"Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned." -Zig Ziglar

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Savage paced furiously within the confounds of the dim, red-lit hangar just opposite to Maul whom sat idly to the side, his tattooed face twisted in deep contemplation.

"Patience apprentice," Maul counseled, his voice a low murmur. "We must bide our time."

Savage Scoffed, his restlessness evident across his features. Kenobi was still out there and they were doing nothing. "I'm tired of waiting, brother!"

Maul, his temperament calm and composed, retorted swiftly. "I've waited many years for my revenge. I can wait a little bit longer."

Savage's shoulders drop for a moment, his brother's words holding weight across his active mind. Yet he couldn't stop himself from gritting his teeth in frustration.

Kenobi will pay for what he's done, Savage tells himself, his eyes flicking towards his brother's scarred torso; raised burn marks barely visible along the sheet of silver steel that concealed his old wound.

He scowled, crossing his arms and looking to the side, attempting to clear his mind by reaching out through the force; something he found increasingly frustrating.

He was unsure as to why, but there was some kind of a disconnect when it came to his relationship with the force. It was weak... fuzzy... nothing like his brother's. Something that frustrated him to no end. Yet, through this unbalanced connection, he could still sense something was amiss. Some sort of strange aura, singing and cooing throughout the fabrics of the galaxy.

Something about this sudden presence felt... familiar to him. He didn't know exactly who or what this feeling could be tethered to, but the deep, uneasy feeling that settled in his stomach told him that it very well could be something sinister.

Maul's head suddenly shot upwards, his golden eyes wide and fixated intently on the very spot Savage was standing; darting back and forth as if he was searching... anticipating the appearance of a potential threat.

Savage uncrossed his arms hurriedly, looking down at Maul, his expression dropping, innate with worry. Maul's sudden shift in demeanor had caused symphonies of alarm bells to go off in Savage's head.

A reaction as worryingly akin to this was not a normal occurrence to say the least. Maul was always nothing short of extremely well guarded and intuitive, his mind constantly entangled within the sway of the force, basking within its innate, rhythmic knowledge. He was always one step ahead of the game and just outside of the bounds of set rules. So when something is surprising enough to catch even him off guard, Savage knew that that something would likely become a massive problem.

Savage opened his mouth to question what was wrong. But before he could, Maul abruptly jumped to his feet, his voice booming throughout the ship's main hull. "Savage! Move!"

He brought up the metal claw of his foot, planting it directly at the center of Savage's chest, the force sending him flying backwards.

For not but a second later, a radiant burst of green light flooded the room, narrowly missing Maul's mechanical leg.

They swiftly twirl around the strange glow, casting a side glance at each other and nodding in a silent agreement that whatever this unknown threat happened to be, it needed to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

They briskly retreat into the Stygian corners of the room, their lightsabers in hand and ready to pounce when the moment deems necessary.

"Brother, what is this?" Savage questioned, his voice a low and quiet rumble. They crouched low, peering over one of the many metal crates stacked disorderly around the room.

Maul only shook his head in response, keeping his golden eyes fixated on the light.

He was focused, his tattoos drawn together across his brow bone in tightly scrunched wrinkles. His callused hand gripping the hilt of his lightsaber readily, as if he was itching for a fight.

They both tense up as a figure suddenly emerges from the brilliance, stepping cautiously into the dim atmosphere, the green light slowly dissipating behind in their wake.

The brothers waited, watching the silhouette of this so called trespasser stand idly in the center of the room, their head turning, scanning their surroundings. Their features are obscured by a thick layer of fabric tied tightly around their head. Only a thin sliver of skin and their eyes were visible.

Maul growled and bared his teeth, his body language clearly posing that he wasn't going to entertain the presence of this intruder for a moment longer.

Savage watched as his brother, propelled by instinct, lunged briskly from the shadows, aiming to strike the strange figure down where they stood. Yet, through fluid grace, the figure was able to evade Maul's deathly swipe, their voice, feminine and laden with surprise; as if they hadn't anticipated such a sudden attack. "What the?!"

But before they could recover, Savage threw himself forth, intent to aid his brother in his merciless assault.

He lunged towards the intruder, catching them off guard and using the center of his dual bladed hilt to slam their body backwards, plummeting them to the hardened floor with a loud oomf.

He smiled with glee as he saw the perpetrators head bounce violently, no doubt, the consequences of the blow coming with a nasty concussion.

"Finnish them, Savage!" Maul shouted, his voice booming with rage.

Savage nodded and ignited his lightsaber, stepping towards the strewn out figure and raising it high above his head, fully intent on cutting down this pathetic whelp who dared have the audacity to trespass upon their ship.

The intruder was dazed, shaking their head in confusion and just barely realizing what was happening. They move their arms upwards in a sluggish attempt to cover their head as they shout out, panic and desperation entwined within their words. "Savage! Wait!"

Savage halted mid-step, his eyes widening with disbelief. That voice... it was a voice that he recognized.

His brows furrowed as he stared down at the stranger, whom he now knew for certain was a woman. Her face, still concealed behind that thick layer of blackened fabric.

He brought down the edge of his lightsaber slowly, till it was only mere inches away from her throat.

Maul swiftly joined in, crossing his own saber over Savages in an impenetrable vice, forcing her head to point upwards as the crimson light illuminated her features more clearly.

Confusion and worry flickered in Savage's mind as he scanned what little he could see, his gaze immediately being drawn to her eyes. Those same striking crimson eyes which matched those that he had gazed upon so many times before.

"Kiyrah?" He questioned lowly, his apprehension evident.

The figure held both of her palms outwards, clearly attempting to show that she was not a threat. Her hand slowly reaching upwards to grip into the fabrics which laid seldom across her face, slowly pulling them away.

"Yes." She spoke softly, as her signature long, hair fell gracefully past her shoulders, its color, white as the driven snow, shimmering against the dim red light. Her voice was as smooth and steady as he had remembered. It... it was her. It was Kiyrah.

Kiyrah's eyes darted briskly between the two zabrak men as she tried to regain focus, her immediate expression troubled. She had clearly not anticipated that Savage had been traveling with someone new. But she tried to maintain composure, feigning a small smile.

"Savage... it's been a while," her voice was carefully measured, concealing her unease. She slowly began to lift herself up and onto her feet, keeping her hands up in surrender as to not garner any more unnecessary violence.

Savage blinked rapidly, almost thinking that the force might have been deceiving him and there was no way Kiyrah could have possibly entered their ship without being spotted. But he shook his head, knowing better.

He had lived his whole life surrounded by the prospect of witchcraft, and thus, it had become an essential part of his and his fellow Nightbrother's colorful culture and way of life.

But Kiyrah's magic was of a different sort. Completely unlike what the late witches of dathomir had practiced before their downfall. It was unpredictable... methodical... dangerous.

He couldn't stop his mind from racing with unanswered questions, the prospect of her sudden appearance was increasingly concerning. Why is she here? What is she planning? He wondered.

Kiyrah glanced cautiously over at Maul, whose face was twisted into a contorted scowl. His fingers twitching around the hilt of his lightsaber as he inched forward, intent of bloodshed clear on his mind. She must have severely caught him off guard , Savage thought to himself.

"Who's this?" Kiyrah inquired, directing her gaze back at Savage.

"He's my brother," he replied, his eyes narrowing in suspicion, watching her closely.

Kiyrah continued to eye Maul warily, her own gaze wandering across his torso, down to his robotic legs and returning back to their brightly colored weapons, still scorching inches away from her beating flesh.

"Can we lower these?" she asked, a note of discomfort slipping into her voice.

"No." Maul snarled and stepped closer, his saber just barely grazing her neck and causing her to involuntarily flinch.

His eyes fixed onto Savage, demanding an immediate explanation for her trespassings. "Brother. Please explain to me who this wench is and why she is aboard our ship?"

Savage grit his teeth in discomfort, speaking up immediately as to not anger his brother further.

One thing Maul absolutely despised was the prospect of not being in control of any given situation at all time. He thrived immensely in the hoarding of power and knowledge over others. But when that power is suddenly taken and stripped away from his fingertips, witnessing a whole new side to Maul's furry was not an impalpable occurance.

"This is Kiyrah, one of Dooku's assassins. When I first arrived, she was tasked with watching my progress." Savage paused for a moment, his own confusion at the harrowing events weighing down his overactive mind.

"After Dooku betrayed me, I thought she would too... but... she didn't. She helped me escape." his uncertainty lingered in his tone as he glanced between Kiyrah and Maul.

Maul seethes through his teeth, clearly dissatisfied with his brother's answer. "Then why has she chosen to board our ship?

"I do not know." Savage admitted begrudgingly.

Kiyrah abruptly scoffed, her demeanor tinged with defiance as she her arms and rolled her eyes. "Would it be so hard to believe that I just wanted to make sure you were okay, Savage?" she challenged, a hint of impatience lacing her words.

Maul, unmoved and unyielding, sneered in response, "Yes," his voice dripping with skepticism and hostility as his penetrating gaze fixed upon her own. The new knowledge of her allegiance to Dooku colored his suspicions and hardened his aggressive stance. Maul had never even come close to entertaining the prospect of compassion. In his eyes, It was the utmost vile and nauseating emotion of fools. An irrespective weakness to be broken and exploited.

Savage swallowed hard, his own stance softening in contrast to his brothers. It was an uncommon sight to behold; Maul, wild with unbridled fury. Yet Savage was calm, calculating the logistical necessity of bloodshed. They were both at polar opposite ends of their usual behavior and Savage wasn't sure if he liked it that way.

"Brother..." Savage began, treading cautiously. This woman risked herself for me. She had no reason to help me escape, yet she did. She might be worth listening to." He was still skeptical of her intentions, but reflecting on past events, he found himself willing to hear what she had to say about her reasons for being here.

Maul glared in Savage's direction, his voice dripping with disdain and a yearning for bloodshed. The mere thought of hearing this strange woman out was preposterous to him. "Her reasonings hold no weight, Savage. She knows too much and she needs to be disposed of."

Kiyrah's eyes widened at Maul's aggressive words. She uncrossed her arms, immediately speaking out in contest, urgency evident in her voice. "Now wait just a minute! I really would not have traveled all this way for a fight that I likely would not win. Especially alone."

Her gaze moved rapidly between the brothers, clearly trying to read their reactions. "And I would not have come if it wasn't for a good reason."

Maul scoffed, his tone mocking and filled with disdain as his lips pulled back into a deadly sneer. "Speak quickly wench, or you will regret stepping foot in this place.

Kiyrah scrunched her nose, averting her eyes back to Savage and away from Maul's scorching gaze. Her own glazed over with complete and utter loathing for this new so-called brother.

"Savage, please. Listen well to my words." She began, taking the opportunity to back a few inches away from the relentless hold of their crimson blades. "Dooku is furious at your betrayal and dealings with Ventress. He has ordered me to hunt you down and kill you."

Savage's stance immediately hardened. The notion that she might be there to harm them, sending him reeling him into defensive mode, but he made no move to attack; instead, glancing at his brother to observe his reaction. But Maul only scoffed in response, as if he was completely unfazed by her words. his lips curled into a taunting smile as he swiftly responded.

"If I had received such orders, the mission would have already been completed" He spits in a deadly hiss, straightening his body to full height. His tone was laced with arrogance, showcasing his own clear sense of superiority over her own. "Seems my master's taste in assassins has dulled over the years."

Kiyrah rolled her eyes, shrugging off his words and calmly retorting. "You know, you truly are one to talk. Judging by those bionic legs of yours, it seems that one of your missions might have not gone quite as closely to plan as you hoped."

She smiled mockingly, flicking a fallen strand of hair away from her face. "But that's just my guess."

Maul growls in response, the audacity of her back mouthing causing his eyes to blaze in molten furry. He gripped his saber tighter and opened his mouth to speak, but Savage quickly cut him off. He knew exactly where this conversation was leading to and he did not want to deal with the repercussions.

"if you are here to kill us, why haven't you attempted it yet?" he questioned.

Kiyrah's smile instantly faded and she averted her eyes, shrugging. Her right hand moving up to fumble with the deep colored fabrics which wrapped around her upper arm.

"I left," she admitted, her brows furrowing, the burden of revealing her decision instantly weighing her features down. She looked tired... strained.

"Why?" Savage questioned, squinting his eyes and searching her face for any sign of deception.

Her gave remained locked upon the floor as she replied softly, a touch of emotion evident in her voice.

"When Dooku abandoned Ventress, it... almost broke me... she was the only one in that entire place I truly felt comfortable with and yet... she was cast aside as if she was nothing."

Maul scoffed and rolled his eyes, her words leaving no weight against his own conscience. Yet he remained silent, letting her finish, much to Savage's relief.

Her voice immediately hardened in wake, composing her emotion with ease and glancing back up at the brothers. "When the order to kill you came, I told Dooku that I wanted no part in it. I told him to find someone else or to do it himself... I barely managed to escape his palace alive, let alone the planet."

Savage's brows raised lightly in surprise as he listened to her recount. He didn't know what to think or how to respond.

Yet in contrast, Maul's eyes narrowed with suspicion as he leaned in contestingly, his voice evidently showcasing his distrust. "This really is all a truly interesting story. But why come here if not to kill him?" he demanded, his tone harsh and imposing.

Kiyrah's lips stiffened slightly, her eyes also narrowing in reflection. "I came because I wanted to know if Savage was still alive," she replied. "And to warn him."

She abruptly turned from Maul to address Savage, her tone shifting to one of more urgency. He flinches unwittingly at her words, not expecting the topic of the conversation to shift this way in the slightest.

"Savage, please listen well. Dooku is enraged. He has put all the blame on you for my leaving of Serreno. He has now called upon General Grievous to hunt you in my stead."

Maul scoffed and raised a brow, cutting her off to question the validity of her statement. "If what you speak is the truth, and you truly have deserted your masters, how is it that you know of their plans?

"People talk when the price is right." Kiyrah retorted, before continuing. "I have also managed to retain access to some of Grievous's report files. What I am trying to get at is Savage has been spotted at every planetary stop you two have ever made in the past several weeks. As of now, they know exactly where you are. When the two of you make your next landing, Grievous's droids will swarm you."

"Then we will fight them off," Savage interjects confidently. "My brother and I have faced worse."

Kiyrah shakes her head in disagreement, immediately dismissing Savage's overzealous statement. "You have not met Grievous, Savage. I have. I have never seen them so relentless in a search. His droids will likely overwhelm the both of you within seconds. With that kind of combined power, neither of you would stand much of a chance."

Maul's gaze lingered on Kiyrah, his expression unreadable. He glanced over to Savage, who passed him a concerned and questioning look before returning to look back at her, scanning her face for any signs of deception.

"Why should we trust you?" Maul growled low, his suspicions apparent in his voice.

Kiyrah, seemingly unfazed by Maul's distrust, simply shrugged, her palms facing the air. "You don't have to believe me," she responded coolly. "Grievous is strong, and a deadly opponent with many casualties under his belt; most being high ranking jedi masters. I've warned you. It's up to you whether you accept it or not... but I would not take that kind of chance if I were you."

Savage interjected, his voice brimmed with uncertainties, yet tinged with conviction. He knew it would be hard to convince his brother of her intentions; Savage still wasn't completely convinced of them himself. But he had to try. "She helped me escape, brother," he spoke, directing his words to Maul in a deep, convincing rumble. "It served her nothing, yet she still risked herself to aid me in my endeavors. "

Maul's gaze softened slightly as he contemplated his brother's words, his eyes darting back to observe Kiyrah's own expression. He was deep in thought, grappling with the obscure information that they both begrudgingly provided him with.

After a moment's consideration, Maul relented, sheathing his lightsaber with a hum. "Tch. Fine," He spat, stepping back and leaning against a nearby post with his arms crossed over his tattooed chest. "But know this... Kiyrah. Make any move contrary to your words, and I will strike you down without a second thought." His voice rumbled with disdain, the scorching heat of his planted eyes