Surprise Visits

[Kimiko Taiyou]

A lone corvette, the Cyaron, dropped out of hyper space on the fringes of First Order territory. Her crew was on edge, especially after being told they were to make way to this part of the galaxy, but their weapons and shields remained down. She didn't need them. She was here hoping to pay an old acquaintance a visit.

They may have had a rocky past, but Ki's admiration for the younger woman had earned her a permanent spot in the fox-kin's heart.

Kimiko finished the message she had been preparing on the voyage here. She made eye-contact with the bridge commander, who nodded with a bit of hesitation.

She pressed the key to send her message to hopefully the right recipient and began waiting...

Mistress,

It has been some time since we conversed, much less saw one another.

I am currently at the coordinates provided. I won't be able to be here for long, so if you cannot make it, do not worry.

Sincerely yours,
Kimiko

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Samka's delicate fingers ran over the strings of the harp.

Sam's instructor, a grey haired woman named Fyida gently nodded and smiled, closing eyes and rocking to the peaceful melody. "Very good, my dear. Are you sure you haven't played before?"

Sam giggled in response, "You are too kind, Fyida. I am quite sure this is a new experience for me, yes."

"Then you have quite a gift, girl."

Sam smiled back, relishing in the praise, but before she could respond there was a buzz from her pocket.

Fyida opened her eyes, her smile disappearing along with the music of the harp as Samka's hands instead went to her holo. "Young lady..." Her voice turned into a stern warning but Sam looked back at her with wide, innocent eyes.

"I'm sorry but you know how sick my mother is," more lies from Sam's lips but her music instructor swallowed them and nodded in understanding. The real reason she always had to be alert for messages was that she, a Knight of Ren, could be called upon at any moment to dispatch the enemies of their Empire. It was something to be hidden from the likes of a lowly music teacher.

Still the message surprised her, there wasn't a new assignment in store but the offer of a social call. Sam's face crunched up as she read it and she audibly swallowed. [member="Kimiko"], the girl she'd befriended while undercover as an innocent tourist still wanted to meet even after the truth?

"I can tell by your face the news is important. Let us meet again next week, you're ahead of progress anyway." Fyida said sympathetically.

Sam bowed her head and curtsied slightly to her teacher, "Yes, it-it is. I'll see you next week."

Heading out the room, Sam typed up a basic reply:

I'm on my way

Sam


It was all she could think to write at that moment.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Time ticked by. Ki could sense the crew's uneasiness around her. Even the Commander was on edge, much to her own dismay. But she kept on a face, she needed to, for her crew's sake.

Her thoughts continued while her eyes wandered to the vast black on the other side of the viewport. She watched the stars twinkle against the black backdrop.

Interrupted by the flashing of her console, she suddenly moved to view the display. After reading the short message, her eyes widened and a matching smile spread across her face.

Chika saw the reaction and mused,"Ma'am, is everything alright?"

Kimiko turned to her commander and nodded enthusiastically,"Yes. We have a reason for being here now."

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam's outfit was chosen very deliberately. The black, cloaked military style clothing she wore when on duty. It might seem an odd choice for a social call but given how they met last time, Sam felt it fitting. She was showing herself, what she truly was, to [member="Kimiko"] for the older girl to accept or reject as she pleased.

As her shuttle docked with The Cyaron, Sam caught sight of her own reflection. Brushing a lock of lavender hair from her face with a gloved hand, she had to wonder how it reached this point. She, a powerful, deadly instrument of the Supreme Leader, was nervous of meeting someone again. If she squinted back at the girl staring back in the window, Sam could almost see a trace of the shy child she once was. Before the First Order and the Knights of Ren. Before the Dark side.

Once the standard docking sequence was done, Sam strolled on board. In her experience, Ki may well be the purest and most forgiving person she'd ever met. It stood to reason that this was Ki being usual friendly self. There would be no grudges nor sense of betrayal for her deception, for sneaking off to commit murder between their meetings. But when once she once again saw that beautiful, innocent face, all that escaped Sam's lips was a simple and breathless, "Hello again..."

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

"Ma'am, contact dropping out of hyperspace! Lone transport shuttle on vector towards us." the man at the sensors station reported, causing Ki to leap up in excitement.

She was momentarily speechless and Chika caught onto it, thankfully issuing an order on her leader's behalf,"Bring us around and prepare the starboard docking port. Clear out and give Kimiko and her guest some privacy." her garnet eyes fell upon the white-maned woman and she smiled,"Ma'am? Shouldn't you go get ready? I can handle things here."

She could barely respond before her nimble feet took her off the bridge in a hurry. Her path carried her to the designated docking port, and she released a breath she didn't know was being held. It became even more nerve wracking as she heard the shuttle slowly came along side and the docking sequence cycled through.

Ki could barely keep herself still as she waited seeing someone whom she had missed more than anything. Had it surprised her to find out who the other woman was? Of course it did. But, Ki being who she was, could never hold anything against her for just being who she was and following orders. They were not enemies, so she had nothing to worry about. Nor would she ever hold someone she held dear in a negative light.

Her gaze had fallen towards the floor as she thought, but was brought from her thoughts by the hatch hissing open...and before she could speak, she saw her opposite, the friend whom she had more than accidentally stumbled into.

"Hello again..." it was barely above a whisper, but sensitive ears caught it and could hear the nervousness in the words.

Ears and tail perked up happily before Ki launched herself at the other woman, the ensuing embrace with the momentum would cause the duo to spin, Ki giggling and crying all the while. Her chin rested on Sam's shoulder as she cried,"Sam!"

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

At first all the young Knight of Ren could do was stand there, her arms meekly hanging at the side as [member="Kimiko"] pounced on her. The sudden out pouring of emotion had left her momentarily stunned. But once she adjusted, once it all registered that the girl was indeed her normal self, Sam returned the gesture. Hands wrapping around Ki's waist to pull the older girl in closer.

"Heh, I suppose I can allow this," Sam cooed in the Kimiko's ear as a smile crossed her lips. The fingers on her left hand lightly grazing her friend's back as they went up to ruffle her hair. There was something about Kimiko which made her relax, the girl's nature reminded her of a more innocent time. She'd not had a 'friend' in the conventional sense since childhood. Now Sam was developing growing relationships with a variety of people but Kimiko was perhaps the only one she'd openly call a friend. Here Sam was beginning to show a side of herself that not even she knew still existed.

She kept holding the fox-kin with one hand on the top of Ki's head and the other on her waist as Sam's eyes flickered around the ship's corridor. "You... have a ship now, my dear? Impressive."

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

The embrace slackened, but Ki held onto Sam's hands gently and smiled up brightly upon the mention of the ship,"I do. The Cyaron is actually one of a handful I was able to secure during the fall of the Sith. Many of my crew are former Sith Navy, but they are as loyal and hard working as ever. They are all pending some modifications, but are still stock as of now."

The words were quickly spoken before a comfortable silence fell between them. Though internally, the shorter woman was fighting a rather hard fight. Before her stood quite a contradiction. One she considered a close friend and even ally, though her allegiances would cause most to turn in fear, Ki saw through it and would even say she loved the younger woman.

It had been ages since she last saw, or even talked to her, and it caused her heart to ache,"I missed you so Sam. I do hope you are doing well and everything is good for you?"

Her blue eyes showed nothing but honesty in her words, the sincerity of her feelings showing plainly.

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

"Handful?" Sam asked with a single eyebrow raised and a thin teasing smile crossing her lips. "The way you're talking, it sounds as though you have a fleet. It must be quite a tale."

The moment Ki mentioned her crew were supposedly former Sith, Samka's eyes darted around, looking past the older girl down to the corridors for any trace. They could not be trusted, an ideology of selfishness where backstabbing murder was outright encouraged. Yet Sam's gaze trailed downwards to where the two girls had their hands still entwined and sighed. Most people wouldn't trust Sith but neither would most people trust her. [member="Kimiko"] wasn't most people.

"I..." missed you too almost came from her lips but something stopped her. Instead she finished the sentence by saying "I have been well, thank you. I've been promoted to a full Knight in the Order which is extraordinary for my age. A sign of good things to come, I hope. I'm sure we both have a lot to say so give me a tour?" Sam met the other girl's blue eyes with her crimson, a sign of the way the Dark Side had warped her body and yet the smile she gave Kimiko was warm and genuine. Throwing out charming, disarming smiles was part of her job. To conduct diplomacy or deceive others, the mastery of a simple smile can be among the most important skills in your arsenal and yet it never quite matched with her true smile. It was not the smug, arrogant or even sadistic look she bore most of the time but one of tenderness and somehow seems to override all the corruption evident in the young girl's appearance to make her seem thoroughly innocent.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

The news of her friend's promotion excited Kimiko immensely,"Th-That's so awesome Sam! You definitely are strong and the promotion is well deserved. I know you won't disappoint." she praised, cheeks flushing slightly.

Ki sensed the unease from her friend, giving her hands a gentle squeeze,"A tour it shall be!" Ki begrudgingly released Sam's hands, and stepped back before bowing welcomingly, albeit playfully,"I welcome you to the Razer-class Corvette, the Cyaron."

And off they were, Ki quickly whisking Sam around the vessel by her hand. It was comical to see the fox-kin excitedly point out different sections and parts of the ship. The child-like giddiness she usually kept reserved showed full force before her friend. The entire time her smile never left and words were spoken as if out of a machine gun. Their path brought them to the ship's small galley, and the Officer of the Day happened to call attention on deck as Ki and Sam entered. She quickly motioned for her crew to continue their meals and made her way between tables.

A lot of the lower ranking crew were enjoying a meal and Kimiko made her rounds, introducing Sam and asking how they were all doing. Ki's charisma and natural maternal instincts kept them all at ease, even with Sam nearby, if these were former Sith naval personnel, one could barely tell with the way they acted towards their commander and friend.

After an extended time on the mess deck, they departed, and made their way to the bridge. Her eyes quickly spotted Chika overlooking a monitor before they approached. The woman stood and looked at her captain and guest, offering a welcoming smile before Ki made the introductions.

"Sam, this is Commander Tikami, former commander of the Sith armada, and my biggest confidant in my endeavor in being a ship's captain. Chika, this is Sam, one of my closest friends."

Chika bowed politely, all the formality of her former position still present, before speaking to the woman,"An honor to finally meet you Ma'am. Ki here has told us so much about you." she gave a slight smile with her garnet eyes sparkling.

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Samka snorted with amusement, she couldn't help it. [member="Kimiko"] was talking as though Sam had a regular job, that was just the way she was.

Deciding to play along, Sam bowed back although hers was more lady-like. "It is an honour to be here, my dear," and with that, Sam found her hand grabbed once more and pulled along the ship by her enthusiastic friend.

A lot of "I see", "Uh huh", "that's correct" and "fascinating" came from Sam's lips as she was whisked around, it was all she could get in between the girl's excited speed talking.

After a while she was introduced to the ship's Commander. Instinctively, Sam disconnected herself from her friend and stood up straight and formal. If she was showing another side of herself to Kimiko, she wasn't prepared to show that side to others yet. Especially not others used to military procedure.
"Commander," the Ren nodded in greeting then briefly turned her eyes back to her friend, wondering just what Kimiko had told these people about her. "How does a Sith force end up under the command of my friend here?"

As much as the girl was growing on Sam, she struggled to see her commanding a ship full of Sith trained naval personnel. The Sith were trained to respect power and fear, the opposite of everything Kimiko represented. It was most curious.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

If Sam thought having one ship was a feat for her friend, she did not know of the other four under her command.

Chika smiled warmly at the question, placing her hands behind her back and turning towards the viewport. The look in her eyes betrayed rather happy emotions for the woman, apparently brought on by her new boss.

She took a moment before finally speaking, her words were heavy, but endearing,"It was quite the change, to be honest. Most of us were against it at first. But she made a point to break each of us out from under our rocks. She did it though, through her charm and very bright demeanor, she swayed us to see her ways. Now we're all here, fighting for a new cause, for a person who genuinely cares for what she stands for, and us. And we are most grateful." she turned her attention to the other two women again, teary-eyes but smiling.

Kimiko wiped a stray tear before it fell,"Chika, thank you for your kind words. They mean the world to me."

It was not long before Chika excused herself to continue her rounds, and Ki turned to her companion, a more serious look shone in her normally bright eyes.

"Now that pleasantries are dispensed, I must speak with you in private. If you would accompany me to my quarters?"

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam stood a little ways back, her hands held behind her and head slightly to the side as she watched the two women have their emotional display. Commander Chika did not act like one trained in the Sith navy but perhaps that was [member="Kimiko"]'s effect on people. Would anyone who observed her today believe she was a Knight of Ren? That seemed unlikely.

Sam was pulled back from her thoughts by Ki suddenly coming back over to her with a troubled expression. Sam's brow frowned slightly at the sight of the usually bright figure. "Of course, I'm here on your whim after all. Anything you desire."

Following her friend back to her quarters, Samka pondered on what it was. Perhaps she'd not come all this way just for a social visit after all, if not the Ren could hardly blame her. It was a risky trip, tensions between The Kathol Outback and The First Order were on the rise and the appearance of Kimiko's ship may have caused alarm if detected... all it took was one trigger happy commander patrolling the perimeter of First Order space...

Before long they were there. Now out of sight of the crew, Sam removed her cloak. "Do you mind?" She asked, looking for a place to hang the cloak as she neatly folded it in her arms. It was mainly for show on this occasion, a mark of power when meeting the strangers who formed this ship's crew, yes, but more importantly a symbol to Kimiko that this time there was no deceit. She would be open about who she was. That was now established and the cloak had instead began to feel to Sam as though she overdressed in her full uniform as a Knight of Ren for a meeting such as this. Shedding that much would help make things more casual. At least that's what Sam thought. She'd not taken part in casual social calls for a very long time so she found herself analysing every move and event. Perhaps she was over thinking things. Sam resolved to just relax and go with what feels right. Surely socialising couldn't be too difficult?

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

"Please do. I would prefer to see and speak to you fully Sam." Kimiko motioned beside the now closed door, where her own custom cloak hung.

She stood, back to her friend, hands clasped behind. She was giving herself a moment to formulate her own words.

Ki really hoped she would still have a friend by the end of it all.

She swallowed to wet her dry throat before the first bit of her words could come out,"Sam, usually friends need no reason to see one another. I just wish this was one of those typical cases."

She turned to look at the other woman, a sad and worn expression shone in her normally bright blue eyes. She looked as though her thoughts were weighing her down, but why was a well guarded secret...until now.

"I have been searching for my home, where whatever it is I am is from." she began, hoping to ease her own tension through speaking,"I have not had much luck in my endeavor. But, I have tracked down my original...owner...to Coruscant. I am soon to be paying him a visit."

A slight pause, again to subdue her stampeding thoughts.

"If I have heard, then surely your intelligence circles have as well. It appears as if The Outback and your Order are getting closer to possible conflict. I despise conflict. I personally want nothing of it. If I am called, though, I will assist my companions." she looked into Sam's eyes, dropping her voice an octave or two,"If we meet on the field, I will not cross blades with you, nor will allow you to come to harm, nor any of my companions, by anyone's hands."

Sam would a seriousness in the normally bright and carefree woman not many had ever seen. She was not burning holes into her friend, just wanting to get a point across. One that she held dear and would until the day she passed: how much she cared for those she held dear to her and how far she was willing to go for those few individuals.

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

"I see," Sam had remained silent until the end, not letting any emotion show on her face nor in her voice. "I wish that my position was so simple." The young Ren leaned forward as she spoke, "My entire existence is justified by how well I protect my people, my leader and my Empire. This is not a career, this is the reason for my life. If somehow, you become a threat then it is my duty to stop you. If I do not, then what good am I? The Knights of Ren do not train one such as I for years with countless resources used up in growing my power only to have me stand by in the face of a threat thanks to some... sentimentality."

Sam had locked her gaze with [member="Kimiko"] through every word, scarlet eyes meeting the older girl's fearful blue. Until now she had spoken flatly and factually, simply stating the way things were, but her next words were much softer and warm. "I... really do appreciate the gesture though. If given the choice, I'd do the same for you. But we are not at war yet, let us hope it never comes."

After pausing for a moment to gauge Kimiko's reaction, Sam shifted the conversation back to her... owner. "So... you'll be heading to Coruscant then? What was this person like?"

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

The response was the best she could hope for, Ki knew she was asking to much of her friend. She smiled regardless hearing the reassurance behind Sam's voice was enough. A silent agreement would flash behind her gaze; she wanted no war between their factions.

The next question shook her down to the foundations. Her very vivid memories of her time in captivity had still caused the woman nightmares and sleepless tearful nights. She had done her best to move on, but no matter what, the flashbacks never ceased.

She fidgeted with the ends of her sleeves as she looked into her lap,"I...don't remember much...which is why I have to find him. He has to know where he found me. And, that will hopefully bring me one step closer to finding home..." Ki's voice raised in intensity throughout her words.

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Sensing Kimiko's distress, Sam bit her lip and awkwardly looked away. She wasn't the best at this 'comforting' stuff. She'd never had any experience with it. All she could offer was a simple "I understand." Then followed it up with "If you require any assistance, I'm willing to offer my aid, if you should need it."

Clearing her throat slightly, an idea came to the young Knight of Ren. "I was born on Bespin, a place called Cloud City, perhaps you've heard of it. My parents were well off to say the least, my father was a successful industrialist. Well, lucky may be a better term but it's all the same in that field." Sam glanced back at Kimiko. "I attended private school and received personal tutoring at home all to nurture my talents. Song, dance, gymnastics, all that sort of thing but I didn't have much time for friendships. The other children were most cruel to me, except one." Unknowingly, Sam began to smile at her memories. "My best friend, Madline. The two of us were inseparable and I could always count on her. She was older than me so I looked up to her for protection."

The smile faded as her story changed course. It was something she hated speaking about, a sensitive part of her past but if Sam was here to be honest about herself... "then I hurt people. Badly and publicly. At first bullies and those who had wronged myself or Madline but it didn't take long before strangers got hurt." Her scarlet eyes dropped, unable to meet the bright blue of her friend's. "I was... sent to a correction facility... for insane juveniles." Sam paused again, the memories troubled her. "However the Knights of Ren recognised my abilities and rescued me. They raised me from there and turned me into who I am."

Sam looked back at Ki once more. "That's where I'm from. It's not all pleasant but there's good there so... what I'm trying to say is... where you're from is important as well. I'm not phrasing this elegantly," Sam kicked herself internally, the words just weren't forming right in her brain. "I thought you ought to know. That way we can be on even footing when the truth comes out."


[member="Kimiko"]