Taz stepped out of the cottage's refresher, chased by a gust of moist vapor from the hot, invigorating steam. He let out a long sigh. I'm going to miss real showers. He rubbed a big soft towel vigorously into his scalp then wiped his face, breathing the roasted aroma of fresh sarna deep into his nostrils.

He started suddenly. He'd gone straight from bed to the shower without brewing any sarna.

Taz opened his eyes. Lyra sat at the cottage's small table, hot vapor streaming from a carafe of the nutty fermented beverage. Her striking eyes nearly glowed in the sunlight streaming through the door as she took in his nakedness with an impish grin.

Commendably Taz didn't jump at the unexpected intrusion. He hid his surprise behind what he hoped was a bland façade and wrapped the damp towel around his waist. She'd seen him without clothes before. It was dark but it still counted, right?

"Um, how long have you been sitting there?" he asked in a voice that didn't quite hide his surprise.

Lyra smiled innocently. "Thought you might like some sarna." She poured a cup and brought it to him.

"Thanks but you didn't answer my question."

"No I didn't." She leaned in so close that her lips brushed his ear. "You look really good like that."

Lyra's breath on his skin was hot and unbearably sensuous. He reached for her but she put the sarna cup in his hand, made a little twirling turn, and walked back to her seat.

Taz stared after her, confused and aroused all at the same time. What's she doing to me?

Looking completely guileless, Lyra poured herself a cup, stirred in five heaping spoons of driftcane and took a sip. She patted the chair beside her.

After a few seconds Taz took the invitation and sat. To cover his shock he upended his cup. The hot beverage burned his tongue and throat. "How'd you get in?" he asked, sucking cool air over his singed tongue.

"Your door was open. You should probably be more careful. You don't want just anybody walking in on you."

"I'll... keep that in mind."

"You were in there a while," the pilot observed.

"I wanted to enjoy it while I could. Sonics get you clean but they can't hold a glimmerwick to this."

Lyra seemed lost in thought for a moment. "If you want a real treat, try a hot spring bath."

"What's a hot spring?"

"At home we have geothermal mineral springs in the mountains. They're glorious." She smiled and hugged her arms, reliving a pleasant memory. "There are inns in the mountains, built around the springs. Some are thousands of years old." Lyra let out a relaxing sigh. "There's nothing better in the world, Taz." She gave him a soft but intense look. "I'll take you to visit sometime."

"That... sounds really nice. Visiting them with you, I mean." He smiled at her.

Lyra finished her cup and stood. "Gotta go. Some of us on the flight crew have work to do," she mocked.

Taz feigned a hurt expression. "Hey, just because I'm still learning to pilot—"

She put her hand over his. "Get over it, rookie," Then in a softer tone, "Sorry I barged in on you."

"No you're not."

"No, I'm not," she agreed, leaning in close again. "You do look good, Taz. Really good." Lyra kissed him, letting out a little moan as her lips and tongue tangled with his. Drawing back, she sighed, "See you aboard, Officer Oktos." Before he could say anything she let herself out.

Outside, Lyra grabbed her duffel at the bottom of the steps and walked rapidly away from Taz's bungalow. Her heart bounded in her chest. She felt a thrill shoot through her like lightning, sparking a warm powerful tingle deep in her belly.

Moons, Lyra, what did you just do!?

She'd never acted so playfully, so seductively. She hadn't intended to surprise Taz but seeing him there, beautifully naked, glistening from the shower and unaware, set something inside her on fire. The effort it took to keep her from dragging him to his bed had been... overwhelming.

Lyra shivered, covered her mouth with her hand, and uttered a little squeal. He was doing things to her, making her feel things she'd never imagined. And all of them felt amazing.

"Hey, Lyra."

She yelped and spun around.

Reiko waved at her. "Everything okay?"

"Oh, Rei!" Lyra breathed a relieved sigh. "Yeah, fine." She drew in some deep breaths and forced herself to stop thinking about him. "Ready to go?"

Rei fell in beside her. "Me? Sure, I guess. I think this world could be pretty nice if it wasn't so far away."

Lyra twitched a smile. Reiko was so approachable and open. Allegra had been like that, too. "There are probably millions of habitable systems out beyond the Rim. Maybe someday Beta Fonidian will be as busy as any in the galaxy."

"We'll be long gone by then."

"I expect so," Lyra agreed. "Where's Rendix?"

"She and Captain Numarkos are off scaring up some sarna. They think it's gonna be a hit on the Core Worlds. They're always looking for something new. You know how they see the Fringe; like a fantasy land, full of wonders."

"Sure, a backward fantasy land, full of wonders that they can exploit." Lyra sniped.

"You take a dim view of the Core?"

"Don't you? Filve's a Mid-Rim world, just like my planet."

"Yep, but it's as sophisticated as anything in the Core. Filvians are great technicians and engineers, some of the best in the galaxy."

Lyra smiled at the boastful engineer. "You don't resent the way the Core treats everybody else? The Republic ignored Inusagi. The Empire subjugated it after some... turbulent years. I was too young to understand much of what was going on, but..." She looked glum and regretful before shaking the dark thoughts away. "Benign neglect, mum called it. I'd just drop the 'benign' part."

Reiko shrugged. "I'm too busy to be resentful. If they want to think small it doesn't bother me."

For a former rebel, Lyra found her surprisingly naïve, though in a refreshing kind of way. They walked along the footpath in silence for a while, passing workers and a smattering of technicians. Lyra observed that none were wearing Imperial uniforms, insignia, or rank. After a few minutes she spoke up. "Mind if I ask a personal question?"

"Sure."

"Did you ever have someone who makes you feel—" she struggled to find the right words. Finally, she uttered, "completely untethered and... happier than you've ever been?"

Reiko smiled at Lyra's joyful, exasperated face. "Yep. I get to wake up beside her every morning."

"I almost seduced him today, Reiko," Lyra admitted, looking desperate. "I'm scared how good this feels."

Rei laughed. "I didn't take you for the seducing type."

"I'm not! That's what's so scary. He makes me feel things I've never felt before."

"That's what falling in love feels like, Lyra—scary and crazy good." Reiko patted her hand. "Don't worry, the scariness goes away, mostly."

Lyra blushed. "Is that how it went with you and Rendix?"

"Mmm, I suppose so at first. Sera and I have been together six years now. I'm still scared sometimes at how much I love her. I feel untethered but anchored at the same time. That probably sounds weird."

"Yeah, a little."

Rei leaned against Lyra's arm to reassure her. "You can take it slow, you know. Sera-sha and I were in the middle of a war. We didn't know if we'd see the next day or not so we loved each other like every minute together might be our last. You don't need to rush." She gave Lyra a knowing, naughty look, "It's okay to make him chase you, too."

Lyra laughed at that and some of her tension eased away.

"Make me one promise, though?"

"What is it?"

"If anything changes, be honest with him, okay? Losing Tess, it broke his heart. Not just because she left him for Varun but because she didn't tell him. Just promise you'll be kind to him."

"I can do that." Lyra smiled at the other woman. "He's lucky to have friends like you and Sera."

"Yes he is!" Reiko agreed with a laugh.

"Thanks, Rei," Lyra said after a while. "You're easy to talk to."

The engineer chuckled. "I get that a lot. So, ready to get out of here?"

"Mm hmm, I think so."

"When Sera-sha suggested getting into the charter business I didn't think we'd be busting up secret bases and taking on Imperial corvettes! I'm definitely looking forward to some boring cargo and passenger runs for a while."

"Neither did I." She screwed her mouth into a wry grimace. "I keep telling her I want a quiet job, but she's not listening." Lyra uttered an exaggerated sigh. "Anyway, how's Allegra?"

"After the repairs she's good to go except for the portside guns we wrecked during the fight with the Kantorius. I'll order new ones when we get back to Republic space. We can put in at a KDS depot and get them installed."

She stopped on the path and turned to Lyra, looking serious. "You know, I never thanked you for what you did, getting in that TIE fighter, protecting all of us and destroying that ship. You had to know that was going to be a one-way trip, didn't you?"

Lyra looked uncomfortable. "I tried not to think about it, but... I knew chances weren't good for me."

"Next to Sera you're the bravest person I've ever met." Reiko suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Lyra-kaashuub!"

"You're welcome," she said, chagrined. "That's a Filvian honorific, right?"

Reiko nodded as she stepped back, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "For friends you're close to, like family. If it's okay with you, that is."

Unexpectedly moved by Reiko's gesture, Lyra blinked away a tear of her own. "I'd like that very much." Her tiny circle of friends just grew. Covering her embarrassment, she picked up the duffel she'd dropped when Rei hugged her, and they resumed walking. "Well... that was genius, what you did with the turbolaser. If not for that, my proton bombs would have just bounced off the Kantorius's shields. You're the one who saved us."

"We saved each other. It's what we do for the people we love."

Lyra didn't say anything but she felt a bloom of emotion. Reiko wasn't Allegra but Lyra felt some of the same warmth and affection she'd shared with her sister. When the engineer took her hand for the rest of the walk, she didn't mind at all.

Allegra's Heart sat on the permacrete perched on her four landing struts. Her green and gray paint job, barely a month old, was marred by carbon scoring and the unpainted plates they'd welded on to cover the damage to her hull. Nevertheless, Reiko felt a huge swell of pride. Their pocket-sized freighter had proved her toughness. Others might look at the YV-929 and see an ugly box of a ship. Rei couldn't think of Allegra's Heart as anything but incomparably beautiful.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The passenger boarding ramp beneath the ship and the long cargo ramp at the rear were both extended. A wide freight mover floated nearby. Yuzu was busy arranging faded orange crates on the repulsorlift and securing them with heavy straps. The Daros stood a little way off talking with Varun, Tess, and Sera. "Thanks for keeping me company, Lyra. I enjoyed our talk."

"Me too, Rei."

Rei gave her a little wave and went to help Yuzu with the cargo while Lyra continued toward the others.

----------------------------------------

Taz took a last tour around the little bungalow to be sure he hadn't missed anything, then zipped his big pack closed and slung it over his shoulder. He walked out of the cottage and down the steps.

He still felt restless. Lyra was turning out to be playful and unpredictable. Aggressive, too. He liked it but her mercurial affection confounded him. What was it she really wanted? Just to tease him? That didn't seem right; they'd spent two passionate nights together. Or maybe her whole intent was to keep him off balance?

He felt the temptation deep down to find out for himself. After using the Force to choke the life out of Vaniel Ruatha, he was pretty certain that it would be possible to delve into Lyra's mind and see just how she felt, what she thought about him down to the tiniest detail, and what she intended with her seductive mischief. The Force rumbled even now in shadowy recesses of his consciousness that he was only dimly aware of. It called to him, more strongly in the days since they'd fought Ruatha and Tafo on their murderous starship.

Anger, pain, and fear made the rumbles grow louder and stronger. Those he could understand. What alarmed him was how feelings of passion and even affection made the dark energy swell. At times he found the lure of that power so enticing that he had to push it down by deliberate force of will. And every time he pushed, it took just slightly more effort.

It had already overwhelmed him once. Sera's and Tess's entreaties were the only lifeline that had pulled him back to sanity. Were he to succumb again, Taz knew he probably couldn't come back from another descent into those dangerous currents, the mastery they promised and the corruption that would surely follow.

So, he could take her thoughts but he told her he wouldn't. His word meant a lot to him. Her trust and her affection, however changeable, mattered even more. When he was with Lyra he felt a connection and a closeness he'd never experienced, even with Tess.

I told her I love her. Well, as good as, anyway. He'd promised he wouldn't make any demands; Lyra had such a strong sense of obligation. He was pretty sure she liked him but if he pushed too much, might she reject him just so she didn't have to feel tied down? She'd already hinted as much. And what if she found someone else, like Tess had? Taz wasn't sure he would survive another wound like that.

There was an answer to that thorny problem that didn't involve ripping thoughts from the woman he loved. He could let go, close himself off. Master Jorun wrote of walling off his passions. The Jedi needed to hold everyone at a distance to avoid the strong emotions that affection and antipathy alike could engender. They feared the corrupting influence of the dark aspects of the Force, aspects that seemed inextricably bound with strong emotions. Taz was beginning to appreciate their apprehension.

But to do that he'd have to lead a hermit's life, leave Allegra's Heart and travel alone or settle in some remote place and eke out a solitary existence. His Filvian heart recoiled at the very notion. He might as well take Aurora Ascendant from his belt and lop off his arm as to live without friends, companions, or a lover. Loneliness would drive him mad and end him.

Every second, every step, even as he weighed those thoughts, Lyra was there. She seemed to be printed on his mind in a way that made it impossible for him to not think about her. He longed to touch her, to hold her and to be held. He wanted to see Inusagi with her and to take her home to Filve. And he wanted to travel the galaxy with her. His stomach twisted in anxious knots that only redoubled themselves when he considered that Lyra might not want the same thing.

"Aaaargh!" he uttered an exasperated, strangled cry, startling a mother and father who ushered their children from the walkway and gave him a wide berth. Taz held his hands up looking embarrassed and hurried past. Lyra didn't know it but she held his vulnerable Filvian heart in her hands. He was powerless to do anything about it unless he wanted to rip it out himself. But not knowing her intentions was driving him to distraction.

Feeling a little desperate, he reached for the Dahannist meditations and intoned the wordless syllables while he walked. They blunted the edge of his disquiet after a time and he kept at it. Taz wondered if maybe there was something in the pacifist philosophy his parents had espoused that was worth exploring more deeply. He was no pacifist—far from it—but there was no denying that the meditations cleared his mind and brought solace when he felt troubled.

Taz looked up from his musings to find that he'd arrived at Rho-277's little spaceport. If the research into kyber-enhanced power generation produced the kind of results that Jerric thought they could the secret Imperial base might eventually form the nucleus of a thriving economy. If that happened the port facilities would sprawl across the landscape. Taz hoped someone wise would lead that work and keep Beta Fonidian from suffering the fate of so many other industrialized systems.

He saw the Daros and Lissora Forstner conversing with Varun, Tess and Sera. Lyra stood there too and the tangle in his stomach only got worse. Taz spied Yuzu and Reiko securing a load of cargo near the ramp. He fought a battle in his head over whether he should join Lyra and the others. What he really wanted was a few minutes alone with her. A few hours alone with her would be even better. Maybe later tonight when he'd take the night shift from her, they'd have time to talk. He'd grown quickly fond of their small transport ship but privacy wasn't exactly one of its strong points.

He angled toward Rei and Yuzu, hailing them with a smile and a raised hand. "What's all this?" he asked, levering his pack atop one of the crates.

"Sarna grain," Reiko replied, poking at a coarsely-woven bag. "Sera-sha and Varun talked the quartermaster into parting with nearly a ton of the stuff. Varun's convinced there's a market for it Coreward."

Taz pursed his lips and nodded. "Could make a good export crop. Nice way to diversify the economic base. They'll need to do that if they want this place to thrive."

He got to work drawing a heavy cargo net over the crates and bags. Yuzu grabbed the other end, attaching it to tie-offs at the base of the repulsor sled. Five minutes olater they finished securing the load of grain. Taz grabbed the cargo lifter's control handle and started up Allegra's tall ramp between the two high-mounted ion drives, Yuzu and Reiko right behind. Taz looked over his shoulder. "Yuzu and I can unload this in the bay. Why don't you say goodbye?"

"Okay, thanks," she answered. The other two scaled the long ramp and disappeared with their haul of sarna toward the cargo hold. Reiko wiped a sleeve across her damp forehead and started toward Sera and the others.

"Hudson," came a call from behind Reiko. She turned to see Archeson approaching from the hangar. Hovering beside her on a pair of repulsor pods was the IM-8 medical droid she'd fixed up. It looked nearly brand new; the little droid's chassis had been stripped of its old white surface treatment. Instead of paint it wore a satiny brushed metal finish. "Cleaned it up a little for you."

"Aw, that was really nice. Thanks, Turis," Rei said, then addressed the droid, "What should we call you?"

The IM-8 turned its flat face. In the soothing feminine voice the series was known for, it said, "Good day, Mistress Reiko. My designation is seven R-E-L five dash I-M dash eight dash four zed six."

"Well that's a mouthful," she smiled at the droid and thought. "Ar ee ell... How about we call you Ariel?"

"If that's your wish, Mistress, I believe Ariel will be an acceptable form of address."

Reiko laughed. "I'm glad you like it, Ariel. Please get aboard Allegra's Heart and find Taz Oktos. He'll show you to the medbay."

"At once, Mistress Reiko."

Rei smiled after the hovering droid. "Taz'll be really happy." She held out her hand to Archeson. "Thanks again for your help, Turis."

The older woman looked uncomfortable but shook her hand. "It's fine, Huds—Rei. If you, um, ever get back this way, maybe you could, you know, stop by."

"Sure," Rei said, wearing a big smile. "If the sarna trade takes off like Sera-sha thinks it will, we'll be back before you know it."

"Good stuff, that sarna," Archeson sniffed. "Well, hafta get going. Take care of yourself out there."

"I will," Rei called after Turis as she headed back to the hangar. She watched the mechanic until she disappeared inside the big facility, then joined Sera.

Jerric greeted her with a big embrace. "Sure you won't stay, Reiko? I could use a talented engineer like you."

"You're awfully kind Mr. Daro, but I've already got a job that I love." She clung to Sera's arm.

"I couldn't possibly part with her, Jerric," Sera seconded with a grin.

"Of course you couldn't, dear," Amanda answered, cuffing her husband lightly on his shoulder. "You two are meant for each other." She took each of their hands. "I'm sorry you can't stay longer." Amanda smiled but looked plaintive.

"You could still come back with us," Tess offered, tears standing in her eyes.

"Oh, sweetheart," Amanda cried suddenly, unable to restrain herself any longer. She swept her daughter into a powerful embrace and held her for a long time. Then she regarded her at arm's length, her hands on Tess's uniformed shoulders. "What a beautiful, strong, brave, wonderful daughter we have!" She looked around and took Jerric's big hand. "But your father and I helped build this place and this community."

"It's home for us, honeygirl," Jerric followed. "We need to stay. We owe it to everyone here. But now that you have the hyperspace plot you can visit any time."

"And we'll come see you as soon as we can, we promise!" Amanda added.

Tess leaned against Varun and nodded, smiling as her tears flowed.

"Thank you both for everything." Varun shook Jerric's hand. Amanda gave him a big hug and kissed his cheek. "You too, Lieutenant," he said to Forstner.

She tapped her tunic where her rank plaque would have been. "I guess I've resigned, so it's just Lissora Forstner now. We've decided to form a civilian advisory council. We're thinking of drawing up articles of incorporation, too."

"That's a good start, Miss Forstner."

"Tell the New Republic we'll listen to what they have to say."

"I will. We'll be in touch soon."

First Amanda, then Jerric hugged Sera and Reiko, then Lyra. "You're all welcome here. Any time."

"You're very kind," Sera replied. "I'm pretty sure we can find a reason to swing back this way every once in a while."

Taz emerged from the boarding ramp beneath Allegra's Heart and walked over. He shook Jerric's hand and embraced Amanda. "You've been such great hosts. Tess didn't exaggerate one bit about either of you." He gave her a brief smile. "It was a real pleasure to meet you both."

"You too, Taz," said Jerric. "Thank you for your assistance with the injured and the reconstruction. It meant a lot to our people that you were willing to help. That goes for all of you."

"Least we could do, Jerric," Sera noted. She scanned the rest of her crew. "Status?"

"Cargo's secured," Taz confirmed.

"Fuel and consumables are topped up," said Rei. "Thanks for that," she added to Forstner.

"Don't mention it," Lissora returned. She grasped Taz's hand. "Thank you again, Mr. Oktos. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you for what you did for Papa."

Taz grinned. "Alexei did most of the work. I just gave his body a little push in the right direction."

"Well, you'll always be welcome here." She looked around. "All of you."

"We appreciate that, Miss Forstner," Sera said before turning to her crew. "Alright, let's get Allegra's Heart ready to fly." She squeezed Tess's shoulder. "Take as long as you like. See you both onboard." Then she put her arm around a sniffling Reiko and the crew walked toward their freighter.

"Great work with the medical droid, Rei-aktuu," Taz quipped. "What do I owe you for her?"

The engineer held up her hands. "Not a thing. She was wasting away in their maintenance bay."

"Nearly as many droids as people on this ship," Lyra grumbled as they ascended the ramp.

"Resentful, Nimor?"

"Nope," Lyra assured her, "just thinking out loud, Rendix."

"Maybe think about flying us back home faster than the two weeks it took to get out here," Sera suggested with a wink.

Lyra screwed her mouth into a mock scowl. "Already working on it, Captain."

"I knew you would be," replied Sera, cracking a smile. "Rei-sha, let's get our girl powered up."

Rei kissed Sera's cheek by way of acknowledgement. "Come on, Yuzu. Let's see how that recompiled reactor boot sequence works." She headed aft with the droid at her side.

----------------------------------------

Reiko and Yuzu looked up from their work at the hypermatter reactor, surprised to see the rest of the crew file into the engine room.

Reiko's brows lifted. "We don't usually get visitors," she joked. "What's the occasion?"

"Yuzu, would you come here?" Sera asked,

"Of course, Captain Rendix-Nagrasha. How may I assist you?"

"Stand at attention, Yuzu."

"Yes, Captain," answered the droid, assuming the appropriate posture.

"What's going on Sera-sha?" inquired Reiko.

Instead of answering, Rendix nodded to Kallista, who opened a palm-sized box. Sera removed a short red ribbon with white side stripes. Hanging from it was a small rebel starbird crafted in red enamel, and below that, a golden star. Flanking her, Taz and Lyra stiffened to attention.

Sera stepped up to the L1 droid. "In recognition of your boldness and intrepidity, and the grave damage you suffered in service of your crewmates, it's my honor to award to you the Alliance Redbird with gold starburst." Sera affixed the pin to Yuzu's pectoral plate. Then she stepped back and snapped a regulation salute. Taz and Lyra did likewise.

Yuzu looked from face to face with jerky movements of his head that betrayed surprise and confusion. Finally landing on Reiko, he uttered, "Mistress?"

A huge smile split Rei's face while her cheeks glistened with tears. "We're showing our appreciation for everything you did for us, Yuzu."

"Oh! Then I am deeply honored, Captain Rendix-nagrasha," responded the droid. He raised his hand in a faithful renditon of her salute. Then everyone took turns shaking Yuzu's hand and congratulating him.

Even Lyra, normally cool around the droids, gave him her most earnest smile and took his hand. "We wouldn't be here without you, Yuzu. Thanks."

"You're most welcome, Mistress Lyra. I don't mind telling you the combination of environmental and physical stressors caused a significant deviation in my autonomic subprocessors and a commensurate degradation of—"

Lyra burst into laughter, joined by her fellow organics. "Congratulations, Yuzu."

----------------------------------------

Amanda and Jerric indulged another round of embracing and farewells with their daughter that stretched on for a few minutes. Then following tearful farewells and promises to return, Varun and Tess walked up the ramp and closed it behind them. They came into the cockpit, watching out the viewport as Lyra lifted the YV-929 from the pad. She swiveled the little transport around and everyone waved to the group watching them ascend.

Lyra took Allegra's Heart high into the morning sky. Tess cried softly and leaned her head against Varun's shoulder but she looked content.

When the ship cleared the atmosphere Sera unhooked her safety harness and slid out of the copilot's chair. Lyra looked over her shoulder. "Get up here, Oktos. Time to learn how to plot hyperspace routes."

"Okay," Taz said, looking surprised as he and Sera switched places. "Where are we going?"

"From here to the first waypoint beacon." Lyra inserted a data cylinder into the nav computer and transferred the coordinates they'd retrieved from Rho-277's data vault.

"But you've got the route calculations already."

She glanced at Tess with a playful grin. Tess smiled back and squeezed Varun's hand, looking pensive as the green and white orb of Beta Fonidian II grew smaller in the rearview projection on the viewport. "It'll be good practice, Officer Oktos."

"Right, Ensign Nimor," Taz replied, feigning a frown.

Lyra unbuckled and stood behind him. She hadn't tied her hair back like she usually did when she was on the command deck and it brushed against his cheek when she leaned over him.

That won't be distracting at all, he thought, but he didn't really mind.

"Now, first unlock the terminal and clear the temporary memory..."