Only one more chapter after this one, I think. I've also started a sequel, but I have no idea what direction I'll go with it yet. Thanks for reading.
Theron POV
I stood at a console in the command center, finishing up an analysis of Odessen's systems. I had been back for only a week, but it felt like I never left. It was nice to be home, especially since I wasn't sure if I'd live to see home again. Everyone looked at me with admiration for my actions, now that the reasons behind my actions were common knowledge. Well, everyone but the one person I desperately wanted to look at me favorably.
Nikka was still avoiding me and hadn't said a word to me since our discussion on her ship. I understood why she was mad and I was willing to wait however long it took for her to cool off, but it hurt being so close to her, but still have her be so very far away. Thoughts of returning to her were sometimes the only thing keeping me going for the months I was gone.
I had gone undercover before, of course. It was the nature of my work and training, but this time was different. This time I had openly betrayed the only people in my life I saw as family. Nikka, the commander, even Lana. They were my family and doing what I did to them, though necessary, had been far worse than anything I had experienced as a SIS agent for the Republic.
Once I was finished with my task, I closed down my session. I planned to head over to the cantina for a drink, but there seemed to be quite a bit of activity in the Force users enclave. Curious, I entered to find a dozen or so people watching a lightsaber duel in process. I had a feeling that it wasn't so much the fight that had caused the crowd, as the participants. Dueling was not uncommon in the enclave and rarely drew a crowd.
On one side was a yellow lightsaber wielded by Arcann. On the other side was Nikka with a blue blade. They were going full tilt, too. I could tell neither of them was holding back, which was amazing, since Arcann was probably one of the best lightsaber fighters in existence, but Nikka seemed to be holding her own well. The fight was mesmerizing. They moved like only two masters of the Force could move.
"She's good, isn't she?" The commander said, a bit of pride in his voice. He was standing behind me, watching the fight. He didn't look nearly as shocked as I probably did. I had missed a lot while I was gone.
"She is. When did she learn to use a lightsaber?" I asked quietly. If she knew I was watching her fight, she didn't show any indication it was throwing her off at all. "And when did she learn to move like that?"
"After Umbara. She had been working with Lana and Senya quietly before you left, but she didn't dive into it fully until after. I think she was using Force training as a coping mechanism. She didn't take you leaving well. And, she didn't start working with a lightsaber until Arcann offered to work with her. She makes one hell of a Force user, I can tell you that much. Not a Jedi or Sith or even a Knight. She's her own thing. Something new."
We continued to watch and I noticed a few times where Arcann and Nikka would get almost intimately close during their battle, pausing in that moment slightly before one or the other would use the Force to push their opponent back. When the commander turned to leave, I followed. What I wanted to talk to him about was something I didn't want Nikka to hear. I waited until we were well outside the command center to speak.
"So, did Nikka...move on at all while I was gone? Replace me?" I asked. I almost didn't want to hear the answer. I really couldn't blame her if she had, but it didn't mean it wouldn't hurt to hear.
He shrugged. "Not that I saw, not that she would tell me if she did. She spent two full weeks in denial, stowed away on her ship, then one day she came out and just kinda moved forward. Corso tried to make an advance the day after you left, but I shut that down before he could even talk to Nikka. He'd probably be dead right now if I hadn't. No, Corso doesn't deserve Nikka. I was not going to let him take advantage of the situation."
"I was just wondering, since the exchange between Arcann and Nikka seemed a bit intimate."
The commander laughed. "There was nothing going on between them besides lightsaber training and meditation. Apparently, learning to fight with a lightsaber is very intense at times. Though, it was probably good you came back when you did. Arcann has been a very good friend to Nikka and is slowly learning how to be a normal person. I could see something happening between them, if enough time passed." He placed a hand on my shoulder. "I don't think you have anything to worry about. Now that you're back, she'll come to her senses."
I sighed, but nodded. "It's hard being this close to her and not being able to even talk to her."
"Lana says Nikka feels very strongly through the Force. She can feel your pain from being separated from her. It won't be too long before she comes to talk to you. She's just being stubborn."
"Speaking of our favorite Sith, I've noticed you and her are a bit closer than when I left." I said. I needed to change the subject and I had noticed a new familiarity between Lana and Rio.
Rio smiled. "You weren't there for the conversation on Iokath, but Elara moved on while I was missing. Learning the news of my new found single status kinda removed the last roadblock between Lana and I. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I've fallen this hard for a Sith."
I shrugged. "She's not a Sith. She's Lana. And when you go to hell and back with someone, well, let's just say I'm not surprised. I'm happy for you both. You and Lana are the only true friends I've had in my life besides Nikka, regardless of what happened over the last few months." I actually chuckled at the thought. I never thought I'd be having a conversation with the commander about relationships. "Okay, enough of the sentimentality. I'm going to the cantina to get a drink. The only bad part about having implants like mine is that my brain doesn't know how to shut off without chemical help."
Rio laughed. "I'll join you and the first round is on me."
To Be Continued...
