"Tumultuous Alliance, Part 1"
By: Dargus Kandran
Yelara Neerou
Kallia Brael
Yara Brael [NPC+]
Leshie Zaneth [NPC+]

Location: Dargus' Cruiser
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

Dargus Kandran stretched out on the bed while Yelara pressed the length of her body against his. Oh so very nice, he thought to himself. He opened his eyes and looked at her. He slipped his arms around her and nuzzled his lips against her throat. As her eyes fluttered open he smiled.

"Things feel complete again, my love," Dargus said. "Our family is back together."

Yelara sighed happily and pushed her fingers through Dargus' dishevelled hair. "It was wrong of them to stand in our way to begin with," she said. "They got what they asked for."

"They certainly did," Dargus said. "Especially Liam. I thought he was going to crumble and blow away on the breeze right then and there. I think that was the best possible revenge you could have ever gotten on him."

Yelara smiled ruefully. "Yes...I think we've accomplished what we set out to do," she said quietly. "There's no need to bother ourselves with him anymore."

"What about that bitch he's taken to his bed? Do you still want to scratch her eyes out? I'm sure if you'd like, I can arrange it."

Yelara thought on that a moment, then slowly grinned. "No... I think she's suffering enough. Liam hates her; I could see it. He blames her as much as he blames himself. I doubt he'd ever touch her again, and that should be enough punishment for her."

Dargus smiled viciously. "Oh, I do really enjoy punishing other people. When we rule Tae'Karada, I really can't wait to set up the systems for punishment. That will truly be a joy for us."

"Especially for you if you get to deal out the punishment by your own hand," Yelara told him. She sat up in bed, then slipped her leg over Dargus' waist and settled down onto his lap. "I wonder who will be our first victim," she mused as she smoothed her hands over his chest.

"Oh, if we haven't dealt with them enough by that point, I think Zale Tregat and Kaysa Zenarr should be our first," Dargus said as he smoothed his hands along Yelara's chest.

"I really must meet this Kaysa Zenarr." Yelara leaned forward and kissed Dargus tenderly. "She sounds like a real nuisance," she whispered.

"Oh, she is," Dargus said. "The only good thing she's ever done is giving birth to Keeve. But, I'll be sure to arrange an introduction. I'm sure you will love it."

Yelara chuckled throatily as she nibbled at Dargus' earlobe. "If it involves screaming, I'll definitely enjoy it."

"Oh, I'm certain it would," Dargus said with a smile. "Beautiful, blissful screaming. And, I know that you would make her scream like no one could, even better than Vrax did. Can you believe he was upset with me for insisting that he pay for the prosthetic hand?"

"He's the fool who got himself caught. He wouldn't need one if he'd been more careful." Yelara spread kisses along his jawline while her hand slid down between his legs. "So, what's next on the agenda? I want the palace, Dargus. I want to help you rule Tae'Karada."

Her touch brought a moan from Dargus' lips. "Next is the palace then," he whispered. "Today we will begin our campaign to rid Tae'Karada of the Empire, and ascend the throne to rule it as our own. You will rule by my side, my Empress."

"And what of Kallia?" Yelara asked. She pressed her mound to Dargus' erection and sighed softly. "She should get a portion of the power," Yelara whispered. "As my mistress."

"Of course," Dargus said. "She will have a share as well. The three of us, my love, we shall control this planet, and it shall be our own private sanctuary. One thing I look forward to is driving the damn Jedi from this planet."

"I don't think that will be too difficult," she said. "We almost accomplished that already. If you were at your full strength, we would have."

Dargus smiled, and the smile quickly turned into a series of moans. "Oh, next time, with Kallia at my side, we will have the strength to face the Jedi. And, by then, my army will be stronger. There is no way we can't win."

"And with me continually by your side," she purred, "you will." Yelara finally allowed Dargus to slip inside of her and again they began celebrating their victory. She would have to do the same with Kallia later that day, but her duty was first to her lord and emperor. Kallia, unfortunately, would always be second in that respect to Dargus.

As they continued making love, Dargus finally looked up into Yelara's eyes. "Have you noticed that Keeve seems even morose than usual? If he's not practicing in the pod simulator, he's locked away in his room. It's not good."

Yelara laughed breathlessly. "Are you about to ask me for a favour, my love?"

"If you're interested in a favour," Dargus said with a laugh. "He's responding better to you these days, especially when you don't have any clothes on. He's also got a rough streak that you seemed to enjoy."

Yelara moaned at both Dargus' comment and the pleasure his actions were evoking in her. "If you require me to lift his spirits, I'd be more than glad to."

"Oh, I thought you might be," Dargus said with a laugh. "You're the only woman around here he'll even look at, let alone touch. I think that's saying something. Maybe it's because Shiv has the same tattoo..."

"I was wondering about that," Yelara said with a chuckle. "You really did miss me, didn't you?"

"Very much so," Dargus said. "I put your tattoo on a blond. I think she would have looked good with your new tattoo too. If I hadn't turned her back over to Kaysa the first time, I would have given her pleasure piercings...nipples, pussy, and tongue. A pity. Oh, she was a beautiful slave. I've debated trying to get her back for Keeve, but it'd only be the same problem again. I think she could give him everlasting happiness."

Yelara kissed Dargus deeply, then pulled back and smiled at him. "Do I give just that to you?"

"And, then some. I can't imagine ever feeling this good or this happy in my entire life. I never thought I would experience anything like what you've given me."

"Then you shouldn't have driven me away to begin with." She chuckled as she drove her hips more forcefully against his. "We could have been married long ago, and you would already have had a child. Now, all that will have to wait."

"True," Dargus said with a grunt, "but we've got time now. There is no time like the present. Would you like a baby, Yelara? Should we try making a baby now?"

Yelara grinned impishly at Dargus. "We already are."

Dargus looked up into her eyes, his own very wide. "You mean you're not--"

She hastened her motions and laughed wildly at Dargus. "Haven't changed your mind, have you?"

A wide grin spread across his face. "Not at all! I want our baby, our heir. Oh gods, yes, Yelara. I want that very, very much!" To meet his excitement, he hastened his own motions as well.

Yelara moaned her approval and let her head fall back. "We'll have to keep at it," she sighed. "It might not work the first time. But we won't stop until we've succeeded."

"And, I'm sure we'll have to try very often," he added. "Here's to our success, my love!"

With a husky laugh, Yelara reached forward and kissed Dargus passionately. As his empress, it was her duty to provide him with an heir, and it would also do much in the way of damaging Liam further. So, with enthusiasm and immense drive, Yelara continued the act of making a child with Dargus, and she had no doubts that they would eventually succeed.

With a wild cry, Dargus quickly sped them towards a climax. The next time would be slower, more sensual. But, the thought of a baby, his and Yelara's baby, was too much and Dargus couldn't hold back.

***

Kallia was sitting in her room feeding Yara. Leshie was asleep in the small crib next to her and she was humming softly for both babies. She didn't like it here with Dargus, but she couldn't stay away from Yelara. She couldn't live without Yelara. With a smile, she felt the presence of her love approaching. She almost laughed when she noticed the euphoric glow to Yel's emotions. There was only one activity that made her love glow like that. She waited for the buzzing ring of someone at the other side of the door, and then called out, "Come in. I'm just feeding the babies."

Yelara stepped through the open door wearing just a long, thin robe made of silk. She grinned lovingly at Kallia as she approached the bed, then leaned forward and kissed her lover's brow. Her eyes motioned to Kallia's bare breasts and with a laugh she quipped, "Expecting me, were you?"

"Pull up a nipple, my love," Kallia said with a mischievous grin, "I've missed you."

Yelara sat upon the edge of the bed and gave Kallia a proper, full-mouthed kiss, while Yara kicked excitedly in Kallia's arms. Leshie was squealing happily in the background in response to his mother's presence, and all in all, Yelara couldn't imagine a more idyllic scene. She pulled back and gazed affectionately at her lover, then smiled dreamily. "This is wonderful, isn't it, my love?"

Kallia gazed into Yelara's eyes with love in hers. "I missed you so much back at the Temple. I thought I was going to go insane. I don't like spending so much time around Dargus, but to be with you, it's worth it."

"Well, you don't have to even see him if you don't want to, but he's really not that bad, my love. He's caring, and kind to me..." Yelara sighed softly. "He loves me and he would never hurt me, not like Liam did. And...I think I love him back."

Kallia nodded. "You're going to marry him, aren't you?"

Yelara shrugged, but in her smile her intentions were clearly evinced. "He's going to make me his empress and together we're going to rule Tae'Karada...with you by my side, Kal. It will change nothing between us. Please believe that, my love."

"I had hoped that with Liam gone, I would have a more prominent place," Kallia said. "But, as long as I'm in your life at all, I am happy."

Yelara sighed and cradled Kallia's face in her hands. "You do have a prominent place in my life, Kal. You were and are the first person I ever fell in love with. I risked my life the other day to get you back, and I would do it again. Without you, I'm not even close to being half-way whole. That is what you mean to me. Don't ever doubt that."

"I don't doubt it," Kallia said with a smile. "I was just hoping that I could be your only love again. But this is fine my love. I know you love me and I know nothing will ever take that away."

"Good." Yelara kissed Kallia tenderly as she stroked her cheek. It was difficult juggling two lovers, but she knew she had more than enough love for them both. "Now, how would you like to go for a walk? It isn't right you being locked up in here all the time. You are allowed to roam this ship whenever you want, and I want you to do so. This is your home now. You have to get used to that."

Kallia smiled. "I think a walk will help me get used to our new home," she said. "Let's put the children down for a nap, and then wander around. Is there someone who can watch them?"

"One of the girls," Yelara said. "You get dressed and I'll call for one." She kissed Kallia briefly, then moved to the intercom adjacent the doorframe to call upon a servant.

Kallia took Yara to the crib next to Leshie's and put her down into it. The baby was quiet as she looked up with her large brown eyes. Kal moved her hand over her abdomen and smiled. "Your brother or sister will be here soon, my little one. Then, I'm sure the three of you will have lots of fun together. Now, you be good for mama."

Satisfied that her daughter was fine, Kallia moved to the closet and pulled out a long dress. She pulled it on and let it settle into place. When she turned back, Yel was watching her. "Let me just get something on my feet. If you want to say hi to your son, now is the perfect time." With that, she began looking for a pair of sandals.

Yelara jumped at the opportunity to greet her boy, who was no doubt awaiting just that. He still missed his father, she could tell, but he'd eventually forget about him and grow to know only Dargus as his father, and she and Kallia as his mothers. Her son's face lit up as he saw her, and his movements became more enthusiastic. She laughed softly at him and leaned over to press her lips to his brow. "Mommy and Auntie Kal are going for a walk, but when we're done, I'll come right back and be with you, my sweet boy." Leshie seemed to burble a response, and after a final kiss, Yelara left behind his crib and moved to Kallia's side. "Come, my love. I have to pay a visit to Keeve after. He's expecting me."

"Why don't we both go," Kallia said with a shrug. "I don't really know people here, and it'd be good to start getting to know them. It is my home after all."

Yelara chuckled softly as they moved towards the door. "I'm not so sure you want to get to know him in that way, my love. It's a different kind of visit I plan on making."

Kallia grinned and then laughed. "Kind of like our last visit with Kael?"

Yelara nodded. "Exactly like that. The boy's had a hard time of it lately and I've been helping him out...over and over and over again."

"Is he good?"

All Kallia got in response was a suggestive smile and a throaty chuckle. Just as they left the room, the servant girl entered to tend to the children.

The corridors were abuzz with activity as soldiers still in uniform two days after the battle roamed about. Dargus had increased security in case one or another of his enemies decided to unexpectedly attack, but so far, there had been no backlash. Yelara was getting used to the presence of so many armed soldiers; in fact, it made her feel even safer.

She slipped her arm around Kallia's waist as they walked and kissed her lover's neck. "How would you like to have dinner with Dargus and I this evening? I really think you two should talk, especially if this arrangement is going to be permanent."

"I think I could do that," Kallia said with a smile. "I would do anything for you, Yelara. Anything and everything. I'll enjoy having dinner with you and Dargus."

"But I want you to do this for you, Kal, not just for me. I want you to be happy here, and happy because that's what you truly feel, not because of me."

"How about doing it for us, and our babies, and our futures? Those are the things that are important to me, my love. I want to be truly happy here too, and having dinner with you and Dargus will be a first step toward that."

Yelara grinned at her lover and squeezed her tenderly. "That's all I wanted to hear. Now, how about we go see if Keeve is free? I think it's time you two were introduced."

"I think that sounds like a very good idea," Kallia said with a smile. "From what you've said so far, I think I'll probably like him."

"He is quite handsome," Yelara commented. "Tall, strong...young, no older than me, in fact." She chuckled. "Oh, you'll definitely like him."

"Oh, I like him already," Kal said. "When I was back at the Temple, Kael was there. I wished you were there with me so we could pay him a visit. His desert girlfriend is living at the Temple now. She's wild in a charming kind of way. And, she's a prostitute."

Yelara giggled. "Just like I used to be. Oh, I imagine she and I would have gotten along just fine, but only if she would have allowed us to be with Kael. I hate overbearing women."

"I'm sure we would have figured something out. She'd probably need to get something out of the arrangement, but I'm certain you and I could have convinced her. Maybe we can go back at some point and invite them to join us here. We could make a very nice little harem here."

"Oh, we could even without them," Yelara said. "I mean, have you seen some of Dargus' soldiers? The women are beautiful and the men...." She shuddered with delight then sighed happily.

"Oh, I really think I am going to love it here," Kallia purred. "Maybe tonight after dinner, you and I can pick out a few soldiers, only four or five, and bring them back to our room to satisfy our every need."

Yelara would have agreed without hesitation, except for the minor detail of her lack of contraception. But that didn't preclude her from pleasuring, or being pleasured in ways that didn't require intercourse. "If Dargus doesn't need us for anything, I think we should do just that, my love." She kissed Kallia ardently as they continued towards Keeve's room, for a moment getting lost in the passion a simple touch from Kallia always inspired. "Oh, I love you," she breathed once their lips parted.

Kallia slid her hand down the front of Yelara's gown, enjoying the feel. She managed to pull her hand away before one thing led to another and they were making love right there in the corridor. Besides, they would soon be in Keeve's room, and she was certain they could share some of that love there. "I love you too," she whispered back. "So, do we get both boys and girls for our night tonight, or just the boys?"

Yelara grinned. "Whatever we want, my dear." She looked up just as they came to Keeve's door and pulled Kallia to a halt. "Now, don't be offended if he's disinterested towards you at first. He recently lost the woman he loved so he's a little sullen. But, I'm sure we can warm him up."

"Who wouldn't warm up to us? I'll follow your lead, my love."

---

"Tumultuous Alliance, Part 2"
By: Yelara Neerou
Kallia Brael
Keeve Zenarr [NPC+]

Location: Dargus' Cruiser
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

Yelara smiled confidently and tapped the door chime. It took three tries before Keeve answered the door and when he did, his hair was unkempt, he was without a shirt, and from his half-lidded eyes, looked as if he'd just woken up. Seeing Yelara at the door, however, brought a wan smile to his face. "Hi, Yel." He glanced briefly at Kallia, then back to Yelara. "What can I do for you?"

Yelara sighed airily and pushed past Keeve into his room, pulling Kallia along behind her. "That is no way to greet your future mother, insolent boy. We came for a visit, which we thought would bring a smile to your face."

Keeve shook his head and laughed wearily at her. He watched as both women made themselves comfortable on his bed. "Okay, fine. I'm happy to see you. Now what is it?"

"Well, I wanted to introduce you to my lover Kallia." Yelara gestured towards Kallia and grinned at Keeve. "Say hello."

"Hello, Kallia," Keeve said unenthusiastically. "You're father's other whore, aren't you?"

"Oh Yelara, he does have a razor sharp wit, doesn't he," Kallia said sarcastically. She slowly approached him, using her sexiest walk. "I don't much care for your father, Keeve. You on the other hand, are very much to my liking. But, I wouldn't ever dream of charging you anything at all for my company."

Unlike his initial, cursory glance, Keeve's eyes roamed over Kallia's form more purposefully. He found quickly enough that he approved. "Good thing, that," he replied, "because I wouldn't pay. I get what I want, when I want it, and no one even thinks of denying me."

"Oh," Kallia said with a sexy growl in her voice, "I do like a man who knows what he wants and goes for it. So, do you see anything you want, Keeve? I promise I wouldn't even try to deny you."

Keeve chuckled in amusement and looked past Kallia to Yelara. "What in all hells are you trying to pull here, Yel?"

She shrugged innocently from where she was reclined upon the bed. "We came for a visit, that's all. Kallia likes what she sees and she wants a sample now. Oh, go on, Keeve. You need something to lift your spirits."

Keeve's mood soured and he waved his hand dismissively at Yelara before turning and stalking towards his armchair. "I don't need help. Why the hell can't you just let me mourn?" With a sigh, he slumped down into the chair.

"Oh, don't be a brat," Yelara shot back. "You find Kallia attractive so why not just take her?"

He looked again at Kallia, whose lithe body was shifting closer to him. Her unsupported breasts bounced lightly against the thin fabric of her dress and her hips swayed delectably. He didn't even make an attempt to cover his erection.

Kallia moved until she was standing directly in front of him, once there, she lowered herself to her knees in front of him, and reached up to unfasten his pants. Once she'd managed to free him from the confines of the fabric, she gasped at the sight before her. "Oh very nice," she whispered, and then lowered her lips to it.

"Hey!" Keeve flinched at the touch and gripped her arms to pull her away, but a sudden flood of pleasure coursed through him and rendered him defenseless. Yelara was chuckling lightly in the background as Kallia administered her remedy to Keeve's sadness, as only her Kal could do. Judging from the smile on his face, it was working. "Dargus certainly knows how to pick his whores," Keeve commented before a moan spilled from his lips.

"Your whores as well, now," Yelara retorted.

Keeve laughed breathlessly and began brushing his hands through Kallia's loose hair. She wasn't anything compared to Shiv, but at least she was something to take his mind of her for a little while. The pleasure Kallia was inspiring in him was amazing, but he needed more, he needed to feel her body enveloping him. He moved his hands to her arms again, and in one forceful movement, he pulled her away from him and pushed her down onto the floor. He was on top of her soon after. "So, whore, don't mind, do you?" he asked while his hands pulled down the top of her dress.

"Oh gods no," Kallia rasped. "I'm yours to do with as you please." The gaze she was giving him was filled with lust. "I don't mind at all, Keeve. Take me how you want."

Keeve grinned ravenously at her and hastily slid up the hem of her dress. He pressed the tip of his erection to her opening and felt her body shudder, but with a chuckle, he pulled away, then closed his mouth around one of her nipples. Yelara was still giggling in the background as she watched them, and was quite entertained by the show. Keeve pushed his hips forward again, preparing to enter Kallia, then once again cruelly aborted. "How do you like that, whore?" He chuckled as he grabbed a handful of her hair and jerked her head back to expose her neck. Keeve brought his lips down to the tender flesh there and began kissing it with little gentleness or care.

Kallia cried out as she pushed her neck up further against his kisses while bucking her hips forward in hopes of spearing herself on his erection. She knew it was a lost cause. "Oh gods," she cried out again, "please!"

"You're a whore," Keeve whispered into her ear. "Whore's aren't supposed to beg." He laughed mockingly as he slipped his hand down between their flattened bodies and pushed his fingers into Kallia's opening. Her entreaties were arousing and her moans, amusing; he realized then that he enjoyed tormenting people, and not just with physical violence, but by depriving one of satisfaction. Shiv had done that to him many times, and he found pleasure in doing the same to Kallia now. "If I take you, what will you do for me?" he asked her. "What will I get out of it? I could take any woman on this station and still find enjoyment. But why should I take you?"

"Oh, stop being an asshole, Keeve," Yelara called out from the bed. "Just give her what she wants, dammit."

"What do you want?" Kallia rasped. "What do you want me to do for you?"

"Can you be her?" Keeve asked as he looked down into her eyes. "Can you smile like her? When you laugh, can your face light up like hers?" Keeve smiled ruefully. "Can you do that?"

Kallia looked up into Keeve's eyes, searching them. "I can try Keeve. I can try to be her for you, to make you smile...to make you happy."

"No," he said regretfully. "No one can substitute her. Everyone else doesn't even come close." Giving into Kallia's pleas, and into his own sorrow, Keeve pulled his hand away and finally slid himself inside of Kallia. He kissed her lips deeply as his strong body began driving against hers. Yelara watched from a distance and shook her head solemnly. Keeve was proving to be a hopeless cause, but at least he was no longer being an asshole...for the time being.

Kallia wrapped her legs around Keeve and pulled herself to him. She wanted this to be good for both of them, but he wasn't making it very easy. "Yelara said you're good, and I have to say that she's definitely right," she whispered.

Keeve smiled almost proudly and shot a glance at Yelara, who smiled back at him. "My father gave me certain...enhancements. Of course I'm good."

"I think I'll have to thank your father," Kallia purred, "though, not like this. Dargus won't get this from me...but you, now you're a different matter entirely. If you like, Keeve, this is yours whenever you want." She kissed him passionately and needfully. She didn't think it prudent to mention just how much of an understatement calling Keeve's talent 'good' was, but she'd certainly take as much as he was willing to give.

Proud of his own prowess, Keeve thrust more livelily into Kallia, all the while wearing a large grin upon his face. "And I'll take it too," he told her between clenched teeth. "Whenever the hells I want." His hands closed around her perfectly manageable breasts - small just like Shiv's - and he squeezed them roughly. The cry she gave him was absolutely beautiful and encouraged him to hasten his motions. Yelara watched entranced from the bed, and crawled slowly closer to the scene as it grew in excitement. The crooked smile upon her face indicated she'd enjoy joining, but she was gaining more pleasure from watching.

"You're like Shiv, you know," Keeve told Kallia, his words punctuated with a grunt. "You become completely pliable during sex. She was stubborn, like I can tell you are, but I stick my dick into her, and she's wound around my finger. You're like that."

Kallia let out a loud cry, and tried to pull herself even closer to him. "Oh gods," she rasped. "Does that make you happy? At least for now? I may not be her, and I'll never be able to replace her, but maybe--oh gods!--I can fill part of that void for now. I want to be taken, and you're oh so...oh gods, good! You are very...enhanced! I'm going to have to...to punish Yelara for keeping me from you...and reward her for bringing me to you. Oh gods, Keeve, whenever you want!"

Keeve chuckled gruffly as he slipped his arm around Kallia's waist and pulled her to him as she yearned for. Each time he drove himself deeper into her, her whole body arched abruptly. He used his other hand to support his body, but wished for another with which to caress her breasts. Instead, he simply suckled them. Yelara by now was lying casually upon her stomach and watching the display intently. Her fingers were idly brushing along her breasts and her chest was beginning to flush from her own arousal. Watching had become almost as fulfilling as doing, but after this was over, she would definitely need some doing with Dargus to quench her desires.

"Have you had enough?" Keeve whispered into Kallia's ear. "I can go on for at least another hour. Thank my father for that as well."

"Never enough," Kallia whispered. "I'm yours, Keeve. Whatever you desire." She glanced up to see Yelara watching and smiled lazily. "He's damn good," she mouthed.

Yelara nodded her head languidly and blew her lover a kiss. A throaty chuckle escaped her lips as Kallia suddenly screamed with pleasure in response to Keeve's increasingly fast pace. He may have been able to go for a lot longer, but he seemed eager to bring his new, devoted slave to climax quickly. Keeve supported himself fully upon his knees and drew Kallia onto his lap as he continued driving himself into her. With his other hand now free, he slid it down between her breasts, then over her stomach until his fingers were manually stimulating Kallia further. "You don't mind if I come now, do you?" he asked her with a rakish grin.

"Oh gods, yes," Kallia cried out in a weak voice.

Keeve jerked himself roughly into her and brought his face close to hers. "Beg, whore," he ordered in a surprisingly level, yet firm voice. "Beg, or you'll get nothing from me."

"Oh please," Kallia rasped, then cried out again. "Please, come in me, Keeve. Oh please, please, please..."

"Louder," he told her. "Scream it out for everyone to hear." He thrust more aggressively into her. "Shout it!"

Kallia did exactly as she was bidden, her voice ringing off the walls. She was certain they could hear her all the way up to the command deck, and down on the flight decks. She didn't care though. At this point, she was only looking for the release that Keeve could give her.

Satisfied with her enthusiasm, Keeve maintained a steady, fast rhythm until Kallia was writhing frantically against him. He began laughing in amusement at her desperation, but his laughter became a prolonged, guttural groan as he discharged inside of her. Whether she came or not was irrelevant to him, but from her shrieks and the slight discomfort arising from her nails digging into the flesh of his back, it was apparent he had done well to bring her to climax. Long after his groans ended, her cries continued, only to be cut off when he sealed his mouth around hers and kissed her deeply.

Yelara was applauding from where she still watched upon the bed, and was giggling happily. "Oh wonderful show! I knew you had it in you, Keeve, my dear."

Kallia pulled her mouth from his and collapsed back onto the floor. "Oh, he's got it in him and then some," she rasped. "You are a masterpiece, there's no doubt about it. Beautiful, talented, and the best man I've ever been with...and I have been with Dargus before."

Keeve looked down at Kallia and grinned slowly. "I'm betting he'd like to know that you give yourself to me freely while you cringe in disgust at even the sound of his name." He chuckled lowly as he pulled out of Kallia, then proceeded to smooth out the hem of her dress. "Thanks for introducing us, Yelara," he said, still watching Kallia. "Your girlfriend's fun."

"My pleasure," Yelara replied. "But don't wear her out. She's still mine. Right, my dear?"

"Definitely," Kallia said with a smile. "But, I'm certain Keeve is welcome to me whenever he's interested, provided Yelara hasn't made a prior claim. Though, I imagine the three of us together could make some really wonderful sounds." She sat up and looked up at Keeve for a moment. "I do hope you're interested in more fun at some point."

Keeve shrugged to appear disinterested, but his grin betrayed his true willingness. "Sure. I'll call on you when I'm in the mood for another distraction." He took notice of her breasts, still bare and displaying the onset of bruising from his rough handling of them, but he left them exposed as he got to his feet and proceeded to stuff himself back into his pants. Without aiding Kallia in standing, he slumped back into the chair and relaxed. "So, was there another point to this meeting, or did you just want to introduce me to your friend?"

Yelara swung her legs forward, over the edge of the bed and sat upright. "Just making the rounds," she answered with an airy, vague hand gesture. "I'm due to visit my other lover in a few minutes," she joked.

"If Yelara's going to be getting some satisfaction from Dargus, maybe I could stay here with you, Keeve," Kallia said. "Until she's done with her other lover, at least. If you're interested that is."

"I'm interested," Keeve said simply. "But ask your girlfriend if she's willing to make this a regular thing."

"Only regularly if that's what Kallia wants," Yelara interjected. She looked to her lover. "Is that what you want, Kal?"

Kallia smiled and looked up into Yelara's eyes. "Do you mind?" she asked softly. "You've got yours. Can I have mine too?"

Yelara smiled wanly at Kallia and nodded. "Sure. I guess it's only fair."

Keeve clapped his hands together. "Then it's settled. You, Kallia, shall be my new whore. Congratulations."

"I'm nobody's whore, Keeve," Kallia said darkly. "If you want me to be your whore, you pay me. If you don't pay me, I'm not your whore."

Keeve's grin faded, and he leaned forward to stare down at Kallia. "You seemed fine with it before. You spread your legs for me; what do you think they call a woman like that?"

"I call it a woman who enjoys sex," Kallia said, her smile returning. "Please tell me you don't believe any woman who spreads her legs for you is a whore. I'm just a woman, Keeve; a woman who happens to enjoy sex, especially with a very talented, very attractive man. If it makes you happier, I'll be your whore, but in the end, I'm just a woman who enjoys being with you very much."

"Lighten up, Keeve," Yelara said from where she was perched upon the bed. "What does it matter what type of woman she is?"

"It doesn't," Keeve replied. "I'm just making sure she knows what I think of her."

"It's no wonder that your other woman left," Kallia said as she pulled her top up. "You're an intolerant, ungrateful prick. I imagine she left when she got sick of your demands."

Keeve's eyes narrowed and his body trembled as if a sudden chill had passed through it. Yelara lowered her head and shook it, knowing Kallia could not have spoken more impertinently. Slowly, menacingly, Keeve rose from his seat to tower over Kallia, still lying upon the carpeted floor. "Get out," he said quietly. "Get out now, you slut, before I give you a taste of the other enhancements Dargus gave me."

Suddenly Kallia was standing in front of Keeve. "Give it your best, you ungrateful brat," she snapped. "Truth hurts, doesn't it, Keeve? You pushed her away with your demands, didn't you? That's why this has got you so riled. Dargus gave you lots of enhancements, but you're still pretty slow. You want me, you've got me. But I'm not your bitch, your whore, your slut, or your walking cunt. If you ever hope to get your girl back, you better learn how to treat a woman, and Dargus Kandran is not the person to teach you anything. You want to show me what you're made of, you want to teach me a lesson, go ahead, Keeve. Just remember that trying to beat me up isn't going to change the truth."

Keeve took a threatening step forward, but in an instant, Yelara was standing between them, trying to keep them apart. "Stop this," she hollered, giving each a scathing glare. "What the hell is wrong with you two?" She sighed and turned to Kallia, then grasped her arm and jerked Kallia into motion. "We're leaving. Keeve, take a nap. It'll help you cool off."

"Me?" He laughed incredulously and followed Yelara to the door. "She's the bitch who started it!"

Yelara stopped abruptly and whirled around to face him. "Go take a nap," she whispered as she gazed up at him sternly. "She could kick your ass ten times over. Just leave it."

Keeve looked over Yelara's shoulder at Kallia, then finally threw up his arms and walked towards his bed. "Keep her the fuck away from me. I don't need to deal with bitches like her, not now," he announced.

Yelara sighed. "Will do," she said under her breath. "Come on, Kal. You've done enough damage for today."

Without a word, Kallia started toward the door of Keeve's room.

---

"Tumultuous Alliance, Part 3"
By: Kallia Brael
Yelara Neerou
Keeve Zenarr [NPC+]
Imola [NPC]
Leshie Zaneth [NPC+]

Location: Dargus' Cruiser
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

"I can't believe you," Yelara whispered as they stepped out into the corridor. "If you were going to give him a hard time, why did you offer yourself to him in the first place? He's hurting right now and the last thing he needs is for you to go in there, give him a good time, then turn on him. What the hell were you thinking?"

"Maybe you'd like to be his whore Yelara, but I don't," Kallia whispered in response. "It was going well until he proclaimed me his whore. All he was interested in is degrading me and pushing me down as low as he could get me. He's more than hurting, and he's taking out that hurt on everyone else. You can go back in there and be his whore if you want, but I'm not going to be just a receptacle for his dick."

"Listen to yourself," Yelara said, her voice no longer at a controlled volume. "You walked in there flaunting your body. You fucking took him into your mouth of your own volition! You offered yourself to him, Kal, and I know that doesn't mean you're a whore, but you still led him on. You made yourself a receptacle for his dick, now don't be a fucking hypocrite."

"We were there to cheer him up," Kallia said. "I just wanted to get off to a good start with him, and I managed up to the point where he opened his mouth to do something other than moan. He's got issues, Yel. He thinks any woman that goes in there and does something like that is a whore. He thinks that you're only not a whore if you're in love when you have sex. If that's the case, then he's never going to fuck anything other than a whore, because with that outlook that's all he's ever going to get. Who could ever love someone like that? Someone filled with so much anger and disdain for anything that isn't exactly as he wants it. He's damn good, but he's stubborn and likes women beneath his heel, and won't have it any other way. Some home this place is going to be."

"Yes, he's a brat," Yelara admitted, abandoning any effort to control the level of her voice. "Yes, he's got the same opinions towards women as Dargus has. But you still went in there intent on fucking him, and you did just that. You begged him, Kal! It made you wet to hear him speak to you so crudely. You enjoyed it, so don't fucking go all sanctimonious and righteous on me. He doesn't want to love you, Kal. He just wants a whore, and that's what you gave him." Yelara growled in frustration and released her hold on Kallia's arm. "Look, just forget it. You two stay away from each other, that's all. Now, let's go back to the children. They should be expecting us."

"You go on ahead," Kallia said. "I just want a few minutes to myself if that's alright. I got upset in there, and I shouldn't have. I-- I need a little time to resort my emotions and my thoughts. Go be with your baby boy. He needs some good, quality mama time."

"But...what are you going to do?" Yelara asked with concern. "Where are you going to go? Kal...you don't have to be alone. You can get everything sorted out lying in my arms."

Kallia pulled Yelara into her arms and kissed her gently. "I'll be alright. I'm just going to wander a little, but I'll be there soon. And, then we can lie together. It'll be alright, my Yelara."

Yelara held her lover for a moment longer, then sighed and pulled back. "I love you, Kal. And I don't think you're a whore, not at all. And even if you were," she said with a grin, "you'll only ever be my whore."

"Only yours," Kallia said, as her eyes filled with love. "I'll see you very soon, my beautiful Yelara. Now, there's a little boy back in our room, and he wants to spend some time with you."

Yelara smiled warmly and kissed Kallia again. "I'll see you soon," she said softly. "Don't get lost, my love." With one last smile for her lover, Yelara departed for Kallia's quarters.

Once Yelara was out of the way, Kallia turned around and strode back to Keeve's room. She hit the chime on the door, but didn't wait for an answer before opening it herself. As she entered the room, she could see that she'd startled Keeve. Before he could react other than moving forward, she grabbed him into her arms and pulled him close. Her lips found his and she kissed him fiercely, passionately.

As much as the kiss inflamed him, Keeve had every reason to be wary. Wanting to return her gesture, Keeve resisted and instead gripped her arms and roughly jerked her back. "What the hell is this? You playing hot and cold with me? I'm not falling for it. I wouldn't put it past you to run through the corridors crying 'rape' next."

"I wouldn't do that, Keeve," Kallia said. "Even if you did rape me, I wouldn't do something like that. But, unlike Dargus, I don't think you would. This is that I'm living here now, and I don't want my stay to be a hell. You're an important man here, and one of the few that I could see myself being near without hating myself. I don't want there to be problems with us, Keeve. I enjoyed what we had. It was fiery and passionate, and I haven't had that with a man...in my entire life. I don't want you to hate me. I want us to at least be cordial, maybe friends, possibly more if you're interested. If you want me to be your whore...I will be, but I'd rather be just a woman who happens to like you, who really enjoys having sex with you. I'll be your whore if you want, but I do want to be with you. We were good together...and Yelara has Dargus to be with too. I like you, Keeve, and I'd like to be with you if that's alright."

Keeve studied Kallia's face, searching her eyes for any sign of deception. He released one of her arms and slid his hand down to her waist. Lightly, he smoothed it over her stomach, then covered her mound with it, all with a slight grin on his face. It was a test on his part to assess her sincerity, or willingness if that was the case. "You want to be with me?" He pressed his fingers into her slit, hidden beneath the fabric of her dress and watched her reaction. "I can call you a whore whenever I choose?" His lips brushed against hers as his smile grew. "Is that the deal?"

"If you want me to be your whore, Keeve," Kallia whispered, "then I'll be your whore." She shifted her hips forward against his hand. "If that's what you want from me, then that's what I'll be."

Keeve moved his lips to her ear and inhaled the scent of her hair. He knew the fun he could have with her was limitless, and although her earlier comments made it difficult not to close his fingers around her neck and squeeze, her present offer was far too tempting to pass up. "Get undressed," he whispered. "I'm going to sit in that chair and watch you undress." He rubbed his fingers along her slit and grinned at the moan it produced. "When you're naked, lie on the bed and spread your legs. That's when I'm going to watch you some more, but this time, while you pleasure yourself. Will you do that for me, whore? Will you?"

"I'll do that for you," Kallia whispered. "Whatever you ask of me."

Keeve brought his face before hers again. "Then do it. Take off your clothes and do it." He stepped back and removed his hand from her crotch, then motioned for her to begin. "Let's see it."

She took a step back and then slowly began pulling down her dress. It wasn't very difficult to undress for him since all she wore was the dress. Once that was on the floor, she kicked it aside. She stood before him wearing not a stitch of clothing save her sandals. She stepped around in a circle for him to get a good look at her. Once she had returned to facing him, she glanced over to the bed.

Keeve nodded as he backed towards his chair and smoothly ensconced himself in it. "Make this good, whore, or you can go right back to your little wife."

Kallia stepped over to the bed, her body moving as sexily as she could. She climbed up onto it and then positioned herself so he could fully see her. Once she was there, she began touching herself. Slowly at first, her body was soon writhing in time with the movements of her hands. She could sense him there, watching; the thought was arousing in and of itself, and with her hands going she felt like she was on fire. She just hoped he was satisfied.

Only the slight grin on his face indicated he was being affected by Kallia's display. But it wasn't watching her bring herself to orgasm that was pleasing him, it was that the stubborn, outspoken bitch was submitting to him. That's all he wanted from her, and now that he had it, he could freely have sex with her, just as he would any whore like her. "On your knees," he told her. "Get on your knees and do it."

Kallia did as he commanded, and immediately turned over and got onto her knees while she kept her hand moving for him. She'd give in to Keeve a million times this way before she'd ever give in to Dargus Kandran. She'd humiliate and degrade herself in unspeakable ways before she ever allowed Kandran to so much as touch her. She held her tongue and worked to give the young man she'd just given herself to exactly what he wanted.

Keeve was surprised he wasn't being more affected by the scene than simply a gentle stirring in his groin, but he was deriving pleasure from it in a different way. This was her punishment for her earlier remarks, and for exceeding the rules of conduct a woman was to follow. She wasn't docile or submissive then, but she was now.

Keeve chuckled to himself as her hips rocked against her hand, and he thought of a way to make his evening's entertainment even more amusing. He lifted the commbadge on his wrist to his lips and while Kallia moaned and sucked in short, rapid breaths, he sent an order for Imola to join them. As obedient as she was, it took her no time to arrive. She strode into the room with a mixture of humility and desire. He'd known about her wish to bed him for some time, and from the sultry smile upon her face, she looked certain this was her chance. She stopped at his feet and bowed her head to him. Keeve, in turn, reached out and slipped his hand between her legs. The whimpering moan she emitted was exactly what he expected, but he imagined what he would order of her next was not something either could have anticipated.

"Whore?" he called out to Kallia. "You won't mind a guest joining you, would you?"

"I wouldn't mind," Kallia said, loud enough for Keeve to hear. "If you would like someone to join me, and it will please you, then I would enjoy it."

"Of course you will," he told her. "That's why Imola here is going to help you along." The slave girl looked down at Keeve with an expression of distaste and folded her arms over her chest in stubborn refusal. "Now, now, Imola. Do this for me, and maybe you can join me tonight." Her expression softened somewhat, but her petulant frown was still in place. Keeve grinned at her. He always did like the fiery ones. "Go on. Kallia's waiting." He passed his hand over her stomach and brought it up to cradle her breast. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and sighed softly. Keeve knew he had her then, and to validate his assumption, Imola smiled down at him and coyly backed away from him towards the bed.

She snaked her hand down along her stomach until it was between her legs, where she began stimulating herself in preparation for the show she was to give her master. Once the back of her knees touched the edge of the bed, Imola sat upon it and shifted around to face Kallia's rear. Her eyes caught Kallia's as she stared out through her spread legs, and with little trepidation, Imola reached out and slipped her fingers into Kallia.

As soon as Imola's fingers touched her, Kallia moaned. She thrust her hips back slightly to meet the young slave's hand. She glanced back to Keeve, hoping he was pleased with her. But, his expression, except for the slightest smile he wore was nearly unreadable. She'd have to make the best of it.

Imola came up alongside Kallia, still managing to keep her fingers stimulating her. Her smile was at once sweet, and menacing. "He's mine, you know," she whispered to Kallia. "You'll stay away from him if you value your life." She jerked her fingers deeper into Kallia, intent on evoking pain instead of pleasure. "Do you understand?"

Kallia gasped in pain. Her eyes darkened, and then, with inhuman speed, she'd twisted away from Imola. Before the girl could even cry out, Jae Dyn had flipped her over and straddled across her waist. One hand was at Imola's throat, and the other was balled into a fist and ready to crack across her face. "You ever try anything like that again, and it'll be the last thing you ever do."

Imola clawed at Jae Dyn's hand as her body bucked and jerked frantically to displace the Jedi. Keeve looked upon the commotion with intrigue for a time, finding that the more he watched the more he approved of Jae Dyn's impudence, except when it was directed at him. As Imola's choking gags grew louder and took on a desperate quality, Keeve clapped his hands briskly and rose from his seat. "Enough! Kallia, release her."

Kallia's hand snapped back immediately, and she flipped back away from where Imola still lay gasping. She turned to face Keeve, leaving her back to the slavegirl, knowing there was no way she'd be able to hurt her.

Keeve's eyes bored into Kallia's, but there was no anger or disapproval present there, only an intense lust. Imola scrambled off the bed and threw her arms around Keeve for protection; he simply pried her free and casually pushed her aside. She stumbled away, then, with tears springing to her eyes, she fled from the room. Keeve paid her no heed and continued his approach toward Kallia. Once he was at the foot of the bed, he stopped and stared down at her. Instead of telling her how impressed he was by her obedience, Keeve gripped her roughly by the hair and kissed her with fervour. He wrapped one arm around her waist and used the weight of his body to push her down onto her back upon the bed. He could get used to being with Kallia, even without loving her, but it wasn't about an emotional attachment; Keeve simply wanted to push away the memories of Shiv for a little while.

Kallia moaned with longing as Keeve's weight settled atop her. She wrapped herself around him as they kissed, the passion heating the air in the room even hotter than when they'd been together before. She knew that if they could ignite like this, they would at least be able to enjoy each other's company, though she had no illusions that Keeve would ever show her any affection. Though, for now, this was all she wanted or needed from him. And, in time, perhaps there could be some tenderness and care between them. Who could tell what the future would hold. All she knew was that the way his body inflamed hers, it couldn't be bad.

It didn't take long for both to reach climax, but as they lay tangled in each other's embrace, with sweat rolling down the curves of their flesh and their chests heaving with the struggle to breathe, Keeve felt as if they'd been at it for hours. They were good together, which was why it was too bad Kallia was just a warm body next to his, a person to whom he felt not emotional connection. He would have given anything to have Shiv in her place right now, but the solace Kallia provided him was proving effective enough in palliating his misery for the time being, so he was grateful for her presence...for now.

Keeve listlessly looked over at Kallia and lightly kissed her salty lips. "Won't your wife be missing you?" he asked. "Does she even know you're here?"

"She doesn't know I'm here," Kallia said, "and she'll be missing me. But, I had to make peace with you. I don't want to be miserable here, and I didn't want us to be so...at odds. I think we work well together."

Keeve smiled at Kallia warily, and with his diminished strength he slung his leg over her waist. He pushed himself to his knees and scrutinized Kallia inquisitively. "Is that all you want?" he asked as he gently pushed her arms above her head and pinned them to the mattress. "Tell me why you're really here."

"I didn't want you to be mad at me," Kallia said softly, "and I want to be with you, whether I'm your whore or not. Yelara has a man to be with, but I won't be with him. Then again, if it were a choice between the two of you and I didn't hate him already, I'd still choose you. You're better looking, you're better in bed, and you're much more fun than he's ever been. He gave me my daughter, and that's all I ever want from him. I don't love you or care for you, Keeve, but I've enjoyed what little time we've spent together. I'm here because I like how you make me feel."

"Like just a little while ago?" He ran his hands back down her arms then brushed them along her sides. "So, Father has a child." Keeve chuckled. "I don't think he's ever told me that. And with you.... If you despise him as much as you do, how could you conceive a child with him? Did he force you?"

"Pretty much," Kallia said. "I submitted to him because otherwise meant he would beat me, abuse me, and then take what he wanted anyway. But yes, Yelara Brael is Dargus Kandran's daughter. I hadn't planned on it, but I wouldn't change any of it. She's a beautiful girl, and I love her with all my heart. And, a little while ago, I was upset at how you wanted to treat me...making me your whore and everything. But, I realized that finding some semblance of happiness here is more important than my pride."

Keeve passed his fingers over the tattoo on Kallia's inner thigh, idly studying it. "You can't find happiness with Yelara?" He glanced up at her and grinned. "You're trying to make her jealous, aren't you? Trying to draw her away from Dargus." Keeve planted his hands on either side of Kallia and brought his face down towards hers. "You hate him and you can't stand to see your girlfriend being so friendly towards him. You're using me to hurt her, aren't you?"

"If that's all I wanted out of this, then sure," Kallia said. "But it's more than that, Keeve. That's one thing I get out of this. The other is letting Dargus see that I choose you over him. But, mostly it's because, you're damn good with those enhancements Dargus gave you."

Keeve chuckled lowly and brushed his lips against Kallia's. "Whatever your reasons, as long as you don't pull the shit you did before, you're welcome to use me to enrage Dargus."

"As long as you don't just treat me as a piece of meat for you to have your way with," Kallia said softly. "I want to have lots of wild sex with you, Keeve, but I'd also like to be a friend if you'll let me."

"Don't push it," he told her. "Two weeks ago, I was a ten year old boy who hadn't had a friend in his life. I got everything I wanted, always got my way.... I'm used to dominating." He pressed his hips to hers and smiled. "For now, you'll be my whore," he said softly. "With whom I'll have wild sex. I won't ask you to be a servant to me, but you'll spread your legs whenever I'm in the mood. Friendship comes last, if at all. Is that okay with you?"

"Very well," Kallia said. "But, before you relegate me to just being your whore, do you even realize what I am?"

Keeve pointedly glossed over her form, then returned his gaze to hers. "Should I even bother with the sly comment?"

"I think I have a fairly good guess what it'll be," Kallia said. "But, the answer to the question I asked, is I am a Jedi Knight."

If Keeve was surprised, he didn't let it show, but he did express his amusement with a laugh. "I think it's more accurate to say you used to be a Jedi Knight. You did, after all, leave your colleagues behind to fend off Dargus' troops while you reunited with your lover. And not to mention the fact that you're living on their enemy's cruiser, giving your body to his son."

"Well, that is true," Kallia said, "but I do have the powers of a Jedi. And besides. there are things more important in life than ideals. I nearly lost Yelara once, and I won't lose her again. But, all that aside, I can do what the Jedi do."

Keeve ran his hand over the gap between her breasts while keeping his grin firmly in place. "So...should I be afraid of you, whore?"

Kallia smiled and brushed her lips against his. "I don't think you have any reason to be afraid," she whispered huskily. "Not of me, Keeve. I have the powers of a Jedi. So, conceivably, since I'm your...whore...you could have the power of a Jedi at your disposal."

The alluded to offer gave Keeve pause for consideration, but not much before his mind decided he liked the idea very much. "Conceivably... But, what would you get out of it?"

"What would you be willing to offer?" Kallia asked. "All I'm asking for is a little respect and the chance to be more for you than just a cunt."

"You don't love me," Keeve said. He passed his tongue over her lips. "You don't even like me," he whispered. "What does it matter how I view you? No, I think you want something else, Kallia. Now, what is it?"

"I don't love you," Kallia answered. "However, I do like you, Keeve. And, I want you to like me. I want to have an ally here. And, I want that to be you. I don't like being treated like I'm on display or that the only thing I'm good for is to spread my legs. That's all I want, Keeve."

"Then you have an ally," he acceded. "And I have a Jedi. I think this could be a very mutually profitable relationship." Keeve sealed the agreement with a hungry, passionate kiss. "Father's having a dinner tonight," he whispered into her ear as he moved his lips to her neck. "Come with me. Showing up there together...you could have the revenge you want against Dargus."

Kallia smiled. "I'd like that," she said. "Now, if you think you can do without me for a little bit of time, I should go check on my Yelaras. I can come back here before the dinner, and we can go to the dinner together. And, I'm willing to entertain any requests you may have for attire."

"I was hoping you would be." He grinned with immense satisfaction, then shifted onto his side next to her, admiring how deliciously wicked she truly was. "Wear an equadi for me," he told her. "Just the equadi."

"I believe I will be able to accommodate that for you," Kallia said. "I may need to borrow something though. I don't know if Yelara has anything like that in her closet."

Keeve chuckled. "I doubt it. She's gotten used to wearing clothing. I'll have one of the girls bring something for you before dinner. Until then--" Keeve nuzzled his nose into her hair and took in a deep breath. He sighed. "Have a bath. Although I love the way you smell right now, the others might not be so appreciative."

"I'll clean up for you," Kallia said. "And, I'll wear the equadi that you send along, and only the equadi. I'll see you soon, Keeve. I'm sure this is a night we'll always remember." With that, she gave him a kiss, and then left the room as sexily as she could, pausing only long enough to retrieve her dress.

***

It was only five minutes after she'd left Keeve's room that Kallia returned to the room she shared with Yelara. She was fully dressed now, having stopped outside of Keeve's door to put her dress back on. He'd enjoyed the view of her retreat from his room, and she enjoyed giving it to him.

Inside, Yelara was on the bed with Leshie, and to see them together like that made Kal's heart leap with joy. "Well, that looks like a happy mama and baby."

Yelara looked up from her child's peaceful face and smiled at Kallia. "That was a long walk," she said quietly. "Feeling better?"

"I'm feeling much better," Kallia said with a smile as she moved over to the bed. "It wasn't just a walk though. I went back to Keeve's room, and we sorted things out. I think there will at least be peace there now, Yelara."

"Good," she said with a stern nod. "I don't want you two killing each other over...nothing. And besides, you two looked so good together! Oh, just watching I thought I was going to explode."

"I'll tell you, my love, the guy is into some really strange things. But, he was enjoying it, and I can't deny that I found some too. He likes the power of telling me what to do, and then me doing it without hesitation or complaint. I thought he was going to explode just watching me when I was back there. He didn't trust me at first, but I think I satisfied him that my intentions are pure...ish."

Yelara grinned at Kallia with intrigue and motioned her closer. "What kind of intentions, my love?"

"This is my home now," Kallia said. "He's an important person here, and I really liked being with him. I didn't want to fight with him. I don't want him hating me. He doesn't want a friend, but I think we've managed a truce. I think it's going to work out, Yel. I think it's really going to work with us here. I think this really can be our home."

"And it will be," she answered with a warm smile. "Kallia, I want you to be happy. I know none of this was your idea and that you're only here for me, but it's important that you enjoy your life here. I can't be content unless you are."

"I think I will," Kallia said as she reached in and tickled one of Leshie's feet. "Between the time I will spend with you, and what I can manage with Keeve, I'll be exhausted, but I'll be very happy. And, my life without you and the babies...it will be perfect, my love. Everything will be exactly like we've always dreamed it."

Yelara extended her hand to Kallia. "Then lay beside me," she said softly. "Just for a little while at least."

Kallia shifted closer to Yelara and stretched out onto the bed. "I love you," she whispered as she brushed a hand along Yel's leg. "I love you more than anything in life."

"Not more than Yara," she reminded her gently. She kissed Kallia's brow, then her lips. "And not more than you'll love that baby inside of you. But I know you love me enough. I've never doubted that."

"Yara is my life," Kallia said, "as I'm sure my new baby will be. But, you're still one of the most important parts of my life. I think probably right after breathing."

Yelara laughed softly and slipped her free arm around Kallia's waist. "I don't remember you being this romantic before. I quite enjoy it."

Kallia gave a bashful smile. "I've never felt this free before," she said. "I've always had so much of Jedi Knight, Jae Dyn Brael in my head, that...that I never felt I could just go into romantic mode. Besides, with Liam around, I never felt comfortable with it. But now..."

Yelara unwittingly sighed. "I hoped the arrangement would have worked.... I was stupid not to realize it wouldn't. But...no worries. You and I have all our lives to be together now. Me--" She kissed Kallia's lips tenderly then whispered, "And Kallia Brael."

"All of our lives," Kallia whispered. "Together."

Yelara stroked the damp hair falling against Kallia's back and smiled at her suggestively. "Should I put Leshie down so we can have some time together now?"

"Oh, I think I like the sound of that very much," Kallia said with a with a wide smile. She stretched out on the bed, giving Yelara her best sultry look as she did. "Now is a very good time, my love."

Yelara laughed softly and hurried to lay Leshie down into his crib. With a squeal of delight, she launched herself onto the bed, and pulled Kallia into her arms, almost rolling them both onto the floor. "I hope Keeve didn't tire you out," she said. "That's my right."

"Keeve could never wear me out, my love," Kallia said as she slowly unbuttoned the front of her dress. "For you, I have infinite energy, and even more desire. Now, how about we forget about the rest of the galaxy for a little while, and work at seeing who can scream the loudest."

---

"Cheesy Green Invaders"
by Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
and Zale Tregat

Location: Kaysa's Apartment, New Plouton
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

The surface of pellucid liquid trembled and emitted vapours of odourless steam as intense heat suffused it. Small bubbles swelled atop the rippling pool, but they shattered and melded with the transparent fluid again. More bubbles in profusion broke the surface, expanded, and ruptured, only to be replaced by more glistening spheres whose existence would be no more prolonged than those before them. The effervescence continued, until finally, the surface was littered with the domed pockets of air. All their efforts, however, were smothered by the torrent of stunted, green tree-like invaders diving into the boiling liquid. A squeal of delight soon followed them as the creator admired her own work. She dipped the wooden wand into the water bath and excitedly stirred the contents within. In a matter of minutes, the bubbling water and green bracal stalks will have been transformed into...evaporated water and boiled bracal stalks, but it was still an accomplishment nonetheless considering she'd never cooked before.

The portable jizzbox on the counter was piping out a lively tune and set Kaysa's hips swaying in time to the music. Combined with the heat from the range, a fine sheen of sweat had formed upon her face and neck, a small pool of it collecting in the hollow of her neck. Strands of brown hair had spilled from the bun she'd wrapped them in, and the tails of her shirt were pulled free of her pants from the frenetic dance she was performing. All memories of Vrax and her time with him drifted up with the steam rising from the pot, and all Kaysa knew was contentment, at least for the time being.

Her humming voice carried through the kitchen and above the music, tormenting all within hearing distance of her, but aside for her inaptitude for singing, it conveyed the joy she felt, and a sign that the worst was now over.

"What is that sound in here?" Shiv said as she pushed her way into the kitchen, a large smile on her face. "Oh my, it looks like someone's very happy. Oh, bracal!"

Kaysa's torturous humming ended as she looked over her shoulder at Shiv, while laughing breathlessly. "Overcooked bracal if you keep distracting me," she joked. "Was I being too loud in here? If you're working, I'll try and keep it down."

"Oh, I didn't even know you were humming until I got close to the kitchen," Shiv said with a giggle. "And, it sounded good. We'll be able to do a duet before you know it." She stepped back out of the way to grab a piece of the cheese sitting out on the counter. "Don't let me distract you. So, how's the cooking going?"

Kaysa returned her attention to the gently boiling pot of bracal and water. "Won't know until you sample it. Though I'm not doing anything too fancy for my first try, so I'm thinking it'll turn out alright." She lightly slapped Shiv's hand when she reached for another slice of cheese, and smiled at her. "How's your drawing coming?"

"It's going good," Shiv said with a grin. "I think I'll be able to show you soon. Maybe after our bracal-fest, we can go in and look at it. Though, we can't take too long because I have my first night of work tonight. It's good the dances are mostly free-form, or else I'd be dead. I learned a few new moves yesterday though, so I'm all set."

"Well, if Zale will take a break from work for one second, maybe we can go and watch you." Kaysa placed the lid on the pot and turned to face Shiv fully while her bracal steamed. "I think I'm ready, you know. I'm ready to go out there, face the world and not worry about Vrax hiding in the shadows. I feel more secure now...finally."

Shiv reached and brushed her hand over Kaysa's. "You don't know how wonderful that is to hear," she said softly. "And, I'm sure the two of us can convince Zale to come up for air. And, if that doesn't work, we use our secret weapon: Merrick!"

Kaysa laughed. "You mean Merrick will use his secret weapon on Zale. I bet Zale's on the comm right now talking with him, planning their next tryst."

"Oh, I bet so," Shiv said, her eyes flashing with mischief. "I really don't know how much more of their long stares and innuendo I can take. Merrick's a double agent, working for Zale and us at the same time. Though, I really don't see how Zale could possibly be able to appreciate Merrick's...technique. Or vice versa. Oh...they're both very techniqued, aren't they?"

Kaysa kissed Shiv's brow fondly, then looked directly into her eyes. "Don't tire yourself trying to reason it all out. I've learned in my long life that sometimes you just have to let things work themselves out. You've just got to...let go sometimes to maintain your sanity. So, Merrick and Zale can be with each other if they choose, just as long as they always return to my bed in the end."

"And, I'll always return to yours too," Shiv said with a grin. "Though, you don't have too many more years than I do. Where did you find all your wisdom? You're almost like that old guy in that holo-series about those Jedi guys."

Kaysa chuckled. "Lots of mistakes, my love," she told her sagely. "That's how I learn best. But with me here, you can avoid the mistakes altogether and grow up to be just as wise as I am." She laughed softly at Shiv and lightly patted her rear. "Now off my counter. Go prepare the table, and get Zale out here too to help you."

Shiv giggled and hopped toward the door. "Oh, I'm sure he'll love setting the table. I bet he complains." She lowered her voice, and mimicked a stance like Zale's. "I'm a crimelord and the leader of a multi-planetary crime syndicate. I have more money than the former royal family, and I should not be lugging around dishes!"

Kaysa played along readily and waggled her finger at Shiv. "Well, you'd better do so, Mister, or you'll have one unhappy wife. And believe me, you do not want to see me in a bad mood. Now get that firm, cute butt of yours into that dining room and prepare that table!"

With a gleeful giggle, Shiv darted through the door. "Don't forget the green things," she said, popping back through and pointing to the range. And, then she was gone again, but her giggles could easily be followed back toward Zale's office.

Kaysa chuckled quietly to herself as she returned to the range and pulled the lid off the pot. A gust of warm steam enveloped her face, then cleared, leaving her coughing gently. She speared one bracal stalk with a fork and cooed happily at how perfectly done it was. After draining the water from the pot, she transferred the bracal to a bowl and layered the cheese atop it. With her creation complete, Kaysa turned up the volume on her jizzbox and resumed her previous performance. She spun wildly within the kitchen, singing along at full volume, and quite terribly too. But, at least she wasn't screaming in terror any more, which was probably a welcome change for all her loves.

The door to the kitchen opened once more and a widely grinning Zale stood framed there as he watched Kaysa. "Is everything alright in here?" he called out. "Shiv told me you were cooking and then I thought you'd caught yourself in the disposal." His face was suddenly washed with feigned surprise as he mocked a good look at her. "Oh," he added with a laugh, "you're singing!"

Kaysa spun around to face Zale, and almost lost her footing in the process. "I am not!" she hollered back with a pout. "And stop laughing. I'm not that bad."

Zale's laughter turned into a smile as he approached her. "No," he said. "You're not that bad. I would listen to you sing anytime any day." He bent down and kissed her gently. "I figured when I saw Shiv dancing around out there after she told me I'd been ordered to set places at the table, that something was up. If Shiv was happy, then you must be happy as well." A sudden shriek of pure happiness sounded from the other room. "See?"

"What is going on in there?" Kaysa shook her head and laughed softly. "That girl gets stranger by the day." She poked her finger into Zale's chest and eyed him inquisitively. "And you have been busier by the day. What is my dear husband up to, I wonder."

"Just making arrangements for a secret liaison with Merrick," he said nonchalantly. "The usual."

Kaysa sighed. "Of course." She turned away from him and moved out of his embrace. "I mean, it's not like you'd ever tell me what you're up to. I'm just your wife after all."

"I was working," Zale said with a laugh. "I arranged for a shipment of calamthrate to be delivered from one of my mines on Ceskrit. I've sent a couple of my auditors out to one of the operations starting up on Bespin, and I fired the man running my imports business on Coruscant."

Kaysa unsuccessfully attempted to smother her satisfied grin as she turned to face Zale again. "That's better." She giggled and threw her arms around his neck, giving him a proper greeting. "I was cooking. Did Shiv tell you?"

"She did," Zale said glancing over Kaysa's shoulder at the range. "And, she said you were doing quite well too. I'm sure Merrick will be proud, if not jealous. You'll be better than he is before you know it. And, then...we'll never hear the end of it."

"That's right," she said with a proud grin. "I won't ever stop boasting then. But while I do get better, you, Shiv, and Merrick will be my test subjects. You'll have to eat every meal I make, good or bad, and you'll like it."

"I may have to return to the office sooner than expected," Zale said with a laugh. "You won't do anything too...strange, will you? Like fried nerf testicles or roasted bantha intestines?"

Kaysa grimaced. "Is that the sort of thing you like? Well, I guess I could try my hand at it..." She slowly smiled and kissed Zale quickly. "All for you, my dear husband."

"That wasn't a request, my love," Zale said quickly, nearly rushing forward to bar Kaysa from getting near the range. "I just don't want you...going too exotic. I think...I think I'd prefer normal food."

"Well...do you like bracal and cheese?"

"I've had it once before," Zale said. "And, I don't remember it smelling this good before. My dear, I think you've outdone yourself. Maybe we should open a restaurant."

Kaysa chuckled. "I think you'd look good waiting tables. I could even get you a nice leather apron. The only catch is--" She brought her lips to his ear while her hands smoothed over his chest. "--you only get to wear the apron," she whispered.

"Oh, I'm sure Merrick would love that," Zale said. "I could see him coming up to me all day and bumping into me from behind. You know, I think I want to do that. Maybe after our cheese and bracal we can go out looking for locations."

Kaysa playfully shoved Zale away and stubbornly returned to her bowl of steaming bracal. "It's always about Merrick, isn't it? I think you really do have a thing for him. Now I know why you aren't showing signs of sexual deprivation. You've been sneaking into the bathroom with Merrick at night to satisfy your urges."

"You were peeking, weren't you," Zale said, crossing his arms over his chest and giving her a look that touched somewhere between a scowl and a pout. "I'll know not to trust that you're sleeping anymore."

"If it makes you feel any more secure, I'll sleep on the couch from now on. Then you and Merrick can have the entire bed to yourselves." She turned back towards Zale with the bowl of bracal and cheese in her hands. Haughtily, Kaysa raised her chin and strode past Zale towards the dining room.

With a laugh, Zale followed her out into the other room. "I think that sounds acceptable. Though, if you'd like to stay in the bed with me on the nights Merrick is gone, that's fine too."

When they got to the other room, Shiv was hopping up and down and dancing in place excitedly. "He left me a message," she was squealing. "He did! He did! He left me a message!"

Kaysa looked queerly at Shiv as she set the bracal upon the partially set table. "Who left you a message?" she hollered above Shiv's squeals, rather than asked. "Silly girl..." she muttered.

Shiv grinned and managed to settle herself slightly. She took a deep breath and let it out. "Keeve! Keeve left me a message!"

Kaysa's heart seized for a brief moment, and if she hadn't set down the bracal, she knew it would have ended up splattered upon the floor by now. She wasn't certain if she should share in Shiv's excitement, or feel hurt that Keeve would contact Shiv, but not her. Instead, Kaysa casually shifted her attention to the stack of plates that required distributing and began doing just that. "A message?" She nodded her head thoughtfully as she set one plate before the chair at the head of the table. "Just spontaneously like that? Certainly nice of him."

"Well, I sent him messages, but I didn't know if they were getting through to him. But, he sent one back, so they're getting to him. I've been hoping he'd want to talk to me again, and he did!"

Zale nodded. "That's very nice indeed," he said. "So, that's what you were talking to Oot about?"

Shiv went wide-eyed. "I wasn't doing anything wrong! Right?"

Kaysa's hands gripped the final plate, and although the urge to slam it down onto the table was great, she resisted and placed it. "No, nothing wrong at all," she said quietly. "You've been secretly conspiring with Oot to contact my son without saying a word to me. You knew how to get in touch with him and kept to yourself. No, I see nothing wrong with that at all."

Shiv gaped. "I've been trying to contact him," she said with tears filling her eyes, "because I care for him very much, and I want to try to bridge the gap between you two. And...and now I'm a villain because of that."

"Why couldn't you have left it?" she whispered. Her eyes shifted up towards Shiv. "I was getting over it, Shiv. I was almost done mourning for him, and now you go and do this...and a part of me wants to believe he'll come back, but the rest of me knows he won't. It's going to tear me apart, Shiv. Just leave him. Let him get on with his new life. You're only causing everyone pain with these false hopes."

"Fine," Shiv sobbed. "I'll just stop giving you pain. I'll stop tearing you apart. I'll give up hope and joy and happiness because my hope may hurt you. I'll stop hurting you, Kaysa!" She stumbled toward the door, her sobs growing louder with each step.

"Maeren!" Kaysa lurched forward and reached out towards Shiv. "Maeren Shivral, get back here now!"

"What do you want me to do?" Shiv cried, turning back to face Kaysa. "He sent me a message back. He misses me. He loves me, Kaysa. He said so. If he wants that, why can't I? And, what if I can get him back? What if I can get him to love you again?"

Kaysa chuckled wryly. "He never loved me to begin with, Shiv. He's not coming back, no matter how much you think he loves you. You're only hurting yourself by doing this."

"No, I'm not," Shiv whispered. "It's only hurting you. Right? That's why you don't want me to, in case I can't get him to love you and come back to us again. You don't want me to try to get him back in case it ends up hurting you."

"So what's wrong with that?" Kaysa seethed. "What's wrong with not wanting to get hurt? Don't you think I've been hurt enough in my life!"

"You've been hurt more than anyone should be hurt," Shiv said softly. "Which is why I wasn't saying anything at first, Kaysa. If you didn't know I was doing it, you couldn't be hurt. But, what if I did get him to come back...think of the joy."

"And what if he doesn't? Think of the pain, Shiv," Kaysa whispered. "Not just for me. For you too. Do you really want that?"

"I'll accept the hurt in the hope that there can be happiness for you," Shiv said. "I'd accept any of it to be able to give you the joy of having your boy back, Kaysa...even if he's big and manly now. And, he does love me."

"That's right," she said with a rueful smile. "He loves you not me. So, if you feel you must, keep contacting him, keep sending him messages behind my back. Just know that I'll be here to comfort you when he breaks your heart."

Shiv's eyes narrowed slightly. "And, I want you to know that when he does come back to us, it's my love and my assurances of your love that got him here. I'm going to bring him back to you, Kaysa, because...because, that's what I do. I got him to love me without trying, and I know if I try I can get him to love you too."

Kaysa nodded slowly. "Fine. You do that, Shiv." She sighed and somberly turned her back to Shiv. "Do what you have to do," she muttered. "I just hope you don't end up tearing me apart in the process."

Shiv watched Kaysa for a moment, her lip trembling slightly with the emotions within. How had things suddenly shifted like this? How had all the good they were feeling just caved in on itself to become this? She brushed away her tears, and fought back a sob. She was caught in the middle and torn by her loves. Keeve wanted her to choose him and forget about Kaysa, and now Kaysa was asking her to do the same. She didn't know if she could handle it.

A moment later, the front door slipped open and then closed, and Shiv was running toward the lift. The neighbours quickly rushed to look out their doors, hoping for a glimpse or an answer to the sudden sobbing filling the hallway.

Back in the apartment, Zale pulled out a chair and swivelled it to face Kaysa, then dropped into it.

Kaysa didn't need to even glance at Zale to know what was coming next. "It's time for a lecture, isn't it?"

"Oh, I don't know," Zale said with a wry smile. "I imagine you could probably quote back verbatim what I'd say, so...do we need to go through it?"

She smirked at Zale, then sank into the chair adjacent his with a sigh. "She thinks she can make everything perfect. She's too optimistic and she doesn't realize she's going to get hurt. Just because I'm the only one with the courage to tell her that, I end up the villain."

"So, you believe that everyone should be pessimistic and assume nothing will work the way they want it to, they should settle for everything they get in life, and the highest anyone should ever hope to aspire is mediocrity."

"No, that's not what I mean. You can't understand, Zale. Let's just forget it and...eat the cold bracal while I mentally berate myself for being such a bitch to Shiv, okay?"

"You know Shiv's like that, Kaysa," Zale said. "You know we can't change how she views the world or how she wants to make it better. She wants to love everyone and everything."

"That's her problem," Kaysa said irritably. "She doesn't understand that the universe doesn't always work in your favour! She doesn't know how vulnerable she's making herself. If my son is anything like me, he will hurt her. Why can't she see that!"

"Maybe she does, but she can't change who she is," Zale said. "Maybe she needs this to open her eyes to the way things work."

"But I don't want her to get hurt!" Kaysa looked away and let out a deep breath. "I don't want to see her suffer," she said quietly. "Not my Shiv. Not my girl. When she's in pain, so am I and right now, I don't know if I'm strong enough to handle that."

"I can watch out for her," Zale said. "I'll do what I can so she doesn't get hurt." He reached out and took Kaysa's hand. "I'll make sure your girl doesn't get hurt, Kaysa. I don't care how much she ever loves anyone else, she'll always love you more than anything, and nothing that ever happens to her will diminish that, not even this argument today." He glanced down at the band strapped to his wrist and smiled. "And, don't worry, she didn't go far."

Kaysa studied Zale's face curiously for a moment, then it dawned on her what he meant. "I still don't know how you managed to get those tracking devices on us. Though, I'd rather know where they are." She sighed softly as she too stared at his wristband. "You're gonna tell me to go to her, aren't you?"

Zale smiled slowly.

"You're a jerk, you know that?" Kaysa stood from her seat then leaned over to gaze levelly at Zale. "You're getting a special treat tonight for that."

Zale's smile turned into a toothy grin. "You'll get a treat too, if you're interested."

"Why, Mr. Zale Tregat, I don't think your wife would appreciate you flirting with strange women." She chuckled and coyly backed away from him. "You'd better wait here for her to get back. I'll go look for your errant girlfriend. Have some bracal while you wait."

"With cheese," Zale said with a grin. "Now, go. I'll be fine here with the food. I'll even save some, don't worry."

"Oh, no it's quite alright. You can have it all. I was never one for bracal anyway." She gave Zale a cute little wave, then turned and rushed out of the room with a sudden urgency to find Shiv. She refused to believe that a few moments of happiness was all they could achieve nowadays. Everything would be right again, and she'd make it that way.

When Kaysa stepped out of the room, she realized how right Zale was; she didn't have to go very far to find Shiv. Her heart sank as she gazed at her girl leaning against the wall of the corridor with her head hung low and her body still trembling with the tears she was shedding. Kaysa made a vow, then, to learn to keep her mouth shut about anything and everything. "Shiv..." she said softly. "Maeren?"

Shiv looked up and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "Hi," she said softly. "I couldn't go any farther than this. Well, I got downstairs in the lobby...and, then...well, I got some water from that little fountain. And, then I came back here. Mrs. Tampi tried to give me a drink...that smelly stuff she always tries to give us."

Kaysa grimaced. "You didn't take it, I hope. You'll most likely be sick all night." She started forward slowly, trepidly. "If that happens...then I'll have to stay with you all night and take care of you. I'll have to hold you, and rock you to sleep. I'll have to whisper into your ear soothingly and maybe even sing to you if you want." Kaysa looked down and smiled bashfully. "But you probably don't want that."

"I didn't drink any," Shiv said, "but that still sounds very nice. Even the singing. I like your singing, Kaysa, because it's your singing. You may not hit the right key all the time, but it's your voice and everything. It's beautiful."

Kaysa laughed softly as she stopped before Shiv. "No, it's not. But only you could ever think that, Shiv, because you're wonderful, and caring, and you're better than anyone else in this universe. And that's why I love you so much."

Shiv smiled and looked up to meet Kaysa's eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "I love you too, Kaysa. More than anything ever, and nothing will ever stop that."

"Not even when I act as stupidly as I did a while ago?" Kaysa choked back her own tears and reached out to caress Shiv's wet cheek. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so harsh. I was just worried and trying to look out for you."

Shiv smiled and brought a hand up to touch Kaysa's. "I love you," she whispered again. "Forever and always. And, I was trying to find a way to make you happy. I hope I can, but I won't let him hurt you again, Kaysa. I'll do whatever I can."

"Vrax won't be able to touch me again. I have you to protect me, and Zale, and Merrick too, surprisingly so." Kaysa lowered her head and sighed. "I-I didn't know you could that, Shiv. Those things you did to him.... I hadn't realized you were...capable of it."

"I'd hoped to just stab it into his heart and be done with it," Shiv said. "I didn't think he was stupid enough to try to block a sharp knife with his hand."

"That's not what I mean, Shiv. Either way, I was still so...shocked and disillusioned. I just kept thinking how I'd lost my girl, my star. Then I find out you're keeping things from me, and doing things without my knowledge..." Kaysa sobbed softly. "I'm afraid I'm losing you," she whispered.

Shiv folded herself into Kaysa's arms. "You'll never lose me," she whispered. "Never ever ever. I'll always be yours, even if I do things that seem...not like me. I'm not keeping anything else from you, Kaysa. I didn't want you to know I was trying to bring Keeve back so I could surprise you."

Kaysa laughed tearfully. "I hate surprises." She kissed Shiv lightly, then tightened the embrace. "Thank you for trying to bring Keeve back to me, my love. But it might just not be possible. Though, that you're even attempting it makes me realize how lucky I am to be loved by you."

"I'll do everything I can to make him realize how wonderful you are, and what a fool he is for not seeing that. I'll bring him back to you, Kaysa. I'll do everything I can. I promise."

"I know you will," Kaysa began, "but I don't want you to be upset if you fail. That's all I'm worried about. I don't want you carrying the blame if he rejects me."

"I won't blame myself," Shiv said with a smile. "I'll kick his butt."

Kaysa stroked Shiv's hair affectionately as she thought back to the picture Shiv had drawn of Keeve and how happy the two of them looked. "You love him... Just promise me I won't lose you to him, Shiv. I'm too good at pushing you away, and I'm afraid if I do that again, you'll just run to him."

"You'll never lose me, Kaysa," Shiv whispered. "I would never let you push me that far away...and nothing could ever happen to make me want you less. You're stuck with me."

"I'm glad, because I sort of like having you around." She pulled back and regarded Shiv with a warm grin. "Let's go get you some dinner. You have that show tonight and I won't let you perform on an empty stomach."

Shiv hugged Kaysa tight and then laughed. "You're still coming, aren't you?" she asked as they started back toward the apartment. "I don't like the thought of not having you there in the audience cheering me on."

"I'll be there," she assured Shiv. "I have to be there. I have to keep all the men there from getting any crazy ideas about you going home with them. I'm going to make sure they all know you're mine."

Shiv's eyes went wide, though they were filled completely with love. "Oh, I really like the sound of that. And, the thought of slipping into bed with you and holding each other all night long."

Kaysa moaned happily and brushed her lips against Shiv's cheek. "I wish we could do that now and never stop. I have a lot to make up for and I think that's the best way to do it."

"We've got a little time before the show tonight if you'd like to take a nap," Shiv said with a suggestive grin as she slid a hand up Kaysa's arm.

Kaysa glanced down at Shiv's hand, then into her eyes with a smile. "I think I know what kind of nap you have in mind. But...I don't know...." She pursed her lips tightly, frustrated with her inability to overcome her fears. "Why am I so scared? It's you, Shiv. Why the hell would I have to be scared to be with you?"

"You don't have to be afraid with me, Kaysa," Shiv whispered. "But, your body doesn't really know that yet. We don't have to do anything too naughty. We can just be together, and hold each other. Just you and me, and our arms around each other. If things happen, they do. If not, that's okay because we're still with each other."

"For always." They stopped before the door to their apartment, and as the door slid open, Kaysa leaned forward and kissed Shiv lovingly upon the lips. "Zale can eat his bracal," she said softly to Shiv. Her hand traced the gentle curves of Shiv's waist and hips, while her smile curled silkily. "You and I can...get comfortable."

"Mmm," Shiv purred. "Comfortable sounds much better than bracal anyway. I mean, bracal is tasty and all, but it can't compare to comfort with Kaysa...not by a long, long ways."

"You're just saying that to get me into bed." Kaysa winked at Shiv and they stepped through the open doorway. "Look what I brought home!" she called out to Zale.

Zale looked up and bit the end off one of the bracal stalks. "Oh, hello there," he said. "A very nice find, my dear. And, she looks just your size too."

"Just," Shiv said with a grin, and then turned her loving gaze to Kaysa. "Someday I want to have sex in the hall just to give our neighbours a thrill. We didn't today though, so don't you get any ideas, Zale Tregat."

"Too late, my love." Kaysa gave Zale a sarcastic grin as the two strode past him where he sat at the table. "We're going to take a nap. No, you may not join us."

"Oh," Zale said, "I see how it is. I think...I think I'll just eat the rest of this bracal and all of the cheese then."

"Good," Shiv said. "It really loses its flavour after it gets cold. Just don't make yourself sick. If you hear any giddy, happy noises, don't worry. We're alright. Everything's alright now, Zale." She looked at Kaysa again. "Everything's perfect."

"Or at least it will be very soon." Kaysa kissed the side of Shiv's head and smiled at her. "Very soon and for always, my sweet girl."

After entering the room, Kaysa and Shiv sought to quench their desires, but it went no further than tender kisses and sensual caresses before Kaysa's fear once again got the better of her. They took it in stride, though, and simply found contentment laying in each other's arms to rest up for Shiv's big debut, while outside of the room, Zale Tregat, their protector conquered the rest of the cheesy green invaders.

---

"Dinner Engagement, Part 1"
by Kallia Brael
Keeve Zenarr [NPC+]
Yelara Neerou
and Dargus Kandran

Location: Dargus' cruiser
Date: Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

The loose-fitting fabric seemed to float around her body, drifting in the light currents of air in the room. It was red, though in its transparency it only seemed to tinge her skin that colour. The bodice was closer fitting than the rest, clinging slightly to her form. It was a beautiful gown, with gold threads lining the hems. That it did not conceal anything seemed a trifle compared to how radiant she looked.

Kallia Brael smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She was certain that Keeve would like it very much as well. She smoothed her hands over the thin, gossamer skirt and knew that all eyes would be on her tonight. Or, they'd at least take long appreciative glances.

She had told Yelara that her gown would be a surprise when they arrived at dinner. Her love knew that she would be showing up on Keeve's arm, just as Yel would be on Dargus'. Therefore, it was easy to slip out of the room and down the twisting corridors of Dargus' cruiser until she was once again in front of Keeve's door.

This time, as she rang the chime, she expected a much warmer welcome. There was no doubt that he'd love her gown, not to mention her within it. It would truly be the beginning of the awkward relationship they would share. She heard the sound of movement within, and once again smoothed her hands over the dress in preparation for his appraisal.

As the door slid open, Keeve emitted a low chuckle and leaned against the doorframe. "Oh, you're really intent on making Dargus jealous, aren't you?" He passed his eyes over her outfit, the one he'd chosen for her, but focused entirely on the lithe, lissom body barely concealed beneath it. "Very nice," he drawled. "How does it feel?"

"Oh," Kallia purred, "considering that you picked this out for me, I have a feeling that you'd like the same. And, it's very nice. It's like wearing a cloud."

Keeve reached out and ran his hands lightly over the curve of Kallia's hips, then slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. "We should just forget about dinner altogether," he told her with rakish grin. "I bet that would piss off Father even more, and Yelara along with him."

"Well, I like the idea of pissing him off," Kallia said as she brought her hands up to his chest, "but not so much her. So, I'm certain we can attend dinner together, and then retire early. I imagine we could find lots of ways to amuse ourselves until the morning cycle starts."

Keeve gave a short laugh. "Believe me, I've already been thinking of many." He reached down and tenderly kissed Kallia, pulling her even more tightly to him. Even beneath his black, leather pants he could feel the warmth of Kallia's body, and was certain she could feel his growing hardness pressing against her stomach. "I can't wait to tear this thing off of you," he whispered into her ear.

"It's a very nice gown," Kallia whispered. "I hope you have another, or that you don't damage this one too much...but I can't wait either." She brushed her hand against his crotch as she fixed her eyes on his. The lust showing in her gaze was nearly palpable.

"You're making it very difficult to hold out," he chided her half-heartedly. Keeve brought his own hand down between her legs and pressed his fingers into her exposed opening. Upon hearing the moan that followed, Keeve brought his lips to her neck and teased the soft flesh there gently.

"And, you're not helping either," Kallia moaned. "Why don't we start heading toward dinner. I think we're less-likely to end up going crazy when we're out there in the corridors. Though, I don't think it'll do anything for our roaming hands."

"Then maybe I should tie you up." He grinned mischievously at her, then pulled away, breaking the moment of sexual tension between them. "Start walking," he ordered her gently. "I want to see how you move with that gown on."

Kallia did as she commanded, adding a little extra into her movements for his benefit. One thing was certain about the equadi, they definitely helped in the area of feeling sexy. In the one Keeve had chosen for her, she felt as if she could seduce anyone anywhere. It was a nice feeling.

After finding satisfaction with the way he moved, Keeve slipped up beside Kallia and moved his hand to her rear. "So, what have you planned for Dargus this evening? Is there anything specific you'd like me to do during dinner?"

"Oh," Kallia said, a mischievous gleam showing in her eyes, "whatever you'd like to do, Keeve. Anything that you feel like is fine with me, and sure to cause Dargus no end of grief."

"And Yelara?" Keeve asked with a raised eyebrow. "You don't care how she'll react to my giving you an orgasm at the dinner table?"

"Knowing Yelara, she'll want to join. Though, maybe we'll have to come up with a signal for tone it down or else my girlfriend's going to kill me."

Keeve massaged her supple rear deliberately as he nuzzled his lips to her ear. "If she does that, do I have your permission to make a clone of you? I don't think I could bear to live aboard this cruiser without my whore attending to my every desire."

"If Yelara does clone me," Kallia said with a laugh, "then you can clone me for your personal use. Though, if you want you can make a few of me to really live a luxurious life."

"Oh, I will. Father's man has perfected the cloning technique, as you might have noticed with all the duplicated soldiers marching through the corridors. They're good, aren't they?"

"Oh they are," she said. "Yelara and I were thinking about bringing some of them in for a tumble later on. They look fairly skilled, and we were wondering how skilled. These are Dargus' men after all."

"And women," Keeve added with a lecherous grin. "I haven't had one yet, but I imagine they're quite...pleasing."

"The women are quite beautiful," Kallia said with a grin that wasn't quite as lecherous as Keeve's. "I think it's their eyes. Large, brown eyes are a weakness, I think. Even though I'm partial to my Yelara's beautiful violet eyes."

"I'm more partial to her beautiful, pink lips." Keeve glanced sidelong at Kallia and added suggestively, "You know the ones I mean."

"Well, I like those too," Kallia said. "I think the two of us ganging up on her would be fun."

"With Dargus watching?" Keeve chuckled. "You really do want to make him jealous, don't you? Why, Kallia? I know you hate him, despise him, but why not just kill him? I've seen what you can do. You're strong and I think you could definitely take Dargus on."

"He hurt me before," Kallia said softly, "and I'd like for him to feel a little of that. I don't hate him that much though. I just want him to suffer some. And, Yelara needs him now. Perhaps once he's no longer useful, he can be eliminated."

Keeve sighed and slid his hand to a more comforting position, upon her back. "I wish I could say I'd help, but Dargus has done a lot for me. Perhaps, though, when I've outlived my usefulness to him, I will reconsider."

"As rotten as he can be," Kallia said, "I don't think I could actually do it, Keeve. While he may be evil and despicable, I don't think...I don't think I could actually kill the father of my child."

"But you said he practically raped you," Keeve said. "You should kill him for that alone."

Kallia nodded slowly and then looked over at Keeve. She smiled briefly and then slipped her hand into his. "Perhaps I will yet, but for now I'll allow him to live. Who knows what the next week will bring."

"A lot of pleasure, that's for certain," Keeve replied. He kissed Kallia's cheek lightly then grinned at her. "We can even begin tonight if you like."

"I would like that very much," Kallia said as she returned his grin. "I think I could really get used to being with you all the time, Keeve. I think we're going to be very good for one another, in more ways than one."

Keeve narrowed his eyes skeptically at Kallia. "What's that supposed to mean?" He chuckled and quickly pulled Kallia into his arms. "I thought I was already good," he said as he ground his hips into hers.

"Oh, you are already good," Kallia said. "I'm referring to us. You and me are going to be good together. We hardly know one another yet, so I can only imagine we're going to get better."

"Just don't delude yourself into thinking I'll feel anything but lust towards you," he told her. He dragged his finger over her cheek affectionately, but his touch conveyed no true warmth. "I love Shiv. I'll never give my heart to anyone else."

"And, I love Yelara," Kallia said. "But, I think we provide each other with something we both can use."

Keeve smiled. "Sex?"

"Sex and companionship," she said. "And, a means to reach whatever goals we might be able to help each other with."

He made a show of deliberating her offer, then glanced down at her and grinned. "Sounds good to me. Now, let's get going to dinner and see how angry we can get Father." Giving her a brief kiss, Keeve stepped aside and motioned for Kallia to walk ahead of him, swaying her hips as lasciviously as she could manage.

With a playful toss of her head, Kallia glanced back at Keeve. "I hope you don't mind but one of my other goals for tonight is to see just how hard I can make you. But don't worry, I fully intend to help you with any release after dinner."

Keeve grinned hungrily as he fell into step behind Kallia, and added, "Or during."

***

Yelara knew, after ten consecutive minutes of being pressed against the wall of the dining hall completely at Dargus' mercy, that she should have chosen to wear a less flattering dress. With as readily as he was attempting to remove it, however, she didn't think he cared much about it. She finally managed to pull her lips away from his and took a deep breath. Before Dargus could thrust another kiss upon her, she pressed her fingers to his mouth and chuckled breathlessly. "Our guests will be arriving soon. Don't you think we should wait until after dinner?"

"It's only Keeve and Kallia," Dargus said as he tried to manoeuvre around her fingers. "I'm sure they won't mind at all. Hell, from what you said, I imagine they may stake out one of the other walls. Come on, Yel, just a quickie."

Yelara giggled as she turned her cheek to Dargus before his lips could connect with hers. "You'll wreck my make-up, and not to mention my dress!" She struggled to push him away, but mostly the hands he was persistently trying to slip under her dress. "We don't need to have sex every other hour to get pregnant, Dargus. We can take our time."

"Well, yes we can," Dargus said. "But, this being a nice guy is such a new thing for me. I need more practice, I think. Don't you think? I mean, I don't believe I quite have the good lover part down yet."

"Oh, but you do, my lo--" Yelara squealed as Dargus' hands managed to snake their into her panties. "Dargus!" She laughed helplessly and feebly tried to slap his hands away. "We can't. There isn't time!"

Dargus laughed. "You know, we wouldn't be having this trouble if you'd not worn these," he said, gently snapping the elastic. "Now, I have to go through all this extra effort."

"No, no you don't," Yelara told him. "If you wait until after dinner, we can go back to our room and I'll take off everything for you." She shrieked then broke into laughter as she heard the thin material of her undergarment tear, then fall to her feet. Yelara looked down at the torn, black garment, then looked up wide-eyed at Dargus and gasped dramatically. "Dargus! You didn't!"

Dargus gave her a sheepish look that quickly turned to one of feigned innocence. "Only a little bit," he said.

"But...that was my only pair, my love." Yelara giggled and finally submitted to Dargus' advances. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly. "So...the table then?"

"The table," Dargus said with a laugh as he led the way, unfastening his pants as he moved. "You have no idea how fired up seeing you in that dress makes me, Yelara," he said. "You have...okay, maybe you do."

Yelara rolled her eyes as she reached back to undo the zipper of her dress. "I can't believe I let you convince me to do these impulsive, childish things. We have to eat on that table!"

"Well, yes we do," Dargus said. "It's not like our mouths haven't covered every centimeter of each other's body. If I can stick my tongue and lips on you, then it's fine for our table too. We'll just have a servant clean up after us!"

Yelara laughed softly and shook her head. "When did you become so much fun? You were always so mean and...boring before."

"Dying will have a profound affect on your outlook," Dargus said with a laugh. "Now, get that skirt up, we need satisfaction!" He reached down and started hauling her skirt higher.

Once her dress was bunched around her waist and she had managed to push his pants down to his knees, Yelara reclined Dargus back onto the tabletop and leaned over him to plant a rough kiss upon his lips. As frequently as they made love, she had no doubt she'd be pregnant by the end of the week. "Top or bottom?" she asked quickly before latching her mouth onto his throat.

"Bottom since that's the position we're in now," Dargus said. "Oh gods, you look good like that, Yelara. Are you sure I can't convince you to forswear clothing?"

"Only if you do," she quipped. Covering his mouth again with a kiss, Yelara raised herself onto the table and straddled Dargus' bare waist. Coyly, she refrained from sitting down upon him, forbidding him the satisfaction he so desired, and instead bent forward and kissed him slowly.

Dargus returned the kiss willingly, but also arced his hips upward to enter her. Unfortunately as he did, the door to the dining room suddenly opened. He bit back a curse, and tried to act nonchalant. He was getting used to being walked in on during sex. He just hoped Yelara allowed him to finish.

"You know," Keeve began aloud, "you two are proving to be a very bad example for me. I'm still a young, impressionable child in a sense. I really should not be exposed to such indecency."

Yelara sighed as she gazed into Dargus' eyes. "We'll save it for later," she said to him. With a shrug, she slipped off of Dargus and began straightening out her dress. As she turned to face Keeve, she stopped abruptly and stared in disbelief at Kallia...or what was supposed to be Kallia. "Oh my gods.... Kal, what are you wearing?"

"It's an equadi," Kallia said with a smile. "It's kind of drafty, but it's very comfortable." She turned around for Yelara and looked back expectantly. "How does it look?"

"Uh...of course it looks wonderful on you," Yelara replied. "But..." She chuckled uncomfortably. "A little...revealing, isn't it?"

"There's not a problem with revealing," Kallia said. "At least not here on the ship. I wouldn't go down on the planet like this...at least not without some incentive."

"It's...you're going to do wonders for all of my people," Dargus said and glanced at Keeve. "I'm sure half the ship is wandering around with erections right now."

Yelara looked sidelong at Dargus, focusing on his own erection, then frowned. "Yes, I'm sure," she commented sourly. She moved forward rather briskly and wrapped Kallia into an embrace, successfully concealing her nudity from Dargus. "Come, my love. Why not go and change? You can wear something of mine to make you feel more comfortable."

"Oh, I'm very comfortable," Kallia said with a smile. "It's like wearing a whisper. I mean, it's okay, right? You don't mind me wearing this?"

"Oh no," Dargus said. "It's fine. Just keep your breasts off the table." He leaned close to Yelara. "This is for you," he whispered. "Not her."

Yelara barely glanced at Dargus as she pulled away from Kallia. "Well...if everyone's set, then, why don't we begin dinner?" She smiled tightly at Kallia and Keeve, then turned and strode toward the table, kicking up the hem of her lengthy dress with each aggravated step.

Keeve chuckled to himself and brought his lips to Kallia's ear. "You may have wanted to anger Dargus, but I think you've had just that affect on Yel."

"I think so," Kallia whispered back. "I'll have to figure out how to make it up to her. I guess I have to be good around her or else she'll kick me out."

"No way she would," Keeve told her. "She just doesn't like it that you look better in an equadi than she does." He laughed softly and motioned his head toward the table. "Come on. Let's eat." With his arm around her slender waist, Keeve led Kallia toward the sitting area. Yelara had already seated herself at one end, opposite from the one Dargus would take at the head of the table. She drummed her fingers atop the surface rhythmically, peevishly as she watched with tightly pursed lips Kallia moving to take her own seat.

Kallia watched Yelara from the corner of her eye as she settled into the chair. Finally, she turned to regard her love. "Can I have a word with you, my love?" she finally asked.

Yelara smiled tautly at Kallia. "Can't it wait? Dinner's going to be served in a moment."

"If you're going to be glaring at me all the way through dinner," Kallia said, a slight snap in her tone, "then no it cannot wait."

Keeve chuckled in amusement at the two and at once wished he could get them into bed together with him. With as fiery as they both were, he had no doubt it would make for one extraordinary experience.

Yelara shot Keeve a scathing glance, then softened her expression as she regarded Kallia again. "Fine. No more glaring, my love." She smiled sweetly. "See?"

Kallia said nothing and turned her attention forward. She could see that this was going to be a very bad arrangement. Dargus wasn't even frowning, and she'd managed to upset Yelara more than she'd seen in a long time. Last time this happened, she remembered glumly, I ended up going to Tatooine.

"So, Father," Keeve began casually, "anything new to report on your campaign to take over Tae'Karada?" He winked furtively at Kallia and set his hand down upon her thigh. "Start with the small talk first," he mumbled. "Then we can get started on the rest."

"Nothing yet," Dargus said, pouring out glasses of wine for each of them. "I wanted to give our people more recovery time from the assault on the Temple. Also some of my spies on the planet have heard rumours of an attack coming in the desert. I think while Tarkin is looking to the desert would be a perfect time to try to seize more control."

"The simple-minded man can only focus on one thing at a time," Yelara commented, gesturing airily with her hand. "While he's looking towards the desert, we'll strike at him from behind. Is that pretty much it, my love?"

"Exactly," Dargus said. "Though, I doubt it will be that simple. He's paranoid, and likes to keep himself protected. Probably because he knows if he's ever caught with his pants down, someone will unman him in a heartbeat. In any event, with a good portion of his force committed in the desert, it'll leave a wide opening for us."

"What about that bastard Tregat?" Keeve spat, squeezing Kallia's thigh in response to his rising temper. "He'll be watching, waiting to strike at you the moment you show your face on Tae'Karada."

"He comes near me again," Dargus said with a growl, "and I'll relieve him of that other arm, and then his life. He knows what happens when he goes against me. However, I may have to remind him before he and Kaysa start thinking above themselves again. How do you think that place where he's got his building would look as a pile of rubble?"

"Never seen it," Keeve said with a shrug, "but I imagine it would look wonderful. Just make sure he and Kaysa both are in there when it goes down."

"Oh, that would be very nice," Dargus said with a wistful smile. "We'll need to find a way to make sure that Maeren isn't there though. She is usually close to wherever Kaysa happens to be."

Keeve nodded slowly and his hand tensed around Kallia's thigh at even the thought of Shiv getting injured. "I'm sure we can find a way to keep her at a safe distance."

While Dargus nodded his agreement, Kallia slipped her hand over Keeve's and hoped that her gentle touch would soothe his anxiety. She brought her lips to his ear and kissed it delicately. "We'll make sure she's safe," she whispered. "Perhaps if we can find a way to get her out of the city when it happens."

"We'll have to find a way. I refuse to put her in danger." Keeve sighed and eased his hold on her leg. He caressed it lightly and gave her a wan smile in apology.

"Okay, enough plotting," Yelara interjected. "Let's not begin this dinner on a sour note."

"Of course," Dargus said with a smile. He pressed a button at the edge of the table. The doors of the room opened, and scantily clad women quickly entered the room with trays and platters. Dargus cast an approving eye over his new servants. Unfortunately, they required conditioning to ensure their loyalty. Well, except for Tiala. She was his most loyal servant, and she no longer even required the drugs to keep her behaving. He smiled as he let his eyes wander over her tanned and oiled skin, so much skin at that. He looked up to Yelara again, the lust from earlier having returned. Oh, they would have a truly wild time tonight. He just had to hold out until the end of the meal.

"Enjoying the meal, my love?" Yelara asked sardonically. She scowled slightly at the passing servants, and didn't bother returning the meek smile Tiala gave her as she handed her a goblet of wine. Yelara wished Zale Tregat had done his job properly and had all the slaves rescued, then she would not have had to compete for Dargus' attentions again. Apparently, she would now have to compete for Kallia's too.

---

"Dinner Engagement, Part 2"
by Kallia Brael
Keeve Zenarr [NPC+]
Yelara Neerou
and Dargus Kandran

Location: Dargus' cruiser
Date: Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

Keeve's lips were tenderly kissing Kallia's neck, and she appeared to be enjoying it. Yelara searched for Keeve's other hand, which was beneath the table while his other was above, and soon found it sliding under Kallia's equadi. If Yelara gritted her teeth any more furiously than she was then, she was certain she would end up with a few of them chipped. With a sigh of disgust, Yelara looked away.

Kallia opened herself more to Keeve's touch, surreptitiously hiking her skirt higher for him. She couldn't understand why Yelara would insist on sitting on the opposite end of the table from Dargus. No wonder she was grumpy.

Dargus leaned toward Keeve. "If you're going to have sex, go somewhere and have sex," he said. "Or concentrate on your food. Do you really want to eat your food with your hand smelling like your whore's cunt?"

Keeve grinned at Dargus and deliberately slipped his hand between Kallia's legs. "That's right, Father. My whore. I really must extend my thanks to you for bringing her aboard. Though I would suggest you give her contraceptives of some kind or we could have a little Kallia Brael running around really soon."

"Are you saying you wouldn't like that?" Dargus asked with a smile. "I'm surprised you wouldn't be interested in fathering a child, especially with a woman like Kallia. Just think of what a child born to her would be like. Think of the potential."

"A child just like yours, Father?" Keeve grinned slyly and rubbed Kallia's opening slowly and repeatedly. "Those beautiful brown eyes...those cheeks. Have you actually seen the child? A darling, to be sure."

"Oh, I have," Dargus said with a smile. "She's a beautiful child, indeed. And, just think what sort of child Kallia could bear you. I think the eyes are what gets me."

Kallia, despite being talked about as if she were a prized bantha, could really contribute nothing to the conversation. Keeve's expert fingers were seeing to it that her mind was nothing more than a fog of delirious pleasure.

Yelara, on the other hand, was too furious to dare speaking; she knew if she tried, the only words that would come from her lips were curses and other unpleasantries. Instead, she crushed the table cloth in her hand to dispel her anger and continued watching Kallia reacting to Keeve's sensuous touch.

"If Kallia wants a child by me," Keeve continued, "I'd gladly give her one. Oh gods, Father, you should see her in bed. So willing, so desperate for my touch...." He looked to Kallia and smiled. "Just like now."

"It's very nice to see her so responsive," Dargus said with a nod of approval. "I think the two of you make a very attractive couple. And, it's definitely obvious, extremely obvious, that she reacts well to you. I was never able to get her to respond so willingly, not even when she came to me before she left for Tatooine. I think she definitely likes you. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get her to do anything you want. By the look of it, I'd say she'd be more than willing to give you a child."

All attention shifted quickly to Yelara as her fist came down upon the table and set the plates and silverware clattering. The screech of her chair as she pushed it back angrily resounded through the large dining hall, setting the tone for how volatile she had slowly become. Her burning gaze swept over each of them as she breathed heavily and trembled with rage. "You're all disgusting," she rasped. "Pathetic and disgusting. From Keeve, I'd expect that. From you?" She focused first on Dargus, then on Kallia. "If you're trying to taunt each other, or incite jealousy in one another, then go ahead. Just wait until I'm not around to do it." Her eyes settled on Keeve next and she smiled jeeringly. "Pump as much sperm into her as you like. You'll get nothing from it. She's already got someone else's child within her. So it won't be yours, Keeve." Yelara shifted her gaze to Dargus. "And by the gods, it will not be yours." She bowed her head to them all, then stalked towards the door. "Enjoy your bloody dinner!"

Dargus stared after her as she stormed toward the door. "What's so disgusting?" he snapped. "Before they came in, we were going to have sex on the table. Are you really leaving, Yelara?"

Yelara stopped abruptly and whirled around to face them again. Soon, she was laughing incredulously. "No, of course not, Dargus. I was just going to change. I just thought since Keeve had his whore, I'd put on an equadi and you could have your own as well."

"Oh," Dargus said, "well, in that case... So, is the problem that Kallia's the center of attention and you're not, or are you actually disgusted, my dear?"

"Stop trying to trap me, Dargus," she warned him. "I'm not one of your competitors, though if I were, I imagine you'd be paying far more attention to me than you were Kallia, or those fucking servant girls! I'm not going to sit at that table while you leer at other women. I won't!" With a stubborn huff, Yelara turned and marched for the door again, this time making it into the corridor.

Keeve chuckled in amusement at Yelara's tantrum, then regarded Kallia and nodded appraisingly. "So, you're pregnant. Who's the lucky father?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Kallia said with a sigh. "It's either going to be Liam Zaneth or Kael Selrid. I'm hoping the baby is Kael's though. I don't want to give Liam a child; he doesn't deserve one. Kael would make a good father. Or you would, Keeve."

"If you'll excuse me," Dargus said, and then started toward the door after Yelara.

Ignoring Dargus, Kallia brought a hand up to Keeve's cheek. "Would you like me to give you a baby, Keeve?"

Keeve's features sobered and he was soon staring with perplexity at Kallia. "You're pregnant already. I could help you raise it if you wanted me too. But I want my first biological child to be Maeren's."

Kallia smiled. "That's beautiful," she whispered. "I hope the baby is Kael's. I don't know if I could handle it if it were Liam's, not with everything else. I have a few months before I start to show, I think. I can still be a good lover until then. After, it may require a little change in how we do things, but I should still be able to be with you for a long time yet. Until you can get back with Maeren."

Keeve's hope sparked briefly, then fizzled away to despair again. He pulled away from Kallia completely and shook his head slowly as he stared at the empty plate before him. "She's not coming back. She won't. You can remain my lover for the remainder of your stay on this cruiser, however long that is. Maeren won't be sharing my bed with me, not ever, so there's not need to worry about her." Keeve paused for a long, pensive moment, then reached over his glass and clasped the ladle sitting in the large bowl of creamed soup. He poured a large serving into Kallia's empty bowl and smiled wanly at her. "You'd better eat something. The baby needs it."

Kallia smiled, and slipped one hand into his. "Thank you," she whispered. "It's nice to have someone taking care of me. I know you don't love me, Keeve, but it feels good to have you here."

Keeve shrugged, but couldn't help blushing at her compliment. "You need someone while Yelara's off having an immature fit. I'll be here for you, Kal." He kissed her forehead tenderly, then motioned his head toward the bowl of soup. "Now, eat. You'll need to build up your strength for later tonight."

"Thank you," Kallia whispered.

***

"Yelara," Dargus called as he moved to catch up with her. "Yelara, stop moving so fast."

She whipped her head around towards Dargus and hollered back, "Why don't you stop moving so slowly!"

"Of course that's easy for you to say," Dargus snapped. "You don't have your lover getting you all hot and bothered, making mobility almost impossible!"

Yelara gasped as she finally stopped, only to spin around wildly and face Dargus. "What!? You bastard, I knew it! Kallia was affecting you. Damn you, Dargus!"

"Yelara," Dargus said with a laugh. "You are my only lover. It's only you, and this is your fault. You know I love your fiery temper."

"Well you should," she grumbled. "You're the only who always manages to rouse it."

"Oh, I thought that Keeve and Kallia managed to do a fairly good job of that too," Dargus said. "So, alas, I'm not the only one who is able to get onto your bad side."

Yelara sighed irritably and waved Dargus away dismissively as she turned her back to him. "Leave me alone. You don't care. None of you do. You were enjoying yourself even when I was upset. You're a selfish bastard, Dargus Kandran, so just leave me alone."

"I'm not paying enough attention to you, and you call me selfish for that? Very nice, Yelara. And, I'm not going to rule my life by your moods. If you get into a foul mood every time you see Kallia and Keeve together, or you see Kallia being pleasured by him, don't get yourself upset with me. I'm not the one that put them together, and I'm not the one sticking my fingers in her. If you want to be upset, make sure you're upset with the right people!"

"I'm upset with them too!" she shouted back. "And I'm upset with you. I can be upset with everyone at the same time if I choose!"

"Of course you can," Dargus said. "You can be upset with the entire universe if you want. What I don't understand is why you're so suddenly upset. Before they got in there you were wild and carefree, and now... What's wrong, Yelara?"

Yelara sighed and slowly wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm jealous, okay? I'm jealous and I'm mad at you for encouraging them. Happy now?"

"Yes," Dargus said. "Now, what is there to be jealous about? It's only Keeve and Kallia. And, I can assure you they don't love each other and won't love each other. They're just enjoying the physical pleasures they can give each other."

"But she wore that equadi for him. She was moaning for him while I watched. She didn't even care!" Yelara faced Dargus again and frowned. "And you did nothing to stop them! If you loved me, you would have noticed how upset I was and forced them to stop. Instead, you were getting hard watching Tiala serve you your meal. You don't care about my feelings. You care about your own satisfaction."

"Very well," Dargus said. "I will order Kallia to no longer wear anything that you might find offensive and no one else will find enticing. I will demand that Keeve not touch her outside of the privacy of a room that you are not occupying, even though from what you said you had no problems with what they did earlier until their fight. I will take your feelings into consideration and make sure that no one ever does anything around here to upset your suddenly delicate sensibilities."

"Dargus, don't patronize me," she said wearily. "You obviously think they've done nothing wrong. I imagine you're actually proud of your son. So, why don't you go finish dinner and I'll retire to my room? That might just be best for everyone."

"Very well," Dargus said. "And, I don't believe they've done anything wrong, Yelara. They can't keep their hands off each other, just as you and I have done. Why is it different for them?"

"You're justifying what they're doing?" Yelara threw up her hands and laughed. "Thanks a lot, Dargus! I'll remember that for the next time I foolishly decide to turn to you for comfort."

"What are they doing, Yelara? Please tell me what they've done that's so wrong? What the hell has you over your head with jealousy? Do you not what them together anymore? Or do you not like it when other people are openly intimate in your presence? What the fuck is the problem!"

"I don't know!" she hollered back. "I don't know, okay? I just don't like it. It's quite obvious you have no problems with it, so why don't you go join them?"

Dargus took a step forward. "Because I made you a promise," he said. "I may ogle and like what I see, but I'm only yours. I could not betray you like that, my love. I can understand jealousy, and I can imagine how much it must hurt to see her with him; it probably hurts you as much as it hurt me to see you with Liam."

"But you drove me to Liam," she replied, her tone softening dramatically. "Did I drive Kallia to Keeve? Am I losing her, Dargus?"

"No," Dargus said with a gentle smile. "You haven't lost her. I don't think you could ever lose her. Even when she's clinging to him, the way she glances over to you says that she's yours completely. I think part of it is she's trying to hurt me through him, to show me that she'd rather be with him than me. And, I think another part is her going to him because you come to me. But, you haven't lost her, not by a very long shot."

Yelara nodded her head grudgingly, but her agitation returned and she sighed sharply. "I still don't like it. Dargus, I don't like this. She's so submissive and pathetic when she's with him. That's not my Kal! I don't want her degrading herself like that and I swear, I will put a stop to it, any way I can."

"You want to talk to her, and I'll talk to him? I'll do what I can to get him to treat her right, and not make her roll over for him."

"I think she actually likes the rolling over part," Yelara muttered irritably.

"Well, it sounds like you only want her rolling over for you," Dargus said with a grin. "We should talk to them. If you don't like what they're doing, then it shouldn't be happening."

"Not now. I...I think I just want to lie down." She smiled weakly at Dargus. "You go back in. Tiala is probably coming out with the second dish right about now."

"Do you want someone to lie down with you? It's my ship, I can get food anytime, and I doubt that Tiala will complain."

Yelara gazed at Dargus with longing and whimpered as she held her arms open to him. "Be with me, Dargus? Please?"

Dargus quickly moved into Yelara's arms and kissed her lightly. "Of course," he said. "And, always. Come on, let's go lie down and hold each other."

"Good," she said with a pout as they made their way down the corridor. "We never did get to finish what we started."

"I think we might be able to find time now," Dargus said. "And, I'll lock the door so we will have no interruptions."

"And since you have a lot of apologizing to do, we can't afford to be interrupted." Yelara nestled her cheek to Dargus' chest as they walked and after a few moments of silence, gazed up at him and gave him a wan smile. "I'm sorry for hurting you with Liam. I didn't think you could feel love, let alone pain. I didn't realize...and I'm sorry."

"I was feeling lust then," Dargus said. "And, jealousy. He had what I wanted. I didn't want to love you...just to have you. I was a fool."

"In any case, you almost had me loving you then, even with as cruel as you were to me. Still, I like it better this way."

"Me too," Dargus said with a smile. "Well, except for those fights. Though, I think they are a good lead-in for making up."

"Like now?" She grinned at Dargus as she slipped her hand into his and began leading him away. "Come. Let's go get started on that baby again."

Dargus hurried along with her, ignoring the difficulty he had in moving. This was a difficulty he really liked. He could get used to moving like this with Yelara, if making babies was always at the end of it.

---

"The Pod"
by Jemul, Droid Trader

Location: Yelldon Spaceport, New Plouton; Droid Haven; Pink Monga
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

Jemul collected his pay from the starport office. He had fixed seven droids this month, and one grateful (and wealthy) spacer had tipped him a Decashekle! The large gold coin was enough to pay his taxes for two months. And add to this his wages from the droid maintenance contract, the Jawa was in the mood to splurge.

Before he left the main complex, he noticed a smashed long distance escape pod on top of the refuse heap. Jemul offered two shekles to buy the salvage rights for it; knowing if a few systems were intact he would more than double his investment. After his bid was accepted, he examined his purchase more carefully. He would need to get it back to his shop to see what repairs were needed. Marks on the hull showed the pod had been fired upon with blasters.

Jemul had another motive for buying the pod. The growing Empire presence on Tae' Karada made Jemul nervous. If he could repair and secret the escape pod somewhere, it would keep his options open. Of course, it was nearly squashed flat, so it might take considerable work to make it space worthy (if it was even possible). Fortunately, Imperial inspectors considered the pod too damaged to be deemed a threat, and let Jemul remove it from the compound.

*** Droid Haven ***

Jemul had no need to open the pod; the hatch was one of the missing pieces. This was easily replaced. The IC chips were too small to have been damaged, meaning the computer was fixed without any hassles. But an hour of electronics trouble shooting turned up a major problem. Long distance pods had hyperspace capabilities, but they needed a hyperspace capacitor to work properly. And the capacitor in his pod had shorted out.

With the Empire performing spot inspections, he could get caught smuggling the part. This worried the Jawa until his head ached, so he adjourned to the Pink Monga for a drink. The place looked worse than he remembered, as if rough housing had recently occurred. Perhaps rumors that the bouncer had quit was true.

*** Pink Monga Bar ***

The short Jawa entered the cantina and sat at an open table near one of the bar's windows. Relaxing music played in the background, and the proprietor suggested a Holecat Maragreta. The drink was huge, reeked of Tequilla, deep ocean blue, and served in a glass with Corsican salt. The salt reportedly held healing properties which restored proper electrolyte balances.

After two of them, Jemul was too tipsy to notice if his head was still pounding. But before he got too sloshed, he offered Janae a barter: Jemul would provide a security bot if she could find a supplier for the capacitor without arrousing the Empire's attention. With all the people that visited here, perhaps someone she knew could safely procure the part Jemul wanted.

The Jawa's stomach growled, telling him he had better eat something. He ordered a Grellian lobster platter and waited for the meal to be served. Meanwhile, an intoxicated Jemul sang an old Sand People drinking song loudly and off key until several patrons insisted he be quiet.

---

"At the Palace of Stars, Part 1"
by Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Lerrah Breijal

Location: The Palace of Stars, New Plouton
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

Kaysa had never been so nervous in all her life, and it wasn't even for herself; she was more anxious for her sweet star, having to dance in front of a crowd of people, wearing practically nothing. Shiv, though, didn't mind that aspect of her new job at the Palace of Stars, as Kaysa knew well, but still, she was uneasy for her. Or perhaps she was simply feeling overprotective. Kaysa had read reviews of the new club, and after her third she quickly got the impression that it was no ordinary social club. From what she could determine, it catered mostly to men...and rich men at that. But, it was what Shiv wanted to do, and seeing her smile brought Kaysa joy.

Shiv had been so despondent during Kaysa's recovery, and compounded with the loss of Keeve, her girl had looked far too sad for her liking. But now, Shiv was beaming, or at least she had been when the hoverlimo came to collect her. That alone was enough to rouse Kaysa's suspicions. There were plenty of dancers at the club, but she doubted all got such special treatment which, of course, made Kaysa wonder.... She shook her head vigorously and chided herself for allowing such dark thoughts to creep into her mind. It was an exciting day for Shiv, and she refused to ruin it for her by having one of her famous bouts of paranoia. With Merrick and Zale there to reassure her, she felt more confident that the night would pass without incident.

"Merrick! Zale!" Kaysa rushed into the doorway of her bedroom and peered down the hallway into the empty living area. "Where are you two and what are you up to? You'd better be ready because we're going to be late." She hurried back towards her dressing table to quickly pass a comb through her hair.

"Put that thing away and stop flapping it at me," she heard Merrick call. "One of these times Kaysa's going to catch you and cut it off, husband or not! Oh, we're here, and we're...we're not up to anything."

Kaysa grumbled and combed more aggressively. "One of you get in here and zip me up! And Zale...please, put it away, will you?"

Zale pushed through the doorway and glowered back to where Merrick stood grinning. "Nothing needs to be put away," he said. "It's just Merrick trying to get me into trouble again." He ran a finger along Kaysa's exposed back, then deftly zipped up the dress. "You look amazing, my love. I'm so very happy you're my date tonight. Merrick is still miffed that he has to go with Lerrah and he won't be on my arm."

"I am not! And, Lerrah's a very nice, charming girl," he said. "You're just jealous because I look better in a tuxedo than you do."

Zale smirked and glared at him. "You won't win with that argument," he said.

"At least you get to sleep with your date at the end of the night," Merrick said. "I may have to join you since my date is a lesbian. Though, it'll probably turn out that Kaysa will want to spend the night alone with Shiv."

Kaysa shifted around to regard her two silly men. "The way you two are acting, I just might. My two husbands are children. If I'd known that beforehand, I would have thought twice about marrying you."

"That's not what you were saying last night," Zale said with a chuckle, then he leaned in and sensuously kissed her throat. "I think you were quite fond of how grown up I was."

"In bed, maybe," Kaysa clarified. "It's just the rest of the time that has me wondering."

"Oh you only get this way whenever Merrick makes a pass at me," Zale said with a snort of laughter. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were jealous of us. Then again, I don't know why you should be since you're married to both of us."

"I'm not jealous," Kaysa assured him. She leaned forward and gave him a shrewd little smile. "If I were, you wouldn't have anything left to flap at Merrick with."

"But then your nights would be so empty and unfulfilling," Zale said. "I mean, Shiv and Merrick don't have nearly the talent that I do. Your orgasms would be empty, and your screams would barely rattle the windows."

Kaysa chuckled throatily and cupped Zale's chin in her hand. "It's not the screams that count, my love. Would you like me to relieve you of Sparky and prove it to you?"

"Oh, but do you have a way to put him back on? I mean, I've already got a robotic hand, isn't that enough?"

"I'm not planning on putting him back on," she told him nonchalantly. "I plan to give him to Merrick. A souvenir of sorts." She patted Zale's chest then slipped past him toward Merrick.

"Oh really?" Merrick asked with a wide grin. "I like the sound of that. Perhaps I could have Chrik wire it up with a microphone."

"Don't be morbid, my love." She brought her hands to Merrick's tie and proceeded to adjust it to her liking. "Now, is Lerrah coming with us or is she meeting us there? I really am still not comfortable with Shiv inviting her to join us, but.... It's her choice and I have to respect it."

"Don't worry, my love," Merrick said gently. "You won't ever lose Shiv, not even to her first love. You are the girl's greatest and most passionate love, and always will be. And, we're picking Lerrah up at her apartment on the way."

"Well." She cleared her throat uncomfortably. "If we must." Kaysa fixed the folds of Merrick's collar, stepped back to appraise her work, then smiled at her husband and strode out of the room. "No hanky panky in there!" she hollered at them from the hallway.

"Get your hands outta my-- Hey!"

"I didn't touch you," came Zale's response, and a moment later he strode into the room with Kaysa. "What are we going to do with him?"

Kaysa smiled innocently at Zale. "Whatever do you mean, my dear? You were obviously touching him. Poor thing."

"Obviously," Zale said with another shake of his head that sent the coiled braids flying. "I always knew you'd eventually take his side. Just one of these days though, he's going to cry rancor, and my hand really will be down his pants!"

Kaysa feigned a shocked gasp, then chuckled lowly at Zale. "You do that, and you get none of this." Slowly, sensuously, Kaysa gripped the hem of her skirt and raised it high enough for Zale to glimpse at what lay beneath. "So, what was that again?" she asked as she lowered the skirt.

"Oh, just make sure you tell Merrick to keep his hands to himself, that's all. Now, allow your darker, more handsome husband to escort you to our waiting limo."

Kaysa gave a mock curtsey, then moved toward Zale and slipped her arm through his. "Merrick! Hurry, my love. We're leaving."

"I'm coming," Merrick said as he rushed out into the main room. It took a moment, but Zale was the first to laugh. Merrick's hairstyle suddenly looked identical to Zale's, though on the musician it looked more silly than anything. He flashed Kaysa a grin. "I'm ready."

Kaysa stared wide-eyed and in utter shock at the sight of Merrick. "No! No you're not ready. Merrick, what the hells have you done to yourself? You look ridiculous!"

Having his laugh, Merrick pulled the hair from his head and tossed it aside, revealing his own. "I told you that style looked ridiculous, you big oaf!"

Kaysa grumbled at Merrick, but gave Zale her most innocent smile. "Ridiculous on him, my love. That's what I meant."

Zale laughed. "I really think you need to have him examined, my love," he said. "These practical jokes he finds so amusing are going to be the end of him, especially if he tries putting on the braids again."

"Oh, that sounds like a threat," Kaysa said. She kissed Zale's cheek. "Just try not to get too injured when Merrick kicks your ass."

"Oh, I'm ready for him now," Zale said, eyeing Merrick suspiciously. "He caught me off-guard last time."

Kaysa rolled her eyes and pulled Zale toward the door. "Come now, my silly men. Shiv will murder us if we're late."

"Limo's waiting," Merrick said as he moved to hold the door open. "Lerrah's on the way, and I'll call ahead so she'll know we're coming now. We'll be there in plenty of time. I wonder if they have any pre-show entertainment? That could be fun."

"Maybe you could get on stage and sing," Kaysa suggested. She grinned at Zale and added to Merrick, "He could accompany you."

"Oh, I'm sure that would go over well," Merrick said with a laugh. "Mandrake and his amazing sidekick Zert. Though, it'd be fun. I think the only sticking point would be if the people at the Palace of Stars like my kind of music, or if they prefer those songs Shiv has been humming the last couple days."

"Well..." Kaysa held out her hand to Merrick once she and Zale were in the corridor. "Care to go find out?"

Merrick slipped his hand into Kaysa's. "I would," he said, "but I should talk to Weibran before I just get up there and sing. I'll see if I can track him down tonight -- it shouldn't be too hard all things considered -- and maybe next time. Maybe this could be the big chance for Shiv and I to do a duet."

"You're not going to wear the same outfit she left the apartment in, are you?" Kaysa asked with mild concern.

"Really, Kaysa," Merrick said. "Do you think I'd actually look good in a bustier? No, I'd find something of my own to wear." He quickly jabbed a finger at Zale, and added, "And, don't you say anything about crotchless, you over-sexed fiend!"

"Actually, I was thinking buttless," Zale said casually, then glanced at Kaysa. "But, you're right. I think just a tuxedo will be fine."

Kaysa narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Zale and smiled slowly. "Oversexed? And who, I'd like to know, is aiding you in that?"

Zale shifted slightly and slung an arm over Merrick's shoulders. "There's something we've been meaning to tell you, Kaysa. You know those things that go bump in the night? Well, that's us."

Kaysa backhanded Zale's chest lightly and stubbornly pulled ahead of them both. "I'm so glad you're coping without me!"

"You were there when it happened," Zale said, "so you should know where my oversexiness is coming from."

With a forefinger in each ear, hearing Zale was almost impossible, and just what she was trying to achieve. She strode directly into the lift, removed one finger to jab the button for the designated floor, then stuck her finger back into her ear. "I'm not listening to you, Zale Tregat! You two are wicked!"

"Terribly wicked," Zale said as he and Merrick slipped into the lift.

"Incredibly," Merrick added. He moved close and slipped an arm around Kaysa's waist. "Don't worry, my love. I'll protect you from him."

Kaysa finally allowed a smile for Merrick and lowered her hands to his chest. "I know you will. And to torment him even more, I'll give you all the sex you want, whenever you want, and he'll get none."

"Oh, I like that idea," Merrick said with a grin. "He'll be a mess because the only time he sleeps with Shiv is when he has your permission. And, there isn't anyone else. I have to wonder how long the Shac'tae master can hold out."

"Not long, I imagine," Kaysa replied. "Look at him; he's aching for one of us right now."

Merrick looked up at Zale and shook his head. "It's you he's aching for," he said. "Just look at the way he's standing. It's so obvious. Now, if he had his hip slung out farther, his eyes were half-closed, and he had one arm rubbing along his thigh, then he'd be wanting me."

Before Zale could respond, the lift doors opened and Merrick quickly darted away. "I'll check in with the driver," he called as he hurried down toward where the hoverlimo waited.

"I really don't know about him," Zale said with a laugh. "Come on so we can pick up his date. Maybe that'll shut him up for a bit."

Kaysa warmed up to Zale once again and linked her arm with his. Together, they started for the limo, with Kaysa making a furtive glance at his groin. "Hmm...you don't seem to be..." she muttered. "Are you sure you aren't aching for me, my love?"

"Oh, I'm aching terribly," Zale said. "But, I can control the physical manifestation of that ache. As soon as you're ready again, you'll see just how much I have missed you. It'll be much worse than when you kept toying with me on the night we met."

Kaysa chuckled fondly at the memory. "I was cruel, wasn't I? Oh gods...I wanted you so badly that night. I was too stubborn to give into my desires. Though, eventually your persistence paid off."

"Poor Corun," Zale said with a shake of his head. "I wonder if he ever recovered."

Kaysa frowned slightly and looked down, ashamed. "Don't remind me. I can't even believe I did that, Zale. That woman seems like a stranger to me now, but she's still so connected to me. It's a little...scary."

"She is, but she's not you anymore," Zale said. "I'm sure he's made a complete recovery and everything is okay with him. Probably wouldn't be a good idea to run into him again, but I don't think we have to worry about that. Besides, we have Merrick to protect us."

Kaysa chuckled ruefully and moved closer to Zale. "Yeah... If only he could protect me from myself sometimes, then everything would be perfect."

"Well, on the times he can't," Zale said as they neared the limo, "he'll soothe your wounds with a song. I want you to spend the night with him tonight, Kaysa. He needs the time with you."

Kaysa shook her head slightly and gripped Zale's arm tighter. "I can't," she whispered. "I can't be with him like he needs me to be. Not yet, Zale. I'm not ready."

"He understands," Zale said. "Just spend time with him. Sing with him. I'm sure he'd love to hear you singing one of the songs he wrote for you back to him. I know you're not ready to be with him in that way, but share your time with him."

"I can't, Zale," she said more firmly. "Don't make me do this. I can share my time with him in other ways." Kaysa paused to gather her quickly fleeing composure, then managed a wan smile for Zale. "Besides, I sing horribly. I don't think he would like that at all."

"Well, I won't push you," Zale said. "And, I'll leave it to you to decide how to spend your night. I'm sorry, Kaysa. I didn't mean..."

"It's okay," she said quickly. "I know you're trying to help and I love you for it." She kissed his cheek tenderly and gave him a brighter smile. "Can't I be with both my men tonight?"

"You know," Zale said with a grin, "I think I like that idea very much. Come on, let's get to the show to see your girl in action."

Merrick was standing by the open hatch of the limo when Kaysa and Zale got outside, and fitting perfectly into the role of chauffeur, he bowed pompously at them, triggering gentle laughter from Kaysa. "I bet he doesn't bend over like that for you, Zale."

Zale's lips curled into a smile, but he said nothing as he climbed into the limo. Merrick raised an eyebrow to Kaysa and then chuckled. "After you, my dear. The Palace of Stars awaits."

***

The moment the limo rounded the corner onto the street Lerrah's apartment was situated, Kaysa's mood soured quickly. She folded her arms over her chest and stared sullenly at the approaching apartment complex. She never did like exes, and with as freely as Shiv gave herself to others, Kaysa felt even more threatened by Lerrah. "I bet she'll wear something especially slutty," Kaysa muttered. "Don't know who she's trying to impress..."

Merrick grinned and looked up ahead to where Lerrah's apartment was. "Well -- and this is just a guess, mind you -- it's not going to be either me or Zale, even though I am looking quite sexy tonight. So, that's going to leave you, Shiv, and any other eligible, young bachelorette at tonight's gala."

Kaysa snorted derisively. "Well, she certainly won't be impressing me any time soon. I can't believe I hired her...."

"You're just jealous because she's still got a crush on Shiv," Zale said with a laugh. "Don't worry, Kaysa, you're never going to lose that girl. Don't be so hard on her; she's lost the love of her life to you already, you don't need to keep twisting the knife."

"What?" Kaysa gazed at Zale, an expression of pain darkening her features. "Is that what you think? Is that what you really think of me?"

"No, Kaysa," Zale said softly. "That's not what I think of you, but I can't think of any other reason for this irrational dislike of that girl. She's never been anything but nice to you, she hasn't tried to seduce Shiv away from you, but you never have anything nice to say about her and are always suspect of her motives."

"So, I have to be her friend then?" Kaysa surmised. "Fine. If it'll help dismiss this image you seem to have of me as the evil, conniving bitch, then I'll make an effort, okay?"

"You don't have to be her friend," Zale said. "But, I don't understand why you've made her your enemy. You're free to do whatever you want, but I'm just saying I don't understand."

"You don't need to," Kaysa said forthrightly. "And who said she was my enemy? She's just not my friend."

"Right," Zale answered. "I don't need to, but I'd like to, especially since Shiv is her friend. You do realize that you could end up hurting Shiv out of this, don't you. Just...why don't you like her, Kaysa? That's all I want to know."

"Why are you always interrogating me is what I'd like to know," Kaysa snapped. "I'm not Shiv, okay? I can't like everyone I meet, especially not my girlfriend's ex-lover."

Zale nodded. "Here she is," he said, pointing out the window to where Lerrah had stepped down from the front porch of the apartment complex. She was wearing a long skirt and sleeveless top. Her hair had been pulled back, and she was grinning excitedly as the limo pulled up. Before she got in, Zale looked back at Kaysa and grinned. "Now, play nice."

Kaysa stuck her tongue out at Zale, then as Lerrah stepped through the hatch, an overly bright and cheerful smile stretched her lips. "Lerrah! How good to see you. You're looking quite lovely today. Planning on bringing some lucky guy home with you tonight?"

A shudder passed through Lerrah at Kaysa's words, and her eyes took on a momentary haunted look as memories surged within her mind. "No," she whispered softly.

Kaysa's smile waned at Lerrah's unexpected reaction. She had no idea the girl held such an aversion toward men. "Okay," she replied slowly. "No men then...I guess."

Lerrah nodded slowly. "It's...after the ship. I-- I can't. I just want to watch Maeren dance, and...and then go home."

If anything could make Kaysa feel guilty, it was the tortured, frightened look on Lerrah's face. She had forgotten that Lerrah too had been on Dargus' ship, and that she had suffered the same physical torment Shiv had while there. Reluctantly, but knowing it was needed of her, Kaysa reached out and placed her hand atop Lerrah's. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I...forgot, Lerrah. If you want, we can talk for a little while at the club...alone. I've been through the same. Maybe we could help each other out. Would you like that?"

Lerrah looked up and met Kaysa's eyes. Her own were dark brown, darker and deeper than Shiv's. When she smiled, the glimmers of hope were clear there, and it seemed to brighten all of her features. "I'd like that," she said with a smile. "Thank you very much."

Kaysa managed a smile for the girl and lightly patted her hand. "It's no problem. I'd do the same for any of my workers." She rested her hand upon Lerrah's for a moment longer, then slipped it away and placed it atop Zale's. "Happy?" she muttered to him.

"Yes," he said with a grin, and then kissed her. He brought his lips close to her ear so only she could hear. "You did very well, my love. Though, I have to wonder why she's comfortable going to this tonight with Merrick, where the mention of men causes her to break out in a sweat."

Kaysa repressed a laugh and lightly slapped Zale's hand. "Stop poking fun at my effeminate husband," she chided.

"At least he only speaks with his lisp at home," Zale added with a chuckle. "And, they would make a cute couple if he wasn't married to you and she'd move closer to him. I think it's going to be a good night, my love. And, it'll be even better when Shiv starts dancing."

"If we actually get there in time to see her dancing," Kaysa quipped. "Tell your driver to hurry it up, or he'll have to deal with Mrs. Tregat."

"We're almost there," Zale said with a laugh. "See the bantha up there? That's it."

Kaysa leaned forward to look through Zale's window. She noticed a strange similarity between the monumental creature and Weibran, but made no note of it. She simply giggled helplessly and sat back against her seat. "And all the New Plouton elite go there?"

"That's what the word on the street is," Zale said. "You're not squeamish about seeing too much flesh, are you? I've heard that it's not unheard of to see women and men bereft of clothing in there. One of the guys at the office was saying they've even got a very elaborate brothel upstairs."

All sign of humour drained from her face at the startling revelation. "What? A brothel?" She turned a stern gaze upon Zale and slapped his arm swiftly. "Why the hell didn't you tell me this before I agreed to let Shiv dance there? My gods, Zale! What if-- What if she has to do that? My girl, doing who knows what with dirty strangers."

"Shiv hasn't mentioned anything about that," Zale said, trying to calm Kaysa. "And, besides, the brothel is upstairs and the dance hall is downstairs. Kaysa, it'll be fine." He figured joking that there wouldn't be any dirty strangers there since it was such a high class place wouldn't be a good idea around Kaysa since Shiv would be there. Besides, if The Hutt had gotten Shiv into anything like that, Zale would make him pay. "Everything will be fine, my love."

Kaysa had learned, arduously, to trust Zale's judgement, but she still couldn't help feeling slightly concerned. "Alright," she sighed. "Let's...go have fun, I guess."

The limo pulled to a stop and the side door slid open. Merrick and Lerrah were the first out. Before Kaysa could get out, Zale slipped a hand in hers. "I love you, Kaysa," he whispered. "And, everything will be fine. I promise."

Kaysa pressed a soft kiss to Zale's lips and smiled at him reassuringly. "I love you too. Now, escort your beautiful wife into the club so you can be the envy of all the other New Plouton socialites."

Zale slid out of the limo first, and then extended a hand back to Kaysa. Once she was standing beside him, he offered her his arm. "Shall we go impress the wealthy and elite now? I think one look at the two of us, and they'll know that they've been outclassed."

Kaysa nodded confidently and began striding forward with Zale. Shattering for a moment the air of formality they had attained, Kaysa reached back and pinched Zale's rear. She giggled at his gentle yelp and shrugged innocently. "Had to see for myself what Merrick's so interested in."

"Oh, there's plenty more than that," Zale said with a laugh. "Though, you'll have to wait until later to see that. Though, I guess this is the perfect place for those sorts of things, isn't it?"

"I wouldn't know," Kaysa replied with suspicious gaze at Zale. "But apparently you would, my dear husband."

Zale laughed. "I only know from hearing things, not from first-hand experience, my love. Now, there's the door we have to go in. Our entrance fees are already taken care of."

"My rich husband...you like spoiling us, don't you?" Kaysa giggled. "I like it too."

Merrick and Lerrah had already made it to the top of the steps and waited for Kaysa and Zale while they climbed the stairs. The doorman to their right, seeming to recognize Zale, gave him a nod and both men opened the double-doors. It was only then that the exotic, oscillating music streamed out and wrapped the four in its hypnotic embrace, luring them into the club. Kaysa was in instant awe as the gaudy exterior was replaced with a seductive, enticing interior replete with young men and women of all races threading their way through the plethora of tables, wearing nothing more than enough clothing to barely cover their essentials. A thick miasma of cigarra smoke lingered in the air, but dissipated entirely by the time it had reached the lofty domed ceiling. When Kaysa looked up, she noticed balconies wrapped around the circumference of the establishment, with even more patrons occupying the tables there.

Aside from the ornate, floral light fixtures lining the walls and gilted decorations on the ceiling (depictions of dancing girls, of course), the stage at the front of the room was what drew everyone's attention. Shiv wasn't there yet, but there was a line of ten girls in identical, glamorous costumes dancing exuberantly. Kaysa was mortified for her Shiv, then; she knew she would have been herself if she had to dance on that enormous stage with all those men watching her.

"Oh my gods... This place is-- Wow," was all Kaysa could say.

"It is," Lerrah whispered. Her eyes were wide with amazement as she looked around. She glanced to Kaysa and smiled. "She'll be up there, won't she? I hope she's not nervous." She grinned conspiratorially to Kaysa and leaned closer. "Do you know what makes her feel less nervous when she is?"

Kaysa slowly shifted her gaze to Lerrah. "No.... What's that?" she asked warily.

"There are these little chocolate squares that come from Corellia," she said. "Give her one of those, and she's calm as anything." She grinned at Kaysa. The look in her eyes was a mix of affection and caring, mixed with the knowledge of knowing that she was letting the love of Maeren's life in on one of her secrets.

Kaysa, however, didn't appreciate the tip as much as Lerrah had thought she would. That Shiv's ex-lover knew more about her than she did added to Kaysa's insecurities. With a mirthless chuckle, Kaysa looked back toward the stage and disguised a grimace with a tight smile. "Chocolates. Humph."

Lerrah nodded. "Particular ones," she said. "I can show you if you want. Just don't tell her I told you. I think one look at one of them coming from you, and she'll be so amazed."

"That's alright," Kaysa replied, trying her best to remain polite. "I think I can find my own way to calm Shiv's nerves. But...thank you for the suggestion."

Lerrah noted the tone of Kaysa's voice, and then nodded. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'll just...I won't... I'm sorry, Kaysa."

Kaysa laughed wryly and turned to face Lerrah. "You know, you sound just like Shiv when you do that. You two seem to have a lot in common actually. That's nice. That's...very nice."

"I'm not trying to steal her," Lerrah said softly. "She's so happy with you, and I couldn't take that. And...and I couldn't hurt you that way. You're my boss, and the woman Maeren loves, and...and it'd be wrong. I couldn't do that. But, I want to be a friend. That's all. I'm sorry."

"That's fine," Kaysa replied. "I understand, Lerrah. Just...don't pay any attention to me. Shiv's going to be on soon and she'd hate it if she looked out into the crowd and saw you frowning." Kaysa smiled tightly. "Now, cheer up."

"I know it's probably hard having me around," Lerrah said. "But, please...don't worry about me. I promise I won't come between you and Maeren. I won't even try. I still love her very much, and that's exactly why I won't. She's so in love with you, that I know that if anything did happen, she'd be too busy thinking about her beautiful and amazing Kaysa to even consider me. And, I don't think I could frown when she comes out. She'll be amazing, and I have a feeling you'll be lighting up the whole place with a smile. Next to you, I doubt she'll even notice me." She took Kaysa's hand and kissed it. "And, that is just fine."

Kaysa hadn't planned on being flattered by the young woman who represented nothing but competition for her, but the genuinely warm smile she gave Lerrah refused to be suppressed. "Thanks," she said softly. "You just...you don't know what it's been like lately, Lerrah. I just...I feel--" She stopped herself before she could confide in Lerrah, especially since she wasn't one to open up to strangers, no matter how innocent they appeared. "Trust me...it's not you, Lerrah. It has nothing really to do with you, so don't be offended."

"Well, I may have grown up on a planet where we didn't wear all that much clothing, but I'm not that thin-skinned," Lerrah said with a grin. "I just wanted you to know that I'm not going to steal her away from you. If you need someone to talk to, I'd like to help you too. I see how happy Shiv is when she looks at you, and I know you belong together. I'll do whatever I can to keep you two together."

"Thanks, Lerrah." Kaysa reversed the hold Lerrah had on her hand and brought the girl's to her lips for a kiss. "Shiv's lucky to have a friend like you. I can see why she still loves you."

Lerrah's cheeks darkened with her slight embarrassment. "Oh, it's nothing compared to you," she said. "But, thank you. Should we go find somewhere to sit before our dates embarrass us?"

Kaysa nodded emphatically. "I think we should. I see the look in his eye Merrick gets whenever he has something witty to say."

Lerrah giggled. "Shiv had some amusing things to say about Merrick's humour," she said. "She says one of the biggest mistakes is bringing Merrick and Zale together. I think she said it was like letting a pair of rancors loose on a herd of banthas."

Kaysa glanced between Zale and Merrick then giggled along with Lerrah. "You can't leave them alone for a second!" She remained holding Lerrah's hand and started out with her in search of a vacant table that was also close enough to the stage. Kaysa looked behind her, however, to ensure that Zale and Merrick hadn't already gotten into trouble. "Boys? Are you coming?"

"Right behind you," Merrick called. With a grin, he slipped his hand into Zale's to mirror Kaysa and Lerrah's hands. "You don't have to worry about us, Kaysa. We're behaving."

---

"At the Palace of Stars, Part 2"
by Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Lerrah Breijal
and Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
with Arrista Faeg [NPC]

Location: The Palace of Stars, New Plouton
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

Kaysa refrained from scowling at her two husbands and instead smiled smugly at them as she shifted closer to Lerrah. "Don't worry about me either. I promise to be good."

Lerrah grinned up at Kaysa. "I guess we've switched dates for the night," she said. She glanced back at Zale and Merrick behind them and giggled. "I think we make a cuter couple anyway."

Kaysa grinned at Lerrah secretively. "You know, Shiv said you had a crush on me." She kept her eyes on the girl, already seeing her face flush. "So...do you?"

Lerrah giggled and looked away. "I can't believe she told you," she said shyly. After a moment, she looked back up at Kaysa and smiled. "Is it okay if I say yes?"

Kaysa shrugged. "Of course it is. I really have no idea why you would, but it's fine. I have lots of crushes. It's normal."

"I can't believe she told you," Lerrah said with a shake of her head. "Maeren loves you more than anything, and you're so beautiful...it was easy to...to see, especially the times when you and she are together. And, I guess I started feeling a little of that too. Did you know she spent her whole first job for you thinking of nothing but you?"

Kaysa chuckled nostalgically. "I found out after. I actually found the shirt she accidentally destroyed while in the heat of passion. I think that was the...cutest and strangest thing anyone's ever done involving desirous thoughts about me. Oh, over there. Those people are leaving." Kaysa tugged gently on Lerrah's hand and veered her towards a free table. "It's right up front too. We can throw Shiv our panties!"

"Oh, that's a perfect spot. And, in range for...oh my god...I can't believe I'm going to be throwing my panties at Maeren." She giggled again. "As long as it's just us and not the boys."

"It better not be the boys," Kaysa said. "Or they're sleeping alone tonight, and by that, I mean the two of them in separate beds." The two women took their seats first, one next to the other, and soon after Zale and Merrick joined them. "Oh, she's gonna look so cute in her outfit."

"I can't wait to see it," Lerrah said with a giggle. "I bet she'll be so beautiful up there. How often does she dance? She said that the owner person just comes in and watches her dance. She said he's never made any advances, he just sits and swoons while she moves. It sounds really cute actually."

"He actually wanted to buy her at one time," Kaysa told Lerrah. "But only to watch her dance. I don't think he's interested in anything sexual, strangely enough. He just...likes how she moves."

"Well, he has good taste," Lerrah said with a wistful smile. "I think she moves better than anyone I've ever known. I still remember the first time she tried ni'gokk. Until I saw her, I never realized that it was such a dance." She grinned and looked up at Kaysa. "She's so truly amazing." She reached up and wiped away a tear that appeared. "I'm so glad I found her again. Even as her friend, it's so much better now. If you were to take hope and joy and give them physical form, it'd be Maeren."

"I think you're right about that," Kaysa replied softly. "She's an amazing girl, and I promise I won't forbid you two from associating with each other. I might get jealous at times, but I would never make Shiv give you up." She reached up and gently brushed a tear from Lerrah's cheek. "I promise."

Lerrah smiled and quickly hugged Kaysa. "Thank you," she whispered, and then smiled. It was obvious at that point, the tears were tears of extreme joy. "I'll do everything I can to not make you jealous. And, if you want, we'll never exclude you from anything we do. Maybe the three of us can even do some things together, like shopping or a trip to the beach...or who knows. I want to be your friend too, Kaysa. I love working for you, but I also really like being around you...especially when you smile."

Kaysa found it easy to warm up to Lerrah and soon held her arms around the girl to return her embrace. "No one's ever commented on my smile before. Thanks for noticing."

"You're welcome," Lerrah said with a warm smile. "Oh, are the lights dimming? Is it time?" She looked around quickly and saw that the lights were being flickered, a sure sign that the show was going to be starting soon.

Kaysa removed herself from Lerrah's gentle hold and sat back against her chair. The lights did indeed slowly fade, except for those on stage, lighting up the red curtains hanging down from the top. Kaysa was experiencing a case of the jitters so serious at that point, she slipped her hand into Lerrah's and squeezed it tightly. "Good luck, my star," she whispered.

***

As the lights out over the audience finally faded, the red curtains began to shimmer slightly. Twelve stationary bodies could be seen, caught in a tableau, behind the fabric. Faint at first, but slowly rising, the music started, and with it, the dancers on the stage started to move. The tempo of the music changed, and with it the curtains seemed to just fade into nothing.

The dancers continued to move, their bodies working through intricate steps, all perfectly in sync. Then everything stopped.

Once again, the dancers were caught in tableau, and the music began to rise, reaching for a crescendo. As it did, a gasp went through the crowd as a single figure rose up through the center of the stage. Kaysa and Lerrah each squeezed each other's hands tighter and contained the squeals of delight each wanted to make.

On the stage, Shiv stood in profile. Her costume, what there was of it, was similar to the others, but unique to her. It was obvious to all, with her entrance and her costume, that this was indeed, the star of the show. She was dressed in black and silver, and under the lights seemed to shine exactly like a star would. She wore a corset cinched tight up top and a split skirt that looked more like a half dozen silver ribbons.

Slowly, she turned to face the audience, and gave them a sultry smile. Her body slowly started to shift with the now-changing music. Despite the lights on the stage, she easily found Kaysa, Lerrah, Merrick, and Zale in the audience. She gave them a smile that was for them alone, and then she let the music take her. As she started going through the moves that felt almost second-nature now, she could barely suppress the delight she felt at seeing Lerrah and Kaysa sitting together and looking so very happy. She nearly missed a step when she realized they were holding hands.

Shiv moved with fluid grace, dancing as easily as many people walked. There was no doubt that Weibran had chosen well when he had asked her to dance for him. In the Palace of Stars, she was definitely the brightest star.

In her seat, Lerrah giggled and slipped her hand from Kaysa's. At Kaysa's sudden look, she grinned mischievously and slid her hands down to hike up her skirt. She then slid her panties down to her ankles and deftly pulled them off. She then slipped a free hand back into Kaysa's. "Can't throw them if I'm still wearing them," she whispered.

"At least wait until she's finished her routine," Kaysa said. "I doubt she'd be able to dance anymore while she's diving for your panties."

Lerrah grinned. "I was going to wait until she's taking her bows before I threw them," she whispered.

"Great. Then you can throw them at the same time Merrick and Zale throw theirs." Kaysa chuckled quietly, then shifted her attention back to her glowing star. It surprised her that Shiv moved so gracefully. She'd seen her dance before, but it was nothing so coordinated and choreographed; normally, it was just Shiv bouncing and squealing in excitement over something or other. But now, her precious girl was a divine, numinous creature that had her in complete awe. Even then, she felt tears coming to her eyes.

From where she sat, Lerrah stole a glance at the two men, and couldn't help smiling at the look on Merrick's face. It almost matched Kaysa's, and she could see there that he definitely was in love with Maeren too. She looked away as the first tear slipped down his cheek. She looked back up at the stage, still marvelling at how beautiful and graceful Maeren was. As her own eyes started to sting with tears, she gave Kaysa's hand another squeeze.

The mesmerizing performance was winding down, as Kaysa could tell from the slowing tempo of the music. Shiv performed her final sequence - a single spin that twined her skirt around her slender body, followed by a series of intricate steps - until she ended where she began, standing motionless and in profile on the stage. Kaysa was breathless for a moment, but when she managed to inhale, she jumped to her feet, along with the rest of the room, and cheered wildly for her girl.

Lerrah was on her feet an instant behind Kaysa, cheering and clapping. Then with a grand flourish, she flung her panties up onto the stage.

The surprising part was that Shiv actually managed to catch them, and let out a boisterous giggle. She looked down at Kaysa, Lerrah, and the boys and waved. She mouthed I love you to her loves, and only had a few more moments before she had to leave the stage.

"She's so wonderful," Lerrah said as she was jumping up and down and cheering.

"She's my girl," Kaysa hollered above the cheers. She grinned at Lerrah and added, "Our girl."

The joy that was present in Lerrah's eyes as she looked at Kaysa was priceless. "I hope they let her come out and see us," she said. "We have to hug her and tell her how wonderful and amazing she was! She is!"

"I think we can try to get backstage," Kaysa said. "We know the owner so I think we could pull some strings."

Shiv took one final bow, and then fled back toward the back of the stage with the rest of the dancers. As she was leaving, she made eye contact with Kaysa and indicated the side of the stage.

Lerrah watched the exchange and grinned. "Oh, it's so exciting, Kaysa. She was so good up there. She's a star!"

Kaysa laughed at Lerrah's enthusiasm and gently tugged on the girl's hand as she stepped back from the table. "Come on. I think the star's invited us for a private meeting backstage."

"Oh, I can't wait," Lerrah said.

"Come on, my dear," Merrick said, patting Zale's hand. "Let's go visit with the star."

Shiv's five loves gained easy access to the inner sanctum behind the stage, where all the glamour of the performance truly ended, and the tired, breathless dancers retreated to their dressing rooms to relax before their next set. "Which one's hers?" Kaysa asked as they started up the hallway.

Lerrah pointed toward the end of the hall. "That one has the biggest star of them all," she said. "Is that hers? That's gotta be hers, right?"

"Let's find out." Kaysa and Lerrah rushed forward to the door and rapped on it boisterously. "Maeren Shivral! Open your door for your biggest fans!"

Almost before Kaysa had finished speaking, there was a screech of delight from inside and the door was flung wide open. "Oh gods," Shiv cried when she saw all of them standing outside the door. "Oh, I saw you guys there; it was so amazing. Oh it was so fun, and I wasn't nervous at all!" With another joyous shout, she flung herself into Kaysa's arms.

"Oh, you were so breathtaking, Shiv!" Kaysa kissed her ardently, then laughed. "If I'd been wearing panties, I would have given you a pair too!"

"Well, you almost had a pair to throw back at me," Shiv said with a giggle. "If I weren't performing, and wouldn't have gotten in big trouble, I would have thrown mine back at you. But, then everyone in the crowd would have wanted me to throw panties at them."

"Lare!" She moved over and hugged Lerrah, giving her a kiss as she did. "I will have your panties framed and put on the wall in here." She cast a nymphish glance back to Kaysa. "And, next show you have to wear panties so they can go up on my wall too!"

"Maybe we can get Merrick and Zale to do the same." Kaysa cocked an eyebrow at her men. "Right, boys?"

Shiv gave Merrick and Zale each a hug and a kiss. "Yes," she said with delight. "I want to see each of you wearing panties next time you come to the show. Though, unless you're going to wear a skirt, you should get ones that break away." She turned back and hugged Kaysa again. "I had a feeling it was going to be a panty night. And, I saw the two of you out there." She reached out and brought Lerrah and Kaysa's hands together again. "Very happy."

Kaysa smiled warmly at Lerrah, then shifted her focus to Shiv. "We had a shaky moment there for a while, but everything's okay, Shiv. We've even found a common interest: you."

"I'm happy," Shiv said. "And, I think me is a very good common interest, and I welcome whatever panties either of you want to throw at me. Oh! Kaysa! Remember that one woman from the Segrelet Tower? Arrista? She's one of the dancers. From where you are, she would have been on the far end of the dancers."

"Arrista?" Kaysa searched her memory quickly to place a face with the name. "I don't-- Arrista...." Sudden recognition came to her and Kaysa laughed abruptly. "Arrista? That blonde idiot Zale took home? What is she doing dancing here?"

"I guess Weibran liked how she moved," Shiv said with a laugh.

Zale was holding his head in his hands. "Please tell me she's not here."

"Zale? Oh gods, Zale it is you!"

All eyes turned to see the large-busted blonde racing forward to wrap her arms around Zale. Merrick wisely ducked out of the way as Arrista Faeg caught Zale in a big hug and planted a large kiss on his lips.

Kaysa watched with a mixture of amusement and annoyance as Zale made his best attempt to pry the woman from him. To help him along, Kaysa tapped on the woman's shoulder and placed the sweetest smile on her face, hoping it would be sufficiently menacing to Arrista when the witch turned around.

"Oh! Kaysa! It's so good to see you again! Oh, you look fabulous!" She glanced at Lerrah and smiled. "Is this your new girlfriend? She's very pretty."

"She's not my girlfriend," Kaysa replied. "She's Shiv's. But let's not talk about them." She slung her arm across Arrista's shoulders and smiled companionably. "Hey, why don't you and I go for a little walk, Arrista." Kaysa glanced briefly at Zale, her less than innocent intentions clear in the look she gave him, then returned her gaze to the giggling fool beside her. "Oh, we have much to catch up on, don't we?"

Shiv giggled and pulled Lerrah closer. "Come on, guys," she said to Merrick and Zale. "You have to see my dressing room."

As Merrick and Zale slipped over to Shiv's dressing room, Arrista glanced around happily. "Oh, we do have so much to catch up on," she said. "It's been so long. I saw you out in the audience. You enjoyed the show, right?"

"Oh, of course," Kaysa exclaimed. "And I must say, dear, you were absolutely wonderful. Quite bouncy as well." She escorted Arrista on a leisurely stroll down the hallway, hoping to find a secluded area where she could call the scatterbrained trollop off of her husband. "So, must be nice seeing Zale again."

Arrista looked down at her chest, and then back up to Kaysa. "Very bouncy," she said. "And, it is. Oh, he's such a nice man. I don't think any man has ever been as nice to me as he is. I was just thinking about him earlier this week. When I met Maeren again. Oh, he's so talented too!"

"Talented?" Kaysa echoed. "Really? Care to elaborate for a curious girl like me?"

The dancer looked around and then back at Kaysa. With a grin, she started re-telling her one night of passion with Zale, leaving out none of the details. "Oh, the way he uses his...oh my. He can make a girl sing all night long with that technique of his. I don't think I've ever quite had an experience like that before, and I have had some experience. Seven times, in all. Can you believe that?"

"In one night?" Kaysa's apparent astonishment was in fact genuine. Not even she and Zale had gone that many times in one night. She really had to have a talk with him about that. "Does this mean you'd give anything to have a repeat of that with him, Arrista, dear?"

"Oh, anything," Arrista said quickly. "Oh, he is a dream. I would love to be with him again."

"Oh, wouldn't we all," Kaysa sighed. "Though, you'd probably have to go through his wife for permission, and I've heard she can be quite the vicious, spiteful bitch."

Arrista gasped in surprise. "He's married? He never told me he was married. Oh my. Do you think she'd agree to it?"

Kaysa looked down at the two mounds of supple flesh barely concealed by Arrista's corset and chuckled. "If you ask nicely, maybe she will." She leaned in close and whispered, "I hear she likes the ladies more than the men, if you get my hint."

Arrista's eyes went wide. "I've never done that," she rasped. "Who is his wife? I'll ask really nicely, and do anything she asks." The soft, creamy flesh exposed by the corset flushed as she thought about the prospect of being with Zale again. "Is she here tonight?"

"Of course she is," Kaysa replied. "Now, you remember that one with the short, brown hair, and wearing that black tuxedo?"

It took Arrista a moment, but she finally nodded. "Yes, I remember him," she said. "He's cute too, but not the same as Zale. He's not Zale's wife, is he?"

Kaysa smiled slyly at Arrista and lightly patted her back. "Just about, dear. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to loan Zale out to you. But I'd watch myself." She moved her lips to Arrista's ear and said softly, "Zale may ask you to bend over. I think you can figure out why and what he plans to do when he gets you into that position. You're a bright girl, Arrista. And I bet you'd have fun too." Kaysa frowned pensively for a moment, then asked, "Zale isn't very big, I hope, is he?"

Arrista trembled with excitement. "Oh, he's a perfect size," she whispered. "And, I'd gladly bend over for him, anything for him. So, I should just ask the man in the tuxedo? I'll be very nice to him too. Oh, I can't believe after all this time. Oh, I can't wait!"

"Oh and why would you? You should march right back there, get on your hands and knees the way Merrick likes it, force open his pants and you beg him, Arrista," Kaysa said passionately. "Beg him and don't stop until he gives you permission!"

"Oh, thank you," Arrista cried, and hugged Kaysa quickly. Then she dashed back toward Shiv's dressing room, giddy laughter leading the way.

Kaysa sighed, satisfied that Arrista would make a complete fool of herself and be shamed from ever even thinking of Zale again. Whistling a light, jaunty tune, she sauntered back towards Shiv's dressing room to enjoy the backstage show.

There was a sudden cry of alarm from up ahead, followed a moment later by Zale's laughter and Merrick's pleas for help...which seemed to only make Zale laugh harder.

Proving she was just as foolish as Kaysa had assumed she was, Arrista was kneeling at Merrick's feet when Kaysa reached the dressing room, and the girl was looking around in confusion at the unexpected reactions toward her as she held Merrick's organ firmly in her grip. Kaysa was forced to stop and emit her own peals of laughter at the scene. She hoped the dimwit had learned her lesson.

"Please," Arrista begged again. "Please can I sleep with Zale again? Please?" She once again, engulfed his organ with her mouth and began begging in her own unique style.

"You don't have-- It's-- Oh please--"

Merrick looked around helplessly at everyone in the room. Shiv and Lerrah were leaning on each other, giggling madly. Zale was kicking his legs feebly from the ground where the fit of hysterics had him bent double. He wheezed out another series of laughs, and somewhere in the middle said something along the lines of, "Go on, Killer, give her permission."

"Will you please get your mouth--" He glared at Kaysa and then laughed. "This is your doing isn't it?"

She shrugged innocently at Merrick, then gave him a shrewd smile. "She can't bear to be away from Zale for one more night, Merrick, and since Zale is exclusively yours, it's only right that Arrista asks permission."

"Oh, is that what this is?" Merrick asked. "So, if I give her Zale, she'll stop? Though, I think she is starting to get the hang of it. So, if I give my Zale to her, everything's okay?"

Kaysa evasively folded her arms over her chest and said not a word. Only the sly little smile upon her face gave anything away.

"Fine," Merrick said. "Arrista, Zale's yours, with all my blessings! Please!" He pointed over to where Zale was still rolling on the floor in a fit of debilitating laughter.

With a wet, sucking pop, she'd released Merrick and pounced over onto Zale, receiving a grunting oof in response. He was somewhat startled, and didn't realize anything wrong was going on until deft fingers managed to get his pants open. "Hey!"

Arrista leaned down and kissed Zale passionately. He was struggling to get his arms up, but she was too intent. She managed to tear off her own panties and tossed them aside.

"Why thanks, Arrista," Shiv said with a laugh as she looked down at the torn fabric now in her hand. She quickly let them flutter to the floor, not wanting to touch them any longer than possible.

Zale continued to struggle against Arrista's persistent advances. "Help!" he cried. "She's got one of my arms pinned under my back!"

"Oh, you can handle it, my big man," Kaysa called out. "If you really wanted to subdue her, you would."

"I'm trying," Zale snarled.

Arrista settled down atop Zale and let out a triumphant shout as he tried to push her off. She had the leverage however. As she bounced on top of him, he tried to get his hands into a position to dislodge her, but only ended up jamming one of his fingers against her thigh as she was coming down. He let out a bark of pain which seemed to only spur the woman on.

---

"At the Palace of Stars, Part 3"
by Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Lerrah Breijal
and Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
with Arrista Faeg [NPC]

Location: The Palace of Stars, New Plouton
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

"Arrista," a voice from the hallway shouted. "Arrista Faeg!" A man popped into the door and looked around, eyes going wide when he saw her on the floor with Zale. "Arrista! Is that a paying customer, Arrista? If it is, you need to go upstairs with him. None of this down here."

"Oh please, Brel," Arrista begged. "I just--"

"Sex upstairs, not down here. Now, move on. If he wants you, he can pay at the stairs. Now, up you go. If this is for pleasure, you can pick up later."

The girl brightened. "Oh, definitely later." She leaned down and kissed Zale firmly on the lips. "Now, don't go anywhere, my homfrey cake." And, then she hopped up and started out the door.

Brel shook his head and sighed. "You better get yourself upstairs too, Maeren," he said. "You are the star, after all."

"What?" All sign of amusement left Kaysa's face as she swung around towards the man, wearing now an expression of contempt. "She is not going anywhere, do you understand me? Shiv is not that type of girl and there's no way in all hells you're going to force her up those stairs to become like that blonde tramp."

Brel shrugged. "She signed the contract all the girls sign," he said. "That means after her number, she's upstairs. Contract's a contract. You want to hold her back, she'll be in breach. Do you want that trouble?"

Kaysa suppressed a sigh. She had told Shiv once before not to sign any contract without first reviewing it; it was obvious once hadn't been enough. "Weibran the Hutt doesn't own her," she stated firmly. "No one does. That means if she wants to walk out of here right now and never return, then she has that right." Kaysa sneered at the man as she added, "And that's precisely what she's going to do." She turned on her heel and marched toward Shiv. "Maeren, we're leaving. Get your things."

"Mr. Dontoragal's lawyers will most likely be talking to you tomorrow," the man said. "I really wish you'd reconsider, Miss Shivral. This is an amazing opportunity, and I assure you that all of the customers upstairs are thoroughly checked for any unsavoury conditions. Please, Miss Shivral, if you leave now, you'll never have another chance to get on that stage again. And, I assure you that walking out of this contract will stay with you and haunt you if you ever try to get in this line of work again." He smiled viciously.

"Don't let him scare you, Shiv," Kaysa said as she stopped before her. "You don't have to do this. Zale will clear everything up with Weibran in the morning, okay?"

Shiv stared at Brel for several long minutes, tears welling in her eyes as she did. She brushed a hand over her costume and sniffed. "I need to change," she whispered. She turned away, gentle sobs wracking her body.

Merrick had composed himself and stepped forward. "How long does she have to be up there for?" he asked.

"Three hours," Brel answered.

"Fine," Merrick said and pulled a credit chip out of his pocket. "Book me for three hours with Maeren."

"But, sir, that's nine thousand credits."

"Three hours," Merrick repeated. "And, I want you to have a meeting scheduled for first thing in the morning with Weibran. Make sure he knows that he'll be meeting with Merrick Braston and Zale Tregat. We'll be renegotiating Maeren Shivral's contract."

Brel sputtered for a moment, and then nodded. "Very well, sir," he said. "I will have the room prepared upstairs."

Merrick looked around at everyone and grinned. "Make sure it's a very big room," he said.

"Yes, sir," Brel answered, and then disappeared out the door.

Once he was gone, Kaysa rushed into Merrick's arms and kissed him fervently. "Oh you beautiful musician." She kissed his lips and face again, then paused to simply stare into his steely gray eyes. "I can't believe you did that. Well...I can, actually, but...." Kaysa sighed. "I love you so much, Merrick Braston. Thank you for being so clever and absolutely cunning."

Merrick grinned and returned Kaysa's kisses. "You didn't think I've been living with you all this time without picking up a few tricks, did you? Now, Shiv, get yourself changed, we're moving this party upstairs."

"Do you think you and I could find a quiet corner alone up there?" Kaysa asked. "I could sing something for you if you like."

Merrick smiled at Kaysa and kissed her once more. "I would like nothing better," he said. "And, I have a feeling that Shiv and Lerrah will be spending quite a bit of time together up there." He glanced at Zale who was just finally getting his pants closed back up. "So, what do we do with this one? Doesn't appear to be anyone to pair him off with."

"We could find Arrista for him." At Zale's scowl, Kaysa laughed. "Or he can give us massages. How about that?"

"Oh, I think he should give us massages," Merrick agreed. "Though, if he's not good enough, we may have to send him off after Arrista. I do feel sorry for her in a way. Not enough to go myself, but enough to suggest that Zale does."

"Well he deserves it...and you did too," Kaysa said. "You enjoy tormenting me with your jokes, so I decided to play one on you two. I think it was far better than any of yours."

"I can't believe that woman is getting paid to have sex with people," Merrick said. "She...she didn't have much talent at all."

Kaysa snickered. "You're a horrible liar, Merrick Braston. Now, Shiv doesn't need us all in here while she changes. Let's move into the hallway."

Merrick glanced between Kaysa and Zale, and then said, "I'll help them out, why don't the two of you get some of that time alone you're always complaining you never have." And, with that, he shooed them out of the dressing room.

Zale grinned at her and shook his head as they moved out into the corridor. "I'd forgotten just how bad she was."

"Or maybe how bad I was?" Kaysa retorted.

"You're evil," Zale corrected. "You set me up with her in the first place. When you're feeling well enough again, I should pair the two of you up and see how you like it. I think that'll make you appreciate all of us that much more. At least she doesn't use teeth though; Merrick would have been in big trouble."

Kaysa grumbled and petulantly turned away from Zale. "And that's exactly why I did it!" she exclaimed. "Well...because of your teasing and...you know. At least you'd have some sexual relief, right? Even if it was with Arrista...."

Zale shook his head. "No relief," he said. "There wasn't enough time, and...and her clumsiness was getting in the way of any relief. She was trying too hard, and all it produced was tension, I think. It was a nice thought, my love; but I only want my relief coming with you."

"Well, then you're going to be waiting a long time for that." She shrugged dismissively and faced Zale again wearing a wan smile. "It's okay though, right? You've got Merrick if things get too desperate. And...Shiv...and even Oot if you like. Nothing to worry about. Hey, maybe I can even hire Arrista to make a house call."

"You want me having sex with other people?" Zale asked.

"I didn't say that," she replied. "I'm just saying that...if you want, we can work something out. That's all."

Zale took her into his arms. "I don't think we need that," he said. "But, we'll see how long we'll be waiting. I think I can hold out."

Kaysa raised an eyebrow. "You think?"

He grinned. "Well, I've never gone this long without," he said. "We'll have to see how long it actually is."

"We'll see how long my dear husband can remain faithful to me then," she teased. "This could be a test of our love for each other. Every marriage needs one of those every now and then, right?"

"Really," Zale said with a laugh. "And, how exactly is this a test for you, my love? Unless you mean by watching me climb the walls."

"Well, I have to sit by, wondering if you're being faithful to me. I guess you could say the test for me is how much patience I have." Kaysa grinned smugly. "How's that?"

"I guess that'll do," Zale said, and then chuckled. "And, you better play fair. I don't want you trying to have Shiv seduce me or anything. I'd have to dash her confidence by refusing her advances."

"You know she'll cry, don't you?"

"How can I refuse that? You are a cruel and heartless woman, you know? No one can resist her when she starts crying."

Kaysa chuckled softly. "Well, we'll see about that, won't we, Mr. Zenarr?"

"I guess we will," Zale said. "So, if you send her to seduce me, you better make sure Merrick's around because you're going to have one very frustrated star. He is the only one she can be with now."

Kaysa frowned and muttered, "Don't remind me. It only makes me even more guilty that I can't get past this fear. I hate feeling this way."

"You'll get through it, my love," Zale whispered as he pulled her into an embrace. "We're all here for you, to help you through it." He was silent for a moment, then continued, "I wonder if Shiv will be affected if Lerrah starts dating someone."

"Why would you think that?" Kaysa asked. "I mean...do you think Shiv would be bothered by that?"

"I don't know," Zale said. "I mean, suppose you and Merrick were to ever separate, but you remained friendly to each other. What would it be like for you to see him with someone else?"

"I'd want to kill her," she answered forthrightly. "If you and I separated, I'd feel the same way. But Shiv's not like me. She wants everyone to find love, even Lerrah. I think she'd be happy for her."

Zale nodded. "I noticed that she's trying to bring you and Lerrah closer," he said. "I think she's hoping it'll be you."

Kaysa laughed abruptly and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "Yes, the girl has a crush on me, but I hardly know her and I doubt I'll ever feel anything close to love for her. Why the hells would think something so stupid?"

"Kaysa," Zale said calmly, "do you believe that Shiv would like for you and Lerrah to fall in love? And, why are you calling me stupid for thinking that? You know she does."

"What? I do not!" Kaysa stubbornly wriggled free of Zale's embrace and stepped back. "I know of no such plot on Shiv's part. She wouldn't do something like that. She...just wouldn't."

Zale grinned smugly. "You don't sound very convinced."

"Because I'm not," Kaysa admitted reluctantly. "I think I really should have a talk with her and see if I can convince her to reconsider her plan. It won't work and Lerrah will only get hurt, poor girl."

"You can talk to her upstairs," Zale said. "Unless you want to hold off. Though, I think you're going to have to convince Lerrah that she has no chance with you as well."

"No," Kaysa said firmly. "I'm not doing that! I will not break that girl's heart because Shiv gets these stupid, crazy ideas into her head. If Shiv wants her hurt, she can tell her her damned self."

"You were holding Lerrah's hand for half the night," Zale said. "You encouraged her to take her underwear off to throw at Shiv. I don't think Shiv wants her hurt, I think she wants her in love with you."

"Gods, I have done nothing to provoke Lerrah!" Kaysa snapped. "I held her hand because the girl needed some comfort. I encouraged her to toss her panties at Shiv, for Shiv, not me! I will do everything I can to dissuade Lerrah, but I can't if Shiv is going to thrust her upon me. I will not be the villain in this if that girl's heart is broken. I won't."

Zale kissed Kaysa's brow. "I think you and Shiv need to have a talk."

"Why do I have to be the one to do it?" Kaysa asked irritably. "Why do I always have to fix everything? This isn't my doing; it's Shiv's. I'm tired of having to intervene and set things right when I'm not even the one who's done anything. She's doing this on her own, and if she doesn't want to destroy Lerrah, she'll have to grow up and realize her actions are hurting, rather than helping."

Zale shrugged. "Then I guess we just sit back and do nothing," he said. "I just figured, since this concerned you as well, that you might want to talk to her about it. We'll just see how badly she ends up hurting Lerrah, and how much doing that hurts her in return then."

"Then it'll be her own damned fault." Kaysa snorted derisively. "So you're saying, in the end, I'll be to blame for what's happened? This is not my doing. I have done nothing to lead on that girl. It's Shiv who's planting these ideas in her head. Why do I have to fix this? Why can't you pull Shiv aside and put a stop to it?" She laughed wearily and shook her head. "Don't you think I have enough stress to handle right now? I can't. I just don't have the energy to do this, Zale. Why can't you understand that?"

"The only reason I suggested it," Zale said, "is because you interact with her better than I do. I'll talk to Merrick and have him talk to her. I think he'll have better luck with her than I would."

"Though, I imagine, I'll still get blamed for anything bad that happens, right? That is how it always goes around here." Kaysa laughed incredulously as she threw up her arms, then started down the corridor. "Fine. I'm going for a walk. You four can enjoy a nice evening alone without the planet's biggest screw up ruining everything. How's that?"

"Fine," Zale snapped, "but you're going for a walk, I'm going with you. You may think you're the planet's biggest screw up, but I happen to love you more than anything. I'm not letting you go out there alone to argue with yourself. Besides, I was hoping I could get a little time alone with you in a dark alley somewhere. It's been awhile since we've snuck around making out in strange alleyways."

Kaysa halted, prepared to whirl around and berate him for his insensitive comment, but instead, she stood in the centre of the corridor chuckling softly. "I'm convinced, now, that you really are one big child." She looked over her shoulder at him, then motioned with her eyes for him to come along.

Zale grinned, and trotted up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her throat. "I love you, Kaysa," he whispered. "And, you're definitely not a screw up. Come on, let's go take that walk, and let Shiv, Merrick, and Lerrah have a nice time upstairs. And, I'll do my damnedest to make you feel like the most loved woman in the universe."

"You know," Kaysa mused as they strolled along, "a nice, luxurious gift is usually good for accomplishing that. Or...maybe a one million credit chip." She grinned at him. "Just in case you were tapped for ideas."

"So, my love, what sort of nice, luxurious gift did you have in mind?" he asked. "I think I have a few ideas, but I just wanted to know what you had in mind in case I'm too far off the mark."

"Oh no," Kaysa said, "I wouldn't dare drop hints. Aside from gifts, I like surprises too." She reached up and kissed Zale. "So, surprise me, my love."

"How does a new house sound?"

Kaysa laughed. "Like it's been a long time coming! You owe me a house and I expect to have one by the end of the week." She sighed and gazed dreamily off into the distance. "A big house with a staircase and an enormous bathroom."

"With an enormous tub," Zale added. "Well, how about this, tomorrow we'll go find a perfect house, maybe we can start looking tonight, and then we'll go away for a week on one of those interstellar pleasure cruises, and come back and move straight into our new house. How does that sound to you?"

"A pleasure cruise for you and Merrick?" She shrugged while attempting to suppress a grin. "Sounds great. You two really deserve some time alone."

"Well, I was thinking more like me, you, Shiv, and Merrick," Zale said as they walked along. "I imagine we'll have to make arrangements with Chrik and Weibran, but I think I have enough negotiating power to arrange it. Are you up for getting away from all this for a week for nothing but relaxation?"

"All what?" Kaysa asked sullenly. "All the bad memories, all the reminders that I'm completely neurotic and it's making me and everyone else miserable?" She slowly raised her eyes toward Zale's as her lips curled into a large grin. "Sounds wonderful."

Zale smiled. "One week away from Tae'Karada and all the bad memories," he said. "I think we can be out of here by tomorrow night; and it'll also give us the chance to see some of the planets we haven't seen or been to before. If there's anywhere you've always wanted to go, but just haven't been able to, let me know."

"I've never been to Coruscant before. How about there?"

Zale paused for a moment, and then he smiled. "I haven't been to Coruscant in a very long time," he said. "I think I'd like to go back. It'll be interesting to see it after the fall of the Empire. Isn't Merrick from Coruscant?"

"He is," Kaysa said, staring up at Zale with surprise. "I hadn't realized you and he talked. At any rate, he might like to visit home for a while."

"We were both born on Coruscant, actually," Zale said. "We hadn't talked much, but in one conversation we did have, we figured it out. It was kind of funny. I don't have much there, but he wouldn't say anything about his family, and I didn't press."

"His father was a jerk, that's why," Kaysa explained. "And I think I remember you telling me you were born there. No one likes visiting family, so maybe for both your sakes, we can choose somewhere else. I doubt I'll miss seeing Coruscant that much."

"I think it'd be a nice statement if we visit Coruscant, but don't stop to visit family," Zale said with a laugh. "I can just see my brother's face at that one. I think Qual would be livid."

"Really?" Kaysa's fiendish mind began working, and soon an image sprouted in her head of a pleasant little wrestling match between Zale, and his doubtlessly handsome brother-- Correction: a mud wrestling match with the two wearing nothing but a thong. Kaysa chuckled slyly. "Coruscant it is then, my love."

Zale grinned. "We can work out the rest of the details while we walk," Zale said. "And, I'll make the arrangements once we get home. I think we've earned this, Kaysa. I think we've all earned time away. I'll leave Moril in charge of Antorial. Did you want to leave Lerrah in charge of Zenarr Inc?"

"If she's capable of handling it," Kaysa replied. "Or else I can close it down for the week. Though, knowing Shiv, she'll want Lerrah to come along."

"True," Zale said. "We can talk to her tonight, and convince her that this is just us. She better not cry though. I know you don't want Lerrah along, and this is for you. So, Lerrah won't be coming along."

"I never said that. You're the one who excluded her. I just...simply didn't mind."

"Should we make Shiv happy and ask her along then? Would you be alright with that?"

Kaysa sighed and gave an equivocal nod. "Anything to see Shiv smile."

"I think that'll give her a grin that'll last for the next couple months," Zale said. They slipped through the door and out into the mild summer night. The weather was perfect for a walk. Zale slipped an arm around Kaysa's waist and drew her closer to him. "I love you, Kaysa. It still amazes me. I never thought I'd be this way, this much in love. You've changed me, my love."

"And you've turned my life completely around, Zale. Despite all the squabbles and my stubborn moments, I think our love's pretty damned strong." She nestled her cheek to his chest and sighed softly. "I think we can survive anything. That's what gives me comfort when I start thinking everything's falling apart. When I think about what we've gone through, I know everything will be okay, no matter what."

Zale held her close to him and sighed softly. "I love you, Kaysa," he whispered once more. "Now, let's go find our new home. I think it needs to be a mansion."

"I love you too, Zale." She giggled as she turned her face up towards his. "One as big as Weibran's-- No, wait! Bigger. That'll show that walking black hole."

Zale laughed. "I'd say we could probably move in next door to him, but the gravity well he generates would probably make life hell. We'll have the biggest house in all of the planet, my love. And, if the biggest house isn't available, we'll build it ourselves. How would you like to live like a...high princess?"

"I'm not so sure," she replied, "but I certainly think Merrick would enjoy it."

"Well, we can try it out and see how we do," Zale said with a grin. "If not, we can always change things. And, I think Merrick would enjoy living like a queen. There's big houses this way. Let's go see if we can find one we love."

Meandering leisurely along the sparsely occupied streets of Yelldon, Kaysa and Zale found warmth in one another's arms and liberation from all the troubles that had recently plagued them. They were still struggling with all the trials befalling them from the aftermath of Dargus' intrusion upon their lives, but the love they held for each other gave them no doubts that they would prevail. So, together they sought a new home for their continuously growing family, and hopefully in it, they would also find a more peaceful future.

---

"Capture Run"
by Daemor'rah - Jedi/Bounty Huntress
and Ferrig Mullerin - Feltreys' Gang Leader

Location: Thanatos
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

The sun burned hot and it was high noon, meaning it was the hottest part of the day. Dust covered most of the streets when the hot air blew softly making it all much harder to endure. She took her water container to take a drink. For the previous few days she had been on the lookout for Ferrig Mullerin, gang leader and a man with a very large price on his head. The one good thing about the Empire was that they gave grand prizes for the capture or kill of their enemies, meaning well-paid money for mercenaries and bounty hunters... A way to get rid of others without dirtying their own hands.

But that was okay with Daemor'rah. It always had been. Nothing too personal, and not a thing that she enjoyed much. Just another job. What she really liked was to kill Jedi, but since those were hard to come by these days, she kept practice on regular bounties. Plus, it gave her money to buy whatever she needed! And over the years, some bounties had provided much fun in some of the toughest captures she had done. Of course, she always won, or if not, killed the prize to prevent one other from getting it. And something told her that she was about to have one of those runs...

Ferrig was a careful man. He knew that none of the locals would dare to go up against him, and yet he was careful not to expose himself too much. But he wasn't perfect and that left a room for a possibility. From atop a building she watched him go into a nearby café so she got up and walked into it, sitting at the bar. A bad move since the café was empty, except for Ferrig and some of the Feltreys who were now looking at her with her weapons holstered.

Ferrig turned to Pack and motioned to the newcomer. "What is it with freak-ass coloured women showing up in Thanatos? Personally, I prefer purple to cigarra-butt white?"

Pack, Ferrig's second-in-command and confidante since Raeila's departure, laughed and nodded in agreement. "You got that right," he said. "Oh, what I wouldn't do to get a taste of Purple now."

"She was one of the sweetest I've ever tasted," Ferrig said. Normally, he would have run the woman out or let his boys have fun with her, but something stayed him this time. There was an edge to her, a danger that hung in the air and set his heart racing. Ever since that last meeting with the weapons dealer, he'd had his eyes wide open. He was going paranoid, but it'd kept him alive.

"Should we take her?"

Ferrig shook his head. "No," he said. "We don't need that kind of trouble now. We have to focus on our...other problems."

As the Feltreys went back to their bragging and boasting, Ferrig kept one eye trained on the stranger. I've got a very bad feeling about this, he told himself.

Over at the counter, Daemor'rah grunted something from the guys' comments, but it was incomprehensible. The bartender came over and asked her what she would have and she ordered a local brew. The man brought it over and she decided that since the plan was ruined it would be better to act first. After all, the very best defense was to strike first!

Getting up from her stool she tossed a few credits on the counter, drank her beverage, and walked over to the table where they sat. She slammed her hands on the table as they all were jumpy, not knowing really how to act or what to expect but expecting trouble now. She turned to face the gang leader, Ferrig.

"If you prefer purple, may I suggest two black eyes? That way maybe you'd like to see yourself in a mirror next time, pretty boy!" she mocked with a frown and a wicked grin.

Ferrig looked up at the woman and frowned. "What? Look, I don't know who you are or what you're doing here, but get out of here and don't show your ugly, pasty face in Thanatos again!" During his tirade, he'd managed to loose his blaster from the holster at his hip and aimed it beneath the table. To punctuate the end of his rant, he pulled the trigger.

Everyone at the table jumped at the sound of the blaster shot, but most surprised of all was probably the ranting woman whose leg Ferrig had just shot. With a smile to match the woman's, he turned to his companions. "Get her boys."

The huntress cried in agony from the shot, even though it had been mostly a scratch, in and out. Good thing about blasters was that the wound was cauterized at once. Blades were a hell of a lot more pain! The short brief second it took for Ferrig to turn to his boys was the same time it took her to grab his hair and pull him, throwing him onto the bar, smashing against it. She then leapt back and took her scarlet bladed lightsaber and one of her blasters. Igniting the blade she turned on them all. "C'mon you runts! I'll cut you up one by one! You're wanted alive, but no one said nothing about mutilated!" She grinned wickedly.

As one, all of the gangers drew their blasters. Since the start of the conflict with the Empire, they had all taken to wearing a weapon at their hip. It proved very useful now.

As they kept the bounty bitch busy, Ferrig shook his head to clear the ringing that was suddenly there. At the other end of the bar, Tab the bartender had pulled out the largest blaster rifle he'd ever seen. When it fired, it seemed to superheat the air and boil away whatever dust happened to drift in its path.

The bitch was holding off well enough against the boys, but Ferrig knew they wouldn't last long if she'd gotten in close with that blade. With a smile to himself, he grabbed a plate of salted tafta nuts and charged forward, pressing it against her leg where he'd shot her. The effect of the salt touching the sensitive skin of the wound was immediate, and the woman's face twisted into a pain-racked mask.

Before she could grab him, Ferrig rolled out of the way and back toward his friends. "Thanatos will never fall, and your pathetic kind will only make us stronger!"

"It's you who'll fall!" she promised as she fired at them all, and diverted their shots back to them. The bartender was the first one to fall, getting a shot in his shoulder and falling behind the bar. She was sure he wasn't dead, but at least he wasn't popping out of the bar anymore. "And I don't give a damn about this shithole! I just want you!"

With that she dodged a couple more shots and made one of Ferrig's thugs fall by pushing him with the aid of the Force. But he had reacted fast and rolled onto his back on a table and out of sight before she shot him. She saw Ferrig run clear, so she took a mini thermal detonator she had and tossed it to where they were going. It should stop their path and maybe mutilate or burn them in the process. But if he didn't die, then it wouldn't be a total loss...

Ferrig had seen the movement, and managed to charge ahead and grab the detonator before it hit the ground. He rolled out through the door and knew he needed to get rid of the thermal detonator before it went off in his hand. He spotted a swoop he hadn't seen in the area before sitting nearby, and tossed the device toward it. He heard a gurgled scream from inside as one of his boys went down. Someone was going to pay for this. Someone was going to pay seriously and hard. He pulled the other blaster from his boot and started backing away.

Since the exit wasn't blocked she decided to give up on playing games. She wanted to mutilate them all and hear their screams in the process. But she would have to cut short her joyful game and get her bounty good for delivering. Without any further loss of time, she tossed what looked like a small metallic object. As soon as it touched the floor it made a blinding light as well as a deafening sound. Those who were standing up suffered loss of balance, but she had covered herself and looked away, while covering her ears.

She knew she had only seconds after that, so without any further ado, she tossed a grenade of altered dense molecular bindings on Ferrig and grabbed him. He was helpless at the time, so she still took time, while stepping out of the door to shoot one of his companions who was just getting up, for the complete fun of it. After that, she leapt to the top of a building. On the other side of it was her modified swoop. She knocked Ferrig out as soon as he began to try and break free and placed him on the swoop's back seat, while she got on front, and only a few minutes later they were off in the desert.

One thing could be said for Ferrig Mullerin: he was a tough son of a bitch who didn't give up, especially not when he hadn't seen his sister in several weeks. One piece of information that Ferrig would keep with him for the rest of his life, and come to use more than once, was that initially dense molecular bindings were nearly inescapable. However, after ten minutes, the bonds started to decay.

Keeping himself still on the back of the swoop, he wondered how he could get out of this mess. At least he didn't have someone hammering away at his crotch with a durasteel-tipped boot this time. Why the hell didn't this get blasted to Hadra's Gates? Bitch must be fast.

He tested his strength against the bindings and felt them give. Do it here, and she'll have you, he told himself. With a sly grin, Ferrig flipped himself backward, using what little mobility he had left with his arms to propel himself.

As soon as he hit the ground, he strained his muscles against the bonds, and felt them snapping. His shoulder was screaming with pain from hitting the sand off the speeder, and his ankle felt like someone had twisted it all the way around. But, at least he was free.

He smiled again, as the swoop spun around to get him again. He reached to his back waistband and pulled the concealed blaster free. The slitch is stupid, he told himself. He freed the vibroblade from his other dagger, and hunkered down to wait for her to arrive. Once she was close enough, he opened fire, scoring several hits against the swoop, one that sent an oily black cloud trailing behind the vehicle.

"If you want me, bitch," he said under his breath as she bore down on him, "you're getting some pain of your own in the deal."

She grunted in return. Ferrig was proving to be more of a pain than she had foreseen. Not bad for a human, not bad at all... One of the rare occasions where she could get a hard time to catch a regular gangster or smuggler. "Congratulations! Now I consider you a true threat!" she warned him as the swoop went by and she leaped out of it in a somersault to land a couple of meters behind Ferrig with her lightsaber in hand, its scarlet blade in front of her. "You're finished!" she promised him.

"Oh," Ferrig said with a laugh, "I don't know about that. I think you'd be throwing more of those bombs if you wanted me finished. I think you need to take me alive, and I'm going to make it a real bitch for you. I imagine the desert sun isn't friendly to that pale skin of yours. How long can you stay out here before it starts to blend in with that hair of yours?"

"Long enough for me to get you!" she answered. "And no more talking! Now you fall!" she warned him as she raised her hand, making the sand rise all around Ferrig in what seemed a small private storm just for him to make it more difficult to defend himself. From a clear location, the huntress watched, a grin on her lips.

"I've been living in the desert my whole life, bitch," Ferrig said with a hoarse laugh as he started walked toward the bounty hunter, bringing the storm along with him as he did. "I was bred to survive sand storms. How about you?"

She flickered her hand and the small storm went just as easily as it had come. She Force pushed him back, making him fall and roll in the sand. "I was bred to catch idiots like you!" she told him. And with no more further loss of time or words she jumped on him, her lightsaber in hand. She strained him down, pinning his arms with her knees while she punched his face, making some blood gush all over.

She may have been fast, but Ferrig had both strength and speed, plus a lifetime of fighting in the sand. With his arms pinned, he had little recourse but to use his legs. Ignoring the pain of the blow to his face, Ferrig whipped his body upright. The effect was that his torso arched up along her back and his legs twisted around her throat. He twisted hard. Unfortunately, he didn't have the leverage to snap her neck, but it did a good job of dislodging her.

Before she had a chance to react, the vibroblade in his hand slashed outward. Blood sprayed across the sand as the blade cut deep into the huntress' wrist. The lightsaber she was carrying dropped to the ground, and Ferrig took the chance to drive a booted foot into her chest. He didn't have the Force on his side, but he had his own ways to knock people into the sand. "Looks like you're a product of bad breeding, bitch, because I don't appear to be all that caught." As she struggled to her feet, he leapt forward again, and cracked a booted foot across her jaw. Blood spewed across the sand once more as she spun around and landed face down on the desert floor.

She rolled and already had a gun in her hand. With her other arm she threw sand into his eyes, making him stagger with the dirty trick. It took her only one single shot right in the center of his chest to send him flying away for a couple of meters. She got up and sneered. "Yeah, but I have blasters with stun mode!" she said as she neared the unconscious body, kicking Ferrig in the ribs, even in spite of him not being awaken.

The huntress then sat down and licked her wound on the wrist. Placing her hand over it she closed her eyes and concentrated. One trick she'd learn while she had been misguided by the Jedi: To heal herself. A few minutes later the wound was almost not visible and the bleeding had stopped. She got up and tied his body with metallic bands she got from her swoop. She then got him on the bike. It would take a couple of hours for him to wake up and by then he would have been delivered already...

---

"Process of Elimination"
By: Janae Damaris
Daleev Durv [NPC+]
Neric Lennox [NPC+]

Location: Pink Monga, New Plouton
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

"Next," Janae barked to the other room, barely holding her head with a curled fist. She had felt a growing panic of dread as each applicant walked through that door, and this guy was no exception. There was a short, quick sound of opening and closing, to admit a burly fellow with a shocking clump of reddish curly hair at the back of his head.

He scowled his way to the front of the "panel," giving long looks to the two sets of eyes regarding him closely.

Daleev leaned over and whispered something to the woman's ear, trying to invoke a grin, but she waved it off.

Janae gave him a sweet smile, masking an early morning and a long day of frustration. "Name?"

"Binter Taln." His voice was low, gruff, with that equivocal quality of tough attitudes that seemed to seep into every bodyguard's speech patterns. Tree-trunk legs were planted firmly in the center of the room, and for a moment, Janae thought that even if she landed a well-placed kick to his stomach, she wouldn't be able to move him.

"Uh huh." She tapped his name into the worn datapad. "So. Past experience?"

Taln shrugged beefy palms toward the ceiling. "I know how to keep people in line." And he gave her a steel glint that suggested yes, he very well might know how to move people around.

"Yes, I'm sure you can." She tried to make that sound like a compliment, but honestly didn't think Taln was quite bright enough to know the difference between sincerity and sarcasm. "Have you ever worked at an establishment like this one before?"

Taln thought hard. With a cruel snigger, she could almost imagine the tiny old man working hard to crank the clockwork wheels in his rusty noggin. She was about to mention the visual to Daleev, but thought better of it.

"Nope," he unearthed finally. "I ain't what you call a 'working man.' Come to think of it, I'm usually the one who's bouncing the bouncer." This seemed to amuse him.

"Uh huh..." She raised an eyebrow, already moving her datapad to make a discrete little 'x' next to his name.

"Also don't really like small creatures," he continued, in a chatty mood now. "Makes me want ta squish 'em. So no Jawas, Burndels, Siloks, things like that. Hate 'em. Don't really like scrawny humans either. Somebody should put 'em out of their misery."

"Right. That's it," she shot to Daleev out of the side of her mouth, who was trying to contain his laughter and reaching for a blaster at the same time.

"And I oughta tell you about my 'condition," he began again, but was shortly interrupted.

"Well, thanks for stopping by, Mr. Taln," she tried to bubble, though the pounding of her head was becoming more persistent by each passing minute. She needed a drink, but refused herself one, knowing that staying sharp was her only saving grace at this point. She still had hours to work, after all. "We have your information, we'll let you know."

Taln shrugged again, in passing, and shouldered out the door with the same level of indifference he had when he came in.

"Next!" Daleev called. Turning to Janae, he growled, "I swear, one more and that's it. I have had enough with these crazy folks with the ability to rip my arms off."

"No, that was the handsome Wookiee two applicants back," she grinned. "I almost took him up on that offer of demonstration."

He gave her a look of pure pain, and hugged his arms close. "Right, thanks Jan. Always out for my better interests." After a pause, he added, "Can't we find anybody sane?"

"I'm not sure those people exist anymore on Tae'Karada." She grinned at him, and called again, "Next?"

"We could always take that little Jawa up on his offer," Daleev reminded her, scratching his head. "Security droid would solve quite a few problems."

"Yes, we could..." She chewed on her lower lip, glancing at the time. "I don't know. Those capacitors are risky trade...I don't even know if the guy I knew is still on this planet. And we'd have to deal with dodging Imperials, which is also a risky business."

Daleev shrugged. "It's worth a shot. We're certainly not finding anybody here."

"I'll think about it. We'll need somebody until then, anyway, I can't get a capacitor overnight." Then louder. "Is that it? Is there any more?"

"H-h-here," called a timid little voice from across the room.

"Uh..." Janae lowered her nose toward the slight man standing as uncomfortably as possible along the back wall. He was crossing his legs, scratching his neck, and leaping from foot to foot with the air of a child who really had to use a water room.

"Yes, and you would be?" Daleev asked in a kind, gentle voice.

"Neric. Neric Lennox." He had a light, gentle voice. A medium height, small in stature, with a pearly pink skin complexion that reminded her of seashells, and similar colored hair, strung long and back in a plaited braid. His eyes were milky and translucent, a single dot of off-color in the center, and he gazed around more like he was sniffing his surroundings than looking at them.

"Uh huh." Daleev was watching the man with the intent of a zookeeper. "So...uh...do you have any experience with this line of work?"

"Not exactly," the man said smoothly. He smiled, as though sharing a joke with himself. "But I assure you, though I don't look it, I am more than capable of performing the necessary duties."

"You do understand that some of the necessary duties are evicting of unruly patrons and screening door customers for unruly behavior?" Janae was looking at him as though he did not quite exist.

The slight man nodded. "Yes, I understand."

"So...uh..." Daleev seemed utterly flustered. "How...how do you plan on..."

The man gave a smile with a bit more spark. "Well, perhaps a demonstration is in order."

Janae blinked. "All right. Go ahead." She sounded amused.

"May I use have the assistance of your man there?" he asked, smiling at Daleev in a way that didn't seem quite reassuring.

"You most certainly canno-"

"Can," Janae interrupted him. She grinned, and gave his arm a push. "Go on," she urged in a lower voice. "You honestly think this little fellow can hurt you?"

Daleev looked pained, but slowly, drudgingly, pulled himself to his boot-tips and wandered to the center of the room.

"Thank you," Neric nodded respectfully at him. "I assure you, I will do my best not to hurt you." The comment seemed almost comically misplaced - though Daleev Durv was a slight man, he towered like a giant next to the little pink fellow.

"Whenever you're ready, Mr. Lennox." Janae could hardly contain a giggle. She crossed her legs smoothly, swinging an arm behind her chair, and watched with anticipation.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, before she realized what had happened, Daleev gave a short cry, and found himself crouching on his knees with his arm grasped firmly behind him. Neric stood there, eyes half closed and little mouth continuing to sniff loudly, holding his wrist delicately back.

"Uh...ow..." Daleev gasped.

"You will not feel discomfort if you do not move," Neric said to him cheerfully. "Now, if you please, try to twist to the right, as though you are trying to escape."

"But you just said that I wouldn't get hurt if I wouldn't move-"

"Please, sir."

Daleev considered for a moment, then decided to twist and roll at the same time, spurred with the urge to compete and prove himself stronger than this little man. With a quick kick off Neric's knee, he propelled himself to the side, rolling like a fireball. But as he began to right himself and turn for the fight, Neric, hardly breaking a sweat, took two steps, jerked out a single finger toward Daleev's shoulder, and moving with the force of the momentum somehow twisted him back into a similar position as before.

Janae blinked. "Uh...impressive," she stammered, for lack of anything else to say. "This...uh...that is to say...can you perform like this with more than one individual?"

"Yes," Neric said calmly, still holding a firm grip of Daleev's wrist. He was looking a bit like a trussed up animal. "Though, I am not accustomed to dealing with more than five or six violent people at one time."

"I see. Where...uh...how did you learn to do that?" she continued, trying to avoid using the word 'Force.' There were Imperials around, after all, and she didn't particularly like the idea of Jedi working in her bar, drawing far too much attention.

"I am from a planet on the outer arm," he explained briefly. "There I was trained in these arts that combine spiritual strength with physical strength. It is mainly a display of power within, learning to channel energy into strength for the mind and body. But these teachings are not connected with any super-human force - anyone with hard work can learn these skills," he explained, as though he read her mind, and was kindly dodging the issue of Jedi and the Force. "Most of my planet is trained in some degree. It is an art form, a religion, but not a military practice."

"Are you capable of dealing with unruly patrons that might be concealing weapons? Most do, you know."

He nodded again. "Weapons do not concern me."

"All right then." Desperately, she tried to think of another question - despite the impressive demonstration, she was reluctant to hire him. Half because, despite his assurances, she felt certain he would get himself killed within a few days. "Do you mind telling me why you want to work for me? It's a strange profession for a man of your...background."

"Not at all," he continued in that same, lazy light tone. "I was growing tired of non-violent action - it seemed I would never get to use these skills that I had honed so perfectly. But I certainly did not want to disobey these teachings by looking for trouble. This presents a perfect opportunity for me. I can proudly use these skills in the name of civility."

"That's great. That's really great. So, you wanna let me go now?" Daleev seemed to decide for her, and though even with the shake in his voice, he was obviously quite impressed.

"Terribly sorry," Neric scoffed, and at once released. Daleev curled to the ground for a moment, then stood, dusted himself off, and grabbed the smaller man's hand into a hearty shake.

Janae stood up also. "Well, Mr. Lennox--"

"Please, call me Neric," he insisted.

"Neric," she continued with a smile. What the hell. She could always get that droid if this didn't work out. "Welcome aboard. You start tonight."

---

"Guerrillas in the Dust"
by Symm Ruus Dunn

Location: The Dunes around Thanatos
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

Lieutenant Dak Farbin scanned the horizon with his Macrobinocs and tapped the communicator's transmit. "No movement, Command. This sector is secure. Moving to next Patrol sector." Farbin inserted the macrobinoculars into his front cargo pocket and began pulling his dust goggles over his eyes.

After a slight "wuff" sound, the sands became silent for Farbin; even though he could see flames shooting into the sky and felt himself floating in the air. Pain burst through the silence as Farbin landed with a jolt on the abrasive sands. Farbin's eyes fell on the burning wreckage of the front end of his speeder bike and he marveled that he was still alive even. Soon, the pain and shock overcame him and he slipped slowly into unconsciousness and remained there for another hour before his partner located the inert body of his friend.

Symm slowly inched down the dune on his stomach backwards. The tightly woven cloth of his cover suit dragging in the sand, erased any obvious tracks and the wind did the rest as he made his way slowly but surely across dune after dune to his equipment hiding spot.

I didn't know that man. Symm thought. He probably had family, a place, maybe even a girl. I hope he survives.

Even though war had grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, Symm still fought it in his mind. But Symm knew that the outcome would be better. He hoped that he could retire someplace untouched by war, by the Empire, untouched by anyone. Well, a girl wouldn't be so bad though. And maybe someone to drink with once or twice.

Symm shook his head. Sometimes it helped to clear his thoughts. Need to get back to the town before the report hits command.

Placing his rifle, cover cloak, binocs, ammo, and the rest of his equipment in the buried cerametal coffin, Symm began making the circuitous trip back to Thanatos. In his mind, a storm still boiled.

The scope's sight picture focused on the small gas relay valve for the blaster on the front of the bike.

The smoking body of an Imperial Speeder Scout sailing backwards through the air.

A small smudged face looked up at him with a scowl from the hole in the wall.

Symm barely noticed the squat buildings of Thanatos close around him as he entered town. It was still mid-afternoon so small groups of people still walked along the sides of the lane generally looking down. Symm blended into the flow of traffic and hoped that his entrance into town hadn't been too obvious.

Symm walked into the room he rented and closed the door, just as soon as the sound of repulsorlift engines filled the air. Two Speeder Scouts passed by the house followed by a Medical Evacuation Transport at high speed. Symm laid down on his unused bed and stared at the ceiling until the next evening.

---

"Gaining Permission"
by Alisson Blair
Kael Selrid
and Raeila Mullerin

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 10, 4 ABY

***

The room was empty and she sat on the floor, her legs crossed and her hands folded in her lap. Beside her laid her lightsaber. She could feel in all, ranging from the sun that entered through the large windows and touched her skin, warming it slightly, to the sand on the floor and even the small distant outside noises in the woods. All interlinked by the Force.

Suddenly, three spherical forms lifted themselves up in the air and started spinning and moving in what seemed like an undetermined pattern. Immediately she got up and used the Force to grip her lightsaber and ignited its blade.

As soon as the blade was up, the spheres began shooting towards her, faster and more accurately than in the regular training spheres. She had to use all of her training to parry or dodge the shots, since they went in patterns that she could barely foresee. Choosing to somersault her way to safety, she even had to twist to fend off a few shots while in mid air, something that surpassed most humans even.

Safeguarding her lightsaber the spheres stopped and she controlled them to deactivate with the Force. She wiped her forehead from the intense training. "These spheres that Master Vos lent me are a lot more of a hassle than the regular ones!" she commented to no one but herself.

From the doorway, Kael smiled at the effort Alisson had to put into not being shot by the remotes. He'd heard stories of Quinlan Vos' deathtraps, and it appeared that these new practice remotes were no different. He brought Rae's hand, interlaced with his, to his lips and gave her a smile of assurance. "I'm sure this will be alright," he said. "And, then we're off to Nar Shadaa with Zion."

"If not, we could always run away together," she told him, half-heartedly joking, but quite serious as well. "They don't own us, Kael. But for your sake, we'll do it this way."

Kael grinned and kissed her. "Maybe I have too much sand in my veins, but the idea of being defiant and running off with you sounds very nice. Now, would you like to meet my Master so she can tell us we can go with Zion?"

Raeila giggled and nodded her head emphatically. "I can't wait for you to introduce me as your arozeil. I love hearing you say that."

"Come on," he said, and led her forward. "Master Blair, I don't believe you've met my arozeil. Raeila Mullerin, this is my Jedi Master, Alisson Blair. Master Blair, Raeila is my beloved and the star that brightens my sky."

Raeila's cheeks coloured and the bashful smile that split her lips couldn't be helped. "It's nice to meet you, Master Blair."

Alisson bowed with a smile. "It is a pleasure to meet the one who completes Kael..." she said. She knew it wasn't customary for a Jedi or Jedi Padawan to have a loving relationship, but she thought differently. Why not? It could even be a good thing, and even though she had none, she knew Master Kal'Aran never tried to stop it as well. "Kael is a very talented student. I have no doubts he will become a great Jedi someday," she told Raeila.

"Oh, I know he will be," Raeila said, gazing lovingly at Kael. "He's already come so far..." She regarded Alisson again and added, "With you as his master, I know he'll go even farther."

Alisson laughed softly. "I thank you for your kind words. I hope you feel comfortable here at the Temple with us. I know it can never replace home, but maybe it can become a new home... Now, where are you two off to this fine morning? I take it there are more romantic places rather than the training area!" She smiled.

"Actually, we were trying to find you," Kael said with a grin. "A friend of ours needs some help. He was very good to Raeila when she was in the city alone, and he's helping her learn things for the computers here. But, he needs someone to watch his back while he's off-planet, and he asked if I would do that for him. He's going to a place called Nar Shadaa. It won't be long, and we'll just go there and back. I will take all the precautions while we're there. However, before we left, I wanted to make sure it was okay."

"Nar Shadaa?! Kael, I'm not sure you're aware, but that place isn't exactly a funfair! It's the worst place in the Galaxy! Worse than Thanatos even!" she warned him. Alisson then sighed. "You be careful... Perhaps I should come along? Not that you wouldn't be well off alone, but as an extra precaution."

"If that is what you wish, Master," Kael said with a bow. "I am certain we will be fine, but if you wish to accompany us..."

"Kael really is a good Jedi," Raeila interjected quickly. "And I can take care of myself too. We'll be fine, Master Blair. I mean, your presence would be welcomed, but you really don't have to worry about us."

"We've been through some harsh times. And the way it seems they're not over yet..." she replied. "I have absolute confidence that you can manage yourself, Kael, but how sure can you be of a place you're not even familiar with?" Alisson asked.

"The Force is my ally and my guide, Master," Kael said. "It is through the Force that I can be certain."

Upon hearing those words she sighed. He was ready to go and perhaps he could manage alone, even with the task at hand. Alisson nodded. "Very well then. You've got my permission and I wish you well. May the Force be with you in this journey as well as for the rest of your life." She bowed.

Raeila shot Kael a quizzical look. "The rest of our lives?" she whispered. "Did we do something wrong, Kael?"

"I don't think so," Kael whispered back. "I think she just wishes us well in all things. I-I don't think they're kicking us out or anything." He quickly bowed to Alisson. "Thank you, Master. I will do all I can to remain worthy of your trust."

Alisson had to laugh softly. She had overheard Raeila in her question to her lover. "Kael was right, Raeila, I just wish you well for all things in your lives... I am sure the Force will always guide Kael in the best way, and I hope he always follows its path." She smiled. "I will be here when you return to continue your practice and mine." She bowed to her Padawan.

Kael bowed to Alisson. "Thank you, Master. I will return soon and we will continue our training. If we do run into any trouble that is beyond our ability to deal with while on Nar Shadaa, I will contact you immediately. Thank you again." He couldn't help grinning or glancing at Raeila. It was hard to believe they'd finally be visiting places off of their home planet. The excitement was nearly too much.

Alisson then picked up the three seeker drones and gave a small bow. "If you will excuse me, I need a shower after this last practice..." she stated. "And it was a pleasure to meet you Raeila!" Alisson smiled just prior to making her way out of the training room.

Kael watched her leave, and then turned to Raeila with a wide smile on his face. "That was much easier than I expected," he said. "I guess next thing we have to do is talk to Zion."

"We can do that now," Raeila told him. "Just let me go get changed and I'll meet you at the speeder. Is that okay?"

"That'll be perfect, my love," Kael said with a smile. "If you'd like, I can even help you change." He slipped his arms around her and kissed her. Before he could slip his lips down to her exposed throat, she pushed away. "Okay, okay, after. Now, let's go, but you walk out ahead of me to lessen my temptation."

Raeila laughed softly and shook her head. "How about we take separate corridors too. Will that help?"

"That will help," Kael said with a grin. "I'll see you soon, my arozeil. However, it may be dangerous for us once we get there. But, I happen to like danger."

Raeila backed towards the double doors of the training room with a sultry smile for Kael. "With you, I do too. So, see you in about twenty minutes out front. Then we'll see what kind of danger we can brew." With a wink, Raeila turned and slunk enticingly down the corridor.

Kael was daydreaming of what it would be like with Raeila after their visit to the city when he heard the first scream. Dread settled over him like ice as he recognized the sound. The screams continued and his gut tightened with dread. Nieme!

---

"Precarious Liaison, Part 1"
By: Dani
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Raeila Mullerin
Kael Selrid
Master Liam Zaneth

Location: The Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

"He was how big!" Nieme almost took a remote blast directly on her rear upon hearing of Dani's exploits with the red-haired man they met at the club. She ordered the remote to end its firing sequence, then clipped her deactivated lightsaber to her belt and scurried over to Dani. "Did it hurt? Was it good? I mean...wow! I didn't know ones that big existed! Not that I've had much experience with men, but still...."

"Oh gods, Nieme, it was beautiful," Dani said, her grin nearly running from ear to ear. "We'll have to visit him together. He said he was sad that you had to go, and he wants us to come by his apartment. You'll get lots of experience with Corun, Nieme."

"I guess we could do it sometime," Nieme said uncertainly. "Can I watch the first time, though? I think I'd be a little afraid to have something that big inside of me."

"Of course," Dani said. "And, we'll go really slowly. And, when you're finally with him, I'll be at your side the whole time." She grinned and kissed Nieme. "Maybe I can even help make you wetter so it goes in easier."

Nieme pressed herself to Dani and ran her hand down between her love's breasts. "I think I like that idea. That would really help me a lot, my flower."

"Good," Dani said with a smile. "So, what was it like being with Kael again, my star? I saw the look in your eyes, the one you get after you've had amazing sex. He's got a glow around him too, you know."

Nieme sighed dreamily. "It's amazing, Dani. Oh gods, I didn't know I still loved him as much as I do. It's so passionate and fiery.... It's not like before, Dani. He doesn't use it to control me. It's beautiful."

Dani nodded. "That sounds wonderful," she said, though there was a hint of wistfulness in her tone. "You two look very happy together, and it feels right. What about Raeila? Are you and Kael going to say anything to Raeila?"

Nieme had already thought of the question beforehand, and now shook her head. "She doesn't have to know. It'd be better for her if she didn't find out. You won't tell, will you, my love?"

"You know they're planning to get married, right? Are they still going to? She's changed a lot, hasn't she? She's so...calm and peaceful now. She's so very different from when we were in the desert."

Nieme framed Dani's face with her hands and smiled ruefully at her. "It's an act, Dani. She knows she has to be good to stay at the Temple, so she's just pretending to be sweet and well-mannered. Kael will marry her, but it's not because she's changed. I think he still loves her, but he loves me too." She sighed. "It's all so confusing, isn't it? Oh, Dani, I can't give him up, though. I need him."

Dani sighed and nodded. "It is confusing, and we'll only get through it by just going through it. But, we can do it. Together we can always do it."

Nieme grinned slyly at Dani and lightly caressed her breast. "You know, we can even share him if he doesn't mind. This way you won't feel so left out."

Dani smiled, and then felt herself blushing. "I haven't been with him yet, but I've wanted to. I'd like that, Nieme."

"Then we'll have to see if he'd want that." She brushed her lips against Dani's and grinned. "Oh, and I know he'd want that. One taste of you, and he'll want more."

Dani giggled and hugged Nieme. "It'll be wonderful, my love! Oh, we'll make him so happy. Though, I bet he wouldn't want to be introduced to Kimra. I think Aurra would like to spend more time with Kimra though. We should find her again tonight."

"I miss our little girl," Nieme said with a pout. "And we have to make sure she's feeling better." She brought her lips to Dani's ear and purred softly. "But I'd rather spend some time with my flower right now and put a smile on her face."

"Oh goddess," Dani purred in response. "I think she wants you to put a smile on her face too. So, is this good, or should we find someplace more private?" She gave Nieme a mischievous look and giggled. "Or maybe somewhere more public."

"You know, me and Kael did it in here." Nieme saw Dani's surprised expression and nodded slowly. "Right over there, on that mat, actually. But for you, my love," she whispered, her hips rubbing against Dani's, "I think something a little more private, more...intimate."

"I like intimate," Dani breathed. "And, I bet you and Kael were very sexy over there on the mat making wild passionate love to each other. Oh goddess, Nieme, we need to go now because I need to get out of these clothes very soon before I explode!"

Nieme giggled as she took Dani's hand and scampered with her towards the door. "Do you want to use Kimra or just run to the waterfalls and improvise from there?"

"Improvise," Dani whispered as they fled out of the training room and down the halls of the Temple. "I love improvising with you, Nieme."

"And I love you, Dani," she replied fervently. "Please never forget that, my flower. No matter what happens, that won't ever change."

"I'll always remember," Dani said with a grin. "It makes it really easy since I can feel your love for me as if they were my own emotions. You have beautiful emotions, my star. So pure and strong and amazing. Maybe tonight we should try to seduce Liam Zaneth again."

"And put a smile on his face? Oh he's still so sad, Dani. Yelara hurt him very badly."

"How could she be so mean? Yes, let's put a smile on Liam Zaneth's face tonight. I think he'll enjoy that."

Nieme nuzzled Dani's ear with her lips and whispered, "So will we."

Their boisterous giggles travelled through the corridors of the Temple, as they always did; it had become so common, that the Temple just seemed far too quiet without their squeals of delight reverberating off the walls. Today, though, only a horrifying, disturbing scream graced the corridors of the otherwise peaceful sanctuary.

In one moment, Dani was happier than she remembered being in a very long time. In the next, however, the emotional impact that slammed into her defenseless mind staggered the girl to her knees. Nieme, however, wasn't faring so well. It took all of her willpower for Dani to close her mind off to the overwhelming sensations pouring in from Nieme's mind.

"Nieme!" Dani cried. "Oh goddess, Nieme!" She scrambled to her lover's side, and pulled her into her arms. "Nieme, please come back to me!"

Nieme only opened her mouth to release another shrill scream, and clawed at Dani's arms, trying to pull herself out of the abyss, the frightening maw pulling her into a storm of frenzied, confused images and deafening sounds; faces she couldn't recognized flashed past her mind's eye and blood, everywhere blood.... "Oh gods! No!" She writhed frantically upon the ground and threw her head back to emit yet another desperate cry. The visions were supposed to have been gone, banished forever from her mind. But it was obvious they had found their way back.

Dani grabbed Nieme's wrists, and threw a leg over her lover's waist. She found herself straddling Nieme's hips while pushing her arms back to the ground. She leaned forward as much as she could to stop Nieme's thrashing. She found herself whimpering and crying with the emotional turmoil from Nieme's dark vision. She pressed her forehead to her love's, and opened her empathic senses once more, intent on calming the vision. "Please, Nieme," she whispered. "Please, be alright..."

Despite Dani's weight upon her, Nieme still had enough strength to jostle her as she arched off the ground with a grating cry ripping from her throat. The vision was consuming her and abstracting her from reality, but she was clinging fiercely to what little hold she had left. Using the techniques left behind in her subconscious from Kallia, and Dani's soothing words, Nieme attempted to fend off the vision, but it persisted and remained.

"Oh gods... They're dying, Dani! They...they're so lost...so confused!" She opened her eyes, and although they were looking in Dani's direction, they remained focused on the scene playing out in her mind. "You have to stop them, Dani. Warn them! Stop them before it's too late!"

"Who, Nieme? Who do we have to stop? Please, Nieme, we'll stop them, but who is it? Who's lost? Who needs help?" She turned back toward the Temple. "Help! Please, goddess, somebody! Help!"

"Dani?!" Raeila, breathless and face pale from fright, rounded the corner and skidded to a halt. Once she saw Nieme's wild, delirious eyes and heard another of the blood-curdling cries come from her lips, she gasped and rushed forward. "Dani! What's wrong?" She dropped to her knees by Nieme's side and tentatively pressed a hand to her forehead. Nieme shrieked again and Raeila drew away reflexively. "Oh goddess.... Kael! Kael, help!"

"They didn't know," Nieme repeated. "They couldn't see it. But I see! I see! Make it stop. Oh gods, stop!"

"Dani...." Raeila's brushed away the tears stinging her eyes. "What's happening to her?"

"Vision," was all Dani could say as she let out a flood of pheromones to calm her frantic lover. "She has visions. This one...this...it's bad. Please, Nieme. It'll be alright. Raeila and I are here. We'll keep you safe."

In the distance, the sound of booted feet running could be heard.

"Over here!" Raeila called out. "We're here!"

Nieme's restive mind was inextricably snared by the power of her vision. The images came abruptly and violently, and faded only to allow another more frightening one to take hold. All left Nieme screaming, and not even Dani's pheromones could help her this time. "They don't know," Nieme groaned. "Oh gods...they don't know and it's killing them!"

"Who, Nieme?" Raeila asked pleadingly. "Tell us and we'll help them. Tell us and we'll make it all go away."

Nieme's only reply was a piercing shriek as the vision's intensity increased. She was consumed with blinding streaks of light flashing past her, blood staining the deckplating; blue, pink, and green blades clashing with ominous red, and confusion, terror, helplessness in their eyes. Nieme cried out to warn them, but they were so far away, so far out of reach.... She cried out again and again, but still they advanced closer to their doom.

"Nieme," a gentle, soothing voice said. "Nieme, ease your mind. Your resistance is what makes these visions as bad as they become. Allow the thoughts, feelings, and images to come, and it will be over quicker. If you fight against it, it only makes it worse."

Nieme opened herself immediately, instinctually to the calming presence, and soon the terrifying images and sounds were thrust to the background of her mind. "But they're going to die," she whispered helplessly. "They're dying and I can do nothing!"

"It is your place to affect those things you can," the voice said, and a shadowy form moved closer, finally stepping into the light. On the vista of Nieme's mind, Jae Dyn Brael stepped forward to where Nieme huddled. "There are things out there that, no matter how much you wish you could, you will be unable to affect or change. But, you are sent these visions for a reason, aren't you? They are things you are shown before they happen. You cannot affect the vision, but you can affect the reality."

"But how do I get back to reality? How do you I break out of here in time to save them?"

"Seek calmness and peace, Child of Light," Jae Dyn said. "Your mind has clamped around the vision, and it holds fast like the teeth of a rancor." She reached out a hand to touch Nieme's brow. "Let go, Nieme, and you will find your way."

"Let go..." she murmured as Jae Dyn's tender touch infused her with tranquility. She closed her eyes and sighed softly, giving herself over to the comfort her mentor offered. The chaotic noises diminished and the thick stench of blood began to dissipate, but still, she feared letting go lest she slip into a different oblivion, one of darkness where escape was impossible - just like the cave that had trapped her not so long ago.

"Who will catch me?" Nieme whispered. "When I fall, who will be there to pull me back?"

"There are those who love you, Nieme. They will always be there for you. They will pull you back. Dani and Kael will catch you. Raeila will catch you. You are loved and cherished, Child of Light, and they will not let your light be consumed."

Nieme shook her head slowly, and whimpered gently as she turned her face up and pressed her cheek to Jae Dyn's palm. "Never. Never be consumed... Child of Light...always shining..." Nieme opened her eyes in time to see Jae Dyn's image ripple and fade until she merged back into the soft light surrounding her, leaving behind the comfort she had offered. "Child of Light," Nieme whispered again. "Never..." She sighed and closed her eyes again. "Never."

"Dani?" Raeila looked to her purple friend, then back down to Nieme, whose struggles had suddenly ceased. "What is she mumbling?"

"The vision is fading," Dani whispered, hopeful. "She's coming back. Nieme, can you hear me? We're here with you. Me and Raeila and Kael. We're here with you, my beautiful star. You're safe."

"Child of Light..." Nieme's head lolled along the ground and a wiry smile touched her lips. "So bright... So...beautiful." Her eyes fluttered open and stared past Dani at the after-image of Jae Dyn she still held in her mind. When it faded completely, she shifted her gaze to her love. "Dani? What-- The vision... Is it gone?"

"The vision's gone, Nieme. You're safe now. Everything's alright again, my love. And, Kael and Raeila are here too."

Nieme rolled her head slowly towards where Raeila and Kael were kneeling beside her. She focused, however, only on Kael. "I'm okay," she whispered to him. She smiled at him to further reassure him. "Really.... I'm not hurt. I'm alright."

"That's good," Kael whispered and brushed a hand over Nieme's brow. "You gave us all a scare there. But, I'm glad you're safe, Nieme."

"We heard you screaming," Raeila added, though Nieme's attention was solely on Kael. "I came as fast as I could." She looked to Dani next. "Do you want me to go get Master Zaneth? We really should get her to the infirmary. He can help."

"No," Nieme snapped. "I'm fine. Just help me up." Instead of reaching for the hand Raeila quickly offered, Nieme clasped Kael's. "All I need is to lie down in my bed for a while. Take me there?"

"Of course," Kael said and then helped Nieme to her feet. "You'll be fine, Nieme. I'll even get Orn to make you something for a snack."

Nieme smiled up at Kael and leaned securely against him. "Thanks."

Raeila could only stare in mild consternation at Kael and Nieme, but when she regarded Dani, who seemed just as mildly irked by the scene, she smiled wanly. "Come on, Dani. We'll go find Master Zaneth." She held her hand out to Dani this time, hoping at least she'd want to take it.

Dani reached out and caught Raeila's hand in her own, then quickly laced her fingers with her friend's. "Keep her safe, Kael," she said. "Raeila and I will go find Master Zaneth. I'm sure he'll be very helpful."

"After we find him, you should take a nap too, Dani," Raeila told her quietly. She brushed her free hand against Dani's cheek, then cradled it in her palm. "You look so tired and worried. Come on." Rising to her feet, Raeila pulled Dani up to join her. "You can sleep in my bed while Nieme uses yours."

Dani smiled at Raeila, a warm rush coursing through her body. "I'd like that," she said softly. "Let's go find, Master Liam Zaneth so we can take a nap."

As Raeila and Dani started down the corridor in one direction, Nieme and Kael moved off in the other. Nieme had slipped her arms around his waist and couldn't keep from smiling dreamily at him. "I'm glad you were there for me, Kael. I'd forgotten how wonderful it was to wake up with you beside me."

"Well, perhaps while you're recovering in your bed, you can wake up with me beside you again," he said. "If Dani and Raeila can keep themselves busy for awhile and Master Zaneth doesn't take long...it's been awhile since you and I have made love in a bed."

"And we will again...very soon." Nieme frowned and clung tighter to Kael. "But...my vision, Kael. I-I have to remember clearly. It's a warning, I know it. I have to sort it out so I can stop it from happening. Will you help me?"

"Of course I'll help you," Kael said. "I'll always help you, Nieme. For my arozeil, I am always willing and ready."

"Thank you, my love." She sighed and kissed his cheek lovingly. "Jae Dyn told me you'd help me. I like knowing you'll always be here for me. We have to be together, Kael. Promise we will be."

"We will be," Kael whispered, then looked around to make sure they weren't being watched. He then pulled her into an alcove and kissed her passionately. "We will be, my love."

"But what about Raeila?" Quickly overcoming the after-effects of her vision, Nieme flattened her body against Kael's and spread kisses over his cheeks and jaw. "You're going to marry her. What then?"

"I don't know," Kael whispered. "I love her, Nieme. She's beautiful and wonderful and...and with as much as I love you, I still love her. I know what you and I are doing will end up hurting her, and it's tearing me up inside. I don't know how to explain it to her, but... I can't give her up, but we'll have whatever time we can make together. I'm so confused, but I need both of you."

"Then you can have both of us. And if Raeila does find out, so what? If she truly loves you, she wouldn't leave you, not for that. She'd understand." Nieme kissed Kael's lips fully. "Just like I understand," she whispered. "If she does find out, you'll still have me. That won't be so bad, will it?"

"No," Kael whispered. "But, I want both of you. I want to keep it quiet for now, and we'll see. Oh gods, Nieme, I never thought it'd be like this again. I never thought I'd be with you again, and it's better than before."

"Better because I'm so willing and open-minded?" Nieme grinned and jerked her hips forward against Kael's. "Take me to my room," she whispered huskily. "I'll show you how willing I can be."

Kael moaned as Nieme rubbed herself against him, and he wondered about the instant reaction her touch brought him. "Gladly, my arozeil," he whispered. "And, I think, after your ordeal, I should give you a thorough examination." With that, with his hand laced into hers, he hurried toward the room Nieme shared with Dani.

No longer interested in remaining discreet, Nieme pulled herself up into Kael's arms as they hurried through the corridors and wrapped her legs around his waist. With his movement hindered, their pace slowed, adding to the suspense of the moment. Raeila could turn onto the corridor at any time and see them, but Nieme didn't care. She hoped the desert slut did find out the truth. Maybe then she'd return to the desert where she belonged and leave Kael with her, where he belonged. "You're mine, Kael," she purred into his ear. "For always."

---

"Precarious Liaison, Part 2"
By: Dani
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Raeila Mullerin
Kael Selrid
Master Liam Zaneth

Location: The Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

"I think he's this way," Dani said as she led Raeila to one of the training rooms. "I'm not an expert on Liam Zaneth's schedule, but I think he usually trains at about this time of the day."

"He sure has been training a lot lately," Raeila commented. "Do you think it's because he's still hurting and...well...the training helps keep his mind off things?"

"I know that's what it is," Dani whispered. "I can feel his emotions when I'm around. He's very sad now, and he knows he needs to keep busy or he'll succumb. He's such a beautiful man; it's so sad that he's been hurt so badly."

"I could never hurt Kael like that," Raeila said sadly. "How could that woman do this to him? If she loved him, how could she be so cruel to him?"

"I do not know for certain, but I believe it was because Liam Zaneth had also fallen in love with Laedra Vorrel and had been intimate with her."

"Still, it wasn't right. I don't think I could ever do to Kael what she did to Liam Zaneth. But Kael would never cheat on me." She smiled at Dani and squeezed her hand. "Never."

"Ever," Dani said, using all of her mental abilities to quash down on the upsurge of guilt she felt. "I'm glad I get to spend time with you, Raeila. And, I'm very happy that we are able to be friends. I know the time in the desert wasn't very good, but there was a part of me that...that really enjoyed being with you. And, now...the changes you've made since coming to the Temple make you much, much more beautiful than I ever realized you were."

"Thanks, Dani," she replied sincerely. "I really am sorry for what I did to you in the desert." She grinned and looked away. "But it was fun at times. Though, being your friend feels a lot better than being your tormentor. I think I'll spend my entire life trying to make that up to you and Nieme...even though Nieme doesn't seem interested in forgiving me."

Dani gave Rae's hand a squeeze. "I'll forgive you enough for both of us," she said. "And, the only torment was when you were hurting Nieme. The rest of it, with you, was fun and exciting...and...and it's a shame we can't do that again."

Raeila regarded Dani quizzically. "Wait.... But you're with Nieme. Wouldn't she mind?"

"She knows I love her more than anything and my heart will always be hers," Dani said. "She allowed me to be with Corun last night without her. Our relationship is open and free, but we are still each other's, completely. But, we both know our hearts are big enough to share with others."

"That's amazing," Raeila said with a sigh. "Kael made me stop working because he gets so jealous. I wish he were like you, Dani, so understanding and tolerant. If I didn't think he'd get so angry, I would kiss you, Dani. I'd really enjoy that."

"Well, he can't see us right now," Dani said with a smile. "And, maybe Nieme and I can talk to him and try to help him be more open-minded and considerate of your needs. I want you to be happy, Raeila, and if that would make you happy then I want to help. Especially since I really want to be able to kiss you too."

"Well...maybe we can." She giggled at Dani's beaming smile. "In the forest, where no one will see us. I'll kiss you then, Dani, and no one needs to know about it. Friends are allowed to kiss friends, after all, and it's not like we'll be doing anything more...right?"

"Not unless Kael loosens up and allows us to," Dani said softly. She brought a hand up and brushed it over Raeila's cheek.

Raeila heard herself sigh and turned her lips to Dani's palm. One taste of the sweet, purple flesh thrust Raeila back into reality, reminding her that this wasn't Kael she was giving her affections to. She gasped and stumbled away from Dani. "I-I can't. This isn't right, Dani. I can't betray Kael like this. I'm sorry."

Dani nodded her understanding, her insides twisting with the guilt of knowing that Kael could so easily betray Raeila. "Come on," she said, holding her hand out once more. "Let's go find Master Zaneth."

Raeila nodded her head and slipped her hand into Dani's again. Her mood brightened the moment her palm touched Dani's and her lips parted into a large grin. "I bet you could cheer Master Zaneth up if you wanted to."

"Oh, you have no idea how much I would love to cheer him up," Dani said with a giggle. "I actually almost did one time, but he stopped me. He's...he's very nice."

"He was nice to me too the few times I've spoken to him. He's even helping to teach me to read, along with Master Darr." Raeila dropped her voice to a whisper. "Sometimes I pretend to be more lost than I really am, only so they'll spend more time with me. Oh goddess...they're so handsome!"

Dani smiled. "I noticed that you've been spending a lot of time with them lately," she said. "It's great that you're learning to read. Maybe-- Maybe I could help you too...if you need any extra. I don't think I could be as good a teacher as Master Darr or Master Zaneth, but I love reading. I have some naughty books in my room too."

Raeila snickered. "You do?! Does it have pictures? Oh, please show me, Dani. Please?"

Dani grinned. "I've got one that's mostly pictures! After we get Liam Zaneth, we can go look at them!"

A shrill giggle of excitement filled the corridor and Raeila threw her arms around Dani. "I can't wait!" She pulled away quickly and tugged on Dani's arm. "Come on! The sooner we find Master Zaneth, the sooner we get to look at pictures!"

Squealing and laughing boisterously, Dani and Rae scampered down the corridor, hoping to put a smile just as large on Liam Zaneth's face.

***

In a fit of boldness, Kael had Nieme's tunic removed before they'd even reached the door to her bedroom. He had his face against her chest, with his mouth busily suckling her breasts while using the Force to guide his way. He moaned when he felt her hand snake down into the loose band of his pants and grope happily for the gift waiting for her there. "I love you," he whispered as he finally managed to reach her door. "Oh gods, Nieme, I love you. Now, inside!"

"I should be saying that to you." Nieme giggled breathlessly and, using the Force rather frivolously, had the door open for them.

The two stumbled into the room and barely made it to the bed together before they collapsed, Kael on top this time. Behind them, they left a trail of clothing and lightsabers, and two lovers who had no idea of the betrayal that was taking place. That was the last thing on Nieme's mind, though.

"It gets better and better, doesn't it?" She wrapped her legs tightly around Kael's waist and pulled him down against her. "It'll only get better from here," she whispered.

"Oh gods, Nieme, how can it be this great?" He laughed then, and frantically removed his pants, tossing them behind him with a flourish. "I've missed you so much since last night on the back of the speeder. I just wish I could wake up in the morning with you in my arms, but for now Dani and Raeila get the honour of waking up with each of us...but I guess that's alright. As long as we have times like now..."

"For now. But what about when we can no longer bear to be away from each other, even for a while?" She kissed him deeply, then held his gaze intently. "What then, Kael? What are we going to do?"

"We'll figure that out when we get there," Kael whispered. "For now, I just want to love you, my arozeil. I just want to make love with you."

"Alright, my love. We will," she said softly. She passed her hand over his cheek as she brought her lips to his ear. "Now, get inside."

"I thought you'd never ask," he said, and then did exactly as she asked.

Nieme tried to keep her voice down as Kael made love to her, but her moans refused to be silenced. She didn't care who heard them, though; she wanted everyone to know Kael was hers, no matter who he was engaged to. Raeila didn't deserve him, and besides, he was still married to her, and as his wife, she had a right to be with him whenever she chose, and she was definitely choosing now.

"Oh gods.... Were you always this good?" Nieme arched against Kael with an accompanying cry and dragged her fingernails along his back. "Definitely good," she groaned.

Unbeknownst to the two writhing figures on the bed, the door to the room opened and a figure appeared in the doorway. He stood silently after shutting the door, contemplating exactly how the best way to interrupt this interlude would be. Of course, there was no good way to interrupt two people cheating on the ones they had sworn themselves to. But, then again, Liam Zaneth now knew all about cheating. He clamped down his emotions and put thoughts of Yelara toward the back of his mind where the pain could not touch him. He had to get her back, but he couldn't do that in Dani and Nieme's room while Nieme and Kael had wild, frantic sex on the bed. "I don't mean to interrupt," Liam began, "but can I take this to mean that you're feeling better after your vision, Nieme?"

Nieme's moan reverted to a yelp as the voice of Liam Zaneth penetrated the blissful haze clouding her mind. She impulsively pushed Kael off of her and scrambled to bury herself under the covers. "Uh...feeling better, Liam Zaneth! J-Just fine!"

Kael looked up at Liam and then at his exposed erection and followed Nieme under the covers. "We were just--"

"I think it was fairly obvious what you were doing," Liam said with a wry chuckle. "I was married, and did manage to have a child with Y-- with her. Is there anything you need from me, or is everything better now? Dani indicated that...that well, you might need help...with the Force. That you might need help with the Force, and recovering from the vision."

With her covers pulled up to her chin, Nieme was able to converse now without a nervous stutter. "I managed to get it under control, Master Zaneth. But...I still can't piece together the images I saw." She glanced at Kael, lying beside her under the sheets and chuckled awkwardly. "Not that I've had a chance to do so..."

"I can see you've had other things occupying your-- well, you. If you'd like to talk later once you're wearing clothes and not having sex, I'm available."

"We can't have sex now," Nieme said. "You've sort of...ruined the moment, Master Zaneth. We'll get dressed and then I can tell you about my visions. But...would you mind waiting outside?"

Liam nodded and then stepped back toward the door. "I'll be just outside when you're ready," he said, and then slipped outside once more.

Kael's features were very pale as he watched the Jedi Master retreat from the room. "I'm-- I'm very lucky, I think. When I saw him there, I thought for certain he'd kill me."

"Kill you? What do you mean, Kael? It's not like we're cheating on him."

"Well, no," Kael said, "we're not, but I did."

Nieme sat up slowly, gazing dumbfounded at Kael. "What-- What are you saying, Kael?"

Kael looked at Nieme, realizing what he'd just said. "I-- Yelara and I...we...it was the-- the day that Dani tried to seduce Liam Zaneth. Yelara and I...we were intimate. Before she left again for...to go to Corellia...I was with her and Kallia. They came to me, and Yelara said she wanted to say goodbye. We...we made love, and then Kallia came...and...and the three of us did it again."

Nieme covered her gaping mouth with a hand and simply stared at Kael in bewilderment for a time. He'd cheated on her, just as he was now cheating on Raeila. Of course, now, it didn't bother her that he wasn't the most honourable and faithful man in the galaxy, since it was one of the reasons he was with her, but that he had done the same thing to her was vexing.

"You son of a whore!" She slapped his arm, then planted both hands firmly on his chest and pushed him off the bed. "That was the day-- You slept with her, then you came to me?" Nieme scrambled to the edge of the mattress and glowered down at Kael. "What is wrong with you!"

"I don't know what was wrong with me or what I was thinking, Nieme," Kael said, not resisting against her. "I don't know what happened, or why I did what I did. It feels so far away now. It doesn't even feel like me anymore. I'm sorry."

"It doesn't feel like you anymore?" Nieme repeated incredulously. She bounded off the bed and dropped to her knees by Kael's side, administering a rapid series of smacks to his chest with her open hands. "Of course it does! You're here with me, aren't you? You screwed her behind my back!" Nieme shrieked. "Now you're screwing me behind Rae's back! It may not feel like you--" she balled up one hand and drove it into Kael's gut "--but it is you!"

Again, Kael did not resist Nieme's assault. He had deserved this, deserved much worse.

"I guess you found out he was with Yelara," Liam said from where he now stood inside the doorway.

Nieme shoved herself away from Kael and sat heavily against the mattress. She was far too upset to bother concealing herself from Liam so, instead, she folded her arms over her bare chest and scowled at Kael. "And Kallia," she spat. "Can you believe that, Liam Zaneth? And now he's using me to pull the same thing on Rae." Nieme thrust her leg out and forcefully nudged Kael with her foot. "Women are not toys, Kael! When will you learn that?"

Liam made an effort not to look at Nieme's nakedness. "And Kallia? I didn't know about that. I guess you have been quite busy, haven't you, Kael?"

"They came to me! And, Nieme's still my wife and I love her. It's different than it was with them. I-- I don't know why I did it the first time, but...but I couldn't resist her the second. I couldn't resist her anymore than you could if Nieme tried to seduce you now!"

Liam frowned. "I wouldn't be so sure of that," he said. "It appears that you are enjoying sowing dissent, or at least having whoever you wish attending to your pleasure."

Kael looked away, his face darkening. "It's not like that," he said softly.

"I-It's not like that," Nieme echoed uncertainly. She gazed upon Kael, trying to see the truth with her eyes; she was hesitant to believe what her heart was telling her now. "You do love me, right, Kael? That's why you're with me. Not because you need someone exciting and fiery...someone who can make up for Raeila's shortcomings. Right?"

He turned to face her. "I love you, Nieme," he whispered. "I love you so much, but I love Raeila too. It's so...so confusing. I don't want to choose, Nieme. I can't choose, anymore than you could between me and Dani."

"Just tell me I'm not just a fling, Kael." She reached out her hand and gently caressed his bare thigh. "Tell me I'm not like Yelara or Kallia. I'm special, aren't I?"

"You're very special," Kael whispered. "I don't know what you are, Nieme, but it's not like Yelara or Kallia. It's much more than Yelara and Kallia. I don't know how it will work, but I'll do what I can to keep you. I need you Nieme, as much as I need Raeila. You're my arozeil; without you, my heart is dead."

Nieme smiled warmly at Kael, then threw herself on top of him and kissed him fervently. "I love you, my arozeil." She kissed him again and with more passion, completely neglecting the fact that Liam was still watching. "Oh goddess.... Kael, I want my marriage bracelet back. I want you to wear mine too."

"Yes," Kael breathed between kisses. Regardless of Liam's presence, Nieme was definitely having an effect on him. "I love you, Nieme. More than ever, I love you!"

Nieme laughed happily and kissed Kael with more ardour. Although Liam had interrupted their act before, Nieme was feeling ready to resume where they'd left off. "Liam Zaneth--" Kael's lips closed around hers again, but Nieme giggled and pushed him back. "Kael and I need to talk. We'll meet you outside." She moved her hands down Kael's side and snaked one between them towards his groin.

Liam chuckled softly and then shook his head. Without making a sound, he slipped out of the room and into the hallway outside. He would need to talk to them later about this relationship. They were heading down a path that would break hearts.

---

"Precarious Liaison, Part 3"
By: Dani
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Raeila Mullerin
Kael Selrid
Master Liam Zaneth

Location: The Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

"Master Zaneth!" Raeila and Dani appeared at the end of the corridor, waving at him sprightly.

Liam looked up and smiled at the two girls. "Hi there," he said with a laugh. "Nieme's lying down and Kael's sitting with her. I think she's doing better now. Say, how would the two of you like to go get a creamy ice?"

Raeila frowned quizzically at Liam as she and Dani came before him. "Now? But...what about Nieme's vision? Shouldn't we stay?"

"Nieme's doing better," he said. "I think it was just a shock for her, but she's stronger now. She's much more resilient now after she joined with Jae Dyn. She just needs some rest, that's all. Besides, the three of us haven't been able to spend much time together, and this will give us that opportunity."

Raeila looked uncertainly at the closed door of Nieme's room, then back to Liam. "I...I guess. We should probably tell them we're going, though." Rae started towards the door as she said, "I'll just knock and tell Kael--"

Dani felt her heart drop into her stomach when she felt a powerful surge of emotion from within the room. Oh goddess, she thought. Oh goddess, Nieme, not now. Not when you knew-- She felt her guilt rise again at the feelings that Nieme probably did this on purpose, so Raeila or Liam would find out. But...but Liam already knew. She could tell by the way he stood, the feel of his aura. He knew what was happening inside.

"Oh, you can't!" When Rae turned to look at her, Dani felt her cheeks flushing. "I-- Well, it was my turn to clean up the room...and I didn't. There's...it's...oh, I'd be too embarrassed for you to see, Rae. My...my toys are all over. I'll...I'll slip in and let them know, and you two go get the speeder started." She moved close to Raeila and slipped her lips close to her friend's ear. "And, I'll bring the book, too."

Raeila fought back a giggle and glanced sidelong at Dani. It was obvious she was anxious about letting Liam see her toys, so Raeila nodded and stepped away from the door. "Okay, Dani. Master Zaneth and I will wait in the speeder. Tell Kael we won't be gone long." She kissed Dani's cheek, then waved at Liam to follow her as she started back down the corridor.

Once they were far enough away, Dani slipped inside the room. She glanced at the bed where Nieme and Kael were ignoring her for each other. She quickly retrieved the best of the books, and then moved over toward the bed. The passionate display before her was definitely having an effect, and it took quite a bit of willpower not to join in right then and there.

"Nieme, Kael," she said, hoping not to startle or stop them. "Liam Zaneth, Raeila, and I are going into town for creamy ice. She almost came in here, but I stopped her. We'll be back soon." She almost reached out a hand to touch Kael's exposed thigh, but refrained.

Nieme smiled blissfully at Dani and held out a hand to her. "Oh, thank you...my love." She moaned and her hand flew back to Kael's shoulder to grip it firmly, before Dani could touch it. "Have fun...my love. Oh gods... Oh Kael..."

Dani smiled at the two of them and then giggled. "Bye," she said and started backing toward the door.

Kael glanced over at her, not breaking his rhythm at all. "See you soon, Dani," he said, and then turned his attention back to Nieme.

She slipped out the door and rushed out to meet Liam Zaneth and Raeila.

***

"Please, Master Zaneth?" Raeila was saying. She gazed with yearning at the speeder, then gave Liam her most pitiable expression. "Can't I drive there? You can drive back."

"How much experience do you have with driving speeders, Raeila? This forest can be very tricky, especially with all these trees out here."

"Well...what about when we get to New Plouton. The streets can't be that tricky." Raeila stepped closer to Liam and pouted up at him. "Please? I won't crash it, I swear."

"Actually, they're trickier," Liam said. "If you think of New Plouton as a forest, imagine the trees were moving."

Raeila frowned and stubbornly leaned her back against the speeder. "Fine. Forget it, Master Zaneth. I-I know you don't trust me, after everything that's happened. So, if you don't want me driving the speeder...I won't."

Liam put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "It's not that I don't trust you, Raeila," he said. "Driving a speeder, especially out here and in a crowded city, is not easy work. How about this, I'll give you lessons in driving a speeder, but somewhere safe to start. Eventually, given how quickly you learn, probably tomorrow, you can drive into the city. How's that?"

"I guess that sounds alright." Her smile returned and she nodded to Liam. "That sounds great, actually. I'd really like that, Master Zaneth."

"Please," he said with a laugh. "Call me Liam or Liam Zaneth. I am your friend, not your Jedi Master. If you wish to call me Master Zaneth, please do so when I am instructing Nieme and Dani." He smiled warmly at her. "Deal?"

"Deal," Raeila replied distractedly. "Did you-- Did you say you were my...friend?"

Liam chuckled. "I did," he said. "If you don't mind, of course."

Raeila smiled broadly. "No, I don't mind at all. I just...I didn't know if, after what happened in the desert, you really felt that way or if you were just being nice. But, I would like to be your friend Mas-- Liam."

"Despite my past, I try to see people for who they are, and not what they've done. And, I have come a long way from a very dark road, if I didn't offer you the chance to be more than violence then I have learned nothing in my journey. I believe everyone can redeem themselves if they wish to, and I can see that you do wish to be more than what you were." He smiled. "I am proud of your progress, Raeila."

Her face flushed a slight ruddy colour and her grin grew larger. "You are? That's-- Thank you, Liam. I've tried so hard. I mean, Kael's changed and I'm so proud of him for it. I want to give him something to be proud of me for."

"I think he will definitely be proud," Liam said, and then thought, But, is that something he even deserves? How bad will he hurt you? Will it be worse than the pain I caused Yelara? Or the pain she caused me? "You are a very impressive woman, Raeila. I know a lot of people have the opinion that the people in Thanatos are less than they are, because they live in a desert, because they view them as uncivilized. I know that is all wrong. You are very intelligent and a quick learner. If you had talent with the Force, I would happily train you. And, I'm certain that you would be a Jedi Knight before all the others. Well, except for maybe Dani, but not by much." He smiled. "If she didn't have the head start though, it'd be you."

Raeila's heart was warmed by Liam's compliments, so much so that the constant chill she felt from living in the cooler climate of the forest all but vanished. She was changing, reaching her goal of becoming a better person for Kael. Raeila had never felt so overjoyed, not since Kael proposed to her, and in an expression of that joy, she threw herself at Liam and embraced him tightly. "That means so much to me, Liam. I wasn't sure if I fit in here, but you've made me realize that I am welcome. Thank you so much." Raeila turned her face up to Liam, a rueful smile now touching her lips. "I'm really sorry your wife left you, Liam. You're a good person. You didn't deserve that, no matter what you did."

"I shouldn't have done what I did," Liam said softly, "but I did do it. I hope someday we can make peace, and possibly start over. Until then, at least I'm among friends. I don't know if it will ever work out, but I have faith in myself and in the love that Yelara and I shared. It's all I can do."

"You have to have faith, Liam. I was afraid Kael would never come back to me, but he assured me he would. The faith was the only thing keeping me from completely giving up, and when he showed up at my doorstep, I was glad I had enough confidence in our love for each other to believe he'd come back to me like he did." Raeila shrugged. "I guess all I'm saying is, you have to believe, Liam. Remember how much you loved each other and ask yourself if she could really stay away from you forever. If she loves you as much as I love Kael, I don't think she could stay away for very long."

Liam smiled and then nodded. "Thank you, Raeila. I just have to have faith that she loves me more than she is stubborn."

"I'll have faith for you, Liam," Raeila said. She kissed his cheek tenderly, then stepped back. "And you have the Force on your side too. How could you possibly fail?"

"Between that and your faith," he said, "I couldn't possibly." He looked up and saw Dani approaching with a book held close to her chest. She gave him a grin and then flashed a mischievous smile at Raeila. "All set! Can we sit in the back of the speeder, Liam Zaneth?"

Liam eyed the book and then Dani. "Of course," he said. "Just don't be too loud back there, the two of you. I don't want you shattering any of the panels in the canopy."

Raeila skipped to Dani's side and giggled at the sight of the book. "Oh, we'll be good, Liam. Come on, Dani. Let's go...read."

Dani quickly flashed the book open for her to get a look at one of the naughtier pictures inside. "It's my favourite," she said. "And, there's a store in town where they have lots more...and other things too." She slipped her hand into Raeila's and pulled her into the back of the speeder. "The author of the book," she added proudly once they were settled, "was Zeltron."

"I bet they know a lot about this stuff," Raeila said. "Just like you know a lot about...that sort of thing. Do you and Nieme do any of the things in there?"

Dani grinned. "Only the stuff for two girls," she said. "We haven't done all of it yet since we just found the book a few days ago, but we've tried some of it out. They have this bio-organic device at The Store that you just put down there, and it attaches itself...and it's like you actually have a...you know. If we got one of those, we could do all the stuff, except for the ones that involve more than two people. I'm scared to try it though. I kinda like being a girl."

Raeila nodded readily. "Definitely. I mean...I like being with girls sometimes, but it's never the same as being with a man. It's just...so different."

"Definitely," Dani said with a smile. "I'm very happy that Nieme is okay with us being with other people. I mean, I love being with her and I love her very much, but I love the feeling of being with other people too. I love the emotional bond that forms when you're intimate with someone, and I like being able to share that with other people who interest me. Shrezade wanted to kick me off of the shipyards for that when I was there. Some people just don't understand. It's more than sex."

"Exactly. That's why I could sleep with all those men and not feel like I'm completely betraying Kael. I'm sharing my body with them, but I know it's only that. I never let them into my heart. When the sex starts representing something more...that's when he needs to worry." Raeila sighed softly. "Though, he's asked me to stop, so.... He gets jealous and I love him. I don't want him to feel that way, so I promised I wouldn't do it anymore."

Dani frowned as her opinion of Kael plummeted. "I don't believe it's right for him to do that to you, especially if that's your work. If he-- If he's going to get upset because you're being who you've always been, in regards to...to sleeping with other people, then that isn't right. He knew that's who you were before, and he shouldn't suddenly demand that you change." Especially if he's not changing.

"It's okay," Raeila assured her, less than convincingly. "I don't want to lose him. Besides, I'm going to be a mother after we're married, and I won't have time to work, so it doesn't really make a difference if I stop now."

Dani grinned and covered Raeila's hand with her own, then leaned close. "That may be true," she whispered, "but I'm feeling a little selfish right now, and I'm asking because I want to be able to be with you."

Raeila hesitantly turned her head to face Dani, who was suddenly uncomfortably close. "You mean...like a customer?"

Dani laughed and sat back, noting Rae's discomfort. "No, not as a customer. Just being with you because I like you and care for you, Raeila."

"Then I can't," Raeila replied. "I can't betray Kael like that. I mean...if you were paying me, then it wouldn't really be so bad. I mean...it'd be a job, nothing more." She turned her hand over beneath Dani's and laced their fingers. With a secretive smile, she added, "If you were a customer, I'd think about it."

Dani grinned and looked down at their joined fingers. "I like the sound of that," she said. "So, how much would you charge a close friend for your services?"

"Well... For first time customers, I usually give a discount." She ran her thumb lightly along Dani's and shifted slightly closer to her. "For a friend, I'd charge even less. The question is, how much would you be willing to pay?"

"I don't have a lot of money anymore after my first speederbike was wrecked," Dani said, "but I think you're worth it. And, maybe part of the fee could be in free consultation of this beautiful Zeltron book."

"Maybe," Raeila purred as her face drifted closer to Dani's. "We can always discuss my fee after, you know. Maybe I'll even forget to ask for payment."

Dani closed the gap briefly, lightly brushing her lips over Raeila's. "We'll talk about it later," she whispered. "Now, which pictures would you like to look at in the book?"

Raeila grinned mischievously at Dani and replied, "The female on female ones, of course."

"Those are my favourites," Dani said as she slid the book open to a very erotic display of images. "Maybe, if we can convince Kael to let you work again, we can try some of these out. If you'd like that, of course."

"Anything you desire," Raeila replied. "You're the customer, after all."

---

"Precarious Liaison, Part 4"
By: Dani
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Raeila Mullerin
Kael Selrid
Master Liam Zaneth

Location: The Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

Dani raised Raeila's hand to her lips and kissed it gently. "Let's talk to him tonight, Rae. Let's talk to him and see if he'll let you. I can be very persuasive and I'm going to be a diplomat for the Jedi. I know you and I can make him see that he can't hold you back and that it doesn't mean that you love him any less."

Raeila gasped softly and pulled her hand away from Dani's. "No!" she whispered. "We can't. He'll dump me, Dani. I-I can't. I can't tell him. I-I..." She sighed and looked away from Dani. "I don't think we should do this. I'm sorry. I love Kael too much. He'd be so hurt...."

The devotion she saw in Raeila was almost too much for Dani. He doesn't deserve you, she thought. He doesn't deserve your love, your loyalty, or your fidelity. The words were almost out of her mouth, before Dani stopped herself. She couldn't destroy Raeila that way. She couldn't tell her that while they were off for creamy ice, Nieme and Kael were back in bed having wild sex. "I promise he won't dump you," Dani whispered. "He loves you too much for that, Rae. He loves you too much to turn you away; I can feel his love for you when you're near him, and I know he could never do that to you, no matter how much he's jealous." She took Rae's hand again and met her eyes. "I promise you that, Rae."

"I know," she said softly. "But still, I don't want to give him a reason to be jealous. I'm trying to be better, Dani. Kael doesn't want to marry a whore; he wants a wife who will live only for him and love only him. I have to be that for him. I have to."

"Is that what you want?" Dani asked. "Do you really want to live for being whatever he wants for you? That isn't fair to you, Raeila, and that isn't right of him. Is he changing for you, or is he forcing you to make all the changes?"

"He's not doing anything, okay?" Raeila wrenched her hand away from Dani's again, and this time folded both arms over her chest to keep her hands out of reach. "All that matters is that we're both happy. Kael's perfect. He doesn't need to change. He's already changed so much, for the Order. It's my turn to better myself now."

Dani could only stare at Rae for several moments until she finally realized she had tears sliding down her cheeks. "You are changed, Raeila," she whispered. "You've changed for the better. You're a beautiful person now. You're warm, caring, and you want to do the right things. You want to be better and that shows in everything you do, and in what I can feel from you. You're the one that's perfect now, Raeila. You're perfect."

Raeila chuckled wryly and shook her head. "No, I'm not. I'm nothing without Kael. All I am is Raeila Mullerin. I don't have a credit to my name, no family--" She closed her eyes against the unexpected surge of tears. Oh, Ferrig... "As long as I'm Raeila Selrid," she whispered, "I'm something. That's all that matters to me now."

"The only reason Kael has any credits to his name is because Liam Zaneth never asked for his credit chip back," Dani said. "And, if the Jedi were to suddenly vanish, what do you think Kael would do to make money? He may not like how you make money, but you're good at it and it'd put food on the table, a roof over your heads, and a lot of luxuries. Raeila is a beautiful person with a big heart, an open mind, and a universe of options available to her. You have to be your own person before you can be someone else's. I am Dani because I am me, not my parents' child or Nieme's partner or any of that. I am Dani first and foremost and I cannot let anyone else define who I am." She looked deep into Raeila's eyes, knowing that her friend would see the deep passion in her own. "Be Raeila first. Please be Raeila first, and then you can be Kael's arozeil. To me, Raeila is a very special and wonderful person and it has nothing to do with credits or family or any of that. Your heart and your soul are beautiful, Rae. Truly beautiful and wonderful. You're like a flower that's been closed all winter, and in the spring...you're in full bloom."

"I don't--" Raeila choked back a sob. "I've done so many bad things, though. I just..." In Dani's eyes, Raeila saw complete sincerity, but still she felt undeserving of all Dani's faith in her. She would never feel worthy of it, not with the knowledge of what she'd done to such a compassionate, loving woman. With a gentle whimper, Raeila embraced Dani. Her unrestrained tears fell upon her purple friend's shoulder as her sobs were lost in Dani's violet hair. "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Dani. That's why I had to change and have to keep changing. I don't want to hurt you again."

Dani held Raeila close, unable to stop her own tears. "It's alright, Raeila," she whispered. "It's okay now. Everything is okay now, my love."

Dani's gentle rocking and words of comfort allayed the pain of Raeila's guilt for the time being. She felt fortunate to have Dani as her friend, and Kael as her arozeil, for with both she could completely turn away from the old Raeila Mullerin and become someone who truly was as beautiful as Dani had said she was; once she transformed heself, she would be able to believe it.

Lulled by the hauntingly beautiful melody Dani was humming into her ear, Raeila all but ceased crying and gazed out of the speeder's window to watch the trees flash by. Just as they could not thrive in the desert, so too would the woman she was becoming die under the Thanatos sun now. The Kir'Thanan in her was dying and being replaced by the flower Dani had likened her to. As the Temple had been Kael's salvation it would now become hers as well, and as much as she missed her home, she knew that with Kael - her arozeil - was where she had to be. Anywhere else, and she would be lost.

***

"Three times," Kael murmured into Nieme's throat as they clung to each other in the middle of the rumpled sheets. "I think we've still got the magic. I hope you didn't scare anyone with all those screams. I like this new you, Nieme. I like how sure of yourself you are, and how decisive you are. It suits you, especially in bed."

"Thank Master Brael," Nieme told him. "She's the one who bestowed this confidence upon me." She dragged her fingers along Kael's thigh and chuckled. "Though, I am liking it myself. Too bad Dani and Raeila couldn't join us; that would've been fun."

Kael grinned. "I think I'd like that very much," he said. His eyes sparkled with the idea, and he wondered just what Raeila's reaction would be to that. He didn't imagine she'd like it, but there was only one way to find out. Just test the waters, he told himself. Test the waters and see if she likes the idea. He kissed Nieme. "I think the three of us would be rather amazing together, and completely wild."

"Rae, wild?" Nieme laughed derisively and slapped Kael's thigh. "That girl's got no fire left in her, Kael." She kissed his lips, then lightly tapped the tip of his nose with her forefinger. "You picked a dud, Kael. Stick with me. I've got enough fire for you."

"She's got enough fire," Kael said with a chuckle. "She's just very concerned about doing anything that'll jeopardize our relationship. She loves me very much, Nieme, and she doesn't want to lose me. But, believe me, she does have fire. She's just more reserved about certain things now." He looked at her and sighed. "Please don't try to make it a competition between you and her. I love you and I love her, and for you to do that would be like me asking you to pick either me or Dani. Could you do that, Nieme? Could you choose one of us over the other?"

"No," she said slowly, "but I'm not asking you to choose. I'm just telling you that you're having a lot more fun with me." Nieme pushed Kael onto his back and deftly pulled herself onto his waist. "Compared to me, she's just a little girl, Kael." She ground her hips against his and grinned. "She doesn't make you feel the way I do. Besides, she likes it in the desert. I bet she'd forget about you in a second if you just sent her back."

"No she wouldn't," Kael said as he brought his hands up to Nieme's breasts. "She's not how you think of her, Nieme. She's not like she was. She likes it here now; she prefers it to the desert. Things are very different. I wish you could see that."

"Kael, I'm your wife. I only see Raeila as competition. Whether she's the good girl she's portraying herself to be or not, I still don't like her." Nieme pushed her chest into Kael's hands and chuckled at him. "As long as I always come first, I have no problem with Raeila being around. Satisfied?"

"And, as long as you put me first over Dani, then we have no problem," Kael said.

Nieme grimaced. "You don't want that, Kael. If you wanted me to put you first, you'd abandon Raeila so we could have more time together. But you're not." She sighed and lay upon Kael's chest, gazing up at him and smiling sweetly. "Let's not fight about this, my arozeil. Things are working out well as they are. As long as we find time for one another, there's nothing to worry about."

"You wouldn't give up Dani anyway," Kael said. "I don't like how you talk about her, Nieme. I don't like how you try to turn me against her, or away from her."

"The same way you tried to turn me against Dani?" Nieme walked her fingers up his arm, then across his chest and finally brushed them against his cheek. "She treated me like shit in the desert, Kael. I can talk about her however I like. She cut me, beat me, and tried to tear us apart. I'm just returning the favour."

"What do you want to do, Nieme? Cut her back? Beat her? I don't think you'll ever consider this settled between the two of you, and it's pulling you into darkness. I won't let you pull me along with you. Stop trying to settle the score, Nieme, or else I may have to choose."

"And you'd choose wrong," she retorted. "Kael, don't you think what we're doing is pulling us both into darkness? But what does it matter anyway? I'm happy." She kissed his lips. "You were very very happy a few moments ago. Whether I like Raeila or not doesn't change that. Let me hate her. As long as we can be together, it'll make no difference."

"I love her, Nieme," Kael said. "And, hearing you talk about her the way you do, it hurts me. I don't know how long I can bear that. I don't know how long I can deal with you hating the woman I love."

"I'm the woman you love," she said firmly. "And all you're doing is treating me like some whore." Nieme sighed sharply as she slipped off of Kael and the bed. "I'm your wife, Kael, and you pushed me away before. Don't do it again."

Kael sat up and glared after Nieme. "Nieme, I love you," he said. "But, I love Raeila just as much. What we're doing is very wrong, and could potentially hurt Raeila, maybe even Dani. I love her, Nieme. Don't try to come between Rae and I."

Nieme folded her arms over her bare chest and laughed dryly. "Too late, Kael. You put me there the moment you stuck your dick into me. Besides, I happen to like where I am. I get to be with the man I love again, and he gets to be where he belongs: with me." Sighing softly, Nieme dropped to her knees by the bedside and gently took Kael's hand. "I love you, my arozeil, and I want this to work. Please, can we just forget about all that and just concentrate on loving each other? That's all I want to do, Kael. I don't care about Raeila, and when I'm in here, I don't care about Dani either. Just you and me. Can't it just be like that?"

"When we're together, Nieme," Kael whispered, "it'll be us; just you and me. But I won't, can't give her up. I love her, Nieme. In here, or wherever, it's just us...but...oh gods, Nieme...I'm going to hurt her with this. I'm going to tear her apart, and...and if that happens, it'll kill me."

"No... Oh, Kael, no." Nieme pulled Kael into her embrace and kissed his brow tenderly. "It won't, Kael. I'll be here for you if it does happen. I'll always be here for you. She won't find out, I promise. I won't say a word, even with as much as I'd love to. For you, my love, I'll keep it a secret."

"Thank you," Kael whispered, placing kisses wherever he could find flesh. "Oh gods, thank you, Nieme. I love you so much. This is...it's going to be very difficult, but we can make it through. We will make this work, Nieme. I love you."

"I love you too. Please don't worry, Kael," Nieme said soothingly. She lay him back down and once again climbed atop him. "It's all alright. We love each other, and that's all that matters." To give him further comfort, Nieme slid her hand to his groin and began massaging him to hardness again. "Nothing will stand in our way. My arozeil, we'll make it through this together."

Kael looked up at Nieme and smiled. "One more time, my arozeil, and then we should get ready for them coming back. Raeila and I need to go talk to a friend in the city; maybe you and I can find some time alone tonight. Oh, when did you become such an expert with your hands?"

"I'm a chef, remember?" She kissed him deeply, then grinned. "I've always been good with them. You just didn't keep me around long enough to find out. But now, we have all the time in the world. A good thing too," she whispered into his ear, "because I've got plenty more surprises for you."

"Surprise me, my arozeil," Kael whispered.

And so she did.

---

"One Step Ahead, One Step Beyond"
by Grand Admiral Tarkin
and Ferrig Mullerin
and an appearance by Daemor'rah

Location: New Empire Mainbase, Arcadia
Date: Eos 10, 4 ABY

***

She was let inside the palace after having convinced the guard to call his superior for permission to enter the palace grounds, upon the fact that she had the Rebel leader from Thanatos. The information had reached the Grand Admiral who wanted to deal with this case personally.

Once the Grand Admiral entered, the huntress turned to face him. She had an unconscious body near her which she grabbed easily by the back. "Is that the rebellion leader from the region of Thanatos?" he asked.

"Ferrig Mullerin." She nodded simply, letting him fall on the ground so that the Grand Admiral could see his face.

"Is he dead?" he asked inquisitively.

"Unconscious," she replied. "There is a price on his head, is there not? One of two hundred thousand credits."

"The prize was one hundred fifty thousand," Tarkin corrected.

At his reply, she took a concealed blaster and pointed it at Ferrig's unconscious head. "I'm sure he's worth a lot more alive to you!" She grinned.

Alas, by the time she had finished that same sentence, the Red Guards, whom never left Tarkin's presence, were pointing their force pikes towards Daemor'rah at a dangerous closeness. The Grand Admiral was frowning while glancing at her. "If you want to leave alive you will take the one hundred fifty thousand credits!" he warned her.

Daemor'rah simply smirked. "I'm sure that your word is true, so I'll settle for 175 thousand, because even you know that if you kill me then Ferrig dies anyway!"

Tarkin sneered. "I'll grant you 155 thousand for the simple fact that I like your courage. Now leave before I change my mind and the deal!"

Daemor'rah safeguarded her weapon and bowed to Tarkin respectfully. "Always a pleasure to do business with you, Grand Admiral." She smiled viciously.

With a snap, Tarkin had his Red Guards take Ferrig's unconscious body to a cell. They followed the Grand Admiral to the cell block zone, placing Ferrig in the cell and closing the door behind them.

***

When Ferrig began to wake up, Tarkin stood there looking at the man who had so carefully planned the defense strategy of Thanatos. But even the best laid plans did fail. Beside Tarkin was an IT-O droid, its hypodermic syringe, acid jets, and electroshocks in place amongst other torture devices. "Ahh, the infamous Ferrig Mullerin who has caused so much hassle!"

Ferrig looked up at the form standing above him. "I only defended my home," he growled. "I was protecting my people from your tyranny. Who the hell are you, tsichod?"

"Silence! I'll ask the questions here! Now, what connections do you have with the Rebels? And I forewarn you to answer sincerely or I'll be using the IT-O to get what I want to know."

"I don't know anything about any Rebels," Ferrig said. "All I want is your kind off my sand. I just want my home, and the Kir'Thana will not rest until every Wetter is gone."

Tarkin laughed wickedly. "I could not care less about what you want! But Thanatos is not yours. You see, the whole planet is mine for the taking, just as your life is now. And I can't allow some scum to stay in my path, so I'll just set you as an example for the others. Besides, I have plans for Thanatos." His tone was casual, as if the two might have been sharing a mug of kaffe. "But onto the next question: What is your connection to the hidden Jedi? Where do they hide?"

Ferrig spat on the floor. "I have no connection," he snarled. "Bastards came and attacked my people one night. Kill them! Kill them all!!"

One of the red guards behind Ferrig lashed out with the shaft of his force pike, catching Ferrig's knees and driving him to the ground...on his knees at Tarkin's feet. "Silence!" the guard bellowed. "Just answer the questions with respect, scum!"

Tarkin watched. "So, no connections to the Jedi, and no connections to the Rebels. My oh my, you are one fiery fighter! Don't try to deceive yourself! That's plain ridiculous! I have reports where the Jedi are seen in Thanatos fending off some of my troops! Now, I will ask once more. What do you know about the Jedi? We know that you know them! Now speak!"

"They stole my sister from me, you pathetic piece of tchai'krat!" Ferrig raged. "I hate them, you bastard! I wouldn't have dealings with them if they were the only thing that could save Thanatos." He strained against his own willpower and spat once more. "I. Know. Nothing!"

One snap from Tarkin's fingers and the IT-O zapped its electroshocks at the Kir'Thanan making him twitch in pain for a few seconds. But the Grand Admiral was undisturbed by the man's pain; he had seen this many times before. "Why don't we leave that for sometime later then. What about the resistance in Thanatos? How many are you and where do you hide? Who is your weapons provider? What equipment do you own?"

Ferrig's jaw was clenched tight as his body still jerked from remnants of the electric current coursing through his body. He didn't cry out, but when the current stopped, he let out a loud gasp that sent streamers of saliva outward onto his interrogators. He glared at Tarkin. "You know who he is," he growled. "You tried to set us up with him. You tried to have him lead us into a trap. Why don't you ask me questions you don't already know the answers to? Then you can play with your toys some more." He spat again, this time leaving a slimy white trail down the side of Tarkin's face.

The Grand Admiral took a silk tissue from his pocket and wiped the spit from his face slowly, while simply disregarding the boot of one of his red guards that met Ferrig's face, sending him down. "My boy, we have all day long at this. You forgot to reply to the other questions I posed. How many are you? Where do you hide? What weapons do you possess at this time?"

"Since that bitch attacked my group, I can't be certain how many of us there are," Ferrig said. "And, we hide in Thanatos...buildings...sand...places like that. I'm sure you've seen them there. And, we possess lots of that half-rate crap your turncoat sold us. I think he'd have a better count than us scum. However, let me go and I'll go count it all for you."

"I'm sure you would," Tarkin sneered. "Alas, with someone so lively, it would be a waste to send you back to that wretched place. I believe someone like you could better serve in the Arkan Facility. So, to wrap up our conversation...." He smirked as the IT-O approached Ferrig and a Red Guard held him steady by placing his Force Pike against his throat from behind. The IT-O's hypodermic syringe pierced Ferrig's forearm and shot a serum into a vein. "It's truth telling serum," Tarkin explained. "Now, let's review our conversation. Do you have connections to the Rebels or the Jedi?"

With the Force Pike against his neck, Ferrig decided that moving wouldn't be a good idea. "I don't have any connections with them."

"And not counting yourself, how many of your men are there?" Tarkin asked, taking advantage of the fact that Ferrig couldn't lie due to the serum.

"I don't know," Ferrig slurred. "Divided."

"Into how many groups, containing how many people?" the Grand Admiral insisted.

"Don't know," Ferrig said with a smug grin. "If we knew how many, it'd make it too easy to destroy us. Lots of cells, lots of people."

"And how many people under your influence?" Tarkin asked. He was determined to access how many people he was up against. Not that it mattered much. He could always blow the whole thing anyway.

"Fifty. At least."

Tarkin rubbed his chin. Fifty men under the influence of this man, plus some more. Not that fifty men would be much of a problem. Even if the number doubled they wouldn't have starships or walkers and certainly no way to compete against them. Tarkin looked directly at Ferrig for one more question. "Would you consider that you are the most influential leader and thus the one who leads the bigger number of people in the rebellion in Thanatos?"

"Dunno," Ferrig said. "Other gangs. Not like me. Much."

Tarkin frowned. This wasn't getting him as much information as he was expecting. But he knew he had the main key to the resistance in Thanatos still. "Well, in that case I have no more questions for now. Take him to the Arkan Facility!" the Grand Admiral ordered, only to have the Red Troops beat Ferrig some and stun him afterwards. Next thing Ferrig knew he would be off planet.

---

"Lessons in Disguise"
By: Raeila Mullerin
Kael Selrid
Zion "The Worm" Xandler

Location: Zion's home - Yellvin, New Plouton
Date: Eos 10, 4ABY

***

As Kael and Raeila mounted the steps to Zion's door, she frowned sternly at him again and asked one last time, "And you promise not to overreact about anything or get cranky? He's not a bad guy, Kael. Really, he isn't."

"No," Kael said with a laugh. "He's not a bad guy, but the way he looks at you... And, he gives me this look that says, 'Oh buddy, if you weren't here...' I guess I just don't trust that he won't keep his hands to himself."

Raeila smiled at Kael and shook her head. "He wouldn't do that. Despite his looks, he's a gentleman. Besides, if he did do something I didn't like, I'd just fend him off, Kir'Thanan style."

Kael chuckled. "Ouch," he said. "Well, if he does do that, don't pull any punches because if he does, he's not the gentleman you claim he is. For his sake, I hope he is a gentleman." He kissed her. "I love you, Raeila. You are my heart."

Raeila cradled Kael's cheek in her hand and reached up to kiss his brow. "And you are my arozeil. Always, Kael. Now, let's get this meeting over with so you and I can return to the Temple and prove to each other how much in love we truly are."

"Oh, I really like the sound of that," Kael said. He found her lips with his, and held her close for a moment before pulling back and grinning at her. "Do you think he'll mind if we hurry?"

Raeila giggled as she shook her head. "As long as we pay him, I don't think he'll care either way." As Kael pressed his lips to hers again, Raeila blindly groped for the door chime and after finally finding it, she rang it.

The door opened and behind it stood Cylo, Zion's new holographic housemaid. She seemed to be dressed in a short silver skirt and matching top. "Welcome, Raeila Mullerin and Kael Selrid," she said as she gestured for them to enter. Inside Zion overlooked the large windows. He looked down at them with a smile. "Hey!" he said, looking mostly at Raeila. "It's 'bout time you came by!"

Raeila pulled away from Kael with a sheepish smile and waved at Zion. "Hi, Zion. Can we come in? We won't stay long."

"Yeah sure!" he smiled. "Please do. So, what can I do for ya?" he asked as Cylo escorted them inside.

"Well, I'm here for my lesson," Rae answered. "Oh, and since we're here, we might as well discuss the trip to Nar Shadaa. I can't wait to go on an actual ship, flying among the stars. It's going to be so wonderful!"

At hearing her words, Zion wasn't too sure that he'd done the right thing. It seemed Raeila and Kael were not really considering Nar Shadaa a dangerous place. But then again, who could provide better protection than a Jedi? They were legendary in that respect. He sighed. "Yeah, the trip should be okay, but it's not a holiday! You'll get my meaning once we get there! Compared to that, Thanatos is a ride in the park!" he forewarned them both.

Kael smiled. "I trust we'll be fine," he said. "And, trust me, you haven't seen Thanatos' rough side. Raeila and I can handle ourselves. So, when do we leave?"

"As soon as we can!" he answered, then turning to face his holographic housemaid. "Cylo, which will be the next freighter out to Nar Shadaa, and when is it scheduled to leave?" he asked.

The holographic woman nodded with a gentle smile. "I have checked databases. The next freighter will depart in thirty-two minutes, but chances of catching it are of thirty-five thousand to one. However, there is one other scheduled to depart two hours afterwards in the Yelldon District Starport," she said.

"Then we catch that one. I will contact the freighter captain and book us a passage. Do you need more time than that?" Zion asked Kael.

Kael felt his eyes go wide as he stared at Zion. "Hour--? I--I was thinking we were talking a few days or a week. I didn't realize you wanted to go...right now. We don't have any spare clothes or anything. This is all-- It's all very sudden."

Zion sighed. "Ok then... Cylo, cancel that decision and get me a freighter list for the ones parting in three days time!" he said only to see her nod. "Will that be enough?" he asked again.

"Tomorrow will be fine," Kael said. "We just need time to let people know that we're going. And, we'll need changes of clothes. It's just an hour is so sudden. We can be back here and ready early tomorrow afternoon."

"Good!" Zion grinned. "Cylo, make that list for the freighters leaving tomorrow afternoon, please," he corrected, then turning to Raeila with a smile. "So, onto your lesson. Now, before we begin tell me what you have learned so far and what system are you using at the present time."

Raeila gave Zion a brief overview of what she had been taught so far, and compared with how much more knowledge she had to gain, she was barely a novice. "But I'm a quick study," she added at the end of her recapitulation. "Don't worry. You'll be quite impressed by me, Zion."

"Not too impressed, I hope," Kael added quietly under his breath.

"Well then, let's get us started here..." Zion nodded while waving his hand to a small adjacent room where a computer system had been placed, since Zion wasn't about to let anyone inside his work space. "This is a regular ACS by the Genus Corporation, which means an Autonomous Computer System. They called it so 'cause it works voice activated. Now, this is the very basic thing, so it should resemble what you've been workin' with... Here, take a seat." He gestured.

Once Raeila sat down he turned to her and smiled. "It will do whatever you tell it. And it will only answer to you because you will be using this headset," he explained while handing her the headset. "While you press this button here it will respond to you. Try it on. Tell the computer to activate..."

Raeila examined the headset briefly, then giggled as she slipped it into place. She looked between Zion and Kael on either side of her, giving each a beaming smile. Directing her attention the screen, she depressed the button Zion indicated and instructed the machine to activate. When light flooded the screen, Raeila reflexively jumped in her seat, but after her initial surprise, she broke into delighted laughter. "This is amazing! I can tell it to do anything I want?" She grinned up at Zion and asked playfully, "Can it make those drinks I like so much, too?"

Zion laughed. "No, this isn't a cybernetic organism, meaning it will only give you text. Information above anything else... Now, there are two types of info in databases that you may seek. Legal and not so legal. The first one is pretty easy to come by. You just ask the ACS to look it up. Try asking for something. Like the definition of New Plouton or something..."

"Okay." Raeila gazed intently at the screen, deliberating on a question. Her face lit up suddenly as the perfect one hit her. "How about this... Computer, tell me how far it is to Thanatos."

The calculations took but a minute expanse of time, and almost instantly, the answer appeared on the screen. "So close," Raeila murmured, unintentionally pining for her home. "Yet, it feels so far away." She turned her face up towards Zion and asked, "Do you think it could tell us what's going on in Thanatos? I mean... no one knows anything. Could the computer know something?"

"If the info's legit, sure!" Zion answered. "But don't count on it. The Empire would never reveal that much, so legitimate sources would be lyin' or off the truth really... Which takes us to the next level. Now, how do you pass information if you don't want people to know about it?" Zion asked Raeila.

Raeila chewed her lip thoughtfully, then sighed and shook her head. "I guess that's what I'm here for. I mean... I know I'm not smart. But if I were going to smuggle something out, I'd disguise it as something else. I don't know if it works the same in the computer world, though."

Zion smiled. "Ok, tell ya what... Think of a computer just like a person. Only it's a person who knows too much. So, right you are, in a certain way! Wanting to pass info you've gotta make it look like something else! In computer language we call it coding!" Zion told Raeila.

The system operator then connected a small control panel and punched in a few commands. "Okay, now, here we see an image. But what you don't see is what's behind the image, interlaced with it. So you need to decode it. This is a basic coding system, so just ask the ACS to scan for the decoding method and decode," he said.

Raeila nodded eagerly and set to work doing as Zion had asked. The image rotated on the screen as the ACS processed her request. As it spun, varying in direction and speed, layers of the image began stripping away like the peel of a chiton orange. Eventually, all that remained was a mass of disorganized text that soon began soon began removing the extraneous text and rearranging itself into discernible words, much as Raeila's mind had done when she had first learned to read. Soon, the text stopped revolving and froze in place on the screen, flashing to proclaim its completion. Raeila squinted at the words and deciphered them slowly. "Ra...eila. M-- M...uller-- Hey!" she giggled. "That's my name!"

"Yeah..." Zion smirked. "But, like I said, this is one of the most basic types of encoding. There are many several other ones, like the Imperial encrypting codes that are quite hard to break. And coding can be not only through an image but through sound as well. And you can even mix 'em! But we'll get to that later on... For now let's stick to the basics!" He smiled. Zion then pressed a few more commands. "Okay, now, what do you do if you want to pass unnoticed in a crowd? Remember, computers are like people, more or less..."

"Well, then I'll just wear a disguise," Raeila said. "But...how would I do that?"

"Wear a disguise, or look like everyone else does!" Zion corrected. "And that, my dear, is the trick. You make your files look like regular files, and by that you get to pass unnoticed. Now, to disguise a file you have to encrypt your stuff and pass it onto something else. Kind of like a ghost... It stays attached to it but you can't see it. Oh and your coding has to be as perfect as you can make it!" he explained. "What's the computer you're using like? Do you know what sort of system you're using?" he asked to know what she would be allowed to do.

Raeila looked up at Zion with a sheepish smile. "I...don't know. I'm sorry, Zion. I'm new at this stuff. But...with you teaching me, I'll learn really fast. I learned to read in no time, though I'm still learning. But at least I got the hang of it in...like...a day!"

"Hey not bad!" Zion exclaimed. "Ok, tell ya what. You can take this small ACS with ya and the headset along with it to make sure you keep learnin'... Nothing more will you learn for today, but I want you to keep doing some research," he said. "And take this padd with you. It tells you the basics about research protocols and stuff that you should know before we continue... And tomorrow be back early. We'll start with the Undernet tomorrow, and that's when things get interesting!" he grinned as he handed her a small padd.

Raeila accepted the device from Zion and held it in her hands almost reverently. "Thank you, Zion," she breathed. "Oh, thank you!" She set the padd down upon the desk and sprang upright to embrace Zion excitedly. "This'll be so great!" she exclaimed.

Zion got up and gave Raeila a large smile. "Yeah... And you'll be learning this stuff in no time! You'll see!" he assured her. "So, tomorrow we have another lesson and the day after that we have our departure for Nar Shadaa. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Raeila pulled back from Zion and frowned slightly. "How much do we owe you for this lesson?"

Zion raised an eyebrow. "I thought the lessons were in exchange for escorting me to Nar Shadaa... That was what we agreed upon, was it not?"

"I guess," Raeila replied. "It just feels weird. I mean, you're taking us to Nar Shadaa for free, and you want to take us on a vacation too... I feel like I need to give you something in return."

"Take you to... Listen, you won't find it as funny in Nar Shadaa, believe me! Once we get there you'll see what I mean!" he told her. "And the vacation trip... Well, we can talk about that later. Besides, what's the use of money if you can't have fun, right?" Zion asked Raeila with a smile. "And what I want you can't give me..." he whispered in the end.

Kael raised an eyebrow at the whispered comment and took a breath to calm himself. He looked away from Zion, not wanting the man's visage to spur him to anger. He sought a spot on the distant wall, hoping the focus would give him the strength to remain in the same room as the man who sought to have Raeila as his own. The conflict was nearly too much for him, and the added complication of his situation with Nieme was quickly driving him to madness.

"Okay," Raeila submitted finally. "We're not paying you...this time. But eventually, I'll have to do something nice for you, Zion, in return for all you've done for us." She reached up and lightly kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Zion. You really are a good friend."

Zion smiled at Raeila. He knew it wasn't good to flirt with Raeila with Kael nearby. So, instead he took a step away from Raeila and got nearer to Kael. "Kael Selrid, I hope to see ya tomorrow too..." he said as he shook his hand.

Kael nodded. "Of course," he said. "And, then off to Nar Shadaa?"

"The day after tomorrow." Zion nodded. "And if all goes well like I'm hoping then we can all take a break and go on a vacation trip, like the one I told Raeila!" he added. "By the way, when do you two marry?"

Kael smiled and looked to Raeila; he slipped his hand into hers. "We hadn't set a date yet," he began, "but I was hoping for very soon." After the situation earlier, he was panicked inside, but he knew what he needed to do. He just didn't know if he had the strength for it. He couldn't lose Raeila. "Very soon."

Raeila gasped and looked excitedly between Kael and Zion. "I know! We can get married before we leave for our vacation with Zion. It could be our honeymoon. Wouldn't that work?"

"In that case, the vacation trip would be my gift to you!" Zion grinned. "Besides, I hate taking vacations alone anyway, so this way I can enjoy the company. The two other girls are invited too, of course! Just like I promised!" he added.

Raeila barely contained a squeal of delight. "Great! This is...wonderful!" She rushed towards Zion and embraced him again. "Thank you so much." Raeila hopped to plant a kiss upon his cheek, then stepped back to Kael's side. "We can discuss everything on the trip to Nar Shadaa. This is going to be so great."

"I'm sure it will!" Zion agreed. "Now, if you'll both excuse me I have to get to my work. I'll expect you tomorrow by the same time," he told them.

"We'll be here," Raeila replied. She waved happily at him with her free hand while she and Kael headed towards the door. Once outside of Zion's apartment, Raeila stuffed the padd Zion had given her into a pocket. With nothing to get into her way, she laughed ecstatically and flung both arms around Kael. She kissed him deeply, excitedly, then pulled back to gaze into his eyes.

Kael grinned at Raeila. "I love you," he said, and was suddenly very aware of how tight his pants had become all of a sudden. Fortunately he was wearing his robes, but that didn't quell the desire or need he felt for her, and the surety of this was what was right, what they needed. "I'll need to get more time off, but I think they'll give us this easily. Oh gods, Raeila, it's finally happening. It's real!" He took her free hand into his. "Tomorrow. We'll do it tomorrow!"

"You mean get married? You're going to marry me tomorrow?" Raeila's joy exploded into a scream and she jumped into Kael's arms. "Oh gods! Tomorrow! Oh gods, I love you so much, Kael." She twined her legs around his waist and pulled herself against him while her lips sought his.

"Hey! In that case consider the vacation trip as my gift for the occasion! Can I come to the ceremony?" Zion grinned. "Either way, I'll still be expecting you here tomorrow by the same time. Now, if you will excuse me, I have my work to attend to!" He smiled.

Raeila and Kael stared dumbly up at the door where Zion grinned at them Then with a wave, he stepped back inside and closed the door. Kael shook his head and laughed. "He really is an odd man. I guess he's not as bad as I thought, though, he does like to look at you. I'll have to keep my wife close, away from those nimble fingers of his."

"Don't worry about him," Raeila said. "You just worry about what you're going to wear tomorrow." She kissed Kael again, then sighed. "Can we go home now? I want to lie in bed with my future husband."

"And, I want to hold my future wife in my arms as we lie in bed, and think about all the wonderful and beautiful things we'll do together on our honeymoon...and then for the rest of our lives."

Raeila laughed. "That's a lot of thinking! I actually had something different in mind. Like..." She grinned slyly at Kael as she set her feet upon the ground again. "Maybe I should just show you."

Kael smiled. "If it's what I think it is, then I think I really like that idea. Come on, my arozeil. Let's go get onto the speederbike, you can hold me tight, and we can go home."

"I'll hold you," she told him with a slight purr. She slipped her arms around his waist, and let one hand dip down between his legs. "I'll hold really tight."

Kael let out a moan and shifted himself against Raeila's hand. "Oh, that's a perfect spot," he said. "Now, hopefully I can concentrate enough to get the bike back to the Temple."

"Well, if you think you'll have trouble, then maybe I should drive. Can I?"

"Once we get into the forest," Kael said softly, "and then you can, but slowly. How about that? We have to make sure we make it to our wedding tomorrow."

Raeila nodded happily and kissed Kael's cheek. "We'll make it, Kael. We've come this far and nothing can stand in our way now."

"We're gonna make it, Rae," he said, and pulled her back into an embrace. "We're really going to make it. I love you so much. We're together for always, and tomorrow will make it official."

"Not that we need that," she whispered. "But I can't wait to legally change my name to Raeila Selrid. Then...we can start on our baby." Raeila sighed with contentment and closed her eyes as she rested her cheek upon Kael's shoulder. "We'll have everything we've ever wanted. We'll be complete, Kael."

"I love you, Raeila, more than I ever thought possible to love another person," he whispered. "When I'm with you, I'm already complete."

She laughed softly and nuzzled her lips to his neck. "Come on, my arozeil. Let's go home."

Raeila pulled back and gazed up at Kael. She hadn't expected things between them to turn out as well as they had, and knew the goddess Thana was responsible for it. Even though they were no longer in the desert, she was watching over her children and blessing them. Seeing in Kael's eyes the love he held for her, she knew that was one thing she couldn't attribute to Thana's benevolence; that was true and freely given to her by Kael himself. Yes, she'd thank Thana later, but first she'd thank Kael, many times throughout the night.

---