COMMUNITY

<Six hours later>

Sharlina wasn't tense per say. She was relaxed. But... Maybe too relaxed. Ready to move at a moment’s notice. She had let herself fall asleep and Setie had gone out and nearly gotten killed. But now, they were landing. And it couldn't be soon enough. The Stormhawk was rife with hate, and it pervaded the shuttle too. Of course the two guards who had come with them probably were the cause. She still wished she could have hit that dratted Jedi. But Setie had improved a bit after talking with him, and that was what was important, right? She shook her head and smiled to her charge who hadn’t moved since the shuttle had launched.

"Setie, we are here..."

Setie looked up and seemed to be trying to see out through the wall for a moment. "Never been here before," she commented.

Sharlina shook her head. "Not much to see. Lots of sand, not much else..."

"Been here before huh?" Setie asked with a curious look.

Sharlina nodded. "A couple of times, yeah. We will need to get something to eat. Then I can access the nets, try and see where to go from here." The hatch opened and a wave of hot, sandy air came in. Shar sighed. "Welcome to Tattooine..."

The view out of the back hatch was of a landing pad, a blue sly and two suns blazing. Shar nodded to the guards, who didn't respond. "Come on Setie, let’s get out of here..." Sharlina led the way to the hatch and then paused to put up her hood.

It took Setie ten steps to realize there was a rather bad wind and pull her own hood up. Even then she almost lost Shar five different times because she was looking at something. On Coruscant she hadn't really gotten to look around much, but since she didn't have to worry to much about getting caught by Sith this time she was indulging herself a bit.

Shar slowed her pace. "Setie..." But her voice was teasing. She remembered her own first time on a new world. Of course it had been an ice ball… "Food, we need food. Come on..." Neither of them saw a figure in the near distance that did what seemed like a double take on seeing Sharlina's face under her hood. But then that figure vanished.

"Maker I would kill for a crop circle," Setie muttered as she followed Sharlina. The mental picture of Sparky's culinary and sugary treat dancing in her head as they headed for the cantina.

Sharlina sighed. "None of those here unfortunately. But most cantinas have decent food at least. If not Maria's grade." Sharlina led the way towards the cantina. The few beings that might have gotten in her way took one look at her face and found other things to do.

"Still better then some slop I've eaten," Setie commented. "Cafeteria food in the academies for instance."

Sharlina had to laugh at that. "True. At least you have never had trooper rations, at least I hope you haven't... The stuff they call 'monkey lizard on a stick'..."

"Nope, we had cheese and mush, which was basically an orange glop of...something. It was supposed to be edible but Jan, Marik, and I..." Setie trailed off at the memory looking sad.

"I know, Setie... I know..." She led the way into the cantina and it got dark quickly. But she kept her hood up and motioned for Setie to do the same. She led the way to a booth near the back and waved to a serving droid. "Keep your hood up, we don't want any problems if we can help it. These places can get rough. And a brawl is the last thing we need right now..." The droid came up and she ordered two meals. Shar motioned Setie to one of the seats and she took another. One that gave her a good view of the bar and the door.

"Who would be stupid enough to go picking a fight with...well folks like us?" Setie asked, the comment could have meant Sith or force users.

Shar's voice was low. "Don't ever assume that just because we have advantages, that other people don't as well. Cantinas like this attract trouble. Luckily we are here for the lunch crowd, not the evening. I wouldn't bring you in here during the evening shift. Here comes our food..." The droid brought two trays. Sharlina handed it a credchip and it flew off. Sharlina ate carefully, her gaze never leaving the area around them.

"That's true I suppose. We all bleed red," Setie commented as she dug into her own food.

Sharlina snorted. "Most oxygen breathing races, yeah." The older woman ate some more, but her gaze was still sweeping the room.

Setie gave a mock glare. "Alright alright we all bleed Ms. Picky." Shar snorted and had to take a drink to keep from coughing.

But then she froze. A form had started towards their booth from the bar. In from, a human male. By his gait, he had polished a few drinks. Maybe a few too many. "Flarg..." Shar said under her breath.

The human staggered close. "Hey gals, you want a good time?" he hiccupped. "I can show you a real good time..."

Shar glared at him. "Go away."

The human laughed. "Don't be like that darling. I can show you a great time..." The he stopped. The point of Shar's right hand blade was at his throat. Shar spoke quietly in the hush that the cantina had become.

"I said 'Go Away.'"

Setie seemed to cringe a bit at Shar grabbing her blade. Soft hearted as ever she gave the man a polite smile. "Really that's a...lovely offer but I'm afraid we're not staying long."

The drunk stared at her, and then looked at Setie. “You gonna be mean to me too Hon…” He broke off, his face contorting. “SITH!” At that call everything in the bar stopped.

Shar reached out, grabbed the man and effortlessly tossed him back to land by the bar. She stood up and her other blade was out now. "Ok... Who wants to dance?" Setie was already ducking down and yanking her hood as far down around her face as she could while cursing.

Several forms started converging on Shar. A couple of humans, a Trandoshan and something that was covered in a long cloak. Shar just grinned and twirled her blades in hand. "Bring it on, osiks for brains..." Her almost merry tone had several of the bar patrons scrambling for cover.

"Shar...just..." Setie struggled to think of a nice, peaceful way out of this mess and was failing.

The ring was closing in on Sharlina, who obviously couldn’t have cared less, when a sound came from near the entrance. A clang of metal on metal. Everything stopped again as the huge blonde haired mountain of muscle with the hideous face tapped the end of his axe on the floor again. The Cathar beside him who wasn't small -she just seemed that way standing beside her huge companion- smiled as she hefted a force pike. It was not friendly smile. "You all might want to go back to your drinks. NOW."

Sharlina shook her head. "Thanks, but I can take these wimps, Atara… "

All of the cantina patrons, realizing that the newcomers were on Shar's side, found other things to do. Shar pouted as the ring around her dissolved. Then she slumped and spoke quietly. "Come on Setie, let’s go..." Her voice held disappointment.

Setie carefully uncoiled from her spot looking at Shar with an apologetic look. "Sorry..." she said quietly. "Did I...get us in trouble again?"

Sharlina sighed. "I don't know." She glowered around the room and everybody found other things to do as she sheathed her blades. She nodded to Setsuna and started towards the entrance, careful to stay between Setsuna and any possible aggressor. "Maybe, but it would have been fun..."

Setie groaned a bit then. "We need to work on your definition of the word fun." Setie frowned, "I believe the term you looking for is mass slaughter there."

Just outside two figures were waiting. Both bowed to Sharlina. The Cathar spoke. "I apologize for interrupting your battle Masterblade."

Sahr snorted. "Come off it Atara. Thank you. And this must be...Wow..." She looked up, and up, and up. The huge human smiled. A fairly gruesome sight. "Blondie...? Wow you have grown..." Feelings swept over both of the women. Excitement, approval, love... for Shar? And worry. And... curiosity. This last directed at Setie.

Setie blinked at the rather odd pair in front of her before looking at her sister. "More old friends?"

Shar spoke. "Setsuna Andal be known to Atara..." The Cathar bowed. "...And Blondie.” Now the human mountain bowed. “Both of the Bladeborn." Shar spoke to Atara. "I assume since you are here, the rest are as well?" Atara nodded and Shar sighed in relief. "Well, that is a world of stress off my back. I need to see the Master soon and Setsuna needs to rest and see the healers."

Atara nodded. "We have a airspeeder nearby. It is good to see you again. Battlesister."

Setie looked nervously at the lot before glancing at Sharlina. "Uh, Shar, is this a good idea?"

Shar grinned at her blood sister. "Yes. You will be safe with the Bladeborn, Setsuna. And our healers are first rate. You have nothing to fear now." Setie frowned but nodded, not quite as comfortable with matters as Sharlina was but had nothing to gainsay her sister's faith.

The airspeeder lurched and stopped as Sharlina turned and grinned at Setie,"We are here."

Blondie opened up the rear hatch and exited first, as his bulk wouldn't allow anyone else to get around him. Sharlina smiled as she looked around the the bay. Setie couldn't know that it hadn’t changed in years but she could feel emotions rippling off Sharlina. A large cave set up as a garage. All around were vehicles of various kinds, in various states of repair, and no people except...

Shar blinked but the image in front of her didn't go away.

"MAMA!" Sharlina dashed to the huge reptilian form and threw herself high into the air. The Barabel caught her easily and drew her into a hug.

As Setie climbed carefully out of the speeder she felt a small sad smile creep across her face. She'd never seen Sharlina so animated and happy, even in a bloody mess of a fight. Then again, what did the green eyed girl know of homecomings? She herself had never left Korriban till her mother had died. She could remember a handful of times, waiting excitedly for Jan and Marik to finish reporting on whatever business they had been sent out on. She had always been thrilled to see them and perhaps a little lonely being left behind.

The memories hurt enough to wipe the smile from her face. She swallowed tears against the pain of grief, knowing if she started blubbering Shar would get all protective again. She didn't need to be fretting over Setie when she was finally home after who knew how long.

"Sssharlina... Alwaysss the sssily girl," the lizard was saying with obvious affection.

Blondie stood beside the airspeeder and Atara moved to stand as well. The Cathar had a small smile on her face as she spoke softly to Setie. "She doesn't bite..."

"More I don't want to intrude." It didn't occur to Setie that most people ran in fear of the barabel or that her unique abilities made her somewhat immune to the thought. After all, what was there to fear if you killed something with a touch?

The lizard woman had seen Setie as she set Shar on her feet and walked towards the airspeeder. "And who isss thisss? Oh..." The huge lizard bowed, formally. "You mussst be Sssetsssuna Andal. Welcome to our clan cave."

Setie simply gave a bow, though she had to grind her teeth some as her wounds protested. "Nice to meet you..um...Ma'am."

"I apologize, Mama. I should have introduced you..." Shar's voice was small and apologetic.

The barabel just snorted. "Unlessss Sssetsssuna hasss taken offensse, I have not. Be more consssciousss of your feelingsss girl. Duty first." Shar nodded at the slight rebuke.

Setie simply gave a reassuring smile. "Running off all excited is hardly an adverse reaction when a girl sees family after a long time away," she said. There was no truer statement for the situation to her. Though she and Shar were related by blood, this was the family at Sharlina's heart. It made her happy for Shar, if more then a little envious that she did not have that for herself.

"My name isss Brathanoraulrauglothcagor, Sssetsssuna Andal. Which isss why thessse missscreantsss call me Mama. As you may if you wish," the Barabel said grinning widely.

Shar had to laugh, making Setie try to remember when she had heard such a carefree thing from her, "She is our Mama Lizard."

"Indeed but...” The barabel looked at Setie and shook her huge head. “Oh, Sssahr... How long have you been dragging thisss youngling through the galaxy behind you?" Mama's voice was worried now. "I can sssee that you have been hurt, young one. Even without the Force." Mama's voice was gentle and kind without pity.

Setie scowled as she looked down and about. "Oh drats did I rip one of them again?" she asked as she did her best to inspect her own wounds.

"No, I jussst... I am acting mother to all thessse... So I ... fret. Pleassse do not take offenssse."

"Oh, uh, no offense taken. I was just worried from...er...the excitement," Setie stated, not being sure what to call that time in the cantina...or her frightening of the tech.

"You look like you could ussse some ssseriousss ssleep, young one. Ssshar, take her to medical. By then I ssshould have some quartersss ready for her. I look forward to talking to you when you have resssted Sssetsuna Andal." The Barabel gave Shar a hug that had the woman grunting, and then strode away.

Shar grinned, a young look, a happy look. It looked out of place on her face, much more accustomed to frowns. "Well, Mama has spoken..."

Setie nodded, letting Shar tote her off as she seem to slowly absorb this different side of her sister. "So...all your Bladeborn friends are here?

Shar blinked. "Well, I don't know how many are actually here. If Mama is here, then the healers are here and ..." Her voice trailed off as they passed a cross corridor. A man stood there, his face shadowed by the hood of his cloak.

Setie blinked from one form to the other. One did not need an empathic nature to feel something bouncing in the air back and forth between her sister and the cloaked one. For a moment Setie felt kindred souls, ones that knew the pains of losing someone they cared about.

"The difference is...both of them are still here," She thought to herself thinking of Marik again. "Well...maybe they can salvage things. Shar deserves to be happy after all."

"Hello Shar."

The voice was quiet but Shar tensed. She turned to face him and her face was a stone mask as she nodded. Her face was a mask, but her heart... Her heart, hidden behind years of training, discipline, horror and war, that was breaking all over again. Once more she was nineteen. Once more she felt the hollowness in her belly, the blank spot where something she hadn't known was there had died. Again, she felt his rage, his pain, his own horror at what had happened. And her heart shattered into a thousand pieces all over again as she saw his face beneath his cowl. But she was a Bladeborn, born to duty, trained to serve. She controlled her pain and her loss with the skill of long practice and when she spoke, her vice was just as unemotional as his.

“Hello, Idjit.”

She didn't really have a clue what to say. Did she still love him? She didn't know. Was she still angry? She didn't know. The man nodded to Setsuna, and then he was gone. Shar slumped, just a bit. Then she shook herself and moved on. She hadn't expected to see him. He was always off doing what needed to be done. But then again, what did she know? She moved on.

Setie blinked and tilted her head curiously looking back and forth. Shar spoke quietly as she waved towards sections of the huge cavern complex the Bladeborn called home. "Not a lot to see right here. Mess hall there." She waved. "Archives over there... Masters quarters that way... Ah, here we are... Medical..." She broke off as Setie spoke in a halting voice as if worried for her.

"Shar...who was that? The Idjit guy," Setie asked.

Shar froze. Then she... slumped. It wouldn't do to hide it. And there really wasn't any reason, now. "I told you... On that Yinran cruiser. What happened to me... The miscarriage. He... He was the father...He got in trouble for it. Hell, so did I... But he wasn't to blame... I was... It was my own stupid fault, fighting without trying to figure out why I felt so weird."

Setie's face showed she felt horrible for asking then but then she frowned "You got in trouble for being in love and creating something between the two of you?"

Sharlina sighed. If only it had been that simple. "No. He got in trouble for letting me fight with a pain we couldn't identify. And he got in trouble for letting me out of the restraints when I wanted to die. Both of which were my fault. And of course, he blamed himself." She shuddered. Just remembering those times sent a chill right through her that the Dark Side thrived on. She froce the feelings back with the skill won from hard practice.

Setie stood silent for a time. "I don't see any fault here. Just two people who were young and had something tragic happen."

Shar nodded. "Yeah, stupid and tragic, that was us..." Whatever she was going to say was cut off by an irate voice.

"Okay, who is polluting my medical area with negative waves...?" The female voice came from inside the door, which slammed opened to show a furred figure. "Oh, its you..." Shar seemed at a loss for words. The figure, which seemed to be a black furred Bothan, snarled. But there was something... off about it.

"Twenty years it’s been and you come back and you are STILL throwing negative waves all over the place..." The door slammed shut.

Shar shook her head. Then her hands came up, almost on their own, in a warding gesture. "Don't you start with that wave nonsense...” Setie would have said something but Shar shook her head and hid a grin behind her hand. The voice continued from inside the door..

"Everywhere you go, it’s oh gloom, oh doom, oh zoom, oh boom... Why can’t we all just get along?” This last was in a plaintive voice that was somehow... mocking?

The door opened and the Bothan was crying. "You crazy good for nothing bloodthirsty witch. Come here..." Shar stepped forward and embraced the Bothan. Then they were both laughing and crying in equal measure.

Setie sighed and settled to watch again. She would just learn to sit and be quiet for right now with everyone so happy to see Sharlina. It made her feel somewhat sad since she only had one memory of someone being happy to see her even if she had been sitting in a cell.

Shar stepped back after a moment and turned to Setie. "Setsuna Andal, be known to Ona, healer of the Bladeborn." Ona bowed formally, but when she rose, her legs made a squeaking nose and the healer looked sheepish.

"Sorry, I got behind on the maintenance..."

"Ona..." Sharlina said with a long suffering groan.

Setie grinned a bit at the pair's antics as the dark furred bothan focused on Setie. Ona's eyes went wide and she burst into tears before she shook her head trying to control herself.

"Oh my god I’m sorry, I am so, so sorry..." Ona said as Setie frowned. The human automatically prodding at the force in concern and getting something of a surprised. Everyone else in the area had the strong taint of the Dark side about them. In contrast the Bothan seemed… remarkably pure, if very sad at the moment. There were tendrils though of the dark side, for no one was perfect. Setie had a feeling that given the right situation, Ona could and would be just as dark as the others. A kind of ferocious wolverine that was peaceful enough until needs required otherwise and turned it into something vicious.

Setie gave a reassuring smile for now, "For what? Being happy to see your sister again? What's to be sorry for?"

Sharlina tensed and spoke softly, "Ona is an empath, like you. She feels what you feel..."

Ona winced, "Shar, uh...

Shar hit her on the shoulder a soft strike on soft tissue. It seemed to get the Bothan's mind to focus as Ona blinked and stopped crying, "Thanks..."

The bothan turned her eyes on Setie. Though they were brimming with tears she was more in control now. "You have been through hell, Setsuna Andal."

The younger girl simply shrugged, "That does happen to people from time to time."

Ona nodded and reached for Setie's hand. Shar grabbed the Bothan's wrist before she could touch. "Don't you dare. You will kill yourself trying to heal her pain, and you know it." The statement had Setie blinking in mild confusion and looking at Shar curiously.

Ona met Setsuna's eyes, "I can feel your pain. It calls to me. I..." She slumped and then she tensed in thought. "Hold on..." She motioned Setie to a chair.

"It makes you want to fix it," Setie said in perfect understanding as she settled into the chair. "That doesn't mean...you should.” She could hardly yell at the bothan for a tendency she shared. That empathic need to fix everything and everyone around you till you could feel for yourself again.

Ona nodded as she sat near Setie's feet, "I just... Yeah... You are right. Your lower left leg is bleeding again. I can help that." Shar looked at the Bothan with a worried look but Ona just snorted.

"If she wanted me dead, I would be. Back off Shar" There was the bite of command in the Bothan’s voice and Sharlina did as ordered.

Setie blinked in mild surprise at the exchange, it had never occurred to her Shar might be trying to protect everyone else from her. Then again it might just be that Sharlina had the same protective attitude towards her sister of the heart as she did for her blood sister. "If you just give me some bandages I can handle it," she said trying to be helpful.

Ona smiled, "I have no doubt you can. But…"She laid her hands on either side of Setie's leg and an instant later the pain that had barely registered was gone. "…For something this small, there is no need."

Setie raised her leg and started inspecting it curiously. She could see a scar where the flesh had pulled together again so it wasn't exactly like her own power, but interesting none the less as she saw it through different eyes then others would. The red lines that had been weak from the wound having been reinforced and accelerated in the natural process. This left the wound still around and the lines still weaker then before, instead of how Setie healed, which seemed to make it as if the wound had never even existed.

Ona sighed, "I need to do a full exam and I think she would be more comfortable if you were elsewhere Shar." The elder human instantly bristled, but Ona shook her head. "You need to report to the Master. She will be safe here. Go."

Setie simply looked up at Shar with an amused look. "You really think your sister here will hurt me?

Shar snorted, "I am more worried about what deviltry the two of you will get up to while I am not here to chaperon."

Ona put an innocent expression on her face and then sighed. "Shar, go. You don't keep the Grandmaster waiting..."

Setie looked curious now remember her brief meeting with the odd little alien, "What does he do when people keep him waiting?"

Both Ona and Shar flinched as one at her question, "You don't want to know," they chorused. Shar groaned in resignation and shook her head but she stepped to the door and was gone in moments.

Setie sighed wearily, "Is she always so stubborn about leaving people alone?"

Ona sighed just as wearily. "With Shar, her duty is really all she has. Her duty now is to protect you and she feels protective of me." The furry head shook in annoyance, "It's not like I can't defend myself, but..." She stood up and her legs whined again. "I do need to do a full workup, scans and all. Would you like to sleep here tonight? We have private rooms for patients and it might be easier if you didn't have to go anywhere afterward."

Now it was Setie's turn to shake her copper colored head. “No, those are for patients who need them. I'm well enough and you never know when you might need those rooms for a medical emergency. I wouldn't want to get in the way of someone's life.”

Ona seemed to frown, though Setie couldn't be sure since she was not exactly sure how bothan facial expressions worked. Ona was the first one she had met after all. “Would you at least let me deaden your pain a bit? It will let you sleep a bit easier.”

“No,” Setie said without thought. Mentally hugging her broken heart to her chest. “To deny the pain would be to deny that any of it's cause even happened. Everyone has scars on their hearts and souls, if they didn't they would have a shallow existence indeed. They would never know the value of some of the things they have.”

It was an honest statement to Setie. She might have felt like she had been smashed into a thousand pieces and crushed to powder, but she didn't regret any of the time she had with Marik. She only wished he could have understood that there was so much more then his narrow minded revenge.

Setie jerked in surprise then as a pair of furry arms wrapped around her in a hug. “I think...you are the bravest person I have ever met Setsuna Andal,” Ona said softly.

The human only sighed a bit, slumping as if in defeat. “I'm afraid...I'm not all that brave,” she replied. After all if she had been braver she would have faced Mariks' insanity sooner. Perhaps she could have nipped the whole terrible matter in the bud years ago by just having enough courage to tell Marik...well anything. If she had just had the guts to gamble rejection and demand he stop when he'd asked her to marry him...

So many times she could have done something...only to pass it up due to fears.

Ona gave her a squeeze. "Don't ever doubt, Setsuna. I see in you courage beyond anyone I have ever met. You don't have Mama's size, Shar's ferocity, or Idjit's power. Yet you keep on going. That...takes guts."

Setie didn't respond, instead looking down at her hands and pondering the things she could have done, should have done, would have done...

Ona ruffled her copper mane then. “Hey...let's get to work huh? It'll be dinner time soon enough and I'm sure you won't want to be stuck in here for it.”

Setie gave a small grin at that. “Specially since lunch got ruined. Some drunk decided it was party time but didn't like my make up,” she stated pointing at the black lines on her face.

Ona laughed at that and the pair knuckled down so that they might get to eat at some point.

Sharlina squared her shoulders as she approached the door. The guards bowed to her, but she ignored them. Here, protocol was everything. It was really the only thing that kept this somewhat odd family from killing one another. She stopped at the required spot and bowed formally. To the imperial seal. Then she turned to the guarded door. The guards lowered their force pikes, blocking the door and one spoke the ritual challenge.

“Who dares approach the hall of the Bladeborn?” Sharlina met the eyes of the one on the right and she approved of the steadiness she saw there. Young, but well on the way to being trained properly. She spoke evenly.

“I am Sharlina, Masterblade of the Bladeborn.” Not that she needed any introduction it seemed. The trickles of nervousness that came from the guards said that they were well aware of who she was. And what she was capable of. She didn’t mind. They would have to be less than mortal to not feel fear at all and they controlled it well. The right side guard nodded, but held out a hand. Sharlina extended her wrist. He took her wrist in hard fingers and turned her arm. A swift move exposed her brand. The guard examined it closely, then released her arm and nodded.

“Welcome home, Masterblade.” The guards bowed, and both Force pikes came up to attention. Sharlina bowed back. The door opened. It was only in her mind that it creaked with agonizing slowness. Then she was walking forward. Three paces, halt, turn, bow. Three more, halt, turn, bow. Each bow was to a symbol, made in ancient time. Each a pictorial representation of one of the parts of the Code of the Bladeborn. She repeated this four more times. Loyalty, Duty, Honor, Respect, Vigilance, Prowess. Eacha part of the whole that was the Bladeborn. Finally, she turned a final time and walked to the foot of a small dais. There she knelt and waited. She didn’t have to wait long.

“Took you long enough.” She didn’t smile, didn’t move, didn’t almost dare breathe as the voice of her master came from nearby. A sigh came from nearby and the voice spoke more formally. “Rise Masterblade.”

Sharlina stood and didn’t react as the small raised part of the floor in front of her shimmered. One moment, it was empty, the next a figure was there. Seated on a cushion in the middle of it was small brown form. Trugoy was shaking his head. But he was smiling. “You have been long from our halls, my daughter.” As always the sound of his voice sent a thrill through her. He rose and she didn’t move as he walked towards her. He motioned and she knelt again. A loud sound reverberated through the chamber. A lightsaber pommel striking bone. Probably a skull, although Sharlina might have been carved from rock for all the response she gave.

“You were seen on the Fate Shatter, you eluded the Imperial Forces sent to apprehend you. Many have said you were a renegade, a rogue. The Emperor was… displeased…” Now the sound came again. She didn’t react at all, although a rivulet of blood was trickling down her face now. “What am I to do with you MasterBlade?” Sharlina met the grandmaster’s eyes and spoke evenly.

“My life is yours, Grandmaster.” Trugoy nodded and his hand rose slowly. Then he slapped her across the face. Again and again he slapped her. Then he stepped back.

“You have brought dishonor to this clan. But the Emperor has decreed you are not to die. He understands your duty to protect Setsuna Andal was paramount to you. And there was no time to send more current orders.” Sharlina’s eyes widened a bit, but Trugoy was speaking again. “Disarm.” She blinked, but obeyed. Her swords and sabers felt to the floor. His eyes were the same blue she had always seen as he spoke again. “I am sorry, child, but discipline must be maintained.” She nodded. Without discipline, the Bladeborn were nothing more than bloodthirsty monsters. She felt eyes on her now; she didn’t need to look to know that all of her kin who were not busy had entered the hall to observe. She spared a moment to hope that Ona and Setsuna were far, far away. And then Trugoy was raising his hand.

She was gripped in a tight grasp of Force power and flung into the air. Then the grip tightened and she bit back a scream as it pressed her hard. And then she was flying as something struck her. She shrieked as Force lightning arced through her frame, and then was abruptly silenced as she met one of the walls of the cavern. Then she was flying again. It went on for a long, long time. Mainly because Sharlina was no stranger to physical pain, it took over ten minutes of continued punishment to knock her unconscious.

<Later>

Sharlina woke silently. She didn’t hurt. She sighed. She should have. After that much punishment, she should have felt a lot of pain. Broken bones, fried nerve endings, the works. Instead, she felt good. She cracked her eyes and froze. Instead of a detention cell, she was in a room? A shadowed form entered and she blinked as it resolved into a man wearing a cloak. Idjit was carrying a tray. She sighed.

“You shouldn’t disobey him. I was in error.” Idjit smiled.

“Who says I am disobeying? He told me and I quote ‘Take care of her.’ So I am.” She looked down at herself and shivered. Her robes were gone, she was wearing a patient gown.

“You didn’t take me to Medical, did you?” Her horror at her sister seeing her broken had Idjit stop in his tracks. He shook his head.

“Mama came and did some healing" Shar tensed. Mama didn't do that very often at all. It drained her badly. "Then Jon came here to finish the job. And I stood over him to be sure he didn’t do anything dumb. Ona saw none of it and Setsuna has no idea. And we are working hard to keep it that way.” Shar had to smile at that. She smiled slightly.

“Thank you MasterBlade.” Idjit smiled again, his empty eye sockets under the bandages meeting her eyes as always.

“You are welcome, MasterBlade.” Sharlina froze and Idjit smiled. “No, he didn’t demote you.” She stared at her arm and the brand was just as it had been, not scored through as when a Bladeborn did something really bad and was forced to go back in training.

“I don’t understand…” She said quietly. “I messed up…” Idjit sat down beside her and sighed.

“Yes you did, but you had no way of knowing what the current orders were. You did your duty to the best of your ability.” Sharlina shook her head. She didn’t hurt. She should have. Even with a medic caring for her, the wounds she should have taken. She really didn’t hurt…

“Was that all for show?” Idjit shook his head, but then he grinned

“You shouldn’t have kept him waiting Shar.” She tensed and then sighed. Then she was laughing. Idjit laughed with her. Then his arm slipped around her shoulders and she was crying. He held her as she sobbed.

“I am sorry, I am so sorry. I... You shouldn’t have released me. I almost killed you. I…” He cut her babbling off the only way he could. By covering her mouth with his own. When they finally came up for air, he spoke slowly.

“I have ‘seen’ you Shar. Doing what you have done. Strong, proud, alone. But you are not now.” The hard, tough Sith warrior put her head down on his shoulder and cried some more. There were tears in his voice when he spoke, tears he could never shed physically. “What happened to us was horrible, what happened to you… I can only imagine Shar. But it’s time. It’s time to put our horrible past behind us, to make a new future for both of us…” She tensed as his hands left her shoulders and went elsewhere.

“Idjit, this is not a good idea…” But Idjit just smiled.

“Trust me Shar…” She sighed and relaxed. Because, finally, after so long, she could trust again…

It took a few hours for Ona and Setie to get through all the tests. The pair kept getting distracted with general chattering. The two having a similar interest in the medical arts acting as a cement for a fast friendship

"You will get along here just fine. Ona commented as they walked. "Good news is that all of your physical injuries are healing nicely. I..." She shook her head. "I wish I could prescribe some medication for broken hearts..." She smiled sadly. "But it doesn't work like that. We will help you as we can, give you the time you need...".

"Oh don't you start, I have one person fretting over me enough. I'll be fine," Setie stated.

Ona smiled sadly, "I can't help it Setsuna. It's the way I am. I will try to be too Shar-ish though and you will be fine, given time, rest and a chance to recover."

“One step at a time,” the human commented with a grin.

Ona nodded silently and led the way into the cavern that severed as the mess hall for the Bladeborn. Rough tables were scattered about and a serving line had formed. "Oh, boy! Blondie made his stroganoff. You are in for a treat," the bothan woman said sniffing the air as she led the girl to where trays were stacked.

"Good stuff I take it?" Setie said doing her best to ignore curious looks from some of the younger students as she collected a tray and utensils. She had to resist the urge to yank her hood up and hide in her robe, being the object of scrutiny had never been a good thing for her.

"You will see," Ona promised with a grin as she led Setsuna to the line. Her stare had the younger students minding their manners.

Behind the serving line, Blondie's huge form was decked out in Correllian Chef's costume. The sight was rather amusing to Setie who had never seen anything but droids in the kitchen. As Ona came by, he planted two large scoops of something that looked and smelled very good on her tray. He smiled at the red head and a feeling of welcome surrounded him. He put two scoops of the stroganoff on her tray as well.

Setie did her best to give Blondie a thankful smile before following Ona to a table off in a corner. "So...odd..." she muttered to herself as if finding an interesting puzzle. She had been under the impression that Bladeborn, while something of an offshoot, were still Sith. As such no one really welcomed newcomers, you were sized up as competition.

Ona snorted, "Which one? Or is that all of us?"

"All," Setie said with a grin. "I guess I'm just not use to friendly welcomes."

Ona sighed, her face sad, "Yeah. We...well...We are really all that we can rely on. Not all of us are nice, mind you and believe me, we can be real jerks at times." She found a table and sat as she spoke, "Everyone by now knows you were hurt and we take in a lot of hurt kids. So its... sort of instinctive. Not to mention polite, which when everyone is armed to the teeth...is a good thing."

"Not to mention having Sharlina hovering over me," Setie said with a curious look then. "I wonder how her meeting is going."

Ona blinked, "I dunno. I expected to see her back by now. Well, if anything had gone bad, she or someone else would be in medical. Where we were, so... give the food a try. I bet you like it."

Setie grinned a bit as she took a bite and pondered for a few moments. Her one meeting with the grandmaster had left her the impression that he didn't dawdle over matters. He got down to business and got it out of the way, not wasting time on things.

Then it occurred to her that perhaps someone else had stopped Sharlina. Her did was a stubborn dog over duty, which Setie was seen as currently, so whatever kept her sister away had to be one really big distraction for her.

Setie got a mischievous grin across her face at the thought. Shar had seemed rather distracted meeting that Idjit fellow earlier. Maybe she and him were patching some things up between them. The man couldn't have been a completely terrible fellow if Sharlina loved him so.

Ona looked at her and shook her head. "Do I want to know?" She asked around a bite.

"Was thinking about the handful of things that would keep Shar from something she sees as a duty. I'm mentally hoping she got the best one," Setie replied as she dug into her food some more. She seemed to perked up to Ona as happier memories played in her head of her time with Marik.

The bothan blinked, and then her eyes widened. "You know... You might be right," She said with a conspiratorial grin. "If you are, we really don't want to disturb them."

"Nope. I'm not the only one that needs rest and such after all. It'll be good for her I..." Setie suddenly jerks some in her seat and scowls. "What in the hell?"

"What?" Ona asked quickly inspecting already in case the red haired girl had cut herself on her utensils.

Setie got the strangest look on her face. As if she was trying not to squirm. "I think...there's something on my leg...and it's moving."

Ona blinked and then she moved, very slowly as she checked under the table. "Don't move Setsuna... That is a sand sanke. Very poisonous. I have the antidote, but... let me get it off you," she said as her hand reached slowly for her blade.

Setie made a distressed sound as the snake kept moving, slithering up and over a hip. She was however managing so far not to move.

"As long as you don't move you are fine." Ona had her blade out now and was easing it towards the moving creature. "Come here you stupid piece of legless meat," She snarled softly as it moved away from her blade.

As if it heard and understood her insult it stopped and hissed, making Ona freeze in place. "Don't move Setsuna... let it calm down."

"Trying..." Setie said through gritted teeth, "Damn thing tickles..."

The snake, seemingly mollified, coiled up around the waist. Ona cursed. "Of all the times I wish had telekenesis... I'll hit it with stasis, you move, ok?" Ona drew back, trying to focus her power to hit just the snake.

Setie's brows drew together then. She didn't think that was how that particular force ability worked but she couldn't think of it right this minute with a snake glaring up and seeming to smile at her with poisonous fangs. "You sure that'll work?"

"It will work," Ona said quietly. "I hope I have never focused on something that small before but size doesn't matter."

Just then the snake moved again causing Setie's hands to twitch. "This bastard is starting to annoy me..." she growled out. She was certainly did not like the idea of what would happen if things went wrong.

"Setsuna...?" Ona asked quietly.

Setie's legs twitched some now. The snake had gone up her stomach and was right under her chest. "Crap...please tell me these things don't like cozy warm spots," she asked. The mental picture of the cursed animal snuggling in a nice warm spot between the breasts was not particularly calming. Then again what else would a desert snake be seeking as the suns went down if not a nice warm spot to sleep for the night.

Maker but a stupid way to die this would be she thought. Some stupid little snake bite was going to kill her after all the pain and misery she'd survived? She'd rather have gotten blown up with Marik on the Shatter. Even if he had no longer wanted her in his life at least would have gotten one good slap in on him for everything. Made him feel for just a moment how much agony she was in from his careless actions...

Setie didn't hear Ona speak, didn't realize people had frozen in place and were staring at her. She simply stared down at that snake as she imagined it was someone else, not even seeing the little flash of blue that ran across her form. She felt the snake twist in agonizing pain, trying to curl up to defend itself. Instead a rapid series of rips split open in it's flesh before it seemed to erupt from some force ripping it apart from the inside.

"Oh yuck..." Setie commented as she spit a bit and started plucking snake bits from her shirt before looking around and noticing a lot of disturbed and fearful looks. She mentally cringed at the all to familiar stares. "I...did something bad again...didn't I?"

Ona nodded but her face was sad, and then suddenly, she was trying to wrap an arm around the green eyed girl. "What a horrible thing to bear... Oh god..."

Setie didn't hear the bothan's words and jerked away, sticking her hands under her arms and curling away like someone expecting to get grabbed and pummeled. "I...I think...I think I need to rest somewhere..." Already her head was ringing with the fear and shock of the others. She could almost hear their thoughts in her own mind.

Ona stared at her and her face was fierce, as she got an arm around the girl. "Sit. You are going nowhere until you eat. You used a lot of power. Oh my god, girl, I had no idea. How... How can you stand it...?" Ona asked as she started crying.

Setie looked about as she obediently sat and ate ignoring the arm and form trying to comfort. She wished vainly to simply disappear into the wall as she gave into the urge to pull up her hood and hide in it's depths. No one needed to be empathetic to feel the fear pouring off her.

Ona held the girl loosely now, to let her eat. "No one is going to..." She blinked and turned her head to glare at all the people staring at her and the girl beside her. "Don't you have anything better to do?" Now they stared at her, and kind gentle compassionate Ona yelled at them. "Where are your manners?' They all looked away and then, in ones and twos resumed their meals. The dark furred woman sank back down beside Setie. "It's all right Setsuna. it's all right..." She stroked Setie's hair, to calm herself as much as to calm her human charge.

Setie jerked away again, the fear still clinging. "Don't...just....don't touch me right now," she stated in a flat tone. Her control felt unstable at best and she did not want to hurt anyone.

Ona shook her head, "You won't hurt me, Setsuna. You have too much control for that. I know what you bear. If you didn't have control, I would have been dead the first time I touched you. I had no idea...It will be all right." She kept her touch gentle, calming. A lifetime of dealing with scared kids coming to bear in an effort to help.

Still Setie shied away, years of abuse and self hate making a potent cage that would take time to chip away at for anyone.

Ona's voice was quiet as she kept up her gentle massage. "It's not your fault Setsuna. It's not your fault. No one here will hurt you Setsuna. No one..."

Setie curled up some in her seat, resting her head on the table for it was so heavy. That wasn't unusual though for her whole body to simply seem heavy after...such things. "No...but I might hurt them..." she whispered in a miserable tone.

Ona stroked the girl's hair gently. "No you won't. You are better than that, girl. Go ahead, sleep if you want. I will take care of you. It's what I do..."

<A few minutes later, in a hallway leading from the mess hall>

Ona carefully carried the slumbering girl. Setsuna murmured in her sleep. It sounded like a whimper, and Ona hurried her steps a bit. The healer had herself under incredibly tight control. If Setsuna was anything at all like Ona herself, then she was very vulnerable to emotions while asleep. Ona shook her head slowly. She couldn’t believe it. This girl, this poor girl… Ona focused herself again, tighter. Getting angry never did any good. She had to treat Setie like one of the kids that they found occasionally. Broken, abused, sometimes almost beyond all rhyme or reason. She herself had been one. She never had found out where the Bladeborn had found her, or what had happened to her before they had found her. It didn’t really matter. What mattered was that she knew what to do now… She saw the door ahead and smiled. Mama had somewhere found a nametag and placed it on the door.

Setsuna Andal

Ona inched the manual door open with her foot and smiled. Mama’s subtle touches were everywhere. The small room seemed… almost warm. Hard to imagine it was a cave. The walls were covered in rugs and the floor as well. The bed was made with soft sheets, as opposed to the rough bedclothes that the Bladeborn preferred to keep them toughened. And the pillows, if Ona knew Mama at all –which she did- would be very soft and firm at the same time. When they got children recruits, Trugoy usually found ones that no other Sith wanted. The broken ones, the blasted ones, the fragile ones. The abused ones… So they knew how to handle them. Gently.

She laid Setsuna’s still form down on the bed and, after a moment, carefully undid the girl’s boots. Setsuna didn’t rouse, although Ona would have been amazed if the girl had been able to. She was wiped out. The medic decided not to undress the girl. Ona wasn’t squeamish or body shy, -If one was, it did not last in Bladeborn training and certainly one did not survive long as a medic that way- but she knew Setsuna was. And right now Setsuna needed comfort. The girl needed stability, normality and more than her share of love and affection if she was going to put her life back together again. Ona bit her lip as she pulled a sheet up to Setsuna’s neck. She brushed an errant lock of copper hair out of Setsuna’s face and sighed.

Poor girl… Such power… Such horror…

Because no matter how old or powerful in the Force Setsuna might be, she was, at heart at least, a child. Trusting, but abused, scared and very badly hurt. Physically, and emotionally. Had Setsuna ever known love or affection? And if so, what had happened? Ona turned the lights down and closed the door behind her. She was crying as she hurried away, never noticing the small shadow that approached the door behind her.

<A few minutes later>

Mama was making tea. She knew what was coming. The panicked call from the mess hall had been more than enough to warn her, but now, she could feel it. The door chimed and she nodded. “Enter.”

Ona came in, crying. Mama nodded to her and handed her a covered mug with hot tea. Then she gently led Ona to a chair and sat down beside her clan daughter when Ona finally managed to get her rear into the seat. Mama held out her hand and Ona grabbed it as if drowning and offered a life preserver. Mama wasn’t as empathic as Ona was, but she could feel the pain, the fear, the rage that the Bothan felt. And then she felt why. The Barabel stiffened, fear and shock vying with pity and horror.

“Oh…. My….” Ona was shaking her head, her voice a plaintive wail now.

“Mama……” Mama stood up and took her daughter in a hug, lifting her right out of the chair and holding her close. She held her clan daughter, as she had so many times over the years. Ona’s strong empathy was a two edged sword. It allowed the Bothan to heal better than almost anyone the Barabel had even met, but… It left Ona wide open when it came to emotional hurts. From herself or others. Even the newest discovery of the affections of her fellow healer hadn’t dampened the Bothan’s wide open path to emotions. Which Setsuna had aplenty. She rocked her daughter as she had so many times since she had first seen the poor half starved waif that Trugoy had brought in.

“Husssh child, husssh… It will be okay. We will help her. “ Ona looked up at her adopted mother with tear filled eyes.

“I should know by now that cruelty is the way of the Sith, but… She is such a good person Mama… She is such a good person and she has been… She’s been… You saw, didn’t you?” The Barabel nodded. “How could anyone do that to their own daughter?”

“I don’t know Ona. I have never underssstood anyone who can be intentionally cruel to younglingsss. And you know asss well asss I do that it happensss every day and not jussst in the Empire.” Ona nodded and Mama set her back down in the chair. “Now finisssh your tea. I need a full report.”

Ona sighed, and sipped her tea. Her voice became clinical, professional as she forced her feelings to the back. “Setsuna Andal is in reasonably good physical shape. She has a number of recent physical traumas partially healed, that correlates with what little Shar has reported of what happened on the Fate Shatter. What are more worrisome are the lightsaber burn on her scalp and the distended veins on her face…. The latter almost certainly due to overuse of the Force, possibly the Dark Side.” She took another sip and let the heat diffuse through her body, bringing calm. “She showed a most unusual power in the mess hall. Force Resuscitation.” Mama nodded. “This almost certainly explains the council member’s interest in her.” Mama nodded again. “Physically, she is healing well. Mentally, emotionally…? She is at best a mess, and at worst… a time bomb. I think we can help her, but...” Mama sighed.

“We have to try Ona. We have to try…” Mama sighed. “You are sssleeping here tonight.” Ona blinked, but Mama shook her head. “If they need you they will call you. You need sssleep, not nightmaresss.” Ona bit her lip, but nodded. “Sssetsssuna will need you resssted.”

Ona relaxed, and then drank the rest of her tea. In minutes, the sedative that Mama had mixed in took effect and the Bothan slumped in her chair. Mama picked her adopted daughter up carefully and carried her to the bed. She set Ona down, covered her, and then sat at the foot of the bed as she had so many times over the years. It always seemed strange to her that her mere presence, so intimidating in real life, would keep many of her adopted children from having nightmares. Then she shook her head. It didn’t matter. She helped, that was all that mattered. As she sank into her meditation, she wondered what the morrow would bring. Then she shook herself and sank into her trance, protecting her kin. As she always had. From their enemies and themselves…

Setie woke with a start and looked around in a mild panic. For a moment she was confused of her surroundings before she finally took a breath to calm herself.

She was use to dreams, while she was no where near as gifted as her mother had been in foresight she had occasionally had dreams and visions. They had always been crystal clear.

Lately though, they were murky and disjointed. As if there was no clear paths forward anymore.

It certainly did not make Setie feel any better about her future, but that was just how she felt. Lost.

Setie blinked about the room as she got up. It was kinda homey, in spite of obviously being a cave. Even warm in spite of being in a place with so many people who used the dark side. She supposed the difference was another difference between methods. It wasn't like the teachers in the academies cared much for the comfort of their students.

Setie crossed over to the door mentally daydreaming about breakfast. Sure she'd likely have to endure stares...again...but she needed fuel and hoped she could get some from the mess without to much of a hassle. Even if it was just a ration bar and some water. When she pulled on the old fashion door though, it didn't budge.

She blinked in mild confusion at that. Perhaps it was stuck? She pulled and pushed before finally crouching to see what was wrong with the door and noticing the locks were engaged.

"Well this is aggravating. Why are the locks engaged?" Setie muttered to herself as she pulled open the small shuttered window to look out and see if anyone was around to ask for help, "Hello?"

She could see an armored figured with a force pike across the hallway. They hadn't reacted to her call but then again maybe they didn't hear her.

"Excuse me," Setie called. "Uh...Mr. Armor with the nasty looking pike? The locks on my room seemed ot have malfunctioned and locked me in. Could...you maybe get someone to fix it?" She asked though she had a very bad feeling about this all suddenly. Why was there a guard at her door? Then again she had scared people yesterday so maybe it was just an escort to make folks feel better about her being there.

The figure didn't react at all. No response, not even the slightest twitch to show he had heard her.

Setie looked about the room again, starting to get very nervous about this door business. She started noting that there wasn't anything in the room one could use for a make shift lock pick, or a battering ram, or anything else to use on the door.

“Please not again...” she whispered to herself.

A startled voice came from further down the corridor and Ona quickly came into view, carrying a tray that steamed slightly. "What are YOU doing here?" She asked the figure in armor, who ignored her as well.

"Ona!" Setie cheered turning back to the window. "Thank the Maker! There's something wrong with my door here. It's locked and SOMEONE..." Setie's inflection of tone made it obviously she meant the armored and silent one,"...is not being helpful."

Ona relaxed a bit on hearing Setie's voice, but her focus was on the guard who stared at her impassive. "What is going on?"

He ignored her until she took another step, at which point, his pike dropped into ready position making Ona snarl. "Cahhlin, if you don't want me to take that pike from you and insert it somewhere very unpleasant, you will open the door and get out of my way. Now!" The fact that she was carrying a tray didn't seem to matter. Th temperature in the corridor seemed to plummet at her cold angry words.

Setie swallowed hard blinking out at the pair with fearful eyes. Ona's reactions stated this was not a normal thing. The red head abhorred being locked up, but surely this was all just a misunderstanding. Her mind however kept replaying all those stares she had been getting yesterday in the mess hall after the snake incident.

Ona waited, but the guard didn't move causing the bothan to sigh. She set the tray down and without a further word was back in front of the guard, her hand on her sword hilt. "You are barring the way to my patient, who I am willing to bet you are frightening. Get out of my way."

The guard shook his head then, “I cannot do that healer. My orders are clear.”

“Orders from who?” Ona barked back.

“From me,” came another voice and Setie could just barely see the top of Grandmaster Trugoy's head from her spot behind the door.

Ona immediately took her hand off her sword hilt, but her anger remained. "Master, Setsuna Andal is our guest. Allow me to do my duty to her," she said, her voice was respectful but held worry.

Setie watched the exchange and felt a ball of ice forming in the pit of her stomach. Sharlina had said there were men on the Shatter who had been hunting them for the Empire. Bladeborn, while different, were still a bunch of loyal imperials.

As if to answer her dread Trugoy shook his head slowly. “I cannot let you go in there Ona.”

"Master. She needs our help, not our fear. She won't hurt me," Ona persisted only to have Trugoy shakes his head at her again. "She won't."

"Ona, I have orders to obey as well." The bothan froze, but then her face went hard. "Ona... Go back to medical. Leave the tray..."

The dark furred woman shook her head savagely, "Master... I... I can't. She needs my help..."

"Ona," Setie piped up, fear for what Trugoy might do if the alien woman kept fighting the issue starting to press hard on her. "I'll be ok. I'm sure this is all just a...misunderstanding." She knew better of course but hoped to but the healer at ease. “Just...do what he says please?”

Ona shook her head. "This is no misunderstanding. Master, the Emperor's decree may say we have to confine her, but nothing says we have to be uncivil.”

Trugoy walked slowly up to her as he shook his head before doing a little hop. He touched her shoulder gently and she fell. Setie was worried she would hit the floor hard but Trugoy kept her from doing so with the Force. He sighed then and motioned to the guard, "Take her to medical and tell Jon she is under orders to stay there now."

The guard bowed, collected the unconscious healer and left. Trugoy sighed again, and with a quick motion, the tray levitated to follow him as he strode towards the door. "Stand away form the door Setsuna Andal. I have no wish to harm you."

Setie backed up from the door but was frowning as the diminutive master entered, "You didn't hurt her did you?"

Trugoy shot her a frown as he guided the tray in, shutting and latching the door behind him. “No, I just knocked her out. She was about to draw her sword. That would have left me no choice but to hurt her.”

Maybe it was Setie's imagination but he sounded funny. As if Ona's behavior was somehow to be laid on Setie's doorstep.

“You should eat while it is warm,” he stated instead as he set the tray down and sat down at the small table.

Setie sat as well but didn't touch her food yet. Her stomach was rolling and she didn't trust food in it right then. "I'm a prisoner...aren't I?"

Trugoy nodded simply confirming Setie's fears to be reality, “The Emperor himself has ordered you confined. As Ona says though, there is no need to be uncivil."

"Oh of course not," Setie grumbled crossing her arms and scowling, "Force forbid someone be uncivil about being put in a cage." The very idea of being civil and polite about being such in a cage, no matter the size or splendor, was completely beyond her. Who in their right mind would be civil about it when they found out about it?

Trugoy sighed, "You know the curse you bear and that is the proper word for it. Ignorant fools may call it a wonderful power, I do not. That however is the least of our... problems with you."

Now Setie jumped up again and started pacing about like a caged animal in a zoo. "I'm being locked up because I have some fancy ability?" she asked. After all that was always what people were after, thinking that in controlling her they might have the ability to control life and death. She didn't however know what could possibly be worse then her ability.

"It's a bit more complicated than that, but essentially, yes." Trugoy could have been carved out of brown stone for all the emotion he was showing. It puzzled Setie that this grandmaster, who could likely destroy her without breaking a sweat, saw the need to high behind shields around her.

So she would have to rely on anything she got verbally as she asked questions to figure out things. "Complicated? Complicated how?" she asked.

Trugoy nodded, "Let me attempt to explain then. When did you meet Ona?"

“Yesterday.”

The small alien nodded again, "I have known Ona since I found her thirty four years ago, half starved and crying alone in a garbage bin. She is one of our best, our brightest. She is a gifted healer. And a loyal subject of the Empire and the Bladeborn. So why... Why did she just almost draw her sword on me to help you? She only met you yesterday. Why would she feel so strongly for you after only one day?”

“Cause...she's a good person,” Setie replied not seeing how this related to anything. “Least I think she is. She wants to help and heal, even though it might be dangerous for her. Empathetic people are like that.”

Trugoy seemed to ponder that a moment and nodded, "True, she is a very good person, and an empath. Another example then. When you met Shar, you didn't know who she was. If an overwhelming opponent had attacked you, what do you think she would have done. In the first few minutes after she met you? Before she knew you shared a history?"

Setie frowned and crossed her arms, not seeing at all where this was going. "She would have helped likely. Returning the kindness I paid her when I met her. What's wrong with that? Besides the whole sign of a weak sith deal of course."

Trugoy shook his head. "No. She would have died for you. Gladly. Willingly. She would have bought you time to escape, even if it meant her own death. Ordinarily, there would be nothing wrong with that. That is simple loyalty, but... She. Didn't. Know. You. How could she be loyal unto death to someone she didn't even know?”

Setie scowled, "Well Shar had something of a death wish about then if I recall. I think she more latched onto repaying me as a reason to live."

Trugoy slumped then as if tired. "People are drawn to defend you Setsuna Andal. Do you have any idea why?"

Setie wrinkled her nose at that. "Drawn to me? Are you kidding? People seem to prefer staying away from me like I'm some kind of diseased rat. Being able to make someone explode with a touch kinda makes people uneasy around me if you haven't noticed."

Trugoy raised a brow, "Beings capable of defending you are drawn to you. Why?"

“I defend myself quite well enough thanks," Setie snorted. Her tone sounded defensive to her own ears but she ignored it as well as the odd feeling she was missing something important.

Icy blue eyes just looked at her and remained silent for a moment before Trugoy spoke again, "Have you never wondered why certain people jump to help you? Even though it may not be in their best interests at time?"

"People don't..." Setie started but she trailed off, her mind starting to click through people she had met. Darish, Damaya, Puk, the ones Jan had brought with her to Korriban who had suddenly turned on her when she wanted to blow up the base...

"People are just being helpful,” she stated with conviction.

Trugoy's eyes simply narrowed and Setie got the feeling he saw the dots being connected in her head. “Some of them, no doubt. Contrary to popular belief not everyone in the galaxy is a jerk. However Setsuna... why do all the good people congregate around you? Why do they all want to help you?”

"Well...I...they..." Setie fumbled for a reply as she tried to think. There was something very wrong here, and she wasn't sure she wanted to hear anymore of what Trugoy was saying.

"This will not be easy for you to hear, and contrary to various people's opinions of me, I do not enjoy causing pain. Will you hear me out?" the Grandmaster asked, his voice turning gentle.

Setie started pacing again in an aggitated way. "Do I actually have a choice here?"

Trugoy nodded, "You can tell me to take a hike. You will be fed and allowed to a refresher. Under guard which will change at random intervals. Eventually the Emperor will send someone for you.”

Setie scowled, "I'm not allowed to see Shar or Ona?"

Trugoy shook his head, "Ona is very vulnerable to your control. And Shar... Shar would not understand. She would overreact. Maker help me, I love that girl, so I have no wish to see her killed along with several of my other kin. So it is best if we leave her alone for now. She does have duties to attend to. Ones she has long neglected."

Setie fumed at that. Surely her sister wasn't such a puppet as to just go along with whatever Trugoy told her to do...was she? She stored that thought for later though and concentrated on the other part of what the small alien had stated. “My control? What are you talking about? I don't do that whole mind control deal, I'm certainly not trained to go doing that on anybody, much less people who obviously have stop enough wills of their own.”

Trugoy seem to glare at her then. "Yes you do. You do it unconsciously. You draw people to you, much as the old tale of the Jedi Exile says she did. Much of that is true. You form Force Bonds of sorts with people who can aid you. You don't do it intentionally, but you do it. You don't 'control' in the conventional sense, you...persuade. It's gentle, subtle, and very hard to defend against.”

Setie recoiled at that statement as if Trugoy had turned into a snake. “That...but...even if I did do that people can just decide otherwise. I'm not controlling anyone.”

Trugoy sighed deeply, "I didn't say they couldn't. By then, they don't want to. They want to help you and they will do it to the detriment of themselves. They will never harm a single hair on your head because reality is, they cannot."

“Liar!” Setie wanted to scream but didn't. Instead she looked around at a total loss and kept walking around the room erratically, as if trying to find a way out. It was all nonsense surely. No one had that kind of power...did they?

Almost as if answering her question she felt the pair of pendants around her neck click together and brush her skin. Reactively her hand came up to hold them together which made her think of Marik.

Zelkin and Marik had been the same person if fractured from her stand point. Zelkin would never hurt her because Marik could never hurt her. Yet that didn't explain things in the end, when it seemed Zelkin had crushed Marik completely. Hadn't he said she was the one the Force picked to stop him, to kill him, to ruin his plan completely.

Yet when he had the chance...he hadn't killed her. Killing her would have to his mind brought his dream into reality and he hadn't. Zelkin hadn't, for by then what little there was of Marik had been gone.

Hadn't she questioned in the back of her skull time and again why? If he knew it all, knew she was the one to stop him...why had he left her alive? Zelkin hadn't cared for her in the slightest bit and had thrown her around, so obviously he could have easily killed her.

Shaking hands plunged into her copper mane, yanking on it in hopes of jump starting her brain as she tried desperately to think. Why didn't Zelkin kill her when he had the chance if he knew? Why?

Trugoy simply watched the girl, he could see her mind circling again and again around the matter. “I am sorry Setsuna Andal. I will have another tray sent,” he said as he levitated the now cold food and headed for the door. In moments he was out and striding away. The look locked behind him and another armored guard standing outside.

Tears were stabbing her eyes now. It was all like an elaborate lie, that had been constructed around her. A poison that she couldn't counter. She fished through memories desperately trying to find one instance that could be no way twisted by this...control Trugoy said she had. There had to be one surely...

Everything she came up with though was tainted. Even as far back as she could remember in her childhood. There was never any reason for anyone to really stick their neck out for her like some of them had. It was all tainted, all fake, all an act... People didn't care because they liked her and actually cared, they did it because she in some twisted way made them.

She couldn't catch her breath as her eyes seemed to focus on the things in her room, her cage. Her life was forever a cage with smiling jailers that said they cared.

Setie grabbed a wall hanging and yanked viciously on it, ripping it down with a wild look before turning about and picking up a chair and throwing it again the opposite wall where it shattered from the force of the throw.

She kept going on her destructive rampage as the tears spilled over, sobbing at the thought that every friend she'd ever made was really a slave. Slaves that at least in one case had died for her.

Sharlina woke with a start and looked around in a mild panic. For a moment she was confused of her surroundings before she finally took a breath to calm herself.

She smiled just a bit as she remembered the day before. Of course, Trugoy had been displeased with her and hadn’t really had any choice but to punish her. And while she did ache in various places, the painkillers having worn off, she felt… good. Relaxed, happy almost for the first time in, well, years. Almost a decade. She tensed a bit as the door opened but then relaxed as the form of Idjit came through, a tray in his hands. He smiled at her.

“Slugabed. No, no…” He said quickly as she would have gotten up. “Stay… Master has removed you from the duty roster. Something about… ‘Catching up’” Sharlina smiled slyly.

“And you wouldn’t have had anything at all to do with that, would you?” Idjit tried to look innocent, but it didn’t look quite right. Of course the fact that he didn’t have eyes detracted from it. But then Shar sighed as she sat up. “I have already let my duty lapse. I need to see to Setsuna.” She threw the sheet off of herself and then threw it right back on, her face flaming. “Where are my clothes?” Idjit just sat down beside the bed and smiled.

“Shar, for once… Let us do our jobs. She is in no danger here. You need rest. You have pushed yourself beyond your abilities. Way beyond. I am not a healer and even I can see that.” Shar shook her head and looked away.

“Idjit…I… Something is wrong… I… feel…” Idjit sighed and sat on the bed now. She didn’t shy away from him, and he stroked her shoulder, a gentle touch that had her relaxing. His voice was gentle and soothing.

“It’s okay, Shar. It’s okay.” He sighed. “I wish we could continue the… um… healing that we did last night.” Shar blushed, but smiled and she was relaxing further as both hands massaged her now. She sighed in pleasure as his skilled strong hands found knots of muscle and eased them. He always did know how to relax her. By the Force she had missed him… But…

“Idjit… I have to…Ohh…. Something is wrong. I feel… Ahhhhh….” She tensed as his fingers found a particularly hard knot and worked their magic.

“If there is, it can wait. Someone will call me, or you. You know they will.” She smiled. Yes, no one would dare try and keep her out of the loop. She would have somebody’s shebs for dinner of that happened. And not figuratively either. “But… You have been out of touch for a long time Shar. We need a full report. And we can do it here.” Sharlina sighed, unable to muster the effort to snarl.

“That will take hours.” Idjit smiled again, and his hands went somewhere else. Shar giggled. She swatted at his hands and somehow he had hers in his and then his mouth was over hers … It was a while before they came up for air. And a while after that before Sharlina could muster the effort to speak. Idjit spoke first.

“Can you clear your calendar for me?” Idjit asked in a conversational tone and Shar just sighed.

“I know I haven’t reported recently. Things were… complicated. I need to check Setsuna. I haven’t… And I just know she is going to get into trouble. She is a mess Idjit, worse than I was.” Idjit nodded.

“She was asleep when I looked in on her on the way to the Mess hall. And Ona has her in hand. Come on Shar… relax…” She started as he tickled her and then he was recoiling as her fingers sought his own sensitive spots. She was so preoccupied that there was simply no way she could have felt the tingle of raw emotion that came from her link to Setsuna. Which was the whole idea. Idjit continued to distract her while he buried his thoughts deep, very, very deep. There was no known way to block the emotions that traveled across the link from a protected one to a Bladeborn. So the only real option was to distract the Bladeborn in question. Idjit wanted to cry, but he buried his feelings deep as Shar giggled again and now she was initiating the play...

Oh Shar, please, please don’t hate us for what we have to do. I know you will, but… I don’t agree, Force knows I don’t agree, but… Master’s orders were clear… Maker I hate my life sometimes...

He wanted to weep, for his battle sister, for her blood sister, but he couldn't. All he could do was play his part. Of course, he didn't need to feign his enjoyment with her. Which was why Trugoy had ordered him to do this...