Ten stared into Enelra's eyes for many moments before finally taking it all in. She noticed the scar that traced over her eye that was not there in their youth, then the short, rebellious haircut, the blonde color that matched her own, the heavy, Corellian style armor that covered her slim, athletic body. Lastly, she noticed the blaster that was pointed directly at her head.
Vette walked out of the shadows, her own blaster pointed back at Enelra. Without a moment's hesitation, the man who accompanied Enelra had his blaster aimed at Vette, and the rest of Enelra's crew approached, guns out, to join the festivities. Tenneniell laughed, pushing back the dark cape mounted on her shoulders to show her shining lightsaber before shrugging nonchalantly. "Please, please. You really think that I would come all this way to harm my beloved sister?"
The blasters didn't move, but Ten was confident. She leisurely walked towards Enelra until her blaster was no more than a few inches from her forehead. "Whatever happened to saving me, big sis?"
Enelra kept her cool. "It is near impossible for anyone to hack into Imperial records, let alone get information on Sith recruits for the advanced info broker, let alone a 12 year old girl, even as street smart as me." She didn't move a muscle. "Good to know at least someone had faith in my abilities. "
"Oh I waited, Enelra." Ten turned around, her long blonde braid whipping around and hitting Enelra's trusty gun. "But then I realized something."
"Oh please, not another Sith rant. If you found me here, you should know just how many Sith and Imperials my crew and I have taken on and defeated. Don't make me add my own sister to the list."
"Fine, E," Ten said sarcastically. "I just want to catch up."
Enelra sighed. "Corso, take the crew and get inside. I'll deal with this on my own."
"Captain-" the dreaded man who Ten assumed to be Corso started, before receiving a menacing look from Enelra. "Understood."
Ten nodded to Vette, who responded by pocketing her blaster and backing away. "I'll see you on the ship, then."
After everyone had gone, Ten faced Enelra once again. Her blaster was still held high and pointed right between the eyes. "Come on, Enelra."
For the first time in her life, Ten saw uncertainty in Enelra's eyes. "One motion towards that magic sword of yours, and I swear-"
"Got it," Ten agreed, holding up her hands defensively.
Enelra flipped the safety and twirled her blaster on one finger. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Corso paced the room in front of the large glass windows overlooking all of Nar Shadda. Normally, Enelra wasn't a big spender and didn't enjoy fancy lodging, but the crew had worked hard, they were rich, and it was Nar Shadda – what better place was there for a smuggler to spend a few credits? Enelra had disagreed with Corso's reasoning, laughing and punching him playfully before climbing out of the bed they shared on board her ship.
He looked over to the rest of the crew, who were preoccupied in their own thoughts. Bowdar sat on the couch, his largest and most menacing bow on his lap, inspecting the various components and nodding when they were to his satisfaction. Risha sat at the bar, fiddling with her holo, dazed and staring off into space. Guss seemed the least worried of them all, but he had great faith in the Captain's fighting abilities and hadn't been with them long enough to really worry. And last, Akaavi, who was busy throwing darts at the very worn dartboard that hung to the right of the bar. Though this crew wasn't noted for their closeness, they had always known how to keep light in a bad situation; Enelra really knew how to get them into trouble, even if it came along with the profession.
After taking one last look out of the massive windows, Corso sat down in his chair next to Bowdar and sighed. This was going to be a long night.
"Darth Baras." Tenneniell said, pulling out her fancy imperial holo to show a relatively large, not-so-menacing looking Sith lord. "As fearful as he looks," Enelra snickered as Ten continued, "He is ten times as powerful. Ever since I was an initiate on Korriban, he has had me masquerading across the galaxy on his own personal missions."
"So he is your master," Enelra interrupted.
Tenneniell laughed, but not with the same joy that had been behind it in their youth. The woman that stood before Enelra now had seen-and possibly done-some terrible things. "He may call himself that, but he is far from controlling or owning me like most Sith do with their acolytes."
Enelra nodded. For once, instead of making some snarky comment, she looked into Ten's eyes and continued to listen.
"For months, I was his personal, glorified bounty hunter," Ten continued, pocketing her holo. "I tracked down the family of a young girl who the Jedi recently acquired. It was on Tatooine that I heard of many of your first successes and began to doubt everything I have been taught ever since that fateful night on Corellia."
Enelra shook her head. "I never forgave myself."
"And you don't need to," Tenneniell replied, "there was nothing a girl at your age could have done. I needed something to hope for during those first few years. After that, someone to blame-you got me through a lot of circumstances, even when you assumed I had died." She sighed. "The others that were captured with me didn't make it very long. I barely did. There were many times that I almost died." Ten sat up straighter, realizing the weakness that was practically seeping out of her. "Sith are not weak, they cannot be. And I am not here to reminisce on the past. I came because I have a proposition."
Enelra stood from the balcony ledge where she had been resting and started to walk away. "If you want me to work for the Empire or something like that, I'm not interested. I should have known that is all you could possibly want now. The Empire and the Sith have brainwashed you, corrupted your mind-"
"If you would just listen instead of assuming what I am like based on my skills, Enelra, then you would know that is not the reason I came," Ten interjected. "I want to defeat the Empire."
Enelra's jaw dropped. After several moments had passed, Ten patted the balcony space next to her. Enelra, embarrassed and skeptical, followed her directions. Tenneniell brought out her holocommunicator once again. "After intercepting the Jedi, defeating her master, and taking her as my own acolyte, Baras and the rest of the Dark Counsel assigned me a new mission. Instead of dealing with people who once offended Baras or were a threat to his power, he assigned me to an Imperial mission, codenamed Plan Zero. Baras and the rest of the Counsel are determined to break the truce and begin a full scale war between the Republic and the Empire, using me as a means to begin that war." Ten began to flip through profiles of many Republic generals and leaders on her holo, many of which Enelra had assisted in the past.
"You're supposed to kill them," Enelra mumbled.
"Yes."
"But you aren't going to?" Enelra asked, more confused than ever before.
"I don't want to. That's why I'm visiting you."
Enelra held her head in her hands. "This is bizzare," she whispered to herself. "My sister, who I thought to be dead for years, shows up at my front door to let me know she is a Sith, but wants to take down the Empire." Enelra looked up at Ten. "Am I getting everything strait here?"
Tenneniell nodded.
"Great. Great. This is fine. This is all just fine."
"I sense a great deal of confusion in you. And quite a bit of hate. I can assure you that is not a path you want to go on, I know firsthand."
Enelra rubbed her temples. "I'm the last person you have to worry about 'converting to the dark side', Ten," exaggerating the quotation with her fingers. "In my experience, no matter what side someone takes, they are usually doing it for a reason. Money, a thirst for power, whatever else, there is always a reason." Enelra faced her sister. "What are you getting out of this?"
"Well, for starters, I'm getting my family back," Ten replied. "Even better, I'm assisting in taking down the community that took me away from them. We turned out differently thanks to circumstances, Enelra." Tenneniell stood to pace in front of her. "But we are of the same blood, the same planet, the same mother. We have been subject to different things, but ever since we listened to our mother slowly murdered just several rooms away from us, we've ran into corruption, treachery, and more." Ten paused to face Enelra. "But don't tell me that the thought of stirring up some trouble doesn't excite you, Enelra! I know your history, your profession, it was necessary when trying to track you down and find someone close enough to the Republic and it's generals to make this work. It's the same excitement that I have been trying to control for years."
"I'm touched by this house visit, Ten," Enelra said as she holstered her blaster. "Next time, I'll have some tea and crumpets ready."
"Don't do this, E."
The nickname that Corso, her mother, and those closest to her used stopped her in her tracks. "Don't call me that right now, Ten."
Tenneniell nodded and backed away several paces. "I'll give you some time to think about it, then."(same section, not a cliffhanger)
"Do," Enelra spat. "Until I decide, you clearly know how to find me. You probably know my holo frequency. Do me a favor and don't call."
With that said, Enelra marched back to the door of her home, hands shaking, leaving Ten alone in the glow of the holo trees.
After hours of torture, Harli Dapro's screams died out and left nothing but silence. "Search the house," a low, gruff voice had said.
As footprints approached, Ten's mutters of "not over here, not over here" quickened. A pair of boots approached the bed they hid underneath, but stopped. Enelra held her breath as she covered Ten's mouth, inwardly begging the Force and any other power in the universe to let them live. She could almost feel the confusion in those boots as they paced for a moment and turned around to walk out of the room. Enelra faced her younger sister and was taken back when she saw the calm on Ten's face, her eyes glazed over and staring in the direction of the path those boots had trodden.
They waited several more hours until Enelra was sure that nobody was there. She shook Ten's small frame awake and whispered her name gently before pushing herself out from under the bed. Back against the wall, Enelra grasped a small knife in one hand, Ten's hand in the other, and jumped out from behind the doorway and into the hallway. After carefully searching the rest of the house, they checked the kitchen, where they had last heard the cries of their mother. Enelra left Ten outside the doorway before looking in to see her mother, limp and pale, draped across a chair. Words could not explain the manner of injuries and infirmities that their mother had experienced while defending them, and Enelra forced back a sob before gripping the knife tighter and backing away to the door. "Ten, go. Go now."
Their quick, crunchy footsteps echoed through the quiet and snowy Corellian streets, and Enelra and Tenneniell ran as fast and as far as they could, never to look back again.
Enelra woke sitting up and in a deep sweat. Only pausing to make sure Corso was fast asleep, Enelra swung her feet out from under the blankets and set them quietly on the floor. She opened the door to the balcony and stepped outside.
She hadn't dreamed of her mother or of Ten in years, let alone the last fateful, snowy night that their mother was alive. But now, Tenneniell was back. All sorts of weird things were going to start happening.
Enelra sat in one of the cushioned porch chairs and pulled her knees in to her chest, inwardly cursing herself for not grabbing a sweater. Once you get used to running around the galaxy wearing plenty of armor, it gets quite easy to get cold, no matter the season.
The evening before, Enelra had marched in the house angrier than the crew had ever seen her. They all froze as she marched into the room, requested Risha's presence, and dragged her off to the conference room. The crew was grateful for Risha in moments like these. She was the only one who could reason with Enelra, and more importantly, talk back to her without being afraid of immanent death. It was a quality that was much needed on board this particular freighter.
Enelra had kept to her quarters for the rest of the night. Risha told the others the danger-free edition of the job that Enelra was considering, warning any who might want out that now might be the time. None of them, including Enelra, had ever been very excited to get involved in the growing dispute between the Empire and Republic, but due to Enelra's family ties and the general respect the crew had for their captain, everyone voted to stay on.
Corso gave her some time before entering their room. When he finally did, he found Enelra already in bed, facing the wall, motionless. More than anything, he wished he could help. But this time, he let her sleep. But after removing his armor and laying next to her, he felt her arms wrap around his waist. He smiled and pulled her close.
She fell asleep much easier than she could have hoped, counting the times that Corso inhaled rather than counting sheep.
Enelra started to doze, but was reminded of her sister's abrupt and unexpected visit. She buried her face between her knees and let out a weak sob. The terrible things that a Sith was forced to do in order to advance in rank and knowledge was not foreign to Enelra. She had heard of young Sith doing the unimaginable to innocent citizens of the Republic and Empire, and the memory of Tenneniell being taken captive by that very force caused Enelra to fight with more vigor than on her usual smuggling run. Not even Skavak, the Voidwolf, or anyone else they had chased in the past experienced half of the wrath that the Sith they ran into did. They were a difficult fight, for sure, but Enelra hated them. Enelra didn't like to kill, but when it came to them, it was a hell of a lot easier.
Simply imagining the horrors that Ten had been forced-no, chose-to participate in scared Enelra. The sweet, innocent little girl who once needed her protection was now a powerful murderer who could do the impossible. Enelra never wanted to believe in the Force, but after running into so many Sith and even more Jedi, she knew they had a special connection and control over the mysterious power. So her sister had killed even more people than Enelra had thought emotionally possible. She was far from needing protection anymore.
Enelra lifted her head and placed her chin on her folded arms. Could it be possible that even after the years of corruption and Sith brainwashing that Ten managed to maintain her sanity? Looking back, there were moments where Enelra was taken aback by Ten's power, even when she didn't know what it was. The night that Tenneniell and Enelra hid silently under their bed and Ten willed the men who killed their mother to leave had been a scary one, Enelra's fear only amplified when she saw the moment of calm come over Ten. That look of calm had been the same one that Enelra had seen in the face of many Jedi. Was it possible that Ten could become a force for good? Her roots and morals that were the foundation of her youth would be hard to erase, even by the dark forces of the Sith. Could that foundation be more powerful than the implanted ideas of the Sith?
Enelra wiped away at the tear paths on her face and took a deep breath. Ten's plan was a selfish one, for sure, but what had led her to coming in contact with Enelra again? To the idea of taking down the establishment that had raised her? Enelra shook her head. As if she was one to decide whose plans were selfish. Every time the Republic had requested her assistance, Enelra made sure they were paying-and not just for fuel and ammo, but also a pretty sum that Enelra would put away and save for an early and comfortable retirement, if they made it to that day. She may fight for good, but she fights for a price. So Tenneniell's price was a little different from Enelra's usual. Instead of galactic credits, she wanted revenge-and to be on good terms with her older sister again. Enelra could understand that.
Enelra sighed. She thought for sure that she was done losing those close to her. Ever since losing Sevrina, who taught her everything she knew about blasters, smuggling, and even men, Enelra had vowed to go solo from then on. Then she met Corso. And after that, she just kept meeting people with no place to run-Bowdar to Risha, Akkavii to Gus. Her crew of one had become much larger in the span of just a couple years. And she was surprisingly close to all of them. The thought of anything happening to even one of her crew members caused Enelra to tremble with anger. So much for no attachments.
Enelra closed her eyes and felt the cool breeze of the Nar Shadda night. She had gone from nothing to lose to the possibility of losing everything. For so long, she thought she was content with being alone, but now that she had Corso and the others, being alone didn't sound so appealing anymore. She wondered how she could have ever thought that life had a purpose, because she couldn't imagine a future without her friends. Even though she didn't know Tenneniell anymore, she was still her sister. Even though Ten could take care of herself, Enelra would die before letting her come to any more harm.
And Corso. Oh, Corso! Enelra hated the feelings she felt for him. The stupid grin that came across her face whenever he said something even the slightest bit romantic, his silly farm-boy accent, the way he moaned her name when her teeth grazed over his collarbone…
Enelra giggled. There she went again. The strong, courageous, independent, don't-take-crap-from-nobody demeanor that she had gained over her years of hardship fell into a heap of emotions when he so much as called her E. She didn't know if Corso was aware of how crazy she was about him, but if he did, he had the correct amount of patience it required to be with someone like her. Indecisive unless it involved money. Then she was less indecisive.
Enelra's face grew grim as she recalled some of the times he scared her most. Once, in a desperate attempt to find some of Corso's remaining family-a long lost cousin, Rona, who stabbed them in the back-unfortunately, literally for Corso. Just to get a conference with Rona, Corso was cut open and sewed back up, holding some "medicine" next to his vital organs. Watching Corso's last remaining family member completely betray him and call it all a prank like it was nothing was harder for Enelra to watch then she cared to admit.
Months later, Corso gave up hope of finding more of his family and instead kept an ear out for any news on his old crew. He was shocked when a lead led him to Jettison on Tatooine, were Enelra and Corso ran into enough cannibals even Enelra wondered if they would make it out alive.
More than anything, Enelra knew that she had to protect Corso's heart. When it came to the two and their skills in a pinch, they were a team unlike any other-and always managed to get out with only a few scratches. Corso always had her 6, and he was willing to take any bullet for her-something she didn't think any man was capable of, after her experience. But Corso was different.
He was the most emotional man she had ever met. Enelra rolled her eyes, blushing. It drove her insane, though she knew it was part of the reason she could never let him go. He protected and cared for her in every way that he could, but understood that Enelra could handle herself-which worked out positively for him, that was for sure. In return, Enelra guarded his heart. And if she had any say in the matter, she was going to make sure it didn't happen again. And there was only one way to do that.
Enelra was about to race into her room and shake him awake to tell him of her decisions when the door opened. It was with this action that Enelra leapt up and into Corso's arms. "I love you, Corso," she murmured into his chest. "I love you, and I want to marry you before it's too late. Before something happens, before our world falls apart, I want to be with you for all the remaining time I have."
Enelra looked up, and Corso took the opportunity to kiss her forehead. "Our world isn't gonna fall apart, E," he whispered. "No matter what happens, your wits and sheer talent will get us through. And if I got any power over it, the remaining time you have will be more than just a couple years."
Corso pulled away from Enelra, took her hand, and brought her back into their room. "Right now, more than anything, you need your rest. If I know you at all, you're gonna want to take down the Empire right alongside your sister."
