Anastasia Faust

Ammi found the trip from Cardia to Chandrila a welcome bit of relief. Despite losing another solid streak of sabacc games (and relenting on her threat to have M3Z-Z0 deliver that punch), she felt calm and collected. She left behind the thoughts of finding information on her parents or the worries caused by that. The dreams she had since the Memorial were muted as well, just finding her night's rest dreamless and quiet. She didn't worry about finding another gig, spending her time catching up on her guitar and singing practice, as well as the melody for the Ace of Coins and Queen of Air and Hearts, not wanting to work too overtly on the lyrics while Kalen was around. 4L-T0 and B45-50 for their part, just assisted Ammi in her practice, chiming in with the piano, guitars, or drums when she needed to actually hear particular melodies for song writing purposes, or playing back some of Ammi's own work to help coach her on new techniques. M3Z-Z0 and 50P-R4N0 remained silent and observant, concluding that their charge couldn't get into too much trouble now they were in space. Ammi still proved them wrong and there was both clean up and first aid needed in the cargo bay after Ammi picked up with her dancing practice and got the brilliant idea that she could be more maneuverable without gravity. Nursing a small bump on the back of her head from where she hit the ceiling earlier, she limped into the cockpit just as Kalen, leg a bit stiff from her rough landing a half-hour ago. She saw the glee on his face and felt a rush of both excitement and wariness. Between his marching earlier as they left Cardia and now this, she couldn't quite remember seeing Kalen this... free. She wondered if he was like this more now that he... really they... were cut loose from their ties to the Gems for the time being and able to do as they pleased. "Mmmmm. A party to crash? I'm listening...." she murmured, then saw the names pop up, her eyes going wide. "Oh my," she said, the audacity behind it stunning even her for a moment before a grin crossed her face, the manic light returning to her eyes. Nothing more needed to be said before it would be back to Coruscant for her. 4L-T0 and B45-50, the former coming up behind Ammi with an ice pack for her head, both heard the exchange, then mutely turned around. 4L-T0 used the ice pack to cool down his own head as his internal processors nearly overheated trying to contemplate All The Ways This Could Go Wrong. 50P-R4N0, having been relegated to finishing up cleaning work in the cargo bay, saw 4L-T0 return with the ice pack on his own head and B45-50 double face palming made a very simple, flat remark to M3Z-Z0. "This can't be good."

Ammi smiled, finding very few reasons to disagree with Kalen's sentiment. She blinked at the comment about parents. "Huh, you mean mama and p-" She stared, understanding suddenly. "Oh!" A frown flashed across her face before a force smile covered, one that actually reached her eyes. "Oh, right. Yeah... I suppose. Ah well, it is as it is." She didn't actually think that far ahead, trying to figure out what she'd do if she did have relatives. Aunts or uncles, cousins, maybe even a brother or sister? She stopped, actually gawking at Kalen's goose-step march. "Kalen, what in the stars above are you doing?" she giggled, unable to recall seeing him act like this. She snickered, shaking her head. With how the troopers, bucketheads as they were called, and often were portrayed, it was hard to believe they'd done so much... damage wasn't the right word, but that they'd affected so much dramatic change in such a short time. "Oh Kalen," she said, stepping up to him, knowing he'd expect her to lose her temper and slug him as he ducked. "One, you're on since I know I'm gonna win this time. Two, you know I abhor violence. I'll have M3Z-Z0 do it." She smiled, very, very sweetly at that last one, her eyes giving a playful glitter of green and blue that showed she could still dish back. Sitting herself into a seat, she lets the droids take the GlobeTrotter up into space and clear Cardia's atmosphere before vanishing into hyperspace.

Ammi blinked curiously, her eyes shifting between a soft green and a more penetrating blue, looking as if she were trying to see through Kalen. Ammi could feel his unease, and it was more than just mere intuition from reading his voice or face. She tried to immediate shut that link off, just giving a solemn nod, mentally playing the mental melody and refrain she associated with shutting off her empathic sense. "I see," she said, taking a step back, giving a forced, cheery smile and a little shrug. She'd sung all of it before, save for that very last stanza, but that triggered something with Kalen that she felt completely oblivious to. What kind of nerve had it struck with his past? "Consider it forgotten." She knew better than to press, remembering all too how well that sabacc game went. B45-50 came trotting by at that moment, carrying a special delivery. Ammi browsed through it, then shook her head, giving it back to the droid. "An Imperial contract," she murmured. "Maybe, just maybe if the Gems don't resurface," she added under her breath. She'd made up her mind leaving that dressing room. "Still, can't help but feel I'd be too tied down working for the Empire." She wasn't a historian or political scientist by any means, but such concentration of power could often lead to abuse. Even if Head of State Raven's intentions were good, she wondered if the old adage about "Power, unlimited power corrupts to an unlimited degree" was true. Considering it was the Emperor, Palpatine himself that set that standard... "Hmmm? Corellia or Chandrila?" she asked, snapping herself out of her musing thoughts. "Oh, definitely Chandrila. I've performed at Corellia recently enough... and ah... saw enough of it growing up," she added. "As for finding my parents, they've been dead for years. I don't think that putting off finding out about them a while longer will matter," she added, trying to make light of it. She paused, then a rather devious smile crossed her face. "I'm not going to ask how credits aren't an issue, but we can and should definitely take advantage of that," she said with a gleeful little giggle. "Any reason to stick around?" she asked, moving with a spring in her step. She heard 4L-T0 call out they were clear to take off whenever they were ready.

Ammi broke off in her repeat of the song, catching something off in Kalen's question that she couldn't place. She'd actually cheered herself up singing it, but something in his tone threatened to bring her down again. "You really are worried," she said, trying to keep up her good cheer. "It's the song I was singing atop the ship after that rather disappointing, if not outright depressing, trip to the archives, though I didn't finish it." She pursed her lips, tapping them. "Mmmmm. Must not have done a good job before if you couldn't remember it." She sighed at that, then shrugged it off. They'd gotten into each other's memories, and then found out about the invasion of Nar Shaddaa, so she could forgive him for forgetting his intrusion on her very private performance of that song... after she teased him about it of course. "I suppose it's not worth bringing up ever again then," she said, trying to hide a smirk before giving in. "Anyhow," she said, leaning against a wall and facing Kalen directly, "It's a song I learned from Mama. She'd sing it to me when I was down and when I was recovering from my injuries" She held up her pendant, looking at its eyes. "It's... something that always made me think of my parents. When I'd feel down, I'd sing it to myself, adding on new verses, sometimes getting Mama or my sisters to join in singing and even getting Papa to play flute." She gave a wistful smile. "It starts off sad, but the wolf finds a mate, has a family, and they all unite beneath the stars as a close pack. Silly, I know," she says, then gives a distant look, as if remembering something. "Mama said once she learned of it from a friend of my mother's, my birth mother, so I can't help wonder if my mother sang it to me. It'd... explain a lot... I wonder who that friend was now... not that I can really go back and ask." She shakes her head, turning aside to give a few hand motions to direct M3Z-Z0 on where to put some of the heavier instruments, then walked over to Kalen, right up into his face, hands behind her back as she studied him. "You seemed... shocked at first," she asked, her eyes soft and green with only hints of the blue flecks showing. "Did it strike a chord with you? Kalen, the lone wolf, hunting and gambling?" she pressed, trying to understand what caused it.

Ammi just gives a small half-smile as Kalen downplays his contributions. He'd gotten a talented crew together and helped hold Ammi together through a couple of the most trying experiences she ever had between the Memorial, finding out she was a Force Sensitive, and her rather upsetting return of no information here on Cardia. The kiss surprised her, and yet it was just what she needed, even in spite of her feelings she'd over-declared her affections. She acknowledged Kalen may have had a, point on getting off Cardia. "You may be right. Still, my associate with them was pretty apparent and I think if we were going to have problems, it'd have been more than Agent Valennia showing up outside my dressing room. Half the Galaxy was watching when I crashed their soiree to perform, so I'm sure that probably tripped at least a dozen flags with 'em when we landed. I think all we can do to 'get off this rock' is ask, nicely. I'm positive we won't have troubles." She still thought in hindsight that being so flagrant about it was something else entirely. She also gave Kalen a curious look, wondering about that bitter note in his voice. She wasn't going to pry, not unless it became an issue. Behind her, 4L-T0 and B45-50 exchanged glances. 4L-T0 making a rocky "eh" motion with the flat of his hand, B45-50, surprisingly giving Ammi's logic a nod. The two had conversed very quietly on the radio silence piece. B45-50 mentionng the word "Topaz?" once softly in an uncertain voice for 4L-T0's ears alone, to which 4L-T0 shook his head. They didn't trust the director to get any message through that wouldn't be twisted against Kalen or Ammi. Still, if things got desperate enough, it was something to consider. "So..." she continued thoughtfully. "I think sticking to the Core worlds might not be a bad idea regardless," she continued. "Returning to Nar Shaddaa anytime soon wouldn't be smart. I may have stuck up for the Gems, but I also did kinda publicly cheer on the Empire's efforts to break up the slaving rings there, so that might anger some interests there; though I'll be very disappointed if the Gems are among them," she added, uncertainty in her voice. She didn't want to consider that at all. She also banked her vocal support for the Empire's efforts against the Sith and slavers too might smooth over any other issues getting off world. "Let's get the equipment back onto the ship, and then figure that out that next stop. Meh, maybe a Jedi world could be fun." she said, then started singing, feeling her mood improve as she started to get the ship prepared for take-off. 4L-T0 moved to the cockpit to request clearance for take-off in an hour from Cardia's space traffic control center, while B45-50 started helping load the drums and other items onto the ship, unceremoniously dragooning M3Z-Z0 and 50P-R4N0 into helping too. She sang a familiar song while putting her instruments away. It had the same melancholy air as she sang previously to start, but was more energetic, more hopeful. Ammi knew the latter stanzas she wrote talked of the lone wolf finding a she-wolf, starting a pack, and becoming the king of the forest with his family. Despite everything that happened: losing all contact with her employers, angering and embarassing one of the Galactic powers, and hitting a dead end with her search for her family, she felt optimistic. Things were always darkest before dawn, so after all this, things had to improve for them and couldn't get any worse, right? She gave the wolf's head dagger and pendant a soft stroke, hands running over the sparkling blue gems in the memento's eyes. Through the forests of twilight. The lone wolf wanders beneath the eaves. The sun sinks and sets, down behind the trees. The lone wolf owns the coming night. He runs through the forest, scattering the leaves. He bounds on all fours, his teeth brilliant and white. His footfalls light, the distance he cleaves. Wary of his deadly bite, woodland creatures take flight. By moonlight and starlight, all see his might. The king of the forest, he rules all he perceives. Matching moonlight and starlight above, shining on high. Brilliant below, a beacon far from the sky. A flame of awe, nature's most amazing of weaves. Shining below, a majestic sight, The eyes of the hunter, burning bright.

As Ammi entered the ship, she took a deep breath, one hand to her chest, the other pulling her guitar even closer to her, unaware of how much tension she felt between her rather ignominious exit from the stage and now. She turned around, aware that Kalen and the others were all looking at her. The 4L-T0 and B45-50's expressions were, as always, unreadable, but something in their posture told her they were uneasy. M3Z-Z0 and 50P-R4N0 watched, seeming to have a wariness in their form, more external. And then Kalen... She heard his first words, shoulders slumping. She was okay, wasn't she? "Thanks," she whispered. She felt like a vaping idiot now, not even considering her mishap with the daggers while dancing. She set her guitar down, not able to make eye contact. What was going on between the Gems and the Empire was much, much bigger than her, and trying to insert herself into the middle of it was foolhardy. Still, she believed she was paving the way for change, good change. Maybe. She looked up as Kalen reported comm silence. That wasn't good at all. Ammi just nodded, curling her hands into fists. There were plans they'd made, touring, the premier for Diamond Memoriam and more. Then Kalen's next words caught her off guard. Surprise registered, her face quickly settling into a familiar mask. Leave the Gems and become a songbird for the Empire... Leave Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, and Kalen, leave the crew she'd worked with on Coruscant, and get the backing of the Empire to perform and make her music? She brought her hands together, having come to this crossroads earlier, but having Kalen state it so clearly, did it change things? She walked up to Kalen, moving slowly. Her eyes were shifting as she walked, going between a soft green to a more solid blue, flickering in time with her emotions as they seemed to squirm chaotically inside her. "Kalen, I'd thought of it," she said, standing less than a foot away from him. "I can't say I'm sorry at what's happening on Nar Shaddaa. It may not work in the long run, it probably won't, but if they can help people there now, especially by smashing the old slaver rings..." She bit her lip. "All the same, I don't think the Gems are... were as bad as the Hutts and would have improved things in time... it's just good business after all. There's a lot of others I think that will get hurt from the fall out if... when... the Empire has to crack down to keep their peace. I.. I don't know." She remembered one of her earliest conversations with Kalen at Nar Shaddaa: They didn't rise to the top of Nar Shaddaa by being nice, I know that. I doubt I'll ever be more than an entertainment asset for them, which is fine by me, but if my star shines brightly enough maybe they'll have to stay in the light more too. She reflected on that, then looked up at Kalen, her eyes turning a harder blue. "I'm still not giving up on them, and you're not going anywhere, mister," she said, her voice rising. "I'm not letting you take off into the blue Kalen," she insisted, grabbing his wrists. "I need your help. I need..." she hesitated, the last word finally coming out. "I need you. These past few weeks have been hard, but you've been someone I rely on. I don't think I can do this without you." She pressed against him, her head on his chest, hugging him tight as if she needed something solid right now. "The Queen of Air and Hearts needs her Ace of Coins to make this hand work," she said, thinking of the song she'd been working on, realizing she'd just put herself into the Queen's role, the role she'd given to the Ellique in her still unfinished song. That gave her a moment's pause. Turning away to hide how red her face got, she withdrew the hug, arms across her chest. "So... What's the game plan?" she asked, trying to sound cool and collected. "Are we able to continue touring?"

Hadn't heard Kalen's approach, jumping with a start when he came in and the door flew open, revealing both Kalen and Agent Valennia in the same moment. At once, 4L-T0 and B45-50 moved in front of Ammi, putting themselves between her and Kalen. Their posture wasn't threatening, but it never was. M3Z-Z0 and 50P-R4N0 could be seen hurrying up behind her manager, pausing outside the room, taking stock of the situation. An uneasy silence ran through the air in that moment, Ammi shrinking back in her seat. She turned her head away, clutching her pendant tightly. She had the best of intentions, knowing that any display of force or power wouldn't help her employer's somewhat dubious cause. It was either a battle of stealth or of wills and she expected more trouble from the Imperials than from Kalen and the rest out of this. She had both Kyle Valennia and Kalen Loren in frame for a moment, both standing before her, both seeming to be diverging paths she could take. Some part of her wondered if she should stay put, just cut her losses and sing for a cause she thought she could believe in if things were on the level. But Ammi wouldn't, couldn't do that. She owed the Gems and Kalen, owing the latter greatly for his support through some times that were the most trying she'd had. She'd given her word to Kalen and the Gems to be their songbird and she felt honor bound to follow through. Ammi wisely said nothing, just nodding at the need to go. 4L-T0 helped her up, giving a pat on her uninjured shoulder, while B45-50 loomed in between Kalen and Ammi. Escorted by 4L-T0, she tried to compose herself as she walked out, taking her guitar in hand. She tried to hide how unnerved she felt, pausing at the doorway when she heard Kalen's question. She took a deep breath, giving a tight smile, her voice as cheerful and measured as possible. "I'm fine. Just had a little cut and embarrassment... which is ah... par for the course sadly. Kyle here's been a perfect gentleman." She gave 4L-T0 and Kalen a sharp look. "Unlike some people in this room," she added quietly with a more relaxed smile. "Ah, Agent Valennia, thank you," she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek and then turned to walk out, keeping her eyes forward, refusing to look back until she reached her ship.

"-and furthermore, how dare you?! Do you know how large that crowd was?!" Ammi yelled, her anger directed at 4L-T0, who kept up the smart remarks about her... wardrobe malfunction. "Why B45-50, I think her face is about as red as a Sith's lightsaber, or maybe a red giant? She looks like she's about to go nova." "4L-T0..." B45-50 warned, trying to shush the laughing droid. "Listen here, you pfassking mir'sheb droid," Ammi said hotly. "I don't care if it my hand breaks over your vaping head, I-" They froze, hearing the knock. Ammi's buried her face in her hands. "Ka-" she starts to call, the name not making it past the first syllable when she hears Valennia's voice at the door. She gulped, her heart racing. Kalen... Where was Kalen? Or had her orders to waylay him been executed too well? The voice was... gentle and she detected genuine concern. She looked at 4L-T0 and B45-50. They both nodded. "Ah, please come in, Agent Valennia," she said, giving a nervous little laugh to hide some of the embarrassment, her face definitely about as red as a lightsaber. "I'm fine, thank you. It was just a scratch that's been treated by B45-50 here and my stupid, flimsy, di’kutla outfit took the worst of it... " she sighed, eyeing the amethyst gemstone dagger where it lay on a table. Prophetic that she cut herself on the Gems' gift, or just clumsiness and bad luck?

Ammi wanted to make sure that M3Z-Z0 and 50P-R4N0 kept Kalen busy during the start of the concert. She stepped backstage a few minutes before, checking her outfit, choosing a shimmering purple dress, amethyst in color naturally, her hair down and flowing, her wolf's head pendent worn on the outside. She still kept her daggers, the wolf's head from her parents, as well as the one she got on Nar Shaddaa, belted to her waist, intending to use them as part of her show later. B45-50 and 4L-T0 still found it a novelty that there were additional hands and stage crew to help them prepare the instruments and set up after two years of having to care for everything themselves. The lights dimmed and slowly the curtain rose, revealing Ammi front and center, guitar in one hand, and a microphone in the other. She heard the announcer introduce Amethyst Wolfstar of the Galaxy GlobeTrotters, then spoke up, surveying the crowd. She could feel the energy coming from them and tried to attune herself to it, once more drinking it in. She didn't think about it this time, just letting it happen. It was positive, and that fueled her. "Hello, Cardia!" she called aloud. "Thank you all for attending." She prepared this speech in her mind several times. "In the day I've been here preparing for the concert, your hospitality has been stunning." She caught Valennia in the front row and blew him a kiss and waved back. There were quite a number of civilians in the crowd, but if she focused on individual audience members, she could get a sense of they were military or civilian. She didn't linger though and moved on. "My papa used to often repeat a quote from the famous Supreme Chancellor Nots'niw Templehill that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." She waited a moment, letting that sink in and get a laugh from her audience, showing she didn't take herself too seriously and while she'd poke a bit of fun, it was all in good humor. "All the same, your dedication and traditions have provided a beacon of order in this Galaxy." She drew in a deep breath, still smiling, getting down to the crux of what she wanted to say. "Before I begin, wanted to give a few words to salute the job you're doing against both slavery and combatting the Sith's oppression," she said, her tone serious and grave. "My birth parents were killed by the Sith before I was adopted, and my adopted mother, my mama, was rescued from slavery in vile the pit that's called Curst. Whatever else, your efforts are making a positive difference in the Galaxy, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart." Her words came out powerfully, Ammi being 100% sincere when she said them. After the thunderous applause died down that, she continued. This was the hardest part of her speech, and where she'd struggled the most. "It's no real secret that my record label's based off Nar Shaddaa," she said giving a nervous little laugh and a grimace. "My employers were gracious enough to sign me on after I kinda sorta crashed one of their parties to perform for all of the celebrities there. I wasn't on Nar Shaddaa long before starting my tour, but I could see they were doing their best to bring a semblance of order to that chaos given their resources when I left." She let that sink in. It was true enough that she felt comfortable saying it. "Evils like slavery will need your help to get stamped out as it has no place in Nar Shaddaa or the Galaxy at large. Cleaning it up's going to be a long, long effort, especially if you have to fight with an unwilling populace and don't have anyone in your corner to fight with you. But, I'd just ask, before y'all paint a broad brush on everyone from the Smuggler's Moon, just remember, it's because of three of those entrepreneurs and their interest in sponsoring legitimate ventures there I'm able to perform for you today. Coincidentally, it's also those three who are financing the rest of my tour... and um, the GlobeTrotters in general now, so if this is suddenly my last stop on the tour and my new Diamond Memoriam recording doesn't come out, you'll all know why." She gave another silly laugh at that. It was a small PR shot across the bow for the Gems in the heart of Imperial territory, Ammi doing her best to thread a middle course between speaking out against pure evils, but also stating that her employers weren't as bad as the Imperials, or Ammi herself naively, might be lead to believe. She was glad to see Valennia again, but also hoped too her message would resonate up through the chain from him and his friends. It was a long shot, but she'd spoken her piece. Now she just hoped Valennia wasn't going to be here to arrest her after the concert was over. "Just remember on Nar Shaddaa to watch out though, 'cause Scoundrels Shoot first, hit it!" 4L-T0 started drumming, and B45-50 picked up right away with the back up for the bass guitar. She launched into that song. There was one line that caused some contention with B45-50 and 4L-T0. Ammi refused to change it, even given the make up of the audience. Watch out so you don't meet your final fate. 'specially if you're a buckethead and can't shoot straight! At that, a small bit of coordination with 4L-T0 and the venue owner paid off, the lighting from above appearing to shoot "lasers" down from the ceiling, which Ammi with a look of surprise ended up "dodging". She kept dancing to avoid getting "shot", narrowly avoiding each one with a look of panic, still playing and singing the entire time, eventually getting "hit" on the last stanza right in the backside and slumping down as the notes faded. The audience roared with laughter before breaking into applause, Ammi rising up and taking a bow. The rest of the concert went on swimmingly. Ammi kept the songs cheerful and uplifting, opting for more humor and heart racing pieces than her slower and more emotional ones. She concluded with a song she'd written for military types, initially having the old Rebellion for the Alliance in mind, but given the job the Imperial Remnant was doing, she thought it fit perfectly to cap off her performance. "Alright Cardia! You've been a wonderful audience. You're the best! You hear me, " Everything like a dream You always make me scream Just like a shooting star run through my heart! I know you're there because you care about the Revolution Protecting lives we must They will instill their trust I'll be there for you Anytime you call or comm Baby just call... I miss you, baby! Don't turn back for anyone The Sith are wrong, so please be strong! You will not be alone! Don't stop! Your wounds will heal in time. So ease your mind Succeed and rest You are the best! Ammi sang at her best too. On the third stanza, she broke out her daggers, spinning and flashing them as she spun and danced, the purple and blue gems in each flashing brilliantly and shimmering, making a dazzling display. This concert was going great! Her best ever! She could feel the energy from the crowd building up to a crescendo of its own. So much vibrancy and good will lurked beneath Cardia's stolid military surface that it surprised even her. Best concert ever! "...and so Miss Amethyst, I think you're up there with Han Solo and Luke Skywalker after this," 4L-T0 concluded, his vocal chips nearly making a chortling noise. B45-50 just face palmed with one hand, applying a disinfectant to Ammi's shoulder with the other. The cut looked like it'd only just broken skin. "How so?" Ammi asked, her face red, covering it with one of her hands, the other clutching a blanket to her chest. Her shoulder was fine and not what was bothering her. She got too pumped up, too lost in the crowd's energy, and got too enthusiastic with some of her dancing at the end in the song's concluding notes when she crossed her arms, and the sent the daggers across her chest with a flourishing spin. There was a faint stabbing sensation as the amethyst embedded dagger cut into her shoulder... and before then, the strap of her dress.. and also through bit more fabric, ultimately causing Ammi to shriek and run red-faced and screaming off stage just as the song concluded. On one hand, the audience might have thought it was part of the show instead of her just being careless and clumsy. On the other hand, that might also be much more likely to get her arrested than any of her earlier comments. She didn't catch Valennia's face, too busy in trying to cover up and run off stage, but imagined that the agent, as well as his comrades were likely shocked by her... display. She just groaned. "You've managed to single-handily embarrass the entire Empire with one move." 4L-T0 cracked in his wry voice, breaking out into a slow, steady chuckle. Ammi groaned again, swatting angrily at 4L-T0, then cried out in pain as her hand hit him square in his metal chest. "Still put on a damn good show," B45-50 chimed in, trying to raise Ammi's spirits, applying a small patch to the wound, his nimble fingers then mending the tears in her straps. Ammi just wondered if M3Z-Z0 and 50P-R4N0 kept Kalen busy the entire time, hoping that he wouldn't have objected to her opening to the show and definitely hopeing he hadn't seen her as it ended.

Ammi's mood sobered again right away and she nodded. She'd been in some bad situations before, but being in the capital planet of a hostile force actively targeting a group you were affiliated with was a brand new one for her. She in many ways quietly supported what the Empire was trying to do. She detested slavery, and if she'd known about the Gems' alliance with the Sith, that would have been a very serious strain on their relationship. The other vices and problems that permeated Nar Shaddaa, she would gladly see fixed, but she also was enough of a realist to think that the Empire had its work cut out for them. Either they'd be ineffectual, just driving illicit markets into other channels or places, or the anti-corruption efforts themselves would get subverted. It was quite depressing if one really dwelled on it long enough. "I'll get on the concert at once," she promised, giving her head a tap. "Kalen, stay safe. I'm going to likely be taking some risks here with today's show," she cautioned, "but I owe it to the three to see if I can salvage some good will or a reprieve." Ammi did the one thing that made sense then, and took a nap, recharging herself, affording herself a few precious hours of sleep to get over her bout of drinking and to also get he energy levels back up. She slept fitfully, too disturbed by recent events to dream. There were no nightmares this time, which was a blessing in itself. On waking, she sprung into action and started back to the venue. 4L-T0 and B45-50 had worked during that time to get the instruments over, 4L-T0 spending time in getting the lighting array and sound systems set up while B45-50 fine tuned the instruments. Ammi showed up and called them into a huddle, being very, very clear what she was going to say to kick off the concert, what songs they were going to play, and the message they meant to impart at the end. M3Z-Z0 and 50P-R4N0 hovered by protectively the entire time, passively listening. They started to "get" their charge now and understood the fine line she was going to try to walk in her show, knowing a false step could bring the wrath of the Empire or the Gems down on her head. Ammi felt bad about it, but she kept Kalen out of the loop for the time being. She thought he'd support her and would look out for her, but if things went wrong either way, she wanted to make sure he wasn't likely to run afoul either party. "... and that's how we'll conclude the show, take our bows, and walk off stage. Any questions?" she asked, her gaze falling over her two bandmates and then her guard droids. "Just one" B45-50 said, delivering his question straight. "What could possibly go wrong?" The three broke into nervous, tense laughter. To their surprise, M3Z-Z0 and then 50P-R4N0 joined in at the end, understanding the irony in that statement. Pulling aside, Ammi sent out a private comm directed to ISB agent Kyle Valennia: The message delivered, Ammi spent the remaining time up until the show practice and going through the different numbers. She tried to save her voice, letting her fingers do their work, mentally preparing the speech she wanted to give to kick things off. Before long, the curtain rose...

Ammi sat on her knees, almost on all fours as she felt an embarrassed flush reach her, her jaw dropping in amazement as Kalen nimbly dodged out of range. She absently wiped her chin off with the back of her hands. "S.ssorry..." she murmurs, then tries to brush the tears out of her eyes, pausing at the last second and remembering to use her other hand. "I.. I don't know what happened," she whispered. She slowly looked up, more afraid of what she'd see on Kalen's face than she was of that pale thing that chased her in her dreams. She looked up, holding her breath, feeling a remaining burn in her throat as her nervous stomach still roiled around. She was afraid she'd see more than anger or rage, but actual hatred there. She looked up and saw an expression that almost, she felt, mirrored her own. Confusion, desperation, hurt. Had she projected onto him, or was it what he recalled with his sister? Ammi heard the question and flinched, knowing what he was talking about. "I don't know..." she said. She rose to her feet. She felt unsteady. She stumbled forward and found herself clinging to him. "Ever since the Memorial... I get nightmares.. of some... thing... chasing me. I know I can't let it catch up to me. I can't... but it's chasing me... I think backwards... I don't have anywhere left to run, but into the fire... I can remember only the fire from before and that's all." Ammi's face twisted, choking as she remembered the pain of the inferno consuming her and the recovered memory of after in the medical capsule. She looked up at Kalen, studying him again, torn between concern for his pain and wanting to change the subject. "You have your memories... your sister... You had to give her up...." she said, her voice soft. She grimaced. "You're... brave... You didn't run to flee, not like I would have. You ran from your sister to protect her. That takes courage." She reached out and touched his cheek. "You still care... I can tell." She withdrew her hand, stepping back, still unsteady on her feet. "I didn't do anything there," she said hastily. "It's on your face." Clutching her pendant, Ammi was going to ask very directly if Kalen was still in touch with her. Her feelings made her say yes, but she had to know. As the words started to come out of her mouth, 4L-T0 and B45-50 arrived. They'd heard Ammi scream earlier and were briefly heard below running to get atop the ship to find out what happened, running through the ship to climb up atop it. They intercepted an urgent transmission along the way, one that made their approach solemn. "Miss Ammi," 4L-T0 began. "Are you alright?" she asked, eyeing her shaking form and the mess she'd made. Made a sighing sound, knowing he'd be the one to clean it. B45-50 and Ammi wouldn't and 4L-T0 certainly was not going to ask M3Z-Z0 or S0P-R4N0. Ammi just nodded, tense, feeling ice in her empty stomach. She knew the duo well enough to know something was off. She saw they also brought M3Z-Z0 and 50P-R4N0 with them, those two coming up onto the roof as well, adding to her sense that something was very, very wrong. "We have a big problem," B45-50 said, elbowing 4L-T0, who nodded, slowly approaching both Ammi and Kalen. "Might be our biggest one yet." B45-50 moved in, clutching Ammi's shoulders carefully, and 4L-T0, unsure how the news would be received, stood between Ammi and Kalen. The two guard droids moved around as if to establish a parameter. Ammi found herself holding her breath. B45-50 could snark and joke, but he wasn't one for hyperbole. "I didn't do it, I swear!" she said to Kalen, not even knowing what was happening. "The Empire just invaded Nar Shaddaa as part of their clean up of Nal Hutta. They're moving fast to put the entire place under martial law from the looks of it. I don't know what happened to the Gems." Oh Sithspit... "We may be unemployed... or worse..." 4L-T0 added soberly. "I know we haven't done anything ah... recently... to put the Empire after us and our operation's entirely above board, but if they start sniffing at the Gems' organization, and if they link Amethyst to it, we could be in trouble. We need to figure out what to do next." Ammi looked over at Kalen, trying to get a read on his face, her alarm showing. She owed the Gems a debt of gratitude. She still didn't trust them completely, wisely, but she respected them and considered them good partners (senior partners to her junior as it was). The thought of something happening to them should have made her panic, but she felt oddly calm, as if her ordeal earlier drew all of the negativity out of her. She knew this was a dire situation potentially, but they were allowed to land and not detained, so she had to believe they were in the clear. Even so, the potential threat got her heart racing and the adrenalin she now felt cleared her head. Ammi's eyes glittered, a mix of blue and green. Not a good sign usually. "They'll be fine," she said, just clutching her head, still unable to believe that the Empire invaded. "The Gems are smart. They'll lay low and keep their heads down, then be back to business as usual in no time. Unless the Empire burns Nar Shaddaa to the ground, which they won't, it'll be back to normal in no time." She felt confident of that, though she still felt some concern. Depending on how deep the Empire dug it could still be trouble for the Gems. "And here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna put on the concert, that's what." She turned to Kalen. "We're here for the concert, so we follow through. I may not be involved in any of the Gems' shady dealings, but I'm still one of them." She gave a laugh that was genuine. "I don't think I'm what they had in mind as a good will ambassador to the Empire, but I'll have to make do."

At the admission he was lucky, Ammi bit back a snort. She still tried to wrap her head around what she heard earlier. Someone, his own aunt, trying to kill him? How could anyone be so cold, so callous? Standing over him, she didn't consider that the offer might end up pitching her forward into him. Still, she felt his hand close around hers and steadied herself. "I said precog, why count cards when they just fall out as you ne-" she started. She felt flashes of images. Frightened, she didn't dare delve in deeper and tried to pull back, but was too scared to put her mental guard up, the shielding song dying before the first note. She tried not to look, but caught flashes. Memories swirled and the pull and push went both ways. ...the towheaded child onto his hip in a swift motion... She was alone and running along a dark corridor. She felt fearful and out of breath, sensing something chasing her. Something dangerous. "The Cluster has never seen a Chume'da..." She had seen this pale thing chasing her before. It was familiar to her now, but she couldn't recall it. ""Terelda, you're being too hard on the boy..." Chased by the thing behind her, she ran towards a crimson barrier up ahead. She knew what lay beyond. Burning. Pain. "...baby sister tracing his jaw... Ammi fell backwards, landing with a muffled scream, her hands in front of her face. The sound of rushed movement could be heard from just below the ship. "I'm s.s.sorry," she stammered, catching that look. She found tears running down her eyes, her cheeks pale. "I... I don't know what I did." She hadn't meant to. It was an accident! Those names. Terelda. It sounded familiar to her and she could feel the emotions attached to it too. Had to be the aunt. Where had she heard it before? Something 4L-T0 or B45-50 said on Nar Shaddaa? She couldn't recall. She'd only caught snatches of what Kalen felt, but threaded the feelings of it all together even if she tried to push back the finer details. A sister. Kalen had to give up a sister. How horrible! "I... I didn't mean to... I... didn't mean to," she continued, scared at how the memories just came flowing. She looked up at Kalen. Had he seen what was chasing her? More importantly, would he forgive her for what she'd just done, however unwittingly. She'd just invaded his person in a far deeper and more personal way than their earlier game of cards had her. She rolled to her knees at Kalen's feet, wringing her hands. "I j.just found out I was a f..force s.sens.. emp... I mean... like that.. I don't know.. I.. feel..." She pursed her lips. "I... feel... ugh... feel... I feel... Oh-!" And with that, Ammi, from a combination of excessive drink and shattered nerves threw up with a noisy splash, eyes closed, hoping Kalen somehow avoided everything. "...I feel sick..." she said weakly, wiping off her chin, thankfully not fainting this time around.

Ammi heard Kalen's remark about her adopted family and something of guilty flush crept up her face. She found her attention focused on Kalen now and could detect guarded pain in those words. She remembered the exercises she engaged in with Ephie, of finding her own walling melody, of sealing herself off, but ignored them. She listened to his bitter, simple statement of his childhood, her jaw dropping. "Oh, oh Kalen," she whispered. The words were simple and heartfelt and Ammi was aware she projected her emotions then, a burst of sympathy radiating from her. She felt something from him as he spoke. She could feel the bitterness in his voice, as well as that same guarded sense of pain. At the mention of family, something familiar bubbled up, but the sense faded, popping in her mind's eye before she could grasp it along with emotions she couldn't untangle or identify. She didn't understand, couldn't comprehend family turning on each other like that. She felt afraid to ask further, not wanting to dig into that wound. She started to mentally hum, putting that wall back up, trying to sever that connection even as she sat there in silence. Looking up at the sky, still wearing that guilty feeling flush, she sighed, then gave a grimace at hearing Kalen's last question. "Kalen," she said, turning back to face him. "No one... no one's that kriffing lucky," she said with a slow shake of her head. "I've seen some strange and wonderful things before now, but it's unreal how lucky you are." She gave a silly giggle. "It's almost like you're as lucky at cards as I'm as lucky at attracting trouble. You've had your gift and no one's really questioned it. I kinda wanted to see if I could figure out how ya did it." Ammi fingered the strings on her guitar, playing the same melody she was singing before, lost in thought, trying to sort out her own pain from Kalen's. But wasn't that why she sung, to alleviate some of that? She tried to stand up and stretch, but fell right back down with a whump onto her backside, giving another grimace. "Ooops! Haha, but yeah, you're right..." she concluded, some cheer returning into her voice. "I know that in the end my parents, mama and papa are the ones who raised me and made me who I am. Nothing's ever, ever gonna change that. Still, I know... I know in my heart my mother loved me. I can't remember anything about her or my father, but I know it was true, just as I know they were taken from me. I've tried to avoid and run from it, but the Memorial changed things." Her voice grew somber, more focused, the chill of that memory almost sobering her. "I feel like I'm being pursued, getting nightmares now," she admitted. She shook her head. "I just wanna know why. It's like a missing puzzle piece at my center. Who were they? Why were they taken from me? Am... Am I making them proud?" She trailed off at the last one, staring down at her pendant, seeing her face in the polished surface. She gave a laugh finally, then tried standing up once more. She swayed unsteadily, leaning on her guitar. "Ugh... Shouldn't drink like that. Get all melancholy and loopy. I can do sorrowful, poignant music, but don't wanna get a rep as one of those emo bands." She reached down to help Kalen up, her drunken lurch adding to absurdity of her offer. "You're part of GlobeTrotters now, Kalen Lorell," she said firmly, trying to force a smile onto her face, the words coming out without thought, just speaking from the gut, or maybe the heart. "And while I may call you out for being a Force sensitive, precog cheater," she giggled, "we have each other's backs and you're still part of our family."

Ammi blinked several times, trying to focus her eyes, her vision a bit off from the drink. Was it 4L-T0 or B45-50? She knew they used to keep an eye out on her at times like this. She saw Kalen and leaned back, her face going into a carefully guarded look, the rosy blush at her cheeks a mix of embarrassment as well as the strong drink. She turned, looking up at the night sky, consciously trying to avoid eye contact and wordlessly handed the bottle over before sitting in a huddled fashion, knees up to her chest, arms wrapped around them before resting her pendant in one hand. She heard his words and gave a small smile, but otherwise kept looking up, trying to get her feel of Cardia's surroundings. She couldn't find it's beat anymore, her own thoughts too cacophonous to really listen. "Thanks," she said finally, drawing in a deep breath, still staring upwards. "I dunno why, but always think of my parents when I sing that song." She stroked the gems on her pendant. "I don't know how much the others told you, but reached out to the Empire earlier to see if they could find anything." She shook her head once, clenching her hand into a fist around the pendant. "Not a Kesseled-vaping-farkled thing on either my mother or father." Taking a deep breath, she made a motion as if to take the bottle back, but decided against it. She was in that fine zone straddling tipsy and drunk, and didn't want to do herself the disservice of passing out again, even if she still trusted Kalen not to take advantage of things. More silence. "I learned something from filming Diamond Memoriam," she offered finally. "Ephie helped me confirm it. Empath, Force sensitive. Probably a gift from the folks and possibly why they got killed too." She turned to Kalen and continued speaking, her filter almost all the way down. "That's kinda why I challenged you to sabacc. Knew I'd lose, just thought I could maybe sense ya using it too..." She giggled surprisingly, a snort escaping too. "Just didn't expect to lose quite so badly... you cheating pig." There was only a bit of heat in those words and they came out borderline playful. Evidentially when faced with it, she had forgiven him. For the most part. Laying back, hands behind her head, she gave a smile, seeing what looked like a star. The smile faded when she realized it wasn't. Very likely one of those new fangled Golan platforms she saw when landing, which actually made it kind of depressing. "Don't have to answer if you don't want," Ammi said in a softer voice. "But what was your family like? I think you know what mine was like, at least what I can remember after being adopted." She added with a wry hiccup.

((First part co-written with Raven)) Ammi followed Valennia closely, aware that the storm troopers would brook no trouble, no mischief. She wasn't exactly intimidated by them, but just felt the need to be extra cautious. Even so, her mouth started running before she could check it. "You know," she murmured to Valennia, "I wonder how much the Empire's PR could be improved if you had uniforms that were more friendly looking. Maybe go back to the old clone trooper look instead of the skull-like trooper masks?" She thought about that, then looked over at the duo of troopers escorting them, suddenly fingering her pendant nervously. "Not that there's anything wrong with your current ones," she added hastily. "They do discourage people from causing trouble." They finally reached the query console. Ammi stood back, M3Z-Z0 behind her and started listing off all the additional details she knew about her birth family, which still wasn't much more than what she'd said earlier. A basic search for officers, or even regular conscripts with the Wolfstar surname came back with nothing. There were a few civilians on Cardia that had the Wolfstar name, but they were all alive, and careful records showed they wouldn't have had children around the time Ammi was born. A broader search excluded other Imperials in several branches based on records available to Valennia's security clearance. As for smugglers, no known records of any Wolfstars in suspected or detained smugglers could be found. Ammi kept smiling the whole time, but as the searches ultimately returned with nothing to show for it, her eyes started to shimmer, a tightness around them. After all was said and done, she turned away once, wiping her face off. "Thank you very much Agent Valennia," she said, giving him a hug, burying her face on his shoulder. "I appreciated the time you took. Thank you." She turned away, aware she left a damp spot on the shoulder of the agent's pristine uniform. "If you want to attend my concert latter, I can get you backstage passes. Least I can do." She still tried to sound cheerful, but there was a hollowness in her voice. She let them lead her out, shuffling in silence. ------ Back home, what was starting to feel like a lifetime ago, Ammi used to sneak out to the ship and climb up on top it. Lying down, or sitting atop it, she'd stare at the night stars and watch them from her quiet corner of the galaxy, an ache to be out among them, filling the void between those brilliant spheres with music and life. She would often play her guitar or and sing. Sometimes she'd by herself, sometimes it'd be the droids standing attentively on the ground, and every once in a while it'd be her sisters or even her adopted parents up there. This time, she was joined by a bottle of hard liquor, a fifth finished. It was a sweet Corellian concoction that went down smooth and gave a warm feeling in her gut that quickly spread. She played her guitar, looking up at the Cardian sky, sad that in such a bustling world like this, all the ambient light shut out the heavens above after sunset. She could feel the cold, guarded vibe of the planet from her travels earlier in the day. There was a wariness and distrust that chilled her, but also a resolve and strength. She felt a couple cold spots too, though nothing like the Memorial and a few places that teased her memory, almost resembling something familiar, but distantly removed. Not knowing what to think, Ammi sang. It was one of the earliest songs she learned, one that resonated with her. Through the forests of twilight. The lone wolf wanders beneath the eaves. The sun sinks and sets, down behind the trees. The lone wolf owns the coming night. He runs through the forest, scattering the leaves. He bounds on all fours, his teeth brilliant and white. His footfalls light, the distance he cleaves. Wary of his deadly bite, woodland creatures take flight. By moonlight and starlight, all see his might. The king of the forest, he rules all he perceives. Matching moonlight and starlight above, shining on high. Brilliant below, a beacon far from the sky. A flame of awe, natures most amazing of weaves. Shining below, a majestic sight... She stopped singing and sat fully upright at once, suddenly aware she wasn't alone and hadn't been for some time. The last notes of song faded from her guitar and lips. Well before she started her last couple songs, 4L-T0 and B45-50 returned, the former quietly letting Kalen know Ammi was back at the ship, then stood silently, watching over her from the ground. They didn't know at first exactly what got Ammi into this mood, but knew the usual trigger for the song's melancholy air, with M3Z-Z0 confirming their suspicions. In many ways it was a relief as well. Ammi tried to stand up, nearly falling over, the alcohol hitting her hard. She forgot about reaching back out to Kalen after her trip to the Archives, feeling a need to lose herself. She'd stopped at a store on the way back to pick up her liquor, then snuck into the ship, grabbing her guitar, and then climbed up onto the roof just like old times. Like simpler times before she started to question things like this. The drink had been a poor choice, but necessary it seemed. She wasn't sure she was ready to deal with Kalen at the moment, not knowing where to begin. Was she still mad at him? Had she forgiven him? Should she have? Why had she run off like that? Was she trying to be spiteful? Or had she just seized the impulse to finally research her parents like she meant to over two years ago? She knew none of that. "Kalen?" she asked, a faint slur in her voice. "Is that you?" she asked, hesitant.