[b][i]"Why don't you come with us? You're pretty good in a fight. We could use you."[/b][/i]
[i]~ Han Solo[/i]


As a string of anxious and terrified pilots and travelers bustled through the busy starport, two pairs of eyes tracked movement throughout the crowd, one pair silver-blue in color, the other pair green; but both attentive. The harder and older pair belonged to an albino, wolf-like alien, dressed in casual smuggler attire; the fairer and more delicate pair, to a vixen in a clean jumpsuit and utility belt. Had anybody decided to look in their direction and seen them sitting quietly at the bar, only their neutral expressions might have clued others in that they were not as they seemed, as neither of them looked particularly concerned about the recent attack that had taken place- even as news of it blared on every nearby holovision.

The wolf sipped his drink casually, looking fairly relaxed and comfortable, the vixen seat next to him raising an eyebrow at her comrade's composure. "What's put you in such a decent mood, love?"

Locke smiled. "I enjoy the moments where I can cast off my usual attire and mingle among the civilians. It's fairly easy to do, and I'm not met with the usual hard stares for my otherwise obvious affiliations. It's almost like a glimpse of what it'd be like had I not been discovered by my master."

Keris nodded, thumbing the handle of her lightsaber, which was disguised as a tool. "I suppose it helps that it let you get a close look at Ulfric's displeasure without being caught, right?"

The wolf chuckled. "It made my day. It [i]almost [/i]makes up for the fact that I once again missed an opportunity to speak with Captain Surnahm, but I imagine he had more important business elsewhere, which would have necessitated getting as far away from our rather enormous friend as possible. 'Those who fight and run away', and all that."

"And what of his Jedi lover?" she asked somewhat sourly.

"Still sore about that, are you? They let you live, my apprentice, there's no need to hold a grudge- particularly since [i]you [/i]hurt [i]her [/i]first[i]. [/i]If you must draw from the dark side, it's ineffective to do so focusing on something you might be grateful for." He swigged the last of his drink, catching an icecube in his muzzle and munching on it. "You'll have another chance to test her mettle in battle, my dear. And I expect you'll have a far better fight this time, if she was able to match Ulfric's skill enough for her to survive. That lout may not have much in the way of tactical brains, but there's no denying his considerable skill- or bloodlust."

Keris swallowed. "Is it true that he murdered his own apprentice?"

Locke grimaced, keeping his eyes on the crowd as he spoke. "Indeed. They found both halves of her, 50 feet apart, in the storage room at the museum they took over. As I've said before- stay away from him when you're not with me."

"Why is he even a part of the Circle?" Keris asked, shuddering.

"Well, he has his uses," Locke answered fairly. "Knight Ulfric has no use for words, politics, subtlety or knowledge. He is a brute, a barbarian who lives for the fight. It makes him an effective means of instilling fear or crushing an enemy. His abilities in the Force are decent enough, but where it concerns lightsaber combat, I confess that even my ability to match him blade-to-blade would be strained."

"What will happen to him, then, after his failure today?" Keris asked curiously as she glanced at the holovision, an image of the immense figure showing on the screen.

"Oh he'll be reprimanded, of that there is no doubt- and naturally he'll be allowed to live. Don't get me wrong, he [i]nearly [/i]succeeded today and he might have even come out on top had he not made a critical error and actually opened his eyes to see things as they really are. I hope to show you once-- ah, there he is."

An eyeless, near-human being was approaching the two, clad in the fashion of a mercenary, dragging out a chair from their table and sitting. "I've procured the item."

Locke nodded. "Very good work, Miles- I did you the courtesy of saving you a drink. Any trouble getting in and out?"

"Ah, thanks for the beverage." Miles seated himself, grabbing his glass. "It was as easy as saying I meant to hunt down their Sith terrorist in order to gain their trust. The weapon was buried under some of the debris of a destroyed tractor emitter. It helps that this planet's security force lacks a forensics facility or investigation firm, I was allowed to take it without incident."

Keris leaned forward. "So what was this 'weapon' we came here to find?"

The Miralukan drew a slim, damaged lightsaber handle, shifting aside a few glasses and placing it on the table. "The lightsaber of Jedi Master Mace Windu."

The vixen frowned. "Is that it? It's not likely to help us, damaged as it is."

Locke grinned. "My dear, I have plenty more to teach you about the intricacies of the Force and the dark side than you currently know. Have you not heard the story of the fall of Mace Windu?" She shook her head. "A failure on my part, I'm afraid, so I'll impart that tale. When the Jedi became aware that the then-Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was actually the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, Master Windu and 3 other Jedi Masters attempted to have him arrested on behalf of the Senate."

"I'm told that the 3 who accompanied Master Windu were slain in a matter of seconds, yet Sidious was unable to dispatch Windu himself. Shortly before another Jedi Knight betrayed Windu, Lord Sidious attempted to attack the Jedi Master through the Force, conjuring immense amounts of lightning, generated through the dark side. The Jedi Master's lightsaber and skill in the Force were enough to weather the assault- but if I'm right," he said, reaching out and grabbing the weapon, beginning to dismantle it expertly, "then significant traces of Lord Sidious' power may very well remain in the focusing crystal. And that, my love, may be considered [i]extremely [/i]valuable to the Circle," he finished, fishing out a slightly luminescent purple gem from the remains and holding it at eye-level with a satisfied smirk.

Keris raised her eyebrows. "And yet Knight Ulfric ignored it?"

"Well as I say, the man is all muscle, no mind," he chuckled, slipping the gem into his pocket and the remaining lightsaber pieces into a leather bag. He returned his attention to his aide-de-camp. "What else were you able to learn from your investigation?"

The Miralukan grabbed the drink Locke had offered him, cracking open the top. "The ship Captain Surnahm is using is the same he used back on AS-303, with a new paint job. He's rechristened it from the [i]Rushin' Roulette [/i]to the [i]Gold Rush [/i]now. I took a moment to view the hyperspace vector the starport's flight computers logged as it left- it would appear that he is working with the Jedi, as he and his associates made a direct jump to Yavin 4."

"Pity," Locke said, frowning. "I suppose that properly makes him my enemy, then."

"Do you intend to kill him, or have him killed?" Miles asked.

"Let's not be hasty, Lieutenant Lohess. He may simply stand in our way, in which case removing him may require little more than asking politely. I'm more concerned that his continued involvement in our affairs may put him at risk for another encounter with Knight Ulfric, or another member of the Circle- and they shall not be as lenient, I'm afraid. What were you able to learn about Ulfric's condition?"

"Near as I can tell he suffered no permanent damage- which is incredible, given that the holocam feeds showed him taking at least 2 direct hits from the vessel's cannons, to say nothing of the 3 blaster bolts our traitorous friend shot at him."

"That'll be Ulfric's specialization in [i]tutaminis[/i], no doubt." Keris cocked her head and he explained. "A Force ability that allows the user to deflect or absorb energy. The average practitioner can stop blaster bolts- highly skilled users can catch lightsaber blades in their hands with little to no ill effect. Ulfric, I'm told, has mastered this ability. That he could be capable of tanking a direct hit from a ship's cannon is certainly impressive, though."

"He... sounds impossible to kill," Keris said weakly, ears drooping.

"Oh there are ways," Locke said lightly, putting his glass down. "Back to business, though- what of the captured stormtrooper?"

"All records of this operation were classified- not that it stopped me from finding out who was involved. All bodies of the soldiers are accounted for, save one- an Amaran male named Talrik Lye, a graduate from Teeva academy. He had solid testing scores despite his physical shortcomings, excelled in sharpshooting and demolitions, but... well, there are reasons to believe he would easily defect from us if given the chance," the Miralukan said quietly.

"Such as?"

"Claims of sexual assault while training," he responded seriously. Keris hissed slightly, looking angry. Locke said nothing, though he looked grim. Miles continued. "It would take time, but I imagine his family will soon be targeted for questioning. And I'm certain you know how that will go. Either way, we should assume that Lye will divulge sensitive information to the New Republic."

"Well, that'll be on Ulfric, then," the white wolf replied smoothly. "Do be so kind as to delay the questioning as long as possible."

"Sir?"

Locke sighed. "I may be Sith, but I have my standards. The blood of innocents should not have to be spilled for the expiation of another man's crimes."






It had been over a week since Kajex had left Syrra behind on Yavin 4. The Trianii had reported their findings to Master Skywalker and the council, giving them as much detail as possible- Talrik had offered additional knowledge to them immediately afterwards, spending an entire day and a half being questioned by New Republic Intelligence. With the Council's assurance that they would look after the Amaran defector he was allowed to stay while waiting for his family to return, though to Syrra's dismay he had not been able to gain employment from the New Republic staff.

Kajex had granted Talrik permission to stay onboard the [i]Gold Rush[/i], for as long as it took for the wolf to extricate the fox's family from out of Imperial territory- he had left with other New Republic operatives to conduct the rescue, using a separate ship. Within the first few days Syrra and Talrik had become fast friends, aided much by Garrett's and Lynch's presence whenever the two weren't busy.

His companionship was all the more valued because Syrra had almost immediately started missing her lover when he left. Her ability to talk to him through the Force only went so far, though she was certain the bond between them was powerful enough that she'd known immediately if he was in any danger. She still worried for the wolf, which made Talrik's presence important as it kept her mind from wandering down the dark paths of fear- talking to him about it was therapeutic, making it easier for her to sleep at night with each passing day, though it was always difficult to ignore the fact that Kajex's bed seemed all the more empty without him in it with her.

But things had changed the evening before, when the [i]Gold Rush [/i]received a message via holonet that Kajex and his team would be arriving the next morning. Excited that he would finally get to see his family after such a long period of time away from them, Syrra couldn't help but stifle her laughter as they waited in the hangar, his bushy tail whipping around excitedly- not that she could say anything, given that she was equally excited that Kajex was finally arriving safe and sound. When his vessel was finally sighted above the canopy of the forest, Syrra found herself incapable of hiding her smile, heart hammering as the vessel slid into the hangar and came to a full stop.

Minutes later, the ramp lowered and 6 figures strode down the ramp- 4 Republic SpecOps agents standing at attention, and two Amarans looking apprehensively at their new surroundings, spotting Talrik at a distance and running to him. Tears of joy in his eyes, he sprinted towards them and caught up his elderly mother in his arms, while his younger sibling hugged around his waist. The operatives dispersed as Kajex followed, sauntering down the ramp and smiling at the heartwarming scene in the middle. He glanced over at Syrra, his smile turning into a grin as they walked toward each other.

"Hey Syrra," he said simply.

She smiled. "Hello, Kaj. How did it go?"

He chuckled. "Pretty well."

After a week apart the two forwent words, deciding instead to embrace and kiss- though Talrik's reunion was a happy one, it was by no means the only one in the hangar.






"Of all the things you wanted to do when you came back, you wanted most to take a shower?"

Kajex grinned as his wet black hair covered his eyes. "That's not what I said. I said what I wanted [i]most [/i]was to hold you in my arms again- and I got that wish. Wish Number 2 was a shower. Now I have both at once."

She nuzzled under his chin, purring softly as hot water poured over the both of them, soothing her nerves almost as much as the wolf's presence. "It [i]is [/i]a pleasant arrangement," she conceded, squeezing around his midsection. "I was just expecting something a little more [i]raw [/i]from you I guess."

He growled playfully, nipping her neck as he ran his paws down her body, rinsing off the soap lather. "Oh don't you worry, I had plans for the both of us. But there [i]is [/i]a heart in this chest, y'know- same one that pumps blood into the loins is the same one that swells when I think about you."

"Charmer," she teased, though she blushed. "I missed you too."

Kajex grinned. "Even though you had male company on the ship?"

Syrra looked away, smiling. "You know I didn't do anything with Talrik."

"Nuh-uh, I'm not a Jedi Master, I don't know what's going on in your head," he teased, his paws roaming around her body, growling playfully. " But I know he was here every night. Did you miss me enough that you gave in to your [i]wild desires [/i]and let him ravish you like a naughty kitten?"

She tapped his nose. "You know, I almost [i]did [/i]let him have a turn with me," she joked, purring seductively. "He's a thoughtful and sweet friend, he needed a little comfort- I could've had him i-in m--" she snickered, unable to continue. "No, I can't finish, it's too ridiculous."

Kajex smiled, brushing his wet hair back, his beads bouncing against the side of his head. "I wouldn't mind, you know- same with Garrett, if you're actually still interested."

She nodded, beaming. "I know. I'm just... I'm still getting used to having [i]one [/i]lover, as great as it is. And because I'm a Jedi, I just... want this to work out right, or know that it will, before I make that kind of decision, you know?" She paused, clearing her throat. "Besides... however interested he is in me, I'm not his number one pick."

"No? Why not?"

She grinned. "Because spot number one, I've gathered, goes to [i]you. [/i]He practically exuded his physical attraction to you when he was 'resting' in the crew quarters- vocally. So the real question is- are [i]you [/i]going to give in to [i]your [/i]'wild desires', and ravish him like a naughty wolf?"

Kajex blinked before laughing. "Really? I suppose I shouldn't have been so narrow-minded to assume he was only for the opposite sex. As for whether or not I'd jump him..." he paused, smile fading. "I... don't think so, no."

She cocked her head. "Not your type?"

Kajex shrugged. "I wouldn't know, I haven't spent any time with him- I think you'd actually be able to tell me that better than I can, at this point. Don't get me wrong, he [i]is [/i]cute for his kind. What I'd be more concerned about is, well... his history. You heard what he told us a week ago- it'd be hard to say whether or not he'd actually enjoy that kind of intimacy with anybody." He kissed her cheek. "And more than that, I really do love you. I don't know that I'm not getting used to the idea of monogamy, kitten."

She blushed. "I-I think you meant 'monamory'."

"Different word, same meaning," he said into her ear softly, holding her by the sides. "I may be your 'master', but this dog is still on a leash- he plays with other puppies only when you let him." He nipped her ear, eliciting a soft gasp from her. "So... do I get to play with other puppies?"

Her response was to nip back into his neck, purring. "I'll get back to you on that. For now, though... I feel like I require your immediate attention."

"What exactly did you have in mind?" he asked slyly.

Her response was to turn her back to him, bend over and brace herself against the wall, flagging her tail up and giving him a clear view of her pouting folds. Warmth that had nothing to do with water temperature ran through him as she glanced back at him with a seductive look in her eyes. Whatever he had done to her to make her this erotic, she'd picked up on it well.

He got to his knees, spreading her netherlips apart and grinning as she shivered and whimpered. "I'd be ready to believe that you [i]have [/i]been accessing my stash just to pick up pointers from actors, except that you do it differently, and [i]really [/i]well," he admitted, the scene having caused his prick to engorge far more rapidly than normal. She chirped cutely as he slipped a pair of fingers into her mound, teasing her backside by nipping her tailbase.

"Nng... too fake," she managed to gasp. "Best to just... show what I want. No lame... dialogue..."

"Don't worry, kitten, I'll keep quiet- even if [i]you [/i]don't," he teased, removing his fingers and pressing his muzzle against her netherlips, growling softly as he lapped her sweet folds, lashing her mound with his tongue as her heady aroma assaulted his senses. Preparing her was always a pleasure to him, she had a distinct taste to her that he hadn't experienced with anyone else. Even better were the cute noises she made while he tongued her cleft expertly, ranging from strained growls, excited feline chirps and long, drawn out mewls. She was the instrument, subjected to her player's manipulation and making the music he wanted to hear, if he would only push the right buttons.

Kajex was already working on the first button, pinching the feline's clit gently with his lips, grabbing her thighs firmly as she jumped and pushed back against him. The effect on her body was rapidly apparent as her mound moistened with more than just shower water- even the bitter taste of residual soap couldn't displace the sweetness of her nectar as he kissed and licked her netherlips, as if he were kissing her face and muzzle. One of his paws slid up her thigh and up to her belly, stroking along her vestigial nipples and making her arch her back, pushing into his muzzle more. His other paw busied itself kneading his flesh, stroking and squeezing his maleness slowly.

Already intoxicated by her aroused scent, the wolf committed fully to her pleasure, driving his thick tongue into her tunnel and swirling it into every corner he could reach. Syrra cried out, reaching up and grabbing a safety rung ([i]for rough trips[/i], Kajex mused to himself humorously) as her legs began to quake. Squeezing inner walls tried to trap his tongue as he pulled back, licking his lips and the corners of his muzzle as he looked up, his tail wagging enthusiastically. He waited patiently as his lover struggled to regain her breath, knowing she had something to say.

"That was... you almost..."

"I know- that's why I stopped," he said with a grin as he got back to his feet, letting his prick prod against her tender folds and causing her to wiggle slightly. "I need to have my share of the fun, too." Feeling there was no point in waiting to give her what she was trembling for, he obliged easily, sinking into her velvet interior. A lazy growled escaped him as he sheathed himself in her slick depths, his hips connecting against her butt with a wet slap. The Trianii beneath him gasped, squeezing around the rock-hard intruder and fighting to keep him inside as he pulled back halfway. The wolf waited patiently until she began to shift her hips back into him again, bucking up into her and nailing her hard as she chirped and shuddered. She slid her legs apart farther, still clinging to the safety rung above.

Even after more than 3 months together, Kajex marveled at how tight she was- inwardly he conceded that she had been right to say that whatever species he belonged to, they were clearly not designed for sex with a Trianii of her size. Nevertheless, it didn't prevent him from being a perfect fit for her, if her fluttering and clenching inner walls along every subtle curve of his bestial length were indication enough. He was certain that she felt similarly, as he tightened his grip on her waist and began to hammer the spike into her depths drawing out mewls and moans each time his tip speared against her cervix.

Enough time had passed since they had started sleeping together that he was sure she'd let him know if he was hurting her, but as he slammed against her rear with brutal force he had to marvel at her tolerance, if not enjoyment, of whatever pain she might be feeling. To say he was not worried would be untrue, despite her pleasured vocalizations. He slowed his pace for a moment and leaned in, growling into her ear. "Hurting any, kitten?"

"Nng, gods no," she moaned, meeting his thrusts eagerly and pushing up against his hips, her tail snaking around his waist and squeezing tightly as if to prevent him from leaving. Satisfied that she was well he hilted again, sheath caressing against her gash as he ground heavily against her backside. Placing a paw on the overhead safety rungs and holding tight, he pulled back and jerked his hips forward again, adding in his arm-strength to the rough fucking, pushing Syrra up against the wall of the shower and pinning her in place as she arched her back, leaning her head backwards against her shoulder and crying out with each blow.

Minutes wore on as he bred his lover passionately, the atmosphere of hot water and steam making the mood nothing short of carnal as their bodies met in copulation. For every thrust, she chirped; for every grind, she mewled; and for every moment where he slowed down to let her savor his throbbing cock embedded in her cleft, she whimpered. Before long her grip weakened and she slipped, Kajex catching her just in time, the immediate threat of injury startling him. "Are you okay?"

She panted, looking up at him, smiling. "I'm fine... thanks..."

Letting out a sigh of immense relief, he picked her up in his arms, kissing her and pinning her to the wall firmly. He broke off, nuzzling her. "I think we should cross sex in the shower off our list, kitten- just to be safe."

She smiled and nodded, offering herself to him by grinding her mound into his abs. "That's fine, you still have the rest of the ship you haven't taken me in."

He grinned, reinserting himself and lowering her enough so she was impaled on his length. "Haven't done the cockpit, yet... or the engine room," he said softly as he rocked into her carefully, spearing up into her tunnel with aching slowness, the heat and ache in his balls building.

"Nnn... did the training mats... but not the lounge table," she responded, hissing slightly as he dipped into her chest and attacked her nipples with light kisses and suckles, wrapping her legs and arms around his body, squeezing her thighs around his midsection each time he buried himself inside her. She felt the gradual swelling of his knot at his base, purring loudly as she tried to squeeze around it each time the half-formed bulb sank into her depths.

"Did 3 of the 6 bunks in the crew quarters," he whispered into her neck, fully aware that the idea of his sharp teeth near her jugular was turning her on- ever since she'd realized her fetish for domination, he'd tease her this way. "Didn't get to the galley table," he growled softly, rolling up into her hard and grazing the tip against the narrow entrance to her womb.

She blushed hard as she felt the incredible tingle of his flesh rubbing gently against her cervix. "G-got away with... doing it on the ramp..." she whimpered, grinding herself into his hips as his knot completed inflating witin her, locking her in- she began tugging around the base of his prick desperately. "T-that was.... so wrong." She mewled, feeling a light trickle of precum seeping around the seal of his knot and her inner walls.

The wolf growled pleasantly into her ear as he flexed into her, driving his now-stuck wolfcock as far as possible. "A-as I recall... that was [i]your [/i]idea, kitten..." He groaned loudly, the pressure becoming unbearable, a heavy load nearly ready to spill. "Gonna... cum..."

"Do it," she chirped into his ear.

As if the words were an ingrained voice command, he groaned loudly, his loins reacting to the order. A searing wave of bliss running through his member as he creamed her interior with several jets of alabaster seed, his legs shaking with each throb of his cock as he struggled to remain upright. He jerked his hips up hard, the feline still attached around his waist squeezing around both his waist and his cock, trying to milk the latter of every drop his balls possessed as she sang for him, a long, blissful moan rising from her chest and matching with the wolf's erotic voice.

The water still running, Kajex sank slowly to his knees, holding Syrra close as they rested on the floor of the shower. The two resorted to simple signs of unspoken affection, nuzzling each other gently as they both caught their breath. Syrra looked up at him, gazing into his loving eyes. "I missed you... more than I missed this," she confessed.

He smiled. "I missed you too, kitten." He leaned back, sitting on the floor with her still attached around his knot, letting her snuggle into him as the spray of the shower doused them, both lovers feeling exhausted but satisfied. "I'm wondering," he said softly with a grin, "maybe we should space out our sessions a bit- since you seem to get extra randy when you're kept waiting."

Her response was to bite him firmly on the shoulder, shaking her head. "Mine," she purred, a paw reaching down and stroking her slim belly, feeling the warmth of wolf-spunk within. "If you're on my leash, then maybe you should do it whenever I like?" she teased. "But I agree with you on the shower- just to be safe, as you said."

"So what should we go for next time?" he asked, licking her nose.

She grinned. "Ever had a lover on the cannons?"






They had barely napped long enough either of their fur or hair to fully dry out when he was awoken by a low tone that sounded through the ship. A decade and a half of hearing that tone had ingrained itself into the wolf such that he woke immediately as it sounded, eyes flicking open abruptly and all sense of fatigue disappearing. He started to rise, only to hear Syrra shift beside him, still sleeping deeply.

He had missed her severely when he had left- the two had decided it would be best if Kajex led the New Republic SpecOps team in their rescue mission while Syrra attended to Professor Hovin's and Talrik's interviews with the Jedi Order and New Republic Intel. Making the decision had been easy- putting up with it had been sufficiently difficult. He had grown so used to her presence that his life felt bare not having her with him. He sighed, leaning over to kiss the side of her muzzle gently. He would have to see about them having time spent away from each other at intervals- the loneliness had, at times, distracted him from his job, and they would need to become more accustomed to time apart.

The tone sounded again and the wolf sighed, grumbling slightly as he slipped on a simple tunic and trousers, left his quarters and reluctantly plodded barefoot towards the ramp, lowering it and stepping down to see who was calling. He had expected maybe Garrett and/or Lynch come to spend their free time among friends- he instead found himself staring at Talrik, dressed in civilian clothing and looking nervous but glad to see him.

"Hi, Captain Surnahm."

The wolf blinked. "Ah... hi, Talrik. What brings you to my part of the hangar?"

The vulpine cleared his throat. "I, uh... I was actually hoping to talk to you, actually- if you have the time for it."

His first impulse was to say no, that he wanted to spend his evening resting next to the woman he loved and hadn't seen for a week, but something in the fox's stance and eyes caused him to refrain from doing so. It looked almost like an expression of well-concealed desperation. Reluctantly, Kajex nodded, gesturing him up the ramp. "Sure, come on in." He led him to the galley, grabbing a bottle of ale, pausing, then grabbing another. "23, right? And that's Amaran drinking age?" Talrik nodded, eyeing the Corellian Ale. "Whatever- even if it isn't, I started at 15. I won't tell your mother if you don't." He set the bottle before the fox, dropping into a chair and offering the vulpine a seat.

"Thanks," the fox said quietly. "I guess the first thing to get out of the way... I wanted to come in person to thank you for getting my family off Sava. I know it can't have been easy for you to do."

Kajex waved it off. "Getting them off was tricky, yeah, but apparently we had more time than we thought to get them off-planet. I'm just happy to have helped, there's no need to thank me." He looked the youth over. "How's your family adjusting?"

"They're doing alright. My mother has a knack for repair, the Order has allowed her to stay as long as she needs to get back on her feet in exchange for working on machinery and keeping them maintained. My brother's been having the time of his life here. He respects the Jedi, wants to grow up to help them. I'm seeing if maybe they'll allow him to train as an Antarian Ranger once he's of age."

Kajex nodded, taking a drink and regarding the vulpine. "It's a noble profession. If he works hard he could probably make it- Rangers look for stones of steel and skill. What about you, though?"

The younger man didn't speak for a moment. "I'm... not doing so well," he finally admitted. "There's not much I can offer the New Republic, my record kind of stands against me. Working with a Sith Knight doesn't make me look good, even if I was unwilling, and the chances of me being attacked in retaliation for my defection are... well, rather high as you can imagine. Put short, it means I can't really ask for employment from the New Republic- which is problematic given my skillset."

"Which is...?"

"I was the top sharpshooter in my class on Teeva Academy, and scored 3rdhighest overall in demolitions training. My profile is public due to my status as a defector- nobody is going to want to hire what they might consider a potential terrorist and saboteur." The fox finally cracked his drink open, hesitating before taking an apprehensive sip.

Kajex grinned. "It's not going to kill you, kid. Anyway, I'm sorry to hear that, it's a tough break. Give it some time, though, people will come around, right?"

Talrik shook his head. "They might, but then they might not. And I guess that kinda leads to the other reason why I wanted to speak with you." He hesitated. "I mentioned my skillset. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy that work on some level- not taking lives, mind you," he added hastily as the wolf raised an eyebrow, "just being able to employ those skills towards helping others." He cleared his throat. "The Remnant has done... awful things, as a whole. But I've been assigned to a few duties and missions that have been worthwhile- saving people, putting down pirates and criminals, that sort of thing."

"I'm not sure I like what you're getting at here," Kajex said uneasily, ears flattening as he started to get a bead on what the fox was probably going to ask.

"I'd like to know... do you maybe need a hand with your missions, you and your apprentice, as a crew-member on your ship? I'm willing to do and learn anything at this point for employment, but I wanted to check with you [i]first [/i]to see if maybe that would be a viable op--"

"No," Kajex said flatly, standing up, now fully intent on escorting the youth off his ship immediately. "Absolutely not, I'm sorry, but there's no way in hel--"

"[i]Ahem[/i]."

Both of them looked to the doorway where Syrra was now standing, paw on the door frame and looking to the wolf with a serious expression. "Kaj... could I have a moment?"






They had moved back into his quarters, Syrra giving him a critical look as he spoke. "Look, I know you've been spending time with the kid and that he's your friend. That's [i]great[/i], Syrra, it really is. But that's not good enough an argument to convince me he can stay."

Syrra shook her head, feeling slightly disappointed with her lover. "It's your call, Kaj, but he needs your help. You're not going to just let him fend for himself when he has a better chance following us, are you? You heard what he said, he possesses remarkable skills that we could both utilize while out on mission."

"What makes you say that?" he asked, folding his arms and looking unconvinced. "Seriously, Syrra, if it's my call, then I'm more than willing to hear out my apprentice's reasoning behind taking him on as a crew-member, something I've never done [i]once [/i]in a permanent fashion."

"You have to ask 'why'?" she responded, unable to understand why he needed an explanation. "Because we've stumbled onto something far bigger than just your standard Imperial Remnant shenanigans, [i]that's [/i]why. The last thing I was expecting when I took that mission with you months ago was to come across Sith. I wasn't prepared for it, and neither were you, and we nearly got ourselves killed just trying to get [i]out [/i]of it. Now we know there's an entire organization of them, including a knight who is capable of tanking direct shots from quad laser cannons with [i]very [/i]little injury. Neither of us could best him in a 2-on-1 duel. The fact of the matter is that we owe our lives to Talrik for being bold enough to man the cannons and take the shot." She paused, letting it sink in for effect. "We're going to need help in the coming months, until the Jedi Order figures all of this out. The last thing we should be doing is turning away potential allies."

"I can think of at least 3 other people I could call in if we needed help that desperately," he started.

"I have no doubt you know a handful of people who are better qualified than Talrik," she acknowledged, nodding- she knew he possessed a list of good connections. "Now tell me, how many of them are ex-Imperial? How many of them are willing to part from their families so they can fight Sith? How many of them can drop what they're doing at moment's notice, walk from potentially comfortable jobs to engage in missions where they'll risk their lives?" Kajex didn't answer and she continued. "I do this because I'm capable as a Jedi- you do this because you're far more capable than I am and I need guidance... and because you love me enough to follow me. Do you remember how you came to trust me like that?"

He paused, then nodded, looking slightly abashed. "I gave you the chance to prove yourself, and treated you fairly."

Syrra smiled, walking up to him and hugging him around his midsection. "All I'm asking you is to give [i]him [/i]that same chance. If not because you trust him... then do it because you trust [i]me[/i]."

The wolf groaned, before smiling wryly, rubbing her ears affectionately. "Alright alright, fine- I'll give him an opportunity to show his stuff. Curse you Jedi and your logic..." He chuckled as he looked down into her eyes. "Damn... you shot me down pretty damn fast, kitten."

"You might actually regret it, the chance is there- but maybe it's just the Force talking, I don't think you will." She nuzzled him. "Besides, didn't you say you wanted to play with other 'puppies'?" she teased. "Do this, and maybe I'll loosen the leash for you, maybe see where it goes."

"Goodness, woman- you're trying to convince me with sex," he chided playfully.

"Is it working?" she asked slyly, narrowing her eyes and smiling.






"I've... reconsidered."

Talrik cocked his head. "It kinda sounded like you were going to toss me out of the ship 5 minutes ago, Captain," he sad apprehensively.

Kajex sighed, half-smiling. "Chalk up my change of heart to Syrra. So... I'm going to go out on a limb and give you a chance. She makes a compelling argument on what she and I are facing. In a word- Sith." He paused. "Consider that before you commit to this. You saw what that big bastard did, I'm sure you saw how he fought- are you willing to lend a paw to the both of us to shut that kind of evil down, even if it means risking, or giving, your life?"

Talrik wore an expression of determination that the wolf had never seen in him before, such that he didn't need the tone of voice to be convinced of the sincerity of his words. "You two spared my life, gave me medical attention, offered me a means of asylum; and you personally, captain, risked your life to get the only two remaining members of my family off-planet. I've seen what the Sith can do, and I'm not afraid to meet that kind of end if I can go down swinging, as long as my family is still safe. I owe you absolutely [i]everything[/i], right now. I intend to pay that debt in full."

Kajex nodded, grinning. "Well alright then. You have your chance. You'll come with us on the next 3 missions we're assigned, help us keep the [i]Gold Rush [/i]in good shape and help Syrra to train- she could always use an extra gun so she can practice blaster-bolt deflection, which we [i]are [/i]going to work on, kitten," he added sternly as she groaned.

"Kaj, really? Shouldn't I focus on dueling?"

He shook his head, his brow furrowed. "This is more than Sith, it's Imperial Remnant too- we're going to see a lot of blaster bolts. So you're going to put focus on [i]Soresu [/i]and [i]Shien [/i]to cover your deficiencies. I may not be a Jedi Master, but Skywalker still put me in charge of your education, so that's what we're doing, alright?"

"Fine," she groused, slumping back in her chair.

"Thank you, sir," Talrik said happily, putting his paw out.

Kajex shook it once, but held on and gave him a serious look. "I do want to go over a couple of ground rules first, though."

"Anything."

"Right. So first off- right now, the only person I trust to be able to control this ship aside from me is Syrra. You're welcome in the cockpit whenever either of us are in it, but under no circumstances are you to pilot this ship unless things are desperate or I tell you to."

"Fair enough," Talrik nodded. "I can understand you not wanting to put such a large investment into another person's paws."

"Secondly, whatever goes on within the hull of this ship [i]stays [/i]in the hull of this ship unless I say it's okay to talk about it. There's no sense trying to hide things from Jedi, but not everyone set against the Order is going to be Force-sensitive, so keeping our muzzles shut should be priority." Talrik nodded and he continued. "Third, you [i]will [/i]follow my orders. I'm not going to be harsh about it if you make a mistake, but I've got a decade and a half of experience over you- I usually know what I'm doing, so if I tell you to do something it's probably something that's going to make life easier or save our lives, alright?"

"Yes, sir."

Kajex sighed. "Fourth- stop calling me sir, already. It's just 'Kajex', or 'Kaj' if you want. Call me Captain Surnahm only in polite company- which I don't have over often."

"Alright s-- Kajex. Is there anything else?"

"You're welcome to any resources on this ship; holovids, music, porn, food- but I will stress this only [i]once[/i], the preserved noodle bowls in the freezer unit are mine. If I find you with one that I haven't offered you, I will toss you into the escape pod and launch it into deep space."

Talrik paused, regarding Kajex seriously. "I'm... not sure whether that was a joke or not, so I'll play it safe and agree anyway."

The wolf grinned. "I already like you, kid. I think you'll do alright here. I'll talk to Master Skywalker tomorrow and let him know you'll be accompanying us. Other than that... welcome to the team."






Ambient temperature on Star Destroyers were generally set to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in living quarters and offices, a comfortable climate for most humans and other races not-possessed of thick fur. Stifling warmth was a relative non-issue to Locke even on hot planets, but there were few moments where he actually felt truly cold on the enormous vessels.

He was feeling a bone-chilling cold around him as he knelt before his master- and it had little to do with ambient temperature.

Inquisitor Voyde was in deep concentration, a small, slightly luminscent purple gem suspended in mid-air before him. Complete silence surrounded the both of them, such that the Sith Knight had been able of hearing his own pulse for several minutes already even without aid from the Force. His eyes narrowed and locked on the remains of the damaged hilt of Mace Windu's lightsaber, and a twinge of unease grew in him as he wondered if his suppositions had been incorrect.

As if this thought had been the trigger to awaken the old man from his trance, Voyde's eyes flickered open, a leering grin on his face as he reached out and let the stone float into his palm. "Excellent, my apprentice. You did well to bring this to my attention. You were correct to suggest that the power of Lord Sidious had impregnated this crystal. It will no doubt be useful to our studies."

Locke bowed his head. "Thank you, Master Voyde."

The frail-looking human stood, approaching the white wolf. "As much as a boon as this is, I admit I have concerns about this Jedi involvement. I'm told Knight Ulfric encountered two Jedi Knights on Abaat- is this not correct?"

Locke shook his head. "She was no Jedi Knight, my lord- the Trianii named Syrra who interfered with our previous operation is but a padawan. She is untrained, unskilled- yet my apprentice and I can feel vast untapped power within her. That she should be able to match Ulfric in single combat is not impossible."

Voyde frowned. "She did not match him, not in single combat. She had help. I am told another came to her aid, wielding lightsabers with unprecedented skill. Not enough to overwhelm Ulfric, but enough that this individual was not killed in the battle."

The white wolf frowned- he was not aware of any other Jedi master being involved. "Who was this other person, Master?"

Voyde narrowed his eyes. "An unknown alien. Or at least, an alien unknown to many. One who looks almost precisely like you, a gray wolf with black hair."

Locke's eyes widened. "Captain Surnahm."

"Perhaps you'd do well to explain this, Knight Locke. You told me of this name before- is this man a Jedi? And if he is, why was I not told of this?"

Locke shook his head. "No, he is not a Jedi. I would have felt the stirrings of the Force within him, I searched for it in him when I became aware of his existence. The Force does not flow through him." He paused. "It may well be, however, that his time spent with the Jedi Syrra has culminated in him learning to wield a lightsaber proficiently. It is not unheard of, for a non-sensitive to match a Force-adept in lightsaber combat. She may very well be his partner, providing him tutelage in exchange for his services."

Inquisitor Voyde regarded the wolf shrewdly. "Be that as it may, his continued involvement is unacceptable. I am well aware of your hesitation to dispatch this 'Kajex' you have become interested in- but your loyalty is to the Circle first. If he stands against us, I expect you to cut him down like anyone else, are we clear?"

Locke sighed, feeling a little colder now than before. "... As you wish, my master."