fan fiction scrollBurdens

 Atton RandCarth OnasiRevan (Female/Light Side)

This was it. It had taken weeks, but Cassia’s journey was finally at its end. In her pocket were the credits her mother had left her along with the message for him – her father. Thoughts buzzed around her head. She hadn’t slept properly since that night. What if he didn’t like her? What if he didn’t take her in? Where could she go then? She was so far from the home she had known all her life, but it just wasn’t the same any more. She winced at the images that flooded her mind; the lifeless bodies of her grandparents, burnt on the ground. The memory of the foul stench of burnt flesh attacked her nostrils.

Her mother’s last words ran through her mind for the thousandth time. “You have to go to live with your father. He’ll look after you and keep you safe.”

She’d looked pleadingly at her mother. “Why can’t I come with you?”

Her mother shook her head sadly. “You aren’t old enough. This is no life for a child,” she put the message in Cassia’s pocket. Those were her final words as she put Cassia on the ship that would take her far away, to a place called Coruscant.

She pushed the memories from her head as she looked at the shiny building. She glanced nervously at the Republic soldier before her, at least twice her size. She cleared her throat and began to explain.

*

“It’s just not the same without her,” Atton said sadly. “I know it’s been years, but I haven’t heard anything,” He knew he was brooding, but he couldn’t help it. He hadn’t had much to be happy about these days. Disciple was the only one he had really kept in touch with and he didn’t know how that happened. He would just have to get on with his life.

“I know what you mean,” Carth said sympathetically. “I can’t wait to get back into space. I’ve got an assignment coming up. It’ll be good to have something to do.”

“That’s why I joined the Republic,” Atton said. “I just wanted to get moving.” Carth had to admit that Atton was a good pilot. Maybe it was something to do with flying the Ebon Hawk – she chose her pilots well. He was about to say something, but whatever it was, it was lost. There was a knock at the door.

With a sigh Carth dragged himself to his feet. The door slid open with a hiss and he found himself facing the orange chest of an enormous soldier. The soldier stood, watching him silently.

“What is it?” Carth demanded half-heartedly.

The soldier stepped to the side and looked down. Carth followed the man’s gaze. There was a small girl standing there, no older than eleven. Carth was speechless. The girl looked so much like her. She had the same sandy hair, even the same expression, but there was something else. The girl’s eyes weren’t hers, but he knew them well. He saw eyes like those every day, in the mirror. The girl shifted slightly in her too-large orange jacket – his jacket; the one that had been missing for almost twelve years.

“Hello Father,” she said quietly.

Carth nodded for the soldier to leave and motioned for the girl to enter. Somewhere at the back of his mind he registered Atton’s mumbled excuse as he slipped out of the room.

He motioned for the girl to sit. She perched uncertainly on the edge of the seat and looked at him. As he slipped into the seat opposite, he found himself searching the back of his mind for what he should say.

“Are you really-” he began, but couldn’t finish.

The girl nodded and reached into her pocket. “This is for you,” she said, holding out a dirty datapad. He took it from her trembling fingers and read it in silence.

Carth,

I’m so sorry. I didn’t know until after I left. She is your daughter. Her name is Cassia. I’m sorry to dump her on you like this, but after my parents died, she had nowhere else to go. If I could change the past, I would have told you sooner, but I can’t. I promise to return as soon as I can. Tell everyone I say hello.

I love you,

Revan

Carth looked at the girl again. He gave her what he hoped was a kind smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Cassia,” he began uncertainly.

She smiled weakly.

“It looks like I’m going to have to get a bigger apartment.”

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