Outbound from Mistral
Myrtenaster
Weiss leaned tiredly on the bridge holocommunications console, smiling wearily at the flickering figure there. Her helmet and gauntlets were back in the common area where the rest of her crew were. All that was left to do was to depart this accursed system for somewhere more familiar. Perhaps Nar Shaddaa, they seemed to end up there often enough.
Giving herself a shake as her mind had begun to wander, she offered the smirking woman a friendly nod. "Ret'urcye mhi, ner vod, bal vor entye."
Coco gave a hearty laugh in response. "Ret'urcye mhi, ner vod, bal ba'gedet'ye. That was one kandosii of a fight, let us know the next time you intend to invade an aruetii's planet, we'll be there."
The Echani glanced out the front viewport as the connection closed. With an elongated start, the Mandalorian cruiser next to hers entered hyperspace, likely en route to go beat up some pirates once more.
Noting carefully the proper coordinates for an uninhabited spot just outside the Empire, she pulled the levers down and sent their own ship back towards Republic space, the stars streaking past the viewport in long lines of white. And how odd is that, then, my finding haven in Republic-controlled territory?
Sighing humorously, the Echani turned and headed back towards where the others waited. The common area was conspicuously quiet, each crewmember cuddled up into pairs for comfort after a long day.
Weiss gave her partner a knowing grin where she sat on Jaune's lap in one of the large chairs. Both of her Mandalorian vode had their armor removed and were unabashedly down to their undergarments, not that anyone else seemed to care. Yang was sprawled out on one of the couches, her legs splayed out in front of her while Nora, also out of armor but in a tank top and exercise shorts, rested her head on the blonde's shoulder.
Passing the pair of droids, and for once giving them both a friendly nod, she tiredly plopped herself down into the space at the end of the couch her lovers had left for her. Ruby immediately shifted so that she could lean against her side, Blake adjusting as well to maintain contact.
"Troch, then," the platinum-haired Mandalorian began softly, drawing everyone's attention. "Nar Shaddaa work for everyone?"
Met with a chorus of assenting nods, she peered around the brunette to look at her Jedi girlfriend. "Cyar'ika, how is Ren?"
"He's resting in the bacta tank," the raven-haired woman returned softly. "It will keep his arm stabilized until we can get him to a medical facility."
"At least I'm not in there for a change," Jaune grunted without rancor. "Spent entirely too much time swimming in that foul osik."
"That may be true," Weiss interjected firmly. "But today you acted like a true Mando'ade, vod. In no way should you consider yourself a trainee any longer."
"Kandosii," he chuckled in return. "I'll stick around, though, if you don't mind."
"Troch, not like I'm going to let you get away," Pyrrha added smugly.
"What about Ren?" Ruby spoke up. "Can we, like, reattach his hand or something?"
"Not from a lightsaber wound," her Jedi lover answered regretfully.
"Oh. Well, shavit."
"Don't worry about it, sis," Yang broke in, her head still back and eyes closed. "I know a karking good cybernetics guy on Nar Shaddaa, we'll get 'im fixed up nice and proper."
"Mmm." Blake nodded her thanks before sitting up straighter. "Yang, we should talk."
"Yeah, figured this was coming…"
"Before we do, though…" The Cathar woman turned her gaze upon the small black astromech droid nearby. "Zwei, cold one."
Obediently, ZW-31 opened the top port in his chassis, and with a chuff, deployed a frosty bottle of Corellian Ale. While Blake used the Force to pluck it out of the air, Yang sprang out of her seat incredulously, all traces of exhaustion gone.
"What the…" Yang sputtered. "How the frizz did you even know about that?"
Blake just smiled back serenely and gave the blonde a wink. "Jedi," she reminded her.
The Corellian pilot sat back down, grumbling irritably. "No reason to hijack my kriffing droid… that was the last of my bottles, too…"
"I'll restock you at the next port," Blake promised over the chuckling from the others. She sobered after taking a long pull from the bottle in her hands. "So… This prophecy, from what Ruby has related, involved the daughter of a Silver-Eyed Warrior, who I presume to be Summer Rose, Ruby's mother… But how in the Force were you the one the prophecy referred to?"
The two siblings glanced at each other and simultaneously shrugged. "We're sisters," the diminutive brunette stated as if that explained everything.
"But… are you not half-sisters?" Weiss inquired, her brow furrowed in confusion. "You certainly do not look alike, nor do you have the same last name…"
"Oh, that," Yang chuckled. "Nah, both of our parents were Summer and Tai, I just took more after dad while Ruby took after mom."
Ruby nodded in agreement. "Mom never married dad, they kept their last names… So I got mom's since I was more like her, and Yang got dad's."
"Well, I suppose that makes sense…" Weiss frowned.
"In any case," Blake interjected smoothly. "I'd like to discuss your future."
"Uh-huh." The blonde cocked her head to the side, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "So, since I kinda got an idea what you're gonna say… Tell me this, first. Do I gotta wear robes?"
"Not if you do not desire to."
"What about staring at walls?"
"You mean meditation?"
"Yeah, that."
Blake nodded slightly with a smile. "Yes, that is typically a staple of training for a padawan."
"Right..." Yang gave a snort as she flopped back in the couch inelegantly. "So I don't get to be a Jedi right away, be all powerful and stuff?"
"No, Yang… I would take you on as a padawan, much as Ren is."
"Huh." Frowning slightly, the Corellian absent-mindedly rotated her artificial arm, wincing as the elbow caught slightly during the movement. "Do I get a lightsaber of my own?"
"One day, yes, when I feel you are ready."
"Alright, well… I guess I trust you, Blake, and at least you're not like a lotta other Jedi I've come across…" With a firm nod, Yang let her right arm fall into her lap as her left wrapped around Nora's shoulders again. "I guess I'll be your padawan, then."
"Aww, does that mean we've got to stop sleeping together?" Nora pouted.
"What? No!" Yang sat up once more, eyeing the grinning Cathar wildly. "Wait, that's not part of the deal, is it? I gotta abstain from sex as a padawan?"
"No, Yang, celibacy is not a requirement," Blake chuckled. "It would be a bit hypocritical of me to make such a rule, in any case."
"Now that we've settled that," Weiss broke in, leaning forward once more to look at the Cathar. "I would like to know something, cyar'ika."
"Mmm?"
"How the shab did you get to the chamber ahead of me?"
"Oh, you mean at the top of the tower?" Blake regarded her Echani girlfriend with a serene smile. "The Force works in mysterious ways."
"The Force… works..." Weiss blinked her eyes before scowling in suspicion. "You found the elevator," she stated with flat accusation.
Blake grinned as she lifted the bottle of ale to her lips, merely giving the Mandalorian a wink. Said Mandalorian proceeded to grumble under her breath before she was smothered in kisses by a suddenly enthusiastic brunette.
"Not allowed to be grumpy," Ruby chirped. "I forbid it."
"Fine, fine," Weiss sighed, unable to stop the smile from appearing.
"Oh! I got one for Blake!" Nora broke in excitedly, raising her hand and bouncing in her seat. Yang was quick to snag her around the waist to pull her back into the couch again. "How'd you know that Sith lady?"
"Oh, yeah!" Ruby added, bouncing a bit herself before her girlfriends, ensconced on either side, pulled her down much as Yang had done with Nora. "When you got there, you knew her name! Did you know Cinder from before?"
"Mmm…" The Cathar Jedi nodded slowly, her eyes partly lidded in memory. "Cinder Fall… was a padawan on Tython around the same time I was."
"She… was a Jetii?" Pyrrha asked curiously.
"Not quite, at some point she… lost her way, I believe. A fallen Jedi, one I also knew, by the name of Adam Taurus seduced her to the Dark Side…" Blake sighed. "I helped Master Ozpin defeat them, along with a number of other Dark Jedis, and brought them to justice. Obviously, she managed to escape and make her way to the Empire…"
"Where she became a Sith," Ruby whispered. "Wow."
"Was this Adam guy her master?" Yang asked.
The Cathar Jedi shrugged. "He might have been, I wasn't privy to their background. If you don't mind, though, I feel as if that would be a story for another time."
The room fell silent once more for the span of perhaps a full minute before Blake glanced around curiously. "Were there any more questions?"
When there were none forthcoming, the raven-haired woman nodded decisively before rising from the couch. She turned and grasped the hands of her lovers, pulling them up as well with a chorus of surprised yelps.
"We shall see everyone at the next meal," Blake announced over her shoulder as she dragged the other two women towards Weiss' bunk. Though Ruby was giggling the entire way, the Echani woman just rolled her eyes.
"Now, Weiss, go easy on your little Jetii," Pyrrha reminded her partner, eyes twinkling merrily. "She did just recover from her injuries."
"K'uur, you!" the other woman replied to the teasing, though she was already out of sight.
"You know what?" Jaune laughed. He sat up abruptly, cradling the surprised redhead in his arms. "That sounds like one kandosii idea."
Giggling, Pyrrha wrapped her arms around the blond's neck and rested her head on his shoulder. The pair were soon out of sight down the same hallway the other women had gone, entering the redhead's adjacent room.
Yang and Nora eyed each other uncertainly.
"I am far too tired for that shavit," Nora declared.
"Oh, thank the Force," Yang laughed wearily. "I just want to sleep for a week."
Laughing, the orange-haired trooper hauled herself to her feet and planted a warm kiss on the blonde's lips. "Look me up when you wake," Nora grinned before sauntering off towards the bunks.
Yang laughed once again, shaking her head before her gaze rested upon the patiently-waiting droids. "Right, then… how about I get you fixed up some more, huh, buddy? Gotta take care of you before I take care of myself, right? At least until we can get some parts at Nar Shaddaa..."
ZW-31 tweeted his enthusiastic endorsement of that idea. His creator pushed off of the couch to her feet, coming over to give his round dome a gentle pat.
"All the damage you took, and the fridge unit still works, huh?" Yang chuckled in amusement. "Well, at least we got our priorities straight…"
Wheeling around in a tight circle, P3-NY informed them that she would gladly watch over the ship while everyone rested. She would ensure no calamity would befall them while in hyperspace.
Though ZW-31 merely beeped in fond exasperation, Yang crouched down and gave her sister's droid a light thump on her head. "Hey, you did real good today with everything, girl. Ruby's lucky to have you."
After watching the other pair depart for the repair room, leaving her alone in the common area, the tiny tan-colored droid spun in place before heading towards the bridge, quietly whistling to herself with a decidedly pleased undertone.
Dramatis Personae (in order of appearance):
Yang Xiao Long - Human female from Corellia. Smuggler, talented pilot, and droid tinkerer.
ZW-31 - Yang's custom astromech droid.
Ruby Rose - Human female from Corellia. Smuggler, skilled mechanic, and gun nut.
P3-NY - Ruby's astromech droid.
Lady Salem - Rattataki female. Sith Lord and advisor to the Emperor.
Lady Cinder Fall - Human female. Sith Lord Inquisitor.
Darth Hazel - Sith Pureblood male. Sith Lord Warrior.
Darth Tyrian - Zabrak male. Sith Lord Inquisitor.
Emerald Sustrai - Twi'lek female. Sith Marauder.
Mercury Black - Human male. Sith Warrior.
Weiss Schnee - Echani female from Eshan. Mandalorian bounty hunter.
Pyrrha Nikos - Human female from Alderaan. Mandalorian bounty hunter.
Jaune Arc - Human male from Mandalore. Mandalorian bounty hunter trainee.
Hei "Junior" Xiong - Human male from Tatooine. Gangster and information broker.
Melanie Malachite - Devaronian female exiled from Devaron. Bodyguard and assassin.
Miltia Malachite - Devaronian female exiled from Devaron. Bodyguard and assassin.
Blake Belladonna - Half-Cathar female from Cathar. Jedi Master.
Lie Ren - Mirialan male from Makeb. Jedi Apprentice to Master Belladonna.
Master Ozpin - Human male from Coruscant. Jedi Master and Council Member.
Nora Valkyrie - Human female from Ord Mantell. Republic Commando.
Neptune Vasilias - Devaronian male from Nar Shaddaa. Migrant Merchants' Guild.
Sun Wukong - Zabrak male from Nar Shaddaa. Grifter, middle-man, thief.
Coco Adel - Human Female from Coruscant. Mandalorian bounty hunter.
Fox Alistair - Miraluka Male from Nar Shaddaa. Mandalorian bounty hunter.
Velvet Scarlatina - Mirialan Female from Nar Shaddaa. Mandalorian bounty hunter.
Yatsuhashi Daichi - Human Male from Balmorra. Mandalorian bounty hunter.
A/N: The end… or is it? Maybe you should wait until after the credits have rolled…
Originally I was going to post these in one-week intervals, but then I realized how difficult that would be with me starting the new job on Monday. Free time will be at a premium. And also, Crescent Sunrise is very persuasive, so make sure to thank them as well.
Stay shiny!