Love triangles are a pain in the butt, my guys. Enjoy! 😂

Corellia: 18 BBY
Clan Covert
Nakoa Sen

Nakoa sat in Ketei's chambers, watching her work. She was scrapping parts of Galaar's armor and reforming it for the foundlings, as her old friend had asked. Oni had sent a transmission as soon as she was on her way back from Kessel, but it was taking her much longer than he would have liked.

He released a small sigh, letting his thoughts drift. His anger towards Tarek had faded some, now that the heat of the moment was past. He knew that it would return, though. Lesia's words had stuck with him.

I have to kill Tarek. It's the only way to avenge my people, he thought. Right? That's the way we have always done things. I'll invoke the Code and challenge him to single combat and kill him. Doubt settled over his mind. And killing him will avenge my Clan? Maybe, but it won't bring them...or my  parents...back.

His dream had come without warning. Nakoa hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep. One minute he was locking himself in his room and the next, Les was there. She blindfolded herself so that she could help me, Nakoa thought. His cheek tingled at the memory of her fingers against his skin. He knit his brows. How did she get into my room?

"Nakoa?"

He glanced up. Ketei had paused beside him. "Yes?"

"Is everything all right? You're unusually quiet."

"Everything is fine. I just..." he sighed. "Oni found out who knows where Tarek is. Feton Ralius is alive and he knows."

"That is good news."

"Maybe."

"Maybe? You've been searching for Tarek ever since you knew how to fly a ship."

"Lesia doesn't think I should kill him."

Ketei pulled a few molds out of her forge. She opened them, revealing the new pieces of armor. "Why?" 

"She's worried that it will have a negative effect on me. She thinks that if I kill Tarek, my hatred for him will be replaced with a sort of cold numbness. I might develop a taste for blood or something."

Ketei nodded slowly. "She is right to be concerned. I've seen similar things happen to friends of mine."

"But killing Tarek is the only way I can avenge my Clan and my parents," Nakoa pointed out.

"It is the Mandalorian way."

He raised an eyebrow beneath his helmet. "Are you telling me to choose another way?"

She shook her head. "I am telling you to choose the way that is right for you. If you see the sense in Lesia's words, then find a path to justice that doesn't require killing him. If you aren't worried, then kill him."

"I don't know what the right way is."

"Then you must wait. The answer will come to you when the moment is right." Ketei sat down across from him and began to smooth down some armor. She pushed a few pieces towards him. He set to work, grinding the rough metal down. "Now, I want to know about your relationship with Les."

"Relationship?" Nakoa nearly choked. "We're not...I mean..."

Ketei laughed. "There are different kinds of relationships, my son."

"I know that." Nakoa bit his lip, thinking up a response. "Things are fine, I suppose. I get along with her. She understands me."

"And what about Oni? Do the two of them get along better?"

"I don't think so. They don't sit there and snap at each other all the time, but the tension is real enough. I can't wrap my head around it. They're a lot alike and I know they'd like each other if they'd just open up."

"You know why they won't."

"Yes. Oni has feelings for me and is judging Les solely based on that."

"Do you know how to put an end to it?"

"How?" Nakoa paused what he was doing and listened.

Ketei tilted her head, as though he'd asked a stupid question. "You need to be honest to Oni about your feelings towards her."

"I don't have any. She's a good friend."

"Don't tell me. Tell her."

Nakoa nodded after a moment. "I don't see it helping, though. If anything, she'll get mad at me and Les and cause more drama than there already is."

"It's never easy to be told your feelings aren't returned, but she will understand. You can't force someone to love you."

"I know."

Ketei laughed and gripped his hand after a moment. "Sometimes I forget what it's like to be young. I don't envy you right now."

"Thanks." Nakoa shot her a smirk, even though she couldn't see it.

His comm blinked on, suddenly. "I'm back," Oni said. "I'm headed to the Mythos."

"I'll be there soon," Nakoa replied. He switched his comm off and stood. "We're going to Nikana again. Les thinks Hondo might know where to find Feton. If we find him, we'll be able to find Tarek."

"Good luck and be safe," Ketei replied. She stood as well and straightened his shoulder plate. Nakoa smiled at the motherly gesture and stepped out of her chambers. He left the covert quickly and headed back towards the Mythos.

Corellia: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Lesia Mirri

Les paused her dancing as Oni stepped onto the ship. Oni stared at her for a moment, then shrugged and set down a bag. "Where did Nakoa go? He said he would be back soon."

"He went to the covert to talk to Ketei. How was your mission?"

"Uneventful. I was hoping for a challenge." Oni brushed past her and entered the cockpit. Les switched off her music and changed into her normal clothes, before joining her.

They sat in silence for a bit while Oni began calculating their navicomputer coordinates. Finally, Les spoke. "Convince Nakoa not to kill Tarek."

"What?" Oni twisted her head around. "Why? And how do you know about Tarek?"

"You and Nakoa have mentioned him before. Nakoa told me a bit about his past while you were gone." She was careful not to say how much he'd revealed.

"All right, but why? He has to kill Tarek to avenge his family."

Les began to reply, but broke off with a sigh. "Never mind. You won't understand it. I've already talked to him about it anyway." She didn't know how to describe her thoughts without revealing what had happened with Nakoa. She knew he wouldn't want her to tell Oni. He did a good job of hiding just exactly how broken he was on the inside.

"I think you should stay out of his business," Oni sneered. "He's a grown man. He'll make his own decisions."

"I know that. I just want him to be sure he's making the right one."

"Because you know what the right one is?"

Les glanced away and crossed her arms. "Just forget I said anything."

"Don't talk about things you don't understand."

Frustration boiled up within her. Les jumped to her feet, her cheeks flushed. "Stars, why do you always have to act this way towards me? I'm trying my best to get along with you. Can't you do the same?"

Oni stood and stared down at her. "No, I can't. I don't trust you. I don't trust Nakoa around you. I don't trust you around him. I don't..."

"I'm going to stop you right there. I don't care if you don't trust me. You have every right not to, but you don't get to use him as an excuse to act this way towards me. Like you said, he can make his own decisions. If you want him so badly, why don't you tell him?"

Oni froze. "You don't know what you're talking about," she stammered.

"Oh, don't I?" Les breezed out of the cockpit, her anger only growing.

Corellia: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Nakoa Sen

Les was sitting in the lounge area when he arrived. Nakoa took one look at her and walked past. She was clearly angry and that meant Oni was back. Nakoa sighed and slid in his seat. They took off shortly.

"So...care to tell me what happened?" Nakoa jerked his head back towards the lounge.

"Nothing," Oni muttered. "Let's just get to Nikana."

"What did you say to her?"

"More like what did she say to me."

Nakoa waited for her to continue, but she didn't. "Like it or not, she's here to stay. You should get used to it. I'm not saying that to be harsh, but it will make life easier for all of us."

"You should have taken my feelings into consideration when you let her stay."

"I did." Nakoa gritted his teeth. "But I saw Lesia's perspective too. There are things haunting her, just like you and me. I wasn't going to force her to leave and face those hauntings on her own. If you have such a problem with basic human kindness, then you can always leave. I'm sure Ketei can find other work for you."

"You don't mean that."

Nakoa glanced at her. "I do. You're my friend, Oni, and a good one, but I haven't seen much of that friend lately. You're just jealous and bitter and rude these days. I'm tired of it, Les is tired of it, and I'm sure you are too."

"I can't help it. I don't trust her."

"Stop saying that." Nakoa raised his hands in exasperation. "I get that it's hard for you to trust people, but stop using it as an excuse to act this way. And..." he hesitated, then steeled himself. "Stop using your feelings for me against her too."

"I'm not." Oni turned her face away from him.

"You are. Look, Oni. I'm sorry, but I don't feel the same way. You can have whatever feelings you want, but you don't get to use them against her or me."

"Fine," Oni growled. "After you take care of Tarek, I'll leave. When she reveals her true intentions, don't say I didn't warn you. There's something off about her and I can't wait to see your reaction when I'm right."

Nakoa stared after her as she stormed out of the cockpit. He dropped his head into his hands after a moment. "I just had to make things worse, didn't I?" He didn't get a reply. The navicomputer began beeping as they reached Nikana. He dropped them out of hyperspace and prepared to land.