The Exile turned gently, stretching like a maalraas and sighing blissfully. She slid her hand across the cool, empty sheets and opened her eyes a crack. Bao had gone but the pale silver crystal remained on the pillow next to her cheek. Smiling, she pulled it into her palm and listened as its song resonated within her. It was quite round, no larger than her own eye. Holding it up to the light, she peered through the glistening, milky swirls that lay within and wondered what properties it would add to the beams of her double-blade.

She pushed back the tangle of sheets and robes, placing her feet firmly on the floor and returning the crystal to her pillow. For the first morning in days there was no pain and no burning in her bones. The Exile took a quick glance at the pale green bruising on her arms and legs, took a deep breath and stood. Moving away from the bunks she bent low, grabbing her ankles and touching her forehead to her knees. The exertions of the previous day had done wonders for her range of motion. Straightening, she slowly leaned backwards and lowered her palms to the floor, walking her hands towards her heels until they met. She raised one leg high into the air followed by the other and pointed her toes in a perfect handstand. It was exhilarating to be able to move in such a manner once again. She found herself extending her focus to the footlockers that lay on the floor, slowly raising them into the air and rotating them in opposite directions.

Just when she felt secure in her stance the realization hit that she had been engaging in all of these exercises completely naked. "What if someone walks in?" her mind whispered sharply.

Canderous?

Her mouth twitched and the footlockers wobbled as she bit back on her laughter. She could almost hear his gravelly voice snapping in her ear, "What the HELL are you doing?" The Exile took a deep breath and re-doubled her efforts.

Atton?

The footlockers dipped sharply as her ribcage shook with mad, strangled giggles. "Well, well, wellllllll…" her mental Atton drawled.

Mical?

BANG!

BANG!

"MASTER?!" the Mical in her mind squeaked. The Exile dropped her feet to the floor and crumpled into a sitting position, laughing wildly. She laughed until she could barely breathe, more than she had in years as tears coursed down her cheeks.

Something inside her had been liberated. For the first time since she left the Enclave and Kavar she felt truly free. She was no longer crushed under the weight of guilt, betrayal and loss. Her thoughts were clear, focused like a blade and ready to tackle the enormous responsibilities that lay ahead.

Gathering her composure once more she stood, and quickly tidied the dorm. She grabbed her things and headed towards the fresher. Her chronometer read 10:30am and even though the rest of the ship was silent she felt a strong urge to get a jump on the day.

Bao.

The Exile flushed as she rinsed her hair. It was entirely possible that she would never look at running water again without thinking of him. The depth of his brown eyes, the smooth etchings of tattoos that curved along his face, the taste of his skin, and the muscular curve of his naked thighs…she felt her knees wobble slightly. His absence hadn't bothered her in the slightest. She knew that his intent was entirely honorable and she couldn't bring herself to worry. "Perhaps that's how it should be…" she whispered into the spray.

Exiting, she quickly dried off and put on all of the undergarments to her Jal Shey armor. Her limbs had been too tender to handle the weight and pressure of anything other than robes since Malachor but today she felt like putting on all of her favorite gear. She turned to the mirror and began to pull her hair into an elaborate updo but stopped short when she saw her face - all of the bruising had completely vanished. Her skin was equally pale and smooth on both sides. "How…?" she whispered, running her hand along the clean, new skin on her cheek and smiling broadly. Finishing her hair she retrieved the rest of her armor, boots and belt and put them on, clomping down over the entrance ramp of the Hawk as she secured her lightsaber to her side.

The Exile ran towards the encampment, jumping over twisted roots and vines, feeling the heat of the sun on her back and the coolness of the breeze as it whipped past her temples. She took the time to truly enjoy the speed and beauty of the motion, a physical representation of the freedom inside. It was wonderful to move in such a manner without being chased.

Arriving at the camp, she slowed her pace to a dignified walk and turned towards headquarters. Along the way she passed the bonfires, some of which were still smoldering and surrounded by the empty Juma containers that littered the site. Some of the Mandalorians were asleep where they had fallen and she laughed as she came upon her Padawans. Ever the gentleman, Mical was sleeping soundly on his back on the ground with his outer robe spread out. Atton and Mira had both passed out in a heap on his torso, still clutching tankards. She took a moment to gently move Atton into a less intimate position on the ground with space between them. They had made so many strides toward friendship and she didn't want them to awaken to a fight. Fortunately Atton had consumed so much Juma that he did not stir from his sleep but rather snored soundly, clutching his tankard close to his chest.

Smiling she moved on and entered headquarters where Canderous stood. He was by himself in a flurry of activity and sipping caffa as the morning sun shone in on his battle-scarred face. He really was remarkably handsome for a man of his age, tough and hulking but so self-sufficient that she wondered if he ever got lonely.

"Good morning, Canderous," she called warmly.

He raised an eyebrow in her direction, "Almost good afternoon," he replied crustily and she grinned, "Caffa?" he asked, gesturing at the pot on the workstation.

"Sure," she replied, reaching for a cup, "How was your night?"

"Didn't get much from that Marauder," he said, "The little Chakaar vanished."

"Vanished?" she said sharply, shooting him an eyebrow.

"I have no idea how," Canderous said, "All I got out of him was that they were here for 'practice' and that took hours. I left for a jolt of caffa and when I came back the Force cage was empty."

"That's virtually impossible…" she murmured, "But practice? Does that mean they'll be back?"

"Looks like," Canderous muttered, "They'll probably attack us until they get it right. I've been trying to figure out who their end target could be. I know it isn't us, there aren't enough of us left to be a real challenge so I've been running through races trying to find one with a similar fighting style and let me tell ya, it ain't easy."

"Echani?" The Exile asked.

"No," he replied, "They're tough but the style is completely different."

She furrowed her brow, few races were as formidable in battle as the Mandalorians and those that were had vastly different approaches to battle, "I can't imagine who it might be, did you get any leads?" she asked.

"One," he replied, "A planet nearby that was settled by raiders a couple of hundred years ago. Similar styles, they were pirates and mercenaries and a real scourge to this end of the galaxy until the Jedi suppressed them. Run by women now, planet called Hapes."

"Hapes?" The Exile queried, "What would the Sith want with Hapes?"

"I don't know," he said, "But we're gonna find out. I sent a diplomatic message to the Queen Mother about an hour ago and hopefully I'll be able to set up a meeting. A bit of advice though, they HATE Jedi so you may want to dress down a bit and let me do the talking if this is gonna work.

"Of course," she replied, lowering her empty cup to the surface of the workstation, "Let me know when she gets back to you. In the meantime though, what can I do to help?"

"Nothing really," he said, "Just make sure the crew is up and ready to fly by evening and we should be alright…you also might want to check on your boy…"

"My boy?" she asked.

"Listen Lady, don't play ignorant with me." he growled, "I know you disappeared with Bao Dur good and early last night. A little connect-disconnect maybe? Spare me the details but I don't want you messing with a good man." he snarled.

Her jaw dropped, "Messing? What the hell?!" she snapped.

"Look the way those other two simpered around you, frankly I hoped you'd use 'em up like last weeks Juma. Maybe that way they'd learn," he said, "But Bao's a damned good tech, he does his job and he shuts the hell up about it. I don't want you getting him all twisted up inside because of your little connections"

"My…little…connections?!" she yelled, her face reddening in anger.

"You know just what I'm talking about Princess," he spat, "You managed to smooth things out with the Doc and Atton but only barely. You form these little connections with everyone you meet and you never think about what it does to them, especially the men."

"You think I do this on purpose?" she cried, "I'll have you know that I absolutely HATE what that does to people but it is something that happens as naturally as breathing. I can't control it!"

Canderous crossed the floor, gripping her arms and looking down into her face, "Can't? That doesn't sound very Jedi to me…that sounds like a Kinrath pup squalling," he said. She tried to squirm from his grasp but his hands were iron bands, "You try focusing on that for once in your little meditation sessions instead of whatever it is that you do and you may find the people around you a lot happier."

He had a point.

She absolutely hated it, but the man had a point. "Fine," she said through gritted teeth and he released her arms, "Canderous, why the hell are you always so hard on me?"

He didn't flinch, "Ke barjurir gar'ade, jagyc'ade kot'la a dalyc'ade kotla'shya – Train your sons to be strong but your daughters to be stronger."

His words wiped away all residual traces of anger from her features, her eyes widened, "Daughter?" she whispered.

"Look, don't get all sentimental," he said gruffly, reddening slightly, "It's just sorta how things have been working out. You get your butt stuck in a jam, I pull you out. You act like a Cannok's ass and I straighten you out...your connection to everyone is what ripped open that wound on you in the first place...I want you to be strong, to mind them so you don't get hurt like that ever again..."

"Oh," she replied, a bit stunned, "I suppose I hadn't thought of it that way. I was taken from my family when I was barely a toddler…I've never known what it is to have a father…"

"Look, this is a new thing to me too," he said, "I never had a kid, never had time or inclination to…always thought a girl would be nice…I must be getting soft in my old age…" he waved his hand dismissively and moved away from her.

The Exile moved in behind him, sliding her arms in behind his waist and hugged him fiercely. He stiffened initially but relaxed as she whispered in his ear, "I'm absolutely honored Canderous, and as angry as I may get sometimes I do respect everything you do for me. And please don't worry about Bao…it's not like the others…I…I love him..."

He turned slowly, searching her eyes for any hint of deception but received nothing but sincerity in return. A rare smile crossed his lips and he was more handsome than she had ever seen him, "I believe you," he said seriously, "Just be careful with him and with yourself…tell me, have you ever heard of a gai bal manda?"

Her eyes brightened as her face illuminated, "Do you really mean it?" she asked.

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't," he said gruffly, "But it's a serious thing, you would become Mandalorian…you would not be adopted or an honorary member…you would be my daughter…as true as blood…"

She looked into his cool grey eyes, he was deadly serious.

"Don't answer me right now," he said, "Just think about it today and if it still sounds good, meet me here at sunset..."

"I will," she said, heading towards the exit "I promise…"

"Oh, and just 'cause I know you're thinking about it, he's at the Telemetry computer." he cracked.

"Thanks Canderous…for everything…" she said, smiling as she headed out into the sun.