immediately and the women stood close by, ensuring that Elani was properly cared for. And protected if she wasn't.

"What happened?" asked one of the medical staff.

"There was an accident. That's all you need to know. Where is Darth Arcanix? Is she coming?" one of the women responded.

Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

There was a certain level of... suspicion that was required of a Sith Lady, especially one of her stature and reputation, whenever uninvited guests appeared. Her presence in the Force tightly concealed, Darth Arcanix was already nearby, watching the Zambrano daughter be brought into the operating room by her attendants and hearing every word in the observation deck. Blood was pooling on the table, and it did seem that Elani had been the subject of some sort of attack.

But looks could always be deceiving, especially for a witch.

Why not reveal what the accident might have been to medical staff now working to save the girl's life? That could contain vital information, and she employed some of the best in the field. Why be so insistent about her presence? Why would it be necessary? A touch of hand would turn the glass clear, revealing her physical presence, if not her Force presence, and one that could easily appear down below if required.

"I am here, now explain."

Elani Zambrano

 

[Elani Zambrano]

The hooded womens attention quickly shot towards Darth Arcanix. In unison, each one dropped to one knee, bowing their heads before her. One woman picked her head up to look at Taeli before speaking.

"Forgive us for coming upon you so suddenly, Lady Arcanix. We would not be here if it was not urgent. And Dark Mother trusts you so her children do too." The group of witches stood up, keeping their attention on Taeli as the removed their hoods. "You see, Dark Mother was attacked by a beast. A terrible one. One so powerful that it tore through Dark Mother's pet, Koren Merr, with no issue. We were unable to be there to defend Dark Mother. We failed her."

Another of the witches had a look of realization upon their faces. "Or did we? What if this is exactly where we are meant to be? 'By His Hunger's hand, all shall be in his plan.'?" she suggested.

The other witches looked puzzled briefly before the same look of realization. "You are right, sister. By His Hunger's hand."

"What of Dark Mother? Is this where His Hunger's path ends for her?"

Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"A beast?"

The question was a simple one, but for one that knew the Mistress of Monsters, they would know there was a level of intrigue. She was always looking for new specimens, and such a display could suggest something new she could study. The religious discussion among Elani's attendant witches held no interest for her. In a burst of black and purple mist, she would move from the observation deck to the surgery floor itself, striding forward brusquely.

"What was the nature of this creature, and where was it encountered?"

Her doctors would continue their ministrations on the wounded Zambrano witch, but the answers provided would likely dictate what they would need to do to ensure a full recovery. And if the answers were withheld or too vague for her liking... well there were ways to gain the information she desired.

Elani Zambrano

 

[Elani Zambrano]

One of the witches were about to speak when, suddenly, the medical staff around Elani all perked up and stood up straight in unison. They dropped everything and turned to leave the room. The witches all turned to check on Elani who continued to lie on the table.

"Dark Mother?" called out one of the witches.

Just after the last syllable escaped the witches lips, Elani sat up instantly, her hands were glowing with a shadowy purple energy as she weaved them in different patterns and uttered incantations beneath her breath. Her wounds slowly sealed up and healed as if they never existed. Elani hopped off the table and looked at each of her followers.

"Leave us." Elani commanded. The witches left the room in single file. After the last one left, the door shut behind them. Elani bent backwards slightly, stretching herself out as if she just woke up from a nap. She then twirled to look at Taeli. "Lady Arcanix. It has been a long time." she said with a bow before her.

Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

An eyebrow would quirk up, whether it be in amusement or exasperation, as her medical personnel and the witch attendants to Elani all stopped moving as one and left the surgical theater. Miraculously, or so it would seem, the injuries to the Zambrano daughter healed instantly and she stretched out as though waking up before hopping off the table, easy as you like.

She had thought as much.

"Well, you've certainly inherited your father's love of theatrics," she replied drily once they were alone. "Illusions and fed stories of a creature weren't necessary to arrange a meeting, Elani. You only needed to ask."

Then again, she supposed that the witch wanted to test herself or show Taeli that her powers had grown since they last met. It had been sometime since Taeli had given her a lesson in the dark side, a very long time.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Elani Zambrano

 

[Elani Zambrano]

It was in that moment, that quick moment, Elani's mood had turned sour. A frown crept onto her face at the mention of her father and her likeness to him. "Please, spare me any mention of that wretched monster. I am nothing like him." she groaned. Elani let out a deep exhale, cleansing herself of the nausea brought onto her by Taeli's statement.

"My coven speaks true, Lady Arcanix. I've got myself a beastie. A terrible one at that. Tore my dear, sweet, silent Koren apart. Tsk. Would you like to see? I know you would. Your curiosity is very well known." Elani's demeanor was that of a child wanting to show their parent something they made in school, though that is just who she is, generally. Not quite as mature as one would expect her to be at her age. At least, when it did not require her to be so.

"It is locked up on my ship. I was hoping we could poke and prod until I figure out what I want to do with it. Or you do. Whichever is first." Elani walked towards the door, causing it to slide open before her. "Come and see, Lady Arcanix."

Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

A flicker of amusement at Elani's reaction to being compared to her father would flash across her face. The interplay between the Zambranos was always interesting to observe from the outside, but it never seemed to bother Kaine. When he had as many children as he did, there was bound to be some level of apathy towards how they viewed him.

"Creatures do always interest me, this is true," she replied, deciding to play along with the witch and following her back towards her ship. Her curiosity was definitely mixed with some amusement, but also tinged with just a touch of caution. If they had captured whatever this creature was on their ship, why not just lead with that and not go through this charade?

As a Sith, part of her had to wonder if she was walking towards some sort of ambush or kidnapping attempt. If that became the case, her amusement would likely rapidly fray into irritation.

"Let's see what you brought me."

Elani Zambrano

 

[Elani Zambrano]

A wicked grin crawled it's way onto Elani's face. "Excellent!" She strode through the corridors of the facility until, graceful as maalraas slinking through the jungle. Meanwhile, the witches onbard the ship were preparing the creature Elani had brought to the outpost. The beast was heavily tranquilized so it did not awaken before being seen by Taeli. As Elani continued on, she'd occasionally look back at Taeli, to ensure she was still coming along.

"I apologize for coming on such short notice. I only came into contact with these beastie a few standard days ago. I knew only you would be able to assist with me what I plan on next." After several meters of hallway, Elani eventually came upon the doors to the starport. "Are you ready, Lady Arcanix?" Elani waved her hand and opened the door. As they stepped into the starport, the witches were guiding the repulsorcraft carrying the creature.

Inside the cage was a massive creature, easily over 300 kg, with pale white fur and sharp claws. Crimson stained patches of it's fur. Blood from when they captured it. Who it belonged to was anyone's guess. The creature's breathing rumbled through the air. It was an impressive creature to say the least.

Spoiler

​

"One would think that meeting the great Lady Arcanix would illicit a better response. Apologies for my new pet's rudeness. I do suppose all the tranquilizer we dumped into him likely facilitated this." Elani sighed as she walked up to the cage and would turn to look at Taeli. "It's an Ursidaan. A big one too. Tried to ambush us as i was performing a ritual on it's planet. Almost succeeded. Did I tell you he killed my dear Koren? Ripped him apart, he did. I should rip it's heart out and eat it in front of his dying eyes. But, It freed Koren from my charge without my permission. An empty space in my circle remains. It will do nicely I think."

Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

The amusement continued as she followed along behind the witch and listened to her partially reveal why she had arrived out of the blue and with little notice. While it did not explain her earlier deception, considering a simple message would have sufficed, she would chalk it up to the odd personality of the Zambrano woman.

But stepping out of the Lodge to see what was being brought towards her caught her full attention, for several reasons. The massive ursine lifeform on the repulsorcraft, sedated and contained, was still an impressive specimen. Analytical eyes took in the bloodstains on its fur, but also its physique and musculature, its claws, and the echoes of the Force rolling off it even tranquilized as it was. She wouldn't need Elani's reveal that it was an Ursidaan to know the species, although she had never had the chance to examine one before. They had been close allies of the First Order and its successor states, keeping Needan a bastion of strength and stability in that part of the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions.

"Yes, I can see how it tore through this retainer of yours," she muttered, slowly circling around the cage, probing her thoughts and making observations. "They are quite the capable trackers and hunters, the Force traditions on their homeworld put a great emphasis on that and their connection to nature. A dark side ritual would certainly attract the attention and ire of their tribes."

She came to a stop again in front of the bound hunter.

"Pity you didn't bring two, I don't believe I have their species' biology in my database yet and dissection is not conducive to a useful follower typically. What did you have in mind, Elani?"

Elani Zambrano

 

[Elani Zambrano]

Elani grew a smirk on her face. The smirk then opened to unleash a chuckle. One look towards the ship would reveal another group of witches, each one with a chain in their hands. At the end of the lengths of chain was a collar. Secured in that collar was a young Ursidaan. He looked tired. Tired and scared.

"You think I would bring you only one? That would be selfish."

Elani approached the young Ursidaan and cradled his chin in her delicate hand. "I have a paralytic coursing through his blood. He can see and hear everything, but can't do much more than walk. That's his father in the cage there. After we subdued him, the little one just ran at us with a bloodlust like none other. Much easier to take down compared to the old man."

She dropped his chin and walked back to Taeli. "I want you to have the older one. To study. While I will turn his son to my new pet. And, while you cut this one open, you can let me know what makes him tick so that I can utilize his son to the best of his abilities. Y'know. Make sure next time I don't lose my pet to a stronger beast."

Taeli Raaf ​