Fun Fact: This chapter has been ready for over a year.
Runaway- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Mama, do you think Asajj remembered?" Adel asked with big brown eyes.
Shuri smiled down at her oldest daughter as they continued up the path to Asajj's cottage. It had been a few days since the girls met Asajj. Laurna, her 5-year-old had taken an immediate liking to the woman talking about her non-stop, while Adella, 10, had hung back not sure what to make of the former acolyte.
Adel knew Asajj had done bad things but after watching her with her mother and sister she couldn't understand how someone so fragile could be so horrible.
Poising her hand to knock on the door, Adel stopped herself when she heard her mother speaking to someone. A look of confusion crossed her features a she thought back on the day. She didn't remember anyone stopping in…
So who was her mother speaking to? Alone…
In her father's study.
"And what do you want from me General? I fail to see how I can be of assistance to you." Her mother sounded as professional as ever.
"Ahh, but I think you do." The voice was warm and cultured. It sounded so familiar, but Adel couldn't remember where she'd heard it from. Pressing her ear closer to the door, she furrowed her brow in deep concentration.
"You can't be serious…"
"But I am."
"I'm not in that field anymore… besides she's a criminal in the eyes of the Republic."
"Criminal?"Small hands quickly covered her mouth as Adel realized she'd loudly voiced her concerns. She could hear her mother groan in irritation.
"Adella! How many times have I told you that it's impolite to eavesdrop!"
Her mother had opened the study to give the girl a stern talking to. After that she escorted her to room and made her sit until her father came home. Adel never found out who her mother was talking to, but she figured it had to have been about the raven haired woman they'd met and sat with.
That conversation happened months ago and ever since, things had been different. Adel was positive this is where her mother had been going for the past months.
She found that Asajj was reserved and outspoken. Boisterous with her sister and then unsure with her mother. It was confusing because she had thought so many bad things about her and none of them seemed to hold any weight to the woman her mother called friend. She stilled remembered that day Asajj baby-sat them.
Adel huffed, she never got to know what went on!
It was then that her sister decided to interrupt her musings.
"Of course not Della." Laurna supplied latching onto her mother's hand pushing blonde bangs out of her face. "Member? Mama said she hit her head and forgot everything. So, we have to r'mind her."
Adel fixed her sister with a look, rolling her eyes, "Not that stuff Laurna…"
Laurna shrugged turning her attention to her mother.
"Did you bring the cookie magic, Mama?"
"It's not cookie magic, Laurna, it's cookie dough."
"I can call it cookie magic if I want!" Laurna cried, "Mama can't I call it cookie magic?"
Shuri listened to her daughters' antics with a weary smile. Such silly girls she had. "Of course Laurna-love. You can call the cookie dough cookie magic. Adel not so harsh."
Shuri couldn't believe things had gotten to the point where she trusted her children to be around the notorious 'Asajj Ventress.' She thought back to the conversation that started everything.
"General…"
"No harm was done. She wouldn't have heard anything anyway." Shuri stared at him as if he were absurd. This just proved her point. Adella hadn't heard enough to know much, but she still heard and that was enough to make any mother hesitant.
"Isn't there someone else you can ask?"
"No one that I trust. At least with her…" His expression was thoughtful. He paced the room he was in before turning to take in her expression on the holograph transmission device.
He knew if he could convince her, she'd help him with everything she had. Jade eyes were wide with shock and disbelief.
"You do understood that what you're asking me is treason and punishable by death, right?" Obi Wan paled. She had him there, but she'd have to realize he'd take precautions. Obi Wan wasn't stupid, he wouldn't leave her unprepared.
"It's not as bad as it sounds-"
'Not as bad as it sounds?' Shuri stared at the holographic being transmitted with a look that screamed, 'Have you lost it?'
"You'd have me harbor a fugitive?" Was her heated reply, "And a jedi assassin at that!" She added in a whisper. "I have my family to think of… I- She can't stay here."
"I'd never ask you to do anything that would jeopardize your family!" The jedi master was completely serious.
"And how is this not jeopardizing my family?" Did he not know who Asajj Ventress was?
"Do you trust me?"
The Naboo Native couldn't help the sigh that followed. Obi Wan had done a lot for her and while she really wanted to help him, she really didn't see how she could. Shuri couldn't understand why the man was so insistent. Wasn't this the same woman who tortured him and tried her hand at killing him every chance she got? There had to be a way for him to understand her position.
"Gene-"
"Do you trust me?" His expression was determined. Shuri didn't know how much this woman meant to him, but she had feeling it was all going to come out soon. However, she still didn't feel comfortable with the idea. Was he trying to guilt her?
"Of course I trust you, it's her I'm not so sure about."
"Then trust in my judgment… You don't know what she's capable of-"
"Of razing my home to the ground?" was her sarcastic interruption.
"That's not what I meant. She's so much more than that… And after all that's happened, she needs me. I can fix this, Shuri. I can help her." She watched as his expression became pleading. His eyes were brilliant when he spoke of her. Wanting. Suddenly the conversation turned and the renowned jedi's intentions were becoming clear to her.
She didn't know how to respond to this, so her words were as honest as her experience had allowed.
"Obi Wan…" She began softly, "She's not some broken vase you can put back together… She has to heal herself. It's a great deal more complicated than you think."
"I'm aware of that, but how can she fix herself if no one ever gives her the chance? She's not a tool or some mindless droid people can play with it. She's angry and confused, and I won't turn a blind eye as she's swallowed by her own demons!"
His eyes burned with passion as his voice rose in frustration. Both became startled at his declaration. Obi Wan in some kind of realization, Shuri in shock. "I promised her that I'd stay… jedi don't break promises…" he added softly, still surprised at the intensity of his feelings. Her response was quiet.
"They don't have attachments either."
"It's not.. It's not like that... I-" She smiled sadly at his denial. To save him his name she decided to take a chance.
"Just answer me this Obi Wan: Is she worth it?"
"Yes." There was so much hope and resolve in his eyes, she hadn't had the heart to turn him down.
"Ok," came her soft reply, "What would you have me to do?"
Before long the trio found the cottage in their line of vision.
"Mama! Mama! Can we knock on the door?" Laurna asked giddily, excited to see her friend again. Shuri smiled, amused at the bond Asajj had formed with her daughters.
She nodded watching as her girls launched across the field to bang on the door.
"Don't forget the Moon Ceremony!" Adella yelled chasing after her sister, "Mama said to remind her!"
Moments later the two were panting banging on the door with smiles on their faces.
"Asajj! We're here!"
"Open…"
"-UP! Nobody home, eh?"
Asajj pulled her sibling closer to herself trying to will her terror away.
"Asajj…"Esmee whimpered clinging to her sister with a death grip, "I'm scared… What if they find us?"
Her mother had cried before she locked them away. 'Stay quiet. And for god's sake, Asajj, don't leave your sister!'
The two trembled as the banging continued on what they knew to be their front door.
The night sang songs of death and despair as the two girls were hidden away from the carnage that was going on outside. Somehow… Somehow her father's men had been defeated and Kirske was finishing off her village.
'I'd die before I'd let that man ruin what I deem most important…' She could feel the tears falling from her eyes as that train of thought consumed her. Her mother was no match for the warriors that served Kirske.
Eyes a shade more lovely than Esmee's flashed in her mind. She had almost forgotten about her mother in all the chaos.
Priya Ventress was a pillar of grace and beauty. It had dawned on Asajj that she'd no idea where her mother went off to after she hid them there. As soon as her mother saw the large band of men with their cleavers drawn, she grabbed her daughters and hid them in the house's underground storage room.
She and Esmee both had cried and pleaded for her to stay.
"They won't find you…" Priya had reassured her children. "You just have to be quiet now."
"Break it down!" Came the harsh voice of the men outside.
There was a loud crash and slight tremor as the heavy door was knocked off its hinges.
"Mama… Mama… Mama…"
"Esmee!" She hissed, frustrated, "Stop crying."
Wrenching her sister closer to herself, she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Come out, come out wherever you are…" Footfalls echoed throughout the floor.
"It won't hurt but a bit…" sang one of the men.
"Yes! Only a little," laughed another.
The tiny slivers of light from the above flickered as bodies moved about.
Holding her breath, Asajj squeezed her eyes shut as the men moved about above their hiding place.
Esmee whimpered as her sister's grip tightened.
"Listen here…" The men stopped. The two girls looked up as a foot pounded atop the door to their hideout.
"It's hollow!"
Asajj scooted back as quietly as she could dragging her sister along with her. Her back hit a wall and buckets topped, falling on the girls. The sound, though muffled by the door was loud enough to be heard.
"Sounds like there's somebody here after all!"
Sobbing quietly, Esmee tried to make out her sister in the darkness for what she knew would be their last moments together. Their father was probably dead, and she hadn't a clue where her mother was.
"Open it!"
But before the stone door could be ripped open a piercing cry sounded.
"What the-"
Both girls jerked forward wishing they could see through the rock… That voice sounded so familiar.
"Filthy, fucking bastards! Burn in hell!"
An obvious scuffle could be heard. 'Mama? Asajj thought hopefully.
"Somebody get this crazy bitch off me!"
Items crashed to the floor as a flurry of activity could be felt through the floor.
"FUCK!"
The sound of metal ripping flesh made the girls wince. What was going on up there? Esmee reached forward as if to move closer, only Asajj yanked her back.
"Shi-"
The smell of blood was in the air as a body landed loudly on the floor.
"Vasco! Fuckin' whore- Now you'll pay!"
"MY FACE!" Cried another.
More struggling could be heard until another set of bodies crashed loudly to the floor followed by a metal item.
"Let….go..of me!" Came their mother's voice.
"Fuckin' bitch!" Came a wounded cry, "Look at my fuckin' face!"
"Get your… filthy… hands off me!" Priya sounded strained as it was obvious in her voice that she was still fighting.
"I say we fuck her and leave her for dead," the wounded spat.
"I'd rather die!" The sound of someone spitting drifted through.
"Fine by me…"Asajj felt more tears fall down her face as she could hear her mother fight and hiss until an awful SNAP rang through followed by a lifeless THUD.
Silence.
"Burn this place down."
"But what about-"
"I said burn it to the ground!"
Destruction sounded all around the two girls as their home was ravaged and set ablaze. It matched the carnage outside perfectly.
Asajj could feel the anger and despair seep into her bones. Her whole frame shook with unrestrained fury. Glacial eyes burned with a hatred so strong the air cackled in response. All she could hear were those men laughing at a job well done. Rejoicing in the death of her mother, her father and her village.
"I'd rather die, first!"
"Fine by me…"
An awful SNAP… followed by a lifeless THUD.
Her eyes began sting as her vision began to blur. Her airway began to fill with gray as everything was spinning making the situation seem all the more surreal. This was really happening and there was nothing she or anyone could do.
She had been weak, and her weakness had cost her everything that ever mattered.
"Asajj… I can't breathe…" Esmee's hands were upon her back urging her to do something. Anything.
"Asajj!"
But the door was too heavy and her heart was so full. She pushed and screamed with everything she had and it wasn't enough. She could tell without looking that her sister was a sobbing, coughing mess beside her. As tears rolled hotly down her alabaster cheeks, she knew she was sobbing things too.
"I'm trying… I'm trying!" But for all her efforts, failure was her only achievement.
Failure was unacceptable. Failure was the deep burn that settled in her preteen muscles as she pushed, tried and choked on the smoke that would very well claim what little life she had left. And as that feeling coursed through her veins, something began to grow and fester within her soul.
It was raw and painful, grounded in desperation so deep that it strangled and warped her psyche into something fragile and dark. She could feel it burn at the tips of her fingers which were hard pressed and dirty against stone. She was so afraid and frantic that she couldn't help the scream that freed itself from her throat forcing all those sharp sensations somewhere else.
The force-like energy ripped through her arms and suddenly that stone door wasn't so heavy as dirty little hands pushed through to greet the air above.
Silver eyes were wide with relief and blinded by something much more disturbing.
"Esmee, we have to go!"
"Asajj-"
Soon they both were free, crying and choking because their home was on fire and their mother was dead. But Esmee hadn't wanted to leave and Asajj knew that they didn't have the time, or the heart, to stay any longer.
"We can't… she's gone!"
"Asajj-"
She wailed loud and broken.
The woman could feel her body curl into herself. With her eyes clamped shut she moaned as foreign hands bit painfully into her arms.
Someone was shouting her name and shaking her frame, but she refused to look anymore. She didn't want to see that devastated face and those silent eyes. She could feel her body clench as that spot below her breast ached and pulsed.
"I can't…" She whimpered, "It hurts!" And it did because failure would always result in pain.
A/N: I guess it's safe to say 'shit has definitely hit the fan!'
Well, we're halfway and it won't be soon before it's over. *Thank-you* Lol. But anywho, any comments on the developments so far? Does it make sense to you? Express yourselves- Please! Thanx for sticking around!
