Hello again! If you haven't already, then please read the memo in chapter one regarding this story.
Ice and Bastila stood before the Jedi Council. It was the first time they had spoken since the incident in the sparring room several weeks prior. The Jedi formerly known as Revan had finally completed his training, and was once again initiated into the academy. Although he had no way of knowing he had done this once before. The Council had assigned him the task of retracing his old steps of tracking down Star Maps, which they believed were the key to finding the Star Forge.
Bastila was set to accompany him, as was the rest of the crew from Taris. Which is what brought Ice before them in the first place. The Council had requested that Ice also accompany them, as she had proven to be a key player in the rescue of Bastila. Ice had flatly refused; she had fulfilled her role, and she saw no reason why she needed to take part in a suicide mission to defeat Malak.
The Council had learned of Ice's knowledge of Revan's identity, and had summoned her before them to determine if the information she held was in danger of being leaked.
"Bastila tells us that you have knowledge regarding one of your companions." Mastar Vandar said in a whizened voice.
"You mean Revan." Ice said flatly.
"I see diplomacy is not a common trait within your family." Vrook said in his usual blunt manner.
"I have no desire to incite a panic," Ice said, ignoring Vrook. "All I want is to get off this planet and move on with my life. Whatever happens to Talan or Revan or whatever his name is, is no longer my concern."
"Perhaps this is for the best," Vrook said. "We are separated from our families for a reason, sending someone with such a close bond would only complicate things."
"Don't worry," Ice said refusing to look at Bastila. "Even if I wanted to help, there is no bond between the two of us. There never was."
"So, that's it then?" Bastila said as they left the Council.
"That's it." Ice responded without looking at her.
It was the first time they had spoken since Ice's past had revealed, and she had no desire to discuss things with anyone, least of all Bastila. The way she had looked at her still made Ice cringe, it was the very thing she had tried to avoid for so many years. She had looked at her the way one would look at a wounded animal: with pity.
"You're just going to run away?" Bastila said, quickening her pace to keep up with the younger girl.
"According to you it's all I know how to do."
"Would you wait?" Bastila said stepping in front of Ice to block her path.
"For what?" Ice said, trying to maneuver around.
"I just want to talk to you."
Ice continued trying to push past the other girl, but Bastila easily blocked her at every turn. She could sense Ice's movements, making it easy to block her path, just like when they were children. Bastila hated to admit it, but she found herself enjoying playing her old game.
"Stop it!" Ice said scowling.
"Stop what?"
"Doing...that!"
"Doing what?" Bastila said with a slight smirk.
"Being all...Jedi-y. Get out of my way!"
The girls continued their dance for several moments, in a display that mimicked much of their childhood. Bastila's mind filled with images of a much younger Ice; her face was younger, and brighter. Her two front teeth were missing and her hair was a tangled mess that their mother had washed her hands of. She went by a different name back then, but she wore the same annoyed expression that was currently glaring at her.
Ice threw her hands up, letting out the same frustrated growl that was a frequent occurrence in their childhood home. Bastila began to laugh in a way she had done since she was a child. It was a sound that neither one of them had heard in nearly fifteen years.
"Are you done being a petulant child or are you going to let me pass?" Ice growled.
"Me?" Bastila said still smiling. "You are the one who is throwing a tantrum in the middle of the courtyard."
Ice felt the familiar annoyance welling up inside her. It was a feeling that only the woman standing in front of her was able to elicit from her. Before she could wrap her head around what she was doing, she sprang forward, wrapping her arms around Bastila's waist, bringing them both to the ground.
"What are you doing?" Bastila said, struggling to push Ice off of her.
Ice pushed herself up, straddling Bastila's waist. She pinned her arms above her head, a satisfied smirk spreading across her face.
"I am not a little girl anymore," Ice said breathing heavily.
Bastila brought her foot up, catching the other girl's ankle. Ice's grip loosened just enough for Bastila to slide her wrists free, giving her the opportunity she needed to push Ice off of her. Ice was knocked backwards to the ground and was quickly incapacitated by Bastila, earning another frustrated growl from Ice. The girls scuffled around for several moments, each trying to gain advantage over the other.
Bastila finally prevailed, pinning Ice in a way that made it impossible for her to break free.
"That may be," Bastila said, flipping a strand of hair away from her face. "But no matter how much you try to run from it, you will always be my little sister."
"Excuse me." A gentle voice came from above them.
Bastila and Ice looked up, seeing a middle aged Twi'lek smiling kindly. The girls glanced at each other, pushing each other away before scrambling to their feet.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but would your name happen to be Bastila?"
Bastila brushed her hair out of her face, trying to regain her dignity. "I am Bastila, yes."
Ice gave a dramatic eye roll, mouthing Bastila's words in a mocking fashion.
The Twi'lek nodded her head. "I thought so. I was not certain it was you, it has been so many years. But upon seeing you two and the way you were bickering, there could be no mistake that you are Helena's girls."
Both girls froze upon hearing their mother's name, glancing at each other in way that suggested neither of them were pleased to hear it.
"I take it you know our mother," Bastila said, unsure of how to proceed.
"Oh, yes, I have known her for years. She was so proud when you joined the Order! She used to show me Holovids of you both; such pretty little girls you were."
"Is there something you wanted?" Ice said with ill-disguised annoyance.
Bastila shot her a look. "Could you try practicing your manners?"
Ice snickered. "You sound just like Mother."
The Twi'lek smiled kindly, taking no offence at Ice's words. "I did not mean to interrupt. I just wanted to ask about your Mother's condition. I do hope that she has improved since last I saw her."
"Her condition?" Bastila echoed. She glanced at Ice who held the same stern expression, though her eyes had softened slightly.
"Oh, you...you didn't know." The Twi'lek's voice was thick with regret. "I am so sorry, I just thought...she was so desperate to find you both when last I saw her."
"We have not spoken to her since we were children." Bastila answered. "Do you know where she is, did she say anything about our father?"
"No, I am afraid not. Though I did not see him with her. She was on Tatooine when last we spoke, I imagine she is still there. She was in no condition to travel."
"I see," Bastila said, her face falling slightly.
"I am so sorry, I did not mean to upset you. Please, if you see your mother, give her my best."
The Twi'lek turned to leave, walking in a pace that suggested she was in a hurry to get away from the awkward conversation that had just taken place.
"Well, what do you think we should do?" Bastila asked.
"We? We are not going to do anything. You can go look for her if you wish, just let me know where you both are so I can avoid the planet at all costs."
It was Bastila's turn to let out a frustrated growl. "Are you truly so selfish? What if she really is sick, Father will be devastated. It will do him good to see us again."
"No, it will do him good to see you again. You were always his favorite, his precious first born. I thought once you left for the Order he would finally notice me, but no. All he talked about was you and how much he missed you. I doubt he even noticed I went missing until the dishes started piling up. So, no, he does not want to see me. And I do not want to see them."
"Is that why you hate us so much?" Bastila asked with more venom than she intended. "Because you imagined yourself to be an outcast to our otherwise perfect family? Do you not remember the fights between Mother and me? Between Mother and Father? You used to crawl into my bed most nights when they fought."
Bastila surprised even herself by her words. She had all but forgotten about Ice hiding timidly in her bed while Bastila tried to comfort her. There had been a time when they were sisters, something that both of them seemed to have a hard time remembering.
Her words seemed to affect Ice, whose face had softened slightly.
"That was a long time ago," Ice muttered.
"You have made your feelings about me quite clear." Bastila said calmly. "But if Mother is really sick, do you want her to die before you have the chance to tell her? Or Father?"
Ice showed no sign of relenting, but she also did not make a move to leave, a fact that told Bastila there was at least a small part of her that knew she was right.
"There is a Star Map on Tatooine anyway. At the very least you can save credits by traveling with us. If we don't find anything that leads to Mother and Father, then you can go wherever you want, and I won't try to stop you."
Ice shuffled her feet awkwardly. "I don't even know what to say to them"
"Neither do I." Bastila admitted.
Ice sighed. "Fine, I'll go with you. But just until Tatooine. But if we don't find anything, then I am on the first ship out of there."
Bastila nodded. "Fair enough."