CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Starkiller awoke in pain.
His eyes were bleary. It was difficult to make things out, but he could tell he was in some sort of chamber, shackled to some sort of interrogation chair. Once his vision had finally cleared, he immediately saw that he wasn't alone.
"Comfortable?" Kylo Ren asked, standing across from him.
Starkiller glowered at him, trying to bear the pain. "Get kriffed," he spat.
"Now that's no way to speak to your host," Kylo said, stepping forward. "You didn't think I was finished with you, did you?"
"A man can dream," Starkiller muttered.
Kylo closed the gap between them, putting a hand over the captured man's face. Starkiller screamed as he felt the Knight of Ren's mind attempt to enter his own.
"I'll admit that your resolve is impressive," Kylo said. "That also means what you're hiding from me must be important."
Starkiller gritted his teeth, trying to push Ren out. However, he could already feel his barriers breaking down. This simply pushed Kylo to increase his efforts. Finally, an image flashed in the former Sith's mind, and his interrogator bore witness.
"A woman," Kylo murmured, sounding almost surprised. "She's your secret?"
Starkiller said nothing. Kylo pressed further, and against his better efforts, more images of his past resurfaced. The memories of Galen Marek, once thought eradicated, came to the forefront and Kylo Ren saw it all: the death of his father. His apprenticeship to Darth Vader. The blinding of Rahm Kota. His first "death". The forming of the Rebel Alliance.
His first and last kiss with Juno. His confrontation with Vader.
His second death. His rebirth.
The capture and rescue of Vader. The death of his doppelganger.
The death of Juno.
It wasn't until Kylo Ren had broke off the connection did Starkiller realize his cheeks burned with tears -- a result of both his pain and his anguish.
Kylo Ren stared at him, his mask hiding all emotion. Even his voice betrayed nothing when he spoke.
"Your life... it's been nothing more than the shadow of another man's."
"Yes..." Starkiller croaked. It hurt to speak.
"You lost everything that ever mattered to you the day you were created. You've been nothing from the start."
"Yes."
Kylo Ren tilted his head. "You wish to die."
There was no hesitation in Starkiller's response. "Yes."
"Not yet," the Knight of Ren said, once again putting his hand over Starkiller. "Soon, but first...."
The former apprentice of Vader once again hollered in agony.
"You shall give me what I want."
--Takodana--
"Five baked cushnips with fral, please."
The avian waiter squawked as he typed the order on his datapad. "Chadian or Ubese dressings?"
"Um...." Ace looked to the other four, who all merely shrugged. "Chadian, I guess."
The Kilmaulsi wrote that down before asking, "And drinks?"
"One phibian beer, one ardees, and a Bothan grain wine," Ace said, having memorized everyone's preferred beverage of choice. "Oh, and Aquilie water for the kid."
"Hey!" Vessin said. "You said when I turned twenty I could--"
"That was on Phaeda," Ace replied. "I don't know what the rules are here so I'd rather play it safe."
Vessin huffed but did not press the matter further. As soon as the waiter had left, Wiskin suddenly started sniffing. "I smell something," the Cathar muttered.
"Sorry, that was me," Bedo said sheepishly, moving his chair away from the feline's. "Someone's already using the 'fresher."
"No, no, it's not you." Wiskin continued to sniff the air, nearly getting out of his chair. "It's someone else... someone who's just walked in."
Ace craned his head towards the entrance of the castle. Indeed, three figures had just walked in -- all wore recognizable Mandalorian armor, albeit two were without their helmets, revealing the visages of a fair-skinned human female and a blue Pantoran male. The third kept their helmet on, and although it had been several months since he had last seen him, Ace knew right away who it was.
A smirk played on the Bothan's lips as he turned to Vessin. "Your dad's here."
Vessin stared at him, her expression blank. "Don't joke about that," she said bitterly.
"I'm not. Seriously, he's right over there."
Vessin closed her eyes and sighed. "I don't care. I don't want to see him."
"Why not? This is your chance to--"
"I don't want to reconnect with him!" Vessin snapped, startling the others. "He abandoned me with no explanation, and right after I'd lost my mom and my brother!"
Her voice could be heard by all. People were staring now; even the band had stopped playing. Vessin went on unabashed, tears starting to steam down her face.
"I hate him," she croaked. "He never cared for me, or else he'd have never left."
She left those words hang in the air before slumping over the table and burying her head in her arms, sobbing. Wiskin placed a hand on her shoulder while the others looked away, uncomfortable. Seeing that people were still staring at them, Ace shot them all a glare.
"There's nothing to see here. Go about your business."
Wisely, the other patrons did so and the music started back up as if nothing had happened.
* * *
Kadar nearly tripped as he slowly sat down, his whole body shaking. Mirta moved to help him but he waved her off. Fortunately no one noticed his troubles, already distracted by his daughter.
Planting his elbows on the table, he burrowed his helmeted face in his hands. Pangs of grief and guilt wracked his heart as the day he lost his wife and son -- and left his daughter in the care of others -- replayed in his head all over again.
He did not snap out of this until he felt a hand grab his shoulder. He looked up to see Goran Beviin standing next to him, along with Medrit, Orde, and Tessa.
"You doing all right, burc'ya?" Goran asked, a look of concern on his face.
"I'm fine," Kadar lied. Turning to Orde and Tessa, he said, "Your daughter is here."
"You mean your daughter," Orde corrected him, his tone stern. "Where is she?"
Kadar gestured to where Vessin sat, crying into her arms. Orde then grabbed him firmly by the shoulders, kneeling down to be at eye level with him.
"Listen to me. You're going to go over there right now and talk to her. Apologize to her."
"I can't."
"What do you mean you can't? You're her father, for stars' sake."
"She hates me, Orde," Kadar snapped, launching out of his seat. Once again, others directed their attention to the commotion, although the band tried to maintain its act. "I heard her say so herself. She resents me for what I did. And you know what? She should."
Orde opened his mouth to protest but Kadar stopped him, already turning to leave.
"I'm a monster. A monster and a coward. How could I even think to call myself her father?"
With that, he made straight for the exit and walked back out into the forest. Seeing that the drama had ended, the other patrons went back to their activities while the six remaining Mandalorians sat in silence.
"Well," Danjus finally said. "There goes another one. You sure you want to keep this revolution afloat, Goran?"
"We'll manage," Goran murmured, not sounding completely certain of himself. "Besides, I wouldn't count him out just yet. He's probably just gone out to get some fresh air."
"Yeah, I'm sure." Kicking back in his chair, Danjus looked around the castle for a passing waiter. "So, any idea what they serve here?"
* * *
"Oi, did ye see who dat was there?"
Jast Kyjar did not look up from the dessert he was enjoying. What he was not enjoying was the 'company' he had been keeping ever since the meeting. The blue-furred Squib was almost as annoying as Cyclops, who was also witting with him, but at least she knew when to keep quiet.
"No, Pika, I didn't," Jast said through a mouthful of cake. "Who was it?"
"Why, no' other than Kadar, da White Rider!"
At this, both Jast and Cyclops perked up, The former quickly chowed down what was left in his mouth while the latter looked around shiftily.
"Are you serious?" Jast exclaimed. "The Kadar? The guy who killed all those Black Sun Vigos?"
"Did he do that? I had no idea," Pika said. "Anyway, yeh, 'ee was right there. 'Ees gone now, me think. Just missed him, you did."
"Wow," Jast murmured, completely astounded. "Wait until Karrde hears about this. This is big."
"Yeah," Cyclops said, casually standing up and walking from the table. "It sure is."
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