Drionn was heading for the hangar of the massive Calamari capital ship. The Rebel fleet was about to drop out of lightspeed, and then he'd have to follow the others down to the surface as he had never been to this new Rebel base, on Dathomir, of all places.

He turned a corner, armor softly clinking when a different noise filtered through his helmet. Stopping, he tilted his head to listen. The sounds seemed to be wheezing at first, and Drionn wondered if something was leaking. However further investigation found him just a few feet ahead by a maintenance closet. Slowly he opened it, the sounds now becomingclear as he pulled his helmet off.

There in the back of the tight space was a small figure dressed in brown.

"Hey, Tal? What's the matter?" He asked gently, moving to kneel beside his young friend. Tallis had just turned seventeen a few weeks ago, and he himself was nearing twenty-eight. She was definitely his very young friend, a little sister almost as he placed a hand on her quivering shoulder.

The girl sobbed and after some patient minutes she finally raised her head to face him, her green eyes puffy and blue skin wet with tears as she spoke softly.

"M-my mom... sh-she's g-gone!" Tallis suddenly pushed herself against Drionn's armored chest, a new wave of wracking sobs shaking her small frame.

Without hesitation Drionn wrapped his arms around Tallis, holding her tight and biting his lip hard. "Shhh, shhh." He said softly. "Shhh Bluejay, I'm here. I'm here."

~~~

Tallis pulled away from Drionn, holding his shoulders at arms length. He hadn't changed much in body, still fitting well in his armor. His black hair had grown shaggy and his dark skin was no longer smooth. He now sported thin scars all along his face, the most prominent reaching from his chin to his left cheek bone. Gently Tallis cupped his face, her thumb tracing the scar.

"Where were you when I needed you?" She whispered softly, feeling so lost, confused just as she had been such a long time ago. That loneliness seeping into her bones as if this was merely a vision, not her friend in the flesh.

However instead of answers as she wanted, Drionn gently took her hands and removed them from his face. "I will explain everything Tallis, but we have to go, now."

"I don't usually agree with strangers," Han stated, startling Tallis as she had forgotten he was here, "but I'm going to agree with this one. You got a hiding place near here?"

Drionn gave a slight smirk as he picked up his helmet and put it back over his head. "Follow me."

Tallis nodded and quickly the three followed after their rescuer as he took them on a zig zag trail through the maze of shoddy buildings before finally stopping at a manhole cover in an abandoned back allie.

Immediately Chewbacca roared in disdain and obvious disagreement.

"Hey Chewie," Han said, "this is the best option we got. I'll get you a good place to bathe afterwards, okay?"

Chewbacca whined, but begrudgingly entered the sewer below. Tallis went next, Chewbacca catching her and setting her down on the driest part he could find.

After Han and then Drionn jumped in Tallis used the Force to pull the cover back over the hole.

Darkness briefly enveloped the four runaways before a flashlight came on from Drionn's helmet. Tallis grabbed one of her lightsabers, white and green light now showing the way in the revolting sewer. Hilariously, Tallis did not mind it half as much as she had minded the cantina.

"This way. Stay close and watch your step." Drionn said, signaling for the group to follow.

"Hey, why'd you help us back there?" Han asked curiously as they began the stinking walk through the pipeline.

"Isn't it obvious?" Drionn asked, laughter in his voice.

Han shrugged. "You know Blue." He said, glancing at the Togruta beside him.

Tallis nodded. "Drionn was a Rebel fighter, we had our own team back then. He was our weapons specialist, and an adequate strategizer."

"That's my whole reputation?" Drionn asked, his voice cheeky.

"Well we all thought you were dead!" Tallis snapped. "Dead people don't get big reputations in the Rebellion. Especially the ones who's body never came back."

At that, Drionn paused and turned to look back at her. "I am sorry." He said softly before looking ahead.

"The factory was set to self destruct, I was injured... badly. Scavengers found me." Tallis frowned at his words, but did not interrupt.

"I wasn't able to tell them anything, my injuries were too extensive for me to communicate without hurting myself. I became indebted in a gangster who paid for the medical attention I needed, and to pay off the debt I've been doing bounty work for him these past years."

"Why couldn't you come back?" Tallis asked.

Drionn seemed to shake his head. "I was on a short leash then, Tal. I had to prove I was honorable enough to remain and do the work I was given."

Silently, Tallis nodded and did not ask anything further for now. When she had first met Drionn he had been the most honorable man she had ever known. It seemed to be a Mandalorian thing for sure. His honor held him to his debts and promises, and Tallis knew she had to accept that, no matter the pain Drionn's presumed death had given her.

It seemed to be hours of trudging through sewage sludge when Drionn finally stopped and pushed on the metal wall to the left. Slowly it gave way, revealing that it was actually a concealed door. Drionn ushered his guests in and once everyone was inside, closed the door and locked it tightly.

"Home sweet home." He said, flicking on a switch, lighting up his little underground hovel.

It was indeed a home of sorts. The door led into a large entry way, and beyond that an oddly shaped living space. Drionn led the way in. "There are actually showers in here. This was an old part of the sewers where workers could catch a breather before 'modifications' were made. This chamber was forgotten, but I found it and made it a little home."

"It smells decent in here." Tallis commented as she returned her lightsaber to her hip holster.

Drionn laughed. "Lots of ventilation is the secret. Now come on, Chewie is it? I'll show you to a shower." To this, Chewbacca roared happily and followed.

Tallis grinned slightly before turning to Han. "Are you all right, Captain?"

Han seemed to startle out of a stupor. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

"I don't know." Tallis said. "You're not injured are you?"

Han shook his head. "No, this all just seems pointless though. We didn't get anything that could help me or Luke."

Slowly, Tallis nodded. "Well, Drionn might be able to help with that."

"Maybe." Han nodded. "He did take out those guys pretty easily."

"His tricks and gadgets always did keep us out of trouble." Tallis replied softly, a chuckle escaping her lips as she gestured for Han to come along. They might as well rest on the meager sofas til Drionn and Chewbacca got back from the showers.

"So, how do you know this guy again? And can we trust him?" Han asked as he practically sunk into the sofa, weathered face becoming much more relaxed as Tallis took a seat beside him.

"His name is Drionn Ikas," Tallis began fondly. "He's a Mandalorian, I met him when I was about fifteen. I was with a rebel friend on Mandalore when we were identified by stormtroopers. Drionn came to our rescue, simply out of the blue." Tallis shook her head. "Back then I was very naive, very simple minded. But it amazed me still that he would jump in to save total strangers."

At the memory she smiled softly. "I asked him after we escaped Mandalore, why he would do that for us. He said it was because honorable people don't watch others suffer, or allow injustice to happen when they can do something about it. He joined the Rebellion that day."

Han folded his arms. "Sounds like a great guy." He said, halfly sarcastic.

Tallis did not notice her friend's tone, she simply nodded, gazing at the floor. "He was... or is." She said with another soft chuckle. "I'm very glad he's alive. Very glad. And a little angry." She admitted, shaking her head. "But mostly all glad."

"Me too."

Tallis turned around, smiling as Drionn appeared in the 'living area'. His helmet was gone as well as his armor, leaving him in the black clothes he wore underneath.

"Chewie is enjoying the shower, I'm a little concerned about the plumbing though." Drionn commented with a laugh.

Han snorted. "Tell me about it. The Falcon is a mess everytime he takes a cleaning."

"I'll take your word for it." Drionn said as he joined the duo. "So, why are you here? And how can I help?"

Tallis beamed. "You haven't changed a bit, my dear friend. We could use your expertise."

Drionn nodded, eagerly sitting down to listen to a truly fascinating tale.