The Force Won't Save You (Lesbian Story)

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Briar, I'd like you to meet the Fifth Brother." Trilla stood next to her colleague with her arms clasped behind her back. Trilla had been the one to call the meeting, Briar had hoped it'd been just them in the room. She hadn't expected to meet another Inquisitor.

The gray skinned man with the odd hat nodded towards Briar, grunting his greeting. "Second Sister says your military tactics are unconventional at best." He remarked. His stare was hard, a permanent scowl on his face. In her full uniform, Briar was able to hide her visible distaste for the man.

"Yes, well, I've been told that Inquisitors are ruthless and terrifying. From what I've seen of the Second Sister, that rings true." The Fifth Brother chuckled, looking at his masked colleague. The meeting room was silent, computers dinging and pinging as the three stared at each other. They had kicked out the Imperial officers conducting their duties in the room, all of them clearing out once the Inquisitors had been spotted. Now they were left in a large empty room with a table in the middle projecting a hologram of the entire system.

The large man folded his hands behind his back, pacing the room. Briar looked to Trilla, finding her still in her professional position. Why was Briar here?

"I have an inquiry that requires your expertise." The Fifth Brother started, hitting a button on the table. A map of a planet Briar had not been to pulled up, Briar moving closer to examine it. Her crimson sight swept over the desert planet, looking over the worm holes and buildings hastily put together.

"Why are you asking me, Fifth Brother? You skipped over all others to arrive at me." Briar placed her gloved hands on the table, watching the man closely. His scowl deepened as he mirrored her position across the table.

"Second Sister says you are professional and confidential." Briar swept her eyes to Trilla, hoping she felt the glare she was receiving. Why would she put her up to this?

"Yes, well then, if I'm assisting you with a... confidential matter." Briar placed her hands on the sides of her helmet, pulling it off. She removed the fabric over her head, smoothing out her hair. "Now we both have a secret to keep." The Fifth Brother didn't move, assessing Briar's appearance.

"I imagined you with long hair." He confessed, Briar's laugh filling the room. Her hand lifted, running over the stubble of her crew cut. She had just been to the barber, she could still feel her skin from the fade. She liked to leave the top longer, actually able to run her hand through it.

"Everyone does." She remarked, pulling up a random chair to sit in by the table. The metal squeaked as she sat down, the Fifth Brother remaining standing.

"Second Sister, could you grab me a cup of caf if you're going to stand there?" Briar asked. She heard a distorted sigh, watching as Trilla turned and exited the room.

"Do not speak to Second Sister in that manner again, she is highly respected. She could be Grand Inquisitor one day." The Fifth Brother spoke calmly, but Briar could sense the irritation in his statement. She raised her hands in surrender, not wanting to fight with the stronger man. Briar also couldn't see Trilla as the Grand Inquisitor. She got the impression Trilla didn't want that responsibility.

The Inquisitor returned, crossing the room to hand Briar the steaming cup. The chief of war could feel the Fifth Brother's intense stare as she reached out for the cup.

"Second Sister, I apologize for how I spoke to you. It was out of line and it will not happen again." Trilla froze, her gloved hand hovering in the air with the cup. Briar had to reach out the rest of the way and grasp it, pulling gently to get it out of her grip.