Batuu: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Nakoa Sen

Nakoa ran his fingers through his hair, utterly confused and heartbroken. He couldn't wrap his mind around what had just happened. The image of Les on the mud splattered ground flashed before his eyes again. The look she had given him...it hurt worse than any pain he'd felt before.

His gaze flickered towards her lightsaber, which was laying on the floor of his room. He'd found it shortly after they made the jump to hyperspace. Nakoa had hidden it, fearing that Oni might throw it out if she saw it. Oni was in the cockpit. Nakoa couldn't bring himself to face her yet.

"Why did I pick up the blasted thing?" He groaned. He scrubbed at his face, blinking his burning eyes. "She lied to me the whole time. What else did she lie about? Was she just...using me to protect herself?"

His thoughts drifted back to the events of the evening before. Everything that had happened...everything that had almost happened...Nakoa shook his head. "Was that just a lie too?"

It hadn't felt that way. Not when she had kissed him. Not when she had told him to be certain of what he wanted before they went any further. Not when she'd laid her head on his chest and traced the carvings on his necklace. Nakoa squeezed his eyes shut, the memory surfacing before he could stop it.

"Are you going to keep that?" Les asked. She ran her fingers over the jagged edges of the wood.

Nakoa lifted it and flipped it over, reading the words on the back. "I don't know. On one hand, I don't need it anymore. On the other, it still has sentimental value."

Les pushed his hand down and kissed him softly. Her lekku slid over her shoulder. He ran his hand along her cheek, then let it drift onto her lekku. Les swatted his hand away after a moment. "That tickles." She dropped her head onto his chest again. "If you want to keep the necklace, you can always scrape off the old words and put something new there."

"Maybe I will."

Nakoa blinked and read the carved words again. Ni vow skira. He grabbed his vibroblade and angrily chipped the words off the necklace. He yanked it off his neck, the cord snapping in the process. He threw it towards Lesia's lightsaber, then grabbed his helmet and left his room.

"I told you we shouldn't have trusted her," Oni said as he entered the cockpit.

"I don't want to hear it."

"Well you need to." Nakoa glanced at Oni. He clenched his jaw and let her speak. "I know you liked her. I'm sorry it turned out this way. I'm not sorry for getting rid of her. If I hadn't, you would've listened to her and you might've even let her stay."

Nakoa shook his head. "I should've listened to her. I should've let her explain herself. Instead, we just abandoned her."

"She brought it on herself."

"No, it was my fault. I found the blasted thing."

"So you would rather have let her continue to lie to us than know the truth?" Oni snapped. "How blind can you be? She was using us. She was using you!"

"That doesn't matter!" Nakoa drew in several shaking breaths. "Ni cuy' o'r kar'taylir darasuum ti kaysh."

Oni slammed her fist against the control panel and stood. "You think I couldn't see that? You always chose her over me, ever since we met her. I had just started to resign myself to that fact."

"It was never her or you," Nakoa said, lowering his voice. "I've told you several times and I'll tell you again. You are my friend and nothing more." His jaw trembled as he pointed at her. "And you will never have a chance to be anything more than that now."

"Be mad at me all you want. I just spared you the love of a liar."

Nakoa stared at Oni. He shook his head. "Get out of my cockpit."

She stood and stomped away, not bothering to question him. Nakoa dropped into his seat and prepared to deactivate the hyperdrive.

Corellia: 18 BBY
Marketplace
Lesia Mirri

The rain let up gradually. Les followed the old woman, Elsie, towards a docking bay. A small freighter waited inside. A man stood beside it. "Elsie!" He held out his arms in a warm welcome. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm asking for a favor for this one." Elsie gestured towards Les. "Can you take her to Savareen?"

"Sure." The man looked Les over curiously. She glared and he looked away. "Let's get going."

"Thank you, Elsie." Les nodded to the old woman. Elsie smiled and started walking away. Les followed the pilot onto his ship and they took off shortly.

"Savareen, huh? Not many people go there," the man said as he sent clearance codes to the Imperial blockade.

"That's why I'm going there."

"Who are you running from?"

"A betrayer." Les crossed her arms and looked away. The man said nothing more as they jumped to hyperspace.

A while later, they dropped out before the small planet. They landed near a small settlement. Les stepped off the ship and turned towards the pilot. He shook his head before she even spoke. "You owe me nothing. Elsie is a good friend. If she's helping you, it's for a reason."

Les gave him a short nod. "Thanks."

"Good luck." He sealed the ramp and took off once more.

Les started walking towards the town. Her steps faltered occasionally as pain flashed through her ankle. Les drew in a few deep breaths and kept walking. She approached the first vendor she saw.

"Do you know anyone looking to hire some help?" Les asked.

The woman looked around nervously, then nodded. "There is a witch here."

"A witch?" Les raised an eyebrow.

"She's here for ship fuel and provisions and will be leaving soon. She mentioned that she wants to hire a co-pilot."

"Where can I find her?"

"Her ship is out that way." The woman pointed south. "It's a Corellian Scout ship."

"Thanks." Les turned away, but the vendor grabbed her arm.

"Keep your wits about you," she hissed. "Seven people have already visited the witch."

"And?"

"Their bones were found on the edge of town."

Les swallowed and shrugged the woman's hand off her. "I'm sure I can handle it. Thanks for the help."

Les started walking across the sand. She walked until the settlement was nothing but a blur behind her. At last, she sat down and yanked her boot off. Tears flooded her eyes as she rubbed her injured ankle. The wound was inflamed. Les closed her eyes and pushed her senses towards it. She felt along the injury gingerly.

It didn't seem to be broken. I must've torn something or sprained it, she thought. For a moment, Les dropped her head into her palms. "How can things crumble so quickly?" She whispered.

Les snapped her head up, an unfamiliar presence flitting past her. She tugged her boot on and drew her blaster. Les spread her senses but the presence had disappeared.

"Friend or food?" An accented female voice drawled.

"Friend," Les replied. "I heard you were looking for a co-pilot."

"Maybe." From the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow. Les turned, but there was nothing there. "Why would I choose you?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"You're injured." Les gasped as a foot kicked against her ankle. Her knees crunched against the sand and she twisted again. There was still nothing there. "I sense turmoil. You carry much anger."

"That happens when you've been betrayed by people you trusted." Les stumbled to her feet. "Show yourself, Witch."

The Witch cackled. Les whipped her head around. A beautiful gray skinned woman sat on top of a rock. She crossed her legs, tracing a golden talon along her cheek. Lesia recognized her species immediately.

"You're a Nightsister," she said.

"In the flesh."

"I heard you were all wiped out."

"Not all of us." The Witch slid off the rock and joined her. She walked around Les, examining her. Les returned her shrewd gaze. Their blue eyes mirrored each other's wary look. "A few still remain, like you, Jedi."

"No."

"A member of their Order, then." The Witch lifted her lekku with a delicate hand.

"Yes."

"What's your name?"

"Lesia Mirri. I go by Les."

"Well, Les, I am Manon." Les shook her offered hand. "Who betrayed you?"

Les dropped her gaze. "Someone I trusted. Someone I was beginning to love."

Manon touched her taloned finger to Lesia's forehead. "I sense it is not the first time this has happened."

"It's not."

Manon tilted her head. Wisps of silvery white hair dangled in her face. "I sense the Dark Side in you."

Les shook her head. "That's impossible."

"Is it? You carry anger and grief within you. It is growing. You can't hold it in."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I do. The same thing happened to me when my sisters were slaughtered." Manon's eyes flashed dangerously. "I fell into my rage and despair. I killed many innocent people as revenge. The Dark Side nearly consumed me, but I learned to control my emotions."

"How?"

"Through my magicks and through the knowledge I found in a Jedi Temple." Manon gave her a contemplative stare. "I like you. You may travel with me, if you wish. I can teach you to control your anger."

"I came here for a job."

"Now you have one." Manon started walking away. Les stared after her. "Are you coming?" Les chased after her.

"How are you going to help me?"

"I haven't decided that yet. I'll let you know when I do." A ship appeared just ahead of them. Just as the vendor had said, it was a Corellian Scout ship. Manon waved a hand and its boarding ramp extended. "Welcome aboard the Shrouded Claw."

"Thanks." Les followed her onto the ship with a sigh. First Mandalorians, now a Nightsister. I seem to be making a habit of keeping rare company.