\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay Bel Iblis let himself into his chief engineer’s garage workshop, pausing a moment to regard the maelstrom taking place.\u00a0 Davil Bullian was throwing things for no good reason, it seemed, banging around and rummaging for tools where they clearly were not located.\u00a0 In the nearly nineteen years they’d known each other, he’d never seen his longtime friend with an expression quite like the one he was sporting at present.\u00a0 Davil didn’t acknowledge him-didn’t even seem to notice his presence-as he finally stopped at his workbench, where some bit of technology lay in pieces.\u00a0 He was muttering to himself as he reached out, groping for a tool that lay just beyond his reach.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Stupid Dad…coming home…bastard…”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shook his head, leaning against a shelving unit near the door.\u00a0 “Don’t hold back, tell me how you really feel.”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil’s head snapped up and he turned his gaze slowly from the table to his commander.\u00a0 “…what do you want, Cay?\u00a0 My leave cancelled or something?”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay rolled his eyes, moving across the room to lean against the workbench where Davil stood.\u00a0 He picked up the tool that Davil had been groping for and offered it to him.\u00a0 “What, just because I’m your CO now, I can’t still be your friend and just drop by?”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil sighed, taking the tool and turning back to his work.\u00a0 “I didn’t say that.”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After a few moments of silence and staring at the pieces and parts laying across the bench, Cay looked at Davil again.\u00a0 “So what’re you working on?”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Just…puttering.\u00a0 Something for the Legacy<\/em>, maybe, if I can get it working.”\u00a0 Davil eyed the bits of wiring and strange parts for a moment before setting to work again even as Cay raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Will this one involve stacks of paperwork on my part, too?\u00a0 Or just your brainsweat and some blood?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil glared at him, sucking on the thumb he’d just sliced on a piece of the object’s housing.\u00a0 “It’s something that I got from Aunt Arin about a million years ago.\u00a0 So maybe.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After considering that a moment, Cay shrugged.\u00a0 “Cool.\u00a0 What’s it do?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “It’s a phased energy weapon.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The other man eyed the engineer for a moment.\u00a0 “You’re dumbing things down for me again, aren’t you?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil managed a smile.\u00a0 “Something like that.”\u00a0 He gestured to the pieces and parts laid out on the bench.\u00a0 “I’m basically trying to make what she gave me bigger.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shifted his position, arms crossed, nodding thoughtfully.\u00a0 “Here’s the important question: will the Hapan power plant handle this thing and the shields at the same time?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The engineer’s smile widened.\u00a0 “I may have to tweak it a little, but this should be more power efficient than our current system.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His commanding officer nodded, leaning in to study the pieces as if he had even half a clue what they were about.\u00a0 Davil fidgeted a moment, then finally asked, “So what did you want to talk to me about, Cay?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “What’s on your mind.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil grimaced, starting to drift around, starting to clean up a little, but mostly just moving, as if moving would help him escape the subject suddenly at hand.\u00a0 Finally, he spoke.\u00a0 “Other than wanting to feed my father his own balls?\u00a0 Nothing.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay voiced a question he already knew the answer to, crossing his arms again.\u00a0 “And why would you want to do that?”\u00a0 He studied Davil carefully as he waited to hear what his friend would say in response to the pointed question.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Why do you think, Cay?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “I want to hear it in your words.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as his hands slowly curled into fists, trying to maintain some modicum of calm as he articulated what had been festering for months now.\u00a0 “He’s an adulterous bastard who’s humiliated my mother above and beyond all reasonability simply because he bangs anything with a vagina.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay suppressed a sigh.\u00a0 “I thought it was something like that.\u00a0 Davil…”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He didn’t let his friend finish.\u00a0 “And then-then-he has the nerve<\/em> to come back here like there’s nothing wrong and leap into bed with her!\u00a0 Like there’s nothing wrong.\u00a0 Like he hasn’t dishonored their marriage every night he’s been away for the last fifteen years<\/em>.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay cleared his throat.\u00a0 “Davil, can I ask you something?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Yeah, sure.\u00a0 Ask.”\u00a0 He slammed a toolbox shut.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “At what point in either of our lives has your mother done anything to suggest to you that she has trouble letting anyone know how she feels?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil stared at him.\u00a0 “Only our entire lives, Cay.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He sighed.\u00a0 “Dav…”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “What?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Be honest with me.\u00a0 Is this about him embarrassing her, or embarrassing you?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil stared at him, dumbfounded.\u00a0 “He betrayed her, Cay.\u00a0 And she loves him and he betrayed her.\u00a0 And the whole world knows it, but won’t say it to her face.\u00a0 They talk about her like she’s some incompetent…”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay muttered under his breath.\u00a0 “Dammit, Davil, don’t make me do this…”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His gaze snapped to Cay, eyes narrowing.\u00a0 “Don’t make you do what?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay spread his hands.\u00a0 “Who talks about her, Dav?\u00a0 People who actually know her, or people like that little pissant on Coruscant?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil rocked back on his heels, finally mustering up voice enough to ask, “…what do you know about that?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His friend shrugged slightly.\u00a0 “More than you think I do.\u00a0 Who the hell do you think helped keep you out of prison for it?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The engineer growled, stalking back toward his workbench.\u00a0 “I figured someone who realized the problem wasn’t my mother, it was the bastard he married.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “That’s one way of putting it.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He braced himself against the edge of the bench, staring at the pieces laid out before him without actually seeing them.\u00a0 “I guess I was thinking it was Senator Bastra or someone.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay’s voice was quiet.\u00a0 “It was several people.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil’s gaze flicked toward Cay, as if a synapse had suddenly been tripped in his brain.\u00a0 “And how the hell do you know about that anyway?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shrugged.\u00a0 “The little pissant has a new assignment.\u00a0 The personal flagship of General Garm Bel Iblis.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Huh,” Davil mumbled.\u00a0 “Guess I didn’t hit him as hard as I thought…how’d he end up on your grandfather’s ship?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “My grandfather requested it.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Confusion showed in Davil’s eyes.\u00a0 “Why would he do something like that?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Because not everyone thinks your mother is a joke.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil blew out a breath.\u00a0 “No, just everyone who’s met my father but not her.\u00a0 Which is most of the galaxy.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay just stared at him.\u00a0 “Davil, are you honestly trying to put a Bel Iblis in the position of defending Mike Bullian?\u00a0 You have<\/em> met my father.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil slumped, leaning against the bench.\u00a0 “Cay, I don’t know what you’re trying to do here.\u00a0 I’m so angry at that man I can’t breathe sometimes.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “And what are you doing with that anger, Dav?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Building shit.\u00a0 Beating up dummies.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay’s brow arched.\u00a0 “Is it working?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “When he’s not here, yes.”\u00a0 He blew a breath out through his teeth.\u00a0 “Talking to my sister, too.\u00a0 She thinks I’m crazy.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Which sister?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil scrubbed a hand over his face.\u00a0 “Ari.\u00a0 But I don’t know how she can handle all of it.\u00a0 I just…don’t.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay rubbed at his forehead.\u00a0 “Yeah…”\u00a0 His voice trailed away and his friend looked at him squarely.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “I’m crazy, aren’t I?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shook his head slowly.\u00a0 “You’re not crazy, no.\u00a0 But dammit, Davil, you need some sort of outlet for all this rage.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “I thought that was why I was building you weapons and punching things.”\u00a0 Davil cracked a smile.\u00a0 “Oh, and occasionally spilling coffee on your XO.”\u00a0 He sighed and slammed another toolbox shut.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “And almost killing your friends?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil stopped banging around, turning slowly to look at Cay, a confused expression on his face.\u00a0 “What do you mean?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Life support on the Legacy<\/em>.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The engineer shivered.\u00a0 “That…felt different.\u00a0 That wasn’t this.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “That was when you weren’t<\/em> distracted, though.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil’s brow furrowed.\u00a0 “I don’t follow.” \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil snorted.\u00a0 “That’s because you believe it doesn’t exist.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “No,” the other man shook his head slowly.\u00a0 “I believe I can’t touch it myself.\u00a0 I know it exists.\u00a0 And there’s a man lying in the intensive care unit right now who could tell you firsthand about it.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wincing at the mention of Ion, Davil stayed silent, leaning against the workbench again.\u00a0 Cay continued.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “That is, if you don’t want to talk to the man who proves it runs in your family.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The engineer hunched, crossing his arms, hugging them tightly against his chest, glaring at the floor.\u00a0 “You’re doing it again.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Am I?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Being cryptic and obtuse?\u00a0 Yeah.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shook his head.\u00a0 “Davil, hate him if you want to, but he’s a part of you.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He slumped further.\u00a0 “How can I not hate him for what he did to Mom, Cay?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “She doesn’t seem to.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil sat down on the floor, leaning against his workbench, arms folded across his knees.\u00a0 Cay knelt down beside him, squeezing his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Anyhow.\u00a0 You’re partially right.\u00a0 I’ve got no tangible evidence that the Force exists.\u00a0 But I’ve got a big heap of circumstantial evidence that tells me that you have it.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil sighed, staring at the floor, at the dustbunnies collected beneath one of his shelving units.\u00a0 “I just want things to be simple.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay snorted, standing up.\u00a0 “Then go live on a grain farm on Grassus and become a hermit.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil glared up at him.\u00a0 “Not what I mean.”\u00a0 He sighed a little, feet sliding out so his legs extended flat against the floor.\u00a0 He sat there for a moment, gaze returning to shelves and dust bunnies.\u00a0 “Why did he have to be like that, Cay?\u00a0 Wasn’t she good enough?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shook his head, offering him a hand up.\u00a0 “Davil, if I could explain to you why he’s like the way he is, I can tell you for sure I wouldn’t deserve your sister.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil took his hand, allowing himself to be pulled back to his feet, the ghost of a wry smile crossing his features.\u00a0 “If you ask Mikey, she’s too good for you.\u00a0 But she loves you, and I think all of us accept that as currency enough.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay’s expression darkened.\u00a0 “Let me guess.\u00a0 He’s here, too?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil scuffed a toe against a lubricant stain on the floor.\u00a0 “…we had a couple drinks at lunch before we came down to the surface.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay nodded.\u00a0 “I suppose I’ll have to deal with him eventually.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His friend managed a smile.\u00a0 “At least you two go better together than fire and water.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He hitched his shoulder in a shrug.\u00a0 “Maybe.\u00a0 Last time I saw Mikey was before I left to find…well.\u00a0 You know.”\u00a0 Cay looked away from Davil’s stare for a moment.\u00a0 “He had a few choice words about me leaving Mary behind to head off on my own.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “He was only looking out for her, Cay.\u00a0 You know he’s protective of her.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shook his head.\u00a0 “Anyway, speaking of fathers, I got you a present from mine to get your mind off of yours.”\u00a0 He took something out of his pocket, setting it on the workbench-a badge with the symbol of the fourth fleet embossed onto it.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil’s brow furrowed.\u00a0 “What’s that for?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His commanding officer shrugged.\u00a0 “I thought you might like to check out their systems.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The engineer eyed him.\u00a0 “Trying to prevent some kind of knock-down, drag-out between my father and I?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Look, if you don’t want the chance to crawl all through the technical guts of their null-gravity shield…”\u00a0 Cay reached for the badge, which Davil snatched up.\u00a0 Cay grinned.\u00a0 “I just thought to ask for a favor while I was up there making peace with my <\/em>father.\u00a0 I didn’t even know that yours was here yet.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil snorted softly, turning the badge over in his hands.\u00a0 “Your father would shit durocrete if he knew.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay chuckled, shaking his head.\u00a0 “I’m sure he knows he’s here.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil shook his head as well, shoving the badge into his pocket before scrubbing his hands over his face.\u00a0 “I just…shaavit<\/em>, Cay…”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shrugged a little.\u00a0 “There seems to be very little my dad doesn’t know.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “And you’re okay with that.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shrugged again.\u00a0 “I can’t change what happened, all I can do is move forward with what I’ve got.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil sighed.\u00a0 “I guess you have a point.\u00a0 I just…I wish I’d never known what I know now.\u00a0 He was like some kind of hero to me, Cay.\u00a0 My dad?\u00a0 And then all this shit.”\u00a0 Cay rested his hand on Davil’s shoulder, squeezing it gently.\u00a0 Davil scrubbed his hands over his face again, sighing.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “It’s easier for me,” Cay admitted quietly.\u00a0 “My dad lied to me, so I can forgive him.\u00a0 Your dad lied to someone else.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil snorted softly.\u00a0 “More like everyone else.\u00a0 Starting to wonder if maybe that’s not part of why Ari doesn’t seem to care that she’s dying.\u00a0 She won’t have to see how this all ends.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay winced.\u00a0 “This assuming we all live past the next battle.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Yeah…”\u00a0 Davil shook his head.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay patted his shoulder.\u00a0 “Anyway, do me a favor?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Sure?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Come find me the next time you feel like beating up a dummy.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil smiled wryly.\u00a0 “And miss my chat-time with Ari?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shrugged.\u00a0 “If she’s unavailable.\u00a0 I haven’t found a decent sparring partner since Xander left.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Molly’s mopey since he did.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Legacy<\/em>‘s captain made a face.\u00a0 “I noticed.\u00a0 I think she blames me, too.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “She’ll get over it.\u00a0 Probably.”\u00a0 Davil grinned.\u00a0 “He’s not the first boy to ogle her.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Dude, that’s your cousin.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Dude, all the more reason for me to notice when boys ogle her.\u00a0 Corsem’s not around to keep an eye on her, is he?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay laughed.\u00a0 “Which brings me to another matter.\u00a0 Speaking of ogling, what’s the deal with you and Aly?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil shrugged.\u00a0 “She has a thing.\u00a0 I don’t know what I have.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “You could do worse.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Maybe.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay smirked.\u00a0 “Wait, you have<\/em> done worse.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil’s eyes narrowed.\u00a0 “…what’s that supposed to mean?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “I remember your senior prom date.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil sighed.\u00a0 “She was a friend and no one else was going to take her…”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He playfully punched Davil in the shoulder.\u00a0 “I’m just messing with you.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil shot a glare in his direction.\u00a0 “I hate you sometimes.\u00a0 I really, really do.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Fine, I’m taking my pass back, then.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil took a step back, out of Cay’s reach.\u00a0 “And waste a favor?\u00a0 Not a chance.”\u00a0 He glanced toward his workbench, then at Cay.\u00a0 “Going to let me get back to these phased energy weapons?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay nodded, chuckling.\u00a0 “Just ask for Marcus Davidson when you get up there, he’s the chief engineer aboard the Vise<\/em>.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil stopped in his tracks, blinking at Cay.\u00a0 “He got sent to the Hole.\u00a0 When did he get out?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay winced.\u00a0 “Yeah, which brings me to another secret you can’t tell anybody.”\u00a0 He drew a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.\u00a0 “The Hole is orbiting above our heads with a null-gravity shield on it.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The moisture fled from Davil’s mouth.\u00a0 “…your father’s flag…that’s<\/em> the Hole?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “My father’s fleet<\/em>,” Cay corrected.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Shaavit<\/em>, Cay, that’s one big secret.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay nodded.\u00a0 “Yeah.\u00a0 I take it you’ve heard of Marcus Davidson?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Y’think?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay deadpanned.\u00a0 “The name means nothing to me, Dav.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil licked his lips, fidgeting a little.\u00a0 “He’s…well.\u00a0 Before I got shipped back here, he was the more brilliant engineer in the fleet.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “You’re just saying that because the Jargunda Yards keep trying to hire you away from me.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil shook his head hard. “No, Cay, I’m serious.\u00a0 And he got sent to the Hole for doing for his commander what I did for you.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Ah.”\u00a0 Cay winced.\u00a0 “A word of advice.\u00a0 Don’t mention that up there.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He blinked.\u00a0 “Why, because I didn’t get kicked to the stockade?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay shook his head.\u00a0 “No, because it’s taboo, and they don’t talk about past…infractions.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Huh.\u00a0 And I take it you know that because your father told you?”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “No, because I made the mistake of asking a commander what she got sent there for.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Ah.”\u00a0 Davil’s gaze tracked him as Cay made his way toward the door.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Anyway.\u00a0 I’m taking your sister out to dinner-at least, I was going to.\u00a0 Have fun with your toys.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “I’ll try, Cay.\u00a0 Tell my mom to stick my dinner in the fridge.”<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded and slipped out, leaving the engineer to his work.<\/p>\n ~ Joint post between Erin and Wyv<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cay sighed.\u00a0 “Don’t make an Auyn give you the Dark Side speech, Dav.\u00a0 We’re not good at it.<\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>