#sildrest

“Is she unusual for a Jedi do you think?  I mean, she spouts the same nonsense, but unlike others we’ve encountered she was willing to at least listen to you.” Andronikos leaned against the wall behind Nia’ree, both were watching the newest addition to the crew.

“I’m honestly not sure.  I think in some ways she might be.  I think it is also her youth.  She has been told her whole life that she could not trust Sith, but she had never met any of us, so that may have also contributed to her being willing to talk.”

The young Togruta turned and looked at the couple in the doorway, “Where shall I put my things?” her voice was subdued and she dropped her eyes to the floor.

Before Nia’ree could answer, a door down the passageway slid open and tiny footsteps started running across the floor.  They all turned to see the toddler running at her top speed towards her mother whom she had sensed through the Force.  A tall twi’lek came hurrying after her.

“Mama!” Nia’drestia flew into her mother’s arms and began babbling.  Nia’ree felt a warm smile slide across her face.  She couldn’t understand all of the words, but her daughter’s story was accompanied by images she projected through the Force.

“Sorry, Nia’ree,” Sildrest apologized when he reached them, “Once she sensed the two of you, she wasn’t going to give up until she got to you.”

Nia’ree nodded absently and indicated with her head that Andronikos should take care of the newcomer while she wandered to the lounge and sat down to listen to Tessy’s story about her day.

Andronikos chuckled, “Run you ragged did she?”

Sildrest gave him a black look, “Have you spent all day with her?”

“Nope, but I’ve spent all day with her mother, and I have a good imagination.”  He turned his attention to the wide-eyed Jedi, “Oh, by the way, Sildrest, this is Ashara Zavros.  She used to be a Jedi and now she’s joining our crew.  Ashara, this is Sildrest.  He’s Sith, but not too bad once you get to know him.”

“Do you want a lightsaber in your gut?”

“You wouldn’t do that.  Nia’ree likes me,” Andronikos grinned at him, “Show Ashara where the crew quarters are.  I gotta get this boat airborne.”

“We’re at the orbital station,” Sildrest muttered as the pirate walked away.  Taking a deep breath, he turned to the Togruta, “Ashara is it?  Nice to meet you.  This way.”

She hurried to catch up as he moved off down the passageway, “So, that little girl is…”

“Is what?”

“Well, Lord Nia’ree is Chiss, but of course I don’t know who her father is.”

Sildrest eyed her, “I’m Nia’drestia’s father actually.”

Ashara’s jaw dropped and she stared in confusion at him, “You’re…?  How is that possible?  And no offense, but she doesn’t look a thing like either of you.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Sildrest replied easily, “Because Chiss and twi’lek are not supposed to be compatible.  We’re not sure how conception took place, but it was on Korriban and there are any number of unusual forces present there.  Nia’ree had to use the Force to alter Nia’drestia in the womb though or she would have died.  According to Nia’ree, both of them would have died.”

“I don’t understand.  She made her human?”

“Not in the strictest sense, but yes the most stable genotypes she was able to find were human,” he shrugged, “It is for the best.  In the Empire she will have the best chance if she at least appears to be human.  And I would prefer her to have every chance possible over having her look like me.  Is something wrong?”  He noticed the worried crease appear in the girl’s forehead.

“I’m so confused.  All I’ve been told my whole life is how evil Sith are, and I may be horribly mistaken but Lord Nia’ree seems nice, and so do you, and a baby…I wasn’t expecting to see a baby here.”

They reached the door to the crew’s quarters.  Sildrest indicated the available space while he considered how to respond.  “I can tell you this much,” he said finally, “Nia’ree is unusual.  That doesn’t mean she isn’t powerful, nor does it mean she won’t do what she has to, but she’s not your stereotypical Sith.  I admire Nia’ree and the courage and intelligence she displays, so I do try to emulate her in that way.  In some respects I suppose I am an apprentice of sorts to her and whatever I do will reflect back on her.  As far as Nia’drestia goes, she was a very unexpected, but happy addition.  One thing though.  You haven’t met Khem Val yet.  When you do, you must not mention Nia’drestia.  It’s a bit complicated, but Nia’ree’s former master inhabits the Dashade as well, and at all costs she must not learn about Tessy.”

Ashara nodded slowly, “I suppose I’ll understand once I meet this Khem Val?”

“Ancient Force ritual gone awry,” Sildrest shrugged, “It happens.”

There was a tap at the door and both turned to see Nia’ree standing there, “Settling in, Ashara?”

“Yes, my lord.  I have a lot of questions, but I understand that they can’t all be answered right now.”

“Unfortunately, that is true,” Nia’ree murmured.  The Fury shuddered as Andronikos released the docking clamps and moved it away from the orbital station.

“Is Tessy helping fly the ship?” Sildrest asked.

“Of course she is.  The problem is, he’s so besotted with her, he’d actually let her fly it.  Oh,” she turned to Ashara, “just so you’re aware if Tessy asks you about one of us, she usually will project an image of who she is looking for, but if she doesn’t I am ‘mama’ of course, Sildrest is ‘daddy’, and Andronikos is ‘papan’.”

“You…you wouldn’t be alarmed by your daughter being around me?” Ashara asked in surprise.

“Why in the galaxy would I worry?” Nia’ree asked, “You’re a good person Ashara and I have no doubt that you would never hurt my child.”

“Well, of course I wouldn’t,” Ashara shook her head, “I only meant because I am Jedi and you are Sith.”

“I don’t know why that should matter either,” the Chiss replied, “Sildrest is Sith and Andronikos is a pirate, and we won’t get into Khem Val here.  We all come from different backgrounds, but we work together and we help each other.  Why can’t you be part of that?”

“I could!  I would love to be!” Ashara exclaimed.

“Good.  Sildrest, add her to the chore roster.”  Nia’ree smiled and left the room.

Ashara’s jaw dropped, “She…she did that on purpose.”

----------------------------

Nia’ree managed to wait until everyone had left the conference room before she dashed to her bedroom.  Putting a tight shield on her whirling emotions, she scooped up Nia’drestia and cuddled her close.  Despite the shield, the baby obviously picked up on the turmoil her mother was feeling and instead of squirming to get away, she burrowed in and clung.

Gradually, Nia’drestia’s calm baby aura helped Nia’ree get a handle on her runaway emotions.  She looked down into her daughter’s bright blue eyes, “What would I do without you?” she murmured.

A smile and a happy gurgle that sounded vaguely like, “Mama,” was her response.  At nearly ten months old, Nia’drestia couldn’t talk quite yet, though she babbled incessantly, and she mostly wobbled and fell when she tried to walk, but her Force abilities were becoming quite evident.

Nia’ree ran her fingers through the silky black hair and sighed deeply.  A knock at the door had her on her guard again immediately, but a quick Force probe told her it was Andronikos.  Nia’drestia’s happy cry confirmed her suspicion.  “Come in, Andronikos.”

The pirate slipped through the open door and came over to sit by her on the bed without a sound.  “Hey, Tessy,” he murmured when the little girl crawled out of her mother’s lap and into his.  After babbling at him for a minute, Nia’drestia slid off his lap and crawled back to her fortress of toys.  Andronikos reached over and carefully took one of Nia’ree’s hands into his, “Are you okay?  I was really worried about you.”

Her eyes dropped closed, “I’m not honestly sure, Andronikos.  I have to find a way to defeat Thanaton, but is this it?  I don’t know,” her hand tightened in his, “Promise me something?”

“What?”

“Take care of Tessy if something happens to me?” she raised her eyes to his, unshed tears shimmering in the red glow.

“Sith…”

“Please, Andronikos.  I know Sildrest wouldn’t abandon her, but he doesn’t really connect with her.”

“I can’t even promise I’ll be here tomorrow.  How can you ask me to take her?”

“Who else can I ask?” Nia’ree’s voice cracked, “Khem may have been willing before, it wouldn’t have been ideal, but I don’t even dare let him near her now.  Not with Zash hanging around.  What’s to stop her from taking over my baby?”

Andronikos pulled her against his side, “Look, this permanent arrangement thing, it’s never been for me.  I’ve always preferred the freedom of not having anyone depending on me.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” she demanded, trying to pull away from him, “Do you think I don’t wonder every day if you’re going to be around tomorrow?  I understand you like your freedom.  I was a slave, Andronikos, do you think I don’t value freedom?  It’s just…I’m terrified.”

“This is a stupid thing to be arguing about, Sith.  Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

She scowled, but her retort was halted when someone else started banging on her door.  The sense of Khem’s presence gave her pause, but she allowed him to enter, “What is it?” she asked shortly, unsure whether she would be speaking with Khem or Zash.

The Dashade’s gravelly voice was uncertain when he spoke, “You must keep the child away from me.  I do not trust the witch not to harm her when I am not in control.”

Nia’ree bit her lip, “Khem…”

“I will not see her harmed.  I would rather she were kept from me for the rest of her life than be put in danger by my weakness.”

“Does Zash know about her?”

Khem Val considered the question for a time, “I am not sure.  I do not have access to her memories.  I assume it works both ways.  I will leave you, my master.  I wished to tell you this while I could.”

Nia’ree watched him leave, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.  Before she could begin to process it, Andronikos had crushed her against him.  Moments later, she felt Nia’drestia’s hands tugging at her skirt.  Nia’ree lifted the little girl with the Force and Andronikos shifted enough to allow her to burrow between them.  When he pulled back from her, Nia’ree was shocked to see how vulnerable he looked, “Sith,” his voice broke, “Nia’ree, you and Tessy, you’re…you’re my everything right now.”

“Andronikos…”

“No, let me…you scare me to death, you know that?  Not because you’re a Sith, but because you are this amazing, intelligent, gorgeous woman and every time I think it’s too much and I need to get away, I just can’t make myself take that first step.  For what it’s worth, right now you’re my girls, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, even me.”  He cupped her face, seeing the exhaustion clouding her glowing red eyes, “Lie down, Nia’ree.  It’s time for Tessy to go to bed.  I’ll get her settled.”

Nia’ree nodded slowly, tilting her head slightly and receiving a tender kiss from Andronikos.  She curled on her side in the bed while he carefully extracted Nia’drestia and carried her to her tiny bedroom.  It had been the large closet of Nia’ree’s room originally, but desire to keep her daughter near had led to the remodel.

By the time Andronikos had Nia’drestia tucked into bed, Nia’ree was nearly asleep as well.  She struggled back to wakefulness when he stretched out behind her and began gently running his hands up and down her back in what was meant as a soothing action.  Nia’ree arched against him, his light touch igniting her passion.  Andronikos picked up on the change and his caresses became more purposeful and sensual.  He leaned forward and nipped lightly at her ear before whispering, “You’re supposed to be going to sleep.”

She pressed her bottom against him, “I’m not that tired yet.”

“Have to change that,” he murmured, turning her head so their lips met in a searing kiss.

oOo

Nia’ree slept deeply after she and Andronikos had loved one another.  He had reduced her to tears once again, this time with the infinite tenderness he showed her.  When she woke, he was gone and she felt a stab of fear before finding his presence in the cockpit.  Tessy was still sleeping, though she probably wasn’t going to be much longer judging by the chronometer.

Pulling on her robe, Nia’ree left the room to try and find something to eat.  On the way to the galley, she stopped.  Sildrest was sitting on the couch near the holoterminal looking somewhere between dejected and determined.  He looked up and saw her; she saw the determination grow, “Nia’ree, can we talk?”

“Of course, Sildrest.”  She perched on the edge of the couch, arranging her robe so her blue skin was covered, “What do you need?”

He was silent, staring at his knees for a moment before looking up and meeting her eyes, “Do you want me to leave the ship?”

She frowned, “Why would you ask that?  Do you want to leave?”

He shrugged, “I’m not sure to be honest,” he shook his head and sighed, “I suppose you’ve figured it out by now.”

“Figured what out?”

“That I…wasn’t as indifferent to you as you were to me when we…”

“Had sex?” Nia’ree finished for him.

Sildrest nodded slowly, “I was entranced by you the moment I saw you and it has never changed.  You’re beautiful and kind, two things you don’t encounter often in the Empire.  But, I know you don’t feel the same, and whatever is going on with you and the pirate, it’s good for both of you.”

“What about Nia’drestia?” Nia’ree asked him quietly.

“She doesn’t need me,” he scoffed, “She’s got you, and I know Revel adores her.”

“But you’re her father.  She does know that, and she loves you,” Nia’ree touched his shoulder lightly, “Listen, Sildrest, I’m not going to ask you to leave.  Not just because of Nia’drestia, but also because you are a valued friend and ally.  I have suspected that you had feelings I didn’t share, and I’m sorry I don’t, you’re a wonderful man and you deserve to be happy, but I can’t feel anything but friendship for you.”

“I understand.  I knew that already.  Actually, I think I knew it from the beginning, it just became more obvious once Revel joined us,” he shook his head, “I’m not sure what I want to do.”

The door from Nia’ree’s quarters slid open and they both turned to see Nia’drestia poke her head out.  Locating her parents, she made a happy noise and started scooting towards them on all fours as fast as she could.

Nia’ree turned back to the twi’lek and smiled slightly, “You don’t have to decide right now.  No matter what, we’re friends, right?”

Sildrest met her eyes, “Yes, we are.  A bit unusual perhaps that we are friends rather than rivals.  I will stay for now, at least a few more months anyway.  Maybe by then I’ll have figured out what I truly want to do.”  Nia’drestia pulled herself up using her father’s pant leg for leverage and grinned at him.  With a chuckle, he lifted her into his lap where she bounced a few times before hauling herself up again so she could plant a messy kiss on his cheek.

The Chiss giggled at her daughter’s antics, “And you’re welcome to stay as long as you want or need to.”

“Thank you, Nia’ree.”