Last time: The trio invited Kait to join them for dinner.

Now: Kyr and Cien tell the rest of the Coppers the news.


Chapter 4- Lieutenant Troy

"Oppie and I had a spar where everyone gathered, so it's not so unusual, I suppose." Cien observed as they walked the corridors, trying to find where the rest of the Copperheads were gathered.

"Yeah, I just can't remember that being a thing before. Granted we were usually running from one battle to the next so our spars were actually for-real spars." Kyr observed. "Not that we ever got into fisticuffs with stormtroopers. Much." Kyr said. "Did they say OB217 or OB271?" Kyr asked as they walked down the corridor, looking at the door labels.

"217." Cien answered as she keyed the door open.

On the other side of the door was a large training room with exercise equipment that lined the walls that was being used by a few people here and there. But the main focus was around a raised platform with ropes around it. And in the middle of this platform, in a hand to hand sparring match was Scamp, who they hadn't seen since their meeting a couple hours ago, and a young human man with tan skin and short black hair that was slightly longer on top. Both were dressed in loose fitting clothing and were dealing punches and kicks left and right. The crowd around the platform was the rest of the Coppers watching with much enthusiasm.

Kelce, who was at the back of the crowd, glanced over his shoulder at the sound of the door opening. He grinned at the sight of Kyr and Cien entering.

"Well look who it is," Kelce said as he turned to approach them. "Good to see ya again, Colonel. Cien. How are you guys?"

"Hi Kelce." Cien said with a smile.

"Doing good." Kyr said with a grin, "who's the kid?" Kyr inquired, nodding up at Scamp's opponent.

"Ah, that's the new Lieutenant. His name is Troy," Kelce said, glancing back over to the ring. "He just transferred here a couple weeks ago."

"Why's Scamp fighting him? He trying out for the Coppers?" Kyr asked.

"Well for a couple of reasons, but pretty much yeah," Kelce said with a nod. "The kid wants to join us ground pounders. And he's holding his own against our boy. Might give Scamp a run for his credits."

"Maybe." Kyr said critically. The kid looked like he was a gym rat fresh out of some academy or other.

"Hey Colonel!" Shades said, coming over, "hi Cien." She said with a warm smile.

"Hi Shades." Cien said, returning the smile.

"'Laam Shades?" Kyr asked.

"Not much." Shades said with a smile. "You want in on the betting?" She asked mischievously.

"Bet? People are betting on that kid versus Scamp?" Kyr asked a little incredulously.

"Well…" Shades began.

"Yeah so do you want in or not, Colonel?" Nova asked as she approached, over hearing them. "Also hey guys."

"I only ever gamble with my life, never my money, you know that Super." Kyr replied solemnly.

Cien scoffed and snickered. "Yeah, that's why I took a hundred credits off you at sabacc last weekend."

"That's different!" Kyr said.

"Not really," Kelce butted in.

"Boo, you're no fun," Nova teased. "Besides, I think Sasha mentioned you took place in a bet on her when she drank that guy under the table."

"Okay, fine, fine." He grumbled. "Twenty on Scamp." He said, kid didn't look like he could fight his way out of a paper bag, if push came to shove.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Nova cheered before turning back to the fight.

"Ah, you gotta love it, right?" Kelce said in a star struck sort of way as he stared at Nova. "She's cute when she's like this."

Kyr started making gagging sounds, "Sorry, sorry Kelce, I need to get to a refresher."

"Oh stop." Cien said, slapping his arm as Kyr pretended to keep his lunch down.

"Ha ha," Kelce said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the fight.

"Hello." Wynnie said as she wandered over to them.

"Hi Wynnie." Kyr said with a smile.

"Hey Wynnie, how are you?" Cien asked with a slight smile.

"Good." Wynnie replied. "It is nice to see both of you."

"Likewise." Cien stated.

"Good you see you too." Kyr replied.

"After they're done, would you want to spar again?" Wynnie asked Cien.

"Uhh, maybe later, not quite now." She answered evasively.

"Okay." Wynnie said, nodding.

From the platform, Scamp let out a loud yelp bringing everyone's attention back. The kid, Troy, had managed to land a kick to the back of Scamp's knee, bringing him down onto it. Troy then grabbed Scamp and grappled him to the ground, pinning him to the matted surface of the platform.

"Yield," the kid said, panting slightly. His voice made him sound at least a few years older than he looked.

"Alright, alright," Scamp yielded. "Now get off me, kid."

"Yes sir," Troy responded with a chuckle before getting to his feet and helping Scamp up.

"Alright, pay up," Kelce said, turning to Kyr.

"You bet against Scamp?" Kyr asked Kelce in a shocked tone.

"If this was a shooting match or any other form of combat, I wouldn't dare bet against him," Kelce informed. "However, the kid has quite an athletic record from school. He was ranked one of the best in his class and division in hand to hand. I thought I'd test the waters."

Kyr grumbled under his breath as he fished a twenty credit chit out of one of his pouches. "Get Super something nice with it." He advised.

"Aye, sir," Kelce said as he took the credits with a smile and tucked them into his pocket.

Wynnie also quietly handed Kelce a five credit slip. Kelce chuckled at that as he took the money.

"Well look who it is? What ya say Colonel? You and me next?" Scamp called from the platform, where he was leaning on the ropes trying to catch his breath. "Just like old times?"

"Yeah, maybe in a bit." Kyr said, "I am wondering how you let your shebs get beat by a shiny, though." Kyr asked good naturedly as he walked towards Scamp, nodding at the kid. Cien stood where she was, bemused by the whole thing.

"Well come here and I'll tell you a secret," Scamp said, gesturing for him to come closer.

Kyr walked forward. "Oh?"

Scamp crouched down so he was at Kyr's head level and put a hand up to his mouth. He whispered. "I let him win. It's good for morale."

Kyr looked at him for a second. "Not for mine, I'm down twenty credits." Kyr replied, annoyed.

Scamp chuckled. "Sorry about that. I'll buy you a few rounds to make it up to you," he said. "Besides, I'll win the next one."

Kyr snorted. "Yeah, as long as it's not against me."

"Of course not," Scamp said, smirking. "Our match will always be in the shooting range."

"Aye." Kyr said with a grin.

"Nice match," Troy said from Scamp's right.

Scamp looked up and saw that Troy had approached with his hand extended. Scamp smiled and shook his hand. "Indeed. But I'll get ya next time, kid."

"We'll see about that, old man," Troy shot back in jest.

"I'm not old!" Scamp protested before shooting to his feet. His knees and back popping in the process. "But I sure don't feel as young as I used to."

"Scamp, you can't be old. That would mean that I'm old." Kyr said good naturedly, since they were actually about the same age.

"Oh yeah? What's that new nickname you're going to be getting soon?" Scamp asked, playfully. "I'm pretty sure that's gonna make me feel old." He teased.

Cien laughed at that, and Kyr shot her a look. Scamp laughed as well before clapping a hand to Troy's shoulder.

"Troy, I'd like you to meet the original leader of the Copperheads, Colonel Kyr'Prudii," Scamp introduced. "Kyr, this is Troy."

"Nice to meet you, sir," Troy said, extending a hand. "I have heard a lot about you. It's a pleasure."

"Nice to meet you kid." Kyr said, shaking his hand. "You don't look half bad in the ring." He said, trying to compliment him.

"Thank you, sir," Troy said, smiling at that. "That means a lot."

"Why don't you go hit the showers, kid?" Scamp said.

"Okay," Troy said before looking back to Kyr. "Hope to see ya around, sir."

"Yeah, same." Kyr said, not quite sure why he would run into a Lieutenant like this again.

Troy nodded and climbed out of the ring. He walked towards the exit, but slowed when he reached Wynnie and Cien. "Hey Wynnie," he said, smiling at her.

Wynnie glanced up at him. "Hello."

"What did you think of the fight?" Troy asked, coolly. Kyr walked back over to join his wife and looked on with a quirked eyebrow, as Cien watched the conversation right next to her with carefully hidden amusement.

"It was a good training spar. I am not sure that a real enemy would follow the rules so closely." Wynnie said in response, she had never understood any fighting style other than 'kill your enemy as quickly as possible'.

"I guess not," Troy said with a nod. "Maybe you can give me some pointers some time?"

Kyr looked between the two of them as he realized what was going on, and his eyes narrowed slightly at this upstart lieutenant in front of him. Cien's eyes looked between the two of them very, very carefully trying to keep a passive face.

"Maybe." Wynnie replied noncommittally. "I generally train late at night." She replied with a dismissive shrug.

"Well, just let me know. My schedule is fairly flexible at the moment," Troy said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I've got to get going. See you later?"

"I guess so." Wynnie said with a slightly confused look. They generally saw each other around the ship anyway, so it was more than probable.

"Hey, Eltee, how's your aim?" Kyr asked him.

"Uh, mine?" Troy asked, blushing slightly as he realized that Kyr and Cien were staring at him. "Pretty good sir."

"Maybe we could go shooting while I'm here." Kyr suggested, taking a step closer and bringing himself up to his full height in his beskar, with his Mandalorian helmet under his left arm. "I could use some range time with a good target. Like the Defiant has."

Troy gulped and nodded, very much intimated by Kyr. "That sounds good sir."

"I'll let you know when." Kyr said as a dismissal.

"Yes sir," Troy said, at attention. "Bye Wynnie." He then hustled out of the training room as quickly as he possibly could.

"Can I go shooting with you too?" Wynnie asked.

Kyr looked down at her. "Sure, any time Wynnie."

Cien finally let out a small burst of laughter at the whole exchange. Nova and Shades came back over.

"I see big brother mode just kicked in," Nova teased in a soft voice to Cien.

"Yeah, or protective dad." Cien said with a snicker.

Shades was looking at Wynnie. "He would be a lot of fun to train with, if you guys could make the time for a late night session I suppose." Shades said very passively.

"I guess, his technique seems lacking." Wynnie said with a shrug. "He might find the training helpful."

"Yes." Shades nodded solemnly. "I am sure he would love to train in a better technique with you."

Wynnie shrugged again.

Cien had her palm over her mouth to cover a smile. And as much as she wanted to she couldn't bring herself to join in the teasing.

Nova rolled her eyes as the young girl wasn't catching on, and turned to Cien. "So what was Scamp talking about earlier when he said new nickname? It made you laugh pretty hard," she asked, changing the subject.

"Oh," Cien said, "we, uh…" She started to say, not sure how to say it. She swallowed, "ummm….." She said.

"Hey, everything okay?" Nova asked, worried she may have overstepped. Shades looked on, a little confused as well. Wynnie looked up at her and was a little concerned. Cien froze, having trouble admitting what was going on. An old part of herself felt like she was admitting a vulnerability, something that others could take advantage of, and having the others staring at her made her feel like she was being interrogated. Kyr stood at her side concerned for her, and not wanting to admit what was happening if Cien felt uncomfortable doing so for some reason.

"Alright everyone at ease," Scamp said, moving through the crowd over to them. "Stop pressuring her. Look if you want to know, Kyr and Cien will tell you when they are ready. Otherwise, give them space, alright?"

Nova nodded. Kelce, however, looked Cien up and down and seemed to put the pieces together based off what Scamp said. He tried to hide a smirk.

Cien looked up at Kyr and he just nodded as he put a hand on her arm. "I'm… We're having twins." Cien admitted with a gulp to the crowd, pushing herself to admit it to this extended family of hers.

Wynnie looked at her with some mixture of surprise and shock.

"Oh that's awesome! Congratulations!" Shades said excitedly.

"Wait what? Really?" Nova nearly squealed. "That's amazing! Congratulations!" She wrapped Cien in a hug. Cien returned the hug a little awkwardly.

"Congrats, you two," Kelce said, beaming.

"Yeah, congrats… old man," Scamp teased to Kyr.

"Oh hardy har har." Kyr said good naturedly. "All your kids are in college, golden oldie." He gestured to the gold stripe on his armor.

Scamp swatted his hand away. "Not all of them."

"Oh, did one graduate? I don't think that helps your case." Kyr said with a smirk.

"Shut up," Scamp said, smacking him on the arm. "I'm going to go clean up. I'll leave you all to celebrate."

"Oh! Yes, drinks all around!" Shades said excitedly.

Kyr coughed at that.

"Of both a spirituous and non-spirituous nature!" Shades clarified.

"Yes!" Nova agreed as she pulled away and grinned.

Kelce patted Kyr on the shoulder. "I'm very happy for you guys. And I'm here if you need anything," he said, softly to Kyr in both a congratulatory and serious tone. He was a doctor after all.

"Thanks Doc." Kyr said.

"You don't have anything for afternoon sickness, do you?" Cien asked him, the butterflies from admitting this had brought her nausea back.

Kelce smiled at that. "Yeah, I've got a couple things that will work for you. Here I'll go grab them and meet all of you at the party," he said.

"Thank you." Cien replied gratefully.


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