Republic Fleet-Orbiting Coruscant
Zev grinned as he strode out of his quarters; tugging at the sleeves of his new uniform. He had just finished his briefing with Master Revan and the War Council and received a promotion to Captain due to his actions on Rhen Var. The insignia on his chest shown bright as he made his way to the elevator; saluting the guards as he stepped inside.
Leaning against the elevator's wall, he began to think back over the last few days. After destroying the ancient temple and returning to the Defiance, Zev was proud to say that he didn't have to think twice about what his duty truly was. He simply dropped the briefcase at Master Revan's feet once they arrived at the Fleet before turning on his heel and leaving alongside with Alex. His only words spoken during the exchange was simply not to let power go to their heads.
The doors hissed open a level before the hanger bay and Zev was surprised to see Kana make her way inside; leaning against the wall next to Zev. She wore her traditional robes instead of the officer's uniform like Zev's which surprised him since she had seemed to have taken a liking to them.
"So, I suppose congratulations are in order?" Kana said a devilish grin on her face.
"Ha, yeah looks like." Zev replied, reaching up to finger the insignia on his chest. "Master Revan gave them to me himself."
Laughing softly, Kana reached for slapping Zev on the arm. "Not the promotion, Captain, I'm talking about the pilot that you're thinking about."
Grinning despite himself, Zev reached up to rub the back of his head. "Ah, yeah…guess I still need to work on keeping my thoughts hidden huh?"
Kana grinned as the lift started again; lowering them into the bowels of the ship. Kana shifted uncomfortably, fiddling with her lightsaber and the Kath Hound tooth attached to it. "So have you managed to build another lightsaber, Zev?"
"Yes, Revan managed to find me the parts I needed and I finished late last night. It's…different than my last one." Zev reached down to his right boot, pulling his new lightsaber from a hidden sheath. Originally, Zev's lightsaber had been modeled after Master Kavar's; having a simple silver design, but now his hilt was constructed of Beskar or Mandalorian iron. Zev was astonished when Master Revan presented the materials to him along with a clear crystal which held no distinct color. The iron had been shaped by Zev using the Force and he had been amazed when it had contorted itself into a hilt that Zev had only dreamed of.
The iron itself was dark blue with silver streaks running up and down the hilt and unlike other lightsabers; it could only be activated using the Force. Yet, what shocked him the most was that carved into the bottom of the round hilt and along the base of where the blade of the saber would emerge was the symbol of Clan Ordo.
"It seems that you've finally embraced your origins, Zev. I hope this is only for show." Kana muttered as she ran a finger over the symbol before handing it back over to Zev.
"I am Mandalorian, Kana. Unless you forgot I told you that last night." Zev snapped; stepping out of the elevator as the doors opened to the hanger.
As normal it was bustling with engineers and pilots; most of whom were actually boarding shuttles for the planet. Most of the crew including Zev had been given leave to go planet-side and enjoy some R&R and he was excited because Alex had offered to take him with her on a tour of what she called 'local hotspots'. He was savvy enough to realize it was going to be a…interesting night.
"No Zev, I didn't. I admire that you have accepted your past, but I'm not sure carrying a symbol of the enemy is the smartest thing to do. Neither is getting involved with a pilot; it goes against our Code, Zev, for the Force's sake!" Kana exclaimed as she followed behind Zev as he walked toward the Streamline, barely dodging a squad of rowdy marines already beginning their celebrating.
"Don't talk about Alex like she's a problem, Kana." Zev grumbled as he dodged the same marines. "She is an excellent soldier and friend; she understands not having a home."
"Zev, you have a home. The Jedi Order."
Twisting around, Zev raised an accusing finger at Kana who stumbled backward at the sudden stop. "I have no home Kana; we turned our backs on the Order to fight for the Republic. Unless you have forgotten that as well. Master Kavar killed my father and I realize that I have a better life here than with the Mandalorians, but the simple fact is that he didn't have the right to keep that from me." With that Zev continued on his way to the ship; grinning when he saw Alex despite his anger at Kana. Yet, he didn't know why he was so angry with her; it wasn't her fault but Kavar's.
Shaking his head, he opened his arms to receive a welcoming embrace from Alex; her uniform replaced by a tight dark blue shirt that hugged her curves along with a pair of simple black pants which he had never seen on anyone before. In her arms was a Drelliad jacket which was a solid black.
"Wow, you look really nice..." Zev said taking a step back to admire how the clothes accented her figure.
Alex laughed softly, doing a little spin as she began to laugh harder. "Well, I don't get to dress up very often so I like it nice and simple. Oh! General!"
Alex immediately snapped to attention in Kana's presence; not saluting due to her lack of uniform.
"At ease, Lieutenant. I understand you have become good friends with Captain Aban recently, yes?" Kana said, folding her arms into the sleeves of her robes. She continued before Alex could speak. "I would be very careful with how you conduct yourself with superiors in the future…hugs may show favoritism."
"Yes ma'am, of course. I didn't realize Ze-Commander Aban had been promoted and I-
"Relax, Lt. I'm not going to report you; just be careful for both of your sakes. Zev, when you return I'd like to see you in the briefing room; Master Revan and Malak have called the Jedi together once leave is finished." With a final nod to Alex; Kana turned on her heel and left the surprised faces of the Zev and Alex; barely able to contain her laughter until she was a safe distance.
"Well, now that that's over; you need to change." Alex said, pointing a finger at Zev's uniform; resulting in Zev looking down at himself in disbelief.
"Change into what? My skivvies?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I feel ridiculous…" Zev muttered as he walked out of the dressing room of the clothing store on Coruscant in his new clothes. They had come in over an hour ago and the Twilek storekeeper had been conspiring with Alex the entire time; making him try several different shirts, pants, and even a bright pink suit that was sure to 'impress' the ladies as the female Twilek winked.
"Ah, I think it actually makes you look kinda…rugged. Especially with the longer hair and scruff." Alex said with a grin as she turned to the Twilek. "What do you think?"
Her pair of blue lekku slowly wiggled as she examined Zev; a long fingernail tapping her chin softly. She circled Zev like a bird of prey; looking at all the angles.
Zev felt like thousands of people were staring at him instead of just the two women. He shifted to the right as the storekeeper ran a hand down his arm; his cheeks burning. What he didn't see was Alex rolling her eyes as she began to tap her foot impatiently.
"Well, honestly, I think he looks dashing in the jacket and the red shirt just makes him seem more mysterious." The storekeeper finally stopped circling; standing beside Alex again. "Now, the pants just make the whole rogue look complete; especially if he wears a blaster. You'd never be able to tell he was a soldier. Now then, would you like to purchase a holster?"
"No, thanks. But we will take the clothes."
"We will?" Zev asked, eyebrow rising in question. He didn't even know how much the clothes cost and suddenly he was being pulled to the check-out with Alex grinning broadly.
"Yes, because the jacket looks sexy on you and we can't get into any fun clubs with you in your officer's uniform. We're lucky she was still open." Alex explained; handing her credit chit to the storekeeper, turning to talk to her about clubs in the area.
He barely heard the exchange has he ran his hands up and down the arms of his new jacket. It was definitely different from the robes he grew up wearing; individuality wasn't something highlighted on in the Jedi Order. The jacket was comfortable, he admitted, and it still allowed free range of motion. And on another note, it would finally allow Zev to blend in with the crowd.
Allowing himself to be dragged outside by Alex; he gazed all around in wonder at the buildings and masses upon masses of people and aliens; some he had never seen before. On Dantooine, the only aliens he saw and knew were fellow Jedi and they didn't really stick around for long before being sent off on missions because most were from off-world enclaves. Lights from shops, restaurants, and clubs lit up the night as the people of the city-planet came to life.
"So, women really go for this rogue style then?" Zev asked as they walked down the busy street towards the club the storekeeper told them about.
"Hmm, some women; there are a lot in the galaxy ya 'know. But…you don't need to worry about them; I'll protect you." Alex laughed softly as she rose on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Come on, I'm feeling the urge to dance!"
And like that they were off; rushing through the crowds like Mandalore himself was chasing them. Alex gasped when she barely avoided a large wookie coming out of an alleyway and then laughed as Zev leapt over it, the giant hairball roaring in annoyance as they sprinted away.
Reaching the club; named the Blue Light due to the usage of blue lights all across the entrance and spilling from inside. Alex groaned at the sight of the line wrapping around the sidewalk; the bouncer not allowing anyone inside despite a large human male yelling in his face.
"Come on, you stupid bastard, let us in! We wanna party!" The man shouted; gesturing to a group of mixed humans and aliens, all very rough looking ad angry at the current situation.
"Club's too full, wait your bloody turn." The bouncer muttered as he shoved the other man backward.
"Do you know who I am? I'm a member of the damn Talons; so you'll show me some respect!" The Talon barked as spittle flew from his lips. The bouncer barely noticed, but in a huff of annoyance, he turned to the side allowing the group inside.
"Damn Talons…" The bouncer muttered as Zev and Alex approached the entrance; only for a large hand to be held up.
"Wait in line like everyone else, meat."
"You will let us in." Zev whispered gently, waving his hand in front of himself. The bouncer's sneer turned into the blankest stare any have seen; saying nothing as he once again stepped to the side and ushered them in.
"Nice job, silver-tongue." Alex slipped her arm around Zev's; intertwining them as they walked down the stairs. They didn't even notice the loud smack of fist into flesh as a rodian attempted to enter using the same method.
The club pulsed with life and the beat of the music sent doses of adrenaline into his veins. He didn't know why but he believed he could get used to this type of life. He sighed allowing the bass to seep into his bones as he stretched his back and turned to Alex who had the same look on her face as his.
"We're gonna have fun tonight!" Alex shouted above the music; leading Zev through the crowd of people and past the dance floor. Zev was astonished to see members of every species he knew writhing to the music like it was a part of them.
"I thought you wanted to dance?" Zev didn't understand why they passed the dance floor heading towards the bar instead.
"Two shots, Corellian whiskey." Alex held up two fingers at the bartender who quickly nodded and flipped a bottle and two glasses between his hands; nimbly tossing the glasses in the air as he uncorked the bottle and catching them without looking.
Taking the shot glass in his hand, Zev looked at the brown liquid in curiosity before joining Alex in throwing the whiskey back; gasping at the sudden burn in his throat.
"Gah, this is what I've been missing? Don't think I was meant to be a drinker." Zev laughed as he wiped his mouth with his jacket.
"Yeah, same here, but it helps loosen us up. Let's dance!"
Again, Alex led Zev onto the dance floor; shaking her hips to the music. Raising her hands above her head, she closed the distance between her and Zev; taking his hands and hers and placing them on her waist. Zev began to feel sweat trickle down the nape of his neck and down his back as he slowly allowed himself to unwind and dance. Taking her hands in his, he felt an instinct to suddenly twist his hand quickly; resulting in Alex spinning in a circle and her hair flying wildly.
"I thought you couldn't dance?" Alex shouted above the music; spinning around Zev with a flourish of her hands.
"Instinct." Zev simply said; pulling her close again and dipping her backwards. A small crowd formed around them as they continued to dance; the music turning from beating wildly into a softer, slower type of beat. Others began to mimic their movements as Zev felt a presence take over him; leading him in the dance movements. Twice to the right and then once to the left; periodically he spun or dipped Alex, who was grinning and enjoying every moment.
Finally, the song ended and the beat picked back up as Zev led Alex off the dance floor towards a table in the back; being watched by the same Talon who forced his way in.
"Alex, I don't know how, but that was Mandalorian. That was something I remembered from a child!" Zev grinned, his teeth glowing lightly from the blue lights.
"Serious? That was amazing, I never felt so dizzy except when I'm in the cockpit. Can we-
Alex was cut off by the Talon who jerked her back and into his arms. "Well, lookie here boys; Republic's got some dance moves. Next time you come into Talon turf; lose the holotags. Wonder what else she can do?"
Alex struggled in the Talon's arms; his lackeys laughing loudly as they drunk from their glasses. She tossed her head backward into the man's nose while stomping down hard on his foot. Shouting in pain, the man released her; clutching at his bleeding nose while limping backward.
"Bitch, you broke my nose!" He yelled soundly so odd that Zev couldn't help but grin. He held his hand over the broken nose like it would somehow fix it and stem the flow of blood. "Don't just stand there get them!"
The four Talons quickly acted; leaping forward together as Zev pulled Alex back, taking a fist to the chin in the process. Lashing out with his foot, he returned the punch with a bone-shattering blow to the ribs; grimacing as he felt the man's ribs give way. Twisting out of the way of another wild punch, he sent the man sprawling with an open-palmed strike to the solar plexus.
Behind him, Alex leapt up in the air; her boot catching the lone Twilek Talon in the lekku; causing him to cower in pain and cradle his sensitive limbs before she sent a right hook to his temple; knocking him out. Catching a blow to the stomach, he quickly expelled all the air from her lungs to lessen the blow but not by much; sending her to her knees. Standing above her was the Nose; who grinned as he pulled a hooked vibroknife from a hidden sheath.
"I'm gonna make you squeal, Republic." Nose sneered as he reared his blade back only for Zev to grip him at the wrist; snapping the bone into several pieces. Alex laughed as he began to squeal due to his injuries; adding a solid drop-kick to silence him.
"You really wanna mess with us?" Zev asked the last Talon; a rodian whose already large eyes became bigger than the planet.
"No, me not like them. Death Sticks make friends crazy. Me go now." The rodian stumbled away, muttering in broken Basic as he fled the scene.
Already a crowd had formed around the unconscious bodies and the couple. A few nods of respect and claps became a loud uproar as everyone congratulated them on putting down the Talons.
"Ya 'know?" Zev turned to Alex, a huge grin on his face. "We should go dancing more often."
Man, been awhile since I updated, sorry laser surgery makes writing difficult. I hope y'all enjoyed this little filler and for all those wondering the dance they did was actually a country two-step. Thought it would be fun to add a little bit of fun into the chapter. It's by no means actually Star Wars canon; just having fun.
Alright, so review; ya' know you want to…