Go exploring

After eating breakfast and cleaning up, The Outlander and Senya decided to go exploring the area some more. Much of Odessen was still unoccupied wilderness and few had made forays beyond the areas the base was using. The ****-users and Valkorian had said the planet had a unique balance of light and dark energies, but no one was sure why. Grandmaster Satele Shan and Darth Marr's **** ghost had stayed here for years, waiting for The Outlander in order to show him a way to defeat Arcann. But that area had been in a different direction from the one Senya had taken, he thought.

After a few hours of going through woods and rocks, they found a good place to take a break. While Senya refilled her canteen from one of the many creeks in the area, The Outlander's commlink began to chirp. It was Lana, responding to his earlier message. "How are things going with Senya?" she asked.

"We're doing some exploring, not a lot to see but woods and rocks, though. At least the local insect life doesn't seem especially bitey. Still, the weather is good, and so is the company."

"Has she succumbed to your charms yet?" Lana asked, sounding amused.

"I'm not that charming," he responded with a chuckle.

"You'd be surprised. A lot of women find you quite charming indeed. And Senya could do worse."

"Sounds like you're trying to make a match here."

"And what if I am? She's basically the remaining member of the Zakuulan royal family. If you want to keep Zakuul, having an heir with a claim to their throne is a pretty good way to go about it."

"You've put some thought into this."

"As your advisor, it's my job to consider all options and weigh opportunities. And as your lover, well, I could think of worse people to share you with than Senya. Just see where things go. I love you. See you when you get back."

"I know. See you then. And Lana? Keep an eye on Theron. Something's up with him."

"Will do." Lana ended the call.

Senya had returned while he'd been talking to Lana. "Everything alright?"

The Outlander nodded. "Lana was returning my call from earlier. I let her know I was out here with you so she wouldn't think I'd gone missing."

Senya smirked. "Oh? And does she approve of you spending nights with other another woman?"

"Sometimes, but usually if it's just something casual," he said nonchalantly.

"Interesting."

"Hmm?"

"Not important right now. So, we've got a few more hours of daylight, do you want to keep going or head back?"

"It's been a long time since I did any serious hiking, so my feet want to turn back, but I'd rather keep going for a while," the Outlander said. "Who knows what we might find?"

Senya nodded. "It has been a long time that I did anything without a clear objective. It is... strange, but worthwhile. Normally I'd be pursuing some fugitive or somehow serving Zakuul. This is just for me."

"It's not a bad thing to be dedicated to one's homeworld. The future of Zakuul is an important issue as well. Factions in both the Empire and Republic want **** for the attacks they suffered, while other factions want to move in and establish exclusive relations."

"The people of Zakuul rebelled against Vaylin for you. You're not going to just abandon them, are you?" Senya asked.

"No. I wouldn't let Firebrand commit atrocities against innocent civilians on Zakuul, I risked my neck during my escape to prevent a catastrophic explosion of a power station, and I will repay the faith that the people had in me. But while I may have the Eternal Throne, I'm not qualified to govern Zakuul on a regular basis. I want to know what you think."

"Zakuulans aren't used to governing themselves. There has always been an Emperor, and droids to do the rest. Everything else was just entertainment. The Knights of Zakuul might have been able to provide some stability, but they're decimated. It will take a decade at least to recruit, train, and deploy enough to even make a start. The Heralds are cultists and extortionists in the slums, and the Scions are all but extinct. Something new is called for."

"What about a council of chosen leaders? There's the leadership of the rebels, the surviving Scions, Koth, you..."

"Me? And what's more, Koth and I on the same council? When we met you he and I could barely stand to be in the same room, because I thought he was a criminal and deserter -"

"And he thought you were a fanatic and blind to the circumstances. You both learned better in time. It's just an idea - what do you think the people of Zakuul want?"

"A new Emperor. Especially an heir. Someone with a rightful claim to the throne instead of being an usurper."

"Like, for example, marrying the consort of the former Emperor?" the Outlander asked with a grin.

Senya looked surprised, then scowled. "It is unwise to joke about succession lines, and unkind to tease an old woman about marriage," she said.

"I see no old woman," the Outlander responded. "And I took a good look to be sure."

"What makes you think that I'd marry you? I didn't marry Valkorian, and we had three children together."

"Fourth time's the charm?"

Senya shook her head. "You are simply impossible."

"I get that a lot."