Fragments of the Dark

Chapter Eleven

Celene watched the sand swirl down the drain.

She braced her hands against the metal plating of the wall and let the icy water run over her.  She didn't even feel it.  All she could see was the child's eyes staring at her, the innocence.  The trust in her. 

"Fuck," she slammed her fist into the wall, feeling the pain blossom as her knuckle split.  She held it under the stream, watching the blood follow the sand down the metal grate.  She turned off the water, wringing out her dripping hair and stepping out into the frigid air of the ship.  Her clothes stuck to her still damp skin but she ignored it, shaking the last of the water from her hair. 

From the hall she could hear the child's giggles and laughter.  She followed the noise to the main hangar where the Mandalorian was sitting with the child on his leg.  In the child's hand he clutched a piece of the Mandalorian's torn cowl. 

"That thing is filthy," Celene said, rummaging in the storage units. 

"He wouldn't let go of it." 

The child gripped the cloth tightly, eyelids suddenly drooping.  The Mandalorian set him back in the pod. 

"I'll put him in the cockpit with me so you can eat.  And shower." 

The Mandalorian hesitated but Celene jerked her head to the door and he begrudgingly stood and left the hangar.  She let out a heavy sigh and tucked the bottle of liquor under one arm, padding to the cockpit.  The small pod followed behind.  Celene slouched in the pilot's chair, twisting the cap off and taking a drink right from the bottle. 

It was that kind of night. 

She stared at the passing vortex of color, the stars flying by at lightspeed.  Behind her, the child cooed in it's sleep.  Celene closed her eyes and leaned her head back.  She knew the fate she was sending him to.

Though every part of her wanted to deny it, say that this was different, a different era, she knew in her bones what would happen. 

She'd sensed it in the child the moment they had locked eyes.  The same thing that lived in her.  The same ability.  The same power.  She took a deep sip, eyes watering at the burn. 

She could stop it.  Protect him from that fate.  But it would cost her everything.  She looked around the cockpit.  It would cost her this, everything she'd worked so hard for.  Everything she'd fought to forget, to keep the past buried.  And she needed the second and third doses of Amnetris they promised her.  

The door hissed behind Celene and the Mandalorian stepped into the cockpit, settling into the chair to her right.  She didn't say anything, keeping the bottle gripped in one hand and stared at the stars. 

"Please tell me you haven't had all that in one sitting."

She looked down at the half empty container.  "No." 

He exhaled, she could hear it through his helmet.  "The child's asleep?"

"Yeah," she jerked her head to the pod.  "Hopefully he won't wake until we get to Navarro."

The silence stretched between them.  Then he said, "you don't want to give him to the Imperials."

Her heart thudded in her chest.  "I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

Celene sighed.  "It doesn't matter.  I'll do whatever it takes to get the job done."

He asked quietly, "Do you know what they'll do to him?"

She took a long drink and swallowed.  "No."

"Look me in the face and tell me that."

Celene scoffed. "Good one."

"Tell me you don't know what they're going to do to him."

She gritted her teeth.  "Why the fuck is it so important?"

"Because you know more about this than you're letting on.  And it matters."

"To who?"

"To me." He said. 

"Like you care about me," Celene snapped.  "You just need a payday." 

He drew back and stiffened.  "What do you think we are?"

The question hit her in the gut.  "What is that supposed to mean?"

"What do you think we are?"  He repeated.

She gripped the bottle tighter.  "Partners," she answered. 

He tilted his head to the side as if to answer but she cut him off.  "What's with the bullshit questions?"

He waited a few seconds, seeming to pick his words carefully.  "Did the Imperials experiment on you?  Were they the ones who implanted the cybernetics?"

Celene's temper snapped, one of her knives flashing in her hands as she held the point against the exposed neck beneath his helmet.  "Why the fuck would you ask that?"

His fingers wrapped around her wrist, and he twisted her arm away.  She snarled, dropping the knife to her left hand and sweeping for his neck.  He raised his arm to block it, locking them in a brace.  He forced her back, until they were pressed against the wall of the cockpit. 

"That's why you don't want to give up the child," he panted through his helmet.  "You fear he'll suffer the same fate." 

"You don't know a fucking thing about me," Celene spat, jerking hard against his hold.  He grunted as his shoulder twisted awkwardly.  If she kept going she would dislocate it- she was stronger than he was, she realized too late-

His hand tightening around her throat snapped her back into reality and she dropped the knife.  He suddenly seemed to realize what he was doing and his grip slackened.  "Celene-"

She tried to move away but found her back pressed against the wall.  "Forget it," she said, slightly out of breath.  "It doesn't matter who did this to me or what they're going to do to the child.  I need the rest of the Amnetris they have."

He didn't move.  "Let me help you."

"Help me?"  She choked out a laugh.  "Help me how?  By spilling my guts to you?"  She shook her head.  "I don't even know your fucking name.  You think because we share this ship together, do jobs together it makes you privy to my life?"  She jabbed a finger in his chest.  "Wrong.  You are nothing to me.  This partnership is a means to an end."  Celene rolled her shoulders back and stepped close to his helmet.  "Now get the hell out of my cockpit," she snarled. 

He stiffened and then without a word, turned on his heel and walked out.