Earthlings 2: The Dark Age

16

19 BBY, Jabiim

The Radical landed in the base's main hangar, catching Roken's attention. He walked over as the ramp opened to reveal Leishe and 2 Mirialans. Well, one Mirialan man and a hybrid boy, anyway.

Leishe... could never get used to that name. But he knew he'd have to, for his safety. Eliezer also had an alias outside the base- Ronan Chava. A Chandrilan sounding name, which made sense considering his home planet... though the guy went by his real name in base.

"This is the place?" The kid asked, looking around. He looked to be around 14-15, with black hair in a manbun and the fiery streak of adolescence in his eyes. He definitely needed a haircut...

"What, were you expecting a mansion?" Leishe joked.

"No, but-" The kid started before doing some more exploring. "This place is... amazing... who's that guy?" He pointed to Roken.

"Oh, he's the boss," Leishe said, turning to him. "Roken! These two just got in."

"Yeah, I can see that," Roken said, coming over. "They from Takath?"

"Vanqor, originally," The man replied. "Then Inquisitors came after me and my son, so we moved to Takath."

Roken nodded slowly, listening to their story. "And it would only be a matter of time before they found you there."

The man nodded.

Roken turned to Leishe. "Get the chain codes ready; they're in a drawer over there."

The boy nodded before walking over to the said drawer.

"What do you mean chain codes-?" The man asked incredulously. "We can't get chain codes; we'll get arrested if they find out who I am."

"Precisely why we forge them," Roken replied simply. "New chain codes, new identities."

"That's actually smart," The kid remarked. His father nodded his agreement.

Roken turned to Leishe, who came back with 2 chain codes. "Got them? Good. Let's get to work."

--

(Sometime later...)

Ivan was itching to know his father's old crush.

"C'mon, dad," he wheedled in a secluded area after they'd finished setting up their new identities. Roken had told them that they could stay awhile before going along their way, and of course Dad had accepted. "Who is it? I won't blab."

Dad gave him a quizzical look. "Mmhm..."

"Even if I do, it's not like anyone here will care," Ivan reasoned. "After all, you're pretty old now, and I wouldn't say you'd attract a stepmom anyway."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment-?"

"No, just sayin'. You can tell me. Please?"

Dad sighed. "All I'll say is that it was a girl by the name of Depa. Small... beautiful... bright girl she was. Dunno what happened to her after the incident."

Depa... Ivan mused silently. "What else is there to know about her?"

"Well, she was among the first in her age group to become a padawan," Dad said. "And the first to ascend to knighthood, I assume."

"You assume-? "

"Well, I left long before I could see her and everyone else in her age group take their Trials." Dad shrugged before leaning against a structure. "Later I met your mother and forgot all about the past." He chuckled softly. "It's not like I'd have any regrets, anyway. If I tried confessing to Depa, I'd get rejected on the spot."