Chương 33: HEIRESS TO HOUSE SERN
During their travel through space, Leena took a deep breath and proceeded to the holoterminal during lights out. Vette was sleeping soundly in her chambers; she could only assume that Quinn was also the same in his. When the Sith sat down by the couch, all she could do was think this over.
She barely remembered Alderaan. It was a romanticized picture in her mind. The truth was, she doesn't know what home is anymore.
She was hesitant. Troubled even, she couldn't even sense that someone was already walking towards her. Being offered a mug, she looked up to find Quinn. "I thought you already went to bed."
"I have assumed the same towards you, my Lord." He said as he still held out the mug towards her. Leena was rather hesitant and tired; Quinn could see that from her eyes – although he wasn't used to seeing her original shade of grey. He was pleased when his Lord accepted his offer.
With a small sip, his Lord smiled and proceeded to drink the sweet Corellian chocolate drink he managed to brew for her. Having access to 2V's data was proven to be useful after all. "My Lord, my efforts to locate the SIS Agent Voloren have finally paid off. There is a small window of opportunity to confront him."
'Ah… work.' She mentally sighed. She couldn't help but take another sip and made Quinn proceed with his report. "I can handle the matter personally; permission to intercept and bring him down?"
"Well if that's the case… then there's no time to waste. He must finally be stopped." No matter how much Leena wanted to relax, Quinn's demeanor makes her feel tense.
"I appreciate your decisiveness, my Lord. The Empire will finally be served. I'll return shortly."
"I want you back in less than twenty-four hours, Captain."
"I'll be back in less than ten hours." Quinn gave out that small smirk before he proceeded out. She stayed there for a couple of more hours with only 2V entertaining her with what she needed. She would try and go back to sleep in her chambers, but for every ten minutes of silence – the Sith would proceed back by the holoterminal in deep thought.
She was still feeling hesitant as the hours pass by. She wound find herself seated by the Captain's chair on the bridge, playing with her mother's lightsaber as she watched them floating in midair. Wondering if this was something she should do. Wondering if Baras would do something lethal if she did this, but at the same time, she was even more worried about what this person would think.
She didn't know much about her family on Alderaan, all she knew was that there's a civil war going on among the planet's ruling families. House Sern isn't considered a ruling family, they serve one of the ruling families – she just didn't know which one.
Her mother told her that the legacy was important, that it was all that ever mattered and she didn't care less about a family who was never there for her. But they were still bound by blood, she felt rather obligated to at least know who they are. How she can help despite the circumstances of the planet.
She wondered how life was back on Alderaan when she was a child. She was too young to remember what happened, all she knew was that the planet was a warzone between the Empire and the Republic when she was there. Her father did his best on putting her and Azal within the safe grasps of the Empire, back on Dromand Kaas where she was born.
She didn't know if she was ready, her heart would beat rapidly every time she would try and press the holofrequency through the holoterminal. She couldn't bring herself to even finish it for the contact.
Hours kept on passing by until Leena found herself standing in front of the holoterminal still. Unable to call. "My Lord, I'm back from my mission—"
"Gah!" The Sith sound surprised as she turned around, about to grab her lightsaber. "For the love of the galaxy—Quinn, I told you I don't appreciate surprises!"
"Forgive me, my Lord. But I am pleased to report, Agent Voloren's decade of espionage has been brought to an end. It is a great day for the Empire." As much as Quinn was pleased with what he has done in less than ten hours, Leena was still trying to calm her shocked heart down.
"Well… you are to be commended." She calmed herself with a sigh. "It isn't every day you choose to book on an old score."
"It is long overdue. Thank you for allowing me to pursue this, my Lord." As much as the Captain was appreciating the opportunity, he found himself liking this… Sith Lord in front of him, after what happened on Tatooine. She seemed less paranoid, though the paranoia was still there. She was calmer and kinder, her tone doesn't speak of sternness much or even anger, frustration.
"You can drop the stoic soldier routine when we're in private." Leena reminded the Captain, in hopes that he would be relaxed a bit more like Vette so she wouldn't feel so tense around him. "Perhaps show me a little attention?"
"I'm… not sure what you mean."
Leena raised her brow when Vette came into the area with a teasing smile on her lips. "Awe comes on Quinn, don't tell me she's not your type?"
"Since when were you awake?" the Sith asked in wonder.
"Since the moment you began to stare at the holotermnial for like an hour now." The Twi'lek shrug. Then she turned back to Quinn with that smug smile of her still, she had a feeling that she was going to enjoy this. "Well, Quinn?"
The Captain turned to the Sith with a serious expression. "My Lord, you are not a type at all. I dare say you are a wholly unique woman. But my work demands complete concentration, and I – well – I'm not used to juggling business with pleasure."
"And here I thought Captain Serious knows how to multitask. If you're not interested, just say so." The Twi'lek stuck her tongue out.
"Alright, alright enough bickering." The Sith just had to stop this, especially when she hasn't gotten a single blink of sleep. "Now, let's get back to our duties—"
"Duties?" Vette crossed her arms as she took a good look at the Sith Lord. "You're not even fit to do any work. Did you even sleep at all?"
"Well no but—"
"Is something bothering you, my Lord?" The Captain asked.
Making the Sith apprentice realize that she was cornered by her own crew about her health. She was restless, Quinn even took notice on how she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings and as a force-sensitive, she should have known if someone was approaching her. But no, he caught her off-guard, twice in a row.
"Leena." Vette looked into her eyes with worry. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
The Sith sigh, knowing that she couldn't hide it very well especially when this was personal for her. "I haven't… well since we're on course for Alderaan, I was hoping to see if I could contact my father before we arrive. See what's there to offer me but I… I don't, I couldn't bring myself to even hit the button to start the transmission."
"Wait… your old man?" The first time the Twi'lek heard of it. Leena barely spoke about her father in front of her, in Quinn's case, however—all he would hear from his Lord was praise about how her father was a good Imperial soldier, a dutiful one in fact.
"I was three when we fled Alderaan, I barely even remember the planet. It was like a romanticized picture in my mind and the truth is, I don't even know what home is every more. I worry – what if he doesn't want to do anything with me? What if he wished me dead? What if he's disappointed—"
"Leena, hey, look at me." Vette placed both of her hands onto the Sith's shoulders, gesturing to Quinn to proceed on the connection through the holoterminal. "You are an amazing woman. Quinn and I don't exactly get along but – we can agree on this: We are both proud to be fighting by your side. And if we're proud, your father will be too."
"Transmission is being accepted; we're being patched through," Quinn confirmed as he stood by his Lord's side as his hands were neatly folded behind him.
"He loves you, Leena," Vette assured as she let go, but she didn't go anywhere – she just stood by the Sith. "Hold your head up high."
"I don't think I can." Leena sighed and proceeded to her quarters with a rather heavy heart.
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