Private Rendezvous [Iona Starchaser]

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

Balun had returned from the Nythera Nebula expedition alongside his father and the two trusted companions who had accompanied them into the storm-wreathed frontier. Their voyage had spanned several weeks, navigating uncharted hyperspace lanes and meticulously surveying the newly discovered planet Jhaessa Prime, along with its neighbouring worlds, all of which had been veiled behind the swirling chaos of the spatial storm for generations. Against the odds, the mission had not only been a success but had yielded far more than Balun had anticipated. What began as a speculative venture driven by curiosity and the promise of profit had evolved into a discovery with the potential to reshape entire economic landscapes.

True to his word, Balun had delivered. There were profits to be made, yes, but more importantly, there was promise. The kind of opportunity that only reveals itself once in a lifetime.

Now back on familiar ground, Balun had wasted no time. The real work was only just beginning. With Jhaessa Prime on the verge of becoming a cornerstone in colonial expansion, he had turned to the Royal Assembly of Naboo, seeking to secure additional support for the bold initiative that Dashiell Incorporated™ and its subsidiary Dashiell Retrofit™ were prepared to spearhead.

When the day of the meeting arrived, Balun showed up with purpose etched into every detail of his presentation. Gone was the relaxed starfarer's attire he usually favoured; in its place, a crisp, well-tailored business suit hugged his frame. A simple black tie completed the ensemble; a quiet statement of seriousness and respect for the station he was stepping into. He wasn't just advocating for a corporate venture; he was representing a legacy. His father's legacy.

Judah Dashiell had been informed of the meeting well in advance. It had been his idea, after all, mentioned in passing while the two men had walked the windswept plains of Jhaessa. In the days since, Balun had consulted him more than once, refining his approach and rehearsing the rhetoric needed to frame their venture as not just a business opportunity, but a shared vision worth investing in.

"Speech".
'Thought'.

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed, Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell
​

Rarely did she leave the quiet embrace of the Praxeum and solitude of Mnemosyne. Her life now mimicked how she grew up ; residing in a quiet academic institution on a habitually overlooked planet. It wasn't to say the area wasn't lively. Buzzing even. In the past two and a half years she had to miss anything about her old life in the hyperlanes. Her cousin was too preoccupied to teach her. Moral compass didn't point in the same direction as so many who walked the galaxy.

So, she merely opted out. Disappeared.

Iona didn't become a shut-in. No. Over the last year she had visited multiple universities and several Senators. Today was no different, although it was a small cohort of lawyers in charge of drafting laws and interpreting the limits of ancient laws. Dressed fashionably for herself in order to fit in with the style of Naboo, Iona walked along the halls with the lawmaker in charge, sealing the deal of her plan.

"....we can't wait to have you, Miss Irala. The students will be pleased to ask the questions they have been itching to get answers to since the hyperlane shift put us squarely in Galactic Alliance territory. We're close to the Royal Naboo Republic and hope you won't be a stranger to our little school."

The lawyer chuckled, shaking her head. "Little school, is that what you're calling it? Happy to come and visit the next generation. Some of the older ones may want to join us during term breaks to see what we do hands on. I'll see which have promise once I visit and can coordinate from there."

"That would be perfect Miss Irala. Can't wait to see you next month."

"Likewise."

With that, the pair parted ways, Iona moving out of the government building. She had a few hours before her public transport left but with nothing too much on her agenda a lap around a few city blocks would do her some good.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

Balun arrived at the Royal Assembly grounds beneath a pale Naboo sky, his footsteps quiet against the polished stone of the open courtyard. Towering structures of regal architecture encircled the space—marble pillars and intricate gold filigree lining the facades of the government buildings. The scent of trimmed hedges and floral arrangements drifted faintly through the air, a testament to the meticulous care taken in maintaining the ornamental gardens. Everything was pristine, orderly—almost too idyllic for a seat of power. If not for the presence of uniformed security personnel and the comings and goings of robed senators and sharply dressed lawyers, one might not have guessed this was the administrative heart of the Naboo Republic.

Pausing just short of the grand stairway that led into the main assembly hall, Balun took a final drag from his cigarra, the ember at the end flaring briefly before he flicked it aside with a casual snap of his fingers. The wind carried the faint wisp of smoke away as he adjusted his jacket, preparing himself for the formality ahead.

But just as he turned toward the steps, his gaze caught a familiar silhouette descending from the entrance above—a figure he hadn't seen in years. His brow furrowed in disbelief.

"Iona?"

Her name left his lips before he could stop it, the surprise evident in his tone.

Sure enough, it was her. Iona Starchaser . She had parted ways with a group of lawyers moments before their eyes met, and now she was alone, making her way down the same steps he had been preparing to climb. Their last encounter had been over two years ago, back when she had merely mentioned in passing that she might one day visit the Royal Naboo Republic. He hadn't expected her to remember it, let alone for their paths to cross here, of all places.

Taking a few cautious steps toward her, Balun offered a warm smile. "It's been a while. I didn't expect to see you here."

The words felt understated, but genuine. Their last conversation had drifted into awkward territory near the end, yet he'd never held onto any lingering resentment. Seeing her again after so long stirred something familiar—a mixture of curiosity, nostalgia, and quiet relief.

As he reached a comfortable distance, he tilted his head slightly and asked with friendly interest, "Are you working with the Order of Shiraya here?"

There was something comforting about her presence, as if the day, already weighted with politics and pressure, had given him a momentary reprieve.

"Speech".
'Thought'.

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed, Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell

​

One moment she was enjoying the sunshine on her face, silently debating which direction to travel in. In the end, Iona had planned on making one large loop so perhaps it didn't matter. She would end up seeing all of it by the end of a few hours spent wandering. Feet had touched the last step as she heard her name being called. Her name being called by someone familiar.

Balun Dashiell.

That someone was like a ghost. Iona didn't know how to feel. He appeared to be well, nothing about his tone or presence in the Force seemed to throw off any warning signals. Yet, unlike Bale, she clearly remembered their last encounter. Lips thinned into a line, unsure if she should be a mature adult and face the situation or run away like a coward.

Running away had a certain appeal. Yet it was not practical. Running away from the Royal Assembly building would just spark attention she didn't need. Instead she took a deep breath and plastered on an easy smile. It was showtime after all.

"Indeed, the galaxy is a big place."

Brows furrowed, wondering what the Order of Shiraya was. Given enough context clues it was either some type of government high-society or a order for Force users. Given the status of the both of them, she was going to go out on a limb and assume it was something for Jedi. At one time, she expected Bale to know better that she wouldn't join such a thing - a Jedi order, but back two years ago had proven Bale didn't know her as well as she had assumed.

"No, just visiting."

Silence lapsed between them. Iona didn't know what to say anymore. Everything before had set him off. While Balun may have moved on, it was certainly an unscabbed wound on her end.

"Pleasure to see you. I must be going. Public transport waits for no one."

​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

Balun's brow knit in quiet disappointment. He had expected a range of reactions—surprise, maybe even a bit of awkwardness, but not this. Iona's demeanour was colder than he remembered, her expression unreadable, her tone clipped and distant. If she had ever harboured any intention of reconnecting, she certainly wasn't showing it now.

So this was it? After two years of silence, she wouldn't even consider the idea of catching up?

He exhaled sharply and opened his hands at his sides, the gesture as much a plea as it was frustration.
"Oh, come on. You don't have five minutes to catch up after two years?"

The words held a trace of incredulity. Surely she wasn't still holding on to what he had said the last time they saw each other. Balun remembered the conversation well; his words had come from a place of rawness, born from years of criticism that had left him feeling like he was never enough. With Iona, he thought he could drop the act, let the honesty spill out. Maybe he'd gone too far. Maybe she'd seen it as weakness or worse, rejection.

When she stopped replying to his messages, when weeks turned into months and then stretched into years, the silence had been its answer.

But now, standing face to face again, Balun wasn't ready to let it end there.

"Just a few minutes," he offered again, his voice softer now, with something genuine beneath the surface. "Let me show you around. No politics. No agendas. Just… us."

He searched her face, hoping to find even a flicker of the connection they once shared.

"Speech".
'Thought'.

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed,Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell
​

"Just a few minutes," he offered again, his voice softer now, with something genuine beneath the surface. "Let me show you around. No politics. No agendas. Just… us."

Iona took another deep, steadying breath. It was placing her in an awkward position. She wanted to say no. In her eyes, it would be easier for the both of them to merely give their 'hellos' and walk away. Simpler. A solution where neither of them could end up being greatly disappointed.

I can't stop you from walking in the same direction.

That's what she wanted to say. Probably would fix the issue of not having to deal with a few minutes of a forced catch-up. Iona wasn't expecting anything genuine to come out of the conversation. She would be walking on eggshells - Balun as usual would be oblivious as usual. Except when she said something 'wrong'. He always seemed to catch on to that.

"Spaceport is this way." Iona spoke quietly, motioning in front of her, resigned to her fate at this point. Childishly, she didn't want to return to Naboo after this. Hopefully she could figure out if he lived here or it was just some odd universe thing. Best to stick to safe topics as they started to move forward.

"How is your boy?"

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

Walking Iona Starchaser to the spaceport felt like a small victory—far better than parting ways in silence. Balun knew his father would probably give him a stern word or two later for missing the Royal Assembly meeting, but he could live with that. He'd simply claim an unexpected emergency had pulled him away. And in a way, that wasn't untrue. Reconnecting with Iona after two long years felt urgent—like an opportunity that had surfaced without warning and demanded his full attention.

"This is more important," he had silently reasoned.

As they strolled side by side beneath the soft Naboo sunlight, the sounds of the capital humming gently around them, conversation finally found its rhythm.

"Kellan's doing really well, thanks," Balun said with a warm smile that came easily at the mention of his son. "He's three now—gods, it's hard to believe how fast the time's flown."

The smile lingered as he glanced ahead, imagining the boy's laughter echoing down the halls of their temporary residence.

"He's with Makai right now while I try to sort out something more permanent here. Work's been… overwhelming, in the best way," he continued, his voice tinged with a quiet pride. "My father and I found a planet—a completely uncolonized world hidden beyond the Nythera Nebula. We're planning to develop it into a trade hub for the Naboo Republic. Dashiell Incorporated is spearheading the whole thing."

His tone carried the energy of momentum, the excitement of something vast unfolding before him. And yet, there were parts he left unsaid.

He could've told her more. About his recent connection to the Order of Shiraya. About his new Master and the slow, uncertain path he'd begun to walk as a Force-sensitive once again. But he didn't. Iona had always kept her distance from the Jedi and anything tied to their ideology, and he suspected the Shirayan Order might be met with the same guarded dismissal. He didn't want to invite judgment—not again.

Her approval had always meant something to him. Too much, perhaps. There was a weight in it, a gravity she likely never realised she held. Iona had been the first real friend he made after leaving Coruscant, the first person who didn't treat him like a fractured remnant of what he used to be. Even if they drifted apart, even if they never quite fit neatly into each other's lives, she had mattered. She still did.

And now, as they neared the transport terminal, he finally turned the conversation away from himself.

"What about you?" he asked, his voice quieter but filled with interest. "Where've you been all this time?"

He looked at her, not with suspicion, but with genuine curiosity—and something more unspoken beneath it. A hope that maybe, just maybe, she'd been wondering the same about him.

"Speech".
'Thought'.

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed,Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell
​

Iona listened, trying to remember the bits about his family. Balun had told her with enthusiasm but was often scant on the details that an outsider would need. Most of it was context clues and piecing together the bits and pieces he did share and weaving them together in a larger concept.

"Glad to hear Kellan is doing well."

Especially after Balun had decided to entangle himself with a Sith. Privately she was concerned the mother was off watching on the distance, waiting to take him back. Iona suspected it would happen once the boy was older, maybe around six or so. Yet she didn't know much about any security protocols Balun may have had in place.

"Sounds as if you've kept busy these years. That's good."

Tone was neutral as they walked along, the public spaceport coming into view. An architectural beauty, just as anything on Naboo. Her first visit and she was already impressed by how well the city and planet had been planned out over the years.

"I have been teaching at the Praxeum of the Whills. Ancient Order of the Whills, it's not well known. Located a few systems away from here. Nothing as exciting or as important as discovering a new planet."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

"The Order of the Whills?" Balun repeated, a flicker of recognition lighting behind his eyes. The name stirred something—a whisper of old knowledge half-buried in the depths of the Jedi Archives, likely scanned during his younger years. But the details eluded him now, floating just beyond reach. Still, the name alone was enough to spark curiosity.

He glanced toward Iona Starchaser , his interest genuine. "Given you were never exactly fond of the larger Force institutions, I imagine they must be a good fit for you," he remarked, a thread of intrigue woven through his voice.

His smile was subtle, but sincere—there was something reassuring about seeing her with purpose again. Even if their paths had diverged, it pleased him to know she had found direction, perhaps even belonging.

"I'm glad to hear you've found somewhere that values what you bring," he added, his tone softening.

He remembered how she used to live like a ghost, drifting from one star system to the next, never settling for long, always chasing some flicker of justice in far-off places. It had been admirable—noble, even. Balun had understood it, respected it. He, too, had once served outside of any order, unbound but searching. But to have a home, to have roots... that was something else entirely. He hoped, quietly, that she had found hers at last.

His gaze lingered on her for a beat longer than intended before he asked, almost hesitantly, "You look well. Have you been happy?"

It was a simple question, but one that carried weight. It might've seemed abrupt, even strange, given the time and space between them—but for Balun, it mattered. It was the only way he could begin to understand where she had been, what had shaped her in the years since they last stood face-to-face.

They had already arrived at the spaceport. The open concourse buzzed with movement, starships blinking in and out of loading cycles, but Iona didn't seem inclined to linger. Her pace had remained purposeful, her responses measured and brief.

He didn't need the Force to sense the distance between them. It was in her posture, the way her eyes darted rather than settled. There was tension there, a subtle resistance in every step, and Balun could feel it in his chest like a low hum of disappointment.

Still, he held her gaze as long as she'd let him, hoping for something unspoken to break through.

"Speech".
'Thought'.

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed,Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell ​

His gaze lingered on her for a beat longer than intended before he asked, almost hesitantly, "You look well. Have you been happy?"

Iona didn't miss the way Balun looked at her. As if he couldn't decide if he wanted to ask her a question or was going to bring up some type of sore subject. Given the question, she wasn't sure what type of answer he was looking for. Maybe a bit odd for someone to ask after meeting one for the first time in years. Iona wasn't sure if he wanted to her to be miserable or if he was looking for some excuse to walk away and not feel guilty.

She found it hard to tell. Even back when they encountered each other more often she found Balun a hard read. Sometimes he seemed eager to be in her presence and others she just seemed to bother him with each syllable coming out of her mouth.

"Happy? Bit of a relative term. I am content enough. All I can ask for in these times."

Iona gestured vaguely, as if to allude to the issues within the galaxy. Hyperlane collapses. Wars. Politics. The Mirialan assumed he would get her point.

"I assume you're happy? Sounds like you're doing everything you've wanted."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

"Heh, like you say—'well' is a relative term," Balun replied with a quiet chuckle, offering a modest shrug as the two continued their walk through the bustling spaceport concourse.

"Kellan's doing great," he said, a warm glint flickering in his eyes at the mention of his son. "And the discovery of Jhaessa Prime... it's a big deal. From a business standpoint, it's exciting—plenty of potential there. And I've finally found someone willing to help with my training, too. She's mentoring a couple of others, but I'm ahead enough that I don't need constant oversight. It works. Gives me more space to focus on work—and Kellan, who comes first, obviously."

His tone remained light, but the words felt rehearsed, as though he were listing facts more than feelings. In truth, he wasn't sure whether he was happy or just functioning—just moving forward because that's what was expected.

He exhaled, slower this time, and glanced to the side.

"Life's been kind of... melancholy, if I'm being honest," he admitted. "The last couple of years have been quiet. Not bad, just... focused. My social life's still a bit of a mess—I'm no good at meeting new people, at least not when it comes to anything personal."

His voice dropped slightly, introspective now, more raw.

"But I've been keeping my head down, doing what I need to do for Kellan. I want to give him something real—build a legacy, like my father did for Makai and me. Something lasting. So that no matter what happens, he'll have a future."

He glanced ahead, catching the distant shimmer of the docking bays. They were nearing the end of their walk—and he felt the weight of everything he hadn't said pressing against the back of his throat. So he kept talking, not out of necessity, but to delay the silence.

To hold onto the moment a little longer.

"Speech".
'Thought'.​

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed,Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell ​

"Life's been kind of... melancholy, if I'm being honest," he admitted. "The last couple of years have been quiet. Not bad, just... focused. My social life's still a bit of a mess—I'm no good at meeting new people, at least not when it comes to anything personal."

His voice dropped slightly, introspective now, more raw.

"But I've been keeping my head down, doing what I need to do for Kellan. I want to give him something real—build a legacy, like my father did for Makai and me. Something lasting. So that no matter what happens, he'll have a future."

"Is that not the life of a parent?" Brows knitted together, thinking. "No social life. Keeping one's head down. Doing anything for the child."

Iona truly didn't know. She couldn't tell if Balun was lamenting lost youth - when they first met he seemed a bit wild. Or perhaps he was just laying out what his life looked like these days. A silent apology for not contacting her for two years? As if to say 'I am incredibly busy, here is my excuse'? Iona didn't need it.

Words had stung deep the day Balun had told her every word out of her mouth sounded like a critique of his life. It felt like an utter rejection and dismissal by someone she had held in high regard as her friend. She had silently packed up and left. Not that time and distance had made anything better. Time in this case did not heal all wounds. Lessened their sting but the injury remained.

"You seem busy. Plus, Kellan needs you. Best we part ways and get back to our regularly scheduled lives. Don't need to hold you up any further."

Was her transport leaving right away? No, she still had about an hour and a half left. Did Balun need to know this? Also no. Iona figured she would find a seat and settle in early. Less chance of running into anyone she knew that way.

"Stay safe out there."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

"I guess it is," Balun said softly, offering a faint smile as he nodded in quiet agreement. "I'm doing my best... trial and error, I suppose."

The words carried a weight that lingered between them. There'd been no preparation for the sudden news that he had a son—no time to ease into fatherhood, no guidebook for how to navigate the role. But from the moment he had taken Kellan into his arms, he had committed himself fully. Even if he stumbled, he would keep walking. That was all he could do.

And then came the moment he had been dreading—the farewell. It slipped in like a cold breeze, subtle but unmistakable. Iona's posture had shifted, her expression carefully guarded. The warm flow of conversation between them had already begun to ebb, and Balun felt it in his chest: this was goodbye.

"You don't have to go, you know," he said, the words escaping before he could second-guess them.

There was a hesitant edge to his voice, as though he feared saying too much and yet feared the silence even more. He didn't want to pressure her, not into revisiting the past, nor into staying where she didn't want to be. But two years was a long time, and seeing her again—however brief—had awakened a piece of him he hadn't realised he missed so deeply.

"I've missed us… just hanging out," he continued, his eyes searching hers for even a flicker of the closeness they once shared. "Two years was a long time."

He could feel the tension in her now—the stiffness in her shoulders, the way she avoided eye contact for too long. She hadn't forgiven him, or maybe she had, but the wound still lingered. And though Balun had tried to skirt around the conversation, tried to keep things light, there was no escaping it now.

"If I'd known what I said would hurt you…" he trailed off for a moment, looking down as he searched for the words, "I would've shut my damn mouth."

He hated bringing it up, but the weight of it had sat on his conscience for far too long. He looked back at her, his voice quieter now, more vulnerable than he cared to admit.

"You might not believe it or even want to hear it, but I wanted you to be proud of me. That's all I ever really wanted."

A breath passed between them.

"It always felt like everything I did came up short, like I never quite measured up. And I guess, deep down, I worried that you saw me the same way I see myself."

He paused again, unsure if he was making it better or worse, but unable to stop now.

"What I said back then… it wasn't meant to push you away. I just needed to know if you thought I was worth something. Because if you did… maybe I wasn't all that bad, coming from someone I care about" Balun paused, his brows furrowing as he soon added "I've never been good with this sort of stuff, especially with women. I'm a dumbass, remember?".

"Speech".
'Thought'.​

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed,Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell
​

Iona nearly replied that she did have to go. An entire cohort of students waiting for her. A quiet, simple life carved out where she could just disappear. Did disappear, not that she suspected many beyond Balun had been out looking for her. If Balun had even looked, judging by the sporadic messages at first he at least attempted.

"If I'd known what I said would hurt you…" he trailed off for a moment, looking down as he searched for the words, "I would've shut my damn mouth."

"It hurt. A lot. At the same time, if that's how you feel, then it was better for me to know. There was no sense in wasting my time or your time. Especially since I was criticizing with each syllable that I uttered. Not how I perceived it but....doesn't matter much what I think."

Carefully she was choosing her words. No need for another argument because Balun felt as if she was backing him into another corner. Iona didn't feel as if she had been any different from their first encounter but who knew. Sometimes the refreshing breath of air suddenly became stale and unwelcome.

"It always felt like everything I did came up short, like I never quite measured up. And I guess, deep down, I worried that you saw me the same way I see myself."

He paused again, unsure if he was making it better or worse, but unable to stop now.

"What I said back then… it wasn't meant to push you away. I just needed to know if you thought I was worth something. Because if you did… maybe I wasn't all that bad, coming from someone I care about" Balun paused, his brows furrowing as he soon added "I've never been good with this sort of stuff, especially with women. I'm a dumbass, remember?".

"I've always been proud of you. Just because I don't agree with every choice you make doesn't mean I want you see you fail."

Perhaps you were too busy with every girl with a hint of cleavage to notice.

It was clear Balun had more issues than just her words. Abandoned to the Jedi. Finding his father. Finding his biological family. All seemed to weigh on the other. Iona had always suspected he felt as if he didn't measure up to the family he had found. She could understand that as a Starchaser who had zero desire for starships or astronavigation. Yet he had always seemed to confess his feelings to others rather than herself. Kept her at an arms length or as a secondary concern.

"No Balun, I never saw you the way you saw yourself - until that moment."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

"It's not how I feel about you," Balun said, his voice steady but low, carrying the weight of unspoken regret.

Without thinking, he reached out and gently took her left hand, not to hold her back but to ask her, without words, to pause. To face him. She might not welcome the touch—he could feel the tension in her fingers—but he needed her to feel that he meant every word.

"Iona…" he exhaled, struggling to find the rhythm of everything he needed to say. "What I said back then—it was wrong. And I am sorry."

His eyes searched hers, desperate for a crack in the emotional armour she now wore like a second skin.

"I don't want to lose your friendship. You've been the one constant I've had outside of my family… since the day I left the Jedi Order. Even back on Coruscant, I never let anyone in—not really. You were the exception."

There was a tremor in his voice, a trace of vulnerability he rarely allowed to surface.

"After Nouqai… after everything, I had no one. And somehow, even when we weren't talking, even with the silence... I always hoped that maybe one day we'd find our way back."

He let out a slow breath, as though trying to ease the ache building in his chest.

"It wasn't fair, what I said to you. I was hurt, angry, and I let it spill onto you. That wasn't your burden to carry, and I don't blame you for walking away. You had every right to."

The words came with a rough edge now, the kind that comes from sitting with regret for far too long.

"If you've decided you don't want anything to do with me, I'll understand," he said, gently loosening his grip on her hand, ready to let go if she asked.

"But if there's even a part of you that still believes in what we had—our friendship—I'll do whatever it takes to earn that back. I'll prove to you that I'm not the same person who let you down."

There was no bravado in his voice. No attempt at persuasion. Just a quiet, heartfelt truth, laid bare between them.

"Speech".
'Thought'.​

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed, Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell
​

"No, it certainly was not fair." Iona paused for a moment and gave a small squeeze of his hand. "Apology accepted."

It didn't stop the fact that they would be parting ways. Iona had responsibilities now more beyond drifting in the hyperlanes from refugee camp to refugee camp. Not that her time hadn't been any less important on that journey. It was one she would possibly return to in the future.

"I will...I will also try to keep my comments to myself."

Silence perhaps in the future. Younger then too, Iona had learned her bleeding heart ideals and thoughts on social justice irritated many. Now she was much more cautious on what she said and to who. Balun would not be an exception. If their friendship got to that point again. After all, perhaps they would just be friendly on a superficial level.

"I do have real responsibilities though. I can't just stay. Even before you bumped into me I only had a little bit of time."

She didn't want Bale to feel as if she was lying about her apology and looking to escape once more. Saying something just to please him in order to keep to a time table.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

The moment Iona accepted his apology, a visible shift came over Balun—as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest. The tension in his shoulders eased, and the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding finally escaped in a quiet exhale. Relief washed over him, not just emotionally, but physically—as though his entire body had uncoiled from weeks, months, years of quiet guilt.

He hadn't known how deeply he'd feared losing her—not just her presence, but the comfort of knowing she still cared enough to forgive him. To hear, unequivocally, that their friendship could survive the damage he'd done was a gift he hadn't dared to hope for. It steadied him in ways few things had since Nouqai's departure.

"I don't want you to keep anything from me," Balun said, his voice softer now, grounded in the sincerity of the moment. "You should always feel like you can speak freely around me. And I'll make sure I don't let my emotions twist things again."

He meant it. Their friendship, if it was to continue, had to be one built on honesty, not restraint. No more walking on eggshells. No more silence. Accountability was important to him.

Back then, it had only been a month or so since Nouqai vanished from his life—a wound still raw and bleeding beneath the surface. Balun hadn't realised just how volatile his emotions had been at the time. He'd lashed out, not at Iona directly, but in her presence, allowing the storm inside him to eclipse the person he prided himself on being. It didn't excuse his words. But it gave him a measure of understanding. Enough to know that what happened had been unfair to her.

After a pause, he tilted his head slightly, his tone shifting to something lighter, cautious but hopeful.

"Well," he said with a faint smirk, "knowing I'll see you again... I suppose I can allow you to leave."

The sarcasm was gentle, wrapped in a warmth that hadn't been there earlier. But even then, there was a flicker of hesitation behind the smile—Balun was careful not to push, not after everything they'd just repaired.

"I'm pretty firmly tied up in the Royal Naboo Republic's future these days," he added, nodding slightly. "So if I'm not back home on Joiol, you'll find me here. And you've still got my frequency, if you ever need it, or want it."

There was no pressure in his words. Just an open door. One, he quietly hoped she'd walk through again someday.

"Speech".
'Thought'.​

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Location : Theed,Naboo | Weapons : Force Pike | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell
​

"I don't want you to keep anything from me," Balun said, his voice softer now, grounded in the sincerity of the moment. "You should always feel like you can speak freely around me.

At this, she looked skeptical, but only for a moment. Iona schooled her expression into something more neutral, although her thoughts were elsewhere. The Mirialan had made her mistake with being too loose with her words before. With her thoughts on the matters regarding Balun. Perhaps it was time for a different strategy ; a less than honest friendship. Iona would not be anything but warm and pleasant. However, perhaps this was a great time to keep much of how she felt to herself. A reset.

"Of course. Brutal honesty."

A lie but one that wouldn't harm either of them.

"I'm pretty firmly tied up in the Royal Naboo Republic's future these days," he added, nodding slightly. "So if I'm not back home on Joiol, you'll find me here. And you've still got my frequency, if you ever need it, or want it."

"You can visit me too, you know. The Praxeum is open to all, even your son would be welcomed to join you. Its not as if I live in a cloister where I cannot have visitors."

As for other territories in the area, Iona merely nodded. She didn't come out and poke around but Balun didn't need to know that. Meeting with the lawyer had been her first real solo outing since joining. Some group travel here and there. Yet by now they had dissolved into awkward silence, which was fine.

"I'll be seeing you."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

RENDEZVOUS
Theed, Royal Assembly
Iona Starchaser

"You can visit me too, you know. The Praxeum is open to all, even your son would be welcomed to join you. Its not as if I live in a cloister where I cannot have visitors."

Balun smiled, nodding in quiet agreement as he matched her tone.
"Yeah… it sounds like it's worth checking out," he replied, his voice tinged with curiosity.

In all the years he'd known Iona, never once had she spoken of settling down—especially not within a Temple or any formal enclave. Her nature had always been untethered, guided more by instinct than institution. So for her to find a place that felt worth calling home... that meant something.

"Praxeum of the Whills… on Mnemos, right?" he asked, though the question was more rhetorical than anything, his tone light as he gave a casual wave of his hand to dismiss the need for confirmation. "Send me the coordinates," he added, more earnestly now, "and I'll make good on visiting. I'd like to see it for myself."

The offer came freely, but it held more weight than just curiosity—it was his way of saying he wanted to be part of her world again, even if only on the fringes.

He paused, then let out a quiet breath, his expression shifting.

"But… I suppose I should let you go," he said reluctantly, both shoulders lifting in a soft shrug of resignation.

There was no choice in it, really. Her ship awaited, her path already charted. But as he stood there beside her, Balun found himself wishing the moment could stretch a little longer. Today had been unexpected—a chance encounter that could've ended in distance, but instead offered closure and perhaps, the beginning of something new. He hadn't realised how much he'd missed her until now. And more than that, how much he'd needed the chance to make things right.

"Take care of yourself out there, yeah?" he added, his tone sincere, with a quiet edge of concern that lingered behind his smile.

He would visit, of that he was certain. And with the way the galaxy was shifting—full of unrest, change, and old threats rising again—he hoped she would manage to keep clear of it all, at least for a while.

It was a slightly ironic hope, of course. Trouble had a habit of finding him more often than not.

But still… he meant it.

END.​

"Speech".
'Thought'.​