PANDORA'S BOX
i. NO HONOR AMONG THIEVES
❝TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK.❞

THE UNIVERSE WAS SPEAKING and it seemed as if Pandora Maël was the only one who could hear the silent shrieks of the dark matter that tied together time and space. It buzzed in her ears, causing the dark-haired woman to wince at seemingly nothing as she rubbed her temples to alleviate some of the pain. Even the sea of voices from the tavern could not distract her from the wiry echo, screaming at her as it demanded to be heard. If only it would stop. But, it never does. Pandora had grown to tolerate, having heard the noises since she was a young girl. The band of Thieves that raised her used to think she was mad and perhaps, dropped too many times on the head as a baby by them. They figured the voices would disappear eventually, but they worsened with time. Some days, Pandora could handle it as the universe quieted down enough. But, some days, it paralyzed Pandora to the point where she could do nothing but clutch her ears and try to scream louder than the universe. Today, it was itching toward the unbearable, the clamor of people around her seemed to make it worse as she swallowed down as much alcohol her wallet would allow her to buy. Yet, the universe continued to plead for her to listen, to take action. But, she was the wrong person to call out to. She wasn't one to extend a hand to help. No, she would be the one to step onto someone's fingers to assure they would fall to their death much quicker so she would be the only one victorious.

It was the same mindset that had allowed Pandora to survive. For years, she had to put herself first if she wanted even a shot at life. Her "family" of thieves that had raised her were relentless, teaching her from a young age that if she wasn't fast or brutal enough, she wouldn't get a scrap to eat. Being used to fighting for the basic necessities, it made her cruel and heartless. But, it was the only way Pandora knew how to survive. And, it was the only way she knew how to continue her pathetic excuse of a life. Her dampening thoughts only made it easier for her to drown in hard liquor ━━  the only thing that seemed to give her some reason to live.

"They've tightened security since the last time," a hushed voice brought Pandora out of her thoughts, making her pause mid-sip. The voice had sounded clear as day, making the screaming in her ears to quiet down to a soft hum. She stole a glance to her right, staring at the group of four dressed in brown attire. They blended in with their surroundings, but a closer look told her that there was much more to them than meets the eye. It was a woman speaking, tall with short black hair with sharp features and a vicious scar running down her face. "If we couldn't get to it then, what makes you think we can get it this time?"

"Well, we do have a better layout of the building," another woman, shorter than the others with hair the color of a yellow sun, said as she pulled out a scroll from her pack. She rolled it out against the table, making the others crowd around it to take a closer look. Pandora was unable to see the contents of the paper, but she still listened. "If we do this smart and fast, we can hit them before they even realize we're there."

"Or, we get caught and end up dead," a man retorted this time, rolling his black eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest. He had round features with a dark complexion, standing taller than the rest with a frown painted across his features. "Is the risk of dying really worth the artifact?"

"We'll be set for life!" the last one exclaimed, speaking after holding his silence for the majority of the conversation. His red hair was what stood out to Pandora and the freckles that adorned his exposed skin came second. "And, I'm sure a family as wealthy as the Zedrids won't mind at all. Imagine the riches that they have! It's all just sitting there."

Every thief and bounty hunter in the galaxy knew who the Zedrids were, one of the richest families with enough influence to destroy any star system in their path. Stealing from them would be a risk, considering they had the best security that money could buy. But, the vast majority of their security would be muscle that was picked up from the street. It wouldn't be difficult to make it past them, Pandora mused. She turned her gaze to the four again, noticing how perplexed they seemed over the whole situation. Perhaps, they could use some assistance from a seasoned thief.

Pandora cleared her throat, making the four look in her direction with wide eyes as they quickly realized she had listened in on their whole conversation. She took a sip of her bitter drink, shooting them a playful wink. "Riches, you say?"

"Shut your mouth," the redhead spat out, narrowing his green eyes into a sharp glare as he quickly pushed the scroll back toward the shorter blonde in an attempt to hide its contents. His spirited mannerism had disappeared, being replaced with razored teeth and darkened eyes. "You didn't hear anything."

"Oh, but I did," Pandora shrugged, setting her glass down onto the sticky surface of her table. She smiled sweetly, crossing her legs together as she continued to stare at the four teenagers. Pandora, herself, was only eighteen years old and about to turn nineteen soon. But, she never paid much attention to her birthday. Or, at least, it was the day when the Thieves had found her. They said she looked about four months old when they found her, but declared her to be a newborn when they brought her home. Though, it didn't seem like it mattered in the lives they led. "You're planning on stealing from the Zedrids and I want in."

"No," the taller black-haired woman said, continuing to speak in a hushed tone to make sure no one else in the tavern would hear their words. If Pandora didn't know any better, she would say that the woman was the leader of the group. The woman looked close in age, but perhaps a year or two older than Pandora. Her short straight hair framed her features, making her look more mature than she should. The scar running from the left side of her face, going through her eye and cheek, aged her much more than anything else. "It would be wise if you pretended to not hear a thing."

"Alright, I suppose I have no choice but to report you to the authorities," Pandora said, shrugging her shoulders. It wouldn't be difficult to find a soldier wandering around, considering this part of the city was riddled with them. Though, it wasn't best to rely on them for help. They did as they pleased and only helped with it benefited them. Pandora tried her best to steer clear of them.

"You won't," the taller male said, narrowing his black eyes as he straightened his shoulders. It was a common technique to make yourself seem more intimidating than you were, but Pandora couldn't help but smile at his attempt. In her line of work, scary individuals were a given and these mediocre thieves seemed to be no match.

"Oh, I won't?" Pandora asked, tilting her head to the side. The buzzing in her mind had disappeared, allowing the woman to easily hear her own thoughts without the influence of space and time. "I could get you all arrested for conspiracy against the Zedrids and while you four rot away in a prison cell, I go in and steal the artifact that will make me a very wealthy woman for the rest of my life."

The black-haired woman sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes for the briefest moment. She took in a deep breath, letting her hands fall to her sides before she opened her eyes to face Pandora. "Fine, you can join us━━"

"━━no!" the redhead snapped, shaking his head as he gripped the woman's arms. "Alona, we can't let some outsider into our plan. We worked too hard for this!"

"Let go of me, Moxie," the black-haired woman, Alona, hissed, ripping her arm out of the redhead's grasp. His name was Moxie, fitting if you considered his personality. Though, their interaction made Pandora think they weren't as close as she originally had thought. "We don't have a choice. And, I'm sure the Zedrids have enough loot for all of us."

The blonde-haired girl shrugged, holding out her hand for Pandora to shake. "Name's Runa. I guess you can say I'm the brains of this operation, " she introduced herself, seemingly more open to the idea of having Pandora around.

"Yeah, she wishes," Moxie muttered, but his words went ignored as Runa kept speaking. He seemed to be the youngest of them all, looking to be around fifteen years of age.

Runa's hand was cold, but her brown eyes were warm as she smiled. "What's yours?"

"Pandora," she replied, nodding her head. So far, she knew three of their names and the last one seemed to be most annoyed with her presence. Pandora smiled, patting his back as she looked up at him. He looked down at her, narrowing his eyes. "What's your name, tough guy?"

"Kiri," he replied, slapping Pandora's hand away from him. He stood close to Alona, making Pandora wonder if there was anything going on between the two of them. He had not argued with Alona's decision either, deciding to go along with whatever she said. "Tell us," he started, "do you have any skills?"

"Being a thief is all I know," Pandora replied, shrugging her shoulders as she recalled the days of her youth when her adoptive family would make her steal from the local vendors. After all, no one expected a young girl in a pretty dress to be a thief. "I was taught how to steal before I learned how to walk. Whatever you guys can do, I can do it better."

The looks of disdain weren't hard to miss, but Pandora did not care as she moved closer to look at their notes and the map of the Zedrid family's manor. Alona began to point out various spots on the map, saying what they were and where the most guards would be located. She met Pandora's brown eyes, letting out a deep sigh. "Alright, here's the plan."

━━ ━━ ━━

SHE COULD SEE HER OWN BREATH as she slipped into an open window of the manor, making no sound as she looked around the hallway the window had led into. Muted grays and whites seemed to be the only color palette of the place, making Pandora shiver. The others had sent her in alone through the back entrance of the mansion, considering everyone had to come in through different entrances in case one of them was captured. Pandora hadn't been paying attention to where the others were, but she knew everyone had a different task to complete. All Pandora truly cared about was lining her pockets with gold, wanting enough money to travel to another planet where she would stay for a few weeks. However, she wished someone had been teamed up with her as she walked through the empty hall. The hallway was devoid of life, even the plants hanging overhead seemed to be wilting away. It was a strange sight to see a place reek of death.

Pandora continued to walk down the hall, taking quiet steps as she pocketed everything that seemed valuable into her bag. Part of her wondered exactly how rich the Zedrids were, considering they had so much gold lying around without a care in the world. Her companions hadn't told her what the artifact was that they were searching for, keeping it hidden as they all made their separate ways to the armory. Pandora didn't complain, knowing they had no reason to trust her. But, not knowing made her imagination go wild.

"You're different from the usual guards."

The voice caused Pandora to freeze, setting down the small trinket she had been holding back onto the console table. She straightened up, resting her hand on her blaster before she turned around to face the woman who had caught her. The woman seemed to be around the same age as her, having light blonde hair that was tied back in a loose bun. Her green eyes stood out against her pale complexion, but her round features made her seem more approachable. "Good evening, Lady Zedrid." Pandora greeted slowly, giving the woman a bow. "I'm afraid I'm still new, so it's probably why we have not crossed paths yet."

Lady Zedrid nodded, causing Pandora to sigh a breath of relief. At least, she hadn't called the woman by the wrong name or that surely would have given her away. Though, she didn't seem old enough to be the Mistress of the house. But, her expensive clothing meant she was someone important. Pandora knew little of the Zedrid family, consisting of Cedric Zedrid, Mara Zedrid, and their children, Elias, Aramis, and Darci. But, Pandora had no clue on who the person in front of her was.

"I've been away for a while, needed some time away from this place," she explained, shrugging her shoulders as she took a step closer. Her green eyes focused completely on Pandora. A slender finger pointed to the gold trinket Pandora had touched. "What were you doing with that?"

"I was checking it for dust," Pandora replied, shrugging her shoulders. "I should tell the staff they need to do a better job at cleaning."

A small smile appeared on the woman's lips as she crossed her arms over her chest. "For a thief, you're a terrible liar."

"I'm not a thief," Pandora said, tightening her grip on the handle of her blaster. She didn't want to shoot the woman, but to avoid imprisonment... then maybe. She had been in a prison before and it wasn't something she was keen on trying out again.

"Let me see your bag, then."

Well, damn it. Pandora wondered if the others had luck as rotten as hers. If she was going to end up in jail, then the others should too. It was only fair since this was their plan.

"I'm waiting."

Instead of doing as she was told, Pandora pulled out the blaster and aimed it at the woman. Her stance was stiff as she watched the blonde's unchanging expression. "I don't want to hurt you," Pandora said, shrugging her shoulders. "But, I will if I need to."

She laughed, causing Pandora to frown. "Calm yourself, I do not care if you're stealing from my parents."

Oh? It wasn't enough for Pandora to lower her blaster though. She wasn't prepared to trust the woman yet.

"I'm Darci, by the way," the blonde continued, smiling as mischief twinkled in her green eyes. "I figured you didn't know my name."

Darci Zedrid. Despite the other woman's calm demeanor, Pandora was rigid and kept the blaster trained on the woman. "Mommy and Daddy don't treat you right?" Pandora asked, raising a brow. "Is that why you're allowing thieves to roam around?"

"My reasons are my own," Darci replied plainly, shrugging her shoulders. She took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. "Come on, I'll show you where all the stuff worth stealing is."

Against her better judgment, Pandora began to follow the woman. The mansion was beautiful, making Pandora whistle as she looked at the grandiose decor. It was a place that even her wildest dreams couldn't have conjured, being unfamiliar with such riches. She wondered what it would be like to live such a lavish life. Though, Darci didn't seem too happy with her predicament since she was willing to help criminals. Yet, Pandora would have done anything to live such a life. She had spent her whole life on the streets, traveling from planet to planet. Darci's life seemed perfect to Pandora.

She stiffened when they passed by a group of guards, expecting Darci to give her up. But, she remained quiet as she walked with her head held high. The guards gave them a glance, but quickly resumed what they were doing when they spotted Darci.

"I'm assuming you did not come alone?" Darci asked, stopping in front of an iron door. It was impressive craftsmanship, Pandora had to admit as she stared at the finer details of the elaborate design. The blonde reached into a nearby flower pot, bringing out an iron key.

"No," Pandora shrugged, watching Darci unlock the door before the two of them slipped inside. There was light coming in from the windows against the far walls, but darkness still lingered in the corners. "There was a group planning to raid the place in search of an artifact. I... I kind of overheard their plans and threatened to report them if they didn't let me come along."

"Must be the same ones who tried earlier this month," Darci mused, walking down one of the rows as her eyes looked over the vast collection her family had acquired over the years. "Though, they didn't get far before they were caught."

"Can't say I'm surprised, considering their plan was mostly improvised," she added, following Darci's gaze to the items that surrounded them. No wonder the Zedrids were so powerful in this region.

"Take whatever you want." Darci wore a smirk, leaning against one of the display cases. Pandora could feel her curiosity spark, wanting to know all about the Zedrid family drama but she reminded herself that the money was more important.

Pandora hummed, running a finger across the dust that gathered on the glass display cases. The room was filled with artifacts from every corner of the galaxy. Finally, her eyes landed on a few lightsabers on display. "Are those..."

"Lightsabers?" Darci finished, nodding her head. "My brother enjoys collecting them like they're trophies. Killed for those, I think. I'm not too sure, I never asked him."

"I thought only Jedi had lightsabers," Pandora mumbled, opening the display case to get a closer look at them. They were all beautiful, but Pandora found herself attracted to the one in the middle. She reached out, testing the weight in her hands. It felt sturdy, for the lack of a better word.

She turned it on, flinching when the energy beamed out. It illuminated the room in shades of purple, making Pandora smile as she felt the heat radiate off it. She waved it around slowly, careful not to hit anything. Even Darci had taken a step back, watching the energy of the lightsaber.

"I've never seen a purple one before."

"I believe they're rare," Darci commented, returning Pandora's smile. "It suits you. Take it."

"Won't your brother be angry?"

Darci's smile held the familiar hint of mischief again. "Precisely."

"In that case, I will take it." Pandora turned it off, causing the room to settle in the pale lighting that the windows provided. She tucked it into her bag, along with anything else that looked expensive. "You know what, Darci Zedrid," Pandora began, turning to the blonde. "I like you."

Darci chuckled, looking down as she tucked a piece of her stray blonde hair behind her ear. "Thanks," she said, meeting Pandora's brown eyes again. "You never did tell me your name."

"Pandora," she answered, readjusting her bag since the weight was causing it to dig into her shoulders.

"There should be one more!" A man's voice echoed into the room from the hall, causing Pandora to freeze. "Find her! She couldn't have gotten far!"

"I think that means it's time for you to leave," Darci said, moving toward the wall where the windows were. Looking outside, Pandora could see that it exited to a balcony that led to the rooftop. From there, she'd be able to scale down.

Pandora smiled at Darci, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on her cheek. "We should get a drink sometime if I'm not gone by tonight."

Darci returned the smile, opening the window. "We'll see."

She swung a leg over the ledge, stepping onto the balcony. The air was crisp, but Pandora could feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins. "See you around, Darci."

"See you."

With that, Pandora took off running. And, she didn't stop until she had reached the town. She didn't care if the others had been caught, nor was she about to go "rescue" them. Instead, she was thinking of who she could sell her stolen goods to. She was planning on keeping the lightsaber though, thinking it made her look dangerous. She reached into the bag, pulling out the lightsaber.

Purple lit up the alley she was in, causing the rats to scurry away from the brightness. She swung the lightsaber, hitting a nearby wooden crate. An excited laugh left her lips as she watched half of it fall and burn. Oh, she was definitely keeping this.

"Pandora Maël?"

She froze, looking back to see two people standing in the mouth of the alley ━━ a human man and Togruta girl. "Who wants to know?"

The man stepped forward. "You are to come with us━━"

"Go ahead and try to take me," Pandora spat out, pointing the lightsaber in his direction. His reaction was similar to Darci's, unafraid. "I will hurt you."

A sigh left his lips as he waved his hand and Pandora's lightsaber flew out of her hands and into his. Oh, she was in trouble now. Still, she turned and tried to run. But, she didn't get fast when she was lifted off the ground for the briefest moment and forced to face them.

"For threatening a Jedi Knight and his Padawan," he started, noticing the glare that Pandora gave him. Still, his tone held amusement as he watched her struggle.

"And for stealing," the girl added, pointing to Pandora's bag. The man gave her a brief glance, offering her a warm smile.

Then, he looked back at Pandora and the sternness returned. "You are under arrest."

And, in the midst of her arrest, Pandora could hear the screams of the universe pick up again and she had quickly deemed the day as the worst she had in a long time.

♡

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF BEING PUBLISHED, the first chapter for this book is finally here! It went through a lot of different versions then it was abandoned for a good few months. But, I recently have had a lot of inspiration for this book and I am excited to write for this book! It is more of an AU book set during the Clone Wars show! I won't go too in-depth with following the plot since this book will focus mostly on Pandora and her journey to save the galaxy.

Let's talk Darci Zedrid! She is not my character but belongs to the amazing samwnchesters and I am so grateful she allowed me to include her in this chapter! It was so much fun to play around with her character and have her interact with Pandora! Haz has her own Star Wars fics (+ a lot of others for different fandoms!) and I definitely recommend checking out all of her books!

So, while Anakin is the love interest for this book, I am not sure how deep the romance will go! I don't think this will be a long book since I am only planning around 20 to 25 chapters! It will mostly be AU and center around Pandora. But, Anakin and Ahsoka will be making plenty of appearances because I love those two so much! We might even see Obi-wan and Padmé too! But, I am not too sure yet!

━━ AMARA
[ CHAPTER PUBLISHED ━━ 03.16.2022 ]