"We all knew it was only a matter of time before you came back... that was never the question. We were busy wondering whether or not you would kill us all in our sleep! You sent that saber back without a word and it was like you had made your final decision to turn dark, it was like a promise that you would! It killed hope and brought nightmares!"
<o></o>

She was shaking, and the world had begun to spin. Leia backed up against a bulkhead and leaned against it for support. Much of her energy had been spent on her outburst, but when Bella again declared that things were going to be her way, Leia quickly bristled.
<o></o>

“I’m not so sure about that, Amalia. You don’t know anything about my mistakes. I don’t…. need….”
<o></o>

Her words were sharp, but her strength was failing. Leia began to slide down the bulkhead, losing consciousness. She was only vaguely aware of Bella moving to catch her.
<o></o>

***


Flashback… (taken from Genesis 1)

<o></o>
Seated in a bar somewhere on Capricia, drinking. Thinking of the past, of Amalia…
<o></o>

Things she seemed to do with greater frequency as time passed.
<o></o>

Tyscio Korban had interrupted her brooding, always so clumsy. She was irritated.
<o></o>

Then he had proposed, she forgot her irritation. She was going to get married!


***

<o></o>
When Leia came to she was flat on her back on the floor, and Bella was leaning over her pressing a cool wet cloth to her forehead.
<o></o>

You need to rest Leia, you are still sick.
<o></o>

Leia blinked vacantly at Bella, unsure if she had just heard the words or imagined them. Her temper was cooling down, and Bella’s patient support was beginning to convince her at the very least that her old friend's intentions were honest and good hearted. Slowly, Leia’s self control began to return. For a while, she simply stared at Bella and mulled over the events of the past morning. The floor was an uncomfortable place to do such a thing, but Leia didn't seem to mind. She hugged her blanket.


I've missed you... it's been so long. Why did you have to leave? It was so empty without your friendship!


Leia lifted her hand to inspect the ring on her finger, and then reached out and roughly gripped Bella’s forearm tight enough to hurt her. She didn't like Bella's ultimatums or her assumptions; some things would have to be cleared up. But first...

<o></o>
“Was it worth it?”

<o></o>
The question was completely out of context, and it was Bella’s turn to blink vacantly at Leia and perhaps wonder if there had been anything mixed in the alcohol Leia had been drinking...


Taking a deep breath, Leia composed her thoughts and tried again.


”I meant… I’ve always wanted to know. Was having a family and being a mother worth it?”

The grip on her arm stung a bit, but Bella didn't recoil, she didn't even wince. Instead, her stare upon Leia was determined and steady. From the glance to her ring, to her steadfast grip on her arm, it really didn't take Bella too much to put two and two together. A brief moment of wonder did caress the features of Bella's face, though, leaving her lost for a moment's passing, until her personal observation became more clear to her.

"It's everything, Leia." She said softly, trying to smile as Leia's grip continued to dig emphatically into her forearm. What Bella couldn't express so easily in her smile, easily radiated in her eyes. A sparkle of joy and tenderness filled her brown eyes.

"It fills your life with a sense of completeness you never thought possible. It gives your life a whole new meaning and it gives you the chance to be and become more than what you already are."

Amalia regretted nothing of her marriage, nor of her family, even if she'd suffered a major blow and lost everything. If she could recreate the past all over again, she knew she would do everything the exact same way.

"I've missed you too, Leia... but I think we've done just about enough walking away. I'm sticking around, even if you find that you don't need me to. I'll stick around because I want to. Besides.."

Bella grinned broadly.

".. You're going to need a babysitter for those lovely children you're going to have with Tyscio."

Yeah, Bella assumed that Leia was going to create new life, and, more than one, she'd boldly thought. She knew Leia would make a wonderful mother.

"I think he's one of the best things that's ever happened to you, Leia. He suits you, and you suit him. He's a good man, Leia.. and I know he'll be good to you."

Bella had met Tyscio years ago and he'd been very cordial to her; he'd made it very easy for Bella to respect him without even really knowing him. She knew plenty enough of him now, and she could only hope that Leia wasn't having second thoughts over some things. Bella had to wonder by the question being asked of her.

"Whatever you do, don't let the wonderful opportunity of marriage and creating a family, slip away from you, especially with Tyscio."

Never once, had Bella mentioned, seeing Tyscio and Leia together, but she had, unnoticed and unseen. She could see the way the two looked at each other. It was like, like they were two completely different people when around one another. They were most certainly good for each other.

"Yes, it's worth it.."

Bella chuckled lightly, shaking her head as she continued to watch over her friend.

".. I've had plenty experience, I've only been married three times...now I'm single again.. but you know, I'm very glad for each of those experiences, they gave many areas of my life a great deal of wonderful change. There's nothing about any of it that I would change, Leia. Nothing. It's everything that you could dream, Leia."

Bella was comfortable enough to smile, but Leia’s expression remained guarded. Her response was the perfect opening to dig right into the heart of the matter...
<o></o>

“You always wondered why I would never let anyone get close. Did you ever figure it out?”
<o></o>

The question hung heavily in the air between them, it meant everything.
<o></o>

There had been a lot riding on Leia’s shoulders when she had first met the young woman named Amalia Braska. It was more than just the back breaking responsibility of position which burdened Leia, there was something hidden under the strong, proud, regal image that Leia had been careful to maintain even on her darkest days. Underneath the facade she was lonely, scared, and hurting… suffering from a lifetime of personal loss and sacrifice. It had been the loss of Han and Luke that had broken her… from what little she knew the Empire had taken them both from her, and things had never been the same since.
<o></o>

Amalia had always recognized the emptiness in their friendship; she knew that Leia was holding back. She could see the hurt in her Master’s eyes, but she could not reach it. Leia was still hurting from the loss of her closest loved ones, and she wasn’t ready to throw herself back out there yet, for anyone. Amalia was literally rubbing salt in an open wound and the more she pushed Leia, the closer Leia came to the edge of her tolerance. And then when Leia thought she had been driven to the brink and could stand no more, Amalia betrayed her to follow the path of darkness and shoved her right over the edge.
<o></o>

Tyscio had appeared out of nowhere to catch her, as if it was always meant to be. Only later would she come to realize that her trip to Endor hadn’t been about her father, it had been about healing and learning to trust and love again. Tyscio had been the perfect guide, always patient and never inclined to push her when she was unwilling. Falling in love with him had almost been inevitable.


There was no mistaking it, Leia was just a little bitter.


“I don’t trust you, Amalia. You have a hell of a lot of explaining to do and 'I did what I had to do' is not going to cut it! If you really want to stay on this ship you can start with explaining why you betrayed me. Otherwise… you’re getting off at the next stop.”


Okay, maybe she was quite bitter. But not unreasonable...


The harsh grip on Amalia's arm was finally released; Leia climbed to her feet and wandered off to make herself a hot beverage… preferably something containing a stimulant. Amalia suddenly found herself left alone, with only her thoughts to accompany her.


Clutching a hot steaming mug in one hand and her lightsaber in the other, Leia settled into the pilot's seat in the cockpit. A quick look at the plotted course on the nav computer proved that they were indeed on a course for Bonadan, and Leia wondered how Amalia could possibly have known where she had intended to go. Amalia seemed to know an awful lot about her life... it was rather disconcerting.


Had Amalia been... spying on her?



(finally done with that trip down memory lane, sorry it's dragging on but hey, Vinda isn't here anyways)

Perched in a crouched position, Bella shook her head back and forth slowly, a battered look upon her face. A wave of uneasiness swept over her, and she fell flat on her behind. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she cradled her arms around her legs. Leia's words hit home, bringing a dull yet sharp pain to nestle through Bella.

Leia's trust meant absolutely everything to Bella, and she had foolishly hoped that such a bond would have remained, even through distance. Wishful thinking, but Bella was not delusional by any means, she just had not wanted to face what she knew would be reality the next time she found her friend again. Then again, what extension of trust had Bella actually had with Leia?

The old Bella would have taken such words and would have allowed them to devastate her, leaving her in a garbled mess. Times were different, times had changed. Bella had changed.

Though Leia's words stung and although they hurt deeply; Bella knew it didn't mean the end of things. All was not lost.

She had some explaining to do, knowing and believing that Leia was due a proper explanation. She wouldn't worry about what kind of after response she would be given. If Leia didn't like what Bella had to say, that was just too bad. Bella wasn't looking to please Leia through her words. Leia wanted the truth, and that was what she would have, because it was what she deserved.

Rising slowly from up off the ground, Bella's gaze fell to her lightsaber which she had placed upon the small table earlier when she moved to attend to Leia. Her gaze flicked to the direction of the cockpit, where with long acrimonious strides, she headed.

Reaching to slide just far enough into the area so that she was neither in nor out of the cockpit area, Bella locked her gaze crossly onto the figure that sat in the ship's pilot seat. A gaze which could cause daggers to fly, but the words that fell from Bella's lips didn't hold any hostility. No gentleness either. In fact, Bella's tone was void of any emotion at all. She cared, but the words were of no comfort to her as she spilled them.

"In all the years I've been with you, I have been nothing but loyal to you, as your student and as your friend. In all that time, I don't think I ever came to the place where I knew I had your total trust. Somehow, it matters to me that I have it, yet at the same time, it doesn't matter. It's not a priority, never has been. The idea of it sure does mean a hell of a lot to me, but it's got absolutely nothing to do with my commitment to you. Though I can honestly say, that I've worked my behind off, trying to get you to open up to me and give me your trust. I guess I felt I had the right to have it, like I somehow thought I had earned it. I don't know where I got such a foolish idea, maybe it was due to the memories, the times I found myself eager to save your life before my own, just because I wanted to. Some things were just never about duty. Many times, it was about you, and what you meant to me."

Unable to move, her gaze wandered to the controls, avoiding Leia all together.

"I pushed you, I pushed you because it was what you did to me. I guess I didn't care what my prodding would do to you, I just didn't want to stand around doing nothing at all. I didn't want it to look like I didn't care. So I pushed. I spent much of my time bumping into walls and going no where. I felt rejected, but I never once allowed myself to give up on you. I didn't want to. I remained by your side, and I can say, with all of my honesty, that I don't care if your trust in me has somehow managed to diminish. I don't care, because it's not the reason I've been by your side. It's not the reason I've stuck by you. Yes, it may hurt me. Yes, it may bruise my spirit, but I've always been able to stand by you without it. All I've ever truly wanted to do was to be there and I have been. I've been a friend, that has always been my first priority, Leia. To be there for you."

As if the seat were somehow fragile, Bella slowly and gently eased her left hand to lean over the head of Leia's seat, cupping her palm over the rim of it Her rough stare had faded moments ago, replaced by a faint look of tenderness.

"I don't have any answers for what I did, Leia. I left, I left because I was lost. I turned away, and you're right, I guess I did betray you. I betrayed lots of people. I was stuck, and I needed to deal with me. Outside influence wasn't what I needed. I didn't want it. I needed the space and I needed the time to be on my own. We were all going through hard times when I left, and I know I left at the wrong time, but I have stopped to ask myself just when the right time would have been. There was no right time. I went into hiding, and made it seem like I'd disappeared right off the galaxy. Many thought I'd died, and, well, I suppose I did. I'm not the same woman that walked out of the gates of the Jedi temple that day. I've changed."

The hand that had been palmed, turned to fist to set upon the rim of the chair. Perhaps maybe a hidden mannerism of strength. Her gaze finally retraced back to Leia.

"I didn't drop off the face of the galaxy. In fact, I did just the opposite. I travelled all over the galaxy. I even managed to maintain my global knowledge span on what was happening across the galaxy. I was able to go just about anywhere and everywhere, without being recognized. I kept low-key enough, managing to keep myself under the radar for several years. I took up the pen name Bella Laurent. Bella being my middle name, Laurent being my grandmother's maiden name. I've lived my life in seclusion for the past few years, during which time, I came to learn more about myself than I ever thought possible. If you want to know the truth though, Leia.. it's that I never left you.. I've been around. At a distance, but I've been there. I might have abandoned my old ways, but I couldn't abandon the people. So I kept an eye on most things, and I presented my assistance where I could. Sometimes, sometimes I got a little carried away, and I forgot myself. Many times, I saw heads pause and turn toward my general direction. Blank looks or either questionable stares. My presence had been felt when I didn't mean for it to. I even did it with you, several times. So I suppose if you felt something strange that caught you off guard and made you stop and wait, it was me you felt."

Bella really had not meant to make anyone do a double take, but she'd decided that maybe it was for the best. Maybe the force had wanted it just that way. With so much action going on, maybe the stop and go again had been a nice change of pace. It was good to take a breath every once in a while.

"I didn't mean to leave you, Leia. Don't have me stand here, leaving myself to beg you to come back into your life again. I never wanted to be gone away from you in the first place."

"Swamp Worms? No. I wanted butterflies!" Tyscio exclaimed to the commodity reseller over the holonet.

"Swamp worms are very romantic. And they hibernate for six months before transforming into a beautiful swamp bat." came the reply.

"That's not the point!" growled Tyscio. "I paid for butterflies."

"The swamp bats will catch the butterflies!" the reseller began and then, thought a moment. "They'd probably eat them too.."

"I need to return these creatures!" Tyscio snapped, his patience draining away.

"All sales are final!" the reseller snapped back and cut the connection.

"I DIDN'T BUY THESE THINGS!" Tysico shouted at a blank screen. Wedding preparations were not going well. I should have hired someone, he thought, not for the twentieth time.

I'll bet Leia's having the time of her life fending danger and cheesy pickup lines at bars.

He looked down at the blind worms worming their way throught the mud pack that came with their order at no extra cost.

"What are you looking at!" he growled at the squirming creatures.

He could swear they were wearing smiles as they blindly groped around.

"What do you hope to accomplish in this?"



Vinda leant back into his seat thoughtfully, his gaze settled on something distant, unseen...

He had reflected upon this for while, ever since that first attack on Aargau...

"I want to cripple them financially, and send a message. Now whether it is Belgardi, this Hilter, or someone else, the people of the Commonwealth, and myself, will not stand by and accept terrorism, that these people or whoever controls these people will not succeed in whatever undoubtedly nefarious designs they have up their sleeves..."

He paused for a moment, drifting off slightly, not noticing the quizzical expressions creeping upon the Imperials before him...

"I can't help but feel we are still only scratching the surface with what we know, with each new piece of intelligence we realise its bigger than we thought...there is something interconnecting these ...people...something...

...elusive..."

The Commonwealth politician allowed his thoughts to tail off...but then he looked up towards Kaine abruptly as he spoke...

"You know what concerns me the most?..." The Imperial's face was impassive at the rhetorical question...

"Why" Came Vinda's cryptic answer...

"Its something which has been bothering me since the start...so, perhaps the more pertinent question should be... just what is it these people stand to gain from all of this?"

He let that question linger in the air for a moment, as he glanced up at the two men, then continued...

"These GLF terrorists, never actually issued any practical demands, Hilter seems to be a poltician who seemingly wants influence at the LON, then we have Belgardi, a well connected businessman, very different people, but seemingly linked..but whats the agenda behind it all? Profit?"
The ex-vinda-corp figurehead shook his head dismissively as he talked... "No, there are easier and more lucrative ways to make money trust me on that...theres something else behind this, these people have been undermining nearly every government, and I don't buy any of that GLF propaganda for a moment...but that still leaves the question...why?"

He watched the two Imperial's expressions closely, and as Zell took another gulp of his drink, Simon Kaine spoke aloud quietly, voicing his thoughts...

"Power"

The old corporate man smiled as the Imperial put words to his own thoughts...

"That is the conclusion I find myself arriving at..."

Zell seemed stared intently at the bottom of his now empty glass, as if attempting by sheer will for it to be full again, such was the intensity of his scrutiny...

"But for who? for what?" He asked to no-one in particular...

It was Kaine who took up the thread..." Another government?..."

Zell slammed his fist down upon the solid conference table suddenly, causing Vinda to jump a little... " I'll bet its those Coalition bastards!" he growled...

Kaine pursed his lips in thought, then shook his head slowly dismissing the idea... "No. Not their style, besides they were victims of terrorist attacks themselves Zell, I don't think even they would start bombing their own citizens, nor many other governments for that matter"

"Which means , someone else" Vinda continued..."Perhaps something we haven't seen yet?" The trio seemed to reflect on this for a moment....

A soft chime for the comms beckoned for the old mans attention, and he answered it after excusing himself from his present company...

It was Zara...

After a small discreet exchange, Vinda signed off, then turned to face his two guests, and as he spoke his tone was flat, sarcastic...

"That was my secretary Zara, it appears my daughter has finally deemed it worthy to grace us with her presence..."

He stood up, and straightened his tunic, signalling the end of the meeting...He smiled warmly..

"If you'll both excuse me, I have some, personal matters to attend to. You are both welcome to stay here on Bonadan, as long as you like..."

"You know what concerns me the most?..." The Imperial's face was impassive at the rhetorical question...

"Why" Came Vinda's cryptic answer...


"Because they have a fucking death wish..." muttered Zell but Kaine waited patiently for Vinda to continue.

"Its something which has been bothering me since the start...so, perhaps the more pertinent question should be... just what is it these people stand to gain from all of this?"


Our attention..., thought Kaine.


"These GLF terrorists, never actually issued any practical demands, Hilter seems to be a poltician who seemingly wants influence at the LON, then we have Belgardi, a well connected businessman, very different people, but seemingly linked..but whats the agenda behind it all? Profit?"

The ex-vinda-corp figurehead shook his head dismissively as he talked... "No, there are easier and more lucrative ways to make money trust me on that...theres something else behind this, these people have been undermining nearly every government, and I don't buy any of that GLF propaganda for a moment...but that still leaves the question...why?"

The 'why' is an illusion. That is the mistake people make with terrorists. They try to understand them. Kaine had made his successes certain by understanding his enemies...knowing how far they would go and how much they could be pushed, prodded and manipulated.

But terrorism was a means. It was not an end and it was certain that whoever the terrorists were working for certainly did not have the same ends as the cells working for them.

Terrorists and Kidnappers were simply thugs. Big brutes of no large talent. A battering ram aimed at the doors of civilization.

But was the ultimate goal...the ultimate "why" so very different from any othter reason?

He spoke quietly, "Power."






As Seth Vinda rose, Kaine had the distinct feeling the meeting was being terminated.

Before the corporate man could leave after giving the two Imperials the invitation to remain, the Supreme Commander handed him a data crystal.

"This crystal details an operation being put into play and will be tasked as soon as word of Hilter's travel to Imperial Center. When you have time, please take a look at it and if you or your Commonwealth wishes to involve yourselves you would be welcome."


Zell set his empty glass on a nearby table. "Whatever the reason for Belgardi Universal's terrorist actions, if they are the glove over a hidden hand, it really doesn't matter. We will definitely be sending them a message they will not soon forget. Bring the bastards on and let them come!

I do agree that there is some sort of foundation that is directing GLF and other terrorists. ISB and Imperial Intelligence have discovered quite a few minor thugs and criminal types with poision under a tooth. One sharp bite and voila, they die!" He chuckled. "Their assholes must be puckered tight when they eat steak."

"So someone is scared of someone talking. The poison and the tooth are the same in all of them, too much so for coincidence. So we deliver an eletrical shock to all of our prisoners. They involuntarily bite down hard at the shock and inadvertantly kill themselves. If the people are fucked up enough to put poison in their mouths, they can reap what they fucking sow. We don't care so much about their operatives talking as these thug types are low level. It sends a better message if they are just killed. We thin their ranks and taxpayers don't have to pay to house and feed them as prisoners. You might want to check your prisons."


Mr. Vinda accepted the crystal and nodded as Zell finished before walking out of the room.

"Cagey one isn't he?" Zell remarked to Kaine when they were alone.

Kaine just shrugged. "He'll either be appalled at the plan or will join in. Come, Grand Moff. Shall we test the food on this planet?"

Zell snorted but found he was famished enough to keep in another biting comment about Bonadan. No sense in offending the hand that fed you.

At least, that is..until after you've eaten.

"Dad"


Vinda turned from the hall's huge window to see his daughter had not entered the room alone, she was accompanied by two strangers.

His eyes took in those before him in turn, with a deep frown embedded across his brow.

A young woman, who he did not know or recognise, and an older man who he felt he did, but only just.

His response when it finally came, was pretty far from welcoming...

"Where the hell have you been?"He asked , pointedly...

"And who are these people?"

His gaze shifted once more between them, but lingered on Salazar...

Natalya moved as if to speak, but he cut her off...

"Do you have any idea how worried I have been?"

His voice began to rise...

Natalya took a deep breath before she replied, knowing what was coming...

"Brion"

Vinda's frown deepened even further...

"Mind telling me why? and while you're at it, why you did not have at least the simple common courtesy to inform or discuss this with me before running off? This is not a game Natalya! What in hell were you thinking!"

"Perhaps I can help" Offered Salazar...which prompted a cold stare from the ex-businessman and an equally cool response... "I don't believe I asked you anything...Mr?"

The Jedi lifted his head and met her father's scrutiny...

"Have I changed so much? After all these years, that you don't recognise me, Seth"

Vinda's eyes narrowed at the man's words, his annoyance at the man registering clearly upon his face...

...and then it clicked.


...That voice!...


"Salazar" He spoke it aloud as if merely saying the name was enough to leave a bad taste in his mouth, causing the Jedi to smile slightly...

Vinda's gaze glanced back to his daughter...

"What happened?" There was a sutble shift in his tone of voice, more of concern...

but it was Salazar who spoke again...

"You know, Seth. She was discovering her true birthright, the force runs strong in your daughter, as it does with you....and as it did with Natalya, her Mother"

At the mention of Natalya's Mother a flash of anger swept across the ex-businessman's face...

"How do you have the nerve! After everything! and now, here with my daughter!" His voice simmered with anger, barely controlled...

Salazar stiffened slightly, and crossed his arms, hiding both hands into the large cuffs of his robe...

"You cannot escape your destiny, and Natalya could not escape hers..." He replied calmly

Natalya, watching the pair's exchange suddenly had the sensation she was either not in the room, or that they were no longer talking about her...

Vinda just glared at the man in disbelief, before finally losing his patience...

"LISTEN TO ME YOU RIGHTEOUS SONOFABITCH!
IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU SHE WOULD STILL BE HERE! BECAUSE OF YOU SHE'S DEAD, YOU KILLED HER, YOU AND YOUR DAMNED JEDI CRUSADE!
IN FACT DO US ALL A FAVOUR AND CREEP BACK UNDER WHATEVER ROCK YOU CRAWLED OUT FROM"

Natalya watched the exchange with a mixture of confusion and astonishment...

"If that is what you choose to believe Seth, I cannot help that. But the truth of the matter is, Natalya accepted her destiny, freely...

...As her daughter will do...."

Vinda's face darkened...

"OVER MY DEAD BODY" He blurted out towards the Jedi...

Salazar did not reply, but there was something held within that gaze of his...

Vinda walked up to the old man and faced him dead on, barely a couple of feet away, meeting his stare, and spoke, his voice low and threatening...

"You stay away from my daughter, you understand?"

"Father!" Natalya started to voice her objection only to find it all but ignored...

Salazar, looked away towards Nat, and then nodded slowly...

"I understand"

"Good, now leave, and don't ever come back, you are not welcome here, count yourself lucky I don't have you arrested" Vinda snapped rudely...

"Perhaps, coming here was a mistake" Salazar muttered ruefully, his comment aimed at Nat...

"Your tremendous Jedi powers of perception, astound me!" Vinda's sarcastic response was instant and as he spoke he raised his eyebrows in an exaggerated fashion, before walking back to his desk.

Salazar paid the comment no heed, and instead turned his attention towards Natalya... " I see the pair of you have much to discuss, I shall take my leave, Natalya, remember what I have told you, practice makes the master!"

"Are you still here?" Vinda growled, as the Jedi made his farewell, to both Natalya and Ishara, who up until this point had been watching the entire scene with a kind of mild curiousity...

As Salazar left, Vinda took a moment to gather himself, before turning his attention to the stranger standing next to his daughter, as if only just noticing her now...And as his scrutiny settled itself upon her, he noted she seemed...distant, somehow detached...

He sighed deeply as he addressed the young woman...

"And you are?"

It was a rather uncomfortable situation to witness as Nat&#8217;s father and Salazar exchanged words. It was strange for Ishara as she seemed to take pleasure in the fact Seth had gotten very angry.

Ishara could feel the anger from him and it seemed to invigorate her. Though you could not tell from the outside, she enjoyed the heightened level of negativity that filled the room. She also enjoyed seeing someone else give Salazar a piece of their mind.

So, it appeared this Jedi managed to mess up somebody else&#8217;s life too. In this case, it ended up in the death of Nat&#8217;s mother. Ishara could have so easily lashed out and shot Salazar dead right there and Seth would most likely applaud her efforts. Her fingers almost instinctively began to reach for her blaster before she suddenly stopped herself when noticing Nat was getting upset during all of this.

Ishara placed her hand on Nat&#8217;s shoulder when she shouted out. It was then that Salazar was dismissed from the room.


Hopefully the door won&#8217;t hit him in the&#8230;


"And you are?"

Ishara snapped back from her thought as she hadn&#8217;t expected Seth to speak to her after such an explosive conversation with Salazar.

&#8220;My name is Ishara, a friend of your daughter Natalya.&#8221;

Ishara looked at Nat who was visibly upset. With a brief handshake to Seth, Ishara stepped back. &#8220;Look, I can tell this is not the best time for idle conversation. I should leave the two of you alone for now.&#8221; Ishara began to walk toward the door. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be outside waiting for you Nat. It was a&#8230; pleasure meeting you Mister Vinda.&#8221;

With that, Ishara walked out the door and closed it behind her. Once outside, her hands covered her head and she leaned against the door. Her head was pounding so severely she couldn&#8217;t think straight. It was as if a voice was inside her head telling her to release that which she had caged inside her.


What does it mean?


Ishara took in a deep breath and looked down the hall. She spotted Salazar slowly making his exit. With her eyes narrowed, she jogged up behind him and grabbed his arm to stop him. When Salazar turned to face her, Ishara slapped him across the face as her body began to shake with anger.

&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you just the heroic Jedi! You seem to take a habit of messing up people&#8217;s lives&#8230; maybe even taking them in this case you bastard!&#8221;

Salazar made no comment as Ishara stared him in the eyes. Ishara pulled her blaster from its holster and pointed it at Salazar&#8217;s head. &#8220;I swear I should do it! I should just kill you now before you ruin anyone else&#8217;s life like you did to me, my sister, my friend, and her father!&#8221;

The blaster shook in Ishara&#8217;s hand as she continued to point it toward Salazar and several onlookers began to gather.

&#8220;Give me one reason I shouldn&#8217;t just pull the trigger!&#8221;

Natalya watched as Ishara followed after Salazar, tempted to leave also, but instead turned her attention towards her father...

"What the hell was that all about?" She started angrily, still slightly taken aback from the heated exchange moments before...

Vinda turned to face his daughter as he spoke... "That man, has a lot to answer for"

"That man, saved my life, and thats the thanks he gets?"

Natalya's eyes searched her father's face as he seemed to look up at her in surprise...

"There are many things which you do not know about Natalya, and the history between him and myself is one of them" He began, trying to explain...

"Then, Please, enlighten me!" Natalya replied as she crossed her arms defensively...

The old man stared at her, and much to her annoyance, Nat found she had trouble reading him, they were still very much learning about each other, and this entire situation served only to remind her of just how much distance still needed to be bridged...

"What is it? TELL ME!" She pleaded, insistent, almost shouting...

The old man sighed then turned away to pour himself a drink, and as he took a sip his gaze drifted to the vast window, and to what lay outside...



"I first met your mother, on Etti-IV, she was the most beautiful woman I have ever met. She was passionate and elegant, but do you know what I loved most about her?..."

Nat shook her head slightly as she listened to her father speak, with her arms still crossed...wondering where he was heading

The old man smiled faintly...

"She wasn't remotely intimidated by me." He threw Natalya a glance, before continuing...

"We grew inseperable much to the strong disapproval of Salazar, her mentor, and the jealously of Kalatan. Salazar had only just started her training , but once he found out, he refused to train her outright unless she stopped seeing me, said it 'wasn't the Jedi way' " Vinda's face darkened suddenly

"He was so obsessed with his Jedi Crusade he had no time for anything else, and felt no-one else should have either...the self-righteous bastard..."

The deep frown furrowed across his brow began to ease as he continued...

"...but Natalya did not give in"

The old man smiled at this, his eyes distant...

"She could be very stubborn, your mother"

I did not know it at the time but Kalatan was colluding with Turga the Hutt, to set me up. hand me over to the CSA.
Aramaya's real goal was always Natalya though..." Vinda's expression seemed to sadden " He was supposed to be my friend, we were like brothers..." His voice drifted off slightly...

Nat's eyes grew wide, then cold as her father mentioned both Kalatan and Turga in the same breath...

"When his plan failed, he kidnapped Natalya and disappeared before I could stop him. He even forced her to marry him..." He muttered under his breath as he went to take another sip.."deranged bastard..." Then turned to face Nat as he spoke...

"Stay away from Salazar, Natalya, he is nothing but bad news..."

Vinda continued to watch his daughter, as she turned away silently, it was now he who found himself having trouble reading her...

Nat took a moment to digest all her father had explained to her, then eventually turned back to face him...

"But I don't understand...why do you blame him for her death? It was Kalatan, not Salazar"

Vinda's face stiffened as he raised his voice in reply...

"Because if he hadn't refused to train her, she might have stood a chance! You never saw her Natalya!, she was good! and strong! She could have defended herself! Instead he just sat back and let it all happen!

No! as far as I am concerned he's just as responsible for her death as Aramaya..."

Natalya felt a sudden moment of clarity, and finally for the first time throughout all of this mess, some kindling of understanding...
She found herself speaking her thoughts aloud...

"Thats why you distrust the Jedi so much"

Vinda seemed suddenly reticent...

Nat looked at her father and as their eyes met a wealth of understanding passed between them both, and a silence descended the room. Nat realised just how much anger, frustration and emotion were simmering under the surface, he was not as he seemed...

It was like a revelation, she was suddenly aware of how hurt he was, just how much he had been betrayed, and she immediately understood.

Seth Vinda; the ruthless businessman, the enigma, the baby-eater, the untouchable, it was all a front, a shield.

The man had built up an impenetrable wall...


...all these years...


Nat suddenly found herself hit with a maelstrum of emotions; pity, sadness, but most of all...

Love.

It was unexpected, and as Natalya wrapped her arms around him, the pair embraced.

"...you silly old fool"


Vinda said nothing, but held his daughter close, feeling his burden lighten.














Salazar wasn't given much time to react, as he was slapped across the face, by an enraged Ishara, and as she pointed the gun at his head, he remained calm.

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t just pull the trigger!”

Taking a moment to consider his words carefully, Salazar met Ishara's now burning gaze...

"I did not Kill Natalya's mother , Vinda blames me for her death, but blame and responsibility are two different things, she chose her own path, much like you will Ishara, and the choice you have to decide now is which one it will be..."

He slowly clasped his hands behind his back and watched as his words brokered a frown from the young woman...

"And you have to choose wisely Ishara...for you are at a crossroads"

A low murmur began to spread across the onlookers, and as if to enhance his point Salazar's eyes moved from Ishara to the crowd then back again as he spoke more...

"For the moment you start down a path, forever will it dominate your destiny..."

He let his words sink in before continuing...

"Do not give in to hate Ishara, no good will come of it, I know you are better than that"

Just as Salazar finished talking there were shouts from down the hall, a trio of security men, had been called to the scene, and they made their way over with their own guns raised...

As they started towards the pair, Salazar held his hands up towards them, as if to halt them...and spoke without even glancing in their direction...

"Its ok, stand down"

The men did exactly that, lowering their weapons, with confused expressions across their faces...

Salazar spoke again, this time to Ishara...


"Come bck to Brion with me, let me train you, become a Jedi"