Corellia's Open Terrain

"Ah, what is it?" she asked as she leaned back into him gladly enough. He always felt strong to her. He always seemed to exude a sense of power. And she was comfortable with it. Realizing that to be the truth still was something of a surprise as far as she was concerned. She could tell he wanted to talk about something, but she wasn't sure how to help open the subject.

So, she shifted a bit and turned her head just enough to brush a kiss against the edge of his jaw. "What are you thinking of, Z'har?" she paused, "I like this place. Corellia reminds me of my childhood. Perhaps too much," she trailed off musingly.

She shrugged, "It was a good one, I suppose," smiling faintly as she continued, "I never wanted for any of the necessities of life due to the status of my House. Contrary to what one might think though, children are not coddled on my world. Military training is begun around four or five years by older family members, often a blademaster that has been with the family for decades." She settled herself comfortably into Z'har's embrace while reminiscing, "The same training is given to both genders, although eventually one can choose different focuses. However, a stint of service in the military is required, and usually at least one family member makes military service their career. Much like other cultures we had our own rites of passage, and our odd pets---mine had four inch fangs and an unpredictable temper." Jade laughed quietly, "That might be why I accepted Selaya so quickly."

"Like yourself, you mean?" she challenged, twisting to face him and then pinning him to the ground so she was propped on his chest by one elbow looking down at him with a smile on her face.

She shrugged, "I suppose you are right. I assume I took part in normal childhood games, but I don't really remember," she frowned, there were gaps in her memory, but unfortunately they didn't seem to involve the things she would prefer not to remember, "Joining the Imperial Fleet was a highlight for me, and being promoted to captain my own ship is one of my best memories. I think it is always like that when you have a commander you are proud of. Being able to succeed and knowing that you've performed above expectation is a good feeling. My first ship was ugly on the outside, on the ground it made one wonder if he could even fly...but in the air, he was breathtaking." She paused, then leaned down and quickly kissed her disadvantaged companion warmly.

The small woman laughed at the idea of Z'har in charge of a garbage scow. She wondered if he was meaning that was also his occupation. She had to admit that his current outfit was much more attractive than that of an itinerant rubbish collector. "Aye... so, what about your childhood? I have never met 'little Z'har,' she questioned in turn.

"Ah, you bought it," Jade repeated, gently running her fingers down the side of his face and neck, "so there was no dashing game of chance... and from there you took over the galaxy." She smiled, lightly teasing him, as she reached up to pull her hair over one shoulder as the breeze was wreaking havoc upon the knot it had been tied in originally.

"And the Mando'ade gave you a family again, didn't they?" she asked gently, "in some way easing the pain of what you had lost," she remembered all too well the look of pain in his eyes and the shock she'd felt at seeing such a strong man made so vulnerable in front of her when they had fought all those years ago on Galantos.

"Plu Ordinii," Jade mused, "a decent individual in a galaxy that is largely indecent." After a few minutes, and a rather startling yank as he attempted to untangle her hair, she wriggled back to a sitting position and reached for the pack she'd brought with them. Rummaging through it, she came up with a bottle of amber Corellian ale and a pair of glasses. "Thirsty?"

She unwrapped the top and the cork shot out into the air with great force accompanied by a sound that rivaled a blastershot. A mischievous smile flashed across her lips as she filled Z'har's glass and then her own. She raised her glass and eyed him over the top of the rim.

"That's a prodigious amount of children..."

Jade froze for a second, wondering what he was getting at, and then did as she normally would and went on the offensive. "Effort? And what has children on your mind, Z'har? This deciding who will succeed you?" she queried, flashing a responding smile at him before taking a drink and savoring the initial coolness followed by the fiery burn that was Corellian Ale.