~O~
Kindle
The Ninth Sister was far too loud tonight.
They were celebrating their newest conquest at the bar in Canto Bight and she was boasting once more to several women sitting around her. They seemed to lavish attention to her as Trilla had often seen for their sort; everyone wanted to be with an Inquisitor. They wanted to be adored by them. Sycophants and the like always disgusted Trilla.
"Come on, Second!" Ninth Sister said, grinning. "Ain't nothing wrong with my sloppy seconds."
Trilla rolled her eyes. "Please. Spare me your indecorous ways for one night."
The Ninth Sister shrugged her shoulders, smirking down at the two women under her arms. "Hey, suit yourself."
Trilla rose from her seat, passing war profiteers, tourists and others of no interest. She could see women at the arms of wealthy individuals; buttering them up, no doubt. Maybe even scheming to steal their credits as they slept. Typical.
It wasn't as if she hadn't indulged in pleasures of the flesh. But she'd lacked any mood for it right now. She was more concerned about their next plan.
Plus, it was always the same when she brought a lover to bed. Their pleas, their insistence that they'd do anything for her. Of course they did, eventually. They always did. But she'd grown tired of it. They craved the allure of bedding an Inquisitor and hoping to be their favorite. They were nothing but mindless, depraved toys.
Sienna was dancing with Kareena.
It had been a few days and she hadn't needed to be connected to Star anymore. Trilla watched them as they worked together. It made her frown intensely and she thought about what Cere said. Jealousy was a childish emotion and she wasn't jealous. In fact, it made sense for Sienna to spend time around Kareena. After all, she'd wanted to meet Miraluka for a long time.
When they went their separate ways, Trilla watched Kareena approach her.
"She's going to be fine from here on out," Kareena explained, as if she knew that's what Trilla wanted to hear, "As a healer, she would be invaluable to New Eden."
Trilla nodded her head, her tone blunt. "Yes, to New Eden."
Kareena tilted her head at the tone. She continued to discuss Sienna. "Well, as a healer, she should have been capable of healing, at least, part of her wound. But she hadn't. I saw no attempt at regeneration at all. That was...curious."
"And why is that?"
"Isn't it obvious? To regenerate, one must use a lot of mental energy to do so," Kareena explained, "They must think about themselves. But Sienna can't. She doesn't want to think about herself."
Trilla's brow furrowed at that. Something about that was concerning, but she suspected she knew why it was so; Sienna had felt guilt for her existence.
"Yes, but that seems to be different around you." Kareena smiled a little.
Trilla tensed where she stood. "What are you talking about?"
"Come now. I know you're concerned." Kareena chuckled, shaking her head. She took a step toward her and seemed to look at her with such intensity, even for one without eyes. "But to alleviate your worries, I'm not attracted to Sienna. I may be blind, but I can see that bothers you."
Trilla let out a scoff. She grinned now, suddenly embarrassed by the point. "Don't be absurd." she snapped. "That is a..."
Kareena continued to smile and folded her arms across her chest. "Absurd? Absurd is what you wore when you were an Inquisitor, Trilla Suduri. Oh yes, we already know who and what you used to be." Her smile disappeared somewhat. "It took persuasion. Quite a bit, in fact; to let my father and the others know that you are just as much a victim of the Empire as we are."
Trilla was about to utter a scathing retort - how dare she make such presumptions - but Cal was speaking with Lucien about something and it drew her attention to them. She approached and Cal was just finishing a conversation before he looked at her. He seemed troubled and Lucien was equally as bothered.
"What's the matter?" Trilla asked.
Cal sighed through his nose. "I told him about the holocron the Empire has with them." he explained, "That they might already have a few of the children on the list."
Trilla frowned. She didn't want to think about that, but it was possible. "Yes, it was inevitable. But if we act now, we can find them."
"I already have my finest Force users working to find them," Lucien told her, with a smile of reassurance.
"And they know that they can't just kidnap them, right?" Cal looked concerned now.
"Yes, they know that."
"Are you sure?" Trilla arched an eyebrow, not quite trusting the idea.
Lucien tilted his head at her. "Loyalty and honor are earned," he explained, "It's not something you receive simply because you're a leader."
Perhaps that was true, to a degree; even then, Trilla couldn't argue it.
A woman's terrified calls turned their focus behind them. A Mirialan woman was calling for her child, looking frantically around.
"Hold on." Lucien approached the woman. "What is it, Bella?"
Bella looked up at him, taking his hand desperately. "I can't find my son! He must have gone into the Sleeping Forest again."
Trilla wrinkled her brow, staring at her strangely. "Sleeping Forest."
She looked at Lucien for an explanation. He sensed her stare.
"Sleeping Forest is a place of meditation." he explained. "It's a place one can easily get lost in. And there may be a storm coming. At the center of the forest is a tree where Miraluka such as myself go. He may be there. He was fond of the glowing colors before."
Trilla looked at Bella. "I will find your son. I can track anyone, really."
"Thank you!" Bella smiled with relief. "His name is Tek. He's a good boy. He's just...got a bad case of wanderlust."
Cal looked surprised that she offered to help find the boy, but Trilla really just needed time to think; she didn't like the presumption of the Miraluka and how she'd been seemingly jealous. She didn't wear her emotions on her sleeve that way and she hated that others seemed to be aware of her more than usual.
It wasn't done.
It simply wasn't.
"Are you sure?" Lucien questioned.
"I'm sure." Trilla assured him.
Sienna overheard the conversation and approached them. "Perhaps I could be of help."
"Good." Lucien was happy to hear that. "Whatever you can do, bring him back. Just mind the creatures. There are a few Force-sensitive animals we keep there."
Sienna smiled and nodded, but Trilla looked dumbfounded. They kept potentially dangerous animals so close by?
"Don't worry. We will do fine." Sienna replied.
O
Trilla watched Sienna, feeling at odds being near her so suddenly as they made their way into the Sleeping Forest. She didn't know if it was, perhaps, because of how she'd nearly died or what Kareena had told her that gave her the odd feelings.
"This forest is filled with color and life," Sienna sighed, smiling brightly, "I've never been somewhere like this in the whole universe."
Trilla looked around, failing to comprehend the colors that Sienna spoke of. Still, it was a pleasing thing to see; the forest alive, filled with creatures she'd believed to be extinct. Truly, this was quite the place and her mind went to what the Empire would do to it if it found New Eden.
She didn't want that.
For the first time, she wanted it safe. Wanted all of them safe.
They saved Sienna.
"Well...how are you feeling?" Trilla asked, looking at Sienna hesitantly. She wanted to ease the silence.
"I'm feeling better now," Sienna told her. "Still a little weak, but Kareena has me on a certain diet for the time being. I also have a new scar to add to my collection."
Trilla remembered the scars she'd seen on Sienna's back. She frowned now, thinking of what she could have endured to have given her those marks.
"The scars on your back," she said, before she could stop herself.
Sienna blinked, surprised by the question. Then, she exhaled through her nose. "There was this ship I was planning to take." she explained, "It was on Cantonica. I'd originally paid for a transport cargo to take me there."
Trilla made a small note of amusement. "Quite a place."
"Yes, well..." Sienna continued, "I was planning to take a ship and I didn't realize it'd belonged to a boss there. Do you know the Golden Derkolo clan?"
Trilla nodded. "Yes. They're small time. But they control most of the casinos."
"I was taken by their boss. Called himself Blight, I believe." Sienna continued to explain, "It's hard to remember, really. And I told Fang to hide away. I knew they would kill him."
Trilla frowned, staring at her strangely. "Your animal. You let yourself be taken to save him?"
"Fang was my only friend," Sienna told her, with a sad smile, "I didn't want him killed, too. I would have done anything to keep him alive. And I did. Blight came up with a creative punishment for me."
She gestured to her back with a single wave of her hand. She knew just what Sienna was talking about. It made bile rise in her throat. She felt sick knowing what had happened to her; knowing that she'd been brutally whipped.
"How long?" Trilla found herself asking. Her mind was clouded at the very thought of it.
"A few hours, though it was difficult to really keep track. He let me go after that. Seems that one of his own had taken pity on me and convinced him to let me go." Sienna continued. She let out a sad laugh. "'A blind woman surely knew no better'. His words, not mine."
Trilla swallowed thickly. She was sorry she'd asked.
"Sienna - "
"No, you were right about me and what I am," Sienna interupted, with a sigh, "I didn't want to be alone. I would have endured anything to keep myself from that. Even put myself through hell so that I couldn't think about myself. Or be left alone with the burdens of failure on my shoulders."
Trilla grimaced, shaking her head. "What I said - "
"Well..." Sienna sought to change the subject. "You know what it's like for women who are left alone in the universe. They don't always remain unmarked forever. Because there are those who feel they have a right to own them."
Trilla tensed somewhat. She felt rage rolling through her blood; the thought of Sienna enduring such base violence.
"You could have killed them."
"Yes, easily."
Trilla let out a laugh. But it was difficult for her to even think of mocking Sienna for that; she didn't know if she should find it courageous or foolish.
Her mind wasn't letting her forget what Sienna had to deal with at the casino. It was going to haunt her.
They found themselves in the clearing, standing before an enormous, glowing violet tree. Awestruck, Trilla studied the various roots that teemed with beautiful light and a myriad of colors. Animals were perched on its branches and ribbons had been hung up with writing in Miraluka language.
Sienna was amazed, her smile bright. "Oh my!" she gasped. "It's beautiful! The way the Force surrounds it and blankets it in a rainbow of light and shades!"
Trilla couldn't see those things as she could, but she looked thrilled and it made a small smile light her lips.
"Yes, I suppose it is lovely, in its way." she agreed.
"A place for Miraluka..." Sienna sighed, with longing, "A beautiful place. I never thought I'd be here at last."
Trilla was aware of Sienna's hand close to hers. She contemplated reaching for it. Her fingertips were so close...
A fleeting impulse.
Then, she glanced up and noticed a Mirialan boy sound asleep beneath one of the many roots. This was most likely Tek. He seemed content, huddled around a few blankets he'd no doubt brought with him. Trilla moved to his side and he immediately stirred with a sleepy noise.
"Oh! Hi!" he said, "You must be the new people. I'm sorry, I fell asleep next to the Singing Tree."
Trilla looked up at it, confused. "Singing Tree?"
"Yeah! It makes me feel happy when I'm next to it. They say you can hear it humming to you if you listen really hard," Tek explained, with a bright smile. Then, he looked concerned. "Wait, did mom get worried about me, again?"
"Yes, she did." Sienna said, with a light chuckle, "Come. Let's go back to her."
Tek nodded, taking Sienna's hand. They walked back the way they'd arrived.
Trilla dared a look back at the Singing Tree.
O
"So, why were you running from the Empire?"
Tek's questions had begun annoying Trilla a little; she hadn't expected her trip to find him to earn her no peace. She wanted some time to think and clear her head, but the child was just filling it more with ridiculous nonsense.
"I wasn't running," she snapped.
Sienna exhaled. "Tek, I don't think Trilla wants to talk about this." she told him, gently, "Let's find your mother so she isn't worrying more than she already is."
"Okay." Tek no longer pushed the matter.
A rumbling overhead.
Rain began to fall.
Trilla shut her eyes, leaned her head back as she took the time to savor the little droplets that peppered her face. Tek was laughing somewhere and Sienna was also enjoying the feel of the rain on her face. It was soothing.
Tek started jumping up and down in a puddle.
Trilla watched him for a moment before looking down at Sienna. Her eyes softened when she watched her giggle, wiping her face with her hands.
"Mom! Mom!"
The two women turned in Tek's direction; Trilla noticed he'd run into his mother's arms. She was happy, thanking them and Trilla barely noticed.
Sienna was smiling at Bella, nodding once and talking to her. "You're welcome." she said. "Happy to help all of you."
Bella grinned, held her son and made her way back to her home.
Tek was heard arguing a little.
"...Mom, I was just sitting by the tree..."
"I don't care! You know when you need to be back!"
"You always worry..."
Trilla looked at Sienna; the other woman was happy to see the boy return home, but a longing was there in her expression that Trilla understood too well.
Of course.
The memory of family.
It hurt.
Trilla knew that it always would.
O
The rain had stopped.
Trilla wandered about, looking for Sienna when she'd disappeared. She was led back to the forest where the Singing Tree was and found Sienna sitting in front of it, meditating.
She approached her and Sienna spoke. "Want to sit with me?"
"Alright..." Trilla replied, taking a spot beside her, crossing her legs.
"Do you hear it?" Sienna questioned, after a moment. "The music in the tree?"
Trilla frowned somewhat, looking up at the tree. She could sense the energy from it; the connection to the Force radiating a calming sensation. But as far as music? She sensed nothing like that.
"No." she said, softly.
"Mm, that's okay."
Trilla glanced at Sienna from the corner's of her eyes. The other woman's expression was impassive for a few moments before she smiled.
"I never properly thanked you for saving my life," Sienna said.
Trilla remained silent. Then, after a moment, she nodded. "You're welcome."
"You're always saving me, it would seem," Sienna added, with a light laugh.
"So it would seem..."
They sat there in silence once more. It took a moment before Trilla felt a hand on hers.
She let out a small start, glancing down at the contact. She looked at Sienna, who was smiling a little, suddenly shy.
She took a deep inhale when Sienna leaned a little into her. The warmth of her so close...she began to crave the contact again.
But then, the fear came.
Contact...meant physical pain came later.
The Dark whispered so many warnings in her head, but she rebuked them with logic; Sienna's contact never came with pain. She had held her when she wept. She had been there with her when she was at her most vulnerable. She had not rebuked the worst parts of her.
I can't.
But you want to, don't you?
Do you even know how to?
The real way?
A short, uneasy laugh from Trilla and she returned the contact, leaning into Sienna a little as well. It seemed to make her happy a little.
Both of them lived in their own hell and found one another.
How...nice.
Trilla didn't say anything and Sienna didn't either.
They just remained that way, calmed by the tree and one another.