Bound
Walking into the Jedi Enclave was unnerving. Carmilla was a step or two behind Laura, but every person they passed stopped to stare. The brunette tried to duck her head slightly as if she could hide herself, but the feeling of multiple eyes on her was impossible to ignore. Laura seemed to not notice, or if she did, she chose to ignore it. Carmilla couldn't just brush it aside though. All the years spent serving her mother taught her that this was enemy territory. The Lightside conquered here.
"Laura, who is this?" a woman asked as they approached the Council doors.
"It's none of your concern, Betty."
"She's letting off energy like space cruiser! I think it's everyone's concern."
"I'm dealing with it," the blonde answered with her chin lifted defiantly in the air.
"Is she dangerous?"
"Betty..."
"Is she a Jedi?"
"Please move."
"Come on, Hollis."
"She said move, dimwit," Carmilla spat out, causing Betty's eyes to widen in alarm. Laura shut her eyes firmly to compose herself before turning to the pilot.
"Carm. Not helping."
"She's not shutting up!" the brunette argued as she gestured toward the other Jedi.
Laura sighed and turned back to Betty. "As rude as it was, she isn't wrong," she stated with a pointed look that made the woman frown.
"Fine. I expect answers later."
Laura rolled her eyes as Betty walked away. Then, she led Carmilla into the Council Chambers.
Five masters sat waiting for them. They were calm. Some looked welcoming. Others looked cautious.
"Jedi Knight Laura Hollis," a Twi'lek addressed as the two stood in front of them. Laura bowed.
"Masters. I've come to you for aid. My... associate is in danger."
They all eyed Carmilla curiously. "What kind of danger?" one asked.
"Jedi Knight Lawrence contacted you about Darth Mailwil some time ago. He has attacked us twice now. His master is hunting her down," Laura explained as she gestured toward Carmilla.
The eldest master smiled kindly at the brunette. "I'm Master Enki. What is your name, young woman?"
The pilot cleared her throat. "Carmilla Karnstein."
He stared at her thoughtfully. "There's no need to lie, child. You're safe here."
Her dark eyes widened. Her heart was beating out of control. How could he have known that? "Mircalla. But that isn't who I am anymore."
He smiled tenderly with a single nod. "The past haunts many, but running isn't always the answer."
"I'm not running from who I was. I'm erasing it," she corrected firmly with clenched fists by her sides.
Another master spoke up. "So much anger... I could feel it once you walked in." A few of the other masters nodded in agreement.
"Why are you erasing Mircalla?" the Twi'lek master asked curiously.
"Because she was a monster. The galaxy is a far better place without her," Carmilla answered with less animosity.
"Carm..." Laura went to reach out to her, but stopped herself.
"My mother is up to something. She's been in hiding for years, but now suddenly my brother is showing up places doing her dirty work. She's planning something. And if she's starting to make moves, I'm not sure how much time is left before she does something catastrophic," Carmilla explained with her posture tenser than ever.
"Your mother and brother?" Master Enki asked.
"Darth Mailwil is my brother. His master is my mother," she explained shakily.
"Your family are Dark Jedi?!" a master exclaimed. "Are you one too?!"
"No-" the brunette began.
"No wonder the Force feels so strong with you! You're a trained killer!" another master joined in.
"That's not-" Carmilla tried to explain again.
"She could be leading them straight to us! This could be a trap!"
"Carmilla isn't a threat!" Laura yelled. She stood firmly in front of the brunette as if shielding her from the verbal attacks.
"Show some respect!" a female master demanded.
"Not until you show respect to her, Master Ereshkigal!" she argued while pointing behind her toward the pilot.
Master Enki held his hands up to silence everyone. "Enough, everyone. I sense no ill will from this woman. She is troubled, but not evil. There is a great pain within her. And I believe we should offer her our help. No matter her upbringing, we can train her in the Light-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm not here to join your little cult. Laura told me you could help against my mother. I see no reason why I have to drink the punch too," Carmilla interrupted, stepping to the side so she was out from behind Laura.
"See! She doesn't want anything to do with the Lightside of the Force!" Master Ereshkigal complained.
"Her mother is the real issue," Laura rebuked.
"Agreed," the Twi'lek master replied. "Carmilla appears misguided, but training can only be given if she so desires it. She must be willing to learn if it is going to work. Her family seems like a more pressing concern."
"Indeed, Master Hastur. The Council needs to discuss privately on the matter. We will summon you when we've concluded."
"One more thing, Masters," Laura began. "Earlier, I was meditating and managed to hear Carmilla's dream. I'm not sure how it happened or why."
They looked curiously between the two women. "Such things only occur with a Force Bond," Master Hastur stated.
Laura's eyes widened as Carmilla facepalmed. "You've got to be kidding me," the pilot mumbled.
"But- I don't- How?!" the blonde asked frantically.
"Force Bonds occur between Master and Apprentice, typically," a master explained.
"Well that's clearly not the case," Carmilla groaned.
"Or if one is naturally talented in the formation of such bonds," Master Hastur added.
Laura and the Council looked at Carmilla expectantly. The pilot looked between them all with raised brows. "What? No! If I had that many people attached to my mind, I would have jumped ship years ago."
Master Ereshkigal squinted between the two women. "It may also occur if one is saved from the brink of death."
Realization smacked the pilot in the face. "Fuck."
Laura spun to look at her. "What?"
"Kashyyyk. With the terentatek."
The blonde's mouth opened in a silent 'oh'. "So... We're... bonded?"
"Have you noticed anything different with the Force since then? Are you more sensitive?" Master Hastur inquired.
"I... I guess so. Yeah," Laura answered in a daze.
Master Ereshkigal huffed. "So our brightest Jedi Knight is bonded with a Dark Jedi. Wonderful."
"You think I'm happy about this?" Carmilla shot back.
"Could be part of your plan."
"This is fucking ridiculous- I don't care about Jedi, Dark Jedi, even the fucking Force! I care about surviving my mother. So are you going to help me or not because I'm losing time here."
Master Enki calmly replied. "We will discuss the matter now."
"It would be best if we keep her guarded until we've finished," Master Ereshkigal suggested. Two of the other masters nodded.
"What? No! She isn't going to hurt anyone!" Laura exclaimed.
"We have yet to come to that conclusion," a master commented.
"A vote: Who believes we should lock her up until after further analysis of the situation?" Master Ereshkigal said, raising her hand. The rest also raised their hand, minus Master Hastur and Master Enki.
With a sigh, Master Enki spoke. "Carmilla will be led to a room where she will be contained until further notice."
"This is wrong!" the blonde began.
"Relax, princess. I told you this would happen," Carmilla interrupted lazily. Three Jedi approached the pilot and led her out of the room. Laura watched with guilt before turning to the masters.
"She isn't dangerous!"
"That is for us to decide," a master replied simply.
"I've spent every day with her for-"
"Control your emotions, Jedi," Master Hastur warned.
Laura felt anger building inside her as her nostrils flared, but she bit her tongue. "My apologies. I will await your judgment," she forced herself to say before making her exit. She found Betty waiting outside the Council Chambers and she immediately stomped over to her.
"Where did they take her?"
Betty lifted a brow. "Your secret friend?"
"Betty..." her tone slipped darker.
"The West Wing."
Laura brushed past her with furrowed brows. She made a beeline toward her destination; ignoring everyone as she passed. When she arrived in the area, she saw the guarded door and headed straight for it.
"Let me in," she demanded.
"That's not under protocol-"
"Open. The. Door," Laura pressed, clenching her jaw.
The Jedi passed glances between each other. "We'll need your lightsaber then."
Laura's eyes widened for a moment before she glared. She roughly pulled her weapon off of her belt and shoved it against one of the guards chest. They then stumbled out of her way, pressing the button for the door to slide open. The blonde stomped in, immediately hearing the door shut and click behind her. She saw Carmilla hunched over on the edge of the bed, her head bowed toward her folded hands in her lap. Then, the pilot looked up suddenly with surprise.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry," Laura practically whispered as she approached her. "I told you I wouldn't let them lock you up and," she gestured to the room. "Here you are."
Carmilla scoffed. "Can't really blame them."
Laura then walked over and sat down next to her on the bed. "They should trust my judgment," she answered with furrowed brows.
"You're bonded with a previous Dark Jedi. Your judgment could be a little clouded," Carmilla argued in a monotone as she stared at her folded hands.
"It's not," Laura said firmly. The pilot looked up at her with an unreadable look in her dark eyes.
Carmilla searched honey eyes before Laura flopped backwards onto the bed. "What are you doing?" she asked in alarm as she turned to stare down at her.
"Relaxing?"
"Shouldn't you, ya know, leave?"
"Nope."
"Cupcake..."
Laura leaned up on her elbows. "I told you I wasn't going to let them lock you up. I failed. So now I'm staying here."
"You don't have to-"
"I'm not leaving you," Laura cut her off with a determined look in those honey eyes that continued to break down every wall in the pilot's body.
"Okay," Carmilla whispered.
"Good," the blonde said with a curt nod before slamming back down onto the bed. "Now lay back and relax. I can feel how stressed you are."
The brunette rolled her eyes before obeying. "I don't like you feeling anything about me." She was surprised to hear a giggle from the woman beside her.
"I'm pretty sure you've been trying to get me to feel you since day one."
Carmilla smirked and glanced to her side. "So you're saying I'm getting close."
"I am not saying that."
"Yet you're sharing a bed with me right now."
"Don't make me punch you."
"Ah, so you like it rough. I can do that."
"Carm!" Laura turned to jab the brunette in the side, but Carmilla quickly caught her wrist with a smirk.
"I'm gonna need you to keep your hands to yourself if you don't plan on feeling me properly." Laura's breath caught in her throat as her heart picked up speed. Then, Carmilla released her wrist and laid back down on the bed.
"Careful, princess. I don't need to be bonded to you to know you're about to drool all over the sheets."
The blonde then frowned and managed to actually jab her in the side this time. Carmilla yelped as Laura laid down with a satisfied smile. Silence fell between them for a bit before the pilot spoke.
"You didn't tell them I was also your prisoner." Laura turned to look at her with surprise. Sensing her gaze, Carmilla turned her head toward her as well.
"I don't- I don't really see you like that," she answered self consciously. She felt her cheeks turning red.
"Yet that's what you said to get me here," Carmilla challenged with furrowed brows.
Laura sighed. "I'm not the only one who's stubborn. I needed to use whatever I could."
"To manipulate me?"
The Jedi frowned. "To keep you safe."
"Why?"
"Because..."
"Because why?"
"Because I care if you die or not," Laura said in annoyance.
"Cute."
Laura rolled her eyes.
Carmilla sighed as she looked up at the ceiling. "Just don't... Don't expect anything heroic out of me."
"You mean more heroic than saving my life?"
"That's different."
"How?" Laura chuckled.
"I couldn't-" she began as she turned to lock eyes with the slightly smiling blonde. She searched honey eyes and forced a swallow. "I couldn't let you die. That wasn't an option," she said gently before tearing her gaze away back toward the ceiling.
Laura felt her chest balloon up. Her mouth fell slightly ajar. "Carm-"
"I'm gonna try to get some sleep."
The blonde's eyes widened from the interruption, but she swallowed down her disappointment. "Right. Yeah. That's a good idea." She looked over at the brunette to see her turn onto her side, facing away from her.
She couldn't stop her heart from pounding in her chest.