Vengeance

[Bluejay Ungolfen]

Bluejay ate the ration cubes gratefully, chasing them down with a long drink of water. She was tempted to ask who the other person / people in 'we' were, but figured Calico would mention that if he wanted to. So she nodded. "I think I've had enough of being alone." She agreed.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

Cal settled to wrap up his own wounds. He had removed his helmet some time ago, and the worry lines in his face were cast in a stark golden light within the cabin. He had aged a lot since the Liberty Concord. With a pained groan, he shoved a syringe filled with bacta into the vein of his right arm. Then, he wrapped a strip of gauze over the spot where Bluejay had carved deep into his arm.

A similar treatment was applied to the wound on his neck.

"Good. The clan will need you. I need you. You're one of the only people I trust, one of the only people I call family." He mumbled quietly. Cal pushed up from his chair, clamped an arm on the Mirilian's shoulder, and disappeared into the back.

He returned with a small bundle in his arms. It was the size of a small package, and bound in a long black blanket. It could have been a weapon of some sort, or another form of food--until the package gave a tiny yawn. Cal settled next to Bluejay, and positioned himself so that she could see the infant. The baby favored his mother's more angular features, but he sported a tuft of the raven black hair that both Calico and Galaar had.

The child blinked wide at Bluejay, confused as to who this stranger was. "This is Corrin." Calico stated proudly. "He's my son."

[member="Bluejay Ungolfen"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

The trip had taken longer than Zandra had hoped, but she was back now. Thank the stars. She was missing her boys somethin' terrible. She landed her ship a short distance from the cabin, made sure it was still set to go at a moments notice. She pulled on a white parka, pulled the hood up over her white hair, loaded her sleigh up with supplies, and began the trek back home.

Calico was probably getting the little one to sleep now. the kid was quiet, but he liked to sleep at the oddest of times. Or he was feeding him. Zandra missed feeding him. There was something so... calming about feeding a baby.
Once she saw the light in the distance, smelled the burning tinder from the fireplace, she quickened her pace. Temporary home as it was meant to be, Cal was there.
Anywhere Calico was, was home.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"] [member="Bluejay Ungolfen"]

 

[Bluejay Ungolfen]

Bluejay smiled at the baby. "Hello Corrin." She said softly, but her smile wavered as the sound of faint footfalls reached her ears. Very faint - but definitely there. There were two likely possibilities - one, another intruder. Two, Corrin's mother.

Bluejay wasn't sure which one was worse. Scratch that, yes she was - the mother was always worse. "Expecting someone?" She managed, semi-conversationally with a glance at Calico.

[member="Zandra Fenni"] [member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

Calico sat up a bit straighter. Loathe as he was to admit it, his hearing was shot. He was long lived for a clone, and the constant stress and booming noises his ears endured had taken its toll. With his helmet on, he never noticed a difference, but without one he found himself straining to hear the quieter sounds.

He pulled the baby up closer to his chest, and the child seemed to take some comfort in it. Little Corrin's eyes drifted closed, and his breathing settled into a tiny rumbling. The child was falling asleep. He did that a lot, and Cal wasn't going to complain about it. When he slept, he didn't cry.

"My wife, Zandra. She's going to be uneasy when she comes in. No one else was supposed to know about this place." He explained. "Move slowly at first, and try to explain that you're one of my family before she asks questions. It'll make this a bit easier."

[member="Bluejay Ungolfen"] [member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

And uneasy she was when she opened the door. Her smile faded. Her 'honey I'm home' Ended at 'Honey, I-'.
Then it ended with-
"What the feth, Cal!?"

There was a woman in the house. A woman she didn't know. She was in the house with Cal while she wasn't home. Why wasn't she a bloody mess out on the front lawn? Why would Cal invite some... some...
"Who is she?" the Echani demanded, slamming the door behind her, "You girlfriend or somethin'?"

[member="Calico Tal'verda"] [member="Bluejay Ungolfen"]

 

[Bluejay Ungolfen]

If Bluejay hadn't spent two and a half decades perfecting her poker face, Zandra's reaction would have had her grinning in spite of herself. As it was, she had to take a moment before she trusted her voice enough to speak. Girlfriend...please. As if Calico should be so lucky. So Bluejay's sense of humor left something to be desired. At least she still had one.

"I'm Bluejay." She introduced herself, inclining her head. "I used to serve in the Dread Guard with Calico before..." here she waved a hand vaguely, "...well, before everything when to hell."

[member="Zandra Fenni"] [member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

Was Zandra actually jealous?

That was an emotion Calico had though would never see on the Echani's face. Ever. She just hasn't seemed to be the sort for it. Despite her accusations, the Chieftain found himself fighting the urge to snicker.

He reached down and took Corrin's tiny hand in his own. He gently waved the sleeping baby's fist, and broke into a huge grin. Zandra might notice the bandages he was now wearing.

"I would never look at another woman, let alone touch one cyar'ika." Calico assured. "Bluejay was one of our Dreadguard, aye. She served with Galaar and I...pretty much our entire careers in the Confederacy, and she defected to the Liberty Concord with us." He explained.

The baby's eyes suddenly shot open. Corrin looked up with an awareness that might have been unsettling to some. Like he wasn't a blubbering helpless child, and fully aware of how dark the world was. Like he had no innocence.

That quickly faded when he caught sight of his mother. The baby whined, and Cal leaned down to peck the infant on his brow in an attempt to calm him.

"That force stuff...he sees things we don't. It scares me sometimes." Cal mumbled off topic. "Bluejay is family, otherwise I would have wasted her before she got within a klick of the cabin. Promise."


[member="Zandra Fenni"]

[member="Bluejay Ungolfen"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

The Echani scanned the woman with a quick judgemental glance. No. No threat. Cal was telling the truth. Alright then.

"Nah nah nah," she shook her head, crossing the room, arms out to take her son from Cal, "I was just wondering why you'd invite your girlfriend over without telling me first. 'S rude, is all. Didn't have time to fix my hair or nothing."

She shot a grin at the other woman to show she was teasing. Friend of Galaar. She could accept that. Now if Cal would just give her baby back, she'd be the happiest wife in the Galaxy.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"] [member="Bluejay Ungolfen"]

 

[Bluejay Ungolfen]

Bluejay attempted a smile in return, but her facial muscles where unused to the concept. She felt awkward and out of place here, but then again...where else was she going to go?

Not back to where she came, certainly. That planet was a graveyard, not a home. A place for the dead, not the living.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"] [member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Revenchent]

Cal pushed up to his feet. He was beyond pleased to see that the situation had diffused itself, to some degree. The Mando strode over to his wife with a beaming smile. She and little Corrin had become the center of his life. Seeing her brightened his day, and cleared away the cloud of depression that often fell over him like a thick blanket.

Perhaps the little family could do the same for Bluejay.

"I was going to offer to let Jay stay. She has nowhere to go." He offered the fussing infant to his mother, and lofted a brow. As much as he wanted to help his comrade and friend, he wouldn't do anything unless Zandra agreed. Of course, he was rather sure she would. She had a kind heart.

[member="Bluejay Ungolfen"] [member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

Zandra took the infant and sat down with him in the plain wooden chair by the fireplace. Warm. She was still in her thick coat, still trying to get warm. And little Corrin was warm. So very warm and soft. She hugged him close, kissing the top of the boys head.

"Well, we can't leave her outside to freeze, can we?" she shrugged and the baby spit up on her shoulder, "Ah- Cal, hand me a rag, will ya?"

She held her hand out, moving her hair out of the way so she wouldn't get any vomit in it. Classy. It really was a great look for her.

[member="Bluejay Ungolfen"] [member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Bluejay Ungolfen]

Saying Bluejay wasn't the best with kids was like saying she was decent at fighting - a massive understatement. But passing a rag? That was something she could do, and being slightly closer than Calico - and faster - she picked it up and put it in Zandra's outstretched hand.

[member="Zandra Fenni"] [member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

"Sure, I've got i-"​ Jay was just faster than he was. He supposed that it was a good thing. Better that she and Zandra reached some peace accord before they ended up trying to kill each other. He loved his wife dearly, but she and Bluejay were the antithesis of each other.

He just shrugged, and offered a small smile. "We'll be leaving Mandalore soon, but we have room on the ship. If you want to join us, I'd be happy to have you." He paused, and motioned toward Corrin. "So long as you're not opposed to helping with the baby."

The Mando shook his head, and snickered. "He's a quiet baby. He only spits when he loves you."

[member="Bluejay Ungolfen"] [member="Zandra Fenni"]