Quick AN:  I now have a discord where you can talk to me or others about my fanfictions/ask questions/etc.  I'm also going to be posting updates on there.  Here's the link:  https://discord.gg/m2fjHxh

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The next day, any lingering awkwardness between Luke and Nakari had already disappeared, leaving the two with a much stronger relationship that showed even in the smallest gestures they made. After breakfast in Nakari's room, the group—not counting Drusil—downloaded a report from Artoo of their prisoners' activity through the night. Favvin had attempted to escape once, but had been perfectly docile since, while Migg had enjoyed the entire time in the nice hotel room, which was probably better than his apartment. Miggs even waved at Luke when they'd left the room after promising to return them to work in two days' time at the most.

Drusil was apparently not in as good of a mood, as she didn't even let them in and simply spewed math and a sharp, Go away, at them. After that, they went to Nessin Courier & Cargo to help with the removal of the totaled engine. Luke felt some worry over the fact that Nessin wasn't at work that day, and they still hadn't heard anything from the Alliance about Drusil's family. However, they did manage to get the old engine out and prepare the chassis for the new engine by the time it arrived at the end of the day, and just in time for dinner too.

Just as they were finishing up, Drusil arrived with her arms full of food containers both for the workers and for the small band of rebels. The workers moved elsewhere, explaining that they were not allowed to fraternize with customers as Luke turned to Nakari.

"Looks like it's quitting time," Luke told her, a hand resting on the small of her back as he spoke to her. "Drusil might have brought enough to feed an army."

Nakari leaned into him just a hair but gestured back into the ship. "I'm not done yet, you go ahead."

Luke nodded, letting his hand gently fall away from her back as he pulled away. "All right. Don't take too long, or we might just finish all of the food off without you." He smiled mischievously. "Skywalkers do have big appetites."

Nakari laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."

He cast a quick, cursory glance around the hanger before he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before he retreated, making his way towards the table where Drusil was currently laying out their dinner and rubbing his hands together.

"Well, I'm hungry enough to start without her, and she gave us permission, so let's see what you brought," Luke said, to which Drusil nodded.

"Yes, please, be satiated," she said, gesturing towards a smorgasbord of meats, vegetables, and noodles that could be mixed with several different sauces. Luke felt hungrier just looking at the food.

"Ah, in addition to the pahzik meat, we have nerf nuggets! Nakari will be so pleased," Luke said as he took his seat.

Anakin eyed Luke over his cup as he drank the juice Drusil provided. There was a notable difference between Luke and Nakari, and while he knew of their activities before he had talked to Luke, it was clear that something else had transpired last night.

Whatever it was, Anakin noted how happy both of them seemed, though the change was more obvious—at least to Anakin—in Luke. Anakin hadn't missed the nuances that were now present between the pair, but nor did he draw attention to them. Instead, he let them be.

He realized then that Luke and Drusil were talking briefly about their captives before they moved on to the subject of meditation.

"Have you ever meditated before, Luke Skywalker?"

"I have," Luke replied.

"Do you find it centers you and restores your focus, grants you new perspective on matters great or small that trouble you?"

"To some extent, yes. I wouldn't say I'm very skilled at it, yet."

"Presumably, you focused on something to take you outside your routine patterns of thinking. I use experimental geometries. What do you use?"

"Visual noise," Luke replied easily before he added a, "but mostly I focus on my breathing."

"Excellent. That is a common method employed by many beings. Regardless of how we achieve our alternate state of consciousness, it allows us to shift our prospective and reassess our challenges so that they appear manageable rather than insurmountable."

Luke leaned back at her words, turning them over in his mind. He'd never thought about using meditation for that reason. He might have seen Anakin do so every now and then, though Luke used meditation solely to connect with the Force on a deeper level.

Drusil interrupted his musings rather quickly. "I am unsure how to interpret your current facial expression. Are you upset?"

Luke smiled slightly at that, shaking his head. "No, just thoughtful. Your ideas are giving me the benefit of a new perspective without meditation."

"Indeed? Why were you meditating, then, if not for a different perspective?"

Her question caused Luke to pause, deliberating if he trusted her enough to tell her, yet. Finally, he decided that since she already knew of his connection to the Force because of his piloting, he could share. "I was reaching out to the Force."

"Ah! The Force! The Jedi font of miracles. I find it a wholly mysterious subject."

"I find your mathematics pretty mysterious, too."

Drusil leaned forward conspiratorially. "Is it not wonderous that we have found common ground in our alienation?" she whispered, causing Luke to chuckle.

Anakin watched his son interact with Drusil with a patient smirk, curious to see where things led. He also knew that many people were guilty of overlooking mathematical expertise quickly and casually. He supposed many of those same people viewed the Force like that, too, since it was easier to dismiss something you couldn't feel or understand.

Anakin lifted a brow when Drusil moved on to ask Luke to move another noodle.

"I would find it vastly entertaining if you did move the noodle," drusil was saying, "as long as you don't plan on moving it into my mouth. I have doubts about the sanitary condition of this table."

Luke snickered. "Don't worry, I just plan on scooting it across the table."

After that, Luke closed his eyes, relaxing and conjuring the confidence and support Nakari and Anakin would convey. He didn't have to imagine Anakin's support; he could feel it now. Once he'd been effectively calmed down, he focused on the noodle, imagining it snaking across the table. It was much easier now, and the noodle even moved a little faster, ending up by Drusil's bowl.

"Remarkable," Drusil observed. "Moving that may be a trivial feat to you, but it is an impossible one for almost every being in the galaxy. You realize how small your demographic is, Luke Skywalker? statistically nonexistent, yet here you are. The Force has never been mathematically described. There are stories, of course—legends really—of a few Givin who became Jedi in the past, but they refused to share their insights with the rest of our species. They did their best—and it was quite adequate—to keep the workings of the Force an enigma. Therefore, I do not know precisely what you did. I only know what you did not do."

Luke blinked, thrown off by the statement. "What?"

"You did not move the noodle with your mind," Drusil expounded for him. "Physics prevents it, so it would be more accurate to say that you moved something else, and that moved the noodle."

Luke blinked. "Oh." Then he felt the light turn on, and watched Anakin smirk at his epiphany, but otherwise the other Skywalker remained quiet. "You're saying I moved the Force instead of the noodle, right? I get it now."

The Givin smiled, nodding. "Indeed! I wonder, have you tried moving anything larger?"

Luke shifted. "Ah, no, not yet."

He didn't like the way the Givin seemed to work up an excited air. "Then let us experiment. Try to move the fork in your bowl."

Luke hesitated. "I'm not sure if I can. It's quite a bit heavier."

Drusil was ready with a retort that once more had Luke questioning how he perceived things, especially in the Force. "Are you speaking of the Force as being heavier? Heavier than a noodle that is?"

"I...well..." Luke stuttered before he regained enough of his wits to sound coherent. "I meant the fork, that's heavier...but I guess that's not what I should be fretting over. I'm grateful for your perspective, actually, because you've helped me see the mental rut I've been in." He pursed his lips in thought. "I need to manipulate the Force, not the fork...Okay, I can give this a go."

He focused his attention, unconsciously shifting his fingers, and then taking the time to wonder why he did that.

Anakin spoke for the first time since their dinner conversation had started. "The fingers merely react subconsciously to the thoughts in our minds. We focus, and as a result our fingers shift like that to help us direct the power more accurately. Think of it as when you throw a game-dart: you see the board, but only when you sight down your hand and the point of the dart can you actually aim it to hit the board."

Luke nodded, appreciating the object lesson designed to help him grasp the concept better. "Thanks."

He took a few breaths and reached out again to the Force, urging it to lift the fork out of the bowl. However, try as he might, he couldn't get the utensil to so much as twitch. Frustrated, he sighed, giving up.

"I don't mean to presume, but...should you not close your eyes?" Drusil asked curiously. "If the Force is indeed an unseen power, what do you need to see the fork for to move it? Perhaps your focus should not be on your eyesight, but instead elsewhere."

Luke grimaced. Of course he didn't need to see right now, he wasn't in his ship or anything. So, he closed his eyes and attempted the feat again, feeling the Force building up in him as he did so, and he once more urged the fork to do his bidding. Drusil and his father were both silent so they didn't distract him, and he was able to feel the fork actually lift.

Luke opened his eyes to see it so he could have visual proof, and smiled.

"That's right, Pilot, feed your partner with magic noodles!"

And with Nakari's latest bout of good-natured teasing Luke lost his concentration, and the fork slipped back into his bowl with a loud splash that splattered on his shirt.

"Oh, come on!" he groaned. "Not again!"

"Now that's a useful skill, Luke!" Nakari said, her eyes glittering with mirth. "I'm just going to sit here and you can Force-feed me from where you're at, alright?" Her lips quirked into a playful grin. "Congratulations on the new stain, by the way, you look like you smell really good."

Luke tried to glare at her, but her smile was infectious, and he shook his head, too high on his success to be upset. "Are you finished?" he growled mildly for appearance's sake.

Nakari gave him an innocent look and he knew she wasn't.

"Not even close! Hey, we should set up an exhibit for all your stained shirts. You have enough of them now, and I bet you could pass them all off as a new start in an art career!" She leaned forward, and Luke tried to ignore Anakin's chuckling. "You could make money from that if piloting falls through."

Nakari turned to a thoroughly befuddled Drusil. "What do you think, Drusil?"

The Givin looked disturbed before she finally answered with, "There's no accounting for my taste."

Anakin patted Luke on the shoulder when his face burned with embarrassment, and Nakari covered her hand with his, catching his eye to give him a loving look.

"Hey, a little spilled broth is no big deal, and at least it's not sewage again." She winked, then deftly squeezed his fingers. "I'm impressed, by the way, in case I forgot to mention that."

Luke felt his lips twitched back into a smile, and he squeezed her hand right back. "Thanks," he said, his spirits lifted even further by the praise and the recent success. A little part of him was upset that their mission was drawing to a close; would he see Nakari nearly as much as he had during this mission, or would he see her hardly at all after this?

***************************************************

The next morning Nakari was up early and ready to install the engine. What she hadn't counted on was them having to ruin the Desert Jewel in order to accomplish that task.

It was all she could do not to explode indignantly at everyone for destroying what had once been a masterpiece of a ship.

But she set aside her anger for the greater good, and they managed to get the engine in. Drusil appeared later that day to warn them that their escape would be tricky and more than likely very dangerous, if not impossible.

It appeared that the Empire was looking for them on Kupoh, and all ships were being stopped and inspected as they left the system.

However, Drusil also had an escape plan in place, and Nakari listened intently to the planning of a new route to Omereth using math and Drusil's logic.

To say Nakari was nervous about such a thing was an understatement, but she supposed that with two expert pilots like the Skywalkers and an excellent mathematician, their odds of surviving this mess were pretty good.

In the end, Luke and Anakin agreed to take Drusil's jump once she and Artoo had it planned out.

Drusil lastly inquired about her family, and when she was told the chances of her family being safe and well weren't the highest, her countenance drooped noticeably, and Nakari felt bad for the woman.

Thus it was that they worked late into the day and finished the repairs to the Jewel. They turned in for the night, and Nakari fell asleep almost immediately.

Nakari returned to the Jewel with her companions the next day and she walked on-board to start prepping to leave. She stopped by the cockpit and happened to catch the date on the console as she worked. Nakari's hands ceased their work as realization set in. Today marked the anniversary of her mother's incarceration.

Nakari closed her eyes, willing away the sudden rush of memories and old nightmares she'd had after the loss of her mother.

Nakari hadn't had a nightmare about that in a while, for which she was grateful. Still, she took a moment to reflect on her mother, and held a moment of silence for the woman.

But only a moment, at least for now: they had a job to do. Nakari's mother would understand.

I miss you Mom...she sent the thought to the cosmos.

Then she got back to work.

Luke, meanwhile, was the only one still having breakfast as everyone else had inhaled their food rather than ate it in a rush to leave. He sat at the same table they had been at the other day when Drusil had asked him to move her noodle across the surface, the one right by the sink. When he finished his food in peace, he washed his own dishes, in no hurry since they would leave as soon as he was ready. They'd checked out of the hotel this morning, leaving Migg and Favvin to be discovered by house cleaning.

As Luke was finishing up, Azzur Nessin approached him, startlingly much more pleasant than he had been with their arrival; he must have been happy to see them leaving.

"After some thought, I changed the transponder signal to the fleet code of a competitor last night," Nessin informed Luke. "They're called Polser Couriers. The story you'll tell the Empire as you leave the planet remains the same: you're still bearing important diplomatic pouches to Rishi. But once you turn and run, the Imperials might inquire afterwards why a courier would behave so strangely and jump into nothingness. I'd prefer not to answer such questions."

Luke nodded and shook Azzur's hand. "Thank you so much for helping us; we really appreciate it."

Azzure bobbed his head, the beads in his beard clacking. "It was a pleasure doing business with you." He paused, then started to turn. "Someone-"

He never finished the sentence. A superheated plasma bolt pierced into his head, spraying Luke with blood, bone fragments, and brain tissue. Another bolt sailed close behind it, but Luke had already ducked, blaster in hand and eyes already on the assassin from his squatted position. It was the other Kupohan mechanic, Ruuf Waluuk, backed up by a Devaronian bounty hunter that was laden down with weaponry. They'd apparently come in from the hangar entrance and were squatting down by the engines of the Desert Jewel, firing at Luke from under the wing. The Devaronian loudly called Ruuf an idiot, informing Luke that he'd been the real target, not Azzure. Squeezing off a couple of bolts at the pair, Luke sailed behind the dining table, flipping it on its side for cover. It wasn't ideal, but it was the best he had. Luke ground his teeth as he realized that even though Drusil had stymied Ruuf's attempts to contact the empire, she couldn't have stopped him from getting local help.

His musings were cut short as a chunk of the table top was sheared apart by one of the shots, thin needles of hot metal tearing gashes in his forehead and scalp as they passed. He was lucky they didn't punch through his skull, and warm trickles of blood cooled as they dripped down his head, kept out of his eyes by his eyebrows diverting their paths, thankfully.

He needed a counterattack.

Anakin and Nakari shared an alarmed look as they heard the fire-fight.

"Luke!" Anakin breathed, and that was all Nakari needed to hear.

She followed him down the corridor and grabbed her slug thrower while Anakin deftly left the ship and leapt out to start deflecting some of the blasterfire. Meanwhile, Nakari snuck around to get a shot at the enemy.

Luke saw Anakin and Nakari emerge from the cockpit and couldn't help but give a smug smile. The balance was now tipped considerably in their favor. Still, Luke pushed that thought aside, noting that while Anakin deflected some shots, the bounty hunter was still methodically tearing apart Luke's table top defense. Stretching out his right arm, Luke fired off three rounds in the pairs direction, drawing their attention to a spot he was not. He popped his head up on the other side, taking careful aim and easily picking off Ruuf. Ss he ducked back behind the table he heard Ruuf's grunt of surprise and the sound of his blaster—and body—clatter to the floor.

That left the bounty hunter, whom Luke hadn't really seen much of, as he'd flattened himself against the floor and was still methodically taking apart the table. Not long after Luke had laid on the floor as well, the bounty hunter punched a hole through the table and was firing right through that hole with alarming accuracy. So, Luke rolled to his left and squeezed the trigger in rapid succession, hoping one of the shots would come close enough to either slow the hunter down or make him rethink his position. Next, Luke made for the landing ramp where he'd have a clear shot at the bounty hunter. Apparently, the bounty hunter realized this, and in the next moment they were both moving to skew the field of fire in each other's favor.

At the same time, Nakari slunk silently over to get a shot in at the red-skinned Devaronian.

She refused to let any bounty hunter take Luke out.

She spied the hunter after he swapped hiding places a few feet behind the ship's boarding ramp. Nakari stayed hidden where she was as she readied her slug thrower.

Then, with pinpoint accuracy, she took two shots at the hunter, and he fell silent to the crack of her weapon firing.

Silence reigned on her end for a heartbeat while Luke got off one or two more shots before she called to him amid his now-halting shots.

"Luke? It's okay, he's down!"

Luke paused in his firing, coming to a complete halt feet from the landing ramp before he slowly holstered his blaster, trying to forget the fact he was spattered in blood, brain, and bone. He searched for Nakari, spying her emerging from behind the landing ramp, slug thrower in hand. Anakin was approaching as well from where he'd been deflecting Ruuf's shots before Luke took the Kupohan out.

"Is everyone all right?" he asked, just to be sure. His hands were steady, the adrenaline of being shot at now over.

Nakari nodded, and frowned with concern to see that amid the mess on his face there was also fresh blood from cuts on his forehead.

Nakari stepped forward and tenderly reached out to clear away some of Nessin's mess from the injuries.

"You're hurt," she said worriedly. "Are you alright?"

Luke leaned slightly into the touch as she brushed along the cuts. "I'll be fine—it's just some gashes from the table fragments. We really need to get out of here though; we don't know if they have any Imperial backup on the way or not," he told the two of them, tenderly pulling Nakari's hand from his injury.

Anakin kept an eye out for such trouble while the pair spoke. "There's no one close yet, but let's not take any chances." He motioned for the ramp. "Let's go."

Nakari held Luke's hand as they followed Anakin into the ship, and Luke assumed the pilot's seat.

Luke strapped in, releasing Nakari's hand once Anakin entered the cockpit and took the copilots seat. "Drusil, Artoo, are you both set?" When he heard their confirmation, he fired up the engines and angled them towards the sky. It took him a moment to figure out where the Jewel now had a limit. It kept dragging to starboard, but Luke managed to get them out of Kupoh's windy atmosphere, even if it was a rough flight.

Now they just needed to pass the Imperial blockade of three star destroyers.

Anakin flipped switches and prepared the ship for an emergency departure. "We're all set on this end, Luke," he told his son. "All we need are coordinates."

"We are ready," Drusil acknowledged. "I am monitoring Imperial frequencies in the system."

Nakari heard the Imperials' request they immediately resume their present course when Luke turned the Jewel and blasted for open space. She ignored them, as did Anakin, who merely continued preparing the ship for a jump to hyperspace.

"The bridge of the Interdictor is talking to the bridge of the flagship of the southern battlegroup about us," Drusil informed the crew in the cockpit.

Anakin snorted. "Talking is fine, they can do that all they want."

"There has been a squadron of TIEs set to pursue us from the destroyer," Drusil continued. "Intercept I calculate to be in about ten minutes. It's too late for them to capture us, but they don't know that. Also, a shuttle is following to board us instantly."

Anakin grimaced. That was a little different.

"How long until the jump Artoo?" Luke asked.

Four minutes, eight seconds, was the reply.

Drusil's voice carried to them again as she continued to report her findings. "The captain of the destroyer believes we're the ones they want, he has asked the Interdictor to redirect its gravity wells." A short pause. "There's now a third captain in the conversation, he believes we are a diversion from the real culprits, and now they are arguing over what course of action to take. They're all logging their views formally. Typical."

Nakari frowned. "Why bother?"

"In case things fall out, they all had their say in the matter, and it's logged for review later if need be,' Luke replied.

"Ah." Nakari nodded. "Watching their own necks; got it."

"The Imperials have spoken with Polser Couriers and the company has denied we are part of their team, which makes the Imperials want us stopped now." Drusil informed them. "The Interdictor is in the process of redirecting the gravity well toward us."

"Can they stop us?" Nakari asked nervously.

"Maybe," Luke told her, his own nerves staring to rise. "Depends partly on the crew and partly on their power situation. They've been conducting operations for a while here, turning the projectors on and off, and their generators might be drained. Or they might not. I haven't done this all that often in raids, much less alone. We'll find out in a couple of minutes. Or less. Artoo, will you throw up a countdown giving us the time until the jump?"

Artoo chirped and a display appeared between Anakin and Luke indicating there was eighty-nine seconds left. As Luke watched the clock, unable to do anything else, he couldn't help but notice that time was slipping by painfully slow. At the thirty-two seconds mark, Drusil spoke again.

"Interdictor captain announced the projector is down and realigning to our sector. Spinning up."

Luke felt a flash of panic. Thirty seconds had to be all the time in the world for the Imperials to catch them, and that was the time left to the jump. He tensed, knowing they could possibly be caught this time.

Nakari spied Luke trying to act nonchalant, and she just had to help him out.

"Hey, Luke, you know what?" she asked playfully. "You're pretty darn cute when you're nervous."

Luke blinked, shocked both at being called cute and nervous at the same time, and then just stared at her, lost for words but distracted from the countdown.

Anakin laughed at Luke's reaction, and pulled back on the hyperspace levers when the counter hit zero. They leapt into blessed lightspeed and left Kuoph and the immediate threat behind.

Luke was further thrown off, uncaring if he seemed a little slow at the moment. "Hey, did we just get away?"

Nakari smirked at me. "Yup, great job, Pilot. Well, we're clear for the moment: all the special jumps are way out of my league, so I'll leave you all to it." Nakari stood and spoke in his ear. "I also love how you're completely calm under fire, but are easily rattled by compliments. Especially ones that are true."

Luke blushed, and had he not still been covered in gore he would have kissed her or made some other sweet gesture. Instead, he stood as well. "Don't take the refresher; I'm going to need a shower...if you don't mind taking the wheel while I do," Luke said, turning to Anakin for the last comment.

Anakin nodded. "I'm sure Drusil, Artoo, and I can manage the jumps."

Nakari stood as well. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take a nap. I want to be well rested in case we encounter trouble later on."

Anakin mock-pouted. "Sure, why doesn't everyone ditch me?"

Nakari chuckled and patted his shoulder. "You've got that quirky droid of yours to argue with, so at least you won't be bored."

Anakin grinned. "You have a point."

Nakari smirked. "Of course I do. Night you two."

Luke smirked at her. "Well...shouldn't it be good morning, as we did just get up?" Luke teased her lightly, following after her down the corridor and pausing when they were about to go their separate ways.

Nakari paused also. Then, feeling bad for him, she took his hand and led him into the refresher.

Before he could worry, she hustled to reassure him. "No funny business, I swear."

She grabbed a fresh washcloth and proceeded to gently clean his face. Then she grabbed the medkit from under the sink and tended to the cuts on his forehead.

Once finished, she handed him a pair of bandages. "Wait until you finish showering to put the bandages on."

With that she scooted toward the door. "I'll let you finish up in here."

Luke sat the bandages down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before she could pull away. "Thank you, Nakari," he told her as he pulled back, ready to clean himself off as soon as she left.

Nakari smiled. "Of course." Her eyes glittered playfully then. "Good morning, Luke. I'll see you when I wake up."

Luke grinned, but instead of returning the good morning he said, "sleep well," and watched her admiringly until she'd left, at which point he turned back around to take his shower.

Nakari settled onto her bed, but did not immediately lay down. Instead she sat up and pursed her lips, thinking. She and Luke were getting far more serious now, and she loved it. She felt a tiny pang that Luke still hadn't told her aloud that he loved her. She knew he did, but still...

No: stop, Nakari, she chastised herself. He will do so when he's ready to.

She smiled, thinking of his small gestures to show his affection. She was completely happy, and that wasn't something she was willing to risk by badgering him into a declaration. She laid back, settled under the covers, and shut her eyes.

*****************************************

Anakin stayed in the cockpit as he'd said he would, helping Drusil and Artoo where he could, though they did most of the work. He spent the idle time by keeping half an eye on the instruments while he wrote in his journal.

Luke and Nakari make a wonderful team. Luke is shy when it comes to his feelings, while Nakari seems more bold. He's a good pilot and she's better on the ground in a fight. They do tease each other, sometimes mercilessly, but the love is there. I can see it plainly, especially after that night I had 'the talk' with Luke.

I don't know what went on between them, but I have a theory: Luke doesn't hide his brand anymore. I'm not ever sure if he realizes it. Well, okay, he does hide it, but he's not nearly as self-conscious about it a he was before. And...there's a light of new understanding in Nakari's eyes, like she's been through the fire like Luke.

Maybe he finally told her about what happened on that first mission after Yavin. I'm leaning in that direction. There seems to be...well, no walls between Luke and Nakari now.

And if that wasn't enough, they act like a couple now. In subtle ways, but I see it, because I was there when they met. I can see the difference...

Luke, freshly clean of the thousandth filthy substance he'd been covered in during this mission, walked in to see Anakin writing away in a datapad. He didn't try to read over his father's shoulder, though he was rather curious as to what the older man was doing. "What's that?" he asked as he ruffled his damp hair to air-dry it, taking the copilot's seat as Anakin was currently in the pilot's seat.

Anakin looked up as Luke sat down, giving his son a small smile. "A journal I've been keeping in the event that I lose my memories of my time here." He grimaced. "But don't tell anyone, because I never keep a journal."

Luke arched an eyebrow, his lips twitching towards a smile. "Oh...I wouldn't have pegged you the type, though that is a good reason to start. How long have you had it?" Luke asked.

Anakin shrugged. "Since after Yavin. I don't know if my memory will remain intact upon my return to my time, so I'm keeping notes and such to read on." Anakin chuckled. "If your mother knew, she'd never stop teasing me."

Luke grinned, unrepentant. "I can do that for her, if you want." At Anakin's murderous glare, Luke laughed. "All right, no teasing, got it. I really do think that's a good idea, though...since no one knows what will happen when you go back," Luke said quietly, looking out the viewport.

Anakin noted Luke's drop in bliss and felt a pang in his heart. His datapad also had a camera attachment, and Anakin hadn't had the opportunity to ask Luke for a holo. He also wanted one of Leia.

"Hey, would you feel up to a holo?" He hefted the datapad and gestured to the lense. "So I can see your face too...just in case."

Luke looked up, golden locks falling into his eyes and a light blush coloring his cheeks. "Sure, why not?" he said as his smile returned. "Just don't go showing it to a thousand people and telling embarrassing stories or any of that. I don't mind the bragging though," he teased, his smile expanding into a grin.

Anakin grinned, snapping a holo of Luke and then leaning in to take one of the two of them, but that one took a few tries.

He viewed them with Luke, flashing him a smile. "I'll be sure to tell them all the embarrassing stories time and again."

Luke groaned. "Just leave out the sewer incident, you can go without telling anyone that one...I'm still trying to forget that happened," he said with a shake of his head. Still, he was glad that Anakin had a picture of him, just in case. Luke's heart ached painfully at the thought of Anakin forgetting Luke when he went back home, and suddenly he was much more grateful for Anakin's idea to keep a journal and holos on the datapad.

Anakin beamed unrepentantly. "I'll make a truce with you: I tell the sewer incident, and you can regale the crowds with tales of the Hero With no Fear being afraid of tiny purple creatures."

Luke eyed him. "That's tempting..." he said, considering it for several moments before he finally gave in. "All right, deal. Now you can't complain whenever I recount the tale."

Anakin laughed heartily. "I'll try to remember."

He stood up. "I'm going to grab a bite to eat, want anything?"

Luke sighed. "I don't think we really have anything to choose from. It's all rations now. But sure, I'll have something to eat; we should be jumping for quite some time."

Anakin nodded. "Rations and bad caf it is then. Coming right up!"

Luke laughed at his father's joke, watching him disappear down the hall. "Bet it's somehow better than when I make it!" he called playfully, though not as loud as he could have as he knew Nakari was napping at the moment.

*******************************************************

The music played, loudly, just inside her apartment. She bobbed her head subconsciously to it as she cooked her mother's hotcakes. She even swayed her hips and made silly gestures in concert with the words.

'I have a wheezy breath, though I can't cause a breeze...I wonder if my chest-plate, could be color coded to match the holidays...'

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. She opened the door, and there, filling the entire opening, was Darth Vader. She swallowed heavily as she realized he could hear every word the speaker played about "Darth Vader's Silly Parts'.

"You have played that song for the last time, Mrs. Kelen!" Vader hissed. "Now it will cost you!"

In her bunk, Nakari shifted in her sleep, tossing her head a little.

Nakari looked up from the bed where she sat reading a holonovel. Her mother's panicked voice cried out.

"No! Please, No I beg you!"

Suddenly the door slammed open and Nakari gasped in fear. Darth Vader strode in and grabbed her right off the seat despite her mother's frantic cries and pledges to never cross Vader again. Nakari screamed, trying to remove her arm from Vader's grip, but his hand only tightened like a noose around her arm, leaving bruises and hurting the bone.

"Mom, what's going on?" Nakari called as Vader dragged her away while two stormtroopers held her mother back.

"No!" her mother called. "Nakari, no!" Her mother dropped to her knees. "Please take me! Take me!" the woman practically screamed.

Vader only turned his head. "I warned you to be careful, wench. Now your daughter will pay the price for your stupidity."

With that, Nakari was dragged away, kicking and screaming. "Mom! No! Mom!" Nakari turned her pleas to the deaf ears of the Sith Lord. "Please, let me say goodbye at least! Please! Please!"

"You will see her..." Vader growled darkly, a bitter laugh frosting Nakari's blood as it came from his helmeted head. "In time..."

Tears flooded Nakari's eyes as she strained to catch a final glimpse of her mother...and suddenly she was no longer in the apartment at all...

Nakari shifted again in her bed, whimpering, tears leaking from her closed eyes and her legs pulling up, tangling the sheets in the process.

...now she was in a dark cavern, and her eye was inexplicably drawn to the broken, filthy form on the floor. She gasped at the ravaged state of their body, at the puncture wounds, made as though the person had been pounced by something with a collection of sharp legs.

Then the face came into view, and Nakari went weak in the knees, dropping down next to the body for a closer inspection.

"No..." she breathed in horror, the tears falling hot and heavy now. "Mom?" No answer, of course. "Mommy?" she whispered brokenly.

"Mom..." Nakari mewled. "No!"

She didn't get to stay for long, or give her mother a proper farewell, because in that moment a scraping sound came from behind and above in the darkness, which was suddenly all-encompassing.

Nakari's heartbeat picked up pace and she stood, looking about in vain for the source. Silence...her heart hammered so hard against her chest that she was certain that whatever was in the passage with her could hear it.

Then, out of the corner of her eye she spied a glowlamp on the floor. Desperate, she dove for it and turned it on in the same instant she grabbed it. That proved a mistake. As soon as the light filled the cavern, she spied the glittering of many black eyes.

Nakari jerked in the bed without waking, her foot hitting the wall as her body responded to the frightening dream.

*******************************************

Luke had his head resting against the copilot's seat, eyes closed as he halfway dozed in place, his rations finished and the empty caf cup on the console waiting to be thrown away the next time he made his trip down the hall, as there was nowhere to put it in the cockpit. Anakin was beside him in the pilot's seat, still writing in the journal while occasionally stopping to take analyses and holos of the uncharted places they jumped to, both for the Alliance and, though he didn't say it, probably for himself too, if Luke's suspicions were correct.

It was during this relaxed time while they were in one of the short hyperspace jumps that Luke felt the first stir. He peeked his eyes open to glance at Anakin to see if the older man had reacted in some way to the feeling, though when Anakin seemed oblivious to the feeling Luke had, Luke brushed it aside, closing his eyes again. A few moments later, the feeling returned, stronger this time but still rather faint. Luke opened his eyes again, this time furrowing his brow in concentration as he sat up slightly, cocking his head to the side as if he'd heard something. Anakin looked up at him, gazing at Luke curiously and with some concern.

"Is everything all right?" Anakin asked.

Luke frowned, shaking his head and starting to sit back. "I don't know, I thought I felt something, but...I don't anymore. I think it's nothing"

**********************************************

She was frozen on the spot, though her body shook so much that the light from the glowlamp quivered along the walls. Then the eyes moved closer, slowly stalking her, and she fell backwards with a strangled gasp of fright.

Run! her mind screamed at her, but she couldn't get her legs to obey. It was like the creature held her hypnotized, and she was powerless to stop it's advance.

Nakari shook harder as the creature continued to advance, and it wasn't until she saw its large body and multitude of spindly legs—each bearing a talon—that she snapped from her daze and scrambled to her feet.

Spice spider! She realized in terror.

That, of course, was when the creature charged. Nakari screamed and turned tail to flee. She only got a few steps, though, before the creature took a swing. She ducked, but the spider got the glowlamp with one of its many legs.

"No!" Nakari cried, louder this time. She cringed in the bed but was unable to wake herself up.

The natural cavern was instantly plunged into total darkness, and she was knocked to her knees from behind, and she flipped over onto her back, her wide eyes wildly searching for any trace of movement.

Nakari trembled in the bed, tossing and turning. "N-no...No!"

She didn't see it lung, but she heard the shink of claws on hard stone, and she rolled left...and saw sparks fly when the claws connected not with her flesh, but the ground. Nakari flipped to her stomach and risked crawling away, but she was tackled from behind, several legs forcing her to the floor. Her jaw smacked into the hard floor and she tasted blood, even as she heard the tell-tale clacking of large jaws as they drew nearer and nearer...

"No!" Nakari screamed, jerking upright in the bed without fully waking and frantically patting herself down with shaking hands. "Get away! Get away!"

************************************************

Luke had just settled back into his seat, Anakin turning back to what he'd been doing when the feeling came back much more powerfully and laced with a sudden intense terror. Luke sprung out of his seat like he'd been shocked, on his feet in a moment and tense, battle ready. Anakin had jumped at Luke's sudden movement and was also out of his chair now, seeing Luke's alarmed state.

"What is it?" Anakin asked, tense and ready for a fight. Luke wasn't quite sure until the feeling came again, and this time Luke traced it to its source the same time that a cry came from the bunks.

"Nakari," Luke exclaimed, already moving with swift speed towards Nakari's bunk. He didn't even realize that he hadn't opened the door manually with the keypad like a normal person—he didn't register that he'd used the Force to open the door before he even made it to the door. He only registered Nakari's cries from within, her shouts of no which came over and over again.

Luke was at her bedside in an instant, the same moment that she suddenly sat sharply up in bed with a scream, patting herself down like she was on fire. "No! Get away! Get away!" she shouted, and Luke, confused as he was as to what was going on, moved to comfort her.

"Nakari! Nakari, there's nothing there, you're all right!" he told her fervently, reaching out to touch her shoulder and reaching for her wrist as well.

Nakari felt the two separate touches and balked hysterically. "No! No, don't touch me!"

She scrambled back as far as she could go, still trying to fight off the perceived threat, her mind locked into the nightmare in a vicious cycle of clacking jaws and sharp-clawed feet.

"Get away!" She sobbed like a crazed woman, shaking terribly.

Luke reeled back at first, surprised by her reaction. However, he didn't let it deter him for long. Acting on experience from all the times Anakin had needed to snap Luke out of his fits of relapses, or even the occasional nightmare, Luke reached forward and clung to Nakari despite her thrashing, pinning her arms at her sides so that she wouldn't accidentally hurt herself or him, which he knew she'd feel bad for later. Luke pulled Nakari tightly against his chest, his grip unyielding yet gentle since he didn't want to accidentally hurt her, either.

"Nakari, you're safe, nothing is going to hurt you," he said in a firm but gentle tone of voice. "It's me, it's Luke—I won't let anything hurt you. Listen to my voice...feel me, I'm right here, I'm real...you're fine...safe in my arms..." he told her, his voice dropping as he spoke in a soothing whisper.

Nakari's desperate battle to get away from what she thought was the spice spider stuttered to a gradual halt for a few seconds as a voice pierced the haze.

I won't let anything hurt you...feel me, I'm right here, I'm real...

"Luke?" Nakari gasped, recognizing his voice even as he continued to soothe her.

With his spoken name, she snapped back to reality, her chest heaving as she looked wildly around, feeling her body with heavily shaking hands to make sure she was still in one piece.

Nakari registered halfway through that her back was pressed tightly to a chest, and strong but gentle arms held her fast.

And she knew that musky scent.

"Luke?" Nakari cried out, craning her neck to see his face through watering eyes.

Luke loosened his grip on her, moving to hold her in a purely comforting embrace instead of the restrictive embrace he'd had her in moments ago as she seemed to be aware she wasn't in danger anymore. He reached up to gingerly stroke her cheek with his fingers and then slide them into her hair. "It's all right Nakari, I'm here, you're safe with me," he told her in a soft tone, holding her watery gaze.

Anakin stood in the doorway, ignored even as he worked himself down from his own emotional high. The way Luke had torn through the ship had Anakin ready to tear something limb-from-limb.

But now he saw it was only a nightmare, and he let himself out, closing the door behind him to give Nakari privacy.

When he passed the second cabin on his way back to the cockpit, Drusil looked concerned and Artoo warbled fervently.

"She's fine, it was just a night-terror," he soothed before he entered the cockpit.

************************************************

Nakari heard his promise of safety and swiveled in his embrace, burying her face against him and sobbing mightily. She maneuvered her body closer to his, needful of his physical protection as well.

Luke allowed Nakari to press herself as close as possible to Luke, arms around her in secure comfort as he threaded his fingers through her hair and massaged small circles against her head and rubbing soothing lines against her back, rocking her in his embrace. "It's all right...I'm here...you're safe with me..." he told her, amongst other words of comfort whispered low in her ear, pressing a small kiss to her temple as well.

Nakari clung to him, drinking in his peaceful presence like a parched person in the desert. She still shook, but not as heavily, and she simply maintained her position, body pressed to him and her face hidden in his chest.

Her sobs also gradually ceased, and eventually she managed so stop, though she kept sniffling as the fear lingered.

Luke kept Nakari held tight to his person, and he could feel her fear as tangibly as if it was his own. Gingerly, Luke reached out to her through the Force as well, sending comforting, soothing feelings her way as he continued to calm her down. His tunic was soaked, but he didn't really mind. He did mind how much she was shaking, and he just wanted her to feel safe again, his lips running across her forehead. He gently tipped her head up to look at him, wiping the remaining traces of her tears away with her thumb. "It's all right, Nakari, you're safe with me."

Nakari nodded silently, leaning into his touch and making an effort to stop trembling. She thought she felt something slip into her spirit like warm sunshine to a face that had been too long in the dark, and she realized Luke was trying to send her comfort in the Force as well.

She rested her head against him again, accepting his aid and at long last managing to only quiver in random intervals as her body fought to dispel the remaining effects of the adrenaline surge from earlier.

"T-thank you," she breathed in a whisper-soft voice.

Luke took a deep breath, resting his head on top of Nakari's. "Of course...whenever you need me," Luke murmured, eyes closed as he felt her curl into his chest. "I'll always be here."

He paused, giving her a gentle caress through the Force—something made easier by the fact that she'd opened herself up to him. "Even if you can't see me," he murmured into her hair, placing another tender kiss on the top of her head.

Nakari smiled softly, then tried to explain her behavior, feeling a little foolish looking back.

"I saw my mother...and she was playing the song that got her in trouble. Then Vader came...he took me away without letting me say goodbye..." she closed her eyes against the naked truth of that statement. She hadn't been given the chance to say goodbye to her mother. "And as he was taking me away I suddenly ended up on Kessel. I saw m-my mother, she was dead...and then a spice-spider was hunting me." She shuddered. "He had just pinned me down and was coming at me with his jaws when I woke. Then you touched me, and I guess I thought you were...well, that damned spider."

She blushed deeply. "I'm sorry I freaked out over a dream."

Luke arched an eyebrow as he held her gaze, though he kept up with his soothing motions. "Freaking out over a dream isn't anything to be sorry for; you say that like it's a bad thing. Some dreams are rather terrifying...and sometimes seem very real."

Nakari accepted his words, and gave him a smile. "It's a good thing, then, that I've got my handsome Pilot here to rescue me."

Luke smiled in returning, softening at her words as he ran tender fingers down her cheek and jaw. "Always—I'll be here."

Again, he found the words hanging to the edge of his lips, and he seriously debated telling her as the words felt more urgent this time. Still, he again didn't say them, feeling like it would sound like he was trying to distract her right now. He didn't want that either, just like the other night it would have sounded inappropriate.

Instead, Luke leaned down to kiss Nakari on the lips in a gentle caress in a last effort to help her feel better.

Nakari leaned chastely into his kiss, reaching up to touch his face in a gesture of gratitude. She pulled back and sat up, taking his hand in hers.

"What do you say to grabbing a cup of caf and having a quiet drink before we get to Omereth?"

Luke's mind flashed back to the fact he'd just had something to eat and drink, but he pushed it aside. He felt like taking advantage of every moment he could with Nakari, though he didn't know why. Instead, he smiled at her, threading his fingers through hers. "Sure, why not? We've got a few more hours maybe until we arrive."

Nakari grinned, pleased, and led the way. "Good. I'll buy," she said with a playful wink. "Find us a place to sit, will you?"

Nakari released his hand to prepare their drinks, and as she went through the motions, she began to him softly.

Luke sat down at the small table, resting his temple against his fist and smiling as he watched Nakari prepare their drinks, her soft voice equal to music in his ears as she hummed. He couldn't help it—though he didn't say what he'd been considering saying, another compliment tumbled past his lips. "You are so...beautiful," he murmured as he watched her, eyes locked on Nakari and Nakari alone.

Nakari flickered a surprised glance his way, saw he had only eyes for her, and blushed, smiling shyly.

"Thank you," she said evenly, returning her attention to the chore at her fingertips. She gazed into the mugs for a moment, trying to think of some way to return his compliment without sounding cliché.

Then she recalled his heart in the mug a while ago and she smiled secretively. She might not have the Force...Nakari rummaged around in the cupboards for her desired item until she eventually spotted it.

Grabbing a small handful of mini marshmallows, Nakari hid the mugs from view and arranged her chosen items in Luke's mug.

Once she was satisfied with her work, she nodded to herself. Finally, she brought the mugs over and sat down. Then she—almost hesitantly—placed Luke's mug before him so he could see her offering.

Luke spotted the design in his cup instantly, pulling it close to him and looking up at her with a grin. "Oh? And what have I done to deserve a smiling caf?" he asked curiously.

Nakari couldn't hide the way her heart literally glowed when he gave her his wonderful smile.

"You make me happier than I've ever been," she told him, softly yet honestly. "I feel so...complete when I'm with you." She gazed into her drink. "You complete me in a way I never knew I was missing."

"I could say the same about you," Luke told her honestly. "Between you and having my supposed to be deceased father hanging around...I couldn't ask for more," he said, his smile still in place though his words did hold a little more weight of seriousness to them. He clasped his cup in his hand, enjoying the way she'd lit up as he spoke to her.

Nakari's teeth showed with a smile of her own before she took a sip of her own drink. She eyed him openly over the lip of her mug, contemplating.

"What's your favorite color?" she asked out of the blue. "Or food, or some other interesting Luke-likes."

"Favorites?" Luke asked, leaning back and sipping on his caf. "Well, color...I haven't given it much thought...maybe green? It's completely different from the desert, and it makes everything feel fresh and new. Food...I must admit that Pahzik meat was much better than nerf," he said with a small smile.

Nakari nodded. "I've always liked red, because it's bold and unafraid. I love myself a good rack of kyrene ribines." She pursed her lips. "I think my favorite past-time is star-gazing. From the ground, I mean. I used to lie in the sands near my home on Pasher and look at the uninterrupted expanse of stars. I still love to do that whenever I get the chance."

Luke's lips twitched upward. "I stargazed a lot back on Tatooine...I just wanted to get as far away as possible. Though I think I might enjoy being among the stars more, now."

Nakari tilted her head. "You liked to stargaze too?" She turned thoughtful, and took his hand lightly. "Maybe we could do that together some time...when this mission is over, I mean."

Luke's smile softened, and he found himself once again captivated by her eyes. "I'd like that very much, Nakari."

She held his open gaze, unable to look away. Before she knew it, her free hand was reaching across the short expanse of the table to touch the few strands of Luke's golden hair that fell down his forehead. She delicately shifted them in no particular direction, but her eyes soon returned to his.

"You know," Nakari said quietly, for his ears only. "You have the bluest eyes I've ever come across. They're the most beautiful shade, and I love looking into them."

Luke leaned into her touch, his gaze never wavering from hers. For once, he didn't blush at her compliment; his heart and body warmed at the comment and touch, though, his smile growing slightly. "I've heard they're a rare shade from a few people back home...but it means a lot more coming from you," Luke told her, leaning forward a little. "I love the way your eyes sparkle when you look at me. It helps me feel better every time you look at me."

Nakari smiled, allowing her eyes to turn mischievous. "How about a staring contest then?

Luke arched an eyebrow at her. "Oh? And there's not going to be any cheating in this staring contest, is there?" Luke asked, taking in the mischievous edge to her expression.

Nakari faked a hurt expression, splaying a theatric palm against her heart. "Now, would I do that?"

Luke snorted, grinning. "Yes. With how much you tease? Definitely."

Nakari laughed. "You know me well, Pilot."

She fell quiet for a moment, then looked away, taking a sip of her drink. She looked at her faded reflection on the top of the caf, and then looked to Luke.

"You really think I'm beautiful?" she murmured, smiling softly.

"Of course I do," Luke told her in a soft murmur, tucking a strand of curls behind her ear.

Nakari blushed at his words, again letting her gaze wander to her drink.

She lost herself to cycling thoughts, each trying to figure out why he found her so attractive. So engrossed was she, gazing blankly at the mug, that when the next persistent thought came to bear, it also slipped past her lips.

"What makes me so pretty in your eyes?"

She blinked, freezing in momentary disbelief. Had she really just said that? Her heart rate increased and Nakari swallowed in embarrassment...

Yet, deep within, she waited for his response all the same.

Luke stood up, coming to crouch beside her as he placed a tender hand over hers. The other hand traced her features as he spoke. "Everything," he informed her. "Your hair, falling in those soft ringlets, your eyes, which I've already said sparkle when you look at me, and when you laugh. Your smile, always infectious and making my day brighter."

He ran his fingers through her hair, over her eyebrows, and along her lips respectively, fingers dropping to trace her jaw, a small smile growing on his face.

"Should I go on?"

Nakari nodded, wanting to hear more from him, needing him to tell her.

Luke's smile grew a little more and he ran his thumb across her chin and traced up her jaw again. "Then I should also tell you that I love the determined, firm set to your chin and jaw when you're set on something. Your skin is a beautiful shade, and flawless in my eyes. You're lithe and limber, strong, and steadfast in your ways." He trailed his fingers down her arm as he spoke, tightening his grasp on her hand just a little as his other hand traced its way back to her face. "You're gentle and loving every time you touch me. Soft, yet firm when I need you to be."

He ran feather soft fingers over her lips again, though this time he named off something other than her smile. "And your lips are very, very kissable; soft and full...and almost always—if only subconsciously—tilted into a mischievous smirk that I love so much."

Nakari smiled just for him, leaning her forehead over to rest lightly against his. "You are so good to me, Luke. Sometimes...well, I wonder if I deserve you."

Luke gently rubbed his nose against Nakari's, taking her hand within his and brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Sometimes I wonder if I deserve you...so I guess we're even."

Nakari sighed softly, then pulled back, showing him her smirk. "Hey. You know what?"

"What?" Luke asked, holding her gaze.

She tipped his nose with a finger. "For once, you didn't get all flustered when I gave you a compliment. You're making progress, Pilot of mine."

Luke's cheeks flushed a light pink, and he grinned at her. "That doesn't count: I've heard comments about my eyes before," he retorted. He gently kissed her cheek. "Though it did mean more coming from you."

Nakari grinned widely, a playful light upon her face.

"So, you get comments about your eyes all the time do you?" she asked, purposely focusing on that. "Do you mean things like, they're sapphires in a field of silky white." She threw her head back and theatrically lifted a hand and began improvising a dramatic scene. "Oh, Skywalker, with your eyes so blue! Come down from the skies you fly, and let me see the ocean within your gaze!"

Luke rolled his eyes. "All right, now you're just teasing me," he said with a grin. "Let's forget the compliments and the warm fuzzy feelings. We're just going to start picking on Luke."

Nakari snickered, going on. "Either those are your eyes, or you managed to make a contact lens out of gem stones!" She made another theatrical gesture. "Oh Pilot, I get lost at sea when I look in your eyes!"

Luke snorted. "All right, that's just corny," he told her, straightening up with a shake of his head.

Nakari snorted a laugh. "Wait, I can do better: No wonder the sky is dark today, all the blue is in your eyes!"

"Come here you," Luke growled playfully, wrapping her up in his arms and discreetly but randomly tickling her sides with his fingers. "I can't allow you to throw such corny lines about me into the open anymore."

Nakari struggled on principal, struggling to get out one more line.

"Hey, Luke...I think..." she gasped around fits of mirth at his attack. "You've got s-something...in your eye!" She shrieked when his fingers found a particularly sensitive spot, and squirmed harder. At the same time she kept her voice low so as to not to draw the attention of the other ship occupants. "It's...a...s-sparkle! Eeek!"

She ended with a squeak under his bombardment.

"Aha!" Luke exclaimed when she squeaked and was finally breathless, unable to continue the cheesy comments. "Success!" he crowed softly, placing a gentle kiss to her neck before he straightened.

"Silence...That's a change," he added with a smirk.

Nakari threw him a mock-glare. "Oh, you think you can do better, Pilot?" She challenged good-naturedly.

"Don't tempt me," he said with a grin, pressing his lips to hers to silence the comeback that would have undoubtedly followed.

Nakari smiled against his mouth, and then leaned sweetly into the kiss. She still loved the taste of him.

When they broke apart, Nakari ran a gentle finger down Luke's cheek.

"I look forward to our first night stargazing," she said softly. "It'll be our special thing to do...if you want."

Luke smiled, fingers twined into her hair. "I'd like that very much. Consider it..." he paused, blushing slightly. "Consider it a date."

Nakari grinned widely. "I like the sound of that."