"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 univer