Though he almost scoffed aloud when Merryn gave him that advice, Jekin later sent a call to his family.  He had kept the same comm frequency for all of these years.  He had expected it, as so many others, to go straight to the archives.<br/><br/>Instead, he heard a soft feminine voice nearly crying out, "Jekin?  Jekin!  That's you, right?"<br/><br/>"Yeah, it's me.  Is that you, mama?" He barely recognizes her.  He's used to her being imposing, threatening, and powerful.  The ten year old inside him that remembers her expects her to sound like a God, not a mortal, almost weak, woman.<br/><br/>"Oh Jekin.  I...I heard about the attack, and I didn't know if any of you Jedi got hurt trying to stop them or were blown up," she sighs, fighting for her composure, "I thought I lost another child to this war before it had begun."<br/><br/>"Another child?" He felt an odd tension, an instinctive urge to reach out with the Force to try to feel for his family.  "Someone died in the attacks?  Was someone there when they did what they did?"<br/><br/>"No.  No.  Everyone's all right."  She sighed. "Meru, she went off to the Navy.  She's serving on one of those Medical Frigates."<br/><br/>Jekin let out a heavy sigh and let his focus lapse, trying to think through it logically.  "She's just a Reservist, right?  They're not going to send her to the front."<br/><br/>That was a lie.  There was no 'front'.  The Mandalorians could attack anywhere, any time.  Both of them knew that now.  But if both of them knew they were lying, it would be okay.<br/><br/>"I...don't know after this news," his mother admitted, which made him feel bad.<br/><br/>"Well...I'm going off to war too, mama," he said softly, "we ship out soon."<br/><br/>She let out a most undignified sob and practically screamed, "but you're a Jedi!  Not a soldier, don't do this!  I can get a lawyer to rip up draft papers or whatever they've gotten on you.  Just come home!"<br/><br/>He held the comm away from his face and took a deep breath in, before letting it out. "I can't just stand back while other people lose their lives.  Especially not after they attacked Coruscant."<br/><br/>"Your sister said the same thing." His mother moaned in despair.  "Please be careful, Jekin.  I want you to come home when this is over.  I don't care whether you're a Jedi or a soldier or if you bring everyone in your unit back with you.  We'll have a feast big enough for the whole Army and Navy if we have to.  Just come home."<br/><br/>He chuckled.  "That sounds nice, mama.  I'll be back when this is over and the Mandalorians are gone."<br/><br/>"And Meru will be there with you."<br/><br/>He felt horrible for saying it like he knew for sure, but he nodded.  "Yeah.  We'll come home together."<br/><br/>"If you need to call, even just to talk.  Call home or send a message.  We'll answer.  I'll...I'll get a special business line and only give the number to you and Meru." A pause came as she sensed that her baby was about to say goodbye.  "I love you, Jekin."<br/><br/>"I love you, mama," he said as calmly as he could, "I'll see you when this is over."<br/><br/>"Yes.  I'll see you later."<br/><br/>It was only when he hung up that he wept.  It took a war to bring his family back into contact with him, and now his sister was out there.  Once his tears were all shed, he felt a sense of determination.  He would end this war as fast as he could, to spare her.<br/><br/>---------<br/><br/><strong>Day 324 3262, BBY</strong><br/><br/>Jekin meditated on the flight to the flagship.  It helped him keep his cool as he followed Merryn onto the 'Tremendous' flagship.  He smiled more like a rogue than a Jedi, but resisted the urge to offer her his hand.  "Lieutenant Yuluni, a pleasure to make your acquaintance.  I'm Padawan Jekin Tolar.  Or...Private Tolar, or whatever we're doing for ranks here, ma'am."<br/><br/>Even as he fumbled with his 'title', he managed confidence that was both unfitting for a soldier and fitting for a man who would probably die out here.