The Great Space Adventure in Space (Res)

[Mal]

Mal wished Irrina and Ofi goodbye, making the arrangements to come back in the morning and went back to his speeder. He couldn't help but sigh on his drive back, he'd quickly developed a habit after he got used to working for Ina. He'd go home and meditate for an hour, then he'd go to the gym after that. Then he'd do any errands he needed to do before heading home and making dinner, meditated again. Rinse and repeat the next day, and the next, he needed to do something different every now and then.. For now, he actually couldn't wait to start his normal routine. Now that he'd actually learned how to touch the Force, he found that the meditating helped him to get stronger in the Force. And he was learning how to use it slowly on his own, very slowly. VERY slowly.

Mal quickly changed into his gym clothes once he was home, then went and sat down on his coffee table like he normally did, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. This started his meditation exercises for the day. Reaching inward he opened himself up to the flow of the Force letting it wash over him. He could sense everything around him, at first he could only sense everything within a few feet. Now he could sense everything within twenty feet. It wasn't much but it was an improvement over what he could do just a week ago. Which was nothing. He really needed to find someone who was willing to teach him more than just the basics, though he was grateful he'd learned as much as he had. He still felt that he was far behind even the youngest youngling at the Jedi Temple.

After an hour had passed, he stood from his spot on the coffee-table and went back to his speeder. The drive to his gym was uneventful and boring, but he used the time to spread his mind out in the Force. He still couldn't read anyone's emotions or intentions really, unless they were about to do something to harm him, but he wasn't going to focus on it now. He decided to be patient and wait for now, the Force would guide him... Or so the Jedi he'd spoken to seemed to believe. For now he had no reason to doubt them as of yet, so he decided to trust in them, and their trust in the Force. Besides, his own life had been saved time and again by the Force so it had more than earned his trust by now. Trusting it was all he could do for the moment.

Mal started his workout routine weights first for half an hour, then the treadmill, running for another half hour. He worked out all his muscles, but not to build strength anymore, now he simply worked out to keep where he was. He'd found the balance he needed for himself and just wanted to stay at that stage. Mal continued his routine, alternating machines and exercises regularly. Taking a break he got some water and a power bar, waiting for them to settle before he got up and went to the final area of the gym. The real reason he went to the gym everyday, the sparring area. Granted he rarely stepped into the ring, not because he wasn't skilled, but because he focused simply on ending the fight and moving on. Ten years worth of Army training was hard to get rid of.

Mal moved to one of the punching bags and started pummeling it, his movements were simple and economic. He didn't waste any energy, each movement flowed to the next but he lacked a certain... grace. He was more focused on ending the fight than letting it drag on to find a less harmful way of ending it. In his mind the punching bag was a humanoid body, his strikes landed in sensitive places. Throat, solar plexus, kidney, punch, knee, kick. He never stopped moving while he pummeled the bag, his footwork focused just as much on moving to strike more sensitive areas as to dodge the next strike from his opponent. His arms were kept up, ready to block as well. He didn't want to get out of the habit of defending himself. He was so focused on what he was doing, that he didn't bother to pay attention to anyone around him, and he didn't sense anyone with the Force.

OOC: All credit for the title of this thread goes to Dutch ))

[Res]

Seria had been on leave for the last month or so. She had gone home to Alderaan to see her parents and brother that was a professor at the University in Aldera. It was nice seeing friends and family. They had also got a surprise when her brother Tryvon had also been given leave. It was great seeing her brother and her new nephew. She was now back on Coruscant and being deployed to Gorgon soon to do some intelligence gathering.

Stepping into the room she saw a couple Zabraks sparring in the ring. A Twi'lek from her department hitting the speedbag. The Captain continued to scan the room she saw ffamiliar face hitting one of the bags. She had given him a evaluation when he came back to he Army. She was still not privy to why he was gone and she knew that her job was to make sure he was psychologically sound to return to duty. Placing the towel around her neck and slipping on Bercgloves. Knesos hadn't had a good workout structure while on leave, yeah her and Tryvon went for a jog every morning. It felt odd having to call her siblings sir, she was the lowest ranking officer in the family.

After getting her gloves on she made her way over to the bag with the man.

"Care for some assistance, Sargent?"

The woman said smiling and standing with her hands on her hips. She was dressed in shorts that came a third on the way down her thigh and a white tank top. He had her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. The man was going to town on the bag. She chuckled staring at the soldier awaiting a response.

[Mal]

Mal heard someone call to him, and mention him by rank. He stretched out with his senses and felt someone behind him, but he couldn't tell anything about it. He guessed being able to recognize people with his senses came with time. Turning to look while he panted, he saw a very attractive blonde woman standing there smiling at him. It took him a moment to recognize her which caused him to smile, it had been a few years since his psyche eval after his mother had been murdered and he'd killed her murderers. But he couldn't really forget the blonde, not with those looks. Punching the bag one more time and stepping back he smiled and nodded. "Sure Captain, could always do with the company."

Mal couldn't help but smile as he wiped sweat away with his own towel, before he moved behind the bag and held it. "Go for it Captain, I could use the rest... And it's Mal for now, I've transferred to the reserves for the moment." It was true enough too he could use the rest, it wouldn't be good if he exerted his muscles too much and tore something when he was supposed to be protecting Ina. He let her take her turn for the moment, she didn't look like she'd been here all that long, so he guessed this was more of a warm up for her than anything else. She looked like she had kept herself in good shape over the years, and judging from the way she was hitting the bag she knew what she was doing. Not that he should be surprised. The Army trained all those that were interested very well.

Mal let her hit the bag to her heart's content, "So tell me Captain Knesos, still diving into people's minds to determine if they're fit enough to go run into a nest of rancor, or whatever it is you determine they're fit for." He asked with only a small amount of teasing in his voice, he did flash her a smile and a wink afterward to show her he was just kidding in the way he phrased it. He was genuinely interested in what she was up to though, she had helped him out when he needed it. Not that he was willing to admit it in public though, no matter how good she was at her job, he had a level of stubborn to match any level of psychoanalysis she possessed. Or at least he thought he did, he could be very wrong in that thought.

[Res]

Nodding as she threw her towel on the nearest bench. As he got behind the bag Seria threw a couple jab as crosses to what would be someones chest. Then a couple uppercuts to the abdominal area. The captain hear him speak, it took her a moments to respond. With her exerting her energy into her punches she couldn't speak. After a few morejabs she held onto the bag and spoke.

"Very well Mal. Yeah, for the next week or so until my transfer happens."

Knesos chuckled a little at the thought of her being transfered to a planet that is bordered by the Sith Empire and the Mandalorian. She was one of the best Intelligence officers they had and her expertise was needed. Going back and now kicking the bag. The woman was kicking it with everything she had. Throwing a couple knees into her barrage of attacks. She was now sweating, feeling the sweat beading up on her brow and her chest. She needed this workout there were a ccouple frustrations that had happened the last couple months and she needed a outlet. Her kicks and punches came harder and faster until she planted a sidekick as hard as she could to the bag.

She now stood there breathing heavily with her hand on her hip. It felt good to get that frustration out, she glanced over to her workout partner.

"So that was fun? Oh and I'm off duty its Seria." she winked at the man.

[Mal]

From what little the man could tell from this exchange, Seria was at least as skilled as he was, if not more so. She was in good shape though, her exertion only confirmed what he had assumed. Well, nice to know his squad wasn't the only one being transferred. He just wished he'd be going with them, Gorgon was a dangerous place these days with the war going on and all. He didn't like being left behind by his squad, but he was learning a lot and when he eventually came back he'd be better than ever. They'd just have to do without their "good luck" charm for a few months while he learned. He'd be able to amaze them all when he got back, he'd be able to jump over all their heads from a standing position.

Mal stepped away from the bag when she did, smiling at her and nodding. "Alright Seria." He leaned against the bag lightly, spreading his senses to the bag, trying to feel when it was going to give up on him, so he knew when he needed to move. Wouldn't be very impressive if he fell on his backside in front of this captain now would it? His mind shifted over to names, technically speaking, with him being in the reserves he didn't need to treat her like an officer unless he was in uniform. And he didn't foresee being in uniform again for at least several months, maybe even a year or two. He didn't know how long it would take him to learn everything he needed to learn.

Mal pulled on the Force, using it to revitalize his body slightly, he wasn't back to full and he hadn't even been sure he could do it, but he was better. Even still he couldn't help but wish that he was going out to Gorgon with his squad, he had a bad feeling about the whole thing. And now he knew where his bad feelings came from, he trusted them more than he ever had in the past. Looking over at Seria again the thought struck him about her transfer, and acting on impulse he decided to ask her about it. "So where's your transfer taking you? If you don't mind my asking." He kept his voice conversational, or at least as conversational as he could while talking to a very attractive woman in a tank top and shorts. He might have the discipline of a career soldier, but he was still a guy.

[Res]

Making her way to a refrigeration unit and grabbed two bottles of water. Tossing one to Mal she opened one and took a sip. The cold water felt good, it cooled her down and dehydrated her. She reached for her towel and sipped off the sweat and sat on the bench. She looked up at the man and contemplated his question for a few moments. She wasn't sure where the conversation was going but this was the first man that she found halfway interesting since Remington. She smiled at Mal and waited a few moments before answering.

"I am being thrown to the arse end of the Galaxy. They need experienced intelligence officer and I guess km it. But that's all they told me."

She wasn't going to tell him that she was being sent to Gargon. She herself wasn't completely sure if that was were she was going. The Captain took another sip of her water, willing off some more sweat she sat on the floor with her knees bent and he'd feet together. She bent forward stretching her back. She then straightened out her legs and bent forward again. Knesos could tell the young man was staring at her. She could read people that was her job after all. Still leaned toward she turned her head and spoke.

"Is there something I can help you with? You keep staring at me."

She inquired, she had a good idea why he was staring at her. She was in her work out cloths and they were somewhat revealing and he was a guy. Seria never considered herself to be that pretty, she was what you would call a tomboy. She fought with her brothers and never was into that girlie stuff except when she spent time with Rogue.

[Mal]

Mal gratefully accepted the water and after he opened it, proceeded to down half of it before he came up for air. This was the first water he'd had since just before he'd done his meditation, too long especially after his work out. He smiled back at Seria when she smiled at him, he wasn't sure why the smile was there, but it was all but a reflex for him to return a smile. Especially one from a superior officer, though he was technically a civilian at the moment. A grin spread across his lips as he realized all the implications that had for him when it came to military protocol, oh the fun he could have. He pushed the thought from his mind as Seria answered him, arse end of the galaxy, experienced intelligence officers, he could only think of one place they were sending her.. He felt a chill run up his spine.

She asked him a question this time, it took him a spare moment to realize what the question was, and then that he'd been staring at her. Shaking his head, he forced a smile and gave her a half true answer. "What can I say, you got great legs." He flashed her a lopsided grin and a wink, before he stepped to where she was stretching and knelt down by her. He put a hand on her shoulder and waited until she looked at him, locking his grey eyes on her blue eyes before he spoke. "And... I have a bad feeling about Gargon. Something is going to happen there, I don't know what it is, but it'll be bad Seria. Watch your back over there, come back in one place. Hooah?" He couldn't help ending it with the slang he'd become accustomed to in the Army. It had no true definition, instead it meant "anything and everything except no."

Removing his hand from her shoulder, he sat on the floor next to her and took a deep breath, she was going to ask him about his bad feeling. So he beat her to it and simply started explaining. "Look at any report from my squad, there will be at least one mention of me having a 'bad feeling' and saving someone in my squad from injury or death. When I get a bad feeling, I trust it." He hesitated here, he hadn't even told Ina yet that he was Force-sensitive, he'd only really started getting some kind of hold on the whole thing... But if it helped keep someone alive, he couldn't let his own desire of keeping this a secret until he had more control over it to get in the way. "I learned a few weeks ago that I'm Force-sensitive, no real training or anything... But I still get warnings. My squad is going to Gargon, I've got a bad feeling Seria." He wished he could pin it down more, he wished he was going, he could help. But he needed to be here for now.

Mal shook his head and stood up again, looking down at Seria and flashing her a smile. He'd delivered his warning, whether or not she followed it was another story. It was all on her now. Holding his hand out to help her up, he cleared his mind and looked around the gym. "So where too next partner?" He might as well get a good workout out of today, even though he'd normally be heading home by now. He rarely went all out when he was at the gym, he wanted to be in good shape when he needed to be as opposed to sore and hurt.

[Res]

When the Sergeant responded to her inquiry about his staring at her, she was taken off guard by the answer. Before she could react to the claim he spoke again about her transfer. The Captain looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face. What was he meaning by bad feeling? Was this his way of caring about her? Was he trying to tell her not to go? These questions raced through her mind. It had been said with a sincere touch on her back. Seria could also hear it in his voice. All she could do was nod in agreement.

As Mal sat next to her she reached for her water and crossed her legs. Placing the bottle on her neck to cool herself off as she listened to the man. She had read his file when she first met the man couple hears prior. There were mysterious unexplained things that caught her eye. His COs noted several times that he would say that something bars going to happen and then moments later he would knock someone out of the way of a blaster bolt. Or save them from some other type of peril. This would explain why he was getting these bad feelings.but the bad feeling that he was having about Gargon troubled Knesos. But she had a job to do, and if the Army says go then she must do it.

"I did read your file, when I did your psych evaluation. I just chalked it up to you being one lucky person by being in the right place at the right time."

She followed him with her eyes as he stood. Taking his hand when her offered it, she stood and stumbled into Mal.

"Sorry... Up to you."

Her face turned red and she moved a strain of her blonde hair behind her ear.

[Mal]

Mal nodded in understanding, "I did the same up until a few weeks ago." He admitted, and it was easy to admit it because it was true. He never thought he had been special, just that he had been lucky. But he was wrong, he had the Force, but it was a part of every living thing so he wasn't exactly special. He just had the ability to feel it more than most others, and no training in it. What little he knew he had figured out all on his own, and it wasn't much. Maybe he could talk a Jedi into helping him learn more even though it was against the rules of the Order for a non-Jedi to learn their ways. For now he'd keep trying to learn it on his own, he knew how to stretch out with the Force and sense the people around him, and he could use it to ease the strain he felt from working out. That was about it so far, at least that he could use consciously.

All thoughts were pushed from his mind when the blonde woman stumbled into him as he helped her up. She apologized and told him it was up to him as she blushed and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. But she didn't move. She was still against him after she bumped into him, and he wasn't about to complain. A lopsided grin crossed his face as they stood their, he probably could have gotten away with a lot right now, but he didn't want to be a bad person. So instead he reached up and pulled the hair she just brushed behind her ear, back out from behind her ear. Leaning closer to her, he whispered lightly in her ear. "Is that an order captain?" Pulling away slightly he simply raised an eyebrow, waiting to see her reaction. Truth be told Mal wasn't exactly the one night stand kinda guy, so there was a few ways for this to come back to bite him in the arse if he was unlucky. Or if she was in the mood to play with him.

However that thought aside, he was not against a few dates with the captain, she was interesting to talk to, knew the Army life, and was quite attractive. Without thinking he reached up and touched the scars on his right cheek, a habit he had gotten into after he got the lightsaber scar a few months ago. Sometimes, when he was trying to sleep at night, he still felt the burning of the lightsaber running down his skin. It was that incident that led him to discover his Force-sensitivity, which led him to the reserves, which led him to meet Ina and the Jedi he knew, and Arjha, and even meet Seria again. It was an odd stream of coincidences, if it even was a coincidence. He was starting to doubt that there were any chance meetings.

[Res]

Seria stepped back when he whispered in her ear. There was something more to Mal, more than she could figure out at the moment. The Captain stood there for a few moments then noticed they were gathering an audience. Knesos gave them a glare and they all went back to their business. The woman turned back to Denton and gave him a smirk, she wasn't sure if that was an order or her not knowing where to go from there. It felt like an eternity since either of them last spoke. The next line came out before she knew what she was saying.

"Would you like to grab a bite with me?"

Stupid Seria, what are you doing asking him out? She thought as she turned around in somewhat embarrassment. Seria hadn't been on a date since basic training. And the last person she dated was not dead, she didn't want Mal to die as well. But she felt something for the man, something she hadn't felt since Remington. Turning back she saw him touched the scar on his face, she had also read about how he had gotten them but the reports didn't go into much detail. Most reports for the last several years weren't very detailed which makes it hard for her and her staff to do their jobs. He mind was still on the question that blurted out of her mouth. She was an intelligent woman, she had her graduated from the University of Aldera before she was eighteen. But that didn't make her any less of a giggling school girl when a good looking and genuinely nice guy comes along.

[Mal]

Mal realized he was tracing the vertical scar on his cheek, the one from the lightsaber, and his hand flew down to his side. A faint blush colored his cheeks. Brushing it off he smiled at her, so she had decided to ask him out instead of him asking her out. Well this was a nice turn of events, normally he was the one doing the asking, it felt good for someone to ask him out for a change... No wonder women always wanted the man to ask her out. Mal considered it for a few more moments, on the one hand he enjoyed talking with Seria, and then there were the previously mentioned pluses. But then he also had the date with Arjha soon, and he would feel bad if he lied to either one of them about the other... But then, it was just a single date so far. It wasn't like they were serious... but would being honest make things worse in the long run?

All these thoughts and more went through his mind in a matter of seconds, before he smiled again and nodded. "Sure, it sounds like fun to me." Mal couldn't help but wink at her, his lopsided grin returning, the scars on his cheek only making his smile look better. It was an odd effect, but one that had been pointed out a number of times to him. The scars only helped him, made him look more human. In any cased, he liked them, used them to his advantage. "I have to be honest though Seria, I do have a date in a few days. No clue where it's going, but she's a civilian. Just had to be honest." Besides, she was an intelligence officer after all, she would find out easily enough. Probably would know before she went to Gargon... She had top level clearance after all, she could probably find out everything about him within minutes.

Mal shrugged, if he'd run into her just a couple days ago everything with Arjha would have been avoided. But it didn't matter, or he hoped it didn't anyway. Motioning with his head, he started walking, slowly at first then faster when he knew Seria was following him. Taking them to a part of the gym that had fewer people in it, he turned back to her and smiled. "Tell you what, I know this great restaurant that serves a variety of food from all over the galaxy." Unless she had another idea then all that would need to be done was decide when to go.

[Res]

"Oh you think this is a date, this isn't a date. This is just two friends getting something to eat. Plus i have no change of clothes, and my apartments over near the Senate."

Seria lied to the man, she had to think of something quick. That was the best thing that she could come up with on the spot. Picking her towel up and following the man out of the gym she thought for a moment. Why would he agree to go have dinner with her if he already had a date planned out already. Though as she stated this wasn't a date, it was two friends that were getting something to eat together. Anyways with her training she could manipulate this whole thing and get whatever information she wanted out of the man. They didn't call her 'Captain Intel' for nothing.

After walking for a little bit he stopped and turned to her and spoke again. Listening to what he said, she wasn't crazy for the food from other worlds. Some of the fruit wasn't half bad but give her a nice bantha burger and she would be happy. Seria was a simple girl and she didn't like the fancy things. She might have grown up in luxury on Alderaan but she didn't here on Coruscant and so she got used to doing things without protocol droids. The Captain thought for a moment she then got an idea.

"My brother just opened a restaurant in the Government section. We can go there and its not too far from my apartment. I can shower real quick and change. I have a spare bathroom that you can use. I have a pretty big place. It helps that my mother was a Senator and my brother Wol is a Junior Senator from Alderaan."

The officer stood there awaiting her companion to speak. Maybe she scarred him off by offering him to shower and change at her place. Or perhaps he could be been telling him about who his mother and brother were and saying that Trinton had a restaurant. Either way she hoped she hadn't blown it.

[Mal]

Mal blinked at her as she denied that it was a date, well, if she wanted to play that game. Then he raised his eyebrow when she mentioned a shower at her place, which was surprisingly close to his place. He lived near the senate anyway, probably a building or two away from her. He chose to live in one of the cheaper buildings, filled with other soldiers mostly. It was more affordable and he was surrounded by the net of safety of his fellow soldiers. "Well you know, I'd be more likely to believe you.. if you hadn't blushed, giggled like a school girl, and turned away after asking me." He stated with a lopsided grin plastered across his face, his smile stretching the scar on his cheek slightly. "But hey, if you're gonna stick by that logic.."

Mal grabbed her hand, pulled her to him, leaned in, and kissed her quickly on the cheek. "Then that won't have bothered you." He smiled again, letting her go and turning toward his speeder, motioning for her to climb in. "Come on, I live near the senate building myself." He looked over at her and flashed her another smile, waiting for her to climb in before he took off. If she was going to play hard to get, he wasn't going to make it easy on her. He needed to have his fun too after all.

While they were driving Mal glanced over at her out of the corner of his eye, suppressing a grin as he did. She might be "Captain Intel," but he had the advantage of the Force. And though he couldn't really use it, not that he would use it against her if he could, but he might be able to sense it if she was tricking him.. He wasn't great, or even good, but he had never received training to resist or block out the Force in the Army.. There was nothing to suggest that she had either right? With that thought in mind, he tried focusing his senses again, unsure as of yet how it would play out. "So... You just want me in your shower don't you?"

[Res]

"Now Sergeant, you must have been mistaken then. Are you sure I did theses things, do you need another psych eval. We can skip dinner and go to my office and get started."

The Captain said with a straight face. She was trying to see if the man truly was interested in her or was just playkng her. Seria stood there looking at the man waiting for his responds. What happenrd next Knesos could only be decided as unexpectedly expected. The man moved forward and kissed the Republic Officer on the cheek and moved back. He said something but she didn't hear him. After he had gotten in the speeder she touched her cheek where he had kissed her. Standing motionless for what seemed like forever she snapped back back shaking her head as Mal spoke again.

She hopped into the speeder and glanced at the soldier. Knesos wast sure what to think at the moment, was he genuinely attracted to her or was he the type that would lead her on. After a while of driving Denton said something that she didn't even think of. It hadn't even crossed her mind before. The woman was just being polite and was offering a friend a shower. She wasn't trykng to seduce the man, not uncontentiously anyway. Then drove on a few more moments before she replied to his comment.

"No, just thought would be easier that going back to your place to shower. Than having to come all the way back to mine."

[Mal]

Mal smiled and tapped his temple, "Mind like a durasteel trap Seri. I remember these things." He couldn't help but wink at her before continuing on. She had been happy to ride in silence until he cracked his joke, which she denied as her just being nice. "Uh huh, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night." He looked over at her, flashed a lopsided grin and winked at her again. Just to let her know that he had been joking this whole time with her. Though the thought of a shared shower had crossed his mind, the very next thought after that had been, "Too fast, too soon." So he and squashed the thought down under layers of repressed emotions.

"Relax Seri, I knew what you meant. I was just teasing you." Mal turned the speeder toward the Senate building, just as it he was heading toward his apartment. After asking for directions, he continued driving, altering his course only very slightly. She lived in the building next to his, he found it only slightly ironic. Still, he didn't need to run back to his apartment, he always kept a change of clothes in his speeder. Along with a spare blaster and hidden hold out blaster, both military grade, and his vibro knife. He was nothing if not prepared, or maybe the word was paranoid...

Parking where indicated, he jumped out and grabbed his duffle bag with spare clothes. "Always carry a change of clothes, never know when they'll be needed." He threw it over his shoulder and followed Seria up to her apartment, his eyes flicking to her behind and a smile plastered across his face.

[Res]

The officer sat in silence until the man spoke again. She gave he a look thag she didnt believe him. It was just a matter of time before one of them was going to break. It sure wasnt going to be her, Seria was trained not to give into demades or temptation. No matter how get he looked. Knesos sat for a few moments before saying something to Mal.

"You know Sergeant, you should have that nervous tick checked."

The Captain joked keeping a straight face. She had learned to do that with her brothers. They could always tell when she was joking. So she had to learn not to show it in her face. After they had reached the appartment building she got out kf the speeder and started up the steps tk her appartment. It was three floors up from where they had parked. After the long trek up the stairs they had reached the door. Slidding her card to unlock the door it swooshed open to reviel a huge living room.

"Spare bedroom is the second door on the left. My brothers use it whenever they are here for Military bussiness. Most of my brothers except three are in the Republic Millitary. If you need anything jusg let me know.

Seria pointed tk the hall. She started off after he did. Making her way past him as he went jnto the room. Knesos opened the door to her room. Removjng the sweaty smelly cloths she threw them in the hamper. Walking into the bathroom she turbed on the shower and stepped kn. One she finished she got out and dried off. Going to her closet, getting out a red dress that was low cut. The bottom was the drees was just above the knee and had a small slit on the right side. Seria went to the mirror, placing her hair in a tight bun and then putting on a limited amout of makeup. Taking a deep breath and smoothing out the dress she made her way out into the living room.

[Mal]

Mal followed in silence as she walked, the stairs didn't bother him, after he called on the Force again to soothe his muscles. He'd had more of a workout than Seria had, normally he'd be back home by now fixing dinner. Well, at least he wouldn't have to suffer through his own cooking for one night. And he got to enjoy the company of a nice woman, one who had seen inside his mind and probably would again, but nice none the less. Mal went to the room he was instructed and quickly showered, he was impressed. If this was what captain's pay was like, then he might just have to transfer back into regular service and get a few promotions. Then again, he was getting paid better working for Ina than he had gotten paid working for the military.. And come to think of it, he was still getting paid by the military whenever he had to go to those training sessions. Ten more years and he'd be able to retire.

Mal stepped out of the shower and dried off and pulled on his clothes, he was very happy he had brought them. Black pants and boots, along with a navy blue shirt and a black coat. Simple, and he even looked pretty good in them. It was basically the same that he wore to work wearing, he needed to dress better than he used to. From his duffle bag he pulled out all the weapons he normally carried and shoved his dirty clothes into the bag. Inside his boot went the sheathed vibroblade, then he looked between his blasters, the regular pistol and the hold-out blaster. He was pretty sure it would be bad form to carry his side arm to the restaurant, so he left it and strapped the hold-out blaster to his right arm, pulling his sleeves down over it.

Mal was wrapping his gunbelt around his holstered blaster when he stepped out into the living room and saw Seria. His eyebrow went straight up and he stood speechless for a few moments. Did that dress have a slit on the right side? After blinking a few times, he looked up at Seria and finally spoke, "Well, I suddenly feel under dressed." He smiled at her and shoved his blaster unceremoniously into his dufflebag before walking over to her. "You look great Seria." Mal couldn't help it, he smiled again before laughing at how he must look, standing there with a silly grin plastered across his face.

After a few seconds Mal motioned toward the door, "Shall we... uh, shall we go get some dinner?" He asked before following her back out to his speeder. Glancing at the building he realized she probably couldn't afford it on a captain's salary. Unless the pay difference between officers and enlisted was more than he thought. Shaking his head he stowed his dufflebag in his speeder before opening the door of the speeder for Seria, motioning for her to climb in. He'd been raised to be polite after all. After climbing in and taking off he glanced over to her and asked, "Where are we going? You said your brother had a restaurant."

[Res]

She started to giggle but caught herself. Seria was going to try and control herself. Kt was bad enough she was acting like a teenage girl bog crazy. Its just a guy Knesos. The Captain thought as the man complemented on how she looked. Smiling and mmoving a piece of hair out of her face she missed putting the bun up. Following g Mal out the door she replied.

"Thanks, you don't look have bad yourself. Yes, legs eat I'm starving."

The pair left the aapartment and descended the stairs they used before. They reached the speederand Mal opened the door and Seria got in and waited for him to hop in. Smiling while be wasn't watching so he couldn't comment on how she was actually maybe developing feelings for him. He was nice, charming and what a body. When Mal got in he asked about her brothers rrestaurant.

"Yes, it didn't too far. Just go pass the Senate building a bit then its on the left. It's called Knesos'."

Her brother Triton was always there. It was like he lived there, knowing him she wouldn't put it past him. Mal piloted thespeeder and tthey sat in silence.

[Mal]

She started to giggle, he caught that. Mal resisted the urge to smile, he was good at reading people. And he hadn't even gone to school to learn how people think, he just noticed things, it helped keep him alive. Looking down at his clothes, he chuckled softly. "This is what you wear to work when you work for a senator... Minus the blaster at my hip." The ride in the speeder was done in a companionable silence, it wasn't awkward or annoying. At least not to Mal, and glancing at Seria, he could guess that it didn't bother her either. The directions to the restaurant were simple enough, he'd probably driven by the place several times with Ina. Of course then his mind turned to the brother, a chef, probably good with knives. Now Mal was happy he'd thought about bringing the hold-out blaster, he'd had to deal with a few brothers when he was on Corulag. Though he'd never shot one... Yet.

Mal landed the speeder and quickly got out, running to the other side and opening the door. Smiling as he held out his hand to help her out, he had been taught to be a gentleman when he was a child. At least his mother had tried to teach him, maybe something she had tried to teach him had rubbed off after all. She was right, it wasn't too far from either of their places. He wondered how many times he had passed it on his way too and from the senate, or on his way to and from other places as well. It looked like a nice place, probably too nice for him to eat at more than once every few months with his regular salary. It was a good thing that he had some savings put aside. When you were in the Army and lived on base, let them take care of anything you needed, you got to set aside plenty of money.

Mal turned toward the door and held his arm out for Seria, glancing over at her and offering her a smile. Though he avoided the wink this time; "Looks like I got that twitch fixed." He teased at her as she placed her hand through his arm, leading her through the door. Now they were on her ground, he had no idea where they needed to go or what she needed to say to anyone. Leaning over to her, he spoke softly so as not to be rude to the other patrons of the fine eating establishment. "So, are we just getting a table, or are you pulling those family strings?"

[Res]

Taking his hand when he offered it to her. She stepped out of the speeder and walked with Mal into the restaurant. She smiled at his comment and was about to answer when she saw her bother Triton walk up and hug his baby sister. "They're here, Seria three." Her brother whispered in her ear. Seria got twenty emotions at once. It was like she had gotten sent to the principals office, but she didnt know what for. The Captain looked at her big brother that was nearly six and a half feet tall and you wouldn't know he was an award winning chef.

"When did they get here? More importantly why are they here?"

She said concerning the people sitting couple feet away."Couple hours ago she has a meeting with the Supreme Chancellor in the morning. And they said Wol should be here soon." Her brotber said looking over at Mal. He didn't know what to think of the man. Was he a friend, boyfriend, or a combination of the two. Great, that's all i need. My parents and Wol hounding me about Mal. She thought, luckily Mal wasn't powerful enough to read thoughts. "Better go say hi, you know how she gets if you don't" Seria chuckled a little. Nodding she gently placed her hand on Tritons arm and sighed. Triton knew what that meant because they knew how their parents were. Knesos grabbed Mal by the hand and guided him over to her parents.

As the duo approached she saw her dad spot her. His face lit up and he tapped her mom on the shoulder to get her attention. They both stood and buyer their daughter, Seria returned the hugs. Her dad was the first to speak "So Ria, who's this?" Seria blushed and then shot her mom a look. "Osyris." Her mom said to her dad. "What?"Her dad retorted. Seria giggled at her parents. Being married almost fifty years and they were still like children.

Hi daddy, mom. This is Mal Denton. Mal these are my parents Professor Osyris Knesos and former Senator of Alderaan Trinity Knesos."

Seria finished the introduction and was hoping her mom was going to convince her dad not to insist they join them. She wanted to have a nice quiet dinner with Mal. But with her parents there that was blown all to hell. She grabbed Mals hand again for comfort. As her dad reached his out to shake Mals.