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Winter seasons on Ekibo were not new to Kajex. He had spent a portion of his life on the Trianii world, occasionally mingling with its populace, and so was familiar with the chill that occurred after the harvest seasons and the snow that accompanied it. But there was a bite in that chill here that seemed to have nothing to do with the season or weather, an icy feeling that stabbed at his nerves as his boots crunched through the snow. The cold was somehow amplified by the trepidation and fear that he felt, which seemed to grow every step he took. As much as it hurt him to admit it, even to himself, he didn't think he would have been able to take these steps were it not for the gold-furred Trianii by his side, and the 5 others who had accompanied him.

Syrra kept pace next to him, squeezing his paw gently as he paused briefly- the gesture reinforced his willpower slightly, even as his heartbeat slammed through his chest. Behind him: his genetic and surrogate brothers, Locke, Kentoh and Talrik; Keris holding her new fiancee's paw; and Master Moarn, following in respectful silence. Although none of them said a word, Kajex was certain they could feel the unease within him. A part of him ached that none of his Force-sensitive packmembers, nor Moarn, were capable of battle meditation the way he was- he could certainly have used the confidence and boost to his somber mood.

There was a pause as he glanced up and saw deep gouge in an ancient tree, the incision smooth yet blackened with fire. An echo rang through his ears, the sounds of energy cleaving through wood, a shrill scream and a crash reverberating through his memories. Even so many years later, he recognized the wound in the tree for what it was. It served as a marker for him, of a terrible thing that had happened.

"... It didn't heal," Locke said softly, peering at the cut. "The tree still lives, but... why...?"

"A wound in the Force," Master Moarn said simply. It was like Katarr- a place where genocide on a large scale had occurred, which had rendered the planet lifeless. He could feel the subtle warping of the Force, the irregularity permeating the air. A shiver passed through him and for a moment Kajex was aware that all of them had done the same- even Talrik, through whom the Force did not flow, seemed to feel something amiss. Had Miles been here, he was certain the Miraluka would have seen it too, and that Rook would have felt something off about the area as well- though the two had opted to stay behind on the ship, to look out for the rest of the Black Tomb pack.

It had been a red lightsaber that made the cut. The user had been tall, a human in black shrouded clothing; not Sith, yet a student of the dark side. The attack had nearly taken Kajex's head off, before the youth had ducked and thrust through his heart. The body would have landed precisely where the wolf was standing- even with the environment covered in snow rather than rainwater and mud, he recognized the area.

It was not much farther.

"Are you well, Sentinel?" Moarn inquired softly, stepping into the alpha wolf's view and bringing him out of his recollection.

Kajex flinched a little, shaking his head clear. "I... yeah. I mean... not really," he admitted, swallowing. "No sense in hiding the fact that I'm really tense right now."

"You said you had a fight here," Kentoh intoned, clutching his jacket and shivering slightly. "I don't blame you for being a little... hesitant."

"If you want to put this off til another time," Moarn started to say.

"No," the wolf said abruptly, shaking his head. "I'm not-- I haven't--"

"Easy, love." Syrra's warm voice made him stop short, the chill around him starting to thaw a little as her cybernetic songsteel paw reached up and cupped the side of his face, guiding his gaze to her sapphire-blue eyes. "It's been years, I know- you told me. You have every reason to be afraid right now- but we're with you. All of us."

The Sentinel nodded, taking in a deep breath and holding her cybernetic paw gently. "I'll be okay... I just wish I could erase the pain." Even as he said this, his eyes drifted towards the depths of the woods before him. The battlefield had been wide, ranging at least a mile. At one point, everyone had been separated- he didn't know where they were at the time.

"Easy," Locke said softly, squeezing his shoulder from behind. "One step after the other, my brother."

Kajex could feel the gentle, subtle suggestion from his twin fill his mind. Ordinarily the Jedi Sentinel would have been mentally shielded from a mind trick, and even now he could see the suggestion for what it was, could have resisted it if he felt it was in his best interest- yet he allowed his body to move on the command, letting himself move forward.

They moved silently, save for the sound of their boots compacting the snow underfoot. It was some time before another word was spoken.

"... Tell us about them," Master Moarn suggested.

"Huh?"

"Your fathers. You've told us much about how you were a family, how much you all loved each other. You even told us how you completed your Trial of Spirit, by drawing from your fondest memories of them. Perhaps this will help you," he finished simply.

Kajex said nothing for a few moments. "... But what would I tell you?"

"Something positive," Talrik said. "They were your dads- did you have any 'dad' moments with them? Like, did you have a moment where they made bad dad jokes, or took you on a trip? Did they give you a Life Day gift that you remember fondly?"

The last suggested sparked a distant memory. "There wasn't a Life Day back then," Kajex answered. "Least not among the Jedi- except this one time during the Clone Wars when someone literally decked the halls with boughs of holly, like that ancient song goes. Dunno who did it, but the Council let it slide since it prompted something of a positive perception in the media."

"That might've been Anakin Skywalker," Moarn said with a smile, "though we never did find out. Still... I admit even back then it was a nice change of pace."

"But even then, Jedi didn't give each other gifts- usually. Dad did, though- er... Bran, I mean," Kajex clarified, his steps becoming easier. "He... gave me a Jedcred that year."

"Jedcred? Ah, right... he was Corellian, after all," Moarn said, nodding. "But you were only a Padawan then, weren't you?"

"What's a Jedcred?" Kentoh asked curiously.

"It's a Corellian tradition," Kajex explained, feeling it a little easier to walk. "I told you guys my dad wasn't a conventional Jedi- and he wasn't a conventional Corellian Jedi, either. Most people don't really know, but Corellian Jedi were given special dispensation, separate from other Jedi, that involved having families. The reason for it is because Corellians are very family-centric, and they didn't want their culture to suffer for it. So for a long time they were allowed to get married and have kids if they wanted- although it usually meant that the Council didn't really put any dependence on them if they could help it."

"Too true," Moarn acknowledged. "They were often assigned to missions within the vicinity of, or concerning involvement with, the Corellian system- but rarely anywhere else."

"But anyway a Jedcred, or Jedi credit, was a special coin that was minted and awarded to Jedi that were elevated to the rank of Jedi Master, and they were often given out to friends and family members as well. The Jedi Council tried to discourage them being given out freely to other Jedi friends to prevent deep attachment, but... I think Bran gave one to Master Kit Fisto, at least, and I know Kane had one too. Bran was never really close to his family on Corellia, but I'm almost certain they got them as well."

"Do you still have it?" Keris asked.

"No... I buried it with him," Kajex said sadly, shivering a little as his pace slowed. "The one he gave me for Life Day that year was his."

"What did you mean when you said he wasn't a conventional Corellian Jedi?" Syrra asked quickly, displacing his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, well... like Master Moarn said, most Corellian Jedi preferred to take missions 'close to home', so to speak. But when he was younger he and his master took on a mission on Ekibo as a sort of diplomat to the Trianii yu'nar to see if they would be interested in establishing relations with the Republic, since they were already sending Jedi. The CSA hadn't encroached on their territories at that point but the Trianii still had a history of dealing with invading species, so things were a bit tense at first. It wasn't until Bran made a good impression on the Trianii Rangers that things got anywhere." The wolf cleared his throat, smiling. "Leastways, that's how Kane tells it. It's where they met and... fell in love."

"Did Bran's master know?" Locke asked.

"He did, but he allowed it continue since he knew Bran was probably going to go back to Corellia and start a family anyway- except he didn't. Bran became so attached to the Trianii and the Rangers that he started helping them out when he could, asking for assignments in the region when he was a Jedi Knight. Eventually, Kane decided to come with him so he could be assigned as an Antarian Ranger; that way, the two could keep close and Kane could experience more of the universe." Warmth filled Kajex as he kept talking. "I think it was around then that Bran developed his worldview about how the Force flows around us, through us, and from us; and most importantly _between_us. And I think that's what convinced Kane to come with him."

"He sounds like he wanted to be a bigger part of the universe," said Locke.

"Indeed- and perhaps we all could have done with that back then, Guardian," Moarn intoned in agreement.

"What about... after?" Talrik asked. "Did you celebrate then?"

The answer did not come immediately. "Well... depending on which-the-hell calendar you're using, it falls on either 10.17 or 12.25, but neither date conforms to any Trianii holiday- about the closest is the End of Harvest festival, which we couldn't really celebrate because... well..." He didn't elaborate on the Trianii culture's general view of homosexuality- everyone already knew. "But it fell on 10.17 at the Jedi Temple, and since we were usually out on missions at the time during Clone Wars we just celebrated privately with a little bit of ale, watching a holovid, but no gift-giving- at least, not until we left," he said hesitantly.

"What did you get then?" Talrik pressed.

"Uh... experience," Kajex answered nervously, his cheeks burning. He had no intention of hiding if they asked, but he'd never told anyone.

"What... kind of experience?" Locke asked, the bond between the two twins apparently giving him a hint.

"Ah..." Kajex stopped, running his free paw through his hair. "Well... it was the night after we celebrated and had dinner... and Kane had one of the Healing Crystals of Fire shaped and fitted into the pendant that Syrra's wearing now. But... I turned in for an early night and Bran and Kane started... making noise. And mind you, this is when the_Rushin' Roulette_ didn't have any soundproofing."

He was about to continue before he realized that Syrra had dropped behind, prompting him to stop short and turn to everyone. Moarn, Talrik, Locke and Syrra peculiar looks on their faces as they stared at him; though Kentoh did not and Keris only had an eyebrow raised in interest.

"... What?"

"You mentioned early on that you once walked in on your fathers having sex," Syrra said, recalling a statement he'd made nearly a year ago in a recovery bed. "You weren't making that up?"

"Not at all," Kajex acknowledged. "But at the time they had forgotten that sound carried in the Rushin' Roulette, so they woke me up while they were still in the middle of it. And they didn't exactly lock the door, so when I peeked around... well, that's what I saw."

Talrik's ears drooped. "But... you said you were given 'experience'. Does that mean...?"

"Oh, c'mon!" Kentoh burst out irritably, making Moarn, Locke and Syrra jump as he folded his arms, looking annoyed. "He means to say that he and his two dads had a threesome- big fuckin' deal! D'ya know how young a Kanj'Isha typically learns to give another being a blowjob? Especially among brothers and kin?" He turned to Kajex. "... It wasn't rape, right?" he asked hesitantly.

"What?! No!" Kajex said, backpedaling. "I loved_them! They never did _anything_to hurt me! Absolutely _everything_we did that night was 100% consensual!" He jammed his paws in his pockets, digging the toe of his boot into the snow as he stared away from them. "I mean... I'm not gonna pretend it ain't a taboo to a lot of people and cultures, and even if I'm Kanj'Isha.... it's not like I was _raised as one... but if it's that hard to understand that I wanted my first physical experience to be with the two people I trusted most _not_to hurt me, then..."

If there was anyone Kajex expected to say anything in response, he had not expected it to be Keris. The female Amaran had an understanding smile on her face as she moved to him, nuzzling his face and coaxing him to look up at her.

"How old were you?"

"Back then?" He shrugged. "12. Couple months shy of 13."

She grinned. "I was 11. And it was the same with me- I did it with someone I trusted deeply, and he never hurt me either."

"9!" Kentoh interjected. "You learn it early with your family, you learn what the limits are and when to back off when someone tells you to back off- the earlier you learn it, the less likely you are to hurt someone with it by accident. And to be honest, I'd actually say you learned it a bit _later_than most," he added.

"Well it's not like I didn't know how sex worked," Kajex replied defensively. "The Jedi Order weren't celibate and they sure as hell knew how babies were made, even if they prohibited us from making them. I mean... not that they had any instructional material on how to 'tend' to yourself, but... you figured it out, eventually. And _everyone_figured it out, even Master Moarn, I bet!"

The Jedi Master flinched. "I'd very much appreciate you not turning the discussion to me, Sentinel. Not that I'd deny it," he added with a sigh and wry smile.

"So... how was it?" Syrra asked with a red face and a shy smile.

Kajex blinked before it dawned on him what she was asking, his cheeks resuming the burn they'd felt earlier. "I... well... yeah, they taught me pretty well. They were careful about it, made it the best experience of my life at the time," he admitted nervously, though he smiled. "It wasn't the only time, either. But that's just one facet about my life with them- there was more to me loving them than physical intimacy."

He cleared his throat and stood a little straight before he resumed leading them through the woods. "So that and the healing crystals were the first gifts I got, other than the Jedcred. Before Kane gifted me the pendant, though, Bran had decided that I had progressed far enough in my training that I was ready to design my own lightsaber- the one I had before, which I left back at the Temple, was a manufactured one. So he gifted me the first Healing Crystal and suggested I shape it into a focusing crystal, while Kane had the other set into my pendant- they thought it would be a good idea since I wasn't very adept at healing myself, and having the crystals on hand would keep me safe." His free paw slid against the brow leather handgrip of his Jedi weapon as he sighed. "I've never felt more comfortable with any other weapon in my life."

There was another pause as they came upon a clearing in the woods, where the softness of the ground beneath the snow was displaced by stone. The sound of falling cascades of water could be heard nearby, causing the gray wolf to pause as another memory seemed to play out in front of him. His eyes scanned the area to his right. There was a cliff nearby on a shelf of rock, and ahead of it a half-frozen waterfall that reflected glimmers of sunlight back at the group; but it was not what he saw.

Instead, he saw the setting as dark, storming, with torrents of rain drenching several figures. One was a tall, strong Trianii with black fur and hair, dyed with white streaks. His his normally kind and smiling face was marked with ceremonial paint, contorted with rage as he held a pair of pistols in his paws. A dark figure approached and swept his crimson energy blade at him, only for the agile Antarian Ranger to duck and fire twice- once to the chest, once to the head. Another approached and lunged- he dodged to the side and backhanded the Dark Jedi acolyte, sending him sprawling. He raised his pistol and aimed.

Before the shot could be made, a third acolyte leapt high and brought his saber down through his arm. The anguished snarl of the Ranger echoed through the wolf's mind, followed by the scream as he was buffeted from his position, thrown off the cliff through the use of the Force, and disappearing over the edge.

"Kajex!"

The voice startled him badly, causing him to spin and backpedal as his paw reflexively drew his lightsaber and activated it, ready to defend himself. Back then, his name had been called, forcing him to shunt aside his grief to defend himself from harm. Back then, there'd been an assassin droid ready to cleave him in two.

This time, there was only Syrra.

His foot found a patch of ice beneath the powder, causing him to fall backwards. What should have been an easy matter of regaining his balance through Jedi training was completely negated by his fear and inner anguish as memories he wanted to forget resurfaced and prevented him from calling on the Force. He hit the snow hard, the stone beneath him adding to the pain; while his lightsaber, which possessed no means of operating while submerged in water, fell into the snow and immediately shorted out.

The Trianii was at his side, worry in his features- or at least that was what he could tell given the hot tears that blurred his vision. "Kajex, it's okay... I'm here."

Warm arms wrapped around his shivering form as he clung to her, nobody saying a word as the storm ran through him until it passed.

"Did you ever get to meet their parents?" Locke asked soothingly.

The Sentinel shook his head. "I knew who they were, where they lived, but we didn't mingle with them. Kane was estranged from his family, as was Bran- both of their families more or less disowned them for having a relationship with each other. I only ever went to Kane's parents to inform them that he'd passed away, but they forbid me ever to approach them again. They just... didn't care."

Syrra's ears drooped as she sat next to him. "I'm so sorry... I wish my people were better than this..."

"Every culture tends to have a darker side to them," Kajex responded dully, wiping at his face again. "Bran was disowned because his family couldn't tolerate the idea of him not starting his own family. Most Corellians favor adoption, but the rich among them prefer offspring. It's not like he had any intention of inheriting their business, but they couldn't see anything but a loss in him. At least they had the decency to grieve, though- or so Kane told me, as he gave them the news."

"There had to be something positive after all that, though," Talrik said hopefully. "I mean... wasn't there? You still had Kane for a few more years when you woke up, didn't you?"

The wolf smiled sadly and nodded. "I did. But tell me something, kit- did your mom seem different after you lost _your_dad, way back when?"

The fox paused before nodding and looking away. "She... still misses him. But she got better."

"Kane had to put up with a lot," Kajex explained. "With Bran gone, he was more or less alone for 14 years, until I woke up and rejoined him. He had to look after me every day, make sure I was healthy enough. I experienced maybe a few months of solitude in my own mind, or at least that's what I perceived. Things were different in reality; he couldn't turn to the Antarian or Trianii Rangers, the former because they were in hiding and the latter because his family told them about being gay. There were times, he told me, when he wanted to end his life; to take my lightsaber and put an end to me painlessly before turning it on himself- but he never did."

"There had to be something..." Talrik said, looking torn.

"When I woke up... there was a bit of light in his eyes," Kajex admitted, breathing in deep. "He was more sober, but still happy that I had come back to him. The last few years we had together..." He smiled, difficult as it was. "I took up being with him intimately every night, giving him comfort and... kinda taking Bran's place. Not married, I mean, just... by his side."

"That's natural," Kentoh said encouragingly, looking hopeful. "You did what a Kanj'Isha would have done with someone so close, gave him a little peace and companionship so that he wouldn't be alone. But you didn't forget Bran either, right?"

Kajex shook his head. "Not for a moment. Being with him helped both of us cope. When we found out about his heart cancer, I thought about trying to use the Healing Crystals in an attempt to cure it, but... when I suggested it he told me not to. And I understood that. So we spent that time as best we could. I knew he would pass away, probably without any warning, but it was hard to focus on that. We started renting out holovids and watching them; exploring planets within the Trian system that we'd never yet visited; slicing into Imperial and CSA accounts to steal credits to fund our final vacation together; had sex every night and just... loved."

"And he didn't suffer?" Locke asked quietly.

"No. Partly because I was keeping him on painkillers and using the Force to nullify his pain; but then again, there were days when I forgot to do it and he was fine. At times I wondered if he was actually recovering." A pang of anguish rent through him. "I was wrong, though."

"Was there any pain in the end?" Kentoh asked.

Kajex thought about the question for a few moments. After everything he had felt, had experienced with the older Trianii, and the circumstances in his death; of walking into the lounge one morning and seeing the Trianii Ranger resting peacefully with a smile on his face... the tears started again, but there was no pain behind them as much as a sense of relief. "No. I know that he didn't suffer in his final moments. I think... I think in the end, he had somehow found peace. I'd like to think... that he saw Bran again, in his memories."

For a few minutes there was silence between them all, while the Sentinel tried to calm down. The sound of rushing and falling water continued as his breathing steadied and he wiped at his face. Coming to this place had always stirred up emotions, but Kajex felt angry at himself, if only a little. It seemed silly for a grown man, and a Jedi no less, to find himself in tears just trying to make a walk to a spot in the woods.

"It's not silly," Kentoh said abruptly, apparently having felt the internalized admonishment. "You wouldn't react so strongly if they hadn't been a deep and positive part of your life."

"I should be mastering my emotions, Kentoh," Kajex responded with a sigh.

"Quite so, in a situation where they must be mastered," Moarn agreed as he knelt beside the wolf. "Yet this is a situation in which expressing them is not only appropriate, but healthy- and perhaps even necessary. Even Jedi of the old Order knew they must acknowledge their pain, if they were expected to deal with it." A slender claw squeezed the Sentinel's shoulder, prompting him to look up into the Trandoshan's face- while others unfamiliar to the reptilian species might have found his smile unsettling, Kajex could see and feel the kindness in it. "You insisted on going through with this, and I sense we're near if your reaction is this intense. Do you wish to continue?"

Kajex took a deep breath, feeling calmness displacing his anxiety slowly as he nodded. "Yeah... it's not far now."

"Then let us go together. You are not alone, Sentinel- your friends are with you."

Every step was difficult for him, every thump of his boots through the snow jostling memories from his mind with stark clarity. It seemed to match his heartbeat, which was not accelerating, but pounding hard in his chest. He wondered if Syrra had felt the same way when they visited her own father's place of rest. Syrra had told them Ka'un had been given a proper send-off, with family, remaining friends, and some of the most respected members of the Trianii Rangers all attending and paying their respects. And although the site had not been properly maintained, not a month went by without at least one person coming to honor the fallen.

Bran and Kane had only Kajex. And although it was different this time, the wolf lamented being unable to give them a better send-off.

The clearing was peaceful, beautiful in its own way, with trees encircling the area from the south, east and west- the north was cut off by the river that flowed past the scene. Just before the slope leading to the riverbank, there was a raise in the land on top of which stood a relatively young tree. And at its base, two smooth, blank river stones, no larger than a man's head; sitting side by side.

His legs gave out once he was at the foot of their graves.

"I... I'm back," he choked out. "It's been too long, but I'm back, Dads..."

Nobody said a word as the wolf shook silently, though Locke and Syrra knelt at his side and embraced him, holding him steady as he was wracked with quiet sobs. Even through his grief, the Sentinel was able to reach into his coat with a trembling paw, drawing out two long frost-blossoms, laying the vanilla-petaled florets on the breast of each mound as he bowed over, before straightening himself and allowing his grief to wash over him.

"You'll have to forgive him, for being away for so long," Locke said abruptly, his eyes and words directed at both mounds. "I'm Locke... his brother. Your son has spent the last year saving so many lives and building a new family, me included. He's told us much about you two- about how you took him as your own, loved as a family. I regret that I never knew either of you- but I'm glad you knew Kajex, and that a part of you shone through him."

"I'm Syrra, his fiancee," the Trianii said, smiling through her tears. "And Locke is right. I was there with him, helping as we saved the lives of so many Trianii. I even saw him save Locke's life, demonstrating compassion he didn't need to share. I'm certain now that he learned that kindness and selflessness from you. He's passed on what he knows to me and others- things he learned from you both which will safeguard our lives."

"He took me into his ship and treated me like family," Talrik followed up quietly. "I might not share his blood, but he's as good as another sibling to me. We've fought and bled so many times that I'd follow him into death itself, like a brother would."

"He has learned to forgive even those who have wronged him, held out hope that others might be redeemed," Master Moarn supplied. "He has learned from both of you the core of Jedi compassion, encouraging others to do the same."

"He's even brought those who have wronged him and his loved ones into his own family, giving them places in his pack that we've gladly taken up," Keris continued. "He's given us the chance to establish trust, even when others wouldn't have offered us the same opportunity."

"And he's tried to prevent death anywhere he can help it, even at the risk of his own life," Kentoh added proudly, reaching out and squeezing Kajex's shoulder. "Even in the face of the Sith, undead monstrosities and the tyranny of the Empire, he's held his own without falling into darkness. I don't think any one of us here believes that either of you would be disappointed in him."

Kajex heard every word, let their support wash over them. A part of him had worried deeply that he had failed them by being so isolated, that he hadn't devoted his time and effort towards being happy and safe like they had wanted- instead, he had spent years as a mercenary, risking his life for others, perhaps even inwardly hoping he would meet his end and join them in the Force. Deep down, he knew that was not what either of them would have wanted.

And yet every word of support they offered was a reassurance that they_would_ be proud of him- that he found a balance to both love and duty as a Jedi, to re-establish connections the way a true Sentinel would have; to be a part of, rather than apart from, not just the galaxy, but other people's lives. He had long since stopped questioning the bonds he had forged with his friends, his family, a bond that they readily acknowledged in their words and actions- but now those bonds felt stronger than ever, capable of weathering any assault. It was this feeling, this warmth, that calmed him down at last. The tears continued to flow, but the pain had receded, leaving only a minor ache of regret.

"Thank you... everybody," he managed to say.

"'Death; yet the Force', Sentinel," Master Moarn said quietly. "The final tenant of the Jedi Code reminds us that we are beings of light and spirit- even when the body dissipates, the impact of our lives on others lingers on." The Trandoshan reached out, placing a claw gently between the wolf's ears soothingly. "In you, the spirit of your fathers lingers. Hold true to their teachings; demonstrate their love and compassion; and I promise you that they will persist, in the ways that matter most, till the End of All."

Another silence followed in which Kajex immersed himself in the positive energy everyone around him was giving out. Even far away, he could feel the thoughts and sympathy from Miles, Rook, Liam, and the rest of the Black Tomb pack. Memories of the people he'd come to know; Retsa, Garsh, Garrett, Captain Barnn, Commander Ray; passed through his mind in fleeting yet clear images. And yet the memory that lingered most was an image to his two fathers- one, a handsome black-haired, brown-eyed human; the other a black-furred, white-haired and white-eyed Trianii. They were visible with such clarity that for a moment Kajex thought he was seeing them again in reality, standing before him with smiles so warm they burned in his chest.

A blink- and the vision was gone. But the warmth remained.

"I wish, more than anything, that I could show you what they looked like," Kajex said softly, as they neared the ship.

"Does it matter so much, love?" Syrra asked, gently squeezing his paw.

"Well, maybe not so I could remember," he reasoned. "But most families have images of their parents or kin, so they can remember them even when they're not around." He smiled at Syrra. "You showed me an image of your father that Iaora took, just you and him, and I remembered it- even though I was going nuts over how much of an adorable fluff-ball you were back then," he added, grabbing her and nuzzling-licking into her face as she giggled, causing them to stop and kiss.

"Oh, now this I gotta see," Keris muttered with a grin. "Maybe ask your mom to make copies of it so you can have it onboard the Gold Rush, though."

Syrra beamed at her friend and nodded. "I think I might, yes. If our family ever grows, I'd want my offspring to know what at least one of their grandfather's looked like. But for you, Kajex... maybe there are records of them somewhere that you can use." She glanced at the Trandoshan Jedi. "Master Moarn, you said you saw records of Bran and Kajex, right?"

Moarn blinked, then smiled. "Quite so. There were a few official images in the archives of them both, mainly just profile shots. I don't believe it would be a difficult matter to send a message to the right people gain them- if you'll allow me to, Sentinel," he added respectfully.

Kajex paused, the sides of his muzzle pulled up in a grateful smile. "I... thank you, Master Moarn. If you could, I'd definitely appreciate it."

3 Days Later

The sound of lightsabers clashing rang through the cold air, as gold met gold in rapid succession. Two gray wolves, nearly identical but for their height and hairstyles, traded strikes with low-powered weapons, the sharp explosions of their energy blades crashing ringing in the ears of all who witnessed the sparring session. Kajex could feel his twin brother's eyes on the both of them as Kentoh forced him to backpedal, advancing on the older wolf with a look of determination in his eyes- as an expert duelist, Locke was the best judge of the younger wolf's abilities. Nevertheless, Kajex found himself grinning, possessed of the opinion that Kentoh was a natural fighter- if a bit reckless.

They were not the only ones engaged in sparring, however- in anticipation of training the Black Tomb pack in the ways of the Jedi, Master Moarn had seen fit to bring several other training sabers for the rest of the pack, 3 of which were currently being utilized by Mica, So'Rah and Sa'Rah; another 2 were being used by Rook and Keris (who had not yet completed her new lightsaber), while Talrik sparred with Mica using his phrik tonfas. This had been suggested by Master Moarn as a means of easing them into lightsaber combat at an easy level, which Talrik and Rook agreed to (though the latter chafed at being considered an "easy level" by the Trandoshan). Only Syrra and Moarn were absent for the moment, the former having returned to the ship to use the 'fresher while the latter was occupied with a message he'd received.

As the minutes wore on, the Black Tomb trainees surrendered- both 'Rah twins suffered minor Marks of Contact by Keris and Rook, while Mica and Talrik tapped each other at the same moment. The break in fighting caused them to look at the two remaining sparring partners, the younger of the two wielding the newer of Kajex's lightsabers.

The younger wolf lunged, aiming to make a Mark of Contact along Kajex's upper arm. It was easy to defend, as the Sentinel's mastery in _Niman_was rooted in a defensive form. But feeling that Kentoh be dealt with honestly rather than drawing it out, he parried the blow and grabbed the younger wolf's arm, bringing his own lightsaber up in front of the younger duelist's face, making him yelp in surprise.

The scene froze. "... Yield?"

Kentoh smiled nervously. "Uh... 's-solah', right?"

"Good, you remembered," the Sentinel said encouragingly, ruffling the teen's hair. "You did pretty well on your advances and defense- I'd definitely say you'd be comfortable learning _Shii-cho_to begin with. What do you think, bro?" he asked Locke.

"I agree," the white wolf replied with a smile. "You'll need to work on your pacing and not getting too reckless in a fight, but you're certainly a capable, self-taught combatant." He turned his attention to Mica and the 'Rah twins, who were nursing minor burns in their pelts. "That goes for the rest of you, too. If we focus on lightsaber drills in the evenings, perhaps try to get an hour of sparring for each of you, we can devote early hours to meditation and Force-based training, if that's acceptable." He glanced towards the ship, where the Black Tomb's alpha, Rexxis, was leaning against a landing strut.

The alpha nodded. "You're doing well teaching them," he informed Locke and Kajex. "Provided you don't overwork them, they should be able to keep up. Are you certain this needs to be a 3-days-a-week period, though?"

"It'll give them the other 2 days to recuperate," Kajex answered. "Just be thankful it's not like when I was training with the Jedi- they had us working and training on both Primeday and Benduday. Which, come to think of it, I'm certain is supposed to be a mortal sin in some cultures," he mused.

"Yeah, Primeday's for rest and recreation," So'Rah intoned. "What the hell kind of heathen jerkass makes you _work_on Primeday?"

"Be nice," a gentle voice answered from the landing ramp, just as Master Moarn strode down it with an amused expression. "There's nothing wrong in willingly doing work on Primeday, especially to help others. The dark side doesn't take a day off, unfortunately." He gestured to Kajex and Kentoh. "If you'd be so kind, Sentinel- could you and Kentoh come on board? You as well, Guardian, there's something I wish to show you and Syrra."

Kajex blinked. "Ah, sure? Is something wrong?"

"Oh no, nothing is wrong- but you'll want to see it all the same," Moarn said cryptically.

They met in the lounge, where Syrra was already waiting with a pleased expression. "Training going well?" she asked.

Kajex nodded and embraced her. "They're learning quick, it's going better than I expected it to."

"You and your brother should be proud," Master Moarn said encouragingly, as he returned with what appeared to be a pair of datapads in his claws, regarding the twins with a smile. "You are both proving to be capable instructors to equally capable students. If you still possessed any doubts as to your ability to educate others, I hope my endorsement has minimized it."

"It helps," Kajex replied with a grin. "It's a nice change of pace from having to put up with Sith Inquisitors stabbing you in the arm or fighting off undead infections, I'll say that. So what was it you needed to show us?"

Moarn beckoned to Kentoh to move in closer, holding up one of the datapads as a portrait flashed onto the screen. "Tell me, young one- does this Padawan look familiar to you?"

Kentoh blinked, peering at the image with narrowed eyes. "Wait, how'd you get a pic of me from when I was a pu--" He stopped short, eyes widening. "... That... that's not me, is it." He gaped at the image, then at Kajex. "He... but... he looks..."

Kajex furrowed his eyebrows, moving in behind Kentoh to see, brightening and beginning to chuckle as he caught sight of the image- a very young Kanj'Isha in young Jedi attire, with a Padawan braid trailing down the right side of his head, a small smile on his face. "Heheh, check out _that_handsome brat, Locke! By the Force, I forgot I even _had_that braid so long ago!"

"You got away with smiling," Moarn pointed out, a small smile of his own painted on his features. "You know you're not supposed to do that, young one," the Jedi Master chided jokingly.

Syrra and Locke squeezed in beside Kajex and Kentoh, the Trianii Padawan's sapphire eyes glinting at the sight. "Awww, he's adorable! You look like a little hero with all of that, especially with the short haircut. And he _does_look exactly like Kentoh, that's amazing."

"Very much like him," Locke agreed with a grin. "The resemblance is uncanny- although the uniform doesn't suit him, you look like you'd have been better off in civilian clothing," he remarked to his brother, before glancing up at Moarn. "You got this off the Jedi Archives, Master Moarn?"

"I did- it was a simple matter of contacting the Republic's salvage team and asking them to forward the images to my e-mail. As the records are to eventually be displayed to the public, there were no issues with the request."

Kajex looked up. "'Images'. More than one." His heart started racing. "So did you...?"

The Trandoshan did not reply, but instead smiled as he flicked the touchscreen and brought up another image. The moment the screen refreshed, Kajex found himself unable to breathe.

It was in full color, high possible resolution- the image of a handsome human male with braided, raven-black hair; dark brown eyes that glimmered with the fire of life and spirit; a well-trimmed beard framing an unrestrained smile. The profile shot only showed him from the waist up, but it was more than enough to see Bran's Jedi attire, consisting of earth-toned robes- and on his hip, a long silver lightsaber with a brown leather handgrip, which looked very much like Kajex's.

"...That's... him," he managed to say, reeling from the sight. "That's Bran. I... he looks so happy there..." Nobody said a word as he stared at the image, the wolf lifting a paw and touching the screen, tracing a finger along the image of Bran's face. Dimly aware that Locke was squeezing his shoulder and Syrra had her arm around his waist, he let out a deep sigh. "I... thank you, Master Moarn. I never thought I'd see his face again."

"There's more," the Trandoshan informed him, looking slightly awkward. "You expressed much grief in visiting the grave of your fathers. And while it might have been against the Jedi belief to not have possessions, you will nevertheless always possess memories of those you care about. The Antarian Rangers, however, don't follow our ways to the letter, and it took little more than contacting Ranger Captain Barnn and Commander Ray to find something I'm certain you may have needed for a long while."

With that, he slid the datapad onto the table and held up the next item- what Kajex had mistaken for as second datapad had actually been a flat-screen imagecaster. Master Moarn tapped the screen with a claw and the device sprang to life.

"This thing on?" The holocam wobbled slightly as a young Ranger tapped the lenses.

A growling whisper cut in. "Yes, it's on! Now stop puttin' yer grubby mitts all over it, Pearson- yer gonna break it! Let it fly, Kane's comin' up in a second!"

The Ranger let go of the device and it appeared to raise up into the air. Pre-programmed markers, perceptible only to the cam's scanners, caused the device to zoom in on the platform- though not quickly enough that it failed to show at least 2 dozen Antarian Rangers and even a couple of smiling Jedi Knights staring at the figure in front of them. Jedi Master Bran had forgone his usual earth-tone attire, clad in Jedi robes that were modest and traditional in every respect, save that they were a pure white with black boots. By his side, wearing plain and traditional Padawan apparel, was a gray-furred fuzzball with black hair and golden eyes, beaming up at his Jedi master and surrogate father as his tail wagged frantically. This younger Kajex fidgeted only a little, obediently remaining by Bran's side as the Jedi master regarded him happily. Bran's mouth moved, and though the camera did not pick up the audio, the older Kajex knew fully well what he was saying.

"How do I look, son?"

The Kanj'Isha's muzzle moved, and Kajex heard his memory speaking back. "You look great, Dad."

A traditional union song played softly in the background, and it was this audio cue that caused the holocam to pan down the length of the small room, until it picked up the movement of a black-furred Trianii with braided white hair. He wore his Ranger bomber jacket, and beneath that a set of black coveralls with brown leather boots, though he looked far more professional than most Rangers did. At his back were two other Rangers that Kajex recognized easily as two of Kane's best friends and superiors- Captain Barnn and Commander Ray, each looking proud of the younger feline member as they approached the platform.

The officiator, a blonde Miraluka, patiently waited for them all to take their positions, with Kajex at one groom's left, while the Rangers stood to the other, taller groom's right. Once settled, he began speaking with a warm, approving tone.

"It is not often that we see the union of a Jedi and a Ranger; rarer still that there should be those within the Jedi Order to celebrate such unions. Yet these two are fortunate, to be in the presence of brothers in arms, heroes who have risked their lives for the safety of other worlds; and to have found love in each other despite the hardships of such times. Despite the difference in blood, and in culture, and despite it being a union that others might marginalize, even abhor out of ignorance; the Force celebrates such love and such unions, allows us to recognize where our hearts lie..." The Miraluka's head turned and regarded the young Kanj'Isha with a smile. "... and who our families consist of."

"We are brought together today to see such a union begin- though it is clear that the true union occurred before now, when love was expressed between them. It is a blessing to know such love, and a burden worth fighting for when grown in the middle of conflict, in a life of selflessness and compassion. It serves a reminder that all sentient beings, even Jedi, are connected to each other through actions and emotions."

"Are there any present who finds objection to this union?"

Silence. There were more than a few smiles (and a few sniffles) as the two grooms reached out and clasped each other's paws.

"Lieutenant Kane of Ekibo- do you accept this man as your life companion, mate, and husband?"

"Yes, I do," the Trianii said happily without missing a beat.

"Jedi Master Bran of Corellia- do you accept this man as _your_life companion, mate, and husband?"

Bran breathed in and nodded. "Yeah... I do."

The officiator smiled. "Master Bran informed me of a view of the Force I find wise and comforting, before this ceremony. It is a view I would like to articulate to all present; that the Force flows through us, from us, and around us- and most importantly, it flows_between_ us. Companionship is as important for life as breathing and eating, and is necessary to bind each other, to find harmony in our differences. And so I am happy to conclude this union- may the Force be with you both, and preserve your union until the end of your lives and beyond." The officiator bowed. "You are free to kiss."

A cheer erupted from the attendees as the human and Trianii grooms embraced each other and kissed deeply, applause ringing out and a pair of lightsabers igniting, held out at an angle in a proud salute to the now wedded couple.

Now the cam floated in at head-level, at which point Commander Ray squeezed Kane's shoulder to point it out. Kane blinked, then brightened and gestured everyone to stand back as a diode flickered out-of-sight on the holocam's chassis. Young Kajex backed away in compliance, but the Trianii caught his sleeve and guided him back into the frame with a smile. Their words were inaudible to the camera's sensors- but again, Kajex knew what Kane had said.

"No, son- you're my family. First image taken is _always_with family."

The pup smiled broadly and Kane hoisted him up in his arms with Bran, putting the pup between them as the three smiled wide for the holocam, just as a bright light flashed.

It stopped on the final frame, frozen in time as all three of them smiled back at the older Sentinel. Aided by his own memory, the wolf had experienced a clear recollection of that day's events with a clarity he had never known. It was not the moment where their family had truly started- that had happened long before, when Kajex had started calling both of them 'Dad'- but it was nevertheless a moment of peace, happiness and love, one that preceded the horrors of the Clone Wars, the anguish of later loss, and the loneliness of forced solitude.

At some point, the tears that had welled up in Kajex's eyes had run down his face. Pain, beautiful pain he would not have given up for anything in the universe, tore through his chest as he reached out and took the imagecaster from Master Moarn, staring down at it. It was impossible not to feel like the pup he'd once been, a long time ago, after seeing this.

Master Moarn looked down, clearing his throat. "I... hope I did not go too far in bringing this to you."

Kajex looked up, not bothering to wipe his face as he stared at the Trandoshan. Without warning the Kanj'Isha Sentinel stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the taller Jedi, hugging him tight. Moarn tensed for a few moments before returning the embrace, patting the wolf's back soothingly.

"Master Moarn," he choked out, barely able to contain his joy, "you have no idea... how much I needed this."

Moarn smiled. "Those we love who leave us, never _truly_leave us. They will be there for you every time you honor their memory. And no matter what end you meet, as long as you continue to follow their example... you will see them again."