Reunion
Alyysa pulled up a stool at a high table, glad that the day was finally over. Now all she wanted to do was sit around with her partner, kick back a few brews, and call it a night.
The cantina on Carrick Station was just starting to get lively, but not overly crowded. Some spacers were playing pazaak in the corner. A couple was dancing together to the lively tune the band was playing.
“What do you want to eat?” she asked Jorgan as he sat on the stool next to her.
“Cantina food, Horada? Really?” he replied.
“Your loss,” she laughed, flagging down a waitress to take their orders. She returned a few seconds later with their drinks.
“Well if it isn’t my old pal Captain Horada!” came a shout. Alyy looked up, wondering who could possibly be looking for her now that she was off duty. Looking around, she didn't see anyone approaching her, but across the cantina, she saw a Twi’lek woman approach one of the pazaak players.
“It can’t be,” she said, more to herself than to Jorgan. She slid from the stool and walked over to the pazaak table, slightly pushing the Twi’lek aside. The players looked up at her, though she only noticed one of them.
“’Deen? Is that really you?” she asked. No one said anything for a what felt like an eternity.
“Hey sis,” he finally replied. “Long time no see.”
She didn’t know whether to punch him or hug him. It had been over 10 years since she last saw her brother. After her injury, he had just up and left Alderaan without a word to anyone. She knew he had been back to see their parents about five years ago, but other than that, she’d heard no word of him.
“’Scuse me, lady, we’re tryin’ to play here,” the other pazaak player said.
“And I got some business with the captain,” said the Twi’lek.
“Oh relax,” ‘Deen said, waving the other two off. “I’ll be back to finish taking your money in a little bit, Rem. And I’ll deal with whatever business we have in a bit, Lira.”
“Whatever,” Rem said, throwing his cards down. Lira flipped him off as he stood.
“Great company you’re keeping,” Alyy said.
‘Deen shrugged. “They’re not so bad, once you get to know them.”
She led him back to the table where she had been sitting with Jorgan. She pulled over another stool for her brother and sat down.
“Jorgan, I’d like you to meet my brother, Jaydeen. ‘Deen, this is Aric Jorgan, my XO.”
The two men stared down each other, causing Alyy to roll her one good eye. Thankfully, the waitress came by and delivered the food she had ordered.
“You mind?” ‘Deen asked before grabbing some of the fried potatoes from her plate.
“So where have you been all this time?” Alyy asked between bites of her nerfburger.
“All over the galaxy, really,” ‘Deen replied. “I’m working with the Republic on some things.”
“Privateers are nothing more than jumped-up smuglers,” Jorgan said, giving ‘Deen a menacing stare.
“Jumped-up smuggler? I’ll have you know that I was hand picked by a senator for this job,” ‘Deen replied. The two looked ready to exchange blows and the last thing Alyy wanted was for either of them to get kicked out for causing trouble.
“Hey, cool it, you two,” Alyy said, glaring at both of them.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Jorgan said, standing up. “It seems like you two have a lot to talk about. See you back at the ship, captain.”
“You sure know how to pick ‘em, sis,” ‘Deen said.
“He’s not so bad, once you get to know him,” Alyy replied. ‘Deen didn’t respond and a heavy silence fell over the table.
“Why’d you leave, ‘Deen?” Alyy finally asked. She’d been wanting to know the answer for years now.
“Why do you think?” he replied.
She knew why. Years ago, she’d been attacked by a manka cat. It’s what left her without an eye and left the scars that still marked her brother’s face to this day.
“You know that wasn’t your fault, right?” she said.
“I should have warned you about Tarrin,” he told her. “I knew he wasn’t any good for you, especially with the way he ended things with me.”
“I didn’t know, ‘Deen,” Alyy replied. “You can’t blame yourself for that.”
‘Deen sighed and folded his arms across his chest.
“’Deen, look. You’re my brother and I’ll always love you,” she said. “And I forgive you.”
He looked up at her, tears in his eyes. She smiled.
“I think you got something in your eye there,” she said. He laughed and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, then he quickly glanced around to check if anyone had seen that.
“I guess I ought to get going, sis,” he told her. “I got places to be.”
“And money to win,” Alyy said, smiling. The two of them stood and she threw her arms around him. “Keep in touch this time. And cut your hair. You look ridiculous.”
‘Deen squeezed her tight. “You always told it to me straight, little sis. You take care of yourself. And you tell me if that jerk treats you wrong.”
Alyy laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m a big girl now. I can take care of myself.”
