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"Y'know... you could've just said thanks."

"Does that mean you want me to--"

"Nono, this is good too, please don't stop!"

~ Unknown soldiers

“The thing about Corellian ships is that they get a bad rap because of how 'ugly' they look to most people. I mean, sure; she ain't a Nubian star yacht or a MandalMotors gunship- but when I first saw the Rushin' Roulette, I thought she was about the coolest thing in the hangar," Kajex sighed wistfully, as his eyes scanned over his pride and joy. A couple of technicians were refueling and checking the Gold Rush as he and Kentoh circled around it slowly. “I never in my life thought I would own a ship like this, but I guess life throws you a bone every now and again, huh?"

“Well, life threw you as a bone to me," Kentoh agreed appreciatively, reaching out and tracing the cool metal hull. Wonder filled the younger clone's features as he admired the ship, his tail unconsciously wagging. “I've seen ships like yours before a very long time ago, before we were imprisoned, but she's pretty impressive."

Kajex nodded. “I'm not surprised- she was manufactured before the Jedi/Sith Cold War, around your time. I probably should've gotten her serial number checked while I was on Corellia, to figure out where she's been and what she's done- but in the end I guess it really doesn't matter. Now she's my home- and Syrra's and Locke's, as well." Warmth spread through him as he spoke. “I don't think it'll ever not feel like home, especially not after all the people that have joined the crew."

“So what do you guys do, as far as crew jobs?" Kentoh asked, turning and cocking his head.

“Syrra is my co-pilot, Talrik is our gunner in the event we get into a firefight- which hasn't happened yet, but better to be prepared. Miles keeps the armory secure and ready. Locke is a decent pilot in his own right, but he and Keris don't really do anything on the ship. Which isn't a bother, we've only been on one mission as a group so far." He chuckled as he tapped in the codes for the ramp. “And to think, only a year ago it was just me. Let's head on in and I'll show you around- she looks sexier on the inside."

Kentoh grinned and followed quickly. When Aarn and the Trianii prisoners had outfitted the ship, back when it was still called the Rushin' Roulette, it was easy for Syrra and Kajex to be impressed with the comfortable interior- they'd both seen what it was like when there was next to nothing in it. Talrik, Locke, Keris and Miles had all dropped compliments, as had Rook- all 5 of them had witnessed the transition from the 1st upgrade to the more recent 2nd. And yet even without prior context, without any visualization of what it had looked like when the Sentinel had inherited it, Kentoh proved an excited visitor. From the cozy and comfortable crew rooms to the expansive and well-equipped armory, from the currently inactive yet imposing cannons to the comfort lounge and training area; Kentoh had anxious questions and awed comments about everything he saw.

The younger wolf's enthusiasm brought to mind a question that Kajex had been itching to ask, as he watched Kentoh tap the holographic table and load a hand of Cross-Fire Pazaak. “How old are you, kid?" he asked curiously.

Kentoh looked up. “Huh? Oh, my age. Well, ignoring the 3 or 4 thousand years in stasis, probably... 17 or 18, I think. They didn't exactly give us chronometers in the slave quarters," he chuckled sheepishly, scratching behind his ears. “I don't even know when my own date of birth is- not that we, y'know, ever celebrated," he added quietly.

“You should set one," the older wolf suggested as he took a seat opposite of Kentoh. “The day you guys came out of stasis seems as good a day as any- or maybe the day you guys came our of neural treatment, even. I mean... it doesn't seem fair that nobody but me, Locke and the rest of my pack celebrated your freedom, you know?"

Kentoh's smile was bashful, but appreciative. “It did make for a hell of a birthday gift, all things considered. It really isn't that big a deal though- we don't really 'come of age', I never celebrated anything like that the entire time as a slave," he replied casually- the tone in which he said it confused the Sentinel, who leaned forward with a cocked head.

“You seem kinda nonchalant of the fact that you spent almost all your life in servitude," Kajex said quietly. “I mean... doesn't it bother you?"

Kentoh paused, considering the question as the table dealt them hands. “... From an objective viewpoint? Yeah, it absolutely does. But from the viewpoint of someone who has spent their entire life as a slave, it's just... part of who I am. It was my life, regardless of what I wanted for myself, so I had to tolerate it- or be killed for disobedience." He smiled. “Besides, it wasn't all bad. I know the reputation of the Sith has been pretty brutal, and it's true to say they were on the side of evil in most respects; and yet, there were some really decent people who were Sith that actually treated us well. I think they would've been those who would have freed us, if they knew they could get away with it- and I don't begrudge them for being too afraid to do it, I know that fear is a big thing about the dark side."

“It doesn't sound like your siblings would feel the same way, though," Kajex pointed out as he played his first card, remembering Rexxis' adamant stance on not taking sides.

“No, they wouldn't," Kentoh admitted sadly. “I might've been the only one of us murdered by the Sith, but at least I got brought back. Some of the others, though..." He grimaced, playing his own first card. “Tegrim used to get beaten a lot by one master, and Mica has had her fair share of hits- she used to say she didn't mind, that she was a tough bitch who could hit harder if she had the chance. I didn't buy it- nobody did. She puts on a tough exterior, but we're bonded- you could feel how badly it hurt her, both physically and emotionally. But Zephyr... well, there's a reason why she's is so quiet. She used to be so idealistic and kind, and brave. And she was so naturally gifted with the Force, too. Then we were given to a new Sith master and she was ruined."

The Sentinel's ears flattened in trepidation as the game continued. “I'm almost afraid to ask."

“Our 'master' was Lord Blinsye, a manipulator and Sith politician. He had a harem of his own mistresses and a son named Avemo, who enjoyed them as much as his old man did. One of the mistresses, Reah, was kinder than most and kept covering for us to prevent us from being punished for some reason or another. So naturally, when Reah suffered an injury after falling off the balcony of Lord Blinsye's apartment, Zephyr came to her aid- and we didn't stop her, either. If we had... maybe things would've been different." There was a pause as Kentoh looked hesitant to continue. When he did, there was a low growl in his voice. “Avemo had been watching the entire time and appeared just as Reah recovered, and congratulated Zephyr on her compassion and kindness, saying she should be 'rewarded'."

The hackles on Kajex's back rose in calm anger. “Sick bastard..."

“Yeah, we knew exactly what he meant by that. Well, you've seen how small she is now, and back then she was just a kid- she didn't stand a chance. And even though we all wanted to rush to him and stop it from happening, he was a skilled Force adept, knocking us away with the flick of his hand." There was another pause, then a sigh as he played a third card. “There's no need to explain what happened. When she came back, she was... broken. She wasn't the same kind, bright-eyed pup I fell in love with when we were younger- she was hollow, scared of everyone and everything around her... even her own packmates for a while. And she hasn't gotten much better."

“That's awful," Kajex responded softly. “I'm so sorry, Kentoh- if your affection for her was that deep, I can only imagine how much that must have hurt you, too."

The younger wolf nodded, but managed a strong-willed smile. “It's true... but there are worse things that could have happened. She was returned to us, not made a permanent slave; and even though I say she hasn't gotten much better, she has improved. And she doesn't need to worry about the Sith anymore- she has me and my pack to protect her, and now this New Republic."

“And us," Kajex stated firmly. “You ever need us, we'll come running for you, Kentoh."

“I appreciate that, Kaj," he responded, tail wagging. “Either way, the reason I'm not so sour about being a slave is that I figure I need to be strong and move on- you don't obtain victory unless you face adversity and play your cards right." The holotable pinged and Kajex looked down, surprised- in the midst of their discussion, with the Sentinel preoccupied with the younger clone's story, Kentoh had played a perfect counter-hand against him.

The older wolf stared at the results before bursting out laughing. “Kentoh... you'd make a hell of a Jedi Sentinel."

Sa'Rah and So'Rah (or the 'Rah twins, as they insisted they be referred to) were certainly pleasant company to be around. In the few brief hours that Syrra and Keris had spent talking to the twins, the Trianii Padawan had found herself smiling just as much as she did when she was having a good time with her fiancee. It was easy to believe that the Kanj'Isha were naturally adept at bonding, if their race were anything like the twins- they never said anything particularly uncomfortable, but seemed to know exactly what jokes to tell to lift the mood. Not even 4,000 years in stasis seemed to have dampened their mood or ruined their sense of humor.

When Keris had started making playful innuendos, however, Syrra's ears had perked up- not least because Sa'Rah had picked up on it quick and replied in an equally playful fashion. A few times, Syrra noticed Rexxis glance at them from the other side of the hallway and shake his head in disappointment, as if he did not approve- but once So'Rah noticed this he waved it off and told the two it was fine, and the fact that Rexxis did not go out of his way to get them to stop seemed indication enough that he would tolerate it. Nor did So'Rah seem to mind in the slightest, chuckling and grinning with every trade in saucy comments.

There was a time, a year ago, when Syrra would have been just as much a stick in the mud as Rexxis seemed to be, when it came to the kind of talk Keris and Sa'Rah were engaging in; which became increasingly lurid as the discussion continued. It had started with So'Rah explaining how the Kanj'Isha educated each other mostly in secret when they could- leading to Keris wondering what else they got away with in secret. It transitioned into the abuse they faced from the Sith- which Sa'Rah made light of by admitting she didn't mind a nice firm swat on the rump. And then it finally reached a point where Syrra was stunned into an embarrassed silence when Sa'Rah mentioned that she was glad most Sith didn't bother putting a stop to any actual courtship or unions- or 'group activities'.

To which she added, “But then again, I guess you two know all about that kind of fun, eh?"

Keris blinked, then smiled, arching an eyebrow. “Wait, how did you--"

“Know?" Sa'Rah asked with a wink. “Well I didn't want to really say anything at first, just in case it was private," she informed the vixen, glancing into the meeting room and licking her lips as she stared at Locke. “But you have the scent of that handsome, fluffy white stud of yours. I think having our brains unscrambled kinda boosted our already better-than-average senses back to slightly higher levels- kinda like how things sound loud after you cover your ears for a long time, you know?" The ebony-furred female wolf grinned at Syrra. “But the reason I mentioned 'group activities' is that his scent is on you, too- unless you've been cheating. You haven't been unfaithful to your future mate, have you?" she asked, folding her arms and giving her a mock stern expression.

Syrra blushed with a nervous chuckle. Neither Jedi Padawan expected her to have figured it out due to the fact that she smelled the white wolf radiating from them- apparently, not even hitting the showers before coming out of hyperspace had hidden the clue. “No, h-he knows," the Trianii said with an embarrassed smile. “We don't mind sharing each other with those we're close to- those within the 'pack', as Kajex and Locke call it."

The ebony male beside her chuckled. “Because that's what it is- a pack. Your fiancee and his brother are doing exactly what Kanj'Isha do, doesn't matter what species they bond with- you're as good as family. Even without having contact with others, they bonded just like any other wolf would- guess you can't beat instinct, right Sa'Rah?"

Syrra cocked her head. “So... then you two...?"

“Yep!" So'Rah answered cheerfully, putting an arm around his twin sister, who nuzzled into his neck. “We're plenty familiar like that- it really put Moarn on the back-foot when he caught us in a big, fluffy pile 3 days after our heads were fixed. He was a nice guy about it, though, I honestly felt bad that he didn't know how to approach what he initially thought was a problem. But in the process, I think your New Republic Intelligence folks got themselves a nice show."

“It's... not result of Force manipulation, is it?" Syrra asked, suddenly worried. Her relationship with Kajex had reached physical intimacy in only a week, with the two confessing their love only another week later. It had taken only half a year for him to propose to her, and even if she didn't have any other experiences to compare to where it concerned time frames, she wondered if things had gone to fast because she'd been manipulated.

Sa'Rah seemed to sense the feline's worry, her eyes widening as she held her paws up. “Oh! No no, it's really okay! I mean, we do bond easily when given the chance, but we don't fall in love out of being forced to do it." She glanced down the hall at Mica, who was still in a deep discussion with Talrik, Rook and Miles. “We get jealous like everyone else; and cheating is still a thing, when it involves not being forward to your partners or outright lying to your mate or fiancee. But... it's about being in love based on who other people are, the kind of person they are inside. I mean, if it weren't, we'd just be trying to get into each other's heads to have a romp whenever we want it." She smiled. “Your fiancee doesn't strike me as the type of person you fell in love because he tricked you- he must've been endearing in his own honest way, right?"

Shame mixed in with the relief Syrra felt as she recalled fond moments of kind discussions with hot chocolate, moments of comforting talk between sessions of physical intimacy, and the lengths they'd both gone to in order to protect each other. It seemed wrong of her to worry that Kajex had unconsciously caused her to fall in love with him, when he had gone out of his way to risk his life for the people he cared about. And where it concerned other lovers, Kajex had also been nothing short of forthcoming. Nevertheless, she smiled. “Yeah... I just... worried." She sighed. “I grew up in a noble family, so I've got firsthand experiences of men trying to charm me without giving a damn, you know?"

Sa'Rah smiled kindly at her. “Keep your guy close to your heart, kitten- he's there because you put him there for a good reason."

“Speaking of which, where is you main man?" So'Rah asked, glancing around.

Syrra had been keeping track and had noticed where the Sentinel had gone. “He and Kentoh went back to the Gold Rush. I think Kajex has really taken a liking to him- probably helped by the fact that they look so alike."

“You should've heard Kentoh the first day we could all talk again. Shorthand is that he was looking forward to meeting Kajex too," So'Rah replied with a grin. “Just don't be too surprised if they get a bit little... better acquainted."

“Uh..." The Trianii blinked. “T... that fast?"

Sa'Rah nodded. “He saved Kentoh's life. That kind of act ties people together no matter what species they are."

A memory resurfaced in Syrra's mind, prompting her to glance at Keris- the Amaran female stared back, and it could not be more apparent that she was thinking the same thing too. Locke's words from months ago echoed in her mind- “It's believed by some that the Force causes people to bind together through such acts of sacrifice or compassion."

Syrra's brow furrowed. “And... that doesn't bother you at all?"

So'Rah shook his head. “Might bother Rexxis, but he's not gonna go out of his way to stop him. The real question is does it bother you?"

She had her answer ready. “Not at all. Besides, it'd be hypocritical for either of us to have an issue with it," she purred, smiling as she slid her arm Keris- the vixen's tail wagged as she beamed back at her.

Sa'Rah giggled as she glanced between the two lovers. “Wow. Are you guys sure you don't have Kanj'Isha blood in your lineage?"

On the other side of the hall, a different discussion was taking place. Talrik hadn't missed the subtle cues in Rexxis behavior; as a former Imperial marksman and sniper, used to diffusing difficult situations and analyzing troop command structure, he had noticed the subtle shifts in position and the tones Rexxis used while speaking. The Amaran was more than certain Syrra had picked up on this too, but he had been prepared to be the one to talk with the alpha and Mica, if only because Rexxis seemed less keen to talk with Jedi. The female Kanj'Isha was more than pleasant enough as they talked, and very kind while addressing him and Rook. Rexxis was polite as well, but his tone was more serious.

What seemed to concern the alpha more than anything was the Imperial Remnant- what it consisted of, who ran it, what their ideals were, and so on. Rexxis made it clear that he wasn't convinced by Tegrim's study of history, given that he'd only had a few days to do it and only did so when they were not studying as a group. Despite keeping a calm demeanor, Talrik felt bad having to confirm what Tegrim had already informed him of: that it was a Sith-led government at first; that dark side enforcers and Inquisitors reinforced the military and intelligence; that despite their defeat they were still a significant force in scattered parts of the galaxy; and that despite the best efforts of the fledgling New Republic and New Jedi Order, they were having trouble keeping the Empire at bay.

“It's almost as if we went to sleep and woke up after only a few days instead of a few thousand years," Rexxis said sadly. “It would've been ridiculous of me to assume that any era we woke up in would be free of conflict, but it's disconcerting that 'Empire', 'Sith', 'Republic' and 'Jedi' are still key words these days."

“I'm sorry, I wish I could give you better news," the fox replied apologetically. “If it's any consolation, though, you're in the company of those willing to fight tooth and nail to press them back. Er..." He glanced at Rook. “Except Rook, probably, since she's hired and all."

“What, and let you have all the fun kickin' ass across the stars, Fox-Boy?" she replied with a challenging grin. “Not a fuckin' chance. 'Sides, it's the Empire- they fucked with the Mandalorians too, don't forget it."

“What are the Jedi and Republic doing about this 'Circle of Syn' you mentioned?" Mica asked, folding her arms. “Sounds like they've been active a while."

“The Gold Rush is assigned to top-priority missions concerning them and whatever might hold their interest, but we aren't the only ones fighting them," Miles assured them. “I think Master Simetra and Garrett are assigned to combat them, too, as are a few other master and student groups. As far as the Republic, though- the fleet is still recovering after the Black Fleet Crisis, and now with these new shenanigans in the Wild Space Regions, it's kinda hard to say how much they'll be able to contribute. But the answer isn't 'nothing'," he added as Rexxis frowned. “It's just that the Sith of today aren't as brazen as the Sith of your day. These newer Sith like to do most of their mischief in the shadows."

“Can't shoot what you don't see," Mica nodded with a sigh. “Wish we could give you a hand with them, but--"

“We have our own problems," Rexxis said firmly, narrowing his eyes as he addressed her. Her blue eyes stared into his with what looked like disappointment, but she did nothing to argue as he continued. “This is hardly our conflict Mica- and even if it was, we're ill-prepared for it. I understand your heart and I admire you for wanting to put an end to such a conflict, but we must look to the pack and our own people first."

“You mentioned there might be others," Miles asked. “Would you know where?"

The alpha shook his head. “Much as we would have liked to find out, no- we were given no opportunity to obtain that information. These Sith you fight against may know, however."

“Something for us to look out for," Talrik agreed with a nod. “We'll have to talk to Locke and Kajex about this. Speaking of which," the fox added with a frown, “where'd he go off t--"

“He's on the Gold Rush, with Kentoh," Miles replied, glancing through the walls in the direction of the hangar. “Looks like they're playing cards."

Rexxis growled softly, hackles raised in a fashion that made Talrik uneasy. “I figured as much... Kentoh did mention wanting to repay the Sentinel for his kindness." His growling ceased when Mica squeezed his shoulder, speaking gently.

“Let it be, Rex. Kentoh is perfectly allowed to bond with the captain if he desires. He has much to be thankful for, as do you. You should be thankful your brother is alive thanks to him."

“I... I know," Rexxis sighed. “I just... want to keep us together. We've lost too much, too recently."

Talrik swallowed before speaking. “When you say 'bond', what exactly does that entail?" Rexxis' ears flattened in annoyance to the question but he did not respond, prompting Mica to answer.

“It entails whatever Kentoh sees as a suitable repayment for having his life preserved out of kindness. Compassion is the first step to love- anyone open enough to practice compassion without hesitation is someone the Kanj'Isha feel deserves to be bonded with on some level." She smiled. “So if that should be a physical gesture, well... it'd be a mark of how thankful he is."

The fox blushed as he chuckled. “Y'know, that kinda sounds like Kaj."

“Likely because it comes instinctively, even to a Kanj'Isha not familiar with our ways."

Rook raised an eyebrow. “So... if everyone else helped save you..."

Mica grinned, pressing a finger against the shorter female's nose- Rook blushed at the wink. “Well... maybe I'll give you a _direct _answer if you save me, cute stuff."

“So you can imagine my surprise when I walked in one evening to check up on them, only to be met with the sight of... well, 'family time' typically isn't used to describe it, but as it's their culture," Moarn said, trailing off with an amused smile. “Naturally I waited until they were finished before attempting to approach them, but they weren't at all secretive about they had done."

“Why should we have been?" Tegrim replied with a patient smile. “It's just the way we are."

Moarn nodded, still smiling. “True, but as much as I would not want to stifle whatever cultural norms you wish to hold on to, if you and your pack intend to re-enter the galaxy it might be pragmatic not to vie for the Zeltron's current position as the most sexually open species in the universe- they might not appreciate that."

Locke and Tegrim laughed at the joke, and even Zephyr shook with very quiet giggles that the albino wolf found adorable. “Believe me, Master Moarn, we wouldn't dare try," Tegrim assured him through his chuckles. “Honestly, though, we thought we had a moment to ourselves, we weren't completely sure we were being watched so closely- and after everything that happened, we felt we had to celebrate somehow."

“Next time, we'll bring ale for everybody," Locke suggested good-naturedly.

“Do Denta beans still exist?" the brown wolf asked- Locke nodded. “Bring those, Mica loves them- or anything sweet, for that matter. But are Jedi even allowed to imbibe? I was under the impression that they were... well, no offense, but a bit stuffy and difficult to be informal with."

“Well as I was former Sith, I don't exactly hold myself to traditional Jedi standards, as I never learned them; and Kajex doesn't because he was raised by surrogate fathers," Locke explained.

“I admit that after everything I've learned during my period of self-reflection, the ways of the old Jedi Order were not ideal," Moarn sighed. “Perhaps the Jedi of old should have learned to open up to more of the universe. But no, at no point in the Order's existence have we completely abstained from alcohol. Or sex, for that matter."

Locke smiled. “So have you ever been physically intimate with another person?"

Moarn flinched, and a patch of red appeared on either side of his snout. “Well, yes. I doubt the majority of Jedi were truly celibate, and... I did have a close friend, a Falleen female with whom I worked with closely. She perished during the early months of the Clone Wars, I'm afraid," he said sadly. “Perhaps if we'd been more open... but nevertheless, the moments we had were memorable." The Trandoshan shook himself out of his reverie, regarding Tegrim with a warm smile. “It's different these days, however- and you'll not find me endorsing a philosophy of non-attachment. Master Skywalker had no intention of preventing his students from forming attachments, either. Kajex's father was right, it's only natural that sentient beings should be connected."

Zephyr murmured something softly, prompting Tegrim to lean in with his ears perked. “What was that, pup?"

The gold-furred wolf trembled slightly, looking between Locke and Moarn apprehensively before taking a deep breath. When she spoke, Locke could hear the silver tones of kindness, a voice that could have belonged to a singer if that she possessed more faith in herself. “I... I said... it's... really unusual. Because Jedi weren't allowed to love, and... Sith weren't either, told to hate. Jedi... were told to shun attachment... Sith were told... to sever it." She swallowed, looking nervous. “I mean... I thought the Jedi... would be more open," she added, trailing off.

Moarn frowned sadly, nodding. “You're quite right, pup."

Tegrim looked hesitant. “So... if we were to agree to join this Jedi Order- not that we've made any decision, mind you- but we'd be allowed to stick together, right?"

Locke nodded emphatically. “Absolutely. Kajex even upgraded his ship, hoping you might consider studying with him. Hopefully it wasn't too presumptuous of him to do so, but..."

“No, I'm actually glad he did," Tegrim replied with a relieved sigh. “If we did decide on that course of action, I'd feel a little more at ease studying with kin- you all seem very trustworthy, and you've definitely been easy to get along with. And I know Kentoh would love it, he seems so taken with the Sentinel."

Locke swallowed, his thoughts straying to his twin. “Uh... yes... see, about that- if you were wondering how things were going--"

“Not really," Tegrim shrugged, grinning. “How far along are they?"

With a small measure of focus he got a deeper read on Kajex. “Well, they haven't done anything yet- but Kentoh seems to be expressing heavy interest in my brother; not that I mind, of course."

Moarn arched an eyebrow, catching on very quickly. “On day one? The Kanj'Isha have a very... er... unique culture, to bond so quickly."

Zephyr giggled, her face nearly bronze from her blushing. “Th... they're both cute... I'm kinda curious."

“Well, I'm sure they would appreciate some privacy," Moarn suggested, prompting a nod from Tegrim. “If I have the measure of your method of bonding right, it's meant to be personal."

“So then after the damn thing fell, I was pretty much too injured to move without it hurting like a bitch. But Argus got lucky, he only got bumped around badly enough that he lost his C-rifle and couldn't attack me. So I figure I'm pretty much a dead man when 5 of his goons run in with blasters drawn- wasn't much I could do."

“So how did you get out of that?" Kentoh asked, his eyes wide as he listened to the end of Kajex's story with rapt attention.

“Talrik bailed me out," Kajex answered with a grin. “The kid's aim is immaculate, sometimes I wonder if he's barely Force-sensitive and just channels that energy into making critical shots at critical moments. From 100 meters away, a broken arm and a broken leg, he'd taken his Relby, lined up the shot and ruptured one of the Black Sun thugs' thermal detonators, blowing them apart in a flash. Ended the entire thing before I even got my vision back, and the three of us, Syrra included, just lined up against the wall and napped while the New Republic medical units found us and ferried us out on stretchers. And that, pup, is how Talrik got his bigass gun," he finished, gesturing to one of the blaster racks where Talrik's rifle was secured.

Kentoh's tail wagged excitedly as he remained seated on the bench, looking up at the Sentinel. “You guys really lead interesting lives, to be doing this kind of stuff. I mean, not to say mine hasn't been interesting, but hearing how you guys get into the thick of it and snuff out evil- you make it sound incredible and worth it."

Kajex smiled and took a seat at the worktable, facing him. “There are days when it's pretty tough, when you want to just give it up for a while and relax. But things like saving Trianii prisoners, or hearing about how the Ho'Din's research has been a success because you helped them- it really makes you feel like you've made a difference."

“I wish I could do the same," Kentoh replied with a sigh. “I know Mica does, too. And I know So'Rah and Sa'Rah would love to get out there and make an impact on the galaxy." The was a pause, accompanied by a hesitant look on the younger mirror's face. “... Do you think I could make a decent Jedi, Kaj?"

The older mirror nodded. “With a lot of training, and family and friends to support you? You can follow any path you want- or none at all, if you'd rather live a more peaceful life with your pack," Kajex added kindly. “The last thing a Jedi should be is restricted."

“Not true, I'd wager," Kentoh said sullenly, ears drooping as his tail slowed down. “It's not like you can spend all your time here. You'll have to leave soon, to do your job, right?"

The Sentinel's heart fell at the sight of Kentoh looking sad; he wondered if the younger clone had been enjoying the visit more than he did, had dreaded the idea of Kajex and everyone else leaving- which he had even forgotten about. Nevertheless he smiled as he got up, moving to the bench and wrapping an arm around the kid. He did not move away from the affectionate gesture, instead leaning his head onto the Sentinel's shoulder and nuzzling into his neck.

“Gonna miss me?" Kajex asked, enjoying the affection despite how unexpected it was.

“How could I not?" Kentoh replied sadly. “It's like being rescued by a long-lost, older brother- and then being told you'll have to wait to see him again, not knowing if he's gonna make it back to you alive."

“You care about me that much?"

“You cared about me that much- you saved my life."

“It's what Jedi are supposed to do," Kajex reasoned.

The young wolf arched an eyebrow. “If it is, then why were you and your pack the first Jedi to help us?"

Silence lingered between them as Kajex found himself without an answer. He'd long known the Jedi of the past had many things to answer for, many failings they had to overturn, but if the question was how he was different, apart from being Kanj'Isha, it was not easy to formulate an answer, if there was one at all. The fact was he did care- and he decided against pretending that he didn't.

“You don't have to downplay what you did, Kajex," Kentoh continued, before he could say anything. “I remember hearing what it was like for Jedi, where some of its greatest heroes were scorned or forgotten for their kindness. Paint it how you'd like, but you're always gonna be a hero to me." He smiled. “And heroes should be rewarded."

“I thought you already did that, with the crystals- Locke and I used them to construct new lightsabers."

“That wasn't quite what I had in mind," Kentoh admitted, blushing. “Giving you those crystals was more my way of contributing to fighting the Sith, I guess. I wanted to repay you for your kindness in the best way I know how."

The Sentinel raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? What did you have in mind?"

It happened in less than a heartbeat- one moment, Kentoh was smiling back, a faint redness in his cheeks as he slid a paw into Kajex's; the next, he'd leaned in, angling his muzzle up and catching the Sentinel's lips with his own, letting out a quiet, desperate whine as he pressed himself against the older wolf's chest. It would've been dishonest of Kajex to say that he saw this coming, but the gesture was far from unwelcome as he pulled the teen into his arms and kissed back firmly, his paws massaging up Kentoh's back.

“Syrra...?

“Yes, I know- you're such a naughty pup, love," the Trianii answered, warmth and kindness apparent in her telepathic reply. “Be gentle with him, he's giving you a trust you shouldn't break."

Even with his lips occupied, Kajex managed to smile- he didn't have to say it, it was clear by now that Syrra got off on distant voyeurism. Nevertheless he took a moment to break the kiss from Kentoh, watching as the youth panted from the attention- his eyes glanced down to the younger wolf's coveralls, noticing the sizable tent beneath the end of the zipper. “You're an eager one, aren't you, pup?" he teased.

Kentoh blushed hard and whined with a sheepish smile on his muzzle. “I-I can't help it. I don't have any material possessions, and I wanted to do something to repay you. But if... if you don't want to--"

“Pup, you are too adorable to say no to," Kajex insisted as Kentoh started zipping down the one-piece utility suit, exposing his chest. “I just want to be sure this is something you actually want to do, and not something you'll end up regretting later- I'm twice your age, you know."

“I think the only thing that would ruin this moment and make me regret it is if Rexxis barged in on us and told me to stop," the younger wolf replied as he licked up the Sentinel's neck and chin affectionately.

It would perhaps be unfair, Kajex supposed, for him to sully Miles' bunk in the armory with his own sexual escapades; but given that the Miraluka's room was only a few steps away and that Kentoh was considerably clingy, it was less difficult for him to carry the affectionate (and super-horny) teenaged wolf into the ex-soldier's quarters than it would have been to get the both of them into his own room. It didn't help that Kentoh was 'helping' to strip the older male as he moved, resulting in Kajex tripping over his longcoat and the both of them tumbling into the thankfully soft bunk with a pair of surprised yips. Kajex chuckled as they untangled themselves, the horny teen frantically struggling to kick off his boots.

“Easy, kid- you don't need to get so excited."

Kentoh cringed and blushed, though his tail continued to wag at high speeds. “I'm sorry, I'm just- I'm used to being intimate with the pack, doing it with someone new is kind of exciting and I don't wanna mess it up."

“Then let me help you relax," the Sentinel offered as he pulled his shirt off and pushed the teen onto the bunk. Regardless of how early Kentoh might have been when he started having sex (and Kajex was inclined to believe he'd been as young as the Sentinel had been, when he'd started), the older wolf was still certain he had plenty of years of experience in his favor. At the very least this seemed to be the case, as he coaxed Kentoh into a state of calmness with gentle rubs to the chest, tender kisses to the neck and throat, and soft words of comfort. In under a minute, Kentoh had calmed down and been laid on his stomach, letting out small moans as he was subjected to the older wolf's foreplay.

Miles had required no teaching in pleasuring the same sex; Locke had caught on quick, and his connection to Kajex meant the latter was able to educate the former on same-sex intimacy in fairly short order; Talrik, however, had given Kajex plenty of practice in topping for other males, practice that the wolf had sorely lacked since his last male lover had passed on- and it was this practice that came in handy as he teased and pleased the teen beneath him. A warm smile played on his face while he peeled Kentoh's coveralls off gradually, nuzzling and snuffling into his fur. He leaned in, his muzzle near Kentoh's ear as he moaned and squirmed beneath the Sentinel's touch- the moan turned into a gasp as Kajex's right paw slipped into Kentoh's coveralls and cupped the younger wolf's ample balls. The younger wolf was not yet fully erect, but his sheath was swollen, stretched around his captive prick as it stiffened and throbbed beneath.

“Gotta nice pair on you, pup," he growled softly. “I guess there's no point in asking if you've ever been with a male before. You did mention that you were close to your pack, after all." A simple tug along the sheath and his cock was free, an ebony-black shaft that only served to reinforce the fact that the two wolves were clones. Shivers ran through Kentoh, an effect of the older wolf's words and actions; silent though he remained, the younger clone nodded his head, whining a little louder. Grinning at the trembling wolf and knowing full well Kentoh would not express his satisfaction without further stimulation, he traced a single finger slowly down the underside of his throbbing cock.

The effect was immediate; Kentoh jerked and let out a long, lust-filled moan, gasping as Kajex's single finger touched against his balls. Not content to stop, Kajex wrapped his paw around his fellow clone's length, nipping at his neck erotically as he gave the pulsing shaft several long strokes. Without a word (and plenty of whines and moans), Kentoh's hips responded with eager thrusts- Kajex barely needed to move his paw, yet he did, making sure his younger mirror's prick was stimulated from tip to base. All the while his free paw undid his trousers.

The movement did not go unnoticed. The moment Kentoh realized the older male was pulling off his last piece of clothing, he stopped thrusting and rolled onto his backside, panting slightly. “W-wait, let me..." he trailed off as he slipped out of the bunk and onto his knees, in front of the Sentinel- Kajex shift a bit, leaning back and watching with interest. With wide eyes Kentoh pulled the Jedi's boxers down, revealing a thick, swollen sheath with two inches of throbbing wolfcock sticking out. Kentoh swallowed at the sight. “It's... how long does it...?"

“10 inches exactly, once it's good and ready," Kajex replied softly.

Kentoh's eyes widened at the information. “That's... I mean, So'Rah is about as long, but... not as thick as this," he said softly, leaning in to press his nose against the tip. Kajex watched as the younger wolf breathed in, seemingly savoring his scent. Something about the aroma must have sparked something within- not a few moments later, Kentoh's lips were wrapped around the length of the long tool, bobbing vertically along the throbbing shaft. With an enormous amount of restraint Kajex managed to stifle his moan, letting out a harsh, long growl of satisfaction as the Kentoh's tongue lashed around his prick. It took only a few seconds for the Jedi Knight to realize that Kentoh was far from a novice when it came to sucking cock; there was no motion of his tongue or muzzle that did not contribute to stimulating the older wolf's shaft- every single movement was deliberate, possessed a purpose that sent waves of hot delight through Jedi's loins. It took much in the way of willpower for Kajex not to begin face-fucking the teen and blowing his load into his throat.

Nevertheless, Kajex did not let this continue for very long- it hadn't escaped his notice that, while cock and balls were being given an incredible tongue-bath, Kentoh was still vigorously pumping his own prick. At this point, the apex of his length had been reached, sitting at a very respectable 8 inches. Whether it was because he still had a few years left to grow the last two inches that would match Kajex's, or because there was enough genetic difference between them that this was the maximum length he'd achieve; Kentoh's length looked very much like a slightly smaller set of the Jedi's genitals. To prevent Kentoh from popping too soon, Kajex pushed back against the teen's head and shifted back with a grunt.

Kentoh's ears flattened nervously. “Did- was that not good enough?" he asked anxiously.

The Sentinel chuckled. “That was incredible, pup, don't worry. But I noticed you were going to town on your dick, and I really don't want this to end so soon- you should know that one of the important things a Jedi needs to practice is restraint," he teased, cupping the side of his face as he helped the younger clone up. A brief shift in position and Kentoh was on the bed again, laying on his back while Kajex slid up against him. With paws propping him up on either side, both wolves shivered a bit as their shafts slid against each other. By this point, pre-cum had been leaking out of their tips rather profusely, enough so that as the two enjoyed a few minutes of deep kissing and pawing, their shafts grew steadily slicker.

But Kajex hadn't forgotten them, not for a moment. A brief break in kissing was all the time he needed to sit back up on his knees and thrust his hips forward, sliding his tool against Kentoh's with a satisfied sigh. Kentoh moaned in response, doing little more than clinging at the sheets beneath him while Kajex wrapped as much of his paw around both cocks, stroking both of them with a restrained hiss. Catching on quickly, Kentoh loaned another paw to the activity, gasping as the two of them started to buck against each other. The dual sensation of their pricks sliding against each other, precum spitting from their tips as their paws massaged the cockflesh, reduced both of them to unrestrained moaning. Kajex squeezed tighter, making each thrust more difficult and adding a higher level of friction; the effect certainly seemed to have a positive effect on Kentoh, the younger wolf clone writhing around and whining excitedly as the minutes wore on.

Intent on making the time between them last as long and memorable as possible, the Jedi fluctuated in his intensity. Every so often he would pause, letting his heavy balls rest against Kentoh's as they regained their endurance; then he would start up again with slow, smooth strokes, accompanied by gentle ear nips or grazing their noses together affectionately; the tide would shift again and he'd increase the pace, gauging the younger wolf's voice and breathing to keep him on edge as his paw dual-pumped their cocks in unison, squeezing precum from their shafts like thick, throbbing tubes of natural lube; but at no point did Kajex allow either of them to finish. Kept in a state of sexual limbo, alternating between rising and falling in pleasure, Kentoh eventually had the presence of mind to growl in frustration, making an attempt to sit up.

“K-Kaj, holy sh--"

Kajex cut him off with a paw to the lips, giving him a wink before drawing his hips back and placing the tip of his length against Kentoh's tailhole- frotting against him had been a pleasant enough experience, not least because it was as if he was as if he were having sex with himself. But in the half hour since they had started, the desire to copulate hadn't left him. It was with a gentle, sincere kiss that the older wolf calmed Kentoh down some, before breaking off to explain himself. “Sorry, pup. But as we're not going to be seeing each other for at least week, I wanted to make this last as long as possible- besides, I get the sense that your pack doesn't do this nearly as well as I do."

“Well, not really," Kentoh replied with a bashful expression, watching as Kajex grabbed a bottle of clear, vanilla-scented liquid from the shelf next to Miles' bunk. “I'm ready, though, as long as you're gentle about it- it's... been about 3 or 4 thousand years, remember?" A yip escaped his muzzle as the Jedi squeezed a healthy amount of the cool lube against his tailhole and his own cock- then a hiss and a pleasant moan as the gel started to warm up. Another squeeze and a dollop smeared against the tips of Kajex's fingers, which promptly entered the younger wolf's backside.

A sharp gasp rang out as Kentoh arched his back, trying to roll his hips up receptively- the motion ended up burying Kajex's finger up to his knuckles, where they remained as he curled the digits around. With a tossing head and writhing body, Kentoh whined and moaned, reaching out blindly and grabbing the Sentinel's arms as he found the teen's prostate. Knowing full well extra stimulation would cause things to end too soon, the Jedi held back and drew his fingers out. Now fully prepared with multiple forms of lubrication, it was a simple matter of sliding into Kentoh's backside- which was initially difficult.

Kajex had no reason to believe Kentoh was a rear-hatch virgin, not after how he'd talked about So'Rah's length- but it still proved a challenging task to prod the smaller male into a more relaxed state so that entry would be easier. Two fingers had been easy- but Kajex's girth was much thicker. Determined not to do anything to hurt his sexual partner, a friend he'd already come to value deeply, Kajex kept his hips restrained, dipping the tip of his length slowly into Kentoh's hole. It was not without pleasure, however- the younger wolf certainly let his satisfaction known as he sighed and gasped. The gentle back-and-forth of the Jedi's thrusts allowed Kajex to gradually insert more of his length- 3 inches. 4 inches. Half is length was in. 7 inches. And all the while, Kentoh let out wordless moans of bliss, prompting Kajex to become more forceful in his thrusts. 8 inches- and now the Jedi was holding Kentoh's hips, beating his hips into the clone's backside repeatedly.

Between the grunting, moaning, whining and yelps, the two injected no words- it was enough for Kajex to put his effort in making Kentoh feel wanted and appreciated with a combination of steady, powerful thrusts that drilled his wolfhood into the younger clone's deepest anal reaches; and affectionate gestures ranging from kisses, nips, nuzzles, and the clasping of each other's palms as Kentoh was pinned to the bed. Even with Kentoh's slimmer body and gentler voice, it was easy for Kajex to imagine that he was breeding himself, pounding away at the teen's endurance with his rock-hard cock. If Kentoh had asked him if he could feel the bond between them at that point, Kajex would have answered in the positive- but there was no need for words. A moment passed between them as two pairs of golden, lust-glazed eyes locked. In that moment, Kajex could see everything in himself in this clone- though the experiences were different, the Jedi could see kin in the younger wolf.

The moment passed, but the warmth in Kajex's chest only grew as he redoubled his efforts, which were steadily becoming more difficult as the Jedi's knot ground against the younger wolf's still-tight anal ring. Kentoh whined slightly from what sounded like both pleasure and pain, prompting a brief pause as Kajex shifted position. He rolled Kentoh onto his stomach, coaxing him onto his knees with his rump upturned and tail flagged up- the position was more than a bit enticing to witness as lube and precum drooled out of Kentoh's clenching tailhole. With a wordless, anxious look on his face (part of which was buried into Miles' pillow), the younger wolf's tail wagged as the Jedi got back into position. A muffled cry rang out as Kajex slammed back in, Kentoh's ears folding back submissively as he was nearly hilted- a second, quieter gasp followed as the Sentinel's paw squeezed around his exposed, unattended cock.

His hips and paw moved in unison as he pounded repeatedly against the tight tailhole, the younger wolf's resistance crumbling with every thrust. “Think you can take it, pup?" he growled into his ear.

“Nngg, g-gods, yes!" Kentoh cried out, paws gripping into the end of the bunk desperately as he offered himself to the Jedi, backing into him heavily to meet his thrusts. “T-tie me like a bitch!"

Spurred on by the dirty encouragement the Sentinel obliged, growling as he focused his strength on grinding his knot against Kentoh's tight tailhole. It took only a few shifts of his hips, a windup and a single, solid thrust to finally breach past the resistance and lock his knot into the teen's asshole with a satisfying pop. Their unified howls echoed through the ship as they both came at the same moment, with Kentoh blasting an enormous amount of thick, heady-scented spunk onto the Miraluka's sheets, more than enough that the splashback splattered against the back of Kajex's paw; at the same moment, the Jedi Sentinel was pumping heavy loads of wolfcum into the younger clone's ass, with enough volume for it to leak out around his knot and dribble down his balls. A violent shudder was all it took to lock Kajex out of whatever strength he had left as he dropped to his side with Kentoh still against to his loins.

The younger pup whined and arched his back as the torrent dissipated, ceasing only when Kajex wrapping his arms around the teen and nuzzled him affectionately. “S-sorry, I... I just really like--"

“--Cuddling," Kajex finished for him with a smile, happy to find yet another similarity between them. “I know, me too."

It wasn't immediately clear how much time had passed when Kajex finally opened his eyes. Then again, it wasn't an immediate concern for him as he felt Kentoh shift and snuggle against him. Focused less on the time and how soon he might need to leave to be briefed by Master Moarn, and more on his fellow clone's well-being and happiness, Kajex squeezed Kentoh gently, licking his forehead. At least enough time had passed for the Sentinel's cock to soften and slip out from the teen's well-fucked tailhole. With a bit of focus, he felt his consciousness slip from his body, drifting around and refocusing on a chronometer mounted on the armory's far wall- 1600 hours.

A sigh left the Sentinel. The crew was supposed to meet at 1645, cleared to leave immediately after. Time was running short, and there were a lot of things Kajex wanted to say: how great it was to spend time with Kentoh, both sexually and non-sexually; how he appreciated the younger wolf's opinions and insightful assurances, and kindness; how he had been happy to meet with everyone, and felt a little bad for opting to spend more time with Kentoh than with everyone else; and how that only occurred because he felt bonded to the teen, not simply because they were both likely cloned from the same wolf, but because a greater connection had been forged by mutual attraction to each other's qualities.

Memories of Retsa resurfaced, of him telling her he fought so hard so he could live to see what few friends he had. That list of friends, allies and lovers was growing each week, it seemed- not two weeks ago, the Sentinel didn't even know Rook, Kentoh and the pack existed. And now that collection of family and friends was growing again- except this time, he'd have to part with a few recent additions, if only for a little while.

Never before had Kajex wanted so badly to abdicate his duties. But he sighed, hugging Kentoh again and leaning in, placing his muzzle next to the teen's ears. “Wake up, sleepypup."

Kentoh's eyes flickered open instantly. “... How long were we out?"

“Long enough," Kajex sighed sadly as he sat up, grabbing his trousers reluctantly. “I... hate saying this, but I need to get ready to meet with the pack."

Kentoh winced and groaned. “Dammit... wish you didn't have to go." He sighed. “But then again if you don't, the Sith will likely end up winning, right?"

“Maybe not, but I can't be expected to do my part to put them down if I don't go out there to fight them," Kajex said, ruffling the younger clone's hair. “Buck up, kid- we can share the showers for a bit in case you wanted to talk a little more."

“Actually... I do wanna say something right now," he replied, taking a deep breath. “I wanted to say that... I didn't do this just for the enjoyment. I want you to feel like you and I are closer than just acquaintances, in case... in case you're still not sure how to take it. I know you're not familiar with the Kanj'Isha, but..."

Kajex smiled. “I've had recreational sex before, pup. It's fun, but not terribly fulfilling. I've had a turn with every crew member on this ship except Rook, but they are not casual flings- and neither are you, little bro," he added, bringing a smile to Kentoh's muzzle. “And I'm allowed to call you that if I'm able to call Locke my twin- fair enough?"

“More than fair," Kentoh replied happily, wrapping his arms around the Jedi as his tail swept rapidly through the air. “And you promise you'll visit often?"

“Once every other week at the very least- hopefully every weekend," Kajex informed him, hugging back. “And I promise from now on I'll be fighting extra hard, just to get back to you guys- we gotta stick together, after all." He stood up, still nude and grinning. “Now c'mon, lemme show you where Syrra and I first kissed."

“So...? How was it?" Keris asked

Syrra swallowed. “What do you mean?"

“Oh you don't have to pretend, kitty," Sa'Rah informed the Trainii with a giggle. “The blush on your face and the nice little aroma you're giving off right now- you were peekin' in on your fiancee and our youngest male, weren't you?" the ebony female teased.

“Well, he was going to ask for permission, and I gave it to him, so..." Caught, the feline couldn't really form more of a response than to look sheepish, rubbing the back of her head with her paw. “It's like seeing Kajex mounting another Kajex- you don't have the fantasy at first because you couldn't even imagine how much it'd turn you on... until the fantasy somehow becomes reality."

“I swear, kitten," Keris purred as she nuzzled the feline's cheek, “you have one hell of a fierce voyeur fetish. Like the idea of your future husband getting physical everyone else?"

“Something like that- only because it seems like 'everyone else' ends up getting physical with me," Syrra teased back, squeezing the Amaran female's butt and eliciting an excited yip. “Either way- they're getting cleaned up now, so I guess we better tell Moarn we're almost ready."

“I'll go let him know," Keris offered, shaking both twins' paws. “It was really great meeting and learning about you guys- I'm lookin' forward to the next time."

“Likewise," So'Rah responded. “Don't be a stranger- you're too hot to stay that way."

“Well now I have to come back," Keris purred, winking at the male. “Seeya."

“I better go join her," Syrra said reluctantly, but before she could follow Sa'Rah had reached out and touched her shoulder.

“Just a sec, Syrra. Just wanted to talk to you real quick about Kaj, if you don't mind."

Syrra blinked, cocking her head to one side. “What about?"

“You guys are going to be mates, as you said- and don't worry, neither of us are gonna stop you," So'Rah reassured her. “Everything that Kaj has been doing, at least the way you've described, is how Kanj'Isha behave. But at the same time... I don't know if he'd be so keen to do what he's been doing if he didn't know about our... longevity."

A numbness seemed to fall over Syrra. The last thing she expected to hear was a warning about age. “What do you mean?"

The twins exchanged significant looks before So'Rah explain. “We're only 23, about- Rexxis is the oldest at around 25, Kentoh's the youngest male at around 17 or 18, and Zephyr is about 15. Kajex and Locke may be 32, and by most galactic standards that's a solid age to date and settle down- definitely older than everyone else in the pack- but... for a Kanj'Isha, that's more or less the beginning of our lives. Now... I don't know the first thing about a Trianii's lifespan, but..."

“... 70 years," Syrra said softly, her own voice sounding distant. “80 on the outside."

“I mean, since you're training as a Jedi your lifespan is probably going to be a lot longer," Sa'Rah added hopefully. “But... the oldest Kanj'Isha our pack ever met was about 120 years old. And while that may be about the average life expectancy for a human, this wolf I'm talking about didn't look any older than Kajex does right now. We're not even sure how old we can get, when it comes down to it."

A part of Syrra didn't want to hear this. The pain of knowing she might likely never be a mother, at least not with Kajex's offspring, had been a blow in and of itself- but the thought that he might linger while she would fade away was something she hadn't even considered. If Kajex didn't even know... but if he did, she was now fearful of what his reaction might be.

“Look... I know it's probably what you don't want to hear right now, but... we thought it wouldn't be fair for you to be left in the dark about it," Sa'Rah explained apologetically. “It's a rough deal, I know, but... you have a right to know, and so does Kajex and Locke. And I think you're probably the best person to talk to them and Keris about it, you know?"

The cold feeling seemed to lift at these words. After the hardships that they'd endured- Kajex hiding his Force sensitivity, the knowledge that they might never conceive, exploring facets of their relationship with each other and other people they loved and cared about- it dawned on the Trianii that this was just another step to take, another obstacle to overcome. And in it, she found the strength to smile.

“Thank you- both of you," she said sincerely. Finding it difficult to voice her appreciation, she approached the two and embraced them with a sigh. “I'm glad you were honest enough to let me know. I'll let them know- all of them."

The twins' tails wagged as they hugged back. Sa'Rah pulled away with a smile. “Want some advice?" Syrra nodded. “Focus on the good vibes, the love and companionship. The Kanj'Isha know that all love comes with pain- but it wouldn't be that way if it didn't bring us an equal amount of joy, too. You can choose to wallow in that regret, or you can choose to recall that joy."

“I'll keep that in mind," Syrra replied, feeling marginally better. “Take care of yourselves."

“Until next time, kitty," Sa'Rah responded.