Private First Steps of Varesh

[Bramoc Karr]

He considered the question longer than most.

His eyes drifted across the excavation, lingering on workers patiently uncovering fragments of a battle fought centuries before. Once, he would have looked at the same ground and measured it by tactics, positions, and casualties. Talia had taught him to see something else.

"No."

The answer was calm, certain.

"I have no desire to stand on another battlefield."

He drew a slow breath.

"I've seen enough of them to last several lifetimes. Every victory demanded another. Every war promised peace and delivered only the next war." His head shook almost imperceptibly. "I believed for a long time that changing the galaxy required defeating those who opposed me."

His hand tightened gently around hers.

"I don't believe that anymore."

His gaze settled on her.

"I will defend what we build. If someone threatens our Houses, our family, or the people who choose to walk beside us, I will not hesitate to stand between them and that danger." There was no uncertainty in his voice. "Protection is not the same as conquest."

A quiet silence passed before he continued.

"I will not seek war. I will not wage it because I think I can reshape the galaxy through violence. I've done that before."

His expression softened.

"It only leaves someone like you to sift through the ruins afterward."

The corner of his mouth lifted briefly before his attention shifted toward the cantina. He regarded the entrance for a moment.

"I suspect you're right about what's waiting for us inside. The truth is rarely believable when it refuses to fit the story people expect, but if they ask, tell them exactly what happened."

A faint smile appeared.

"If they choose not to believe it..." He gave a small shrug. "I'm not sure I'd blame them."

Talia Larkin Swift

 

[Talia Larkin Swift]

Talia's smile softened as she listened to him. There was no disappointment in his answer, no relief either. Only quiet happiness that he had found a different path for himself.

"I'd have supported you no matter what your answer was," she said gently. "But..." Her fingers squeezed his. "...I'm glad this is the one you chose."

She let the silence linger for a few more steps before looking out across the excavation once again. Trenches stretched through the earth like open pages waiting to be read.

A curious thought crossed her mind.

"Did you help lay these ruins?" she asked quietly. "Not these specifically, perhaps... but others like them?" Her blue-green eyes met his. "Have I unknowingly spent years studying the aftermath of battles fought by people like you?"

The question wasn't accusatory. If anything, it carried a strange sense of wonder. History had always felt distant to her until she'd met someone who had lived through so much of it.

A small laugh escaped her as she finally stepped through the doorway of the cantina.

"I suppose we'll see how believable our story really is."

The warm scent of caf and field rations lingered inside, mixed with the ever-present dust of the excavation. Several archaeologists looked up briefly before returning to their work, but one never did. An elderly Arkanian with silver-white hair tied neatly behind his head had already risen from a table scattered with datapads and site maps.

His pale eyes widened in unmistakable recognition.

"...Talia?"

Sarot Dur, the excavation's lead archaeologist, stood frozen for a heartbeat before slowly making his way toward them, equal parts relief and disbelief written plainly across his face.

Bramoc Karr

 

[Bramoc Karr]

"I may have."

The words came without hesitation, though his voice had grown quieter.

His eyes wandered towards the door. For a brief moment, he saw another time entirely.

"I don't remember every world." A faint shake of his head followed. "After enough years... enough campaigns... they begin to blur together. Names disappear. Faces disappear. The battles remain."

He let the thought linger.

"But Voss..."

His gaze settled on the distant ridges beyond the dig site.

"I remember Voss."

There was no pride in the admission.

"I cannot tell you with certainty that I stood on this exact field." His eyes lowered to the earth beneath their feet. "But I fought here. Somewhere on this world."

Silence followed for several steps.

"If I did help create these ruins..." he said at last, "...then perhaps it is fitting that I returned with an archaeologist instead of an army."

A faint, almost wistful smile appeared.

"You spend your life uncovering what people tried to bury. I spent much of mine burying things that should never have been forgotten."

His attention shifted as they stepped into the cantina. The warmth inside contrasted sharply with the chill outside, carrying with it the familiar smells of caf, ration packs, and dust.

He noticed the older Arkanian immediately.

The man's surprise was impossible to miss.

Bramoc remained where he was, allowing Talia to take the lead. This was her place, her colleagues, her reputation. He had no intention of speaking unless spoken to.

For now, he simply inclined his head politely toward the elderly archaeologist and waited.

Talia Larkin Swift

 

[Talia Larkin Swift]

The moment Sarot Dur reached her, Talia was met not with questions but with unmistakable relief. The elderly Arkanian's pale eyes searched her from head to toe, as though reassuring himself she was truly standing before him and not some hopeful trick of the mind. Around them, the bustle of the temporary headquarters continued uninterrupted, datapads changing hands and excavation teams discussing the latest finds, but for a brief moment the rest of the room seemed to fade into the background.

"You are alive," he said quietly, almost to himself. "There were... rumors. None of them encouraging."

Talia offered him a reassuring smile. "I know. I'm sorry for disappearing without any explanation." Her eyes drifted briefly toward Bramoc before returning to Sarot. "I was taken from the site, but I'm alright. It's... a complicated story, though perhaps not one best told in the middle of a working excavation."

Sarot's attention shifted to Bramoc for the first time. His expression remained calm, thoughtful rather than suspicious. Years spent leading archaeological expeditions had taught him that the galaxy rarely provided simple explanations, and he had learned not to demand them. Instead, he gave a slow nod, accepting that there would be a time and place for the full story, if it was ever told.

"I see," he replied gently. "I'm simply glad you returned safely."

"So am I," Talia admitted with a small laugh. "We're only here briefly. I came back for my research tablet."

Recognition immediately crossed Sarot's face. "Of course. We kept it exactly as we found it. What I mean is, we didn't go through your notes." He gestured toward a small office partitioned off from the main room. "It's been locked away since the survey team recovered it. I wasn't willing to let years of work disappear because its owner had. I always hoped you'd come back for it someday."

Relief washed visibly across Talia's face. She hadn't realized how much she had been preparing herself for disappointment until that moment. "I don't think you realize just how grateful I am," she said sincerely.

Sarot inclined his head with a warm smile. "I suspect I do. Welcome back, Talia."

Her smile softened, touched now with a quiet sadness. "Thank you, Sarot." She hesitated before continuing, choosing her words carefully. "I should also tell you... I can't stay."

The admission hung between them. Sarot's expression fell ever so slightly, though he remained silent, allowing her to continue.

"My life has taken me in a different direction," Talia explained. "I'm going to have to step away from active fieldwork... at least for now." She glanced once more toward Bramoc before looking back at her old mentor. "I haven't stopped loving archaeology. I don't think I ever could. But there are other responsibilities waiting for me now, ones I can't set aside."

Understanding slowly replaced the disappointment in Sarot's features. "The excavations will still be here," he said quietly.

"I know." Talia nodded, her smile returning with gentle warmth. "And I hope I'll return to them someday, if I can. I don't want this to be goodbye."

Sarot studied her for a long moment before offering a smile of his own. "Then we'll consider this a leave of absence rather than a resignation."

A quiet laugh escaped Talia, easing the weight that had settled on her shoulders. "I think I'd like that very much."

Bramoc Karr

 

[Bramoc Karr]

Bramoc remained silent throughout the exchange.

This reunion belonged to them. Sarot had earned the right to hear Talia's words without interruption, just as Talia deserved the chance to say them herself. He stood a respectful distance away, listening, his hands folded loosely behind his back.

It reminded him, in some ways, of watching family speak after a long separation.

When the conversation reached its natural pause, he stepped forward just enough to acknowledge the older archaeologist.

"You have my thanks."

His voice was measured, carrying none of the severity it once had.

"You protected something that meant a great deal to her."

His eyes briefly found the office where the tablet had been kept before returning to Sarot.

"There are not many people who would preserve years of another person's work without expecting something in return."

He inclined his head. Then, for a moment, his gaze shifted to Talia. The quiet relief on her face was unmistakable and seeing it there made the journey worthwhile.

"You've also reminded me of something."

His attention returned to Sarot.

"The galaxy spends an extraordinary amount of effort remembering wars."

A brief glance passed over the excavation beyond the cantina walls.

"But it remembers the people who preserve its history only because individuals like you choose to do so."

There was no grand speech behind the words—only simple sincerity.

"I hope one day she finds the time to return to this work."

His expression softened almost imperceptibly.

"Not because she needs to. Because the galaxy is better for having her do it."

He looked toward Talia, a quiet warmth in his eyes.

"Until then..."

A faint smile appeared.

"...I suspect I can borrow her expertise for a while."

The last remark was understated, but genuine, before he stepped back once more, content to let teacher and student enjoy the remainder of their reunion.

Talia Larkin Swift

 

[Talia Larkin Swift]

Talia's smile lingered as she looked between the two men. Hearing Bramoc speak so highly of archaeology, and of her place within it, filled her with a quiet pride she hadn't expected. She reached over and gently squeezed his hand before turning her attention back to Sarot.

"I was lucky," she said softly. "Luckier than I realized at the time."

Sarot's gaze drifted between them, his experienced eyes missing very little. A knowing smile slowly appeared on his face.

"I rather suspect," he said with gentle amusement, "that your story became even more complicated than you've admitted."

A faint blush warmed Talia's cheeks.

"Just a little."

The older Arkanian chuckled quietly, deciding that was explanation enough. He had never been one to pry into matters that weren't his to know. Instead, he gestured toward the office where her belongings had been secured.

"I'll have someone retrieve your tablet."

"If you don't mind..." Talia said warmly. "I'd appreciate that."

Sarot nodded before signaling to one of the nearby researchers, quietly explaining what was needed. As the younger archaeologist disappeared into the office, Sarot turned back toward Talia.

"And Gavin?" he asked. "He'll be disappointed he missed you."

Talia smiled at the mention of her old colleague.

"Like I promised Gavin," she said with a quiet certainty, "I'll keep in touch. I don't know when I'll be able to return, but I don't intend to disappear again."

"I'll make certain he hears exactly that," Sarot replied. "He'll be pleased to know you haven't abandoned us."

"I don't think I ever could," Talia admitted, looking around the cantina one last time. "Archaeology will always be part of who I am. It just... won't be all of who I am anymore."

Bramoc Karr

 

[Bramoc Karr]

Bramoc listened quietly, saying nothing while the conversation unfolded.

There was a contentment in watching Talia speak about the work she loved, one he had not expected to find. He had seen her determined, frightened, curious, even angry. This was different. This was the woman she had been before Voss had changed the course of her life.

He found himself hoping she never lost that part of herself.

When Sarot's observation earned the faint blush across her cheeks, the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly. The older archaeologist was perceptive. He had arrived at the truth without needing to be told it outright.

Complicated was one way to describe it.

He suspected "improbable" would have been equally accurate.

As Sarot spoke of Gavin and Talia assured him she would remain in contact, Bramoc simply watched. These were not merely colleagues. They were people who had shared years of discoveries, disappointments, and triumphs together. He understood now why leaving this life behind, even temporarily, carried so much weight for her.

When she said archaeology would always remain part of who she was, he gave a small nod.

"It should."

His voice was quiet but certain.

"We are not meant to abandon the things that shape us simply because life asks us to grow."

He looked toward the office where her tablet was being retrieved.

"The Varesh will need historians every bit as much as it needs philosophers."

His eyes returned to Talia.

"I would never ask you to leave this behind."

There was a brief pause before he looked back to Sarot.

"In truth," he said, "I hope one day you'll find us arriving at an excavation simply because Talia couldn't resist whatever mystery you've uncovered."

The faintest smile returned.

"I've already accepted that there are some ruins I won't be able to compete with."

Talia Larkin Swift

 

[Talia Larkin Swift]

Talia's expression softened as Bramoc spoke. There was something deeply reassuring in hearing him say that archaeology still had a place in whatever their lives became. She had chosen the future they were building together without regret, but that did not mean leaving this part of herself behind had been easy.

"I don't intend to give it up entirely," she assured him, warmth entering her smile. "Though I appreciate knowing you'll tolerate the occasional detour because someone discovered a particularly interesting ruin."

Sarot gave a quiet chuckle. "Occasional?"

Talia looked toward him with feigned offense. "I can exercise restraint."

The Arkanian's expression suggested decades of evidence to the contrary, and Talia laughed before looking between the two men. "Besides, Bramoc is right. If we're building something meant to last, we need to understand what came before us. The Varesh shouldn't only preserve its own history. We should learn from everyone else's as well." Her gaze settled warmly on Bramoc. "So I'm afraid you may find yourself accompanying an archaeologist into more ruins than you anticipated."

Before he could answer, the young scribe Sarot had sent away emerged from the office with a familiar datapad held carefully in both hands. Talia's entire expression brightened at the sight of it. "There you are." She accepted it almost reverently, immediately turning it over to inspect the casing before waking the display. The familiar interface appeared, followed by the catalog of notes, scans, translations, images, and observations she had spent years accumulating.

A breath of relief escaped her. "Everything's here." She looked toward the scribe with a grateful smile. "Thank you. Truly." Her fingers curled around the datapad with familiar ease before she turned back toward Sarot. "And thank you for keeping it safe. I don't think I realized how much of my life was stored in this little thing until I thought I might have lost it."

Sarot smiled. "Then perhaps you should consider making another backup."

Talia stared at him for a moment before a sheepish smile appeared. "I deserved that." She tucked the datapad securely against herself, then glanced toward Bramoc with amusement dancing in her eyes. "Apparently getting married, founding the Varesh, finding somewhere to build our first House, and eventually returning to archaeology aren't enough. I also need to reorganize my research storage."

Her humor softened as she looked back to Sarot. "Like I promised Jaek, I'll keep in touch. With all of you. And when I can return, I will." Her hand found Bramoc's again, fingers slipping naturally between his. She wasn't leaving one life because it mattered less than the next. She was simply carrying part of it forward with her. "I have a feeling I'll have quite a few new things worth documenting by then."

Bramoc Karr