You'll never guess who I found

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

With Dama gone, Tak had spent all of her time in Dan's quarters, watched over quite closely by her Daddy. It was so different! Everything in his home was different than the things Dama had, and it was all just as interesting. She had her colorbooks and a few toys, but most of her time was spent exploring and inspecting whatever could be found in her searchings.

And of Course there was Dan himself. Nothing like what she used to imagine her Daddy to be like, he was sometimes quiet, but he did read to her; just like Dama did lots of times.

Right now though, she was supposed to be napping. Of course the reality of that was quite the opposite, as she found out early on that many of the things that could no longer phase or trick Dama worked wonders on Daddy. He'd apparently not spent much time around little girls. Or for that matter, a little Lupine who's best friend was an equally sneaky Cizerack.

Fifteen minutes after he'd left her alone in the bedroom, the little girl peeked one eye open, then both. Sitting up without a sound, she gave the room a quick inspection before sliding carefully over the side of the bed to the floor.

Tip-toeing to the door, Tak eased it open and stuck her head out.

It didn't take long to spot Daddy; he was sitting in a chair, a book on his chest and his eyes closed. It was easy to tell he'd fallen asleep - Dama did that a lot too, and from the look of things they both fell asleep in strange places. Dama said it was because she was getting old, and since Daddy was older than Dama, Tak guessed that he'd had lots of practice by now to fall asleep anywhere.

Which was good for her.

Still tip-toeing, she crept through the living area, past Daddy, and onwards toward the front door. She had heard that Sanis was onboard somewhere, and wanted to tell him the news!

Looking back to make sure that she wasn't caught, Tak reached up to open the door. It slid open quietly, and the little girl darted out. She gave one more look through the door before grinning, and tore off down the corridor, bare feet pattering on the smooth metal decking.

[Sanis Prent]

Layla was quiet.

I sat on my bed, and stared at the wall a bit. I suddenly realized that without being shot at, having to run somewhere, or having something on my ship break, there really wasn't much for me to do at the moment.

If we were on dry land, I'd get a drink, find some pretty thing and have some fun, but I was in the middle of armpit space on a Rebel starship. Not exactly a casino planet. I doubted they even had a bar.

Still, having enough time to slack off was a huge perk. I laid back on my bed, taking time to notice how good it felt, thanks to a countour of my body shape being worn into it.

I was home, as silly as it sounded.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

It was a bit tricky finding her way around, and trying to remember the way Dama had taken her when they'd first arrived was tough. After only a few stops to make sure her memory was right, Tak was rewarded with the sight of the yawning bay door - and beyond it, the hangar.

Making her way through the ship had been tricky, as it wasn't all too common for a little girl to be wandering the halls and lifts. She was sneaky though, and watching the deck crews go about their business for a few moments, the little Lupine finally dashed through the doorway, headed straight for Layla.

The boarding ramp was down, and without even looking Tak ran up its' length and into the familiar surroundings of the cargo hold. Even the fort that she and Daani had built was still there! Ssem's cot was still off to the side, but he himself was nowhere to be seen.

But that didn't matter, since she was here to see Sanis! Quick as lightning she skipped up a small stairway and very nearly danced through the short hallway that led to the crew quarters. Sanis' room was easy enough to find, and even if she hadn't already known where it was, it was easy enough to smell. It wasn't a super bad smell, it was just different; like grease mixed with mud and processed food.

His door was closed, and skidding to a stop she stood to catch her breath. After a moment, she reached up to repeatedly slap the door with an open palm.

[Sanis Prent]

I started at the sound, and made a face, suddenly wrenched from my complete level of inactivity.

"W...huh?"

Who the hell could possibly be looking for me? Why would they? I was blissfully free from responsibility for once.

I eventually made my way to the door, popping the hatch open, to see a tawny little kid looking up at me.

"You run out of walls to draw on out there?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"I wassn't drawing on wallss," she answered still a bit breathlessly while darting past him. Making her way past a few piles of clothes she scrambled up to sit on his bed.

Eyes wide, she looked at him with a smile.

"You'll never guesss who I found."

[Sanis Prent]

I tried to think like a seven year old girl, and found myself not equipped for the job.

"You found the candy droid?"

I pulled a utility seat across from her, and straddled it.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Making a face, Tak shook her head.

"Nooooo."

Then she looked to the door to make sure no one was there. Satisfied, she leaned forward towards him a little, and continued in a whisper.

"I found my daddy."

[Sanis Prent]

"Oh...yeah...."

Which, in the kiddy parlance could mean pretty much anything. Maybe another of the ship's crew with blonde hair and an easy smile who was good with kids.

"You did, huh?"

I kicked my boots out, resting the heels on the portion of mattress adjacent to her.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Beaming from ear to ear, Tak nodded.

"Dama took me to ssee him. That'ss who I'm sstaying with now."

Slapping absently at the soles of one of his boots, she went on.

"He fell assleep reading, that'ss how I ssnuck out. He'ss older than Dama even."

[Sanis Prent]

I laughed softly.

"Tak, Dan isn't your dad. I don't know who is, but he's old enough to be your grandfather."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

She frowned and crossed her arms.

"Yess he iss. Dama ssaid he iss."

[Sanis Prent]

"Dama said that?"

I opened my mouth, then shut it. I had no idea what tall tale she'd woven, and I wasn't going to go kick it down in front of her. That was mean. Besides, there might be some nugget of truth there. Dan and s'Il obviously had history, just not the kind of history that would warrant...well...that.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Tak nodded. "Mm hmm."

Leaning over, she grabbed at a small mechanical trinket and a miniature spanner, toying with the two as she had seen him do many times over with real tools and real pieces of machinery.

"I jusst wanted to tell you ssince I won't be able to help you around here sso much."

Of course, her version of helping him was simply handing him tools, asking questions about everything, and at times being a general nuisance.

[Sanis Prent]

"You mean I'm losing my best crewmate?"

I looked hurt, and frowned.

"Gonna work on Dan's ship now?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"I'm not gonna work here," she was quick to say, "I'm jusst gonna be sspending more time with Daddy."

Still tinkering with the little spanner, Tak eventually set it to the side and looked at Sanis.

"I sstill want to be on your crew though, even though I won't be around sso much."

[Sanis Prent]

I smiled. Sometimes I didn't realize how therapeutic it was to be around children. People that honest and earnest simply didn't exist in my life. I gave her hair a tussle.

"The invitation is always open, little helper. I'm glad to have you and your Dama on my ship, even if it's not as much as before. I'm sure Daani doesn't mind either."

It also worked out nicely that they managed to occupy themselves with each other, which was good. It meant for the most part that they were staying out of trouble. Of course, I was always the good guy and never had to pull rank on my own boat. Leave it to s'Il and Cirr to punish the rugrats respectively.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Grinning from ear to ear, Tak clasped her hands together.

"Good!"

She'd known Sanis all of her life, his visits as she was growing up were always looked forward to with excitement. She had treated him as though he was her dad, though now it was easy to see that such affections were slowly being transfered away from him.

Suddenly remembering the frown he'd given, she gave pause.

"You don't mind, do you?"

[Sanis Prent]

"Well, it just means I have to work that much harder to get everything done."

I gave her a lopsided grin, and shrugged.

"Don't you worry about that. I'll find a way."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"Are you ssure?"

She gave him a childlike critical eye.

"I know how much sstuff breakss here."

[Sanis Prent]

"Don't remind me."

That one hit a bit below the belt, and I fumbled the spanner, which fell and hit my foot.

"Ow."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

With a giggle, Tak slid from the bed and bent to pick up the dropped spanner.

For a brief moment she wondered if Daddy had woken up, or if he'd already discovered her escape. She didn't think he would be angry.

Holding the tool out to Sanis, she waggled it at him. "You sshould be more careful. I don't know how to fix people like Dama doess."

[Sanis Prent]

"Maybe you'll learn to do that someday."

I graciously took the spanner from Tak, and rose from the bench, extending a hand to her.

"So, you'll have to tell me all about your dad over some namana ice cream."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Ice cream! She liked ice cream better than candy anyway, and taking his hand she gave a thoroughly happy smile as they left his room and headed for Layla's galley.

She had to take at least two steps to keep up with his one, but that didn't bother her. Dama said it wouldn't be long before she would grow - taller than Dama herself probably!

"Well, I don't really know much. He'ss eassier to fool than Dama iss

"Oh! And our eyess are the ssame color."

[Sanis Prent]

"Well, Dama is hard to fool in general."

It was a concession I'd admitted from deep experience. We both walked toward a mess facility on the ship, which was far better stocked than Layla on her best days.

"You have anything else in common?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

This made her think, and as they rounded a corner, she pursed her lips.

"I don't know. He sshowed me ssome of hiss old picture bookss that he had when he wass my age. They were ok. Not like Dama'ss though."

Turning down another passageway, she looked up to him.

"What do you know about him?"

[Sanis Prent]

"I know your Dama sure thinks he's a good guy."

I made a funny expression when I said it.

"I don't know. He seems like a good guy, but I don't know much about him. He's apparently been a leader of the Rebellion for a long time."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"Dama lovess him," she corrected.

Tak was quiet as they entered the mess hall, and as they made their way to one of the tray lines, she spoke up again.

"Do you think Ssem knowss more about him?"

[Sanis Prent]

"There's no telling. I don't think Zem likes me much, we don't really talk."

I led Tak along, getting two ice creams for each of us.

"Then again I don't think he likes many people at all."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"He'ss friendss with me."

She smiled at that, and at the small bowl of namana ice cream that Sanis handed to her.

This was way better than napping, and she wasted little time in pushing her spoon into the cold dessert as Sanis led her along with a hand on the top of her head, steering her in the direction of an open table.

[Sanis Prent]

We took a seat, and started to dig in.

"I think that Dama, Zem, and Dan all know each other, from way back. That was before I knew your Dama though."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"Yeah."

She took a bite and swallowed carefully. She didn't want to freeze her brain after all.

"They are all old."

[Sanis Prent]

I smiled at that.

"Zem and Dan are, yeah."

Scooping a bit of ice cream, I took a bite. I hadn't had ice cream in years, and it was a real treat.

"Dama isn't like that though. She's like me."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Tak shook her spoon at him, then dug it into her ice cream again.

"No, sshe's old too. Sshe told me sstories about being at the Temple when the bad men came for the Jedi."

[Sanis Prent]

I made a face in between bites.

"Tak, Dama's only a few years older than me. I'm not exactly an old guy."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

The little Lupine only gave a knowing smile then. Obviously Sanis didn't believe her. She took a bite and didn't say anything for a little while. After another bite, she fidgeted a little, pulling her legs underneath her so that she sat just a little higher in her seat.

"Dama lookss young like you. But sshe'ss not."

[Sanis Prent]

"She doesn't look like she's aged much. Come to think of it, I can't really tell."

I paused, spoon hovering in mid-stride.

"Tak, how old is Dama?"

I knew she wasn't human, but I apparently didn't know the half of it.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

She had to set her spoon down, freeing both hands so that she could count on her fingers.

"I'm almosst eight now," her brow scrunched up as she thought, her voice lowering to an inaudible level as she worked the math out on her fingers. Eventually she looked up at Sanis.

"Forty-ssix of forty-sseven. I think."

[Sanis Prent]

The ice cream fell off my spoon.

"...what?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

She grinned at him again, nodded, and plucked her spoon back up, scooping a generous amount of ice cream into her mouth.

[Sanis Prent]

"She never told me that." I half grumbled, finally finishing my ice cream.

"The Clone Wars? She fought in them?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Trying to remember the stories that Dama had told her, Tak eventually shook her head.

"No, I don't think sso. Sshe wass a... " what was it Dama called it? Oh yeah, " ... a pad'wen. Sshe had a masster, Masse Windss I think hiss name wass.

"Sshe fought the bad men after they came to the Temple. Her and Ssem fought them at firsst, then sshe ssaid that sshe met Daddy after that."

[Sanis Prent]

It was all clear as mud to me, and I just let her talk. She liked telling the story from her perspective, and I could always talk to s'Il about it later.

"How did they meet?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"I don't know how Dama met Ssem."

One last bite, and her ice cream was all gone.

"Sshe met Daddy on a broken sship. Ssem and her ssaved him."

[Sanis Prent]

"You're just a little ball of a history lesson, aren't you?"

I finished up my ice cream about the same time she did.

"Well, thats enough sugar for one week, whaddya say?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

She pushed her spoon around the bowl, a wide smile from ear to ear. Looking up to answer him, the little Lupine froze then, and her smile turned into an expression of surprise at the man heading for her and Sanis' table.

[General Dan]

"I nod off for a little while and you play hooky for ice cream?"

Dan grinned at the sight of Tak and Sanis sharing dessert in the ship's mess.

"I guess it's a good break from reading."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

He didn't look angry, and soon enough Tak found herself beaming at him.

Sliding from the bench seat, she skipped over to Dan, taking his hand as he finished closing the distance to the table.

"I wass telling Ssaniss about how you met Dama."

Once more resuming her seat, she made enough room for Daddy to slide in next to her.

"He doessn't believe me that sshe'ss old."

[Sanis Prent]

"Lets just say it never came up in conversation."

I looked up at Dan, who acknowledged me with a courteous nod.

"She didn't exactly talk about anything before we met."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Happily scooping up the last melted puddles from her ice cream, Tak effectively cleaned her bowl.

"I bet you never assked her," she whispered while eyeing his own empty bowl and its' melty contents.

[General Dan]

"Well, those were different times. It's not easy for us to talk about them."

Dan smiled politely.

"Mind if I have a seat?."

He moved for a seat once given the affirmative, and then paused.

"Wait a second. I want ice cream too."

He glanced to Tak.

"Whaddya say Kiddo? Seconds?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Seconds! Dama would have never let her have another bowl of ice cream!

"Chocolate thiss time," she nodded enthusiastically.

[Sanis Prent]

"She's gonna be bouncing off the walls."

I looked at Dan incredulously. He didn't seem to mind.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

She made a face at Sanis and leaned back in her seat.

"That'ss what Dama would ssay.

"Like when Cirr make me an' Daani chocolate and 'nana cheesse b'rito nuggetss."

[General Dan]

Dan's mouth went slightly agape.

"...a what?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"Cirr makes Daani an' me lunch all the time," she sighed heavily, as if the act of explaining the big Cizerack's culinary talents was a chore. Which to some, that's exactly what it was.

"He makess uss all kindss of thingss, like butter ssyrup bar-b-kyoo pancakess, v'nilla tuna pudding, and sstuff like that.

"Dama never letss uss have more than two bitess when sshe catchess uss though."

[Sanis Prent]

I tried to act as an interpreter for Tak.

"My first mate is a Cizerack, and has some...unique ideas about food. He's been around humans most of his life, so the stuff he likes is sort of familiar, but not. You'd probably have to try Cizeri food to understand."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

At the mention of Cizeri food, her eyes lit up.

"Dama did let me try thosse little mice. Dama ssayss they're good, but I dunno. The one I had wass really wiggly and ssqueaked too much when I tried to bite into it."

[General Dan]

The color seemed to fade slightly in Dan's face.

"I thought I had it bad when I had to eat my vegetables."

Fortunately it was ice cream, and not mice, on the menu. Dan was grateful to oblige her innocent sugar habit.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Caught up in the memory of her first introduction to sajoi, Tak scrunched up her face.

"The tail kept hitting my face, sso I gave it to Daani.

"Dama and Mama Taa had a contesst once to ssee who could eat the mosst. They made themsselvess ssick."

[Sanis Prent]

I winced at the mention of Cirrsseeto's well-meaning, but arguably insane mother.

"Now Tak, your scaring the nice man."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Sanis' words went completely unheard, as the memory of that little contest was still quite vivid.

"They took turnss. Dama would eat one, and then Mama Taa would."

A pause, as she tried to remember how many of the poor creatures were consumed that fateful day.

"I think Dama had almosst fifty, and Mama Taa too. I don't remember who won though."

[General Dan]

"So, I sure do like ice cream!"

Dan proclaimed in a slightly louder voice than before, hoping to divert the impressionable little rascal.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Without missing a beat, the little Lupine pointed to the counter on the other side of the mess.

"It'ss over there."

She smiled sweetly

"Don't forget chocolate."

[Sanis Prent]

I struggled to keep my laugh inside as Dan gave Tak a funny look and went off for desserts.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Left alone with Sanis once more, Tak leaned as far across the table as she could.

"You didn't even let me tell him the besst part."

[Sanis Prent]

"For good reason!"

I made a face at her.

"You keep doing that and you'll sprout a tail."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

She gave him a hrmph that sounded eerily similar to her mother's, and settled back into her seat.

"I already have a tail. I jusst haven't changed yet like Dama can, sso you haven't sseen it."

[Sanis Prent]

That caused a blank expression, and I started to think about it. It would make sense that she too would be a metamorph, but I didn't like the thought of it.

"Well, I hope you always stay the same."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"I can't do that. Dama ssayss that I'm going to grow up to be taller than sshe iss. Sshe ssaid I'm gonna be tall like Daddy."

She tilted her head to the side and crossed her arms.

"I can't be a little girl forever, Ssaniss."

[Sanis Prent]

"Maybe. But I've watched you grow up since you were a baby. Before James, you and Dama were the closest thing to family I had."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Leaning on the table, Tak picked idly at the hard formed surface with a fingernail. Long bangs fell forward into her eyes, and she reached up to brush them out of her face.

"We can sstill be like that, can't we?"

Resting her weight on elbows that'd been planted atop the tabletop, she rocked back and forth a tad.

"Jusst now, there'ss Daddy in it now too?"

[Sanis Prent]

I always imagined that I could be your daddy.

I blinked, filing away that stupid thought. She was adorable and I loved hanging around her, but that was responsibility I didn't need. Being able to have her and Lok come and go as they pleased had always worked, and I needed to do my own thing.

Besides, I didn't know anything about that garbage. When I was Tak's age, I was already stealing. I had parents, but they were never in the picture. I would never have the credentials for that.

She was ready to leave, and I needed to let her go. Not my problem.

"You're right."

I smiled, but I was still preoccupied.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Grinning wide at his answer, the little girl rocked back one last time.

"Sso now we can be a bigger family. And don't forget Cirr and Daani. And Jamess.

"And Ssem. Can't forget him."

[Sanis Prent]

"I get the feeling I'm gonna need a bigger boat."

I looked at the table mournfully. Any more tagalongs and I'd have to start stacking cubicles in the cargo bay.

Just at that time, Dan returned with ice cream...and a little something for me.

"Figured this would be sweeter for your tastes, smuggler."

Brown, little glass. Could be a million things, but the smell was certifiably Corellian whisky.

I raised the glass to Dan, and gave him a reluctant grin. Maybe he'd be alright.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Making room for Dan so that he could slide in beside her, she smiled as the bowl of chocolate ice cream was set in front of her. Dama never let her have sweets very often, and ice cream was certainly no exception.

"What happenss affter Dama getss back," she asked between bites.

Would they leave again with Sanis? Or would Dama want to stay here? Now that she'd found her daddy, Tak was easily warming up to the thought of maybe staying here with him.

[General Dan]

Dan gulped down an overloaded spoon, seemingly more in his element than the little kid next to him.

"You'll have to ask Dama. She's got a mind all her own about this sort of thing."

Sanis nodded in agreement to that as he sipped his liquor.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"Oh."

Another bite, and Tak stopped to watch Daddy eat his own cold dessert. After another few moments, she spoke again.

"I'm gonna assk her if we can sstay here."

[General Dan]

Dan paused, already a bit of ice cream accumulated on his face.

"You want to stay here with me?"

He smiled, wiping the mess with a napkin.

"Well that's wonderful!"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Another grin, and another spoonful of ice cream.

"I hope Dama ssayss yess."

Unlike Dan, Tak was mindful not to get any chocolate on her face, an odd enough habit for a seven year old, but given her mother's own nature, it was unsurprising in its' own way.

"Don't you?"

[General Dan]

"Of course I do! I'd get to cruise across the galaxy with my two most favorite people!"

To add to the point, Dan deftly snuck a hand in to give Tak a tickle fit.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Laughing out loud, Tak scooted away from him while managing to keep from toppling her bowl of ice cream.

"Stop that," she chided happily, still giggling.

Settling herself once more, she gave him a sidelong look and a conspiratorial grin.

"You'd have to make room for all her stuff."

[Sanis Prent]

"I think Dan has enough room on his ship."

I smiled behind my glass, glancing at the expansive bulkheads. That was for certain, it would be less cramped for the both of them. I sometimes wondered how they happily endured the Layla like they did.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"I don't know," she said through a mouthful of ice cream before swallowing, "Dama hass lotss of bookss and sstuff."

"Sshe keepss everything. I even ssaw the clothess sshe had to wear for the Hutt on..." there was a pause as she tried to remember the name of the planet, and her brow furrowed as her memory failed her.

Looking to Daddy for help, she tried to describe it. "It'ss like Cathar... "

[General Dan]

"...I don't think Sanis wants to hear about that."

Dan interjected suddenly with a nervous smile.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

As if she were on a sacred mission to embarrass both of her parents, Tak leaned forward across the table and whispered to Sanis.

"Sshe had to wear it when Daddy got eaten by the Hutt."

She even repeated one of Dama's lines, "... from head to butt!"

[Sanis Prent]

I considered pursuing this whole 'eaten' thing, but the look Dan gave me could freeze an ion reactor. I opted instead for another route.

"Outfit?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"Yeah."

Her ice cream long forgotten, Tak did her best to hastily explain to Sanis what she had seen.

"It wass like underwear. Green and gold."

Thoroughly proud of herself, she leaned back from the table.

"Sshe told me other sstoriess too, if you want to hear them."

[General Dan]

"Maybe you should ask Dama before you tell the stories." Dan interjected hurriedly.

"You should finish your ice cream before it melts."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Tak gave a look to her half-finished ice cream before innocently looking up to Daddy.

"Oh I'm not hungry anymore."

[General Dan]

Oh, she was being coy then?

"If you're done already, maybe you should get ready for bed?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Bedtime?! A quick look to Sanis for help, and she slumped back into her seat as if a heavy weight had been dropped atop her. Reaching out for her spoon, the little Lupine pushed it into the leftover lump of chocolate.

"But I'm not tired, and it'ss not even late."

Finally pushing the bowl away, she gave Daddy a look that was far too similar to s'Il's own unimpressed stare.

[Sanis Prent]

I valued my ability to look on at these things as a neutral party. I laughed, taking another sip as I did.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"Ssaniss let'ss me sstay up late.

"Like when he brought Nikki over. All I had to do wass sstay out of hiss room."

[Sanis Prent]

Now it was my turn to blush. Dan recognized the look and averted his eyes. We were both being brutalized here.

"She was just a traveling salesman and was...that isn't important, and your dad is right it is past your bed time."

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

"But it'ss not laaate," she repeated hopelessly.

And then her eyes lit up. Scootching closer to Dan, Tak wound both arms around one of his.

"I'll get ready for bed if you tell me the sstory about Dama'ss eye."

That story she'd never been able to get Dama to tell, but maybe Daddy would tell her what happened.

[General Dan]

Saved from certain doom at the hands of a child's innocence, Dan obliged her.

"Alright, I'll agree to that."