3 Months Later
Aurora's POV
Location: Akiva
I groaned in annoyance as I walked through the market. It was my 2nd week here, and I hated it deeply. Since I found out my brother was kept in carbonate as an infant, and that my grandmother was a shady bitch, I started to distance myself from Alex, and be quieter than I usually was. He knew what I was going through, but he also knew not to pry…he understood it in his own way, and for that I was grateful, as he got me through a rough patch, but that still didn't mean I didn't want to watch the galaxy burn.
As I walked through the market, I carefully glanced over to one of the vendors being robbed. Normally, I would stop it…but right now, I needed to worry about myself, and not about saving everyone. Not only was I still wanted by the Republic for multiple murders, but I was also wanted by the Republic for multiple war-crimes. In other words, everything I worked so hard to eradicate, during my time with the Jedi…has come back full force.
Maybe it's me finally avenging my mother's death. Maybe it's the fact that all the manipulation and lies I was told over the years finally got to me. Or maybe it was me finally snapping. I felt more depressed than I usually did, and all I could think about is what my life would've been like if I hadn't joined Death Watch.
I probably would've been bored out of my mind…attending Senate meetings, running the Council of Neutral Systems…my mother would probably still be alive…I'd probably be married by now…perhaps and arranged marriage…now that I think of it, I probably would have children by now as well. A chill ran down my spine at the thought of it. Gross.
I continued to walk through the market, until I got to the outskirts of town. To lay low for a while, and out of the Republic's eye, Alex decided to come and set up shop here…at least for the time being. The reason? We'd been hitting dead-ends with trying to find both Hemlock and my aunt…as I said before…I was depressed.
I carefully walked up the ramp of the ship and closed it behind me, as I walked down the corridor, dodging my starfighter. I rounded a corner to the cockpit and took the hood of my jacket off my head, before unzipping it and taking it off.
"Is that you?" I heard Alex's voice ask. His voice coming from the other corridor.
"Who else would it be?" I sarcastically replied as I took my coat off. I could hear his footsteps coming down the hall.
"Uh…Maul." He said with amusement.
"Funny." I murmured.
"I'll be here all week." He said rounding the corner but stopping in shock when he looked at me.
"What?" I asked in annoyance.
He sighed, looking down at his feet. "I know, it's been a month since you did it…but it still freaks me out."
I rolled my eyes. "Really?"
He shrugged. "You've been blonde for as long as I can remember, so for you to go and dye your hair…it scares the shit out of me…especially the fact that it's the same color your eyes are when you…go there."
I sighed and glanced at the small red strand of hair that was around my face. Yes, I dyed my hair. To avoid and lay low on the Republic's radar, I dyed my hair an amber color. It was a big change, it was the first time I had ever dyed my hair, so of course he was surprised…I can remember the day I did it.
1 Month Ago
I sighed as I looked over myself in the mirror. I did it. I dyed my hair. I can't believe I did it. For the first time ever…I didn't look like my mother. I looked…different. My blue eyes complemented my amber hair, and I didn't believe that the reflection in the mirror was myself. I took a deep breath before I stepped out of the bathroom. I headed back to the cockpit to see the familiar tunnel of Hyperspace.
"I did it." I explained.
Alex turned around. "Did what?"
As soon as he laid eyes on me, his jaw dropped. He felt the same way I did.
"What the fuck did you do to your hair?" He asked in disbelief standing up from his seat.
I shrugged. "I figured this could stall the Republic for a while…lead them away from placing me in a prison."
He slowly ran his fingers through my now red hair. He shook his head in disbelief. "I-I…I have no words."
"In a good way or a bad way?" I quietly ask.
"Uh….bit of both?"
I shook my head in disbelief and took a seat in the co-pilots chair, knowing that he'd get use to my new hair color eventually.
Present Day
"That's what you're calling my alter ego, 'me going there?'" I ask in disbelief.
"It's better than calling you 'The Devil'." He said with a smirk.
Anger filled my body as I glared at him.
His smirk dropped upon seeing my reaction. "Calm down, bad things worse, bad things worse…they're gold again."
Knowing he meant my eye color; I took a deep breath and closed my eyes trying to control my anger. I won't lie, I have been practicing…but it hasn't been easy. I started trying to imagine a calm blue body of water…but every time I imagine that I immediately get transported back to Wasskah and I remember holding Kalifa's dead body in my arms. I then tried remembering something from my childhood, but all I remember is being brainwashed while in Death Watch. After that failed, I tried remembering something happy from my adult life…which led me to remembering the good times I had with my mother, which then led me to remembering…well…you know.
"Sorry." I murmured as I opened my eyes once again.
"It's fine, but I have something that'll make your day." He began.
"What?" I ask in confusion.
"I've got a lead on Hemlock." He said with a small smile.
My eyes widened in shock. "You're kidding me, right?"
He shook his head. "I'm not, one of my contacts told me they found him."
"Where is he?" I asked.
"Cantonica…evidently the place he's been hitting up in the outer rim is Canto Bight…he's been in the casino gambling his credits away." He explained as he sat down in the pilot's chair. "Take a seat and strap in, we're going to meet my contact."
"Can we trust this guy?" I ask as I did what I was told.
"Out of all of the people I do business with…this one is the only person I'd take a bullet for, who's not you or your brother." He explained.
I gave him a nod as the ship took off. After 20 minutes, exhaustion overtook me, and most likely fell asleep, because the next thing I remember was hearing a voice.
"Ro." Alex's voice began.
I slowly opened my eyes. "Mhm."
"We're here." He explained.
"How long was I out?" I asked as I slowly stood up from my seat.
He shrugged. "A couple of hours."
I walked over to my jacket, zipped it, and just as I was about to pull the hood over my head, Alex put a hand up.
"You won't need that where we're going…they already know who you are." He explained.
"But I-." I began.
"You won't need it." He said with a smile.
I frowned in confusion and released the hood, letting it fall. I was so confused…if someone saw me…if a Republic officer saw me, I'd be dead, and I know he'd do anything to protect me…but him saying to not hid myself…made me extremely cautious of the situation we were about to get into. I followed closely behind him through the small town. Cantonica was mainly a desert planet for the most part, but within other parts, such as Canto Bight, and this town, they were extremely civilized, and the climate was almost artificial in some ways. I won't lie, I've been to Cantonica many times over the years, so I knew my way around the planet, but something about being here right now, made a chill run down my spine. Something about being in the open, rubbed me the wrong way. Unlike other cities in Cantonica, the one the two of us were walking through felt somewhat…safe. There were children running around, people smiling and laughing, and people walking freely without clenching their weapon. We continued down various streets until we came across a standalone home, designed in typical Cantonican fashion. Alex entered the code and opened the door for me.
"We can't just barge in." I explained with hesitance.
He gestured for me to follow him. "Trust me, they won't mind."
I sighed as I walked in. The house was nice, well-kept…something I wouldn't expect for someone who is middle-class and living on this planet.
"Corv!" Alex shouted. "We're here!"
My grip tightened around my blaster on my waist as the figure known as 'Corv' came into view. He was tall, about Alex's height, with short dark brown hair. Upon seeing Alex, his stone-cold face, morphed into a smile.
"Lex!" He exclaimed as he engulfed him into a hug.
I frowned in confusion. I knew Alex trusted this guy…but could I trust this guy.
"Where's Kandria?" Alex asked.
"Correlia, visiting friends." 'Corv' explained.
Just as Alex was about to reply footsteps were heard overhead.
"Incoming." Alex smirked.
My frown grew as I became more confused, as a small child ran down the stairs.
"Uncle Lex!" She screamed as she leaped into his arms.
"Raya!" He said in the same tone catching her and giving her a hug. "Did you miss me?"
The girl smiled and nodded before looking over to me. She turned back to 'Corv'.
"Daddy, who is that?" She asked pointing to me.
"A friend of mine." Alex explained.
"She looks scary." The girl whispered.
"I know she does. But don't worry, she's not as scary as she looks." Alex smiled putting the girl down. "Why don't you go say hi."
Raya nodded before carefully walking over to me. She looked up at me, and I crouched down to meet her height.
"Hi, I'm Raya." She said quietly. "You're Uncle Lex's friend?"
I gave her a small smile. "I am. I'm Aurora, but you can call me Ro."
She looked me over before a small smile came across her face.
"You're pretty." She stated.
I let out a small laugh. "Thank you."
"Daddy says you're a Princess, a real one…is that true?" She asked.
I smiled and nodded. "I am."
The girl smiled before running over to 'Corv' and whispering something, he gave her a small nod before taking off back up the stairs.
"It is so nice to finally meet you, Lex has told me so much about you." 'Corv' explained.
I frowned. "I wish I could say the same."
'Corv' frowned as he turned to Alex. "You didn't tell her about me…you are the galaxy's shittiest brother."
My eyes widened. "Brother?" I asked in disbelief.
'Corv' smiled as he stepped forward and extended a hand. "I'm Corvus, Corvus Vizsla…Alexsandr's smarter, and better-looking, older brother."
I look to Alex in annoyance, and he shrugged, before turning back to Corvus. He looked nothing like Alex…he looked nothing like Alex's father…he must be a foundling…or half-brothers…either way, I'm extremely confused.
"Aurora." I replied warmly shaking his hand. "How are you two brothers?"
"I was a foundling." Corvus explained gesturing to the living room furniture. Alex and I took a couch and Corvus sat across from us. "Before our mother married Pre-Vizsla and had Alex, I was her son. She found me abandoned on Galidraan, and took me in."
"I never heard of you." I explained. "You weren't in Death Watch."
He shook his head. "I never was. After Alex was born, our father divorced our mother…my mother took me, and our father took Alex…hence why he's so…fucked up."
I smiled. "You're not wrong on that."
"Hey!" Alex protested.
I shrugged before turning back to Corvus.
"My mother and I ended up back on Galidraan for a while before moving every few years…before she was killed in a Death Watch bombing…so I ended up moving here, where I met my wife…who wishes she was here…she'd love to meet you." He explained.
"I had no idea." I explained. "But it's a pleasure to meet you."
He smiled and nodded. "You as well." He then passed me a data pad. "I have something for you."
I frowned in confusion and grabbed the data pad, and what immediately pulled up was photos of Hemlock inside of the casino in Canto Bight.
"They're recent." Corvus explained. "Alex told me you want him dead."
"That doesn't even begin to describe what she wants to do." Alex explained.
"I assume you know why?" I asked looking up at Corvus.
He shrugged. "The main points. He's been there every single night the past two weeks…he seems depressed."
I huffed in amusement. "Join the club."
"Getting to him is going to be difficult. He always has guards around him, but I have contacts inside of the casino that can help us get in." Corvus continued.
"Us?" Alex and I both asked at the same time.
"Us." Corvus nodded. "I haven't seen any action in years…I need to see something."
"I'm fine with that…but you can't turn into 'you know who'." Alex explained looking at me.
"I won't go 'you know who'." I sighed with an eyeroll.
"You know who?" Corvus asked.
"Her eyes turn gold...lots of blood…lots of murder...happens when she's angry…usually when she's violent." Alex explained. "Comes from the same thing that allows her to move things with her mind."
I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "I have no problem with you helping me, but just know this."
"What?" Corvus asked.
"I will stop at nothing, to get the information out of Hemlock…even if it means killing him in the end." I explained.
"Deal." Corvus replied.
I smiled and nodded. "Good, we go tonight…I want to know why I was kidnapped. The sooner I find that out, the sooner I can kill my aunt."
A/N:
Corvus Vizsla's faceclaim is Rege-Jean Page.
