Walking Away
"Sometimes you have to walk away from what you want to find what you deserve."
Artakha – 10 BBY
Trilla held up her hands to serve as targets…or perhaps more as shields as Katara's open palms pressed forward, smacking against her skin as they collided. It was rather simple entertainment for her energetic daughter, and the faster she tired, the faster Trilla could earn a reprieve for the time being. Although, part of her still wanted to be in every moment of Katara's life, and even if she had to suffer beatings from time to time via tiny fists, she thought it was worth it.
Sleepless nights were another matter.
Still, as Katara approached age four, she was beginning to become more independent, which was exactly how she had raised her thus far. The better she could take care of herself, the better Trilla would be able to close her eyes knowing she was safe.
One open palm slipped through her defenses and smacked into her chest, to which Trilla grunted.
"Hey!" she warned, but in an easing, almost playful way from across the couch. "Don't beat your mother."
"Ha! Got you!" Katara giggled, showing little remorse for her attack.
Is that so?
Trilla felt a smirk widen across her face, which translated back to Katara, until she suddenly swooped the girl into her arms and pressed her fingers firmly against her stomach. The girl screamed with laughter, and Trilla then continued to poke. "Now Mommy's got you, little nebula!" she teased.
"No! Stop it, Mama!" she protested, but only continued to laugh as Trilla progressed her assault, before enough of her laughs sated her façade of wounded pride. Katara caught her breath as she settled into Trilla's embrace, looking up to her from below. "Please don't do that."
Trilla smiled, kissing her on the forehead. "Say you're sorry."
Katara hesitated, but another poke made her giggle. "Sorry Mama. I would never want to hurt you."
"Oh, I know, my little darling," she cooed, pulling her in close. "I love you."
Katara snuggled in. "I love you too, Mommy."
Their moment was torn asunder by the sound of intense pained effort as the front door was forced open. Trilla's mind was immediately snapped into combat mode, and a quick gesture had her hilt clap into her hand as she pulled Katara close, who was already clinging to her mother after the loud noise. Rising to her feet, she carried her daughter with her hilt held forward, advancing towards the kitchen bar and behind the entrance to the hallway.
"Mommy…what's happening?" Katara asked.
"Shhhh," Trilla hushed, and then leaned in. "Whoever that is, if you come any closer, you're dead!"
"Trilla!" Xur shouted from the front of the house, his efforts pained and voice hoarse. "Help me…dammit!"
Her eyes widened as she ran down the hallway and was greeted to the sight of his partly burned robes and armor, his face soiled and bloody as he laid out an unconscious body beside him.
The body of his mother.
"By the…" she trailed off, setting Katara on her feet and tossing her lightsaber aside as she tended to Valeria. "What happened? Why didn't you tend to her on the Fury?!"
"Rava's with the Admiral…fresh out of bacta…gah!" he groaned, and she noticed a spot in his armor where a blaster bolt had torn through his side. "Damn Death Trooper shot me as I carried her away."
"Daddy!" Katara ran to him as he leaned back against the wall, his breathing tested and burdened. "Daddy's hurt, Mom!"
"Daddy will be okay, sweetheart," Xur grunted, squeezing his daughter's shoulder as he leaned forward.
"Dammit, stop trying to move!" Trilla almost roared, her anxiety reigning supreme as she pulled various bits of Valeria's burnt clothing away, trying to assess her wounds. "Did the two of you run through an inferno?!"
"You could say that…" Xur almost chuckled with a pained smile.
"Stop treating this as a jest!" Trilla shouted, making Katara rear back in fear. "It drives me fucking insane!"
Xur's anger blew over, his true feelings suddenly snapping into reality as his attempts to cover his pain with humor were swept away. "I am fully aware that my mother is bleeding out on the fucking floor!" he roared back.
"Do not shout at me…" Trilla seethed.
"Or what?!"
Katara covered her ears and began to cry. "Stop it! Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!"
Valeria gasped for air as her consciousness was restored, and her groans in pain were anguished and heavy. Trilla motioned forward to assist her, but she was shoved aside by Xur as he forced himself into her position, and she could only clench her fist and stare daggers into her husband, whose eyes were fixated on his mother.
She wanted to beat him…she wanted to hurt him…but part of her understood; a miniscule, ever tiny part of her understood his pain, and it was enough to stay her hand.
"Mom…mom, I'm right here," he eased, and she heaved forward, reaching for his arm.
"Xur…ugh…bloody bastard ran his blade through my abdomen," she heaved, and Trilla could only deduct that could've been an inquisitor…which hurt her just knowing. It was only then that she noticed the distinct burn of a saber through the side of her stomach…over enough to be fatal after a time. "Damn guts are starting to pour out."
"You're going to be alright…" Xur eased. "We're going to…we're going to help you."
Valeria's eyes began to haze, but she gasped, looking past Xur and to Katara, whose tears were still running down her face as she watched in confusion and horror. The elder zabrak reached for her, Xur contorting his body to allow her. "L-let me…let me see…my granddaughter."
Katara looked frightened, but when her eyes came to Trilla, she managed to force herself to agree with Valeria's request. Xur's anguish and fear was rising the longer his mother's condition settled into him, and Trilla noticed his fleeting words and trembling chin. Katara inched her way forward until Valeria could reach her, and their matching crimson skin united as she accepted her smaller hand.
"Wh-what's your name…beautiful girl?" she asked, and Xur began to tremble.
"Th-this is your…your grandmother…Katara," Xur introduced, his first tears appearing.
Trilla noticed, however, Katara's eyes never reached Valeria as she approached…rather they were locked on the woman's wound…unable to pull themselves away.
"Grandmama?" Katara asked, still looking at her wound. "Grandmama is hurt."
Xur's eyes shut as he rocked, and then he forced a smile towards his daughter. "No…no, your grandmother is going…" he heaved, fighting off his anguish. "…she's going to be alright."
Valeria gasped, fighting off her pain as she caressed the girl's cheek, and then looked up to Xur. "I've prepared you for this…" she trailed. "I…ugh…I trained you to be strong. Look at me."
Xur sniveled roughly as he forced his tears away, meeting her gaze. "Stay with me, Mom."
Trilla felt her anger wash away with the intense pain he emitted in the Force, and slowly she knelt beside him and soothingly rubbed his back, offering support in any way she could.
Valeria grasped ahold of him with all her might that remained. "My granddaughter…protect her. I can…I can feel her power…she's…she's…" her sentence trailed off in a desperate gasp that fleeted, and her eyes hazed away.
And then she groaned.
Xur and Trilla looked up…and watched their daughter hold her hand over Valeria's wound, watching it glow and begin to seal it shut, restoring her flesh and putting her back together. The effort was intense, and her power was unfocused, but once the deed was done, Katara fell back, Trilla catching her with a gentle ripple in the Force, before scooping her into her arms.
Valeria breathed easier, her hands running over her sealed wound, and Xur's eyes widened. "Incredible," Valeria whispered.
Katara was asleep in Trilla's arms, her energy spent…but the miracle worked.
Xur hadn't left his room since he watched his mother momentarily die in his arms, sitting with his head aimed towards the floor after he had cleansed himself of all the grime he had accumulated. It was incredible what Katara did…how she had done it so young, and he was so proud of her effort…as well as thankful for extending the life of his mother. All of it was incredible…truly, but he couldn't get one simple, yet glaring crime he had committed out of his head.
Laying two hands on Trilla, and forcefully shoving her aside.
It was something he never thought he was capable of, and only now did it so gravely terrify him. If he had been just a smidge angrier, that could've been his outstretched hand and a wave in the Force, slamming her into a wall, and running the risk of it cracking her skull and ending her life.
He trembled in his solitude as the image persisted, and he tried everything he could to forgive himself, but it was meaningless. She hadn't looked his way since it had happened, and he couldn't blame her. After all, he hadn't really given her any attention for an extended period.
Again.
Wiping his face with his hands, he felt himself drown in his regret once again, and it was almost pitiful just to feel this way. He should be celebrating the fact that his mother was still alive, not sulking alone like this.
The alone part ended almost on cue.
Looking up, he spotted Trilla enter the room, her expression that blank slate she always gave him when she was upset…because she knew not being able to read her drove him insane. It baited him…made him desperate; feel as if he was the ultimate villain who should fall to his knees and beg her for forgiveness.
This time, however, there was a hint of understanding, as well as relief that everything had worked itself out, even despite what had happened. She paced inside and set aside the clothes she had changed Katara out of…as well as the blood tattered rags she had used to help his mother.
"She's resting now…all she wanted was to watch after Katara," Trilla revealed, pacing to their bathroom in the master bedroom and switching on the sink. "She'll be alright."
As she washed her hands, Xur found surprise she was letting it slide for now, but his mind was too fixated on it to let it go.
"I'm sorry," was all he said.
Trilla finished her wash, shutting off the sink. "For what?"
The zabrak scoffed, looking away. "You know."
Drying off her hands with a towel, she stood at the door entrance, leaning against the frame. "You just walked in with your dying mother and asked for help…your wife's help. Forgive me, but I fail to see what there is to be sorry for."
"Not even after I…" he trailed off, and then got ahold of himself. "I should've never yelled at you, put my hands on you, any of it. That was unacceptable."
Trilla let out a mocking scoff.
"You think this is funny?" he narrowed his eyes.
She shook her head. "I think you're funny," she corrected, stepping forward to take a seat beside him. "You're starting to sound like a prince speaking to his princess. Believe me, darling, if I thought you were out of line, I would've returned your ferocity in tow."
Xur blinked. "I'm not sure if that's better or worse."
"Doesn't matter. That's the reality," she shrugged. "I can take a little time when you're upset, and besides, you pushed me away in a manner that a medical officer would remove someone from a dying victim so they could work. You didn't try to beat me, and I know you had no intention of harming me."
"I would never," Xur reiterated, and her hand grasped his upper arm.
"I know," she eased. "Sweetheart, you almost just watched your mother die in front of you. Don't worry about me. Let me worry about you."
It still didn't feel right, but he accepted her judgment for now, still taking the mental note to be better anyhow. "Alright."
Her hand sunk into his and she smiled his way, toying with strands of his hair that wouldn't settle in their proper positions. The zabrak maintained his serious expression, but he nonetheless tightly maintained a grip on her hand.
"What else is bothering you?" she asked, finished with his hair and now just letting her hand rest.
She always knows.
"When I watched that crimson blade protrude through my mother's stomach…everything I'd ever done suddenly felt like it didn't mean anything. If I have all this power, all this strength, and I can't protect the people I love…then what's the point of having it at all?" he mused, keeping his eyes elsewhere.
"You need to stop believing the lie that you can control everything," Trilla answered, her tone matter of fact. "No man is powerful enough to alter every situation that he's a part of. Sometimes there's truly nothing we can do, no matter how powerful we are. In the end, none of us are gods…not even you."
Xur shook his head, letting out a sigh. "Trust me, I don't want to be a god."
"No. Instead you're a son…a father," she listed, and then rested her head on his shoulder. "And a husband."
He sighed again, clasping her hand a little tighter. "I wish I was better at being two of those things."
"Oh nonsense," Trilla waved off. "You treat your mother better than she deserves, and I'm still learning to be a mother as well…"
"I meant the husband part," Xur corrected.
Trilla stiffened for a moment until eventually pulling her head from his shoulder…and her expression betrayed what she said next. "That's ridiculous."
Xur finally looked at her with his dark blue eyes, cocking his head. "Don't lie to me."
It took a moment, but she finally shook her head and rose to her feet. "Come with me. Dress for a walk, would you?"
"A walk?" Xur echoed.
"That's right. You and I are going to have an honest discussion, just not in this dread-tainted place."
Xur had no idea where his wife was leading him to, but in their respective robing, he imagined it wasn't anything strenuous or physically demanding. After the trials of the day he was looking forward to avoiding such activities for the time being. At least having her close by did much to ease his current emotional state, especially with her current upbeat-ish mood. He figured it was perhaps the chance to not have to worry about watching Katara…and while he hoped it was just the fact that he was back with her…he wasn't overly optimistic in that regard.
Still, she pulled him along, roaming Artakha's rolling plains as dusk settled in, leaving their cliffside home behind. He'd had little time to explore the planet's expanse, as it was far from Cal's enclave that he was preparing to accept students…and the circumstances of the system itself ensured the Empire would never find them here. Just getting through the nebula surrounding the system took five to seven precise hyperspace jumps that only a wayfinder could simulate…and there were only two of those, permanently integrated to the Mantis and the Fury. They'd made a home for themselves here, certainly as a way to give Katara some resemblance of a normal childhood…even if she were alone.
He pushed those thoughts away for another time.
"Hun…do you want to tell me where we're going?" Xur asked, trying to keep up with Trilla.
"No," she shook her head, making her tone sound obviously carefree.
Damn woman.
They'd been walking for at least a half hour, so by now it was anyone's guess what could possibly be over in the direction they were headed.
Anyone's guess except for hers it appeared.
"You didn't find some primitive tribe that wants me as a sacrifice, did you?" he asked, mostly joking, partly wondering.
"Darling, if I wanted you dead…I would've left you that way on Katarr," she assured, stopping at a rock face that looked climbable.
"Fair point, I guess," Xur said, stopping beside her as he looked up the cliffside. "So…what are we…?" he was cut off by her coming behind him and wrapping her arms around his chest, letting her chin rest on his shoulder.
"Since you think you're such a bad husband, you're going to prove how wrong that standpoint is to yourself," she whispered, her voice like velvet. "You're going to carry your wife up this rock face."
His first instinct was of course, but as his practical mindset set in, it turned into why.
"If you drop me, I'll be hurt…maybe even die," she said. "But I know you won't let that happen…because you're a strong, passionate person who fights for those he loves no matter the odds."
"Trilla," he stopped her, looking up the climb. "This is crazy. You're going to get hurt."
"No I won't," she denied. "Because you won't let me."
Why are you doing this?
It was madness, and it reminded him of his cryptic Jedi training back in the day, or the lessons he learned from this mother on Ziost. Why would they take this risk just to prove a point?
"Trilla, I'm not going to leave your life to sheer chance."
"I don't need chance, Xur Eon," she continued. "I have you."
She wasn't going to let this go, so he merely scoffed, shaking his head as he prepared to climb. "You're crazy, you know that?"
Trilla giggled. "I've been informed by many."
Xur nearly began in that instant but had a double take. Part of him began to wonder if this was all a part of some test, and at first he dismissed it as paranoia, but he kept on with it.
"Trilla…we shouldn't do this…" he warned again.
"Eon…come, now…"
"No," he shook his head with finality, turning to face her. "No…I'm not doing it. It's too dangerous, and I can't risk that…no choice with the prospect of losing you is worth it. I'm sorry, but I don't care what you say."
Trilla feigned disappointment for a minute, but it slowly morphed into a smile of satisfaction, and she leaned in to press her lips softly against his. Quickly his face relaxed as their quiet moment flourished, and he let her know exactly how he felt about her. Only then did he realize how long it had been since he had kissed her, and he lost himself to her scent, her aura, her body all over again. She was so primitively perfect, her complexity so advanced he could never fully comprehend her, but he could admire her for eternity.
This woman was his…all his.
She pulled away slowly, letting their foreheads rest together as she kept her arms wrapped around his neck.
"A good husband tells his wife when she is wrong…and stands by that until she understands. A good wife does the same in return. I do not want you to ever feel guilty for setting me in the right direction…I owe you more than I could possibly repay—"
"You don't owe me anything," he promised. "You never have."
When she looked at him again, her expression adopted appreciation, and she fell into him, letting her nose bury into his shoulder as they embraced. He just held her there…convincing himself in the process that he hadn't let her down, and that he was giving everything he had to her.
Whenever she needed him, he'd be there.
"Is this the…honest conversation you wanted to have?" he asked as she lifted her head again.
Her made-up eyes panned downwards for a moment, and he sensed slight dread arise within her. "No," she admitted, pacing away. He never let her go, keeping his hand wrapped around hers as he followed, and he couldn't help but feel a bit of worry.
Why is this reminding me of Ziost…
She couldn't be pregnant again, as they hadn't…performed…in over nine months…unless it was with someone else. His fingers twitched at that thought but knew it couldn't possibly be true.
"Are you pregnant again?" he blurted, rather unwillingly.
She turned, her look less incredulous than he wished, but she shook her head. "Absolutely not…but…"
Oh no.
"Trilla…" he warned, his tone low.
In that moment, she seemed to have her own tongue slip. "Xur, I want to have another."
Relief flowed as he now knew that she wasn't cheating on him, but it was quickly replaced by slight insanity.
"What are you fuckin' nuts?" he asked.
Trilla scoffed, crossing her arms as she pulled her hand from him and looked away. "I understand that it's not an easy question to ask," she half-snarled. "And it's great to see my supportive husband is so…understanding."
He sighed, raising his hands as his head drooped. "Sorry…really," he apologized. "But…you're serious?"
Her head slowly turned; both her emerald eyes locked upon him. "Yes, darling, I'm dead bloody serious."
The zabrak wiped his eyes, almost as a reality check, and then shook his head. "Trilla…one already gives us almost more stress than we can handle. You want to double that?!"
"I want you to stay with me…here," she corrected, which silenced him. It was never a question he'd ever think she'd ask him, but he should've known it would come up. "No more splitting off…no more leaving me…just you and me raising our family…"
He almost dropped dead right there. "Trilla, you know I can't just walk away…"
"Of course you can!" she denied. "When you asked me to marry you, did you honestly think you could just…disappear for months at a time, and that I would not raise my ire to that?"
"Trilla…"
"I don't want my daughter to think she is alone…" she admitted, one tear beginning to seep from her eye. "Do you want to know what she told me two weeks earlier?"
Xur sank, his emotions leaking through as he could only guess.
"I was cooking for her…and as she watched, she looked up to me and asked: Why doesn't Daddy love me?" Trilla began to cry, but managed to snap back, wiping her tears away. "Do you understand…how much a question like that hurts? And I have to…keep my smile, look back at her and promise her, and I know…I know you love her, Xur…but she doesn't know that…"
It hurt more than he could ever imagine. Such a simple question…and it cut straight to his core, bursting his tight emotional barriers in a mere instant. Knowing that the Empire ruled the galaxy was painful…but knowing that his daughter believed he didn't love her was excruciatingly damaging to his confidence as a living being…and no crisis could ever match such pain.
All he wanted to do now was tell his daughter how much he loved her…and that he would never leave her sight again.
Trilla embraced him as he cried, torn from his natural calling and the duty to his family…and by now he knew the choice had to be made.
"I'll stay…I promise," he vowed, sniveling his tears away. "I'm not going anywhere."
He felt her happiness blossom, and the kiss she placed on his cheek transferred that back to him. "And I'll promise you this. I know the day will come when you will have no choice but to return to the fight…but you won't do it alone. When that time comes, I will be with you, fighting alongside you, as we did before."
Xur held her tightly in his grip, bathing in everything about her. Part of him was happier than he could imagine. Spending the rest of his days with Trilla…there was a peace to that he had never thought possible.
"Let's have another," he agreed. "Let's do it."
Trilla had never felt happier than ever before, and her trill of elation warmed his heart as she jumped up and down slightly.
"I can't wait," she said, and then roughly grasped ahold of his robing with a tight grip. "Literally."
Xur knew what she was implying but grasped her wrists. "Why don't we go back and do this like…civilized people?"
Trilla paused for a moment, but her devious smirk won out. "Not to worry. There is a tent I have prepared just past this rock face."
Always the forward thinker.
"Well," Xur swept her off her feet, easily carrying her in the general direction as she exclaimed in surprise. "Lead the way."
To say they made a ruckus isn't entirely accurate, nor does it truly justify what the married couple partook within that tent. Trilla, as always, insisted to take the lead, pull the punches, sometimes literally, and set the tone. Xur was, as always, perfectly fine with letting her do all the work. All he had to do was watch the show.
And it was a pretty good one. Even then, that's still not doing it justice.
Trilla was like a savage animal when she got going, and sometimes he was afraid she might accidently kill him, but that fear was quickly placated by the fact that he could perfectly defend himself or tear her off him if it were really that bad.
Why he would ever do that is another question.
Their first time engaging on Katarr, he lasted about two to three minutes, but that was because neither of them knew what they were doing. They were both going full psycho on each other, and that resulted in a rather lackluster and short-lived first round. The second time was better, but that time Trilla literally whooped his ass…the engagement where Katara was conceived.
Sporadic times after that, they had learned each other's tendencies, and by now Trilla had lost her animalistic insanity, and Xur had completely lost his anxiety. Now it just felt like a little conversation…and pretty amazing one at that.
"Am I getting anywhere?" Trilla asked, currently performing as she breathed heavier than usual, shaking her head from time to time as waves rolled through her body. "My legs are starting to ache."
Xur sniffed, holding back a grunt as she continued, taking the chance to test his endurance. It had almost become a game between them by now, and Trilla had made it her mission to make him go as fast as possible.
"You're going to have to do a little better," he winked.
She smirked, pulling her hair from her face. "You're a liar."
What she did next made him sweat.
"Oh no…" he grimaced. "Dammit…!"
He lost this round.
Trilla clapped and raised her hands with a cheer. "Ah, yes! Once again, I have killed you."
"Yeah," he cleared his throat, and then grimaced. "Okay…that one hurt. Let's take a break?"
Trilla giggled. "Well, regardless, I'm getting off you."
She did exactly as such, rolling back to her side of the makeshift bed and snuggling in beside him, kissing his cheek once she was settled. Her yawn was rather cute as he felt her heartbeat against his arm, and her nose exhale into his ear.
"Mommy's tired," she said, closing her eyes.
He smirked. "If Mommy wasn't tired, I'd think she wasn't human."
"Mommy is definitely human. Speaking of Mommy…let's brainstorm names now, that way were not scrambling later."
"We're not scrambling now?"
Trilla let out a dry laugh. "Ha ha…dirty man."
Xur mock-sniffed. "What's that I smell? Hypocrisy?"
She smacked his chest for that, which stung, but he didn't give her the satisfaction of a yelp in pain. "Fuck off…you brute," she giggled.
Silence dominated the two of them for the moment, and Xur allowed it to give Trilla a chance to rest, her breathing slowing and easing back to normal. He didn't realize how much he missed her beside him…as well as drinking in the sight of her body. It was just so…all he wanted to do was bite down on it, not literally, but he wanted to consume her…wholly and completely.
She leaned in as she giggled again, and he imagined she had sensed his thoughts. "Give me a few minutes darling…then you can have it all you want."
Xur turned over, looking into her eyes. "No rush. You were saying names."
Her eyes panned upwards. "Right! Erm…should we start with boy or girl names?"
The zabrak rolled his eyes. "It's going to be a girl."
"Oh?" Trilla narrowed her gaze. "So sure, are you?"
"Pretty sure," Xur shrugged. "With my luck I'll be surrounded by an army of little women by the time I'm thirty-five."
Trilla scoffed. "Don't sound so dramatic. It's just one more."
"Yeah?" he turned back over. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"You think I'm doing this for fun?" she asked. "I don't think you understand how strenuous it is to carry a child."
"You will have to stop drinking again."
"I've been sober for two years, mind you," she poked at him. "Got tired of waking up with a hangover and having to make sure my daughter was fed."
"Not a bad idea," he figured, and then turned in the bed, pulling her atop him gently, and eventually she took the hint, settling in. "Girl names. You have any?"
"Hmm," she thought adorably. "Katara translates to droplet in a dead language I cannot speak…so…I'd like to keep a theme."
"You want to name our second daughter after water?" Xur almost laughed, running his hands over her back.
"No," she shook her head. "…ah…I have one."
Xur raised his brow while she drew small circles over his chest.
"Alhara," she said. "Alhara Eon."
The zabrak smiled. "It could be Alhara Suduri. We're not legally married, remember?"
"Hm," she returned her smile. "I guess we shall leave that up to her."
With that out of the way, he couldn't contain himself anymore. Flipping over, they kissed hungrily, before Xur placed kisses from her neck, between her breasts, and then down to her stomach as she groaned with pleasure. It tasted so delicious he went back for more, paying special attention to her toned belly, kissing every dip and curve he could find.
Trilla groaned with pleasure. "Oh…you're like a…bloody suction cup…oh!" she gasped, her sensitivity blossoming as he moved lower. Her breathing quickened, but it went up and down in deeper tones, seizing with pleasure as each waved rolled by. Insanity gripped her as she growled, sitting up to pull his mouth to hers, and he followed her command, linking their lips together as they kissed with undying ferocity, her ferocious nature awakened as she rolled back atop him.
By then…it was back to the races.
Artakha – 10 BBY
"Why do you have wrinkles, grandmama?"
Valeria narrowed her eyes at the mildly insulting comment from her granddaughter but managed to allow herself to smile as the child touched her face, perched in her lap. She had slept there, still not cured of her ailments and pains…a sign of her body's age…and allowed Katara to remain with her. The little girl was a curious one, a sign of a critical intelligence, and with what she had done the previous day…Valeria knew she would one day wield great power.
If her son didn't muck up raising her…and she had never trained him to be sentimental, despite his nature. Xur would no doubt protect her…but train her was another matter.
"Because I am an old woman, my dear," Valeria said, running her fingers through Katara's black hair. "When you reach my age, I doubt you will look this good, however."
Katara giggled. "What does that even mean, grandmama?"
"It means you should show respect for your elders, little girl," she tugged at her cheek gently, making Katara laugh.
"Hey, stop it!"
Valeria allowed herself to chuckle slightly, but in that she felt the sorrow and mild jealousy at the fact that she had never been able to watch her children grow, Zahira least of all. Her daughter had been left with the Jedi when she was born, as she did not have the gift that her son had been granted…no matter how badly it shredded her to pieces. The Jedi had corrupted her into a woman hung and bound by sentimentality, a weakness Valeria had hoped to strip from her son on Ziost. To her luck, she had mostly succeeded…although his selfish desire for the mother of her granddaughter was a small bit that she had failed to eradicate.
She could not argue with the results, however.
"You're daddy's mama, right?" Katara asked, cocking her head as she sat in Valeria's lap.
Valeria nodded. "Yes. I am."
The little girl adorably scratched her chin in a semi-serious fashion. "Then who's mama's mama?"
The elder zabrak blinked, not prepared for the question, as well as not ready to answer. She found herself cocking her own head, her eyes turned skyward before returning. "I don't know."
"Hmm. Mama said she didn't know either. I thought maybe you would," Katara mused.
Valeria smiled and brushed Katara's head. "It doesn't quite work like that, darling."
Katara seemed to think on it harder, but they both turned towards the front of the home on cue, presences familiar and potent in the Force, one for Valeria more than the other. They were both ecstatic, drowning themselves in immense pleasure…but also joy at the prospect of an event, perhaps a decision.
A big decision.
Valeria planted a little kiss on Katara's head. "Go to your parents, would you? I'm sure they've missed you."
Katara gasped, making Valeria grunt as she climbed off her lap and raced off, and soon enough there were cries of elation in greeting, and Valeria couldn't hide her smile. In the end however, that jealousy returned, and her smile faded…
Then Xur's decision came to light.
When her son finally emerged, the look on his face did not betray his thoughts. He wore them…openly and without regret with a freedom she could only dream of. She tried desperately to grasp for a reason he could not remain here and raise his family…but none came…only the constant, beating fact that she would've given anything to watch her son and daughter grow beneath her wing. That time was gone…but perhaps…
Perhaps she could embrace a second chance.
Her son took her hand as he sat across from her, giving her a smile as he did so. "Doing a little better?" he asked.
Valeria gave him a nod. There was no reason to lie to him any longer. "Yes…and I see you are as well."
His thumb rubbed the top of her hand, before letting his head droop, as if preparing to say something he was unsure of. "Mom, I…I've come to a crossroad…and I want a last piece of guidance from you…before I make my choice."
She smiled at him, letting her head lean back as she reached for his face with her free hand, letting her fingers trace his jaw until they rested under his chin. "You've already made your choice, my dear. I have nothing left to teach you."
He blinked but understanding flourished in his expression as she leaned back. "I…I thought you might be upset."
Valeria shook her head. "No…my boy. I believe you have played your part…and now the gears of time are turning in the right direction. It will take time…perhaps decades…but I believe that after all you have done, the Empire will collapse on itself. The Force has guided you to this planet…one that can shield us all from their gnarled claws and protect us for as long as it may take.
"I have seen your daughter…held her in my arms. She is the future you must nurture, and you cannot do that on the battlefield," Valeria finished, and then nodded. "This is where you belong."
Xur's eyes did not leave hers. There was much uncertainty in them, but his continued grip of her hand was soft…secure. His conscience betrayed his state of mind, and in that moment she knew he had found his calling…his destiny.
It was here.
He nodded. "Where will you go?"
Valeria shook her head in return. "Nowhere. I burned everything on Ziost and have been traveling since. That is how you found me…and now I would like to explore this treasured world…
"…and watch my grandchildren grow."
Xur smiled, sniveling for a moment, before pulling her in for a gentle hug.
"You will, Mom. You will."
Sorry if you didn't expect something a little more…sketchy, but hey, this story is rated M for a reason. I apologize if it did catch you off guard, anyway. As a promise, however, that is how much of a lemon I am willing to write.
So what's next? What a brilliant question I have not been able to answer myself for quite some time now, and only just today (as I am posting this) did I come up the solution.
This story has been in DESPERATE need of some sort of goal or comprehensive plot that doesn't end after an arc of four chapters. The previous chapter finally wrapped up Trilla's Second Sister subplot, essentially bringing an end to her character arc. So, as of now, the stories of Xur and Trilla as far as character development are told. They are set in stone and established (300k words later), which means it's time to shift the focus!
But that isn't as easy as it sounds, now is it?
As you have surely noticed, I have little to no interest in developing a dull McGuffin hunt for Cal, Merrin and Greez regarding Artakha, so I've decided to just implement it. Trust me, I've spared you. It may be confusing now, but believe me, I'm not done.
Inquisition is getting a full-length continuation instead of a sequel, featuring characters such as Katara, her little sister, Ahsoka Tano, Bo-Katan Kryze, Nerah…and a villain you may not expect.
What I will leave you with is this: fans of Thrawn and the Mandalorian will be pleased.
Which brings me to another point. The Grand Inquisitor is dead…which means Rebels can no longer happen in the same way, can it? Exactly. Rebels is no longer canon in the Eons timeline. This does not mean those characters will not appear (although I make no promises in that regard). All the Rebels characters I cared about have already made their appearances in this story anyhow, and various others will be replaced with other characters I have created myself. The Inquisitorious at this point is more or less a failed organization in shambles that the Empire is looking to replace.
Hopefully, this will become much more comprehensive, and give you guys a better reason to stick around. I still stand behind my decision to not change anything from the Original Trilogy, but that doesn't mean the power 4 will not appear (just in very small capacity).
Which means, no, for fuck sake, no one is going to Exegol to destroy Palpatine. Please…for the love of God…stop asking. If you do, I will kill Trilla out of spite.
Okay maybe not, but still, stop asking. If you wanted a fan servicey birthday cake tale of an overpowered mary sue with zero character development destroying the most powerful being in the galaxy, just watch the sequel trilogy. This story will not stoop to that pathetic level.
On that note, hope you guys are excited to get this story going in a straight line again! Thanks for the constant support and helpful insight during these trying times. I still can't comprehend the overwhelming love you guys have given. Thank you!
See you soon, and stay safe!
