Brodey dragged the sleeve of his shirt across his forehead, picking up a mixture of sweat and grease that had been collecting there during the past hour. Stepping back, he examined his work on the ship's fuselage. He crept around the XJ-wing, tightening bolts with his multitool. When he was certain that everything passed his inspection he threw down the tools, removed his grimy shirt, and went to wash up.

When he was halfway back to his quarters Brodey remembered his promise to Jaina that he'd stop by later that evening. Such requests of hers puzzled him, since he was sure she'd rather be spending time with Jagged Fel. However, Brodey wasn't about to question a goddess.

As he approached her small apartment his ears picked up the sounds of loud conversation and music emanating from inside. Brodey felt a pang of annoyance and turned to walk away, not wanting to barge in and interrupt another make out session between her and Fel. He was almost at the end of the hall when he realized that Kyp was also a part of the conversation coming from inside. Brodey scratched his head as he wondered if Jaina could possibly be rude enough to get amorous with Jag right in front of Kyp.

'Not unless she wanted to get a lot of well-deserved, off-color comments,' Brodey thought as he turned back around and entered her living room.

It only took a split second for his eyes to adjust to the bright living room. That split second marked the delay between his entrance and his hand going up to his mouth to hide his smirk.

"Brodey! You decided to come and join us!" Jaina cried jovially over the music. In her hand was a decanter of Corellian whiskey, which she spilled onto the floor as she climbed clumsily to her feet. She ran over to throw her arms around Brodey, the strong stench of alcohol oozing from her like a bad perfume. "Kyp! Brodey's here! Look!"

"Yes Jaina, I can see him too," Kyp said, casting a worn expression at Brodey. This party had been going on for a good amount of time, from the looks of it.

"So, what's the occasion?" Brodey asked, raising his eyebrows at Jaina as she clung to his sleeve to stand upright. Jaina's eyes immediately darkened in response to his question and her lower lip began to quiver slightly.

'Great job, Narundi. Great bloody tact right there!' He thought furiously at himself as she burst into tears. He chided himself for not recognizing the red rims around her eyes before he opened his mouth.

"Don't worry about upsetting her," Kyp muttered, resting his head against the back of her overstuffed couch. "She's been going back and forth between emotional extremes all evening."

"Jaina, what happened?" Brodey questioned simply, enveloping her in his arms.

"Oh nothing. Except that Jag Fel is a great big jerk!" She cried, spinning awkwardly on her heel and spilling more whiskey in the process. Brodey looked questioningly at Kyp, who promptly rolled his eyes and rose from his seat.

"Jag left today to go back to his family. He made a promise to Shawnkyr that he would return to the Chiss if she were to die. I've been trying to explain this to Jaina, but she just won't let it go."

"He didn't even tell me where he was going! He left, just like that!" Howled Jaina angrily. "Why is it that all the people I care about keep on leaving? Somebody, explain to me why!"

Brodey felt an all-too-familiar heat begin to creep up his neck and cover his face. Anger flashed through him like a star going nova, causing his muscles to tense and his jaw to set. All he could do for a minute was stare at her, afraid of what he might do to her if he allowed himself to move from that spot.

"Well," Brodey said, finally managing to squeeze a word out. "I guess, since I'm still standing here listening to you go on about how everyone you care about is gone, I can assume that I'm not a part of that group. I guess you don't care too much about Kyp either, huh Jaina? How does it feel to be Jaina's man slave, Kyp?"

"Keep me out of this!" Kyp exclaimed, waving a hand of dismissal at his seething apprentice. "This argument is between the two of you."

Brodey turned back to Jaina, who had suddenly turned into a near mirror image of his own emotional state. She held the decanter at her side in a death grip, the knuckles of both hands turning pale. Her blazing russet eyes narrowed into slits as she lunged at him in an ungainly manner.

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