Sun, Moon, Star, and Sky

 

“That idiot.”

Seren had locked himself away in the study on the ship, which also so happened to double as the bedroom. There seemed to be more datacrons, logs, and data pads then there was room for the bed. Grabbing a small, palm-sized holocom from the dresser, he dialed in a rather long code before hitting the send button. 

“This is a secure channel, who is calling?”

“Darth Seren, Quinn. Let me speak to Darth Solaris.”

“Seren! Good to see you again.”

A miniature image of Seren’s body appeared. It was small, but enough to show a displeased look upon his face.

“You nearly got our brother killed, you know that?”

“I…What? No I didn’t…”

There was a relatively long discussion before Seren was cut off unexpectedly. Someone must have wanted his brother’s attention. Any amount of credits went on it being that brown-nosing captain again. The holocom was turned off, tossed on the dresser to rattle as Seren left the room. He had an icy feel to him; arrogant, but not cruel.

Confident.

On the bridge, Andronikos Revel was at the helm, adjusting something or another. He also was an expert at understanding angry footsteps.

“You sound like my ex when you walk like that.”

Turning, he gave the inquisitor a once over before looking back to the controls.

“Think she use to wear that dress too.”

“Enough of your snide remarks, Revel. I need to update you.”

“Oh? This must be good.”

“We’re going to be meeting with another ship, a fellow Darth. Punch in these coordinates, and then come to the meeting room.”

“We gonna kill him and steal his ship?”

“Maybe.  Depends on if he pisses me off again.”

“HA! Fair enough. On my way down.”

Punching the button on the wall, the intercom activated.

“MEETING IN FIVE. MANDATORY. That means you too, Khem.”

The room was set with everyone either standing or sitting. No one looked quite as nervous as Ashara; eyes following Seren’s every pacing move. With hands flat on the table, he stared at the crew.

“In a few hours, we’ll be docking with another ship. This one has a very powerful Darth aboard, but do not worry, we are not going to fight. “

A sigh of relief from some, and a groan of disappointment from others. Green eyes narrowed over the slave band burned into the tanned skin.

“In fact, if any of you as so much try to harm this Darth or his crew in any way, shape, or form, I will have you shot out of the airlock. No stealing either, Revel.”

“Aw, come on. I wasn’t even thinking about it until now! Thanks!”

Talos released a small chuckle while Xalek seemed to roll his eyes.

“Who is this Darth, Master?”

Ashara’s soft voice picked up to ask. Smiling, Seren made her heart skip a beat; even more so when he walked over to place a hand on the small shoulder.

“Good question, Ashara.”

The hand moved away, leaving the young woman wanting for more. Moving around the table, Seren circled it once to get back to the head.

“This Darth…is my brother, Solaris.”

The clatter from the companions filled the room, as expected.

“Brother? Little sith, there are more?”

Khem spoke, as did the others.

“Brother?”

“Brother? I didn’t know he had a brother, did you?”

The conversation seemed to be going in circles.

“Quiet. QUIET! Maker’s sake, yes! I have a brother. Do not be alarmed when you see him.”

“Was Master not a slave? Was this brother a slave as well?”

“No, Solaris was not a slave. We were separated as children and fate…had similar outcomes, but very different ways of getting us there. That is neither here nor there. No more questions. We are to meet with his ship and I have personal matters to attend too. You are to familiarize yourself with his crew for we are to be working with each other, understood?”

“I’ll familiarize myself alright…Maybe this brother of yours has a nice lady apprentice too.”

Throwing a wink to Ashara, she only turned away in disgust.

“Pig.”

“Hey, I’m bald…you’re bald.  Why not?”

“Master, are you going to let him continue to speak to me like that?”

“….Meeting dismissed. Revel and Ashara?”

“Yep?”/“Yes?”

“Shut up.”

More laughing from Revel, who went back to the bridge.  Staying behind, Ashara watched the object of her affection leave the room. Being on the side of the Empire was dark-side, wasn’t it?

She could…pursue Seren. She surely watched him enough, contemplating how to get closer.

He liked to read, which was obvious. Sitting with Talos for hours, rambling on the finer points of history. Despite being a slave, he was well-versed, self-educated, and worldly. It was such a story only to be found in romance novels.

She had come, almost unwillingly, wanting the pain of his passed emotions to stop hurting. Now, she craved them. Feeling…felt good. It was a wonder if he could ever look at her past being an apprentice?

“Master?”

“Yes?”

Silence.

She could never really fathom the words past this point.

“Training?”

“Pardon?”

“My training? You…said you would push me…”

“Oh, yes. Well, I schooled you the best I could, but your strengths are not the same as my own. Ah, but thinking about it, my brother is a bit of a large brute. Perhaps a duel is in order.”

And with that, he turned to walk away.

A duel?

YES!

If she could defeat this brother, she would definitely have the attention.