"Catching Up"
By: Tallia Xephum - Lead Anchor of the Tae'Karadan Intergalactic NewsNet

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 12, 5 ABY

***

Having missed her musical cue, Tallia Xephum was still touching up her lipstick when the holorecorder panned from the city beyond the studio's windowed backdrop, to the vapid reporter. Even as the garish, bombastic racket that was the Tae'Karadan Intergalactic Newsnet's introductory theme faded, a bewildered Tallia gaped with vacant expression and lipstick touching her lips at the hovering recorder droid. Life infused her eyes, and, tossing her makeup aside, Tallia bared her blindingly white teeth in a boisterous grin then launched into a greeting.

It was a wonder she hadn't forgotten her name.

She squeaked a giggle. "Boy, have we got a line-up for you, folks! To start things off tonight, Tae'Karada's social scene certainly has been busy. For one, Merrick Braston, the crooner who's stolen more than one heart, has officially become single! Sources say he was recently granted a divorce from his estranged wife, who is still mysteriously missing. But don't celebrate yet, girls!" Her dumbly grinning face was replaced by a full-frame playback of two dapperly attired figures disembarking a hoverlimo, where a swarm of reporters assailed them. Tallia's perky voice-over reported, "It would seem Mr. Braston has been seen attending more than a few prestigious social functions with successful land developer, Analesse D'vrishay, fueling rumours about the manner of his former wife's disappearance." Switching back to Tallia's farcical attempt at a surreptitious wink, she ventured, "Scandal you say? No one knows for sure, but one thing's certain: these two make one of Tae'Karada's most attractive power couples.

"Though, can their recent gallivanting about the province be responsible for the achingly slow pace at which the reconstruction of the White Noise has been taking place? Or has it more to do with certain hurdles they've faced over the past few months, including an undisclosed dispute over building permits initiated by an anonymous source?" She threw up her hands and shrugged, a giggle quickly following. "How should I know? The details have been kept under wraps, and this newswoman thinks all that businessy stuff is far too boring to give much attention!"

An abrupt swivel of her chair brought Tallia around in time for the camera swap. Not a hair moved, her hairstyle seeming to have its own protective stasis field which kept everything in place. Her smile broadened. "On the topic of renovations, the Jedi Order on Tae'Karada has recently completed improvements on their Temple, including the addition of a starport! Where did they receive their funding, you might ask? Well, it seems the High Princess generously granted the funds to her Jedi friends, which caused some outrage from various charitable organizations on the planet who felt themselves more worthy of a donation." Tallia clucked her tongue and waggled an admonishing finger at the camera. "Whispers have been floating about that much of our High Princess' benevolence is motivated by the influence of her closest advisor, one Jedi Master Liam Zaneth. He shares her highness' confidence, that's for certain, but, as rumours suggest, does he also share her bed?" She offered her audience a meaningful wink, then lit with pure excitement as she launched into her next topic.

"One Jedi many of us girls wouldn't mind finding under our sheets is our favourite Knight, Kael Selrid! We have some exclusive holophotos we managed to snatch during one of our heroic charmer's visits to the city, where he courageously rescued a reisakitty who'd gotten herself stuck in a bojaberry tree!" The clip played, displaying Kael's effortless, gallant feat. Tallia's exuberant applause erupted as she gushed, "Wasn't he wonderful?! Tae'Karada's dashing saviour again proves that when there's danger, he'll be there to make Tae'Karada a safer planet!

"While he's not nearly as dreamy as Kael Selrid, Jedi Master Baen Novix has made the news again. With young Padawan Talara Sorenne at his side -- don't even think about it boys, she's dedicated to being a Jedi -- the two Jedi rescued the pilot of a speeder who veered too close to a window cleaning droid." An image resolved itself on the display, showing Master Novix standing on the hood of the speeder with Talara at the controls. The camera zoomed in to where a man could be seen clutching desperately for life to the remains of his speeder which appeared to be mangled beyond repair while caught in a of the grasping claws of one of the cleaning droids. "Master and Padawan -- who apparently is only on loan to Master Novix while her regular teacher focuses more closely on the training of other Padawan beauty, Vaya Bek -- stayed around to answer questions and consult with the authorities.

"And, from last week's poll, Padawan Sorenne's belly-baring Jedi robes are a big win with the fans at home. Again, for details of The Padawan Talara Sorenne Fan Club, girls (and probably a few boys) can check out the details on our HoloNet Gateway." Another bleating giggle. "I know I will be!"

Attempting a serious frown, Tallia only succeeded in pouting cutely as she informed her audience, "And another recent move by the High Princess has caused more controversy with many independent political parties who have vocally opposed her rule from the start. In an effort to conserve the planet's resources, and focus instead on strengthening the state of Tae'Karada's internal stability, she has decided, after much deliberation, to redefine Tae'Karada's borders. What does that mean for those of us who know nothing about geography?" Struggling with the term's pronunciation, it was apparent Tallia herself qualified as just such a person. "Well, it just means Tae'Karada will be shaped differently."

A three-dimensional projected image of the planet and surrounding space materialized over Tallia's left shoulder. She glanced at it briefly, blankly, then referred to her ear piece to feed the complex explanation to her. "Red and green lines indicate Tae'Karada's border before, and after, illustrating a noticeable reduction in the reach of Tae'Karada's territory, leaving a large patch of its former territory now unclaimed." Another look at the projection, Tallia opened her mouth to continue, then tittered and shrugged. "It's a pretty picture, but hells if I know what it all means! All I do know is that many are objecting to this decision, fearful of what it might mean economically, and for the security of Tae'Karada's borders, but that plucky High Princess isn't budging!

"In a recent statement, when asked to comment on these strenuous declamations against this move, the High Princess would only respond that these changes were for the betterment of Tae'Karada and its people, that this would bring all of Tae'Karada closer together once more.

"And speaking of closer together, three thousand of pod racing's closest fans came together over this past weekend for the grand re-opening of the Tae'Sollar Pod Racing Circuit. Under new management since the unexpected and unfortunate demise of Jadda the Hutt, the races, claims multi-billionaire and new owner Radik Vadeen, will be bigger, better, and faster than ever. According to fans, he made good on his promise. If you love the races, head out to Tae'Sollar, now racing each weekend. I'll be there!" Tallia scrutinized her audience with playfully narrowed eyes and asked, "Will you?"

Cheerful once more, Tallia moved on as the next piece of footage began playing on screen - a panorama of one of the planet's moons. "Construction on the new orbital military complex and skyhook network is continuing on schedule. We'd show you pictures, but then the dashing Admiral Dresh Kano, one of High Princess Neerou's closest advisors--" She cupped a hand around her mouth to whisper an aside: " though secret sources say he's much much closer to Administrator Shrezade Anoran of the Drogen Shipyards--" Then she grinned foolishly and continued, "would have to kill me." A clip of Shrezade and Yelara played while the two met aboard the Drogen Shipyards. "Here you see the two meeting for the recent conference between station and planetary officials. Rumour has it that Ms. Anoran is now pulling a government paycheck.

"Back on the political front, legislation continues in the removal of the equadi as the official garment of Tae'Karada's women. Conservatives are quite upset over the changes, but High Princess Neerou is in full support of the bill. I don't think they're going to outlaw the equadi, girls, but those who want to wear it will be able to, those who don't can leave it in the back of the closet. Maybe if I get that lucky date with Kael Selrid, I'll get to wear mine again." She growled seductively and raked her fingers at the screen in an approximation of what could only be a drunken reisacat pawing at a prospective mate. Obviously receiving and off-camera rebuke, Tallia cleared her throat and ceased her childish behaviour to announce, "Coming up next, we'll be speaking with Gladyne Faeg of the Morality Guard on the changing times... You won't want to miss it!" With a blown kiss and flirtatious wave, Tallia delivered her audience to its first commercial break.

In a tiny cabin on a shipyard hovering far above the planet, Hajne Toray, Tallia Xephum's biggest fan, returned her wave and pondered throughout the break not the critical news she had just heard, but what her idol would be wearing when she returned.

---

"Guardians of Peace"
by Jedi Padawan Talara Sorenne
and Jedi Master Baen Novix

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 12, 5ABY

***

The pair of Aethersprite fighters banked sharply and then swung toward the opening bay of the Drogen Shipyards. The sleek craft, suitable for atmospheric or space flight, seemed to move as one. In the last month, they had become inextricably tied to the Jedi who piloted them. Whether on Jedi or personal business, the Jedi of Tae'Karada could be found piloting the small fighters everywhere they went.

Both fighters swung around and sank to the deckplates of the docking bay where they came to rest on their landing gear. The canopies of both began opening, but the younger of the two Jedi was the first out. With brown cloak fluttering behind her, she dropped to the deck of the station with a forward flip.

A moment behind her came the other Jedi, tall and handsome. He dropped to the deck effortlessly and adjusted his robes as he gathered his bearings.

He pointed toward one of the exits, and started toward it with the Padawan at his heels.

He was Jedi Master Baen Novix. He had only been on Tae'Karada for two months, but had situated himself within the Temple as if he had been there for much longer. Prior to his arrival on Tae'Karada, he had studied with the Jedi on Yavin and Coruscant. Before that, he had been a wanderer.

"Don't be so eager, Padawan," Master Novix said as he and the young woman reached the turbolift that ran through the center of the station. While she was not technically his Padawan, they had been working together frequently over the last several weeks while Master Laedra Vorrel worked with Padawan Bek.

Talara Sorenne looked up at him and nodded. "I'm sorry, Master," she said. "I only wished to reach Bandin before he had a chance to escape again."

"There is nowhere he can go now, Talara," Novix said. "He's fled the hangar decks and he would need a priority code or a station emergency to activate one of the pods."

"Yes, Master," Talara said as the lift door opened. She stepped inside, followed by Master Novix.

"Level Three-three-five," the Jedi Master instructed the lift and it shot into motion.

Just several moments later, the door to the lift opened once more. Talara led the way out of the lift. She reached out through the Force and sensed the danger ahead. They were close to Bandin. The deck seemed deserted as they moved slowly together toward the far end. If Tala had to guess, she would guess that the doors lining the corridor were for housing. She glanced back at Master Novix who indicated one of the doors off to the side. She swept her attention to the door, and nodded. They started toward it, and just before she was set to announce their arrival, the door behind them burst open.

Before the blaster in the hand of the disheveled man could start firing, Talara was spinning around to face him. As he squeezed the trigger, her lightsaber was already coming up to defend. The blade ignited just before the blaster bolt would have hit, and the shot was ricocheted down into the floor. The man fired several more shots, which were blocked with equal agility.

As he continued firing at Talara, other doors along the corridor began opening. From within the rooms, more men with blasters began pouring out. The air was thick with blaster fire as they tried to gun down Talara and Master Novix. But, the thugs seemed to have underestimated the ability of the Jedi. A few stray shots had burned through Talara's cloak and one shot had left a scorch across one thigh, but she was otherwise undaunted in her defense.

Above the din of combat, a wailing alarm sounded.

"That sounds like the alarm for a station emergency, Master," Talara said calmly.

"So it does," Novix answered dryly. "We need to get to Bandin."

"I agree, Master," Talara answered. She kept her defenses in place as her blue lightsaber blade continued to protect her from certain death, but mixed extra wide slashes into the pattern. It was less than a minute before the seeming erratic slashes' purpose became apparent. It was at that point where the deckplates beneath her feet vanished, and Talara dropped through the floor. She did not get to see the surprised expression on Master Novix' face before he followed her.

With Force-enhanced speed, she raced into the room that would have been directly below where they had sensed Bandin hiding.

"Sorry," she said, and quickly averted her eyes as a pair of women scrambled for something to cover themselves. Something in the back of her consciousness tingled as she moved to the bed and raised her lightsaber to the ceiling. It was most definitely not sexual even though she thought the woman was quite attractive. As the circular plate she'd carved from the floor dropped, Talara focused again on the job of catching Bandin, and not on the women. As she leapt up through the hole, she noted that Master Novix was also looking on the now fully dressed dark haired woman. He shook off the feeling and joined Talara in the room above with a deft, Force-assisted leap.

At the far end of the room, bathed in the emergency lights, Bandin was frantically trying to get into the escape pod built into the outer wall of the station. The door, it appeared, had jammed upon opening.

"You're under arrest, Simas Bandin," Master Novix said, raising his lightsaber toward the man. "Raise your hands where they can be seen."

With a sigh, Bandin complied. "We'll see how long the Chimaerian justice system can hold me," he said with a smirk as he held his wrists out to them. "I'm sure my lawyers are better than anything they've got."

"We'll see," Novix said. "Talara, would you do the honours?"

"Of course, Master," Talara said.

She reclipped her lightsaber to her belt and moved to place the binders on Bandin's wrists. Before she could reach his wrists with the cuffs, the man made his move. His fist shot out to grab Talara's wrist while the other went for her lightsaber. Tala, however, was faster. He had size and weight on his side, but neither compared to the Force. As his hand touched her wrist, she stepped into him and twisted so he couldn't get purchase. With one leg threaded back between his, she stepped back again. The move put Bandin off balance, and he started to topple backwards. Again, Talara used her smaller stature to her advantaged, and slipped from his grasp before he could bring her down with him. As his back hit the floor, Talara had spun around again and clicked the binders into place on his wrists.

"Resisting arrest isn't allowed," she told him.

He only glared at her as she lifted him from the floor and pushed him toward Master Novix.

"By now station security should be handling the men in the corridor," Novix said. "If they haven't all fled back into the decking. Now, Mr. Bandin, Ambassador Thos Rheen would like to have a few words with you. She was very upset that you broke into her office and stole important documents. She was even more displeased that you then tried to sell those documents on the HoloNet."

"Wait till you see the slut's personal collection of home holos," Bandin said with a laugh.

"That'll be enough of that," the Jedi Master said. He turned to Talara. "Very well done, my young Padawan. I'm impressed."

Talara grinned. "Thank you, Master," she said with a bow.

"Just remember that praise is not something I give out lightly. Come on, let's get this guy back to the authorities planetside. Then we'll need to get back to the Temple for debriefing."

With criminal in tow, they returned to the hangar bay. They had to wait for a pair of Tae'Morad troops to arrive to take Bandin back down to the planet. Once that matter was settled, there were several questions asked by the station security chief. Novix handled it deftly and offered compensation for damages done. As they were operating at the behest of the government, the funds would be readily available. It was several hours later that the pair of aethersprites returned to space and finally to their home on the planet below.

---

"Contemplation"
by: Rylaa Lyssander - PC
Lani Vissip - NPC+
Lorgal - NPC+

Location: Ares Macrotechnology HQ, New Plouton
Date: Selene 12, 5ABY

***

On the top of one of the tallest buildings in the Yesrin district was a small penthouse that housed one of the city's most powerful men. Rylaa Lyssander sat in a lawn chair on the patio and looked over the city. He watched as the many vehicles of the city swooped, dove, and climbed much like flocks of sparrows at play. The criminal could imagine the city as a living entity, which the various people as individual cells and the movement of these speeders as the lifeblood that kept the whole thing alive. But where would that place him? A tumor? A disease? Parasite? It didn't matter.

For about the millionth time in the past few months his gaze drifted over to the tiny cube of blue crystal which rested in a transparisteel stasis chamber on a desk. His group had found it on a mostly deserted planet in an ancient Jedi Temple, a place that had almost cost them their lives. At first, Lani had been adamant about giving to the Jedi but lately she had been rather quiet about it. He had seen her take the cube from its case several times and run back to her room. When she would emerge many hours later, she would be exhausted and covered in sweat.

Thinking of the deadly redhead brought a smile to his face. The holocron had not been the only treasure discovered on the planet of Avalon VI. His gaze wandered over the beautiful woman who now shared his bed. Her fiery red hair shone as it caught the early morning light and her tan skin was accented well by the dark silk sheets. Even has he watched she stretched and woke.

"Good morning, love," Lani said with a sleepy smile as she saw him on the patio, the transparisteel doors open to let in the morning air.

"Good morning, my heart," Rylaa said poetically. Their rekindled romance so far had been both passionate and romantic. As Ares made more and more profit, he was able to invest less and less of his personal funds into the company and take more time off. They had already visited many of Tae'karada's most fabulous vacation spots and where looking to visit another.

In addition to the healthy growth of his legitimate firm, his criminal organization was expanding rapidly. The unexpected death of the Hutt had left Thanatos wide open and Rylaa's men quickly moved in. New Dawn was now filling many of the vacancies left by the Hutt and they were in a bidding war over the rights to the Pod Races.

Lani rose from bed and the sheets slid away from her very well toned form. She had been exercising regularly as well as practicing her Echani arts much more rigorously than she ever had, pushing herself beyond what she knew she could handle. Rylaa didn't have an answer for that, but he was sure it had something to do with the holocron she had been trying to sneak into her own room. Once again he stared at the tiny blue crystalline cube.

What should be done about it? To him it was only a pretty, if massively expensive, bauble. It did him no good at all. But to the Jedi, it would be an invaluable teaching tool. It would also put them in his debt, and good graces. Perhaps he would turn it over to them after all. perhaps.

His lover turned to him with a serious look of her face. Instead of asking the obvious, Rylaa merely raised an eyebrow.

"I've decided to further my training," the woman said cryptically.

"What do you mean?" Rylaa asked, perplexed.

"Now that I know I have some control over the Force, I want to expand on that. I've never done something that I didn't do everything in my power to be the best at and this is no different."

The chubby criminal bolted upright, spilling his drink over his chest. "You mean you're going to join the Jedi?"

"I'm going to ask them, if they will take me. yes."

He mulled it over for a moment, weighing his options. In the end, he decided to support her decision. "Ok, babe, whatever you want. We'll head on down to the temple later today and see how things are doing? How about that?"

"We?"

"Yeah! I think I've going to give them that Holocron thing, it's been bugging the hell out of me what to do with it so I think I'll give it to the experts."

Lani blinked at him and he chuckled. She looked silly with her jaw hanging open and without a stitch of clothing on. "You. you're going to turn it over to them?"

"I just said that, right?"

"Well. yeah, I just didn't expect it. I mean, you've held on to it all this time but you suddenly decide to hand it over now that I'm talking about joining them?"

"Hey babe, I'm going to support you however I can. And if that means turning over my pretty little cube, then so be it."

Lani squealed with delight and hopped into his arms, despite his rum and orange juice soaked shirt. After a lingering kiss he grinned at her and suggested that they finish the morning in bed, after a long shower. His lover grinned back, thinking that would be a wonderful idea.

---

"Setting Straight Misaligned Ideas, Part 1"
By: Keeve Shivral
Kimara
Talara Sorenne

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 12, 5 ABY

***

Shipping manifests were stacking up on the desk and the constant stream of calls had finally slowed down from the spaceport. Kimara couldn't explain it. Somewhere in the last month, business took off like it hadn't for as long as she'd been working at Zenarr Inc. She was quite certain Kaysa had never seen business booming quite so steadily either. In the end, Kim decided to put it down to the liberation of the planet. They were free now, and people didn't have to fear the Empire, mad empresses, or crazy admirals with delusions of grandeur. Time was right for things to just be good.

"We're going to need more pilots," she said as she read over a column of recent numbers. "Things are looking really good, and I think our current crew will be stretched too thin if it keeps up. But, from these numbers, it looks like we could support twice the number of pilots and still be turning an incredibly healthy profit. And, I think two or three more would do fine, which means even more profit."

Kim glanced over at Keeve and frowned when she found him gazing out of a window. She slipped out of her chair and approached him. With the heat of the summer fully upon them, she was wearing a short skirt and lightweight top. Since the middle of the last month, Keeve had grumbled at least once a day about trying to keep her in clothes. They'd all been doing their best to keep his mind off of Maeren's continued absence. He was always able to find peace with Kallia and the twins. Talara's visits were always fun, especially her constant flirting with Keeve, and his rebuffs. They'd been able to soothe Tala's tears over the situation with her former boyfriend, Ferrig. She wasn't as close to Talara as Keeve was, but he had proven to be a good friend to her. Kim could only hope that Talara did realize Keeve would never give her what she truly wanted.

Kim sighed and sat on the edge of Keeve's desk. "We've got things in order for the day," she said. "You want to head on home? The view out the windows there is better than here."

"No," he muttered, "there's a lot to be done." Sighing heavily, Keeve finally turned away from the window and moved towards the desk. Much to Kim's disappointment, he bypassed her entirely without even acknowledgement, and headed directly for his chair. He sank into it, dropped his head back, and closed his eyes. "Just...tell me what's first on the agenda, hm?"

"We've got three flights scheduled out to Riga tomorrow," Kim said. "One of our Riga pilots who would have been scheduled for that run was involved in the brawl at the brutball match last night. He won't be able to fly for another two days, and we don't have a spare pilot. I could make the run, but I know how much you like that idea. Best alternative would be subbing with an Antorial pilot."

"Nah...you go." He cracked open an eyelid and smiled wanly as he reached out to pat her knee. "It'll give you some time off, away from all this chaos. I know you've been wanting to do a run for a while.... Do this, Kim."

"You've put your foot down every time it's come up before now, and suddenly you relent," Kim said with a shake of her head. "I'll never understand you. Though, I should be back either tomorrow night, maybe the next morning. You'll be alright with that?"

"If this is what you really want to do, then how could I refuse you?"

"You've refused before, Keeve," Kim said with a smile. "I know you have a lot on your mind right now, and maybe that's why you're agreeing. You've always said it was too dangerous, or you didn't want me to be away. I...I just want to know that this is okay with you, Keeve. I don't want you to tell me to go, but...don't want it or only want it to give you space."

Keeve sat upright and took Kim's hand. "You think I'm trying to get rid of you? Do you really believe that?"

"Maybe only temporarily," Kim said with a grin. "It'll give you space and time to think. If you're not, then you're not. It just seems like you've never wanted me doing anything dangerous before. Not that this will be dangerous, of course. Oh, don't forget that Talara's coming over tonight. She just returned from catching a criminal on the Shipyards, so she's going to be famished. She'll be helping me cook. It'll be a grand send-off feast for my first run tomorrow."

"Then I should be the one cooking the meal," Keeve insisted. "You and Talara can relax; I want to treat you both." Smiling warmly, Keeve said, "I owe it to you."

"I don't think either of us would disapprove of that," Kim said with a grin. "She was so excited. Though, you realize this means you'll have to endure her flirting again, right? Though, I think you secretly love it."

"I like having her around," he admitted. "It helps to keep my mind off things." He was silent again, growing more distant by the moment as he stared at Kim's hand in his. "I wonder if Zale knows anything more," he murmured.

"He may have more information," Kim said. "Want to stop by and see him on the way home?"

Keeve sighed deeply and physically relaxed at the suggestion. "Yes. Yes, I think I'd like that."

"Good," Kim said with a smile as she covered his hand with hers. "We'll do that then. And, hopefully that'll help you stay relaxed for awhile now. You've been jittery and distant all day. Just...just don't shut me out, Keeve. I'm here with you."

"I know," he told her, rising quickly and with a frustrated growl. His hand snapped free of Kim's as he began pacing compulsively. "I just...today's been worse. I just...I have this twisting in my gut, Kim, like something bad is happening, and I hate not being able to do a thing about it. I hate being helpless, Kim! I've always hated that. It's why I let Dargus do this to me!" He gestured wildly at himself, at the result of Dargus' engineering. "And now, it's been for nothing. I still can't do a damned thing."

"Eventually you will be able to do something, Keeve," Kim said. "For now, we just have to keep busy and keep your mind on other things. Like Talara. You know, if Dargus hadn't done that to you, she'd be pretty much perfect for you right now."

Still pacing, he did allow a brief smile for Kim. "I'd be too young for her."

"I think you're the only one that'd matter to," Kim said with a grin.

He stopped to face Kim, folding both arms across his chest. "To you it mattered," Keeve mentioned, wondering if any memories from her true past would spark. "I was in love with you the day I met you...but you wouldn't have me. I was too young for you, Kim."

"Then I was stupid," Kim said. "Still, it doesn't really matter since you don't feel that way about Tala."

"Not ever," he assured her. "Don't tell me you're worried...."

"I love you too much to worry about that," Kim said with a laugh. "I just worry about her, since she does feel that way about you. She'll come to understand in time, I'm sure."

He smirked, and extended a hand to Kim. "She will when I tell her. Let's go. If I plan on telling her during dinner, we'll need to get it ready."

"We can pick things up for dinner after stopping by Zale's office," Kim said. "We should have about two hours before she'll be stopping by. I told her to leave her Jedi robes at home. It's all casual tonight."

"Oh, so you mean no clothing?" he quipped, slipping an arm around Kim's shoulders when she was near. "Without you here, who's going to fend her off?"

Kim laughed as she allowed herself to lean into his comforting embrace. "I didn't think you'd need someone to fend her off," she said. "You don't have feelings for her, do you? I shouldn't be worried, should I?" Her eyes lit up with her mischievous grin.

Frowning at her, Keeve swore, "No...no feelings. I think things are complicated enough without adding another woman to the picture, don't you?"

"Things were complicated when you loved me but were denying those feelings," Kim said with a laugh. "If you don't love her, then you don't. But don't love her and deny it like you did with me. I'm fine with the so-called 'complication' with Kallia. I'm okay with it, Keeve, if that's where your feelings are. I can deal with it, just like you see me doing with you and Kallia. I love you and that will never change. I just don't want you denying what you feel. It makes you cranky."

"I'm not cranky because I love Talara!" he exclaimed, chuckling incredulously. "You're really pushing for it, though. You have someone else on the side?"

"Oh, you're the only one, Keeve," Kim said as she trailed a finger down his chest. "But, I know you do have a way with the ladies, and I just want you to be happy. I couldn't ask you to turn Kallia away, that would break both of your hearts. Besides, I really like Kallia, and she's so happy with you. And, Talara loves you so much...I just...if you felt the same for her, I just wanted you to know it's okay. That's all."

"Great," he groaned with a roll of his eyes. "I know what this means. You'd just love to get Talara into bed with us, wouldn't you? That's what this is all about!"

Kim couldn't help giggling. "She is very cute," she said. "Seriously, I wouldn't say I'd love to have her in bed with us. I think she's very attractive and incredibly mature for a girl her age. In the time I've been able to get to know her, she's really grown up. But, if that's not something you do want, it's alright, Keeve. I just thought, if you did want to be with her, want her to be with us, I really do care for her and wouldn't mind at all. I guess it could also give me someone to have some fun with when you're busy with Kallia." She grinned at him and kissed the end of his nose.

"You need a shower," Keeve grumbled, and turned with Kim out of the office, onto the streets. They walked close to one another, relishing in the warm night. They would have been even closer, however, if Maeren's memory wasn't in the way.

Once inside the speeder, he looked over at Kim and graced her with one of his most charming smiles. "I haven't made you feel ignored, ever, have I?"

"Oh, definitely not," Kim said. "Keeve, if you don't want to, with Talara, it's alright. I just thought that maybe you cared for her and wanted...I don't know. It's alright if you don't. I was just thinking of you. If you don't care for her, it's fine."

"Kim," Keeve said firmly and with a hint of irritation, "please stop with this Talara business. If you think--" He pressed his lips thin, hesitating before blurting, "If you think it'll make me forget Maeren, then think again!"

"No, because nothing will do that," Kim said. "You'll dwell whenever your mind isn't occupied with something else, and apparently when you are thinking about something else. I know Talara won't be a distraction, because you won't allow yourself to be distracted. Maybe you love her, maybe you don't...I can't tell if you're hiding your feelings so I don't get hurt or if you truly don't care for her in that way. I'm just trying to tell you that if you do care for her and want to be with her, I'm alright with that. That's all I'm trying to say. And, all it's doing is upsetting you. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to press you and get you mad at me. I was just trying to say...oh nevermind. It's not worth it."

Sighing, Keeve covered Kim's shoulder with one hand and softened his expression as he whispered, "I'm sorry. Just...forget about Talara, okay? She won't make me happy - nothing will, because I already am, Kim, with you even though Maeren's missing. Don't be so worried."

"After the whole thing with us, and you denying your feelings for me, and all of that, I couldn't be sure. I'm not worried, Keeve. I know you love me, have known from the beginning. I just want to make sure you're okay. If you did love her, I wanted you to be able to be happy with her, like you are with me. If you can promise me you don't love her, that you don't want to be with her, then alright. I just know that she loves you, and if you loved her back...it'd be us all over again. I share you with Kallia, and if you wanted to be with Talara, I'd be happy to share you with her as well. That's all."

"Kim?" Framing her face in both hands, Keeve chuckled and declared, "I don't love her in that way. Now, will you let me take you home and prove to you how much I love you?"

She kissed his nose. "That will have to wait, my love. Remember? Tala's coming over, and you're making us a fabulous dinner? But, after, you can prove it as much as you'd like."

"And you won't mention another thing about Tala until then?"

"Only if you promise to remember what I said, I promise not to mention Tala," Kim said with a grin.

"I promise," he insisted with a roll of his eyes. After a brief kiss, they were on their way. Not another word about Talara was spoken, until they arrived home following a stop at the market with the young woman awaiting them at their doorway. "Talara, you're early," Keeve pestered her amiably.

The young Jedi smiled at Keeve. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't realize that I would be able to get here so fast." She indicated her aethersprite resting just a short ways away. She was dressed in a pair of casual pants that came to just below the knee, a pair of slip-on shoes, and a sleeveless tunic that was belted at her waist. Anyone looking at her would have no idea that she was a Padawan Learner studying to become a Jedi Knight. "I've just been watching the people walking by while I waited. I haven't been here too long." She stepped down to take one of the bags from Keeve to help him carry it in.

He moved the bag out of reach. "Don't even think about it. You're a guest, Tala. Just relax." Winking at her companionably, Keeve led the way inside. "How's training been?" he called back to her as they headed for the lifts.

"It's been very good," Tala said as she fell into step behind Keeve. "Master Novix and I just got back from the Shipyards. One of the men who had been threatening some of the ambassadors went a little too far, and the Council who assists High Princess Neerou asked the Jedi to intervene to catch him. Master Novix said I did very well."

There was slight disapproval in his expression. "It wasn't dangerous, was it?"

"From some points of view, it would be considered dangerous," Talara answered. "I never felt that I was in danger, however. And, Master Novix was right next to me the entire time to be certain I was safe. Don't worry, Keeve, this is what I'm trained to do."

"Yeah, but is this what you like to do?" he asked, his gaze critical. "Don't you prefer doing...I don't know...girly things?"

Talara laughed. "Well, of course I do," she said. "But, I can do both. I like doing important things, helping people. And, I know that when I do the right thing, when I make the right choice, Master Andro didn't waste his time with me. I know he would be pleased, and that's important to me. If he'd seen me six months ago, he would have been so disappointed. But, you snapped me out of it and saved me. You helped me get back on track. I want to be a Jedi, Keeve, it's what I've wanted my whole life. And, I actually feel like I'm closer now than I have ever been before."

It was difficult for Keeve not to play the part of big brother and insist she reconsider such a perilous lifestyle, but the pride and resolve in her eyes silenced his reservations. Smiling at her as the lift doors closed, Keeve said, "Well...does this mean I should call you if I need a bodyguard?"

"Of course," Talara said with a grin. "Though, I can't imagine you ever needing a bodyguard. I think you know how to take care of yourself."

Keeve shrugged. "Nah...I just have Kim here beat up anyone who looks at me wrong."

Tala laughed. "I'm sure she'll do fine," she said. "Though, if you do ever need me, you know you can count on me, right? Jedi aren't supposed to have favourites, and I would have to be very careful. I do not believe there would be a conflict as long as it didn't conflict with the Jedi Order."

The lift doors opened upon reaching their floor, and Keeve ushered the two women out. "If I ever need you," he continued in response to Talara's offer, "I'll comm you. But don't think for a second I'll just let you defend me without trying to protect you, too."

"My brave protector," Talara said.

"Oh, he is," Kim said with a grin. "So, you're making us dinner, my love? We have some time before you're done?"

"Yeah, yeah," Keeve grumbled while punching in the door code. "You two chat all about me; I won't listen to a word you say, I promise."

"I was thinking we'd hop into the jet tub while you make dinner," Kim said. "Just let us know a few minutes before it's ready so we can dry off."

Narrowing his eyes warily at the two girls, Keeve mumbled, "You'd better be in bathing suits..." then carried himself and his bags of groceries towards the kitchen.

Kim rolled her eyes and took Tala's hand to lead her into the jet tub. "He can be such a hen at times," she said as she started up the jets and set the temperature. "Don't worry." And, with that, she began stripping off her clothing and slipped into the tub. Talara did the same, and soon they were both relaxing peacefully in the tub with bubbles filling the top and warm, soothing water caressing their bodies. It was perfect relaxation.

---

"Crashing Down"
By: High Princess Yelara Neerou
Meer'esh
Dame Oot Kovan
Kambra Gant

Location: Royal Palace of Arcadia
Date: Selene 12, 5 ABY

***

"Thank you."

Meer'esh bowed as Yelara accepted his proffered drink - a much needed goblet of the finest Bespin port, which was one luxury afforded by her current position, and rightly so; with the tenacity the planet's representatives tended to argue, only the galaxy's best wine would rid Yelara of the headaches they induced on a daily basis. She sighed and closed her eyes as the rich, aromatic liquor flowed smoothly down her throat.

As much as she was able considering the overly elaborate, rather restrictive gown she was selected to wear that day, Yelara relaxed into the plush sofa within her chambers. The discussions had gone fairly well, though there was still much debate regarding the re-mapping of Tae'Karada's borders. Yelara's decision had been made with a majority ruling, but not a completely unanimous vote. The Jedi Order, represented by Liam Zaneth, had objected, as had three other factions, and Yelara had been tempted to reject the proposal first introduced to her by Ambassador Fida. Meer'esh, however, had apprised her of its merits and the benefits it would create for Tae'Karada. Any advice Meer'esh gave, Yelara took into deep consideration...and, thus far, followed.

As stalwart an aide as he was, Yelara dearly wished for more from him, but he was always reluctant. Her eyes opened, finding his penetrating gaze upon her, as it often was, and again Yelara could only wonder why he would not give himself to her, when the passion he felt was so clearly written in his eyes.

"Sit with me," she encouraged, smiling. His composed features wavered when she tugged on his hand, Meer'esh's barriers weakening as they always did upon a single touch from Yelara. Without protest, he sat, yet stiffly and seeming rather uncomfortable in such close proximity, for no matter how intimate they ever got, Meer'esh managed always to re-establish distance between them in their next meeting. It was as if their instances of affection never occurred.

Unsatisfied with his lack of ease in her presence, however, Yelara shifted his way, skirts rustling and jewels clacking, and delivered a silken caress to his smooth cheek. He swallowed hard and his eyelids fluttered under the wave of excitement her fingertips had driven through his body. Yelara bit her lip, but couldn't contain a gentle laugh. "Why are you always so coy," she teased. "We've touched before, Meer'esh; stop acting like it's the first time."

"There should not having been a first time, Yelara," he admitted seriously. He caught her hand in his before her trailing fingers could reach his chest. It was difficult to deny Yelara, when his lusts were as potent as hers. She was radiant, her beauty never diminished by the garish regalia demanded by her status. The flowing gowns, intricately brocaded fabrics, and effulgent gems adoring her pale neck didn't succeed in overshadowing her natural allure. Nothing could, not even the passage of time.

And as much as Meer'esh coveted her, he was too craven to accept her offers, many that included sharing her bed for the evening. She remained undeterred, however, even with as often as he had rejected her propositions. But in that moment, Meer'esh detected a change in Yelara's demeanour, in the sharply turned down lips and severely narrowed eyes. It seemed Meer'esh had finally inspired her displeasure.

She snatched her slim, delicate hand from his and surged up from the sofa to round on Meer'esh. Her bosom, constricted by the fitted bodice encasing Yelara's torso, was heaving rapidly in her rage. Meer'esh gripped the armrest as he considered rising, but Yelara's simmering anger stayed him. All he could do was look up at Yelara, dreading her censure, but when she spoke, her voice was as soft and gentle as always. There was only sorrow conveyed. "Why don't you want me?" she whispered. "You followed me to the palace, gave up everything to be here...and all because I thought you cared for me. Was-- Was I wrong?"

"Yelara..." With a heavy sigh, Meer'esh did stand and hazarded to place a hand upon her shoulder. The material of her dress was rough against his palm, but her satin-smooth flesh was heavenly. It took all his restraint not to kiss her. "You cannot be understanding how I am suffering. You are thinking I feel nothing?" he rasped, allowing his frustration to spill out. "Are you thinking I am not pining for you?"

Yelara gripped the fabric of his shirtsleeve and urged, "Then why can't you love me? Meer'esh...I need you. I have no one! Liam won't even stand by me when I need him to, but you do!"

"That is because I am loving you," he confessed, finally allowing his passion to display itself, but Yelara's joy was quashed soon enough as he added, "but people cannot be discovering that we are lovers, Yelara. Are you not seeing what problems that will be causing?"

Her smile was sad and wistful at once as she answered, "I don't care. When we're outside of this room, you can be my aide, but when you're here...." Her fingers grazed his lips in a tantalizing caress that convinced Meer'esh it was a futile struggle to deny her. He clenched his jaw, still plagued by all his concerns - many involving his own inexperience and inadequacy as a lover rather than his fabricated anxiety over how their relationship would resonate with the palace gossip circles. His trembling alerted Yelara to his uneasiness. "I have not--"

"It's alright," she interrupted soothingly. Her adoring smile allayed Meer'esh's concerns, and allowing his emotions to guide him, Meer'esh threaded his fingers through Yelara's cropped, raven hair. They seized the glittering diadem adorning her head and tossed it back onto the sofa. When in his arms, she was no longer a high princess. Yelara was his mate - he had no doubts now, if ever. And the gentle whimper of excitement she emitted as he drew her fervently into his embrace was validation enough.

She would not be refused tonight, and Meer'esh would not dare do so and fall out of her favour. It was fortunate, however, that he could no longer keep his desire in check, which was apparent when his hands reached around Yelara to unfasten her cumbersome gown. She chuckled at his enthusiasm, and he grinned in return, mostly at his difficulties in blindly unzipping the complicated garment.

His bewilderment was compounded by the sudden terror that possessed Yelara's features, and the leaden weight she had become. Unprepared, Meer'esh was nearly dragged to the ground with Yelara, but he reacted quickly and raised her upright. Her face was pale and eyes wide; his first thought was that a long day of discussions had made her faint, but Yelara was wide awake and desperately clawing at Meer'esh's arms. "Yelara...what is being the matter!" His voice was strained and panicked, sounding so foreign to Meer'esh. He had never felt such fear, not even as a slave. "Please...stand, Yelara and tell me!"

Tears spilled over Yelara's cheeks and she shook her head listlessly. She looked down at her legs, wondering why they refused to support her, and for a brief, confused moment investigating if they were still there beneath her. Then, it fell into place. "Meer'esh," she gasped, gazing up at him, "I can't feel my legs. I...I can't--"

"I will get the doctor!" Meer'esh decided hastily, and lifted Yelara into his arms to carry her to the bed. She shook her head vigourously. "No...not the palace doctor," she pleaded. "No one must know, Meer'esh. No one! I...I can't show weakness. Not now, not when everything's at stake!"

He gaped at Yelara, torn between respecting her wishes and distress over whatever had afflicted her. "Yelara...I must! You are needing help!"

She crushed the front of his shirt in both fists and implored him with her tearful eyes. "Please...not the doctor."

Meer'esh was at a loss, but regained his composure for a moment to lay Yelara gently down. "I-- I will retrieve Liam Zaneth, then. He may be know--"

"No," she whispered. "No... I don't want him seeing me like this, not him."

"Then who, Yelara!" he hollered in anguish. "I must be helping you!"

"Then...Oot," she decided quickly. "I trust her. She...she'll know what to do. Get her, Meer'esh. Get her and bring her to me."

Absently, he nodded, despite his distrust of the Twi'lek. It was impossible to think clearly, so that all he could do was agree readily. With a tender kiss and a vow to return soon, Meer'esh reluctantly left Yelara behind, crippled and afraid, while he sought out the Twi'lek who might restore her health. And if she didn't, Meer'esh had an idea or two on how to make the serpent-headed alien pay.

***

Meer'esh was tense and restive as he watched and waited in suspense for the doctor to complete his examination of Yelara. Once more, Meer'esh threw a dubious look Oot Kovan's way. She had taken but a moment to come to Yelara's aid, enlisting the help of a physician from her personal ranks to perform the check-up. He had been smuggled in artfully, attesting to the twi'lek's well-crafted talent for stealth and subterfuge. Meer'esh didn't even hear him come into the room when he had arrived.

He stood close by, ensuring nothing untoward was being done to Yelara, who had remained silent and in tight control of her emotions throughout the exam. Meer'esh loved her even more in the face of such bravery. "He will be healing her, won't he?" Meer'esh whispered to Oot. "Can he?"

"It is difficult to say," Oot answered. "Hers is an unusual case, and it will require delicate care. How familiar are you with Yelara's...medical history?"

"What of it?" he answered evasively, wondering what Yelara had been hiding from him.

"There are few people who know, and I am uncertain that Yelara would be pleased that I am speaking of it," Oot said. "Less than a year ago, Yelara Neerou, though at the time her name could have been Kandran or Zaneth, at least from a legal sense, was killed by a lightsaber wound to her abdominal region. The wielder of that lightsaber was a man by the name of Dargus Kandran. He was fighting against Liam Zaneth, and Yelara intervened. It is believed that Dargus had not intended to kill her. She was dead for some time, Meer'esh. Somehow, Liam Zaneth found a way to bring her back...though she was not quite herself. She has none of the memories of her past life, save those of Va'Lesh. No one knows what Liam Zaneth did except for Liam Zaneth. But, she is alive today because of him."

Normally capable of wearing a mask over his emotions, Meer'esh now appeared unmistakably shocked. "That...that is being impossible," he told her, finding his voice again. His eyes strayed to Yelara, now asleep following the doctor's ministrations. "But...how?" Meer'esh murmured. "How is this being? And what is it having to do with what is happening now?"

"I do not know if it's connected, Meer'esh," Oot said. "I only know that Liam Zaneth left Tae'Karada with her body in a stasis capsule, and when they returned, she was alive. More than that, I cannot answer. I don't have the answers. I don't know if Liam even knows the answers, but you know what he is. Who can say what is or isn't possible?"

"And who isn't to be saying that Liam Zaneth did not do this to Yelara?" he asked bitterly.

Oot's features darkened as she regarded Meer'esh. "Can you honestly give me a reason why Liam Zaneth would do this to her? If you even think he would do something like this to her, you do not know him. She may have rejected him, but he still loves her as deeply as the day they met. He'd kill himself before doing anything to harm her."

"Perhaps," Meer'esh suggested snidely, "he is finally beginning to resent her refusal to be loving him. Jealousy will be making a man do almost anything, Ms. Kovan, even a Jedi."

"While Master Zaneth is not exactly a pinnacle of purity," Oot answered, "you are missing a key factor in this drama: Yelara's return was for Va'Lesh, not himself. However, I wonder if your observations on what jealousy will or won't do for a man come from personal experience." She gave him an enigmatic smile and turned to face the approaching doctor. "What's the word on her condition?"

The Mon Calamari shifted his protuberant eyes Meer'esh's way, but Oot's encouraging nod dispelled his hesitation to speak before the stranger and confide Yelara's condition, which was strictly confidential, he had been told before even commencing his exam. Now, he was appointed the task of relating his diagnosis. "Overall, she is a healthy woman...despite her past," the doctor began. "Therefore, it was easy to locate the source of her present condition. I won't bother you with the technicalities, but the prognosis is not good."

Meer'esh's hearts seized, and the rest of what Oot's physician reported blurred past his ears. He could do nothing but stare at Yelara's prone form lost beneath the bedsheets. The urge to hold her was compelling.

"Her nervous system is degrading," the doctor continued. "That is what happened to her this evening - the neural pathways controlling her lower motor functions weakened, almost obliterating the conduction of electrical impulses to and from her brain. Reviewing the scans I performed, it appears that her entire nervous system is being affected to varying degrees. It would explain her recent onset of headaches, blurred vision, tingling in her extremities...."

"What can be done," Oot asked, her voice a level monotone. "Can anything be done?"

"All I could do at the moment was sedate her and hope that when she awakens, she recovers her mobility," the Mon Calamari physician replied with no attempt to trivialize the issue for Meer'esh, or Oot's benefit. "It may be possible to repair the pathways if they're not too degraded and if we can pinpoint the cause, though scans suggest the damage is still premature; but if the deterioration cannot be reversed...." He shook his head slowly. "Every function in the body is controlled by neural impulses. Without those pathways to direct them, in the end, her heart will cease to function, as will she."

Meer'esh remained silent, yet, if at all possible, his face seemed to pale further.

Oot nodded slowly. "We will need to inform Master Zaneth," she said. "And, the Advisory Council. How long before we will have no choice but to inform the Council of the High Princess' inability to continue her duties as High Princess and a successor will have to be named?"

"She is not being dead yet," Meer'esh spat, turning his resentful glare Oot's way. "Yelara was not wanting anyone to know, and you will not be telling her secret. As long as her mind is working, she can be serving as High Princess."

"And how well do you believe she will be able to serve as High Princess when she is sedated," Oot asked. "How long do you believe she can maintain her place in her current condition, Meer'esh? When she wakes and is able to speak, I do intend to speak to her about this. And, I do intend to make preliminary preparations for a succession should the worst happen."

"She will not be dying," Meer'esh vowed. "She cannot be. You are not knowing how strong she is. She will be waking up, and she will be ruling this planet again by morning, I am assuring you." And stalking past Oot, he crossed the room towards Yelara's bed.

Watching him sit upon the mattress' edge and take Yelara's limp hand, the doctor addressed Oot once more. "I do not have the proper equipment with me. She will have to be moved to a surgical facility to attempt the procedure - one she may not survive, and one that may not even reverse her condition. Her body...it's simply breaking down, and if we do succeed, there's no assurances the degradation simply won't begin again."

"I will see how she is in the morning," Oot said. "If she hasn't improved, I will discuss the matter with Master Zaneth. As he was the one responsible for bringing her back, perhaps he will have some insight. Until then, as long as it is safe to do so, we will watch and wait."

"Yes, Dame Kovan." The Mon Calamari bowed respectfully, and upon rising he added, "Shall I make arrangements for the surgery?"

"Preliminary arrangements," Oot said. "And quietly. We will not commit until we have her consent, or she is past the point where consent can be given."

The physician nodded obediently and departed to carry out his orders, while Meer'esh remained steadfastly by Yelara's side, his face a gamut of emotions, one of which was barely suppressed despair.

Oot started toward the door, but stopped. She turned back to regard the pair at the bed. "We will do everything we can for her," she said. "Though, I would recommend finding it within yourself to trust us; it will make this entire process go more smoothly if we don't have to fight against you at every step."

Although still mildly suspicious, Meer'esh's gaze softened and he nodded in tacit acknowledgement. "If she is waking, I will be contacting you."

"Thank you," Oot said and started toward the door. "If you need someone to watch her while you sleep, I can have Kambra come in."

"I am not needing sleep," Meer'esh assured her. "I will not be daring to until Yelara is opening her eyes again."

Oot nodded. "Very well," she said. "I shall see you in the morning."

Meer'esh was unresponsive, his energies devoted to stroking Yelara's hand and maintaining the soothing motion throughout the night if he could. Anything to restore her to her former, vibrant self so that they could finally begin to explore their love, and so Meer'esh would not regret, forever, waiting too long to open himself to Yelara. There was not even time, it seemed, to tell her the truth about himself. But, he would find a way to save her from the suffering Liam Zaneth had inflicted upon her, for Meer'esh detected his hand in this, as with everything, and when Meer'esh could arrange it, he would ensure Yelara was avenged.

---

"Just Like a Bothan"
By Theen Fida, New Republic Ambassador (NPC+ written by Amii'a Val'or)
and Oneron Jel'vre, New Republic Diplomat (NPC)

Location: New Republic Embassy, New Plouton
Date: Selene 12th, 5ABY

***

Theen had only just been made aware that an emissary from the New Republic had entered the embassy. He was aggravated that he had not been notified of the visit, and worse yet, the emissary was none other than Oneron Jel'vre. Oneron was a crafty and manipulative Bothan, Aren't they all? Theen thought to himself as he awaited the Bothan's shuttle to set down upon the embassy's landing pad.

Theen wasn't accustomed to being out of the loop, it didn't make him nervous, just irritable. He didn't trust Oneron, it was whispered in political circles that he skirted a very fine line between the legal and illegal. Manipulative was a very loose description of the Bothan's policies. What was illegal, he made legal. Theen knew well the man had risen to his station upon the ruined careers and reputations of fellow colleagues, as well as riding upon his family name. Theen's only assumption for the unannounced visit was that the Bothan had a great interest in the intergalactic co-op Theen had helped to orchestrate.

Just like a Bothan to try and reap the awards from that which he didn't toil for, Theen thought as the Bothan descended the ramp of the shuttle. It was probably to, that the Bothan was jealous of Theen's authority and resources of his position, Theen also thought. He knew he would have to be careful with this Bothan.

"Minister Jel'vre," Theen greeted as the Bothan joined him with his entourage. Theen spied the numerous members of Oneron's followers, he thought them of great number and surmised that the visit had more than met the eye.

"Chairman Jel'vre," the Bothan corrected. "I have taken over the committee that oversees the ambassadorial operations of non-aligned worlds, Ambassador."

A disturbing revelation Theen thought. His close family friend, Senator Gooreil had been at the head of the committee, a man Theen trusted and held with utmost respect.

"I was not aware, but a pleasure to receive you none-the-less Chairman," Theen replied nice enough. "Tell me, how is Senator Gooreil? I must admit that it is a surprise he no longer heads the committee, it was of his design after all."

The Bothans nose twitched as he gave an unpleasant huff.

"Your friend the Senator is under review for misappropriation of funds and unethical misuse of his position," Oneron informed. "I only tell you so, because you will be leaving shortly to testify in the hearing," he said as he handed Theen a subpoena.

"I'll gladly testify to his character and innocence," Theen proclaimed. "What preposterous charges."

Oneron stopped in his tracts and sneered without even looking at the Anx. After all, Theen was much taller, and the Bothan desired not to look up to Theen.

"Yes, the two of you have been close friends from years. My investigations into the charges revealed as much."

"You brought the charges upon him?"

"No, I said my investigation into the charges," the Bothan mocked. "An undisclosed source brought forth the case."

Theen knew better. It was not beneath Oneron to have cooked up the entire plot and established his secret source to bring the case before a committee, one he no doubtedly was upon and was able to take charge of the investigation and take over Goolriel's committee for himself.

"If you look closer, you will see that your summons is on behalf of the prosecution, not the defender," the Bothan added as a final insult and jab.

"How am I to honestly testify against the Senator, when I know him to have done no wrong? It is as preposterous as these allegations, and you know it."

"I know nothing of the sort Ambassador, save that you will return to Coruscant and perform your duty," the Bothan stated sternly. "In the meantime, I shall over see this embassy in your stead. I will need full access for myself and my staff," he gestured to his entourage. "While we are here we shall be performing an audit."

"I am entitled to be present during an audit, you know this."

"I do, however you cannot be here, you have within your hands a legal summons which takes priority. I am the Chairman of the committee that oversees the operations, funds and policies of this embassy, it is fully in my power to take over the directorship of this embassy. You will leave at once, of course. Sgt. Useera will accompany you to gather your personal effects for the trip, and she will escort you to Coruscant."

Theen turned his head to inspect Useera. She was a female Zabrak with horny protrusions upon her cranium, etched facial markings, and she wore the dark blues of the New Republic Diplomatic Marshall Corps. Her uniform was trimmed in silver, and along her side was holstered a blaster where she casually had rested her hand.

"Have a pleasant trip Ambassador," Oneron said he and his entourage filed into the turbolift. "I look forward to our meeting, once you return."

The turbolift doors closed and whisked the Bothan away.

The Marshall pivoted and extended her arm towards the speeder dock.

"Sir?" she said with a motion that declared it was time to move on.

Theen's crest flared with his boiling anger.

---

"Is Blood Thicker Than Water, Or Like Wine That Turns to Vinegar?"
By: Amii'a Val'or, Tae'Karadan Diplomat, liaison to the New Republic (PC)
Narrisa Val'or, Amii'a's mother (NPC+)

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 12th, 5ABY

***

How many years has it been? Amii'a thought to herself nervously as she awaited the arrival of her mother. Just a few months past her mother Narrisa had contacted her out of the blue. It had been years since she had spoken to her mother after having a severe falling out with her father when she denounced the Empire and joined the Rebellion.

Her family were not bad folk, they were upstanding socialites, law abiding citizens with some of the best education one could get in the galaxy, just as Amii'a herself had received. And it seemed so long ago since those days. She could remember the pride in the face of her parents when she graduated with her second degree and was handpicked for a prestigious career in service to the Empire, for her parents, though not bad folk, were loyal to the Empire. And even Amii'a was to at one time, growing up in a house with a life of privilege. Privilege that was paid for greatly in part by her father's successful legal career as a legal prosecutor, putting away criminals of the Empire. Oh how everything came crashing down when Amii'a finally discovered the evils that was the Empire she had been raised to love. And how torn she was between her family ties and that of what was truly right and just when she turned her back on her former life and joined the Rebellion.

Since the fall of the Empire and the fall of Tarkin's regime on Tae'Karada Amii'a had worked hard to help rebuild Tae'Karada as did many others. She never thought herself anyone special, anyone of great notoriety. But she was in a fashion. And since the crowning of the new High Princess and the reestablishment of the monarchy she had been busy helping to bring about great change to her home and people. Often she was in the spotlight for her work, as were many others who at the helm of this new era. Before she was mostly in the shadows, working behind the scenes. Nowadays though, she well known across the world in every circle of the who-is-who.

And that was how it had all began.

One day she was visited by her mother, and Amii'a didn't even know what to say, especially when she spoke:

"Your father with leave me if he knew I was here," she had said with trembling tears of joy, sorrow and uncertainty.

How many times had Amii'a's face been on the Holo? How many times had she been interviewed for every home on Tae'Karada to see and hear?

"Ro'hdina asked one day if that lady on the Holo was related," her mother had told her. "She has mommy's eyes! She has daddy's color hair! She has our same name!" she had said which had incurred a fit of anger from her father.

"She is nobody!" he had spat. "Turn that garbage off!"

"He won't admit it, you know how he is," her mother had told her during one of their secret lunches. "He still loves you, he knows he was wrong, but his pride...his damned pride."

Over the weeks they had met, only one day a week, and just for lunch. Her mother told her everything, including the fact that she had never really held to her father's same loyalties and beliefs, but that she had believed in him and was loyal to him. She knew the Empire was no good, but that was just the way of the galaxy. Her father was a successful prosecutor who put so many people away, people who were enemies of the Empire, many of which he later discovered were good people with families just like himself whose only real crime was that they stood up for what was right.

All along Amii'a had been right, his precious little girl, so smart and so brave. But he was too prideful to see it in the beginning, to ashamed and too afraid. Seeing his daughter, his shunned daughter, on the Holo doing what was right, with no shame and no fear...well it had only made him feel worse about himself.

Her mother told her how he slipped into depression, took to drinking and lost his job. He was relieved to have lost his job since he was too stubborn to quit himself. That left only Narissa's income as a business lawyer to support their former lavish lifestyle. They had not hurt for anything and true they had quite a nest egg saved up. But with the drinking came the gambling, and before long they found themselves in debt. It wasn't until the birth of Ro'dhina that her father changed his ways...most of his ways. Her mother had told that in little Ro he saw a second chance. But with every memory and mention of Amii'a it brought back the old feelings of guilt and shame. How easy it would have been to just accept his mistakes and make amends, but not for Qristoff who was just too much full of pride, and to afraid to face his wrong doings. It was just easier to continue to blame his first daughter.

Amii'a's mother's words had stung, they had stung to her very soul. Though she was happier than she had been in a very long to finally see her mother and to talk with her, it all was this big family secret and it grew old and infuriated Amii'a. So her mother gave in and they had made plans to put father and daughter before one another again. What did her mother have to loose? Beside her marriage. They had had to sell the vacation home on Naboo, the condo on the beach at the vacation province, they even sold their home, the house Amii'a grew up in to purchase a modest apartment in the city. Her father had taken a job as teacher at the university, but it did not pay that which he was accustomed to before. He had grown distant and some days even unbearable. Her mother was about to leave him and return to Naboo anyway. But she had decided to see Amii'a first and maybe...just maybe things would work out and they all could be a happy family again.

Maybe.

Amii'a sat in the old restaurant her father used to take them to once a week for dinner, The Bojaberry. Exquisite cuisine and service. She looked out the window from her seat, the very table that had always been reserved for them for that one night out of the week no matter what time it was how busy the establishment was. A speeder pulled up and the door man opened the door. First her mother stepped out, and Amii'a noticed for the first time how much she had aged but she still looked beautiful. Her eyes showed the years of worries and the days concerns. Then her father stepped out, the first time she had seen him since the day at the gardens the year before, and that was from a distant. He too looked very old, the drinking and stresses of the years had taken its toll evidently.

Amii'a turned from the window and sat up straight, her heart raced and she found it hard to breath. She let loose a slight giggle of nervousness, for she had been in some rather precarious spots in her time with lasers flying, bombs going off and ill-met people damned sure to kill her...yet she was most afraid and uncertain this day. She turned again to look, not having seen her little sister who she had only seen once in the gardens. She was not with her parents, and rightly so. Who knew how things would go and she didn't need to be the witness such drama...were there to be such, and Amii'a just didn't know either way. She who helped to orchestrate rebellious acts against an Empire, she who helped to conduct business and legislative laws between a world and a galactic republic...was as nervous as she had never felt in her life. And anger...anger seemed to boil to the surface too, for she knew it was not her fault, she had done no wrong, she had nothing to be ashamed for, and yet she still felt that way and held some feeling of fear and shame for what her father may say and how he may look upon her.

She could hear them enter, hear the slight footsteps as the maitre de led them to the upper section by the windows that over looked the street below. Her back was to her parents, but she could feel their eyes upon her. She took a calming breath and stood, she turned to face the man that was her father and to face what ever may come.

---

"Sparring"
By: Padawan Cole Slaton
Jedi Master Koran Darr
and Padawan Talara Sorenne

Location: Training Room, Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: 12 Selene 5ABY

***

Jedi Master Koran Darr and his Padawan, Cole Slaton, sat in meditation on one end of the spacious Jedi training room, a silver sphere hovering in the air between them. Master Darr was testing Cole's concentration and focus as the young man held the sphere aloft between them.

At the other end of the room, adding additional distractions, Padawan Talara Sorenne practiced against a training remote. Her blue blade flashed brightly as crimson bolts spattered against it. The bolts were far from deadly, but they stung upon impact. One such bolt found Cole's knee as Talara parried the crimson dart before returning to Guard.

The impact shook the grip Cole had on the sphere. It dropped hitting the ground, the thud of which was muffled by Cole's surprising yelp. The shock sent the young Padawan jumping into the air, which was purely reflex and had it been someone else Cole may have found it funny, hell there was no may about it. As it wasn't someone else Cole didn't see the humour as the sharp pain struck his knee.

"Hey!" Cole shouted rubbing his leg through his trousers glancing at Talara. "You mind? Thought you were good with that thing?" he asked indicating the lightsaber in her hand.

Talara glanced at Master Darr, then back to Cole and grinned.

"You appear to have lost your concentration and focus, my young Padawan," Koran said. "All things considered, you did well though." He nodded in Talara's direction. "Thank you for your assistance, Talara."

"I am happy to help, Master," she said and bowed to the Jedi Master. She reclipped the hilt of her weapon to her belt.

"Have you practiced your lightsaber yet today, Cole," Koran asked. "Once you've done that, you should be free for the rest of the day."

"You mean... you... and you...?" Cole looked from Master to friend and back again. Finally composing himself the young Corellian bowed to Koran. "I have not practised yet master, though I'm sure Talara would be more than happy to spar with me." Cole glanced in her direction.

"Of course," Talara said. She removed her lightsaber from her belt once again and set it to its lowest setting, then handed it to Koran for his inspection. With a nod, the Jedi Master returned her weapon. She gave Cole a grin as she moved to the center of the room.

Returning the grin Cole took his own saber, following Talara he handed it to Koran for inspection. Receiving a nod from his master Cole stepped out into the middle of the room. "Been a while since we last sparred, hope your not too rusty..."

"We'll just have to see, won't we," Talara said. Taking her lightsaber in a two-handed grip, Talara settled into a guard stance with her blade angled slightly forward. Her blade snapped to life with a hiss. "Ready when you are."

With the lightsaber in his right hand Cole brought it from his side up above his head angling the blade away, his left took the grip just below its counterpart. The blue energy beam rose to life with a snap-hiss mirroring Talara's. "I was born ready..." he replied springing forward attacking.

Talara quickly shifted from close guard to high guard, and caught Cole's lightsaber against her own weapon. With a hissing of both blades, she pushed him back. With a sidestep, she dropped into a low guard stance and circled halfway around. A step inward toward him turned into a feint. She spun, snapping her blade back behind her to block his attack at her back. As she turned back to face him, her attack was toward his right shoulder. At the last instant, she snapped her wrists and drove downward at his hip.

As before the move flashed in his minds-eye before it happened, the Force took over as he'd been told it would yet still obeying his commands. Dropping his saber down he took the impact of her saber, it drove his back and came close enough for the hairs of his arm to tingle from the energy. Spinning around pushing Talara away Cole brought his weapon around to her unprotected side, she of course must have seen this - as Cole had only moments ago - for she was ready for it turning defence into attack with practised ease.

It was more a dance that actual fighting. One defended while the other attacked, and in a swift of movement - either practised until honed or made up on the spot - the dance partners would swap. Talara was the better of the two. Her movements were more fluid and her defence was that much better, yet Cole still held his own.

Having been training to be a Jedi for most of her life, the lightsaber in Talara's hand seemed to be a part of her. Master Andro had claimed that she had mastered Shii-Cho, the first form of lightsaber combat, by her tenth nameday. Since that time, she had focused on learning Soresu, the third form, the most defensive of the lightsaber fighting forms. She had been picking up some of the Shien form from Kael, but knew that for now defense was the best option. Wait for the opening, she could still hear Master Andro saying. Once it is there, you will know, and you can strike.

According to Kael and Master Novix, each who had been helping her with Shien and Djem So, were impressed with her work thus far. Cole hadn't been fighting with a lightsaber for long, but Talara was impressed with his form.

With the exception of Master Darr, they were alone in the room with no one to observe their dance. As they continued around the sparring ring, the thought occurred to neither that people would be willing to pay money to observe such exhibitions of beauty and grace. While the chemistry between Cole and Talara did not exist beyond their sparring, few would argue that there wasn't a spark between them. No romance would bloom there, but the pair put on a hell of a display.

The tickling touch of sweat, as it ran down the sides of his face past his ears, was a distraction Cole could ill afford. He was already putting mountains of effort just to keep from slipping up, Talara was good, better than good and realising this took effort in itself. Cole would hardly say he was a proud man, he knew for instance the Masters were highly skilled in elements of the Force and the lightsaber, but to admit a fellow Padawan - granted one who had started many years before him - was his superior was a hard blow to take.

A man's pride was a delicate thing. Especially for a Jedi, and a still learning Padawan.

This gave Cole a renewed hope. If he could find it within himself to realise this, and not turn away from the truth, in the long run would make him a better man, but also a better Jedi.

Talara was glad for Cole's more aggressive fighting style. It made for a more interesting fight since she had been focusing on her defense. Her skill in Soresu was one of the best in the Temple, and nearly impregnable. She kept her lightsaber close to her body, and slight movement was able to get it to cover any attack. Even Master Novix, whose mastery of Djem So made him one of the most dangerous lightsaber duelists in the Jedi Order, had difficulty penetrating the sheer defensiveness of well-utilized Soresu. However, while Talara's discipline now was even greater than it had been four month ago, which had been far greater than just a month before that, she was not yet a Master. In her heart, she felt she was ready for the trials, but she was patient until Master Vorrel said she was ready. And, she knew she still had much to learn.

Foot work was one of the primary cogs that were needed to be a swordsman, when just one of these metaphorical cogs jammed defences were affected. Cole's left boot came down on a small puddle of sweat, the momentary loss of grip and shifting of his weight to compensate left him open.

The strength of the Soresu style was maintaining a tight, unbreachable defense until one's opponent made a mistake.

As Cole fought to steady himself, regaining his balance, a stinging pain burned across his wrist. Talara was already spinning back away, her blade a blur of blue. She spun again to face Cole, disengaging her lightsaber and returning it to her belt.

"Win, Padawan Sorenne," Master Darr called out. He bowed to each Padawan in turn, and they to him. "Well fought, both of you. You are both growing into fine Jedi. For fighting against Soresu, Cole, you did very well. When done right, it's nearly unbeatable; and as I understand it, Andro Ki'Ayalin was an unparalleled master of that form. You both should be proud of your efforts." He gave Cole a warm smile and nod of encouragement.

"Thank you master..." Cole said bowing with a smile of pride. Glancing at Talara rubbing his wrist as he deactivated his lightsaber. "One day perhaps I'll get my own back..." he chuckled clipping his weapon to its harness.

"I'm sure you will," Talara said with a smile. "I think if you hadn't slipped there at the end, we would have spent the rest of the day here. Whenever you need a sparring partner, Cole, just let me know. You should also spar against Kael. He's very good, and forces you to be really good too. It feels like in just going against him, I've doubled my skills."

"I'll remember that... Thanks..." Turning to Master Darr Cole bowed his thanks to him also. "I know I have not always been the easiest of Padawans Master, but I just wanted to tell you, that I am very thankful for my training and your teachings."

"It has been my pleasure to teach you, Cole," Koran said. "It has been said that as a Jedi, you real training doesn't begin until you become a Master and begin teaching others. I believe there is a lot of truth to that. You two should go get cleaned up and ready for dinner. I'm sure Orn has something fantastic planned for tonight's meal."

Cole's hand rubbed his shirt over his stomach, it grumbled in anticipation of food. He hadn't realised just how hungry he really was. "Come on short stuff, time's a-wastin'."

"A shower will be really nice," Talara answered as she started toward the doors of the training room. While she had gained a few centimeters of height over the last several months, she still had to double her pace to keep up with Cole's much longer legs. Her Jedi robes, modeled after those worn by Jedi Aayla Secura decades earlier, and then again by Master Vos' second Twi'lek apprentice Aurra Sgall, left a good deal of Talara's skin exposed, which made for a much cooler workout, yet still she had worked up a considerable sweat during their sparring. A shower would be quite nice indeed. "Want me to meet you in the dining area after we've showered?"

"Sure... I'll keep a space warm for you..." Winking, Cole took the door on the right, the male showers, vanishing behind.

Talara grinned at him before disappearing through the door just down the hall where the showers for the female Jedi were located. It was nice to feel that she was finally where she belonged.

---

"Succumbing"
By: Maeren Shivral
Kaysa Zenarr
Tav
Vrax Draydge

Location: Coruscant
Date: Selene 12, 5 ABY

***

Maeren Shivral stepped through the door of the penthouse apartment. It was richly furnished and was far more spacious than the four people staying in it could use.

The apartment they shared now was quite different from the one they'd occupied upon arriving. There had been a single bedroom that Vrax shared with Kaysa. Maeren was confined to the couch with Tav, though there had been some nights when she'd been called to the bedroom to service Vrax because Kaysa had been too tired or too despondent.

They had not had to stay there long, partly because of Maeren and partly because of Vrax's skills. He had managed to find some way of making money he hadn't told either Maeren and Kaysa about, though Tav seemed to know. Maeren's contribution had come in the form of selling her body to men (and sometimes women) for credits. While Tav had to force her at knife or blasterpoint for the first several weeks, she had been going out on her own willingly since. Partly because of the threats to Kaysa's life, and partly because of Vrax's constant needling. Lately even Tav had picked it up.

She was a clone. She was bred for one purpose: to pleasure others. This was as natural to her as breathing. She'd had no choice, and now went as willingly as one who had no choice could. The hardest part of all for her to admit was that she was very good. While there were no official figures for such things, she figured she was making more than any of the other girls on the street. She easily avoided the scum of the street because of her high prices. Though, to keep her in her place, occasionally Vrax and Tav would accompany her. She feared those nights. Those were the freebie nights, as they called them. There would be no charge for her services, which meant that anyone could spend an hour with her. Many times, for the sake of economy, Vrax and Tav sent anywhere from three to five in with her for her to pleasure.

Thankfully there had not been many freebie nights.

Tav appeared before her and Shiv pulled a roll of credits from inside of the small bag she carried and handed it to him, along with a credchip. Most paid in hard currency, while some paid off a credchip. She avoided looking at Tav's eyes as he quickly counted the money.

"This all of it?" he asked.

Shiv looked down at her outfit: a pair of stiletto heels and fishnet stockings, a skirt that couldn't remain modest if it were a micrometer shorter, and a top that at once seemed to give her more cleavage than she really had, yet left very little to the imagination. Thankfully the colder weather was passing since her pimps seemed to think that jackets and cloaks hid too much of her body, and the cold could accentuate her assets. She had clothing, but there definitely wasn't much of it.

"Where do you think I could hide more," she asked.

"Maybe I'll have to check a few places," Tav said with a grin. "Get out of the clothes, blondie. You're home now." He indicated Kaysa across the way watching but not watching the holonews. "You know the rules. You get fifteen minutes with Kaysa, then you come to my room."

Maeren quickly removed the scanty articles of clothing and handed them to Tav when he held out his hand. Fully disrobed, she padded her way over to Kaysa and sat upon the couch next to her.

"I'm home," she said softly. "I'm glad you're out here...where...where we can be. When I was coming home, I was afraid Vrax would have you in with him again."

"Not yet," Kaysa murmured, her eyes still fixed to the display. The projected images reflected in the deep brown pools, so wide and motionless was her stare. "Did you have fun tonight?" she asked listlessly.

Shiv thought about it and sighed. "Yes," she said. "I actually did. I made a lot of money, and one man even wanted to take me away with him." She curled up against Kaysa. Snuggled against her lover, she dropped her voice to a whisper. "Don't give up. We will get out of here...somehow. I know it hasn't happened yet, but...but we're a long ways away and it'll take time for them to find us. Please don't give up, Kaysa...I can't go on without you."

"I'm still here," Kaysa assured her with a half-hearted smile. "But...would it be so bad, Shiv?" She shifted her eyes away from the display, finally, and watched Shiv with sorrow plainly visible. "Why shouldn't we give up and move on? Why not just...accept our fates?"

"I've already accepted that I'm a whore, Kaysa," Shiv said. "I was made for this, and it's what I do best. But, I also accept that I love you, and I will never lose you. I can't lose you because without you, a whore is all I am...and I do want to be more than that. I want to make love to you because I love you and want to be with you...not because it's a job."

"It isn't," Kaysa replied, "but Vrax wouldn't let us be together, Shiv...not unless he got to the watch. And what point would there be in that? He'd just ruin it all with his very presence."

"And, we can't let him see us together like that," Shiv said. "Just...so he doesn't realize how...how good we are together. We will get free eventually, Kaysa. I have to be with you again because...because you're the only one left. I don't think Keeve would ever want to see me again."

"And I have a feeling," she whispered ruefully, "that Merrick and Zale are finished with me. Why shouldn't we...." Kaysa smiled a broken, unsteady smile and covered Shiv's hand with pale, skeletally thin fingers. "We can do it, Shiv. We can just...end it and be truly happy. Can't we?"

"Me and you," Shiv whispered, "just like it's always been. It's always been us, and...and if they do want us, we can think about it. But, nothing will get in the way of us from now on. When we're finally free, we'll be married."

"I'm not talking about that," Kaysa told her. A tear dribbled from her eyelash, but her expression remained impassive and deadened. "If we think of something, we could just kill ourselves, Shiv. Then we'll be together whenever we want...forever."

"Perhaps in a metaphysical sense, Kaysa," Shiv whispered. "I don't want to die. I want to live, I want to be with you, and...and I don't know if I believe all that about forever after when we're dead. And...and...and I hope that maybe Keeve really does still love me and will want me back. I still love him, and...and I hope that...that I haven't hurt him too badly. I don't want to just...leave him."

"You already did," Kaysa reminded her harshly and withdrew her now shaky hand. "We both did, Shiv. We fucked up and no one's going to want us back." Her frail, thin body trembled violently as Kaysa shouted, "No one will!"

"You don't know that," Shiv said. "You don't know it for sure. I can't give up, Kaysa. I can't just roll over and let it end. We fucked up, and maybe we can make it better. If not, then me and you find a planet somewhere and go there together. Unless you don't think you'd want to be with me, starting our lives over together. I don't want to give up, Kaysa...I can't."

"So, you're content with whoring yourself to strangers? He's got us under such tight watch, what are we to do, Shiv? Tell me, and I'll gladly follow."

"We'll have to figure a way out, Kaysa," Shiv whispered. "I don't know now, but we have to bide our time. If I have to be a whore to get away and be with you, I'll be a whore. It's what I'm best at. But I love you, and I will not give up. Not for anything. I know you hate Vrax, but...but we just need more time. We'll find the chance and we'll get away together."

"Kaysa," came the chilling, sing-song summons. Without even a look back, Kaysa could feel Vrax's presence in the room, and his eyes scouring her body intently. She continued to shiver.

"I have to go," she told Shiv quickly. Her weakened frame tottered as she rose, but Kaysa remained upright. "Don't work too hard, my star. I promise I'll try for more time tomorrow."

"I love you," Shiv said. "I'll be looking forward to whatever time we can share together tomorrow." As Kaysa moved off toward Vrax, Shiv stood and started toward Tav's room so he could make certain she wasn't hiding any of the credits she'd made for the day. At least tomorrow would be another day with new hopes and opportunities that could present themselves. She just hoped something would happen soon before neither she nor Kaysa could keep each other hanging on any longer.

But Shiv knew very little of Kaysa's will to live, for the lingering thread of hope she had clung to until that moment was severed in one stroke. And the very thing that had motivated her utter despair was replaying on the holodisplay. Longing for a taste of home, access to the Tae'Karadan newsnet seemed a saving grace to Kaysa, until her heart was shattered by a clip depicting Merrick engaged in a rather unchaste kiss with a woman identified as Analesse D'vrishay, captured by an airborne recorder droid hovering about the café they had lunched at.

It was confirmation of what she had denied - that their loved ones on Tae'Karada had given up on them both. Had Zale taken on a lover as well? A new mother for Aria? Kaysa knew now that it was so, that there was little to strive for in surviving this ordeal, that submission was preferable to fighting a useless battle.

The only thing left was to hope for a quick death, and all that was worth devoting any thought to now was the most expeditious way to achieve oblivion. Laying down again with Vrax, Kaysa prayed for that day to come soon.

---

"Back Again"
By: Chun Li - pilot

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 12, 5 ABY

***

Flicking a couple of switches, the wine of the engines died down. Li yawned as she opened the hatch. Another 14 hour flight, but it had been worth the effort. After doing the quick delivery run, if you could call one month quick, she had gone back to her search for the Dug. Problem was, after the revolt he had vanished, and hadn't resurfaced since.

So Li had made arrangements to hear if he resurfaced somewhere on Chimaeria, or if he took his ship to go somewhere else. With those measures in place, she had gone on to hunt the pirates that had attacked her. It had taken her almost three months, but now she had managed to pinpoint their headquarters. Now it only had to be cleaned up, but for that she needed more then just one fighter, how good it might be.

As she arrived in her quarters on the station, she first checked her messages, which were very few, before composing one herself. She had heard Chimaeria had a navy now, so she would tell them and then they could deal with it. She didn't knew the size of this new navy yet, but it should be large enough to deal with some pirates.

She had obtained the address of the commander of this new navy, so she addressed him directly.

"Dear sir,

I've gotten the location of the HQ of a group of pirates operating within the vicinity of Chimaeria. They attacked me 5 months ago, about half a light-year from this planet. Attached are the location of this headquarters and a ship list. The condition of these ships I don't know, but the one I ran into was in good working order, at least, before I was finished with it.

Their tactic is to put an asteroid in a hyperspace lane, and use this as a natural interdictor. When a ship drops out of hyperspace, it is attacked and plundered.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I also have a missile gunboat, and I don't mind joining the attack force should you need some additional firepower.

Kind regards,

Chun Li."

She attached the lists and her own address and send everything to the commander of the Tae'Remokian navy.

---

"Old Acquaintances"
By: Selena Rellik - Death Dealer

Location: Yallder District, New Plouton
Date: Selene 12, 5 ABY

***

The streets were left with less people as night fell. Yallder wasn't exactly safe even during the daytime and with the nightfall, thugs seemed to concentrate on those who would dwell in dark alleys and hit whenever they had the chance. New Plouton did have some forms of public security, but even they didn't dare to enter some parts of Yallder, should they arise a sudden and violent confrontation that would surely make innocent casualties. This served her just right, though. Less questions, more ease to blend in unnoticed. And since she didn't exactly have many personal belongings, and certainly not any important ones that she would leave behind, there was no problem in fearing them stolen.

Alas, even knowing that, Selena felt something as soon as she stepped out of the lift that led to her apartment floor. It was more a gut feeling than anything else, but she had long learned to trust those feelings. She approached the door, one hand already gripping her blaster, behind her back. Everything seemed silent, calm, undisturbed. She moved silently and swiftly and tried to eavesdrop on the door. Nothing. Not a single sound from the inside.

Maybe I'm wrong... she thought to herself as she inserted the key that opened the door. Alas, it only took half a second for her to notice the small click that went along with the door opening. A trap, no doubt, set for her. Immediately she rolled inside, hearing the mechanism that activated two long vibro spears that shot across the living room, straight at her. Selena dodged her body to the side avoiding the spears that hit the wall behind her. A second set came from the side, followed by a small seeker drone that started to fire stun shots at her. She shot the drone at once and parried one of the spears that flew her way.

"Ingenious, but primitive..." she commented as all the traps seemed to have failed.

Someone was out to get her. But who and why? Suddenly she realised that someone else was with her inside her own apartment. "Lights!" Selena shouted in order to bring the lights up. But that too had been tampered with and the light were out. As an alternative, Selena threw two ceramic pots to the ground, smashing them to pieces. It would provide her with a small perimeter around herself, so she could know from where her attacker was in the very last second. Problem was if her attacker had a blaster and some way to see in the dark.

Closing her eyes, Selena started to listen. Listen to all the sounds that would come around her. Any living creature would have to breathe, make a sound, dim as it may be. She heard a last second foot behind her and ducked out of the way. Her blaster was tossed away from her hand when her assailant punched her across the chest. She could tell it was a man by the strike, and he was good at what he did. She put her arms up and concentrated. She thin movements he made gave away enough sound for her to realise he was coming closer. She blocked his attacks and almost smirked to herself.

"You'll have to do better than that!" she told him as she blocked his arm and swept his leg. He fell down and she took a firm grip of his wrist, forcing him to lay face down. She pinned him with her knee on his neck and was about to finish him off when he talked.

"Good..." he muttered as best as he could from his position. "You were ready."

Selena recognized the voice and got up. She knew this man well, but had never thought she would see him so soon, and on Tae'Karada.

"Lights..." the man said as he got up. He had changed the voice recognition in the apartment to only respond to his voice. He looked at Selena and smiled. "You almost had me killed."

"You should be careful of who you threaten," she replied sarcastically. "How are you, Kain?" she smiled as she embraced him. "I hadn't expected to see you so soon."

"I came by to see how you were doing, and see how well you've been training," he told her.

"And?"

"You are better than expected... Above average," he smirked. "After all you did get me, which leads me to believe I'm getting old," he said as he sat down on a repulsor chair.

"Or perhaps you let me win. You weren't using your full potential," she replied. She knew Kain was far better than this, and that this had only been a small test for his entertainment. After all, Kain had taught her most of what she knew, and she knew that his age had nothing to do with her winning over him. "But maybe sometime later we can spar and you can fight for real."

"You would have succeeded nonetheless, I'm sure," he nodded. "You are a fully capable and well trained assassin."

"You know I don't like to think of myself as an assassin," she told him.

"Then think of yourself as something else..." he smirked. He hadn't said it because he knew she disliked it. It was more of a Red Eye way of thinking. Assassins were just hired thugs. "I heard about the slavers having been caught," he said, changing the subject.

"Yes..." she sighed. "But it seems they were working alone on that. Taking advantage on their position within the company. Not really a big fish."

"Sometimes it is better to have lots of small ones than to catch a large one," Kain commented. "It isn't everyday that you can go after large criminals, you know?"

"I know..." she nodded. "But this is not why you have come."

"No, it is not. This planet, good as it may be for our work and protection, does have Jedi. I came here to warn you of that. Should you face them, Selena, it will not be easy."

Selena had already been aware that something might be a reality, but she had never gotten certainties. Until now, that was. She had never faced them before, but had learned from the very start that there would be few that could be a match to her training. Mandalorians, Jedi, Sith, and few others would be up to the challenge. But of all of those, the two latter were the real menace to them. The Sith because of the chaos and destruction that they seemed to thrive in, and the Jedi for seeing the Red Eye operatives as common assassins or vigilantes.

"I will be careful," she told Kain. "I promise."

"Good. Then I must bid you farewell for now. I have pressing matters to attend to in other places," Kain said as he got up.

"You're leaving already?" she asked. It was more of a wanting to stay with Kain longer than being surprised that he had to go. Kain was like a true father for her and she hadn't seen much of him lately. But Selena knew that he had to leave and that there was nothing that would stand in the way of things. Even if Kain wanted to stay, there were simply more important things that needed his attention. Perhaps one day they would be able to be together for a longer period of time.

"I will see you soon. Take care, Selena. And sorry about the mess," he smiled as he gestured to the mess around the living room.

"Take care, Kain," she smiled as she watched him go out the door.

---

"Setting Straight Misaligned Ideas, Part 2"
By: Keeve Shivral
Kimara
Talara Sorenne

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 12, 5 ABY

***

"Okay, get it while it's steaming!" came the summons as Keeve swaggered out of the kitchen balancing two trays of food on both palms. He'd managed to set the table while his chippin was roasting and sauce simmering so that now everything was in place for their meal. The only thing missing was Kim and their guest.

Across the room from where Keeve was carrying his trays of food, both Kim and Talara excitedly exited the water and grabbed for their towels. Despite Keeve's urging, neither wore bathing suits. Trying to avoid dripping water outside of the area designed specifically to catch the water of those departing the jet tub, Talara set to drying her body. She was tanned and her body was toned from the constant work-outs at the Jedi Temple. In the months since she'd attempted to seduce Keeve while still caught in the throes of the dark side, Talara had filled out considerably. Her curves were much more womanly. Behind where Tala had finished drying herself and was now pulling her clothing back on, Kim grinned and then set to pulling on her own clothing. She could see Keeve watching them both warily.

"Stop that," he warned her, averting his curious eyes from Talara's much changed form. "I'm not here for a show, Kim, so stop jiggling like that and dress."

"I'm dressing," Kim said. "Besides, you know I don't have anything to jiggle." She gave him a playful grin as she pulled on a top.

Grumbling, Keeve turned his back to the two and reached forward to set down the platter. He heard faint tittering from behind as he bent over a chairback, and was convinced they had found humour in the view he was presenting. Keeve frowned and straightened up abruptly. "Sit, you two," he told them petulantly. "And eat."

As Talara seated herself, Kim came up behind Keeve and put her arms around his waist. "Always so serious," she whispered. She kissed the back of his neck. "If you're going to be angry with someone, be angry with me, not Talara."

"I'm not angry," he insisted. "Just wondering what you two have been chatting about." Looking over his shoulder at Kim, Keeve smiled encouragingly and goaded, "And what were you discussing, hm?"

"We were just relaxing and talking about things," Kim said. "If you want a rundown of the whole list, what it's like to be a Jedi, especially one with their own fan club, time to get away from all the pressure of jobs and stuff, maybe going shopping tomorrow if time permits, and that next time we're cooking dinner for you."

"With your clothes on?" With overly dramatic gallantry, Keeve pulled out her chair and bowed low. "I'm truly not worthy."

"Of course you are," Kim said with a laugh. "And, when we cook dinner for you, we'll keep our clothes on. We'll even keep them on when we eat. Why are you so afraid of us having our clothes off, Keeve?"

"Because," he answered through a clenched-tooth smile, "it's hard to eat when all I see is flesh." Rising, Keeve moved to his own seat. Finding Talara watching him, he smiled apologetically. "I hope we're not making you uncomfortable. We" --he glanced fondly at Kim-- "like to bicker. Keeps things exciting."

Talara smiled and shook her head. "No, it's alright," she said. "We didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'll make sure to bring a suit next time, if you'd prefer."

"You don't have to, Talara," Kim said. "If Keeve doesn't want to look, then he doesn't have to. And, like this time, we'll make sure to dress before coming to the table. I think he prefers us to be clothed because he thinks he'll enjoy seeing us naked too much."

Keeve glowered at Kim, but was smiling brightly when he regarded Talara again. He thrust a bowl of salad towards the girl. "Care for some?"

Talara grinned at him. "Thank you," she said as she accepted the bowl and scooped some of the salad onto her own plate. "It smells wonderful, Keeve. I didn't know you were such a great cook. Now I'm afraid to cook for you next time I come over."

"Don't be. How could I possibly be critical with you?" Chuckling softly, Keeve winked and scooped a heaping spoonful of mashed teeble root onto Kim's plate, then did the same for Talara, though her helping was far more dainty.

"Thank you," Tala said, smiling down into her plate as she started on the salad and the teeble root. "I may have to get a few pointers from Orn. He used to have a restaurant in Thanatos before he came to the Temple. Did you ever get a chance to try some of his food when you visited the Temple? If you haven't, next time you're there, you should try some."

Kim cleared her throat. "Tala, I think Keeve had something he wished to discuss with you." She glanced at Keeve, then nodded toward Talara.

Keeve halted the fork impaling a morsel of chicken before it touched his lips and shifted his glare sidelong at Kim. "What do you mean?"

"What we talked about on the way home," Kim said, still indicating Tala. "You know..."

Visibly wincing, Keeve muttered, "Must I?"

A hint of a smile crossed Kim's face. "Do you want to?"

"You do, by the looks of it." And despite his reticence, Keeve set down his utensil and looked at Talara with intense seriousness. He knew it was time to get his feelings in order, and although they had shared much together, Keeve couldn't view Talara as anything more than a friend...no matter how much Kim wished differently. Barely realizing it, Keeve expressed just that to Talara. "So you see," he finished gracelessly, "we can't have sex, Talara, and that's that."

Talara was silent for a moment, then she nodded. "I understand," she said. "I will always care very much for you, especially since you are the one who saved me from the dark side. But, I understand, and I'm glad we can still be friends."

Keeve blinked slowly, then leaned forward onto his elbow to ask, "So...all this time, you thought I wanted to get you into bed?"

Talara shook her head. "I'd hoped that there was something special between us, that you cared for me the way I cared for you, the way Ferrig couldn't care for me. I think he's the one who just wanted to get me into bed. You're a thoughtful, sensitive man, and you genuinely love the woman you love. I do love you, Keeve, and always will. But, I do understand that there can't be more between us, no matter how much I wish there could."

Keeve sighed, truly contrite as he smiled at Talara apologetically, but completely displeased when he glanced Kim's way. "Now you've done it."

Kim frowned back at him. "Perhaps," she said.

"I'm really sorry, Tala," Keeve insisted fervently. "If you want to talk about this more, alone, then...then I want to, too."

Kim pushed her chair back. "I'll give you guys some time," she said. She sighed softly as she glanced between Keeve and Tala. "I'll be in the other room with Hope. I'm sorry." With that, she fled from the table.

Talara watched her go, then turned back to Keeve. "I sort of always knew that...that it couldn't be between us. I always tried to stay hopeful...just in case. I think it's good to know for sure..."

"It won't change anything, though, will it?" Keeve extended his hand to cover Talara's. "You won't stop hanging around because of this?"

Talara smiled as she looked up at him. "I wouldn't be much of a friend, if I did," she said. "No, I won't stop coming by, and I won't stop being your friend." She rubbed her thumb against the side of his hand, then turned her hand so that it fit into his.

After a time of tender caresses and words exchanged, Keeve rose and laid a kiss on Tala's brow. "I'd better go see Kim. She was really pushing for you and I," he joked.

"She did seem disappointed," Tala said. "Go ahead and go talk to Kim, I'll clean up in here."

"But...we haven't eaten," he reminded her, chuckling. "Or is that your way of saying I should never set foot in the kitchen again?"

She laughed. "But, will we all want to continue eating when you're done talking to Kim? I can just sit here and do nothing, but do you think you'll want to finish after?"

"Why not?" He grinned suavely and quipped, "I think I can talk my way out of this. It'll be no trouble." Then, he sashayed to the balcony door, shot Talara a reassuring wink, and stepped through. Kim, as was the norm lately when encountering stress, had a cigarra dangling from her lips, sucking in as much of its soothing vapours as her lungs would hold. Keeve sighed and moved towards her. "What's the problem now?" he asked softly.

"Maybe you missed it," Kim said. "You were upset with me in there. I was just trying to help, Keeve. If I didn't say anything, would you have told her? And, did you really want to?"

"Maybe I did." He shrugged and braced his hands against the rail ledge as he came up beside Kim. "Maybe I didn't.... I should have decided that. But I wasn't so mad...just inconvenienced, that's all. But it's okay now. You can come back inside."

"I only did it to make you decide," Kim said as she put out the cigarra and took a step away from the rail, though keeping her body in contact with Keeve's. "Maybe having her here and sitting right there would make you decide otherwise. I...it doesn't matter if you do or don't, Keeve. Not to me. I do care for her, and want her to be happy. If you don't want her to be a part of your life in that way, then I'm fine with that, as long as you're honest with yourself. I guess I also worry about her, especially now that she doesn't have anyone."

"She's a Jedi," he pointed out. "She's not supposed to have anyone. And she certainly doesn't need me. She's timid, Kim...well, at least now that she's away from Dani and Nieme's influence. Let her grow up, then she can think about all this romance business."

"But, what about Kallia? She's a Jedi. And, you think she doesn't need you, but you know she loves you. I'm just afraid she'll end up with someone else like that Ferrig guy, and he'll be a real jerk to her. When she finds someone, he has to be caring and loving."

Keeve chuckled, his arm sliding around Kim's shoulders. "Then we'll find her someone who's right for her. Kim, you worry too much. She's gotta learn to take care of herself eventually. Like Kallia. Sure, she may love me, but she's not naive enough to think I'd drop everything for her. She knows just what type of man I am. And that's what Talara's gotta figure out for herself about whoever she's got her eye on."

"I know," Kim said. "I just want her to be happy. She went through some really bad times, and she deserves to be happy, Jedi or not. Come on, let's go have some food. And, after, we can all sit in the jet tub."

"With suits?" he queried skeptically.

"Oh, Keeve, don't be such a baby," Kim said with a grin. "I'm sure after your talk in there, Talara won't try anything with you. You'll be perfectly safe."

"I'm not worried about her, I'm worried about what you'll do." Satisfied by their reconciliation, Keeve pulled Kim into a full-on embrace and laughed gently. "I love you, Kimara. You're all I want, so remember that next time you get caught up with other women's love-lives."

"There was a time when that wasn't true," Kim said with a grin. "Me and Lerrah were going to be your wives."

Keeve groaned and dropped his head back to stare at the sky in an appeal for complete oblivion from the embarrassing memories of his youth. "I was a little brat back then. How did you ever tolerate me?"

"You were very cute," Kim said. "You've definitely changed though. I miss the little brat from time to time, but I'm very happy with the big brat you've become."

"Good," he told her sincerely, "because when you return from your run, we really need to figure things out. I...I just can't go on with all this tension." Holding up a hand to stay her comment, Keeve added quickly, "I know it's mainly my fault, but there's got to be something we can do about it."

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," she said as she gave him a kiss. "We're good that way, my love. Maybe, if she's not busy, Talara can help you while I'm gone. She's smart and it'll give you some time with your friend. And, you will be able to spend time with her without me trying to get the two of you into bed."

"That's something to look forward to," he answered sardonically. "I might just do that." Kissing Kim lightly, Keeve steered them off the balcony, back to their guest. Both bright and cheerful once again, Keeve announced once they'd reached Talara, "Guess what? You and I are going shopping tomorrow. Anything you want, Tala...and I'm paying."

Talara laughed. "Really? Wow...and...I can't think of anything I want. I'll have to think about that and maybe I'll come up with something by tomorrow."

Kim grinned as she returned to her seat. "I can help you with some suggestions."

"Great," Keeve complained, yet with a crooked smile on his face, "I'm going to go broke, aren't I?"

"I wouldn't do that," Kim said with a mischievous grin.

"Of course you would!" he accused playfully, and while they all laughed and bantered, Keeve slowly dropped out of the conversation now carried on by Kim and Talara. His mind drifted far too easily to matters not concerning the latest summer trends and the one article of clothing every woman needed in her closet; with Kim set to leave for a run the following day, Keeve was presented with an opportunity to meet with Zale and discuss in depth the fate of his current efforts to find Kaysa and Maeren - without Kim's presence aggravating his already persistent guilt.

He was neglecting her, of that he was certain, but he wouldn't have to soon...if he could let go of Maeren fully, that is. Until then, he would be on his best behaviour, pamper her endlessly, and hope that, in the end, she wouldn't resent him...too much.

---

"Questions"
By Girra Zillar

Location: The Helix
Date: Selene 12th, 5ABY

***

Girra sat in the cab watching the swirls of hyperspace. Alone.

The revelations swirled in her mind, mingled with unanswered questions after learning the truth. Somehow, someone had made a clone and had suckered her into a wild bantha chase under the fallacy that there had been concrete proof that her brother had at least been alive relatively recently. Everything surrounded the finger her Omwati acquaintances had offered her as proof of their shared searched for loved ones. Standard genetic testing had not picked up on the true genetics of the digit, only that it was indeed a familial match. She loathed at how easily she had been duped. And why? she thought, for certainly such elaboration held greater and deeper meaning than to just feed her desire to find her brother. What brother? I have no brother. And how did they procure genetic samples from my parents, engineering a clone based on my own unique profile? she wondered with more questions than coming up with answers and cringed at the thought of a copy of herself, male or not, could still be out there in the galaxy somewhere.

She knew the business of cloning was expensive and within the laws of nearly every galactic civilization it was illegal and immoral. She had never heard of such a case as her own. To clone based on the genetic layout of an individual was one thing. But to create a life, so elaborately and purposefully constructed as to create a male version of herself...it was mind boggling and gave her a headache.

She left the cockpit cabin to get a drink, hoping that everyone else was asleep or at the very least not about ship. She still wasn't too comfortable with having a crew, and as soon as their cargo was delivered she planned on kicking them all off her ship, Well, except for Chakka...and maybe Jarrod.

She rolled her eyes at the thought. She had come to rather like the man, but she just didn't know if he had a place in her life. Sure he helped to get both that slimy Hutt and the psychotic Vekker off her trail. Sure he was handsome and charming, for a scoundrel. And maybe the others weren't so bad either, they proved to be more than capable, good in a fight, quick on their feet...

She entered her room, procured her favorite bottle of Corellian whiskey and diligently set to work upon it. orthan's finger kept coming to mind.

She swigged again.

Still the finger permeated her thoughts.

She swigged again, and again.

The headache seemed to grow worse. They had been more frequent in recent days. She swigged yet again, desiring the alcohol to relieve her of the migraine and the constant brain racking about that damned finger. Does it really mean I didn't have a brother? Might I still? she wondered as she felt nauseous, and the pounding in her head progressed and progressed.

She laid down on her bed, nearly blinded by the waves of sickness and the pounding in her head, "Uuughh!" she moaned as she curled up in a ball, trying to force the sickness and pain away by shear will. To no avail.

Jarrod stood in the shadows.

Watching.

Waiting.

---