Author's Note
Salve, catulos, et Padawans! That is Latin for "Hello, younglings and Padawans!"
Okay, so I last track of which chapter this was for a while. I could not remember for the longest time and it drove me insane. Sorry for the wait but life has been crazy. So here we are and please enjoy!
An Apprentice
Seraphina stepped backwards in an attempt to avoid the red lightsaber aimed for her neck. She raised her own saber in time to stop her opponent's crimson blade from hitting her arm. Sparks flew as red met red. Her blue eyes met green ones as her adversary drew his blade back to strike her again.
She ducked underneath Sethtis' deadly swing and quickly stepped past him so that she was standing behind him. She brought her saber down on his head, only to have it stopped by his weapon. He spun around, successfully wrenching her saber out of her grip as her legs were swept out from under her. She landed in the grass, breathing hard and soaked in sweat.
"Again," Sethtis commanded.
Seraphina struggled to sit up, her muscles screaming at her. She gasped for breath and wiped the sweat from her brow. Sethtis extended his hand and she gladly took it, allowing him to help her up. He handed Seraphina her saber and activated his weapon. Seraphina did the same, making sure both sides of the saber-staff were on. The fight began when Sethtis lunged at her.
In fifteen minutes, Seraphina was on the ground, her lightsaber lying too far away, and Sethtis' crimson blade at her throat. He smirked before deactivating the saber. He pulled her up and she wobbled on her tired and sore legs.
Sethtis held her arms gently to make sure she didn't fall. Sweat gleamed on her brow and she was breathing heavily.
"Maybe that's enough training for one day." Sethtis suggested.
"You… think?" Seraphina gasped. "Can I just take a nap here? I'm too tired to walk back to camp?"
The sound of a ship caused the pair to look up. A First Order shuttle touched down not too far away from the pair. The ramp lowered revealing the Dark Knights.
Sethtis' eyebrows knit together. "This isn't right. They're supposed to arrive two days from now. That's what Agni told me."
Seraphina straightened. "Obviously Agni didn't feel like sticking to the plan."
Agni approached the two and bowed respectfully to Sethtis. "Sir, I understand that we have arrived two days earlier than our original assigned date, but we have a very interesting prisoner with us. I'm sure you'll find her rather fascinating. Almost as interesting as Skywalker." Agni glared at Seraphina as he walked away with the other Knights following.
Two Stormtroopers marched down the ramp with a figure in between them, her head covered by a brown sack. Her gloved hands were cuffed behind her back. She wore a black long-sleeved shirt, black pants, and black knee-high boots. She grunted as the Stormtroopers dragged her to Sethtis.
"What do we do with her, sir?" the trooper on the right asked.
"Take her to a spare tent and keep her there. No one goes in until I say so." Sethtis ordered.
The troopers nodded. "Yes, sir." Then they dragged her away.
"I sensed that the Force was strong with her." Sethtis murmured once the troopers and the prisoner were out of hearing range.
Seraphina nodded. "I felt it, too. What do you suggest we do with her?"
"Question her and then see if we can turn her to the Dark Side. If not, then we kill her." Sethtis replied easily.
Seraphina felt her heart ache at the thought of killing the girl. The prisoner looked to be between the ages of twelve and fifteen. She was so young.
"Let's see what she can tell us." Sethtis said, leading the way to the camp. They approached the tent where the prisoner was being held. The two Stormtroopers standing guard immediately snapped to attention and allowed Sethtis and Seraphina to enter the tent.
The girl sat on the ground, her legs folded under her. The sack still covered her head and she was struggling with her cuffs.
"You can stop trying to get out of those restraints now." Sethtis said, alerting her to their presence in the tent.
"What do you plan on doing with me?" the girl asked in fear, the bag muffling her words.
"I'm just going to ask you a few questions." Sethtis replied calmly, taking a step towards her. He reached out and removed the bag, revealing the orange-colored skin of a Togruta. Her head tails were blue and white. White paint created markings on her face. Her blue eyes showed fear as well as anger.
"What's your name?" Sethtis asked, slowly beginning to circle the Togruta.
"Why do you want to know?" she spat.
"A little snippy aren't we? So I don't have to keep calling you 'the girl' or 'prisoner'." He replied.
"Anya Kerz-Tak." The Togruta said. "I also go by Anya Tano."
Seraphina inhaled sharply? Tano? As in Ahsoka Tano? Anakin Skywalker's Padawan?
Sethtis paused for only minute before beginning to circle her again. "So Miss Tano… do you know why my Knights captured you?"
Anya shook her head. "I don't know why they took me prisoner but, please, take me back to Shili. I didn't do anything. I was just visiting Naboo when these people dressed in black began attacking."
"What do you know of the Resistance?"
"The… Resistance? Not much. I know that they support the Light Side and that they're trying to stop the First Order from taking over the galaxy. That's about it."
"If I told you that you were Force-sensitive, what would you say?"
Anya rolled her eyes. "I'd say 'heard that one before'. My father told me that, so did my grandmother, my cousin, and practically everybody else I know."
"So this doesn't come as a shock to you. I am offering to teach you how to use your powers, if you don't already know how."
Sethtis barely had enough time to end his sentence when Anya replied hotly, "Forget it. I may not know how to use the Force, but I'm not about to join the Dark Side. My great grandmother would not approve."
"Your great grandmother…" Sethtis mused. "Ahsoka Tano, correct? She was the Padawan of Anakin Skywalker until she left the Jedi Order. She was quite brave. I will give you a few hours to reconsider my offer. In the meanwhile, why were you on Naboo?"
"I was visiting the planet." Anya said, glaring at the floor. "Is it wrong for me to visit other planets?"
"Do you know where Resistance is hiding?"
"Maybe… but I'm not gonna tell you."
"You are testing my patience, Miss Tano." Sethtis hissed.
"What patience?" Anya snapped. "I wasn't aware that Sith were capable of having that virtue."
Sethtis glared at the Togruta and made a growling noise in the back of his throat. Seraphina watched as blue sparks of energy flickered on his clenched fists. Seraphina knew what was coming. She grabbed Sethtis' arm and dragged him out of the tent.
"What are you doing?" he demanded.
Seraphina released his arm and glared at him. "If you blast her, then you won't get any information." She pointed out. "And she's no older than fifteen for crying out loud! Her snippy attitude towards you is because you're the leader of the First Order. If you want her to join us then perhaps you should avoid electrocuting her. And me."
Sethtis took a deep breath before exhaling. "Fine." Sethtis called Agni over to them. "Agni, I am putting you in charge of the prisoner. Do with her whatever you wish but do not kill her. And I want her to remain on this planet in this campsite for more questioning. Do you understand?"
Agni nodded before Sethtis dismissed him. Glaring at Seraphina one more time, he turned and entered the tent where Anya was being held.
Seraphina walked away from Sethtis and went into her own tent to rest. She woke up a few hours later and grabbed her lightsaber, deciding to spend some time in the field to practice for a while. After an hour of going over the seven different lightsaber forms, she spotted two figures coming closer.
Agni approached with Anya close by, his hand gripping her upper arm tightly. "Ma'am," Agni acknowledged Seraphina with a nod of his head followed by a glare. "I thought you'd like to know that this child has finally agreed to join the First Order."
"That is good news." Seraphina agreed. "I assume you told Lord Sethtis?"
Agni nodded. "I did. I also thought you'd like to meet your new apprentice."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry. My… apprentice?"
Agni nodded again and shoved Anya towards Seraphina. Anya stumbled and Seraphina caught her and set her upright, keeping her hands on the Togruta's shoulders to steady her and should the girl attempt to run away.
"Good luck." Agni called over his shoulder as he walked away.
Seraphina glared at him as he left. Finally, she looked at Anya. She sighed. "Alright… apparently, you are now my apprentice. My name is Zillah." The name still sounded odd as it left her mouth.
Anya stared at Seraphina with her blue eyes. "You're the woman who was in the tent with me and that other man weren't you?"
Seraphina nodded. "Yes, that was Sethtis. You're lucky I managed to save your life."
"Save my life? How?" the confused Togruta asked.
"He was getting ready to shoot lightening. If I hadn't dragged him out of the tent, you probably wouldn't be here right now."
"Oh…" Anya looked down. "Thank you. So what do we do right now?"
"I suppose I'll be training you seeing as how you joined the First Order and you're Force-sensitive."
"What do I call you?"
"Usually, an apprentice calls their teacher 'Master'."
"Did you have a master?"
"I did. He is dead, unfortunately." Seraphina shook her head. "Enough about my master. Now let's begin."
"Two more questions." Anya held up two fingers.
"Fine, just two more." Seraphina sighed.
"How did your master die?"
"He was killed by my best friend. Or rather, my friend's Dark Side self."
"What was his name?"
"Who? My master or the man who killed him?"
"Both."
"My master's name was Dabir Aven." Seraphina felt a twinge of sorrow as she thought of her master. "And the man who killed him was named Amaro Ahriman but he goes by Josh Aland now." Her heart seemed to break at the mention of her best friend. "Anyways, how old are you, Anya?"
"Thirteen." Anya replied. "And… I wanted to apologize for my attitude earlier. It wasn't the best way to get on the First Order's good side. Though I can't promise that that behavior will go away."
Seraphina laughed. "Apology accepted. Just be careful with that snippy attitude of yours. I can't have my apprentice being shot full of lightening, now can I? Now, what do you know about lightsaber combat?"
"Um… it's deadly?" Anya offered.
"That's a good one." Seraphina laughed. "Lightsabers are the chosen weapon of a Jedi… and a Sith. Kyber crystals are what power a lightsaber. They also determine the color of your saber." Seraphina pulled out her lightsaber hilt. "This is the one that I created seven years ago. My kyber crystal used to be white before Lord Sethtis ordered me to replace it with a synthetic red one."
"Synthetic? You mean red kyber crystals aren't found in caves? They're made?"
Seraphina nodded.
"Why did you have a white kyber crystal?"
"I wasn't always on the Dark Side." Seraphina explained. "Eight years ago, I was a Jedi under the teaching of Master Aven before I became a Knight at the age of sixteen. A year later, I left the Jedi Order and became what we call a Gray Jedi. I had accidentally left my lightsaber on a First Order Star Destroyer. Back then, my crystal was blue. Anyways, I made this one after those events and ended up with two white kyber crystals."
"That's cool. So now you're a Sith?"
"I'm technically not a Sith. I have used the Dark Side of the Force before."
"You know, I had two lightsabers that originally belonged to my great grandmother. But they were taken when I became a prisoner."
"I'll see what I can do to get them back." Seraphina said. "Follow me." They made their way back to the campsite. The sky was now orange with bits of pink and purple mixed in.
"Zillah, why is Miss Tano with you?" Sethtis asked as he approached.
Seraphina bowed her head as he drew closer. "Agni has assigned her to be my apprentice."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, sir. We were just talking about lightsabers."
Sethtis looked at Anya who was trying to hide behind Seraphina but wasn't succeeding. "And what do you know about lightsabers?"
"I know that I wouldn't want to join the Jedi in limbo with them." Anya replied.
Sethtis chuckled before turning to Seraphina who had hit her forehead with her palm. "Is that what you're teaching her Zillah?"
Seraphina's eyes widened as she stuttered. "No sir! She just- I- um…" she avoided eye contact, feeling embarrassed at her student's comment.
Sethtis was quiet as he touched Seraphina's chin, tilting her head upward so that she made eye contact with him. He smiled. "Would you stop being so flustered and shy? Anya will learn. Give her time. Once I see that she is improving and no longer needs your guidance, I will place her among the Knights."
Seraphina nodded as Sethtis walked away. She sighed in relief. Anya watched him leave and then turned to her master.
"Does he have a crush on you, or something?" she asked.
Seraphina's blue eyes widened and her cheeks grew hot. "What?! No! Sethtis is my superior. He would never have romantic feelings for me. I'm just his second-in-command."
"Uh huh," Anya followed Seraphina as she began walking towards a tent. "I noticed the look in his eyes when you looked down. He has a huge crush on you. And who wouldn't? You're beautiful, strong, sweet… I hope." She muttered that last part.
"Just stop."
"And…" she stretched out the word. "Sethtis really seems to like you."
"Anya, that's ridiculous. He would never have those kinds of feelings for me. Before I became his second-in-command, we barely even saw each other. Yes, I was the one who spent the most time with him when the Knights weren't on missions but he would just ask me questions." Seraphina held the door flap of the tent open, allowing Anya to go in.
"What kinds of questions?"
"How my missions went, how the other Knights were treating me-"
"Don't you see? He cares about you!"
Seraphina rolled her eyes and stepped into the tent. "You'll be staying with me." Her eyes rested on a second cot adjacent to the one Seraphina slept in. "I see Agni already prepared a spot for you to sleep. We'll eat some dinner and then go to bed. We have to be up early tomorrow to begin your training."
Anya groaned. "I am not a morning person."
"Too bad. Let's go get dinner." Seraphina led Anya back outside and they joined the Knights and Sethtis around the fire to eat.
Once done with the meal, Seraphina ordered Anya to go to bed. She watched the Togruta disappear inside the tent they shared.
"How is she doing?" Agni asked. Seraphina turned to see him looking at her while arm wrestling Diomedes who was struggling to beat Agni.
"I think she is doing well." Seraphina stated, watching as Agni nodded and then returning his focus to Diomedes. Agni won the game; nobody was surprised.
"Zillah," Sethtis called, "may I have a word with you?"
Seraphina made her way over to Sethtis who was standing near General Alarick. "Yes, sir?"
"Alarick and I would like for you and Miss Tano to join us tomorrow afternoon for a meeting." Sethtis said.
"Yes, sir, we'll be there." Seraphina responded.
"Good, now go get some rest. You'll need it for training tomorrow."
Seraphina nodded and made her way towards her tent. When she entered, Anya was already fast asleep even though Seraphina had sent her to bed only a few minutes ago. Seraphina changed into black pants and a black t-shirt before slipping into her own cot and falling asleep.
Anya stood in a ship. And not just any ship. She knew this one very well. It was her father's ship. Two other Togrutas, both males, were in the cockpit. The older male was at the controls while the younger one was sitting next to him. A younger version of Anya was playing in the chair behind the pilot's seat.
They had wide smiles on their faces as the older Togruta taught the younger one how to fly the shuttle. Suddenly, a warning light flashed on the ship and the older Togruta gripped the controls tightly. The ship shuddered as it lost power and went down, gravity pulling it down to the surface of the planet Shili. Anya screamed in fear as the surface of the planet began to appear. Another tremor shook the ship and then… darkness.
Anya woke up screaming. Sweat soaked her black shirt and she was breathing heavily. Seraphina knelt next to her and gently gripped her shoulder.
"Anya, it's alright." Seraphina's voice seemed to calm Anya down. "Let me guess. You had a nightmare?"
Anya nodded as tears formed in her eyes. "Do you ever get them?"
Seraphina nodded. "All the time. And for me, there is no escape from them. Try to go back to sleep. We'll be up again in a few hours."
Anya nodded and lay back down. "Will you tell me something about yourself before I go to sleep?"
Seraphina frowned as she sat down on her cot. "What do you want to know?"
"Was your name always Zillah?"
"No. My name used to be Seraphina."
"Where did you grow up?"
"I was born on Coruscant but was raised on Tatooine. Now go to sleep."
"One more question."
"Alright. One more."
"Who was your first crush?"
"That's a little personal don't you think?"
"Just answer the question." Anya sighed.
Seraphina sighed. "His name is Josh Aland, the same person who used to be Amaro Ahriman." A smile tugged at the corners her lips.
"The same person who killed your master?"
"Yes, but when I was his prisoner, I ended up falling in love with him." Seraphina laughed. "I know that sounds weird but-"
"Maybe a little." Anya admitted.
"It turns out that he had a crush on me since I was ten and his feelings for me were the reason he couldn't continue to follow the Jedi Code anymore. His feelings for me only grew as I was with him. Now go. To. Bed."
Anya closed her eyes and soon drifted into sleep. Only to be hit by another dream.
She stood in the grassy field of Maridun. The sun was just beginning to set and Stormtroopers were rushing around as several shuttles landed, the Resistance's symbol printed on the side. Pilots flooded out of the ships, blasters in hand. They began to shoot the Stormtroopers that were heading in their direction.
Seraphina stood next to Anya, her lightsaber in hand. "Anya, you need to run and hide."
"But-" Anya started.
"Go!" Seraphina yelled, igniting her saber to deflect a Resistance pilot's shot.
Anya reluctantly ran through the tall grass. She tripped and fell, the grass seeming to envelop her. The sky was slowly turning a dark blue that almost seemed black. The sound of approaching footsteps made Anya's heart race. She held her breath as the footsteps drew closer. A face appeared in the dim light of the setting sun. It was a Resistance pilot.
The female fighter noticed the frightened Togruta sprawled in the grass. "I'm not going to hurt you."
Anya only stared at her in fear.
"It's alright. Just come with me."
Anya shook her head and began crawling backwards, afraid of what was going on. She stood on her shaking legs and her eyes immediately focused on what was going on behind the female Resistance fighter.
Two Stormtroopers were attempting to drag Seraphina towards the Resistance ship. But why would they do that? Anya thought.
Sethtis was fighting a man with black hair who held a purple cross guard lightsaber. Red and purple crashed against each other. The man holding the purple lightsaber wore a radar technician's uniform.
One of the Stormtroopers holding onto Seraphina's arm shouted something at the other trooper who was holding the woman's other arm but Anya was too far away to hear them.
A third trooper joined them, taking his helmet off. Seraphina immediately stopped struggling when she saw him. The two troopers released her arms and they dropped to her side, a look of shock on her face.
The man who had taken off his helmet slowly moved towards her. Seraphina just stood there, flabbergasted. The man gently grabbed her arms. She showed no resistance as he pulled her into a hug. Anya gasped in surprise when she saw her master hug him back.
"Anya." A voice said. "Anya, get up."
Anya opened her eyes to see Seraphina standing over her. "You okay?"
Anya nodded and sat up. Seraphina placed a set of clothes on the end of Anya's bed. "Get dressed and then meet me outside. We have to start your training."
Seraphina left the tent and Anya stood up and stretched. She pulled the clothes on. They matched the outfit her great grandmother had worn when she first became a Padawan, only Anya's clothes were black and gray. Anya hurried out of the tent after having pulled her black boots on.
A few Stormtroopers were awake and patrolling the camp while others were shooting at targets. None of the targets had blaster marks on them, and the troopers had been there for an hour. Anya jogged over to where Seraphina stood in the field, the tall grass tickling the Togruta's sides.
"I saw the Stormtroopers practicing their aim." Anya told her mentor.
Seraphina smiled and laughed. "Yeah, they need some more practice."
"Or the First Order needs to find new soldiers."
"Let's start by working with lightsabers."
"No Jedi limbo, right?" Anya asked, raising another laugh from Seraphina.
"Let's try to avoid that if possible." Seraphina agreed. She pulled out a white lightsaber hilt and tossed it to Anya who caught it.
Anya studied the hilt, running her hand over the object. "This is one of the lightsabers that I had with me before I was kidnapped."
Seraphina nodded and pulled out her own saber. "When using lightsabers, there are seven forms. Form 1 is to help you get a feel for the lightsaber and how to hold it."
Anya activated the green blade and positioned both her hands on the hilt. "I think I've pretty much mastered how to hold a lightsaber."
"Good. Now, let's see how you do." For the next few hours, Anya and Seraphina went over the different lightsaber forms. Anya quickly got the hang of using a lightsaber and soon, she and Seraphina were dueling, though Seraphina was going easy on her.
By the time lunch rolled around, Anya was sweating profusely and was out of breath while her master was fine. Seraphina sheathed her lightsaber and clipped the hilt to her belt. "Let's go get some lunch and then we have to join Lord Sethtis and General Alarick for a meeting."
Anya groaned. "A meeting?"
"Yes, a meeting. Apparently, it's important."
"Of course it is." Anya muttered. "I bet it's on construction for a new Death Star."
Seraphina ignored the young Togruta's comment and made her way towards the tent that served as the place to hold the First Order's meetings while on Maridun. She entered the tent with Anya following behind her.
"I'm glad to see you made it, Zillah." Sethtis said, gesturing for her to stand by him. Seraphina moved to his side with Anya standing close. "Let's begin." Sethtis ordered, looking at Alarick who nodded.
"We've been trying to decide where the Empire and the old First Order went wrong in building the Death Star and Starkiller Base." Alarick said, looking at the other higher ranking officers in the tent. He pressed a button on a device in the center of the tent. A holographic picture appeared of the Death Star, a half completed Death Star, and Starkiller Base. "We've gone over just about every reason as to how we failed."
"Has the thought ever occurred to you that maybe it's because you're fighting the Resistance?" Seraphina asked. All eyes turned to her, waiting for her to continue. She was suddenly very uncomfortable with the attention.
"You were saying, Miss Skywalker?" Alarick asked with a hint of hate in his voice. The emotion was also evident in his eyes as he looked at her.
Anya tensed at the word "Skywalker" but said nothing.
"The Resistance may not have as much money as the First Order, but they are resourceful. When they stumble and fall, they get right back up, ready to fight. And to be honest, the designs for the Death Star and Starkiller Base were not that smart anyway."
"How so?" Alarick glared at her.
"For starters, there was a ventilation shaft that allowed a ship to fire torpedoes into and destroy the first Death Star. Then the idiot who designed the second one made sure that an entire ship could fly in and blow it up from the inside. And with Starkiller Base, which I'm going to call Death Star Three, was destroyed by a few well placed bombs in the oscillator that led straight into the center of the planet."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" a man named Major Roberts asked.
"For one, how about we not make our planet killing machines so easy to take out?"
"That is easier said than done." Roberts muttered.
Seraphina shot him a glare. "Is that so, Major? How about for starters, we not build ventilation shafts that will allow a Resistance fighter to shoot torpedoes, or fly, into it?"
"Then what do we do?" Lieutenant George asked.
"Perhaps you should send spies to find where the Resistance is hiding and then attack when they least expect it."
"What do you think, sir?" Alarick asked Sethtis. "Do you believe sending spies will work?"
"Yes, I do, General. Send our best scouts to locate the Resistance." Sethtis ordered.
Alarick nodded. "Yes, sir. Meeting adjourned."
Seraphina and Anya went back out to the field to continue training.
"You're a Skywalker?" Anya asked.
Seraphina nodded. "Yes, I am the daughter of Rey and granddaughter of Luke Skywalker."
"How did they react to you joining the Dark Side?"
"I don't know. I didn't get to see their reactions. I only saw my friend's response to that news. Let's begin training. Now you'll be learning how to use the Force."
"The Force?" Anya repeated. "Yawn. I already know the basics of how to use it."
"Oh really?" Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "Then you won't mind demonstrating?"
"Not at all, Master." Anya shot back with a glare.
"Alright then, Snips, call your saber to you." Seraphina took Anya's saber and threw it out into the tall grass.
"Why are you calling me 'Snips'?" Anya asked.
"Because of your snippy attitude." Seraphina replied.
Anya rolled her eyes and held out her hand, focusing on her lightsaber. She felt it vibrate slightly somewhere in the grass as she used the Force. After several unsuccessful minutes, Anya dropped her hand.
"I can't do it." She gasped, out of breath from the effort.
Seraphina sighed and extended her hand, the lightsaber quickly flying into it. "Keep practicing." She once again threw the saber into the field.
Anya sighed and extended her hand, closing her eyes and thinking about the lightsaber. Beads of sweat collected on her forehead.
"Keep going." Seraphina said.
"I'm trying." Anya growled.
"Do or do not; there is no try."
"What the heck does that mean?" Anya practically shouted, beginning to lose her concentration.
"You either do the task you are given, or you do not."
"Okay, where did you hear that?"
"Master Yoda."
"The short green creature that has a creepy laugh and seems to have lost a few marbles from the many years of being a Jedi Master?"
"Yes, that Yoda. Keep going."
Anya sighed and refocused on the Force. After what seemed like forever, the lightsaber flew into Anya's hand and she turned to her master with a proud smile on her face.
"Good job, Anya. Let's keep working on that."
Master and apprentice worked for the next few hours on using the Force. Anya struggled a bit with it but slowly began to get the hang of it. By the time Seraphina declared that training was over, the sun was already setting. Anya collapsed in the field and sighed.
"That was exhausting." She stated.
The sound of shuttles caused Anya to stand back up and look as ships bearing the Resistance's insignia landed on the planet. Stormtroopers rushed to the ships, blasters ready to shoot. Pilots hurried out of the ship and shot at the troopers. Seraphina gripped her lightsaber hilt tightly.
"Anya, you need to run and hide."
"But-"
"Go!"
Anya turned and ran into the tall grass. As she ran, she tripped and fell into the tall, soft grass. She laid there for a while, listening to the screams of Stormtroopers and Resistance pilots. The sky was turning a dark blue that was close to black. Anya lifted her head from the ground and stood, her heart thumping as she had a serious case of déjà vu.
Seraphina ignited her blood red saber, and deflected the blaster shots the Resistance fired at her. She saw Sethtis fighting Ben out of the corner of her vision. Wait… Ben? Why is he here? And he's wearing a radar technician's uniform… Seraphina tried not to get her hopes up that Josh might be here on the planet.
While she was distracted, somebody had shot at her and she barely had enough time to deflect it. From behind her, somebody grabbed her arms, causing her to drop her lightsaber in surprise. Another person moved to her other arm and she saw two Stormtroopers holding onto her.
"Let me go!" she ordered but they ignored her. She pulled and fought against their hold but could not get out of their grip.
"We're gonna need help!" the trooper on her right yelled.
The other trooper sighed. "Fine," the voice sounded female which was odd since the First Order didn't have female troopers. "JS-2426! Get over here!"
A Stormtrooper responded by walking towards them, his gaze focused on Seraphina from underneath the helmet. She struggled to free herself but failed.
JS-2426 removed his helmet and Seraphina immediately stopped struggling when she saw who it was. Her mouth was slightly open as she looked at the man's face. The two troopers released her arms and she let them fall to her side. JS-2426 moved closer to her and Seraphina could only stare at him. He gently grabbed her arms and pulled Seraphina into a hug. Seraphina returned the embrace a smile forming on her face.
"Josh? This isn't a dream, right?" she asked, looking up at him.
Josh smiled. "No, I promise this isn't a dream. I'm really here."
Seraphina's smile widened and she pulled Josh closer, burying her face in his armor-covered chest. "I missed you so much. But, what are you doing here?"
"We came to rescue you. You've been with the First Order for seven years. I am never letting you out of my sight again." He placed a kiss on her forehead. "The Resistance is here to capture Sethtis and anyone else who has a high ranking. That would include Alarick, the Knights, and Sethtis' second-in-command. Do you know who that is?"
Seraphina nodded. "That would be me."
Josh gave her a confused look. "What?"
"I am Sethtis' second-in-command."
"Then I'm sorry about this."
Confusion formed on her features. Before she could reply, Josh waved his hand in front of her face and she slipped into unconsciousness. Josh easily picked her up.
"Alright, guys. Let's go." Josh called.
Four Resistance pilots carried an unconscious Sethtis into the nearest shuttle. Sethtis had burn marks covering his arms and legs. Ben joined the group with Rey following close behind. Josh moved towards the shuttle that he and the others would be riding in when a voice made him stop.
"Stop! You can't take her!" the voice yelled.
Josh turned around and saw a female Togruta run towards him with a lightsaber strapped to her belt. "And why is that?" he asked the Togruta.
She looked down before meeting his eyes. "Because she's my master."
"In that case," Josh started. "Nathan?"
Nathan understood and moved towards the Togruta and snapped a pair of handcuffs around her wrists and removed the lightsaber from her belt.
"Hey!" she protested as Josh led the way up the ramp with Seraphina still unconscious in his arms.
A Resistance pilot moved towards Josh and offered to take the unconscious girl to one of the holding cells on the shuttle but Josh refused.
"I can take her there." He insisted and began walking in that direction.
When he reached the correct cell, he set Seraphina down gently on the metal platform that served as a bench and a bed for prisoners. He sat down next to Seraphina and studied her.
She wore all black and was a bit taller than before but still short compared to Josh. He undid her messy braid and ran his fingers through her hair. He didn't want to leave, so he stayed in the cell with her for hours, pacing, and occasionally, sitting beside her.
When she finally woke up, Josh was sitting next to her, absentmindedly playing with a strand of her hair. Her blue eyes darted around the room nervously before settling on the man sitting beside her.
"Josh?" she whispered, sitting up.
Josh looked up with a smile on his face. "Welcome back." Before she could say another word, Josh pulled her into a hug, having missed her warmth and comforting hold.
Author's Note
Well, that was fun to write. Anya was based off of my sister who created Amber but I assure you, she had no part in helping out with Anya.
Anya is a variation of Anna which means "gracious". I picked the name Anya because my sister loves that name.
What did you guys think of her? And Seraphina and Josh are finally united! I got excited while writing that part.
I was listening to The Force Awakens soundtrack again while writing this. It really helps to get me into a Star Wars mood.
Proxima tempus, depellere fetus! That is Latin for "Until next time, younglings!" :)