AN: This chapter has been updated, so it's a tad different than before, specifically in the names of characters. I may be trying to hard to preserve some mystery in this story, but for those of you new to the story, I hope you get some excitement at guessing whose who.
For those of you who've read the first three chapters before, thank you for coming back to read again, and I hope the story doesn't disappoint.
Sayomi stared up at the night sky. The stars glittered brightly in the dark velvet of the heavens.
"Sayomi-chan," came a voice from inside the house. "It's late. Don't stay out too long."
"Hai, Doulin-san," the silvery-blue haired young woman called.
Sayomi turned back to the sky and gasped in delight as a shooting star went by. To her surprise, the star didn't go out, but continued until it seemed to touch down in the desert outside the city.
"Doulin-san!" the young woman called.
A moment later, a woman in her late seventies, came out onto the balcony.
"What is it, dear?" the white-haired older woman asked.
"A star," Sayomi said, pointing. "A star just fell and landed out in the desert."
Doulin Hahm, Sayomi's adoptive mother, stared out over the city toward the desert.
"I'll send Lanva out in the morning," Doulin said.
"Don't you think someone else might have seen it? They may get there before Lanva-san does."
"Being a little overprotective aren't you?" the older woman asked.
Sayomi's mouth drew down in a frown. "I saw it fall. I want to be the first to see what it is."
Doulin laughed gently and placed a hand on the young woman's arm. "It's cold tonight. I doubt anyone will venture out to find your star until morning."
Sayomi wasn't convinced, but allowed the older woman to draw her into the warmth of the house. She carefully prepared for bed, brushing her long hair and pulling it back into a braid. She put out her lamp and climbed into bed. She lay listening as Doulin and her husband, Lanva, got ready for bed.
When the house was finally silent, and all the lights extinguished, Sayomi lay waiting. She watched the moonlight coming in through her window, and when she judged a little more than an hour had passed, she rose. She moved silently out of her room and into the hallway. She crept down to the cloak room where she pulled on a thick pair of boots and a heavy robe. Grabbing a nearby pack, she stuffed another robe into it and a water skin, which she'd fill on her way to investigate the fallen star.
"Gomen, Doulin-san," she whispered as she left the house. "I have to find my star now."
A sharp pain in his arm, and a throbbing in his head, woke Kigen. He tried to move and groaned. His body was one huge bruise.
"I'm never going to heal at this rate."
He tried to open his eyes and found the left one glued shut with blood. Gingerly he felt his head and found a long gash. It had stopped bleeding, thankfully, but it still hurt something fierce. He took the comlink from his belt.
"TC? You in one piece, little guy?"
An affirmative beep came back.
"S'good to know. I'm coming out. We've got to hide. I have a feeling those Imperials will be coming to finish me off." He tried to move again and nearly blacked out. "If I don't finish myself off first," he muttered.
After several tries, he got the safety harness off. He sat back in the chair, panting and trying to use the Force to push back his pain and tiredness. With help from TC he popped the canopy off the small ship and, after several more attempts, he dragged himself from the cockpit. His world spun as he tried to stand and he collapsed down a small dune and into the sand below. A moment later something blocked the moonlight and a shadow fell over him.
"Jus' bury me 'ere," he slurred.
A voice murmured words he didn't understand and a warm hand touched his face. He thought he saw a figure with moonlight-colored hair spilling over one shoulder bending over him, but a wave of blackness rose to swallow him and he knew no more.
Sayomi looked down at the strange man who lay at her feet. He was terribly wounded and she was afraid he would die before she could get him back to Doulin and Lanva. She bowed her head and clasped her hands in front of her breasts.
"Great Lord Byakko," she murmured, "spare this man's life please. Keep him alive until I can get him to Doulin-san."
Shoving her fears down, she poured some water on the corner of her robe and began gently washing the blood from his face. Tearing some cloth from the man's ruined robe, she bound the wound on his head and another gash she discovered on his unbroken arm. Checking to see that he had no more wounds, Sayomi gently shook the man, hoping to wake him.
"Nii-san, wake up," she urged. "We have to get you to help."
A series of sharp beeps startled Sayomi. A strange object that resembled a cylinder with a dome on top trundled toward her on three legs that didn't move, still emitting beeps and whistles, and somehow sounding protective of the injured man.
"I want to help him," she said, holding her hands up to show she meant no harm. "I live in a city near here. I have friends there who can help, but I can't carry him."
The strange contraption stopped and turned what looked to be an eye on the man. The cylinder emitted a low, mournful whistle. Hesitantly, Sayomi touched the domed top of the strange creature.
"I'll help him," she said.
"What are you doing, wandering around the desert in the middle of the night?" a voice behind Sayomi asked.
The young woman stifled a scream and turned, a small knife appearing in her hand. Lanva, swathed in a heavy robe, stood looking down at her.
"Lanva-san, you scared the life out of me." Sayomi sheathed her dagger.
Her grizzled adoptive father just looked at her. "Are you planning to drag him back to the city by yourself?"
Sayomi blushed. "I was going to try. I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to see my star."
"It's my house, lass. Did you really think you could sneak out without me noticing?"
"No," Sayomi said, hanging her head.
Lanva placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did nothing wrong. It's lucky for this lad that you came. But, next time, let me know."
"Doulin-san said I should wait 'til morning," Sayomi said in her own defense.
"That's why I said come to me." Lanva winked at her. "Now, let's get him back to the house before he dies on us."