30

Saedii.

A voice called out to her, pulling her towards the light. It was a familiar voice, but she couldn't name it. Phantom hands reached for it, searching.

Saedii, wake up.

The heavy weight of her body was slowly coming back to her. Her fingers twitched as feeling returned and something soft and warm brushed against them. A homey scent filled her nose – amber and armor oil and stale ration bars.

She was warm. Comfortable. Unconsciously, she snuggled deeper into the cushion at her back. Something about it made her feel safe and at ease.

Low voices spoke around her. Someone laughed – a loud, raucous sound like the blowback of a canon.

A hand touched her shoulder, giving her a gentle shake. "Wake up, kid."

Saedii opened her eyes.

The inside of the Marauder's cockpit glowed faintly in the dull light of hyperspace. The control panel was idle, though Echo sat before it diligently, monitoring its progress. In the seat beside him, Tech was fast asleep with his mouth open, goggles askew.

She frowned and sat up. Her favorite blanket slid off her shoulders, pooling in her lap. Further away, the faint smell of fresh caff was permeating in through the open doorway.

The hand on her shoulder squeezed gently.

"You awake?" Hunter asked gruffly above her. A bemused smile gave her the impression that he wasn't convinced.

Saedii blinked. She was in one of the flight seats in the cockpit – her favorite place to nap. But something about it felt off. Like she wasn't supposed to be there.

"Must have been quite a nap." Echo turned and met her groggy stare. He chuckled.

Her hands came up and rubbed blearily at her eyes. The cold feel of the metal prosthetic made her pause. She stared at it. That wasn't supposed to be there.

"You can go back to sleep if you want," Hunter said at her side. "You were having a nightmare, but we're still a few hours from Ord Mantell."

"Ord Mantell?" Saedii asked.

Echo laughed again.

Hunter smiled. "Cid's got another job for us. Remember? We talked about it earlier."

Faint memories filled her head. The Batch clustered around the computer in the bulkhead. Cid on the holo. Hunter, nodding along with her plan.

"Wrecker just brewed some caff. That might help you wake up," Echo said, amused.

Wrecker appeared in the doorway then, Omega in front of him. She had Saedii's favorite mug clasped between both of her tiny hands.

"Perfect timing! Caff's done!" Wrecker announced when he saw she was awake.

Omega scampered forward, handing Saedii the mug. "Here. Wrecker thought you might need some."

Gingerly, Saedii took the mug. It was warm in her hand. The sharp, butter scent of caff curled off in silvery mist, bathing against her face. When she held it up to her lips, it was bitingly hot against her tongue. Bitter and strong – just how Wrecker always brewed it.

Everything was normal. Another morning on board the Marauder. And yet, Saedii couldn't shake the feeling of wrongness. That she didn't belong.

"Are you ok?" Omega asked, watching the play of emotion on Saedii's face.

Crosshair leaned against the doorway. "Five credits say she has no idea where she is."

"You're on!" Wrecker bellowed, so loudly that Tech gave a snort and bolted upright.

No, everything wasn't just normal. It was perfect. And yet, despite that, Saedii had the feeling that she wasn't supposed to be here.

"Give her a minute to wake up," Hunter said and ruffled Omega's hair.

Omega smiled and toyed with the rock that hung around her neck.

The necklace.

Saedii's hand flew to her neck, only to find that it was empty. What did that mean? Why did she need to check for her own torrinite amulet? Why did the bare neck of her skin suddenly send her heart hammering in her throat?

"Saedii?" Omega asked.

"This isn't real," Saedii suddenly realized. Realization was flooding back – flashes of a cell, of blood on wet stone, of a darkness so obsolete that it had swallowed her whole.

Echo gave another laugh. "I wish I could sleep like you."

"This isn't real," Saedii repeated. "None of it."

Crosshair looked smugly to Wrecker. "Pay up."

"What's not real, kid?" Hunter asked, frowning. Concerned.

"You. The ship. Any of it." Her hands tightened around the warm mug in her hand. So real. It felt so damn real.

And yet it wasn't.

She was certain.

Hunter's frown deepened. "Maybe you need to go lay down for a bit longer."

Saedii lurched to her feet. The mug fell from her hands, shattering on the floor. Omega squealed as hot caff splashed against her legs.

Echo looked at her reproachfully. "You better clean that up. There's no need to make a mess just because you –"

"This isn't real!" Saedii shouted, looking around her. Only the Marauder's dark grey ceiling met her gaze, but she knew there was someone else there. She could feel it.

"Actually, there is a rather interesting theory that we all live within a simulation," Tech said, holding up a finger. "Though I have found it to hold little to no merit –"

"Let me out!"

Omega cowered back into Hunter. Echo snapped, "Hey. Lower your voice. You're scaring Omega."

"Kid, are you feeling alright?" Hunter was really concerned now.

Saedii didn't budge. "This is another vision. I can sense it. Let me out."

Clever, a deep voice whispered in her ear.

She spun around but there was nothing there. Only the empty cockpit of the Marauder.

When she turned back, the rest of the Batch were watching her anxiously. Hunter and Echo exchanged a worried glance, while Crosshair demanded, "What are you looking at?"

You want to wake? The voice asked her.

"Yes." As much as she wanted to stay here with her family, she knew she couldn't. There was something more important waiting outside.

A heavy weight bumped against her hip. When she glanced down, a chill filled her as she spotted the double-bladed hilt of the Inquisitors now resting on her belt.

There is a price.

Saedii looked back up at the Batch before her. Understanding dawned.

"No," she gasped, lurching back a step. As if the distance would be enough to save her. To save them.

She knew what he wanted.

If you want to wake, the voice said, it is the only way.

Omega's eyes began to water. She leaned closer into Hunter's side, suddenly afraid.

"Saedii." Hunter was afraid now – for her. He took a careful step towards her. "Who are you talking to?"

Their deaths will earn you freedom.

"No," Saedii said desperately. "No, please. I'll do anything. Anything but that."

"I believe she may be suffering from acute psychosis," Tech whispered quietly to Hunter.

There is no other way.

Saedii shoved past Hunter and Crosshair in the doorway. Stumbling towards the gunner's mount in the back. Hunter called after her but she didn't stop for him, didn't dare wait as she lurched up the stairs and yanked the curtain behind her.

She wouldn't do it. She would wait here until the vision ended. Her body had to wake up eventually. It couldn't last forever.

It will not end until they die, the voice disagreed.

No. She wouldn't.

Saedii sat on her bed, pulling her knees up to her chest. She could wait it out. It would have to end eventually.

Minutes passed. Hours. Her body grew stiff from sitting in the same position, limbs aching. It was maddening just how real it felt. Each muscle was tight and stiff. Arms going numb. Soon, even her stomach began to growl. Around her, the quiet hum of the hyperdrive continued in a long, unending loop.

What was taking so long? Her body – her real body – couldn't be unconscious for much longer. Whatever sedative had been used had to be wearing off soon.

The curtain drew back and Omega skipped inside. She paused when she saw Saedii, expression brightening. "You're awake! Wrecker just brewed some caff. I can get you some."

Caff? But it should be late evening by now. Way too late for caff.

Omega turned and disappeared out of the curtain, returning a moment later with a steaming mug in her hand. Saedii's favorite mug. The same one that had shattered into pieces hours ago.

Horror flooded through her. She leaned away from it.

"What's wrong? Do you not want it?" Omega's face fell.

Saedii swallowed. "Omega, what time is it?"

"Morning. We still have a few hours until we reach Ord Mantell."

A few hours. Just what Hunter had said to her earlier.

That wasn't possible. They were traveling in hyperspace. They should be arriving at Ord Mantell any moment. And she should be waking up.

It will not end until you give me what I demand, the voice said into the silence. The sound of it made her shudder.

Tears filled her eyes. She shook her head, trying force herself to wake. But the only body she could feel was the one here within her head. A fake body with a prosthetic arm and no necklace.

"Please," she whispered. Begged.

The voice said nothing, but a feeling of expectation flooded around her.

Sick dread flooded her gut. Desperation clawed at her chest. The air seemed like it was frozen inside of her lungs. She didn't want to do this. She couldn't.

You will.

With trembling hands, Saedii unclipped the lightsaber from her belt.

"Saedii?" Omega asked in alarm, taking a sharp step back. Her panicked eyes took in the way that Saedii gripped the hilt in her hand.

Tears flooded Saedii's cheeks. She took in a trembling breath. "I'm sorry."

She couldn't be trapped in here forever. Saedii had to know what was happening – really happening. Had to wake up and face whatever dangers waited for her outside of her head.

It had to end.

Red light bathed across the gunner's mount. Gilded along the arched windows overhead. It painted across Omega's face, which was suddenly white with fright. Her eyes widened and glistened with tears.

"Saedii?"

Wrong. It was all wrong. This went against every instinct Saedii had.

Everything in her world for the past year had revolved around keeping Omega safe. She'd killed to protect her. Had been beaten and starved to ensure Omega was unharmed.

Omega bolted out of the curtain, down into the main hold of the ship. Nausea and dizziness hindered Saedii's progress as she followed. Her hand shook as she pushed the curtain to the side.

Down in the hold, the others were waiting. Omega was hiding behind Hunter's arm, sobbing. Terrified. Her eyes reflected the red blade in Saedi's hand.

"Saedii?" Hunter was struck speechless. His mouth opened and closed, trying to find his voice. His hand didn't even twitch towards the blaster at his belt. "Kid, what are you doing?"

"I have to." Saedii's voice wavered and broke.

It's not real, she reminded herself, even as the flash of panic in Hunter's eyes was like a knife between her ribs. Not real.

It wasn't real.

But it felt like it.

The lightsaber was heavy in her hands. It shook as she held it up before her.

Crosshair and Echo both pulled their weapons. They flicked them to stun. Unwilling to hurt her even as she stalked towards them with lightsaber drawn.

"You're having a nightmare. This isn't like you," Echo insisted.

Wrecker was devastated. "Don't do it, kid. Snap out of it!"

"You are suffering an acute episode of psychosis," Tech prattled on, his own weapon drawn but pointed at the ground. "Whatever you feel you must do, it is not real. You must fight it."

Crosshair just stared at her down his scope.

"Saedii," Hunter pleaded. Begged.

A sob caught in her chest. Her tears seared against her cheek, falling quickly now. "Please," she tried once more.

Only silence greeted her.

Saedii closed her eyes, hating herself. Hating how she was already cataloguing the guys' weakness. Already plotting where to strike first.

Then, with tears spilling down her cheeks, she attacked.