Eye's closed and his mind skirting the edges of consciousness, Corso felt the warmth from the hand that rested on top of his and murmured, "Hey darlin', I was just dreaming of you.' His voice dry and rasping from the over-sterilized environment of the med center, which only emphasized his smooth Mantellian drawl. Gently squeezing Miriah's hand in his, he at once became aware of the thick palm, soft velvety fur that covered the knuckles, and was immediately struck with a fear.

Aric will never let me live this down.

Opening his eyes wide, he rolled his head in the direction of the person next to him and blinked several times, trying to adjust his eyes to the bright and sterile light of his room in the med-bay, struggling to focus on who sat there.

"Well, we graduated from 'cousin' fast," said Solasta with a light trill of laughter.

"I thought you were... what are you doing here? Where's Mir?" asked Corso as the rubbed his eyes with his free hand.

"Commander Miriah needed to take care of some things so I offered to stay with you for a bit," and pointing to a basket on the bedside table that had a grey cloth folded neatly over its contents, Solasta said, "I made you some Mantell Landmines. I had to substitute a few ingredients so the dough isn't the right texture but the flavour is pretty true to home. They've cooled now, but leave them wrapped in the cloth if you get someone to warm them; they'll stay moist that way."

Corso looked to the basket and a wide grin fixed over his mouth before he said, "Thanks, that's awfully kind of you. I hope you weren't too bored while I slept though."

"In truth, I needed someplace quiet where I could sit and think."

Corso's glance drifted down towards the medical bed settled on their lightly locked hands. Solasta canted her head sideways and said, "You looked so peaceful sleeping there and this seemed the right thing— you humans do this to comfort each other, correct?"

"Well sure, but how is that a question? You hold Gursan's hand all the time."

"It gives him pleasure to display our bonding as mates but Cathari don't do this to comfort each other. There is a closeness between my people that makes most races uncomfortable or is miss-interpreted as a romantic advance," said Solasta as she leaned forward to press her forehead to Corso's, and a slow staccato purr rose from her throat.

At the sound of Corso swallowing hard, she sat back on her chair and said, "See? Each of you live with some invisible boundary around yourselves."

"It's called personal space and... " Corso's thoughts drifted while he searched his mind for a moment before furrowing his brow and half-questioning asked, "...but I've never seen Aric act— "

Solasta's trill of laughter cut Corso off. "Aric Jorgan is quite my opposite I think. He was raised by a strong and respected clan and acts more human than Cathar, whereas I was raised by a human and zabrak, and have spent my life immersing myself in being more Cathar. Make no mistake, Aric Jorgan is much more Cathar than he lets others believe and I hope their children were exposed to it so they can appreciate the richness of a mixed heritage."

Corso nodded his understanding and said, "So, what was it you needed to think about?"

Sitting back and dropping her shoulders, the chair groaned as Solasta rested her weight against the chairback. "Before you met Miriah, did you ever think you leave Ord Mantell? Have a life away from that pitiful rock we called home?"

"The Sep's on Mantell took everyone I cared about away from me when I was young and like many kids I grew up living from day to day until a man named Skavak gave me a job working in his hangar. When Mir's ship landed and she walked down the ramp... well, she's just larger than life. When Skavak double-crossed her and took off with her ship, I jumped at the chance to join her in hunting him down and have never looked back. How about you?"

"I was raised in a retirement village by my adoptive parents during the years of peace before the Third Civil War, and most of the separatist activity was either threats over the local Holo News or small incidents of civil disobedience. None of it affected me directly until I was away at Military College and all those I loved were taken from me one day. I was already gone and loathe any reason to return there."

"Between the separatists and the crime syndicates, it's all too common a story for us Mantellians. We're definitely a couple of the lucky ones, Sol."

An unspoken silence passed between them for several minutes as both Corso and Solasta stared off at some unfocused point in the distance until Solasta asked, "Did you know what you wanted the future to be? Where did you see yourself? Was it here?"

Corso had several years living, working, and fighting alongside Aric to know some of his subtle gestures and expressions, so he didn't need to study Solasta's face for very long to recognize she was somehow troubled. I reckon her questions about our pasts have her worried about her decisions— do Cathar even go through a mid-life crisis? he briefly wondered before answering her.

"I dunno 'cuz, who can say where any of us are meant to end up— certainly, not me. What I do know from the years of traveling the galaxy and the time spent at home— here or on Dantooine— is that its those around you who make life worth the livin'. I waited for Miriah to come home for five years because I knew somehow she was still alive out there, and make no mistake I went to some very dark places in my mind and put my family through hell the entire time.

I've always known my life— my future, always meant to have Miriah in it no matter where she led us, and both our lives have been the better for it. Now, you have a husband who loves you completely and maybe you should concern yourself with how best your lives can be together, not so much where in the galaxy you think you should be."

Solasta grinned her appreciation and nodded as her eyes darted past Corso, through the doorway to where Magdalane had entered and started walking across the med center towards Corso's private room. Standing, she canted her head forward and said, "Get well Corso. Thanks for listening and giving me more to think on."

Solasta was about to turn and leave when she quickly leaned forward so only Corso could hear, "Your chart says that you're to go on a strict diet and I may have understated some of the ingredients, so don't let anyone scan the Landmines."

Waving her hand at the serving droid behind the counter for a fifth time, Solasta watched it pass her by without any acknowledgement as it glided to other end of the bar to get a drink order from someone else. The non-droid servers were all busy and ignored her as well. Making a sharp chuff sound to express her frustration, she turned around and bobbed her head to find Gursan through the crowded room. Hopefully he had better luck with the serving droids that roamed the hall, but they were equally busy trying to take orders at the booths and tables.

"I hear congratulations are in order, General" said a familiar voice from her blind-side.

"Pardon me? That hasn't been announced," quipped Solasta in astonishment as she spun around to the face Admiral Beywan Aygo, who had joined the lineup for drinks.

Raising his hand to join the sea of waiving appendages that were trying to flag down the serving droid that was fast approaching he said, "You've been promoted, so congratulations are in order."

Solasta watched in astonishment as the droid came to a dead stop in front of them, turned on the spot, and cheerfully asked, "How may I server you today, Admiral Aygo?"

"I'll have my usual— make it a double, and whatever the Colonel would like," he replied.

Solasta gave the droid her and Gursan's order before it turned and sped off rapidly to prepare their drinks. Looking back at the Admiral, she couldn't hide the perplexed expression on her face, and he chuckled. "To get prompt service, you need to remember to tip the droids. They don't need the credits, but the cantina owner sure likes them," and motioning towards the droid that just serve them with a quick nod, "he's made sure they know who tips and how well."

"I suppose that's good to know, but we don't frequent the cantina enough that it would matter," said Solasta as they both watched the droid glide back to them with three drinks on its serving tray. "In any case, I haven't accepted the Commander's offer yet."

"Well, I know your father would have been proud of you."

Solasta's eyes widened and dilated in surprise as she eagerly asked, "You knew my father? Were you friends?"

"We served together on the Rasasvada for a few years before she was lost. I was freshly promoted to Lieutenant on the bridge crew at that time."

"Were you with him when the Rasa' went down?"

It was Agyo's turn to be surprised as he raised an eyebrow and said, "I didn't know you studied naval engagements."

"Oh, I don't. As a kitling, my father made a game of having me formulate strategies from his archived reports."

Aygo scoffed and looked back the half-filled glass the droid had place in front of him. Staring into the honey-golden liquid he muttered, "I never would have thought the old man would make a child's game out of the Republic's most embarrassing defeat."

"It was a disappointing defeat, but there's nothing to be embarrassed about. The Empire had disabled the planetary shields and cannons before our fleet had even arrived. Nothing could have been done differently. I tried different strategies every day for a month trying find an alternate outcome, but it seems the Republic was fated to lose that battle."

Aygo continued to stare into his glass and muttered, "Still, that's disrespectful to everyone we lost that day but I guess it's not really a surprise."

"You didn't like my father?" Solasta asked solemnly.

"He was a hard man, even by Republic Navy standards, and wasn't liked by very many."

"So, he was hated? feared?"

Aygo looked up, fixed his gaze on Solasta, and a warm smile attempted to take root in his face before his usual stoic expression quickly weeded it out. "He was disciplined and respected. Unless you got yourself on the old man's bad side, you had nothing to fear."

"And you, Admiral?"

"I, on the other hand, owed him my life. If he hadn't dragged me into an escape pod and jettisoned us both once the call to abandon the Rasa was made, I would have died that day. When I regained consciousness planet-side, he had carried me to a Republic evac post before the Empire's ground forces could seal their victory."

"I had no idea, Admiral. He never spoke of..."

A hint of agitation crept into Aygo's voice, "Of course not, Colonel. It was a single act among a lifetime of service to the Republic— no less than he would have done for any of his men, although I'm not sure some of them would have done the same for him."

Aygo hesitated for a moment and the expression on his face became melancholy before he continued, "In my younger years, his compulsion for following regulations and orders to the letter seemed like blind obedience or a remorseless cruelty, but over the years I've come to appreciate his position and the responsibilities that come with it. Your stunt during battle the other night reminded me of a younger and much more agile me— someone who wasn't afraid of taking calculated risks. Anyhow, tonight is for celebrating so enough of this talk. Enjoy the party, and as I said, he would be proud of what you've accomplished— you're a decorated and respected soldier who's managed to keep your wits about you."

Solasta watched as Aygo turned walked away, disappearing into the crowd of people who were lined up behind him.

Carrying the drinks back to their table where Gursan sat listening to another Officer tell the story of his team's encounters during the invasion of Odessen, she sat next to him and whispered the word "yes" into his ear.

"Yes to what?" he said under his breath, knowing she could hear him clearly.

Leaning forward to whisper in his ear again, she said, "I'm going to take the promotion and Odessen is our home now."