FSE

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_ "There is no sin in a swift, genuine bond; nor a sudden, true love." _

~Amaran proverb

As a string of anxious pilots and travelers bustled through the busy starport, a pair of emerald-green eyes tracked movement throughout the crowd, attentive, focused, peering through every individual as they scanned for their target. Most were human, with a sparse smattering of non-humans here and there; very few of them were armed, with most dressed in the usual assortment of clothes meant for a cold vacation. Only a handful of them looked the part of a visiting spacer.

And none of them wore the ensemble Locke had chosen to wear.

Keris sighed, eyes flicking to a nearby chronometer and mentally checking that her master was now ten minutes late. Being able to help Locke by keeping him disguised and mentoring him in the ways of pulling it off convincingly was, as always, right up her alley in terms of personal interests. At the same time it bothered her that she was once again relegated to staying behind and watching their backs, when she would have rather gotten into a fight. The fact that it was the Empire itself that was putting the mission in jeopardy did not matter to her- being there for her master was the only thing that did.

Movement to her right caught her attention. A tall and reasonably attractive young Farghul spacer had sauntered up to her with a pair of glasses and a wide smile. The vixen blinked, realizing she was about to be hit on and chuckling.

Oh brother... this is gonna be adorable, I can tell.

Far from being offended, she gave him a warm smile and waited for the felinoid's pickup line. "Hmm?"

"I'm sorry, for a moment I thought a holoflick was being filmed here," he purred. "You're so lovely, you must be the leading lady in a romance film."

The vixen's muzzle split into a grin and she giggled, genuinely impressed. "Oh wow. Just so you know, I've worked bars since I was a teen. That was actually original."

"I'm only being honest. You look like a scene where the lonely young woman is awaiting her Jedi Knight in shining armor," the Farghul told her, circling the table. "I may not wield the Force, but I'm sure I can play the part of your hero."

He moved to seat himself opposite her, but the vixen shook her head and clicked her tongue chidingly, though she still smiled. "That's cheesingly sweet of you to say, it really is. If I wasn't on the job right now, I'd invite you to sit and talk. But since I'm sure you're looking for either a quick lay or genuine love, I'll let you down early- I'm already spoken for."

The Farghul's smile faltered for only a moment. "Oh? A pity- they must be a very lucky man."

"I agree," a voice said from behind him. Keris perked up at the voice, her tail wagging as Locke approached, wearing a spacer's longcoat, a pair of goggles on his forehead, and a thick scarf and hood drawn back. Before the feline could reply Locke held up a paw and treated him to a calm smile. "It's alright, it's not the first time she's had a young man hit on her while she's on the job. I can hardly blame you- she's beautiful, smart, and incredible in bed."

The Farghul seemed to fumble at the confidence Locke exuded. "I... er... I meant nothing by it, just making conversation."

"No, I know that look," Locke assured him with a chuckle and putting a paw on his shoulder. "You were absolutely smitten, and probably hoping she was the one- perhaps daring to dream that you might sleep together tonight, in fact." The feline's face seemed to burn red, looking away. "And as I said, neither of us are offended- but I'm afraid, as she said, she's spoken for."

"Sorry, honey," the vixen offered sweetly. "I'm not the vulpoid you're looking for."

"But if you're looking for a nice evening," the wolf continued, steering the younger man around and gesturing to the bar, "I'm sure that lonely-looking young Lepi ordered a ruby Bliel- she might want some company." He gestured to a sad-looking female lapine, staring at an empty glass.

The Farghul perked up, looking both interested and uncertain; Keris could tell it had probably taken the lad half an hour to build up the nerve just to talk to one of them, and had chosen her. "I... she's beautiful." He swallowed. "But... no, she looked upset. I'm sure she'd rather be--"

"You want don't want her to be lonely," Locke intoned into his ear with a look of focus. "Right?"

The feline seemed to loosen up, sighing calmly. "No... I don't want her to be lonely," he repeated with a tone of longing.

"You should get her a drink and try that pickup line with her," the wolf suggested, taking both of the drinks from him.

The feline's gaze brightened and he drew himself up with a smile. "You know what? I should try it- just need to get the right drink for her."

"Good luck!" Keris told him encouragingly, smiling as he strode to the rabbit with a look of complete confidence. She turned her attention to Locke, giving him a knowing smile. "Y'know... I'm usually the one who plays matchmaker. Mind tricks are cheating."

"All he needed was a little more confidence to play the game, my apprentice," Locke replied with a matching smile, taking a sip from on of the Farghul's drinks while setting aside the other. "Sometimes that's all it takes to make some progress."

She nodded, reaching for her own drink and taking a sip before leaning forward. "So what's put you in such a decent mood, Master?"

"Honestly?" The wolf shrugged. "I don't know. I think I enjoy the moments where I can cast off my usual attire and mingle among the civilians. It's almost like a glimpse of what it'd be like had I not been discovered by my master."

"Almost like we're not on the job," she agreed. "It is nice to get out of the Star Destroyer and pretend like we're mingling." She cast her eyes to the side, looking out the streets. "I just wish it didn't come on the heels of shit like this," she sighed, looking back up to him. "How bad is it out there?"

"The Imperial forces were almost completely wiped out or arrested," Locke informed her heavily. "Knight Ulfric escaped unharmed, regrettably. Last I heard from Miles, the assault left forty security guards dead and another thirty in various states of injury. Civilian casualties were thankfully limited only to a handful of major injuries, no deaths. The New Republic is expected to send NRI agents to investigate, and to make a statement in a few hours."

"And the Remnant?"

"They're disavowing the incident, stating that it's the work of former Imperial rogues." He shook his head. "Technically, that is true. The Circle is certain that Admiral Pallaeon will make no attempt to attack New Republic territories. The fact that this happened so close to the Remnant border will douse suspicion that this was anything more than a disobedient captain taking his anger out on a tourist world."

"Even with a Jedi operation taking place?" she pointed out.

"They'll probably want to keep that under the radar," Locke admitted. "People aren't yet used to hearing about the Jedi in a positive light."

She nodded idly, certain there was more on his mind. Sensing it was better for him to simply put it out in the open she gave him a wry smile.

"So... did you see him?"

The wolf smiled back.

"… Yes. I did."

"Did he see you?" she pressed.

"I don't think so, though I got the impression that he knew something was amiss. I'm certain he 'saw' me, but I doubt very much he recognized me." He sighed wistfully, pushing his glass away.

Though she could not imagine precisely how he was feeling, Keris couldn't help but empathize with what he must be feeling. "I... can only imagine that must have hurt."

He said nothing immediately, staring at the glass with a subdued expression before shrugging. "I admit I regret not being open enough to greet Captain Surnahm, but in addition to the fact that we're on a mission to spy on Knight Ulfric, well..." He chuckled humorlessly. "I imagine he had more important business elsewhere, which would have necessitated getting as far away from our rather enormous friend as possible. 'Those who fight and run away', and all that."

"And what of his Jedi lover?" she asked somewhat sourly.

"Still sore about that, are you?"

"The cunt's gotta pay for what she did," Keris muttered irritably.

"She saw fit to spare you while you were vulnerable, my apprentice. There's no need to hold a grudge, particularly since you hurt her first_._ If you must draw from the dark side, it's ineffective to do so focusing on something you might be grateful for."

She arched an eyebrow at him. "'Grateful?'" she repeated.

"I recall you telling me that you only injured her enough to make a point, cutting her leg and stabbing her in the chest- you could have gone farther, but you didn't." He pointed to her. "With you, she merely knocked you out, then allowed you to live. You should recall that the Trianii prisoners offered no such mercy to the troops that accompanied you. Who else among them would have suggested to leave you be?"

She moved to speak- only to have no argument ready, falling into a dour silence.

He swigged the last of his drink, catching an icecube in his muzzle and munching on it. "You'll have another chance to test her mettle in battle, my dear. And I expect you'll have a far better fight this time, if she was able to match Ulfric's skill long enough for her to escape. That lout may not have much in the way of tactical brains, but there's no denying his considerable skill- or bloodlust."

The animosity she harbored towards the Trianii was overshadowed by the mere mention of the giant. "I keep forgetting he was here," she admitted, now privately glad that she had been left behind. "Did you see him?"

"From a distance, yes. Had I known he was going to attempt to intercept the good captain at his own ship, I confess I might have tried to intervene."

"Is it true what they say?" she asked.

"About what?"

"Snaire told me that he was assigned a student, at Tesque's insistance." She swallowed. "What happened to her?"

Locke grimaced, keeping his eyes on the crowd as he spoke. "To put it short, Voyde found both halves of her, fifty feet apart in the Return's main training room. I'm to understand that it was not a clean nor quick death- nor one caused with a lightsaber.

She shuddered. "Fuck... he's scary."

He nodded. "As I've said before- stay away from him when you're not with me."

"Why is he even a part of the Circle?" Keris asked, shuddering.

"Well, he has his uses," Locke answered fairly. "Knight Ulfric sees no utility in words, politics, subtlety or knowledge. He is a brute, a barbarian who lives for the fight. It makes him an effective means of instilling fear or crushing an enemy. He is the model Sith Juggernaut in every category that the role requires- pure, unchecked offense. Where it concerns lightsaber combat, I confess that even my ability to match him blade-to-blade would be strained."

"Yet he failed," Keris mused. She paused for a moment as the nearby holovision news report shifted, showing an image of Ulfric himself caught on a security feed. The headline beneath the image read "still at large." "So what will happen to him, then?" Keris asked curiously as she stared.

"Oh he'll be reprimanded, of that there is no doubt- and naturally he'll be allowed to live," Locke informed her, regarding the holovision image critically. "Don't get me wrong, he nearly succeeded today and he might have even come out on top, had he not made a critical error and actually opened his eyes to see things as they really are. I hope to show you once-- ah, there he is."

An eyeless, near-human being was approaching the two, clad in the fashion of a mercenary, dragging a chair from another table towards them. "I have what you wanted."

Locke smiled widely, gesturing to an open seat and the Farghul's remaining, forgotten drink. "Very good work, Miles- I did you the courtesy of ordering for you. Any trouble getting in and out?"

"Ah, thanks for the beverage." Miles seated himself, grabbing his glass. "It was as easy as saying I meant to hunt down their Sith terrorist in order to gain their trust. The weapon was buried under some of the debris of a destroyed tractor emitter. It helps that this planet's security force lacks a forensics facility or investigation firm, I was allowed to take it without incident."

Keris leaned forward. "So what was this relic we came here to find?"

The Miralukan drew a slim, damaged lightsaber handle, shifting aside a few glasses and placing it on the table.

Locke leaned in, his eyes bright with interest. "So Voyde was correct. Someone managed to find the lightsaber of Jedi Master Mace Windu."

The vixen frowned. "Is that it? I can't see how a damaged lightsaber would be valuable, even to the Circle."

"My dear, I have plenty more to teach you about the intricacies of the Force and the dark side than you currently know," Locke chuckled.

"Never heard of Mace Windu?" Miles asked.

She shook her head. "Can't say that I have. Some powerful Jedi, I suppose?"

"A failure on my part, I'm afraid, so I'll impart that tale," Locke offered. "When the Jedi became aware that then-Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was actually the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, Master Windu and three other Jedi Masters confronted him, and attempted to have him arrested on behalf of the Senate."

"He fought four Jedi Masters at once?" Keris repeated.

"Indeed, though I'm told that the three who accompanied Master Windu were slain in a matter of seconds. Sidious was unable to dispatch Windu himself, however. It took intervention from the Jedi who would later be known as Darth Vader for Master Windu to fall, thrown from the chancellor's office- he was not expecting to be betrayed."

"I never knew," Keris admitted. "But why is his weapon so important, then?"

He picked up the damaged weapon and began to loosen its components. "Well, shortly before Windu was betrayed, Lord Sidious attempted to attack the Jedi Master, conjuring immense amounts of lightning through the dark side. The Jedi Master's lightsaber and skill in the Force were enough to weather the assault and turn the attack back at Sidious himself- but if I'm right," he said, sliding the inner chamber of the weapon away, "then significant traces of Lord Sidious' power may very well remain in the focusing crystal. And that, my love, may be considered extremely valuable to the Circle," he finished, fishing out a slightly luminescent purple gem from the remains and holding it at eye-level with a satisfied smirk.

"And Ulfric ignored it," the vixen sighed, shaking her head. "He had to have known, right?"

"The man is all muscle, no mind," he smirked, slipping the gem into his pocket and the remaining lightsaber pieces into a leather bag. He returned his attention to his aide-de-camp. "What else were you able to learn from your investigation?"

Miles paused only long enough to swig the rest of his drink before answering. "The ship Captain Surnahm is using is the same he used back on AS-303, with a new paint job. He's rechristened it from the Rushin' Roulette to the Gold Rush now. I took a moment to view the hyperspace vector the starport's flight computers logged as it left- it would appear that he is working with the Jedi, as he and his associates made a direct jump to Yavin 4."

"Pity," Locke said, frowning. "I suppose that properly makes him my enemy, then."

Miles gave him a considering look. "Maybe, yeah. So... do you intend to kill him, or have him killed?" he asked.

"Well... let's not be hasty, Lieutenant. He may simply stand in our way, in which case removing him may require little more than asking politely. I'm more concerned that his continued involvement in our affairs may put him at risk for another encounter with Knight Ulfric, or another member of the Circle- and they shall not be as lenient, I'm afraid. What were you able to learn about Ulfric's condition?"

"Near as I can tell he suffered no permanent damage- which is amazing, given that the holocam feeds showed him taking at least two direct hits from the vessel's cannons, to say nothing of the blaster bolts the defector shot at him."

"That'll be Ulfric's specialization in tutaminis, no doubt." Keris cocked her head and he explained. "A Force ability that allows the user to deflect or absorb energy. The average practitioner can stop blaster bolts- highly skilled users can catch lightsaber blades in their hands with little to no ill effect. Ulfric, I'm told, has mastered this ability. That he could be capable of tanking a direct hit from a ship's cannon is certainly impressive, though."

"He sounds impossible to kill," Keris said weakly, ears drooping.

"Oh there are ways," Locke said lightly, putting his glass down. "Back to business, though- what of the captured stormtrooper?"

Miles held up a datapad, reading off it. "Records of this operation are classified, but I was still about to find out who was involved. All bodies of the soldiers are accounted for, save one- an Amaran male named Talrik Lye, a graduate from Teeva Imperial stormtrooper academy."

Keris perked up at that, interest piqued. "An Amaran? As a stormtrooper?"

"A conscripted stormtrooper," Miles clarified. "He had solid testing scores despite his physical shortcomings- he's actually quite tall for your species at five foot two. He excelled in sharpshooting and demolitions with limited field experience in quelling civil distrurbances." He set down the pad. "But he's low-level either way. I doubt he really has any valuable information to offer beyond the details of the mission he and the rest were assigned to."

"That alone might make him valuable," Locke suggested. "The bigger question is why he seemed to be unshackled and actively helping Captain Surnahm and the Padawan. It didn't escape my notice that he was armed and missing his detonator."

Keris' ears flattened and pinned back, a glare forming on her brow. "Oh I can think of a few good reasons," she hissed. "Not like speciesism is ever gonna die out in the Imperial Remnant."

"There's that," Miles acknowledged. "But... well, it's not hard to believe that he would easily defect from us if given the chance." He paused. "Not if these reports are accurate."

Keris stared at Miles, her brow still furrowed.

"Such as?"

The lieutenant hesitated, a slight look of disgust on his face.

"… Claims of sexual assault while training."

A sensation not unlike ice cold water injected into her veins flowed through her snout wrinkling angrily. Her paw tightened around her glass, a crack sounding and forming along the surface.

"Fucking figures," she growled.

Locke said nothing, though he looked grim. Miles continued. "Given the lack of neither administrative nor corporal punishment, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that he defected out of desperation, regardless of the consequences."

"Does he have family?" Locke asked abruptly.

The vixen jerked up at that, knowing full well why the wolf was asking.

Miles paused, then tapped the datapad a few times.

"… A mother and younger sibling," he nodded solemnly.

Now the cold sensation was practically glacial. It would take time, but Keris knew the defector's family would eventually be targeted. It was common knowledge in both the Remnant and Republic territories that the Remnant still had spies; they would no doubt be monitoring the Amaran's interactions in Republic space, retaliating against his family as punishment- a standard practice to keep their soldier loyal.

"Then we should assume that Lye will divulge sensitive information to the New Republic," Locke sighed. "And that his kin will suffer the consequences."

Her head snapped to face Locke, ready to argue. It was only the absurdity of her reaction that caused her to pause.

Wait... why should I even give a damn about a traitor?

Except she did. She was no stranger to the xenophobic, humanocentric policies and attitudes of the Imperial Remnant, even as one being trained by its darksiders and Sith- for that matter, neither was Locke. Nor was she a stranger to the more grievous violations that defector had endured. If only for those two connections, the vixen felt the need to do something.

Anything.

"Master... this doesn't feel right," she finally said.

The wolf stared at her, head cocked slightly to the side. Silence lingered as the vixen started to lose her nerve under his unreadable gaze, immediately wondering if she was stepping out of line. When she looked away, ready to drop the argument, he reached out and touched her paw.

"Go on, love."

She hesitated- but now that she knew he would hear her out, she pressed on. "If this was a Sith-led project, wouldn't it take time for the proper data to be processed? Couldn't we... I don't know... delay it?"

Miles looked between them. "There are ways to... impede processing, yes."

"I'm just--"

"Please be honest, Keris," Locke offered.

She took in a deep breath. "Okay... fine. I know what we're doing is so we can bring order with the Empire, even if that eventually means co-existing with the New Republic. But this is fucking wrong, Locke. We both know it." Her paws clenched into fists, trying to steady her nerves and keep calm. "Years ago, the New Republic did nothing to help me, and neither did the Empire. It took you to save me- just you. I just... I can't let this one go. I don't know who the hell these Amaran are, or who the defector is but it--"

"Doesn't matter," Locke nodded, a sad smile on his muzzle. "I know."

She looked down. "Look... I know where we are, and what it could cost if someone found out. But if there's even the slightest chance we could help..."

Locke considered her for a few moments- and then turned to Miles. "Lieutenant?"

"Sir?"

"When we return, I would like to see if you can use your slicing skills to obstruct data processing on Mr. Lye's family." He held a paw up. "Only if you are comfortable with it, mind you."

"I don't like the fact that he defected to the New Republic," the Miraluka admitted, "but I like the idea of his family suffering for it even less. I may know a few tricks that can get the job done; maybe I can even get them relocated."

The vixen sighed, the tension leaving her- the cold feeling was fading. "Thank you. Both of you."

"Well... don't thank me just yet," Locke warned her with a smile. "I'm not against getting a little more involved- if you're up to it."

She stared back at him, knowing he was plotting something. With a wry smile to return, she shrugged.

"Oh what the hell... might as well get the pod past the finish line."

"Hey."

Talrik looked up from the holotable, staring at the Trianii a moment before laying his head back down in his arms. "Hey."

Syrra's ears pinned back sadly at his reaction, approaching slowly with the noodle bowls in her paws and setting on in front of him. He did nothing to react to it, his lime-green eyes staring ahead, a slight dampness in his facial fur. A few streaks on the table's surface was all the evidence the Trianii needed to know that he had, until recently, broken down in private.

She took the seat opposite of him, pressing him gently. "Talrik, it's been days since you've eaten. Please... eat something."

"I don't think I could eat," he murmured. "Not until I know what's happened with my mom and brother." He looked back up at her. "Something had to have happened. And I don't think the New Republic can help."

It had been over a week since Kajex had left Syrra behind on Yavin 4. The Trianii had reported their findings to Master Skywalker and the council, giving them as much detail as possible- Talrik had offered additional knowledge to them immediately afterwards, spending an entire day being questioned by New Republic Intelligence. With the Praxeum's assurance that they would look after the Amaran defector, he was granted permission to stay on Yavin 4 while waiting for his family to return. On Kajex's insistence, and with Master Skywalker offering his approval, the NRI agreed to let the captain work alongside the extrication team- the fox's family were not the only ones in need of rescue in Imperial territories, and the NRI needed someone with experience to commission for the job.

It was only on the morning of the mission that they received a report from the NRI- that his mother and brother had been slated for an abrupt, mandatory relocation from Teeva on another Imperial-controlled planet. Kajex had spent an extra two hours before taking off formulating another plan, but the situation was all the more dire due to the unexpected events and the prospect that the Empire was on to them. The NRI informed Talrik later that day that, due to the changes, his mother and brother would likely be extracted last.

As Kajex would not be using the Gold Rush for the operation, and because Talrik had nowhere else to go, the wolf had granted Talrik permission to stay onboard his ship for as long as the operation took- and with nobody to mentor her until he returned, Syrra had decided to spend as much time with the fox between her group studies as possible.

She reached out and touched his paw- he tensed, but didn't draw away. "I can't say I'm not worried, either. I know Kajex has been doing jobs like this for years, but after seeing how he operates I'm worried how much of himself he'll end up gambling." She smiled. "But that also means that he'll do everything in his power to make sure your family is safe."

The fox offered her a sad smile. "It must be hard, I can tell you miss him."

"I do," she nodded. "But I've only known him a few months- that's nothing compared to a family you've known all your life. Kajex understands that, I imagine."

"He said he lost family, right?"

"His fathers," she confirmed. "Adoptive parents, but there's no doubt in my mind he loved them as deeply as blood. It's because of that loss that he tries extra-hard to keep families intact."

Talrik nodded, still looking morose as Syrra dug in. "Must be a great guy."

She smiled behind her mouthful, swallowing first before shrugging. "He's not without faults. He tends to fall back on humor, I think to cover up insecurity or doubt as a way to cope with stress. When things look really bad he seems to have a habit of putting himself at risk." She paused, reflecting on the moment when he was ready to give himself up just so she and many other Trianii could leave safely. "But he has a good heart," she continued. "I hope you get a chance to talk to him when he comes back."

"If he comes back," Talrik sighed.

"No," Syrra said resolutely. "When. I'm not giving up hope." She paused, hesitant to say it aloud to someone she'd met only days before, but then nodded. "I'm not sure how, exactly, but... I have this feeling in me. I think it's the Force. It's like this... certainty in the back of my head, that I will know if he's ever in danger, or hurt- or, may the Force forbid it, dead. And I don't feel it yet. I know he's safe and alive. I can't describe how, I just... know."

The fox stared at her, a brighter smile on his muzzle. "I wish I could feel that with my mother, and with my little brother. Maybe it's enough to know that he's fine now."

"Which means that for the time being," Syrra pointed out, "you should take care of yourself."

"If I work up the appetite, I will," he said with an unconvincing smile.

The Trianii went silent, trying to formulate some way to get him back in better spirits; any discussion or topic that wouldn't lead back to his family. It made her miss Kajex more- he seemed to know how to keep her happy, how to keep her thinking positively even when she would normally feel down.

She brightened after a moment. There was a way.

"I'll be right back," she said abruptly, getting to her feet and moving to the galley. "Don't go anywhere."

Five minutes later she returned with a smile, carrying a steaming mug and setting it before the curious Amaran. Talrik cocked his head, sniffing at the sweet contents.

"What is this? Some kind of ne'tra gal or half-caf blend?"

She shook her head, still smiling. "It's a drink Kajex introduced me to- hot chocolate. It's something he likes to fall back on whenever he's having a tough day. The first time I broke down in front of him, he brewed a few mugs and got me to talking. I'm hoping if you give it a try and we talk, maybe it'll help you."

The fox gave her a skeptical look but she nodded to it encouragingly. Still looking doubtful he picked up the mug and brought it to his lips, taking a decent sip from it. Syrra watched as his furrowed brow relaxed, eyes opening slightly and no longer dull with sorrow, reflexively licking his lips before staring down at the cup. He looked back up, almost ready to ask a question, but she help up her paw and shook her head, smiling.

"I know. Believe me. So..." She leaned in, ready to hear him out. "Tell me about your family. What are they like?"

She was certain that if she had asked the question at any point before he took the sip, he would have clammed up and remained despondent. Now he looked much better, as if ready to believe he would see them again very soon.

"… My mother's name is Etina," he started quietly- with a smile. "My brother is Arrik. And... I love them so much."

"You're sure about this?" Keris intoned softly to her comlink.

She looked out over the meager settlement, a collection of perhaps sixty housing units, a small market to the north, and a peasant-grade starport with a single landing pad. Sua was about as backwater an Imperial-controlled could be, with a surface population of only thirty thousand. The chilling air and relative lack of vegetation made it a less-than optimal place for one to settle down. In many ways, it was a reasonably good place to hide. The house closest to her was small, certainly too small for two people; but through the Force she could tell it was still occupied.

Miles had pulled through on executing a transfer request for Etina and Arrik Lye with little difficulty, as the chaotic nature of the relocation process often meant it was overlooked, moreso as applicants were often non-human (and orders were often placed by bigoted humans). But he had explained to both Locke and Keris that wiping out the records for their apprehension and interrogation (and subsequent execution) would be next to impossible, as Imperial Security oversaw any applied record for defectors and made it a point to follow through on the warrant; any change would quickly be noticed. The best they could hope for was that IS would lose track of the Amaran mother and son and simply give up.

"Positive," Locke replied, his voice crackling in her inner earpiece. "Ms. Lye will likely be more receptive to a visitor if it's another Amaran. We just want to check in with her and make sure that she hasn't been served with any summons, even if Miles is confident that the ISB will have lost her track." There was a pause. "If you think this is going too far--"

"I said I wanted to help them," she cut him off firmly. "I'm not backing out now."

"We understand, Keris," Miles told her.

A calm roar filled the air and her right ear flicked, her attention drawn to the starport; an Imperial transport was just making its landing.

"Got eyes on the newcomers?" she asked.

"It's a delivery skiff," Miles informed her through the comm. "It's on schedule, this is the last of its three deliveries to this settlment for the day. Nevermind that- do you know what you're going to say?" he asked.

The vixen frowned, mulling it over a few moments. "… She'll want to know her son is safe, and why she was shunted out in the middle of nowhere. She deserves that much, at least. Beyond that, I'm open to suggestions."

"You should, of course, conceal the fact that you are working with the Sith," Locke offered. "And warn her to do as little as possible that might stand out to the local garrison. There are only two squads of stormtroopers at the barracks, but any one of them could report her."

"I don't think I'll need to tell her that," Keris sighed, pulling her gray cloak tighter.

"We'll let you get to it, then- the drone is airborn, we'll keep an eye on the town."

"One last question," she said quickly. "Does the Circle know we're doing this?"

"I told Voyde that 'someone' sent an unauthorized relocation notice to Ms. Lye, and that we're following up on the lead that she might be here," he explained. "He accepted that this was our way of ensuring that every loose end Ulfric overlooked would be covered. We're not to take any lives lest we draw attention- merely ensure that they've had no contact with the defector."

"Alright. Then I'm going in," she told them.

"We'll keep our eyes peeled. Be careful."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. The sleepy little town was far from anything anybody in the universe would describe as "exciting." Hopping down from the rock she'd been standing on she took one last look at herself to ensure she looked the part of a low-class civilian, dressed in a faded green coverall, a dusty gray jacket, and a brown hooded poncho. Once satisfied she made her way to the hut, stopping only briefly to let a cold tumbleweed roll past her.

On closer inspection she could see the hut was rather meager in material and construction than other housing in the area, though she was aware that there were several unoccupied units that were far better. A surge of discontent passed through her- even here, it seemed, a non-human could not catch a break, even for something as simple as having a comfortable home. She reached the door, noticing the sliding grill at eye level and immediately catching the scene of a home-cooked meal. The smell made her pause. There was something calming about it, sparking a painful yearning within her.

She probably doesn't mind the house, she thought, adjusting her hood and buzzing the door.

There was silence behind the door, no indication that a soul resided within the hut, at least to those lacking sensitivity in the Force. To Keris, however, the feeling of alarm and fear seemed to spike behind the door; she could feel the lives of two others separated only by stone and mortar, one of which approached the door slowly. She licked her lips and spoke, keeping her voice as passive as possible.

"Hello? Is anybody there?"

More silence, then a creak as the sliding grill opened half an inch. From behind, an olive-green eye glinted and stared at her, narrowing slightly.

"… Do I know you, young lady?" a female voice asked warily.

"I don't think so, no," she replied politely. "My name is Keris, I was hoping I could speak to you."

A pause, and then the grill opened a bit wider. The other woman's eyes regarded her critically. "Didn't know there was another Amaran in this settlement. I've been here about a week, most of the population here don't care for my kind."

"I can imagine," Keris nodded. "I don't get much of a warm welcome myself in these parts. I am from out of town, though."

Another pause, and this time she could sense the woman trying to make a decision. After nearly a minute of silence, she sighed and shut the grill.

"I'm sorry," the voice said through the door. "It's not at the best time to entertain friendly faces. Come see me tomorrow, and I might be in a better mood for visitors."

"I know this is probably not a great time," Keris said quickly and calmly. "But to be honest I need to speak to you about your son- Talrik Lye."

There was a pause, and beyond the door she could feel a mix of fear, alarm- and hope. "… You know my son?"

"Not personally, no," she replied. "But I have news about him that I feel you should know."

"… Is he..."

"No," she intercepted quickly. "But I think the both of us would prefer to talk in private about him."

She waited for an answer, knowing that the vixen on the other side was weighing things out, trying to assess the risk of letting a stranger, even a polite Amaran, into her home to discuss the welfare of her older son. Knowing it would only worsen the chances of her being able to give her information, she said nothing, remaining patient as she let the older vixen make her decision.

After perhaps three minutes of waiting, there was a click at the door. Keris stepped back, allowing Etina Lye to open the door. She was short, a little over a four and a half feet tall, dressed in a common tunic with a toolbelt wrapped around her waist and a pair of gloves hanging out of her pocket. Grease and oil-stained, she looked reasonably unkempt for what Keris assumed was a mechanic, though not quite old enough for any hint of gray fur to have grown. The older vixen looked her over critically for a few moments, her expression hard and distrustful, until at last her face softened and she nodded.

"Please, come in Keris," she offered, gesturing her to come inside.

"Thank you," she replied kindly, pulling her hood back and stepping in.

The interior was only marginally better than the exterior, dusty and yet cozy; a soft howl hinted at cracks in the walls or roof, a gentle breeze rippling through her fur. The smell of a home-cooked rice and meat meal intensified, a comfort that made her mouth water; she spotted the source in seconds, a pair of bubbling pots at an oven to her left. At the back of the hut sat a young Amaran male on a dirty futon, looking up at Keris with a curious yet sad expression.

"My son, Arrik," Etina introduced. "If he's a bit quiet, well... we had to leave much of our belongings back home and we're... we're still trying to handle the shock. I could only bring along the few precious possessions I have of..." She paused. "… What's left of my late husband," she finished.

"Oh... I'm sorry," Keris said sadly, feeling awkward.

Etina shook her head, offering the younger vixen a seat at a small table as she moved to a small oven and bubbling pot. "We were just about to have dinner. We don't have much to offer, but--"

"Oh no, I couldn't," Keris said quickly, holding her paws up. Every second made her feel worse about the older vixen's circumstances, the idea of accepting food in their impoverished conditions seemed almost insulting. "I'm sure you'll need--"

For the first time, Etina smiled. It was warm and sad, and more than a little kind- and it was more than enough to silence Keris, the polite argument dying in her throat as she resigned herself to the elder woman's hospitality. Somehow, in a way that did not require the Force, it felt like Etina had seen something in Keris.

"If I had to guess," Etina said gently, "this is probably the first time you've ever interacted with another Amaran, isn't it."

She flinched, looking away. "Er... well, no. But I don't meet many of our kind."

"Mmm." The older vixen nodded, spooning broth and rice into three bowls. "It doesn't offend me, I'm flexible enough to accommodate other cultures. But your overinsistence on turning down a home-cooked meal is not something you'd find among Amarans. I can't simply invite a guest into my home, much less an Amaran guest, without offering a meal."

"I... oh." Keris looked down at the table. "Thank you, ma'am. I just don't know if I'll be staying long."

There was a crackle in her ear, making her jump slightly. "Stay with her," Locke said quietly. She nearly cursed to herself, realizing she had kept her comm channel open the entire time. "She sounds like she needs the company- and so do you," he added.

The vixen swallowed, wishing there were some way for her to answer, to thank him for his permission. She looked over to Arrik, going cold as she noticed his frown. Something about the way he was looking at her suggested her subtle reaction had not gone unnoticed, though he did not look as if he was about to say anything. Hoping he was not guessing at her intentions she turned her focus to Etina again, thanking her as the older vixen set a bowl of stew in front of her.

"It's ready, Arrik," Etina informed him.

He didn't answer immediately, still staring at Keris. "… I'll eat in a bit," he said finally.

Deciding it would be rude not to at least have a spoonful of the offered meal, Keris brought the wooden spoon to her muzzle and tasted it, her eyes going wide. It was... bland. Simple. Basic in every culinary means. Rice, broth, strips of meat, and herbs- no different from every other plain and uncomplicated recipe.

And yet, it was also somehow more delicious than anything she'd had ever had.

Before she had time to fully process the taste, she'd already had a third spoonful, ready to consume a fourth before stopping short at Etina's wide smile. Keris blushed.

"It's... really good," she said simply, setting down the wooden spoon.

Etina beamed at her. "It's nothing special. Maybe it's new for someone like you. You're very lovely- I get the sense that you stick around places cleaner than this one."

"I've... been known to hang around more glamorous surroundings," she admitted. "Though honestly, this is better than what they serve in most galleys."

"You're too kind," Etina purred. "What is it you do for a living, if I'm able to ask?"

Though she had not expected to be queried about this, it was a question Keris had long since learned to answer honestly, if not completely. "I'm what you might refer to as an agent of sorts," she replied. "I work with my partner to keep order through our territories, sometimes behind the scenes. But I also keep track of persons of interest."

"To... eliminate?" Etina asked.

"Er... sometimes," she answered uneasily. "Though usually only those causing unrest or who are dangerous."

"Hmm... I thought so," Etina smiled. "You don't much look like the kind of girl who would kill if she had to."

"I just really work on obtaining technology and data for the most part," Keris said quickly. "Which doesn't sound glamorous, but actually there's a lot of interest and education in doing it."

"It sounds like more of an interesting life than mine," the elder vixen chuckled.

"How about you?" Keris asked, hoping to turn the conversation to something that didn't make her feel so self-aware of the true nature of her work. "What line of work are you in?"

She chuckled again. "Really now, I thought you said you worked as an agent. I would have thought someone in your line of work would have that information on me before showing up." Keris looked away and Etina shook her head, smiling warmly. "I only tease, Keris. I'm sure the Empire has no time to spare documenting the lifestyle of a dirty old vixen like me."

She patted at her toolbelt. "I work in maintenance jobs, mostly. Once upon a time my mate and I lived in Theed, on Naboo, where I worked on starships and vehicles for 'noble' families that included Imperial pretenders. Some were part of the rebel-aligned families though. It was them that allowed my kind to stay in the city at all. Shortly after the Emperor's death, almost the entire planet rose up against the Imperial occupation and liberated Theed almost flawlessly, keeping the city intact. But while my mate and I were happy they had been beaten back, we knew it wouldn't be long before the rest of the Imperial garrison would retaliate. We left just hours after they launched their counter-attack."

"Where did you go?" Keris asked.

"There weren't many places in the galaxy we could go that didn't have Imperial control," she admitted. "But we decided to settle on Teeva, just along the Outer Rim." She shook her head with a sad smile, looking to Arrik. "It was only a few years later, just after my little boy here was born, when the Remnant occupied and claimed the planet so they could consolidate their power."

"Could have been worse," Arrik piped up. "At least it was the actual Remnant and not those warlords that popped up all over the place. Then we'd probably have been wiped out."

"Our treatment on Teeva was not ideal, but it wasn't any better or worse than it was when the Empire occupied Naboo," Etina agreed. "When the planet ordered the firstborn of every family for compulsory military service, though... I knew Talrik would be in for a tough time."

She paused, swallowing as her eyes watered. A strong part within Keris wanted to speak up and head off Etina before she lingered on bad memories, but did not act fast enough to stop her.

"If I'd know just how bad it was for him... I'd have tried to leave," Etina murmured, shaking her head.

"I... I know," Keris said quietly. "I read about that... in your son's reports."

"Yes... but all the same, I'm proud of how strong he became, to be able to endure what he did. His father, may the Force preserve him, would have wanted better for him- but I know he would have been proud to see him succeed and survive." She offered Keris a trembling smile. "And I'm thankful that he wasn't sent into war zones to kill innocent people."

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Keris said quietly. "I didn't mean to..."

The elder vixen let out a watery chuckle, wiping her eyes as she started to compose herself. "My goodness, all you asked was what I did for a living! And it just... I'm the one who should apologize. But in any event, I kept working as a mechanic while looking after my other son. After being forced to move here, I haven't had as much luck- nobody who lives here does much that requires maintaining, and the one mechanic who works here despises non-humans. I've since had to help out at the market stalls for low pay- but at least it's pay."

"I'm still sorry," Keris repeated, swallowing. "Hearing about you really puts my own life into perspective- I feel so... out-of-touch."

"I doubt that," Etina told her kindly. "Something about you makes me think you've suffered hardships of your own. Different ones, but... difficult all the same."

Keris hesitated. There were parts of her past she did not like to share, memories still too horrible to revisit and scars that lingered even years later. It was only after hearing Etina's story that she considered telling hers. A part of her felt it was crazy to open up to someone she'd only just met- but a stronger part felt like there was some bond there to be had, a connection she could make. She was halfway to speaking when Etina raised her paw.

"It's alright," she said. "That look just now tells me that it's not an easy thing to discuss. I won't ask you to relive your struggles- I know you have a job to do, and I'm sorry for taking up your time."

"Oh no, I have time to spare," Keris assured her, clearing her throat and sitting up straight. "And after being so kind and sharing a little of yourself, I can't help but want to do the same. It's just... you're right about it being difficult. If I knew I might see you again after this, I would save it for later."

"Maybe you can," Etina suggested. "An agent like you might be able to keep in touch, I hope."

It would be next to impossible, Keris knew- and that didn't stop her from hoping so. "Maybe," she agreed with a subdued smile. "In any case, I'm sure you'd prefer to hear about your son rather than sob stories from a strange, young vixen."

"Don't sell yourself short, my dear," Etina smiled back. "But... yes, I would like to know that my son is alright, and what has happened."

"Well then- to start with, Talrik is safe and out of harm," Keris informed her.

"Thank the Force," Etina sighed. "I was only notified that he was deployed beyond the Remnant borders. That news about the attack on Abaat terrified me."

"He was there," Keris confirmed calmly. "He was selected for the mission among a pool of others."

"Oh Talrik..." The older vixen put a paw to her muzzle. "He's too mild for something like that. He would never kill an innocent unless he was forced to. Please, don't think less of him."

Keris swallowed, trying not to feel awful. It was supposed to be good news that she was sharing, and now that she knew that Etina was no more comfortable about Talrik being a stormtrooper than he was, it seemed to only make the mood worse. Rather than lingering on her thoughts, she drew a datapad from her satchel and tapped it twice, bringing up images from security feeds on Abaat.

"I don't think less of him," she assured Etina. "We've gone over multiple reports and it looks like he didn't actually hurt any civilians or security officers during the mission." She flicked the album to an image of Talrik being led into a casino, a wolf tailing him from behind, then offered the pad to Etina. The older vixen let out a relieved sigh, tracing her fingers along her son's face.

"Thank the Force... I was so scared he would lose his life while on duty."

"He was the only other survivor from the mission other than..." Keris stopped short, clearing her throat. "… Other than the leader. That leader has since been removed from duty and is being reprimanded for his unauthorized operation. Even the Empire disapproved of the attack."

"I heard about their response to it," Etina said sourly. "After what they put my poor boy through, I'm not about to take them at their word. After all, he still isn't back yet." She shook her head. "I'm sorry... I'm not suggesting that you..." She stopped short and sighed. "It's just, you mentioned you were an agent, so I'm guessing you're with Imperial Security, right?"

"Not quite- I can't speak openly about where I'm from, but our interests are involved with the botched Abaat mission. We're trying to tie up loose ends and get a clearer picture of what's going on- and informing people who need to know certain details."

"I'm not sure what I can offer you," Etina said doubtfully. "Talrik never likes to talk about the work he's forced to do. I am aware that he's... had to take innocent lives. I love him all the same, I know he wouldn't do it if he knew for sure Arrik and I would be safe."

"No doubt," Keris agreed. "But I'm not here to get information so much as I am to give what I can to you. I'm sure you want to know where he is, and I'll tell you- he has defected to the New Republic."

There was a moment of silence where Etina brightened. "He... he's turned himself in to the New Republic?" she repeated.

Keris leaned over and tapped the pad again, the image flicking to one with Talrik following a gold-furred, female felinoid with a lightsaber. "A Jedi Padawan was assigned to deal with the situation on Abaat, and by some miracle he was spared during the fight, likely so he could be interrogated for answers."

"Will he be...?"

"Oh no!" she quickly clarified. "They'll keep him safe- the Jedi don't kill or torture their prisoners, and the New Republic is tolerant of Imperial defectors. It helps that, near as we can tell, it's possible the only lives he took were those of his fellow stormtroopers. It's likely that he was granted clemency for aiding a Jedi and offering information to the NRI. "

"My boy..." Etina sniffed, wiping her eyes with a smile. "I'm so proud of him. At least in the New Republic he'll be safe."

"I'm sure he will," Keris agreed kindly. "But... it also means that you and your other son could have been in danger."

"Yeah, we figured that," Arrik said grumpily. "He wouldn't be the first person to defect to somewhere else and have a family go missing. That's what the Empire does to families that can't be trusted to be loyal."

"I had an associate of mine arrange a mandatory relocation to keep both of you off their radar," she explained, looking around at the grubby hut. "I wish he would have told me it was here."

Etina stared at her. "You... you're the reason my son and I were transferred?" she asked quietly.

The younger vixen flinched, mentally berating herself but deciding to own it. "I insisted that you be relocated, yes- only to make sure that nobody would retaliate against your son by taking it out on you." She looked away, shame-faced. "But... if I'd known how difficult and heartbreaking it must have been for you..."

She trailed off as Etina got out of her seat, tensing at the movement and cringing as she expected any number of reactions- to be told to leave, to be shouted at for being forced to live in impoverished surroundings, perhaps even be attacked out of anger. It was the latter she braced for, closing her eyes and anticipating a paw lashing out at her face when Etina circled the table to approach her.

Only to be wrapped in the older vixen's arms.

Her mind went blank for several seconds, before realizing what had happened and registering the act with equal parts grief and relief, dimly aware that this was the first time in her life she had been embraced by another Amaran. Whatever else she had expected when she first knocked on the door to the hut, this was not it. Her throat tightened, robbing her of any immediate ability to speak, her eyes blurry and burning from tears as she leaned into the embrace and sighed. The scene held for a full minute before Etina pulled away, regarding Keris with a look she'd never once seen from anyone- not even Locke.

She imagined it was what someone's daughter might see from a proud mother.

"Don't be silly, my dear. I'd give up everything I own just to know both my sons are safe. The loss of a few material comforts is nothing compared to knowing where my son is, and learning what has happened."

"I-I... just... I didn't want this for you," Keris whimpered.

"Don't apologize, lass," Etina encouraged, wiping the younger vixen's cheeks. "I can only imagine this must have been difficult to manage- and harder to get away with. The Empire has enough to worry about in it's own borders, it's only to be expected that they'd overlook their second-class citizens. You didn't have to look out for my son. You didn't have to look out for us, either. And you didn't even need to come here to explain everything." She looked Keris in the eyes. "But you did. Thank you so much for protecting us, Keris."

"I..." Keris swallowed, trying to master her emotions. "I was happy to help," she managed to say, somehow keeping her voice steady and smiling back.

… Why is this is so fucking hard? Why does it hurt? And why am I happy?

"You're very much unlike most non-human Imperial loyalists," Etina told her. "I've seen many try to curry favor and look out for their own interests. The Remnant could use more like you, Keris."

The younger vixen, took in a deep, calming breath and let it out, managing to clear her mind and compose herself before smiling. "Thank you, ma'am."

Etina turned to her son, gesturing to Keris expectantly. "Arrik?"

The boy cocked his head, still giving Keris a critical look. "Thanks for looking out for my big brother," he finally said. "I just... I dunno. I figured even an Amaran working for the Empire wouldn't care much for their own kind, much less if they never spent time with another."

"Be nice, Arrik," Etina chided him. "We don't know her life, she may not have had the chance."

"No, he's... right," Keris admitted, looking down. "I've been a bit isolated in the past, but I get why he wouldn't expect me to go out of my way. Maybe... I might not have, if circumstances had been different. But after hearing about your own son and his experiences as a conscript... I guess it just struck a nerve. I felt like I had to do something."

"What that tells me, dear, is that you have a good heart in you," Etina said, touching her shoulder. She straightened up. "I'm glad to have met you, Keris, and I apologize for not inviting you in sooner. I'd like to make that up to you by offering our home to you for the night."

The younger vixen jumped at that, startled by the offer. "Oh no, you don't have to- I know it must be cramped in here--"

"Nonsense, I insist- besides, the local inn are too xenophobic, they won't welcome you no matter how much you're carrying. Believe me, Arrik and I have tried," she sighed. "You came here with the delivery transport, I'm sure- it won't be back until the morning."

She gestured to the wall-mounted chronometer, halfway towards continuing when she went silent and stared at it.

Keris frowned. "Is there something wrong?"

Etina didn't speak immediately, looking confused. "Huh... I heard the delivery skiff arrive earlier. It always arrives at 1600 hours and leaves ten minutes after; but it's been twenty minutes and I haven't heard it leave." She shook her head. "That's odd."

But Keris wasn't listening. There was a tension in the Force, something tugging in the back of her mind as she looked around the hut. Beyond the physical, beyond the very walls of the structure, she could feel ripples in the Force.

The moment she heard a crackle in her earpiece, before Miles could speak, she knew something was wrong.

"Damn... Keris, the drone feed just pinged us, you have a squad of armed stormtroopers heading in your direction, plus one!"

The vixen leapt to her feet, stomach twisting as she held back her first impulse- to draw her lightsaber. Etina stepped back, unnerved by her sudden movement.

"K-Keris? What's wrong?"

She held her paw to her lips, fishing her comlink out of her pocket. "Someone is coming. I've got eyes on this house just to keep us safe, they just told me through my earpiece that a squad of stormtroopers is headed this way."

"Oh them?" Etina snorted. "They came here last week on a contraband search. They did it to me all the time on Teeva."

"Were they armed?" Keris asked.

She paused, her eyes widening. "Well... no..."

"Mom? What's going on?" Arrik asked, looking worried.

"I-it's probably nothing anyway," Etina said, sounding unconvinced. "Maybe they just want to bully us to set an example, something like that...?"

"I don't care what they're here for, I'm not going to let them do it while I'm around," Keris growled, bringing the comlink to her muzzle. "Miles, do you still have eyes on them?"

"Half broke off and surrounded the place, the other six are near the door. Someone else is with them, though- I'm too far out of range to make them out, but you need to get out of there!"

"I'm not leaving these two to the Remnant!" she snapped back. "You can tell Voyde to kiss my ass if he doesn't like it!"

Locke's voice cut in. "Let it go, Lieutenant, she's made up her mind; stay here with the ship, I'm heading out there now!"

"It's two klicks away, you're not-- and there he goes." The soldier's voice was a firm calm, the mark of a man who knew how to handle the situation. "Keris, get them into a corner, lock the door and hold your ground, Locke's coming to you. Do not engage. If they question you, tell them who you're working for and hold out until Locke gets there."

She turned to the other two foxes, waving a paw and locking the metal door with an audible click. "Get to the corner, I promise that I'll handle this!"

"But... what's going--"

"Please, Etina!" Keris insisted, trying not to let fear overtake her and lowering her voice to a whisper. "Just do what I say and trust me!" The older vixen took Arrik by the paw and pulled him into his arms, curling up in the corner behind the table as Keris stood by the door, drawing her lightsaber- but refraining from turning it on. She spared a glance to Etina, who saw the weapon in her paw; the wide eyes she bore was enough to know that she recognized the weapon, though she said nothing.

Keris reached out with her senses, her already keen hearing magnified through the Force such that she could now hear the footsteps in the dirt just outside. They stopped, then a voice spoke.

"… This is the place, alright. Kind of a lousy shack to be relocated to." A pause. "Run a scan, I'll see if she's home." One of the figures approached the door, knocking the door thrice and waiting. Another long pause, then another three knocks, this set louder than the last.

"Maybe she's not home?" someone said.

The first voice answered. "There's no school around here, the kid would have nowhere to go but home."

"Kids usually play outside," another voice suggested. "But I haven't seen any."

"Population report says there's only one kid here, and there's nothing around the area that a kid could do, that I could see," the first voice replied. "We got any readings?"

"… I've got three life signs in the building."

"… There were only supposed to be two."

The vixen's heart jumped, her paw gripping her hilt tight, ready to activate.

"Get your weapons ready. I'm going to pick the lock."

She nearly cursed out loud, stopping short and bringing her comlink back up. "Miles, they're readying their weapons," she told him, as quietly as she could. "I have to engage."

"They're taking up standard Imperial raid positions," the lieutenant muttered. "Damn... alright, but pull your punches and put your foot down- let them know you're in charge."

Knowing there was no way to get out of the situation Keris held out her weapon, ears focused on the door. The subtle sound of metal inserting into the lock caused her right ear to twitch. The knob jiggled slightly, the lock being scraped from within by the intruder's tools. Still, she did not act, waiting for the moment.

Click.

With a smooth, swift motion she stabbed the hilt toward the lock and ignited her blade, the shaft of crimson piercing through the lock and door with a sharp hiss; the intruder cursed, his shout clear and loud from the other side, just as Etina gasped in fear. Certain she had just dispatched the lockpicker, she drew her weapon back and charged the door, ready to snarl the moment she opened it, hoping it would cow the soldiers outside.

Her paw had just grabbed the knob when a heavy crash sounded and the door swung inward without any warning. Caught off guard she took the hit full on, yelping as it cuffed the side of her head and knocked her on her back, her lightsaber tumbling out of her grip and clattering to the floor. She heaved up, rolling back onto her knees and reaching out to summon the weapon back to her when the door burst open again and a figure lunged for the lightsaber, his gray paw snatching it just as it flew off the floor.

"No you don't!" a male voice snarled, getting back to his feet.

Still slightly dazed it took a few moments for Keris' eyes to adjust. For a moment she thought it was Locke, the long muzzle and facial structure the same; but when she blinked and focused, she recognized exactly who the wolf was.

Standing at the door, clad in a captain's longcoat, was Kajex Surnahm.

Several long seconds passed as the vixen tried to process the impossibility of the scene, being cornered by a mercenary captain she had known about for a month. Though she had never met or interacted with him the way Locke had she recognized his face easily from the times Locke had looked him up; though she never in her life would have expected to see him so soon, much less be forced to fight him.

But she was fully prepared to, even unarmed.

"You!" she snarled, rushing at him- and stopping short as he aimed a blaster at her head, glaring back. In the next moment two stormtroopers flanked him, holding their rifles and aiming at her. Ears pinned back angrily she held up her fists, ready to go down swinging.

"… I remember you," he growled. "'Keris,' right? You're Locke's student, the one who stabbed Syrra- and the one who held the Trianii healers captive."

"And you're the captain, Kajex Surnahm," she hissed back. "You're the one who nearly got my master killed!"

A crackle sounded in her earpiece. "… Kajex is here?" Locke repeated.

"I'm the one who saved his ass!" the wolf shot back. "And it nearly cost me my life, so you'll probably understand if I'm not above putting a hole in your skull if you make the wrong move!"

"No, don't!" Etina said suddenly, getting up from the corner and holding up her paws. "Please, don't hurt her! I'll come quietly- just leave her and my son out of this--"

The wolf's attention turned to Etina and Keris saw her chance. She lunged in and grabbed his wrist, forcing the blaster up as it went off; with him too tall for her to force it above his head she instead slammed an open palm into his gut and channeled the Force into the blow, knocking him back several feet into both soldiers. With the wolf off-balance she reached out and summoned her lightsaber out of his loose grip, igniting it the moment it was in her paw. Intent on not giving him a chance to regain control of the situation she charged in with an overhead slash, aiming for his head.

With a speed she did not expect he dug his feet into the floor to remain upright from the push, his right paw going to his side and drawing a vibroblade. In the moment she saw him hold it overhead she mentally smirked at such a futile effort of defense from a lightsaber. In the next moment her blade crashed against his weapon, failing to cleave through it and leaving her slack-jawed in confusion. Before she had a chance to parse what had just happened the wolf grabbed her wrist; on reaction she grabbed his, forcing the both of them into a blade-lock. With the wolf too close to her, the soldiers could not open fire on her, leaving them in a stalemate.

"I'm going to make you pay for coming here!" she snarled.

"I don't care if you're Sith or not, you're not holding this family hostage!" he snarled back, forcing her against the wall.

Her rage mixed with confusion, giving him an incredulous glare as she strained against him, channeling the Force to match his physical strength. "Hostage? What the fuck are you--"

"We know about the execution orders being filed on Teeva; and we know about the relocation orders to be moved to Sua. Makes sense the Circle of Syn would want to perform the hit on a backwater planet nobody would notice," he accused her. "So you either back down, or be gunned down!"

"I'm not here to kill them you stupid barve!" she shouted. "We moved them here so the execution squad wouldn't find them!"

There was a long pause between them, both their faces transitioning from anger to confusion. Something was amiss through the dialogue, and it was only now just starting to occur to the vixen. She spoke first.

"Wait... what the fuck are you even doing here?" she frowned.

"You first," the wolf replied stubbornly.

"Sir- Kajex, was it?"

Both turned, watching as Etina approached them timidly, holding her paws up.

"If you please... Keris didn't come here to kill us. She was the one who had us relocated, and she told me what happened to my son, Talrik. I believe her when she said she was only trying to keep us safe." She looked to the younger vixen, and though she looked fearful it could not be plainer that she was more afraid for Keris' life over her own. "If she had wanted to hurt either of us, if that was ever her mission, she had over twenty minutes to do it. I didn't even realize she was armed until you arrived, and the first thing she did was tell us to move into the corner so she could keep us safe."

The wolf turned his gaze back to Keris, staring at her with a look of doubt. "I'm supposed to believe that?"

"How else do you explain it?" Keris replied coolly.

"And why would you give a shit now?" he shot back, stepping away and holding the vibroblade out at her. "You didn't seem to mind keeping Trianii prisoners."

"That wasn't me!" she replied defensively. "The operation on AS-303 gathered those prisoners months before Locke and I arrived to oversee it, and we were eventually going to let them go once we had the information! We only showed up because the captain in charge was executing them without authorization!"

"You still injured Syrra," he growled.

"What am I supposed to do, apologize for a fight between a Jedi Padawan and a Sith apprentice, like it wasn't going to happen in the first place?" She chuffed humorlessly. "That cunt is lucky I didn't kill her!"

"And you're lucky she decided to let you live when they broke out!" he shouted back. "Don't make me regret that!"

"Enough, both of you!"

They both flinched at the voice, Keris' ears pinned back in agitation as Etina snapped at them. The older vixen had a frown on her face, looking between the both of them- where minutes earlier Keris had seen what she believed as the look of a proud mother at her daughter, she now cringed at the expression of a disappointed mother. She glanced to Kajex, who seemed to be similarly subdued, then back to Etina.

Her face softened and she sighed. "I think we can all agree that neither of you are here to hurt me and my son. Whatever rivalry or animosity you have right now has no place in our home." She approached Keris and put a gentle paw on her wrist. "I already know why you came here, Keris. I believe you. You can put the lightsaber away."

In any other situation Keris was sure she'd refuse- but the older vixen's support, gentle voice and actions won out and she relaxed, keeping an eye on the wolf as she lowered and extinguished her blade.

She turned to Kajex. "But I still don't know why you're here with these stormtroopers, if not to arrest and execute me and my son."

One of the stormtroopers raised their hands to get her attention. "Uh... ma'am? We're, uh... we're not actually stormtroopers," he said in a sheepish voice. "This is just a getup to infiltrate this place. We're Republic operatives."

"This is a rescue operation," Kajex told both vixens with a nod. "I've been working with these guys over the last week to intercept Republic-aligned prisoners and Imperial defectors from planets and ships within Remnant territories." He addressed Etina directly. "Master Skywalker of the Jedi Praxeum spoke with the NRI about trying to get you out of Remnant space and back in touch with your son, as repayment for cooperating with us and giving the NRI information."

"Doesn't explain why you're here, though," Keris frowned. "I thought you were a mercenary who just happened to stick with the Padawan cu--" She stopped short at the hard glare he was giving her. "… The Trianii," she amended herself. "Why go out of your way for an Amaran?"

The wolf seemed to hesitate before speaking, sheathing his vibroblade. "It was my call to capture him so the NRI could interrogate him, but I didn't realize it would put his mother and brother at risk. He... mentioned the circumstances when Syrra and I spoke with him." He looked to Etina. "I feel partially responsible for that. So I promised I would personally make sure they'd be reunited, even if I had to do it alone."

"You could have been less-aggressive getting in," Keris remarked.

"Well I did knock twice," he said fairly. "And from my perspective it looked like an assassin holding them hostage. When you nearly stabbed me with your lightsaber I knew I had to intervene- if I'd known it was you, I would have blasted the door down." She arched an eyebrow and he folded his arms. "You can't blame me for that."

"Maybe not," she sighed, clipping her lightsaber to her belt. "So... what happens now? Might not be a surprise, but we've got orders to kill any Jedi that get in our way."

Her earpiece crackled. "I know you're not thinking of doing that," Locke warned her. "This isn't a Circle operation, and he's not in the way." She did not answer him directly, though she did not consider attacking the other wolf either.

"Well, good," Kajex smirked. "I'm not a Praxeum student, just a mercenary who happens to be working for them."

"Right, because the Circle would care about semantics," she scoffed. "Either way, you're not supposed to be here, even if I get why. I should be trying to call the local garrison here, but I'm not about to put this woman through more stress. Are you going to give me a reason to fight some more? Because I will if you do."

"Give it a rest, you're not the first punk who has tried to puff their chest out at me," he chuffed. "But you're right, there's no reason to cause a ruckus and get someone killed. And I don't think Locke would much appreciate it if I took your life."

"You're assuming you could," she snorted. "Whatever. Your partner is the only one I have an issue with, so I'll hold off on killing you until you actually become a threat, or Locke orders it. But you'd better leave soon- I'm sure even a backwater outpost like this has routine patrols. If you didn't check in with the local magistrate, they're going to ask why you're here."

One of the soldiers approached Kajex. "Sir, the transport is only cleared to stick around another fifteen minutes. We don't have much time." The wolf nodded, turning back to Keris.

"Alright, so we can both walk away from this without bloodshed," he told her, holding his palms open to her. "I'm fine with that. But I'm still in the middle of an operation. This was supposed to be a simple pickup-and-go mission. It still can be- I just need Etina and Arrik to come with us."

The vixen's heart jumped at it, having forgotten in the heat of their discussion that he had come for the other two Amaran. A flare of alarm burned in her chest and she looked to Etina. Perhaps Keris' face had faltered at the news, as the older vixen seemed to regard her with an expression that told her she knew what she was thinking. A million things to say, ask, and share flooded her thoughts, a burn in her eyes as she realized she wouldn't be able to express a single one with the time they had left.

Because of course she was going to let them go. Even if it hurt.

… Why do I care? Why does it hurt?

"Keris."

She flinched as Etina spoke to her, calming as she touched her shoulder. Keris could not bear the smile the older vixen gave her; it was both warm and painful at once.

"It's okay. This is for the best. You understand that, right?"

Keris swallowed and nodded. "Yeah... I know." She managed a smile. "Well, you don't have much time left. Better get packed."

Etina looked as if she wanted to say something, only to clear her throat and turn away. "C'mon, Arrik- take only the things you really want, we're going with them."

The kit nodded, looking up to Keris. "Yeah... it's only a couple of things."

They set to work, pulling out three messenger bags and gathering their meager belongings. Keris only stared, the urge to speak bubbling in her throat, dying down anytime Etina nearly looked her way. Kajex leaned against the wall next to her; she could see him studying her expression, curious.

"… Yeah?" she asked, a veneer of coldness in her voice.

"You alright?" Kajex asked.

She frowned at him. "What's it to you?"

He shrugged, looking away. "You just looked a little upset, is all. Nevermind, then."

She turned away, folding her arms. When he spoke again a few seconds later, her ear flicked.

"So... how's Locke doing?"

She didn't answer immediately, though she started with a soft sigh. "He's... alright. He didn't need much time to recover." She looked at him. "What about you? He told me the ceiling more or less dropped on you."

"It did," Kajex confirmed. "Syrra's uncle is a physician and surgeon, though. Took a week in a bacta tank, but I came around."

She nodded. "Yeah... good," she said awkwardly, not knowing what to say about it. Perhaps Locke was happier to know he hadn't suffered long before getting attention. What she didn't expect was for the wolf to continue.

"Hey... when you see Locke, tell him I said thank you."

She regarded him with surprise. "Why?"

"I know what he did back on AS-303, Keris." He smiled. "I'd be dead if he hadn't helped me and Syrra. I don't care if he's my enemy- I still owe him my life."

The vixen stared at him a few moments, trying to think of something to say. "Yeah, well... he's like that." She hesitated. "And... you helped him first, he told me. You didn't need to, but you did."

"I mean... he's..."

"A member of your species, whatever you two are," she finished for him. Where once she would have regarded the wolf as an enemy, she could not find it in herself to feel or act bitter right then. When she looked back at him, it was with a smile that felt sincere. "And after today... I think I understand that a little better. So... thank you."

He nodded. "Glad to help."

There was a pause between them, before she looked away with a smirk. "We're still probably gonna have to kill you in the end, if you get in the way. Just so you know. No hard feelings."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Sure. No hard feelings."

They both watched as the other two Amaran finished up, Etina staring at a beautiful emerald silk shawl, looking pensive. After a few moments she muttered something softly, shaking her head and slipping it into her bag with a sigh. She looked up at the pair, shouldering the bag and approaching.

"I'm ready to go, Captain- can I have a moment alone with Keris, before we leave?"

He checked his wrist-chrono, nodding. "We've got plenty of time left. We'll be waiting outside." He gestured for the other two soldiers to exit, glancing behind him briefly and giving Keris a curt nod before closing the door behind him.

Etina looked up at her, a knowing smile on her muzzle. "I know that look."

"I just... I don't get it," Keris admitted with a sigh, trying not to feel emotionally jumbled. "I only came here to tell you your son was okay, and why you were relocated. Then it just... I saw how you were living, you told me about yourself, about your son... I never asked why you were widowed, and it's just..." She sniffed, the burning in the corners of her eyes returning. "I don't get it. Why do I feel awful for you leaving? I should be happy you'll be leaving Imperial space. No," she amended herself, wiping her eyes, "I shouldn't be feeling anything. I just met you and--"

"Keris."

It was said with such utter softness that she almost didn't hear the word, but it was said with a tone she could describe as motherly- and it was enough to silence her before she could say another word. The elder vixen shook her head, still smiling, and then drew Keris into a tight hug. She shuddered, leaning into the shorter woman and returned the embrace, trying to quell her tears. Nobody except Locke had ever stirred her emotions in such a way, and now here she was embracing someone she'd only met less than an hour prior, feeling like she was going to lose a family member when they left.

Etina leaned up and nuzzled her gently, then drew back. "Like I said before, I can tell you weren't raised among Amarans. And that's okay. But if you had, you wouldn't find it so odd to have felt a bond so quickly." She put a paw on her shoulder, guiding her to the table and sitting her down. "Do you know the Amaran myth of Rurrri?"

Keris shook her head, feeling slightly ashamed- there wasn't much she did know about her species' culture.

"It's a children's tale, but every adult heeds it," she explained, holding Keris' paw. "The god Rurrri was the moon of Amar, silver and handsome, but very lonely. One day he came to Amar in the form of a white fox, aching for a companion. He was kind and caring to the beasts throughout the world, with many fables and tales written about his adventures. But while he found many friends among the fauna, and no enemies to speak of, he could not find love- as a god he was immortal, and so none he befriended could remain with a being as eternal as the moon itself. As the centuries passed he would only grow more lonely, watching his friends return to the earth once death claimed them."

"Little did he know, he had been watched the whole time. The sun, Surru, could see his every move, even in the night, when her light reflected against his form. Despite being immortal he could still be slain, and yet he risked his existence time and time again for the fauna of Amar; she admired his bravery and nobility, and his ferocity in protecting those under his care from the evil lurking in the Void- what Amarans used to describe as the blackness of night."

"When she saw him weeping one night, howling in his solitude, her heart grew heavy and she took pity on him. The sun rose the next morning, and Surru take her chance, descending to Amar in the same form; as a fox, golden and beautiful. Their love was quick and genuine. In only a week, Rurrri had taken Surru as his mate and bred her, siring the first litter of Amar- the stars of space, to hold back the darkness of the Void and ensure that neither of them would be apart. And when he bred her a second time, she gave birth to the second litter of Amar- the Amarans themselves, ensuring the creatures of the Amar would never be without caretakers."

Keris listened to the story with rapt attention, her tears forgotten. When at last it ended, Etina beamed down at her.

"It's a creation myth, now regarded as a classic fairy tale to children, but there's a truth in it all the same- Amarans yearn for companionship with others, just as Rurrri did. We express it with taking care of animals, most of the time, but we find it in others as well. Not always with other Amaran, either." She touched Keris' shoulder. "But we feel it deeply when we connect with other Amaran- it doesn't surprise me that you feel so strongly after such a short a time. You must not see that as strange or unfitting."

"No?" Keris whimpered.

"That's simply what your heart feels. You can't always control it, no matter how badly you want to. And I don't want you to ignore what you're feeling, anymore than I want to ignore what I'm feeling," she said. "I feel the same way. I'm going to miss you, Keris."

They embraced again, and this time it was Keris who initiated it, immersing herself in the sorrow- and the joy that accompanied it. It was easier to hold her tears back, as painful as it was, and when she drew back it was with a smile to match Etina's.

"I'm going to miss you too," she admitted, wiping her face. "I doubt we'll ever meet again, but... I'm glad I got to meet you all the same."

"I hope we do see each other again," Etina said kindly. "You never know."

She drew away, looking to the oven and perking up. Before Keris could ask what was up Etina had crossed to the pitifully-sized kitchen area and opened a drawer, withdrawing a container and spooning the meal she had cooked into it until it was full. Once she was finished she sealed it, returning to the table and setting it in front of Keris.

"I don't have anything to give you for your kindness, or to remember you by; but I think this experience will more than suffice," Etina said hopefully, holding her paw.

"Honestly... I think having a mother give me a meal and tell me a children's tale has been the best gift I've ever gotten," Keris replied with a trembling smile. "Even if it was somebody else's mother."

They leaned in and nuzzled- and unlike before, it did not feel alien or awkward to her. "Be safe Keris."

"You too, Etina," Keris answered. "And... may the Force be with you both."

They broke apart, Etina gesturing to her son. "Let's go, Arrik."

The todd nodded, following the vixen up until he reached the door, looking back at Keris. He was no longer frowning, though he looked curious- enough that Keris couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

"What's up?"

For a few moments he didn't answer, staring at her. Before long he shrugged and smiled.

"I figure you're hiding something, is all. But whatever it is, Mom knows you're hiding it too. And it's fine," he said. "Thanks for cheering her up. Just don't ever forget about her."

"Believe me, I won't," she sighed, smiling wanly.

He waved. "Good-bye, Keris."

"Take care, kit," she replied, waving back.

He stepped out of the hut, shutting the door- leaving the vixen alone with her thoughts.

Locke had deliberately waited after hearing the situation resolve itself, relieved that neither Keris nor Kajex had seen fit to continue their fight. At no point did he feel the need to offer Keris any guidance, privately agreeing that it was best for the defector's family to leave without issue- and smiling when they had both awkwardly voiced their thanks for the situation on AS-303.

All the same, he felt it would be best to hurry to her location as soon as possible, knowing she might need help- and if he had to be honest with himself, wanting a look at Kajex before he left. He never expected to see the gray wolf again so soon, and found himself resisting the urge to leap out of the rocks and rush to meet the captain once again. Like before, it hurt not being able to reveal himself to him- but as he watched Kajex leave with both Amaran in tow, Locke was able to find solace in being able to see him at all.

Perhaps someday, he thought, I won't have to hide at all.

He watched the transport take off, now fully aware it had been commandeered and used as the infiltration method, keeping her eyes on it until it was out of sight before stepping out of the rocks and approaching the hut. When he heard that Etina had wanted to speak to Keris alone, Locke had deactivated his comlink connection between them, ordering Miles to do the same. It was for Keris to hear, he knew- he would not violate their privacy by listening in, not after noticing the swirl of emotions the vixen was putting off. Even now as he neared the hut, he could feel Keris grieving on the other side as he reached for the doorknob.

"… I should give her another minute," he muttered, stopping short. Having only recently discovered another member of his own species and still smarting at having to maintain distance, he didn't have to imagine how torn Keris was feeling just from the visit. It would be best if he refrained speaking to her about the interaction until she felt comfortable enough to share it with him. He only wished he could make it easier for her.

He shook himself out of his thoughts, opening the door.

She was seated at a table, staring down at it as she shook, looking miserable enough that Locke could not help but let out a small, wolfish whine. Her ear flicked, at the noise, yet she did not get up- but nor did she pull away from his embrace when he approached and took her in her arms.

"It hurts, Locke," she whimpered, burrowing her muzzle into his neck and sniffling.

"I know," he murmured, rubbing her back. "I'm sorry... a part of me wishes I had come here myself instead of you, but I know better than that."

She shuddered. "I'm glad you let me come here instead," she admitted. "I just... I hope I get to see her again. You're going to call me crazy, but--"

"Whatever you're going to say," he cut her off, "it's not crazy. Tell me what your heart says."

"It's... like... what I imagined having a mother would be like," she snuffled. "I just wanted to tell her so much, and I couldn't. Is that...?"

"Keris." He pulled back, touching noses with her. "Any other time I would tell you to hide your emotions as best as you can, so that none of the Circle attempt to use it against you. But I will never ask you to do that while we're away from them, especially not after something so genuine and heartfelt. As hard as it may be now, I'm glad you could have this moment for yourself. It's something I could never have given you, something you needed."

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for understanding."

He drew her in, kissed her gently, and let her rest her head on his shoulder. As she let the storm of emotions rage and wane, he resolved to do what he could to make her happy; and when at last she had settled down, he took her paw into his.

"Come now," he said kindly. "Let's get back to the ship- you can tell me about her when you're ready."

She sniffled, but smiled in response, conveying in that one expression her thanks for giving her time and space. She followed him out the door, stopping short from exiting and pulling away briefly as she returned to the table.

Once she had Etina's leftovers in her hand she returned to the wolf, taking one last look at the small home before leaving, sealing the door behind her.