Can it be peace?

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada wiped her brow with a greasy blue hand, streaking black dirt across her beautiful, if somewhat haggard face. A stereo in shamefully poor repair was blaring bad, warbling music in the background. Xilxash was one heck of a backwater planet, and the Twi'lek was furious about the town she had found herself in. This was only garage in the whole place, and she was being ruefully underpaid by that slave driver of a Grann running the shop. Still, it was better than real slavery, most days.

"I was once a commander in the Imperial navy," she muttered under her breath. "I was the head of the Imperial Guardsmen. I lead rebels, lead squadrons of fighters, and watched so many die in this stupid war. I was a Chiss prisoner for a year, kidnapped by pirates, and now I'm just some lackey for some dude who thinks himself a mechanic. And when will there even be another shuttle to come through here? Who knows!"

The music cut abruptly and some announcer began spewing nonsense about a new Emperor and the Imperial Knights or some nonsense. Not bloody likely! Kiada flung her hydrospanner across the shop. It struck the stereo, and sparked before crackling to silence.

"Hey! My stereo!" cried the Gran from the next room. "You know how much it's going to cost to replace that? How difficult it's going to be? That's coming out of your pay!" he barked.

"It can be fixed," she muttered.

 

[Alexander Dregar]

He looked normal, walking through the streets of Xilxash a simple blaster pistol at his side, a white shirt, a brown jacket, black pants. Sunglasses over his eyes hid the red glow, a wide brimmed hat hid his black hair, only his blue skin showed, but in truth dozens of species held the same feature. The fact he was Chiss could easily be over looked. He didn’t look out of place at all, he wasn’t from some Chiss high born family, he hadn’t been taught the most proper of manners. It had taken him months, but he had managed to track the pirate ship here, and through use of CAIN found out where she had been living here.

Looking at the mechanic shop, he pushed the door open and steps inside, smelling the smoke from the broken radio. While his looks may or may not be recognized, the moment his voice rings out, there could be no doubt, this was Caris. “Hello, anyone here? I have a burned out forward stabilizer, was wondering if you happened to have a spare I could buy.”

He looks around, and smiles over at the beautiful Twi’lek working on. “Why hello there beautiful, do I know you from someplace? You look very familiar. You remind me of a friend, someone close and dear to me, that vanished one day, a woman I turned the galaxy over trying to find, to make sure she was at least alright….eh, can’t be you right? So how about it, have a spare forward stabilizer? I can jury rip pretty much any model.”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

The echo in the shop distorted the familiar voice that called out, at first. Kiada pulled her head out from under the speeder she was repairing. "Depends on what sort of vessel you're flying," Kiada called out. "If it's anything space worthy, we don't have much in the way of parts, and it could be some time before another vessel passes through here." She reached for a relatively clean rag to wipe her filthy hands and face. She squinted against the light pouring in through the open garage door. The man seemed to have a very familiar gait.

As he closed, he eyes began to widen like viridian saucers and she backed up slowly. No, no it couldn't be. Not here. Not now. It felt as if a giant hammer had crashed down on her chest. She couldn't breathe. Reacting on instinct, she kicked the work cart after him, causing it to squeaky angrily as it barreled towards him. The Twi'lek dropped to her right knee and pulled a pistol from her beaten-up old boot. She held it in her two trembling hands and trained it on the blue-skinned man, but her face and voice projected a veneer of calm.

"Take one more step and I take the shot," she said in a low, dangerous voice as she glared intently. "What the hell are you doing here, Caris?" she demanded to know. "Come to drag me back? Think I conspired with pirates to escape you? Well, I'm not doing it. I can't be your prisoner. I refuse to get back in a cage."

 

[Alexander Dregar]

He easily dodged out of the way to the left, his intensive military training kicking in. “Kiada….Do you think I have ever once wanted you in that cage, do you think ever once I wanted to harm you, ever? Besides, how can I take back a person who I isn‘t even alive…no I am not here to kill you, let me explain.” He puts up his hands and shrugs. “No, I came because you were kidnapped by pirates, and even as my ship was on fire, and there were my dead crew member laying around me…want to know what I thought? The only thing I thought?” Shaking his head he sighs. “It was about you. You were the only thing on my mind, the desire to make sure you were okay, unhurt. In a rage I began to destroy pirate groups trying to find you, desperate. Slowly though we began to find the traces of the ship that took you. And traced its course.”

There was a look of pure sorrow in his eyes. “I was devastated. I had to avoid you because I was planning for a mission against an unknown enemy…an ancient enemy we Chiss have kept in check for many generations now. I wasn’t even on the ship, but I thought of you every single moment. I don’t know how to explain all this, as I have only recently figured it out myself. Kiada, I told them you died in that attack, but that I wanted to make sure. So we tracked the ship, here, and suddenly a new twi’lek woman appears around town. But I am the only one who can identify you for sure. So they sent me here. No matter what happens here, I am returning to tell them it wasn’t you. I want you to be free, nothing more.”

Still with his hands up he sighs. “I set them all free Kiada. And that means some bad things are going to happen to me soon, because the Empire wanted them. See its like this: There is a new emperor, I don’t know what he wants, but he says he wants to bring back the Imperial Knights. Well, you know me, I made a promise to you…I intended to always keep it, to never hand over the prisoners to them. But Heliel was going to force my hand soon enough, so I disobeyed orders, I sent them all back home. I might be killed soon, I hope not, I don’t think I will be. But before that, I had to make sure you were alive, that you were okay. You changed my life you know, one minute I was blindly following orders…then I began to disobey them left and right. Heh, and now the reason I did it is holding a gun to me. Well, if you kill me I don’t mind, it would be quicker, less painful than if Chiss decide to hand me over to the Imperials.”

Looking her directly in the eyes he then states so clearly, so concisely. “Kiada, you are free, I want to help make sure you stay that way. I care not what happens to me, you are all that matters, I don’t know WHY you are, but it’s the strange and sorry truth. I want to make sure you can stay safe, and not end up a prisoner ever again.”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

"Enough with the lies, Caris!" Kiada snarled. Her Gran employer began to say something, but the Twi'lek cut him off. "Scram! This isn't any of your concern. Take the rest of the day off if you want to have a chance to clock in tomorrow." He didn't need to be told twice, not when she was angry and holding a gun. Once the weedy little shop owner had disappeared, Caris had Kiada's full attention.

"So what, you're ship's transmitting that fake broadcast from orbit?" she asked. "Try and make me buy the story so I'll go home into a Sith deathtrap? Well I'm not biting. You'll need to come up with better bait. I'm not stupid enough to believe the Sith are taking us back with open arms." She lowered her gun just ever so slightly to glare at him more directly. "You Chiss are crafty," she said in a very cold tone. "It's why you pretended like you were my friend, wasn't it? I was the Field Marshal, commander of the Imperial Guardsmen. You tried to fool me into opening up to you, didn't you Caris? And you just got bored when you had made no progress after working me for year. I can't imagine the Ascendancy liked maintaining one more person in space that was of absolutely no use. So how was it going to end? You just shoot me? Blast me out the airlock? Leave me isolated until I simply offed myself?"

In her time with the pirates, Kiada's indignation and anger had festered. She had come up with a dozen different tales to explain what had happened, each one painting a darker and darker image of Caris in her mind. She had had enough time to stew in her own fictions that she had even come to believe some of her own tales. Her anger had made her bitter and sour towards the man she had almost considered a friend. But no. He was her jailor, her warden. He was her enemy in this ongoing war.

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Caris takes a step back under her accusations. His face that of a broken man, and something odd, something no other being could say for certain to have seen. A single tear drop runs down Caris’ left cheek. “I see Kiada. Then go.” Digging into his pocket he takes out several credit chips, tossing them onto the floor in front of him, she would find it to be a little over a quarter Caris’ life savings. “Did you know what I gave up for you? What I have done, all so you could be at my side Kiada?” The glow in his eyes dims substantially.

“Three thousand Imperial Knights were to be sent to the new Emperor. And I didn’t let them get sent. I remembered the promise I made you, to keep them safe, and I will soon pay the price for it. I gave up my honor, and have shamed my own family because of this. I kept you safe when you were on the transfer to the Empire list, I risked a lot, by changing you to stay with the Chiss. All who were sent died, and the Empire clamored time and again for the prisoners to be given to them. I didn’t let them get taken. Did I ever treat you wrong? No matter, if this is how you truly feel about me it makes it easier to go to my fate. I have nothing left anyway.”

He turns away from Kiada now, heart broken. “I loved you Kiada, I don’t know why I did, but I did. I did my best to show it, and to protect you and those you cared about. Chances are the Empire will ask for my death, in exchange for forgiving my people of all crimes against them. I refuse to regret it, even if you hate me, I protected you. I have no clue what will happen, imprisonment, death, exile…it won’t be pretty no matter what happens. You are free, run far away from here, remain safe, its all I can ask.” He begins walking to the door, part of him crumbling, but he had done everything he had promised. “Good bye then Kiada.”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Despitee her anger, Kiada resolve was waning as Caris broke down. She had never seen him flinch like that. He had always been cool, collected, always the one in power. Here, she realized, she was the one with the power. She stood up and finally lowered her weapon. "Krath," she sighed, frustrated. "Caris, just stop." She took a tentative couple of steps towards him, but did not close the distance between them fully. "What do you want from me? What were you expecting? That's I'd just rush off with you wherever you go? You made all those choices as a free man. I spent the year as a prisoner. I had no options! No choices! I was... no I am supposed to be your enemy. How can I believe any of it?" Ugh, it was all so messed up. She had so many emotions twisted up inside, but her suspicion and caution dominated. However, their control over her feelings was slipping slightly. She took another step forward. "I need proof that this hasn't all been a trick," she said, attempting to stay steely but her tone was softening despite her best efforts.

She still wore her dog tags from her commission, the ones marking her a commander for the Empire, and with them still hung the sword-shaped pendant given to her by Mistral when he had asked her to marry him. Potent reminders of what she had already lost to this bloody war, and one of them she laid the blame equally at the feet of the Imperial Knights and the Chiss. "I don't know what to believe in anymore Caris, or who to believe. Prove to me somehow that you're telling the truth, and then we can talk. And don't go throwing yourself on your kriffing sword or anything stupid on the way."

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Caris looks back over his shoulder at her. “You are so beautiful Kiada, so strong willed, I hated putting you in a cage. But if that’s what it took to keep you from being executed until I could find a time to release you I was willing to do it. I was waiting Kiada, you never would have been a prisoner much longer had you not been taken. But perhaps this was for the best. Take the credits Kiada. See, I wanted a quarter to go to you, and the rest to my brothers and sisters, so they could get into better schools than I did.” Sighing he turns around fully.

“Kiada, we both know I am supposed to be your enemy, and for some reason I can’t see you as it. I would let you destroy me long before I fought back against you.” He takes a small pack off his hip and holds it out to her. “Here are the things you left behind when you got taken. I also had your tie-fighter brought down to the surface, the location of it is in the pack. As for proof, all I have are things that could be replicated, or added to. I don’t expect you to believe me, or even to trust me. All I have wanted was for you to be safe. But if you hate me, maybe it would be easier to go to my destiny.”

His voice was sincere and probably more emotional than ever before. “I have a recording of one of the men who fought under you who was being released with the three thousand, I have reports for me to travel to my own hearing, people condemning me for my choice, I have the reports of a new emperor being set into place. But I don’t trust anything, not when it comes to your safety, or the safety of those you want to protect. So all I can say is if you want true proof, take your tie-fighter, search it for any hidden bugs, or tracking devices, take it wherever you want and find out for yourself.”

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada sighed and finally holstered her weapon. Dammit Caris, she thought to herself, shaking her head in exasperation. She stepped forward, closing the distance between them before taking the pack her held out to her. She reached in, and she felt her fingers brush leather. Her breath hitched in her throat. Slowly, she withdrew the Veronian bracer, an expertly crafted, heavily decorated piece of work with a spring-loaded blade hidden on the inside. She turned it over in her hands, trying to keep her own emotions in check. "I didn't think I'd ever see this again," she croaked, then cleared her throat. She wasn't losing composure in front of him, not like this. No room for weakness. She laced on the bracer. It looked better than it used to. After building up the muscles in her arms (and everywhere else), the bracer didn't quite so over-sized and heavy on her slender wrist.

"That ship was stolen property you know," she said softly, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Property of the Imperial Navy. I took it. I stole that from the Emperor. You should have given it back to him. I'm surprised you haven't." She pulled the datapad from the bag as well and glanced at it. "I could be walking into an ambush. Just because you claim my ship is there doesn't mean it is. You're coming with me to get it. And no, it's not up for debate."

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Caris nods. “I was planning on taking you anyway, the ships database has been filled with all the proof I currently have. Like I said though, find out for yourself. I am such a strange Chiss. I can’t seem to do anything right off the battle field. I just flop around, trying to figure out what is right and wrong.” Moving to the door Caris looks back. “Kiada, I released them, I truly did. And I have no clue what the future holds for me, and that’s why I am here. If…I am to be imprisoned or put to death, I want to at least go knowing you are safe, like they are. I have to turn myself in as soon as I get back, or else the Chiss could end up in war with the Empire because of me and my choices.”

Opening the door, he waits for her. “I don’t know what else to say. I don’t deserve to be trusted, I caged you, and was part of the attack. But I have done my best in the time that followed to protect you and the others. I was destroyed, devastated when you were taken. But maybe in the end it was the best thing that could have happened. You can do whatever you wish now. I wish the same could be said for me.” His voice was hauntingly honest, his eyes showing something she had never saw before, fear. Fear as to what was about to come, fear for his future, his life and his family.

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Kiada was taken aback by the fear in Caris' face. He had always been so sure of himself. He was so confident and courageous and certain. Her hand reached forward, but stopped short. She settled instead for giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You did good, Caris," she said, trying to console him. "And if your hospitality is any indicator, imprisonment by the Chiss is not so bad. By execution... Is that a possibility?"

She began to follow Caris out of the shop and down the dusty road. She stayed slightly behind him. Not only did she need to follow in his steps, but she wanted to keep an eye on him just in case. She couldn't bring herself to fully trust him yet, not until she had her ship back. If she had the power to fly again, the means to go wherever she chose, then she'd start to believe.

 

[Alexander Dregar]

Caris walks with her, stopping at the touch and smiling softly. “Kiada, I did it for you. I am not afraid of what happens to me. Your friends and soon you, will all be safe, nothing else matters. I know, its hard for you to believe it. But it is still the truth. Even if I die, it will be worth it, to bring even a small amount of a smile to your face, to give you freedom, without worrying about them languishing in a prison.” He keeps moving down the dusty roads, heading towards the small space port.

“I have always regretted, that we didn’t meet under different circumstances. But I never regret helping hold off so many of your people from the Sith, from protecting you, and getting to know you, even if it had to be under those conditions. I just hope one day you will be able to forgive me for what I had to do. To this day, I hate myself, for my part in the Chiss raid on Home Base, that causes so much destruction, even if we were not the main cause of it, we were the ones who caused it. This is my punishment for that.”

They were now quite close to the space port. “Make sure your gun is hidden, while I only have one other person here on the planet who brought the Justice, while I flew your tie, I don’t want to give them reason to jump to conclusions, if they happen to see us.”