Chapter Eighteen:
Ignis went straight to his quarters on the Dark Mystery as soon as the shuttle ferrying him docked. He stopped only long enough to assure the vessel's acting captain that he was fine, and then disappeared.
He was starting to really feel the aches and pains from his crash, especially the head wound, and he knew he would need a medical examination. But he would not go to the on-board medical suite. No, he would order a droid to come to him.
With that in mind, Ignis strode through his door… and paused upon seeing Tharan passed out cold on his cot. The boy's blanket was tossed side like he'd been thrashing in his sleep. Ignis hesitated upon seeing the boy, guilt over the way this lad had been treated so far settling on him. But Ignis pushed the guilt away so he could function. He would need to be numb again as far as Vexa knew by the time she returned, which he sensed would be soon.
Still.
Ignis stepped quietly over to the youth and covered him over once more before he used the Force to draw Tharan into a deeper sleep so he would not wake. Then Ignis waited for the arrival of the droid, removing his armor so the droid could work unhindered.
As he did so, and in the absence of his master, Ignis allowed his emotions brief sway.
"I care very much what happens to my son."
Ignis couldn't unsee the look of hurt Luke had sported, when Ignis had recoiled from the man like Luke had tried to stab him. But Ignis couldn't help it. It had been the final affirmation of what everyone had been trying to tell him lately: that Ignis, despite his vehement denials of the truth, was in fact a Skywalker.
And while it was true, and he knew it was… Ignis had yet to accept it. There were simply too many loose ends in his life to deal with before he would allow himself to consider accepting things.
At least, that was what Ignis kept telling himself, because it gave him a plausible reason to keep himself in the denial phase.
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the medical droid, and Ignis waited until the door was closed to remove his helmet and armor.
"I need you to do a full-body exam." Ignis ordered the thing. "I was in a shipwreck and I need to make sure I am not bleeding internally or anything. Also, I need the gash on my head tended to."
"Yes sir," the droid replied in a calm voice, "please take a seat."
Ignis sat in a chair and allowed the droid to begin its work. He monitored Tharan, and any time the boy roused too much, he put the boy back to sleep with the Force.
At the halfway point of his checkup, when the droid was tending to his head, Ignis sensed Vexa's presence return to the system, and soon afterwards, she was docked with the ship. He waited for her to become agitated once she learned what had happened to him.
Indeed, not long after her arrival, Vexa's sense lit up with consternation, and she sought him in the Force. Ignis retreated before she could catch him spying on her, and then Vexa made a beeline for his room when she located him.
Ignis carefully returned his mind to a state similar to the one he had been in before the battle, and then he waited.
When she came through the door, it was with narrowed eyes and a cautious anger. The anger kindled slightly upon seeing the medical droid working on his head, and she watched for a moment before approaching.
"What happened to you?" Vexa demanded.
"I crashed," Ignis said simply, ignoring the sting of the antiseptic the droid was using to cleanse the gash.
"You, crash?" Vexa was openly skeptical.
"I was in a dogfight with two of the enemy," Ignis explained, "and it took us into the atmosphere, and the terrain got the best of me." Ignis chose to stick to enough of the truth to sell his story, so that Vexa would not sense that he was holding back. "Some people found me, but I got away and found one of the patrols to get me off-world. Nasty atmosphere, by the way."
Vexa continued to eye him, and Ignis held his ground until she finally seemed sated. She glanced around and only then realized that Tharan was in the room. She glanced sharply at Ignis, who held up a hand.
"It was either here or the med labs. I am keeping the boy asleep right now, so he does not learn my identity." Ignis looked her in the eye. "I know your rules, Master."
Vexa went over and nudged the boy regardless, but Tharan did not stir when she did so, and Vexa nodded.
"The take-over was a success on both fronts. Now we have access to a generous portion of the Hydian Way as well as the Rimma Trade Route." Vexa smirked happily. "Things are going well indeed."
Then her face hardened, and Ignis lifted a brow, curious, but he did not ask her about it. No, he needed to remain the uninterested young man he had been before the battle. Still, he could not help but wonder what could possibly get Vexa to leave the battle like she had.
Vexa shook her head once more as if to clear it, and she approached him, eyeing him in a way that he was familiar with. "I recently came into some information that I find… upsetting."
Ignis waited patiently, silently.
"It would seem that there is a high chance that Samanda is in fact not dead."
Ignis could not fake the surprise that pushed past his shields. Of course, he had known she had not initially perished, but he did not know her situation outside of her being in New Republic custody. He straightened, using his sudden shift to emotion in his favor.
"Alive? But how? She died at Bespin," Ignis paused just so, "or that's what everyone was told."
"It's what I believed." Vexa growled. "The little witch, thinking she could get away from me." Her angry eyes were suddenly fixated on him, and she lashed out with a hand to grasp his jaw. Her nails dug into his flesh, but Ignis held her gaze regardless. "I wonder where she picked up that idea."
Ignis forced himself to play penitent, and so he looked down. "I did nothing to encourage this attempt she made. I barely spoke to her before I left."
"You did not have to interact with her personally to have a lasting impact on the girl!" Vexa snapped. "You and your little insurrections did not go unnoticed by your peers. But she will be returned to me."
Ignis felt a slight pang for Samanda, even though he'd never really been close to her. He knew first-hand what it was like to be returned to Vexa after such an escape attempt. He did not wish that fate on anyone else.
Still, Ignis would not apologize either: he did not regret standing up to her.
He simply gazed back at Vexa, who at long last backed away, releasing her hold on him, and motioned for the droid to continue working. It approached, having backed away when Vexa approached Ignis.
Vexa studied Ignis a bit more, and then turned for the door. "You will rest, take time to recuperate, and then you will be right back into the thick of things. Understand?"
"Yes, Master," Ignis murmured.
Vexa left without another word, and Ignis closed his eyes for a moment. He remained silent while the droid worked, and when it was done, Ignis dismissed he device with orders to keep his identity secret.
Once it was gone, Ignis realized his hunger and glanced thoughtfully at Tharan, and then commed the kitchen to order two meals brought to his room. The droid on staff there, just for such deliveries, promised to be the within the hour.
Ignis went to his desk and used the downtime to formulate a way to contact Luke like he had promised.
00000
Tears leaked from his eyes at a slow rate as he replayed that last encounter with Ignis.
"I care very much what happens to my son."
Luke watched as Ignis recoiled like he had been hit in the face with the hilt of a lightsaber. The Jedi Master could sense how rattled Ignis now was, and to Luke's dismay, Ignis slammed up durasteel walls around his heart. The young man turned away, begging for Luke not to call him 'son'.
"Why not? You are my son, and I love you."
What came from the young man next shocked Luke: "I don't deserve it!" He hollered. "I am not worthy to be called your… your… s-son!" Ignis closed his eyes. "I know what I wrote in my letter… but it can never be. I… am not a Skywalker."
The admission from his son that he did not wish to be known by his true surname hurt Luke, because it meant that Ignis rejected Luke as his father. Luke only wanted his son to let him in.
Luke could not fully understand what was keeping Ignis from accepting the truth. Yes, he had spoken briefly with Anakin on the matter, but still, it caused Luke a fair amount of stress. Luke recalled the vision of Vexa telling Ignis of his origins, and so the young man knew very well what he was to Luke. So why was the young man denying it? Why would he not accept it?
Luke was reminded of how hard it had been for him to learn of his relationship with Darth Vader. That had been the most difficult, harrowing moment in Luke's life at that point, not counting incidents with Shmi and Mara. It had been harrowing because of the reality that Darth Vader, one of the evilest men in the galaxy, was Luke's father. A man that had brought so much pain and misery to the galaxy… had fathered a son.
A son who had grown up cherishing the idea of a hero for a father, and who had had that rug yanked from his feet in the most violent of manners. It had made perfect sense for Luke to deny any relationship with the monster that Vader had been more often than not.
But in this case, the roles were reversed. It was Luke who was the father, and Ignis the son. Luke was the Jedi and Ignis was the servant of the Dark Side, however unwillingly. So why was it such a difficult thing for Ignis to allow Luke in as his father?
Luke pondered on that as the mottled view of hyperspace continued to zip past his cockpit.
He suspected there could be a variety of reasons that Ignis was trying so hard to reject the truth. First, he was still tied to Vexa, and Luke knew that though the squid was no longer a factor, Vexa most certainly was. Even without the squid to control him, Vexa was a constant threat to Ignis.
Yet even Vexa Wran had insisted that Ignis accept Luke as his father. Luke found it a little ironic that the Dark Lady, who was trying so hard to hurt Luke's family, would try to put part of it back together.
Luke wondered if another factor in Ignis' hesitation was that the young man technically already had parents, even though they were deceased. Luke knew Colton and Merida had been there for Ignis for a few years at least. The fact that Vexa had intervened in the ways that she had was not the fault of that couple. They had been victims just as much as Ignis and Luke had been.
Luke understood hesitating to accept different parents from the people who had lovingly raised you. He'd been raised by Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, and though they had not birthed him, they had loved and raised Luke as their own child.
Option three: Ignis was ashamed of the life he had lived under Vexa and he felt unworthy of ever having a place beside Luke. Anakin had thought so as well. Luke could surmise what Ignis might think: how could the venerable Jedi Master ever call a Dark disciple his child? But didn't Ignis realize that Luke cared more about his family than his image to the public? Why couldn't Ignis at least try? Couldn't he see the good person he had been while living with the Skywalkers? Yes, it had partially been an act, but not all of it had been.
Ignis diving to what could have very much been his death to save Ben had not been an act. No con artist would put their life on the line like that. Luke had spoken with Ignis more in-depth afterwards on that, and the young man had admitted that he had not even been sure it would work when he had dove after Ben. Ignis had gone purely off of faith, and the basics of his training in that instance.
Ignis had also helped Emry with her bullying situation. He had given Ben a piece of advice on lightsaber technique that had become a turning point for Ben in his training and self-confidence. Ignis had even gotten Shmi out of her funk on why she would not yet accept Knighthood.
And ultimately, Ignis had sacrificed himself for Kodai, despite knowing the fate that awaited him when he returned to Vexa without the babe.
Luke now looked back on his interactions with Ignis with the light of understanding. He saw his and Ignis' private moments and such from the eyes of a father to his son. Moments like when he had learned the truth of Ignis' horrible past with Byrec and then Vexa. Or when he and Ignis had shared quiet, but poignant moments that Luke would forever cherish.
Oh, how Luke longed for Ignis to accept his father, and to want to come home…
Had Vader longed for such a thing? Luke briefly wondered, with a sudden understanding of the Sith Lord's position. Luke closed his eyes, and allowed himself a moment to think of his own father, and then he returned to his musings on Ignis.
Luke sighed gently as he came to the final conclusion, and the most likely reason for Ignis rejecting the truth so vehemently.
Ignis was afraid of getting hurt again.
Ignis had grown up with parents who claimed to love him, and yet had readily given him over to a life of misery. Ignis had been so thoroughly heartbroken over that; and he had never truly recovered, Luke knew. So now, Ignis guarded his heart above all other things in his life, and Luke could not blame him for that.
Luke wished that Ignis would accept that Luke would never hurt Ignis; not like Colton and Merida had done. Luke knew it was not entirely fair to the couple, knowing Vexa's tampering, but the fact still remained that Ignis had been abandoned. And to someone so young, that was all that mattered.
Luke's musings were interrupted by a wave of horror from Mara, and he sat up instantly. Alert, Luke looked to his navicomputer, seeing that he still had fifteen minutes to reversion. Unwilling to wait when Mara was so agitated, he stretched out to her through their Force-bond.
Mara?
Her mind was a jumble at the moment, and he sensed her struggling to remain in control. But when she realized he was there, she seized hold of him like he was a buoy in the ocean.
Luke! I need you…
I'm almost home. What's wrong?
Mara's sense was still horrorstruck, and her voice hitched when she replied. Someone took our children while we were away!
Luke's heart stopped, and his mind froze as he registered his wife's words. Ben, Emry and Kodai were all… gone? Taken?
How? Who? Luke asked, feeling his own distress rising. He tamped it down in an effort to remain level-headed. He knew Mara would do the same once she'd had a moment to also come to terms.
In fact, Luke could already sense the was Mara was methodically bringing herself under control, and he applauded her for it.
I will be home soon. Luke reiterated, and Mara acknowledged, breaking off their connection so she could begin dealing with matters there.
Luke willed his ship to go faster, and he spent the remaining time in hyperspace thinking of ways they could recover their children. When he finally landed his ship in the bay, he was greeted by Shmi, who was also clearly distressed.
She approached him when Luke exited his X-wing. "Dad…"
Luke gathered her close. "We will find, them, Shmi. I promise."
Shmi nodded against his chest. "I want to help."
"Of course," Luke replied kissing her head. "Come on."
"Mom is at Aunt Leia's." Shmi informed him. "When she sensed you enter the system, she asked me to meet you here and bring you up."
Luke nodded, and together they walked to the Solo home. To his surprise, Winter was there, guilt radiating off of her like light from a star. Her eyes were swollen and red like she had been weeping almost non-stop.
When she saw Luke, she blanched and looked away. Leia sat at her side, and placed a hand to her knee.
Mara stood, moving to embrace Luke. When she pulled away, she took his hands and began to fill him in on the situation. "Winter took the children to see a holo, and things went downhill from there. Ben was taken while in the refresher. Asher had gone with him, but somehow Asher was put to sleep. Asher remembers talking with an employee, a male Rishii, before he was suddenly out. When he woke up, both Ben and the Rishii were gone, and hours had gone by. He woke, but could not find Winter or the others until another employee found him wandering about. They were able to reunite him with Winter and Carmi, who had been found unconscious elsewhere: Winter in the restroom on the other side of the building entirely, and Carmi in the auditorium."
Mara glanced to Winter, who was now looking at them both. Carmi and Asher appeared then, Han with them and looking both grim and determined. His children had also been targeted in a manner, though not in the same way as the Skywalkers.
"A medic was called because the guests had been unconscious still." Mara returned her gaze to her husband. "Asher was not found because he had been stashed in a way that made it hard to see him in the stall. But with Winter and Carmi, they were found and looked at by a medic. The medic determined that all three of them had been dosed with a sleeping drug. Winter was able to talk with security at the building and learned from them that the cameras at the theater were compromised." She held up a hand. "However, it was also determined that actual employees of this company reported four persons wearing uniforms, but who had never before been seen at the establishment. The theater is offering to pay for the medical expenses and to reimburse for the money we spent there as a peace offering. They also offered to help however else they could."
Luke sighed. "A male Rishii. Where there any other identities noticed?"
Mara nodded, waving Carmi forward. She glanced at Han, who gave her a reassuring nod, and she squared her shoulders. Carmi approached her aunt and uncle, and Luke smiled at her in a way he hoped was reassuring. He did not want her to think he was angry with her or her brother. Nor was he upset with Winter.
"Did you see anything that could help us?" Luke inquired of his niece.
Carmi nodded. "When Emry and I were in the arcade, the human girl approached us. She had been cleaning or something in the arcade area, and spoke briefly to Emry, who chatted right back. I didn't think anything of it, but I saw the girl as we left the area to go with Winter to get seats. She later came into the auditorium to…" Carmi hesitated, again looking to her father.
Luke frowned gently. "It's alright, Carmi, please tell us. We just want to know what happened, Sweetheart. I promise nobody is mad at you or your brother." He glanced poignantly at Winter. "Or Winter."
Winter sniffled, but seemed to perk up somewhat at his reassurance, especially when Mara backed him up with reassuring nods to all three indicated persons.
Carmi cleared her throat. "The same girl came to sit behind Emry and I, who were alone with Kodai in the auditorium by then, since Ben and Asher had left for the refresher, and Winter had gone to check on them. The girl claimed that Winter had asked her to sit with us and Kodai. Kodai was asleep, so Winter left him in our care. We eventually went back to our show, because the girl seemed genuine, though I think Emry was hesitant. But the next thing I know I am waking up in a strange room with some man in a medical robe hovering over me. I don't know when or how I fell asleep, but they told me I was drugged." Carmi's eyes were now moist. "And then I found out that all of the Skywalker members of our group had been taken, and the girl I told them about, and the Rishii that Asher talked about were nowhere to be found. Nobody knew who they were or where they came from… or where they went."
Luke gently touched her cheek. "Thank you for telling me. Do you remember what this girl looked like? Or her name?"
Carmi shook her head. "She did not wear a name tag that I could see, but I do remember that she had blonde hair, brown eyes, and had freckles all across her cheekbones and nose. She was about…" Carmi paused, then glanced to Shmi. "Maybe two years younger than Shmi? She was definitely a teenager."
"Dad…" Shmi shifted forward, and Luke looked to her. She was frowning deeply, her eyes almost faraway. "That sounds a lot like the young woman I fought on Omwat. There was also a Togruta teen that Anya recognized. The human's name was Katya, and the Togruta was Kida."
Winter spoke then. "The other employees talked of another, slightly older blonde girl, and then a male Yevetha. They definitely don't have any Yevetha employed there."
Luke and Mara shared a look. A male Rishii, a pair of human girls with blonde hair, and a Yevetha. Samanda had told them about each of Vexa's acolytes, and the four fit those descriptions perfectly.
Luke ran a hand down his face. "This is Vexa's work."
Mara's mouth thinned, and her eyes hardened to crystals. "Then she has officially signed her death warrant."
Luke noted that while Han looked thoughtful, Leia was confused.
She stood, frowning. "How do you know it was Vexa?"
Luke hesitated, recalling that he and Mara had signed a confidentiality agreement about Samanda.
Reading her twin brother, Leia shifted her gaze to the white-haired woman. "Winter, would you take the children to another room please? Han and I need a private moment with Luke and Mara."
Winter dabbed her face fully dry and straightened. "Of course."
Luke looked to Shmi. "Please go with them, Shmi."
His daughter nodded once and disappeared. The Solo children also left without complaint, and once the room was clear of the others, Han spoke.
"Luke, before you say anything, I need to tell you and Mara that Hobbie kind of let the nexu out of the bag. I don't know her name, but I know you have a young woman under care that you've been working with to get information."
Mara's eyes widened. "Hobbie knows?"
"Not the specifics, but he's smart," Han replied. "And listening to you guys just now, I put some pieces together for myself."
Luke knew he shouldn't have been surprised, but he still was. "Mara and I agreed with Admiral Igeal to keep her a secret, so we can't give you much about what we know. But suffice it to say that Ignis is not the only minor under Vexa's… command. There are about ten fully trained acolytes— plus an unknown number of kids in training— and four of them just took our children." Luke paused. "Though with Katu's passing, and Samanda defecting, the number of fully trained acolytes has gone down a little."
"And according to Shmi, it was Kida and Katya who took Anya." Mara folded her arms across her chest. "Of course Vexa would strike while we were away. The kriffing coward, sending kids to do her dirty work!"
Leia pursed her lips. "Perhaps the buildings nearby the theater have cameras that saw something?"
Luke nodded his agreement. "I'll go find out if that's the case."
Mara lifted a brow. "You mean we will."
Luke met her gaze to let her know he understood.
Han looked to the Skywalkers in turn. "Whatever you need from us, let us know."
Mara softened. "We will, thanks guys."
Luke called for Shmi to join her parents, and Mara accepted the young woman's help readily. This was, after all, a family affair.
"Have faith, you two." Luke reminded them as they piloted to the theater, Artoo in the rear seat with Shmi. "We will find them."
"What if Ignis can help us?" Shmi asked, sitting forward so she didn't have to yell over the wind.
Mara pursed her lips. "I… don't think he knows about it yet. He would have said something if he had."
Luke nodded his agreement. "I'm not sure Vexa will tell him until he needs to know. He didn't even know that Vexa's had Anya all this time."
Shmi frowned. "Why wouldn't she tell him?"
Luke remembered Ignis' admission that he was Vexa's top choice for apprenticeship, and then in the vision, Vexa had again pressed the issue. Luke also recalled the Sith spirits who had been planning something with Vexa. A sudden, sickening realization hit him broadside, and Luke wished then and there that he had not allowed Ignis to return to Vexa.
"Because Vexa is readying to turn Ignis irreversibly to the Dark Side."
Mara and Shmi both jerked their heads toward him, with Shmi exclaiming 'what?'. Luke swallowed with difficulty.
"While I was away, I… experienced a vision, and in this vision, Vexa was pressing Ignis into being her apprentice. Willingly. He refused, but it felt like an old issue between them. Yet, there was something in Vexa's gaze that promised that she would not let the issue rest."
Mara studied him. "So, despite everything, Ignis has resisted her offer of apprenticeship. Impressive."
Luke took her hand. "I think it would mean everything to Ignis if he could hear you say that to him."
Mara smiled softly. "When we see him again, I'll be sure to let him know."
They arrived then, and Mara was the first one out of the speeder. "Let's get to work."
00000
Katya looked up from her datapad when the communications array lit up with an incoming message.
"Guys!" Katya called over the ship-wide intercom. "Get up here!"
It didn't take long for the others to start materializing, and by then, Katya had already accepted the transmission. Vexa appeared, the miniature version of her still somehow managing to covey the dangerous nature of the woman.
"Katya." Vexa greeted, and then her eyes shifted to the three other teens that gathered close. "Have the Skywalker children given you any trouble?"
"Not much, Master," Caimbre answered. "Though, we've had to take special care of the baby."
"Good," Vexa nodded her approval. "I need them all alive, so continue to meet the babe's needs."
Caimbre inclined her head. "Yes, Master."
Vexa grinned almost happily, and Katya knew something was about to happen. "It is time to bring the children to Korriban. I will meet you all there. I am sending you the coordinates as we speak."
Katya leaned close to the console when said coordinates appeared, and she motioned to Pai to input them into the navicomputer. Once he had, Katya turned back to Vexa.
"We're all set here, Master."
"Excellent. I will see you all very soon then."
Katya looked to Caimbre when Vexa was gone again. "Is Kodai secured in his seat?"
"He will be shortly." She turned on a heel and left the cockpit.
Raythe took the copilot's seat as Katya began to bring the ship more to life. They had been in a stationary orbit around an astronomical object in the middle of nowhere. By the time the ship was ready to make the leap, her sister spoke via the ship comm.
"All set, let's get going."
"Right." Katya put actions to words, and took the ship into lightspeed.
Once system checks were completed, she looked to the timer. There was plenty of time to talk with her sister. However, she knew someone needed to man the pilot's seat, and it was her shift to do so. She had a thought and stood.
"Pai, I need to visit the refresher," she told the Rishii, "keep an eye on the cockpit till I return, please."
"Will do," Pai answered simply.
Raythe had left the cockpit as soon as Vexa's transmission ended, and Katya figured he was making sure their other prisoners were actually secure, and ready for transportation from the ship to the Sith Temple Vexa wanted them to bring the kids to.
Katya shuddered at the thought of going there again. Korriban itself was bad enough, but the Temple…
All of Vexa's older acolytes had been there, as some sort of rite of passage. Katya was sure that it was so Vexa could to test their resolve, since each acolyte had to survive an entire week on Korriban. During that week, they were only allowed to be inside in the Sith structure for a tiny part of that time.
In fact, it was the final test Vexa put them all through before she allowed them to perform regular missions for her. If one didn't pass, one kept at it until they did so. Poor Caimbre had been forced to repeat it twice, since she'd had a mental breakdown partway through her first attempt. Later, Katya's sister had told her that those two weeks had been more harrowing than all of Vexa's other training combined.
Caimbre had made certain there would not be a third week on Korriban.
Katya had heard stories of other teens who had gone there and had died during their stay. One young man had failed three times, and had finally perished on the fourth attempt. But by then, he was an emotional and mental wreck anyway, with his physical state not far behind. Katya shivered, grateful that she had managed to pass her test the first time.
Bringing her mind back to the present, Katya did indeed visit the refresher, and on her way back, she detoured to speak with Caimbre.
Her sister was currently rocking Kodai's seat, and gazing sorrowfully at his sleeping face. The baby's face was red, and his eyes were puffy. The babe had cried much whenever he was awake, despite them feeding and changing him. The sisters had been left by the boys to take care of the runt, as the guys had so eloquently put it. So neither Raythe nor Pai were aware that the baby had been instinctively searching for his parents in the Force.
Katya and Caimbre had gently but firmly blocked the baby's attempts, both fearing what would happen if the child managed to contact his parents.
"How is he?" Katya murmured.
Caimbre grimaced. "He was screaming and crying before you called us all to come to the cockpit. I had to use the Force to make him sleep."
Katya bit her lip. "Was he trying to use the Force again?"
"Yes."
Katya tilted her head. "How can he, when he is so young and obviously untrained?"
Caimbre looked her sister in the eye. "Don't forget whose child he is. Luke and Mara are both quite powerful in their own right. The two combined? Even more-so."
Katya grimaced. "Vexa must really enjoy playing with fire, if she keeps going after the Skywalker family."
Caimbre only shook her head. "What Vexa does is on her. We are just her pawns, as always. Still…"
Katya knew what she was thinking, because she too had thought it often on this mission.
Katya placed a hand on Caimbre's shoulder. "I don't like it either, but look what happened to Ignis when he defied Vexa too many times?"
Caimbre blanched. "I know. It's the fear of Vexa's retribution that keeps me in line."
Katya blew out a breath. "Well, perhaps our luck will change for the better."
Caimbre eyed her sister. "You still think the Skywalkers will help us?"
Katya shrugged. "Shmi said they could, and I sensed that she was being honest with me."
Caimbre was still hesitant. "I don't know. It'd have to be a pretty solid yes for me. Vexa frightens me more than anyone or anything else."
Katya understood how her sister felt, but still. "Maybe you and I just need to have a little faith."
Caimbre looked away. "Maybe."
Katya knew she had been away long enough. "I need to get back to the cockpit."
Caimbre nodded. "I'll keep Kodai asleep then."
Katya smiled softly and returned to her post. Pai only briefly glanced at her before he returned to his datapad.
00000
"There!" Shmi pointed to the monitor. "Those are the teens that match the description Carmi gave us."
Luke nodded, feeling Mara peer more intently over his shoulder to see for herself. The three of them were at a café nearby the theater, and the manager had been kind enough to let them look at the security footage.
Luke watched as the two human girls, a Yevetha and a Rishii all worked to get Ben, Emry and Kodai into a large, covered speeder. Only some of the still wore their borrowed theater uniforms.
None of the Skywalker children were moving, but Luke knew they had simply been drugged. Or at least the twins had been. Luke surely hoped that Kodai had not.
After the group entered the speeder, they were swiftly lost from view. Luke knew that they would glean no more from this establishment's security cameras.
Rising to his feet, Luke turned and shook hands with the manager. "Thank you again."
"Happy to help, Master Skywalker." The man smiled and led them back to the main area of the restaurant.
Once the Skywalkers were outside, Luke considered their next move. It was Shmi who spoke first.
"Would it be possible to have Artoo search the records of any ports nearby to see if the teens docked somewhere? If so, maybe we can get a destination."
Mara smiled proudly. "An excellent idea, Shmi."
Luke nodded his agreement. "Yes, though even if they did leave a destination, they probably lied about it."
"Still, it's worth looking in to." Mara placed a hand on Shmi's shoulder. "I'll go with you."
Luke pursed his lips. "I am going to try meditating, see if I can't find them in the Force, or get some direction from it. If you two lovely Ladies would drop me off at home, please…"
Mara and Shmi nodded.
00000
Anya stood before the group of children, all of them dressed in slave garb. She should have felt sorry for them, felt empathy at the very least, but her black heart would not allow it. She merely gazed at them with disdain.
"Get out of my sight!" she barked. "Useless whelps!"
She had thought she was being nice, giving them a job that would win them each a full meal's worth of credits. But none of them had managed to come through.
Anya supposed that if she wanted something done right, she would have to do it herself. Anya returned to her quarters to retrieve her supplies, and as she did so, caught her reflection in a nearby mirror.
Her skin was pasty white. Her eyes, once a healthy green hue, were now the color of the yellow found in lava. Her attire was black and purple, revealing just enough of her lithe body— and in various places— to let others know that she was a force to be reckoned with.
The door opened, and the one person she actually did care for in the entire galaxy entered. Ignis spied her and grinned openly.
"Hello Beautiful!" Ignis came close and caught her hips from behind. He sensually nuzzled her neck, and Anya smiled at his antics. How she would love to spend the rest of the day in his arms, but alas, that would have to wait.
"I'm going hunting." Anya informed him as he continued to explore whatever skin was exposed by her outfit.
Ignis smile against her shoulder. "Who are you after this time?"
"The last person who reminds me of my past." Anya turned and met his gaze. "Shmi."
Ignis drew her closer. "And will you be satisfied once she is gone too?"
Anya nodded. "We have already eliminated all others who opposed us. I will admit, it was impressive that you overpowered Luke the way you did."
Ignis shrugged. "Vexa always did tell me I had potential to be the greatest Sith ever. I just finally stopped fighting that advice."
Anya nodded once. "You were amazing. And I have to admit, it was hard to kill Mara, but she would have only gotten in our way again and again." She smiled predatorially. "Though, after seeing her kids killed before her eyes, it was easy because she was a wreck."
Ignis leaned closer still and captured her lips with his briefly. "You are so wicked…" He teased when he pulled away again.
Anya purred playfully, wrapping her arms about his neck. "Why… thank you."
He grinned more openly and picked her up, kissing her harder. As much as Anya wanted to leave for her hunt, she found herself powerless to resist his advances, and soon they were making for the bed.
Anya jerked awake, her heart pounding, and her body on fire from the images that were still trying to burn themselves into her brain. Anya was blushing as deep a red as Arthalinea's skin from this latest vision from the Dark Side.
Up until this point, all her visions had been of violence and betrayal, anything having to do with a grab for power. This was the first time the Dark Side had offered her a romantic vision. Anya wondered if that was because she had fallen asleep thinking of Ignis, and her love for him. Not that she was opposed to pursuing a romantic relationship with Ignis, but never anything like that vision.
Anya wanted to do things the right way: with a proper courtship, then a proposal from Ignis, followed by a wedding. Only then would she— and he, she knew— allow any physical intimacy like that. Anya might not have much from her parents, but she did recall their teachings. The best way she could honor them was to live by the moral standards they had taught her; popular or not.
Anya worked hard to remove the vision from her mind, though it took a considerable effort. Ice slushed through her veins as other aspects of the vision reasserted themselves. All Skywalkers but Shmi, dead by Ignis' and her and hands.
Anya knew it had not been real, and she would rather die than see that future come to be.
The thought of death caused her empty stomach to clench, reminding her forcefully that she was starving. Her tongue was getting drier by the day, and she knew it was because she hadn't drunk nearly enough. But the water rations Kida had given the two girls was nearly gone. Anya had managed to get Arthalinea to drink only every other day, and the one time the girl had eaten a ration bar, she had vomited it right back up.
Anya gazed upon the poor Twilek child, and a recurring though struck her once more. Anya did not know much about healing with the Force, but she knew it was possible. Maybe Anya could at least soothe the girl's fever, if not her pain.
Anya opened herself to the Force, and reached for Arthalinea. As soon as she touched the girl in the Force, Anya got a taste of the other's pain, and she gasped in shock. She took a moment to gather herself again before she tried once more.
Wading through Arthalinea's pain was like trying to move upstream in a river full of hazards. It was slow going, and Anya stumbled often, losing ground many times before she finally got some footing.
Anya didn't know what she was doing, but she figured maybe she could think soothing thoughts at Arthalinea, and that would help. Concentrating, Anya sent comforting vibes at the girl. Anya didn't know if it was working, but she kept it up until Arthalinea cracked her eyes open. They met her gaze, and Anya thought that they looked a little less miserable.
"Wh-what… you… d-doing?" Arthalinea's voice was hoarse, and barely audible, but Anya understood her query.
"Trying to help." Anya thought she knew the answer, but she wanted to keep the girl talking if possible. "Is it doing any good?"
Arthalinea managed a tiny nod. "It… h-hurts… a little… l-l-less… right n-now. Thank you."
Anya smiled. "I'm glad. I don't know how long I can keep it up, but I wanted to help."
Arthalinea smiled and accepted another tiny swig of water. Anya knew that even with these tiny sips, both of them were dehydrated and beyond hungry. Anya's energy was steadily flagging, and she could already feel her control over her current Force usage waning.
Anya was also well aware that both of them had lost weight. She could feel in herself how her muscles burned. Having bene given little choice, she had done intermittent fasting many times in her life after slavery, and so Anya knew some of the stages her body was going through.
But this wasn't fasting… it was starvation, something else she was well acquainted with thanks to her years as a slave. Anya slept more and more, having less and less energy to remain awake.
Anya was doing her best to remain alive, but she did not know how much longer the pair of them could truly hold out.
Ignis… Anya murmured in her heart. I need you…
00000
Ignis had no idea where Vexa was off to again, but he knew she had to be up to something. She was rarely this active in travelling unless she was. He was admittedly a little worried about what she was cooking up, and so once she was good and gone, Ignis made his way to her office. Once there, he carefully rifled through her things, and even accessed her computer thanks to a black-market splicing datapad he had purchased a while ago on a mission.
But though there were some interesting files on her computer, if Vexa was planning something, she had no written files on it. Still, Ignis downloaded what he could for later review.
Frustrated at his otherwise lack of success, Ignis erased all evidence of his being in her space and left.
Restless, Ignis did not return to his rooms. Instead, he went to the gym and put himself through a workout. The space was empty at the moment save for a trio of men in one corner; they were competing to see who could bench-press the most weight. Ignis ignored them and started his own routine, welcoming the grunt-work.
Ignis always found that his mind was opened when he worked out, regardless of what the exercises were. Ignis was dismayed when, predictably, the first thing to come to mind was his parentage.
Or rather, the mess it was, at least in Ignis' opinion.
He honestly had mixed feelings about it all, both about the adult side of things… and his own side of the issue.
Ignis had not been lying to Luke when he had claimed to be unworthy. Ignis was not sure if he would ever be able to really accept the truth. Why? Because he had still not come to terms with Colton and Merida.
All this time, Ignis had lived under the knowledge that he had been abandoned by the very people who were supposed to have loved him regardless of their circumstances. He still recalled how he had clung to Colton as a desperate attempt to stop what he had known was coming. He had not understood the Force then, but he looked back and knew that the Force had been vibrating during that encounter, and young Ignis had felt it keenly.
Ignis' arms began to ache, and it had nothing to do with the weights he was using. No, it was muscle memory from his death-grip on his Papa. Unwelcome heat touched his arms as he also recalled how Merida had literally pried the child from Colton and then allowed Vexa to take him away.
"Let go, Rahvin."
"No!" Rahvin cried. "Why do I have to go with the scary lady?"
"Because you don't belong with us!" Merida snapped. "You're some sort of freak of nature! You and your cursed Force powers! We don't want them, and we are tired of being on the run because of you!"
Rahvin's eyes widened even more with an immense measure of hurt, and his lip trembled. "Y-you don't want me?"
Merida turned her head away. "No. Not anymore."
Rahvin sniffled and turned to Colton. "P-Papa?"
Colton at last got Rahvin off of him and he set the boy down, only to have the child try to wrap his arms around his father's leg. "Go with her. Now."
Ignis saw anew the looks of resentment his parents had shown him; recalled how the disdain had radiated from them like smoke from a fire. Ignis remembered how much he had been broken inside when his parents had left; ignoring his frantic pleas for them to return, to change their minds. To love and protect him.
"Mama, Papa!" Rahvin cried, tears streaming down his face as they walked away, while he was dragged to who-knew-where. "Don't leave me!"
But they didn't answer him; never looking back as he struggled, arms outstretched for them. He sobbed harder when their vehicle started up and they steered away.
"MAMA! PAPA!" Rahvin screamed after them, but then his head was covered with a heavy sac, after which Rahvin was picked up by an invisible hand and carried away.
Ignis breathed with more force as the memories came fully to the forefront of his mind. And yet, this time they were tainted by the revelation that though Colton and Merida had indeed given Ignis up, it had not truly been their choice.
Ignis reviewed the scenes more closely in his head, searching for tell-tale signs that the adults had indeed been under Vexa's influence. It took him some time, but eventually he noted that their eyes were not as vibrant as they were supposed to be. Ignis had been around Vexa long enough to know what her victims looked like when she was using the Dark Side to influence them, especially for extended periods of time.
His parents had borne that same look.
So now the rug had been yanked out from under his feet yet again. The young man did not know how many more times he could take that happening.
First his parents abandoned him, then they didn't… then Luke turned out to be his actual father… but he hadn't known because Vexa and her Sith companions had intervened…
Ignis had a headache, and he put the weights away to move into a smaller, lockable room. Needing to calm himself, Ignis started to do the katas that Luke had taught him during Ignis' stay with the Skywalkers.
Ignis had always enjoyed doing these, and he mostly appreciated how in sync it made him feel with his whole self. But also, how— if he allowed it to— it brought him a sense of peace. Finally, it allowed him to focus; and right now, Ignis could use all of these things.
So, with the door locked, and with a series of commands to the panel beside the door, the small window shifted to the privacy setting. Ignis removed his armor and then walked to the center of the floor.
Breathing deeply, he started the katas.
Ignis finally allowed himself to start sifting through the jumble of emotions that Luke had stirred within the youth.
…my son… I love you…
Ignis closed his eyes. Anya had been the only person in his life since abandonment to tell him out loud that she loved him. Until Luke had said so. Ignis was more open to it from Anya because of their history together. But with Luke… and the circumstances of the revelation… Ignis didn't see the proclamation as a blessing right then. It was more of a slap in the face because Ignis truly saw himself as unworthy.
Your grandfather was Darth Vader… something whispered to him, and Ignis flinched. Even if he were to accept his lineage, and that was true, then it meant that Ignis was indeed worthy. He knew he had a long way to go to match Vader's level of evil. But still, Ignis had to allow himself to feel worthy…
And he was not ready to do that.
…You are my son… I love you…
..."Y-you don't want me?... No. Not anymore." …
Ignis shrank from the two opposing parental declarations, even as they continued to bounce around his head and heart.
…You are my son… I love you…
..."Y-you don't want me?... No. Not anymore." …
Ignis' agitation only grew, and he tried to focus on something else, but the runaround was causing him to not be able to think clearly. And yet, in that chaos, perhaps there were more nuggets of truth than he would have liked to admit.
Such as, that— perhaps irrationally— it was his fear that Luke and kin would openly welcome Ignis, forgiving all despite what he had done in his lifetime, and especially to the Skywalkers.
Ignis didn't want them to try sugarcoating his past and pretend like it didn't happen, because it had. He had been working under duress, yes, but he had still done terrible things, and had helped horrible things occur.
Ignis' headache was growing worse, and he wondered why he was being so hard on himself about the issue. Yes, he felt unworthy, and yes he was afraid that the Skywalkers would jut forgive him… but was that such a bad thing?
Ignis stopped the katas, realizing that he was not finding it a peaceful experience today. Sighing heavily, Ignis gave up on the forms and instead sought out the far corner, which was slightly darker than the others, since it was furthest from the light source.
He was honestly confusing himself with the mental back and forth, and he chose to simply sit and do absolutely nothing. That had honestly been the most soothing thing he could do on many days. It allowed his mind to do its thing without him acting on anything, and eventually it would settle, and Ignis would be able to…
Ignis… I need you…
Ignis sat bolt upright as Anya's weary, and seemingly desperate plea reached his heart and mind in the Force. He recalled that Vexa had Anya somewhere, and Ignis had been able to find absolutely no trace of where she might be. She wasn't at the castle on Boz Pity, though she had been before Luke had arrived. She had been relocated… but to where?
Ignis hated that he didn't know and was not able to go looking for her.
Unable to do anything more, Ignis reached back for her in the Force, following the trail back to where it had come from. But when he got a certain distance, the trail jumbled with other things, and he was unable to trace it further.
Ignis clenched a fist… then relaxed, going all but limp against his corner. His hands itched to do something… and he didn't want it to be exercise, plus he no longer wanted to sit numbly. Ignis had a thought and rose to his feet. After swiftly donning his gear once more, Ignis returned to his quarters and drew out a drawing pad he had purchased but not yet used. Not once in his time under the squid had Ignis felt like drawing anything.
But now, squid-free and once more feeling emotions that needed an appropriate outlet, Ignis put his stylus to the page and let loose.