Last time: Cien learned that Sasha and the others had jumped ahead six years. The contact gave the guys intel on where to potentially find Cien and Sasha.

Now: Sasha tried to get through to Cien.

Chapter 4- Are We Still Friends?

Ikari marched down the corridor of the palace, annoyance clearly drawn on her face. Empress Cien ordered her to check in with the Jedi to see if she needed anything, but also to be present as the medical droid performed a routine scan and check up on the mother to be. Why Ikari really needed to be there for that was beyond her. She could have just waited in her room till the droid was done and gotten a report from it after. But no. She had to be present in the room the whole time. So she had stood awkwardly in the corner making sure the Jedi didn't pull anything while the droid worked with her. And once it was done, Ikari didn't bother sticking around. She got the information from the droid and left as she had better things to do than babysit a pregnant Jedi.

She hated this Jedi. She wished that girl was down in the cells rotting away like the scum she was. But Empress Cien had a point. If they wanted the child to be a strong Force user, healthy, and a good acolyte then they needed to make sure the mother wasn't in a stressful environment. She hated the thought of the Jedi being treated like a guest, but one must be patient for things they want to come their way.

As Ikari fumed over the Jedi, she didn't even notice she ran headlong into someone just outside the doors to the command center where she was going to meet with the Empress and the others. Glaring up at who ran into her, Ikari snarled when she realized it was Mendax.

"Watch where you are going," she hissed.

"Me?" Mendax asked, a hint of amusement in his tone. "I wasn't the one burning a hole through this door with a glare as I marched down the hall. Wherever you came from, I feel sorry for them." He smirked ever so slightly.

"Well get out of my way, I won't have you make me late for the meeting," Ikari bit back. "Or I will cut you down where you stand."

"Such an idle threat from a mere acolyte," Mendax said coldly before moving past her for the door.

Ikari growled at him as she stormed after. They entered into the chamber, one after the other, but the look on her face made it clear she was in a worse mood than before thanks to the cold, heartless jerk, Mendax.

Empress Cien looked at them with an annoyed scowl but said nothing of the manner with which they entered. "Everything is well, Acolyte?" She inquired with a raised eyebrow.

Ikair bowed and nodded, hiding her own annoyance. "Yes, my lady. Apologies for the delay. I did as you asked before arriving here and then ran into this…" She cleared her throat. "Ran into General Mendax on my way in."

Mendax made an amused snort despite his emotionless expression. "Quite literally I might add," he said as he too bowed to Empress Cien.

Ikari shot a glare at the man. Boy, how she loathed him. "If you had only watched where you were going, then I might have avoided you entirely," she said coldly.

"Not likely," Mendax added, a hint of cockiness in his tone. "Especially as you were so distracted, you looked ready to kill the next-"

"Enough!" Cien said. She glowered at them, then turned to Ikari. "Acolyte, is all well with our 'guest'?" She asked.

Ikari turned back to Cien and nodded, her anger lessened. "Yes. The medical droid reports that she is healthy and that she will have an easy pregnancy. It also confirmed that the Jedi is in fact around the seven to eight week mark which means we should have the child in seven and a half to eight months time as you had predicted," she explained. "She also didn't try anything while I was there."

Cien stood glowering at her. "Very well." She turned her attention to Mendax. "General, how go our preparations for the campaign in the rimward reaches?" She asked.

Mendax straightened and clasped his hands behind his back. "We are almost ready. One more preparation needs to be done before we can depart, but we are ahead of schedule," he informed her.

"Good." Cien turned her gaze to both of them. "Whatever petty dispute exists between you, do not trouble me again with it, and do not waste my time with your bickering. Or I will find replacements for both of you." With that she walked out of the command center and rolled her eyes as soon as no one could see.

Ikari and Mendax watched her go before turning to gaze at each other. Ikari glared up at him. She hated that he was a good head taller than her.

"You heard the Empress," Mendax said, staring down at Ikari with that same neutral expression he always wore. "No more bickering." He was teasing her and she hated it.

Ikari rolled her eyes at him. "Go die in the garbage chute where you belong," she spat before storming out the door. Leaving Mendax to do whatever he wanted, as if she cared.

Cien stormed through the palace, annoyed with Ikari and Mendax bickering like children. Annoyed with herself. She had attained what she had aspired to. Power, strength, soon she would be strong enough that the New Republic would have to consider her a force, and in ten years time she would be a major power in the galaxy. She was on course to have what she had always wanted. And it annoyed her, because she wasn't satisfied. She fumed as she walked, and various people in the palace saw her and went the other way before they accidentally crossed her path.

She stopped short, her aimless wandering had brought her to Sasha's door, the guards looking at her in askance. She looked between them, trying to bring her anger under control and assume her imperial facade. And she stepped forward, the guard unlocked the door, and the other opened it, careful as always to ensure that there was nothing of danger on the other side, before he admitted his Empress. She walked through the door, collecting herself.

Sasha wasn't in the living room area like last time. She could hear the sound of retching coming from the back refresher. After a moment, it stopped and then Sasha appeared shortly thereafter looking pale. The young Jedi came to a stop when she spotted Cien.

"Cien, what are you doing here?" Sasha asked, a little taken back by her sudden arrival.

She didn't have an answer, she had no idea why she was here. "The examination went well earlier?" She said, ignoring the question.

Sasha relaxed a little and nodded. She then placed a hand on her still forming bump. "Yes, the droid said we are both healthy," she answered.

"Good." Cien nodded, and looked away. She was at a loss for anything else to say.

Sasha moved over toward her. She was closer than she had been her entire time here, but she was still just out of arm's reach. "What is it? Is something wrong? I may not have the Force at the moment, but I can still read people well," she said gently.

Cien tensed up as Sasha approached, and stepped back so she maintained her customary two meters. "Nothing is wrong." She said, annoyedly. And then looked away. "Everything is going well." She said, almost spitting out the words.

"Oh I see," Sasha said, frowning. There was a silence before Sasha spoke again. "Cien… are we… are we still friends?" She asked very carefully.

Cien's eyes narrowed slightly. What kind of question was that to ask, she had just kidnapped her and was holding her and her unborn child prisoner. "What kind of question is that?" She asked, putting voice to her thoughts.

"I was only curious," Sasha began. "Before we disappeared, I thought you and I had become friends. Or at least closer. And I know years have passed for you and you did just kidnap me, but… I wanted to know if it still exists for us. Cause I still see you as a friend, despite our current circumstances."

"That was a very long time ago, Sasha. Before I was left alone by you and..." She trailed off, almost growling the words. "That was a very, very long time ago."

Sasha frowned, looking hurt by her words. "I never meant to leave you alone for so long. I was hoping we would be back sooner than we did. And the moment we were back, I reached out to you through our bond. But you didn't answer. I was so worried about you, but I hadn't heard from you." She paused for a moment. "Cien, I am so sorry for not being there for you all of those years. You didn't deserve to be alone. You deserve happiness and friends."

"I don't need friends." She seethed. "Friends are a weakness, and nothing more." She turned and left through the door, the guards barely having time to open it for her. She stormed through the palace back to her own suite, and no one dared cross her path. In her rooms the lights automatically turned on as she walked into the living space and stood alone. She reached out with the Force to bat the correct button to turn the lights out, and she stood in the darkness, seething with anger. And she couldn't understand why.

Sasha stood there, visibly hurt by Cien's words. She knew that friends were not a weakness in any way, shape, or form. Especially not her friends. They were her strength every single day. But for some reason, Cien saying that she didn't need friends hit a little too hard for Sasha as tears started to roll down her cheeks, despite her face still showing shock and hurt. Normally, Sasha might have frowned and then wondered what had changed in Cien over the last six years to make her say that. She thought that things were starting to change for the better for them before they disappeared into the void. But maybe not. Maybe she was too hopeful. But something deep down told her not to give up on Cien. That maybe there might still be good in her. The good she saw years ago. How she would get it out was the real question.

Reaching up to wipe the tears, Sasha cursed herself for crying. One of the many symptoms of being pregnant was mood swings. And these damn mood swings were not helping her. She told herself after she found out where she was that she would be strong and show no weakness to these people. If they saw her crying now, that would ruin the facade.

With a sigh, Sasha walked over and sunk down onto the couch. As she sat, she looked down at the small bump that was forming. It was still relatively hidden under her shirt, but just knowing it was there made her more aware of how it shaped with her shirt over it. Sasha still could not believe it. She was actually pregnant. There was actually a small being inside of her slowly forming and that one day a baby would be born. It brought her so much joy just thinking about it. But it also brought her sadness as she realized that Viran still didn't know he was going to be a father. She had the sinking suspicion that Kyr may have told him after she was taken by Cien as that would be important to know, but the other part of her hoped he hadn't said a word. Either way, Viran was in for quite a surprise.

As she continued to sit there, she started absentmindedly rubbing at her growing bump. She had been doing it a lot lately as it seemed to bring her comfort. A form of comfort she desperately needed right now as the thought of being stuck here for the next eight months or so was weighing on her. She still wasn't sure whether she was ready to be a mother, but the thought that Cien and her acolyte, Ikari, could take her child away from her made her more certain that she wanted to be one. She wanted to raise her baby with Viran. She wanted the little one to grow up in a loving house. Where they can learn to be a Jedi from her and Oppie. Where they can learn how to defend themselves from Kyr, Kitsu, and Illara. Where they can learn to be an excellent pilot from their father. And where they can learn to be kind, passionate, and funny from their whole family. Sasha wanted that more than ever right now and the fear of actually being here for eight months, of having her child taken from her shortly after birth, and the thought of not seeing her friends and family again scared her. But she couldn't think like that. She had to think positively that others would find her and she would get to go home soon. Or else she would have to find a way out all on her own.

"What a podunk little town." Kyr observed as he circled the landing field.

"It doesn't seem very lively," Viran observed from his seat. "You think we will find anything here?"

"Might as well stop and see." Oppie said. "We're here already."

Viran nodded. "Then let's get going."

Kyr brought the Shadow Runner in for a landing. They hadn't gotten any messages so he assumed they just landed somewhere in the field where a handful of other, smaller ships sat. As soon as the ship touched down, Kyr, Viran, and Oppie headed for the ramp. Descending down the ramp, the three of them walked toward the small town in the hopes of some information about Cien's fleet. There was hardly anyone in town. Only a few people were actually walking the streets. The gloomy weather was not helping bring out the crowds or the townsfolk. So they headed for the small bar.

Entering, they found only a few patrons spread around the bar and the bartender cleaning glasses behind the counter, looking positively bored. The three of them approached him. The bored man looked at them, his brow raised with some small amount of interest.

"We don't get many off worlders here," the bartender said. "What brings you gentlemen by? Can I offer you something to drink or eat?"

"No thank you," Viran declined.

"Then what can I do for you?" The bartender asked as he set the glass down.

"We are wondering if you have seen any strange ships or potentially people around here recently. Like in the last few years?" Kyr asked.

"Well you are the first strangers we have had here in a year or so, but what do you mean by strange ship?" He asked for clarification. "I have seen many strange ships in my years."

"It would be a large triangular shaped vessel. Probably twice the size of this town or larger. It would be a dreadnought class," Viran explained.

The bartender went silent as he thought about it. After a moment or two, he nodded. "Yeah, I recall seeing a ship like that a few years ago. A few ships from there stopped down here during that time and came to my bar. The busiest my bar has ever been in fact. It sat in orbit for a few days then left."

"Do you remember where it was headed?" Kyr asked.

"Something about going deeper spinward, " the bartender said. "No exact location was told to me. It's just what I overheard."

Viran huffed and looked away, slightly annoyed. "Thanks for your help." He said then made his way towards the exit.

"Glad I could help," the bartender said. "Safe travels. And please come by again."

Kyr and Oppie nodded before following Viran out of there. They followed him all of the way back to the Shadow Runner. Once back on board, Viran produced the datapad again, looking over the list again.

"Shall we move onto the next?" Viran asked as he looked at the datapad.

"Yeah, I think we should," Oppie said.

Kyr nodded and started up the Shadow. They then headed off to continue their search for Sasha.

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