Wookiee Gunner

Med Bay

Ryssa sat waiting for the Healer, as they called them. She wanted this to start as soon as possible and get it done. The door opened, Kina Ha entered, followed by a tall rutian Twi'lek. She could not see if she was Jedi or not but she carried a large ornately carved wooden box.

"Arligan has explained what happened to you, as he was there and felt the disturbance in the living force."

"So I'm told." Ryssa replied, "What's in there?" She nodded at the box.

The Twi'lek opened the box to reveal three multi coloured flower shaped crystals, set into dark blue velvet.

"They're healing crystals. We use them to help us heal the most extreme cases. They magnify our power."

"There should be five," noted Ryssa, there were two indentations in the box but no crystals.

"The Empire has the other two. But these will suffice. We will need only one."

Ryssa was sceptical; she had been told what Jusik did for Fi but he had not been able to do anything for her.

"Lie down my dear. We need to put you into a healing trance."

"This never worked before. Jusik tried it."

"We'll see."

Ryssa pulled her legs up and lay on the bed.

"Relax and close your eyes." The Twi'lek said.

As Ryssa closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders, she shuffled to get comfortable.

"Are you comfortable?"

"Yes." She almost snapped and then felt a cool hand rest on her forehead.

.

Kashyyyk

"When I left Irmenu, they thought I had nothing with me but I took the necklace and bracelet, as I already had them for someone else." Vau looked over A'den's shoulder, seeing someone from his past, just like Kal did sometimes.

A'den had never seen him like this before.

"Ryssa's mother had the necklace because I gave it to her. I met her before Galidraan. It was a messy job on Coruscant, I was wounded. There were a few bystanders, who accidentally saw me. The others looked scared and ran but she didn't. She jutted her chin out defiantly, almost daring me to talk to her."

A'den listened intently, surprised at seeing a hint of a smile.

"So I did. And things progressed. She was fiercely intelligent, not scared of me. Accepted most of my foibles and she was beautiful. She was a welcome distraction from the hunting, even accepting Mird when I first acquired him. Then…."

A'den couldn't understand the look on Vau's face at that time

"What?"

"She became pregnant. Which was not in my game plan."

"And?"

"The relationship was fraught after that. She did not accept my arguments in respect of my family, where bloodline is everything. My mother was essentially a breeder for my father. If he knew I had a child, that child would not be safe from him. He would wish to take it, raise it and I could not wish that experience on anyone else."

Vau's eyes narrowed. He hated his father.

"You wanted her to get rid of the child?" A'den asked, rising slightly from his seat ready to deck the chakaar if what he thought was right.

He waved him back down.

"Of course not. The child was innocent in all this. But I kept my distance. I visited a few times then when Jango called and offered Kamino, it became easier."

"Did he know?"

"Yes but he was the only one. And Kal definitely did not know."

He twisted the bracelet around his wrist, "This is for Neryssa, when I tell her who I am and how I failed her but there is no way my family can know that she is my daughter."

A'den raised an eyebrow; he wasn't sure how Kal'buir would take this.

"No telling her, no telling Kal, until I've told her. And that will be when I decide."

A'den frowned.

"Tayli'bac?" Demanded Vau.

"Tayli'bac!" Confirmed A'den.

.

Wookiee Gunner

Med Bay.

"Ryssa, you can open your eyes now."

She blinked, not realising her eyes had been closed for any length of time.

"Is there a problem?"

"No. Everything is fine."

"But you didn't do anything."

"My dear, you've been under for three hours and my back is telling me I need to sit down—and soon." Kina Ha explained.

Ryssa looked at her chrono. She had been here for just over three hours and now she felt the stiffness in her own shoulders and back.

The Twi'lek held out a hand towards her, Ryssa clasped the cool hand and swung her legs back.

"It went very well, once we found the trigger."

"I'm sorry. I'm rude. I didn't ask your name."

"Tann Doneeta. Call me Tann. Don't worry you were scared."

Ryssa knew she had been scared, scared it wouldn't help, scared that nothing would help but now she felt more confident.

"You need to get plenty of sleep. You may get vivid dreams. That's your memories pushing through. They may not make sense, so do not worry about them. Tomorrow we will put you in a healing trance to let them sort themselves. We could even use taste and smell as prompts."

"Yes, yes." Kina Ha butted in "that would be ideal. Continue!" She waved her hand.

"The following day we will use the crystals again, until you start remembering of your own volition." Tann continued.

Ryssa nodded. This made more sense to her.

"Any headaches, come straight to me. Anytime understand?"

"Yes."

"Don't struggle through them!"

Ryssa shook her head, "I won't."

Tann watched her closely.

"I won't." She reiterated.

"Good. I think it's time to eat and you definitely need some water. You look a bit pale."

"I do feel tired."

Tann cocked her head to one side and looked at her, eyes narrowing for a split second before she smiled broadly.

Ryssa noticed her teeth had been filed, in the old fashioned way. It gave her an aggressive look compared to her demeanour.

"Come!"

Ryssa stood, swayed a little then followed the two healers out of the room, feeling more hopeful with every passing minute.

.

Kashyyyk.

Sev followed the female through the trees; she climbed, walked along the large beaches and swung between them like a native. She knew her way through them, finding the shortest way possible. Sev followed, curious.

"You say they aren't the Empire?" He growled at her.

"Not as far as I can see. A couple of Mandalorians but you can never tell whose side they're on until the last minute. Then you could be dead."

Some would say Sev was a Mando boy but he had never thought of himself like that. Not like Omega or the Nulls. He was just RC1307-Sev- part of Delta Squad. But he wasn't even that now.

What was he?

A deserter.

He pushed that thought out of his head. That was a Fi thought. Wonder where he is now? They had their suspicions that he didn't die.

The female stuck out her arm, gesturing to him to stay back. She had seen something. He stopped immediately.

"Empire!" She ground out, making herself smaller, almost invisible.

Sev did something similar, although it was difficult due to his size.

They remained perfectly still, watching as the Stormtroopers walked below them.

Mongrels— he thought, from the way they walked and interacted with each other— not clones.

They both watched as the troopers made their way along the path beneath them; they wore the new armour, which by the looks of it and the results he had seen when he took some out, was not as good as the Katarn, not even as good as the Troopers Phase two.

"Meat cans." He shook his head. That fits them perfectly. He wondered how much they could actually see. He needed to get hold of one to check their blind spots, he was fairly sure they had one just by the design. Useful for close combat to know that.

"You okay clone?"

"The name's Sev. And yes. But I want to get hold of one of those helmets."

Just as he said that, there was blaster fire from below. They headed along the branches to it and dropped onto the path, they crept along. Then the scrawny female stopped.

"Ya' got your wish." The squad of troopers lay on the ground in various forms of dismemberment. Sev wasn't squeamish but this was a little too close to him. He pulled the helmet off the closest. It confirmed what he already knew, they weren't clones.

He clipped it to his belt. They had kept that part of the kit.

.

Wookiee Gunner

Ryssa ate but still felt tired. Tann examined her.

"There's nothing I can detect yet." She said as she switched off the scanner, "perhaps it may just be the treatment. You should rest."

"Yes. I think I will. Get some sleep."

She wandered back to her room, showered and climbed, drained, into the bed. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

.

Den was facing the wall.

"Are you OK?"

The pain exploded across her face.

The force sent her sprawling along the floor.

"What were you doing with him?"

She shuffled backwards away from him.

"Answer me!"

She needed to get away from him now.

"Answer me!"

He loomed over her.

"I don't know what you mean."

She was running fast down alleys—Coruscant.

Then, she was in a medical room looking for Bacta patches.

"Is that you Ryssa? " a familiar voice shouted.

Coric!

"What the Fek happened to you?"

"Tripped over a rug at home."

She felt the cool Bacta patches on her skin.

"Well, there's nothing broken, it's just very badly bruised. You'll have a good shiner tomorrow."

She yelped in pain when she hit the floor.

"You've injured something else, get back up here. Now where does it hurt."

"Right hip."

She slipped her trousers off and lay on the bed on her side, while he scanned it.

"Again no break but badly bruised."

More Bacta.

"You must have gone down really hard. I'll get you some pain meds. It'll help you sleep."

"I'll stay here tonight."

"I can stay with you if you want."

.

Ryssa shot up in the bed, sweat dripping off her, the thin sheets wrapped around her legs; she shook them away. The images and feelings from the dream, memories she thought, were still vivid in her mind.

She fetched some water, pulling on a robe to counteract the chill and sat down trying to make sense of what she assumed to be memories but not ones she expected. She looked at the chrono, it was still early; she'd only been asleep a couple of hours. She should try and sleep again.

She lay down and started the breathing exercises Tann recommended.

An hour later she was still wide awake.

"I need to get out of here." The dream had troubled her. She dressed, pulled on a coat and headed away from her quarters.

It was just getting light and she wasn't entirely sure where she was heading, but as she walked the Wookiee Gunner became smaller and there were less buildings until finally there were none and she was away from any built up areas near to where the ship had landed; areas that had been devastated during the clone wars. She managed to find a small hill and she climbed it, finally reaching the top, where she sat and looked out.

Finally she could breathe easily.

.

Tann had breakfasted well and headed to the Medbay; she was optimistic about the treatment, as there had been no side effects as yet. She was going to undertake the next part without Kina Ha, as it had taken it out of the elderly Jedi but once started, it would be easier to pick up.

Pushing open the door ready to greet her patient, the room was empty. She had not sensed the young woman there.

Probably catching up on sleep she surmised.

She set about setting up everything ready and catching up on some patients; there was always plenty to do. From routine child check ups to serious operations. She finally finished an hour later and still had no patient. She tried to sense her in the force but could not find her close by. She was not on the base.

Tann was logical, she headed out to her quarters first just to make sure she hadn't fallen asleep, or Force forbid had some reaction to the treatment.

It was only a small pod and it was empty but she could see no com link left behind, so hopefully she should be able to find her.

"Ryssa! Where are you? Is there anything wrong?"

Tann waited for a reply; the comlink was working, so now she was getting worried. She headed to disturb Kina Ha and Arligan, they may have an idea where she is.

.

Ryssa didn't know how long she had been here but she had finally processed it. Her medical training kicked in; logically it was only one memory and what she could remember about how memories are stored and retrieved, it wasn't linear. There could be other things, other memories—she hoped. But she needed to be sure.

The man, A'den, she was drawn to was violent and the other man she knew looked after her.

It did not seem right, and she wanted it to be wrong but she had always made bad choices in her partners and perhaps….. this was just another bad choice. But she needed to see this through, either way.

She had to go back.

Standing up, she stretched, liking the open air much more than the artificially created Coruscant, she took a deep breath and headed back down the path she vaguely remembered walking up in the predawn.

.

Tann was walking towards Kina's quarters when her com pinged.

"Ryssa?"

"Yes— you called me?"

"Where are you?"

"Not sure exactly but I'm on my way back!"

"Are you hurt?"

"No….I just needed some time to process something."

"Can you find your way back?"

"Yes!"

Tann heard the irritation in the reply.

"I had a bad dream, memories I think. Are you in Medbay?"

"Yes…."

The com closed.

Tann headed back to the med bay, so far it would appear to be working.

.

Tann was waiting for her.

"How are you feeling?"

"Unsettled."

Tann nodded, "Understandable. There may be worse to come."

"I know but I can't leave it just like that."

"If you're okay. We'll continue with the program and complete the meditation today. Let the memories coalesce in your consciousness and hopefully the dreams won't be as vivid."

"Yes. Okay." Ryssa was determined to see this through now and lay down on the gurney.

"Now…"Tann's soothing voice started, "relax, let all your muscles relax. Just imagine them relaxing and now count down from three hundred - two hundred and ninety nine - two hundred and ninety eight - two hundred and ninety seven." Ryssa counted with her.

.

Kyrimorut

A few days later.

L'leth still did not trust Jilka and the last time she had done this she had nearly been caught but now she was certain that Jilka was with Corr, in her room. L'leth could not understand why they weren't already sharing unless of course, Jilka wasn't intending to stay.

She wound her way through the woods. Jaing had already told her she shouldn't be out here alone or unarmed. But she had her knife and she had grown up on Ryloth, which had plenty of dangerous animals, both four and two legged.

She smiled as thought about Jaing. He had finally spoken to her last night and he was so nervous, which was totally unlike him. He had said to let him know when she was ready. But when he kissed her, it felt so right and Hardcase had been gone a while now. She would never forget him. She had Casey. Casey liked Jaing, which was a plus. If he had said no, she would have sadly refused Jaing. But now she had already made the decision; he didn't know yet as he was still working on that droid and she did not want to disturb him.

He was frustrated with it.

She was here now, this was definitely the area. She looked around just to make sure and looked up at the old tree.

Yes. There were the malformed branches near the top.

L'leth walked around, looking for the hole, it was just above shoulder height but it was an optical illusion you couldn't see it. She dragged her hand around the trunk of the tree. Her hand reached in.

"Yes!" She said and pulled the comlink out.

She examined it.

Not a standard civilian issue, as far as she could see.

L'leth was so intent on the comlink, she didn't hear the rustle of the undergrowth or the blaster fire that struck the top of her lekku and chest. She dropped like a stone.

The comlink was retrieved from her hand.

She was left to the elements.

It was forecast to be a very cold night.

.

Kom'rk's head shot up, "That was blaster fire."

Ordo's head had gone up at the same time.

"Anybody on designated target practice, or hunting?" Demanded Ordo, reverting to GAR Captain mode.

""No!" Replied Kom'rk. "Nothing today. I'll get onto Rav."

"Check the perimeter defences." He ordered, "I'll get Buir, not sure if he would have heard it."

Ordo was on his com as he left.

"Checking!" Confirmed Kom'rk, his finger skimming along the keyboard of the terminal he was at.

Kal looked up anxiously at the figure of his son striding through to the Karyai. He had just been going through the numbers with Kad and Casey. You could never start too early and he made it a game for them.

"Blaster fire, Buir. We're checking it now."

"Osik!"

"Buir!" Ordo admonished him.

"Elek! Didn't have my buy'ce on. Hearing's shot." He rose, Besany had seen her husband enter and took the children off him. He nodded to her.

"Sitrep now!"

Minutes later they were all assembled and Rav was on the holocom.

"None of the boys are out hunting or practising Kal. Our perimeters did not see anyone new around. And we're not expecting anyone. We're on full alert now. We'll warn you if we see anything. Out."

"Thanks Rav."

"Nobody was scheduled for target practice. The perimeter defences didn't identify any intruder. Unless it's a species we have never come across before and unlike anything we have seen before." Kom'rk updated.

"Armoury's intact. Nothing missing."

"Headcount?"

"We have a missing person —L'leth." Mij declared.

"Okay. Search the compound all locked doors and rooms everywhere."

Kal watched Jaing's face; he may be getting old but he wasn't totally stupid and he knew his son had feelings for the girl, especially more recently.

It was blank.

He put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find her son."

Jaing nodded.

.

Jaing was beginning to get anxious, L'leth had been missing all afternoon. Casey had been with Kad and Laseema and everyone else was accounted for. They had done the search twice and she was not at Rav's and had not been there or planned to go there.

Laseema was the last one she spoke to, saying she was going to pick some of the blackberries that they could preserve but didn't want to take Casey, as he always tried to eat them and they upset his stomach.

She could have used a blaster but he knew she preferred a knife and none were missing.

Kal was pacing. "It's at times like this, when that Fekking Strill is essential. Have they got anything yet?"

They had Scout and Jusik trying to locate her despite them trying not to use the Force too much, especially after the red blade incident.

Jusik came in,"We think we've got an idea where she is but we need to be quick, it's going to get even colder tonight."

Scout and Jusik led the way, Jaing insisted on going together with Prudii and Kom'rk. Mij prepped their little medical centre.

"How much further?" asked Jaing as the Jedi stopped to re orient themselves. Kom'rk scanned ahead.

"It's getting dense out here, ner vod. What was she doing out here?"

"I don't know." Admitted Jaing. "She didn't say anything last night."

"I know where she is," shouted Scout running into the undergrowth.

The men ran after her, she was faster than she looked, using the force.