Chapter Text
The Mantis broke through the roof of the arena like an avenging angel made of steal. It smashed the walkways, sparks flew, metal screeched on metal. And Cal’s heart jumped. BD-1 on his back beeped excitedly. They had come for him. They had actually come.
The young Jedi gathered his last bit of strength and sprinted towards the lowering hatch. The bog rats, flame beetles, slyyyg and wyyyschokk had been bad enough, but he had dealt with those before. He had known he could do it again. And he did. But Slaejax, the Haxion Brood’s headhunter droid had been a different matter altogether…
Cal ran the last steps, staggered, caught himself, ran up the hatchway and stumbled through the doorway panting. For a second his vision flickered and he had to support himself against the wall of the ship’s common area.
While the Mantis gained height and started its hasty take-off, he pressed his right hand onto his left side wincing from the pain that had turned from pulsing to screaming. When he held up his hand, it came away soiled in blood. He didn’t look down to inspect the wound. This wasn’t the time. It would have to wait. BD-1 gave a hasty string of binary. “Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing to worry about, BD.” Cal let his poncho slide down again and wiped his hand clean on his trousers.
Greez and Cere hadn’t come to greet him. Of course, they hadn’t. They had to fly the Mantis out of here, right? To safety. At least that’s what he was trying to tell himself. Cal took a few seconds to catch his breath, slowly breathe through the pain, to straighten up, rake his fingers through his tousled hair and to put on a poker face that didn’t show how exhausted he really was. Or how hurt. He was good at that. Had practiced pretending for a long time.
Cal casually strolled into the co*ckpit on stiff and hurting legs. At least he hoped it would look casual. Like it wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t a big deal that he had been running around Zeffo for what felt like weeks to find an artifact just to fail miserably? No big deal that the Second Sister had almost killed him. No big deal what he had learned from her about Cere. No big deal that he had been knocked out, imprisoned and made to fight in a Haxion Brood arena to the death?
Cal’s fingers started trembling and he clenched his hands into tight fists until his finger nails left half-moon shaped indentations on his palms. BD-1 on his back gave an encouraging beep.
His voice didn’t shake when he said “Hey Greez. You’re famous down there.”
Greez, the pilot of the Mantis turned around to him, looking nervous.
“Yeah, they’re an… ugly group, huh? They smell like used droid oil, heh heh.” The laugh sounded contrived and fake. At least Greez had the decency to look guilty and uneasy about how it had been his gambling depts that had put Cal into this bantha sh*t situation.
The Latero added “At least you’re okay.”
Yeah, he was ok. Wasn’t he? Everything was just great.
Cere jumped in and snarled “Yeah, a complication we could have avoided.” And a little softer towards Cal “Luckily we found you.”
“We have another complication.” Cal said. “The Empire knows about the holocron.”
“That’s not good. The entire mission is now at risk.”
The mission… the holocron. He didn’t know any more if finding and using the holocron even was a good idea. His head was spinning. His thoughts stumbled and fell, he opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again to speak and had to gather all his concentration not to stutter when he said “And I had a nice chat with the Second Sister. Trilla.”
He watched Cere’s reaction closely. Wanted to see her reaction to those words. But she just looked stiff and stone faced.
Cal furrowed his brows when Cere replied “What did she tell you?”
Yes, Trilla had told him quite a few vital things. Details Cere had willingly withheld. No, not only withheld – had actively lied about. She had lied to him all along. But now he knew. Knew that she had abandoned and betrayed her Padawan.
“She told me… She told me you betrayed her to the Empire. Is it true?”
Cere’s face stayed cold and neutral. But she didn’t look him in the eye. Was it guilt he could see in her face? Or just annoyance that he had found out?
“She’ll say anything to jeopardize this mission.”
This was not what this was about!
Cal almost screamed “Is it true?!” He needed not know. Needed to hear it from her!
With a quiet voice Cere said “She was my apprentice… Before the purge.”
“You should have told me.” Was all Cal could say. Suddenly he was so tired. He wanted to lie down. To sleep. To sleep until his body didn’t ache anymore.
The young Jedi stared at Cere. Looked in her face, hoping for… yeah, what? Guilt? Regret? Remorse? Something.
He felt a meltdown coming. Felt blood rushing in his ears, tears welling in his eyes. Tears of pain and exhaustion, frustration, of being deceived, of feeling all alone, of… all the sh*t that was going down here.
But Greez saved him from the embarrassment. “We’re getting an encrypted message from Kashyyyk.”
Cal sniffed, blinked away a treacherous tear and marched off towards the holotable, snorting in annoyance.
The holographic transmission from Mari flickered to life.
“Mari.” Cal greeted her.
“Cal, we found Tarfful and he is willing to meet you.” That was good news. “But that’s not all… The empire overran our position at the refinery.” Okay, now that was bad. “Saw retreated off-world. Some of us have joined the Wookiee fighters in the forests. Be careful.”
“You too.”
The transmission ended and the holotable flickered back into hibernation. They would go back to Kashyyyk. Talk to Tarfful.
Cal made a step towards the co*ckpit but Cere stood in his way. Cal stopped mid-step.
Cere said “Later.”
Well, whatever. Later then. Sure, they could talk later. As if this wasn’t important. Maybe it wasn’t to her.
“Later.” Cal replied. “We have our lead.”
Cal just stood there while Cere walked past him towards her cabin. She had just left him standing there like a child that didn’t deserve any explanation or apology. He felt so stupid. And hurt.
Greez mumbled “Okay, this is fine. Everything is gonna be fine.”
Sure. Fine. Just fine.
Cal swallowed hard, turned around and limped off towards the engine room.
