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"My lord? We've an update for you."

The Imperial officer stood at attention, hands behind his back in a formal position, looking attentive and alert. Were one to look briefly he would have come across as professional and confident; a closer look would have allowed one to see the bead of sweat running down his left temple, the clenching of his hand, and the forced rising and falling of his chest as he struggled to get his fear under control. All the same, he kept his eyes forward, remaining at the hatch at the other end of the wide chamber.

At the end of the room, looking out through a wide viewport into the vastness of space, a black-armored figure stood, barely visible as a dark shape against the backdrop of the void. Only the glint of a silver and gold-finished ring-hilt could be seen, hanging off his side. Seconds of tense silence followed before it was broken by a voice that seemed to chill the environment as deeply as the vacuum.

"Speak."

The brown-haired, blue-eyed Imperial officer hesitated for only a second before speaking, a slight twinge of fear in his brow. "It... has been confirmed that multiple guerrilla forces have pulled their manpower towards Coura III's capital city. Movements have been difficult to track, but we recovered a lead from one of their safehouses. We will have an extra garrison deployed to begin combing the city properly, ready to move on the orders of the Inquisitorious."

"At moment's notice?"

"Y-yes, Grand Inquisitor," the officer replied, swallowing and giving him a swift bow of his head. "What would you have me do, then?"

The Inquisitor turned back to the viewport, folding his arms and staring back out. "As you have received your intelligence on the rebel cell's movements, I have received my intel on possible interventions. I expect there to be Jedi involvement soon, and enough data has been intercepted that we know who will be sent, and when to expect them." He paused. "Approach."

The officer flinched at the command, feeling rooted to the spot for several seconds; the last thing he wanted was to be even a foot closer to the Grand Inquisitor. It wasn't until he felt a vice-like pressure around his mind that he jerked in place, his heavy feet lifting up and striding forward in an almost mechanical fashion. A sensation not unlike being drugged and having his body trapped in suit of remote-controlled armor overcame him, with no way to stop his own limbs from moving, guided as if from a force beyond his own will. Loathing and illness surged through the commander's body as he was forced to approach, until he was released- for a moment he stumbled, his nerves tingling and his body shaking from fear. But before the Grand Inquisitor could start again he got back up and staggered the rest of the way forward, preferring to walk on his own rather than be controlled through the Force again.

"You will learn obedience in time, Commander," the Inquisitor told him impassively once he was within a meter. "One way or another. Best that you make it easier for yourself and learn that it will be to your benefit not to resist."

"Y-yes... my lord," he replied, shivering.

"You will now obey these orders. A ship will be arriving soon, within the next few days. It is christened as the Gold Rush, an old XS stock light freighter, but it will arrive under the name_High Stakes Hand_. You are to wait until the ship arrives, and then give it clearance to land; allow their Jedi to disembark. When I grant you the signal, deploy your men to the outskirts of the city. Mine are already within, awaiting their orders." He fished out a holoprojector from his belt and activated it, the image of a medium-sized transport flickering to life from it as he held it out. "Are we clear?"

The commander took the device, staring at the ship. "I will do as you ask, though... I confess that I am confused. Why do you wish the Jedi to make landfall?"

The Inquisitor turned again, and though his face was still hidden behind the mask the commander shuddered, hearing the evil smile that formed the words.

"Because like your soldiers... they will have their uses as well."

"You know, there are some days I wish people would forget that these kind of rescue operations are my forte," Kajex sighed, leaning back in his seat with a whine, barely audible over the sound of the ship's landing gear creaking beneath her frame.

Locke cast a look in his brother's direction, a small smile on his muzzle as he considered the Sentinel. "If they did, the galaxy wouldn't know who to call on to bail their tails out of the fire, now would they? This is the time to shine, brother."

"Jedi aren't supposed to be in it for glory," Kajex huffed.

"And now you're just making excuses," Locke grinned, getting up from his seat. "Face it, you've gotten too comfortable with us being off-duty so often. You shouldn't expect Master Skywalker to give us a break everytime we come back from an operation. You _do_understand that if anybody else were more qualified for the job, we wouldn't have been picked; you've been at this for years."

"Yeah, I have- and it hasn't gotten any easier," the gray wolf warned as he got up from his seat and started powering down the ship. "When it's a criminal investigation all you really need to worry about is not getting caught, but when it's a rescue mission you have to keep your charge safe at the same time. It's pretty difficult having to keep one person alive when it isn't you; and this time we're looking at extracting three." The ambient sound of energy running through the ship faded away, leaving the cockpit silent. "C'mon, the sooner we get started, the sooner we can leave."

Locke nodded and followed the Sentinel into the lounge, where everyone was waiting: Syrra and Keris looking up from their meditation poses; Talrik straightening out Rook's cloak to hide her Mandalorian armor; and Miles having just fit a stormtrooper helmet over his head, donned in a clean set of the armor. Locked looked to his brother, nodding. "I think we're all ready."

"Well, like you said, I've been at this for years, so I'll know for sure if we are. Let's go over the mission one more time," Kajex suggested, approaching the lounge's holotable; a few keypresses were all it took for the image of a pair of Trianii to pop up, both of them a sandy tan. "This is Jaimah and Lux, a married Trianii couple who settled on this planet three years ago. Lux is related to a former matriarch on one of the Trianii core worlds, and fled from an arranged marriage to be with his mate. The matriarch in question passed away last year and Lux's sister took her seat, recognizing their marriage and encouraging to return home. They were planning to return once their child had been born." The Sentinel looked up. "Then the Imperial Remnant showed up and restricted all non-trade travel off-world, trapping them here- and we need to get them out."

"Why ain't the folks here fought back?" Rook asked with a frown.

"They're culturally ill-equipped to stand against an army," Kajex answered. "They don't like fighting unless they need to ward away pirates and gangs. They more or less surrendered without a fight the moment they saw what an orbital bombardment could do. Recent reports suggest that there might be an underground militia forming, unconfirmed so far."

"Then we should probably be helping them," Keris said.

"I agree," Kajex nodded. "That's why our mission here is two-fold, and why Master Skywalker tapped us for this mission; the New Republic is making an exception for the Trianii core worlds to get out help because it might aid in stopping whatever the Remnant is doing here."

"Our secondary objective is to gauge the current Imperial occupation's strength," Locke pointed out. "In particular we need to figure out if they have a surface garrison outside the city limits, if they've deployed armored units in the city itself, and how much they've locked down. But our _primary_objective is getting the family off this planet."

"What makes them so special?" Rook asked.

"The mother recently gave birth," Kajex said gravely. "The cub was blood-tested and had her samples uploaded to the medical database; they show an exceptionally high midichlorian count." He looked to Syrra with an apologetic expression. "She's Force-sensitive- and that means she's in danger. Part of the secondary objective is to find out if there's any kind of dark-side presence assisting or leading the Remnant, whether it's Circle of Syn, the Inquisitorius, or anybody else; but we _need_to get the child away from here before she's captured and taken away even if there isn't."

"I'll want you three on the ground," he continued, indicating to their non-Jedi companions. "Miles will check in with patrols and see what kind of surface strength they have here, while Talrik and Rook blend in with the crowd and keep the route back to the ship clear." He glanced back to Syrra. "You and I will need to stay out of the hospital and keep watch; Locke and Keris will go in and meet the parents."

"Why us?" Locke asked- the one thing he was not expecting was to be at the front of the mission.

"You've got a better speaking voice and can pacify people inside if it comes to it, and Keris has a talent for misdirection and illusion," the Sentinel replied. "Call it a gut feeling, but I feel like this is the right call. We get this done quick, we can be out of here in less than two hours."

"Don't worry," Syrra added with a smile. "If it comes down to it I can carry the cub and keep them calm."

The white wolf glanced to Keris, who smiled and nodded. "Alright, then. Let's get started."

In ten minutes the pack had dispersed, with Miles making a beeline for the nearest patrol to pretend to boss around; when they'd last left him, Locke could still hear the ex-soldier barking orders at the confused and cowering stormtroopers, attempting get a lead on their patrol schedule and where they were headed. He smiled and shook his head, knowing Miles had everything well in hand; for the time being he put his focus on remaining as inconspicuous as possible, leading Keris through the crowd, paw-in-paw.

The city itself was designed around a hill, an incline which was not terribly difficult to traverse with the steps installed at every level. Locke peered into one of the archways leading into the hill itself, surprised to find that many apartments and markets had been embedded into the stone itself, not unlike a well-structured insect hive where corridors and stairwells dug into the rock and allowed them to move through what would have been congested alleyways with relative ease. While he initially assumed it would be easy to get lost in such corridors, clear guides had been carved into the stone and signs embedded into the roofs of these caves, making it easier to find their way.

He turned his eyes back to Keris, who seemed to have a bounce to her step at having been able to contribute her skill for style and knack for disguise to the mission, having done much to make them seem like a part of the populace. Their comfortable tunics were not at all out-of-place in the clean and well-developed world; though as always, she bore the green shawl she'd come to love, which served as a good way to conceal her Jedi weapon. He spared a glance at her as they ambled through the crowd, a pleased look on her face.

It prompted a question. "Having fun?"

The vixen looked to him, beaming. "First time since getting married we've been out in public. When we were on Imperial-occupied planets, we couldn't hold paws like this- now I don't need to hide that I'm bonded with my mate."

He chuckled, a slight flush in his cheeks. "I never thought of it that way. When it was just me and you, it was enough."

She leaned in against him, purring. "Well... someday it won't just be me and you, will it? Not that it is now," she added, turning her head back for a second. The wolf didn't need to follow her gaze to know she had spared a casual glance behind them, confirming that Kajex and Syrra were still following. "But some days, I just wanna scream it out to the stars- 'this handsome puppy is my husband, and I'm gonna make _more_puppies with him.'"

He chuckled again, leaning in and nuzzling the vixen affectionately. "As many as we can manage," he promised, causing her to beam again.

For a few minutes more the pair walked in silence, both keeping apace with each other. It was somewhat inspiring to see that the city had not suffered in any significant way from Imperial occupation, for while there were certainly stormtroopers around they did not seem to be eliciting any fear from the locals. There did not seem to be any fear among them so much as a stalwart defiance, a determination to not be cowed by their conquerors and for the day-to-day affairs to continue in spite of their presence.

It contrasted against the growing sense of uncertainty at his side, which became too strong to ignore; or perhaps it was that it was his mate that had such thoughts and he simply keyed into it more easily, squeezing her paw. "What's on your mind, kit?"

"Felt that, huh?" she said, looking back to him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I wouldn't be your mate if I couldn't, Force-sensitive or no," the wolf said gently.

"It's just..." She hesitated, and in that pause he felt her tail slid around his waist. "I dunno. Do you think I'd be good at it?"

He cocked his head. "At what?"

"Y'know..." She blushed. "Being a mother. I mean, I _know_I've got the mechanics of _making_a pup down to the fine details, but do you think I'd be... capable? Do you believe I could take care of a child and raise them to be a good, decent person?" She paused again. "I'm comfortable being who I am, but... sometimes I wonder if I'm the right kind of person to be raising _any_sort of kid."

The white wolf stopped short next to a market stall, gripping the vixen's paw tightly and pulling her into a hug, touching noses with her; out the corner of his vision he could see Kajex and Syrra slow down, giving them space as they waited. Despite knowing they were on mission and that they had a job to do, he saw no reason why this could not take a few moments to talk to her about.

"You wouldn't be alone, like you said," he pointed out softly. "You'd have me the entire way. There was a time when I wasn't sure if I'd be a good parent, either, when my love for you coupled with the idea of a child between us was the only bit of light in my life to keep me sane. I know better now. And I _know_someone like you could be a great mother."

"How?" the vixen asked, looking a little lost.

"You have a good heart, a good sense of justice, and a good perspective on how you want to live your life," he answered. "You're willing to protect your friends and your family to the death, if that's what it takes. You can do all of this for any child we have, with only slight tweaking. I believe in you that much, love."

He leaned in and kissed her, the vixen receiving it without a complaint, and in only a few short seconds he could feel that anxiety melt away. By the time he broke off, the vixen was all smiles again, beaming up at her mate with sparkling emerald eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured, hugging him and nuzzling up into his chin. "Kajex was right, you've got a tongue of silver to match that heart of gold."

"Thank you," he replied, his tail wagging as he slid his arm around her waist and guided her with him. "Best we go put that to use up ahead, then- we're about halfway to the medical center."

"Locke, Kajex, I've got bad news."

The white wolf looked around briefly, relieved that nobody but Keris was within earshot in the middle of an empty hallway. When the pair had entered and asked to see the Trianii they were meant to recover, a doctor had pulled them aside and told them to wait for his return. Locke could not sense any deception in the physician, content to do as he was asked so as not to arouse suspicion; it was only now that Miles had reported in.

"Go ahead, Miles," Kajex replied.

"Managed to get info from the local Imperial patrols throughout the city. There's no city-based garrison, but they have a Peacekeeper modular base about five miles out, guarding the canyon leading into the city. Imperial commander here was been relatively soft-handed when dealing with the planet, but recent reports of an underground resistance forced the Remnant to send a Grand Inquisitor into the system- or so they claim."

Locke frowned. "A Grand Inquisitor? Why would they send a high-ranking darksider to a backwater planet with nothing to gain but a Force-sensitive baby? That's overkill for almost any situation."

"There might be an artifact, Sith or Jedi site on this planet we don't know about," Syrra reasoned through the comm. "What was their name? Knowing that, we might be able to figure out their motivations."

"Zakras Jerron," Miles answered.

Locke went rigid, as if a knife of ice had been lodged in his spine. "Zakras?" he repeated, his blood going cold. "You're sure?"

"That's what the patrols said. Never heard the name before, but I've been around you folks long enough to know what an Inquisitor is."

"What's an Inquisitor?" Rook asked, sounding puzzled.

"They're Force-sensitive dark-siders who work with Imperial intelligence," Keris said, trading a worried glance with Locke. "Not Sith, strictly speaking, but when the Empire needed something found, they relied on the Inquisitorious to find it. One of their tasks was to hunt down and either kill or capture Jedi; but they would also kidnap children to raise as agents for the Empire."

"Like me," Locke shivered. "And if it's Zakras Jerron..."

"Give us what you can quick, Locke," Talrik's voice came in. "The locals out here are starting to get fidgety, a ship from the_Taskmaster_ just made landfall; I'm starting to see some aggressive movement in the marketplace."

"Confirmed on heightened movements," Miles backed up.

"Best to tell us what you can quickly," Kajex said.

"He's a dark-side assassin who is known to the Circle of Syn, it's likely he's been active since the Clone Wars. A male Anzat, definitely over a century old, so he'll have a wealth of experience over us." The Jedi Guardian paused briefly to make sure he and Keris were still alone. "He was one of several Inquisitors who passed on joining the Circle and was left alone; it was determined that we'd be better served staying out of his way as long as he stayed out of ours. If he's here, then there's something on his planet he wants. It might not be the child, but..."

"We can't take that risk," Syrra finished for him over the comm. "I'm coming to you, stay where you are--"

"Syrra, stand down," Kajex said firmly. "Something's going on out here and I might need your help. Leave it to Locke and Keris, they'll be alright."

"Alright," the Trianii responded, sounding worried. "Just get out here as soon as you can- we'll try to keep the streets clear."

"We'll be there soon," Locke said evenly, eyes flicking up at movement at the end of the hall. A wave of relief washed over him as he saw the doctor approaching, a datapad in hand. The dark-skinned, bald human made put a finger over his lips and gestured the pair to follow, keying open a door. The white wolf glanced at Keris and nodded, and they followed.

The door sealed shut behind them and the doctor sighed in what sounded like relief. "I'm sorry for the delay, but I had to confirm with the Trianii parents that your arrival was expected. Keeping them safe and comfortable here has been fairly easy, but barring the Remnant from entering the building has been stressful." He stopped in front of a hatch and nodded, pressing a button at the frame- a buzz sounded. "It's just in here."

A few seconds pause. "Doctor?"

"We've brought your guests, Mr. Lux. Two Jedi, here to see you."

Another pause, then a sigh. "Alright, come on in."

The hatch slid open and Locke peered inside. It was in every way what one would expect from a recovery room in a competent medical center, though there were a few extra blankets and a cot on the floor, as well as a pair of backpacks laden with what Locke assumed were the possessions they could not leave behind. Before them was a slightly disheveled Trianii male who stood a few inches taller than Locke, with sandy brown fur, red hair, and forest-green eyes. Behind them, sitting on one end of the bed, was another Trianii tawny fur, warm brown hair, and light blue eyes; in her arms was what Locke assumed was their cub, hidden in a blanket as the feline breastfed her.

Lux spoke first. "You... you're Sentinel Kajex?" he asked, holding his paw out.

"He's my brother," Locke corrected him, shaking the taller man's paw. "He and Sentinel Syrra are waiting out in the street, we're going to take you to them. I'm Guardian Locke, and this is my partner and mate, Keris." He looked over to Jaimah. "Is that...?"

The female Trianii smiled and nodded, getting to her feet and shifting around to cloth herself. "Yes, this is her. One blessing from being cooped up in here is that we were able to bond with our cub the full week. I only wish my family could have been here to share in it, but... what with my mother having disowned me and the Remnant arriving before we could return, I suppose it was never meant to be."

"You'll all have time to mend those bridges when we get you home," Keris replied encouragingly. "We can leave as soon as you're ready."

Jaimah nodded and then approached the vixen. "Could you hold her for a second while I get my gear on?"

Keris' eyes widened. "Huh? O-oh, well... I mean--"

"She's great with kids," Locke said with a grin. "Go ahead, I'm sure they won't mind."

The vixen fidgeted nervously for a few moments before holding her arms out. A reassuring nod from Locke was all Jaimah seemed to need to be satisfied, leaning in and putting the cub into Keris' arms. Locke stepped in behind, peering down at the ball of fluff the Keris was now holding; she had tawny fur much like her mother's, with a shock of red hair between her ears, and deep green eyes staring up curiously at the vixen. The cub reached up with a thick paw, bringing it up to the vixen's nose and brushing it before settling back down drowsily.

He looked back up at Keris, the vixen silent and bearing an expression of awe. It was difficult in that moment for Locke to get a read on what the vixen was thinking, as she exuded a whirlwind of emotions that could not be put into simple words. Whether it was a pang of sadness in not having yet experienced such a blessing, being completely smitten by how adorable the cub was, or overwhelmed by the severity of their current situation; the only thing that was clear was that Keris was resolved to keep the cub safe.

"She's beautiful," the vixen said simply, managing a warm smile.

"She really is," Lux smiled back, though it faded as he buckled a holster with a blaster to his waist. Next to him, Jaimah had donned her backpack and holstered a blaster of her own. When Locke arched an eyebrow, Lux responded. "I'm a former Trianii Ranger, I know how to use a blaster. But I'm also a husband and a father, so I made sure my mate knew how to use a weapon; though if it comes to it, I will fight and lay down my life for my family before she needs to use it."

"We're going to make sure it doesn't come to that," Keris told them with a firm voice, approaching Jaimah and holding out the cub.

"No, please- keep carrying her," Jaimah insisted as she and her husband donned hoods. "I'm told that Jedi are fast, agile, and powerful. I must do what I feel is right for my child, and right now letting you carry her seems like the best option."

Locke had to hold in a chuckle as he sensed Keris' elation in being able to hold the cub a little longer. "Alright then- let's move."

When they had entered the medical center the populace had seemed unconcerned, focusing on their day-to-day lives with no thought spared to the fact that they had been conquered by the Imperial Remnant; by the time they left that lack of tension had been filled with anxiety, with eyes being cast to the south or to the Star Destroyer in orbit. The entrance to the hospital was crawling with people by this point, with civilians coming in from the street, but the crowds hurrying to get home still made it a little difficult to spot Kajex and Syrra- had they lacked their Force bonds, Locke doubted they would have found each other in time.

Syrra was the first to reach them, looking relieved to see everyone still together. "Just in time, too. Chatter going around is that a ship full of men in armored robes have disembarked. It's got people spooked, something new is going on."

"Did they say what color?" Keris asked, looking tense.

"Black and maroon."

"Inquisitorious colors," Locke informed them gravely. "Looks like they're making their move, whatever it may be."

"Got more news too, boss," Talrik said through their comms. "Imperial patrols just increased. No firing yet, but some of the civvies here look on edge."

"Confirmed on the Remnant patrols," Miles cut in. "I just got recalled to the industrial sector of the city, I slipped away before my cover could be blown; civilians are either heading home or massing toward the political longhouse, it'll make a good screen for me to get back to the Gold Rush."

"Any heading on the new arrivals?" Kajex asked

It was Talrik who answered. "Half are left at the starport; the other half are heading up the incline in your general direction."

Kajex turned to Locke with a hesitant look and the white wolf shook. "It's bad timing, and I don't think it's coincidental. I think it's us they're after."

"They're after our daughter?" Lux said, pulling Jaimah in closer.

"Not necessarily," Locke replied, looking troubled as he coaxed the couple to proceed, letting Kajex take point while he drew his staff from his back. "But we have to move quickly, they're not going to give us much time."

Kajex brought a paw to his earpiece. "Keep talking, Talrik, what's the situation?"

There was a pause, then a bit of background noise of movement. "Sorry, Kaj- crowd is getting antsy with these stormtroopers around, and another surge of civvies just showed up, some younger... wait." There was another pause, and when the fox spoke again it was with a curious tone. "They're... taking up positions around the market. Subtle, but it looks like--"

Rook cut him off with a shout. "Head down! Shots fired, boss, it's a--"

A crash of static burst through their ears and caused those wearing their earpieces to flinch and stop short. At roughly the same time, a loud explosion of light and sound tore through the air somewhere to the west, causing civilians around them to scream and shout in fear. Chaos seemed to erupt in the immediate vicinity, with Locke and Keris being pushed and shoved around by fleeing parts of the populace. Above their heads and beyond the building in the west, Locke could barely make out a rising cloud of smoke and dust.

One larger man slammed into Keris' shoulder and nearly tripped her up as he shoved her out of the way; it was only her Jedi reflexes, training, and dancer's balance that kept her on her feet as she twisted back upright. "Watch it, jerk! I'm carrying a kid!" Keris snapped, eyes going wide as the cub in her arms started to mewl loudly. Almost immediately her irritation seemed to vanish and was replaced with a soothing tone, gently rocking the infant. "Nonono, it's okay kiddo! Nobody's gonna hurt you, I promise, we're gonna get you nice and safe with your parents!"

"Pinky in her mouth," Syrra told her. "That should settle her down."

The vixen blinked. "Does that actually work?" she asked, carefully putting the tip of her pinky against the cub's lips.

"It did for me," Syrra shrugged. The cub quieted down, nuzzling into the finger before pinching around the tip slightly.

The vixen looked back up, striding through the crowd to keep in step with the rest of the group and glancing at the cub's worried parents; Jaimah was just getting off the ground, having nearly been trampled by the fleeing civilians. "She's alright, not hurt at all. If you want to keep her with--"

"Please, keep holding her," Jaimah insisted as she dusted herself off and Lux led both of them into a nearby shallow alleyway. "I would have dropped her just now had it been me."

"We need to keep moving," Lux hissed anxiously.

"Crowd's too thick," Kajex told him. "We won't get far if we get trampled to death- even us Jedi can't completely calm a stampede." He triggered his comlink. "Talrik, what's going on?" he asked, as loudly as he could without shouting and upsetting the cub again.

Several tense seconds passed without an answer, leaving them to either glance at each other worriedly or survey the panicking crowd as they hurried by. In the distance they could hear the chaotic reports of blasterfire somewhere in the distance, which by now seemed to be coming from multiple directions. Finally, after a minute that felt like a lifetime, the comm crackled again and came to life- with it came the din of what sounded like a very intense firefight.

"We're here!" Talrik shouted over the noise. "Both of us, we're taking cover in the market, it's a damn shooting gallery in here!"

"Thank the Force, they're not dead," Kajex muttered with relief. "What happened?"

"Local resistance fighting the Remnant!" Rook answered, the sound of blasterfire filtering through her comm.

"Can you move or do you need assistance?" Locke asked.

"Militia is making a push, they're takin' the pressure off us," Talrik told them, sounding calmer. "We can break cover as long as another squad doesn't come in the next minute."

"Do it and get back to the ship," Kajex ordered. "If it's crawling with Inquisitors, stay out of sight until we can get there and handle them. I have Rev--" He cut himself, clearing his throat. "I have the ship's AI hooked into its automatic defenses, it'll spring if they try to rig it."

"Got it, boss!"

"The rest of us need to get moving," Kajex sighed, looking out at the veritable sea of panicked non-combatants. "And fast, before the newcomers get here."

"Do either of you know an alternate route to the spaceport?" Syrra asked the couple. "We took the main streets most of the way, but that might not be an option if the Inquisitors are using it too."

"Utility tunnels," Lux answered, looking out of the alleyway and gesturing everyone to follow him. "They're a bit roundabout and inaccessible to civilians, but I work the power lines down there so I know my way around. Nearest access point is in an old bar a block away, come with me- close to the wall, maybe we can edge our way around."

In minutes the group was moving in single file against building, allowing most of the foot traffic to pass them by without too much issue. At the front was Kajex, and taking up the rear was Locke, keeping an eye on everyone in front of him- and occasionally glancing behind him every minute, feeling the shadow of the dark side creeping up behind them. With an explosive amount of emotion swirling around them it was hard to get a good idea on how far behind the darksiders were; but as far as the Jedi Guardian was concerned it wasn't far enough. Keris glanced back at him, a worried look on her features. Neither had to say a thing to know what they other was thinking. The cub in her arms stirred, sniffling and letting out quiet, fearful mewls that the vixen tried to quell with soothing words and coos.

The tension lingered even as they reached the tavern and filed inside, Locke taking one last glance behind him. A surge of alarm caused his heart to skip as he spotted a maroon hood in the distance, with what looked like a silver mask. The Jedi Guardian cursed and followed the rest inside.

And found himself with a blaster barrel to his forehead.

His eyes focused, falling upon an adult male who almost certainly was below the legal drinking age, yet bore a hard expression on his pale face which Locke had seen in many young soldiers. "Make a sound and I'll drop you, dog," he muttered darkly.

The white wolf glanced to either side, seeing his brother and his mate with their palms held outward, Lux and Jaimah drawn together in front of Keris, whose ears were folded back as she held the bundle of fluff tighter to her. On all sides were lightly-armed and ill-equipped humans of different ages, looking less like a formal, well-trained militia and more like a rag-tag group of misfits and anarchists; at least a dozen were stationed on the upper balcony, aiming their weapons down at the intruders.

"Who the hell are you?" the young man growled. "Answer quick, you'd better not be Imperial."

"We're not," Locke said with complete calm in his voice. "If you want the truth, we're Jedi, and we're on a mission with strict orders to evacuate this planet with this family."

"We've been tracking communications for weeks," a voice ahead of them said, this one belonging to a young woman with short red hair, her glare hot. "We know the Imperial occupiers were inquiring about a Trianii cub for their Force-sensitivity, and we tracked you leaving the medical hub just as chaos erupted. That's too much of a coincidence, that 'Jedi' would arrive to pick up a Trianii cub just as word of an Imperial Insquisitorious group makes landfall."

"We are Jedi," Kajex insisted. "And we need to get the cub to safety so they don't get their hands on her. If you want to give them a black eye, the best thing you can do is let us pass."

"Prove to us you aren't with the Inquisitor!" the human male snarled. "If you were Jedi you wouldn't give a damn about some random kid- you'd be giving us a hand with these Remnant bastards! Instead, you're telling us you're leaving!"

"If we were Inquisitors, you would already be dead," Keris shot back in a quiet but dangerous voice, taking a step back. "You'd have been butchered for getting in the way, with no quarter shown. We're trained not to draw our weapons on the innocent- even the stupid ones."

"Got alotta nerve with a dozen guns around you," the red-head snapped, gesturing to the rebel holding their blaster up to Locke- the younger human got behind the wolf, up against the doorway, and put the blaster up to the back of his head. "If you aren't with us, you're against us."

"What're you gonna do? Shoot me and this cub?" Keris hissed.

"Keris, that's enough," Locke told her soothingly, though he felt unease within himself. It was apparent that these freedom fighters were so dead-set on defeating the Imperial Remnant that swaying their minds through the Force would be difficult- they truly believed in their ideals, were too stubborn to see reason, and too desperate to be convinced. At the same time, the Guardian could see the sense of impending darkness looming behind them, heart jumping in his chest as he could almost feel that darkness sense him. Mind tricks weren't going to work- the truth would have to be enough. "We don't have time for this," he insisted. "The Inquisitorious is coming, we sighted them down the street. You need to let us go, or they'll--"

"I knew it," the soldier behind him growled. "They've led those dark-side bastards here!" Locke's stomach turned as his head whipped around at the words- at the same moment a surge of clarity came to him and he backstepped, his head to the side just in time to avoid the attack.

The soldier never managed to squeeze off a single shot; but then, Locke hadn't ducked to avoid blasterfire. A shaft of crimson light carved through the metal hatch as easily as a welder through tin foil, cleaving through the rebel's head and scalping the top of his skull off cleanly. A chilling death-gurgle bubbled out between his lips as he swayed, eyes rolling up into what remained of his skull as he toppled over and knocked over a table.

Locke hit the floor, just in time to avoid the hatch being blasted out of place and hurtling through the air; Keris has just enough time to launch herself into the air, cleanly flipping over the durasteel door and landing just as it slammed into the rebels holding the rest of the group at blasterpoint. Lux and Jaimah darted behind a table and flipped it over, just as the assault force started pouring in through the windows and busted hatch- in seconds, dark-armored soldiers were trading fire with the rebels.

Locke and Keris were not idle at this point- with the situation dire and in such close quarters, the white wolf detached his lightsaber from the end of his pike shaft and activated it, getting between Keris and the cub. The first volley of bolts found no target, Locke deflecting them back to their point of origin and dropping three guards in that time; by the time the second barrage had started Keris had drawn her lightsaber as well, keeping the cub shielded and knocking away any blasterfire that came too close. With the two Jedi so close to the door they were the first to be targeted, prompting Locke to back up; despite the rebels having a higher firing position from the balcony and more on their side (for now), they were already beginning to drop like flies.

"We need that exit, Lux!" Locke shouted over the din.

"I'm on it!" the Trianii shouted back, squeezing off a few shots before darting to a hatch at the other end of the bar.

The redhead caught the words and tried to step in the way. "You're not going anywhe--" But before she could finish Syrra had whipped around and backhanded her to the floor.

"Enough with this- help keep us covered so we can all get out of here, or all of us are going to die!" she snarled. "Keris, you're going in first!"

The vixen dodged a stray bolt and started to make her way to Syrra, when a shout from above them drew their attention- "Launcher!" Both vixen and wolf Jedi stopped short just as a rocket from behind them sailed over their heads and exploded into the balcony above. Rebel fighters screamed as they flew from the platform, its main support severed; a creak and groan preceded the tremendous crash as it fell to the ground floor, cutting off Locke, Keris, and half of the remaining rebels (including the red-head) on one side.

Locke was certain Kajex was shouting to make sure they were alright, but whatever he was saying, it was drowned out by the heart-rending scream of a mother being separated from their cub. Even behind at least a ton of wood and durasteel supports, Jaimah's wails were so clear it was as if she'd already seen her cub be killed. And while the cub was in fact still alive (albeit wailing as well from the sound and activity), Locke could not deny that this was still a potential outcome.

"Our exit is gone!" the red-headed leader snarled.

"We told you not to waste time!" Keris snarled back as she took cover behind a table. The rebels were managing to hold their own, forcing the dark troopers to take cover, but the doorway darkened again, signaling new arrivals.

"Locke, you need to get out of there!" Kajex shouted from behind the debris.

"Working on it!" he called back, looking for a way to escape with what limited attention he had left that _wasn't_devoted towards deflecting ranged fire. "Get Lux and Jaimah out of here, we'll find a way to rendezvous!"

"You'd better!" his brother told him. "Syrra, we gotta move!"

"Stay safe, you two!"

He could feel them moving away, and that was of some comfort to Locke, knowing they were out of harm's way for now; although the situation was still dire as far as he was concerned. Ducking a near-hit from a blaster bolt and deflecting another, he backstepped and took cover behind the same table Keris had upended. The two traded grim looks, taking a glance at the remaining rebels, who had also stopped firing to take cover.

"Surrounded, you think?" Keris asked.

Locke paused, looking around. With a calming breath he reached out around them- past the chaos, the violence, and the pervading darkness, trying to find the weakest point in their ranks. Though he could not see through the Force as Miles could, it was very much possible for him to sense activity. A little more focus, and the darkness cleared, a path to his right pulling at him. Hope sparked in his chest, a feeling in the back of his mind that on some level the Force was guiding him.

He opened his eyes and looked out over cover; the spark nearly died the moment he laid eyes on the silver mask of Inquisitor Zakras. And though he could not see the being's eyes, he knew Zakras was looking right back. His focus was such that he did not even turn to face his other attackers, igniting his crimson-hued energy blade and swatting away a trio of blaster bolts effortlessly, slaying all three shooters with that one motion.

"Come on!" Locke shouted, grabbing Keris' paw and yanking her to her feet. The vixen made no protest, keeping her body between the cub and the shooters as the pair rushed to the right side of the tavern, towards a shattered window. A burst of telekinetic power blew the shards of glass away, allowing the vixen to leap through the window cleanly and into the nearly empty streets, the white wolf right behind her.

"Was that--"

"Yes, now keep running!" he shouted.

Likely because there was a battle taking place in the immediate vicinity, the walkway and street was essentially clear of traffic. What few souls Locke could see nearby amounted to huddled and frightened civilians who were taking cover in alleys, behind speeders or produce carts, intent on keeping themselves from being a target as Zakras and his troopers broke away from the tavern and began to follow the Jedi. If he could have told the terrified locals anything, it was not to worry-

They weren't in the way; and they weren't the ones being targeted.

Two hours later, Keris was letting out a sigh, tying her shawl tight and nuzzling the cub nestled against her breast gently. "There we go," she remarked, satisfied with how snug her makeshift cub-sling was. "I'm glad this bit of cloth is elastic enough for this."

Locke smiled warmly. "Will she be secure there?"

"Should be. In any case, she's safer in front of me than she is strapped to my back," she reasoned, before shushing the little kitten as she squirmed and snuffled, putting her pinky in the cub's little muzzle and letting her suckle the tip- in half a minute, the cub had started to doze off. "I think she's picking up that I'm not her mother, though. It's okay, kiddo, we're gonna get you back to your momma soon, I promise." A chuckle drew her gaze from the cub and toward her mate, the white wolf looking a little amused. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing is wrong. It's just..." He paused gesturing to her. "You were worried earlier that you might not be well-suited to raising a cub. Now here you are, taking care of one- and you're a natural at it."

Keris blushed. "I mean... it's not my kid, though."

"Maybe not- but don't be surprised if your maternal instinct kicks in."

She looked back up, seeing Locke peering out of the window of an empty diner they had taken cover in. They had managed to evade being followed by Zakras long enough to lose him, though they were both certain the Inquisitor could feel their presence in the city. Kajex had called in only minutes earlier, informing them that the starport was the only secure place left in the city. Seeing it as part of their duty, both Jedi along with Talrik and Rook (doing her job and Kajex's bodyguard) were lending their aid to the facility's defense along with the insurgents. Miles, meanwhile, was watching over Lux and Jaimah after sending word out to the New Republic using Rook's smuggler scrambler, asking for assistance in liberating the planet from Remnant control- and they had answered.

Yet Keris knew they could not wait for them. Every second she and Locke lingered in the city was a second Zakras had to find them. The only reason they weren't already at the starport, now only a block away, was due to the increase in Imperial patrols leading to firefights throughout the city. Even now, the nearest one at the end of the street was still going on- though now the trade of fire seemed to be lessening.

Keris stood, feeling hopeful. "Sounds like someone is retreating."

Locke nodded, leaning out the window slightly. She waited for an answer, though the immediate wagging of his tail gave her the news. "The insurgents won this one. We won't have a lot of time, but if we move now we can rejoin the others. The starport isn't that far." He got to his feet and grabbed his weapon, his lightsaber reattached to the end of his pike shaft, and opened the door for Keris, following her as they slipped back out into the streets.

By now most of the non-combatant inhabitants had gotten inside, leaving the way forward clear. As soon as they were out in the open they both broke into a sprint, the Force powering each footfall as they moved with inhuman speed towards the starport. A turn around one corner, then another- and suddenly it was in sight a circular, mushroom-shaped structure that stood in the middle of a massive lake, a row of hangars embedded around the disk-like head- nearly as many bridges spanned the gap between the port and the rest of the city, normally bustling with activity, but now devoid of any at all.

"Almost there," Keris sighed, though she could not shake off the tension in the back of her head.

"Kajex, we're about to enter the starport," Locke told him.

"About time- hurry up if you can, the Remnant just breached the western bridges and we're having to retreat. Insurgents are digging in, but they can't last forever."

"We'll be quick," Keris told him.

They were halfway to the bridge when a barrage of blaster bolts exploded behind them. The vixen did not even turn to see who had fired, knowing the Remnant had found them; instead, she and Locke poured their focus on their speed, outpacing the shots by a wide margin as they made a desperate, Force-imbued sprint to the bridge. Locke reached it first, triggering the controls with a flicker of thought- the primary hatch slid open, allowing them to skid to a halt inside. With a turn Locke keyed the hatch close, pulling a security spike from his belt and jamming it into a jack at the top of the controls. A blast door slid into place over the primary hatch, sealing the way behind them; a snap-hiss rang out as his lightsaber sliced through the panel, preventing it from functioning on both sides.

"That should give us some time," Locke sighed. "It'd take a few minutes to cut through even with a lightsaber."

"Which is unfortunate for you," a quiet, clear voice uttered.

Keris turned, a cold feeling of fear assaulting her nerves as she and Locke spotted the silver-masked figure of Inquisitor Zakras at the other side of the bridge, some thirty meters away. In his hand was an inactive lightsaber, a ring encircling the usual hilt, emitters constructed on both sides. She did not wait for him to activate it, drawing her weapon and igniting it just as Locke raised his weapon again.

Zakras laughed, a cold and quiet sound that sent shivers down the vixen's spine. "Eager to fight, are you? But then again, trapped rodents will often fight back when they've no place to flee. It was so simple, hiding my presence in the Force, ordering my men to funnel you into this very bridge, and allowing you to seal yourselves in."

"And for what?" Keris growled. "All of this just to kidnap a cub?"

"Why no, you simple-minded vixen slut," Zakras hissed, raising a finger and pointing the white wolf. "For him."

Locke's eyes narrowed. "You're not after the cub?"

"The child would be a boon to have; to train into a killer more effective than these bits of Dark Acolyte trash the Circle of Syn have dabbled in," Zakras informed them, approaching them slowly. "But I have no interest in such an endeavor, and I shall have all the time in the galaxy to train a protege of my own. No... I seek something more immediate- something the traitor Locke would know."

"What's that?" Locke growled.

"The Inquisitorious have always been Jedi-hunters since the days of the Jedi Purge. Your master, Voyde, knew where one might be- a powerful Jedi Knight named Culbra Krurr." Zakras inclined his head. "I seek to gain that information."

"And you thought I would just tell you, assuming that I even knew at all?" Locke asked incredulously.

"It can be as simple a matter as breaching your mind and scanning your memories for any detail at all," Zakras threatened, raising his lightsaber and igniting both ends. "After I remove your limbs, of course."

Zakras was the first to move, becoming a blur to both Locke and Keris as he lunged with blinding speed. In the blink of an eye he had struck, his blow to the leg glancing off of Locke's blade at the white wolf parried and retaliated, his weapon skimming over Zakras' hood. The Inquisitor leapt to his feet, maneuvering his weapon around and striking at multiple angles, unable to score a hit as the wolf use the lightsaber-foiling shaft of his weapon to block and counter half the strikes. When Zakras managed to parry a thrust from Locke's weapon, the wolf followed through the motion, twisting his weapon around and slamming the end of his pike shaft into his midsection, knocking him away. Keris moved to engage but Locke intervened, getting between her and the darksider as their weapons crashed and flashed. "Get the other hatch open and get to the ship!"

She cursed, clutching the child tight and making a break for the other end, trying to ignore as Zakras struck again, cutting a shallow burn into the wolf's left thigh and kicking him out of the way. A yank at her leg tripped her up, the vixen managing to slap a paw to the floor in time, breaking her fall and sparing the now-mewling cub. By the time she rolled onto her back, Zakras was halfway to her with a long leap, his dual-sided lightsaber spinning through the air, the ring rotating around the hilt. She rolled clear just in time, the blades gouging red-hot marks of melted durasteel where she'd been laying only half a moment earlier. Knowing the Inquisitor had no intention of letting her go if she was one way to subdue her mate into complying, she raised her weapon and defended herself.

"Foolish girl, you've chosen death for yourself _and_the cub!" Zakras taunted, flourishing expertly with a twirl of his weapon, the other end igniting again. He strode forward with his weapon held horizontally in front of him- the ring began to rotate, the blades emitting from each side circling around the hilt as if it were a deadly, bladed fan with no grill to cover it, the vixen too hesitant to act. The wall of spinning lightsaber blades angled up and cut at Keris, who only barely managed to backstep the attack and stab. A block, and Zakras had stepped into her range, ceasing the blade rotation abruptly and pressuring her with a level of _Makashi_dueling that came from decades of experience, a series of staggered jabs and feints that kept the vixen on her toes.

A position she was used to.

For even with a mewling cub in her arms the vixen was light on her feet, keeping the child as far away from her opponent while she dueled expertly with her right paw. With the relatively narrow corridor, and lack of obstacles, Keris' footwork was as clean as a well-practiced dance routine; darting into the fray to cut and jab her foe, then out of range to avoid the retaliation. Zakras' spinning blades hummed dangerously, filling the dueling gap between them, but while he was superior in physical strength he could not match her natural speed. The Grand Inquisitor pressed the attack, cutting and jabbing at her defenses, but finding no mark despite a frenzied assault; she either blocked it or avoided his vicious, wild swings entirely. While Zakras was indeed more skilled in _Makashi_than Keris was, with a lightsaber better-suited to defend at multiple angles, the vixen's natural agility gave her the edge in the fencing between them, along with a weapon that could cut more easily and at better angles.

He lunged forward, whipping his blade around at waist-level; she parried easily, bringing her weapon around and slashing at his head, which he only barely ducked. Now on the back foot she jabbed at him, attempting to penetrate the rotating pillars of lethal energy; a stab to his shoulder missed the mark, yet his rotating blades kept turning like a bar stuck in the spokes of a wheel, and followed through the motions. A moment later Zakras let out a pained growl as her emerald blade circled down to his leg, scoring a shallow cut. In retaliation he lashed out with the Force, tossing the vixen aside and into a reinforced window. A yelp filled the corridor as she slammed against the pane, cracking it.

But by now Locke was back on his feet and had crossed the distance to re-engage their foe, forcing Zakras to turn his attention back to the Jedi Guardian. Keris slid to the floor with a groan, legs buckling beneath her and weapon clattering to the floor. The pain along her back and head made it difficult to concentrate- until the cub clinging to her cried out again. The vixen spared a glance at the terrified child, her green eyes meeting with the vixen's.

In the long moment she stared back into the cub, it didn't matter to Keris that it wasn't her child- it only mattered that she needed Keris to protect her.

With a surge of energy and renewed vigor she struggled to get back on her feet, grabbing her lightsaber and reigniting it. With a brief kiss to the cub's forehead and a silent hope that the Force would preserve them both, she rejoined the battle.

Locke had stepped back from Zakras, his weapon now in two pieces- his active lightsaber, and the sturdy, balanced pike shaft in his off-hand. Now the vixen stood by his side, the two charging in and attacking Zakras as a pair, their blades working in tandem as they crashed against the Inquisitor's defenses, chipping away at his strength and forcing him to back away from the pair. They kept close, the wolf beating away at Zakras' weapons with repeated strikes; the vixen kept him on the back foot, attempting to land a cut at his legs while unable to properly defend. What had once been an offensive bulwark shaped by rotating and flowing lethal energy blades had been reduced to a tattered, jerky defense that could not retaliate against two foes bearing down on him at once.

A feint from Keris brought the fight to a head; sensing an opening Zakras lunged, aiming a stab at his female foe. A block from an emerald blade locked his weapon in place. A backhand across his mask from the white wolf staggered him. With a mighty upward slash, Locke's blade caught the mask. Now loosened, the dramatic piece flew threw the air just as a roar of rage and pain filled the corridor, the ruined mask clattering behind the now exposed Zakras before scattering into two pieces.

As he staggered back, gasping in agony from the burn along his upper chest and chin, Keris could only look in horror at the disfigured Anzat Inquisitor. He was not unlike his long-faced breathren, sporting sharp rows of teeth, demonic-looking pointy ears, piercing red eyes and tendrils jutting from his jowls; except that his skin was scarred with burns, as if he'd been subjected to acid. More likely, she was certain, he was enraged by the destruction of his mask, the only means to conceal his disfigurement.

He thrust his palm out and before the vixen could defend herself both she and her mate were tossed into the air away from them. Despite tumbling away violently she did her best to shield the cub from harm, holding her head carefully despite the bumps she took- but at the cost of her Jedi weapon flying out of her paw in the process, laying several meters away. Nearly as far away, Locke was struggling to get to his feet with a groan, his injured leg slowing him up- and ahead, Zakras strode towards her, raising his weapon with a clear intent to end her life. Weaponless, she close her eyes and did the only thing she could think of- calling out to the Force.

It was bright enough that even with her eyes shut the blinding light nearly burned her retinas. As it was, Zakras let out another agonized snarl; upon opening her eyes, the Inquisitor was staggering back, hand covering his eyes.

Before she could summon her weapon to her paw, a voice burst into her ear.

"Keris, Locke, we're coming! Get back!"

She didn't have time to argue or question what Talrik was shouting to her. Trusting that her fellow Amaran was only trying to protect them, she flipped up to her feet and lunged away from Zakras and into Locke's arms as he covered both her and the cub. A moment later, the center of the bridge corridor seemed to explode and buckle around them, the footing beneath them sloping forward- where Zakras had been standing only moments before, there was now a fiery breach that had severed the bridge, the weight of its construction causing their half to sag. The Jedi pair had to grab hold of the nearby railing to prevent falling to their deaths, the vixen managing to summon her lightsaber to her paw before it slid beyond her range.

Another voice burst into her earpiece. "What are you waiting for!? Jump!!!"

The damaged corridor groaned and Keris knew they had no choice. Hoping desperately this would not lead to their deaths, both she and Locke released the railing and slid down the corridor, leaping through the burning wreckage and out into the cooler air. Keris had only a moment to spot the expanse of water hundreds of feet below here before it was obscured by a starship hovering just below them.

Their feet hit the hull of the Gold Rush, their balance and training keeping them upright instead of collapsing in full. Seconds later the vessel started moving, a hiss on the center of the vessel, catching their attention. From the topside hatch, Kajex had poked his head through; behind him, peering through the ventral turret, Talrik was waving at them.

"Get in, we're taking off!" the Sentinel shouted, climbing out of the hatch. Locke groaned in an attempt to get up, prompting Keris to get to his side and help him back to his feet.

Keris was the first to descend, reaching the deck to the sound of a cry of joy. She turned to see Jaimah sprinting to her, chirping in her native tongue for a few words before transitioning to Basic again. "My little girl, my cub- you brought her back! Is she--"

She glanced down, alarm running through her as she hadn't checked to see if the cub was still alive- only to relax as she saw the child yawn and nestled herself against the vixen's breast. "She's alright," she told the weeping mother, holding the cub a few more seconds before carefully pulling the child from the makeshift sling and putting her into Jaimah's arms. "We got caught in a bad fight, but I swear to you, I was ready to die before anybody could harm her."

Jaimah looked up at her, eyes glistening with tears as she leaned in and embraced the vixen. "Thank you, Knight Keris. You are a credit to your Jedi Order, and to your family."

On the other side of the breached corridor, Zakras was staring up at the rapidly-ascending starship, his eyes lingering on the barely-visible form of the traitor Locke. He could still feel them through the Force, though he could do nothing but wait as that sensation faded. The blades of his lightsaber receded into his weapon, yet the rage continued to smolder through his core.

"Another dead end," he seethed to himself. Locke would have known, whether he was aware of it or not. One of the easiest venues for information, and it was gone. The trap he'd set, allowing news of a Force-sensitive Trianii child to be received by the New Republic, had worked flawlessly- no other group of Jedi within the Praxeum's ranks was better-suited for operating in Remnant territories, and no other were as accomplished in extraction missions given their leader's history.

A break in the restriction of off-world communications was enough for the Trianii to call for help; allowing the government to function as it wished put the civilians at ease enough to fool the Jedi into thinking it was safe to conduct the operation; a mere tweak of an insurgent's fear had held up the group long enough for him to get close, to separate the group; a simple order to break an attack had allowed both Locke and his mate to rush willingly into his trap; and a practiced mind with years of experience had been more than enough for the Grand Inquisitor to conceal himself from the Force, waiting for his prey to spring the trap. Locke had even been foolish enough to seal the corridor and damage the console, preventing them from escaping. It had been the perfect setup.

Save that he had not accounted for the rest of his group intervening as they had.

None of this bothered him. That a well-crafted plan should have fallen apart at the last moment seemed to be a fact of life throughout the galaxy; it had destroyed two Imperial Death Stars in battle and toppled an entire Empire. There were other avenues of investigation he could utilize to find Culbra Krurr, to exact vengeance for what he had done.

No...

The rage that burned bright within came only from having his mask destroyed, and his disfigurement revealed. As he turned to collect the ruined pieces of his mask, he made a silent vow-

If Voyde does not end you, Locke, then you will wish that he had when I return for you.

"Ma'am?" Keris peeked into the galley of the_Gold Rush_, eyes on the female Trianii currently cradling her cub. The infant was asleep, stirring slightly and nuzzling into her mother's neck with a quiet squeak- Keris winced, reminding herself she needed to keep the volume down.

Jaimah looked up. "Hm?"

"We're about thirty minutes from coming out of hyperspace," the vixen informed her quietly. "We're still restricted from entering most of the Trianii settlements, but we're friends with the matriarch of Pouma V, and they've agreed to let us land and settle there a few days."

"Thank you, Knight Keris," the Trianii sighed in relief.

"Not a problem- just letting you know, I'll leave you so she can sleep--"

"Not at all," the Trianii mother said, gesturing the vixen to approach. "Please, I'd like some company- mostly to speak with you."

Keris hesitated, but needed only to see the cub to agree, hoping to see a little more of her before having to part. "Sure," she nodded, taking a seat next to the Trianii. "Did you need anything?"

"Beyond giving you my eternal thanks for keeping my little girl safe?" Jaimah chuckled. "I wish we had more time to spend so I could know you a little more. I was able to speak to your mate, Locke, about an idea I had about our cub."

"What's that?" Keris asked, cocking her head to the side.

"He told me he saved a Trianii's life, one whose mate gave birth shortly thereafter; and that the Trianii in question named his son after Locke as a means of honoring him. Is this true?" she asked.

Keris grinned. "It is. Roc'nir, that was the Trianii's name. We've saved a lot of Trianii lives recently, it kind of helps me come to terms with the past- there was a time when I was complicit in capturing them." She shook he head. "I'm glad those days are behind me."

"I've heard the same from your mate," Jaimah admitted. "Though it seems more like you had little choice but to comply. All the same, it's clear your heart is in the right place."

Keris smiled, though she hesitated on her next words. "I... had a question."

"Anything."

"Is it hard?" she asked, nodding to the cub. "Being a mother?"

Jaimah shook with a silent laugh, shrugging. "I do no know. This is my first child. There is no pamphlet or resource that can give us the correct steps to raising a cub perfectly. Much as I love my daughter, I know I may make mistakes."

"My husband and I... we want to have a child someday," Keris admitted. "I just don't know if I'm the right person to be having one. My family here... we're different. I might not have a child with just him, if you can understand that- but if I'm not even fit to be a mother to just one..." She trailed off uncertainly.

Jaimah regarded the vixen kindly. "You risked your life to save my cub; and when you returned her to me, you said without reservation that you would have sooner given your life than see her come to harm. That, first and foremost, is what a parent must_be willing to do. If it had been me in your place, with my own child, I would have done the same. You were willing to pay that price for a child who wasn't even yours." She placed her paw on Keris' and gave it a squeeze. "How could you _not be a good mother, with a heart that good?"

The vixen beamed. "I suppose you have a good point, when you say it like that." She stared down at the cub. "Truth be told, I'm gonna miss her when she's gone."

"I'd like it if we could keep in touch," Jaimah offered. "My little girl should always remember the woman who saved her life- and who will be sharing her name," she added.

"Her name?" Keris repeated.

"We were so preoccupied with keeping her safe that I could not think to give her a name, and we didn't authorize one in the medical database; that way, the Remnant wouldn't be able to track her. Now that we're safe, there's no better moment to settle on one." She held up the cub to the vixen. "So... say hello to K'ris, my friend."

The vixen swallowed, letting out a trembling laugh as she took the cub into her arms and held her close- the kitten awoke with a start, looking up at her with curious eyes, and began to purr, nuzzling into her chest.

"Hello, K'ris," the vixen purred back. "It was nice to meet you."