Revan strode through the Republic encampment on Serroco, hearing the whispers as people recognized who she was, some wondering why Alek wasn't with her. Her friend usually followed her everywhere. Today he was meeting with some of the Republic commanders to finalize plans for the battle they were certain would take place tomorrow. Revan had already memorized the plans; in fact, she had been responsible for creating most of them, and so opted to make sure the soldiers were prepared and ready for what was coming. The men and women saluted as she passed, most looking up from cleaning a blaster, or checking available upgrades for their weapons and armor.

One didn't. The young man was struggling with a faulty latch on his footlocker, and was so lost in his battle with it he didn't notice the Jedi approach.

"Having trouble, Race?" Revan asked, raising one eyebrow as the blonde soldier spun around and scrambled to his feet.

He touched his forehead in a hurried salute as he nodded. "Yes, ma'am. The latch keeps sticking. Rand said he'd take a look at it, but Teria challenged him to a game of pazaak, and-"

"How long ago was that?"

Race shrugged. "An hour? Maybe a little less."

Revan sighed and rubbed her forehead. Rand was a promising soldier, one she was glad was on her side, but if you pulled out a pazaak deck, the man lost all track of time. She was about to say something when the soldier in question appeared as if out of nowhere.

"Don't talk about me behind my back, Race," he remonstrated the younger man, his smirk a good indication of how he'd fared against Teria. "Where's this damn footlocker of yours?"

"Right there." Race motioned in the direction of the recalcitrant storage unit, slightly startled by Rand's sudden appearance. "How'd you do?"

"Wiped the floor with her. Figuratiely speaking, of course," Rand grunted in satisfaction, fishing out a security spike and jamming it in the latch. A few simple twists and the lock reluctantly popped open. "Pure pazaak. There ya go, kid." He straightened and sauntered off, tossing Revan an almost careless salute as he left.

"Where'd we find him?" Race muttered as he fished his gear out of the footlocker.

Revan chuckled. She didn't know, but she didn't really care, the important point was that they had found him at all.

oOo

Kenna had only one question when she woke up the next morning: Why do I keep remembering things that involve him? All but one of the memories that had worked their way into the open had involved Rand, and she couldn't figure out why. She stretched lazily, bunching her pillow up against the headboard. A thought struck her: Oh, Force, I hope he and I didn't... She let it trail off, sure the thought was ridiculous. Or, at least, she hoped it was ridiculous. Well, bar finding him-if he was even alive anymore-and asking him, she had no way of knowing, so Kenna simply shook her head at her imagination and rubbed one hand across her slightly expanded belly. At least now I remember where else I'd heard "pure pazaak". She pushed herself up and ran one hand through her hair as she got out of bed. The house seemed suspiciously quiet. She was sure Mission and Dustil would have been promising to beat each other to a bloody pulp-figuratively speaking-in their duel.

She found out why it was so quiet when she walked down the hallway. They'd already left. That was easy enough to figure out when she saw Mission's vibroblades missing from their customary spot.

"Morning, sunshine," Carth teased gently, pulling her close for a hug.

"Morning," Kenna mumbled back, tilting her face up for a kiss. "What time is it? Did Mish and Dustil leave already?"

"It's ten, and yes, they left already," he replied, before obliging her with a brief kiss. "You sleep okay? You're normally up earlier."

She shrugged and leaned against his chest. "I think one of the twins is nocturnal. Wouldn't stop kicking. I got sleep, but I don't know how much of it."

"Sorry 'bout that, beautiful."

"Not your fault." Kenna shrugged again. "What really stinks is Leni told me no caffa because it might be bad for the babies."

"Oh, that is bad." Carth rubbed her back and hugged her again. "Well, we have the house to ourselves for a couple hours till Mish and Dustil get back. What do you want to do?"

Kenna let out a muffled groan. "Sleep."

oOo

"What kinda vibroblade you like to use?" Mission asked, spinning her own blades around experimentally as she watched Dustil peruse the weapons rack.

He shrugged. "Anything'll do." He finally settled on a vibroblade that was slightly longer than normal, swinging it a couple times to test the balance. "What's it like, living with them?"

She knew who he meant. "Normally it's pretty cool. I mean, they trust me an' know I can take care of myself. However, they've only been married, like, five months." She moved to the center of the practice mat, dropping into a ready stance. "They go all mushy-newlywed way too much."

Dustil laughed as he joined her, both hands curled around the hilt of his chosen weapon. "I think that's all I need to know, thanks. Ready when you are."

"You sure about that?" Mission challenged, changing her grip slightly and shifting her weight to her back foot.

Dustil's response was to lunge forward, swinging the heavy vibroblade down so fast it was only her instincts that had her blades up to block it in time.

"Nice," Mission grunted, pushing her blades against his until he gave ground just a little bit. She whirled to the side and swung low, aiming for his knees. He was fast, in addition to strong, and just wasn't there when her blade swung through where his knee had been. This was going to take a different strategy than the Vulkars on Taris. She wondered briefly what they'd taught him at the Sith Academy as she ducked a strike aimed at her shoulder, retaliating with a swipe at his torso, which forced him to back up.

With more room available for swinging her blades, Mission felt a little more comfortable. Come on, Mish, you can beat him! All that trash talkin' you did you better cream him! She swung her vibroblades down, one trailing slightly behind the other, hoping to catch Dustil off guard so that at least one of the blows would actually connect.

He blocked them both, moving faster than Mission had seen anyone but Kenna or Bastila move. "Is that the best you've got?"

"Not by a long shot, Onasi." Mission felt her temper rise. He was good. Really, really good. She was still sure she was better. She dropped to the mat and rolled, leading with her shoulder, bringing her vibroblades up and slashing at his legs. Dustil blocked both slashes, though one was only millimeters away from actually making contact. He pushed against their locked blades. Mission lost her already unsteady footing and tumbled backwards, twisting into position to block his quickly following attack.

Not fast enough. When she spun around, the tip of his vibroblade was roughly an inch from her eye, almost as if he'd known where she would stop. Breathing hard and shooting him an Evil Eye Death Glare, Mission dropped her vibroblades. "You win."

Dustil smirked and let the vibroblade sink slightly.

Mission saw the opportunity and she took it. Scooping up her dropped blades, she lunged forward, shoving Dustil back hard enough he almost fell. He regained his footing and pushed back, just enough to create some space between them.

"That was a dirty trick," he muttered, parrying the swings aimed at his side.

"I'd think you'd know all about dirty tricks," she retorted, "With spendin' four years at the Sith Academy an' all."

"Oh, you want to follow the Sith rules?" he grinned.

"Did I say that?" Mission panted, refusing to let him see that she was wearing down. I have to beat him! She took a deep breath and attacked again. Dustil backed off, almost running from her, until he was near the rack of weapons. The long vibroblade clatterd to the floor as he switched it out for a double-bladed one.

Their duel went on. Both of them were tired, but neither was willing to admit it. They were so involved in the match, they didn't notice that they had attracted a small crowd. The length of the fight finally began wear on them.

"Come on, Mission, at least make me work for it," Dustil goaded, slamming one end of the doubleblade against her crossed swords with enough force to knock the Twi'lek to the ground.

"Shut up, nerf-herder," Mission panted, pushing back and in no way ready to admit defeat. She gritted her teeth and scooted back far enough she was able to scramble to her feet. She threw herself towards Dustil, swinging her twin blades in opposing arcs.

Dustil blocked both of them, twisting away and grinning-grinning-as his dualblade hummed dangerously close to her lekku. Mission dodged backwards and blocked another strike. She spun to attack. Her blade missed, but on the backswing, the hilt knocked against Dustil's cheek, right below his eye.

He barely grunted in acknowledgement of the hit, instead swinging at her again.

Mission blocked it, but the force of it knocked her to the ground again. This time, Dustil was too quick for her. One edge of the doubleblade hovered by her neck and Dustil cracked a smile under his rapidly purpling eye. "Give up yet?"

Mission sighed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she let her head fall back on the mat. Rats. "Yeah. For...for real this time," she promised, letting go of her swords. Dustil's smile widened and he reached down to offer her a hand up. "Thanks. And sorry about your eye."

He shrugged. "A black eye's no big deal. I've had worse, believe me."

Mission grinned sheepishly as she picked up her swords, letting them hang loosely in her tired hands. "Guess I can't beat you."

"You're still one of the best I've ever fought, including some of the instructors at the Academy."

She raised an eyebrow at that. "Really?"

He nodded. "Really. And I promise not to make any more comments about your age."

"Good. 'Cause I wouldn't be responsible for my actions if you did," Mission teased, punching him in the arm.

He laughed.

oOo

Kenna opened one eye as Mission dragged herself into the living room and dropped onto the couch. "I saw Dustil's eye. Is that a good indicator of how it went?"

"He creamed me."

The other eye popped open, and Kenna stared at the exhausted Twi'lek. "He what?"

"He creamed me," Mission repeated with a chuckle. "I didn't give him the slightest bit of a break, didn't take it easy on him, and he whupped my tail. I like him."

Kenna pushed herself upright in her chair and grinned at the assessment. "Ya do, huh? I'm still trying to get over the fact he beat you."

"Shocked me, too," Mission admitted. "But he's really, really good. He'd give Bastila a hard time, and might even make you break a sweat. I think he's cool. Can he visit again sometime?"

"Mish, he's not even leaving from this one for another five days," Kenna laughed. "Let's wait until then to start planning the next visit."

"Oh, okay. I hope he an' Carth work out whatever they've got left to work out so he can visit a lot. And you know the coolest part?" Mission continued after letting silence reign for a few seconds, "He was really nice about it. He didn't rub my face in it, or say anything about all the bragging I was doin' or anything. Just told me I was really good and helped me up. I think we might just end up friends."

"Just possibly?" Kenna laughed.

"Yep. That'll give Carth more motivation to work things out, wouldn't it?" Mission sat up and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "I mean, if Dustil and I were friends and he visited a lot, things would be a lot easier if everything was cleared up between him and Carth."

"Very true," Kenna agreed. "But I wouldn't try to use that as leverage, Mish, okay? Just let them work things out themselves."

"I know, I know. Hey, what did you do while we were gone? Or do I not wanna know?"

"Very funny, Mission Vao. Actually it was really boring. All I did was sleep."

Mission raised an eyebrow at that. "But you already overslept this morning."

"One of the twins is apparently either nocturnal or a very restless sleeper. He or she was kicking all night long. I didn't get much sleep."

"Oh. Sorry. You know it's probably just gonna get worse, right?"

Kenna rolled her eyes and leaned over to bop the Twi'lek. "Don't remind me."

oOo

Carth looked up as Dustil walked past. "How'd it go?"

Dustil shrugged. "I won," he replied, a half smirk pulling at one side of his mouth. "She's really good, though."

"So I see. Nice shiner," Carth commented upon noticing the purplish-blue swelling around Dustil's eye.

His son snorted an almost-laugh. "Thanks." He started to head for his room, then turned back. "How'd she end up traveling with you guys anyway?"

Carth chuckled. "Ask her. It's much more interesting the way she tells it."

Dustil raised an eyebrow. "Now I'm really intrigued. Did you get along?"

"As long as I didn't offend her independent streak by trying to tell her what to do. The fastest way to get her mad at me was to try and act like her father."

"Glad you thought to do it with someone," Dustil muttered under his breath.

Carth sighed. Now's as good time as any, since he gave me an opening. "Dustil, look." He raked ine hand through his hair. "For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry."

Dustil crossed his arms. "Sorry for what?"

"For not being there as much as I should have. For making you think I didn't care. I don't know, what do you think I need to apologize for?"

"That'll work, for starters. Right now's not a good time to talk, Father. I need a shower and food, in that order. Then maybe I'll be in the mood to talk."

Carth nodded. "If you say so."

"Well, after I get Mission to tell me how she wound up traveling with you."

"If she seems a little hesitant, it's because the story involves Big Z, and she still misses him," Carth warned.

"Got it."

oOo

"I don't understand him," Carth admitted to Kenna that night.

"Whaddya mean?" Kenna mumbled sleepily, tugging the blankets higher around her shoulders.

"We really need to talk, but I'd swear he's avoiding it. It's like he wants things to stay the way they are."

"Maybe he's worried you'll spend more time trying to explain your reasons than listening to him," Kenna pointed out. "Like on Korriban."

She was right, and he knew it, but it still hurt that she seemed to be taking Dustil's side. "That was different."

"How?" She rolled over to face him. "Carth, I'm not trying to fight with you or say you were wrong or anything, I'm just saying that maybe Dustil thinks you'll be too busy defending yourself again to listen to his side of things."

"So I need to just let him think I didn't care about him?"

Kenna sighed. Force, I'm too tired to argue... "No. But listening to his side is important, too, Carth."

"I know that-"

"Remember that he's your son, and that's blatantly obvious, personality-wise," Kenna interrupted. "You both need to work on listening. He's got problems with it, too."

"So why're you lecturing me about it?"

"Because I already took him to task for doing the same thing. Not listening, I mean." She was trying to stay calm, but she was tired. And more than a little cranky.

Carth frowned in confusion. "When?"

"On Telos, after he, y'know, saved your life? Remember that? I ran into him when I got to the med center. We only talked for a couple minutes, but I still managed to slip in a remonstrance that he needs to listen to your side of things in the course of our conversation."

"Oh."

Kenna bit her lip. "Look, can we talk about this in the morning? I'm really tired, and both of the babies are quiet, so I'd really like to get some sleep while I can."

"Sure thing, beautiful."

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long! The Writer's Block demon gave me a really hard time with this one No promises when the next chapter will come, but there will be more.