This fic up to this point was edited May 14, 2018. I forgot to write that on previous chapters.
Lirri walked slowly across the desert of Tuanul, stopping at some of the vendors as she bought fruit and other trinkets that caught her eyes. To an outsider, she came across as any other person there. Her hair was covered in a hood, with a scarf wrapped around her neck so if it gets windy, she could cover her face. Green eyes scanned the desert until she saw a man on the other side of the market.
He was an older man with white hair and Lirri immediately recognized it as her contact. She finished her purchases, before walking towards the exit of the market. Lirri glanced back to see the man, Lor San, following her as she leaned against the wall until Lor San got near her.
Lor San smiled at her as he waved for Lirri to follow him as they went to the small hut. As they went in, Lor San immediately offered her a seat as she sat down before pulling down her hood and smiling at the elderly gentleman.
"Mr. Tekka, thank you for having me." Lirri spoke as he sat across from her.
"Well, after you and your master's communications, I wanted to get in touch with you as quickly as I could." Lirri's hand shifted anxiously in her lap.
"Yes. It's been some time since Master Skywalker has sent communication to me. He wanted me to give you this." Lirri spoke as she pulled out something from her hidden pocket in the jacket. It was a small drive that Lirri had wrapped in a cloth to protect it from the sand.
Lor San put his hand out as Lirri took a moment, debating it before putting it Lor San's hand. If this was who Luke wanted her to give it to, then who was she to argue? It felt strange to be without the drive, after all she had been holding onto it for quite a long time.
"I've already been working on finding a secure contact to get in touch with General Organa and the Resistance. With how things are going with the Order, we may need Luke soon."
She sighed in agreeance. "Well, it has been almost 10 years now." Lirri ran a hand through her hair as she responded. Lor San could see the exhaustion the young woman from her journey so far. From what he had heard from Leia, Lirri was rarely in the same place long enough to settle. At most a few weeks.
"Anyways, I should leave now Mr. Tekka." Lirri added as she stood up, bringing her hood up and gave him a small smile. "Trouble sometimes follows me." She left the hut and returned to her ship. She had flown away from the spiritual village on Jakku as she let out an anxious breath that she had been holding since she landed on Jakku.
When she saw Odem, Lirri chose to land the small ship on one of its islands and made sure it was hidden under the foliage. After the ship landed, Lirri took a walk before she let herself a breath of relief and have a moment of peace. There was no one else nearby as she sat under a lovely tree. She gave herself a short few minutes to meditate and calm her mind.
When she felt relaxed, Lirri headed back to her ship and collapsed on the cot in a restless sleep; the first in a few days.
When Lirri awoke, there was a strange feeling in her gut, as she rubbed the back of her neck. It stayed with her even after eating and working on the system to trace her steps. The unsettling feeling made her decide that she needed to leave Odem and head towards Maz Kanata's at Takodana.
It was a long trip and she needed more water to manage it. She headed to the faraway stream, which seemed to take forever to walk to. As she walked back, there was a heavy pressure filled the air; with nothing but dread.
Quickening her steps, Lirri was focused on getting back to her ship and leaving this planet when her eyes landed on the Storm Troopers up ahead. It had been a few months since Lirri had stumbled upon Storm Troopers, but last time she had evaded them then.
Lirri hoped for the best as she chose to try and evade the Storm Troopers. Near her was a large tree with heavy foliage as Lirri scrambled up the tree hastily before hiding in the leaves. She ignored the sticks and raised bars that scraped up her skin. From her spot, Lirri could see the Storm Troopers.
They were looking in the same direction as she noticed a silver clad Storm Trooper, who had to be their boss. Unlike the usual, which was just a basic flock of white clad ones.
Moving towards the middle of the branches, Lirri took a calming breath and sipped her water, planning on staying there for awhile as she then lifted her hood and keeping her scarf up to mask her hair and face.
Lirri was judging her situation as she tried to keep masking her presence in the tree. Don't mind her if you could see her, she was simply part of the tree. That's when she saw a dark clad figure wearing a cape and dark metal helmet. Kylo Ren. The murderer of the Jedi Padawans. Her heart pounded, and brain raced in hopes of trying to come up with a plan to get somewhere where she could hitch a ride to Maz Kanata's.
A few hours passed as she watched as the Silver Storm Trooper and Kylo Ren were discussing a plan, for what she didn't know. The other Storm Troopers were spread far away but she could hear the chainsaws tearing down trees nearby.
Quietly, Lirri took the opportunity to climb down the tree in hopes that she could get away. As she was nearly down the tree, Lirri heard one of the Storm Trooper's metallic yelling with a blaster going off. Lirri turned on instinct, raising her hand to stop the shot in its track about 10 feet from the tree.
Realizing that if she was the person he was looking for, Kylo Ren now had proof that she was Force Sensitive, if he hadn't already known now. This was like signing her own death sentence as Lirri took the shocked Storm Troopers's hesitance, Lirri jumped off of the tree while letting go of the blaster's beam. Lirri could feel the leaves and sparks around her as she ran through the woods in a zig zagged pattern between the trees. The shots were missing her thanks to the thick forest around her.
She didn't have time to focus on her thoughts with her body moving quicker than she thought possible. Shots were getting closer to Lirri as she glanced back. The Silver Storm Trooper was pointing at something ahead of Lirri. Not wanting to see what they were pointing at, Lirri made a sharp turn to the right as she nearly crashed into a tree before catching herself.
Every instinct was going wild, as she realized that Lirri made a mistake with the energy getting stronger around her as she moved.
To her left, Lirri saw a small opening between two close trees as she moved her body to turn when a sharp force drove against her shoulder. It tossed her off of her feet, tumbling to the ground as she rolled into a tree trunk as she cried out in pain.
Lirri stood up, with her right hand touching her left shoulder, as she felt the wetness already pooling in her clothes and fingers as the smell of copper invaded her smell. Definitely blood. Her senses were in overdrive as she continued running once more. When she passed a tree, Lirri saw black and bright red flashed in the corner of her eye as the familiar buzz of a lightsaber as Lirri dashed to the right but was caught with an arm around her waist before being pushed against the tree. She was forced around as a hand went around her throat, dragging her up the bark until she was eye level with Kylo Ren and her feet were dangling from the ground. Her hood had fallen as she clawed at the gloved hand around her throat. His other hand held the lightsaber with the end getting too close to her face.
Her only thought was that she couldn't go out this way. She wasn't going to die of lightsabers or by being choked by this man.
Kylo Ren leaned towards her as fear overcame Lirri and her ability to handle the Force without focus. "Sleep" he commanded, his voice having the same metal crackling as she resisted a moment before her body went limp and eyes shutting.
Kylo scooped her unconscious body up in his arms as he walked towards Captain Phasma. Gesturing with his head to the ship, he gave her a single command. "Search the ship." before walking away with Lirri.
Kylo kept a passive eyes as the Storm Troopers returned Lirri to her chair; ensuring that they properly put the restraints in place so that she couldn't get out. When finished, he sent the guards away and let out the deep breath he was holding. After the door was shut, Kylo removed his helmet and put it on the side as Ben stared at the familiar face that was unconscious in front of him.
Nearly a decade later, and Kylo could still picture how she looked then. She definitely aged since then as he eyed her. Her body was more defined with her hips wider, giving her a pear shape. Her skin was still tanned, as if kissed by the sun yet it did nothing to hide the dark circles under eyes. Her face was framed by hair that she had allowed to grow out.
Without stress lines and no thoughts invading her mind, Lirri looked at peace in that moment after the ordeals that the Storm Troopers put her through for interrogations.
This was the first time that Kylo had seen Lirri properly since watching over the Troops interrogating her or when she was injured and nearly drowned. Kylo watched her for a few more moments, until she started stirring before he turned and put his helmet back on. Revealing himself would be something to use an an upperhand for shock if necessary.
A soft groan escaped Lirri's lips as he stood in front of her, as she took her times to open her eyes as he observed. She wheezed and coughed as he noticed blood trickling from her mouth. Kylo folded his hands together with his emotions hidden under his mask.
When her eyes opened, Lirri's eyes ran over Kylo Ren's form as she cussed under her breath, closing her eyes and leaning her head back.
"Just go ahead and kill me now." Lirri muttered as Kylo tsked, stepping forward.
"Now why would we do that?" Kylo asked, as he observed her body language. Her shoulders tensed, and eyes squeezed painfully tight.
"Since you won't give you any information, Ren." her voice has a hint of honesty in it; to her this was the truth.
"I must admit, I would be quite impressed that no one has gotten any information out of you. All we want to know is who you gave the map to. We haven't found it in any of your possessions, so we know you gave it away." He was calm as he brought a stool closer to his prisoner.
Lirri smirked as she leaned her head up. "You think I would give away information to the mind washed soldiers who hide behind masks or any members of the First Order?" She scoffed as her green eyes looked towards the mask.
He leaned forward on his stool, as Kylo tilted her head. "Of course I do, everyone breaks eventually." he looked down a bit to the bruises littering her skin with the cut marks and her red shoulder that seemed inflamed.
Taking his hand, Kylo pressed his hand on Lirri's shoulder as a painful gasp escaped her lips while trying to shake her shoulders to get his hands off of her. Kylo's hand pushed harder down as he looked into her face. She was biting her lip to suppress the noise. Kylo continued as she began to whimper.
Pulling his gloved hand away from her, Kylo leaned back as Lirri caught her breath. "I- won't break and tell you." Lirri whispered as Kylo nodded before he heard a knocking on the door; as he stood up to storm over and open it.
On the other side was General Hux standing impatiently as Kylo looked at him.
"We have a meeting, Ren."
"I'm busy."
"It's with Snoke." Hux began as Kylo let out a heavy sigh; it was not something to put off. Supreme Leader Snoke was not someone test.
Glancing back to Lirri, he smirked before leaving the room as he waved. Telling the group behind Hux as he sent the Storm Troopers in to continue.
-
Lirri's teeth were chattering as she was tossed back into the board chair thing that she has spent most of her time in nowadays. Her damp clothes stuck to her skin as she felt them placing the braces around her ankles and wrists. They were tight and dug into wrists which were already worn raw from her escape attempts.
While left alone, exhaustion was starting to take ahold of her as she knew it would only be some time until The First Order were torturing her again.
However, a blaring noise brought her awake as she glared up at the Stormtrooper in the room. "No sleeping allowed." The Stormtrooper walked away as Lirri closed her eyes, only to hear the blaring noise again.
The Stormtrooper was near her again as she glared at him. This was the newest wave of commands for torture from General Hux. She wasn't given food, and only a small cup of water per day. Now without sleep, Lirri lost her chill. Glaring at the Stormtrooper, she took a deep breath.
"You WILL let me sleep." Lirri declared, feeling power behind her words to the Stormtrooper. The troop stiffened their posture.
"I will let you sleep."
"You will guard the door so I can sleep."
"I will guard the door so you can sleep."
The Stormtrooper spoke as they walked over to the door and started guarding it. Lirri relaxed as her body craved the rest. Lirri knew that if she had tried to escape in this state, it would fail. She didn't have the energy to go out as she let sleep overcome her; not caring she was still cuffed.
When she woke up later, Lirri's body was stiff yet felt more alert with a sense of clarity as she rolled her head back and forth to loosen her neck. Smiling at feeling even just a bit better, Lirri started humming a song that the Padawans would sing by the fire as she awaited the dread of the First Order returning.
Just as she was finishing her song, the door slid open as Kylo came through, his anger was seeping from him as Lirri remained neutral. Kylo stormed up to Lirri as he immediately pushed into her mind. He wanted to get into her thoughts as Lirri cried out and resisted him. Lirri refused to give him any information.
Her brain focused on any memories that were free of information to delay him as she put up more barriers on any information about the drive with the map.
A bonfire was in her mind as she thought about how different Padawans showed off their talents. The memory went through everyone leaving except for Ben and how Lirri saw him in the light of the fire.
The pain her mind was incredible as Lirri focused on her positive memories. Time seemed to pause for her as he continued trying to fight her mind. When the sensation finally ended, Lirri watched at Kylo as she watched his reaction.
His clenched fist showed his annoyance as he relaxed one hand to go behind his masks. The helmet hissed as some of the pieces moved and Kylo removed it. Lirri immediately noticed the waves of dark hair and a face that Lirri could recognize in a heartbeat; even without the roundness from his baby fat.
She bit her lip as her eyes dropped down to Kylo's chest- trying to think about anything other than his face or personality. Lirri could feel her heart aching as Kylo began to speak with he voice more natural to her than the filtered voice from before.
"You're resilience is fruitless at this point, Lirri. We've already been tracking your journey on that ship of yours." Kylo spoke, leaning forward to grab her face by the chin and lifted it; forcing him to look him in the eye.
As he looked into her eyes, his expression softened as he leaned forward a bit. "Lirri, you can just give me this information and stop all of this running. We both know how tired you are. If you join me then you'd have a bed, a shower and people to do as you wish." He offered, his tone polite and optimistic as he softened the grip on her jaw.
Lirri broke the eye contact as she forced them to close and shook her head in his hand.
"Lirri you used to talk to me about the sides of grey; what happened to you? This isn't the black and white situation they've implanted into you."
He hoped for her eyes to open again and look into his own.
The silence was unbearable for him as he heard Lirri began to speak. "No… you'll have to pry that information from me." Lirri sunk her head lower, as she whispered a bit more. "Master Skywalker is needed with the Resistance for the upcoming Force Sensitives. I can't let you murder more innocent youth."
Kylo let go of her face as his expression darkened.
"Fine; if you want it the hard way, we'll do it the hard way."