"I rebel; therefore I exist."
- Albert Camus
There was no words to describe the scene she'd just witnessed; her father was dead by the hands of a cold blooded traitor.
The girl stood there in utter shock. She felt as if all of the stars turned off and there was only darkness. She knew this day would always hunt her.
She probably had pinched herself a hundred time that moment. Hoping that it was all just a bad dream and she'd wake up with her father alive, but sadly it didn't work, it only caused her arm to brushed.
With her eyes still facing the area where her now dead father lay, the girl heard a twig snap behind her. Just when she was going to let out a scream, her mouth her covered in time by a hand, but not her hand.
Hesitantly she peaked to her right to find her brother, Killian soaking wet with his left hand covering her mouth.
In relief, Crystal sighed silently. Once her brother sensed that she was calmer, he slowly removed his hand and placed his fingers to his lips, signaling his sister to stay quiet. Crystal gave a slight nod.
"He had children, find them and shoot on sight." a dark voice ordered three Deathtroopers before heading back to the shuttle. For a small moment Crystal had almost forgotten he was still there.
That was their cue to leave. The two siblings crawled through the the long, wet grass to the entrance of the forest.
When they both enter the forest, they both got on their feet, and ran as fast as they could to the safe haven; The safe haven was a dark cave behind a waterfall a few miles deep inside the forest.
The rain had finally calmed down, but it left all the paths muddy and slippery making it difficult to run without falling on their faces.
Once they reached the waterfall, the two ex-padawans carefully slipped behind the cataract, where lies the entrance of the cave.
Carefully, the two of them slid down to the water and quickly crunched down to hide behind the huge bolder, that was close to the entrance.
Trying her best not to move, Crystal hold her breath in fear trembling and giving away their location by vibrating the water.
Outside, they heard the sound of heavy thumps scouting around the area. "Deathtroopers." She thought.
Crystal looked at her brother with fear. Killian who was peaking out of the bolder slowly moved his hand at the very edge of the rock and flicked it ever so slightly.
"What was that?" one of the Deathtroopers said.
"It came from over there," another Trooper pointed towards the opposite direction, "let's go and check it out." and they left.
The girl breathed in a sigh of relief, and apparently so did her brother. They both waited a few more moments before walking deeper into the cave.
"What in blazing were you thinking!" Her brother scolded, once they made to the stoney land that was inside the cave.
Crystal glared at him and opened her mouth say something rude or sarcastically back, but all that came out was sobs of tears. Killian looked at her at sympathy and wrapped his small arms around his sister. "I'm sorry Cryst."
"Me too." Sniffed Crystal.
A good few hours had past, and there was still no sign of Saw. Killian had fallen asleep beside the nice and toasty fire he had made earlier, Crystal on the other hand was wide awake, worrying what was taking Saw so long.
"Perhaps, he had forgotten where the Safe Haven was? No, Saw not the kind of person to forget those things. Maybe, he ran into some trouble along the way here and-." A splashing noise suddenly appeared out of nowhere, which immediately caused her to snapped out of her thoughts and wake up Killian.
Instantly both of them jumped up to their feet with worry faces. More splashes came. Without hesitation both Killian and Crystal activated their lightsabers.
The noise became closer and closer until dark familiar figure appeared in front of them.
It was Saw, he had come at last.
"My children, put your weapon down there is no threat here," says Saw.
But neither one of let their guard down, they looked at him with hesitation Could he be trusted? Or would they be better on there own?
"come now, there isn't time to waste."
Reluctantly they both obeyed, deactivated their sabers. Once they made it inside of Saw's ship and buckled in, Killian gave his sister a small smile. A smile that almost looked like the same smile her father gave to her only a few hours prior. A smile saying "Trust me, it will be ok soon." And that was all she needed to hear. The little girl let out a huge yawn.
Her brother took notice of her tiredness and said, "Go to sleep sis, I'll wake you up when we land." Crystal gave him a grateful smile, and leaned back in her seat, and also using her brother's shoulder as a pillow. Crystal shut her eyes, and drifted into nothingness.
•••
The young woman was jolted awake by the sound of the ship's engine. One of the first things she noticed was the throbbing migraine that was pondering in her skull. She groaned in pain as she slowly shift her sitting position. Her hand were cuffed. Great she thought.
Looking around the ship to see If there was anything to pick through the lock, Crystal noticed there was no sign of Blitz, and also her pistol and lightsabers were missing. That bloody son of a bantha stole her lightsaber; now she's angry.
A few moments later the door sled open. Her eyes squinted as light entered the main hold.
"Look who finally woke up," A man in rebels uniform said, "come on Miss, the General and the Senator are waiting." He roughly took her by the arm and help her off the floor, guiding her out of the ship and into the entrance of the rebellion base. Crystal reluctantly followed, there's no way she was going to escape without her weapons and even if she could, she wouldn't forgive herself if she left Blitz to theses so call "freedom fighters."
As the they make there way to wherever they're taking her, they passed by a fleet of X-wings starfighters. Crystal observed them from a distance. She wasn't much of a pilot; she only flew when she had to ( which lately she had to do a lot), but Killian on the other hand loved flying. Crystal features darken in thought of her brother.
Once they arrived at what Crystal guessed was the War Room, she was seated by one of those huge halo table with a screen in it. The room was filled with all shorts of technology and people. There was one person there with a datapad in hand glaring at her.
After the he dismissed the rebel, who escorted her, the man with the datapad turned to her with glaring eyes and asked coolly. "You're currently calling herself Alaya Mellark. Is that correct?" Crystal remained quiet and gave the officer or whatever rank he was a bored, unpleased look, but unfortunately, he took it as a gesture to continue.
"Let's see, possession of unsanctioned weapons, felony of theft, aggravated assault, resisting arrest and escaping custody," Crystal snorted on the last one, she had forgotten she and Blitz managed to pull that one off.
The man lowered his datapad and look at fugitive, "Images if the Imperials authorities had found out who you really are, Crystal Stark. That is your given name, isn't not?"
She flinched, it's been years since heard her true name. The last time someone said her name things.. didn't go so good.
"Crystal Stark, daughter Jedi Knight Victor Stark and Jedi Knight Keira Atal. Tell me, how did you survive-"
"I'm not a Jedi. If that's what you're asking, they're all gone now ." She whispered last part.
A woman with auburn hair and a elegant white dress robes appeared to the other side of the holo table. Mon Monthma Crystal recognized. "If you are not a Jedi like you say, then how did you get theses lightsabers?" The Senator asked, as she placed two familiar cylinders on the table. Her lightsabers.
"You can imagine, what you can find in the black market these days," Crystal easily lied, not taking her eyes off her sabers. The temptation was unbearable. You have no idea how hard it was to not run off with them.
"I beg to differ," A familiar voice said, she broke her contact to her belongings to look up Crystal eyes widened in shock when she saw owner of the voice. He looked older since the last time she saw him. "It's good to see you again, little Jedi."
•••
Everything was gone; the temple, their Masters, their friends... and their mother. All gone.
"We're here." Her father announced.
"Here?" Young Crystal wondered, "there's nothing here but space and asteroids."
The young padawan turned her right to face her brother; he was asleep.
Crystal nudged her brother roughly so he could wake up.
Instantly, her brother stood awake "W-wha." He said sleepily.
"Where are we?" Asked Crystal quietly.
Killian yawned, "how should I know?" Go ask Dad." He said before closing her eyes once more.
Crystal stick her tongue out at him. As much as Crystal loved her brother, he could be a big Nerfherder at times.. most of the time.
The entire ship began to shake as her father plotting the ship to land.
"Killian, Crystal, get up, we're here." Their father said as he climbed out of the cockpit. The two siblings obeyed and followed their father.
Once outside Crystal got a better view of the asteroid. There laid a small building.
The building almost looked like hospital or something. When they all made to the ground they were greeted by what looks like a Alderaanian whispered something into her father ear. Once he was done whispering, he nodded firmly. After the officers left their father turned to them and said; "Come now." as he walked towards the facility.
Once they entered the facility they were greeted by three familiar faces. "Masters, Senator," her father bowed his head respectively at them.
"Master Stark, much to discuss we do, waste time we cannot." Says the wise green Jedi.
"I think it would best if we spoke of this in private." Master Kenobi suggested, his eyes flicked at the padwans.
Crystal looked up at Master Kenobi , his robe was burnt and covered coal dust; he looked as if he came out of a fire pit.
"My man will take good care of them, you have my word." The Senator promised.
Their father nodded in understand, and knelt at his children's height, "I'm going to talk with Master Yoda and Master Kenobi now, if you need anything, I'll be in that room over there," he pointed toward the door across from them.
The two siblings gave weak nod.
"Alright then," their father stood and turned to the guard, "look after them." Then went off with the two other Masters.
"Don't worry little Jedi, you're safe now." The Senator asserted, with a gentle smile before entering the same room their father and the other Master had entered earlier.
•••
"Why am I here exactly?" Crystal demanded, wanting this interrogation to be over with.
The red haired senator gave her a small smile, "We think you might be able to help us."
"How exactly?"
Mon motion to her right, " This is Captain Cassian Andor, Rebel Intelligence."
Crystal turned her head to face this Cass Andor, person. To her surprise it was the person she was looking for all day. "Oh so you do have a name. I think the one you gave me suites you better." She smirked.
The two superiors gave a him an odd look.
The captain shrugged little, but continued; "When was the last contact with your brother, Killian Stark?" The Rebel Captain questioned with his arms folded.
She hesitated, but eventually answered; "It's been thirteen years since that last time I saw him."
"Do you know where's he's been the all this time?" Cassian continued, taking a daring step closer to her.
Crystal shook her head, "Don't know, don't care."
"And what about Saw Gerrera?" The captain proceeded to question.
Crystal frowned, then says in a cold tone "Like I said before, it's been a long time. They both think I'm dead, and if you don't mind I'll like to keep it that way,"
"And why's that?" Draven said in a flat tone.
"let's say it's better that way," She also said In a flat tone.
"Why are you asking me all this?" Crystal asked.
"We're looking for man called Tivik, we heard he holds vital information about Empires new secret weapon." The Senator answered.
She thought for a moment, "Tivik, yeah I remember him."
"Do you know where he is then?" Cassian said, taking another step closer.
"No, I lost tracks of all Saw's men way back, but I do know someone who might."
"Who?" Draven asked impatiently
"He's name is Regulus Callaghan. He's a old colleague of mine. If anyone would know where Tivik is it's him." Said Crystal
"Do you think he will help?" The captain asked
Crystal shrugged her shoulders "For the right price, sure."
"Do you know where he is located?" Inquired the general.
An idea popped in her head "I could tell you or I could take you there myself if and only if you promise to let my friend and I go in peace, never ever bothering us again."
There was a long pause of silence and a few mummers here and there. After few moments of discussing, the council finally made their choice.
"We accept your proposal."
Crystal pursed her mouth in a self-satisfied smirk, "Fantastic, now if you don't mind can somebody unlock these bloody cuffs off of me."