Reunions; Family's A Bitch

[Silas Ryun]

Above the massive skyscrapers and buzzing speeder lanes, the Coruscanti sun began to dip behind the horizon. The sky was vivid and alive in hues of orange and crimson with the silhouette of hundreds, if not thousands, of craft coming and going from the ecumonopolis. Truly a beautiful and inspiring sight to the lofty members of the aristocracy but down below, darkness had taken hold and no longer truly offered any tangible meaning. Darkness was just... life.

Silas and a handful of his friends collected at one of the local neon parks of the lower levels and soon began throwing a football to one another. Jovial taunts preceded laughter among them, testosterone fuelled arms pitching the ball increasing distances in a form of silent challenge to see who had the strongest throw. In essence, it was the same as any other evening as the group divided into teams and played a quick game before night fell upon them.

“C'mon, Ryun! I can actually feel myself getting older waiting on your slow ass! Throw the damn thing!”

Silas smirked as he pulled the ball back to his chin and lined up his throw, watching as the kids from the other team converged on his team mate. Carefully he watched not only for his opening but for the others who were trying to get through the defensive line and tackle him to the ground. Despite all his teasing, the other boy remained protected as did the others on his team. Gritting his teeth behind pursed lips, Silas prepared to throw over everyone's heads but in the corner of his eye he watched as one rather large boy proved slippery enough to push through the d-line and was barrelling down on him.

“Fuck,” he grumbled before snapping the ball back to his hip, breaking into a run between kids from each side. One managed to land a sly punch to his abdomen as he skirted past but it did little more than cause the lean young man to hunch slightly before straightening back up and gathering his feet under him again. Further he pushed in the seemingly endless sea of faces as they moved around him. It became harder and harder to keep track of who was who, where he was on the make-shift field, how far he had gone, when he suddenly felt the grip of two hands on his ankle.

He didn't have time to look back at the culprit; he was going down. Blue eyes scanned the field once more and locked with the star-spangled eyes of the same Rodian who had claimed to be prepared for college by the time they had approached. His suction cup fingered hand extended outward as he pulled ahead of his defender so Silas made his decision in that moment. As he began to fall to the pitch, he pulled the ball back and fired it in the Rodian's direction before face planting into the concrete.

“I can't believe you actually made that throw, Silas! One of your better ones for sure!” the Rodian teased as they walked together down the fluorescent street.

“Thanks, Glip. Maybe try to sound a bit less shocked next time, huh?” Silas replied softly, his lips forming a subtle smirk as he tossed his ball in the air and catching it again. “You sure I don't have a black eye? Mali is gonna tan my hide if she finds out I was playing ball instead of doing my homework again,” he continued sheepishly.

“Nah, you're good, man,” Glip laughed before coming to a stop at the corner they had arrived at. “This is me. I'll see you at school tomorrow, my guy! And don't worry! The chicks in class are gonna love that shiner!” he continued to call out as he began to jog for home. This could only warrant a groan from Silas as he turned back towards home before a windowless speeder descended before him in the blink of an eye.

“Hey! Watch it, you fucking moron!” he spat, stumbling back but as the door slid open, his rage diminished in the blink of an eye at the face he saw before him. One he hadn't seen since... How many years had it been now? “Dad?!” he stammered. “What are y-”

Before he could finish, a muscular hand reached out from the speeder and gripped him tightly at his collar before pulling him in.

 

[Silas Ryun]

The fog was difficult to blink from his eyes but as his surroundings became clear, Silas soon aware he was no longer on Coruscant nor was he within the speeder that had been used to abduct him. His head throbbed but as he tried to bring his hand to his temple, he found it secured to a massive stone slab. Panic set in with the realization that each limb was in the series of bindings. His heart pounded with fear.

“What is going on?! Where am I?!” he cried out, searching the room in a frenzy. In the corner he could see the hulking form of his father sat on a chair, sadness in his eyes as he looked upon his son. “Dad! What is happening? Get me out of these things!” he demanded but Tren could only shamefully shift his attention to the floor.

“He certainly bears a resemblance to our bloodline, brother. I'm disappointed it has taken you this long to bring him to my attention,”

The woman's voice was smooth as silk but try as he might, Silas could not find it's source. Frantically he tried to turn and get a glimpse of his captor. She had called Tren her brother. Whoever she was, he at least knew they were family.

“It's not like he told me I ever had an aunt so I guess that makes us even,” he joked nervously. “If this is a reunion, are the chains really necessary?” This warranted a soft chuckle from the mystery woman.

“No, I suppose not. I do very much prefer my subjects confined, however,” This time, the voice was much closer as she was practically whispering in his ear. Just hearing her words was enough to tell him she was smiling as she spoke. She enjoyed being the one in a position of power. “Tell me... Silas, is it? Do you believe in magic?”

“If you're asking if I'm crazy, the answer is no,”

“Believe me, boy. There is nothing crazy about this,”

“No, of course not. Except maybe the kidnapping and confining,”

“Insolent, just as you once were, brother. Perhaps the same modifications I had given you would benefit him as well,”

Tren finally shot up in defiance, ready to defend what little respect he believed his son may still have for him, but something odd transpired. Before he even stood, a feeling in the back of Silas' mind began to emerge. A form of anticipation. He saw Tren stand before he physically done so and he could feel some form of energy coil itself around the giant man, forcing him back into his seat.

“Come now, brother. Calm yourself. I was only teasing,” the woman spoke as she rounded from behind the slab on which Silas was restrained. At first he could only see long strands of black hair descending from her hood but as she turned to face him, he found himself awash with a sense of familiarity. Porcelain white skin, piercing blue eyes, with a scar that covered much of her right cheek. It was as though much of the flesh had frozen and decayed, only recently fully healing over.

While he inspected her, his heart still racing with fear, she calmly did the same. Silently, she took in every aspect of his physical form before placing her hand on his forehead and closing her eyes.

“Yes... Yes, it is there. Amazing. All those years father had wasted when the only factor we needed was time,”

“What's there? What's she talking about? Dad, can you please explain to me what is going on?!”

Remorsefully Tren raised his non-dominant hand with his palm to the ceiling, brushing the tips of his fingers from his other hand three times across it.

“Sorry isn't going to cut it. Not this time,” Silas growled.

“Enough. In time, you will learn more of what is to come. For now, we must further your education in more practical ways. Brother, send him to Umbara. He will be received well, I am sure,” she commanded on Tren, who soon rose to comply. Then she turned back to the young man and smiled a sickly sweet smile. “I look forward to seeing you again, nephew. Of course, you won't recollect any of this, I'm afraid,”

As she finished, she placed two fingers in the centre of Silas' forehead. Much as when Tren was forced back into his seat, the younger man could sense what was coming but he was defenceless. His memory would fade and vanish and his vision would fade to black. Whatever had happened was less than a memory, the first steps to a larger life being thrust upon him.