Hello my fellow Batchers! Happy Friday!
It's me again. I hope you enjoy this bit of an explaining chapter that answers questions from the last chapter. Enjoy, guys! (Also a shorter chapter, but lighthearted!)

- Kena <3

The waves pound at the shore, the sun low in the sky.

I invited Echo to come join us, but he said that the sand just gets stuck in his prosthetics and makes them a pain to clean. He is going to meet us at the Plaza to walk us home. It's good to have him back.

The sand is warm against my back where I am laying out next to Tech, the tapping of his fingers along his data pad almost lost against the sound of the children's laughter. I am wearing a gifted swim suit set, conservatively cut, grey with swirls of blue, along with denim shorts. I like how it fits me, and am happy to get some sun... I need the tan.

After a hard day of work, the young ones have earned their play in the surf. About a dozen of them, including Omega and Lyana, toss a ball back in forth in the sun's final rays, laughing and hollering to one another. A handful of other adults are gathered a ways from us, talking to one another around a bonfire.

  I was with them for a while, talking about everything from lunch to politics, while Tech was by himself in his quiet, introverted way.

Echo has asked him to decipher some information from a ship he and his team of clones boarded a few rotations ago.

I finally meandered over to him a little over an hour ago. We have barely spoken a word to one another since, but I don't mind; his steady, comforting company is calming, his presence all I need.

Tech glances at me, before peering at his data pad.

I look at him out of the side of my eye, tilting my head back to bask in the sun.

"What is it, Tech?" I ask. I know that look; confusion. And curiosity.

   "I don't understand." He speaks. He tilts his head in his charming, confused way, and I sigh.

  "Expand, Tech. I am not a mind reader." I reply, and he shakes his head.

  "How did the empire capture you? I mean—" he pushes his goggles up his nose. "You are... how do I state this? You."

I prop myself up on my elbows, squinting into the sun, watching as Omega dives into the surf, arms extended to catch the ball. She laughs as she emerges, holding it above her head.

  "Sid handed me over." I whisper. He doesn't look at all surprised, his face unchanging, but his brown eyes hold a sadness that makes my throat tighten. "I think they bribed her... or maybe threatened her, I don't know... I told Hunter about it last night... how... I- I-"

  I trail off, looking down at my hands. Just the thought makes my heartbeat choke in my throat. Of running, of the fear, of my Comm being jammed, of losing Crosshair's rifle. Of thinking I'd never see my family, the pain that followed.

A comforting hand rests on my shoulder, and I glance at Tech, who's eyes are on the ocean.

  "It's okay. I do not require any more information." He says. He glances to meet my gaze, before turning away and removing his hand. 

   His nose is more sloped then Hunter's, I notice, turning upwards slightly at its tip, but he still shares his brother's sharp jaw. He is charming, Tech. Not as easy- to - love as Wrecker and Omega, but his bluntness and seemingly endless knowledge is a trait that I find rather endearing. He has a sweet heart and a kind soul.

  "But I must be honest with you," Tech says, drawing my attention back to his eyes. "and the truth is, I have never trusted Sid. I'm afraid my anger towards her is immense."

  We are quiet, and I sit up, tucking me knees under my arms, sand sticking to the damp skin. The hard set of Tech's jaw shows his frustration, lost in thought as he chews on his lower lip.

I debate what I am about to say, eyes following Omega's form as she gallops across the beach. I glance behind us, making sure  that the other adults aren't close enough to hear us. Realizing Tech is the safest person to tell, the only person who can give me answers, I can't stop myself before I blurt out.

"I am Force Sensitive."

I stare at him, trying to gauge his reaction. He pauses, looking at me, before smiling slightly.

"Yes, I suppose that makes sense." He remarks. "You have displayed all the signs of low force sensitivity."

I gape at him.

"What?" He says to my astonishing face, looking rather confused. "I thought it was obvious. It explains numerous things."

  I sigh, pressing my face into my arms. "What things?"

  "Well." He starts off, sounding pleased that I asked him. "It would explain why you are easily able to read emotion, which could possibly account for your claustrophobic response to small spaces. You feed off of other's unease or worry, which only spikes your heart rate, even if you are unaware of it."

He pauses, head tilted.
  I suppose he is right. All those hours in my youth being locked in dark of the closet probably didn't help, but Fennec and Mother were always yelling at one another until I was let out. Perhaps I was feeding off of their emotions, their anger and fear and sadness.

  "Another reason is Hunter's ability to have prolonged contact with you and not get over stimulated." My ears perk up and I twist so I am facing him, looking at his side profile.

  "My theory is that because you have a higher than average midi-chlorian count, your touch ebbs and flows with his senses, rather then meeting them abruptly, as it does for the rest of us— we overpower his nervous system, making him agitated. The Force— wether you are conscious of emitting it or not— calms him. Your touch soothes him."

  "Ah." I say quietly, nodding my head to show him I understand. We sit in comfortable silence, the sun sinking, lighting up the surface of the water with its reflection. The children are bathed in the golden glow, their motions becoming slower as they slowly become worn, and I clamber to my feet.

"I have to go back to the ship." Tech says, after a while. "This data I am encrypting is becoming too complicated to do on this pad."

I nod, raising my hands to cup my mouth.

  "Omega, Lyana!" I call, and their heads whip towards me. "Let's go, I want to get you two showered before bed!"

As they wave goodbye to their friends, I help Tech to his feet.

"Thank you for always being there to answer my questions, Tech." I say, giving him a grim smile.

"I am glad to be of assistance." He replies. He tilts his head, sincerity in his posture. "Just so you know... I am very sorry for all the suffering you have endured. If I could, I would go back and change it."

I smile at him, and he pushes his goggles up his nose.

"However, time travel is both theoretically and physically impossible." He remarks, and I chuckle, smiling at Omega as she approaches, a breathless smile on her face.

  "Did you see my catch, Del?" She asks, surprising me as she reaches for my hand. Even with her friend around, she still likes to thread her fingers through mine. I don't embarrass her, or if I do, she doesn't care. It warms my heart in my chest.

We march up the stone steps, headed towards the village center where we are meeting Hunter and the others. I wave goodbye to the parents, who are still gathered around the bonfire.

The smell of evening supper has my stomach grumbling, pots supported on spits over fires as the people of Pabu prepare dinner campfire style. Each cluster of families wave to us as we pass, and children run back and forth across the walkway, sparklers in their hands.

  The sand that coated the girls and I's feet slowly dries, and we pause, each of us using an arm to hold onto Tech to keep from falling as we dust them off.

  He doesn't seem to mind, a hand darting to grab Lyana's arm so she doesn't tumble over, earning her smile.

  The streets open up to a large courtyard, a fountain making a sweet bubbling sound in the center. It's impossibly peaceful, the long shadows cast from the setting sun speaking of the rapid approach of nightfall.

  Hunter is talking to Phee as we approach, and his posture slightly slouched, relaxed. Echo, from where he is crouched petting someone's lothcat, hears Omega call their names. He looks up, and Hunter's head turns, small smiles creeping onto their faces.

I notice how Tech returns Phee's smile, before returning to his data pad.

"Hello, girls." Echo says, standing to accept my hug. I feel his arms wrap around me, his prosthetic arm digging slightly into my rips, but I give him a squeeze none the less.

"You know, you only saw me like... an hour ago?" He chuckles as I pull away.

"I haven't gotten enough Echo hugs for months. I'm trying to keep myself from going through a withdrawal." I joke lightly, watching Omega practically launch herself at him as I look around.

"Where is Wrecker?" I ask as Hunter steps towards me, a hand reaching for mine.

"He ran off with Nala. Something about evening fishing for squid of some kind," he says, holding out his arms. "Do I not get a hug?"

"You always get a hug." I remark, practically melting into him as his arms wrap around me, pressing a kiss to my hair, still damp from the surf.

  I think about telling him out my conversation with Tech, and decide when we get some time alone, I will tell him.

  He looks down at me, head tilted, hazel eyes looking me over.

  "You look good in that swimsuit." He remarks. I stare at him, smiling slightly at his handsome face.

  "You just think I look good in anything." I quip, and he tilts his head.

  "I see no lie." He remarks, pressing a quick kiss to my mouth.

  "What about me?" Phee asks as I pull away from him, a cheeky smile on her face. I laugh, raising my eyebrows at her, and she shakes her head. "I'm kidding, I don't want your wet hug!"

  "Aww, come here, Phee!" I say, opening my arms. Her eyes grow wide with laughter, bolting away as I chase her up the walkway, the ocean breeze blowing against our backs and we run around like children.

   Hope you enjoy the last lighthearted chapter for a while!

   *im sorry guys*

  - Kena

  (Word count, 1844)