The Rebel Faction

Rane was reluctant to let the pair out of his sight, not after been their personal guardian of sorts for well over a month, but recognized the need for the private chat this girl was requesting. The little ones needed a hot meal and a bath anyway and he was sure they would feel more comfortable with their own kind providing them. He let her lead him away to a more private location where there were as many eyes. “From how you greeted us, I am assuming you know about the invasion.” Without waiting for a response he continued. “Silonik already knows some of the details….” Rane admitted with a sigh. “Perceptive that one….I couldn’t even do a play of the truth on him.” He chuckled mildly before turning serious. “What you may not know is this: there are at least two Sith on the planet now. It was their presence I felt that prompted me to take those two and leave, for I knew what they would be about.” He sighed heavily. “I just wish I could have saved all the younglings….”

Rane blinked at her in turn: she didn’t know….

“Lavality…there is no Jedi Order anymore.” He said. “They disbanned…not long ago. Master Dolash….” Bitterness entered his voice “….that bastard….he apparently felt it wasn’t worth running any more and disbanned it…leaving scores of padawans and learners like Silonik and Mortor alone to fend for themselves. Most of those left on the planet were children, with only one or two fully trained Jedi to tend to them. Left them to the wolves….he did….if I ever see him again….” He left it at that, figuring she could safely guess what he was thinking, if she wasn’t thinking the same thing herself. "The Academy itself is abandoned, it's library and archives destoryed or taken away by the few Masters they had." He continued after he had calmed down a moment. "There is little if anything for the Sith to find...except the children..."

He had expected her to go into a rage, but she kept her composer, a sign of the training she had received while she was at the Academy, if not due to the military discipline that was apparent in her stature. Rane simply nodded and headed off to find a meal.

After eating he wandered a bit and came across Silonik and Mortor, whom were giving their caretakers a bit of trouble. Silonik had apparently forgotten what Rane had told him before and was engaged in a game of tag with Mortor, the result being the pair running all over the deck and the poor two Trandoshans watching having a hard time keeping up. They got a break when the pair spotted Rane and ran up to him.

“Did you two get something eat?” He asked them.

“Not yet, we just done taking a bath.” Silonik replied.

“Well I suggest you go get some food, we’ll be leaving again shortly.” Rane told them.

“Where are we going?”

“To Trandosha. Lavality wants to talk to your grandfather about something.”

Silonik nodded, an excited light in his eyes that he’ll get a chance to see his whole family again soon. Before they could run off, they spotted a medical team wheeling a patient down the hall toward the docking bays. It took a moment for Rane to recognize the patient as a Trandoshan, for he had never seen one that coloration before.

“Lady Asri….” Silonik said, concern in his voice. “I wonder what happened to her….”

“You know her?” Rane asked.

“Uh huh…She came with Daddy last time he visited us at the Academy. She took me and Mortor to a carnival once. Very pretty lady…and very nice. Daddy likes her a lot too.”

“I see. Well you to go get something to eat, I’ll meet you on the ship ok?”

“Ok!” The pair replied before allowing the two females to lead them away toward the cafeteria.

With nothing else to do, Rane went on ahead to the docking bay to get boarded. He saw Asri there as well and when the doctors were done securing her in her new medical room Rane took a moment to get a better look at her.

She was asleep or unconscious, likely the latter and occasionally her body twitched as if she was currently in a bad dream. He tried to get a general impression of what she was feeling using the Force, but discovered he could sense nothing beyond that she was alive. Strange…. He thought. It’s almost like something’s interfering with the Force. Curious, he gently lifted up her free right hand and noticed immediately the silverish ‘specks’ through out her skin. Nanotech? That would explain it… He thought as he put her hand back.

He let her be after that, knowing it was best to leave her in peace. Shortly after Silonik and Mortor joined him, though with now full bellies they were more interested in sleeping then play and chatter. He got a hold of one of the crew, who led them to what would be their room for the trip.

”What is this!?” Her father yelled, welding the wind instrument as if it was a sword in front of Dresik’s face. Asri cowered behind the table nearby.

“It’s a flute father.” Dresik said calmly, though Asri could see the fear in his eyes.

“I know what the skrag it is.” Besk snarled. “What are you doing with it!?”

“I….” Dresik faltered, the words he wanted to say failing to emerge. Besk grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him against the wall, cracking the masonry and Dresik grunting in pain.

“This is yours isn’t it?” Besk said, cold and cruel. “You had designs on becoming a musician didn’t you? My son…a musician…I won’t allow it! No self respecting T’Doshok would even dream of doing this! So what is your excuse boy!?”

Dresik was silent, fear overwhelming him. Asri could see Besk’s rage increasing by the second and she feared for her brother’s life. Then, a spark of courage entered her and she stood tall. “It’s mine father…not his.” She said, sounding far braver then she really did.

Besk regarded her with suspicion. “Oh really?” He said softly, but there was no sign of understanding in that voice. Suddenly he tossed the flute to her, Asri barely catching it before the expensive item fell to the floor. “Play it.”

Asri’s mouth went dry: she should have known he would pull this. She had watched her brother play it dozens of times, so could safely guess how the hold it right, but actually playing it was another matter entirely. She put it to her lips and blew and shrill note emerged. Dresik winced, but Besk didn’t even seem to be bothered. Trembling, she made a few more notes before Besk finally came over and yanked the instrument out of her hands.

“Figures…” He growled. “The only thing you are good at is housework.” Then without warning he snapped the flute in two. Dresik’s eyes widened in despair and shock: fortunately Besk didn’t look in his direction. “Stick with what you are actually good at female….” He tossed the broken flute to the floor and walked out of the house. It was only after a long moment when they were sure he was gone did either of them moved.

“I’m so sorry Dresik….” Asri said, tears streaming down her face.

“If you hadn’t done it…he would have killed me.” Dresik said, gingerly picking up the remains of his flute. “An instrument can be replaced….a life cannot….”

“Just a few more months….” Asri muttered. “Just a few more months and we’ll both be free….”

Dresik gave her a sad look. “But will we ever really be free of him?” He said. “Ever since Tnossok took over the K’Satikur Clan father’s been getting worse at controlling what we do.”

“We’ll leave the planet if we have to…”

He shook his head. “As the one that would carry on his bloodline, he would track me down no matter where I went. No…only his death would free us….”

Asri was shocked to hear him say that. Besk was a bastard, but killing him was near impossible since was a K’Satikur Warrior. “Then we may never be free of him….” Asri said with a sad sigh.

****

Asri groaned softly, a tear running down her cheek. "Never be free...." She uttered softly.

Asri was preparing for bed one night when Dresik came in without warning, startling her.

“Dresik! You’re lucky I am clothed!” She teased. Dresik smiled, but there was a sadness to it that gave her cause to worry. “What’s wrong?”

“Father and I will be going out on a hunt tomorrow.” He explained. “I plan to confront him then.”

Dread filled her when she heard those words. “Y..yo…you can’t!” She said. “He’ll kill you!”

“Maybe…maybe not…I may get lucky.” Dresik said with a sad shrug, though she could tell he didn’t believe he had a chance.

“Don’t! Please don’t! If you die I’ll be alone in this mad world.” Asri begged, grabbing onto his shoulders.

“Asri….” Dresik gently removed her hands and held them in his own. “I have to do this…I can’t keep living a lie. If I am to die I want it to be while I’m fighting for what I believe in.”

“I don’t want to lose you….” Asri sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

“Dear sister…I’ll always be with you.” He said softly to her, wiping away her tears. “If I do fall…promise me you’ll find a way to kill that bastard, so that you can be free of him.”

“Dresik…I….”

“Promise me.” He said a bit more forcefully.

“I…I promise….”

Asri got up early the next morning, just in time to see her brother and father off. Dresik saw her and smiled at her before disappearing out the door. She would never see her brother again.

It was a couple of days before Besk returned and when she saw him Asri knew Dresik had failed. The wounds and blood on her father’s body told her the story: Dresik had fought with every ounce of his ability before he lost his life, yet Asri still found herself asking about his fate. “Where’s Dresik?”

Her father, whom for the first time in her live had a sad, regretful look in his eyes, simply said. “With the ancestors.”

Asri felt like her whole world had just fallen from beneath her feet, her father’s words confirming her deepest fears. A sorrow, a pain so deep she felt that she just wanted to die. Then anger and rage like she never felt before rose up. “You bastard!” She cried as she flew at her father, all teeth and claws, wanting to rip his throat out.

Besk was taken off guard by his daughters attack, but he still fended her off easily. The next thing Asri knew she was being held up by the throat against a wall. “So there is fire in you.” Besk said, amused. “Pity you’re a female and won’t be able to properly use it. Don’t taint your brother’s memory with this pathetic attempt at killing me: it will only make me glad that I did kill him.”

He tossed her to the floor then and left her sprawling on it as he left the room. Asri watched him go, hot, angry tears streaming down her face. I swear I will find a way….to avenge you brother….and free myself from you ‘father’….

****

“Dresik…..” More tears came down now, but this time those dark blue eyes finally opened. “I remember….” She said softly, to no one but herself. “I knew I had a brother…but had forgotten how you were…I remember now…I remember now my promise…I have avenged you brother….we are both free now….”