Nar Shaddaa

The matter regarding Ryssa Lim was settled. Galen had contacted Xereau and the Starcross had returned after its latest job. The crew has all celebrated and said their goodbyes, but there was business to be done. With the Starcross all but empty, Galen sat in the cockpit, lost in thought.

Aphr had wandered the length of the ship aimlessly, just lost in thought. It was strange, this had been her home for so long, it felt strange to leave it. She reached the cockpit, and saw another also having a trip down memory lane. She approached quietly, placing a hand on Galens shoulder, and smiled softly at him.

He smiled up at her, taking her hand in his.

"How do you feel, Aphr?"

"I don't know" Aphr said with a frown "there's too many emotions. I'm glad to be leaving the planet, and rather terrified of what I'll face, and yet I'm quite sad to be leaving the Starcross."

She looked round the cockpit.

"I was a slave here, yet at times I didn't feel like one. I felt like I had more freedom than the free people on the planet."

"I don't think Xierreau cares much for having slaves. He made Gemma his First Mate and treated you like a daughter, unless there were things I never saw." he shrugged. "But, a cage is still a cage, no matter how nice it is. And, you're free now."

"It's only natural to miss things, though." he added. "You had some good memories here, didn't you?"

"I have many warm memories, of missions done and fun had" Aphr nodded "I remember when you first arrived too. I remember it really well, because of that feeling you had around you."

"Not for my striking looks?" he grinned. "I was a bit unsure when Gemma brought me on board, but I quickly found the arrangement comfortable. Meeting you, was what kept me here, though. I wanted to make sure you'd be alright."

"Well..." she looked down at her feet and muttered "the looks were nice too...you did have to compete with Zane though."

A pause, before she added "but i think you win that. Except for his hat."

Finally she added "but why for me? I mean...you didn't have to."

"You're pretty cute, too." he smiled. "You are also around the age I was when I killed Janus. I don't regret doing what I needed to, to be free, but it would have been easier if I had not been alone. Discovering your connection to the Force, seeking your freedom, I didn't want you to be alone for that. Your situation seemed far different from mine, of course. But, it felt right."