#reveth

“He says to stay with the Ghost for now. He says he’s got his own lead to follow, but if it doesn’t pan out then they’re still our best hope at finding this kid,” she lets her head fall lazily to the side and glances at him. “You okay with staying longer?”

He doesn’t answer immediately. He glances at the ship that is still far from being pieced back together. He didn’t know why she was asking him. It wasn’t like any of them had a real choice. He eventually says, “Yeah, I’m okay with that.”

“Good,” she claps her hand on his shoulder and tosses her chin towards Pendewqell who is grumbling curse words under his breath while trying to rewire part of a panel. “Because I might murder everyone on board if I’m stuck with Pendewqell by myself.”

Kix manages a chuckle and follows her into the ship. Sparks pop overhead when they make it to the bridge. Parts and bolts are strewn across the floor and there’s a faint hint of smoke in the air layered with grease and droid fumes. There’s still a giant orange blob covering the seat behind the pilot chair where Emmy was found. They knocked her out with some sleeping gas and covered her with the paint that glued its victims to their spot. She’s working on the roof of the ship fully recovered. Not that she seemed jarred by the incident. Kix still hasn’t heard her utter a word or change her expression from anything other than neutral.

“I don’t care how difficult it is, just get the navigation system back online!” Jacen shouts with half his body sticking out from under the Ghost’s control panels. Chopper responds in a few low grunts and the shake of his metal arms before rolling to the other side of the bridge and plugging in. Azil pops her head up from the nose gun below the pilot’s chair.

“You get everything situated?” she asks with her large arms folding on the bridge floor.

“Yeah, it should work now.” Kix nods. Azil slips out of view before hearing her start up the weapons system.

“Alright, the weapons are back online!” she calls from below. Jacen slides out from under the control panel and sits up.

“Good, we can test them out on Fives.” He gets to his feet and Kix steps quickly out of his way. Jacen’s lighthearted attitude went out the window the second he caught sight of the ship. No one a part of the Corsair crew has dared to say anything to him yet. Reveth and Kix exchange a look, daring the other to speak up first. It’s Jacen who breaks their silence, “What?”

Reveth clears her throat, “I spoke with my captain. He wants to know what other lead you have of finding this kid?”

Jacen’s shoulders rise and fall with a deep sigh. He falls into the pilot chair, swiveling it around to face them, “I think it was safe to say Qell’s working with Fives. We can try tracking down his ship but that’ll be a stretch.”

None of that was an answer to Reveth’s question so she waits for him to continue.

“I’ve got someone who might be able to help. But… I gotta make a few calls before I can be sure.” He finally says. He turns away from them to continue working on the ship. Kix and Reveth exchange a look before turning away. While walking past the rooms, Kix pauses by one with the doors open. Paint like the one Fives sprayed throughout the shrike glows on half of the dark walls. On the other side of the room is murals, paintings, art. Not that Fives’s stuff couldn’t be seen as art, its just easier to admire something when the artist didn’t rob you. Caleb appears beside Kix, startling him.

“We shared a room,” he walks into the room to place his helmet on a dresser on the side with the murals.

“Were you close?” Kix runs a hand along a bright green streak in the doorway that trails off into a creature running along the wall.

“In our own way,” he shrugs. He leans against his dresser. “He stayed with me and my parents after… well, everything.”

Kix glances at Caleb before turning to face to him. “What do you mean by everything?”

Caleb crosses his arms and stares at the ground. Specs of paint dust the dark ship floor. “After Uncle Rex and Auntie Ava died and… after the First Order.”

Kix tilts his head, thinking. “Rex died of our age acceleration. How did his wife die?”

This causes Caleb to make a face. They meet each others eyes, each holding their own mixture of confusion. Caleb shakes his head, “Uncle Rex didn’t die from age acceleration.”

This causes Kix to stiffen. He opens his mouth but the ship lifts suddenly and then falls just as quickly. He loses balance and falls into the ship corridor banging the back of his head. Caleb recovers faster than he does and jumps over Kix to make it to the bridge. Kix scrambles to his feet to chase after him while trying to fight the pounding in the back of his head. If Rex didn’t die from age acceleration… then how?

They find Jacen and Azil clinging to chairs and flight controls. Chopper is yelling something about it not being his fault.

“Oh, it’s fixed, is it? Go back and redo it Chop!” Jacen snaps. He gets to his feet, wincing at some pain in his back and side. He turns to them when he’s fully recovered himself and hands a list to Caleb, “We need some parts if the Ghost plans on going anywhere.”

Caleb scans over the list, “No problem.” He starts to turn to leave and Kix almost stops him. his hand barely lifts from his side before stopping at an awkward height from his hips and shoulder. He wanted to continue their conversation from earlier, but he can see that the moment has passed. He lets Caleb disappear through the ship doors.

“You okay?” this comes from Azil who is flopped down in the copilot chair.

“I’m fine.” He says a little to plainly. Jacen lowers himself into the pilot chair with another deep sigh. He was clearly exhausted. Kix wanted to tell him to get some sleep but that would just be calling the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy.

“I’m sorry about all…” Jacen pauses to gesture at the surrounding ship. “… this.”

“It happens.” Kix shifts awkwardly near the doorway feeling the silence between the three of them. He almost wants to tell him how Fives decorated the Shrike and stole the memory core with the crew still on board. He doesn’t. Mostly because that would tarnish the Crimson Corsair’s reputation and because Kix wasn’t too thrilled about it himself. When his arms feel awkward hanging at his sides, he crosses them and asks, “Any idea of what Fives has planned?” “No,” Jacen shakes his head. Kix didn’t want to share to much of what Fives stole from the Corsair crew. Anyone with a moral compass would fight to destroy it. There was a time Kix would have agreed with them. Now he’s just going through the motions, trying to appear useful. “Fives has always been a bit impulsive. It was always hard to tell what he was thinking. He’d start a small project to build a simple toy ship and then next thing you know he’s got half of a speeder bike built in the back yard.”

Azil gives a soft chuckle from her chair. “He did have some good ideas though. Got us in and out of trouble all the time.”

Jacen rubs the back of his neck while leaning on his knees. “Mostly in trouble though.”

Kix presses his lips into a tight line. Why would Fives want the memory core? To sell what he finds the way the Corsair crew planned to? He studies the looks of Jacen and Azil’s faces. There was more to their expressions then just the pain of seeing someone go down a dark path. There’s guilt in their eyes. Guilt for not being able to stop him from going down this path or guilt for something else? He wants to question them about the truth behind Rex’s death when a ping ignites behind Jacen. Jacen turns the pilot chair towards the flight controls and presses the glowing com button.

The image of a woman appears before them. She’s older with hair tucked into a bun behind her head. She gives cocky smile towards Jacen and Azil. There was something about her that seemed familiar to Kix.

“What could you kids be up to that needs my help?” the woman asks with a slight laugh. The air in the room feels lighter now. A smile appears on both Jacen and Azil’s face.

“Hey Auntie,” Jacen rubs the back of his neck. “I just need to ask if…”

He’s cut off by Chopper bursting forward from where he was plugged into the ship. he begins telling the woman about how the ship got torn apart. Jacen and Azil both turn to stop the droid but its to late. The woman begins laughing and shaking her head.

“You better hope your mother doesn’t find out, kid.” She runs a hand over her hair. Her eyes wonder over towards Kix. He finds himself stiffening at her gaze. He wasn’t sure if he should introduce himself. They linger on him for a long time but before Kix can work up the nerve to speak her eyes are back on Jacen and Azil. “So, what’s the problem?”

“It’s Fives.” Azil says it. Kix sees the woman’s light happy face shift into something darker. Then he sees it. Guilt.

“What has he done?” her voice is flat. Her smile is gone. Jacen gestures reluctantly around him.

“He’s also messed with the Crimson Corsair. We’re trying to find him to settle things before he gets himself killed.” Jacen explains. He leans against the flight controls with a heavy sigh. The woman frowns and turns her eyes back on Kix.

“What did he do?”

Kix was suddenly back in a mission brief. It felt so similar to a Jedi General peering at Kix when he gave his input on the casualty statistics for the upcoming battle. He finds himself standing a little taller, almost as if he were at attention.

“He stole… something of ours, Ma’am. My captain is determined to get it back.” Kix stops himself from saying memory core. She had a military sense about her. She would probably grasp what it could mean if it fell into the wrong hands. Kix wasn’t sure if was considered the right hands anymore. The woman nods slowly, not taking her eyes off him.

“So, what is it you’re asking of me?” this is directed at Jacen. Jacen sits up straight in his seat.

“We’re currently on Coruscant. Do you think Jess might be able to meet up with us and help track him down?”

They watch the woman, but her face reveals nothing until she says, “She’s been deployed to the unknown regions.” Jacen nods slowly, “I figured as much. I just wanted to ask…” “But,” she says causing Jacen to press his lips together and squeeze his eyes shut. “Dogma is available and on Coruscant right now.”

Kix watches Jacen’s pained expression force itself into a smile. “That would be great, Auntie.”

Azil tries to cover a laugh by coughing into her arm. The woman arches a brow at them as they continue to try and fail at hiding their true thoughts. Kix barely noticed any of this because he was too busy thinking back to Dogma from the 501st. there is no way that Dogma is still alive. Kix lifts a hand to rub the rising headache that threatens to emerge. Kriff if Dogma is alive… he can’t keep a groan from escaping his lips. Luckily no one seemed to hear it over their own groans.

“Dogma’s performing in the main square topside. Be sure to send love.” The woman is back to smiling. Jacen nods his head in slow pained movements.

“Thank you, Auntie Leia.” Jacen forces out.

“May the Force be with you.” The woman, Leia, disappears. Azil and Jacen exchange a look before Azil bursts into laughter.

“I told you this would happen! I told you.” Azil holds her hands up. Jacen rests his forehead on the ships steering system.

“Call Caleb and tell him to get back here. If we’re doing this, he’s doing this.”

Kix found himself jittery with a mixture anticipation and dread. He wanted to find this person named Dogma but… he wasn’t sure how he would react if it actually turned out to be his Dogma. And judging by the expressions on Jacen and Azil, it very well could be… his Dogma.

It would be another 30 minutes before Caleb was able to return to the Ghost and for them to find their way up to the topside of Coruscant. Emmy volunteered to stay behind with Chopper to continue fixing the ship. Caleb tried to take her place, but Jacen wouldn’t allow it. They heard the main square before they saw it. There’s a theater in the main square where popular musicians often played back in the day. Kix, Jesse, and Hardcase managed to sneak into one of the shows once. A popular jazz band had been playing then. Now upbeat modern music radiates from the theater speakers. Spotlights shine up into the sky as shimmery confetti rains slowly from above the closer came to the theater. He was beginning to doubt that this was his Dogma.

When they find themselves standing at a gate looking down at the rows of admiring spectators Kix is 100% sure this is definitely not his Dogma. Bright lights beam down on the stage and flash out to the crowd. The music was as loud as the bar where they got their asses handed to them. At the center of the stage a Pantoran woman sings and dances. Five background dancers dance behind her. the crowd is made mostly of young women. Kix glances at Reveth who looks like she has just been dragged to a torture room.

“What. Is. Happening?” she groans when Kix and Pendewqell pull her through the crowds following behind the Ghost crew.

“Remember when we were feared pirates searching old shipwrecks and old crypts?” Pendewqell mutters.

“Good times.” Kix can’t keep the laugh down. They were completely out of their element. Of course, they have been ever since Fives made his way onboard the Shrike. They find themselves towards the right side of the stage where a large man acts as a guard. Jacen says something to him that lets them pass. They are taken into a building and taken up to the top floor to a room that looks down on the performance. There they wait for this Dogma to finish performing. Azil and Caleb lean on the railing from the balcony looking down at the performance while Jacen busies himself with drinking. Reveth and Pendewqell join him. Kix spends his time studying the room. Tables of fresh fruit line one wall and a table of assorted drinks line another. The room had a pleasant smell from all of the flowers scattered about on pedestals. He finds a deep closet filled with different clothes and costume and beyond a couple of sofas and flower stands the room is bare. He crosses over to the sofas and takes a seat next to Jacen.

Kix isn’t sure how much longer they wait, but by the time the music outside dies down, half of the crew is drunk, and the other half is dying of boredom. Jacen forces himself to stand, finds his balance, and faces the door. Reveth finishes her drink and watches the door. When the lift doors open, the Pantoran woman steps into the room. She glances at their group that is half drunk and half engorged from eating most of the prepared food. A big practiced smile spreads across her face.

“Cousins!” her voice is similar to when Senators were trying to play nice with others. Always made Kix’s skin crawl. Her arms are outstretched towards the Ghost crew. Her eyes narrow slightly at the three Corsair crew. “… and others!”

“Dogma,” Jacen gives her a hug that last for a second before quickly parting. Kix rests his head back on the couch. Not his Dogma. Then he thinks, who names their kid Dogma? “Your concert was great!”

This was a lie since Jacen barely paid it any attention. Azil is next in the line for hugs. She wraps her large arms around the small woman and squeezes her so tight that she lifts her off the ground for a moment before setting her back down.

“Azil! I’m so glad to see you!” a real smile appears on the woman’s face when they part from each other.

“Ireally liked your concert.” Azil says, shooting a look towards Jacen. Jacen rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. Caleb side steps to get a quick hug.

“I thought it was fine.” Caleb shrugs his shoulders. This makes the woman laugh. Kix almost thinks it was genuine.

“Thank you,” the woman says but her eyes are turning towards Kix, Reveth, and Pendewqell. Her eyes stop on Kix. Her cold calculating gold eyes shift from emotions so quickly Kix can’t read them. Just when her mask breaks and hints of blurring eyes and sadden features appear, Pendewqell drunkenly raises a glass.

“I liked the drinks!” he slurs and then laughs, burps, and finishes off his drink. The woman’s mask is back on, hiding any expression that might have emerged. Kix closes his eyes and shakes his head. Reveth stands and faces the woman.

“We’re here on business.” Her tone cuts through the Ghost crew’s happy reunion. The woman now frowns but walks past Reveth. Kix thinks he can see a blood vein throbbing in Reveth’s temple. The woman pours herself a drink and kicks off her heals. Her blue skin shines from a mixture of sweat and glitter. She pulls her long pastel purple hair out of its tight ponytail and leans against the table to stare at them over her glass.

“Well? Speak.” Her tone matches Reveth’s. Kix can see why Jacen reacted the way he did before. She may not be his Dogma, but something told him she might not be any better. Jacen is the one to step forward when Reveth looks like she might snap.

“We need help,” Jacen starts, now standing between Dogma and the others, “It’s Fives.”

The woman pauses. Her face doesn’t change from her current expression, but Kix can see her eyes fighting to conceal her real emotion.

“What do you want with my brother?”

Read full story HERE on AO3!!!

“Emmy, you stay with the ship just in case we need a speedy getaway.” Jacen instructs when the Ghost id docked. The nautolan nods, still not saying a word. Kix flinches when the orange droid, Chopper, speeds past him. Caleb elbows Kix.

“He grows on you, trust me.” He winks before pulling on his Mandalorian helmet. Kix glances at Reveth who just shrugs. They follow Jacen off the Ghost and out into the Coruscant Underworld. When Kix first steps off the ship ramp, he takes a moment to glance up at all the starships floating in and out of the large docking tunnels. Even though he was born and raised on Kamino and everything he loved is most likely gone or changed into something unrecognizable to him, he can’t help thinking, I’m home.

“Alright, stay close. The bar isn’t to far from here.” Jacen calls from the front of the group. Kix snaps out of his gaze when Pendewqell shoves him forward. He stumbles slightly and shoots a look over his shoulder, but Pendewqell doesn’t seemed fazed. Kix takes everything in. The poorly lit walking paths plotted with filth and trash. The almost nauseating stench of ship exhaust and every now and then the putrid stench of sewage. But what he really enjoyed was the starship traffic overhead that forms a river of lights in the sky. While taking in the sights of the city he once called home, he almost doesn’t notice a hand attempt to pickpocket him. Kix reacts quickly, catching the thief’s hand and pulling them away from his body. The boy no older then 16 looks flustered by getting caught before ultimately running away.

“Got to be careful on the streets,” Azil says when they continue walking, “Coruscant used to be a respected planet. But now its fallen to crime syndicates.”

“How is that possible?” Kix frowns as he walks. She shrugs with the shake of her head.

“After the Empire fell it went back to being peaceful but…” she trails off.

“But then the First Order showed up and now this place is as lawless as ever.” Caleb finishes for her. Kix doesn’t push the subject any further. He’s already spotted a few stormtroopers peppered into the crowds. The first time he ever saw one he mistook it for a clone trooper. The sudden burst of excitement and relief to not be alone that was immediately extinguished when he heard the strangers voice speak back to him. The clones are gone. Now, he’s all that’s left.

It doesn’t take long to make it to their destination. Kix is surprised to see how large the bar is. it looks more like a warehouse then a place to get drinks. A few groups of people are loitering out front around several parked speeders. Kix follows silently behind the Ghost crew as they enter the bar.

Inside it’s almost pitch black except for the neon paint spread along the walls, floors, and ceilings. The mass of people dancing to the overly loud music all wear some form of brightly colored fabric that lights up like the paint. Some have symbols painted on their bodies if only to have something that glowed in the dark. Kix realizes the paint on Caleb ignites in the dark like everything else. He sticks closer to the others. It would be way to easy to get lost in a place like this.

They eventually find a long bar that stretches the length of the back wall with several bartenders scattered about to serve as many people as possible. Kix sees Jacen peering at each bartender before shaking his head. Azil gstures to the second floor that looks down at the main horde of dancing people. They make their way to one of the two stairs and begin climbing. Each stair is painted a different color, forming a rainbow all the way to the top. the second floor is much less crowded. There are sectioned off areas with cushioned benches and private tables. They pass one man that is surround by women of different species and the next is a group of men throwing a bachelor party. Kix notices a much smaller bar in the corner. Only one man stands to serve drinks. When they approach the small bar, the bartender doesn’t look up from drying a glass.

“What do you want?” his voice is low, but it carries over the music. Jacen takes a seat on one of the five barstools. The man behind the bar is a Kiffar. His clan tattoo is a gold line running down his forehead, nose, lips, and chin with three gold dots marked under his left eye. He is completely different then the other bartenders. While the others wear vests that glow different colors in the dark, he only wears dark clothes. He has a long jacket that rests just past his shoulders revealing gold tattoos that cover his left shoulder and travel down his arm to where Kix could no longer see. The top of his dreads is pulled back into a bun while the lower part is let to fall below his shoulders.

“I’m looking for my cousin.” Jacen tries to speak loud with out shouting. The man finally sets the glass down and meets Jacen’s eyes. He reaches under the bar and pulls out a shot glass before pouring blue neon liquid to its brim. He slides it towards Jacen.

“What makes you think I know where he is?” the man tilts his head but shows no emotion.

Jacen leans over the bar. “He’s in trouble Qell.”

When the man, Qell, doesn’t react in any way, Reveth pushes her way forward. She takes the shot meant for Jacen and downs it in one go. She slams the glass on the table and meets Qell’s eyes. “The Crimson Corsair is looking for him. You can tell us what you know, or things can get messy.”

Something in his eyes change. Qell leans shifts his weight while mulling it over. He crosses his arms and stares at the floor with his lips pressed into a thin line. After a moment he gives a small nod.

“Fine,” he says making Jacen’s shoulders relax. Kix glances at Caleb and Azil. They keep their guard up. “I’ll go get him.”

“Alright,” Jacen breathes. When Qell disappears through a hidden door by the bar, Kix gets an uneasiness deep in his gut. “I told you he’d do the right thing.”

Azil gives a snort and begins pacing the length of the small bar. “We’ll see…”

While they wait for Qell to supposedly retrieve Fives for them, Kix pears down at the dancing crowd. The crowd swells and falls like uneven ripples across water. There may have been a time where he would want to join them. Especially if Jesse and Hardcase talked him into it. They were good at that. His thoughts are interrupted by a loud siren blaring through the building. He covers his ears, wincing. Down below, he can make out two people running through the crowds dispersing something to each patron. After a moment he realizes they’re masks. He quickly whips his head towards the people in the private areas to see them sitting comfortably on the benches all wearing masks that glow different neon colors.

“What’s going on?” Pendewqell screams over the siren.

“Shit.” Caleb curses under his breath. Kix follows his eyes and see even the bartenders are now wearing masks. All of their masks glow red. Kix flinches when a large, animated eyes and mouth appears on the large wall overlooking the crowds.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” the loud animated voice speaks commanding everyone’s attention. Kix reaches for his blaster but only grasps at air. He peeks over his shoulder to see his blaster is gone. The others catch on and find that their blasters are missing as well. “Now is the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Remember to keep your masks on at all times and to act responsibly! If you need assistance at any moment, please do not hesitate to hit the red button on the side of your masks or to reach out to anyone wearing a red mask!”

“What does that mean?” Azil asks before yelling. “What does that mean?”

The eyes and mouth disappear. A large red 10 appears on the wall. Everyone below begins to chant out the countdown.

“We don’t have weapons Jacen.” Caleb hisses. Jacen stands next to everyone unsure of what to do.

“We don’t know what its counting down to! It might not be anything bad.” Jacen doesn’t sound convincing.

“… 5… 4… 3… 2…” The crowd continues chanting. Kix holds his breath. Everything in him tells him to run. Then the crowd screams, “… 1!”

At first, nothing happens. Then the lights flip on causing Kix and the others to flinch and groan at the sudden brightness. This has been happening a lot to Kix. But when the lights shut off again a horn is blown and clouds of color rain down on everything. The music is blaring so loudly that Kix can feel it in his chest. the people go nuts dancing in the clouds of color and soon colorful foam appears on the floor. Kix and the others all give a semi embarrassed “Oh.”

“My blaster is still missing!” Reveth hisses through clenched teeth as if to remind them that this wasn’t innocent at all. Kix turns to respond to her but suddenly feels a blow against the center of his shoulder blades. He doesn’t fully realize what’s happening until he hits the ground. On the first floor. He lets out a long groan and then cough when the smoke gets into his lungs. Its not the same type of smoke that the kid Fives used on him, but it still made breathing difficult. He struggles not to slip on the foam that now covers the floor. A torguta man walks towards him wearing a red mask. Kix holds out a hand, assuming he’s here to assist him but is then kicked in the chest and sent sliding across the floor.

He has to use a table currently occupied by a group of women to get to his feet. They stare at him blankly, so he bows his head at them and goes, “Ladies.”

He barely has time to adjust to standing again when the next hit comes. This time he’s able to lift his arms and shield himself. When the man swings a leg, Kix manages to catch it throw the man off balance. He throws a punch himself but the man dodges. The smoke stings his eyes, and he coughs so hard his lungs ache. This gives the man another opening. The man’s boot collides with the side of Kix’s head sending him flying to the floor again. This time when he tries to get to his feet, he waits. When he hears the man approaching, Kix pulls a knife, one he just remembered he had, and swings at the man. The man tries to dodge but Kix is able to plunge it into his thigh. The man lets out a painful scream before punching the side of Kix’s head. When Kix no longer sees two of everything, the man is gone.

Kix stumbles to his feet, wincing at the throbbing in his head and the ache in his back from his fall. He glances towards the second floor. Azil is draped over the side rails, Jacen is currently getting to his feet, and Pendewqell coughs hysterically into his arm from the floor. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Reveth and Caleb still in the midst of battle. Qell and a female Mikkian fight off Caleb and Reveth on the rainbow stairs. He begins stumbling towards them, but the crowd is to pact together and he couldn’t manage his way through. More colorful smoke rains down obstructing his view of their fighting. He coughs harder and waves the smoke away.

Hands shove Kix into someone behind him. Qell runs past with the Mikkian woman. Kix gladly runs after them when he sees their headed for the exit, but he’s trapped in the crowd. They jump and chant from under their masks completely unaware of what’s happening. Kix coughs harder, feeling himself curl into himself. Hands push him through the crowd. Reveth appears, now covered in paint and bruises. She helps him through the dancing crowd and to the exit.

The fall through the doors, landing on the ground. Both coughs roughly towards the ground. They crawl further away from the entrance so they can sit themselves up against the building walls. Some of the loiterers outside stare at them judgingly. When the doors burst open again, it’s the Ghost crew and Pendewqell. Caleb is the only one who seems fine. His Mandalorian helmet saved him from the smoke.

“Well,” Jacen’s voice is hoarse, and he tries to keep himself from cough anymore. “That could have gone better.”

“No shit.” Reveth gets to her feet. She slams the side of her fist against the bar wall in frustration.

“We should get back to the ship.” Azil’s voice is strained but no one argues. Each of them is covered in the colorful smoke. They leave a trail of neon footprints as they make their way through the city. They don’t say a word. Each of them is pissed and while they won’t admit it, embarrassed. When they make their way into the port where the Ghost is docked, they freeze.

Panels from the ghost lay on the floor with bolts and nails rolling around. A part of the ramp lies flat on the ground while the rest hangs in the air. Bits and pieces of the Ghost are strewn throughout the dock. Jacen walks forward, hands squeezed into tight fists. A ship hovers above the Ghost with wires tethered down to the hyperdrive being lifted from the ship. on top is two Jawas. Both waves enthusiastically. The sound of thrusters draws their attention to Qell who is lifting up to the Jawas. He glares down at them and gives a low laugh.

“I’ll give Fives your regards!” he shouts before the ship pulls them away.

***

When Qell is safely in the ship, he gives a long low sigh. He pulls his mask off and tosses it onto the couch that curves into one of the ships corners. The twins push past him while bickering over their new hyperdrive.

“Hey, Gigi, Suzu, cut it out.” His voice reveals how exhausted he really is. “Go make sure Chop doesn’t need any help.” The two Jawas nods and shuffle off to find Chop. Qell takes this moment to rub his face. When the ship doors open, Calli steps into the room. She’s doesn’t take her eyes off the datapad that’s in her hands.

“You okay?” Qell places his large blaster on the table by the couch. When she doesn’t respond or even acknowledge him, he asks again. This time she flinches and meets his eyes.

“What?”

Qell gives a soft laugh before saying, “Are you injured?”

“Oh,” her pink nose wrinkles at such a thought, “no, I’m fine. Chop on the other hand got stabbed in the leg.”

“Of course he did.” Qell rolls his eyes. Calli begins walks towards another set of doors before Qell speaks up again. “How is he?”

She pauses, not looking back at him. her voice is forcefully neatrul. “The same.”

When she disappears through the ship doors, he feels the quietness settle. It’s a peaceful quiet but it gnaws at the pit in his stomach. The pit formed by the worry that’s been building up little by little with every passing day. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to ease the worry back down. When the ship doors open again, Chop walks out, wearing an apron and rubber gloves that stretch to his elbows.

“What are you doing?” Qell sighs when the torguta shuffles through cabinets while mumbling to himself.

Chop pauses to stare at him and then, as if it wasn’t clear enough, lifts his rubbered hands and says, “Dishes.”

“Dammit Chop! Go find Calli and get your leg patched up!” Qell shouts but there’s no real anger behind it. Chop hops from one thought to the other usually before Qell has time to question his first one. Chop almost looks confused before glancing down at his leg.

“Oh, right.” He says. “I’ll go find Calli.”

Qell shakes his head while watching him leave. Not 10 minutes ago he was fighting in the bar. Now he’s trying to do the dishes with a bleeding leg. Qell decides that this is enough for one day. Calli can hold it down long enough for him to get some rest.

When the doors part, he’s greeted by his dark room. The only light is from Fifi’s work bench lamp. He can’t help but eye the memory core sitting in the center. He forces his eyes away and pulls his coat off. He hangs it in his closet before kicking off his shoes and then lining them neatly with his others. He notices some of Fifi’s clothes strewn around and gathers them in his arms before dropping them into the dirty hamper. He rubs the back of his neck and sits on the edge of the bed. The lump behind him shifts.

“You know,” he starts softly, “Your cousin came looking for you.”

He waits for some form of response. The only thing he gets is another shift from under the blankets. He can spot a few strands of blonde hair peeking from under the covers. Qell stares at his hands. He’s not sure how much he should tell him. At least right now. Fifi gets in these moods. Sometimes he’s really up and feels like he can do almost anything. Things like still a memory core from the fuckingCrimson Corsair. And then there are times like this. The times where getting out of bed is next to impossible. Qell presses his lips together and squeezes his eyes shut before letting out a breath and relaxing his shoulders. He'll wait until Fifi feels better. Then they’ll come up with a game plan.

“I’m sorry.” Fifi’s voice is small. Qell looks back at the mass of blankets and pillows. He crawls over and peels the covers back just enough for him to plant a soft kiss on the top of the blonde head.

“It’s alright. Get some rest.” Qell speaks softly. “When you feel better, we’ll figure out the next phase of the plan.”

He doesn’t stir anymore under the blankets. Qell lets the covers fall back over his hair. He thinks back to the red twi’lek. And that man. The one that almost looked like Fifi. He glances at Fifi’s helmet that sits in its usual place on top of Fifi’s dresser. The clones are gone. He reminds himself. There was no way that he was a clone. A child of a clone? Yes. But even as he tells himself this, he can’t help but feel the nervous pit in his stomach grow.

(I know it might be confusing that Rex's kid is named Fives so I'm gonna try and have them call him by some nicknames. I just can't see how Rex wouldn't name his kid after Fives though, so I'm probably gonna keep the name.)