Belief
Cochrane's ship was within sight. They all stood in the cockpit, aside from Carmilla, who sat lazily in her pilot's chair. "Alright, cupcake. What's the plan?" she asked with a sigh, spinning the chair to face everyone.
"We're gonna message them and tell them we have Laf."
"Wait, what?" the doctor asked in alarm.
Carmilla stared at her incredulously. "No shit, Jedi. Of course, we have the ginger. He knows this is my ship. We helped the Doc escape. We show ourselves, we're getting shot at."
"Oh," Laura whispered to herself. "Then, I board the ship alone and try to talk to him civilly."
"I'm guessing you've never really led any of those Jedi missions everyone goes on about," Carmilla replied in disbelief. "Because you obviously have no idea what you're doing."
"I'm trying!"
"Well you should be trying harder because we're basically at his front door and all you've got is to ring his fucking doorbell!" Carmilla yelled back.
"Let's all take a deep breath-" JP tried to intervene.
"Then why don't you think of something since you're so well-versed in arresting criminals!"
Carmilla practically snarled. "I'm not here to think. I'm here to do your bidding."
"Then I'm ordering you to think!" Laura shouted back.
"Guys..." LaFontaine tried to interrupt.
"Then I think you should take that stick from up your ass and-"
"Guys!"
"What?!" the two turned and yelled in unison at the doctor.
"I think they see us. We're getting an incoming transmission," the ginger answered.
Carmilla spun around in her chair to look at the switchboard. "You've got to be- Well, shit. Someone's dying today," she reasoned with a heavy sigh.
"Please say it's not me," the doctor groaned from the back of the cockpit.
"Answer it," Laura instructed. The brunette sighed again before lazily hitting the button that answered the call.
"Karnstein," the Wookiee growled.
"How's it hanging, Cock?" she grinned with a laugh.
"You have my doctor."
"Indeed I do," she answered nonchalantly.
"You understand what this means?" he growled even more.
"That I've got better medical insurance?"
"That you interfered with my business deal! We made an agreement never to get in the other's way. You've violated that twice now!"
The brunette chuckled. "Seriously, Cocky. I fooled ya twice. Total shame on you."
"Doctor LaFontaine is currently under my protection," Laura spoke up.
"And who the hell are you?" Cochrane snarled.
"Jedi Knight Laura Hollis. I'd like to speak with you in person. Perhaps we can come to an understanding," she suggested confidently. Carmilla raised a brow at the woman. She somehow managed to sound so official out of nowhere.
"I want my money. I want the doctor. And I want Karnstein's head," he replied bitterly.
"Well we can't always get what we want," Carmilla answered lazily.
"Carmilla," Laura hissed. The brunette rolled her eyes in response.
"You want to make a deal? The three of you come aboard. We'll see if we can come to an agreement," he said with a hint of amusement.
The Jedi took a moment to consider it before nodding. "Okay. Prepare for boarding," she reached forward quickly and ended the transmission.
"What the fuck?!" Carmilla exclaimed jumping to her feet. LaFontaine took a few eager steps toward the blonde; eyes wide with fear.
"We'll be fine," Laura tried to reassure.
"He's going to murder us!" the pilot yelled as she gestured toward the ship that was quickly approaching.
"He won't," the blonde readjusted her robe in preparation for their arrival. She fixed her lightsaber on her hip.
"Um, L. How the hell could you possibly guarantee that?" the doctor worried.
"Just a little something I picked up throughout the years," she replied casually as she began to lead them toward the exit ramp. LaFontaine gestured for JP to watch over the ship.
"And what exactly is this little trick you've got up your sleeve, sweetheart?" Carmilla stressed. She pressed a button on the small device in the inside pocket of her leather vest. The button triggered the boarding magnetization. They felt the ships connecting outside of the ramp with a rough shake of the vessel. It took them a moment to find their balance again. The air filtration systems were then heard through the heavy metal.
Laura looked over her shoulder at her two companions and smiled. "A little trick called the Force." She then turned forward as the ramp opened, revealing four thugs aiming their weapons at them.
Carmilla quickly unholstered her pistols as they made their way to the other ship. "Then I hope you're one hell of a Jedi, cupcake," she whispered as Laura led them toward the thugs. The blonde didn't bother unsheathing her lightsaber.
"Drop your weapons," one of the thugs ordered.
Laura lifted her hand and waved it gently in front of the four thugs. "You will not harm us. You will protect us."
"We will not harm you. We will protect you," they said in unison as they lowered their weapons.
"Well holy shit," Carmilla mumbled from behind as she slowly dropped her pistols to her sides.
"That's actually pretty terrifying, Hollis," LaFontaine nervously laughed.
"I only use Force Persuasion when necessary."
Carmilla scoffed. "Why? That sounds useful as hell."
Laura turned and glared at the brunette. "Because it's taking away someone's free will."
"And your point?" the brunette pushed.
"You seriously have no conscience, do you?" the blonde returned in disbelief.
Carmilla shrugged. "Keeps you from killin' 'em, doesn't it?" she nodded toward the four being controlled.
Laura narrowed her eyes at the brunette and then huffed; turning around without another reply. "Lead us to Cochrane," she instructed the thugs, who quickly led them inside. The more criminals they saw, the larger Laura was able to make their entourage. Finally reaching the command deck, she whispered back to the doctor and pilot.
"I can't control them for long, so let's get this over with," she said, straining her words. Drops of sweat were forming along her forehead. Her grip on the thugs' minds was definitely having its effect on her. "You're gonna have to do the talking, Carm." She clenched her fists by her sides and shut her eyes tightly.
"Wait, what?!" the brunette whispered harshly as they approached Cochrane. LaFontaine placed a hand gently on Laura's shoulder to guide her forward.
"She's kinda busy, if you haven't noticed," the doctor answered the pilot, who groaned and ran a hand through her dark wavy hair.
"Fucking great," she muttered as she left her companions' behind and stepped further onto the command deck. Looking up at the Wookiee, she held her arms out wide and grinned. "Cocky! Long time, no see! How's life been treatin' ya? You look great!"
"Shut it, Karnstein! What's the meaning of this?! What happened to my men?"
"Oh, this?" she gestured toward the thugs aiming their weapons toward their leader. "We just wanted to make sure our business meeting didn't turn all violent and whatnot." She then frowned. Nonviolent. She mentally facepalmed. This Jedi chick was really making things more complicated than they needed to be. "So what do you want? We don't have credits to give you."
"If I can't have the profit, I want the product."
"No can do, Cock. The product is long gone." Carmilla had no idea what the product was, let alone where it was. She didn't care enough to begin with to ask the Jedi or doctor. Regardless if they had the product on them, the brunette assumed handing it over wasn't an option.
"Then give me the doctor," he growled.
"Uh," Carmilla hesitated and looked back at her companions. They stood in the center of the thug army, and it took the brunette a moment to spot the ginger. They were watching with pleading eyes. The brunette turned forward again. "They're kind of under the Jedi's protection. I'm sure you don't wanna get tangled up with those Force freaks. Cults will either brainwash or kill ya."
"Then how about you?"
The pilot lifted an elegant brow. "Excuse me?"
"Surrender yourself and the others can walk free," he explained with a grin growing across his face.
"Whoa, Cocky. I know we've had our fair share of flirting, but I don't really swing that way. Plus, all that hair... yikes."
"Fuck off, Karnstein! What's it gonna be? I'm getting the sense killing isn't an option with your little Jedi friend here. How's having a babysitter feel?" he mocked. Carmilla gritted her teeth; nostrils flaring.
"Cochrane, that wasn't part of the plan. I need the product or the doctor. The smuggler means nothing-" a voice began before his dark eyes locked with Carmilla's. His black robe wrapped around him and a lightsaber hung obviously on his hip. "Well look who it is," he said in amusement as his lips turned into a mischievous smile.
"Fuck," Carmilla breathed out. Her heart rate increased dramatically.
"Carmilla Karnstein... So that's the name you're going by nowadays?" he strolled closer. His short brown hair hadn't changed its style since she last saw him. But his skin definitely looked paler.
"Carm," Laura struggled to speak and remain focused. "I can't... hold on... much longer." Her attention was being pulled toward the brunette. Laura could see her visibly trembling.
"Aw, Carm," he teased, earning a scowl from the brunette. "What are you gonna do? She needs your help," he asked with fake innocence and then chuckled.
"Darth Mailwil," Cochrane interrupted.
Without looking back at the Wookiee, the Dark Jedi held his hand back toward him and clenched his fingers in the air. Cochrane instantly grabbed at his throat, struggling to breathe suddenly. His feet slowly lifted off of the ground, and his legs kicked; fighting the invisible force that wouldn't let him breathe. Then, after a few seconds, the man closed his hand into a fist, making the Wookiee fall limp in the air before crashing to the ground.
Laura suddenly opened her eyes, gasping for air. Her hold on the thugs was gone, and all of them immediately began to open fire on the one responsible for their leader's death. But in a flash, the Dark Jedi unsheathed his lightsaber, the red blade slicing through the air and reflecting the bullets fired at him. The blonde released her blue saber and leaped in front of LaFontaine to deflect any stray bullets reflected their way. All of the thugs were slain by reflected fire.
Darth Mailwil spun his lightsaber cockily in his hand as he smirked at the frowning Jedi. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure."
"What do you want with the doctor? Or the product, for that matter?" Laura asked sternly, her lightsaber raised in defense.
He smirked in a way that almost felt familiar to the blonde. Only there was something much more sinister about his smirk. "They're interfering with plans, Jedi. I'm sure that's obvious enough," he teased.
"You know what the doctor discovered," Laura concluded.
He chuckled. "Hand them over and we'll call it a day."
"Bullshit," Carmilla hissed.
"Oooo, Kitty still has that bite, I see," he grinned, looking back at the brunette who was only a short distance away.
"What the Hoth are you talking about?" Laura interrupted.
"Oh, Kitty and I go way back," he answered without removing his gaze from the pilot.
"Kitty?" Laura asked in confusion.
"He's not gonna take Laf without trying to kill us first," Carmilla informed with her scowl still aimed at the robed man.
"Oh come on, Kitty! Don't think I can play fair?" he asked in amusement.
"Fuck off, William!"
"You're surprisingly concerned for the Jedi and doctor..." he noted. "Has someone truly had a change of heart?" he gasped mockingly.
"I haven't had a change of anything," she growled back.
"So you won't do anything if I attack them right now?" he asked innocently.
"Be my guest," she replied nonchalantly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Carmilla!" Laura chastised.
The Dark Jedi grinned. "She doesn't seem too happy about it, Kitty."
The brunette shrugged. "She's a hard woman to please." Then, the ship shook violently. The brunette took this opportunity to whip out one of her pistols and fire at Darth Mailwil, who had lost his balance, but his reflexes were too fast. His lightsaber reflected the shot back at the pilot, who was falling over from the ship's collision. The reflected shot hit her forearm; her yelp caught Laura's attention.
He leapt toward the pilot; his lightsaber positioned to attack the woman cradling her arm on the floor. Then, Laura Force Jumped across the command deck, landing just in time to clash her blue blade with his red. Sparks flew from their weapons.
Darth Mailwil snarled at the Jedi as they fought to overpower the other. Then, the ship shook harshly once again; knocking everyone off balance once more. The emergency lights of the command deck began to flash, accompanied by a loud horn.
"The ship's going down. It's unstable," Carmilla hissed in pain from her arm. Laura spared her a glance in confusion before looking back at the man. He was looking around anxiously at the ship before stumbling backwards. He frowned toward them, noticing the doctor had run behind the other two.
"This isn't over," he snarled before taking off in the direction he first arrived.
Laura spun around and helped Carmilla to her feet. "Come on. We have to get back."
"I hope your talking toolbox has enough common sense to stabilize my ship," she groaned at the doctor as they jogged toward the boarding area again.
The rumbling of Cochrane's ship kept getting worse until they reentered the Lustig. After the boarding ramp closed behind them, Carmilla removed the device from inside her vest and tapped a few buttons. The ship shook slightly.
"What the hell is that?" the doctor questioned, trying to catch their breath.
"My mobile remote," the brunette answered simply. "I can control a few things with a quick hit of a button. Don't even have to be in the cockpit," she explained with a smirk, but then flinched from her throbbing arm.
The two stared at the pilot incredulously.
"What? You've never heard of these? They're like the hip new thing." They continued to stare at her in the same manner. "Well you can thank this little device for saving our asses. How do you think the ship started to shut down? I kept messing with the boarding magnetization. Easy to do when the ships aren't that big." She looked at them through narrowed eyes. "Did you guys honestly think that was all luck?"
LaFontaine's eyes widened in amazement. "That's incredible! That's the same device that lowers the boarding ramp from a distance?"
Carmilla gave them a wink before grabbing her arm again in pain. "Can you go tell that droid of yours to take us out of here? Preferably a good hyperspace trip away? I'm sure he can handle something as simple as that without messing it up," she muttered as she made her way toward the medbay. The doctor ran to instruct JP immediately.
Laura followed after the pilot. "What the hell happened back there?"
The brunette rolled her eyes as she began rummaging through the medical supplies with her good arm. "I saved you from getting sliced to pieces by that pale psycho." She threw bandages and such on the floor in search for a kolto pack.
"And why did that pale psycho keep calling you 'Kitty'?"
Carmilla groaned in frustration; unable to find what she needed. "He was just being an asshole. How should I know what was going through his crazy skull?" She ran her hand through her hair as she looked at all the supplies now on the floor.
LaFontaine walked in at that moment with a kolto pack in hand. "Here. I have a few in my bag, but we should definitely stock this place up. Do you never get hurt or something?" The doctor asked as they reached for the pilot's arm and began the healing process.
Carmilla frowned. "I shoot before giving anyone the chance to hurt me. But since our Jedi Princess here decided to make this a nonviolent crusade, I guess I'm gonna have to get used to getting my ass handed to me."
Laura rolled her eyes. "You can deal with a few hits if it means we don't kill everyone that gives you a dirty look."
"You should treat your slaves better. They might decide to mutiny one day," she glared.
"Cut the big bad act. You saved us back there and you didn't have to," Laura shot back.
"I was saving myself. You just happened to turn out fine in the process."
"Well regardless, thanks," LaFontaine interrupted. They gave Laura a glare and a slight nod in the brunette's direction just after finishing with Carmilla's arm.
The blonde took a deep breath. "Thank you," she forced. "For getting us out of there in one piece."
Carmilla brushed past them. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be in my room."
Once she was out of sight, the doctor spoke. "You two arguing every second isn't helping anyone."
Laura flared her nostrils. "Ugh! I can't help it! She's impossible!" She rubbed her temple before taking another deep breath and locking eyes with her ginger friend. "They knew each other, Laf. This Darth Mailwil guy was surprised to see her. And she didn't look too thrilled to see him."
LaFontaine nodded slowly. "I noticed that too. Maybe we should give her some time before jumping down her throat though. She's obviously eager to get as far away from that dude as possible. Give her time to feel safe?"
Laura sighed. "I guess you're right."
"In the meantime, I've got to go contact Perry. Hopefully she's come up with the next part of our plan with the epidemic."
She stood in the setting sun with the breeze blowing through her loose blonde hair. The Jedi braid Carmilla had only seen her in was gone. Soft tendrils floated in the wind. Her honey eyes were closed as she faced the horizon.
The pilot knew it was a dream. She was well aware of that fact. But it wasn't stopping her from admiring the innocence and purity of the woman before her.
A smile graced soft lips as the Jedi tucked her own sun kissed hair behind her ear. Perhaps the blonde was unaware that Carmilla was watching.
The brunette stared as the tall grass swayed around Laura. How could someone be so at peace? Carmilla knew it was only a dream, but there was something so believable about the image in front of her. The sight was beautiful; captivating. Carmilla felt her lips curve on their own accord. This woman that had only proved to annoy her to no end was anything but what she had experienced in real life.
And yet, it was still so intrinsically Laura. She was bathed in light.
Then, Laura turned and stared directly at her. The smile on her lips only growing. Carmilla's heart pounded in her chest.
And then, darkness began to swarm around her; her smile never fading. And as the black cloud engulfed her, Carmilla lunged toward her; reaching out for her in order to pull her to safety.
But the darkness swallowed everything; waking Carmilla with an audible gasp for air and sweat coating her skin.
A day or so had passed since the events on Cochrane's ship. LaFontaine was held up in their newly claimed quarters, reevaluating some logistics of the cure.
Laura kept herself occupied with some light reading, meditation, and exercise.
Carmilla had yet to leave her room.
The blonde had tried to press her ear against the metal door for any sign of movement, but she heard nothing. And she passed by the room more times than she'd care to admit. The woman was injured. She figured that was good enough reason to worry. What if it somehow got infected? What if she was unable to move due to some freak allergic reaction? What if-
"I can actually feel your thoughts being annoying," a voice brought the blonde out of her thoughts. She jumped slightly from her position on the floor on the practice room. Her meditation was obviously not going so well with the lack of clear mindedness.
"What's got your cute panties in a bunch now?" Carmilla asked lazily as she strolled into the room and took a seat across from the Jedi; her back leaning up against the wall as her legs stretched out in front of her, crossing at the ankles.
Laura began to fidget in her crossed legged position. "I'm just... having trouble concentrating." She looked down at the brunette's arm to see it practically healed. "It looks like you're feeling better."
Carmilla looked down at her arm and then shrugged. "Doc's kolto did the trick."
Laura nodded slowly; her eyes resting on her hands in her lap.
The pilot rolled her eyes finally. "Just say what you're thinking. This whole moping thing you've got going on is only adorable for so long." Something about her dream made her lower her guard around the blonde. It left her feeling off.
The Jedi frowned and met her gaze. "You knew each other."
Carmilla's stare intensified. Her dark eyes swarmed with something unreadable. "We knew each other."
"How do you know a Dark Jedi?!"
Carmilla took a deep breath. "I knew him before he became Darth whatever."
"How?"
The brunette raised an elegant brow. "Does it matter?"
Laura opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly felt embarrassed. Maybe she was intruding. "Well, I guess not..."
The pilot let her gaze settle on her lap. "I grew up with him. That's really all you need to know," she said more gently than Laura anticipated.
"I'm sorry."
Carmilla looked up in surprise at the woman in front of her. "For what?" she questioned softly.
"That you had to see him turn out like that." The blonde's honey eyes sparkled with sincerity. Their warmth washed over the pilot without warning.
The pilot forced her eyes away from the Jedi. "If it wasn't him, then it'd be somebody else."
Laura tilted her head curiously at the brunette. "But at least you wouldn't have known them."
Carmilla shrugged before meeting the blonde's gaze again. "There'll always be someone out there that can recognize the shell of who a person used to be. Why would my recognition mean more than anyone else's?"
Laura stared at her in awe. Who was this woman? This seemingly callous individual made it seem as if her own feelings were nothing.
"People change everyday, cupcake. Some get sick, and some get a new haircut. Someone I knew just happened to get a Darkside makeover." She shrugged. "He looks happy."
Laura suddenly frowned. "He looks happy?" she repeated incredulously.
Carmilla let out a heavy sigh. She should have seen this conversation taking a turn before the words left her mouth. "Will was always trying to find his place in the world. Maybe this is it for him."
Laura continued to stare at her with wide eyes. "Him following the path of pure evil is his proper place in the world? Are you kidding me?"
The pilot's brows furrowed. "You ask me that a lot and never once have I said I was kidding."
"How are you okay with someone you know going all murderous?!"
"Your perspective on the Lightside and Darkside is a bit extreme," the brunette answered lazily.
"Yeah. Because the Darkside is evil. That's Jedi 101!" Laura exclaimed with her hands thrown in the air. "And why do you even have such a strong opinion about it anyway? You barely acknowledge morals and mock me every chance you get."
"Just because I don't agree with that halo hanging around your head, doesn't mean I don't think certain things are right and wrong. It's pretty damn obvious that good and bad exist. I just don't see things as black and white as you do," she explained with a shrug.
"So you think it's fine to go killing innocent people?"
"Were Cochrane and his goons innocent?"
Laura opened her mouth, hesitating at first. "No, but-"
"And if they weren't killed, they'd probably end up killing more people themselves. You try to save everyone, princess. That's real cute and all, but sometimes the world isn't that simple," Carmilla finished, pushing herself up from the floor. She was too mentally drained to debate. Her dream made her attempt at sleep anything but restful.
Laura stared down at the floor as Carmilla slowly made her way out of the room. "What is it that I'm supposed to do then? Give up on everything I believe in? Throw away all the hope I have in the universe because being good isn't enough?" She looked up at the brunette who paused to stare down at the Jedi.
Carmilla's mind saw the happy Laura from her dream flash before her eyes. The beautiful girl basking in light. How could she ask her to be anything else? How could she tell her to surrender to the dark cloud looming overhead; waiting to swallow her whole? As foolish as the girl was to Carmilla, what good would it do to smother that light? To erase that gentle smile only seen in her dreams?
"No," the pilot answered gently. "Never change for anyone but yourself."
"But you said-"
"I know what I've said," she interrupted firmly. "As imbecilic and naive as you are, letting someone taint that would be the real tragedy. After all, you can't make grey without white. Without people like you around, my world would probably be a little too dark for my liking. And that's saying a lot. I really like the color black," she said with the hint of a smile.
Laura felt her heart flutter in her chest. And as Carmilla went to exit, she quickly jumped to her feet. "Wait!"
The brunette froze. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline as she stared at the Jedi. Laura cleared her throat.
"I- uh... I've been trying to practice and can't seem to get my moves right without a practice dummy." She subconsciously played with her fingers in front of her.
The pilot turned toward her; crossing her arms over her chest and cocking a hip to one side. A smirk took over her lips. "I think I'm a little more qualified than a practice dummy."
Laura felt her confidence come back to her. She started to smile. "That's debatable."
The brunette stepped closer, beginning to stretch her arms. "Whatever gets me on the losing end of this battle like last time, cupcake," she grinned.
The Jedi glared. "Try to keep your dirty thoughts to a minimum?"
Carmilla let out a hardy laugh before dragging her eyes up and down the blonde's body. "No promises, princess."