Things were cold on Hoth the next few days. So cold, that Trychon suggested that they head outside the base for a stroll to warm up. After a nasty look, his brother decided it wasn't a bad idea, and they took one of the base's specially fitted land speeders to go run a few routine checks on security sensors outside the base.
As they made their rounds to get away from the new tension in the pirate group, they were able to relax for the first time nearly since they'd landed. While only Dianna was truly mad at them, and hadn't spoken to either Sith in days, the rest of the crew could pick up on her feelings easily enough, and were being a little less social than normal. On top of that, it was hard to tell what sorts of idiotic things the new malcontent in the crew, Rhox Vegah had been spewing.
"So what do you want to do?" Trychon asked, as they loaded back into the speeder after checking the last security marker.
Raezyr shut the canopy and powered up the lifters. "I don't know. I'm sure she'll calm down eventually, and she's already a little less upset from what I feel from her in the Force... but she'll blow a gasket the next time we leave for a mission."
"Probably." The older brother conceded.
"Not that how I handle my relationship will ever be up to you in the slightest way, but what do you think?"
"Well, you know that I love Di like a sister. A beautiful sister whom I would gladly console very deeply should anything eve..."
"Try it and be decapitated by a Force ghost." Raezyr growled. He knew his brother was joking, mostly. He also knew that he made jokes like this to get under his skin. He just wasn't above showing that it worked.
Trychon put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "We have managed to do everything that we set out to do in the short term. We can spend some time nurturing this part of our life, if that's what's needed."
"What about our other plans?"
"They're all long term plans that require a bit of caution in not making waves too big too quickly. We can afford to be patient with them. Unless something comes up, we can wait things out a bit and see where we're at with the Ice Queen after some time. Maybe she'll eventually come back with us."
Raezyr shook his head. "I don't think her love for me is enough by itself to get her to abandon her life here. I don't know if anything is ever going to be that powerful. If we have the time though, then that's what I'd like to do." He gave his brother an appreciative smile.
"I know." Trychon returned the smile. "We're done out here. Let's go head in and tell her that...." He paused as they saw a meteorite fall from the sky and impact on the surface in the distance. "Oh, cool. You think we should check it out?"
Raezyr stared in the direction of the small cloud of dust and ice for only moments before returning his attention to his tools and continuing straight back to the base.
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The signature subtle hum of a lightsaber blade was greatly magnified when there were actually four total blades whirling and clashing in otherwise near darkness. The two Sith were far beyond the days when they'd use powered down blades only capable of stunning and they relied instead on their own ability to keep each others attacks at bay and to pull their own attacks back if they were in danger of slipping all the way through the others defenses.
Such defensive holes were rare between them, as they knew and could read each other so well.
Raezyr relished the opportunities where not only could he slip one of his two blades through, but were also big enough to fit his fist through, or even a kick as he did now.
As Trychon faltered back from the solid connection from his foot, Raezyr was also thrown back by a reflexive Force push. They normally avoided many strong Force maneuvers due to the confined spaces in which they sparred, but the exception was in response to a successful attack. Lashing back instinctively in the Force was a habit they wanted to nurture.
So was keeping awareness beyond the battle. Trychon held up his hand to indicate a stop, though he didn't have to as his brother had already paused. They both faced the doorway, where they'd also turned off the lighting. They could sense a presence there, and with a flick of a finger from Raezyr, they could also see her.
"Dinner's ready." Rhox Vegah said as she turned and left.
---------------------
After cleaning themselves up fairly quickly, they joined the rest of the crew in the mess hall. As usual, those who weren't on duty were split pretty evenly between two tables right next to each other. There was no grouping of age, or seniority apparent, and there was a few available spots at each table.
After grabbing some of the spiced meat and toppings from the small buffet set up, they headed towards the group, but sat at a third table near by to avoid causing any commotion if they could avoid it. The eyes of Ms. Vegah were followed them with a measure of contempt.
After a few minutes, Dianna grabbed her tray and took it over to sit next to Trychon, across from Raezyr. She didn't say anything and the brothers followed suit. She didn't make eye contact, merely focusing on her meal in awkward silence.
Trychon stuffed what was left of his flatbread into his mouth, and headed over to get more. He took a seat at the adjacent table, next to Dek.
"Come on...." Dianna sighed. "I'm trying to mend shields here, but I won't apologize for what I said."
Raezyr finally made eye contact with her. "He moved for me."
"More secret conversations? You know I don't appreciate that."
"No... he just knows me very well." Raezyr stood up and walked around the table so he could face her. "I have something for you. Before you judge, I obviously picked this up before you were upset with me. There's not many stores here on base."
Dianna considered pointing out that her response to his injury wouldn't have been hard to predict, but instead she folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, while she waited expectantly.
Raezyr bent down onto his good knee so he could reach into his smaller smuggling department in his artificial leg. From a distance, it would appear as though he was merely reaching into his boot. He pulled out something wrapped in a fine black cloth, and remained on his knee to look up at her as he handed it to her.
She took it from him tentatively, and reached into the cloth to withdraw an aurodium plated dagger by its jewel encrusted hilt. She gasped involuntarily. If it was what she thought it was...
"Is that a..." She started, but couldn't bring herself to say the words. She had not seen this coming. The entire room had become very hushed, though whispers cut through the silence. She wasn't the only one who recognized it or its potential meaning.
"Yes. It's a Tingel Governor's blade."
Nearly a millenia ago, a small group of planets in the Tingel Arm formed a loose alliance that stood to this day. There were six blades, identical to the one that Raezyr now gave to Dianna, each worth a small fortune, to symbolize their union after withdrawing officially from the Republic. Many things had changed in the years since, but the symbol was still a powerful one often given to heads of state in the system as well as for large company mergers and weddings.
Dianna choked on her words again, before standing up and pulling Raezyr into a passionate kiss with him. After the kiss and the hooting and hollering died down, she embraced him tightly with tears rolling down her cheek, and she whispered into his ear.
"This doesn't mean I forgive you."
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