Last time: Sasha killed Kopesh in cold blood.

Now: We meet Sinya and she meets a problem.

Chapter 22- Please Remember

One year later, Sasha and Cien walked down the ramp of Cien's unnamed ship as they returned from yet another mission together. They were ordered to grab intel from an Imperial base and destroy it, leaving no witnesses behind. And they did exactly that. They left it in shambles and even made it seem as if that excuse of a rebellion was responsible before returning.

"How many this time, Acolyte Sinya?" Cien asked as they walked across the hangar and ignored the deck crew that was already moving in to perform post flight maintenance on her ship. "My count was at least one hundred and twelve."

"I believe my count came in to one hundred and fifty," Sasha, or Sinya as she was known as now for well over a year, said smirking. "Sending that last grenade back into their barracks definitely increased it."

"Kopesh would have enjoyed being there, a shame he wasn't able to join us." Cien said with a dark smirk. His death was still their private joke even after a year. Dracul had not acknowledged what had happened, other than to inform them that he had died during the mission. And both she and Sinya had feigned the appropriate amount of surprise at the news. Dracul knew they had. They knew he knew. And they had gone unpunished.

"He decided his own fate when he tried to make his move on me," Sinya said. Sasha, your name is Sasha. Stop this. "I admit it was rather satisfying to end him. However, I believe it would have still been more fitting for you to end him than me."

"Perhaps," Cien said. "Though considering how much of a 'liking' he took to you, I feel it was well deserved for you to be the one to stab him in the back."

"Well either way, he has no longer been a nuisance to us," Sinya pointed out.

You don't kill. You heal and help others. What has happened to you? The voice that never left her alone, even after all of this time, urged her.

"And your skill with your double bladed staff has grown substantially, it suits you. It still surprises me you were able to find that spare Kyber crystal just laying around." Cien said with a laughing sneer.

Sinya shared in that laugh as her hand brushed by her staff that hung from belt.

"Do you want to have dinner?" Cien asked her dark sister.

"I could eat," Sinya said. "But I was going to freshen up first. My robes got a little… dirty." She dismissively gestured to her blood soaked and ashen robes.

Cien looked down at her own robes, covered in ash and blood. They hadn't actually been allowed to use their sabers since they had to make it look like a Rebel attack, so they had ended up being sprayed with the blood of nearly three hundred stormtroopers between them. "A fair point." Cien observed with a wry grin. "And this time if they aren't able to get the stains out, please don't kill them. We had to go through so many launderers before another good one was found."

"It wasn't because of the stains. It was because they shrunk my robes and Kopesh had to make a leering remark," Sinya pointed out wryly. "But there was a stain or two on it. But I promise. I'll spare them. This time."

Cien called the turbolift, and it opened before them quickly. She stepped inside with a dark laugh. "I did not realize that was the reason for it, that by all means is worthy of death."

Sinya snickered, darkly at that. "Well I'm glad you agree."

The turbolift came to a halt, and the door opened to the Acolytes level. "Living off of rations the last few days has left me famished." Cien said as they strode along the empty corridors alone. "I hope that the kitchen is serving something good this evening."

"I agree," Sinya said as she walked alongside her. "Maybe they will have something more appetizing like fruit. Zherries with cream sound quite good at the moment."

Cien shot her a glance, "yes, perhaps." She said a little guardedly.

She loves Zherries and parfaits. Remember that! Remember the laughs, sharing desserts and making them together! Please remember.

And she did, but how she wasn't sure. Sinya shook her head and looked at Cien. "I will contact you when I am ready to head to the dining hall," she said as they reached the door to Sinya's room.

"Very well." Cien said, continuing down the corridor to where her suite was.

Sinya entered into her chamber, closing the door shut behind herself. She headed for the refresher and changed out of her dirty clothes. She quickly rinsed off and changed into fresh clean robes. Once she was dressed, she pulled on her boots and reached out to Cien via their mindspace link.

I am ready. Are you or shall I just meet you in the dining hall? Sinya asked.

Cien didn't answer her. Sinya assumed she must have been still freshening up and waited for another several long moments. Once several minutes had passed, she tried again believing that she would be ready.

Cien, are you ready? Sinya asked, impatient.

Still there was no answer. Usually Cien would reply to her one way or the other, unless she was having an audience with Dracul. But she could sense that Cien was still on the same floor as her and nowhere near their lord. She tried again.

Cien. Answer me. Do you still want to go eat? If I don't hear from you, you are on your own. Sinya said harshly.

There was no answer, which was very strange for Cien.

Sinya furrowed her brow. Something was out of place.

Try again. The voice urged for the first time on her side.

Sinya took a deep breath and tried again. Cien I am going to get food. You are welcome to join me or go on your own. I'm not waiting for you. Now answer or I am going. She demanded.

There was no response.

Sinya growled. She closed her eyes and entered into the mindspace. She charged forward through the space and reached out, summoning Cien to her. "Cien, what the hell is going on? Answer me. Stop ignoring me!"

A terrified figure came before her, with two other lights distantly, vaguely in the void behind her. Cien's straw colored hair shimmered in the dim light that shone down upon her. But it was loosely tied behind her in a ponytail, not the usual, severe braid that she had always worn since Sinya had known her. And she was wearing a simple, pale blue dress, like something a peasant might wear on a simple, underdeveloped world. "What is this?" She asked as she looked around terrified. "Who are you? Where is this?" Cien asked as she recoiled away from Sinya's terrifying visage.

To be continued.

End of Part 2

The End... for now!

HOLY CRAP! WHAT AN ENDING! THE XIVS WILL BE BACK FOR BOOK 1O AND THE SEARCH FOR CIEN CONTINUES!