Chapter Ten:
(A/N: content advisory, some may find portions of this chapter hard to read.)
Ignis took in the orb that was Cathar, laid out before his viewport. It was daytime on the side that he was heading for, though sunset wasn't that far away. It would be the last sunset for one village, Ignis knew.
Turning to the boy strapped into the copilot's chair— who had been strictly warned not to touch anything in the cockpit— Ignis spoke through his mask.
"You will stay with me at all times, understood? You are to record everything you can as Lady Wran ordered. If you fall behind, find a way to catch up." Ignis held up a warning finger. "But do not get in my way."
Tharan nodded shakily. "Y-yes Master Fist."
Ignis had tried to get Tharan to only call him Fist, but the boy refused, stubbornly sticking to the title of 'master'. Ignis hated it, and yet he could do nothing to sway the boy from it. Because as much as Tharan feared the Fist, it was obvious the boy dreaded Vexa far more. It as a sentiment any and all acolytes could empathize with, if they chose to do so.
Ignis turned back to his piloting, and put the ship into stealth mode so he could approach undetected. Once he'd slipped into the atmosphere, and was well on his way to the coordinates he'd been given, Ignis allowed his ship to be seen. Ignis had suited up and prepared himself with all weapons needed during hyperspace.
As for the child, Ignis had put him in protective gear so the boy would not be killed if he was attacked.
Soon the village of Sylton came into view, and Ignis saw how… primitive it appeared to be. There were no aerial defenses at all, and no fencing. It as more like a nomadic people's temporary camp than a town.
Ignis put this out of his mind and instead focused on his task. He'd memorized the faces of the family he was to apprehend. Especially the girl he was under orders to being to Vexa.
Ignis landed his ship just outside the collection of tents, watching for a minute as their flaps moved lightly in the breeze kicked up by his ship's engines. He also saw the small assortment of people who moved out to see who had arrived.
Ignis didn't move for a few more minutes, something deep inside begging him not to go through with this. But he had no choice in the matter, literally, and so he rose from his seat and gestured for Tharan to follow. Ignis activated the three camera droids Vexa had sent along. He sent them out first and then marched slowly down the ramp as it lowered completely.
When his armored self was made clear to the citizens, they began to back away in terror, though an elderly Cathan braved coming closer.
"Vexa's Fist, what do you want here?"
Ignis looked to him. "Where is Senator Galland's family?"
The elder stiffened. "I'll not tell you."
Ignis lifted a hand and took the man in a coke hold. "Where?"
The elder only glared defiantly back, and Ignis crushed his neck. He dropped the body and took out his lightsaber, igniting the ruby blade and moving forward with purpose. He sensed Tharan behind him, the revulsion rolling from the child already, and Ignis had only just begun.
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Vexa smiled with wicked delight when the live fed of her Fist's actions at Sylton started to play on her personal datapad. She looked to the Senator, who was now awake and staring at her with a mixture of fear and disgust.
"I'm so glad we could meet, Senator," Vexa said, setting the datapad down, but leaving the sound on. This was so he could hear, but not see what was happening on the display.
Galland was sweating, but to his credit trying not to show his fear. "What do you want, Lady Wran?"
Vexa's lekku twitched. "You demanded an audience with me, remember?"
Galland's fur rippled. "I…"
Vexa leaned forward, almost flirtatiously. "I answered your summons as you wished."
Galland swallowed, but managed to find his voice, possibly sensing that he was already in trouble, and deciding to throw caution to the wind. "You're a coward, hiding in the shadows while others do your dirty work."
Vexa clicked her tongue. "I participate, believe me. I have been on the front lines far more than you will ever know."
Galland narrowed his eyes at her. "So, you kidnapped me to defend your ego, is that it?"
Vexa laughed. "Don't be so petty. Of course I didn't." She glanced to the datapad when an explosion sounded from it. "I also wanted to have you as my guest at a special event in your honor."
He stared at her for a long, drawn-out minute before his gaze shifted to the datapad. His pulse quickened, and he whispered one thing.
"What did you do?"
Vexa smiled and lifted the datapad into a position so that they could both watch. "I am doing nothing… yet."
00000
Tharan watched in utter horror as Vexa's Fist moved through the village in a systematic way, killing everyone that he came across. He showed absolutely no mercy, killing young and old, regardless of gender.
Tharan did not know how he managed to keep up with the Fist, or how he was even still functional. All he knew was that he feared he would meet the same fate if he failed Vexa Wran. Tharan tried hard not to look at the still smoldering bodies that were left in the Fist's wake, tried to forget the frozen expressions of the ones he did glimpse.
His stomach was roiling, and tears streamed down his face, but what could he do? Desperate, Tharan did the only thing he could think of.
"Master Fist, please stop!"
But if he heard Tharan, the Fist gave no indication. Tharan watched as what was left of Sylton's warriors came at the Fist. The Fist turned to meet them head-on, using his blade to deflect the blaster fire sent his way. One warrior was shot through the heart by his own blast being redirected at him.
A second died by a lightsaber cutting clean through his waist when he leapt over his fallen comrade to stab at the Fist. Vexa's Fist merely pushed the now-dead man's blade away and continued on to the last two warriors.
The third warrior, a woman, growled angrily at the Fist. When she began screaming at the Fist, Tharan didn't understand anything but two names. He guessed that she was cursing the Fist and Vexa in her native tongue.
Tharan watched helplessly as the woman battled mightily, using a broadsword and a blaster together to attack the Fist. In response, he withdrew a small knife in his other hand to slice at her waist when she came close enough.
She dodged it, cutting at the Fist with her sword, which he sheared into halves with his lightsaber. The woman threw the hilt anyway, and while the Fist dodged it, Tharan wasn't so lucky. The thing sailed toward him, and Tharan twisted instinctively, but the broken blade still sliced his leg.
Tharan screamed, seeing blood seeping down his leg now, and he knew then that he'd no longer be able to keep up with the Fist. Tharan recorded from where he was, as the Fist overpowered the woman and impaled her through the middle.
She gagged and then fell thickly to the floor. Tharan noticed that the fourth warrior had fled.
The Fist glanced at Tharan, grabbed him in the Force and hauled him to his feet. "Come on."
Tharan did his best to keep up, but his leg throbbed incessantly, and he tripped multiple times. But he somehow managed to still record everything, if from a greater distance. By the time the Fist reached the most prominent tent in the village, a group of four people were mounting some sort of animal in an attempt to flee.
When they saw the Fist coming, they screamed in terror and kicked the animal into a gallop. Tharan felt a stab of hope that at least a few people would escape. But that turned to astonishment when the Fist reached out a gloved hand… and suddenly the creature bearing the four passengers was no longer on the ground.
Tharan, despite himself, gaped at the Fist's display of power. The animal bellowed in confusion and terror, not understanding why it was hovering above the ground.
Then the final, missing warrior appeared, jumping out from a plume of smoke in an attempt to distract the Fist. But though the Fist fought with the warrior, the animal remained in the air.
Tharan saw that a woman holding a little girl leapt from the creature, clearly an attempt to escape on foot. The final warrior stabbed at the Fist, somehow getting past the other's armor to bury the blade in the Fist's bicep.
But though it clearly hurt, and he let out a short cry of pain, the Fist did not stop. Quick as lightning, he snagged the warrior's wrist with his free hand and twisted the man's arm away, the other's blade leaving the Fist's bicep as it did so. Before Tharan could register the movement, the Fist had maneuvered the Cathar man's arm to slice the furred being's throat with his own weapon.
That man slumped to the ground, unmoving. The Fist looked to the beast, and with his blaster shot it in the head. Then he spied the two escapees and also caught them in the Force.
Slowly, Vexa's Fist approached, dragging the two escaped persons back to the beasts' side, where the Fist dragged everyone into a line and ordered them to kneel. He then pulled out a comlink and called Vexa.
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Galland was white as a sheet as he, along with Vexa, witnessed the destruction of his entire village. Everyone there was dead, with the exception of his family. When they came into view, Galland let out a tortured cry, looking to Vexa.
"Please, spare them!" Galland pled desperately. "I will do anything you ask, anything at all!"
Vexa glared at him. "You made your stance clear, Senator. And your blunder has cost everyone you love their lives."
Vexa spoke to the Fist through her comlink. "Strangle his mother."
Galland was powerless but to watch as the Fist obeyed, and Galland cried out in horror as his mother was slowly choked until she went limp. The Fist dropped her and then moved to the man next, who was Galland's father.
"Behead him." Vexa snapped.
Galland started to weep as the Fist did so, and when he got to Galland's wife, the Senator began sobbing.
"P-please… please don't!" He begged.
Vexa stood as if she wasn't certain how to have the wife killed, but then she snorted. "Burn her alive."
The Fist pulled out a specialized weapon and shot flames at the woman as ordered. Galland screamed right along with his wife until she lay smoldering on the ground.
When the Fist reached for the terrified child next, Galland became unhinged.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!"
Vexa shut off the datapad. "Oh, don't you worry, Senator, it will be my honor to deal with the brat."
Without caring how much he screamed and raged at her, Vexa had the man taken to a cell. She knew that the Fist would bring her the child, and she would take the child as her next required sacrifice.
00000
Tharan was a mental and emotional wreck when Ignis got the boy back to his ship. Ignis did nothing to comfort him, since he was under orders from his own master to not be kind. Ignis put Tharan into an acceleration couch and strapped him in. The boy had a vacant expression that Ignis knew well.
Ignis still held the girl by the arm, and he placed her in the single cell aboard his ship. When he returned to the lobby, Ignis caught sight of Tharan's wound and took the time to doctor him up.
Only then did he take the helm, forcing himself to gaze at what he had done. Deep, deep under his numbed state, part of him was dying further, and Ignis felt himself go hollow as he piloted the ship from the planet's surface and made the jump back to the Dark Mystery.
Once the system's checks were complete, and there was nothing to do but wait, Ignis locked the cockpit door, sealing himself inside. Then he removed his helmet, glanced briefly at his blood-splattered armor and then sat back, once again staring blankly as the time passed.
00000
In her seat in the Nebula, Shmi abruptly sat upright as a vision overtook her. She saw only flashes, heard only screams, and knew that somewhere, a lot of people were dying, and now. But along with the dying people, she felt a distinct presence.
Ignis!
The vision shifted, and a name floated to her, Cathar.
But before the vision faded, she caught a glimpse of Ignis, armored save for his helmet, and gazing at nothing… with eyes that were so faded, they had almost lost all their color.
When she came-to, it was to find Anya shaking her and calling her name.
"Shmi!"
The blue-eyed girl looked to Anya with wide eyes. "We need to go to Cathar… now!"
Anya blinked, but took one look at her friend and nodded. "Okay."
"What's on Cathar that we need?" Kavis asked as he appeared from behind them.
Shmi hesitated. "The Fist. Or he was… recently."
Kavis waited until they were in hyperspace on a new heading to speak again. "You had a vision?"
Shmi nodded. "I did."
Kavis, to her surprise, did not argue. Shmi left the cockpit and shut herself in the cabin that housed the beds.
When she was gone, Kavis turned his attention to Raziel, who barely spared him a glance. Kavis pursed his lips, finding himself staring at her hair. Why did that hair color keep urging him to remember something?
Kavis hated being in the dark, with the answer just out of reach. He turned to leave when something on the console glinted. That single thing stopped Kavis in his tracks, and suddenly he recalled the fight with Ignis in the lower levels of Coruscant.
Ignis had worn something about his neck; a crystal with a few strands of hair, one of them a deep red color. Kavis thought of how Ignis had turned ultra protective when Kavis had threatened whoever that hair belonged to. In fact, that had been the true turning point in their fight, the moment at which Kavis had known he was dead.
Ignis had only stopped because Ben Skywalker had intervened.
Kavis felt the air leave him as the answer struck him with enough force to make him wobble. Raziel looked to him oddly, but otherwise did not speak when he regained stability.
Kavis carefully took the pilot's seat, facing the red-head, and tested his theory. "You must be pretty special to Ignis to make him so protective of you."
Her eyes snapped to his, the shock evident. "Excuse me?"
She didn't deny his claim, so Kavis knew he was correct. "When Ignis and I fought in the underlevels, I had him almost beaten. But when you came up… the tables turned thoroughly. I'd never seen him fight like that, but I knew I was done for."
The other looked away, saying nothing.
Kavis sighed, leaning forward. "I also suspect that Raziel is not your true name."
She turned again; eyes narrowed. "Oh?"
Kavis nodded. "Shmi was working under an alias, so why wouldn't you be doing so also? So… what's your real name?"
She gave him a look that he thought Ignis would have found amusing. "You may call me Raziel. Now, get out of the cockpit."
00000
Ben began watching videos again once he had woken, which was about midmorning. Threepio had been present when Ben had opened his eyes, and once the droid was satisfied that Ben would be fine on his own, the golden thing had left again.
Ben was now finished with his first datachip and was working his way through the second. He was also almost constantly weeping, and once or twice he had again vomited. Witnessing the horrors that Ignis had been subjected to opened Ben's eyes to a lot.
It showed Ben why— at least in part— Ignis was the way he was. It told Ben why Ignis was so cautious to let people in, even when he wasn't on a mission. Ben had noted that Ignis had made zero attempts at making friends while he'd been with the Skywalkers. Aside from the family he had been staying with, Anya and the anooba Bo, Ignis had been a loner. He spent most of his time in his room, away from the others, always with the door shut.
Mostly, however, it also helped to explain the high tolerance Ignis had for pain. Ben had a new appreciation for the hits Ignis had taken for Ben in that junkyard.
Ben finished the latest video of Giddalti performing some sort of test with a brain scanner, after which Ignis had twitched uncontrollably, unable to walk or talk. The guards had carried the boy back to his cell and thrown him into a corner, where Ignis crumpled and lay twitching still, foaming somewhat at the mouth before he finally passed out.
He carefully left his bed and emptied the trash himself this time, and then cleaned his hands. When Ben was back in his room, he took in the clutter of items on the floor, and decided to tidy up some more.
Making sure not to push himself too much, Ben knelt down and began collecting things from the floor, making a pile on his bed that he could later sort. He pulled an item from under his nightstand, and when he did, he heard the rustle of paper, and frowned.
Bending low to see, Ben spied a folded wad of papers, and pulled them out. When he held them in hand, only then did he realize what they were. Or rather, he remembered what they were.
Ignis had left each Skywalker a written letter and a drawing or two before he had left. In his anger at the time, Ben had not read his, had not even opened it. He had taken one look at the offending item and swiped it onto the floor.
Ben had all but forgotten about it until now, and he felt a little guilty.
Biting his lip, Ben sat upon his bed once more and finally opened the folded papers. The top one was a letter, and Ben couldn't help but read it.
Ben,
I know you are likely angry with me, or you will be when you hear what I did. I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, I know, but I would ask that you try to understand. I saw you hesitate to make friends with me, and I welcomed that, because I knew it would be easier on me when we parted ways again. I did what I could to encourage you not to grow close to me.
But… we all know that sometimes Fate or the Force, have different plans. Despite both our efforts, we did grow close. I saw how hard you were trying to learn your Jedi techniques, and I was reminded of myself at that age, though I was in a much darker place. I mean that in all senses of the word. I was not in a good place, Ben, mentally or emotionally, and physically… I was living in hell still.
I know you don't know much of my past, but I can assure you that it is something I try very hard to put behind me. I have so many skeletons in my closet I don't know how the door closes, if you know what I mean.
I say this so that you will understand, hopefully, that I too struggled to accept you. Not because you weren't worth knowing— quite the opposite in fact— but because I didn't want to give my master any more material to use against me.
I will say that when I told your family I am an orphan, I meant it. I was, as you know, abandoned by my parents at the age of four. They gave me away to save themselves from Vexa Wran.
Ben noticed a jump in the ink, as though Ignis had jumped upon writing the name, and Ben was reminded that Ignis had a squid in his head, and was forbidden to use her name to identify her as his master. That Ignis had risked the pain to be honest with Ben, meant a lot more to the younger boy than he could have thought.
I lived with a cruel family after my abandonment, and… intermittently they gave me over to an evil man that I honestly fear over even Vexa.
I don't know why I am telling you all this, and I am sorry of this frightens you. I guess I hope that if you can know more of my history, you'd be more forgiving of my upcoming… crime.
I am so sorry, Ben… sorry for everything. For letting you in, even though I knew better. Yes, Ben, I did let you into my heart. That's hard for me, because I've been broken many times. But when you admitted to wanting me as your brother… I couldn't not love you in return.
If things were different, I would love to call you brother. But that will never happen, not while I remain with my master, under her sway. I am sorry for this too, that your… dream will remain that. Nevertheless, hopefully the drawing will bring you some peace, and let you know that I really do love you as a brother.
You are such a strong, unique young man, Ben. You have a fiery determination to do what is right, and your willpower is immense. You truly are a Skywalker, and I am certain your ancestors are smiling upon you.
I will miss you, and despite being unworthy of your forgiveness, I ask for it.
Goodbye Ben. Never give up on yourself, or your family.
~Ignis.
Ben sniffled, and realized he was weeping again, but this time it wasn't out of horror for watching Ignis being hurt by Giddalti in new and 'exciting' ways. Ben abruptly realized that he missed Ignis.
Ben shifted the papers to find a drawing from Ignis. In the center were Ignis and Ben, sitting side-by-side against a wall. All around them, smaller scenes unfolded, depicting moments they either had, or might have shared. Ben looked to the various, smaller images: Ignis and Ben fighting off vornskrs in a junkyard, the two of them huddled together with spits of rags on their injured bodies, Ben and Ignis sparring with lightsabers, the two of them playing a prank on Mara and then running for their lives.
That final one made Ben grin unexpectedly, and he could very well see the two of them attempting something like that.
And then Ben broke down once more, clutching the two pages to his heart as he wept because he missed Ignis. He recalled Emry and Shmi declaring that Ignis was their brother, and while Ben understood that, somehow, Ignis was, Ben had yet to accept it.
Luke, Ben knew, was trying to uncover the full truth of that, and Ben had faith that Luke would succeed. As for Ben, he decided then and there to forgive Ignis at long last. And to accept him as his brother, whether Ignis was returned to them or not.
A sense of peace filled his heart that Ben had not felt in far too long, and he smiled warmly in response.
00000
It had taken a good deal of guidance from the Force, but at long last, Luke found his destination.
Since Maridun had very little in the way of urban civilization— the planet had been preserved as a sanctuary for those who wished to live in peace, or even off the grid—Luke could not simply find a computer terminal and locate the man's new address that way.
Corsair lived in the vast plains that covered most of the planet's surface. On his way there, Luke had passed a good many trees, and even a few towns made from the seedpods he had heard of. Looking at the absolutely massive trees, Luke could now understand how a seedpod could be so big. Many of the trees were larger than many of the buildings on Coruscant, if one measured from the base of the topmost level to the pinnacle of any structure.
Now Luke sat back in the pilot's seat of his X-wing, looking out over the estate visible to him through his viewport. He had to admit to some nerves now that he was here. Both from remembering the last time the two had seen each other, and due to what Luke hoped to learn from Corsair.
At least the two of them had parted on good terms, but Luke still held some slight reservations that Corsair would think back to the period between his daughter having sex with Luke, to her impending birth of Shmi.
Luke closed his eyes and took a few centering breaths. Then, with a slight sigh, and an effort to gather his courage, Luke left his ship, sealing it behind him and collecting Artoo. The astromech would be recording everything for Luke this time, so the Jedi Master could focus on the conversation.
He walked to the front gate and announced himself. There was a single guard droid, and the thing looked to him before pressing a button on its ear.
"Sir, a man named Luke Skywalker is here to see you. Would you like me to admit him?" The droid waited, with Luke holding his breath. Then the mechanical being stepped aside, gesturing Luke through the fence. "Go on ahead."
Luke dipped his head and entered. He took in the lush gardens and décor that filled the space between the gate and the door. Luke noted flowers, all of them in hues of pink, purple, blue or white. No other color was visible. Luke admitted to curiosity at the color choice, eyeing lastly a topiary as he ascended the steps to Corsair's front door.
To his surprise, the door opened before he actually got to it, and a well-dressed, elderly man stepped through. To Luke's further amazement, the man smiled welcomingly at him while Luke approached.
"Mr. Atriedes, thank you for seeing me," Luke said as he extended a hand.
"Luke, you may call me Corsair." The man reprimanded mildly, though he took the proffered palm. "I know we've never been especially close, but nor are we enemies."
Luke dipped his head sheepishly. "Sorry, old habits."
Corsair gestured for Luke to follow him, which he did. He noticed a selection of holos lining the hallway that led into a large seating area. Luke paused at an image of the young woman who had helped give him Shmi. Venussia Atriedes had died at the hands of the Emperor, Luke knew. But though she had made many mistakes, and had never seemed to love Shmi, Luke had been gratified to hear that her final act had been an attempt to save her daughter.
"I do miss her," Corsair said over Luke's shoulder. "It's true that she had her issues, but she was still my little girl."
Luke could now empathize with this man, being a father himself. "I wish things could have been better for Venussia."
"Well, thank you, but wishing won't bring her back," Corsair replied.
Luke peered closer at the holo, noting the second person in the image. Something stirred within Luke as he looked upon this second, black-haired woman. This one stood about a head taller than Venussia, and had green eyes.
"May I ask who this is?" Luke indicated the mystery person.
"Ah yes, that is my eldest daughter Merida," Corsair replied with a warm smile that faded to sorrow. "She too passed away a number of years ago."
Luke hadn't known that Venussia had any siblings. "I'm sorry to hear that. I thought Venussia was an only child."
"Merida did not accompany us to Tatooine due to her schooling, which was at a crucial stage, and could not be interrupted. Plus, she was recently married." Corsair explained. "She had intended to join us when she could, but that didn't happen until after we left the desert planet."
Luke indicated his understanding, and Corsair gestured to the sitting area.
"Now, why don't we get down to business?" The gray-haired man suggested.
"I have to pass along the well-wishes of those I met in my search for you, Corsair," Luke said, giving him the names and greetings of those who had asked it of him.
Corsair hummed softly. "I had a good life on Fondor, and a few true friends."
Once that bit of business was completed, Luke took a breath. "If you don't mind, I need to know a few things."
Corsair indicated for Luke to go on, which he did.
"First, did Venussia have any ultrasounds before the one I went to?"
Corsair blinked in shock. "Lands sake, Luke, that was ages ago. Why do you want to know now?"
"I… came into some recent information," Luke murmured hesitantly, "and I need to verify it's veracity."
Corsair studied Luke more intently, and then spoke. "Yes. She in fact had three before you joined in."
"And during those fist three ultrasounds…" Luke bit his lip, knowing that he was going to sound potentially crazy. But he had to know. "Was there more than one fetus?"
There was again a marked pause, but to Luke's relief, Corsair did not demean Luke any.
"Yes." The elder man admitted softly.
Luke sat up straighter. "What happened? Why was there only one when I first looked?"
Corsair sat forward, interlocking his fingers. "We aren't sure what happened, actually. In her first ultrasound, there were clearly two distinct babies growing. But when we went in for the following ultrasound, one of those babies was gone. That led to yet another ultrasound by a specialist who confirmed the presence of only the single fetus. Apparently the second one had disappeared completely."
Luke swallowed with sudden difficulty. "Could the doctors explain what happened?"
Corsair shook his head. "No. Believe me when I say that I asked. They theorized that the second child had died, and Venussia's body had reabsorbed it."
Luke frowned lightly. "I'm not a doctor, but that doesn't seem right."
Corsair nodded his agreement. "I looked it up out of a need to know, and if the baby had died past twenty-one days, it's body should have still been there. It would have needed to be extracted."
"But the body wasn't there."
"No."
Luke sat back, turning his thoughts inward. Could this be the piece to the puzzle that Luke was missing? Luke needed more information to be certain.
"Did Venussia feel sick or anything between those two ultrasounds?" Luke inquired.
Corsair pursed his lips. "Well, it's hard to describe. But she did complain that while she was taking a nap one afternoon, she felt a strong pain in her abdomen. It woke her up, it was so intense. However, she did not tell me until that following ultrasound. I think…" He sighed heavily, suddenly looking every bit his age. "I think she hoped that the pair of fetuses had both died, and she would be free of the burden. So, she said nothing."
Luke blew out a breath, recalling how very selfish Venussia had always been, right up to the very last moment.
"Why didn't you say anything about the second baby?" Luke asked gingerly, uncertain just how he should feel.
"What was there to say?" Corsair countered evenly. "The second babe was gone, and nothing could change that. It was best left alone."
Luke frowned. "But I had a right to know."
"But what would have been the point?" The other man returned. "Luke, you were both so young already. You didn't need that added sorrow, the burden." Corsair's voice lowered and Luke detected some tinges of regret in the man's voice. "You especially had already been in such a dark place; even I could see that."
Luke took that in with a grain of salt, knowing that Corsair was correct… and yet wishing that he had been brought fully up to speed back then. But the Jedi Master also understood that, in his own way, Corsair had been protecting both Venussia and Luke.
"Do you happen to have any holos from the first ultrasound?" Luke inquired, shifting the direction of the conversation.
"I do not, I am sorry," Corsair replied. "However, I would be willing to sign a release of information so you can gain access to Venussia's medical records regarding the pregnancy. Though, all of that would still be on Tatooine, I'm afraid."
Luke lifted a peaceable hand. "That would be very generous of you, thank you."
"Then consider it done." Corsair declared, already pulling a datapad to him.
Luke remained quiet and utterly patient as Corsair worked. After a time, the man left the sitting room and returned with a sheet of flimsi that had been freshly printed. This he handed to Luke.
When Luke reached for it, Corsair did not immediately release the item.
"Luke, I want you to know that I am impressed at the man you have grown into." Corsair finally released the document to a shocked Luke. "For what its's worth, I followed your achievements here and there, and I must admit that I am proud of you."
Luke could say nothing at first. This man had certainly changed in the years since they'd parted ways.
Finally, Luke managed a gentle smile. "I appreciate that, Sir."
Corsair looked down for a moment, and Luke could sense a question forming in the other.
"I wonder…" Corsair thinned his lips, but trudged on. "I haven't seen my granddaughter since Tatooine, at least not in person. Would it be too forward of me to ask permission to meet her?"
Luke blinked, taken aback, but then his smile widened. "Sure, I could arrange a meeting."
Luke drew out his own datapad and pulled up a recent holo on it; one depicting the Skywalker family and Ignis together. "In the meantime, here's what she looks like now."
He handed the device over, and Corsair took it. His face warmed at seeing Shmi, and he even ran a gentle finger over the girl's face.
"She looks so much like Venussia..." Corsair murmured. He then paused, and Luke felt a different stirring of emotions in Corsair. Suddenly his face showed incredulity, and Corsair whispered one word that stopped Luke in his tracks. "Rahvin?!"
Utter shock raced through Luke, and he didn't get the chance to speak before Corsair turned the datapad and pointed emphatically to someone else in the image. "Who is that?"
Luke managed to shift his gaze to see the indicated person, and felt his heart grow heavy even as it started to pound more heavily.
"That is a boy we took into foster care." Luke somehow managed to speak calmly.
"Foster care?" Corsair's tone made Luke frown lightly.
"Yes, I met him during the events on Orinda." Luke expounded. "Why do you ask about him?"
"Because," Corsair looked again to the boy in the holo and suddenly found it harder to speak, taking a seat. "I… I think I recognize him. Merida and her husband… lost their son when he was four."
A spike of premonition passed through Luke, and he found himself following a sudden hunch.
"…lost?" Luke challenged lightly, recalling Ignis' utter anger towards his parents. Rage that wouldn't have been present had Ignis merely been taken from them.
Corsair slumped further into his chair. "No, not lost. They… gave him up willingly."
Corsair looked to Luke, his eyes suddenly pleading. "But I don't think they did it completely of their own volition. After it happened, both Merida and Colton tried to tell me that they hadn't been feeling like themselves for a while before that. And by the time Rahvin was taken, they just couldn't take it anymore… until they were away from Duro. Suddenly they felt perfectly fine, and they realized what they had done."
Corsair's face filled with sorrow. "It tore them both apart. Merida never forgave herself… and because the guilt became too strong, she took her own life. And, once both Merida and Rahvin were gone, Colton drank himself to his grave." Corsair was now weeping openly, placing his face into his hands. "What kind of a father was I that both my daughters turned out so… horrible? What did I do wrong?"
Luke stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. He found himself looking again at Ignis' image. Ignis had finally let Luke and Mara in on his familial secret not long before he had taken Kodai.
Luke shook his head. Ignis, Anya, Luke and Mara had been the only people to know the boy's actual name; with the exception of Vexa. So, the only way Corsair could have known Ignis' secret was if the man was indeed related to the boy.
Corsair looked up with red-rimmed eyes. "You must think me a rotten father, Luke."
Luke drudged up his voice. "No, Corsair. I know you did your best, and that your daughters made their own choices."
Corsair stood and peered at Ignis' face. "He looks a lot like my father when he was younger. It's been years, but I have a strong feeling that is Rahvin. Merida and Colton had been trying so hard to have a child, and when it was finally discovered she was pregnant— and much farther along than anyone realized— she was ecstatic. Oddly enough, Merida reported severe pain the same night Venussia did." Corsair's eyebrows knitted together. "And her pregnancy had all sorts of issues, but finally the babe was in her arms."
Luke had to take several deep breaths. Seeing how this was affecting Luke, Corsair held up a finger for Luke to wait. He disappeared briefly, only to return with a holo-album. He flipped the pages as he walked slowly back to Luke. At last, he found what he was looking for and handed the album to Luke.
"This is my father, Donovin." Corsair took the datapad from Luke and held the two holos side-by-side.
Luke's world slowed to a stop as he looked upon the pair of images. And indeed, Ignis bore a heavy resemblance to Corsair's father. Luke didn't know how he remained standing, but he managed it. Corsair showed Luke a different holo, and Luke finally had to take a seat.
"This is Merida and Colton, Rahvin's parents." Corsair explained.
Luke heard, but didn't respond, his eyes glued to the two people. Mara had shown Luke Ignis' drawings of the man and woman without faces… and only now did Luke see that the man and woman in those drawings were Merida and Colton. The people in the holo matched, exactly, the features Ignis had drawn, with the exception of their facial features.
Here was further proof of Corsair's claim.
"May I have a copy of your father, and of Rahvin's parents please?" Luke's voice was rough.
Corsair nodded, and left to get Luke what he'd requested. When he held the items out to Luke, and the Jedi tried to take it, Corsair once again would not release the items.
"Luke, I want you to do me a favor." Luke met Corsair's gaze curiously. "If you find out why this boy looks like my grandson… would you let me know? I would also like to know what is going on."
Luke nodded once. "I promise."
Corsair let go. "I trust you, Luke."
Luke smiled weakly, thanked him and left. He didn't pause once in his X-wing: Luke simply started up the ship with Artoo, and pulled for space. Only when he left the atmosphere did Luke allow himself to think. Luke set the ship into an orbit and sat back.
He pulled out the two holos once more and studied them more intently. Finally, Luke noticed that while Ignis bore a resemblance to Donovin, the youth also had traces of Anakin Skywalker. Luke used his datapad to call up an image of his own father, comparing Ignis to both the men now so he could be certain.
He then looked to Merida and Colton. But for some reason, though Ignis shared the black hair of Merida, and the blue eyes of Colton, nothing else about Ignis matched his parents.
Luke might have to question Corsair again, but not today.
His world thoroughly rocked, Luke blew out a breath, and knew he needed more than images. He needed solid proof of the theory he was chasing down. And to do that, Luke needed to go to Tatooine.
Taking the helm once more, Luke set his course and leapt to lightspeed.
00000
If you do not wish the same fate upon your own families and lives, you will send this video out to the entire galaxy. The clock is ticking…
Scerra Kardar stared at her screen in dread, the file opened to reveal that Vexa Wran, of all people, had sent her a message. Why? Because Scerra had been the one to interview Senator Galland, and her news outlet had broadcast the interview.
Thus, Vexa felt it only fair that the same outlet shared the new information. Without truly feeling it, Scerra left her office and went to her boss, a human man named Cran Baize. When he saw her ashen profile, he stopped what he was doing and gave her his full attention.
"Scerra, what's the matter?"
Scerra couldn't fine her voice, so she handed him the datapad with shaking hands. Upon reading, the man blanched also, and then cursed.
"I knew that story would get us in trouble." He growled angrily, and he looked at the unopened video file. "The message also wants us not to look at the video until it's on air."
Scerra finally found some semblance of her voice. "That can't bode well."
"We're supposed to be a family-friendly news outlet," Cran said, clearly worried. There was silence for a time before Cran sighed in defeat and pressed a button on his desk. "I'll have them put up a warning and timer before we actually show whatever is on this file. Scerra," he looked to her with regret, "I think you should present this."
Scerra sucked in a breath, but tried hard to be brave… for her family. She was a mother of three! She couldn't let Vexa hurt them!
"I'll do it."
00000
Leia and Han were visiting with Mara, the kids off with Chewie to the nearest park.
"I'm glad to hear Ben is feeling better." Leia commented.
"Well, I think he is," Mara replied. "He has been acting off, and I mean more than just being sick. He doesn't sleep well right now, and he even woke up screaming last night."
Leia frowned as Han sat forward.
"He's having nightmares?" Han clarified.
"Apparently." Mara rubbed her face wearily. "He's also been vomiting a lot lately, but he isn't burning up, so he doesn't have a fever."
Leia pursed her lips. "Could he have gotten into some bad food? Perhaps at the Academy?"
Mara considered. "It's possible. It did start on a school day."
"Well, it's a starting point." Leia tried to soothe.
At that moment, See-Threepio rushed in from another part of the apartment, his stiff arms waving in obvious distress.
"Mistress Leia! Mistress Leia!"
Leia rose while Han sighed in annoyance. "What is it Threepio?"
"There's an urgent news story broadcasting right now!" Threepio all but wailed. "You must see it, Mistress Leia!"
Mara and Han shared a look, and Mara dove for the remote, flicking on the holoscreen. When it came to life, Mara didn't have to change the channel, as it was already showing across all of them.
Mara recognized the same newswoman that had interviewed Senator Galland when he'd called Vexa out on her cowardice.
Mara turned up the sound, as the woman was partway through an explanation.
"…sent to us from Lady Wran herself, with an ultimatum that we share it… or meet the same fate as Senator Galland's loved ones." The woman paused, then lifted a warning hand. "Audiences please be advised that the nature of the video about to be shown may not be appropriate for children."
A timer started counting down from thirty, presumably to give parents a chance to remove young ones from rooms.
Once the timer hit zero, the screen came alight with a video from an oddly low angle, and yet it switched between the low angle and a few different ones from above. But it was the subject that caught everyone's attention, and all three adults in the Skywalker home gasped.
There, for all to see, was Vexa's Fist, tearing through a Cathar village like he was in a training exercise. His blade moved everywhere, his footwork sure and steady. And with almost every swing, a Cathar villager died. Mara saw him hew down Cathar of all ages and gender, sparing none at all.
The Solos and Mara watched it all, the dismay hanging heavily in the air. When the final three died, and the video feed ended with Fist taking the little girl hostage, Mara stood up, her mouth agape as she thought of what Samanda had said.
Vexa must steal the life-force of a child once a year.
"You kriffing wretch!" Mara hollered furiously at the screen, though her outrage was directed at Vexa.
Han and Leia both looked to Mara in alarm, but nobody spoke as Vexa's voice replaced the images.
"Let this be a fair warning to all who wish to challenge me. I am not to be trifled with! You would do well to fear this Sith Lady!"
The video ended, and a pale-faced reporter came back on, apologizing for the nature of the video, but reminding everyone that they had been forced into it.
Mara shut the screen off and paced agitatedly. Leia stood at one point and placed a wary hand on Mara's arm.
"Do you know something we should?" Leia asked cautiously.
Mara abruptly sank to the couch.
"Yes." Her voice was hoarse. "Vexa's going to steal that little girl's essence."
Before they could question her further, Mara launched into her explanation, and when she was done, both Han and Leia were horrified.
"That poor dear!" Leia wept, leaning into Han for comfort.
Mara was also in tears, though she had to step from the room for a moment to collect Kodai, who had begun to fuss. When she returned, she was calmer, so Kodai could also settle. The three adults didn't speak for a long time, but finally Han addressed the bantha in the room.
"I guess I had hoped that Vexa would not send Ignis to do that kind of stuff," he said softly, "but I guess that's not an option."
"Ignis isn't himself." Mara reminded them, even as she also understood the thing Ignis had done under Vexa's command.
"I agree," Leia murmured sadly, "but it doesn't take away what just happened."
Nobody refuted that, but nor were any of them about to condemn the young man, either. All three of them were aware of the squid holding Ignis hostage, under the guidance of Vexa Wran. Ultimately, it was Vexa who was responsible for everything the Fist did, not Ignis.
"The sooner we can get Ignis away from Vexa, the better." Han declared, and nobody disagreed.
00000
Ignis ordered Tharan to their shared quarters, knowing that whatever Vexa had planned for the little girl would not be something the boy needed to see. He'd witnessed enough already. Free of Tharan, and guiding the frightened little girl through the halls of Vexa's ship, Ignis felt the dying part of him give a little wrench. He didn't want to take this child to whatever fate awaited her, but he couldn't resist the squid's power over his mind. He was helpless but to do as he was told.
Ignis stopped just before the doors to Vexa's throne room, and looked to the girl. She returned his helmeted gaze with innocence, and Ignis managed a single, short sentence.
"I'm sorry, little one."
With a sigh, Ignis led her inside, where Vexa— who'd been apprised of his arrival in system— waited with a happy air. Chained up to a stake not far from her throne was Senator Galland, who cried out with horror at seeing his daughter with Vexa's Fist.
The child broke free of Ignis' grasp, and he let her go, stopping where he was, still several feet from his master. Unable to watch, Ignis looked away as the reunion took place.
"Papa!" The girl cried, hugging him tightly, and shaking. "Mama, Grandpa and Gramma are dead! Fist killed them!"
Galland sobbed. "I know Sweet."
The Senator glared at Ignis, then Vexa. "You both will get what's coming to you! I hope you rot in hell!"
Vexa snorted, amused. "I've already lived in hell, thank you. It doesn't bother me. Child, say your final goodbyes to Daddy."
The girl shrank away from Vexa, and Galland wrapped his shackled arms about her. Ignis didn't hear their whispered words, but he saw Vexa gesture for him to break them apart.
"Bring the child to me, Fist."
Ignis obeyed, coming forward and grasping the girl by the arm once more. Galland went wild, kicking out at Ignis, who took the kick in stride before he deftly grabbed the pressure point on the man's shoulder and applied precise pressure.
The man froze in shock and a bit of pain, and Ignis was able to take the child, who screamed and called for her father.
Galland charged after Ignis and the child, up to the end of his chain, screaming her name desperately. "Sylva!"
Ignis handed the girl over, and stood back, unsure what his master was about to do. When her hands began to glow a rich purple, the child froze. Vexa closed her eyes and murmured a few words in a language Ignis did not understand. But it sounded harsh and unforgiving, and he suspected it was ancient Sith.
Then Vexa opened her eyes again, and they bled the same purple light, and even Ignis stepped back in alarm. When the Sith Lady placed both hands on the child, one on either side of her head, the girl screamed.
Ignis watched, dumbfounded, and dimly hearing Galland continuing to rage in his corner, as a bright white light left the girl as if drawn out by a vacuum. As the light drew closer to Vexa it changed into a lighter violet, and entered the woman. As it did, Ignis witnessed how her skin smoothed out, a few age-lines on her face disappeared, and Vexa's life-force began to pulse stronger.
The girl fell silent at some point, and when the final dredges of white left the girl, and Vexa had absorbed it all, silence descended. Even Galland was quiet, though he gaped at the unmoving form of his girl… right before it began to crumble like the child had been made of dust.
The girl's figure vanished, and soon all that was left was a pile of ashes.
Ignis couldn't move, couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight, even as Vexa approached Galland, who was sobbing inconsolably. Ignis barely heard the Sith Lady tell Galland that she wasn't going to kill him, but sentence him to exile on Ziost. Ignis stopped hearing things after that, his entire world grinding to a halt. Al he could see was what remained of the girl.
He was unaware of when Vexa spoke to him… and then tried again. He only realized she had move to stand with him when she grabbed his chin, and forced him to look away from the ash, and to her instead.
He couldn't help but notice that she now looked younger and more like she would have in her thirties.
"Snap out of it, Fist!" Vexa warned. "You will not fall apart on me now."
Ignis didn't know how he managed it, but he stood straighter and accepted his orders to take the man to the waiting shuttle. He was to pilot the man to Ziost and drop him off, then fly straight back to the Dark Mystery and speak with Vexa at once.
Ignis hauled the wreck that was now Galland up, and escorted the man to the cell in the waiting shuttle. Once they were on their way, Ignis had to fight extra hard against the pressure building under his numbing shields.
He still could not fully wrap his mind around what had just happened. He'd not even known such a thing was possible.
But he couldn't lose it now. He wouldn't. No, he would bury this incident away with all the other horrors Vexa had forced him into lately, and in the past.
So, Ignis busied himself with carrying out his mission, and when Ziost came into view, Ignis looked at it dispassionately. Memories of being on the planet's surface affronted him, and Ignis shuddered despite himself.
He, a Force-wielder, had struggled to survive here. There was no way the Senator would last a day. Vexa had sent the man here as an execution.
Ignis knew where to land, and he was fully aware of how long he could be on the surface before something came to investigate. So, he opened Galland's cell, grabbed him and hauled the Cathar man to the ramp. Ignis unlocked the man's binders and then looked to him.
"I…"
"I want nothing from you!" Galland snarled, wrenching away from Ignis and holding his head up. "You can live with this, you monster! I will soon be reunited with my family. That is something you will never have, Fist."
With that, Galland walked calmly down the ramp and into the jungles. Ignis watched him for a moment, the man's words striking a chord in him that Ignis hated. Because Galland was right: Ignis would never have a family. Ignis was doomed to this life of slavery, this life of forced abominations and evil deeds.
And while Ignis did not regret having sacrificed himself for Kodai, Ignis was beyond lonely, and utterly broken. He had nothing left, nothing to care about in his small world. Everyone he loved was gone, in some way or another. Whether dead or just out of his life, they were gone, and Ignis was growing into more and more of an empty shell.
Still, seeing and finally understanding what Vexa had planned to do to Kodai, Ignis decided he was grateful that Kodai hadn't met that fate after all.
Feeling a stirring in the Force, Ignis shut the ramp again and piloted his shuttle from Ziost.
Exhausted, once he was in hyperspace with checks done, and an alert to tell him when it was time to revert, Ignis fell asleep in the pilot's seat.