One Night in Nar Shaddaa (Chiasa)

[Laira Darkhold]

When she sat beside me I wrapped and arm around her, pulling her close, much to the amusement of Maliha. The infant giggled and clapped her little hands together, seeing and feeling our warmth, our affection for each other. Children had a way of seeing these things. The infant's approval was reassuring. "I don't often gamble. I'm not very good at it. But every now and then I get lucky. I did with you." I couldn't help myself. This was all too much for me to handle. We had grown close, trusting, and I could sense our loving mingling in the Force. I could not explain how or why we had come to this, how lucky we had been to find each other in the ocean of stars. The Dragon and the Starbird were not so different. She warmed me when darkness and cold gripped me, and in return I provided a safe place where she could be reinvigorated for the challenges she would face. No, not challenges she would face. Challenges we would face.

I had decided. I would not wait for her to say it, for her to second guess. I had made this decision, I had pursued her, I had spent millions of credits, dozens of hours, and had several other projects halted for her. I had fallen in love. There was no other explanation. And to my great joy, she had fallen for me. The irony that neither of us thought we deserved each other was funny. I would have torn planets apart to please her, I would have done anything to make her notice me. And here we were. Together. "The future for many is dark and full of horrors. Most people don't see the end coming, the darkness just swallows them in one fell swoop. We don't need to worry. I have long believed I would die young as well. I had thought it would be a miracle for me to see thirty. I don't anymore. I know I will die old and happy with you in my arms."

Her eyes locked on mine she spoke. Her words, they were everything I had wanted to hear. They reassured me she would not find a new, more impressive suitor on a whim. She reached into me with the Force and I made sure to open any doors she might find, and gates that were barred were sprung open to her. I could feel her fire, the tigress in her that made her what I loved. I could feel that awesome presence of her seeping deeper into my mind. I in return seeped my own love into the Force. We had decided. Our feelings for each other transcended this galaxy and were bound by the Force itself. This I could live with. This I could be happy with, even if I had nothing else. She finished speaking and we sat, only for a moment, gazing into each others eyes. I could hold back no longer. All of my love, my affection, my attraction to her, my desire for her pushed me forward. My lips found hers, my hands held her carefully, but pulled her close. We had spent our last day alone. Even when circumstances forced us apart, we would not be without each other.

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Old and happy, together? This seemed almost like too much to hope for, but if he said it would be so perhaps it would. Besides, in a way how could it be anything else? He would protect her and anything that threatened him she would destroy utterly. Who could stand against them when they were together? Perhaps it would be so after all. Perhaps she would see her daughter grow up. Perhaps she could even give Draco a child of his own blood, though the odds were bad, and Mandalorians tended to worry about such things less than others.

He opened himself to her again, trusting, letting her in. What could she do but the same? She had given him glimpses before, tastes. If she was Starbird she'd been brushing him with her wings. Herself still yes, but the outermost parts. Now as he pulled her closer, still gentle as if she might break, the dragons strong talons cradling easily ruffled feathers, when his lips met hers again she opened to him fully. Everything. Her whole self. This was the woman, beautiful and flawed, immeasurably strong and unbelievably fragile, and it was Starbird, who burned and knew the pain of burning, was consumed, destroyed and rose again every time. She was a trouble-maker, a blood spiller, who quarreled with the sky, burned the seas, fought fate, and raged against all that was not as it should be. She was afraid and distrustful. She was fearless and wild. She was everything and nothing, dark and light, and more than that, she was his.

And with that, with that final surrender and lowering of walls, a true connection was forged. Not just one of emotions, for poets to write of, but one bound by the Force. Her to him and him to her.

In a hundred lifetimes, on a hundred worlds, in any version of reality

She whispered to him, as their souls mingled more deeply than their lips ever could. A promise. That love would not fade. That they would not be parted.

And then she reached out and pulled in the little unsteady spark that was Maliha. Let her feel Dracos aura. Let her learn it as well as she knew Chiasas own. The little one gazed at them, for a moment dark brown eyes lightened slightly, picking up honey highlights as her mother brought her into the flow of the Force.

Sei twi'resha.

This a claim, and with the connection, mind to mind, Ryl or not he would understand precisely what she communicated. My family.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

It became difficult to restrain myself, to not surrender to the throws of passion right here and now. She was wearing on my willpower. Our thoughts mingled. Our love bonded in the Force, our bond growing stronger with each second we stayed connected, mentally, emotionally, through the Force, and physically. My thoughts echoed in her mind, her fire burning through me as powerfully as my strength resounded in her. We were one. We were family. Chiasa used her presence to add Maliha to the bond. At first I was taken aback. Her Family. The words, the thoughts the rebounded in my brain. For a moment I didn't know what to think. I didn't want to think. I wanted to wrap Chiasa in my arms and hold her for eternity. Still she had pressed the bond, she had added Maliha. She needed an answer. She deserved one. <Cuun Aliit> ... <Our Family>.

For a long moment, what seemed like a lifetime we three were together, pulling our presences together, Maliha, Chiasa, and me. The Starbird, the Dragon, and our child. I emphasized Our. I could accept this responsibility. I loved Chiasa more than anything. Her child was as much a part of her as I was, and that meant I could, and would love Maliha as my own. Words weren't needed for this. We were sharing our thoughts, our fire, our passion for each other. Besides, I didn't have any words I could have said with any modicum of the love and affection I was feeling.

I separated from her, her sweet taste still on my lips, for a single breath. "I-" I breathed deeply, pausing, considering kissing her again, but I knew if I did she would have to restrain me. I let the feeling flow into the Force. I was beyond that point. We had a choice to make. Stay here and play with Maliha or return home and enjoy each other's presence, wrap each other in throws of passion and love. "Don't have as much restraint as I would like, Mesh'ika." I admitted. "You will have to take charge from here." I smiled wryly. What ever she chose was enough for me. Her mere presence with me was enough.

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Cuun aliit.

The hated language sighed through her mind, and the connotations that made her uncomfortable with it were lost. What did it matter what had come before? This was the tongue of Dracos people, and when it fell from his mouth or his mind there was no sound she loved better. Filtered through him it was rid of it's poison.

She had not been looking for an answer. She had been staking a claim. Asserting ownership of both Draco and Maliha. They were hers. And he corrected. Matched. Ours. Partnership. Standing together. She metaphorically bowed before this idea, allowing and accepting. It was so.

His total acceptance and inclusion of her daughter meant more than could be communicated. She had not been looking for a father to her daughter, but her daughter was an integral part of her life, so for Draco to fully be a part of her.. And he seemed to udnerstand that. Plus perhaps it would be good for her to learn about that part of her heritage when she was older. And Draco would keep her safe, expose her to only what she should be exposed to. In short, if Maliha chose to take up her Mandalorian heritage, she would be a part of clan Vereen not Garrett.

With her fires feeding his, and his feeding hers, restraint was not topmost in her mind. When he pulled back from her she almost followed him in, to claim his lips as her again, as though the breathe his lungs held was hers and she intended to have it back, to take it, as though she needed it to live, and no other breath had the oxygen she needed.

"Favna. Yaim."

From Ryl to Mando'a, the word found within his own mind, her yellow eyes blazed at him. Home. He was home, more than the Casinos were, but there was privacy there. Almost, almost she chose the third option, and had him there in the gardens with her daughter nearby, still too young to be scandalized. Only the knowledge that there were many security cameras and they would all need to be destroyed or sliced kept her from doing so, and that only just.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Home.

The word echoed around my head for a moment. We were almost like a family now. We had a home, though the building hardly mattered, and we had each other, most importantly. I stood quickly, scooping up Maliha as we quickly made our way back to the transport that would take us back to the penthouse of the casino. Maliha seemed delighted, her little presence beaming joy and amusement in the Force. She seemed to approve of her mother's new found happiness, and that pleased me. That Chiasa and I had grown so close that she trusted me with the thing, or being in this case, she held most dear to her own heart, that we had shared each other's presence, that she had accepted me as part of her family, only to allow her claim to be rectified. Not her family. Our Family. It meant more to me than anything else I had. These two people, Chiasa and Maliha, they were all that really mattered, everything else I do from this point on, will be for their sake, for their safety. It might take time, but eventually, when it was safe to do so, I would bring her into the fold if she was willing. I didn't care what culture we held to, so long as whatever we did, we did it together. And to me, that was what the Resol'nare meant when it spoke about family. True I considered myself a Mandalorian, but no beliefs, no culture, no force of nature, and certainly no living being would keep me from Chiasa and Maliha. They were MY family, first and foremost, before all others.

As we hurriedly walked through the biosphere I continued to meld with Maliha and Chiasa through the Force. We had only been together a short time, but I could see the desire flowing through Chiasa. She was as passionate, if not more so, than I had described and imagined, her fiery presence glowing around her through the Force. I couldn't help but smile. Here we were, rushing to get somewhere private where we could be free to express our passion for each other as intimately as we wanted. If I had had a free hand it would have been wrapped around Chiasa as we walked, but perhaps it was lucky that I did not, for I was on the verge of option three myself. The last molecule of my restraint would only last as far as the transport.

Once we had arrived there I set the infant in her crib, the droid Chiasa had modified for her, and turned to Chiasa once again, pulling her close to me and wrapping my arms around her, holding her against me, as though the galaxy was crumbling around us, and only if we remained together could we remain stable. My eyes found her yellow sparks, a like a fire raged within them. Music played softly in the background, setting the mood. "You have my heart. It is utterly and totally yours. You are my first, and my last, true love Mesh'ika, and I will love you forever, and always." Words drawn from the depths of my soul, ringing not from my throat but from my heartstrings, my voice fiery and unyielding, a promise, a pact that no force of nature or supernatural presence could break. And with that I kissed her with every shred of passion and love I had within me, as though she would die if I did not, as though if we stopped she would disappear and my dream would be over. I reached out to her with the Force reinforcing the meld I had formed with her, letting my thoughts, my desires seep into the Force.

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Again words that could be passed off as trite by the jaded and cynical, if they were deaf to the way the fire had made itself into his voice. But then, they were not part of this bond, this melding. What he said was true. Absolutely true. He utterly believed what he said with every fiber of his being.

Because she was who she was, even as she felt more and more strongly than most, she also analyzed, compared. Was the same true for her? Certainly he had her heart. She had surrendered unto him everything that she was, for him to hold and protect, or destroy as he would. For her who's life sometimes seemed a series of betrayals, it was almost unthinkable that she had extended him this trust. She would love him always, no matter what. Even if he turned on her. As he was now, he would not, but people could change. Who a person was one day was not who they were the next. Even if he turned on her, for Maliha she would carry through, she would stiffen her spine and harden her heart an carry on, but in the dark of the night no matter what he did she would love him still. Was he her first and last true love? Last yes. If he turned on her she would not have it in her to love again, and she did not intend to leave him. Even death would not necessarily force her away from him. First? There was that hole where her memories were gone, ripped away. She did not know what had once been there. He might not have been her first love, but surely he was still her first true love.

It had been hard, on the walk to keep her hands largely to herself, when all she wanted was to press herself against him, to melt into him, to bring their bodies as close to the mingling the oneness of their minds as was possible.

He must have been feeling near the same by the way he kissed her.

"Until every sun burns out, until every ocean boils away, until the galaxy itself dies, and then beyond that, I am yours Viyi'ee."

She promised him, breathless, colour high in her cheeks. In that moment she would have done anything for him, without a first thought let alone a second.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The short trip back to the casino was spent mostly trying to steal each other's breath, as though there was no other air than what we each possessed. The sweet taste of her lips, her tongue, filled my senses, intoxicating, as though taking a euphoric drug. She was all I needed. She was my everything. Gripped in passion and desire, I would not release her. I could not. A thousand lifetimes could pass for all I cared. There was but one unshakable truth. I would love her. My feelings, my being, my character may change over time. But not my love for her. That fire was eternal, longer lasting than the fire of any star. My feelings for her, for Maliha, they would only grow stronger, more profound as time passed us by. This I swore. The thoughts mingling with hers, the emotions seeping into the Force. Maliha continued to regard us with dark, honeyed eyes, giggling and laughing at us as we kissed, my very soul binding to Chiasa's. She was my happiness, she and Maliha. I would have done anything in that moment, and promised myself, I would always be willing to, that I would not leave them, I would not let them down, and I would not let them come to harm.

My hands moved to Chiasa's hips, pulling them to mine and holding them there. Her heat fueled me, driving me up the walls. I could feel her blood rushing through her, and her own love through the Force, causing my heart to pound with excitement. I needed her. Not that I wanted her, it was more profound than that. I needed her. Right Now. I Needed her more than anything. The shuttle arrived at the service entrance we had left from, keeping the public from seeing the child. A CEO of an arms manufacturer and the President of the Red Ravens together wasn't entirely out of place, but having a small child in tow would draw suspicion and unwanted attention if we had used the main entrance or one not cleared by her security. Besides this left for an amount of privacy, which means we didn't not necessarily have to separate to get to her penthouse. I let my hands fall to her legs, reaching to pick her up, letting her legs wrap around me if she so pleased. I pulled away only long enough to order the droid, "Follow us" I told it, making for the door of the shuttle into the casino's secured hallway.I bumped into the wall a few times on the way to her door, but softly, and relatively unnoticeable. Being coordinated was not currently on my to do list. The only thought in my mind was getting Chiasa to a bed or couch as quickly as possible and giving into to my desires, at long last. It felt as though I had restrained myself for an eternity, even though it had only been a few minutes, and only a matter of hours from our last night together.

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Under the strength of his hands, the touch of his lips and more importantly the constant and sincere string of assurances he fed her through their bond, unintentionally, brought on by her own mostly repressed worries and doubts, a little more of her uncertainty was stripped away. It would not be fully gone today, nor tomorrow, or the day after that, but his fervent thoughts assured her that this did not matter, because they would have their whole lives for it to be so.

Carefully, even with the majority of her attention utterly focused on Draco, carefully, Chiasa throttled back Malihas connection. She was still there, as she always was, aware of the comforting presence of her mother, and now Draco as well, but the bond was not so intense. She was shielded from much of the passion.

When the vehicle came to a stop, for a moment she was vexed at the need to separate, no matter how brief, no matter that they would soon be secluded and free to do as they'd like, she did not want to pull away from him, or him from her. Again he interpreted, anticipated or simply felt the same. As he lifted her, her legs wrappe around him, not that she feared he might drop her, it simply felt right to do so, to cling to him. His missteps she did not notice, or noticing did not care. There was no wrong path, when they walked it together.

~This, this oh sei anan, sei torr viyi'ee, this is what I have been missing every day you were not in my life. They thought me heartless, frozen, si'yilh, though my fires burned those who came to close. They were not wrong, you are my heart, sei uru vil gue, sei arena, sei dec. In your footsteps, the beat of my heart, I am alive when you are near to me, you my dragon, knyih vil nolsi, you stand in my fire and are not consumed. Only with you I am whole. Make me whole viyi'ee, t'arehan san.~

Her voice in his mind purred and begged, struggling to express herself, to have words match emotions. Even if he would understand, keyed into those emotions as he was, even so. It would be easy to rely only on the bond, to never say in words what was holy truth. And for him, for him she would say them.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The droid carried Maliha to her room, by now Henn, the Togruta servant, ally, friend may have returned, who knows. Who cares, he was not of my concern. Chiasa's message to me, her telepathic link, the easing of Maliha from the bond we were forming, and Chiasa herself. None of these things went unnoticed. With Maliha eased from the bond, shielded from our passion, our desire for each other there was no more need to hold back, no more need for restraint. Chiasa's message, the one she planted in my mind echoed in her sultry voice, almost a purr. She and I were not so different. We both struggled to express our feelings through words, especially in our native languages. Mando'a was ill-equipped to express my love for her. It was difficult to explain them in that language, but she had struggled through and expressed her's to me, I would do the same. I knew I would struggle and fail in my attempts to match her fire, I would never fully succeed in being her equal, even in this. But I would try.

<All my life I have missed you, sought for you. I have shielded myself from others, and others from me, but not you. You have my everything. When your fires grow cold, I will renew them. When the night grows cold and dark I will bask in the flames of your love. I am your Dhrar. You are my ga'ihlr. Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome... We are one when together, we are one when parted. Oyar'u bal ratiin, mhi cuyir solus.>

Forever and Always, we are one. I stumbled, still on my feet, not watching where I was going, only until I collapsed on to the bed. We would not leave there for sometime, not if I had my way. I had spent my last night alone, and so had she. From now until the end of time, we had each other, and for me... for me that would be enough. I knew, in the back of my mind physically we would have to part. I would be needed in the coming wars, and I would ensure her safety in them, but I would always return to her, and to Maliha. And with each victory the galaxy would be a little safer for them. And that would be enough.

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

In the moments while they transitioned from mostly upright to the bed, Chiasa's mind blanked for a moment before racing. She was not Mandalorian. She did not speak Mando'a. She did not know Mandalorian culture beyond the broadest strokes. But she was submersed deep in her bond with him, and he did. What he knew, she knew, what he thought of, she thought. This being so, she recognized the words he whispered into her mind.

This was not something she'd ever really considered. Had not thought it would happen, not to her. But, it was no different than what she' already promised him, already committed to, was it? What harm in this one extra step? And if she wanted it, wanted desperately to have this extra tie, what of it? Ga'ihlr and Dhrar, Starbird and Dragon. Who else could match them but one to the other?

As lips met, clothes were shed, and skin found skin, she replied in his own tongue, find the words within him, love, sincerity and devotion laced through each promise.

~Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde. Oyar'u bal ratiin.~

And with that as far as she was concerned it was done. She was his and he was hers. They would keep each others fires burning, holding off the darkness and cold, and gods help anyone who stood against them. Theirs was a fire that sustained them, but would utterly burn the intruder.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The words. Ancient and powerful in their own right. Not words of power that summoned monsters or sent men to madness. They were Mando'a. Simple. We are One. As far as I was concerned we had always been two halves seeking each other, and now we had found one another. The Starbird whose fires burned away the cold, who warmed the beast, who held at bay the darkness of loneliness. And the Dragon, who fueled her fire, who guarded her like any precious gem in his hoard. She was like no other, though. She was not a possession, she was every bit my equal in this life, if not greater. True I had fallen hard for the Twi'Lek, I had placed her high upon a pedastal, and held myself below this standard. But as we embraced, and loved one another, bonded in the Force that doubt that I had reached to far, had stepped to deep into the fire, had made one mistake too many. We were together, as one, and would always be.

It was still midafternoon when we had retreated to the bedroom, but now, as we lay together, pulled close, the system's star no longer shined against the transparisteel. I breathed deeply, my chest rising and falling steadily, sweat beaded on my brow. We lay there, me on my back, her beside me in the crook of my arm, pressed against each other, skin against skin, sweat mingling, breathing steadying at last. I was tired. More importantly I was truly happy. As far as my culture was concerned, we were bonded, and nothing could have made me happier than knowing that. "Mesh'ika..." I exhaled. She was the only thing I had on my mind. "What do we do now... now that we have said the words?" I asked, concerned about Our future for once. What would we do? Could either of us afford to make our relationship public? "What do you want to tell the Ravens about me, if you tell them anything at all?" I asked. Was it worth worrying over I thought for a moment? It took a moment arranging my thoughts. It was for me... I wanted to know what I was... where I stood. Was I a secret to be hidden in an attempt to keep me and her safe from our enemies, or would she flaunt me as a guardian? I wanted to know what secrets I needed to keep closest to me, what I could tell my friends and my allies.

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Nestled in the crook of Dracos arm, head on his chest, finger tracing lazy lemniscates on his skin, Chiasa was well satisfied in all senses of the word. Credits in bank accounts, properties hidden away on worlds, husband who loved her in her bed and daughter in the next room. It would not always be this easy, this good, of that she was sure, but for now it was, and when it wasn't she'd not have to face it alone.

"Mmm?"

Came the semi-reply when he started speaking. Her brows drew together and a slight frown slipped across her face when he finished his question. She'd not thought about it really. He wasn't a secret, but she also did not like to broadcast her business.

"I'd not intended to do a press release,"

she teased, shifting slightly to look at him.

"but at the very least the security staff will be informed, since I'll have to see to it you have proper clearances and such. If they know the others will find out eventually if they are inclined to."

She gave a small half-shrug.

"In honesty I doubt they will care. As long as I provide them with jobs and a safe haven, they are content."

She loved her Ravens. Her Unkindness. Not as much as she loved her new family, but she loved them all the same. That they did not love her back did not much matter. She'd been put into a position of authority, she'd been given responsibility for them, and she took it. It was hard to say why one known to be as self-centered as her should care so much for those who were quite often the dregs of the Galaxy. Perhaps because she just felt that someone ought to. Everyone should have someone looking out for them.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I chuckled at her response, grinning. True, I hadn't expected to appear on the HoloNet for everyone to see our happy little family. I just mainly wanted to know if I was meant to be a secret, much like Maliha was already. It wouldn't be incredibly difficult to do, I was sure she had had male suitor's before, and it could certainly have been played off that way, as much as it would have hurt me to see her act like that about me, it would have also protected her and shielded her from the many people I angered. Which seemed to be a growing number. "Mesh'ika... that's not what I meant." I said, teasing her with a playful shove only to pull her tighter, closer to me with the arm wrapped around her.

"I just don't know how many enemies you have, and who I should keep this secret from. I..." I had to pause for a moment, watching her fingers lazily trace themselves across my chest, her being playful and coy even just after we had been intimate. "I don't have a clan of my own on Mandalore, and well... I wanted to know who all I could tell about you." I said. She was the leader of a criminal syndicate that had made many enemies and at one point had been alligned with One Sith. She could have some enemies everywhere. "I don't know, and i would rather you be safe. I would do anything to keep you safe except let you go. I can't do that. I won't. Ever."

I kissed her forehead softly, my hand finding hers on my chest, still smiling, my other hand found the ends of her Lekku and a gripped them playfully.

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

"Ah."

Her enemies. Those again. The reason she'd not intended to have a family. For a moment a from flitted across her face. For a moment old insecurities and habits suggested that for his sake it would be best if no one knew of him. That she would only put him in danger. This was typical of her behaviour. Delicate though she might seem she put herself in the line of fire for all those she cared about, taking any punishment like a masochist, standing alone, over and over again.

But Draco was different. Her Viyi'ee. His words and his touch reminded her of this, and the frown passed.

"You have a clan now."

She pointed out. Granted it wasn't on Mandalore, but he had a clan all the same. She was really going to have to look into this Mandalorian business she supposed. At least the language should come quickly enough. She'd always been good at picking up at least the basics of languages, and with the foundations lain by her bond with Draco.. Still, she suspected there was likely more to it then that. It was one more thing to fit into an already busy schedule, but it was important, so she would manage.

"You can tell whoever you like, it isn't as if I can have many more enemies than I do already. If anything a few might think twice. Just.. be aware that you put yourself at risk as well."

Eyes closed briefly when his lips found her forehead, and opened again, a slow, lazy wicked grin spreading across her face as his hands found her lekku. Normally a human touching them might concern her, they were sensitive after all, but Draco had already proven he not only knew that, he knew exactly how to take advantage of it.

"If you leaving me made me safe then I do not want safety. I want you by my side. Yei."

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

That thought. I guess I do have a clan now. It may just be me, her, and Maliha, but it was our family and nothing could change that. Not now. Not Ever. I nuzzled her softly, rolling onto my side and kissing her neck. "I guess I do, my love." I whispered, wrapping my other arm around her as well. With her firmly in my grasp and her Lekku gently held in my left hand. "I do not have many allies I would trust with your life... so I have so few to tell. I have few friends I could trust with Maliha, but I have one or two." i stopped my affectionate display for a moment, pulling back to look her in the eyes. "In a perfect galaxy, no one would care that two beings found love among the chaos of war and death. Maybe, just maybe the Sith can be beaten back and we can be free, open, and safe. That is the only thing worth fighting for anymore. For you and Maliha." I said, pulling her forward and kissing her lips again.

How odd was it that we were so affectionate, so passionate. But then again, her heart burned with passion and love and always had, she had just never had someone to pour it into. And my heart had been nothing but cinders and coals, growing dark before she accepted me, before she came into my life. I tucked my hand into the small of her back and pulled her into me, letting her slide into the curve of my own body. "I love you mesh'ika... I need you here with me, and I will do everything I can to make this place safe for our family. I just need you."

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Fight to protect and defend. Yes, this was familiar. Once she'd thought she'd fight for power, advancement, gain, yet all of that had fallen into her lap. She'd not looked for it. She'd done the best she could where she was and it had just worked out that the galaxy saw fit to advance her, and always there was more and more conflict, but on her end at least, it was always defensive. Reactive. Again though, why should the galaxy be surprised? She'd been born with her temperament on her skin. Tigers viciously defended their territory, and Chiasa was no different.

For a moment, for a moment she entertained the thought of what she would do if she were not also responsible for the Ravens and all they held. Find where Draco wanted to live, build a home, be just a family. Well. Not just. That was probably beyond her at this point. Her scale was too large, her view too vast. Whatever planet he chose would need to be fortified of course, nearby threats assessed.. But for the most part, she would be happy to be a wife and mother. For a while at least. To take a break. Impossible though. Her responsibilities weighed heavily on her, and they could not be set aside. She would need to find a way to do both.

And she would. As Draco drew her closer, fitting her body to his, as his hands found her and his lips touched her, there was the undeniable knowledge that no matter what else happened, she would not give up Draco. She had been hard and aloof for so long. Distrusted everyone, with reason. Stood alone, unyielding but still alone. He had been persistent, and he'd taken the time to figure her out. It had even just been a case of unrelenting romance, he'd understood what was important to her, what she valued. He matched and complimented her. The whole Mando marriage bit might have been simple, as these things went, but the heart of it was correct. They were one. To part from him would be to part self from self. A fatal blow.

"Not all the Sith in the galaxy could keep us apart Viyi'ee, and if they try I will do what the Republic never could."

One hand rose to caress his cheek, her lips found his.

"I love you too, and you will always have me."

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Just us. I could live with this, it was probably true given the state of the galaxy and the governments struggling to assert dominance, protect their people, or stretch their influence throughout the galaxy. “No, they could not my love. I will build an army to defend us, great monstrous ships to turn back the tides, and learn whatever ancient hidden secrets I must to keep you safe.”

Great monstrous ships. My mind stuck on that for a moment. The One Sith had revolutionized starship production and brought the Republic to its knees over the course of the long and bloody war. ArmaTech would learn from them, take from them their darkest secrets and turn them against her foes, whoever they might be. Maybe then, I could cut us off some corner of space and make that place safe for us. Maybe then I could keep her and our daughter safe from the evils of the Galaxy.

Such metal beasts taking to the stars would be a terrifying sight. Dragons breathing fire of plasma on their foes, tearing great gashes into their enemies with missiles, and weathering storm after storm. That would be my gift to her. Safety behind a wall of iron and fire.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

When she had gotten up to attend to her daily business, her time was required as the president of a massive criminal organization, I arose to attend my own business. Meliha and I spent most of our time in the apartment, modest to a degree. I watched over her while Chiasa was away dealing with her empire, and while I did this I contacted just about every ship designer and engineer I was aware of. With the Makeb Project coming to a close, it was time to begin looking into utilizing the fruits of the project’s labor.

The generators were remarkably more potent than standard power plants, more akin to the Proton-8 generator produced by Rendili, albeit much more involved and much more affordable than it, and so scaling them to size was simple. Pick a size of generator, build the ship around that.

“Yes Benji, put some calls in for me, get some people together in a think tank. That’s about all I need from you. Just grab some buddies, lock them in a classified facility with some requirements and in a month I will let them out and see what all they have done.”

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The old duros laughed over the comm. “Lock them up huh. Thinking like the Empire again are we. You need me to build you a Maw Installation while I am at it? ” He said sarcastically. Always with the sarcasm.

“No, just like a dozen or so experts in a think tank to get the ball rolling. Once they have an idea of what they think should work, I’ll look it over and put a bunch more bodies into fleshing it out. I want to bring together the great designs of the past and of the present from each major ship builder. See if we can get someone from Yag’dul. The givin are really good at stuff like this.” I told him.

“Alright, I’ll put the call out for some of the old buddies. What is the name of this project anyway?”

I thought for a moment, looking at the infant playing in the floor while I talked about building weapons of destruction and engines of war like it was bring your daughter to work day at the death factory. But, it was necessary if I was going to protect her and her mother. My Starbird. My phoenix.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

“Ga’Ihlr. Call it Project Phoenix.” I responded, mixing the Mando’a and Basic in my speech. I was learning the language now, but I assumed that onlookers might be too suspicious if I called the project by its name in Mando’a. “I will handle everything else that is needed for the ships. I will gather the Beskar and I will have the other systems designed and constructed without drawing attention to the overall project. All I need from them is a design to work off for now.”

“Alright. On it. I’ll get back to you in a few days and tell you who all is signed on for the super secret extra special project.” He said, then the comm cut out and I smiled, returning my attention to Meliha. I had a family now that required my attention, but I would see them safe in this galaxy if it was the last thing I did. Time to gather some allies to get this done and make a ship that was worthy to be named after my Starbird.