"Elly, you get your ass in here!" Sinnellae groaned from the back room of the cantina recognizing the drunken slur in Goyan's voice.

"I'll be there in a sec, just keep your pants on," she hollered back... "Please," she added quietly. When Goyan wasn't yelling at her he was making passes at her. I don't blame you Da, she thought, I know this ain't what you expected when you told Goyan to watch out for me, you didn't know he'd have me slinging grog in his dump of a cantina.

Her Ma had run off years ago, unable to handle being married to a military man, and her Republic trooper father had kept her moving from post to post. But when he'd left for his last deployment almost a year ago he'd asked his old pal on Ord Mantell to let her stay with him and keep an eye on her. Too bad he hadn't known his old 'pal' had turned into a wretched drunk though the years and wasn't above making Sinnellae a waitress in his drinking hole or leering at her curves.

"Elly!" he shouted again, "Them troopers have been waiting for service for forever, get over there you lazy sow!" Damn, she thought, he must be deep in his cups. When he wasn't drinking Goyan wasn't too bad, but the nights he remembered he was supposed to have two legs instead of one he'd drink himself stupid. Unfortunately he went through a mean phase before the stupid kicked in. She rushed to the table where several Republic soldiers in dirty, carbon scored armor were waiting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting boys, what'll you have?" All eyes turned appraising as they looked her over and she groaned again. Great, she thought rolling her hazel eyes, I went from the frying pan into the fryer. She'd been getting these looks ever since her girls had decided to take the phrase 'bustin out' to heart and her ass had followed suit, at least it'd added padding her tall bony frame. Seemed like she'd gone from scrawny to sleek overnight and boy, had it been noticed. But now her days were peppered with catcalls and innuendos, mostly from these gung-ho types who thought a girl was alright with a roll in the weeds just 'cause he strolled in wearing armor. Here it comes, she thought, cue lame pick-up line in 3, 2, 1...

"How's about you, in my bunk?" a pale dark haired soldier piped up and Sinnellae pasted a phony smile across her face as the others erupted in uproarious laughter.

"Never heard that one before Sweetie," she purred, "But I ain't on the menu. Just let me know what you want to drink, 'kay?" She took their orders for Jorian whiskey and ignored their murmurs as she walked from the table to the Las'hui, the large Twi'lek bartender who doubled as a bouncer.

"Hit me Las," she said as he poured out the shots the troopers had ordered, plus an extra that she threw back quickly.

"Regular charmers, ain't they Elly?" he smirked, "And to think, they're on our side."

"I shudder to think of what the other side is like," she replied, "But I guess it's better to put up with jackasses than be ruled by assholes." Las barked a short laugh.

"You're too pretty of a lady to have a mouth like that," he scolded, "What would your Da think?"

Sinnellae shrugged. "He'd probably kick himself for using it around me in the first place," she sighed, "You sure we ain't heard back from him yet?" Las's lekku swung as he shook his head.

"Don't be torturing yourself girl, he'll get back to you," he said, "Here, take these to those boys. I made sure to add yours to their tab." Sinnellae winked at him.

"Betcha another shot that one of them mentions his 'blaster' or 'rifle', if you know what I mean," she imitated the trooper's macho tone and got another laugh from Las as she grabbed the tray of shots. She swung her long brown hair over her shoulders and sauntered back to the troopers.

"Anything else you need?" she asked, ignoring the way they kept eyeballing her chest while she doled out the drinks. A slow leer appeared on the one's face that'd made the bunk comment.

"My blaster needs a holster," he said with a wink, "You know where I could find one?" Saw that one coming, she thought, but smiled again hoping not to lose her tips.

"Thought they issued you boys that stuff," she kept her tone polite, "Sounds like you need to check with your supply sergeant. But since I just supply drinks, I'll be off." She started to leave when the smooth talker raised a hand to halt her.

"Well, we were wondering if you might be willing to keep Garrett company," he stated, his eyes speaking volumes, "He's awful lonely and has a birthday coming up." Sinnellae fought to hold back a glare.

"And you thought I could be his 'present'?" she kept her voice even, noting the fierce blush on one of the younger soldier's faces. Her tone must have caught the attention of the rest of the group; they eased back in their chairs as if distancing themselves from their comrade's behavior.

"Stand down Cooper," one said, "She's just doing her job." The one named Cooper looked her up and down again.

"I just might have a 'job' she can do," he said slowly as he reached over and patted her ass. Sinnellae's vision went red. The unoriginal crude remarks were bad enough, she thought, but laying a hand on her was grounds for a clobbering.

"You better take your hand from where it don't belong, before I have to remove it for you," she growled, giving him one last chance to be civil. His buddies looked surprised but instead of removing his hand, she felt it rub over her curves in a proprietary manner.

"And just how will you be removing it?" his oily voice slid over her like his hand. In one move Sinnellae cocked back, throwing her right into his cheek and watching as his chair fell back with him in it, dumping him on the floor. The rest of the men jumped up and she pulled a broad blade from her boot.

"Now your boy needed that almost as bad as he needs a shower," she said coldly, brandishing her knife, "It'd be best if you finish your drinks and high-tail it out of here." Noting his nose was gushing blood, she tossed the dirty-dish cloth she kept in her belt at the trooper on the ground, "Here, stop getting blood on my floor. Just another mess I'll have to clean up." The troopers exchanged looks while the one called Garrett helped Cooper up.

"Elly, what the blazes has gotten into you girl?" she heard Goyan shout as he scurried from his office, limping on his cybernetic leg. The burnt-out man she saw was a far cry from the strapping youth she'd seen in holos with her Da. Years of rotgut had left him jaundiced and thin, as if the alcohol had fueled whatever was burning him down to nothing. He alternated between glaring at her and giving the troopers apologetic looks. "Sorry gentlemen," he said, "She's been high strung since her Da died." At his careless words Sinnellae felt her knees buckle and she grabbed the back of a chair.

"Died?" she breathed, "But Las said we ain't heard from him in forever." Goyan glanced back over to her and she thought she saw the fogged eyes clear for a moment and sympathy fill them.

"Yeah girl, his transport was shot down by Separatists," he was borderline slurring, "Got the word down the wire a few weeks past. Thought I'd let you know already. Sorry."

"Sorry?!" she shouted, "You don't tell me my Da is dead and all you can say is sorry?" She grasped the knife on her hand watching her knuckles turn white. Da, she thought, picturing the tall dark-haired man with broad shoulders who'd raised her. No matter where he'd been stationed he'd always been there for her. Taking on the role of both parents, he'd taught her to shoot and nursed her through her first girlish heartbreak. The realization that she'd never have those strong arms around her and or see him smile again was making her sick. The room swam and it seemed like the faces of Goyan and the troopers were closing in on her as she leaned on the chair. She barely felt Goyan's hand pat her on the shoulder.

"Come on girl, snap out of it," he said, "Soldiers die all the time in war."

"But they're not my Da," she yelled, pushing him away as she ran out.

Rushing out the door she bolted around the corner into the adjacent alley. Her heart pounded as she leaned on the wall and she felt her body clench before she heaved up the contents of her stomach, like it would expel her pain along with the whiskey she'd drunk. When she'd finished retching she rested her forehead on the cool wall of the cantina, her chest bursting with each of her sobs. Memories ran through her head of her Da; when he'd left, how handsome he'd looked in his armor, the last time she'd hugged him, it felt like every heartbeat was as sharp as the knife in her hand.

Looking quickly at the wicked blade, she had the brief temptation to run it over her wrist. One stroke and I can be with him, she thought watching the light glimmer on the sharp edge, then she chuckled weakly through her sobs. Da didn't raise you like that, she reminded herself, you ain't a quitter girl. It was better to have a broken heart than one that didn't beat. She turned and sunk down with her back on the wall placing her head on her knees, still weeping.

"Elly where are you girl?" she heard Las's voice call out just ahead of his footsteps. He emerged at the entrance of the alley, looking worried then bowing down to help her stand. "Come 'ere," he pulled her into a hug, his large frame a comfort.

"Why him Las?" she cried, "Tons of soldiers across the galaxy and he has to..." she couldn't even finish the sentence as another round of tears surged to her eyes. The big Twi'lek just held her, letting her soak the front of his shirt. When her cries had subsided to sniffles he let her lean back and faced her.

"I know it doesn't help but I'm sorry," he said, "I doubled checked the holos to make sure that sot had his facts straight. Of all the times for him to be right, this time I wish he wasn't," Las gave her another quick hug before pulling back and giving her a concerned look.

"You know if you want to stay with me and Fies you can. It'll be tight but we'll find the room and you can get away from Goyan." Sinnellae smiled feebly at the thought of staying with Las and his wife in their tiny home but it didn't sound like a terrible idea. Plus Goyan was the last person she wanted to deal with right now.

"Fies won't kill ya for bringing home another mouth to feed?" she tried joking and got a smile from Las.

"She'll be fine," he assured her, "You want to just grab your things? I'll head on and let her know you're coming." She nodded and he gave her another quick hug before leaving the alley. Composing herself as much as she could, she headed back into the cantina ducking her head so she wouldn't have to look at Goyan.

Padding upstairs to her room she opened the door and looked in. Sighing, she took one last look at the narrow cot and the small chest that held all of her worldly possessions. Having been shipped from post to post she was used to traveling light. She swept her long hair into a ponytail and found an old duffle bag. Almost crumpling again when she saw it was one of her Da's, she then started stuffing her things in it. She'd almost finished when she heard the heavy boot steps stop outside her open door and a light knock on the doorframe.