Chapter Title: The Right Thing

Series Title: Unlikely Brothers

POV: Dashen

Ages in this chapter: Tanner (14) Dashen (20)

Chapter Summary: The boys met Tago for the first time, one of Colton's most trusted crew who works the outskirts of Kaolin as a security spy. They make an impressionable first impression on their new friend.


So, we'd met Tago. He was... different.

I'd known of him in my few years since Tanner and I had come to living under the roof of Virgil Colton. Tago was not the typical Colton security. Whereas those persons were massive in height and width, Tago was relatively average in those dynamics. Relying less on brute strength and intimation than on cunning, quickness and impossibly impossible combat skills. The man was serious about his combat. He was also one of Colton's original crew of four (Sydenious, Kebrey and Colton himself being the other three) before his criminal empire and list of employees became the stuff of Kaolin legend.

"Sit. Stay. You move, you die."

Yup, those were Tago's first words to us. See what I mean? Different.

Tanner and I sat. Unmoving. I mean neither of us were in any hurry to die, especially in this type of stupid way, so we obeyed.

I kinda did want to ask why we'd die if we moved, but one look at this guy and I thought it best to keep my idiotic mouth shut until told to speak.

"Boss called me in for house-duty." Were his next words, as the eerie silvery eyes flicked toward us, away, and then back again. This was a man who knew every ounce of everything going on around him at given second. Alert, on edge and ready to slice and dice for any minuscule movement.

So, of course I found myself forgetting to breathe, wondering if my chest might rise too high on intake and he'd take my head off with his vibro-sword.

"I don't do house-duty." Were his next words.

My inner monologue wrapped up it's thoughts and yeah uh, oh, crap. Well... um...

Tago was truth. I'd never seen the man in Kaolin. Trust me, I would've remembered eyes that threatened to rip brows from my forehead with no more than a glance. He was Colton's outskirts chief and worked just beyond the bounds of the main city, often venturing into the far reaches of the planet of Terra itself. Tago was the main reason how and why Colton seemed to have eyes and ears everywhere. This guy had abilities that normal people could only dream about.

Did he know about Tanner's Jedi past? I'd put money on yes. Actually I'd put money on hell yes! If anything had ever gotten past this man... Yeah, who was I kidding? Nothing got past this man.

I wondered to myself if I could move now and I really did want to ask why we'd die if we did move and was it Tago that would do the killing or someone else we'd never met or would even see? That, and I really had to pee. Damn bladder.

"However," Tago continued, eyes darting toward the nearest window. Listening. Waiting. Anticipating. "When Boss calls all hands, we respond, no questions. You." He pointed at me. I stiffened and didn't even dare to blink. "Lesedi. I know your story. You." He pointed at Tanner. "Vai. I know your truth." Ah, hell. Another one? Though this one didn't seem to bother me as much as others knowing. If a secret got past Tago, he was probably dead. And if he was dead, well... yeah, there was that.

Tanner didn't seem concerned about that part of this predicament. Probably he'd sensed it or just assumed based on the two whole minutes we'd known this man, what he was and what he knew. The kid had a sharp sense for friend vs foe. Was it all that Jedi magic crap or just him being a better human and more open to the rare bits of good that still existed in the galaxy? I guessed both. I tried to draw from his calmness.

That calmness didn't extend to the whole move and die bit though. He was as uneasy about that as I was. I could feel it in the tension of his shoulder against mine.

"I know your stories and your truth. Don't cross me. I won't cross you. Deal?"

So, did he want us to speak? Because to speak, we had to move and if we moved we might die. It seemed a vicious circle of death.

While I tried to figure out how to agree with his plan without actual movement, this ridiculous smile came over Tago's paled face. "Eh, all right. You can move now. You obey well. Colton mentioned that you, Lesedi, might be a little problematic about obeying orders. He also mentioned that you were an idiot."

Okay, really? This guy was playing us this entire time? When Tanner next to me started giggling - yes, at fourteen years old he still giggled - then yup, he'd been playing us.

I punched my brother in the shoulder. "Don't laugh, dummy, you had no idea."

"No, but it's funny. You're funny, Tago."

Tago brushed a hand through his long white hair, pushing it away from his eyes so we could see the humor there. "It is how I stay sane, young one. Being eyes and ears for Colton for the entire planet can be a bit tedious. I do need my fun when I can find it. Thank you for that Lesedi."

Though irritated, my entire body did eventually relax. Tanner had no sense of irritation, damn the kid. He had this inane ability to let things go if there was no actual danger or emotional trauma involved. Especially if he liked you. Tanner liked Tago already. Figured. I'd hold out judgement for a man who just finished threatening to kill me if I as much as flinched.

Yes, my grudges ran longer than thirty seconds.

"However," Tago moved on, "I'm here for reasons. The boss doesn't pull us from the field unless it means something. There's a threat roamin' round. Some absurdly filthy street healer name Fasullo. You know him, Lesedi. Probably better than you should."

Yes, Fasullo. The street healer I'd turned to when my world had collapsed not long after Kossi died. I was suicidal and trying hard to put myself out of my misery. Fasullo gladly fed me the drugs I'd needed. Of course, of the many things I'd screwed up in my life, this was just one more thing at the time. I couldn't even end my poor excuse for a life correctly. The death sticks I'd taken, they'd made me violently ill for days, but I'd lived. Fasullo happily sold me more, knowing full well my plight of suicidal depression. Hell, he even probably intentionally sold me lesser sticks first round so that I'd live, feel even worse about myself then come back to him for another sale. He was all about making a buck.

But now? Honestly, I'd not had any contact with that thing since Tanner had come into my life. So what exactly was this that was happening?

"I regret my dealings with him if that's what you mean." I told Tago. "It was not a time of my life that I'm proud of nor do I ever want to repeat."

"I don't judge one's past, Lesedi. We all have our histories. We all have our traumas. Focus on the threat in front of you now. Have you seen him, even in passing recently? Either of you?"

Tanner and I exchanged a look. He shrugged. Not sure he had any clue what Fasullo looked like. I'd made every effort to keep Tanner far away from any place that the dirty street snake would venture.

"I've not seen him in several years." I gave Tanner a description. His eyes got wide. "Wait, Tanner, you've seen him? Talked to him?"

Tanner shook his head. "No, well, yes. Kind of? The last three days on my way home from school, I walked past someone that sounds similar in description. I remember him because he seemed out of place for who I usually see that time of day."

"Details, young one. All you got." Tago came to sit across from Tanner. Silver eyes intense again as Tanner recalled the details. It certainly did sound like Fasullo and why the hell was he stalking my brother?

"Tago, is Tanner in danger?"

"Short answer, yes." There was a long version of that? "It's why I've been called in with the others. That damn dirty healer has his slithery scales all over this town. Threats have been overheard. Legitimate rumors."

That last word terrified me. Rumors of what? Did Fasullo know about Tanner being a Jedi? The man would sell a child to slavers in a second, I'd no doubt if he got his claws on Tanner that he'd do much worse.

"You both will stay out of sight until such time as the threat can be contained and the rumors eliminated."

Yup, folks were gonna die. As the architect of his own criminal empire, Virgil Colton had very few lines. But when you crossed them... "So, we are housebound?" I asked Tago.

"Ideally, Colton wants to move you out of town. I'd be against that move myself. Leaves too much space to cover if Fasullo gets wind. I'll be talkin' to the boss shortly and recommending you hole up in your own place."

So the sitting duck idea. That sounded like fun. Or not. "That sounds exciting and all, but won't we be an easy target just lounging around at home?"

"Yes and no. We can protect you better there with more manpower."

I never pretended to be an expert on this type of thing, but this sounded like an absolutely horrible idea. I didn't know the type of power Fasullo had up his disgusting sleeves, but all he needed was to get his claws on some type of small fighter and torpedo the house, right? Isn't that how things worked? I relayed those concerns to Tago.

"Ain't no indication he's gotten off-planet help. He's slimy and dirty, but he's not got much leverage outside of Kaolin. Bottom line, few are willing to risk their own lives for a snake like him without massive reward."

"But inside the city?"

"Inside is a different story. He uses blackmail for much of his gain and some people will do nasty things to stay out of trouble themselves."

Which brought me back to my point about leaving town. "We could go, leave the planet even, if he's got no leverage beyond Kaolin, it would make sense for us to leave. I don't get why you think we should stay."

Tanner who'd been listening to every word and nuisance of the conversion tilted his head to the left, squinted just enough as he caught Tago's eyes. Oh yeah, I knew that look. Everything had just clicked into place for him. "I get it. I know why." Of course he did. He was busy paying attention to the world around him, I was busy worrying myself about the safety of my little brother. "You want this Fasullo guy gone. Forever. Well, Colton does. He's trouble and always has been. His threats against me give the best chance to remove him permanently and legitimately. If we leave town, who knows when or if that chance will come again. I'm right, aren't I, Tago?"

Reaching out a hand and holding it outward, Tago bumped his fist against Tanner's. "Sharp ain't you, boy?"

"I try to pay attention."

Was that a slam at me? Probably. Should I defend myself? Probably that too. Tanner did it for me. Kinda.

"Dash would have seen it, but he worries about me. And when he worries about me..."

"I know the story, young one. Dashen, I know your entire story, in case you wonder."

Um, what?

Tago continued. "I've been eyes and ears around here forever, boy. Before I played the outskirts, I was internal. Nothing got by me in Kaolin. Saw your family when you were young and after your folks passed. Saw you broken down after that baby brother of yours fell. Real sorry about him. That boy was something else. Everyone loved him."

Everyone always loved Kossi. It was fact that no one would ever disprove. Though it was a bit disconcerting that this Tago character knew all of this. I was understanding now that he was essentially a spy for Colton for years, but I wasn't on Colton's radar back when I was younger. At least I hadn't thought I was. And maybe I wasn't. Maybe Tago just knew everything and anything to protect his boss and crew and I was just one of a crowd.

"You picked up though, Lesedi, and made a life for yourself. I imagine that boy would've been damned proud. Now here you are, looking after this young one. There are worse things in the galaxy than having someone to worry over, you know. But my suggestion would be that you leave the thinking to the young one there and you can fill in the pieces."

So, yeah, this was a weird conversation. Tago's silver eyes were honest though and I was getting the impression that this guy was as real as they came. Also that he loved the hell out of his job. Could be we'd be all right.

I agreed with him. "Gotcha. I'll leave the thinking to Tanner and I'll hang around to make sure he doesn't fall on his face."

"Seems about right. Good to finally meet you boys. Heard lots of chatter from Sydenious and Kebrey."

"Oh yes, they're both huge fans of mine," I said, drawing hard at the sarcasm. "I'm sure they've got a list of wonderful things to share about me."

"Eh, could be worse. They do love the young one here."

Of course they did.

"They do a lot of thinking that you're an idiot. But that seems to go with the territory. You're gonna grow on them one day."

"Sure. Like some type of infectious moss most likely."

Tago tilted his head in a nod. "Most likely."

"I love you, Dash, if no one else does." Tanner, chiming in. Always looking after me.

I sighed. "I'll survive, Mouse. So, Tago, what's the plan?"

"Gimme a sec. Got it. The plan." Fastest second in the history of the galaxy right there. Wow! "My plan is the only plan. Gonna let the boss know."

Normally I'd have loved to see that type of confrontation. Anyone versus Virgil Colton. No one won against that man. At anything. Tago did. Had. Could. Would. There'd be no contest. The man wasn't who he was for nothing. Colton would not leave him out there covering the city for years on end without complete trust in his actions and plans. Looks like we were home for the duration.

"What do Tanner and I need to do?"

"Not a thing, Lesedi. Literally, not a thing. You sit. Stay. Don't move." Really? That again? "Well, all right you can move, you know me by now, right?"

Uh, no? Tago was one peculiar man. But he liked us, so there was that. And he was dedicated to duty and to Colton.

"You're gonna stay here in the house. You got comm with only four persons. Me, Kebrey, Colton or Sy on secure channel. No comm with anyone else. Young one, Colton is handling your school, apparently you worry on school."

"He does," I chimed in. "School is his thing. He'll fret about not being able to go to class. So this is great, Tanner, now you'll have more time to stare at walls."

"Meditate."

"Yeah, that."

"You gotta teach me some of that meditation science you do there, young one. Quiet time can be hard to come by with all the moving around that I do."

Tanner perked up at Tago's comment. Someone actually wanted to know about boring mediation. Oh joy. "I can do that. I like you Tago."

"Kinda like you too, young one. Lesedi?"

"I'll pass on the mediation, thanks. Glad you two like each other, hope that keeps that keeps Tanner alive. I'd enjoy keeping my little brother around."

"Ain't nothing gonna happen to him, Lesedi. You do worry, don't you?"

"Can't help it, it's been bred into me with a crap load of people that I love dying on me. Trying to end that trend. As you apparently know, the last one about killed me. Would have if not for some backwards luck and my own inability to die by my own hand."

"Eh, not gonna blame that you for that one. I've lost family before. Ain't easy. Especially a baby brother. Gonna keep this one alive for you. Swear it to you both."

WIth that, Tago stood, crossed both armor-covered arms against his chest and tapped them twice there. No idea what that was, but it seemed important.

"My people. A promise. Commitment that will only be broken upon death. Mine, not yours."

Protecting us to the death? A guy who met us less than thirty minutes ago? My day hadn't started out this weird.

"That's all fine and all, but how can you make a promise like that to someone you just met? I mean we've known you for all of less than an hour. Now this solemn commitment? Not that we aren't grateful, we are, but is this really weird to anyone else except me?" I'd said that part out loud. I think I'd meant to do that.

Tago's eyes settled on mine. I mean, dead on. If there was such thing as a soul gaze, this would've been it. And they stayed that way for uncomfortably long seconds. "You found him and you promised him the same, yes?" He motioned to Tanner. "Found him in a hole in the wall, saved him, cared for him, promised him. Didn't know the kid from anything. Yet you held onto him and did the right thing."

I did. I had.

Still to this day, I've no idea why. I nodded.

"This here, protecting the both of you, this is the right thing. That's all there is to know. And it's how it'll be. So don't be bothering me with ridiculous questions."

And that was that. What seemed ridiculous to me on the outside, meant something very different to Tago on the inside. Stars, Colton knew how to pick these guys, didn't he? Honorable. Dedicated. Sometimes scary as hell, but people he could trust do to what their duty and heart told them to. Was that me? Could those things even begin to describe what I was? Did Colton see those things in me and is it why he took an interest in me when my life had fallen to crap? Tanner would think those thoughts about me. Like Kossi, he thought better of me than I did myself. But could I honestly call myself honorable and dedicated and letting my heart lead me? I guess. Maybe. Or not really. What I did know was that Colton had a type in those he trusted most. Tago - save for his small stature - represented every last bit of that type.

—-

It stayed weird for the next few days and the days after. A week droned by. I was bored to tears. Tanner was not as he spent his days studying his Jedi training. Both what he'd learned at the Temple and what he'd learned from Ben Kenobi. Meditation was a major part of that, but so was flinging things at my head using his annoying Jedi magic.

Tago was our morning guard. He'd join us for breakfast and give us the intel on the events of the overnight. Those silver eyes of his - they had the most stunning of yellow centers - served a purpose beyond being fascinating. They allowed for excellent night vision without the use of binocs or goggles. Less gear to haul around allowed for faster movement and stealth. As I said, the man was smaller in stature, but quick, fast and impossibly trained in the combat arts.

Sixth morning. Quiet. He hadn't shown for the meal. Tanner and I wondered. Worried. We'd learned many things about the man since we'd met him a week ago, and tops on that list was he was punctual. Not a second late to anything unless he was busy strangling or kicking the snot out of someone. Maybe this was that, but it didn't feel like it when Kebrey and Colton showed up instead.

"Colt, where's Tago?"

I looked up at Colton. As tall as I was, I was still a head shorter than the big blonde man. About half the width too. Colton briefly set a hand on my shoulder. "No word yet. He didn't show at post this morning before daybreak. No comm. Sy's out. He'll find him."

"Something's wrong," Tanner said coming toward me. "Colton, I feel... it's um... Tago isn't Force sensitive is he?"

"He's not."

"He's... I feel... him? Or I think it's him. In my head. I mean, not him, not in my head, but well, in my head. Why does this feel so strange if he's not a Force user? Dash..."

Tanner stumbled. Colton and I moved in sync to have hands under him, sitting him down. I took his face in my hands then. "Mouse, what do you feel?"

"Dizzy. Really dizzy. But it's him, I know it's him. Whenever he's around, there's this almost imperceptible buzz that I feel. Like the hum of an energy that I usually get when around nature and animals."

"His people are known for their closeness to nature. Tannerlin, could that link you in some way?" Colton sat in the chair closest to my brother to keep his large form from looming over a much smaller Tanner.

"Maybe. I don't know. The Force is all around nature. Sometimes it's a light, sometimes just a feeling. It's called the Living Force. Master Ayden taught me in it and Ben said his master dedicated to it. If it can be part of person too, I never learned. But maybe. I mean, if it can be in nature and animals, why not a person close to nature? Um..." There was a wobble and he almost fell over before we caught him.

"Tannerlin," Colton began, "Can you tell us where he is?"

Tanner shook his head. "Not without following the energy. I can't pinpoint it unless I'm close to it. Right now it's just intermittent, but it's him. How I know, I don't know, but I know. I just know that I know."

Right. That was starting to sound off even for Tanner. "Colt, we'd have to venture outside. This could be a trap by Fasullo."

"The slithery snake is a smart slithery snake. I put nothing past him. If he knows the boy's Jedi past, then he'll know Tago can draw him in. Fasullo and Tago have a history. Not a pretty one either."

"Well, we've gotta save him then. He risked his life for us, we should risk ours for him. It's the right thing to do."

Huh. So those words just came out of my mouth. How moronic was I? Too far gone to count maybe but Tanner agreed with me. He scooted himself to the edge of his seat. "You can keep us safe, Colt, and we can find him. I can find him. We need to. Tago is part of your family."

A giant, extended weirdo family. My life got stranger every day.

Tanner was right though. Tago had risked himself to help us, to help my brother. We had to return the favor. He was a good guy and good guys aren't all that easy to come by.

So off we went. Kinda. Colton and Kebrey were armed to the teeth and maybe even their teeth were armed, who knew. Sydenious returned from his failed search to join us. He was a head taller than Colton who was a head taller than me and I was a couple heads taller than Tanner, so we made quite the impression as we moved out the door. Kebrey brought up rear guard, Sydenious in front. Colton kept Tanner and me pinned to his side.

"Okay, Mouse," I whispered to my brother. "Tell us where to go."

Our not so subtle stroll lead us through main Kaolin - eyebrows raised and a few people skirted into hiding - and then we moved in the opposite direction of the spaceport. I was glad for that. Spaceports are well known attractions for bounty hunters and other greedy bastards that would feed on Tanner and light him up in seconds. They'd also feed on slithery healers trying to sell them bad juju. Fasullo would stay clear of the port.

Tanner's steps were deliberate and seconds later he stumbled. "I need to stop for a minute." He finally admitted. "I need to refocus, reach out and feel. We're close, but it's not clear."

Stopping here was a bad idea. We were in the middle of nothing with far too much wide open space yet. We were also too close to places where a well-hidden sniper or other assassin under Fasullo's charge could be looming. The creep was a street healer. A dealer. How powerful he actually was and who he may have hired, I'd no clue.

My eyes darted into every corner of everywhere. "Yeah, this is not a good place to stop, Mouse."

"Dash, I have to. If I go the wrong way, it could be bad."

We stayed stopped. Senses alert, high. Tanner closed his eyes to feel. Several small whimpers escaped as he struggled for direction. Then, "Left. We need to go left. Toward the ship wreckage."

Years ago, an old ship - a cruiser of sorts - had crashed and become something of a landmark just outside main Kaolin. I remembered me and Kossi playing in the thing as a kid. It was huge and well, it had been to space. Kossi was obsessed with flying through space one day, so he loved visiting the crash site. Now though, now it was taking on an entirely different meaning.

"Colton, he's in the wreckage. The hum is louder. And hot. Really hot."

I glanced up to see smoke beginning to pour from the far end of the wreckage. Hell, they were gonna burn Tago to bits! So, no, that wasn't going to happen.

"He's burning. I feel him burning. We have to help him, Colt. Tago is burning."

The big man paused for a second too long. Long enough for me to make the decision for all of us.

"I'll go in," Yup, that was me. "Tanner can't go and someone has to keep him safe."

"Leaving your brother, that's unlike you, Dashen."

"Well, some weird amor-plated guy with creepy silver eyes once told me certain decisions were the right thing. This seems to be that. They can keep him safe," I pointed to Kebrey and Sydenious. "Me and you can save Tago."

Tanner grabbed my arm. "Dash, it's hot in there. You need to go slow and think about your steps. Please."

I reached down to set my forehead against Tanners. "I promise, little brother. See you soon. Love you."

"Love you back."

Colton and I dove for the wreckage at the exact moment blaster fire erupted behind us. A momentary stutter in my step, wanting and needing to run back to my brother. I kept moving forward. Just as Colton had trust in his people, I would have trust in them to keep Tanner safe.

Inside the ship wreck, Colton and I moved quickly towards the area where the most intense heat was emanating. There was fire ahead. Burning blue and orange and Tago was in the middle of it. Unexpected was that Fasullo was there also. Tago had him in some type of short-armed head lock that the slimy healer could not escape. Both of them were on fire, the flames having flushed embers into their clothes.

"Tago!" Colton called to him. Tago shook his head at his boss.

"No way, boss! He lives, he stays dangerous. Wants to sell the young one outright. Slavers on Karbon are offering high dollar for kids his age for bad things. I mean bad and evil things. They'll give him twice the Empire's Jedi bounty. This thing, he can't keep breathin', boss. The snake's gotta be fried."

"You're gonna be fried, Tago. Damn it, come on!"

Karbon slavers getting their greedy meaty paws on Tanner? There were very few reasons that slavers on Karbon kept kids, and it wasn't manual labor. I knew Fasullo was despicable and I knew he got his kicks off watching and helping kids fall to pieces, but this was below even him. This was below any sentient creature in the galaxy.

Tago was there in the fire, willing to burn to death to keep Fasullo from escaping to hurt Tanner or any other child. Willing to die in the name of a kid he'd met less than a week ago. How impossible to believe was that?

Too impossible apparently and Colton was having none of it. In a split second decoision, the big man drew a blaster with one hand, pushed me onto the floor with another and opened fire.

"Dashen, down! Tago, hold!"

I went down hard, slammed into the solid floor in one fluid motion. You know, I hadn't ever gotten a feel of Colton's sheer brute strength before. It had never really been aimed at me other than to drag me around by the scruff of my neck for being an idiot. But now... Stars, the man had more power in his one arm than I could claim in all of me. I went down flat, covered my ears and stayed put. Colton had killed. He would kill. Never once did he take pleasure in it or take the action without necessity, but I enjoyed staying ignorant to that side of his world. He knew that, hence my position on the cold metal floor.

Even with my ears covered, the blaster fire was so close, it was deafening beyond the intense whoosh of the white-hot fire. The next feeling after that - no idea how long, time had kinda paused in my head - I was being dragged upwards by the scruff of my neck. Yes, the scruff. See? Told you so.

"Go! Outside. Tell Kebrey to call Quin. Now!"

The order was barked and I ran. Call Quin. Got it. Colton was dragging Tago out of that fire one way or another. From the corner of my eye, I looked back. Only one form stood in the fire circle now. On the ground, Fasullo's body was being engulfed in flames. Colton had at least spared him the horror of burning alive. I'm not sure the man deserved that type of mercy, but my expertise was more in worrying about little brothers than execution. What did I know?

I did know and see my little brother alive and upright and launching himself into my arms when he saw me running from the smoking ship.

"Oof!" He hit me hard. "Kebrey," I shouted, "Colton needs Quin here now."

"On it." Kebrey said.

I turned back to my brother. "Fasullo's dead. Tago's hurt. You guys okay? Tanner?"

I held my brother away. He nodded quick. "I'm okay. There were two of them out here firing at us." Not anymore. Glancing to my left and right, I saw the shadow of two bodies lying at odd angles. Dead. And my brother was safe.

Colton emerged from the ship shouting commands and orders. Not sure he needed to, Kebrey and Sydenious were already moving. Healer Quin - always on retainer and no questions ever asked - was seconds away. Dwarfed and dragging heavy on Colton's left side was Tago. He looked horrible, but was no longer on fire.

Quin - in Colton's impenetrable ground car - rolled up and immediately began treating Tago, setting him into the rear of the car, pulling off burnt clothes and slapping bacta patches on the worst of the wounds. Tago's breaths came heavy. For a time I swore he was about to cough up a lung or other random organ. The healer got him settled and laid back, breathing slowly into an oxygen bag. Tanner moved to him and took ahold of his pale-skinned hand. He'd made quick friends with the security spy and needed to make sure his friend was all right.

"S'good, young one. Nothing that won't heal up." Tago's normally husky voice was quieter. Strained. Direct inhalation of smoke will do that to you.

Finishing up her initial work, Quin began herding us away. "Okay, boys. We need to get him further treatment. You can see him later."

We could, but I needed to say this thing to him now. I pushed closer against Quin's glare. "Make it quick, Lesedi." Did no one use my first name anymore around here? Ugh!

"Hey Tago," I said to him, as he was still prone in the back of the car. "What you did, what you were willing to give up - for my brother - I can't ever thank you for that in a way that would do it justice. You barely know us, him, and you would've died for him. I'll be in your debt for a long time."

"Nonsense, Lesedi. I did what was right. That brother of yours, good kid. Some things are worth dying for. Good people. You left him to help save me. That's somethin' too."

I shrugged. "Yeah well, I did what was right. Apparently, you've grown on me. Damn it. Hate when that happens."

"Not all bad, kid. Not all bad." There was an unsuccessful attempt at curtailing a groan of pain. The burns running deep enough that simple bacta patches weren't going to cut it. Quin physically moved me out of the way this time. I don't always obey well, so the scruff of my neck was again used as a lifting piece.

"Okay, okay. I'm moving."

—-

We visited Tago that night. He was released a day later and eager to get back to the outskirts two days after, but Colton paused his return to duty until everything had healed completely and full strength was restored. So, basically another three days. But who was counting? Tanner was. He'd gotten attached to Tago, more so after feeling the man's 'Force signature' as he called it during the rescue. No, Tago wasn't Force sensitive or a user, we confirmed that, but Tanner's ability to see whatever magic it was - that living Force thing - gave the kid a deeper perspective of the guy. For his part, Tago didn't feel any of that magic, but Tanner had a way of sucking people in. Unless you were pure evil or just a nut case, Tanner was impossible to dislike. Being away from any real close-knit bonds for an extended period during his extended tour as Colton's outskirt spy, Tago got sucked in rather easily.

They spent those days of recovery talking about boring things and playing several strange gambling holo-games. I spent some of that time thinking. One question I couldn't figure and wanted to know an answer to. Tago was this guy that saw everything, heard everything, was aware of everything around him any time. So...

"Hey, Tago. How the hell did Fasullo get the jump on you anyway?"

"Ah, Lesedi, out of the blue there, huh? Been waiting for you to ask that question."

I frowned and raised an eyebrow in question. "You have?"

"Sure. Actually, the young one and I here had a bet going. How long before you asked it. How's that, young Tannerlin?"

Tanner grinned. "Yup. Sorry, Tago. I win this one. Dash's face gets all scrunchy when he's trying hard to not ask something but can't wait to ask it. I saw it coming this morning."

"You win the bet then." The man delved into his travel bag and pulled out a rectangle-y object that looked just like, yup, one of those cruddy paper books that my little brother adored. Figured. "Here you go, young one. Rare find this one is. Read it three times myself. Good pal of mine passed it to me before he retired. Passing it down to you. Keep it safe now."

Didn't have to tell Tanner twice when it came to books. "I will treasure it."

"Knew you would. Boys, I need to be going. Boss finally getting me free. Work to do. The outskirts don't police themselves now do they?"

He stood. We all did. This curiously agreeable sense of safety came over me seeing the full picture of this Tago guy. Smallish. Silvery. Pale. Decked out in black. He was an odd combination in the looks department. I'd put money that people underestimated him his entire life. Probably similar with Tanner in that respect. Maybe it's why they got on so well so fast. We'd see him again. Sooner rather than later. Colton wanted us to get combat training. We'd had basic training for years now, once a week at most, but nothing at the level Tago could teach. Neither me or my brother would ever approach even a quarter of his abilities, but he had methods and secrets and it's what we needed to better protect ourselves on a daily basis.

"You boys are due to report to me in three months time. Don't be late and be ready to train and hurt after, yeah? Ain't no infantile combat skills you'll be learning with me. You gain with pain is how I see it."

That sounded fun. Yeah. I did enjoy getting beat to hell. One of my favorite pastimes. My expression was flat. Tanner's formed a big toothy smile. I shook my head. This kid. Ugh, this kid was so like Kossi. I saw it more and more every day, every year. It's like they were cut from the same cloth.

Tago pounded me on the back, shaking me from my memories. "Lesedi. You watching out for the young one here."

"Always do."

"I know. That baby brother of yours woulda been proud. Good kid he was. Good kid you are. Don't forget it, you got that?"

"I won't. Thanks for saving Tanner and giving one less anxiety. See you in three months then."

Our hands gripped firm. Tight. Silver eyes matched my green just before he turned to Tanner. Tanner, who was already drifting in for a hug. Always the hugger. Tago was not much taller than my brother - always small for his age - so the hug was perfectly sized.

"I'll miss you, Tago. Be safe."

"You the same, young one. Take care of this one here. He loves you something fierce and he worries. Not always the best combination. But for him, it's the right thing. And keep that magic of yours secret. Strong stuff, saved my life. I'll be watching from a distance. You got my comm. Wanna hear from you both, got it? Gets boring on them outskirts at times."

"Promise."

They released and Tago did that thing with his arms again, crossing them and tapping them twice against his chest, then he hurried out the door, into a waiting speeder and was gone.

Of course it wasn't until after he was gone that I realized he'd not actually told me how Fasullo had gotten the drop on him. He knew. Tanner knew. No one was telling.

Damn outskirt spy. Damn Jedi.

Tanner tapped me on the shoulder. "Dash?"

I turned. Confused. Frustrated. The contented expression on my brother's face and those emotions melted away. "What's up?"

"Let's go watch a holo-film. It's been a busy week. That creepy Fasullo guy and his cronies are gone and can't ever hurt another kid. We have a new friend who will give up his life for us, but who can also kick our butts from here to Tatooine before we'd have a chance to intake a breath. I got to use my Force skills. You got to save a life and your neck is only a little sore from where Colton smacked you onto the ground to avoid seeing him kill someone. I'm pretty sure we almost died this week too. Maybe more than once. It all got a bit jumbled after a while. I could use some relax time with my brother."

"You know I don't like the other side of what Colton does. But I'm not sorry that Fasullo is dead. Not sorry at all. If anyone ever deserved it... He hurt a lot of people. I take blame for what I did to myself after Kossi died, but that guy was feeding from my despair. What he was going to do to you... yeah, he earned his demise. There's this odd sense of relief that he's gone. I'd always worried about him creeping back into my life, mainly as it concerned you. Then he did. He can't do it anymore. I can still worry, but it's one less worry."

I set an arm around my brother.

"A good holo-film would be perfect about now. As Tago would say, it's the right thing."

"He did say that a lot. I really like him Dash."

"I know you do."

"He likes you too. I know you have this thing about that, people not liking you, but it's not always true. The important ones like you."

"Quality over quantity?"

"Something like that."

"I'm okay with not being the favorite, Mouse. I really am. For most of my life before you, it was me and Kossi. A few casual friends here and there but they never stuck around. I'm good with what I've had and have. You. Colton. I guess Tago now. Hell, even Kebrey. I think Sydenious would toss me off a cliff if giving the opportunity, but you can't please them all."

"And your girlfriend, Jaylen."

"Yeah, well, she's off and on. She's always working these days and can I count on her to walk through fire for me like you or Colton and apparently Tago would? Doubt it. But again, I'm okay with that. You got your thing, I got mine. I'm glad to know Tago though. Another one of those meant to be situations. Seems to happen a lot since you came along."

A quick half-hug and we hurried up the steps to our apartment. Prepping some snacks for the holo-film, I reached for my comlink that was annoyingly chirping in my pocket. Message from Tago. I played it.

'Lesedi. How Fasullo got the jump on me. Never answered the question, did I? Gotcha there, kid. I got nabbed on purpose. Took wind of his plan after some scouting and reports from Sy. Playin' on the young one's ability to track me or at least point the boss in the right direction. That Force magic of his working damn good, ain't it? Met you boys. Had to protect you. Fasullo was pure evil, hurtin' kids like he did. If I had to go out to end him, so be it. It was the right thing. Always the right thing protecting those close to you. You know that better than most. Stay true to it. Be good. Be safe. Three months, be ready. Give the young one my best, good kid."

Huh. There we went again, making impressions on people we'd just met. All Tanner's doing really. I was just riding his coat tails.

"Mouse, come on!" I shouted to the other room. "Set up the film, I've got snacks. Tago sent a comm. Sends his best, he'll see us for butt kicking in three months."

"Oh, that sounds painful and fun." Tanner bounded onto the couch and plopped down. "He got caught on purpose, didn't he?"

"He did. Thought you knew."

"Nah. But I figured it out. Remembered a talk he and I had while playing one of his gambling games during the mornings he was on guard. He asked me about the Living Force. Said he'd heard rumors and then talked about his people and their closeness with nature. Didn't know it at the time, but he was leaving a trail for me to follow if I had the ability. He's smart, Dash, and crazy good at what he does. Glad he's on our side."

"Me too. Though in three months time, we may be singing a different tune."

"He's going to kick our tails in combat training so bad."

"Yup."

"And he is going to enjoy doing it."

"That too."

Tanner shrugged, tapped the play button on the monitor and sat back, hand already in the snack bowl. Relaxed and happy after a whacky week of I really don't know what all just happened. But I had my brother and a new ally. Everything was good. Everything was right.


END