Wobani: 18 BBY
Mud Plains
Nakoa Sen

    Anticipation coiled in his stomach as the Mythos soared over Wobani's rough landscape. Les and Oni were silent in their seats. Feton, however, was jabbering away. Nakoa rolled his eyes and tuned him out. Feton had invited himself along, claiming they needed him to get past Imperial security checkpoints.

    Despite himself, Nakoa had to admit that Feton was right. His spy had provided clearance codes that got them past the Imperial blockade and down to the planet. Still, Nakoa didn't know why Feton couldn't have just told them.

    "Land up here," Feton directed. He pointed to a semi dry area on the mud plains. In the distance lay a cluster of large rock formations. "According to my spy, Tarek has set up a temporary camp among the rocks. With any luck, he hasn't spotted us yet."

    "It doesn't matter. Let him know we're coming," Nakoa replied. He prepped the landing gear and set the ship down where Feton had ordered. Oni stood and followed Feton off the ship. Nakoa checked his weapons and began to follow.

    Les stood and braced a hand on his chest, halting him. Nakoa flashed her a brief look of annoyance. "Don't start lecturing me now."

    "I'm not going to." She swallowed, a small amount of fear gleaming in her eyes. "Just be careful. Someone as wanted as Tarek hasn't survived this long purely on luck. I don't want to have to help Oni bring your body back to Ketei."

    Nakoa stared at her, then slid a hand to the back of her head and pressed their foreheads together. He closed his eyes for a moment. He'd only seen his parents share the Keldabe kiss a few times, occasionally as an attack on an enemy. He knew Les wouldn't know the significance behind the small gesture, but that didn't matter.

    "Don't worry," he said, then stepped around her.

    Feton and Oni were waiting a short distance from the ship. "I ran a thermal scan," Oni said. "It's just one lifeform. He's there."

    Nakoa nodded. "Feton, with me. Oni, bring Les along and don't drop her."

    "She's scared of heights, I know," Oni muttered. "Don't get yourself killed before we get there."

    "I don't plan to." Nakoa activated his jetpack and took off. A few seconds later, Feton was flying alongside him. Nakoa flipped his rangefinder down and scanned the rock formation. He could see a makeshift tent propped up between two large rocks. There was a small clearing before it. A lone man sat nearby. He flipped the scanner up again and narrowed his eyes.

    Tarek jumped to his feet and drew a blaster as the two of them landed. "Who are you? What do you want?" He demanded.

    Nakoa drew his vibroblade and held it towards Tarek hilt first, letting the signet show. "I'm Nakoa Sen, a survivor of Clan Ralius. I invoke the Code to seek justice and challenge you, Tarek Vizsla, to single combat. You'll pay for what you did to my people."

    Tarek watched him, almost looking amused. "I have no idea who you are."

    "You asked me where you could find him." Nakoa jerked his head towards Feton. "An heir. You used explosives in an attempt to kill me and my parents. They were crushed by a beam, saving my life." His voice caught, but Nakoa pushed through it and continued to speak. "You told my father that you were trying to prove you were the better choice to lead your Clan and House. He told you that neither you nor your brother were worthy."

    "Raada," Tarek growled. "You're his son."

    "I am, and I'll say this only once more. I challenge you to single combat."

    "I accept." Tarek lifted his face proudly. Nakoa gazed at his hard features, anger filling his mind. This was the man he'd hunted for years. This was the man whose face haunted him daily.

    "No blasters," Nakoa growled. "I'm settling this the old fashioned way."

    "Like a true Mandalorian," Tarek scoffed. Still, he cast his blasters aside and slid a blade out of his vambrace.

    Nakoa handed his own blasters to Feton while Tarek retrieved his helmet. He drew his vibroblade and faced Tarek again. They began to circle one another, moving away from Tarek's home. Nakoa heard the roar of Oni's jetpack, but didn't turn his attention away from Tarek.

    Tarek lunged, stabbing his blade towards Nakoa's fabric clad neck. Nakoa ducked beneath the attack and kicked backwards. Tarek skidded on the ground and whipped forward. They began trading blows, each one more angry than the last. Nakoa ducked and attacked, forming a rhythm in his own mind.

    "Do you know why I did it?" Tarek hissed, as their blades locked once more. "Because Clan Vizsla was becoming weak and the others saw it. Ellis and Fey openly mocked our Clan. I couldn't let that slide."

    Nakoa jerked away from Tarek. He rolled between his opponent's legs and jumped up. He slashed his blade through a weak point in Tarek's armor, drawing blood. Tarek roared with fury and rounded on him.

    "So you murdered them and their Clan for it?" Nakoa spat. "You're a disgrace to your Clan."

    "Do you think I don't know that?" Tarek dodged his next attack. Nakoa gasped in pain as Tarek dug his blade into Nakoa's side. "When I returned, I was welcomed as a nobody! They threw me out, along with everyone who helped me. My own father disowned me for defending our honor. My accomplices abandoned me."

    Nakoa managed to slip out of Tarek's grasp. "You brought it on yourself."

    "I consoled myself with the knowledge that the little brat who did this," Tarek pulled his flight suit down a bit, revealing a jagged scar on his neck, "died in the collapsing building, and that the Clan who had made a mockery of my own was extinct. Looks like I was wrong. Killing you now will make up for that."

    They ceased talking and attacked each other with renewed fury. Nakoa dodged past Tarek's attacks, managing to score a few hits on him. The older man was flagging. He could hear Tarek's breaths coming in pants. Nakoa was panting too, but with rage, not exhaustion. His fists trembled with adrenaline.

    Tarek attacked again. Nakoa deflected it and smashed his helmet into Tarek's. Tarek stumbled back and Nakoa swept his legs. He stepped onto Tarek's arm, keeping him stuck on the ground. Nakoa knelt down and slid his vibroblade beneath Tarek's chin, forcing his head up.

    With his free hand, Tarek tore his helmet off. Blood dripped from his nose and he had a blackened eye. Nakoa met his gaze. Their angered breaths matched perfectly.

    "I came here seeking revenge," Nakoa said, his voice surprisingly quiet. "I came here to kill you."

    "So do it." Tarek looked away and spit. Blood leaked from his mouth.

    "I don't need to. I only needed to face you once more. I only needed to beat you. I am not heartless. I am not like you." Nakoa sheathed his blade and stood.

    "You're a coward!" Tarek screamed, stumbling to his feet. "You were born a coward and you'll die a coward!" He raised a hand, a small blaster appearing in his grasp. Nakoa stiffened as a shot rang out.

    Tarek hit the ground with a dull thud. Feton holstered his blaster. "He's no coward," he spat.

    Nakoa stared at Tarek's body, then glanced at Feton. "I thought you said you didn't need to kill him."

    "I changed my mind." Feton turned and walked away.

    Les sprinted to Nakoa and flung her arms around his neck. He hugged her tightly, then winced as pain flared through his side. "Are you all right?" Oni asked.

    He nodded. "I'll be fine. I can fix it up on the Mythos." Nakoa looked back at Tarek's body. "I need to bury him first."

    "You're going to bury him?" Oni's voice was full of disbelief.

    "Not even he deserves to be scavenger food," Nakoa replied.

    Oni and Les nodded. "I'll help," Oni said.

Wobani: 18 BBY
Mud Plains
Lesia Mirri

    It took nearly half an hour for Nakoa and Oni to bury Tarek. Les had offered to help, but they had refused it and she hadn't pressed the matter. She leaned against a rock, watching them. They were talking quietly.

    Footsteps approached and Feton joined her. "I thought I was over it," he said. "I guess I was wrong."

    "I'm glad Nakoa didn't kill him."

    "Nakoa is a good man. I knew he wouldn't."

    Les raised an eyebrow. "You did?"

    Feton simply shrugged. "When it comes to revenge, it's easy to see who is a killer and who isn't. Nakoa may be a bounty hunter and a Mandalorian, but he's no heartless killer. I, on the other hand, have my moments. This was one of them."

    "So now what?"

    "I imagine you'll be taking me home and moving on yourselves," Feton replied.

    "I guess that makes sense."

    Nakoa and Oni joined them a few minutes later. Nakoa held out an arm to Les and she grabbed onto him as he activated his jetpack. They flew towards the Mythos silently. Les could sense a weight had been lifted from him, but there were still some lingering emotions. She couldn't quite make out what they were.

    Soon enough, they boarded the Mythos and left Wobani behind. Once they were in hyperspace, Nakoa headed to the back of the ship to tend to his injury. After a moment's hesitation, Les followed him. She found him in his cabin.

    "Do you need some help?" She asked.

    "Sure." Nakoa began taking off pieces of his armor. Les crossed over to him and lifted his jetpack off his back. She set it down and set to work removing another piece of his more hefty armor. Les turned away and closed her eyes as he removed his helmet so he could pull off his shirt. He tapped her shoulder and she turned back.

    Les grimaced, catching sight of his injury. Dried blood caked the edges of it and dripped down his side. The injury itself looked fairly mild. She pulled a rag out of the first aid kit and dampened it with some water. Gently, she began to wipe the blood away. Nakoa grabbed the kit and pulled out a bacta patch. He applied it as soon as she had finished.

    Les glanced up at him while he was preoccupied. She bit her lip, her heart racing. His skin was darker than she had expected. It was a golden brown. Briefly, she wished that she could ask him to remove his helmet. She wanted to know the length of his hair, the color of his eyes, the shape of his lips...she dropped her gaze as his head shifted towards her.

    "We're coming up on Coruscant," Oni shouted.

    "I'm going to go help," Les rasped. She stepped out of the room and tried to hide the blush that had crept into her cheeks. Oni was in Nakoa's seat when she reached the cockpit. Les sat down in the co-pilot's seat and prepared to deactivate the hyperdrive.

    "You know, that really was a one person job," Feton chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows at her. She ignored him, even as her blush deepened.

They landed in the same docking bay as before. This time, none of the Ugnaughts bothered them. Les, Feton, and Nakoa left the ship and hovered in the docking bay for a moment. Oni stayed behind to check the ship's diagnostics.

"Thanks for your help," Nakoa said at last.

"You looked like you needed it," Feton replied. "I'll admit, it's nice knowing that Tarek isn't around anymore." Nakoa gave a small nod but said nothing. Feton looped his arm through Lesia's and led her a short distance away. "I have a small gift for you. It's in your cabin."

Les rolled her eyes with a groan. "It better not be a picture of you."

"It isn't, although the thought had crossed my mind," Feton chuckled. "If you ever get tired of those two, you're more than welcome to come join my group of merry men. I get injured too sometimes."

"Ask one of your many dancers to fix you up," Les retorted.

"Their hands aren't nearly as gentle as I'm sure yours are."

She punched his shoulder. "How's that for gentle?"

"All right, point taken." Feton removed his helmet and tucked it beneath his arm. "I wish you luck."

"Thank you."

Almost before she realized it, Feton leaned towards her and kissed the corners of her mouth. It wasn't a full kiss, but it still left her lips tingling. Les gasped and stepped away from him.

"You're welcome." He gave her a wink.

A wave of subtle anger washed over her. It wasn't her own. Les glanced back as Nakoa joined them. "Give us a minute?" She nodded and returned to the ship.

She swallowed, rubbing her forehead. Stars, did he see that? I hope he didn't take it the wrong way. She bit her lip, anxiety worming its way into her stomach. Les joined Oni in the cockpit.

Coruscant: 18 BBY
Lower City
Nakoa Sen

Nakoa attempted to push his annoyance away as he faced Feton. He had no idea if the man had meant anything by kissing Les or if he was just toying with her. Both options made him more frustrated.

"What?" Feton asked. "I need to get going."

"Are you going to rebuild Clan Ralius?"

Feton's eyes widened in surprise. "No, why would I?"

"Because you're the only surviving heir?"

Feton shook his head with half a laugh. "If I was going to rebuild the Clan, I would've done it a long time ago. Clan Ralius is a relic of the past now. I have no intention of rebuilding it."

"But..."

Feton held up a hand. "My word is final. I will never rebuild Clan Ralius. I claim no ties to it anymore. If you want to try to resurrect the Clan, be my guest." Nakoa just continued to watch him. "Do you want my advice?"

Nakoa thought for a moment, then sighed. "You'll give it even if I don't want it."

"You need to make a decision." Feton's expression was surprisingly sincere. "Creed or Code, Nakoa. Which is more important to you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"You know." Feton tipped two fingers towards him and started walking away. "If you ever see Bo Katan, tell her I said hello."

Bo Katan? Nakoa arched a brow. Suddenly, he recalled a fact that Lesia had told him. His eyes slowly widened as he realized what Feton meant. She's the woman he's in love with? Stars, save us all if they ever have children. He returned to the ship.

"Where to?" Oni asked.

"Back to Corellia." Nakoa dropped into his seat and they took off. He programmed the navicomputer and made the jump as soon as they cleared Coruscant's atmosphere.

Once they were safely in hyperspace, Nakoa retreated to his cabin. He pulled down his poster of Tarek and threw it away. He tugged his helmet off and massaged his temples. His head was beginning to ache. Nakoa sat on the edge of his bed. At last, he laid down and fell asleep.