"What about this one?" Lee asked Jules as he lifted a necklace up from a vendor display in the central market of Hosian.
"Does it matter? She's five,"Jules whined impatiently checking her comlink. "Of all days to have a hyperdrive leak. We should've been headed to Coruscant by now."
Jules and Lee had been stationed on the busy ecumenopolis for the last three months escorting prisoners to New Republic High Courts throughout the Core Worlds. Jules and Lee were both captains that managed a small squad. In almost two years, their squad had transported hundreds of prisoners all across the galaxy. Jules was glad to have Lee by her side, even though she noticed he wasn't the same as he had been during the war. His mind was always elsewhere. It didn't take much guesswork to figure out he was thinking of Rya and Prisa back home on Lothal.
"I want to send her something," Lee said with determination. "I missed her birthday when we went to Nevarro to transport those spies to Dune. Looks as though I'm going to miss this year's harvest as well."
"What did you think being part of the NRF meant?" Jules reminded her partner trying to comfort him while simultaneously getting him to focus. "It's hard work. Important work. Rya understands and so will Prisa."
"I know. But she's just a kid. I don't want her to forget me," Lee sighed. He felt as though with each passing month his promise to return home was becoming less likely. There would always be an endless amount of warlords and high ranking officials to transport. Jules and he were two of the most highly sought after members of the New Republic Forces for the job. He should have been proud, but with just months away from his service being up the days couldn't go by fast enough.
"That won't happen. Besides, the farm's debt is nearly all paid, right? You're doing this for her future." Jules sternly said. "Send her a hologram. I'm sure she would rather see your face than a cheap fool's kyber necklace."
"Excuse me," the annoyed Balosar vendor working the stand rebuked loudly as he cleared his throat and stared down Jules.
"They're lovely pieces," Lee interjected, trying to diffuse the situation."Just not quite what I'm looking for."
Before the conversation escalated, Lee and Jules looked up at the sky to see a GAT-12h Skipray ship rising to take off.
"Is that who I think it is?" Lee asked with a smirk. The ship looked identical to Kina Arde's the Revenant, despite the few modifications to the exterior. He knew Jules had been smitten with Kina when she had rescued them from Tatooine. Jules wouldn't admit it, but Lee knew it was also another reason why she stayed behind and broke from the Rebellion.
"That's not Kina. She'd never go for those imperial era modifications in the thrusters," Jules remarked, walking away from the stand. She had never thought she would find love, let alone fall in love with a woman like Kina. Kina was rambunctious and fearless. But more importantly she made Jules feel safe and wanted. It took everything she had to return to the Rebel Alliance.
"Ever hear from her?" Lee wondered.
"Nope," Jules says sadly. "Afraid I burnt that bridge."
"Sorry," Lee said, sensing the heartbreak in her voice.
"No need to be, it would've never worked in the long run. Kina was her own woman. She'd never be able to answer to politicians, let alone sacrifice a haul for the greater good. Took me longer than it should have to realize that."
"That's why they say love is blind," Lee teased her.
"Has nothing to do with love you, nerfherder," Jules slightly protested. "I made a promise. A promise to my sister before she was killed, that I would strike down anyone who dared oppress our kind, or anyone else the Empire sought to destroy. I was only ten when I saw her mauled by a rancor for imperial amusement. Because of her, I was able to escape…I couldn't forget her sacrifice, especially after we were front and center during Alderaan."
Lee was at a loss for words. Jules had never opened up about her past before. All her harsh words and rash actions suddenly made more sense than ever to him. But he was still concerned her judgment was clouded by her quest for vengeance.
"I never told anyone that before, not even Kina," Jules said softly, sheepishly grinning. She hated being vulnerable, but with Lee it always happened. He truly was her friend."What about you.? You have any siblings?"
Lee looked at her hesitantly. Was this a trap? Did she know? He couldn't lie to her, especially after what she had just shared with him. How could he? She was his partner after all.
"I had a sister," Lee reluctantly answered, looking at his feet.
"She's the one you've been looking for isn't it?" Jules ventured, noticing Lee tense up.
"Let's leave the past in the past shall we?" Lee sharply stalled the conversation and used his comlink to call back to the squad. "What's the status on that hyperdrive leak? I'd like to get to Coruscant today if possible."
"Mechanics are working on it by hand, sir," the soldier responded. "His droid short circuited. It'll be a bit longer."
"A mechanic who's droids are in that sort of shape isn't promising. Better call off base for another garage just in case," Lee responded and looked at Jules who was clearly not going to drop the subject.
"Lee, maybe I can help," Jules offered.
"I doubt you'd want to," Lee muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jules grunted. "Haven't I always helped you? Remember Endor? How about now? Getting you in the NRF? Hell, you would've lost that stupid farm of yours if it wasn't for me."
"She was an imperial stormtrooper. That's how we escaped off Coruscant. I think Cassian Andor found her but I never got the chance to ask him due to Scarif, " Lee admitted and faced Jules. Her expression turned cold. Lee Tersu had a sister who was an Imperial Stormtrooper. Furthermore she knew who she was now.
A few weeks after Jules had joined the crew of the Revenant, Kina Arde had picked up a fourth member outside the Ring of Kafrene. She was a runner with not many prospects who gave the name Prisa Matno. Jules wondered if Prisa was a popular name in the Outer Rim, until Rya had named their daughter after Lee's mother: Prisa. It was too close to be a coincidence, but she had nothing else to go off of. She knew Andor and his droid had made their way to the Ring, and if Lee was right, the annoying sharped tongue crew member she shoved out an escape pod near the remains of Alderaan was Lee's sister.
"Is she alive?" Jules asked.
"I don't know," Lee answered.
"One can only hope," Jules said darkly and shrugged. "Don't think I'm gonna change my point of view just because she's your sister. Anyone who complied with the Empire is on my list."
"You better keep that list small," Lee warned.
"What?"
"I've seen your Prisoner transfer log." Lee revealed. "I know what you've been doing Jules. And you've been sloppy about it."
"What are you going to do about it, Tersu? Rat me out, like a loth-rat?" Jules glared at him.
"I may be a loth-rat, but you and I have been through enough together that believe it or not I understand," He calmly told her. "I cleaned up your tracks this time, but you need to stop. What you're doing is not justice. Not to mention it could cost you everything you've worked for."
"It'll be worth it," Jules said.
"Captain Tersu," the soldier called over the commlink. Lee welcomed the interruption and hoped the repairs had been finished. He was ready to get on with their mission and take a break from this conversation. "We've got a problem."
"Let me guess, the parts aren't in stock and they won't be in for standard galactic week?" Lee sassed trying to lighten the mood.
"Prisoner escape. One of the former imperial officers scheduled to supply information to Coruscant officials,"the soldier responded. Jules readied her blaster. "We've created a perimeter of eight blocks. You and Commander Roy are in a prime location for retrieval."
"This is why we need to stay focused," Jules said, annoyed. She led the way through the marketplace and into the busy downtown area until she saw the escape imperial officer in a gray jumpsuit covering herself with a green cloak trying to blend in with the crowd. Lee set his blaster to stun but wasn't quick enough for Jules. "I have you now."
PEW! PEW!
"What are you doing!?" Lee demanded as he watched the crowded street empty out avoiding the live fire. "Are you crazy?!"
"I won't risk letting her get away,"Jules snapped. "She has information on the Grand Moff circle."
"Is everything alright Captain?" Lee's intercom sounded. "We're getting reports from local enforcement there's a disturbance in the downtown area."
"Everything's under control. Situation normal," Lee responded as he shot Jules a look.
"What happened?" The soldier asked.
"Had a slight weapon malfunction, but everything's alright now. We're all fine here," Lee answered. "What's your status?"
"Perimeter's strong," the soldier admitted. "No sign of the escapee."
"Keep the perimeter tight and have that hyperdrive repaired in the next half hour. I'll secure the prisoner," Lee commanded. "You take the Northside and I'll take the East. She couldn't have gotten far. Set for stun."
"Whatever you say Captain," Jules said, winking as she exaggerated her movements to adjust her blaster setting.
Lee made his way down the East side of town looking for the escapee. He hoped he'd find her before Jules did. He had no idea how he would explain a dead prisoner to his superiors right before his service was up. It could affect his departure and all he had worked for these last two years. As he scanned the streets he heard a familiar voice. A voice he thought he'd never hear again.
"Jogan, Jogan for a credit," an older woman with dark blonde hair called out as she sat on the corner of the street with a basket full of rocks. Lee stepped closer to the woman who looked up at him with cataracts in her eyes. Her face was leathery and wrinkled. Her hands shook as she lifted a rock from the basket toward him. "Finest jogan in town. Would you like to try for one sir? I'll give you two for one."
Could it be? Lee knelt down beside the woman. He took the rock from her hand gently. After all these years, there in front of him was his mother Prisa Tersu.
"Leave her be. She's done nothing wrong," said a Iktotchi who stepped out of the shop behind them. His voice shook, afraid of Lee. In all fairness he was wielding a blaster and in New Republic Forces attire.
"Is she alright?" Lee asked.
"Depends on your point of view," the Iktotchi scratched his red skinned cheek and then traced his horn nervously with his finger. "She's blind and not completely there. But she makes her way from the outskirts of town each day with a basket of rocks and tries to sell them as fruits or crops. I think she might have been a farmer once. I know the other shop owners want her gone, but she's not a troublemaker. I told her she could sell in front of my shop."
"She needs a hospital," Lee said as he removed his jacket and placed it around his mother's shoulders. Prisa winced at the sudden gesture.
"She doesn't want help," the Iktotchi said. "I offered her lodging and a job as a clean woman but she refused. So I buy the whole basket for ten credits at the end of each day and she takes off. "
"I am a farmer," Prisa grunted. "Like my father before me."
Lee took a deep breath trying his best not to lose hold of himself as he tried to accept the fact that his mother was alive. From the condition she was in he wondered what she had faced. Whatever it was, it surely had prevented her from returning to Lothal.
"Come with me ma'am," Lee said, trying to lift Prisa to her feet.
"Are you deaf?!" The Iktotchi protested. "She's done nothing wrong. You have no grounds to arrest her."
"I'm not arresting her. I'm going to see she gets the care she needs," Lee said sternly as Prisa tensed up in his arms.
"She a blind half crazed woman who wants nothing more than to be left in peace." the store owner remarked. "Leave her be, you New Republic wannabe buckethead."
"Lee! Where are you?" Jules called over their comlinks. "Any sign of the prisoner?"
"I have a situation, ah–" Lee responded until Prisa elbowed him in the gut and took off down the street turning the corner.
"Prisa wait!" Lee called and raced after his mother. "I'm not going to hurt you!"
Lee turned the corner and found the escaped officer with a knife to Prisa's throat. She must have been watching them.
"Let go! I won't go back!" Prisa shrieked. "I'd rather die than return to that Narkinan hell!"
"Seems the Empire made quite the impression on the old hag," the prisoner sneered. Lee pointed his blaster at her. But the prisoner pressed the knife stronger against Prisa's throat. "Don't think for one second I won't slit her throat."
"And where will you go? I have a perimeter set up. There's no way out," Lee said as he lowered his blaster. "Let her go and your plea deal is still instated."
"I'm not telling you dung," she snarked as Prisa squirmed trying to free herself. "You rebel scum think you defeated the Empire, and are too busy patting yourselves on the back. But we know it's not over. We're coming, in greater numbers, mark my words– "
ZAP!
The prisoner and Prisa collapsed to the floor from the stun. Jules stood behind them frowning. "Sorry, I couldn't take the boring conversation."
"Yeah.." Lee said gratefully Jules had come when she had.
"We got her," Jules called over her comlink to the lead soldier. "Send a small unit as well as a medic. We got a civilian down. You ok?"
"No," Lee admitted.
"Are you hurt?"Jules asked. Lee shook his head. "Who's the old lady?"
"My mother," Lee gasped.
"Well, the medic says she is in stable condition but her cognitive state is that of a droid whose wires have been crossed. Probably due to this," Jules said entering the small medical room Lee had placed his mother in. Prisa had been sleeping for the last few hours with Lee by her side. He looked over at the file Jules had pulled up on a data pad.
"Narkina 3?" Lee read the file. Apparently Prisa had been arrested in the Lothal Employment agency during a raid and imprisoned on the small water moon. She was held at the Imperial Labor Camp for most of the war and was released just after Endor.
"Weapons manufacturing," Jules clarified. "The Empire had a few facilities setup like this before and during the Rebellion. One actually had an uprising, Narkina 5. After that the Empire spared no expense updating their shock floors, increasing shifts, and god knows what else."
Lee gently placed his hand on Prisa's and shook his head.
"Lee," Jules softly said. "I know this is hard but…she can't stay here. It's a security risk."
"It's my mother," Lee pleaded.
"There's nothing left inside that woman that is your mother," Jules said. "The sooner you realize that the better for both of you. I've seen you go through enough. I don't want to see your hopes shattered by something that can't be rectified. I need you to focus on the task at hand. We're going to be in enough trouble with the prisoner escape. We don't need to be reprimanded for bringing civilians on base as well."
"She's my family. I'm going to help her. Whatever it takes," Lee said. "You're so blinded by your vengeance you've become cold and calculated just like the Imperials we use to fight."
"You take that back!" Jules yelled.
"Lenore stop shouting," Prisa muttered. "Listen to your brother."
The two fell silent. Jules sighed and left the room. There was no way to reason with Lee right now. But she did have a name now: Lenore Tersu.
"Mom?" Lee whispered. The word felt foreign to him as he gazed at the woman who had abandoned him.
"Who are you?" Prisa's eyes fluttered open. "Where's my son? My daughter? What have you done with them, you Imperial Scum?!"
"Mom it's me, Lee," He tried to explain but knew it was useless. He decided the safest thing was to humor her. "They're safe. You're in a New Republic Facility. The Empire is gone. The war is over. The rebel alliance won. You're safe."
"There's no winning in war," Prisa whispered and closed her eyes. "Only the dead have seen the end."
"Get some rest," Lee tried to calm her and gently kissed her forehead. "You're going home."
"I have no home," Prisa began to weep. "Set me free. Or I will find a way out."
Lee pulled the blanket over Prisa and watched her fall asleep. He sighed and wondered if the store owner was right. He hated to admit the fact that Prisa Tersu was gone.
"All personnel evacuate immediately! Repeat all personnel evacuate immediately!"
Lee abruptly woke to the sound of the alarm and left his quarters. He entered the hallway to make his way out of the base to find heavy smoke filling the hallways. He coughed and made his way toward the medic ward to find the whole wing in flames. He squinted to try and find Prisa. He saw a shadow of a woman off in the corner. As he made his way toward her, he realized Prisa was standing with a flamethrower continuing to burn down the base.
BOOM!
"Lee!" Jules called frantically looking through the debris of the explosion. As she joined him, Prisa turned, pointing the flames toward the two of them. Jules pulled Lee down to the ground for cover. "We have to get out of here."
"I–" Lee coughed as he looked up at Prisa and remembered what Stobo's had once told him:
"There was something about your mother….something dark. As though she might burn the whole encampment to the ground just so she wouldn't have to be there."
"Hey! Focus on me. I got you," Jules said. Lee nodded as Jules pointed her blaster and stunned her. She placed her arm around Lee and ushered him out of the medical wing and on to the courtyard where everyone was gathering. As they joined the rest of the unit that had escaped the flames, Lee coughed violently trying to catch his breath. "Take a deep breath."
BOOM!
The base exploded. Anyone left inside would have not survived. Jules looked over at Lee and placed her hand on his shoulder. She couldn't imagine what he was going through.
"Captain Tersu, Commander Roy," a New Republic Soldier approached. "What are you're orders?"
"Report back to the Capital Base," Jules said. The officer saluted the two of them and left. Jules turned to Lee. "Lee…I don't know how we're gonna get out of this."
"I'll make a call," he said thinking of the one person he hated to rely on: Denz Loncak.
"I'm sorry about your mother."
"That wasn't my mother. It was a stranger."
