A Simple Twist of Fate

[Sinead DeBeynac]

Who in their right mind would go to Vjun?

Sinead couldn't help repeating the question to herself as she exited hyperspace aboard the Feuille d'Automne. Really all she had read on it sounded like a hell hole, regardless of the few fancy all crumbling family estates. Also, she didn't really like imperial territory anyway. She didn't care so much about politics, but she had been raised on one, albeit a small town full of Zelosian superstitions that had made her life hell.

If she wasn't out of money, she wouldn't be there. It was the last place where she wanted to be. She was running out of cash though, and that old trail from a few months ago where some idiots she used to know had claimed they'd find some old relics, was her best option. Sure thing, she had never heard back from this bunch of morons, which didn't bode well. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

Sinead had survived on her own for ten years, and she was set on continuing to do as such, no matter what.

The sounds her ship made as she entered the atmosphere later on weren't reassuring. Her poor baby needed some upgrades, which was one of the main reasons Sinead had come all the way to this acidic rain shit show.

She had a general direction where to go, no far from the Chateau Malreaux, but far enough she could come in through a discreet route. She had heard about caves and stuff like that. She didn't need to go saunter into actual castles, even when likely decrepit. Good old access networks via caves could have enough old stuff. After all, she had been successful like that a couple of times in the past, which had been among her most fruitful heists. Rich people, especially nobles, tended to be so obnoxious, even their crumbs paid a truckload of credits.

She had chosen to stay far away enough, even though it would likely make her life worse and with a lot of underground hiking, which she didn't like, but it was a smarter bet in her mind.

As she descended the ship closer, catching sight of a cave large enough that could keep it docked and protected, she suddenly couldn't breathe. It had to be the worst bad feeling of her life, and gods knew she had a few of them at times. Regardless what it was, it only lasted an instant; but it was long enough for her lapse of focus to cause the dish to get smashed into the ceiling of the cave, and her landing gear screeched nastily.

She cursed loudly and profusely, as she course corrected, but the way she did it made the ship stop too hard and quick, and she smelled something wrong.

Powering the poor old girl as quick as she could, she stormed to the engine room, grabbing a fire exctinctor on the way. The cooling units had given up on her and she hoped that her ship would still be able to fly as she controlled all the damage she could.

"Please, girl, please, please, please, don't give up on me. I'm here to make sure I can fix you. Please, please, for fuck's sake, please hang in there."

The fire ended soon enough, but she knew in her guts something was terribly wrong. She would have to run a full diagnosis; but she would need spare parts.

She was bloody stuck on Vjun, and she didn't know for how long.

"Brilliant," she muttered under her breath.

She rested her back against the nearby wall. She couldn't afford to wallow in self-pity. She needed this damn planet to turn up something good, something real damn good.

[Dalethria]

Dalethria's life had returned to stability after recently leaving off world with her new ally, Baska Tankreyd. Bal'demnoc had given her no answers to the broken holocron pieces that Baska had in her possession. Her previous master had found solitude in the ruins there, conducting research. Baska had found more baubles and notes from him but Dalethria's search had come up empty.

Except for gaining respect for the other woman. Their relationship was built on suspicion - accepting that the Force brought them together. Dalethria wouldn't have in her possession the great holocron of Plagueis if not for the other Sith. The obstacles towards their goal required little effort with their joint power, but Dalethria had come to realize that they were an impressive duo - cutting a swath through plunderers and able to disregard the lesser spirits residing in the ruins, their paltry abilities unable to crack through their mental barriers.

Still ... Baska caused her pause when Dalethria walked through future threads of the Force to see where this alliance would led them. Two paths were the strongest. One was cold seething betrayal and the other was fierce affection.

This baffled the Sith and did not speak of it to the blonde, not even when Baska offered a farewell after bringing Dalethria back to Vjun.

Vjun was Dalethria's sanctuary. Here she could focus. Feel safe. Able to forget that an entire galaxy that frightened her was out there. To abate that fear, she needed to unlock the power of the holocon and consume its knowledge. Then she could enact her revenge on Empire that had forsaken her.

The double sided pyramid rolled diagonally a foot above the floor while its would be master meditated. Lines of power coursed through inscriptions this time - a sign that she was getting closer to unlocking the gatekeeper. It shone brighter than ever before and felt any moment the panels would fold outward in victory if she just pressed harder ...

... eyes snapped open, power fizzling out of existence on the holocron's shell. Eyes were wrought with rage as an unwelcome guest had arrived on planet. She was about to curse Baska's betrayal of promising her cousin would send no more beings to scour the area, but that gut reaction felt wrong after she digested her feelings about the intrusion further.

Dalethria felt urgency as she rose to her feet, securing the holocron in it's case on her nightstand, and dressed out of her gown.

Hopefully the insolent bug that landed here would die swiftly so she could get back to work ..

[Sinead DeBeynac]

Sinead was dreading the acidic rains; but there seemed to be none right then, so it was as good as it could get. She wanted to get a feel of the area right away if possible. She was so pissed at the mess she had put herself through. Yet that horrible feeling she had briefly experienced had been more potent than anything else she had sensed. It was troubling, and she knew she would likely get in trouble sooner than later. She needed to make some progress though. At least she was always quick to think, which helped in such situations.

Dressed in a practical black outfit, she zipped up her jacket, and adjusted the pack on her shoulders. Attached to her utility belt, she had a flashlight - with two extra batteries in the pack, her blaster, a knife, and some multi-tools. Her pack had enough space for whatever small findings. She still had some supplies in her pantry, which could last her for a while, and her ship's generator was still working fine. So hopefully she would be able to make do on Vjun as long as needed.

Her biggest concern - besides that very very bad feeling, was finding ship parts. At this point, she would go elsewhere to make easy cash, even if it was waiting tables somewhere. She really wanted off that rock already. It was weird how she had decided to travel to Vjun in the first place. She couldn't explain it because it had almost been against her better judgement. And she wasn't an idiot.

With a sigh, she lowered the boarding ramp, and climbed down into the cave, whose large opening was close enough that she could get a good look at the whole bunch of rocks and nothing ahead of her. The coast wasn't too far either, and in the distance she could see the fortress.

There was no vegetation there, and the clouds were coming closer again. She groaned but there was no use in postponing the inevitable any longer. She climbed her way down to the ground. She roamed the area for a while, until she found a cave entrance on the other side. Based on location, she guessed it might lead close to the Chateau, which was her best bet.

Grabbing at the flashlight, she turned it on, and walked inside the cave.

[Dalethria]

The insect had invaded her space rather quickly. That was a concern. Interlopers immediately made camp and secured the area before deciding to venture off. This hadn't happened since Baska first stepped foot on Vjun. Dalethria's stomach churned, making her feel briefly ill as deja vu set in. The being that entered the caverns was Force sensitive.

Why couldn't the Force leave her be? The galaxy wanted to torture her with constant disturbances!

With a sneer concealed in the darkened cavernous network, she had to remind herself that Baska's appearance had ended up being a boon. She wouldn't have the holocron in her possession or the knowledge to unlock its secrets as a worthy seeker. Was it a coincidence that another with potential had found their way at the entrance to her home?

Immersing herself in her anger, she disguised her presence and was one with the shadows -the singular beacon of life was the only trail she required in finding the intruder. As she walked, her will sought understanding and discovered that it was another woman. She was an insignificant blip of power compared to what Dalethria and Baska commanded. She was probably ignorant of her potential.

When her presence was close enough, Dalethria paused at one of the junctures that opened up to a large cavern. This area was different than the one she had met Baska - in the middle a column was formed from centuries of wear and tear when acidic lake water come through during bad storms. The opening was as close to circular as possible with five different caves that converged here in this cramped area. Her gaze pierced across the darkness where her uninvited guest was approaching just before the flickering of a light source illuminated the path taken.

It gave Dalethria a few moments to decide what to do with her ...

[Sinead DeBeynac]

Sinead didn't hear anything betraying another living presence in the cave. It didn't sit well with her due to the bad feeling she had felt in her guts upon her miserable job of a landing earlier. There was something or someone in the area, even if not right there in the caves.

The blonde didn't spook easily; and she still thought that her family accusing her of witchcraft was just a whole lot of stupid superstition. Yeah, there surely were bigger things in the galaxy, and she had seen a few really weird shit in her time, but she thought it was mostly tales meant to scare idiots.

Given the stupid climate of Vjun, she also doubted there was extended fauna, and flora, so most predators might be that whatever she had sensed. She really questioned why she had decided to investigate that lead; but now she was stuck there, so one way or the other, she needed a way off this rock.

Flashlight safely secured in her hand, she pressed on forward along the caves. She caught sight of certain areas with openings from the rocky roof, which had a few small pools of that acidic rain. It made her skin crawl, but she forced herself to advance.

When she reached the juncture and the large area, she was surprised by the large column in the middle, indicating civilization and closeness to the actual fortress she believed. The five different paths around her, including the one she had come from, made for a puzzling point of choice.

She was good at memorizing her way; but it didn't necessarily help her decide which way to go. She also didn't want to have too much of a blind spot, made more complicated with the column. So she stayed somewhere between it and the openings, as she shed light upon them, trying to decide what she would do next.

[Dalethria]

Setting eyes upon the intruder, Dalethria's mind was overwhelmed with the same emotions that the Force had gifted her during meditations on Baska - betrayal and affection. This unnerved her that two women that could command the Force could have such an effect on her - though this one was just a child that hadn't taken her first steps into the depths of the power she possessed.

She had nothing to fear from this woman but that was all that clutched at her heart, squeezing the fast beating muscle into a frenzy.

The ancient weapon resting at her hip awoken as it came to her hand -igniting in a piercing crack and hiss as the red blade caused shadows to crawl away in fear of the master that wielded the lightsaber.

Cold eyes locked onto the intruder and appeared before the intruder with preternatural speed. A hand shot forward, fingers clenched as if choking an unseen enemy as Dalethria forced the woman off the ground. Her eyes were rich with rage despite her spirit petrified with the significance of this woman's appearance.

Why ... are ... you ... here?

The cavern's temperature dropped with each syllable as she was prepared to wreak havoc on this unprotected mind if answers were not given or believed.

[Sinead DeBeynac]

Sinead felt a sudden warning but it was too little and too late.

She was petrified when she heard and saw the red blade come to life, although she managed not to drop the flashlight in her hand. On the contrary, her fingers clenched around it, as if holding on for dear life.

Sith...

While she wasn't religious or even really spiritual despite her upbringing, she knew there were truth to the great powers of certain gifted people.

She yelped when she felt her feet leaving the ground, as well as the grip around her throat. She briefly thought it was the end; but she could still breathe.

She forced herself to hold the terrifying gaze upon her. She felt cold and scared. She knew better than to play games with this person.

So, she told the truth.

"I needed money and heard about people finding some riches here months ago. Never heard about them again, but I felt drawn here."

She didn't understand why the Sith hadn't squashed her like an insect already; but she didn't lose time with it and carried on.

"I felt something. It must have been you, right when I landed. It shocked me so much I damaged my ship, and decided to explore, hoping for parts."

[Dalethria]

The urge to cut the woman in two was so powerful that she made no attempt to mask the savagery in her eyes. Her mind posed ready around the peripherals of the intruder's mind to rip the truth from her, expecting deceit.

It shocked her that it didn't come. The woman was honest. Too honest. The admission that she felt Dalethria's presence had an equally jarring reaction made the Sith's fear magnify so profoundly that it quaked her soul.

She refocused her thoughts from fear to anger at the intrusion.

"They're dead."

There was no need for further explanation as to who caused their deaths. Now the life of this girl needed to be decided. She immediately thought of executing her because this girl shouldn't have sensed her with such fledgling, untrained, abilities. There were premonitions and bad feelings but something so jarring that it scared this one half to death and crash land was providence.

Dalethria remained silent and still, working through this information and what she had felt before. She despised how the pendulum swung closer to future affection.

But why? she asked and the Force had no answers. There was no discernible explanation why Dalethria should spare this woman's life based on a feeling.

Yet she released her hold on the girl without an ounce of gentleness and disengaged her weapon, clipping the slender silver hilt back onto her belt.

"The Château is heavily guarded by Imperials. Bast Castle has nothing you seek. If you don't understand how fresh and acidic water maintain a delicate balance, you'll burn. And supplies will run out in time."

She folded her hands before her and stared hard at the girl.

"Death is your inevitability."

She spoke with a dispassionate tone and as honestly as the girl.

[Sinead DeBeynac]

While Sinead wasn't privy to the inner workings of the woman's mind, the look in her eyes told her everything she had to know about how she would likely not live much longer. It didn't mean that she would go down without a fight of sorts. She knew well enough that in actual combat she wouldn't even lay a hand on her opponent before losing it and her life shortly thereafter.

What she realized, much to her surprise, was that her answer brought a moment of brief standstill to the lowering of temperature. Somehow, the Sith must not have expected her to actually say things as they were. She had nothing to gain from lying, especially against such a foe, that could likely crush her mind as much as her body.

She didn't flinch or had an ounce of remorse when the Sith told her the bunch of idiots were dead. Really, she didn't care. She had thought that coming to Vjun was a desperate move on her own part, despite having been drawn there, which still baffled her, given the mess she had gotten herself into.

She kept silent, saving her strength as long as she was just dangling in the air. She crashed to the cavern ground when the Sith released her grip. She nevertheless got back to her feet soon enough, still facing the Sith.

It baffled her that she had been left to stand on her own two feet and that the lightsaber was switched off and put away. It didn't make the other woman any less dangerous though. Sinead knew that much; but she was still surprised by the reactions. It made little sense to her; but she was still breathing, so she wouldn't question it.

What was shared about the fortress and the imperial occupation made her frown, though it wasn't all that weird. She knew that even with the shitty climate, she could still outrun her supplies longer than a normal human could, although she kept that to herself.

She felt the stare cut through her flesh and soul; but forced herself to stare back, even though it was terrifying to do as such. Right now, the Sith was her only anchor, her only hope, in a really warped irony.

"You are still alive, and unless you never leave this planet, you would have a ship or know how to acquire parts."

The Sith hadn't killed her yet. She knew it could still happen anytime, but she was keen on surviving, and try everything she could.

"I'll die for sure, but rather later than sooner," she stated firmly. It wasn't just foolish bravado, but determination that had kept her going for many years.

[Dalethria]

The girl oozed confusion as questions bombarded the girls mind, warring with should have been her inevitable death. Truthfully, Dalethria was just as confused but silently commended the blonde for not flinching under the weight of the Sith's words confirming she killed the previous scavengers. Or what really was curious is how she fixed her gaze to Dalethria's, fighting the urge to cower under the weight of power emanating around and enveloping her. The girl was stubborn and determined, but also an understanding that she could die. It fueled her boldness.

It was impressive and irritating her equally because the intruder should not be thought of with a measure of interest. Her mind should not have these distractions when she was so close to unlocking the holocron gifted from her other blonde acquaintance.

She found the girl's assessment of her situation almost charming.

"I've no ship. Vjun's home."

A brow raised in challenge.

"The land and I are one. That's how I survive. How long can you, little wanderer?"

Vjun had no mercy. You needed to accept that death surrounded you and adapt.

[Sinead DeBeynac]

Sinead still couldn't understand why the Sith hadn't killed her on the spot. She was likely nothing but a random rodent in the brunette's view.

The blonde knew she should be terrified, and truth was, she was keenly aware of how the woman in front of her could kill her without lifting a finger. But she was nevertheless fascinated. It was like the most compelling black diamond she had laid eyes on, and it might be her demise, as the whole trip to Vjun appeared to have bells toll in her mind.

She didn't know what would happen, but whatever, she would stand her ground to the best of her abilities.

It was the story of her life, really.

She quirked a brow at the Sith's admission about being one with the land. That sounded curious. She didn't doubt the woman's power, and knew very few facts about the whole Force business; but she doubted that someone could just survive forever on simple dark side diet. Yet, she didn't push her luck just yet.

When challenged and called by a surprising pet name, which was way too close to home to Sinead, she stared back, invigorated by knowing she had a few aces up her sleeves compared to a normal human.

"You will find out, Sith."

Was she afraid? Yes. But she was more stubborn than terrified.

With a bow, she stepped back, eyes still upon the other woman, before she eventually turned away and headed towards the outside.

[Dalethria]

Dalethria had no idea what just happened in the last few moments. She was determined to kill the pest and ended up allowing her to live because of a vision, which culminated in a daring challenge, which the girl accepted with grace and respect. It stunned her as much as that damnable nickname that easily passed between her lips. At least it struck a nerve with the girl which made Dalethria's heart flicker wickedly.

She was impressed with the girl's ability to hold her gaze but Dalethria knew very well that it was the long history of stubbornness that drove the instinct to survive. That may have worked for the girl in the past, but this was Vjun. The world would consume your flesh and bones leaving nothing behind like the insignificant celestial ants they were. Their spirits were weak and became sacrificed.

Dalethria watched her go and didn't waste any further words, nor allowed her thoughts fill with hope that the darkness would be merciful and kill the annoying trespasser. Either Vjun would or it wouldn't. If the planet did not, then Dalethria would do it herself.

It was a lie she wouldn't admit to and rather live in denial. For now she had a holocron to decipher.

[Sinead DeBeynac]

After turning away from the bewildering devil she had met, Sinead went straight back to her ship. She had done enough exploring for the day.

She found it ironic that she ensured her ship was locked once she was back inside, for the real danger could literally slice through the heavy metal if she wished to. Yet the thief wasn't going to take any risk in case some low life or even local imperials suddenly found her ship hidden in the cave. It was good that the acid rain couldn't damage it further.

She was stranded enough as it was anyway.

And she bloody hated it.

Sinead couldn't understand why the Sith Master had spared her life. This made no sense. She didn't pretend being that knowledgeable about the Force and Sith, but for what she had heard, Sith weren't the kind to just let you live out of the goodness of their heart. And she couldn't see what she had to offer to the brunette. Even if she wanted the ship, she could have killed Sinead and taken it. And it appeared that the Sith didn't care about off world travels.

She didn't understand why she felt more riled up about her encounter with the Sith than the dire reality she was stuck on Vjun for the foreseeable future with little to no way off that stupid rock. It just baffled her. And she didn't like being baffled. She only liked her puzzles when there was a way to solve them, and that woman was out of her league.

Granted, she had still stood her ground, out of sheer stubbornness. She hadn't realized what a feat it was for an untrained brat like her in comparison to a full fledged Master of the Dark Side. Sinead was keenly aware of the power that emanated from the woman, but she wasn't the kind to back down.

After all the last hours, she finally let out her pent up frustration and she yelled across the ship. Only silence met her anger.

If she was honest with herself, she was scared of being on Vjun. She was terrified she would stay stuck there rather than of what the Sith could do to her. She had been called batshit-crazy in the past. Maybe she was just proving them right once again. She didn't give a frak right now.

Groaning, she stomped towards the galley and went through her supplies once again, taking inventory of everything on her datapad. She would have to rely more on photosynthesis, even though she couldn't do it as well as a full bloodied Zelosian, it would help mitigate things, especially if she alternated between some actual food and exposure to daily light, in between the deadly rains. Keeping food for future excursions through caves would also be a smart idea.

She allowed herself a small ration of some of the prepacked meals she had, then she had a few shots of rum and went to curl up in bed. It wasn't as if booze could intoxicate her. That's what sugar was for. Right now, she'd die for a decadent dessert full of sugar that would put her in a coma for a while.

Once she was hidden under her blankets, she found both solace and anguish in her solitude. She was a lone wolf, but she had always been a wandering lone wolf. What the Sith had called her was almost the worst of what had happened, even more annoying that being suspended in the mid air, or almost being sliced by a lightsaber.

It hit too close too home, and Sinead felt at a loss of what to do at the perspective of being stuck on Vjun.

As sobs threatened to take over her, she punched her pillow and buried her face into it.

She'd survive.

It might be bloody, terrifying, painful, and plain crazy, but she didn't care.

She would survive.

And she'd be back to wandering.

****

The next week felt like an eternity to Sinead.

She eventually found a rhythm in her days though. She would start by spending an hour working out to stay in good shape, and if weather allowed, she spent three hours right outside the cave where she kept her ship, to take the daylight in, even with clouds. It was still something.

She used the time taking light into her system by doing more research. She was especially fascinated by gems and crystals of sorts. They were also transportable and made good cash. She had decided a long time ago that research antiques would be more annoying and futile than anything else.

She was good at weapons and small fancy things to resell, but crystals always had her eye. And there was a good market for them, multiple markets actually. It felt almost silly to continue to do that while she was stranded on Vjun; but it helped keeping her sanity.

She sorely needed that.

She attempted to explore as much of the perimeter as she could during the rest of the day. It was difficult without any means of transportation and having to be within distance of shelter should the clouds break and release acid rain. The thief had got two wounds from not being quick enough, but she had enough bacta to handle it. It still hurt like hell though, and she was careful with her medical supplies too, even though they were more extensive than her food stocks.

Learning through trial and errors was how life went anyway. So she sucked it up and learned to be more cautious and attentive to the weather and its dangerous moods. She wished she had better armor as well, than the light reinforced outfits she had, but really she liked her freedom of movement and given how acidic that rain was, she doubted it'd make much of a difference.

A couple nights, she had ended holed up in the depths of some caves, although she had made sure to remain as far away from the Sith's lair as she could. There was no reason for her to seek her out again.

She had believed the Sith when told that the imperials overtook the fortress and that going there was likely suicide. Sinead still explored as close as possible, finding some discreet passageways difficult to crawl through, but that would give her some observation spots.

She had no other ways to get parts for her ship, or more food supplies.

Tomorrow, she would leave for the imperial outpost and should reach what she had considered a workable access point two days later.

[Dalethria]

In the week that followed after meeting the intense blonde, the Sith's time was consumed with the holocron. It provided rabid focus that drowned out thoughts of the girl and what she could potentially be doing. There were tugs of curiosity to reach out and sense the blonde's state of mind or pinpoint where she was on planet. Was she staying in the disabled ship? Was she exploring the deadly landscape? The areas of note that Dalethria expressed certain death if her blonde intruder went too close to the Imperials? If she was exploring the caves, she wasn't near Dalethria's abode or she would have sensed her approach as before.

It vexed her that thoughts strayed as often as they did but refocused them with meditation and reminders of the goal - to destroy the Empire and extend her life indefinitely to see the first part through. She could not rest until the Empire lay in ruins.

On the seventh day there was finally a breakthrough. Dalethria had unlocked the gatekeeper. Later she would find it peculiar that this occurred at the same moment the little wanderer decided to be foolish and take her chances with the Empire. With the holocron's activation, the girl would have sensed the rippling effect of dark energy being released.

The gatekeeper said nothing as he stared down at the one who freed him, a Bith barely standing five feet tall but cut an imposing figure adorned in black armor and skin so pale and translucent that veins marked trails around his cranium. Intense black orbs caught Dalethria by surprise for even in holographic form, she felt she could be swallowed whole into the dark pits as if caught in the gravitational pull of a black hole. She clenched her teeth with concentration, relying on the power she cultivated to ground herself and tilted her head up with confidence that the holocron's attempt to intimidate her failed.

Appeased, he spoke. "I am Darth Tareis, trained under Darth Venamis."

Dalethria felt a surge of excitement. Venamis had trained under Plagueis and Tenebrous. It was possible that the secrets she coveted were contained in this holocron!

"Ah," the figure nodded at seeing her recognition. "You know of my lineage."

"A strong lineage that is of great interest to me."

Tareis looked around the room as if expecting someone. "And what about the other?"

She couldn't hide her puzzlement. "The other?"

"My matrix picked up two life forms."

"Another Sith had possession of your holocron before me." She presumed he was referring to Baska.

"No." Tareis returned his unblinking gaze to her. "This was an untrained mind."

Her jaw clenched with impatience. "The girl's not important." Though she began to doubt if her defiance had merit. The little wanderer's appearance and the holocron unlocking ... was it coincidence?

Silence passed for several moments before Tareis' stance relaxed, arms folding behind his back. "Then let us begin ..."

[Sinead DeBeynac]

Sinead knew that most of her travels to the Sith outpost would be underground, hiking and crawling through caves. That meant that she had to carry some of her ration bars with her, for solar exposition wouldn't be in the cards. She didn't like the idea of digging more into her supplies; but she was aware it was her best option given the plan.

She didn't really like being underground if she was honest with herself; but at least she didn't risk falling prey to acidic rains. Sure thing some leaked into the caves she was walking in, but for the most part it was minimal and she had opted for the small head flashlight she could strap around her skull to free her hands. She had had to tinker that because it was originally attached to a helmet, but given the size of some areas that required crawling, the helmet might have been more trouble than help.

Her trek went smoothly considering her previous exploratory trips. She pushed herself to her physical limits and had only consumed a full ration bar by the time she reached her destination. She holed up to get a good look at the access point she had chosen for her dangerous venture, to ensure that everything still looked the same.

It did, so that was a relief.

Sinead could really use any little thing going right given her current predicament.

As she cleaned up her knife and small blaster, which she knew would likely be little against the enemy if she got caught, her mind went back yet again to the Sith Master. Why in the galaxy this happened again puzzled and annoyed her. Yes, yes, the dangerous woman had told her to stay away from the darn fortress and imperials on planet; but what the hell was she supposed to do otherwise?!

Of course, she was aware that thoughts tended to stray back to the Sith no matter what; and she hated it. It made no sense. She should just find solace that the woman didn't kill her, for whatever reason, and just move on.S

She was damn well moving on.

The next morning, in the very early hours, she managed to sneak past some of the half sleepy guards, when there was the fewest of them, just a few minutes before they would be replaced. It was a tight time frame; but she had done this kind of things in the past. And luck was on her side that one of the lights wasn't working.

The blonde was a true shadow as she disappeared into the old hallway. She had been staring to find cameras but hadn't seen any, which made her think that this wasn't the fanciest place to be and that imperial guards were supposed to be enough. After all, she doubted that many people were as desperate and insane as her to undergo what she had chosen to.

She managed to sneak deeper into the building, stealthy as she knew how to be, and she eventually made it to what looked like a warehouse.

She managed to climb up on top of a big crate and could take a peek at the rest of the large room, which was only dimly lit. There had to be some parts in there, and she hoped that she would find what she needed, something, anything that could get her off of Vjun.

She waited and eventually made her way deeper into the place, as large doors opened and some star fighters were brought in. So the damn place served as a docking pad too.

She was about to stay put when she felt an oppressive and sharp sensation placate her mentally and physically. She felt her mind close to collapse and her knees bnuckled under the pain.

She tried to suppress a scream; but she failed and stumbled into a nearby container, sending something roll down to the floor, echoing loud enough to deafen the blonde.

In a haze, she tried to run away to hide, but guards were already swarming and within moments they had caught her, cuffing her hands behind her back and half dragging her towards a nearby hallway and the gods knew what else.

One thing she knew for sure was that she was soon to face her imminent death.

Again.

[Dalethria]

The guards dragging Sinead to the cell block were escorted by a pair of Stormtroopers in the front and back. It was a show of force since the interloper wasn't going anywhere. She would be questioned and killed for trespassing, then report their findings to the base commander, and the information forward to the sector commander. If there were going to be an increase scoundrel problem, the Empire had to know since things had been quieter lately.

"Smugglers are growing bolder. They usually stay far away and avoid contact," noted one of the troopers.

"Yeah well." His partner cracked the butt of his rifle against the prisoner's side. "This one will be made an example of. Then all will ... urk ..."

He and his partner were silenced, their helmets torqued so far over their shoulder that clearly necks were broken. Plastoid-composite armor clunked as they hit the floor, blasters clanging louder as weapons fell free from hands.

The guards tightened their hold on Sinead and pulled out blasters. The troopers in front of them spun around with their rifles aimed and ready.

But they saw no perpetrator.

They began to fan out but were immediately pulled together, crashing against one another so hard that armor dented. Then their helmets caved in, blood and fluid oozing underneath.

The one guard screamed, dropping Sinead and wildly opened fired. The bolt impacted against the wall, but it did briefly light up the silhouette of their antagonist. - a woman armored in black with unnatural pale skin, hair black as night with cold blue eyes fixed upon her targets.

He fired again, but the woman was gone.

"VT532. Sensors indicate shots were fired. Can you confirm?" The guard went for his link to confirm and request back up, but the flash of red startled him, the loud snap and hum of a weapon being armed drained all color from his face.

The prisoner fell to the floor, no longer held by any guard as the hand that was holding Sinead was not attached to its owner. He screamed once pain registered and fell to his knees and his partner opened fired on the woman, screaming in terror.

She brought her hand up to block the bolts, its energy dissipating on impact, called the blaster to her and executed both guards with one shot to the head. Tossing the weapon aside and disengaging her lightsaber, Dalethria stalked to where Sinead lay.

"Idiot girl."

The cuffs were broken with a thought as she pulled Sinead up by the collar, forcing eyes to meet. Pure rage met the girl's gaze before dragging her along, and about as gently as the Imperial guards were doing, through one of the service entrances that Dalethria had used to infiltrate the keep. It was how she always entered to steal supplies and was pleased that it was not the way the little wanderer had come. She ignored any protests and kept a tight grip on the girl's arm as she half guided and half dragged her through the shaft. She chose a different route that would allow no escape, unless you were gifted. She pushed the panel out with but a thought, hugged Sinead tightly to her, and dropped. The fall was close to 100 feet but Dalethria slowed their descent, landing unharmed in a crouch, Sinead still safely tucked beside her.

Then they were gone in the blink of an eye before a patrol spotted them, Dalethria racing to the network of caverns that the Imperials wouldn't think to search as they were not connected to the keep. Vjun was kind to keep the acidic rains away during the retreat and once she was deep inside the labyrinth where she felt comfortable, she tossed Sinead against the back chamber.

"I told you not to enter the base!" she reprimanded while catching her breath.

It was during her lesson with Tareis that she felt a powerful sense of fear. She recognized who it belonged to and where it originated from. Tareis had said nothing when Dalethria rose in conflict, retreating back into the holocron as he knew what her decision was before she did. She had felt an indescribable pull from the darkness and she had to save the girl.

[Sinead DeBeynac]

Sinead was trying to string thoughts together as the guards were dragging her away. She didn't fight them for multiple reasons. First of all, the unleashing of hellish forces had drained her of much life, and she couldn't comprehend why. Second, she knew that not knowing the current layout, there was no way she could try for an escape. Being brought to a cell, and especially as soon as she heard one of the guards blabber about her and smugglers, she guessed she might just be questioned before executed, so she could save some strength and observe to find a way out. In her current state, it was about impossible.

In the midst of her headache and overall physical pain, she felt another rush of ethereal thunder. It was brief but still powerful. She had felt it before, but she couldn't believe it was what she sensed.

Yet when guards collapsed, and she witnessed death happen around her, which in itself left her unfazed, she didn't register the tightened grip on her arm.

Sinead knew.

It made no fucking sense; but she knew.

The moment she dropped to her knees, she forced her fizzling senses and brain to focus.

She managed to see her, for the first time.

As deadly as expected. More beautiful than imagined.

And she felt like an idiot. Not for what she had done; but what she briefly thought.

She was already struggling to get back up, when the Sith stomped to her location and snapped at her. Sinead groaned but was glad the cuffs were broken. She yelped when the Sith pulled her up by the collar.

Maybe she should have looked away, but she held the bloody woman's gaze. Something in her stirred and she stared back. The bright eyes were filled with pure rage, and she felt its ripples pulsate in the air between them.

She wanted to snap back but she didn't know where to fucking begin.

Her consciousness was struggling against the overwhelm caused by the dark side, for Sinead was fully untrained, and had never even really thought she could be that kind of witch and sorceress her mother's people had accused her of being. She wasn't some creature of legend, just a damn hybrid that ended wandering across the galaxy, until she was stuck on Vjun.

She almost passed out when she suddenly grasped onto her senses, weirdly holding onto the one thing she could latch on: the Sith. Her devastating presence was what her fumbling brain was able to hold onto.

That was when she realized that the darn woman was grabbing at her firmly - not a horrible thought in itself really - before jumping down what seemed a bottomless pit.

What the fuck?!

Too shocked and exhausted to scream, her throat tightened into silent anguish and she managed to grip at the Sith.

She should have been terrified; but something deep inside her trusted the bloody brunette.

Time felt suspended and she felt herself drowning into the recent while, dark and pressing urgency tightening around her soul.

She only snapped out of it when the Sith tossed her against a wall. She struggled to speak up, still feeling dizzy from everything.

She glared at the Sith again.

"Why did you fucking bother then? WHY?"

She had made sure she stayed away from the Sith, leaving her be, trying to solve her shit by herself, as she always had, whether it ended in hell or in bloody paradise.

[Dalethria]

The girl's mind was a beacon of disclosed emotions that even with the power that Dalethria commanded, much of it bled into her own psyche. She blamed it on the sudden surge of power she used during the rescue, burning a lot of energy to arrive so quickly before Sinead had been dragged further into the keep. Little Wanderer's emotions were a volatile mix of surprise with a limited attempt to cover what she would consider underlying desire in witnessing her fury in killing the Imperials. She impressed the Sith further that she embraced the anger towards her, not backing down, just like when they first met. Sinead went from a crippled mind to unwittingly drawing on Dalethria's strength at that precise moment when their eyes met once again.

She should be angry that the girl dared to siphon off her power. She should be angry that the stubborn girl made an idiot decision that interrupted the teachings of Tareis.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize you wanted to die."

She hissed, skin prickling under her armor at the heightened emotions radiating between them.

"I can arrange your recapture if that's what you wish."

Dalethria was angry at herself for being weak, unable to ignore the ripple of fear that Sinead unknowingly projected through the Force. It was a beacon that called to her and she had to save her. Or how she had to assess Sinead's body for damage, probing the girl's mind for the extent of her injuries ...

[Sinead DeBeynac]

Sinead's body and mind felt as if they were on the verge of crashing into an abyss, worse than the crazy drop the Sith had just brought her along for. Yet there was a fire burning deep in her, the chlorophyl coursing through her veins feeling as springtime bushes coming to life back on Zelos. It was an uncanny feeling that placated her in too many ways for her to really assess right now.

She was barely standing on her legs, using the wall behind her to stay upright as she stared at the brunette.

She gritted her teeth and mustered enough strength to ball her hands into fists at the biting retort she got.

"You... are.... avoiding the goddam question, Sith," she snarled.

She felt the Sith's presence so much more vividly. It kept threatening to overwhelm her; and she had to hold onto the threads of energy she felt between them. Those felt as deadly vines with so many thorns but she still hung onto them with all the stubborness that defined her, not caring for the bleeding of her hands or soul. She didn't know how to do it; it was instinct, the sort she didn't even comprehend.

She coughed and had to close her eyes to keep her exhausted self together.

When she opened them again, she looked at the other woman again.

"Thanks for saving my ass," she admitted.

She had no idea why the Sith did it; but she meant it.

[Dalethria]

Unconsciousness was trying to lure the girl towards it, her body exhausted from being drained and just managing to remain awake due to Dalethria's presence. With the immediate threat to her life dealt with and the trust that she placed in her savior, the Sith knew it wouldn't be long before Sinead fell over.

She inhaled sharply as she dug deeper into her mind, feeling the high that power brought, but the act also doubled as annoyance as far as the girl knew.

The girl was not wrong. Dalethria purposefully avoided the question because she didn't know why she had to save Sinead. Just that she had to.

And the rush of anger that the girl embraced forced Dalethria to stave off a pleasurable shiver that it evoked. Her body enjoyed the untethered emotion from the girl and slowly stepped closer to her when Sinead's eyes closed.

She noticed the side of the little wanderer's face began to swell from where the Imperials hit her and reached out a hand to hover just above the injury. Before she had a chance to touch it, her hand snapped back as if it were never there.

This girl was doomed to be bound to her and still the darkness wouldn't explain why. Not even in this moment where she felt the connection burgeoning between them that allowed Sinead to remain awake and upright with a gaze that never faltered from the cold eyes that tried to hate her. How so much could change in a week. Distance could not destroy an already established link. The Force bound all living beings together, some more so than others.

Dalethria acknowledged Sinead's gratitude by waving a hand before her and forced sleep, catching Sinead before she fell to the ground. She gently cradled the little wanderer and disappeared into the shadows of the cavern.

***

Sinead remained comfortably tucked under red and black furs on a mattress that supported her aching body in the four poster bed. It was molded from stone, the mattress stolen from the insufferable Tagge woman, and the furs hunted from the few beasts that survived the planet's deadly rains. Same with the white fur rug that covered the center of the bedroom carved deep within the cavernous network. The modest furniture mirrored the stone work of the bed, as did the room itself. It was too smooth to be a natural formation.

Fresh water waited on the nightstand, constantly replaced until the little wanderer would open her eyes and come to understand that she had recovered in the Sith's carefully guarded sanctuary the entire time.