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"Gotcha, sis!" Xuleena giggled, pouncing on her younger sister.
"Nah ya don't!" Zavvi rolled over to push the older Twi'lek underneath her. "Pinned ya 'gin!" A pulse of force pushed the light blue girl off her darker coloured sister and unceremoniously onto her butt. She pouted, folding her arms in a sulk. "Usin' the Force is cheatin'!" She declared.
Xuleena giggled again, sitting upright. For a nine year old, Zavvi packed a punch. Her lekku were still plain, yet fully grown; she would start earning tattoos in her tenth year on them, but she had gained cheek and neck ones. She smiled; her little sister was growing up quick.
"A Jedi must any advantage she can get, especially with someone as crafty as you, Zee." The said girl giggled, springing onto the older girl's lap.
"Yer jus' a Jedi-in-training, sis! A padder, paddy..."
"Padawan." The older Twi'lek corrected, bouncing the youngster on her knees. "You wouldn't make a good Jedi, Zee. You're just too hyper."
"Am not! Can be as serious as you!" The young'n frowned, pulling her most amusing 'serious' face, and Xuleena had to keep from chuckling.
"Girls!" An older pink Twi'lek looked around the door frame into the lounge with a smile. "Just thought I'd warn you two that the Jedi are coming to pick Xuleena up in about half an hour's time, okay? Give you time to get yourselves ready for them."
"Awww..." Zavvi's face fell, before she inhaled and her green eyes shone as she recognized the scent. "Muma! You baked cookies!" And she was out of her sister's lap and into kitchen like a bolt from a blaster.
"Wait, sweety, they've just come out so they'll be hot!" Her mother called after her youngest, before shacking her head with a smile, looking back to the eldest. "Doesn't she drive you daft?" Xuleena shook her head.
"She's only nine, mum. Got to give her some leeway. Besides," she steepled her fingers, "the Jedi Code teaches tolerance in all things." Her mother just nodded at that, respect in her similarly coloured eyes. Passing the adult Twi'lek, the teen went to the kitchen, where Zavvi was bouncing on her heels, eager for her cookie but knowing they were far too hot for her little mouth to cope with right now.
"How old are you, Xu?" She asked, wanting a distraction from the temptation above her head.
"Fifteen, Zee. One five." The youngster's eyes boggled.
"Wow! You're really old!" She exclaimed, to her sister's amusement and laughter.
"Oh Zee, I'm not that old!" She ruffled the light blue Twi'lek's non-existent hair before tentatively touching and then taking one. "They're good enough to eat now, sis. Just leave some for Dad. He likes chocolate chips too!" The Padawan lightly chivvied the girl as she leapt up to snatch one and stuff it into her mouth.
"Da' canf gef hiff own!" She retorted, mouth full of biscuit.
"Zavvi! Don't talk with your mouth full!" Her mother tutted, wagging a finger at her. "Such a scamp, you are. It's a wonder you haven't worn us out yet!"
The youngster grinned, but proceeded to let her mouth clear before speaking again, her expression drooping.
"Wish you weren't goin' with the Jedi. Gets so lonely 'round here. Know I have friends at school but they ain't as fun as you. Or Dad." She sulked, staring sullenly at her feet. Xuleena knelt down to catch her eyes; both their mother's light green.
"You'll get up to enough trouble here on your own without my help, Zee. I do miss your activities and silliness when I'm training. It can be boring sometimes."
"Then why you no stay here with me? You'd get less bored!" Zavvi demanded, hands on hips.
"I'm sorry sis, I can't. I gotta train and become a Jedi; I gotta master the Force so I don't cause accidents and so I can help people. I know it's tough but I'll come a visit often. You're really lucky; most Jedi aren't really allowed to see their families outside their training, I just have a really sympathetic Master that allows me to come out and see you." She smiled sadly, but tried to cheer the little one up. "Maybe I'll be a proper Jedi and I'll have a proper lightsaber that I'll bring and show you!"
"Hmm." She looked so unhappy that Xuleena handed her another cookie.
"Don't worry Zee. We'll be back together before you know it."
But as she took the cookie, Zavvi wasn't really listening to what her sister was saying, and her expression wasn't one of upset at her sister leaving.
She was planning the rescue mission of the decade.

Walking back to the space pad was hard. Her parents were comfortable letting her walk there on her own as it wasn't far from their home, and when Zavvi wanted to accompany her, the youngster was free to do so, as long as she came straight back afterwards.
So Xuleena held onto her sister's hand as she walked to the landing pad where the Jedi ship would be waiting for her. The sisters didn't speak, Xu busy trying to prevent her little sis from sneaking away whilst Zavvi was taking in the sights and sounds of Coruscant, straining a little against her sister's protective grasp.
When they reached the landing pad, the transport was waiting, two human Jedi talking to one another. Zavvi tugged at her hand.
"Zee?"
"I need ta go an' get my pazaak deck from that Nikto kid. His house is just 'round the corner." She looked up imploringly at her older sister. "Please? Won't be long; I'll go straight back! Promise!"
Xuleena sighed. The child never liked to watch her go, so this wasn't a surprise that she'd rather talk to a friend than see her off.
"Alright Zee. I'll promise to come back as soon as I can." She gave her little sister a big hug and watched her run off around the corner. The young Padawan turned away with a sigh and approached the ship, trying not to feel down-hearted. One of the Jedi was tall, tanned wrinkled skin with grey, wispy hair and a beard, and he was talking to a teen of similar age to Xuleena. He was pale skinned, shorter than the elder Jedi with gleaming brown eyes and dirty blonde hair twisted into a Padawan braid by his left ear. They looked over to her at her footsteps, the older Jedi speaking.
"Xuleena, you feel troubled." His light blue eyes were kind and soothing. The other Padawan watched on.
"It's my sister, Master Delmar. She is only nine years old and I don't think she understands why I must go. I worry that she will or already is developing a grudge against me or the Order." She held her head in shame; Jedi weren't supposed to worry, were supposed to be all even-keeled and calm. Delmar smiled kindly.
"I see. Doesn't she have any other friends?"
"She does, but favours me, as we are siblings." Her feet were very interesting. "She never watches me leave here...Always runs away or avoids coming." A gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Do not fear, young one. She will understand soon. She is lucky to see you at all; not many Padawans can take time off to see their families." Her Master smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Now, calm yourself, and we'll begin our journey back to Tython." He turned to the Padawan next to him, the boy's face full of concern for his fellow student. "Is the ship prepared, Tirin?"
"As it'll ever be." Tirin grinned boyishly, brown eyes flashing as he went over to the Twi'lek and caught her eye contact. "C'mon Xu, best foot forward! I've been bored without ya!" Xuleena blushed.
They entered the craft and the female teen saw it was small, only a few berths enough for the three occupants to rest and meditate in. The other was an engine room and the bridge. Very light on extras, which was as well; the trip to Tython would be short as it wasn't far from Coruscant if she remembered correctly. She figured she'd spend the time meditating; she needed to centre herself and calm her emotions.
Yet as the male teen pointed out her cabin and went to pilot the craft, the deep blue Twi'lek thought she could sense a living presence extra, one in the very guts of the transport itself. She looked around, noticing a panel was loose on the side. Odd, but she assumed with the size of the craft that it would be used regularly and so would fall into disrepair. She must be imagining that fourth presence. She shrugged, going to her quarters as the ramp was lifted and the engines roared to life.

The panel shuddered, before it was quietly removed, and Zavvi slipped out of her hiding place, checking for anyone watching and wincing at the cool metal against her bare soles. She had to be quick; if the ship jumped, she'd be in serious trouble, as there was no way to turn a ship around mid-jump. She looked down a corridor in the ship, where she'd seen her sister go through a gap between the panel and the wall. She better go get her and convince the pilot to turn them around; Xu was good at convincing people. How the youngster thought this would work, only the Force knew.
Replacing the panel carefully, the stowaway began to retrace her sister's steps, as softly as she could with her shoes banging against each other, tied to together at the laces and hung over her neck, socks stuffed into them. Failed attempts at midnight food raids had taught Zavvi that bare feet were much quieter against metal floors than shoes and boots.
That was one thing, sneaking around her home at night. It was quite another sneaking around a ship with three Jedi aboard. She was doing well and was nearly to the door when she looked behind her and then bumped into something warm, solid and alive. She looked up and saw it was the Jedi Master Xuleena had been talking to. Her eyes widened.
"Hello little one. How did you get here?" There was amusement in his gentle voice; he clearly knew. The young Twi'lek sprung away to flee, but suddenly the floor dropped away from her feet as she was lifted effortlessly into the air. It felt as if something held her around her middle; she could flail all she wanted, but there was no way for her to escape.
"Lemme go!" She shouted loudly, wriggling uselessly against the power holding her firmly but not uncomfortably.
"Zee?!" Xuleena was out of her room, eyes wide and calm gone. "H-How'd you get here?!" Her master chuckled in amusement.
"She stowed away. I knew something was amiss when I sensed four people aboard, not three." The youngster stuck her tongue out at him. "I assume this is your little sister?"
"Yes...Her name's Zavvi. I know she can have hare-brained schemes sometimes, but never expected this!" The female Padawan looked flabbergasted, then ashamed. "Think she wanted to 'rescue' me from you."
"Dat's right!" She pouted, and the old Jedi chuckled with amusement.
"I haven't seen such daring for quite a while in one so young. Do you know what her path may be in the future?" He asked curiously.
"No..." The elder Twi'lek was confused to why the Jedi Master was asking that.
"Well..." Jedi Master Delmar smiled widely, his eyes twinkling. "She has a fire in her heart that will take wing amongst the stars; unafraid of the odds, and I see that although she has the feet of a worlder, she has the mind of a spacer. I can see a smuggler in her eyes." He tapped Zavvi's nose, making sure to dart away elegantly as she lashed out at him. Xuleena was watching her master in wonder; he could he be able to read her little sister like that, as if her future was written in her eyes, her very personality?
"What's going on? I was getting ready to ask you if I could hit the hyperdrive and I heard a shout-" The other Padawan rounded the corner, concern in his eyes until he took in the scene. His eyebrow quirked up. "We have a stowaway?"
"We do indeed, Tirin." Delmar smiled, completely unphased by his captive's sulking. "This is Zavvi, Xuleena's little sister. Who tried to stage a dangerous rescue attempt to free her sister from us."
Tirin chuckled.
"Wow, she's a toughy. You told me ya baby sister was a crazy girl but you never told me how crazy!" He joked to female teen, who blushed lightly. "Good thing I had the mind to come and ask you if we were ready to jump. Wouldn't be good if we were in the middle of it or at the end and then find her or have her leaping on me!"
"Indeed. It would be wise to contact her parents and tell them where their little one is. They will have noted her disappearance by now and will be worried."
"Yeah, good idea. What's your parents' names again? Kestrann and Azi'lee, was it?" The pilot/Padawan looked over to her.
"Yes, that's right. They won't be too worried yet; the landing pad isn't far from home and we live in a fairly good neighbourhood so they let us walk about around there on our own." She explained, her Master nodding.
"I see. Still, your parents will be glad to get their little trouble-maker back." He nodded, and Zavvi growled at him, still suspended in the air.

They were waiting for them. The ramp dropped down and Tirin came out first, holding a wriggling, furious and angrily cursing Zavvi by the scruff of her shirt powerfully yet making sure not to hurt his struggling charge. Master Delmar and Xuleena brought up the rear.
"I do believe this little tyke is yours?" Tirin asked, raising an eyebrow and trying to stop himself chuckling at the youngster's cussing. He ignored the tutting coming from the older Jedi.
The pink Twi'lek mother folded her arms and glared at her blue husband, the same shade as their Jedi daughter.
"She gets this from you, Kestrann. You've been teaching her all these bad habits! I hope you're happy now!" He just chuckled softly as his youngest daughter belted out all the swear words she knew. Which was a lot, surprisingly.
"I can hardly help if she's just rebellious by nature, Azi'lee. Besides, she hasn't the Force to defend herself with; she needs all the tricks and needs to her way around a blaster pistol in case there is any trouble." Suddenly Zavvi screamed a very, very rude word that begs no repetition, and Kestrann's face paled slightly. "Okay, she definitely did not learn that one from me!"
A nervous throat was cleared, and everyone looked to the sound.
"Um...that was me." Xuleena mumbled, blushing purple. Many shocked expressions resulted. "But I learnt it from him." She pointed to Tirin, who turned a deep crimson, and shuffled his feet.
"I used to be a pilot! I may have stubbed my thumb and said it out loud, but it really, really hurt, okay!" Delmar facepalmed, and Xuleena giggled.
Kestrann stepped forward, taking the bundle of rage into his large, strong arms. Zavvi squirmed for a few seconds before stopping, folding her arms and pouting in the biggest sulk she could pull. She was trying not to enjoy being held by her father too.
"I apologise for my daughter's, uh, adventurous nature, Master Jedi." He began, but Delmar waved his excuses away.
"Oh no no, it's fine. I would sensed her before anything could happen. I am more reassured to see the spark that I thought the Empire snuffed out with the Sacking of Coruscant still present in the Republic." A sad smile. "It is a much needed light in the Republic's darkest times." The Twi'lek soldier shared the same grave look, and nodded.
"Shall we continue to Tython, Master?" Tirin asked, having moved over to Xuleena as the two men were talking. Their hands lightly brushed one another's.
"Yes, we must be on our way." He looked to Zavvi, catching her eyes. "But be assured we'll be back to return your playmate back to you as soon as we are able. You don't understand right now, but you will some day." He turned away, leading his students back up the ramp, but leaving a slight sliver of respect in the young Twi'lek's heart.

There was scolding from both parents for stowing away on the ship, not telling them what she was doing, lying, all that jazz. Banished to her room for the rest of the evening, Zavvi knelt on her bed sulkily, looking out at the stars from her bedroom window. She wondered what it would be like to fly among them. What would it be like to be free? To have no ties to the ground below her, just to run and run and go where she liked, when she liked? If she had a ship she could fly into the stars and away, to see her sister whenever she wanted and to find adventure on all the other planets and worlds out there. And her parents couldn't ever ground her again.
The light blue Twi'lek was so distracted by the night sky and her thoughts she didn't notice her father enter her room until the bed softly creaked as he sat down on it.
"Daddy?" She turned to him, curious. He smiled at her, and, seeing that she'd been gazing out the window quite intently said;
"You wanna be up there, titch? In the stars?" She crawled onto his lap, and he cradled her close.
"Yeah...Ta go see Xu...Have big adventures..." The youngster mumbled, suddenly tired now she was resting in her father's arms and the day caught up to her. He nodded.
"Can understand that. Whenever I'm going anywhere I always look out the windows if the ship has them and think that there's so much to see, so much to do. If I weren't fighting for the Republic I'd take a ship and go out there..." His brown eyes glanced down at the drowsy form of his daughter. "It's been a long day, titch. Think it's time for bed."
She murmured a protest, but Kestrann was well practised at holding onto her and getting her into her pyjamas despite her feeble efforts to stop or delay him. Tucking her in under the covers, he gave a proud smile.
"Did well getting onto that ship without getting spotted. How'd you do it?" At his approval,the young Twi'lek told him honestly.
"Weren't looking my way. Took my shoes off, so they wouldn't hear me. Used a loose panel as a hiding place. Put it back so no-one would notice. Bumped into dat big Jedi though." Kestrann stroked his daughter's head approvingly.
"That's really smart and crafty. You did well, titch. Just..." A grin. "Don't do it again, yet. Would give your mother a heart attack."
"Kay..." Her light green eyes were dull with weariness, so he placed a kiss to her forehead, and as he went, he turned out the lights.
"Goodnight, titch."

Wonder why I'm having all these dreams about my past... Zavvi mused to herself as she woke slowly, aware of something moving in bed next to her. It rolled over and a soft drawl purred into her ear.
"G'morning gorgeous..." Corso mumbled, still half-asleep. She chuckled, turning her head to face him.
"Good morning, sleepy head." The smuggler ruffled his hair, sending dreadlocks every which way. He chuckled, a slow rumble due to his tiredness.
"Were ya always as cheeky as this?" The Mantellian asked, raising an eyebrow, cuddling her close.
"Funny you should mention that..."

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"Gotcha, sis!" Xuleena giggled, pouncing on her younger sister.
"Nah ya don't!" Zavvi rolled over to push the older Twi'lek underneath her. "Pinned ya 'gin!" A pulse of force pushed the light blue girl off her darker coloured sister and unceremoniously onto her butt. She pouted, folding her arms in a sulk. "Usin' the Force is cheatin'!" She declared.
Xuleena giggled again, sitting upright. For a nine year old, Zavvi packed a punch. Her lekku were still plain, yet fully grown; she would start earning tattoos in her tenth year on them, but she had gained cheek and neck ones. She smiled; her little sister was growing up quick.
"A Jedi must any advantage she can get, especially with someone as crafty as you, Zee." The said girl giggled, springing onto the older girl's lap.
"Yer jus' a Jedi-in-training, sis! A padder, paddy..."
"Padawan." The older Twi'lek corrected, bouncing the youngster on her knees. "You wouldn't make a good Jedi, Zee. You're just too hyper."
"Am not! Can be as serious as you!" The young'n frowned, pulling her most amusing 'serious' face, and Xuleena had to keep from chuckling.
"Girls!" An older pink Twi'lek looked around the door frame into the lounge with a smile. "Just thought I'd warn you two that the Jedi are coming to pick Xuleena up in about half an hour's time, okay? Give you time to get yourselves ready for them."
"Awww..." Zavvi's face fell, before she inhaled and her green eyes shone as she recognized the scent. "Muma! You baked cookies!" And she was out of her sister's lap and into kitchen like a bolt from a blaster.
"Wait, sweety, they've just come out so they'll be hot!" Her mother called after her youngest, before shacking her head with a smile, looking back to the eldest. "Doesn't she drive you daft?" Xuleena shook her head.
"She's only nine, mum. Got to give her some leeway. Besides," she steepled her fingers, "the Jedi Code teaches tolerance in all things." Her mother just nodded at that, respect in her similarly coloured eyes. Passing the adult Twi'lek, the teen went to the kitchen, where Zavvi was bouncing on her heels, eager for her cookie but knowing they were far too hot for her little mouth to cope with right now.
"How old are you, Xu?" She asked, wanting a distraction from the temptation above her head.
"Fifteen, Zee. One five." The youngster's eyes boggled.
"Wow! You're really old!" She exclaimed, to her sister's amusement and laughter.
"Oh Zee, I'm not that old!" She ruffled the light blue Twi'lek's non-existent hair before tentatively touching and then taking one. "They're good enough to eat now, sis. Just leave some for Dad. He likes chocolate chips too!" The Padawan lightly chivvied the girl as she leapt up to snatch one and stuff it into her mouth.
"Da' canf gef hiff own!" She retorted, mouth full of biscuit.
"Zavvi! Don't talk with your mouth full!" Her mother tutted, wagging a finger at her. "Such a scamp, you are. It's a wonder you haven't worn us out yet!"
The youngster grinned, but proceeded to let her mouth clear before speaking again, her expression drooping.
"Wish you weren't goin' with the Jedi. Gets so lonely 'round here. Know I have friends at school but they ain't as fun as you. Or Dad." She sulked, staring sullenly at her feet. Xuleena knelt down to catch her eyes; both their mother's light green.
"You'll get up to enough trouble here on your own without my help, Zee. I do miss your activities and silliness when I'm training. It can be boring sometimes."
"Then why you no stay here with me? You'd get less bored!" Zavvi demanded, hands on hips.
"I'm sorry sis, I can't. I gotta train and become a Jedi; I gotta master the Force so I don't cause accidents and so I can help people. I know it's tough but I'll come a visit often. You're really lucky; most Jedi aren't really allowed to see their families outside their training, I just have a really sympathetic Master that allows me to come out and see you." She smiled sadly, but tried to cheer the little one up. "Maybe I'll be a proper Jedi and I'll have a proper lightsaber that I'll bring and show you!"
"Hmm." She looked so unhappy that Xuleena handed her another cookie.
"Don't worry Zee. We'll be back together before you know it."
But as she took the cookie, Zavvi wasn't really listening to what her sister was saying, and her expression wasn't one of upset at her sister leaving.
She was planning the rescue mission of the decade.

Walking back to the space pad was hard. Her parents were comfortable letting her walk there on her own as it wasn't far from their home, and when Zavvi wanted to accompany her, the youngster was free to do so, as long as she came straight back afterwards.
So Xuleena held onto her sister's hand as she walked to the landing pad where the Jedi ship would be waiting for her. The sisters didn't speak, Xu busy trying to prevent her little sis from sneaking away whilst Zavvi was taking in the sights and sounds of Coruscant, straining a little against her sister's protective grasp.
When they reached the landing pad, the transport was waiting, two human Jedi talking to one another. Zavvi tugged at her hand.
"Zee?"
"I need ta go an' get my pazaak deck from that Nikto kid. His house is just 'round the corner." She looked up imploringly at her older sister. "Please? Won't be long; I'll go straight back! Promise!"
Xuleena sighed. The child never liked to watch her go, so this wasn't a surprise that she'd rather talk to a friend than see her off.
"Alright Zee. I'll promise to come back as soon as I can." She gave her little sister a big hug and watched her run off around the corner. The young Padawan turned away with a sigh and approached the ship, trying not to feel down-hearted. One of the Jedi was tall, tanned wrinkled skin with grey, wispy hair and a beard, and he was talking to a teen of similar age to Xuleena. He was pale skinned, shorter than the elder Jedi with gleaming brown eyes and dirty blonde hair twisted into a Padawan braid by his left ear. They looked over to her at her footsteps, the older Jedi speaking.
"Xuleena, you feel troubled." His light blue eyes were kind and soothing. The other Padawan watched on.
"It's my sister, Master Delmar. She is only nine years old and I don't think she understands why I must go. I worry that she will or already is developing a grudge against me or the Order." She held her head in shame; Jedi weren't supposed to worry, were supposed to be all even-keeled and calm. Delmar smiled kindly.
"I see. Doesn't she have any other friends?"
"She does, but favours me, as we are siblings." Her feet were very interesting. "She never watches me leave here...Always runs away or avoids coming." A gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Do not fear, young one. She will understand soon. She is lucky to see you at all; not many Padawans can take time off to see their families." Her Master smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Now, calm yourself, and we'll begin our journey back to Tython." He turned to the Padawan next to him, the boy's face full of concern for his fellow student. "Is the ship prepared, Tirin?"
"As it'll ever be." Tirin grinned boyishly, brown eyes flashing as he went over to the Twi'lek and caught her eye contact. "C'mon Xu, best foot forward! I've been bored without ya!" Xuleena blushed.
They entered the craft and the female teen saw it was small, only a few berths enough for the three occupants to rest and meditate in. The other was an engine room and the bridge. Very light on extras, which was as well; the trip to Tython would be short as it wasn't far from Coruscant if she remembered correctly. She figured she'd spend the time meditating; she needed to centre herself and calm her emotions.
Yet as the male teen pointed out her cabin and went to pilot the craft, the deep blue Twi'lek thought she could sense a living presence extra, one in the very guts of the transport itself. She looked around, noticing a panel was loose on the side. Odd, but she assumed with the size of the craft that it would be used regularly and so would fall into disrepair. She must be imagining that fourth presence. She shrugged, going to her quarters as the ramp was lifted and the engines roared to life.

The panel shuddered, before it was quietly removed, and Zavvi slipped out of her hiding place, checking for anyone watching and wincing at the cool metal against her bare soles. She had to be quick; if the ship jumped, she'd be in serious trouble, as there was no way to turn a ship around mid-jump. She looked down a corridor in the ship, where she'd seen her sister go through a gap between the panel and the wall. She better go get her and convince the pilot to turn them around; Xu was good at convincing people. How the youngster thought this would work, only the Force knew.
Replacing the panel carefully, the stowaway began to retrace her sister's steps, as softly as she could with her shoes banging against each other, tied to together at the laces and hung over her neck, socks stuffed into them. Failed attempts at midnight food raids had taught Zavvi that bare feet were much quieter against metal floors than shoes and boots.
That was one thing, sneaking around her home at night. It was quite another sneaking around a ship with three Jedi aboard. She was doing well and was nearly to the door when she looked behind her and then bumped into something warm, solid and alive. She looked up and saw it was the Jedi Master Xuleena had been talking to. Her eyes widened.
"Hello little one. How did you get here?" There was amusement in his gentle voice; he clearly knew. The young Twi'lek sprung away to flee, but suddenly the floor dropped away from her feet as she was lifted effortlessly into the air. It felt as if something held her around her middle; she could flail all she wanted, but there was no way for her to escape.
"Lemme go!" She shouted loudly, wriggling uselessly against the power holding her firmly but not uncomfortably.
"Zee?!" Xuleena was out of her room, eyes wide and calm gone. "H-How'd you get here?!" Her master chuckled in amusement.
"She stowed away. I knew something was amiss when I sensed four people aboard, not three." The youngster stuck her tongue out at him. "I assume this is your little sister?"
"Yes...Her name's Zavvi. I know she can have hare-brained schemes sometimes, but never expected this!" The female Padawan looked flabbergasted, then ashamed. "Think she wanted to 'rescue' me from you."
"Dat's right!" She pouted, and the old Jedi chuckled with amusement.
"I haven't seen such daring for quite a while in one so young. Do you know what her path may be in the future?" He asked curiously.
"No..." The elder Twi'lek was confused to why the Jedi Master was asking that.
"Well..." Jedi Master Delmar smiled widely, his eyes twinkling. "She has a fire in her heart that will take wing amongst the stars; unafraid of the odds, and I see that although she has the feet of a worlder, she has the mind of a spacer. I can see a smuggler in her eyes." He tapped Zavvi's nose, making sure to dart away elegantly as she lashed out at him. Xuleena was watching her master in wonder; he could he be able to read her little sister like that, as if her future was written in her eyes, her very personality?
"What's going on? I was getting ready to ask you if I could hit the hyperdrive and I heard a shout-" The other Padawan rounded the corner, concern in his eyes until he took in the scene. His eyebrow quirked up. "We have a stowaway?"
"We do indeed, Tirin." Delmar smiled, completely unphased by his captive's sulking. "This is Zavvi, Xuleena's little sister. Who tried to stage a dangerous rescue attempt to free her sister from us."
Tirin chuckled.
"Wow, she's a toughy. You told me ya baby sister was a crazy girl but you never told me how crazy!" He joked to female teen, who blushed lightly. "Good thing I had the mind to come and ask you if we were ready to jump. Wouldn't be good if we were in the middle of it or at the end and then find her or have her leaping on me!"
"Indeed. It would be wise to contact her parents and tell them where their little one is. They will have noted her disappearance by now and will be worried."
"Yeah, good idea. What's your parents' names again? Kestrann and Azi'lee, was it?" The pilot/Padawan looked over to her.
"Yes, that's right. They won't be too worried yet; the landing pad isn't far from home and we live in a fairly good neighbourhood so they let us walk about around there on our own." She explained, her Master nodding.
"I see. Still, your parents will be glad to get their little trouble-maker back." He nodded, and Zavvi growled at him, still suspended in the air.

They were waiting for them. The ramp dropped down and Tirin came out first, holding a wriggling, furious and angrily cursing Zavvi by the scruff of her shirt powerfully yet making sure not to hurt his struggling charge. Master Delmar and Xuleena brought up the rear.
"I do believe this little tyke is yours?" Tirin asked, raising an eyebrow and trying to stop himself chuckling at the youngster's cussing. He ignored the tutting coming from the older Jedi.
The pink Twi'lek mother folded her arms and glared at her blue husband, the same shade as their Jedi daughter.
"She gets this from you, Kestrann. You've been teaching her all these bad habits! I hope you're happy now!" He just chuckled softly as his youngest daughter belted out all the swear words she knew. Which was a lot, surprisingly.
"I can hardly help if she's just rebellious by nature, Azi'lee. Besides, she hasn't the Force to defend herself with; she needs all the tricks and needs to her way around a blaster pistol in case there is any trouble." Suddenly Zavvi screamed a very, very rude word that begs no repetition, and Kestrann's face paled slightly. "Okay, she definitely did not learn that one from me!"
A nervous throat was cleared, and everyone looked to the sound.
"Um...that was me." Xuleena mumbled, blushing purple. Many shocked expressions resulted. "But I learnt it from him." She pointed to Tirin, who turned a deep crimson, and shuffled his feet.
"I used to be a pilot! I may have stubbed my thumb and said it out loud, but it really, really hurt, okay!" Delmar facepalmed, and Xuleena giggled.
Kestrann stepped forward, taking the bundle of rage into his large, strong arms. Zavvi squirmed for a few seconds before stopping, folding her arms and pouting in the biggest sulk she could pull. She was trying not to enjoy being held by her father too.
"I apologise for my daughter's, uh, adventurous nature, Master Jedi." He began, but Delmar waved his excuses away.
"Oh no no, it's fine. I would sensed her before anything could happen. I am more reassured to see the spark that I thought the Empire snuffed out with the Sacking of Coruscant still present in the Republic." A sad smile. "It is a much needed light in the Republic's darkest times." The Twi'lek soldier shared the same grave look, and nodded.
"Shall we continue to Tython, Master?" Tirin asked, having moved over to Xuleena as the two men were talking. Their hands lightly brushed one another's.
"Yes, we must be on our way." He looked to Zavvi, catching her eyes. "But be assured we'll be back to return your playmate back to you as soon as we are able. You don't understand right now, but you will some day." He turned away, leading his students back up the ramp, but leaving a slight sliver of respect in the young Twi'lek's heart.

There was scolding from both parents for stowing away on the ship, not telling them what she was doing, lying, all that jazz. Banished to her room for the rest of the evening, Zavvi knelt on her bed sulkily, looking out at the stars from her bedroom window. She wondered what it would be like to fly among them. What would it be like to be free? To have no ties to the ground below her, just to run and run and go where she liked, when she liked? If she had a ship she could fly into the stars and away, to see her sister whenever she wanted and to find adventure on all the other planets and worlds out there. And her parents couldn't ever ground her again.
The light blue Twi'lek was so distracted by the night sky and her thoughts she didn't notice her father enter her room until the bed softly creaked as he sat down on it.
"Daddy?" She turned to him, curious. He smiled at her, and, seeing that she'd been gazing out the window quite intently said;
"You wanna be up there, titch? In the stars?" She crawled onto his lap, and he cradled her close.
"Yeah...Ta go see Xu...Have big adventures..." The youngster mumbled, suddenly tired now she was resting in her father's arms and the day caught up to her. He nodded.
"Can understand that. Whenever I'm going anywhere I always look out the windows if the ship has them and think that there's so much to see, so much to do. If I weren't fighting for the Republic I'd take a ship and go out there..." His brown eyes glanced down at the drowsy form of his daughter. "It's been a long day, titch. Think it's time for bed."
She murmured a protest, but Kestrann was well practised at holding onto her and getting her into her pyjamas despite her feeble efforts to stop or delay him. Tucking her in under the covers, he gave a proud smile.
"Did well getting onto that ship without getting spotted. How'd you do it?" At his approval,the young Twi'lek told him honestly.
"Weren't looking my way. Took my shoes off, so they wouldn't hear me. Used a loose panel as a hiding place. Put it back so no-one would notice. Bumped into dat big Jedi though." Kestrann stroked his daughter's head approvingly.
"That's really smart and crafty. You did well, titch. Just..." A grin. "Don't do it again, yet. Would give your mother a heart attack."
"Kay..." Her light green eyes were dull with weariness, so he placed a kiss to her forehead, and as he went, he turned out the lights.
"Goodnight, titch."

Wonder why I'm having all these dreams about my past... Zavvi mused to herself as she woke slowly, aware of something moving in bed next to her. It rolled over and a soft drawl purred into her ear.
"G'morning gorgeous..." Corso mumbled, still half-asleep. She chuckled, turning her head to face him.
"Good morning, sleepy head." The smuggler ruffled his hair, sending dreadlocks every which way. He chuckled, a slow rumble due to his tiredness.
"Were ya always as cheeky as this?" The Mantellian asked, raising an eyebrow, cuddling her close.
"Funny you should mention that..."