Chapter 40
Keres hadn't moved from the trunk of the tree since she arrived on the unknown world. She flitted in between wakefulness and slumber. The roughness of the bark kept her from passing the threshold of dreaming. It poked into her back, scraping her arms at her sides. It was a mild annoyance to Keres, but she found herself too exhausted to do anything about it.
For the first time since her creation, she remained still, soaking in her surroundings. Sunlight trickled through the overbrush, speckling warmth across her cheeks. She heard wind rustling the trees, upsetting the leaves and swaying the long stems of flowers. In the distance, waves swept across a beach. Hints of tropical flowers and sea salt tickled her nose, reminding her of the island.
A bush to her right shook. Keres assumed the sound belonged to a wild critter, until hushing whispers followed. She kept her eyes shut, but tightened her hand into a fist. The darkness in her mind bristled, like a cat up on its haunches, eyeing its prey. Keres did nothing. She'd wait for the intruders to make the first move and hoped dearly they meant no harm. All the while, the darkness festered, too weak to force her hand.
A paw grazed her arm before being yanked away.
"And what, pray tell, do you think you're doing?" One of the voices spoke clear enough for Keres to understand. It came from someone trying and failing to whisper. They were succinctly shushed in response. The corner of Keres' mouth twitched upwards.
Something replied, with words and squeaks she couldn't understand.
"She's gotta be a castaway," a child replied, a little girl that couldn't have been over ten years of age.
She'd been discovered by a child. An innocent, harmless child, somehow not repulsed by the sight of a monster. Between Keres' torn clothes, purple stained arms with darkness creeping through her veins, and eyes so gold they almost seemed to glow… She couldn't blame the apprehension others showed her. If anything, she accepted it. It was her burden to wear. The price for her mistakes. This way, everyone knew she was something to avoid. Well, everyone except a little girl with no self preservation skills.
Keres' eyes opened.
The group gasped, scrambling back before Keres could see them. Pale green flashed in her peripheral vision. She sat up, looking over to see that the green belonged to a lanky creature. It ran away screaming, its arms flailing in the air. Keres sighed. She'd been awake for less than a minute before someone ran away screaming. It had to be a new record.
The same child from before cleared her throat and Keres looked down. She was right, the voice belonged to a little girl. A tiny thing, with straight black hair and full brown eyes that took up most of her face. Despite her size, she stood right at the trunk of the tree, plump arms crossed over her pink dress with white leaves patterned over it. Even with Keres staring back at her, she didn't flinch, unlike her green companion that had abandoned her.
"You're not from around here, are you?" the little girl asked. It sounded accusatory rather than rooted in concern.
The corner of Keres' mouth twitched upwards. She swung her legs off the side of the trunk. "What gave it away?" she asked, not seeing the reason in trying to lie.
The girl tilted her head far enough that Keres wondered if she was trying to view her upside down for some reason. "I'm pretty good at picking up on these things," she replied rather matter of fact.
Keres huffed out a laugh.
They stared at each other a moment longer until the girl's taut frown softened and she nodded. "Yep, she passes."
A look of puzzlement contorted Keres' face. She looked around, wondering who the girl was talking to.
"I'm Lilo!" the girl said, her hand pressed over her chest. She beamed and held out her hands beside her. "And this is Houdini!"
Nothing but loose leaves sat where Lilo showcased, a fact Lilo picked up on and she cupped her hand around her mouth and whispered. "It's ok, she's the good kind of castaway."
With a sparkle, a creature the same size as Lilo appeared from thin air. Its black shiny eyes somehow outmatched Lilo's. They were as wide as can be, while the rest of its furry body trembled; a reaction Keres was more accustomed to. It stared up at her, its red nose twitching and long ears lowered behind its back. Whatever it was, Keres found it absolutely adorable.
"So, you two found me," Keres said.
"Well, Pleakley was here, too," Lilo corrected, swaying back and forth on her heels. "He's the one that ran away screaming." She sighed. "He does that."
A laugh bubbled out of Keres. "What were you guys wanting from me?"
Lilo put up a finger. "That's classified."
Of course it was. Those words would have been strange coming from any other child, but Lilo? No, that seemed par for the course for a little girl with nerves of steel. Keres pursed her lips. "How old are you?"
"It's not polite to ask people that." Lilo said. "That's what my older sister told me when I asked Mrs. Pooth. She's my art teacher at school, but I'm pretty sure she's been around a long time."
As she talked, Keres looked out into the forest, wondering who let their child loose in the wild. Lilo had a lot to say and Houdini just listened. Its floppy ears lifted the longer she talked. Their length made him twice the height of Lilo and even more adorable.
"Lilo," Keres lifted her hand, cutting in on Lilo's monologue about each and every time she asked someone their age, "could you just tell me where I am?"
"My backyard," Lilo replied with such a deadpan tone, Keres assumed she had to be kidding. She pointed further into the forest and Keres followed the direction. Sure enough, in the distance she saw the makings of a structure constructed with pale blue wood hidden amongst the flora. "But if you're asking about the planet," Lilo continued, "you're in Hawaii. I think Jumba said it's in quadrant fifty-one? Yeah, that sounds right."
Hawaii. She'd been there before. Memories flashed through her mind. Dried up lava fields as far as she could see. Creatures scattered around, each one with a strength and ability to ward off the Organization. She held her gun to Saix's head, but didn't pull the trigger. She reunited with Riku and they… The darkness laughed in her mind, growling with pleasure as she stamped down the memory and swallowed the lump forming in her throat.
"I…" Keres started to talk, forcing herself to think of something else. "I've been here before."
"Hawaii is popular with tourists," Lilo told her.
That brought a lightness in her chest and Keres huffed a short laugh. Of all the worlds to bring her, why did Saix choose here? Thinking that brought another realization. "Wait. You know about other worlds?" she asked.
Lilo looked over at Houdini, then back at Keres, nodding.
"He's not from Hawaii, is he?" Keres asked and both Houdini and Lilo nodded. "Right."
"How did you end up here?" Lilo asked.
"It's a bit of a weird story," Keres replied and Lilo sat down in the leaves, her chin resting in her palms. "No, no," she chuckled, "it's classified." She winked, a smirk growing when Lilo's eyes widened.
"That's not fair!" Lilo objected and Keres snickered.
"I think it's just as fair as you saying it to me." Keres leaned forward, bobbing her head along with the words.
Lilo huffed, not attempting to hide her disappointment.
"Lilo?" a woman's voice called from the house. "Lilo, I thought I told you to stay at the house!"
Lilo flattened on the ground. "Houdini, you gotta magic us away!"
Houdini blinked and Lilo blipped away from sight.
"The castaway, too," Lilo ordered and with another blink from Houdini, a tingling magic surrounded Keres.
She looked down at her hands, but didn't see them. The critter managed to make her invisible with a single blink. The woman from the house approached, her boots crunching the leaves underfoot.
"That's Nani," Lilo said, her voice closer than it was before. "She's my older sister."
"Why are we hiding from her?" Keres asked with a whisper.
"I'm… kinda grounded," Lilo admitted.
"Ah," Keres realized.
"She was right over here, Nani!" Pleakley walked into the clearing. He stood tall, his four legs pooled out around him. A single round eye took up half of his face and he used it to scour the area. "She found some sort of creature, I saw it with my own eye."
Nani walked in behind him and even without Lilo telling her about their relation, Keres would have guessed it. With a groan, Nani ran her hands through her black hair. "And this is why I said no more experiment hunting. But does anyone listen to me? No, of course not!" She stomped further into the forest and Pleakley scurried after her. "Lilo!"
"Oh, she sounds really mad this time," Lilo whispered once they were gone.
"Experiment hunting?" Keres asked.
"Mmhmm. There's six hundred and twenty six of them," Lilo explained. "Stitch and I used to go on all sorts of adventures to find them… But, he's not around anymore…"
Even without seeing her, Keres knew Lilo was slumped forward, her hands over her face. She reached out, touching nothing but air, until she felt the fabric of her dress. Lilo leaned into her, resting the side of her head on Keres' hand. It was an awkward reach for Keres, her arm fully outstretched just for a little girl to rest her head against her fingers, but it conveyed the support. Keres wasn't sure where it came from. She heard the quiver in her voice and she had the unmistakable urge to hug her.
"It sounds like Nani's trying to protect you," Keres said.
"Without Stitch here, she doesn't think I can do it," Lilo cried. "But I can! I'm fine without him!"
"Lilo…" Nani walked back into the clearing. The anger in her voice diminished and she looked around with softened eyes. "You have Houdini with you, don't you?" Her hand went to her chin. "What was that magic word…?"
Lilo didn't say anything and Keres watched with bated breath. She moved her leg back, trying to climb back over the trunk as silent as she could. Lilo being discovered was one thing, her being found in hiding with a terrifying stranger was another.
"Let's see…" Pleakley walked around, his amphibian-like fingers drumming together. "Oh! I know! Alakazoo!
Lilo and Houdini sparkled back into vision, but Keres remained invisible. She froze, not daring to make a sound.
"Oh Lilo," Nani went down to her knees, scooping Lilo into her lap, "I know you can do it. That's the part that scares me. You and Stitch looked out for each other. He'll be back before you know it and then things will go back to the way they used to be."
"But why'd he have to go?" Lilo asked amidst angry sobs. She buried her head in Nani's chest and Nani pulled her closer, hushing her with sweet whispers. "Does he not care about us anymore?"
"Oh, no, no, no," Nani assured with soft mothering words. "That's not it." She caressed Lilo's cheek, moving her hair behind her ear. "You know how much Stitch cares about you. He needed to go away for a little while because things are bigger than us sometimes."
"And," Lilo sniffled, wiping her cheeks, "someone else needed him."
"That's right." Nani booped her nose with her finger. "Come on, let's get you some dinner. I made pizza."
Lilo sniffled again, before asking, "With pickles?"
Nani's nose scrunched, though she kept smiling. "O-Of course! Of course with pickles."
"Can my new friend come, too?" Lilo asked and Keres went white.
She'd gotten invested. Tears caked her cheeks and she'd let down her guard. Before she could run, the magic released around her and Nani gasped, pulling Lilo and Houdini back.
"It-It's the monster!" Pleakley shrieked, running away screaming for someone called Jumba.
"Who are you!?" Nani yelled. She moved to stand and pulled Lilo behind her.
Keres put up her hands, shaking. "I'll go. Don't worry."
The darkness pulsed, it crept through her veins, urging her to attack. In the past, she would have. A scream, an accusation, that was all it took to incur her wrath. Not this time. She'd overstayed her welcome.
"No!" Lilo cried. "She's not a monster." She tugged away from Nani and moved between her and Keres. "She's lost. Just like Stitch was."
Keres looked at her. So that was the reason Lilo sought her out. Her heart ached and she sucked in a breath. "I'm not trying to cause any trouble. I'll leave."
She slid off the tree trunk and backed away. Lilo grabbed her arm.
"Lilo!" Nani yelled.
"Just let her stay for dinner!" Lilo pleaded, then looked up at Keres. "Please?"
Nani sighed, running her hand over her face. "Do you even know her name?"
Lilo looked up at Keres, both of her tiny hands gripping her arm. She had the sweetest smile, as if she had every confidence in Keres. It was almost too much for Keres to handle. She couldn't hold Lilo's stare and looked away, swallowing thickly.
"Keres…" she said eventually. "I'm. I'm Keres."
With another sigh, Nani said, "Alright. Are you hungry, Keres?"
Her stomach rumbled. She couldn't remember the last time she ate. The last time she slept in a proper bed or even took a shower. The darkness in her was still weakened… Maybe she could manage it for a night. Escape was only a Corridor away, considering her powers returned by then.
"I…" Keres started to say. "I don't like pickles."
Lilo giggled and Nani released a breath she'd been holding. "I have plain cheese pizza, too."
Keres laughed softly. She looked back at Nani, seeing the way her eyes analyzed her. Despite the apprehension, Nani offered her a chance, one Keres would do anything to make sure she didn't regret.
"I'd like that," Keres said and the moment the words were out, Lilo was pulling her towards her house.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I understood the part where you thought inviting a stranger over for dinner was a GOOD IDEA!" Pleakley yelled from the other side of the front door as Lilo fruitlessly pushed against it.
He'd seen them approaching the house and barricaded the entrance. Keres didn't know what to do. She stood at the porch stairs, watching everything unfold with a mixture of amusement and awkward guilt for being the one to cause it. Houdini stood beside her, silent and still. If it weren't for his massive ears swaying in the breeze out of the corner of her eyes, she'd have forgotten he was there.
Nani groaned into her hands, then pushed back her hair with a deep breath. "Pleakley," she said with a careful tone, "Lilo made a friend that needs some help. Doesn't that sound just a little bit familiar?"
"Yeah!" Lilo agreed. She stepped back from the door, her hands balled into fists. "We let you in our home!"
"And we all remember how that turned out, don't we?" Pleakley replied, peeking his head in the front window. "Fire, explosions, a visit from the Galactic Federation! We're still remodeling from the last time this house blew up. You want to invite MORE of that here?"
Nani looked to the side of the house. "Lilo?"
"On it." Lilo crawled under the railing of the porch and disappeared into the brush along the side of the house.
"Lilo," Pleakley said, "you're not planning on coming through the back door, are you? Lilo?" He scurried away further into the house.
Shaking her head, Nani turned around and leaned against the wall. It wouldn't be long until Lilo got in and opened the door, but the seconds passed at an agonizing pace. Crickets chirped, greeting the approaching night. It was dark enough to shine the light of dancing fireflies. Keres' gaze followed the trail of one in particular, for no other reason than to pass the time. Then it passed in front of Nani and Keres saw her eyeing her again.
Keres pretended not to notice. She knew well enough what she was, and Pleakley knew it, too. There was no reason to expect hospitality after everything, and the longer she stood there, the more she second guessed her agreement to stay there at all. She could slip away, escape into the forest and forage some food for herself. She managed it well enough on the various worlds the darkness led her to. This family didn't need her disrupting them, or worse, destroying them. The fire and explosions Pleakley fretted about weren't far off from the truth, and if she stayed long enough for her darkness to strengthen… She didn't want to think about it.
She stepped backwards, the wood creaking beneath her weight. Nani's eyes shot up to hers.
"Don't let Pleakley get to you," Nani told her. "He's scared of just about everything."
"He's… He's not wrong," Keres admitted. She swallowed hard, turning around. "Tell Lilo I'm sorry, but I should go."
She continued down the steps and Nani watched her go.
"She'll come looking for you," Nani said and Keres stopped.
"Isn't she supposed to be grounded?" Keres asked, looking over her shoulder.
Nani sighed. "It's never stopped her before."
Keres smiled at that and Nani walked down the steps.
"Look," Nani said, "Lilo's got some sort of crazy sense about people. When she says someone's got something worthwhile in them, she's right." She stopped beside Keres. "You can fight it all you want, and trust me," she sighed, "I have; but once she's set her sight on someone, there's nowhere on this entire island they can hide to get away from her. Whether we like it or not, she's going to help you."
That little girl didn't know what she was getting involved with, none of them did. Something soft and warm snuggled up against her leg. Looking down, Keres saw Houdini nuzzling her. She'd completely forgotten he was there. She patted his head, getting a purr in reply.
"I can't stay long," Keres said.
The smallest hint of a smirk teased Nani's face. "Fine with me."
Muffled yelling came from the house, followed by crashes and something shattering. Nani groaned and ran back towards the house. She joined in on the shouting, threatening consequences if she found anything broken when she got inside. The door burst open, with both Lilo and Pleakley falling out onto the porch with a thud. Even with the barricade gone, the bickering didn't stop. Nani ordered them back inside and then looked back at Keres.
"Still hungry?" Nani asked.
Keres nodded with a smile, but it fell once Nani turned and disappeared inside.
"Why are you wasting your time with them?" the darkness asked. Keres shivered. The weak hisses in its voice were gone. Already, it was regaining power.
"We… I need food," Keres replied with a hushed voice, turning away so the others wouldn't see her talking. "Besides, they weren't taking no for an answer."
The darkness chuckled, the sound drumming in her head. "We wonder how long it will take until they see the real you."
Keres' jaw tightened. "This is the real me."
The laugh grew and her head throbbed. Her vision warbled, the corners darkening. Keres sucked in a shuddering breath, the air around her going cold. She remembered the sensation, though it was fainter than before. She still had time.
"Just dinner," she whispered, regulating her breath. "Then I'm gone."
"Keres!" Lilo called from the house and all at once, the unsettling chill on Keres' skin shrank back under the warmth of hearing her name.
"Coming!" Keres turned and jogged back up the porch steps. She ruffled Lilo's hair as she went inside.
Moonlight danced through the sheer curtains over the window, illuminating the shimmering particles of dust in the air. Wind creaked through the trees outside, but inside the spare room, everything was silent. Keres laid in the bed, her hair still damp from the hot bath she'd taken.
She wasn't sure how it all happened. One moment, she sat at the bustling table, lost to the world as she bit into the warmest, cheesiest, most satisfying pizza she ever had in her life, then the next, she found herself being offered a spare room and an armful of Nani's old clothes. Every step of the way, she found more excuses as justification to go along with it.
The glass beads in James' bracelet turned under her fingertips. Chips and cracks marred their smooth surface. It was a miracle they hadn't shattered yet. Keres picked at the cracks with her nail, lost in her thoughts. For once, she didn't want to run.
There was something about the family, it drew her in. It was dysfunctional, chaotic, but also unconditional. Pleakley locking them out turned into a fond memory during dinner's discussions. Even the green alien himself warmed up to Keres once he realized she wasn't planning on smiting him. He still kept his distance though, and Keres didn't blame him.
They all welcomed her into their home. The only ones she still needed to meet were Jumba and the infamous Stitch. The name Jumba rang familiar. So much went on during her short stay in Hawaii back then, the entire place was a blur. But according to Lilo, Jumba created each of the experiments, including Houdini and Stitch.
She and Pleakley wove the tale for Keres over dinner about the diabolical scientist and his even more diabolical creations. Throughout the story, Keres couldn't quite grasp the concept that they welcomed a man like Jumba into their lives, knowing everything he'd done. The fact they opened their arms to her started to make sense and in doing so sprouted a seed of hope.
The darkness moaned and kicked like a petulant child not getting their way. It stooped to every low, barking and biting at every part of Keres' mind, telling her she couldn't have a home. If only they knew what she'd done. Keres heard the threats, but that's all they were. It held no true power over her… not yet.
A tiny hand knocked on her door. Keres sat up and said to come in. Fluorescent light streamed into the room as Lilo entered. She came over to the side of Keres' bed, holding a stuffed bear.
"I thought you might be lonely," Lilo said. She held out the bear. "So I brought you a friend!"
Keres accepted the bear. Its body slumped in her hands. Entire patches of its fur were worn away from years of love and snuggles. She ran her hand along its arm, noticing one of them firmer with mismatched threads stitching it back to the rest of the body.
"This is Mr. Fluffy Bear," Lilo told her. "Stitch ripped off his arm, but I fixed him."
A soft breath left Keres. "Thank you." She placed Mr. Fluffy Bear in her lap. "I'll keep him safe tonight."
Lilo shook her head. "He's your friend now."
Keres looked up at her. Lilo's tired, sincere face brought Keres back to the late night visits from Kairi growing up. She'd toddle into Hinata's room, sniffling about losing a flower she insisted on going to bed with, or wanting to sneak a stuffed animal into Hinata's bed without being noticed. Hinata always noticed… Or, Keres did. She wasn't sure those memories belonged to her.
"I…" Keres tried to talk. "I don't know if I should—"
"This is Scrump." Lilo held up another doll, constructed with thick green cloth. Two large button eyes took up most of its face, along with a thick brown yarn that stretched across its head in what Keres assumed to be its mouth. "I made her." She turned Scrump around and twisted a loose button into place. "She was my only friend before I adopted Stitch."
Stitch again. Keres wondered where he could have gone. He had to know how much Lilo missed him.
"Stitch helped me find out where I belong," Lilo continued, fidgeting with Scrump. Moonlight glistened off the welled up tears in her eyes. "I helped him, too."
Keres' fingers dug into Mr. Fluffy Bear. The urge to wrap her arms around Lilo returned. Such a little girl in so much pain, and Keres got the impression that Stitch's absence wasn't the only cause.
"Don't worry," Lilo said. "We'll figure out where you belong."
Belong. Keres clenched her jaw. This single child disarmed her so easily. In mere hours of meeting, Lilo had her questioning everything about herself and Keres wanted to give in. She could be better, and more, be accepted.
A sickening laugh throbbed through her head. "Sweet little nobody, thinks she's found her home…" The voice filled her ears and her thoughts. "We will destroy them."
The room disappeared before Keres, reforming into a nightmare. She stood at the bottom of the porch in the dead of night. The house was in flames, the embers traveling through the forest and igniting the brush. Lilo sobbed, screaming for her family. Keres' chest heaved. She could feel the blazing heat from the flames and Lilo's tiny fists hitting her, begging for her family back.
A squirt of water splashed across her face and Keres blinked rapidly, sputtering. She found herself back in reality, in the spare room, with Lilo standing in front of her holding a spray bottle.
"Snap out of it!" Lilo cried.
Keres wiped the water off her face and looked around. She stood on the complete opposite side of the room, her bedding strewn across the floor. Shattered glass from a picture frame glistened under the moonlight. "Did I… What did I…" she tried to form her words.
"Is everything ok?" Nani asked, knocking on the doorway. She gasped at the sight of the room.
"Keres had an episode," Lilo explained, tucking the spray bottle under her arm. "She's better now."
An episode… A crude, yet accurate way to describe whatever Keres just experienced. Everything had felt so real. Keres could swear she still smelled the smoke.
Her entire body trembled. "I'm. I'm so sorry."
Both Nani and Lilo assured her it was fine. Between Stitch's antics and the rest of the experiments, not to mention Pleakley and Jumba, a manic episode destroying a room was par for the course. Keres couldn't process anything they said. She walked around the room in a daze, picking up the bedding and placing it back on the bed, careful to avoid the shards of broken glass.
Once she was done, she walked past Nani and navigated the homey halls towards the front door. Lilo followed.
"If you're looking for the broom it's-"
Keres cut her off. "I'm not. I-I have to leave."
"What!?" Lilo cried. She scurried ahead and blocked the front door. "You can't leave!"
"Lilo," Nani tried to talk to her.
"We're gonna figure out where you belong, I promise!" Lilo kept pushing. "Just give me a chance."
"Look," Keres' throat tightened, her voice straining, "the longer I stay here, the worse I'll get. I-I thought I might be able to control it, but I can't. You need to let me go."
"Stitch couldn't control it either," Lilo said. "But he learned how to. He worked really hard at being good."
Keres choked out a laugh, followed by a sob. "I wish it worked like that for me, Lilo. I... I don't want to hurt any of you. Please."
Nani walked past Keres and knelt down to Lilo's level. "Sweetie—"
"How do you know it won't work?" Lilo asked.
"We need to let Keres make her own choice," Nani whispered, pushing back Lilo's hair.
Lilo pulled away from Nani and ran back to the spare room. Keres let out a breath, relieved Lilo gave in without much more of a fight. The front door opened, welcoming in a rush of warm night air. Nani stood beside it, holding it open.
"Whatever's going on," Nani said, "if you figure it out, you can always come back."
Keres walked to the threshold of the doorway. She gazed out into the night. "I've been running for a long time," she admitted to Nani. "This was the first time I felt like I wanted to stop."
"Maybe someday you can," Nani replied, shrugging with a smile when Keres looked over at her. "Lilo seems to think so."
"What do you think?" Keres asked.
Nani puffed out her cheeks then blew out the breath. "I've seen a lot of weird things. Like, really crazy, mind numbing things. Someone like you fits right in, more than you might think."
Keres' mouth thinned and she nodded. "Thank you, for taking me in."
"Ah, I wouldn't have heard the end of it from Lilo if I didn't." Nani waved her hand, rolling her eyes.
A soft laugh slipped from Keres. She shared a smile with Nani, then left. The porch stairs creaked, mixing with the sounds of the night. Nani watched her go, then shut the front door. Keres shut her eyes when she heard the lock click. It hurt. Her chest ached, but she continued forward. At least this way she could ensure their safety. All she needed to do now was lay low until her powers returned, then she could truly run away and leave this place behind.
The distant waves of the ocean beckoned her. With so many hours till daylight, the beaches were likely to be deserted. She could sit at the shore and listen to the waves, allowing them to lull her to sleep if she found a secluded enough hiding spot. So that's where she headed, using the sound of the waves to lead her there.
"We've gotten clearance to land," Ben said, his fingers clicking away at navigation. "There should be a dock awaiting our arrival."
Sam nodded. She turned the wheel at the Highwind's helm, beginning their descent towards Montressor Spaceport. Dozens of ships flew to and from the port, the roar of their thrusters filled Sam's ears. It was a sound she was well used to. The tinge of grease and metal filled her nose, mingling with the earthiness of dust as they approached the landing station.
The ship passed through the foggy atmosphere, revealing the port. Both Hinata and Ben rushed to the railing to watch the approach. Hinata spotted Sarah and Dr. Doppler amongst the crowd of aliens and waved. Sam didn't say anything, she went through the motions of landing. The engine powered down and the sails folded. Sam remained at the helm. She watched the others run down the ramp towards their welcome party. Even without any solid memory of Hinata, both Sarah and Doppler hugged her with beaming smiles.
Sam scanned the crowd around them, curious if they arrived alone. It seemed they did. A fleeting thought of her mom's whereabouts crossed her mind, but she shoved it aside. If she cared, she would be there. Releasing a breath, she got to work locking everything down. They'd be on Montressor for a day at least, and there was no telling what sort of shady characters could be roaming the port at night.
She took longer than necessary, triple checking the shields and door barriers. Not a single detail was out of place. Footsteps clanked up the ramp and she looked over to see Hinata. No doubt, she was worried about Sam. Or she was going to tell her they were all waiting on her. Either way, Sam knew she needed to move forward. It was her decision to start the search on Montressor, after all.
"Everything locked up?" Hinata asked. She went towards the door that led below deck, performing yet another check on its barrier. Without waiting for Sam's reply, she continued, "Sarah told me she has a room made up for us at the Benbo."
The Benbo was an expected stay, she wasn't sure why Hinata felt the need to come up and tell her that privately. Then Hinata turned around from the door, her eyes flitting around. There was something else.
"What is it?" Sam asked.
"It's…" Hinata blew out a breath and looked directly at Sam. "It's your mom. She'll be there. Sarah took her in after everything that happened. So Doppler offered to have you stay with him tonight, if you'd prefer that."
That explained where her mom was. The idea of it annoyed Sam. Yet again, her mom was relying on others to take care of her. Jim hadn't mentioned the situation to her at all during their calls. Did he know? Or was he keeping it hidden to protect her? Either option bothered her.
Hinata awaited her answer. She didn't pressure Sam either way and remained quiet. There wasn't much Hinata knew about her mom, but the fact she was able to glean so much from the lack of information seemed telling.
"I'll stay with Doc," Sam replied with a quiet voice.
"I'll let him know." Hinata smiled, but it didn't seem genuine. It was more of a worried attempt to comfort her than anything else. As she turned to leave, Sam thanked her for letting her know. That helped the smile soften.
Alone on the deck again, Sam gazed out at the starry cosmos. Ships scattered the sky, many of them embarking on their next journey. Ben called for her and she closed her eyes. She needed to move, but her legs didn't want to cooperate. The idea of facing their sympathetic, pitying stares… it caused her feet to feel like heavy lead. Then there would be the gentle shoulder touches that were meant to be comforting but in reality only made Sam wish she could fly away to somewhere a million lightyears away and surround herself with people that hadn't the slightest idea who she was and what she'd been through.
A button on her arm vibrated. It was subtle, nearly undetectable, but she installed it to serve as an alert for incoming communications. Lifting her arm, she pressed the button and her earpiece turned on.
"Yeah," she greeted.
"Hey," Lupe's voice came through the earpiece. "I was making my rounds by Velcia's pod and thought I'd check in."
The corner of her mouth tugged upwards. "Uh-huh, who told you to call me?"
Lupe feigned being shocked. "Whaaaat? Why would you—"
"Lupe," Sam said his name shortly.
"Hina," he answered, clearing his throat. "Hinata asked me to. She said you'd be on your own tonight."
Sam rubbed her head. "You both know I don't need a babysitter, right?"
"I know, I know," Lupe assured her. "Think of it this way— I'm a distraction."
She turned around, looking out towards the port. Ben kept Sarah and Doppler engaged with his wild antics, probably telling them about their latest adventures.
"From the scans, it looks like Montressor Spaceport must be packed," Lupe said. "How does it look?"
Sam chuckled, lifting her arm. With another press of a button, Lupe's hologram appeared. He spun around, a vibrant grin growing across his face. "Come on," she said with another sigh, heading towards the ramp.
Hinata's little plan worked and that detail wasn't lost on Sam. She shared brief greetings with Sarah and Doppler, but kept most of her attention on showing Lupe the spaceport. He asked endless questions, oohing and aahing over the ships and all the different aliens. Even the architecture impressed him. In the market, Ben poked his head into the conversation to relay stories of his time on Montressor and to point out the alleyway that led to Sam's old shop. That was the one time Sam's chest hurt. She'd have to face that in the morning.
They continued talking throughout the shuttle ride to Montressor and then in Doppler's carriage when he brought her back to his house. Having someone there to pour attention into helped more than she expected.
As the carriage reached its final stop, Sam told Lupe she'd check in later and looked out at Doppler's home. His kids were already running out of the house to greet them and her heart lightened. Perhaps being there for a night wouldn't be so bad.
The Benbo Inn was exactly the way Hinata remembered it. The large hearth filled the restaurant with golden warmth. White fabric covered each of the tables, set with fresh plates and glistening drinking glasses. Customers filled a few of the booths, their chatter and laughter bringing Hinata back to her days working there.
Sarah led the way in, telling her and Ben to make themselves comfortable before she disappeared through the kitchen door. Hinata went over to a small table beside a lattice-paned window and sat down. She and Doppler shared many meals in those exact seats. Ben didn't sit with her, instead he went around the inn with such excitement, Hinata found herself smiling as she watched him reminisce.
"Do you need a menu?" a meek voice caught Hinata by surprise.
She looked away from Ben to see a frail woman standing beside her table. Her turquoise eyes were the most striking thing about her. Thin brown ringlets of hair framed her freckled face. The waitress uniform hung loose around her body with the fabric bunched up above an apron tied around her waist. Hinata sat up and opened her mouth, then thought better of saying anything and nodded instead.
The woman handed her a menu then walked away with such small silent steps, it almost appeared as if she were floating. Hinata watched the waitress go to other tables. She had to be Sam's mom. The resemblance was there between the complexion and the bright turquoise eyes. She'd seen her in passing at James' funeral, though she never got the chance to talk to her.
"Is that her?" Ben asked, with what Hinata assumed he meant to be a whisper. He pulled out the other chair at the table and sat down. "That's Sam's mom, right?"
"I think so," Hinata whispered back. "I'm not a hundred percent sure it's our business either."
"Well if we're gonna find her dad, don't you think her mom should know about it?" Ben asked.
Hinata peeked over at Sam's mom to make sure she hadn't overhead Ben. "I mean, that's really up to Sam."
Ben's eyes flickered to green. "I don't know about that. She's got the right to know. It's her mate, isn't it? You'd deserve to know about that sort of thing if Riku disappeared."
He had a point. Hinata wasn't even sure if Sam's mom knew about the vision showing her husband alive.
"It's… It's not our place, Ben," Hinata replied. "I'll bring it up to Sam tomorrow, but until then, we don't say anything about it, ok?"
Ben didn't want to agree, but he did. He nodded, his eyes going blue. Whatever excitement he built up from arriving dwindled away. Hinata hadn't expected the weight of the trip to heave itself onto his shoulders, too.
The kitchen doors swung open and Sarah walked through carrying two pitchers of different drinks. She stopped by Hinata's table and filled up her glass with a tea sweetened with a local fruit. It had become Hinata's favorite during her time working there. Hinata wondered how Sarah remembered that. Then in Ben's cup, Sarah poured a thick black oil that brightened Ben's eyes back to yellow.
"Have you met Jenna?" Sarah asked.
Hinata's eyes darted to Sam's mom, then back at Sarah, who nodded with a knowing smile.
"Just enough to get a menu," Hinata told her with an apologetic smile.
"Oh, well then," Sarah turned and called, "Jenna, we have guests I'd like you to meet."
Jenna walked over. She looked between Ben and Hinata, her expression difficult to read. A faint smile curved her mouth, but her eyes were distant.
"This is Ben, the robot Jim was telling you about." Sarah put down the pitchers and placed her hands on Ben's shoulders. "They met on the Treasure Planet expedition."
Jenna blinked. It was slow and thoughtful. "How long were you on Treasure Planet?"
Ben waved his hand, blowing a raspberry. "Oh, a hundred years. Passed by in a flash!"
Her hands wrung around her apron and she nodded slowly. "You were alone for so long."
Ben forced out a laugh. "Yeah, but it was fine. I'm used to that sorta thing! Captain Flint didn't like me around much anyway. Ah! He was my old captain. You might have heard of him. Don't worry! I'm not an evil mastermind like him! Not anymore anyway." He laughed again, hitting his knee. "Kidding! I'm kidding."
"Ben's part of my crew now," Hinata joined in. "He saved me when I crash landed on Treasure Planet and we kept each other company."
Jenna's gaze drifted towards her and she blinked again. "Are you…" her words were soft enough that they had to lean forward to hear her. "Hinata?"
"Yes!" Hinata smiled, nodding. "I'm friends with your daughter."
"James used to tell me about you."
That hit Hinata more than she expected. Her chest tightened and she found herself sucking in a breath. He told his mom about her. She could just imagine the way he'd smile and look off in the distance while he opened up to his mom about the crush he had. It would have been the sort of love stricken look she caught him casting her way when he thought she wasn't looking. He was hopeless.
"Where is Jane?" Jenna asked and that got both Ben and Hinata looking up at her with confusion.
"Sam's staying at Delbert's tonight," Sarah answered for them.
"Oh." Jenna's eyes looked past all of them, the faint light in them snuffed out. "Of course…" She turned around and left without another word.
Hinata watched her leave, her heart sinking the further she went.
"Who's Jane?" Ben asked with a loud whisper.
"It's Sam's first name," Sarah explained, also watching Jenna. With a sigh, she looked back at them and pulled out a notepad from her apron. "Now, what can I get started for you two?"
Hinata pulled up her blanket, staring at the ceiling. She could still hear the rumble of the last few patrons in the restaurant downstairs. Dishes clanged together, laughter roared, and the delicious scent of food wafted through the air, even up to Hinata's and Ben's shared room.
The room Sarah made up for them was smaller than the one Hinata stayed in on her previous visit. A single room with two beds and a small bathroom. That was all they needed. Ben didn't need a bed, which he told Sarah as much, but she insisted he still have a place to rest. He'd be in there soon. At that moment, he locked himself away in the bathroom. For what reason, Hinata wasn't sure, but she could hear him faintly singing and things being rustled around, so she left him be.
She laid in her bed, the soft glow of her bedside lamp casting shadows along the walls and the ceiling. Her thoughts dwelled on Jenna. It was difficult to believe Sam and James were her children. Their brief meeting didn't give Hinata much to go off of. Jenna avoided speaking with them the rest of the night, leaving Sarah to wait on them. And if Hinata were honest, she was alright with that. A deep emptiness filled Jenna's eyes. It was unnerving and upsetting, as if staring into her eyes for too long would make you sink into despair.
It wasn't a fair assessment of her, Hinata was certain of that. She'd lost so much and didn't have the same support that Sam did. There was also no telling of the life she lived before, when Sam's dad was still around. Was she ever able to be happy?
The bathroom door opened and light poured into the room. Ben sighed happily, and stepped out. The light glistened off his newly polished body. "That was glorious!" Ben exclaimed and Hinata looked over at him, before bubbling into a laugh.
"Please tell me you didn't destroy the bathroom."
Ben glanced back at the bathroom and hummed. "It's… Well… it's not destroyed, per se."
Hinata put her hands over her face and whined, "Bennnnn!"
"I'll clean it, I'll clean it!" he promised, switching off the light. He rushed over to his bed and plopped on top of it. His metal body sunk deep into the mattress. "Ahh! This is the life." He spun around onto his stomach, his hands cupping his chin. "You know, I've been thinking about Sam's family. Why all those J names? Jenna, James, Jane…. Do you think their dad has a J name, too? And if he does… What's the purpose of their spawn having J names with the parents?"
"Spawn…?" Hinata repeated.
"Is that wrong?" he asked.
"Kids, children, offspring," Hinata listed off other words. "Why spawn, Ben?"
He thought long and hard about it, flipping onto his back. Hinata glanced over, not expecting the rhetorical question to stump him.
"So… you're saying that just as I can choose to use any word I want for children, Jenna can choose whatever names she wants for her spawn," Ben mused and Hinata hadn't the slightest idea what he was talking about. "Maybe they thought their whole family having J names was special and fun! There doesn't need to be a purpose behind it." He looked over at Hinata. "Is that what you mean?"
She stared back at him, too tired to detangle his logic. "Their dad's name is Jarith."
"AHA!" Ben sat up, pointing at her. "It is another J name!" He fell back on the bed. "I wonder why Sam doesn't go by Jane. It's a pretty name."
"Ben… are you going to let me sleep?" she asked.
He laughed. "You know, Riku said the same thing to me back in Christmas Town."
Hinata smiled, looking back at the ceiling. "And did you let him?"
"Well… I'm sure he got a little sleep," Ben guessed and Hinata felt like screaming into a pillow.
Ben continued on with his ruminations and ideas while Hinata got out her tablet to text with Riku. After three days of sleep, she could forgive Ben's antics for a night, especially if it gave her the chance to check in with Riku.
The following morning cast a foggy chill over Montressor's market. They'd set out early enough that the usual bustling streets appeared abandoned. A handful of people milled about, their forms hazy through the fog. It could have been mistaken for a horror movie set, which Ben pointed out, recalling the last movie they all watched together.
Sam led the way, not bothering to take part in the movie discussion Ben and Hinata found themselves in. Her feet walked on their own, pathfinding towards her old shop out of habit. The shops were just beginning to open for the day. Doors opened, their bells jingling and lights flickering on. What followed were gasps and murmurs from one shopkeeper to the next, each of them watching Sam. The eerie chill of the morning was replaced with gossiping chatter.
It caused a stir when Sam sold the shop, a drama she purposefully worked to avoid caring about; but their stares burned. She'd given up the family business. Such a human thing to do. It wasn't like any of them gave a damn when she did run the shop. They all watched while she drowned and they had the gall to act offended when she threw in the towel.
She didn't dare to even glance their way and kept her head tall. Though, the show of indifference didn't matter. Her cheeks burned.
"Why is everyone staring at us?" Ben asked with another one of his attempts at a whisper.
For once, Sam couldn't wait to reach the shop.
"You don't have to do this," Hinata said softly, walking at Sam's side.
Sam shook her head. "I have to face it at some point."
Hinata accepted the answer, nodding. "It's weird being back."
"You too?"
"It's great to see Sarah and Doc, but, yeah… it's not the same as before."
Sam hummed. Her gaze lowered. At least she wasn't the only one.
They reached the alleyway and Sam stopped. The burn of the stares disappeared, replaced with the burn of bile in the back of her throat. She was home. At least, what it used to be. She looked towards the shop front. As promised, Clarisse kept the name, 'Highwind Mechanic'. It hung proudly above the large window and double doors leading inside.
Ben went up to the window, cupping his hands around his eyes to peer in like a child at a toy store. Hinata remained at Sam's side, both of them frozen in place.
"Did I ever tell you…" Sam whispered, her voice trailed off and she breathed in before continuing, "James picked the name of the shop. Said it made sense to name it after our biggest job without dad."
Hinata's hand gently wound around Sam's. "It was a big job."
"If he were still here," Sam swallowed thickly, "do you think he'd come with us to find dad?"
"I'd throw him on board if I had to," Hinata replied and Sam huffed out a laugh.
"I would pay to see that." Sam wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. Giving Hinata's hand a squeeze, she released their hold and stepped forward. "Alright. Let's get Lupe ready."
Hinata tapped her earpiece and Lupe answered the call almost instantaneously. Him and Hinata went through the briefing again, like they'd done the night before, apparently. Even though Sam could hear the entire conversation through her own earpiece, she didn't listen to most of it. Lupe would be listening in on the meeting with Clarisse, researching anything that pertained to the mission. She was grateful someone would be taking notes. If the way her heart drummed in her ears was any indicator, she wouldn't be soaking in most of what Clarisse said.
With Lupe at the ready, they entered the shop. The same familiar bell jingled in welcome and the door squeaked shut behind them. Ben scampered in, past the empty receptionist desk and into the factory where a massive ship sat in the docking bay.
"Helloooo!" he yelled, his hands cupped around his mouth.
His voice echoed throughout the shop. Heads popped up from various spots of the ship, each one smeared with grease across their cheeks and wearing the same type of goggles Sam used to wear when Hinata first met her.
"Well wouldya look at that!" One of the aliens piped up. "If it ain't the ole boss! What you doin here?" Another worker threw a wrench at him, telling him to shut it, and it bonked him on the head. "Oye!" A string of curses followed and the workers started fighting.
"God it's like nothing changed," Sam muttered with a sigh.
"Yeah! Slug him!" Ben called out towards the growing scuffle, getting right into the antics.
Hinata grabbed Ben by the arm and dragged him back to the waiting room.
A sharp whistle pierced through the squabble and everything quieted down. Heels clicked across the floor. "Excuse me?! This is not the time or the place!" Clarisse's voice filled the factory.
Sam blinked. That didn't sound like the meek little Clarisse she recalled. She, Hinata, and Ben all shared a look, each of them thinking the same thing. They went past reception, seeing Clarisse giving the workers an earful about their behavior.
"I like her," Lupe said and Hinata let out a breathy laugh.
Clarisse dismissed the workers and smoothed out her dress, calming her nerves. She looked over, spotting the others. An indigo blush dusted her cheeks as she walked over, her heels clicking with every step.
"Oh what a sight for you to see right when you arrive," she lamented before grabbing Sam's hand with both of hers. "It is wonderful to see you again, Miss Ainsworth. I promise the shop is running better than it appears."
Despite all the tension in her gut, Sam snorted. "Please, if anything this sort of thing makes it feel more like home."
"Miss Ainsworth," Lupe repeated, teasing. "Oh that's adorable." Sam strained a smile, she'd smack him if he were actually there.
"Clarisse, you are running things wonderfully!" Ben exclaimed. "I can't believe how many ships you've finished since you took over. Remember that one from the cyclops? How you got that piece of scrap running again, I'll never know!"
"Oh!" Clarisse turned to Ben. "Thank you, Ben. I assume you've heard the tales from Jim?"
Sam looked over at that. "Jim?"
"He checks in on the shop occasionally," Clarisse explained. "Not as often anymore. He helped me navigate some… unique customers."
Ben guffawed. "That's putting it lightly!"
Clarisse giggled, her gloved hand over her mouth. "Yes, I suppose it is."
"I had no idea." Sam murmured, trying to smile, but failing.
Jim calling Clarisse didn't bother her. She trusted him enough to not monitor his every move. But he monitored the shop. He kept things running smoothly without telling Sam anything about it. That was what she wanted… wasn't it? She didn't remember telling him to do it. He just did it, because that's what he always did. He handled everything in Monstressor for her. Was she really that hopeless?
"Hey, Sam?" Lupe's voice brought her back to reality.
She blinked, realizing the others were starting to walk away. Cursing under her breath, she pushed herself to catch up. Clarisse led them to James' old office. A golden plaque with her name replaced his and the inside the room was covered with considerably more potted plants. A pungent bouquet of floral scents bombarded them the moment they entered.
"Despite working in a mechanic shop, I admit I am not entirely fond of the smell of grease," Clarisse said with a soft laugh. She shut the door behind them, leaning her back against it. "Please make yourself comfortable. I'll make some tea."
Hinata coughed, straining a smile and nodding as Clarisse went to the kettle. She blinked rapidly, her eyes watering. Even with all the weird plants in Velcia's cabin, it didn't smell anywhere near as strong and weird as this place. Sam went to a couch and sat down. Despite the smell, she appreciated how different the office looked from when James worked in it.
Ben and Hinata sat down on either side of her while Clarisse came back with a silver tray. Three teacups sat on top, filled with a maroon liquid. Sam grabbed her cup, the steam warming her face, along with yet another strong floral scent. She sipped it, swishing around the tangy tea as Clarisse placed the tray on a table in front of them and settled in her own seat on the other side.
Clarisse wrung her gloved hands in her lap, before folding them and sitting straight. "I was surprised when Jim told me you would be coming here, Miss Ainsworth."
Jim again. Sam took another drink, swallowing the snide remark she wanted to make.
Hinata took the liberty to ask instead, "Did he explain why?"
"Briefly," Clarisse replied. "He said you had questions about my homeworld. Though I don't quite understand the interest, I'm happy to answer anything I can."
"You said you knew Bane," Sam said, placing the cup in her lap.
Clarisse's eyes fluttered about, her hands fidgeting. "Y-Yes. Though I have never met him. I am familiar with Cad Bane. He is a bounty hunter in my galaxy." She went quiet for a moment. "Are you hunting him?"
"Not at the moment," Ben answered and Hinata looked over at him. "We might eventually, right?"
Hinata put up her hands. "What matters is that he had robots on his ship. And they are the same robots we saw in a recording of someone we are looking for."
"Robots…" Clarisse repeated, her shoulders drooping. "I don't suppose you mean droids?"
Sam brought up her arm and pressed a few buttons. A blue hologram of a droid appeared and Clarisse leaned back in her seat, her posture sinking.
"A Separatist droid," Clarisse said quietly.
"That name sounds familiar," Hinata said.
Ben hummed, nodding. "That's who Bane was working with before the Organization hired him. His ship was from the Trade Federation."
"I didn't think they would come out this far…" Clarisse whispered, her golden eyes trained on the droid hologram. The others awaited her to continue and she realized it as silence stretched on. "There has been a war happening in my galaxy. Eleven years ago, the Republic elected a new Supreme Chancellor and it resulted in many systems detaching themselves and creating their own form of government, the Separatists. The war has spread across the galaxy, each side fighting for control over its people… It is why my pilgrimage sent me here. My family hoped it would lead me away from the war."
"So… dad might have got caught up in the war," Sam said under her breath.
"Your father?" Clarisse asked. "Is that what this search is about?" When Sam nodded, she asked, "Have you spoken to your mother about it? She appeared to recognize my homeworld when I described it to her."
"She…" Sam started to talk but trailed off. Her grip on the tea cup tightened, the liquid trembling. "How would she…?"
Hinata placed her hand on Sam's arm, and replied to Clarisse, "We'll talk with her about it soon. Thank you."
Lupe's voice came through the earpiece. "DiZ's computer has an entry on the Separatists. There's a bit that mentions Separatist Blockades. Can you ask about that? There were droids on the world in Sam's vision."
"What's a Separatist Blockade?" Ben asked point blank.
Clarisse looked over at him, taken aback by the question. "Do you believe Miss Ainsworth's father is trapped on a world under a blockade?"
"Just answer the question," Sam bit.
"Y-Yes, of course." Clarisse straightened again, her eyes looking at her lap. "U-Um, let's see. When the Separatists put up a blockade, they surround a world with their ships. It cuts off things like communication to other worlds and supplies."
"Does it keep people from leaving?" Hinata asked.
Clarisse nodded, rubbing her hands together. "They attempted a blockade on my world, Pantora. Senator Chuchii managed to plead for the Republic's aid before it was too late. That was when I left."
Sam put down her drink. "That's gotta be it."
"Do you know which world your father may be on?" Clarisse asked.
"We're trying to figure that out," Hinata said. "From the recording, all we are really able to tell is that it's underwater and there are domed buildings." She sighed. "I know that's not much to go off of."
"It does narrow it down," Clarisse told her. "It will take me time, but I do have family spread across my galaxy. I will get in contact with them and see if any of them may have a lead. Though, I am sure your mother may have information as well, Miss Ainsworth."
Sam's fingers curled, her nails digging into her palm. Of course her mom would have information. It would have been all too easy to come and go without seeing her. Swallowing, she nodded and stood up. "I need some air," she mustered out the words and left the room in a rush.
The tinge of grease returned the moment she swung open the door of the office. She breathed deeply, turning and leaving the factory all together, even as the workers called after her for a chance to talk to the old boss. Fresh air from outside filled her lungs and it burned. She didn't realize how shallow she was breathing inside. All this time, her dad was trapped. He had to be. And they'd left him for dead for so long.
Tears stung her eyes. Pulling out a communications device from her pocket, she activated it and the center glowed yellow. Within a couple rings, Jim's hologram appeared above it.
"What did you find out?" Jim asked.
Sam coughed out a bitter laugh. "I don't know Jim. How much do you already know?"
Jim paused and looked out at Sam, she couldn't hold his gaze and looked away. "What's going on, Sam?"
Leaning back against the wall, she slunk to the ground. "Did you know my mom was at the Benbo?"
Blowing out a breath, Jim nodded. "I mean, yeah. My mom and her were friends before your dad disappeared. You wanted to sell the shop and your mom had to go somewhere."
"I get that," Sam told him, trying to keep her voice from straining. "But… you didn't tell me."
"Because you were going through enough," Jim reasoned with her. "I told you I'd take care of things."
"Apparently that included Clarisse," Sam said.
"I can't talk to her?" Jim asked.
"That is not-" Sam cut herself off. "I don't care if you talk to her, but I care that you're here helping things run and you don't tell me shit about it. But you sure as hell tell Ben! All those times I ask what's happened and you just lie to my face and say nothing but Academy stuff. When did the little trips back here happen, huh? Where was the heads up about any of that?"
"Sam, come on, you were a complete wreck after selling the shop!" Jim argued back, his tone and volume matching Sam's. "You seriously wanted me telling you everything about it after you cut ties like that?"
"Not everything, but, god, at least something!" Sam raked her hand through her hair.
Jim sighed. "Alright, fine, I screwed up. Ok?"
"I just want to know why," Sam said, sniffling.
"Because…" He looked out in the distance where Sam couldn't see. "Look, it was selfish, I get it. We hardly get the chance to see each other and I'm tired of everything just sucking. I wanted time with you to be something else. And yeah, I knew I should have said something and I kept putting it off. Cause I knew the moment I did, it'd ruin your mood and mess up the day. So I just… took care of it. And then it blew up in my face."
Sam leaned her head back against the wall, gazing up towards the foggy sky. He was right. Their time together was so few and far between. She would have been upset either way. It wasn't fair to him. "I get it…"
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner," Jim said. "I should have."
Sam closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'm sorry I yelled at you about it."
"I'm used to it," Jim teased, then sighed when Sam didn't reply or laugh. "I'm messing around."
"You're not wrong," Sam muttered. "You're always having to pick up the pieces."
"That's the sort of thing you do when you love someone," he replied.
He shouldn't have to though. Sam hummed, not daring to say the thought out loud.
"Did you learn anything from Clarisse?" he asked after a bit, trying to move on.
Sam nodded, but didn't say anything.
"Do you wanna call back when you're ready?" he asked and Sam nodded again. "Ok. We'll talk soon, alright?"
The call cut off and the device slipped out of Sam's hand, landing on the dirt with a puff of dust. What was she doing?
Lupe cleared his throat and Sam breathed in deeply, bringing her hands to her face.
"How much did you hear?" she asked, muffled through her hands.
"I muted you pretty quick, so no details," he admitted. "But I… well, I guess I figured you wouldn't wanna be alone."
Lupe was trying to take care of her. Everyone handled her with gloves. They treated her like she would blow up at any second and were trying to soothe her to stave it off for as long as they could. She hated it. But what was worse, was that they weren't wrong. Even Sam didn't know how to handle herself.
"Are they still talking inside?" Sam asked, her voice cracking.
"A bit," he replied. "Ben's keeping an eye on it for me."
"Hey Sam," Ben's voice came through the earpiece, considerably toned down from the version of himself inside the shop. "I'm having myself ask Clarisse specific questions about the Separatists and the war. None of it's really relevant to our mission, but you never know if something might come up while we are in her galaxy."
"It's hard to get used to having two of you now," Sam said. She stared up at the overcast sky, her expression plain and distant. "Thanks for handling it."
The door to the shop opened and Hinata stepped out. She approached and sat down beside Sam. Neither of them said anything for a while. The marketplace grew with life outside the alleyway. Voices and the sound of footsteps against the cobbled roads bounced off the brick walls of the alley.
"I can talk to your mom," Hinata said softly, breaking the quiet between them.
Sam's throat tightened. "No… I should. I just… I never wanted to see this place again."
Hinata pushed her shoes against the dirt, gathering small piles of dust. "I know."
Sam wished she could forget Montressor ever existed. Everything she had here wasn't worth it anymore. She had a new life on the Highwind, but Montressor followed her like a dormant infection. It festered and she ignored it, even when it leaked into her every thought. Her rage, her pain, uncertainties, they all led back to where it all started. She was tired of it. Why couldn't she let it go?
"Don't leave things unsaid." Hinata patted down the dirt pile, smearing it to be smooth against the ground again. "Even if it hurts."
Could she do that? Every time she imagined attempting to talk with her mom, it ended with a raging outburst or tears that made it impossible to speak. But if this was to be her final time on Montressor, it would also be her last chance with her mom. A mom that abandoned her while being just a room away. There, but absent in ways that mattered. Sam wasn't sure she would ever be ready to face her, but she'd have to if she ever wanted to move on.
"I won't," Sam promised.