"Negotiation Under Fire, Part 1"
By Quistis Knox
Igor Alevoi [NPC]

Location: Yelldon District, New Plouton
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

Quistis looked to the huge city and the city didn't impress at all. She had many times in Coruscant where the entire planet is one extremely huge city. Also Coronet was much bigger than this one and what kind of people that didn't have the costume to go to the beach.

Quistis felt somewhat bored in this city and the only thing that she liked to do was take sun baths and for that she had to go to the neighboring planet of Gallor. She was going to have a lot of work in this city and the planet to prepare everything for Akesha's arrival.

Of course that this wasn't for the grace of the incompetent of the Brath-Nam Inter-Galactic Guild's representative. If he had done his job she would probably by now be having her usual sun bath or doing a job for Akesha or the Cult of Assacis.

Either way she was now in this gods' forsaken planet and she had to endure this until her job was done here or she was called to do something far important than supervising the final constructions.

She gave a disgusted face and then hid it quickly. She walked along the street that she was standing. At least the incompetence of the representative was going to meet her on the next block where there was going to be the headquarters of the Brath-Nam Inter-Galactic Guild.

As she turned on the next block she saw this brilliant building like it was brand new... She quickly saw the workers standing and seated on the entrance of the building.

What the fuck is going on? Quistis thought quickly has she approached one of the workers.

"What the hell is going on? Aren't you supposed to be working at this hour?" Quistis demanded as she looked to the man that was taking a nap, but no response came. She kicked the man.

"What is the matter with you, lady?" said the man that was quite upset for being woken up like that.

"The matter with me? Sorry to stop your beauty sleep, you fucking lazy bastard. I'm your new boss, I'm the one that is going to replace the other lazy bum called Igor Alevoi." Quistis was showing that she was not scared of the huge man.

"You're Quistis Knox?" said the other one that was sitting and seeing the little discussion.

"Yeah that is correct. What the hell is going on? Why are you not working?" Quistis demanded again as the other man that was confronting her lay down again on the floor.

"Humble apologies, Ma'am...but...but we don't have no materials to end the construction," the man said quickly, scared by the menacing look on Quistis' eyes.

Quistis saw that she was scaring him with the way she was looking. She backed away a few centimeters trying not to scare him much. "Why didn't you receive the materials?"

"That I don't know, ma'am. Probably is best to ask Igor himself," the man said as he breathed quickly.

"Ok. Show me the way to Igor," Quistis said as the man quickly walked in front of her and she followed.

Quistis entered one of the huge rooms where it would be probably the room to attend the future clients. A small man was sitting in front of a desk with a huge mess above the desk and surrounding it the man had gray hair and a huge bear. He was with his elbows on the desk with his hands over his head. This was a sign that he was desperate.

"Igor Alevoi I presume!" Quistis said as she stepped in front of the man that quickly bowed and walked away from the room.

The small man turned to face the one that spoke to him. As he saw it was Quistis a ray of light appeared on his face. "Ma'am Quistis. Thank the Gods that you arrived." He raised from his seat.

"Why the workers are not working?" Quistis asked as she saw that it was little dusty.

"For five days we don't get any materials and our stock here finished yesterday. I don't know what to do," Igor said with a desperate look in on his eyes.

She knew that if he didn't solve this he was going to be terminated by orders of the Triumvirate. "Take it easy, Igor. Did you contact the suppliers?"

"No. They all said that they were busy to take my calls, but one of them talked with me and said that he had orders from Jadda himself not to supply any materials until he receives the respective payment." He paused has he sat on his chair. "I sent a man to report to him that we weren't allowed to make the transfer of the correct payment."

"And...?" Quistis knew that there was bad news about that man that went to talk to Jadda.

"He's gone missing for two days and..." he filled with courage. "...and his carcass was left in front of the construction. What was left was a pile of bones."

"Show me! You didn't dispose of his body did you?" Quistis was curious to see the body.

"Of course not. I want you to personally see him. I have orders to place him on the building's fridge because of the stench. But it is not sufficient to freeze, there was some sort of malfunction that we are solving now, but without materials..."

Igor showed the way to the fridge. He open the door and hand pointed to a plastic bag in the middle of the fridge. Quistis saw that he had no intention to see the carcass again.

Quistis entered and approached the bag as the stench was getting stronger. She opened the bag, hand turned over parts of bone and flesh fell from the bag until the bag was empty. She put the bag away and put her one knee on the ground and started to examine it.

Quistis was starting to be sick of what she was seeing; she had a strong stomach but not the strong.

The parts of the bone had multiple bites and the flesh was in layers like it was ripped apart. She got up and walked away from the fridge.

"The bones have signs of bites made from sharp teeth and the beast that did it was extremely strong to rip apart human flesh like that," Quistis said as she took the door of the fridge from Igor's hands and close it.

"I question what kind of animal would do such a thing?"

Quistis looked to Igor. "I can think of a couple now." She paused. "He went to see Jadda and that was the last place that you heard from him," Quistis said has her wheels on the head were rotating.

"That is correct."

"I can only think of one animal that could be under control of a Hutt. A rancor," Quistis said in very cold way.

"Rancor? Here in New Plouton?"

"Probably." Quistis looked to the door fridge. "I have specific orders not to negotiate with the Hutt from the Triumvirate, but I'm going anyway to pay him a visit." Quistis smiled. Even Igor felt cold down his spine when he saw Quistis' face.

---

"The Search"
By: Kel Deneb

Location: His Home - Arcadia
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

Kel sighed to himself, having been off planet on some other affairs recently, and luckily his place had not been broken into. That would have been just dandy, he thought to himself. Granted, he would have found whomever did it, and killed them, but right now he would just as soon not. He had unfortunately missed his appointment with Laedra, but that was due to him being off planet, to circumstances beyond his control. Now that he was back, he hoped she would show up, like she said she would. He had no doubts that Laedra would find his place of living. In the mean time, he sat down to the keyboard to check out the feelers he had out about her inquiry.

Kel watched as various things scrolled across his screen, unfortunately nothing of good information. He scanned quickly, marking the ones he wanted to follow up with. Some might be decent leads, but the trail was not exactly the warmest in the world. But, no one ever said being a bounty hunter was easy. He smirked at the thought. Kel doubted he would enjoy the line of work if it was easy, the challenge and thrill would be gone at that point.

Something else caught his eye, however. There was some growing rumors of bounty hunters on the move, again trying to take up their positions on the planet. Kel would have to watch these people with attention, lest they try to move in on his business. He hoped that a bounty hunter war would not break out, but he was not worried if one actually did. He smiled a little, thinking he could try out some of his new toys if that did happen. However, he might try to meet these people, just to see what they were like, and to see if they could set up some sort of agreement. Something Kel would have to work on.

After he was done, Kel set out some more feelers on the mostly cold trails that he had picked up for Laedra. Who knows, he thought to himself. Maybe one of them might actually bring something to fruition. He did not have high hopes at the moment, but he never knew sometimes. Another thing that made bounty hunting and information gathering so exciting...you never knew what would happen.

---

"Fruitful Search"
By: Kel Deneb
Laedra Vorrel

Location: Deneb's dwelling, Arcadia
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

Again leaving behind the Temple, but knowing this time she would return, Laedra Vorrel ventured out into Arcadia. She had only been gone for a day, but already everything seemed changed. The forest was lush and the air fresh, while in Arcadia everything was towering ferrocrete buildings and racing hovercars. She sighed and was glad for choosing the forest over this.

Clad in her dark Jedi robes, she travelled the sidewalk's overly trodden path, following the scent - in this case, the Force essence of one man in particular: Kel Deneb. He had been hired to complete a task for her, but had failed to make their meeting the previous day. She hoped that did not mean he was avoiding her to spare some bad news.

Stopping before the establishment she had tracked his specific Force signature to, Laedra gazed up at the heights of the building and gathered her fraying nerves. Was Ina still alive, and if so...would she seek him out? She would wait to answer that after she received Kel's report.

With smooth, confident strides she entered the building, and hoped she appreciated whatever news he had to give her.

***

Kel heard a beeping at his door, and stood up. That was probably Laedra, seeing as how no one else in the universe knew where he lived at the moment. He did not have anything except a possible warm trail, which was what he was going to tell her. That was the best he could do for now. Kel opened the door, and smiled slightly. "Laedra, come in," he said.

She glanced from side to side, inspecting the room, then smiled and entered. "I haven't heard from you in some time, Mr. Deneb. Everything is well, I hope."

"Yeah, it is," he said, shutting the door. "I was called away unexpectedly, and could not reach you," Kel said to her. "But, I'm back for ill or good," he said with a smile. "I suppose you're here for some information," he said to her.

Laedra chuckled. "Why else would I be here, Mr. Deneb?" She gestured for him to proceed.

"Well, here is what I have so far," Kel said, bringing up a data miner hard at work, following a moderately warm trail. "What does it look like to you?"

Laedra leaned over Kel's shoulder as he sat before his terminal. She scrutinized the information scrawled across the screen. "He changed his name?" she mused to herself. "Nazen Haug... Why would he change his name? And how does your man know this is Ina Galean? Are there any images?"

"Data miners never lie, being the bots that they are," he said with a smirk. "All these records are hard data stored on a server. I've found live intelligence to be lacking at times like these. Here is an image of his ID card," Kel said, bringing it up.

No amount of Jedi training could've prevented Laedra's reaction once the image resolved. The sight of Ina, older and with black hair replaced by silvery gray locks, startled her, as was evidenced by the audible gasp that escaped her lips. Her skin felt cold and her body trembled. He still had the most beautiful eyes. "How old is that picture?" she whispered. "Is he still alive?"

"ID card checks out to be 6 months old...no death certificate," Kel said, seeing her reaction. "If you want to go to Corellia, I can take you."

Laedra's mind ground to a halt, focusing only on the image of her former master. He was alive. He was alive and hadn't even made an effort to contact her. Her gaze faltered, and slowly she straightened up. "I thank you for your efforts," she said quietly. "But...I won't be seeking him out at this time." Struggling to maintain her impassive exterior, she turned away entirely and exhaled deeply. "You have completed your part of the bargain, and I shall honour my part. Ask of me what you will, Mr. Deneb."

"What does this guy mean to you exactly?" Kel asked. "And I don't accept payment until the customer is fully satisfied," he said, furrowing his brow. That sounded odd, but it was true.

"He's an old friend," she replied, even if it was half a lie. Laedra sighed and faced Deneb again, her smile rueful. "All I asked was for you to discover if he lived or had passed on. You have done that, therefore your end of the bargain has been fulfilled, whether I am satisfied or not."

Kel sighed, and shook his head. "Very well, then just someone that I can come and talk to if I need," he said to her. "Finding friends around here isn't exactly easy."

Laedra smiled skeptically. "You hardly know me, Mr. Deneb. You would be so quick to consider me a confidante?"

"Seeing as how you are a Jedi, I figure that there must be something good about you, at least someone I can call on to say "hey, bored, want to grab a drink?' " Kel said to her.

"A drink?" Laedra appeared wholly perplexed by the idea. "You wish to frequent a bar with a Jedi?"

He laughed a little. "It's not like I haven't been seen with worse in a bar," Kel said. "Besides, you appear to be someone who might need a friend as well."

Laedra quirked an inquisitive eyebrow. "Do I? I am surrounded by many Jedi, Mr. Deneb. I am never alone."

"Ahh, my mistake," he said to her, shrugging.

She sighed and looked away for a moment. As uncomfortable as his request was, she was in no place to refuse. Honour forbade it. "Alright," she relented. "I will have a drink with you when you request it. Though, perhaps we should wait a while before labelling our relationship as 'friendship.' " Laedra smiled playfully.

"Ok," he said to her with a smile, winking to her. "Sounds good...and maybe then I can learn the rest of what is going on," Kel said.

She inclined her head. "Perhaps...." was her ambiguous reply. "In the meantime, I would appreciate it if you kept that information safe. I may...require it in the future."

"Of course," he said to her with a nod. "Anything else?"

Shaking her head, she answered, "Just another thank-you." She bowed, then turned for the door. "If you wish to contact me about that drink," she called over her shoulder, "visit the Jedi headquarters in New Plouton." In the doorway, she pivoted around to face him once more. "They will be able to contact me."

"Ok, will do," he said with a smile to her, watching Lae exit.

---

"Darkness Rejoined"
By: Dani
Nieme Yaresh

Location: New Plouton; Thanatos
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

Nieme.

The ethereal cry reverberated through the Force, a keening wail that expanded outward in search of the part of herself that had gone missing. Dani was perched on the edge of a new building this night, watching. Koran Darr had learned his lesson, she was certain, and had chosen to stay behind. She wondered if he would reveal his ordeal to Laedra and wondered what Laedra's reaction would be to such a revelation.

She called again, the emotion mixed with longing and loss, desire and lust, and all of it limned in anger and rage. Nieme.

In the darkness, and on the breeze whirling about Dani's lone figure was the voice from beyond she had sought so fiercely, but it was laced with rage and irritation. Dani's summons were repelled, slapped away dismissively with a strong gust of wind reeking of Nieme's essence; it wasn't the gentle caress Dani had yearned for, but it was contact, if only to get across a single, clear message: Go away.

Anger surged within Dani and she shot back her reply. I'm free of them, she sent. Talara was a traitorous bitch, but I escaped. I am free.

The wind buffeted Dani's face with increasing intensity to match Nieme's fury. You lie! You were plotting with them all along, you whore. And after all I've done for you....

Oh shut the fuck up, you self-absorbed bitch, Dani snapped, sending a jolt through Nieme at the other end of their mental connection. I may have been uncomfortable at some of the things we've done, but I have been completely loyal to you the entire time. I am out and I am free. Koran Darr came after me, and I sent him back to the Temple with his cock tucked between his legs. If you don't believe me, you are deluded, Nieme. Come to me, come and find out.

There was a lull in the raging wind's assault, and underlying it was a vague sound. One of unwholesome laughter. Oh, Dani, she purred. Do you mean it? If this is a trap--

No trap, Dani answered, her lust and arousal carrying with the emotions. I promise you, my beautiful star, this is no trap. Come to me, or I'll come to you. I need you, Nieme. Separated we aren't as strong as we are together. Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we are invincible.

Are we? Nieme inquired. We weren't before, Dani. You strayed...will it happen again?

Not now, Dani replied darkly. Not ever again. I was weak and I was soft. But, I see the true path before us now, and I know it is right. I shall not stray again, Nieme...not ever again.

Nieme's smile could be felt in the soothing ripples of the Force she was projecting. They wrapped around Dani when they flowed towards her, and embraced her as Nieme would have. Come to me, she whispered. The desert... My flower, come.

One hour, Dani sent, and I'll be there. Her movement could be felt through their bond as she raced for a vehicle that would take her away from the city, back to Nieme. Her excitement was dark and delicious, and along the thread of their bond, stretched so thin by distance, she projected her lust and desire. See you so very soon.

Soon, Nieme whispered on the wind. Then we will find completion. She lingered for a moment in Dani's mind, caressing and lending her lover more incentive to reunite with her. Then, she retreated, back to the desert where she would be waiting, with Dani unaware of what kind of Nieme would greet her when she arrived - friend, or foe, or the latter willing to again become the former and so much more? Dani would only know when she was face to face with Nieme, and with New Plouton and the Jedi forever behind her.

***

It took Dani an hour to arrive in the desert on her stolen speederbike. She felt bad for the person she'd taken it from, only because it'd been moving at the time and she kicked him off onto the road. She couldn't help wondering, as she strode away from the vehicle, if he'd find it here in the desert. In any case, it didn't concern her. He was the past, and had probably broken his neck in the fall anyway. It'd serve him right for not wearing proper protection for such an emergency. She sensed Nieme near, and moved in that direction, her own anticipation leading her through the Force.

Closer, she called to her lover, and strengthened the pulsing beacon she'd summoned for Dani. You feel...dark, Nieme breathed in her mind. Oh, Dani...are you really back?

I am back, Dani answered. And, I feel amazing, Nieme. I don't know why I turned. It was stupid and foolish. But, I am back now. Oh goddess, Nieme, I am back!

Then come to me. At the end of the long, sandy stretch that acted as the district's sole road stood a dark-robed figure. She smiled beneath her hood, and whispered, "Come to me."

Without hesitation, Dani did just that. She turned and strode toward the shadowy figure waiting for her, beckoning her with thought and emotion. She covered the distance quickly, her body tingling with anticipation with each step. "Across all the galaxy, through the desert or oceans of any world, I would come to you," she whispered once she was close enough. "Always and evermore."

Nieme's robed arm rose, and one pale hand flattened against Dani's chest. "Too long," she mused, her hand smoothing across the top of one breast. "We're weaker when we're apart, Dani. You can't ever leave me again."

Dani pressed herself against Nieme's hand. "Never again," she said earnestly. "Everything happened so fast, and I didn't know...and then, there was a moment of quiet...and everything was so empty without you. So I left, and came to find you. I couldn't live without you, Nieme, and...and I will never be apart from you again. We are strong again, Nieme. Strong."

"Strong," she purred and pushed up against her lover. Their bodies conformed perfectly and the touch alone drew out the fire that still existed between them. "Oh, Dani," Nieme breathed as she buried her nose into her lover's hair. "Would you kill for me? Would you?"

"Without question," Dani answered. "I killed a man last night. He died too quickly though, and I didn't have time to play with him. But, the rush I felt...it was amazing, Nieme. And, Koran Darr. He came after me. I fought him, Nieme. I fought him and beat him. If you had been able to come to me last night--" she rubbed a hand down between her thighs -- "you could have tasted him. I would have killed him too, but then he couldn't carry my message back to the Jedi. Next time, we'll take him together, and then kill him. Oh it was beautiful, my love."

"Dani," she whispered thickly. "You did all that? Really?" Nieme's joy was overwhelming, and with a gasp she embraced her lover and sought her lips. The kiss was feverish and greedy, filled with all the unquenched desire Dani's absence had accrued. "Oh gods," Nieme rasped, "come with me. I live at Jadda's palace now...you can live there with me."

Dani wrinkled her nose. "Hutts," she said then shivered. "You have a big bed, right? Though, a small bed could be very cozy too."

"I have whatever I want," she told her. Smiling alluringly, Nieme slid her hand into Dani's. "I'm so glad you're here," she whispered. "I have so many plans for us." Nieme led Dani away, all the while watching her with an enticing gaze. "I love you, my flower."

"And, I you, my star," Dani said. "I want to hear the plans you have for us, for our future. Perhaps you can tell me after I've shown you how much I love you." There was a seductive purr to Dani's voice that indicated exactly how she wanted to show Nieme. "If it weren't so sandy, I'd want you right here. Oh Nieme, we should visit our little home here, see if it's still there. Maybe it can be our secret place away from Jadda's palace."

"It still is," Nieme said with complete certainty. "I visited it my first night here. I missed you so much, Dani."

"Do you have to go back to the palace tonight?" Dani asked. "If it's alright, we could go there together, enjoy our first night together alone. I missed our little desert home, and you. Oh goddess, Nieme, to be near you again, my skin tingles."

"And I ached for you," she replied. "And tonight, it's just you and I...and plans." She chuckled wickedly. "How is our old friend Raeila anyway?"

"She's gone straight," Dani said. There was a touch of wistfulness and regret in her tone. "She is devoted to Kael and won't even look at others, like me. She...she's soft, and I wanted to show her my piercings, but she wasn't interested. She took me to see Orn instead. I think she'd look good with some piercings." She smiled a seductive, wicked smile and looked over to Nieme. "You have plans for dear, Raeila, my love?"

"Before I kill her?" Nieme chuckled. "Oh, big plans. I'll teach Kael to fool me." She kissed Dani roughly, then sighed. "We'll teach them all," she whispered.

Dani purred. "Oh I like that," she murmured. "But, for Raeila, I want to fuck her before she's dead. Oh, the things we could do. I want to fuck her while Kael watches, and I want to see you fuck Kael while she watches helplessly. Oh, I want to fuck Kael while she watches, let her feel that pain and torment, watching the one she loves being taken without a thing she can do. She'll pay, Nieme. Pay for hurting us, pay for rejecting me, and pay for the pain and suffering she's given us!"

Nieme moaned happily and embraced her lover. "Oh gods...welcome back, Dani. Welcome back."

"You have no idea, Nieme," Dani said, her voice filled with relief, "no idea how good it feels. It's as if I've found my way again. Come on, we need to get to our little house now before sand in places that I'd rather it not be is no longer a deterrent." With that, she grasped both of Nieme's hands and pulled her along, moving with Jedi-enhanced speed to the small hovel they'd shared for too-short a time.

***

Nieme sighed with complete elation and satisfaction as she flopped onto her back after both their cries had ceased ringing out. The bed was uncomfortable and the sheets filthy, but with Dani by her side, glistening with sweat and watching her lovingly, none of it mattered to Nieme. Breathless and spent from the seeming eternity they had spent in each other's arms, Nieme lazily kissed Dani's shoulder. "I missed that," she whispered. "Oh gods, how I did..."

"Me too," Dani said, her voice soft and full of love. "It's been a long time since it's just been us. I've definitely missed being able to focus only on pleasuring you. We definitely need more time like this." She slid closer to her lover, letting the length of her body press against Nieme. She draped an arm over Nieme's bare stomach and smiled. "It's so much nicer out here in the desert."

"But this time around we can enjoy it," Nieme said. "We aren't vulnerable like we were..." The memory of their time at the hands of Ferrig Mullerin and his brutal gang came to mind, and Nieme chuckled darkly. "Shall we kill him as well?"

"Do you want to have some fun with him before we kill him?" Dani asked with a smile that shone with malevolent lust. "I think I'd like to give him a taste of his own medicine. Just killing them seems so wasteful. They should amuse us before we put them out of their pathetic misery."

"We will," Nieme assured her, stroking her lover's arm soothingly. "But...all in due time. We'll build up our strength, track them down, and strike. Perhaps my new Master would like to help." She giggled. "Oh, the fool...he actually thinks I'm the obedient, dutiful Padawan. What he doesn't realize is I'm far more powerful than he could imagine."

"And, together..." Dani purred and kissed Nieme hard. "Perhaps he will bow down before us. Oh, Nieme, I think we can take the planet this time. I want to fuck you on the throne of Tae'Karada, and then order a bounty on the heads of Jedi Knights everywhere. Can you imagine it? We can reshape this world into one of our own choosing."

"We'll need an army, though," she mused. "We are powerful, but those damn Jedi have the New Republic on their side, and with an established base so close..." She sighed, but remained smiling. "We can do it, though."

"We just need to get the right people on our side," Dani said. "And, we need to be more intelligent than that old sh'piff they just overthrew."

"Or the ones sitting on the throne now," Nieme quipped, then chuckled deeply as she rolled atop Dani. "I'm glad you came back to me," she whispered, brushing a strand of purple hair from Dani's brow. "I was so lonely."

Dani wrapped her legs around Nieme's waist and she brushed her lips against Nieme's. "Me too," she whispered. "It just wasn't right without you. I'm so glad we're together again, so glad that's behind us. From now on, we're together and nothing will separate us."

"And no one," Nieme whispered and kissed her lover deeply. "A new beginning," she breathed. "And we'll be stronger than ever now."

Dani smoothed her hands over Nieme's bare flesh, delighting in the taste of her lover. "We already are," she said. "Can you feel our power? Surging together, waiting to be unleashed, to overpower any who stand in our way? Soon, my love, they will revere us as goddesses...all of them."

She chuckled. "Who wouldn't?" she quipped, then grinned and moved her lips to Dani's throat, kissing her way down. "Tonight, though," she whispered, "let's focus only on our love. That will be the one thing to keep us strong through this all."

"Yes," Dani breathed. "Our love above all else, and everything else below us." She slid a hand down between Nieme's legs and slipped her fingers between the folds of her lover's sex. "I love you, Nieme."

She sighed with joy at the sensation. "And I love you," she murmured, then allowed Dani to stir her passions once more, although it was an easy task.

They were bound again through love and a lust for power - now Dani shared it with her, which meant they truly were a combined force to be reckoned with. Much like the sandstorms of the desert that levelled anything in their path, Nieme and Dani would sweep into Arcadia together, and not a single person who stood in their way would live to tell the tale of their foolish heroics, especially with Dani and Nieme dancing on their blood.

---

"Rough Landing"
By: Robin Black [NPC+]
Anne [NPC]
Lotheran [NPC]

Location: Starport, New Plouton
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

Steam rolled away as the freighter descended onto the landing platform. Its thick hull was barely scorched from the attacks it had received in space. Most of the damage had come from the close proximity to the gas giant, several hull plates had buckled and in a few places bare wires were exposed from plates that had been ripped from the hull. The freighter set down heavily with a loud thunk! which caused even the worker droids around the platform to look up curiously. Robin climbed out of the ship and patted the side of the ship affectionately. "A good landing," he commented.

"I don't think so," Anne disagreed. "You buckled a landing gear in that landing and it will require repair before we take off."

"My dear," Robin smiled. "A good landing is one you can walk away from, a great landing is one where you can use the ship again afterwards."

"I'll see to getting the ship repaired," she replied haughtily, pulling the collar of her uniform up. "You see the spaceport master about port fees and about getting rid of our cargo, some of the stuff we have isn't exactly sanctioned by Republic law."

"No worries," Robin smiled. "I know just the place to get rid of it." He looked around. "Also I don't think the Republic will be to interested in mild contraband when compared with keeping public order." Robin strode away. His two pistols rattled in his belt as he stepped into the small prefab office of the harbour master. "Greetings." Robin smiled to the man behind the desk. He wore a smart republic uniform but his unshaven appearance contrasted radically with it.

"You the one who just put a dent in platform four?" the man asked

"Uhuh!" Robin replied. "I'll pay for the damages, although I think my ship bore the brunt of it. You've got a serious pirate problem up in the skies." Robin smiled, "But never mind, I made it in one piece which is all that matters, but you better look into that or you'll find your customer base dropping like flies."

The man blinked. This tall strong man was acting weirdly even for off worlders. "Alright it's five credits a night, cheaper if you pay in local currency."

"Will you accept payment this evening? I've got to do a deal with some one first then I'll have local currency."

The man eyed Robin suspiciously. "Alright but you'll have to leave something here as collateral." The man greedily eyed Robin's shield generator hanging from his belt. Robin deliberately placed his hand over it.

"I don't think so." Robin smiled. "However I do have something you can hold onto." Robin drew one of his blaster pistols. "This is a very powerful weapons jacketed laser - punches through armour and bone and pretty much anything. I'll leave this here, but for gods' sake don't go and fire it."

"Why not?" the man asked, picking the weapon up.

"Because it's keyed to my bio signature, the pads on the handle will fry your hand off if you try to use it." Robin shrugged. "Just a warning."

"Pah!" The man growled, tossing the weapon to the table. "Alright but be here by sunset or I'll lock your ship down."

"Can't say fairer than that." Robin nodded. "Now do you know where I can get hold of a transport to take me to Thanatos?"

The man looked at him suspiciously. "Why would you want to go out to that dust bowl?"

"Forget it." Robin shrugged and left the office. He had to admit that he felt quite naked without one of his pistols. He walked out of the shipping yards, swiping his identi card so he could get back in. It was clear that a lot of cleaning up had been done since the last time Robin had walked the streets of New Plouton. It almost seemed, to the untrained eye, that peace and order had been returned. "Right." He flicked the cigarette out and stood on it smothering the smoking stick. "Time to organise transport."

Finding a trader didn't take Robin too long. No matter what the world was like they always tended to hang out in similar bars. Luckily for Robin this man didn't seem to be the most legitimate of all dealers. He was a fairly jovial man by the name of Lotheran, he was human, or at least mostly. His eyes seemed slightly too large and his skin a might bit too bronze but he managed to pull it off. Loth tossed his long blonde hair as he looked at the list of Robin's cargo.

"You want to sell this?" Loth asked, amazed. "I hear some amazing stories here in the outer rim but if I had a bounty like this I would want to keep hold of it, you've got tobacco, liquor, several bio genes." Loth looked up. "Those are banned, you know."

"So is much of my stock," Robin countered.

"Ok tell you what." Loth leaned back. "I'll give you five thousand Imperial credits for the lot."

Robin leaned forward and looked deep at Loth. "You know I could get at least double that in Thanatos."

"Hey, wake up, man, Thanatos is a dump, you'll be lucky to get five credits for this. They are broke. They spent all of their cash fighting the Imperials."

"People would find the money for this." Robin smiled. "You know as well as I do that during times of depression people pay dearly for booze, as for the other things..." Robin turned the list around. "I noticed you didn't mention anything about the Tesla power charges."

"Those are also banned," the man warned. "Those things are used in disruptor rifles, sniper rifles."

Robin nodded. "And because of that they're worth even more."

"Alright, alright," Loth nodded. "I'll tell you what, if you give me two thousand credits, we'll both go to Thanatos with your supplies and sell them there."

Robin leaned back. "Five hundred."

"Five hundred!" Loth gasped. "A man's got to live, make it a grand."

"Six hundred, no more." Robin looked around the bar. "And you know you've got an exceptionally good deal. Have you got contacts there?"

Loth nodded. "If they're still alive."

"Right then, we head off later today."

"Today?" Loth winced. "That will take some effort."

"If you want your money you'll make the effort. I'm the huge freighter on hangar 32."

"Alright, I'll be there. Since you've got your own ship why don't you just fly to Thanatos?" Loth asked

"Two reasons really." Robin shrugged. "One, I buggered up the landing gear landing, and two, I don't have the sales man techniques you have."

Loth nodded at that and returned to his drink. "I'll see you in two hours."

"I'll be waiting." Robin smiled.

***

A servo buzzed as a droid tried to pry it loose. The droid then beeped in frustration and tried again. Anne, her beautiful face covered in oil looked down with annoyance. "That oaf has stranded us here."

"Did I hear you mention my name?" Robin asked, strolling up.

"I have spent an hour looking for a droid mechanic to help us repair this gear. When I find one I then find out that it will cost five hundred credits to get the parts to replace this damaged unit," she snapped. "And you leave me here to deal with it all!"

Robin leaned forward over her and the droid. He looked down into her eyes then up at the servo. "I see the problem." Robin smiled, reached forward, brushing against Anne's body. He then, with considerable force, wrenched the unit free. He dangled it in front of her face. "All it needs is a tender touch," Robin leered. "Right, in an hour I'll be off with the supplies to Thanatos, probably won't be back before tomorrow morning. Could you try and arrange a meeting with the Jedi for then?"

"Sure," Anne said, pulling herself out from under the ship.

There was a gentle hum. A medium sized land train pulled around the landing pad and stopped. Loth climbed out of the passenger seat. "Hello, hello, hello," he repeated. "What do we have here then? A very tasty little woman!" Loth stepped forward and with a great amount of flattery took Anne's hand and kissed it. "May I say it is an honour to be in the presence of such a beautiful lady." Anne clenched her fist and pulled it away, giving Loth a fat lip. "Clearly not that much of a lady," he mumbled, dabbing at his lip. "Are you ready, Robin?"

"Let's get going, before she does more than give you a fat lip," Robin mumbled, walking around to the loading bay of the freighter.

---

"Return to Tae'Karada"
By: Jerek Welder

Location: Onboard the Transport Tor'Ias
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

Jerek sat in his assigned seat, staring at the floor, still angry at the New Republic...angry at Vicks. He placed his hand under his chin, placed his elbow on his thigh for leverage and looked up at the small computer console in front of him. He used up the majority of his funds just to get on this freighter to get back to Tae'Karada. He needed to find Vicks to "pay" him back. He had done his research on Vicks and learned of a relative, who happened to be travelling to Tae'Karada. He was tough to track down, but Jerek had his connections. Vyn Kether was his name, and smuggling was his game. Jerek had some interesting plans for this one, that is if he couldn't find Vicks first.

He watched intently as the console read '10 minutes until Arrival'. He sighed as he pushed a button beside him, opening a panel covering a small observation window. Off in the distance, he could see Tae'Karada and all its brilliance. At this moment, Tae'Karada was the center of the universe. The stars around it complemented its beauty. Usually, this sort of sight would bring comfort to a space weary traveller, but to Jerek it was just fuel for his flame of anger. He waited patiently as the timer went down to 5 minutes...then 4...then 3...then 2...then 1...

"Attention all passengers, we have landed safely at New Plouton. Would all passengers please leave the transport."

Jerek stood up almost immediately. He had something planned for Vicks and his cousin, Vyn, but first he needed funds. The only person he could think of was his previous employer: Jadda The Hutt....

---

"Career Change"
By: Jerek Welder
Jadda the Hutt

Location: Tae'Sollar Gauntlet
Date: Lythe 11, 4ABY

***

Jerek stepped out of the speeder and thanked the driver. This was where Jadda was, at least that was what he was told. He walked up to the Arena entrance and looked around. He heard the cheers and the sounds of podracers pour out from the inside and then focused on one of the guards standing there. He walked up to him with his hands open, showing a sign of goodwill.

"I need to speak to Jadda the Hutt..." said Jerek.

The guard looked at Jerek and studied him for a while, with his blaster rifle always pointed at the man. He had not been told about an incoming appointment, but then again he wasn't told much at all... "Do you have an appointment?" he decided to ask, to make sure.

Alas, it wasn't necessary for Jerek to answer. Before that, a yellow skinned female Twi'lek appeared from behind the guard and placed her hand in his shoulder as if to tell the guard to stand down. "This is Mr. Jerek Welder..." she told the guard. "Please follow me Mr. Welder?" she asked him.

As Jerek was let past the guards, the female Twi'lek turned to face him with a smile. "Jadda's informants told us of your coming here. His excellency is waiting for you. Please..." she pointed out to a curtain, as if to show him the way.

"Thank you," said Jerek with a grin as he quickly glanced over the Twi'Lek before brushing the curtain aside and entering.

"Jerek Welder... Bonta jooda boos pit ish nouda! Ishoo thungo tchoola ib dangee bantoo, chunga oob talloo na busha mindoo!" the large Hutt said. The protocol droid translated. "Master Jadda welcomes you, Jerek Welder, his favourite pit fighter. He also says that he has a proposition for you if you would consider working for him."

"I am at your service. It would be my pleasure to be re-employed by you," said Jerek with a smile.

"Doucha! Ini whanna wanga doos aboota credits shoola nisoo bantoo beepa Ord Mantell. Shouda noos inboo oot wandoo credits..." Jadda said. The droid translated once more. "Master Jadda is content by your anxiety in wanting to work. There is a small-time criminal in Ord Mantell. Master Jadda wants you to collect from him the credits that he owes..."

"And if he refuses...?" Jerek asked, knowing the answer but wanting to hear Jadda say it was all right.

"Rancoor fodder!" Jadda rasped. It was clear that it was ok to kill the man if he didn't pay up, so the protocol droid translated nothing.

Jerek grinned. It was nice to be back in the fighting business. "Consider it done. Just a few questions...is there a ship I can use? I will return it in pristine order of course. Also, where would this man be and what is his name?"

Jadda waved his hand and the same female Twi'lek who brought him came forward and stopped next to Jerek. She handed him a datapad. "All the info is right there in that datapad. The name and known locations of Kyle Silus' business as well as all the personal data that could be gathered. As for transportation, you will be assigned a modified Z-95 Headhunter capable of doing point seventy-five past lightspeed," she told him.

"I'll be back soon," said Jerek as he winked and walked out.

"We'll be waiting..." the female replied with a smile.

---

"Dark Alliance, Part 3"
by Nieme Yaresh
and Vorgoth

Location: Jadda's Palace
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

The torch lit room was totally empty, except for the one man standing in the middle. No more rocks, no more boulders. Just dark sand and the torches with the fire crackling. He was facing the only door to the room as he awaited her arrival. All the other passages were too small for any human to pass at all. He held his lightsaber and toyed with it. He was impatient and didn't like to wait, and she was already supposed to be there.

He heard her then approaching the room, still in the corridor. As soon as she entered and he could see her he growled low. "You are late! I don't like to stand waiting!" he told her.

"I had a late night," she explained sourly, recalling Dani's plaintive cries ringing through the Force into the early hours of the morning. Nieme hadn't replied, and simply sat awake listening. Stepping into the center of the room, she planted her hands on her hips in a pose that reeked of impudence. "I'm here now. Can we get on with this?"

"I'm sure you're aware that you can move faster than a regular person with the aid of the Force, so I'll skip that part of the lesson..." Vorgoth said. "This ability grants you advantage over most people. You can move faster, therefore you can strike them before they strike you. Now, no matter what you learned from your former master, the best defense is offense. If a foe cannot strike he will never hit," he explained in a low base tone. "So, if he kicks you, you break his legs. If he punches you, you break his arms. Is this clear to you?"

Nieme sighed, exasperated. "I'm not an idiot!" she told him. "And if he looks at me, I'll break his neck. Okay?"

Vorgoth laughed, as if he was amused, even though his laughter was almost inaudible. "Ahh, but to break may not be so simple... One must know how. It is more than strength, it is technique. That is why you are here. I will teach you that arrogance will do you nothing if you cannot comply it with actions. Let's say a Jedi threatens your life and you are without a lightsaber. What would you do?"

"Fight them with my bare hands," Nieme replied simply. "What else can I do? Run?" She snorted derisively. "Only cowards run away from a battle."

"Good... We have that settled then. I expect no coward actions. But one thing you must realise. Even though it takes time, if you learn to fight with your bare hands you may not need to draw your lightsaber," the Zabrak explained. "Now, hit me..." he said as he moved to a fighting defensive stance.

Nieme rolled her eyes, growing weary of deferring to Vorgoth, but he would get his in time. Sighing, Nieme cocked back her arm and launched it forward at Vorgoth's face. The Zabrak easily sidestepped the punch, and Nieme stumbled forward. Frowning, she turned to face him again. "Happy?"

Vorgoth chuckled as he watched the girl. He moved his arms as if to punch her but kicked her instead, which made her stumble back a few steps. "This isn't a game, young girl. I'm sure you can try better than that... Put a little feeling into it!" he shouted at her.

Nieme sneered and leapt at Vorgoth with fists flying. He dodged each, barely moving, and frustrated Nieme's efforts. Her anger was boiling over and the darkness rushing into fill her. She spun around quickly amidst her punches and arced out her leg. This time, her foot managed to graze Vorgoth's abdomen, but he moved back in time to avoid the brunt of it. Nieme came out of the spin and watched Vorgoth, breathing heavily. "Better?" she asked impishly.

Vorgoth grinned and Force pushed her to the ground. He laughed, watching her fall on her back. "Stop trying to impress me, and hit me! You're not trying hard enough! Release the hatred within you. It will empower you!" he told her.

Nieme growled, "I am!" and flew to her feet again. She rushed towards Vorgoth the moment she was upright. Their battle was fierce and rapid, with pure order and fluidity to their actions despite the chaotic emotions fueling their power. Each of Nieme's kicks and punches were blocked or deflected, and Vorgoth was faring better, but not by much.

What Nieme lacked in strength, she made up for in speed and agility. A backflip allowed her to elude a violent kick aimed for her stomach, and a twirl spun her away from a fist that would have crushed her trachea. As Vorgoth had advised, Nieme sought her hatred for him, her disdain for the man who thought himself superior to her, and her sorrow, for the lover she had lost. All of it was enough to summon the darkness to her, and with a cry of pure rage and angst, Nieme twisted around and cracked her elbow into his jaw from behind. She felt the impact and immediately leapt away from him before Vorgoth could riposte. The fighting paused, and Nieme watched him with a narrowed gaze and in a low defensive stance. "Surrender yet?" she whispered.

The Sith Zabrak rubbed his jaw with his right hand from the hit inflicted upon him. It was painful, but even so, there was a soft wicked smile that could be traced out of his lips. "That was a lot better..." he whispered. "But not enough!" he answered as he ran towards her. She drove a punch that he deflected to his left side, making her lose her guard sideways. He gave her no chance to make up for it and kicked the back of her leg, sending her down on her knees. His arm locked around her neck, while he pulled her hair with his other hand. "I could take your life this very instant if I wanted to..." he warned her just before he let her go free and pushed her down to the ground with his foot. "Almost pathetic! But you'll learn more with time. Now I will show you why the dark side is a lot stronger..."

Nieme rolled onto her back and grinned slyly at Vorgoth. With a subtle wink, she held out a hand to him. "Show me," she whispered.

"I think you can get up without me helping..." Vorgoth said with his arms crossed. She shrugged, still smiling sultrily, and rose. "Now, the Dark Side is stronger. And it doesn't take as much time to learn because it is already within you! You didn't need to be taught to walk straight because it was in your nature. So is the Force and its powers. For instance, you can use the Force to give you greater speed and strength. You just felt that when you fought with me. But that was a mere glimpse... There is so much more. Can you summon Force lightening?" he asked her.

Nieme sighed and shook her head. "My lover, she could. I've never..."

"Then you will learn!" Vorgoth interrupted. "It is one of the great skills of the Sith. It induces great pain on the victim..." he grinned. "It is as an extension of your anger turned into lightning. Harness all your hatred for those who have corrupted you in the past, all those who wronged you and betrayed you, all those who deserve to die. Harness all that and feel yourself becoming stronger, more powerful. And then release it in lightning!"

The lightning itself was a symbol of all he spoke, for it reminded her of Dani, the one whose betrayal hurt her most. "Those Jedi," she spat through clenched teeth. "If I could kill them all in a single strike...." Darkness roiled in the pit of her gut and made her tremble with its intensity. She thought of Dani, of her lost love who had turned herself over to the enemy. Nieme growled and the air around her crackled with electricity, making the hair on her nape stand upright. All her hatred, pain, and desire for revenge focused into a single fork of lightning skipping off her fingers and scattering into harmless sparks against the ground. "I hate them," she rasped. "And together, we can destroy them, Master."

Vorgoth laughed outloud. He could almost taste the hatred pouring from Nieme. "Yes, with time we will... But for now you must praise yourself. Look at all the power you unleashed. No Jedi unleashes power such as this! And that is why the Dark Side is strong."

Nieme looked down at her hands, and blinked in disbelief at the blazing white electricity rolling off her fingertips. She laughed, then, a wicked, mischievous sound of darkness manifest. "The Jedi are weak," she proclaimed. "And that's why we shall eliminate them, Master."

"They are weak..." he echoed. "Now, in the next room is a physical training that I want you to run. You will run it everyday, and each day it will be harder to surpass. This will help you become more agile and faster, as well as alert to traps. Remember, there are no rules..." he told her. "I will be waiting at the end of the room," he said as he motioned to the door, so she could enter the next room.

Nieme watched Vorgoth with a raised eyebrow, then studied the door. Even without opening it, she could sense the danger awaiting her on the other side. "A game," she sang, then grinned at her master and sauntered towards the door. It parted before her, and already she could hear the grinding of metal gears and the slicing of razor-sharp blades cutting through the air. Every two meters, there was a five meter wide gap in the floor, followed immediately by a contraption of swinging blades dropping from opposite sides and crossing, then rising once more. Nieme snorted at Vorgoth, and asked, "Is that all you've got?"

"Like I said, they will become harder and harder with time!" he shouted. "But less talk. Let's see you pass this first one!" he rasped.

Nieme smirked and diverted her attention from Vorgoth to the course before her. All her focus was upon the falling blades, and timing the precise moment when they crossed, which would be the moment Nieme was impaled if she wasn't careful. When her mind was perfectly clear, the darkness gripped her and her senses burst open to full awareness. Danger loomed before her, and behind, where Vorgoth stood, was amusement. She would show him the extent of her power, and he would quail beneath it.

Grinning viciously, Nieme launched herself over the large gap with little effort at all, and landed on the next platform. The blades had just begun their ascent, and before they could sweep down again towards her, she was leaping over the next gap. She experienced a surge of euphoria and the heady rush of knowing one was unstoppable, especially with the Force at her command. There was no doubt, only the knowledge that the blades would never touch her, nor could Vorgoth unless she wished him to. Oh, and how she did...

She chuckled lecherously as her feet touched the final platform, and the droids there wheeled towards her. Their guns rose and aimed. A shrill, exuberant cry broke from her lips in challenge, and Nieme's lightsaber was summoned into her hand. As she somersaulted the short distance to the droids, her weapon ignited, and they let off a single shot each where she should have been. Instead, she landed between them, and with quick precision they pivoted to face her. Her weapon sliced fast and in smooth, deadly arcs to cleave the ends off their blasters, and with a triumphant, guttural yell, she spun with blinding momentum to sever their mechanical heads from their bodies. Before they could roll off their shoulders, the droids were already toppling to the ground. Nieme watched them with self-satisfaction and a touch of pride. They weren't a true test of her power, but she still found enjoyment in their destruction.

Vorgoth approached Nieme. As it was, he had passed the course right after her and had watched as she severed the droids. "You have done well. But this was a simple test. They will become harder with each passing day... I have nothing more to teach you today. But take this datapad. There you will find information about the human body and its weaker spots. I expect you to know them all tomorrow, or it will be your downfall," he grinned.

She chuckled languidly as her gaze fell to his groin. "Oh, I think I've got a headstart on that..." Nieme grinned and snatched the padd from Vorgoth's grip, then waved at him cutely and sauntered away.

Vorgoth watched Nieme as she left. He sneered at the girl's freshness. He didn't think she was ready to be a Sith. She was imprudent, overconfident and much too lazy. But she would learn. And even though he would rather kill Nieme than teach her, letting her live was seductive because it could serve him also...

---

"A Journey Begins"
by Nyah Darasar
and Kal'Aran

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

Nyah found herself just gazing at the landscape. It wasn't really a surprise that she was having trouble calming her mind. This was all new to her yet she couldn't forget her father's words, contained within the information Kiana had given her. She had no way to know where destiny would lead her from here.

"Thoughtful?" someone asked from behind her. It was Jedi Master Kal'Aran. He had moved next to the girl who was new at the Temple. "I recall that I was just as thoughtful as you are now when I was first taken to Coruscant to begin my training," he smiled.

She met his gaze, "I'm assuming that you at least had a good idea that this was to be your destiny, Master. For me I didn't know much about my past until recently. That was at the insistence of my father many years ago, when I departed Mirial with Kiana."

"So you have questions that make you wonder about what lies ahead... Like I put it, thoughtful," he smiled gently.

Standing there Nyah returned his smile. "Yes thoughtful is a very good way to describe my current state of mind."

Kal'Aran folded his arms and watched the sky while a few birds flew by. "There are always questions to which there may not be an answer yet, and it is ok to wonder about those answers. That is what brought ages forward. Curiosity. But you shouldn't worry, for some of those answers come with time," he told her with a soft smile. "You must learn patience. For that, among other things, you are here. And you are most welcome."

Nyah's gaze drifted between Kal'Aran and the landscape surrounding them. "I was not expecting an all encompassing answer, Master. Yes, I do have questions, but just as much as that I'm also finding this journey is to learn about myself and my family as much as it is my potential as a Jedi Padawan."

"Indeed. I don't believe you would be here to train in the Jedi arts and ways if you were not a promising person, strong with the Force..." Kal'Aran commented.

"But something tells me our current topic of conversation is not exactly why you sought me out?" she surmised.

"I just came here because we hadn't been formerly introduced, and I found it would be nice to welcome our newest Padawan," he answered. "Do you know with whom you will be training yet?"

Nyah shook her head. "No, I know very little at this time of how my formal training is to proceed. My father's instructions were rather vague just that I was to seek formal training when the time was right. He also indicated that individual would not be from my home world."

Kal'Aran nodded with a smile. "I don't believe that would be too hard, considering that there are no Jedi Masters from Mirial here," he smiled. He then looked into the girl's eyes. "Don't worry. The council will assign you someone soon."

With a smile she nodded, "Yes, you are right about that, Master." Nyah was interested to see where all of this would lead. She couldn't recall how long it had been on her planet since a Jedi was trained under a non-Mirilian.

Kal'Aran glanced at the nearby trees. "I would like to hear more of your past, though... What have you been doing these past few years, with the rebellion and the civil war with the galactic empire?" he asked.

"Well for lack of a better way to put it, I've essentially been in hiding. Kiana and I left my home planet while I was still rather young. We've been traveling to various friendly planets biding our time and staying out of the Empire's grasp." Nyah's words were sincere. So far there really wasn't much of a story to tell.

"So it has been for the most of us..." Kal'Aran told her. "But tell me, when was it that you discovered you had a unique and rare touch with the Force?"

Nyah thought about the question for a time before answering. "I was still nothing more than a young girl. Agility came naturally, very naturally in fact. On occasion it's felt like I've sensed something yet it does not come of my own will or control. More than a bit startling," she admitted quietly.

He smiled. "It will become clear with time as you get to learn to control those abilities. All Jedi have a few equal traits, such as agility and the ability to use the Force to control certain things, almost in a telekinetic way. But some possess the abilities to be more skilled in certain abilities than others. In the old Republic days, there were Jedi Healers as well as Scholars, Knights and Vigilants. And all shared a very special gift, which was their connection to the Force. You have it as well, Nyah," he told her. "Perhaps one day we can become keepers of peace once more."

Kal'Aran's words comforted her more than she thought possible. More than anything Nyah wanted to see the day he spoke of. Spending her life of the run up until this point had not been easy. Piece by piece she was learning of that spectacular and special gift she'd been given. "I have heard about that time but don't know much about it. Only what my father or guardian told me."

The Jedi Master looked at the girl. "It wasn't perfect because there was much politics and bureaucracy. People discussed too much in the senate and things became a game of speech and rhetoric. And there was always one or another battle between opposing sides. But, all in all, it was a time when things were fought with words rather than actions," he told her. "And in those more civilized days, the Jedi acted as peacekeepers so that confrontations played little part in the lives of people. And that is what it's all about, Nyah. Respect for life and safety for all..." he smiled.

"I have come to believe that perfect is a state nearly impossible to achieve. But from what you've said so far those days were better than the almost constant state of war we've lived so long with now," Nyah commented in a matter of fact tone. In her travels she had seen many things, a good number of them to be feared.

"But still, the Emperor is gone and what was once the Galactic Empire is ceasing to exist more and more with each passing day. There may still be a few remnant but their numbers are rapidly decreasing. I believe that we are approaching a more peaceful era, and that can already be seen here at Tae'Karada. The acting Regent is a Jedi..." he commented.

Nyah had to agree with that. "A day we have waited a long time for, Master. Tae'Karada's freedom is what allows me to finally seek formal training as a Jedi."

Kal'Aran nodded ever so slightly, closing his eyes more than tilting his head. The girl seemed to be a truly calm one. He had known a few Mirialan Jedi. The names he recalled were that of Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and her Padawan, Barriss Offee. Most unique and talented in lightsaber dueling, he recalled. Perhaps Nyah was destined to be grand as well.

"Hopefully the rest of my family had remained safe all this time," she commented quietly.

"What does your heart tell you?" he asked simply.

She considered that for a moment. "I have not felt anything to truly be concerned about, yet I haven't heard from them in quite some time."

Kal'Aran sighed. He still wasn't sure on where he stood on the issue of family and Jedihood at the same time. Perhaps it wasn't so bad as they had deemed it in the past Old Republic days, but there was always a chance that it could divide a person. And then again, Kael had both and he was a good example of how both could be united. "Perhaps you could visit your home planet sometime soon. I recall travelling a lot in my padawan days. It is a good way to learn new things," he smiled.

Nyah smiled. "Perhaps, but not at the expense of my training. I only wonder because my father would have been my first instructor if the Empire didn't force a drastic change in plans."

"Family rarely makes for good instruction in the Jedi ways. It is better for someone else to do it," the Jedi Master commented. "But don't worry. You will have the chance to go back home and see them in time. And it will not be compromising your training. In fact, it may even be part of it!" he smiled. "One of the good things in Jedi training is that you can do it almost any place."

As their conversation continued Nyah saw the wisdom in Kal'Aran's advice and comments. This would indeed be a very interesting journey. "Worry? I never said precisely that I was worried, Master."

"But still, it is natural to worry about the safety of our loved ones..." he commented. He looked again at the trees, not too far off. "I think you have it in you to become a great Jedi someday."

Nyah had to smile at his compliment. "You are quite correct, it is natural. It can also be distraction if one lets it."

"Many things can be a distraction. Sometimes family can be a source of strength rather than a distraction. What can cause a disturbance is if one lets life to be divided between family and training. Other than that, I find it a source of equilibrium," he nodded. "Come, let us go inside. Soon the Council will reunite and you will be nominated padawan to one of the teachers here."

As they prepared to head inside, Nyah simply nodded. He was right, the time had come. Whether she fully understood or not, at this point, this was a moment Nyah Darasar had waited a long time for. "I look forward to it."

---

"Dealing in Casinos"
by Gengis Zibel [NPC+]
Alicia Ashantee Gardan
and Garnet Seifer (as Lady Ammut)

Location: The Sibyl Casino, Yelldon, New Plouton
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

The large black hard top stylized speeder came to a full stop just near the sidewalk. It was right where a building stood. It had been under construction and it was yet to be at its full potential. But that could be worked with time... She got out of the car and walked right up to the front door, followed by her personal bodyguard, a young looking female niponic girl. There was no doorman, no one guarding the front entrance.

She sighed and opened the door herself, somewhat surprised to find the door unlocked. The entrance was large and refurnished. Not a bad decoration, but she could imagine something better. A few gambling tables and machines, but nothing much. "Anyone here?" she called out once inside the building, her voice echoing through the room.

"Tell your security personnel to put their guns on the floor and keep walking to the center of the room." The voice that came from somewhere paused. "Don't make any sudden moves, is that clear?"

Alicia didn't even blink. She had been in a lot worse situations than this. She snapped her fingers only to see her personal bodyguard place her blaster on the floor. Both women walked slowly to the center of the room. "I mean no harm to anyone. I'm looking for the owner for a business proposition, and the front door was open, so I came in. This is not a good way to make acquaintances..." she said loudly.

Nobody answered Alicia. There was no sound at all. "You're clear to proceed to the elevator."

She crossed her arms and didn't walk. "Why would I go to the elevator? If you're here and I'm here, then I suggest you come to me. Besides, isn't it courtesy to meet your guests the nearest possible to the front entrance?" she asked sarcastically.

No response was given. A man exited from the elevator still catching his breath and approached Miss Gardan, raising his arms. "Stop! Steady your weapons! That's an order!" the man said. He was about the same height as Alicia. He looked at her and gave a warm smile. "Miss Gardan. I'm Mr. Levitz, chief of security. We spoke earlier. You should have warned me that you were arriving earlier..." the man said while bowing and kissing Alicia's right hand gently.

Alicia nodded. She couldn't care less for formalities and would rather have had a handshake, but it wouldn't be kind to not let the man have his ways. "Mr. Levitz, I hope you don't treat all your guests this way. You might not have clients coming in if you do. Please do keep that in mind," she said coldly. She glanced at the room once more. "Where is Mr. Zibel?"

"This way, Miss Gardan." He pointed to the elevator from where he had come. They entered, and as the elevator doors shut, it started to ascend. "I'm terribly sorry about earlier, Miss Gardan, but it seems that someone doesn't like the idea of a casino in New Plouton or something. We have a tight security because of the incident that we had about two weeks ago. That is why you should have contacted me before coming here," he sighed as he looked at the bodyguard who was next to Alicia.

"Well then, in that case you should have either locked the front doors or someone standing next to it!" she told him. "And a word of advice. If you're going to open a casino, you might want to consider less hostile ways to approach someone, because no one will enter a place that threatens your life. And believe me when I tell you that none of his friends will either. If you continue that line you will go bankrupt before you get to have your first client come inside. You wouldn't be glad to be the one responsible for that, would you?" she asked rhetorically. She didn't wait to hear his answer. As soon as the doors opened she stepped out and walked towards the large red double doors that were obviously the way into Zibel's office. Alicia's bodyguard opened the door for her to pass.

Walking inside, she could see the well furnished room with comfortable looking cushions and small decorative statues and paintings. Across the room was a large desk and a man seated behind it. "Mr. Zibel, I assume?" she said.

Gengis picked up a cigarra and lit it. He looked at the woman and the niponic girl; his lips were busy with the cigarra but on the edge of his mouth he was able to launch a smile. "Miss Gardan! Welcome to my humble home. Sorry if there was any inconvenience with the security downstairs. I assure you that it is only temporary. We have been receiving some threats and we don't know where they are coming from or who is making them, but it's better to be on our toes," he said as he smoked his cigarra. "Now... What can I do for you, Miss Gardan?"

"This place. You call this a casino?" she asked him directly. "You will never get guests worth having here if you don't improve...well, let's face it, almost everything really," she told him. "And that's where I come in. You need someone financially viable to be a sponsor to your casino. I know Jadda the Hutt granted you a gambling permit, and that will get the Hutts off your back, but you still need money to build and buy the things that are needed to have this casino grow to its full potential."

Alicia then took a few steps to the window. "Of course you must be wondering why you would want me to place the money in for you when you can very well ask Jadda for it. You could even ask Garnet Seifer herself. I'm sure she has money. I will tell you why... Because if you ask Jadda and the business grows, then you will be in his way and he will want more control and more out of your business. He will squeeze you out if needed and you lose everything! And Garnet, well, she isn't very well seen by the Intergalactic Bank, and without their approval you will never get a Casino permit... Unless you forge one. But since I know this, if you would happen to get a forged one, then I would get the inspection on you so fast you'd lose everything. So, in sum, I'm here to offer you a partnership," she said as she turned around to face Gengis.

Gengis clapped to Alicia's way of thinking, with his cigarra on his mouth. "Very impressive, Miss Gardan." He threw a smile to Alicia. "I like to do business with people like you. Direct, to the point, and will not waste time with bullshit! The truth was I was also going to make you a proposition for the Casino and the Hotel, for your excellent maneuver against Mr. Shozan."

"Mr. Shozan and I have no more pressing matters. He did not choose a good way to conduct business with me, so I played his game and beat him, but that has nothing to do with me being here," she said simply. "But I take it that you find my terms acceptable? I expect us to divide profits in 40 percent for me and 60 percent for you. This is not negotiable to a lower rate. So, do we have a deal, Mr. Zibel?"

"Yes, you have a deal, Miss Gardan. I like to make deals with people like you. And regarding Mr. Shozan, I would rather if you had killed him, but no matter. The humiliation is far better than death itself." He inhaled a bit of his cigarra and let the cigarra lay on his hand while breathing out the smoke.

"Good. It is settled then," she smiled. "I expect a full report of all you have here at the casino as well as a full report on all your personnel. I want to know their names, past history, where they live, and even their habits and hobbies. All the works!" she told Gengis as she shook hands with him. "And I will have my personnel check the place and re-assess what we will be needing. I hope you treat them more cordially than you treated me when I arrived."

Gengis got up and accompanied her to the doors of his office. "I guarantee you that yours was a unique situation, Miss Gardan. It will all be back to normal shortly. The reports will be sent to you in a few hours." He paused as he opened the door. Mr. Levitz was in the next room. "Mr. Levitz will accompany you to the exit. It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Gardan, and I hope to see you soon."

"The pleasure was all mine," Alicia nodded cordially to Gengis. She then turned to Mr. Levitz. "Please, after you," she gestured.

Gengis closed the door to the entrance of his office. This is the life! Gengis thought as he sat on his chair behind his big large desk. He inhaled his cigarra and threw the smoke out of his system. Gengis looked at the smoke as it dissipated in the air.

"Mr. Gengis," a voice called out of his desk.

"What is it?" he asked as he picked up a small portable comm.

"A call for you, Mr. Gengis. It's a Mr. Aeolus!" the voice replied.

Gengis frowned for a second and then realized who he was. He quickly looked at a small video wall. "Patch it through here, Miss Quen!" he ordered

The image appeared and facing Gengis on the video wall was someone with a long black cloak, with a hood covering her face completely. It was visible that it was a woman. Gengis looked and saw that next to this strange figure was Mr. Aeolus.

"Mr. Gengis I presume. So nice to meet you. I'm Lady Ammut, leader of the Thebesemones. You met Mr. Aeolus already..." Ammut said, making a simple gesture with her arm.

"Yes, I had that pleasure, Lady Ammut," Gengis replied without moving eyes from Ammut.

"To business then. Have you thought about my proposition, Mr. Gengis?"

"Yes, Lady Ammut and the answer is yes. I would be pleased to finance your organization," Gengis said as he got up from his chair.

"Excellent! Mr. Aeolus will meet you soon to discuss our deal to the letter. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Gengis..." Ammut said as she turned off the communication without giving Gengis time to say goodbye.

Aeolus turned to his Lady Ammut, with a smile.

"It is done. The puzzle is forming very nicely, Aeolus. Sometimes people need some encouragement!" Lady Ammut smiled behind her black hood.

"One thing I don't understand, my Lady. It was us who attacked and made those threats against Gengis and his workers. How we are going to protect him from us?" Aeolus asked.

"My young and naive friend, that was part of the plan! Pushing Gengis to become more nervous. The death of those workers and the threats were done nicely, Aeolus. Good work." Ammut got up and opened a small box, looking at the silver colored mask that was inside.

"My life is to serve you, my Lady," Aeolus vowed.

Ammut looked at the mask that looked like the face of a daemon. A female daemon. "Soon my beautiful one. Very soon." Ammut spoke to the mask, as she touched the mask gently. "The first person to see you, my beauty, is our new partner from the casino. Aeolus, arrange a meeting with Miss Gardan and if she does not want to, drag her here untouched by her hairs!"

"Yes, my Lady," Aeolus said has he bowed and exited Ammut's personal chamber.

---

"New Starts"
by Cole Slaton
Laedra Vorrel

Location: New Plouton
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

He sat in the cell leaning against the wall; the only sound was thuds from his head hitting the wall repeatedly. How the hell did he find himself here? What did he do to deserve this? How was he going to get out? He sighed, letting his head fall back against the wall, staring up at the low ceiling. There were no windows, only fours walls with the metal door with the small flap in the middle where the guards peered inside to make sure he was still there.

He already knew the distance from one wall to the other, from the bed to the door. "Five paces..." he whispered, looking from the bed to the door though his head remained perfectly still. He never even moved as he heard the large bolt slide free before the door swung in. Two guards stepped inside, the same who had visited him three hours ago; it was the reason his ribs burned and he was bleeding down the side of his face. "What? another round?" he asked, his eyes looking up at the men.

The one on the right sneered as he looked down at him. He went to close the gap between them but his partner held him back, whispering something in his ear. The large guard looked as though he wanted to pound Cole into the wall but something held him back. Was it fear?

"You have a visitor..." the other guard set, drawing Cole's attention.

"A visitor?" Cole was more than slightly surprised. No one could know him here - he'd just arrived. The guards stepped out of the cell, one almost dragging the other, leaving the door open.

As they passed through, a tall, lithe woman in long, brown robes stepped into the opening, her expression unreadable as she gazed down at Cole. Her eyes shifted towards the stream of drying blood trailing down his cheek, then found his gaze again. "Are you in much pain?"

Cole didn't reply at first, content to just stare at the woman. What did she want with him? And what was with the dorky looking robe? "I've had worse... What do you want? Who are you?" he asked. He didn't know why but he had a very strange feeling when he looked at her. He didn't know what it was and he didn't like it.

She smiled imperceptibly at the boy, and took a single step towards him. "If you wished, you could heal yourself and banish all pain. You have it within you to do so."

He flinched away from her, moving over to the corner of the cell, looking from her to the open door. He'd make a run for it though he knew the guards were waiting outside. How the hell did he know that? He looked back at the woman. "Look...whatever you're selling I ain't buying. What do you want? I haven't been here long enough for someone to visit and most of the time I've been locked up here. So what do you want..."

"I want nothing," she answered, stopping before Cole, physically blocking his route to the door. "My name is Laedra Vorrel." Her green eyes seemed to gleam as her cowl was folded back and the shadows once obscuring her features lifted. "I am a Jedi Master. And you have been making quite the disturbance. I decided I'd just drop by and see who it was making all the noise."

"Noise...disturbance...? What the fuck are you talking about?" He swallowed, though he had nothing in his mouth. He glanced at the door once more, though the woman had stepped so she was blocking the route. He was confident he could take her if he wanted to leave. The guards outside wouldn't suspect it.

"I wouldn't attempt that," Laedra cautioned him. "Even if you could get past me, they would likely shoot you down. Please don't. You have much potential, Cole Slaton. That should not be wasted."

He stood up straight against the wall, his mouth opened but no words came out. How the hell did she know that? I didn't say anything? Did I? "I don't know what you're trying to do..." he started. "But it won't work... It was self-defense, this is just another attempt to get me to confess! I won't! Nice job with the acting, though the robe is a bit out of date."

Laedra lifted a single eyebrow and spared a glance for her attire. She sighed, resigned. "Yes...I would imagine they are. These are the robes of a Jedi, Mr. Slaton. Those of our Order have been wearing the same for centuries." Her eyes narrowed slightly at the boy, and she stepped forward again. "Tell me, Mr. Slaton, what do you know of the Force?"

Cole shrugged, glancing around. For some reason he didn't like looking at her; whenever he did something seemed to want to come out of him. "Nothing much...just a lot of tricks to people, people scared of them...you..." His right hand started to shake. He closed his eyes as the pain returned, a thundering headache. "Not now...! Stop...stop..." He cringed, squeezing his eyes shut. The bed beside him started to shake, only slightly at first then violently. The door behind Laedra slammed shut, the noise echoing all around him.

But no sooner had it begun did the bed stop. The headache subsided, though it was slower than before. He felt something wet trickling from his noise. Touching his hand to his nose he looked down. Blood. "Holy shit..."

Laedra frowned, unfazed by the commotion. "So," she commented nonchalantly, "you do know of the Force."

Cole nodded, though very reluctantly. "I know some, enough, though the headaches haven't been that bad...nor the bleeding..." He glanced down at his hand, wiping his nose, finding the bleeding had stopped. "Doesn't matter... Looks like they won't rest until I confess and I won't be seeing the outside of a prison in little over fifty years."

"I think," Laedra answered with an enigmatic smile, "I can arrange something. Get yourself cleaned up, and I will return." She turned, her heavy robes swirling around her slender legs, then strode from the cell.

"I won't hold my breath..." he whispered. He wasn't sure if she had heard him or not, frankly he didn't much care. His head felt like his brain was three times its size pushing up against his skull. He just wished his head would explode and get it over with. Why did this have to happen to him? What did he do to deserve this? "I must have done something in another life..." Cole whispered, shrugging as he collapsed on the bed facing the metal door into his cell.

Outside, there were the muffled sounds of an uproar led by two gruff voices, one quickly silenced by a single, harsh command. The voice was detectably female. It was minutes later that Laedra Vorrel returned, still as serene and calm as when she had first arrived. "Come, Mr. Slaton. You are free."

Cole glanced through the open door and then back at her. "You're joking, right?" He didn't need her reply to tell him she wasn't. Not waiting for them to change their minds he stepped out from the cell. Slightly cautiously he came out into the corridor and saw the two guards watching him. The same two who had tried beating him into confessing; his ribs still burned from that metal baton they both carried. He took one look at the Jedi before turning back to the two guards.

He lashed out at them. First he kneed the large man in the groin, causing him to cry out in pain, driving the wind out of his lungs. Cole's hand reached out, gripping the other guard's hand which had gone for the baton on his side, pushing down on it so he couldn't draw it. Cole punched up with the palm of his hand, catching the guard's jaw cleanly, throwing him to the side into the wall. Cole slid the baton from the now unconscious guard, turning on the fat man, lifting it chin up with the end of the baton. "It's a good job she's here..." he whispered, indicating the Jedi with a nod. "If she was a bloke I would have done what you did to me back in that cell... Pray I don't see you in this life time." He turned, dropping the baton, which hit the ground behind him as he walked away, not wanting to stay there a second longer.

His exit was halted, as, in another instant, Slaton's back was pressed up against the wall by unseen hands, and he restrained there despite his efforts. With measured, paced steps, Laedra Vorrel strode towards him. "If you are to join us at the Temple," Laedra spoke to him calmly, despite her exasperation, "you will control your temper." She stopped before him, her face clearly hardened. "You will not act on your anger. To do so means a death worse than that of your physical being. It is darkness, despair, and no possibility of escape if you give in to it. You will decide, Mr. Slaton, and decide now which path you will choose: Darkness, or the Light. One leads to a new life, free of pain and suffering; the other..." Laedra swept one arm towards the cell he had once occupied. "It is up to you, Mr. Slaton."

He looked at the cell and the two guards, then back at the Jedi. "So what they say about Jedi is true... I'll come...anything to get out there..."

"No," Laedra told him flatly. "The decision cannot be made out of fear. Make it only because you wish to become a Jedi, which means, unfortunately, that you'll be required to wear these" --she gestured to her cloak-- "outdated robes."

He looked her up and down. They definitely were not his colour, or style - a beggar would probably turn them down. He nodded though. Being a Jedi wasn't why he came to this planet, but chances like this didn't come around every day. "I have some conditions... First - I only wear the robes in public, and once I'm a Jedi Master I make my own... Second - no nicknames... 'sport', 'tiger', 'kid' that sort of thing... Third - I want my own room."

"You will wear the robes when you are training, wandering the Temple, or acting as a representative of the Jedi in the city," Laedra countered. "You will adopt a Jedi name, but it will be of your own choosing, that I can grant you. But you will be sharing a room with another Padawan. I am afraid we cannot afford the luxury of giving each Padawan their own sleeping quarters." She smiled. "Agreed?"

It was worth a try... he thought before nodding. "Agreed... Can you release me now?" he asked, trying to get free, smiling as innocently as he could, though under the circumstances it wasn't very convincing.

Laedra inclined her head at him. "Of course." Then stepped back, allowing Cole to drop to his feet. She was already striding down the corridor before he could fully touch down. "Don't dawdle," she called back. "There's much to do."

He shook his head, looking around as if he could see what had been holding him. He looked over at the guards before following after the Jedi. "So what allowance do we get? How much a week?" he called after her.

Laedra sighed. "Mr. Slaton, you certainly do have much to learn."

"So I can pick out a name?" he asked once he was walking beside Laedra. "What about 'Devastator' or 'Vindicator' or 'Destructor'..." He rolled off names one after another after another, making Laedra nearly regret her decision more during each passing moment.

---

"Finding Happiness, Part 1"
By: Liam Zaneth
Yara Zaneth [NPC+]
Va'Lesh Zaneth [NPC+]

Location: En Route to Tatooine
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

Liam Zaneth smiled at Yara as she sat at the small table adjacent to the galley. She was watching her food intensely as she ate it, seeming to gain nothing from the experience but nutrition. He smiled and set aside the bowl he'd been eating from and moved to sit beside her. "It is alright to enjoy the food you're eating, Yara," he said. "When was the last time you felt relaxed outside of Jedi training, Yara? When was the last time you felt calm and at ease?"

"I am at ease now, Liam," Yara replied quizzically. "And isn't a Jedi always in training? You are a Jedi no matter what time of day it is, Liam. I do not understand your question."

"Are you enjoying your meal, Yara?" Liam asked. "Are you enjoying the taste of the food and sitting here at this table? Life is training, but you have to live within that life, not beside it. Eating a meal is more than nourishment. You must always be ready, but through the Force you can respond, rather than keeping your body coiled like a spring, ready to have all that tension released. You should relax, and you'll find that your experiences will have more joy in them, rather than just something to be catalogued within the recesses of your memories."

Yara nodded thoughtfully. "I will meditate on that, Liam. Thank you." Then returned her attention to the dish before her.

"Of course," Liam said with a smile as he watched her. "And, you're doing very well, Yara, especially now that Va'Lesh and Shaza no longer...well, you know."

"I had noticed that," she mentioned. "I had also noticed that she was upset with you. What had you done, Liam?"

"She enjoyed the time she shared with Va'Lesh, and she wasn't happy when it stopped. You see, Shaza and I agreed that we could see other people and be with other people, as long as we were open with each other about it. So, we both could be with other people, like she would have been with Va'Lesh and I would have been with you that one night, and our relationship would have still been fine."

"And is it not now?" Yara inquired.

"It is fine," Liam said. "Though, she feels that some of the freedom we've established has been taken away. Explaining that the decision also involves you and Va'Lesh didn't work very well on her."

"Perhaps," Yara said, spooning up some stew, "she requires some meditation as well to overcome her inability to accept the situation."

"Perhaps," Liam said. "I think she'll get over it in time, but for now, I think she's just a little bitter because of the opportunities she believes you're passing up."

"Va'Lesh and I have spoken about intimacy," Yara explained. "He wishes us to only proceed if we are both comfortable, and no sooner. Why should Shaza Nightshade concern herself with that?"

"The only reason I can think of," Liam said, "is because she still wishes to be with him. It's an emotional response to a situation. To have something, and then have it taken away...it can be difficult to adjust to the loss."

"But Va'Lesh was never hers," Yara pointed out sagely. "She seems to be quite an irrational woman, Liam Zaneth. Are you certain she does not require meditation?"

Liam chuckled. "Perhaps she does," he said. "She is irrational, but desire can make people do irrational things or want things irrationally. Perhaps it is because he is yours that she wants him. Or it could be that she wants him because of his talents in bed. She won't tell me exactly because she makes it a policy to never compare the men she's with. However, considering that Dargus Kandran had a hand in his development, I wouldn't be surprised if Va'Lesh weren't more endowed than the average man as well as innately far more talented."

Yara sighed and set down her spoon. Inclining her head, she regarded Liam sidelong and said, "Perhaps we should not discuss Va'Lesh's....talents."

Liam looked up and sighed. "Perhaps not," she said. "I'm sorry, Yara. Still, it is my firm belief that you should at least smile once in awhile. You are happy here, right?"

She turned her head fully to regard Liam, and answered straight- faced, "Of course." Then returned her attention to her meal.

"Of course," Liam said. He reached out with his Force senses, touching briefly on the spot where her emotions were, held back as if by the wall of a dam. He could only wonder what releasing those emotions would do to her, held back as carefully as they were. Best not to even find out, he thought, then sighed again. "Well, as long as you're happy. I'm going to go check on Shaza, you want me to send Va'Lesh back?"

"If it is not too much trouble, Liam." This time, she smiled for him, but as quickly as it had appeared, again it vanished.

Liam returned the smile. "It's no trouble at all," he said. "I'll see you again soon." With that, he slipped away from the galley and off toward the front of the ship, leaving Yara alone with her food.

It was minutes later, when she was depositing her bowl into the sink, that Yara felt Va'Lesh's approaching presence. She turned to greet him with a smile as he appeared in the doorway. "Hello, Va'Lesh."

"Hello, Yara," Va'Lesh said with a smile. "I hope you are well. I was learning how hyperspace lanes work. I would say that it was fascinating, but it really wasn't. How are you?"

"Fine," she answered; thinking back on her discussion with Liam Zaneth, she amended, "Happy."

"Happy?" Va'Lesh asked with a large smile. "I like it when you are happy. It makes me happy as well. How was your food? It smells like it was very good."

"It was fine," Yara answered. "Liam Zaneth is a very talented cook." She leaned against the edge of the counter and idly studied the tops of her boots. "How was Leshie? Is he asleep?"

"I checked him on my way to see you," Va'Lesh answered. "He is asleep in our room."

"I am glad." She smiled up at Va'Lesh again. "Liam Zaneth says you are well endowed. Is this so?"

Va'Lesh cocked his head to the side as he pondered her question. "I am not sure," he said. "Perhaps I am." He looked down at the front of his pants, then at her. "Without a source of comparison, I do not believe an adequate comparison could be made."

Yara shrugged. "It is not important. That is what he said, and that Father had given them to you."

Va'Lesh pulled the waistband of his pants outward and peered down inside. "I do remember Shaza Nightshade expressing particular interest in the size. I believe she was very impressed. If it is unimportant, then we can ignore it. However, we could ask Father, since he is a male as well, and equally equipped."

"No," Yara replied with a shake of her head. "It is unnecessary. Such things are not important to a Jedi."

Leshie nodded. "Of course not," he said. "Though, if they are not, why did you ask in the first place?"

Yara pulled her bottom lip through her teeth, and lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "It isn't important," she repeated.

"It was when you asked it," Va'Lesh answered. "Or you wouldn't have. But, it is alright to be curious. Look at the Jedi Knights and Masters we know who do engage in personal relationships, but still manage to maintain their standing as a Jedi."

"But not all Jedi must do so," Yara said. "I am curious...but it is not important to me, Va'Lesh, as it may be for you and Ms. Nightshade and Liam Zaneth. I guess...I am just different."

Va'Lesh reached out and took her hand into his own. "It is alright to be curious," he said. "It is alright if you would like to know more. It won't make you less of a Jedi, a soldier, or a person."

"I know this," Yara insisted, though she squeezed Va'Lesh's hand with her uncertainty. "Va'Lesh..." she whispered after a time, her face perturbed, "I do not like being here anymore. I-I want to be a Jedi. I do not like frequent talks of endowments, and sexual intercourse.... I just want to learn and meditate, and be a good Jedi." Gazing up at him with imploring eyes, she asked, "Why can we not just do that, Va'Lesh? Why?"

"I am sorry, Yara," he said gently. "I did not realize such things bothered you so greatly. From now on, we will focus on becoming Jedi, and that is all. No more discussions of the extraneous to keep us from our goals. I am sorry...I thought, incorrectly, that perhaps...they might be an interest to you because of our relationship. That shall not be a problem any longer. Please accept my apology." He bowed his head with regret.

"But it is not your doing," she whispered, and cupped his cheek in her hand. "It is Liam Zaneth and Shaza Nightshade's influence, Va'Lesh. We cannot help what they teach us...but we can refuse to learn if we so desire. We can be soldiers and Jedi... We can!"

"A part of me wishes to learn what they teach, for you," Va'Lesh answered. "I wish to experience pleasure with you, Yara. Now may not be the right time, but what they are teaching is something that a part of me wishes to learn for you. But, we must be Jedi and soldiers first."

"We cannot save Yelara Zaneth if we are not," she reminded him. "That should be more important now than learning about things we are not ready for." She tilted her head to one side, her expression curious. "Is that not right, Va'Lesh?"

"You are correct in principle," Va'Lesh answered. "However, I believe if studied more closely, as long as we moderate our activities, we could do both if we desired. Space travel can take a considerable amount of time, and while en route to a location, our activities will be limited."

"So...you wish to perform other activities with me?" she asked uncertainly.

"It would be a lie if I said I did not," Va'Lesh said. "Yes, Yara, I do wish that for us."

She frowned and lowered her eyes. "Then...am I wrong for not wanting it?"

"I do not believe you are wrong," Va'Lesh answered, though there was something in his voice that held a quality of wistfulness. "However, I thought, from earlier, that you enjoyed when we touched each other. It is alright if you do not. It means we have different needs and desires, that is all."

"I do enjoy," she told him quickly, taking a step closer. "I love you, Va'Lesh. We may kiss and touch...but we should not do more yet. It will take our focus away from what is important."

He reached out, placing his hands on her hips and gazing into her eyes. "Yes," he whispered. "I believe if we became too physical, it would be difficult to pull ourselves away. It is for the best."

She nodded silently, and sighed as she moved into Va'Lesh's arms. "I do not wish to lose your love," she whispered.

"You will never lose my love," Va'Lesh answered. "I shall love you until I am no longer able, Yara. And, there is nothing that can discourage my love for you." He pressed his lips to hers. "I hope that encourages you, Yara."

She sighed and leaned her forehead against his. "It does," she told him softly. "I do not mean to be so stern and unemotional. I will be better."

"Do you wish to be otherwise?" Va'Lesh asked. "I detect regret in your tone. Perhaps, if that is the case, when we are not actively training and are engaging in our own activities, you could allow yourself be more free to express your emotions. In either situation, I will love you as much as I always have."

"I will try," she agreed. "But it is difficult, Va'Lesh. It is as if Master Kandran programmed me to be this way...and I am too weak to go against that."

"I do not believe you are weak," Va'Lesh stated. "From what I have heard of Master Kandran, it is likely he would have created us with accelerated sexual appetites. Perhaps it is that you fight against that, out of fear of facing what lay beyond those emotions."

"Or perhaps I am a soldier and he created me without desires," Yara said. "Perhaps I am incapable of wanting to be with you, Va'Lesh."

"Do you have no desire at all to be with me?" Va'Lesh asked. He thought for a moment, then met her eyes. "Will you allow me to...to verify whether that is so, Yara? I promise that you will not be harmed in any way."

"I know you would not harm me," Yara whispered. "Please, Va'Lesh...please help me know for certain."

Va'Lesh gently pulled Yara back with him so they were out of view if anyone else entered the room. "I am going to touch you in a sensual manner," he said. "Your body's reaction to the touch should tell us if Master Kandran made you incapable of feeling such things."

"Have we not done this before?" Yara questioned him. "I do not disapprove," she added quickly, "but...." She smiled at Va'Lesh and squeezed his hand. "We shall try again."

Va'Lesh nodded, then slipped his hand down between her legs. He increased the pressure of his touch against her, searching for the spot where he knew he could cause her to feel pleasure. He found it easily enough, and found himself growing aroused as well. Touching Yara in this manner, it wasn't like touching Shaza Nightshade...with Yara, it was so much more intense. He took a long shuddering breath and concentrated on what his hand was doing.

Yara's normally impassive features changed - her brow furrowed and her lips trembled at Va'Lesh's touch. She remembered how satisfactory it had felt the first time they experimented with one another. It was just as pleasant now. Yara shifted closer to Va'Lesh, draping her arms over his shoulders and allowing him to attend to her. She sighed and brushed her lips against his cheek. "It has not changed," she whispered into his ear. "I...I like this, Va'Lesh."

Va'Lesh smiled. "That is very good," he whispered back. "Would you like for me to stop now, Yara? Or should I continue?"

"No," she breathed, shaking her head quickly. "You may continue, Va'Lesh. We...we must be certain, after all."

"Yes," Va'Lesh whispered as he used his other hand to ease open the catch on Yara's pants, so they could be certain. He looked up at her, and at her nod, continued. Once he was able, he slipped a hand inside of her pants. With each passing moment, the evidence of desire grew more apparent. He leaned forward and placed a kiss above where his hand worked.

Yara gasped and gripped Va'Lesh's shoulders to keep herself steady. "Is this what you do to Shaza Nightshade?" she asked timidly.

"I have done this with her," Va'Lesh answered. "She said that Liam Zaneth is very good at this part. She says he is an expert in knowing how to touch a woman. Shaza Nightshade enjoys when I do this." It wasn't easy to do so, but he leaned close and kissed between her legs, earning a gasp from her. "I know you don't approve of her, but I think she was a good teacher."

"Then you shall be mine," she breathed. She pushed her fingers through Va'Lesh's gleaming red hair and smiled. "Should we go to our room, Va'Lesh? Would that not be more comfortable?"

"It will be more comfortable," Va'Lesh whispered. He stood up and kissed her deeply. "Let us go. We must make certain that the feelings you are experiencing are genuine."

Yara nodded duteously. "I understand, Va'Lesh." Holding her pants closed with one hand, Yara slipped her other into Va'Lesh's. Smiling to him, she led the way. "It is important that we explore our inquisitive nature," Yara stated.

"Very important," Va'Lesh answered. "And, I believe it is important for us to know if our relationship will interfere with our lives as Jedi and soldiers, as well as caring for Leshie. This is an important test for us."

"A test," Yara echoed thoughtfully. "But...if we find that it does interfere...what will we do, Va'Lesh?"

"We will have to approach that if it does happen," Va'Lesh answered. "I do not believe it is wise to assume it will before we have even determined if it will. We could worry ourselves unnecessarily. It is my belief that we possess the strength within us to be able to manage this situation effectively."

Yara smiled wanly. "Like soldiers."

Va'Lesh smiled and then kissed her. "Or as people must do when they are faced with such obstacles. We will be fine, I think, my Yara. And," --- he brushed a finger quickly between her thighs --- "we shall prove that to ourselves."

She nodded curtly, exhibiting confidence and determination, but inside she knew she was nervous. If they were not compatible, Yara would devote herself fully to the Order. But what of her love for Va'Lesh? Sighing, she leaned against her chosen and hoped their test would not mean the end of their time together.

---

"Finding Happiness, Part 2"
By: Liam Zaneth
Yara Zaneth [NPC+]
Va'Lesh Zaneth [NPC+]
Shaza Nightshade [NPC+]

Location: En Route to Tatooine
Date: Lythe 11, 4 ABY

***

They stood apart from each other, but still intimately close. Yara's clothing was pooled around her feet, as were Va'Lesh's. Now bared fully, they looked upon one another as if for the first time, and Yara felt her heart pounding aggressively against her chest. She swallowed hard as Va'Lesh's fingers brushed her hair behind one shoulder, then the other, exposing her completely to him now. "I approve of your appearance, Va'Lesh," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"It pleases me to hear you say so," he said. "And, your appearance pleases me very much as well." He looked down at his erection and then to her. He took a step forward and reached a hand out to her. "It is certainly more comfortable in here."

"Quite," she affirmed. "Shall we move to the bed, then? We may stand if you wish, Va'Lesh."

"I believe the bed will provide us more comfort," Va'Lesh said as he reached out for Yara's hand. Once she placed her hand in his, he led the way to the bed. It wasn't very far, but it seemed like the right thing to do. He helped her onto the bed, and then climbed up himself. "Shaza Nightshade says that sometimes she and Liam Zaneth stand, though it doesn't sound as comfortable. Would you like for me to touch you some more?"

Yara lay on her back, hands at her sides and face turned up towards the ceiling. "You may touch me, Va'Lesh."

Va'Lesh slid along her side, and trailed one hand along her thigh. He traced a pattern along her thighs before slipping down to her inner thigh. He shifted his gaze to her eyes, as he brushed his fingers against her, feeling her gasp as much as hearing it. He gave her a smile before moving his lips to her flesh.

Yara remained stiff, but relaxed enough to raise a hand to Va'Lesh's cheek. "You are-- You are talented, Va'Lesh," she breathed.

"Thank you," Va'Lesh murmured as he lowered himself along her body. "I learned everything I could from Shaza Nightshade for you, to give to you." Finally where he wanted to be, he lowered his lips to the cleft between her legs.

Yara frowned with the puzzling sensations, and clenched her fists around the bedsheets as her body tensed. Her legs, however, parted further for Va'Lesh and with curiousity she watched him work between them. It was a pleasing sight indeed. "It is odd," she said breathlessly, then heard a moan escape. Yara snapped her mouth closed, startled by the sound she had emitted.

Va'Lesh stopped for a moment and nodded to her. "I hope you find the sensations pleasing," he said. "From what I understand, the amount of moisture present here indicates that you are...extremely aroused." At a look from her, he quickly resumed his task, this time making use of his tongue as well.

She jerked at that, and stared wide-eyed at Va'Lesh's head. The experience was novel, yet her body reacted instinctually to it. She felt her flesh growing warm and her breasts heavy; the growing ache was becoming a persistent throb that brought out a sigh as she was wrapped in ecstasy, and filled with a complete awareness that she did not wish Va'Lesh to stop. She whispered his name, but it was lost in a gentle cry.

From her reactions, Va'Lesh knew he had to continue. "Father is very good at this part," he said quickly. "Better than me, at least according to Shaza Nightshade. I tried to have her explain how he did it, and hope I am doing it sufficiently enough." With that, he continued to pleasure her, enjoying the pleasure he was giving her as much as if he were receiving it.

Groaning and wriggling beneath Va'Lesh, Yara clenched her eyes shut as she laid her head back upon the pillow. She hadn't expected pleasure to feel the way Va'Lesh was making her feel. She had always equated it with happiness, or contentment, but she did not expect that such things could come from such a physical act. Yara's back arched abruptly and she sucked in a sharp breath as Va'Lesh's attentions intensified. Her cheeks were flushed red and a heat expanded outwards from between her legs. For a moment she smiled at the delicious warmth, then tossed her head back and gave a choked scream.

Va'Lesh looked up from where he was, peering up along her body, still arched against the pleasure. "I believe you just had what is called an orgasm," he said. He climbed back up along her body until his face was near hers. "I hope that was alright," he whispered.

Yara whimpered and trembled, her eyes dazed as she stared at Va'Lesh. Slowly, however, a smile curled her lips. "Va'Lesh," she breathed, then kissed her chosen fervently.

Va'Lesh returned the kiss with equal passion, holding her close. After a moment, he pulled back and smiled at her. "I enjoyed doing that to you, Yara," he said softly. "You taste very pleasant and the sounds you made...they were beautiful. I love you, Yara."

She nodded hastily, tossing her bangs into her eyes. "I love you as well, Va'Lesh. And I am glad...for we have tested ourselves." Grinning, she added, "I believe we have passed."

He kissed her once more. "Yes," he said. "I believe we have passed as well." He glanced over to where little Leshie slept peacefully. "I believe he is content and happy as well. This was a good test, and I enjoy the pleasurable side-effects as well." He glanced down at himself and frowned at the erection that remained. "It will possibly be necessary for me to manually stimulate myself to release."

Yara frowned curiously, and followed Va'Lesh's gaze. She nodded in understanding, then, and said, "I shall help. Would you like me to, Va'Lesh?"

"If you would like to, I gladly accept your assistance," Va'Lesh answered as he shifted on the bed.

She smiled at her mate, and turned onto her side as he lay on his back. Studying the rigid organ with fascination, Yara reached out and dragged her finger from its tip to the base. She felt Va'Lesh shudder and pulled away in surprise. "Have I hurt you, Va'Lesh?" she asked with concern. "Forgive me...."

Va'Lesh shook his head quickly. "Oh, no...definitely not hurt," he whispered. "I...I enjoyed that feeling very much. It...what you did, it felt very nice."

"Oh...I am glad." Yara smiled briefly at Va'Lesh, then she frowned with intense concentration as she returned her fingers to his shaft. It was warm and smooth; she brushed her fingertips over the rounded tip, then brought them down again along the other side. "This is where our baby will come from?" she whispered.

"My part," Va'Lesh answered. "It goes in where I had my mouth on you earlier, and when I have my orgasm, it goes inside of you. If the time is right, then it can make a baby inside of you. Your hands feel very nice, Yara."

"Thank you, Va'Lesh," she replied simply. "But...what should I do to make you happy, as you made me?"

"What Shaza Nightshade has done, she slides her hand up and down while using her mouth upon the end," Va'Lesh answered. "She is quite talented with doing that. Perhaps you could speak to her later, and she could give you better advice."

"I do not require advice from Ms. Nightshade," Yara stated flatly. "I shall learn on my own, Va'Lesh." In keeping with that, Yara closed her hand around Va'Lesh's erection and did as he instructed. His moan indicated her technique was correct. "And now my mouth, Va'Lesh?" she asked.

"Mmm hmm," was all Va'Lesh could manage as he groped for her shoulder with one hand, seeking contact with her of any kind and the other grabbed a fistful of bunched up sheets. He managed a nod, and a shuddering breath that turned into a moan, tried to say something, then just nodded again.

Yara was momentarily intrigued by Va'Lesh's reaction, but she was a soldier and accustomed to following orders, so as Va'Lesh bid, Yara obeyed. With no hesitation, Yara leaned over Va'Lesh's groin and wrapped her lips around the head of his organ, while her hand continued stroking. She glanced up at Va'Lesh, awaiting further instructions.

Thinking coherently was difficult, Va'Lesh realized. "Use...tongue," he said softly. "Mmm...up and down." His trembling hands moved down to where her head was, and he nodded as he slowly began to guide her movements.

It was awkward for Yara, but she didn't complain. She used her tongue as Va'Lesh directed, and coordinated it with the motions of her hand; she was a soldier, and was quite adept at performing more than one action at a time. The taste was an unfamiliar one to Yara, and she wrinkled her nose briefly at it, but she would persevere and Va'Lesh was appreciating it.... She continued her attentions and smiled inwardly as Va'Lesh's hand stroked her hair.

"So good..." he murmured. "You're doing so good, Yara...that's...that's perfect..." He let out a cry as a ripple of pleasure swept through him. "Oh wow..."

Yara had paused momentarily, gauging Va'Lesh's reaction, but by his swaying hips she gathered that he was in a pleasant mood. She continued, slowly finding herself no longer going through the motions, but intrigued by the novel sensation. Pushing her mouth down further, she explored past the tip of his organ to his shaft with her tongue. Va'Lesh showed his approval with a thick moan.

Va'Lesh moaned loudly again as he felt his climax approaching quickly. "Oh Yara, I'm going to...it's going to...it will...in your...mouth...I'm going to...oh...oh..." His hips were bucking and then he was only hanging on by a thread.

Puzzled, Yara pulled her lips away to ask, "What will?" As she did, Va'Lesh tensed and cried out. A spurt of viscous white fluid sprayed from his erection and Yara flinched away in surprise. She stared wide-eyed at the specks of liquid that had landed on her thigh and chest, and once Va'Lesh's shouts had silenced, his body melting back onto the mattress, she inclined her head and said, "What has happened, Va'Lesh?"

Va'Lesh was still breathing heavily when he pushed himself up to rest on his elbows. "I have had an orgasm," he said. "When a male has an orgasm, that is the secretion that is expelled from his penis. It is used in the creation of babies. Shaza Nightshade also says that she finds the taste to be very pleasant and prefers to keep her mouth over the man's erection so that it goes into her mouth. She says that Father's is the best she's ever tasted, but mine is very nice as well. You are well, are you not, Yara?"

She paused, still fixated on the tiny pools on her leg, then looked up at Va'Lesh and shook her head. "It was...unexpected, that is all, Va'Lesh. I am fine."

"I am happy that you are fine," Va'Lesh said with a smile. "I tried to give you adequate warning, but it was difficult to vocalize my thoughts. When we make love and try to have a baby, that will go inside you."

"Then it will not make so much of a mess," she told him, gesturing to her abdomen and thigh.

"But the mess is the fun part," came a voice from behind Yara. Va'Lesh's head snapped around to where the voice had come from and his eyes widened as he saw Shaza Nightshade approaching. "The two of you are absolutely darling together."

Yara frowned and turned away from Shaza, drawing her knees up to cover her chest as she did. She cast a sidelong glance towards Va'Lesh, expressing her disapproval.

Shaza moved closer and sat on the bed beside Yara. "Oh, it's not so bad," she said with a smile. She reached a finger out and scooped up a dollop of the white cream on an exposed part of Yara's thigh. "You're missing the best part though." She plopped the finger into her mouth and licked it clean. "It's a good thing Liam is still very busy in the other room though." She glanced between them. "I'm sure he wouldn't be happy to catch you in this state." She gave Yara a pointed look. "Would he?"

"I do not see why," Yara stated, shifting away from the woman. "He wishes me to be happy. Why would he disapprove of something that brings me joy?"

"He would disapprove of the two of you in here like this," Shaza said, then glanced at Va'Lesh. "Especially after you rejected him. He won't admit it, but he's actually very jealous of the two of you. You see, you remind him of his wife, and you remind him of his other lover, your mother. He wanted you to be with him the night the two of you were together, but your rejection... I don't think he'd be happy at the two of you in here like this after you denied him."

"But...he did not seem upset that night," Yara said uncertainly. "He has not forbidden this. If he desires me to attend to him, why does he not simply ask?"

"It's not his way," Shaza said. "He wants you to go to him, to choose him. You'll still be able to be with Va'Lesh, much more freely afterwards. But, his desire for you...it's actually very charming. If you wish to be with Va'Lesh, go to Liam Zaneth and offer yourself to him. Kiss him, and then please him as you pleased Va'Lesh."

Yara lowered her eyes to the splatter on her belly, wondering if that was what Liam had wanted all along, if it was the reason he had agreed to train her. Was it a Padawan's duty to her master? She looked up, but only at Va'Lesh, her eyes seeking guidance from him. "Is this what he wishes?" she whispered.

Va'Lesh looked into her eyes, then at Shaza. She was Father's lover, and...she would have no reason to lie about such things. Father would not be with her otherwise. He looked back to Yara. "It must be what he wants." He placed a hand on her arm. "It will be alright, Yara," he said. "Afterwards, we will be free to be together."

She nodded solemnly, and again regarded Shaza. There was a touch of fire in her eyes - the first sign of emotion she had ever displayed to Shaza. "I will go to him," she told her. "But you will not remain here with Va'Lesh. Please leave."

Shaza nodded and slipped off the bed. "Don't worry, Yara," she said. "I know that Va'Lesh is offlimits now. Make certain you clean up Va'Lesh's little mess, but I would recommend going as you are. Either that or a simple robe you can slip out of. You'll find him in the cargo bay working on the speeder bike." And, then she slipped out of the room.

"I do not like her," Yara stated. "She feels...unpleasant."

"I know," Va'Lesh said. "Though, Father cares for her very much. I...I am inclined to trust Father's judgement. Perhaps it is because we are not used to the sort of life she leads, or that she desires me, or...I do not know. We will have to watch her closely, Yara."

"Yes," she agreed. "But for now, I believe I must go to Liam, even though I do not wish to." Yara frowned and morosely embraced Va'Lesh. "I only wish to love you," she whispered.

Va'Lesh returned her embrace. "Though, he is Father," he said. "I am certain he will be kind and gentle. If you do to him what you did to me, then I am certain he will be pleased and allow us to be together, to express our love intimately for one another."

"I will do my best," she told him. "And I will return to you soon." Yara turned her lips to his cheek and kissed him.

"I will wait here for you," Va'Lesh whispered, then kissed her in return. "I love you."

Yara nodded and slipped away from his hold. She stood at the foot of the bed, watching Va'Lesh with a smile. She truly was happy with him. In the next instant she had departed, seeking to offer Liam Zaneth what he so desired.

***

Liam Zaneth looked up from where he was working on the speeder. His jaw nearly clattered to the deckplates when he saw what was causing the soft pattering sound. His eyes went wide as she moved to stand directly before him. "Yara?"

She said nothing, and her face wore its usual expressionless mask. Her emotions were tightly sealed, but she allowed her determination to exhibit itself as she moved up against Liam and covered his lips with hers. In the same moment, her hands dropped to the waist of his pants.

Liam's eyes went wide as she kissed him and then searched for and found his erection --- which hadn't been an erection a moment before. Unconsciously, his arms went around her and he returned her freely given kiss.

"I will please you," Yara murmured against his lips, and did as she had done with Va'Lesh by caressing Liam's shaft. "Shaza Nightshade said this was what is required of me." Then she dropped to her knees before Liam.

"Shaza? Oh gods, that's good. What do you mean--? Shaza? Yara?"

"She told me," Yara answered, gazing at him with her upturned face. "She said you wished to be with me, that you envy Va'Lesh. If I wish to be with him, I must pleasure you." And she moved her lips to the tip of his erection for that purpose.

"I must-- You must--" As her lips passed over the tip of his erection, his eyes rolled back and a wave of pleasure passed through him. "Yara...I want to...to be with you...but...but only if...if that's what you want...not because...because of you and...and Va'Lesh...oh gods..."

Just as quickly as she had initiated, Yara pulled back. "But...you do not disapprove of Va'Lesh and I?" she asked.

Liam shook his head. "I am happy for the two of you," he said. "I think you both may be a little young for what you're exploring, but...but I don't disapprove."

Yara was perplexed and expressed it with a heavy sigh as she sat back on her haunches. "Shaza Nightshade said you did not wish for us to be together. She told me to come here, Liam Zaneth."

"I think I'm going to have to have a long talk with her," Liam said, a hint of sadness creeping into his tone. "And...and I have a feeling we may need to find our own ship. I don't think this arrangement with Shaza is going to work out."

"But...why not, Liam Zaneth?" Yara rose to regard him, her head cocked to one side. "You do not love her?"

"I care for her," Liam said. "But...if this is going to be a regular occurrence, her trying to convince you to be with me even if you don't wish to be, I don't know if we...we don't want that."

"Then you did not say those things?" Yara asked. "Liam Zaneth...she was lying?"

"I do feel some envy for Va'Lesh and I...I find you very desirable. In you, I see a beautiful mixture of both Yelara and Kallia, and...it's hard not to feel something. But I would never make a condition that you have to be with me to be with him...I wouldn't, couldn't do such a thing."

Yara frowned sadly. "She deceived me, Liam Zaneth. I do not understand why she would do that."

"Her deception was intended to get you in here with me," Liam said. "For whatever her reasons, she wants you and I to be together. Possibly so she may have more freedom to be with Va'Lesh. Possibly because she feels guilty over having been with Va'Lesh and feels that I shouldn't only be sharing my bed with her. Possibly because she knows that I am attracted to you, and she's trying to push me."

"Those are very dark intentions, Liam Zaneth," Yara warned. "The Dark side thrives on such things."

"Were Shaza Nightshade Force sensitive, I'd be more worried," Liam said. "Instead, she is merely a bad influence who happens to be misguided. Which is why, despite whatever feelings may be involved, I think it may be best...if we were to move on."

"You mean...leave behind Shaza Nightshade?" Yara gathered. "But...how will we find Yelara Zaneth's doctor without a ship?"

"We would need to find a new ship," Liam said. "It will be difficult, especially since my money isn't limitless. Leaving would be difficult because, despite her conniving, I am fond of her. Though, if we do go, we won't have to worry about her convincing you to be with me."

"We will not have to worry about that any longer," Yara assured him. "Now that I know of her attempts at subterfuge, I will not allow myself to be deceived. We may give her one more chance, Liam Zaneth." She smiled at him.

Liam held her gaze for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I think we can manage that," he said with a rueful smile.

Yara bowed her head, bringing her naked form into focus. She looked up at Liam from beneath her lashes and asked, "Master, may I borrow your robe?"

"Of course," Liam said softly, then noticed that he was still exposed as well. He slipped himself back inside his pants, then shrugged out of his robe for her. "There you go."

Yara thanked him quietly as she wrapped herself in the garment. "May I return to Va'Lesh, Master?"

Liam gave her a warm smile and nodded. "Yes," he said. "Go ahead. I'll see you later, Yara."

Without another word, but with an uncharacteristically large grin, Yara turned and hurried from the bay, Liam's long robe dragging on the floor and tangling around her ankles as she went.

As he watched her go, Liam began forming the conversation he would need to have with Shaza in his mind. It wouldn't be a pleasant situation, that was for sure.

***

He was reposed peacefully on the bed and gave no sign that her approach had been detected. The robe she wore dropped silently to the ground as she sauntered towards him. "Are you sleeping?" she whispered.

A smile curled his lips. "Not any longer," he said and then allowed his eyes to open. "I missed you. How did things go with Father?"

"They were...interesting." Yara sat by Va'Lesh, though her expression was grave. "I believe Liam Zaneth is not pleased with Shaza Nightshade."

Va'Lesh smiled and then sat up. "You have piqued my curiousity, Yara," he said, then held his arms open for her. "Come and lie with me while you tell me what happened. I trust this means that you did not...pleasure Father?"

"Not entirely," she replied, and reclined in Va'Lesh's embrace. "He allowed me to stop. Shaza Nightshade lied, Va'Lesh."

"I do not understand why she