Star Wars does not belong to me. Just Skylar & Co.
It was brought to my attention that chapter 10 needs some work. As this is Christmas week, I won't be able to get to it soon, but it will be fixed.
Big thanks to Amaris the demon of Mortis, Kelana-ti, Delta808th, and spikala for reviewing!
Merry Christmas everyone! God bless!
It was around 1800 Corellia time and Kenna felt like a complete idiot. She was way late, but she knew the Cordav clan's habits. Wreck had explained every dynamic of his family life. The last time she'd been out there, she'd been with Wreck. The commando had been all nerves and had ended up babbling on about how the field had been in the Cordav clan since the Mandalorian Wars and had explained his family's rituals for funerals and stuff like that. It was safe to say that Wreck had a habit of talking way too much if he was uncomfortable. It wasn't until he'd proposed to her later on that evening that she'd understood why he'd been so nervous.
She shook her head, trying desperately to derail her train of thought. Now is not the time to go on a trip down memory lane, Kenna Trivolo. Focus. You're only here because... Why am I here? It was a question she'd frequently asked herself since she'd first decided to come. I'm here because I'm a stupid little girl who still can't get over a ridiculous, hurtful crush. Even that answer didn't feel right to her. It's because I'm an idiot. I can't help but run right back into the reach of the man who practically destroyed my life and Griff's.
If she was being truthful with herself, the answer was because she still loved Wreck. And that is why I am the queen of idiots.
Too late. She was at the field. And one woman and three clones ten meters in front of her were staring at the tinted windshield of her speeder, one of them reaching for one of his twin blasters. Here goes nothing...
Kenna took a deep breath and stepped out the pilot side door, the wind whipping her dark red hair back out of her face. She couldn't help but notice how the breeze smelled like smoke. They must have already cremated the boys, she thought sadly. Skylar's face lit up slightly with a somber smile and the smaller woman gave her a nod before grabbing the elbows of the two clones that the Kiffar woman didn't recognize, pulling them back so that she and Wreck could have some privacy. Kenna couldn't help but notice that one of the two was missing most of his left forearm, the stub wrapped firmly in a white bandage and held to his chest by a sling. Battle scar. Poor fellow. Her heart instantly felt for him and she wondered if he was the clone she'd talked with the other day.
She watched with fascination as the clone with the number 5 tattooed on his forehead, the one who'd reached for his pistol when she'd pulled up, gently pulled his forearm out of his sergeant's grasp, linking his fingers with hers instead. That must be Sky's husband. And the father of her baby... Kenna still couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that the small fiery woman was actually pregnant.
"Kenny?" Wreck breathed, disbelief coloring his voice. Her green gaze met his brown eyes and she saw the shock in them. His sister didn't tell him that I called then. And then he smiled. That same broad, happy smile he'd given her when she'd told him yes. It's like he doesn't even remember what he did to me...
And immediately she was beyond furious. So furious that it didn't even register to her that she'd slapped him until she pulled her stinging hand back. She noted with deep satisfaction that she'd left a nice red welt in the shape of her hand on his right cheek.
Wreck stumbled backward a few paces, hurt clear on his face. And that only fueled her anger, "How dare you act like nothing's happened! How dare you act so hurt over a little slap! For a year, an entire year, Wreck, you've hurt me! Every single day you've broken my heart! I'm not here to rekindle what we had. I'm here because I'm not going to leave when you need me." Kenna had chosen those words because she'd known that they'd hurt. Her expression turned sympathetic, if only just, "And I'm sorry about your brothers. I'll miss 'em too," she finished, offering him her hand.
He took it, not meeting her eyes. And, more importantly, not moving closer. Thank goodness. I'd hate to find out what else I might do to the poor man today. Poor man? There's nothing 'poor' about him. He left. He made that choice. But there was something inside of her that greatly enjoyed the feel of his hand in hers...
Wreck sighed heavily and she noticed that his eyes were shimmering with unshed tears, "Thanks, Kenna. I take it this means that I'm never going to meet our son then..." he trailed off, still not meeting her gaze. And she immediately hated herself. What is it about him? After all he's done to me, how can he still turn me into a puddle of Sullustan jam so easily?
"No, Wreck." Kenna shook her head, hating how his shoulders slumped at her words. "Wreck, that's not what I meant." He turned his big brown eyes to her face again, his expression hopeful this time. "I... I didn't want him here right now. I didn't know how I'd react to seeing you after... well, I just didn't want to chance Griff seeing Mama and Dada fight."
"Dada?" he perked up, picking up on the fact that she'd used that title instead of the more impersonal 'father'. He knows who I am?" This time, the bronze-haired man's voice was filled with wonder. "You've actually told him about me?"
Some part of Kenna was telling her how idiotic she was for even telling him this. He doesn't deserve to know. But she found herself nodding as her idiotic mouth betrayed her anyway, "Yes. 'Dada' is his favorite word, actually." I really am a moron. An idiotic one at that.
Later on that night, Fives eased himself onto the sofa of the hotel suite. They were leaving for Coruscant in the morning and he was seriously looking forward to returning home. He just didn't relish the idea of telling Tea that three of her uncles weren't coming back...
The ARC was drawn from his thoughts by a sudden loud crash and several muttered curses coming from the kitchen. Kot. He and Fives were the only ones in the small apartment as Wreck was with Sky. After Kenna had left, Skylar had decided that it would be best for Wreck to go with her to her appointment and for Fives to stay with Kot. She'd reasoned that their brothers needed emotional support that they probably wouldn't be able to give to each other, given the circumstances.
Fives peered into the kitchen, quickly noticing the shattered glass on the floor and Kot's frustrated expression. Apparently, the injured man had tried to open a jar with his remaining hand. "You okay, Kot'ika?"
"Sure I'm okay, ner vod. I'm only missing an arm. Why wouldn't I be okay?" The commando's sarcastic response was tinged with anger. And the slightest hint of fear, if he wasn't mistaken.
Fives didn't respond immediately, taking time to figure out his response as he located a broom. He'd never had the chance to use one before, but he knew how they worked. In theory. He busied himself with sweeping up the glass as Kot grabbed a towel and mopped up the food he'd spilled. It was quiet as the two worked together. Even though not a word was traded between the two of them, the ARC could literally feel the tension in the air.
He dumped the glass into the trash bin, "You know it's not going to be like this forever, right? As soon as we get back to Triple Zero, they'll fit you for a proper prosthetic."
"That's the thing, Fives," Kot straightened, not meeting his eyes. "My job is to make shrapnel out of droids. I don't want to be part droid, vod'ika."
Ah. He's worried about becoming a cyborg. "Kot, look at me." He finally did. "Having a droid arm doesn't make you less of a man. Or less of a brother. I wouldn't care if you sprouted wings and tail and started walking on all fours. We're your family and we love you no matter what. Let the rest of the shabla galaxy believe what they want. And if anyone says anything to you about it... Well, you've got a lot of vode who've got your back. Okay?"
Kot smiled one of his shy grins, shaking his head, "Okay, F'ika. You know, your wife is really rubbing off on you." He clapped Fives' shoulder in a brotherly gesture as he walked out of the kitchen, probably headed to his room to mull over what the ARC had said. "Just thought you should know."
Fives smiled to himself as he got to work on the dinner dishes. Sky liked to come home to a clean house. Hopefully this will ease at least some of her stress.
"Fives?" Kot had stuck his head back through the doorway.
"Yeah?"
"Do you mind if I call Tea?"
Fives rolled his eyes, "You don't need my permission, Kot. She is your niece, after all." He and Sky had already talked with their daughter several times that day. And Kot knew not to mention Fidget, Cade and Kendan's deaths to the four year old. Fives and Skylar had decided that they would break the news to Teanna when they returned home. That way, we can be there to comfort her.
Only when Cordav was sitting in the passenger seat of her rented speeder did she finally allow herself to breathe a sigh of relief. Wreck gave her a small smile and rubbed her forearm gently as he piloted them back to the apartment, "You feeling okay, Sis?"
She chuckled, "Funny, I was just about to ask you that."
Her brother took a deep, steadying breath, "I'll miss 'em, that's for sure." It was quiet for several minutes as Wreck fought to keep his composure. He gave her a quick look, "You knew that Kenna was coming, didn't you." There was no doubting the accusation in his voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she asked me not to. When I talked with Kenna, she still hadn't decided what she was going to do." She fixed him with a look that he didn't see, as his gaze was fixed on the skylane in front of them, "And when did you decide to start calling her again?"
Wreck sighed again, "When you and Fives had your little mini-fight. I told him about what happened to me and Kenna. And your husband convinced me that I needed to stop running." He gave her another small smile, "You'll never believe what Kenny told me."
"What, Wreck?" Judging by the way he was grinning, even after all they'd just been through, she knew it had to be something good. Judging by the force of that slap, it can't be that Kenna wants him back, though... She hit him much harder than I did Fives that one time.
"Griff knows who I am. Skylar, when we get back to Corrie, I'm finally going to meet my son!"
"Kandosii! Wreck, that's great!"
"Just as good as knowing that your baby's okay too. I wonder how F'ika's going to react to seeing those holos of his kid?" There was just the slightest hint of mischief in the sergeant's voice, like he was up to something... He's going to be okay. I think we'll all be. But we won't forget you boys.
"Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum." Wreck chimed in with her as she recited everyone they'd lost, including Fives and Kot's brothers, "Buir, Trick, Davy, Nero, Red, Frost, Tracker, Pitch, Brace, Jack, Brandt, Trigger, Lock, Cross, Beviin, Clue, Bullseye, Jenner, Jab, Crash, Keno, Pak, Quip, Hero, Kor, Cabur, Devrin, Fidget, Cade, Kendan, Droidbait, Cutup, Hevy, 99, Echo, Hardcase, Watt, Lark, Twitch, Whisper, Lion, Dirk, and Knack."
"Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la," Wreck whispered and they finished the ride in silence.
ner = my
vod = brother
vod'ika = little brother
shabla = cursed
vode = siblings
Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum. = I'm still alive, but you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal. (Mando daily remembrance for lost loved ones.)
Buir = Papa
kandosii = excellent
Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la. = Not gone, merely marching far away.
Please R&R.
