Warnings: Violence, Body Horror, Horror
Genre: Action/Romance/Sci-Fi – Canon Compliant AU where Maul still has the Shadow Collective with him after the events of Order 66, including Rook. Recreated Dryden Vos and Qi'ra’s story, and Crimson Dawn was referred to as Crimson Veil in previous parts.
Summary: Móni falls victim to her greatest enemy — herself — and Maul makes a shocking discovery in the caves of a fallen Clan Mother.
Móni was surrounded by beskar and tired smiles. They patted her shoulders and back, and some even went as far as to give her bone-crushing embraces. Their joy sparked the Force with their laughter, creating an atmosphere so clear that one could almost forget Dathomir’s pressing humidity.
But it was Rook who solidified any doubts Móni had of her place among the Shadow Collective. Maul’s pragmatic commander removed her helmet and was met with stark eyes smoked with eye black.
She remained unreadable until she extended an arm out for Móni to take hold of.
With a few guttural moans from having to lift her arm, Móni refused to be held back by a little pain when the woman she respected most was finally giving her a peace offering.
They clasped arms, and Rook’s façade broke into a welcoming smile.
The Mandalorians cheered over Móni’s protests and shook her in their excitement.
Her mouth began to salivate, and there was an unnatural amount of perspiration building on her forehead.
“Well, as your lady, I got my first orders for you guys.” Móni pointed behind her with her chin. “Found some Zygerrians trying to escape and are ready for pick-up.”
Rook confirmed her orders with a nod and picked a few men to follow her to the Zyggerian’s freighter.
Maul was off to the side, giving his own instructions to a few Nightbrothers and Nightsisters and calling Thia over.
As he spoke, he caught Móni’s gaze, and his amber eyes lit up at the sight of her.
Móni reciprocated the emotion but quickly turned away from the insistent throbbing in her skull and her lips turning sticky.
The buoyant chattering morphed into needles prodding her brain, and her body was fighting the planet’s hot temperature with a surge of chills reaching the tips of her fingers and the top of her head.
She started her breathing exercises at the first signs of bile pooling in the pit of her stomach, but her breaths were cut short when her growing annoyance started to get in the way.
The Dark Side was making its way to her. Grasping at the small spark of need she had been ignoring since Atollon and pulling it forward. Taunting her and enhancing her desire to slip into oblivion. Imagining the subtle heat of spice on her tongue and its smoke hazing out her identity—making her nothing.
