Chapter Text
Chapter 5
Trust Goes Both Ways
The blood red skies of Dathomir flash green and blue as battle droids are attacking from all sides. Droids are falling left and right as the Night Sisters fight back as much as they can, but there seems no end to it. Dashar and their Sister are ushered into a cave, along with a couple of other families. Old people and children clamp onto each other and whimper in fear. The cave shakes violently when explosions and droids go off around them. Rubble and rock came down and landed near the two Night Sisters.
“Gaomagon daor worry byka Dash. Kessa mirre sagon toliot aderī.”
(Do not worry little Dash. All will be over soon.)
Their sister said as Dashar was clutching against her waist after the debris had almost hit them both. Each moment could be their last and the Sisters knew it. Yet the eldest showed no fear, for she knew she had to stay strong for Dashar.
“Asajj?” Dashar whispered.
“Kessa, Byka Mēre?” Asajj replied.
(Yes, Little One?)
“Ao would daor henujagon nyke, paktot?”
(You would not leave me, right?)
Asajj looked hurt at this question, though Dashar did not seem to notice as their face was buried in their Sisters clothing.
“Dōrī. Iksi ānogar sisters se bound hēnkirī skoriot mirre iksi iā skoriot mirre kosti mōris bē. Isse bisa ābrar iā se hembar, nyke kessa umbagon lēda ao forever.” Asajj said.
(Never. We are Blood Sisters and bound together wherever we are or wherever we may end up. In this life or the next, I shall stay with you forever.)
As the older Sister finished speaking, she could see some of the tension leaving Dashar’s shoulders. They melted completely into the warm robes of their Sister, breathing in her sent. A sent they would promise themselves never to forget because this, she, was home. And that would, as Asajj said, never leave.
A blinding flash went off and with a powerful BANG, the cave exploded into chaos. The two Sisters were ripped apart and thrown aside against the hard cavern walls. Dashar let out a cry of agony as a stalactite had fallen on top of them. Now stuck underneath this piece of rock, they screamed their Sisters name.
“Asajj! ASAJJ! Skoriot issi ao?! Asajj!”
(Where are you?!)
Another bright flash and the Little Night Sister is somewhere else. The skies were blood red still, but this time there were no droids or dead bodies as they were looking into the eyes of Asajj.
Dashar was wiping a wetness from their face. Tears. They were crying?
“Gaomagon daor limagon, Byka Dash. Bisa iksis mērī syt mirrī. Se Jedi kessa bodmagho nyke, sīr kostan mīsagon īlva lenton. Mīsagon ao. Kesan māzigon arlī se pār kesā daor emagon naejot sagon zūgagon dombo.” Asajj said to them.
(Do not cry, Little Dash. This is only for a bit. The Jedi will train me, so I can protect our home. Protect you. I will come back and then you will not have to be scared anymore.)
With that Asajj hugged Dashar fiercely and turned around, taking the outstretched hand of the man behind her. Together the Jedi and the Night Sister walked aboard the ship while Dashar whispered to themselves:
“Yn ao promised…”
(But you Promised…)
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Soaked in cold sweat Dashar shot up with a scream of terror, “DAOR ASAJJ, ȲDRA DAOR HENUJAGON!”
(NO ASAJJ, DON’T LEAVE!)
Feverishly they were pushing against the force field protected bed, as they were trying to find a way out. Panic was soaring through their body. Asajj was walking further and further away from them. They did not want to be alone, not again…
Dashar reached out with the Force, trying to pull their Blood Sister closer towards them when a voice snapped them out of it.
“Oi, kid. If you do not calm down, we are going to be forced to use our blasters.” Bex said while aiming his gun.
Had it been a dream? Then why had it seen so real?
Dashar looked up at the clone with wide eyes. They tried to channel the Force through their arms to push the Clones away from them. But nothing happened… Dashar looked at their arms confused. They tried once more, again and again but nothing continued to happen.
“That’s not going to work kiddo.” Fox said, “Bed’s made for Jedi. Got to have those when wounded Force users are thrashing about. They have been tested on the General’s. So, trust me when I say, your Force tricks will not work. And will you please calm down now because I am not looking forward to using my blaster on a child. Even if it is on stun.”
Dashar’s eyes darted between the two soldiers and scanned for the possible threat they could form. White and black armor, damaged but still functional. Well build and muscled. Not too old, maybe in their twenties, though their scarred faces made them look older than they were. Dashar could not help but stare a little at the identical structure of well, their faces. They had seen Clones before, back when the Jedi brought them to fight on Dathomir, but they had bever been this close.
Bex and Fox noticed the Night Sister’s intrigue. The troopers lowered their weapons when they realized the threat had passed. As soon as they moved, Dashar shot back into the furthest corner of the bed, like a scared animal, away from them.
“Wow, calm down there Little One.” Fox said while putting the gun on the table next to her. Still in reach, but out of her hands. “Never seen a Clone up close, have you? I can understand how that might pique your curiosity. The name’s Fox, she/her he/him and this here is Bex, he/they.”
Fox crouched down and continued, “If you are trying to look for any faults or difference in our complexions, you might as well give up. Because besides the changes we personally have applied or got during a battle, there are none, trust me we have looked.”
The Night Sister gazed up at the left Clone, Fox, and studied her face. her hair appeared to be dyed orange and was long enough that it had to be tied back. Light make-up was adoring parts of her face, bringing out her cunning and sharp looking eyes.
The other, Bex, had shorter black messy spikes sticking into all directions. His face was the most scarred of the two. While Fox had little cuts here and there, Bex’s face was a maze of burns, nasty gashes and gnarly looking lacerations. One of the cuts started at his left temple and went all the way across to his right ear, which was missing half of its shell. Busy with studying for the origins of the scars, Dashar almost looked over the piercing blue eyes of the man.
They made eye contact and a shudder crept down Dashar’s spine. It was almost as the Clone was looking through them.
Bex smiled and said, “Yeah real piece of work, isn’t it? Do you want to take a closer look? Or shall I stay at a distance?”
Dashar considered this for a short moment. The soldiers did not appear to have any harmful intentions, for now… and they did want to have a closer look…
Against the better knowledge of their instincts, curiosity took over and Dashar moved out of their corner. Their muscles were still taught and ready to move at the littlest sign of danger. Ready to run, to get away.
Bex too, had now crouched down to the Night Sisters eye level. Slowly, very slowly Dashar came closer to the man’s face. Up close they could see even better how much battle this person has had. Not just from the scars on his face, but from the look in his eyes. Bex’s smile did not quite reach his eyes, like it had with Fox.
It saddened their heart that these people had to endure so much. Dashar reached out their hand and let it rest against the force field. Never breaking eye contact with Bex, their expression went softer. As if they were silently trying to say, “I understand what you have gone through. The dangers and fearful nights were not for nothing.” Bex nodded, seemingly having gotten the meaning of the Night Sisters gesture.
Fox carefully stood up to her full stature and said, “Hey kid, I need to inform our Generals that you’re awake. I am telling you this so that you do not freak out again when one of them, or both, enters the med bay. I am also going to fetch some food. You are probably hungry after being out for a week.”
Dashar wanted to protest, but their stomach did it for them. Their cheeks turned pink, as they started blushing.
The two clones laughed softly and shared a knowing look. “Bex will stay here, so you will not be alone. Now if you have not tried to run away or harm my friend over here, the Jedi will probably lower the force field. Understood?” Fox continued.
The child nodded.
“Alright then. I will see you two in a spiffy.”
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“General, come in.” Fox’s voice said over Plo Koon’s comms.
“What is it Fox?” Plo replied.
“The child’s woken up. It seemed like they had a bad night terror and they tried to use the Force while they were still asleep, but that shield really is something since nothing was thrown around or damaged. They seemed to show an interest in Bex, and I think the threat has passed for now.”
“Very well Fox. Where are you and Bex now? Still in Medical?” Plo asked.
“Bex is, Sir. I am fetching some food for the kid and will return shortly.”
“Hmm alright, as long as you are quick about it, Fox.”
“Yessir. Fox out.”
“Does that mean we have to cut this short, Plo?” a half-naked Kit said next to him.
Plo sighed and sunk back into the sheets of the bed. “I am afraid so…”
He turned to his side and pulled Kits back onto his chest. Arms gentle holding him Plo breathed in through his mask, inhaling the green Jedi’s scent. Kit had always smelled nice. It was a smell of salty air and seaweed. A smell that meant home.
Kit exhaled as he melted into the man’s arms.
“You should get dressed, Kit…” Plo said.
There was a beat of silence as both men did not want to leave. They wanted to help the Night Sister, but they also wanted to cherish this moment for just a while longer.
“Why just me? Can’t you come with me?”
“You know I have to update Master Yoda on the child’s condition. Besides, I am not the friendliest looking face walking around here. I do not wish to scare the Little One…”
Kit turned over in the warm embrace. He put a hand on the Jedi’s heart then placed his other hand on the side of Plo’s mask, caressing his face. With a soft smile on his face he said, “It does not scare me.”
Plo’s eyes softened and returned the gesture, by pressing his forehead against that of Kit. With a deep sigh from both Jedi, they reluctantly let go of each other.
The men quickly dress themselves and part ways.