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“What are you doing?” Ava chuckled.“Taking advantage of our break,” Sara explained as she loomed over her, knees locked around her ribs. She shushed her as she kissed her neck.“In the middle of the night?”“Is there really night in space?”“Okay, I guess not, but-unhh- Sara!” Ava laughed when her girlfriend bit her.Her partner laughed with her and continued to place soft kisses against her throat before going up to her lips. She lifted up Ava’s red shirt, sliding her hand up to her breast. Sara’s thumb and tongue mimicked each other, brushing respectively over Ava’s nipple and lips. She chuckled as Ava playfully tugged on her hair. Ava pushed herself up against Sara until she fell into her lap. She pulled her closer by her hips and playfully kissed her. She slipped off Sara’s shirt, before snaking a hand to the waistband of her flannels.They jumped when a loud beeping noise interrupted their quiet moment. Sara threw her shirt back on while Ava fixed herself and reached over to read her message.“Who is it?” Sara asked looking over her shoulder.“Cracken.”“Damn, what happened?”“Doesn’t say, just that we have to go.”“But we’re almost there. Tell him we’re on a break.”“He says that we’re getting a dossier, so we’re off again,” Ava told her, showing her the list.“Fine. Let’s go,” Sara huffed getting out of bed.“You’re not gonna change?” Ava asked as Sara left.“It’s the middle of the night!”Ava chuckled as she changed into her uniform and followed her to the bridge. The others were already there by the time they arrived.“Okay, Cracken needs us to end our trip before it begins. Back to Dantooine guys,” she sighed helping them get on course.They took five jumps back to their base, landing within two hours. Sara changed into her uniform and left the ship for the early morning on Dantooine. She went straight to his quarters and rapped on his door. As he opened it, Sara gave him a tired smirk.“What’s the important message you had to tell us about?”“Come in, both of you,” he commanded in a hushed tone. “A suicide mission is being put together and I need your crew to start recruiting.”“Why aren’t we being deployed?”“Because I told them you were held up already fighting. You need to get more people, okay? Just do what I tell you.”“Yeah, yes sir,” Sara nodded, a bit taken aback.“Thank you.”“So where to first?”“Here,” Cracken nodded, taking out a few pieces of paper. “I’m splitting up your crew. Divide and conquer. The date of pick up is next to the name. Now go, and good luck.”They saluted their General and walked back to the Waverider, making quick work of handing out the papers to their crew members. Mick Leo and Ray took off first then followed by Hunter and four other crew members who took Waverider. Ava and Sara took a smaller ship.Sara glanced at the list, reaching the last planet. “I cannot read his stupid handwriting. What does that say?”“Hmm… Mandalore, I think.”“Shit,” Sara sighed folding up the paper.“What is it?”“Well, you know how I told you I wasn’t from Tatooine?”“Yeah, I remember. Is that home?”“Yup.”“Will I get to meet your family?”“Yeah. That trip is gonna be weird.”“Why, do you have trouble with your family?”“Eh, just my sister.”“What happened?”“Well, they think I died, except for my dad.”“What?”“I know, I know. It’s just that, when I was young, my dad could tell that I was force-sensitive, and he knew that the mercenary lifestyle was not for me, so he sent me away to learn under a Jedi Master who was living in secret. You know how I’m such a rambunctious little shit?”“You can be when you want to.”“Well, my Master sent me off to meet with a colleague of hers who could better discipline me.”“I mean, did it work.”“Funny…”“It didn’t stop you from becoming a mercenary.”“Hey, I just stole and turned people in, never killed.”“I mean, we can just trade with one of the others.”Sara sighed and climbed aboard the ship. “I should really let them know I’m not dead. I can protect myself now. It’ll just be awkward. ‘Hey mom, hey Laurel, I know you guys thought I was dead for sixteen years, but I’m fine. By the way, I’m a Grey-Jedi, oh and here’s my ex-Jedi girlfriend, wanna join the Alliance to Restore the Republic?’ Yeah, it’s gonna be weird.”Ava pecked her cheek before sitting in her spot to pilot the ship. She waited for Sara to get all strapped in at the gunnery next to her and took off. First stop was the human planet Coruscant to try to pick up even more recruits, even though they were already streamlined to the Alliance. Through their flight to the old planet, Ava got out of her seat to grab a drink. She pulled out a flask of water and took a swig before sitting back down.“Hey, so Ray and Leo. What’s up with them?” she asked.“Oh, so Leo’s being quiet, but mister tell-all-Mick says that they’re trying to get married in secret. Nothing big to draw attention to the Alliance because a part of Leo’s family works with the Empire.”“Really?”“Yeah, he says that only his mom knows he works for the Alliance, and even then she doesn’t know much else. Very little contact between them.”Ava nodded. “Good for them. What about us?”“You mean with taking it to the next level?”“Yeah.”“Honestly, I guess I just enjoy this so much that I haven’t really thought of anything else.” Sara glanced at Ava and rested her head on her shoulder, wrapping her hand around her girlfriend’s bicep. “But I wouldn’t mind it either. I got lost in the fun.”Ava quietly cleared her throat before taking them out of hyper-speed as they neared the planet. “Just a bit longer until we land. So, the usual tactics? Bars and lodges?”“Yeah, I’ll go to the lodges, a few bounty hunters still remember me.”“Okay, I’ll go to the bars.”“Don’t get in trouble,” Sara joked.“I’ll try not to.”Ava docked the small ship and took her belongings before locking it up. Sara followed at her heels and began to a lodge she once frequented. Ava watched her leave then went to a high-end bar to find any new or old allies.~~~~~~~~~~“Did you get any more recruits?” Sara asked over the comm.“No one new, but I found a few allies and asked for more alliance propaganda.”“Did you tell them about the situation?”“Only that we need more people soon.”“Good.”“You?”“Only one bounty hunter, the others want to wait and, as usual, just want the money, they don’t care about change.”“That’s okay. Meet me at the ship, we’re going to Savereen next.”“Okay.”Sara turned off her mic and walked to the dock, quickly paying their fare and getting ready as she waited for Ava. She glanced back down at the paper again, just staring at the last planet. A new hell she’d have to go through at some point. Sara turned around as the door opened again for Ava. Her girlfriend sat back down in her spot and started up the ship, setting off for the stars again.“I do love you,” Sara nodded.“I know, Sara. I love you, too.”“It’s just, you seemed upset about what I said earlier.”“About what?” Ava horribly feigned in ignorance.Sara glanced at her and smirked, “About marriage.”Ava nodded her head slightly before taking them into hyperspeed. “And?”“You sounded upset, I think I just misspoke.”“It’s fine.”Sara looked at her and quietly sighed. “I can tell you’re not fine, but we’ll talk about it later when you’re ready to really say how you feel.”“Sara.”“No, no, no, not unless you really want to talk about it. Until then, Savareen, we’re going to the bars, no more Crimson Dawn, so we’re good to go on that. We just need to watch out for any leftover cronies.”“Okay,” Ava nodded.Sara got unstrapped and went to their quarters to grab a drink. “I think if we dock on the south side then we’ll bypass any threat of them.”“Okay.”Sara walked back and strapped back up. “I’m sorry if it seemed like I lashed out at you. I just don’t want you to be disingenuous about your feelings.”“I agree that we should talk about this later. After our round, okay?”“Okay.”Sara nodded and leaned over to kiss Ava, getting her cheek instead.~~~~~~~~~~“Can you meet me in Ractiss Park in an hour?” Ava asked over the comm.“Yeah, I just finished a small deal for twenty recruits. How’s it been for you?”“I got twenty-three teens and six adults.”“Good, I wonder what the others have gotten?”“I don’t know, but Ractiss Park at 8 right?”“Yeah.”“Okay.”Sara shrugged and went to the bar, buying a drink as she waited for the time to pass.~Ava waited at the entrance of the quiet park, glancing at her watch every few seconds as time ticked nearer. She looked up to see Sara crossing the street.“Hey, what’s up?” Lance asked.“What we needed to talk about?” she began.“Oh, yeah. Again, I’m sorry about lashing out. I really didn’t mean to sound pissed or angry with you.”“I know and understand why you said what you said. Transparency is important, I should have told you what I was thinking rather than being petty.”“So what were you thinking?”“You used the word ‘fun’ as a reason why you hadn’t thought about marrying me,” Ava explained. “For me, it’s more than fun, this is a serious relationship. I’ve never been so deeply in love with anyone. I just… I love you so much and I don’t want this to be a fun fling,” she continued, sighing before reaching out for Sara’s hand. “Look, you don’t have to do or say anything about it, I just wanted to tell you how I felt, and…” She trailed off looking at Sara while the silence began to settle. “I lied, please say something, I want you to say really anything.”Sara looked away and nodded. “Ray told me he hates it when Leo gets into drinking competitions,” she mentioned with a smile.Ava smirked. “He gets into drinking competitions?”“It was how we made extra money on Tatooine.”“Was he good at it?”“He won twenty-seven out of thirty-one matches.”“He doesn’t have to do it anymore though?”“Only for fun, not profit… unless you don’t count what he lifts off of his competition.”Ava shook her head with a smile. “Let’s get out of here.”“Okay.”They left the park and got back on board for their next exploit. Ava changed into a fresh set of clothes, stealing the shower as Sara sat on the bed. Lance glanced over her shoulder before opening her bag and searching to the bottom for a dark green velvet box, flipping it open and revealing a ring with part of a yellow Velmorite crystal fused with a synthetic orange crystal and Qixoni crystal on either side. Sara stared down at the ring, the silver bands intertwined with clear and black diamonds decorating their respective bands. She quickly hid the ring back in her bag when she heard the door open.Ava walked in while she dried her hair. “Hey, so I was thinking about that whole Mandalore thing. If you want, we could always give it to someone else.”“That’s fine, like I said,” Sara sighed turning around, “I should see them again. I need to see them.”“Okay, well, I’ll be with you, Sara.”“Thank you.”“I’ll just send a quick message to my dad.”Sara got up and went to her desk to write a short letter. When she returned, Ava had already changed into her uniform.“I’m wondering how I should act,” Ava began as she folded her clothes. “I know Mandalorians don’t like Jedi.” She glanced up at Sara, waiting for a response. “Hello?” Sara didn’t respond as she closed the door behind herself and walked up to her, scaring Ava into walking backward until she ran into the dresser. “Sara?” she asked, holding her breath. “S-Sara, you okay?”“Yeah.”“Umm…” Ava leaned around to clear her throat. “Will I stand out in this?” she murmured.“Not really,” Sara shrugged, placing her hands on her partner’s lapel and began to unbutton her jacket.She took a deep breath and smirked, “Oh, I see. You want to take as much time as possible,” she smirked.“Mhm,” Lance confirmed as she pecked her neck. “Is it working?”Ava nodded, quickly pushing off Sara’s jacket and began to unbutton and unzip her grey pants. Sara quickly unbuckled her belt and let her clothes fall after watching Ava struggle with the stiff leather. She buckled her shoes and kicked them off as Ava slipped off her girlfriend’s shirt. They passionately kissed, unbridled by their missions and bereft of touch. Ava wrapped her hand around the back of her partner’s head, reaching her hand up her tight black undershirt and pecked her jaw. She flipped Sara around then pressed her against the wall, hips pinning her in place.“You were so anal when I met you, I thought that you’d want to be sub, not dom.”Ava smirked and nudged her nose as she kneaded her chest, pulling away when her girlfriend took off her sports bra.She kissed her again and sank her hand into her pants, drawing her fingers across her centre. Her heart pounded harder at the soft sighs and ever deepening breaths she elicited. Sharpe continued to massage the muscles on either side of her labia, her fingers getting wetter with every stroke.She finally dragged her wet fingers up to her clit and gently rubbed her between her fingers, her thumb pressing down. Ava nipped and tugged at her neck while she listened to her hushed groans. She glanced down before sinking to her knees and pulling down her trousers and underwear.Sharpe drew Sara front facing and regarded her reaction as she kissed her hip bone, soon wrapping her mouth over her clit. She ran her tongue around and over as she wrapped her arm around the back of her leg and pushed two fingers into her.Sara rested her hand on Ava’s head, closing her eyes as she felt every slick slide of her girlfriend’s tongue over her clit. She tried to spread her legs out a bit more and rested against the wall. Lance hooked her leg over her partner’s shoulder to draw her in.With her free hand, Ava pulled out a toy and a bottle of lube, twisting the top with one hand before pulling away and rubbing lube on the toy, slowly pushing it into her as she continued to lick her clit.Sara quietly moaned, her hands covering her eyes while she ground down against Ava’s tongue. She threaded her fingers through Ava’s blonde locks to pull her closer as she felt herself getting closer to the edge. Sara let out a soft gasp as Ava turned on the toy. She covered her mouth as she continued to gasp and moan. Her cheeks now deeply blushed, a flurry of curse words and encouraging phrases flew out of Sara’s mouth.She let out a ragged breath and doubled over to latch onto Ava’s shoulders as she came. Every muscle in her body clenched and released in a beautiful symphony. Once she caught her breath, Sare pulled Ava up and backed her into the bed. She pushed her flat against it, letting her legs dangle off the edge while she stood between them.Ava leaned up and kissed her and locked her legs around her partner’s thighs to scoot herself closer. Sara got on her knees at the edge of the remaining space of the bed and slung Ava’s leg over her shoulder. She bent over and pushed her tongue flat against her center. Sara continued to lap at her clit before pulling Ava’s other leg over her shoulder.Ava looked at the ceiling, feeling Sara’s tongue twirl and swirl around her clit. She moaned softly at each movement as her breath hitched in her throat.“Oh God, Sara,” she groaned, reaching down to hold her girlfriend’s hand.Sara glanced up and intertwined their hands, readjusting her position so her shoulder wouldn’t give out. Ava relished the wet circles pushed into her clit, squeezing her eyes shut at her rough tongue and the momentary gentle suckling. She felt the ball of heat in her stomach burst into a million pieces. Her body clenched in a sweet explosion of ecstasy and pulled Sara up to kiss her.“Fuck, Sara,” she gasped between kisses, “I love you.”“I love you, too.”Sara smiled and rolled over to her side of the bed to embrace her. Ava closed her eyes and cuddled into her. Their breathing slowed and the room grew silent save for their fleeting kisses and giggles.The door busted open as two masked people in full white regalia burst into their chambers. They grabbed Ava and pulled her out of bed.“Jedi Ava Sharpe, you are being arrested for neglecting post and evasion of the Jedi Order. Get your base clothes on.”“Ava?” Sara asked, covering herself with a pillow.Ava shook her head and pulled on some grey undergarments and a matching tight shirt. Lance launched herself at the guards, instantly reprimanded by getting force pushed into the wall. When she tried to gather her bearings, she found herself stuck, her motion severely dampened to a sluggish crawl. She looked up at the Temple Guard and tried to fight him. Tears welled in her eyes as she watched the scene before her, helpless to intercept.“DO NOT HURT HER!” Ava threatened. She made an aggressive motion with her hand, her fingers curling into a fist. The Temple Guard shook their head, swaying before releasing Sara. “Don’t anger them, Sara. Let me handle this.”“Ava!” she pled, frozen once more as she reached for her saber.“I’m sorry, Sara,” Ava choked out.One of the guards locked a metal cuff around her neck on her before handcuffing her. Lance was released from the hold as they tugged her out, leaving the Mandalorian Jedi alone.
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A minute passed, then another, and another.Sara sat, frozen against the wall as ice-cold shock filling her veins.She suddenly lunged across the room and grabbed her base clothes, springing into action by piloting her ship. Lance closed her eyes and called up Leo, getting put through after a few rings.“I thought you’d be using this time to get reacquainted with Ava,” Leo smirked.“We did, but she was arrested.”“Wait, what?”“When I met her, she had a bounty over her head from the Jedi Order.”“So, she’s been on the run for at least four years?”“Yeah, and they finally found her,” Sara sighed. “God, I don’t even know what they’re gonna do to her.”“It’ll be fine, Sara. Do you have any idea where she could be?”“No.”“Nothing about how she trained or with whom?”“We never divulged that to one another, the only sure way to protect the old masters.”“Well, there must be something in her belongings or written in her personal effects that could clue you in to where she’s been?”“I think I know a piece she carries with her everywhere. Thank you, Leo.”Sara put the ship on autopilot and sprinted back to their room. She tore the drawers from their place and ripped out the items, searching for her partner’s saber belt. In the past when they had initially begun traveling with one another, only awkward acquaintance/ friends-with-benefits, Sharpe had off-handedly mentioned the significance of her specific belt. At the back of the wardrobe, Sara found it. She searched for symbols or names. Anything that would clue her in. She rejoined Leo on the bridge.“This,” she showed her. “She mentioned something about this being her connection.”“What were the guards wearing?”“All white.”“Did you happen to see their sabers?”“No, but they had similar hilts to Ava.”“What colour does she have?”“Yellow.”“Can you scan the markings? Maybe Ray can help.”She copied the foreign script and the symbol engraved into the buckle as she waited for them to return. The rugged grey speckled Rebel came into view, closely studying a tablet that showed a close-up of the belt. He cocked his head to the side then tilted it the other way before speaking.“This is in Kaminoan.”“Really?”“Or a weird dialect. It’s hard to tell by how worn it all is,” he explained. “That symbol on the buckle is familiar, though. This is the symbol for a sect of the Jedi Order. I think it’s either the Altisian Jedi or… no, this is from an Altisian Jedi. You’d recognize the Grey Jedi Order.”“Who are the Altisians?”“They’re a sect of secular Jedi who live on a ship. They’re really the only organized group of Jedi left after Order 66.”“Where are they?”“It’s hard to say, but I would assume nearby with how they found you.” At the distressing response from his words, Ray quickly added, “But I’ll ask around, maybe someone has an idea of where they could be? They survived the Order by running away, so they can’t be a small group.”“Thanks, Ray,” Sara solemnly nodded in gratitude.“Hey, where are you off to now?” Leo asked out of view.“We were supposed to go to Mandalore.”“Okay, why don’t you land and we’ll meet you there.”“We’ll get through this,” Ray assured her.Sara sighed, gripping the wheel hard to control herself. Now was not the time for a rampage. Maybe later, but not until Ava was safe. The ride wasn’t too long, but it felt like forever. Passing through the streaming lights of stars and ships. Even though Sara was on a mission, she still couldn’t help but imagine her partner’s current whereabouts. Thinking of the worst possible events even as she tried to blind herself with hope.~Ava was walked into a cell where she was given one of her uniforms. She had never been in the brig before. Her entire life was spent protecting whatever their Masters could salvage from the absolute devastation of their people. She recalled the strict training she received, the sleepless nights of emergency training alongside her peers.Ava took out the blue tunic and white pants and put them on, pulling out the light blue wrap and tying it around before putting on her dark grey boots. She glanced at her light grey cape and put it on, fixing her hair in a quick bun. She sat on the bench and waited for the guards to return. Minutes passed all too slowly as she waited for anything to happen. It reminded her of the solitaire training they went through, a lost resort if they were ever found out by the Empire. It was also a form of torture they learned to enforce on anyone who infiltrated their co-op. It was a mandatory punishment she took all too much pleasure in enforcing. Ava felt like a fool now. The Jedi kept order before the Empire, now, they were a desperate dying breed with fewer and fewer followers as they were picked off. It was only a matter of time before this place was gone, too. Ava paced around, deep thoughts permeating her mind like many prisoners before her. That’s what this was meant to do, break the prisoner with dampened sounds and no color. It left her time to talk to reflect.“I’m so stupid,” she whispered. “I should have never escaped with Sara. I should have just let them turn me in. Or more, I should have just gone back, running was never my style.” Ava pressed her head against the wall and sighed. “Maybe I should have run away instead of staying with the Alliance. God, I’m so stupid!” Ava slammed down to her knees and pressed her hands against the wall. “I’m so weak.” She took a deep breath and covered her face. “So tired,” she effortlessly whimpered.Her head pounded in her skull as she sat with her face against the wall. In fact, it throbbed like something was squeezing her. She felt like it was about to explode. Ava held her head in her hands and gritted her teeth. She hated feeling powerless, it wasn’t that she couldn’t feel the Force, but that she couldn’t tap into it to defend herself against intolerable pain. Sharpe closed her eyes and rested against the frozen cell.~Mandalore was just as unwelcoming as Sara predicted it to be as she prepared to disembark to speak with her friends. She meandered the rough of Sundari until she happened upon an unfamiliar bar, safer than anywhere she may be recognized. The bar seemed suspiciously quiet, considering the time of day, but Sara went against her best interests and ordered a drink to cool down. Whatever it was that she had ordered knocked the wind out of her, a burst of raucous laughter filtered throughout the bar as everyone went back to their previous conversations. She cocked an eyebrow at the bizarre scene but continued to nip at her poisonously strong drink until she spotted Leo. Again, the bar went silent until he sat down beside her.“What’s that all about?”“They’re just checking you out. Where’s Ray?”“Getting some fuel. We found out where they may be staying. Do you want to go at this alone or with the crew?”“I think if they see a full ship, we may get blown up before they answer our call.”“Where are they?”“Their ship’s name is Chu’unthor. It’s an old Praxeum ship. Last Ray heard, they were meandering around Bespin, they tend to stay there to protect their base.”“Thank you, Leo.”“You’re sure you want to do this alone?”“I can’t have you guys getting too distracted.”“Well, we’re here aren’t we?” he inquired. “What’s going on, past the gone girl situation, of course.”“Everything was good, then there was a tiff, and just as we were getting together, she’s ripped out of my arms, out of our bed and I, being the idiot I am, lost her. I froze, so I lost her.”“But you found her, and now you can save her.”Sara only sighed and finished off her drink, “Thank you, I’ll let you know how it all ends.She exited the bar and made a B-Line to her ship, paying the fare as she went to the bridge. Sara pushed through every biting nerve that told her Ava was lost as she searched for Bespin. The trek was painstaking, not to mention the fact that it gave her enough time to realize why she felt so alone. Ava always exuded a strong aura that masked any sense of loneliness or insecurity that may have permeated her thoughts. She glowed magenta, impossible and yet so tangible to Sara until suddenly she was gone. The moment that collar snapped around her neck, Ava was lost. Whatever it was they had, not only dampened her powers but snuffed out her light.Sara finally found Bespin, taking her time to look for the enormous Jedi base that was supposedly floating around just waiting to be found out. The Chu’unthor hid well in the stars save for the constant bright red blips around the ship. Sara approached the ship, an alert instantly blaring on her screen. She opened the alert, instantly brought to a video chat with the current overseer. Sara nearly jumped out of her seat at the surprising sight of her first Jedi Master.~Ava felt the walls creep in on her. The metal in her cell showed a warped reflection of just how disheveled she was becoming in her confinement. She closed her eyes to block out the sight and hopefully add some kind of stimulation while the time ticked by as slowly as Cracken to a meeting with his superiors.Sharpe found herself reflecting on her youth, a bizarre hotchpotch of memories flooding into her mind. She couldn’t tell if they were genuine or manipulated. She wouldn’t put it past her peers, she did it herself in her first years as a Sentinel.In all of her memories, though, she kept seeing Sara’s kind visage flash before her eyes. The way her face lit up with a mischievous plan. At the briefest mention of free time, she would always manage to steal her away to some random destination to show her around. While they argued or debated over their own upbringing and morals, they found common ground in believing in freedom above all else, something she harboured at birth and lost in youth.Sara was a safe place. She provided a home for her to speak her mind or silently reflect even in stressful situations. Her heart always seemed to glow and envelope her in such warmth. Even as far away as they were now, she could still feel her beating heart. Just thinking about her made her feel a bit saner.~“Lance,” she responded in just as much shock.“Master Ha,” Sara bowed to her master and stood at attention.“Why are you here?”“I’m here for one of your prisoners on the Rebel Alliance’s accord.”“They have no power here, they should know that.”“Please hear me out,” Sara continued to explain as she produced her chip, “as a Padawan under you and our mutual friend, I need to see her.”“Sentinel Sharpe must go through her hearing before any exterior influence, but you may board if you hand over your weapons and wear the Force Collar.”“I agree.”“Put your ship in Neutral, we will pull you in,” Ha concluded as she nodded to her offscreen peers.Sara ended the call and removed the kyber crystals from her sabers then locked them in a box. She stood at the helm until the hatch opened and more of the Temple Guards boarded her ship, patiently waiting for her to turn over her belongings before clamping the collar over her neck and patting her down.They walked her to the crew of soldiers led by an older man with greyed ginger hair and distinct violet eyes. He approached Sara, his goons close behind.“I am Master Djin Altis.”“Sara Lance,” she introduced.“Master Ha has told me about you.”“Hopefully good things,” she joked to no verbal response. “Ehh-okay.”“She also told me that you wish to see our prisoner.”“Yes, sir. I am here on the Rebel Alliance’s behalf to release Staff Sergeant Sharpe to our ranks where she will be of use to the Galaxy.”“While I admire her pursuits after she abandoned her post, Sentinel Sharpe has much to face and until her hearing this afternoon, she will be in solitary confinement. As Master Ha informed you, you are more than welcome, and highly encouraged to listen in and after her sentencing, you may enlist us in shortening her sentence.”Sara nodded, knowing that she was far too outnumbered to aggressively disagree with him. “Thank you.”“Until then, would you care to join one of my Knights to take you around the ship?”“Oh, how could I say no,” she nodded, spotting a bright face giant walk forward.“Hello, I am Knight Ray Palmer,” he beamed.“Nice to meet you, Ray.”“Why don’t you show her to the garden and public library?”“Yes, Master,” he gratefully nodded.Once they had made it a safe distance, Sara asked, “Does it ever get boring on the ship?”“It can, but researching is a big part of our job. To become a Master, you must elevate twelve Padawans to knighthood and live on a sacred planet or temple of our choosing before we can be considered.”“Who was Ava while she was here?”“I’m not sure, I never trained with her. She was specifically chosen by Master Altis.”“How did you get here?”“I was brought up by my Master, and now I’m here.”“In the PR department?”“I’m just doing this because I love to meet new people.”“Mhm, hey, Palmer-”“Knight Palmer, please.”“Knight Palmer, is there any way you could get me to a terminal, I need to speak with my superiors.”“Yes, ma’am, but all of our terminals are monitored.”“Of course. I’d still like to speak with them.”“I’m just letting you know. I could always escort you back to your ship, you’d just have to be searched once you left.”“Why not, your guards have a sensible touch, literally.”Ray nodded in confusion as they walked back to the bay.~Ava found herself reliving that moment over and over again. Varying perspectives echoed in her head until she was sure they were torturing her into thinking about the day she abandoned her people. Every time she closed her eyes, a new revelation of the day flashed before her eyes. She fought back with Sara’s features, every curve, and scar that enveloped her. The features and soft spots she memorized in their more intimate moments. She felt the intruding thoughts probe through her partner’s features until they breached her safety.“ENOUGH!” she cried out.The cruel tactics they were taught, how could she not see that they were becoming weapons for Djin Altis. Ava stared at the ceiling, her eyes getting dry as she tried to distract her thoughts. She found herself slipping until they had crept into her waking consciousness.Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked through the Zeffonian Tomb. She had walked this tomb for years with her peers and in solitude, but these recent turns felt different. The statues almost seemed to be watching her in the distance, judging and regarding her as she strode through the halls. She couldn’t quite place why, though. Maybe she was going insane and needed a break from the planet. Ava mulled over the forms of meditation she had tried to fend off any intrusive thought, but it felt like too much to handle at that point.She had approached a towering statue in the main section of the tomb, approaching a disarmed Temple Guard that had been destroyed by some rogue Jedi a few years before the Empire was finally driven off of the planet. Ava looked over the casket, looming over the Zeffo Sage with curiosity as it seemed to call out to her.She had always been sensitive to powerful objects, but something about the tomb’s reliefs commanded that she reach out and grasp the memories. She placed her hand over a pictograph above Miktrull’s head and felt a rush of emotions flood through her. Ava’s heart pounded even harder as she relived the moments of the Tomb’s creation. Brilliant colours covered the walls along with the still present gold leaf and towering Zeffo walked around the place Miktrull’s casket would soon be placed. She watched the great Sage themself approach her, seeming to glide across the floor until they stood over her. They bent down to her level and placed their hand over her heart.Ava snapped out of her trance, finding herself facing the corner of the cell. She hit her head against the padded wall until she felt a bit clearer.~Lance closed her eyes as she stood before the terminal, calling up Cracken. A few moments passed before he picked up. “We found her, but they aren’t letting her go or letting me speak to her.”“I’m sorry about your situation there, Lance. We just got back from our final meeting and it was horrific,” he admitted.Sara finally studied his depressed state. “What happened, Cracken?”“We’re going to lose everyone,” he whispered. “Absolutely everyone.”“Oh my god.”“I have an idea of who we can call up, but everything’s still evolving. Nevermind that. I will inform my superior, see what we can get done. Where is she?”“With the Altisian Jedi.”“Jedi? You never told me she rolled with them.”“She didn’t until they found her.”“Call me back when you need me, I’ll be making some calls.”“Thanks, Airen.”Sara went back out, was patted down, and followed Palmer around again. After escaping the ears of any Guards or trailing masters, he turned to his guest.“Who trained you, we only give the collars to the Force-sensitive?”“Master Ha trained me before she was rescued from my home planet,” she answered in a much more somber tone.“I’m sorry your partner was detained. May I ask you something?” he began in a much more hushed tone. Lance regarded him carefully but agreed. She couldn’t help but believe that the brig extended into the daily lives of this ship, a polite panopticon prison they all lived in. “What does your group do?”Sara matched his volume as she answered. “The Rebellion is trying to bring balance and independence to the galaxy. The vastness of space was not meant to be controlled by one group, and that includes before Order 66.” Palmer cocked his head to the side, clearly too young to know who she was referencing. “Why do you ask?”He pondered his answer, mulling over revealing too much of his inner thoughts. “I was interested in your beliefs, being an outsider.”Sara considered his curiosity and nodded. “I believe that the Jedi are an archaic society, despite how forward-thinking Master Altis says he is. I prefer to follow my needs, not a greater virtue.”“So, does that mean that you don’t follow the Force?”“On the contrary, that’s all I believe in.”Ray continued to lead her to a vast greenbelt in the middle of the ship. A smattering of trees and benches filled the open area with a few spots to gather and play. They walked in slightly awkward silence as he weighed the gravity of his guest’s words.He finally asked, “What does it take to join your mission?”“Ooh, that won’t look good for my current plight, Palmer,” she jokingly warned.“No, I’m serious. I want to do more.”“What do you mean by more? The Rebellion isn’t a safe haven for Jedi. In fact, those who join us, play minor roles. We don’t need any larger of a target on our backs.” Seeing his down fallen face almost annoyed her, but she couldn't help but be of some service to him. “Look, I heard of a rogue Jedi who has been delving into the Zeffo and wants to pull together a new Jedi Order. He seems more your speed. He isn’t necessarily on our payroll, but we provide some resources to him for good measure, of course.”“You could really get a hold of him for me?”“I can try, but we’ll have to be extremely discrete,” she finished in a hushed tone.Palmer’s pager began to glow and vibrate on his belt. He glanced down at the small device and stood up straight, reminding her how much the Knight towered over her. “I have been tasked with bringing you to Master Ha’s residence.”“Wonderful.”She was led down a new hallway only revealed once Ray swiped his passkey. Before her, was a vast array of doors layered one on top of the other. They seemed uniform save for the name of the residents. They walked along the flats until the doors began to space out further and further. By the time they reached the Masters’ residencies, the rooms must have been almost twice the size of the normal citizens. They approached a door, it instantly sliding open to reveal her old Master. Ray bowed and left them.“Please, come in,” Ha invited. Sara followed her, calmly regarding the simplicity of her room. “Would you like anything to drink?”“In all honesty, I’m not that parched.”“You must find it callous that I haven’t been representing you?”“Not callous, I understand, I’m more on edge about my partner. How much longer until her trial?”“I believe it should be starting briefly.”“How briefly?” she hastily inquired.“I was told in a half-hour.”“I am still allowed to sit in, right?”“Of course, but you may not say anything, in accordance with you not being of the Altisian Sect.”“As long as I may see her, that’s all I care about.” Sara closed her eyes, trying to clear her head and stay calm. “Is there any way I could speak to Master Altis?”“As far as I am aware, he has taken himself out of the case as far as overseeing it. I am not aware of the Master who is in charge of her case,” Ha nodded. “Why are you so adamant about speaking to her?”Sara huffed, completely baffled at her question. “She is my partner in life and work, and I need her back. I will not go without her whether that be an hour or a decade.”Kina nodded at her padawan’s plea and approached the door. “I will escort you to the hearing then, Sara.”“Thank you,” she whispered.“If you have a way to communicate with your superior officer, then I would highly recommend getting a hold of them shortly after the trial began.”They walked in silence down unfamiliar corridors which seemed to spiral and glide along the endless ship. Past quiet walls of doors and windows to the excessively passive-looking residents was an official facade that opened another array of doors. Even with the immense breadth of the ship, it still surprised her just how spacious it was.They stopped before the grand doors where Kina Ha turned to her, “What is it you want to say to Master Altis?”“I want him to turn her over to the Rebellion. I spoke to my superior who also wishes to exalt her from this trial,” Sara tried to convince her master.“I want you to keep a level head,” she began, glancing at a clock before she continued. “Sentinel Sharpe will be entering the hall in twenty seconds and I must leave your side.”“What?”Ha entered the hall, leaving the door to lock behind her. Sara tried the handle, instantly stopped when the double doors behind her swung open. She whipped around to the parade of Temple Guards led by a Jedi Consular into the hall, but Ava’s blonde hair couldn’t be seen. Although, if she had to guess, she was probably the center Guard dressed in her Temple garb for the hearing. Her heart stopped when the figure turned to look at her through the thin slits of her mask. Sara quickly followed them into the shockingly rustic court. Ha towered over the court, especially when compared to the other Masters by her side. Ava knelt before her counsel, her peers surrounding her with their sabers off. Her head was hung in shame and fatigue as she waited for the proceedings to begin.“Temple Knight Sentinel Theta Alpha Twelve, you are being charged with abandoning your post at the Tomb of Miktrull on Zeffo in Centaxday, the 3rd of Month 10, 7970. You then fled from then until Prime day, the 29th of Month 2, 7977 when we found you under your common name on the payroll of the Rebel Alliance.” Kina took a moment to reorganize her papers and placed them on the desk beside her. She continued, “Under normal circumstances, your punishment would entitle handing over your provided belongings and exiling you to Zeffo under the watch of your peers for five years along with revoking your position as Knight Sentinel and stripping you of your Jedi Knighthood entirely. Seeing as we have lost the safety of Zeffo to the Imperial Empire, we cannot exile you there. After reviewing your case, though, we have decided to hear your partner’s case to possibly release you from our custody. Sara Lance?” Sara slowly rose at the sound of her name and stood at attention. “Are you able and willing to call your superior officer?”“Yes, Master Ha,” Sara agreed, calmly drawing out her communication device. “May I present General Cracken of the Rebel Alliance.”“Thank you, Sara,” Cracken nodded, turning around to face the Master of the Order. “Although Staff Sergeant Sharpe did leave her post, she has proven herself time and time again to be a true hero to her crew and to the Rebel Alliance. She is a brave soldier who sacrifices herself to help us. She has stolen information from the Empire and spied for us for the years she has been with us. Sharpe has matured over that time and will go down in history as a Legend. Because of her skills, her work has been more than helpful and has allowed us to free territories for the Alliance.”“Thank you, General Cracken. Maybe we can negotiate a form of punishment for your soldier because she has been a great help?” one of the other Masters suggested.“I think I can help,” A young voice broke in. A woman in white with dark hair took Cracken’s place. “My name is Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan. As a leader of the Rebel Alliance, I suggest that we take custody of her and have her fight until she can no longer do so.”A moment passed before any of the Jedi Masters spoke. Ha took her time to confirm with her peers and then to the hologram. “Princess Organa, We accept your offer. You now have full custody and responsibility of former Jedi Sentinel Iota Alpha Twelve. This trial is adjourned, you are free to go. You will however be stripped of your Knighthood and must turn over your saber.” Ava closed her eyes in shame and nodded in agreement. “As with all disgraced Temple Guards, you will be deshirted by your peers. You may begin.”Ava kept her head down as she felt the Guards encroach upon her. A flash of metal warned her that they were ready to start cutting. They started with her sleeves, slicing the cloth from her shoulder and biceps before moving down to her forearms. The scissors graced her flesh before snipping the uniform from her sides and back. The process was grueling, but this wasn’t the first time she had been a participant in the ceremony. She felt them tug at her robes, snipping the cloak and her pants until they were freed from her.“Rise,” Ha commanded. “Remove your mask.” She took off the cream and gold mask, watching it float up from her hands and get crushed into fragments before her very eyes. “Your saber.” The Jedi Consular produced her weapon before the court where it was also destroyed. “Will the Temple Guards please escort Ms. Lance and Ms. Sharpe to their ship.”The guards walked them to their ship, yet another silence-filled walk that took all too long. Surprisingly, in the wake of seeing her partner stripped both literally and figuratively of her position that Sara found herself starving. She couldn’t help but think of any comfort foods for them both to indulge in. After their far too public promenade to the bay, their collars were removed and they were physically barred from moving anywhere except for into their ship.Ava took her partner’s hand and led her inside. Once away from prying eyes, she pulled her into a tight embrace, breaking down at the moment. She felt a heavy weight finally be lifted off of her shoulders as she found herself truly free for the first time ever. Being back in the presence of her Altisian family reminded her just how stifling her upbringing was. “Thank you,” she sighed, into her shoulder. “Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.”“I love you. To be honest, I don’t know what I would do without you,” Sara confessed pecking her cheek. “Now, we still have a job to do. You ready for my drama?”“How bad can it be?”“You’ll be surprised.”