Private It's Been a While

[Briana Sal-Soren]

Outfit: XoXo | Equipment: Lightsaber, Echo Stone | Tag: Brandyn Sal-Soren
​

Hapes held little charm for Briana.

Her last visit to the world had been enlivened by the attempt on her life, not that this event had been a particularly unique experience. During her twenty odd years, Briana could probably tally up more threats to her life than her mother had hairstyles. People tried to kill her, tried to kill her family—that's just the way it'd always been. There was a reason why security around their childhood Estate had always been so tight. Nonetheless, the experience served to open her eyes and see the world for what it truly was beneath its alabaster capital, sapphire seas, and golden streets: a viper's nest of ambition, where every word was a potential blade and every promise a poisoned cup.

But it was the world she had to come to if she wanted to see her brother, and there were a great many things that they needed to talk about and discuss—something they did less and less of these days. She'd promised him, and herself, that she'd be there for him after the arrest, but then... responsibilities mounted. The weight of her duties kept her away during the breadth of his imprisonment, kept her from being able to attend the trial.

She'd reached out over the holo, but the calls had been a poor substitute, she knew. Distant, impersonal... how could they compare to sitting beside him, to seeing the frustration and fear in his eyes and being their to offer words of reassurance? Would he forgive her for that distance? Or would he see it as just another abandonment? She hoped for the former, the shadows closing in around them left little room for festering wounds. There was more at stake now. Prophecies and visions... echoes of a future she was determined to prevent, no matter the cost. She needed Brandyn, needed every last one of them ( Vizion Trozky , Lossa Aureus ) to stand with her if they were to have any hope of defying the odds.

Especially now that Romi Jade was gone, vanished like a ghost in the aftermath of Coruscant. The news had been a punch to the gut, a bitter pill to swallow after everything her and Lossa risked to save her from Tython. A reality Briana didn't fully accept. Without a body... Could they truly say she was dead?

"Many bodies have been recovered, it's only a matter of time before we find hers. And even if we don't, it's always possible she's become one with the Force."

"Logical, rational answers," she muttered to herself, striding across the tarmac as she left her speeder behind. Those were the worst kind. The kind that made sense but offered no real comfort. With a final tug on her jacket, she put on her best semblance of that lackadaisical smile she'd inherited from her father and approached the gate of the Elyance Estate.

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

Of all the things in all the galaxy that impetuous and terminally unthoughtful Brandyn could be doing, he was meditating. He was under a willow type tree of bright pink leaves. It was not a setting that he would normally be found dead in, but the cool breeze and the subtle sound of rustling grass…well…they soothed his troubled soul. Very little did that these days.

His sister was visiting. The older one. She acted like it too. While their relationship had continued to be strained, Brandyn no longer held it against her. He was at the very leas equal parts to blame for the undercurrent of unresolved emotion. He was probably responsible for more than half to be fair. Murders and all.

Brandyn stood, and stretched his back. His hands brushed against some of the drooping leaves and he picked one as h lowered his arms. He gazed at it as he walked towards the entrance of the Estate Manor.

How alive this leaf looks. Even as it is dying.

He could sense Briana’s approach. She was a fire of determination and responsibility. She had been this way since she was old enough to talk. Probably before that. A few seconds older, and she wore the responsibility of matriarch like it was a Force given role.

He rounded the corner to see her approaching the front door.

”Cybelle is sleeping. Don’t set off any warning klaxons please.”

It was the day after the night before. Neither Jedi resident had slept well. And their new found depth of connection had brought a level of lightness and frivolity back to Brandyn’s aura and posture that had been gone since…before the Cataclysm.

His grin was magnetic, and his feet swift. Before Briana could figure it out, Brandyn was wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her in such a way that said “I am still stronger than you.”

”Love you, Bri-bri,” he whispered.

Briana Sal-Soren

 

[Briana Sal-Soren]

Outfit: XoXo | Equipment: Lightsaber, Echo Stone | Tag: Brandyn Sal-Soren ​

Briana was already rolling her eyes by the time Brandyn rounded the corner, greeting her with an offhand remark about Cybelle sleeping. Brandyn was much more likely to wake Cybelle up by tripping over his own two feet, than she was by walking through a front door... though she decidedly didn't point that out.

As he approached, Brandyn's familiar grin tugged at something in her, making her annoyance momentarily dissipate. The weight of everything that'd happened over the last few months lingered, heavy and unresolved. Still, it was impossible to resist the warmth in his embrace, even as he squeezed her like they were still children, competing over who could knock the wind out of the other by squeezing harder.

Despite herself, Briana leaned into the moment for just a second longer. It was rare these days, the chance to just be with him, to let their old dynamic take over and push aside the swirling uncertainties—if only for a heartbeat. Pulling away, Briana straightened out her jacket, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in his posture, his aura. he looked joyful, light-hearted. Two words she hadn't associated with him in a long time. Her brow gently furrowed.

"Look at you," she said, studying him. "You're practically glowing. What's going on, did I miss something?"

Because she had missed a lot, hadn't she? His imprisonment, the trial, everything that came after—no one could dispute that their lives had drifted, like two ships passing in the night, each of them with their own burdens and responsibilities pulling them in different directions.

And yet, there he was. Smiling, like he didn't have a care in the world. Like he wasn't here on probation after murdering someone. Like Romi Jade hadn't died, like another war hadn't started.

Squeezing her like nothing had changed.

Maybe, she thought with a pang of guilt, it was her who had changed too much.

​

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

Brandyn laughed knowingly. “Yeah. Yeah you did. Some of it…I am glad for that fact,” he said, answers illusive.

He pulled his sisters arm into the loop that he made of his own arm. Just like the gentleman his mother had tried to make him. “Come on. Let me show you the grounds.”

Brandyn Sal-Soren had never been the talkative type. Unless of course it was all the stories he told to get his sisters in trouble. So his constant stream of consciousness styled blathering was very much a new thing. Over all, the one thing that seemed to weave its way through Brandyn‘s conversational assault was hope. It was an emote that was as foreign to his lips as it had been to his sister’s ears.

“…and like I said…we are getting ready for the wedding…which really brings me to what I want to ask you for…”

He stopped, beside a pagoda that would really make a great place for the ceremony. He got distracted looking it over and formulating ideas to discuss with Cybelle.

”Right. My question.” He took Briana by the hands. “Cy…and I…want to get married soon. Like in the next couple of days. While you are here. A small ceremony. Just the three of us. And we want you to officiate. We will do a big reception later.”

He squeezed his sister’s hands.

”Please say yes, Bri. We have seen how quickly things change…she wants to be a Sal-Soren…my wife…shocking as it sounds…and…I love her, Bri. I love her so much it hurts…and please…say yes…”

Briana Sal-Soren

 

[Briana Sal-Soren]

Outfit: XoXo | Equipment: Lightsaber, Echo Stone | Tag: Brandyn Sal-Soren ​

Briana matched Brandyn's pace as they walked around the Estate grounds, her arm comfortably looped through his, though her mind was barely registering his words. He rambled on, the familiar cadence of his voice washing over her, but then a phrase caught her ear: getting ready for the wedding. The words hung in the air, almost as an afterthought, and it wasn't until they paused beside the pagoda that the full weight of what he'd said hit her.

Brandyn turned to face her, his hands taking hers, his expression expectant. Briana blinked, trying to piece together the rapid shift in conversation.

Small ceremony… officiate… married in a few days.

She cleared her throat, forcing her expression to remain neutral. He wants to get married now? The timeline made her chest tighten. There was so much to say, so many things they hadn't dealt with. They barely had time to reconnect, let alone plan a wedding. But as she looked at him—at the spark in his eyes, the desperation behind his plea—she couldn't bring herself to crush the moment.

Her lips parted, and for a second, no words came. Say yes, her heart urged, but her mind, pragmatic as ever, hesitated.

Briana gave his hands a small squeeze in return, her blue eyes searching his. "You've always been impulsive," she said softly, a half-smile tugging at her lips. "But this is… a lot, Brandyn. Are you sure? I mean… have you really thought this through? You're asking me to officiate, and… I don't know." She paused, trying to cover up her hesitations with a wry chuckle. "I just got here, and you want me to marry off my one and only baby brother?"

Cybelle and Brandyn had been pining after one another for as long as Briana could remember, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that things were moving too fast, that they were rushing headlong into a storm without taking a moment to breathe. Had they figured out what was going on with Cybelle? Had Brandyn taken the time to heal from the trauma that'd lead him down such a dark path before? Did he realize there was a new war looming over their heads? That the New Way had become The Unblessed? Briana's first instinct was to argue with him, point out why it was a bad idea. But, Brandyn's eyes were bright, happy, hopeful. He was happy, truly happy, and here he was, asking her to be a part of that. Her breath hitched.

"You really love her, don't you?" It wasn't a question that needed answering. She could see it written all over his face, in his posture, in his presence through the Force, plain as day.

"If this is what you really want… if you're sure…" She let out a quiet sigh, her expression softening with a reluctant smile. "Then yes. Of course, I'll do it."

She gave his hands a soft squeeze. "But if you think I'm letting you get away with a small ceremony without at least some input, you're dreaming."

​

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

“A lot?” Brandyn said, frowning with sincere surprise. “You do know…that when people get engaged…that means they want to be married, right?”

He didn’t seem upset with her. Which was a small miracle in itself. With the not so subtle reference to the huge age disparity between them, he offered a soft jab at her shoulder and a look that said, “No pulling rank.”

”You really love her, don’t you?”

His response was stifled. Her ‘little’ brother was stopped in his reply by a quick gasp of breath that was an attempt to hold back tears. “Bri…I always have. She has always been the one. You knew it before I did.” He remembered the amount of teasing she sent his way in their youth. When Briana found out he was sneaking out to visit her, she had called him out for being in love. Of course, she had done so teasingly and he had been annoyed at her. But she had been right.

”Thank you,“ he said, embracing his sister. It was a deep hug. The type of hug he never gave her. The type that invoked the love, care, protection and responsibility that he felt for her. “Thank you for everything…even holding me to account. I love you, Briana.”

He pulled away from the embrace, wiping tears from his eyes. This sort of emotionalism had been severely absent in their relationship over the years. It was his attempt to keep their promise to try again.

”I refuse to let you spend all the time you are here preparing for a service that just needs you, and Cy…and me…to make it perfect,” he said with a little bump into her shoulder as he grabbed her arm again and set off on a walk.

“But I bet that once you get together with Cybelle…I will not be able to hold either of you back…you powers combined is more than I can manage,” he said, shaking his head.

“Fill me in on what is happening out there in the galaxy, Bri…I have missed so much.”

Briana Sal-Soren

 

[Briana Sal-Soren]

Outfit: XoXo | Equipment: Lightsaber, Echo Stone | Tag: Brandyn Sal-Soren, FYI: Cybelle Sal-Soren ​

"Yeah, yeah, I know what being engaged means, genius," she shot back with a smirk, her voice carrying just the right amount of sarcasm and a practically audible eyeroll. "Just wasn't expecting you to sprint to the finish line is all." Brandyn's dismissive retort and unwavering resolve on the subject was as constant as the stars.

Once he decided on something, there was no debate, no careful consideration—just action. Want to be a Jedi? Run off on the day your parents get engaged and join the Order. Want revenge on those who hurt your family? Track them down without a second thought. It was a pattern deeply embedded in the Sal-Soren bloodline, a trait Briana knew all too well. One of their greatest strengths, but just as often, their greatest flaw. She could only hope Brandyn had thought through everything that came with marriage—really considered the weight of it—not just for himself, but for Cybelle too. Cybelle was as much a part of their family as anyone could be without sharing their name, something she would soon do, and Briana's concern extended to her as well.

But then, when had anyone in their family ever approached anything without diving in headfirst? Or in this case, heart-first.

With a quiet breath, Briana made her choice: she would let it go. Perhaps it was time she learned to trust that, sometimes, that impulsive leap of faith would land them in a place of grace and not disaster.

As Brandyn paused to answer her other question, the usual banter dropped away from his voice and something more vulnerable slipped in. "Bri…I always have. She has always been the one. You knew it before I did."

"I suppose I did," Briana conceded, her tone softening as the conversation took a more reflective turn. Her eyes drifted for a moment, recalling a distant memory, and a small, knowing smile touched her lips. "I still remember the first time you met her," she continued, trying not to snort. "Mom introduced her to us as a 'new friend', and you were completely swept off your feet. It was almost embarrassing, really—so smitten you could barely think straight. After that, every other word out of your mouth seemed like it was related to her in some way." She shook her head, remembering how easy it'd been to tease him back then. He'd practically handed her all the ammunition she ever needed.

She'd walked a few steps ahead before realizing Brandyn had slowed down. Turning back, she expected him to catch up with some smart remark, but instead, he caught her in a full embrace—strong, genuine, and completely unexpected.

For a moment, she was too stunned to speak. Brandyn wasn't exactly one for these kinds of gestures, and certainly not with her. This hug—deep, heartfelt—felt like it held all the words they hadn't said over the years. "Thank you, thank you for everything…even holding me to account. I love you, Briana."

The lump in Briana's throat made it hard to respond at first, but she swallowed it down, her arms tightening around him protectively. "I love you too," she murmured softly. It felt strange to say it out loud, the words having been locked away for too long. She couldn't even remember the last time they said it to each other—probably when they were kids, before they'd drifted apart and everything became so complicated. It felt like a homecoming of its own kind.

The two of them stayed like that for a handful of heartbeats, and as Brandyn pulled back, throwing in a quick quip about her and Cybelle being unstoppable, Briana's laughter came easily. "Come on, you're only planning on doing this once, right? Don't you want the wedding of the century?" she gave him a lopsided grin, brushing a finger beneath her eyes, discreetly wiping away the mist that had gathered before it could betray her any further. The last thing she needed was to end up with mascara streaking down her face and turning her into a ghoul-like creature from some low-budget horror holo-flick.

"Fill me in on what is happening out there in the galaxy, Bri…I have missed so much."

Briana's shoulders tensed, subtle, but unmistakable. She'd almost forgotten the original reason she'd come here in the first place, allowing herself to get lost in the moment and feeling lighter, more like herself. But then Brandyn's question came and cut through the haze.

Romi's gone. Zeriana's missing. Blaire, and Lossa, too. The galaxy's on fire. There's a prophecy hanging over all our heads, and I can't protect any of you from any of it.

Instead of spilling everything outright, Briana pursed her lips together. They'd promised they weren't going to keep secrets from each other anymore, so lying wasn't an option, but that didn't mean she couldn't fall back on half-truths in the temporary. There'd be time later to dig into the heavier matters. Right now, she just wanted to let him stay in this bubble of joy a little longer.

"Well," she began, trying to keep her tone sounding as nonchalant as possible. "There's the usual galactic nonsense. Wars brewing, villains plotting. You know, a usual Taungsday." She waved her hand dismissively. "The Jakku and Naboo Enclaves are holding up fine—been training padawans, overseeing some various relief efforts… Trying to make sure everyone's prepared in case things get dicey again. Same ol' grind." Briana smiled, shoving her hands into her pockets and trying to keep the conversation away from any of the gloomier details. "We can talk more about it later though, this is yours and Cybelle's moment, so let's keep it that way."

​

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

It felt good to be together. To see them like this would have made their mother proud. She had longed for them to mature into a loving and supportive family. Instead, they had squabbled right up to and beyond the day of her death. What he would not give to talk to his mother again. He shook off the thought as the embrace ended.

As Briana explained the goings on, Brandyn found himself completely dissatisfied with her answers. She was trying to protect him, to protect this. It made him regret the way he had been, who he had been. But he also felt that pang of annoyance at how she still did not quite trust him with the truth. She still treated him like he was a child, not someone…pretty much…her exact age. If he had done a better job of responding to things, maybe she wouldn’t see the need to protect him.

He shook off the frustration before it could take root.

“I asked…didn’t I?” Brandyn said, quirking a brow, face deadpan serious.

”I want to know…any word on Blaire?” He started counting off the matters of most importance to him, “is Master Jade happy with the progress of the Enclaves? How is Lossa and the baby? I really can’t wait to see them. How is Bast? Is her training going alright? And…probably…should tell me what more you have learned about this prophecy thing…seeing as you think I am involved. And how is Coruscant recovering? And…when are you and Aiden finally getting hitched? I am…going to run out of fingers…”

He stepped in front of her, hand resting on her shoulder.

“There is no ignorance. There is knowledge. Briana. If I am to be the Jedi I should have always been. I cannot hide from the truth. Do not be the one that hides me from it.“

Briana Sal-Soren

 

[Briana Sal-Soren]

Outfit: XoXo | Equipment: Lightsaber, Echo Stone | Tag: Brandyn Sal-Soren ​

The barrage of questions hit her like blaster bolts, one after another, after another. With each one shot, the durasteel walls she'd constructed around herself began to crack. Briana's shoulders slumped. The pain, the fear, and the grief began to ooze through those cracks, and with it, Briana's strength in holding back the dam. Though, she was no longer sure if she was hesitating because she wanted Brandyn to be happy, or because she found the subjects he was asking after to be too unbearable to speak about.

For a moment, Briana still said nothing, weighing her words, breath hitching as his hand came to rest on her shoulder. The old Jedi mantra he quoted stung more than she wanted to admit. There is no ignorance. There is knowledge. How many times had she heard those words, quoted them to other Jedi learners, to her siblings, to herself? Briana pinched the bridge of her nose between her eyes.

Right now, she wasn't sure knowledge was something that she wanted to let out into the open.

"The truth is..." She exhaled, sniffed. "Coruscant was a nightmare," The words felt like they were being dragged out of her by some unseen force that she couldn't stop. "Naboo helped construct planetary shields to try and keep the people safe a little while longer as they took shelter, but they barely lasted an hour before the Dark Empire broke through. There was a concentrated attack on the Temple from all sides and a Sith Destroyer rose out from beneath it, which was largely destroyed in the process. I barely made it out alive... and Romi..." Briana swallowed hard and shook her head. "Romi didn't. She died defending the Temple."

The pain of that loss tore through Briana again, fresh and sharp. She'd been like family to them...always there, guiding them, keeping them on the right path. For her, for Lossa, for Brandyn. Now... the Galaxy was different without her. Like it shone less brightly than before.

"And that's not all..." Briana's arms crossed over her chest now, as if she were trying to physically hold herself together. "Blaire is still missing, I tried everything I could to find her, but only came back with a lot of dead ends. And...Lossa's daughter, Zeriana… she was kidnapped just a few days before her name day. We were getting everything together for it when the Aureus Estate was infiltrated. SID tried to protect her, but…" she pulled from her pocket a burnt up memory chit. "He was destroyed in the process...I think it was the New Way—or what they're calling themselves now, The Unblessed. We tried to find her, but... we got into a big fight and she left. She's out there on her own, searching for her daughter, and I have no idea if she's okay, or if she's dead."

She'd started pacing back and forth, only stopping to pull her datapad from the satchel over her shoulder and hand it to Brandyn. "And Aiden... well... I got this yesterday."

To: Miss Briana Sal-Soren
From: Admiral Izah'zore, Galactic Alliance Military Command
Subject: Missing in Action – Lieutenant Aiden Rennek

Dear Miss Sal-Soren,

It is with deep regret that I must inform you that Lieutenant Aiden Rennek has been officially listed as Missing in Action (MIA) following the battle at Sluis Van. During the intense conflict, we lost contact with several units, and despite extensive search efforts, Lieutenant Rennek's status remains unconfirmed.

Please know that we are continuing recovery operations, and the search for survivors is ongoing. You will be informed of any new developments as soon as they arise. We understand how difficult this news must be, and we offer our full support during this time.

The bravery and dedication Lieutenant Rennek showed in the service of the Galactic Alliance exemplifies the highest standard of our forces. His contributions in the defense of the Alliance will never be forgotten, and we remain hopeful for his safe return.

If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support officers.

With deepest sympathies and continued hope,

Admiral Izah'zore
Galactic Alliance Military Command

Briana didn't say much more on Aiden, leaving it at that as she put away the datapad again. She wasn't sure she could say anything else without bursting into tears then and there.

"And that prophecy? It's not just a... hypothetical. It's real. I didn't want to believe it, but I keep having visions, and I don't know what to do or how to stop it." She could feel her body start trembling, straight down to the bone. Briana closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe. She wasn't used to being this open, not with him. Not with anyone, really. "When I saw that you were happy... I wanted you to have something good. Something real. I didn't want to take that from you. But this is the truth of how things are 'going'. And I'm scared, Brandyn. I don't know what's coming next. I feel like everything's slipping through my fingers, and no matter what I do, I can't hold on. I know we're supposed to be okay with letting go, but I don't know how… not this time."

​

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

He listened, the full weight of her words flowing over him. He felt the weight transferring. The responsibility of it pushing down on him. But as his eyes scanned over the communique about Aiden, Brandyn could not help but look back at his sister with concern. She did not stop though, going on about the prophecy. It was all too much for her.

He said nothing. Instead, Brandyn wrapped his arms around her, and held Briana close. He let her face bury in his shoulder. And he simply held her.

The emotions that played out within ranged from concern, to guilt, to anger and to grief. He should have been there for her. He had forced her to take on the responsibility. He had forced her to accept all of the burden.

"Briana..."

His voice was strained, struggling for control against the emotion.

"...I am so...very...sorry."

His face found her shoulder. And for the first time ever, the elder Jedi of the Sal-Soren family wept together. Tears for their parents. Tears for Blaire. Tears for Romi, Aiden, Lossa, Zeriana, Coruscant, the Temple and for what may yet come. This is how it should have been all along.

"You. You are not alone. Not any more."

The young man that craved the adventure of the Jedi was gone. In his stead, stood a man willing and waiting to accept the responsibility of husband, and for Briana...finally...her brother. The person he needed to be most of all was a Sal-Soren.

"It will be OK," he said, over and over again in hushed tones as his hand gently held the back of her head.

Briana Sal-Soren

 

[Briana Sal-Soren]

Outfit: XoXo | Equipment: Lightsaber, Echo Stone | Tag: Brandyn Sal-Soren ​

Briana couldn’t remember the last time Brandyn hugged her, or she him, sincerely.

It’d been so long that she felt the muscles between her shoulders pull taught, fingers flexing straight and clenching shut as she deliberated what to do. Then, slowly, her arms bent to wrap him in an embrace and her head fell onto his opposite shoulder.

The tears came freely and of their own accord, every bit of the grief she felt draining onto the fabric of his tunic. To be vulnerable, to be weak, was not a thing that came naturally to her. As a child, anytime she felt vulnerable, Briana cloaked it with bossiness, melodrama, and at times, anger. It was easier to play the part of the overbearing sibling than to let anyone see the cracks beneath. As a teenager, she fled from those feelings altogether, putting distance between herself and anything—or anyone—that might make her face them.

But as an adult, after their parents' death, after the war, Briana bottled everything up, sealing up her emotions like they were a form of dangerous contraband. The responsibilities piled up, each one heavier than the last. More and more, people looked to her for guidance that she wasn't sure she could give, for answers that she wasn’t sure she had, asking her to solve problems that felt impossibly vast and insurmountable.

“Stay strong.” She’d often told herself. Stay strong for Lossa, for Aiden, for Brandyn, for Blaire, for Romi, for Bastilla, for Cybelle, for her students…for…everyone.

It’s what their mother and father would have wanted… wasn't it? They always seemed so strong, like there was nothing in the Galaxy that could touch them no matter problem came their way.

But she wasn’t them, was she? She was just a pale imitation, a copy that never quite fit, no matter how hard she tried.

And now, after years of masking, years of compartmentalizing every pain and doubt, the façade began to fracture and peel away.

For the first time in a long time, Briana allowed herself to be fully seen as her heart finally, finally found space to breathe.

After what felt like an eternity and once it felt like everything in her had well and truly emptied out, Briana pulled back slightly, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, attempting a shaky smile. "Sorry," she whispered hoarsely. "This wasn't how I imagined our reunion would go.I just... I didn't realize how much I was holding in. Thank you… for…the reminder that I'm not alone… and for just… being my brother.”

Hastily, Briana wiped at the damp streaks that'd been left behind on her face, her usual mask slowly slipping back into place but with less of the unyielding resolve that’d come to define her the last several years…as if she’d left a small door open in her heart. “We should uh, probably get inside. You’ve got a wedding to plan, right?”

​