Chain Reaction

Chapter 22 - Conflict

Cailin

Darth Cailin paced around the middle of the throne room, feeling antsy, it was almost over, she could succeed. All that was left was that one ship, if the stormtroopers could just manage to succeed in blowing it up, then it would all end and she would achieve peace. If only her father could see her now, she thought, she walked outside the throne room and headed for the ship's cockpit. It was not that busy, since she had ordered almost every pilot they had to pursue the Falcon, there were few workers in the cockpit. When she entered the room they all stopped what they were doing and stood to salute her, she waved her hand signalling them to be at ease, and they continued working, while being mindful that she was there so they would be ready if she had an order.

She walked towards the large window that overlooked the world outside, there was nothing but blackness and the twinkling stars, she clenched her fists as she remembered the night her father had disappeared from her. Look at the stars, he had said. She had realized it was his trick for her to look away as he faded from the world, it was a cruel trick for her, she felt cheated, she did not get to say goodbye, or thank you or anything else for that matter.

Then she remembered her life before she met Cound Dooku. She had a different man to raise her, a different man who for so long had claimed to be her father and loved her like his own. A man that had once taught her not to stray away from the light, and as she remembered him, she felt a conflict in her mind again, a conflict between the light and the dark. She was raised to live in the light side, and yet she was born a dark one, she was the daughter of a Sith lord, and if not for the Jedi like Dooku had told her had been chasing him, they could have been a family. Maybe, she wouldn't have to be so conflicted, and she would not have second thoughts being in the dark side.

A question lingered in the back of her mind however, she had met two fathers, two had each raised her differently. But, the two also never mentioned her mother. Dooku had, but very vaguely. He had said that she was the one that had chosen her caretaker, which meant the man that raised him first knew her mother, but as to how she did not know. She was starting to get tired of people keeping secrets from her.

"Lady Cailin," she heard one of the generals speak and she turned slowly towards the man.

"Our pilots have sent a report."

She raised an eyebrow and the man swallowed a lump in his throat, she motioned her hand to indicate him to continue.

"The Resistance, my lady, they have escaped."

Cailin's face turned cold and she glared menacingly at the man, she clenched her fists and the man started to feel his throat tighten very slowly, she took small steps towards the man and his throat tightened more with each step.

"What?" She said, her voice dangerously low.

"My lady... the Resistance..." He choked out "They escaped."

Cailin yelled in frustration and threw the man against the wall, she was so close, so close to victory. But, her fleet had gone and messed things up, she then wondered if Snoke had them properly trained for anything seeing as they were so incompetent, failing to destroy one old obsolete ship. Cailin turned to face another officer, the woman's face was nervous and her lower lip trembled as the Sith lord walked closer to her.

"Do we have a clue where they are?" Cailin asked.

"We have strong assumptions that they are at the uncharted system only east from here."

Another officer spoke from across the room.

"The Resistance are probably taking refuge on a planet there, Lady Cailin."