A.N. ~ so, this chapter is at least a respectable length, and I left off on a cliffhanger yesterday, so I hope this makes up for it :) Now, let's see who's insane enough to startle Twitch.
Twitch spun her right arm like a clock hand, encompassing the person's arms in her elbow's quickly tightening crook. She then stampeded to his right, unbalancing her uninvited conversation partner until he fell back, out of the alleyway and into the view of a street light.
His hood shifted to reveal a pale bald head and dark brown eyes.
"Darys, wh-" Twitch released a quick breath of tension. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you." He grunted, getting up with a wince. "Your reflexes definitely haven't dulled."
"They'll dull when I'm dead. You're hurt?" She gently moved the Umbaran's chin to look at a sizeable burn scrape on his neck.
"Just a scratch. Look, there's an issue I need help with, and I didn't know who else to go to." The girl sighed, putting a hand on her hip.
"You're a long way from home, so I assume this is important."
"Very. Very, very important. The Separatists are setting up a base in my city. The mayor agreed to let them do it because he doesn't agree with the Republic. They had curfew, patrols so no one could leave the city, took over our communications…I barely got out of there in one piece!" Twitch noticed he was favoring his right leg.
"Okay, come with me."
"Didn't think you'd be bringing boys home anytime soon." Hazard teased while Tail tended to Darys' wounds. Twitch elbowed him in the stomach sharply, getting a pained yelp as payment for the joke.
Her arms had remained crossed ever since she had arrived with the Umbaran in tow, one of the only signs of her rising anxiety.
What's got your feathers so ruffled? Tail, not one to miss things like this, asked.
Umbara was hell the first time around, and it took two more trips for me to see the locals as anything but a hostile force. Now I actually don't want them to be in trouble, she mumbled. A slightly less impersonal though flitted through her mind, only lasting for a splintered second, but lingering too long for the scout to not notice.
Uh-huh. Aaand what about this particular local?
Twitch's mind betrayed her for a few unfortunate moments, replaying the incident during her third time on Umbara, when Darys had indulged in a kind of mating ritual to determine whether he wanted her as his mate or not.
Ohhh, I see, Tail said with a mischievous mental grin.
See what?! He did it without my permission. It was a completely one-sided relationship! Twitch protested.
I don't remember bringing up anything about relationships, he pointed out.
Just leave it alone, his sister ordered, looking down sharply. Unfortunately, this action occurred just as Darys tried to lock eyes with her, making the Umbaran look at the door with a crestfallen expression.
I see the feeling is mutual, Tail persisted.
Not listening to you, she snapped.
There you go again! Every time you have a relationship with anyone outside the GAR, you block me out or push me away! I don't even know where you go whenever we're here, or who you're with. It's like you don't trust me!
I do trust you, Tail, but there are some things you just have to accept that I don't want to share. Especially relationships that even I don't understand. She glared at her brother, getting a hard stare in reply.
"You two have got to be having a conversation." Hazard interrupted.
"Like I said; we're—"
"Telepaths, right. And I'm a test pilot, and Streak here is a platypus." The sniper cut off. His brother-by-choice swatted the back of his head.
"Are they always like this?" Darys asked quietly.
"Get used to it." Twitch sighed, sidestepping Streak and Hazard, who were locked in a wrestling match.
"That should do it. Heaven help me if you're anything like Twitch, but take it easy." Tail said, packing up his med kit.
"I will. Thank you." The Umbaran promised.
"Hmm. Well, now that that's taken care of, anyone care to explain?" The medic demanded.
Twitch stuck her foot out, angling it so that the roughhousing pair, who were already unbalanced, tripped and fell over.
"Yes. Apparently, the Separatists are building a base in Darys' city, and are putting a lot of effort into keeping it quiet. He came here, looking for help."
"Any idea what the base is for?" Streak queried, getting up with minimal dignity beside Hazard.
"No. We couldn't get near it. They had a perimeter around it using ray shields." Darys still had a somewhat upset expression on his face.
Twitch noticed how skinny he was, which brought more questions to mind.
"How long ago did this happen?" She murmured.
"Four weeks."
"I think we best be talking to a general about this." Tail decided.
Thankfully, Kit Fisto and his battalion, the 309th, were on Naboo at the time, and though Twitch didn't know any of his men, she trusted the Nautolan Jedi.
Having not heard from the young clone in quite a while, Fisto was happy to be able to speak with her, though he was confused about the request she had as to the location of where to meet.
They were in an alleyway in Jungo District, and waiting in that alley was a person wearing a black cloak with the hood, up, concealing their face.
"Twitch. It is nice seeing you again, but I'm not so sure about the scenery." Kit joked, drawing the figure's attention. Twitch dropped down from a roof, getting a curious look from the Jedi.
"Sorry about the location, sir, but I thought this matter should be kept quiet." Darys moved the hood of Twitch's cloak off his head, which set the Nautolan's arms into a cross that many parents had, usually when around misbehaving children.
In order to get Darys out of the Military District discretely, Twitch had him wear her cloak, while she slipped out through the vents.
"I'm listening."
"You were right to come, Darys. This is certainly an issue worth investigating." Fisto said, stroking his chin with one hand while the other held his elbow. A very Kenobi-like pose. "I will speak with the Council right away. For now, Twitch will show you around the Military District and get you something to eat." The girl saluted, then led Darys away.
She took back her cloak, stating he wouldn't be needing it now that he had a general's permission to be inside the Military District.
"You are still angry about the mating ritual I attempted." He stated as they walked.
"No! No, I'm not." She promised quickly, a slight blush covering her cheeks. "I'm sorry for how cold I've been. I'm just getting over our last mission."
"What happened?" She glanced at the Umbaran; no longer a confused boy who misunderstands other's standards, but a teenager already with a much deeper voice and less pudgy features with a few more inches to his height. Her face warmed up when she noticed he had also become better muscled, though she wasn't sure why.
"It was just a little unsettling. Some maniac and his weapon nearly got us killed. Nothing too out of the ordinary by now, seeing as Dooku's still leading the Seps." The older teenager snorted in amusement at that.
"Well, I'm glad you four are okay. Not shinies anymore, are they?" He asked, leaning down slightly, putting his face closer to her own.
"This is a bit different from my first squad. I was transferred. Tail and I are the only original members of Pyro Squad here, actually. I really don't know that much about Streak and Hazard's past." She flustered, hoping he wouldn't notice the tinge of color on her face.
Twitch, there's a kind of weird feeling coming from you, Tail noted.
I know. I don't know what it is. Just ignore it, she pleaded.
You sure you don't? His tone had changed a good deal, becoming more suggestive, with a higher lilt that leaned toward mockery of some sort.
No! She blocked him out after that, trying to ignore the tingling sensation in her stomach.
"Hmm, well, you seem to get along with them well enough."
"They can be di'kutla at times, I'm mostly referring to Hazard, but they're good men."
"Glad to hear. Are you still the sergeant?"
"In this squad, we're all equals. Nobody's really in charge except the higher-ups."
"I see. Well, it is a relief that you are alive." There was that tingly feeling again, distracting Twitch from where she was walking and making her wonder why she was being so easily distracted.
"The feeling is mutual. Anyways, I take it you want to eat something before I show you around?" Darys nodded.
The usual number of stares that Twitch generally received in the Mess Hall greatly increased, since she was trailing an Umbaran and wearing a black cloak.
"It's a good thing the 501st and 212th aren't on leave. You may have done nothing to them, but Krell and the First Battle of Umbara isn't going to be forgotten anytime soon." Twitch murmured as they ate, mostly thinking aloud.
"Almost three years hasn't dulled the sting?" Darys guessed.
"What Krell did was far worse than most of what's happened during the wars. Setting up brothers to kill each other? That's one of the worst things you can do to us." She replied, no longer hungry.
"I see."
"This isn't a dating center." A clone said, standing behind Darys. Twitch studied his face, instantly recognizing the sneer that always accompanied his jibes.
"And this isn't a high school, Ticks. You know that us being opposite genders has nothing to do with dating." Ticks smirked at her testy response.
"Still in one piece, huh, kid?" His tone had been condescending at best. By then, it was a playful rivalry between the two, but still a rivalry.
"One piece and still fighting. I'm surprised you're not dead yet, what with being too busy joking to dodge bolts." They grinned at each other, no more insulted and no less friendly.
"I don't need to dodge; the clankers can't shoot straight anyways."
"For once we're in agreement. Still with the 659th?"
"Yes, and you're with the 501st?"
"Well, no—"
"She's technically not in any battalion at the moment." Tail interrupted, having snuck up behind Ticks and wearing a glare that could stop a charging acklay in its tracks. Darys was still eating, more focused on filling his stomach than worrying about rude troopers.
"Um, r-right." Ticks mumbled, ducking his head before leaving.
"Aw, you scared him off!" Twitch complained as her brother sat to her right.
"He didn't seem too friendly."
"Just a thing. We never go a conversation without arguing. It's universal law." She replied dismissively.
"Right, right."
Well, how's the kid? The scout asked.
Older than I am, actually. Age aside, I don't think he's had much to eat lately. Probably got here illegally. Once again, she began remembering something from before she had met her close brother, when she was a rogue who jumped from planet to planet, stowing away on ships for transport.
Two of a kind, aren't you? The scout asked drily.
Not at all. He isn't a ninja and isn't even human, and we don't even get along that well, she protested.
Easy, short stuff, just a 'no' would've done it. He really gets under your skin, huh?
Does not!
Riigght.
Why do you like teasing me about this? I only knew him for a few karkin' days!
Because it's so easy. I can't remember the last time you've had such a hard time keeping a level head.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!
Mental laughter filled their link and it took Twitch all her self-control not to kick her brother, or even look at him.
You're shouting with no logical basis for it. Think about it.
I really need to punch you for this.
That's incentive enough to run. If it's really bugging you, I'll stop.
Thank you.
A.N. ~ well, now, that wasn't so bad, was it? Didn't leave off on much of a cliffhanger, huh?
Anyways, just something IMPORTANT. I'm considering a bit of pairing with Twitch and Darys later on, so let me know what you think and I'll go from there. I know how it feels when an author indulges in romance without his/her readers' consent, so give a yes or no and things will be written either one way or the other. If you are against pairing, SAY SO! If not, SAY THAT, TOO.
Their relationship, if you lot choose pairing, will mainly be more fluff and teenage romance than a serious adult relationship, but that doesn't make it invalid. Just keep in mind that Twitch is 15 and Darys is 16.
Okay, with that all said, Angel out.