One day you'll be home again.

[Allyson Locke]

The sound of a ship landing was almost too familiar. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Allyson dried her brunette hair carefully. The bandages were freshly changed and her body was sore, but in a good way. Taking a few deep breaths, she thanked the Force that her lungs weren’t an issue this time around. The towel was tossed away and she stretched slightly, the wounds on her back had healed up for the most part, leaving only small scars that would constantly remind her of her failure on Bastion. Looking towards the refresher, Ally smiled.

As much as the excursion that Kaili had put her through hurt, everything felt amazing afterwards. To feel those emotions physically and emotionally reminded Allyson that she was alive. It reminded her of what kept her alive and who she had to come home to. A small beep echoed on her comm which was on the side table of the large bed. Struggling to stand Allyson quietly stood and wandered to the table. Looking down at the message, she smiled softly. Her leave of absence was approved – this meant she had time to heal for once. Thanking the GA and the SIS, she tossed the comm back onto the table and moved to sit back down on the bed.

Allyson covered her bandaged face with a hand as she sighed heavily. “You know Kaili, you really need to let me heal. I don’t think I can take hours upon hours of your love.” A light chuckle followed mostly reassuring the blonde who was still in the refresher that everything was okay. Pausing Allyson inhaled deeply and held her breath. They were arriving back on Corellia. It had been what felt like a lifetime, at times she almost forgot she was Corellian and was just someone that wandered the galaxy. Standing from the bed, she looked down at the pants she wore. A red stripe adorned the sides of her pants ending where her leather boots started. She lightly touched the fabric knowing the significance and the meaning of wearing them. Shaking her head, Ally did her best to shake the depression that had its moments of creeping up. She had to stop feeling sorry for herself, so she focused somewhere else and that was in the refresher. Wandering over, she pushed open the door and snuck up behind the blonde and wrapped her arms around her slender form.

“You ready yet?” A smirk spread across the Corellian’s face as she leaned forward and lightly kissed along the Goddess of Kiara’s neck. “We’ve landed.”

[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

The water was nice though. The slow sensation of drop after drop pounding against the skin of her shoulders was something she had gotten used to. Piece for piece she twisted herself within its downpour to let the harsh beatings soothe the knots in her neck. She twisted her hand towards the shower handle and the beam that pounded against her skin became a ray of water that eventually turned into a thin layer of steam that spread itself across the entirety of the oddly sizable compartment that was her refresher.

Her hands moved up to drag across her face, fingers scrubbing at her cheeks and nose bridge to wake herself up from the ‘excursion’ that Allyson would so gently remind her of in an effort to cover up the other thoughts that raced on her mind, each of them something that Kaili had grown able to distinguish and understand over the years. Though regardless of whether or not it was to try and make Kaili worry less, the girl would allow herself to buy it for the moment.

“It wasn’t hours upon hours, sweetheart. It was just a slight morning excursion, didn’t think it would wear you out that much.” She chuckled and exposed her teeth with a toothy grin. Her hand reached for the handle controlling the water’s stream and shut it off. The steam slowly dissapated by her feet and Kaili reached up to tie her hair back into a loose ponytail.

Allyson opened the door to expose her to the cold air before sneaking a kiss against her neck. Another chuckle burst through her lips and she turned around to look Allyson in the eyes. Amber on hazel, it was the perfect combination. Wet lips gently locked onto dry before parting with another happy exhale.

“Don’t be afraid to feel it.” Kaili whispered to Allyson. “Grief is as much a part of life as anything else. Don’t bottle it up for later. Share it with me, Allyson.”

Lips touched against Allyson’s cheek with reassurances. “But first, get out. I need to get changed before we do anything at all.”

Lips split into another toothy grin as she waved her hands toward the door. “I have a surprise for you.”

It was hard to miss the soft package to the side of the refresher. Kaili had kept this one from Allyson since they left Kiara for Corellia. It was meant to be special.

 

[Allyson Locke]

[SIZE=10pt]Allyson listened to the whisper and sighed. She wasn’t ready to feel the grief, she wasn’t ready to face whatever came along with it. Sighing softly, she kept Kaili close for a moment until the girl pushed her away. There was surprise and Allyson blinked. They were glued at each other’s hips, where would Kaili of had the time to find a way to get something out from under her nose. The kiss distracted her and Allyson smiled from under the remaining bandages she had been wearing. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]A smile and Allyson nodded. “Alright alright. I’ll get out and let you be.” Stealing another kiss, she ran the back of her fingers against the girl’s face. The Corellian felt every day that she could spend with the Borlean girl as a gift that she for some reason didn’t deserve. The door shut as she left the refresher. Slowly, she paced the room waiting for the blonde to finish. Her mind did its best to push out the horrible memories that lingered when she closed her eyes. She ruined their last vacation, maybe this time she could avoid that. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Her arms folded and she sat on the bed. This was unnatural for Kaili to take this long. The eyebrow that was visible raised as she stared hard at the door. “What are you doing in there Kay?” [/SIZE][member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

But Kaili could understand that hesitation though. The toothy grin on Kaili’s lips evened out into a soft smile as Allyson ran her fingers across her cheek while a hand moved up to guide it and keep it there just a while longer. Their lips locked and Kaili felt the love behind them even if Allyson didn’t feel like she had made herself deserving of it. A soft giggle swept from her nose as she waved goodbye to her injured hero and got to work preparing the surprise. The package unfolded and from it Kaili withdrew a long white piece of delicate fabric. Holding it in front of herself she allowed it to unfold towards the ground before she gave the door a look to make sure Allyson wasn’t sneaking a peek.

Looking back at the piece of clothing in her hand she proceeded to fold it back and place it on top of the wrapper that had previously surrounded it. A fresh pair of undergarments were put on, and before long Kaili was back to staring at the dress again. Hands held it out before her as she contemplated just how surprised Allyson would be. The blonde woman had never been one for girly dresses. She had her moments, but generally this had been Allyson’s territory where Kaili had fancied suits and jackets. Maybe a small part of her felt like Allyson deserved this, and in truth that was probably most of it.

Putting her hands up Kaili let the dress wrap across her body until the last few hems patted against her knee in a gentle sway. One quick look in the mirror was all Kaili got before Allyson called for her.

“Patience, apprentice!” Kaili called as she teased Allyson from behind closed doors. “Just a few more minutes.”

With an untrained — or rather, unaccustomed — reach for a brush, Kaili got her fingers wrapped around the handle of the magical hair piece and got herself to work. The ponytail was undone and before long Kaili would knock against the door to get Allyson looking in her direction.

Out stepped Kaili. Hair done into a neatly arranged hairdo. Nothing too complex, nothing that would take away from the dress that she was wearing at least. The fabric of the dress hung around her shoulders with a comfort she wouldn’t have foreseen when she saw it online. The fabric that rested right above her knees swayed from the ventilation systems gentle breezes and would almost certainly bring the observer’s attention towards the slight hem that wrapped itself just above her waist. It brought out the shapes of the wearer in a tasteful yet audacious manner, or so she had been told by the store clerk. Kaili did a quick spin to show the exposed back that contrasted her fully covered chest before she finally made way over towards Allyson to get her girlfriend up on her feet again.

“The most beautiful Corellian deserves to be seen with the most beautiful goddess of the Outer Rim.” Kay said with a grin and pulled Allyson in close for a consolation kiss. That is, for having waited an eternity for Kay to be done. “I hope you like it.”

 

[Allyson Locke]

[SIZE=10pt]Allyson fell backwards onto their bed and stared at the ceiling. Her eyes focused on the ceiling as Kaili called out to her calling her apprentice. The comment gained a smirk and a shake of the Corellian’s head. She had not called her apprentice in years. As she waited Allyson raised a hand and looked at it, her sight was blocked by the bandages over her face. She couldn’t wait till everything was just a bitter memory and she could finally get back to living her life. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Kaili took her sweet time, but as the woman exited the bathroom Allyson sat up. Coming face to face with the girl that usually never wore a dress stood before her in something that she had never imagined she’d see her in. Allyson’s jaw dropped as she admired everything that the blonde had to offer. Kaili moved closer and Allyson was pulled to her feet. Hands rested on Kaili’s hips and she was pulled closer. A kiss was shared between them and Allyson pulled away and happily smiled. “You’re more than the goddess of the outer rim, you’re my goddess.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Leaning closer, Allyson felt a renewed strength. Kaili had revitalized the Corellian and she held her lover close. Fingers pressed into the bareback of the other woman while the kisses continued. The love that she felt swelled and Allyson began to drag the woman back to bed. She wanted so much to take her, to remove the dress from her and show her the appreciation of their love. A soft whisper brushed against Kaili Talith’s ear as Allyson felt the edge of the bed against the back of her legs. “Let’s leave Corellia for another day…let me love you.” [/SIZE][member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

Too easy. Kaili snickered at the compliment and the kiss that was planted on her lips by a ‘revitalized’ Allyson. Fingers dug into skin on her back and she knew quite well what that meant for Allyson. Or rather, what Allyson wanted to do. The blonde played along of course, she had no reason not to and the build up was always fun. They approached the corner of the bed, Allyson’s legs found the bed frame and Kaili gently eased the wounded hero into the cushion of the bed. Her arms propped her up above the brunette for little more than a second before she did it.

She pulled away. Very fast, before Allyson got the chance to do a single thing.

“Nope!” She exclaimed rather happily and laughed. “I spent way too much time on this, you get to wait before you get to take all this off.”

She got Allyson’s jacket and threw it over to her.

“Now come on. Put this on and let’s go see the sights.” Kaili spoke with a smile. “Besides, you need to get me dinner first.”

And it was just barely noon as it was.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson quickly sat up as the blonde pulled away from her. The look of utter shock was written all over her face. Here she thought she was smooth and could pull Kaili into staying in with her. It wasn’t a lie that she wanted her terribly, but she wanted to use it as a moment to avoid seeing Corellia. There were so many painful memories tied to the planet and now Kaili wanted to explore it. So many band aids were being ripped off violently, but Allyson knew it was good for her. The jacket hit her and Allyson frowned.

“You should throw things on my good side, I could have lost an eye from that zipper!” Allyson jested playfully as she stood up. She still moved slow, her back was still in its final stages of healing, but she could feel the pull of new skin when she moved too quickly. Standing up finally, she wrapped the bomber jacket around her slender frame. She had lost quite a bit of weight since the incident, but she knew eventually she’d gain it back. At this point she was probably lighter than Kaili. “I promise I’ll get you dinner as long as I get to rip that off of you for dessert.”

Coming up behind Kaili, she wrapped her arm around the girl’s waist. Pulling her closer, Allyson looked at the slightly shorter blonde, “You sure I can’t get a treat before leaving the ship.” The oh so classic Allyson grin suddenly pulled at the brunette’s lips. She made sure as much as Kaili was pressed against her in hopes that she could linger in the ship and avoid Corellia just a bit longer. “Come on, you’re so beautiful.” [member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

“Well that’s not fair, you have no bad side.” Kaili said and winked at Allyson’s joke. “You get me dinner, I give you what you want, but first we are going to step out that door and have a good time.”

Allyson’s move was predictable but lovable nonetheless. She wrapped her arm around Kaili’s waist and let her fingers tickle against the surface of Kaili’s skin through the dress that she wanted to tear off. They were physical in their devotion and in truth it was probably because Kaili did nothing to stop it. She had no reason to, the sensation of relief to let someone in close or even under your skin was something that was hard to compare to anything else. If something completed you then what was the point in saying no? Allyson changed her, she changed Allyson, it was a two-player game neither of them were going to quit anytime soon. They had come close to it, but they’d never truly get there.

Kaili let out a gentle laugh as Allyson insisted on pushing the point. Her toes caught her weight and she gave herself a quick spin to face Allyson directly. A kiss planted itself on Allyson’s lips before they separated again.

“I thought I always was beautiful in your eyes.” Kaili spoke with a grin. “And no, no appetizers. We’ve planned this trip for weeks now. You know we would get here one day or the other.”

“If not today, then when?” Kaili whispered and brought Allyson in close. “I will be here through everything. You have my word, I won’t leave your side for a second.”

 

[Allyson Locke]

Remaining close for a few moments, Allyson knew that this was good for her. Kaili was only trying to do what was right. It was obvious that on more than one occasion Allyson had moped around thinking about the planet. She as a proud Corellian, but home didn’t feel like home anymore. Her family was gone and she was there to pull them from the wreckage. Her eyes closed and she could see them, seeing their lifeless faces as she pulled her mother from the collapsed apartment, clutching her younger brother.

Holding Kaili tightly, she remembered hearing the news that the police station her father was working at was ground zero. There was nothing left there and she would never see her father again. Their last conversation was something she pushed from her mind – she didn’t want to remember it because she knew it was something horrible. Today, she didn’t want to visit Corellia, but she knew she had too. Pulling away slightly, Allyson nodded.

“Pretty sure you planned this whole thing out. I was pretty much knocked out with pain medication.” A forced smile, but she tried to remain light hearted. Kaili was doing her best to make this better and Allyson needed to at least play along. “Okay, we’ll see what they’ve done to the place…Corellia won’t ever go back to what she was, but I heard things are a lot better…” Grabbing Kaili’s hand she led her from the ship and out into the public hanger. There was bustle, not as much as there used to be, but there was some.

Inhaling deeply, she smelled that familiar ocean smell of the planet. The pains of home stabbed her deeply, but she continued to keep a smile on her face. “I’m not quite sure where things are anymore…but.” Pausing, Allyson knew it was traditional for one’s lover to meet the parents. It wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be something. “Um since we’re here, I want to visit my family. Is that okay? I know you have the day planned out for us…but I need to see them.”

[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

There was nothing to stop Allyson from pulling Kaili in closer and there never would be. Kaili’s arms and hands grabbed a firm hold of her lover’s back and shoulder to bring her in even closer. With a gentle sway she let her arm stroke against the brunette’s shoulder to let her know that she was still there and that it was all a bad memory. Her chest slowly rose with a calm breath meant for the both of them before Allyson separated them, even if just slightly so.

The joke was genuine but the smile behind it was not. It didn’t take Kaili long to recognize that sort of smile, she had practiced it well for herself not too long ago. Allyson’s grip around Kaili’s body eased up until they remained in a handhold. Kaili let her fingers intertwine with Allyson’s for a firmer grip as the Corellian led her off the ship and onto the soil of her own homeplanet. This was the first time that Kaili had actually been here herself, at least that she could remember. On the surface it looked like your average planet, but the life around here wasn’t what she had come to expect of a Core planet.

Kaili stopped to look at Allyson as she struggled to get something off her chest, gently smiling as Allyson eventually managed to say it. Blonde hair softly waved in the air as Kaili’s head bobbed back and forth in an understanding nod.

“Of course we can, love.” Kaili said and brushed her hand against Allyson’s arm. “I would be honored.”

“Just take your time. If things become too much or if you feel like we need to stop, you let me know. Okay?” She whispered and looked at Allyson. “Do you know where they are?”

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson nodded. She was the one that buried them. Grabbing Kaili’s hand she pulled her through the hanger towards one of the shuttles. It would take them to the district that seemingly had been rebuilt that she used to live in. Allyson remained quiet through the walk and the ride. They climbed onto the shuttle and began to head towards the direction of where she grew up. She had grown up in Coronet City. Her father worked as an engineer with Corellian Engineering Corp. Ships had always been in her life along with technology.

She held Kaili’s hand the entire time as they rode the shuttle towards her district. Everything looked the same, it was if nothing had happened. Her head rested against the window and she ignored everyone around her. Having Kaili there was the only way she could even tolerate what was happening. Her eyes finally closed as she remembered everything from that day. Dragging her mother and brother’s body from the wreckage then having to identify them and because there was not enough man power to bury the bodies, she had to. The feeling of the wooden cart in her hands as she took them a few miles towards the small cemetery where other relatives of hers were buried. She didn’t want her family to end up in the mass graves that people were doing. Pollution was a worry, the smell of burning bodies wasn’t something the living wanted to experience.

She remembered the smell and how strong it was, even now she could still smell it when she thought about it. When she arrived, several bodies had been pulled from the ground because of the battle. After she buried her mother and brother, she marked their graves and gave her father a marker as well. Remembering the others, she turned and returned them to the ground. The rest of that day was a blur and it seemed she pushed it back from her mind.

The shuttle stopped and Allyson was brought back to reality. Everyone else had left the shuttle and her and Kaili were the last. Standing, she helped Kaili along and off the shuttle. “We’re here.” A small building in what seemed to be the outskirts of the city. Make shift grave markers scattered the fields and Allyson sighed heavily. “I know where they’re buried because I had to bury them.” She began to walk towards the rustic gate and slowly released Kaili’s hand.

[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

The crowd within the bus all turned to look at the two as they stepped aboard it. Some looking at Allyson and others at the blonde she arrived with. There were lingering looks but most of them seemed to be on the stripes that ran along the Corellian’s legs. It made people curious as to how she had gotten them but even then none of them dared to ask. It wasn’t a reward handed out lightly which either meant she had taken them from someone who had deserved it, or she had done something insane to warrant it. Judging by her absent stare out the window the latter felt all the more likely to most of them.

Kaili’s head leaned until it rested against Allyson’s shoulder and her thumb gently caressed the side of the Corellian woman’s hand with a caring smile. It was clear to her that Allyson was having troubles with this and that she was the reason that it felt bearable to the degree that it was. More than anything Kaili was proud of Allyson for facing her demons in the way that she was. It wasn’t easy, and that was something Kaili was quite keenly aware of herself.

The shuttle stopped to let more and more people off until eventually it was just Kaili and her lover sitting near the back looking through the window as the highrises began to clear out for something less populated. Soon enough it was their time to get off the shuttle as well. Allyson led Kaili out but let go as they approached the graveyard. There was a great many graves here and the blonde frowned at the feeling creeping through their bond.

The gate opened and Kaili quickly wrapped her arm around Allyson’s. She was not allowed a single second without her at her side, especially not here of all places on Corellia. Not a word parted Kaili’s lips as she followed Allyson by her side. There was nothing she felt she could say.

 

[Allyson Locke]

[SIZE=9pt]Allyson felt Kaili near her and as they entered the gate, she looked towards the blonde and nuzzled her head letting her know that she was okay. The feeling in their bond gave away Kaili’s worry for the Corellian. As much as she wanted to ease that worry, Allyson knew there was no doing so. Worry seemed to be ingrained in their bond, she felt it when she fought, she felt it while she was in the crypt, and every moment they were away from each other. That worry let Allyson know that there was no one like Kaili for her. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]She did at times wonder what it would have been like if her and Kaili never had gotten together. The thoughts always ended up with her dead somewhere in a ditch. Fighting for freedom of the Dark Side or even eventually falling victim to it herself. Allyson knew there was no good outcome. They moved through the graves, it seemed there were some fresh ones, but it was obvious no one ever visited this place. Rows upon rows of graves, some marked with several names while others held one or two. Finally coming to the back far row Allyson stopped. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Each marker was handmade, from wood or some sort of metal intertwined with each other. Jagged carved markings writing out each of her parents’ name and her brother in Old Corellian. They were the odd ones in the graveyard, Allyson wondered if it was her stubborn nature to make sure they looked different, that they stood out so everyone who passed by knew they were important or special. Kneeling she dusted off her mother’s headstone and smiled softly. “Mama, Papa – I brought someone for you to meet.” Standing she smiled at Kaili then looked back at the grave markers. “Her name is [member="Kaili Talith"]…she saved my life more times than I can count. So, I brought her home to meet you guys…” [/SIZE]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

There had been a time when she was younger that she had seen a mass grave. She had insisted that time, like a childish insistence that she wanted to be there. Perhaps as a way to make up for the bodies she hadn’t been able to bury in the ship crash, but regardless of what the reason was it was something she had since come to regret. To follow through the graveyard wasn’t something she relished in. While this part of the visit to Corellia was something Kaili had planned it wasn’t something she had planned to do so early on.

Kaili moved her arm to shuffle into the pockets of her purse as Allyson began to speak. A heavy sigh parted her lips as she considered if now was the time, but if now wasn’t it she wasn’t sure when it was. This was what she was going to bring Allyson when they got here later.

“Actually,” Kaili spoke with a hesitant pause. “I brought someone too.”

Her hand grabbed onto a small disc in her bag that she carefully raised in front of Allyson.

“Or well, not just someone.” She added and felt the hesitation linger still. “I was going to give it to you when we got here, later in the day.”

Kaili didn’t turn the device on, but it was clear that it was a holographic display of some sort. Once Allyson flicked it on, if she flicked it on, she would be looking at a small fully three-dimensional image of her family. They had no legs, the projector couldn’t fit them in there, but they had the parts that mattered. The smiles on their lips, the hands on her brother’s shoulder and her mother’s grasp around her husband’s waist.

The image wasn’t a shimmering blue. It was a high resolution, fully colored projection of the lost and it was clear that Kaili had spent time on the recreation. There were no half-measures and the hardware looked solid enough to take a bullet and keep projecting.

The blonde lacked words. She didn’t speak, not for the time being.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson stood nearby Kaili and with the girl rummaging through her bag she looked confused. Especially when she announced she had brought someone as well. Tilting her head, she wondered what she had brought and why she would in the first place. It seemed Kaili hadn’t wanted to come here first, she had other plans and Allyson forced her plans on her. A pain of guilt washed through her as she sighed, she should have just let Kaili do what she needed to do.

The girl pulled something from her bag and handed it towards Allyson. She took the device and examined it. It was interesting and was a fine piece of Kaili’s craft. A small smile pulled at her lips as she was briefly reminded of the skill that Kaili possessed. A soft sigh and she nodded knowing that Kaili’s craft was wasted and she should be doing more – but the girl would rather do what she wanted instead of helping the Alliance. She was quite difficult, but it made sense. Allyson knew the Alliance took so much from the woman.

The device turned over in Allyson’s hand as she contemplated on turning it on. She really didn’t know what it would be, but there was only one way to find out. Flipping the switch, the Corellian was greeted with smiling faces. They were her family and she paused for a moment staring at them. It felt like an eternity since she had seen their faces, the hologram felt so real and Allyson just stared. It took some time for her to regain her composure as she felt a rush of guilt and sadness come over her. Falling her knees the device remained in her hands. As she watched them and then looked back at Kaili her face stained with tears and eyes bloodshot.

Allyson was never given a chance to mourn her family, she was never given a chance to feel everything she needed to feel with them dying. Before Kaili she had one other friendship and even then, she wasn’t the important one in the friendship – she came second. “Thank…. thank you…”

[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

The gift went a little bit as expected. Kaili knew she should have waited with it until later, but the impact of it wouldn’t have had the same effect or timing elsewhere. If anything it would have in all likelihood have worked against her. Why had she not shared it at the graveyard? All of the questions that Kaili had gone through in her mind when it came to the delivery of the gift in Allyson’s hand.

Fingers curled around the hems of her skirt as Kaili pulled it up above her knees to let herself get down onto her knees in front of Allyson. A heartbroken glance shot out at her as she knelt down on the ground without dirtying her dress too bad, and without wasting a single breath Kaili pulled Allyson in against her shoulder and chest to grant her a place to let it all out. Steady breaths pushed outwards in a slow but steady rhythm accompanied by a single hand stroking up and down along Allyson’s back for comfort.

This was why they had come here. This was where Kaili had wanted it all to lead in a sense, and they’d taken the shortcut there. Her lips placed themselves against Allyson’s forehead with a kiss. The movement up and down along her back didn’t stop, the kiss that had been planted on Allyson’s lips slowly shifted into a hug.

Her lips hushed the crying survivor with a gentle hum and further encouragement to let it all out.

“I was going to ask if you wanted to take us here after dinner.” Kaili whispered. “Wasn’t sure how you were going to take it.”

“You needed this.” She whispered once more and brought Allyson in closer. “I think deep down you always knew that.”

“But it’s okay, I am here. For you. Always.”

And the hand never stopped moving. Not even once.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson was pulled into the hug, she didn’t know what else to do but cry. Everything and everyone she had lost was suddenly remembered and her emotions were starting to get out of hand. She clutched Kaili tightly as she sobbed, tears were no longer available as she broken down into dry sobs. Her family, some of her squad mates, Ember, Alec, Arisa, and the list continued as she remembered them. Crying wasn’t going to do her any good and Kaili wanted to see Corellia.

Allyson pulled away and ran her hands over her eyes as she tried to dry the tears that were staining her face. Inhaling deeply, she shook her head and tried to regain whatever composure she still had. The day was still very young and she couldn’t spend it here with Kaili. Looking over at her, she smiled. “Kaili, you’re going to get your dress dirty.” Standing, Allyson pulled Kaili up and pulled her back into a hug. “Thank you I…” The hug remained tight as Allyson held onto the device that Kaili had given her. “I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without you.”

Releasing the hug once more, Allyson sighed softly and wiped her eyes again. “This thing is incredible. How did you?”

[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

“It’ll be worse for wear later.” Kaili whispered back at Allyson who worried about her dress with a smile. And it was true, Kaili had little in the way of an expectation that this dress would make it through the day without at least a small tear or tear to it. They had the resources at hand to afford it after all.

“I found images on your holopad of them, so I just kind of… Built it?” Kaili spoke as they separated. “I wanted you to have something more real to remember them with, so I did my best. I’m just glad it didn’t cause you anymore pain than I thought it might have.”

It was fair to assume that Kaili had thought about the chance that Allyson would be upset or angry about the gift as well. It wasn’t her own family that Kaili was depicting; it was Allyson’s, and people that Kaili had never been granted the chance to meet at that. Perhaps technically that meant that she had met them now. And in a quite literal sense technically at that. All that remained was for Allyson to meet Kaili’s parents then. An event that hadn’t happened for one reason or the other the last few years that was starting to eat at Kaili.

There really was no excuse at this point.

“We don’t have to leave just yet if you don’t want to.” Kaili whispered and wrapped herself around Allyson again. “We have more than just today. We have all the time in the world, and I am in no rush.”

“I’ll leave when you leave. I have no plans for the day if I’m honest. We already skipped to the finale.” The girl spoke through her grin as she separated and gave Allyson an amused look. “Seems that’s just how you and I work, huh?”

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson held the lovely gift in her hands. The device soon moved up the ladder as one of her most prized possessions. A hand moved behind her head as she smiled. “We came and did what I needed to do. I'd like to get them actual headstones before we leave though.” Allyson looked towards the headstones she had made after she had buried them. Pausing, she knew Kaili really didn't know the history of this place.

“When the Sith and the Vong hit Planetside. They killed everyone who didn't comply, my father's work was ground zero for one of their weapons. The apartment was destroyed by sith spawn. When I was working my way through the wreckage it seems like my mother had locked her and by brother from the sith spawns.” Allyson paused and sighed heavily. “Uh the other bodies...you couldn't even recognize what was what.”

Frowning Allyson continued her story, explaining about how the wreckage of the apartment building was like. “Everyone was thrown into a mass grave or burned. My mother and brother, I put them on a wood cart and walked them here - a place where our family was buried for years. My mother would have wanted it.”

The cart that she had carried her family on was off in the corner of the cemetery rotting away from time. “I walked them the entire way we rode on the bus. My hands blistered and were already bleeding. I dug my mother and brother from the building, I carried them to the countryside, then I dug their graves, along with about have the graves of this cemetery. It has seemed like a Sith had raised them to fight.” Shaking her head she tried to push the memories of the half decayed bodies. A hand covered her face as she inhaled deeply the exhaled. It was starting to be too much being here. Grabbing Kaili's hand she gave it a squeeze.

“I want to leave now, it's just too much now. You're the first person I've told all of that too. It's how I earned my second class bloodstripes. It's why they were so important to me. Corellia was gone, my family was gone - it was all I had…”


[member="Kaili Talith"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"]

There was a brief moment when Kaili considered the chances of her sister ending up in a mass grave. There was a far lower risk of it happening now, but what about when she had been in the Alliance for a more ‘stable’ role in their leadership? No, she really couldn’t think about it. She could visualize it, but thinking about having to bury family like that was something that felt alien to even Kaili. As such she listened to Allyson when she spoke and got closer when it was evident that it began to strain on her to retell the experience.

By the time it was done Kaili was already leading her out of the graveyard and out onto the street. Eyes rose up to meet with Allyson’s before a gentle kiss touched against the Corellian’s lips. Kaili let her cheek slide against Allyson’s before she gave her another hug.

“I’m sorry that you had to live through that.” She whispered as her glossy eyes peered over the Corellian’s shoulder and out onto the empty road. “I won’t let that happen again, I promise. As long as I am around, that will never be allowed to happen again.”

Her lips brushed against Allyson’s neck before they separated again. A hand moved up to swipe at Kay’s eyes and the tears that were gathering at the periphery of her vision.

“I think I saw a place where we can fix the headstones just up the road.” She whispered through her struggle to keep the smile up. “We can go if you want.”