Nikkitis sat alone in her quarters and stared at the wall, the only sounds she could hear were those of the Fury releasing its docking clamps and her own breathing. She had been calm and collected with the crew, but now that she was alone, her hands shook.
Malavai Quinn, the only person she had ever fully trusted, had just tried to kill her, on orders from her former master. She wanted to believe him when he said that he would rededicate himself to her, that he would never give her a reason to distrust him ever again, but she found herself drowning in her own confusion. She had forgiven him his transgression, but that didn't mean that she could trust him.
She listened as the engine pitch changed as the undocking procedure was complete and the Fury flew off towards Corellia, the slight tachysensia as they hit hyperspace making her stomach drop for the briefest moment. Grabbing her datapad off of her desk, she hesitated as she tried to think of what to say to him.
She couldn't see him right now, couldn't trust herself with him right now.
How to say this... diplomatically?
She gave up and tossed her datapad on her bed, instead getting up and using her administrative override code to lock the doors to her quarters. He wouldn't be able to override that, except in the case of fire or sudden cabin depressurization.
I can send a message that's very brief. I can do that, right?
She grabbed her datapad again, sharply inhaled, and tapped out "Door's locked. Need to be alone." and sent it before releasing her breath in an equally sharp hiss.
She plopped down on her bed, making one of the pillows fall onto the floor.
One of the ones he uses...maybe even used, past tense.
Grabbing it, she curled it up to her chest and breathed in deeply, trying to calm herself down and will away the tears. There was a lot of thinking to be had over this whole situation, but one thing was for sure: she couldn't let him back into her bed just yet. Despite her best efforts, the tears fell and she sobbed quietly into his pillow.
...
Ding!
A soft chime let the Captain know he had a new message to review. He absentmindedly grabbed his datapad while keeping his focus on the post-takeoff readout. Once he was satisfied that nothing concerning came up, he glanced at his datapad and opened his messaging program.
"Nikkitis: Door's locked. Need to be alone."
Shit. He knew he'd messed up, but badly enough that she didn't even want to see him? She was a Sith. Surely she was used to being betrayed and attempts on her life? That was just the way of the Sith. Wasn't it? That's what he'd always been taught. Maybe that wasn't the case. She'd definitely been different than any other Sith he'd worked with in the past. More tender, patient, understanding...
His heart felt like it was being squeezed by a rancor. He had completely shattered their relationship by following orders. Some serious self-reflection was necessary. She had treated him exactly as she always had when they went aboard the Fury, but that was probably to not let anyone in on the events that had just transpired. He needed to talk to his mother, and the sooner that happened, the better.
...
A soft knock on the door made her hiccup.
"Nikk?" Vette called out gently. She could sense both Vette and Jaesa on the other side of the door and wall.
Of course both of them knew something was wrong.
Women's intuition or something, right?
"Can we come in?" Jaesa asked in a sad tone.
Nikkitis sensed the desire for connection from the two women, and she was feeling fragile. She needed some company right now.
"I guess?" she called back through the door. "Just let me release the administrative override. I could use some girl time."
She got up and typed in her code at her desk, then used the Force to open the door to let them in without turning. As soon as they were through the door, she closed it again and reengaged the override. She heard something slide onto her bed and turned around to see what it was: Vette and Jaesa had brought in trays of chocolates, a holoprojector, snacks, drinks, and games. She would have asked how they did that with only four arms between them, but then she remembered Jaesa had originally been trained by the Jedi. They had to float multiple objects, in a controlled manner, at the same time for hours on end, Jaesa had told her. Jaesa had kept up with that training, even since joining the crew.
Wish I had that kind of training, to be honest.
Jaesa was smiling reassuringly at her, and floated a pasaana punch her way while Vette laid out the goods.
"Hydrate, have some chocolate and a sandwich, and we'll get going on some games or a cheesy drama or something. Your pick," Jaesa started, joining Vette in laying out the treats and games. "I know you're not in a place to talk yet, Master. But know that you have friends to help you when you feel down, friends that want to listen, friends that care. Friends that like your company, your input, your personality, and everything that entails. Crazy adventures and all."
"Yeah, we're not just your crew," Vette interjected. "We're your found family. You said once that I was like a little sister to you. I take that role in your life seriously."
Nikkitis got a little choked up at their words, and drank the punch to keep herself from crying even more. She'd never realized how cared for she'd been until right at that moment.
"Oh, and I live for those crazy adventures," Vette said with a laugh in her voice.
Nikkitis found herself smiling at her friends - no, her found family.
...
Quinn was barely containing his panic and his tears as his mother, Amalise Quinn, answered the holo.
"Mum, I have to talk to you about something urgent."
"Malavai Ardon Quinn, what did you do this time?!" she practically screeched. Her exasperation at her son was completely evident.
"I followed orders, but I hurt someone I care deeply about in the process."
"Let me guess. The lady Sith you've been captaining for?"
He flinched at that. His mother knew Nikkitis's name, but never used it whenever they spoke. She had gotten too used to moonlighting for Imperial Intelligence to ever use any name but the one she was speaking directly to. Even in his earliest memories of his mother speaking with his father, Rymar Quinn, she only ever called him "Ry." This was the first time she got this close to saying exactly who she meant.
"I take it that I'm right, judging by your reaction, if that's anything to go by. Orders to kill?"
He suddenly felt very cold and instinctively curled up slightly to keep his vitals warm. Despite this, his heart raced and he felt uncomfortably exposed.
"Right again. Now a question: How do you really feel about her?"
He took a shaky breath.
"I..." his voice trailed off, cracking on that one syllable, before he resolved to finally say it. "I love her. I love her, and I hurt her in a way I can't take back."
"Do you absolutely, unequivocally, mean every word?" she questioned, a cold and steely tone.
"Yes."
He was surprised by his lack of hesitation. Tears began to quietly stream down his face, but he was past caring.
"Would you die for her? Would you kill, torture, and maim anyone, and I truly mean anyone, if they dared to hurt her in any way?"
"Yes."
Again. No hesitation. He looked down from the holo, ashamed that he'd even hurt his own mother for her.
"Then you need to show her how much you love her. None of those cheap gestures, like chocolates, dates, flowers. Show her."
When he looked back up at the holo, his mother wasn't disgusted with him. On the contrary, she was smiling warmly.
"But how?" he asked, clinging desperately to the hope that she'd have an answer.
"I can't give you that answer. You know her best. But know that I support you. If she doesn't kill you and merely kicks you out of her service, then you can come home. If she accepts your actions, then I'll be here for you to talk to. But know that it will take action, not words. Words are cheap. Actions speak."
Her smile dropped and she looked on her only son with sadness.
"Never forget, Vai, dear. Love is work. It will always be work."
"I understand, mum."
"I love you, dear."
"I love you, too, mum."
The holo fizzled out and left him in a cockpit lit only by the star systems streaking by the viewport while they were in hyperspace.
