Title: Junior Wraith Squadron NRI Missions:  Kessel's Aftermath
Author: AdraLoran
Keywords: Junior Wraith Squadron, Wraith Squadron
Dramatis Personal:
NRI Head Iella Wessiri Antilles (female human)
General Wedge Antilles (male human)
Colonel Garik 'Face' Loran (male human)
Colonel Jagged Fel (male human)
Colonel Jaina Fel (female human)
Lieutenant Colonel Kell Tainer (male human)
Lieutenant Colonel Nicola Afyon (female human)
Commander Cloud Ritril (male human)
Commander Tyria Ritril (female human)
Commander Tyria Tainer (female human)
Major Adra Loran (female human)
Major Bror Afyon (male human)
Major Jade Veila (female human)
Major Ryok Necxo (male human)
Captain Asyr Sei'lar (female human)
Captain Gaeriel Captison (female human)
Liselle Afyon (female human)
Melidere Afyon (female human)
Inyri Loran (female human)
Davin Fel (male human)
Rane Fel (male human)
Doran Tainer (male human)
Koyi Afyon (female human)
Tynian Afyon (male human)
Kavin Ritril (male human)
Jacinta Loran (female human)
Elex Tainer (male human)
Saraiyu Tainer (female human)
Keira Fel (female human)
Cerise Ritril (female human)

Chapter One – Return to Coruscant

"Mom... don't say anything. Please."

His mother's gaze was hard locked on him and it took all of his will not to quake under the look. It almost seemed as if his mother's eyes could launch proton torpedoes. Of course, if they actually could, Garik probably wouldn't be alive right now. At last she seemed to collect thoughts that wouldn't be fit for dressing down a Cadet fresh from flight school.

"Don't say anything?" she hissed the question through visibly clenched teeth. "Don't say anything?" This time her voice was louder. "How do you expect me not to say anything!"

Garik cringed slightly. He and his twin had just returned from a mission to Kessel, there to find out what sort of influence the Imps held. A week into their mission suddenly had Kai not saying anything. Her only replies would be a head nod or shake and a shrug from time to time. It had taken their remaining week there for Garik to finally break past the duracrete walls in his twin's mind only to find that upon entrance he immediately wanted it to be anything but the truth. Twelve days and innumerous jumps later, they had returned to Coruscant. Their report had been given to Iella and then they'd made their way back to Wraith Headquarters. On the way over, Garik had tried to get an entire story out of Kai. Instantly she'd slammed their bond shut and had answered nothing else other than to confirm the truth of what had happened.

And upon return, his sister had rushed to her rooms and left Garik to be greeted, fawned over and, inevitably, questioned. And, inevitably, his mother had learned the truth.

Behind his mother, Garik saw his father walk up. If he were worried before, it was worse now. His father put his arms around his mother's waist, reminding Garik intensely of Ty and his twin. Then a flash of one of Kai's memories claimed his thoughts. As though he were looking through her eyes in this memory, Garik realized that the same 'embrace' was being employed on his sister in the memory. Only, in the memory, she clearly didn't like it and, what's more, was panicked by it.

A question in his mother's voice brought Garik around. "Garik, how old are you?" It took him a second, but when he finally could respond, he knew his expression was incredulous. "I'm not asking you like I don't know. I'm making an example."

Clarified, Garik said cautiously, "Sixteen."

He could sense his father was confused as to where this was going. However, it was his mother who yet again spoke. "Very good. And that would make Kai sixteen, yes?" Garik nodded, knowing better than to reply sarcastically.

"Adra, where are you going with this?" Garik's father asked suddenly. He saw his mother shake her head at him, and reply with, "I'm getting there."

Her attention returned to him. "Alright, I'll drop the fake ideas. Let me jump to the point. Garik, why do you think Inyri Forge reacts to men the way she does? Why do you think she's purposefully sabotaged relationships?" Garik stared at her face, waiting. "Because she was used by a jerk, knocked up then beaten up, left to die and then was blamed for another man's death. You're now telling me not to say anything to her when we all know Kai has enough oddities as it is. She doesn't need another of lacking self-confidence."

Before he could say anything else, his father broke in. Clearly visible and interpreted from his face, he'd obviously figured out what was being spoken of in the conversation. And he was plainly pissed.

"Wait. Halt. Adra, are you saying what I think you're saying?" Without even waiting for an answer, he turned on his heel and went down the hall. Behind him, Garik heard a sound. He turned and saw his Aunt Nicola, Uncle Bror and Tynian. Koyi was standing in her parents' shadows and Ciny was there with her. Mumbling an excuse to leave, Garik hardly saw his aunt and Ty go off after his father.

* * * * *

Kai's hands shook visibly as she placed her datapad on the in-wall shelf. Before she broke something, she decided to sit down instead. Even as she did so, the memories, so fresh and painful, began replaying. She jumped up again, though whether it be by the sound of her door opening or merely the want to so something besides think, she didn't know.

As her eyes made out who the figure was, she quickly turned and busied herself, hiding her tears. Her father's strong grip latched onto her shoulder and pulled her around into a hug. For minutes that seemed hours, Kai's gaze was lost in the dark of her father's shirt. A soft tap on the doorframe pulled her away to instead look at the new visitor.

"You mind if we come in?"

Her Aunt Nicola's voice was quickly followed by Ty's gentle Force-probe. It seemed Garik hadn't kept to his promise. She'd be giving him some words later. Maybe. Looking back at her aunt from the chrono's face, she nodded. Briefly, she even touched the Force-presence that offered itself to her.

She was wrapped in her aunt's embrace as soon as Nicola had crossed the room. She returned it, but broke off quickly. Instead, she looked over at Ty and smile slightly, then detached herself to move over to him and hug him. Hesitantly it seemed, but Ty put his arms loosely around her to return the gesture. In spite of everything, and no doubt Ty knew by now, Kai was happy to be back. She'd really missed Ty...not to mention her father's need to be protective...

Movement from the adults caused her to look up and over at them. Aunt Nicola had shooed her father out the door. She turned to look at her son and Kai reluctantly let him go. Ty released her a moment later, as if just as reluctant to do so, but he did it anyway. With a sigh that only she heard, he went over to his mother, who offered him some quiet words, then exited.

Kai looked at her aunt, wondering what this was about, and if her mother had asked Aunt Nicola to do this. The Jedi stood for a moment, then nodded to the chairs at the table. She moved to sit down in one and was quickly followed by her aunt's taking another one. Her hands resting on the table space in front of her, Kai stared at them as they absently pulled at a piece of string. Another hand covered hers, halting their movement.

"Kai, look at me," her aunt said softly. When she complied, her aunt's hands moved up to wipe her cheeks. Kai suddenly realized that there had been tears running down them. "Oh honey," was all Aunt Nicola said, but Kai was being pulled from her chair into another hug. Even so, more tears began collecting in her eyes, waiting to fall. The first one traced a path down her cheek and was soon followed by others. Her aunt must've noticed them because she once again was rubbing Kai's cheeks dry. "It's okay, Kai, it's okay."

Shaking her head, Kai brushed the remaining tears from her eyes, silently ordering them to stop forming. She pulled back from her aunt's embrace and was allowed to. A new hand rested on her shoulder, causing her to jump and turn around quickly. Thankfully, it was only her mother. Koyi stood a few paces behind her, giving them their space for the moment. Though it was Adra who now held Kai in a hug, she couldn't help feeling the desire to just be alone. Of course, that wasn't possible.

Aunt Nicola was looking at Koyi, obviously having a Force-spoken conversation with her. Kai said nothing, waiting for the outcome. Koyi at last nodded and walked out the door and Nicola's attention returned to her and her mother.

"Kai...I know you probably don't want to talk about this right now, but...well...to some degree you have to." Kai stiffened at the words her aunt spoke, then gazed imploringly at her mother. Adra merely nodded, her face unreadable, though she put an arm over Kai's shoulders. After a moment, she nodded. The three of them sat down at the table, Kai in the middle and feeling a bit trapped. Nothing like two weeks previous, though. Closing her eyes momentarily, she shuddered at the memories. This was one of those times when she was really glad she didn't have Winter's indelible memory.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw the other two women exchanging a look. It was gone before she could study it, but that didn't leave her in the dark. Deciding she might as well say something she cast around for a subject and it landed on her Jedi training.

"Does Uncle...er...Master Bror know? I mean, he must...but..." her voice trailed off quietly as she looked between the two of them.

It was her mother that spoke, "Yes, he knows. That was actually something we had to think about approaching. You know he's eventually going to find out exactly what happened, even if no one else but Garik does." Kai locked gazes with her mother, unbelieving. "Come on Kai, you're not stupid," she said softly. "Jedi with apprentices are supposed to be able to know what's going on in their padawan's head. If they can't break past the walls, then they shouldn't be that padawan's master. I doubt that your Uncle Bror will jump on you and start questioning, but I don't think he's going to leave you to deal with it as your personal demon."

Kai stared at the table silently, an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had known that, of course. The only thing was...she didn't know if she could face talking about the experience when the time came.