Our Fallen Sister

Chapter I: Reforged through Compassion

Cere - Day 0 - The Mantis; in orbit above Nar Shaddaa

''Nar Shadda as it lives and breathes. Years ago I would've said that it was the perverted bastard twin of Coruscant. Nothing but yet another ecumenopolis city built upon layers and layers of greed, you know? But after everything I saw ... ''

Cere sighed as she span around in her chair, her eyes darting through the windows of the Mantis while it orbited the vast city moon.

''With the Empire in charge, I doubt that I'd describe Coruscant any differently now.'' Her ears twitched slightly as she heard small footsteps creeping up towards her from behind, the smell of a well-cooked meal besieging her nostrils in an instant before a familiar voice grabbed her attention.

''I mean, yeah. Just look at it, being all-around filthy and stuff like that. But the funny thing is: I'd bet that Coruscant was just as dirty as this pearl of compassion right here - it was just hidden better, probably under all of that expensive silk the politicians used to wear. Pff, to think that my sense of fashion is out of place according to some.'' scoffed Greeze rather unapologetically, the four-armed pilot placing himself firmly on his seat as he held a small plate of food in Cere's direction.

''You should eat.'' he stated more matter of factly than anything else, wiggling his eyebrows at her as Cere closed her eyes temporarily, going over his words in her head. Has it always truly been the same? As a Seeker for the Jedi, it wasn't like she spent that much time on Coruscant, that much was true. Certainly not enough time around politicians and other important lawmaker like some of the generals back in the war. But still, she used to think that the galactic capital was the definition of everything that was worth fighting for: a golden republic protecting its people at any cost, spreading liberty to all while celebrating their unshakable moral beliefs at the same time. A beacon of hope in a galaxy that had to endure enough evil for one lifetime.

That was the idea at least. Before the purge. Before ...

She quickly banished those voices of doubt from her head, forcing a weak smile while she nodded thankfully to Greez, quickly putting her plate on her lap as she regarded his food with quite some curiosity.

''It's another one of my gran's. You'll love it! It's with just the right amount of spices, some of them even legal in Imperial Space! I think, at least. Ah, well.'' She had to scoff kindheartedly at that. After everything that has transpired, Cere couldn't imagine her life without Greez's daily dose of wit. Sure, he might certainly sound like a goofball from time to time, but considering that the alternative would be death and gloom again and again - yes, she was more than happy to call the witty pilot her friend. Especially considering what has happened in the last few hours: Though certainly not without dangers, Cal managed to successfully infiltrate the dark fortress of the imperial Jedi hunters - the Inquisitorius - and managed to fight his way through the numerous divisions of Stormtroopers and even the specially trained agents of the Inquisitorius, the insidious and twisted Purge troopers. In the end, Cere's worst nightmares became reality as Cal not only had to face off against her former pupil, the fallen Jedi apprentice Trilla Suduri, but also had a run-in with this dark machine-like shadow that made the marrow in her bones freeze twice over.

She began to shudder as she let her mind wander back to that dark moment.

Cere - Day 0 - Fortress Inquisitorius

''Avenge us.''

The white cloudy lightning of the room was illuminated by the dark soldiers' hellish looking crimson blade, his fear inducting breath cutting through the atmosphere of it like a sharp dagger. Cere couldn't move, no matter how desperately she wished to right now. She wanted to run. She wanted to do nothing else than hide as her fear of this thing took over every fiber of her being, as if a frozen fist clenched her spine and twisted it until there was nothing left to bend. Cere wasn't only scared. She was absolutely and utterly horrified by the presence of that man. Above all else though, she was scared shitless of the dark and twisted thoughts that began to build up inside of her mind, years and decades of Jedi training threatening to be swept away in an instant. Cere let off a desperate scream as she tabbed into that well of newfound primal power, using the Force to take hold of Trilla's rigid body and pulling her out of harm's way, throwing her directly into the catching hands of Cal.

''Run!'' she yelled at the top of her lungs as she sprinted towards the machine-like Force wielder, every good instinct that remained within the broken shall that was her mind screaming at her that she was about to meet her ultimate demise. With another shout, she jumped off her feet up wide into the air as she tried to bring her lightsaber - once the weapon of the Second Sister - down upon the evil henchman, pleading with the Force and every other deity she knew of out there that this monster was to be brought to justice. Yet Cere's pleas fell on deaf ears as he used the Force to deflect her attack as if she was nothing more than an annoying insect to be swatted away. With a painful grunt, Cere was pushed off the torture chamber's metal floor and she was thrown into nothingness, the only thing that was standing between her and an untimely death being a set of maintenance pipes set directly below, serving as a makeshift bridge for her to begin her long sprawl back to the others, wherever they were within the halls of this wretched fortress.

I can't fail them. I can't ... Cal deserves better. Trilla deserves better. I need to go on.

Though her muscles ached in pain with every move, she only gritted her teeth and continued to climb along the small and slivery pipes, trying not to be thrown off by the constant shaking and the numerous explosions of whatever cataclysmic event was currently unfolding on the level above. After a couple of minutes of the unwanted rigorous exercise, Cere sighed in relief as her eyes spotted another platform off in the distance, its many consoles and mechanical doodads indicating some sort of maintenance elevation. Taking another deep and long-lived breath, she jumped off the pipes and landed on the platform with a loud thud, her knees giving in slightly while she tried to take in her surroundings as quickly as possible. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Cere tried to steady the rhythm of her heart as she attuned her senses to the Force, hoping to make any sort of sense out of this catastrophic mess. She stood there in complete silence, desperately trying to ward off that ever stronger growing feeling of doom and hopelessness that wore her down piece for piece. Letting the Force guide her every move, she threw her eyesight over to a nearby ladder. She marched over to it with haste in her steps before she stopped dead in her tracks, igniting the half-circular lightsaber that once belonged to her former apprentice.

''Jim, I have no idea what's going on. It's as if some parts of this cursed structure are being flooded while another one is actively being torn asunder above by something I can't even get a good read on. What is going - ... oh no. Hold it right there! Who ar ... damn it!'' Cere entered a defensive stance as the light of her red blade danced over the nearby jet-black surfaces. Given that the man that stood before her wore nothing but simple maintenance gear, Cere tried to appeal to his sense of reason. There was already enough death that came out of this day, she didn't wish to add to it if she had the choice.

'''Don't be foolish. I'm not your enemy. Just-'' Though her voice was as calm as humanly possible, the engineer grabbed his blaster pistol and unleashed a barrage of bolts upon her, each strike deflected by the former Jedi with relative ease. Another second passed before the attacker gasped in shock. His arms began to shake before his knees quivered fiendishly as he fell to the ground. He crawled back into a nearby corner and raised his hands defensively.

''Please ... please don't kill me. I beg you. Please!'' She looked at her blade and then back to the weaseling man. And there it was again. That unwanted seed of doubt, that push that came from her most inner fears. It felt as if some sort of arctic wind jumped over her skin, pulling her mind and soul into a cold abyss that would've consumed her entirely if it wasn't for her iron-clad will.

He's one of them. Who knows what he would for a promotion? Those people thrive on their ambitions. If I strike him down now ...

Cere shook her head violently and turned her lightsaber off before using the Force to push the imperial's blaster off of the platform.

''I don't know how long all of this will still stand. You should get yourself to safety.'' Cere almost thought that the engineer was struck by thunder judging by how quickly he stood up and ran away, his panicked scream echoing through the halls of the Fortress Inquisitorius even after he was far out of sight. She put her saber back on the magnetic locks of her belt and darted up the ladder, trying to brush off the ever-present emotional tumult within her with her while she tried to climb as quickly as possible.

''Where's ... oh no.'' There they were. Cal stood defiantly in front of the mysterious Force wielder, trying to ward off the man's saber with his own orange one, a task that seemed impossible even for someone as skilled with the blade as he was. Though Cal put up a good act, as he always did, she could feel his collective doubt and fear radiating off of him, his feelings only empowering the dreadful thoughts that currently plagued her own mind. Trilla stood behind him where she looked at the two of them as if she was looking into an endless void, her skin more akin to a corpse than the once so lively woman she used to be. Another scream escaped out of Cere's mouth before she let her lightsaber spring to life. Calling upon the Force to amplify her agility and strength she tried to go for the Jedi hunter's head, only for him to easily deflect her strike with his saber. She quickly landed before him, her blade ready to meet his at a moment's notice.

And as she stood there, feeling the almost endless current that was Cal's own doubt and fear, feeling the emotional void and confusion that enthralled Trilla's mind, Cere finally faced the consequences of her failures. Neither Cal nor Trilla would stand here today if it wasn't for her weakness. Cal would've never had to endure all of this untold violence and loss if she would've been stronger for him. Trilla would've never been broken, her flame never extinguished if she wouldn't have been such a pathetic and utter fool. It was at that moment that Cere didn't know who she hated more: herself or the sinister man staring directly into her eyes, breaking down her every defense with nothing but his dead, lifeless eyes. No matter who she despised more, she tapped into all of that anger all of that disgust as she called upon the Force once more, hoping that she'd finish this once and for all.

Cere - Day 0 - the Mantis, in orbit above Nar Shaddaa

''Greez to Cere, is your comlink up there jammed or is the food just that bad?''

W-What?

She took a deep breath as she tried to steady her mind once more. She peeked down to a highly intimidated Greez that now stood before her, his eyes unsure of whether he should be even talking to her right now or if he should retreat to a safe distance, preferably as far away from her as he could in this moment.

''You okay there, boss? You looked rather out of it right there.'' ushered Greez carefully. Cere could only grunt as she closed her eyes again, trying to collect her thoughts as she hoped for at least a short respite from those tragic memories.

''Yes, of course. I'm sorry, I was just planing. How are they others holding up? How's ... you know.'' Greez scoffed slightly at that.

''You mean your sort of homicidal former apprentice currently resting in my room? Or are you talking about our favorite witch, currently doing some sort of plainly weird Force ritual to heal her wounds? You know, with strange green lights coming out of my room? Or how about - '' Cere raised her hand and huffed pointedly.

''I know it's difficult to comprehend. Believe me, I'm still trying to work through everything that has happened myself. But Trilla isn't dangerous. Not anymore. Please, believe me.'' Though Greez's words did hurt, she honestly couldn't blame him. Force knew she couldn't expect anyone that wasn't schooled in those matters to even remotely begin to understand what has happened during those last few hours. The Light. The Dark - nothing but words stemming from some sort of religious monks if the majority of people were to be asked about it. All Greez saw was a psychotic woman who tried to kill them ever since they took Cal onboard. Truth be told, it wasn't as if she herself didn't share similar thoughts. But what did Cal always say? Trust in the Force. And so she shall.

''Right. Don't get me wrong but I'll sleep with a blaster under my pillow now, thanks. Or three.'' remarked the pilot deadpan before looking back out of the ship's windows.

''We'll be save for a couple of days at least. You can't be found that easily on Nar Shaddaa, even with the Empire's resources. Should give us some time to lay low and try to get something rolling again. I'm assuming you all have some sort of plan, right? Right ... ?''

Do I? Does anyone right now?

They had to ensure that Trilla would be up on her feet again, the sooner the better. During their narrow escape from the Fortress, Trilla was wounded both physically and mentally. Enough to render her unconscious for the time being, for better or worse. Merrin was tending to her medical needs, using some sort of nightsister ritual she couldn't even begin to understand even if she tried. Cal was with them as well, both to finally get some rest of his own and to step in if something unexpected was to happen with Trilla.

''Our general direction hasn't stopped. We'll help whoever we can. Force knows, if there is one planet to start helping the innocent, it has to be Nar Shaddaa. '' Greez raised his eyebrows at that, crossing his four arms in front of his chest as he quickly looked over to Ceren.

''Yeah, no I get that. But do we have something more tangible than that? You know that with Cal, the Second Sister and you being part of this crew, we're basically one giant target for, uhm ... well everyone out there, really! I mean, my own problems sort of have been a huge pain the butt for quite some time now, sure - but this?! An Inquisitor and two former Jedi, all hiding right here. And don't even get me started on our witch.''

Cere knew when it was best to just let Greez speak his mind and not take everything as personal and serious as she probably should given the context of his words. It wasn't unusual that he behaved like that. Everyone deals differently with stress, of course she knew that. Greez's method of blowing off steam just had the unfortunate side effect of getting on her nerves from time to time, given that his complaining - as understandable as it was, especially now - tended to rub both her and the rest of the crew off the wrong way. But still, she merely nodded and looked back at her food, forcing another weakish smile at him. Let's see if she couldn't de-escalate the situation a bit.

''Thanks, by the way. For everything. The food. You saving our lives again and again. Giving us a home. I doubt that we'd still be around if it wasn't for your heroics, Greez.'' She kept her voice calm, serene even. A surprise to be sure, given that her body still felt as tense as never before. But it was the truth, and it needed to be said. Without him, they'd all be dead right now. Or worse.

''Yeah well, you can pay me back by trying to get us out of this mess.''

If it would be so easy. If only it would be so easy.

''Then let's get started. Get us ready to land, Greeze. I'll catch up with the others and then we'll formulate a plan.''

Cere stood up from her seat, her food long consumed as she forced her tired muscles forwards, every step a deep reminder that her body needed rest, preferably yesterday. But she knew that the time for rest wouldn't arrive until she finally confronted what she tried to delay up until now: she would check up on Trilla.

AN 31.12.2019: Finally re-did the first chapter! Removed A LOT of stuff that simply wasn't needed. Thanks for your continued support!