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_ "Obi-wan once thought as you do. You don't know the power of the dark side- I ** _ **must obey my master.** "**

~Darth Vader

It would only have been polite, Kajex acknowledged to himself, to wake everyone up and let them know that he had brought them out of hyperspace and settled the ship on a cool plateau about a mile and a half from Mos Espa. It had only a 6-hour jump, just enough time for everyone to get some rest, something that they all sorely needed after the shit they had endured at Southern Star Station. Yet he could not find the energy or desire to move from where he was.

Locke had talked to him for about an hour, questioning the captain about who he was, where he'd been, how life was treating him. And Kajex had found the Sith knight to be a good source of companionship. A part of him was reticent to let him go so soon, but upon expressing this Locke sadly acknowledged it was not in anyone's best interest for the Sith trio to linger. Once he had left to get rest (and spend quality time with Keris, as Locke was not yet aware of how well sound carried on the Rush), Kajex went to visit Talrik.

Upon reaching the fox, he immediately found himself overwhelmed with tears.

It was a wave of emotions consisting of regret, relief, remorse and self-doubt. It was astounding difficult to see someone he cared about, a very close friend who had become family to him, who only 20 hours prior (had it really been only that long ago?) had shared in physical intimacy, now hooked up to a machine that was currently keeping him stable. The sight of the oxygen mask over his muzzle and bacta I-V tube in his neck was harder bear than Kajex had expected it to be. Sure, it was temporary, and Talrik was already recovering marvelously, a testament to the power of bacta- Kajex knew that well. It did not make the fear of losing his kit, nor the pain of seeing his kit so damaged, any less. So the wolf had refused to move from his vigil. He did not even seek comfort in the arms of his first lover. He needed the privacy, to be alone with Talrik- to that end, he had pulled up a chair next to the life-support system, resting his head on the Amaran's arm as he lay in inclined mattress. To Kajex, it seemed like he would find no peace until he could see the fox's green eyes once again. He'd known that anguish many times in his life; with Bran, with Kane, with Rik, and more recently with Syrra.

If the joy of such companionship wasn't so great, Kajex wondered if he'd avoid it, if only to be spared the pain that came with it.

"Kaj...?"

The sound of Talrik's soft voice might as well have been bullhorn in Kajex's ear, the wolf's eyes flicking wide open. He raised his head from the fox's arm, his tail beginning to wag as Talrik smiled at him. It was tired and full of hurt- but it was genuine, and Kajex knew he couldn't ask anymore than that. His paw slid into the fox's as he leaned over, nuzzling his 'little brother'.

"Hey kit..."

The fox's words were slow-paced- he wheezed slightly with each light whisper. "How long... have you been here...?"

"All night, kit," Kajex said, taking in a shaky breath and wiping at his eyes impatiently. He tousled the fox's hair, rubbed his ears affectionately, smiling as Talrik purred. "Somebody had to keep an eye on you- who better than your 'older brother', right?"

"Thanks... Kaj..." the fox managed, squeezing the wolf's paw as a smile appeared beneath the oxygen mask.

"Master..."

Locke grinned as he kept the fox pinned down, his paws clasped against hers as he nuzzled and kissed into her neck. "Yes, my love?"

"Agaaaain?" she whimpered.

"I really shouldn't. You're injured," he stated, running a paw along her rump and squeezing.

"But I was fine last night," she whined softly as she ground against him, her bare cleft sliding up against his thigh as she tried to sate the heat in her loins. "And you still did it then."

"If I indulge you, you'll make noises- and that would be rather rude to our Imperial specialist, wouldn't it?" Lock reasoned.

"Actually," yawned Miles, "I'm pretty much awake at this point. I think that's about the best sleep I've ever gotten on this ship- Surnahm's bunks are uncommonly comfortable for a Corellian freighter." He sat up, smiling at the two from his topside bunk on the other side of the crew quarters. "What's put her in such a randy mood? She was like this last night, too."

"I smell them- _all_of them!" she whimpered, playfully snapping her teeth at Locke as he drew his head back.

Locke chuckled at Keris' mischievousness. "My apprentice has noticed the lingering scent of coitus from our generous hosts- your senses probably aren't keen enough to pick up on it, but it would appear that Captain Surnahm's 'pack' has indulged, repeatedly, within the last 48 hours or so. The aroma seems to be turning Keris on."

"I wanna have a threeway," Keris purred playfully, casting a sidelong gaze to Miles as she continued nuzzling into her wolf lover's neck. "It's no fair that cat bitch gets to have 2 men to herself, while Miles keeps ignoring me."

"Well, I guess they just have a more pronounced sex drive than Miraluka do," Miles suggested with a chuckle as he clambered off the bunk. "I'll pass, Keris- but thanks for your constant and consistent offering, I'm flattered. I'm going to go catch a shower and gather our equipment and relics. Just lock up after I leave, I noticed these quarters only seal from the inside."

"Very well, I'll tend to my student's needs myself, and we'll be out soon," Locked assured him. He watched as Miles left, raising his paw and resealing the hatch with a thought, then returned his gaze to Keris, who seemed mildly disappointed.

"He's no fun, Master..." she pouted.

"Am I not enough?" he asked with an arched eyebrow. She stiffened, looking timid.

"I-I didn't mean it like that, Master!"

He chuckled and kissed her gently, calming her down as his paw slid down her body. "I know what you meant, love. Allow him to come around on his own. He may very well have a different view of what should be allowed in such intimate relationships, and I'd rather he be comfortable taking care of you than feel pressured and tense." His nose brushed into her neck as his paw reached her warm snatch, his fingers tracing the swollen lips of her orifice and causing her to shudder as his dull claws scraped gently through the thin fur lining her her netherlips.

"Nnn... do you think... he'll come around?" she asked, purring as she rolled her hips into his paw, her body producing vaginal slickness with each passing second.

"I expect you'll know for sure when it's his hands touching you instead of mine- be so kind as to coach him on how to please you best, should that happen," he spoke into her ear gently. "For now though, let him have his peace... and focus on me."

She nodded, moaning as he began to delve into her cleft with his paw, growling into her ear as she moaned. The scent of sex in the mattress beneath her seemed to be kicking her libido into overdrive as she writhed beneath him, unable to stifle her whimpering. Warmth built in her loins and her core as he swirled the digits around, his dull claws grazing against the vixens inner walls and sending shocks of arousal through her, causing her to flinch reflexively. His other paw left her wrist and she watched dimly as he pulled his trousers down to his ankles, his crimson-red, rock-hard prick standing at attention. He did nothing to prepare himself, instead focusing on preparing his lover with both touch and sound, whispering into her ear.

"I wonder what truly put you into the mood for sex this time, pet," he growled gently into her ear, making her gasp loudly as he jammed his fingers into her hole hard. "Is it really because you detected the scent of sex in the air, or perhaps the Amaran boy has piqued your interest?"

"N-no, Master," she moaned, as she continued to thrust her hips up into his paw. "He's- I mean--"

"You cannot hide your feelings from me, pet," he said sternly, though he smiled as he drew his paw away, beginning to give his prick a few healthy strokes. "I know that you have dreamed of having others come to quench your lust, others besides me. Perhaps you fancy Captain Surnahm between your legs, driving you into the abyss of pleasure? Or maybe your animosity with Syrra is merely a front for your secret desire to bed her, as well?"

She blushed furiously.

"... No answer, pet? Should I take that to mean that you _have_considered her companionship?" He smiled as he flipped her onto her belly, nuzzling into her neck as he mounted her, sliding his prick between her round, soft buttocks and groaning as it seemed to give in slightly as he grazed through the valley caused by her curvy rump. "I confess... I would be very interested in seeing how well you get along with her. I think it's wonderful that you still fancy her to a degree- maybe you'll drop that unhealthy rivalry you have with her."

"I... I'll kill her," she said shakily, defiantly- but even to her ears, the claim sounded hollow, and not merely because she moaned as she said them. A whine escaped her throat as she tried to push back against Locke, the wolf angling his hips around and allowing the tapered head of his cock graze against her netherlips. She chirped as she felt him slip in slightly, the hot prick leaving behind a string of precum that connected the two from cocktip to clit.

"So you say, pet... but your feelings are a different matter altogether," he growled again, this time fully sheathing his maleness into her depths and causing her to moan low and loud, violent shivers running down her spine as the delicious fullness of his cock lodged into her crevice. Large paws pressed hard on the back of her shoulders, pinning the vixen to the bunk as he ground his hips against her rump. She clawed at the bedding, fingers clenching around the thin sheets as she struggled to focus, finding it nigh impossible as he pulled back, dragging 8 of his 10-inch shaft out of her depths with aching slowness, the viscosity of her moist depths making it feel as if he was dragging her inner walls out with him.

But what he had started with aching slowness, he was intent on engaging in vigorously. Rather than slide back into her depths delicately, he slammed into her backside hard, hammering his prick into her folds and sending an explosive wave of hot bliss through her lower belly. She mewled reflexively, squeezing around him as he drew back again, then nailed her once more, working his hips with deliberate, powerful thrusts that caused his balls to collide against her exposed clit. The shock of those swinging orbs battering her buzzer only heightened the pleasure she felt, as every stab into her depths was accentuated with the sensation of her nub being stimulated.

Despite her position she was still able to contribute, pushing her knees into the bedding and offering her upturned backside to her master. His response to this shift in her position was to angle his rod downward, the head of his prick kneading into the bottom of her inner flesh and putting pressure against her clit with each hard buck of his hips. She grit her teeth, moaning loudly behind them as his relentless assault against her backside refused to cease.

In such a compromised position, completely at the mercy of her master as he railed into her sensitive snatch, she was not surprised when he began to growl into her ear again, though it did much to turn her on. "Did you dream of Captain Surnahm breeding you like a bitch, my love? Filling your belly with his potent essence and claiming the womb which rightfully belongs to me?" At no point while he spoke did he change his pace, though the power behind each teeth-chattering blow seemed to increase- a chirp left her lips as she felt his tip brush against her cervix.

There was no point in lying to him- she had indeed fantasized the gray wolf on top of her. It had been difficult not to, the similarities between him and her lover stoking her curiosity. "Y-yes, master," she moaned, arching her back as she pushed in reverse and savoring the feel of his throbbing wolfdick. She clenched around him, trying to prevent him from escaping to hold onto that full feeling a moment longer, though the copious amount of precum and female lubricant betrayed her effort and caused him to slip back out.

"And the padawan, Syrra... you've fantasized of her as well. You needn't lie to me, pet, I could feel your attraction to her physical body back on AS-303." His whisper was rougher, more commanding. When she failed to answer, he grabbed her hair, tugging firmly and lifting her head up. She yelped as he used his grip on her head to keep her in place as he bucked into her- far from causing her fear or pain, the dominant gesture only aroused her further. The pleasurable abuse of her backside as it continued to be battered by her lovers hips with bruising force only served to remind her of her place- in his embrace, by his side, or under his body.

He pounded against her rear again with enough force to make her hiccup, his warm sheath kissing lewdly against her swollen netherlips as he held himself in place, ceasing his movements. "Answer me," he growled more loudly- it was not a threat to cow her, but a command she knew she must obey if she expected him to continue. The pause let her feel every heartbeat as his prick throbbed within, expanding and deflating gently enough that her inner walls fluttered around his flesh.

"Y-yes," she whined, a hot blush on her face. Despite her animosity towards the Trianii, her loins spoke on her behalf- the idea of bedding with the padawan had intrigued her since the day they met. She was no stranger to lesbian lovemaking, having sought comfort from the alterations of her heightened libido in the arms of others slaves before Locke had liberated her from her Hutt owner. To feel a female tongue swirling in her pot instead of her master's delicious wolfdick would be a welcome change of pace, and her dreams had reflected this desire- barely coherent images of her pressing her body against the feline's surfaced in her waking eyes, the echo of soft, erotic moans as she kissed the Trianii deeply ringing gently in her head. She shivered. "I dreamed of her..."

Locke grinned at the vixen beneath him and resumed his hard, measured thrusts, the beat of his hips now starting to match his blood pulse. The minutes wore on as he bred his pet, the sheets beneath them now stained with the lewd cocktail of pre-cum and female dew, a heady aroma wafting around them. She purred as her rump was assaulted once more, rolling back against him as she felt his knot grow. "W-will you... tie with me?" she mewled pitifully.

"Only if you tell me whether you'd bed with the Amaran as well- would you allow Talrik to claim your body?" he asked, grunting as his knot rammed against her tender folds. Waves of pain mixed with pleasure radiated from the points of impact, prompting her to answer with strained gasps.

She had dreamed of him as well, but hers had been lucid, and her answer reflected he desires concerning the soldier. "O-only... if he takes my muzzle... or ass... my womb... is yours," she whimpered. Whatever other fantasies she held, her loyalty to her master was such that even in her dreams, she would not betray her promise to let Locke impregnate her. The thought of the impossible act thrilled her, the very idea of her belly swollen with her master's offspring causing her cleft to burn more as she sought to accept the wolf's knot.

He did not oblige immediately- instead, he pulled her up into a kneeling position, his cock still lodged in her heated snatch, turning her head and kissing her deeply. She moaned into his muzzle with considerable volume, as he had used the new position to impale her folds, pulling her down on the bulb. With his strength added to gravity, it was not long before he locked into place with her- yet even as he groaned, even as he began to bless her body with his rich, potent and ultimately ineffective seed, even as she responded by crying out and writhing as she orgasmed hard, soaking a patch of the bunk with her honey; he did not break the kiss.

She trembled as one large paw cupped her right breast, the other smoothing over the fur on her belly. She felt a tendril of thought caress her mind, and the familiarity of it comforted her enough that she bid it enter. Immediately a series of images flooded her mind. Fantasies, dreams that she knew Locke possessed of her, slid into her vision one-by-one; among them, a vivid image of her in his arms, alone on a plane of peace, completely bare and kissing as curve of her pregnant belly pressed against his abs.

An impossibility. But tears of joy streaked down her eyes as she acknowledged what she'd always known of him- that he'd give her this dream, whatever it took.

The incredible warmth of each jet of spunk soothed her aching loins, such that she felt no discomfort from her lover's less-than-gentle ministrations. The flow tapered off, leaving her with a sense of peace as his essence swam in her depths- what little had passed the seal of his throbbing knot had dribbled down his balls and stained the sheets further. The kiss broke, and they both drew in deep breaths, the vixen leaning back into her lover's arms and purring as he nuzzled and nipped her.

"... I love you," he said abruptly. She lifted her head, staring at him- there was a look of genuine concern on his face. "You know that... right?"

She smiled and nodded. "I know you do, just like you know I love you." She chirped slightly as he squeezed around her midsection. "You wouldn't share such private thoughts with me if you didn't, Master."

He nodded, sighing. "I worry the Force won't grant me the power to grant that kind of wish. But I'll search till the end of my life to find some way, I swear it." They shared in this closeness for a few moments, holding each others paws.

The intimacy came to an abrupt end as a rapping noise echoed against the room's hatch. "Hey, Locke? Keris?" It was Syrra. "Kajex wanted me to let you guys know he's set down near Mos Espa- he's got a bit of food out for you in the galley if you need a bite to eat before you go. Miles says he has your 'packages' ready, also."

Locke cleared his throat. "Thank you, padawan. We'll be out shortly."

Keris shifted a bit, looking a little irritable. "Still a stupid bitch," she muttered, "cutting into our personal time."

"I heard that, Keris." Both of them could hear the grin on her muzzle as she spoke through the door.

Locke raised an eyebrow. "I see. And what else did you hear?"

"Well, I heard Keris _moaning_she'd love to fuck me and the captain--"

"Get out of here, you bitch!" Keris snarled, looking far more red in the face than she normally did. They could hear Syrra giggling as she strode away, the rhythm of her pace betraying the bounce in her step. Locke chuffed in amusement as Keris fumed quietly, muttering curses and half-threats.

He kissed her neck, smiling. "Don't feel too raw about it, pet. I'm sure she only wishes to get under your skin in an effort to smooth things over between you."

"She sticks her nose where it isn't wanted!" she replied waspishly.

"She's earned that right, love," he insisted, holding her close. "She saved your life. I know I for one will be indebted to her for doing it for a long time."

Keris sighed, nodding. "I know... but am I really expected to make nice with her the way you and Kajex have?" she asked skeptically.

"Not at all. I simply expect you to be a little more decent to her in the future. Granted, yes, you _may_have to kill her in the future- and she's well aware of that, I imagine. Yet ultimately, the sword will be in your hands and the decision will be yours- would you do her the same kindness she did for you?"

She didn't answer, considering his question seriously, before shrugging and sighing again. "I... don't know."

"Then her actions have already effected a change, pet. Just trust your feelings where she is concerned," he suggested, kissing her on the cheek.

"How is he?" Locke asked carefully.

"Still in a little bit of pain, slightly weak, but lucid and in a fair mood," Kajex as they sat at the top of the Gold Rush's ramp, their longcoats shielding them from the chilly desert morning. Syrra had brought out a pair of macrobinoculars, scanning morning horizon for any potentially hostile signs of life. "He doesn't need much in the way of medical attention, but I still want him to have a clean bill of health."

"I apologize for this, Kajex- I know it must have been difficult to put us as a priority over him," Locke said, looking slightly abashed.

Syrra lowered the binocs, turning and smiling at Locke. "It's fine- it's like you told us, it would be suspicious if you spent an inordinate amount of time on this ship. Having you around too long puts us all at risk- getting you to a spaceport helps both you and Talrik." She nodded to Kajex. "You're doing the right thing for the pack, love."

Kajex nodded, feeling a little better knowing that Syrra understood why they were taking the time to help Locke and his companions. "There's no need to apologize, Locke. If it hadn't been for your help, all three of us, probably all _six_of us, would be worse off than we are now- we should be thanking you."

"Well, you saved our lives as well, so let's not play _that_game, shall we?" Locke said, smiling. "We'll just leave it that we're even." He sighed. "If anything, I'm actually a little worried about how indebted we are to each other."

"Why is that?" Syrra asked.

"Does your culture not possess any kind of life debt tradition?" the Sith knight asked.

Syrra considered the question carefully. "It... does, but it requires a very significant act of selflessness to invoke- otherwise, it would be viewed as willing enslavement, and my people_detest_slavery. The act has to be something profound- often the kind of thing that amounts to sacrificing one's life, or close to it."

"Well it's believed by some that the Force causes people to bind together through such acts of sacrifice or compassion- even those not sensitive to the Force can feel those bonds," Locke explained. "It's an _archaic_belief, but one with some basis in truth- significant actions tend to cause ripples in the Force."

Syrra looked skeptical. "You think this bond has occurred between you and Kajex?"

"And you and me, Syrra, as well as you and Keris," the knight pointed out.

"Why do you think that?"

"If you need an example," Keris said as she limped up behind Locke, "then I may as well admit that I'm more or less over our little squabble." Syrra watched as Keris braced against the wall, looking a bit awkward. "You... you didn't need to save me. I was pretty much useless the entire fight, I'd said you and I were going to have at it eventually, and yet you still saved my life. So..." she swallowed, looking away, "... thanks. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome," Syrra responded, looking surprised but pleased.

"I mean, you're still a cunt," Keris insisted with a wry smile. "But... you're a cunt I'd rather not try to kill anymore."

The Trianii grinned, returning her attention to the horizon. "I'll take that kind of progress."

Locke nodded. "It would be ignorant to hand-wave the change in relationship that's occurred between everybody. My concern is that someone will pick up on these changes and exploit them to get at me, my student or Miles- or you and your 'pack'. I can trust myself and Keris to keep this to ourselves. I must stress that you should not reveal this to any Sith you come across."

"How many are there?" Kajex asked abruptly. Now that he knew his time with Locke was reaching its final moments, there was much he wanted to ask that he felt he should have asked earlier- about the Children's and Circle's numbers and motives, the knight's training, but perhaps most important of all why Locke was going along with it.

Locke stood, sighing. "I know what things you really want to ask of me, Kajex, and I wish I could tell you everything- just as I know you wish you could tell me everything about yourself, where it concerns the things you wish to hide. I'll not pry that private information from you. I sense a lot of pain and regret, and I'm certain Syrra has felt the same. That said, there are things I keep close to myself as well, that I wouldn't dare reveal to others. Could you at least understand that I can't tell you everything, least of all our goals?"

Kajex nodded. "I'm not asking for everything, Locke. Just enough for me and my pack to survive."

"Then I'll start with the question you bothered to ask out loud first- the Imperial Remnant has always had a significant number of Dark Jedi and Sith, or at least those who have decided to call themselves Sith in the absence of Palpatine. What remains these days are those whom Palpatine trained as members of the Jedi-hunting Inquisitorius, the Emperor's royal guards, assassins and agents, those who were left over from the Empire Reborn faction and many others. We are seldom affiliated with each other, yet the Children of Syn consists of many such dark side adepts who joined for the cause. Our numbers range from between 30-50 individuals within the Children's ranks, and 12 masters within the Circle- to my knowledge. There may well be more I'm not aware of."

"And this 'Tesque' you mentioned yesterday?" Syrra asked.

"She and my master are considered the foremost planners of our goals. If you should meet her, don't be fooled by her words. She is not to be trusted," Locke warned. "She sought the Yoke of Seeming for her own ends. As a creature of deception, she relies on illusion, on her silver tongue and poison-laced honeyed words to draw in those she wishes to dispatch. She is also a skilled combatant, employing similar techniques in her fighting style."

Heavy boots thudded along the corridor leading to the ramp as Miles appeared, carrying a satchel with rations, medical supplies and a few pieces of disposable equipment. "I'm ready- thanks again for giving us a couple days worth of kit, Captain Surnahm."

"Not a problem, it's only a few credits to the quartermaster on Yavin 4," Kajex replied, getting up and striding down the ramp to Locke.

Syrra lowered her goggles again. "The horizon looks clear visually, and I'm picking up no signs of life anywhere up to Mos Espa, you should have a safe hike. You'll probably want to get going before the sun starts showing on the sands, otherwise it'll be a warmer walk," she suggested.

Locke nodded, turning to Kajex and holding out his paw. "Then I suppose this is farewell for now, Captain. It's been a pleasure seeing you again, and an honor to fight alongside you."

Kajex took the white wolf's paw, shook it... and then refused to let go. Everyone present noticed the troubled look on his face. Knowing full well Locke would not answer completely, if at all, he asked anyway.

"Why?"

"Why do I follow them?" Locke regarded him with a sad smile. "Because I deserve nothing less than to remain evil."

Kajex frowned. "I don't understand. You're... not."

Locke shook his head, looking ashamed for some reason. "Perhaps one day, you'll understand what I mean. To tell you now might cause me to paint over the grim reality of it with excuses, justifications... anything to keep you as a friend. I would rather you find out on your own and judge me fairly, harshly, than for me to tell you and bias your discovery. And then you might understand why I'm doing what I'm doing."

The gray wolf sighed. "You could come with us, if you wanted to," he offered. "Back to Yavin 4."

Locke chuckled. "I appreciate your desire to aid me. But I must decline your offer." He let go of Kajex's paw. "Keep yourselves safe. Perhaps we'll meet again, someday."

Despite feeling crestfallen within, the gray wolf managed a smile. "You too. Maybe next time the drinks won't be so bland."

"I look forward to it," Locke replied. A fleeting moment passed between the two wolves, their eyes meeting for barely a second- gold looked into silver-blue as some measure of understanding seemed to have been met. The second passed and Locke began beckoning his apprentice and aide to follow them.

Kajex wished deeply he could say something, anything, as they left- but as he watched the Sith trio walk towards Mos Espa, into the light of the first of Tatooine's two rising suns, he inwardly lamented having nothing else to say.

Since she had come into his life and the spark of their intimate relationship had started, Syrra had always kept close to Kajex. Whenever she wasn't training or spending a bit of time pursuing her own interests, she would seek him out for the pleasure of his company, which ranged from physical intimacy to positive discussions, to just plain cuddling for no reason whatsoever. Yet now more than ever, she sensed his desire to be alone for a while.

She granted him that- she would not stifle him with her presence if he needed room to breathe, and it seemed he needed time to reflect on the last 24 hours. It seemed so strange, to reunite with someone who should be their sworn enemies, only to have a few moments of friendly conversation followed by relying on each other to survive- and she was only Trianii. She could not imagine how Keris or Talrik felt knowing there was an Amaran on the opposing side they might have to fight or kill, though she noticed they didn't say much, if anything, to each other and only gave each other interested glances. But for Kajex and Locke, who knew of no other members of their race besides themselves, she suspected the separation might have cut at her lover far more deeply.

So to give him the space she knew he needed, she had kissed his forehead and left him in the cockpit. The first task she decided to undertake was ensuring the Yoke of Seeming was still secure, and that it was in fact still within the case it had been locked in. She knew Kajex had sealed it in a smuggling hatch beneath their bed, and had been satisfied to see the still remained where it was- she double-checked and opened the case to be sure, pleased to find that the Yoke remained nestled within. Her opinion of the Sith knight and his compatriots increased a few points- he had been forthright and honest with them.

After putting it back in its place she headed to the armory and put her focus towards helping Talrik. The Amaran had been resting comfortably until he'd awoken about an hour previously, the pain in his chest flaring up again. She had administered a second painkiller to help him rest while she monitored his wound carefully. He had been lucky, she thought- the wound had been severe, and would certainly have killed him had Miles not gotten him to the life support system in time. The bacta had closed the wound well without infection, though some minor bruising still remained. She made a mental note to thank her uncle for his contribution to Kajex's ship- she'd need to contact him to let him know she and Kajex would be there to attend Markus' and Calya's union ceremony.

For now, she mired herself in deep concentration. She perceived the fox's relaxed heartbeat as her senses roamed through his body, gauging the extent of damage he had suffered. There was still minute traces of damaged tissue in his cavity, and it was on these fragments that she focused on, pouring her energy into the damage and watching with modest satisfaction as her small contribution took hold. Damaged cells were made whole again, flesh slowly reconnected beneath his fur, and the fractures in his ribs from the bolt impact were re-calcified, repairing those minute cracks.

She let out a breath. Despite her efforts and the fact that she was pleased she could perform them in some small fashion, it put a strain on her. Drawing away from the task, she put a paw on Talrik's face, leaning over and kissing the side of his muzzle gently before disconnecting his bacta IV line. She would have to seek training from some of the Temple healers so she could better aid her non-Jedi companions- perhaps Cilghal would have time to teach her a thing or two.

She left the armory and made for the lounge next, deciding to investigate their passenger. In the chaos of the fight, Talrik being injured and Kajex delivering their Sith friends (she shook her head at the thought with a smile) to Tatooine, the young woman had seemed to be shunted into the background. It wasn't difficult to understand- it was not her mission to heal the woman, to relieve her of whatever nightmares or insanity she was suffering, and Syrra knew better than to try. Yet her sense of compassion did nothing to stem her curiosity, and if only from a distance she wanted to know what was wrong.

She peered into the stasis pod, the repulsor-supported cylinder possessing a viewport that allowed the Trianii to see the young woman's head and upper torso. She was a human, a bit grimy-faced but attractive for her kind, with short brown hair. Though she remained in stasis, Syrra could see minute changes in her features, slight twitches appearing in her face as she slept. The Trianii was well-aware that such forms of stasis did nothing to prevent people from dreaming, and wondered sadly if perhaps the woman were experiencing some manner of nightmare. She focused gently on the female within, deciding only to glance upon the surface of her consciousness.

She leaped back with a hiss, her fur standing on end as a sensation of being burned coursed briefly through her nerves, the feline staggering back a few steps as her heart raced and her breathing accelerated. It had only been a moment of perception, but she felt everything in that moment- the pure fear and pain that she was experiencing, trapped inside her own head as she screamed to be let free, to let her torment end. Syrra closed her eyes, trying not to let the sensation of grief overwhelm her, rationalizing the circumstances- if they let her free, she might be a danger to everyone on board. Though every second she was trapped within would be another moment of torture, it was the only safe way to get her to Yavin 4.

"Syrra?"

She jumped again, nearly falling over and managing to grab the end of one of the lounge chairs to keep herself upright. Kajex was standing at the end of the cockpit corridor, looking concerned. She took a deep breath, calming herself down as she regained her balance.

"What happened?" he asked as he stepped forward, putting a paw on her arm carefully.

She swallowed. "Just... checking on our passenger. She's not well, Kajex. Whatever that Yoke did to her, it's intense. I don't know if the Temple healers will be able to help her. I mean, I hope they can... but I'm worried they can't," she admitted, sighing.

Kajex put his arms around her. "They will. From what I hear, Force-based insanity is not something they're unfamiliar with. Kyle told me about how the Order put an end to Exar Kun- dealing with that kind of dark bullshit, I don't see why they couldn't calm whatever manifestations are plaguing her." He smiled. "Just put a little faith in them, kitten."

She nodded, nuzzling into him. Whether because of his words or the feel of him embracing her, or both, she felt more relaxed- though she was still able to sense his own uneasiness. "How about you?" she asked. "Are you going to be alright?"

He shrugged, letting go of her reluctantly and sitting at the table. "I'm still thinking about Locke."

"Is it love?" she asked with gentle humor, sitting beside him. He did smile and chuckle softly.

"He's attractive, like I said. And we _have_saved each other's lives, like he pointed out. But you know what I meant," he said, leaning back. "The more I look at him, the more I think he's an exception to the rule of Sith characteristics. He's not like any other Sith- if he didn't make his affiliations so clear, I'd go so far as to say he's _not_Sith."

"You can't have met many in your line of work," she reasoned. "How would you know? How would _I_know, for that matter? I admit I let my bias cloud my perception of the kind of person he is- at least _you've_traveled the stars longer than I have."

He shook his head. "Evil doesn't have to come from the dark side of the Force. I've seen it more times than I care to remember from the callousness of people who just don't give a shit about sentient life. It has shades of arrogance, a modicum of disrespect for others, a complete lack of compassion, is often selfish and completely reeks of willful ignorance. You don't have to use the Force to be an asshole that shits all over everything. I've seen evil before, Syrra... and no matter what Locke says, he's not evil, not even if he uses the dark side to fight."

Syrra sighed, nodding- not because she wanted to appease Kajex simply by pretending to agree with him, to settle his nerves, but because she truly agreed with the wolf and did not like how Locke characterized himself any more than Kajex did. "We know little about his history, about whatever misdeeds he's done in the past- but that's not the man I saw, either. I admit, I had my doubts about him... yet that was before he stood the line with us and put his life at risk." She put a paw on the wolf's shoulder. "Do you remember what he said to us when you came to get me, after my arm was injured?"

He nodded. "He tried to make a sacrifice play, to give us the opportunity to leave. Not exactly Sith-like behavior."

Syrra smiled. "He may be as he says. It may just be a well-designed facade we're seeing... but I don't think it is. I'm glad you tried to save him."

"I_did_save him, from Ulfric."

"That's not what I meant- I was referring to you offering to take him with us back to the Jedi academy. It might have cost you credibility with others, or made them think you were putting everyone at risk by putting that kind of trust in him... but it was a good thing you tried to do for him."

He sat in silence for a while, looking as if he wanted to speak more- she waited patiently, coaxing him kindly by holding his paw. "Did you... feel anything? When he said he was evil?"

She nodded. "Regret. Remorse. Shame. Maybe something in his past he did that he hated to do. Maybe he feels he's beyond redemption, or too scared to seek atonement, for whatever he might have done." She smiled, though, putting confidence in her words. "But I'm fairly sure if there's anybody who can bring about some kind of change in him, it's you."

He managed to smile back. "I hope so. I'd hate to have to kill him." He hesitated. "... _Do_you think I'm crazy, for the way he and I socialized?"

She laughed. "Absolutely. But then again, maybe you two are the only sane ones in an insane universe."

"Are you sure you're good to walk, kit?"

"I've been in this seat for about two days, Kajex- if I'm going to be heading to the Temple infirmary, I want to stretch my legs out a bit getting there," Talrik insisted with a grin. "Besides, I got shot in the chest, not in the kneecaps." He held onto the wolf's arm firmly. "On three?"

"One, two, three!" Kajex pulled him forward, the fox grunting as he lifted himself up as best as he could back onto his feet- the muscle fatigue from his bacta treatment in addition to his bodily stiffness made it difficult for him to get his balance. He held Talrik close, smiling as the younger man clung to him tightly as he shifted his feet around. "Shall I lead the dance, love?" he joked.

Talrik laughed. "That'd be a sight, doing a two-step all the way to the healers." He steadied himself, letting out a relieved breath as his balanced returned naturally. A slight wince passed his features as he started to amble through the armory. "Where's Syrra?"

"I told her to run up ahead of us to deliver the Yoke to Master Skywalker, since he's back again. I didn't want that damn thing on my ship any longer than it needed to be," he stated flatly. "Nearly killed my best friend and it injured the woman I love- I can do without it."

Talrik nodded. "The sooner that thing gets destroyed, the better." He sighed a bit, looking around as he tailed Kajex slowly. "I was kinda hoping to see everybody else before they left, but I guess they couldn't stick around all that long, huh. Nice guys, Locke and Miles, and not taking the artifact while our backs were turned."

"Not Keris?" Kajex asked with a raised eyebrow, grinning.

Talrik grinned back. "I heard it just as well as you did- letting me have her muzzle and her ass, while she'd let you and Syrra get the full package. That's no fun. Ah well... I guess I understand why, at least. Would've been nice to get a word in with her, but she didn't really strike me as the sociable type."

Kajex led the fox down the ramp carefully, keeping his attention on the still weakened soldier as they headed for the turbolift, the hangar mostly silent but for one or two late-shift guards, a couple of late-working technicians repairing a damaged Y-wing and a padawan squeezing some late-hour lightsaber cadences. They had reached Yavin 4 during the evening while most of the temple and it's students had withdrawn to sleep, but apparently Master Skywalker had arrived shortly before they had. According to Syrra, a fair few students and masters were still awake.

"So... what happens now?" Talrik asked as they reached the turbolift.

"What do you mean?" Kajex responded, though he had a pretty good idea of what Talrik was talking about.

"Locke. We let him go and everything. I don't think the Jedi Council is going to nail us for it, not when you and Locke managed to kill Knight Ulfric, but... what are you going to do about him?" the fox asked, looking concerned.

The wolf sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I dunno, little bro. I want to be able to reach out to him, maybe get him and Keris out of there and somewhere safe. It'd be great if they turned from the dark side and became Jedi instead, but... I don't think it'll be that easy, not if Locke's been training for a decade and a half to follow the Circle's command."

"What if he comes for you? Like, if he's specifically commanded to kill you?"

There was a pause as the lift doors closed. "I'll defend myself. I'll try my damnedest not to kill him, but... if he threatens your life or Syrra's, I'll do everything in my power to end him first." He put a paw on the fox's shoulder. "When I said you were a member of the pack, I meant it. I have no idea if it's my people's culture to do that kind of thing, but it feels right- just as it feels right to say that my duty as an Alpha _should_be to protect you and Syrra to the death, if that's what it takes. I just hope where Locke is concerned, it doesn't have to come to that," Kajex finished sadly.

Talrik nodded, giving the wolf a hug and nuzzling into him briefly. "If it means that much to you, Alpha, you have my support. I'll try to help him too."

"Thanks, kit."

The Amaran leaned back against the wall of the lift as it started to move. "It's funny, though. You told me about how similar you two are physically, and I agree that the resemblance is there- but as much as you two get along, he's... kind of an Omega, isn't he?"

Kajex frowned. "How so? He doesn't strike me as being the submissive type."

"Isn't he?" Talrik asked skeptically. "I mean... he's obedient to his master, he appeases others with politeness and civility, and despite his drive to reach goals he doesn't seem particularly aggressive when it comes to being in control. I mean... he's a Sith knight, right? You'd figure his ability to control minds to some degree would give him an inflated sense of confidence, maybe try to take the helm, yet when it came down to it... he let _you_be the one to lead us all. He didn't try to share the role with you, even though he's undoubtedly had fighting experience. He let you be in charge, without question. If he's ever had to be in a leadership role, I think he'd be great at it- but only because it seems to be the nature of the universe that those who lead best are those who are forced to bear the burden instead of those who seek it just for the glory."

Kajex stared at the fox, realizing he was right- except for his role as Keris' master, a role that was only defined by his expertise in the Force compared to hers, he didn't seem to mind others leading instead. There was something else. "He said he was evil, or that he deserved to be nothing but evil. I don't believe that for a moment, but... maybe it's because he allows himself to be the scapegoat, or gets treated as one constantly. That's a quality of being an Omega, isn't it?" His heart sank as he imagined 17 years of torment, unnecessary and unfair blame-casting being accumulated over the years by Sith masters.

"Kajex... I'm with you on trying to reach out to him," Talrik said confidently- the look in his eyes seemed to indicate that the fox was thinking along the same lines. "As wild as it sounds saying it out loud... that Sith knight is your friend. And you shouldn't give up on your friends, not unless there's no point in fighting for them any longer."

The lift stopped and they stepped out. Talrik put a paw on the wolf's chest. "I can make it from here. You should head on up and see Luke, give him your report- and see if he can spare some time to talk. Syrra talks to him now and again, and it only ever seems to improve the relationship between you too. He treated me really decent when he was questioning me. Maybe you should talk to him, too."

"I'm not--"

"I don't think he'll care if you're a Jedi or not," Talrik shrugged. "But your friend is a Sith. Maybe he has some wisdom he can share with you."

Kajex smiled. "I'll consider it. You get yourself to the healers, kit- if you come back with a doctor's note, I'll be waiting for you when you get back."

Talrik grinned. "Just as long as the doctor's orders are to relax and avoid strenuous activity."