"How are you feeling, sweetheart?", Dara asked her friend as she knelt by the bed, taking the young woman's hand in hers.

Turning to Dara, Xin replied with a smile, "much better, thank you.  Whatever that concoction you gave me was, it worked."

"It's an old hangover remedy Nico taught me, he called it 'the hair of the gundark'," Dara responded, then added with a chuckle, "you really don't want to know what's in it."  Returning to her feet, the Captain said, "why don't you go take a shower and I'll find something for you to wear to bed."

Doing as she was told, Xin came back from her shower to find a shirt on the bed for her to wear.  As she began to put it on, she remarked, "this is a man's shirt, where did you get it?"

Amused by her friend's question, Dara replied in a jovial tone, "really, Xin?"  As the two climbed into the bed, the woman continued, "I mean, you do realize that I'm not exactly the epitome of virtue," then added, "let's just call it a souvenir."

As Xin began to drift off to sleep, Dara told her friend, "after I make this drop for the Resistance on Balmorra in the morning, we'll head for Nar Shaddaa to pick up some supplies to start this search of yours."

Hearing her friend's words, Xin suddenly sat up in the bed and exclaimed, "what... what are you talking about?  How did you find out about that?"

"Calm down," the Captain replied, "Jeldark told me everything and asked on your behalf for my help, I agreed."  Then in an exasperated tone followed up, "why didn't you ask me yourself, did you seriously think I'd tell you 'no'?"

"I didn't ask because I knew you wouldn't," Xin answered tersely, then went on, "Dara, this mission Jeldark and I are undertaking is extremely dangerous.  If we don't succeed, we're both dead this time."  Then rising to her feet and turning from her friend to hide the tears, continued, "I've lost too much already, my master, my Jedi friends, and for awhile, part of my soul.  I don't want to lose you, too."  After a brief moment, the woman added as she choked back her sobs, "I'm terrified Dara, twice I tried this and twice I almost died."

Leaving the bed to stand with her friend, Dara turned the young woman around and began wiping the tears from her cheeks with the cuff of her nightshirt .  "And just what makes you think I'm not as terrified, myself?", Dara whispered gently as she lovingly embraced her young friend, "you, Nico and D9 are the only family I have left... and I would never turn my back on family, no matter the cost."  As the two continued to stand there holding each other, Dara again spoke softly to her friend, "everything will be alright, you'll see.  We'll find this mysterious ally of yours... and together we'll all go find that son of a bitch and kick his ass," then mischievously added, "have a little faith, my young Padawan."

Still standing there, both began to laugh at Dara's last remark.  "You're absolutely right, Dara," Xin replied, "you would have made an exceptional Jedi Master... and with your vices, quite a unique one."  Again breaking into laughter, both women began to feel more at ease as their embrace slowly started to loosen.

Leading Xin back to the bed, Dara once more spoke to her dearest friend.  "Now lie back down and get some sleep, sweetheart," the Captain cooed, "tomorrow's going to be a hectic day and we both need all the rest we can get."  Waiting for the woman to settle in, Dara went to her side of the bed and did the same.  As she lay there and began to drift into sleep, Dara thought to herself, "as you always say my dear, may the Force be with us... ... ..."

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Mioraa