Fragments of the Dark

Chapter Sixteen

All he could do was stare at her still form and hope.

And wait.

He had no idea what they'd done to her. How they'd hurt her and he didn't want to risk moving her again. So he'd left her asleep in the co-pilot chair and tucked a blanket around her, covering her bronzed, lean legs beneath the threadbare shift they'd dressed her in.

The most of her skin he'd ever seen exposed. She always wore pants and long sleeves. Now her muscled arms were scattered with deep wounds, some which still were seeping blood. Between the gaps he glimpsed back ink. Tattoos he'd never known she had.

Her legs were equally bruised and sliced, like they'd been cutting her open, searching for something. He'd never forget the sounds of her screams. The deep, unending agony.

The child was awake in her lap but unmoving. Din had tried to pick him up but the small creature had clutched tightly to Celene's shirt. So all he could do was watch the two of them.

He again, for the hundredth time, replayed the scene in his head. Celene's quiet request for him to close his eyes and he'd listened. The odd hum in the air and then the screaming. When he'd opened them again, only carnage remained. He didn't understand what had happened.

Celene stirred in the chair and he instantly stood, hovering. She opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the light. Then her gaze focused and found him.

Her mouth opened like she was trying to say something but he shook his head. "Relax... you're safe."

She blinked and finally managed words. "Is this real?"

He hadn't been expecting that but he nodded slowly. "This is real, Celene."

She looked like she didn't believe him and he took a cautious step forward and held out his gloved hand. She stared at it and then warily brushed her fingers across his. Warmth gravitated through him.

"Real," he said. "I promise."

The child in her lap shifted, his enormous eyes staring up at her face. Then, with a tiny, three-fingered hand, touched Celene's cheek. Her eyelids fluttered briefly at the contact. "Where are we going?"

Din looked at the nav system. "Sorgan. No star port, no industrial centers, no population density- a real backwater skug hole. Perfect to lay low and hide out for the time being. To let you recover."

She gave a slow nod, even that seeming like it took copious amounts of energy. He had so many questions but he knew now was not the time. "Food? I tried to give some to the kid but he wouldn't leave you. Or eat a ration packet."

Celene looked down at the child. "No food yet. Water for now. Probably for him too. The sedative they use... usually takes 48 hours for an appetite to return."

Din didn't want to know how she knew that. Like she had experienced it before. He left and returned with water for the both of them. Afterwards he said, "You probably need to rest. And clean your wounds. I can take him." He reached for the child who gave an unhappy squeal.

"Shh," Celene soothed him. "It's okay." The child quieted and relaxed in Din's hands. She stood slowly, gripping the chair for support. The blanket fell away, revealing just how short the shift she wore really was. If she noticed, she didn't seem to care. Din looked away.

Celene pulled her shoulders back and managed a limping walk for the door. "Wake me if you need anything." He watched her disappear through the hall.

In the hours that followed, everything was quiet. The ship seemed haunted and eerie. Celene had showered, cleaned and bandaged her own wounds before proceeding to sleep for almost fifteen hours. When she woke again, she hardly said a word to Din. It was like something inside her had gone out. Some light had been extinguished.

He itched to ask her the questions that ate away at him night and day. Why did they take you? How did the Imperial know you? How did you kill those troopers? What the hell did they do to you? But he kept quiet, giving her the space she needed.

She eventually initiated the conversation.  "Why did you come back?  I told you to leave." 

They were seated in the hangar of the Falcon, Celene spread across one of the benched chairs, the child on the table before her.  Din was across from her, watching as the child clutched the small piece of his torn cowl in his hand. 

He'd thought about the answer to this question countless times but now all words failed him.  "I couldn't leave you," he said simply.  "Or the child.  It felt... wrong."  It had felt more than wrong but he didn't say that.

She raised her eyes to meet his.  "Wrong?"

He gave a half shrug.  "I don't know.  I just couldn't.  I didn't know what they wanted with you.  And going back for you..." his eyes ran the length of her arms where the deep incisions had been.  "It was clearly the right decision.  They were going to kill you.  And him."  The child let out a soft whimper.

"No.  But I wish they would have."

A hundred questions burned in his throat but he chose his words carefully, with caution.  "Why... why did they want you?"

For a moment only the hum of the ship filled the space.  Then she answered, "They want what is in my blood.  Our blood."  Her eyes slid to the child. 

"Your blood?  And his?"

Celene nodded.  "Power.  And I think- I'm almost positive- that this child is like me.  That's why they wanted him in the first place."  She seemed to think for a moment.  "Let's find out," she said.  She withdrew a small smooth stone from her pocket and held it in the palm of her hand, in front of the child.  The child reached for it but Celene held it just out of his reach.  He whimpered. 

"Take it," Celene said.  "You want it?  Take it."

For a split second nothing happened.  Then the stone flew from Celene's palm into the child's tiny hands. 

Din's eyes widened in shock and he leaned forward, astonished.  "What-"

But Celene held up a hand, her gaze suddenly focused on the child.  He was staring at her, wide-eyed.  Then she looked up at him.  "I know his name."  She whispered, sounding just as surprised as he felt.

"His name is Grogu."