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_ "It's one thing to have a child- quite another to pass on all you know to that child and see them grow from it. Even if their path diverges from your own, a piece of you remains with them- and if you're wise, compassionate and a little bit lucky, they will look back, know it, and love you for it." _

~ Master Bran

"There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no chaos; there is order. There is no death; there is the Force."

"That was the Jedi Code that was taught to me, drilled into my head for nearly a decade of my life while I was raised and trained as a Jedi on Coruscant. Like many others, I questioned the Code constantly- but I took it a step further and actually checked it myself. There seemed to be something wrong beneath the surface of the Code that I couldn't quite place at first."

Ekibo's winter morning was enjoyably brisk, a chill that buffeted pleasantly over the collection of Force sensitives sitting or standing near and against the Gold Rush, with the wide, remaining expanse of the landing pad at their disposal. Kajex, Locke and Moarn stood before the students; Syrra and Keris sat at opposite ends of the row; with Kentoh, Mica, and the 'Rah twins between them; Rexxis, meanwhile, stood off to the side and peered intently at the instructors.

"What was it?" Kentoh asked, as he adjusted his seat.

"A recurring theme of absolution," Kajex replied. "'There is no 'x', there is 'y''. When I look back at the Jedi Order back then, I see what they were trying to do. Bitter as I might be for some of my circumstances... I get it. They were trying to do the right thing. But sometimes the road to Chaos is paved with good intentions and misguided instructions- especially when you're too rigid to change direction." He turned to Moarn. "I found it unwise that the Code, as it was explained, rejected elements of the universe. There is chaos in the universe, things that occur wildly and are independent of the Force itself; ignorance is simply a facet of existence, knowing only that you may never know everything; emotion is intrinsic to the existence of sentient beings; passion, when tempered with wisdom and patience, is vital to growth and remaining steadfast in your convictions; and death..."

He paused, staring at Kentoh for a few moments. "... Death is a natural part of life, and the Force. It would be foolish to assume that our presence is eternal- and that's okay. It gives life meaning to know that our time is limited, and that we have much to offer and experience before we kick it."

Moarn nodded. "Scrutiny of the Jedi Code is acceptable, especially considering how adherence to it from an absolutist mindset led to many of the shortcomings of the old Order; and it is very true that the Code was subjected to personal interpretation by nearly every Jedi at every rank- even Grand Masters. Even as part of the same Order, we were all individuals. Nevertheless, the Jedi Code remained central as a guide for Jedi to follow- although how it was articulated was never consistent." The Trandoshan gestured to Kajex. "As Sentinel Surnahm has pointed out, both he and I were introduced to the same Code- and as it happens, we are both aware that it was not the original Code. There is an older, clearer version that existed long before the Jedi librarian Odan-Urr modified it."

"Emotion; yet peace. Ignorance; yet knowledge. Passion; yet serenity. Chaos; yet harmony. Death; yet the Force." Moarn paused. "The distinction is clearer, acknowledging that emotion, ignorance, passion, chaos and death are realities in the universe; yet peace, knowledge, serenity, harmony and the Force are the means to bring balance to imbalance, within reason."

Sa'Rah raised a paw and Kajex gestured for her to speak. "Is it really important that we know this?" she asked skeptically.

Kajex nodded. "I may be the kind of guy that rides the line a bit where rules are concerned," he admitted with a lopsided smile, "but at the same time I know why the Jedi valued the Code so much. It was our way of avoiding the dark side of the Force, of not giving in to temptations of power, or being blinded by ignorance, or deluding oneself and justifying being an asshole to other people. And to give credit where it's due, it worked fairly well. When you contend with the extremes of the universe, like war and pervasive darkness, the Code isn't so effective- it can be a little limited- but it's still useful to keep in mind, to keep yourself centered and guide your actions towards something positive."

"We just don't want you to have to make the mistakes some of us have made," Locke explained quietly. "Each of us has stumbled in the past, done things we've regret. There's recovery from such falls, redemption for our misdeeds, but it's better to not make such mistakes; to burn your paws just to know that fire is dangerous, or worse, risk burning others through lack of care."

Moarn smiled. "And no amount of eagerness is going to accelerate our pace at teaching you, young one. As excited as you might be to learn how to float things through the Force or wield a lightsaber, you'll need to temper that anxiousness with patience. It took decades to become a Jedi Master, and while our rate of education is quicker and more practical, you will not become Jedi overnight, I'm afraid."

"It's cool, we spent 4,000 years underground, a couple more years or so to become Jedi ain't gonna kill us," So'Rah joked, generating a chuckle from everyone (except Rexxis, who rolled his eyes).

Moarn smiled, though his eyes were serious. "Your enthusiasm is admirable, but you will need to approach this training with a disciplined mind, So'Rah. We have decided that we will not be significantly lenient in our training; it will be hard, difficult, and at times it may even be a little painful." So'Rah's smile faltered at these words, but the Consular continued quickly. "This is not out of any animosity or cruelty, I assure you, but the life of a Jedi has always been a difficult one, and making sure you are prepared for anything will require time and effort. We just want you to be safe, and that means your training must be thorough and intensive. That said, we will not put your goals out of your reach- you'll just need to work very hard each day to reach them."

"So how will you be teaching us?" Kentoh pressed, his tail twitching every few moments as he tried to keep it from wagging enthusiastically.

"Well, we figured the best way to know that is to have a series of tests set up to see what it is you excel at," Kajex answered. "Some Jedi are naturally gifted in certain areas of the Force, while they may lack in others. Syrra, for example, is a gifted healer both in practical medicine and through the Force; Keris, meanwhile, has demonstrated a gift in creating Force illusions; Locke is one hell of a lightsaber duelist and knows how to influence people mentally; and while I suck at healing people, I'm capable of battle meditation and stealth through the Force- and I like to think that due to mechu-deru I'm pretty damn decent at using the Force for mechanical repair and slicing."

"So to start," Moarn explained, lifting a claw and levitating a series of cargo containers from off to the side towards the group, "we're going to work on a simple exercise that focuses on the foundation of Jedi training- control."

The cargo containers set down and Kajex flipped the lid off one of them. Within were thousands of colored pebbles, ranging from red, green, blue and pale yellow- the same pebbles Kajex and Locke used to train their Padawans. But it was only a small green pebble that the Sentinel picked up, before turning to the 4 new trainees.

"Which of you would you say is the fastest among you, reflex-wise?" Kajex asked.

"Kentoh, hands down," both 'Rah twins intoned at once, prompting the Sentinel to glance at Rexxis for clarification.

The red-furred alpha nodded. "My little brother is our pack's best fighter for a reason. I'd say any one of us is reasonably quick, but Kentoh has applied it towards his fighting."

"Well, we're not going to duel or anything," Kajex assured him as he gestured for his younger mirror to approach. "I just want to see if we can improve his speed a little." He smiled at the younger wolf, holding out his paw. "All you need to do is take the pebble out of my paw."

Kentoh blinked. "Wait... that's it?" he asked, reaching out slowly- but Kajex pulled his paw back at the same moment, shaking his head.

"Not like that, though," the Sentinel said patiently. "I'm not handing you the pebble. Keep your arms at your side to start with," the Sentinel directed him, "and then I'll hold it out for you. When you think you're ready, try to snatch it from my hand as quickly as possible."

Taking a moment to do as he was asked, the younger wolf stared at the pebble for a few moments, briefly glancing up at the Sentinel with a look of skepticism before returning his attention to his paw. With a gentle crease in his brow he held his breath for a few moments, before making his move- with incredible deftness he snaked his paw out and snatched the pebble away quickly, stepping back and holding it up between his fingers with a brightened expression.

Kajex grinned. "Not bad. That was pretty decent."

Kentoh's pleased expression fell into confusion. "Wait... just 'decent'? That's about as fast as I can get!" he said indignantly. "How much faster do you expect us to be?"

The Sentinel chuckled, holding up his paw with the green pebble between his thumb and forefinger. Kentoh blinked and glanced back at his paw.

The stone was gone.

The younger clone gaped, seemingly unable to form words for a few moments. "But... how...?"

"Control," Kajex explained as he flicked the pebble over his shoulder and into the open bin, "has many different useful applications to a Jedi, especially when it comes to situations where you need to crank up the speed or add a little muscle. It's also one of the easiest aspects of the Force to learn, because it's an inner change that affects yourself. Most of the current Masters these days learned Control through self-teaching, and even in my day it was the first thing that Initiates were taught. One of the ways it was applied was in enhancing personal speed and reflexes- which is why you didn't see when I took it back from you."

"That fast?" Kentoh said weakly.

"It has limitations, and consequences," added Master Moarn, "but it is an aspect of the Force that you are already demonstrating on a beginner's level. Your personal speed is impressive and certainly not just an example of your natural deftness- all three of us could feel the Force flowing through you when you moved. On a subconscious level you are already applying it to your body- now it's just a matter of learning how to apply it on a deliberate level, and pushing it to greater limits. It's a promising start." The aged Trandoshan stepped forward, lifting his left claw and levitating another pebble out of the container, hovering it around the wolf's head as he gestured to Mica and the 'Rah twins to stand. "Other areas of the Force, like Sense and Alter, will open up to you- but Control is the foundation of Jedi learning, as you will not get anywhere easily without it. To use the Force to affect the world around you, you must first learn to affect yourself and let it flow through you."

"Which is why the Jedi Code is important to bear in mind, and why we spend a lot of time in meditation as well," Locke finished. "Being able to master yourself and controlling your body and emotions will be necessary to progress towards affecting the world around you. With enough training the exercises will become second-nature, at which point you'll be able to control yourself without a conscious thought. But you can only get to the point with a disciplined mind." The white wolf grinned as he watched Syrra and Keris approach, stepping forward, reaching out with a paw each- immediately, dozens of pebbles floated into the air, lifted from the combined efforts of all 5 Jedi. "Of course... that's not to say we can't have a little fun learning, either. Anything to help make you all receptive to learning is a measure we're willing to try."

Kentoh's ears flattened as Mica and the 'Rah twins approached and stood near him. "Why do I get the feeling that what we're about to do is going to be more exhausting than 'fun'?"

Kajex glanced at his albino-furred brother and grinned back as the pebbles started zipping around through the air. "There are 14,523 pebbles in each of these containers. It's a large number, but don't worry- we're only going to float about 200 pebbles each, for a total of 1,000. Do whatever it takes to get them out of the air. Run, jump, climb onto the ship, rely on teamwork, even use telekinesis if you're able to; and then chuck 'em into the rest of the pile. Get it done in under an hour and I'll take you guys with me later today to meet Retsa- and give you a taste of the best food in the universe."

The new initiates glanced at each other, looking apprehensive, but after a few moments nodded and stood apart, their eyes flicking to the stones as they zipped around overhead. Still grinning, the Sentinel turned to Syrra and Keris.

"Don't make it easy for them, either. And.... go!"

It was not unusual for the denizens of Denhaven Starport to go long stretches without making berth in one of the hangars- things were uninteresting enough on Ekibo that staying away for long periods of time had become a habit, and Denhaven was the perfect place for an aged mercenary or hounded transport captain to lay low for a while, if only because it was low-energy. Thus, when the population inevitably noticed a long-term occupant not being present for a substantial amount of time, it would normally be written off as someone being smart enough to be someplace more interesting. About the only time there was a buzz in the starport was if a damaged ship came in, or off-worlders unwisely made an emergency stop on Ekibo rather than someplace more capable, like Fibuli. This was, of course, very rare.

Though not nearly as rare as a Jedi Master striding through the Starport.

Master Moarn's clothes were unmistakable, even to those who had never seen a what a Jedi looked like, and it occurred to Kajex that in the entire time he had known Moarn, Consular's wardrobe had not changed in the slightest. The light linen tunic beneath the brown cotton robes and simple leather boots were unusual enough- to see them on a Trandoshan, a species known best for their hunters and aggressive tendencies, was a large enough hint that Moarn was not simply another reptilian spacer. That many heads turned in their direction as they walked through the starport's halls was not unexpected- it was a sight nobody expected to see, and it was generating both interest and murmured discussion.

"Hey, check out that guy..."

"Those robes, that weapon- is he for real?"

"Must be one of those Jedi mystics from the Republic!"

"Is it just him? Everyone else has one of those laser-swords on their belts, too..."

"Hey, ain't that Kajex? He's a Jedi now?!"

"Yeah, it's me," the wolf sighed as he waved at a couple of long-term captains who scratched their heads in confusion. He should have expected that his presence, along with Syrra's and Locke's, would not have gone unnoticed, particularly as they had made no attempt to hide their lightsabers beneath their coats. Among them only Keris was lacking a Jedi weapon, having instead strapped a vibrosword to her side. "Should've figured they'd say something, this is a side of me they haven't seen before."

"I expect seeing a Jedi at all must be quite a sight to these folks," Locke responded quietly as a couple of other spacers scurried nervously out of the way. "Though I'm also sensing a bit of tension- these people seemed scared. Perhaps our reputation precedes us?"

"That'll probably be my mother's doing," Syrra remarked with a sigh. "We'll just have to be extra-nice to those we deal with."

"We're only here to talk with this friend of yours, Sentinel," Moarn interjected calmly. "It's not us apprehending a criminal or bringing someone to justice, or mediating a treaty." He paused at hatch marked 17. "This is the hangar, correct?"

Kajex nodded, stepping in front of him. "Lemme lead first, I think it'd be best if I handled the introd-OOF!!!"

Before he could finish the word, the hatch slid open abruptly and a brief glimmer of blue scales flew through the door, slamming into the Sentinel's midsection and knocking him across the floor with enough momentum to slide across the dusty hall a few feet. An excited chirp rang out as arms wrapped around him, a thick blue snout nuzzling into his chest. "Kajex!"

"Hello, Arah," the wolf wheezed weakly, still trying to get his wind back as the young Barabel girl seemed to crush his lungs in a tight hug. "I missed you too, little egg."

It did not take very long for the group to convince Retsa and Garsh that it would only be a benefit to Arah if she were to obtain an education from the Jedi Order. A combination of Kajex's and Syrra's reassurances that they would keep a close eye on her at all times; Locke's and Keris' promise she would be given the tool's and training necessary to become a law-officer if she wished to pursue it in the future; and Master Moarn providing satisfactory answers to the workings of the new Order, had all contributed towards Retsa finally agreeing to at least see how they would educate her.

It helped that Retsa and Garsh quickly got on well with the new members of the pack. Locke and Keris were nothing but pleasant company and new friends, but it was Master Moarn that seemed to hold Retsa's interest; a fact that both Kajex and Garsh seemed to notice with some amusement, even if Moarn did not seem to pick up on it. Once they had agreed upon shifting between using Aarn's landing pad and Kajex's hangar as temporary grounds for training everybody, the Sentinel felt it would be best to finally introduce the Barabel family (which by now included Arah's older scavenger brothers, Arish and Lark) to the rest of the Gold Rush crew and the Black Tomb pack- the latter having accompanied after successfully completing their pebble task and scoring a lunch.

"And on that note," Kajex added with a sigh, "I'm going to need to order more noodles- I swear, everybody loves them now, I feel like I'm never going to have a bowl to myself ever again."

Retsa grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment and a possible advertisement idea; 'Retsa's Noodle Stand- Coveted By Jedi.'"

This generated enough laughter that the surrounding denizens of the starport all stared curiously at the out-of-place (though not completely unwelcome) visitors. Those who knew of Kajex would have said they'd never saw his kind before in the universe, and never give it a second thought; yet now there were 8 more his kind, having shown up out of nowhere and being accompanied by a Human, a Miraluka, 5 Barabel (the youngest, Arah, currently napping), a Trandoshan, 2 Amaran, a Mandalorian/Selonian, and a Trianii- 5 of whom were almost certainly Jedi and more than half of them lightly armed.

"So, you've been keeping an eye on my hangar like I'd wanted, Garsh?" Kajex asked.

The massive Barabel nodded, sighing. "And it's a good thing you had me do it, too- it's somethin' I wanted to talk to you about that I couldn't exactly put into a holonet message. You must've stirred up some bad blood, coming out as a Jedi again. Mind, it's the right time and the right thing to do after everything you've told me, but somebody really wants you and yours hurt bad."

The Sentinel's ears perked up, his brow creasing at the ominous words. With a brief glance to both his brother and Syrra, he pressed the technician. "What happened?"

"About a week after you last visited, Denhaven was approached by the local Trianii communications network to 'upgrade the service with minor enhancements'. Nobody bought that load of crap, but it wasn't like there was much we could do, either- those guys have the right to deny Denhaven service, and so many captains here make use of it anyway. Didn't think much of it until you called in to tell us there was a Trianii Matriarch out for your blood. After that, I went and had Lark and Arish take a closer look at the new transmitter." He glanced to his sons.

The black-scaled brothers nodded. Lark, the older of the two, spoke up. "It was one of those signal siphons, those attachments that you slap onto a transmitter after you key in a comsignal prefix, so you can split the transmission and have it redirected somewhere else- usually if you wanna record or eavesdrop on a talk you're not s'posed to. I wanted to yank it off and give it to dad to look at it, but..."

"I told him no," Garsh finished. "Peeling off the attachment probably would've deactivated the signal and clued them in that someone was onto them, and I wasn't in any hurry to piss people off causing damage. But my field is in engineering and programming anyway, so all I had to do was get a pad hooked up and see what hangar it was trying to listen in to- obviously, it was yours."

"Gods dammit, Matriarch," Syrra swore beneath her breath, looking livid.

"Easy, Syrra," Moarn intoned gently. "You've every right to be angry, but now that we know we can set to work against it. Was there anything else?" he asked Garsh.

"Yeah. Two months ago we got another couple visitors- and they sure as hell weren't network technicians. Trianii spacers ain't new to Denhaven, they make up half the population that live here. But we do notice new faces, especially if they're big, imposing, and tend to have their noses stuck in the air." He leaned back, folding his muscular arms. "They were poking around in your hangar."

"Were they armed?" Syrra asked.

Garsh nodded. "Yeah, with longrifles," he replied. A pause followed, accompanied by a look of hesitation. "And lightsabers."

There was perhaps a minute or more of an uncomfortable silence between everybody, as they processed this new information- almost everyone seated glanced at Syrra, the only Trianii among them that anyone knew who possessed a connection to the Force. The Padawan swallowed, looking lightheaded.

"Did... were they wearing uniforms? Something with a symbol, maybe?"

Garsh nodded. "Armored vests and half-skirts, green tones. Had a wheat-gold symbol on the back- a circle with 'B' in Aurabesh script."

"'B'... for Bast. Those... those are my mother's bodyguards and armed assistants," Syrra said, looking winded. "The longrifles are a part of their equipment, but... lightsabers?"

"It's not unreasonable to assume there are other Force-sensitive Trianii just on Ekibo alone, and you are not the only Trianii that is part of the Jedi Academy," Moarn informed her. "Since news of your exploits in putting a stop to AS-303 were released to the Trian system, compliments of your mother's efforts to boost her public standing, the Order has had multiple inquiries from Force-sensitive Trianii showing a mild interest in joining. To date, Syrra, you are the only one that has joined."

"Which means yer bitch-mom's goons probably ain't Jedi," Rook added. "Probably just a handful of wannabe badasses who think they can spook the boss by pretending they're Force-sensitive."

Syrra shook her head, looking unconvinced. "I'm not going to take that chance. Nobody just wields a lightsaber without the proper training- even Talrik had to put in a lot of practice with training sabers."

"And it was pretty hard," the fox agreed with a smile. "But at least I didn't decapitate myself- so yay for that, at least. Still, Syrra's got a point- Bast more or less outright threatened me, and she's got that air about her that makes her seem rationally confident in the statements she makes." He leaned forward, looking troubled. "Training as a sniper for the Remnant taught me how to read body language behind a scope, something that's absolutely necessary for scouts and assassination missions. I can tell the different between a leader that doesn't have much faith in the people under their command, and one who would trust them with their lives. When we visited the last time and she made the claim that her bodyguards were more than a match for us, she wasn't boasting- she truly believes that's the case. If they're carrying around lightsabers, then it's not just to put the scare in other people."

The Selonian shrugged dismissively. "Well, even if they know a couple of Force tricks, that's why we got Taito- not like they can Force choke a Force-resistant lizard. And at least now we know what to look out for."

"True," Kajex conceded. "Still... think maybe you can get in touch with your bounty hunter's guild and figure out if there are any other prices on my head?"

Rook stiffened, looking a bit bothered. "I... yeah. But I only have two months left before I have to pay the annual fee so I can keep being a part of it- and until I get my ship back, there's no point paying into it. They already know I'm ill-set to track acquisitions, and the CSA ain't going to hire non-humans if they can help it, so they might not be so willing to part with any info."

"Why not?"

"Shit, because it's part of the profession, boss," Rook sighed. "And make no mistake, hunters are professionals. The Bounty Hunter's Guild, and all associated guilds, have their rules- tenants, even. The Fourth Tenant is that you don't fuck with another hunter's job. Now, you hired me to shield your ass from other hunters and Sith, so I won't get penalized if I put a hunter in traction trying to defend you, especially since Bast doesn't pay everything up front- that alone would get the mark erased from official job listings. But I guarantee my contractor isn't going to spill the beans on whoever else is interested in taking your mark independently, not unless they see something in it for them- so you'd better hope some bloke from House Nova never decides to see how much a mark like you is worth."

"But if the Matriarch isn't paying easily, why even bother pursuing Kajex as a bounty?" Locke asked, looking confused.

"Reputation. That, and even if the Matriarch didn't want his blood, the Empire would. Think about it- almost every Jedi from the Clone Wars was wiped out, and the ones that weren't were put on the Empire's watch-list so they could be followed up on, right? The Empire's out of power now, but still has a pretty big war-chest to draw from, and it still has that watch-list with active bounties, payment on proof of elimination. Now, years later, a Jedi Sentinel pops back up on the sensors and he becomes something of a rep-booster, to say nothin' of the credits the Empire'll pay to have him put down just to keep him from training other Jedi. You'd probably fetch a fortune of creds- Moarn and Locke too, probably."

"If he's worth that much, why haven't you tried to collect?" Rexxis asked.

"One: because it's the Empire, and I fuckin' hate the Empire. Two: he ain't done anything wrong, not even if that bitch Matriarch wants to pay me to believe Kajex did. Three: the Guild operates on the basis that a target has actually committed a crime, and that means that the client tells the contractor exactly what the problem is, no bullshit. We have to comply with local laws, so lying about it tarnishes our reputation and makes us into criminals and assassins, not bounty hunters- and there is a difference. As far as I can tell, the Trianii don't have local laws on being a Jedi, and plowing a Matriarch's daughter isn't a crime. And lastly..." she paused, smiling at the wolf, "... Kajex is a great fuck. And he's my friend."

"Aww... that's sweet of you," Kajex teased.

The Selonian blushed, clearing her throat but smiling all the same. "Anyway, I'll give it a shot, boss. Don't expect a miracle."

Retsa sighed. "With all of this information, you can see why I'm a little hesitant to have Arah join the Order. If I have to be honest, I'm fully against the idea of having her leave us- especially if there's a risk she might be caught between a bounty hunter and their mark."

Kajex winced. "Yeah... I understand. I'm sorry Retsa, I really am. It's just, when that bitch talked trash about my dads, I wasn't about to let it slide. If you think it's best to hold off indefinitely--"

"She's joining."

The Sentinel stopped short, blinking. "... But... you said--"

Retsa smiled and glanced down at the still-napping child next to her, stroking her head gently. "I said I was against the idea of having her leave us. So, she won't. We'll follow her." Her eyes met Garsh's, the larger Barabel grinning and nodding. "I want my child to learn the ways of the Force from all of you, ideally- and I want to be there to see her grow. You have Kajex's trust to do right by him, something that has been difficult for most people to obtain; and so, you have my trust to do right by my child, as long as I'm there to watch her."

"We would not be able to offer more payment than what you're likely currently earning," Master Moarn cautioned, "although we will do as much as we can to accommodate you and your family for whatever services you can provide- and you are certainly welcome to earn income off the side in other ways. We can offer room and board on the Inspired for your family."

"Well, if it's true you have a ship that needs maintaining, then you can do with an engineer and technician to work your weapons- make sure your frigate keeps its teeth sharp," Garsh replied.

"And as long as I can get help from either living or droid hands, I can work a galley very well," Retsa followed up. "How long do you expect to be in the Trian system?"

"We'll be on Ekibo until after we've attended a friend's union ceremony in a couple of weeks, for sure," the Sentinel informed them. "But we've more or less been assigned to respond to hotspots in or around the Wild Space regions, so we won't be far, either."

"Good. We'll need time to make arrangements, sell equipment and what's left of my stock, and someone to sell my business to," Retsa said.

"No more noodles?" Kajex asked, alarm running through him as his ears drooped at the thought.

"Don't be silly, of course I'll still cook them up for you all," the Barabel assured him with a chuckle. "And you'll have plenty even when I can't- because I'm selling the stock to you."

A week had passed since they had left Denhaven Starport and resumed their stay at Baarok Estate, to give time for Retsa and her family to set their affairs in order. In that time, the seasonal snowfall had come and turned the normally gold and green landscape into fields of snow, crisp air making every morning of training brisk and chilly. Yet as uncomfortable as the training might've been, Kajex was beyond satisfied with the progress and current level of skill that their newest students were demonstrating. Within a week, it was apparent that the Black Tomb pack's connection to the Force was as clear and strong as both Kajex's and Locke's.

Mica was the least skilled among them, and even then only by an insignificant margin. She quickly demonstrated solid physical prowess and had adapted to their exercises in control in short order, using the Force to augment her body to great effect. As this was an ability that both Locke and Keris were skilled in, it was they who guided her efforts and honed her abilities in that area. The 'Rah twins, meanwhile, had quickly grasped their exercises in control about as well as Mica; although their bond as twins had allowed them to excel to the point where they were unusually adept at sensing the world around them through the Force. It was not long before they could correctly guess which Keris was the real one and which was one of her illusions; and which paw Kajex was holding a green pebble in (even if the answer was "both of them").

The change in environment turned out to be beneficial to everyone else's education as well. With Syrra able to help her mother and uncle with patients she was accelerating her ability to heal others through the Force, and at her pressuring Kajex attended these appointments along with her; before long, the Trianii Padawan was guiding him and directing his efforts through the Force to heal others as well, an ability he had once considered himself to be completely incompetent in. The new insights she gave him increased both his understanding of the Force as it affected others, and the amount of respect he had for her.

She was not the only one making great strides, either. Already impressed that Keris was able to generate illusions through the Force with only a bare amount of practice, Master Moarn had taken it upon himself to direct her efforts such that she could produce them more efficiently. Before the week had passed, she had fooled nearly every person within the estate or onboard the Gold Rush with her illusions, making them think they were addressing her instead of one of her clones- the only one who she could not fool was Miles. In fact, the only downside to her impressive progress was that spending so much time training and having fun doing so meant she was not quite finished constructing her lightsaber.

Even Talrik and Rook managed to get a tangible benefit from their rest. While the Selonian hunter would otherwise be antsy and looking to get out into the world, being able to have several sparring partners was enough to quell her anxiousness to see some action. She and Talrik had taken to jogging the perimeter of the vast estate, taking "breaks" at various grainhouses and storage units for "warmth" in the middle of winter, and always returning a little more out of breath than they might normally be. And while Locke occasionally had to remind her to ease up on everyone during training, she was doing exceptionally well in learning how to pull her punches accordingly.

Miles and Liam also provided aid to the pack by providing blaster-deflection practice and hand-to-hand combat, the latter explaining his delay to his superiors with the excuse that he was tending to his injuries and being treated by a qualified physician. Aarn, who had come to respect and like the human CSA financial officer, was more than happy to write him a note in exchange for helping him skip past some red tape that was holding back the Trianii's businesses in CSA territories.

But perhaps the greatest progress came from Kentoh. Spurred on by Kajex's constant reassurance that he would make a solid Jedi Sentinel, the younger clone had devoted as much time as he could towards learning as much as he could from everyone. His eagerness to learn was tempered only by Moarn's firm suggestions that he take the time to reflect on his lessons and relax, though he did state that the young wolf's enthusiasm was a boon. Still, Kajex never passed up an opportunity to talk to him about what to expect, how best to meditate and so forth- and with Locke's expert instruction he was quickly learning how to handle a lightsaber, further cementing the claim that he was the Black Tomb pack's best fighter. At times, it seemed like the younger wolf lived for the moments when he could learn from or spar with Kajex or Locke- or more likely, it seemed like he was enjoying getting closer to the both of them.

And unfortunately, Kajex wasn't sure Rexxis liked that.

"Think it'll be alright here?" he asked Syrra, mounting the imagecaster Moarn had given him on the right wall of the cockpit. It had been a gift the Jedi Master had delivered to him only hours earlier- a photograph of Kane and Bran on the day of their union, with a very young Kajex propped up between them, all of them smiling. Swelling with warmth from the sight of the image, a positive reminder of his trip to his fathers' graves only days before, he turned to see the feline nod approvingly.

"Looks great, love. We'll get a copy of it and have another mounted in the bedroom, too," she assured him, her paws working over her side of the cockpit as she glanced out the viewport. A sigh escaped her muzzle at the ominous clouds above. "This storm just came out of nowhere, I really don't think it's a good idea for Keris to be doing this."

While the Trianii's expression was worried, Kajex couldn't help but feel a little proud of the vixen's decision. When the news had reached everyone of a considerable stormfront approaching the region, Kajex had canceled the pack's daily training and asked for Syrra's assistance to make sure the Gold Rush was running within the acceptable parameters so none of her systems would freeze or be overglazed with ice. But it came as a shocking surprise when Keris announced that she would weather the storm and finish her meditation on her emerald within the elements. Locke proudly endorsed her decision, yet Syrra insisted she be there to "warm her up after."

"She's strong, kitten, she'll be fine even without your help. Then again, better safe than sorry- we don't want her caught out in the dark in case the Matriarch decides to bully one of us out in the open," he told her, glancing back as the sound of approaching bootsteps filtered into his ears. Rexxis was approaching them with troubled look on his face.

"Will you be okay without me?" she asked him, reaching over to rub behind his ears- it had been agreed that she and Keris would return to the Estate after the vixen was done.

"I'll be spending the night with Locke," the Sentinel informed her with a smile. "It's been a bit too long since we've had a moment together. Anything I can help you with, Rex?" he asked the brown-furred alpha, turning in his seat.

Rexxis nodded, clearing his throat. "Yeah, but in private- I'm sorry, Syrra, it's just something a little personal."

The Trianii nodded as she got up, leaning in to kiss Kajex and squeezing his paw. "It's fine. You guys get along, alright?"

Kajex watched her walk off, letting out a small sigh as she disappeared into the lounge. Shaking himself out of his reverie, he gestured to Rexxis. "Take a seat and we can talk." The alpha complied, just as the Sentinel sent a stray thought to the cockpit hatch's controls and shut the door, sealing them off from the rest of the ship. "What can I help you with?"

There was a pause in which Rexxis hesitated to speak, looking as if he was choosing his words carefully. "Well... first, I wanted to let you know that I... appreciate what you and your pack have been doing for me and mine. To thank you for putting effort into our well-being and education, and for slowly helping us get reacquainted with the rest of the universe. I know it takes a big chunk out of your efforts to defeat the Sith, so... thank you, for putting us at front."

"It's no problem," Kajex assured him warmly. "Maybe it's me being a sappy bastard, but finding you guys is like finding long-lost family- I'm all for helping you guys out, if I can. Been enjoying your time here on Ekibo?"

Rexxis nodded, staring out the cockpit at the falling snow. "Very much. Syrra's kin and their employees have been very kind to us, and the land surrounding the estate is... peaceful. Just walking out a few miles to explore has brought me a calm I don't think I've ever felt in my life- like a natural connection."

"That's probably the Force flowing through you."

"Most likely, yes," Rexxis agreed. "It's not just me, either. Zephyr confided in me, privately, that she wishes to begin training as well. Tegrim has become more receptive, but wishes to wait until he's finished our main education. As for me... watching Kentoh excel in these Jedi studies has, I admit, given me reason to consider taking it up alongside him- if you're alright with that."

"You don't even need to ask- you just need to be there," Kajex told him.

"... I'm not so sure you'll want to say that after I broach this next topic," Rexxis cautioned.

"I had a feeling something was troubling you," the Sentinel said with a sigh and a smile. "Is it something to do with Kentoh?"

"By now, he's told you much about our pack and our motivations, aspirations and points of views," Rexxis started, looking away from the viewport and staring at the gray wolf resolutely. "It's no secret to anybody aboard this ship that he has confided a lot in you, that he has an enormous amount of respect and admiration for you and your pack. And yes, I'm full aware that he has had sex with you already. That is his choice, and no matter how I feel about it I will not tell him he can't."

Kajex nodded, frowning. "So, how do you feel about it?"

The red alpha's stare became cooler. "You're a Jedi. Surely you already know."

"I can't play that game, Rexxis," he responded calmly. "Yeah, I have a pretty good idea of how you feel, but it's up to you to tell me first. If I take away your ability to say it aloud, to articulate how it makes you feel, then you might not be able to come to terms with why you feel that way."

There was a long pause in which Rexxis did not look away, peering at the Sentinel as if trying to gauge both Kajex's measure and his own words. Kajex said nothing, waiting patiently, and before too long Rexxis sighed and looked away.

"I love my brother, Sentinel. Kentoh and I may not seem to get along all that much, but he's my kin. I would support him in anything he does, even if I fear for his decisions. I owe you--"

"--Nothing," Kajex cut him off firmly. "You owe me nothing for saving his life, it was the right thing to do."

"Be that as it may, I still feel indebted to you, which is why I feel guilty saying that... I envy the relationship you already have with Kentoh. And at times, it angers me knowing that you have his approval more than I do."

"I'm not sure that I do, to be honest. Either way, do you not want us interacting any further?" Kajex asked.

"We're Kanj'Isha- that's not a request I would ever ask of another, not even one unfamiliar with our ways," Rexxis replied curtly. Before he could continue, he stopped short and sighed. "But... yes, a part of me wishes that were the case. All the same, I'm not going to say it."

"Why not?"

"You weren't a slave," Rexxis explained. "Trying to tell him what he can and can't do, placing restrictions on him would just make him my slave, regardless of my intentions."

"I think that's kind of a strong word to describe your protectiveness," the Sentinel replied skeptically. "I also think it's natural to be wary of any possible threat to your family- I'm just sorry you see me as a possible threat to yours."

The red alpha's ears flattened in shame. "No... I apologize. I didn't mean to... I know you're not a threat to any of us, and I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. I just worry about losing him in some way that I can't stop, just like the past. So with that said... take care of him, Sentinel. Do right by him. Even if I don't consider you a sibling, he does. Don't violate that trust."

"You have my word," Kajex assured him solemnly. "Incidentally... what brought this up?"

Rexxis hesitated, then stood. "Mica is expecting me back in the bunk Kentoh and I usually share. I'm sure by now he's told you she and I are in a relationship, and he approves."

"He didn't tell me, but I had a feeling," the Sentinel acknowledged. "Mostly because she seems to be a voice of calm to you."

"Well, as you might know he and I sleep together. I told him my intentions for this evening and he made a mention that..." He hesitated. "He mentioned that he'd ask if you wouldn't mind sharing a bed with him."

"As long as he doesn't mind Locke being there," Kajex responded. "On that note... what about him? He's my genetic twin, he's likely cloned from Kentoh as well. Has he said anything positive about him?"

Rexxis half-shrugged, half-nodded. "He's mentioned the same thing of Locke, his admiration and respect- but Locke is not your pack's alpha, either, and it was not his actions that saved his life directly. If you wonder why my focus tends to be on you, well... that's why."

"I guess I can understand that. Well, if that's everything you wanted to discuss...?" Kajex pressed.

"For now, yes," Rexxis sighed. "I expect as I get more used to you my jealousy will fade. I just... needed to get this off my chest, and who better to talk to than the man I'm concerned about. Just bear in mind what I said."

"I will. And if I can give you a bit of advice?"

Rexxis cocked his head.

"Talk to him about your concerns, too. The last thing I'd want to see is the two of you splitting apart because either of you alienated the other through unwise action. You did right by talking to me about this, for his sake and yours. So don't be afraid to talk to me either," Kajex finished with what he hoped was a reassuring smile, as he stood and keyed the cockpit hatch open.

Rexxis nodded and sighed, managing to smile back. "I'll try to be more open, Sentinel. Well, I better get back to Mica and let you be for now. You and Locke enjoy yourselves, and Kentoh." He took a few steps down the hall leading to the lounge before halting and turning. "One last thing."

"Yeah?"

"Teach him well. If I can't be his protector, at least teach him how to protect himself."

Kajex did not immediately follow Rexxis, instead shutting the hatch again and plopping back into his chair with a sigh. To say he hadn't expected the alpha to come forward with his concerns about the growing relationship between himself and Kentoh would have been a lie. It was reassuring to know that Rexxis only wanted things to go well between everybody, yet the Sentinel wondered uneasily what might happen should things go wrong. His eyes strayed to the side, falling on the imagecaster showing his youthful, wolf-puppy visage, with Bran and Kane on either side of him and pinning him between a family embrace.

He only had to lose them once and even now, years later, the loss was still painful. Despite this, Kajex was now forced to consider himself far more fortunate than any other Kanj'Isha- for all the bitterness he had for the old Jedi Order, they had at least raised him well, and he had been safe. He'd had a family for a few short years, a life where he was free to help others as he liked. And even after that family had gone away, he'd found and organized a pack of his own, another family of those he trusted and loved- one that seemed to be growing larger and becoming stronger as time went on.

By comparison, Locke never had a family, had spent his youth alone before he was captured and forced into servitude, enduring more than a decade and a half of cruelty and darkness. Yet even then, he'd at least been given more leeway and treated as something of an equal among the Sith Inquisitors and Knights. On the other hand, Rexxis and Kentoh only had each other and the rest of the pack, having lived an entire life of enslavement and abuse, only to be sealed for millenia with their minds under brief Sith control, waking up in a time and era they knew nothing about. There was little light in their lives, and while it was admirable for Kentoh to focus on that light, Kajex could not blame Rexxis for the constant reminders of the pain they'd all suffered. Not even the fact that Kentoh had been cloned and brought back to life could change the fact that he had been murdered.

Back then, it had nearly destroyed Rexxis- Kajex shuddered to think what might occur if it happened again. He would need to be vigilant, for both the Black Tomb pack and his own. They would all do their part, but he alone had sworn to watch over Kentoh.

Deep in his thoughts as he was, he was ready for the gentle rapping at the cockpit hatch. "Come in."

Even as the hatch slid open, the Sentinel did not turn in his seat to greet Locke, still staring at the image of his fathers. "I checked in with Syrra and Keris just now," the white wolf informed him. "Worried as I might've been earlier, just seeing how focused she is out there in the cold is impressive."

"She'll be fine," Kajex assured him distantly. "She has Syrra nearby, and Moarn even said he'd keep an eye on things from within the manor. Her blade will be all the stronger for it."

Locke nodded, cocking his head. "Something on your mind, brother?"

Kajex hesitated before sighing. "Kinda, but it's something that'll take time to fix. Just had a talk with Rexxis about Kentoh."

"Ah... is he taking issue with the two of you, er..." Locke cleared his throat.

"It's not him being sexual with us that's bothering Rex," Kajex clarified, finally peeling his eyes away from the imagecaster. "He's just worried that he and I are becoming closer than they are. There's a fear that he might lose Kentoh, I think."

Locke nodded. "I suppose he holds on all the tighter because Kentoh was murdered."

"Right. Rex just wants us to do right by the kid- and I do mean us," the gray wolf added firmly. "You can't pretend that there isn't a connection there between you two either. Whether or not you want to admit it- and I think I'm right in assuming that you would readily admit it- he's kin, on a genetic level. I know he's starting to feel a stronger pull to us that goes just deeper than blood, too- I sure as hell feel it."

"As do I," the Guardian agreed, nodding. "It's hard not to like him, he's an eager student and a good friend. And it's hard not to look at him and see you in him at the same time, both in character and form."

Kajex chuckled. "And by that last one, you mean...?"

"He's cute," Locke replied with a grin, getting out of his seat and kneeling next to the Sentinel, taking his paw. "He has your butt, which also happens to be my butt_."_

The position caused Kajex to cock his head in amused confusion. "What're you doing, kneeling like this? You gonna try proposing to me now?" Kajex teased, leaning in and affectionately bumping his nose against his twin's. "This is so forward, Locke!"

"Silly wolf- though I would if you'd want me to," Locke answered warmly, squeezing the Sentinel's paw. "More seriously, though, just remember that what we're trying to do is a dual effort- you'll have me to help you out, I promise."

"Thanks, Locke," he said with a smile. "You know I love you, bro."

"I love you too, Kaj- that's why I'm with you all the way," Locke replied, smiling back.

They shared no other words as they leaned in and kissed, a satisfied growl rumbling in Kajex's chest. Whatever worries and concerns he had faded into the background, dismissed in favor of focusing on the wordless expression of love they shared in. Seconds passed as they drew closer, reticent to let go and end the kiss early- until a voice cleared nervously behind them.

They both turned to see Kentoh at the hatch, his ears folded back anxiously as he stared at them with a nervous smile. "Uh... h-hi, guys. I came over to see if, uh... 'cause Rex and Mica are gonna sleep together tonight, Zephyr and Tegrim are reading, and I didn't wanna get in the middle of either of them, so I was gonna ask, if... since Syrra's out watching Keris, if you'd want some company... but... I mean, if you guys wanted privacy--"

The Jedi twins had glanced at each other, a streak of mischievousness running through Kajex as Locke matched his amused grin. Before Kentoh could finish, the two older clones rushed him at the same moment and grabbed the teen under the arms, dragging him behind them into the lounge as he wiggled and kicked around frantically.

"W-wait, where are we going!?" he yelped.

"To bed," Locke answered with a chuckle.

"And we're bringing some 'company'," Kajex followed up, still grinning.

Kentoh had made no argument the entire short trip to the captain's quarters, though he did yip when they tossed him onto the bed, only to be reduced to soft moans and gasps as the two older wolves quickly stripped him and treated his bare body to kisses, nuzzles, and all other manner of affection. No words passed between the twins as they combined their efforts, working in tandem and guided only by gentle, subtle telepathic suggestions. It did not take long for all three of them to strip down, their clothes strewn about the captain's quarters and the three genetically identical clones snuggling on the bed.

Warmth permeated the air while they engaged in affectionate foreplay. Locke had slid up atop the alpha, catching him in a deep, erotic kiss that caused Kajex's loins to stir. Nevertheless the white wolf did not allow this to continue long enough for Kentoh to feel neglected, breaking it off after a few moments before pulling the teen into his arms and sharing the same kiss with him. The Sentinel laid back with his paws behind his head, watching with a grin as the younger male's tail wagged frantically, a quiet and satisfied whine pouring out of his chest as he more or less sunk into Locke's arms. It was very much like watching himself make out with his twin, a scene that turned the alpha on more the longer he watched.

Eventually the kiss ceased, though they still continued to nuzzle and cling to each other as they shifted and settled in next to Kajex, Kentoh between the two older males. "You're... really good at that, Locke," he nearly purred, burying his face in his chest.

"You can thank Kajex for that," Locke said with a smile, glancing up at Kajex and stroking his face. "I get the feeling that we know what pushes each others' buttons better than we care to admit, and he enjoys when I kiss him like that. He also enjoys it when I do this." Without warning the white wolf slid his paw down Kentoh's belly and directly onto the teen's sheath, tracing a finger against the peeking black tip of his cock to coax it out. Kentoh's whines and whimpers were low and desperate as Kajex joined in, the older mirror nipping and kissing the younger's neck as he added his paw to the task, fondling his respectably-sized balls in his palm and giving them a gentle squeeze.

Already partially hard from disrobing Kentoh, the teen's eager moans heightened the Sentinel's arousal. It was as if he was watching his younger self be at the mercy of two older and stronger wolves- and it didn't take more than a passing glance to see the same effect was taking place over Locke, his swollen red prick hanging lazily against Kentoh's thigh and drooling precum into his lap. On the teen's other side Kajex had also taken a similar position, mirroring his twin in almost every way he could physically and adding his own tender touches along Kentoh's balls, flexing his fingers out and caressing the taint beneath them. Before long, the musky scent of three sexually aroused Kanj'Isha males had thickened in the air around them, dulling their ability to reason while sharpening every physical sensation.

The teen laid back, still writhing slightly as their kisses trailed down his neck, past his chest, along his stomach and continuing until they reached his lap. They reach set to work cleaning their respective messes, inching closer to his balls with each lick until there was no excuse for them to delay- as one, they attacked his loins with erotic kisses and licks, nipping his length gently and generating shocks through his cock that caused the teen to cry out in pleasure. Between his gasping and whining Kajex could hear Kentoh murmur desperate pleas to keep going; out the corner of his eye he could see the teen's fists ball up as they clawed at the sheets. This only spurred Kajex's efforts, as he and Locke alternated between sucking his cock or sucking his balls, often taking one orb each and swirling their tongues around them.

So intent on his task that Kajex lost track of his twin's movements, nearly yelping when his albino brother's paw wrapped around his prick. With no time to brace himself he felt Locke stroke the throbbing shaft firmly, kneading his fingers and palm into the ebony flesh; this time, Kajex did moan, and a hard blush filled the Sentinel's face as it sounded exactly like Kentoh's vocalizations. Through the haze of bliss in his eyes, Kajex could see Locke smile from around the teen's shaft. "You both have incredible 'singing' voices, love," he whispered into the alpha's mind. "I wonder if, like Kentoh, you secretly crave being bred like a bitch, too."

Kajex said nothing initially, nodding shyly with his ears folded back as he returned to Kentoh's shaft. "Especially by you," he admitted after a few moments. "Did... did you want to fuck me?"

The white wolf's headshake was almost imperceptible, but it was there. "I have a plan of my own, brother. For now, let's make this Kentoh's night."

With the both of them set towards a common goal, their muzzles worked over the teen's prick dutifully; Locke slurped and slathered Kentoh's balls with licks and kisses, ensuring his sack and sheath were matted down with his efforts; while Kajex bobbed along the young clone's shaft, his tongue swirling around the tip or massaging against the swell of his knot. Years of practical sexual experience with the same sex were applied as the Sentinel deep-throated the teen, easily letting Kentoh's shaft slide down his throat as his lips met his sheath and squeezed around the narrow base of his cock. A keening whine erupted from Kentoh and the Sentinel pulled back immediately, as a flood of spunk splashed against the roof of Kajex's muzzle. The teen cried out again, writhing as his cock throbbed and shot ropes of hot cum into the air, the output splattering against both the wolf twin's faces as their little brother drained his balls all over their muzzles.

A part of Kajex wanted to keep the taste to himself before swallowing, but he refrained from doing so as he guided Locke to clean the milky-white mess. Instead, he slid back up next to the panting teen, smiling as his tongue hung out of his muzzle, before leaning forward and kissing Kentoh deeply, making sure that he got a full taste of the sweet and salty flavor in his own muzzle. Kentoh accept gladly, his tongue slipping into the Sentinel's as they shared a moment of intimate affection. When they broke the kiss, it was with a thick string of his cum still connecting the two for a few moments, before the thread broke and splattered against their chins.

Kajex glanced back at Kentoh's cock, noticing that while the knot had deflated somewhat, it was still moderately hard. "Still good to go?" he asked.

Kentoh nodded. "Y-yeah... but is it okay if I just lay here?" he whimpered slightly with a shy smile.

Kajex nodded, and without a word between them, almost without conscious thought, all three wolves drew closer together; the older males positioning themselves above and to either side of the Kentoh. A surge of warmth hit them all from their combined body heat, which only increased as all three stiff members touched, eliciting a groan, moan or gasp. Three warm pairs of heavy balls met and rested against one another as the alpha of the three shifted around, their throbbing lengths drooling and pooling pre-seed on the teen's stomach.

It was with a shudder of anticipation that Kajex spoke first. "Gotta say... I've never done something like this before. Should I...?"

"Yes, I think... you're better at handling us," Locke moaned.

"J-just go slow," Kentoh whined, staring through a haze of ecstacy.

The moment he had their request to continue, he placed a paw against Kentoh's and Locke's turgid members, stroking the two as firmly as possible despite the thickness of their lengths limiting his grip. Steeling himself for the sudden spike in pleasure did nothing to dull it, as he rolled his hips forward and slid his wolf-cock against theirs. Almost immediately the three of them began to moan and whine from the act, with both Locke and Kentoh contributing paws and hips-movements to the sexual act. A fire seemed to emanate from their loins, sparks of bliss generated as they thrust and humped together. Yet Kajex remained in control, devoting just enough concentration through the Force to guide their actions. Past the mist of lust in his mind, he could feel Locke nuzzling his cheek gently before catching the Sentinel in a deep kiss- the familiar taste of Kentoh's seed still remained on his lips. A pang of joy filled Kajex's chest and sent a shock of pleasure through his member; the same twitch caused small jet of precum to shoot from his tip, splattering against Kentoh's belly.

A soft chorus of moaning, gasps and gentle snuffles followed, stifled only when one male kissed another. Tongues darted out and cleaned the sticky mess still matting down Kajex's and Locke's muzzles, spreading more of Kentoh's flavor between them. The sensation of their throbbing dicks grinding and slipping together, growing steadily slicker as their paws stroked bare flesh and smeared precum against the pulsing pricks, was intense enough that the alpha had to pause every so often to prevent them from blowing all at once. Already the three were panting, exertion from the act prompting the other two wolves to pause with him. All three of them stared at Kentoh's abs, where the fur had been matted down by their combined precum- the teen pawed at his belly, the act spreading the slickness around and releasing an intoxicating musk that made all three of their tails wag.

"Fuuuuck," Kentoh moaned. "I've never done that with the guys before."

Kajex smiled and licked his nose. "Did they ever let you top?"

The younger clone smiled and shook his head. "I preferred raising my own tail for them- just as I'd prefer raising my tail for you."

"You're sure?" Locke asked.

"Oh yeah," the pup insisted, squirming around a bit and rolling onto his stomach, his tail flagging in the air. The sight of Kentoh's rump caused Kajex's member to twitch, as the older clone admired his curved, yet tight and well-trained rear, his pucker and balls clearly visible as he squeezed his legs together for effect.

"You were right, Locke- he does have our butt," Kajex chuckled as he raised his paw and swatted Kentoh's backside firmly. The younger clone yelped and blushed hard, but grinned and eagerly raised his backside higher for the both of them. "Did you want to give it a try? I guarantee it'll feel great."

The white wolf shook his head, though he smiled warmly at his sibling. "I'll pass- I'd actually like to see what his muzzle feels like."

"Fair enough," the Sentinel replied with a grin, glancing around for his bottle of lube and spotting it on a shelf. Without leaving the bed he summoned the bottle into his paw and began applying the sweet-smelling slickness to his prick, watching as Locke got into position in front of Kentoh. From this position Kajex could see the stark differences between the two, not limited to just fur color. Where Kentoh was slimmer and more agile, Locke was stronger, more built; though it was also fair to say that Kentoh's tail was fluffier and the young, almost feminine attributes were attractive in their own right.

With his tail wagging in anticipation, the younger wolf immediately set to work with his tongue and muzzle, preventing Lock from doing much more than leaning back and moaning from the oral treatment. With the teen occupying his tongue and lips along the length of Locke's throbbing cock, sliding his tongue against the precum-streaked pole, Kajex began squeezing a generous dollop of lube against Kentoh's exposed tailstar. The teen shivered from the cool gel, which quickly grew warm in a matter of moments, then moaned around Locke's cock as Kajex speared a pair of fingers into his ass and swirled them around- had Kentoh not had the white wolf's wolfcock in his muzzle at the moment, Kajex wondered if he would've been louder.

Minutes wore on as Kentoh continued his efforts, moaning around Locke's member every time Kajex drilled his fingers in a bit deeper into his butt. It wasn't long before he was pushing back against the Sentinel's paw needfully, his body trembling as it seemed to yearn for something thicker and more fulfilling. Only too happy to oblige, Kajex slipped his fingers out with a soft 'pop', getting into position behind Kentoh and easily gliding all 10 inches of his cock into the teen's rump, his hips smacking hard into Kentoh's soft backside with enough force to make him yelp in surprise.

It was easy to tell there was no pain- Kentoh's loud moaning made it clear to both older wolves that he was in a state of sexual nirvana, such that Locke gasped as the teen deep-throated his member. Already eager to get into it the Sentinel began his pace with well-timed and long thrusts, grabbing Kentoh's tail with one paw while squeezing his ass with the other. Every thrust was punctuated with the sound of his hips slapping thickly against the back of the teen's thighs, and marked with the shock of his heavy balls bouncing against the back of Kentoh's. It was familiar territory, but even after having been intimate with Kentoh once, Kajex was pleased to see that his tailhole hadn't gotten any looser- it seemed to be as tight as the first time he'd lain with the youth, his tailhole squeezing and gnawing around the jet-black invader with enough pressure that Kajex wondered briefly if it Kentoh was unconsciously using the Force to grip around his girth. Nevertheless the lube made it easy for the Sentinel to draw his length out and thrust back in, though the vice-like orifice generated friction and heat that sapped the Jedi's endurance slowly.

Despite Kentoh having already experienced an orgasm Kajex saw no reason why the wolf teen shouldn't experience another, particularly since he knew his prick was ready for another. Releasing his groping left paw from Kentoh's ass, he reached beneath him and felt around for the lad's cock, finding it tricky to catch it while he was riding the pup's ass; he paused briefly, just long enough to slide his paw around Kentoh's prick before resuming, doubling his pace as he jacked the 8-inch length with the same rhythm. The effect it took on Kentoh was immediate; within moments his moans had increased in both volume and pitch, such that he almost sounded like Keris whenever she approached her own climax.

The Sentinel almost didn't notice when Locke moved away, looking spent- at some point while Kajex was busy putting his effort drilling the pup's tailhole, Locke seemed to have finished. Without the Guardian's cock to muffle the teen's muzzle, Kentoh's moans were unrestrained. Free to give it to him as hard as possible, the Sentinel's hips battered almost mercilessly against Kentoh's backside, though even as dizzy with lust as he was he kept a close vigil on the teen to ensure he was not hurting him. Nevertheless, it did not seem like he was, not even as he started grinding his swollen knot against Kentoh's tailhole, sinking into the slick orifice in one shove while giving the teen's knot a hard squeeze.

But before Kajex could continue, he felt a pair of powerful paws push him forward. With a surprised yelp, Kajex lost his balance and nearly fell on top of Kentoh; his Jedi-honed reflexes kept him from putting his weight onto the teen. Yet before he could even consider being irritated, he felt a hot shaft spear right into his own tailhole and turning the complaint he would have made into a long moan of bliss. He pushed back against the intruder, finally turning his head to see Locke bearing down on him with a smirk, hilting his thick red wolf-cock into the Sentinel's backside until their balls were pressed together.

"Y-you said... you weren't gonna fuck me," Kajex whined, arching his back as he pulled his hips away from Kentoh's ass, his knot popping out before being shoved back in from Locke's own thrust.

"I never said that- I only said I had a plan," Locke growled, leaning in and biting the alpha's neck dominantly; Kajex yipped in response, raising his backside submissively for his albino twin. "And this is my plan in action," he informed him, grinding his own knot against the Sentinel's tailhole. Every roll of the Guardian's hips forced Kajex to thrust into Kentoh, causing them both to moan as they were filled with red-hot, 10-inch cocks; each a hair's breadth away from climax. Yet as desperate as Kajex was to cum inside his newest surrogate sibling, he was determined to hold out until Locke secured him, even as his hole was assaulted with incredible pain and pleasure.

The moment came half a minute later, as Locke snarled and bit the Sentinel's scruff again, giving one final heave and finally plowing his thick bulb into Kajex's backside, securing his loins in place. A throaty growl escaped through Locke's teeth as the scene seemed to freeze for a few moments, but it was in those few moments that Kajex felt the throb of Locke's balls, the swell of his knot and cock as flood of searingly hot spunk traveled through his length and directly into the alpha's body. A tremendous shudder followed as Kajex's endurance gave out and he moaned, unloading his own balls into the teen beneath him with a deluge of his own seed. Kentoh moaned with him at the same moment, and Kajex was certain that he had experienced yet another orgasm, staining the sheets beneath them.

Gasping, panting from the exertion of an incredible lovemaking session, Locke released his bite from Kajex and held him down, grunting as he pulled back. The Sentinel yelped once more as the knot forced past his anal tightness and dislodged from his ass, leaving his backside sore in the best way possible. Kajex followed suit more carefully, nuzzling his younger lover gently as he shifted his knot out of the teen, letting out a satisfied sigh just as Locke slid up against Kentoh.

"That... was so much fun," Kentoh panted, cuddling into Locke as Kajex spooned him from behind. "Thanks... for letting me join you guys..."

Locke chuckled. "You're our blood, pup- and our friend. If this is how Kanj'Isha are naturally, then who are either of us to say no?"

"All you need to do is ask us permission," Kajex told him, licking his cheek. "And you're more than welcome to top for either of us if you ask nicely. On that note," he added, looking up and pressing his nose against Locke's, "I don't mind 'catching' from either of you, as long as we establish it before we start."

"I'm sorry," Locke said with a smiling blush. "But your reaction to my question was just fitting, I wanted to oblige you."

"Wanna be the alpha in bed?" Kajex asked with a grin.

Locke chuckled and leaned forward, nuzzling his twin. "Not a chance. You'll always be my alpha, even when you want to be my bitch- and especially when I'm yours."

The twins kissed deeply, Locke reaching out and taking Kajex's paw in his as their heartbeats slowed down in tandem. Through the miniscule twitches in his lips, perceivable through the Force, Kajex could feel Locke's pulse match his own. More than that, he realized with a pang of joy, was that Kentoh's heartbeat matched theirs.

"Love you, bro," Kajex sighed.

"Love you too, Kaj," Locke responded.

"What 'bout me?" Kentoh yawned, cuddled between them.

"We both love you too, little brother," Kajex told him with a chuckle, squeezing around his midsection as the youngest clone began to doze off.

The scene faded from Syrra's mental vision, her heart rate high from watching the 3 males go at it. A furious blush warmed her face as she stood in at the arch of the doorway leading into the manor, as she slipped out of her trance and returned to her body, the shock of cold air and freezing snow on her face jarring her back into reality with a shiver. It was as effective as a cold shower in turning her off.

Her eyesight readjusted and focused on the Amaran vixen sitting in the middle of the landing pad, almost completely covered in snow. When Syrra had taken a few moments to watch the erotic scene within the Gold Rush occur, Keris had been completely fine. Any concerns the Trianii might have had in leaving the fox unattended for even a brief period of time had been quieted as she reached out and confirmed that she was still okay. Even meters apart, Syrra could sense the vixen's biology, could see that her body temperature had not changed in the 3 hours that she had spent in the middle of the blizzard. All the while her engagement gem, the Amaran Emerald, rotated slowly. When she had received it over a week ago on the Omega-Orr, the gem had been rough, flawed- now it was shaped, glittering from every angle and pulsing with a green light; an aura of the Force, the channeling of the vixen's energies as she formed the central nexus for her weapon of light.

Syrra's eyes strayed from the gem and down at Keris' lap, spying the new hilt she had constructed; despite being forced to shape her gem over a longer time period, the vixen had not been idle in forging her new weapon. Her Sith weapon had been a curved hilt, a relic from the Jedi wars against the Brotherhood of Darkness; now a Jedi Padawan, Keris had chosen the same hilt style, a silver hilt wrapped with brown leather. The weapon was nearly complete- all it needed was the stone.

A shift in the Force occurred and Syrra stood straight, watching as Keris lifted her head and breathed in deep, letting it out as she released herself from her trance. The gem hovering before her continued to pulse, the emerald light reflecting in her eyes as she held out her paw and floated the gem into her palm. With a feeling of pride for her friend, Syrra stepped forward into the snow, wading through the calf-deep powder with a broad smile on her face.

Keris glanced in her direction briefly before getting to her feet and shaking the snow out of her fur. "Phew... that's a chilly reception to return to," she remarked with a sigh, holding the hilt in her palm and sliding the gem chamber open.

"You did great," the Trianii complimented her. "I did mine in the peace of the Great Temple- doing yours in the middle of all of this is impressive."

Keris smiled back. "Thanks, babe. Now to test it."

Syrra stepped back as the vixen placed the gem in the weapon, sliding the hilt back into place and twisting it into a secure position. With bated breath, the vixen's forefinger slid against the activation diode and, after a moment of trepidation, pressed the diode inwards.

A sharp crack pierced through the wind, an emerald light speared through the darkness and falling snow, illuminating the vixen's face as an expression of joy filled her features. Syrra laughed and thumped the vixen's back good-naturedly, regarding the green blade with wonder.

Keris sighed, hefting the weapon experimentally. "It feels perfect. This is what was missing for me all this time- this... connection to my weapon. It's like getting a finger back and realizing you didn't notice it missing before."

"As it should be," Syrra acknowledged. "You should be proud, love- this is one of the key elements in becoming a Jedi. You don't need to doubt your ability to become one."

"I know," the vixen replied distantly, staring out into the dark, snowy fields before them as she deactivated the blade. "I saw glimpses of the future while I meditated. Nothing really concrete, but... more like a confirmation. This is where I'm meant to be, Syrra- with Locke, with Kajex, and with you. With the entire pack, even."

"Did you see use becoming knights?" Syrra asked, her heart leaping.

"No," Keris answered with a calm smile. "But I did see something within the immediate future."

"What's that?" the Trianii asked, interested.

The smile did not leave the vixen's face as her eyes turned and looked over the Trianii's shoulder. "A warning."

Syrra blinked, frowning. "What... kind of warning?"

"Don't worry, kitten," the vixen reassured her. "We're all going to make it out alive tonight."

Before she could ask what the Amaran meant, Keris had raised her weapon and reactivated it, her smile disappearing and contorting into a snarl as she leapt forward toward the Trianii. Syrra gasped and reached for her weapon reflexively, rolling out of the way as Keris landed and struck, coming up with her lightsaber activated and held up, ready to defend herself from her assailant.

She'd felt it the moment Keris had lunged- the vixen had no intention of attacking her, instead intent on safeguarding her lover's life. The clash of lightsabers rang through the air, a flash of light illuminating the snowy landing pad just as Syrra's eyes laid upon her would-be assassin- a tall Trianii female, dressed in white combat attire and easily standing more than a head taller than the vixen who had just countered the blow of an orange lightsaber blade. Before the assailant could react, the vixen propelled her through the air and slamming her against the wall of the manor. The Trianii assassin tumbled away just as 8 more appeared, bearing orange-hued lightsabers.

"Your mother's hired goons, I'm guessing," Keris growled. "Don't worry, the guy's inside already know- they're getting their pants on, they'll be out in a few moments."

One of the Trianii females growled in response, hissing to the others in their language as she started sprinting forward. "<They're mobilizing! We've little time left, kill these two, find the alpha and cut him do-->"

She never finished her words as Keris thrust her palm out and sent the approaching assassin flying through the air.

"Back off, cunt!" the Amaran snarled. "That's our girlfriend you're trying to kill!"