Private My Sister's Keeper

[Arra Thatch]

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Word travelled faster than wildfire on Abregado-Rae. Arra shoved the holo-puck of their late father into the duffel, along with tools she literally couldn't afford to replace. A whole fleet of ships had appeared in the system, ignoring hails, transmissions, and all attempts to contact them. The sun dimmed beneath transports and their escorts as they deployed from the fleet like swarms from their hives.

Word on the street was it was the Sith.

They'd come for payback against the Mandalorians.

That had been hours ago. The faint acrid bite of thick smoke filled their small hole of an apartment, and the sky outside their tiny window burned orange. Pocked duracrete walls couldn't keep out the screams that had begun. An explosion from the factories rocked the floor beneath her feet, and Arra staggered as grit and dust shook loose from the ceiling. She flung open a cabinet and pulled out a small tin of credits. Everything she was able to earn and profits from everything she'd been trying to sell ever since the Mandalorians came.

"Suri, please tell me you're just grabbing necessities," she said, shoving the tin into the duffel bag. They had to move quick.

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Suri Thatch​

 

[Suri Thatch]

Arra Thatch​

“Yes!” she replied with an exasperated tone as she scooped Patch off the counter and stuffed the wriggling tooka into her satchel, he let out a low hiss of protest, glaring at her with his one good yellow eye, but she closed the bag over his head. Scrambling for the window sill and the plants Suri snatched one of the smaller pots of healing herbs down and shoved it into an oversized pocket.

Suri let out a small gasp as the sight beyond the tiny window pane made her freeze. Something red was creeping up the crack of the building opposite her. It felt wrong, twisted and hungry.

Another explosion rumbled through the apartment, this one far closer. Suri threw herself down on the counter a split second before the window shattered and let out a squeak of surprise as glass rained over her.

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[Arra Thatch]

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The whole building shook. Arra threw an arm up to shield her face as the transparisteel window burst from the shockwave. The lights flickered and one of the wall-mounted cabinets fell, the joints busting apart as it clattered down. A loud yelp filled Arra's ears more than the roar of the fires and the keening screams outside.

"Suri!" Arra coughed and rushed to her sister. No serious cuts, just a couple superficial nicks from the transparisteel falling. The smoke outside grew thicker, black with a worrying shade of crimson to it. Something red and creeping clung to the building opposite theirs.

They were out of time.

Arra pulled out a couple of rags from the duffel bag and handed one to Suri.

"Over your nose and mouth," she ordered and coughed violently, before tying the rag over her face. It would not be as effective as actual respirators or masks, but it'd help cut down on smoke inhalation. Arra checked Suri's face-covering before grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet.

Others in the apartment rushed past as the door hissed open, shouting, crying. A large crowd was gathered around the turbolifts but some were heading to the stairwell. Arra followed them, taking the stairs as quick as she dared. In spite of how many beings were in the stairwell, all descending, and the thunder of feet on duracrete, it was deathly quiet. She never let go of Suri's hand, even as the press of people grew the lower down they went.

The street looked as if someone opened a rift to the Nether and all of hell had spilled out. A red pulsing mass leaned against the ground floor of the building on the other side of the street, blood red tendrils spider-webbing out. Animal screams filled the air distantly, and the screams of sentients joined them.

"Dear gods," Arra breathed.

Take care of your sister.

Arra shook herself and started heading away from the screams. "Spaceport, now!"

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Suri Thatch​

 

[Suri Thatch]

Arra Thatch​

Fear clutched at her chest as she followed her sister's instructions blindly, trembling fingers tying the rags around her face, her eyes wide as Arra coughed violently. Smoke inhalation was bad enough but they had no idea what this smoke was carrying. She scanned her plants, even with the natural filtration they provided there wasn’t anything among them that could help.

The corridors outside the apartment doors were a hairs breadth away from blinding panic as people jostled their way towards the exits, children clinging desperately to their parents, their frightened cries made her draw nearer to Arra until she pulled them into the flow of bodies streaming towards the stairwell, the fearful silence pressing on them from all sides.

Suri eyes were immediately drawn to the red pulsing mass, her mouth open in a state of surprise as she realised the pulse was the steady and unnaturally rapid growth of blood red mushrooms, mycelial tendrils digging their way through the street seeking nutrition. Someone knocked her shoulder and the bag Patch was secured in, the tooka gave an angry mew and Suri slipped her hand inside to calm him.

“It’s okay.” she whispered “Everything is gonna be okay.”

Her eyes drifted back to Arra as she swallowed, her jaw setting. They had gotten through everything together, they’d get through this. She knew it in her heart. Suri kept her grip on Arra’s hand as they moved away from the screams of the dying, though one louder than the rest made her look back over her shoulder as someone fell too close to the crimson mass. It surged forward, tendrils wrapping around him dragging him beneath its ever growing bloom.

She tore her gaze away. “Don’t let it touch you.” she warned, her voice shaky.

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[Arra Thatch]

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The tendrils pulsed. Writhed, as they grew visibly. Arra took an involuntary step back, pulling on Suri's hand. Oh she did not like that at all. She turned to march down the street towards the spaceport when she felt someone bump into Suri and rush past them.

"Watch it!" Arra threw a gesture she'd learned in the fight pits at the retreating figure. "Karking wermo."

She almost missed Suri's quiet soothing.

"Did you bring the karking tooka?" She knew she hadn't stuttered earlier when she said to just grab what they needed. The tooka could've fended for itself again. Arra opened her mouth to say as much then clapped it shut. They didn't have time for this.

"C'mon, we—"

A blood-curdling scream made her freeze in spite of the horrors around them. The day wasn't done horrifying her apparently, as the sickening mass of red moved and pulled a fallen Rodian underneath it. His screaming only became muffled before turning to gurgling.

“Don’t let it touch you.” she warned, her voice shaky.

Arra bit her tongue literally to keep herself from shouting 'No shit!' Suri didn't need that. She didn't need that from her. Arra ground her teeth and swallowed hard.

"Hurry," she said hoarsely. "They're evacuating at the spaceport. If we can get there, we'll be safe."

She hoped.

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Suri Thatch​

 

[Suri Thatch]

Arra Thatch
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Suri’s fear instantly vanished as her chin stuck out, eyes flashing defiantly. He was essential, he was a part of their family as much as Arra hated him. With one eye, a half chewed ear and more scars on his little face than she could count. And she absolutely was not going to leave him behind.

But whatever argument Arra might have been preparing died in the wake of the rodian's demise and their focus shifted to escaping. She didn’t need to be told twice, one hand keeping the satchel steady so as not to rattle the tooka around too much as they half ran towards the spaceport.

A TIE fighter screamed through the air above them, chased by the smaller craft that made no less noise as they opened fire, tearing through the ship. The TIE’s wing blew off in one direction as the machine spiraled in the other, impacting the path ahead of them with a scream of metal and fire that blossomed skywards.

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[Arra Thatch]

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They set off at a jog, the smell of smoke and death and chemicals from the burning factories choking the air. Arra made sure they stayed mostly to the middle of the street, giving other red growths a wide berth. The distinct scream of a TIE fighter grew louder and louder as it suddenly shot overhead, followed by other fighters. Turbolasers shrieked and the TIE exploded into a blossoming ball of fire and debris. Arra skidded to a stop and covered Suri's head, placing herself between her sister and the crash. She could feel the heat coming off the wreck.

Fire and molten scrap now blocked their way. Arra looked back the way they came. The screaming sounded closer now, and she could make out several fights breaking out.

"Sithspit," she hissed and pulled Suri towards an alleyway, keeping a worried eye out for more of the red growths. She had hoped to be in the spaceport before the fighting broke out. Abregado-Rae had entered into an alliance with the Mandalorians. So where were they in all this?

"If we get separated," Arra said as she tried to navigate through the chaos, "no matter what, you run for the spaceport. Got it?"

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Suri Thatch​

 

[Suri Thatch]

Arra Thatch
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Patch squirmed horribly as the noise escalated around them, claws punching through the thick canvas and catching her skin, she tightened her grip on it, willing the angry furball to calm down. He had to trust her, if he was caught in those mycelial tendrils she’d never forgive herself.

Fear crept deeper into her heart as Arra began thinking of contingencies. “We’re not getting separated.” she replied quietly, refusing to agree to what she suggested because they didn’t need to make plans for what if. They were getting off this rock the same way they got on it.

Together.

An animal scream echoed from above them but Suri knew it wasn’t right without looking up, terror gripped her. “Run!” She let go of her sister's hand so they could move freely as a dozen reavers flew over the allies head, one colliding with the wall with a wet slap before it turned its head almost a hundred and eighty degrees to look down at them and the others ushering through the alley.

“RUN!”

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[Arra Thatch]

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Suri had hardly gotten the word out of her mouth before Arra pulled her along, sprinting down the alley with other people. New screams split the air behind her as the flying monstrosities found prey. Orange light and more chaos filtered in from the other end of the alley, but it had to be better than a narrow area with literal monsters. Arra ducked, one of the things swooping in over her head and latching onto the back of the person in front of her. She pushed past the woman as she started thrashing, trying to dislodge the creature.

Outside the alley was little better. The monsters were swarming here, diving and swooping as people ran from them. Soldiers grabbed at others, hauling them off somewhere. Panic was in the air. Someone frantically pushed past them as they joined the crowd, running away, but a liquid the color of blood streamed after them. One of the creatures swooped in after. Arra paled and very quickly found somewhere else to look as the effects of the acid became immediately clear.

"C'mon!" She tugged on Suri's hand, pulling her away from one horror into the next. Blasterfire and the crack of slugthrowers now rang out in the city. Arra flinched at first, ducking unnecessarily but the shots soon joined every other sound in the roar of chaos around them.

"ARRA!"

A female togruta struggled against two soldiers bearing an angry red symbol. Arra knew her. A bartender at the fighting pit she'd worked at the most. Friendly. Kind, even when Arra lost. Savira, if Arra remembered right. Savira managed to wrench a hand free and reached out to her.

"Help me!"

Arra gripped Suri's hand and ran.

"Arra!"

Tears stung her eyes but she kept running.

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Suri Thatch​

 

[Suri Thatch]

Arra Thatch
​

Chaos was everywhere, soldiers grabbing civilians as they were flushed out of the alleys. Suri stopped hearing their screams as wide eyes became overwhelmed. While Arra avoided one sight, Suri saw another, a man’s throat slit before he was tossed into another pile of the fungal growth that seemed to have infected every part of the city.

She heard someone shout Arra’s name, and swung her gaze to find them, calling for help. Arra’s hand tightened around hers as they kept running, leaving the screaming woman behind, Suri cast a sidelong glance at her sister, saw the tears and swallowed. They never talked about the fighting pits, Suri assumed she was from there as a rogue thought drifted across her mind.

If Arra didn’t have her to worry about, would she have been able to help that woman?

The thought evaporated when she stumbled and lost her footing, half a pace behind Arra, falling hard onto her knees. The satchel hitting the ground. Patch let out a yowl tumbling from it with his tail low, ears flat against his head.

“Patch!” she tried to lunge for him, to grab him before he could run off but the tooka let out an angry hiss, leaping for her, for a moment she thought he was going to attack, so terrified by all the noise, but instead he launched himself onto her shoulder and sprung from it as a reaver swooped down towards them, its claws snatching him instead.

"PATCH!" she screamed.

Suri’s heart shattered, but they didn’t have time for her to mourn or to process what had just happened, she scrambled back to her feet, sobbing.

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[Arra Thatch]

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Arra staggered as Suri tripped and fell, her hand slipping from her grasp. Someone pushed past her and knocked her off-balance as she tried to turn to help her sister. The otherworldly keening pierced her ears. One of the flying monsters swooped towards them. Arra froze, eyes locked onto the fleshy nightmare. If it was going to get either of them, it would be better for it to get her.

“Patch!”

The tooka suddenly sprang into the air and the monster latched onto it, shrieking. Relief flooded her veins even as horror and Suri's scream froze her heart.

"PATCH!" she screamed.

She grabbed her sister by an arm and hauled her to her feet, more tears streaming silently down her face. Patch had been one of the first rescued animals Suri brought home. He'd scratched up what little furniture she'd been able to buy, had peed in corners and on dirty clothes, and ate like he'd never been fed in his life, even though Arra knew he could hunt just fine. But Suri had loved him. There was nothing she could say that would help or comfort Suri.

"C'mon," she said hoarsely. "We have to go."

Arra pulled her along, keeping a tight hold on her sister's hand. But now it was just as much for comfort as it was to keep them from getting separated.

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Suri Thatch​

 

[Suri Thatch]

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Tears blurred her vision as they ran, her hand coming up to wipe them away as quickly as they came. She knew Arra hadn’t wanted her to bring him but while the world was falling apart around them, Patch represented something of what they’d built over the years, as much as he ruined the furniture. He was a part of their home, of their family.

They could see the spaceport ahead, transport ships scrambling for the sky under heavy fire from the sith invaders and the way between them was far from clear, they were caught in the middle of a battlefield where forces from both sides clashed, some locals tried to join the fight, others like them kept running. They were at much at risk of getting shot as they were getting swept up in the hungry claws of reavers. And everywhere, the red fungi swelled, pressing up through the cracks consuming bodies as soon as they fell.

It was a nightmare.

Suri threw an arm over her head as blaster fire erupted over them. Mandalorians descended on jetpacks to crash into sith troopers as the sky above became twisted with unnatural clouds, illuminated by orbital fire from above. Streaks of red and blue rained down from the heavens, erratic, like it was missing its targets rather than targeting the ground.

“Arra!” she shouted at her sister over the noise. “How are we gonna get through that!?”

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[Arra Thatch]

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Chaos erupted ahead of them or merely intensified, Arra wasn't sure which. Orbital fire struck the road ahead, sending chunks of duracrete and slag and a spray of dirt into the air. Arra turned her back and pulled Suri close, shielding her. Blasterfire dominated everything here but she could barely here the screams of people as they got caught in the crossfire. Arra looked at the battlefield, her home barely recognizable anymore.

“Arra!” she shouted at her sister over the noise. “How are we gonna get through that!?”

"I—" I don't know but that wasn't an option. Desperately, she looked for something, anything that gave them hope of getting through to the spaceport. Mandalorians formed a defensive line against Sith soldiers and those flying flesh monsters, but off to the side, it looked like there was a specific gap held for civilians.

"Come on, this way!"

She grabbed Suri's hand again and ran across the street, avoiding the fallen and the sickening patches of red, fleshy goo. Blasterfire screamed past them and she flinched. Still, they ran, other lucky survivors pushing past them and joining their mad dash to the gap. Arra didn't fully stop running until they were past the spaceport walls. The blasterfire became somewhat muted as the dull roar of a huge crowd of people filled the space. Blood and body odor hung in the air and somewhere, a few children cried.

Still, it was safer in here, surely.

Angry shouting drew her attention and the attention of several Mandalorians. They grabbed his arms to pull him away from the pilot he'd started arguing with and he resisted, cursing them loudly. One raised a blaster to his head.

Crack!

The Mandalorian that had restrained him began hauling the body unceremoniously toward an exit. Arra pulled Suri closer to her. She now noticed that several three man patrols were pulling aside extremely agitated, panicked civilians and executing them. She ground her teeth and pushed her way towards a ticket terminal.

The ground rocked beneath her feet as something like a meteorite landed outside the spaceport. Arra gripped Suri's hand tighter and moved quicker. She didn't want to find out what it was.

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Suri Thatch | Courtesy tag: Mercy | Srina Talon ​

 

[Suri Thatch]

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For a brief terrifying moment, Suri thought Arra didn't know, a flicker of helplessness had crossed her sister's features. Arra always had a plan, how could Arra not have a plan? As chaos seemed to endlessly erupt around them, all Suri could see was her sister and the desperation that flickered across her features.

She finally saw something and relief flooded Suri, following her sister's gaze to the gap through which civilians were running. One foot in front of the other, keeping a tight hold on her sisters hand Suri ran, trying not to let her eyes linger too long on the bodies they passed, or the red pulsating masses creeping across the ground to consume them.

The spaceport was quieter, the battle seemingly further away but it wasn't calmer. Tensions here seemed worse, fear made animals out of the best of people, desperate families around them debated their best options. Suri was breathing hard, trying to catch her breath but struggling with the fear that was holding her chest.

The shouting drew everyone's gaze, the Mandalorians stepping in to manage the situation. Suri never saw the gun until the shot rendered the air making her jump. She moved closer to her sister, her eyes moving rapidly as she spotted more. More executions, more panic.

She bit her lower lip shrinking against Arra, as they reached the ticket booth queue, eyes finding the ground. Be small, be insignificant. Don't let them see you, don't let them hear you.

Tears blurred her vision. As the ground shook beneath their feet, the impact beyond the spaceport walls drawing nervous gazes.

"Arra." She whispered, terrified they would hear her. "I'm scared."

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Arra Thatch​

 

[Arra Thatch]

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"Arra." She whispered, terrified they would hear her. "I'm scared."

The words cut straight to her heart, even as she moved her arm protectively around Suri. Arra shuffled forward, trying to keep up with the line. Somewhere outside the spaceport, angry barking of canines echoed among the shrieking of blasterfire. She glanced back over her shoulder then immediately forced herself to look ahead. No good could come from looking back at the fighting outside.

"We're gonna be fine," she said quietly. "We're getting on a transport and going to a new world. It'll be fine. We'll be fine."

Maybe if she said it enough, it would come true.

A drop pod screamed down from the sky in a different part of the spaceport and new screams erupted. Arra held Suri closer and slumped her shoulders a bit more, trying to be less noticeable. The sharp clang of metal on metal rang in the air behind them, and she shifted forward with the line. Anxiety crept up her spine. They had to get out of here. Fast.

As the sounds of the battle outside intensified, Arra finally managed to get close to a terminal that someone just left. She desperately scrolled through the list of ships and transports docked, looking for any that were still taking passengers. A new issue came to light as she quickly scrolled through, icy dread settling in her stomach with every ship she looked at.

The cheapest prices were twice what she had anticipated. She only had enough for one ticket.

Arra highlighted the ship that showed the most availability before digging the tin of credits out of her bag. Maybe, maybe she could beg for some creds to make up the difference for a second ticket. Worse came to worst, she could follow a Mandalorian patrol after they... executed someone. Maybe check their pockets in whatever pile they were thrown into. A thin ticket chip jingled into the dispenser and Arra grabbed it quickly, not trusting the panic that seemed to hum beneath the surface of the crowd. She pressed it firmly into Suri's hand.

"Listen, there's a problem with the machine," she said, pulling Suri in the direction of the ship she'd picked. "It's not spitting out a second ticket. I'll see if I can figure it out but for now, take the ticket. Get on the ship. Wait for me there."

The line of passengers heading up the ramp into the ship was long. Arra felt her chest tighten. There might not be enough room for Arra to even get a second ticket on that ship.

"Right, get in line," she said. "I'll be there shortly."

She hoped Suri bought the lie.

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Suri Thatch​