THE LAST PIECE - a SWTOR story
Three years after the Zakuul Invasion, Jedi Knight and the Barsen'thor, Zsira Nazo, is hiding from Emperor Arcann's forces. Unexpectedly, she receives a message from a person she wasn't sure she'd ever hear from again.
She stepped out of the prom. “What a strange place,” she thought, as she saw the 'landscape' of Asylum. A haven for the escapees from Zakuul, and yet so close to it.
Zsira, being high-placed in the Zakuul Most Wanted ranking, should not have even been taking the risk. Yet, here she was. She never imagined it would be so easy to literally abandon everything after just one message from her. Three years since they last talked, three years since the Eternal Empire Invasion, and Zsira still thought about her, wondering what she had been doing. Is she safe? Is she planning something? Did she give up? As it turned out, the first option was correct. Zsira should have never doubted.
She started walking towards the meeting point. Hood on the head, mask on the face, Zsira hoped that nobody would recognise her. Asylum might be a safe place, but one can never be too safe.
She had her lightsaber hidden in the bag, with only a small blaster hooked on her belt. It was a gift from her brother, but Zsira was not very good at shooting, so she had hoped for this day to be calm.
‘I need you, Zsira; there is no one else I would ask for this.’
Zsira wondered if it was real. If there really was not anybody else. She could think about a few other people.
She came to the meeting point but did not see anybody unusual. Everybody looked the same, refugees, gangsters, not a soul to really trust. Then she felt it, that presence in the Force. Lana.
Zsira turned around. She saw her, similarly hidden under a hood and a mask. They looked at each other for a few seconds, silently not believing that it was happening. Then Lana moved her arm and gestured towards some narrow street. Zsira followed her there, and Lana opened a door and entered an empty room. Zsira did the same.
They uncovered their faces.
“I wasn’t sure you would come,” said Lana.
“Well, I did,” Zsira responded, “you said, you are planning something. That you want to save Ikar."
“So you don’t believe he is dead?”
“No. Though I had my doubts,” she said, “but I do believe that is not the only thing on your mind.”
Lana chuckled, “You know my mind well.”
Zsira smiled, and for the first time in three years looked Lana Beniko in the eyes. Lana did the same.
Silence was surrounding them. The last time they were looking at each other like this was on Ziost. Frowns on their faces. Lightsabers in hands. And the clear difference between them, that Zsira always tried to ignore. A Jedi and a Sith. There would always be something between.
Zsira turned her gaze on the floor, “So what are you planning?” she asked.
“There are many people that hate the Eternal Empire. They are, of course, mostly from our part of the galaxy, but there are even some Zakuulans."
“I thought Zakuul prospers, shouldn't they be glad?”
“Maybe, but some also see what Arcann has done to us. Such is the case with Koth, who you will meet soon.”
“I understand you want to build a… rebellion?”
“You are talking about the Republic, Empire, and Zakuulans?” Zsira questioned, “Do you think it will work?”
“Haven’t it worked with Revan?”
“Yes, but it was on a smaller scale, and—”
“And we had Ikar.” Lana interrupted, “A true leader, who already killed the Emperor twice and is a legend across the whole galaxy, including Zakuul.”
“And why do you need me?” asked Zsira.
Lana looked puzzled, like she had just heard the most ridiculous thing, “You, you are Zsira Nazo, a Barsen’thor.”
“Why does it matter? I am not as strong as you think. I already lost too much to all this. And there are so many more powerful people that you could ask for help.”
“But I asked you,” said Lana, “I don’t care about power and strength, Zsira. I need you.”
“But why?” asked Zsira, confused. “If you need help in rebelling and rescuing Ikar, you could ask Darth Imperius or Lady Wrath. They are much more capable than me.”
“Why won’t you believe that you are needed?”
“Because I gave up!” Zsira exclaimed, sitting down on the floor, “I do not know why I even came here.”
Lana looked at her, Zsira thought she would see disappointment on her face. But Lana was not disappointed, she was shocked. She sat down next to Zsira.
“It doesn’t change anything for me.” Lana said, “I still want you here.”
“Do you think about Ziost sometimes?” Zsira asked.
“That was the only thing on my mind while I was getting here,” Zsira continued, “It should not be so heavy for me, should it? It seems like the whole world just forgot about it. I didn’t. I remember everything from that day. Every person I could not help. Every scream. Every kill. The planet — dead, after everything we have done to help. And I remember you there,” she looked at Lana, “How I disagreed with you, and how I was the first to pull out the lightsaber. And how it all just does not make any sense.”
“You are right,” said Lana, “it does not. And it was not your fault.”
“I know. But my mind sometimes disagrees with me.”
“Then I will remind you that you are right, every single day,” Lana responded, “You are extraordinary, Zsira. You were always like that for me. And I know that I will not be able to achieve anything without you. You are the most important piece; you are the one I need.
Zsira put her head on Lana’s shoulder. And so they sat like this for a while. And when they finally got up, Zsira did not ask any questions, and Lana did not give any answers. They just knew. Zsira might have given up, but she was still Zsira, and Lana got the last piece, her favourite one.
