Corellia: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Lesia Mirri

    Les returned to the ship's lounge once she heard Nakoa and Oni disperse. Galaar was sitting close by, a remorseful look in his blue eyes. Les sat across from him and switched on the small holotable. "Do you play Dejarik?" She asked.

    Galaar perked up a bit. "Some."

    "Want to play?" He nodded and she set the board. Lesia made the first move. "So were you born a Mandalorian like Nakoa or were you found like Oni?"

    "I was found, in a way," Galaar replied. He studied the board and made a move. "I met Ketei right before she decided to build her own clan. She explained the ways of the Mandalorian Creed to me. I thought it was an honorable way to live and asked her to teach me. I swore myself to the Creed and helped her establish her clan."

    "Where were you from originally?"

    "Naboo, like Oni. She doesn't know that, though."

    Les arched an eyebrow. "Why not?"

    "I chose not to tell her, but I knew her family before she was even born. I returned to Naboo during the Trade Federation's invasion to check on them, but she was the only one left."

    "Why must you hide that from her?"

    Galaar met her gaze. "Why must Nakoa hide his story? Why did Oni hide hers? Why do you hide yours?"

    "To protect myself...and them," Les replied.

    "There is your answer. I wanted Oni to form her own connections in the Clan, based on experiences, not personal history."

    "Nakoa has said that Ketei is like his mother, but Oni says she doesn't have any family ties to you." Les made another move.

    "That is on purpose. I kept my distance when she was younger, until I knew that she wouldn't be attached to me like Nakoa and Ketei. Don't get me wrong, what they have is important, but I have always been an independent person. I didn't want someone relying on me like that when I already had a lot to balance."

    "So you were partially selfish and partially smart."

    Galaar grinned. "I suppose that's one way to view it."

    Lesia sat back while he examined the game some more, preparing to make his move. "You really can't go back to the Clan?"

    He sighed and shook his head. "No, I can't. It's part of the Creed. If another living being sees our face or if we remove our helmets in their presence, we can never put them on again. We can no longer be a part of our Clan. We can't even call ourselves true Mandalorians anymore. I'm sure you don't understand."

    "Actually, I think I do." Galaar seemed faintly surprised by that. "There are many groups throughout the galaxy that follow similar codes," Les explained. The Jedi were more like Mandalorians than our ancestors thought.

    Galaar made another move and smiled again. "Looks like I win."

    Les began to reply, but was interrupted by beeping from the cockpit. Nakoa's cabin door slid open and he took his place. She followed him and slid into the copilot's seat when Oni didn't appear.

    "Oni will be upset for a while," Nakoa said as he prepared to drop them out of hyperspace.

    "She's closer to him than she lets on," Les agreed.

    Nakoa deactivated the hyperdrive and Corellia appeared before them. Les scrambled their signature as they passed beneath the Imperial blockade. "I know Oni seems gruff and detached," Nakoa said, "but that's not what she's really like."

    "What is she really like?"

    "She's generally funny and kind. She can be sarcastic, but she isn't usually rude."

    "Is she moody?"

    "Yes," Nakoa chuckled.

    Les helped prep the landing cycle as they neared the docking bay. "Well, I have yet to witness the funny and kind side of her. I doubt I'll receive such a gift either."

    "Just give her time. She'll get over those feelings soon enough."

    "I'm not so sure."

    "She'll have to," Nakoa laughed. "Otherwise she's going to be very angry every time you take it upon yourself to search me."

    Les shot him a smirk. "You're not still mad about that?"

    "I was mad because we surrendered and were unarmed, not because of that."

    "Good. That means I can do it again if I have to." Les laughed as Nakoa stiffened. She slid out of the cockpit and felt the ship jolt into the docking bay.

Corellia: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Nakoa Sen

    Lesia's eyes glimmered mischievously before she left. Nakoa blinked rapidly, trying to shake away his nerves. His stomach twisted with butterflies. It was an unfamiliar feeling. He stood and joined the others in the lounge as soon as he landed the ship. "You should bring Ketei here," Galaar said.

    Nakoa nodded his agreement. "Oni, are you coming with?"

    "Yeah." She joined him and they stepped off the ship. "I can't believe this."

    "Neither can I," Nakoa admitted. "He is right, though."

    "This isn't what I signed up for," Oni spat. "What if the same thing happens to me? What if it happens to you? I can't lose the Clan. It's all I have left."

    "Oni." Nakoa paused and grabbed her by the shoulders. "You won't lose the Clan. Galaar...I don't know what happened but he made a mistake and this was the result. You don't make mistakes like that."

    "What if I do?"

    "You won't," he said firmly. He released her and they continued on.

    "Would you ever leave the Clan?" Oni asked after several minutes of silence.

    Nakoa thought for a moment. "Yes, under certain circumstances."

    "Like what?"

    "If there was a way to reform my old Clan, I would leave and do that. If I met someone, I might leave the Clan for them."

    "You would leave the Clan for someone?"

    "Yes. Wouldn't you?"

    Nakoa kept his head straight, even as he saw Oni watching him from the corner of his eye. "Maybe."

    "I don't think I could ever stop being a Mandalorian though," Nakoa said. "I was born and raised as one. It's who I am."

    "I wasn't. Does that make me less of a Mandalorian?"

    "No. It doesn't matter if you were born a Mandalorian or if you choose to become one. We're all Mandalorians in the end. That's one part of the Creed I don't agree with."

    "Me neither."

    They reached the covert entrance and made sure the coast was clear, before heading inside. Nakoa headed straight to Ketei's chambers. She was bent over a datapad, reading something when they entered.

    "Nakoa, Oni!" Ketei leaped to her feet. "Did you find Galaar?"

    "Yes," Nakoa began, "but there's been some complications."

    "Is he all right?"

    He nodded. "Just come with us."

    Ketei nodded and followed them back out of the covert. When they reached the surface, they jetted back to the Mythos. Lesia and Galaar were right where they'd left them. Ketei gasped, spying Galaar without his armor.

    "Before you scold me," Galaar stood, raising his hands. "It was the bugs."

    "But you...your armor...you can't." Ketei shook her head.

    "I'll explain everything." Galaar faced Oni. "You come too." The three of them left quickly.

    Nakoa sat down beside Les and eyed the Dejarik game that was currently suspended. "You can play for Galaar," Les suggested.

    "He's losing."

    "Fine then." Les rolled her eyes and swapped seats, letting him take over her side. She unpaused the game and took her turn. "Do you think Ketei will let him stay?"

    "No. Ketei will stick to the Creed."

    "I thought family or clanmates were important to Mandalorians. Shouldn't family come first?"

    Nakoa paused. "I don't know. It's not that simple."

    "You should know. Oni told me some of your core beliefs. Defend yourself and your family. How is making Galaar leave accomplishing that?"

    "Les, please don't. I can't explain it to you. Honestly, I don't even understand it all. I only know what I've been taught and some of that doesn't always make sense."

    "I used to have that problem too," Les continued. "I was forced to walk a path that I didn't understand or choose. The only difference was, I wasn't given the choice to leave. I couldn't just take off my helmet and go. They wouldn't let me. I would've had to do something far worse and I could never bring myself to." She lifted her gaze. "I don't want to see my friends be forced down the same path I was."

    Nakoa hesitated before replying. "I may not have chosen this path, but it's mine to walk. Someday, I may be led elsewhere. For now, this is where I want to be, regardless of my understanding of things." She opened her mouth but he raised a hand, cutting her off. "Don't. Please."

    She nodded after a moment. "All right. I've said what I needed to." Les made a final move on the game board. "I win."

    "What's your prize?" Nakoa pushed some humor into his voice.

    Les eyed him and he almost regretted asking the question. "I'll let you know when I decide."

    Again, that new and strange tingly feeling spread throughout him. Lesia returned to her cabin and Nakoa felt himself relax. "What is going on? This is so odd," he whispered to himself.

    Footsteps clanged on the metal floor and Galaar approached him. "I came to say goodbye."

    "Where are you going?" Nakoa got to his feet and gripped Galaar's outstretched hand.

    "I don't know," he replied with a shrug. "I suppose I'll find work and get off Corellia somehow. Ketei is taking my armor. I told her to use it for the foundlings."

    "Oni will miss you."

    "I know." Galaar smiled a bit and turned to leave.

    "Wait," Nakoa lowered his voice. "I...have a question."

    "What is it?"

    "What color are Lesia's eyes?" Nakoa's cheeks burned as Galaar flashed him a knowing look.

    "They're pale blue with a hint of silver," he replied. Galaar tipped two fingers towards him and left the ship once more.

    Nakoa followed him and found Oni and Ketei nearby. Oni's voice sounded choked as she spoke. "I'm taking a solo mission. The bounty is an escapee from Kessel. It'll take me a few days."

    "Are you sure you don't want me to come with?"

    Oni nodded and crossed her arms. "I want to be alone so I can process things."

    "All right. Do you need the Mythos?"

    "No, she'll take my ship," Ketei replied.

    "When do you leave?" Nakoa turned back to Oni.

    "In the morning."

    Nakoa gave her a small nod. "I think we all have a few things to work out. Be careful."

    "I will." Oni turned away and followed Ketei back towards the covert. Nakoa watched them until they faded from view.