juliatheawzom3274  , Word prompt contest

Word prompt  1: Family

-Reetha Khan-

Order 66. Who knew, that in just two words, my life would be over. I was at the temple when the order was executed. I was in my quarters when I heard people screaming outside my doors. When I went out to look, I was greeted immediately by blaster fire. 

"Get the Jedi!" One of the clones shouted as soon as they saw me. I tried to talk some sense into them, my friends, but it never worked. I was so scared, all I wanted to do then was run and hide with my other Jedi. 

Chased down the halls of the temple with the clones hot on my feet, I managed to deflect every blast shot at me towards anywhere along the corridors, except the clones. I could not bring myself to hurt them when I felt the same confusion and pain rippling off them as they hunted down the Jedi. I sensed that this was beyond their control. 

Several Jedi including myself managed to escape to Coruscant's lower levels. There we stayed hidden temporarily from the newly formed Galactic Empire, as they continued their relentless hunt to completely eradicate the Jedi. It eventually forced us to run off-world. Some Coruscantians who still believed that the Jedi did not betray the Republic offered us sanctuary and smuggled us pass the Imperial Blockade that surrounded the planet at the time.

My master, however, perished during the Jedi Purge.

---

"Shaeeah, Jek! Stop running." Reetha jogged down a small slope after the two teenage Twi'leks. Shaeeah was 16 and her brother Jek just turned 14. Just two years after the Purge, Reetha ran off-world to hide from the Empire, just as she and her fellow Jedi survivors planned. 

Reetha decided to hide on Selucami. A planet that she visited once with the 212th and the 501st. According to Captain Rex, he once told her that the planet had no major starports or dense population, meaning it would be perfect for her to lay low. A real backwater skug-hole. She found herself at the home of the clone deserter, Cut Lawquane. 

After the order, she managed to get in contact with Rex. He had advised her to meet up with Cut. Rex mentioned that he had spoken to Cut it was agreed that Reetha would stay with Cut. Rex also mentioned that Cut was an honourable and brave man and tat Rex trusted him.

It was the first week of spring on the planet, so Cut Lawquane and his beautiful Twi'lek wife, Suu, agreed for Reetha and their two children to camp out by the nearby river. Reetha being two years older than Shaeeah, took the responsibility to take care of the siblings.

Finally, after two hours of walking, ally found the river and begun to set up the tents. 

"This is going to be the best camp out ever!" Shaeeah jumped out of her finished tent and walked over to Reetha. 

Reetha smiled and shook her head, amused by the excited Twi'lek. "You said that about the camp last year." 

"And the camp before that year, and the year before that." Jek laughed and walked over to help Reetha finish the tent. After thanking him, the three begun unloading the fishing supplies. 

"Okay, so let's make a bet," Jek announced to the two girls. 

Shaeeah rolled her eyes. "Can you not go a day without making a bet. It's like, all you do." 

"What? No, I don't! Reetha, tell this sister of mine that I do more than just make bets" 

Reetha turned to Jek and met his pleading eyes. "Well, she's not far off from the truth, you know." She laughed as Shaeeah bumped fists with hers. 

Jek's face morphed into mock hurt. "You're kidding me. Reetha, you should know me better by now." He laughed then bent down to the river to splash some water onto the two unsuspecting girls.

The girls gasped as the cold water touched their skin. "You did not!" Reetha laughed. She was about to splash Jek with water when Shaeeah playfully pushed her into the river. 

"Shaeeah!" Reetha spluttered. Shaeeah was standing quite close to her, Reetha quickly swiped her left leg under the female Twi'lek and successfully made her fall into the cold water. 

"Haha..!" Jek wheezed out when his sister shrieked. 

Noticing that Jek was distracted, she nudged Shaeeah and together the both of them crept towards Jek and tackled him into the shallow river. 

"Hey! Two against one. Unfair!" Jek tried to push the two giggling girls away from him. 

"You started it Jek." Reetha poked his face playfully, making him pout. 

The three teenagers continued to bicker along the shallow river. Laughter filled the air as the three continued to bask in the peace that surrounded them. 

After what seemed like hours and hours of mud wars and fishing, Reetha and her Twi'lek companions finally decided to call it a day. 

---

The warmth from the fire brought a silent comfort for the three. The stars that decorated the night sky shone upon them, drowning them in an imaginary world of which no one could tear them from. 

Jek turned his head to the side and found Reetha looking at the stars, obviously lost in thought. Her serene and calm face became hard and cold and sad. It was a  look that Jek had begun to observe. Reetha only Jedi wore it when she recalled certain memories from her past. 

"I'm calling it a night. We had too much fun today it wore me out," he announced then slowly nudged Shaeeah's side. "You might want to talk to her." He whispered and tilted his head towards Reetha. Jek bid them goodnight and retreated to his tent.

"The stars are very beautiful." the Twi'lek reached a hand out as if to reach the stars. 

Reetha hummed in agreement.

 Shaeeah watched as the other girl's eyes sparkle to life for just a brief second, then die down in an instant. The Twi'lek sighed "You're bothered by something, sister." 

Shaeeah always called her sister whenever something troubled her. Jek would pick up on Reetha's sadness and worry, and leave the talking to Shaeeah. 

"I'm not." Reetha lied. 

Shaeeah rolled her eyes and sat up on her elbow, leaning towards the Jedi. "You always say that. I know that whenever you say 'I'm not' or 'Everything is okay', I know for sure it's not okay." 

"How perceptive. You know, if I didn't know you were not Force sensitive, I would have assumed you were. Given how often you realize my troubles." 

Shaeeah chuckled. "You should thank Jek. I just do the talking." 

Shaeeah laid down again and returned her gaze to the stars. "Look, I understand if you don't want to talk and I understand if you want to keep this to yourself. But, believe me, it's better to let it out than keep it in. Emotions like these can poison the best of us." 

Reetha raised an eyebrow and turned to face the Twi'lek, smiling. "Perceptive AND wise, young one." 

"I, I was just thinking of my time in the Grand Army of the Republic." After pondering on Shaeeah's words, it made Reetha realize that her wounds would not heal if she continued to keep her bitter memories bottled up. 

Shaeeah reached towards the Jedi's hand and squeezed it comfortingly, encouraging Reetha to speak her mind. 

"When I was just a padawan, I was probably the most lonely person to walk the temple's halls. I was a complete introvert and always choose to stay away from the other padawan's. Of course, my master always encouraged me to come out of my shell."

Reetha kept silent for a moment, holding Shaeeah's hand tightly but not hurting the girl. 

"Everything changed after I met the clones. It was slow to befriend them at first, but after a while, I got to personally know them, not as numbers, but as individuals. Real people with real feelings, hopes and dreams, and people who understood me."

Shaeeah hummed softly. "They sound like wonderful people." 

This made Reetha laugh fondly as she recalled her fond memories.

"I remember once, my master, my clone commander and myself crash landed on a moon habited my these teeny-tiny little creatures. They tried to attack us with these tiny little spears. My clone commander, Commander Fonse, he tried to negotiate with them, but the creatures mistook him as one of their gods and began to worship him then crowned him their leader." 

Shaeeah laughed as Reetha slowly recalled storied of the adventures she'd been on with her master and clones. From the joy in Reetha's voice, Shaeeah already knew that her clones and master meant the world to her, and they really did. 

"In the end, they became my closest friends, the only people I could trust with my troubles. I loved them and I promised myself I'd protect them just as they protected me. The clones, I saw as my brothers and they saw me as their sister, and  my master I saw as my parent. My mother."

Reetha's voice at this point cracked. The pain she felt dripped of every word she spoke. "But then Order 66 happened, and the Purge, and...I guess you know the rest." 

Without waiting any more, Shaeeah threw herself onto Reetha, hugging her tightly as Reetha began to sob and cry. She trembled in Shaeeah's arms. All the painfull memories of the Purge flooding back to her. 

Shaeeah continued to comfort Reetha "No matter where they are now, they know you've done your best to protect them. Just like they protected you. My mother and father tell me that those closest to us who pass on are always by our side, watching over us." 

Shaeeah realsed Reetha and laid on her side and looked at the Jedi with kind eyes.  "I know you miss your family. They are amazing people. I don't want to force this on you Reetha, but I want you to know this." 

The Twi'lek drew in a deep breath and prepared to speak her next words. "When you found our farm, I was so surprised to see a Jedi. I was so happy to have another girl in the house. Since then, I have always looked up to you. Jek has to. We see you as our sister. I won't force you if you don't wa-"

"I am honoured to be your sister, Shaeeah." Reetha cut her off softly. "And I am proud to call you my sister. My family. "

"I love you soo much." Shaeeah lunged and hugged Reetha tightly. Her older sister. Reetha hugged with the ferocity and passion of a sister.

---

On the third day, around noon, the three teens finally reached the farm. Suu and Cut greeted them at the door. 

"I see you kids finally came back. I began to think you might have decided to become Wilderpeople." Cut joked as he saw his three children screening to a halt before they crashed into him. Suu went to hug all her three children. 

The family entered the house and sat at the hall. Jek went on telling Cut about their camp. A few exaggerated moments here and there, but it was perfect. 

Reetha joined in the talk when she accidently called Cut 'Dad'. 

"I- Uhm. What I meant was-"

Cut noticed Reetha freeze up but then smiled. "I love you too, daughter." 

"And we all want you as our family. That is if you will have us." Suu reached across the table and held one of Reetha's hands. 

Jek and Shaeeah smiled and nodded at Reetha, confirming what her mother had said. 

"I will." Reetha smiled and held on tightly to Suu's, no, her mother's hand. 

At night, Reetha slept peacefully in the room she shared with Shaeeah and Jek. She smiled contently. She had a family after all.