9.009 - Cat's in the Cradle

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

OOC: Continued from here (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22008) and here (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22028)




Gelthia




If it weren't for proximity klaxons, the descent from hyperspace into realspace would be jarring. The spin of subspace ether around a mass body was beautiful and almost organic in its fluid grace, right until the blackness of space tore it apart into strings of shortening starlight. A 30 second proximinity chime and the gentle padding-down of dampeners helped to brace you for the departure from paradise. Normally, it was something Cirrsseeto didn't have time to see. He made sure to drink it all in this time.

"We've arrived in the Gelthia system, Commodore s'Ilancy."

The sensors and EM warfare officer looked up from a holographic display of Novgorod's sling-shot into conventional space-time.

"Detecting six orbiting vessels of zero threat posture. Civilian classifications."

Cirr drummed his claws against a handguard.

"We'rre not at a contested system. No rreason to expect trrouble, orr at least the conventjional kjind."

He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. The posture of his slightly-swept ears betrayed that Cirr was expecting trouble, even if it wasn't the kind that warranted a call to red alert.

"Overrlay coorrdjinates of djistrress sjignal on the planetarry grrjid."

The EM officer punched in a few commands, turning the green and blue vistas of Gelthia's orbit into a red-checkered grid-face, with a blinking icon positioned in the southern hemisphere. Exercising empathy, the officer painted the area with a cursory scan.

"Detect no abnormal readings, nor any weapons platforms. It's a civilian district. I can narrow it down to a hotel, actually."

Cirr stewed a bit. He wasn't discounting the drunk tank option at this point. Boy that would be embarrasing.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

It had been a very productive day. Especially considering that she hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours. Once Sanis had been placed into Black Sun's permanent and lovjing hands, Saa had secured the money in her accounts and staggered back to her hotel room for some shut eye.

Now that her little revenge business was taken care of, she wasn't sure what to do next. More bounties, she supposed... but for now, sleep.

Saa was snoring almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Best to do that, Lieutenant."

s'Il, sitting comfortably, watched over the goings on with an almost casual, lazy eye. She had command of the ship yes, but the Lupine was more than happy to allow Cirr the chance to begin setting his claws to the very beast that had so many times saved herself and Dan from a terrible (and sometimes most undignified) fate.

She leaned a bit on the armrest, looking to the Cizerack who sat beside her.

Her voice lowered so that only he could hear.

"This is going to be a fair bit of awkward if we have to post bail for his drunken stupidity, you know."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr simply nodded gravely, understanding the possible implications of bringing an Alliance warship on what might just be a bad blue milk run.

"No sjigns of hostjile forrces, no messages otherr than a coded djistrress. Ejitherr way, jI have to beljieve Sanjis would have the sense to gjive us morre, jif he could."

He leaned forward, looking at the readout on the main viewer.

"Ejitherr way, no need to go jin guns blazjing. We need a grround's eye vjiew of the sjituatjion. Shorre parrty, then?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Unlike Cirr, s'Il had leaned back to rest her chin on a loose fist, her eye skimming the main view and its' information.

"That would best best, yes."

With a quiet sigh the Lupine bit her lip in thought. She had every intention of going down there herself, but rather than taking charge of the landing group s'Il was more than happy to allow Cirr the opportunity to lead himself. It would be something good to sink his teeth into.

"Prepare yourself a party then. I will go with you, but only as an observer."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

He exhaled a small pent-up breath in relief that she was giving him the order to go planetside. As much as he was enthralled to get his hands on Novgorod and her ample hyperdrive motivator, the ship could wait.

He rose from his seat, giving his jacket a tug that seemed automatic, as he looked around the bridge.

"Ljieutenant Cenkos, you have the conn."

He looked to s'Il, and tapped a wrist comm.

"Brrjidge to hangarr chjief. Prreparre ourr shuttle and a shorre team of ejight trroops forr jimmedjiate deparrturre."

The audio reply came in a second later.

"Understood Commander. Hangar out."

Suddenly realizing he was still in his officer's whites, he frowned.

"Guess jI'd betterr sljip jinto somethjing morre comforrtable, heh."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il stood as well, smiling a small bit.

"Only if you wish to."

Inside her mind was on Sanis. She could understand why he'd gone, and though she knew that he'd not send a distress beacon she had to wonder whether he'd been too drunk to know what he was doing. Of course, Cirr's first estimation that the young Nar Shaddaan was in the local drunk tank wasn't entirely implausible. Sanis did have a way of ending up in the wrong places at the wrong times after all.

The Lupine turned on her heel.

"I will meet you in the hangar in one quarter of an hour, Commander."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Later....

Cirr made it in ten minutes, trading out dress whites for the more practical navy blue garb used for operational purposes. It allowed, among other things, to affix a gun belt and a few necessities. Not that he expected to go in unleashing an arsenal, but he was a big believer in options.

The hangar bay of Novgorod was nothing like what he'd had on Challenger, or even Whaladon. On a 200 meter ship, keeping a squadron of fighters and one or two support craft meant getting VERY creative with space requirements. The bay was essentially a pit in the bottom of the ship that had an atmospheric shield in place. Aft deck held a tightly-packed traffic snarl full of fighters, with barely enough room for men to walk between. Fore deck held his destination, however. It was...a box.

Even Cirr, capable of loving the most unloveable and ugly ships, gave pause.

"Quite a looker, ain't she Commander?"

The hangar pit boss, Chief Kyle, gave a salute as she trotted up from under the Gamma class shuttle's open side bay door.

"jIt's a brrjick."

He tugged at an ear as he walked around it. Gamma assault shuttles had a decent enough track record, but they really didn't have anything going for them beyond that. It was an airtight, space-capable city bus with gun fixtures.

"Vomit Comet actually, sir."

Kyle gave a grin at the understandable disdain at the ugly ship.

"That's what the troops called it. Enough that it stuck, so I made it official on the books. Shakes like a bantha with a hemhorroid in a box canyon on the way down, but she'll take anything but a few direct turbolaser shots, and get you planetside toot sweet, sir."

By this time, the eight Alliance marines selected for the shore party had assembled behind them.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

True to her word, s'Il had dressed down and, like Cirr, now donned the more normal blues of naval personnel. Fifteen minutes from the time that she'd left the bridge the Lupine strode into the familiar confines of Novgorod's hangar bay. It was like stepping back in time. Almost.

The bustle that surrounded her was nothing like the half-cocked urgency that had been such a staple in the old days; that suspicion that at any moment they'd be sent into a tailspin of action swirling with desperate energy. It was a beast that had been so rampant back then.

Now, stepping through the ranks of marines that had been slated to join them planetside, s'Il caught the tail end of Chief Kyle's assessment. She swallowed just a small bit, and her shoulders hitched back as she passed her eye over the assault shuttle, and not for the first time did she thank the Bloodline that she'd taken her medi-pills. Though, by the way the Chief had described the little beast's handling, she wondered if it would've been a good idea to empty the bottle.

"Just make it as smooth a descent as can, Chief."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Chief Kyle offered a sympathetic smile.

"Well, unless we're going in hot under battery fire, Commodore, the pilot should have a smoother go of it. Just make sure to stay in your crash webbing until the dome lights turn green."

From the cockpit, a pilot could already be seen engaging the warmups, and they gave a thumbs up with a gloved hand. Cirr took the initiative, not caring to stick around for any more pleasantries.

"Alrrjight, good enough forr me. Marrjines, let's go. Blue mjilk rrun orr no, pays to knock on the doorr wjith a bjig club behjind yourr back, rrjight Commodorre?"

For emphasis, Cirr slapped a tibanna cartridge into the heavy blas-tec rifle he carried, and slung it over his shoulder, and then stepped on the deck plating leading up to the shuttle. A moment later, he was fastened into crash webbing along the boxy row of seats on the far wall, leaving a space for his commanding officer.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The weapons she left to the marines and Cirr, and as s'Il fastened her own crash-webbing, she was mindful to quell the rebellious flutterwings in her stomach. She'd taken her medicine, and that was that.

Looking straight ahead, she calmed her breathing.

"He had better be in a heap of trouble," she murmured to Cirr, "... because that's the only excuse I will accept at this point."

Cirr knew well enough her intolerance for just the sort of travel as they were about to undertake, and she made sure to drive the point home.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

The repulsors kicked in, and the Vomit Comet began to thrum and shake, sounding a bit like an antiquated mag rail boxcar as it did. Marines in both rows held onto triangle-shaped hand grips that suspended from chains on the ceiling. From the small viewports on the side, Cirr could tell they were moving, most likely being taxied by Chief Kyle toward the atmo field.

Cirr reached into a pocket, handing s'Il a packet of gum, as he noticed a few of the Marines eyeballing their commanders. Cirr leaned back in his seat, popping a piece of gum in his own mouth, and gave a smirk.

"jI get eyes ljike that prrjivate and two thjings happen. Ejitherr jI'm gettjing jin a fjight orr jI'm gettjing lajid, and jI don't ljike yourr chances ejitherr way."

The nearest offending Marine broke eye contact, looking straight ahead.

"Permission to speak, sir."

Cirr wasn't sure if he was gonna like being treated like brass.

"What's on yourr mjind?"

"Well, the Commodore, we all know she's about as famous as it gets, and weren't you in that raid that busted some big Jedi out of some big Imperial base on Coruscant?"

Cirr shifted uneasily in his seat. Definitely not needing some kind of hero worship.

"You lookjing forr an autogrraph, Marrjine?"

He gave a firm shake of his head.

"No sir. It's just this Marine's opinion that his two commanding officers have a reputation for fighting the Empire. This Marine wants to make sure there will be enough left on the plate for him, sir."

Cirr entertained the silent sort of laugh that didn't produce much sound but could be seen a bit in his face and in his chest. He looked back to s'Il, wondering what bit of sage advice she might have on the matter, as she was the one with a real resume on that subject.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il lifted an eyebrow, looking at the marine with a healthy amount of amusement. This sort of attitude was nothing entirely new, but it was still strange in its' own right. Everything that she'd done in the Alliance was done by the seat of her pants, as Dan often had put it. It was nothing premeditated and none of them had gone out looking for a fight; they simply did what they could for those that were in need.

"We're not actively seeking an engagement, though if something does happen, I will be more than happy to stand aside and allow you to deal with matters as you see fit."

The Commodore gave a tight-lipped smirk and a pat to her chest.

"Heart isn't what it used to be, after all."

Which was, as they all knew, a terrible lie. Each person aboard the shuttle knew well enough that out of anyone there, Commodore s'Ilancy's heart was probably healthier than the rest.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr felt the less-than-subtle rattling in the hull change timbre, and knew their lateral movement had stopped. One way to go from here. He looked to s'Il, and pointed to the gum, insisting it would be a pretty good idea if she did as he did, just in case. He wasn't risking her vomiting on him.

They felt a sudden downward jolt, not as severe as freefall, but enough to raise a few butterflies as the Comet began Z axis descent clearance from Novgorod, before pitching her front end in earnest planetside, and accelerating.

The shaking was definitely noticeable.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

As if noticing it for the first time, s'Il looked down at the small square of gum in her hand, and with a small amount of desperation she unwrapped it, slender fingers pulling away the thin paper before placing the chew in her mouth. She blinked, chewed a few times, then cast a sidelong look of incredulous surprise to Cirr.

Beer-flavored? she mouthed.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

"Yeah! Good stuff, jisn't jit? Mama sent me a varrjiety pack."

The pilot chimed in, giving their trajectory vector and letting the passengers know they had been cleared for landing in Vendala, the city where the distress signal originated. There was a transport hub within a mile from the hotels and casinos on a nearby strip, so they would be coming in close to the mark. The good thing about the Comet is that she didn't waste a lot of time with fluff on approach. It was a bullish, head-on shot to the target, with a good firm deceleration burn to get them to 200 meters and repulsor height, where the ride down was a bit more floaty. Just as one last reminder, the Comet gave a good thump as her skids hit solid duracrete, and the side bay door dropped down with a clang. The debark light above hit green, and the cabin was alive with the sights and sounds of Marines quickly departing from their crash webbing.

"Half squad, hold ourr landjing posjitjion. The otherr half, you'rre wjith the Commodorre and jI. Let's head out!"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

As she had placed herself in the position of observer for this particular mission, s'Il was a bit slower coming out of the shuttle. Partly due to the flight itself, and partly due to the taste of the gum in her mouth, the Lupine was careful as she descended the boarding ramp.

And the moment none were looking, promptly removed the gum from her mouth and tossed a distance to the side.

Foul.

Lingering thoughts on the less than pleasant taste set her mood slightly south, and moving to stand beside Cirr, she crossed her arms.

"You're the man in charge. Let's go find your missing Captain."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr took a glance at a small datapad, referencing their position relative to the destination, and gestured ahead. s'Il and the Marines followed. It certainly wasn't a subtle approach, and the walkway cleared at the sight of six people who meant serious business. So it didn't take them long to reach their destination.

"The Hotel's got serrjialjized comm unjits, and the one jin thjis rroom sent the message."

Cirr spoke low to s'Il as they stood a few paces away from the door in question. In a second, they'd figure out if they were on the right track, or on a cold trail.

Cirr took a few steps toward the door, squared himself, and gave it a heavy mule kick. The sliding door dented inwards enough to wrench it off it's glide track, and fell to the floor with a bang.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

She went from asleep to crouched between the bed and the wall before her brain could properly process what was happening, a blaster in her hand and steadied across the mattress as her door fell in. It crashed to the ground in what seemed like comically slow motion, and then an Alliance Marine darted in, blaster rifle held at the ready, and more behind him.

Everyone was shouting at her, and Saa's sensitive ears wilted at the sudden noise. She flipped the blaster point up and then made a show of carefully laying it on the rumpled comforter, standing up slowly with her hands up.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

If Saa looked shocked to see the Rebel kill squad storming her room, then Cirr looked like he'd seen a ghost. His baby blues went wide, his brain lagging behind to form a coherent exclamation beyond "HEY", "IT'S YOU!", or "WHAT THE". His ears twitched, his tail twitched, and while he held his weapon on target, he certainly didn't look committed to a kill.

"Saarrreeaa?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Stepping past Cirr, s'Il clasped her hands at the small of her back as she cast her eye to the Cizerack girl. To say the look of surprise on her face was noticeable was one thing, but her peripheral vision yielded the fact that Cirr too looked - through a heavy amount of control - just as shocked.

At the namedrop, the Commodore narrowed her gaze.

"Is that your name, then?

The marines and their leveled weapons left little room for argument.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

As soon as the hulking Cizerack male filled the doorway, Saarrreeaa's demeanor changed. She stood a little straighter, and her eyes twinkled like she knew a joke that no one else was in on.

"Of courrrse jit jis mjy name," she replied to the female, her hands still in the air and her hair and clothes a mess from her very recent sleep. "Cirrsseetto jis... jyou would call hjim mjy sstepfatherrr."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

It didn't translate well to forrda understanding, but that was probably the best way to say it. It certainly implied a lot of conflicted emotions that Cirr was dealing with. He didn't come here to hash those out though. Not now.

"She's one of my mjistrresses' daughterrs. Not by me, but, err."

He looked at the girl with a strange wistful expression.

"Famjily."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Pursing her lips, s'Il gave the girl a once-over, her shoulders hitching back imperceptibly. They did not have time for reunions, and she was quick to vocalize just that.

"We do not have the time to deal with this."

Taataani had, over the course of their many long talks and visits with one another, certainly gone over with much detail and tissues the past her son had had before leaving with Sanis, and s'Il was not in the mood to deal with that past right now. Nor was she in the mood to deal with any amount of flippancy.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jI guessss jyou got the wrrrrong rrroom then," Saa said quietly, her eyes on Cirr, ignoring all others. "Unlessss sssomethjing jiss gojing on that jI'm not awarrre of."

She waved her fingers a bit. "Can jI put mjy handss down now?"

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr ignored her question. Lok was right, they were here on a mission. In the pit of his stomach, Cirr knew something wasn't right. This was no coincidence.

"Wherre's Sanjis?"

He asked without raising his voice, and with no rancor in his tone. Inwardly he held out hope that this wasn't an encounter doomed to end badly.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

She shrugged delicately. "Halfwajy to Corrruscant bjy now, jI assssume." Saa inclined her head toward the table. "The documentss arrre all jin orrrderrr. Ssstandarrrd bountjy collectjion."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Shifting her stance, s'Il turned her steely gaze from Saa to the papers on the table, and reached out she moved a few of the flimsies about to read those that rested below. She frowned, let out a long breath, and turned her eye back up to the girl.

"These are not recognized by the Alliance."

The tone of her voice left no room for argument, and straightened back up.

"... and Sanis is an Alliance officer."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr's jawline set, the fidgeting in his ears leaving as he realized what the stupid girl had done.

"And so am jI."

He wouldn't be so daft as to ask why. He had a good idea why. It didn't make this situation any easier. Cirr had left that family in a way that ensured he could never go back, but he still saw them as his family. He didn't want this.

"Who called jit jin, Saarrreeaa?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa frowned. "The Alljiance does not recognjize Gujild perrrmjits? They wjill be qujite upset to hearrr that."

Her eyes tracked to Cirr, frown fading slightly and replaced with a bit of a glare. "He hasss ssseverrral outssstandjind bountjiesss. The Empjirrre was offerrrjing the mossst... but jin the end jI prrreferrred to deal wjith Black Ssun."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Every one of us has a bounty on our heads from the Empire," she replied coldly, brushing away Saa's words.

s'Il picked up one of the flimsies, holding it with deceptively delicate fingers. Her eye once more ran over the content before she flicked it towards Saa with a look of disgust.

"And you think that the Alliance will simply allow this to happen?! Did you think no one would come looking for him?"

The flimsi landed gently on the bed between the two women.

"Smarten up, girl. Use your brain and not your libido for once."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr sighed.

"We'rre gettjing Sanjis back, and you'rre gojing to help us. The easy way orr the harrd way, jit's up to you."

She wasn't the wide-eyed inquisitive scamp she was eight years ago, and he wasn't the cowed and servile manservant. Time changes so many things. There were so many reasons that Cirr should have felt good about the reversal of fortune, but he didn't. Worse, he couldn't let it rise to the top, one way or another. He had a mission, and men who looked to him for guidance.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa ignored the female and her weak attempts at insults and focused on Cirrsseeto. "jIt jis up to me, jisn't jit." She sighed, her shoulders slumping a little. "jIf he hadn't of gotten a hold of the comm jyou'd sstjill be jin the darrrk asss to what happened to hjim. Plusss jI alrrreadjy told jyou that he'ss wjith Black Sssun."

She pouted. "jI'm not sssurrre what elssse jyou want frrrom me." Saa caught Cirr's eye and gave him a suggestive look just to see what he'd do. Blush? Get mad, or reciprocate? She had slowly lowered her hands, and as Cirr looked away from her, embarrassed at her brazen come on, she pressed a small button on her utility belt.

Micro-detonators she had seeded along the window exploded with near simultaneous pops, spraying glass outside as she threw herself backward, hitting the window just as it disintegrated. Saa dropped out of sight before the humans in the room could pull the trigger.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Before the humans perhaps, but the Lupine had had enough of this childish behavior. She was reaching the end of her patience, and as Saa was sending herself backwards through the window, the Jedi's arm shot up and out, fingers curled inward with a tight grip as her fingernails ground against her palm.

The Force reacted in an instant, bending to her will, and though s'Il knew well enough that Cizerack were unable to have their minds influenced, they were not physically immune.

As such, Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta found herself held in place in mid-jump, without breath as the air was slowly choked from her lungs, as if terrible hands were around her throat, constricting the life away.

And with a storm in her eye, s'Il strode forward, her arm up as she drew near to the shattered window.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr had gone from shielding his eyes in the blast from glass and debris, to rushing to the window once the tinkling of shards had ceased. He feared the worst, but it didn't take but a few steps to see the result of this act of desperation. Saarrreeaa was fixed in place outside the window, clawing at a vice-like grip at her neck that could not be seen, but Cirrsseeto knew all too well the forces that were at work.

He looked to his commanding officer, now in her element as a Jedi Master. Something was wrong.

"Lok..."

A grimace grew on his face as she watched Saarrreeaa struggle.

"...forr Sanjaarra's sake, you'rre hurrtjing herr!"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

This was... unexpected.

Saarrreeaa managed to keep her calm, her grapple gun already in the palm of her hand, but her badass exit was completely ruined. Jeedai. She gagged against the pressure on her throat, her eyes bulging as her body's need for oxygen increased exponentially from the adrenaline still racing through her system.

Cirr was at the window just above her, looking down and then back inside, shouting something her ears couldn't hear as they filled with the sound of her blood rushing through her head. Then the female appeared, and Saa strained, her finger twitching on the trigger of the gun. It fired, the grapple shooting straight back into the room and hopefully through the Jeedai's head.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A swift shift of footing and a slight bend of the neck allowed her enough clearance from the grapple that zipped past her head to embed itself into the ceiling above. There was a look of momentary disdain given to the girl, before once more her features fell into a stony, unreadable expression.

A quick motion of her hand brought Saa up and into range of Cirr's reach.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr wrapped her up in a bear hug, as much to keep s'Il from strangling her as he did to make sure the wily bounty huntress didn't make any other foolhardy escape attempts.

"Maybe jit's not worrth much comjing frrom me, but jI'm not herre to kjill orr hurrt you, and jI'd ljike to keep jit that way."

Making eye contact with s'Il to make sure she wasn't applying that particularly nasty lethal pressure Jedi were known for, Cirr planted Saa face-first onto the bed, straddling her waist as he pressed one hand between her shoulder blades, then used another to bring one of her flailing arms behind her. A marine stepped up with a ready pair of stun cuffs.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa was too busy gasping and gulping in sweet, sweet air to worry about Cirr tying her up on the bed, but once she was cuffed and pulled into a lopsided sitting position she had managed to regain some semblance of control. Cirr pulled open her leather jacket and relieved her of her weapons, even the knives in her sleeves, and patted down her legs to her boots.

The vibroblade in her left boot was removed, and she sighed, refusing to give the Jeedai female the satisfaction of looking at her. "jI sssupposse jyou have me bjy the ballsss, sso to sspeak. Ssso - jI don't have hjim. jI don't even know wherrre he jiss. What arre you gojing to do? Let the female kjill me?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"I don't make it a point to kill spoiled children," was the offhand remark sent Saa's way, and s'Il returned her attentions to the papers and flimsies still on the table. These she gathered with a quick hand, and absently she called the one lingering flimsi that'd been tossed on the bed to her waiting hand.

"You will come with us, and we will decide what to do from here."

Halfway to Coruscant. Wonderful. This little pick-up job had just gotten far more complicated than it really should've been.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr hoisted her to her feet, taking care not to put pressure on her arms.

"We both know how larrge Black Sun jis, Saarrreeaa. Gjive us a name. Who put the bounty out? Who was yourr contact?"

He spun her around to face him.

"jIf that checks out, we'll let you go."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"Sssurrre jyou wjill," Saa said. "jIf jI werrre jyou jI would have a betterrr jidea of the prrrjicesss rrrjidjing on jyourrr headsss, and who wasss offerrrrjing them. Black Sssun. Head honcho therrre bjy the name of Sasseeri.

"jYourrr aunt." She shrugged. "Of courrrssse jI'm jussst guesssjing. Therrre jissn't anjythjing offjicjial to tjie herrr to Black Sssun but therrre arrre enough rrrumorrss."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

"My aunt..."

He knew of Sasseeri enough from Mama's own mouth. She didn't make it a mystery within the family how she felt about the black-tail, and there was always a fear in Taataani's mind that she'd bring House Meorrrei to some ruin.

It was a confirmation of his fears. The deal that had gone south on Bespin. He told Sanis not to get involved. He knew Sasseeri's reputation, and so did Sanis, and then it was just a case of them moving on to something else. Now they were dealing with the bad karma of it all.

"Who made the pjickup? Sasseeri herrself orr an errand boy?"

He looked from Saa to s'Il, and back.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"Sshe'd neverrr djirrrtjy herrr handss to pjick up a bountjy obvjiousssly put up by a crrrjimjinal orrrganjizatjion." Saa was becoming more convinced of Cirr's mental intelligence - that is, the lack thereof. He was obviously not to blame for what happened with her mother, he didn't seem smart enough to put two and two together. No, she'd made the right choice, going after Sanis.

"Ssso yess. A lackejy." She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

"A name."

His tone was more forceful, and he got in her face.

"Orr do you want me to be less than djiscrrete about namedrroppjing who drropped a djime on ourr model busjinesswoman?"

He eased off, backing away a little.

"You've changed, Saarrreeaa. Thjis jisn't you. jIt doesn't have to be."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jI've changed? Fuck, jI hope ssso! jI wass ejight lassst tjime jyou sssaw me," Saa spat the words out. "jYou rrrujined mjy famjiljy, and jI hope Sssanjiss djiess beforrre jyou fjind hjim."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

In a moment, Cirr lost his composure, and it was only a moment that was needed. The back of his hand whipped around and caught Saa by the cheek, planting her back against the bed with a strike that surprised just about everybody in the room including Cirrsseeto.

The Commander, disgusted with himself, wrung at his hand as he stepped away from the bed.

"Pack herr up. We'rre leavjing."

He didn't wait for the others, and headed out the hotel door.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

That Cirr had displayed such a moment of released frustration was uncommon. Moreso that it was against a female of his own species. For her part, s'Il said not a word as the girl was unceremoniously dragged from the bed and planted roughly on her feet.

With one marine to either side of her, and the rest making sure with the muzzles of their carbines that she would be as compliant as possible, she was led toward the entry door.

s'Il, stepping out of the way, still held the contract papers in a thin binder, tucked beneath one arm, and when the small group passed by, she followed them out.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa walked a little drunkenly, spitting a wad of blood on the boot of the marine on her left, her face already swelling up from the force of the blow. She hurt... but she had never felt so damn alive. Maybe Cirr would hate himself for hitting her, that would be nice.

She licked her split lip gently, tasting her own blood. It felt like her whole life had been leading up to this day, and it was so good. Whatever happened to her now - she didn't care. They could never take the sweetness of revenge away from her.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

The trip back to the Comet was anticlimactic, and Cirr said nothing as they moved ahead of him to secure their package. Saa was trussed up tightly in her crash webbing, and flanked by marines as Cirr and s'Il were the last to enter.

He didn't say anything, and only occasionally stole glances to the back of the craft where Saa was held.

The door clanged shut, and the ship shuddered as they began their ascent.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her ever-present frown appeared; the one that always seemed to grace her features when having to endure space travel in a shuttle. Not helped of course by what she was reading as she rifled through the documents in her lap.

Secured in her webbing and thumbing her way a bit more slowly through the flimsies, s'Il ignored the incessant shaking as they lifted from the ground and headed skyward.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saarrreeaa worked to catch Cirr's eye as he looked back at where she was strapped into her seat, making sure all he saw was a strong female. No male was going to intimidate her, especially not Cirrsseeto. Her face still stung from the back of his hand.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

The trip was over about as soon as it began, and the marines debarked, escorting Saa off the shuttle. Cirr followed along, still beating himself up a bit for lashing out like he did. Saarrreeaa took her treatment with poise, he had to admit. She'd inherited that trait from her mother, who could stay calm amid the most terrible of circumstances. He wanted to reach out to her, to talk to her and explain, and to hear her side of it, but in some way he knew that they were looking at each other across a wide gulf. It saddened him, but he had to swallow that down and set it aside. They were both different people now.

"Take herr to the brrjig."

"Yes sir."

The Marines frog-marched her toward the lift, and Cirr simply stood and watched as stoically as he could manage. His first day in a command position and he was locking up family members. What next?

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Emerging from the shuttle, s'Il made her way down the boarding ramp to stand behind Cirr, the file she'd taken from the hotel room tucked beneath her arm as she watched the marines and their captive disappear. When she spoke, her voice held a strange note of finality and gentle firmness.

"That is not the same little girl you remember from before."

She'd not known Saa herself, but Taataani had told her enough about what had transpired, and it was an easy thing to deduce from simple observation. There had been revenge in that girl's eyes; that much could be seen without using the Force. She telegraphed her intentions like an open book, her body language, vocal intonations, and movements all pointing to the one inevitable fact.

"She's out for vengeance Cirr, and no matter if you still feel for her as family, she hates you and Sanis enough now to certainly not feel the same way for you."

Where before she would've placed a hand on his arm in consolation, the Lupine cut a vastly different figure. She was his commanding officer, and as such offered only two words.

"I'm sorry."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr bit at his lower lip, otherwise keeping a stoic face through it all.

"jI burrned a lot of brrjidges when jI left. jI can't undo that."

He exhaled, seemingly taking some weight off of his shoulders.

"Maybe jit can be made rrjight agajin one day. But that's forr anotherr day."

They took their turn at the lift.

"Ourr next step would then be my aunt, Sasseeri Reeouurraa. Do you know of herr?"

His face was locked in distant thought as he waited for the lift.

"jI've had verry ljittle tjime arround herr. Not the sorrt of famjily motherr apprroved of as a rrole model."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"I've heard the name mentioned in passing, but other than that I do not know much else."

Though Novgorod's lift did not have many levels to cater to, there was still at least a small wait time, and s'Il used that time to scour her memory for any mention Taataani may have made of Sasseeri.

She could remember none. Obviously, as Cirr had said, it was a sore point that the Meorrei matron did not like to expose.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

"We had a rrun-jin back on Bespjin. Well, jI should say that Sanjis had morre of a rrun-jin, jif you take my meanjing."

The lift door opened, and they both stepped in.

"Bespjin seems ljike a good place to starrt, but we'll have to trread carrefully, wjith the Empjirre therre."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Agreed."

Yes, she was technically at the head of this operation, the Novgorod still her ship to command, but s'Il knew that to allow Cirr the chance to find his own legs was necessary.

"We should be quick about it though," the lift doors closed behind them, and the Lupine pursed her lips in thought as Cirr punched in the appropriate level.

"Time is something that neither of us have in excess, and I've already exceeded my allotted time for this mission."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr stiffened a bit at that as they rode the lift to the bridge.

"jI don't mean to burrden you, Commodorre."

He clung to the strict reality of his new life. They were friends outside of their obligations, but Cirr knew he owed her more.

"Therre jis one otherr optjion, perrhaps fasterr, but..."

He looked at her.

"jIt jinvolves motherr."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"At this point in time I'm more than willing to hear any ideas to expedite this."

If that meant working with Taataani, then so be it. At least the Cizerack matron was aboard; she had insisted on joining them for what had originally been intended as a short journey, and as it stood now, s'Il was glad that she had.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani rode low in the captain's seat on the bridge, swirling around her champagne flute as she used the automated chair controls to swivel left and right. Well this was...

"...borrrjing!"

She sighed, looking to her right at her 'first officer'.

"Honesstljy, forr a majiden vojyage, jyou would thjink therre would be morre to do, orr at leasst fesstjivjitjiess."

She sipped her drink, and watched a few bridge officers steal glances at their bulletproof 'special guest'.

Another excruciating minute of nothing. She drummed her claws on an armrest.

"jI mean sshouldn't we be sshootjing thjingss? jI mean, jI'm not a vjiolent perrsson and jyou know that Kallum, but jissn't that what jyou do on a sshjip ljike thjiss? Sshoot bad gujyss, ssave ssomeone?"

She stretched a bit in her seat.

"Majybe jit'ss jusst about ssjittjing jin a chajirr and lookjing good dojing jit."

The matriarch tilted up her chin a bit at the thought.

"jI've alwajyss admjirred how a unjiforrm lookss. Kallum jyou sshould wearr one."

[Kallum Romanoch]

"Really?" he remarked idly, "Teh be 'onest, I reckon dey look a bi' queer."

The tone of his voice echoed the matron's weary sentiments. Never before had he endured such stilted company. It was not what he'd expected of Taataani's latest wacky project and, while he was purely along for the ride, he had hoped for something a bit more stimulating.

"Besides, I'd 'ave teh sign up, an' where'd yeh be wirrou' me?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She stepped onto the bridge without ceremony, waving away the lieutenant that had suddenly turned to look at her as if she could save him from the woman who at the moment occupied the captain's chair. With Cirr close behind, s'Il felt a brief moment exasperation at the sight of Taataani lounging so casually in her seat, and folding her hands at the small of her back, the Lupine came to a stop beside the matron, looking down at her.

"Taataani," her voice held a measure of firmness that left no question as to the seriousness of the matter.

"We need to talk."

And sidestepping, she raised a single arm in a gesture that Mrs. Meorrrei join her in the privacy of her small office.

As an afterthought, she turned to Kallum.

"You as well."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr trailed behind Lok, saying nothing (as it wasn't his place to). Still, if looks could speak, he would be shouting at the sight of his mother taking the captain's seat like she owned it. Then again, that really couldn't be counted as all that unexpected, could it?

Still, it was a bit embarassing, even if kvetching about mother's behavior was like shouting about bad weather.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani nodded at Kallum's assessment. She sighed, sipping from her drink again.

"Oh jyou'rre rrjight. The colorrss arre all wrrong and jI'm ssurre thejy'rre ssjimpljy unwearrable afterr a few hourrss. Majybe jI'm enamorred wjith the jidea of a unjiforrm. Majybe wjith a ljittle morre colorr and a ljittle morre ssjilk, but...."

She shook her head a bit.

"...jusst not the ssame."

His second point caused a smile.

"And a man of jyourr talent? Pssh, jyou'd be fasst-trracked to a carreerr. Err...hjypothetjicalljy, naturralljy."

Their discussion was cut short by the commanding officer and her first mate arriving. Taa swiveled her seat around to see them.

"Oh jyou'rre back..."

The absence of Sanis, coupled with the tone of Lok's request threw a little water on her polite enthusiasm. So things hadn't quite gone as well as hoped, then?

She rose to her feet, holding a hand out for her escort.

"Come Kallum. Lookss ljike we'rre needed. Fjinalljy."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

She'd had bacta salve spread over her bruised face, and she could finally see again out of her left eye. Saarrreeaa sat cross legged in her black leathers, tail curled around her waist as she leaned against the back wall of her cell.

There wasn't even a guard posted inside her cell block, at least, not that she could see. One outside the door, for sure. Saa pouted a bit at being ignored, but was not about to let any self-doubt creep into her mind. Motherrr wjill be pleased wjith me.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr waited for mother and her assistant to follow into the office, and didn't waste time with the build up.

"Sanjis was capturred by a bounty hunterr, and jif she's rrjight, jis on hjis way to Sasseeri Reeouurra."

Nevermind Saa for now, Cirr had to deal with the aftermath of dropping one bomb at a time. He looked intently at his mother's face for a sign of some direction to go from here. Having Lok here helped a lot, since for some reason she was expert at setting aside the bullshit. Hopefully the task wouldn't be daunting.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Having her half-sister's name dropped put a visible damper on the Meorrrei matron's mood. Her ears switched back a bit as she crossed her arms. Kallum too had a cagey look about him.

"Sanjarra, jI sshould've known he'd have hjisstorrjy wjith one ljike herr."

Her expression suddenly got a bit sharper.

"Djid jyou too?!? Afterr all jI told jyou? Don't jyou ljissten to jyourr motherr anjymorre? Thjink jusst becausse jyou'rre on a sshjip halfwajy arround the galaxjy that jyou can jignorre all common ssensse and land on jyourr feet?"

She looked at Lok for something to add. She knew the Jedi had been their tagalong for some time. Maybe she'd get a better perspective.

"What ssorrt of trrouble djid thejy get jinto?"

[Serasai Onashi]

"Well, what's this then?" he grit his teeth harder onto the mouthpiece of his pipe and took in the changes in the roster. "Looks like there's someone in the brig."

He grinned; whoever they were, he was sure they could use a good ribbing to keep from going back. The walk from his cabin to the brig wasn't long. A short walk past storage lockers and the holocom pod and he was there, smirking lazily at the marine guarding the entrance to the brig.

"Mister Onashi, sir," the Marine saluted. "What brings you to the brig?"

"I saw you had a new guest."

"Aye sir. She's inside."

"I'd like to see her," Onashi said, interested. The Marine saluted and opened the brig for him, allowing him entrance before locking it behind him. The other marine guarding the female's cell saluted.

"I'd like to see her information," Onashi said, bringing it up on the terminal. His eyes widened. Another of the Captain's kind? Well now, that was interesting. "I'll be speaking with her for a moment. Please stand guard outside."

The marine started to walk out, but paused.

"Go on, yes, good lad," Onashi shooed the marine out and turned back to the brooding female with a lazy smirk, tinged with a touch of satisfaction. He took a long, admiring look and whistled. "Now if you aren't a looker! Why are you trapped like a little kitten in here darlin'? Must be somethin' good."

He took the chair from the terminal and pulled it up closer to Saarrreeaa's cell, sitting in it and resting his hands on this thighs.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Fjinalljy. Someone pretty to look at. Saa tilted her head slightly, eyes fixed on the hyu-mann as if he were a slab of bantha meat. The tip of her tail flicked back and forth and she said, "Oh, jyess, jit was verrrjy good."

She rolled her shoulder and pulled on the edge of her jacket, straightening it over her tank top. Hopefully this uncollared male was as brainless as he looked. Saa winked at him.

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi grinned and looked at her a moment, but after a few seconds, it began to fall. She was giving him a very nice look, but the bruise that marred her face ruined much of the effect.

"Well," he said impatiently, gesturing for her to hurry, "start talking. What landed you in here?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"Bountjy huntjing," she purred, her face hurting as she moved her lips. "Sssome lowljife needed capturrrjing, and jyourrr captajin took offensse." Saa shrugged, dragging her hands through her hair and pulling it over her shoulder.

"Left a marrrk, too." Saa's lower lip trembled and she tentatively touched the bruised side of her face.

[Serasai Onashi]

"Certainly seems like it," Onashi said, beginning to look bored. She was putting on a hot little show for him, which made him loathe to leave, but in doing so she was grating on his nerves. He didn't come for some female to try and seduce him, as good as that sounded; and it was sounding better every second. It would be difficult to finish with a girl like her in enough time to keep from getting caught, though. If he were caught breaking in this spitfire, he'd likely not be allowed near the brig at all anymore, unless he were dragged inside.

He came to get some good, juicy stories, and a talk with someone interesting enough to get thrown in the brig. There was only so many things you could talk about with the soldiers, or the crew. But this, this was a bounty hunter. And one with a mouth sharp enough to earn a physical strike from the Captain to boot. So promising in so many ways, but also very disappointing.

But it was amusing to see her pose like that and give him those looks. She wanted to get out badly. How far would she go to try and seduce him?

"Are you going to tell me the rest, or am I going to have to imagine it and tell my imagined version to everyone I meet?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Her ears laid back and she growled, "Perrrhapss jyou've hearrrd of Ssanjiss Prrent, jI hearrr he's an Alljiance officerrr thessse dajyss. jI let hjim take me back to hjiss rrroom, drrrugged hjim, and..." she showed her teeth, "had mjy wajy wjith hjim."

She looked up at the camera in the corner of her cell, and flipped it the bird. This was an interesting way of trying to get her to talk; maybe they were trying to see if her story was going to change. Saa got to her feet and crossed to the front of the cell, standing in front of the transparisteel partition with her hip popped out to one side. "jI drrropped hjim off wjith a Black Sun gujy, collected mjy crrredjitss, and got surrrprrrjissed laterrr by Cirrrseeto. Surrrprrrjissed hjim prrrettjy good, too."

She raised an eyebrow. "He'ss mjy ssstep-fatherrr."

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi smiled widely, laughing.

"Step-father? Now that's what I'm talking about!" he whistled. "That's some drama right there. Grade Aurek drama."

He smiled, but dropped it as he latched onto another part of her story.

"So you fucked this dude and caught him that way, eh?" he asked, looking at the girl measuringly. "Can't say it's the best way to go down. But there's definitely worse. You couldn't have grabbed him any other way?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"Of courrrsse jI could have," Saa huffed, "But wherrre jiss the fun jin that?!"

She stalked back to the bench, stripping off her jacket and folding it up. She tossed it down and sat on it, leaning forward elbows on knees, her feet far apart for stability. "jI've known Ssanjiss ssjince jI was sseven. JYou should have sseen the look on hjiss face when he rrrealjized who jI wasss."

Saa grinned, then winced. "Djidnt sstop hjim frrrom round two, though."

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi's answering grin wasn't a kind one, and it showed a small glint of teeth.

"It wouldn't have stopped me either, girl," he said, scratching an itch on his chin. He'd need to shave in a day or so. "So, was it worth it? Screw yourself some older man for the bounty, turn him in to who, Black Sun? Get your money, and then get caught by your step-daddy. Heh, what, was he diddling you too, for you to get so smart with him? I wouldn't expect it, but then you hardly do for most of them."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa narrowed her eyes at the male, and then lied, "jYess, of courrrsse he wantsss to. A female jin Kree-rrou jiss jimposssjible to rressjisst."

She focused intently on him, her blue eyes glittering in the light. "jI can tell jyou'rre jinterrressted jin morrre than jusst a sstorrjy." Let Cirr find this on his precious security cameras. Maybe he was watching, waiting to see what a true female of the Pride would do.

All this talk was boring. Saarrreeaa leaned back against the wall, her tail curling over her thigh as she ran her hands up her body and into her hair. "jI have a thjirrrsst..."

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi's grin twitched, and bloomed in to a smirk, and then finally a smile.

It was ridiculous, the sight in front of him, some slip of a girl who looked like she'd gotten on the wrong side of a durasteel worker's haymaker laying back and looking at him hungrily, from within a cell in the brig. He laughed, and hard.

"How old are you, girl?" Onashi asked, wiping a tear from his eye. "Seventeen? Twenty? You've got some curves and experience, but I prefer my women with a bit more on both counts, yeah?"

A Marine poked his head inside, and Onashi shook his head and waved his hand. The door closed and they were alone again.

"Unless that clothing's hiding more than I think it is, and you're a bit more canny than I think, eh?" He knew that she wasn't hiding much physically, but he was enjoying this far too much to let it end now.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

She stared at her visitor, eyes widening as he burst into laughter. Her ears reddened with momentary embarrassment that was quickly overcome with anger. "What the fuck do jyou know?! jI'm ssjixteen, a woman grrrown, and jyou'rrre jussst an asshole schleppjjng forrr a fajiljing Rrebelljion!"

Saa stood up, shouting, "Don't worrrrrjy, jI wouldn't touch jyou jif mjy ljife depended on jit!"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Had she come to gloat? Was she so base? No, she told herself, she was here to see the truth of things for herself. Saarrreeaa was just a cub the last time she'd seen her, and had plenty of promise. Of course, she was also Ieesshhaauurri's daughter, and she'd had plenty of years to get that particular brand of poison pumping in her veins.

No. She was here for information, and possibly to broker cooperation. The girl had gotten herself into trouble, and she wondered if Saarrreeaa even comprehended how much.

Arriving at the section of the ship where the brig was located, she spotted the pair of marines standing watch. She approached them, and gestured to the door.

"jI'm herre to ssee the prrjissonerr."

"Ma'am, the prisoner is under military AdSeg detention, on orders of the Captain. No civiian clearance."

She looked at the human, who was what, eighteen years old? With every bit of the patrician poise she used to get what she wanted from those beneath her station, she addressed him, her head canting back ever-so-slightly.

"Prrjivate...Derrhan? Do jyou know who jI am?"

Suddenly a bit unsure if he'd stepped into a clusterfuck, the marine who'd addressed her took a moment to choose his words.

"No...uh...ma'am?"

"jI am ssomeone who, wjith the ssljightesst whjissperr, can put jyourr carrreerr path jin a sshallow grrave."

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi laughed again.

"In some parts of the galaxy, surviving to sixteen makes you a grown woman. Not your part, though, I suspect," Onashi replied. "I may be schlepping for the Rebellion, but as long as it promises money and fighting, I'm in for it. The money's not as good as some Black Sun jobs or even some Imperial contracts, but the job security is amazing. Much less chance of being offed by my own employers after a successful job."

He sighed, shaking his head and stretching, eliciting a number of pops as his joints realigned. He looked at her seriously, measuring her, and seeing some potential locked behind what he assumed had been a mostly pampered and easy life.

"You should be glad you don't have to sleep with me. I may just be too much for you to handle."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jI don't have to ssleep wjith anjyone! Let alone jyou!" she spluttered, furious at this horrible male who needed someone with a strong hand to put him in his place. She grabbed her jacket and threw it at him, watching it fall impotently to the ground inside her cell.

"Asss farrr asss handljing - no one handlesss me. NO ONE!" Saa was standing rigidly, her back hunched up, tail straight, her eyes spitting fire, and she didn't even notice when the outer door to the cell block opened.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

The door opened. Taataani entered, paying the briefest notice to Private Derhan blanching under her cult of personality. She looked at Saarrreeaa, who she expected to find. Then she found Onashi.

"What arre jyou dojing herre?"

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi slowly turned his head to see an older woman of the same species as the girl he was talking to.

"I'm talking to this little bounty hunter," he said, stating the obvious. "It's been some time since I've been able to talk someone other than a soldier or spacer. Is there a problem?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jYou'rrre bejing a fuckjing jidjiot and as sssoon as jI fjind out jyourrr name jI am gojing to make jyou wjissh jyou werrre neverrr borrrn jyou, jyou, FORRRDA!" Saa howled, suddenly coming up blank on insults.

She sat down abruptly and burst into a hot flood of tears.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

She looked at Onashi, wondering how satisfied he was in his exploits. Exactly what this annoying gnat was doing here? She had no idea. Someone's idea of fun that was sorely misplaced? Probably.

"Therre'ss a prroblem, jyess. jI'm talkjing to ssomeone who hass no bussjinesss bejing herre jin the prresence of a Rrou'fai and herr expected companjy."

She crossed her arms, making her displeasure at Onashi's presence every bit as plain as Saarrreeaa had. Only she had the wherewithal to do something about it.

[Serasai Onashi]

His brows rose as the woman practically ordered him out of the brig. The thing was, he didn't know her.

"Sure, I'll leave," he said easily, standing and placing his hands in her pockets. An easy smile crossed his lips. "Once I know who you are to order me out of the brig. A civilian, arentcha?"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

What was this? Where was she, the Crazy Nebula? The nerve of this man and his hands in her...like he owned...

Hands immediately clamped down at each of his wrists with claws out, drawing just enough red to immediately capture his imagination that she could increase that at her whim. The look she gave him was wild and poisonous, and her ears flipped back in kind. She controlled that a few moments later, nostrils flaring as if to vent out her most immediate flare-up of a temper.

Still keeping Onashi's hands skewered to the spot, with his mitts still proverbially in the cookie jar, she looked past him, again talking with her easy patrician lilt.

"Saarrreeaa darrljing...who jiss thjiss toad?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"Sssome worrrthlesss merrrcenarrrjy who hearrrd therrre wasss sssome tajil jin lock up and decjided he wanted a pjiece of jit," Saa said, sniffing and dabbing at her wet eyes. Saanja but her face still hurt. Where was Cirr? His mother being here didn't make any sense.

"He wass telljing me ssstorrrjiess of all the femaless he'ss rrraped," she said, sounding properly horrified.

[Serasai Onashi]

"Whoops," Onashi said in dead-pan, using more effort than he'd have thought needed to pull his hands from the female's body. She kept her claws firmly embedded in his wrists, but thanks to a recent dosage of painkillers, the pain was muted. "I honestly don't know how those got there."

He ignored the girl in the cell, keeping his attention where it belonged, with the angry cat-like woman in front of him, and idly wondering how much this shirt was going to stain from the blood that was starting well on his wrists.

"My name is Onashi. What's yours?"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Achieving the greater objective of having the human's hands removed from her person, her claw-tips slid back into sheath. She took care to fish a silk kerchief from an outer breast pocket in her jacket. Normally, she'd lick such an inoffensive thing away, but circumstances present currently made that alternative unappetizing, so the kerchief it was. Seeing how skewered this idiot interloper was, she threw the crumpled and spotted kerchief at him once she'd finished.

"jI am Taataani Fai'sheea Igaarrai Meorrrei, Rrou'fai of Housse Meorrrei, Barronesss Executorr of Koenssajyrr-Meorrrei, and that..."

She pointed to Saarrreeaa.

"...jis a daughterr of Housse Raurrssatta, a powerrful housse jin thejirr own rrjight."

Nevermind the fact that they'd famously feuded. Now, they'd share a common enemy.

"Onasshji, jiss jit? jYou want me to rrememberr jyourr name? jI have a long memorrjy."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa's eyes darted back and forth between Onasshji and ...Taataani Meorrrei? She felt uncomfortable that she might be indebted to the Rrou'fai responsible for the downfall of her house. Letting her son wander around collarless! She was almost embarrassed for the portly matron.

[Serasai Onashi]

"Do you? I'll have to remember that," he said, letting the name dropping and posturing go on without much attention, and deftly snatching the kerchief out of the air and absently wiping the spots of blood from his wrists.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

She looked him over. Civilian clothing, or at least not any garments that adhered to what she'd seen of the Alliance Navy and Marine contingent on the ship so far. So, who was this boar, then?

"What arre jyou dojing herre? Terrjifjyjing prrjissonerrss? jIss thjiss ssome kjind of holjidajy to jyou? What'ss jyourr purrposse on thjiss sshjip?"

[Serasai Onashi]

"I told you," Onashi said with an exaggerated expression of patience, "I'm talking to this little bounty hunter. And what I do on this ship is not any of your business, I think."

He shrugged.

"Or maybe it is. I don't know. I don't care. But until you start paying my salary, I don't think you should be treating a soldier this way. It's not polite.

"Unless you do pay my salary," he said, eyeballing her. He shook his head after a moment. "Nah."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jYou ssshouldn't be trrreatjing a prrrjisjionerrr thjiss wajy!" Saa retorted, interjecting into their conversation. "Wrrrongfulljy detajined, jI ssshould add! Prroperrr Gujild paperrrworrrk fjiled and everrrjythjing." She sat down and pouted, crossing her legs and folding her arms.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

She briefly turned to Saarrreeaa, snapping her fingers as she chastized her for not helping the situation.

"Hussh!"

She turned to Onashi, her finger becoming a battering ram as she prodded him across the room to the nearest wall.

"jI majy not pajy jyourr ssalarrjy, jyou thug of a sha'shaa, but jI do have the earrss of both the Commanderr and hjiss Commodorre, both people jI asssurre jyou who can make jyou wjissh thjiss dajy neverr happened. jI've made a ljivjing makjing exampless out of thosse who crrosss me, now gjive me an excusse!"

[Serasai Onashi]

"The adults talking now, girl," Onashi added with no small amount of relish. He returned his eyes to Taataani, and resumed the banter he'd been dying for; and this was following lines he'd never had gotten with Glayde.

Maren would ignore him until he went away.

"Okay," he said, without looking very distressed. "What are you then, Intelligence? Diplomatic Corps? (He snorted when saying this.) Having the ear of my commanders isn't the same as being my commander, woman."

He shrugged.

"But I'll leave. If you say please."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jI wjill not sshut up, jI wjill be hearrrd! jI told Cirr what happened alrrready, he has no rrrjight to hold me herrre. jI am not a prrrjissonerr of warrr!" Saa would have stomped her foot, but she was sitting down, so she settled for glaring at the other two.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

She tossed Saarrreeaa a mock-incredulous look, her ears cocking askew.

"That jinnocent look on jyourr face mjight worrk wjith thjiss obtusse forrda, but jI know what jyou djid, and jI know what kjind of raasha'kou jyou've become. jYou know jI'm ssmarrterr than that, jyou don't have the luxurrjy of Onasshji'ss jignorrance."

She turned to Onashi.

"And jyou?"

SLAP

SLAP

Back and forehand worked like ebb and flow. Not hard enough to draw blood, but hard enough to give him a ride and make him feel it.

"jI'm afrrajid jI don't know that worrd. That'ss the besst trransslatjion jI've got. jIf jyou want mjy crredentjialss then look arround. Whateverr parrt of thjiss sshjip that jissn't coverred bjy rrusst orr fjilth? Thosse arre mjy crredentjialss."

[Serasai Onashi]

This minx had a temper!

"Oh, so you're an engineer?" he asked, sliding his hand into his pockets. "No, perhaps the cleaning staff? Well, you've been doing a bad job of it over in the crew hygiene areas. The sonic showers look positively disgusting. You're lucky these men are very patient and idealistic, otherwise you'd have a riot on your hands."

She'd sent that one to him wrapped in a bow. He couldn't have resisted even if he had wanted.

"And, I never asked for credentials. I don't care anymore. All I want is a please, and I'll mosey on out of your way."

He pulled one hand from his pocket and inspected his finger nails, and then locked Taataani with an expectant look as he bit off a hangnail and spit it off to the side.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa's mouth dropped open, and then she burst into hysterical laughter at the look on Taataani's face.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Dumbstruck.

What else could be said?

This cretin was somehow immune to every single weapon in her carefully-maintained arsenal designed to get what she wanted. Can't slap or claw him into submission, he's not very receptive to it. Can't verbally maul him, because he's either thick-skinned or oblivious. Can't destroy his career, because, well, what does he do, exactly.

Saarrreeaa's laughter tinkling on her ears did not help.

She straightened her posture, head canting back slightly as she made a deliberate motion of crossing her arms before her. Her tail looped around her front, completing her retreat into her fortress of aloofitude.

She watched him for a moment, looking for a weakness. When she found one, that smug look on her face dropped back into a perturbed frown, and she promptly turned toward the brig door and bellowed.

"Get me the Commanderr, the Commodorre, whoeverr jyou damn well can!"

[Serasai Onashi]

The doors slid open and the two marines standing guard stepped in quickly, hearing only shouting.

"Mister Onashi sir," one said, at a loss for words. Onashi shrugged and waved them off.

"Go on," he said. "She wants the captain, or the commodore. Or both. Go get them. It's not like we have a comm system for calling them down here for emergencies, you know."

The marines frowned, but nodded, not quite getting Onashi's humour. He shrugged and sat down once more, facing the little spitfire.

"So," he said, bright red hand-prints forming on his cheeks. "Have you bagged any other bounties than that one man, Sanis?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

She flushed, "He wasss mjy fjirrrsst. Not mjy fjirrrsst fjirrrsst, but fjirrrsst bountjy."

Saa's eyes tracked to Taataani, and she said, "jI ssshould have been mated by now - ssstarrtjing mjy own housse. Mjy motherrr couldn't fjind a prrroperr manserrrvant forrr me! No one wantss to gjive thejirr ssonss to Houssse Raurrssaatta anjymorrre! The only match ssshe could make wasss wjith the Douttanna bjitch who ownsss a flowerrr ssshop. A flowerrr ssshop, not even morrre than one!" She flipped her hair to her other shoulder, nearly obscuring the bruise Cirr had given her. "jI left. Betterrr to be mjy own woman than to beg forrr the scrrrapss jyou've left usss."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"And now jyou'rre empjirre jiss a prrjisson cell."

Torn away from her fury at Onashi, she looked at the younger woman.

"Ejight jyearrss to plot rrevenge and jyou ssettle forr a rrube ljike Ssanjiss Prrent?"

She shook her head, a slight look of pity on her face.

"Oh, seeta'lai, mjy ljittle cub, jif jyou everr wanted to do jyourr bjitch of a motherr the honorr and thrrow jyourr ljife awajy forr vengeance, jyou mjissed the kosai pojint. jYou'rre worrth sso much morre than that."

She frowned.

"And jI hate jit forr jyou. jYou neverr desserrved to be mjixed up jin thjiss."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa spat, "jI don't want jyourrr fuckjing pjitjy, bjitch!"

Somehow she'd gotten to the transparisteel wall, and was scratching her claws on it as if she were wrapping her hands around Taataani's throat.

[Serasai Onashi]

Oho, now if this wasn't something interesting!

He leaned back, staying quiet and watching everything unfold, wishing he had a snack to open up for this holodrama grade entertainment.

Revenge, pity, two houses of seeming nobility, one despoiled? And this was happening before his eyes, in the flesh?

This was great.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"No, jyou don't. jYou want to act ljike ssome noble woman sscorrned, no?"

She placed a hand upon her breast, mouth slightly agape in faux-awe.

"jI'm jimprressed. Rrealljy. Ssomeone asss ssmarrt, talented, and blesssed asss jyou ought to own a planet, jyourr own upbrrjingjing be damned."

She gave a flippant shrug.

"jInsstead jyou'rre an outlaw queen of ssome ssorrt, wjith thjisss..."

She jerked her thumb at Onashi.

"...jidjiot forr a courrt jessterr."

At that, she turned on a heel and marched away from Saa, headed for the bench opposite Onashi.

"jI feel humbled jin jyourr prressence."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"FUCK jYOU!" she bellowed, red faced in her anger and impotent in her rage.

[Serasai Onashi]

"Calm down, girl," Onashi murmured quietly to himself, letting the off-hand jester insult slide off his back like water. One didn't become a mercenary with thin skin and survive for very long. "Revenge doesn't come from shouting at your enemies. Unless you're Ithorian, and they don't take revenge."

He grinned, feeling the tension in the room rise as an uneasy silence fell on the room, though he was relaxed and thoroughly amused.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Unwilling to wound her pride by leaving now, she was forced to endure this troll until her son or Loklorien could descend from above to liberate her. Judging by the pace of things, that would take forever. To pass the time, she removed an embroidered cigar case from her purse, and carefully selected a slim-wrapped stim. Trimming it carefully with a claw, she lit it up in a plume of purple smoke, leaning against the uncomfortable wall of the brig as if it were plush velvet.

She said nothing as she drew a mouthful of smoke, the cherry on the freshly-fired cigarra glowing angrily as she narrowed her eyes at the man across from her. At last she exhaled, more or less smothering Onashi.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa's eyes bulged as she tried to find words to articulate what she wanted to do to Rrou'fai Meorrrei, the result being she looked a bit like a fish as she gaped at the other female's back. She settled for banging her fist on the barrier, one good, hard bang that made a satisfying noise in the room, and then stalking back to the bed in her cell and sitting down on it.

Cross-legged on the thin mattress, she stared unblinkingly at her two visitors, quiet at last.

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi breathed the smoke in, closing his eyes and sighing out in enjoyment.

"Good stuff," he remarked, before turning back to the young girl who had posed as a bounty hunter, already bored with the silent ill-will floating about the room. "So what training did you have? Any? Or did you realize you couldn't do anything else other than turn this guy's head with some drugs and a little ass?"

He crossed his arms and let his left foot rest on his right knee.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

He'd gotten a call from the brig, from a Marine that sounded like he'd been through a combat drop. "There's a situation in the brig, sir. You're being summoned."

Which, he'd expected at some point. Saarrreeaa wasn't just going to sulk, was she? He did need to eventually talk to her, but he still wasn't sure how to broach a subject that close to home. Of course, she'd made it more than a family issue, and now it was a military one. The Marine also summoned Commodore s'Ilancy, which seemed absurd, but she'd been roped into this mess too, hadn't she?

So they headed below deck, and made their way to the brig. The private who messaged him seemed on edge, and saluted.

"Sir. They're, uh..."

They?

Cirr reciprocated the salute as an afterthought, giving the frazzled marine a nod as he stepped through the threshold and into Hell.

His ears twitched.

"Oh. Shjit."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

There were some situations that invariably called for the presence of a higher officer, and though she was almost loathe to admit it, s'Il knew her attendance to this matter was a necessary thing. Certainly not something she'd wished to interrupt her own duties for, but that was the occasional bane of her existence.

She had come with Cirr, the two mostly silent as they trekked the short distance to the brig, their journey filled with brief questions and shorter answers. Not out of any foul mood on either part of the Commander or the Commodore, but more that the two were so engrossed in their own thoughts, and the knowledge that each had their own tasks to finish.

Tasks that had been interrupted.



She had expected to simply walk in silently behind her Cizerack companion; as it was, s'Il found herself completely blocked away from what was transpiring inside, her forward movement abruptly stopped by Cirr's immobile form.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Her eyes flashed at Onashi's question. "jIf jyou'rrre man enough, let me out and jI'll sshow jyou what trrrajinjing jI've had." Saa tossed her head as the door to the brig opened, and she turned her head so that Cirr could see what he'd done to her face.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Relief seemed to roll off her in a wave that started at the base of her spine and ran to her head, giving her enough spring in her posture to rise from her accursedly uncomfortable seat.

"Ugh. Fjinalljy!"

She jabbed her cigar in Onashi's direction, and spoke of him as if she'd seen someone's nerf relieve itself by the roadside.

"Sson, who jiss thjiss sswjine? He offendss everrjy ssensse jI have, and jI feel nausseated jin hjiss prressence. Put hjim jin the nearresst trrassh pod and fjirre hjim jinto deep sspace forr everrjyone'ss ssake."

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi barely restrained himself from laughing and mocking the woman.

I don't like him! Get him away from me! I want it now! Mine! No!

She wasn't a weakling or at least not someone to be trifled with even with her immature and childish command; some acted the way she did because they were born into it. Some acted that way because they'd forced themselves into the position and habit of being able to do so. She seemed to be both.

He grinned and shrugged when the Captain and his enigmatic but handsome companion (that scar was delightful!) looked at him. Speaking would be counterproductive at the moment, so he remained quiet.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

"Motherr, jI..."

He closed his eyes, pinching at the bridge of his nose. He felt Lok trying to move forward, and he was all too eager to step forward and aside. Hopefully something in her extensive Jedi arsenal would allow her to broker peace.

He looked at Saarrreeaa as he opened his eyes, not lingering on the damage he'd done. He was still too ashamed. Instead, his eyes rested on the strange human who somehow managed to get in the middle of this shit pile and to become public enemy number one in his mother's eyes. Oh, but he wouldn't ask. Nooooo. Not here.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Stepping around Cirr, the Lupine took in the scene before her. It was certainly not what she'd expected, but then again, the mere fact that Taataani was aboard meant that at some point, something outside the realm of normalcy would transpire. What she saw now did not fail to measure up to the Cizerack matron's special brand of situational circuses. s'Il found herself wondering just how often circumstances like these arose around Taa, but the thought was just as quickly banished to the back corners of her mind.

The Commodore gave a nod to Mr. Onashi, then turned her broken gaze to each warm body in the room, her eyes narrowed.

Her hands met at the small of her back.

"Now. Who is going to be the first to explain to me why I was interrupted from my duties and asked to come down here."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the uptight Jedai bitch, and pointed at Taataani. "Sshe demanded jyourrr prrressence. Sshe'ss offended bjy thjiss hyuu-man and wantsss hjim rrremoved. jInsstead of jussst leavjing."

She did roll her eyes then, but it was directed at Taataani. "jI would leave, perrrsssonalljy, but jI can't."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani's ears cocked askew as she looked at the younger Cizerack.

"Whjy would jI leave, ljittle cub? jI'm herre to ssee jyou jin jyourr hourr of need."

Her expression turned mirthless as she gestured with her cigar again to Onashi.

"Unforrtunateljy sso jiss thjiss gai'seetaalo, who hassn't jyet underrsstood how farr above hjiss sstatjion we arre."

She again gestured at Saa.

"Human, do jyou have anjy jidea what kree'rrou jiss? An urrge sstrrongerr than anjythjing jyourr peanut brrajin could everr know. That one, darrljing, jiss jin the full thrroess. Sshe'd fuck a lamp posst jif gjiven the chance. jIf sshe'ss telljing jyou that jyou've overrsstajyed jyourr welcome, therre jiss no hope forr jyou jin thjiss galaxjy."

She took another draw on her cigar.

"Get out."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

There was no change of expression, no deviation in her features. One hand came out to rest firmly on Onashi's shoulder, making sure that he knew to stay right where he was.

For as unrelenting as her grip on him was, her voice was even moreso. Each word was spoken with an iron laced throughout that left no room for argument.

"Mr. Onashi will be staying here."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Oh sure. Keep the catalyst for Mother's crazy atoms here. Cirr ducked in time to hide his incredulous expression, disguising it with a cough as he quickly righted himself.

Okay. Calm. Deep breaths.

"Motherr. Thjis jis a brrjig. On a mjiljitarry shjip. And jI am the Commanderr."

He spoke slow, and all the while felt like he was a blithering idiot for having to sound out the painfully obvious.

What was he going to do? Lock her in the brig, too?

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi could feel the laughter bubbling up within his chest, threatening to break loose and upset the scene happening all around him. Instead, he let a wide smile eat up as much space on his face as it could take without becoming full of teeth

He had to pull it back though so he could prepare and put on the most satisfied look he could muster. Once he felt it was ready, he let the grin come back and he watched the Captain's mother, drawn in by this circus.

As much as it hurt, he continued his silence, but all the while his shit-eating grin was in place, ready to dim and seem only amused when the eyes of the Captain and the handsome woman of a Commodore took the time from the elder woman to look at him.

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jYou'rrre gettjing a ljittle mad wjith powerrr, Rai'nomaa." Saa sniffed. "Therrrre'ss a rrreassson femalesss rule on Carshouljiss. We don't want to tax jyourrr ljittle brrrajinsss."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Okay. Tired of her shit.

"We'rre not on Carrshouljis, Saari'sanjaa'. Forrgotten alrready?"

Eight years beyond the cluster. Some habits of the old life remained. Others were easier to dispel. Putting up with that? He didn't miss it.

He jerked a thumb at his chest.

"jI've starred down starr destrroyerrs and ljived. Don't feel too self jimporrtant whjile you'rre sjittjing jin therre."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"That is enough."

It was as much an admonishment of the girl's childish and immature behavior as it was of Cirr's lack of protocol. There were times when personal interests could be on mind, but when they bled out from the tongue, it was generally inexcusable.

She took her hand from Onashi's shoulder.

"I have yet to be given an acceptable reason why I am here."

Her steely gaze fell to Saarrreeaa.

"You know well enough why you are here. Despite what you may think, there are some things in this galaxy that do not happen the way that you may think they should. What you want, and what you get are - quite frankly - two very very different things.

"I do not care whether you are experiencing kree'rrou. It is unfortunate for you, and you only have yourself to blame for placing yourself in this situation during that time."

She looked to Taataani, knowing the look of satisfaction in the other woman's eyes at the verbal lashing that'd been delivered. It only served to darken the already cloudy look on s'Il's features.

"And do not gloat, Rrou'fai. There is no acceptable reason for you to grace my brig with your presence. It is... unprofessional."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Loklorrjien ss'jIlancjy,"

She began, the patrician lilt returning to her voice as her posture straightened slightly.

"jI am actjing onljy jin the besst of fajith, of courrsse. Unlesss jyou jintend on thjiss ljittle one to jusst rrot jin a cell, jI jintend to get herr to cooperrate. Wjith orr wjithout help."

She sized Onashi up again and narrowed her eyes.

"And jif jI have to sstep overr a few people to do that, well, jI made ssurre to pack comforrtable sshoess forr once!"

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi raised an eyebrow, unable to hold back any longer.

"You must be speaking metaphorically," Onashi said, scratching an itch on his throat. "You're much too small to be stepping over anyone."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"Sshe'ss fat enough that jI'd be carrreful to ssstajy out of herrr wajy," Saa pointed out, unhelpfully.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr grimaced. Oh, he did not want to be here at all. But this had all the makings of an incident, and there wasn't any obvious way to make it disappear. He caught a glance at his mother and immediately averted his eyes. That was not a look on her face that she wanted pointed in his direction.

What was he doing?! He was the Commander, damn it! Finding some resolve in him, he stood a little straighter.

"Everryone, shut up!"

And now that look on his mother's face did land on him, and he did his best not to wither beneath it.

[Serasai Onashi]

"Everryone, shut up!"

Onashi's grin widened in the ensuing silence. This was far too much. Was this his birthday? He pondered that thought seriously for a moment, but dismissed it as unimportant.

The Captain's fidgeting under his mother's - the Captain's mother was on this ship, and was acting like she owned it! Oh sweet heavens, this was rich! - glare ended up being the final piece needed, and he snorted, trying desperately to hold in his laughter.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Her unconscious response to Saa's insult was to suck in her middle a little. Her ears splayed back fully as she gave each and every party in the room a look that would burn them down to their boots. As she smoked, her mind schemed, noting every injury, every insult given to her today. Every single one of them would be paid for. Forgiveness was a luxury she kept under close guard.

"jI'm not leavjing."

She announced defiantly to everyone. Settling again on Onashi, she approached him slowly, keeping the lit cigar at her pursed lips like a fiery bayonet point. Removing it again, two streams of purple puffed from her nose, like an angry beast ready to charge and trample over something that offended it.

"jYess. Laugh. Go on. jYou haven't the ssljightesst jidea what jyou've begun. jI'll tell jyou thjiss though. jI'll end jit. jI alwajyss do."

She dropped her cigar between her and Onashi, and stamped on it hard, baring her teeth in a hiss before spitting on the embers below.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Taataani," came the quiet hiss. Far from Cirr's outburst, this new, low voice was unmistakeably finished with the absurdity of this circus.

"You are unwilling to control yourself, so I will do it for you."

One hand came up, and two fingers snapped. "Private Derhan."

The marine appeared behind the Commodore, shoulders back and eyes forward.

"Ma'am."

Fingers pointed at Taa, then at the cell beside Saarrreeaa's.

"Mrs. Meorrrei does not wish to leave. Give to her the same courtesy she has just shown my ship, if you will. Cell two."

"Yes Ma'am."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa's mouth dropped open again, but she didn't laugh this time. The
Jedai was throwing her authority around like a nine hundred pound wampa. Military command or no, she couldn't imagine a rrou'fai reacting well to a forrrda throwing them in prison.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

He was an accessory to putting his mother in jail. There was no way he'd ever hear the end of this. He could single-handedly punch Empress Tarkin in the teeth and throw her from the Imperial Tower, and save the entire galaxy, and she would still bring this up every single time they met for the rest of his life.

By some miracle, he stood stoic by the Commodore as she issued the order. No cringing. No drooping ears. No agape mouth. Only his tail betrayed him, jerking up and down.

He'd sort this all out and make it right. Somehow. Eventually. Hopefully! Oh Goddess what?!

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi leaned back, slowly, trying to remain unnoticeable as things got even more entertaining.

He was desperately trying to figure out how to tell this to the marines and crew members later; the captain's mother, thrown in the brig, for disrespecting command. With the sixteen year old first time bounty hunter who had raped the Captain's former captain and sold him off to Black Sun. And all because she couldn't stand being the in the same room as he! He hadn't even done anything to her... yet.

Once he was sure no one was looking, he silently wailed his laughter at the sheer wondrousness of the situation, and wiped his eyes.

This was going into his memoirs for sure.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

She hadn't seen that coming. Blinking, she looked at Loklorien with clear surprise on her face. Okay, she respected the woman's steel resolve. Impressive stuff. The kind of clout fit for a rrou'fai. Of course, it was being used directly against her, and the injury of that would have to be settled down the line. She glared at the woman as Private Derhan approached, transferring that look onto him as he moved within range to take hold of her arm. She jerked away indignantly.

"Unhand me jyou chjild! jI'm morre than capable of walkjing therre mjysself."

Head high, she did exactly that. She didn't look at Saarrreeaa. No, she'd never give her the satisfaction. She did, however look at her son. It was a look that didn't involve scorn, but simply promised that they were due a long talk on this whenever she was released. Cirrsseeto was complicated, but not that complicated. She'd sort him out.

As she entered the cell, she paused, taking a long breath as she turned. Private Derhan closed the door, and she traced one of the bars with a finger, as if examining the decor of a fine Coruscanti apartment. She shrugged, putting on a nonplussed expression. She looked at Onashi and smiled. He didn't have the luxury of seeing in her mind's eye at what gave her cause to smile. A million toils and torments were in store for this enemy. She may have never killed a person before in her life, but she was exceedingly good at destroying them.

And Serasai Onashi would be a modern art masterpiece when she was finished.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

While it was certainly not something that she had wished to do, the Commodore had found herself with little choice in the matter. It was unfortunate, but events as they were allowed no other option to be taken, and s'Il scowled at the circumstances that'd played out before her.

Taataani would of course not spend any amount of time in the brig; perhaps an hour to two hours at the most, but hopefully it would be enough time to calm the Matron of her current ill wills regarding Onashi. Of course, the carefully controlled storm that was to be sent her own way was a definite thing, and one that the Lupine knew she would have to face.

Jawline tightening, she gave another snap of her fingers as she turned on her heel.

"Mr. Onashi; with me if you please."

And with that she was out of the doorway to the brig, like some uniformed wraith.

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi watched Taataani march into the brig herself, with as much dignity as she could muster; Onashi had seen more enjoyable things, but at the moment he was unable to think of many, and not because he held a profound dislike of the woman either, but merely because it was so damn funny when someone tried to enter a cell with dignity.

s'Ilancy's command startled him out of his enjoyment, but only slightly. His good humour resurfaced like an inflated ball, bobbing on the surface of his quizzical expression almost as quickly as it had disappeared.

He didn't take his time when he stood, but neither did he move very quickly; he simply stood, stretched, popping a couple joints, and with a jaunty wave to the occupants of the brig, walked out after the woman into the corridor right outside.

"Is there something you needed," he paused, unsure as to whether she was Commodore that had been spoken of or not; no one had said so decisively or not. He was leaning with yes, and mistaking someone's rank for a higher one usually was a good piece of flattery. "Commodore?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saarrreeaa watched Rrou'fai Meorrrei stalk into the cell next to hers, and then she looked at Cirrsseeto. "Excellent plan. How betterrr to assserrrt jyourrr domjinance outsssjide the Clusssterrr than to thrrrow jyourrr own motherrr jin jail."

She clapped, slowly, smirking.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirrsseeto exhaled a long sigh, his face inscrutable as he looked over the gloating Raurrssaatta trollop and his mother, too proud to let fly her anger at the state of affairs now that she was in a cell. She leaned against a wall as if she owned it, her arms crossed as she watched the other two felinoids.

"Alrrjight then."

He glanced at his chrono.

"jI've got watch to rreporrt to. jI'll be back jin and hourr."

The Commander's left ear ticked sharply, and he coughed.

"Err, two hourrs."

He backed out of the brig, not ready to show his back to the caged women.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani watched her son leave with a politely aloof expression. She wasn't going to take him to task here. They both knew that his reckoning would happen later. She kept the facade of good humor up until the door shut behind the Commander.

And then there were two.

And then, the act dropped. So too did the edges of Taa's lips into a frown.

"Hello...nejighborr."

She looked Saarrreeaa up and down disapprovingly.

"How long have jyou been jin herre, ljittle one? And whjile burrnjing? jYourr fjingerrss musst be prruness bjy now!"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jYou wound me, Rrou'fai," Saarrreeaa replied, one hand to her chest as she made a shocked face. "jYesss, jI have been herrre an hourrr and have ssspent the tjime pleassurrrjing mjyssself jin frrront of that merrrcenarrrjy jyou enjojyed sso much.

"Pleassse," she rolled her eyes and flounced to the bunk set into the bulkhead. "Asss jif that would happen. Perrrhapss jyoung femalesss djid thjingsss djifferrrentljy a centurrrjy ago."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Oh, an age joke, how delightful. Taataani bore it gracefully, tracing a finger along a bar as she talked.

"Well, we cerrtajinljy djidn't do anjythjing sso boorrjissh asss become a bountjy hunterr."

She gave the younger Cizerack a funny look, ears skewing at odd angles.

"jI mean, jyourr rressume jiss ssummed up bjy catchjing Ssanjiss Prrent, whjich makess jyou onljy ssljightljy betterr at catchjing hjim than a sshowerr jiss, all told."

Her eyes widened as she smiled salaciously.

"Brrjilljiant teenage rrebelljion! Now what?"

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

"jYou know nothjing," spat Saarrreeaa. "jI won't be talked down to bjy a female who takesss forrrda asss husssbandss."

She turned her back on the old woman, but for all her talk she was growing more upset at the barbs Taataani was throwing. The fact that her mother had been humiliated, out-maneuvered and out classed by the other Rrou'fai was a deep embarrassment. Yet for all that, Taataani was a female of prestige. Someone she looked up to, despite how much she wanted to see her empire burn.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa wasn't retorting with the same venom she'd kept up, and Taataani declined to point out the teenager's double standard in picking an iconoclastic lifestyle and keeping to conservative speciesist social mores. The Rrou'fai gripped a bar in each hand as she pressed close to the periphery of her cell.

"jYou know, Saarrreeaa, jit doessn't have to end thjiss wajy, and jyou don't want jit to. Do the rrjight thjing. jYou sshould be out therre, makjing a name forr jyourrsself."

Her voice lacked the aristocratic inflection she spoke with in the company of the rest of the onlookers. This was softer.

"jYou hate me, jI know. That'ss fjine. jI have no sshorrtage of enemjiess. Jusst rrememberr warrei tai'chaa na ne a'gaarri traai eiya. Therre'ss no betterr rrevenge than ssuccesss and ljivjing well.

A ssnap of mjy fjingerrss and jyou'rre frree to have that ssecond chance and gjive jit jyourr besst sshot."

[Saarrreeaa Raurrssaatta]

Saa didn't turn around, her shoulders growing a little more rounded as she put her arms around her knees and rested her face on them. "A ssecond chance. Frrom jyou. jYou'd... let me go."

The other female began to make agree, but Saa interrupted her with a throaty laugh. "jI want no parrrt of jyour pjitjy. Ssave jyourrr fuckjing good deed forrr ssomeone elsse. jYou do not get off the hook sso eassjiljy."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Is there something you needed," he paused, unsure as to whether she was Commodore that had been spoken of or not; no one had said so decisively or not. He was leaning with yes, and mistaking someone's rank for a higher one usually was a good piece of flattery. "Commodore?"

She bade him walk beside her, and as the pair headed down the corridor away from the brig, s'Il kept her hands behind her back.

"It is a dangerous game you're playing, Mr. Onashi," she started, her voice holding no tone of rebuke or disapproval. Instead, it was merely one of caution.

"I can understand curiosity, but I would ask that you keep in mind the fine line that must be adhered to in matters such as these."

It had been a long time since the elder Lupine had seen Taataani so flustered to the point of irrationality; in fact, she wasn't sure she'd ever seen the other woman as such. The Cizerack matron had always kept a cool head about her in every instance that s'Il had been in her presence.

Except for now.

"The Matron will not soon forget what I've done, and I can guarantee you that she'll no sooner forget you."

[Serasai Onashi]

"I'm not playing any game, Commodore," Onashi answered easily. "All I wanted was a please, and I don't think that was a lot to ask."

His grin widened in remembrance. It had been amusing to see how his very presence made her annoyed. That was a rare thing; usually he'd have to work to annoy someone.

"Besides," he continued, his hands sliding into his pockets as he kept pace with the woman beside him. "What can she do? Cut off my pay?"

He snorted.

"With as much as I'm getting paid by now, it should be obvious I'm not in this for the money."

The pay had been good for a while, but Ops missions were in his past now.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"She certainly cannot affect your monetary status, but she can make your life difficult."

s'Il gave a defeated sigh.

"As I'm quite expecting her to make mine."

They walked in silence for a short while, as the Lupine pondered his words. They rounded a corner, and headed for the lift.

"Why are you here then, if you don't mind me asking?"

She had not really read any of the crew files that'd been given to her upon their departure from Dac, and only knew a select from by name only.

[Serasai Onashi]

Onashi's grin blossomed into a full grown smile, which carried his opinion of her warning clearly: What can she do to me? Nothing.

"For violence," he said, his tone carrying his belief that the answer was obvious. "The Empire pays better, but they don't need to hire mercenaries when they've got the Stormtroopers and Army to throw at everything in the galaxy and still have maybe ten legions left over."

He paused.

"Job security's not as good with the Empire. People tend to disappear after doing a job for an Imperial, or the Hutts. Or for Black Sun. That's where most mercenary work tends to be now."

He grinned mirthlessly.

"Mercenaries don't have a very good pool of employers to choose from. You Rebels are a shining lot of safe creds. I hope you weren't thinking I joined for the cause."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Everyone joins for different reasons, and the 'cause' is never a sure bet with anyone around here."

He was honest, and it gave her reason to offer a smile of her own.

"I myself was roped into all of this... " A hand came out to gestured around them.

"... a long time ago, of course. It had not been my choice to join."

[Serasai Onashi]

"Oh?" he asked, even though his interest was waning. He looked at her a moment and measured the different types of stories he'd heard since becoming a 'Rebel'. "A man? You don't seem to be a vengeful type."

Her calm and poise suggested nobility, or some sort of hereditary pedigree. It was rare for someone not born into such things to have that air about them; most could imitate it, but their calm and poise was different from someone who'd had it bred into them.

"Maybe," he said, reassessing her. "Maybe not. Lots of different kinds of revenge and all."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Of that you are correct."

Stopping at the lift, the Commodore depressed the call button; on a ship of this size the wait would be minimal.

She turned to face Mr. Onashi fully.

"All I ask is that you be careful around Taataani Meorrrei. Nothing more, nothing less."

[Serasai Onashi]

Serasai Onashi almost puffed up. Almost.

"I don't think there's much she can do to me," he said. "Without seriously endangering my life. And she's not the first person of that kind I've annoyed."

He smirked.

"But thanks for the warning anyhow."

He saluted loosely, and further broke protocol by releasing the gesture before she could respond. He whistled and made his way back to his cabin, feeling satisfied and amused, with a good story to write down.

Life was good.