I'm sending the raven
Black bird in the sky
Sending a signal that I'm here
Some sign of life
I'm sending a message
Of feathers and bone
Just let me know I'm not forgotten out here alone

The air is cold
The night is long
I feel like I might fade into the dawn
Fade until I'm gone

As the other three soldiers search the island for Betsy Granger and James Raven, the couple in question are still clutching on each other in the master bedroom. The female, who had spotted Betsy in the window, wasted no time making her way to where she had seen them. Giving them a warning knock and a chance to enter invited, she closes her eyes and listens through the door. She can hear James’ heavy breathing as he mentally prepares for the fight, as well as Betsy’s deep, rhythmic breaths as her left foot sweeps behind her; sending her into a crouching defensive position behind James no doubt. Nodding, knowing what to be ready for, she reaches puts the blaster away and with a cautious look around, enters the room quickly. She’s barely inside when James lunges; deep instincts kick in and she flicks out her hand, stopping him mid-air; she holds him there as the couple stare at her in surprise. Her voice is muffled when she speaks. “Just come quietly, there is no need for any of us to get violent.”

“You storm our private vacation home in the hopes of taking one or both of us and say there’s no reason to get violent?” James’ lip curls as his worlds come out in a throaty snarl. “Try again.”

By now, the three males who had accompanied her had caught up and entered the room behind her. In no time flat, Betsy and James had been subdued and bound up and taken back out to the terrace where the ship waited. Betsy could make out a circular, shimmering silver disc; it hovered above them, flooding the terrace with blinding lights, making it hard to get any more of the exterior details. Not that it mattered; within moments the retrieval beam had been activated, instantaneously transporting Betsy, James, and their kidnappers into the heart of the ship. They were surrounded by an army of men in black uniforms, all with inky black hair, light blue skin, and glowing red eyes. Her heart sinks to her feet as she recognizes the race, she and James found themselves surrounded by, and presses her shoulder against his. They exchange a glance and James catches the flash of fear in her green eyes. He leans in close to whisper as their captors unmask and approaches their higher-ups for the debriefing.

“You know what they are and you look frightened... What are they and how sticky is our situation?” James asks, his breath tickling her earlobe.

Her face is devoid of any color as all of the solidly built military figures all glance towards her pointedly before their conversation continued in its hushed huddle. “They are called Chiss... And that’s about all anyone really knows about that. The race hasn’t been properly studied or cataloged; no one even knows where exactly their homeworld is. I’ve never even seen this many in all my travels, let alone in one place. In fact, the only Chiss of real note has been...”

“Grand Admiral Thrawn, perhaps?” A modulated voice with a slight hiss behind the S’s floats quietly from behind them.

Betsy’s heart sinks as a man that looks remarkably like the aforementioned Navy Admiral to the broken Empire slowly walks around the room and stands before them. Looking around, Betsy realizes that she and James have been transported from the smaller receiving ship to the bridge of a Star Destroyer. Next to the intimidatingly large man was an older commander she recognized right away to be a man called Palleon. As glowing red eyes observe them both carefully, The Impossible Traveler begins to search desperately through her clever mind for a way to escape. From the bridge, there was virtually nowhere to go, but there had to be other options. Eventually, an opportunity would have to present itself, then she and James could make a break for it. Until then, they were completely at the mercy of the Grand Admiral and whatever he wanted them for. Licking her lips, she begins to talk quickly in the hopes of stalling for some time before being thrown into the prison cells.

“So, who are you, then? You can’t be the Grand Admiral, I heard he disappeared long ago, along with a young Jedi; but you’ve clearly made yourself at home, you’ve even got his old lapdog at your side.” Palleon moves forward to object, but the Chiss merely holds out a hand to stop him. The older man reluctantly freezes in his tracks, still glaring daggers at Betsy. The Chiss male steps up to Betsy attempting a pleasant grin that only made him look more intimidating.

“Grand Admiral Thrawn was my older brother; my name is Admiral Kroewn. And I must say, Miss Betsy Granger, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you at last.” Krown gives a polite tip of his head towards her which is not returned by the vexed blonde.

“I wish I could say the feeling is mutual, but given the circumstances, you’ll just have to forgive me if I’m a bit snappish about everything.” Her voice is dripping with disdain as she glares at the amused Chiss. “Why have you brought us here?”

“It truly is a pity we were forced to meet under such circumstances; legends of your military strategies and genius are whispered all through the universe. Someone with your talents would be of great use to us...” Betsy detects a hint of genuine disappointment in his tone as he says this. Sensing an opportunity to gain more information, she relaxes a bit and allows her voice to grow politely curious.

“If you haven’t brought me here for your own use, then why are you doing this? Who is this for?”

Kroewn looks at her mournfully as he motions for his guards to come forward. “You truly have no idea who’s after you, do you? Perhaps it’s better that way... Knowing the truth can only lead to suffering sometimes.”

Green eyes widen in open confusion. “What truth? Do you know something about me that you aren’t telling? If you know something, please... Say it.”

A blaster poked her in the back to force her forward; swearing under her breath, Betsy begins to march forward, knowing she wouldn’t be getting anything else from Admiral Kroewn but stops dead when she realizes that James was being led away in the opposite direction. Shaking her head, her voice is loud and clipped when she speaks. “No way buddy; we didn’t ask to be brought here; don’t you dare separate us as well.” Kroewns red gaze lands on her once more, his expression is unreadable. Palleon moves forward and attaches a metal gag over her mouth to keep her from speaking out of turn again. She immediately gags as nausea lurks like a dangerous enemy just beneath her throat; glaring hatefully at Palleon, she shoots James one last desperate glance before being led down a narrow, dimly lit hallway towards the prison sector...



****

****

“I know I pulled my verbal punches in my first outing; I suppose I ought to at least attempt to go for something this time around. After all, this is supposed to be a fight, even if it does prove to be a friendly competition. A phrase that has always struck me as funny, for what does that actually constitute, anyway? For some, it could be as simple as playing with your friends and feeding into a playful rivalry that culminates in a weekly game night. Laughter and fun to be had by all; that’s how it would be if we were playing Yahtzee or Pictionary maybe. Then you look at what we’re about to do and how could anyone truly say that it’s going to be friendly in any capacity?

Ah, Corey; as much as I’d like to keep the lovefest between us going, I’m afraid I’m going to have to pull the carpet out from underneath you now. I meant every word I said before: I respect the fuck out of you and I do hope that we can develop a friendship outside of this match once the bells have finished ringing. Until then, I have to view you the same way I would any other competition: a danger that must be eliminated. Despite my outing at March Madness, I didn’t achieve what I had hoped for; I fell short to your friend the Doctor and watched as Shawn followed suit soon after. I retained my Shooting Star Championship at the cost of being regarded as one of the best in the XWF. Then again, avoiding being called the Queen is a silver lining in the storm clouds; I’ve never desired such a title, I merely wanted to prove my worth around here.

One might argue that I already have, but they haven’t dived inside this head. They don’t know the kind of ambition that drives me forward; nobody knows the things I’ve done and seen that motivate me to be better. Wicked schemes and evil deeds to unsuspecting men and women; anyone who has been unfortunate enough to be set against me has met their inevitable downfall. It’s not something I strive for, it’s just what happens when one has that much intelligence over others. Brainpower beats physical prowess every time, I’m walking, breathing proof of this. But to have one’s mental and physical abilities meet and balance... I’ve wandered off on three different tangents, hasn’t it? The point I was getting at was just this: I may live by a code of honor, but that doesn’t mean ol’ Betsy here doesn’t have a couple tricks up her sleeve to throw things off a little. The truth is, I’ve been slipping lately in this path I’m on, allowing my injuries and fatigue to drop my guard enough for Lycana and Atara to strike at once. Too many around me have started smelling blood in the water and want to jump while they think I’m weak. This is why it’s imperative that I walk out of OUR match as the victor; a win over Corey Smith would put me back on track with authority going into Doc’s battle royal invitational. Because somehow, someway, I’m walking out of that thing with the opportunity to face CCP in my hands. It’s time I started aiming higher than I’ve been; complacency is a dangerous mistress to allow into your bed.

You are my first step in getting my footing back under me; it’s not that I’m going to enjoy beating this shit out of you. It’s simply a fact that I must if only to remind everyone of the threat Betsy Granger poses now and forever. I may be a nice girl that wants to be friends with everyone, but I want to win even more. That sounds terrible, I know, but it’s my truth and it won’t change. I want this win on you more than I’m admitting until now; the bragging rights alone would be insurmountable. I’ve had some impressive victories already, but this would catapult me to the next level I seek to be on.

It’s really nothing personal, I just have to kick your ass around the ring before we can properly make nice.

I’m sure that was weak as fuck, but I can’t help it; it’s the best grrr shit I’ve got. You’re just too cool to throw any heat on. Maybe it speaks more about my inability to be a dick to someone I actually enjoy, maybe it speaks to how well-appreciated you are. Then again, my judgment of character has long been a topic for debate among friends and foes alike; I’m sure you’ll have your own hot take on it at some point. People usually do; it’s no secret that James, Shawn, and Atara can be some of the most... Shall we say... put-offish figures in the industry. My association with them has been questioned since my debut... Not that my whatever with Atara is a factor at the moment, but that’s still recent and I’m sure there are those who think this is some sort of ruse. But we’ll ride those ponies when and if we get to it. I’m just hoping you’ll have something different and better for me; knowing what I know, I’m sure that you will. I honestly can’t wait to hear it.”



****

****



Oh, I'm so far from home
I'm so far from home
So far from home
Oh, not where I belong
Not where I belong
Oh, I'm so far from home
I'm so far from home
So far from home

Time passes slowly as Betsy sits inside the small jail cell. The only furniture is a metal toilet and a hard, short bed with no mattress or blanket. Not that it mattered, as there was no way in hell she’d be able to sleep now if she’d wanted to. They still hadn’t reunited her with James yet and she feared the worst as her mind invented nightmare scenarios that left her sobbing quietly into her knees. It was all her fault he was here at all; he never asked for this lifestyle but went along with it all the same because it made her happy. Shaking violently all over, Betsy rocks herself on the cold floor of the small cell, feeling the walls beginning to close in around her. No plan had formed in her mind yet, nor had any hint of a chance for escape presented itself. Overwhelming despair creeps it, its sharp claws gripping at her heart and squeezing tightly. It began to dawn on her that whoever was after she was most likely on her way at this very moment and whether she wanted these answers or not, they were going to be put before her. Fear causes her to rise to her feet and begin to pace as she struggles to keep her breathing even. At that moment, the door opens and two Storm Troopers toss a limp James inside with her. Crawling over to him quickly, she takes him in her arms and glares at the faceless masks hatefully. The door closes behind them as Betsy wraps her arms around his sweat-drenched body and rests her forehead on top of his. His breathing is shallow, his lungs rattle as he inhales slowly.

“Are you hurt, my love? What did they do to you?” Her heart clenches painfully in her chest as his brown eyes flutter open up at her, glassy and unfocused. Using the sleeve of her shirt to tenderly wipe sweat from his face, she brushes his matted hair back from his face. Planting a gentle kiss on his forehead, she lets the line of questions slide as he attempts to recover from whatever it was, they had done to him. After slipping into a restless sleep for several hours, James begins to stir in her arms. By now, he had grown heavy in her lap; her arms and legs had gone numb long ago, but she’d refused to move while he rested.

Slowly sitting up with a groan, James rubs his head and looks around the tiny cell. His eyes take a few extra minutes to focus; by the time they land back on Betsy, they are fully alert. Relief washes over her as she leans forward and catches his lips in a quick kiss. “Welcome back.”

“All they did was strap me to a board and torture me. Electricity. Water. Fire. Poking, prodding, and even some stabbing. And for what? They didn’t ask me anything about you, me, any plans, anything; all they did was find ways to cause me pain.” His voice cracks slightly towards the end as he leans instinctively towards Betsy. They close the gap between them and hold one another tightly. “Did you find out anything?”

Betsy shakes her head as hot rage begins to mix with cold dread; giving James a squeeze, she shakes her head vehemently. “No, the fucking pricks; other than what Kroewn said on the bridge, I have no idea why we’re here. I’m so sorry...” Now her own voice cracks a bit as guilt adds itself to the mix. She shivers as all of these emotions run through her veins like ice water. “This is all my fault; I never should have ever dragged you into my madness.” The tears begin to fall openly as she turns away from James. “We may very well end up dying here, and nobody is going to know what happened. Our friends, your son, my father and sister... I did this to us...”

“Bets, I’m going to need you to pull your shit together in a hurry.” the sharp tone of voice coming from the People’s G.O.A.T. causes Betsy to turn her face back to him sharply. “I know you’re freaking out; I am too. But this is the part where we both need to get it together and come up with a plan. We aren’t dying here, not like this, so perish that thought right now. We likely have some time; whoever is coming for you Isn't close. I heard them talking about it in between technique shifts; they were guarded about who it was, but It's clear that even these guys are afraid of them.” The lovers exchange a knowing glance. If they were going to escape, it had to be soon.

Hours pass as silence hangs heavy between them; they continue to cling to each other for support and warmth even as the sinking feeling of doom planted itself into each of their stomachs. At one point, a pair of Storm Troopers opened the floor flap to slide in two trays of food and glasses of blue milk. Both of them pick reluctantly at the tasteless gray blobs of ration and choke down the sour milk before resuming their huddle. Both of them drift off into troubled sleep; another untold amount of time passes when a loud alarm begins to sound all through the ship. Betsy and James jump to their feet, suddenly fully alert and looking towards the door as though the situation would reveal itself. Through the blaring alarms, Betsy could make out the lower, more consistent beep of an approaching ship. She can hear the panicked voices of the lower rank lieutenants and generals as they scramble to identify the incoming craft. Then it hits her without warning; the shift of power as whoever was arriving grew closer. The air positively crackled with it, even James was on his feet, his own expression of perplexity matching hers. Worried calls turn into panicked screams as the Star Destroyer shook violently in place; whoever had arrived was clearly an uninvited guest and had just crashed the party. Irrational hope springs up in Betsy, sending heat through her as she listens on bated breath. James clearly shares her optimism; taking her hand tightly in his, they both patiently watch the door as the sounds of battle raging on continue to fill the lower hulls of the large ship.

Suddenly, the doors to their cell open, and a group of Storm Troopers motion for them to exit with their blasters. “No funny business, you two; the Admiral wanted you two removed from the ship immediately. So, let's just make our way quickly to the escape pods nice and easy like, there doesn’t need to be any unnecessary casualties.” the trooper says this last while waving the gun threateningly towards James. Before either of them could take a step, Admiral Kroewn bursts between the Storm Troopers and stops just short of Betsy.

“Impossible Traveler... You are the one they call the Star Mother. Please, I never truly intended to turn you into those who would steal you back; I merely wanted your help in finding my brother in exchange for returning you and your man safely back to your homeworld. This was never part of the plan...” He gestures outside of the doors, where the screams of the Imperials made it obvious that the imposter was slowly, but surely, making its way towards them. “I don’t know who this is or why they are here, but if we can strike a deal right now, Miss Granger, I swear I will get you off this ship and away from this new intruder alive.”

“How do I know I can trust you after all of this, hmm?” Betsy glowers at Admiral Kroewn, crossing her arms over her chest. “You were ready to auction us off to the highest bidder, now you want me to help in finding a man I personally detest? No deal.”

Admiral Kroewn flinches as one of the next screams comes from right beneath them. In the moments between blaster shots and screams, Betsy detects the sound of two lightsabers swinging around gracefully. Her heart begins to pound; somehow, someway, Luke had sensed she was in trouble and had made it to her in the knick of time. And from the sounds of it, he had backup with him; her heart skipped at the idea of seeing the handsome young Jedi again with James present. She doesn’t have much time to dwell on this, however; the door to the elevator a few feet down the hall beeps and the doors slide open. A slender, feminine figure in a brown cloak darts from the doors, twin white lightsabers lit up and already arcing through the air. Betsy and James watch in awe as the lone figure glide with ease through the group of Storm Troopers before approaching the aforementioned couple and Admiral Kroewn. Peeking under the heavy hood of her cloak are two long white and blue montrals; the skin showing from her hands is a light orange. She approaches Admiral Kroewn, lifting one of the lightsabers to his neck as she deactivates the second and lowers her hood. Betsy’s breath leaves her as the name of their rescuer slips from her lips in an excited whisper.

“Ahsoka Tano!”

The beautiful Togruta warrior seems deaf to Betsy’s declaration of her name, never taking her eyes off of Admiral Kroewn. The Chiss slowly smiles demurely at Ahsoka, opening up his arms and holding out his hands in surrender. “Peace, Mistress Tano. I was just offering our friends here a deal that could benefit us all, should you choose to go in on this.”

“Any deal with you should come with a written contract attached; it seems I made it in time to stop our friends here from making a terrible decision.” Ahsoka finally glances over towards Betsy and James before giving Admiral Kroewn her full attention once more. “You know why I’m here, Kroewn: Where is your brother?”

“Funny you should mention him, Mistress Tano; I was just imploring the Star Skipper over there to aid me in my search for him. I’m eager to find him just as much as you are, after all.” He attempts to move closer to Ahsoka, but she quickly reignites the other lightsaber and holds them both up to his neck, causing him to pause. “Come now, is this truly necessary?”

“You and I want to find your brother for two very different reasons, Kroewn.”Ahsoka growls, ignoring his last question. “We’ve both been searching for him and Ezra for years; how do you know this human girl can be of any help to us?”

Betsy holds up a finger and opens her lips to object, but James puts one hand over her mouth and the other around her waist, pulling her against him. Deciding not to struggle, Betsy remains silent and leans against James, wrapping her arms over his as he draws her safely away from the two adversaries, who now circle each other slowly. Ahsoka still holds the lightsabers steadily to his neck while Kroewn gives his friendly smile, his voice holding steady considering his situation. “Surely, we could come up with a much more civilized solution than this, could we not? You haven’t strayed far enough from the Jedi ways to kill an innocent man searching for his long, lost brother, have you?”

“Spoken like a true politician; it’s a pity that you choose to use your gift of wordplay and persuasion to craft such pretty lies and artful corruption. You could have been such a force of good for the Republic; and Thrawn... The things he could have done with a battalion of clones.” Ahsoka’s face twists with emotion as memories of her youth momentarily comes unbidden. “But I learned long ago that even the best of men can fall to the corruption of the Dark Side.”

“Come now, you’re no more a Jedi than I am a Rebel; there must be SOME way you can come to an arrangement where all of us get what we want?” Taking a tentative step towards the untrusting Togruta, Kroewn tries for a reason once more; though there’s definitely a hard edge to his voice now. “Miss Granger is worth a lot to someone else; someone even you wouldn’t want to tussle with. As for me, I just want to know that my brother is alive and well; no more, no less. Once I have my answer, I return to our world and the universe forgets I ever existed.”

Smelling the trap coming from a mile away, Betsy shakes her head silently. Sensing the movement but showing no signs of it, Ahsoka silently reaches out to Betsy using the Force; a firm sense of agreement fills her in Ahsoka’s voice, though the blue-eyed warrior hadn’t uttered a word aloud. An odd sense of serenity fills her as Ahsoka chuckles and sweeps her left foot gracefully around to continue her circle around Kroewn; he mimics her movements with his right foot, his fingers wriggling over the hilt of his blaster. Ahsoka narrows her eyes and crouches; in moments, Admiral Kroewn has drawn his weapon and fired several shots. Batting them away easily with her lightsabers, Ahsoka lunges forward and easily knocks the blaster out of the Admiral’s hand. Sending him backward and off his feet, the graceful warrior kneels over him, planting a knee into his chest as she holds one of the lightsabers to his throat. Though her words were spoken in a deadly quiet whisper, they echoed resoundingly through the heads of everyone left in the room. “There will be no bargain.”

“Mercy, Mistress Tano; there is no need to kill me today. I’m merely a politician, after all, I tell you anything you want to know.”

“Where is Grand Admiral Thrawn?”

His face is comically crestfallen as he begins to stammer. “Be reasonable, Ahsoka! I already told you: I’m searching for him as well. Do you think I lie when I tell you this; of course not! My parents have put it on me to bring my brother home, this is what I intend to do.” He says, his voice plaintive. “With or without anyone’s help.” He adds, giving each of them a stern look.

Ahsoka lifts her arm, clearly ready to strike the man dead for his lack of knowledge and abundance of self-righteousness. Stepping forward, Betsy finally lets herself be heard; James doesn’t try to stop her this time. “What about the ones who are after me? What can you tell me about them?”

Kroewn’s eyes light up malevolently as he glances over at Betsy. His grin is slimy as he attempts to appeal to her. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know if you get this lightsaber off of my throat. It’s rather warm.”

“No deal; you tell me what you know, or I turn away and Mistress Tano does whatever it is she’d like to about now.” this causes the Admiral’s eyes to widen in fear. He shakes his head quickly, careful to avoid the edge of the lightsaber. “Who hired you to deliver me and why are they so determined to capture me in the first place?"

“You should know from the start: I don’t have as much information on the subject as you are hoping to find. However,” he says, tensing when Betsy’s face begins to darken. “I do know that it is an extremely powerful race of magic wielders that have the ability to manipulate the stars to their will. And for some reason, they’ve got a real bug up their ass about you; something about needing the Impossible Star Wanderer as a sacrifice so that they might restore themselves to their former glory.”

Disconcerted, both Betsy and James gape in slack-jawed shock at the Admiral. Clutching his arm tightly for support, Betsy shakes her head as her wide green eyes meet Kroewn’s burning red ones. They dance with merriment as he drinks in her horror, a malicious smile spreading across his lips. “Oh yes, Miss Granger; you’ve got one hell of a stalker on your tail. I don’t know what you managed to do to ruffle their feathers, but there’s no way you’ll ever escape them. They never stop coming and they have no gumption for mercy; once they find you, take solace in the fact that they’ll make it swift and painless.”

Having heard enough, Ahsoka deactivates her lightsaber; the Admiral’s relief is short-lived as the butt of the hilt is crushed into his temple. An exaggerated groan escapes him as his eyes slide shut and his body goes slack beneath her knee. All three of them let the silence hang in the room as they each allow their breathing to go back to normal. Ahsoka is the first to recover; rising to her full height, she turns towards the couple and finally takes them both in for the first time. Starting with James, she says nothing as she gazes into his face and looks stoically into his eyes. “Your attachment to her is strong, but your anger and hatred make you vulnerable to losing everything you hold dear. You must learn to let go of these feelings before they control you entirely; there is still a capacity for good in you that people underestimate. Don’t be afraid to let it through.”

Turning away from a bewildered James, she turns to Betsy and does the same. Gazing up into the emerald eyes of the Impossible Traveler, Ahsoka’s crystal blue ones narrow before growing soft. “You are also very attached to him; it’s made you extremely vulnerable and you know it. But there’s something more... Something that is trying to call out, but it’s muffled. Trapped.”

A quiet gasp escapes Betsy as Ahsoka’s words mirror what has been haunting her for weeks now. “You can sense that as well? Do you know what it is?”

A loud crash causes the ship to vibrate violently; all three of them begin running towards the bridge as alarms begin to blare once more. Getting through the blast doors, they check the computer screens before looking out the window. Another crash sends Betsy flying into the captain's chair while Ahsoka plants her feet behind the navigation controls. James hangs on to the chair behind Betsy’s, cussing out loud as another violent jerk sends him flying against a wall of knobs and levers. Several more bells and alarms start to go off as the controls begin to flash with red. Checking several screens, Ahsoka looks up at them. “Imperial TIE fighters, they’ve been alerted as to what’s going on. They’ve damaged the hyperdrive, which means no light speed; shields are damaged and half our cannons are out.” She looks between Betsy and James with a slight grin on her face. “My ship is down below; we can make it if we run but we have to move fast. A few more hits and this baby is done for.”

Without another word, all three of them begin to race to the floor below, struggling with their footing as the platoon of TIE fighters continues their assault. As they run, Ahsoka pulls back some and reaches out with the Force to signal for Betsy to do the same. Skidding to a stop, Betsy turns back sharply and looks down the hallway, where Ahsoka still stands on the opposite side. James, having noticed none of this, disappears through an elevator hatch and hits the button quickly, assuming the girls are behind him. Confusion lights up his face and the last thing he sees before the doors shut in his face is Ahsoka and Betsy walking down their ends of the hall to meet in the middle. Ahsoka takes Betsy’s hand and studies her again; Betsy can feel the power of the Force in Ahsoka, her breath hitching at the amount of power Ahsoka possessed. Crystal blue eyes burn themselves into emerald green as the two women stand in stasis, their worlds locked into each other for this one, drawn-out moment in time. After an eternity, Ahsoka releases Betsy and takes a step back.

“I can’t help you unlock what remains hidden in your mind; that’s been well bound and you’ll have to do some serious searching to release the memories being withheld. However, I can help you control your hatred, your fear, and your anger if you will allow me to do so. The only thing stopping you from reaching your zenith is yourself.”

“Please... Anything you can do to help me, I’ll gladly accept. It’s just... Maybe we should grab James and get on your ship before we discuss this?”

“He cannot come.” Betsy starts, but Ahsoka talks over her. “I’m sorry, but that is absolutely vital; the attachment you two feel for one another is dangerous, it inhibits you both severely. I’m not training you to love him less, I only wish to guide you into how to allow your love for him to work for you, not against you. Jealousy and anger have made you weaker; I can teach you to dismiss those feelings instead of caving to them.”

“If that’s what you want, but shouldn’t James have a part in those lessons as well? It could be like couples therapy; then neither of us could be dependent on the other.”

Ahsoka shakes her head. “It must be you and only you, Betsy. There’s something different between you and him that I can’t put my finger on... But I can promise you this: He doesn’t need my help, he needs you. The strength in your heart, the warrior’s soul, the warmth in your touch, and the soft tones you take when he needs your support.”

“I do that now...” Betsy mutters, hearing the beeping of the elevator to indicate that James was on his way back. “I give him everything I have, and sometimes it’s just not enough. I get it, we all have our demons; he has to fight them in his own way. I’ll be here for every step.”

“You’ve become so obsessed with fighting these groups that you’ve lost the reasons why you started to do so in the first place.” once again, Ahsoka reads Betsy’s objections and continues quickly. “I can read it clearly as day; you’ve jumped into every fight, thinking that eventually, James will come in to stand at your side.” Holding up a hand, Ahsoka’s face grows stern, faltering Betsy before she could get out the first word. “When was the last time you considered that he has his reasons for staying away from the XWF? When was the last time the two of you actually discussed any of his personal issues; you know the ones I mean, the major ones he keeps hidden away from you so that you can focus on your career without being burdened? I’m not calling you a bad person or accusing you of maliciously neglecting him, I’m merely suggesting that you allow me to teach you some methods to better balance your busy career and keep your relationship healthy.”

“So, you’re a Jedi marriage counselor these days?” Betsy quips as the elevator doors spring open and James sprints quickly out.

Ahsoka doesn’t respond, leaving her steady gaze on Betsy for a few moments longer before James’ back blocks her field of vision. Gazing up into his brown eyes, Betsy can feel herself slipping into the usual waves of lust and love; a moment later, the only eyes she can see are those of Atara Themis, gazing down at her with the same worried expression that James had just been wearing. Relief spreads through her as he leans in to kiss her; closing her eyes tightly, she desperately tries to picture James and only James. Images race through her brain: Baphomet out of his human disguise, turning to face her in some ungodly, unknown realm. Atara Themis, dressed as Aphrodite herself, spread gracefully along a rose-colored chaise residing in a large clamshell. Miss Fury and Chronic Chris Page wreaking havoc on the roster of the XWF and beyond, leaving destruction in their wake. Lycana tearing her apart one moment and rescuing her the next. James ends the kiss with a troubled expression, it’s only then that Betsy realizes that she hadn’t returned it as she normally would.

She knew then what had to be done.


****

****

“Well, I was going to address your nonchalance about the Left Hand and why overlooking them was a bad idea... But I have it on good authority that the problem may have sorted itself out. Good riddance to that garbage nonsense, am I right? We still have some stragglers without a leader, it’ll be kind of fun to see which directions the wayward sons and daughters will blow in now. I guess their minds are ripe for plucking if one was motivated enough to pick them up and fine-tune them a little. Although I don’t know about you Coreydorable, I get the feeling Lycana may pick up the ball of leadership and run with it. Chicks like that, always need a pack to run with.

Oh hell, who am I to talk down on someone who chooses to stroll with a crew? I can’t help it that I’m a magnet when it comes to star power; I exude it, after all. Not everyone can pick em’ the way I do. That’s why I’m choosing you right back, in a way; I don’t care if it’s before or after our match, but I’m going to beseech you once more for a face-to-face sit down. It circles back to what I started my little impromptu monologue with; now that the Left Hand is essentially a non-factor, is it fair for me to give BoB my full attention moving forward? The obvious answer is duh; I think we can agree that turning to them is overdue. I managed to avoid Miss Fury at March Madness, but that bullshit they pulled during Page’s title defense was... Well, exactly that. Their recruitment wave and antics have long gotten out of hand; I myself stopped Miss Fury from blowing up Steve Sayors in our one and only match, which took place outside of an XWF ring. She took the time and effort to kidnap that poor guy, strap a bomb to him, and threaten to blow him up if I didn’t lie down for her and join BoB. Fast-forward to now; where is everyone today? That’s what I thought... But BoB didn’t have the steam then that they do now and that concerns me. I’m usually much sharper with my focus, and the fact that the Left Hand managed to dominate my mind when I should have been focused on BoB the entire time vexes me greatly.

I suppose this is my long-winded way of saying that you were right. I put too much focus on the Left Hand and now I look more like the fool for it. A valuable lesson in where to place my priorities moving forward; so, I swear, the next time everyone tells me to leave something alone... I might actually try. With that said, I believe that we can agree that BoB needs to be dealt with; the sooner the better. They’ve grown alarmingly fast and the danger they present to the balance around the XWF expands daily. The things Chris Page and Miss Fury are willing to do to get their way has more than turned my head at this point; which means my mission remains the same, even if the target has changed. I’ve tangled with them before; I’ve tasted what they are capable of. They’ve become an absolute force to be reckoned with around here...

I think we could be a greater one.

So, I stand here today not to talk down on someone I hold very highly in esteem; rather, to ask of you to hear me out. Not today, in this stream, for the world to hear. This conversation is not for the nosy... or the faint of heart... to indulge on, though Thad would be more than invited to join us. In fact, I think it would be a fine idea to have both you and Thad join me for dinner some night. The three of us could have a lovely time and it doesn’t all have to be gloom and doom business drama, though the subject is full of juicy tidbits we could gossip over for certain. More importantly, I’d love to get to know more about you; find out what makes you laugh, smile, cry, angry. What makes you tick and what motivates you to be as superb as you are. I don’t just want to be someone in your corner that you can depend on every now and again. I’m looking for true friends, Corey. In a business where genuine, stable relationships are hard to build, I'm looking for people I can count on moving forward. Ask anything of me that you wish; I am an open book to be discovered. I know there are those who would say what I’m looking for is a fool’s errand, but I’ve built my entire career up to now on making the impossible happen. And I don’t even think this is a pipe dream; I believe we are kindred in a way. I’ve opened up my mind to a wider universe and I can sense that we were meant to be connected somehow; can you feel it?

I can’t explain it, which is the strangest thing to roll off my tongue since the first time I attempted to roll my R’s. I’ve revolved my life around trying to solve the riddles that others miss; yet this company, the people I’m surrounded by within it... All such complex figures... Yourself included. I’m not sure who this girl was you compared me to; I won’t guess at the relationship, only that she meant a great deal to you. And I’m sorry for whatever happened to her, but please believe that I would never try to be her. Her memory rests in your heart and that’s where it belongs; I come to you only as Betsy Granger, hopefully, the one and only, at least that you know. I’m not trying to fill a void in your heart, I just want to rough up a few troublemakers that would run rampant in this place; stampeding over everyone who stood in their path, no matter the consequences. That kind of careless, thoughtless, dangerous comportment needs to be moderated if not stopped completely, so what do you way, Corey? Once the final bell rings, no matter who comes out of this the winner... Let's say we move forward and kick some ass together side by side? No, I’m not trying to steal you away as a tag partner, though the idea has its appeal; I merely see you as someone who would be good to have with me in a fight. Your friends and my friends could get together to even the numbers against the playground bullies for a while.

I know this entire spiel reeks of desperation, but these are desperate times. I love this place entirely too much to watch it fall into the wrong hands. BoB won’t be eradicated, not easily at least, and it will take some time... But that’s something I’ve got plenty of. You know what I’ve asked of you... I won’t beg and I will understand if you deny my requests; all I can hope for now is that you decide the cause is worth fighting for. No matter what, however, you have my unyielding respect and deepest well-wishes... But I have an inkling that this is merely the first time our paths were meant to cross... The first of many.”



****

****



I'm sending a raven
With blood on its wings
Hoping it reaches you in time
And you know what it means
'Cause out here in the darkness
And out of the light
If you get to me too late
Just know that I tried

As the TIE fighters begin the final destruction on the Star Destroyer, Ahsoka, Betsy, and James race to where Ahsoka had landed her ship. A trail of deceased Storm Troopers lies behind it, showing just how little concern Ahsoka had given her boarding procedures. Stopping short of the short metal ramp that leads to the entry hatch, Ahsoka turns and gives Betsy a determined gaze. “What decision have you made, Impossible Traveler?”

Shooting Ahsoka a look that pleaded with her to wait for a moment, Betsy takes James by both his hands and leads him away to where they could have a moment to talk privately. Taking a deep breath, Betsy looks up into his eyes, the lump in her throat already forming. “Are you happy with me, James? Happy with the way things are between us right now?”

Now he looks positively stunned; despite his usual cool disposition, genuine fear etches itself in his face. Grabbing her, he begins to grip her arms tighter than he means; still, she doesn’t flinch, only staring up into his face calmly. “Is now really the right time to discuss this?”

“Perhaps not, but something has been put before me that requires me to make a decision that could really shake things up between us. So please tell me true... Do you ever feel as though I neglect you and your needs in favor of my career? Have I ever made you feel as though you and our relationship is on the back burner recently?”

“You’ve been busy Bets... I get that. Sure, maybe I’ve felt that we’ve drifted apart a little bit, but that’s to be expected.” He takes both her hands in his and touches his forehead to hers. “Where is this coming from and why is it now?”

His last two questions fall on deaf ears as his confession echoes through her mind. Ahsoka was correct after all; in her effort to climb the ladder and destroy unsavory groups, Betsy had neglected to check on James and his own battles. Knowing what he was going through with his father and son, she realized then that it had been forever since she’d touched on the subject with him. Very rarely did the topic ever revolve around his current stagnancy in his career; when it did, it always ended with her trying to encourage him back into the XWF while he dragged his feet. Guilt floods through her as she realizes what Ahsoka was offering her; she could only hope that the decision itself wouldn’t be the straw that broke the camel's back. Touching his face gently, Betsy nods as she swallows back the lump and forces herself to do what she must.

“I love you... And I promise, when I return, I will be better. We will be better...”

Before he could formulate a proper reply to her cryptic words, Betsy pulls his head down and kisses him with everything she’s got. Another blast just to the left of them forces them both into the wall where the escape pods shook dangerously in their stations. James recovers first and pulls Betsy to him, capturing her in another heart-searing kiss. Betsy allows this to go on, trying not to lose herself in his kisses. One of her hands begins to slide down his arm as the other slides down to his chest to press against his pecs. For one blissful moment, the only thing in the universe was them. Leaning in for another kiss, James presses his lips against Betsy’s softly...

The Impossible Traveler responds by pushing him backward with all her might as Excellence materializes around him. James stumbles backward, his face twisted in pain at her betrayal; with a snap of her fingers, the doors fly shut before he can recover his balance. His yells come muffled over the pounding as Excellence locks him inside. Activating the control console, she sets in the coordinates for their home and sends him on his way. As Excellence begins to warm up, she presses her hands against the doors and yells over his pounding fists. “I’m so sorry... I promise I’ll explain everything when I come home, but I have to do this... You can’t save me this time, my love; this is a path I have to travel alone. Please forgive me... please...”

Excellence’s engines chug merrily as she begins to fade. Allowing James’ angry yells to invade her mind, she stares at the spot until both James and Excellence have vanished. A shaky sigh escapes her lips as she stares for a few moments longer at the spot where James had just been; finally, she turns to where Ahsoka stands watching from the entrance of her ship. One last jarring blast from the TIE fighter causes a loud, metallic splintering sound to fill the air. Covering her ears with her hands, Betsy runs to the ship and both women get inside quickly. Ahsoka slips quickly into the pilot’s there, addressing a good-looking, middle-aged soldier named Rex; Betsy quietly slides into the passenger's seat behind them both and watches as they expertly slide their hands over buttons and levers.

TIE blasts begin to turn onto the rogue ship as Ahsoka eases it gently from the docking bay; the blasts reflect off with ease back towards their original shooters. Betsy couldn't help but admire the advanced deflector shields on such a simple craft and made a mental note to remember to ask Ahsoka and Rex how they’d developed it. She didn’t have much time to ponder it; brightly lit lines begin to flash all around them and moments later, they were blinded as they were hurtled through space in lightspeed. Everything around them disappears as they travel at breakneck speed; Ahsoka turns in her chair and studies Betsy calmly. Feeling her power, Betsy holds her gaze even as emotions do conflict within her. Sensing this, Ahsoka nods and reaches out a hand to tap Betsy’s leg gently.

“All will be well, you’ll see. You’re doing what’s best for you; that will in turn help you do what’s best for those around you.”

Taking a deep breath and wiping away her tears, Betsy nods and gives Ahsoka a weak smile. She knew that when she and James spoke again, it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation; but she knew in her heart that she had made the correct choice. In time, he would come to understand... At least she hoped he would. An uncomfortable weight settles heavily in her stomach as Ahsoka leads her to the bunking quarters, suggesting she get her rest before they arrive at their location to begin her training...



Oh, I'm so far from home
So far from home
Oh, not where I belong
Not where I belong
Not where I belong
Oh, I'm so far from home
So far from home
So far

FORMER