Kiernan came to in a small holding cell, lying on a cot. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, used to this kind of treatment and not overly worried yet. For all he knew, Sul-Juuk had just encountered a rival slaver and he was still headed for a new master, just being sold by someone else. Of course, there was a possibility that something else was going on, but without further proof, he saw no reason to worry.

Footsteps echoed along the hall, walking in the direction of his cell, but he ignored them and took a look around. The holding cell was simple and only contained a small cot attached to the wall. The walls were empty and white and the door was just strong, clear glass.There wasn't any obvious way out, so he leaned against the wall and waited.

The footsteps halted and he looked up. Standing in front of him was a tall Mirialan woman. Her skin was a shade of pale green and tattoos had been drawn down her face. Long black hair extended to her knees,contained in several long braids. She swept her bangs to the side and studied him, her sapphire blue eyes alight with interest.

"Who are you?" Kiernan asked, breaking the silence and crossing his arms over his chest.

She frowned. "You don't know?" she asked.

He sighed. "Of course I don't know anything. I'm a slave, I'm rarely informed of the important things."

"My name is Ezaye," she said, her expression curious. "How long have you been a slave?"

"Since I was sixteen."

She looked him over. "It has been a long time then. And you haven't yet lost your spirit. Tell me, have you escaped before?"

"Plenty of times," he answered, getting tired of the useless questions. "Now get to the questions you really want answers to or leave."

Her eyes sparked with anger. "Don't speak to me that way."

"Don't ask pointless questions," he shot back.

He thought she was going to stomp into the cell and murder him right then and there, but instead, a slow smile crept onto her face. "I ought to kill you for your insolence. But I won't because we have something much more entertaining in store for you."

She walked away and he stared after her, not quite sure if he'd dodged a bullet or stepped in front of a firing squad.

***

Ezaye approached him again an hour later, Kazumi squirming in her tight grip and hissing angrily. The Mirialan's hand held a fresh bite mark and she did not look happy about it. "Is this your loth-cat?"she demanded.

Kiernan considered lying, but Kazumi gave it away when she hissed again and pawed her captor, trying to get to him. "Yes," he admitted quietly.

"What's it doing aboard this ship?" she asked.

"I... don't know," he answered, biting back his sarcasm. This wasn't Sul-Juuk. Ezaye wouldn't think twice about killing Kazumi."She just follows me."

"You know I heard you helped another slave escape. A young girl.Where is she?"

He didn't answer and she yanked out a knife, holding it against Kazumi's side and giving him a harsh glare. "Where is she?"

"Wait! The last time I saw her... I left her on Tantooine. I haven't seen her since and that was a year ago. I don't know where she is, I swear!" It was only partially a lie, but it was dangerous none-the-less. Still, Kiernan refused to risk Alani's safety. Ezaye didn't know his tells, she wouldn't know he was lying, as long as he was careful.

"Really?"

"Yes. I promise. That's all I know. Please let her go," he begged.

Ezaye nodded thoughtfully and started to pull the knife away. Kiernan let out a tiny sigh of relief and her gaze hardened. The knife came down hard, slamming into Kazumi's side and releasing a stream of blood. Kazumi screamed in pain and Kiernan's jaw dropped in horror."I don't believe you."

She stalked away and he collapsed on his knees next to the glass.

"No!" he gasped, pressing his hands against the glass and staring at Kazumi. He watched as her life's blood drained out of her,taking her spirit with it. His one companion, who would follow him anywhere without question, was gone, dead because of him. Because he'd chosen someone else over her.

I deserve everything coming to me, but you were innocent.A sob escaped him. I shouldn't have tried to lie. This is my fault. All of it.

The tears came faster now, pouring down his face as he stared at his faithful friend. "You didn't deserve this," he whispered. "You didn't deserve me. Why did you choose me when it just caused you pain?" He slammed his hand into the glass and leaned his forehead against it without bothering to hide the tears.

He stayed next to her on the other side of the glass until the cleanup droids came and picked up her body, taking it away to be thrown out like trash. He stared after her, his whole body tense with a mix of anger, grief, and self-loathing. Finally, he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

The cell wasn't as empty when he woke. A chair sat in the middle ofthe room with a note on it. He read it.

"Your sister is here. She's in cell nine."

The message sent waves of shock rolling through him. Rational thought fled as hope invaded the darkest corners of his mind. His gaze fell on the chair and he grabbed it, smashing the glass and exiting the cell. An alarm went off, but he didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. Nothing but finding his sister and getting them off of this ship.

No one found him on the way to her cell, but he could hear them behind him and ran the whole way, determined to find her before they found him.

Cell nine was easy to find and he spotted her immediately. She looked much older now, but she still had the same long black hair and violet eyes. Her expression was completely hopeless and in her hand was a knife, poised above her heart.

His vision narrowed in on her. His sister. About to commit suicide.It sunk in and he ran, slamming his fists into the glass that separated them. "Iah! Iah, no!"

She didn't hear him. Lifting the knife to her chest, she took a deep breath and drove it straight through her heart. A gasp of pain escaped her and she slumped against the wall, her vibrant eyes clouded in death. "No! This can't be happening. I already lost Kazumi, I won't lose you too!"

Everything he feared was playing out before his eyes like a wordless taunt from all of those who sought to hurt him. He'd found her, but it was too late.

"Take him out!" the voice came from behind and he sensed the danger, but didn't do anything to avoid it.

 Blasters fired and the bolts slammed into him, cutting straight through his torso and ripping him open. Blood pooled around him, but he felt no physical pain. Flashes of him and his sister running from slavers played out before him as he stared at her lifeless body."I'm... sorry," he managed, and then everything went black.

~~~

A/N: I thought I'd note that while some events in my entry are very similar to @ariel_paiement's entry by Zillah, we didn't collaborate and that wasn't on purpose.