“The information is coming in faster than we can process it Miss Sigurn, in my estimation, and with the current status of our existing data banks, we will be overrun in a matter of hours.” CC-7 announced through its vocater, Areti still unsure how to identify the multicolored protocol droid with a deceptively deep baritone annunciator despite continued assurances from the droid itself that ‘IT’ would suffice.
Areti looked up from the display screen before her as she blew out her breath, ‘precisely where my calculations have led me as well,’ she thought her answer, “she would not have initiated a transfer of this magnitude without thinking that through Cee Cee, something will present itself.” She voiced the hope she was trying desperately to believe in.
“You are correct in your presumption Miss Sigurn, Miss Fardi would have thought that through without exception, however we have yet to comprehend that particular solution.” CC-7 returned with a slight wobble in his right ambulatory appendage yet turning his head despite the slight interruption to focus his photoreceptors on the determined Chalactan. “Perhaps AP-5 could assist? Forgive any implied insistence that we may be in over our proverbial heads, but this sort of function is precisely what he is programmed for.”
“Cee Cee, the issue is suitable storage and compilation, not inventory. What we need is a team of overachieving mechs with personalities rivaling Dathomiri Rock Dragons to pull and disseminate the data as it arrives….and a planet size data bank.” She finished with an unusual amount of sarcasm.
“I see you’ve been working on your verbal irony miss Sigurn.” CC-7’s baritone worked its own form of levity into the activity, punctuated with a slight electronic warble as he deviated from his own protocol. “Perhaps if we were to establish purpose we could work toward a particular goal instead of directing all of this incoming data to cache.”
Areti Sigurn thought through the droid’s statement, narrowing her eyes as she beseeched her memory, ‘establish a similar network of our own that could be utilized to take advantage of Imperial protocols,’ N’dali had said. Areti scratching at her forehead in consternation, wondering how she could convince the Alliance to actually speak openly to all of its own components much less convince them to openly share the sum of their data collections.
“Ma’am we are nearing capacity on several of the incoming threads.” CC-7 alerted the Chalactan, her own fingers dancing with fervor across dual linked data pads and the flashing of warning lights surrounding the server hub she was directing the incoming data towards.
“Pause transmission Cee Cee, I need to attend to the cooling issues…” Areti said in exasperation as she set the data pads down on her work table, small hand tools and bits of wire forced into its corner by the new arrival. “What was she thinking?” She said aloud.
“Perhaps Miss Fardi was under the impression you knew what you were doing…” her counterpart answered, the voice doing nothing to settle her growing anxiety, Areti firing the droid an angry expression in response.
“She knew what I pursued, this….this is the sum of her own pursuits. We are going to need to understand precisely what she was intent on creating Cee Cee. At this point, that, would require some form of digital psychometry.” She said, absolving her rising irritation through the simple exercise of furthering her own agenda.
“We have not come across any files to suggest as much, as of yet.” The droid stated, turning its photoreceptors back toward the data screen set above the active data terminal he was accessing.
Areti thought on his remark as she accessed the manual dials and switches on the opposing side of the subterranean expanse she called home on Lothal, increasing the coolant flow and venting settings as high as either would allow, subsequently adding to the rhythmic hum pervading the space.
“Pardon what may be a very intrusive inquiry, but why you ma’am?” CC-7 decided to interject as he waited for Areti to give him the go ahead to continue processing.
“Why me what?” Areti asked in return as she watched the heat vents flare open in response to her tinkering adjustment.
“I have been on Lothal for several hundred rotations, and although I will admit that this group of rebels in exceedingly open to Imperial defections, it generally takes some time for them to impart trust on this particular level.” CC-7 recited, the servos within his neck turning the head toward her once again.
Areti let a slight laugh escape without lifting her gaze from the gage meters she was consulting, “I don’t think THIS particular level of trust even has definition Cee Cee, but I take your meaning.” She said without a trace of her previous anxiety, “it has more to do with the trust they already had in N’dali.” The words couldn’t have been closer to her own truth. “I am not interested in seeing this galaxy pressed under the thumb of ANYONE willing to hide truth from its people. Truth is my allegiance Cee Cee, and nothing more.”
“I have worked with you for twenty rotations now Miss Sigurn. Your statement is extraordinarily valid.” CC-7 responded without hesitation.
Areti let another laugh escape her lips as she tapped at the coolant level gage one last time to assure herself it was reading accurately, “you should know then that the ISB is currently being led by the only other individual throughout the scope of my imagination that would be described in the same manner.”
“Cee Cee proceed downloads.” Areti said, returning to her own work station and retrieving her modified data pads. She watched as the files began racing over her screens again, none of them falling into any of the pre-described filters she had added at her own discretion.
“I will remind you again that we are nearing capacity ma’am….you are referring to newly appointed ISB director Walker Audenhoen, yes?” CC-7 said, displaying his own adaptive intuition by addressing her final statement in conjunction with the implied singular supposition.
“I know and yes.” She said flatly, her eyes glued to the screens in her hands.
“Is there anything in particular that you are looking for within these downloads? If so, it would be beneficial information to share….is he...an ally?” CC-7 continued on both fronts as the screens locked in unison in her hand, an audible chirp emitting from them both as her filter caught the only thing it was looking for. Her eyes flared wide in response as she felt an elation rocket through her frame.
“Djarik, for beginners.” Areti said with rising enthusiasm, tasking the remainder of files hanging in limbo in the background of her device to continue on their way as she tapped the stated file with exuberance. “Yes Cee Cee, he is an ally.” She said almost blankly in response to the droid’s question, her focus almost entirely upon the subfiles contained within the most unlikely heading she could think to filter for.
“You are correct ma’am, that is not something my programming would have isolated.” The droid said to deaf ears.
Areti consulted the enormity of the subfiles contained within the confines of the small screens as she slowly sat down to her work station. She set both data pads upon the surface and fumbled through the impromptu pile of tools and wires crammed in the corner to find the data link adapter for her larger monitor screen. “Walker Audenhoen is precisely where he needs to be Cee Cee, the question remains whether we will benefit from that.” She said in efforts to bring that particular conversation to conclusion. “Continue processing till capacity. We will terminate and consult with Hera.”
Areti studied several of the subfiles in particular, all relating to various moves and actual game pieces within Djarik. “Cee Cee, have a look. You knew Fardi longer than I did.”
CC-7 offered nothing beyond simple acquiescence as he extracted a fibrous cable from a hip compartment and swapped it with the access link in the terminal before him, enabling him to amble to Areti’s side. She could hear the servos within his various appendages and joints over the hum of the server hub within the room, allowing him to crouch down at her side as he surveyed the titles with her. “Defeating the Nersfah combine sounds intriguing. As does Harcourts Orion.” He offered. “No.” He added suddenly, startling Areti with its seriousness, “Understanding the Monnok. This one.”
Areti did not hesitate as she slapped a fingertip into the file on her data pad. They both turned their heads toward the monitor screen as the selected file transferred its contents.
A slowly rotating digital wire frame image of a bipedal serpentine figure, a long spear hoisted overhead, was framed by various text in multiple languages describing the game pieces attributes, characteristics, and strategies. CC-7 lifted a metallic appendage to point toward the presented text in Mirialan. “She and Ani had been inseparable since I’ve known them, and I do not see a Thebeskan entry.”
Areti half turned toward the droid, “I do not understand Mirialan, I don’t suppose you do?”
“But of course I do, I have been programmed in over six……”
Areti clapped a hand over his vocater, deciding that was far more direct an approach to the poorly phrased question, “yes, I had forgotten Cee Cee, many languages.”
“Miss….perhaps you should wait until Ani can view this first? It could be quite personal in nature.”
Areti was surprised by the droids’ very humanlike authenticity, its service toward emotions and the tying bonds of privilege only they themselves could serve. “Quite thoughtful of you Cee Cee.” She said with a slight shake of her head, not from disbelief in the droid’s ability to see beyond its own purpose but that it was capable of such concepts without the ability to experience their inherent importance. “We will bypass that access point for now, does anything else stand out to you?”
“I would start with the game pieces abilities, what makes this one in particular unique.”
Areti drew her fingertip to the lower right corner of the display and tapped the suggested link. The monitor screen snapped from the rotating image to nothing at all as the action imparted some unknown routine, re-accessing the data pad and activating the devices holo emitter. Areti quickly lifted the device and aimed the warming emitter toward an open space of floor behind her. “It appears that we have chosen...wisely.” CC-7 offered.
A field of blue resolved in the empty space, quickly filling with an image of N’dali from the waist up. Her dark features as unreadable through the recording as they were in life. N’dali continued looking straight, almost through her own soul Areti thought, as she removed the implant from her its socket above each ear.
“Areti Sigurn, if it is indeed you watching this recording, then my calculations have proven correct. I will already assume that CC-7 is somewhere in attendance. This is most agreeable. The sum of the initiated downloads will far exceed your capacity to store them. You will need to initialize the patterned network that incorporated AI has been implementing since before this was recorded. Data streams will continue circulating through any device with a connection that is not desolate, while encryption evolves.” Areti wasn’t surprised in the least, “that would include current Imperial installations and networks.” She said aloud. N’dali continued, “this will include Imperial networks almost exclusively until such time as you are able to safely install Alliance protocol into the active stream. It will need to be deeply embedded with multiple layers of encryption, this is where you come in Cee Cee. The ‘raised bar of Monnok effect’ will provide the links you need to communicate directly with the adaptive AI involved, trust the coding, and incorporate your own additions Cee Cee, it is programmed to adapt to your involvement directly, evolve with it.” N’dali’s image continued running through a litany of technical terms relating to meshing the two constructs into a working whole, her expression unchanging through all of it.
Areti, consumed by the enormity of the task set before both her and the repurposed protocol droid, caught only fragments of what N’dali was saying as she turned her head slowly to watch the droid at her side, its photoreceptors blinking rapidly as the information was being processed. She was amazed with the intricate details of N’dali’s ability to speak directly to the droid in terms it was able to flawlessly comprehend, an ability Areti herself hadn’t known N’dali to possess, her own understanding of neural implantations decidedly well behind the curve.
“And to you Areti, will fall the greater challenge of getting the Rebellion to listen. It is the only way this network will prove useful at all. That challenge begins and ends with General Crix Madine. Alexsandr will know how to reach him.”
N’dali continued, Areti only now taking the time to absorb what she was actually looking at, noted the interior cockpit of the Gozanti freighter she herself had piloted for an abbreviated time. ‘The Thebeskan was already on the run when she recorded this…’ the thought haunted her as its stark truth stood naked before her eyes, the weight of which was only now presenting itself as something Areti was uncertain she could shoulder. She knew N’dali would die for these friends of hers and had in order to get them to Praxius. But that in itself was only based on feelings and emotions, on supposition and conjecture in their truest sense. ‘Would I be willing to die for anything beyond the pursuit of truth?’ Areti asked herself, N’dali’s image seemed to, impossibly, anticipate this internal struggle as she sat there wordless for a moment. “Truth is the only thing worth pursuing.” N’dali finally said, answering Areti’s own thought. “Those that have found the courage, as you did, to refuse blind adherence to forced truth are those that can be trusted beyond all measure of reproach Areti.” N’dali said with an aire of finality, punctuating the sentiment by reattaching the implant about her head. “Trust each other.”
She said as the field of blue wavered severely then crackled with static before the emitter light died out completely.
Areti stared at the spot on the floor that N’dali had occupied, lost for words despite the numerous questions that formed themselves without consent. “Crix Madine?”
“General, Crix Madine Miss Sigurn.” CC-7 corrected her.
“Yes, yes.” She said, her voice as distant in her own ears as her mind was in relation to her place in time and space.
“Ma’am, there are many things that we need to discuss in relation to Miss Fardi’s findings since your separation. Botajef for instance, but a timelier example would refer to Captain Larte’s mission along the Sanctuary Pipeline.” CC-7 attempted to rouse the Chalactan from her own thoughts.
Areti couldn’t think beyond the mention of Crix Madine, the man was listed as deceased, killed in action, some time ago after a ‘successful mission’ his Commando’s had taken part in as part of Operation Nightside on Dorbu Minor. “The lies outweigh any truth they were to have ever covered up.”
“To what are you referring ma’am.” CC-7 stumbled through the words as he tried in vain to associate her comments to anything practical.
“Conjecture I suppose Cee Cee.” Areti answered, “General Madine is a rebel?”
“Indeed ma’am. Has been for some time to the best of my knowledge.” CC-7 waited patiently before continuing, “about Captain Larte ma’am.”
“Cee Cee please call me Areti, N’dali’s insistence that we are ‘in this together’ is prophetic enough for the two of us to be on a first name basis.” Areti couldn’t help but think of Walker Audenhoen, particularly his insistence upon calling home a position he found laughable not that long ago.
“Her mission is going to require codes that she does not currently have.”
“And we do I take it.” Areti responded absently, not at all familiar with the ‘mission’ in question, yet quite familiar with the Captain involved. “What is her mission Cee Cee?”
The droid stared at her blankly for a moment, his photoreceptors blinking several times as he processed the query in relation to the active AI he had become a part of. “As Miss Fardi had suggested, we, you, and I, are now intertwined as it were. I am to trust you in so far as you trust me. Captain Miara Larte is currently investigating the Imperial transport hubs around Sullust, Koureye in particular.”
“Sullust?” Areti wracked her memory, “Sanctuary Pipeline…” she continued to explore her own memories regarding any Imperial presence in the system, “yes, relief aid for the denizens of the impoverished Modell Sector.”
“The implied exclusivity of anything mutual regarding the Empire and relief is beyond any sense of my programmed humor, Areti.” CC-7 regarded the woman with evolving curiosity.
“Of course it isn’t relief aid, and there is nothing of note within the sector itself that could be impoverished. It’s a Sanctuary for a reason.” Areti said, correcting the Imperial within that was too stubborn to leave. “How do we get her the codes she needs?”
“I do not know at the moment, her mission went dark the moment they left Raada.”
Areti felt like slapping her hand into her forehead as she worked through the realization of importance the departure imparted, her own future changing drastically after leaving the moon. “Ok, we’ll come back to that in short order. Perhaps General Madine would be a good start. What of Botajef?”
“I believe Miss Fardi found out what was happening there prior to her demise.” CC-7 stated without hesitation.
“And?” Areti asked quickly, raising a hand to her brow.
“Large scale manufacture of probe droids, particularly the 11-3K Viper. It appears the Empire is leaving nothing to chance in hunting down those responsible for the destruction of the Death Star, Admiral Cain is leading the initiative personally.” He responded.
“That is very particular indeed.” Areti said, understanding the reluctance and interference her and Audenhoen had had in the past accessing the systems assets.
“Indeed, it is Areti, N’dali’s network is quite intuitive.”
“Well, I suppose I will go find Sandr. And let know Ani know she’s got a message.” Areti said, pushing herself up from her work station. “You coming?”
“Apologies Areti, due to the nature of the prescribed interaction, I am afraid I am unable to disconnect myself from the terminal. It appears I am here for good to put it plainly.” CC-7 intoned without any measure of remorse.
Areti placed her arms about her hips as she canted to the left, eyeing the droid with a saddened expression, “then I will be quick about it, we’re a team after all.”
“That is most agreeable, Areti Sigurn.” CC-7 warbled, Areti positive there was a change in pitch that may have just been some sign of emotional response from the droid.
✦
“I can see the flows surrounding you Sabine.” Ani said passionately as she focused on the streams of Force energy flowing between the two seated opposing one another. The easterly breeze causing a strand of hair to flutter by her forehead. “Keep your eyes closed and focus on my voice.” She continued as the sweet smells of the grain harvest hit her nostrils.
“Kanan used to say the same things to Ezra when they would meditate together.” Sabine said softly into the air between them. Trying to force the nagging distractions out of her mind. The wind, although gentle, kept tugging at her hair or blowing it against her nose. It carried the sounds of the bustling Capital, children playing and two roughhousing Lothcats.
“Shhhhhh.” Kowani whispered into the breeze. “Nature will be nature.” She continued, pausing only to embrace her own words. “Life will not hesitate to continue around you despite your intentions Sabine. Become one with it.”
Sabine squinted her eyelids tight as the sounds worked themselves into a frenzy that rang through her head like a full throttle sub light array, the cacophony becoming too intense to ignore outright. “Ahhhh...how do you do this!” She almost shouted as she tossed her head back.
“Years of practice in one from another. Forced initially, but I, like you, fought it with every instinct I had the moment Ahsoka presented it as an option rather than a mandate. I found my own value in continuing to practice to calm myself if nothing else.”
“I can’t shut out everything else Ani, the sounds are deafening!” Sabine said slapping both of her thighs with open palms as she opened her eyes slightly. The milky whites of Kowani’s eyes greeted her with a sense of shame but only in the time it took for Kowani to turn her lips into a peaceful smile.
“Then don’t try to shut it out, let the sounds guide you down your own path Sabine. Don’t fight them.” Kowani said, sensing the woman’s eyes on her, “and stop looking at me like that.”
“You can…?”
“Through the Force, yes. I see an aura about you with dancing waves of Force energies that wait only for your surrender Sabine. It flows into you without reserve and out of you with hesitation.” Kowani could hear Sabine struggle for words as her tongue batted the insides of her cheeks, “and what does that mean?”
“Yes, precisely. What does that mean?” She repeated the question.
“It doesn’t want to leave you. It is waiting for you to accept who you are, and it is providing all the support it can while you figure out how to hear its call.” Kowani replied, her smile turning brighter as the Force currents surrounding them both increased slightly through the truth she had verbalized. “In terms only a Mandalorian could appreciate, remove your blasters Sabine, place them between us.”
Kowani didn’t have to wait long to hear the sheathing of the leather holster being tickled by the carbon barrel of Sabines twin Westars and the fraying of grass tips as placed them on the ground. “Now close your eyes.” Kowani reached out both hands with lightning-fast reflexes and cast them a few millimeters from their original positions. “Retrieve them.”
Sabine leaned forward slightly and diligently wrapped both hands expertly around either grip and lift them from the ground. “Assuming you didn’t open your eyes, how were you able to locate them so quickly?” Kowani asked.
“Because I could feel them, sense them….I don’t know.” Sabine stumbled for an answer.
“Yes you do, and your first answer is always the correct one. You could feel them.” Kowani responded, wondering herself just how much of Ahsoka had rubbed off on her. “That is what the Force is waiting for Sabine, it is simply waiting for you to feel its presence. Waiting for you to grip it as you do your blasters. Waiting for you to embrace it as it yearns to embrace you.” Kowani continued, feeling the same warming embrace she referenced. “You prohibit yourself from seeking a path because you do not feel yourself worthy of it….”
Kowani felt the sting of her own words and the sheepish sob that Sabine inherently couldn’t control. “It is simply a matter of truth. One that we must all accept before becoming who we are destined to be. It is the same path Ezra followed, and Kanan before him.” Kowani knew she was treading dangerous waters from an emotional standpoint, a position Sabine had worked very diligently to avoid. “It is the same path Ahsoka walked and her master before her. There is no disgrace in accepting who you are Sabine.”
Sabine blew out a breath with gusto as she cleared her throat, the sounds chortled, agonizing in Kowani’s ears. “I don’t know that this is my path Ani, and I don’t know that I want it to be.”
Kowani smiled again, pulling her lips tight from the emotional encumbrance, “that is something only you can decide, we are only here to meditate after all.” She said, winking a milky eye toward Sabine. A pitched whine added itself to the multitude of sounds the breezes brought with them, both of them turning their heads toward the encroaching newcomer.
“AvA, sounds like crap though.” Sabine was the first to verbalize what they were both thinking.
“Areti.” They both said in unison, pushing themselves up in tandem to their feet as the Chalactan came to a startled finish some meters distant. The bike lurched as she attempted to remove her hands from the grips, threatening to throttle itself into action before she was able to swing both legs off. Areti rammed her right elbow into the kill switch before any further embarrassment found her.
“You should really think about servicing that thing Areti.” Sabine said as the troubled engine finally died, letting the breeze take the offending scents of burning oils and overheated lubricants with it.
Areti strode with purpose toward the two women without acknowledging the remark, “Ani.”
“She did it didn’t she.” Kowani was certain her emotion would show but didn’t care in the slightest.
“Well, we think so anyway. We couldn’t think of any other reason for the coding to be in Mirialan. We’ll give you some privacy.” Areti said handing Kowani the data pad then clutching at Sabines shoulder.
“No. Don’t go. I’d rather not be alone to be honest, and I can’t see the file in question.” Kowani stated, Areti slapping herself in the forehead as she realized the same. Kowani could feel them both retrace their steps and come up on either side of her, Sabine placing a hand on her shoulder.
“It’s just here.” Areti said, Kowani feeling the slight shift in weight as Areti tapped the file.
Kowani could feel the internal workings of the data pad cycle themselves alive as the holo emitter warmed in her hands and with a sudden chirp she knew, without seeing anything, that the image of her oldest friend stood before her once again. The breeze that had been constant for over an hour ceased as the tall grasses about their feet returned to their upright state. The constant chirps of bird and insect alike droned into silence as the toying Lothcats around them found reason to close their eyes to a warm afternoon nap in the calming sun.
“Ani, Sa’mhar, the only sister I have ever known. We have had many adventures together, including those days on Keno….and yes, there were some good days. This one though, this adventure, is for me alone dis time. You have much yet to explore and so much work to do. I am proud of you, so proud of you Sa’mhar. I will not waste this time with the reasoning behind having to speak to you in this way, you will figure that out in your own time anyway. Areti and Cee Cee will be working on the network for the foreseeable future, aid them where you can. Sabine is strong Ani, you stay at her side ya! And you keep Ahsoka safe, it be the only way to keep yourself safe I think.” Kowani was shedding tears faster than she could feel them trail down either cheek, Areti herself had gripped her other shoulder at some point as Kowani felt both hands press a little firmer about her. She could sense the Thebeskan in the thick dialect and accent and wanted nothing more than to reach out and embrace the woman one last time.
“Hera gonna need all you to be strong for one another. Trust each other and listen to one another, there is no other way. I love you Ani, I will always love you.” The device in her hands chirped one last time before it became silent in her grip as the breeze caught once more and carried the echoes of N’dali away from them all.