Having been watching the two duel from a short distance away and muttering at how pointless lightsaber training was when Iwan didn't even know any forms when the Kilik emerged and I moved forwards, putting a hand on Jude's shoulder. "It's looking for me, not you. Jerus Je'and. You, uh, bring someone we could understand?"

The messenger looks at Jerus, clicking it's mandibles in... joy? "Burubub! Rrrrrrrub bubrubub!" Antennae standing straight up, it turns around and starts walking back the way it came.

Jerus frowns before glancing at the Sucal's sons. "Well, no point in wasting time. Come on." I start following the Kilik, hoping that Iwan and Jude wouldn't leave me high and dry.

The brothers reluctantly follow Jerus as the Killik marches back through the tall grass. It leads them away from the base, through the field and over a hill until it reaches a clump of waxy mounds, like a giant bee hive. The Killik moves between the mounds and pulls aside some vegetation to reveal an opening in the ground. With a chirp, the Killik climbs into the hole, it’s antenna waving for them to follow.

Thus begins a spiraling descent leading deep below ground. The tunnel is a bit cramped at first, forcing the group to move single file, but as it goes deeper, the walls and ceiling space out and it becomes a wide passageway. Despite the very earthy smell, there is also a very sweet aroma in the air. On the walls, there are tiny insects skittering about, moving clumps of golden liquid about on their backs.

The passage opens up to a chamber. There are more Killiks here, ranging in size from small as children to big as buses. There are also a handful of humans, dressed in tattered robes. Sitting in the center of the chamber is Luci, being tended to by small Killik drones.



Looks up at the three. “We are pleased that you have come.”



I resist the urge to draw my weapon. “Oh man. I really don’t like this.”



“Scared of a few bugs, little bro?” Smirks. He might have been a better duelist, but I have the brains of a scientist. I do not fear the unknown.

"I was under the impression that we'd be meeting away from potential pheromone exposure." I shake my head. "In any case, I assume your insect friend lead us here because you'd done with...whatever it is you were doing."

We ignore his mention of pheromones, instead Pershing his second line of questioning. “Yes, we have finished searching our collective memory, and have discovered the locations of the four ancient constructs of power.” A Little Killik holding a bowl of white orbs runs up to Jerus and the others. “Would you accept this offering of white membrosia? It is the purest of the harvest, very rare and sought after. It is customary to welcome guests to the hive with gifts. A sign of good will and cooperation, yes?”

I narrow my eyes at the liquid. "Let me make myself clear, bugs. I agreed to let you keep Luci in exchange for this information. I did not agree to put myself or these two who came with me at risk of becoming Joiners ourselves. So I'm going to be frank; if this is a trick, I start burning."

The Killik drones pause, looking like children caught with their hands in the cookie jar. The ones holding the bowls look to us in the center of the room, and we give them a nod and a click of our tongue, sending them skittering away. “Forgive us. It is in the nature of the Kind to be ever expanding the nest, and the prospect of three strong bodies willingly entering our midst was too good to pass up. We will refrain in the future.”



I am taken aback by how nonchalant that attempt to induct us into the hive was. Was it such a trivial matter to them? And what’s more, I found it disturbing that, while most of the joiners present were standing off to the side, Luci was prominently displayed. In fact, from the way the little bugs swarmed around her, it was almost like the Killiks saw her as above even themselves. “Uhh... Do you have control over the rest of these Killiks? Can you be sure the tricks end here?”



“We cannot control the hive. We simply agreed as a collective that such an attempt was not worth endangering the nest. The hive has selected this one as Night Herald, do to our Jedi knowledge. We believed that adding more Force sensitive beings to our hive would improve us further. But... we can see you will resist. So let us forget this minor transgression and move on, shall we?”

I shake my head softly, but nod more obviously. "Forgiven, if it moves us forwards. We need those locations."

My hand drops to the lightsaber at my hip. “They’re stalling. Trying to keep us distracted so they can think up another trick.”



“That is not so. We will happily relay the locations to you now. As agreed, there are four constructs. The first is the war machine factory known as the Foundry. It is located in an asteroid field floating in the Kurost Sector. Coordinates Q-12. Fingerling Scouts from our hive have confirmed that it was once controlled by the Sith Empire, but is now the property of the Galactic Republic.”

As a precaution, I pull a pair of rebreathers from my belt and hand them to Iwan and Jude before unclipping my helmet from my belt and putting it on, sealing my armor against any pheromones in the air. "Pardon the helmet, just have to agree with Jude on stalling. Your pheromones are in the air and enough time will let them work." I take time to process the information of the Foundry's status and frown. "That bit though...that actually explains a lot about the Sith Hunter droids. What about the Tempest Eye? Where's that?"

We ignore Jerus' questions. "The second is the terraforming construct known as the Garden. It is located far off in Wild Space, in a forgotten star system called Chrelythiumn. Coordinates T-26. As far as the hive is aware, no faction has claimed it for their own. The Sith Empire at one point discovered the station, but seemingly chose not to make use of it."



"Did you hear us? We want the Tempest Eye, not some terraforming device! The Tempest Eye is the one my father is after. That one is the most important."



"No, let them speak." I look genuinely interested. "These could prove useful to us in other ways. At the very least, for scientific purposes."



"The third construct is the xenoforming construct known as the Genesis Engine. It is located deep within the Galactic Core, at the brightest center of known space. Coordinates L-11. Like the Garden, this construct is unclaimed, though the Sith Empire had a passing interest in it's workings before similarly abandoning it." Some of the smaller Killiks near the entrance to the chamber perk up, as if sensing something. They quickly rush off down the exit passage.

Between Luci's ignoring of our questions and the sudden perking up of the smaller Killiks and their sudden departure, I start to grow uneasy. Out of habit, one hand starts to drift towards a blaster before I stop it. Nothing bad had happened yet and hopefully wouldn't. "And the Tempest Eye? Or are we still stalling?"

We shoot a look at Jerus for a fraction of a second. A normal person probably wouldn't have detected it, but one attuned to the Force would. "The fourth and final is the celestial manipulation construct known as the Tempest Eye. It is located in the Maw Cluster. Coordinates T-10."



"The Maw is supposed to be an impossible maze of black holes. Can't you be more specific about where in the Maw the Tempest Eye is?"



"We have made contact with our sister hive, Thuruht, who are nested near Kessel. They report that the construct was purposely lost within the Maw Cluster. However, there is a way to navigate..." She pauses, tilting her head to the side as if hearing something. The other Killiks and Joiners act similarly. "Another has entered the nest. Uninvited. Did you, Jerus Je'and, call upon your allies? This is unexpected..." The guardian drones move towards the exit passage, and some even hold their staffs threateningly towards Jerus and the others. A moment later, the Killiks that left earlier return, half dragging someone with them.



"Get your hands off me!" Pulls away from the Killiks. "Jerus didn't call me! I came of my own free will!" Takes a few steps forward before the guardians block her path. I look past them towards Jerus, looking sorry, but not really sorry.

I look at Koraline as I contemplate the information that the Eye was in the Maw. "You know, somehow I'm not surprised. But this isn't a safe place for you to be, Koraline."

"I know. I just... I had to come. I couldn't leave things the way they were."



We raise our head, peering down at the newcomer. The intruder. "You have the information we bargained for, Jerus Je'and. Now please leave. Take your companions. You will not hear from us again."



"I'm not leaving! Not yet!" I try to push past the Killiks blocking my way. "Luci! I have something to say! Hear what I have to say, at least!"



The Killiks grow agitated, buzzing like angry wasps. "Speak then, Koraline Okarr. And do so quickly." With a brisk wave of our hand, the guardians step away from Koraline.



I glance towards Jerus. "Whatever happens, don't jump in, okay? I can handle this." All around, the Killiks look ready to swarm at the first sign of trouble. I'm REALLY pushing my luck here.

My response to the increased aggression from the Kiliks is to rest a hand on each blaster my visored eyes watching them. "You swarm, I roast. She's not hurting anyone, bugs, remember that."

"It won't come to that... I hope."



"SPEAK!" We command. The nest is growing more restless my the minute.



I give one last look back at Jerus. Next to him are Jude and Iwan, who look ready be gone from this place. What I'm about to do shouldn't take too long. Carefully, I begin to approach the central mound. Keeping my hands up to show I am not armed. Both of my blaster holsters are empty. "Luci, I wanted to tell you I'm sorry for what I said before. It was just... losing you struck a cord with me. One I didn't even know I had. Then seeing you back again... well, that struck another cord. So, I guess two cords I didn't know I had."



We stare impatiently down at her. "You are forgiven. Is that all?"



"No! No, I wanted to tell you... There have been very few people in this galaxy I've ever had an emotional connection to, and even fewer who are still around. I never knew my father, and my mother wasn't really around. I was raised in a high class whore house by a Hutt crime lady and a couple dozen men I called 'uncles'. I learned to shoot a blaster when I was 6, and I used those skills to shoot a man in the belly at 7. I started drinking hard alcohol before I was halfway to legal age." I reach the base of the mound. Against my better judgement, I begin to steps up onto it. "When I joined Niko Okarr's crew and finally got off Nar Kreeta, I had all the street smarts I needed to be a capable smuggler... but zero emotional stability. I filled all the whole in my life with drinking, flying and... screwing. Usually in that order."



I look at my feet, smirking childishly.



"May we ask what the point of this is, Koraline?"



"My point is I never cared about anybody ever. Even when I met my brother for the first time, I was too jaded to feel anything more than dull interest. And when I met you, Luci, years ago, I didn't think much of you at all. You were just Jakito's little padawan. Then you grew up and I was like 'Oh, she got hot!', but it wasn't more than physical attraction. The same way I feel about all the men and woman I've had in my life." I stop a little before I reach Luci. I can tell the Killiks don't even want me this close. "But then came that night, after I rescued you from that prison, you remember? We were in my private quarters, and you came out to me."



Our face twitches slightly. "We remember. All of Millu'ci'vanda's memories are shared by the hive."



Smiles to self. "You were so wrapped up about it, like it some big deal. Then when I told you how cute you were, you kissed me like you'd been waiting to do it for so long." Giggles. "I spent the rest of our trip home teaching you how to accept yourself. How to forget all those things the Chiss told you were wrong, and embrace your true feelings. You remember everything we did?"



Despite our connection to the hive, and our normally placidity, a blush reddens our cheeks. "We remember."



"That night... it was unlike anything I'd experienced before. It wasn't meaningless, or a way to hide my pain and loneliness. I wanted to be there with you forever. And every moment I spent with you after, even in the simplest times, were like... " I pause, searching for the right words. These words were corny and cliche, but it was the best I could do. "I can't feel the Force, but when I was with you, it was like I almost could. And when I thought you died, it hurt me a lot more than I thought it could. I tried falling back into old habits, but... the whole you left couldn't be plugged with vice. And THEN, when you came back, that was even worse. You cut me deep, and I wanted to hate you for that... but I can't." I take another step closer, despite the Killiks angry buzzing. "So, here I am. I don't care about Oroboro or the deal you've made with Jerus. I'm here for you, Luci, and I'm not going to leave without you."



Looks down at Koraline, trying to keep a blank expression. However, our face will not stop twitching. Our teeth keep clenching, and our hands dig into the waxy mound we sit upon. Shakily, we pull our self to stand. Locking our eyes on Koraline, we speak. "You... waste... your... time. We.... are... Oroboro. Now.... and.... forever."

Frowns, then whispers. "Damn. I thought that would work."



I give a sad nod. "I was afraid you'd say that. Luckily, I am good at improving." I step fully up onto the mound so that I am on even ground with Luci. The nearby Killiks are ready to pounce on me, but I surprise them by doing the last thing they'd expect; I lift my head to the air and take a deep breath in through my nose, then out through my mouth.



We are visibly surprised. The nest is indeed caught of guard. "Wh...what are you doing, Koraline Okarr?"



"Breathing your pheromones." Takes another breath. "I said I'm not leaving without you. So if you aren't coming with me, I'm staying with you!" I can see out of the corner of my eye that the Killiks are going into a sort of frenzy. Not out of anger, but out of excitement. Their antenna are waging in every direction, and they are practically dancing on the spot as they blast the air with pheromones.

"Koraline, you fool!" I take a step forward to activate my jetpack and then stop, thinking. If Luci does this of her own free will, then I wouldn't have done anything to break the deal, not to mention Koraline DID sneak in here after us, so the gambles she took were her choice. However, if Luci let her start joining, well, I had agreed to Luci, not Koraline.