Wayfarer's Promise - Part Two - A New Home

Posted on Wed Sep 2nd, 2026 @ 11:38pm by Shipmaster Allore Titha & Chief Specialist Illenya Titha & Deckhand Kyle Titha & Deckhand Miran Titha

3,020 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Daiyu
Location: Daiyu — Commercial Shipyards- Docks
Timeline: 3 days Since the destruction of the Gauntlet

The Wayfarer’s Promise was right there. Illenya could see the freighter through the gaps between stacked cargo containers and the constant movement of repulsor carts crossing the starport. It sat several hundred metres away on its assigned pad, looking exactly like what it claimed to be: an independent cargo vessel preparing for departure. Fuel lines ran beneath its belly. A maintenance cart was parked beside one of the landing struts. Cargo handlers moved pallets toward neighbouring ships. Somewhere beyond the maze of loading bays, an engine coughed into life with a roar that briefly drowned out every other sound. Nothing about the Promise stood out. That was good. Right now, ordinary was the best disguise any of them could have. Illenya remained in the shadow of the freight stack, one hand resting lightly on Kyle's shoulder.

At nine, he understood enough to know they were in danger. Unfortunately, he was also nine, which meant he kept trying to look around the container despite Illenya having told him three times not to. She pulled him back. "Stop."

"I was only looking."

"That's the problem."

Kyle scowled but obeyed.

Miran, meanwhile, had abandoned any pretence that she wasn't interested in the ship.
The five-year-old peered through the gap beneath Illenya's arm. "That's it?"

Illenya glanced down. "Yes."

"The big one?"

"Yes."

Miran's eyes widened. "Allore bought that?"

Illenya looked back toward the freighter. Even from here, the Wayfarer's Promise looked enormous compared with the ship they had been accustomed to. "Apparently."

"Can we keep it?"

Kyle snorted. Illenya almost smiled. "I think that's generally what buying something means."

Beside them, Tex emitted a series of electronic whistles. Miran immediately looked at the astromech.

"What did he say?"
"Nothing important."

Tex produced an indignant squawk. Kyle grinned. "He said you're grumpy."

"He did not."

The astromech chirped. Kyle's grin widened.

Illenya glared at the droid. "You're supposed to be watching for Imperials."

Tex's dome rotated away from her with exaggerated innocence. Illenya shook her head. For half a second, everything almost felt normal. Then she saw the stormtroopers. Her expression changed instantly. "Back." Kyle reacted immediately. He caught Miran by the arm and drew her deeper into the shadows. Illenya stepped in front of them. Two stormtroopers were crossing the loading concourse. An Imperial security officer walked between them. They weren't rushing. They weren't searching containers. They weren't even particularly interested in the people around them. That somehow made them worse. They were simply there. A permanent reminder that the Empire was everywhere now. The officer stopped a cargo worker. A datapad was presented. Checked.
Returned. The patrol continued. Illenya kept her head down. She could feel Kyle behind her. Miran had gone completely silent. Tex didn't make a sound. The patrol passed the end of the freight lane without turning toward them. Illenya waited. Five seconds. Ten.
Only when the stormtroopers disappeared behind another stack did she move again.

Kyle whispered, "Were they looking for us?"

"I don't think so."

"That's not a no."

Illenya glanced at him. He'd been spending too much time around Allore. "No," she said firmly. "They weren't."

Miran reached for her hand. Illenya took it. The message from Allore had arrived twenty-three minutes earlier. Short. Encrypted. Very Allore. Promise secured. I'm aboard. Do not approach together. That had been followed by instructions. Illenya hadn't liked those. She still didn't. But she couldn't deny the reasoning behind them. A teenage girl wandering through a starport wasn't particularly remarkable. Neither was an astromech attached to a cargo vessel. A pair of children could disappear inside freight. Put all four together, however, and people remembered them. Especially now. Especially here.
Illenya crouched in front of Kyle. "You remember everything?" He nodded. "Tell me."

"Stay with Miran."

"Yes."

"Stay with Tex."

"Yes."

"Don't leave the cart."

"Good."

"If something goes wrong, Tex takes us away from the ship."

Tex whistled. Illenya nodded. "And?"

Kyle sighed. "Do whatever Tex says." The astromech gave a pleased chirp.

"Without arguing," Illenya added.

"I don't argue."

Illenya stared at him. Miran stared at him. Tex slowly rotated his dome until his photoreceptor was pointed directly at Kyle. Kyle frowned. "Fine. Without arguing."

"Good." Illenya turned to Miran. The little girl was staring at her now. "You're going?"

Illenya's confidence faltered for just a moment."Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I need to get onto the ship first."

"Why?"

Because if something went wrong, she didn't want all of them caught together. Because Allore needed somebody aboard who could help. Because a fourteen-year-old could get through the checkpoint much more easily without two frightened children beside her.
Because if the Empire found out who any of them really were— Illenya pushed the thought away. "Because Allore needs my help." That answer Miran understood.

"But we're coming?"

"Of course you're coming."

"Promise?"

Illenya squeezed her hand. "Promise."

Miran considered that before nodding. Illenya stood. She looked at Kyle. Then Tex.
"Keep them safe." The astromech gave a quiet, determined whistle. Illenya took a breath. Then stepped out into the crowd.

The clothes helped. She'd changed in a public refresher well below the starport. Her usual clothes were now buried at the bottom of a refuse chute. Instead, Illenya wore stained work trousers, heavy boots, a faded shirt and a utility jacket that was slightly too large for her. A battered tool satchel hung over one shoulder. The datapad was the most important part. Illenya had discovered that people carrying datapads looked like they belonged somewhere. So she carried one. She didn't hurry. That was difficult. Every instinct told her to get to the Promise as quickly as possible. She ignored it. People in a hurry were noticed. People late for a maintenance shift weren't. She moved with the flow of workers. Past a refuelling crew. Past a pair of mechanics. Past three spacers arguing loudly about docking fees. Past an Imperial officer who didn't even look at her. The Wayfarer's Promise grew larger. Illenya kept walking. She could see the open crew access hatch now. Twenty metres. Fifteen. Ten. A cargo hauler rolled across her path.
Illenya stopped. Waited. Didn't look over her shoulder. The hauler passed. She continued. A starport technician stood beside the hatch with a portable terminal. He looked up as she approached. "Ship?"

Illenya handed him the datapad. "Wayfarer's Promise. Engineering support."

He glanced at the screen. "You're crew?"

"Temporary." Another glance. Illenya tried not to hold her breath. The technician tapped something. For one horrible second, nothing happened. Then the terminal chirped. He handed the datapad back. "Captain's aboard."

"I know."

The technician had already looked away. Illenya stepped through the hatch. One metre.
Two. Three. The outer hatch disappeared behind her. She continued until the inner pressure door closed. The indicator changed from amber to green. Only then did Illenya breathe properly. "You took your time."

She looked up.

Allore was leaning against the opposite bulkhead with her arms folded. Illenya still hadn't entirely adjusted to the hair. Purple. Not subtly purple, either. And threaded through it were unmistakable teal highlights. It was certainly one way to make yourself look nothing like an Imperial facial-recognition file.

Illenya gave her a flat look. "I had two children and an astromech to get across an Imperial-controlled starport." Allore raised an eyebrow.

"You don't have two children."

"It certainly feels like I do."

The corner of Allore's mouth twitched. Then the humour vanished. "Where are they?"

"With Tex. Exactly where you told us to wait."

Allore pushed away from the wall. "Good. Come on."

Illenya fell into step beside her. "I still hate this plan."

"You mentioned that."

"I'm mentioning it again."

"Noted."

"They're going inside a cargo container, Allore."

"A modified cargo container."

"That's not better."

"It's ventilated."

Illenya stared at her. "It has an internal release." Still staring. "Water?"

"Allore."

"And blankets."

"Stop helping."

Allore almost smiled again. Almost. Then she became serious. "If anything looks wrong, Tex doesn't come here."

"I told him."

"He takes them to the secondary location."

"I know."

"We wait thirty minutes and—"

"I know."

Allore stopped.

Illenya stopped with her. For a moment neither spoke. Then Illenya said quietly, "They're scared."

Allore's expression softened. "I know."

"Miran keeps asking when she gets to see you."

Something flickered across Allore's face. "Soon."

"That's what I told her."

Allore nodded. "Then we'd better make sure you weren't lying."
==

Tex rolled into the freight depot towing a standard repulsor pallet. Nobody paid any attention. Astromechs were everywhere around a working starport. They guided maintenance carts. Ran diagnostics. Moved equipment. Swore electronically at organics who got in their way. Tex fitted in beautifully. The collection order was registered to the Wayfarer's Promise. Food concentrates. Water filters. Medical supplies. Replacement couplings. Machine lubricant. Cleaning supplies. Linens. Various engineering components. And several large freight containers. Two were exactly what their manifests claimed. The third wasn't. Inside, Kyle sat with his back against the wall. Miran was pressed against his side. There was plenty of air. Allore had seen to that.
Ventilation ports had been cut beneath the container's upper lip, invisible unless someone knew where to look. The internal cargo frame had been removed, giving them more room. Blankets covered the deck plating. There was water. There was even an emergency release. None of that made being inside a box particularly enjoyable.

Miran whispered, "Kyle?"

"What?"

"Are we moving?"

"I think so."

"How do you know?"

Kyle considered this. "Because we're moving."

"Oh." A moment passed.

"Is Illenya there already?"

"Probably."

"Probably?"

"She's there."

"You said probably."

Kyle sighed. "She's there."

Miran was quiet for approximately seven seconds. "Is Allore there?"

"Yes."

"Definitely?"

"Definitely."

"How do you know?"

"Because she bought the ship."

"Oh."

Another silence. Then— "Why did she buy such a big ship?"

Kyle had absolutely no idea. "Because she's Allore."

Miran accepted this immediately. Outside, Tex chirped. Kyle leaned closer to the ventilation slot. "What?" Another whistle. Kyle smiled.

"We're leaving." Miran grabbed his hand. The repulsor pallet moved.
________________________________________
On Deck Five of the Wayfarer's Promise, Allore stood over the cargo-control terminal.
Illenya stood beside her. The display showed routine cargo traffic around the ship. Nothing remarkable. Nothing suspicious. Then a tiny identification marker appeared.
Illenya leaned closer. "Tex."

"Yes."
The astromech was moving toward them. Illenya folded her arms. Allore glanced sideways. "You're going to wear a trench in my deck."

"I'm standing still."

"Emotionally."

Illenya looked at her. "What does that even mean?"

"I'll explain when you're older."

"I'm fourteen, not four."

"Exactly."

Illenya opened her mouth. The marker stopped. Neither of them spoke. Allore straightened. Illenya moved closer to the display. "Why did he stop?"

Allore enlarged the feed. The cargo pallet hadn't moved. Ten seconds. Fifteen. Twenty.
Illenya's hand moved instinctively toward her side. There was no lightsaber there.

Allore noticed anyway. "Don't."

"I'm not doing anything."

"You're thinking about doing something."

"Can you actually tell that?"

Allore looked at her. Illenya narrowed her eyes. "You're horrible."

"Frequently."

Thirty seconds. Then Tex moved again. Both exhaled. Allore checked the traffic information. "Cargo crossing."

Illenya muttered something. Allore looked at her. "Very Jedi."

"I'm not currently taking criticism." The marker continued toward the ship.
________________________________________
The cargo lift descended to Deck Five. Allore waited beside the receiving area. Illenya stood approximately half a metre behind her despite having been told twice to remain by the control station. Allore had decided there were battles worth fighting. That wasn't one of them. The lift stopped. Heavy doors opened. Tex rolled out first. The astromech immediately launched into a triumphant series of whistles. Illenya rushed forward.
"Where are they?" Tex turned his dome toward the cargo pallet.

Allore didn't move yet. She checked the lift. Checked the cargo sensors. Checked the corridor. Then she closed the lift doors. Locked cargo access. "Now."

Illenya was already beside the third container. Allore crossed to it. She tapped the release. Nothing happened. Illenya looked at her. "Allore."

"Give me a second."

"Why isn't it opening?"

"It's a cargo container, Illenya. Not a thermal detonator."

"That's not reassuring!"

Allore hit the release again.
The mechanism clunked. The door opened. Kyle blinked in the sudden light. Miran stared out. For perhaps half a heartbeat, nobody moved. Then Miran's entire face changed. "ALLORE!"

She launched herself out of the container. Allore barely had enough time to crouch. Miran collided with her. Allore caught her with a surprised grunt, and the five-year-old immediately wrapped both arms around her neck. "You got a big ship!"

Allore laughed. Apparently that was the important part. "I did."

"It's really big."

"I noticed."

"Is it ours?"

"It is."

Miran hugged her tighter. Kyle climbed out behind her. He was trying very hard to look dignified. It lasted approximately two seconds. Allore opened her other arm. Kyle went to her. She pulled him against her side. "Hey."

"Hey."

"You all right?"

Kyle nodded against her. "Yeah."

Allore didn't point out that he was crying. Neither did Illenya. Miran pulled back just enough to look at Allore's head. Her eyes widened. "Your hair!" Allore froze. Illenya covered her mouth. Miran reached out and touched one of the teal sections. "It's purple."

"Yes."

"And blue."

"Teal."

"Blue."

"Teal."

Miran considered it. "Blue."

Kyle started laughing. Illenya lost the battle and laughed too. Allore stared at all three of them.
"I survived an Inquisitor for this." That only made it worse. Tex whistled loudly.
Allore looked over. The astromech issued another series of electronic complaints.

"Yes," Allore said. "You did very well." Another chirp. "Exceptionally well." Tex rolled closer.

Miran immediately reached down and patted his dome. "Tex saved us."

"So I gathered." For a moment, Allore simply looked at them. They weren't related by blood. That had never mattered. Somewhere along the way, through the Temple, war, fear, loss and the collapse of everything familiar, they'd become a family because they'd chosen to be one. Perhaps that was stronger. Allore had chosen them. They had chosen her. And somehow they kept choosing one another. She looked around the cargo deck.
When she'd first walked aboard the Wayfarer's Promise, its size had been almost overwhelming. Too many corridors. Too many rooms. Too many empty spaces.
Now it didn't feel quite so empty. Illenya glanced around. "So."

Allore recognised that tone. "So?"

"How big is this thing?"

"Large."

"I can see that."

"Then why did you ask?"

Illenya gave her a look. Kyle was staring upward. "How many decks?"

"Eight."

His head snapped around. "Eight?"

"Eight."

Miran's eyes widened. "Do we live here?"

Allore smiled. "That's generally the idea."

"Where?"

"Deck Two."

"All of us?"

"All of us."

Illenya looked at her. "Really?"

Allore nodded. "Command cabins and three crew cabins. Captain's cabin is mine. Jaden has the First Mate's cabin. Navigator's cabin stays empty until we actually get one."

"And us?"

"Three crew cabins."

Kyle's expression changed.

"Do we share?"

"No."

He blinked. "No?"

"You each have your own."

Miran stared. "I get a room?"

"Cabin."

"Room."

"Cabin."

"Can I have purple?" Illenya burst out laughing again.

Allore looked offended. "There is nothing wrong with purple."

"Nothing at all," Illenya said.

Kyle pointed at Allore's hair. "Obviously."

Allore narrowed her eyes. "Your cabin assignment is not irreversible."

Kyle immediately became innocent. "I didn't say anything."

Tex whistled. "Nobody asked you." Another whistle. Miran giggled. Allore stood, still holding Miran's hand. "Come on."

"Where?"

"Home." The word slipped out before Allore really thought about it. Everyone went quiet.
Even Tex. Allore looked toward the lift. For so long, home had been somewhere behind them. Something lost. Something destroyed. Something they couldn't return to. Maybe that needed to change. She looked back at the others. "Deck Two."

Miran immediately ran for the lift. "I'M PICKING MY CABIN!"

Kyle bolted after her. "No! I get first pick!"

"You both already have assigned cabins," Allore called. Neither listened. Tex rolled after them at considerably greater speed than necessary. Illenya remained beside Allore. Together they watched the chaos disappear into the lift. "You're really giving them separate cabins?"

"We have the space."

Illenya nodded. "And me?"

"Also separate."

"Good."

Allore raised an eyebrow. Illenya shrugged. "I love them." A shriek came from inside the lift. "KYLE!" Illenya closed her eyes. "But I don't want to sleep with them." Allore laughed.
They walked toward the lift. Illenya glanced sideways at her.

"Are we leaving soon?"

"As soon as we can."

"Do they know we're here?"

Allore's smile faded. That question had a very different answer. She glanced back toward the sealed cargo access. "No."

Illenya watched her. "Do you think we're safe?"

Allore considered lying. She decided against it. "No."

Illenya nodded slowly. "But," Allore continued, "we have a ship. We have supplies. We have somewhere to sleep. And nobody is separating us."

Illenya looked toward the lift where Kyle and Miran were now loudly arguing over who got to press the button. A small smile appeared. "That's something."

Allore slipped an arm around her shoulders. "It's a start."

They stepped into the lift. Tex was occupying the centre. Kyle and Miran had somehow both managed to get one finger onto the Deck Two control. The doors began to close.
Miran looked up at Allore. "Can we paint my room?"

"Cabin."

"Can we paint my cabin?"

"We'll discuss it."

"Purple?" Illenya made a choking noise.

Allore pointed at her. "Not one word." The doors closed on Illenya's laughter. The Wayfarer's Promise was still just a ship. A battered independent freighter full of empty cabins, old machinery, mismatched components and more space than Allore had quite known what to do with. But as the lift carried them toward Deck Two, with Miran talking over Kyle, Tex objecting to both of them and Illenya still laughing beside her, something had changed. The ship wasn't empty anymore. And perhaps, given time, the Wayfarer's Promise might become exactly what its name suggested. A promise. Not that they would be safe. Not that the Empire would never find them. Not even that tomorrow would be better. Just that whatever came next, they would face it together.

TBC

 

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