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"Mandalorians believe confrontation is required for growth, on the personal as well as the cultural level."

~Jedi Master Gnost-Dural

--SUBLIGHT SIGNAL DISPATCHED--

--TRANSMITTING--

--...-- --...-- --...--

--SIGNAL RECIEVED, AWAITING RESPONSE--

Click

"You have reached the residence of Aarn and Iaora Baarok," a soft female voice said with a purring inflection, just as the image of a brown-furred Trianii came into view. "How m-- oh! Jedi Syrra!"

The Padawan's muzzle lifted into a warm smile. "Hello, Loka. I'm afraid I'd forgotten what hour it is on Ekibo- I hope I haven't called at an inopportune time."

"Oh, not at all," the Trianii servant said pleasantly. "Aarn is currently out at the moment, I think your brother, Ra'Tasum, has requested some time in their presence- but Iaora is still here. Shall I fetch her?"

"Just one moment- I need to ask you if your transmitter has been serviced in the last few months, your signal is coming in a bit patchy." The Trianii glanced to the side at the Selonian next to her- the white-furred otter nodded approvingly and turned to Miles, handing him a device. The Miraluka held up a datapad connected to the hotel room's holoprojector, waiting for Loka to answer.

"As a matter of fact, the local comm-network did send someone for routine maintenance, something about boosting reception- I'm afraid I didn't quite understand the technical details. But the holo seems to be coming in clear on this side."

Syrra smiled reassuringly, though she did glance up and give Miles a subtle nod- the Miraluka set to work immediately, slipping the smuggler scrambler into the datapad. A brief burst of static filled the projection, but the signal held and a moment later the servant reappeared. "That's good. In that case, yes, I'd like to talk to... my mother," she said, warmth spreading through her chest at the reference.

"Give me just a moment- and before I fetch her... it's good to see you alive and well, ma'am," Loka said sincerely before leaving the projection.

Syrra used the pause to look up to Miles. "Anything?"

The eyeless human held up a hand for a moment, staring at the screen before nodding. "The scrambler is working- and yeah, it picked up a third interception signal trying to rebound the transmission elsewhere. Looks like you called it- your mo--" He stopped short at the warning look Syrra gave him and amended his wording. "The Matriarch, rather, is probably trying to spy on your mother."

The Trainii Jedi sighed, shaking her head with slight irritation. "Makes sense. She follows the tenents of Trianii religion closely, which includes doing nothing to intrude on the peace of your neighbor's domain- technically she isn't, if she's tampering with technology located_outside_ the Manor."

"With all due respect, boss," Rook intoned, "your Matriarch is a right cunt."

"Believe me, I appreciate you saying so," Syrra responded dully, privately agreeing with the Selonian mercenary's choice of words. "But I miss talking to my mother. I only just acknowledged her as being true kin, I want to spend years catching up on the love we should've shared. I just... thank you," she said simply, to both Rook and Miles. "I want to let her know... everything. And I wouldn't have been able to without your help."

Miles smiled warmly. "Think nothin' of it, Syrra," he said, leaning over and giving the Trianii a friendly hug. "I'm close enough to my ma as it is, too- I don't blame you for wanting to stay in touch."

"How is she?" Syrra asked.

"Alive and kickin'," he said with a chuckle as he stepped back. "Spoke with her a couple weeks ago, she's spending a couple months on Bespin, getting some gambling done. Now, when you're done with the transmission, cut the signal first, and then just give the scrambler a good tug and close out of the datapad." He tapped Rook's shoulder. "Let's give Syrra a bit of privacy, kiddo."

The otter nodded and followed Miles. "Just set the scrambler on my bed when you're done," the Selonian said before they left.

Moments later, a white-furred Trianii appeared in the projection, a look of surprise and joy on her features. "Syrra! It's been so long since I've seen you, my child, I'm happy to see you're still safe and sound!" she said with a beaming smile. "How are you faring, cub?"

Syrra's heart sang as her mother spoke to her, and it took an enormous amount of willpower not to break down into joyful sobs. She still had to snuffle slightly and wipe her eyes impatiently, her cheeks aching from the smile she returned. "I've been well, mother. I'm sorry I haven't kept in constant contact, I have so much I want to tell you, things that have been going on- I wish I could tell you everything in person, but I've just been so _busy_lately."

Iaora regarded the younger woman with pride. "Helping people throughout the galaxy, bravely facing darkness and bringing light, no doubt- Syrra... I know in my heart your father would be so proud of you right now. You needn't apologize for anything, I understand- just hearing your voice, seeing your face again, is a gift."

Syrra nearly choked up, letting out a watery laugh and wiping her eyes again. "Thank you, mother... gods, just... everything that's been happening- I guess it's best to start with the best news first," she said, excitement building up in her as she reached into her shirt and pulled out the pendant Kajex had given to her, holding it up to the screen for Iaora.

The albino Trianii cocked her head questioningly. "That's a lovely piece of jewelry, but I'm afraid I don't underst... wait a moment." A look of dawning comprehension filled her features. "I've seen that pendant before... it was around Captain Surnahm's ne--" She froze and Syrra grinned, excitement mounting within her. "He... gave it to you... because..." Iaora's eyes widened.

"He asked for my paw... and I said yes!" Syrra chirped happily.

There was a moment of stunned silence as Iaora stared at her in disbelief- then the elder feline cried out in joy and held her paws to her muzzle, laughing as tears streaked down her face. "Oh my goodness, I-- I'd hoped you and him would-- this is incredible!" she exclaimed, her face red and proud. "Oh Syrra, I'm so happy for the both of you! When you both visited and I saw how close the two of you had become, how in love you were with him... gods above, Syrra, I hadn't felt that joy since your father confessed his love to me," she sighed wistfully. "I'd hoped eventually you two would progress further in your relationship, and you have- I'm so proud of you, my child."

The warmth in Syrra's chest doubled. "I'm glad you approve, mother," she responded leaning forward. "After everything that happened, I guess it just felt like the right time."

"Did something prompt him to propose?" Iaora asked curiously, still smiling as she wiped her eyes.

"Alot of things, actually," Syrra responded; and for the next half-hour she explained the strange friendship between the Jedi and former-Sith trios, how it had started on AS-303 and culminated in the Battle of Katarr, where Syrra and Kajex had saved Locke's life and brought him, Keris and Miles to the Jedi Praxeum. She explained how Kajex had revealed he was a Padawan during the Clone Wars who had been brought to Ekibo by his Jedi and Antarian Ranger fathers; how he was trained as a Jedi Sentinel through the dual-education; how he'd been put into a coma and woken up nearly a decade and a half later; and how he'd kept it secret so he could effectively train Syrra as a Sentinel as well. Iaora listened with rapt interest, astounded at the recent developments- and glowing with pride for her kin as Syrra touched off on her own accomplishments in the process.

"You've certainly kept yourself busy," Iaora finally said as Syrra finished. "It's good to hear that you have a guardian and teacher to whom you are close to, as well. What of the former Sith? You mentioned that he and his own companions joined with you?"

Syrra nodded. "They agreed to train as Jedi, yes. And once the NRI discovered that Kajex and Locke were more or less somehow twins, staying with us was pretty much a forgone conclusion. I think it's something they both needed- a sibling connection. They bonded so fast it's hard to tell they were only just friends months ago; they're practically close brothers, now." She chuckled. "_Very_close brothers, actually."

Iaora laughed. "Oh? Was Talrik just the beginning?" she asked knowingly, giving the younger Trianii a wink.

"It's the most unusual family I've been a part of, mother," the Jedi admitted. "But... I love them. All of them. They're friends, lovers and family- I'd fight to protect them just as hard as I'd protect you."

"You don't need my approval, Syrra- but you have it all the same. If that's what you truly feel in your heart, then be a part of it and don't let go of them," she said with a warm smile. "It sounds like a lot of them_need_ a family to look forward to- and perhaps a warm body to lay next to," she added slyly. "Even a _female_one."

"Mother..." Syrra hid her face, smiling as a hard blush set in.

"You don't have to be ashamed, cub. I was as young as you, once, and though I'd never admit it to anybody but Aarn, I _did_spend some time... _experimenting_with other females as well- they can be _very_nice," she purred.

"Mother!" Syrra cried out, giggling. "By the Force, hearing you say that..."

"I just wish for you to know how happy I am for you," Iaora assured her pleasantly. "If they are as you say, as close as kin or closer, then it's enough to know you have a family there to support and protect you- if you're willingly intimate with them and they bring you joy, then I support you there, too."

"Well, I'm not the only one," Syrra continued. "Kajex has also become close with them too. More than that, on our last mission we found other members of Kajex's race- what's more, they were still alive. They're being treated by the New Republic and the Jedi Order, we're hoping they can be reintroduced to the galaxy."

"Is that why you're calling from Corellia?" Iaora asked- she'd no doubted noticed the source of the transmission.

"Partly," Syrra admitted. "Kajex and Locke think that their species creates Force bonds easily with other people- all 7 of the surviving wolves we rescued were Force-sensitive. Because of that, Kajex brought us here to get the _Gold Rush_upgraded with extra living space. He wants to bring the new pack in, to help them, and I agreed to cover the costs- I don't need the money."

"Then clearly you've chosen a good man to be your mate," Iaora responded approvingly, "and he is lucky to have someone as selfless and generous as you."

Syrra nodded and sighed. "I'm glad you approve, mother- I just... I wish Matriarch Bast did."

"Did... you tell her first?" Iaora asked softly, her ears drooping slightly. A pang rent through Syrra as the Jedi realized that her mother was worried she hadn't been informed first.

"Oh! No, I haven't told her at all and I had no intention of telling her- I wanted to tell you first before she somehow finds out... if she doesn't know already," Syrra added with slight worry. "She, er... she sent a bounty hunter by the name of Rook after Kajex," she admitted.

The elder Trianii's face fell. "Oh gods," Iaora groaned, putting a paw up to her head with a look of worry. "Did she really?"

"Yes, though fortunately we were able to incapacitate the hunter, and she was gladly receptive enough that she agreed to be hired as Kajex's bodyguard and drop her contract- apparently, Bast didn't want to pay her partway. So far Rook has proven to be a capable combatant and interesting companion. The jury is still out on how much we can trust her, but... she's the reason we're able to talk to each other now."

"I... don't understand," Iaora responded, confused. "What would have prevented you from contacting me?"

"The Matriarch," Syrra said dully. "I had a feeling that _maybe_she might have rigged your communications to copy and direct the signal to her- and I was right. She's spying on you, mother. Right now I'm using Rook's smuggler scrambler to disrupt any slicing and redirection attempts. It's... _technically_illegal for non-military, non-intelligence civilians to carry the device, but..."

"You'll hear no admonishment from me," Iaora responded, looking troubled at the prospect of her privacy being violated. "I have not heard anything from my sister where it concerns you or Kajex; though she did inform the yu'nar that she recently withdrew her financial support towards the Jedi Order. Her story is that she is worried the funds might be misappropriated and used by civilian contractors instead of Jedi, and she wants to withhold support until they can be assured that they will receive Jedi aid that they have funded."

The Jedi frowned. "What was the point of that? The Jedi aren't supported by her alone, they can do without it."

"She's doing it as a partial anti-Jedi stance. The argument is that very few Jedi are from the Wild Space region and thus cannot know the plight of the Trianii people. Nobody came to our aid when the CorpSec Authority invaded our system, though of course that ignores the fact that they were being purged by the Empire at the time. And if what you're telling me is true, then at least one Jedi stood among the Trianii and helped us, at the cost of his life- two, if you count Kajex."

"Does that mean I'm no longer welcome on Ekibo?" Syrra asked.

"No, there's been no word on prohibiting your presence on the planet- yet. I assume she will eventually attempt to make it difficult, however," Iaora warned her. "That said, there's very little she can do to prevent Kajex from returning, either- Hangar 7 is technically his legal residence, and the owner of Denhaven Starport does not need to acquiesce to Bast's demands." Her brow furrowed. "Nevertheless, if she has grown bold enough to hire mercenaries to take his life, there may well be a danger in returning."

The thought had crossed Syrra's mind before her mother had mentioned it- it would take little more than a bomb planted in the right place to put the entire ship at risk. Silence persisted between them as a few ideas popped into her head. "If we could get someone to watch over Hangar 7... Kajex has a few friends on Ekibo who might be able to keep an eye out for it," she suggested, thinking of Retsa and Garsh.

"A good idea," Iaora responded approvingly. "Meanwhile, I'll see if Aarn and I can get in touch with a few of your father's old friends- they may be able to help as well. Ideally... and as much as it would pain me to suggest it... I'd prefer if you simply stay off-planet until everything blows over."

"Not an option," Syrra replied flatly. "I'm not letting Bast scare me or my family into submission. She will not prevent me from visiting home." A smile formed on her muzzle. "Besides... how am I expected to have a union if my own mother can't be there? Mind you, there isn't a set date, but... I would love the idea of a ceremony at home, at the Manor."

"Oh Syrra..." The elder Trianii regarded her with a look of pure adoration. "Your uncle and I would love to. Just tell me when, and I'll pull Atuarre and her family away to come see you- plus whoever else would be willing to attend, I'm sure Jurah, Calya and Markus would be happy to attend. Do you, Kajex and Talrik still plan to come for their union?"

Syrra nodded. "Absolutely- if you don't mind adding another 4 guests to the list."

"We'd be glad to accommodate the crew," Iaora replied.

"Thank you, mother." She had little else she wanted to discuss with her, but one question did linger. "I'd better cut the transmission soon- just because I'm between missions at a hotel doesn't mean Kajex won't want to train."

"I understand, cub," Iaora assured her with a proud smile.

"Before I let you go, though- Loka mentioned Ra'Ta is staying with you. Is... everything okay with him?"

The elder Trianii stiffened, her smile fading. "I wish I could say yes... but no. Things are not well with him. He is once again unemployed. The last facility that hired him terminated his contract, and I have reason to believe Bast might be the cause. Ra'Tasum puts on a brave face, bless his heart and soul- but he radiates so much pain." She paused. "He would be happy to see you, I'm sure- he always loved you best out of all his siblings. You should take the opportunity to call again later, once he's settled in with us."

"Gladly," Syrra agreed with a nod. "I'll try to contact you again within a couple of days, if only to speak with him." She sighed, glancing at a chronometer on the opposite wall. "I'd better go- Kajex said he had something special in mind for training."

"I understand, cub. I'm glad you took the time to contact me, I'll give Aarn and Ra'Ta your love. Tell Kajex I said congratulations- and that I welcome him into the family."

"I will," the Padawan promised. "I love you, mother."

"I love you too, Syrra. May the Force be with you."

"Keep your guard up, kit."

Two jabs with his left, both of them blocked- he sidestepped, shifting his stance just in time to catch a white fist moving at high speed. Another jab with his right- missed. His opponent stepped in, thrusting her elbow out- blocked. Moving quickly he grabbed her, throwing her forward- the otter tumbled gracefully into a roll, narrowly dodging the fox heel as he slammed it into the floor with an axe kick. Weight shifted to the front leg, leaning forward, he moved too slow to avoid Rook's retaliation- ducking low and spinning, she brought the heel of her foot into the back of the fox's knee, dropping him down before lunging forward with a left hook across his jaw.

Talrik yelped and felt himself thrown backwards from the blow, his ears ringing as he rolled a few feet away. The coppery taste of blood flowed over his tongue, as he lay on his stomach, his ability to move somewhat hampered by how dazed he was. After a few moments he heard a heated voice.

"... fuck were you thinking going for the temple, Rook?! This is supposed to be a sparring session, not a slug-fest! Keep your wild swings out of the training ring and save it for Imperi--"

"Oh fuck off, Surnahm!" Rook snarled back. "Ain't like I got him on his back, clawin' his face open- how th' fuck are we gonna be at top form if we keep holdin' back?!" the otter shot at the Sentinel. Talrik looked up- through his hazy vision he could see Kajex looking irate, Rook looking defiant, and Locke looking concerned as he bent over and squeezed the Amaran's shoulder.

"Are you alright, kit?" he asked, helping Talrik sit up. "That was a fairly powerful blow she landed."

"Y-yeah, I'm alright," the fox insisted, head swaying a bit. Locke brought a paw up to his temple with a look of concentration and the fox remained still; within moments his focus sharpened back to normal, the throbbing pain in his jaw fading away into nothing as Locke administered healing arts through the Force. Warmth radiated from the spot where he'd been struck, but other than that it took only a few moments for Talrik felt like he hadn't been downed at all.

"I swear Rook, you'd better knock the aggression down a few fucking pegs before you seriously hurt someo--"

"_What_aggression?!" the otter replied angrily. "Ain't like I did it outta any sorta bad blood! I just saw an openin' and I took it; and I'd appreciate it if you get th' fuck offa my back about it, because that kind of quick thinkin' might save _your_ass someday!"

Kajex looked as if he was going to continue, but before he could Talrik spoke up. "Kaj, it's fine! Really, I'm alright," he maintained, groaning slightly as Locke brought him back up to his feet. Rather than feeling unsteady, his sense of balance persisted. "I just had a brief lapse in my defense, that's all."

Locke interjected. "Kajex, please calm yourself. I understand your concern, really- but I don't think Rook meant any malice during the match. As she said, she saw an opening and she took it- thinking on the fly is a skill everyone needs to develop in a combat situation." He smiled calmly as his twin seemed to relax with a sigh. "You don't need to worry about minor injuries- I have them covered, though not to the extent of Syrra."

"Y'see? Even your own twin bro gets it, Surnahm," Rook said with a satisfied smirk.

"I do," Locke acknowledged, "but I think he also has a point." Rook blinked and seemed ready to respond indignantly- he cut her off quickly. "I understand the value of improvised combat, but at the same time you need to bear in mind that we are Jedi- we apply only as much force and Force as is necessary. And while Talrik may not be Force-sensitive, he is still an Antarian Ranger; he is expected to follow that same standard. I wouldn't demand that you to follow our ways, but I _would_advise that you practice caution. Only Syrra really knows how to use a Healing Crystal with any significant results, and the Crystals can't reverse death. A broken jaw is easy for a Jedi to fix- a broken neck is not."

Rook frowned and Talrik thought she looked split between understanding the argument while wanting to debate it- but after a moment she let out a frustrated sigh and nodded, folding her arms and looking away. "Right, right... I'll try to hold back a bit," she grumbled.

"We appreciate it," Locke said kindly, the effect of his words seeming to soothe her sour mood. Kajex nodded, stepping back from Rook with sigh.

"Alright... can you still go again, kit?" the gray wolf asked.

With his sense of balance restored and endurance refreshed from Locke's healing efforts, he nodded and got back into a fighting stance. "Not like I'd have stopped even if Locke hadn't given me a Force-based breather," he stated confidently- inwardly, he felt invigorated and inspired. The words brought a grin to Rook's face, seeming to prompt fresh spirit into their sparring session as she got into a fighting position.

"See, Kaj? This guy knows when he should quit- never."

"This is exactly what I was worried about, Rook."

A sigh. "... Okay, yeah... I admit I overdid it that time, Locke."

Talrik's eyes fluttered open at the same time a wave of fresh pain tore through his midsection. Bracing himself as much as possible to prevent howling from the pain, he clawed at the training mat beneath him. "Ffffff-uck," he choked out. "What happened this time?"

"Easy, Talrik," a female voice to his right said soothingly. The gentle purr of his Trianii healer flowed into his ears, bringing him comfort just as relief washed over him. Syrra smiled down at the laying fox, one paw rubbing behind his ears while the other administered healing to his chest. "You suffered a broken rib, fractured sternum and mild concussion; nothing life-threatening, but you passed out maybe half a minute after the concussion. Miles was watching from the hallways upstairs and came to get me when he saw what happened."

Before he could thank her, Rook got on her hands and knees, peering over him with a nervous expression- a steady trickle of blood was running from her nose and down her chin, and there was a cut across her left eyebrow, though she ignored both injuries. "You a'right, mate? Listen, I'm right sorry about that hit, I thought you were fakin' with that lunge."

Talrik sighed, feeling frustrated- not with the otter, but himself. "It's fine. Y'know, it really says how far I have to go before I'm even combat-capable in close-quarters, if I can be taken down so easily."

"Let's not do that, kit," Kajex said, appearing above him. "You're a damn good fighter, and that's coming from someone that's seen both Jedi and non-Jedi fist-fighters. You're just not used to an opponent who goes all out like Rook," he said, peering at her sternly.

"I said I was bloody sorry," Rook muttered with a subdued expression.

"It's fine," Talrik repeated a bit irritably as he sat up, hissing slighting as his abs cramped. Waiting a few moments before the ache receded, he got up to his feet and paced to the other side of the fighting ring. "Rook was right; this is the kind of shit I have to expect from anybody. Can't just be comfortable with being 'decent', I need to be better than this- the Remnant and Sith aren't going to hold back on me." He grabbed a towel from the corner, wiping his face and sighing.

"Kit--"

"And it's not like I need everyone to fucking coddle me every time this happens!" Talrik snapped at Kajex, silencing the wolf before he could say anything; the vulpine Ranger's fur bristled anxiously at the same moment, hackles raised. There was a moment of silence, a few heartbeats of anger at himself and at everyone around him. It quickly gave way to regret at the pained look on the wolf's face, who for once seemed to be deprived of words. Nobody said a word as the awkwardness hung in the air.

Feeling terrible for the outlash he looked away. "Look, I just... I need a break right now," he muttered- trying desperately to leave the situation he quickly made for the door, feeling worse when nobody attempted to stop him.

Perhaps sensing that Talrik truly did need time to himself, everyone gave him space and did nothing to talk to him as he stewed in shame for his outburst. Ranger though he might be, remaining in the presence of 5 Force-sensitive individuals was a constant reminder of how out-of-place he seemed. Seeing the feats that his new family were capable of performing did, at times, bring about a sense of envy- not for the fact that they were Force-sensitive, but for the fact that they seemed capable of contributing far more effectively than he ever could. Were it not for his C-rifle, his trained reflexes and wickedly-precise marksmanship, Talrik felt he would have been left far behind.

Miles seemed a better contributor than he did, at times, with more experience and a better working knowledge of Imperial tactics, and a preference for heavier weaponry that could turn tides better than a sniper (at least where Sith were concerned). But Rook was new to everyone- and already she was kicking his ass. He didn't hate her for being a better fighter, nor did he hate anyone else for what they contributed- he hated that he felt like what he was doing simply wasn't enough.

After cutting the session short, Talrik had made a beeline for the room he, Miles and Rook were staying in. With little to do but wait a few hours before turning in, he'd taken to checking and re-checking the weapons they'd brought down from the Gold Rush. He had done this at least three times before a knock at the door made him jump.

He stared at the door, heart racing as he attempted to steady himself; torn between telling the visitor to enter and remaining silent, he hesitated- until a female voice spoke loudly from the other side.

"C'mon fox-boy, ain't no point in pretending yer not in there- Miles says you are. Can I come in, mate?"

Brow furrowing slightly, he cleared his throat. "What do you want?"

"Just... I wanna talk with you, Talrik..." Rook answered, sounding despondent.

Heart sinking slightly from the tone of voice, he sighed and got up- though she no doubt still possessed the key to get in, she seemed reticent to open it herself until she knew he wouldn't mind her intrusion. The door opened and he was greeted with the sight of a relieved-looking otter, her tail swaying encouragingly for a moment- her smile seemed to falter slightly at the cold look he knew he was probably giving her. The moment he recognized this he calmed himself, trying to keep his expression neutral.

"Just talk?" he asked skeptically.

She nodded earnestly. "Seriously, mate. But... just not out here. Can I come in?" she asked.

A sigh escaped his muzzle and he held the door open, waving her in. Stepping inside quickly, she noticed their gear set out. "Planning on goin' somewhere?" she asked, confused.

He responded by shaking his head. "I just needed something to do," he replied quietly. "Might as well have had it ready just in case we need to leave at moment's notice."

Rook nodded as she sat at the end of his bed. "I wanted to say I'm s--"

"Sorry?" he said, cutting her off tensely. "You already did. There's nothing to forgive, you beat my ass fair and square."

The otter frowned. "It ain't about 'beatin' your ass', fox-boy," she replied. "Yer boss is right, it was a sparrin' session- I wasn't doin' it because of bad blood or some shit. And it's not like you didn't make me pay for it after."

Confusion set in at this statement. "What the hell are you talking about? You knocked me on my ass with a head-blow, and I stayed there until I came to," he stated, feeling fury building as yet another person seemed intent on coddling him- but it didn't mount long, as an expression of surprise appeared on the otter's face. "... What?" he asked, feeling as if he was missing something.

The Selonian swallowed. "I guess I hit you harder than I should have. You... I mean, how else did you cut my brow open and bloody my nose, mate? You had at least 30 seconds of fighting time where you got back up and laid in on me, all calm and focused- ain't never seen that kinda focus unless it's one of the Jedi doin' it. But puttin' it short, you got a couple of solid hits in and Kajex was about ready to jump in to pull you back... until you collapsed like a sack of sidi gourds."

Talrik stared at her in disbelief. "I... don't remember doing that," he said.

She shrugged. "I mean... Syrra said you took a pretty bad blow to the skull- a concussion can fuck with your memory, which is why I... I wanted to say I'm sorry," she repeated quietly.

"You don--"

"No, I gotta_to say this, Talrik," she cut him off with an insistent tone. "Y'ain't been nothin' but decent to me since I got on board the_Gold Rush. Syrra's okay with me, Keris probably keeps lookin' at my ass, Miles is a decent guy, Locke's okay... Kajex, I think, probably doesn't trust me all that much."

"He doesn't trust easily," Talrik said, sitting at the other end of the bed.

"Prolly has his reasons, but I ain't gonna hold it against him. He was right, I was bein' a bit too heavy-handed while we were trading blows."

"No, you were right. I need to get better than this," Talrik insisted. "If I don't--"

"Lemme finish," Rook cut him off again, frowning. "I'm willin' to admit he was right- it's not like when he and the other Jedi are training they put their blades at full cutting power. You seriously gonna suggest that when you're trainin' with remotes or blasters, that they're set to kill? Same basic rules- I had my blows set to lethal, and you paid for it. I wanna apologize for that, but I also wanna tell you why I did it."

The fox frowned. "Why?"

"Because... shit, this isn't easy..." She hesitated, looking nervous as she looked away. She didn't speak until she worked up the nerve to look him in the eyes again. "I... respect you. Alot. And... I told you how Mandalorians are kinda culturally different, right? We don't say or do anything we don't mean- we deal with people honest-like. I felt like if I held back on you, it'd just be an insult to you. Like... it'd be like me sayin' 'you can't handle the best I have,' and then spittin' in your face by not givin' you the best performance I can. I mean... if that makes sense," she added quietly. There was an awkward pause before she continued. "And from what I've seen and heard, I wouldn't wanna give you anything but_the best- and I wouldn't want you to give me anything but everything you've got, because I like an honest challenge. You deserve to be tested, to be able to show every bloke that questions you that you_are a badass- hell, you gave me a pretty sound thrashin', even if I knocked the memory outta yer databanks. And maybe I'm just a little bit of a showoff, but I'd like to think I'm legit where it counts- so with you taking me down a few pegs, I think... I think you're alright, too."

Talrik felt at a loss of words for this admission. Having expected the otter to offer an half-hearted apology, he was completely unprepared for her to open up about why she was being brutal in training. Had anyone else told him this was the case he wouldn't have believed it- but the way the Selonian averted her eyes shyly, and the blush setting in as she looked at him and told him, perhaps nervously, that word of his exploits had garnered her favor; he was convinced of her sincerity.

But the words did come, eventually, after several minutes of silence.

"... Thanks, Rook."

A look of hesitation remained on her features. "So... we're cool, yeah?"

He found himself smiling. "Yeah... we're cool." Leaning back and lying on the bed, his thoughts strayed to Kajex. "I just wish I hadn't snapped at Kaj for it." He felt movement behind him as Rook got up and sat next to him.

"Maybe I won't understand what it was that made you guys as close as kin- but I got no reason to think you're lyin' about it. If he's your 'alpha', as you guys keep callin' him, then it's not just some bullshit title he gave himself- it's something you're callin' him because you trust him to lead you right." She paused, looking slightly reticent to continue- yet after a few moments she did so. "I've had to be a leader on hunts in my clan, sometimes. That shit ain't easy; you start realizin' everybody's lives are in your paws, and you begin worryin' that a single fuckup will lead to someone's death, that if you don't do right by everybody they'll start to lose faith in you- and then you start doing what it takes to excel, to have enough of an edge. Sometimes you make mistakes and make things worse; if not for someone else, then for yourself." There was another pause and she shook her head. "I'm ramblin'- anyway, the point is that even if Kaj can be a bit of an asshole at times, I don't doubt he's doin' what he thinks is best for you."

Talrik sighed, nodding. "I shouldn't have snapped, but with Kajex..."

"I get why," Rook responded fairly. "He don't need to hold your paw, and you're right in saying you don't need constant affection. But I don't think you guys'd be callin' each other siblings if he really didn't feel that way about you. I mean... this is just an uninformed opinion, maybe I'm readin' the entire fuckin' thing all wrong- but for all the fuckin' you guys do, it seems_like there's a lot of legit love in it. You got a fucked-up family, Talrik... and to be honest, I think it's prolly the best kind one could have. So don't be too hard on anyone that puts a paw out to help you up." She smiled. "Hell, it's how my old man taught me, anyhow- and look how _I turned out."

The words felt like a salve against his bruised ego and guilt, making him feel calmer. "I guess you're right... I'll talk to him a little later, then. Just... right now, I could use a distraction."

Rook cocked her head, eyes flicking to their gear. "Well, ya ain't gonna find much fun just mopin' in the room and quadruple-checkin' all our shit. So..." She paused, biting her lower lip.

He arched an eyebrow. "... So....?"

"... So... do you maybe wanna... I dunno... get some fresh air? Check out the Blue Sector and find some trouble to get into?" she asked. There was a look on her face that Talrik caught- a sort of expression that seemed almost... hopeful.

The silence stretched on for a minute as he looked up at her. He knew they were staring into each other's eyes, but the fox felt no compulsion to look away. He would've asked what compelled her to make that suggestion- but there didn't seem to be any need for an explanation. Without warning he sat back up and got to his feet, smiling.

"Lemme grab my jacket- I feel like a drink."

The Blue Sector was something of a logical anomaly when one considered it's background. With Corellia having a large hand in galactic affairs, it was only natural that it would have a considerable amount of energy in its populace. Kajex had not simply made up the old saying of Corellian's possessing rocket fuel in their blood- it was an opinion shared by most people fortunate enough to meet and befriend a Corellian. And while most Corellians were decent folks, if at times brash and cocky, that didn't mean that the planet didn't supply a healthy amount of less-than-legal occupations.

The Corellian Engineering Corporation was partially to blame for this; it wasn't enough to build some of the fastest and reliable ships in the universe, but they also tended to look in the other direction where it concerned illegal modifications- when they weren't the ones actively providing them, that is. With a powerful company encouraging smuggling, blockade-running, podracing, swoop-racing and (slightly) illegal ship mods, the planet would over time draw in a notable (and interesting) population of relatively well-behaved individuals of scum and villainy. The logical anomaly wasn't the fact that the Blue Sector was rightly considered the most dangerous part of Coronet- it was that despite this fact, it drew in plenty of off-worlders who would otherwise be described as law-abiding visitors.

Tattoo parlors, bars, gambling dens, spice dens, sports grills, brothels, seedy "love motels", illegal weapons dealers, money launderers- whatever an offworlder might consider a sin in their culture, there was an establishment for it. And yet for all the danger, it was both appealing and surprisingly safe; only an idiot would draw a blaster in a place where every man, woman, herm or droid was openly packing heat. Nobody visiting was interested in spoiling so much fun, and those tending to the visitors weren't interested in scaring off anyone looking for it even if they had pieces at their hips.

One piece in particular was having it's handle traced by an idle finger, as Talrik waited patiently near the bar Rook had told him to wait near while she went to "make a purchase", in her own words. What it was she would not say, but he didn't press the question as she darted into one of the alleys. He had no reason to believe he was being abandoned to the mercy of the city. Despite Rook's insistence that she would be as honest as she could be with him and the rest of the crew, he wouldn't grudge her for keeping her own secrets, whatever they might be- though he hoped she wasn't just coming along because she'd be keeping an eye out for a bounty mark.

But she did return in fairly short order, having added a rather sizable and secure pouch to her belt. Before he could ask what she'd gotten, she put a paw up. "Sorry mate, this is one o' my own lil secrets. Hope you don't grudge me for it."

He shrugged. "Long as you aren't trying to smuggle some kind of bio-weapon, you're fine," he assured her with a smile. "See anyplace you wanna grab a drink at?"

"Someplace where they serve a bit o' meat," she suggested, adjusting her glaive while scanning the shops on Blue Sky Boulevard. "Wait, like that place over there!" she chirped brightly, pointing out a brightly-lit establishment some 80 meters away- Ham-Fisted Diner - BBQ, Booze and Boxing. "C'mon, let's go watch other people beat the shit out of each other!" she said, grabbing the arm of Talrik's jacket and dragging the startled, chuckling fox behind her through the crowds.

It was apparent even before they reached the "diner" that this was one of the rougher establishments, a kind that Talrik was very much unused to- it was certainly the first time he'd seen a patron being physically tossed into the street, by a Wookie that was tremendously muscular even for her own species. A calm nervousness ran through him as he followed her into the building, the orange-lighted interior making it easy to see everything going on- the first thing he noticed was that everybody's holster clips were unfastened, making it easier for them to draw when needed; the second thing he noticed were sour faces as hands exchanged credits, growling expressions exacerbated by victorious sneers as gamblers forked over their bets. The smell of alcohol permeated the air, but despite how toxic the swill seemed to be just by scent alone it was somehow nicely supplemented by the aroma of well-cooked meat and delicious-smelling sauces.

He nearly bumped into Rook as she stopped abruptly- with no line to speak of, they had reached what appeared to be the owner of the business, a thick-bodied, heavily-muscular human who was leaning over his lectern with a cheerful grin. "Hey there, miss- come to get a meal while watchin' a maulin'?" he said with a hearty laugh.

Rook smirked. "Yeah, my buddy and I are lookin' see some meat get served- and grab a bite to eat," she added jokingly. "Y'don't mind my fightin' stick, do you?" she asked.

"Nah, not at all- wouldn't be the first Selonian to bring a polearm to my place. Just don't go makin' impromptu shishkebabs, eh?" he added a bit gruffly as he gestured them in.

It took a few minutes for them to be seated at an upper floor table next to the railing, giving them a clear look at the ring below while they waited for their drinks to arrive. Talrik winced as one of the fighters, an athletic-looking male Trandoshan, had his face slammed into the floor of the combat zone- the diner erupted into roaring cheers as as the reptilian combatant remained still, clearly alive but unconscious. A voice rang out through an intercom, hard to hear over the din but its message more or less clear as a pair of athletic employees jumped in and peeled the unfortunate loser off the floor, as the female Cathar that had dropped him pumped her fists in the air victoriously.

"Looks like that tough bitch has seen a few scuffles in her day, eh?" Rook pointed out, as she turned around and her bare back showed a slew of thin, fur-less scars.

Talrik shook his head. "Those are energy whip lash-marks," he informed her. "She was probably a slave somewhere, until she bulked up enough that she fought her way outta forced servitude."

"Good for her," Rook said approvingly, glancing up momentarily to thank the waitress that had brought them a few large glasses of hard alcohol. "Can't stand slavery, honestly- more power to anybody that breaks their chains, y'know? Ever had to take down that kind of bullshit while you were shootin' for the Empire?"

The fox shook his head. "Nope. Only a couple of pieces of the Imperial Remnant had any standing measures against slavery, and the one I was stationed at wasn't one of them. Mind you, if I had my way I would've made sure any slave trade in the region were shut down- in some ways, I was a slave," he muttered.

"Kajex mentioned you were a forced conscript," Rook intoned, as they watched the Cathar leave the ring. "Least now you're giving those bastards the black eye they deserved, yeah?" she suggested encouragingly, causing the Amaran to shrug.

"Maybe, but I can't have been the only one. Mind you, the other cadets I trained with..." he trailed off quickly, taking in a deep breath as he repressed those memories. "... Well, let's just say I hope every last one of them is dead. But I can't imagine I was the only one forced to serve the Remnant despite hating it. I'd rather like to put my crosshairs over the head of one of the Grand Moffs than a stormtrooper, y'know? Or maybe one of the remaining Remnant warlords causing all kinds of misery on the Outer Rim." He glanced at her. "Ever had to fight Imperials?"

"Fight them outright? No," she answered. "Hunt them? Several times. The Empire tried to fuck with Manda'yaim, the planet of Mandalore. We messed with them a couple times, making them look like morons without giving them everything they wanted, but soon they got a little too uppity and populous for us to be comfortable. 'Bout the time when the Rebel Alliance started fightin' back, Death Watch reappeared and started fuckin' with the wrong people."

"What's Death Watch?"

"Y'ever hear the standard stereotype about how Mandalorians are all hard-assed and violent fuckers who'll kill you as soon as look at you, unless you have enough credits? Death Watch is why people still think the average Mando'ade is like that. Those were the old ways, when we were a buncha raiders lookin' for the next good fight. Death Watch was pretty much the small but loud and well-funded thugs that used the old ways as an excuse to fuck people up. When the Empire had their asses kicked, Death Watch lost a lot of its power and scattered- my old man assigned me to lead a squad to clear some of those bastards out. Part of that job involved trackin' and huntin' down Imperial officers for info." She smiled. "Dad was pretty proud of me for carryin' that out. Said I wore my colors well."

"'Black for justice', right?"

She nodded, looking happy that he'd remembered. "And red to honor my parents- or dad, rather. That's when I started wearin' those colors more often."

"That's pretty admirable," Talrik stated honestly. "I mean, I dunno that I could do the same thing, active manhunting and glory-seeking. I don't want to make a name for myself in the universe- I just want to make it a better place."

"Ain't nothin' wrong with that. Me? I like the challenge and the activity. Hey, new meat!" She pointed down at the pit just as a pair of new fighters entered, both of them muscular humans. A ref droid rolled between them, started to speak to the two combatants about the rules, only to be shoved aside as the fight started abruptly and without warning, the shorter of the two swinging wildly and landing a heavy blow on the taller human's jaw. The crowd started howling with cheers and boos for the dishonorable beginning.

Talrik watched as the two men went at it, frowning; there was no sense in denying that either of these men were far stronger than he could ever hope to be, yet their movements were lumbering and ungraceful. It was like watching two humans trying to pretend they were Wookiees and failing on a ridiculous level- Talrik could easily identify them trying to replicate Wrruushi combat, as if copying the Wookiee martial art was the way to go. Nevertheless, the display seemed to drive most of the crowd wild- minus the 3 or 4 Wookiees roaring indignantly at the display.

"Fuck, these guys are terrible," Rook groaned. "Hey Talrik, 50 dataries if you jump in and beat both their asses."

"And miss a hot meal? Fuck that," Talrik replied with a chuckle. "Besides, I've been drinking- I can still shoot straight while drunk, but I lack capable footwork otherwise." He hesitated. "Besides... I wouldn't want to leave you alone."

Rook frowned. "That supposed to mean you think I need protecting?" she asked.

Talrik blinked. "You? Needing protection?" He laughed. "Not at all, I'm just enjoying your company right now- and if I gotta be honest, I kinda hope I'm decent enough company for you."

The Selonian relaxed a bit, smiling. "Yeah, actually. Part of me was worried that you weren't the type to want to hang out around here. You're a tough guy, but you're... also kind of a gentle one, if you don't mind my saying so."

The fox shrugged. "I don't like senseless violence, killing people for the fun of it," he admitted. He watched as the two humans charged at each other and met at the center, falling to the floor in a pile of limbs. "But this shit here counts as comedy_gold_," he said, trying to stop himself from laughing, though Rook was already howling in glee from the sight.

It ended too soon, though the two did get their laughs as they watched the comical display, perhaps the only two in the establishment able to see how moronic they looked (apart from the still-disgruntled Wookiees). One of the lethargic fools had just enough sense to straddle his opponent and start beating him senseless, even if it was with flailing arms and wild swinging. Once he stopped moving, the referee droid zipped in and analyzed the man, holding his hand up and letting out a confirmation beep.

Cheers erupted from all around them as Talrik and Rook continued to chuckle and wipe their faces. It had been a long while since Talrik had a chance to just sit back and enjoy himself anywhere outside of the Gold Rush, and it was more enjoyable now that he was spending that time with someone completely new. While he valued Kajex's and Syrra's company highly, the change in company was more than welcome- and the look in Rook's eyes suggested that she was feeling similarly.

A thought occurred to him.

"Hey Rook."

"What's up, mate?"

"... What exactly are we doing here, if you don't mind my asking?"

She blinked. "I... don't follow."

He smiled. "Be honest. Is this, or is this not, kind of a date?"

Her eyes widened at the same moment that her cheeks turned a bright red beneath her albino fur. But rather than say nothing, she looked away, a kind of scared but excited expression on her face.

"... Y'know... I wouldn't mind calling it that in the slightest," she finally replied, smiling.

"N-no, 's not like that," Talrik said. "Y'gotta-- it's more like, hold it here, right?"

Rook hiccuped and giggled, holding an 8-inch long throwing knife in her paw as the fox adjusted her footing and pose. "O-okay, fox boy," she purred. "Like this?" She held her paw up, blade between her thumb and forefinger.

The fox nodded, grinning wide. "There y'go- and then you step in halfway and thrust your paw out like this--" He guided her from behind, wobbling slightly as they stepped towards the target wall about 15 feet away. Once her foot was planted firmly into the floor, he guided her paw up in a slow underhanded throwing motion, stopping before she dropped the blade. "And like that," he finished. "'Cuz see, the blade is balanced for that kind of throw, it(hic) it'll just fly straight without flippin' around."

"Alrigh' then," Rook said enthusiastically, pulling back and getting into the starting position. "Lemme see if I can stick this fucker in the wall!" Despite the both of them being drunk, the few patrons left in the bar section did nothing to stop them from playing with sharp objects as the otter took a step back, then half a step forward, following through with the same motions Talrik had showed her.

THUNK

"HAHA! First try, bitches!" she chirped happily, tripping backwards and falling over with a giggle. A couple of the watchers chuckled and applauded before returning to their drinks, while Talrik grinned and held a paw out for the Selonian, pulling her back to her feet. He tugged a bit too hard and she fell into him, causing him to stagger back a step to regain his footing.

The otter looked up at him with a completely smashed and affectionate expression. "Oh... hello there, handsome," she purred softly. "Fancy seein' a guy like you around, you look like this really nice knife-throwin' teacher I just met."

Talrik chuckled, a burning sensation settling into his jowls from the compliment. "Oh yeah? Sounds like a nice guy for teaching you how to do that."

"Yeah, he really is," she agreed softly, leaning in and nuzzling into his neck. The affectionate gesture was returned as he nuzzled back, nose touching her forehead.

"How're you feelin'?" he asked as he guided her to a booth and slid her in, sitting next to her. She leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Like I ha--(hic) had one of the best days I've ever had in the last 3 years," Rook sighed contentedly. "Been workin' so h--(hic) hard I barely had time to relax like this- not that I had anybody to really do shit with anyhow. Dad's ship was pretty big... and pretty empty," she added quietly.

Talrik's ears perked up. "Travel alone often?"

"I've kinda had to for the last 3 years," she said, shrugging. "Kinda struck out on my own without any real warning." There was a troubled expression on her face, and Talrik leaned in.

"... What's wrong?"

"... It's... I dunno if I should say..."

"C'mon... you can tell me anything," he insisted. "I mean, only if you wanna, but... I'm hear to listen."

Her brown eyes looked into his, bottom lip pursed anxiously as her eyes darted around. "I... my dad's ship... I didn't exactly _borrow_it with his permission..." She shuddered. "Fact is... I stole it."

The fox cocked his head. "Out of necessity?"

"I just... I had to get away," she said weakly. "I love my old man to death, I'd give my life to protect him, but... it's just... I mean things with the clan..." she whimpered, looking at a loss for what to say. "I dunno how I can even begin to explain--"

"You don't have to," Talrik said suddenly, reaching out and squeezing her paw. The act seemed to make her jolt, though she didn't draw away. "Whatever it is you did, it doesn't sound like it's easy to talk about- and it doesn't sound like you did it out of spite." He smiled. "Whatever it is you want to say, take your time before you decide to tell me- and I promise not to think less of you for it."

"... What if I did something really bad?" she asked quietly.

"Then I'd wait for you to explain what happened before judgin' you," he said honestly. "You're talkin' to a guy that put a few years into Imperial service... too much of a fuckin' pussy to tell them to go to hell," he muttered.

"No... don't say that," Rook said, leaning in and hugging him. "You told me 'bout your ma and little bro... they were priority. I think only a heartless bastard woulda refused. Listen, Talrik," she said, turning his head to face her. "You... you got a really good heart. Kaj and Miles told me you did, and it's true. And good hearts fuel strong wills. Yer a lot stronger than you give yerself credit for, mate. That ain't the booze talkin', either- that's Mandalorian honesty talkin' to you..."

He didn't say anything, but his heart seemed to sing at the words of encouragement and he settled for smiling and accepting what she said. What he expected last was for her to lean in and press her lips against the side of his muzzle, a warm smile on hers.

He stared at her. "Was that more Mandalorian honesty?" he asked hopefully.

She chuckled. "Bet yer ass it was..."

Before he could answer, he heard someone moving in behind him.

THUNK

The fox jerked around, seeing an 8-inch long throwing knife embedded in the composite table, the handle hidden in the steel-tight grip of a tall, leering Trandoshan male- it took the fox a few moments to recognize his face, which only hours prior had been slammed into the fighting pit's floor by his female Cathar opponent. The reptilian pugilist leaned over, the smell of alcohol on his breath and an expression of hostile glee on his face.

"Hey, faggot... back away from the little bitch and lemme have a closer look at her, eh?"