Kyrimorut

Mandalore

"How's it going?" A'den asked, his brother had been working on Ryssa's datapad for longer than usual and was making frustrated noises.

"Shab'la thing. Can't get past the destruction of Kamino and our Warrants. I can see other files but nothing I try opens them. And if they're that encrypted, then they're important." He leaned back in his chair. "Are you sure you don't know her password. Mongrels aren't renowned for being imaginative with them."

A'den snorted, this was a first, "I've given you every one that I could think of. Including the day, date, and time, we met. First time had sex etc."

Jaing rolled his eyes.

"The only other way would be DNA encryption. Are you sure she isn't a slicer?"

"Ryssa was very security conscious but she liked to start her datapads up and use them. She didn't mess with them but she could find her way around one if she needed to."

"Well this shab'la thing has got the highest level of encryption I've seen in a long time. But I'll crack it." He grunted, "If it's the last thing I do."

A'den leaned backwards on the back two legs of his chair and rocked, "You and L'leth were having a nice long conversation the other night."

Jaing knew what his brother was doing, taking an interest in everyone else's business, so he didn't have to face the possibility Ryssa would never come back. He humoured him.

"I like her, so what?"

"Like her as in, really like her."

"Stop pushing. I told you there's more planets to visit. More beings to seduce. I can't keep these good looks for just one person. That's not fair." He grinned.

"I've not seen that happen recently." A'den smirked.

Jaing grunted.

"What about that good looking leathersmith in Enceri, the one who made your gloves?"

"Alina?"

"Yes."

"She's never forgiven me."

"For what?"

"She had a shiny new workroom, immaculate, she said, and then, after she made the gloves, it took her months to get the fishy smell out of it. She said she couldn't work in there."

"Ahh. That's Kaminoans for you."

"The gloves are beautiful though. There's some left over you know. It's in her underground cold house. Vacuum sealed." He rolled his eyes, "Just say the word."

"No thanks. This is enough for me." He pulled out his durasteel blade, the one he occasionally shaved with. He stroked the intricately carved bone handle before balancing the knife on his fore fingertip. "So, if L'leth was to set up shop with Dev. It wouldn't bother you." The balanced knife stood between them.

"Why has she said anything?" He'd seen her visit with Casey yesterday. A'den had taken over from Ryssa, looking out for L'leth. It was what she would want; it helped him too.

"I thought so."

A'den smirked, as he rose and left the room.

.

Hunting Lodge

"So do you know what attacked you?" Ryssa asked, as she checked the bruises on his neck again.

"A frilled rawl, I think."

"Rawl?"

"Yeah, some kind of serpent."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes fine. I'm going to bring the shatual in before the fekking vhe'viine get at the body."

"I thought they were herbivores?"

"Do you see much kriffing plant life out there at the moment?" He snapped.

"No, I suppose not."

He attached his armour and stormed out.

They never discussed what happened.

It just hung there between them.

.

He skinned and dismembered the shatual before he brought the parts into the kitchen and dumped them on the side.

Ryssa just stared at it. "What the Fek am I supposed to do with that?"

"Cook it."

"Can't you?"

"Don't know how, we weren't taught how to cook. I can boil water though." He added helpfully. "I thought you could cook."

"I can make Cookies, and Beef and Nerf stew in a pot."

"What about the soup?"

"I chucked a few packets of stuff out of the conservator in a pot on the hob. That's about it."

"I thought all civvies could cook."

"Not everyone, why do you think there's a lot of takeout restaurants on Corrie?"

"Hmm."

"And I only ever bought Nuna, Roba and Nerf in little square packs."

"So you don't know what they look like."

"Hff! I know what they look like, you just didn't see them where I lived. Especially like that." She looked over at the meat.

"You're a surgeon."

"Are you implying that I butchered my patients." her hands were on her hips now.

"Oh no, I.." he grinned realising she was joking.

"I suppose we could cut it into smaller pieces and put it in the focus cooker."

"Which is the focus cooker?"

Ryssa pointed to an appliance with a transparisteel door and knobs. "We've just used the hob and nano-wave so far."

"Okay. I'll cut it smaller." He pulled out his vibroblade.

Ryssa looked at the carcase with distaste. "I'll go find some vegetables out of one of the conservators to go with it."

"Hmm." He answered distractedly, eyeing up the shatual remains.

.

Kyrimorut

"So ner vod. Thought I'd find you here."

His brother had grown morose again at the lack of Intel and Mereel had designated himself, as the 'big brother' to pull him out of it. He plonked himself down on the seat and stretched his legs out.

"We need to go out on the town, vod, Keldabe town, to be exact. Just like the old days."

A'den turned, fixed him with a stare, then turned back to where he was looking before. He was still, silent, until "We never went there in the old days." Wisps of his breath curled upwards in the icy air, as he spoke.

"You know what I mean. Get drunk, chase some tail. Catch some."

"I'm not in the mood."

"You will be." He nudged him with his shoulder.

His brother didn't reply. Simply stared ahead. Mereel looked at him and didn't like what he saw, this obsession. Ordo with Besany was bad enough.

"I don't want to say this but she escaped and if she hasn't made her way here, or contacted you in some way yet….perhaps…..and don't hit me—You need to face this—maybe she doesn't want to come back. Or there's been some kind of accident. Ships can develop malfunctions." He backtracked a little on his original speech.

His brother continued to stare straight ahead.

"She knew we'd be on Mandalore, didn't she?"

A'den nodded.

"Mongrels. They're different to us. It's not just the ageing thing, although that has some impact. We have so little time to do things so we rush in. You wanted to be like Kal'buir and look what happened to his first marriage but perhaps you should be your own man."

"Like you?"

Mereel shrugged. "The Nat borns have a saying — each to his own."

A'den stared at him. This was Mereel, a mass of contradictions.

"A few beers. That's all. It'll do you good to get away from here."

He's trying hard.

"For me then."

"If I come with you, will you stop pestering me?"

"Elek. Kandosi! I'll get the speeder. Get your stuff."

.

Keldabe

Mandalore.

This was the third cantina they had been in and Mereel was in fine spirits. Being here under the nose of the Empire, was helping Mereel get a hit on his risk addiction. A possibility of getting caught. They had not told Kal, or Ordo. A'den smiled, he had to admit it felt good, knowing the Empire was less than 500 yards away and two of their 'most wanted' were having beers in their back yard so to speak. It hit his risk requirement too which hadn't been stroked since Daro. He needed to do more.

He watched his brother talking to two females at the bar; at the last cantina it had been the good looking blonde Beskar metalsmith, with an impressive physique almost on a par with them but then his partner had come in, so they had left.

A'den watched his brother work his 'magic' as he called it. A'den called it having enhanced genes that made them handsome, fit and interesting to talk to. Or rather they listened. They knew how to make people like them and talk to them; people liked that. Especially if you showed you were interested in them. Mereel was the Master.

A blonde haired female sat down opposite him and put her ale on the table.

"So, your vod said you were lonely?"

A'den looked around to face her.

"Di'kut!"

"So you're not lonely but you're sitting alone?" She leaned her elbows on the table, propping her chin in her hands.

He nearly rose and left but that would have been rude, and he wasn't brought up to be rude.

"He's just being …."

"A di'kut?"

"Yes. He thinks I need cheering up."

"Well, there is that saying, 'cheer up it may never happen' but I do find when people say that to me, it's already happened and there's a reason I look like I do." She held out her arm. "Kit!"

"Pleased to meet you Kit." He replied. "Nice Beskar." He nodded to her suit, coloured bright red.

"Brother's a smith but he keeps it quiet these days, doesn't do much now and doesn't do to advertise."

"Yeah. We heard." He paused. "Is he blonde like you?" He could see a family resemblance now.

"Yeah. Do you know him?"

"Just met him, couple of hours ago. In The Talyc Beskad."

"Yeah, he was in there. You two twins?" She nodded towards Mereel.

"No, but we're a big family. There are a lot of brothers and cousins. We look alike." He assumed she had seen Sull or Spar, they'd been around for a while

"Yes, I imagine so. Thought I'd seen a few around, months ago now."

"Yes. We don't venture out very often or very far."

"Hmm. We all have to be careful now. The Imps aren't as daft as we first thought. I know we laughed at them moving into that place but they're frighteningly efficient at some things. They've even got Stormies in grey armour now. Big lads they are, just like you." Her eyes lingered on him.

"Tell me about them." He leaned forward.

"And here I thought you were interested in me."

"Can't I be both? I love a bit of gossip. We run out of it quickly back home."

"And where's that?"

"Out in the wilds. That's what we are wild men." He gave her a wide eyed look.

"All Mando'ade are." She laughed, then took a drink of her ale looking at him over the rim of the glass.

.

Hunting Lodge.

"That has to be one of the best meals I've had." He wiped he hand across his greasy mouth.

Ryssa handed him a piece of cloth and pointed to his mouth.

"Ooh, posh."

She shook her head but he took it and wiped his mouth.

"We did well, didn't we."

"We did." She replied.

"Should last us a while."

"Yes."

"Not sure what to do with the other bits."

"If we had the Holonet, I could look it up." Ryssa suggested, knowing that couldn't happen.

"If we had the Holonet, we probably wouldn't still be here."

"No probably not. Do you want a caf?"

He nodded, stood up and put the pots in the sink. "Pity the droid doesn't work. It could wash up."

Ryssa looked at the dark, silent droid folded up in the corner. She had tried everything she knew and could remember but EmDee wouldn't restart. She started the caf.

They sat with their cafs in front of the blazing fire.

He turned to her, Ryssa looked content for once.

"Your hair's growing back quite well." he touched the front.

She rubbed at her regrown hair, it felt softer and furry rather than fuzzy, as it had after a couple of days growth, it was still cold at times though and she still wore the hat. She had looked in the mirror eventually and it was growing back pure white. It had always been a pale blonde but now it was a stark white and hid the scars from where they had cut her head.

"A little bit longer and it'll look striking."

"Thanks." He didn't have to say that.

"How's your blaster wound?"

"Good, a little scar but no aches or pain any more."

He nodded.

She touched his head, "I've never seen you with hair before." It was growing like hers but his was still dark with only specks of white. Her hand dropped down, he caught it and pressed the palm to his lips, his eyes focused on hers.

"Ric…." she breathed.

He didn't need any more, he pulled her to him and devoured her mouth; she responded by pressing into him. He wanted her so badly, it hurt. He pulled at her top, she raised her arms, and it ended somewhere in the room. She shivered against him, pulling up his shirt and finding his skin, tracing a finger along his stomach, making him shiver with her.

They stumbled to the bedroom, tumbling onto the bed. He pressed her into the bed, as she wrapped her arms around his back, fingers digging into him. Breathless, they parted, her hands moving down his back, dipping under his waistband and squeezing; he pushed his tongue deep into her mouth, working on that, whilst she was undoing his trousers.

He swore he stopped breathing when she finally touched him. He concentrated on her under-top, eventually releasing it, for his hands to go straight to her breasts, totally coveting them. A low moan escaped her, as she leaned back. He didn't remember how but they were quickly both naked; their clothes, scattered in the room. They stopped, chests heaving and looked at each other, waiting to take the next step.

The culmination of years of want hit him. Coric wanted every part of her; he had explored her body in his mind so many times, part of him was afraid he would be disappointed until his instincts took over.

He kissed his way along her collar bone, working down to her breasts, pulling at the nipples, lingering, toying and then further, under her rib cage, around the scar. The feel of her squirming in pleasure beneath him spurred him on until he lifted her to him. He stopped, unsure.

"Can I?"

He needed her permission.

"Yes." her voice a whisper.

This was new for him.

She soon pulled him back up to her and he knew then that she truly wanted him. She kissed him, surprising him with the ferocity of it; lifting her hips he entered her, her gasp just registered in his barely conscious mind. He returned to her breasts, sucking at them, until he came suddenly, urgently, quickly shuddering to a conclusion.

He slumped over her; it had all been too much, too fast.

Heat rushed to his face.

He groaned and rolled off her to the side.

"Fek!"

They both lay quietly, until he felt her arm slide around him and her face rub against his back; abruptly he got up and went to the fresher.

He leant over the bowl.

"Di'kut." he said to himself. He'd just made a total mess of it. She'd think he was no better than some dikut'la shiny.

"Coric, are you alright?"

"Humph."

"What's wrong." He heard the door open. "Was it me?"

Fek no.

"Look, I know I'm not perfect and I've had a…."

Fek no.

"S'not you, s'me."

He heard her breathing in the silence.

"Come back to bed, please, it's cold."

"No."

"Ric?"

He didn't answer.

"It doesn't matter. It happens sometimes, you know that."

"It matters to me." He heard her huff a breath out. "Did it ever happen to him?"

"It's not about him."

"So it didn't."

"I said it's not about him."

"Yeah!"

He felt her arm slide around his waist again as she pulled herself next to him.

"Ric, please….." Reluctantly, he let her lead him back to the place of his failure. It had never happened before. He could normally go on forever.

He lay on his side, as she pulled the bed clothes over them both, her arm snaked over his stomach and he felt her face press into his back.

"It doesn't matter to me." She whispered to his back.

.

She straggled his legs and looking at him from under those dark lashes; just the look sent a sliver of expectation to his groin as she leant over and licked him. He was already growing hard. He held her arms, as gently as he could. Just relax she had said. He was trying to but what she was doing was anything but relaxing and he jerked upwards. His hands went to her head holding it down as she diligently took him in her mouth again and again; it was going to happen again soon if he didn't think of something quick.

Armaments - DC15s, stripping it down and cleaning the barrel. His hips jerked upwards again as he felt her tongue against him before she went back to using her hand.

His hand pushed through to find her and his fingers entered her, to a moan she stifled on his lips as she pressed to him. He flipped her over onto her back, repaying her in kind, with sweeping kisses that marked her as his from her neck to her thighs and then after she had shuddered to a climax he entered her. He kept going, as he needed to prove he could get another one of those moans from her, the ones he closed off with his own lips. He could hear the slap of skin against skin, in the background, as she recovered and her hips rose up to meet his thrusts. He kept up the relentless pace until his body finally gave up his release.

He lay on her, sweat trickling between them with her rapid breathing in his ear. They were so close, he felt her heart pounding with his, until he softened and rolled off to the side, he pulled the covers with him.

"Better?" Her voice a whisper in his ear as her breath hit his neck.

"Hmm."

Her lips smiled against his cheek; he answered by wrapping himself around her and finally they slept.

.

He woke, blinking in the darkness; he couldn't remember when he had last slept as soundly as that. The temperature had dropped and he turned to find the bed empty beside him. He panicked.

"Ryssa?" He hissed, "where are you?" he pulled a blanket around him and padded to the living room.

He saw her, encased in a blanket, hunched in front of the dying embers of the open fire.

"Are you Ok?" He asked.

She didn't reply.

He sat down next to her and wrapped the blanket he had brought with him round both of them.

"Talk to me." He ordered her.

She turned to him, he could see the salty lines the tears had made on her face, he hated to see that, it tore at his insides.

"I didn't want to wake you."

"What's wrong?"

"I…" She started. "I feel …..bad…Den.." He recognised guilt when he saw it.

"You're not a bad person 'cos of this."

"Are you sure? I mean he's not been dead that long….. Isn't doing this...bad?"

"No, never." he answered her….."and I have known beings do far worse than this." His mind went to Krell, Umbara, the Jedi Temple and the Empire; he'd done far worse things.

"You make me happy, Ryssa. Don't spoil it."

"I just think….. I'll end up hurting you and I don't want to do that." She looked up at him and he saw again how tiny she was.

"I'm a big boy, it's my choice." He pulled her tighter, then took them back to the bed to get warm. He wrapped his arms around her, he didn't want to lose her again.

.

Keldabe

A'den woke, sat up, blinking quickly, getting his bearings seconds later. This was a strange bed, but he remembered last night and leant back down. Mereel was right he had needed this. It had been good; Kit had been the right person at the right time and she was still there lying next to him. She'd made it clear she didn't want a relationship, nothing serious and that was okay with him at the moment. But she was easy to be with.

Suddenly she rolled out of bed and headed to the fresher.

He stretched out a little longer; it had been a long time since he woke in a strange bed.

"Come on lazy bones. I don't know what you wild men do out there but I've got work to do and I don't do bed and breakfast."

He sniggered, and rolled out of the other side, picking up his clothes, as he stood.

"You can use the fresher but make sure you leave it clean and lock my door afterwards." She turned to go, paused and looked at him. "Last night was good. See you around."