Three days stuck with a Trandoshan in the cabin of a hovertruck was almost more than any of them could take. Mrssk was a rather congenial and hygienic fellow, by the standards of his people, but that was the standards of his people. It also didn't help that they were living in their suits, unable to move, stretch, or leave the vehicle. The nearest sign of humanity was a small mine a day's ride away.

The only plus side for them was that Sweldan ran on a twenty hour day cycle, which shaved about twelve hours off their expected trip. Something they were all grateful for. It was almost a relief to put his helmet on as they arrived and stop breathing the feted, recycled air for the slightly stale air his armor had kept reserved. His suit would last for twenty four hours, after that, he would need to connect to one of the air units they'd brought and swap out old air for slightly fresher.

"Okay, everyone," Professor Barriss Kaarz ordered over the commlink, "I know we're all tired, filthy, and pissed off, but the easy part is over. Let's the the equipment out, starting with the biovac equipment so we can empty our suits. While that's going on, I want the droids surveying the area for a good location to build."

"Will you look at the size of that thing," one of the engineering students said with awe.

Skira turned and followed the lights that were rapidly pointing in the same direction. Less than a hundred meters away, the stone edifice of the temple pyramid rose out of the darkness towards the roof of the massive cave they found themselves in. There was little sign of wear to it, at least that his HUD could pick up. One of the benefits of living in a near vacuum on a planet where all the rare water was buried deep below the surface. So rare they'd been forced to bring their own, which was going to be heavily recycled as the expedition went on.

"We'll have time to gawk later, people," Kaarz snapped. "Right now, we're in a survival situation. Move, clock is ticking and the longer you wait, the faster some of us might die."

Everyone, including the Mando'ad, pitched in to unload the transports. Fourteen metric tons was nothing in the amount they had brought, but it was still a massive amount to move largely by hand. Droids went up, then the fresher/biovac recycling units as the droids began to wander around, scanning the area for the flattest area and most stable ceiling. Meld'an insisted on emptying his suit first, then proceeded to start passive aggressively bitching.

Skira muted the man's comm signal on his HUD.

Professional? No. But otherwise he was going to shoot the man, and that was even more unprofessional.

The droids found an area twenty-five meters from the entrance of the temple they deemed acceptable, and the Mando'ad fell back to let the student's work. In addition to the archaeological team, the GU had sent a small team of engineering students to learn and test colonial engineering. There was even a small contingent of agricultural students, there to help supply them with extra food, as well as natural oxygen recycling rather than relying on scrubbers. Add in two geologists and several doctors, each team with their associated droids, and Skira couldn't say they didn't have their bases covered.

It was just the rest of the game was a shitshow.

"Impressive," Raana said, watching the eight members of the engineering team swarm like ants to start putting up the first structures. Behind them, the convoy was fading into the darkness, Mrssk with them, his truck left behind very, very reluctantly. "At least these guys know what they're doing."

"Hopefully they do," Skira said, relaxing as best he could while both Ryn and Raana leaned against him one on each side. "This is gonna be a real shit trip if they don't."

"It's already a shit trip," Ryn pouted, hugging herself. "There's barely a comm signal down this way. I won't be able to watch any holodramas."

"Those things rot your brain," Skira said. Ryn just pouted harder.

"At least we have a semi-defensible position," Raana said, changing the subject.

"One way in, one way out," Skira said. "Hardly ideal."

"Haatyc or'arue jate'shya ori'sol aru'ike nuhaatyc," Raana said.

Skira grunted. The Togruta had a point. They were already at half strength, they didn't need to further split their focus fighting if it came to it.

"So, when do you think we'll get hit," he asked.

"This was the most important stuff for us," Raana said thoughtfully. He wished he could see her face. "However, for a bunch of poor miners? The shit they can move fast and sell faster to some smuggler or pirate, or stuff they can use themselves."

"Medicine, food, the computers." Skira mused.

"My guess is Ordo figures the same." Raana said. "He'll bring as much of that in on the next shipment, give them the least amount of time to prepare. Mrssk is our best close range fighter, which works in the tunnels, especially with his guns and strength. Add in the bikes, and the two of them should be able to make it through with most of the cargo intact."

"Wouldn't that leave Miss Shada with most of our stuff?" Ryn asked, "that seems kind of risky."

"It is," Skira admitted. "I'm starting to see why Ordo was so eager to get me to join up. I'm starting to wish there was more of us."

"It depends on which way local law enforcement swings," Raana said. "If they've bribed the Governor enough, the amount that gets taken should be minimal. If he gets a better offer, well the area is known for piracy and cave ins. Tragedies happen all the time."

Six hours later, the airlock, central hexagonal hub, two of the barracks, the mess hall, and a refresher station were up. The central hexegon was around twenty feet long on each side, while every other building was a prefab shell around twenty feet long by eight feet wide and eight feet tall. The barracks could fit twelve people each via pairs of bunks that hung from the ceiling via chains along the walls. Each refresher consisted of eight bio-vac stations, and a communal sonic shower. The mess consisted of a double trailer, one for everyone to eat in, the other for cooking and food storage.

The floor plan of the base consisted of the central hexigon, with the side facing the temple connected to the air-lock that would let them in and out. From there, clockwise the 'wings' spread out starting with the archaeological team's two labs, two storage rooms, and then their barracks in the north east. South east was the agricultural teams four labs, storage room, and their barracks. South, opposite the entrance, was the mess hall, refresher stations, and the food and water storage. South west was the geological lab, mechanic shop, barracks for the engineers and geologists, and their storage, with the final north west wing being the two med labs, barracks for the medics and Mando'ad, and medical storage.

Ordo considered it a tactical nightmare, since everything was connected by flexible airlock tubing. It meant a single rupture could paralyze an entire wing of the station, but there wasn't much they could do about it.

Professor Kaarz double checked all the seals before letting them inside the base, but once satisfied everyone piled in and started unloading their gear into their respective barracks while the four engineering droids continued to build more of the trailers outside. The green skinned woman was modestly attractive, though well into her middle ages, and she ran a pleasingly tight ship, Skira noted.

She walked over to them as Ryn popped her helmet off and shook out her lekku with a sigh of relief.

"I'm sure you people are as eager to use the refreshers and get clean as we are," Kaarz said. "So how do you want to play this."

Skira paused to think. Biases included, there were two vitally important teams on the expedition. Without the Mando'ad, everyone was likely to be pirate bait. Without the engineers, everyone was basically space bait. The other teams, outside the medics when they got there, could go screw themselves. He had no desire to be space bait, and nodded at Raana.

"Let the kids go first," Raana said. "No sense having children walk around in shitty diapers. We're used to roughing it, a few more hours won't matter."

Kaarz pursed her lips, but nodded. She spun sharply on her heals and marched back over to the engineering students, most of whom didn't look that much younger than themselves.

"Okay people, we get the 'fresher first. You have fifteen minutes, don't waste 'em!" the Professor barked, sending her people scurrying down the flexible hallway.

"Ex-military," Raana said. "At least someone has some sense."

"Depends on why they're ex," Skira said. "Let's get our kit shifted."

Their barracks was the first one right by the airlock and across from the medbay. Least chance of getting sealed out, fastest to the airlock. Ordo had insisted, something Skira was grateful for. Knowing Meld'an, they'd have been shoved into a back corner and out of his precious sight. As it was, the Arkanian was furious at having to wait his turn to have his turn on the refresher or a barracks. The fact he was getting his own private room off one of the med-labs, and he was having to wait on that too, did not help his temper.

The engineers had finished by the time they got their kit unpacked and stowed, but found the refresher locked by Meld'an. Kaarz gave them an apologetic look.

"Sorry," she said, "I couldn't stop him. Asshole."

"Ori'buyce, kih'kovid," Raana spat.

Kaarz looked confused.

"All helmet, no head," Ryn said shyly, lekku twitching. "It means someone who thinks they're more important than they are."

Raana's body language spoke of surprise as she stared at the Twi'lek. Kaarz looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded.

"Frankly, I regret bringing my students out here," the professor said. "He's been nothing but an arrogant, overbearing ass."

"So why did you?" Skira asked.

"You know rare it is to find a fully funded expedition that will give students hands on experience building the equivalent of a space station or colony is?" Kaarz asked. They shook their heads. "Rare, believe me."

"Well, we can always space him." Skira said. Raana jabbed him with her elbow.

"Don't tempt me," Kaarz said. The older woman let out a sigh. "Alright, I need to make sure these brats haven't screwed up our barracks, then I'm going to get as much sleep as I can. We've got a busy week ahead of us."

"Rest well," Raana said.

They waited till she was out of sight, then leaned against the wall leading to the refresher.

"So, what's our game plan?" Raana asked.

"You've got seniority," Skira said. She jabbed him again. He sighed.

"Well, there's two of us," he said. "We're on twenty hour days. No way we can pull ten hour watches. Could break it up into alternating fives."

"Could just set up some sensors at the cave entrance and have done." Raana said. He knew she wasn't being serious.

"If we had a better secured base, sure." Skira grumbled. "But we're defending a cobweb here. By the time the alarm goes off, they could be shredding us."

"True," the Togruta grumbled. "And here I was, looking forwards to getting to spend some time relaxing with you not in a cell."

Skira knocked his helmet against hers, but didn't say anything. He wasn't sure what the right thing to say would be anyways. Besides, actions were more important than words.

Meld'an swept past them half an hour later and ignored them. Ryn stuck out her tongue at the man as soon as his back was turned. Skira thought about chastising her, but decided not too. The delicate Twi'lek deserved a little leeway.

The refresher was set up much like one servicing a gym, though there were no lockers, with the biovac units up front and the sonic showers in the back. All of them would have preferred actual water, but as much as they had been looking forwards to, that was going to have to wait until the engineers could see about drilling down, finding some, and setting up a processing plant. Right now that was a very low priority.

Ryn and Raana stripped down, and as much as he liked both women, he had to admit they certainly needed a shower. Not that he was any better, and he knew it.

"You going to join us?" Raana asked, leaning against the barrier that separated the showers from the rest of room. It was about a meter tall, with a quarter meter gap between it and the floor. While it did preserve her modesty, it did little to hide her cleavage as she pressed against it. Glancing past her, he could see Ryn wriggling in anticipation of getting clean.

"Someone should stand guard." Skira said. The words felt hollow in his mouth.

Raana gave him a look.

"Strip and get in here, now, Adenn," she said firmly. "That's an order."

"Don't let your helmet get to your head," Skira said. The Togruta smirked at him and stepped back, letting him get a full view of her nude form. He let out a sigh, slung the strap of his DC-17m over the edge of the barrier, and started stripping out of his armor.

He was done just as Ryn hit the button to start her shower and watched as Raana suddenly swayed and lost her balance. Dashing over, he caught the Togruta before she could hit the ground and helped her stand up again.

"What's wrong?" he asked, bracing her.

She grimaced, embarrassed, but didn't pull away.

"Sonic showers work by using ultra sonic waves," she said. One hand came up to touch her horns. "My montrals let me use ultra sonic waves to basically map my environment for me, kind of like a second sight."

Skira grasped the implication instantly. She basically had to be deaf, blinded, and with no sense of balance as everything was lost in white noise all around her acting almost like a permanent flashbang. He'd had a few times where explosions had knocked out his hearing and it had been utterly disorienting, leaving him lost and dizzy. It had to be a hundred times worse for her.

"Okay," he said.

"I have a sani-steam on my ship that I use," Raana said, her lekku twitching slightly in embarrassment. "Most of the time I can manage with a sonic, but..."

Skira didn't say anything, merely helped her stay on her feet. She probably managed by using enclosed showers, where she could physically touch the walls, not open air ones like this. He wondered what it was like for her. She could still see, obviously, but would what she saw even feel real?

Ryn watched them, frowning, as he braced the Togruta against his chest and turned on one of the showers to clean them. Raana's eyes fluttered up in her head and she shook, looking slightly nauseous.

"Now who's laandur," the Twi'lek muttered. She shut her mouth when Skira glared at her. It was probably a good thing Raana couldn't really hear at the moment or else things would have gotten very ugly. The Twi'lek sniffed and started moving with languid, graceful motions under the emitters, putting on a show as she cleansed herself.

"Is that because of me or..." Raana asked as his body responded.

"Both," he grumbled. "Focus on the shower."

He gently turned her so she was facing him, his hand running up along her back lift the third headtail that ran down her back, letting the shower get underneath. She moaned, partially in pleasure, partially in discomfort, and pressed close, arms and front lekku wrapping around his shoulders as she buried her face in his neck. Small, sharp teeth bit gently into his flesh as she whimpered.

Skira said nothing, just supported her. He'd shown his weakness when he'd pounded the marine into the deck. Now she was showing him hers. Placing her trust in him, that he wouldn't judge her or use it against her.

As much as part of him wanted to take her, it had been a week and a half since they'd had the chance to be with each other, he knew it wasn't the time. Gently, he turned off the shower and guided her back over to their armor and placed her helmet on. Instantly, she sagged in relief as the beskar blocked out the ultrasonic waves.

"Thank you," she said softly, her hand gently grasping his arm. Even with her face hidden, he could sense her gratitude.

Skira nodded, gently squeezing her hand when it slid down his arm, before returning to take his own shower.

Almost instantly, Ryn was on him, pressing close, wriggling, demanding attention. It had been far longer for her than for him and Raana, and he knew it had to be wearing on her. He hated to see her suffer. Wordlessly, he twisted her around, grabbed the back of her head, and pressed her up against the show wall, pulling her hips back with his other hand. The Twi'lek made a happy, mewling sound as he claimed her, lekku wrapping around his arm, hips rolling to meet his own movements. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of the sonics and the female under him, letting everything else fade away as best he could.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around his chest and cool metal pressed against the side of his head as another set of lekku wrapped around his shoulders.

"I don't like sharing," Ranna said softly, "but I understand you have an obligation. I'll put up with it, just don't shut me out or leave me behind."

"Okay," Skira said. "I won't."

He drew Raana forwards, so she was leaning against the wall next to Ryn, facing him, and let his hand slide down her toned belly to between her legs. A pair of white markings, shaped almost like wings, decorate the skin above the apex of her thighs. With firm, steady motions, he began to play with her in time with his thrusts into Ryn. He couldn't see the Togruta's face behind her helm, but her body was easy enough to read, and the soft sounds of her pleasure mingled with the Twi'lek's.

One of Raana's hands came up to tease the Twi'lek's breasts, and Ryn responded just as she had been trained to. Blue hands started to caress orange skin, tracing white patterns. The Twi'lek had been taught to serve masters and mistresses of any kind, to seek their pleasure no matter what it was, and give it to them. As soon as Skira released her head, she was on the Togruta, exploring every part of her, observing every reaction, with only two goals in mind; Pleasure her target, and make her Master appear amazing in its eyes.

Skira grunted as Ryn pulled herself off him, twining herself around Ranna, subtly pinning her and opening her up at the same time. The message was clear. Her master's pleasure was everything to Ryn, and as much as she wanted him all to herself, to be his release, he came first. One blue leg wrapped around orange and pulled Raana open wider, even as a blue hand fondled and milked the other woman's larger orange breasts, the other dipping between the white markings to tease needful flesh.

He pushed himself inside Raana, hearing her moan with need and happiness, resting his head against her helm. Her lekku rapped around him, along with her arms, and she rocked back to meet him. Within the first few thrusts, Raana was screaming in pleasure and clutching him as her release swept over her, body shaking uncontrollably. Feeling the edge himself, he reached back and grabbed Ryn, dragging her head forwards so he could kiss her as he sped up, knowing their time was short and they needed to hurry.

"Make her cum again," he ordered the Twi'lek, "then you can cum with me."

Ryn's eyes sparkled as she relentlessly worked Raana's body. Skira kept up his pace, leaning in to kiss and bite the Togurta's soft lekku. You never called a Mando'ad woman cute, not if you wanted to keep your head, but at that moment he couldn't help but think she was almost as cute as Ryn, the way she clung to him, whimpering and encouraging him. With a grunt, he filled her, his release washing over him. Ryn's cry of pleasure as she and Raana joined him, almost drowned out the orange woman's ragged culmination.

They rested against each other for a moment, breathing hard. Lekku twitched with involuntary aftershocks. Hands limply caressed slowly cooling flesh. Skira allowed himself the rarest of moments, to just simply be. Be with ones who cared about him. Knowing he'd undoubtedly pay the price later. He couldn't help himself.

"I-I see why you keep her around," Raana said weakly. She let out a groan as Ryn's teeth bit one of her stripped lekku. The Twi'lek let go with a humph.

He turned off the sonics, letting the low hum vanish, and pulled out. Ryn was on him in an instant, cleaning him with her tongue. It nearly got him going again, but he controlled himself. If the women wanted to go again, they could do it in the safety and privacy of their bunkroom. Not out here, exposed. As soon as Ryn finished, because there was no point trying to leave before she was satisfied, he walked over to his blaster and the fresh kute he'd brought. Behind him, Raana was making weak protesting noises as Ryn introduced her to clean up duty.

Watching the two of them as he dressed, Skira reflected that he didn't know how long it would last, but for now, he wasn't going to fight having people that cared about him.