Echo Across Time

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden nodded slowly, clearly not recognizing the name. Geonosis wasn't really a part of the memories that his mother thad implanted into his brain. "Ah, I see. What is the hyperspace travel time between Naboo and Geonosis?" No sooner had Brayden asked the question than Madalena was busying herself with another task.

When not-Scherezade produced a flat object to him, Brayden looked down at it before raising his silver-green eyes to orbs of a similar fashion. Following the instructions, Brayden elected to trust the woman and placed his hand to the object. The object was cool to the touch but quickly warmed as it took an impression of his palm and fingertips. When the process was complete, Brayden removed his hand, fighting the urge to look and make sure nothing untoward had happened.

Eventually, he gave his attention back to Madalena. "Is that it? I don't want to keep you from your duties."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Not long," she answered with a shrug. The planets were close enough for the distance not really to matter when there was a full day ahead, "an hour, maybe two."

Brayden added his handprint to the ship's accessibility and Madalena grinned. Anything that was hers was his as far as she was concerned. She'd never have any secrets to hide from her twin brother. But when he asked if that was it, her face slightly fell. Was he done so soon? Did he want to leave? Sure, it'd been a few hours but… But she didn't particularly want to be left alone so quickly.

"You're not, I have until tomorrow," she said carefully, her mind reeling over ways to get him to stay just a little bit longer. A large chunk of her wanted to offer Brayden to sleep over, so they could have an all-nighter stories night like they used to. But she wasn't sure she was ready for that; if she'd fall asleep, and he'd hear her screams… No, they weren't there yet. "Guess I can't keep you from leaving if you really want to though," she said and stuck her tongue out at her brother after a quick silence.

[member="Brayden Antares"]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden nodded his head slightly. "I would like to stay. However..." The Sith shrugged nonchalantly. "I did put some commitments in place before you managed to find me. There is a lot to do with regard to returning to the galaxy proper."

Managing a thin smile, Brayden reached over and lightly slapped Madalena's leg. "I'll see you again before long though." The soft whimper from the creature between them forced Brayden to divert his gaze, suddenly remembering that Madalnea had mentioned he could understand basic. "You too buddy." A large, calloused hand reached out to scratch behind Baal's ears. Eventually, Brayden came to his feet, the unspoken signal that he was about to leave. With a subtle smirk on his face, he motioned for Madalena to get on her feet. "Come on with your suffocating hug I know you can't wait to give."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

“You came back and put commitments in place before seeing me?” Madalena asked, her face visibly fallen. She had thought reuniting would be the first priority once he was back, but now that she thought about it, even their meeting on Naboo had not been planned… But was coincidence. She didn’t like the thoughts that were beginning to form in her head. Baal put his paw on her thigh and she looked down, giving a little smile before the pup’s attention moved to her brother.

“You better not disappear on me, Brayden Antares,” she warned him, looking at him again, and then her face broke into a smile and she did exactly what he knew she’d do; jumping from the couch quickly enough to make even Baal move away in surprise, her arms wrapping around her brother, not really wanting to let him go.

Eventually though, she had to.

[member="Brayden Antares"]

 

[Brayden Antares]

Brayden responded to Madalena's question flatly. "Yes. My communicator was destroyed during my travels, and you were certainly not on Coruscant. As such, I made arrangements with some...outside entities. Now that I've found you, I cannot very well blow off those arrangements. They need to be handled...delicately."

The words seemed to evaporate in the air as Madalena's arms wrapped firmly around his body once more. Returning the hug, Brayden offered simple words of comfort. "I promise you that I will not disappear for any amount of time. Search the Force, and you will forever be able to find me now that we've reunited." It was probably one of the few true statements he'd made. His ability to find Scherezade before now had, clearly, been limited by the fact she'd changed from what his infant self could recall. It would undoubtedly be different once he eradicated this Madalena persona too.

When he was finally able to extract himself from Madelena's grasp, Brayden smiled at both of them before making his way towards the exit.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]