Kyrimorut

Essie sat with Maze, listening to him detail everything about the Gunner Settlement; he was thorough. It was in Wild space, and from their investigations was sparsely inhabited and had no contact with the Empire and had nothing they required.

The Gunner had been there several months with no problems from anyone.

"It's ideal!" Concluded Maze, "for the moment."

Essie glanced at him then returned to study the star map. She always found it difficult to visualise the distances and travel time; it never seemed to make sense. She couldn't order it in her brain, it was the numbers but when she looked at the map there was an area that stood out to her. It was almost flashing in her eyes. She now knew she had been relying on the force to help her understand numbers for years.

"What's that area there?" She pointed to the sector flashing in her mind, their planetoid was on the edge.

"That's the Unknown Regions; it's not been explored by the Republic because navigation through there is difficult due to the hyperspace anomalies. They tried but failed. The Gunner has been able to navigate safely to that area because of the Force sensitives on the ship. Some of the planets in there use force sensitives to navigate through it as a matter of course." Maze explained to her. He sounded just like he had when she first met him. The no nonsense soldier.

"So the Empire doesn't go in there because they don't have many force sensitives left, other than the Inquisitors and can't navigate there safely." She clarified.

"Exactly!"

"Is there a species more powerful than others in that sector?"

"Chiss!"

"Chiss. I've read of them but never seen any."

Maze tapped a few keys and brought up details and an image of a tall, blue skinned female with blue black hair and striking red eyes. Essie studied her; she was obviously a soldier.

"As far as we know this area," he pointed, "is occupied predominantly by the Chiss Ascendancy." Maze said.

"As far as we know?" Asked Essie moving closer to him, watching the screen, "And this Ascendancy, are they Force users?".

"We don't know. They're secretive."

"I'm not sure if that's good or bad but I don't get any feelings that they're hostile." She added, before scrolling down the screen, reading the information.

Maze watched her intently.

"The occupants of the planets in Wild Space say they're supposed to be great warriors. Clever, resourceful, proud and intensely loyal."

"Apparently." Murmured Maze, still watching her. This was what she loved doing, sifting through Intel.

She read further.

The Chiss were renowned throughout the Unknown Regions for their military might. Isonationalist to outsiders with a strict policy prohibiting first strikes. The Ascendancy was regarded as a legend.

Maze watched as she read, until she turned, "A legend?"

He shook his head, "They're there alright."

Reading on.

The Ascendancy almost never involved itself in affairs beyond the bounds of its own space, it kept its presence hidden from other powers in the galaxy. The Chiss Ascendency was not expansionist, instead pursuing exploration and research.

"Unless we attack them, they're unlikely to contact us?"

"That's right. What do you think?"

"I'm in. Let's make the arrangements."

He pulled her closer kissing her.

.

Del sat with Kad, building something, neither of them were sure what it was going to be but it was spilling out over the dining room floor and Kad had now brought some boxes from the pantry, just because they were exactly the right size for what they needed.

He placed four armoured soldier figures just outside the perimeter.

"Who are they?" Del asked, this was not what he was imagining.

"Buir!" Confirmed Kad.

"Good!" It was all his friend needed to say, because he felt he was happy.

They ran back getting more boxes. Del was balancing three when he stopped. There was something different about Mammy and Maz'buir. He always thought of him like that in his head but never said it out loud. They were planning something but he didn't know what but they were worried. That cold feeling in his stomach had come back; the last time he had that was when Maz'buir was in Bacta.

"Del!"

"Here Kad." The thought disappeared, as he rushed back to his friend.

.

Essie went in search of Besany; she needed to tell someone other than Zey what she and Maze had finally decided, and start making the arrangements; although knowing this place, most people probably knew by now. She spotted Ordo studying a datapad and walking across the courtyard at the same time.

"Ordo!" She called out, "Ordo!" He looked across at her; he always looked faintly surprised when she spoke to him.

"Do you know where Besany is?"

"No!" His eyebrows drew down into an ARC frown that looked so different on him than Maze, which always surprised her, 'Why? Is she okay?"

"Yes. As far as I know. I just want a chat. Girl talk."

His eyes narrowed, by now he had worked out that 'girl talk' meant the women discussed their significant others at length and in detail; he never found out exactly what they said. Besany always skirted around the subject—successfully. He thought about eavesdropping but when he mentioned it to Mereel he said that was a really bad idea and to remember Maze. He mentioned it to Maze, who just gave him that Alpha look and said that he should be thankful that's who they were discussing and not some di'kut in Enceri or Keldabe.

"It was getting a little warm inside. She was going to get some shade to cool down. She was feeling very hot."

"Oh. Yes, that can happen, that's normal. With Del I always needed a fan to cool down. Thanks. Is she by the lake?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'll take her some more water."

Ordo watched as she trotted off, still surprised that she was friends with his wife and still feeling sorry for Maze that she had decided they would have no more ade, and he had agreed, even though he had adopted the boy. Very Mando for Maze he didn't think he was that traditional. He shook his head before looking back down at his datapad, whilst walking on.

.

"Bes'ika!" Essie called out; she didn't want to startle her.

"Here!"

Essie followed the sound of her voice and found her sitting on the floor under the shade of a large Veshok tree. Essie touched it, feeling the bark, as she did with all the trees, still mesmerised with them.

Maze had said there were trees where they were going but the settlers lived in habitation pods while they looked for something more substantial. She would miss the house here with its home comforts. She was still apprehensive about going but part of her was looking forward to it. She slipped down to sit next to Besany.

"I wish I could still do that. It's getting more difficult." Besany said wistfully.

"You don't look too big, and you have some height. I very quickly looked like a bolo ball."

Besany had the grace to smile and not laugh out loud, "I know but I feel it and I know I'll be getting even bigger."

"But it's not forever."

"It feels like it."

Essie handed her the bottle of chilled water she had filled for her, "The time will go fast enough. I feel like I've been here forever sometimes but it's been less than a year."

"You've decided to go then. To move on"

"Yes. It's time. How did you know?"

"Odd things you've said and asked. And the way you changed with Maze when he and Zey were injured."

"Was it that obvious?"

"No! but I noticed a difference in both of you."

"I was thinking about it before then but it just clarified it all for me and this Force sensitivity. I need to use it."

"That's a bit of a change of heart."

"Yes. I think I've finally accepted who I am and being here makes it difficult for me to use it safely for everyone."

"Have you told Maze yet, or Del?"

"Maze and I have been talking about it for a few weeks now and Zey knows but we've asked him to not say anything yet as I have to break it to Del. I don't think he's going to take it well. He already knows something is happening."

"And Kal?" said Besany.

"He's been a little preoccupied with Omega as they are so near to deserting now. So I didn't want to disturb him."

"I know what you mean." Besany grabbed her hand, holding it tight, "He's still taking it hard. I think it's only Kad and Ny now, who are keeping him going. It seems to be Darman who's prevaricating. Then there's the new clone. He's still a bit of an unknown."

"And you and the little one. Kal'll be made up when it's born. And he'll spoil it rotten."

"He'll have to get past Ordo first."

Essie laughed, "Spoiling or protecting?"

"Both. Ordo has so many plans, even I can't keep pace with him."

Essie laughed again.

"I'll miss our little talks." Besany continued.

"So will I. You really helped me when I first came here. I was a mess but you'll still have Laseema, Jilka and there's Scout and Ny."

"It's not the same. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. But once we're settled we can get the communications set up and encrypted. The Nulls will manage that easily."

"I'll make sure they do. Is that all you wanted to say?"

"No. We're going into Enceri in a few days, do you need anything?"

"Ooh, I'll come with you, I need some bits and I may not be able to leave again if Ordo has his way. He's worse than an old Nuna hen, clucking around me. He's started jumping every time I move or rub myself anywhere."

"So it's kicking well?"

"She kicks very well."

"She!" Essie exclaimed, "you never said before."

"I finally succumbed to my curiosity."

"Does Ordo know?"

"Yes."

"And? There's always an 'and' with Ordo."

"He's a little bemused by the idea and said he would have to change all his plans. I told him no. She will need to be a fighter, as good or better than any man."

"Too right! But if she's anything like you two she will be, and intelligent with it."

Essie stood up and held out her hand.

"Want to go back?"

"Yes. I'm ready."

Essie pulled her up to a standing position, then linked her arm through Besany's.

"So what do you need from Enceri, just in case. I don't really want to fight Ordo off but we may have to."

Besany let out a laugh that everyone could hear, "Sometimes it feels like that."

.

"Have you said anything to him yet?" Asked Maze, as he tinkered with the ship's nav com.

Essie sat in a chair watching him, "Not yet."

"He will find out soon enough, especially the more people you tell and he can sense you're anxious."

"I know."

"Do you want me to tell him?"

"No but I think we should do it together."

"When I've finished this?'

"Yes. The sooner the better."

.

Essie leaned against the wall watching Maze shower.

"You can always join me."

"And spoil the free show. No. Besides, I had mine earlier."

"You still worried about Del?" He asked, before he started rubbing at his hair with his towel.

"Yes, he was very quiet after we spoke."

Maze held out a hand and pulled her to him, wrapping his still damp arms around her; she leaned against him.

"He was subdued. But he's a clever lad and he's always known we wouldn't stay here forever. Perhaps he's just thinking it over, coming to terms with it."

"Perhaps. But that was before he became such good friends with Kad. They're inseparable. I feel guilty for taking him away from that."

"Yes but he's resilient. He'll be okay. He was asleep when I checked ten minutes ago."

"Good. I won't disturb him. I'll talk to him again in the morning."

"Yes we will because I think we may be busy soon."

"Busy?"

"I have plans."

"More plans?"

"Yes, plans for you." He twisted around and sat on the bed, pulling her with him.

Essie looked down at him with an almost imperceptible frown.

"He'll be fine."

"I wasn't thinking about Del, I was wondering how I ever managed to fall in love with you."

"I often ask myself the same question." His hand slipped under her top and he dipped to place a kiss just under her rib cage, then glanced at her. She was still watching him but leaning in slightly. His hands rested lightly on the swell of her hips as his lips wandered upwards. Seconds later her top was off, he was pushed back onto the bed and Essie was on top of him.

"Impatient!" He scolded.

"You love it!"

Maze laughed, he did.

.

Essie stopped and yawned before she knocked on Del's door to wake him before she entered. It had been a struggle to wake up this morning, Maze was definitely fully recovered and then some; he was making up for lost time.

She had an odd feeling or rather lack of it, she noted, as she pushed open the door. He was still in bed, the covers pulled tightly over him.

"Time to wake up Del!"

She walked to pull the blinds open, let the sunlight in.

No answer.

"Are you ill?"

She reached out to the lump in the bed and gently pulled back the covers to reveal another pillow.

"Del!" She shouted, pushing down the rising panic, "Come out! It's time for breakfast."

She checked the fresher and the wardrobe, under the bed. But he was nowhere to be found.

The panic in her rose.

Maze appeared at the door, "What's wrong? Is he ill?"

"No! He's gone."

"What? Where? He must be in the kitchen or dining room." Maze turned and shouted, "Del where are you?" Rushing along the corridor to the main living area.

.

Essie sat fidgeting, until Mereel returned.

"He's not there and Kad is nowhere to be found."

They had quickly found the same situation in Kad's bedroom.

"They've planned this together." muttered Ordo glaring at Maze, "If you….."

"If I what?" Maze squared up to him.

Kom'rk moved between them, "We're all worried. It's no one's fault. They're little lads. We did worse."

Kal was proud of Kom'rk at that moment taking charge. It told him they didn't always defer to Ordo and some of the others would take over the reins, when he had a family, not everything had to fall on Ordo's shoulders.

"You have to admire them." Mereel said, grinning.

"Not very useful, vod. We need search parties. Where's Walon? We could use Mird."

All the adults congregated in the Karayai and had just split into search parties, when a message pinged on Jaing's com.

"It's Alina! There's a squad of troopers heading this way or was when they passed by the outskirts of Enceri."

'Essie, Bardan and Walon look for the boys; perhaps you'll be able to sense them." Kal was back to barking out orders and he would use any means to protect everyone.

Maze jutted his chin out ready to argue then Essie whispered something in his ear, instead he asked "What do you want me to do sergeant?"

"You and Kom'rk take the south-eastern sector."

"Walon let us know where you're heading, so we don't overlap"

"Of course."

"If you need any help…."

He looked at Essie and Bardan, they were both armouring up, "I don't think that's going to be a problem.

Mird whined and looked up at Vau, who simply said "Oya!" and the Strill shot off ahead, all legs, as they followed through the undergrowth.

"Does he really know where they're going?" Asked Essie warily, as they jogged after him, trying to keep up.

"He's very —protective when it comes to the younglings. He's already got their scents from their toys."

"Won't we lose him?"

"He'll make sure we can track him." Vau replied, as they slowed down, the undergrowth becoming thicker, almost blocking their path.

She could now see the golden furred beast, stopped and sniffed around occasionally then looked back to them, before loping off again.

"Can you sense them yet?" Bard'ika asked.

"No." Essie replied irritated.

"Relax! You're …."

"Angry? Worried? Of course I am!"

"Then don't be." Vau ordered through their channel, "you're no good to us or the ad'ike like that. You'll need to act."

Essie huffed and Vau stopped them.

"You need to calm down, shelve those feelings until you need to use them."

"When?"

"You'll know."

He waited, watching the woman, seeing her calming herself. Satisfying himself she would be fine, he asked.

"Ready?"

"Elek!"

They set off after the Strill again.

They were still following and Essie was getting warm, unused to the armour. She blinked and checked her chrono.

"Can they have gotten this far?" She asked.

"It depends how long they've been walking."

"Aren't we at the perimeter yet?"

"No."

Then they should be okay, she told herself.

.

"We should rest, Kad. Drink some water." Del advised his younger companion.

He took his water flask from his backpack and handed it to him.

"Ner vod." Answered Kad before drinking.

"Ner vod." Replied Del, nodding his head.

"Ner Buir." Added Kad.

"Gar Buir?" Replied Del. He had his, his friend needed his.

He sat down next to his friend and put his arm around his shoulder. He had that funny look in his eyes when he was sensing something or working with Bard'ika.

"Gar jahaala?" Del asked him, then reverting to basic "Can you feel your Buir?" Kad shook his head.

"We'll find him." He reassured him, "We just have to go further. Here!"

He pulled out a ration bar that his Mother had baked the day before.

"Be Ess'buir?" Asked Kad.

"Elek!"

They sat chewing the bars, sweet and gooey just as the clones liked them, then Kad leaned forward, peering through the undergrowth.

"What is it?"

"Vode!"

"Clones?"

"Nayc. Dar'vode."

Del frowned, not understanding what Kad meant until he saw the Stormtroopers pushing through the undergrowth.

They stopped and stared at the young boys sitting there.

"So what do we have here?" One said, his blaster still pointed at them.

"He doesn't sound like Maz'buir." Del whispered to Kad; they moved closer together watching the Stormtroopers.

"Hey! Can't you talk?"

The boys remained silent, Del remembering all the times his mother had warned him not to talk to strangers. He knew these were not clones, not like Maz'buir, or Kom'rk or Mereel. They looked like clone troopers but the armour was different. Kad had that odd look on his face, he knew they were different.

"Are you lost? You shouldn't be out alone."

"Perhaps they aren't." Another one walking up behind said. He was holding something in his hand. "Found this a while back."

Del had seen it before, it was one of Jaing's perimeter monitoring devices, he had explained it to him even though he was only a little boy; he explained that it kept them safe. It looked smashed.

"So, is your family nearby?"

Neither replied.

"Akk got your tongue, boy?" Another one walked up there were three now facing them.

They didn't answer again.

"We'll take 'em back to HQ."

"Run!" Shouted Del and the boys split up, running in opposite directions, but they didn't get far.

Del felt himself being yanked back through the undergrowth by the arms and then lifted off the ground despite his struggles and he had struggled with Maz'buir who was much stronger than this trooper.

He sighed when he saw they had caught Kad as well.

.

Essie heard Mird's whine and then saw Vau's fist go up, she and Bard'ika stopped.

"He's found them."

"Is there a problem?"

He had his helmet viewfinder up.

"Stormtroopers!"

Essie breathed slowly, calming herself. She thought she saw Bard'ika tense, then visibly relax.

"They're not clones."

"What do you want me to do?"

"There's four. One each!"

"Four?"

"Mird." Vau's head tilted up slightly.

She realised then the Strill was up in the tree line.

"Ready? Let's take it slowly." Vau moved forward, they followed behind.

"Ad'ike!" He said, pleasantly, "There you are. You shouldn't run off when we're hunting."

Both boys moved forward to try and get away but the Stormtroopers held onto them.

"We'll take them now, thank you gentlemen."

"Chain codes."

"Of course."

Essie saw the Stormtroopers take a step back at the whine of Bard'ika's light sabre lighting up, it was impressive. Although the Stormtroopers still had their hands on the boys shoulders, holding them; then Mird leapt, almost flew out of the tree, a blur of gold fur, teeth and claws. He was magnificent.

That Stormtrooper stood no chance,

"Run!" she shouted, the boys ran off in different directions.

Vau watched as Essie fearlessly ran directly at the trooper that had held her son, dropped onto one arm, as he aimed at her, then swept her legs around in an impressive arc taking him off his feet. Vau wasn't sure she even got to her feet before she was on top of the trooper and he heard the sound of a vibroblade being ejected into the flimsy armour these men wore.

He dealt with his own, whilst Mird was chewing satisfactorily on another. He wasn't sure entirely how Bard'ika had dealt with his trooper but he was staring at Essie with a frown.

.

Essie's helmet was off and she was kneeling down hugging both boys, tears streaming down her face.

Vau wished his Mother had been half as Mando as Essie but that was too long ago. He gave her a nod and she took the boys away.

"Mird and I will take care of this." The disdain in his voice obvious.