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_ "Some Jedi have to train themselves to avoid attachment, the desire to have more. The ones I liked best, though, were the ones content with the meaningful blessings they already had." _

_ "Like my dads?" _

_ "They had each other, and they had you. Why want for anything else, when you have something worth living, fighting, and dying for?" _

~Ranger Captain Matthias Barnn to Kajex Surnahm

"Alright, she's just finished with her mid-day meal- it's the best time for us to present ourselves," Syrra informed the group, trying to keep her nerves steady. "We're all geared up like I asked you guys, right?"

"This stuff feels a little rustic, don't you think?" Sa'Rah responded with the barest hint of a whine, tugging at her Padawan uniform. So'Rah said nothing, but it was apparent he felt similarly, tugging the collar of his robes with a slightly grumpier whine.

"Get used to it, pup," Rexxis told her firmly, smoothing out a crease on his sleeve. "I'm sure Master Syrra has a good reason for us looking the part."

"In any other situation you can just call me Syrra, but in this case, it might help if you use that title if you ever need to use my name while speaking to her," Syrra said fairly. She glanced at Kajex, who was peering out of a window and into the streets below. A moment later he glanced back and nodded- the matriarch they were meeting soon had just arrived to the yu'naret'al, her government quarters, where they were now waiting. "Most matriarchs will let such trivial lapses in etiquette slide with no harm done, but we'll want to look our best for this occasion. Giving them the impression that I'm capable enough to lead will be crucial, but it won't hurt to have you all look the part of well-disciplined students."

"You hear that, Sa'Rah? She thinks we can look disciplined!"

The female twin giggled. "I don't think we're there yet."

Rexxis looked ready to bark at them, the tension clearly getting to him as well- yet he seemed to physically relax when Mica squeezed his paw. "Behave, you two," she told them, smiling patiently- the elder female's voice caused them to smile back, though they obeyed respectfully. With a quiet sigh, Rexxis nodded appreciatively.

They had made landfall on Pouma V the night before, having made arrangements with the settlement's yu'nar to acquire short-term docking status for the Gold Rush- though it was fair to say the Corellian vessel was not the only visitor on the planet. With several objectives to fulfill, Master Moarn had insisted the accompanying Jedi be divided in several teams to cover more ground and space. Yet with no other Jedi in their ranks with knowledge of Trianii language or politics, it fell on the crew of the Gold Rush- and in particular, Syrra- to communicate with the settlement's only matriarch; and though she was no stranger to leadership roles by now, she privately wished she were in the thick of a combat zone instead of in the middle of politics.

As if to find some measure of assurance that things would go well, she looked around at her companions. Kajex and Locke stood to either side of the Black Tomb Padawans, while the pack consisted of Rexxis, Kentoh, the 'Rah twins and Mica- absent were Zephyr and Tegrim, both of whom had opted out. The only Knight absent was Keris, the vixen having taken to the streets with Pakka and the remaining Trianii Rangers to gather information. Miles, Talrik and Rook had accompanied them as well, ensuring they had as much muscle as might be needed. Revan, meanwhile, had stayed behind on the Gold Rush, having been patched in to the local holonet hub to parse through current events for information.

"It won't be enough that we all know she's capable," Locke acknowledged firmly, giving the twins a serious look- they immediately stood a little straighter. "In any political atmosphere, appearance is everything. Let Syrra lead, and remember her words. Give us a quick refresher."

Syrra nodded, breathing in to relax. "Right. When entering, get within reasonable earshot, then bow. If she enters a room, everyone should bow to acknowledge her; if she does the same, remain bowed until she has returned upright. You may look at her and you may speak to her at any point, but only if she has not directly addressed someone first. If she asks a question, answer honestly- if you can't, apologize and inform her you are unable to." She paused for a moment to shift her focus beyond the door, sensing the physical past the wooden barrier- Matriarch Ja'Murah had just entered and was taking her seat behind her desk. With a sigh, she brought herself out of the trance, continuing. "It's political etiquette to focus on an issue one at a time, and move on in topics once her questions have been answered; she'll only allow us to control the dialogue once she's satisfied with our answers, so don't shift topics abruptly unless it happens to be pertinent or very pressing."

"Anything else?" Rexxis asked.

The Trianii Jedi hesitated, then nodded. "If she asks anything about our devotion beads... even if Bast would eventually hear about it, we need to acknowledge that I'm Kajex's fiancee. And if she offers a less-than-pleasant opinion of the union, don't say anything rude- I know how that makes you feel, Kentoh," she added quickly as he seemed ready to speak, "but remember your training- we're not here to force ideals on anybody.

"I... understand, Syrra," he sighed.

"And I promise to be nice, too," Kajex offered with a grin, causing her to smile and press his nose playfully.

"Good puppy. Alright, just gotta wait for her to bid us entry," she said, trying to shake off her nervousness as she faced the door. Within moments, however, the fear seemed to melt away, a warmth enveloping her and steadying her nerves- though through a means apart from her own. "Thanks, Kajex... but I'm going to need to master my own fears," she said kindly, identifying his use of battle meditation to calm her fears.

The Sentinel smiled, taking her paw in his and giving it an encouraging squeeze. "I'm just bringing it back to neutral. It's all you, kitten. You can do this."

She nodded, taking a deep breath.

"Matriach Ja'Murah bids you enter, noble Jedi," a wall speaker said above them; the door clicked and unlocked.

She let it out, nodding and taking one doorknob, while Kajex grabbed the other. As one, they opened the double doors leading into the matriarch's hall, a sheltered length of fine carved stone leading to a balcony behind the leader's seat- the automated shutter had been lifted, allowing a cool breeze in while giving the visitors an amazing view of the vast forests lingering beyond the fringes of the city limits. Seated at the opposite end of the hall with both her paws on her lap was a young, agile-looking Trianii female with yellow fur, speckled nearly head to toe with pitch black spots, her raven-black hair braided elegantly; she was dressed less like a traditional member of the yu'nar and more akin to that of a dancer, with a spirited and expectant smile on her muzzle to match her meager attire. Her lively amber eyes followed them as they approached, yet Syrra could feel her gaze linger on her more than any of her compatriots- something that became very apparent as the young woman got up from her seat as they neared.

All at once, Syrra stopped short, the pack behind her stopping at the same moment- as one, they all bowed low, remaining bent as the matriarch bowed before them. When they returned upright, she finally spoke in perfect Coruscanti Basic.

"I'm glad you were able to honor me with your presence, noble Jedi. I am Matriarch Ja'Murah, this planet's sole leader and head of our settlement's yu'nar," the Trianii purred kindly. "It pleases me to see one of my own people standing among you today- I invite you to introduce yourselves."

Syrra bowed again. "Thank you, Matriarch Ja'Murah. I'm Jedi Knight Syrra, daughter of Matriarch Bast," she started, before gesturing to the wolves at either side. "Beside me is Jedi Sentinel Kajex Surnahm of Corellia, and his twin brother Locke Surnahm of Coruscant." They both bowed, as Syrra stood aside and allowed the matriarch clear view of the rest. "And these are our current Padawans, members of the Black Tomb pack: their alphas, Rexxis and Mica; Rexxis' brother, Kentoh; and the twins, So'Rah and Sa'Rah," she finished, as each of them bowed in turn.

Ja'Murah smiled broadly. "I'm honored to meet you all. I must confess, I was expecting a group of humans to accompany you, Knight Syrra; I'm afraid I've never seen a species of sentient beings quite like yours. If it would not offend you to ask, may I inquire what species you belong to, Sentinel... Kajex, was it?"

"Yes, ma'am," the wolf replied, nodding. "We're something of a recent rediscovery, but we're called Kanj'Isha."

"'Kanj'Isha'," she repeated curiously. "Quite an exotic name for those bearing a noble appearance." The matriarch paused, her eyes lighting up as she peered at the Sentinel closer- Syrra could tell from the surprise she radiated that she had just spotted the wolf's devotion beads. "Oh my- and you are wedded to Knight Syrra, Sentinel?"

Heat flushed Syrra's cheeks at the query, though she made no attempt to hide her smile while Kajex answered. "Not quite yet," he admitted as he took her paw again. "I was her second master, the one who taught her most of what she knows; and what I didn't teach her, she taught me. It was exceptionally easy for me to fall in love with her, though difficult to ask for her hand."

"It was easy for me to say yes when he did," Syrra replied, smiling widely at her mate.

"I'll need to set some time aside to hear this story in full; it sounds wonderful. But I apologize," Ja'Murah purred pleasantly. "I couldn't help but ask, you seem a fitting couple. While I'm sure there are some older, more rigid matriarchs that would look down to such a union, I think it's a fine thing. I bring this up only because I wish for you all to know that while we may stand on ceremony where it concerns these political waltzes, I lead this colony in the hopes that its population will be a force for progressive thought and tolerance among our people."

"Thank you, Matriarch," Syrra replied politely.

"Knight Syrra, you and your Jedi allies are more than welcome to address me by my given name," Ja'Murah assured them, sidestepping around her desk and gesturing to the group. They followed as she led them to the balcony, looking out over the city- an impressive expanse of wood and stone-carved buildings that spread many miles in every direction. "It would be a pleasant change of pace to be treated as an equal. The people I lead address me by my title out of traditional respect, but I'm not sure they understand the difficulty in guiding this colony more or less by myself," she sighed, folding her arms. "Some days, I wish they'd remember that I'm only one Trianii, regardless of what power I wield."

"Do you not have aides and councilors to help you, Matriarch?" Mica asked.

"Plenty of both, actually," she admitted, "but I'm afraid support from our core worlds is limited, both in resources and personnel. A common downside to such small settlements is there is no other matriarch to provide a second opinion or alternative solution- everything rests on my decisions alone. There is no true yu'nar here, at least not yet, and certainly not in the same way as on other worlds. So when it was brought to my attention that there were Jedi in the area willing to extend the hand of diplomacy, I jumped at the chance. I value the wisdom of such peacekeepers, and I feel it is a good opportunity to coax our people towards relations with the New Republic."

She paused, looking out over the city with a slight expression of worry, and Syrra could feel the tingles of fear haunting the young politician as she spoke. "Because I'm far younger than most matriarch's who take this position, I'm often not taken seriously when it comes to matters of galactic concerns. But I pride myself on being attentive. I listen to my people and their concerns. I've heard about the unrest laying beyond our borders, and the fears that we may find troubles within them. I know of the genocide of the Pydyr species during the Almanian Uprising; the Imperial Remnant incursions into Trianii space and the kidnapping of Trianii from a year ago. And while some isolationist hardliners would prefer we be left alone... the truth is, we could use help. We only weaken ourselves by remaining apart from the rest of the universe."

"We'd be glad to help in any way while we're within Trianii territory," Locke assured her.

"Thank you," Ja'Murah replied sincerely. "In return, we have decided to accept the Jedi's terms, particularly as they don't seem to be very demanding. You asked only to investigate temples and to purchase Jedi and Sith artifacts at our merchants' prices. With but a word, they can be offered freely."

"As generous as that might be, Madam Ja'Murah," Kajex replied, "we'd much rather buy them. The previous Jedi Order were crippled through rumor-mongering without meeting those rumors with counter-evidence. If someone tries to claim we're stealing Trianii artifacts, all we gotta do is show them the transaction records. It would make things much smoother for us, and your merchants won't have to chafe under any loss of credits- everybody wins, the best and rarest kind of outcomes in politics," he grinned.

"Very well," the matriarch replied with a chuckle, looked satisfied. "Then I shall accept your wisdom and terms on this matter, Sentinel Kajex. To the next topic- as you are no doubt aware, I forwarded my approval for your Jedi and Trianii Ranger teams to conduct their investigations into our planet's criminal problem. I apologize for not having much time to elaborate on how this came to be, but I feel it is information that may be crucial for you to know- and while I expect the Trianii Rangers to have informed your other teams, it falls to me to inform you."

She drew a small holocaster from her hip-satchel, the device crackling to life as the ghostly-blue face of a grizzled Trianii female rotated in her palm. "She is known as Ai'Rah the Tenacious, a former Trianii Ranger who convinced her unit and a few others to break their oath and set up shop on this planet. It is no coincidence that this occurred as I was named successor to my mother, may she rest in peace; Ai'Rah's motives involve attempting to upset my station by attacking my people. Up until recently, this has only ever involved raids on small forest outposts owned by surveyors looking for resources to tap into. But last month, several outposts reported alarming attacks by unknown forest wildlife, before losing contact with them completely. While we suspect she may be the culprit behind these assaults, we haven't the evidence to prove it."

"Have you sent teams to investigate?" Syrra asked.

"Two small squads, but as our Ranger force is meager compared to core planets I've had to take special care not to squander such a precious resource. They are brave fighters, but they are also still people with families and friends awaiting their safe return. It pains me that I've already had to send word to the families of both groups that their kin have gone missing." She sighed, here shoulders drooping as if fatigued. "I am not ashamed to ask the Jedi or the New Republic for aid in this matter; I am only ashamed that I did not think to do it sooner. Can I expect that your teams will be successful in unveiling whatever threat my people face?"

Syrra glanced back at the team behind her, each of them paying close attention; then turned to Kajex, the wolf nodding at her before he spoke. "We've constructed a team to handle scouting the outpost you described in your report, consisting of a small squad of Antarian Rangers; fighters trained to keep up with and supplement Jedi Knights in combat situations. They are being led by Master Simetra and Knight Garrett, two of our most adept Jedi who specialize in interacting with wildlife through the Force. They'll be deployed three days from now and start off the following morning. If there is an issue concerning indigenous life forms, they'll be able to figure it out, I'm certain- and we'll be sure to keep you informed if anything comes up."

The matriarch's expression was one of great relief. "Very good. I look forward to hearing the results of your efforts while you are here. Hopefully your presence in the weeks I'm granting you will be enough to get a substantial amount of work done. I was exceptionally pleased to hear that your second team was already within the city."

"Just getting a feel for layout of the settlement," Syrra told her. "We'll be joining with them on our rounds once we're finished here."

"Once again, I appreciate your taking such initiative," Ja'Murah said, reaching into her hip satchel once more and withdrawing a datacard as she approached Syrra, handing it and the holocaster to the Trianii Jedi. "You'll find the information on Ai'Rah in this device; the card holds an updated map of Navio City, and my private comsignal prefix. If for any reason you must reach me without delay, use it. For now, however, I think that is all we have to discuss, unless you have any questions."

"Um... I have one, ma'am," Kentoh said abruptly, his paw raised and his face hesitant. "If we happen to be lucky enough to see this troublemaker, what would you like for us to do? I mean, how should we approach, er... dealing with her?"

The matriarch regarded him for a moment before speaking. "I know that it is the policy of Jedi to safeguard and spare lives, only taking them when necessary. So if you do not kill her and instead restrain her, I will respect that. However, I also know that it is the policy of Jedi to not interfere with local law enforcement, and to respect the laws of other cultures- so if Sinth Pakka orders her execution..."

"We will not intervene," Syrra said solemly. "I served as a Trianii Ranger, too- I know the law. At best, we'll only provide counsel."

"Thank you, Syrra- and to you, Kentoh, for bringing this question to light. It is important for all of us to play our parts, and trust in each other's judgment," she said kindly, prompting the younger wolf to smile shyly. The look was enough to generate a soft laugh from her. "Handsome and humble- you do your species credit. I'm certain you'll all do a fine job while you're here."

"If that's everything for now, then we'll leave you to your work," Syrra said, bowing low. "Thank you for gracing us with your ti--"

"Syrra," Ja'Murah cut her off with a chuckle and a sincere smile. "I know that you're Matriarch Bast's daughter, and I know how strict she can be, but really- you and your knights are older than I am and have experience on your side. A simple 'thanks' is enough," she told her, holding her paw out- she did not shy away from the Jedi's mechanical paw in the slightest.

"Thank you, Ja'Murah," Syrra replied, shaking the matriarch's paw and smiling back. "I look forward to working with you- may the sun warm your path."

"And yours, noble Jedi."

"I can't believe how well that went!" Syrra gasped minutes later, as she leaned against a wall for support. "I felt like I was going to suffocate for a moment there!"

"Aww, don't get spooked, kitty," Sa'Rah said encouragingly. "I think you did great."

"All things considered, the discussion was pleasant, and she seemed satisfied with your answers," Mica pointed out. "I'm not sure what had you so worried."

"You gotta have a little more confidence in yourself, kitten," Kajex agreed, running a paw down her back. "Not to sell her or her efforts short, mind you, but Ja'Murah is right; you have experience and wisdom on your side, something she clearly respects. And young as she is, it's clear she's not a traditionalist."

Syrra nodded, breathing a little easier and letting the words of encouragement bolster her nerves. "Yeah, I know. I'm just... completely blindsided by her approach- in the good way, mind you. In fact, she strikes me as the kind of matriarch I would've preferred being, had I decided to follow Bast's guidance. She seems to have found a great balance between my blood-mother's political pragmatism, and my true-mother's compassionate insight."

"That can only work in our favor," Locke pointed out as Syrra managed to get herself under control. "Kunik's matriarchs have already expressed their approval for our efforts at the Imperial wardroid factory. Having the favor of this politician added to that is a good start towards improving relations between the Trianii and the New Republic, or at least the Jedi. Should we try to locate the rest of our pack, or head back to the ship for now?"

"Nah, let's do a little exploring!" So'Rah said anxiously. "I'm eager to spend as much time outdoors meeting new people, and less time hiding in a ship, even one as comfortable as Kaj's."

"We're on duty, So'Rah," Rexxis reminded him with an amused smile, "but I admit I'm interested in having a look around as well. And it would give us a chance to get familiar with the both the locals and the terrain- we shouldn't squander such an opportunity."

"Good call, Rex," Kajex agreed as he gestured everyone to follow. "Just keep your eyes and ears open for any signs of trouble, and hopefully we'll find Keris and everyone else before too long."

"I doubt we've been here long enough for any of our teams to have encountered any trouble," Locke chuckled.

Patrolling the streets had not been a difficult endeavor, not with nearly a dozen armed fighters wading through the crowded walkways as they made a beeline for the nearest Trianii Ranger barracks. More than a few heads turned at the sight of three human Antarian Rangers, two Amaran (one robed with a lightsaber on her hip), a Selonian with an exotic war-glaive, and an armored Miraluka; and this was without the five Trianii Rangers guiding them. Every now and again, Talrik's keen ears would catch snippets of conversation, marveling at the large group of off-worlders as they passed by; though the fox was pleased that they did not seem alarmed.

"Almost there," Pakka said at the head of the group. "Looks like your presence here is turning a few heads in the good way."

"Does this colony not get many off-worlders?" Keris asked.

"Less than it should," came the reply.

It took only a few more minutes of walking through the populated roads before they reached their destination- an expansive basin carved into the underlying limestone, where many dozens of pitched tents had been set up, encircling multiple landing pads. On at least half the pads rested medium-sized patrol ships, each about 30 meters long and adorned with tribal symbols and Trianii script. At the farther edge of the basin, opposite the gate, was a tremendous four-leveled ziggurat structure.

"The main barracks," Pakka identified, indicating the stone building. "It actually used to belong to the Kwapi Pirates, before we forced the filth into a full retreat- Matriarch Ja'Murah's mother gifted it to the Rangers as a base of operations."

"Not enough space for everybody though, huh?" Rook asked, as Trianii children scampered near them, staring at the newcomers in awe- it didn't escape the sharp-eyed fox's notice that most of the nearest Rangers had stopped to watch the group pass.

"It's not uncommon for Rangers to conduct space and surface patrols with their families, so tents tend to be useful," Pakka explained, waving at a few other commanders as they passed. "My mother and father did the same with me, and had Syrra been allowed she would probably have accompanied her father on patrol as well. In any case, this airfield was designed specifically for a tent setup, so families could still have a roof over their heads, outside of their ships."

"Feels more like a backwater carnival than a military outpost," Rook remarked. "No offense."

"None taken- everyone within the compound's walls and not within the barracks are off-duty, so the environment is lax," Pakka explained, slowing down to a stop as heads turned or poked out of tent flaps to see the newcomers. "You'll find grills on the eastern part of the camp, shooting range is in the north-west corner. There's a pad here that's supposed to be assigned to the Gold Rush, but I haven't confirmed which with the garrison commander yet, and only Rangers are are permitted access inside. I'm sorry, I know this is a joint effort, but the trust will come eventually, in steps."

"Don't worry about it," Keris assured him. "It's probably better this way, it'll give us time to get used to everyone else here first."

"Perhaps so- either way, I won't be gone long, so get comfortable and introduce yourselves."

Within minutes, word had spread throughout the area that a Jedi had arrived with a number of armed heroes at her side, such that after being invited into one of the larger family tents in the airfield, Keris spent the next half hour gladly answering questions and concerns the Trianii had about their presence on the planet. The main concern was whether she was present to force diplomatic relations between the Trianii and the New Republic; a concern that was quickly squelched when older and more informed officers backed up her answer that Matriarch Ja'Murah had invited them first. After this point the Trianii seemed to open up and relax, listening with rapt attention as Keris replied to questions about the workings and tasks of the fledgling Jedi Order; even Talrik was able to add some input, as the highest ranking Antarian Ranger present.

But it didn't take long before Talrik noticed that Rook was getting impatient; trained as he was in reading body language, her folded arms, tapping foot and flicking tail were dead giveaways. So as Keris continued to answer questions for the Trianii, the fox had quietly told them he was going to have a look around, suggesting Rook should come to keep him company- she didn't bother hiding her relieved smile as she got to her feet and followed.

"Thanks, Fox-boy. Not that I mind Keris sharin' a few stories, but I like it better when I'm movin' around," she said, keeping in step with him. "These Trianii folk are pretty neat, with the family travelin' and tent-city here. Kinda reminds me of home."

"I wasn't expecting them to be so family-centric," Talrik admitted as they walked between the tents. "Though I guess maybe that's because I've only ever seen Aarn and his business being decent to us, while having to put up with Bast's anti-gay nonsense. These are good people here; I'm glad the Jedi Order thought to put us out here to do a little good where the Republic can't reach."

"Just gotta find a way to make nice with 'em," Rook agreed as they reached a makeshift shooting range. Every few moments, a slugthrower sounded. "How're you gonna contribute?" she teased, leaning in to nuzzle him and drawing a chuckle from him.

"I dunno," he admitted. "I'm sure I'll think of somethi..."

It was a sight he least expected to see that caused him to trail off. The shooting range itself was not in regular use, with only a couple of cadets training their rifles against the targets. While Talrik was well-aware that blaster weapons were not frequently used among the Trianii Rangers, he was not expecting the shooting range to include primitive-looking archery targets, nor for a handful of Rangers to be equipped with hand-cranked crossbows and recurve bows, with arrow barrels every few feet.

He stared at the archers for what seemed like minutes, waiting at the edge of the range while he watch them nock, draw and release each arrow. The snap of their bow strings followed by sharp whistle of the primitive yet deadly projectiles caused the fox's ears to twitch, panning to the side as they traced the direction each time every bolt or arrow sank into each target with a dull thunk. A strange sensation washed over him as he realized he was growing excited by what he was seeing, a twinge of nostalgia filling him as his fingers flexed and relaxed.

Before long, a white paw waved in front of his face and broke his concentration. "'ey, Fox-boy- y'alright? You almost look like you went hard or somethin'. See some sexy kitty somewhere?" she asked, tapping his shoulder.

"Huh? Oh, no," he replied, shaking himself out of his trance. "It's just... it's been years since I've seen someone use traditional bows and arrows- I didn't think the Trianii still did it," he chuckled, folding his arms and watching.

"Uh... heads up, I don't think that lady there likes us starin'," she warned, nodding over to an approaching, red-pelted Trianii female wearing combat fatigues and an hip-quiver. There seemed to be a mild scowl on her face as she approached, bow in one paw and an arrow in the other.

"You find something funny?" she asked in heavily accented, imperfect Basic, raising her bow. "We work hard with this, we not ashamed!"

Talrik backstepped, holding his paws up and switching to her language. "<I don't find it funny,>" he assured her. His fluency in her language caused her to stop short, allowing him to continue. "<I think it's impressive that your Rangers are so adept as archers.>"

"<Impressive because we stick with them due to possessing inferior equipment to you outsiders?>" she chuffed sourly, eyeing his concussion rifle with disdain. "<We are a species of the jungle. We respect nature by doing as little as possible to disturb it in the middle of a conflict, unlike you outsiders wielding repeaters and heavy blaster cannons and causing carnage and fire wherever you fight.>" She planted the bow into the ground, glaring at him. "<And unlike blasters, wielding such weapons the way we do actually requires a large amount of skill. As rangemaster, I have a lot of pride in any Ranger that excels in their use.>"

"<As you should,>" Talrik cut in gently, intercepting the conversation with a reassuring smile and again throwing the rangemaster off balance with his civility. "<As it happens, I know how much skill and effort it takes to use such a weapon- I respect anybody that puts in that much work.>"

The rangemaster's eyes narrowed at him, sizing him up for a few moments while looking thoroughly unconvinced. Yet whatever her opinions on his stature, she left unsaid as she abruptly tossed him her bow, watching carefully as he caught it.

"<Most outsiders are all ship and no cargo. Back up your nonsense.>"

Talrik blinked, glancing at Rook for a moment as she frowned. "What's going on?" she asked.

With a gesture towards the range he explained, walking past the stern-faced rangermaster. "She doesn't seem to think I respect archery, she wants me to see what I can do," he informed her.

"Can you handle that kind of weapon, Fox-boy?" she asked skeptically.

Something in her voice and her words seemed to spark a fire in him; perhaps the skepticism and doubt that his accuracy had its limitations, calling his skill into doubt, had caused a small pang in his pride. Rather than answer he unslung his c-rifle and handed it to Rook, before spending a few moments testing the bow, marveling at both the expert construction of the weapon and how much draw strength it seemed to need. His upper arms tingled from the blood rush, the nerves in his paws seeming to radiate with extra sensation.

"<Are you mocking me even now?>" the rangemaster barked, causing the fox to jump slightly. "<Or do you really not know how to nock an arrow?>"

Perhaps she had hoped she would intimidate him with the challenge, but he merely chuckled as he stepped forward and grabbed an arrow from one of the barrels, eyeing a unmolested target a good 40 meters away. The feeling was too familiar as he planted his feet into a steady position; with smooth and quick movements, he'd nocked the arrow cleanly and drew the string back to shoulder length, muscles tightened as he held it in place and focused. So used to pointing rifles at such targets, it would have been an easy matter of squeezing the trigger; yet now he seemed hyper-aware of the weight of the arrow, the distance to the target, the gentle caress of the air around them as he readjusted his aim slightly.

Though it had been years, it was still easy.

The snap of the string hit his ears the same moment the shock of the release jolted through his arms, the arrow catapulting forward through the air cleanly in a solid arc, it's bright green nock and fletching easy to track. It stopped short, a distant thunk marking the end of its travel an inch high from the bullseye. A burst of pride filled him as he turned and grinned at Rook, the otter gaping at the near-perfect hit. Behind her, the rangemaster's expression was one of surprise.

"How'd you...?"

"I didn't learn everything about shooting in the Imperial Academy," he said smugly. "This is what I used to do in my free time on Naboo, before my family and I up and left to Teeva- you never really forget how to do it." He returned his attention to the rangemaster, approaching her and returning the bow. "<It's not easy, I know. It takes years to be decent at it. But I meant what I said- I respect anybody that knows how to use these weapons, and I hope you can see I mean that seriously.>"

The rangemaster stared at him for a few moments before chuckling softly and bowing. "<I apologize for my abrasiveness. Please, continue to shoot if you'd like. I would be happy for one as skilled as you to stick around, that I might know you better.>"

Talrik bowed back, smiling. "<I'd be glad to. My job is to mingle with and meet people, anyway.>"

It was not their only job, however. Syrra had gone to great lengths to ensure that things panned out between her pack and Ja'Murah amicably, though it remained an unspoken and acknowledged fact that their alliance was to the Trianii Rangers. Nevertheless, this still culminated in a fruitful union, as the Ranger presence on Pouma V favored the matriarch quite highly, working in tandem with the politician; and both they and the matriarch approved of Syrra's station as a liaison to the Republic. In some ways, Syrra marveled at how fitting her role in all of this was, her upbringing as a noble, service to the Rangers, and training with the Jedi giving her the combined perception and wisdom to generate a balanced, positive outcome.

It happened almost naturally. In the four days since they had arrived, the Gold Rush Jedi had met with, interviewed and tested a handful of hopeful Trianii for Force-sensitivity; of the few dozen that were tested, two of them had turned up high-positive midichlorian counts, and four had generated moderate, trainable levels. While no promise could be made that Syrra herself would be able to train them, she nevertheless encouraged them to consider at least visiting the Jedi Praxeum, making sure they knew they could leave and return at any time. It was an offer that even Master Moarn approved of, suggesting that the Inspired could be granted an extended presence in the Wild Space region on behalf of the Republic, while forging ties with the Trianii themselves.

To make matters better, the combined presence of both Kanj'Isha packs had left a positive impression on the Trianii population. It did not take long for word to each every corner on Navio City of the wolf-like alien Jedi lending their lightsabers and abilities for the good of the Trianii people; though Kajex felt it was a good point for him to impart a lesson to the Black Tomb Padawans- a lesson that many Trianii Rangers had listened in on after an hour of Jedi training within the Ranger compound, watching with interest as the pack settled down to listen to their instructor.

"Odan-Urr may have made a mistake in the absolutism of the Jedi Code, but he had foresight and wisdom that were important for Jedi nevertheless. One of the best lessons any Jedi could learn from him- especially a Jedi Sentinel- was how one should mind their actions," Kajex explained, as the Black Tomb pack sat in a semi-circle- behind them, about a dozen interested Trianii were watching, having stuck around after witnessing the pack's Force training. "Each of us, whether we're Knights, Padawans, or even Grand Masters, are representatives of the Jedi Order- something we always have to remember. Perception is everything to some folks, and maintaining the right perception is important."

"If a Jedi acts like a jerk in public, someone who watches them will obviously think 'this jerk is a Jedi? These guys don't deserve my respect.' If they have the chance to meet a second Jedi who acts civil and compassionate, they may wonder, 'does that mean half of Jedi are good while the other half are rude?' If they happen to meet a third well-behaved Jedi, they might wonder 'maybe the first jerk was an exception?' And in that way, it might take a lot of Jedi encounters for that one observer to figure out that the first Jedi they met was the only one who wasn't acting as a Jedi should- taking several Jedi to fix a bad first impression."

"Assuming one ever meets more than one Jedi in their life," Syrra remarked from beneath the shade of the Gold Rush, leaning against one of her landing struts.

"Which is exactly one of the problems," Kajex agreed. "Even in my time, before the Clone Wars, most civilians would go their entire lives without meeting a Jedi, even if they were an order known throughout the Republic. Meeting just one Jedi was rare, but meeting two, or even three? If someone ever met three Jedi in their lives, they were either a darksider, a politician, a clone soldier, or a Separatist target. If a person ever met a badly-behaved Jedi, chances are that'd be the only experience they'd get. That's not a good thing."

"This is why the Jedi Code is important, then?" Mica asked. "To make sure each first impression is a positive one?"

"Partly," the Sentinel replied. "The Jedi Code is important in centering oneself in case of stress. But basic common sense and civility is all you really need. While you guys are here, just remember that we're not here to push ideals onto others- be respectful and polite. If a Trianii decides to act rudely towards you, don't get riled up- do your best to respect their boundaries and help out in other ways. Everybody understand?" They pack nodded. "Alright. I'm telling you this because while you've been following me, Syrra and Locke, you haven't really been given the freedom to go out and put your training to use. I'm going to give you those opportunities starting now, so if you ever have questions, just seek us out."

Kentoh was the first to his feet. "So you're letting us off the leash?" he asked hopefully.

"You're free to look around, but the city still has a curfew at 2800 hours," Kajex warned with a chuckle. "Set your chronometers and be sure to be back in Gold Rush by then."

Syrra watched as the Black Tomb pack got up and asked a few more quiet questions to the twin wolf Knights, before heading off in separate directions throughout the dusty Ranger compound. After a few moments, Locke nodded to both of them and followed the 'Rah twins from a distance, leaving Kajex to amble back to the Trianii Jedi with a grin. "What'd you think?" he asked.

"It's an important lesson," she agreed. "No matter how laid-back you seem, you really do care about being a Jedi, and about them. You're doing fine, love." Her eyes flicked back to where Locke disappeared. "Adult supervision?"

He nodded, keying in the ramp codes. "They may be Padawans, but they're still adults, so I need to be able to show I trust them to make their own decisions. I know the twins take being Jedi seriously, I don't expect anything bad to happen to them. But it never hurts to have your eyes open. C'mon, let's get inside and see what Revan's figured out from the artifacts."

True to his word, Pakka had ensured they'd been granted a temporary landing pad in the compound, one large enough to fit the ship and still have enough space to utilize as a makeshift training area for their Padawans. Fortunately enough, training was going well for them, with a handful of Trianii Rangers gladly helping them improve their hand-to-hand skills and blaster-bolt defense with low-powered weapons. With the marked increase in their abilities, Kajex had cut their training short and allowed them to go exploring as he'd promised. All that was left for the day was for the rest of the pack to return from their own duties, giving him and Syrra time together for the first time in a while. Still, as much as Kajex was looking forward to winding down, he had just enough discipline to head to the lounge and check in with Revan first.

The enhanced holocron turned at their arrival, still surrounded by the slew of artifacts they'd picked up over the last few days. "Good lesson today, Sentinel- Odan-Urr was always a bit too dry for me, but you picked the right lesson to impart for the kids."

"Eavesdropping, eh?" Kajex asked casually.

"I was done analyzing the new finds half an hour ago, I had to stave off the boredom somehow. On that topic, though, you might be interested to hear what I've found out."

"Anything good about the artifacts?"

"Actually, no," Revan replied. "Don't get me wrong, you found some good pieces, some decent-condition manuscripts and ancient weapons- but most of these will probably be analyzed closely before being sold to museums to generate income for the Jedi Order. The real point of interest is the base the Rangers are using."

"What about it?" Syrra asked with raised eyebrows.

The holotable lit up, showing a readout of the Trianii Ranger barracks. "I've gone through the Ranger reports, and although I believe them when they say that the Kwapi Pirates used the structure during their invasion, it's clear that it existed long before. It's an unusual design, but it's one of the structures that was preferred by Sorzus Syn's slice of the Sith Empire."

Syrra's eyes widened. "You're sure? I couldn't feel any dark side aura coming off of it," she said worriedly, glancing to Kajex as he shook his head.

"I don't feel anything coming off it either," Revan admitted, "but I'm positive it used to be a Sith structure. That said, when you consider the ratio of Jedi to Sith artifacts is five to one, it makes me wonder if the Jedi cleansed the structure after arriving."

"No way to tell?" Kajex asked.

"Alot was lost by both sides, even before the Great Jedi Purge," Revan reminded him, bringing up several additional readouts of the temple. "Before the Ruusan Reformation, when the Jedi were fractured and oversaw sectors like kings, the order itself was poorly organized to the point of losing much of its info on sectors beyond the Outer Rim. On the other hand, reading through Master Skywalker's report during his brief training under Palpatine, the Sith have a figure named Darth Gravid to thank for losing a lot of their knowledge. If the Sith knew about this place back then, then something happened to have completely ignored it since."

"In that case my people might have been spared, in a way," Syrra sighed in response, realizing how dangerous the situation might have become had circumstances been different. "If the Empire had known how rich in artifacts this region was, they'd have come here themselves instead of establishing the Corporate Sector to do their dirty work."

"Hence the Circle's recent interest," Kajex added. "Back to the topic of the temple- if it was connected to Sorzus Syn, what was it used for?"

"No way to tell, I'm afraid. Hopefully whatever darkness they practiced in those halls was wiped out by whatever Jedi that set foot on this planet, before they left. If I find anything else, I'll let you know," the holocron assured them. "And I'll also advise keeping your eyes out for any other Sith structures on this planet, as I doubt this temple was the only one."

"Thanks, Revan," the Sentinel said appreciatively. "Did you want me to hook you up to the holonet so you can find something to do?" The wolf shuffled guiltily. "You've been a great source of knowledge, and a part of me feels bad that you're stuck in here most of the time, so if there's anything we can do..."

"Sentinel, I appreciate you're wanting to make sure I don't get bored, but believe me- I spent 3,000 years floating through the wreckage of Malachor V before being found, so just having anything to do on this ship is a fresh change of pace." He paused, shrugging. "But since you asked, maybe consider rigging up some programming so I can screw around with those vintage 'platformer' simulations you have on your ship's server."

"I can fix that up once we're done on this planet," Kajex grinned as the ship's ramp lowered again. "You're part of the reason these last two days have been constructive."

"Don't sell the footwork short either," Revan advised, as Keris, Talrik and Miles ambled into the lounge. "Welcome back, by the way."

"Thanks Revan," Keris sighed and flopping onto the couch face first. "We checked the leads the Rangers gave us yesterday and it's a no-go. Miles couldn't see anybody eavesdropping or using hidden rooms, Talrik didn't see any inconsistencies with body language when the Rangers asked their questions, and I didn't feel any sort of dishonesty in their feelings. Six locations, and not a single one of them got us closer to Ai'Rah."

"Keep at it, it's only day four," Syrra reminded her. "Ja'Murah said she wasn't holding her breath for a quick capture, especially if Ai'Rah managed to get off-planet somehow; she'll be happy enough for a report from the forests, and that won't happen until Simetra and Garrett get there. In fact, they should be ready to set down for the night."

"They made camp an hour ago," Revan informed them. "Nothing to report other than the fact they got in touch with Sinth Roc'nir's squad and they mean to leave tomorrow morning, hopefully getting there early in the day."

"Are they jogging the entire way?" Talrik asked, setting his rifle against the wall and taking a seat.

"They have to," Kajex said. "Pouma V is a lot of unsurveyed land to go through, the forests are dense enough that finding a suitable landing spot is difficult. And all things considered a ship would draw attention- if Ai'Rah is out there, it'd be enough to alert her and give her time to escape. Approaching by foot will give them time to scout and retreat if necessary." He paused looking between them and noticing one of their pack, besides Locke, was missing. "Where's Rook?"

"She went to check the local hunter's den," Miles replied. "It's the one lead we can't all go look up, so she's gonna cross-reference their boards with the Guild's boards and see if there are any competing marks or unusual jobs that might be connected to Ai'Rah. Hopefully she'll come up with--"

"—Absolutely jack shit," the otter growled with exhaustion, rounding the curved hallway into the lounge. Without uttering a greeting to anybody she plopped into the nearest seat and sighed.

"Bad luck?" Revan guessed.

"Bloody rotten, mate," the otter acknowledged, eyes closed and leaning back. "I gave my contact in the Guild a call, he owes me a favor- ended up bein' a waste. The job board here is filled with postings from legit Trianii-based businesses and only a couple underworld contracts for the region, and not the planet itself. Ai'Rah technically counts as a high-value target because of her status as a political criminal, but that don't mean a thing if there's next to no information on her whereabouts. It's another dead end."

"Well let's not sweat it," Syrra remarked, leaning over to kiss the otter's forehead and getting her to smile. "You guys are doing great. We're at the end of today, so let's just kick back and unwind."

"I'll break out the ale," Miles started to say.

"Naw, fuck that," Rook said, getting up with what seemed like a renewed burst of energy. "Let's find a bar in this city and knock a few back over dinner. It'll help us unwind and maybe we'll get lucky and get info from the bartender."

"I'm sold," the Miraluka said with a grin. "They're bound to have something harder than what the boss has. Let me just run to the armory and put on something lighter."

"I'll ask the other Antarian Rangers if they wanna come," Talrik said.

"And I'll go look for a bar," Keris added, getting up with a smile on her face. "I wanna be around for the one thing today that goes right, and maybe we can get Locke and the Padawans to show up after." She made for the ramp corridor before glancing back at Kajex and Syrra. "You guys coming?"

"I'll pass," Syrra replied with a smile. "I have plans for tonight that I want to see through."

"Which means I'm out, too," Kajex chuckled as he got to his feet and stretched, ambling toward his quarters. "Alright, then for now I'm gonna kick back and take a break while everybody is doing their own thi--"

"You're not going anywhere," Syrra cut him off with a grin, grabbing the back of his robes and pulling him back as he yipped. "My 'plans' involve you and I taking trip to somewhere special."

Kajex blinked, his head cocked to the side as a smile slowly formed on his muzzle. "Oh yeah? What'd you have in mind?"

"'Divine Springs,'" Kajex read, eyes tracing the wooden carved sign above the archway entrance. "Some kind of bathhouse?" he guessed, scratching his head.

Syrra grinned and nodded. "Both public and private," she added. "It's been years since I've been to one. Believe me, it'll help you unwind."

The wolf chuckled. "And this isn't making you nervous at all? If anybody were to recognize you and it got back to your blood-mother--"

"Hush, love- you're spoiling the moment," she said, getting behind him and pushing him past the archway. "I'd rather not think about her, and in either case I don't care if she hears about it. Just let me do the talking for now."

Curious as to what she had in mind, the wolf shrugged and stepped in, letting Syrra take the lead. They had not bothered to change into more civilian attire, Syrra insisting that they remain robed when they entered, and it was not until the receptionist at the front saw them that the wolf suspected why that was. With a covert glance behind her Syrra leaned in and started speaking to the receptionist in a low voice, low enough that the Sentinel was sure she didn't want him to overhear. With respect for her privacy he waited back a ways, watching as other patrons came in went in various states of undress, a few of them looking his way curiously.

He did not need to wait long before Syrra returned with a pair of large, thick towels, a keycard in her paw and a smile on her face. "Ever been to one of these places before?"

Kajex shook his head as she gestured him to follow, stepping aside to let a small family pass by them. The public bath itself could be seen at the far end of the hallway, but lining each side were a series of doors labeled numerically. "The Old Jedi Order would've considered it a luxury, and hot water is hot water no matter what. And since a lot of human Core worlds consider public baths a taboo, well..."

A blush filled her cheeks as they made their way in deeper. "The public aspect isn't exactly a luxury to us. Trianii use them to socialize with each other after a long day. My father would take me and Iaora with him when I was a cub. At the time, I just thought we came at the best time of the day, when few people were around, leaving the three of us relax with no interruption. But now that I know what their real relationship was like..." she trailed off, looking distant but happy.

"Aarn told us about Ka'un's dalliances," he said softly, nuzzling her cheek. "Maybe he knew you'd understand, if you had ever figured it out."

"I do understand. That's why we're here."

She smiled and stopped short at one of the doors, this one lined with a silver border around the frame, a key-reader at its side. With a single wave of the card the hatch slid open, allowing the two to enter the room. It was about as large as the Sentinel's quarters, though much better lit with overhead light fixtures; in one of the corners was a queen-sized bed with comfortable sheets, next to a small minibar. What caught the wolf's eye most was the steaming bath itself in the center of the room; having fully expected a tiled luxury hottub of some sort, the bath appeared to be carved into the natural stone beneath their feet, with angled slabs dipping into the pool. Though a question formed on his tongue about how the room would remain dry, a quiet hiss overhead answered his question and drew his eyes upward- a well-crafted ventilation system had been installed, while a dehumidifier was built near the bed.

A low whistle passed through his lips. "Fancy." He glanced up just as Syrra began to disrobe. "Wait... how much--"

"Cost isn't an issue," she cut him off with a smile as she pulled her cloak off. "And one night in these rooms with a minibar and paid meal comes out to less than you might think, especially when the place is built over a natural hot spring. It's a luxury anybody with any job can pay for- this room just costs a little extra."

"Why?" he asked, as she tossed her robes into a nearby receptacle and set her belt and lightsaber aside.

"Get undressed, put your robes and footwraps in the bin, and get in with me- and I'll tell you," she promised, cupping his face and nuzzling him. Figuring there was no point arguing if she'd already paid, he did as he was told, placing his Jedi weapon and utility belt next to hers and tossing his robes into the bin, which he was certain was a laundry receptacle.

By the time he had nothing but his trousers left she was ready to climb in, the Trianii hissing slightly as she slid a leg into the heated water. A low, pleasant growl rumbled in his chest as his eyes followed her curved rump as it lowered into the pool, until it disappeared beneath the surface. He needed no further prompting to shed the last of his clothing, tossing it over his shoulder into the bin before putting a foot into the water. Hot though it was, he did not draw back, groaning as he got in and let the heat seep into his fur. Before he knew it, he was leaning against one of the angled slabs, his muscles relaxing in a way that caused his tongue to hang out doggishly.

"Daaaaamn," he sighed, eyes closed as he went limp. "That does feel great."

"Mmhm," Syrra purred. "Like I said, it's been years since I've used one, but I love it. I figured it'd be nice to share it with you, what with how things have been."

He opened one eye at the words, cocking his head. "I'm not feeling particularly overworked, kitten. In fact, I'm kind of enjoying being a Jedi again- near-death experiences aside. It's like working the way I did when I was a pup, only I'm older, have more freedom, and don't have to hide the relationships I have with people anymore."

"Well, that's not quite what I meant," Syrra admitted, getting up briefly and sliding up next to him, nuzzling into his neck. "I just feel a little bad about recent events."

The wolf nuzzled back, feeling a little concerned. "Like?"

She didn't say anything for a few moments, putting her cybernetic paw on his chest and rubbing it. When she did answer, it was low and timid. "Back on Yavin 4, when you proposed to me... you asked me if, on the day I reached the rank of Jedi Knight, I would marry you. I said yes then." She paused. "It's been three months since then, and we still haven't set anything up, talked about a date or... or anything important about what to expect. We haven't even done anything special to seal th--"

"Syrra," Kajex cut her off quietly but firmly, taking her metal paw and rubbing her fingers soothingly. "I know why you wanted to wait on this, and as much as I wish it were otherwise, I agree with you. The Circle of Syn isn't going to take a breather while they move forward with their plans. Being on call the way we are, to deal with them, is important- I'm with you 100 percent of the way."

She shook her head, looking guilty. "My mother put her duty before her love for my father. She... it tore her apart when my father died, and it didn't have to be that way. I don't want us to end up the same way. I don't want either of us to lose our lives without taking that step, without giving you my hand in marriage, o-or a pup between us, or--"

But before she could say anymore he had put to use a lesson he'd learned from years of love and trust among others, dispelling the fear and guilt through a simple act of love and affection- the moment his muzzle met hers, he could feel the growing chill of fear and guilt waver and recede. Warmth completely unrelated to the heat of the water filled the both of them as Syrra melted into his embrace, purring into his lips. By the time he drew his muzzle back, the fear she'd previously exuded was gone.

He smiled. "Better?"

"Yeah," she answered, smiling back.

With a shift in position he brought her closer, pulling her into his lap. "You've told me about Iaora and your father, as did Aarn. And I think I can understand why it hurt as much as it did. It was a love she didn't want to hide, something she wanted for her and for Ka'un- and for you. Something that Bast couldn't control or damage in any way; something that was final and complete."

"It would have seemed more real, if they didn't have to hide it," Syrra agreed.

"But you're a Jedi," he continued. "I've seen you grow from nearly the start of your training, and I remember the facade you used to wear. Hiding who and what you truly are was only ever done when you didn't feel you had confidence- and once that grew, you dropped the facade. You're not afraid to love me, and you're not afraid to let others know it, either. If you were, you'd have stopped wearing these the day I met Bast."

His paw brushed against her devotion beads gently. "What we have is apparent to anybody, and so I've never tried to hide it. In the year you've been in my life, I've come to accept that, ceremony or not... you are my mate. It's more than sharing the same bed almost every night, having you as my trusted co-pilot, fighting by my side or making love every day; it's about knowing that despite all our flaws, I still wake up every morning and see you next to me- and it makes me feel like the luckiest guy in the galaxy. Not because I found the most perfect person to be my mate; but because I found someone even better. You."

She smiled tremulously. "You... silver-tounged son of a bitch..."

"You bring it out of me," he chuckled. "But my point is, you don't have to feel the need to pull me into special moments like this in lieu of a union ceremony that will eventually happen in the future- I already feel like a million credits just being around you."

Syrra wiped her eyes, nuzzling him affectionately with a soft purr. "The feeling is mutual."

They kissed again, resulting in another few moments of silence, before the wolf spoke again, a teasing tone in his voice. "I mean... I'm not gonna say 'no' to having special moments like this. And I sure as hell won't say 'no' to any occasion where I get to see your bare ass in a pool of water- or any occasion where you strip down, for that matter."

"Part of this outing was to get you to strip down, too," she giggled, touching noses with him.

"Well for that, all you gotta do is ask," he growled playfully, lunging in and cupping her breasts as she chirped and laughed, trying to push him away as he snuffled, nipped and licked her.

For the next few hours they forgot their jobs, their missions; though not necessarily their training, as they used the Force to summon small bottles of drink into their paws, cleanse the intoxication from each other to stay buzzed and hydrated without being drunk, and form spheres of water as they talked, nuzzled and held each other. In that space, there was no Circle of Syn; no Imperial Remnant; no Bast; no Jedi; and nothing to sour the moments they spent.

In that time, they had only each other and their love.

The only time the discussion ever strayed near the topic of Jedi or the Trianii Rangers, it was in them talking about their parents, their upbringing, and the most comfortable topics of family among them- though between them, talk of sex and family was within their comfort zone. The pauses in discussion were brief, lengthened only when a plate of superchilled fruit was delivered to them, prompting them to get out of the pool, recuperating on the stone bench. Where others would have been done with the pleasant, heated soak, a combination of basic Jedi healing abilities and bottled water aided in extending their stay. By the time they'd finished the refreshing meal and returned to the heated pool, Kajex had finished retelling the tale of how he ended up becoming intimate with his adoptive dads; and now it was Syrra's turn to share.

"It's not like I ever really suspected that my true mother had any sort of taste for the same sex," she said, leaning into the wolf's chest. "Not while I was a cub. But maybe it's because even though I was aware of the religious law, I never truly connected the act with anything evil. After she told me she had a few 'experiences' with other females... well, now when I look back on the things that happened, it kind of brings things into light I never imagined before. Almost the same way I suspect she and my father were having sex anytime we came to private rooms like this."

"Does anything stick out?" Kajex asked, setting a bottle of water aside.

She giggled and nodded. "Okay, so... as I told you a year back, after my dad passed away my mother took up educating me on medicine, while my aunt- my father's sister, Atuarre- trained me to be a Ranger. Every now and again she'd have to go on week-long patrols with new cadets to make sure they were up to snuff and help ease them into their jobs. But when I was eight, one of those outings resulted in a ship malfunction; the pilot lost control of their vessel and ended up crashing while she was on board. No fatalities, thank the Force; but my aunt was injured, and because they were still on Ekibo she requested being transported to my uncle's practice."

"Save on credits, I imagine?"

"Partly, but it was also because they were, and still are, on very good terms with each other. They have great respect for one another, and though I didn't know it until recently she knew about and supported my father's affair with Iaora," she explained, pausing to take another drink. "My aunt suffered a minor concussion, fractured collarbone and a few lacerations- all upper-body injuries. My mother wasn't married to Uncle Aarn yet, but she was already well-trained, and made sure to put my aunt at top priority, taking care of her for three days straight."

"No bacta?" Kajex asked.

"Not for the concussion," Syrra reminded him. "Neural damage can't be reliably restored through bacta, making it important for my mother to monitor her closely. So when I padded into the room to say hello to my aunt and wish her a speedy recovery, I was a little confused as to why Iaora had her faced buried between my aunt's legs."

"... Wait, what?!" the wolf yelped. "You walked in on your mother making your aunt purr like a sexy kitten, and you didn't think anything was weird about it?!"

Red faced and still a little buzzed, the Trianii giggled. "I was only eight at the time!" she said defensively. "And my upbringing denied me any chance to learn about same-sex intercourse. The first time I actually ever heard it was as derogatory remarks in my first Ranger unit, and the first time I'd actually ever seen it was when I looked through your erotic collection on the Gold Rush." With a purr she nuzzled into his neck and continued. "But no, I didn't think anything was out-of-place beyond where my mother was focusing. So like the silly, naive little cub I was, I told my mother that my aunt's legs were fine, and reminded her where her injuries were before leaving. They ended up blushing and laughing nervously, I guess because they thought I'd caught them."

The wolf chuckled. "I guess that's just a difference in our upbringings. I mean, to put it into perspective, I knew my dads were having sex from an early age, I just didn't know how until I actually peeked in on them- and I just re-explained how that turned out."

"I haven't forgotten," Syrra said with a sigh, still smiling. "And I think maybe that's why it didn't shock me nearly as much as it might have. I mean, hearing about how you were intimate with them since you were a pup was still a little jarring, but... the incest part of it didn't bother me in the slightest. I don't think the act does at all."

The words caused the wolf to cock his head. "Not even when it's your own kin?"

She stared at him silently for a few moments. "You can keep a secret."

"Absolutely."

A hot blush filled her cheeks as she leaned in, burying her face into his chest as she tried to hide her smile and stifle her laugh. "Thinking about both of them again... kinda turns me on. I mean, you've seen them both, right? And... as someone who has enjoyed being intimate with other women, they're both... very sexy, to me."

The wolf chuckled. "I'm definitely not going to judge you for being attracted to either of them, they're both very attractive- Iaora especially." He paused, then grinned, licking his jowls for effect. " I mean... not that I would ever attempt to sleep with a married woman, but... if she were still single, I'd sure as hell wouldn't mine getting' a piece of that a--"

"Don't say it!" she chirped.

"Why not? Because it's your mother?" he asked with an arched eyebrow, knowing full well that was not the issue.

Her whimper mixed with her giggles. "No... because if you say it, I might start to fantasize about it."

"You kinky little Jedi kitten," he teased, pulling her into his lap and affectionately licking every part of her face he could get to, as she giggled and licking back. A pause, a moment of kissing between them and he spoke again. "You are turned on, though."

She nodded, laying atop him as he reclined against the angled slab. "So are you, and I'm glad for that. This outing could have ended in so many ways," she purred. "I'd like it to end like this."

"Now? It doesn't have to end here, right?"

"Well... no," she admitted, blushing. "This room is for the night- the bed is ours."

"We don't need the bed just yet," he growled softly, a small smile on his muzzle.

In the next moment he had held her tight and flipped positions, pinning her down to the angled slab he'd been laying against as she chirped and purred. Their waists remained below the water, yet the tale she had shared with him had roused him, reminded him of a moment they'd shared more than a year prior. As she spread her legs for him, his engorged prick sliding its girth against her swollen, needy lips, he dipped low and spoke.

"Do you remember back on Ekibo, after my recovery? When you ignored doctor's orders to avoid extraneous activity?"

She laughed and nodded. "I remember it all- including the part where my mother walked in on us."

"And when she called me 'quite a catch'. I think she liked what she saw."

"If she did, I can't blame her," Syrra replied, licking his chin.

He chuckled in turn, sighing and smiling down at her. "You know... it was her that convinced me to tell you how I felt- to follow you back. If it hadn't been for her, I might've said it eventually, but... it was the right moment then. I'm just sorry I hadn't said it sooner."

Syrra nodded, paws reaching up to cup his face. "We both knew. I knew even before then I loved you. I was ready to die with you. I still am, if it comes to it. Yet I was so scared to say it, you had to prompt it from me."

"But you said it," he murmured in her ear, remembering the rush of affection he felt back then- a rush that had returned in that same moment. "I was ready to stop being alone, to make a change and follow you somewhere amazing. Even if things turned out differently, I would have made the same choice."

"So would I." Their eyes met, sapphire and gold peering into each other.

"If there's anything I can give you tonight, to show you you're my mate even without a ceremony," he whispered, "just tell me."

There was a pause, the feline biting her bottom lip for a few moments before speaking softly. "If you're comfortable with sharing it... I would like your name."

He blinked, confusion briefly settling in. "... I don't--"

"I'd be happy... to share your surname."

The request turned that brief moment of confusion into a flood of pure affection and love, the wolf unable to keep from smiling broadly. It was a rush he'd felt only once before, when Locke had accepted his surname and relationship as his brother. Now that rush had returned as the woman he loved accepted his surname and relationship as his mate.

"Syrra Surnahm... I love you."

Her returning, glowing smile only compounded that flood. "Kajex Surnahm- I love you, too."

His first thought was that he could have started right there. With his cock achingly hard and ready to slide into his mate, he could have started breeding her on the spot. Yet his second thought demanded that she deserved better than that, for him to do his part to make this moment in their lives as special as she had just done. It started with them sharing a deep kiss, his long, gentle tongue sliding into her muzzle as their toned, trained bodies clung to each other. Minutes passed before he broke the kiss, though his lips remained dutiful as he kissed, licked and nipped down her body- she flinched with every playful bite, stirring as if lightning zapped through her each time his teeth dug into her fur.

The gentle tremble of her purrs continued as he treated her neck to erotic kisses, soft gasps breaking the relative silence as he nipped around her collarbone and moved lower. By the time he reached her fur-soaked, soft breasts, the chocolate-hued caps had hardened and darkened, clearly visible in the dim lighting against her golden-cream fur. Her right nipple gave way so easily to his lips, initially firm and yet eventually pliable under the steady, circular swirling motions of his tongue. Devoted as his lips were to the task, it took little more than a large, free paw to stimulate her left breast, the soft tit easily pliable beneath his strong fingers.

Syrra did not remain silent through it all, her moans rising every few moments as they responded to the wolf's foreplay. Blood rushed to every part of her body that needed it, her breasts swelling even as her partner, her mate, suckled and nuzzled the heaving globes of flesh. Yet she did not vocalize a command nor a desire; and the lack of direction was as clear an indication to the wolf that she was putting herself in his paws. A clear, strong tendril of trust connected her to him, ready to accept anything he did to her. When he drew back to give her time to calm down and admire his handiwork, a smile spread across his face- without having to lay a paw on them, her tertiary nipples had swollen slightly, subtle curves having sprouted around the dark-chocolate teats and along her normally trained abdominal muscles.

But he was not going to leave them unattended. He'd loaned her perhaps 20 seconds of rest before he moved in again, large paws catching and kneading her breasts, as his lips latched around the bottom-right nipple, teeth grazing the tender peak. She yelped, gasping and writhing beneath him as her moans mixed with lewd yowls of ecstasy, wordless mewls escaping her muzzle as he alternated between each teat. When a violent shudder ran through her body she blindly reached out, gently rubbing his cheeks an ears as though he were a cub attached to her teats; a fantasy that caused his lust to swell. And yet for all the arousal he was experiencing, for all the incredible aching in his turgid wolf-prick as her mewling and moaning turned him on, the Sentinel did nothing to relieve himself, content to service his mate first.

As he slapped the tub controls to raise the heat, enveloping them in a growing mist, he could think of no better position to do so than on his knees.

Another pause in the intense foreplay lingered as he released his hold on her tits and allowed the feline Jedi to gasp and catch her breath, eyes following her heaving breasts even as he descended lower. Strong though she was, the assault on her body left her with no energy to resist his efforts, if she had any intent on making him stop. Yet she offered no indication, not through her body language, her voice, or through their bond in the Force, to compel him to stop as he spread her legs apart and pushed her up the stone slab, far enough so that her drenched netherlips ascended from the water surface. Another shift in position and her legs rested upon his shoulders, his muzzle inches away from her vaginal folds, close enough that he could tell there was a moist slickness slathered along her netherlips that had nothing to do with sweat or bathwater. The scent alone would have been proof enough, a heady, intoxicating aroma that made him shiver violently for a few moments before he dipped his head low and started.

His eyes remained closed as he committed his efforts to Syrra's loins. He did not need them. Guided by touch and scent, spurred by the sound of his mate mewling and gasping, he knew exactly where his tongue needed to be, the soft, thick appendage darting out and lapping against her clit, tormenting the sensitive buzzer with slow, repeated lashes. The aroma thickened, her hips quivered as fresh dew collected along her netherlips, dribbling against his chin as his tongue worked the nub side-to-side; up and down; swirling around the button slowly. An intense shudder ran through her, legs clenching around his shoulders each time. A quiet growl rumbled in his chest as he attacked once more, catching the bud in his lips and giving it a gentle tug.

The effect was almost instantaneous- before he could react, the Trianii's thick, agile, and powerful tail snaked out and wrapped around his neck firmly, keeping him in place as he released her clit and moved in. With his nose briefly bumping gently against her buzzer, he leaned in against and kissed her netherlips as deeply as he had her muzzle, his tongue plowing past the slick tightness of her breeding hole and lashing against the sweet-flavored velvet halls mercilessly. With his paws cupping her rump, fingers sinking into the flesh, it was easy for him to pull her loins deep into his face, burying his tongue hard into her sweltering depths.

She mewled loudly, and despite the grip around his neck he pulled away in time as she experienced a hard orgasm, gasping as femcum spat and sprayed from her quivering cleft. The heat and humidity of their surroundings only heightened the aroma of her scent, erasing nearly every thought from the wolf's mind save one- the desire to breed his mate. As the orgasm slackened her grip around his neck, he growled and returned to his feet, looming over the panting Trianii and letting her get a good long look at his erect maleness, the hotspring water dribbling from the tip of his tapered cock and heavy balls. Still laying prone against the angled slab, she looked so vulnerable, yet utterly content with her predicament. A sapphire glint in her eyes was the signal he needed to follow through, dropping back into the water and pulling her down with him.

Whether guided by the Force, or by natural instinct borne from the desire to be bred, she had descended perfectly into his lap, his cock lancing past her tight folds and sheathing into the velvet depths of her cleft. Now it was the wolf's turn to sigh and groan, his aching prick subjected to the intense massage of the Trianii's vice-like pussy. Despite the crushing sensation of her cleft around his length, his cockflesh only yielded to a degree, hard enough to keep its shape and powerful enough that Kajex could feel her inner walls stretch around him every time his wolfprick throbbed and expanded. Though only five seconds had passed, the overwhelming sensations seemed to have drawn those seconds out and stretched them into many minutes between them, before the wolf was able to shake the hazy lust out of his head and refocus on Syrra.

By now the Trianii looked more lucid, though no less pleasured. "I've never been so ready for you in my life," she whispered, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him into her.

"Believe me... I need you just as badly," he groaned, his nose touching her cheek. He drew his hips back, groaning as the feline's tight passage suckled around his cock, trying to pull him back into her soft embrace; once half his length had been unsheathed, he rocked back into her with carefully measured force, the water around his waist sloshing as his hips collided against her bottom and inner-thighs. They gasped in unison, their bodies meeting once more with Kajex providing the thrust, Syrra meeting back his movements with subtle counter-thrusts. Without conscious thought or spoken word, her claws dug into his shoulders as he began to breed her.

The atmosphere was nothing short of carnal. With steam rising from the pool, the heat of the water making their fur tingle, the scent of sex heavy in the air; it was easy for Kajex to imagine they were in the middle of the wilderness, isolated from civilization as they gave into natural instinct and attempted to procreate. Every desperate thrust caused his heavy, soaked balls to bounce against her ass with a thick, wet slap; every beat of their hips made the swollen orbs tingle pleasantly, at least until the tingle developed into a yearning ache. Yet as incredible as this sensation was, it could not compare to the pressure his cock was being put under, as he continued to drill deeper into her crevice; while the seconds wore on, despite his bucking slowly lifting her out of the water along the angled stone slab, her trembling quim refused to release his prick without a struggle.

Nevertheless, he was able to power through the grip, his pace increasing as he stared down at the mewling Trianii. Through the haze of lust and steam he could see her tits bouncing, the shock of his pounding keeping them in motion- at least until his left paw intercepted her right breast, fingers squeezing into the pliable mound as he leaned low. At the same moment, she leaned her head to the side; despite being rendered incapable of speaking, she had anticipated his next move, offering her neck to the wolf as he subjected it to a series of firm bites and deep kisses. That she was willing to trust him so deeply made his heart burn hotter for her, redoubling the force and speed of his rut.

Despite the aching need to breed her, the need to make their intimacy last took precedence. Over a year of making love to the same woman had not resulted in boredom- indeed, in that time he had discovered new things about both her and himself, able to keep the pressure contained over time, a feat made easier through their Force bond. When the vessel threatened to boil over and douse her heat, he eased his pace and basked in her warmth, resorting to gentle thrusts and intimate affections; when the fire weakened, he stoked it and added fuel, rebuilding the blaze. In this way he kept the heat between them building and ebbing, drawing out their passionate lovemaking and testing the limits of their endurance beyond what they normally experienced.

The moment he felt her reaching out to him through the Force, beckoning for the deeper connection she wished to share with him, he latched on. In the space of a moment, his mind went from solely being his own to being melded with the Trianii Jedi, every thought and desire bared for him. The heat in their loins increased, delicious aching pain as they edged towards the apex of physical pleasure that only worsened, or perhaps improved, the long their minds remained linked. His left paw left her breast, both paws seeking his mate's. A moment of blind groping followed, ceasing as their palms met at the same instant. Fingers of flesh and machine intertwined, the back of both her natural and cybernetic paws pinned to the stone slab as her legs wrapped around his waist.

Another raw thrust- but this one stopped short and confusion set in. Tension gnawed at the base of his cock as his throbbing knot prevented him from deep penetration. An annoyed whine poured through his muzzle as he struggled to force the bulb past her cleft, dimly wondering how it could still remain so hard even after more than a year of passionate fucking between them. Worry and desperation started to build until a warm tendril of compassion stroked through him, prompting him to look up into the beautiful sapphire eyes of his mate.

"Silly dog... you don't have to struggle."

The resistance evaporated as she unclenched around his cock, her cleft swallowing his knot easily- once inside, she re-clenched, her inner walls bearing down around the pulsing bulb and draining him of his sexual endurance. And though they arched their backs as they shared a mutual climax, though their paws squeezed tightly, though they cried out each other's names in unison, they did not look away, gold staring into blue, blue into gold.

A tsunami of heated seed channeled from his balls, through the throbbing cumvein running along the base of his cock, spewing from the tip in tremendous gouts and quickly flooding her womb to its capacity. The heat of the pool was nothing compared to the boiling sensation Syrra felt in her belly, as it attempted to ravage the fertile space in hopeful yet futile attempts to sire offspring; a sensation Kajex could still feel through their melded minds. The torrent did not stop easily, his cock sensitive and painful as it poured everything he had built over the last hour, the excess causing too much pressure such that he could feel it escaping the tight seal of his knot, splattering thick ropes of it against the angled slab that sloughed into the pool.

But it did stop, tapering off after a minute of his hard orgasm. Though he had every intention of continuing to service his mate, exhaustion overwhelmed him and he doubled over, resting his head on the Trianii's breasts while he panted. He felt Syrra's cybernetic paw leave his, running through his wet hair and rubbing behind his ears, making him shake with quiet chuckles. Her presence in his mind slipped away, leaving a pleasant sense of exhaustion in its wake; a sensation that only seemed to make the warmth between them more comforting.

For a while, time seemed to be completely irrelevant, causing the wolf to wonder if he had dozed off for a few moments. It certainly seemed to feel that way, as once he'd roused himself, his breathing was back to normal; as was Syrra's, who made no comment on how much time had passed. The blush on her face and smile along her muzzle suggested that she had nodded off as well.

There was an awkward pause between them as they both slid back into the water, still attached by the wolf's aching knot. It was Syrra who broke it first.

"... You know... maybe we don't need to be married."

Without context, Kajex was sure he would have panicked, wondered if he had done something wrong, if some invisible issue had damaged the love between them. But he simply nodded and smiled, understanding.

"It would be nice to have a union ceremony," he replied, giving her cyber-paw a tender squeeze.

"It would be very nice," she agreed. "And pointless. Beautiful, exciting, fun... and pointless." She nuzzled his cheek. "I'm already living with you, training with you, fighting by your side, loving you for who you are. I have a bond with you through the Force that persists every moment. I have more than I need... and I'm more than content with it."

"A union won't grant you the ability to have kids between us," Kajex added. "And if we're lucky enough to get to that point, to actually have kids, we'd still be a family even without a marriage." He paused, kissing her nose. "... Buuuut... if you want to keep having special moments like these, I'm game. And if there ever comes a moment of peace, where we're clear for it--"

"Then I'm taking it," Syrra cut him off with a grin. "Because it's okay to be a little selfish. And because that's the only way you'll ever get to see the dress my mother wants me to wear- I think you'll love it... or at least love me taking it off."

He raised an eyebrow. "... That nice, huh?"

She blushed hard. "I had to step outside to calm down after imagining my mother wearing it," she giggled.

He laughed along with her, sighing as they embraced once again. "Think you'll be good to go again soon?" he asked, winking.

She nodded, nuzzling into his neck and purring deeply. "Once we dry off, yeah- as long as we take it to the bed this time. I'd like to be warm and fluffy for you."

Saph's quarters were by no means frugal. She possessed little in the way of personal belongings beyond her slicing equipment, her modular pistol and its attachments, and a few articles of clothing and armor she'd picked up over the years; yet while the interior of her quarters was comfortable, it was still relatively bare and limited in space. About the only thing available to take her mind off of things was the bunkside computer console, which was now locked out of the holonet, access limited only to training programs in preparation for the mission she was about to undertake.

She made no attempts to use this console for the purpose of reviewing the mission details, however. By now she knew them by heart, as well as the objectives she was assigned to. Hours earlier she had met the team Thresher was leading, none of whom seemed to stand out- all of them appeared to be Imperial Army or Stormtrooper Corps washouts that had been granted an extra chance. She had memorized their names and appearances for the purpose of a smoother command. Nothing more. The only use for the console now was to get in a few more hours of learning the Trianii language, aided by yet another kolto supplment.

She could not explain how "Abbatar" worked, being just as amazed with its effects as everyone else. In the space of a week the supplement gave her and the other Dark Acolytes the ability to understand any language they had studied, though for obvious reasons the Sith Knights and Inquisitors insisted that the Trianii language be the focus of their efforts. She did not stop there, however; seeking to limit as much time fraternizing with her teammates, the Lepi had put her focus toward studying the complex language as well as Mandalorian.

Even as the effects were starting to fade, she did not cease. "<Retreat. Find cover. Flanking position. Cease fire.>" She spoke each word quietly but clearly in the Trianii tongue. "<Defensive positions. Move in. Frag out. Cover me. Take poi-->"

A ping sounded, audible enough even with her earbuds snugly in place. With a few taps on the screen she ceased the recording and looked up. "<Come i-->" she stopped short, having reflexively spoken in Trianii before consciously switching to Basic. "Come in."

The hatch slid open and revealed two figures- the first was hunched over obediently, ducking into the room and setting several armor pieces and a folded bodysuit on the desk next to her before bowing low and shuffling away, leaving the second figure to enter. Saph set the console aside and nearly got up from the bunk before Thresher raised his fin hand, gesturing her to remain seated.

"Still studying, I see," he remarked quietly. "You have reached capable fluency, I hope."

"In Trianii and Mandalorian," Saph assured him. "I know it wasn't part of the orders you gave me, but I figured it'd help with the bounty hunter- just in case."

"Clever," Thresher replied with nod. "Once again your willingness to go the extra distance has shown itself." He gestured to the armor pieces. "Every piece of equipment was customized to fit your profile and skillset while you're out in the field. The bodysuit includes connection ports in the wrist to aid with your slicing. Consider it a gift for your perseverance so far- I have no doubt you'll make good use of it."

"Assuming I live through this first mission," Saph sighed. Appreciative of the gesture though she was, the distraction from her studies and refocus on the task she'd be assigned was beginning to gnaw on her nerves once again. "I'm used to small task forces with singular objectives, to be honest."

"Trust to your training and you will survive," Thresher assured her. "And at least be thankful you're not being tasked with locating and capturing any of the specimens outlined for the primary task force. Skilled though you are, I wish to minimize the chance you'll meet your death while making full use of your abilities. This will be an adequate test of what you've learned thus far."

She nodded. "Then I'll try not to disappoint. So, was there a reason you wanted to visit me? Didja need me to blow you or somethin'? Because I'm not keen on that just yet, boss."

"I'll bear that in mind," Thresher noted. "I decided it was best to inform you that our spy network intercepted more info regarding the mission. I'd had my suspicions that the Sentinel would be assigned to the planet for the purpose of diplomatic relations, if only because he's bonded with a former Trianii noble brat, and she has been key in establishing these ties."

Saph scowled. "Figures... that son of a bitch probably forgot all about Rik and got himself hooked up with some rich Wild Space cunt."

"He's on the surface of Pouma V," Thresher informed her. "And he'll be in the city while we conduct our operation."

The Lepi froze, seconds going by as she trembled. "... I see. So what happens if I just happen to meet him?"

"You're not to engage."

The rabbit grit her teeth and sighed in frustration. "Why not? I know I can take him at this poi--"

"You know nothing if you think your current skills will be sufficient enough to match his, much less take his life," Thresher snapped. "As I've reminded you in the past, he is a Jedi Sentinel who has spent nearly three decades of his life in service or in training. Even with Warsword and Abbatar running through your veins, he holds nearly every advantage possible, save one- he knows nothing of your existence. And that will not be enough."

"But—"

"You'll never serve your brother through death. For your own sake... stay away from him. You have my word that you will eventually have the chance to meet him on as equal footing as can be obtained, once the Circle's plans come to fruition."

There was a sincerity to his words she'd never heard from him before, a tone that seemed to cause her fury to ebb away as she nodded curtly. "Okay... but I'm not going to sit around and do nothing, either. If there's any chance I can get him back in some way," she asked, "what should I do?"

Thresher folded his arms, regarding her hesitantly. "His packmates are Jedi Knights at this point, and well beyond your ability to fight. However, he has brought along some of his kin- wolves identified as the 'Black Tomb' pack, who have accepted Jedi tutelage. There is no indication that they are exceptionally powerful, but we must assume they have been training to some degree. Nevertheless, I don't doubt that Surnahm feels some connection to these whelps, so if the chance should present itself, killing at least one of them may leave an impression. Killing either of the Imperial traitors will also suffice, and garner tremendous favor with both the Circle and the Remnant."

Saph nodded. "Fine. I'll stay away from Surnahm then, as long as I have your word I'll get him later."

"I've given everyone explicit orders to avoid contact with him," the shark said as he returned to the hatch. "Even fools like Knight Yuda have agreed to stay back. I shall be the only one to engage him. Before you object," he said, intercepting her argument before she could make it, "I have no intention of killing him. Injuring him, perhaps; ideally I'd take the life of one of his packmates. But as it would be unusual to avoid conflict outright, someone will need to confront him in combat, so the task falls to me. Do you agree?"

She sighed but nodded. "Fair enough. If it's going to be like that, though... then I'd appreciate you causing him as much pain as possible."

The Sith Knight shark treated her to a small smile. "Oh, you've nothing to worry about that, Acolyte. You might already be aware that causing immeasurable pain is my specialty."

She shuddered. "Most folks wouldn't say that with a tone of pride and a smile on their face, y'know."

"Perhaps not. Yet how I employ it often produces satisfactory results. And on that note I'll leave you be. Get some rest, the shuttles will leave at 0400- and you'll need the energy to produce the satisfactory results I expect from you."

"Yes, my lord," she said softly.