Leyna tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She made herself a pot of tea and slowly drank it as she thought about everything. Tynan had abandoned his facade, showing his true colors. Her mother was going to stay in hopes of finding her father, and now her future seemed so uncertain. Was she a mark to the Vagaari because of Tynan or did he think that she was already captured? Either way, if he was working with the Vagaari it wouldn't take long for him to discover she wasn't among anyone captured. It still disturbed her that he could coldly turn against his home planet and family. What was in it for him? Money? Revenge? Both?
Considering he was a good pilot, he could have joined the Empire at any time before meeting her, yet he had kept going back to Lysatra and finding women there to woo instead. The question was why. Could it have been because he knew his status as a cruiser pilot made him desirable and he used that to his advantage and collected information for the Vagaari while looking like he was just enjoying shore leave? If so, she understood now why Sadi would be afraid for her safety, especially after overhearing Tynan say he wanted everyone on Lysatra gone.
She had been ashamed of being from there for so long, yet talking with Atun and returning helped realize her something she had suppressed a long time ago - how much she loved working with her parents and helping things grow until Tynan came around and now her father might be gone forever. Another revelation washed over her like freezing water: Tynan played on her naïvity and used her feelings for him to try to corrupt her. Had that been another reason he'd kept going to Lysatra? To find someone he could manipulate into joining him in selling information to the Vagaari?
The very thought that she could have gone down such a path without even realizing it frightened and sickened her. Perhaps the most terrifying thing was it could have happened without outside intervention. Her mother had told her not to blame herself, but perhaps the only way she could obey such a request was to blaze a trail with Gaur and Atun to the very heart of the leaks out here and rip out the Vagaari by the roots once and for all. She might be biased considering Atun's revelation of being a Chiss, as well as the way Atun made her feel that even still she wasn't quite ready to acknowledge it.
Would it be too soon to decide she should help? What if she ended up feeling used or worse? It was her life and she couldn't let fear control her, making her miss out on what could be some of the best moments in life. She would never let Tynan influence her ever again. She blinked in surprise as her comm rang. "Mama?"
"No. This is Sadi, Leyna. I do remember you. I hear you are Tynan's latest casualty."
"Yeah. Honestly, I feel like I dodged a laser blast. Imperials found information in his home linking him to the Vagaari."
"I wish I could say that I am surprised. So sorry you got caught up in all of this. You were one of the kindest girls at our school."
Leyna scoffed. "No way, that was you."
"I am flattered you think so, though that doesn't mean you should belittle yourself."
"True. I am glad you reached out."
"As am I. Are your parents well?"
"Well, my mother is okay, but my father was taken by the Vagaari. How about yours?"
"I'm sorry to hear that your father is missing. The last time I spoke with my folks, they were talking about coming here to join me. What about you? What will you do now?"
"I think I made a decision, though there is some hesitation because of everything that's happened. I can not explain what's going on, but just trust me when I say it's complicated."
"Life usually is. Whatever it is, I think your hesitation is telling you it's the right choice. I felt that way too before moving here. I may not know what's going on, but I do know us Lysatra women are scrappy. Follow your heart Leyna, you will not regret it."
"Thank you, Sadi. I hope you do the same."
"I will. Is it okay if I call you again sometime?"
"Of course, I would like that very much."
"Then I'll contact you when I can, Leyna."
"I look forward to it. Take care, Sadi."
"You too."
Leyna sighed as the call ended. At least she had heard from Sadi, exactly as she had hoped. Atun had been right, hope was important. The positivity took over any potential for negative thoughts or actions. If she'd been bitter, the whole conversation with Sadi would've had different results, assuming it even happened in the first place since she wouldn't have reached out due to resentment. She might have gone as far as blaming Sadi unfairly for everything, though her elder of three years hadn't done anything to her.
"Attention passengers, we are now approaching Thune." A woman announced over the comm.
I guess that's my cue. Leyna rose, packing her meager belongings and leaving her room. She went to the kitchen and picked up her last check, saying goodbye to all her coworkers. She met Gaur and Atun after disembarking the star cruiser, following them into the main city. She had no idea what lay ahead, though she was ready to find out. She did want to help and her heart told her that while she felt uncertain, she was on the right path.
They arrived at a jewelry store and went inside to find a woman wearing the same shaded lenses as Atun. "At last, you are here. I see you have a new friend."
"Paru, this is Leyna. Leyna, my cousin, and Gaur's fiancé Paru."