Mother Talzin's private chamber existed somewhere between the physical and the ethereal. Green mist curled along the walls like living things. Shadows moved in ways that defied natural light. The air itself felt thick, pregnant with ancient magicks that predated the Republic by millennia.
Count Dooku sat across from the Nightsister matriarch, his posture perfect despite the chamber's unsettling atmosphere. Beside him, Asajj Ventress stood at parade rest, arms crossed, yellow eyes watchful.
Three conspirators, plotting the downfall of the most powerful Sith Lord in a thousand years.
"Defeating Sidious cannot be accomplished through direct confrontation." Dooku's cultured voice cut through the mist. "His power is... immense. Perhaps only a handful of individuals in the galaxy could stand against him. Master Windu. Master Yoda." He paused. "Skywalker, possibly, though the boy is untested."
"What about the Avengers?" Asajj's question carried an edge. "I've seen what they can do. Especially Maximoff."
Dooku's expression tightened at the mention of the off-worlders. They'd become a persistent thorn in the Separatist cause—unpredictable, powerful, frustratingly effective.
"Where is Wanda Maximoff now?" he asked, turning to Talzin.
The matriarch's lips curved slightly. "Elsewhere on Dathomir, Count. She assists Rose Lai with rebuilding Zalem's former territory." Her eyes gleamed in the dim light. "I would advise against seeking her out. Your last encounter with an Avenger on this world did not end well for my apprentice."
Asajj's jaw clenched, but she didn't deny it.
"She won't join us," Asajj said flatly. "I've spoken with her. Her power is..." She struggled for words. "Unsettling. She can read minds, tear through mental defenses like they're paper. And she has no love for the Sith, the Separatists, or anyone who opposes her particular brand of heroism."
"A shame." Dooku steepled his fingers beneath his chin. "Her abilities would be invaluable against Sidious."
"We work better without them anyway," Asajj countered. "The Avengers and Jedi complicate matters. Better they remain focused on their war while we handle ours."
Dooku nodded slowly, filing the information away. The "Scarlet Witch," as some called her. The title nagged at him, familiar in a way he couldn't quite place. Had he encountered it during his years in the Jedi Temple? During his travels after leaving the Order? Or in some obscure text from Sidious's personal collection?
"Dooku."
Talzin's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up to find her studying him with those ancient, knowing eyes.
"I believe I have a solution to your apprentice problem," she said. "A replacement for Ventress, at least publicly. Someone to present to Sidious as your new acolyte."
Dooku leaned forward slightly. "I'm listening."
"Are you familiar with Darth Maul?"
The name hit like a physical blow.
Dooku's hands clenched involuntarily. The memory surfaced unbidden—Qui-Gon Jinn, his former Padawan, his son in all but blood, dying on Naboo with a red lightsaber through his chest. Maul's lightsaber. Sidious's previous apprentice.
"Yes." The word came out cold, sharp. "He killed Qui-Gon Jinn."
"Indeed." Talzin's expression remained neutral. "But his bloodline did not die with him. The Nightbrothers—Maul's clan—still exist on the far side of Dathomir. And among them, I can offer you a warrior of exceptional potential."
Dooku's mind raced. A Nightbrother. Someone with Maul's genetics, possibly his raw power. But—
"The same warrior?" he asked carefully. "You're suggesting someone related to Maul?"
"His brother, in fact." Talzin's smile widened. "Though I must warn you—he will be easy to find but difficult to control."
"Sidious will never accept a barbarian," Asajj interjected. "Unless he's an exact replica of Maul's skill and discipline."
"They share blood, not appearance," Talzin explained. "Anyone familiar with Maul would immediately recognize the difference. But with proper training..." She trailed off meaningfully.
Dooku considered this. Maul had been a weapon of terrifying efficiency—fast, brutal, utterly devoted to Sidious. Training someone to that level would take time. Resources. The assistance of the dark acolytes scattered across Separatist space.
But it was possible.
"I will need help," Dooku said finally. "The acolytes can assist in bringing this new apprentice up to acceptable standards. But the foundation must be strong. Loyal."
"Master, I'll help you select the right candidate," Asajj offered, bowing her head slightly.
"Ensure his loyalty is to us, not Sidious." Dooku's voice hardened. "I won't replace one potential betrayal with another."
"He will not bend to Sidious's will," Talzin promised. "Our magicks will see to that. Between Nightsister enchantments and your training, this apprentice will serve your purposes admirably."
The pieces aligned in Dooku's mind. A public apprentice to satisfy Sidious. Asajj, hidden and training in secret, developing powers beyond Sith tradition. And if both could be turned against his master when the time came...
"I leave this in your hands, apprentice." Dooku rose smoothly. "I must return to Serenno before my absence draws suspicion."
"Yes, Master."
Dooku moved toward the chamber's entrance, then paused. "One more thing. When you find this Nightbrother, assess him carefully. I need someone stable, controllable. Maul's ferocity without his madness."
"Understood."
Dooku swept from the chamber, cape billowing behind him. Within minutes, his ship lifted from Dathomir's surface, vanishing into the crimson sky.
Asajj watched him go, then turned to Mother Talzin. "Where exactly is this Nightbrother?"
"On the far side of the planet, as I said." Talzin moved to a carved stone table, running gnarled fingers across its surface. "In a village near the old temple ruins. When you've prepared yourself properly, I'll provide exact coordinates."
"And Maximoff?" Asajj's tone carried hostility. "Where is she?"
"With Rose Lai, as I mentioned." Talzin's voice remained patient. "They've grown close during the reconstruction efforts. Wanda has proven quite helpful in clearing the corrupted areas Zalem left behind."
"When will she return? What if Dooku comes back unexpectedly?"
"We will manage the situation." Talzin's confidence never wavered.
Asajj's frustration mounted. "Why keep her here at all? She's our enemy. The Avengers have fought against us repeatedly. She could destroy the clans if she chose."
"Perhaps she is your enemy," Talzin corrected gently. "But to us, she represents something different. Something valuable."
"What if she betrays us? Uses that power against—"
"Asajj." Talzin's tone sharpened slightly. "I understand your hostility. Your history with the Avengers is... complicated. But trust my judgment in this matter. Wanda Maximoff remains on Dathomir for the good of our people."
The explanation was vague, deliberately so. Asajj recognized the deflection but knew better than to push further. Mother Talzin kept her own counsel, revealed information when and how she chose.
"Fine." Asajj bit off the word. "Tell me about this Nightbrother. Who is he?"
Talzin's eyes took on a distant quality, as though seeing across vast distances or perhaps into futures not yet written. "A man of exceptional potential. Raw, untrained, but powerful beyond measure."
"Is he Force-sensitive? Jedi-trained? What's his background?"
"You'll know when you meet him." Talzin's cryptic smile returned. "But I will say this—he possesses strength that could rival even Maul's, given proper guidance. And unlike his brother, his loyalty can be earned rather than brutally enforced."
Asajj absorbed this. A Nightbrother with Maul's potential but without the Sith conditioning. Dangerous, perhaps. But also an opportunity.
"When do I leave?"
"Soon." Talzin waved her hand, and green mist swirled to form a rough map. "First, you must prepare. Study the old Nightbrother customs. Understand their culture. You cannot simply demand their strongest warrior—it must be earned through their traditions."
"Their traditions involve trials, don't they?"
"Selection, yes. Combat trials. Tests of strength." Talzin's expression grew serious. "The Nightbrothers are not like our clans. They live by different rules, harsher codes. You must navigate their ways carefully."
Asajj straightened. She'd survived slavery, Jedi training, Sith apprenticeship, and betrayal by the galaxy's most powerful dark side user. She could handle some barbaric trials.
"I'll be ready."
"See that you are." Talzin's hand fell on Asajj's shoulder—maternal, almost gentle. "This mission serves multiple purposes. You find Dooku his public apprentice. You gain valuable experience in manipulation and control. And you prove yourself worthy of the title he's promised you."
Darth. The word hung unspoken between them.
"I won't fail," Asajj promised.
"No." Talzin's smile was fierce, proud. "I don't believe you will."
Asajj bowed formally and left the chamber. Her mind already raced ahead, planning, strategizing. The Nightbrothers. Maul's people. A new apprentice for Dooku, a pawn in their larger game against Sidious.
Behind her, Mother Talzin stood alone in the mist-filled chamber, her expression thoughtful.
Wanda Maximoff, helping rebuild Zalem's territory. Unaware of the Sith plotting around her.
Asajj Ventress, about to venture into Nightbrother territory. Searching for a weapon to use against the most dangerous being in the galaxy.
And somewhere in the village on Dathomir's far side, a warrior trained for nothing but combat waited, unknowing, for his life to change forever.
The pieces were moving.
The game was accelerating.
And Mother Talzin, ancient and cunning, guided them all with invisible hands.
Soon, everything would change.
She just had to ensure her people survived what came next.