Roman shrugged awkwardly. "I don't know... I don't really like talking about myself."

"Okay, then let's start simple." Ax said. "Why'd ya join th' Resistance?"

Roman nodded his head to the side. "My brother dared me." He said.

"Oh, ya got a brother?"

"Good as." Roman said. "He was called Remus. He was from Costria. Um, well, I got sent there when I was about 10 and Re's family took me in. We both loved stories of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo and then the Resistance came recruiting in the village nearby." Roman took his eyes off the endless stars in front of him, getting lost in the past. "Re bounced up to sign immediately and I followed. We trained and then went on our first mission together."

Roman swallowed. That'd been where... when Remus had... "I was the only one who came back." He said bluntly.

"Oh." It was probably the quietest sound Ax had ever produced. "Oh, Roman, I'm so sorry."

"It was a long time ago." Roman said dismissively. "Anyway, that's me talked about. How'd you meet Virge?" He pressed. Ax laughed a little (in pity, maybe?) but, this time, didn't protest.

"Fine." Xe said. "Um... First day o' school and I see this kid. I ask my mum 'who's'that?' and she says 'who?'. I ask 'th' kid wi' the two-all thing'. She said she dain't know and told me ta go ask them myself. That was how I met Virgil." Xe laughed a little again. Happier, this time. "Me, him an' this other kid - forget th' name - we played together all the time. But... then th' Empire came and the planet was blown. I went ta Tatooine an' I don't know where the other two went. Either way, tha' alone were enough ta make me hate th' Empire and, by Genar, I'm gonna see them pay."

Roman nodded slowly. "I'll help you." He said. "We both will. Once we get Virge back."

"Nah, I'll help ya." Ax said. "Ya the one who started this whole mission, ya two should be the ones ta finish it. Actually," Roman looked around to see xe sweeping a hologram up through xir jacket, "I think I got someone who could help ya."

"What d'you mean?" Roman asked.

"Well, gettin' Virgil back's impossible in itself but ta get people back who've turned..." Ax shook xir head slowly. "Anyway, ya'll need help. An' I think I got just th' perfect person."

"Hey. Hey, Ax." Roman said, his voice shaking xem awake. "We're here."

Ax lept up. "Ya sure?" Xe wiped xir eyes quickly and checked the hologram. They were right on top of the blinking dot.

"By Genar, then'that must be it." Ax said, pointing out of the window.

An Empire ship was terrifying in theory but in person, it was formidable. It's not that it was giant, it's not that it was painted black or that it had lasers and blasters. It was a pretty normal cargo ship with a train of add-on ships. But the atmosphere it gave off. The sinister knowledge that somewhere, on one of these ships, was Virgil. Kidnapped. Locked away. And probably bloody terrified.

"Virgil's somewhere here, ain't he?" Ax asked, voicing xir thoughts. Roman nodded, his eyes wide. He held out his hand.

"Camo belt?"

Ax fumbled for it in xir pockets and handed it over. Roman glanced up at xem.

"Let's hope this upgrade of yours works." He muttered. "For both our sakes."

"We could be too late..." Ax said, feeling fear for the first time. And, Genar damned, it was paralysing. Virgil could be dead.

Virgil could be turned.

"Don't say that." Roman said harshly. "We won't be too late." He finished attaching the camo belt. "Not this time."

Whatever that meant, there wasn't time to think about it now. They had to find Virgil.

Oh, hello random sub-plot that came out of nowhere. ARE YOU FINALLY OVER?!
Bye,
Blaize