The yellow eyes in front of her glowed with determination, but Nya just shrugged, holding her ground as Aric paced the warm-up mat.

"Don't think I'll go easy because you're my CO," he warned.

"Wouldn't dream of it," she retorted.

His mouth quirked at the challenging tone and he tilted his head side-to-side quickly, cracking his neck, before rolling his shoulders. She watched intently as he paced, shifting from side-to-side while paying attention to the ripples of his muscles, watching for tells. His shoulders tightened and she tensed expecting a strike, but it didn't come. What's he waiting for, she wondered. He was making her restless and she was almost ready to pounce, then she realized that was part of his strategy.

"Let's see whatcha got Jorgan," she goaded and his mouth quirked again. Then in an orange blur, he lunged.

She shot to one side but didn't have a chance to completely dodge his grasp and he managed to catch one of her arms. As soon as he did though she crouched down and the slim limb slid almost free of his grasp. His hand tightened on her wrist but she was already in motion.

She ducked between his legs, wedging her shoulder against his inner thigh, then lifted with all her might. He let out a surprised shout as he was suddenly raised up off of his feet, then thwumped flat on his back. Unfortunately for Nya he hadn't relinquished her wrist and she was pulled down too, landing on him

She felt the muscles under her bunch as he tried rolling over, but instead of jumping away she flattened herself to him and grabbed around his torso. With an arc of her back she used his own momentum to keep him rolling, then as soon as he cleared her body she scrabbled back out of his reach and to her feet.

He stood up as well and she was surprised to see him smiling. "Not bad," he admitted.

"You either, even if your tactics are a bit dated," she laughed, "Think you can still keep up?"

His eyes gleamed with humor as he shrugged, rolling his shoulders again. "I'm good."

This time there was no pacing, no warning as he dove straight at her. He caught her around the waist and she squawked as she was hoisted up over his shoulder. Relying on instinct, she swung her body to one side and wrapped her arms around the arm not holding her and yanked her legs from his grip. She flung herself away, landing lightly before springing backwards.

Aric spun fast, prowling after her again but this time she was the one who lunged, aiming down at his legs. She grabbed his ankle and rolled behind him, tucking herself in tight and bowling his legs out from under him. But this time he seemed to be wise to her moves, and twisted into a somersault that had him back on his feet in no time.

"That the best you've got?" he taunted, and she shook her head.

"Not on your life."

With a low snarl she lunged forward again, throwing her arms around his chest - or as much around him as she could reach - and darting her right leg between his. Hooking her heel behind his knee, she pulled as hard as she could. As soon as she felt the joint buckle she heaved her weight to one side, sending him thudding back onto the mat. She leaped on top of him, planting her hands on his shoulders to cement her pin, and basked in the shock on his face.

"You give yet?" she asked breathlessly and he gave her a resigned smile.

"Alright, you win."

Nya whooped in victory, sitting back on the conquered Cathar and grinning from ear-to-ear. "Told ya." She poked his chest lightly, "Admit it, you didn't think I could."

"Wasn't a question of your abilities. I just remember being better at this. Even set a few records at the Academy."

"Was that what those stone tablets in the gym were?" she teased. "Thought they were some ancient artifacts we'd recovered... hey!"

Arici's hands shot up and grabbed her wrists as he rolled over and before she knew it she was staring up into a smug grin. "Can't let your guard down," he scolded.

"Alright you got me," she conceded with a chuckle.

His eyes filled her vision, flashing with amusement, and Nya was hit with a sudden wave of nostalgic awareness that magnified each of her senses. Suddenly all she could focus on was the heat of Aric's weight pressed down on her, the puff of his breath so close to her mouth and scent of his body, warm and musky from their recent physical activity. His gaze darted to her mouth and she wondered if he'd been hit by the same surge that had hit her.

He swallowed hard as he laid stiff above her. "Uhh," he muttered, his eyes still lingering on her lips. "Umm, I should get..."

"Get up?" she offered and he nodded, but still didn't move.

"Sergeant Jorgan?"

They both glanced at the hold's doorway where Elara's voice had called out. She was peering curiously at the small Cathar on the floor and the larger one lying atop her, before professionalism tightened her features and she squared her shoulders. Her scrutiny had them both scrambling to stand, with Aric unnecessarily tucking in his tee and Nya brushing imaginary dust from her hands.

"What's going on Dorne?"

"There's a comm for the Sergeant from Ord Mantell, a General Vander."

Nya looked over at Aric who appeared as confused as she was and shrugged. "You sure he didn't need to speak to me?" she asked and Elara shook her head.

"No Sir, he was clear in his request."

"Guess I should check it out," Aric said, as he strode from the room.

Nya exchanged a sharp nod with Elara and headed back to her quarters and shut the door. She leaned on the cool metal for a moment, then threw herself on her bed, grabbing her pillow and covering her face with it to stifle her growl of frustration.

What the bloody hell?! One minute she and Aric would be getting along fine, then there'd be a touch, or look, and it'd trigger something in her gut that made her want to hold him close instead of pushing him away like she knew she should. Pulling her pillow tighter, she growled again. She was starting to feel like her life was some poorly written holo-novel and she was ready to shoot the author. Couldn't she have been a character in some action novel with lots of explosions? Like the ones she used to watch with Aric...

Ughn! She let out a groan of disgust, what was wrong with her? Her thoughts kept drifting back to him to the point of being distracting. Maybe having him around was a bad idea, maybe they'd both be happier if he was stationed somewhere else. Not like he'd really expressed any desire to be around her.

It took a few moments to realize the intercom was chiming, the tone only pulling her from her thoughts when it grew in urgency, and she finally pressed the button by her bed to answer it. "Yes Dorne?"

"Comm for you Sir?"

"Me? Is it Vander?"

"No Sir, this one's from Tython. Someone named Kirrin."

Relief rushed over Nya as she sprinted to her holo. "Patch him through," she called out and was rewarded with the image of a tall male Cathar. He had the same fiery mane and ice-blue eyes as her, and wore simple Jedi robes.

"How you doing Rancor-Bait?" he laughed and she grinned at her littermate.

"Still kickin' Bantha-Breath," she teased, before letting out a huge sigh. "Stars, it's good to see you Kirrin.

"You too Nya." He reached out a hand and she touched it with a finger, remembering the warmth of her brother's velvety fuzz. "Now, what's wrong?

His single raised eyebrow reminded her that he could read her emotions no matter how far the distance between them, but she still tried to stall.

"Same dung, different day," she replied lightly. "Rations still suck, never enough ammo or kolto. Least I got a proper ship now and not some piece of junk. How about you? They ever gonna let you wear real clothes, or are you stuck wearing jammies all the time?"

"These are real clothes," he chuckled. "And I choose to wear them, just as you choose to wear armor."

"'Least durasteel will protect my ass from blasters. Hey, level with me... do you ever swirl them dramatically?"

"Nya…"

She ignored the warning in his voice as she stood and pretended to hold a lightsaber. "Ooh, watch out Sith. I'm protected by the Force... and fashion.

Twirling around, she acted like she was fending off attackers, then gasped as she clasped her hands over her heart and plopped on her bed giggling. When she headed back to the terminal Kirrin was trying to look stern, but his mouth twitched with amusement.

"Are you done?" he asked.

"For now."

He clucked his tongue and shook his head. "Is that any way for the head of Havoc squad to be acting?"

"Oh, you heard about that?" she chuckled lightly, "Who's spreading the good word?"

"Mother."

With that one word Nya's mood deflated like a popped balloon and she sunk into the seat by the terminal. "So, she knows."

"Yes, she knows. And she wonders why she had to hear about your promotion from her aides instead of from you."

"Well, how do you talk to your mother when she outranks you?" Nya let out an exasperated groan. "I mean, do I call her Sir, Ma'am, or Lieutenant Colonel Mom?"

"Mother would suffice and you know it," he scolded. "But something else has you tied up in knots, care to share?"

Just as she opened her mouth there was a knock at her door. "Blaze, you free?"

Aric's deep voice rumbled through the metal and Kirrin's eyes widened. With another groan Nya covered her face with her hand. "On a comm Jorgan. Can I get back to you?"

"Sure, I'll be in the armory."

Still covering her face, Nya peeked through her fingers at her brother who was shaking his head. "Jorgan, huh? Any hope that it's just some poor soul blighted with that last name."

"Be easier if it was," she sighed.

"How did this happen? Did you request the biggest pain in the butt in the Republic Army and he showed up?"

"Don't you start," she warned. "This wasn't my idea, he was assigned to me."

"Assigned huh?" Kirrin tilted his head thoughtfully at her. "You know, other Masters might say something about the will of the Force."

"And don't you dare get all Jedi on me." She cut him off sharply. "I'm your sister, I deserve better you ass."

"I see having Aric around hasn't improved your mood," he said, then sighed sympathetically. "Hey, no one knows better than me what you went through. Hell, we all thought you would be life-mates."

"Well that didn't happen," she grumbled.

Without warning a soothing gush of energy enveloped her, so strong she could almost feel gentle fingers running through her mane, and she knew Kirrin was using their bond to comfort her. "Things happen for a reason Nya," he stated sagely. "Force influenced or otherwise. If anything now you have a chance for closure. You can truly bury the past and move forward."

The soft strokes to her psyche urged the tension from her muscles and she leaned against her terminal feeling ready to purr. "Were you always this smart, or is that something they taught you at that blasted Temple?"

"Someone had to get the brains in this family," he teased. "I got the brains, you got the brawn, and..."

"Ren got the looks," they said together wistfully. They shared a sigh and when he reached towards her she touched his holographic hand with her finger.

"Can Jedi really talk to ghosts?" she asked quietly and he shook his head.

"Doesn't work like that. But if it did I'd tell her we miss her." After a long peaceful silence he straightened his robes and smiled. "I'm gonna let you go. Do me a favor and comm Mother."

"So she'll leave you alone?" Nya chuckled and he clucked his tongue again. "Alright Bantha-Breath. Just try not to tempt more trouble than those pajamas can protect you against."

"You got it Rancor-Bait." He blew her a kiss and she did the same before he blinked out, then sat back in her seat. She was tempted to comm her mother, then remembered that Aric had asked to talk. Unable to decide which encounter seemed less daunting, she rose from her chair with a sigh and headed to the small armory.

Aric was checking over their inventory, something he did often, and she noticed he examined her favorite cannon - Big Mama - with extra scrutiny. She also noticed she was admiring his broad-shouldered form while he had his back turned and stifled another irritated groan. "You asked to talk?"

Her voice seemed to surprise him and he turned, looking uncomfortable. His shoulders went rigid as he rubbed the back of his neck. "So... General Vander contacted me. Said he'd talked it over with the brass and finagled a way to get me back on Ord Mantell. Offered me my old post, a promotion and command of their operations there." His eyes darted to the deck again before meeting hers. "Pretty sweet deal, overall."

Nya froze in shock, incensed that the General went behind her back and contacted one of her soldiers without the courtesy of a head's-up. Then it hit her, Aric was leaving. She would have thought she'd be relieved by the idea, instead it filled her with dread. But it was a great opportunity for him, no reason for him not to take it.

Closure, she told herself, it's probably supposed to be this way. At least this time she could tell him good-bye. "Sounds perfect for you. I'm sure you'll do great."

"So you want me to go"

He looked disappointed for a moment, leaving her unsure of what to say. "Well... I know this hasn't been ideal for you."

"Ideal's not what I enlisted for. I enlisted to protect the Republic. Havoc Squad is the Republic's most elite outfit. We tackle the missions no one else can handle." He rubbed the back of his neck again. "And I like being here."

"Ohh." She'd thought he'd leap at the opportunity, or at least the chance to be away from her. Him admitting he wanted to stay was something else entirely, something she enjoyed hearing.

"Then I hope you turned him down," she said." You're part of Havoc Squad now."

"Glad to hear it, because that's what I told him." He sounded relieved. "You think I'd go back to some backwater planet like Ord Mantell. Fact is, I've been hitting the Empire harder than ever since I joined Havoc Squad. "

"Glad you're finally warming up to your assignment," she teased.

"It's growing on me." He straightened and a half-smile curled his lips. "And you're doing good, better than I expected. You've definitely got the raw talent and confidence. Maybe you'll pull this off.

"That was a... compliment?" She raised an eyebrow at him and he shuffled from foot to foot.

"Of course it was, I mean, well, I..." He trailed off as his eyes darted everywhere but at her, then sighed. "Look, fighting and shooting, those things I'm good at. Words, not so much."

That sounded like the Aric she knew. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. Good to know you're watching my back."

"Glad to do it." He was starting to look more at ease as he walked to her and clasped her shoulder. "So you up for a rematch? Give me a chance to redeem myself?"

"Uh, sure," she replied. "That is, if you're that eager for me to kick your butt again."

"Actions speak louder than words, Hotshot," he chuckled as he headed back to the cargo hold, and she found herself silently agreeing with him.