Kal Skirata, limp only mildly aching today, strode into the compound, eyes flicking from side to side as he studied his surrondings.
Even though he was smack dab in the middle of GAR barracks with his boys' home away from Laseema's apartment, Kal was cautious. It was a necessity, especially of late, considering his recent machinations against the Chancellor's Office. As much as he hated to admit it his boys, who he had tried so hard to make Mandalorian, would fire on him should they be ordered.
There was also Jaing's recent warning about the dislike for nonclones, mongrels, growing strong among some troopers. Especially among the IO clones.
So Kal, an old, short man with a limp, had plenty reason to be wary.
As he strode to the Arca barracks, Kal did his best to stay alert. Nothing, not even a shadowy threat, could take his mind off the recent piece of gossip passed along by Darman.
"Mind must still be in shock," he chuckled quietly to himself. He would have been estatic. He should have been overcome with joy...Niner had a girl. Despite his mission, a small smile came across his mouth for a second.
Niner was his sober boy, moral in a way none of his other boys were, and Kal worried about him. It was good that Niner had been getting out of his shell a little bit more.
Still, this was a big change. When Darman had told him Niner had been more social of late, Kal had expected to hear of bar exploits, or even just an exploration of Coruscant's dazzling cities. The news that Niner had a girlfriend, and the relationship was serious had been a shock to Kal, though he'd been thrilled Niner had finally found someone who suited him.
But something just wasn't sitting right with the old sergeant. A feeling of wrongness just kept nudging at his mind and wouldn't leave him alone.
Niner had never shown an interest in women. He had never sought one out, like Mereel and Jaing were infamous for in their little group. He never had an ache like Fi did (according to Etain) to have something more than the shabla death sentence the GAR offered him.
And out of the blue...Niner had a woman, and not a one night stand type.
Something didn't seem quite right about it, and Kal's fatherly instincts were all screaming in alarm. He needed to meet this girl, take measure of her, and make sure she wasn't going to hurt his son. Especially since she was one of Ru'more's girls...
Kal worked with these females. He had helped get some of them get off of Kamino, feeling pity for them, sometimes even more trapped than his boys. He also knew that some of them had some sort of powers...and mind control was not uncommon among them.
Pity or not, respect and friendship with Ru'more or not, if one of her girls was toying with his son, the girl was going to pay.
As soon as he crossed into the territory, he stopped.
All the women in the room...
They looked as if they were expecting him.
Different eyes with different glows of power stared at him warily.
There were only four here right now. Oops, no. A pair of purple ears poking up from a bedside told him five as they caught his eyes when he searched the room to see if there was anyone he knew.
He cleared his throat but someone, someone familiar, cut him off.
"Well, well, well," the person laughed and boots clomped closer to him as he turned,"Look what the Rancor dragged in!"
A grin spread across his face at the sight coming his way. He held out his hand.
"Su'cuy gar, Anamanra," he said, taking a firm hold of her elbow which she returned strongly,"Still alive, eh?"
"And kicking the shabla Galaxy in the shebs," she laughed, blue eyes sparkling.
"I thought you were out on mission in the Nar Shaddah sector!"
"I was. I got recalled to go on a mission with one of ner vod."
"Anyone I know?"
"Nah, she's came to us when you were on...temporary leave from the army."
Skirata grunted. That was the time his contract with the GAR had ended and he was forced to leave his boys behind.,"So what's this sister's name?"
"You have a moment? She should be here any minute."
"Can't. I have to talk to one of your vod. I was told she was staying here."
"Is she in trouble?"
"Maybe. She's with Niner."
"Oh? Oh. You mean Thyme."
"Now, I know Mister Solemn got a woman," a voice yelled behind Skirata,"But with THYME?"
Skirata blinked at the woman as she ran into the room, zooming past him.
"Alright, never mind. Looks like she'd be here in a second," Anamanra chuckled. The woman slowed as she reached Anamanra and grasped her elbow before turning to get a full view of Skirata.
"Oh, she purred, eyeing Skirata like he was a treat,"Yummy. Who's the new guy?"
He stared at her for a beat. She was a pretty one, he didn't deny it. Almost looked like an actually twin to Anamanra. The shape of her face, eyes, and nose were the same along with the same dark (almost completely black) skin, the tall slender bodies that curved when they were standing still, and the spark of fun in the eyes. Only a few differences he could see such as her hair being dark and her eyes were gold. And she had lower cheekbones than the blue haired woman's aristocratically high ones.
And her taste in men was apparently different...
"You do know I'm about three times your senior, ad'ika," he finally said. He was rewarded with a small smirk and another slower inspection of his figure.
"I'm not blind. Nothing wrong with age," she murmured, eyes heavy lidded,"'sides, few more years and I could match you."
Skirata winced slightly at the reminder. He's almost forgotten that these women, clones as well, had the rapid aging in their systems. Anamanra coughed a few times before nudging her sister's hip with her own.
"Down, girl, you'll scare him away with any more flirting," she said, managing a smile at Skirata's wincing look,"Skirata, I don't think you've met Flavor yet."
The ears on the other side of the bed twitched.
"Call me Flave, good looking," she said, grasping his elbow in the Mandalorian way.
"Flavor," he said eyeing her and cracked a smile,"Do I want to figure out why?"
She bit on her lip to stop herself from grinning even more widely,"Maybe I could show you some day soon, handsome?"
"It would give me something to look very forward to," he said graciously with a twitch of a smile, turning her hand a little to kiss it. Who said he was a complete thug?
The look on the Flavor's face was surprised and Anamanra had to hold back a grin. Despite her personality, it didn't take much to surprise Flavor. Any simple act of kindness would do. And Skirata just earned himself a very devoted devotee.
"Hoooo," she said, fanning herself (the slight tinge of red didn't escape his notice nor did the girl's suddenly shy smile),"He is a sweetheart, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is," Anamanra smirked before pushing the girl slightly out the door,"Now get going! Since you're early, you have a little time to be in the hangar. Broadside should be landing soon."
She pouted but went along easily,"You just want him all to yourself."
Before Anamanra could say anything else, another voice cut in.
"Skirata," it said in the direction of the ears,"Kal Skirata?"
Skirata's eyes focused once again on the ears as best he could (since they were moving). They were feline shaped so she was some sort of feline humanoid, but the coloring was something he couldn't identify with...then again, the Kaminii liked to experiment around with genes. It would be nothing to them to change something so simple as fur color.
Catuman, maybe. They're a very good species for warfare if she was wanted for just plain warfare...or Trianii. Cantrosian's had poison in their claws that spread that terrible fever of theirs-
But he nearly had a heart attack when the face that appeared around the bed was one of a Cathar.
Author's Note:
Give a big hand to the superb Tahiri Veila Solo! having difficulty with the first beginning part, and she helped out and put her own ideas in! I know Skirata was a little out of character, but I couldn't help it for Flave XD. Part two will have Niner in it as well!
Skirata and Niner belongs to Karen Travis's Republic Commando.
Feline Species belong to George Lucas
All the females belong to me.
Pleeeease review and tell me what you think.