Chapter 23: Sight For Epra

Leah is seated on her bed, crossed legged, with the sword on her lap. She stares at the window for a moment, only to look down at it.

Her eyes trailing off to the shoulder of it, and to the guard-cross that holds the ridged blade in place.

The handle smooth, thin, and, curved, with the pommel having a short point to one side, like a beak.

Leah now moves her index finger, with it sliding across the edge of the blade. Starting from the shoulder, down to the point. She looks at her finger tip, and rubs off the visible blood with her thumb, only to bring it to her lips.

She sweeps her legs off the bed, and stands. Only for her to gracefully wave the sword, her eyes locking on each swipe.

The weight of it is not too heavy, with it resembling her old weapon. She holds it horizontally, and looks down at the handle, to see a button. Her thumb presses it, only for an electrical current to surge across the blade itself.

Her lips twist into a smirk, only for her to press the button, and the current stops.

Leah hears a knock at the door, snapping her gaze from the blade. She walks towards the door, and opens it, only to be greeted by the one guard. His clothes only being a gray shirt, dark blue pants.

"Hey." He said, calm and collected, his gaze turns to the sword in Leah's hand.

"It's lunch time now, want to join?"

"I'm sorry, not just yet." Leah answered him, with a slight smile while she scratches the side of her forehead.

"I'm still busy at the moment."

"Really?" He said, raising his eye brow, and takes a brief look in her room.

"You don't look busy."

Leah sighs, slightly shaking her head.

"Okay, I'll just meet you there in the canteen then."

"Okay." He said, turning, and walking away.

Leah locks her eyes on him until he's out of view, only for her to close the door.

She steps away from the door, and continues to examine the blade, rotating it as she looks at every detail. Only for her to walk towards the desk near her bed, and puts down the weapon.

Still she stares down at the blade before her, only for her eyes narrow.

Leah lets out a gasp, and takes out a device from her pocket, she scrolls through it, and brings it to her ear.

She paces from one side of the room, to the other, her hand tucked under her arm.

"Aven." She said, and stops, and frowns

"You're still there?" She shakes her head.

"Trust me, it's important." She continues to pace, only slower.

"That woman we apprehended. The weapon she used, I have it here with me."

She looks at the floor, still pacing, and sighs.

"My point..." She said, in irritation.

"Is that this isn't the first time I've seen it." She steps towards the desk, and stares down at it.

"This random weapon as you say..." She said, her lips twist into a smile.

"It's a blade, or more specific, a sword, a very well crafted one." She pauses, as her smile fades into a bitter look.

"Fine, remember on Epra?" She pauses once more, and turns her gaze to the mirror, starring at her own reflection, only to turn away, and slowly walks towards the other end of the room. "If that's where it came from, then that's probably where she, and her crew came from as well."

Leah darts her eyes now and again, a faint muffled voice is heard from the device.

"Yes, I know that, but it's likely that there are more of them." She turns around, and leans against the wall, and rests her foot on the surface.

"We can't risk another attack."

She pauses, as another muffled voice is heard from the device.

"Of course, just let me know what you think when you get back..." She looks down at the floor, and nods with a slight smile.

"Thanks... Bye."

She hangs up, and puts it back in her pocket. Only for her to look at the blade on the table.

Taking a deep breathe, and letting it out. She opens the door, and walks out.

A few moments go by...

People are seen sitting by tables. Multiple voice chatter echoes throughout the canteen itself. One of the tables has a group, joking and laughing amongst themselves.

Leah is seen walking through a row of tables. Keeping her gaze ahead, only to look at a few individuals at their seat, catching a gaze from some of the men and woman.

"Leah!" the same young man from earlier, called out with a wave from corner of the canteen. She smiles, and walks faster towards the table, only to take a seat across him.

"Here." He said, moving one of the wrapped parcels to her.

"Eat." He brings his own near him, and unwraps it, and takes a bite out of the sandwich. His eyes widen with a smile on his stuffed face.

Leah slowly nods with slight smile, and averts her eyes, as she tries not to feel awkward at the sight of him chewing.

After a moment, he swallows, only to clear his throat with his eyes staring at her.

"So..." He said, his voice trailing off, urging her to meet his gaze.

"You're very quiet today, what's on your mind?" He takes another big bite from his sandwich.

Leah stares at him with a frown, only avert her eyes once more, her arms now crossed.

"What would you do if you found out that someone close to you, did terrible things?" She said, looking at him, her eyes now narrowing.

He slightly shrugs his shoulder as he still chews on his sandwich.

"I'm serious, Kase." She said, frowning. For a friend he isn't very considerate of what she just said.

Kase stops chewing with a frownful look on his face.

"Just answer my question. I want to know." Leah demands, with a stern look in her eyes.

Kase stops chewing, and swallows. He leans forward, before resting his elbows on the table.

"Do I look I have all the answers?"

Leah sighs, averting her gaze for a moment.

"Sorry..." She looks down at the table.

"I don't know what came over me."

Kase puts down his half eaten sandwich.

"Want an answer?" He looks at her closely, urging her to look up at him.

"You go, and ask questions. That's the only way to know for sure." He leans back before picking up his sandwich to take another bite.

Leah stares at him for a moment, and forms smile. She leans forward, looking into his eyes.

"How would you feel to go for a trip?"

Mase coughs with his hand cuffed over his mouth, and swallows.

"What?" He eyes widen.

"You want to go on a trip?"

"Yes." She nods.

"It's important, and I thought that you'd want to come with me."

Kase peirces his lips, eye brows raised.

"Where to?" His head slightly tilted.

"Senteria, Waranthal, what ?"

Leah chuckles, and shakes her head.

"No." Her smile fades.

"I was thinking along the lines of Epra."

Kase's eyes widen.

"Epra?" He clears his throat.

"As in the planet, Epra?"

"Yes." She said, still with a calm look on her face.

"Away from home? Why?"

"The ship that invaded." She said, unwrapping her sandwich.

"I think I know where it came from." She brings the sandwich to her mouth, before taking a bite out of it.

"And..." He stared blankly ahead, only to look at her.

"You think it came from Epra?"

Leah nods, and stops chewing only to swallow.

"Exactly."

"But, why go there?"

"I need to know who's behind the invasion." Leah said, taking another bite.

Kase nods with an averted gaze, and stares for a moment. Only to look at Leah once more.

"What about that woman?"

"Who?" She narrows her eyes.

"The one you apprehended." He said, leaning forward, before crossing his arms on the table.

"Couldn't you ask her?"

Leah puts her sandwich down, and sits back with her arms crossed.

"She won't give me answers." Leah said, shaking her head, as she stares at a group talking amongst themselves. Her eyes narrow in on him.

"It's pointless."

"I see..." He said, flickering his eyes in thought.

"So... What about your brother, did you tell him?" He looks at her, calm and collected.

Leah simply stares at him for a moment.

"I told him about it." She said, only to sigh.

"He didn't seem very interested."

"So he's not coming?" He said, picking up his sandwich, and takes another bite.

Leah chuckles, and shakes her head with a fading smile.

"He's more worried about that friend of his."

Kase stops chewing and swallows.

"You seem a bit upset about that." He said, only to put the final piece in his mouth, and wipes his hands off.

"No..." Leah said, shaking her head.

"He's been friends with her for a long time." She sighs.

"It's understandable."

Kase swallows the last piece of the sandwich, and crumbles the wrapping.

"You've got a point there." He said, dropping it on the table.

"So when do you want to go?"

Leah widens her eyes with smile.

"So you're coming?" She asked, leaning forward.

"Yes." He said, nodding with a smile.

"I want to help. After all, what are friends for?"

Leah's lips twitch into a smile.

"Thank you, Kase." She said, looking at the group on the far side of the canteen.

"I'll let you know when I'm ready." She looks at him once more.

"Sounds good to me." Kase said, standing up from his seat.

"See you around, Leah." He taps her shoulder, and walks towards the exit.

Leah looks over her shoulder, and watches until Kase is out of view. Only for her to look ahead.

Thoughts circle through her mind, about going to the planet Epra. Being away from her home planet once again is risky.

Epra, a planet for most species across the galaxy to spend their time buying and selling goods. Most would call it a save haven for those that are wanted for crimes they've commited on their own planets. If she travels there, she'll need to tred carefully.

Leah sighs, only to pick up her sandwich, and takes a bite. She chews slowly, as she starts thinking up a plan.