A/N: First off, I just want to thank everyone for all the positive feedback I've gotten on this story so far, I really appreciate it :) Here's hoping the second chapter lives up to your expectations. I used some Mando'a in one place in this chapter, and will use more in future chapters, and while I admire the language I don't really know which words best fit English equivalents and whatnot, so if anyone reading is somewhat fluent in Mando'a, feel free to make suggestions to me if I get a phrase wrong or if a better word can be used in its place.

All Mando'a used will have their English meaning placed at the end of the chapter for reference.

The ship dropped from hyperspace in a few, short hours, entering Alderaanian space with ease, before the autopilot made a beeline for the spaceport near House Thul. It would be another hour by shuttle to the Sith's final destination, but the rest of the crew were far more excited about being in a moderately-sized city for their break, so it was a small sacrifice as far as she was concerned. After docking in a reserved hangar of the spaceport, Vette and Jaesa were the first to run down the gangplank, followed closely by Pierce. Tan'shae emerged shortly after, still in her ordinary Sithly attire, but with bags in each hand and a large commando pack strapped to her back. She'd spent so long packing that there was no time for her to change out of her armor, much to her dismay.

"I still don't know why you're bringing all'a that, Tanny. It's just gonna weigh you down in the city." Vette said with a wry smile, and Tan'shae rolled her eyes at the Twi'lek's nickname for her.

"Well, I'm not staying in the city, Vette." The Twi'lek looked at her quizzically.

"Well what the hells else is there to do around here?"

"It's called 'camping', vod'ika1, you should try it sometime." She reached out, ruffling the top of the other's blue head playfully, as sisters would do. Vette chuckled, shaking her head.

"No thanks. Sleeping on the ground and peeing in the shrubs is not my idea of fun."

Tan'shae shook her head gently, sighing in mock dismay as the crew all piled into the elevator. She reached into one of the many knapsacks she had, digging out holocomms for each of them, proceeding to hand them out.

"Here, use these to get in contact with the each other if anyone needs anything. I've set them all with timers so that they'll go off three hours before we're due back at the ship. That's plenty of time for us to all drop what we're doing and get back to the ship before Baras blows a fuse."

"Psh, his fuses have blown so many times that frankly, I'm surprised his head isn't just a burning pile of scrap at this point." Vette sneered, rousing laugh from Jaesa and a deep chuckle from Pierce. Tan'shae couldn't help herself either, and joined in the laughter, feeling giddy energy spark in her blood as they all shared in a good laugh. She couldn't remember if that had ever happened before.

"Wait a minnit…. where's Captain prettyboy?"

Tan'shae blinked, still trying to regain herself from the laughter as she looked up at Pierce. He'd calmed down first, and glanced around the elevator compartment, brow furrowed in confusion. She straightened herself, and looking around the group, she blushed when she clearly saw that Quinn was nowhere to be seen, a fact which hadn't occurred to her until Pierce's mention of it.

"Oh, don't tell me he decided to stay on the ship…" Jaesa moaned, the corners of her mouth quirking into a grin at the absurdity of the thought.

"Wait! Hold the lift!" Echoed a voice from across the hangar bay, and the four of them peered out of the elevator chamber to see Malavai Quinn bolt from the ship, also carrying a large pack on his back like their commander's, as well as a security case in one hand. Tan'shae was almost taken aback by his appearance. She was used to seeing him in his Imperial uniform, which was kept in near immaculate condition. But now, he had on a long, lightly-armored, almost scruffy brown leather coat, looking more like something that a smuggler would wear. Beneath that was a simple, dark cloth shirt, with a high collar and long sleeves. His pants were similar as well, lightly armored with various pockets, along with smart-looking, Imperial-issue boots and gloves. His hair was still in its pristinely groomed state, sweeping and slicked slightly with gel to hold it in place. Tan'shae couldn't help but stare. He looked so… so different, so much more… casual.

The others seemed to be just as surprised as Tan'shae was, the lot of them just staring slack-jawed at the Captain as he darted into the elevator, holding himself in a rigid, militaristic pose. In spite of how he carried himself, Tan'shae could see how he was still in pain from Taris, how his posture slumped to his left slightly from the healing dislocated shoulder, and how the Kolto splint bulged under the left sleeve of his coat. She was jarred from her thoughts suddenly by a low whistle, coming from the Lieutenant.

"Well damn Captain, who knew ya had it in ya t'not dress a Priss?" He teased, smirking at Quinn with slight contempt. "Looks like I lost me bet with the Twi'lek. See, I thought that uniform was permanently fixed to yer skin."

"I gotta say, I'm pretty glad you lost that bet Pierce. Scruffy suits you, Captain."

Quinn rolled his eyes, clearly irritated, but he ignored the jiving from the Lieutenant and Vette, using the console within the elevator to take it to the next level. Tan'shae quickly glanced over the other's attire again, smiling softly as her eyes settled on the large pack he was carrying, with some difficulty as his shoulder was still-healing. She raised a brow slightly, curious as to what the Captain had planned, especially with that black security case he had clutched tightly in his right hand.

"So, what's everyone got planned, eh?" Vette asked, shifting giddily on her feet as the elevator climbed the levels, almost at a torturously slow pace for her liking. She looked at Jaesa with an eager smile, the two of them sharing a glance that sparked the mischief in their eyes. "Jaesa's promised to show me around the city and enjoy all it has to offer." The padawan shrugged.

"It's no Nar Shaddaa, but you can still get into plenty of trouble if you know where to look for it."

Tan'shae smiled, looking at the two girls warmly. She was glad that the two were becoming fast friends, almost like another sisterly bond, which she was fine with. Vette could use as much surrogate family as she could, especially since Tiiva had yet to find their mother.

"I'm pretty much doin' the same thing, gonna hang 'round the city and see what there is t'do. If I get bored, might go out to the wilds and hunt." Pierce said with a shrug, shifting his bag over his shoulder, clad in lighter, more casual armor. If there even was such a thing as casual armor, that is.

The three of them then looked to Tan'shae and Quinn, almost eager to hear what the two had planned. Tan'shae glanced at Quinn, seeing little reaction in his expression, and she shrugged.

"Like I said, I'm going camping. I haven't been properly camping since I was sixteen, and I'd very much like to spend a week in the wilds."

That just left Quinn, the ever-calculating Captain to reveal his plans to the group, and they all leaned in slightly, eager for him to share. But he remained stoic, unwavering in his silence. He glanced at the group, scanning them briefly, and Tan'shae was having a hard time reading him, even more so than usual. Why was he so hard to read? Finally, he let out a sigh, his icy eyes rolling slightly in irritation.

"If you must know, I'm heading towards House Thul. I plan on offering my services to them and assisting the Empire in any nonviolent way I can over the course of my 'break'." He said simply, coaxing a collective groan from Vette, Jaesa, and Pierce at the news of his desire to work. Tan'shae couldn't help but share in the sentiment. Couldn't the guy ever just drop the whole Imperial act and relax for a change?

As the elevator doors finally opened on the main level, Quinn was the first to exit, followed by Pierce, and then by Jaesa and Vette, who bolted past them all, hand-in-hand and giggling as they rushed for the doors to the city. Tan'shae stood in the elevator, brow furrowed as she watched Quinn make his way to the spaceport exit. Gathering herself, she jogged out of the elevator, catching up with the Captain as he walked at a brisk pace towards House Thul.

"Captain, wait!" she called out to him, cringing at how she used his formal title to address him. Still, she knew it was the best way to get the other's attention. Ever true to his regulatory nature, Quinn stopped dead in his tracks, his body clearly tense, though that could have been from the residual pain of his still-setting shoulder. Slowly, he turned to face his commander, his eyes still cold and unreadable.

"Yes, my Lord?"

She could've kicked him for saying that. He had some nerve to reply to her by her formal title, considering their conversation on the ship only a few hours prior. Still, Tan'shae pushed the thought from her mind, hitching her bag up on her shoulder more.

"Listen, I know that you'd prefer to serve, and dedicate every ounce of energy to the Empire… but really, Captain, you shouldn't spend this rare time off at House Thul. You should relax."

He simply shrugged, seemingly unphased by her words, and she cursed under her breath in Mando'a. Damnit, why was this man so stubborn?

"I appreciate the advice, my Lord, but I'd really rather work."

"Then why did you bring so much equipment with you?" Tan'shae asked, her brow raised in suspicion. She was met with yet another cold shrug. He was starting to make her blood boil with his moody, brooding attitude.

"I like to be prepared for anything I may have to face, my Lord." He said simply, turning from the Sith and he began to walk away again. Tan'shae sighed harshly, pinching the bridge of her nose before she rushed after him.

"Look, Malavai…" she said softly, placing a hand on his uninjured shoulder, and the Captain stopped in his tracks again, this time with an ever-so-slightly more relaxed posture. "Why don't you come camping with me, eh?" she said with a smile, trying to persuade the stoic Captain, golden eyes pleading with him softly. "I could use some company, and you could use some time away from everything. Logically, it'd be the best thing for the both of us. What do you say?" she asked with a hopeful smile, but the other remained cold. Finally, he shrugged his shoulder firmly, coaxing her hand off of him in and unusually rude gesture. Tan'shae could only blink, stunned and quite honestly surprised by the rude act.

"I appreciate the offer, my Lord, but I really would just rather use my spare time to work rather than play." he said curtly, clearly hoping for the Sith to leave him alone. Tan'shae stared at him in slight disbelief before she lowered her eyes, balling a fist tightly as Quinn strode away from her, as if he were trying to escape.

"Captain Quinn!" she called out in a stern, forceful voice, feeling her patience waning with him, and the other stopped, standing ramrod straight. The tone of her voice had apparently struck a nerve in him…

"Yes, my Lord?"

"I don't remember staying you were dismissed, Captain." She snipped at him, her irritation starting to show. Sure, she was somewhat used to Quinn's insistence on adhering to rules and regulations, but not only had he been over the top about it lately, but he was starting to become much more moody and just plain rude as well. Was he really so uptight about having a break for once?"

"No, I suppose you didn't" he replied, in the same, irritated tone that was so unusual coming from him. Was something bothering him? Tan'shae couldn't even tell. Usually she could read people like an unsecured datapad within a matter of minutes, but even after all the time they'd spent together in combat, she still couldn't get a good read on Malavai, which only served to frustrate her more.

"Captain, I am ordering you to come camping with me. If you keep working in your state, knowing the way you work, it is my educated opinion that you'll suffer complete physical and mental collapse, and I will not have my best officer compromised in such a way." She said sternly, hating to pull rank on him, but damnit if it didn't seem like it was the only way he would listen sometimes… She kept her face stern, golden eyes alight with intensity, brows drawn close in an angry look, the orange wedge tattoos on her chin and temples elongating, almost pointing to her angered expression. Quinn simply matched her intense gaze, his icy blue eyes looking up defiantly into her bright gold ones, unwavering and undeterred by the insistent Sith Lord.

"Do this, or else I'll be forced to strip you of rank for going against my orders."

That seemed to finally get through to the stubborn Captain, inhaling sharply as he looked back into Tan'shae's eyes with the same unmoving intensity as she was giving him. Silence fell between them for what seemed like an agonizingly long time, neither of them willing to budge and let the other win. Finally, one of them had to give in, and Quinn admitted defeat with a heavy sigh. His shoulders dropped a little, and he looked back up at her, his head shaking a little bit. Was he grinning?

"You aren't going to let this go, are you?"

Tan'shae couldn't help but let a smile break across her face, and she shook her head gingerly.

"Not one bit." She said, beaming, and she reached out gently grasping the Captain's forearm in a friendly gesture, though, perhaps too friendly for the Captain's liking, judging by how he tensed at the contact.

"Listen, Taris was rough on all of us, especially you and I, considering we nearly got buried alive." She could see him flinch slightly at the memory, and she couldn't blame him. Those minutes spent trying to open the vault door to General Minst's hiding place as the factory wailed and burst around them was less than comfortable, to say the least.

"My Lord, I just don't think-"

"That it would be appropriate?" She could see him blush slightly, shifting the bag on his back out of apparent nerves.

"Well… no, frankly, I don't think it would be, considering…" He trailed off, but Tan'shae knew what he was referring to. It was right before the vault doors to Minst's shelter had opened, and the threat of imminent death was very real for the both of them…

"If you have anything to say, now would be the time, Quinn."

"…."

"… Quinn?"

"My Lord, I… I've always thought that… what I mean is-"

"THIRTY SECONDS TO SELF-DESTRUCT"

"Just spit it out Quinn!"

"You're beautiful."

"..."

She'd been caught off-guard by the comment, to say the least. Stunned, actually. So much so that at the time that she never addressed it afterward, pushing the incident to the back of her mind, unable to form a response. Since then, things had been, well, a little sticky between her and the Captain. He'd always been a little awkward around her to begin with, but after that he seemed to shut in on himself even more, which couldn't have been healthy for him.

"Listen, Malavai." Tan'shae said in a soft, almost desperate voice. "Just… just forget about everything, alright? We're on a break. It's a rare chance for us to relax and refresh ourselves. We don't need to worry about anything that's happened, or our future assignments, or rank, or whatever. For the next week, we're just two friends, and we're going camping. Now, does that sound inappropriate?" she smiled softly, trying to break the other's rigid, militaristic exterior, and she could see his brows furrow slightly, almost as if he was puzzled as he analyzed what she'd just said. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.

"I… suppose not." he finally relented, closing his eyes for a minute as he cracked a small smile. Tan'shae beamed, nearly overwhelmed that she'd actually managed to convince him to come camping with her. She'd honestly thought that he'd be so stalwart in his desire to work that he'd shrug off any advance or plea short of an order she made. Granted, she had just ordered him, but it wasn't that which had swayed him, it was knowing that she wouldn't give up on him.

"That's the spirit." She said with a friendly smile, lightly punching Quinn in his good shoulder, as was the typical sign on affection in the Kyr'vel Clan. The Captain's eyes widened in slight shock, recoiling from the Sith slightly, not that Tan'shae could really blame him. He'd never seen her let loose like this, except when it was in the more destructive and homicidal sense.

"Come on then, the shuttle's this way." She cocked her head in the direction of the other end of the spaceport, walking towards their connecting shuttle as Quinn followed in tow. The pale Sith vowed to be as friendly and forthcoming to the Captain as she could over the course of the week. She didn't buy for a second that a rigid, steadfast patriot like him had planned on spending the week doing official Imperial business dressed like that and with so much extra gear. A week of camping seemed like the perfect way to get to the bottom of this little mystery. Maybe she could find out why the Captain had been so moody lately as well.

1. vod'ika - Little Brother/Little Sister (used as Little Sister in this instance)