FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

_ "N _i kyr'tayl gai sa'ad, Rriyan." (lit. I know your name as my child, Rriyan)

~Leader of Clan Kiif

Shortly after joining the Gold Rush as part of Kajex's crew, Talrik had learned to get to sleep before the pilot and co-pilot retired to the captain's quarters and wake up before either of them did, a practice that ensured that he got hot water to himself before Kajex and Syrra siphoned most of it when they showered together. It was a practice that had become ingrained in him even when he started sleeping with the both of them, though on those occasions they would all use the crew showers (and sometimes fuck around). Even with more than half a year in their company he made it a point to do this, and with a larger crew than before it became more important. So when he woke up and peeled himself away from the strong but gentle arms of Miles Lohess, it was his first impulse to get to the crew 'fresher as quietly as possible.

He'd heard Syrra and Keris moaning the night before, which suggested that Kajex and Locke had some fun before turning in; the fact that neither Locke nor Keris came back to the crew quarters was indication that they'd likely joined the engaged couple and slept together- Kaj's bed was certainly large enough. He grinned to himself as he pulled his boxers back on, as while he might have otherwise been a little jealous in not being invited to join in, he'd had some good fun to himself with the Miraluka, who was now beginning to stir. Talrik wondered briefly if the eyeless near-human had noticed his fluffy, fox-shaped body pillow had disappeared, and grinned when Miles did.

“Catchin' an early shower before the water gets used up?"

The fox nodded. “Not gonna freeze my ass off again like the last two days." He leaned in, nuzzling and licking the soldier's cheek. “Thanks so much for last night, Miles- it was really sweet of you," he purred affectionately.

“Heh, don't mention it kid. I'mma catch a couple more hours of sleep, now that I've got the room to myself. Don't drop the soap, kit," he added with a chuckle.

Talrik stifled a laugh, trying to keep quiet as he pulled a tunic over him and stepped out into the hall. Another Dakuan storm had drifted overhead and was pouring torrents of rain over the ship's hull, doing much to mask the fox's already stealthy footsteps. Part of him considered crossing the lounge, but then he recalled that their newest hire, Rook, had been offered the couch. A part of him felt guilty for not informing her that one of the crew bunks was open, but then again he wanted a bit of privacy with Miles as they had their own bit of fun- and as she didn't seem to think much of him, it was hard to feel too guilty. Instead of risking an early-morning encounter with the Selonian, he tiptoed the ship's circular corridor counter-clockwise, stopping only briefly to peek in at Kaj's new pet, which was wide awake and readjusting itself on the Olbio branch. Though Keris found the creature “creepy and weird", Talrik thought the critter was pretty cute.

He reached the crew 'fresher without encountering anybody, musing inwardly what it would be like to have a crew of 14 onboard the Gold Rush- without a room for everyone, there'd almost certainly be a lack of privacy. Yet for the time being, he was satisfied knowing he had the crew 'fresher to himself, with Miles getting some more rest and the 4 Jedi crewmembers having used it the night before. So when he'd stripped down and stepped beneath the steaming-hot deluge of water, the fox felt there was very little in the universe capable of souring the morning.

But then, he'd forgotten briefly there were now seven crewmembers on board, instead of six.

He hadn't heard her enter the 'fresher as he soaked his ears in the pleasantly hot torrent of water, his eyes closed as he relaxed beneath the showerhead. When he lifted his head and reached for a nearby bottle of cleansing solution, it took him a moment to notice the pure white body of a nude female Selonian standing to his right, relaxing beneath a separate shower head with an expression of deep comfort on her features. Completely startled by her presence, he yelped and slipped, falling on his backside- her reaction was to turn and regard him with confusion.

“... Good mornin' to you too," Rook muttered. “What, afraid of girls in the bathroom? I ain't gonna give you parasites."

“What are you doing in here?" he asked automatically, trying to get his breathing under control.

She frowned, running her paws through her black and red-highlighted hair. “Yer boss said I was free to raid the galley and use the crew 'fresher. Woulda done the latter last night, but it was... heh... 'occupied,'" she remarked with a chuckle.

The fox sighed, nodding as he got back to his feet. “Right... wasn't hard to hear everything, I heard it from the crew quarters, too."

She smirked, grabbing the bottle of cleanser before he could and scrubbing it into her fur, glancing at him. “You weren't exactly quiet either, foxboy. So you and the big guy are paired up, too?"

Trying not to let the otter get under his fur, he looked away and shook his head, reaching for another bottle of cleanser to his other side. “No, we're just... friends. With benefits. Besides, Miles is a nice guy- I don't mind spending evenings with him occasionally."

“Don't worry, I ain't gonna judge you and your 'pack'- 's not like the Mandalorians don't have their own same-sex relationships, too," she stated casually.

There was a moment of awkward silence (or at least a moment of silence that was awkward for him) where Talrik barely moved. After a minute or so, he cleared his throat. “How's your arm?"

She scoffed. “Y'got good aim, foxboy- I wasn't expecting you to toss a knife. You got me exactly the way you needed to, but it'll take more than that to take care of me," she boasted, cuffing her left upper arm- Talrik's eyes were drawn to the deep red ink tattoo that formed what appeared to be an elongated beast-skull, which matched the other on her opposite arm. “Still, healed up pretty well. Dunno if I'm expected to do any fightin' today, but I think I've earned a little break."

“So does the rest of the crew," Talrik muttered.

“No kiddin'," the otter agreed with a laugh. “You guys must be tougher than average if one of you nearly dies and you fail a mission, and yet still decide to bang each other to unwind." There was another awkward pause, and this time Talrik had a feeling it was Rook who felt the awkwardness. “So, uh... does that happen often?" she asked with an air of hesitation. He glanced at her carefully and noticed what appeared to be a slight blush on her face.

He didn't answer immediately. There were plenty of ways to answer based on what she was trying to ask, but he eventually decided she meant sex in general on the ship. With a shrug, he formed an answer. “Often enough, I guess. We're open with each other, it'd be fair for us to say we consider everyone on this ship family- minus you, no offense," he said.

“Does that include Surnahm and his bro?" she pressed. “Like, are they actually brothers, and do they actually fuck?"

He frowned. “They are and they do- and even if not by blood, they also happen to be my brothers," he added aggressively. “So what?"

She chuckled. “No need to get riled up- I ain't gonna judge your friends or family. It's just weird, is all."

“Why weird?" he asked shortly, as he started to lather soap into his fur.

“Because- not that it's a bad thing- the way your family works, it's like a buncha aruetii decided to adopt a more sexualized version of a Mandalorian lifestyle where it concerns family. The only reason I know better is because 4 of you are Jedi, which is even weirder. I thought Jedi weren't supposed to love or marry, and they were boring, chaste killjoys- except that your captain has a holo card-table, holo-games on his servers, Corellian ale and a fiancee; and apparently likes to fuck in groups," she added with a smirk. “He seems like the type to work hard and party harder, almost like he's not a Jedi."

Talrik stared at her initially out of uncertainty, but once she looked away it only took a few moments for his gaze to scan the rest of her body as she bathed. He'd expected her to have a toned, athletic body and he was not disappointed to find that she possessed the body of a powerful swimmer, nevertheless complimented by gentle, smooth curves typical of trained yet attractive female bodies. Having become so used to Syrra and Keris larger-than-average breasts, Talrik found Rook's comparatively petite bust to be... cute. And while she possessed a rump that was similar in shape to both other women, her thicker tail seemed to accentuate it all the better.

He looked away just in to avoid being seen ogling the Selonian's body, or so he hoped. Yet he found himself inwardly cursing as his loins stirred from the sight, knowing it would only be a matter of time before--

“Whoa. Uh... you're peekin', foxboy," the Selonian said. He winced, sparing her a brief glance and noticing her wide, red eyes and deep blush. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “... You're not getting' hard over me, are you?"

He steeled his nerves, shaking his head. “No- just thinking about what you said reminded me of something Kajex and I did, is all." He noticed her skeptical expression and looked away. “Anyway, I was gonna say that Kajex used to be a classically-trained Jedi. Pre-Purge, in fact; he's technically older than he looks. But he wasn't and isn't a big fan of the non-relationship prohibitions of the old Jedi Order. The new one doesn't prohibit close relationships."

“What about fuckin'?" the Selonian asked.

“Kajex tells me that physical relationships weren't banned even back in his day. I guess even the pre-Purge Jedi Order knew it'd be a stupid idea to prevent people from boning- which is dumb because having sex with other Jedi would probably end with them building a relationship."

“And you believe him?"

Talrik nodded. “He's not the only one. Master Moarn, the Trandoshan you met yesterday, had told us the same. Master Skywalker, too. Sex wasn't something they prohibited- marriage and 'attachment' was."

“So does he have attachments to spite the old-school Jedi?"

“Of course not," Talrik answered coldly, not looking at her. “Kajex has a lot of good reasons to dislike the old Jedi Order, but he's attached to us because he actually cares about the people he's surrounded himself with; and we care for him, and each other, too. We'd die for one another, but that has nothing to do with how often or well we hit our sexual peaks." He took in a breath, wondering for a moment if he'd angered her with his rough answer, only to be mildly surprised as she seemed to look thoughtful.

“... That's actually a lot more sensible than one might expect," she mused. “Weird, but in a good way."

There was a pause as Talrik regarded her curiously. “So... how does it work for Selonians?"

Something about the comment made her flinch, a cold expression building on her features- but some subtlety about it caused him to feel that she was not directing that negativity towards him. She shrugged shortly. “Couldn't say, personally. I'm not like the standard Selonian that subjugates males and gets antsy when they don't reach a consensus- most Selonians don't care much for individuality. Trust me, if I were raised as a Selonian, I wouldn't be here; I'd just be some infertile runt in a den, forced to serve some fuckin' fatass, fertile female for the entirety of my life."

“That bad, huh?" the fox said softly.

“I guess they're used to it," she sighed as she rinsed off, “but it's not like I'll ever know. For future reference, though... ni cuy' Mando sol'yc. Not Selonian."

Though he didn't understand the language, he thought he understood what it meant. “Okay, so... if you're more Mandalorian than Selonian, then how does it work for Mandalorians?" he asked as he started to wash his hair.

She regarded him quizzically for a few moments, and it occurred to him that she might find it unusual or intrusive that he'd want to know. Nevertheless, she didn't voice her hesitation when she finally answered. “Well first off, it's life-long- and it's important to other Mando'ade. We don't take unions lightly, and there's very little that either spouse can do to warrant a divorce. As part of the Resol'nare, the six central tenants to living as a Mandalorian, defending your family and loyalty to the clan is pretty high on the list of priorities."

“That's not all that unusual," Talrik commented. “What clan are you a part of?"

“Clan Kiif- hence the 'A'kiif in my real name. It's small, formed pretty recently and spread out, but we get by okay- and we trust each other, which has been a bit hard for a lot of clans lately," she sighed wistfully.

“Why's that, if you don't mind my asking?"

“Not a whole lotta them are convinced our current Mand'alor is worth following, seein' as he's put a lot of time into helping the Rebel Alliance and New Republic. Mandalorians have got a long history; fightin' the Republic, fightin' the Jedi, fightin' the Sith- hell, I don't think there's a major group in the galaxy the Mandalorians haven't fought. But at least when we fight 'em, we're direct about the fact- we try not to do secret shit unless absolutely necessary, and Fenn Shysa, the current Mandalore, has done it once... which to some clans is once too many."

“Is it really that bad? There's nothing wrong in pragmatic discretion," Talrik reasoned.

“Maybe not, but then again we're a culture that's all for dealin' with people directly and honestly- yer expected to say what you mean and keep your word. Goin' back to family and marriage, makin' a union means you've made a promise that you're expected to keep. When I told your buddy Miles yesterday that Mandalorians say what they mean and mean what they say... well, I meant it." She paused. “That goes for how we address people, too. For example, I find it unsettlin' and kinda insultin' that you haven't bothered lookin' me in the eyes since we started talkin', even though I've been trying to look into yours every time we've addressed each other."

For a moment Talrik wondered if the hot water had run out and been replaced with frigid water cooled in the vacuum of space- only to realize he was feeling embarrassment. He winced, taking in a breath and turning to her. She did not seem particularly angry, but did look slightly disappointed as she folded her arms and leaned against the wall, regarding him with a furrowed brow.

“I... well I figured since..."

“My nudity ain't a good enough excuse in our culture- we're not ashamed of our own bodies, and you don't gotta look at it to look me in the face," she said before he could say it. “Granted, I'll let all of it slide because you're aruetii, an 'outsider'. You didn't know either, so I'm not mad or anythin'. But now that you know, I gotta ask- how are you gonna address me?"

He stared at her for a few moments, considering the question. “Would you prefer it if I address you the way your people do, even if I'm an outsider?"

“Hell, it'd help if someone on this ship at least had a basic understanding of where I'm coming from."

He nodded, trying to keep consistent eye contact. “Then I'll try to address you directly."

She stared back for a few moments, eyeing him critically before smiling- the effect took Talrik aback slightly. “Talrik, right?" He nodded. “Thanks. You're alright, Talrik." She turned away, pausing for a moment before looking back at him with a slightly shy smile. “... And you're welcome to look- I sure as hell don't mind." Another pause and she snickered as she glanced down. “And from the looks of it, neither do you."

The fox winced again- his cock had started to stir and was at half-fullness. “I'd say something nice, but... I get the feeling that's not proper."

She turned off the showerhead. “Nope... not unless you intend to join my clan and marry me," she said with a grin, walking towards the lockers and grabbing a towel, leaving the Amaran Ranger feeling perplexed (and slightly horny).

It had been 3 days since the incident in the Black Tomb, and most of the details of the excavation had been handled properly, giving the crew of the Gold Rush little to do. Once cleared to leave, Kajex informed them they'd make the trip to Corellia. Locke had hoped to get in one last look at his recently discovered kin before the Gold Rush left Dakua for Corellia. They were scheduled to leave in a few hours, and Locke had been pleased when Kajex told him that he needed to speak with Moarn to figure out what the Jedi Master had in mind before starting to educate them. It gave Locke time to wander the Inspired and visit the medbay where the temple guardian pack was staying, kept under guard by an alert Jedi Padawan at least a decade younger than the twins, stationed at the hatch. Someone apparently had a stroke of brilliance and placed a holoprojector in the center of the room, which had activated at some point and was displaying an array of off-world locales in high-quality. Locke had no doubt the wolves knew what the device was, on some level, but it nevertheless kept their interest up as muffled audio played, detailing each environment's flora and fauna.

Before long, however, one of them turned their head in Locke's direction, his ears perked up. He was the same wolf that Rook had wounded, the one that looked like a carbon copy of Kajex, albeit perhaps shorter and younger- and he was looking directly at Locke. The white wolf blinked; he'd been told the viewport had been one-way, with no means for anyone within to see anybody outside- yet there was no mistaking the fact that this wolf was staring at him curiously. Wondering briefly if perhaps this wolf's connection to the Force allowed him to sense Locke beyond physical sight, he lifted a paw hesitantly and placed it on the viewport.

There was a brief moment in which the younger-looking wolf seemed to brighten, his tail wagging for a few moments before approaching the viewport with very little hesitation. Locke watched intently as Kajex's mirror-image pressed his nose against the glass, staring at him a few moments more before lifting his paw and placing it on the one-way glass, directly opposite Locke's. A small, sincere smile that seemed full of understanding formed on the temple guardian's muzzle- a smile that Locke couldn't help matching.

Distracted though he was by the moment, Locke did not fail to sense Kajex approach him, ears perking up as the Sentinel spoke. “I had a talk with Moarn, he tells me his intention is to have a handful of healers come by later today and reverse the damage done to their brains- it's not a particularly hard job." He paused as he noticed his near-perfect mirror in the window, smiling up at Locke, letting out a chuckle. “Isn't that viewport supposed to be one-way viewing only?"

The white wolf nodded. “It is- I think this pup has felt us out," he answered softly, watching as the pup's attention was turned towards Kajex- the younger wolf placed his other paw on the glass, looking up at the Sentinel expectantly. “I get the feeling that you and I forge Force bonds easily- perhaps it's simply a quality of our species, and we're just naturally Force-sensitive. It might help explain why there are so few of us, if we've ended up being caught in conflicts with Sith."

Kajex nodded, placing his paw on the glass- his mirror was now all smiles, causing both twins to chuckle. “Moarn says he'll keep us informed of anything he learns about this pack. I agreed to let him keep constant surveillance on them, both to keep them safe and to study them more closely. They'll be allowed to stay in this wing, and once Moarn is able to communicate with them he'll explain the situation to them in full."

“Good," Locke said distantly, as the wolf moved away and returned to his bunk, tossing up a few pillows and sheets as he seemed to search for something. “... I'd like to return here at least once every other week, if not every weekend. I want to know that they're doing well."

“I'm all for it," Kajex agreed. “I want to be kept constantly updated as well. Gotta look out for ours, after all."

“So what did Moarn say about their education?" Locke asked.

“Moarn has skill in imbuing knowledge into others through the Force- kinda the opposite of how Sith Inquisitors pull information out of people's minds. It only really works if the subjects really want to learn, but like he said this pack seems inquisitive and curious, so that might not be all that difficult. He'll start by granting them knowledge of Basic, if they don't already know it. After that, he figures he can combine that with modified holographic flash-training to give them an accelerated learning program- no telling how long it'll take until they can start talking again, though," he added, looking troubled. Figuring that Kajex was still feeling worried, Locke moved in beside him and put an arm around his shoulders.

“Don't fret too much, brother. It's exciting and a little daunting to know we have kin and that they'll be helped, but we can't let that get in the way of our performance- or theirs. Keris and I will need your help to train as Jedi, and we're all going to need your help to put down the Circle. Our kin will be fine," he assured his sibling warmly, pressing his nose against the other's.

Kajex smiled appreciatively, looking ready to say something in response, but a thump at the viewport made both of them jump- the younger wolf had pressed his nose up against the one-way looking glass once again and was wagging his tail excitedly, holding a small cloth bag in one paw. Locke frowned, turning to the Padawan stationed at the hatch and getting her attention.

“Pardon me, ma'am- but how did this pup manage to get ahold of that bag? And what's in it?"

The guard, a dark-skinned Jedi with black hair, turned and spotted the bag in the wolf's paw. “He had that on him when we brought them onboard. We ran full scans on all of them; the items within, whatever they may be, checked out alright."

“You didn't confiscate it from them?" Locke asked, arching an eyebrow.

“We didn't want to stress them- Moarn said they might've been locked up for centuries or millenia. The last thing we wanted to do was take away any of their stuff, it might be keepsakes from their own people." She turned her attention to the wolf. “I think you're little brother in there wants you to follow him," she added, as the younger wolf started inching away from them towards the hatch, looking at the both of them expectantly.

The two brothers gave each other confused glances before following, the younger wolf leading them to the other side of the viewport until they were at the hatch. As soon as they were within a few meters of it, he started pawing anxiously at the door, a plaintive look in his eyes. A couple of the other wolves in the room perked up and watched him curiously, looking interested but untroubled. Locked turned to the Padawan.

“I think he wishes to see us face-to-face. Would it be possible for you to open the hatch?" he asked.

The Jedi hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I suppose there would be no trouble- you're both are more experienced than I, and they're your people. Let me just call it in to Master Moarn, just so he knows," she requested, reaching to her belt for a comlink and speaking indistinctly into it.

Kajex cocked his head. “What do you think he wants, Locke?"

“If I'm reading his thoughts correctly... I think he wishes to give us something," the white wolf responded softly- the younger wolf's pawing ceased as the Padawan approached them.

“Master Moarn says that the room is to be sealed at all times and not to be entered by anyone except him- and you two," she added, moving to the hatch controls and keying in the code. “Just keep it in the room."

The hatch slid open and immediately the younger wolf poked his head out, letting out what seemed to be a relieved sigh- the Jedi guard raised her hand up to indicate to him to stay back, but he ignored her as he stepped out a bit shyly, approaching the two Jedi brothers with a bashful look. Out the corner of his eye, Locke noticed the rest of the pack had moved to peek out the door, overwhelming the Jedi Padawan's attempt to keep them in. Looking at a loss, she shrugged at the two, eliciting a chuckle from Kajex.

“It's fine, kid- we can coax them back in later." He turned his attention to the approaching wolf. “Gosh, he looks just like me," he said with slight awe in his voice. “Whatcha got for us, buddy?"

The younger wolf's tail wagged in response to the Sentinel's gentle words, smiling at them. He took in a deep breath and stared at the bag in his paws for a few moments. Then, with a firm nod, held it out to the both of them.

Locke smiled, shaking his head. “I appreciate it, but you should keep it," he said gently, conveying his words into thoughts the wolf could better understand as he pushed the wolf's paws back. “I'm certain it must be very important to you, for you to have kept it with you so long."

The younger wolf shook his head emphatically, letting out a quiet whine and offering it to them again. Locke thought he could feel a tendril of thought leave the temple guardian, filtering into his mind. They weren't words, but feelings, feelings that the contents in the bag weren't special to him; but that it was important that Locke and Kajex take them and put them to use, as a gift for their kindness.

Locke turned to his brother, the Sentinel staring back. “I... felt that too," he said, before Locke could ask. “... If he's sure...?"

Kajex's mirror nodded, smiling and nodding vigorously- he tugged the drawstring keeping the cloth bag closed and reached inside, fishing around for something. Locke couldn't see anything, save for a couple of glints caught in the overhead lights that disappeared into his paw. He looked back up and grabbed Locke's paw, holding it upright and placing three small silver gemstones into his palm.

The Guardian stared at the gift. He could not identify the stones, nor could he say with any certainty that they were of any particular value- but the gift was more than enough to knock the wind out of him, the significance of it nearly overwhelming him. Thus, when he looked up and saw the wolf's satisfied smile, there seemed to be no point in thanking him for it- he already knew. Instead, he grinned and reached out, rubbing behind to wolf's ears affectionately.

But he wasn't done, either- despite obviously enjoying the ear-rub, he reluctantly pulled away from Locke's paw and he grabbed Kajex's, placing another gem into his paw. The warmth that Locke felt nearly evaporated as he quickly identified the stone, just as Kajex's face registered shock.

Golden-yellow. Glowing.

Kajex regarded the wolf with a stunned expression. “Kid... you have no idea how happy I am you gave this to me." He reached out and rubbed the younger male's ears, trading significant looks with his brother. They would have spoken, had he not reached out and put a paw on each of their chests, looking as if he was straining with something.

Locke reached out, squeezing his shoulder in concern. “Are you alright? Do you need a healer?"

The wolf shook his head, whining slightly as he wordlessly moved his muzzle, looking as if he was concentrating on something. He licked his lips, placing a paw on his chest and looked at each of them. Both brothers perked up as his muzzle issued a sound. “K-khc--"

The nearby Padawan blinked. “What?"

Locke brought a finger to his lips, shushing her gently. “Take it slow, lad... what are you trying to say?" he asked hopefully.

“K..." The wolf swallowed, whining again before taking a deep breath and patting his chest for emphasis, his voice soft and weak. “Ke... Ken-toh." He sighed in relief, his tail wagging as he smiled. “Kentoh," he repeated a little more smoothly as he pointed at himself.

Locke brightened. “Your name."

He nodded, looking ecstatic that they'd understood.

The white wolf's warm smile returned as he gestured to himself and the Sentinel, who smiled back.

“I'm Locke, and this is my brother Kajex." He rubbed the younger wolf's ears again. “It's good to meet you, Kentoh."

“How did he get it?"

Kajex sighed, his face in his paws as he leaned back in his pilot's seat. “I have no idea, Syrra, he couldn't convey that information to me. Believe me, I really wish I knew where he got it, and how- I don't want the Sith to know a member of my own species was carrying a Healing Crystal of Fire."

“Does he know what it can do?" Talrik asked behind him.

“He didn't tell us that- Kentoh's ability to speak is limited to his name and conveying basic feelings to us through the Force. And when he recovers, I'm not going to aggressively press him for answers, because I'm positive the answer is that he doesn't know what it is, or what it does."

“How do you figure that?" Locke asked.

The Sentinel didn't answer immediately, looking out into the deep blue, undulating tunnel of hyperspace. “It takes a bit of training to learn how to heal through the Force, and if there's one thing I doubt our kin has, it's exceptional Force training. And being as they were interned in the Black Tomb for who the hell knows how long, I'm inclined to think they were unwilling slaves to whatever Sith masters stationed them there; so not only do I think their own masters wouldn't have devoted time and energy towards studying and training others in healing skills, they would have prevented any kind of Force training to take place at all in their own servants." He turned to Talrik. “You saw how they fought- well enough to keep us on the back foot, but untrained in Force abilities to the point of eventually being subdued."

“They were weak after all that time, though," Talrik pointed out.

“True, but that doesn't change much where the Force is concerned. At best, Kentoh is probably the only one capable enough to use the Force on some level, despite his neural damage," Locke said standing up from his seat. “Either way, we had a talk with Masters Moarn and Solusar to update them with the situation- they agree that it's best to keep the Healing Crystal in our possession, or better yet, in Kajex's possession."

“What will you do with it?" Syrra asked.

“Nobody knows we have it except us, Moarn and Kam- and I aim to keep it that way," Kajex added as he stood up. “I'm going to spend as much time as I can focusing on the crystal and use it the same way I'm using the only one I'm carrying these days- I'm going to make another lightsaber," he announced as he left the cockpit, Talrik and Syrra getting up and following him and Locke.

“Wait, can you handle two sabers?" Syrra asked.

“I did on Abaat, kitten- and I was holding back just enough so I could try to match Ulfric, mind you. I'm classically trained in Niman, it's the style you study when you wanna transition into Jar'Kai combat."

“Jar-whatnow?"

“Dual-wielding combat," Kajex responded. “Niman is all about using the off-hand creatively; I've done it with the Force, off-hand saber shotos and blaster pistols. It ain't easy, but then again I've got 6 fighters here that can give me a run for my money," he reasoned as he glanced at Rook. The otter was sitting at one of the tables and sharpening the edge of her glaive. “... Though I might prefer it if our new crew member here uses a metal pole instead of that pointy stick," he added.

She grinned up at him. “She's a right beauty, ain't she, Surnahm?" she said proudly, nuzzling the shaft. “Mind, I had to come out top of my clan's hunt to score the Beskar to make her, she's my pride and joy. But sure- you want another sparrin' partner, I can oblige... if y'don't mind havin' yer ass kicked."

The Sentinel scoffed. “We'll leave it till later for you to prove it, kid. Alright, so here's what's going on, guys," he said, addressing everyone just as Miles and Keris walked in with a couple of rations. “I put us on a course towards Corellia, it's going to take 2 days for us to navigate the Deep Core's bullshit- once we get there we'll find someplace to hole up while the ship gets upgraded and keep ourselves in touch with the Praxeum and NRI just in case they need us. During that time, I'm going to be turning this," he said, holding up the crystal Kentoh had given him, “into a lightsaber, when Locke and I aren't training Keris and Syrra. That's gonna take a bit of concentration, so if you see either of us sitting with our eyes closed, don't bother us unless an emergency pops up. We'll do training around 1100 hours."

“What're we levitating today, boss?" Keris asked.

“We've got a crate full of pebbles in the armory, and a couple of sense and alter exercises that you'll need to do- blindfolded," Locke added with a smirk, eliciting a groan from the two female Jedi. “After that, an hour of lightsaber cadences, then an hour for Syrra's medic training and your illusion practice; then however long you two wish to spar."

“Good, I thoug--"

“The cadences will be done blindfolded."

“Oh come on, love!" Keris cried out as Miles and Talrik laughed. “Kajex isn't going to appreciate us putting a hole in his ship!"

“That's what low-intensity settings are for lightsabers, kit," Locke said affectionately. “Do a good job and I'll do that thing that you like."

Keris perked up. “... Which thing?"

He arched an eyebrow.

“... Oh. That thing." She purred audibly. “I'll do my best... Master."

“Alright, are you ready?"

“I can't see a thing," Keris moped.

“That's the point, kit," Syrra said with a smirk. “Don't worry, you have this well in hand, I'm sure. We're ready, Kajex," she addressed the wolf.

Locke had suggested that everyone keep themselves as prepared as possible, equipment ready and weapons recharged in case they needed to make an immediate detour. Yet far apart from the fact that they'd already checked and re-checked their gear, Kajex got the feeling that everyone on board was treating the trip to Corellia as something of a brief vacation away from Jedi duties; not that he would have admitted it to anybody at the Praxeum. With little to do but wait until the ship cut its sublights, the crew had set themselves to various projects, with Locke taking the 3 crystals Kentoh had given him and withdrawing to his room to meditate; Talrik tinkering with his C-rifle in the armory; Rook checking her bounty hunting gear; and Miles helping Kajex out with the Padawans' training session.

The Sentinel grinned, pulling the lid off the crate, the container filled with an assortment of small, brightly-colored stones; Miles pulled the lid off another, this one completely empty. “Alright- there are 14,523 pebbles in this container. The two of you need to work together, searching out and picking up all the red ones and putting them into the empty container. This'll help sharpen your Force sight without having access to light- you'll need to feel out each one to make sure they're each red before putting them in. Do this in under an hour and you both get noodle bowls for lunch and dinner tonight."

“Fuck yeah, now that's an incentive!" Keris chirped as several pebbles floated out of the pebble crate, most of them red (and a few of them blue). “Hey Syrra, I got a wager for you- outscore me and you can be on top tonight."

The Trianii's ears perked up at the offer. “... That makes it difficult for me to decide whether or not I should even compete, dear," she finally responded with a giggle. “Now come on, we have a new crew member and I doubt she's--"

“Aw, she won't mind us talking about our dalliances," Keris said casually as they started sorting through pebbles at a moderate pace.

The Selonian snickered as she set aside a couple of stun charges from her belt. “Nope, I don't- long as it doesn't mean you guys are gonna be hoggin' the 'fresher every evening." Glancing up every so often in interest, the otter began to tinker with one of her gauntlets. “You guys must be pretty skilled, if you're able to hold a conversation while doin' that stuff."

“Believe me, we're straining on the inside," Syrra assured her with a sigh- the pebbles on her side were moving far more slowly. “But at least for me, this is easier than some of the slicing exercises Kajex has me do. Still, if I'm expected to follow his path, then it's something I'm willing to learn."

“You don't have to learn it, Syrra," Kajex responded softly. “Master Skywalker just thought it would be pragmatic for you to learn supplementary civilian skills to help build your confidence. And don't worry about the slicing exercises, you're doing fine on that front- just clear your mind for now and put yourself to the task."

She nodded and breathed in, the pebbles rustling as more red stone floated from the container. Kajex monitored their progress, pleased to note that they didn't very often pick out a wrong stone, and neither of them became agitated as they made infrequent mistakes. 10 minutes later, a dull clatter sounded from the workbench and he glanced back at Rook- the otter had taken off her other gauntlet and her breastplate with a frustrated sigh, leaving her upper torso completely bare save for her chest binders as she grabbed a tube of leather resealant and a welding torch.

The wolf moved to her. “Problem with your 'skin?'" he asked.

The otter glanced up for a moment and shook her head with a quieter sigh. “Just damn wear 'n' tear, is all. Some days, I wish I'd applied the beskar to my beskar'gam instead of my glaive, but... I had my priorities."

The wolf nodded. “If it's any consolation, it's a well-crafted weapon," he offered, the Selonian responding with an appreciative smile. “I don't often see Mandalorians use melee weapons in their line of work, nor with glaives. Did you make that yourself?"

She nodded, returning to her work and grabbing a pair of goggles. “Mmhm. Won't mind if I focus on my work while we chat, Jetii?"

“No, I don't mind," he responded.

“Well anyway, it's true- not many Mando'ade use melee weapons as a first resort. Then again, most qualified hunters have their own helmets for their equipment, and I have to do without for a while," she explained. “Traditional helmets don't fit my kind, I'd need t' rig up a visor. Plus, my old man wants I should learn to hunt without one, before I make one. No HUD means nothin' to integrate my equipment or blasters with- and alotta Mandalorians have gotten killed 'cuz they overrelied on it instead of workin' on skill and instinct, y'know?"

“True enough," Kajex agreed, keeping his eyes on the Padawan pair. “My masters trained me as a Sentinel for a similar reason- relying on skill and physical training instead of betting all my chips on the Force. Watch it, Keris, you have a green one there."

“Oops, yeah I got it," she responded, flicking the pebble back into the pile.

“So why the glaive, then? Personal preference, or a means of standing out?" he asked Rook.

She shook her head. “It's a traditional Selonian weapon. All Selonian warriors make one when they're of age. I might not be part of the Selonian culture, but I'm still Selonian, an' I'm a warrior, so I figured I'm qualified. Not that I don't know how t' fire a blaster, mind- bet I could use every weapon ya got in this armory here, even foxboy's C-rifle."

“Only with my permission," Talrik answered, not looking up from his work on the opposite side of the table. “Because otherwise, only over my dead body."

“Temptin' offer, Talrik," she snickered. “Seriously though, you made that gun look pretty good. Self-modified?" The fox nodded. “That's pretty neat, Talrik," she said sincerely, in a tone of voice that caused the fox to look up- and Kajex's eyebrow to arch.

“...Uh... thanks," the Amaran replied. “Just my go-to weapon when I'm sniping."

“You work as a marksman?" she asked.

“Top marks in rifle and pistol ranges at Teeva academy, yeah," he acknowledged. “Not that I haven't had to fight in the thick of it, of course."

Kajex nodded, still keeping his eyes on both Padawans. “Kid's got balls of steel. Saved my life once by sniping a thermal detonator off a Black Sun thug's belt and blowing him and the other four of them away. But he's put himself in the thick of it before, too; he saved my fiancee from a bigass Sith Knight by rushing him with a combat knife and stabbing him in the shoulder, only a week after being made an Antarian Ranger," he added, causing the otter's eyes to widen.

“No shit? And here I was thinkin' you were the cute 'n' timid type on the ship," she remarked, looking impressed. “Guess it was more than just a lucky shot with you hitting my arm in combat," she said with a grin, holding up the sleeve of her armor where a hole still remained.

Talrik looked at a loss for words, as if torn between being indignant for the “cute 'n' timid" remark and modestly shy that she was impressed- Kajex reached out with the Force to gauge the fox's internal reaction, smiling broadly at the warmth Talrik was keeping within. The Ranger cleared his throat and managed a smile. “I... thanks. And I'm sorry for putting a hole in your leather," he added.

“Ah, no big deal, mate," the otter dismissed good-naturedly. “Means you'd probably be a hell of a merc if you ever decided to take it up."

“Blue pebble, Syrra."

The Trianii swore quietly. “Lost my concentration for a second, I've got it."

Talrik gazed at the otter's armor as she worked on it. “Is there any particular reason your gear is red and black?" he asked.

She nodded as applied synthetic resealant on the hole Talrik had caused. “Sure is," she responded, pointing to the red plates. “Red is what you wear to honor a parent, or in my case, my dad. Just 'cuz he ain't blood doesn't mean he ain't kin- he raised me as his own and I do what I can to make him proud." Her finger jabbed at the black leather. “Black for justice. I like the money, gets me what I need, but I ain't some Hutt-hired scumbag fuck what thinks it's okay to enslave other people, or kill anybody just for sport." She raised her eyes and Talrik looked up. “Mind, I like a good fight, and there's thrill to huntin' other sentients when its to capture- but my dad taught me drawin' blood without a damn good reason stains our people."

“Sounds like a decent man," Talrik replied. “I hope we can get his ship back."

She shuddered. “So do I, mate- wouldn't want him hunting me..."

“You guys are about a quarter of the way there," Kajex alerted the two Padawans. “You've been at it 20 minutes- step it up, those noodles are on the line!"

Keris groaned. “Damn your old Order training, Kajex..."

The Sentinel grinned. “Nah... if it were old Order training, you'd be sorting grains of sand."

“... I can't tell if he's being serious or not," Syrra muttered.

The two women managed to complete the task with three minutes left, with both Kajex and Miles checking both containers to make sure they had performed efficiently. Sure enough, not a single red pebble remained in the full container, and the other consisted only of red pebbles. Talrik finished up around the same time, still chatting with Rook as they worked, but despite the conversation detailing some of the jobs they'd done being more or less directed at each other, Kajex listened intently, occasionally glancing at Rook with a growing feeling of concern.

Now finished modifying his rifle, Talrik left with Syrra, Keris and Miles to grab a bit of lunch. When Kajex didn't immediately follow, Talrik glanced back. “Not hungry?"

“I'll be there in a bit, I'm gonna spend a couple minutes looking for a few parts to machine into a new lightsaber hilt," the wolf responded with a smile. Satisfied with the answer, Talrik left- leaving only Kajex and Rook.

The Selonian glanced up once the fox had disappeared. “So... I noticed you were listening in on us as he and I talked, boss. What's up?"

The wolf's smile faded and he narrowed his eyes at her. “Back during the Clone Wars, both my dad's knew several Mando'ade who helped to train the Republic's Clone Army. I never learned the language entirely, but I have a very broad understanding about the culture."

She shrugged. “I figured as much. So what's the problem?"

“You're making passes at Talrik."

She stared at him. “Yeah, I'm kinda flirtin' with him. So?"

“He's a Ranger, a friend to the Jedi Order, my best friend, and little brother. I want you to understand that if you plan on continuing," Kajex warned her.

She frowned. “Is that s'posed to mean he's off-limits? The guy's an adult, he can make his own choices- you don't gotta be like his parent or some shit."

“No, I'm not trying to prohibit anything," the wolf clarified. “I'm trying to prevent him from being hurt again. If he hasn't told you yet, he suffered during Imperial training. Badly. Because it's private I won't elaborate on what happened, but it's enough to say that I'm going to keep a very close eye on what's going on so nobody fucks with him emotionally."

“Well he don't strike me as the weepy-bitch sort," Rook replied. “But... fine. If you're referrin' to him as your little brother, it can only be 'cuz you guys are close as kin. I get that- I'm adopted, I have family that ain't blood, too." She paused, smiling. “Truth be told, I think you're little bro is in good hands, if he's got you watching out for him."

“It's more than that," Kajex said as he folded his arms and leaned against the blaster rack. “I know Mandalorian etiquette to a degree- you don't generally make passes at a Mandalorian you find attractive unless you intend to have them join the clan, and they don't make passes at non-clan unless they intend to ask them to join. Talrik's got a good heart, he's brave and a major asskicker in his own right. But he's also our family. I'm not keen on him being taken away from us."

She raised an eyebrow. “I thought Jetii weren't supposed to be attached to the point of jealousy."

Kajex flinched and looked away, nodding. “You're not wrong."

“Look, Kaj..." the otter sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “I get you. I'm not sayin' that to appease you, I really do get you. I ain't got any intention of askin' him to join my clan. That said... I'm not above havin' a little fun, if that's alright with you. He's cute and he's kinda interesting- and it's not like I don't notice when he's lookin' at me."

“It's alright with me if you want to have a little fun- provided it doesn't get in the way of your job or you following my orders," Kajex offered reasonably. “And as long as you keep in mind that sound carries in this ship- or will until it gets upgraded with soundproofing. And keep in mind that he's a bit more attracted to guys the women- though he's slept with women before."

She nodded. “Fair enough. Just remember- ni cuy' Mando sol'yc. I am a Mandalorian first. That means that I party as hard as I work. When you live like every day is your last, you learn t' appreciate a bit o' joy in the off-hours."

The wolf stared at her for a moment before smiling. “As long as you don't drain my stock of ale. Speaking of which, I better grab a few cases while we're stopped." He sighed. “However you go about with him, just promise you won't break his heart."

She nodded, regarding him seriously. “I'll do my absolute best not to hurt anybody."

She watched the wolf leave one he'd finished, her opinion of both him and Talrik having grown a bit. Never had she'd known non-Mandalorians to adopt familial aspects that closely matched her culture. In a way, it was as if she'd just encountered a new clan with slightly different values, but just as much in the thick of things. A part of her wanted to stop repairing her armor and grab a bite so she could talk more with Talrik- but the part of her that sounded most like her father stopped her and recited the Resol'nare to her, reminding her that her armor's upkeep was important.

All-in-all, the situation wasn't that bad- she had a new job, was getting paid, was hanging around people who could help keep her skills sharp, and had met a guy she thought was attractive. If she knew her old man wouldn't have been livid with her for running off with his ship without asking, she might've entertained the idea of sending him a message about that- without that little concern, he'd probably be happy she had her eye on a guy.

She wondered what he might've thought of Kajex. The guy was certainly wasn't skimping on having a comfortable life, which was neat when she considered that he also seemed to take his job seriously- she could respect that in mercs. He certainly didn't seem like the typical uptight Jedi monk she's initially expected. The fact that both he and Talrik were catching on quick and dealing with her directly, looking her in the eye while talking unless they were engaged in projects, was a refreshing change of pace from the usual upturned noses of some elitist clients she'd had in the past.

A cold shiver passed through her and she doubled over as a sharp pain lanced through her midsection. She hissed in pain, grabbing her chest and whimpering- it was happening again. Clenching her eyes shut and gritting her teeth to prevent herself from screaming in agony, she groped around the workbench blindly, trying to find her belt and falling out of her seat- she managed to catch herself on the lip of the table, cursing at the circumstances she had found herself in. A moment later, her paw found the belt and attached pouches, the Selonian fumbling through it as she pulled a small vial out.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself despite the pain, she twisted the cap off and brought her nose to it, inhaling the Andris spice deeply. Almost immediately, the pain stopped, replaced with a calming sensation and a burst of colors and sharpened edges. She groaned, purring slightly as her senses heightened in reaction and relieved that the pain had receded once again. Yet despite her relaxed posture, her keen ears did not miss the sound of approaching footsteps. With incredible swiftness she wiped her nose, grabbed the welding torch and sat back down, moments before Talrik peeked around the edge of the hatch.

“Everything okay in here?" Talrik asked in concern. “I thought I heard a thud in here, and Kajex wanted me to check up on you."

She smiled, sniffling a bit. “Yeah, I'm fine- I just sneezed really hard, fell out of my seat and banged my knee," she said, shuddering for effect.

“Alright then," Talrik said, looking convinced. “Anyway- want me to heat you up some noodles? Best food we have on the ship."

The otter paused, noticing his kind smile, and then nodded. “Uh... yeah. Thanks, foxboy." He nodded and left, leaving the Selonian to herself again. She sighed, shoulders slumping as she looked down at the vial of Andris spice she'd hidden in her free paw.

Some days, the drug just didn't seem like it was worth the trouble.