Aurelius—
Aurelius sweetheart its time
to blow out your candles.
His eyes flashed open, taking in a sharp gasp. They always opened at that moment in this dream,
No, this nightmare. Right before he’d gotten to see his mother’s face again. And it was the only place Aurelius was still his name. He sighed and turned over in his cot and winced – the gashes from that evening’s lashing still wept at his back. He hunted his conscious memory again, hoping he could squeeze any sort of small details to form his mother’s face.
Just her face, that’s all I want. But at least he could remember the likeness of her voice. It burned bright in his heart. But he hated himself for having such a fickle memory. Bits and pieces were scattered like breadcrumbs for him to follow. And what his memory did let him have more vividly than anything, was the painful day when his mother died. He tightened his eyes closed and tried to find sleep again. And then the sharp spraying of sand rattled at the door of the hovel .
A sandstorm. Worse than usual.
Gently, he sat up and glanced over to Ruri, another orphan who was fidgeting and whimpering to herself beneath her blanket. Credence peaked over at the other orphaned children who were also stirring in their cots and he sighed lightly. A few of them were freshly captured, freshly
stolen or sold to his master, Vance Quo and he held heavy sympathy for each and everyone them. Slavery was the best these children had on Tatooine. But, Credence was the oldest. He was the first and he had to keep these children calm. He had to keep them
safe. He felt a strong sense of responsibility, flutter through his ambitions. Sweeping the starchy blanket from him, he sat up and lit the lantern on the side perch. And just as he knew, all of them – were awake – and he gave them a small and inviting smile.
Ruri was the first out of bed. Her bare and sodden feet pattering over as she rubbed away her tears. She sat in front of his bed, glancing up and the other children followed and created an audience in front of him.
“We need to stay brave.” Credence began at a rasped and exhausted whisper. “We need to stay strong.” His glance fell on each of them, one by one. “You can’t let him see your weakness.” His head twitched lightly, ever so often by damaged nerves at his back attempting to scorn his bravery preach. But as he saw their eyes glisten, he only stayed content. “Tomorrow, the master is going to be taking us into Mos Eisley. You need to be quick and swift, like I showed you.” And showing them how to pick pocket burned regret through him, but they had to survive. “The Master has debts to pay, and if he can’t pay them -
his master will not be happy.” He trailed off a moment – those wounds at his back igniting with a fiery pain. He didn’t want to ever have to comfort them against wounds like...
these. There were things he remembered about his mother. Things that weren’t just aspects of teachings. Things he could . . .
feel. And other things were internal beliefs, something he was born to be.
a survivor. He remembered his father sparsely. He knew that the bastard was an Imperial supporter and Credence and his mother suffered for it – but that didn’t matter. Not here. Not in this wasteland. But he’d make sure he’d express those strengths his mother whispered to him to these children. He’d taught them the skills they needed. But it was up to them to do their part and apply. “Be swift.” He noted. “Be cautious.”
“And keep our eyes wide open.” They chanted back. Credence offered them a curt nod. He could feel the energy lighten up a bit more now. But when his eyes fell back to Ruri, he could feel how hard she was fighting back those tears.
“Back to bed.” He instructed at a whisper, “Ruri – can you help me with something?” And the little girl was quick to her feet, anticipation flooding through her while the frizz of her reddened hair bounced. Credence lead her towards the pantry, sparse of food and dusted. But before he could even turn around, she began sobbing. Credence lowered himself, to a knee and gripped her shoulders before taking her into a tight hug. She buried her face into his chest. “Shhh, Ruri, shhh. You’ll wake up Vance” He held her tight.
“Its all my fault, Credence. I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell him it was
me?” He could hear the frustration in her voice, so he pulled away and gave her a smile, even forced past his pain.
“Because I can handle it.” Credence allowed. “I can handle it and I would rather it be me than you. I’ll take the beating for all of you.” His thumb swiped a rolling tear off her cheek. “Don’t cry for me, Ruri.” He asked. “I will be fine, I promise.” And when her hands came up to brace his cheeks, he closed his eyes and felt a heavy kick to his heart. He could feel his surrendering of despair create a dampness in his eyes, but he didn’t want her to see it. He brought his hands up atop hers and pulled them down gently. He loved Ruri. He loved her so much and he hated that she had to be in this place. “Alright, little theif.” He sniffled. “Let’s get you back to bed.” He lifted her up and carried her back into their sleeping quarters. And on his way in, he caught sight of Vance peering in through the bars that imprisoned the brood of orphans. Credence paused, a chill running down his spine. He saw the man grin at him through his thickly matted beard and he curled a finger inward, calling him closer.
Credence felt trembling , but he lied Ruri down into bed and braved her a smile, hiding the fear that rattled his nerves. He gave her a gentle kiss against her brow and swept the blanket over, ensuring her toes were covered too. “Sleep now, little Ruri.” He whispered and gently turned, eyes scrapping the floor before giving them to Vance. Credence approached lightly, but held a stiffness to his posture.
Don’t let him see you’re fear. But Credence was terrified of this man. He’d always been so terrified. Because of what he would do to
them if he wasn’t in line.
“What are they doing awake?” And even at a whisper, Vance’s voice boomed deeply.
“J-just some nightmares.” Credence dropped his gaze. He could feel his hands trembling, “But they’re back to sleeping now.”
“Are they ready?”
“Yes.” He hushed, defeated.
“We need them to bring me some goods. Some real goods Credence.” Vance shot his hand through the bars and grabbed Credence by the collar and pulled him forward. With a light whimper, Credence tried his best not to make noise. “They better be good and ready, Credence. C’ause if they’re not, you’re gonna be the one diggin’ their graves. I’m not wasting food on useless mouths.”
“Th-they’re ready.” Credence strained at a whisper, gritting his teeth as he was pulled against the chipping rust. “I promise.” And when Vance finally let him go, Credence wanted nothing more than to reach through and slit Vance’s throat with the metal shard, stowed up his sleeve.
“Alright. Alright, good.” The pause was long and cold, while Credence waited for the next moment. “Meet me in Old Quarter, at Chalmun’s Cantina after you assign the children.” Credence nodded but knitted his brows in suspicion.
That was an odd request. Normally he’d be sent off near the spaceports—plucking—off the newly arrived. “And Credence . . . make sure no one foll’as ya. Got it?” He nodded his head and waited to be dismissed. “Get yer arse to bed, boy. No more midnighty story times.” Credence turned from him quickly – feeling the cold of his stare at his back. Anger boiled through him. He could feel the rage whisper something in the dark – poking at his desires. Desires for revenge. Desires for
freedom. Credence felt a sudden rush creep up his spine. It tingled and chipped away at his nerves and he nearly felt as if he were losing his grasp on his consciousness. He stumbled lightly, a throbbing pain in his head began to wave his vision. But when he finally made it back to his cot, he lied down and fell fast asleep…
Aurelius. Soft and sweet and . . .
M-mom? It was dark, but Credence swore his eyes were opened. He looked left, nothing. He searched right, still pitch. He looked up and saw a light. It was small, fickle, but it was so beautiful. Credence reached up towards it. He swore he could feel its warmth.
Aurelius… He stood on his tip toes.
Mom, I-I can’t reach you. And as the light began to fade, Credence panicked. He began to scream and shout and yell in anger as the light finally dimed to nothing against the black. He was left alone, in the dark, his sobbing echoing around him. After a while he didn’t realize the cold grow more frigid. He didn’t notice
that shadow—darker than the pitch—flutter down around him. But he
felt a sudden sense of numbing and then there was an rapid explosion, ripping through the abyss…
Credence woke with a gasp.
Another nightmare to marry my sorrows. He tightened his jaw and realized the rays of morning were bleeding beneath the doorway beyond their cage. Vance would be at the bars any minute now. Credence quickly swept from his bed and began to nudge the children one by one.
“Wake up.” He whispered. “Everyone, wake up.” And as they rubbed the sleep from their eyes, Credence rushed them. He tossed their clothes on each of their beds and scowled at a few of them when they’d lied back down. Seven children. He’d been caring for seven children and he needed them all to be successful today. Vance appeared at the gate – eyes sodden and narrow – searching for anything he didn’t like. They all stood in a perfect line from shortest to tallest. Hands at their side, chins up, voices ready to agree, their obedience.
“Well done, Credence. Now get them in the skiff.”
- -
The heat had already drained them all by the time they’d arrived in Mos Eisley. But the children were strong and they stayed brave like Credence. They were let off at the mouth of the market and as Vance took off, Credence begin stationing the children. There were small goods, lightweight and
low to the ground in purses and pockets. Credence sent the children into different districts, saving Ruri for the fruit stands. “Get us a nice bunch of sweets for tonight, okay?” He smiled at her and tapped her nose with his finger before allowing a hug. And as she ran off, he watched her a moment. He watched her and his smile faded as their distance grew. And as she dashed around a corner, he let out a sigh.
She’ll be okay. He knew.
She’ll be . . . just fine.” The streets were packed today and he had to shove through the crowd to try and reach Old Quarter briskly. A thundering boom silenced the crowd and they all glanced up as …
an Imperial Sentinel entered the atmosphere and hoovered in. Its wings swooped up and it slowly descended behind the tent tops near where Credence was heading. He paused. A gut feeling, but he shook off his instincts and headed further down. And as he found himself at the crossing, Credence stared at the cantina, ducking behind a swaying of freshly sewn linens. He watched as a handful of Storm Trooper marched into the cantina’s doors…
“Must be lookin’ for the princess.” Credence jumped and glanced behind him, then down at the smallest little old woman he’d ever seen.
“The princess?” Credence glanced back over, knitting his brows.
“Princess Leia, of course.” She chuckled as she folded a tan sheet. “I saw her sweep by here, a brood at her back. Not sure what brings her home, but she may have brought company.” Credence scuffed out a sarcastic chuckle and rolled his eyes.
“Don’t believe me? Suit yourself,
Aurelius. Credence paused, as that name hit him, hard. He parted his lips, but . . . couldn’t speak. Turning his head, gently he wondered how she knew his name. “Wh-who . . . are you? How do you know that name?”
“I know a lot about you, Aurelius. It only took one quick look for me to know. I’ve been watching you from a distance for a long while now. And I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through all of this. But I knew, when it was time, you’d be led right to me.” She set the sheet in her hands down and waddled towards him. And it was as if he closing distance forced him down onto his knees. His eyes were struck in a daze as he stared into her eyes. He swore he could see stars and planets and the swirling color collisions of the universal plight. And as he was down at her level, just like he’d been with Ruri the night prior, he watched this little woman embrace him tightly. “You look just like your mother.” And Credence shut his eyes tight to keep the tears from falling. Her embrace was so . . . familiar.
I’ve felt this before. He lied his brow against her chest. He didn’t understand what was happening.
“Who were you to me?” Credence whispered against her.
“I was your father’s servant. Irma” She whispered, rocking him lightly. “Everyone thought you were gone. But I knew. I knew you found your way. But now you’re back. Now, you can make a difference, as you were born too”
“I don’t understand.” Credence whispered.
“Oh, Aurelius - how can you not see? How can you not see what you are? You've the brightest soul of all of us. You’ve come from the light and you possess the dark. You are the balance the universe needs.” He wasn’t sure what everything meant. But he held onto her. He held onto her tight and tried his best to remember. “You were so small. So, very small when your father tried to push you. He was always forcing you to work at it.”
The . . . force Credence remembered. “The dark star. Your father wanted you to take control of it.” She paused and lifted off him. “And when you vanished out there he thought you were dead and he sold me off and here I came.” Credence felt that sudden chill creep up his spine again.
Dark … star . . . He tried to shake the feeling, but the heat was making his head pound now.
whispers pried at his ears. Thousands of whispers all shifting their tunes in unison. His heart began to race. His blood began to boil. His hands began to quake. “Aurelius…”
His eyes flashed open, and he glared at Irma. The chills and quakes and whispers quickly ceased. “No.” He growled and stood. “No, you don’t know me at all.” He whispered. “You’re just a witch.” And quickly he stormed off towards the cantina. Shaking his head, he refocused, but glanced behind him one last time. Huffing he faced back forward and forced himself to forget whatever that was.
Great, now Vance is going to have it out for me. He pushed through the entry crowd and found Vance sitting at a booth in the far east corner.
Why are we here? Annoyance bickered at him as he averted the chaos on his way over. Gently, he slipped into the opposing side.
“Well there ye are. What took ya?” Vance chewed on the crust of his ending cigar.
“It wont happen again.” He whispered.
“No mind to that.” He paused but leaned over on his elbows. “Don’t you have a branding on you?” Credence’s eyes shot up at him. He couldn’t lie, so he nodded hesitantly. “Show me again.” Credence sulked in his seat but turned his head slowly and gently pulled down the collar of his shirt. And there on his collar bone was the branding of an Empire seal. Vance started laughing. And a muster of Storm Troopers approached the booth. “That’s good. That’s real good.” Vance glanced at them and pointed. “It’s on his collar bone, beneath that shirt.” Credence glanced from Vance to the troopers in a panic.
“What’s going on?” Credence shifted back in his booth as one of the troopers reached for him.
“Sorry boy. But there’s a bounty on poor souls who have a branding on them. It means return at all costs. It means, reward, boy.”
“Wait – wait no.” Credence tried to hop over the booth, but the Trooper caught his arm and swung him down. A second rushed him and put a fist to his back. He felt his wounds reopen and he collapsed to his knees, breathless at first. With a heavy gasp he shot a pleading stare to Vance. “Please, please don’t.”
“Because of you, boy, those kids will get a full belly tonight and a long career as street pickers.” He laughed down at Credence and stood to leave. Credence hung his head, his strength fickle. Ruri’s face flashed before his eyes.
The whispers started meek at first. But as everything else around him muted out, the chants, they grew louder and quicker and stronger and then his eyes began to blacken over… The cantina erupted, engulfed in an entanglement of black chaos. It was a swarm, large and angry and static as it ripped apart the cantina and drove the masses into a panic. Credence saw it all. He…
was it all and he could see the faces of all the fleeing people. But they were not what he was after. The mass recollected into a spiraling mist of black. It slithered down and disintegrated Vance while he screamed.
