Not much support for this story, but like I said, it's just something I've been writing for my guild, so those who read it here get to enjoy it too. I don't own anything except for Khal'ek, Xavus, and Rynoth. Anything else either belongs to George Lucas or my guildmates.

Khal'ek checked his armor and blaster rifle as the transport he was riding in lumbered forward towards the front lines of combat. He was on some backwater planet that was an important staging ground for the fight against the Empire, which is why they took advantage of a period of low security to invade. The Empire had bombed the Republic's communication towers, though they had managed to get off a distress signal before the towers went down. Following that, they took control of the spaceport and the anti-aircraft emplacements. By the end of the week, the Empire had taken control of the planet.

Now, the regiment that he was a part of had been sent in to take it back. Khal'ek had been in the army for a year now and though he had excelled at combat, he was quickly chafing at all the rules and being subject to the idiocy of his commanders and the morons in the Senate. He had seen good men die because of one man's pride and stupidity. Supplies had been diverted from the front line, where they were desperately needed, to be given to officers and other officials far away from battle. One officer had cut Khal'ek's unit's rations just so he could eat well and bring in fine wines and other luxuries.

Needless to say, Khal'ek was quickly getting disillusioned with the whole process. While the Republic soldiers fought to protect their homes, the officers and other leaders seemed to just want to take as much as they could for themselves, having good soldiers die for pointless side objectives and stupid decisions.

"Ok men, we need this spaceport back yesterday! Get in there and show those Imps why they should have left this planet alone! For the Republic!" shouted the Lieutenant commanding their regiment. Khal'ek gave a half-hearted shout which was drowned out by the roar of his fellow soldiers.

Pulling on his helmet, Khal'ek checked his sidearm and readied his rifle. As the ramp to the transport lowered, Khal'ek charged out into a hail of blaster fire, firing back at the other soldiers.

"You did good out there, kid," Jayson Ordo said to Khal'ek as they stood in the recaptured spaceport waiting on a supply ship.

"Not good enough. Too many died on our side," Khal'ek replied with a frown.

"Hey, don't think like that. You did your best and you fought a good fight. Your ancestors would be proud."

Jayson was an oddity to Khal'ek. He had been born a Mandalorian, but chose to break away from them and joined the Republic Army. Rumor had it that he had been offered several command positions and promotions, but he had turned them down so that he could stay in the fight. The older man had chosen to take the young Zabrak under his wing, though for what reason Khal'ek couldn't begin to understand.

It was Jayson that had taken Khal'ek to Iridonia during some down time and introduced him to his culture and heritage. Khal'ek had gotten his first facial tattoos during that trip, as well as a couple other tattoos, one of them signifying the bond between Jayson and him. The older human man had become the father that Khal'ek had never had.

"Jayson, I don't know if I can keep doing this. I'm not afraid or anything," Khal'ek said with a nervous glance at the man. "It's just…I'm starting to hate the Republic. It's so corrupt and inefficient. We never would have lost this planet at all had they given us the budget and supplies to maintain the sensor network and defenses."

"Instead, that money was used for some lavish Officer's Ball on Coruscant," Jayson said, nodding in agreement. "I don't disagree with you kid, but keep in mind that the Empire doesn't like people like you. Under their thumb, you'd be nothing more than a slave."

"There has to other options. I can't keep living like this, Jay," Khal'ek told him weakly, his depression starting to show.

Jayson gave him a long hard look, rubbing his jaw in thought, before looking out to where he could see the supply shuttle starting to make its approach. As the shuttle got closer, he made a decision. He turned back to Khal'ek, who was polishing his armor and trying to fix a few holes made by blaster fire that got too close.

"I'll miss the kid. He's got the devil's luck and he's damn good with a blaster," Jayson thought with a mental smile.

"Kid, when we are finished unloading the shuttle, hitch a ride back and make your way back to Iridonia. I have a few friends still there and they'll help you out. If you want other options, they'll help you find them," Jayson told Khal'ek, keeping his voice low just in case.

Khal'ek snapped his head around to look at Jayson in shock. "What?"

"If you don't give your all in battle, you'll just end up dead. And I'd hate for that to happen to you."

Khal'ek could believe what he was hearing. Part of him hated the thought of doing a runner, viewing it as quitting and giving up. But Jayson was right. He couldn't fight at his best, and that would just end with him getting killed.

"But what about you? Won't you get in trouble?" Khal'ek asked.

Jayson just laughed and clapped Khal'ek on the shoulder. "Don't worry about me, kid. I'll just say that I sent you on patrol and you got killed by remnant Imperials that got the drop on you. Naturally, we won't be able to find your body, so they'll have to take my word about it. Just do me a favor and keep low for a couple years."

Khal'ek was at a loss for words, so he simply nodded before looking away so that Jayson wouldn't see the tears in his eyes. When the shuttle landed, Khal'ek helped unload the supplies, seeing Jayson hand the pilot some credits from the corner of his eye made what he was about to do very real. When they were finished with the supplies, Jayson pulled Khal'ek to the side as the other soldiers went to the cantina to get some drinks.

"Listen kid, the pilot has agreed to take you to Nar Shadda, as it's on his way. When you're there, find a way to Iridonia. I'll contact my friends, so they'll be expecting you and should meet you at the spaceport, just be sure to give them a call when you're close," Jayson said as he handed Khal'ek a datapad. "That has the holofrequencies of several allies of mine, including the one I'm sending you to."

Khal'ek nodded as he tucked the datapad into a pouch on his utility belt. He started to take his helmet off, but Jayson stopped him.

"Keep your armor on, kid. It'll help you keep a low profile as people won't be able to recognize you," Jayson told him as they walked over to the shuttle. "You were a good soldier, but fortunately for you, you haven't been around long enough to be well known. Give yourself a few years, train, figure out what you want to do, and then when everyone's forgotten about you, you can rejoin the rest of the Galaxy."

Khal'ek nodded before looking at the shuttle. Once he got on it, there would be no turning back. Taking a step towards it, Khal'ek stopped as he thought of something. "Jay, if you can, let my brothers know that I'm alright. When they get word of my 'death', it'll crush them."

"You have my word, kid."

Khal'ek held out his arm and Jayson clasped it in a warrior's handshake, gripping his forearm in respect. "Good hunting, Khal'ek Vorr."

Khal'ek nodded before grabbing his rifle and climbing into the shuttle, the boarding ramp closing behind him.