Not more than about six standard hours after Aaron Barnes sent off his message to his partner, Terrin Danner, regarding the reversion coordinates for the Hornett in Mon Calamari space, he could feel the hyperspace engines of the Super Star Destroyer spread out her wings, and with an almost audible sigh revert to realspace. As she did, Aaron sat in his office, frowning to himself, wondering exactly what had happened that Terrin clearly wasn’t telling him. Aaron was certain there was something; he could hear it in his partner’s voice...

...and he didn’t like the sound of it one bit.

He’d long since contacted the med team as Terrin had reequested, and knew they would have everything in place when the Challenger arrived. Likewise he had already secured a landing platform for the Challenger.

All was in place, and Aaron kept his eyes keenly on his computer for incoming messages and on the business of selling ships. He chewed his lip thoughtfully then, keying something into his keyboard to figure out the possible arrival of the Challenger, at least per its last estimated location, somewhere in the heart of the Jewel Cluster. Accounting for the 6 standard hours that had already passed, Aaron figured another twelve standard hours, give or take an hour or two.

Of course, that was all supposing he was even close regarding their location, or if said location hadn’t already changed somewhat. They had, after all, been tractored into an ISSD per one of Terrin’s communications, so they might have been moving at some point.

Aaron frowned, again not really liking how any of this was sounding. Nevertheless, the Hornett was ready for their arrival.

About ten standard hours came and went, most of which the parties aboard the Challenger were striving to rest and recoup as best as they could, all things considered. Terrin entered the cabin of the Challenger, where Yaoksi was busy checking to ensure everything was in order. Terrin sat in one of the passenger’s seats, pursing his lips, raising his hand then and rubbing his chin.

“Hopefully we should be revert—“ he started, the words truncated by a proximity indicator, along with a hyperspace reversion indicator. Terrin knew the proximity indicator was due to the Hornett being nearby, but he mentally got the image of coming in on the ISSD they’d all so recently escaped from....excepting one.

His eyes darkened at that, even as Yaoksi tended to the business of getting the Challenger into realspace once more. Starlines shifted to space, the familiarity of his SSD a welcome sight. He looked to Yaoksi, quirking a brow first at him then at the comm unit. Then, seeing a slight nod from the other, Terrin opened a channel to the Hornett’s docking crew.

“This is Captain Danner incoming on the Challenger, identification code 010315. Captain Barnes should have a docking bay ready for our arrival. Please inform him we are docking, and give clearance.”

A few moments passed after Terrin sent the message out. A return message lit the comm unit red, and Terrin toggled the switch to accept.

“Captain Danner, we have informed Captain Barnes of your arrival and he will meet you upon your landing. Docking port 100 in the main hanger bay is prepared for your arrival. Hornett docking crew, over and out.”

We were here.

Good.

I considered raising my body to a sitting position, but for the moment there was still too much stress to deal with in accepting reality to that great of a degree. Knowing I soon would have to do so, however, I simply returned my arm to its former position, and likewise returned to my thoughts.

By the time I'd finished, Terrin was gone, no doubt heading off to partake in a bit of a conference with certain of his men. It didn't even cross my mind as to why he wasn't waiting for me to join him - if indeed that was where he had fled. All I had to do was look into Link's wide eyes, for after her earlier disappearance she had quickly returned to take the navigator's seat next to me once again.

"Ready, kiddo?" I smiled as I got to my feet and waved a hand in the direction of Challenger's open hatch. She gave me something of a look of trepidation mixed with excitement, and followed along next to me as I proceeded to depart the ship.

At the head of the gangway I paused, my smile broadening further, for at its base a young man dressed in intern's whites was waiting for us. He smiled in turn as we approached, then turning sideways and with a wave of his own hand indicated the direction we should take.

"If you will follow me to our Medical Bay, sir, we'll see about getting that your daughter's arm taken care of."

I gave Link's hand a little squeeze of encouragement, my smile broadening even more to hear how Link had been addressed.

With nothing more than a, "Here we go..." I headed down the gangway, still holding Link's hand, and followed the intern through the maze of corridors between the docking and Primary Medical bays.

“The anomalies from your my scans to files on typical Ryns is because I was a slave. To be more exact when I was nine I was forced to go through many surgical procedures to make me more desirable as an exotic pet. This was illegal even in the area I was a slave so third rate medical dropouts did the procedure. From what I was able to find out afterwards they did something to stunt my development, hence why I still have the size and build of a nine year old child instead of the fourteen year old that I should be. But more recently on the SSD after I was separated from the others a group of junior officers came onto my cell. At once I had a stun baton used on my throat so I couldn’t cry out, next they used it on my mechanical arm. Next they shredded her coat and other clothes to suspend me from the ceiling, and took turns shocking me with more stun batons and a whip they procured from somewhere. After they grew bored they left me suspended until they moved me to the detention block and at which point they took away my arm because of the damage done to it.”

Several times during her recollection of events Link experienced panic attacks, most of them were treated with an oxygen mask and time. One very severe attack they were forced to use a mild sedative when Link couldn’t get the oxygen she needed. All the while the human medics became more appalled and sympathetic, Yaoksi appeared to be on the verge of a murderous rampage, but through it all they gave her space when she needed it and Yaoksi mercifully did not interrupt her. When she was finished the medics went off to consult among themselves and Yaoksi let her knew he was still there for her. When the medics returned they filled the pair in on what their consultation had found.

The more recent damage could be repaired, her burns and bruises could be treated, her mechanical arm replaced, the minor nerve damage her larynx suffered to would be treated and get better with time. It was the older issues stemming from her past that concerned them. They confirmed a less that competent doctor carried them out ant because of that the options were limited. They were blunt in informing her and Yaoksi, she would always have a child like appearance, she likely could never have children in the future. But they could correct the other complications from the botched procedure, the hormonal imbalances could be corrected, she would have a full lifespan as typical for a ryn. They did apologize for their inability to do more. They noted that it would take a short while to prep everything for her treatment, the wouldn’t need to be knocked out this time and Yaoksi could remain beside her if she wished. When they left to carry out preparations Link could see the visible anger and pain in the mans face. So she just grabbed one of his trembling hands with her tail until he noticed her.

“Not now Papa,” Link typed. “Please, just stay.”

She's alive and still has her DNA, right? Maybe they can fix her somehow...

I didn't say anything to Link about this, but simply patted her hand before letting my fingers move to her furry tail. I ruffled it softly, reassuringly.

"Don't worry, kiddo. I'm not going anywhere. You and me, we're a pair. You're my priority now."

I smiled down at her, but that smile shrank a bit to see the urgency in her eyes.

It's something else...

An epiphany struck.

"Link," I said in apparent non sequiteur. "I know your history. I know what you've done. I know you've been a slave, you've been kicked around the galaxy your whole life like someone's necco ball. I know what you did to the child of that one horrible Master you lived with, or rather approximated living with."

I paused a moment, moved my free hand up to her fuzzy little chin and grasped it gently. Held her to me along that new and fragile but steadily strengthening lifelink we were so rapidly developing, and stared her straight in her brilliant, purple and tear-filled eyes.

"Stop being afraid. I'm here now; there's absolutely nothing that's going to make me leave you or think anything less of you. Link, you've got to believe this, believe in me. But most importantly believe in yourself."

The approach of the 1-A unit was caught in the corner of my eye. Multiple appendages were extended, each holding the instruments necessary to begin attaching her new arm to her body and whatever else the procedure required.

I gave it as much attention as my peripheral vision could, giving the rest of it fully to Link herself. I'd noticed the trembling that had stricken her at various and sundry times, noticed how at those times she'd play the avoidance game, refuse to meet my eyes when we spoke, saw how her chest would begin suddenly heaving.

Somehow, someway, I had to get through to her. Somebody had to get through to her.

These panic attacks simply had to stop.

I wasn't aware of how much of it had done so, exactly. For again it seemed to slow down into a weirdly muffled fugue, as if it was holding its breath waiting for someone to do something.

For anybody to do something.

For me to do something.

A slight snort chuffed out beneath the crook of my arm, still plopped over my face. I may have been laying still as a stone during the entirety of our trip home, but my mind had been anything but quiet.

Time flies when you're having fun... or sunk in deep despair.

Part of me was mad as the proverbial wet nek. I mean, who in Hell's Seven Circles were we, to up and proclaim ourselves the thrice-damned Saviors of the entire frakking Galaxy? Who were we to have captured the ungodly attentions of this Big Ol' Whatever-the-hell-it-was, taking upon ourselves the notion that by being so blessed we were therefore somehow special enough that with a party consisting of numbers I could count on the fingers of my hand we would manage to do what history showed time and time again to be impossible:

This being uniting all the fighting and warring factions in this enormous galaxy we called "home." Getting them somehow to put their differences aside and join forces. By what? Getting them to believe not only in us, but in the urgency of what we had to say as well.

BUT HOW?

I finally sighed, rolled sideways, letting my arm flop from my face as a drew myself bedraggedly upright. Once at least partially vertical I continued to merely sit, staring off into space, letting my thoughts roil around faster and faster, always coming to the same endpoint. What we were doing wasn't working. What I was doing wasn't working.

And people were dying.

I finally rose completely to my feet, the motion somewhat mechanical and a bit stiff, for I had indeed been laying on our bunk for quite some time. Part of me took notice that Challenger was utterly quiet, all venting and out-gassing and whatnot having been completed as she settled down to sleep until needed again. I stood there a moment, cherishing the solitude, letting myself fall into the admittedly recognized understanding that, while peaceful and being something I yearned for with all my being, that quiet, that momentary lack of fear and worry and responsibility was something I really would be quite naive to believe in.

There was Terrin to consider. Not to mention Darra, who more than likely was eagerly waiting for me to disembark this beauty of a ship for a pretty little family reunion.

If there was anyone who was closest to being naturally and beautifully naive it was her. And I'd be damned if I'd let that naivete be destroyed.

I swallowed, left our little cabin. Headed aft on a personal errand.

Completed said errand.

Thank you, Terrin!

Then, forcing myself to act in a more natural manner of mourning, I left Challenger altogether and went off to see how the others were faring, Terrin, I presumed, being busy with his men, being brought up to date on the affairs of Eagle Enterprises which of course he still had to run.

“I’m not going to lie, this isn’t easy for me. I want to… no I will get better.”

When she showed it to Yaoksi there was concern but also understanding on the mans face.

“The droids can start.”

Yaoksi gave her tail one final squeeze before retreating to his chair off in the corner allowing the droids to proceed. The droids and medics worked in groups, the first treated her injuries from the torture session. Second round, a different team of droids and mechanics repaired the interface on Link’s body and attached a new arm. For the third round the medical droid returned and focused its attention to the nerve damage in her throat. Injecting Link with some medicine she felt an intense burning sensation then the constant feeling of fighting her own throat to do anything other than breath faded away.

“Kriffen hell that hurts,” Link gasped. It wasn’t Links slightly high pitched music like voice, more akin to what one would sound like after yelling at the sun all day, horse and raspy. The droid assured her the straining sound was temporary, fading in a day or two. Through the entire procedure Link thought back to the results shared to her of the deep scan.

My size never bothered me, I mean I’ve gotten use to being short and all plus I can still jump higher than Papa or Galen. But children.

Link never gave much thought about starting a family of her own someday but the thought that having her own children was something else that was stolen from her, and it angered her. The myriad of medical droids finished buzzing around Link before all but one retreated. It being the sole remaining occupants besides Link and Yaoski, informing them to wait there was one more specialist. Soon the droid was replaced by a young woman, a Mon Calamari in a white lab coat.

She introduced herself as a junior fellow with the Mon Calamari Medical Center, with a Doctorate in Xenobiology and a specialty in childhood development. Briefly she explained that after Link’s first treatment Captain Danner put forth a rather sizable grant for more research into ryn medical treatments. Link’s scans from the first time combined with this visit gave them a more complete picture of Link’s overall condition, next she explained how even though ryn religious beliefs keep them away from modern medical centers a few here or there were admitted before they regained enough of their senses to object to further medical treatment and demand to be discharged. They were now starting to get a better picture mainly because Link did not share those same religious beliefs and would consent to modern medical treatments. The Mon Calamari placed a tray on a nearby table, it contained several pill bottles and she explained them one at a time to Link and Yaoksi. Most were intended to slowly correct the chemical imbalances stemming from the botched medical procedures from the past, one was an anti-anxiety medication. With the medicines she left a data card it contained her personal comm frequency so Link could contact her when new developments arose. Finally she attached a wireless medical sensor to Link’s temple explaining that there was no need for them to remain here and they could monitor her vitals anywhere on the Hornett, there was a final promise that there were people working on solutions and how she was personally sorry for all that had been done to Link.

After the Mon Calamari departed that left Link and Yaoski alone. There was deafening silence as Link didn’t know what to say, slowly she worked her new arm. It was familiar but also foreign, something she suspected that would fade with time. She slowly turned to Yaoksi, swinging her legs off the edge of the bed but remained seated. Mulling over what to say but nothing profound came to mind, so instead Link brought her gaze to meet Yaoksi’s.

“I know I have issues,” Link said. “I want to try to work through them, and I am trying to be honest with you and myself. To say that wasn’t a bombshell to be dropped on anyone would be the understatement of understatements. I want to work through it, to move past it. And I do know that you will be there Papa. If you need to tell the others, Galen, Terrin, Kyan...”

Link caught herself. She almost forgot about him, in the end Link came to respect the eccentric Jedi. And while she might not consider him family, she would have called him a good friend, just not to his face.

I smiled.

"Hey kiddo, we all have issues. Not to worry!" I said even as images of entanglements past rose up to wave a hand for attention. Nassy's was there most coherently of all, I pushed them down and away, letting that shadow of the only fem I'd ever really come to love linger for a moment...

And then fade away as well.

I gave myself a quick shake, quirking my mouth now to see the quasi-annoyed look now crossing Link's face.

"Yeah, that was pretty ridiculous, wasn't it?" I said preemptively. "What I should have said was this:

"Thank you, sweetie, for entrusting me with all that you've told me. And seriously, medical confidentiality aside, unless it becomes highly pertinent in some weird future event where said knowledge would keep everyone else alive, I just don't think anyone else needs know of this.

"It isn't mine to tell anyway. It's yours."

I stopped there, wanting to just put all this aside for the moment. There had been enough grief and gloom and doom and despair in both our lives, heaven know; now another stint aboard this great SSD was offering itself as a bit of solace, of rest and restoration, to thus ready ourselves for whatever lay ahead of us.

To tell the truth I didn't want to entertain those thoughts. Not now.

"Hey kid, I don't know where we are in relationship to our old quarters here... not to mention if we were even given those quarters again to begin with. I think I can get us back to Challenger if you want to go take a load off, but personally...

"I think I'd like to find the nearest mess or canteen or whatever and find ourselves some caf and some grub.

"Whaddya say?"

Besides the only thing left on the Challenger was rations and booze.

“Food,” Link answered. Then looking down remembered that she was still standing with a blanket draped over her.

“On second thought clothes, then food,” Link said with a wink.

Finding a flimsiplast bag Link gathered up her meds and the provided datacard. When she turned to leave, there Yaoksi was standing with an outstretched arm as if to be her escort for the day. With a grin Link accepted and the pair set off for the Diamond Level shopping center. Most of the establishments they passed had only clothing for children in her size, a fact on any other day would have grated on her nerves but Link wouldn’t let that ruin her day. Instead she found a place that carried clothing for Sullustans, whose adult sizes Link could fit into. Link wasn’t too picky but she did want something more, normal, for her to spend the day with Yaoksi in. Not considering herself remotely close to having any understanding of fashion Link allowed the employees to pick for her and she was satisfied with the results.

A sleeveless lite purple top with red floral print, dark grey slacks ending mid calf, and a matching dark grey pair of flats and shoulder bag. They even quickly tailored the slacks for Links tail. Heading in back Link found the clothing to her liking, making a mental note to return later for more. With one last adjustment, Link took a purple ribbon and tied her hair back into a low pony tail the ribbon fashioned into a bow. Appraising herself in the mirror Link was happy with the results, she took her gun belt with blaster and donned them. Finally she transferred the contents of the flimsiplast bag to her new one also tossing in her datapad. When Link exited the back Yaoksi was standing at the front counter, awkwardly waiting but he gave her one of his famous grins at the sight of Link in something other than her usual getups tailored to make her less noticeable. Link joined Yaoksi at the counter then gave him a quick twirl and caught the look of approval.

“I’m still new to this,” Link said. She knew Yaoski would catch the meaning of Link was new to not trying to hide who and what she was. Paying for her items Link held out her hand to accept Yaoski’s arm as her escort like before.

Good. I think she’s finally coming to the realization that it really doesn’t matter what she’s done in the past, all of us simply accept her now with open arms. I accept her even more strongly, the fact of which for some strange reason she seems to hold in such high regard. But most importantly, she seems to be accepting herself, bit by bit by bit.

At least that was what I fervently hoped.

My smile broadened as she wrapped her hand daintily around my forearm, and we stepped out of the shop, going back into the Diamond deck and the wealth of establishments there. As we strolled along, gentle chimes came into my ears, as this clothier or that jeweler beckoned us to come visit. And while I knew that food was now the first item on order, there was something else I wanted to do for Link.

I knew I didn’t have the wherewithal that she did, but I wasn’t entirely on the outs, and so did nothing more than pause in my tracks when one particularly genteel sign grabbed my attention, and tugged insistently. “C’mon, kiddo!” I said in a tone that brooked no dissent, and led her into a small but well-stocked store called “LAPIS.”

Dim background lighting only enhanced the brilliance of the fluorescent insets which illuminated the cases lining the bulkheads, enhancing and intensifying the beauty of their contents as well. Still holding her arm, putting forth the best gentlemanly demeanor I could manage, I led her up and down, watching her eyes grow wider and wider, more and more brilliantly purple, until they challenged even the most beautiful and expensive gemstone the little shop had to offer. My mind whirled a bit as I debated with myself… and then I found it.

It sat there in rich splendor, not as ostentatious as others of its ilk but stunning in its own way. Pear-shaped, with the point presented upward, was the prettiest raspberry-purple faceted gemstone I’d ever seen. It was held in a simple silver bezel, its pointed end topped with a small rosy pink Krayt dragon pearl. A sturdy but very feminine simple silver chain completed its perfection.

I looked up to find the proprietor had materialized in front of us. “A beautiful choice, Sir,” he proclaimed as he opened the case to remove the necklace. He then held it out to me, holding at just the right angle so the ambient lighting, if dim, would still work to the gem’s advantage. It erupted in flashes of magenta, red, lavender and white, all riding on a bed of its base color of purple.

I caught the gleam in Link’s eye. It more than matched my own.

“I’ll take it,” I said simply, then turning to Link simply attached it around her neck.

Luckily I did have the credits to afford this little token of beauty; it would have been a great embarrassment to have to deny it to Link. But the exchange was made, and we departed the premises, now looking for an eating establishment while Link seemed to hold her head just the slightest bit higher at my side.

At length we came upon a small but intimate restaurant. Running along the side of its beckoning door was the word, “Kerritamba.” We paused to peep into its dim interior, and were rewarded with coolness and the sound of splashing water and the scent of fresh-picked flowers, and a slight waft of humidity which was greatly appreciated for the dry air circulating aboard this big ol’ SSD. The smell of something delicious likewise wafted into my nostrils; with a smile I turned to Link.

“Looks intriguing. Shall we?”

She nodded, still under the spell of the jewel she was wearing. I hoped I was interpreting that spell in the correct way, but put that errant thought aside and let the waiting host lead us into the jungle-themed and extremely intimate little restaurant.

“Thank you Papa.”

That is what cemented it for Link, she was now determined to make this work. Whatever it took she wanted to be in that place where she stopped beating herself up, or Yaoski fish her yet again out of that same ole pit of despair. After a short while they arrived at Yaoksi’s establishment of choice, Link was glad for the more private setting. While she was feeling better about herself and realized most passersby did not actually have prejudicial views of a ryns as Link thought they did, the more intimate setting allowed her to easily ignore those wild assumptions. Their host offered them a seat and scampered off allowing her and Yaoksi to peruse the menu at their leisure. Yaoksi caught Link’s awkward glances but before he could say anything she filled him in.

“I’m not trying to be self deprecating. I don’t or usually I am not allowed to enter places as fancy as this, I honestly have no idea what half this stuff is or how you are suppose to eat it. I mean seriously why are there three forks, two knives, five spoons, and what I’m guessing is an ice pick.”

She motioned to the flatware place out before them to accent her point.

“How about you decide for us.”

There was a nod of understanding, Link was out of her element here but she still wanted to make it work despite its foreignness. So when their host returned Yaoksi ordered for the pair, their host departed for a few minutes before returning with refreshments. For Yaoksi their host produced a bottle of wine of some sort and a glass, as it was poured he went at length about is vintage, growing conditions, storage requirements, and so on and so forth. Link was tuning most of it out at the end so she was caught off guard when a modest size porcelain cup and saucer was placed before her.

“For the young lady,” their host said before departing.

It contained a dark brown liquid, hot from the evidence of steam coming off of it. The top had a layer of white foam expertly fashioned into the pattern of a jungle cat on the surface. Speckling the surface was also some reddish powder and a scent that Link could not place. Off to the side of the cup on the saucer was a dark brown almost petal looking sort of confection. Laying her bewilderment aside Link carefully lifted the cup to her lips and took a tentative taste.

This is caf.

Her drink was indeed caf, with a foam of heavy cream, sprinkled with cinnamon, and infused with a spice Link couldn’t identify. It was all so sinfully sweet and not the usual way Link took her caf, that usually consisted of asking for the blackest they had and sending it back for something blacker. With equal caution Link set the cup back down and took a tiny bite of the provided confection. It was some sort of chocolate, but more bitter than sweet. It paired well with her drink as one flavor built on the other. Out of the corner of her eye Link caught Yaoksi grinning at the new experience this was for Link, how it excited her to try new things. She set the cup down and looked back into those green eyes of his.

“Thank you for making me feel special, I know I don’t make it easy. I do have one more request?”

Link’s free hand traced the outline of the stone she was wearing as she searched for the words.

“I have never had a family before, or even a family name. So can I… I mean if its alright with you… can I use yours Papa?”

She's never had a family name...

The thought made me shudder. I mean, how awful would that be? To not even be allowed the basic privilege of life, and that being one's own, unique identity. To not be seen as being someone, but merely some...

Thing.

She was initially flustered by the question, the answer held some minor embarrassment for her. However from the quizzical look Yaoksi was giving she could tell he wasn’t about to drop the subject. So swallowing dryly Link jumped into her explanation.

“Its actually easier to explain my other name first, Cel. I was around two when I was brought to the Smuggler’s Run.”

Link caught the skeptically raised eyebrow she was getting.

“Human equivalent of three and a half to four, anyways I’m going off what people told me I don’t remember it that well. The freighter that brought me to the run or so I was told was the Celica so every called me little Celica and eventually shortened to Cel.”

Taking another nibble at her chocolate confection she continued.

“Anyways, while life on the Smuggler’s Run was worlds better than the streets of Corellia, it still had its challenges. I had to earn my keep so to speak, and I wasn’t the only orphan at the place. The other kids, mostly human, were bigger and stronger than I was. It was easy for them to earn a decent wage to pay for things like food and shelter. I had to be smarter, I was more agile, faster, and could navigate the service conduits better than the mechanics who serviced the systems. So I found a niche as a message runner, for those who needed discreet messages taken from one person to another with no electronic trace hire the ryn to do it. Eventually I picked up from here of there how to encrypt transmissions, break into systems, route money transfers, you know the foundation of my slicer skills. My services as a whole at the time was informally known as the Commlink.”

Yaoksi seemed to be nodding along understanding Link’s simplified technical jargon, and keeping the questions to himself.

“So skipping over the time I was a slave, when I first started as a ‘profesisonal’ slicer I needed an alias. I shortened my old moniker, hence Link. Overtime I came to use it much more than my given name of Cel and it sort of just stuck.”

Mercifully more food arrived, placed in front of Link was a roasted fish of a sort. Topped with crushed nuts and a thick red sauce. Link salivated at the sight of it, but slowly began to dig in despite wanting to savagely wolf it down.

“I know sort of corny name, but it has worked so far.”

Aaron didn’t miss a beat, reading the worried look in his partner’s eyes. “Terrin....Galen?” he asked simply.

Terrin shook his head. “She’s with us safely,” he started. “But we should talk.”

Terrin paused then, quirking a brow, nodding towards the exit to the Hornett’s main hanger bay. Aaron nodded in agreement. “Yes, we should.”

Terrin turned for a moment to the intern then. “You take good care of Captain Joao and his daughter,” he then said, eliciting a nod of understanding from said intern. Having said this, Terrin thought of his own adoptive daughter, wondering how she was doing, and making note to find out in short order. But for the moment he turned to Aaron then, and motioned that he lead the way.

In a few short minutes they both entered Aaron’s office. After each taking a of mug of Ergesh rum, Aaron took a seat behind his desk as Terrin lowered himself into the chair across from his business partner. He took a drink, relishing the prized liquor, taking a moment to collect his thoughts.

“So I delivered your message to General Tarnus, and he replied.There was a lot of reading between the lines involved, but it seemed like he took the message under advisement...

...and maybe was able to use said information, since Galen is with you now?” He quieted at that, cocking his brow questioningly as he then took a drink of his own.

Terrin took a deep breath, one more slow drink...

...and then proceeded to spill everything. From being tractored in, separated, detained, and questioned via a mind probe to Galen appearing in Link’s cell out of the blue, in Mandalorian Armor. Of their escape from the ISSD, how Link had engineered it, how the final escape came down to Kyan causing an explosion that rocked the ISSD enough that they were able to get to the Challenger and get away to hyperspace.

How Kyan had lost his life in saving them all. How he felt responsible.

“They were all there due to an agreement I made with Tarnus,” he then said. “Kyan had been helping Galen out...teaching her. I didn’t think he quite got what’s really in her...”

Here he trailed, his blue eyes arrowing into Aaron’s browns. “....but he was like a Father to her. And now he’s gone.”

Pausing then, Terrin took a drink, his eyes defocusing for a few moments. Aaron let the room remain silent for a few moments, taking his own drink, seeming to wait to see if Terrin had more to say.

“So if you told the ISSD Impys that you were just in the area looking for Galen’s ship, why all the further questioning beyond a simple interrogation droid to verify your veracity? And why did they keep holding you? Tarnus knew who you were looking for and why....

...so why all this? And Terrin...how did Galen end up in Link’s cell?”

Terrin’s eyes snapped alert as he looked across the desk at Aaron. “How do you think JhinDarra was born with the abilities she has? She hasn’t been trained like certain others we know...

....but I’ve seen It before in Galen. She has it too. So I might not exactly know how, but at the same time I absolutely do.”

Here he paused, taking another drink. Aaron seemed to be assimilating this information. Then, “I’m certain we didn’t make any good alliances with the Empire back there, after doing what we did to that ISSD. Funny thing is, as much as my mistrusting self would like to call a bluff on what Tarnus told me about just sitting tight and that I should trust him...

...I don’t think there was any bluff involved. At least, not in that he didn’t have every intention on eventually helping us out.”

Terrin shook his head, frowning. “They kept asking who was on the Mandalorian ship, over and over. As if they expected to eventually get a different answer....”

The frown on Terrin’s face deepened. “What the kriffing hell?”

His eyes grew vague again, and he shook his head as if trying to clear a fog. He looked back at Aaron. “Something tells me all is not paradise within the ranks fo the Empire. And where the hell is Actar? I’ve not heard a thing about him lately...

...and that makes no sense.”

Aaron pursed his lips, sitting forward then to sit his mug on is desk before placing an elbow there and putting his chin in his hand thoughtfully. “Something of what Tarnus said in his one brief acknowledgement of my message...that he looked forward to utilizing our services again in the future,” here he waved his hand around in the air as if for emphasis, “smacks of division in the ranks to me too.” He paused. “Tarnus knows a lot of the same things we know, based on his own experiences with the Sith and with Galen.”

Terrin nodded. “And JhinDarra is his daughter,” he then added, his eyes defocusing a bit again. “There’s no telling what the bloody hell we all told the Impys on that ship during interrogation, either. But then again, maybe it’s high time they know what’s incoming...

...and all that is at stake.” He paused, taking another drink.

“Perhaps,” Aaron agreed. “We’ll see how the Empire responds to your second escape from Imperial hands...

...and what General Tarnus does next. I’m certain he’ll find out in short order that you all are no longer detained...

...and he’ll have questions. In the meantime...

...no offense intended, but you kinda look like hell. When did you sleep last?”

Terrin shrugged. “I’m fine,” he said simply, his thoughts turning once more to Galen, knowing that Cel was in the capable hands of his medical staff, and that Yaoksi would be with her. He suspected he knew where his wife might have headed after departing the Challenger.. “Aaron, where’s Darra?”

The look in Aaron’s eyes lightened. “Well, she’s getting to know your ship quite well, I’m sure, but her quarters are right next to your own, on red level. I’m sure if you can’t find her there right away she’ll be there shortly, it’s getting late, standard time.”

Terrin nodded, draining the final bit of his drink. “I want to go check in on her and see about Galen. I’m suspecting she may have headed that way.”

Aaron nodded at that, reaching in his desk to retrieve a wristcomm which he theen handed to Terrin. “I think you might be needing this. She’s been programmed to your usual personal specifications and frequency.”

Terrin accepted the commlink, affixing it to his wrist then standing, nodding to his partner. “I’ll be in touch shortly....

...within the day, unless something comes up.”

Aaron nodded,, picking up the mug in front of him and taking a drink. “Get some rest.”

Terrin nodded, saluting his partner. “Talk to you soon.”

Then heading out, he began making his way towards Red level, all the while wondering just what would happen next...

...and fervently hoping that Galen had departed the Challenger to at least find some modicum of relief from her heartbreak in seeing Darra once more.

Cel. To be named after a ship. And Link, after an occupation..!

Well no longer, as far as I was concerned. There simply wasn't anything as denigrating to one's very soul as that. At least it was an affront to my soul.

I put down my fork and reached for my wine glass. Lifting it slightly in her direction, I swirled the contents a moment, waiting for my rising anger to subside enough so any possible risk of misunderstanding, of her thinking it was directed at her, would have traveled into the ether and be gone.

I took a swallow. "Well kiddo, I think you're just too pretty to be named after a ship, not to mention having to go by a moniker associated with what you do best. I mean, I'm not "Smuggler Joao," am I? Besides, neither rolls nicely off the tongue."

I paused again, now returning my attention once again to the fragrant fish laying in pieces on my plate.

"Since I'm adopting you, you are now my daughter. And since parents name their children, and since just like 'Smuggler' neither 'Cel' or 'Link' roll nicely with 'Joao,' lessee now...

"How about 'Adrianna Joao?' I like it; it was my mother's name."

I stuffed another forkful into my mouth, then pointed the utensil to my new daughter, still chewing as I spoke further.

"Regarding that silverware: just do what I do. Use 'em all; once they're on the plate after dinner, no one will ever know, ey?"

I winked at her, and resumed the attack on my meal.

I can’t go back, and fortunately Papa won’t let me.

“Adrianna Joao.”

Link tried out the name, it sounded different to hear herself to say it.

“Adrianna Joao.”

What future does that name hold, what does it mean I will become. Does it even need to define me or will I define it. So far all it means is I have a family, someone who does care for me. I can define what the rest means.

“Adrianna Joao, I like that.”

She got up and sauntered over to Yaoksi, giving her father a hug and a peck on the cheek.

“I’m Adrianna Joao from now on.”

Making the mental switch in her mind Adrianna returned to her chair and her meal. There would still be kinks to work out reconciling her old self identity to her new one but she had no more doubt there were people there for her.

“So Papa, I will still use my slicer persona on occasion. You know professional reputation, and keeping outsiders from discovering who I am. But other than that, you, Galen, and the others can call me Adrianna.”

Picking up the ice pick looking utensil, Adrianna jokingly attacked the fish to eat it like a kebab. There was a brief moment that Yaoksi appeared to believe she was going to go through with it before realizing her jest. They shared a moment of laughter before she set the fish back down and ate in a slightly more dignified manner.

(((OOC: For future post should I have a new account created to reflect Link’s new identity or change the name of this one… either way I don’t have admin rights to do either so let me know which one if preferable.)))

"Hey, don't think this gets you off the hook, "kiddo!" I joked back, waving one fork before picking up another to stab a round golden yellow blob sitting quietly on my plate. I stuffed it into my mouth, waved the fork for emphasis.

"Just like I'm Yaoksi Joao, The Smuggler - well, I was until I fell in with this group and now I'm, uhh... Yaoksi Joao Another Pilot, I suppose..."

The thought was intriguing. Just as Link was more than likely reconciling her new name to herself, it would appear that a bit of introspection regarding my own selfness was in order. Things had proceeded at such hyperspeed since I ran into these guys I really hadn't much of a chance to think about it.

This was immediately followed by a mental shrug as I shoved that train of thought away for the moment.

So we both have a bit of accommodation to make.

Good.

"...now you are Adrianna Joao, The Best Damned Hacker in the Entire Frakkin' Galaxy! That reflects what you do, you see; you're not getting off the hook by accepting your new name.

"These guys are more than likely going to need your skills. I'd charge 'em a lot to utilize those skills, too."

I gave her a crooked grin, put down my fork, and after taking a furtively quick glance around the immediate vicinity picked up the ice-pick thing and launched it. It flew straight as an arrow to embed itself in the trunk of a nearby artificial gnarl-tree.

"Hope I didn't need that for dessert," I quipped, hoping for nothing more than to increase the bonding moment I couldn't help but feel was only growing greater and deeper and stronger by the moment.

Adrianna couldn’t contain herself any longer, she had no counter to her fathers increasing level of silliness. With shaking hands struggling to contain her laughter Adrianna held out her own pick, complete with a fish skeleton picked clean.

“You can use mine, it comes with a souvenir. Or are you telling me the tree is the desert?”

She reached her limit, Adrianna held her hands to her sides laughing. It hurt to laugh, some of it was torture aftermath, but it was absurd and she couldn’t help herself. Adrianna was enjoying the moment, her chance to not be a slicer, slave, or the pressures of life. Instead she was taking in the experience of being a silly girl having a special moment with her father. The pair tempered their excitement when the dessert cart arrived, mercifully it did not require the pick like implement.

“I don’t intend to give up slicing, speaking frankly I need to keep up my skills just to keep the Empire from finding out who ‘Link’ actually is. Though that stunt with the SSD might have them looking closer to the that previously harmless ryn that escaped. I don’t think I can charge Terrin for the escape though, we did benefit from that. However that being said the communications array and sensor suite I had Terrin pick up for me should be here by now, we could get his techs to install it as payment for services rendered. And I know we both have ideas for things our ship needs.”

A small med bay, better weapons, smuggler compartments… not to mention I need more cloths, caf, slicer tools, caf, cargo netting, caf...

Taking a bite of the dessert it was light and fluffy, slightly sweet, and overwhelmingly having the taste of bacon. For her hyperactive childlike metabolism it was the perfect after meal dessert.

“Were you trying to order the weirdest things on the menu just to mess with me, or was it confusing for you as well? No new theory, I might be trapped in a child’s body, but you are a child trapped in an adults body.”

I stopped with that, just letting it go. I could tell Adrianna was trying to go with the flow of the moment, but was really devastated that she would never physically grow up. That was something I simply couldn’t imagine, nor would I wish it on my worst enemy.

If we ever EVER come across these scumbags who did this to her... I vowed silently to myself, just letting the thought taper off into silence. I was really a good guy at heart, and at the moment I just couldn’t think of anything terrible enough to do to the creeps. But HOPEFULLY there would be something on down the road we could do for Adrianna.

I didn’t want to say anything at this time, as I didn’t want to get her hopes up. But it seemed to me that we knew some people with some really weird powers, and some of those peeps were actually our friends- or at least I hoped they were. Maybe...

I shook myself, turning to my own dessert. It was green and purple and squishy, filled with tiny brown specks, topped with caramel colored fluff and a little round ball. It tasted like rum.

I shoved a spoonful into my mouth, then went on as if I hadn’t paused at all.

“Hey, from here what do you want to do? Wander some more, head off to Challenger, go chase down some company, or see if we can find our quarters aboard this monster ship?

Well that is the question isn’t it. Really depends on where we plan to go from here doesn’t it.

“No offense to Terrin, but I don’t feel comfortable having quarters on a Star Destroyer. Especially what happened on the last one.”

Adrianna shuddered involuntarrily at her own reference to the events aboard the ISD Relentless.

“But I’m not sure how the condition of our Challenger fairs at the moment either. My room was pretty trashed by the Empire. I imagine the rest of our home needs a good once over as well.”

Finishing her dessert, Adrianna slid the plate to the side and sipped at the remains of her caf.

“I have ideas there once its clear to make repairs and upgrades, a better time frame will help us know how far I can tear into things. But I’m also worried about Galen and Terrin.”

Setting the finished cup aside, Adrianna could sense the mutual understanding about their companions.

The next moment.

Something moved my attention. There was something on my arm, something I suddenly came to recognize as a hand. This seemed new to me, and somehow unrecognizable yet totally laughable.

So I shrugged.

A voice...

“Mrs. Danner, are you okay?”

It seemed legit, although part of me laughed and laughed.

I pulled myself from the fugue state in which I had been wandering, forced myself to find myself still in the immense docking bay of the SSD Terrin and I... No. It was not me ...BUT
US!...

Owned...

Why did this bother me?

Owned?

What exactly? How was I so blessed? What credits were there to compensate for the loss of...

The voice grew stronger, the hand on my arm more insistent.

I pulled to, tried to focus.

“I’m... I’m fine,” I managed to stammer, thus alleviating the responsibilities of the the bearer to the vagaries of the wind. The hand dropped from my arm.

I smiled somehow, and kept walking, not really noticing that I was making great circles in the huge Primary Docking Bay of...

Hornett...

There was more to find here. Perhaps. I somehow felt that.

But I kept walking, nevertheless.

Said frequency originated from the techs in the Main Hanger Bay . It started out nicely enough, indicating that the Challenger was being looked over thoroughly and that no tracking devices of any variety had been found on board. Otherwise the ship was being detailed and given a good final sweep.

But the other part of the message attached resulted in an even deeper frown on Terrin’s face, one fueled with worry. The long and short of said message indicated that a crew member had seen Galen wondering aimlessly around the Primary Docking Bay, not looking so well.

Of course she wasn’t looking well. She’d just lost Kyan, and she was out there facing that loss all alone....

Not having to think further, Terrin turned on his heel, retracing his steps until at length he ended up back in the Main Hanger Bay. While it was large, he didn’t need too much time to find his wife, seemingly walking in circles, the look in her eyes distant and unseeing.

The pain in that look caused Terrin’s soul to ache.

He stepped in her walking path, placing a hand on each shoulder, forcing her to come to a stop. He knew he couldn’t do anything to take away the devastation she was feeling, but Terrin very much wanted to at least help her carry the burden.

”Galen,” he said, shaking her slightly, knowing she was lost in despair. ”Galen, I’m here,” he then said a bit more firmly, reaching out then with one hand to take her chin in it, drawing her eyes to his and looking deeply into her pained browns, accepting the pure sorrow and despair therein and longing to help shoulder that pain in whatever way he could. Again that little voice that wondered how much more loss the Fates could possibly dole out to her haunted him.

Terrin’s eyes remained on Galen’s. ”What can I do?”

I stood a moment, letting it all sink in. Then the tiniest bit of a frown creased my face, which I pulled away from the hold my husband had upon it.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “And that’s the problem...”

The barest semblance of a smile flickered across my lips then as I simply...

Turned away.

She’s right, Danner. It’s your fault. And it should have been you, not Kyan, who took the fall for everyone else. Instead you followed along with what Tarnus told you to do. And in the process Cel got seriously injured, Yaoksi was tortured, and Kyan...

..he sacrificed himself for you all.

At that moment, it would have been easy for Terrin to crumble under the weight of his own guilt.

But this wasn’t about him.

For while he heard what Galen was saying, he also felt like there was a whole lot she wasn’t saying. A whole lot that her actions told him.

The loss was perhaps just too much this time. She hadn’t even been able to say goodbye...

And that aside, she had to be utterly exhausted, having been stranded on that malfunctioning ship for days....

...only then to come to their rescue, instead of the other way around, a rescue that ended with Kyan letting himself be killed to save them all.

Terrin’s blue eyes darkened. There had to have been another way. She had just lost way too much...

....and here you are asking her what you can do? Dammit, Danner, she has no idea what to do. Or else she wouldn’t be wandering around the Main Hanger Bay, lost in despair....

Moving after her then, Terrin reached out, taking her by the arm and spinning her around to face him again yet digging his heels in absorb thee momentum of his suddenly turning her about.

“Let me get you out of here,” Terrin then said, drawing a confused look from Galen, and perhaps more than that. So then he clarified as something he knew that he’d forgotten in the rush to get off the ISSD safely swam back to the forefront of his mind, something that Kyan had told him about the Cin Vehti...and about whose ship it had been initially.

“Kyan had a granddaughter named Kani; the ship you were on was her mother’s. She is out there, and deserves to know what happened to her grandfather.”

He quieted then, his blue eyes falling on Galen and resting there, wanting once more to do anything he could to relieve some of the anguish she felt.

Just maybe, if he could get her away from here and to someone else who understood....

“I can’t go to her, you should know this,” I whispered, now letting my eyes drop to the deck of the hangar bay.

“I was entrusted with a damned Mandalorian ship,, and a family lightsaber. Both are gone, thanks to me. I don’t deserve the honor of the armor I was given either.”

I took another step backward, now looking back up to meet Terrin’s gaze with a suddenly firm one of my own.

“When you see her, assuming you are able to do so, please give it back to her. It’s in our quarters.”

I then turned about and began my aimless walking, letting my mind whirl again but truncating those thoughts long enough to call over my shoulder,

And at the hand you played in it? came a not-so-unexpected mental addendum. She’s taking the blame for this, but....

She needed to know, and to hear it, straight from him. He was the Captain, and the one who’d made the call.

“Kyan was there because I sought out Tarnus for help, and the Empire got involved,” he then said. “They were all there because of me. It’s my fault...”

He trailed, thinking of how Kyan had sacrificed himself and how both Yaoksi and Cel had suffered once more, closing his eyes a moment and shaking his head.

“NO!” I shot back in a whisper so intense I’m sure it echoed off the bulkheads of the immense docking bay.

“It’s not just you... it’s me.”

I closed my eyes, trembling now as emotions pushed down way too deep into my psyche for an entirely too long of a period of time came rushing up in one enormous, accusatory flood.

“Don’t you see? You died because of me! You lost an arm because of me! Link lost hers twice because of me, and Dara never even had the chance to have a childhood because of me!”

Khaandon help me then for I couldn’t stop.

“And Sorben is working for the EMPIRE because of me!. And now, Kyan is dead...

“Because of me. So don’t you try and take any of this onto yourself, Terrin, because it just won’t cut it!”

I paused a moment, wondering how my life would have turned out if I had just left that dustball of a planet in my wake to simply return home to family property - now lost, of course - to live out the rest of my life...

In another manner.

But with a damned nice ship.

I sighed, deflated, then turned round and kept on walking. Curse Sissy’s soul but I wasn’t going to stop until I’d come up with an answer that would take away this gaping hole in my heart...

And she’s grieving for perhaps more than Kyan, an internal voice spoke up, waving a flag for attention. Terrin paused to consider just that for a moment....

....realizing that really, in the space of time since he’d known her, Galen really hadn’t had any time at all to grieve for any of the losses she had faced. She’d most certainly not had any chance to grieve for the loss of Darra’s youth...

...or for the loss of her biological Father or even for what was most certainly the loss of her own sister, who was yet living but was most certainly not the sister she had grown up with. While he hadn’t been there, and was most certainly no longer dead, he suspected there had been little time to grieve after he had died. There had been many other loses, and now there was Kyan’s. On and on...

...and while they had brief moments in time of stillness and peace, they had never lasted long and were usually truncated by the next calamity. Terrin wanted that time for her...

...and here, aboard the Hornett, was most certainly not the place for her to have it, especially not with the Empire most likely on their heels.

Dammit, she needed a break....

Shaking himself from these thoughts, Terrin moved to step into her walkway again.

“Let me get you out of here,” he said once again, this time motioning to indicate the expanse of the Hornett, a place that probably served as nothing more than a damning reminder of what had just happened. “At least for a little while,” he then added, recalling a place he’d once gone, not all that many years ago, when he’d lost his mother as he then extended a hand, palm up to her. “Trust me,” he finished softly, waiting to see if she would accept.

Closed my eyes with sudden realization.

Galen, you’re running... again...

The thought popped my eyes open, but there was nothing in my view. Nothing but a weird sort of darkness, across which there now began scrolling images of all the damning events I had just blurted out, faster and faster, one following upon the heels of another, closer and closer until they all tangled up in a whirling dervish of faces and imagined screams, pain and flames and death.

And from it rose the shadowy image of...

Me. Walking away.

I blinked; the images vanished with a virtual “poof,” the docking bay came into noisy life around me. A little part of me deep down inside wavered... and then plopped on it’s astonished butt. Right there in the midst of my memories.

I was trying to walk away... from myself.

Guilt can be a terrible thing, and guilt for imagined misdeeds even more so, for they refuse to listen to logic and instead keep alive and well, thank you very much, by a vicious diet of self-loathing and pain and anger and hate.

It hit me like a ton of bricks. Now I really did plop on my butt, right there on the cold durasteel decking.

It wasn’t that I thought I was the cause of everything wicked and awful and evil and overwhelming that had happened to us since all our paths had crossed that day so long ago when I burst from that hateful planet, leaving the body of my father, buried there by my own two hands, to go out into the Universe and experience events no person in any sane sense of the word should ever have to experience.

Rather... I hated. Deeply, down to my soul of souls, said experiences and events prompted me to hate, a vehement hatred of practically everything in the Universe, face it Galen, you know it’s true. Because my life in that Universe was so de-railed, so upset, kaleidoscoped into something I scarcely recognized as reality that there was nothing left for me to do but hate life in general for what it had flung at me. And that hatred brought with it the deepest held guilt, for I had always thought of myself as being a non-hating person.

Oh, I could be filled with righteous anger against evil and injustice, right? But where did that lead? Wasn’t that too some kind of selfish defense mechanism, which somehow propped me up on some kind of pedestal, screaming to my ego to just shut up, I’m good, I’m above this... oh, aren’t I so very, very perfect!

I bowed my head now, closing my eyes against the flood of tears which quite suddenly came into them, to drip down my cheeks, wetting my clothes, falling on the deck.

My own misery keeping me company.

Then a tiny voice of reason waved an equally tiny hand. That hateful Universe had flung good things at me too. It seemed I’d forgotten that. And the best of it all was standing behind me, calling my name, more than likely not really knowing exactly what to do other than what he just did.

Reach out to me.

Against my walking away.

Which was what you always do, isn’t it Galen? And where has that gotten you?

Here. Against my own worst advice, it’s gotten me here.

With him.

“T-Terrin...” I could only choke out in a blubbery sort of half-whisper before giving into grief and the most extreme disappointment in myself I’ve ever felt. I just sat there, hands loose in my lap, and cried as if the Universe itself had come to and end.

“I’m here,” he said softly, his blue eyes deepening as he ached to see the pain and anguish she was going through, wanting nothing more than to do anything he could to lend support.

She was strong. And she had been strong through so damn much. And through a large portion of it, she’d been on her own, worried for the safety of others, sacrificing her own needs time and time again to protect said others. And there had been times he’d been stupid and let her go to face whatever. Alone.

Not this time.

On a reflex, he reached out a hand to brush the falling tears from her face, his heart breaking to see how she was struggling...

...but then, sensing that what she really needed was a release for all the grief buried within, he simply wrapped his arms about her, allowing her to cry, ready to listen when she was ready.

From out of seemingly nowhere— but then again, perhaps not, for he did indeed feel that she really needed to hear it from him— he whispered two short, but very heartfelt statements. “I love you,” he said softly, remaining on the decking along with her, sensing that she was at a critical point in her grief, one not to be broken by anything other. Then, ”You are not alone.”

Bless Terrin’s crew for going about their business as if we weren’t even there.

I sniffed a little, and lifted my eyes into the deeply concerned and utterly loving ones of my husband. A short nod of my head prompted yet another sniff.

“Yes,” I scarcely breathed, the words coming from me on the winds of a zephyr. “T-take me somewhere, Terrin. Somewhere far from here, somewhere away.. Let others handle things for now. Please.”

I shut up then and buried my face against his chest, utterly spent in more ways than merely by the flood of unacknowledged grief that had been pent up inside me for entirely too long. I needed... surcease. I needed... a port in a storm.

I needed to push off the monkey on my back, the one who kept yammering and chittering that Dammit Galen, the Fate of the Known Universe depends on YOU.. Where in Hell’s Seven Circles that had ever come from I’ll never know, but what I did know down to my very bones was that ...

I needed someone else to be the strong right arm, if just for a little while.. I needed to just be, to ponder, and simply just...

“I can’t say as I blame you, sweetie. I don’t have particularly fond memories of SSDS either, at least not for the moment. Why don’t we head off to Challenger and see what kind of condition she’s in. Maybe your quarters aren’t trashed so much that we can’t spiffy ‘em up; as for me, I can sleep in a pilot’s chair. Universe knows I’ve done that often enough in my life!”

Our waiter appeared like magic at this point, smilingly informing us that our check had been taken care of already by person or persons unknown. I cocked a brow at Adrianna, but she only gave me an innocent look. For all I knew Captain Danner was behind this; making a mental note to dig into this a bit when I was able to do so in order to give appropriate thanks I rose to my feet and went around the table to pull my daughter’s chair out for her.

“Shall we?” I gave a small bow of my head, as one arm waved out to indicate the door. Moments later and we were sauntering back upon the Diamond deck, heading back toward the immense Docking bay where I hoped my ship awaited us in a semblance of normalcy.

At least normal enough to where we could comfortably bunk down in her.

I can certainly relate to that, at least I think I can… this whole actually having a family is weird.

Turning to look back to Yaosksi, Adrianna did sense the intention to leave them be until they called for her help. In most circumstances Adrianna would want to honor that, but something was burning inside her that she needed to get out. Besides Yaoksi ,who Adrianna considered family, she did consider Galen and Terrin close friends edging into that sphere of influence which Yaoksi occupied. And if for some reason if one of them had to take off again for whatever reason would she have another chance to tell them what she felt?

“I need to tell them Papa,” Adrianna pleaded.

Whether it was her words or the look in her eyes, Yaoksi relented and let her cross the expanse of the hanger to approach. When they pulled up Adrianna couldn’t tell if their approach was noticed or the pair was waiting. So Adrianna feeling a little silly at towering over them sat on the deck about an arms length distance.

“Galen,” Adrianna began. “I don’t know if you want to see us right now or be alone with Terrin, so I’ll make this short. Thank you for not leaving me alone in that dungeon. After what the Empire did, I gave up on myself, I didn’t believe your voice was real and I wanted to die. I don’t know how you did it but thank you for not leaving me there.”

She lost an arm... TWICE... because of me.. But here she was, offering her heartfelt thanks...

That did it. I burst into a second flood of waterworks, turning to bury my head against Terrin’s strong chest again...

...but not before reaching out with one arm, grabbing the little Ryn by the hand, and hauling her over sideways into our embrace. My hand moved to pull my arm around her to grasp her by her other shoulder, which I hugged as tightly as I could.

Bloody hell, she was spent, both physically and emotionally. And little Link....

Terrin’s blues shifted to the Ryn, his eyes darkening at her mention of what the Empire had done to her.

Dammit...

Shaking himself from thoughts of blame that threatened to follow, Terrin instead squeezed the Ryn’s shoulder, casting a different sort of look into her saddened eyes.

After all, what she had just said and done might have meant more to Galen at this space and time than the Ryn would ever know...

Remaining as he was for the moment, Terrin looked up at Yaoksi, who was standing there with a meaningful look planted on his own face.

“We’re going to take a little time-out from here and head towards an Outer Rim planet that’s a bit away from our current location...” Terrin then said in the other man’s direction, cocking his head slightly to indicate the expanse of the Hornett.

...and from all of this, came a mental addendum, one that Terrin suspected Yaoksi would understand.

“The Challenger is all clear per my crew,” he then added in seeming non-sequitur...

...quirking a brow in the other’s direction as he did so, suspecting that perhaps he and Link might want a hiatus from all that had just occurred as well.

“I think after some rest we still have some work to do on the Challenger,” Adrianna said. “And I didn’t expect my trick on that SSD do that much damage, that represents a major design flaw that your Hornett likely also possesses. I can probably work up a fix once my head isn’t swimming in the best painkiller formulated for ryn biology, thank you for the research medical grant by the way. Putting that aside there is something else I need, no I want to tell you both you and Galen. I think it will help you understand more about me.”

Or hate me after you find out what I did...

“But not here, not now, not in front of all these other people. Before you take off if that is what you are planning can we meet up again?”

Adrianna left it at that, unsure of what the procedure was for untangling herself or if protocol dictated that Galen as the initiator of their group hug was to be the responsible party for disengaging from the current situation.

As Yaoksi did just that, Terrin stood, carefully getting Galen to her feet as he did so, keenly aware that it seemed as though her legs were practically jelly. He kept both his arms around her, making certain to give her the support that she needed to stay on her feet.

She really needed some rest...

He frowned a bit at this, concerned. But then he let the frown disappate, considering exactly what Link was saying.

“We should talk,” he agreed. “The modifications to the Challenger can be completed here, but it’ll take time to get the requested parts regardless of where your ship is located,” Terrin said simply enough. “It’s up to you both whether you stay or go, but I suspect we all need some time to rest and refuel both mentally and physically...

...and while we certainly can do that here on the Hornett, I’m thinking we’d probably all like to get away from the confines of space for a bit.”

He paused then, pursing his lips a bit as he thought. Then, “I was thinking of heading to Rishii, at the end of the Rishii Maze. I used to visit there often in my smuggling days. It’s about a twelve-hour trip from our current location, which would give us all time to rest and would give me time to make some calls and set up a space for the Challenger to get her modifications there. Rishii has good technology and is smuggler-friendly so it’s definitely doable....

...but again, it’s up to what you want to do, because Aaron can certainly help you with the modifications here. If not, Galen and I can take our own ship and meet you there, and we can talk when everyone is a little more well rested. And preferably in a place that has good food and strong drinks,” he added, quirking a brow for emphasis.

Then he thought of one last thing that Link had mentioned. “And believe me, if there is a design flaw that could cause the Hornett to do the same thing that happened to that ISSD back there...”

Terrin trailed a moment and frowned, considering the very precious cargo he and Galen had aboard in the form of Jhin’Darra. “...I’d love for you to help us in finding a fix.”