Corellia: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Lesia Mirri

    Les sighed and dropped her head onto the table before her. They had been on Corellia for nearly two weeks. She hadn't seen Nakoa or Oni, except the one time they came back so Nakoa could modify something on the Mythos. She guessed they were staying at their Clan's covert.

    The temptation to leave the Mythos had been strong, but she had ignored it thus far. Corellia was swarming with Imperials and she didn't want to wind up captured or shot for some odd reason. Lesia pulled her lightsaber out and rolled it back and forth on the table.

    Thankfully, her dreams had been nightmare free. She hadn't had as many flashbacks during the day, either. The worst day so far had been the passing of the year. Citizens had celebrated with fireworks and explosives. The sound had drawn up terrible memories and Lesia had spent most of the night shut up in her cabin.

    She stood and activated her lightsaber. Lesia began to run through the basic forms quickly, relaxing in the familiar rhythm. A memory began to surface and she allowed it to.

    "Concentrate, Younglings. Feel the Force surround you," Master Yoda said in his gravelly voice. "Guide your movements, it will. Like water, the Force flows. In harmony, you must be. Flow with the Force, not against it."

    Lesia leaned against the wall, watching her fellow younglings train. Master Yoda glanced at her from time to time, but she made no move to obey his instructions or take part in the lesson. She tucked away the knowledge for later, though.

    At last, Master Yoda ended the lesson. The younglings filed out. Lesia followed them, but Master Yoda stopped her, placing his staff across her stomach. She paused and crossed her arms.

    "Against the Force you flow, young one," he said. "A hard path that is. Dangerous and dark, will it be."

    "I've already told you, Master. I don't care. I don't want to learn." Lesia fed frustration into her gaze.

    He shook his head. "Walk with me. Company, I desire."

    She tilted her head back and sighed, but obeyed. They entered the gleaming hallway and started in a random direction. Sunlight bathed the Temple in golden hues. For a moment, Les smiled at the simple elegance of it.

    "Beautiful it is," Master Yoda said, as if sensing her thoughts. "A delicate balance we keep. Around you, light and peace you see. Out there," he pointed out a window with his staff, "chaos, you will find. Darkness, anger, and fear. Fight against the will of the Force, they do. Despair it brings them."

    Lesia watched the city through the window. She knew he spoke the truth. She could sense the clouded feelings of the people beyond the Temple. "What does that have to do with me?"

    "I sense despair in you." He turned his warm gaze towards her. "Let it grow, you cannot. Dispel your anger, you must, or consume you it could. Learn to flow with the Force, not against it."

    Lesia gave an indigent huff. "I don't want to be a Jedi. How many times do I have to say that before you'll let me leave?"

    Master Yoda shook his head. "A Jedi, this will not make you."

    That caught her attention. "Then...what?"

    "Wise and safe," he replied. "Safe from the Dark Side will you be, if in harmony with the Force you are. A useful skill it is, whether you are a Jedi or not."

    Lesia lowered her gaze, thinking over his words. She gave a small nod. "I'll think about it."

    Master Yoda touched her hand gently before hobbling away. Les watched the city a moment longer, then returned to her quarters.

    She opened her eyes and released a slow exhale. "At least that's one lesson I haven't forgotten." Les deactivated her lightsaber and moved back towards her seat. Her foot twisted beneath her and she crumpled to the floor. "Kriff!" Les blinked back tears from the burning pain. She massaged her ankle, biting her lip.

    "This is getting really old. I can't keep dealing with this," she muttered. "What if we're running from Imperials and this happens again? It could get me killed." Les waited a moment, then hesitantly pulled herself to her feet. She grabbed a datapad and searched something quickly. "I'll try some of these exercises. If I do them enough, maybe they'll help strengthen my ankles again." Les tapped her chin thoughtfully. "And while I'm at it, I should try dancing again. It was fun and it might help too."

    She jumped to her feet and entered her cabin. Les pulled open a drawer beneath her bunk. Her costume from Jabba's palace lay inside. Les grabbed it and changed quickly. She smiled and twirled, letting the golden coins twinkle against each other. She returned to the lounge area and set to work.

Corellia: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa walked through the streets with a crate tucked beneath an arm. He kept an eye out for Imperials and some of Corellia's street rats as he walked. No doubt they'd try to steal from him if they thought they had a chance.

    They had been home longer than normal this time. Ketei hadn't found any new bounties for them, so they finally had some spare time. Nakoa had begun to work on modifying the Mythos' engines and signature scrambler.

    He had done some more digging in regards to Tarek Vizsla, but there were no new leads regarding his location. Nakoa gritted his teeth, recalling that. It would be a relief when he could finally kill that man.

    He reached the Mythos finally and entered the ship. He paused, listening, and arched an eyebrow. It sounded like music was playing. Nakoa set the crate down before continuing into the ship's lounge area. He leaned against the doorframe. Lesia was dancing around the room, somewhat cautiously. She was even wearing her dancer outfit from Tatooine. Every now and then, she grimaced as she forced her ankles to bend in some sort of exercise.

    What is she doing? He wondered. Les made another movement and faltered. Nakoa darted forward and caught her just before she hit the ground. Lesia jumped at his touch. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," he laughed nervously and helped her up.

    "It's fine. I'm a little embarrassed to be caught." Lesia's cheeks turned pink for a brief second.

    "What are you doing, anyway?"

    "I wanted to try dancing again. It's fun. Besides, I need to do something that will help strengthen my ankles."

    "Did you fall again?"

    She nodded and clenched her jaw. "I don't want to be the reason someone ends up getting killed or hurt."

    Nakoa noted the sweat that lined her brow and the slightly pained expression that she was trying to mask. "Take a break and help me for a moment."

    "All right." Relief crossed her features as she headed off towards her cabin. She returned, dressed in her normal clothes.

    Nakoa entered the cockpit and pried a panel off the wall. He began to tweak with some of the wiring. Les knelt beside him and watched. "What are you doing?" She asked.

    "I want to enhance the Mythos' scrambling capabilities."

    "I thought Oni could mask its signature."

    "She can, but we don't always have time for that, since we don't have a built in masking device yet. Scrambling its signature is the next best thing."

    "Why don't you just get a masking device?"

    "Because they're impossible to find on Corellia."

    "Black Market." Nakoa gave her an incredulous look, although she couldn't see it. She shrugged. "It's just a suggestion."

    "We try to avoid the Black Market. Word around there travels fast and we don't need those types of criminals knowing that Mandalorians run this sector."

    "What if they already know?"

    "If they did, we'd be up to our necks in trouble. Hand me that tool." She gave it to him and he quickly finished up with the wiring. Nakoa returned the panel to its proper place. "That should do it."

    They returned to the lounge. Les began to stretch her ankles once more. Nakoa sat down and watched her. "I have a question," she said at last.

    "What's that?"

    Les drew her knee up and began to massage her ankle. "How were you found? I assume that's what it's called, since you kept calling the Wookiees foundlings."

    Nakoa bit his lip and nodded. "Yeah, that's what it's called." She waited expectantly. "I don't like to talk about it."

    "That's my job." They both looked up as Oni entered the room. She flopped onto a seat and kicked her legs up. "Nakoa is usually more open about things, but you won't get that story out of him. I haven't yet."

    "All right," Les replied hesitantly. "Then what about you?"

    "Oni doesn't share eith..." Nakoa began.

    Oni cut him off. "Galaar, one of the Clan's leaders found me. He's Ketei's second, if that makes sense." Lesia nodded her understanding. "I was on Naboo at the time. Do you remember when the Trade Federation blockaded the planet? It was during Queen Amidala's reign."

    "I remember," Les replied. Nakoa's eyes widened as Oni continued speaking.

    "We were in Theed when the Trade Federation brought their droid armies down to the planet. We were captured and moved into their camps. As soon as we learned that Queen Amidala had escaped with two Jedi, they began the killing." Oni drifted off for a moment. "My parents were among the first selected. Later, my brothers. I managed to escape the camp one night and hid. Galaar found me and I agreed to come with him as a foundling. He brought me here and I've never known another home since."

    "That must've been hard." Lesia's tone was surprisingly sympathetic.

    "It was, but I've moved on." Oni's voice took on a cool tone. Nakoa swallowed, knowing she'd meant the story more for him, than for Lesia.

    "Is Galaar like a father to you?" Les prompted.

    "No," Oni scoffed. "He is more of an elderly friend. I have no family like ties with anyone anymore."

    "Except Nakoa?"

    Oni faced him. Nakoa watched her, before his gaze flickered to Les. She seemed intrigued. "No, not even Nakoa," Oni replied at last.

    The words stung a little until he realized their actual meaning. Nakoa stifled a sigh. Les seemed to pick up on the hidden meaning as well. "Well," she stood, "thank you for sharing. Maybe Nakoa will take a lesson from you and share his own morbid story someday." Nakoa's mouth dropped open beneath his helmet as she flashed him a coy smile and flicked the bottom of his chin with a finger.

    He didn't miss Oni's sudden tenseness. Les left the room and Oni got to her feet. "This is why we won't get along. She can't use me as a way to flirt with you," Oni huffed.

     Nakoa paused, letting the words sink in. She was flirting with me? He didn't know why he was surprised. She had a little bit when they had first met. Still, it seemed a bit strange.

    "Are you listening?" Oni demanded.

    "Huh?"

    Oni threw her hands up, exasperated. "Of course not. Look, I don't care if she flirts with you, but I don't want her to use me as an excuse to do it. Make sure she understands that." Oni stormed off.

    Clearly, you do care, Nakoa thought to himself. He recalled Lesia's smile and heat flooded his cheeks. Nakoa shook his head and groaned. "This is not going to end well."