Third rotation after capture- 

Cell twenty four- 

Prisoner one thirty one; Ava Shand-

I awake to a clean, white cell, and suddenly wonder if I am back on Kamino. 

  But then I realize, it's not white, instead a soft grey, the floor and three of the walls a type of concrete. I can't see through the glass that makes a wall on one side; instead, it's a mirror reflected back at me, no doubt one way glass. 

  My throat is dry and scratchy, my tongue feeling swollen in my mouth. I swallow, raising a hand to my throbbing temple, groaning out loud. My muscles are stiff and tight, and as I shift to a sitting position, my right leg begins to cramp. The metal bench I am on creaks in protest.      Running my hands along my legs, massaging my fingers into the cramping muscle, I look around. 

  The walls are plain, empty, the east end having a tall door with no handles, or windows. I look at myself in the mirror, at my bent over form as I press my hands into my legs. I squint, wondering if there is someone on the other side, watching me: analyzing my every move. 

 I shakily stand, ignoring the pain in my stomach.. I wonder when the last time I ate was. Probably a ration pack on the marauder. I think of Hunter, and my heart aches slightly as I wonder what story Sid will tell them... If they will ever search for me. Pushing the dark thought out of my mind, I shake my head, willing myself to stand tall.

    Observing my reflection, I try not to panic. My arms are covered in bruises, pre existing scars light against my skin. My hands are skinned from my fall, even with my gloves on. The skin is already healing, but pink and raw, and the longer I look at them, the more they hurt.                              A hand mark-- no doubt from the traitorous Sid-- has been hastily bandaged, and I pull it off the white wrapping, letting it fall to the floor, before observing the crescent moon shaped wounds from her nails. I try not to shudder, to show any weakness. If there is someone on the other side, I want them to think that I am fearless, a force to be reckoned with. 

 Although, I still gasp when I notice-- my head has been shaved. My thick dark locks are gone, and as I run my fingers along my scalp, I am met with the feeling of peach fuzz, my shoulder length hair gone. It has been done hastily, and I winch as my fingers run over the nicks and scratches left by the blade, still tender to the touch. 

  I inhale deeply, letting my fingers fall from my head. I take slow, calculated steps towards the glass, my face mere inches from brushing the hard surface. My grey eyes stare back at me, and I reach out my hand, my fingertips pressing against the glass. My suspicions are correct-- there is no space between me and my reflection, giving a hint it that it is, in fact, a two way mirror. 

  Whoever they are, they can see me, but I cannot see them. 

  The door swings open from the wall, and I spin around as the freezing cold enters the room. 

   An inquisitor, different then the man from before, strides in, her cloak swishing around her feet. Her eyes are brown with swirls of red, her skin the color of chocolate, her hair tumbling in braids down her back. I am taller than her, with more muscle, but her demanding presence and the light sword on her hip keep me at bay.  I remember the inquisitor at the restaurant, how he stopped the knife from impaling his chest with a flick of his fingers. If she is anywhere near as powerful as him in this invisible strength, I don't stand a chance. 

  As the door slams shut behind her, she smirks. 

  "Sit down." She snaps, gesturing towards the metal bench. 

  I remain standing, tilting my head. She makes a clicking sound with her tongue, raising a gloved hand. 

  Excruciating pain slices through my body, and I cry out, collapsing to my knees. The pain continues, like a fire spreading through my nerves, like I am being skinned, twisted inside out. My whimpers build into screams before the pain finally stops, and I struggle to my feet, sobs involuntarily wracking my body. The aftermath of the pain is almost worse, a dull ache that has my muscles spasming. 

 I glare at her, and she shows no signs of sympathy. 

  "Let's try that again." She purrs, her eyes looking over me like a wildcat. "Sit. Down." 

  It's like my body moves on it's own accord, taking a limping step over the metal bench, collapsing onto the uncomfortable seat. 

  "You will learn that defiance will only cause you pain here, Shand." She coos, moving to stand in front of me, her eyes shining. "Now, where do I start?" 

  "Who are you?" I snap, my voice scratchy from dehydration. "What do you want with me?" 

  "So she does talk!" She mocks, unclipping her light sword from her belt, appearing to inspect it for dust. "You are here until you serve a purpose to the Grand Inquisitor and the Emperor, or die at my hands. If you cooperate, you will become one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy..." 
 

  She ignites her lightsaber, and I watch it hesitantly as it hums, casting red light across the room. 

  "And if you don't." She smiles, her eyes looking unhinged. "You will wish you hadn't crawled out of the little hole you came from." 

  "You are going to be disappointed." I growl, flinching as she swings the lightsaber dangerously close to my face, the tip so close I can feel the heat emitting from it. "I don't give in easily. I would never help your Emperor."

 She laughs. 

  "Oh, my. You are going to be fun to break." 

***
No one's POV

Echo feels sick to the pit of his stomach. He knows Delta, knows that she would have contacted them by now. Sid said that she couldn't comm them from her location, that she is hot on the pirates trail. Hunter is aggravated, on edge after the run in with Crosshair on Ryloth. The whole ride back to Sid's he sits slumped in his chair, trying to nurse a headache. He is worried about Hunter, sure, but right now, Delta's location is always on the back of his mind. 

  And without Delta around, Omega follows Echo around while he does chores. Trying to help clean armor and fold backs-- (Key word, trying)-- helping him oil his mechanical arm. Echo doesn't tell her what is on his mind... that he has a feeling that something has gone wrong... and that they won't be seeing their squad mate anytime soon. 

 Sid's restaurant is surprisingly empty. Smoke swirls around the air in whisps and the few patrons are drinking at the bar. As they make their way towards the back, Hunter only becomes more tense. If Delta were here, she would be out here greeting them.

  Sid stands outside her office, glowering at them. The hallway is dark, her yellow eyes shining from the shadows. The sergeant looks around, but Delta is nowhere to be seen. Hunter tucks his helmet under his arm, narrowing his eyes at her. 

 "Could it have taken you all any longer?" She snaps, her arms crossed. 

 "There were some... unforeseen complications." Hunter remarks. He doesn't mention Hera, or the Ryloth Rebels, or The Empire and Crosshair. She doesn't need to know any of it. Plus, there are other things on his mind. "Where is Delta?" 

  Sid frowns, and Echo suddenly has the urge to puke. She turns towards into the office, waving for them to follow her.  Hunter holds out a hand to Wrecker, stopping him from going inside.

  "Stay out here with Omega." He says, his voice gruff. Omega frowns, her voice sounding surprisingly small as she speaks up. 

  "Why? Where is Delta?"

  Hunter just shakes his head, unable to speak, the unknown scaring him more than he would like to admit. He looks at Echo for help, but his brother's mouth his dry with worry. He is afraid if he opens his mouth, his voice will shake, so he looks away.

   Tech kneels down at her level, adjusting his glasses. Her hazel eyes are wide with concern and fear, and he sighs. 

 "We're trying to protect you, Omega." He says. "There are some things that... young minds aren't meant to see. Just stay out here with Wrecker, and we will brief you later." 

 She frowns, nodding, slipping over to Wrecker. He smiles at her. 

 "It's okay, kid. They don't want me to see it, either." 

 Hunter leads the way into the office, where Sid is sitting at her desk, playing with her hands. 

  "Where is Delta?" He snaps, jumping right to the point. He doesn't care if they get paid at the moment, doesn't care about their next mission. All he wants to know is where his girl is.

    Echo comes up next to him, closely followed by Tech, who stands with his hands on his hips.  Sid avoids their gaze, seemingly unnerved by the many pairs of eyes on her. She reaches for something under her desk. 

  "There was an accident... I only found out about it half a rotation ago..." 

  Hunter's heart plumets as the lizard woman places a helmet on the table, so broken that it takes him a second to realize. The shattered visor, the side dented and pressed in, cracks running along the broken metal in spider-web scars. As he watches, it seems to shudder, breaking into two pieces before his eyes. 

  "There was an accident... the girl was caught under a rockslide..." She looks at his face, his eyes glued to the marred helmet in front of him. "This was all that was salvaged." 

***

Echo leans on the doorway to the cockpit, looking at Hunter, where he sits piloting the Havoc Marauder through hyper space. The sergeant knows that Echo is there, but he doesn't move from his position in the co-pilots seat, his legs tucked towards his chest, his arms folded across the top of them. His bandana sits in his hands, his fingers running over the stitching, as if trying to ground himself.

  "You okay, Vod?" Echo asks hesitantly, seeing his brother shudder. After taking care of Omega, who hadn't stopped sobbing after hearing the news, Hunter is exhausted. Echo knows he blames himself.

"I.." Hunter chokes out, wiping at his eyes hurriedly, his body shaking. His emotionless blockade breaking, his strong exterior deteriorated.

Echo's heart feels like it might burst when his brother lets out a broken sob, burying his head into his arms.
  "I should have been more insistent. She should have stayed with us, Echo, and she would still be here."

  Echo isn't exactly an emotional man himself, but he crosses the room, gently putting an arm over his brother. It's awkward, an odd and uncomfortable position, but Hunter leans towards him. (This, alone, surprises him. Hunter isn't really a touchy feely person, his hyper senses making it difficult to even be in the same room as too many people. His only exception was Delta.)

"I should have kissed her one last time, Echo." Hunter chokes out, pressing his forehead into Echo's shoulder. Echo looks up at the ceiling, afraid that if he looks at him, he will start crying as well.

"I know." Echo says, gently rubbing circles into his back with his hand. He knows 'I'm sorry' won't help. All he can do is be there for him.

Hello! I hope you are all enjoying it. I know it doesn't all make sense, so if you have any questions, feel free to comment or Direct Message me! 

 May the force be with you, always. 

  - Kena <3

  (Word count; 2006)