(Vex Korrath POV)
Cipher Seven - though she had long abandoned that designation in favor of her chosen identity, stood motionless in the sterile white glow of the medical bay aboard the Shadowhawk. Her imposing seven foot frame cast long shadows across the floor as she watched the two children floating peacefully in their bacta tanks, their small forms suspended in the healing fluid like specimens in some grand experiment. The gentle hum of the life support systems provided the only sound in the otherwise silent chamber.
Vex Korrath - the name she had claimed for herself when she'd go outside of Imperial Intelligence space crossed her muscled arms over her broad chest, her crimson hair catching the harsh medical lighting as she tilted her head. The sight before her stirred something unexpected in the depths of her analytical mind. When she had first boarded their ramshackle vessel barely twenty-four hours ago, expecting to find smugglers or rebels, she had instead discovered these two waifs malnourished, terrified, and clinging to each other like drowning swimmers.
Now, suspended in the bacta's nurturing embrace, they looked almost healthy. The older girl's crimson skin had regained some of its natural luster, no longer bearing the pallid undertones of starvation. The younger child's face, peaceful in induced sleep, had filled out slightly, the sharp angles of hunger beginning to soften. Whatever horrors they had endured from where they'd escaped from, at least they were safe now.
"Your report, Dr. Kannis" Vex said without turning, her voice carrying the crisp authority that had served her well through fifteen years in Imperial Intelligence. She had sensed his approach long before his footsteps became audible, a useful skill when one's survival often depended on knowing who was coming and how fast.
Dr. Jorik Kannis, a weathered man in his sixties whose gray hair spoke to decades of service aboard Imperial vessels, stepped up beside her. His datapad glowed softly in his hands as he pulled up the relevant files, and Vex caught the familiar gesture of him rubbing his chin - a nervous habit she'd observed countless times during their seven years of working together.
"I've had the medical scanners personally calibrated three times, Captain" Kannis began, his voice carrying the weight of professional certainty mixed with underlying concern. "The data is accurate, I can assure you of that. However, the results are..." He paused, searching for the right words. "Strange."
Vex's pale grey eyes flicked toward him briefly before returning to the floating children. "Give me the details, Doctor. All of them."
Kannis activated his datapad's holographic display, and three-dimensional structures began rotating slowly in the air between them. "The older child Ember, I believe she calls herself is approximately sixteen standard years old. Her overall health is... complicated." He gestured toward the readouts. "She shows signs of malnutrition, repeated medical procedures, and what appears to be some form of experimental genetic modification. However, she's currently stable and responding well to treatment.
"And the younger one?"
"Cherry, age eight. Perfect health, actually. No signs of malnutrition or medical trauma. Whatever they did to her sister, they appeared to have improved the process as this one is doing better genetically." Kannis paused, his expression growing more troubled. "Captain, that's where things become... unusual."
Vex finally turned to face him fully, her towering presence commanding attention. "Define unusual, Doctor."
Kannis hesitated, then tapped his datapad. New data streams appeared in the holographic display, showing complex genetic sequences that seemed to shift and flow like living things. "It's their blood composition, Captain. The genetic markers are... extraordinary."
"Explain."
"The older child, Ember her blood is 50% Sith Massassi bloodline, another 50% is Miraluka and somehow there is also 10% Purrgil genetic material in her.
Vex's eyebrows rose slightly - the closest thing to a display of surprise that most people ever saw from her. "The space whales?"
"The very same. How genetic material from a species that is so far from being similar to either of her bloodlines being integrated into a humanoid genome is beyond my understanding."
"And the younger child?"
Kannis swiped to a new display. "Cherry's composition is even more intriguing. 45% Sith Kissai bloodline. 45% Miraluka, same as her sister. And the same 10% Purrgil genetic material."
The medical bay fell silent except for the steady rhythm of the life support systems. Vex stared at the genetic displays, her analytical mind racing through the implications. Something wasn't adding up correctly.
"Doctor" she said slowly, her brow furrowing. "Your math cant be right. Fifty percent Massassi, fifty percent Miraluka, and ten percent Purrgil - that adds up to one hundred and ten percent for Ember alone. How is that even possible?"
Kannis rubbed his chin more vigorously, a nervous habit that had intensified over the years. "I... honestly, I'm not entirely sure, Captain. The readings are consistent across multiple tests, but you're absolutely right about the impossibility. It's as if their genetic structure somehow accommodates overlapping sequences that shouldn't coexist. And that's not even accounting for how they acquired Purrgil genetics in the first place."
He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew two items The first was a small vial containing clear liquid, its surface unmarked except for medical coding. The second was one of the metallic cylindrical devices she had seen Ember using during their brief conversations before the bacta treatment.
"Before they went under" Kannis continued, holding up the items, "did Ember explain to you what these are for?"
Vex nodded, her expression growing more serious. "She did. Though Ember seemed uncertain about the exact purpose, she told me that the laboratory doctors administered the injection whenever her body began reacting badly to something violent episodes where her vision would destabilize and she would cough up blood. And the metallic device helps her body handle the overwhelming sensory information she receives."
Kannis was silent for several long moments, his fingers absently turning the vial over in his palm. The gentle hum of the medical equipment seemed to grow louder in the stillness. Finally, he looked up at Vex with an expression of wonder mixed with concern.
"Fascinating" he breathed. "Captain, I've analyzed both of these substances, and the results are... extraordinary." He activated a new holographic display showing molecular structures that seemed to shift and flow as she watched.
"The injection vial contains concentrated Clouzon-36 gas that has been processed into liquid form, along with several other pharmacological compounds I don't recognize. The metallic devices contain the same gas in a much less concentrated, vaporized form, combined with various organic compounds that appear to be synthesizable."
Vex's eyes fixed on the swirling molecular display. "Clouzon-36? That's hyperdrive fuel. Why do they have it?"
"Exactly." Kannis highlighted specific molecular chains in the hologram. "Here's what should be impossible Captain, Ember and most likely Cherry shouldn't be able to handle or ingest this gas. Most humanoid species cannot metabolize Clouzon-36. It's toxic to their respiratory and circulatory systems. But somehow their bloodstream is allowing them not only to tolerate it, but to apparently require it for proper function."
"You're suggesting" she said carefully, "that whoever created these children somehow successfully integrated space-whale genetics into humanoid physiology, and that integration is so complete that they now require hyperdrive fuel?"
"That's exactly what I'm suggesting" Kannis replied grimly. "And Captain, there's something else. The concentration levels they're using would be fatal to any normal humanoid within minutes. The fact that they not only survive but function better with these substances suggests their entire metabolic system has been fundamentally altered."
Vex turned back to the bacta tanks where Ember and Cherry floated peacefully, unaware of the conversation taking place about their impossible biology. The gentle blue glow of the healing fluid cast dancing shadows across their faces, making them look even younger and more vulnerable.
"What am I going to report to my handler in Intelligence about this?" she asked, more to herself than to the doctor.
"The truth" Vex said finally, her voice carrying the steel of absolute determination. "I'll report exactly what we've discovered, and I'll handle whatever complications arise from it. I already claimed the kids, might as well deal with the aftermath that comes with it."
Kannis nodded slowly, understanding the resolve in her tone. After working with her for seven years, he had learned to recognize when Captain Vex Korrath had made a decision that nothing would change.
"Captain" he said quietly, "have you told the Mistress yet?"
The question hit Vex like a thermal detonator. Her towering frame went rigid, and for the first time since entering the medical bay, she seemed to lose her composure. A slight stutter crept into her voice as she said, "N-no, I... no, I haven't."
Kannis couldn't help but chuckle at seeing the normally unflappable Cipher agent reduced to nervous stammering at the mention of her personal life. "Captain, if I may offer some advice from a man who's been married for thirty-four years - the longer you wait to have that conversation, the more... explosive... it's likely to become."
Vex shot him a look that could have melted blast doors, but there was no real anger in it. "Thank you for that wisdom, Doctor. Your concern for my domestic arrangements is noted."
"Good luck, Captain" Kannis called after her as she strode toward the medical bay's exit, her long red hair trailing behind her like a banner. "You're going to need it."
The corridors of the Shadowhawk stretched before Vex as she made her way through the ship, her imposing seven-foot frame causing crew members to step aside respectfully as she passed. The ship was a modified Terminus-class destroyer that had been retrofitted for Intelligence operations. She moved through the main corridors with purposeful strides, acknowledging the salutes and nods of recognition from her crew. Most of them had served under her for several years, and they had learned to read her moods from the set of her shoulders and the pace of her walk.
Instead of taking the main turbolift that most crew members used, Vex approached a smaller, private elevator tucked into an alcove near the main elevators. The access panel recognized her biometric signature and opened immediately, revealing a compact lift designed for only one or two passengers.
The elevator carried her up two levels to the ship's command section, where her personal quarters were located. The doors opened onto a short, well-appointed hallway that led to her private chambers, one of the few truly personal spaces aboard an Imperial vessel. Her quarters were larger than most and she truly was happy and made sure to enjoy every inch of it. As she walked she looked at few pieces of art from various worlds she had visited during missions adorned the walls, and comfortable furniture provided a refuge from the demands of command. But it wasn't the main quarters she sought now. Instead, she moved to a secondary door that led to her private office a separate room with its own entrance that allowed her to conduct business without the worry of someone walking in and hearing something they shouldn't.
The office was smaller but elegantly appointed, dominated by a large mahogany desk equipped with the most advanced communications equipment the Empire could provide. Multiple screens and holographic projectors allowed her to maintain contact with Intelligence networks across the galaxy, while advanced encryption systems ensured that her conversations remained secure from interception.
Vex settled into the chair behind her desk with a heavy sigh, the weight of the day's discoveries pressing down on her like the gravity of a high-mass world. Her pale green eyes swept across the cluttered surface of her workspace - data tablets containing routine reports, a glass of water that had grown refreshingly cold during her absence, and several secure data cylinders that needed processing before their arrival at Dromund Kaas.
She picked up the water glass and took a long, grateful sip, the cool liquid providing a moment's relief as she prepared for what would undoubtedly be routine mission documentation, crew evaluations, supply requisitions, and surveillance updates from various Imperial worlds. She processed each document with practiced efficiency, her trained mind filing away relevant information while discarding the trivial.
After clearing the immediate backlog, Vex accessed her secure communications array and scrolled through her contact list. The names and designations scrolled past in neat rows of Imperial efficiency: various assets, informants, fellow operatives, and the shadowy figures who comprised Intelligence's command structure.
She paused at one entry: Watcher Three.
The communication request rang for several tense moments before the holographic projector activated with a soft blue glow. The familiar figure of Watcher Three materialized above her desk - a middle-aged woman with graying brown hair pulled back in a severe bun and the sharp, intelligent eyes common among Intelligence analysts.
"Cipher Seven" Watcher Three's voice carried the crisp authority of someone accustomed to processing vast amounts of sensitive information. "Your timing is excellent. I was beginning to wonder if you'd encountered complications during your return from Balmorra."
"The mission proceeded according to parameters, Watcher" Vex replied, settling back in her chair. "I successfully infiltrated the resistance cell and acquired all requested intelligence regarding their supply networks and leadership structure. The data is compiled and ready for transfer upon our arrival at Dromund Kaas."
"Excellent work, as always." Watcher Three made a note on her data pad. "And the cell itself?"
"Completely neutralized. Their supply routes have been... permanently disrupted." Vex allowed herself a slight smile at the euphemism.
"Outstanding. The Keeper will be pleased with these results." Watcher Three paused, studying something off-screen. "However, what was the reason for the delay. Are there any additional updates I should be aware of?"
This was the moment Vex had been both anticipating and dreading. She took another sip of water, using the pause to organize her thoughts. "Actually, yes. During our return journey, we encountered a disabled transport vessel drifting in the Sullust system. Upon investigation, I discovered and aquired two children aboard apparent refugees from what appears to have been an secret research facility in rpeublic space."
Watcher Three's eyebrows rose slightly. "Children? Cipher Seven, you're aware that rescue operations fall outside our operational parameters unless they serve a specific intelligence purpose."
"I understand the protocols, Watcher." Vex activated a secondary display, transmitting the genetic analysis Dr. Kannis had prepared. "The children shows genetic markers indicating Sith bloodline, Miraluka heritage, and an additional Purrgil genetic material."
The silence stretched for nearly fifteen seconds. Watcher Three's expression shifted from mild curiosity to intense focus as she reviewed the transmitted data.
Watcher Three was quiet for a moment, clearly processing the implications. "Cipher Seven... did you just say you've acquired children? Personally?"
The tone in her handler's voice made Vex straighten slightly. "I have claimed legal guardianship, yes. Given their unique heritage and the circumstances of their discovery, I determined they required a softer hand then compared to those who might exploit them."
"You... claimed guardianship." Watcher Three repeated the words as if testing their meaning. "Cipher Seven, in fifteen years of working together, you have never shown the slightest interest in domestic arrangements or family responsibilities. Are you certain you've thought this through?"
"My decision is final, Watcher."
"I see." The older woman made several notes on her data pad. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order, then. Though I have to ask - you mentioned they require medical treatment involving specialized substances?"
Vex nodded grimly. "They've been subjected to genetic modification that requires ongoing medical support. The older child uses concentrated Clouzon-36 in both injectable and inhalable forms to manage severe neurological complications arising from her mixed heritage."
"Clouzon-36?" Watcher Three's voice carried a sharp note of surprise. "Cipher Seven, you do realize that hyperdrive fuel isn't exactly cheap to acquire, especially in the concentrated medical-grade forms required for ongoing treatment? We're talking about substances that cost more per liter than most people make in a years."
"My financial situation remains quite stable, Watcher" Vex replied with a slight smile. "Fifteen years of successful operations, careful investments, and frankly minimal personal expenses have provided me with sufficient resources to handle any necessary medical costs. I could probably purchase a luxury yacht if the mood struck me."
But Watcher Three's expression remained deadly serious. "This isn't about your personal wealth, Seven. Clouzon-36 is a heavily controlled substance throughout Imperial space. The quantities required for ongoing medical treatment will require special authorization, monitoring, and regular inspections by both Imperial Intelligence and the Ministry of Health. You're essentially asking to become a licensed distributor of hyperdrive fuel."
The bureaucratic implications began to sink in, creating a knot in Vex's stomach as she realized the paperwork of what she had committed herself to. "I understand, Watcher. What are my immediate options?"
"I'll need to prepare a comprehensive report for the Keeper immediately. This situation falls well outside normal operational parameters and will likely require approval from multiple departments." Watcher Three paused, her expression softening slightly. "I'll also need current holographic images of both children for the official record,along with complete medical documentation."
"Of course." Vex began preparing the image files Dr. Kannis had provided during their medical examinations.
"And Seven?" Watcher Three's expression took on an almost maternal quality. "Give my regards to Sera when you see her. I'm sure she'll have... very interesting thoughts... about your sudden decision to expand the family."
The hologram flickered and went dark, leaving Vex alone with the sudden realization that she had managed to avoid thinking about the most immediate challenge awaiting her return to Dromund Kaas.
"Blast and damn" she muttered under her breath, running a hand through her crimson hair and rubbing her temples where the beginning of what promised to be a significant headache was forming. She leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling for a moment.
Sera. How in the deepest reaches of space was she going to explain this to Sera?
She unbuttoned the top two fastenings of her Intelligence uniform, allowing herself to breathe more easily in the privacy of her office. Taking another long sip of the cold water, Vex activated her personal communications array and scrolled to another entry in her contact list. The name Sera Vance appeared with a small indicator showing her current status as "active" - meaning she was within communication range and available for contact.
Vex hesitated for a moment, her finger hovering over the activation control. In eight years of their relationship, she had never made a decision this significant without consulting Sera first. The woman was going to be justifiably surprised, and quite possibly not entirely pleased, to learn that her partner had unilaterally decided to become a parent to two traumatized children.
She activated the communication request and waited nervously. The first attempt went unanswered, the soft chiming fading to silence after nearly a minute of ringing. she initiated a second call, her heart rate picking up with each electronic tone.
This time, the holographic projector activated almost immediately, revealing the cramped but well-organized cockpit of what Vex recognized as a modified Fury-class interceptor. The woman who appeared was seated in the pilot's chair, wearing the distinctive blue and gold armor of a professional mercenary. The armor was clearly well-maintained but showed the telltale scuffs and scoring that came from active fieldwork and real combat situations.
As Vex watched with growing warmth, the figure reached up and removed her helmet with practiced efficiency, shaking out shoulder-length auburn hair that caught the cockpit's ambient lighting. Sera Vance turned toward the camera with a smile that immediately warmed Vex's heart, despite her considerable nervousness about the conversation to come.
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise" Sera said, her voice carrying the slight accent of someone who had grown up in the Outer Rim territories, specifically the mining worlds near Ryloth. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you for another two days at least. Did your mission on Balmorra finish ahead of schedule?"
"Something like that" Vex replied, managing what she hoped was a casual smile. "How are things on your end? You look like you're coming back from serious work."
Sera was an Imperial-sponsored mercenary one of the carefully vetted independent contractors who worked under direct Imperial authority while maintaining their operational independence. Their relationship had begun purely professionally eight years ago when Sera's mercenary unit had provided security and tactical support for one of Vex's most dangerous deep-cover operations. What had started as mutual professional respect and battlefield trust had gradually evolved into something much more personal and emotionally significant as they continued to meet over the years.
"Just finished a particularly challenging contract tracking down a group of Twi'lek separatists who thought they could establish an independent mining operation without proper Imperial oversight" Sera replied, settling back in her pilot's chair and running a hand through her hair. "Nothing too dangerous, but they were well-armed and had some decent tactical training. Took longer than expected to root them out of their asteroid hideouts, but the pay was excellent and the Empire seemed satisfied with the results."
"That's... that's perfect timing, actually." Vex felt some of her tension begin to ease slightly.
"Vex?" Sera's expression grew more concerned as she studied her partner's face through the holographic connection. "You look like you've been through something intense. Is everything alright? Did something go wrong during your mission?"
"Everything went fine" Vex said quickly, perhaps too quickly. "Better than fine, actually. The mission was a complete success. I just... Sera, will you be at the house tonight? I know you usually prefer to stay at your ship for the first night back when you return from extended contracts, but..."
Sera's eyebrows rose in genuine surprise. In eight years of their relationship, she had never been the type to make specific requests about their living arrangements. She had always respected Sera's independence and understood that the mercenary needed time and space to decompress after challenging assignments, especially ones involving combat situations.
"Of course I can be at the house" Sera said slowly, her tone becoming more careful. "Vex, what's going on? You're acting strange, even by your usual standards of mysterious spy behavior."
Vex took a deep breath, knowing there was absolutely no way to ease into this revelation gradually or diplomatically. "Sera, I found two children during my return journey from Balmorra. They're... they're going to be staying with us. Permanently."
The silence that followed was even longer and more profound than the one that had greeted her revelation to Watcher Three. Sera's expression cycled through confusion, surprise, disbelief, and something that might have been anger before finally settling into careful, professional neutrality.
"Children" Sera repeated slowly, as if the word were foreign. "Vex, when you say 'staying with us permanently,' do you mean...?"
"I've claimed legal guardianship through Imperial channels" Vex confirmed, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "Their names are Ember and Cherry. They're sixteen and eight years old, respectively."
Sera was quiet for several long, tense moments, clearly processing this information and all its implications. Finally, she spoke, her voice carefully controlled and measured. "Vex, this is... this is enormous. We've never even discussed the possibility of having children. We've never talked about family plans or domestic arrangements beyond our current situation. Why didn't you contact me before making such a significant decision?"
"Because I knew that if I contacted you first, I'd spend hours explaining and justifying and seeking approval, and these children needed immediate help" Vex replied, her defensive instincts automatically engaging. "Sera, when you see them and understand what they've been through, you'll understand why I couldn't just walk away. They've been subjected to genetic experimentation and were all alone when I found them."
"Vex, what exactly have you gotten us involved in? What kind of enemies might come looking for these children?!"
Vex activated her data transmission system and sent over the holographic images Dr. Kannis had taken of both children during their comprehensive medical examinations. She watched Sera's face carefully as the images appeared on the mercenary's secondary display screen.
"Oh" Sera breathed, studying the images with growing emotion. "Oh, Vex. They're so young. And that older one - she looks like she's been through a lot"
They're healing in our medical bay. And Sera... I know this is sudden and unexpected, but I genuinely believe we can give them something they've never had before. A real home. A real family. A chance at a life."
Sera was quiet for a long moment, alternating between studying the images of the children and looking back at Vex through the holographic connection. Finally, she smiled - the genuine, warm, loving expression that had first caught Vex's attention eight years ago during their first mission together.
"I wasnt expecting a proposal this way" she said softly "I never thought... Vex, are you absolutely sure about this? Really and truly sure? Because once we commit to this, there's no going back."
"I've never been more certain of anything in my entire life."
"Then I guess we're going to be parents" Sera laughed, though it was more stress then anything else. "Vex, I don't know the first thing about raising children, especially children who've been through serious trauma and abuse."
"We'll learn together" Vex replied with growing confidence. "And Sera? Thank you. For not asking me to reconsider. For trusting my judgment even when I spring something this significant on you."
"Your judgment has kept both of us alive for eight years" Sera said with a genuine grin. "I'm not about to start questioning it now. Though I have to say, when I imagined eventually settling down with you, this wasn't exactly the scenario I had in mind."
"Life rarely goes according to our carefully laid plans" Vex observed with a wry smile.
"No, it certainly doesn't." Sera paused, clearly thinking through the practical implications. "Listen, I need to finish my docking procedures here - I'm just entering Dromund Kaas traffic control range and they're being their usual selves about authorization codes and landing permits. But Vex? I love you. And if these children are important to you, then they're automatically important to me too."
"I love you too," Vex replied, feeling a weight she hadn't even realized she was carrying lift completely from her shoulders. "We'll make this work, Sera. I promise you that."
"I know we will"
The hologram flickered and went dark, leaving Vex alone in her office once again.
_________________________
(Ember POV)
The first thing Ember noticed was the softness.
She jerked awake with a sharp intake of breath, her eye snapping open to unfamiliar darkness. For a moment, panic threatened to overwhelm her - where was the harsh fluorescent lighting of the laboratory? Where were the cold metal walls and the constant hum of machinery? This bed was too comfortable, too warm, too... safe.
Her breathing came in shallow gasps as her mind raced through possibilities. Had they been recaptured? Was this another facility, another layer of the nightmare they'd escaped? The soft fabric beneath her felt like luxury beyond anything she'd ever experienced - certainly nothing like the thin, scratchy sheets they'd been given in their cells.
She almost let herself sink back into the incredible comfort of whatever surface she was lying on, her exhausted body desperate for more rest. The mattress seemed to mold perfectly to her form, and the blankets were warm without being stifling. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine that this was real, that they were truly free.
Ember forced herself to focus, turning slightly to search for her sister. Relief flooded through her as she spotted the familiar small form curled up beside her in the large bed, Cherry's auburn hair spread across the pillow like spilled wine. The younger girl's breathing was deep and even, her face peaceful in a way Ember hadn't seen since... well, maybe ever. Cherry's small body was completely relaxed, sink into the comfortable bedding as if she belonged there.
Ember groaned softly as the reality of their situation began to sink in. They really had escaped. The red-haired woman had actually helped them. This wasn't another laboratory, wasn't another prison. This was something else entirely.
She rubbed her face with her free hand, feeling the familiar texture of her eyepatch against her palm, then carefully maneuvered herself to sit on the edge of the bed. Her legs felt unsteady, whether from lingering exhaustion or the surreal nature of their situation, she couldn't tell.
That's when she noticed the small piece of paper placed carefully next to one of her metallic smoking devices on the nightstand. Her pulse quickened - someone had been in here while they slept, close enough to place objects within arm's reach. As she reached for the note she woke up enough for her Force sight to become more then background noise and it snapped into focus with an intensity that made her head spin momentarily. It was like switching from looking through frosted glass to crystal clear vision, and the sensation was both disorienting and exhilarating.
She processed what she was seeing slowly Her enhanced perception expanding outward from their bedroom, flowing through the apartment like water finding its level. She could sense the shape and layout of the space around them - they were on what appeared to be the second floor of a two-story dwelling. Below them, she could detect two distinct life signatures in what seemed to be a common area, their Force presences warm.
One of the signatures felt familiar - the same steady, controlled energy she remembered from the woman who had found them on their failing ship. The other presence was new but carried a similar strength, though with a different quality to it. Where the first woman's energy felt like carefully contained steel, this second presence reminded her of controlled fire - intense but focused.
Ember picked up the note with slightly trembling fingers and unfolded it carefully. The handwriting was precise and clear:
Welcome to my apartment. What you remember did in fact happen - you and your sister are now officially under my protection as my wards. When you wake up and feel ready, you can come downstairs and we can meet properly and discuss what happens next. There's no pressure and no timeline - take whatever time you need.
P.S. I left one of your devices to help you acclimate to your new surroundings.
- Captain Vex Korrath
Ember stared at the note for a long moment, reading it several times to make sure she wasn't misunderstanding. The tone was respectful, almost gentle - certainly nothing like the cold, clinical communications they'd received from the scientists and handlers at the facility. A small, cynical part of her mind whispered that this could still be an elaborate trap, another layer of manipulation.
Ember picked up the metallic cylinder, examining its familiar weight in her palm. She could feel the three seam lines that marked the activation points, and after a moment's consideration, she cracked it once along the middle seam. The gentle hiss of activation told her the device was working properly, and she brought it to her lips for a careful drag.
The effect was immediate and blessed. As she inhaled the vapor and slowly exhaled, her Force sight and her natural vision began to stabilize into the harmonious balance she desperately needed. The nauseating overlay of competing sensory input faded away, leaving her feeling clear-headed and functional for the first time since they'd arrived on the ship.
She took another slow drag, then turned toward Cherry's sleeping form. Positioning herself carefully, Ember exhaled the vapor slowly and steadily toward her sister's face, letting the cloud settle gently around the younger girl's head and shoulders.
Cherry's reaction was immediate and heartwarming. Her small body seemed to relax even further into the bedding, her breathing becoming deeper and more peaceful. The slight tension that had been present in her shoulders - tension that had been there for so long Ember had almost forgotten what Cherry looked like truly relaxed - finally melted away completely.
Watching her sister sink deeper into genuine, peaceful sleep, Ember felt a surge of protective tenderness. Cherry deserved this comfort, this safety. They both did. And maybe, just maybe, this Captain Korrath could actually provide it.
Taking one more drag from her device, Ember decided it was time to face whatever came next. She stood carefully from the bed, her legs steadying as she found her balance, and began to make her way toward the bedroom door.
The apartment around her was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Where the old room had been all harsh angles and sterile surfaces, this space felt warm and lived-in. As she moved through the second floor, her natural sight took in details that her Force perception had only hinted at. The walls were decorated with what appeared to be art There were warm colors, comfortable furniture, and soft lighting that made everything feel welcoming rather than intimidating.
But it was when she reached a large window that Ember stopped completely, her breath catching in her throat.
Beyond the window lay a view defied everything she thought she knew, Spread out below and around the apartment was a vast city - not the sterile corridors and artificial environments she'd known, but a living, breathing metropolis that stretched to the horizon.
Unable to resist, Ember pressed her face against the cool transparisteel, her eye wide with wonder as she let her temple and cheek rest against the smooth surface. The glass felt solid and real beneath her skin, grounding her in the reality of what she was seeing.
Massive towers reached toward a dark, stormy sky, their surfaces gleaming with countless lights that spoke of millions of lives being lived within their walls. Speeders moved between the buildings like luminous insects, their trails creating patterns of light against the perpetual twilight. In the distance, she could see what appeared to be a massive citadel, its imposing architecture dominating the skyline with an aura of power and authority that made her tingle with recognition of something important.
The sheer scale of it all was overwhelming. There were so many people - more people than she had ever conceived could exist in one place. Even from this height, where the individual figures looked like tiny specks moving through the streets and platforms, she could sense the incredible density of life surrounding her. Every light in every window represented someone living their own existence, making their own choices, pursuing their own goals.
Ember found herself both thrilled and terrified by the prospect. Part of her desperately wanted to explore this incredible place, to walk among all those people and experience the freedom she could see spread out before her. But another part of her felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of beings - more than she had ever been around in her entire life. The laboratory had housed maybe a few dozen people at most. This city must contain millions.
She stayed at the window for several long minutes, taking periodic drags from her device as she tried to process the enormity of what lay beyond these walls. This was what existed outside their former prison. This was what freedom looked like - vast, chaotic, beautiful, and slightly terrifying in its endless possibilities.
Eventually, her Force sight reminded her of the two patient presences waiting downstairs. They hadn't moved or shown any signs of impatience, but she could sense a gentle expectation - not demanding, but available whenever she was ready to take the next step.
Taking one last look at the incredible cityscape, Ember turned toward where she knew there was a staircase leading to the first floor. As she walked, she continued to use her device, noting how the apartment's layout matched what she'd sensed earlier. The second floor seemed to contain private spaces bedrooms, what might be a bathroom, and a few other rooms she hadn't explored yet.
As she descended the stairs, she began to get a clearer sense of the two people waiting below their outlines sitting on what appeared to be a couch on the first floor. The furniture appeared mostly translucent in her Force sight allowing her to see through it to the brighter, more solid forms of the two living beings seated there.
The first floor opened up into a larger common area, and as she reached the bottom of the stairs, both women turned to look at her. Ember felt a momentary flutter of nervousness as their attention focused on her, but their expressions were warm and patient rather than threatening.
She recognized the red-haired woman immediately - the same person who had found them on their failing ship. But the other woman was completely unfamiliar, and Ember felt a spike of confusion as she tried to understand who this stranger was and why she was sitting so comfortably beside their rescuer.
The second woman was tall - maybe five feet ten inches - with shoulder-length auburn hair that caught the apartment's warm lighting. What struck Ember most were her eyes: the brightest green she had ever seen, almost like gemstones. She was leaning casually against the red-haired woman's side in a way that spoke of familiarity and comfort, wearing clothes that looked practical but well-made.
"Hello, Ember" the red-haired woman said softly, and Ember immediately noticed the refined accent - cultured and polished in a way that reminded her of the facility administrators who had occasionally visited their laboratory. There was something crisp and Imperial about it, though tempered with genuine warmth. "I'm Captain Vex Korrath, and this is my partner, Sera Vance. How are you feeling?"
Ember hesitated, shifting her weight from foot to foot like she wasn't sure if she should stay or flee. She took another careful drag from her device, making sure to turn her head and blow the vapor away from them - the last thing she wanted was to accidentally harm the people who had helped them.
"I'm... I'm Ember" she said hesitantly, her voice coming out smaller than she intended She felt awkward and uncertain.
"It's really nice to finally meet you properly" Sera said with a warm smile, and immediately Ember caught the difference in how she spoke. Where Vex's voice carried those refined tones, Sera's accent was rougher around the edges but it was somehow more comfortable, less intimidating.
Sera's bright green eyes focused on the metallic device in Ember's hand with curiosity rather than judgment or alarm. "What are you smoking there, if you don't mind me asking? It has a really distinctive smell."
Ember glanced down at her device, acutely aware of how strange this must seem to normal people. What she was told was Clouzon-36 years ago did have a very particular odor - a sharp, almost metallic scent with undertones that reminded her of the ozone smell after lightning strikes, mixed with something faintly sweet, It was a smell that she always loved to have.
"It's... it's for health reasons" Ember said carefully, taking another drag and again making sure to exhale away from them. She kept her explanation deliberately vague, not wanting to get into the complicated details of her vision problems or reveal too much about what had been done to her. "The doctors at the... at the place we were kept... they gave it to me when my body started reacting badly to things they did."
She watched their faces carefully, expecting disgust or fear, but saw only concern and acceptance. It was so different from what she was used to that she wasn't quite sure how to process it.
"That must have been really difficult" Vex said gently, not pushing for more details. "We're just glad you have something that helps."
Both women seemed content to let the topic drop there, which made Ember feel a little less tense. She noticed that they had been watching something on what appeared to be a holovision display - she could hear the soft murmur of voices and see the flicker of images, though she couldn't make out what kind of program it was from where she stood.
The couch they were sitting on looked incredibly comfortable - much more so than anything she had ever experienced. It was large enough that there would be plenty of room for her to sit without being too close to either of them, which felt important right now while she was still figuring out if she could trust these people.
"You can sit down if you want" Sera offered, gesturing to the empty space on the couch. "No pressure though whatever makes you comfortable."
Ember fidgeted with her device for a moment, torn between wanting to maintain distance and being curious about the holovision program. The familiar weight of the metallic cylinder in her hand was reassuring, and she took another small drag to help settle her nerves.
"What are you watching?" she asked hesitantly, taking a small step closer but still maintaining what felt like a safe distance.
"Just some Imperial news program" Vex replied, her tone casual. "Nothing too exciting mostly updates about negotiations and something about a treaty. Pretty boring stuff, honestly."
After another moment of internal debate, Ember slowly made her way toward the couch. She chose a spot on the far end, as far from the two women as possible while still being able to see the holovision display. The cushions were even more comfortable than they looked, and she found herself sinking into them slightly as she settled.
She continued using her device careful to blow the vapor away from her new guardians, and let herself relax just a little bit as she watched the holographic images play across the display.
For the first time in longer than she could remember, Ember allowed herself to simply exist in a moment that felt safe.