Moira felt about a thousand times better than she had after returning from Taral V. She had eaten something and gotten a full seven hours of sleep and was now getting some breakfast in the galley of her ship. Corso had been conked out when she had arrived and she had been relieved. She was too tired to get into a discussion with him about anything. When she had awoken, he had still been snoring softly and she had been ever so tempted to crawl into the bed and curl up in his arms. It was so safe and comforting in the big farm boy-turned-mercenary's arms. But if he had woken, he would like as not ask her to leave and wanted to have the long awaited conversation.

Part of Moira was dreading it. Sighing, she pulled out some fruit and hot cereal to heat up in the warming unit. Mixing water and cereal, she put them in the heater and began slicing fruit while it heated up. As she worked, she hummed to herself one of the songs she had heard Corso sing quite a bit. It was her favorite song now, had been for quite some time.

While she worked, there was a loud yawn and a throat clearing behind her. There in the doorway to the galley stood Corso Riggs, stretching and wearing sleep pants and a ragged and stained shirt with the sleeves cut off. His dreadlocks were let out of their top not and dangling around his shoulders and, by the stars, he looked gorgeous. "Hey, Captain;" he said with a smile.

Moira put the knife down and went over to him. "Hey, you;" she said, hugging him.

There was still hesitation before he hugged her back but she still reveled in the embrace. "What's for breakfast, Captain?"

"I'm having cereal;" she said, still not letting him go.

Corso chuckled. "Captain, you deserve better than that after a successful mission. Put the cereal in the 'fridge unit and I'll make you a proper breakfast."

Moira smiled and wriggled with pleasure. "Thanks, Corso. That would be great."

As Corso began cracking eggs and pulling our breakfast meat, he asked conversationally, "So how was it, Captain?"

Moira hesitated for just a second before saying, "It was tough but you know how Des, Dren and Alias are. They made sure I didn't so much as stub my toe."

"Good, good;" said Corso, looking at her between his locks out of the corner of his eyes. "so why the hesitation, Captain? Are they all okay? Did something bad happen?"

Moira sighed and said, "Truth is, the mission was only part of a larger operation. We got a piece of tech from an Imperial fortress. The tech was a Gree computer that would assist in navigating a nebula. The others are going to use it to find a space station that is apparently holding a Jedi Master prisoner. Des seems to think that it's very important; like, decisively win or devastatingly lose this war, important."

Corso nodded slowly and sighed. After another few seconds of silence and after he had put eggs, nerf sausage and tubers on to fry, he turned to face her, a small smile on his face. "And why aren't you going with them? You know that they could use your help, Captain."

Moira looked away. He was right of course. "I don't want to get involved in a war. Corso, you and I, we're rich now. We could do so much out there, go to any world, help so many beings but if we get involved with the Republic, they'll want us to follow their directives, go on their missions. I don't want to live that way."

Corso nodded. "Captain, you and I both know that the Republic military ain't for you. You're too free-spirited. But we both also know that you ain't gonna leave your friends when you need them and right now, they need you something fierce."

She still refused to meet his eyes. A large hand gently tilted her head to look up at him. "Moira, you and I both know that you are not going to let Des, Alias and Dren go on a mission like this without your help. It's not in your nature - not anymore. They're the best friends you and I got."

Moira looked into his eyes and resisted the urge to press her body against his and her lips against his. He probably wasn't ready for that yet. Though, he had called her by her first name for the first time in months. Progress.

"Now," he said, knowing that he had been right and that she was going to wind up heading off to catch up with the other three of the Republic's best, "when and where are you supposed to meet them?"

"Not sure;" sighed Moira in resignation. Just then, as if waiting on her decision to help, her comlink chimed. "This is Moira;" she answered.

"Moira, it's Des. Just in case you change your mind, we're going to be shuttled over to Admiral Oteg's ship in a couple hours. His task force will be heading for the Maelstrom Prison and while he engages, we'll be boarding the prison. Listen, Hon, we could really use you and you know it. What are we going to do without the Supreme Empress of enemy fortresses?"

Moira smiled and glanced at Corso. The big goof's lips curled into a knowing smile and nodded his head slowly and encouragingly. Sighing, Moira said, "I suppose I can come along. Force knows you boys would be helpless without me."

"Too true;" laughed Des, clearly delighted. "We'll see you there."

The line disconnected and said, "I guess I should get ready to go."

Corso chuckled. "You got two hours, Captain. That's plenty of time to eat a good breakfast and get ready. When we're done eating, I'll do maintenance on your weapons and pull some grenades from the arsenal. By the time you're ready, your kit will be too."

Moira smiled and said, "Alright. Now feed me. You took my cereal away so this food had better be stellar."

Corso gave a broad grin. "Isn't it always, Captain?"

Dren was eating his breakfast at the cantina. He had stayed the night in the quarters provided on the station instead of going back to his ship. As he ate, a being plopped down across from him. There sat Lieutenant Aric Jorgan. The Cathar soldier glared at him. "Well at least you commed when you got back and that's something but why didn't you return to the ship, Sir? We were all worried sick about you and had this whole return part planned!"

Immediately, Dren felt guilty. With a sigh, he set his fork down and said, "I just figured that-" but Jorgan cut him off with a wave.

"Captain, everyone on board the ship is aware that you and Dorne slept together and, frankly, I don't give a damn - or at least didn't until you started avoiding us. That is not acceptable and you blasted know it, Sir."

Part of the Corellian soldier wanted to dress his executive officer down for his harsh words but a bigger part knew that he was right. "You're right of course, Aric. I'm sorry. I was just worried about the whole promotion thing."

To Dren's surprise, the Cathar's eyes widened for a couple seconds and then narrowed. "You idiot;" growled Jorgan. "You think that Dorne is going to be pissed because you slept with her and then didn't promote her? Tell me something, sir: is that how you got any of your positions in the Army? Is that how you think I got mine? Where the hell is your head? She knows perfectly well that I was most likely promoted do to time in the unit plus the fact that I was shafted after the members of Havoc Squad defected. That is why I was promoted, right?"

Dren sighed and said, "That and I know you best and trust you best."

"Exactly! Now she's pissed because she thinks that you're avoiding her - which you are!"

Suddenly, Aric stopped and looked over Dren's head before grinning wickedly. "I think it's time that I left, Sir. Good luck. You'll need it."

Dren didn't know what he was talking about until another figure had taken his place - a female figure; a decidedly familiar female figure. "I'm glad I caught you before you flew off again, Sir."

Elara Dorne was glaring at him and Dren knew he had about two seconds before she laid into him and he took full advantage. "I apologize, Sergeant. My actions were inexcusable."

That managed to stop what would have probably been a truly epic tirade. Even so, she glared at him and he continued. "I was a coward. I got inside my own head too much and assumed things that were counter to what I knew about you. I guess-" and he took a deep breath before continuing, "I guess I was worried that you would transfer out and I would lose my medical officer. I figured if I gave you just a little time-"

"A little time?" she said, her voice perfectly calm in that blasted Dromund Kaas accent. "You gave me several days, Sir. AND you would have given me more if I hadn't decided to come and find you. How much time did you think I needed?"

"Did it really matter? It was all just childish and cowardly excuses."

"Yes it was, Sir. Why did you run?"

Dren felt his eggs and pancakes suddenly form a lump in his gut. "I was afraid that you would be angry that I didn't promote you, especially-"

He trailed off. It sounded more and more stupid the more and more he said it. Apparently, Elara agreed. "Especially after we slept together;" she said, her voice very, very quiet.

Slowly, she stood and said, "Captain Antilles, I had no intention of transferring out but after this, I am seriously considering it. If you think so little of me that I would be upset about two completely unrelated things or upset about either one for that matter, you clearly don't know me as well as I thought you did."

"Elara wait!" Dren said, reaching after her. She stopped and turned back to him, one eyebrow raised. "You are absolutely right. I didn't know you as well as I thought and I assumed something that was completely wrong. I panicked and did something very, very stupid."

"I know all of this;" she said, her voice still cool.

"I know that you know but the point is that I know it too."

She considered that. "What we did together was not an attempt to buy a promotion;" she declared, slipping back into her seat and whispering.

Dren groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I know that. I never even assumed that."

"I never even really expected to be promoted over Jorgan considering his record and history with you. I still presented my case because that is what was expected of me. I'm surprised that you even took that long to decide. I figured it would have been an easy answer. I didn't expect you to freak out after you did so."

Dren was blushing and sighed, leaning back and rubbing his temples. As if unable to help herself, Elara curled her lip and asked, "Are Republic women like that or are all Republic men so dense?"

"No, they are not and no, just me;" said Dren.

After a long and uncomfortable silence during which Dren tried to think of something to say more than he had already said, she stood again and said, "I will be preparing the paperwork for my transfer. You'll have some time to evaluate your opinion of me and whether I should be in this squad."

"I don't need time for that, Elara;"

"Well take it anyway;" she said, her voice giving way from cold to hurt. "and you can assure me of my value in this squad after you get back."

Dren stood too with a sigh and brought his tray to the waste bin. He turned to tell her that he would when he noticed that her facial expression had changed completely. It looked concerned. "No matter the result of our little dispute, Sir, please do return safely."

The Corellian nodded his head and resisted the urge to take her hand. Before she had the chance to leave, he whispered. "I'm sorry, Elara."

She studied for a moment before saying, "Then prove it. Return safely and make your case."

And then she was gone, leaving Dren with a lot to think about.

Des and Alias waited at the bottom of the boarding ramp. Dren strode up looking very grim and distracted. "Hey;" said Des, "Everything alright?"

"We'll see when I get back, Jedi. In the mean time, we have a Jedi Master to rescue."

Des and Alias looked at each other uneasily but they didn't push it. Both Jedi trusted the seasoned veteran to focus on the task at hand no matter what was bothering him. As Dren trudged up the ramp, Moira jogged up with a bright smile. She seemed to be in a very good mood. "Ready?" she asked.

Alias and Des nodded and motioned her to go ahead. Moira laughed and said, "You two just want to stare at my ass, don't you?"

They chuckled as they headed up behind her. Alias said, "Nope. We just want to make sure you can't change your mind."

"No chance of that. I couldn't bare it knowing that my boys are off and in danger without me."

"A.K.A.: Corso convinced you that you should come with us?" commented Des.

Moira narrowed her eyes. "Are you reading my mind, Jedi?"

"Nope;" said Des with a satisfied grin, "just guessing."

"Good, cause my mind is a scary, scary place."

They were silent for awhile until Moira realized that Dren was lost in thought which was out of character. He was usually joking and laughing louder than the rest of them. Instead, he seemed to be intentionally stuck in the corner. With a friendly smile, Moira went and scooted next to him. "Hey, soldier boy! What happened?"

"I talked with Elara?"

That caused Moira to freeze for just a moment before she said, "And?"

"I need to convince her to stay. She threatened to transfer and I need to convince her to stay. She said I have until I get back to make my case."

Moira was silent for a long time before saying, "Alright."

He looked at her, frowning. "'Alright?' What does that mean?"

"Well that means you and I are going to discuss how to keep her with you. Isn't that obvious?"

Dren sighed and said, "I really screwed up, Moira."

"Well what did you do exactly?"

Dren explained his mistake, mentioning how he avoided going back to the ship, his discussion with Aric and Elara's ultimatum. Moira took it all silently before saying, "Well you sure messed things up, didn't you, Dren? Good news is, if Corso can consider staying with me, I'm sure we, that is to say you, can convince her to stay with you."

"But Corso is head over heals in love with you, Moira. That's why he was so hurt and why he's still staying."

Moira shrugged, ignoring the churning in her own gut. "And you don't think that Elara cares about you? Of course she does, Nerf! That's why this hurts her so badly. Now come on. What are you going to say?"

Dren looked miserable as he began thinking through how he would convince Elara to stay in the squad. His first few attempts were enough to make Moira grimace but then, with her guidance, he began to find the words he needed. They landed on Oteg's ship and Moira said, "We'll keep working on it during down time between now and then."

Dren chuckled and said, "And if she stays, I'll owe you one."

Moira chuckled. "You must really be falling hard for her, Dren. I almost feel jealous."

"I'm not really falling for her its just that-" but when both Alias and Des turned and joined Moira, staring at him with incredulous looks, Dren sighed and said, "Yeah, I wasn't even convincing myself at that point."

They all laughed and slapped his back as they headed towards the bridge.