I found myself surrounded by the same endless white expanse I’d encountered before, stretching out in all directions. There was no sound, no sensation—only the strange sense of floating in a place beyond time. I turned, expecting the figure I’d met before, and sure enough, a voice spoke.

  “Greetings, young one.”

  “Hey,” I replied flatly, not bothering to hide my irritation. This was the last place I wanted to be, given our dire circumstances.

  The Bith’s voice held a trace of amusement. “Quite the scrape you’ve gotten yourself into.”

  I shrugged, the weariness from everything that had happened settling over me like a cloak. “We can’t all be the chosen one.”

  “True, but you are capable of more than you realize. More than even I would have thought possible,” the Bith said, his tone shifting to something more serious. “But that’s not why I am speaking to you now. I have a warning—one about relying on visions. I had that power once, and it led to my ruin. Attempt to alter fate, and you will not only make what you seek to prevent happen, but you will bring about the worst version of it.”

  I frowned, the words feeling heavy with a meaning I couldn’t grasp. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about. I don’t have any power like that.”

  The Bith let out a dry laugh. “No, but your little stowaway does.” He pointed to a spot behind me, his expression inscrutable.

  I turned, expecting to see something lurking in the white void, but there was nothing—just the same empty expanse. “Are you speaking in riddles again?”

  A new voice broke the silence. “He’s talking about me.”

  The ground beneath my feet rippled like the surface of a lake, turning into a mirror. My own reflection stared back at me, but there was something different—something that sent a shiver down my spine. I leaned closer, seeing shadows move behind my mirrored self.

  “It’s... you?” I whispered, confusion and dread swirling inside me.

  I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my body covered in a cold sweat. I threw off the sheets, feeling the lingering chill of the vision clinging to me. My quarters were warm and damp—too warm, the air thick with humidity. I grabbed a spare set of clothes, intending to head to the sonic shower. I’d have to talk to Retra about the temperature controls again, but she’d brushed it off before, saying that all the quarters were malfunctioning.

  As I made my way to the shower, Retra walked out of the bathroom completely naked, steam curling around her like a cloud.

  “Hey! Don’t just walk out like that!” I snapped, quickly turning away, my face heating up.

  She laughed, a low, teasing sound. “Oh, Teya, your face is priceless.”

  “Just... cover up already!” I demanded, keeping my gaze fixed on the wall.

  She smirked, slowly slipping into her clothes with a deliberate casualness. “Why? I’m not ashamed of my body. But since it makes you so uncomfortable, I’ll do as you ask—just this once.” She winked at me playfully.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  I sighed, exasperated. “You’re going to be nothing but trouble, aren’t you?”

  She paused, halfway through slipping on her leather gloves, her expression suddenly hardening. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I crossed my arms, meeting her gaze with a challenge. “You’re a Sith Inquisitor. What do you think I mean?”

  Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing in them. “What exactly am I being accused of?”

  “Like you don’t know?” I shot back. “You tried to hunt and kill me the first time we met!”

  “Wrong, Teya. I was tracking you. You tried to kill me!” Retra’s voice rose, her tone sharp with frustration.

  “And you would have killed me if you’d had the chance,” I argued, my voice dropping into a dangerous whisper.

  Her expression shifted, the anger draining away, leaving something raw and vulnerable. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something—something important—but then she closed her mouth, turning away from me. Her shoulders slumped, and when she spoke again, her voice was barely more than a whisper.

  “I don’t need this,” she muttered, storming out of the room.

  I watched her go, a knot of guilt tightening in my chest. Why did she look so hurt? The memory of her sadness lingered, unsettling me. Was there really more to her story than I’d allowed myself to consider? Doubt gnawed at the back of my mind, but I forced it down. We’ll finish our shared business and part ways. She might not be as cruel as other Sith, but she’s still on the dark side.

  I stepped into the sonic shower, letting the vibrations wash away the tension. Afterward, I dressed quickly and gathered my clothes for cleaning. But just as I was about to head to the laundry, the ship’s communicator crackled to life.

  “This is D1k requesting Teya’s presence. I have discovered an anomaly in your comrade.”

  The droid’s words sent a chill through me. I dropped the clothes on the corridor floor, rushing toward the med bay. I pushed through the door, my heart pounding as I saw D1k positioned over Roan’s unconscious form.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

  D1k gestured to Roan’s neck, where something strange was attached—something golden. A closer look revealed a delicate flower, its petals shimmering with a soft, golden glow. Its roots had burrowed into the back of Roan’s neck like fine tendrils, merging with his skin.

  “What is that?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

  D1k’s sensors clicked as it analyzed the plant. “Biologically, it is an orchid resembling the Murakami species, though it differs in color. I have not encountered any records of a Murakami Orchid behaving in this manner. We are likely observing a variant with a symbiotic relationship.”

  “Symbiotic?” I echoed, trying to wrap my head around the idea.

  “Remember when I mentioned that his condition was more stable than it should have been? This organism appears to be aiding his recovery, keeping him in a balanced state,” D1k explained, its tone as clinical as ever.

  A knot of worry tightened in my chest. “Aren’t Murakami Orchids poisonous, even to their bonded partner?”

  “If this is indeed a variant, it may protect its bonded partner from harm. However, contact with others could prove fatal,” D1k replied, turning away as if the matter was already settled.

  I chewed my lip, staring at the golden flower rooted in Roan’s skin. “So, we can’t remove it?”

  D1k’s mechanical voice was firm. “I could, but I would not recommend it. This organism is aiding in his survival. Removing it could result in severe harm or death. Was your intention not to acquire such a creature? Now, you have one.”

  I should have felt relief, even triumph. This was what we’d come to Murakam for. But a shadow of unease lingered in my mind. I couldn’t forget the dark-side user’s voice—his demand that still echoed through the Force: “Give it! I know you must have it, and it’s mine!”

  I reached out with the Force, trying to sense any danger from the orchid. But as I touched its presence, all I felt was a strange, serene warmth—like the touch of sunlight. Still, the unease remained, a thorn in the back of my thoughts. What if the stowaway isn’t as benign as it seems?

  Roan’s breathing was steady, but the sight of the golden flower made my stomach twist with uncertainty. I stood beside him, watching the orchid’s petals glow faintly in the dim light of the med bay.

  "Hey," I reply flatly recognizing it as the person I'd expected to see.

  "Quite the scrape you got yourself into," the Bith adds.

  I shrug," We can't all be the chosen one".

  "True but you are capable of more than you realize. More than even I would have ever thought possible but that's not why I am speaking to you now. I have a warning about relying on visions. I had that power once and it led to my ruin. Attempt to alter fate and you will make not only make what you mean to prevent happen but the worst version of it as well." The Bith Master lectures.

  "I don't understand what you are talking about. I possess no such power," I respond.

  "No, but your little stowaway there does," The mysterious figure pointed.

  I turn around to look where he points but I see no one.

  "Are you speaking in riddles?" I ask.

  I look down at the ground as it seemingly turns into water like the surface of a lake. Seeing my reflection I say," It's you?!"

  Getting up and out of bed I find my green skin covered in a layer of sweat. I grab a spare set of clothes to take to the sonic shower with me. My quarters seem to have a temperature control problem causing it to be quite dank and warm. I brought the issue up to Retra only for her to say all the quarter's temperature controls are malfunctioning.

  As I'm about to walk into the sonic shower Retra walks out completely naked.

  "Hey! Don't do that!" I shout looking away.

  "Haha Teya, your face," Retra teases.

  "Just cover up already!" I demand.

  "Why? I am not ashamed of my body. Since it makes you so uncomfortable though I will do as you ask just this once," Retra mocks with a wink."

  I sigh, "You are gonna be nothing but trouble aren't you?"

  Retra already mostly dressed and putting her leather gloves over her metal hands stops," What the hecks is that supposed to mean?"

  "You're a Sith Inquisitor, what do you think I mean?" I state.

  "What exactly am I being accused of?" Retra huffs, her eyes narrowing.

  "Like you don't know? You tried to hunt and kill me the first time we met," I argue.

  "Wrong Teya! I was tracking you and you tried to kill me!" Retra corrects.

  "You would have killed me if you had the chance," I add.

  Retra 's face changes no longer looking angry but sad. She wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to say it.

  "I don't need this!" Retra screams storming out of the room.

  Why was so so sad and conflicted? Could there really be more to her side of the story than I know?