Last time: The presence has returned and it is getting worse.

Now: They find out a startling truth.

Chapter 16- No Way

Kyr continued down the corridor, to the next bulkhead. "Tac, bulkhead 374." He stated. The door slid open as he stood there, prepared for whatever forces were on the other side. None of them would impede him from getting to his wife. But there were none. No stormtroopers. No death troopers. No other forces in the way. He was in the VIP suites now, and there were no guards, which made no sense. But he hurried forward, not caring deeply for the fact that the path to his wife was open. His carbine up and out, he felt his heart pounding as he got to the most important VIP suite. The quarters for the highest ranking officer, this had to be where Jiardon was holed up.

"Tac." Kyr started, his heart pounding, "Door V-001." He stated as he squared up to breach.

The door slid open and he carefully rushed inside.

He slowed, staring in shock at what he saw. Not a lavish suite, not a strategic planning room. Not a room for a Moff or Admiral or Emperor.

The Gallery.

Darkness enveloped the room, lit only by a few bright spot lights that shown down on several display cases that lined the walkway to the accursed centerpiece of the single standing wall.

The wall was empty, the shoulder height chains hanging limply. Waiting.

He froze and took a step back from this horrible nightmare, as he looked down at the figure sitting in the lounge chair.

"Hello Mandalorian." She said. "It's so good to see you again." She said with a sparkling smile.

Kyr took a step back, his rifle going slightly limp in his grasp.

Selina.

"What have you done?" He asked in quiet shock.

Her smile grew. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"What have you done?" Kyr demanded in a harsh growl, pounding forward, letting his carbine fall on its sling in front of his chest as he stalked towards her, his bootsteps like thunderclaps in the darkened room. "Where is she?!" He yelled.

She just smiled her vicious smile and he faltered back as the horrible realization hit him.

"Kyr?" Sasha called from the doorway as she led Kelce and Wynnie into the room. She skidded to a stop when she saw the gallery laid out before them. Her gaze shifted around until it settled on Selina. She stiffened up as her face hardened. She stepped forward and placed herself at Kyr's side, but also slightly in front of him as if protecting him. "Selina. How the hell are you even alive? And where is Cien?" Sasha demanded in a growl, hatred laced in her tone.

Selina looked at her curiously, "I admit I'm not quite sure. She could be here, there, anywhere perhaps."

"Enough games," Sasha barked. "I know she is here. I can sense her. Now stop lying and tell us where she is now. Or I'll make you tell us." She hissed, angrier than she had ever been.

"I've never lied to any of you." Selina said curiously, completely unperturbed.

"I'll be the judge of that," Sasha snarled as she marched forward towards Selina. Once she was within arms reach, she seized Selina by the wrist before she could react and in a flash, pulled her into the mindspace.

Cien was standing there, in the emptiness of the mindspace waiting for her.

Sasha hesitated in place, unsure of what she was seeing. The woman before her looked like Cien and she matched Cien's presence in the Force, but something was off. Different almost. Sasha also felt the overwhelming presence of that shadow that has been plaguing her over the past couple months and ever since they boarded the Taipan. That was making her see those visions, causing a rift between her and Cien, and making her experience the hallucinations of Vestora. But even though she could sense it in here, she couldn't figure out where exactly it was. All she knew was that it was in the shadows, but this time it wasn't hiding. She was pretty sure it was watching her at this very moment.

Sasha timidly approached the Cien before her. "How are you here?" She asked. She was confused, elated, and on edge about this, and all of that shone through her tone as she spoke to Cien. She was dressed in the same tunic and robes she had worn when they first met on Vestora.

"This was my prison." Cien, Acolyte Cien, stated.

"Your prison?" Sasha asked, now really confused. "What the hell do you mean your prison? And why do you look like that? What is going on? Where is Selina? Isn't this her mind?" She asked, her tone demanding, but trying not to sound like she was.

"No, this is yours." The Acolyte said harshly.

"Mine?" Sasha narrowed her gaze at her. "What's going on here? Where is Selina? Where is my sister, Cien? Because you are not her."

"I've been trapped here for years, in this prison of an illusion." The Acolyte responded, her voice nothing but hatred. "Where is your sister you ask?" She said in a harsh, mocking tone. "Don't you recognize me, dear sister of the light?"

Sasha swallowed as she looked at the woman before her. "You. You were that presence in my mind. That one that has been haunting me," she realized then snarled. "You are the reason I can't reach Cien. But…" She shook her head. "Why do you feel like her? You can't be her. Where is she?" She demanded, panicking slightly.

"That…" Cien said, her voice faltering with the weight of unimaginable hatred, "thing." She spit out, "no longer exists." She said as she started stalking forward towards Sasha.

Sasha took several steps back, keeping her distance between her and the Acolyte approaching her. "What do you mean? What is going on? You won't win at whatever game this is. We will stop you." She rambled off.

Cien kept stalking forward. She threw her hand up and took a vicious hold of Sasha, pinning her in place. "You think you can stop me?" She snarled as she approached.

Sasha gasped as she was suddenly frozen in place. She struggled in the grip, but couldn't move. "Yes. And I'll find my sister and bring her home," she said, confidently as she tried to use the Force to push Cien away. But nothing was working.

The Acolyte held the struggling Sasha as she came within arms reach. "You already found her." She said in a mocking tone as she cocked her head to the side in a display of incredulity. "Dear child, did you… you actually thought all of that was real?" She said as she shot her hand forward and sent Sasha tumbling backward through the darkness.

Suddenly there was a flash of light and voices filled the air. Familiar voices. Memories as the darkness swirled around her as she fell.

Leave me alone

I understand if when you look at me, you only see who I was and what I've done, because I could never do anything to atone for it. I'm sorry.

Cien, you are my sister. All I see is my sister.

It's beautiful.

I'm glad you love it.

I don't want to do anything that would remind you of that dark past, or, worse, cause any sort of divide between us.

That will never happen. Nothing could divide us.

A girl and a boy. Only Kyr and I know, we were going to wait a little to tell everyone.

You're a good sister.

Please, please forgive me.

Thank you for always being here for me. And not leaving me alone.

Of course. That's what family is for.

The baby is coming!

Here?

You're both more than welcome. It was the least I could do for my friend and her child.

You're family now. It's more like sisters.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything.

Please don't apologize! I forgive you. I already forgave you. Please, hang on. Save your strength. It'll be okay. You'll be okay.

Cien… are we… are we still friends?

What kind of question is that?

You are the closest thing I've had to a friend

Yeah, I consider you a friend too.

Now is that any way to greet an old friend?

We are not friends.

if you won't give it to me, then you will give it to him.

Go to hell.

I'll see you soon, little Jedi.

I am not done with you yet.

You're right. What you feel is Death, and I have come for you.

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