Colt

"I wish it was that." Colt said softly, looking at Niilah with a sad smile on his face. "But she was a little angel as she always is for me..." He added as he knelt down beside the bed and pulled out his gun safe. With practiced hands he slid the lock open and looked down at the twin blasters, the blades and the scattergun that had been tucked neatly inside. "I just got off a comm call with Kenway." Colt explained as he pulled each of the weapons out of the box carefully and placed them on the bedside table. "I don't know how to say this but... when he got back from his latest assignment... someone had kidnapped Larial and Kenlar." He whispered, not wanting his daughter to hear if she had woken up. "He needs my help... but if you want me to stay, to not get involved..." He took a deep breath. "If you want me to stay, I'll stay." Colt promised, doing his best not to glance at the arsenal he had been preparing moments before.

"We're coming." Kenway reached out to Larial through the force, doing his best to reassure her. "For you both." He promised.

"Come on you stupid cowboy, pick up your comm unit." Kenway had come home to an empty house. Signs of struggle, no one there to tell him what had happened. The only conclusion that he could come to was that Larial and his son, his boy... He couldn't think of that right now. He needed to keep his emotions in check. 

"There is no emotion, there is peace..." Kenway said softly to himself. Reciting the code was one of the things he did in order to stave off passions and temptations. He would not give into anger, he would not give into rage. He would stay calm.

The stupid cowboy in question was currently as content as could be. He had put away his guns, hoping against hope that he would never use them again. At the moment he was standing outside his daughter's room, having just put her to bed. The small family had moved into a isolated chalet up in the Juran Mountains for safety and Colt hadn't seen a soul besides Khaalee and Niilah since they had left the space port weeks ago. It had been nice to relax with nothing to worry about except the two girls in his life that mattered the most.

He felt his comm unit going off in his pocket and he sighed. "I suppose I couldn't run forever." Colt said to himself as he crept through the house, eventually finding himself outside on the massive balcony that looked over the entire mountain range. A light snow was falling into his hair and he shook his locks gently to get the fresh flakes out. A gentle breeze made it so the shirtless gunfighter was a bit chilled, but not to the point of wanting to go inside. This balcony was a little sanctuary. It had been for years, back when he had shared the house with the original owner... 

Remembering the reason he had come outside, Colt pulled the comm unit out of his pocket and placed it on the wooden railing before answering the call.

"Colt... cousin... Artemis... someone..." Seeing his cousin in such a state instantly set off alarm bells in Colt's head. What could have made Kenway, the stoic and brave Jedi master, the always composed voice of reason... what could have put him in such a frantic state.

"Deep breaths Kenny." Colt said in a soothing tone. "Take a deep breath. Collect your thoughts. And then tell me what is going on..." Kenway closed his eyes and did as instructed before trying to speak again.

"I was on assignment and I had left Larial and Kenlar at home. You know, I was in the field... I didn't tell you because you know you probably would have considered leaving..."

"I know cousin I know." Colt said softly. He was starting to understand what had happened.

"After reporting my success back on Tython, I went home and... they were... someone took them Artemis..." Kenway couldn't continue. He felt helpless, the thought of the possible fates that had befallen his young son... it was horrifying. 

"We'll get them back." Colt said quietly, making a solemn vow. "Listen carefully Kenway. I need you to stay calm and to think. What can you tell me about the scene? Was there blood? Was there signs of a struggle? Blaster burns? Saber burns? Dings in the furniture from blades..." He could hear the wheels turning in Kenway's mind. Good, the Jedi wasn't going to panic. There was hope for him yet.

"No blood. Signs of struggle..." Kenway said softly, walking slowly through the room, gently moving chairs and tables and everything he could to get a better look. "Nothing that would suggest the usage of weapons. No blood, no signs of blaster fire or... she didn't even draw her lightsaber..." Kenway added.

"That means they're still alive." Colt promised. "Which leaves us with two possibilities..." He trailed off, taking a moment to look out at the gentle snowfall. It was so beautiful, so peaceful. He hated to have to leave, especially to go to that backwater known as Hutt space. But Colt had no choice. His cousin still didn't speak a lick of Huttese and he had no idea how to work on a planet such as that. There was no time for caution or subtlety. The guns were coming out. "It's either the Hutts or the Imperials." He eventually said.

"I figured as much." Kenway sounded hopeless. 

"The convenient thing is that the Imperials didn't handle the actual kidnapping most likely, given your situation." Colt pointed out. "Which means if the Imperials were their final captors, an exchange had to occur." He reasoned out logically. "And any merc worth his salt... and it would take some that knew what they were doing to take them... Any merc who had half a brain wouldn't deal with the Imperials on their turf."

"Which means either way they passed through Hutt space." Kenway caught on.

"Precisely. We start with the Hutts." Colt stated.

"We?" Kenway asked.

"You don't speak Huttese. And I know the people that you're going to need." Colt pointed out quickly.

"But Niilah... I can't let you leave her and the girl after all this time you've been away." Kenway said sadly.

"Who said I'm leaving them?" Colt asked quickly. "I'm not leaving them by any means... but you and I both know we don't have time for you to handle things the diplomatic way. There's only one way that we're going to save them: we're going to break down doors and bash skulls in until we get them back." Colt hissed, his eyes flashing red for just a moment. 

"Cousin I..." Kenway couldn't bare to admit the fact that he knew that his cousin was right. There was simply no time to handle things like a Jedi would. It was time to fight dirty. And even though he had made an oath to the order, to uphold the principles of the Jedi, to never go against the code... there was a time to follow the rules... and for the first time in his life... he was ready to walk over the line. "Okay." He eventually whispered.

"Meet me in that old hangar. The one I always used to use when we did jobs there." Colt instructed. "We'll get them back." He said reassuringly. "I promise." He stressed before breaking the connection. Turning away from the view, Colt walked back inside the chateau. The gunfighter was going on one last job, one that was of the utmost importance. Knowing that a difficult conversation was coming, he headed for his bedroom where his weapons lay unused in a small gun safe under the bed.

Colt almost chuckled at Niilah's 'it would be funny to see you with a beard' remark due to the fact he had been sporting one for most of the time he had been away from her, as opposed to the good old clean-cut Corellian boy image he usually put forth while he had been with her. And then the light humor faded when she told him to think long and hard over the offer he had just made, and what it would mean for all three people involved.

And surprisingly, given the fact that his usual instinct was to shoot first, shoot second and ask questions third, he sat down to do just that. Even he recognized that he stood on the precipice. If he made the wrong choice now, he would reach the point of no return.

"You better not be considering leaving again." Tavalla's voice chimed in from inside his head. She hadn't actually appeared in ghost form for over a year. Colt wondered why that was, but never commented on it. No answer for the sudden change had been given either. Weirdly enough, he longed for her to actually appear again, and he was acutely aware how odd it was for him to miss a Force ghost, even one as important to him as her. 

"I'm not." Colt said softly. 

"You've always been a terrible liar. Well, actually you're a terrific liar. But not to me." She replied and Colt could picture the devious smile that would have accompanied those words. "Plus I'm speaking from inside your head. It's a good thing you're pretty." She joked.

"But my hair always gets me in trouble. No one trusts me because of it." He quipped, knowing that he was getting a bit off topic. "Am I really the type to settle down, to have a home..." He asked out loud.

"Remember all those things you promised me..." Tavalla's voice trailed off, as if she didn't want to say it. "A big house, a couple of kids, a pet or two. I'd teach lightsaber combat to any Padawan or Knight who found their way to us and you'd operate that shop you've talked about for close to ten years now... that wasn't a lie. I know it wasn't."

Colt nodded. It hadn't been a lie. In fact, before her death and his court martial, he had been the one who wanted them to run away from the war and settle down. It didn't work out. "I know, but I... sometimes I feel like that dream is gone, lost to the sands of time."

"Who are you talking to Colt?" Rhiella had popped in over the comm. He froze, how was he supposed to explain that he was talking to a voice in his head but that didn't make him crazy. Fortunately, Tavalla saved him from that issue, appearing as a ghost to both smugglers.

"Tavalla Cantarus." Using her married name caught Colt just a bit off guard. "His wife." Now Rhiella was the one off guard.

"That's Rhiella." Colt said quietly even though he knew that Tavalla was already aware of this fact.

"Now, why are you calling Miss Rhiella?" Tavalla asked sweetly. Colt gulped, hoping that this wouldn't lead to trouble.

"To tell your... um... husband." These words clearly felt odd to Rhiella, likely because she couldn't imagine Colt ever getting married. "That he better stay right where he is with his adorable little daughter." This caused Tavalla to smile brightly.

"You too." Colt groaned. "Why is it that the women in my life always gang up on me like this?" He asked, fearing the answer.

"It's the hair." Rhiella and Tavalla said in perfect unison, causing Colt to groan yet again. What was it about his hair?

"Rhi, I'm sorry." Colt eventually said. "Another life, another place, another time."

"I know." She answered with a sad smile. He really had sounded genuine. "So when can I meet your little one and her mother?" Colt smiled at this.

"Once I convince her mother that I'm not a flight risk. That as well as the fact that I would have to convince her that we're not, you know." He twirled his hand around in a gesture as if to say, well you know. 

"Right. So maybe by the time you have grandkids then." Tavalla joked, causing Rhiella to laugh.

"Well, I'll hold you to that." Rhiella whispered. "Stay in touch space cowboy." She requested before cutting off her connection.

"You really have a way of breaking women's hearts you know." Tavalla eventually pointed out. "It's simply amazing. The only woman's heart you didn't break was mine and that's because..."

"I don't..." Colt started to protest.

"And that's why it's amazing. You never mean to do it, you just do." She explained.

"I have a long way to go don't I?" He asked rhetorically. He knew the answer; he had a long time to go before he would regain her trust, if he ever did. It would be painful but Colt also knew that it would be worth it in the end.

"And that starts right now." Tavalla said quietly. "Now go to her." She ordered before vanishing from the scene. Taking a deep breath, Colt got up and made his way into Khaalee's room. He looked at Niilah and a thought suddenly came to him. "Why don't we get married?" He whispered as to not wake up his daughter.

“Are you living in a dream? Because that’s what that is. There is no way to accomplish this so-called job you seem to think you can do. You have no idea what something like that takes, you think it can be done on a whim?” At hearing this, Colt realized that there was no way for Niilah to realize that he had been preparing an exit strategy for nearly a decade. However, at her remark about her house he realized that he would need to do some damage control before he got to that.

"I didn't mean anything by it... meant more two parents, white picket fence and a pet taun fawn." He said with a bit of levity before turning serious once more. "You know I'm a lot of things... but one thing you cannot accuse me of is being stupid." At this, he reached into the pocket of his black vest, pulling out a small credit chit. Twirling it between his fingers, he began to explain just what he had in mind. "Look, I get that you might never want to see me again... and that's all well and good because I wouldn't have a thing to say about it... But at least hear me out before you make a decision." He pleaded with her before placing the chit gently into her hands.

"Believe it or not, the jobs I've been running for the past ten years or so are extremely well paying. You know because people are willing to pay top dollar for the best and whatnot." He remarked offhandedly before looking at the chit in Niilah's hand. "And I was smart enough to realize that the day would come when I would need to get out of this life that I lead... that I would need to leave all traces of my identity as Colt Gamble, smuggler and gun for hire, behind." He pointedly looked at the empty holo in the center of the lounge for a long moment before continuing. "You might have also noticed that I don't spend much money... really I only buy Whyrren's, the occasional cigara and ship parts." He chuckled at this. "I've been saving up a fortune and I realize that I'm probably not going to get to use it unless I get out soon..." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "So here's what I propose given the events of today. I have a chateau way up in the Juran Mountains of Alderaan. It has no connection to my name, and more importantly the only two people living who know about this place are myself and Kenny... and well, your enemies have found you here today and mine as well which makes your current living situation a problem."

At this, he looked into Niilah's eyes, his emerald eyes shining for once. "So here's what I'm thinking. You, me and the little one all move to Alderaan. I have more than enough money saved up to support us for the rest of our lives. And I'd open up a shop in my spare time, you know fix up speeder bikes, gadgets and ship parts..." He smiled at the thought of some peace and quiet. "And more importantly... we'd be able to put down the blasters and scatterguns and vibroblades and lightsabers for good. I'd be able to drop my old name, grow a beard or something, and go back to being Artemis. Which doesn't sound so bad after all these years... the name doesn't taste like ash on my tongue anymore." 

Colt considered the question carefully, mulling over the possible answers in his head. And then a thought struck him. He couldn't be sure that his barriers were once again strong enough to keep Niilah out due to the events of earlier in the day. Sighing, he went with what he thought was his only option: the honest truth.

"I don't deserve a damn thing." Colt said softly. "You and I both know that what I deserve is to still be in that Imperial prison cell rotting away, haunted by the decisions that left me there." He admitted rather harshly. "However, your daughter... our daughter... she deserves her father... she deserves to live the good life. You know, mom and dad, nice place on a nice planet... I can give her that."

Being asked how he was holding up wasn't something he expected from Niilah. He had been expecting harsher words, words he definitely deserved. This seemingly positive reaction to being in his presence put him a bit on edge. He knew what could happen when a scorned woman put on the sweet... Tavalla was well known for it.

"Fine. I'm fine." Colt said softly, spinning slowly in his chair to face Niilah. "You know I've been through far worse than a few punches and a saber wound to the chest." Pointing this out dryly, he glanced towards the room where their daughter was sleeping. "Leaving you two is my life's greatest regret you know." He admitted quietly. "And my greatest shame." An afterthought added with a frown. "I know that I deserve nothing but pain and suffering for my sins but I do hope I can at least be present in her life... You know, make sure she grows up with her dad at least a known quantity." Colt's words trailed off, a sad smile on his face. "You've done a terrific job with her. I hope you know that."

"You're not horrible..." Kenway said quietly. "You're human..." He quipped, realizing how silly that statement sounded coming from him. "Well not human exactly... but you know what I mean." He added as an afterthought.

Colt, having not really been affected much by his conversation with Larial, went over to Kenway's old quarters and peeked in, smiling when he saw his daughter sleeping peacefully in his cousin's old bed. Quietly closing the door once more, he went back to his holo and poked around the device for a moment, frowning as he did so. He didn't understand how he had been followed, given his usual paranoia. And then he found out the reason: a small tracker chip had been installed inside. While he had been locked up most likely. With more than a bit of satisfaction, he stomped the chip into dust. After doing this, he called Niilah's comm unit.

"Khaalee is sleeping quietly in Kenny's old bunk." Colt explained in a soft voice as to not wake up the little girl. "As for Larial, I didn't do anything." He sighed, realizing that no one would believe that fact. "Well nothing besides pointing out a truth or two, but that's for another time." He couldn't help but point this out. "Anyways, if you want to pick her up, just come by. If not, I can bring her back to you or just let her sleep. Up to you."

"And now you understand how I've felt about myself every day for the last decade." Colt said quietly, barely louder than a whisper. "But that's for another time." He added rather quickly, as if to say there was no need to talk about it. "Cousin didn't want your memory wiped because he knew that is what makes a person who they are... it would be in effect killing you." He reasoned out. "And you and I both know that he would never do such a thing unless there was no other option out there..." He frowned. "And don't even think about saying it now. That boy needs his mother... not a ghost of one that doesn't even remember who he is." Sighing, Colt looked at the large holo he was sitting in front of. "You and I are in the same boat now... we've made our choices and now we have to live with them. The good and the bad."

"Nothing alike you say. And yet you look very ready to strike me down while I'm sitting here, unarmed. Not even attempting to defend myself." Colt pointed out the fact he was holding nothing but his half finished whiskey. He took another sip, downing what was left in the glass before refilling it. "That's something even I wouldn't do." He added as an afterthought. Another sip of whiskey and then, "If you're going to do it then do it already."

Colt simply stared at Larial as she let loose, not saying a word. She was completely right about everything but the last after all. And quite frankly, he knew that his track record indicated that he would be leaving eventually, a track record he was trying to fight. As Larial had said, he was a space cowboy and as a result he had a bit of wanderlust... wanderlust that he knew deep down might never settle. But for the kid, he would settle down, make a home somewhere. Not that anyone would believe this.

"And as for shooting you, what." Colt glared right back at her. Fear simply wasn't in his vocabulary. He didn't fear death. Hadn't in years. "I tried to make amends for that, you know start the healing process for the sake of the kids and for Kenny and Niils... I spared your life that night and this is the thanks I get." He hissed, resisting the temptation to stand and stare her down from his taller height. "I may not be perfect but you're no saint yourself you know. As you said yourself, I've seen parts of you no one else has." Colt pointed out calmly, pausing for a moment to take a sip of whiskey. "So let us be frank with each other. You accuse me of all these sins. Most of them true. Some of them not. But that is irrelevant. What is relevant is the simple fact that as much as you deny it, you and I are exactly the same." He chuckled dryly before taking another sip of his drink. "The only difference between you and I is that I've accepted what I am and what my destiny is."

"Please don't try having that pity party with me." Colt spat a bit harshly. "You and I both know where that would lead..." He sighed, realizing that he wasn't being civil. "He's not ashamed of you..." Colt eventually said, much softer now. "He's ashamed of himself. That he gave into his... Whatever you want to call it. He's a proud Jedi you know. He knows he's not supposed to have a child." Colt pointed out. "He fears having to make a choice between family and duty because he knows he probably wouldn't have the strength to choose his duty... To uphold the oath that means everything to him." Standing up, Colt strode over to the viewport to look out at the stars. "He saw what my leaving did to everyone involved. That is why he is ashamed of his choices. Because if the choice between family and duty comes up... He knows that he cannot win."

Out of all the responses he was expecting, the one he got certainly wasn't one of those. He raised an eyebrow, considering his next words carefully. "Now why would you say that?" He asked her, honestly curious.

Colt didn't say a word for a long moment. "I suppose we start with the obvious. I shouldn't have shot you. It was wrong of me." He admitted with a pensive look. "So for that I do apologize."

"I really hope it doesn't come to that." Kenway said quietly. "Because even if he's... well you know as well as I do... he's still some of the little family I have left... and the only person who's been with me since the beginning..." He sighed, taking a sip of his drink. "I know he said that he left for your own good and I know you think that reasoning is garbage... but I do think he can be trusted with the girl. He does care."

"By the holo." Colt said loud enough for her to hear. Unlike Larial, he was calm and composed. While he was unarmed, they were on his turf. Which have him the upper hand if things got ugly. But he wasn't gonna make the first move. He owed everyone else that much. So instead, he simply refilled his drink and waited, calmly sitting by the holo with his feet up on the console.

"I know you'll find this incredibly difficult to believe..." Kenway said quietly. "But Artemis was once easy to understand. An open book you could say. Until she died, he only really cared about a few things. Her, his squad, me and the Republic." Sighing, the Jedi looked away from Niilah for just a moment. "Then he got his entire squad killed trying to save her, she died in his arms and the Republic tossed him aside." Kenway's tone turned sour at the last bit. "He had given them everything, was more than willing to die for the republic and then he got court martialed, rank and honors stripped. He actually threw his chest of medals out of an airlock." He remarked before realizing that he was rambling. "I'm sorry, I'm getting off track..." He admitted with a sheepish smile. "I see how he looks at the girl." Kenway eventually said. "I have no idea what's going to happen between you and him and quite frankly it's not my place to get involved... but all I will say on that is that he truly wants to be a good dad. To be the dad that he himself never had." Kenway spoke his honest opinion on the matter. "And I'm pretty sure he busted himself out of prison solely so he could meet his daughter. Getting himself out of a place like that couldn't have been easy you know... even for someone like him."

Hearing his daughter's voice, Colt couldn't help but smile. Her ability to sneak up on someone like that was so much like her mother. And her ability to stumble onto things that people were trying to hide was so much like her father. "A friend." He said in a quiet voice, not going into details for obvious reasons. "She and I did some work together. You know, fighting the bad guys and all." He explained with a cheeky smile. "Now back to bed little one." He told her softly before allowing Larial back into his mind to respond to her. 

"Just putting the little one to bed." He thought. "I'm on my ship. Unarmed." He let this thought linger, knowing it would be making her uncomfortable to meet on his turf after what had happened last time. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Kenway had noted that Colt had left his arsenal in Niilah's bedroom, a fact that would either be a blessing or a curse depending on how things went with Larial. He rejoined Niilah. "You do know that Artemis left his weapons in your quarters." He said quietly. "He may need them. After Larial talks with him. Hopefully." He said quietly.

Colt sat with his daughter for what seemed like forever before his holocom chirped.

"So is this how you're enjoying your newfound freedom? On your ship as usual." On the other end was a smiling woman with shorter black hair, shining eyes and a small set of Mirilan tattoos under her eyes.

"Rhi..." Colt bent the comm unit down slightly so she could see his sleeping daughter.

"Yours?" She asked, now whispering. "Oh my, she is just too cute." She added, seeing Colt nod. "Just like her daddy of course." The feisty Mirilan added with a wink. Colt sighed. This would represent a complication. Quietly getting up, Colt went over to the ship's main holo terminal and poured himself a stiff drink before transferring Rhiella to the main unit.

"It's been a long day." For some reason Colt felt the need to defend himself.

"Seems like it." Rhiella said with a chuckle. "So when are you coming back?" She muttered.

"I don't know." Colt said softly. "The little one. She... Complicates things."

"As they tend to do." Rhiella said wisely. "Keep me posted handsome." With another wink she hung up. Colt sighed deeply and downed most of his drink.

Kenway took the whiskey with a thankful smile. He needed the drink and he needed it badly. It wasn't the fact that his cousin had come back into his life after time away, he was used to that. It was that he recognized the fact that they needed to get through these next few days, few conversations intact. If they failed to do that, their little family would likely be fractured forever.

Colt hadn't quite considered the possibility that Khaalee would try to get out of bed, so he was thankful for the fact that she settled down and requested his favorite story. He considered her words for a minute before nodding, a smile on his face. "Once upon a time..." He started in a quiet, pensive voice. "There was a young boy from Corellia who grew up in his uncle's garage, where his nice and kindly uncle taught him all sorts of cool things, like how to fix speeders and ship engines and how to slice into things that shouldn't be sliced..." If Khaalee knew anything about her father, she would have picked up on the fact that he was using the bedtime story format to tell her all the things she probably didn't know. "Now this young boy was a patriot, he loved the Republic with all his heart. So when he was just fifteen, he became a fighter pilot..." In a soft voice, he began to regale his young daughter with tales of his time in the Republic navy and how he led his squadron to many victories. He spoke for close to twenty minutes before stopping. "I think it is time for bed little one." He said softly. "I'll tell you more tomorrow... and you can see the rest of the ship." He promised.

Colt looked down at his daughter and smiled. "Your daddy always finds himself in trouble." He said quietly as he walked softly through the ship towards Kenway's former quarters. "But don't worry, the only thing I'm better at than getting into trouble is getting out of it." He explained as he stepped into his cousin's old room. It was no surprise to the captain that everything was in perfect order and the bed was perfectly made. That Jedi discipline.

Smiling now, Colt gently tucked his daughter into bed. "Would you like to hear a bedtime story? I have a few good ones."

Kenway looked at Larial and sighed. "Just don't kill him." He said quietly. "For him to die today of all days would be a great tragedy. Poetic yes, but also quite sad." He just hoped Colt would show restraint should things go sour. His cousin had never been good at that, possessing an itchy trigger finger and the lightning reflexes to make it so he always shot first.

"Promises." Colt nodded, complete conviction in his eyes. He was not going to let anyone hurt his little girl... if anyone wanted to do her harm they would have to go through him, a choice that was fatal to all who had tried before. He smiled reassuringly, looking around the ship for a moment. "Do you want to see my ship? Or are you getting a little tired?" He asked. "I know it's been a long day."

Kenway watched Larial and Niilah talk from the window. He knew that Larial didn't want him to press himself into her business at the moment, given the high levels of tension all around. He sighed, knowing that things were going to be like this for awhile.

Colt had been about to answer his daughter, to tell her briefly about the fact he had lived on one ship or another since he was fifteen, when she began to cry and scream. Confusion and desperation ran through Colt's mind as he tried to figure out what was happening to his little girl. It was clear she was suffering... and then a voice of clarity ran through his mind.

"She's seeing memories that a little girl should never see... no one should ever see." Tavalla's voice rang clear in his mind.

"Larial's to be precise." Kenway interjected, having felt the tremors in the force moments earlier.

"Do not be angry my love." Tavalla's voice was laced with the Force in an attempt to soothe the captain's rage. "Your little one needs strength and stability... not lashing out in anger."

"Thank you." Colt said softly. "Both of you." He whispered before stepping into the airlock. "Organic decontamination protocol activate." He said softly and instantly father and daughter were sprayed with water, washed clean and quick-dryed. After this process, which only took mere moments, Colt stepped onto his ship proper, daughter still in his arms.

He smiled at once again being home... "It is going to be okay little wing." Colt said softly to Khaalee. "It is just a memory... it cannot hurt you I promise... no one will ever hurt you..." He whispered to her, making a vow.

"Well come on little one!" He said with a bright smile, picking Khaalee up in his arms as he began to walk a bit faster to the ship. He knew it was getting a little late and he didn't want Niilah to worry all that much.

"Well your daughter made him promise not to put her in the fresher." Kenway said to Niilah. "She however said nothing about the fact that Colt's airlock has a shower and quickdry function that's usually used to decontaminate him if he's been somewhere nasty..." The Jedi master had realized Colt's scheme after a few moments of contemplation. "So I'm thinking he's gonna wash her off, dry her off, wrap her up in one of his spare duster jackets and bring her home... after all, he did promise to show her the ship."

Colt was smiling watching his daughter play in the rain. And then a moment of horror struck him. He had completely forgotten about the chiss that Niilah and Larial had fought earlier. He shook his head, in utter disbelief that they would just leave the body there. Sighing, he took a moment to consider his options. He couldn't straight up lie to his daughter, but he also couldn't tell her the truth. He also couldn't make something up about how Chiss worked because well... her mother was Chiss.

"You're right of course." Colt said quietly, looking down at the corpse. "Someone would get sick in weather such as this. Tell you what, I'll make sure that your mother and your aunt take care of this woman." He said carefully, picking his comm unit off of his belt. He sent a quick message to Kenway, filling him in on the situation. Turning back to his daughter, he smiled once more. "Now do you want to see Daddy's ship?"

"Colt wants you to know that the corpse of the Chiss is still sitting outside." Kenway said to Larial. "He doesn't sound amused for some reason."

"Can't believe that actually worked." Kenway muttered in Larial's ear as he watched Colt leave with Khaalee. He had an idea of what his cousin was planning.

Colt wanted to get her cleaned off real quickly, but he also wasn't going to break his promise not to throw her in the fresher. It wouldn't do him good to break a promise to his daughter on the first day he met her. However, he had something on his ship that would take care of the problem. Smiling down at her, he nodded and the two went out the door, headed for his ship.

"No, you wanna put me in the fresher." Colt smiled at his daughter's intelligence. Even at such a young age, she was bright and a quick thinker. It was going to be more difficult than he thought.

"What's the password?" Colt could hear his daughter giggling on the other side of the door. He considered this for a moment, mostly due to the fact that he would have no idea what Khaalee would pick as a password. Then a moment of inspiration struck him.

"The password is... would you like to go see Daddy's starship." He said with a bright smile. He'd bring her to his ship and there he'd wash her up and Niilah would be quite impressed with his parenting and Khaalee would be happy when they got back. It was the perfect plan. 

Kenway noticed his cousin's predicament and looked at Larial, a very amused smile on his face. "He is so hosed." He muttered in her ear. "He thinks he's good with kids because he was when he was younger..." Kenway whispered. He was going to get a laugh out of watching Colt crash and burn.

"Honey, it's Daddy." Colt said to Khaalee through the door, knocking gently so she would be alerted to his presence. "Can I come in?" He asked softly, being very careful not to sound authoritative or demanding. "I'd like to spend some more time with my little girl if that's okay." Kenway facepalmed at what Colt was doing. The little girl already had him wrapped around her little finger and everyone in the house knew it.