Cillian stared deeply into the crackling campfire that lit the cave he and Grom called their shelter. They haven't been on the road long but the severe weather change in the desert warranted seeking shelter as temperatures dropped. They managed to find an empty cave to rest in until the temperature was bearable enough to warrant leaving.

"Am no' gonna ponder on it any mair, It's yer choice. But just don't be expectin' him tae welcome ye back wi' open arms." shrugged Grom as he rested his A280 across his lap.

Cillian sighed, as he cleaned his own DC-15. "I know, but I have to do this. I can't sit back and watch this keep happening hoping someone is gonna come by and do something."

"Aye, I agree. Somethin's gotta be done. It's just, I heard all o' 'at commotion when a came to get ye. Aphras wasnae a happy man. No' tae mention yer niece. Th'lass is surely no' takin' it lightly."

"Weren't you supposed to be here as backup only?" Cillian snapped back, causing the old clone to pause mid-sentence. Cillian immediately regretted the harshness in his tone but said nothing and returned to his weapon.

"Aye, apologies," Grom said. Cillian was clearly conflicted. While he had made a promise to his husband and family, Grom knew all too well that his sense of duty was stalwart and rarely gave way to all else.

Grom himself was an old clone. A first-generation. In a previous life, Grom was a soldier. He'd fought from the deserts of Geonosis to the sprawling manufactorums of Heldia. He commanded lines of artillery, listening to the thunder of artillery for his music batteries, and breathed the smell of carbon scoring for his air. But that was then. Now, Grom was just another old war vet trying to scratch out a living among the wastes.

"Sorry, it's just. Aphras, I promised him before we married that I'd leave this life behind. And for a while, I truly believed I had it in me…"

"A man often meets his fate tryna avoid it," Grom said. "Look, am no family man like ye. Up until recently yers truly wis a soldier. All I knew wis how tae blast droids. But a know 'at one's sense o' duty overpowers evry'hing else. Like ye said, ye cannae live wi' yersel if ye just stand by and watch as it all goes hackit."

"I knew I broke his heart. I could see it in his eyes." Cillian sniffled

12 hours earlier

Cillian sat at the kitchen table. His hands trembled as they clasped onto a cup of nopal juice. In the spare bedroom, he could hear Elena's wailing cries as Aphras tried to console her. Each one striking Cillian in the heart like a dagger. Across the table sat Grom. Cillian had sent him to investigate his brother's ranch. After almost a week, Grom had returned and delivered the grim news.

"Am sorry, Cil..." Said the clone.

"Where did you say you found 'em?" Cillian finally said. His voice was shaky and although he tried to contain his emotions, the lump in his throat betrayed him.

"Strung up in eh barn. Both Barak an' Varya." Grom confirmed. "Nae sign o' Meadow."

"So, she's out there…" Cillian said, his eyes not moving from the cup of juice in his hands.

"Cil…as much as I'd like tae believe yer niece is still alive...a reckon it ain't likely." Grom sighed. "Even if...who kens where she is?"

"So what do you suggest?" Cillian looked up at Grom.

Grom grimaced, seeing the pain in his old friend's eyes. The eyes of the man who stared down outlaws and rather than run went for his holster. "A dunno, report it tae the capital. I'm sure the-"

"That's a joke…" Cillian scoffed. "Even if they could, I doubt the madam governor would care much about a one blurrg town like this."

"So, whit ye think we shuid dae then?" Grom crossed his arms. "If'n ye don't wanna go tae Petra."

Cillian fished around in his pocket and tossed the badge Elena showed him onto the table.

Grom looked at the badge and his eyes widened and he began shaking his head. "Naw, way!"

"Why not? There's no sense of law around here or anywhere!" Cillian retorted. "I didn't want to believe it, but this whole planet is one step away from becoming entirely bandit country! There was a time when that badge meant something. A time when men and women stepped up to keep the peace!"

"And that time is over…"

Cillian and Grom turned to see Aphras in the doorway of the kitchen. His eyes were puffy and red but there were no tears. Instead, he stared daggers at the two men, his usual smile replaced by a bitter scowl.

"Cillian Ferrus Quinn, you get whatever idiotic thoughts that are in your head out this instant.'' The serpentine hiss in his voice made Grom's blood run cold. Aphras was always loving and kind. He'd patched Grom up more times than he could count and even gave him work whenever Grom was in need. But this matter seemed to strike a chord with Aphras. The anger in his eyes was as pure as the venom in his retractable fangs. "If you think I'll allow you to go off on such a foolish endeavor then you are sadly mistaken!"

Grom sheepishly got up from his chair and attempted to slip away. "A'll gi' ye two some room."

"You ssssit back down! You need to hear thiss too, Grom." Aphras snapped back.

"Aye sir," Grom sulked back into his chair.

"I'm sorry...but I have to do this," Cillian said. He couldn't meet his husband's gaze, but his intentions were nonetheless clear.

"You walk out that door...I'll never forgive you." Aphras' voice trembled. "You should be here with your niece...with me...not out there trying to relive your glory days."

"DAMMIT!" Cillian slammed his fist onto the table. "I can't sit idly by anymore! This wasn't the first and this won't be the last innocent harmed! And now it's personal!"

"I don't care how personal it isss!" Aphras hissed. "I cannot sssit idly by asss my hussband runs off into the desert to serve up some trail justiccce! Wondering if the next time I sssee you will be in a box!" Tears began to run down Aphras' cheeks. "I've been through that oncce, I won't do it again."

Cillian was silent. Meanwhile Grom felt Aphras' gaze shift over to him. He tried to speak but Aphras cut him off.

"And I expect better from you!" Aphras said. "After everything I've done to help you. You repay me by enabling sssuch madnesss!"

Grom spoke up, "woah-woah-woah, noo hold oan! Am no' enablin' nuthin'! Am just the messenger! A tried tae talk 'im outta it!"

Aphras' eyes narrowed, sending another chill down Grom's spine.

"But he's go' a point." Grom said sheepishly.

"So you're delusional as he is."

"A mean, times ur gettin' rougher by the day. A fought tae keep people safe. An' as much as a wanted a peaceful life a gotta agree. Sometimes ye need do the work yersel."

Aphras was furious, but he didn't exclaim a thing. Instead he nodded, whipping his tears. "Then I know better than to try and stop you two." he said softly. "But once you leave, neither of you are to cross my threshold again."

"Maybe he's right though. Maybe I am just out here chasing old memories of a time long gone. Maybe I should be home taking care of my family."

"Look lad, whit's fur ye'll no' go by ye." Grom patted Cillian on the back. "If yer here it means yer meant to be here an' me as well."

"There's no going back." Cillian nodded. "We're not to return."

Grom nodded as well. "Anywhoo, a bit short o' a full regiment ur we?"

"Right," Cillian said. "I got a few people in mind who might help us if they're still kickin' that is…"

(A/N: OOOOH things are getting spicy in the Quinn house! hope you enjoyed this chapter, still kinda feeling some things out but I'm happy with the direction I have plotted for RoR. Also another familiar albeit less known face from Krest has made an appearance. Some might remember Sergeant Grom from his short stint in Krest some might not. But I wanted to build his character more so I thought he should join the cast! All in all I hope you guys enjoyed and I should have another chapter coming out soon!)