Emerald eyes fluttered open, staring at the room that had become familiar to one, but not to her. The room spun as the sun dimly cracked through the curtains, dancing across the slender frame of the sheet tangled mess. Shadows of the ceiling fan scattered as it turned, the cool breeze ruffled against the sheets as she continued to stare. The feeling of her body felt foreign and unnatural. Almost as if she had gone on an extended vacation, absent from the everyday moments, and suddenly found herself back in her skin lost. Allyson blinked, watching the fan spin around and around.
Breathing was hard, something or someone weighed upon her chest as she suddenly became aware of more than just the ceiling. The tangle of sheets bound her and another together, raising an eyebrow her gaze followed the silhouette of a slender frame, kisses and soft pale pink lipstick adorned it lovingly. Her vision hazed, and Allyson watched as the room changed shifting and twisting. The pale sun poured into the room still next to the same, but different shape. The same silver mane flowed over her form and the same soft pink lipstick dancing along the porcelain skin. The room was different, and eyes met the hazy shapes of diverse fauna found on Kashyyyk. The smell of sweet cinnamon and sugar lingered in the humid air of the jungle planet. A hand reached timidly towards the shape, but as she felt the warmth of flesh under her fingertips, once more, the haze came fading the memory from her eyes as she whispered a name that hung on her lips - one she hadn't spoken in years. The name cut deep into her core as she felt her body and mind being sucked through a spiraling warp—a brief moment as if a memory that she hadn't thought of in years appeared.
Tightly nestled in a pod, she inhaled the delicate scent of sand and the beach. Blonde hair rested against her face, and tears flowed from her eyes, a memory that had been locked away behind torment. Allyson felt the small frame rest against her, and the love she hadn't felt in an eternity swell inside of her. A hand brushed aside the blonde hair as she looked upon a face she thought she forgot. Fire orange eyes stared back at her, and as quickly as she appeared, Kaili Talith was ripped from her once again.
The room continued to spine until her hand pulled away from the body beside her. Raven hair ruffled as the body moved, rolling over and pulling her closer. His lips brushed against her face as she felt the familiarity in his hold. She had missed it; a sense of happiness washed over the Corellian as she melted into his grip. As much as she loved him and wanted this happy ending, something was holding her back. Looking into his face, the memory faded, and she was thrust back onto the fields of Muunilist. Gasping, fighting for her life as she could feel everyone around her dying.
A shadow figured loomed over her, its face hidden as a bright red blade ignited between them. "Choose." The deep voice that haunted her worst nightmares echoed in her mind as the battlefield faded, and she was left in a room. Hundreds of faces stared back at her as she looked around, trying to pinpoint and name them all. Some were her own reflections, others were the faces of those she had killed to survive or had been contracted to kill, and others were blank as she couldn't remember their significance. Among the faces, she could see the faces of those she had lost, her parents, Ember, Arisa, and Kaili. She moved running to the ones she recognized, they faded, and she was left with only those of her own identities. Each stared at her, taking a step forward, and Allyson tried to close her eyes. They all represented a part of her life, another mission that she had to do for the galaxy's greater good. "Choose." Her own voice demanded the same request, and there was no clear answer.
The floor disappeared out from under her, and she fell into an endless void. As she fell, Allyson found herself reliving moments in each of her lives over and over, no matter the amount of pain she felt from them. Her parents dying, the feeling of her mother's last breath cutting through her as if she had experienced death herself. The assassinations ordered by contractors in exchange for information in the unknown region, each face of her murders twisting and demanding justice. Allyson felt the ground under her feet as she landed in the darkness. The smell entered her nose as she looked around at the pitch blackness and soon recognized where she was. A tightness in her chest strangled her lungs as panic settled into her mind. How had she returned here? The quiet dripping mixed with the occasional scream reminding Allyson of the prison on Bastion.
"Choose."
Metal clamps echoed in the back of her mind, she could feel them tight around her wrists and ankles. Body suspended above the brick and mortar cell, Allyson felt the panic as she looked to find him. She could smell the death that was coming for her. Had she messed up, had she failed her mission? A figure entered the cell, shrouded in shadows. Allyson tried to scream, knowing all too well what came next. The same nightmare plagued her for years, each time the Dark Lord won. He captured her, he tortured her, and she had to watch everyone she loved die. The images of her friends, Loske, Maynard, Jyoti - all of them dead. Ryv murdered in front of her eyes, and all of their last words condemning her.
She was a spy, her life was meant to be lived alone, and she continued to bring people into it - each of them facing the same fate because of her inability to keep her distance. Allyson knew she should be alone, but the loneliness was too much for her to bear. Tears stained her face as she watched the figure murder her friends, a new face appeared one that she felt connecting with her deeply. Amber eyes stared back at her, and Allyson felt her mind shake itself awake.
Emerald eyes opened, staring back at the ceiling she had grown familiar with. A ceiling fan spun absentmindedly as it reflected off the sunlight that poured into the room. Rae looked over and blinked, the dream had been one she had been dreaming for some time now. She didn't understand it but somewhere inside of her, she knew exactly what it was. Something or someone inside of her was hurting, but she did all she could to protect them. She felt the weight of another pressed against her, and a hand ran delicately through the strands of silver hair. "Jorryn." She smiled as she spoke the name no louder than a whisper.
A moment of peace and the haze returned, Allyson exhaled and felt the dread of the day.
The swoop bike sped through the landscape. Allyson had convinced Jorryn to allow her to scout some of the abandoned construction ruins for any New Imperial soldiers. The ruins made an excellent location for a possible counter-strike, but Allyson knew better. She had been able to send words of the invasion back to the Alliance, back to Ryv and everyone who she hadn't spoken to in some time. Nerves bundled in her gut as she parked the swoop bike and stared at the control panel. Nerves continued knowing that she was putting him in danger once more, but the desire to see him nearly crushed her.
Swinging her leg over, she entered the ill-constructed building. A hand dragged along the panels as she rounded the corner. She could sense him, feel him through the Force, and their bond. Seeing the outline of the shadow, his body cast against the wall. Smiling, Allyson moved closer and fought the urge to run to him. Keeping control of herself she moved closer, Allyson looked nothing like she typically did. Her attire, the fabric of the Sith Empire, but the same bright face and smile of the Corellian stared back at the Kiffar Knight. Reminding herself that she was Allyson Locke, her natural Corellian voice sang over in a whisper to the man, "Ryv, is that you?"