Wow, he sounds REALLY annoyed. No surprise. I used part of that convo, but she was teasing him and they ended up happily... you know what I tested a few "evil" options to see what he'd say. In some cases I got really unexpectedly awesome teasing moments, but I always had my finger on ESC not to get stuck with something really mean. Unfortunately, the conversations are tied to the story progress, so the convo "I love you, my lord" is RIGHT AFTER you return from the transponder ship, and before you go to Corellia. The most stupid place possible. That letter was one of the sweetest. My friend shared Vector's (I didn't take my Agent, so didn't get it myself), and it's lovely and heartbreaking too. Everything else I read sounds dull compared to these two guys.

Thank you for reading. He did go a long way indeed. It shaped him in way *I* didn't anticipate Writing this story helped me better understand him and why he does some things he does.

Why evil notification system didn't work and I didn't get any notifications that someone posted here? Anyway... Thank you all very much That scene with Theron (or many variations of it) sat in my head even before it ended up in this particular story.

Oh dear, I wish I could see that! But I probably wouldn't be able to run a toon that doesn't romance him. My will is not strong enough

I have 7 warriors. 6 female (same person) and 1 male (her and Malavai's son). The *only* reason I rolled so many girls was to replay the romance -- from any and every angle (minus being mean to him, that I just am unable to do), and I always found awesome lines I hadn't heard from him before. The last one was created after they upgraded facial expressions to get all possible Malavais with real (or as close as it can get on these cartoonish characters) frowns, wrinkles and smiles. If you play on low settings, and you think those two moles is all the default Malavai has... your loss

My warrior didn't want to be an empress. It may sound weird, but after finishing the story, I felt really miserable. The script forced her to do something she never wanted. She just wanted to go home and find her hubby. My misery ended when I realised the story fit a lot better my Inquisitor's personality. He wanted the throne. She gave it to him. She was the Outlander, but she stepped down after defeating Valk (with Inq's help, the guy has extensive experience with ghosts in one's head after all ), and she gave the throne to him. I enjoyed the story a lot more playing him. So in my RP the Outlander didn't become the Emperess. Her right hand did. See, grania, what I mean about spinning head? I usually stick to one across characters, unless their voices are indistinct. I get used to associating a voice with a face and if that changes, it bothers me. Unless the voice is so average it has "no face", so to speak. So I usually apply a customisation, if I choose to do that, as soon as I get a new comp.

*Your* head is spinning?! Can you imagine what happens to mine when all those pixel people take charge of my imagination and start living their lives? Thanks. And glad to be of cheering up service

Not in my case. My Inquisitor (Malavai's counsin) and my Agent (Malavai's brother) worked with my Warrior (Wife, Outlander) on Odessen, so they get reunited with their family member who gets reunited with his wife. And they all lived happily ever after I took only 5 toons through KOTFE and 4 through KOTET (and only one married to vanilla comp, my warrior), so no sad stories there for me. So I guess I never thought of it that way. Didn't have a reason to.

They still drop. I had one last month, or maybe December... Rarely, but they drop. As for certificates, I levelled the rep to full and didn't get even one. Fortunately, all I wanted was to unlock levels to get access to rep armour.

I use customisations on almost all companions. I like them different than everybody else's. Once I discovered "Korean" customisation, it was not only a pleasure to have him but also to look at him I have a little tradition of drawing my fanfic or game couples for Valentine's Day, and this year in a poll my warrior with Malavai won over my inquisitor with Theron. You may want to use your pitchforkes, since it's not your dull white guy , but I'm going to share it anyway Unfortunately, due to serious internet problems I can't upload it to dA, so a regular link only http://imgur.com/8U6e0C1

It annoys me... the eyebrows colour, I mean. My warrior's and her son's hair is white. Their eyebrows... not so much My Fav LIs are Malavai, Vector and Theron. Corso is close by, he's too funny not to love him. My Theron dates my Inquisitor, who was available (he dumped Ashara long ago and laughed in her face when she proposed to him ) and had a fling with him in SoR too. I never took my femAgent to KOTFE, I don't want her to lose Vector. Same with my femSmuggie. Even if they return, I won't take the girls anyway. Doing the same chapters on 4 characters (in total) is already enough for me, and I see no point in doing it all over again.

Am I the only one who finds his default look meh? LOL

Truer words were never spoken Mine would never do that. She's a deadly, growling Dark Side V Sith but with him she's gentle and sweet. The "worst" she does is tease him mercilessly for her own amusement, to which he usually facepalms, but any true (or even playful) violence is out of the question. He's like a prize she had to work very hard to win, and she's not going to jeopardise that now

Solo a Star Fortress. you won't have to let that happen. It will happen whether you want it or not Clear conscience

Attira: Odessen “Where are you going?” Attira turned to look at Lana. “To find him,” she simply answered. “You can’t leave!” “The immediate threat has been stopped. There are people to deal with new recruits. There are people to run the daily matters. Nayel will take care of things in my absence. I was taught a general does not micromanage.” She turned away, and resumed her walk. “You can’t leave!” Attira span on her heel furiously, and glared into Beniko’s eyes. “Stop me, I dare you, stop me!” she shouted angrily, her hand hovering dangerously near her lightsaber. Lana surprisingly didn’t say anything. Atti thought it was the first time she remembered when Beniko did not try to have the last word with a patronising underlining. She quickly walked to the hangar bay. Mili had promised the Fury was fully prepared for the task. He also had provided her with a lot of useful data, and information she had to sift through on her way to Dromund Kaas, where she intended to start her search. What no one but Nayel and Mili knew was that she wasn’t going to look for just one person, but for two. It wasn’t only about Malavai, but also about Nil’awr. The last time she had seen her son he had been barely one-year-old, and now her heart ached at the thought he didn’t know her. Even more at the thought that he... could not be safe. She shook the terrible thoughts off. Mili and Nayel had seen him less than a year ago, and they both claimed the boy was fine. That couldn’t have changed since. Malavai: Undisclosed location The immediate danger had passed but Malavai was still weary of his surroundings. “Anything?” Vector inclined his head a bit, as if listening, and then shook it. “No,” he replied. “The road is empty.” “It shouldn’t be empty.” Malavai put his microbinoculars to his eyes, and once more scanned the path in front of them. “We don’t see or smell any presence,” Vector assured him. “Can they smell droids?” Vector smiled slightly. “Yes. Oily, artificial impression. Malavai, it’s not the first time we’re doing it. We can recognise skytroopers.” “Yes, I know. I’m sorry, it’s just... unusual to be so quiet.” “Shall we go?” Vector rose to his feet, then stretched his hand toward Malavai, who promptly grabbed it to be pulled up. “Let’s take that blasted generator down!” They moved forward, surrounded by their invisible army. Malavai glanced at Vector from time to time, studying his face. He knew the Joiner would tell him immediately if anything changed in the circumstances, but a facial clue would give him that intel before Vector even opened his mouth to share it, and that kind of split second difference could be a matter of their lives. It was calm, though. The trek to the generator facility was uneventful. Thanishar was already waiting for them at the door. “Hacked in,” she grinned. She opened the door, and they entered a dark, cold room. Malavai, walking in as the last one, held the door open for the swarm to fly in. At Vector’s cue, he let it go, and it shut down quietly. As they had planned, Shar and Vector moved down the corridor, while Malavai stayed by the entrance door, watching a security monitor for any sign of trouble. He had an impression he’d felt a movement of air around him, but ignored it. He could never tell if it was his awareness he was surrounded by tiny insects, so imagining sensations, or they really caused it, but since it was not a threat, he did not dwell on it. The difference was immaterial. “We’re in,” he heard Shar’s voice in his earpiece. He looked at the monitor that broadcast the visuals from the generator room. To his surprise, the swarm was visible in the low resolution holo picture, looking like waves and ripples of the air. He thought it was the first time he actually could see their helpers, and integral members of their team. “Malavai, something’s wrong,” Shar said in his ear. He took a quick glance at the readings, and knew before she finished. “The shield is fluctuating.” “I will go to the shield room to check it out,” he said, bringing up the blueprints of the facility to quickly locate the room he needed. He had already checked and assessed that visual access was somehow blocked. Then he took his blaster into his hand, and quietly moved toward the shield room. The fact that the shield room was without any visuals told him that there was a strong possibility someone was in there, and didn’t want to be noticed or observed. In a facility like this one — almost fully automatic with little stuff — leaving such a blatant mark ‘we’re here’ could go unnoticed, but he thought it was still quite reckless. As he approached the room that had a wide entrance but not a door to speak of, he heard faint sounds of keyboard clicks. Slowly, trying not to make any sounds, he looked into the room, widening his view, until his field of view included a Cathar at the main shield console. He deducted the creature was trying to lower the shield. He also recognised the armour he wore. Like a soundless shadow he motioned to the Cathar, put the blaster to the back his head, and said calmly, “Stop what you’re doing”. The alien froze but didn’t take his hands away from the keyboard. A figure left shadows. It held a blaster pointed at Malavai’s head but it was quickly lowered. “Malavai Quinn.” A statement with a doze of surprise. He recognised the voice, but it took him a couple of seconds to place it. “Theron Shan,” he said eventually. The SIS put his blaster back on his hip, and raised both hands in a defensive gesture. “Look, Quinn, we need to take this generator down. I’m sure you’re no friend of Zakuul, so you shouldn’t mind. For all I know, you could be here for the same reason.” Malavai observed him for a moment. “Tell your Havoc friend to step away from the keyboard, or I will make a hole in his head,” he replied. Shan nodded at the Cathar, and the alien, growling, stepped back with his hands raised. The SIS approached Malavai. “This generator is one of a whole series that —” “I know what it is, and what it does,” the Imperial cut him off. “So you understand the importance of shutting it down.” “I do. But you’re trying to shut down the shield, not the generator.” “There is no way of getting inside the generator room. We tried to find one, but couldn’t. The only way to take it down is to shut down the shield. The radiation the shield is protecting the generator from will envelope it, and in the result destroy it. That’s why we need to take down the shield. Help us. We’re on the same side, aren’t we?” “You cannot take down the shield. The generator is being shut down as we speak.” “How?” the Cathar asked. “I have people in that room. You’ll kill them with radiation, if you lower the shield.” “That’s impossible!” the Havoc major exclaimed. Theron added, “We tried to find a way inside, but from the information we’d managed to gather we assessed it’s impossible to get in from the outside. The only way to open the generator room’s door is from the inside. They have special droids in they activate for that purpose.” “That’s true,” Malavai confirmed. Theron observed him for a moment. “How did you do it?” “Obviously, my resources are better than yours.” “You’re telling him too much,” the Havoc Cathar said. “He’s one of us, Jorgan. He doesn’t realise it yet, but he’s coming with us.” A high-pitched chuckle escaped Malavai’s lips, while his eyebrows knitted. “It’s going to be a lot harder to take me captive than you expect,” he said. Theron smiled. It was a friendly, warm smile. “You must go with us, because she’ll shred me to pieces if I tell her I’d found you, and didn’t bring to her. That’s not a prospect I’m looking forward to.” “Whoever your superior is, she’ll have to do without an Imperial prisoner.” “I won’t bring a prisoner, I’ll bring a husband back.” Malavai’s eyes narrowed, while his heart skipped a bit. If this was a ruse, it was too cruel, so Shan was dead already. “Who is it exactly that you’re working for?” he asked in an even voice. “A Sith,” the Cathar said. “We’re actually co-operating with a Sith, as hard as it can be to believe.” It didn’t escape Malavai’s attention that Jorgan had said ‘co-operate’ instead of ‘work for’. Not fond of his superior, apparently. “We’re part of an alliance,” Theron interjected. “Both Imperial and Republic citizens united under one...unique individual. The only one that can end this madness. You had to hear about the Outlander by now.” He had indeed. Everybody had. Someone hunted by Zakuulan knights. Someone who had taken down space stations over several core worlds, and other planets. Someone whom the enemy had been so desperate to lure out that they had glassed five worlds in a cruel blackmail. Someone who had been held captive in carbonite by Zakuul for five long years. He had had shy thoughts who that could be but he’d never shared them with anyone. They were insane. Everyone, including his own family, kept insisting his love was dead, so he wouldn’t dare to share his timid idea that she was the only person he could imagine capable of such victories. He had had enough of quarrels with his brother and cousin without sharing that hope. They wouldn’t call it deduction, they’d call it desperation. Theron observed his face. “You know, don’t you,” he stated. Not asked but flatly stated. Malavai looked at the Cathar. “What’s the name of your superior?” he asked. “Most of us address her as Commander, but many Imps call her the Wrath. Only two call her Attira.” The Imperial’s eyes returned to Theron’s face. The SIS smiled again. “I understand you can’t drop everything, and just come with us right now, but you must come to Odessen. I’ll try to contact her in the meantime.” “Finished. We’re coming out,” Shar’s voice said in his ear. He raised his hand to his earpiece to press the transmission button. “Acknowledged,” he confirmed. Then he looked back at Theron. “ ‘Try to contact her’?” he repeated the agent’s words. “Well...I couldn’t find you for such a long time, nor could Mili using his wide contacts —” Malavai tried not to show his surprise that his brother was involved too. “— so she decided to take the matters in her own hands. She took off to find you.” “So you don’t know where she is.” “No, technically no. But she’s in contact. Only temporary circumstances would make her unavailable for the duration.” “We have another Sith, crazier even than she is, in charge in the meantime,” Jorgan the Cathar added. Malavai didn’t need much to see the man was not a fan. Apparently in his eyes defeating Zakuul was so important that he was ready to get in bed with hated Sith. “It’s Nayel,” Theron said, which drew Malavai’s attention back to him. “He joined us a few months ago.” It would seem his whole family was on Odessen but him. Everyone reunited with his beloved...but him. He desperately needed a distraction or tears would feel his eyes, and make him look like a wimpy fool. “I want to talk to someone for proof before committing to anything,” he said. “Where would I get so much information about your family otherwise?” “You’re SIS, you have access to information. I am no one in the Empire, but Darth Nox, and Sith Intelligence high ranking officer who’s been in command since that incompetent woman had been fired must be known to you.” “Fair enough.” Steps behind him told him Thanishar, Vector, and the Kilik swarm joined them. “We still have two more generators to shut down,” Malavai said. “It’s being taken care of. We sent three teams simultaneously to lower the risk of getting caught or being interrupted.” “Understood.” It was a cautious but good idea, he had to admit. “Will you tell us now how you got inside?” “No, not yet.” “Fine. Let’s meet with team two.” “Why?” “Mili is in charge.” He hadn’t seen his brother for many a month. He frowned. This looked too perfect to be true. “What’s going on?” Shar asked. “I don’t know,” Malavai replied. “They feed me with everything I’d like to hear. I expect them to tell me Darth Festen is dead by their hand too.” How he wished it was the truth! “Just come with us. We have a meeting point not far from here. You’ll take it from there.” Shan seemed sincere. “Where are we going exactly?” Malavai asked. “Show me the co-ordinates.” A bit surprised, but Theron obliged. Malavai looked at Vector. “Can you send them there first?” “We are on our way.” “Let’s go, then.” Both Pubs exchanged looks but didn’t ask. They headed out, followed by the Imperial team. Vector stopped. “We see people. Three.” Malavai stopped two. “I suppose all humanoids look the same to them, so they are unable to tell if one looks a lot like me.” Vector only smiled. “What...?” Theron clearly didn’t even know what kind of question he could ask to get his answer. Vector frowned. “There is a group of skytroopers moving onto them from east.” Jorgan sprinted ahead, and after a moment of hesitation Malavai followed him to be followed by everyone else. Even if it was a ruse, and his brother was not just about to be attacked, he could help them against the blasted droids. “How do you know these things?” Theron asked, running next to him. They reached a small clearing in the forest seconds after three people gathered there had been attacked by a horde of white roaring droids. Thanishar knelt behind a fallen log, leant her sniper riffle on it, and started methodically taking the skytroopers one by one with well-placed shots at their heads. Her red eyes glowed in the dark shadow. Vector went in swirling his staff, and taking down many droids with a limited number of moves. His weapon was beautiful to look at and absolutely deadly. Theron aimed at another skytrooper but before he had a chance of taking the shot, the droid exploded from inside out for no apparent to him reason, followed by a few right next to it. The surprise froze him for a second, which gave another skytrooper a good chance of taking him down, but Malavai was faster. The droid was on the ground in pieces before it finished raising its weapon at the SIS agent. From the corner of his eye Malavai noticed Mili. Not letting himself relax for a bit, for it could easily cost him his life, he could not stop a warmer feeling inside at the sight of his baby brother...who was currently doing his dance with daggers, knives, and other stabby instruments, generously giving them to any droid that got within stabbing or throwing vicinity. In all his life, Malavai had never seen Mili at work before. Trying to stay out of his brother’s sight — in case the surprise could cost dearly — he went onto the grey droid. The swarm was attacking great numbers of white droids by getting inside and biting through their circuits. Many of the machines exploded in the result. The Havoc major was already on the target — the commanding grey skytrooper. The blasted thing started dropping missiles on them. Blaster in one hand, and a knife in another, Malavai tried to approach the droid from behind to place the knife at the back of its neck to sever connections from the main processor in its “head” to the rest of its body. Jorgan seemed to understand his intentions, since he tried to keep the skytrooper’s attention on him at all times. One furious move, and the droid collapsed. To make sure it was finished both the Pub and the Imp turned it into a sieve with their blasters. Malavai sheathed his knife. After this cut it was blunt, and useless until sharpened again. As soon as the droid in charge fell, the white drones started exploding or at least collapsing. “We will make sure all connections are destroyed,” Vector said, approaching Malavai. The officer nodded, knowing it meant the swarm would bite through every cable they find. Then his eyes swept the clearing to find his brother, but before he could spot him, Mili appeared in front of him, and gave him a massive hug. “I’ve been looking for you!” he shouted. “You damn know how to hide well.” Not much of a hugger himself, his brother was an exception, so Malavai’s arms wrapped around Mili. “I owe you a massive apology, Malavai,” Mili said, disengaging. “You were right all along, and I was absolutely wrong.” “So what he’s trying to tell me is true.” Malavai nodded toward Theron’s direction. “That we’re all Attira’s minions? We are.” A wide grin brightened Mili’s face. “She took that son of a bantha Arcann down. Didn’t manage to kill him, but for now he’s gone. We’ve got lots of other problems now, but...I’m sure you heard all the news. You had to. You always kept tabs on things, and especially in that region of space, since this is where she was last...considered alive.” He paused. “Where were you? I tried to find you but you...seemed to completely disappear.” “Did you think I was dead?” Mili took the snide bravely. “Csilla first.” “You hate cold!” “Two Sith lords decided that letting the Son of the Wrath live was unacceptable. It was the safest place for him. Shar took one with a sniper shot, I took the other. They can’t prevent it, if they don’t know a blaster bolt is coming. “Then we moved to Alderaan.” “We need to leave this place,” Theron said, approaching them. “Come with us,” he said, looking at Malavai. “I’ll try to catch her on holo.” “Malavai,” Vector said. “If you decide to go, a part of the swarm wants to join you.” “Why?” “We...want to still protect you. We also want to serve the one who destroyed the Star Fortress over Alderaan. When it went down, the Kiliks were not sick any more, and healthy offspring hatched from eggs again. We are grateful, and wish to help.” Confusion on Theron’s and Milivai’s faces almost made Malavai laugh out loud. “I can’t go with you,” he said. “Nil’awr,” he added, looking at his brother. It was enough for Mili to understand. “Go,” Shar said. “See her first. Then you’ll return for Nili, and take him to her. I’ll make sure he won’t miss you too much.” He looked at his best friend. “I suppose I should make sure the place is safe for him to...meet his mother.” Theron’s eyes opened wide. “Mother?” Mili glanced at him. “I guess it never came up in a conversation.” He shrugged. “So that is why she was so desperate to find you. It wasn’t just you she wanted back, it was your child too!” “How will I communicate with the swarm?” he asked, looking at Vector. “You could go, too,” Shar suggested, looking at her husband. “That would be acceptable. We will gladly visit Odessen.” Malavai considered his options for a moment. Go to his son to tell him about his mother first, then to meet her, and inspect Odessen in regard of safety for the boy, then back for him. Or go to Odessen first, check everything, and return to Nil’awr to tell not just that he’d found his mummy, but that he’d be taking him to her. This decision didn’t require any calculations, the equation was simple. “Let me fetch a few things from our ship first,” he said. “I’ll walk with you,” Mili offered. Vector, undoubtedly followed by the swarm, joined Theron, and the others, while Mili, Malavai, and Thanishar headed back to their ship. “Swarm? Vector mentioned a swarm. Are Kiliks here?” Mili asked. “Yes. We have a small army of those tiny ones. They are our scouts, saboteurs, ears, and eyes. They can’t be spotted, but they see. They can’t be detected, and through the hive mind they can tell Vector what they see or smell. They’re small enough to get through cracks in doors or locks to enter locked spaces.” “Like the generator room,” Shar added. “They got inside, unlocked it, let us in, and we could shut the damn thing once and for all. Without the crude approach of frying it, and everything else in the room with it, with radiation.” Mili gave her a look. Many people would take that as a tease or bait, but Mili was sometimes a lot more like his older brother than both of them realised. This was one of those times when being wrong didn’t matter, as the positive results were more important than one’s ego. “I hope you downloaded the intel from their computers,” he said. “We lamented we had to sacrifice that for our ‘crude sabotage’.” “I’m not an amateur, Milivai,” Shar replied. He just smiled in response, and she returned it. Attira: Dromund Kaas She read through paperwork, desperately trying to find any sign where Malavai had been reassigned. No one at the military HQ dared to ask her what it was she was looking for. After she’d threatened them, they were eager to show her all non-classified documents they had. All she wanted was access to transfers, after all, and that was not much of a secret. She found nothing. After the scandal, which whad been covered by Pierce — to her utter disgust — and the absorption of Darth Milaris’s powerbase into Nayel’s, Malavai dropped off the grid. Officially he was still in Nayel’s service, but his current whereabouts were unknown. Nayel’s pull was sufficient to give Malavai freedom. On the other hand, Malavai was not one to do things without required paperwork, approvals, stamps or signatures, so where was he?! Their old flat in Kaas City had been sold, and now someone else lived there. Same with their flat on Nar Shaddaa. Their land on Tattooine was completely destroyed; Mili had told her it had been raided, but fortunately no one was hurt but two droids. She tried to contact Ovech, but he hadn’t heard from her husband for over two years. He had simply disappeared. And Nil’awr with him. Was he on some kind of secret mission? Was he employed by the Intelligence? But wouldn’t Mili know something about it, then? Perhaps not; he was still the head of Intelligence, but he wouldn’t be bothered with all details, and processes of the whole intelligence pyramid. Growing more and more frustrated with each day, and in the result also more furious, she felt like exploding. She rose from behind the desk. “Thank you,” she blurted to the officer who had helped her. Then she headed for the door, fighting her own rage. She felt helpless. The air outside was damp and cool. She looked up at the weather dome, and though that she’d actually welcome rain right now, but the dome protected the whole city from it. “Where are you?” she whispered, looking at the dark blue sky. She was out of the ideas what she could... Thanishar! She hadn’t thought of contacting Thanishar yet. She was Malavai’s best friend, surely she would know where he could be. She headed back to the spaceport. The last she knew Thanishar had settled on Alderaan with her diplomat husband. She was going to visit her over there. As soon as she boarded the Fury, a holo message drew her attention. Apparently, someone had tried to call her in her absence. The message was short: “Return to Odessen immediately. It’s very important. Shouldn’t reveal more due to security reasons. Theron.” That kind of ordering tone was typical of Beniko, so if Theron was so bossy, something had to be really wrong. Torn inside at the prospect of postponing her search, she reluctantly sat in the captain’s chair, and plotted the course. Malavai: Odessen He was leaning over some readings, when he received a short message from Mili. “She’s in the war room”. He looked up from the console, looked toward the door, feeling anxiety he didn’t understand. He motioned toward the exit from the lab, and quickly walked down the corridor toward the war room. She was there, her back to him, her arms clearly crossed on her chest, as if waiting for something. They hadn’t told her. He stopped, trying to find his voice to say “my lord,” or “my love”, or “Atti”, or anything at all but he couldn’t. All he could do was staring at the neat white buns on her head. She wore the hair pin he had given her on their second anniversary. She seemed to look even thinner and smaller than before. She had to sense his presence — or maybe it were the looks others were throwing him — because she turned around, and looked at him. Her big green eyes opened wider. For a short moment they stood motionless, looking at each other. Then she sprang and ran toward him. Before he knew he rushed to her, grabbed her in his arms, and swirled, listening to her throaty laughter. He put her down on the ground, but she didn’t unwrap her armed off his neck. “Say something; I missed your voice so much,” she said softly. “I love you.” They kissed. “The polite thing would be mind your own business instead of openly staring at them, people,” sounded Nayel’s voice. Malavai blushed, realising they weren’t alone. Attira: Odessen “What’s the emergency?” she demanded, as soon as she reached the war room. “A moment,” Mili replied, and touched his wrist communicator to contact someone. She crossed her arms on her chest, annoyed. So urgent she had had to drop everything, and now apparently not so urgent that she was being forced to wait. Theron and Nayel looked at something behind her, so she turned to see what had drawn their attention. And he was there. As tall and lanky as she remembered. A mop of black hair falling on his eyebrows with unruly wisps sicking out from behind his ears. His lovely almond eyes shining in the shadow. He hadn’t changed a bit. She ran to him, unable to do anything dignified for the sake of all observers. She didn’t care but she knew his image was important to him. She couldn’t stop herself. She would rebuild his image or kill anyone who would disrespect him for...being her love. He ran toward her, and they met almost mid-way. She threw her arms around his neck, and felt her feet leave the ground. She laughed, feeling almost dizzy. “Say something; I missed your voice so much,” she whispered. “I love you.” Sweet voice with sweet words. Her mouth found his full lips, and she wanted to never let go. But she did. “Where’s Nil’awr? Is he alive? Is he healthy? Is he all right?” Just now, when she was up close, she noticed he had changed: hair on his temples started greying. She touched it gently with tips of her fingers. “He’s fine. He’s one little treasure. You’ll love him.” Her world was whole again. Only punishment was left to be dealt. For the Sith Empire’s near fall, for her personal suffering, for her carbon sickness, for their separation. Arcann, Vaylin, Valkorion, and their abomination of an empire will go down in flames! Malavai: Alderaan He walked between Kilik structures toward Shar and Vector’s cottage. The insectoids didn’t pay any attention to him. The guards on the outskirts of the territory had already informed the whole hive who was coming, and that it was a safe visitor. After Darth Festen’s intentions of killing the Son of the Wrath became public knowledge, Csilla wasn’t safe for Nil’awr any more. It was Vector, who had come up with the idea of hiding the boy among Kiliks. There was no way to reach the house without encountering any of the Oroboro hive, so there was no way to reach the house without the dwellers to be warned in advance. Sure enough, the message of his arrival reached the cottage early enough for Nil’awr to leave it, as Malavai was nearer, and to run to welcome him. “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” He fell. Got up, cleaned his palms, rubbing them on his leg wraps, and then resumed his run. Malavai knelt on one knee, and let the boy reach him. He wrapped his arms around his little Sith treasure, and enjoyed the moment. “Auntie Shar said you went to Moddessun. Is it pretty there? Is it green?” “It’s called Odessen, and it’s very pretty. It’s green, and there even are green people there.” He paused. “Nil’awr, I found your mummy.” The boy jumped, excited. “Will she come here to live with us?” “No, we will go to her.” He frowned. “For how long?” “Forever.” He put his hands on his hips. “So I must take all my drawings.” Malavai smiled. “We will pack everything.” Nil’awr ran toward the cottage, singing a made-up song about mummy. Malavai just watched him. For the first time in five years he allowed himself to hope. The end

“Nayel,” Theron approached the Sith, “there’s a woman here saying she must talk to you. She says it’s urgent, and a private matter.” The Inquisitor turned to look at him. “Who is she?” “She refused to give her name. Just that she needs to speak with you.” Nayel turned back to look at the trees. The catwalk was high enough above the hangar to offer privacy, and make it a quieter place, so he liked to come here to look outside at the green to calm down. “Nayel, she looks scared.” The Sith sighed. “All right,” he said eventually, and followed Theron to the war room. The place was quite busy, as usually. Attira was in a middle of a heated discussion with Mili but she managed to keep her voice down (seething, Nayel imagined), so he could not make out the subject of their argument. Then his attention was drawn to a small woman by the eastern holo table. She looked a lot older than the last time he’d seen her, a lot more frail, and a lot more scared. Before hatred took over his heart, a needle of fear pierced it for a second. The most basic reaction. Farren laughed out loud. “Look!” he shouted, pointing at his last creation. Nayel came closer to look at the drawing. He was not allowed to touch crayons, he was not allowed to draw, but in spite of that he liked spending time with his friend, and watching him draw. “Now my room is pretty!” Farren exclaimed. “Are you sure Mistress won’t be angry?” Nayel asked, pointing at empty sheets of paper that had been brought with the crayons. “This is boring,” the other boy replied. “This is fun!” he added, pointing at walls that he had drawn on. His work clearly finished, he dropped the crayons carelessly, and ran to the toys corner. Nayel gave the abandoned and forgotten drawing tools a longing look. Would he be punished if he touched them? He wouldn’t even have to draw, just touch… He liked how they smelled, and wondered how they felt in fingers. He made a step toward the forbidden toy, when Farren called him. He turned, and joined his friend in the toy corner. He liked all the toys. Farren happily shared them with him, and even had given him some, but it was a secret. Nayel kept them in the pile with the others, and only him and his friend knew they were his; no one else. They were the only possessions he ever had. The door opened. “Havin fun, bo–” the Mistress’s voice faded as she looked at the walls. “What happened here?” The sweetness was gone, and threat loomed in her words. Nayel cowered in a corner, trying to hide behind a big plush tuk’ata. “I decorated my room,” Farren announced with pride. “This is not allowed!” she answered. “But mother, now it’s good. It’s pretty!” “Not allowed!” Her hand went to her belt. Nayel’s lips mouthed “no”, but no sound came out. He was just shaking his head. “You know I don’t like when you’re naughty,” she told her son. “You know I told you to use paper. You disobeyed.” “Mother, but–” “You know what happens, when you’re naughty. A punishment must be dealt.” She pulled out the device, and pressed the button. Nayel’s screams of fear were drowned by his own crying of pain. He instinctively put his hand to his aching neck, which only made things worse, as he touched the collar when it was discharging. “Mother!” Farren shouted. She pressed the button again. “You disobey. Punishment is dealt.” She said sternly. Then her demeanour changed. “Come,” she said softly to her son. “We’re going to have a snack. And you,” she added, scooping her five-year-old child, then looking at still crying Nayel, “you will help clean it up. You understand?” she asked, threateningly waving the device of pain in her hand. He only nodded, unable to talk, still choking on his tears pouring down his red, swollen little face. His hand stretched in her direction, and blueish ribbons of electrical discharges left his fingers to hit her neck. She fell to her knees, grasping her throat, and gasping for air. Theron watched in horror but before he had a chance to say anything to stop it, Nayel lowered his hand. “What do you want?” he growled. “I need your help,” she replied, getting up. “Give me one reason why I should help you?” His voice had that quality of danger vibrating in it. “It’s not really me, who needs you. It’s Farren.” That drew his attention. His aggressive pose softened. “What are you doing?” Nayel whispered, making sure the adults could not hear him. “Get in here, stupid!” Farren pulled him into the room. “Before someone sees you. Or me!” The slave boy closed the door behind him. “Your mother told you that you cannot go,” he whispered. “Yeah, but I must go, don’t you get it? The guys will call me a coward, if I don’t. We planned this trip for weeks. I can’t back out.” “What if someone finds out you slipped out? What if you’re late for breakfast?” “Stop worrying, I’ll be fine. We’re going to spend a night there to prove to that stupid gang we’re no cowards, and that there’s no dead Jedi ghost there to fear. I’ll be back before anyone knows it! It’s a matter of pride, Nayel, simple as that!” Nayel wasn’t even aware his hand travelled to his shock collar. But he knew what would happen if Farren’s disobedience was discovered. The other boy noticed the absent-minded gesture, and stopped what he was doing. He was looking at his friend for a long moment, then sat on his bed. “I won’t be found out,” he said, but without the same conviction he had before. “No one will know.” Nayel’s lower lip trembled, but he bit it, refusing to cry. He was too old to cry. Teenage boys don’t cry. Farren pushed the half-packed bag off his bed. “Stay. We’ll do something. Watch a holo?” he suggested. Great relief washed over Nayel. “I can’t. Still have lots of cleaning in the kitchen. And must prepare butter for tomorrow’s breakfast.” “Will it take long? Can you come after?” “It’ll probably be too late.” “What if I help?” Nayel shook his head. His parents wouldn’t like that. “I’ll try to be quick.” “Okay. I’ll wait for you.” He paused. “But if you’re too tired afterwards, just go to sleep.” “What happened?” Nayel asked. “Where is he?” “He was kidnapped. Taken somewhere.” “Kidnapped? For what purpose?” “I don’t know. I never received any ransom demand.” “Ma’am, how do you know he was kidnapped?” Theron asked. “His belongings… left behind. Local security forces were only able to say he went to Tattooine. Not even that he was taken against his will. But his presence was registered in the spaceport.” “Left behind where?” “Nar Shaddaa.” Theron looked at Nayel. “Since Attira took down the star fortress over Tattooine, their crime levels rose significantly. Especially slave trade.” Nayel glanced at him, then his eyes returned to the woman’s face. She looked at him. “Help him, please.” For a second, the Sith thought she finally had got what she deserved, but then he realised it wasn’t her, who was most likely suffering. “Theron,” he looked at Shan. “You are familiar with Nar Shadda. You are familiar with dealing with that kind of scum. Will you investigate it?” “Of course, you don’t even have to ask.” “Thank you, thank you.” She motioned toward the Sith, and tried to grab his hand. He stepped back rapidly. “Don’t you ever touch me!” he barked. “I’m not doing this for you.” She just looked at him blandly, and he wondered if she even understood why he was so angry and why he hated her so much. Even now, with the prospect of her own son wearing a shock collar and being someone’s property, she still didn’t seem to understand that her owning Nayel was a nightmare for him. He snapped his fingers at Pierce. The major approached him. “My lord.” “Find her a place to stay for a while. Make sure it’s as far from me as possible.” “Yes, my lord.” The soldier led her away. “I never asked you about your past,” Theron said. “So don’t!” Nayel barked. Then almost immediately added softly, “Sorry.” Theron nodded, accepting apologies. “It’s a really difficult part of my life, which I don’t like to reminiscence upon. I’d rather forget, and never think about it.” Theron nodded again. “That’s why slavery is banned in the Republic.” Nayel looked at him. “Good,” he said. “That son of hers...” “She was my owner. He was my friend.” Theron nodded once more, understanding. “I’ll try to find him. And put an end to whatever his captors are up to.” “All our resources are at your disposal,” Nayel said. “I know,” Theron grinned. “She likes you,” Farren whispered to Nayel’s ear. Nayel’s face was brightened by a loopsided impy grin. “Does she?” They were in a cantina, watching pretties around, and two had caught their attention. “You want to kiss her? I could arrange that.” He had never kissed a girl before. “I’d be in trouble,” he said without conviction. Not the first time, not the last, but this time it could actually be worth it. The girl smiled at him again. She was so lovely. Her eyes lowered to his collar, and her smile became sadder and a bit apologetic. Was she sorry for him or sorry that it just blew his chances? he wondered. But then she looked into his eyes again, and the smile reverted to its previous sweetness. “So? It’s up to you. Worth the price if we get caught?” “Let’s do it!” He had never told anyone, but he’d learnt to somewhat ignore the pain. To concentrate, and push it away, as if it never existed. To heal his aching neck or bruised face. It even worked when he cut his finger with a knife in the kitchen. He was very tired afterwards, but also somehow felt great, as if something surged through him when he was doing it. He could do that again. Farren stood up from the chair, and started walking toward the girls. Noise by the entrance slowed their pace, as they looked behind to see what had been the cause of the commotion. As it turned out, a group of Imperial troopers had entered, led by a Sith, and the noise was caused by patrons hastily moving out of their way. Cantinas inside may all look the same, but that was a reminder they weren’t on Nar Shaddaa any more. This was an Imperial world with Imperial rules. The Sith stopped, closed her eyes, and… just stood there for a moment. The whole place was quiet now. Everyone waited. Nayel knew it couldn’t mean anything good. He watched her with awe, thinking she looked glorious, enveloped in that kind of aura of power. Her mere presence was enough for everyone to sober, fear her, obey her. He also knew he could… feel her. He’d felt a similar sensation near a Jedi once on Nar Shadda when Mistress argued about something with one. He’d been eleven or twelve back then. The Sith’s eyes opened, and she was looking directly at him. She watched him for a second, then motioned to her troopers, who then grabbed him. “What do you want from him?” Farren shouted. “Leave him alone!” “Are you his owner?” the Sith asked. His friend blinked. Technically and legally he was, but Nayel knew he never thought of himself as such. “Yes,” he eventually said reluctantly, giving Nayel an apologetic look. Nayel understood the message. “Not any more,” she said. “Take him to my shuttle,” she told the troopers. “Leave him alone! He didn’t do anything!” Farren protested. “I’m doing him a favour, boy,” she told him. “Be glad I’m not punishing you for not reporting him to the authorities.” “Punishing? For what? Where are you taking him?” “Korriban,” she answered, and followed the troopers and Nayel. He trusted Theron to complete his task. Not only he was one of the best qualified to do it, but also his own beliefs should additionally drive him. One thing the Republic got right: people were not property. Obscured by pallets of canisters on the catwalk, he had sought seclusion to chase away memories. It’s been a week since Theron had left, but he was constantly updated on the progress on the mission. Shan not only had found Farren. They both were now finishing off the slavery trade of that particular group, and – according to Theron – just about to finally cut the organisation’s head off. Fortunately for them, the gang was too disorganised and too amateurish in their planning to make it difficult. For Farren’s sake, since otherwise no one would even know what had happened to him, let alone leave such a thick trail of evidence behind. Or maybe for Theron everything was just this easy. He missed him. He wasn’t sure he would ever be able to talk to him about his past, but he certainly needed him in the presence. “Here,” Nayel pointed at another mistake. “Oh,” Farren’s face reddened again. “How do you find these things?” Nayel shrugged. “I just see.” “My mother says slaves are stupid. You are not stupid.” Nayel wanted to say his mother was an idiot, but bit his tongue in time. He didn’t want to hurt his friend’s feelings, and he also knew he wouldn’t want his own mother insulted. It was a lucky decision, since Mistress entered the room a moment later, so there was a good chance she’d hear his words had he spoken them. “How is it going, honey?” she asked her son, hugging him and kissing the top of his head. Nayel observed, jealous. How much he wanted for someone to hug and kiss him! How much he wanted a loving mum! He had no idea where was his. Master had told him that according to the seller his own father had sold him to that slaver. He wasn’t sure it was the truth, maybe lies to make him miserable, maybe his own father loved him just like Master loved Farren. Or maybe it was the truth. But maybe his mother had loved him, but couldn’t stop her husband from selling his own child to become a slave… He tried to convince himself that he wasn’t a little boy any more, he was already ten, and ten-year-old boys didn’t need mummy hugs. It never worked. He sat in silence, watching shyly a mother and her son’s moment. Then she checked Farren’s homework, praised him for a job well done, and left without giving Nayel as much as a glance. “When I grow up,” Farren began, “I will write a document that will give you freedom, and take off this collar, and you will find your mother and father,” he promised. After a moment he added, “You will help me, so that there won’t be any mistakes in the document.” “Nayel!” Theron’s voice improved the Sith’s mood immediately. He was back! He motioned toward Shan, and only after a few steps he realised his lover wasn’t alone. His face much older, much more mature, and bruised like he’d never seen it before, but still recognisable, even though the last time he’d seen it was on that day when he had been taken to Korriban. Farren opened his mouth to say something but no sound came out. He hesitated. Looked Nayel up and down, opened his mouth again, clearly not certain what to say. The Sith approached him. “My lord,” the other one finally said, settling for the respectful form of address. Nayel just pulled him in, and gave him a hug. “You became… quite someone,” Farren said as they disengaged. “Quite.” Nayel’s face was brightened by his famous – or infamous – loopsided grin. “Found your family?” Nayel’s eyes lingered on Theron’s face for a long moment, then he looked back at his old friend, thinking of Malavai, Mili, sweet little Nil’awr, and even Attira. “Yes,” he replied. He thought it’s been about a day since he hugged his little nephew, and decided to rectify that as soon as possible. “I’m glad, really glad.” The kitchen was dark. Everyone was already asleep, but Nayel – in spite of being fatigued after the whole day filled with work – could not find rest. He rolled onto his other side, facing the wall, forgetting that his shoulder was still sore from brutal pulling he’d suffered earlier. Moaning quietly, he rolled back, and curled into a ball, hugging his knees. Rage filled his heart at the memory of the day. He rolled back at the aching shoulder, clenched his teeth, and absorbed the anger and the pain. He felt like it was feeding him, making him feel bigger and stronger. Some day he would be big enough to run away, and pay back for every indignity, every punch, every brutal treatment he had been exposed to. He didn’t remember any other life. He had been only three when this family had bought him. Now, at thirteen, he knew nothing else than sleeping in the kitchen, hard work, and his shock collar, but he knew there was more to life than this. Farren never had to work in the kitchen, never suffered pain, was loved and adored by his parents. He was happy. Nayel was jealous. Very jealous, but he never blamed his friend for their drastically different fates. Farren was one of the only two nice people in his life. The snoring of the other one, Lunk-fegg – the chief cook, slowly calmed him to sleep. The end

Since Vector's Joiner abilities were put to... um... military use, sort of, Malavai doesn't mind it at all You don't reject such an awesome asset, after all Thanks for the link. I'll take a look there, and perhaps share something. ETA: I posted 2 stories. This is Malavai's return that was (fortunately ) turned irrelevant by the devs.

Thanks, everyone! There's a fanfic section here? A while ago I wrote a "Malavai return" story (among plenty of other stuff with my toons). THAT's how little faith I had in the devs bringing him back. It also became a "Vector return" story at the same time. Because, dammit, these guys could become friends, methinks!

I did a thing... http://imgur.com/iMIQjxE I toyed with doodling this for a while. Unfortunately, people not familiar with Star Trek won't understand.

My Malavai uses customisation No 5. I love it. My Inquisitor is practically his twin (although a cousin), and my Agent his younger brother with super strong resemblance (only different complexion). My Jugg (his son with my warrior) has all shapes of his daddy's face with mummy's hair and eye colours. Never too much of handsomeness on my screen 'Nuff said I can't wait til April to have them running around together, looking so much alike.

Try right-clicking your own picture, and then choose from menu "reset phase" or something like that, if it's there.

I have very few characters doing KOTFE/ET, and among those only 3 are in relationships. Inq with Theron, so I really enjoyed all those little things that made it clear they are close and worried about each other's safety. Jedi with Koth, but did only 1st KOTET chapter, so yet to see how it plays out. Warrior with Malavai, so waiting for April and hoping she's going to be a little happy warrior, same as my Inq is a little happy Inq with Theron. I wondered if other LIs got similar treatment as Theron's romance did. Seeing how Theron/Beniko are usually favoured by the devs at the expense of others, I was curious how especially KOTET chapters 4 and 5 reflected romances. It'll never be enough for those for whom those relationships are important, but better a little than absolutely nothing

Ama girl too! ::goes back to drawing her warrior with Malavai for Valentine's Day:::

Like this one? http://imgur.com/mKbHNKO http://imgur.com/1QcoY74 I drop dead.

So? My point was that you don't have to spend RL money on CC, you can grind credits and have them for "free".