Chapter XXXI: Her Student, Her Survivor
The Grand Inquisitor - Ordel, Romesch District
Imperial efficiency was always something to be proud of.
Only a couple of hours after Agent - no, Administrator Eloren had taken office, the first wave of workers was sent onto the mountains, all of them ''called upon'' to work for the glory the Empire, no matter what their personal disposition against it might've been. Second Sister wrote in her report that although some of them seemed to be displeased with the new Administrator's decision, she had already ensured that the Emperor's project would gain the efficiency it deserved.
Which in effect meant that she executed some of them. But he was alright with that.
With the added hands-on deck and Second Sister's personal supervision, nothing stood in his way to gain the Emperor's favor. Finally, the scientists and scholars of the Empire would gain access to the answers they've been looking for and all it needed for that to happen was one quick assassination. One glorified clean up act that stood between him and power.
I love politics.
And with that problem out of his way, he finally had time to focus on another task: finding Tide, Suduri, and Kestis.
Luckily for him, it was only a matter of time until they had to reveal themselves. With both the Heartseeker and its ships patrolling Ordel's skies and atmosphere, nobody could enter or leave the planet without either his or Eloren's approval. This basically meant that they had imprisoned themselves on this planet - all the Grand Inquisitor now had to do was to wait for a sign.
He didn't have to wait long.
After reading the reports he gathered from his troops, all of them tasked with spying on Eloren and her progress, the Grand Inquisitor decided that he'd spend some time meditating in order to strengthen his bond with the Dark Side. Thus, he focused his energy as he called upon the anger that resided within him, using it to center his thoughts as he opened his spirit to the chaotic currents of the Force.
Things were changing on Ordel and the people started to realize that. Through the Force, the Grand Inquisitor could feel how news of Milton's ''accident'' confronted many of the people with the fact that the Empire was here to stay. True, he might have felt some traces of anger and rage here and there, but overwhelmingly, he only felt two things: apathy and acceptance. Ordel and its once so bright people have been broken by the Empire - for good this time.
As he spread his presence further, his thoughts drifted to the area outside of Stone Town. The forest, though certainly beautiful at first glance, was home to many creatures, one more vicious than the other. Their enraged spirits delighted the Grand Inquisitor to no end. And yet, there was something more to them that was hidden from normal eyes - they were touched by the Dark Side of the Force. He couldn't quite explain it, though he had his theories. He knew that the ruins in the mountain housed many dormant Force energies. Energies that were for all intent and purposes nothing more than hushed whispers creeping through the Force like a soft breeze on a summer day. Yet he knew that the temple was somehow linked to the Light Side and not its darker end of the spectrum. It should have a tranquil effect on the animals, not one that inspired rage in them.
It was something he had to investigate when he had time.
The Grand Inquisitor was about to break from his meditation as he felt something nagging at the back of his head. It was a feeling he got to enjoy over the years, one that he always savored before eventually, all chaos would break loose. It was doubt.
And yet, the voice he heard in his head wasn't known to him. It wasn't Suduri nor Tide. It obviously wasn't Kestis either. No, the woman who lamented her pain through the Force was older and yet, non the wiser. Foolish, yet brave. A soldier on the surface and a Jedi in the heart. That could only mean that the Grand Inquisitor was proven correct:
Cere Junda, Padawan of Cordova. How fun.
So she did survive ever since that incident on Nur, he thought with some amusement. It was not everyday a mere Jedi Knight and a young Padawan manage to defeat the all-powerful dark lord of the Sith. And though he has gathered that it was duo more dumb luck and brain as opposed to raw power that they defeated Vader, it was still a highly critical matter nobody within the Inquisitorius should talk about if they wished to keep their heads. Vader wasn't particularly known for his ego, after all. Yet above all else, the Grand Inquisitor wished to know why she felt such pain. Although her suffering was like music to his ears, there had to be some reason behind it.
''This is the Grand Inquisitor. Have a unit of Purge Troopers meet me at the landing pads. Tell them to prepare my shuttle.'' he barked into his comlink ere he unsheathed his lightsaber. He'd present Vader with the head of Junda first, followed by the others. And maybe, the Emperor might look upon him with favor, given his own pupil's failure when it came to deal with those particular band of Jedi.
Idly, he debated himself on whether he should tell Second Sister or Eloren.
Eloren had her uses and she was undeniably competent - unlike her predecessor. And yet, the business of the Inquisitorius shouldn't be beholden to the mere rank and file. He knew that Eloren wasn't as stupid as to try to claim the fame of the kill for her. However, he wanted this kill for him and only himself. This would solidify his place as the Grand Inquisitor. He couldn't risk an unknown variable like the Administrator, not when it came to his station and thus his place within the Empire.
Second Sister wouldn't betray him, at least not yet. She needed him for both training and politics, given that she joined their illusive ranks not even a year ago. If it wouldn't have been for the ruins, maybe he would've called her to his side. But he wouldn't risk the Emperor's wrath, not for someone like Junda. Second Sister was to remain in the mountains where she would make sure that efficiency remained at its peak.
Thus, the Grand Inquisitor made his way to the shuttle alone. Once he arrived there, he was greeted by four Purge Troopers. They stood in front of him in morbid silence as they snapped a violent salute, the strong sound of their boots hitting the ground serving as a reminder of their iron discipline.
''Soldiers of the Empire, listen up. As I've predicted, the Jedi survivor Cere Junda is on Ordel. Though she isn't one of our priority targets, she still needs to be executed with extreme prejudice. Know that there is no place for her to hide where I can't find her. Nor is there any way for her to escape this planet. She is trapped here like a rat and we'll deal with her like one. Ready up!''
Another salute echoed through the landing pads before they turned around in perfect unison, manning the Imperial Lambda-class quickly.
Today he'd kill a Jedi - all for the glory of the Empire, of course.
Masana - Ordel, the Heartlands
Fields of wheat, green hills, and classy houses wherever she looked.
To think that in some sort of alternative reality she could get used to something like farming was hilarious in its own twisted way. One just had to imagine the sturdy Dowutin giving up her lightsaber for a garden hoe, seeds, and farm animals - wouldn't that be an image worthy of laughter?
Sadly, this was where her joy ended.
Though they have managed to evade the Empire successfully, their confrontation with the Grand Inquisitor came closer with every step. Masana knew the man better than anyone else, including himself. She knew the endless depths his sadism spread through, how his mind wept in enjoyment every time he could inflict suffering upon a living being. She also knew how deeply entrenched his fear of failure was. Vader, the dark lord himself, followed the Grand Inquisitor every hour of the day, amplifying the Pau'ans paranoia and thus only leading to more misery for those that fall prey to him. It was an endless cycle, starting with the Inquisitor's need for suffering and ending with Vader's persistent threats. Although Trilla and her might've escaped this cycle at least on some level, the Grand Inquisitor was in the middle of it with no chance of redemption in sight.
Masana was afraid, even though she knew that she shouldn't let it cloud her mind. The man's atrocities were one thing - his skills with the lightsaber another. Many a foe has stood in his way and yet they all fell before his blade. Did the two of them really have a chance against him? Masana knew her way around a lightsaber, she couldn't deny that. She was also keenly aware of Trilla's skillset - one that was severely weakened given her rocky connection with the Force not to add.
''I hate to say it but we need to come up with a plan. Don't really want to lose yet another limb to a lightsaber.''
''What's there to say? We kill him and get Cere out of there.''
''Aren't you supposed to be the analytical one?''
She really didn't like where this was going. There was a darkness about Trilla, one that she sensed ravaging through the fabrics of the Force without even peeking into her senses. And although Masana couldn't quite place from where it was coming from, it still concerned her greatly. The Grand Inquisitor wasn't a fool. When it came to manipulation, he was almost as good as Trilla. And the last thing she needed was a potential shiv in the back when she least expected it.
''Alright, tough love time.''
Masana sheathed her lightsaber and held her hands in front of Trilla as she glared deeply into her eyes.
''Listen, I get it. Shit's been though for you. Missing a year, reuniting with the others, Cere - and now the Grand Inquisitor. I get all that and frankly, I'm not feeling all rainbows and sunshine either. But ... ''
Without a single care in the galaxy, she stomped over to Trilla and grabbed her shoulders.
''You're going to die, you hear me? You're going to die if you walk into battle with a mind like that. He'll sense your inner conflict and he'll cut you down within seconds. You will die. Cere will die. I will die - and then? Do you really believe that Cal can ward him off? Or any other of your friends? They'll all die except for perhaps Cal. He the Grand Inquisitor will keep alive and we both know what happens afterward.''
They were harsh words, words she hated to say. But they were honest, if also painful.
Trilla glanced at Masana with shock ere she violently shook her head and pushed her away from her.
''You think I don't know all that?! I'm trying. Let's just ... ''
She couldn't finish her words. In the distance, an Imperial shuttle rose beneath the sun, its wings spread like a dark predator as it whizzed across Stone Town's Heartlands, making its way to the most outer hills.
It was him. Masana knew that even without the Force. She watched as it continued to fly sky high before it arrived at the hills. There, it spread its wings and landed amongst the soft grass, leaving Masana and Trilla close by.
''No, don't argue with me, princess. Shut it and think about what I said! We're running out of time.'' Masana barked as she grabbed her lightsaber again.
''Masana, I - ''
''Not now. Run!''
Running like madness incarnate, Masana and Trilla made their way through the district, hurling themselves over any obstacle that stood in their way. Eventually, they darted behind a treeline where they surveilled the shuttle below. It was empty and its loading ramp was closed, indicating that everyone on board seemed to have left for the nearby building.
''You think that he is alone?'' asked Trilla as she pulled her lightsaber closer to her chest.
''Doubt that he'd want to share this kill. It doesn't mean that he didn't take some Imps with him, though.''
They both knew how the Grand Inquisitor operated. Not one to be afraid of a dramatic entrance, he'd still ensure that his safety would always be his number one priority. Most of the times, that included bringing Storm Troopers or worse with him.
Masana's eyesight wandered across the shuttle towards the estate in front of them. Nestled on top of a hill and made out of some sort of elegant wood, just like the scheming human described. At least Cere and her companions hid out in style as long as it lasted, Masana thought grimly.
''Come on,'' she whispered as she bowed down to Trilla ''let's sneak in, figure out whether he's alone, take out any potential reinforcements and then ... well. We do what we do best.''
Of course she couldn't deny the irony of the current situation. Here they are, two former Inquisitors, both of them trained by their very own target against numerous advanced forms of saber combat. And now, it would be those teachings that'd hopefully bring victory today. And if they didn't -
No. Stop it, Masana. Focus. You can't let the Empire win, not with the temple this close.
Reducing their speed and switching into a stealthier approach, the infiltrators left the shuttle behind and made their way to Cere's base. Ensuring that her big feet wouldn't step on some sort of farming equipment and thus potentially giving away their positions, Masana felt as if she was treading on eggshells. She was never one for stealth, if not only for obvious reasons. Despite everything though, it appeared that their plan worked: without notifying a single soul, Masana and Trilla pressed their backs against some sort of barn, their lightsabers ready to strike at anyone and anything that would reveal itself.
''Wait, can you ... fell that?''
Sadness. Doubt. Reflection. The very air around Masana seemed to vibrate with negative emotions.
''What is it?'' asked Trilla dubiously and non the wiser.
''It's ... I don't recognize that presence. It is ... I think that's your master.''
''Still not my master - but at least we're not too late'' Trilla murmured before a thin smile crept over her lips ''where is she? Is he with her?''
At that, Masana closed her eyes and opened her mind to the Force. Trilla. The different insects within the forest. The birds that dominated the sky. Her senses reached out to all living things, connecting them through the cosmic powers of the Force. A wave of information besieged Masana's mind as she kept her focus sharp, using her abilities to pin-point Cere's location. A task considerably easier with all of the powerful emotions that currently surrounded her.
Masana glared down at her feet and tilted her head.
''She's ... below? Some sort of basement?''
Trilla gave Masana a slight shove before she pointed past her.
''There. That's got to be a way down. Come on!''
She tried to sound calm even if the slight stuttering in her words gave her away, Masana admitted. Still, she followed Trilla's lead. Glaring down at the ceiling entrance - a simple door on the ground, surrounded by a bunch of stones - she spat in her hands and took a deep breath before she lifted the gate out of its hinges. She might not have been the stealthiest person around but that she could do.
Though darker and certainly dustier than the surface, they still pressed on as they made their way through the narrow hallway. Further down below, she could distinctly pick up two voices, both of them muffled by voice modulators that conjured up nothing but nightmares in her head.
''Purge Troopers,'' Masana whispered as she raised her finger and pointed it forward.
''Of course. We couldn't start being in luck now, could we?'' Trilla snorted as her finger wandered to the switch of her saber.
Taking another couple of steps forward, Masana rocked her head around the corner. Her suspicions were proven correct: Four Purge Troopers, two on every side flanking a wooden door in their middle. Trying her best to suppress the sigh that started to build in her, she pushed herself back and turned around to Trilla.
''Four bucket heads. Close quarters though.''
''Blasted. As if one wouldn't be enough of a challenge. Any ideas?''
As she peeked down at her saber, Masana turned her lightsaber into its full-crescent mode. Then, her eyes wandered to the blade's spinning function.
''Well ... as I said. Close quarters.''
Picking up on Masana's idea quickly, Trilla too began to modify her saber. As she was done, she directed a worrisome look at Masana.
''Something tells me that we won't exactly have the luxury of time once the first Troopers falls.''
''Aye, we won't. Once they hit the floor, we barge in and save this Cere of yours.''
It was a crude plan, perhaps. But right about now, Masana really couldn't come up with anything else. Whatever was about to happen would happen. All she could do was to trust in the Force that their lives wouldn't end, at least not today.
Quietly whispering to every deity she could think of, Masana took one last breath before she spared another glance in Trilla's direction.
''You ready for some payback?''
''I've been waiting for this for a long time.''
Second Sister and Ninth Sister. Trilla and Masana. No matter their names or titles, they once more worked as a perfect team, igniting their sabers in perfect synchronization as they bathed the dark hallway into a light show of red and white. The Purger Troopers were quick to react, no doubt startled by the sound of igniting blades and the lights that now danced in the shadows in front of them. Yet all they could do was to enter a combat stance as they were greeted by the sight of rotating sabers coming right at them, their passion for combat and slaughter reduced to the image of lightsabers gunning for their heads. They fell quick, Masana's and Trilla's affinity in the Force easily conquering whatever training the Purge Troopers had to endure.
Knowing that they couldn't waste a single second, Masana ran as if she was set ablaze, sprinting like a madwoman towards the door that was no longer guarded. Almost tearing the door apart into its very splinters, she kicked it open with relative ease, revealing the face of the man that has done nothing to her but inflict pain and suffering.
Got you now, boss man.
Trilla - Ordel, Homebase
She always knew that it had to end this way.
It didn't matter if she would've stayed an Inquisitor or not, eventually, she and the Grand Inquisitor would cross their blades until only one victor would emerge. A life of constant manipulation and treachery, constant fear, and paranoia, all of it stemming from the Pau'an that now stood in front of them, his sharp teeth presented in a demonic grin that made Trilla's spine freeze to pure ice.
Yet it wasn't only the presence of the Grand Inquisitor that shattered her core.
Cere kneeled beside him, his crimson blade held directly at her throat. Her sunkissed face turned as white as the heart of a blizzard as her tear-ridden eyes fell on Trilla, the gasp that escaped her mouth almost enough to tear Trilla's heart apart.
''How ... '' Cere whispered as she kept glaring at Trilla. Her eyes seemed lost and shallow as more and more tears slid down her cheeks, one sob after another fighting their way out of her lips.
''Ah, what a grand reunion! You really had no idea, did you dear? Of course not. Second Sister - pardon, Trilla over here was always known for her ... deception. Weren't you, Trilla?''
Trilla's nail dug deep into her skin as she raised her head and stared at the Grand Inquisitor. He enjoyed this, he enjoyed every second of their shared misery. Like a parasite, he feasted on the unfiltered pain that spread through Cere, just as he gnawed on the unparalleled hatred that built up in Trilla.
''What, are you at a loss for words, Suduri?'' he raised one of his skeleton-like fingers at her ere he chuckled darkly ''well, it happens. What about you, Masana Tide. Ninth Sister? Does it matter?''
Trilla knew what he was doing. He was doing what she herself has done over all those years. It was truly an art to carry one's words like a poisoned dagger, Trilla thought. To understand within seconds what held a person together at their core, to pull apart at the seams of their psyche in a delightful sadistic way. She wasn't a stranger to such manipulation as she had mastered those ever since being a part of the Inquisitorius. Trilla was a true specialist when it came to it, indeed she once raveled in it - she really shouldn't have been affected by the Pau'ans toxic tongue.
And yet, despite everything, the Grand Inquisitor tore down her mental defenses as if it was nothing.
''Does it?'' Masana deactivated one end of her saber and entered a defensive stance ''I don't know. I honestly don't know.'' she lamented in a defeated tone.
''Yet what I do know is that you will not win today.'' Masana finished as she put one foot in front of the other, readying herself for the battle to come.
Perhaps if the Grand Inquisitor's blade wouldn't have been held against Cere's throat, Masana's defiance would've been inspiring for her. And yet, watching Cere sob as one year of suffering came crashing down on her, Trilla realized that Masana was the sole person within this room that wasn't inherently broken.
''We shall see, Tide. Before I slaughter you all though - where is Cal Kestis?''
''Cal ... he .. he ... '' Cere whimpered as she looked at Trilla with nothing but desperation written in her visage.
''Oh, she didn't know that either, apparently. Not really good at that entire 'Master and apprentice thing', are you Junda? Nevermind, it's not as if the living proof stood in front of me.'' the Grand Inquisitor snickered in a harrowing tone as he glared to Trilla.
''You're a monster.'' Trilla stated as the terror that riveted in her skull was turned into nothing short of pure fury.
''I'm what the Empire made me, Sister.''
For the fragment of a second, it seemed as if the Grand Inquisitor's voice seemed to waver. Still, the Pau'an raised his blade - and brought it down directly at Cere.
''Cere!'' Trilla screamed like an enraged banshee as she leaped forward, her vision turned as red as her blade as she tried to attack the Inquisitor. Suddenly, as she came closer, she spotted how the air around the Pau'an seemed to flicker slightly. For only a couple of moments, he was seemingly frozen in place, his blade suspended mere inches in front of Cere.
And once more, the world around her came to a sickening halt.
Peace is a lie. There is only Passion.
Trilla stared at her shaking hands as a strange light engulfed her, the holocron in her tunic vibrating within a mist of purple energy as a revitalizing warmth caressed her limbs.
Through Passion I gain Strength.
She directed her eyes to Cere, her quivering lips trembling with panic as the Inquisitor's blade was dangerously close to her. Yet what pained her most was the utter dread Cere endured as her eyes were locked with her own, the fear that Cere currently felt burning itself into Trilla's memory like an eternal living nightmare.
Through Strength I gain Power.
The Force surrounded Trilla as it made its way through every muscle, every nerve of her being. Like a fire it spread throughout, scorching anything it touched.
Through Power I gain Victory.
Her mind wandered back to the endless torture she endured. She thought of the dark halls of the Fortress Inquisitorius and the many callous instruments of pain seated within. Above all else though, she thought of her escape, the salvation she gained at the hand of Cere.
Through Victory, my chains are Broken.
Trilla found herself on a ship, surrounded by some known, some unknown faces. They encompassed some sort of galaxy map as they seemed to be lost in debate, trying to figure out where their path should lead them now. A vision?
The Force shall free me.
Finally, Trilla saw a flag, its red textures bearing the emblem of the Empire proudly. From one second to the next, it started to smoke, the flames turning the flag into nothing but ashes right in front of her eyes.
Roaring like a savage beast, Trilla aimed her saber at the Inquisitor's head as the world around her anchored itself in reality once more. He was quick to respond as he activated the second end of his lightsaber, blocking her strike in front of his face as he gnarled his teeth at her.
''Come then, Suduri. Let me show you why I was always the better one of us!''
Using the Force, he pushed Cere away from him, hurling her backwards as he delivered a powerful kick at Trilla's chest. Out of the corner of her eyes, Masana sprang to action, the white beam of her blade clashing with the other end of the Inquisitor's saber.
''You could've had it all! And yet you betrayed the Empire, betrayed the Emperor for what ... the illusion of freedom? There is no freedom. There is only the Empire!''
He pushed himself shortly, centering himself before he unleashed a flurry of strikes at them, each and every one of them hitting with more power than the one before. Masana and Trilla managed to hold their own as his attacks ended, giving them a chance to breathe.
''Did you really believe that you'd be free of us? The very notion of it is absurd!'' the Grand Inquisitor howled as he attacked once more, his quick yet powerful strikes pushing them back inch for inch.
''You've forced our hands!'' Masana spat before she raised her knee, trying to aim it at the Inquisitor's stomach. The agile Pau'an was swift on his feet though as he merely jumped out of harm's way.
''I've forced your hands? Did I also implant that foolish belief in you that you - no, anyone of us could ever be free?! Free of his anger and his power?''
It was now Trilla's turn to charge forwards, activating both ends of her saber as she rapidly approached him. Left. Right. Left. Right. Probing the Inquisitor's defense for any weakness, Trilla's mind went into overdrive, desperately searching for any weak point that she could exploit.
''And you, Suduri - did you think that he wouldn't have gotten rid of you eventually?'' the Inquisitor's words were potent venom as he parried her strikes ''you should've died on Nur. It would've been a kindness!''
The Grand Inquisitor jumped backwards while hurling his blade at Trilla. Though she managed to dodge it at the last second, Trilla couldn't withstand the wave of Force energy that hit her head on, pushing her back towards Masana as the Grand Inquisitor raised his blade in a defensive way once more.
''You know, once I'm done killing you ... I'll get Kestis. And I won't kill him - no. I'll turn him into one of us and then, once he kneels in front of my feet, I'll be thinking of how you failed him!''
The Inquisitor's words enraged Trilla as her heart began to pump pure hatred into her veins. Yet it wasn't Trilla or Masana that managed to get their first blow in and past his defenses - it was Cere. Three blaster polts scorched his Imperial armor in quick succession, the pain of it enough for Cere to gather his full attention.
'''How dare y - ''
Another valley of bolts bounced off his saber as he stormed towards Cere, his saber facing her unprotected flesh swiftly and without mercy. Within the span of a second the smell of burned meat penetrated the air as Cere unleashed a tormented scream. The Inquisitor managed to cut off both of her arms with a single stroke, the pain and trauma of it enough to make Cere fall down onto her knees.
''Master!'' Trilla screeched as she launched herself at the Grand Inquisitor, striking down at him with blind fury. Again and again, her blade met his, flashes of green light erupting beneath the sparks as their blades clashed. She didn't know how long she was locked in single combat with him and she didn't care. All she could her were Cere's screams of pain as she continued in her relentless assault, feeling how her strength grew in vigor with every strike she took.
Yet through all that anger, Trilla couldn't see what the Inquisitor was planing. Suddenly, he deactivated his saber as their beams were locked, just as Cal did all that time ago. And just like against Cal, she stumbled forward, enabling the Inquisitor to push her away once more.
''Damn it, Trilla!'' she heard Masana bark as she flew past her.
Masana faced the Grand Inquisitor head-on as she warded his attacks off in a courageous way. And yet, no matter how much courage Masana could call her own, the Pau'an seemed to outmatch her. With a single blow his blade went straight through Masana's lightsaber, cutting it in two under a stream of flashes. The Grand Inquisitor was clearly exhausted, given the amount of sweat that clung to his forehead and the slight, yet noticeable tremble of his legs. With a final roar, he called upon the Force as he summoned a pair of chairs from the corner, hurling it at the defenseless Dowutin as he used this moment to run past her, disappearing in the shadowy hallway from where they came from.
Trilla already turned around and readied herself to run after him as a weeping sound caught her attention. Behind her, Cere glared at her scorched arms as her entire body began to shake, her head rocking up and down in an unnatural way.
''Masana, the Grand Inquisitor ... !'' Trilla pointed at the hallway as Masana approached her, the two ends of her lightsabers resting in her hands.
''Is gone. Cere needs our help ... shit, I think that she's going into shock!''
Without a second thought, Trilla threw herself onto the floor and pulled Cere close to her, her own shaking hands stroking over her chin as she rested her head on her shoulder.
''It's going to be okay, Cere. It's going to be okay now.''
Cal - Ordel, the remains of the Mantis
It had been - Force, he didn't even know.
He had no idea how long it has been since he has rested so comfortably.
Keeping his eyes closed in sleepy bliss as he stretched his limbs, Cal had to giggle as BD jumped up and down beside him, peeping like a synthetic preacher during a sermon. He'd deal with whatever he wanted in a minute or two. It's been too long since he got a good night's sleep. Whatever nightmare the Mantis currently faced, the others could deal with it without him. In the end, it was probably only Greez trying some of his more outlandish cooking again, nothing that a fire extinguisher shouldn't be able to handle.
And yet, BD kept his slightly annoying, if definitely adorable attempts at waking Cal up going. Letting go of a long sigh, Cal turned his head towards the droid in a sluggish way.
''BD ... just give me ... thirty minutes. Hours. Thing. You know ... ''
Cal yawned again ere he forced his eyes open, a livid shock almost physically throwing him out of his bed as his mind finally managed to catch up with the situation.
''BD ...? BD!''
Almost instantly, Cal wrapped his arms around the droid as he pulled him closer towards him while he grinned like a little child during Lifeday.
''BD! I've missed you so much. Come here, yo - ''
Out of nowhere, every muscle in his body started to tense up in a painful manner. Almost as if his limbs were pulled into molten carbonite, his arms pulsated in nauseous pain. As the sound of his chaotically beating heart almost threatened to rip apart his eardrums, Cal was thrown out of his bunk as he bit down on his lips.
And just like that it was gone.
''Cal!'' Merrin barged into the room like lightning, making her way to the downed Jedi without hesitation.
''My arms. Force, the pain ... ''
''Easy. Let's get you up first.''
Tenderly, Merrin helped Cal up on his feet, planting him onto the bed before she joined him.
''I don't know what just happened. I - ''
''Relax. Maybe it's the stress?''
Maybe. Nevertheless, it was an experience he certainly didn't wish to go through once more. As if the last year - day, whatever, - wasn't chaotic enough, already. His eyesight wandered through the room he currently found himself in. It was his old cabin in the Mantis, even if it was grimier and more visibly broken than before. Countless cracks embraced the metal hull of the room as the room was void of any of his personal belongings - which, to be fair, weren't many to begin with.
''I don't know. Well, at least ... '' he turned his torso towards Merrin.
Merrin!
To think how far they came from their fight against Malicos on Dathomir. Jedi and Nightsisters didn't travel together, true. But survivors like them? They endured - together.
And he left her alone for an entire year, didn't he? Gone in a second, Cal disappeared for an entire year, leaving her to face whatever hell life threw at her on a daily basis. Remembering her reaction as she saw them back in the forest almost shred him to parts. Cal hurt her, the last person he'd ever wish to hurt. For that, he could feel nothing but shame.
Still, to say that he was overjoyed at seeing her would've been a colossal understatement.
''Merrin, damn I've missed you!''
Just like BD before, Cal raised his arms and almost threw himself at Merrin, eclipsing her in a warm hug as he smiled from one ear to the other. She responded to his affection in kind, wrapping her arms around him as her forehead rested on his own.
''Cal ... '' she whispered quietly as she closed her eyes ''I still can't believe it. I can't believe anything that that alien said.''
Alien? She probably meant Masana, Cal deducted quietly. That meant that she had told them what happened, at least on a general scale. And for that, Cal was more than thankful. He truly had no idea how he'd explain it otherwise.
''I know. Believe me it sounds so utterly crazy but ... it's the truth.'' he let go of their shared hug while he kept her hands in his ''Trilla and I were looking for a strange presence she felt through the Force. As we reached it ... well, chaos erupted. There was an explosion and somehow, we were catapulted through time.''
He had to cringe at that. No matter how hard he tried, it truly sounded ludicrous.
''The explosion'' Merrin noded once after that ''we ... Greez, Cere and I - we thought you died in it. But you ... you are here. You're actually here, aren't you? This isn't a trick or some illusion, you're actually here with me now, aren't you?''
He brought her hands to his chest as he looked at her woefully. Cal couldn't even begin to imagine himself in her shoes right now.
One year. One actual year. Damn it.
''I'm here. It really is me, for better or worse.'' he chuckled slightly at that ''and this time, you won't get rid of me that easily.''
''You know me, Kestis. I'm quite persistent.'' snickered Merrin as she put her right hand on his cheek ''come. The others have ... so many questions. As do I, truth be told. I know the Force, but this ... ''
This was madness, Cal finished silently in his head.
''Alright. Yeah, you're right. The others, I didn't really spend that much time conscious. Who are they?''
''Richard and Relor? Richard - well, he was Ordel's Administrator, back when we arrived one year ago. After the explosion, he escaped from Stone Town and helped Cere in building up a resistance movement. He's ... well, he is he. He wouldn't admit it, but there's more of the Empire inside him than he knows.''
Cal shouldn't have been surprised by that. The Force brought together the most unlike of allies, as both this Richard and Masana have proven. Especially when it came to someone like Cere that couldn't just rest her feet for long. Cere was a beacon that attracted those that wished to fight for the innocent, he has always known that. And somehow, it made him happy to know that despite everything that happened - or Cere believed to have happened - she still fought for those that couldn't protect themselves.
''Former Imperial? Can we trust him?''
''Even if we can't, I don't believe that we have a choice. Still, I do. Not completely, mind you. But I do - he has proven that he listens to Cere and for me, that is enough for the moment.''
Trilla. Masana. Him. If the current mood would've been any different, he might've cracked a joke that they could start an ex-Imperial collection. Now though, he merely nodded at Merrin's words, signaling her to continue in her explanation.
''Alright. It's not like I can judge much anyways, given who I travel with. What about this Relor character?''
''He .. '' at that, Merrin let go off Cal and crossed her arms in front of her chest ''it's best that he explains himself. This is something you should figure out on your own.''
He tilted his head in confusion. What could be so special about a man he has never met before in his life? But, he trusted Merrin's wisdom. If that is truly what she believed, then he'd heed her counsel.
''Right. We do love our mysteries, don't we.''
Cal sighed before he looked at Merrin again.
''No matter, it is what it is. As long as we face it together, eh?''
Merrin lowered her head at that and smiled.
''Together.''
Quickly, BD jumped right into their middle, pushing his head into Cal's side as he beeped in an eccentric way.
''You and me? Always together, buddy. Come on!''
Giggling as he put the droid on his shoulder, he grabbed Merrin's hand and lifted her from the bed.
''I'll be out in a second, alright? Just give me a moment to collect my thoughts.''
As Merrin left him alone, he put his hands onto his face and groaned. This would be a long day, that much he knew. He'd have to face Cere and Greez, he'd have to see their hurt with his own eyes as he'd explain the situation to them. Eventually, he'd have to tell Cere about Trilla and the holocron she found, not to mention that there was a chance that Master Tapal reached out to him through the Force and basically ordered him to kill - ...
''Calm down, Kestis. You can do this.''
Step after step, Cal would figure out a way through this. First, he'd have to bring everyone up to speed, a task that would be easier if its emotional component wouldn't have filled him with so much sadness. He knew that he had to, but he really didn't like seeing his friends in pain like that.
BD lifted his head and gave Cal a slight shove with it, peeping in a teasing manner ere he jumped up and down once on his shoulder.
''You're right. I know. Let's just ... get it over with.''
Taking a deep breath, Cal opened the rusty door and made his way to the emptied kitchen of the Mantis. It was generally the same as when he left with Masana and Trilla, give or take some random stuff that was spread through the ship. It was obvious that neither side planned to stay here for obvious reasons. Even now, seeing how the Mantis had wasted away through the year, Cal still felt uneasy treading through its halls. The ship deserved better, Cal thought. They all did.
''Look who returned from the dead.''
Greez's words echoed through the ruined room in a sarcastic manner, the man's obvious emotional state quickly showing Cal what he was heading into. He knew that Greez, of all people, would take the most time to understand. A fact that seemed to weigh heavily on the Lateron.
''Greez! Thank the Force you're alri - ''
''No. Don't you dare use this Force of yours to explain this. I'm done with this - '' he pointed at Cal ''and this!'' and then at the walls of the Mantis.
''This Force of yours is the reason things are as they are. And I don't want it in my life anymore!'' Greez spat explosively as he violently shook his head.
''Greez. Listen, I get it. But ... ''
''Oh stop it, kid. You don't get it. You, Merrin, Cere - you'll never get it. The galaxy is basically screwed because of you fanatics and as always, we pay the price for it! Just look around, Cal. Look at the damage your Force caused!''
''Greez.'' Merrin pipped up beside him, giving him an understanding if a slightly warning look.
''Don't 'Greez' me, Merrin! Tell me, where is Cere now because of the Force?''
Cal raised his eyebrows at that. That was a good question, he had to admit. Where was Cere?
''Greez ... '' Merrin huffed before she closed her eyes in quiet frustration.
''What, you didn't tell him? You just know how to lie, don't you?''
''Eh, both of you, hold up for a second!'' Cal raised his hands as he glared at Greez with obvious worry spreading through his face.
''Where is Cere?'' he added, lowering his tone as his mind prepared itself for the worst.
''Cal, she's ... well, she stayed behind. There's an Inquisitor on Ordel and Cere believed that he was here for her, I assume.''
Oh no.
Panic started to besiege his mind. Why where they even here? They had to hurry and save Cere. If they left now, they could -
''Cal ... Cal! Calm down. Trilla and this alien companion of yours are already dealing with it. They're rescuing her as we speak.'' Merrin stated in a calm, if obviously faked manner.
''Damn it. You should've told me! I need to get to them!''
Merrin stepped to Cal and put her hands on his shoulders. Again, she brought her forehead directly onto his, locking her eyes deeply with his as she spoke in a harmonic fashion.
''Cal, I understand. But we wouldn't be able to reach them. All we can do now is to prepare for their arrival and plan a way off of Ordel.''
Cal wanted to rebel, to just grab his saber and leave - but as Merrin's fingers danced up and down his cheeks, he closed his eyes and sighed. Cal sensed the honesty in Merrin's words. Whatever may happen, both Masana and Trilla were too far away for him to be any help, even if that realization pained him deeply. All he truly could do now was to wait and to trust in the Force, as he has always done.
''Alright.'' Cal whispered as Merrin pulled away from him.
It would be alright, Cal thought. They'd be alright. He'd calm himself and deal with anything else in the meantime. Force knew, there were a lot of things that needed to be discussed anyway if Greez's reaction was any indication.
''Yeah, let's go trust the insane former Inquisitor and a stranger with Cere's wellbeing. Good thinking, Merrin.'' Greez added spitefully as he glared daggers into her back.
Cal didn't need the Force to know that Greez was hurt. The downtrodden tone his words carried along was proof enough. Cere and Merrin - though they probably wouldn't understand everything at once - could at least conjecture from where he was coming from. Greez wasn't connected to the Force nor did he understand the theory behind it, not like the others. No matter how much his words might hurt, Cal truly couldn't blame him.
''She's not a stranger. Her name is Masana and she used to be a Jedi.''
That much was true, at least in theory. Let's leave it at that.
''Yeah, a Jedi dressed in what looked like some ... cannibal cult garbs. Great.'' Greez deadpanned.
''Greez - I swear I should have taken one of your arms back at Nur'' Merrin exclaimed exhausted ere she looked at Cal ''now what? We still need to go off-planet.''
''About that ... '' Cal chuckled awkwardly as he moved his hands to the back of his head.
Both Merrin and Greez glared at him in a way that suggested that whatever they'd hear, they wouldn't be pleased with it. And Cal, never one to disappoint, obliged:
''We ... uhm, sort of need to destroy the ruins in the mountains before we leave. We can't let them fall into the Empire's hands.''
''Cal!'' both Merrin and Greez exclaimed in frustration.
Oh boy. This is going to be fun.
AN: And once more, this should've been (part) of Tuesday's chapter but I honestly couldn't keep the Merrin/Cal Trilla/Cere reunion for myself. Sorry (?) :P
Next up we'll bring the cast together and start with the end of this act.
!Also don't forget that I've got a Tumblr now for all my nerdy stuff, including Fallen Order and my absurd love for it. Head over to my profile and check it out! Ask me questions, peek through the wtf'ness that is my mind, and indulge me with your fan theories.
PS: I've finally chosen what sort of ship they'll get as a Mantis replacement and I'm sure that you'll be pleased.