To Mend What's Been Broken [Complete]

[Sorsha Kasajian]

the soundtrack to this scene is Mechanical Dolls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSEVTtWIGpg) by Vangelis

:: Memories (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13043)drifted through Sorsha's mind, one (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12759) after another (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14920) after another (http://sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=17776).

She'd closed herself into her room, the only living space she had left that was private from the crimson guards that infested her home like vermin. She gazed at the wedding ring that hovered in the air, levitated by her will. Her skill at telekineses had progreesed an a startling rate. Now she could make several objects spin in random orbits around the room at various speeds. There was nothing else to occupy her mind, except Mira.

She remembered the time when she'd been Mira's closest confident. Now she had been replaced, in ways she never imagined would ever happen. She stared up at the ceiling as she lay on her back, unaware of the Empress' entrance as the myriad of small toys and objects swirled about randomly ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

The two Crimson Guards flanking Empress Tarkin slammed the ends of their force pikes against the ground together in unison.

"You will show the proper respect, Hand, in the presence of your Empress."

Miranda held up her black leather gloved hand to silence any further scolding. It was their duty that they ensure her subjects show the proper respect, but Sorsha was no mere subject. Even though their relationship had suffered through her coronation and marriage, Sorsha deserved better then to be treated like a second class citizen.

"Leave us," she commanded. Without any argument, they obeyed, leaving Sorsha and Miranda alone.

Miranda tightened her gloves by the ends. It looked improper that skin should show between her side buttoned blazer jacket. Adorned on her shoulders were the few merits earned as Moff of Doldur. With the severe cut of black clothing and boots, Miranda was an impeccable looking military dictator.

Kicking over a broken porcelain vase, the Empress frowned. "Mother gave you that."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha, by contrast, wore a simple shift of white silk that barely covered her form. She looked more like a server than a hand, or a vigo. Rising to her knees, she gave a respectful bow, her eyes lingering on the guards before making eye contact with Miranda ::

"I'm sorry. Empress."

[Miranda Tarkin]

With an audible click, the two of them were finally alone. "Perhaps you've finally realize I'm not the enemy any longer?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha remained kneeling ::

"I never imagined that you could be, my Empress."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda rolled her eyes and sharply rose her hand in the air in frustration, "So it has turn to this. You kneeling before me acting like a servant. Have you learned nothing since your house arrest. Understood nothing as to why I had no choice?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha spoke hoarsley as she stood ::

"You are the Empress now, and I don't know where I stand with you anymore."

[Miranda Tarkin]

"You aren't doing much standing at all actually ..." said Miranda with a smirk on her face, though it wasn't out of spite.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha's eye twitched as she fought the urge to shout. After a moment, she spoke softly ::

"I miss you."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Since distancing Sorsha, Miranda was devastated at first. They had been so close that they always knew each others ways in silence and speech, but with her outburst against Valten and continued spite out of her marriage to Gallus, she was someone that Miranda could no longer trust.

As the months came and went, Gallus had started to fill the void for companionship, something that was unexpected. She did no think herself capable to become attached to someone other then Sorsha, let alone a man. However it was starting to happen and she sensed that Gallus felt the same.

But looking down at her wife.... the woman she had pledged her life to in secret, those pains of love still gnawed at her heart.

"I did what I had to because you were no longer the woman I grew up with." She turned away from Sorsha, sneering down at the floor in disgust. "You think I wanted to do it? You left me no choice."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Mira turning her back was intolerable. The scream (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sca8A_6MNw) broke through Sorsha's resolve to be calm as she tilted her head back to release it ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda's face curled into a snarl at Sorsha's tantrum, feeling justified at what she had decreed for her wife.

Looking over her shoulder, the Empress could not hide her disappointment. "You brought this upon yourself. Not I."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha closed her eyes to keep from glaring, and her face reddened as she fought the need to cry. All her rationale, everything she wanted to say left her, and she clenched the ring tightley until blood seeped from her fist in droplets to the floor ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda inhaled sharply as Sorsha's pain took hold of her. She fought to breathe and gasped repeatedly until she forced her own lungs to intake air slowly. Her jaw flexed from the assault upon her senses and straightened her jacket before doing and about face.

She frowned deeply and pulled out a tissue from the disheveled dresser top container before kneeling and taking Sorsha's hand in her own.

Softly she dabbed at the bloodied hand without a word. Her heart and mind were a jumble of disappointment and love that it was difficult to express her mind openly.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha's eyes blinked wetly as she watched Mira tend to her hand. She wanted to kiss her, to taste her lips again. She stared at her wounded hand instead ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

She sucked in a trembling breath, feeling Sorsha's desire. It awakened the old fire within her heart, but thus far, Miranda's mind was winning the battle.

Still focusing upon Sorsha's hand, she spoke softly, "I have the gift too."

What was the point in hiding it any longer. Miranda lived with her curse since realizing that her commanding presence was merely the Force accentuating her natural talents. She didn't want to believe it, but Grand Inquisitor Valten had enlightened her. Even having a twin sister as a Jedi Master didn't break through the illusion of denial. It only infuriated her further.

Loathing that knowledge instead of embracing it, it took the man with the fiery orange eyes to finally force Miranda to accept her power and begin training in the ways of the Force.

That detail must remain a secret. Even to Sorsha.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"What are we becoming, Mira?" she replied.

[Miranda Tarkin]

She sighed and finally brought her eyes upon Sorsha, "In what sense?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"We no longer control our lives. It's being done for us."

[Miranda Tarkin]

"That is our burden for our destiny. But you must realize that we wanted this. The Empire is greater then either of us. You knew how much I would sacrifice for it. How much my family has suffered because of it."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Yes."

:: Sorsha closed her eyes again, resigning her own feelings ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

Her face softened and sighed softly, Miranda gently touched Sorsha's cheek. "I won't apologize for my choices but having you blame me for the outcome is what angered me. I thought you knew me better then that."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Hot tears streamed from Sorsha's eyes as Miranda touched her face. It set her on fire inside, and she felt like dying ::

"I surrender everything to be at your side, and I swear my life to you. I..."

:: She choked, unable to finish as her heart sank deeper ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

Her smile was as soft as the fingers that brushed against Sorsha's damp cheeks. Soon the Hand found herself in an embrace as if things were as they once were. "Then embrace change. Do not fight it, and you'll be at my side ... always...."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha melted into the embrace, clinging tightly, and let all of her suffering bleed out ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda nuzzled the side of her face against Sorsha and allowed her mind to drift to much simpler times.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: After a time, Sorsha pulled back to look at the ring on the floor ::

"Do you still need me?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda eyes widened in surprise at the question and pushed Sorsha away to stare unblinking towards her. "I always did. You were the one that had questioned it. I ..."

She had noticed Sorsha's line of vision. Mouth agape, the Empress realized the question. "Ah."

Sighing, Miranda licked her lips and shook her head sadly. "Admittedly, Gallus has begun to fill a void you had once solely owned."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha bowed her head and sighed ::

"I know."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Her face started to grow suspicious. Something in the way Sorsha had answered had struck the wrong cord with Miranda. "Explain."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"I saw, Mira. I saw it all and it drove a knife in my heart."

[Miranda Tarkin]

She felt and instant stab of betrayal at the admission, but at the same time, it all began to make sense.

"The night of the wedding," she said, her voice failing at masking the tremble of hurt. "No wonder you've change."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"What would you have me do???!!!" she cried, scrambling back as she stood.

"What would you have done if our positions were reversed, you tell me, Mira!!! You Are The Reason I Live And Love, and What I Hold Precious To Me Was Taken Before My Eyes!!!"

:: She was sobbing and trembling again ::

"It was worse than a thousand murders for me."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda's face fell into a scowl at Sorsha's outburst and stood erect. "He is my husband. It is his right. You know this. To deny him any of his appetites would raise questions."

Her betrayal ran even further then expected. Blood began to boil and it took much control to deny slapping Sorsha across the face. Something she never felt before, but the disloyalty admitted was finally driving her to it. "You had no right. To think you did this behind my back. I was right to distrust you."

Sickened by this, the Empress turned away with hands behind her back. Just mere seconds ago, things were already on the mend between them. She had meant everything she had said too, wanting Sorsha by her side for all time. But now?

"All you have proven since my rise to the throne is that you make me weak."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: It was the worst thing Miranda ever said to her, and it stunned her into silence. Her eyes fell upon a knife on the dresser ::

"Then I am dead."

:: She reached for it with her mind, and it sprung into flight, not towards Mira, but towards herself ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda felt the despair and the loneliness stabbed at her heart as if the knife was intended for her.

She didn't think. Only acted.

"No!"

Reaching out with her mind, the knife stopped in mid-air, hovering a centimeter before Sorsha's chest.

"Empress! Are yo- ..."

"Stand your ground. I'm fine," she replied evenly as her arm remained straight, reaching out towards the knife as a physical representation of what her mind could do now.

It grew silent once more as Miranda and Sorsha locked eyes. "Perhaps you should look inward at yourself and realize that I've done nothing wrong. It is your selfishness that has brought us to this point. You betrayed me! Not the other way around, Sorsha! Your insecurities have torn our relationship asunder!"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: she shook her head ::

"You won't even allow me to die for you ... "

[Miranda Tarkin]

"This isn't dying for me. This is dying for yourself."

The knife finally fell to the floor, flopping twice with at thud before remaining still.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha gave a weary laugh ::

"What happens now?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

"That is entirely up to you," she said, frowning. "I thought I knew where we stood before I came here. Now I don't know."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"If it was up to me, the Inquisitoriate would feast on eachother instead of you."

:: Sorsha glared past Miranda towards the door, her urge to break free of confinement rising ::

"We can never be again."

:: She took a step towards the door ::

"If you want to stop me, do it yourself."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Her admittance of Sorsha being the source of her weakness did not mean Miranda had the strength to simply watch the woman she cared deeply for walk out of her life for good.

Regardless of the insult that would occur at having the Hand disobey a direct order, the personal suffering was too much. Her life had always revolved around Sorsha. As a child, they were best friends. As she grew older as a teenager, Sorsha was a sister to her until Miranda realized one day that she was in love with her.

No matter the scandal, no matter how disappointed her mother would be, no matter how tarnished her family's honor would be, Miranda vowed to love Sorsha for all time. She was her wife!

She still was... Wasn't she?

Miranda was barely shoulder to shoulder with Sorsha when she pulled out her wedding ring from her jacket pocket. "I've always kept you close to me even when you weren't here, my love..."

Eyes wet with tears, she stepped forward to allow Sorsha the freedom to leave. "I won't hold you back any more."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha stopped at the words ::

"I told you ..." she sniffed. "... you are the only reason I live and love, Mira. If that's taken away from me, then I want to die."

:: She took her Empress' mouth in a kiss ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

Sorsha's lips were dry from the fight, but that was quickly rectified as Miranda stroked her tongue against them. She tasted like a goddess. Very quickly, soft lips remembered each other eagerly and hands began to wander...

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"The guards ... "

:: Sorsha spoke in fevered pants between kissing ::

"... get them lost ... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm."

:: Sorsha pulled away slowly, stroking Mira just right as she glanced at the doors. The light in her eyes was back, and Miranda could feel her sexual energy fill the room. If they were interrupted, Sorsha was liable to kill them ::

[Miranda Tarkin]

The chill that encompassed her entire being laid goosebumps across her skin from Sorsha's intimate caress. Her need was closeted as the stoic visage of the Empress was reveal when the doors from Sorsha's room opened.

She address her guards with an even voice, leaving her passion buried close to the surface for now. "The House Arrest has been lifted. My Hand and I have private matters to discuss. Wait for us outside."

Only simple obedience was returned by her Guards as they bowed and departed as their Empress watched them leave from out of the corner of her eye.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha shed her silk garment, standing nude with a gleeful grin as Miranda's back was turned :: :D

[Miranda Tarkin]

Once the front door and slid shut, Miranda turned around slowly, only to be stunned frozen.

She had almost forgotten how beautiful Sorsha was. The loss of her long blonde locks was the only tragedy that had befallen her wondrous frame.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Only Sorsha had the audacity to approach Miranda the way she did ::

"As fond as you've become of Gallus, there's one thing he can never give you ..."

:: She sat on the foot of the bed and spread her legs ::

"... something that I know you have missed." ;)

[Miranda Tarkin]

Tarkin's mouth twitched from the desire she felt swelling inside her. Sorsha was correct, but it wasn't in which she spoke of that the Empress missed.

"I missed you. The old you. Not this bitter and jealous ... thing you have become. As much as I cannot deny my feelings for you, I did not ask the guards to leave to sleep with you." She inhaled deeply, slowly, to calm her desires. If this had been several months ago, Miranda wouldn't have had the control she displayed now and would have given into her lust. "We have private matters to discuss as Empress to Hand."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha's face fell as rejection and shame washed away her confidence. She closed her legs and stared at her knees ::

"What do you want?" she sighed.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Sighing in sympathy, Miranda did close the distance and sat down next to Sorsha on the bed. "My Sister. I want you to find her."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: She glanced up in uncetainty ::

"Navaria?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

She nodded with a saddened smile. "Yes. Regardless of where her loyalties like currently, I want the chance to speak with her once more. My ignorance had almost gotten us both killed on Doldur."

It was difficult to admit her error, but Miranda could always admit the truth to Sorsha. Even now. "She is a Tarkin. She is my twin. I want to give her a chance to redeem herself. To become an ally of the Empire instead an enemy. My authority can only reach so far for her ..."

Now that her eyes had been opened to the Force, Miranda had come to realize that power was not evil. It was all in how you controlled and channeled that power. Remembering how Navaria fought off the traitorous Van-Derveld and won; Miranda realized that could be her. She could be a power unto herself, and if Navaria would stand at her side, no one would be able to stop them.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"I will do whatever you ask of me ..."

:: Sorsha gritted her teeth as she spoke ::

"... no matter what else it costs me."

[Miranda Tarkin]

If it were anyone else that had taken that tone with her, they would have swiftly found themselves at the end of of a Force pike.

But it was Sorsha.

A soft leather glove took the Hand's chin and forced her to look at the Empress, who then placed a gently kiss against still dried lips. "Thank you."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha licked her lips reflexivley, to taste Mira's kiss. It made a tear run down her cheek ::

"When do I leave?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda pulled her hand away and tightened her glove while she stood, the consummate professional now. "As soon as possible. I took the liberty of uploading all of the known information we have on her onto your personal computer."

The files contained all of the information about Navaria's birth, being smuggled off world, a file on her Master Drin Kizael, the former Trianii Ranger, and all Inquisitor and Imperial data being tracked on her movements. It also held subcategories on Adia Issoris, the former Emperor's Hand. There was little to no information on the other red head present at the attempted assassination.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: She nodded ::

"I ask permission to work alone. No inquistitor supervision."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda glanced over her should to look down at Sorsha, and then nodded. "The thought hadn't crossed my mind for you to do it otherwise."

She knew how important this was for Sorsha. She had a lot to prove to the Inquisitors, who thought her only a lowly Assassin with no discipline. Miranda knew better. Sorsha was patient, persistant and had yet to disappoint the Asassin guild on any Bounty.

Sorsha would succeed. She had to.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha wiped her cheek as she stood, offering a bow before retiring to the fresher. Conflicting emotions raced through her in the shower as she let herself succumb to grief for the last time. Things between them had changed forever, and finding Navaria now was her only reason to be alive ::