[i][b]"Why you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking... NERF-HERDER!"[/b][/i]
[i]~ Princess Leia Organa[/i]

Syrra shuddered, unable to look at Lynch. "I am so sorry, captain."

Lynch grinned. "Don't be like that, kid. You did a hell of a job back there."

Baarok Manor would, by most standards in the Galaxy, be considered simplistic and primitive from any off-world visitor looking from the outside- it consisted of seven mildly interesting, hollow cone-shaped rock structures arranged in a circle jutting skyward, with strong hardwood and durasteel bridges connecting each spire to its closest neighbor on either side. Beyond that, there seemed to be no flair of culture to mark it as anything more than an unusual, inhabited rock formation.

Within each spire, however, color burst from many sides- exotic plants found both on and off-world with eye-catching hues peeking from their fronds, resting in deep red clay pottery with Trianii script, articulating the culture's Prayer of Health; thick, beautifully woven rugs and tapestries that seemed to recount popular Trianii folklore; furniture composed of finely crafted woodwork and remarkably comfortable cushioning.

The last of these artistic comforts was currently being tested by the Captain as he ran his remaining hand across the soft fabric of his bed, the stump of his other arm lightly bandaged and slathered in a sweet-smelling concoction that Aarn had applied. Syrra swallowed all the same- as comfortable as Lynch looked, and as happy as he seemed for being alive, she could not help glancing at his missing appendage.

Lynch noticed this, following her gaze easily. "Look, Syrra- it ain't your fault. If you hadn't pulled off that miracle at the last second, not a single bit of me, or you for that matter, would've been saved. I can deal with havin' one arm for the rest of my life, and thanks to your uncle doc here I won't have to- he tells me he'd be more than happy to set me up with a cyber-limb replacement as thanks for bringing you here."

"But I didn't do anything," she insisted.

"You brought our airspeed down just enough that I was able to activate the ship's landing repulsors and landing struts. The speed we were going, the ship had both locked down. You had your eyes closed so you didn't see how much we slowed down by, but I swear on my ma's life you had the Force working for you right then and there." He smiled sincerely.

Syrra managed a sad smile. "I hope you're right. I'm feeling kinda useless right now."

"Why? Even if you don't believe what I'm telling you, you still dragged my sorry ass out of that wreckage before the fire got to the cockpit. You may not feel like you're a Jedi right now- but at least believe me when I say you're a big damn hero in my book." He stretched a bit, wincing. "About the only other downside I can see is that now I can't teach you starship travel- sorry about that, kid, but there ain't a big enough roll of duct tape to bind the [i]Truly Sorrier [/i]back together again."

Syrra nodded, feeling a little better. "What should I do, then?"

Lynch laughed. "What I brought you here to do. Get the job done. And see if you can ask that other starship captain, the wolf-guy, to teach you how to fly. I'll see about getting us transport off this place while you're away."

Syrra nodded, standing and offering her paw. "Thank you, Lynch, for everything. Recover well."

Lynch squeezed her paw and shook. "Take care, kitten. And may the Force be with you."


"What you need to understand, Captain, is that I really don't have any control over what my sister-in-law does- and in this case, she was most insistent."

"I get that, but really? A frakkin' Jedi [i]Padawan[/i]? I thought you considered this a serious matter!" The wolf paced in front of Aarn's blackwood desk, brow furrowed irritably. "How old is she, anyway? I thought Padawans were supposed to be [i]kids[/i], but she looks like she's in her 20th cycle! What kind of Academy--"

"[i]Captain Surnahm, if you please![/i]" Aarn said, calmly but loudly. "Take a seat before you wear a hole in the rug with your pacing, and I'll explain everything."

Syrra waited outside the door, frowning as she eavesdropped outside her uncle's office. [i]Who the hell does this guy think he is?[/i] she wondered. Leaning in closer, she peeked back into the room.

The captain let out an exasperated sigh, dropping into a nearby black-and-crimson seat- then brightening, adjusting his positioning and settling himself into the cushion. "This thing is pretty comfortable."

Aarn smiled humorlessly, the black-furred Trianii's green eyes regarding the seat. "The cushioning is made of a silk compound from off-world ice-glade moths- by all means, you can have it if you want, when you leave. My sister-in-law purchased it for me when my mate accepted me. Far too expensive for my tastes, but she's always been impulsive- both within the family, and within the [i]yu'nar[/i]." He gestured to a tapestry to Kajex's left, the bust-image of a tall, strong Trianii female with golden fur staring solemnly into the distance.

"My mate's lineage has been sporadically strong in the Force, although neither she nor her sister inherited any sensitivity to it. Nevertheless, even from a young age Bast has always been an influential member of her community, able to convince whole societies that the course of action she endorses is the right one for others to choose- not that her reasoning isn't without merit. She's become a valued and highly-respected leader because of it, and I confess it has caused her on more than one occasion to make decisions on her family's behalf at times- out of a desire to help us, mind you, she has only good intentions."

Kajex nodded. "Alright, I get [i]that[/i], but why this over-aged Padawan? Is she some kind of Force-sensitive close relative of hers? Is that why this Academy sent her and not one of their Knights or Masters?"

"Yes, actually. Syrra is Bast's daughter, in fact- the first in 2 generations to possess a connection to the Force, I believe. She only joined the Academy on Yavin 4 about half a year ago, but I'm told she's something a combat prodigy there. So far away from the Republic, she had only recently heard about the Academy and insisted she join." He looked back up at the tapestry. "Bast's family is one of the few within the Wild Space Regions to offer considerable donations to the Jedi Order, before the end of the Clone Wars, and they heavily endorsed the work they did. Despite her personal reservations to her daughter attending, she eventually relented, hoping to contribute to them for the same reasons."

"Political interests?"

"Hardly. I just said we were outside the Republic- the Jedi then served [i]only[/i] the Republic and in many respects the new Order does the same."

"Wouldn't prevent a Grand Master from sending in a Jedi to influence policies in CSA or Trianii space," the wolf suggested.

Aarn raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I don't think it would either- and I also don't think you believe that for a moment."

Kajex frowned. "...Okay, you're right- I don't. But what about this new academy? What would even compel them to send Padawan-level Jedi to fix these kind of problems?"

"The way I understand it, it's being run by Jedi Master Luke Skywal-"

"[i]Skywalker?[/i]" the wolf interrupted in surprise. "The same guy that's been throwing wrenches in the Empire's gears for the last decade?"

Aarn nodded. "The very same- he became a Jedi after the war and started gaining followers, collecting old Jedi data from Imperial databases on Coruscant, the ruins of Jedi temples on other worlds and so on. He's been using what he's learned to teach new students, though not without great difficulty, I'm told."

"Does he also steal children for recruits like the old order did?" Kajex asked, frowning again.

"No- he apparently feels it reflects poorly on their Order, and allows students to come and go as they will. Therefore, adults mostly make up the ranks of the Jedi Order, with children being allowed to study only with their parents' consent. Skywalker also encourages a more hands-on approach towards studying, and sends student/teacher pairs to aid the Republic, and more recently even non-Republic worlds. It is believed that he hopes this will improve their social standing in the galaxy, to show they can contribute without heavy political influence."

The wolf scoffed. "Well, at least he's got [i]that[/i] going for him. Doesn't sound so bad- even sounds a bit [i]sensible[/i]. But this kid--"

"My niece is not just a Padawan, Captain Surnahm, nor is she a child. She has spent 5 years as a Trianii Ranger, patrolling the surfaces of our worlds. She had trained since she was 5 to join their ranks, and I assure you, she met the Ranger's qualifications easily, and is an accomplished fighter despite her stature. My mate and I have spent years teaching her medicine and healing when she has had the time. She knows the Trian system, the cities, economy and culture just as well as the most devoted of the Rangers. Aided by the Force, I quite certain she will be a valuable ally while you work." There was a pause. "Unless you have decided that you would like to terminate our contract. I will not think less of you if that is the case- I'm well-aware that there are many within and without the Republic that don't trust the Jedi. Not without good reason," he added quietly.

Syrra, still perched next to the door, frowned at that. [i]What does he mean?[/i]

Kajex pinched the bridge of his snout, letting out a long sigh. "No... I'm not quitting the job."

"Do you wish to renegotiate the terms of our agreement?"

"Am I expected to split my pay with her?"

"Not at all. Bast has already seen to it that the Jedi Order will be compensated for taking on our request. You may, however, need to offer her rations- I will gladly cover any expenses you mi--"

It had gone on long enough, Syrra decided, as she shouldered past the door into her office. "Uncle, no!"

Both men glanced up at her, Kajex arching an eyebrow. "Is there a problem, kid?" he grunted.

She glared daggers at him, wondering briefly if there were some manner of Force technique to render him silent. She opted for a different approach, growling vocally at her kin. "<You don't need to pay this mercenary lout- you shouldn't even have to just to find what happened to our people!>"

The doctor shook his head, responding in their tongue. "<This was my decision, Syrra. The Trianii Rangers have their jurisdiction, and it doesn't extend into CSA space- a lone mercenary will draw less attention and often possess a skillset useful for these kind of tasks.>"

Syrra chuffed irritably in Kajex's direction, regarding the canine mercenary with disdain. "<More effective that what a Jedi can offer? I'm certain I can complete this task without the help of an insatiate... money-grubbing... [i]beast[/i] of a mer-->"

Aarn looked appalled. "<Syrra, that is enough! I'll not tolerate this language!>" He glanced at Kajex nervously, who seemed to understand that Syrra did not think highly of him, if his cold expression was any indication. "<He has offered me a far more reasonable price for his services than the average mercenary and has expressed he wishes to help for the benefit of our-->"

She snarled. "<[i]He's not even Trianii, uncle- why the hell should he care?![/i]>"

"<Because I believe in doing the right thing, that's why.>"

Syrra flinched as Kajex spoke their language with reasonable fluency, his eyes narrowed as he stared at her, now on his feet with his arms folded. Aarn seemed at a loss for words- apparently he also had no idea the wolf was fluent in Trianii. It was rough, not smooth and rolling like her race, but it was easy to understand his words- and his tone of voice.

"<So, you think I'm a 'beast'? I'm not the kind of mercenary that signs up with slave traders, who takes up bounty hunting or earns his reputation through employment with planet-destroying conglomerates- you know, the [i]real[/i] monsters of the universe; the ones who destroy lives, kill for thrills and generally make the universe a> [i]shittier[/i] <place to live in. Believe me, if I didn't give a damn about your people, I wouldn't have bothered learning to speak your tongue in the 10 years I've lived in> CorpSec <and Trianii space.>" He paused, staring at the red-faced female Trianii, who shrank back in shame now that she realized he'd understood everything she had said.

Aarn hesitated before speaking. "<I apologize for thi-->"

"<I'm taking the job, Doctor.>"

The Trianii's eyes widened, a look of apprehension painting his features. "<You... are sure?>"

Kajex nodded, still glaring at Syrra. "<I'm sure. And I'll even work with this...> [i]Padawan[/i], <as well.>"

"<I- Thank you, Captain. I appreciate your patience.>"

"<It'll cost extra, though.>" This drew a growl from Syrra.

The elder Trianii hesitated. "<... How much?>"

The wolf smirked, speaking once again in Basic. "I'm taking the chair."


They agreed to meet during dinner to discuss the details of their mission, though once the rather aggressive introductions were concluded, Kajex had sauntered out of the office (with the chair) and back to his ship. This suited Syrra well, feeling she could do with seeing her new, unwanted partner as much as possible.

Aarn, however, did not feel the same way.

"Your mother thought that sending you to the Jedi Academy would allow you the means to control your aggression. I hope for your sake that this is an [i]isolated[/i] incident- this new Order may be just as tolerant of your anger as the old." He peered at her sternly from the other side of the table, while the estate servants set out tableware and plates.

"I've already apologized, uncle. I allowed my anger to get the better of me, and I assure you it won't happen again," Syrra said quietly, staring at her cup.

Across from her, Aarn's mate Iaora gazed intently at her niece, her blue eyes framed against a troubled brow. She was quite unlike her mate in many ways; where he was stocky, pleasant-faced and black-furred, Iaora was tall, graceful, with an agile frame and her pelt was pearl-colored, her white mane braided straight down her back. When she spoke, it was with a soothing, gentle tone that seemed to settle Syrra's nerves. "It is not enough that you apologized to us, Syrra. You have yet to make amends with the young captain of whom you spoke poorly of. You should not let that offense fester into something worse, regardless of what you think of him."

"I would have said something had he not left abruptly," she protested.

"You saw where his ship is docked when you arrived, cub," Iaora chided gently. "I'm sure he would not object to you approaching to ask his pardon for your words. When he enters, I would advise you to make an effort to be civil with him, starting with a sincere apology- you may not care for his occupation, but he is meant to help us all the same." She paused long enough to chirp her thanks to the servants, who had just brought out the dishes. "If nothing else, demonstrate to him that you can conduct yourself as a student of the Force."

Syrra nodded, feeling a small, ashamed burn in her cheeks- she valued the elder Trianii female's advice whenever she offered it. "Very well."

Aarn stood abruptly, gesturing at the door. "Captain, I'm glad you arrived."

Syrra stood, centering herself before turning her sight to Kajex- he looked better groomed than he had appeared earlier, having left behind the captain's coat and donned cleaner set of relaxed clothing for the occasion. She hesitated, then stepped forward, trying to keep her eyes up at him.

"Captain Surnahm... about earlier today. I... I offer my apologies for my unkind words. I had no excuse for speaking poorly of you and trying to conceal it. If there's any--"

Kajex raised a paw, a wry smile on his muzzle. "Kid, it's fine. I've been called a lot worse, let's just put it behind us."

Syrra hesitated, then nodded, taking her seat again as Kajex took the only remaining chair, opposite Aarn.

Iaora cleared her throat. "Well, now that we've settled that, perhaps we can discuss the matter at hand."

Kajex raised an eyebrow as the three Trianii began to consume their steaks. "Is it a cultural tradition to talk business while eating?"

Aarn nodded. "While engaging in a basic life function that those present are all able to engage in, it is often easier to come to more positive terms- though our people often say it is a shame we can't do so while sleeping, when all are at their most peaceful." He passed two datapads to Syrra, who took one and handed the remaining one to Kajex. "Keep those with you. It lists all the missing ships, personnel, cargo and hyperspace lanes our business uses in its delivery system."

"Do you suspect anybody, uncle?" Syrra asked as she set it upright.

Aarn shook his head sadly. "No one. One might think the CSA might have a hand in this, but our operation has never truly drawn their ire before. No pirate organization has made any ransom demands, and my contacts in the black market haven't discovered our cargo making rounds."

"Maybe you should start from the beginning, then," Kajex suggested, spearing a sprig of vegetable garnish with a utensil.

Aarn shrugged. "There isn't much to say. The supplies have consisted mainly of Bacta and Kolto cells and injectors, as well as some of our culture's medicinal and surgical salves and adhesives. I personally hand-select the crew from a combination of retired Trianii Rangers and medically trained students- all Trianii." Aarn noticed Kajex's skeptical look and explained. "I must be pragmatic with my business, I'm afraid, but I assure you I don't do this for racist reasons. The herbs and salves require knowledge to maintain, and some of the ships are outfitted to actively manufacture, research and even develop new compounds while in transit- it requires extensive study from a young age, relying on flora found, grown and harvested only on worlds within the Trian system- only a Trianii or an off-worlder who has lived here from birth would know the secrets of our medicines."

Iaora nodded. "That we manufacture and research these pharmaceuticals en route to their destination is no secret to the CSA, but it has given them the misguided impression that my mate's business is high-cost and behind production, which is primarily why we have not been bothered."

Syrra frowned. "So when did the ships start vanishing?"

"7 months ago was when we suffered our first loss. At first I simply thought an accident had occurred, an unfortunate encounter that we all risk when we travel through the stars, and so I sent an investigation team to ascertain the crew's fate. Such investigations typically only take 2 weeks, maximum. The team did not return until after a month had passed, and could offer no explanation for what had happened. They checked multiple hyperspace vectors for potential mobile hazards that might have failed to be detected by the ship; checked missing-person reports and prisons, soup kitchens or affiliated safehouses on the off-chance that the crew might be in hiding or apprehended. They came up with nothing."

"How many more ships since then have gone missing?" Kajex asked around a muzzlefull of steak.

"4, coming out to 5 ships, 75 crew members and an estimated loss of 450,000 credits." Aarn returned to his food briefly before continuing. "The financial loss is trivial, my business here makes enough credits as is, but I'm convinced that someone or something is kidnapping or perhaps even killing my employees- who are, more importantly, my friends. And they are depriving the impoverished of the planets we deliver to of medical supplies they need in order to alleviate their suffering." He gestured to Syrra. "Naturally, when I brought this up to Bast, she felt it was a perfect opportunity for the Jedi Order to demonstrate their effectiveness."

Kajex pointedly said nothing, and Syrra arched an eyebrow at him, speaking in turn as she chewed slowly. "Is there anything connecting the missing ships? Family, off-world affiliations, specialized equipment or cargo? Maybe even the ship models?"

Aarn paused. "... I had not considered it, but all 4 vessels after the first disappearance were manufacturing vessels, now that I think about it- and all of them launch from Fibuli, where our fleet is stationed." He raised his eyebrows. "Perhaps that may be key to keep in mind."

Syrra nodded, then steeled herself and turned to Kajex. "So... suggestions?"

The wolf glanced at her, regarding her critically, then shrugged. "We could go anywhere with this, to be honest, and I think we'd end up at exactly the same place no matter what- absolutely nowhere. We'll probably need a lot of luck to get us ahead." He mulled it over, then spoke. "First thing that I'd suggest is figuring out what damaged the [i]Truly Sorrier[/i]."

Syrra blinked. "Wait, what?" she sputtered. "Why? That and this have nothing in common, it's pointless to speculate on it."

"Is it? Just call it a hunch, but I don't buy that your ship's equipment was somehow faulty and failed to catch some debris. I talked it over with Lynch, he has no idea what did it, said he didn't see anything." He gestured to himself. "I've been flying almost 20 years, I can tell you right now that with most hyperspace disasters, it's easy to figure out what went wrong. But now we have a mystery concerning a ship suffering severe damage coming out of hyperspace from seemingly [i]nothing,[/i] in a region where ships are disappearing using hyperspace lanes."

Aarn considered this. "I'll ask Captain Lynch, once he's recovered, if he would not mind investigating the wreckage for clues that may lead to the cause of [i]Truly Sorrier's[/i] damage."

Syrra shook her head. "Fine... anything else?"

"These ships that launch from Fibuli- is it from a surface or orbital station?"

"We possess docks on an orbital fueling station, but we utilized a surface station for dry docking and cargo loading."

"Why does that matter?" Syrra asked, frowning at the captain. "The ships aren't being lost on take-off."

Kajex smirked. "You're gonna have to learn a bit about how pilots and crews work, kid."

She glared. "What does--" She stopped short, catching Iaora subtly shaking her head. She paused, breathing in deep and fixing a hard stare at him. "Elucidate, please."

"Put simply- the only thing pilots want more after a trip than sleeping (or sex), is a nice, stiff [i]drink[/i]."


Aarn had suggested that the two get started as soon as possible as soon as dinner had concluded. Thankfully, the wolf had not done too much to dance on Syrra's nerves, but she resented Aarn's second suggestion- that she spend the night on the [i]Rushin' Roulette[/i]. Kajex didn't seem to care one way or the other, but Syrra suspected that her earlier insults had not been completely forgotten.

They reached the docking bay just as the sun was setting. "Well, here she is. Go on, say it- everyone else does."

Syrra's eyes scanned the ship intently- it was battered in places, had scorch marks in others, a slightly disc-shaped, rugged-looking transport of Corellian design, one she had never seen before. "It looks... ancient?" she said uncertainly.

Kajex stared at her with an arched eyebrow. "That's a new one. Most people that see her think she's a piece of crap." He scratched his head in confusion before tapping the ramp controls. "Still, you're not wrong. She was developed a long time ago- probably a good 3 or 4 thousand years old. She's a pretty spry old lady," he grinned, motioning the Trianii up the ramp.

Syrra rolled her eyes. "If you say so. Long as she gets off the ground without me losing my lunch, that's fine." She reached the top of the ramp, peering into the wide interior of the transport- there was a sort of empty feel to the craft, with very little in terms of décor or culture. "Still... this is a lot of ship for just one person, don't you think?"

Kajex considered this and shrugged noncommittally. "Probably, but there have been other folks on board this vessel before besides me. On that note, don't mind any unusual odors- I had a guest over a couple days prior to help, ah... see me off."

She wondered what he was getting at before they reached the lounge- then it hit her, only a moment after the odor. Her face twisted in mild disgust. "By the Force, really?" She walked past Kajex irritably. "If you're trying to rouse me up by inspiring some weird, chauvinistic form of jealousy, you may as well forget it. You may not be a beast, but for my sake try not to act like a [i]swine[/i]..."

Kajex grinned. "Relax, kid- you're going to be mighty disappointed if you think the rest of the universe is as prudish as you."

Syrra straightened, fur bristling. "Wh- I am [i]not[/i] prudish!" she argued indignantly.

Kajex rolled his eyes. "Sure you aren't. I get the game, kitten- you're following the path of the Jedi and you want to make sure you stay that way. And to you, that must include constant celibacy, right? Is that an official part of the rulebook?"

Syrra fumed silently, struggling to find something to say, before recalling her aunt's words- "[i]If nothing else, demonstrate to him that you can conduct yourself as a student of the Force[/i]." The effect as immediate, her anger ebbing away quickly. "Alright, so... I'm a little prudish. I'll admit that. But at least respect that if you can. You do that, I'll not chide you for whatever... [i]harlots[/i] you bring on board your own ship."

Kajex considered her, and nodded. "Fair enough. And don't call them harlots- I don't bring sex workers to this ship. The guest in question is a very dear friend of mine."

"Fine- you're girlfriends or whatever."

Kajex chuckled. "Not quite that either, but I get it." He cleared his throat. "Okay so... a few ground rules while you're here. Cockpit's up this hall-" he thumbed over his shoulder, "-don't go in there unless I'm in there already, and don't touch anything on the console unless I tell you to. Main cargo hold is down this hall-" he pointed off to his right, "-it's the biggest room of empty I have on this ship. Don't go in there without a glow lamp, I don't want you to trip and break your neck over the containers and have to explain to your mother what happened, right?" Syrra rolled her eyes, but nodded in acknowledgment. "Escape pods are by the passenger ramp, keycode is 7511- don't leave without me. Captain's quarters is the first room on the right down this hall."

He gestured to the hall on his right again. "Knock first unless you want to risk seeing what the adoption center saw when they found me. The crew quarters is where you'll be staying, down that hall again, on the starboard-aft side. It's cozy enough, just pick the bunk you want, nobody else has claimed them- you can use the lockers there to store your gear. The galley is between my room and the cargo hold, you're welcome to any of my rations." He clapped his paws together. "That's about it! Any questions?"

Syrra looked around. "Got anything to do around here?"

Kajex shrugged. "Crew quarters have bedside consoles attached to them for work orders, but it's connected to my ship's server. You can peruse through my onboard entertainment folders for music, movies, reading material, pornogra--"

"[i]Captain...[/i]"

Kajex grinned. "I'm just teasing you, relax. There [i]is[/i] porn there, though, just a head's up. You're welcome to it, I'm serious- I have to believe even the old Jedi Masters had to unwind biologically, and I'm not going to be ungenerous enough to say no."

Syrra rolled her eyes, but kept her temper in check rather easily. "I... appreciate your hospitality."

"Other than that, you're welcome to use whatever space I'm not currently using to meditate, study, swing your lightsaber around- just as long as you don't put a hole in the hull, alright?"

"I'll try to restrain myself," she replied, managing a wry smile.

"Good enough. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to find a place to put your uncle's comfy chair in my room and sit in it for a while. Rest well!" He sauntered down the hall, stopping short. "Oh, and one other thing."

"Yes?"

"It's Kajex."

"... Thank you, Kajex."

He beamed. "You're welcome, [i]Syrra[/i]." He ducked into his quarters, sealing it behind him.


Whatever else she was expecting from the captain, it was not that he was interested in classic holofilms, famous symphonic compositions from eras long ago, that he enjoyed historic accounts and texts, or that his taste in females, and probably males, was so... [i]exotic[/i]. She didn't linger on the last of these, but now she wondered if the wolf had a mate to speak of- though what woman could stand him was another matter entirely.

More to the point, she realized, was that the captain was a slightly more cultured individual than she had expected him to be. Among the tamer recordings he had stored onboard the ship's servers was a collection of Trianii dance ritual performances from before the Clone Wars. She considered that perhaps he had not been lying when he suggested earlier in the day that he bore respect for her culture.

The plan had been to leave at 0600 hours, which was still 10 hours away. Unable to tell if Kajex had turned in early to rest, she had deemed it considerate not to engage in a night-time saber training drill- and a part of her was still awake, unable to find rest. She struggled to figure out why, laying back on one of the lower bunks in the crew-quarters.

It came to her slowly- the scent she had picked up once she'd moved into the lounge. It was familiar to her in a way- alien in others, but not so much that she couldn't recognize it for what it was, not after Kajex had shamelessly admitted he'd had a lover on-board recently. Perhaps it didn't bother him so much because he was used to it, but she was certain the one part of the scent he wasn't picking up on was his own.

She winced at this silent revelation, her eyes squeezing tight. The very idea that her captain was sexually active in his own ship was uncomfortable to think about- and as much as she didn't like him, she hated more the fact that this knowledge was [i]turning her on[/i]. Unbidden images of who the lover was and, even worse, what Kajex might've looked like in the buff, danced in her head as if to torment her. She shivered once she began to feel a flutter between her thighs, cursing herself for such a pitiful weakness- and cursing the captain for contributing to it. Knowing full well it would take hours for that arousal to die down, she cursed silently, slipping out of bed and, after hesitating a few seconds and checking to ensure the crew hatch was locked, began to strip off her Jedi robes.

A sense of relief began to wash over her as she shed each piece of clothing, pulling off the bandaging that held her breasts close against her and sighing contentedly as she left both of them fall, thankful that the ship's air was refreshingly cool. In most cases her people wore very little, only wearing clothes as a formality, a symbol of status or means of mixing among non-Trianii, conservative species that might otherwise object to their nudity- but she'd grown used to wearing a Trianii Ranger uniform and later her Padawan outfit such that she had forgotten how liberating it was without them. She blinked, regarding both mammary organs with interest, as if seeing them for the first time- and in a sense she was, she realized, where it concerned regarding herself sexually. She gave her left breast a gentle grope, fur bristling as she brushed her palm against a slightly tender teat. She let out a soft purr in reaction, the sensation not at all unpleasant.

She laid back, continuing to experiment with herself, fingers tracing down her belly and circling around each tertiary nipple- it was not the first time she had explored her own body. All cubs had at some point or another, and she knew all adults of her kind would tend to themselves as well if it became necessary. Yet perhaps it was that she had not done so in years, seemed more taboo (and somehow more exciting) now that she had sworn herself to the path of a Jedi, which made her heart start to race even as she started to revisit herself. It probably also had something to do with the fact that her bust seemed to be larger than she recognized- had it really been that long? Had she matured that quickly?

She turned her head to the bed-side console, still connected to Captain Surnahm's entertainment folder. "[i]You're welcome to it, I'm serious...[/i]"

She touched the first option in the folder.

By coincidence, the video started the moment Syrra had slid her paw between her legs, moving aside the rougher tuft of fur that barely hid her slit, shivering as she kept her eyes on the screen. She'd had the foresight to keep the volume low and isolated to a pair of earbuds that she'd tossed aside when she had disrobed minutes earlier, so she could not hear the tinny sounds of active moaning and gasping, the sounds that the actors were making (and faking). It seemed it had started in the middle of a performance between a curvaceous, ebony-skinned human female and a much larger male Cathar, a feline race Syrra recognized. She blushed furiously as the recording panned over his unmistakably feline prick, the brute flaunting his pale pink piece for the holocam by taking it in paw and stroking his flesh repeatedly, fingers squeezing over his soft, barb-like spines- it was much like a Trianii male's, though far larger she realized, feeling searing heat in her face as the realization washed over her and embarrassment followed.

It was almost too much- she had seen the members of 3 other beings, 2 of them Trianii and the other... she shuddered, remembering the beast on Yavin 4 with whom she "copulated" with via meditation. She reached out to cancel progress on the holovid, intent on ending it early and figuring out some other way to reach relief, but the scene shifted at the same moment. Before her paw was halfway near the touchpad, the Cathar had mounted his busty, dark-skinned lover, drilling his considerable length into her gash and eliciting a moan that was audible even with the Trianii's earbuds still on the floor.

She whimpered as she watched the two engage in coitus, half-aware that her paw was matching their pace and drawing a lot of nectar from her own pot. Erotic scenes in Trianii culture was more spiritual and intimate, depicted as artful and deeply personal- what she was watching was raw, meant to be exotic and more devoted toward pure pleasure, though no less intimate, as the two lovers (or rather, Syrra thought dimly, actors [i]pretending[/i] to be lovers) drew their hips together and apart from a side angle, the human's legs hooked around her breeder's waist, flexing powerfully to pull herself into his groin. Syrra could not help but imagine how deep that prick must have been buried in her.

A moment later she realized her imagination was lacking, as the holocam switched angles and floated to a rear angle, giving her an unrestricted view of everything she was imagining, and things she hadn't bothered to consider while she did so. He was plugging her quim to the sheath, battering her inner thighs with enough force to cause his balls to bounce against her backside, the female's buttocks wobbling slightly with each brutal beat. His tail was flagged up, exposing his untouched pucker, set in the middle of his bodybuilder-grade butt, gluteal muscles flexing with each powered stroke.

The scene lasted longer than Syrra thought it would, but she could tell the scene was coming to a close the moment the human starting writhing beneath her Cathar hunk, raking her painted nails down her back and screaming as she faked her orgasm- which the Cathar took as his cue to withdraw his prick, forcing the human's head down to the floor as she aided him, squeezing his large balls as stroked himself again, the female's maw opening just as he ejaculated, thick streams of spunk shooting from his tapered tip and splattering against her face, a roar now audible from the earbuds below.

Syrra moaned far louder than she meant to and gasped, covering her mouth with the paw that only moments ago had been pinching her own nipples. She winced, fearing the sound might have carried even with the crew-quarter's hatch closed and locked, and quickly closed out of the recording, panting for air and shivering violently.

At no point had she pulled the covers over her, and so the cool air around her now seemed absolutely freezing, such that she remained still and basked in her own elevated body heat, wiping her eyes. She calmed herself down, pushing the bedside-console away from her, deciding not to rely on it for the remainder of her own personal session.

Then she heard a groan.

She froze, her heart seeming to have leapt into her throat at the sound. For a moment, she wondered if another recording had started automatically, but the screen only showed the folder's basic contents and file names. She held still, straining to hear any other sounds.

Another groan- the pleasure in the male voice was unmistakable.

She blushed, petrified at what she was hearing. Kajex had decided to have a 'session' of his own.

She cursed the stars above for her circumstances, as even now the thought of the ship's captain getting off to whatever perversion was in his head was enticing Syrra. She grimaced to herself, watching her paw move back between her thighs once again as if on it's own accord. A thought occurred to her- perhaps through concentrating, she might be able to see what he thought.

It was as if her arousal had frozen, the heat in her loins no longer present. Her face fell, and she found herself disgusted with herself. Whatever other shortcomings she might have had, she found herself ashamed more than she ever had at any of here actions, to have considered prying into the mind of another sentient- not even someone as crude and boorish as the captain deserved to have the privacy of his mind violated.

She would have continued her self-criticism had he not moaned a third time.

She grit her teeth, arousal racing back through her body as she fell into a minor trance. With the noise he was making, the fact that he [i]was[/i] pleasuring himself was no secret, and so she felt little violation of privacy in that regard. She just... wanted to see. To know. She had wondered earlier, and now despite her irritation with the mercenary it occurred to her that she had the means to satisfy her curiosity- what [i]did[/i] he look like?

The scene came to her rapidly, and the first thing she noticed was the wolf reclining in his brand new chair, set next to his bed. He seemed to have paused for a moment, slowing his gentle strokes and shivering slightly, eyes half-closed and giving him a sort of glazed look. He readjusted himself and Syrra was able to get a significant view of his nude form- it was nothing short of exotically attractive, enough so that she marveled at the sight.

His pelt was less rough that she had imagined it, better groomed than his normal clothing- she could see the golden-brown band that streaked from the side of his muzzle tracing down his neck, past his chest before tapering off near the hips, dividing the dark gray fur of his back and tail, from the snowy gray fur of his chest, abs and groin. He was not nearly as built and towering as the Cathar erotic actor, nor as lithe and limber as a male of her own race. She saw his form, however, as a perfect blend of the two- toned, but not bulky; slightly tall, but not gangling; possessed of humanoid hands not unlike large paws that looked strong, yet agile and gentle. It was these paws that obstructed her view to his member- until he reclined in his seat again, hands resting to either side briefly as he sought to catch his breath.

She nearly pulled herself out of her trance when he sat back, allowing his cock to stand on its own- there was no mistaking the shape she was seeing was the exact same she had sensed, had [i]felt[/i] when she had been mentally ravished by the Brush Canid back on Yavin 4, an event that seemed as if it had occurred years ago instead of just a few weeks. She had sensed a veiny, red malehood, perhaps 6 inches long, from the beast she had copulated with- Kajex's was nearly at a full 10, easily outstripping both Trianii and Cathar, nearly as black as the void, a stark contrast to the light shade of his sheath, below which hung an equally impressive set of balls. She shivered physically as his paw returned to his cock, returning to his personal session as if he had no audience, head leaning off to the side as he rolled his hips up into his paw, trying to simulate coitus.

She whimpered again, masturbating furiously to the sight of the captain pumping his prick, dimly aware that she was no longer looking at a lout, a beast, a greedy mercenary or a swine; but a sentient, available, [i]attractive[/i] male. No longer was she aware that it was her own fingers jamming themselves up into her cleft, trying to find a spot to graze that would bring her further ecstasy. Face red and eyes glazed, she was imagining now that Kajex was above her, plunging that tool into her depths; a shock of bliss zapped her nerves for a split second and the scene changed, the wolf's paw now placed on the back of her rump as she rode his prick; another jolt and she was seeing Kajex again as he was in reality, his strokes getting faster and his breathing becoming more desperate. She heard him groan once again and she moaned silently with him, biting down on her free paw's knuckle to stifle the noise. He was close now, she could feel the mounting pleasure radiating from him, could see his considerable knot throbbing beneath his paw.

He covered his muzzle, keeping himself from vocalizing audibly as he arched his back, thrusting up into his paw and squeezing hard on his knot, as milky ropes of seed shot from is cocktip, with a volume and distance Syrra had not been prepared for, several strings of ejaculate arcing high and splattering against the cool deck several feet away.

This was the final straw the destroyed the dam holding back Syrra's pleasure, and she shook violently, silently, as orgasm overtook her, the Trianii letting out a blissful feline chirp. She had never experienced the act of feminine spraying until this moment- she could only describe it as electric bliss in her loins, manifesting in a pool of nectar that soaked the base of her tail as her muscles tensed, followed by at least a full minute of quiet mewling and shuddering, a gentle purr rumbling throughout her as her muscles completely uncoiled.

The last thing she could perceive as she faded out of her trance and back into her own senses was the wolf staring off into the distance intently, as if noticing for the first time something was amiss. The scene faded- and she awoke.


Little by little, coherent thoughts began to form in Syrra's head, the first among them [i]What the fuck did I just do? [/i]followed closely by [i]I can't believe I just did that![/i] A part of her was more than a little angry with herself for having once again succumbed to her own physical desires- that same part raged at her for not just fantasizing, but outright engaging in Force-based [i]voyeurism[/i] on a male she seemed to be unable to stand.

Other parts, however, consisted of curiosity, satisfaction and thrill for what she had done. It was like a perversion of her experiences with the Force- completely foreign to her at times, yet swiftly becoming something she wished to be adept at, though a key difference was she wouldn't dare admit this to anyone else but herself.

She drew her paw away from her gash, using the other to wipe her face of sweat and tears and sitting up in her bunk, her fur bristling. She had expected to feel hollow after doing this, but she wasn't- if anything she felt better, calmer and more at peace. She smiled wryly to herself, wondering if she'd found a not-very-acceptable way of keeping her temper in check. A slight twinge of fear ran through her, though- she wasn't sure if the captain would be capable of noticing her scent should he walk in, but she'd deal with that later, if at all. Groaning more out of exhaustion than frustration, she resolved to sleep off this event and try to pretend it never happened.

She slid out of her bunk, eyeing her clothing and preparing to slip them back on before turning in... and then consciously chose not to, still feeling more comfortable out of her gear than before. She quickly gathered her Jedi outfit and boots, moving to the other side of the crew quarters and tossing the contents on the lower bunk, then, still nude, hefted herself up onto the bunk above it, getting under the warm sheets and comforter and settling in, whimpering slightly as she tried to get some rest.

This was undoubtedly going to be very a long journey...


