Private An Aunt Lost, But a Niece Found

[Lace Verd]

Lace Vi'Dreya
834 ABY - 859 ABY
Knight Obsidian
Beloved Sister and Aunt
​

Lace stared at her gravestone quietly, and processed what it meant for those she had yet to remember. She'd been "dead" for a long time. Long enough for her family to grieve, to mourn, to move on... And now they had to process that she was alive and would eventually have to go through that pain all over again. The grip on the bouquet she had brought tightened, as she wondered if it was really a good idea to stay.

Could she really make people who loved her dearly go through the pain of losing her all over again?

Crouching down, Lace placed the bouquet next to the grave stone before running her fingers across her name. Her brother had mentioned that nothing had been buried, and it felt... Strange, to hear that. She understood why, of course, but from what she understood they had at least found a lightsaber she used to bury. Did Isley not want to bury it, just in case this very scenario happened? With a sigh, she stood back up and smoothed out her dress.

"I wonder..."

Lace stood there, lost in thought, before hearing someone approach, and turning to look at them. It was a young girl, who seemed... Vaguely familiar?

Allya Vi'Dreya

 

[Allya Vi'Dreya]

Spoiler

Hubris had led her to this moment. She had challenged the Stars, challenged the title of Mand’alor. While she had gotten close, far closer than most would ever imagine, she had fallen. It was not the first time, but it had the most impact of any before it. For nearly a year she had been on the hidden planet of Letow, she had searched for a new way, one that was hers. She had nearly found it. But duty called to her still. So, she had left Jerek in charge of the dig aboard the Deliverance and went back to Confederate space to fulfill it.


The young woman moved through the graves with a cloth and flowers. She would wash the graves, remove the dead flowers, and lay a singular living flower on each one. These were the countless Dauntless she had lost in her years fighting with the unit. Others were civilians she had failed to protect, or family she had lost along the way. Sure, she could allow a droid to do it, but there was little in the way of remembrance in such an action. If her heart wasn’t breaking, something was wrong. At least, that what her father Darth Metus told her.


Caramel fingers brushed the engraved names on a particular stone. She had been a fresh recruit, so excited to protect her home. Brilliant, but cut short on Tanaab. Allya pushed herself up to her feet and winced as the wound in her chest and stomach throbbed. The man had gotten her good, so much time had passed, and so much physical therapy just to get back to functioning. Was it mercy? Incompetence? Or just insult that had saved her life in that fight? Who could say. No matter.


As she moved up toward her Aunt’s grave, Lace Verd . She stopped and looked at the woman whose back was turned to her at the grave. Sure, to call it a grave was silly. More like a remembrance stone. Still…She moved closer as her dress flitted around her. The woman turned to look at her, and the girl gave a slight gasp. Allya’s eyes examined each aspect of her face. One would think she could have gotten used to these types of events. But they never came without cost. “Auntie?” Her voice was soft, so much softer than it once was.

 

[Lace Verd]

The girl spoke softly, almost so softly that Lace couldn't hear her voice. It was familiar, that voice. The girl's face. But Lace couldn't quite connect them to a name. A wave of guilt washed over her as she looked at the girl before her with sorrow and confusion. Clearly, the girl was her niece, if she had called Lace her "Auntie" but was it worth it to come back into the girl's life, after all this time?

"I... I'm sorry, but I don't remember who you are. Your face and voice are familiar but..."

Lace frowned, and her shoulders curled in on herself as she held a hand over her chest. Any confidence that Allya Vi'Dreya would remember her aunt having was gone, having been replaced with doubt and anxiety. A sigh escaped her, as she averted her eyes from the young girl before her.

"I'm sorry... I should let you get back to... Leaving flowers? I'm so sorry, I'm not... I'm not who you probably remember me being..."

 

[Hawthorn]

Pay no mind to the man behind the curtain.

 

[Allya Vi'Dreya]

These events never came without cost. Something was always lost. Over and over and over. That brief twinge was pushed aside, as it had been so many times before. Allya gave Lace a beautiful and brilliant smile. “Nah, don’t worry about it. You reminded me of someone was all. Don’t stress about it, few remember me. And even fewer know me. But, there is only one cure for that right?”


She walked up to Lace, her dress hem twirling with each step. A calloused hand was reached out towards the woman. “I’m Allya. This the memorial stone for my Aunt. Hahaa. I’ve lost most of my aunts and uncles at this point.” Whether or not the woman took her hand, she reached with her free hand and pulled a small cooler lunch box out of a pack slung at her side. “Hey! You hungry? I made some sandwiches for the trip. We could share them if you like?” The teens voice was gentle, caring, and a tad mischievous. “It’s always a wonderful day when you get to have lunch with a lovely woman. Don’t you think?” She had to admit, part of her dad had always rubbed off on her. Without Damsy Callat near, she just tried to enjoy each encounter she could get. Allya gave the woman a playful wink and held up the lunch box.


Besides, who cared if she was ever remembered? Who cares if there was anyone who knew her name? Just the fact the people where still there, still part of the galaxy meant she would fight all the harder to protect it, especially when they couldn’t anymore.

Lace Verd

 

[Lace Verd]

Spoiler

Lace's guilt only got heavier at the girl's words. Who had hurt her so? Hurt her so badly she thought herself forgettable? Pursing her lips together, Lace took the girl's hand in both of hers, and looked at her sadly. The name Allya rang quite a few bells, and the wheels began to turn in Lace's mind to remember something, anything. Allya deserved to be remembered.

"Sandwiches would be lovely, All- oh!"

Something clicked, and one of Lace's hands was pulled away to cradle her head, as she remembered...

"Ba'vodu?"

"Sh, All'ika. Sit back down, you're sick."

Lace gently pushed an 8 year old Allya down, back onto her bed. The little girl was sick, and when Lace heard that her brother had barely checked on his daughter, she knew what she had to do.

"I brought you some medicine, and something to eat. How are you feeling?"

"Bad..."

"Let's work on fixing that, then. Come on, I'll help you eat."

Smiling at her niece, Lace sat down on the little girl's bed, and pet her head. She knew her brother wasn't the most attentive of fathers, but this was just sad to see. If Isley wouldn't take care of Allya, then Lace had to step in. She had to.

"Allya... Oh, All'ika..."

Looking her niece in the eyes, Lace remembered Allya Vi'Dreya clearly, and pulled her into a tight hug.

"I remember. I'm sorry I forgot you, you deserve better. I'm sorry."

 

[Allya Vi'Dreya]

As Allya heard those words and was pulled into a hug, tears filled her eyes and she shook her head. “It’s not this easy. It’s never this easy…. I’m always left behind.” Her voice was a soft sob, as her arms wrapped tightly around this woman and rocked her. Fingers reached out and stroked over Lace’s hair so tenderly. Her eyes closed for a moment, and she remembered, being curled in a ball, a sobbing mess, with her Aunt and Cardinal standing between her and Metus that day they forced their way into the temple and removed her.



“I keep telling myself, its okay if I’m forgotten, if I am left alone. You gave me the strength to stand on my own two feet, to do things that are often considered impossible. To enjoy my life. I have this amazing guy, Jerek. He keeps me safe now, protects me from myself. I…I’m at least glad I got to see you again.” Allya rested her forehead to Lace’s, brown eyes clenched shut as tears welled up in them and streamed down her face. “So, I’m not alone. B-but. I really DO have sandwiches! And I think they are good.” The young woman’s voice cracked every so often as she tried desperately to compose herself. “S-So, if you want to eat with me, and stay awhile?”



Her pink tongue licked over her own lips and she pulled back slightly, to allow her eyes to open and stare at the woman. Tears were not right for this, so she wiped them away, and gave her aunt a big smile. “It’s okay if you don’t fully remember. It happens a lot, I’m just glad you are here, even if it is only for a moment.”

Lace Verd

 

[Lace Verd]

The soft sob that came from Allya Vi'Dreya nearly broke Lace's heart. Kneeling down to be eye level with her niece, she looked at Allya with tears of joy and sadness forming in her eyes. Lace smiled at Allya and cradled her face between her hands. Her All'ika was there, in front of her, and she was being remembered by someone who loved her.

"I'd love to stay and eat with you, All'ika."

Lace looked Allya in the eyes as her niece pulled away, and helped wipe away the girl's tears with a thumb.

"Why don't you tell me about things I've missed, hm? And we can have a giggle about me 'cheating' death. How's that sound?"