Child of Balance

Self Sacrifice

    Ania lifted her gaze towards the sky and shielded her eyes as an approaching speeder kicked up debris. The shipyard was demolished from the explosion. She had been lucky the blasts were on the opposite side from where she had been. Ania dusted her hands off and headed towards the speeder as it touched down.

    Ezra, Kit, Cyana, Ro, and R3 all jumped off. Ezra ran towards her and pulled her into a hug. "I'm glad you're all right," he said as he drew back.

    "Me too. Did you guys find anything before we contacted you?" Ania asked.

    "Yeah, Death Watch attacked a ship that had just entered the sector right when we took off. We were too late to help. Whatever the pirates were carrying, it's gone now."

    "Who did this?" Kit interrupted, his eyes wide at the sight of the shipyard.

    "Another Inquisitor," Sabine replied. The small scanner in her hand beeped quietly. "R3, come with us. Bo has something she wants you to scan." He chirped and wheeled after Sabine.

    "Another Inquisitor?" Kit repeated, crossing his arms. "What happened? We got the very short version."

    "They attacked this shipyard and stole old Imperial equipment. The leader of the attack was an Inquisitor. She was wearing the Twelfth Sister's armor, or replicas of it," Ania explained.

    "How unoriginal," Cy scoffed.

    "Do you know who she might be? She said she was never with the Empire."

    "If she wasn't with the Empire, then how would I know who she is? She must have taken the Twelfth Sister's things after she was killed or something," Cy replied with a shrug. Kit flashed her a warning look. She met his gaze, then sighed. "Fine. Kein Rei brought her body back to Coruscant, from what I've heard. Late at night, someone broke into the morgue and stole her helmet and lightsaber. Nothing else. If this new lady is wearing her armor, it's a replica."

    "Great," Ania groaned.

    "Hey, where are your lightsabers?" Kit asked.

    "She took them. Called it incentive to find her."

    "Then let's find her." Ezra clapped his hands together, scanning the area. "What have you guys been looking for?"

    "She said she left clues for us to find. I've been checking inside the shipyard," Ania replied. "We should check their calling cards too."

    "Cyana and I can go do that," Kit volunteered. Cy flashed a smirk at him.

    "You know, we don't have to be working to spend time together, Eron," she cooed, linking her arm with his.

    Kit rolled his eyes. "You only listen to me so I'm stuck with you. Don't read too far into this." They headed off towards the nearest battle scene, littered with Death Watch calling cards.

    Ania motioned towards the shipyard. Ezra followed her in, coughing as the scent of smoke reached him. "Careful. It's not very stable in here," Ania warned. Ezra nodded as he surveyed the yard.

    Ania returned to her previous post, examining the area where the Death Watch ships had been. There was no sign of anything unusual. She cast her senses out, bracing a hand on the ground. There was nothing, and nothing, and something. Ania paused and searched again. There was a tiny object on the ground.

    She brushed her hand through the soot, sifting the object into view. A tiny metal cube met her fingertips. Ania pulled it off the ground and held it up towards the light. Ezra joined her shortly.