Ingrasi sights as she hears Azike’s question for the tenth time within the last five minutes. She gently massages her temple to stave off the onset of a headache. This had been such a bad plan from the beginning. Nobody should do a ten-hour drive just for the experience.
Her grip around the steering wheel tightens as Azike repeats the question. “No, and no matter how many times you ask, it’s not going to make us arrive any sooner.” The frustration clear in her voice making Azike be quiet.
It barely lasts for few minutes and soon a quite humming fills the car. Was a little silence too much to ask? The annoyance and tiredness tingle in the Force, making the bond between her and Zâkas flair. The disturbance enough to stir Zâkas awake.
’Everything alright love?’ She can feel the warmth through the bond, reinvigorating her. He feels rested, having been able to sleep for the past few hours.
‘As well as you might expect.’ His hand falls on her shoulder, tenderly massaging it. She can feel the tension drain away as she relaxes. Azike’s humming seems muted, farther away.
‘I can take over soon and you can get some rest.’
‘Thank you.’ She leans into his touch, already feeling much better.
“Azike!” Ingrasi’s voice carries in the house as she flips through the messages on the datapad over her morning tea. “If you don’t come here now, you’ll be late!”
Soon the young Pureblood shows up at the door, pouting. “I thought dad was taking me today. He took me yesterday.”
“Afraid not sweetheart.” Zâkas enters the kitchen, fully armoured. He scoops Azike into his arms, booping her noise. “I have an important meeting this morning.”
Azike’s ears peek up as Zâkas sets her on a chair. “Killing evil Jedi?”
“Something of the like.” Amusement gleams through his words as he kisses the top of her head. “Now eat your breakfast.”
As soon as he makes his way to Ingrasi, he bends down to give her a quick kiss. “Morning love.”
Ingrasi hums her good morning as she hands him a steaming mug of tea. “I think one of the kitchen slaves needs to be disciplined. Its work has been less than stellar lately.”
“I’ll see to it when I get back.”
Ingrasi’s lips brush his cheek, “Thank you dear.”
Azike snorts, “Could you two stop?”
“There’s nothing to see here honey,” Ingrasi chuckles as she raises the datapad between them and Azike, “Go back to your breakfast.” Under the cover of the datapad, Ingrasi captures Zâkas’ lips, enjoying the unhurried kiss that deepens quickly.
“Dad! I don’t want to!” Azike send a pleading look at her father. Zâkas wasn’t impressed, this trick might have worked on him few months back but now he wasn’t so easily persuaded.
“Mum isn’t even home yet and I’m not going to sleep before she tucks me in,” the young pureblood crossed her arms as a determined look entered her eyes. Of all the things Azike could have inherited from her parents it was their determination and focus in pursuit of their goals. No amount of arguing – short of carrying her to bed – would sway her from her path. So Zâkas decided to play her game.
“How about a bedtime story while we wait for her?”
“Sure!” – she climbed onto her father’s lap – “I want to hear the Sith and Star.”
Zâkas smiled, he wouldn’t even need the holobook for this; it was a story he had heard many times during his childhood and had told it many times since. Azike snuggled against him as he wrapped her in his arms.
“It was the end of the Great Hyperspace War when the Jedi drove our people to exile. As our people departed in haste, one lone Sith was left behind. She hid through the bombings and the Jedi’s searches until they were all gone. Alone, the young Sith knew giving up wasn’t an option; she would have to find her way to the stars and back to her people.” Azike’s eyes had closed as she had been listening, but as soon as she noticed her father had stopped she opened them, as if questioning his silence.
“So she searched for other survivors only to find bodies, for shelter only to find ruins, and for a ship offworld only to find wreckages. But despite all the setbacks she didn’t give up. She survived the wildlife and the desecrated planet, as well as the hunger and thirst that shadowed her journey as she continued searching. On the third day of her search even the stars took note of her tenacity, determination, and strength. One star, now as lonely as she, descended from the sky to help her on her quest.” Azike’s breathing was calm and stable but Zâkas didn’t dare to stop telling the story just yet.
“The Star found her on the fourth night sitting on a rock above the Valley of the Dark Lords.
`For what reason is a daughter of Korriban so upset?’ the descended Star asked.
`I have searched this planet and found no living beings except for you. Nor have I found a ship to take me to my family,’ the Sith answered, her voice not betraying her anxiety.
`I know where you can find a ship that will take you to your people.’ As soon as the Star had finished, it started moving away from the edge, towards the blowing sands of Korriban. The Star never looked back, knowing the Sith would follow.
“The Sith and the Star walked in silence for days, Korriban itself sustaining the Sith in her steps. Finally, they reached an old temple. Entering the temple, the Star led the Sith through the maze-like corridors until they arrived to a large hanger. There they found an ancient ship, it was so old the Sith doubted it would even fly, let alone take her to the stars.
“I watched this ship arrive generations ago, its inhabitants willing to usher the Sith into a new era of prosperity. It is only fitting that at the end of an age it is willing to take the hope of the Sith back to the stars,” The Star seemed melancholic, a wistful look entering its eyes.
“Are you sure it will fly?”
“Yes, the Dark Side will not abandon you now.”
“And will you come with me? To guide me through the stars?”
“No, my duty is to guard Korriban until our people’s return,” and with those words the Star left the Sith, returning to its place above Korriban. The Sith entered the ship, gazing upon the temple and her home one last time before closing the door and going to the cockpit. Soon her fingers were flying over the controls, their path guided by the Force. The engines came to life and the ship left the hanger, shooting for the stars.” Finishing the story Zâkas was finally certain that Azike had fallen asleep. Reaching through the Force he summoned his datapad and continued reading the reports from Ketaris while Azike slept in his arms.
Zâkas realised he must have fallen asleep when he heard the front door open and felt Ingrasi’s familiar presence through the Force. With Azike on his lap he didn’t wish to rise and disturb her rest, she would wake up soon enough. Ingrasi stepped into the living room, clearly exhausted but still carrying herself with the poise her statue demanded. Sensing her mother’s arrival Azike woke up. Scrambling over her father’s legs, the four-year-old leapt into her mother’s arms. Effortlessly catching her, Ingrasi spun around few times much to Azike’s delight.
“How is my little Lord?” Ingrasi asked as they stopped spinning.
“Good!”
“That’s good to hear. And have you brushed your teeth?”
“No,” a guilty look entered Azike’s eyes as Ingrasi set her down.
“You better get going then,” Ingrasi had hardly finished the sentence before Azike raced to the fresher.
“Long day I take it.”
“You know Cadoc. I’m not sure that man has a life outside his job,” bending to kiss Zâkas before continuing, “With any luck we’ll get the strategy review done tomorrow and he’ll let me do my job. How was your day?”
“The same old. I had assumed getting involved with the Military might actually lead into seeing some action instead of just talking about it.”
“My poor Wrath, cooped up in the Capital” – much to her amusement Zâkas sent a dirty look towards her – “I guess you are in luck as the Council talked about you.”
“What about?”
“intelligence has–”
“Mom! I’m ready!” Azike’s voice ran clear through the apartment.
“Coming! I’ll go and see her to bed.” Zâkas’ impatience flared in the Force. “Promise I’ll tell you as soon as I can,” was the amused reassurance before Ingrasi left.
Azike was already under her covers when Ingrasi got to her room. The young pureblood’s eyes looked anything but tired, the short nap earlier having invigorated her.
“Mom, Dad started telling me the Sith and Star, could you finish it?”
“Sure, and where shall I continue it from?”
“When the Star finds the Sith,” clearly she wasn’t going to sleep until hearing the end. Ingrasi sat next to her bed and begun: “On the fourth night the Sith sat down on a rock to gaze upon the Valley of the Dark Lords. As she sat there, a strange figure approached her…”
“… The ship of the Exile’s flew back to the stars, this time with a clear destination in sight” – Ingrasi looked at Azike only to find her as awake as before – “And now to sleep”.
“But I’m not tired!”
“You will be tomorrow if you don’t go to sleep. If you stay up I expect you to get up when the alarm goes off, and not complain that you are tired. Consider it a lesson in responsibility.”
“Fine,” Ingrasi couldn’t help but be amused by Azike’s pout.
“Good night.” She kissed her daughter’s forehead before departing the room and turning off the toned-down light.
“Finally asleep?” Zâkas offered a cup of tea when Ingrasi arrived to the kitchen.
“Soon, with any luck,” grateful for the steaming cup, she enjoyed the fragrance before taking a sip.
“So how did I end up in the Council’s discussion.”
“Well you know how we like to gossip,” Ingrasi could feel Zäkas’ frustration, even a small jest felt distracting from the possibility of a mission. “Also Intelligence has finally located Sajar. It is an outright embarrassment for how long he has continued breathing since Dantooine.”
“My predecessor didn’t even have the decency of finishing him on Quesh all those years ago”, one of many Scourge’s failures in Zâkas’ opinion; though not the most grievous one. “Where is he now?”
“Lana has the details and will contact you in the morning” – she set her cup down – “Also Mortis wishes you to take care of this quickly. I think Sajar’s time amongst the living has been quite humiliating for his Sphere.”
“You are enjoying this far too much”
“What? Are you telling me the thought of the traitor finally getting justice isn’t satisfying to you? Who are you and what have you done to my husband?”
“You know what I meant.” It was no secret in their household that Ingrasi disagreed with Mortis on many issues. But he wasn’t her rival and in Zâkas’ opinion there was no need to extend the humiliation of Sajar’s treason onto his successor. Though he couldn’t deny that the thought of driving his lightsaber through Sajar filled him with glee. “If I am to leave Dromund Kaas for a while, we better make the most of the time before that,” a playful look entered his eyes as he approached Ingrasi.
“And what did you have in mind?”
“I would rather just show you,” Zâkas closed the final distance between them, pulling Ingrasi into a heated kiss. Ingrasi leaned into him, wrapping her arms around Zâkas.
