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Author's Note: Enjoy.

Chapter One: Balmorra

Elara Dorne watched the Captain of Havoc Squad thread her way through the patrons of the cantina, two drinks carefully held in her gloved hands. Normally the Captain would have brought Aric, the newly minted XO of Havoc Squad, down to the planet with her. But, for reasons that Elara could guess had something to do with the history of Balmorra and the possible interaction with Imperials, the medic of the squad was now paired with the Captain.

Not that Elara was complaining, mind you. She didn't relish the thought of spending any more time than absolutely necessary with Tanno Vik, the newest addition to the squad. And it had been ages since she'd seen Balmorra.

But something had been tugging at her brain for a while and she decided that she had to get a straight answer. Waiting until her commanding officer had settled herself opposite and taken a healthy swig of the amber liquid in her glass, Elara pounced.

"Captain, do you have feelings for Lieutenant Jorgan?"

Said Captain nearly spewed her drink across the table, instead coughing as the Corellian whiskey slid down her throat roughly. Wheezing, the captain clutched her chest, her blue eyes narrowed at the former Imperial. "Dorne, don't you believe in foreplay?" came the wry and raspy question.

Elara chuckled and took a sip of her own whiskey, a brow arching in appreciation at the vintage her commanding officer had selected. "Of course, Captain. But seeing as we are 'off duty' and the engaging in girl talk, I felt the need to ask. You are, of course, under no obligation to answer my question."

The Captain held up her hand to stop the younger woman. "Enough, Dorne." She leaned back in the booth, watching the younger woman with a wry expression. "Aric has seen me through some tough times, Dorne. He's had my back in more ways than I can even fathom. He might be a hard-ass sometimes, but he cares. A lot more than he lets on."

Elara nodded, face sober. She didn't fail to note that the Captain called Jorgan by his first name, a familiarity refused to the rest of the crew. "He was demoted because of Havoc's defection, is that correct?"

The Captain nodded, sipping her whiskey. "And he had the chance to go back to Ord Mantell to the same grade and job. But he chose to stay here, with Havoc."

Elara didn't miss the fact that the Captain had to withhold the urge to add "and with me." She smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. "You like him."

The Captain frowned, taking another swig of the whiskey. "Why is it so important to you, Dorne? You have designs on him for yourself?"

Elara guffawed. "Not at all, Captain. I like my men with quite a bit less hair—or fur—on their bodies. No, you'll have no competition from me in the pursuit of Aric Jorgan."

"Good."