Last time: Kyr, Viran, and the droids acquired the intel from the relay station.

Now: Kyr and Viran are injured. Tac is down.

Chapter 10- Call to Her

Sasha bit her lip and rubbed at her hands, nervously as she listened to the comm chatter between Viran and Kyr through the whole ordeal. The moment the station exploded she had stopped her pacing, which started when the countdown did, and stared out the viewport with a look of frozen horror. But the second their voices came back online, she sighed knowing they were okay. However, they weren't out of the woods yet. Her anxiety only grew worse as it sounded like they were hurt and their suits were compromised. She felt her stomach doing backflips during all of that.

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, Viran addressed the bridge over the comms. "Defiant, this Valiant thirteen. We are coming back."

"Are you two okay? What's your status?" Scamp asked, instantly.

"We are both a little banged up. Kyr's got a broken leg. And Tac took damage in the explosion. He's not responding," Viran answered solemnly. "But we are okay. Or at least will be."

"Thank the Force," Sasha said as she audibly sighed in relief at that and felt her legs give out simultaneously. She had been so nervous and so worried about them, it was obvious to everyone on the bridge. But finally hearing they were okay and on their way back filled her with such relief, she didn't have the strength to stand anymore.

Oppie, who was standing nearby for just such a reason, shot his hand out to steady her, and Kait on her other side reached out as well.

"Thanks," Sasha said, looking between them as they caught her.

"Alright, I've informed Kelce. He should have a medic team to meet you down in the hangar by the time you arrive," Scamp said, also sounding relieved. "Were you guys able to get anything?

"Thanks, Scamp. And I think so, but until we get Tac back online we won't know for sure," Viran said, tiredly.

Scamp frowned. "Okay, we'll see you guys when you return."

"Sounds good. Valiant thirteen, out." Viran said.

Admiral Sulam stepped away from the table and spoke to the Defiant's commander. "Captain, redeploy the fleet two light hours outside the system once Valiant thirteen and Avenger have returned."

"Yes Admiral." She replied as she went to go carry out the orders.

"Should we head down to the hangar bay?" Oppie suggested.

Sasha nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

She gently shrugged off Kait and Oppie's hands that were still supporting her, giving them a thankful nod as she did so, and headed for the door. She led them through the corridors of the ship to the hangar, moving at a fast pace to meet the U-Wing on time. It didn't take them long to get there and when they did the U-Wing pulled into the hangar, settling down on the pad flight control directed it to land in. The ship had a bit of carbon scoring and a few slices from some rather sharp pieces of shrapnel, but it was still intact.

Sasha all but ran over to the nearest door of the U-Wing as the bay door slid open. Kyr was standing at the control panel on one leg, beckoning the crew chief over and trying to ignore the medics that were rushing forward to help himself and Viran. Viran was sitting up in the pilot's seat, shutting down the ship with his back to them. Meanwhile, QT was looking worriedly over Tac with a few fretful beeps and whistles.

Sasha frowned at the sight of Tac lying motionless on the deck of the U-Wing as she slowed to stop next to the ship's entrance before slowing looking up towards Kyr who was barely standing.

"Colonel," the medic in charge, who Sasha recognized from when she first arrived to the Defiant with Cien after Selina took Kyr, said firmly, trying to get the Mandos attention. "Sir, are you alright?" He then asked in a more gentle tone.

"I'm fine, I can handle it for the time being." Kyr told him. "Deck officer! Deck officer!" He yelled, trying to flag the officer down as they came over towards the ship.

"Sir, if I may, your leg looks to be broken," the medic said, slowly. "At least let me look it over until they get here?" He suggested.

Sasha glanced at the medic then at Kyr then at Viran, who had turned in his seat to watch the exchange. She could now clearly see the shrapnel sticking out of his leg. She immediately hopped up onto the ship and moved over to him.

"Are you okay?" She asked as she knelt down before her husband, looking the grievous injury over. Blood soaked his pant leg under and around the shrapnel, but it wasn't excessively bleeding. Thankfully. But the second that piece was removed it would.

"A little cut up, but I should live," Viran told her, tiredly.

Sasha looked up at him with a worried smile. She nodded as she reached up and caressed his cheek, and then looked back towards Kyr.

"Take good care of him." Kyr implored the deck chief as he took Tac away on a small repulsor dolly.

"We always do, Colonel." The deck chief said assuringly. QT was trailing alongside the dolly.

The medic watched Tac and QT off before turning back to Kyr. "Okay. Now can I get a look at your leg sir?" He asked.

"Viran's leg got winged, check him out first." Kyr ordered as he hopped slightly to adjust his weight on his good left leg.

The medic looked at him, wondering how he should respond to the Mando's stubbornness. He then gestured to his fellow medics to go check on Viran. They nodded and hopped up onto the U-Wing. They walked over to Sasha and Viran, pulling out a med pack and scanner. Sasha got up and stepped away to give them room to operate. She then walked over to Kyr.

"Kyr, they have enough medics to see to both Viran and you. Please let the man examine your leg or I'll do it," She said, sounding more like a big sister than a little one.

Kyr looked down at her for a heartbeat before he looked downward. "Fine." Kyr groused.

Sasha nodded to the medic, who seemed to be hiding an amused smirk. She was curious as to why then got struck with serious deja vu at this moment with this medic present. It was just like when she had fainted and was more worried about Vir and Op than herself. She couldn't help but find herself suppressing a smirk at that too.

"Please sit down on the stretcher," the medic asked Kyr as another pulled a stretcher over to the side of the U-Wing.

Kyr begrudgingly settled down onto the bed of the stretcher. In the brighter light of the hanger bay it was easy to see his flight suit was shredded in several places, and the back of his armor was covered with carbon scoring and deep gashes where the shrapnel from the explosion had scratched out the layer of scorched carbon. The beskar plates were fine underneath the layer of residue from the explosion.

The medic pulled out a scanner and ran it over Kyr's leg. "It looks like a clean break on your femur," he said after a moment. "You'll need to get this braced and possibly a couple bacta treatments. But I'll leave that part to Kelce to determine. For now, we should get you to the medbay." He looked inside, towards Viran and the other two medics. "How is he?"

"The shrapnel is in there deep," one of the medics said that was wrapping a cloth around Viran's leg to stabilize the shrapnel. "We'll need to get him to medbay to have it removed."

"Alright, get him on the other stretcher and let's get them out of here," the medic ordered.

The two helping Viran aided him to his feet and guided him towards the door to be laid onto the other stretcher.

"I'm sorry, Viran." Kyr said as he got to the other stretcher.

"Please don't apologize, Kyr," Viran said as he settled onto the stretcher. "You would have done the same for me. You have done the same thing for me." He glanced at Sasha, who still stood on the U-Wing looking at them. "If getting a little cut up is what it takes to get the intel to find Cien, then I can handle a few minor scratches."

"Thanks vod." Kyr said tiredly as he took his buy'ce off and took a deep breath.

"Of course," Viran said, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Alright, get them out of here and to the medbay," the medic ordered the other medics.

The two with Viran nodded and started to move his stretcher away. The others with Kyr waited until he rested back and then moved off, following the other.

Sasha watched them go before hopping off and walking over to Oppie and Kait.

"Everything okay?" Kait and Op had hung back to stay out of the medics way. And had only seen a very tired Kyr limp to the gurney and Viran being taken away with a bandage around his leg.

"Well, Tac took some damage in the explosion. Viran got hit with some shrapnel that is currently still in his leg. And Kyr, while being stubborn as ever, broke his leg and was giving the medics a hard time," Sasha informed them. "They are all pretty banged up and looking a little worse for wear. But all in all, they seem okay."

Oppie frowned. "I'm glad they're okay, it sounds pretty close, though. Looking at Kyr's armor they definitely cut it too close. I hope whatever they got was worth it."

"Yeah, I hope so too," Sasha said, distantly as she looked over at the doors the gurneys disappeared through with a frown.

Viran awoke to a numbing pain in his leg and the itchy feeling that usually came from being in a bacta tank for so long. Opening his eyes, he found himself in the medical bay recovery room that he had woken up in the very first time he was ever aboard the Defiant. Looking down at himself, he saw that he was dressed in a medical uniform and he could see the faint pink and white lines from the cuts he had gotten earlier. Then he saw his leg that was heavily bandaged and slightly elevated on a small pillow. He then looked around and saw Kyr lying in the bed next to him. His scorched armor with torn flight suit sat on the shelf beside his bed. Viran frowned slightly at the sight of it as he sat up in his bed, his sore body protesting slightly to the movement.

"Hey," Viran spoke up as he moved, hoping to catch Kyr's attention away from the datapad in his hands.

"Hey Vod." Kyr said, relaxing the hold he had on the datapad as he looked over at Viran. "How are you doing?"

"A little sore, but better," Viran said with a stretch. "How's your leg?" He asked as he relaxed against the mattress.

"Broken, again." Kyr said tiredly. "Kelce said it's a clean break so it should heal pretty quick with a couple of treatments."

"That's good," Viran said with a nod. "So how long have we been in here?"

"Five or six hours." Kyr said. "You got to spend three of 'em in the tank."

"Ah," Viran said, looking down at his leg. "Well it could be worse, I guess."

"Yeah. How are all your little paper cuts?" Kyr asked.

"Gone," Viran said, gesturing to his arms. "It's only the big one that is still healing."

"I hate those, they always itch like crazy after the bacta treatment." Kyr said.

Viran chuckled. "Yeah, I'm trying to not think about it." He said as he tried not to itch his pant leg as it suddenly became itchy.

"Like little ants crawling around, it's awful." Kyr said, looking at Viran slyly.

Viran shot him a glare. "You're not helping," he said as he clenched his hands into fists.

"Crawling all over the place," Kyr continued, "makes you wish you had a fork or some - " Thankfully Kyr was interrupted by the door opening.

"Hey, look who's up?" Sasha said as she came in the door with Lana in her arms. Op and Kait were right behind them.

"Dada! Kyr!" Lana squeaked excitedly as she saw them.

"Hey sweetie," Viran grinned. "Come here."

"Hi guys." Kyr said with a wave.

Sasha walked over and handed Lana over to Viran. He situated the toddler in his lap, giving her a kiss on the head, then giving Sasha a kiss. Lana giggled as she cuddled into her father.

"How are you two feeling?" Sasha asked, looking between them.

"Better, just a little sore," Viran answered first as he ran his hand through Lana's hair.

"Doing good." Kyr said. "Any update on Tac?" He asked a little anxiously.

"They're still working on him," Sasha informed him. "They said that he should be okay by tomorrow. I'm sorry."

Oppie spoke up. "The tech said that everything was intact, he was just a little fried. He should be just as good as… he always is after they are done. QT is overseeing his repairs, she hasn't left his side."

"So we won't know if he got the information until tomorrow?" Viran asked with a slight frown.

"I'm afraid not," Sasha said, sadly.

Kyr looked away. "I'm glad he'll be okay."

Sasha shared a frown with Viran before looking back to Kyr. "How is your leg? And your armor?" She asked after a moment.

"Kelce said the break was clean." Kyr answered, "the plates are fine, though the flight suit got ripped up. The quartermaster aboard ship can probably help me patch up the duraweave but all the little systems are probably shot to he - " He looked over at Lana in Viran's lap " - ck. I might need to go visit my armorer since a bunch of sensors all over the place aren't responding, and the suit diagnostics are reporting a bunch of failures. That was my last flight suit." He said annoyedly.

Viran frowned. "Is it possible to fix it yourself or would you prefer the armorsmith to work on it? And if that is the case, are you thinking you will go visit them once you are released from the medbay or after we find out what Tac knows?" He asked curiously.

"I dunno, I don't think I can fix it myself. It's all part of the armor system so I need to go see her again. And it's kind of up to her when I might go. I'll contact her here soon." Kyr replied, glancing at the buy'ce that was his only way of contacting the armorer.

"How long would it take for her to repair everything?" Sasha asked. "I know that one time we visited her long ago it took a couple hours," she observed.

"Not sure." Kyr said with a shrug. "That time I had a spare flight suit and she just needed to re-form a couple of the plates. New flight suits take a little while to make, but not as much as a full set. Usually a day or two." Kyr said, his tone still subdued.

"So how does that work?" Kait asked, trying to lighten the mood. looking to Kyr and glancing at Op, "sounds like you don't just go to a store and buy them?"

"No." Kyr answered. "The suits are all custom fit, custom made by armorers. It's a pretty significant part of Mando culture to get your armor suit, especially a beskar suit."

"Huh." Kait said, thinking, "but you guys don't have armor?" She asked, looking around the room.

"No," Sasha said, shaking her head.

"The thought has crossed my mind of getting some," Viran admitted. "But no, we don't."

"Op?" Kait asked.

"No." Oppie said with a shrug.

"They've got their little heart pieces." Kyr noted.

"But they could have armor since they were adopted in?" Kait asked, curiously.

"Yeah," Kyr said, furrowing his brow not quite seeing where she was going.

"So," Kait said, glancing at Op, and then back to Kyr with a little glint in her eye, "could I get armor if Op and I got married?" She asked innocently. Op's glance shot to her as his jaw slacked and his eyes widened a little.

Sasha and Viran looked at her in shock. Then a smile came to both their faces as they tried to hide their expressions. Lana cocked her head to the side, confused at to what was making her parents smile

"Absolutely." Kyr said without hesitation, his tone lightening a little.

"Hmmmm…" Kait said, thinking. Op swallowed nervously.

Sasha and Viran suppressed a giggle at that.

"So, what color would your armor be?" Sasha asked, curiously, trying to keep a grin at bay.

"I'm not sure." Kait said, she turned to Op. "Any thoughts?" She asked.

Kyr was having to suppress a laugh at Op's face.

"I uh... I don't know, you look good in... uh... Everything." Oppie said very nervously.

"Don't worry, Kait. You'll have plenty of time to figure it out before you guys get married," Viran teased with a grin.

"Yeah, maybe you can come with me to get the new flight suit and we can talk with the Armorsmith." Kyr suggested, trying to keep from laughing still. Oppie looked at him very sourly.

"You should get some armor too, Op. Then we can match." Kait said, still very innocently. "It would be cute."

Oppie turned to look at her, swallowing again. "Yeah, maybe." He said, then looked away as he tried to find a corner to go die in.

At that Kyr did burst into a chuckle. Viran also chuckled and that caused Lana to burst into giggles.

"So, if there is time will you go to the armorsmith soon?" Sasha asked Kyr, changing the subject somewhat for Oppie's sake.

"Yeah." Kyr said as his chuckling died down. "Yeah, I think I might. I think I might have to make the time, really, the suits kind of in tatters. The plates could use a good cleaning too." He noted.

"Would you like me to take it to the quartermaster to see what he can do in the meantime while you recover?" Sasha offered.

"Uhh…" Kyr said. "No, I can handle it as soon as Kelce lets me out of here." He said. "But thanks."

"Of course," Sasha nodded. "Just thought I'd offer."

"How long did he say we have to be here?" Viran asked, looking over to Kyr.

"Kelce told me while you were in the bacta tank," Sasha answered. "He said that you two should only need to be in here for a couple days, but Kyr, you will most likely be in a brace for a few days after and Viran, you might have a slight limp for a while. But with continual bacta treatments, you two should be good to go in the matter of a week." She informed them.

"Ah, good to know," Viran said, a little annoyed at the thought of having a limp.

"Neat." Kyr said annoyedly.

"Sorry," Sasha said with a shrug. "I wish I had better news."

"It's fine hun," Viran said, looking at her. "It's better than being stuck here for a week."

"Yeah, it is." Kyr agreed. "As long as I can be up in time to go handle whatever Tac found out, I'm happy."

"I made that clear to Kelce," Sasha said. "He will let you out of here in time to see Tac, no matter what condition you're in. Even if it means you are not fully cleared to leave the medbay and will have to come back after to finish your recovery."

"Thanks Sash'ika." Kyr said.

"No problem, vod," Sasha said, flashing him a sweet smile.

"Hey so I was curious, because I didn't get a chance to check, but what state is the U-Wing in after that explosion?" Viran asked, looking at Oppie. "I mean, we took some damage. Tac took some. But I didn't really have a chance to assess the damage to the ship."

"Oh, it's fine." Oppie said.

"Yeah, Admiral Sulam commented that she'd send a bill over to you." Kait said. "Nothing too bad though."

Viran paled slightly at that. "Oh man, now I'm afraid to see that bill." He said uncertain. "Whether it is bad or not."

"She was kidding." Op said, looking between Kait and Viran. "I think."

Kyr caught Sasha's eye and gestured, asking her to come a little closer. Sasha blinked for a second then moved around Viran's bed towards Kyr's as Viran responded to Oppie.

"That still doesn't make me feel better," Viran said with a nervous chuckle.

"What's up?" Sasha asked, quietly once she reached Kyr's side.

"I just…" Kyr said quietly. "Does Cien still seem okay from what you can sense?" He asked nervously.

"I-I can check," Sasha said, softly. "Give me a moment."

She closed her eyes and reached out into the Force to Cien. It took her a moment but she was able to sense Cien. She still seemed to be okay. However, while she was in there, she tried communicating with her.

Cien, can you hear me?

But no response. Sasha frowned and came out of the Force. She opened her eyes and looked at Kyr.

"She's okay," Sasha assured, quietly. "But I still am not getting an answer from her. I'm sorry."

Kyr looked down. "Thanks." He said. "I just wish we knew what was going on." He reached up to the leather cord around his neck and pulled out the kyber crystal she had given him. It still glowed faintly with its summer's light. "Do you think this would change at all if something happened?" He asked, looking up at Sasha.

Sasha looked at the crystal for a moment then looked at Kyr. "She is strong in the Force. And while you may not be a Jedi like Oppie, you still have a connection to it too. If that crystal is your connection to her in the Force, then it is possible it would tell you if something was wrong. Or it could help you reach her. Either are possible," she explained. "The Force can work in mysterious ways."

"Yeah." Kyr replied absently, still looking at the crystal. "Thanks."

"Would you like me to help you try and reach her through it? Or would you rather just… keep it close?" Sasha asked, gently.

Kyr looked at it for a second. "If you think it would help?" He pulled the cord from around his neck and handed her the crystal carefully.

Sasha took the crystal in her hand, looking it over for a second in her palm. The memory of when Cien purchased this crystal and the ones for the twins flashed through her mind. A part of her hoped that Cien had the twins' crystals with her so that the connection between the crystals could help them locate her. The other part of her hoped that this would work at all.

Sasha held her other hand out to him as she took a seat on the edge of his bed. "It couldn't hurt to try. But I could use your help." She said, hopeful.

"How?" He asked.

"When you were missing, Cien was able to sense you in the Force. It was small, but it was there. You do have a connection to her, whether you are Force sensitive or not," Sasha explained. "And with my bond to her, together we might be able to get a clearer image of where she is or maybe even see her in the mindspace. However, there is also the possibility that this might not work. But if it gives us some hope, I'm willing to try if you are."

He looked at her, and then glanced to the rest of the family still deep in thought at the other bed. "That would be… that would mean a lot to be able to check on her. Whatever I can do, I'm in." He said quietly.

"Alright,' she nodded. "Then let's go into the mindspace and find her." She said, encouragingly as she offered hand again.

Kyr blinked, and then gently took her hand. In a flash, they both appeared in the darkness of the mindspace with a light shining down from an unknown source above.

Kyr was standing in his full armor. He spread his arms a little and looked down. "I've only been in here twice." He said, looking around. He took his buy'ce off.

"Twice?" She blinked. "I didn't know that. I knew about the first, but not the second. But I guess that makes sense especially being with Cien. I've been in here a lot," Sasha said looking at him. "But you are the first person I have brought in here who isn't Force sensitive. Or being interrogated and questioned." She admitted, glancing away.

Kyr looked at her for a moment. "Wait." He said. "You know about the first time I was in here?" He asked with a gulp.

"I don't know what happened if that is what you are asking, but I know when she first brought you here," Sasha said. That was a lie. She knew exactly what happened the first time he was in here, but she promised Cien to never tell him that. She kept a neutral expression as she told him that.

He just looked at her. "You remember what I said about your sabacc face when you and Viran met up with me during the temple runs?" He asked evenly.

"Yes?" She said, hoping that he wasn't seeing through her.

"You should practice it more." He said, with the hint of a sour smirk in his voice as he turned to look out at the darkness.

Her eyebrows raised at that as a hint of an embarrassed blush came to her cheeks before glaring at him then rolling her eyes. "Anyway, let's start looking for Cien. What I need you to do is think about her. Anything you can. The way she looks, the way she smiles, her laugh, or any memory of her. That will help me narrow it down," she explained. "And with the crystal, we can use that as a beacon to find her. Hopefully."

"Okay." Kyr said as he closed his eyes. He abruptly opened them and looked at Sasha. "You can't see what I'm thinking, can you?" He asked apprehensively.

"No, I can't. And even if I could, I promise not to pry," Sasha said, genuinely. "But I'm going to do the same thing as you and then start the search. I just need your energy to help me narrow it down."

"Okay." He said. "She probably already told you about it anyway." He grumbled half under his breath as he closed his eyes again.

Sasha tried to hide a smile as she too closed her eyes and started to focus on Cien. With Kyr there with her, she felt a stronger pull in the Force after several silent moments between them as they thought of their missing family member. Finally a path came to her and Sasha opened her eyes.

"This way," she said as she started to walk off into the darkness.

Kyr followed after her, not sure what they were heading towards. "Is this your mind or mine?" He asked.

"Mine," she said, leading the way.

"Oh." He said, looking around.

"I could joke and say it is quite empty, but I think of it more as vast with room to learn," she said almost philosophically. "But in here, I can control most of what we see. If this was your mind, we would see memories and locations. I can access those if you want." She joked.

He glanced slyly at her. "I get the sense that you already know all the important ones." He groused a little sourly.

Sasha gulped. "If Cien asks, I never told you. You figured it out on your own," she answered sheepishly. "But yes I may know of some things. But I kept my word to never tell anyone. Not even you." She paused. "Well until now I guess."

"Hmph." Kyr said. "I won't tell." He promised with a little bit of a smile.

Sasha shot a narrowed glance over her shoulder at him with a smirk. "Now whose sabacc face needs work," she teased as they kept walking.

"You ever thought about getting armor?" Kyr asked after a moment.

"You asking because Kait brought it up?" She asked slyly.

"Kinda." Kyr said. "I know you guys can handle yourselves but it would make me feel better with all this stuff if you had some beskar around you." He admitted as they walked.

Sasha was silent for a moment. "In the beginning, after what happened with Dracul and we came back, the thought had crossed my mind. But honestly I thought that with the Empire gone, we wouldn't really need it. And I guess I kind of pushed it aside after that. Then Myrkr happened." She went silent again as a frown came to her face. "Oppie and I both admitted that if we both had armor we would have survived the situation better. But after what happened, the thought became more real. I honestly wouldn't mind having armor and I would be safer with it too. However, I still want to look and feel like a Jedi. So I guess if I ever got armor it would just be pieces to cover my arms and legs. Or something similar to how the Jedi Generals dressed during the Clone Wars."

"That would look neat." Kyr said. "I remember Kenobi had a full set of clone armor he wore once or twice, he looked good in it. Even if it was just plastoid." He observed.

Sasha nodded. "He wasn't the only Jedi who wore it, but yes, I remember seeing him around the temple with it on once in a while," she recalled. "But something like that would be nice. Is that at all possible or do I have to get a full set of armor?" She asked a little unsure how the process worked.

Kyr glanced at her, then back towards whatever point ahead of them she was guiding them to. "You ever saw Anna's armor, or moms?" He asked.

"When Cien and I came in here to save you, we did," Sasha said looking away. "Anna's armor was truly breathtaking."

"It was." Kyr agreed. "Our old armorer, he was pretty good, she spent nearly half a year perfecting it with him. No armor set is alike, every Mandalorian gets a set of armor that suits them as perfectly as possible. That's part of the job of the Armorer, to make the armor that you need, not the armor you want, necessarily." Kyr paused for a second. "See for Cien I would have wanted her to have a heavier set of armor, with more coverage, kinda like moms. But she insisted on having lighter coverage so she could move in it. And I think that has kept her safer than a heavier set would have. You can get exactly what you want, as long as you respect the Armorer enough and listen to them. And you can be like Anna and get it piece by piece if you want."

"Then I guess I'll have to start drawing up some ideas," she said with a smirk in her tone. "See what I can come up with. And of course, if the Armorer suggests something I'll listen. She is the expert on Mando armor, not me."

"She is." Kyr said. He continued a little distantly, looking away. "She didn't want to make my armor for me at first. But she understood, and she gave me what I needed to see me through all these years."

"Well I can't wait to meet her one day," Sasha said as she glanced over at him. She then looked forward and saw something up ahead. Sasha immediately took off into a run upon seeing it, her heart thudding. Did this really work? Is that her? She thought anxiously to herself. Kyr took off at a run next to her.

As they approached they saw her, and Kyr came to a halt. She was sitting in a chair, and her definition was fuzzy, as if she was a bit obscured which made it hard to make out any details. There was only the faint outline of her surroundings. She was wearing a dark tunic, or a dress or a gown, and had a dark blanket wrapped around her. And she had an air of anxiousness about her.

Kyr stood there looking at her. "Cien?" He called out in a loud tone, not even sure if the mindspace worked that way, but he had to try.

Sasha glanced at Kyr as she had stopped next to him and had been staring at Cien with a worried expression. "Cien! Please answer!" She called out to her sister, hoping for a response this time. However, seeing her alive and what seemed to be okay was enough to put her heart at ease, but something still felt off. Felt wrong about all of it.

Cien looked around with an air of shock, and finally her gaze turned towards them. Her eyes widened and she threw up her arms, and she disappeared.

"Cien!" Sasha called again as she disconnected from them.

"No!" Kyr said, taking a step forward. He looked back at Sasha. "Can you find her? Can you figure out anything from that?" He asked, not having any idea how the mindspace worked, if that was enough for Sasha to do… something with.

Sasha stared ahead, unsure of what just happened. Why she disconnected from them. "Uh, give me a second. I'll see if I can get her back," she said, trying to keep the fear from her voice. She closed her eyes and tried reaching out again to Cien, but the bond was even more disconnected than before. She pushed harder and harder to get a hold of her, but nothing was working. She opened her eyes with a shaky breath as she clutched her head. "I'm sorry… I don't know what happened. It's not working." Her voice shook as she said that.

"Osik." Kyr said, looking back at the spot where Cien had been. He looked back at Sasha and remembered how sick Cien had made herself looking for Sasha under the same circumstances. "It's okay, let's go." He said.

"No, no," Sasha said, shaking her now throbbing head. "I can still sense her. She is still okay. I will get her back." She promised as she tried again.

"Sasha, don't hurt yourself." Kyr said, swallowing, even though he was desperate to see his pregnant wife again. "You think she's okay?" He asked.

"Yes," she said, looking at him with a look of confidence. "Just the connection was cut off for some reason. I'm not sure if she did it or someone else. Or something else. But I can still sense her. She's just… harder to reach now." She looked back to where Cien had been with a deep frown.

Kyr deflated a little. "Okay, we at least know she's… That she's not..." He said looking at the empty spot where she had been. She had just seemed to be sitting at a table or something. "What the hell is going on?" He asked under his breath.

"I don't know," Sasha said, rubbing her head. "But I can't do this for much longer. I'm sorry," she said tiredly as if she might faint in here.

"Yeah let's go." Kyr said worriedly.

The mindspace immediately faded away as they returned to the medical bay of the Defiant. Sasha let go of Kyr's hand and brought her own hands up to her pounding forehead as her vision dotted and blurred. She felt dizzy just sitting there.

"Sasha?" Kyr asked.

"I'm alright," she answered in a whisper. "I just need a moment."

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Viran asked from the other bed as he suddenly noticed the way Sasha was hunched over.

"I'm fine," Sasha said, flashing him a reassuring smile through the pain. "Just a headache."

"What happened?" Viran asked Kyr instead.

"Sasha and I went into the mindspace, we were able to see Cien." Kyr said, looking over at Sasha.

"Really?" Oppie asked as they came around the bed.

"Yeah, we saw her," Sasha said, squinting up at Oppie as the bright lights of the room were actually hurting her eyes and head. "She appeared to be okay, but something spooked her and then we were cut off. I tried to get her back, but I had to stop. But she is okay." She looked back down at the crystal still in her other hand and handed it back to Kyr. "Also here."

"Thank you Sasha." Kyr said. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize. I'm glad we did that," Sasha said, looking at him through a slight grimace. "I can take a headache if it means knowing for sure that Cien is okay."

Kait stepped over to Sasha's side. "Want some help back to your room?" She asked.

"I'll be ok-" Sasha started before Viran cut her off.

"Sash," He said firmly.

She sighed and looked at Kait which in moving her head caused her vision to swim more. So maybe she did need some help. "Yes please. That would be nice." She said quietly as she made to stand.

Kait took her arm and glanced at the guys before guiding Sasha to the door.

"I swear. She can be really stubborn sometimes," Viran said in an annoyed yet loving manner as he watched her go. He then looked back to Kyr. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Kyr said, leaning back in the bed. "We saw her." He said.

"And hopefully we will see her again soon," Viran assured him. "Once Tac is back online and we have the intel, then the next stop will be saving Cien and the twins." He said, trying to sound hopeful and encouraging to make his best friend feel better.

"Yeah, we'll get her back. It's what we do." Oppie said.

Kyr displayed something halfway between a smirk and a grimace at that, and Oppie frowned.

"You guys need anything else?" Oppie asked, looking between them.

Viran glanced at Kyr with a worried expression then back at Oppie. "No, I think we are okay." He said. "Thanks for checking in with us."

"Yeah, Kelce was a little antsy about us staying too long." Oppie said. "We'll be back as soon as we can."

"Thanks Op." Kyr replied.

Viran nodded his thanks. He then looked down at Lana in his lap as she played with the blanket. "Alright, kiddo. Time to go. Daddy's got to get some rest," he told her.

"No. Say wif Dada and Kyr," Lana protested with a pout as she curled into him and hugged his arm tightly.

"Lana, let go. It'll be okay," Viran said, trying to pull his arm free from his toddler.

"Come on, Admiral Sulam wanted to have you for dinner." Oppie said, coming over to the bed to grab her.

"Adma?" Lana tried to say. It sounded like a mix between grandma and Admiral.

Viran couldn't help but smirk at that. "Yes, she wants to see you, hun. Now go with Uncle Oppie," he said as he patted her head gently.

"Kay. Wuv you Dada," Lana said a little begrudgingly, hugging him tightly.

Viran kissed the top of her head. "Love you too, sweetie. Now off you go," he said as he managed to undo her grip on him and help her up so Oppie could grab her.

Oppie took hold of her and hefted her up to his shoulder. "Great, the Admiral would have been disappointed if she hadn't had her main course." Oppie said as he started walking out the door.

Lana giggled at that as she waved over his shoulder at her father and uncle. Viran waved back with a chuckle before looking to Kyr.

"Op." Kyr said before he made it to the door.

"Yeah?" Oppie said, whirling a little to give Lana some G's, but careful not to hit her head on the door frame. Lana giggled at the motion.

"When you're ready to get Kait some armor, let me know." He offered, gesturing lightly to his heart.

Oppie hesitated for a second and glanced at Viran before looking back at Kyr. "Thanks. Have a good night."

"You too." Kyr said, watching him go, and swinging Lana around again as he whirled. Lana giggled some more at that.

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