Corellia: 18 BBY
Clan Covert
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa stood behind the row of foundlings, watching them practice shooting at targets. Ketei had asked him to oversee this session. Usually she did, but today, she was out running some sort of errand.

    Most of the foundlings had good aim, despite not having used blasters very often. This particular group was aged from ten to twelve. The young boy that they had found on Batuu only a few days before was in the group.

    "Let's try it one handed now," Nakoa called. The foundlings immediately dropped one hand and carried on. Nakoa spied one of the smaller girls struggling to keep her blaster from shaking.

    He crossed over to her and knelt down. Nakoa pushed her arm up and moved her hand into a different position on the blaster handle. "It's heavy," Tilla said, seemingly embarrassed.

    "It is," Nakoa said with a nod. "It will take time for your muscles to strengthen. You're not used to holding blasters like this."

    He stepped back and let her take a few practice shots. She straightened and continued to fire. The young boy, Drystan, stopped firing with a sigh. "Why do we have to do it this way? Everyone knows it's better to keep two hands on a blaster."

    Nakoa frowned, watching him. Drystan seemed to be having the hardest time adjusting to life in the covert. He couldn't blame him. It had been hard for him too. "It depends what type of blaster you're using and the situation you're in. If you're on the run and your friend falls, you'd need a hand to help them up and use your blaster with the other."

    "Or you could just let them handle themselves," Drystan retorted.

    "That's not how we do things. We take care of our own." Nakoa sighed and pointed to the blaster rack. "We're done for today." The foundlings returned their blasters and filed out of the room. Nakoa put a hand on Drystan's shoulder, stopping him.

    "What?" Drystan snapped.

    "It doesn't seem like you want to be here."

    "I don't! I hate all these rules. I hate having to wear this dumb helmet and this stupid armor." Drystan tugged the helmet off and threw it at the ground. "I hate not having time to myself. I hate being told what to do. The only reason I came along was because of my sister and the others."

    "It takes time to get used to it all," Nakoa replied. "It was the same for me."

    "I doubt that. You're Ketei's son. You got whatever you wanted." Drystan turned away. "You're lucky to still have a mother."

    "Ketei isn't my mother. My parents were killed when I was four. She raised me, it's true, and I love and respect her." Drystan glanced at him. "But I definitely didn't get whatever I wanted. I did exactly what you've been doing since you got here."

    Nakoa started picking up the targets and stacking them on a shelf. To his surprise, Drystan followed him. "Do you like it here?"

    "Well enough."

    "I don't think I do." Drystan looked down, rather guiltily. "I miss Batuu. Everything is so gray and wet here."

    "Corellia can be a dismal place," Nakoa agreed. "I didn't want to stay here all the time. That's why I became a wanderer when I was old enough."

    "What's that?"

    "It's just what we call clanmates like me and Oni. We wander throughout the galaxy looking for jobs, new foundlings, and such. Whatever money we make comes back to the Clan."

    "Do you ever get to keep any for yourself?"

    "Only whatever is left over later on."

    "Oh. Does anyone here have a family of their own?"

    "Not that I know of. They might have bonds like Ketei and I, or you and your sister, but nothing like marriages or blood children."

    "Tilla won't like that," Drystan laughed.

    Nakoa glanced at him. "Why's that?"

    "She said she wants to marry you."

    Nakoa almost choked on his own saliva as he stifled a laugh. "I think I'm a bit old for her."

    "That's what I said. Besides, Oni said you're already taken."

    That caught his attention. Nakoa knit his brows and faced Drystan. "Oni said that?" The blonde haired boy nodded. "Did she say anything else?"

    "Well, then she said you would be taken if it weren't for her." Nakoa clenched his hand briefly. "What did she mean by that, if you said people here don't really have relationships like that?"

    "Nothing," Nakoa replied quickly. Too quickly. Drystan gave him a disbelieving look. "It's Oni's idea of a joke these days."

    "Oh," Drystan shrugged. He looked across the room and spied his discarded helmet. "I guess I should put that back on."

    "Probably."

    Drystan sighed and grabbed the helmet. He slid it on. "You won't tell anyone I did that, will you?"

    Nakoa shook his head. "I did it too a few times. You're new. There's some leeway." Drystan nodded and started walking away. "Drys," Nakoa called. The young boy paused. "If you don't want to stay here, you don't have to."

    "I...I'll have to give it some more thought. I can't leave Tilla behind." Drystan carried on and left the room.

    Nakoa held onto one of the targets, thinking over what Drystan had told him. Anger flared up in his chest. He jumped as the target shattered in his hand. Nakoa dropped the plastoid pieces in shock. He shook his head and left the room quickly.

Dathomir: 18 BBY
"Shrouded Claw"
Lesia Mirri

    Les stared at the shattered cup that lay on the floor. She blinked and rubbed her forehead. Her palm stung and she had a few cuts from the pieces.

    Manon appeared in the doorway. "What happened?" She asked, noticing the broken cup.

    "I..." Les shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Lately, her mind had felt murky. She kept hearing things and seeing things that weren't there. Manon thought it was simply the effect of Dathomir, but Les wasn't so sure. "I don't know."

    "Did you get angry again?"

    "No." Les knit her brows. "It wasn't me."

    "What do you mean?"

    Les thought for a moment. "Something similar has happened before. I was on Geonosis and I connected with a rancor through the Force to make it stop attacking me and..." she shook her head, then continued. "The rancor attacked a gundark and I could feel its anger and bloodlust as if it were my own. I was forced to make the creature die and I felt that too."

    "And this felt similar?" Manon furrowed her brows.

    Les nodded. "That anger wasn't my own."

    "That's not good. Do you know whose it was?"

    "No, I don't."

    Manon dropped a hand to her hip and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe by connecting to Dathomir, you connected to someone on it. That could've been an animal or a Nightbrother's anger."

    "Maybe. Is there a way to control it?"

    Manon sighed. "Not without knowing who instigated the feeling. You'll have to be careful. Actually," she perked up. "Maybe I have an idea."

    The Witch led the way off the ship. She pointed towards an overgrown area, not far away. "What?" Les prompted.

    "I want you to go in there and subdue the first animal you find. I want you to stay there all night and do the same with any other animals that may stumble upon you."

    Les took a step back. "I don't know how skilled you think I am, but I can promise you it's not that much."

    "You can do it," Manon replied.

    "What will it accomplish?"

    "It may force out whoever is inside that head of yours." Manon tapped her taloned finger against Lesia's forehead. "Good luck." She pushed her towards the dark forest.

    Les shrugged away from her and started walking. She didn't look back until she reached the forest's edge. Manon had disappeared. Les squared her shoulders and continued into the depths.

    A variety of plants met her gaze. Some were thorny. Others were small. Les didn't touch any of them. She lifted her gaze to the sky. She could barely see it through all of the vegetation.

    A low growl pulled her attention back. Les cast her senses out and found a strange creature waiting. It stood on its hind legs but balanced itself with its front ones. Two long fangs hung from its mouth.

    Les pushed her senses towards it. Who are you?

    Nydak, it growled to her. With a roar, the beast lunged at her. Les dropped low and rolled beneath its attack. She was grateful for the newfound strength in her ankles.

    Les ducked around the creature as it rounded on her again. She raised a hand towards the nydak. You will not harm me. She drew in a steadying breath. You will not harm me. The nydak drew closer, saliva dripping from its jaws. You are mine.

    It halted not even a foot away from her. Les sat down and crossed her legs. The nydak continued to watch her. Pain gripped her mind. Les raised her hands to her temples. The nydak began to paw at its own face with a whine.

    Welcome, Child.

    Embrace us.

    We come to help.

    Les shook her head, trying to clear it of the strange voices. They were similar to Manon's, leading her to believe they had once belonged to Nightsisters as well.

    Dathomir welcomes you. We crave your power. We lust for your wrath.

    "Get lost," Les demanded.

    It was you who summoned us. It is you who needs us.

    "Leave me alone."

    So much anger. So much hurt. So much bitterness. So much betrayal. Who wronged you, Child? Let us take care of them.

    Les focused on her breathing. The nydak was still whining and batting at its face. She pressed her palm against its forehead. Calm. The creature stilled immediately.

    Embrace us.

    We come to help.

    Les sighed to herself. It was going to be a long night.

Corellia: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa sat on the edge of his bunk. The ship was utterly silent. He had wanted to get away from the business of the covert, but silence wasn't what he had in mind. There was still no sign of Oni. She'd avoided him ever since they had returned from Batuu.

    He leaped to his feet as footsteps sounded from within the ship. He left his room and found Drystan wandering around. "This is a cool ship," Drys said.

    "What are you doing here?"

    "I got tired of hanging around the other foundlings so I tracked you here."

    "You tracked me?" Nakoa raised his eyebrows, somewhat impressed.

    "I've always been a good tracker. Back on Batuu, people would pay me to track down their missing pets every now and then."

    "Tracking is a good skill to have."

    Drystan cocked his head. "Why are you here by yourself?"

    "I didn't want to be in the covert."

    "Oh. Do you mind if I look around?"

    Nakoa shrugged. "I don't care. Just don't go into Oni's room. It's the last one down that hall."

    Drystan nodded and started looking around. Nakoa headed to the cockpit and checked the transmitter. There were no new comms or missed ones.

    Why would she contact me? He thought. I should stop checking.

    "Whose are these?" Drystan shouted. Nakoa left the cockpit and found him in Lesia's old room. Drystan had found her dancing costumes. "Does Oni wear this?" Drystan's voice was full of disbelief.

    "Stars, no."

    "Whose are they then?"

    "They belonged to someone who used to travel with us. I guess she forgot to take them with her." Nakoa was grateful Drystan couldn't see the shame that filled his expression. Or she didn't have a chance to grab them. He was glad that her lightsaber was safely stashed in his room, along with his broken necklace.

    "What did she look like?"

    Beautiful. Nakoa gathered up the clothes and returned them to their drawer. "A white Twi'lek."

    "I've never seen a Twi'lek. Can I meet her sometime?"

    "I don't know where she is."

    Drystan shrugged and scampered out of the room. Nakoa paused and braced a hand on the wall. His head was throbbing. Embrace us. We come to help, strange voices whispered past his ears. Nakoa shook his head and followed Drystan, making sure to close the door behind him.