Conflicts

The next day Corran was fully recovered. He stood in front of the mirror onboard the Trader's Luck and shaved after he had decided that a beard wasn't looking good. After this he combed his long curly hair and braided it. Jaden knocked on the door before entering.
"Hey, Corran," he said seeing his future brother in law. "How are you doing?"
The Jedi turned with a smile. "Better than before, Jaden," he answered.
"You know that it was a close call? We thought that you won't make it."
Corran grinned widely. "As you see I'm still alive. It takes more than the First Order to kill a Rendar."
Jaden Katarn settled down on the cot. "Why haven't you been with your family? I mean they were wise enough to leave the base before the First Order fleet showed up at D'Qar. I would have left as well if I would have been there and not on mission."
The young Jedi gave him a stare which would have melted durasteel. "So you are also a coward who runs when your comrades need you the most? I've thought better of you, Jaden."
"It isn't about cowardice or bravery, Corran."
"What do you know? You weren't even there!"
"No, I wasn't there. But wouldn't it have been better to spread the forces instead of gather them so the enemy had an easy job of it? Think about it. When we picked you up on Crait we saw the corpses and the damaged vessels. There couldn't be much left of the Resistance. It's sad but true, Corran the Resistance is almost history and the First Order will rule the galaxy like the Empire did."
Corran glared at Jaden and clenched his fists. "I'll never give up! As long as I breathe I will fight them!"
"So will me," Jaden said. "But it might be that we will lose."
Tasherit heard the last remarks and looked at her brother and her fiancée who seemed to be in an argument. She had entered the freighter unnoticed by the two squabblers.
"You were just snatched from the jaws of death, Corran. If I would be you I would rest for a while, brother. We all want to fight them. But now we should go to Rimmer's Rest. They are waiting for us." She went over to Jaden and gave him a kiss. "Don't be angry with my brother he is through a lot, love."
The young Katarn stood up and looked at Tasherit. "I know, Tash. Let's go."

A few standard minutes later the three arrived at Rimmer's Rest and entered the public room. In a booth were Corran and Tasherit's parents and siblings sitting. All of them looked expectantly at the arrivals. Jaden was about to follow Tasherit to the booth when he saw a man sitting at the bar who's back was turned to the entrance. He knew this man well and felt with his rudimentary senses the man's presence in the Force. The young man hesitated.
Kyle Katarn knew very well who just entered Rimmer's Rest as he could feel his son's presence in the Force. He turned and waved him over. Jaden stared at his father. The Resistance pilot was still upset because of his argument with Corran Rendar. Nobody had called him a coward before. He was anything else than a coward and Corran knew this very well. So the remark of Tasherit's brother had hurt him even more. After this it might not be a good idea to meet his father here and now being in this mood. Their last encounter didn't go very well. It was filled with mutual recriminations and they parted disappointed in each other.
Tasherit followed her fiancée's gaze and recognized the resemblance of the older man with Jaden. "You should go to him," she said silently, squeezing his hand she was holding.
"It wouldn't do any good to meet my father, Tash," Jaden answered her. He was about to ignore his father and to go to those people who were for him his family.
Tasherit felt his inner conflict and gave him a push in Kyle's direction. "He is your father despite what's standing between you both. Give him a chance, love."
Jaden nodded and walked slowly over to his father.

Meanwhile Corran had reached the booth where his family was sitting. Dash smiled widely seeing his youngest son being sound and well. The young Rendar's elder brothers were looking at him.
"Good to have you back, kiddo," Dash Jr. finally said. Biggs grinned at his younger brother and pointed at the only unoccupied chair. "Nice you're here," he said and this was a lot from the usual non-talkative Rendar offspring. Corran sat down and ordered a Corellian ale when the waiter passed by.
"Yes, I'm back," he said after he took the first swig of the ale. "I haven't thought that I will drink this again to be honest." He leaned back on his chair and looked at his mother. "Thank you for your help, Mama. Without you I wouldn't sit here."
"It wasn't only me, Corran without Jaden and Tash you would be still on Crait."
She felt something odd in her son when she mentioned Jaden Katarn and raised an eye brow.
Tasherit took a chair from an adjacent table and sat down at Corran's side. She had heard her mother's remark.
"That's right, Mama but this didn't keep my brother from telling Jaden to be a coward."
Her brother frowned. "He told me that he would have gone with you, that he would have left his comrades behind like you did."
Nomi closed her eyes and took some calming breathes, before answering her son. But her husband was faster and sprang at what his youngest son just said. He glared at Corran:
"So we are cowards in your eyes? It would have been madness to stick together, to send the whole Resistance members in the same direction and to evacuate at the same time. You know what happened…"
Corran lowered his gaze and his answer was nearly inaudible. "They destroyed one ship after the other. Crait was our last stand. I don't know how many of us made it off planet and if they escaped."
"So you call us still cowards? You would be dead by now if we hadn't separated from the others, young man. Think twice before you accuse someone of cowardice. We will regroup and continue to fight when the time is ripe. Trust me, we don't let the First Order win," Dash Rendar said glowering at his son.
"Your father is right to separate was the only way to guarantee the survival of the Resistance, Corran. There wasn't enough time to explain you everything when we asked you if you come with us. I'm sorry for this…"
Their youngest son frowned. "No time to explain, uh?" He leaned over the table and gave his parents a faint smile. "Okay, no hard feelings. What is the plan now?"

While Corran reunited with his family Kyle Katarn looked at his son expectantly who approached him slowly. Tasherit followed Jaden, sat down at the other end of the bar and ordered a drink.
"Hello, father," Jaden said while sitting down on the barstool.
"Hello, Jaden. It's been a long time… too long, my son." Kyle waved the bartender over and ordered two drinks.
His son ignored the drink and looked at his father. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to meet you," Kyle answered his son and took a swig of his Corellian ale.
"You couldn't know that I will come here, father," Jaden retorted.
"Believe me, Jaden I knew," the older Katarn gave his son a smile which wasn't returned.
"If you had taught me how to use the gift I have I could do the same, father. This wasn't fair."
Jaden glared at his father.
Tasherit could feel the emotions of father and son in the Force.
"You know the reasons," Kyle answered.
"It was wrong and you know it, father. Others are also through a lot and taught their children how to use the Force." Jaden tapped impatiently the counter with his fingertips.
"You… can still learn," his father said looking in Tasherit's direction. "Your girlfriend or her mother can teach you."
Jaden mustered a short smile looking at Tash. "We are engaged, father and want to marry soon." Then he changed the subject before his father was able to say anything. "You could teach me as well. We need you father, the Resistance needs you. Join us and show me everything you know about the Force. Don't deny me what you gave others."
"The Resistance," Kyle frowned. "The Resistance is destroyed. It's over, Jaden."
"It isn't over yet. As long as there are people who want to be free, as long as we breathe and are ready to fight, the Resistance is still alive. You fought the Empire against all odds, you never gave up. I want the man back who you were during the Rebellion against the Empire, father."
"This man is long gone," the older Katarn answered taking another swig.
"He is still there father. I'm pretty sure of this. Come with us. We need you."
Kyle looked at his son and then at Tasherit who was still sitting at the bar. Then he sighed.
"I will think about everything, Jaden."
Jaden stood up. "That's all I ask of you thank you, father."
Then the young pilot walked over to Tasherit. "I think he will join us, Tash."
His fiancée nodded. "I hope so," Tasherit said and inclined her head to Kyle before she walked over to her family followed by Jaden.