Ft. Agent Kallus - Blog Posts
galaxywon // Alexsandr Kallus
Kallus scanned the cluttered vicinity, but found no issue with it. He’d been in much tighter situations before, both as an Imperial and as a rebel. Their ship seemed homey, lived in, more clutter than he had ever allowed in his own but nothing to make him uncomfortable. “ Thank you. “ he nodded politely, back set straight as they sat down. He had planned to be as quiet as possible, melt into the wall if he was able, but Sabine’s words cut through his plans almost immediately. He cleared his throat, careful not to meet their eyes as reached for the data padd in his pack. “ We’ve spoken, “ he started off, not knowing how much he wanted to tell Sabine, or how much Zeb would. They were from this time, knew that he and Xeb had been much more than roommates. He could speak freely about it in these walls if he wanted to.
He wasn’t sure he could without feeling sick. “ We met at a party a while back. They hadn’t been back for too long. “ he explained. “ I was….. Inebriated. Not of my own doing, of course. “ He explained. She would knew what he was talking about. The talk of that evening would go on for quite a while he assumed. “ It didn’t go well. I didn’t…… I couldn’t tell him. I’m not going to change his whole perception of reality. It would be selfish. “
.
They listened while lines bloomed on the screen beneath her fingertips. They could feel his mounting anxiety, could tell the subject was a sensitive one. It marked him like a line of sutures, and she wasn’t looking to deepen the cut. Uneasy humor nestled on their tongue at the mention of the fundraiser.
“Oh fuck, that party? Yeah, I think we all had our fair share of embarrassment.”
But, he continued, and emotions settled, like a fine sediment sinking to the bottom of a riverbed. Strokes became longer, less even, as they reflected upon the silence in between words. Measured the pauses that gave depth to the hurt.
“Fuck. I’m. I’m sorry, Alexsandr. I know how much he means to you. But, for what it’s worth,” they spoke, this time meeting his tired gaze. “I don’t think you’re selfish. Love is...it’s weird, and complicated. Sometimes it fucking sucks.” They offered a smile, though one marked with an untraceable sadness. How long had it been since the Mandalorian had been in love? Real, true love? Still, this wasn’t about her.
“Look, maybe you can find your way back to where you were, maybe you can’t, but. But, please, Alex.” they leaned forward even from across the cabin, reaching for him in a way no physical touch could ever convey. “I’m here for you. Aliit ori'shya tal'din.” Family is more than blood. With that admission, the Mandalorian leaned back and picked up the pace of the stylus between their fingers. This tattoo, it seemed, might be a distraction from them both. Family is more than blood, but what if you were the one holding the knife?
galaxywon // Alexsandr Kallus
Sabine had been Imperial, even though their time had ended much before his own. They knew what it felt like to be forced to adhere to something that took away any case of individuality. But she didn’t know what it felt like to believe it with your whole being. He would have died for The Empire, almost had on multiple occasions. He thought his life was worth something with them, didn’t know true value until he had been challenged to question things. Being an Imperial had been his entire life. It was still his deepest shame. He could tell by the way they analyzed the images that they understood what it meant. “ I fear if I don’t do it soon, I never will. “ he admitted, turning away from them to try to hide some of the emotions passing through his face.
“ I can sit with you while you draw if you’d like. “ It was more for him than it was for Sabine, of course. He wasn’t sure he could sit around and wait for her to be done. “ I have some mission reports I could fill out. “ He knew without trying that he wouldn’t get a thing done while he was waiting for them, but he could pretend. “ Just….. Don’t tell Garazeb about this. Please. “
.
“ I understand.” She replied, though they both knew she couldn’t fully comprehend all he was feeling. Still, they felt the weight that sat on his shoulders. They understood its significance. None of the Spectres blamed Kallus for what he’d done, but Sabine knew that hearing something and believing it were two different things. Gods, did they know that...
“Please, make yourself at home,” she nodded, motioning to the cluttered interior of the ship. Sure, the cabin was a bit of a mess, but they got the feeling her friend wouldn’t mind. Well...maybe he’d mind a little, but the Ghost crew had always been so lovably chaotic. At their’s friend’s next request, though, her smile weakened, and they nodded solemnly.
“Speaking of Zeb,” they asked, already opening the digital art application on her datapad, “can I ask how you two are? You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” they added with a rush, careful to give him the chance to say no if he wanted. “I just know that with the whole time skip shit, everything’s been so...different.” A pause, as she rested stylus on screen. “Have you talked to them since?”
cptfulcrum // alexsandr kallus
Kallus has long since known that the Ghost crew had forgiven him for the atrocities he’s committed. Even as he struggled to understand how or why, he would be grateful to his final days for friends such as them. Sabine would understand the significance of this in a way that no one else tasked would. They would understand the research that had gone into this, the inner turmoil while he had struggled with the Imperial idea of his body. Years later and it haunted him, the guidelines beat into their soldiers. “ Thank you. “ he said simply, nodding his head as he put his personal code into the datapad. Then he handed it off to them, the picture simple and not able to be understood to someone that didn’t know him. The Fulcrum Symbol featured, with fauna native to Lira San in another image. Finally, a third image of some flowers native to Lasan. He’s no artist, but has a vision. He knows Sabine is the one to execute that for him. “ This is quite personal to me. I want a tattoo. “ it’s to the point, lacks the emotion he has surrounding the whole idea, and his insecurities about how Zeb would feel about the whole thing. “ If it’s amenable for you, I’d prefer you to help me with this. “
The image drew a sharp inhale from the Mandalorian. The concept was striking, a symbol equal parts sharp and soft, a contrast of edges and curves. It was as though the picture itself was blooming before her eyes; she could already see the colors springing to life, filling the spaces between lines. They thought of the equipment that sat just inside her ship and the weeks since it had been used. It was a practice she was well-versed in-- but this time was different. It was so much more than ink and skin.
“Kallus, I...” But what words could she speak to answer a request so heavy? Sabine understood, of course they understood, what this meant to him. They could imagine the struggle he’d faced just to ask so much of her, the nights he must have wrestled with the regulations the Empire had imposed on him since boyhood. The tattoos she had were-- like so many other things-- an act of rebellion against them. And now it was his turn. Wordlessly, she nodded, holding his tired gaze with their own. Their grip on his hand tightened.
“When do you want to do this? I can have a few digital drafts made up withing a few hours, but I won’t rush you. Take it on your own time, and I’ll follow you.”
cptfulcrum // alexsandr kallus
“ I have a request, if you’re up for it. “ His face is neutral, but there’s a nervous way that his eyes twitch to the datapad down at his hands that would show to someone that knows him, like Sabine, that the request is not simply work related. “ If not, I am hoping you can point me in the right direction of someone who can help. “
@call-me-spectre-five
.
With a youthful smirk that her mother would have chided at, Sabine rolled their eyes. “Kallus, how long have we been friends?” But instead of waiting for an answer, she proceeded with the same humor. “Years, di’kut. You’ve been a pain in my ass for years.” Then, noticing the anxiety he carried, the fluttering of eyelashes, fingertips-- she stilled, reaching to place their hand over his own. Hoping to provide some fraction of reassurance. Voice quieter and slower, they answered, eyes never wavering from his gaze. “Hey, you’re my friend. Of course I’m gonna help you. What can I do?”
❛ can i come with you ? ❜ ( from kallus )
Though the war was over, Sabine still found this base to be crowded on occasion; a hangar so close to the Core Worlds had its uses, after all. It was nice to see so many familiar faces, albeit a little overwhelming. But if they were going to leave for the mission, the time was now.
"You know I won't turn down that offer, Kallus." They passed his comlink back, frequency now in tune with the one at her hip. "Besides, I could always use the conversation. Hyperspace can be so boring, you know."
@cptfulcrum // Alexsandr Kallus
As much as this would have shocked his former self, Kallus genuinely cared about each of the Spectres. He knew his friendship with Zeb helped with that. He cared about the Lasat, so of course he would care for Zeb’s family. It wasn’t all that however. They hadn’t treated him horribly after his defection, something that he still thought he deserved. They were dedicated rebels, accomplished strategists, caring people. He was lucky to have friends like them, especially now, when everything felt like it was falling apart. He knew that Sabine could relate to that. They all could now.
He was being protective. It wasn’t necessary, not with Sabine. They cared for Zeb as much as he did if not more. It was an interesting relationship, theirs was. Maybe it was because he’s never had anything like that before. “ I’m sorry. “ he expels a breath, focusing in on the way they chipped the dirt off of their armor. “ I know you mean well. Zeb is lucky to have such caring friends. I just…. “ he trailed off, running a hand through his beard. Having friends was sometimes much harder than not having them. “ We were happy on Lira San. “ he admitted, quieter than before. “ We were happy. “ It felt like so long ago, before they had heard of Ezra’s death and before he had decided to leave. It felt like a long time ago, but it hadn’t been a great length of time.
“ I just want him to continue to be happy. “ Kallus confided, sucking in another breath. It was only tactful to ignore the tears that Sabine was letting out, just as she was ignoring the ones threatening to fall from his eyes. He hadn’t truly cried in a long time. He started towards his back, quietly. He thought about Sabine’s words. They were both Imperial defectors, though she was much better than he. It took him almost two decades to figure out what they had before they even graduated the Academy. “ I wouldn’t go comparing yourself to the likes of me. “ he said, hoping his tone sounded as light as he wanted it to. His eyes met theirs and he nodded. That was one thing they could agree on at least. “ Would it be quite childish of me to suggest a race? “ he grinned, already mounting his speeder, hoping that maybe they could ignore the despair they both felt for just a bit.
As he rode through the desert his hair whipped around him. He should have tied it up before starting this journey. It had grown much longer. The Empire would never have stood for that. It made him grin to himself at the thought. The more he changed, the more he rebelled against what the Empire instilled in him, the more he felt like he was finally becoming who he meant to be.
“It would only be childish if you lost!” Sabine shouted as they mounted the speeder bike, already racing over the terrain with a wide smile. The wind did nothing for the silent tears hidden beneath her visor. Fuck. She hated crying, but found herself doing it so much lately...Instead, they redirected attention to the passing foliage, the colors that blended and swirled around her.
Kallus was no stranger to a speeder, it was obvious, but she was sure she had more practical experience. He might have studied at the Academy, but Sabine had been riding since they were a child, since the occupation of the Empire on Mandalore. How he saw in that nest of hair, they couldn’t imagine, but somehow he actually caught an edge on her, turned a corner with more agility and speed than they thought possible.
“Oh, no you don’t!”
They took a risk, cutting through the underbrush, hoping it would help close the gap, but--
“Second place? Dank farrik, Kallus. I’ve got to hand it to you, you know your way around a speeder bike, old man.” They taunted with a sly upturn of the lip. “C’mon, first round’s on me.”
@cptfulcrum // Alexsandr Kallus
It was times like this where Kallus thought about how young Sabine and Ezra had been when the war had started. They were not much older than children, yet to the enemy they had been heinous rebels. No remorse for even an orphan like Ezra, who had learned to survive. He had chased them like dogs. As they spoke to him he sighed. He knew all about that. The Empire had instilled so many beliefs in him and it had taken two times as much work for him to realize that the brainwashing was just that. He was a cog in the machine, no one special. There was so much he could actually do. It was liberating when he had finally started asking questions, gaining an awareness. The cloud had been lifted. It sounded similar for his Mandalorian friend. “ You are right of course….. Not everyone has the same idea of peace. “ his peace had been sitting on his porch with Zeb, actually able to take a breath of fresh air. A home that was his. What was his peace now?
It was easy for him to notice how Sabine was able to turn things back to him and how poorly he was doing. But he didn’t want to think about that now, Zeb back on Lira San, abandoned by Kallus to go on some self serving mission to capture Thrawn, only stopping because he was worried about his friends. His jaw clenched and he looked away again. He couldn’t explain this, not to anyone. “ Zeb’s been fighting a long time. Longer than many of us. I don’t….. I can’t pull him back in. He deserves peace more than anyone I know. “ his tone is guarded now and when he looks back, his eyes are colder. No one would agree with him more than the Ghost Crew, but he needed to make his intentions clear. Kallus knew that Zeb could and would make his own choice if need be, but he didn’t want it to come to that point.
He shouldn’t be so tense with Sabine. The Ghost Crew had changed his life, gave him something to actually make it worth while. What would he be without them? Still, Garazeb made him question everything to begin with, called him friend when he deserved anything but. He would protect the Lasat with all he had. “ A drink sounds nice. “ he agreed, eyeing them. “ I don’t mean to be…. Harsh. I just don’t want to pull him back into this. Not unless he really wants to. I just want him to be happy, Sabine. You must understand that. “ He pulled his jacket closer to him, “ Do you have a cantina in mind? “
Tension permeated the air as her friend tightened his jaw. Sabine noticed the turning in his eyes, the shift from comfort to pain. They realized in that instant that their advice may have been too critical, could have come off as blaming this man for caring too much. That’s the last thing she wanted to convey. She knew how much Kallus meant to Zeb. How much they both meant to each other.
“Kallus, I think I...might not have explained myself well.” They took a breath, chose their words with more caution this time, careful not to seem judgmental. “I’m not blaming you, my friend,” they said with hesitancy as they reached down to wipe a smudge of dirt off the pigment of her armor. It needed a repainting soon, they noted.
“I understand how much you care for Zeb. For-- Well, for all of us.” They held his gaze, hoping to show him how much she cared too. “I just worry, is all. Well, I. And, I know-- I know we’ve been through...similar experiences.” They gritted their teeth through a smile and nodded. “I really don’t blame you one bit, Kallus. I just want you to be careful. For Zeb.” For all of us. They wiped the corner of their eye quickly, ignoring the moisture that had formed there. They’d both been through so much. This war had cost them both so much.
“C’mon, the Twisted Mynock Cantina is just a couple of klicks from here. Besides, I’ve gotta return this speeder bike to some old smuggler by sundown.”
As the two walked to where their bikes were parked, Sabine reached up, slowly, and placed their hand on Kallus’s shoulder. They had more in common than either of them cared to admit.
“I could really use that drink right about now.”
@cptfulcrum // Alexsandr Kallus
You deserve that. Through the war there was nothing he thought he deserved more than a prison cell. As Fulcrum he had done some good. That he could acknowledge. It was the only thing that kept him waking up for almost a year, the only true purpose that kept him at bay. He had done more when he had truly defected, become a full fledged member of the Rebellion. But so many people had seen the error of their ways before he had, refused to cross a line that made them that terrible person he had known he was. Sabine had left the Imperial Academy when they learned what their weapons were being used for. They had morals. It had taken him far longer.
Still, the words coming from The Mandalorian are said with good intentions and he smiles a little, tipping his head in thanks. In truth, he would have done anything that Garazeb had asked him to afterwards. He wasn’t willing to throw one of the only good things in his life away. Even if the thought of going to Lira San would have turned his insides, had he known before they arrived. He supposed that’s why it remained a secret to no one but him. “ The war has changed us all so much, hasn’t it ?? “ he questioned vaguely, turning away from them. All of their friends and loved ones had been scarred, some more than others, but The Empire. Even at its end there was still pain. So much unknown. “ do Mandalorians long for peace like many do ?? “ he asked. “ Because I think you deserve it too, if you want it. “
He looked down as she continued, not able to speak as the words faded between them. He felt a little like he was betraying Zeb by looking into Thrawn’s movements, that he was pushing away the home that they had made together. It wasn’t that, never that, but he needed to do something after Ezra’s death. He couldn’t watch the mourning of his closest friend any longer. “ It is okay to be….. Struggling. “ he finally decided was the word, looking back at her. “ I know I have been, as Zeb has. “ he admitted. “ Lately I’ve felt restless. I want throw myself back into something, though I didn’t know what. “ Even as he tells Sabine that it’s okay to be hurting, he’s admitting that he’s attempted to ignore all of that for action. It was a typical imperial response. Again, his decades of training back at the forefront of his world. “ Zeb would be happy to see you, if you wished to come visit. “ he finally said.
Heavy emotion clouded the air between them, and silence counted itself as a member of the conversation. Sabine’s lips upturned into a small, wistful smile. They hesitated while their friend spoke what he needed to, and nodded when he was done.
“...I think we all reach for peace, Kallus, but in different ways. Some people, not just my own, think the best way to order is through spilled blood. I used to think the same.”
She paused. They could feel the emotion radiating off him, as much as he tried to guard himself against it. She wasn’t nearly as intuitive as their Jedi friends, but she knew the guilt and shame he grappled with. She recognized the hollow gaze in his eyes when he talked about the toll of war.
“Thank you, for coming all the way out here, for finding me.” They considered his words, still weighted on the air. You deserve it, too. She let that settle within her and instead decided to address the other part of his assurances.” I know I’m not in any place to give advice, but....I understand the need to keep working, to bury yourself in it. Really, I do. But, I’ve been learning-- there’s a fine line between keeping the people you love safe and abandoning them altogether.”
So much went unsaid between the two, and she hoped he felt the same understanding in the commas, the sentiment in between words.
“Kallus, if time and place permitted, I would love to visit you both on Lira San someday.” To see the home you’ve made together. “But, until then, how do you feel about getting a drink?”
@cptfulcrum // Alexsandr Kallus
Kallus knew, just as much as the rest of them, how easy it was to be alone. Solitary had been his comfort. As an ISB agent they were conditioned to be on the outside. They weren’t in the same chain of command as the rest of the Imperial Navy. They were internal affairs, never trusted. His career had been based in solitude. He hadn’t realized until he joined the Rebellion that maybe he did prefer the company of others. Others like the Spectres, like Zeb and Hera and Sabine. “ You don’t need to explain yourself. “ he countered, finally relaxing his stance, hands moving into the pockets of his jacket. “ But do not feel the need to go through life without us. We are here for you. “
His eyes studied their face, watching the way their stance relaxed slowly. Alexsandr didn’t want Sabine to feel the need to assure him that everything was okay, but he understood the reasons why. It was easy to forget that they had been at the Imperial Academy. It was a lesson ingrained from the very beginning, to not let emotions cloud ones judgement. It was something he had taken to heart. As a Mandalorian, he assumed it was second nature to them. “ I am glad then. “ he didn’t believe them, but he also wouldn’t argue now. Not when he had just come back.
“ We’ve been integrating Lira San with the New Republic. Very slowly. Understandably, many are apprehensive. Some survivors from Lasan believe that another attack in imminent. “ he spoke mechanically, not allowing his own guilt from the event to break through. Sabine knew enough about his past. “ Garazeb is well, if that’s what you are wondering. Though he misses his family. “ he met their eyes again, raising his brows. “ If it can be believed, we have found as close to a retirement as possible for soldiers. “ At least they had, before Ezra and their guilt. Now his mission for Thrawn. “ I haven’t heard any updates on you as of late. What have you been doing ?? “
Sabine examined Kallus’s face while he spoke, studying how he measured his words and weighed his expressions before speaking to them. There was more he wanted to say, she was sure, but they weren’t about to pry. His words echoed in their ears. We are here for you.
Dank farrik, Sabine had been stupid. With their wandering about the galaxy with no contact, it was not surprising that Zeb had sent Kallus to check on her. The rest of the Ghost crew, they must be worried. That same feeling of shame boiled in the pit of their stomach, but they smiled to Kallus, nodding as he spoke about her old friend and his people. She knew how difficult it must be for Kallus to be on Lira San, how guilty he must feel. Still, they knew how hard he was trying-- and how much it meant to Zeb that he was there.
“I am...glad to hear you and Zeb are doing well.” She paused, wondering if they should voice their next thought. “You...deserve that, you know. A peaceful life away from the politics and danger of it all. You both do.”
When nothing was said to fill the silence between them, Sabine continued, finally answering the question she had been trying to avoid.
“I guess you haven’t heard from me because I haven’t really been in the action. I’m still with the Rebellion, just not in the heart of the fight. At least, not right now. I’ve been...” They hesitated, knowing that whatever she said would be repeated to her old friend. “I mean, you know how slow it is, trying to chase dead leads on information for the Rebellion. It’s an unreliable business. But, I’m glad you’re settled down now. Your days of action over, right?”
@cptfulcrum // Alexsandr Kallus
Kallus wouldn’t pull his own weapon on them, just a small blaster, something that he felt more comforted when he had on his hip. Just another Imperial regulation that he had never quite slipped out of. He didn’t carry on Lira San. But now that he had slowly been working outside of the planet, he felt the need to. Especially now that he had actively started tracking Grand Admiral Thrawn. But he knew the Mandalorian understood the need for a weapon. He watched closely, waiting for a moment where Sabine’s dominant arm would aim to fire. Thankfully, it never happened. His shoulders relaxed slightly, though their question had him pause.
His own justification was that Zeb was worried about Sabine but trusted her too much to actually do anything about his worry. He didn’t want to admit that he was worried too, worried about all of the Spectres. The loss of Ezra had hit them all hard, just after getting him back. “ Like I said, we were concerned. “ he replied, stepping closer now that their weapon was holstered. “ I was in the area. Zeb was not. “ the area was a very vague statement, vague enough that he didn’t have to explain that he wasn’t on Lira San and that’s why it was easier for him than her fellow Spectre. “ I thought it would assuage his worries if he knew I saw you. “ it would lessen his own, certainly.
Sabine could, without a doubt, take care of any situation that arrived. But this wasn’t something able to be handled. It was the death of someone very close to them all. It wasn’t as simple as planting a bomb or shooting a blaster. He wished it was. “ You should come visit. I know Zeb misses you. “
She stood still, rooted to the spot by the mention of her friend’s name. It was a punch to the gut, an overwhelming sense of anxiety. Sabine had left Zeb (and so many others) in the dark for weeks, months now. They didn’t mean to cause any pain. She just needed time, distance away from everyone. It had always been easier to figure things out alone.
When situations started to tense and sour at home, Sabine had joined the Imperial Academy. When she realized just what they were using her for, they had defected into the Rebellion. Even after the Ghost crew had given them a home, a real family, she had left. And, here she was, running again.
At last they shifted their weight uneasily, heavy with guilt and shame.
“Thank you. I-I should have reached out sooner, I just...” needed to do this on my own, she wanted to say. But instead, they let the words hang in the air, taking up the uneasy space between the two.
“I’m fine, Kallus. I appreciate you coming out here and all, but really, I’m good.” She stepped forward, stance relaxed now that they knew they were in the presence of a friend, not an enemy. Instead of expressing the emotions gnawing at her inside, they attempted to make light of the conversation.
“What are you and Zeb up to these days, anyways?”
@cptfulcrum // Alexsandr Kallus
Everyone was struggling with Ezra’s untimely death. So many unanswered questions, so much pain. He knew that Zeb felt it, which is another reason why Kallus had been keeping his distance from Lira San as of late. He wanted to allow his friend to grieve in the way he saw fit. That’s what he was telling himself at least. Watching Zeb and Hera grieve Ezra once was excruciating. He didn’t think he could do it again, not when he was still reeling from getting the kid ( man really ) back and losing him again. Allowing himself to work again, for the New Republic, had given him purpose. When he had heard from Zeb that Sabine hadn’t been in contact for a while, he knew that he had to check in on her.
Tracking a Mandalorian was no easy task, even for ex-ISB. Whispers of the warrior in the painted armor had finally lead him someplace. He had landed his ship a few clicks north and had been on a speeder. When he saw the lone speeder that he hoped belong to them, he slowed down before getting off of the bike. He left it idling, not sure if Sabine even wanted to see him. He wouldn’t be particularly surprised if they preferred their alone time right now. But he had to try, at the very least.
He approached slowly, a hand on his blaster, just in case it was not their friend that he found, but a potential foe instead. One could never be too careful, especially when he had been attempting to track Grand Admiral Thrawn. “ Sabine ?? “ he called, finally passing the clearing and seeing them. “ It’s Kallus. Garazeb was…. Well, we were worried. “ he admitted, “ I told him I’d come and check up on you. “
Sabine looked up at the sound of a speeder bike in the distance, all mechanical hum and rattle. They froze, hoping it was just another passerby and not anyone she knew. Working quickly, they stowed tools in exchange for a blaster, aiming it at the thicket before them.
Something that sounded like her name carried across the wind, and they planted their feet sternly, breathing deepening in preparation for battle.
Who had the will to track her down all the way to this remote planet on the edges of the Outer Rim? What did they want with her? The stranger’s words were muffled and distorted from crossing through wind and distance, though she could see the shape of their body winding towards her in the foliage. Her heart jumped to their throat. After all this time fighting, after the wars she was raised in, still they felt a twinge of anxiety at the prospect of confrontation. Stalks of foreign plants rustled with movement, and a figure emerged into the clearing with a hand on their gun. Sabine stood, still as a stone.
Kallus?
Was it really him, that old Imperial-turned-Rebel, after all? Last she had heard, he was on Lira San, helping to rebuild the Lasat species on their homeworld, (and spending a lot of time with Zeb, too). Could it be him, this man whose story mirrored their own in too many ways? Yet, here he stood in front of her, eyes wide as their own.
“Dank farrik,” they finally murmured. They lowered their blaster, but the tension did not leave the muscles in her arm (or in the air between the two figures).
“Kallus. If I’m being honest, you are the last person I expected to see here. Wh-” they holstered their gun. “What are you doing here?”