Oricon

Arisa didn't know if she should say something. She wasn't used to being nice to people she knew only casually; she was usually rather blunt. But even without the Force, she could tell Ursulina was bothered. "Something wrong, Jedi?"

The Barsen'thor hesitated. "What do you know about me?"

"I...may have heard Xenli and Aayes talking. I'm sorry. I can't imagine having two utter pieces of shit as parents."

"Impolite, but I appreciate the sentiment. I know what I have to do, as a Jedi. I know what I must do for my order, and for the Republic. But that doesn't mean it will be easy."

Arisa rolled her helmet between her soft blue hands, scarred from many battles. "Us Mando'ade have a saying. Aliit ori'shya tal'din."

"'Family is more than blood', correct?"

"Mir'jetii. Means that your family is what you make it, not your genes. Know something, Jedi? Neither of my moms gave birth to me. I was dumped by a couple of Ascendancy shabuire on Dantooine."

"You don't care for the Chiss at all, do you?" inquired Ursulina.

"Nah. If I meet one, and we get along, great. The Ascendancy is just as bad as the Empire."

"Your Mand'alor disagrees."

"I know. After Torian...after my would-be father-in-law was punished, my living mother, Vheta, didn't speak to me for a month. I'm beginning to realize it was a mistake."

"Wouldn't he have become dar'manda if he wasn't already, though?"

"You know a lot about us, Jetii. He was already dar'manda, yes, but..." Arisa tried to rub off an old stain on the back of her helmet. "Do you know why I'm talking to you, and not the dar'jetii?"

"No."

"My other mother, Bev, was killed by a Sith. I don't trust them to this day."

"I'm terribly sorry." Ursulina was first inclined to lay a hand on the bounty hunter's shoulder, but she could sense her discomfort. "But if it helps at all, D'leah, Kira, Nadia and I all know they're not like other Sith." Before she could say any more, she felt an all too familiar chill in the air.

"Such a disrespectful, self loathing child!" sneered Brontes. "Trying to figure out how to destroy your mother? Taking lessons from a Mandalorian?"

"I don't want to destroy you, but I will do what I must to bring justice. And for the record, I think my...Lord Styrak tried to recruit mercenaries on Darvannis, did he not?"

"Silence! This will end soon." Brontes disappeared as quick as she had appeared.

Arisa put her helmet on. "It's show time, jetii."