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@arminjace.bsky.socialOct 11, 2026, 11:39 PM

Repost - Armin and Calida receive shocking news over the HoloNet regarding the apparent destruction of one of the most storied units in history.

#starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon #darkfrontier

"… and although Chief of State Mon Mothma has remained circumspect regarding the squadron's fate, it appears as though Rogue Squadron, along with General Wedge Antilles, has indeed met with disaster," the newscaster stated with a somber tone. Armin deactivated the holoprojector and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as his head drooped. He glanced up at Calida, who was crying silently opposite him. "You okay?" he asked quietly. The Chandrilan woman shook her head. "That's the second squadron to be wiped out in just a few weeks," she said. "And the Rogues were arguably more elite than the Wolves were. I'm not ashamed to say it. General Antilles trained his people well." Armin nodded, swallowing past a lump in his throat. "I never met him myself, but my cousin Bror flew with him during the campaign against Ysanne Isard. He spoke highly of him." "You think it's possible the same pirates were involved?" Calida asked. "No," Armin said flatly. "The Rogues were in the Corvis Minor system, in the middle of the Ciutric Hegemony. Pirates might've been able to get away with a lot before the Empire fractured, but not after. Word from Intelligence was that Krennel, the man who stole the Hegemony from Sate Pestage, is even more ruthless than most Imp commanders. I'd guess the Rogues were going after him, trying to stop him from consolidating Imperial power in that sector, and they got ambushed by his forces. Wasn't your squadron scouting Serenno?" Calida nodded. "We were investigating it as a possible signatory after Zsinj was killed and his empire fell apart."
@arminjace.bsky.socialOct 5, 2026, 5:34 AM

After waking up from a blow to the head, Armin realizes the gap he tried to hold between himself and Calida has now collapsed. #darkfrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #calidahighmoon #arminjace

"When we got hit… when you got knocked out…" Calida began. "What about it?" She smiled. "You called me 'Cali'," she replied. Armin sighed. "Sorry," he said. "Don't be," Calida said. "I liked it. And I'm glad you're not walling yourself off anymore." The Thyferran frowned. He hadn't realized it, but she was right, of course. At some point, the distance he'd intentionally kept between them had collapsed in on itself. He exhaled heavily, then leaned back against the wall, trying to squash the feelings of guilt rising in him. "Hey, don't put them back up," Calida said. "Don't go away again. I've had enough relationships fall apart because of emotional detachment, both men and women." "Sorry," he muttered. "And stop apologizing," the Chandrilan woman replied irritably. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm just worried about you. You're too hard on yourself. I'm betting you have been ever since you left Intelligence. And I know I don't have room to talk, but I'm still trying." Without warning, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the burning ache in his ribs. He felt her hug him back, stroke his hair. He breathed in her scent, and felt soothed by it. "It's okay," she whispered. "I've got you." "I've got you too," he murmured.
@arminjace.bsky.socialOct 5, 2026, 3:57 AM

#stormythOC_tober2026 #OC_tober2026 Day 2 - Lonely

Armin comes face to face with a ghost of himself, from a different future.

#DarkFrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace

"He is who you are meant to be," the robed figure repeated. "So that means I should die? And let him go on living? Let him go on wandering the galaxy, letting other people die for him?" Armin demanded. "No," a familiar voice answered. "No, you shouldn't die." The Thyferran turned, coming face to face with… himself. He was older, with gray hair creeping in at the temples and throughout his beard. His eyes were tired, dulled with the pain of so many losses. He wore loneliness like a cloak. But it was definitely Armin, burdened with the weight of a different future. "You shouldn't have to die to maintain my timeline," he said. "You deserve a chance to live. To make better decisions than I did." "I don't think I want to ask what's happened to you," Armin said. "You look like you've been through hell." The older man gave him a wry smile. "You could say that. I've done a lot of things… made a lot of choices… that led me to where I am. And sure, I've gained some things. I've become stronger in the Force, carved out my own niche in the galaxy. But it's cost me far more than I ever wanted to pay. Sijda, Serah, Adira… our father…" Armin nodded. "Sijda dying on Coruscant was enough to drive me out of service. I never met Serah, but…" "She's the one who taught us - taught me - how to use a lightsaber," the older Armin said. "She wanted to accomplish something with her life, something new and different. But she ended up losing her connection to the Force, and then her life."
@arminjace.bsky.socialOct 5, 2026, 3:55 AM

#stormythOC_Tober2026 #OC_Tober2026 Day 3: First Meeting

(I've been busy with schoolwork so I'm a couple days behind)

The first meeting between Armin and Calida, from #DarkFrontier.

#starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon

She found him sitting alone by the railing, gazing out over the bustling cityscape. At first glance, he seemed unassuming, an average tourist wearing a brown nerfhide jacket and gray slacks, his demeanor relaxed. By comparison, her blue flight suit stood out like a sore thumb. While New Republic servicemen were a common sight now on Coruscant, there weren't many of them in this particular tapcafe. In an instant, his eyes flicked toward her, his piercing blue gaze locking on out of the corner of his eye. "Captain Jace?" she asked tenuously. He turned his body toward her and stood. "I'm Armin Jace," he confirmed, offering his hand. She shook it, then sat across from him. "I'm Calida Highmoon, Captain, New Republic Starfighter Command. I was told you might be able to help me," she said. Armin's eyes narrowed. "I don't work for the New Republic anymore. I resigned," he said. "Yes, I know," Calida said. "Unfortunately, trying to deal with New Republic Intelligence directly is like talking to a wall. They refuse to help me investigate what happened to my squadron." "You might want to take it from the top," Armin said. "I'm not great at jumping into the middle of things."
@arminjace.bsky.socialOct 5, 2026, 3:35 AM

Anora pours over the data Armin and Calida gathered, and reaches a startling conclusion.
#darkfrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon #anorahighmoon

Anora shook her head in disbelief. She wanted to be convinced that this was a hoax, a fabrication. She wanted to believe that they'd all been mistaken. But the data stream made things painfully obvious. While the New Republic was focused on consolidating the Core and rebuilding after Thrawn's rampage, the more remote sectors in the Outer Rim were being left unchecked. Pirates were systematically targeting planet after planet, looting and terrorizing in a wave of chaos that there was little hope of stopping. "I've got to get this to General Cracken," she said quietly. Armin shook his head. "I guarantee he already knows about it, but his hands are tied. The Council is still trying to mop up around Coruscant and Bilbringi." "What's your source for that?" Anora asked, a frown contracting her brow. "Experience," the Thyferran answered. "The New Republic won't hesitate to consolidate everything around defending Coruscant. Tactically, securing the shipyards at Bilbringi is the next logical step. Big picture, though, is that the New Republic backed itself into a corner when they took Coruscant. They have to spend significant resources to hold the world, which means everything else takes a back seat. They're blind to what's going on out here. It's a shocking parallel to what happened three centuries ago, when the Nihil were free to do what they wanted."
@arminjace.bsky.socialOct 1, 2026, 7:21 AM

I don't have the word "injury" but I do have a scene featuring one :D Armin finds himself waking up after taking a pretty hard fall out of a gun turret.

#starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon #darkfrontier

Armin breathed in fresh air, and immediately regretted it. The thick, cloying scent of bacta flooded his nose and slicked his tongue. "Gross," he muttered. "What happened…?" "Oh, thank the Force. You're awake," Calida said. "I thought you were… How do you feel?" Armin thought for a moment, subtly flexing muscles throughout his body. Nearly all of them ached. "Like I went a few rounds with a Gamorrean shockboxer," he admitted. Calida smiled sweetly at him. "Well, you don't look any worse for wear," she said. "What happened? Last thing I remember was being…" "Shot at? Yeah. We took a pretty bad hit on the rear dorsal quarter," Calida replied. "It knocked you completely out of the turret. You fell down the ladder and hit the deck." "That explains a lot," Armin said. "What happened with the pirates?" Calida frowned. "Another ship entered the system and opened up on them. They retreated pretty fast after that," she answered. "What ship?" Armin asked. "Some Imperial ship. A Raider Deuce," Calida replied. "Did you get an ID?" the Thyferran asked. "The Corvus," she said. Armin scoured his memory. "Name doesn't ring a bell," he muttered. "No idea what an Imperial ship is doing out here, though." "They're probably wondering the same thing about us," Calida pointed out. "Picket ships tend to stick to, y'know, pickets." Armin tried to sit up, then winced. "Easy there," she said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I told you you fell hard." "Hard enough to make you think I was dead," he said. Calida nodded. "Part of me wonders whether I was."
@arminjace.bsky.socialOct 1, 2026, 7:18 AM

#stormythOC_tober2026 Day 1 - Sibling Bond

Calida makes a decision that will cost her standing in the New Republic, much to her sister's chagrin.

#OC_tober2026 #StarWars #starwarsocs #calidahighmoon #anorahighmoon #darkfrontier

"Are you sure about this, Lida? You know I can't protect you if you go through with this," Anora said. "You'll be branded a renegade." Calida looked up at the side of the Eidolon, to the modified Starbird crest that served as Armin's symbol, and smiled sadly. "Then a renegade I am. But you'll still be my sister," she replied. "I'm sorry, Nora, but I've got to go. If the Baran Syndicate is behind this, then I have to follow it through." Anora sighed. "If you're really sure. Just take care of yourself, alright?" she said, enfolding her sister in a hug. Calida hugged Anora back. "I will, I promise. Stars be with you." "You too."
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 28, 2026, 6:40 AM

Eager for a score and a bit of credits to spend, the Nara sisters begin planning a casino job. #DarkFrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #kaitonara #orinnara #yuminara

"That looks like a good one," Yumi said, picking out a point on the starmap. The Alcedian gave her a tired look. "Canto Bight?" she asked. "Are you serious?" "There are tons of casinos on the planet," Yumi answered. "We only need to hit one or two and we'll be set." "She has a point," Orin said. "By keeping the raid to a minimum, the casinos on Canto Bight would barely register a disturbance. It's a prime target. With the Path engine, we can be in and out in no time." "We're not the only ones with a Path engine, though," Kaito pointed out. "Personally, I don't feel like tangling with the Snow Queen. The Banshee is tough but she can't go toe-to-toe with an MC80 cruiser." "I doubt the Winter's Bite will risk using a Path engine. Last we heard, they were still near Eshan," Orin replied. "The Path engine would pretty much take them the most direct route, and that goes directly through the Galactic Core. Even that cruiser would be crushed like a pastry under those gravitational forces." Kaito sat back in her seat and frowned. "If they don't use the Path engine, they'll have to take a pretty long circuit. It would take five or six days to get there. That should give us enough time, but we'll need to be smart about it," she said. Leaning forward, she looked at each of the other two women, and added, "Let's get planning."
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 24, 2026, 12:58 PM

Calida is bisexual! It's very funny how she reveals this to Armin in #DarkFrontier

(Art by @leafsaw.bsky.social)

@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 23, 2026, 5:44 AM

After waking up in the Eidolon's medbay, Armin and Calida discuss what happened after he blacked out.
#darkfrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon

"Oh, thank the Force. You're awake," Calida said. "I thought you were… How do you feel?" Armin thought for a moment, subtly flexing muscles throughout his body. Nearly all of them ached. "Like I went a few rounds with a Gamorrean shockboxer," he admitted. Calida smiled sweetly at him. "Well, you don't look any worse for wear," she said. "What happened? Last thing I remember was being…" "Shot at? Yeah. We took a pretty bad hit on the rear dorsal quarter," Calida replied. "It knocked you completely out of the turret. You fell down the ladder and hit the deck." "That explains a lot," Armin said. "What happened with the pirates?" Calida frowned. "Another ship entered the system and opened up on them. They retreated pretty fast after that," she answered. "What ship?" Armin asked. "Some Imperial ship. A Raider Deuce," Calida replied. "Did you get an ID?" the Thyferran asked. "The Corvus," she said. Armin scoured his memory. "Name doesn't ring a bell," he muttered. "No idea what an Imperial ship is doing out here, though." "They're probably wondering the same thing about us," Calida pointed out. "Picket ships tend to stick to, y'know, pickets."
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 22, 2026, 1:02 AM

Anora finally sits down a takes a look at something Armin and Calida had been trying to warn her about.

#darkfrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon #anorahighmoon

Anora shook her head in disbelief. She wanted to be convinced that this was a hoax, a fabrication. She wanted to believe that they'd all been mistaken. But the data stream made things painfully obvious. While the New Republic was focused on consolidating the Core and rebuilding after Thrawn's rampage, the more remote sectors in the Outer Rim were being left unchecked. Pirates were systematically targeting planet after planet, looting and terrorizing in a wave of chaos that there was little hope of stopping. "I've got to get this to General Cracken," she said quietly. Armin shook his head. "I guarantee he already knows about it, but his hands are tied. The Council is still trying to mop up around Coruscant and Bilbringi." "What's your source for that?" Anora asked, arching an eyebrow at him. "Experience," the Thyferran answered. "The New Republic won't hesitate to consolidate everything around defending Coruscant. Tactically, securing the shipyards at Bilbringi is the next logical step. Big picture, though, is that the New Republic backed itself into a corner when they took Coruscant. They have to spend significant resources to hold the world, which means everything else takes a back seat. They're blind to what's going on out here. It's a shocking parallel to what happened three centuries ago, when the Nihil were free to do what they wanted."
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 22, 2026, 1:02 AM

Anora finally sits down a takes a look at something Armin and Calida had been trying to warn her about.

#darkfrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon #anorahighmoon

Anora shook her head in disbelief. She wanted to be convinced that this was a hoax, a fabrication. She wanted to believe that they'd all been mistaken. But the data stream made things painfully obvious. While the New Republic was focused on consolidating the Core and rebuilding after Thrawn's rampage, the more remote sectors in the Outer Rim were being left unchecked. Pirates were systematically targeting planet after planet, looting and terrorizing in a wave of chaos that there was little hope of stopping. "I've got to get this to General Cracken," she said quietly. Armin shook his head. "I guarantee he already knows about it, but his hands are tied. The Council is still trying to mop up around Coruscant and Bilbringi." "What's your source for that?" Anora asked, arching an eyebrow at him. "Experience," the Thyferran answered. "The New Republic won't hesitate to consolidate everything around defending Coruscant. Tactically, securing the shipyards at Bilbringi is the next logical step. Big picture, though, is that the New Republic backed itself into a corner when they took Coruscant. They have to spend significant resources to hold the world, which means everything else takes a back seat. They're blind to what's going on out here. It's a shocking parallel to what happened three centuries ago, when the Nihil were free to do what they wanted."
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 19, 2026, 10:21 AM

Armin beats all those "scoundrel" allegations once and for all

#darkfrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon

"You didn't take advantage of me," she said, frowning. "You had a perfect opportunity, but you didn't. Why?" "You were drunk," he answered bluntly. "So that was the only reason?" she asked. "What do you mean?" "I mean, if I was sober, and I'd still made that invitation, would you have done any differently?" she asked. "Or do you not see me that way?" "Calida…" Armin sighed. Why did she have to bring this up now? "I'm just trying to understand," she said. "You kissed me out of nowhere, but then refused to bed me. Is there a line you don't want to cross?" "No," Armin said. "I mean yes. Look, you're attractive. I just didn't want to cross any lines because I respected you. And I admit, the kiss was just to get a rise out of you." Well it kriffing worked, she thought. "But me being drunk cost me some of that respect." "That's not what I'm saying," Armin replied. "Look, I know I act like I don't care what people think of me, but that's not true. If I respect someone, I want them to respect me too. I didn't want you to think poorly of me, especially if we're working together. And honestly, I don't know whether a relationship is a good thing for me right now." Never mind that my last relationship was four years ago, hopelessly toxic - and ended in her dying. "Besides, with everything I've observed about you, I just figured you were more into women." Calida couldn't help but bark out a laugh. "Is that what this is?" she asked, grinning at him. "You thought I only liked women? I can like both, you know. I'm allowed to be greedy." The Thyferran frowned. "I'm aware," he said flatly. "So you're just going to completely gloss over my concern for your wellbeing and respect…?" "Pretty much," she said, standing up. She swooped around the corner of the table and gave him a swift kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for the talk, Armin. I feel better now. Goodnight."
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 17, 2026, 6:03 AM

When they're captured by the Baran Syndicate, Armin and Calida have to wait for a distraction in order to attempt to escape. #darkfrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon #taronblackfeather

"They caught the fighters on the ground. They can't take off!" "Then we'll hold here and wipe 'em out!" Blackfeather roared. "Get your sorry carcass moving!" He shoved the pirate back out the door, then turned back to Armin and Calida. "This isn't over yet. I'll be back to get what I want." As soon as the door slammed shut, Armin went to work. Calida strained against her restraints to no avail, but the Thyferran was more methodical in his approach. He adjusted his shoulders as much as he could, to bring his wrists closer together, then began feeling the outside of his binders with his middle finger. Calida heard him grunt with effort and asked, "What are you doing?" "Getting free," he answered. "Give me a second." There was a series of five beeps, and Calida heard a click. Armin brought his arms around, one still wearing the binders, but the other freed. He shucked the restraints off, then went to work on Calida's. Seconds later, he pulled her from her seat. "How did you do that?" she asked. "Intelligence training, remember?" Armin asked, as if it should've been obvious. "These are TX-1 series binders. The Empire abandoned them years ago because of faulty catches - there was a backdoor code sliced in during manufacturing. If you know the code, it's easy to get out." He and Calida seized their blasters and ident cards from the table and moved to either side of the door.
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 14, 2026, 8:12 AM

After waking from a nightmare, Calida and Armin discuss the horrors they've each gone through and how Armin seems to be coping.

#starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon #darkfrontier

Armin felt the mattress shake, and cracked an eye open. Calida lay next to him, tossing fitfully, her eyes screwed shut as if she were in pain. She groaned, whimpered, then she screamed and sat bolt upright, panting heavily. The Thyferran sat up beside her, placing a gentle hand on her arm. "Easy, Cali. You're alright," he said. "You're safe." Instinctively, she grabbed at Armin's wrist, and he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "Take it easy." "I… I saw…" she tried to choke out. "It was Serenno." "It's over," Armin said, trying to soothe the beleaguered woman. "You're not there anymore. You're safe." Cali swallowed thickly and burrowed into his arms. "How… how do you do it?" she asked. "Do you not have nightmares too?" The Thyferran frowned. "I do. It's not always easy. It took a lot of counseling to start getting past it. Months of therapy. I had a lot of help, and I'm here to help you, too." Calida blinked at Armin with red-rimmed eyes. "I know," she said. "I'm sorry, I should be able to deal with this better." "You're dealing with it as well as you can," Armin replied. "Don't be too hard on yourself."
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 12, 2026, 7:50 AM

After news breaks of a disaster, Calida is shaken by the implications, leaving Armin to calm her down.

#darkfrontier #starwars #starwarsocs #arminjace #calidahighmoon #isardsrevenge

"… and although Chief of State Mon Mothma has remained circumspect regarding the squadron's fate, it appears as though Rogue Squadron, along with General Wedge Antilles, has indeed met with disaster," the newscaster stated with a somber tone. Armin deactivated the holoprojector and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as his head drooped. He glanced up at Calida, who was crying silently opposite him. "You okay?" he asked quietly. The Chandrilan woman shook her head. "That's the second squadron to be wiped out in just a few weeks," she said. "And the Rogues were arguably more elite than the Wolves were. I'm not ashamed to say it. General Antilles trained his people well." Armin nodded, swallowing past a lump in his throat. "I never met him myself, but my cousin Bror flew with him during the campaign against Ysanne Isard. He spoke highly of him." "You think it's possible the same pirates were involved?" Calida asked. "No," Armin said flatly. "The Rogues were in the Corvis Minor system, in the middle of the Ciutric Hegemony. Pirates might've been able to get away with a lot before the Empire fractured, but not after. Word from Intelligence was that Krennel, the man who stole the Hegemony from Sate Pestage, is even more ruthless than most Imp commanders. I'd guess the Rogues were going after him, trying to stop him from consolidating Imperial power in that sector, and they got ambushed by his forces. Wasn't your squadron scouting Serenno?" Calida nodded. "We were investigating it as a possible signatory after Zsinj was killed and his empire fell apart." "That's a 40-hour trip for most cargo haulers," Armin said. "Most pirates don't want to scavenge that far out from their base. No, this had to be Hegemony forces." Calida offered him a small smile. "I can see why you chose to be a private investigator," she said. "You're good at thinking things like this through."
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 9, 2026, 5:13 AM

A short scene from #darkfrontier that shows two of the Nara sisters arguing in the Banshee's engine room.

#starwars #starwarsocs #yuminara #orinnara

"You really think you can pull this off?" Yumi asked, folding her arms. "I would, admittedly, have better luck, if someone were not talking my ear off," Orin replied. "It's a hyperspace engine. You've dealt with them before. What's so difficult about it?" The Mirialan rolled her eyes. "It's not just a hyperspace engine," she hissed. "This is an incredibly complex navigational array that-" "Blah, blah, blah. So what you're saying is it'll take longer to rig up?" Yumi asked. "Essentially, yes," Orin answered. "I have to overlay this with the current stardrive map in order to safely access the new hyperspace paths. And I can't do it with you hovering over my shoulder." "Fine," Yumi said, rolling her eyes. "Just let us know when it's ready. I'm ready for another score." "Aye aye, captain," Orin muttered sarcastically.
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 6, 2026, 8:25 PM

Another twofer - after a nasty fight, Armin wakes up battered and bruised, with Calida right there to take care of him. #starwars #starwarsocs #calidahighmoon #arminjace #darkfrontier

"And the cracked ribs," she pressed. "And the cracked ribs," he agreed. "Hey," she said. "What's up?" Armin asked. "When we got hit… when you got knocked out…" Calida began. "What about it?" She smiled. "You called me 'Cali'," she replied. Armin sighed. "Sorry," he said. "Don't be," Calida said. "I liked it. And I'm glad you're not walling yourself off anymore." The Thyferran frowned. He hadn't realized it, but she was right, of course. At some point, the distance he'd intentionally kept between them had collapsed in on itself. He exhaled heavily, then leaned back against the wall, trying to squash the feelings of guilt rising in him. "Hey, don't put them back up," Calida said. "Don't go away again. I've had enough relationships fall apart because of emotional detachment, both men and women." "Sorry," he muttered. "And stop apologizing," the Chandrilan woman replied irritably. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm just worried about you. You're too hard on yourself. I'm betting you have been ever since you left Intelligence. And I know I don't have room to talk, but I'm still trying." Without warning, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the burning ache in his ribs. He felt her hug him back, stroke his hair. He breathed in her scent, and felt soothed by it.
@arminjace.bsky.socialSep 6, 2026, 8:24 PM

Another twofer - after a nasty fight, Armin wakes up battered and bruised, with Calida right there to take care of him. #starwars #starwarsocs #calidahighmoon #arminjace #darkfrontier

"And the cracked ribs," she pressed. "And the cracked ribs," he agreed. "Hey," she said. "What's up?" Armin asked. "When we got hit… when you got knocked out…" Calida began. "What about it?" She smiled. "You called me 'Cali'," she replied. Armin sighed. "Sorry," he said. "Don't be," Calida said. "I liked it. And I'm glad you're not walling yourself off anymore." The Thyferran frowned. He hadn't realized it, but she was right, of course. At some point, the distance he'd intentionally kept between them had collapsed in on itself. He exhaled heavily, then leaned back against the wall, trying to squash the feelings of guilt rising in him. "Hey, don't put them back up," Calida said. "Don't go away again. I've had enough relationships fall apart because of emotional detachment, both men and women." "Sorry," he muttered. "And stop apologizing," the Chandrilan woman replied irritably. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm just worried about you. You're too hard on yourself. I'm betting you have been ever since you left Intelligence. And I know I don't have room to talk, but I'm still trying." Without warning, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the burning ache in his ribs. He felt her hug him back, stroke his hair. He breathed in her scent, and felt soothed by it.