Star Wars - Tales from the Outer Rim

"Family Reunion, Part 1"
By: Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Qual and Neron Tregat [NPC+]

Location: Coruscant
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Kaysa always had found space travel dull, but with two men ready and willing to entertain her, and two loyal servants even more willing to attend to her every need in return for a kiss, she couldn't complain that she was bored. Now, however, it was the planet looming before them through the viewport that had her excited.

"Wow..." She pushed herself onto her knees atop the bed and clumsily hobbled on them closer to the opening. "That's Coruscant? I've passed it numerous times, but it just looks so different now. Does it look the same to you?"

"That's it," Merrick said. "Looks the same to me, and I haven't been here in nearly ten years." He glanced over at Zale who shrugged. "What about you?" he finally added, to prod Zale into speaking.

"Looks the same," he said. "I think it may even look a little more densely packed than before. After living on Tae'Karada, I just don't get this one. It's basically a planet-sized city. No oceans, no forests, no nothing except horizon to horizon durasteel, speeders, and people. At least that hideous statue of Palpatine got pulled down."

"Better than Bespin," Kaysa said with a frown. "Clouds everywhere - poison too!" She sighed and slid back down between her two men. "Still, no matter where we are, this is our vacation and we're going to make the best of it. If not, we can always leave."

"I was looking at the charts while the two of you were in here making all that noise last night," Merrick said with a knowing grin, "and I noticed that there are a number of planets that might be nice to stop off at on the way back. That beach planet is only about a half day from Coruscant. If we don't like it here, there's plenty to do on the way back home."

Kaysa slowly shifted her gaze to Zale. "Like letting me fly the transport?" She pouted her lips irresistibly and pounced on Zale, using her fingers to tickle him into submission. "Please? I know how to fly ships, Zale. I've done it before!"

"We've already got a pilot," Zale cried out as he tried to keep Kaysa's hands from finding anywhere sensitive. "We don't need--! Alright! Alright! Just don't run into anything!"

Merrick shook his head and sighed. "So weak," he said.

"So wise," Kaysa corrected. She gave Zale a quick kiss, then rolled off of him, over the edge of the bed, where she landed on her bare feet. With a squeal of delight, she scampered towards the closet and pulled out a robe. "Buckle up, boys!" she said as she threw on the flowing, silken garment. "I'm driving." Emitting another excited shriek, Kaysa fled from the room, leaving a naked Zale and Merrick on the bed together, both looking quite worried.

"Well, that was intelligent," Merrick said. "We'd better get up there. Who knows what she'll do in the heat of her excitement. I would like to wait a few years before my remains decorate an asteroid."

Zale raised an eyebrow. "Decorate a--?"

"Long story. Put something on and cover that thing up. You'll scare Deez with that it."

"Jealousy doesn't become you, Merrick," Zale said.

"I'm not jealous," Merrick said as he pulled on his pants. "Besides, it's not the size of the vessel, but how you pilot it through hyperspace."

Zale let out a snort of laughter as he crawled out of the bed.

"See you in the cockpit," Merrick said, and started toward the door. As he got there, the comm sounded. He paused slightly, but saw that Zale was unaware of his presence. Something with the comm had certainly distracted him.

He was hunched down near the unit as he activated it and the voice of a woman came out of the speakers. Zale was still looking at the thing, uncertain how to proceed. But, at least he was alone. "Elle?"

***

"Oh, you don't have to stand over my shoulder," Kaysa said to the nervous pilot whose seat she had commandeered. "I was a smuggler for almost six years. I've flown through asteroid fields, escaped Imperial raids.... I'm probably more qualified than you are."

The young man raised his hands defeatedly in the air and took one step away from the pilot's seat now occupied by his employer's wife, who was wearing nothing but a loosely closed robe. A barely clothed female steering a 100 tonne vessel... That certainly didn't instill confidence in him. "Well...I'll be right here if you need anything, Mrs. Tregat. Just holler at me before we crash into the planet."

Kaysa shot the boy a scowl, then gracefully stuck out her tongue at him. "If you're not careful, I'll fly with my eyes closed." She chuckled at the fearful expression that crossed the boy's face, then returned her gaze to the canopy.

"Please," Merrick said as he entered the cockpit, "do be careful. I don't think any of us want her flying with her eyes closed."

"What's that supposed to mean!" Kaysa cried. She gripped the armrest of the co-pilot's chair and swivelled it towards Merrick. "Have a seat, my love. You can watch me in action." A suggestive smile touched her lips. "And I don't mean the kind we just engaged in."

Merrick chuckled at the blushing pilot and moved to sit next to Kaysa. "It means that we don't want you trying to fly this ship when you have your eyes closed. Now, I happen to like any kind of action when it comes to you." He indicated the planet in front of them. "Have they contacted us yet?"

"Yup! I just sweet-talked them, and they easily gave us clearance. We're in berth 12 at the spaceport." Kaysa shot the flustered pilot a conspiratorial wink for their shared secret. He had, in fact, spoken to the control tower; after he had gained passage, Kaysa had bumped him out of his seat and took over from there. At the unintentional peek he got of her breast, exposed by the robe falling off one shoulder, he was too enthralled to raise a protest.

"Coming in on an approach vector," Kaysa announced. Her hands tapped at a sequence of buttons on the console and then ship banked right into a wide arc. She glanced sidelong at Merrick and grinned, then with her eyes still on him, she levelled off the ship once it skimmed the planet's upper atmoshpere and started their smooth descent. "I told you I've flown before."

"Very nice," Merrick said with a smile. "I'm very impressed, my love. I've never seen this side of you before. I'm sure Zale would love to see it too."

"Where is he anyway?" Kaysa asked. "This was my big debut. He should've been here to see it."

"He got a call as I was leaving," Merrick said. "I'm sure he'll be right up."

"Not a business call, I hope. This is his vacation too. No work allowed!" The smile Kaysa had worn the moment she sat in the pilot's seat never left her face; she was too happy to even pretend to be angry with Zale.

As they coasted along towards the spaceport, she cut the engines and let the repulsors take over. "Lowering landing struts. Don't worry, boys, you won't have to hang onto anything. You'll barely even notice we've landed." And she was right. Before Merrick could snap off a witty retort, the struts contacted the deck of their berth and Kaysa powered down the repulsors. With a triumphant squeal, she sprang upright out of her seat. "We're here! Merrick, come on." She snatched up his hand and tugged him out of his seat. "We have to dress and eat and... Just come on!"

"Nice flying, Mrs. Tregat," the pilot called out to her as the two hurried from the cockpit. With a chuckle and a shake of his head, the man slid into his chair and thought about how women like Kaysa - beautiful and talented - came around once in a lifetime. "Lucky bastards," he muttered.

Merrick let Kaysa drag him along back toward their room. He couldn't help feeling the same elation she was feeling. They hadn't gotten far from the cockpit when down the other direction, they both saw Zale hurrying in their direction.

"Too late," she told him. "I already landed the ship." She patted Zale's chest as they passed him, and shrugged. "Maybe next time."

"I got stuck on a comm call from Tae'Karada," Zale said as he started back after them. "One of my contacts with the Rebellion. Sounds like we're not missing much, though Tarkin sounds like he's getting ready for something major."

"Should we be worried?" she asked him without slowing down.

Zale shook his head. "No, I don't believe so," he said. "I believe most of it is in the desert, though there is rumour of a new curfew in the city as well as additional checkpoints and security vouchers."

Kaysa waved her hand dismissively. "Then forget it! We have a vacation to start." Hastening her enthusiastic pace, Kaysa sped away from Zale, dragging Merrick along behind her.

"Stop lagging behind, Wrinkly," Merrick called. "We've got an adventure awaiting us, and you're wearing yesterday's clothes!"

Zale chuckled then hurried after them. He would never understand the two of them...ever.

***

"Where are we going to stay?" Kaysa pressed her cheek to the window of the hoverlimo - one Zale had arranged for to transport them through the city - and gazed up at another of the extremely tall buildings dominating the skyline. "Don't tell me you have a home here too, Zale."

"No home here," Zale said, scanning the skyline. "At least not anymore. I haven't had a home here for some years."

Kaysa looked down from where her eyes were focused on the scenery, then turned to face Zale. "What happened anyway, Zale? Why does everyone have such bad memories of this planet?"

"Family," Zale said with a sigh. "I have family here, and I prefer them here. My brothers and I were always at odds, and it only increased after our parents' death. It was just better for me to be away. Perhaps with the three of us here, though, I can forge some good memories. Maybe I can reclaim Coruscant in my memories the way you and Merrick did Bespin."

Kaysa shifted closer to Zale and rested her chin upon his shoulder. She studied his face for a moment then, smiling, said, "Leave it to me, my love. I'll give you the best memories of Coruscant you've ever had."

Zale grinned and brushed his lips against her cheek in an awkward kiss. "Oh, and I know if anyone can, it's going to be you. I look forward to whatever changes you can make in my perspective of Coruscant, and I hope I can give you a few good memories too."

"I'm already having a wonderful time," she told him. "How could I not when I have almost everything I need, right here in this hoverlimo?" She patted his hand and returned his kiss. "Everything will be fine."

"Of course," Zale said.

Suddenly the sound of repulsor engines drowned out all other sound. Looking to the side, Zale frowned as a speeder raced along the side of them. He knew something was terribly wrong when he saw another on the other side. The limo lurched suddenly and one of the speeders pulled in front and clamped on the brakes.

Zale pulled a blaster out of a hidden compartment below the seat. "Shit!"

"What is this, Zale?" she asked, trying to remain calm considering the circumstances. "Please tell me this isn't Coruscant's idea of a welcome party."

"Not Coruscant," Zale said as the hoverlimo slowed to a stop. "No, this is a family welcome. Merrick if you ever make another comment about having sex with me, this will be the absolute worst time. The two of you stay behind me."

Kaysa shook her head. "I'm staying beside you, Zale. If anyone wants to mess with Zale Tregat, he's gotta mess with his wife too." Giving him a kiss before he could protest, Kaysa pushed open the hatch. With a show of her stubborn fearlessness and impulsiveness, she slipped out of the vehicle before either of her men, prepared to face alone whoever had interrupted their peaceful ride.

The other vehicles had already emptied of their occupants, and now they all stood facing the hoverlimo with blasters drawn. Kaysa found four blasters pointed at her, centred on her chest. Zale was out of the limo next, sweeping his blaster across the assembled crowd. They were clearly outnumbered and outmatched, but he didn't want them to think he knew that.

Zale growled under his breath as Merrick slipped from the limo. "What do you want?" he called out to the men surrounding them.

"Throw down your weapon."

"What do you want?"

"Disarm yourself, and you will not be harmed. You're out numbered. You will comply, or we will be forced to take action."

"Joyous," Zale muttered under his breath.

"Oh, if you were going to take action you would have done it already," Kaysa scoffed. She kept her eyes from focusing on the blasters aimed at her and instead maintained her air of complacency. "Now, who sent you?"

From beside her, Zale let out an exasperated breath. "Qual," he snarled. "Where is the son of a bitch? Where's Qual?"

"Here little brother," a voice said, and soon the rest of the body followed it out of one of the speeders.

The similarity between the man and Zale was uncanny. He was slightly taller and more muscular. His hair was long, but unlike Zale's, tied back in a single braid rather than the hundreds Zale had atop his own head. He moved with a fluid grace.

"I'm surprised it took you this long to figure it out, little brother. And, who is this charming little proton torpedo you've got with you? My name is Qual Tregat, Zale's older and wiser brother."

Kaysa kept her face from reacting to Qual's odd reference to her and instead held out her hand to him. "Kaysa Tregat," she replied, giving him a charming smile. "Family, you could say."

"I guess you could," Qual said with a smile as he smoothly started forward. "So, little brother is married, is he? Well, I must say, Zale, I'm quite impressed." He took Kaysa's hand once he was close enough and placed an expert kiss on her open palm. "I would like to welcome you to the family, Kaysa."

"Oh, so that's what this is all about," she replied. She gently pulled her hand away and crossed her arms over her chest. "Really, it wasn't necessary, but thank you for the gesture."

"And, is this Merrick Braston, the galactically famous singer?"

"That's correct," Merrick said, though his manner was still guarded and cautious.

"So, you're hanging with Merrick Braston now. Weren't you the one who told us all that listening to that music would not only make you sterile but gay as well?"

Zale glowered.

Another voice behind them piped up. "I remember that distinctly. Sterile and gay. My how you've changed, middle brother."

Kaysa tilted her head sideways to peer behind Qual's obtrusively dominating self. As she did, another tall, yet slimmer dark-skinned man stepped forward. His features resembled Zale's uncannily, save for the two startling blue eyes staring back at her. The clothing he wore was less ostentatious than Qual's choice of full leather, and remarkably conservative for someone obviously related to Zale. He may not have liked Merrick's music, but he certainly would have fit in at one of his concerts. As he moved to stand beside Qual, he shot her a disarming smile that, for but a moment, robbed her of the ability to breathe.

"I think the air here has affected both of your minds," Zale said. "I never said anything of the sort. And, you should remember that better than anyone, Neron." It'd been several years since Zale had seen his younger brother. He'd grown up some, for certain; Zale was actually quite amazed to see the maturity showing in his brother's eyes. "How have you been, little brother?"

"Bored," Neron replied forthrightly. He motioned to Kaysa and added, "But you look like you're doing alright. You should be, though. You're living the life of luxury with our creds, after all."

Zale laughed. "Sure I am," he said. "You know, if you actually did something other than sitting on your ass all day, you'd have creds too. That money was mine. I thought we agreed to let the matter drop last time. Are we going to beat the crap out of each other again over it every time we see each other?"

"Well, why else did you come here other than to engage in a good ol' Tregat boxing match?" Neron quipped. "Finally decided to stop being a greedy bastard and give us what's ours?"

"If you need a loan, little brother, I'm sure I can arrange something," Zale said with a mirthless smile.

Merrick leaned closer to Kaysa and Zale. "You're not going to kill each other, are you?"

"No," Zale said, not taking his eyes off his siblings, "they couldn't get the money they want if they kill me."

"Wow, coming to Coruscant really was a bad idea," Kaysa muttered.

"Family Reunion, Part 2"
By: Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Qual and Neron Tregat [NPC+]

Location: Coruscant
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

"Your girl's smart, Zale," Neron commented. "You really shouldn't have come back here."

"I see that now," Zale said. "So, you've got me. What now?"

Qual stepped forward and looked over the trio, letting his gaze linger on Kaysa. "How about the three of you join Neron and I for dinner tonight, and we can discuss your predicament."

Zale glanced at Kaysa, then Merrick.

"I like dinner," Merrick said.

Kaysa gently elbowed Zale in the side and smiled sweetly at Qual. "Zale and I like dinner as well. When and where should we meet you?"

"Let us know where you'll be staying," Qual said, "and we'll meet you there."

"And don't worry," Neron added, "we'll leave most of the entourage at home."

"How comforting," Zale said with a scowl. "We'll be at the Tanara Towers."

"Good choice, little brother," Qual said with a smile. "We'll see you there. At seven."

With that, he returned to his vehicle, followed quickly by his people.

Neron inclined his head at them, passing his eyes over the three of them and chuckling as he came upon Merrick. "Maybe the pansy can play for us," he suggested. "Though, I doubt your wife would appreciate the detriment to your virility caused by Mr. Braston's music." Shooting Kaysa another of his dashing smiles, Neron turned and followed Qual back to his vehicle.

"Jerk," Kaysa said under her breath. "I can't believe you're related to them, Zale."

"Oh, I can't believe it most of the time," Zale said. "Both of you will need to be very careful. Merrick, they'll tear you apart first chance they get. Kaysa, they'll try to seduce you every chance they get. I think we're going to need to get out of here as quickly as possible. As soon as we're settled in the hotel, I'm going to have Deez and Aron earn their keep. I need to know who's working for my brothers, so we know which ones to avoid on the streets. We may be visiting that little beach planet very soon."

"You're not running away from this, Zale," Kaysa said. "You're going to fix this once and for all. You're smarter than them, more resourceful. You can end this and keep those jerks off your back for good. Merrick and I can handle ourselves. You just worry about making things right."

"They want money that isn't theirs, money that I earned and inherited." He shook his head and turned back to the limo. "I'll settle this, alright. When we leave here, they'll know not to mess with me anymore."

Kaysa stared at Merrick, both looking somewhat concerned with the unspoken threat underlying Zale's vow. With a sigh, she moved into Merrick's embrace and kissed him softly. "Come on, my beautiful musician, let's get to the hotel so I can tend to your bruised pride."

"Thank you, my love," Merrick said softly. "I think I need to feel like a man again."

Zale looked up, and then slipped into the limo. He was on the verge of snapping off a quick retort, but perhaps, after everything else, telling Merrick he'd help make him feel like a man wasn't appropriate.

After Kaysa and Merrick filed into the limo, she watched Zale closely, studying the tightness of his jaw and the thin line his mouth was pressed into. She'd have to spend some time quelling his anger when they arrived at the hotel; the last thing she wanted was for him to murder his brothers at the dinner table. With a gentle sigh, Kaysa nestled her cheek to Merrick's shoulder and closed her eyes. A wonderful vacation indeed.

***

Zale dropped his bags onto the rack beside the door and then moved to the bed where he promptly flopped down. He let out a heavy sigh. Fortunately, he'd put the blaster from the limo away before they'd arrived at the hotel.

Before they'd gotten too far into the room, Merrick pulled Kaysa close and brought his lips to her ear. "You want to go soothe his frazzled nerves and I'll get us all some drinks?"

"Make his a Tolian brandy. Those always calm him down." She turned her face to Merrick's and kissed him, then moved across the room to find Zale. Before slipping into the bedroom, she tapped lightly on the door then leaned against the doorframe. "Busy?"

"Never too busy for you," Zale said. "I'm sorry for back there. I didn't realize they were expecting me, or that they'd track us down. I'd sort of hoped to avoid them while we were here."

"I've found in my life," Kaysa began as she strolled into the room, "that the more you try to avoid people, the better the chances are that you'll run into them." She stopped at the foot of the bed and sat down upon it, still regarding Zale. "So, don't try and avoid them, my love. Talk this through with them one last time and find a way to make peace. With me by your side, there's no way you'll fail this time."

"If you flash your breasts at them, it'll make it that much easier for us," he said with a grin. "However, I don't like doing things the easy way. So, we'll have to do this without letting the girls out for a stroll. I think with the three of us working together, we can do this. You're going to be my good luck charm, my beautiful wife."

"No, I'm going to be your conscience keeping you from murdering your brothers." She laughed softly and crawled towards Zale. Once at his side, she slid down and curled up against him. "Everything will be okay, my love. I'll enchant them with my beauty and wit, Merrick will lull them with his music, and you'll use your cunning and intellect to put them in their place. Then, we can enjoy the rest of our vacation."

Zale brought a hand up to her cheek and caressed it gently. "I don't deserve you," he whispered.

"Oh, stop that now," she chided softly. "You love me and I love you. That's all that matters." Kaysa turned her lips to his palm and pressed a kiss to it. "You more than deserve me, Zale. We're meant for each other. Don't ever think otherwise."

He managed to slip his arms around her, and pulled her close to him. "You even got the flesh and blood hand," he said with a grin. "Sometimes, I forget all about it. I can't ever forget though. I think that was my most acute learning experience ever."

"It's funny," she mused. "No matter how old you are, how long you've been in this universe, everyday you still learn something new." Kaysa gazed up at Zale and smiled warmly. "I'm going to enjoy going through the rest of my life, learning with you, Zale."

Zale smiled. "And, I you," he said. "You make my life complete, Kaysa. I--I was concerned having to share you with Merrick, and then Shiv as well. But, I'm not anymore. You're everything to me, and if I have to share you, at least I have a part of your heart to myself. I think I'll be able to make it now, not that I had any real doubts before."

"You're not sharing part of my heart, though," she said. "You have my whole heart - you all do! I love you all equally and differently. You don't ever have to worry, Zale. You're not getting rid of me, and I'm not letting you go. Not ever."

"That suits me just fine," Zale said with a smile. "I don't ever want to be rid of you. Hell, just being apart from you for a short time is difficult enough."

"I'm glad. That ensures your loyalty to me, not that you'd even think about being unfaithful." She giggled and pinched his thigh. "Right, Mr. Tregat?"

"Ow," Zale cried, squirming away from her fingers. "If you're going to keep doing that, how could I ever think about being unfaithful? Pinching, it's just not nice. I'd expect something like that from Merrick, but not from my beloved wife."

"Then you underestimate me, my love." She gave Zale's thigh one final squeeze, then released his flesh and kissed him while he was still off-guard. "Feeling better?" she asked once their lips parted.

"Much better," Zale whispered. "I think I prefer that to the pinching. Much nicer, and more fun for both of us."

Out in the other room, the sound of the door opening could be heard followed by gentle humming.

"Oh, Merrick! It's okay, you can come in." Kaysa grinned at Zale. "He's serving us drinks this time. See, this vacation is going to be wonderful after all, my love. You just wait and see."

A moment later, Merrick strolled into the room. He handed a glass to Zale and winked. "Your favourite," he said as he handed a glass to Kaysa. It was obvious that whatever was in Kaysa's glass was also in his. "Perhaps we should drink a toast to a wonderful vacation, despite the family that Zale and I have here on Coruscant."

"Of course we should have a drink!" Kaysa sat upright and held out her glass. "To the Zenarrs. May we have a hereafter uneventful and lovemaking-filled vacation."

Merrick and Zale both raised their glasses high to that. "May happiness follow us wherever we may go, shining bright upon our every effort," Merrick said.

Kaysa held back a laugh. Zale wasn't proving as successful in doing so. She shushed him with a glare, then smiled tenderly at Merrick. "A beautiful toast, Merrick." Their glasses chimed in perfect pitch as they touched. Although their vacation hadn't started out very auspiciously, Kaysa had a feeling they could salvage what was left of it...as long as Zale didn't end up murdering his brothers.

"Thank you," Merrick said with a gracious nod. "Coming from you, it means very much. If it had been Zale saying that, I would have suspected he was just trying to get into my pants. But, thankfully, I know that isn't the case." He was quiet for a moment before continuing. He sighed and reached out to take Kaysa's hand. "This time here is going to be good for us, all three of us."

"I know," she replied. "No matter what, it will be." She looked to Zale and gave him a smile of encouragement. "It will be," she repeated with greater fervour.

Zale kissed first Kaysa and then, after a slight pause, Merrick. "It definitely will be," he added.

Kaysa regarded Merrick with a grin, then couldn't help laughing. "Maybe we should've given Zale something other than liquor. It always tends to make him very, very affectionate, as you can see."

"Very affectionate," Merrick said as he made a show of wiping his lips. "I think from now on, it's just water." He leaned over Kaysa to look Zale in the eyes. "Only water from now on. Now, kiss your wife and not her other husband."

"Gladly," Zale said with a laugh, and then pulled Kaysa into his arms for another kiss. "How about we stop by Riga on the way back home?"

"Alright," Kaysa replied. "Are there beaches there or is there another reason you want to go to Riga?"

"There are beaches there. Beautiful beaches from what I've heard," Zale said. "And, it's also within commuting distance of Tae'Karada. I think we could make a nice home there if we wanted."

"Then that's what we'll do. We'll go to Riga and the three of us will find a nice home there." Kaysa slipped an arm around both Zale's and Merrick's neck, then placed a kiss on each of the cheeks. "Everything's going so well. I think things can only get better from here."

"Everything will be as close to perfect as it can be," Merrick said as he got comfortable in Kaysa's embrace. "Won't it, Zale?"

Zale raised an eyebrow as he looked across at Merrick and then smiled. "Of course it will," he said. "Perfect."

Kaysa chuckled and squeezed both her men even tighter. "Stop being so silly and take a nap with your wife before we have to prepare for dinner."

"Gladly," Zale said as he settled in against Kaysa. "Anything for you, my love."

"You got that right," she retorted. Lying side by side by side, curled up together in a tangle of limbs, Kaysa and her two men sought repose after their unsettling arrival; she, however, was too excited about their future to sleep and made a request to Merrick for some music to lull them. "Something soothing, Braston. And preferably a song about me."

"Aren't they all about you?" Zale asked.

Ignoring him, Merrick began softly and soon the melody of "Living in Your Smile" filled the room. What better way to fall asleep lying together than with a song about lying together for all eternity? One thing was certain and that was that Kaysa was Merrick's inspiration and as long as he was with her, his muse would always be present. And, regardless of what else happened in life, he would always be with her. Nothing could ever come between Merrick Braston and the woman he loved.

"The Hunt"
Symm Ruus Dunn
Commander Luktor & the Alfa 5 squadron [NPC by Tarkin]

Location: Deserts near Thanatos
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Symm woke with a start and checked his wristcomp. He had gotten five hours of sleep, more than he had slept in three days. He checked the rake wound in his side and generally inspected the rest of his body and equipment for evidence of damage and for the ever-present sand ticks, which were deadly in the right conditions. He found two, which he pulled off and smashed them into the rock with the heel of his boot.

Grabbing his rifle and his small pack, in which the stolen stormtrooper's gear was, Symm creeped up to the entrance of his hidey-hole. He looked out over the dunes surrounding his spire of rock and didn't see any movement. So, thinking it clear, he set off down the side of the rock abutment and began heading towards Thanatos. Symm needed durasteel to make, and time to prepare the armor piercing flechettes for his custom rifle.

***

On the open hot desert dunes Commander Luktor took a sip off of his canteen and wiped his forehead. "What have our scanning found?" he demanded.

A nearby Stormtrooper in special desert gear turned to his superior officer. "Sir, at this point we haven't got much... Perhaps the night got him or some desert large lizard. We do have readings that confirm that he is wounded."

"Do we have a corpse?" Luktor asked.

"No, sir. Only blood," the stormtrooper confirmed.

"In that case, we keep looking. Until we find the dead corpse or the rebel!" the Imperial Commander stated, only to hear his men's confirmation.

Suddenly one of them, who was holding a pair of electrobinoculars and a scanner gave a nod. "Sir, I have something on the scanner. It's faint but it ought to be the size of a human and it's hot blooded so it can't be a lizard!" he said.

"We move now!" Luktor ordered, as they all got aboard the sand speeder and rushed off in what they hoped to be the Rebel's location.

***

Symm began a slow jog in the direction of Thanatos. It was shaping up to be a beautiful day and the sun was already baking the sands, but a cool breeze was picking up and that helped a lot. Symm scanned the horizon on top of the next dune and was startled to see a racing sandspeeder with white figured troops inside.

He fell to his stomach and covered himself with his camouflage suit so that only the barrel of his rifle and a small pyramid was showing. If someone looked at the dune now, they wood see an oddly shaped rock covered in sand. Symm wriggled just a bit so that he sunk into the sand. Now, the barrel of his rifle poked just a couple of inches out of the sand and most of Symm's body was behind the dune. He sighted through his scope and inspected the oncoming speeder.

"Yup... Sandtroopers. Seven of them, they have sensor equipment... Damn! My sensor baffle is gone... What I wouldn't give..." Symm cursed softly. Looking beyond the troops inside, Symm focused on the speeder itself. "Hmmm... If I can knock out an emitter, just one of them..." Symm sighted carefully. He tightened his grip on his rifle and his rifle chuffed just a bit as it launched one of his precious four durasteel armor-piercing darts at the landspeeder. Symm checked to see where his round had hit and was relieved to see the speeder jerk quickly as sparks flew from the front underside.

The speeder came to a tight curve which sent a wave of sand that created a certain difficulty for seeing the men in the vehicle. Already had Commander Luktor ordered his men to take cover, and, immediately, everyone took cover by jumping off and into the sand taking their weapons with them. Behind the dunes they regrouped to counter-attack.

"Damn this sniper!" Luktor cursed. "I want him dead! And we will kill him! Now, he should be head-on only a few dunes ahead... Readings?"

"Fifty two yards from our current location, sir!" one of the stormtroopers confirmed.

"Very well then, I want two men to stay here and keep him busy and distracted. We want him to spend as many rounds as possible, make him run out of ammunition!" Luktor explained. "Then two others go around the right side to flank him off and the rest come with me to go around and cut his escape route off! Move!" he ordered.

As soon as he gave the order two stormtroopers began to fire shots at Symm's location, one providing cover and the other one going for more precision shots.

Symm slid down the back side of the dune he was on when he saw the speeder dig its front end into the sand, sending up a shower of sand. As he crested the dune behind him, blaster bolts began peppering the area around him. Symm was running flat out now and decided to run in between dunes, keeping below the line of sight of his pursuers.

The blaster fire began to slacken as it became a chase. Symm heard the occasional blaster shot and noticed the bolts always nearer to him than he liked.

"They might not see me, but they have got me pegged on sensors. I'm in it deep tasker, this might be it." Symm began mulling over his options as he ran, thinking of how he could beat the sensors. "I need a sensor distraction. Maybe, hmmm... Well, I gotta buy some time anyway."

As he ran, Symm pulled one of his three blaster pistol power cells out of his harness and, using one of his last flechettes, pushed the power transmitting node in. Then, he broke the node so that the power cell believed that it was in the pistol. Symm knew that with the cell's transmitter engaged like this, eventually the power cell would overload and produce a very brief electromagnetic pulse; disabling the portable sensors that the sandtroopers were holding. Or at least, that was the theory. Symm had never actually tried it.

Realizing that it could overload at any time, Symm stopped and threw the cell back in the general direction of his enemy. Then, he spun and continued in his running. He hoped that when the cell went off, he could crest a dune quickly, eliminate a trooper and cause them to abandon their pursuit.

As he rounded another dune, he heard a dull thud. Looking back, he saw a small fireball rising out of the desert and decided to take a shot. He ran up a dune, turned and raised his rifle to his shoulder for his shot.

Alas, the stormtrooper was agile and dodged Symm's shot just barely, falling into the sand while he shot a whole round to provide cover for his open location. By the time his round was gone he had cover from his fellow Imperials and was able to get to a clear spot. But to their demise, the sniper had the advantage.

"Move it! Get this bastard!" Commander Luktor shouted as he came off on top of a dune along with two other Stromtroopers and shot a couple of rounds at Symm who was by now almost out of range.

"Sir, the scanners are gone!" one of the white desert stormtroopers informed.

"Who cares! He's heading that direction, towards the city!" Luktor shouted again as he ordered his men to move and close in on the sniper.

As they followed, Team 2 opened the comm link. "Sir, he went into a graveyard. We are at a disadvantage in tactical procedures... He will have the element of surprise and we will have to look for him visually."

Luktor nodded. "Well then, bomb the outer perimeter and then shower some thermal detonators to flatten it all out. We will move in afterwards, hopefully to find his remains!" he grinned as they all moved in closer to the site.

Symm slowed down to a jog as he entered the speeder graveyard. To his right and left, junked speeders and wrecked spacecraft were stacked and sitting in a mishmash of durasteel and cerametal. There were lanes created by the walls of junk and Symm headed down one. This place was a heaven for any sniper, there was so much cover, he could sit and wait for troopers to show themselves.

Symm made his way deep into the wreckyard, and climbed up into the cockpit of an airspeeder which had another speeder wreck leaned up against the rear. It was an ugly place with jagged metal and electrical conduits jutting out from all of the consoles, but, for some bizarre reason, the seat cushions were still intact and quite comfortable. Symm smiled at that while he began setting up his sniper's roost.

His head jerked upwards as he heard, before he saw, the whine of ion engines in the air. Not again! Symm thought. He scanned the sky around him and then heard something which sent chills crawling up his spine. The air around him seemed to close in as he heard a whistling sound followed by a large thump. Without thinking he made his way down, out of his roost, leaving his rifle behind. Symm looked around frantically for safe haven. If the Imps had decided to bomb the place, the only place safe would be... Symm thought as he scanned the area, moving through the jungle of wrecks. "Aha!" Symm dashed to a corner, and scanned the lane beyond for his pursuers. Seeing none, he dove for the object of his attention. "This should work just fine, hope it's reasonably intact." Symm climbed up to the missing airlock door of a section of freighter, and looked in. The door beyond was ajar, slightly bent, but mostly intact.

Symm looked up as a TIE-bomber screamed past. The thudding was very close. He leapt through the ajar door and then rolled to the inside edge of the open space. It was stuffy, filled with some stench he couldn't place, and barely had room to flex his arms, but it was cover and he thanked the gods for it. Symm curled into a fetal position as the noise of bomblets, most probably thermals, crashed about the hull section and the noise reverberated within his crawlspace. Symm heard, and felt the impacts of several stacks of speeder wrecks on his hidey hole and saw the light from the ajar door become blocked.

Good, they won't find me through all that metal, might have to get out eventually, Symm thought before he felt his ears burst and blackness enveloped him.

***

Meanwhile, outside, Commander Luktor grinned. The TIE-Bomber had just made a few sweeps and the sniper was probably no more... But he was a calculist. He wanted to be sure, and without a corpse he would never truly believe he had succeeded. Alas, if the sniper hadn't perished he would still have the advantage...

"Sir, what are your orders?" one of the stormtroopers asked. "Shall we conduct a search?"

Luktor raised his hand. "No... Let's camp here for two days. If he's not dead, he'll have to come out and we will get him. And if he doesn't he'll die from hunger anyway, and then we can be sure and go in to get the corpse," Luktor said. "I want a secure perimeter and no null points for a possible escape!"

"Sir, yes sir!" the stormtrooper acknowledged.

***

Symm woke up to the pounding of his head. He brought his hand up to his head and it came away slick with blood. One eye was out of focus, but Symm figured that was from blood in it. He rolled onto his stomach and crawled to the exit of his shelter. The ajar door he came in by was in two pieces in the ground below the hole, and Symm could see it would be a tight squeeze past the scrap covering what was left of the portal.

Peeking his head above the opening, Symm saw how much of a saviour this section of freighter hull plating was. Slag heaps of melted durasteel were scattered around and there were very few speeder piles left intact. Several of those slag heaps were still smoldering and the stench of burnt metal was in the air. All of these combined to make Symm's head pound even more and he knew he had to get out of there.

With no equipment, Symm knew he had no chance fighting his way out, and his chances of survival without medical attention were slim at best. So, his decision was made. Symm inched his way out of the half covered hatch and gingerly climbed down. At one point, part of his cloak had caught fire and he had to throw it off. Now, in patched camouflage pants and a dark blue shirt that was missing its elbows, he began hobbling through a burnt wasteland. When he saw the first trooper he was in part relieved, and in another part, terrified.

The guy that ordered that strike... Symm thought, he ain't from 'round here. The Imps round here are too timid. These people had it easy, I have seen much worse. Symm shook his head in disgust. I should have laid low awhile longer. He nearly fell as his head swam again and vertigo nearly claimed him, but he stumbled forward and out to a sandtrooper already levelling his rifle at Symm.

Without realizing that he was yelling, "Surrender! I Surrender," Symm fell to his knees and put his hands on the top of his head, interlacing fingers. As the trooper walked forward, Symm continued, "I wish to see your commanding officer." Symm swallowed and tasted bile. "There is something he should know."

The guard looked at Symm through the black piercing eyes of his Imperial helmet as he pointed his rifle at him. "The Commander wants you dead..." he told Symm as he shot Symm with his weapon in stun mode.

When Symm awoke he was sitting in a chair, his hands tied behind his back. In front of him stood two guards and the Commander himself. "Ahh... So, you are the one who's been playing sniper. I understand you surrender and want to say something? Perhaps your last words..." Luktor grinned.

Symm had been beaten, that much he was sure of. He felt his lower lip with his tongue and could feel the split of his lip. He also detected the wetness of fluid flowing from his scalp. He took a deep but shuddering breath before he started to speak. "Feels good to waste a city block doesn't it? Makes you feel more like a man. Why is it that I, alone, have raised such a ruckus? I have only killed three or four Imps, maybe a few more. Why is that so bad when you have all killed quite a few more? Why is that? Get it over with and kill me you massacring piece of garl-shite! Put your weapon to my temple and end it! Go on!"

"As much as I would enjoy doing so, I am sure that the Grand Admiral would find you worth more alive," Luktor replied, then turning to face his men. "Take him to Arcadia for questioning. Perhaps he may tell us of the rebels..."

As the stormtroopers nodded and took Symm away, the Imperial Commander grinned wickedly. "I assure you that you will wish I killed you..." he promised, as he thought of the nice commendation this would get him. His first run on a search party as platoon leader and he had been victorious.

Next thing, Symm was riding in the back of a speeder, his hands tied behind his back with binders. Their destination: New Empire Mainbase, Arcadia.

"Rat Poison"
by Jemul, Droid Trader
with Fuzzilla, Wookiee [NPC]

Location: Yallder District, New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

The streets of Yallder were dark and dingy. They looked like a maze of back alleys where anyone might meet a nasty fate. As Jemul had never visited here before, he knew only the potential for the rodent removal was somewhere near.

Jemul was tired from walking. In fact, he was nearly exhausted. Just when he thought his feet couldn't go farther, he saw people heading into a tavern. With my strong escort, some refreshment couldn't hurt, Jemul thought. The chipped paint above the door read: "Lath's Bar."

***

A Twillig girl approached their table. "What will it be, Strangers?" The Jawa didn't know how to respond. When some time passed, she prompted, "We serve a mean Rodian ale."

"Two, please," Jemul said, sliding a coin into her palm.

Soon the ales arrived, and then a platter of something called Na-choes. The food was surprisingly nourishing for a dive like this, and the waitress brought more ale at regular intervals.

Then there was an interruption. A hovering droid inquired, "Death Sticks?"

From behind the bar, a bottle came sailing. "Enough of that. You've been warned away from here."

Jemul touched a control in his pocket. He had been repairing a similar drone in his shop. The mechanism lost flight, landing on the table. The bartender, a Blue Elephant creature like the one that played keyboards sometimes in the Mos Eisley cantina, showed a brief smile.

Jemul and Fuzzilla took a risk, approaching the bar. "Friend," Jemul began, "my house is infested with Beeja rats. I'm looking for something toxic to remove them." Fuzzilla growled, and moved towards the Elephatine creature. "As I've just neutralized a hassle to your establishment, perhaps you could help."

The blue bartender thought for a moment. He wanted to give a truthful response but a mad Wookiee could hurt him. Finally he blurted out, "Poisoning is bad for business." A good beginning, since the statement was truthful.

Jemul and Fuzzilla continued their game of Good Jawa, Mad Wookiee. Fuzzilla grabbed at the bartender, only to have his hands batted away with a fluid motion of the giant elephant-like ears. He howled and rubbed his aching paws. "However, should you remove the pesky droid from the premises, I might be inclined to remember a few conversations I've been a part of in the past."

The droid trader feigned pondering for a few minutes, but even the Jawa was smart enough to see he could get both the poison and spare parts for his business.

"From time to time we get a few seedy customers in here, and ale loosens their tongues. I've heard the name Pickled Squid mentioned as having an eclectic assortment of merchandise. I believe it is on Fanp Street."

"Thank you for the information," Jemul said. "Should it prove unreliable, I won't restrain my Wookiee companion." The Jawa smirked, secretly hoping the Elephant was correct.

***Pickled Squid***

Several people in dark clothing hovered outside. They had knives instead of blasters and most reeked of booze. Despite this, the business they were looking for was well marked. Opening the door rang a bell, and a clerk came out of the back.

"How can I help you?" the elderly gentleman asked, doing a double-take. In his many years as an associate of this establishment, he couldn't remember ever seeing a Jawa and a Wookiee in the same group.

"I have a problem with Beeja Rats," Jemul began. "I was hoping you might have some chemical that could rid me of them."

For a few moments, he judged the sincerity of these odd customers. Could this be another Imperial Sting? Jawas were often oppressed by the Empire, and Wookiees were mostly ignored. The man finally decided to do business with the visitors. "Let me think... Yes, there are a few items that could work. Let me check our inventory. If you'll excuse me..." The old man departed the front desk and rummaged around for a while. The pair of travelers could hear him moving things about in the back.

Ten minutes later, he returned, wearing a breath mask and heavy rubber gloves. He presented Jemul with a sealed envelope, then removed his protective gear. "Kouhun dust. Ground from dead insectoids, it contains the essence of their poisonous hides. Blow this through a tube into the space with the rats. Be careful not to touch or inhale the powder. It causes the soft tissues of the throat to expand, cutting off air intake, thus choking the victim."

The man stopped, glancing at Jemul. "The rats, having much less body mass, should die within an hour or two. Then you will have to remove the rodents. It doesn't dissolve the corpse the way Kouhun do. Since dust might cling to them, I would wear gloves when you extract the bodies."

Jemul was pleased that a solution arrived so quickly. "Excellent. What do I owe you?"

"Thirty credits."

"Thirty? That's a lot to pay."

"Kouhun are very toxic. Difficult to capture without falling victim to their charms. The dust is hard to extract and process. We rarely have such materials on hand."

"Do you have something less costly?" Jemul said, soulfully looking into his purse.

"At the moment, this is the only thing we have that would do the job, unless you would like a squad of stormtroopers to demolish your home. That would also rid you of rats..."

The reference to the Empire did the trick. He would rather squander his meager wealth in ways that didn't line their Imperial pockets. "Very well," Jemul said reluctantly parting with thirty credits.

Fuzzilla roared, his way of saying goodbye. Jemul wished the proprietor good fortune. Soon, both Fuzzy and Jemul were back at Droid Haven. The poison worked as advertised, and soon the dead rodents were collected and burned.

Fuzzilla was well compensated with the adventures he had with his diminutive friend, and Jemul collapsed on his pallet and was soon dead asleep, exhausted from his successful travels.

"Taking Up Roots"
Jack Black
Robin Black [NPC+]

Location: New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

****

The large Gallofree transport sat down onto the large cargo platforms on the rim of New Plouton. Several other large crafts were nestled on the docking platform including a few Imperial ships. Jack and Robin stepped out onto the asphalt; it crunched underfoot as they walked to the main flight control centre. Jack walked with the aid of his twin brother and his staff. Robin stood beside Jack lending support when needed; his huge impressive frame was made more menacing by the coat he wore over his armour which itself was over his shield generator. His weapons were concealed but still present. Robin would rather be naked than without his guns. He often told Jack that he did feel naked without a weapon.

Jack did the talking at the customs. Through a small bribe and skillful diplomacy Jack avoided getting asked much, just the way he liked it. They would need residency, food, and droids. This area of the large city was a heavy industrial area. Outside the loading docks, small aircrafts zipped in and out delivering people. A small queue of them waited outside the landing ports. Jack moved over to the first one where there was a couple of Blue skinned aliens arguing beside it. Jack thought, for a moment, they were about to come to blows when Robin stepped in. Jack secretly cursed his brother under his breath.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, but where is a good place to go to buy a house?"

The two aliens looked at him like some form of freak. They both stammered for a moment then the first one spoke in a guttural tongue. "You looking for good housing or cheap?"

Robin looked over at his brother. "Good housing, for sale not rent."

The two blue-skinned people looked at each other and spoke for a moment in a hushed alien language that Robin couldn't hear, and wouldn't have been able to understand even if he could. "Ask for a ride to the Yemol District. They have a lot of residential apartments," explained one while the other nodded.

"Thank you," Robin said with a smile. "You guys really shouldn't fight. There's very little that can't be solved with a little consideration." And with that Robin helped Jack into the closest taxi.

"Yemol district please."

The two blue aliens were stunned, they looked at each other. "He really meant that didn't he?" ssked one to the other. The other one simply nodded as bewildered.

The taxi darted in and out of the traffic until it eventually got down to ground level. Robin and Jack climbed out. They paid the droid driver who took to the skies immediately. The blue skinned aliens had been right, there were no less than a dozen shops advertising places to rent. Jack felt the weight of his satchel. He would find a place to buy. He had the money.

Jack looked over the skyline towards the business district. The city's bank towered high with dark foreboding walls. His eyes gleamed like a polished onyx gem.

"Jack, you coming?" Robin urged.

"Yes, my brother," Jack said and pulled his eyes away from the bank.

"Queen of the Night"
Karma Arien - Pilot

Location: Yelldon, New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Pure betrayal could not hide even behind a mask of broad daylight. It had been there for many dawns, taunting her. Karma wanted nothing more than to forget that dreaded night. Life as she knew it ended that day yet at the same time it began anew. Though demons remained.

She stood on her balcony drawn to the sunset. It should have had a calming influence but it didn't. Instantly recognizing the presence of a distinct cold, she'd felt it once before. Only one that could exist in darkness. That alone caused her to shiver. Without hesitation she drew the long cloak she was using as a jacket tighter around her. Its dark color allowed Arien to blend easily with the fast approaching night.

I'm sorry.

Karma whipped her head around to see if anyone else was present. A familiar, absent yet distinct voice startled her. Firmly, she reminded herself it was all in her mind. No one was standing there. As she anticipated she was alone. Still she was haunted.

We made our choice. Now you must make yours, Karma.

Diligently she continued to search the surrounding area. Nothing there. And the longer it lasted, the more she began to wonder if it was all in her head or if something was hiding amid the shadows.

The look in her mother's eyes, still unmistakable, even after all these years... Something which had terrified her then and never lost its potency.

Baby we did what we had to...

How could the one person who meant so much, hurt so deeply with simple words? Karma focused distantly on the horizon. More than that, so much more she knew.

...as we know you will.

Just now beginning to understand what it all meant. One thing was certain, Karma needed to make some choices soon, some of them contingent on locating a certain smuggler she'd heard of. She hoped pieces of a very contorted puzzle would soon begin to fall into place.

"New Home"
By: Jack Black
Robin Black [NPC+]

Location: Yemol District, New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Jack looked over the flat he had just purchased. It was not beautiful by any being's imagination, but it was a place to operate out of. Robin had already scouted several escape routes and had been running back and forth to the ship getting supplies in. Jack hooked his terminal up to the city central database. He was not really surprised by the amount of Imperial protection placed on the network. He shifted uncomfortably as he looked at the city plans for the bank. It was a large building built to defend a small army. Jack's mind formulated a thousand ideas at once on how to break through each defence.

Robin came back. He hefted a large crate over one shoulder; in the other he held a small bag of food, grease already leaking though the thin brown paper. Jack managed to restrain his wince to just a small twitch of irritation. Robin set the food out. Jack nibbled a few bits here and there and left his plate half uneaten. Robin cast him a worried look then picked the plate up and finished it for his brother.

"We will need to find a dealer who can get supplies into the city. Most of what we need you can build up, but we need at least four battle droids. We'll take a look around later and search for a shop who may be able to set us up." Jack paused. He opened his small medicine box and took a few pills out. He swallowed them bitterly.

"Sure thing, Jack," Robin said. He took his blaster out and checked the charge. He hadn't reloaded since the battle in the dunes. "I've got three more energy clips but that's it. We'll need to get a power generator."

"No, you can use the flats port. Use the energy converter." Jack scanned the crate numbers. "That one." He pointed to number 12.

Robin got up, his huge frame stepping over and between the boxes. "How do you know it's this one, Jack?" Robin lifted the lid and rummaged around

"Trust me," Jack said. A few seconds later Robin pulled out the adapter. "Charge this up as well." Jack threw his staff across the room. Robin caught it in a vice-like grip. Jack continued his work on the machine.

Dusk had just settled over the city. The patrols of stormtroopers had doubled. Jack and Robin managed to walk around easily, both under heavy, thick cowls. Jack wore an oxygen mask to help his breathing through the city. The night lights came on around them and the streets filled with people of the night. Several large Grundars barged out of a nearby watering hole, yelling and grunting in their guttural tones, their pig-like faces blue with fury. Robin looked inquisitively in to see what had happened. Jack pushed him on; this was not a good part of the city.

They paused in a square for a moment while Jack changed his oxygen tube and looked around with his mask off. A young and attractive Twi'lek woman stood across from a small ceremonial fountain. By the fountain three large brutish aliens skulked. Jack shot her a warning glance but the woman turned her nose up at him. Jack shrugged for a moment then telling his brother to stay put, he walked over to the Twi'lek woman and cleared his throat.

"What do you want, human?" She spoke with a strange arrogance that Jack was unaccustomed to hearing from a Twi'lek female.

"I was going to warn you that gazing at 'men'--" He pointed at the large scaly aliens "--Is not a wise career move."

"Are you suggesting I work on the street?" She let out a mirthless 'Ha.' "I am none other than Lady Serail Messa."

"I'm afraid your name means nothing to me," Jack said with slight menace in his voice. He didn't like being talked down to.

"Run along, I am here to watch a fight. These brutes knocked a drink over me last night in my husband's bar and before I accept their forgiveness I've asked that they attack this Goilin coming along any moment, then I will forgive them."

"M'lady," Jack said with a bitter tone. "You know that a Goilin can only really be hurt by high powered energy weapons." Jack pointed over at the scaly brutes. "Those gentlemen only have side arm blasters, and lasers. They will be ripped to shreds."

"I know," smirked the lady. "Now run along and stop being such a bother." She tossed one of her green head tails back. Jack stepped away, stunned he had thought that he could be cold some times, but that woman...

He stepped up to his brother. "Robin," he snapped. "Go and talk to those aliens, tell them that they're being set up. They have been told to attack a Goilin."

Robin winced, remembering a fight he had once had with one of them. They were smart, fast, not much stronger than a human but tough as hell. "Sure thing, Jack."

Robin moved over to the large scaly brutes and began talking to them. From what he could hear of the conversation he realised the scalies had limited intellect and were generally known for strength of fist not mind.

The woman across the street scowled at Jack who merely raised an eyebrow in defiance. He thought briefly for a moment she would draw a weapon on him, but she just contented herself with scowling and the Goilin passed by unharmed. She yelled a Twi'lek curse at him and then retreated probably back to her husband. Jack felt pity for the man.

Robin walked over with the big brutes. They were laughing a slow methodical laughter. The leader, a bigger reptile than the others turned to Jack. "Me want to thank you. Us not knowing that. Goilin. Very tough. We want to thank. You and... Get you a drink."

He was clearly the intellectual of the lot, Jack thought to himself. "Some other time perhaps," Jack said with a gracious smile. "We need to go and buy some droids."

"Then. We will. Help you do that. Thur know the. Best place. For droids in whole of. City." The big lizard muttered, "Come we go for drink. Then we show you." His speech picked up momentum just as he finished talking.

"Sure," Jack said with a smile and he noticed the smile on his brother's face. "I would ask you gentlemen, what is it you do?"

"Us? We look after stuff for people," said the leader as they walked towards the nearest bar. "We pick stuff up, and thump people who has other people's stuff."

"Ah then perhaps we might be able to do each other some business," Jack said with a smile. Not as good as droids but cheaper, he thought to himself.

"Preparations"
by Jack Black
Robin Black [NPC+]

Location: New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4 ABY

***

Robin came rushing into the room. Jack had been studying hard. Several nights ago he had met three large creatures known as Scalies. They had agreed to join in on his plan, but he still needed other equipment. What equipment they had Jack had sprawled out across the floor. He was currently fixing up a messenger droid with a small explosive charge; it was enough to take down a small building, nothing more. The droid bleeped as Jack connected the charges.

"J-Jack," Robin stammered. "You will never guess what!" He stumbled into the room making all hells noise.

"Shut up, Robin, can't you see I'm working!" Jack snapped. He wiped his forehead and got back to work. His ill temper didn't deter his brother.

"I just saw a Jedi get attacked," Robin muttered. "I was just walking though town minding my own business, when this woman started gunning for them. She was awesome! She also had a laser sword I think. I didn't see them for too long, they ran off really fast."

Jack looked up briefly. "A Sith?" he asked.

"A what?" Robin asked, slightly confused. "Slith?"

"Never mind, my ignorant brother. Bring me my medicine if you want to be helpful." Jack placed the small explosive down carefully.

"I spoke to a man who said that papers are really important. Could you be able to fake some for us?" Robin asked, opening a small supply case, which held Jack's injections and pills. "Just two red ones, is it?"

Jack nodded. "Yes, I have already done that. I've got several copies but try not to lose any, they took me a long time to fake." Jack held up a small data cube.

"Thanks, Jack," said Robin. "I've found that droid shop you were looking for. Doesn't look like much I must say, but you know best. It's called Droid Haven. The Jawa who owns it was out when I stopped by but didn't look like he had closed up for too long."

"Jawa?" Jack mused. "Fairly far away from his home planet."

"You know those Jawa's sneak aboard transports. They're like vermin."

"I hope you'll keep that opinion to yourself when we try to do business, at least we will have something in common, we both originated from the deserts around Tatooine," Jack mused

"But father always said we should keep to our own kind."

"Father is dead now, and has been for many years. It is time for us to make our own decisions, and I know that much can be gained from other races. Look at the Scalie allies we have just made."

"I suppose." Robin shrugged. "You coming out, Jack? It's a great day, it'll give you a chance to spread your legs." Robin's offer was tempting. Jack had been cooped up for too many days. He had slaved over each of the primitive droids they had already had on the ship. They were all too small to be of any real use. He had fitted them all with explosives; they were now all stacked against one wall. Jack yawned. He had been up a day and a night. Robin handed him his pills. Jack forced down the foul-tasting tablets.

"I believe we will have a walk, brother. Show me the places you have been. I am especially interested to find the location of this 'Droid Haven.' "

The two brothers got up and left the flat.

"New Information"
By Kyra Ronso
And Grand Admiral Tarkin

Location: Arcadia
Date: Eos 14, 4 ABY

***

The next day, Kyra went to the prison wing. She had been given the chance to interrogate the rebels she had caught, something she was actually looking forward to. Before entering the room she looked at the console in the main security system room. She could see the five prisoners and, through the images analyzed, which one would probably break up easier and talk. The short man and the Bothan seemed calm and determined. But the Rodian one was more nervous. It was visible. Still, he seemed the type who would rather die than speak. But maybe when subjected to her methods he'd change his mind.

She needn't look anymore for a weak link. The Rodian would do fine. She left for his cell and entered it, closing the doors behind her. Looking into the rebel's eyes she nodded softly. "You know what I'm here for, don't you?" she asked simply and coldly.

The Rodian barely moved, petrified as he was.

Kyra sighed. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way!" she explained with a grin.

***Meanwhile on the Throne Room***

Grand Admiral Tarkin oversaw the security camera in the cell Kyra had gone into. He was confident that this woman could make the rebel talk, and if not, then perhaps at the hands of IT-O droids and mind probes he would. Tarkin grinned. She had "unorthodox" methods... This made him wonder how different they really were from his own ways.

***

Kyra was kicking the Rodian in the ribs as he coughed up blood. "I'll never talk!" he said, trying to sound determined, even thought he knew his voice trembled.

"You'll talk even if it kills you, rebel!" she said, determined to take the information she needed.

He wiped his mouth and got up, his face was marked from the blows she'd given him and his clothes were dirty with blood, as was the floor. "If you kill me, then you'll never get the info..." he shot back. "You can punch me, you can kick me, but I won't talk!"

Kyra looked with cold eyes and grabbed the Rodian by the neck, squeezing so that he couldn't breath. "As you wish..."

The Rodian was choking so he grabbed her hand and wrist with all his strength and twisted it, so that she was forced to let go, and punched her in her torso, sending her a couple of steps back, then falling to his knees and catching his breath again. "Go to hell!" he shouted. "You choose the wrong person to talk to... I won't tell you anything!"

"Very well then! You choose the hard way!" She paused, looking to the Rodian that got up trying to catching his breath. "Your stubbornness shall cost the lives of your mates, one by one, until you do talk. Do you want their blood on your hands?" she asked.

"You're bluffing..." he replied, hoping that he was right.

The doors opened and there stood the Bothan with a stormtrooper behind him. They didn't exchange words at all, but merely looked at each other. It was clear that all prisoners were being beaten for the very same reason: information. Kyra nodded and the stormtrooper took the Bothan out of view and a shot was heard, followed by a thump. A small stream of blood could be seen on the floor, passing right in front of the doors where the Bothan had stood.

"Do you still think I'm bluffing? As you can see, this is how I treat your fellow rebels. Shall I kill another one?" she asked the Rodian.

The Rodian rebel was speechless. He looked at the ground. One of his friends was gone because he had refused to speak and had called her bluff. "I'll talk..." he whispered. "You win. Just don't kill the others."

Kyra grinned and pushed him back. In came two stormtroopers. She turned to face the Rodian. "Speak then!"

***Throne room, a few hours later***

Kyra entered the room. She had the information that Admiral Tarkin wanted. Approaching him she bowed and saluted the Grad Admiral. "I have the information that you wish, Grand Admiral Tarkin," she informed.

Tarkin nodded with a grin. "You did quite well. I saw the interrogation over the security system cameras. Impressive..." he said with a raised eyebrow. "Do you have a report ready yet?" he asked.

"Yes, I have, my liege," she answered as she delivered Grand Admiral Tarkin a datapad. "The rebel didn't give the name of their leader. He received the orders from a former Tae'Morad, but doesn't know his name."

Trakin took the datapad. "I see... Very well done. You truly are a match for your fame," he told her with a sly smile. "For now, you may have some time off. I will call upon you when I need you."

"Yes, my liege," she said, then pausing. "Grand Admiral Tarkin, I have a request. If you permit, I wish to stay on a hotel in New Plouton," she asked, waiting for some kind of answer by the Grand Admiral.

Tarkin frowned. "I assure you that your accommodations here are much better than those you'll find in New Plouton, my dear... Any particular reason for this request?" he asked.

"I know they are!" she answered. "But I have unfinished business to solve in New Plouton, and meanwhile I could check that if that info that the rebel told us is true..." she said, waiting once more for an answer. She saw that Grand Admiral Tarkin was thinking for a moment.

"Very well then, you may go... For now. I will call for you when necessary," he said with a nod. "Is there anything else you need for the time being?"

She bowed and got out of the room, going directly to her personal chamber. As she closed the door she went to the bed and took off a small datapad. She was thinking to herself, Is this the right name? I can�t believe it! I have to investigate this for myself. I have got to see if it�s really Ellemiek Vermolen, my ex-friend from when I was with the Rebellion. She paused. Even though Ellemiek was a great friend of hers, her duty came first.

"Still Just A Daydream"
Karma Arien - Pilot

Location: Yelldon, New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

As dark as the night is cold.

That line from some ancient verse lingered in Karma's thoughts as she turned to go back inside. She felt chilled but knew it was due to something other than air temperature. As usual she shook it off.

For some unexplained reason she was drawn to one particular item in her closet. Once it had been located, Karma pulled it out for a closer look. The multi-hued green fabric reflected the dim artificial light with a distinct pattern. Its feel and design were unmistakable in her hand.

Someday her coronation gown would see its rightful use. Often, she reflected on what that day would have been like, had it occurred so many years before. Vivid images of her mansion on Oceana lingered fresh as if it was only yesterday. Lush with tropical plants native to the planet.

Ascension day was supposed to be a celebration...a proper coming of age. Instead all Karma carried with her was memories of the planet's destruction. Caught up in the deafening rumble and roar of incoming TIE fighters, then standing there as she watched stone pillars crumble piece by piece.

What had once been an exotic, upper tier for a sprawling backyard garden turned to several, smoldering piles of rubble. Those memories still stung deeply, just as those of her parents' betrayal did.

Each day her reasons for wanting to restore her planet's honor revealed themselves with more clarity. And they haunted her like some invisible aura. However further investigation into her destiny would have to wait until the first light of day.

"Freeing the Market"
By: Kelvin Rixx

Location: Thanatos, Market square
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Kelvin had set himself up at Thana's Solace. Living quarters for both him and Tee Cee, and he'd paid the owner to let him use the inn's spaces in the town's central stable to hide the patrol skimmer. After a night's sleep and a meal, Rixx wanted to get out and see what exactly he was up against.

It was sunny but cool in the high desert morning. Kelvin and Tee Cee sat at a small table outside an eating establishment and watched as commerce began in Thanatos's giant market square. The huge open area was littered with multi-colored pavilions, under which various merchants peddled their various wares. Suddenly Rixx caught sight of something. A squad of five stormtroopers coming down the row of merchant kiosks, stopping at each one to take something: food, trinkets, money, whatever they saw that they wanted. Any "customers" in their path were also stripped of valuable possessions under threat of death. A soldier's pay must not be what it use to, he thought as the five troopers approached him and Tee Cee at their caf� table.

"You must be new here," the one wearing the single orange epaulette indicating he was the officer said as the rest fanned out and surrounded the table. "We're taking the weekly collection for the New Imperial war effort. What have you got?" the officer asked as he stood uncomfortably close, behind Kelvin.

Kelvin looked at Tee Cee and sighed. Tee Cee grinned slightly. "I have a one-thousand cred chip in my pocket..."

The officer interrupted, "Well, boys! Sounds like we hit our quota early toda--"

"Oh," Rixx said in mock surprise, pulling the silver chip from his pocket, "you want me to give this to you." Then he slipped it back in the same pocket. "I'm afraid not."

The officer unstrapped his blaster and pressed it to the back of Kelvin's head, and his tone grew dark. "Hand over that chi--"

Kelvin interrupted him again. Quickly ducking to his left, he reached up and back, taking the officer by the wrists and throwing him onto the table, ending up with his blaster in the process.

Tee Cee simply threw himself backward into the trooper standing behind him, knocking him into a nearby merchant cart filled with live poultry. As the cart fell, the cage it carried burst open, unleashing a torrent of squawks and feathers.

The other three, caught completely off guard, were staggering backward, fumbling with their weapons. Kelvin easily dispatched two of them with the officer's blaster.

Tee Cee recovered his feet and turned around to see the trooper he'd laid into. He was on the ground struggling with a flapping bird who'd found a claw-hold on his helmet. Tee Cee laughed as he walked over to the prone man.

Rixx was about to blast the last standing trooper, who was finally unstrapping his heavy auto-blaster. He pulled the trigger and heard the all too familiar ping, hiss sound indicating that the blaster's gas cylinder had ruptured, making the weapon no better than a club. The trooper paused. Rixx could feel him smile behind the helmet.

Tee Cee just laughed as he watched the bird/trooper melee. Which the trooper did eventually win, throwing the strange white fowl away from him, only to receive a heavy boot to the head from Tee Cee.

The trooper facing Kelvin levelled his giant blaster, but was taken by surprise by the white bird the other trooper had thrown as it knocked his rifle aside. Seizing the opening, Rixx drew the jagged spike he called a knife from his belt, and flung it at the hapless trooper. The trooper fell backward as the "knife" embedded itself in his neck at the soft spot between his helmet and collar.

The officer moaned as he lay on the table top recovering his breath. Kelvin drew his own, very big, blaster and kicked the table over, sending the officer sprawling. He quickly stood up, coughing.

"You'll cough pay for this cough," he gasped out.

"Get out of here," Rixx sneered. The trooper officer turned and ran.

"Hey!" A young voice yelled out from the crowd that had assembled. "That's Kelvin Rixx! Look! It's Kelvin Rixx!" The voice got more jubilant, and the crowd began to murmur as the realization settled in.

Kelvin turned to Tee Cee and said, "We should go. Bag and tag 'em." Tee Cee nodded and set about gathering the troopers, weapons, and equipment. Then Kelvin felt a tug on his pant leg. He turned around, and saw a small boy with sun bleached hair, and premature crow's feet, probably from many days in the desert.

"You are Kelvin Rixx, right?" the boy asked.

Kelvin looked at him blankly. "Yeah," he said.

"Are you here to help us?" The boy became excited.

"I was called here to, yes," Kelvin replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Then the boy ran off, calling out, "It's Kelvin Rixx! Kelvin Rixx is here!"

Great, Rixx thought. Another town, another planet, and still it's the kids who recognize me first. Oh well, maybe I'll get some adult volunteers earlier than I expected.

Then Kelvin turned to Tee Cee, who had finished stripping the dead and unconscious troopers of any gear he could. "Let's go," he said, and hurried away.

"New Memories"
by Auron Ronso
Ellemiek Vermollen

Location: New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4 ABY

***

Auron woke up on the bed of his new apartment. Getting up he went to the window and glanced at the Yesdol District. For a few minutes he simply stared, watching the rush hour of the city in which he had grown up, and wondered once more who his parents were, if they were still alive and where they lived.

He went to the bathroom and washed his face, then stopped to look himself in the mirror. He stood there trying to remember everything he wanted to know but nothing came to mind. He knew that in time he would remember more things, but for the time being he had to live like that.

In the living room a console started to beep. On his way to the console he dressed in his robe, and once there he pressed the button. It was Ellemiek.

"Good morning, Auron. I trust you slept well?" she smiled. "Well, I want you to stay there, and I'll be up in no time to give you your pass, so that you're able to walk about the city freely," she explained, then raising an eyebrow. "Actually, if you stay like that I might join you for a shower!" she teased.

Auron laughed. He turned off the console and went to take a quick shower. As he finished dressing himself the door bell rang. He went to the door and opened it. It was Ellemiek. He showed her in and closed the door. "Do you know about that X-Wing that belonged to the Wild Cats squadron?"

"Of course! I placed a request so that it would be transported to the CRS Reliant." Ellemiek smiled. "I thought you'd like it... Of course, since the Wild Cats are no more you'll have to place a new logo for the Black Hawks. That's the only catch," she explained.

"I'll be glad to put a logo of the Black Hawks, but I wish to continue with the Wild Cats logo in memory of my fellow pilots that died," he said, then smiling. "I will have both logos, if that's okay with you..."

"Sure!" She smiled back as she sat on the edge of his bed and tossed him a small card. "That's your ID card for walking around New Plouton. It says you're a worker for a cargo shipping company that has offices here in New Plouton, same as me and Jubey. Don't lose it and always carry it with you!" she explained. "They cost a lot to fake, but we got the best guy to do it, so no need to worry. However, we need to be inside by curfew still, so be careful."

"Of course I won't lose it!" he answered, as he sat next to her, looking at her. He noticed that there was something disturbing Ellemiek. "What's wrong? And don't say it's nothing because I know you very well! Let it out... It'll make you feel better." Auron smiled, waiting a few seconds, as he could tell something was bothering Ellemiek.

The girl sighed. "I'm not sure I should tell you this, but it was your stepmother who got us these three apartments... She wants to meet you, but I'm not sure we should do this, since your memories are still somewhat fragile, and I don't want to shock you or anything," she explained.

�My stepmother�?� He frowned. He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his forehead. A flashback came to mind. It was someone�s face, but he couldn�t tell who it was. It was just too blurred, but he knew it was from when he was still a young kid, because the other person seemed larger than him. Still, he didn�t know what to make of it. A sharp pain came along and Auron fell on the floor grabbing his head for a few seconds, until the pain was gone. �I hate when that happens! I really, really hate when that happens!�

Ellemiek kneeled down and grabbed Auron, pushing him up straight. �Are you okay?� she asked preoccupied. �What happened?�

�Well, this is my reward for having an accident. In order to remember things this sharp headache comes. The good news is that it�s gone and I remember now that I used to live in the Yellvin District with my father and stepmother!� he said.

�Yes, you did�� She nodded with a smile. �Do you remember them? Their faces?� she asked.

�I remember a face�a woman�s face. But I can�t recall too well. It�s still blurred,� he replied. �Perhaps when I meet them I will remember more.�

Ellemiek took his hand and squeezed it slightly. �I�m sure you will. Let�s just hope you don�t have much more of those pain surges!�

�Let�s hope so!� he replied. �So what are we going to do about those who were captured by that super-woman?�

She sighed. �Well, what we know is that she took them to Grand Admiral Tarkin. The way I see it, he will hold them at a cell block or perhaps transport them to a prison establishment. Either way, I don�t think he�d kill them. They�re too precious still. So, the plan is to save them, of course! But we need help for that. I�m counting on the aid of one Alisson Blair, who was the High Prince�s personal guard. She�s our best chance to get in and save them, because she knows the place better than anyone else!�

�Well we have to move fast! Tarkin may have retrieved the info that he wanted and no longer needs them!� he commented.

�The main reason for us to move our location�� She nodded. �We�re no good to our friends if we get caught too. Now, we must start planning this rescue operation. Let�s just hope that Alisson contacts us soon enough, since we don�t have her contact,� she added. �Still, I wanted to survey the place. Come on, let�s go to Arcadia and look around. It might give us an idea.� She motioned for Auron to follow her out the door.

�Yes, but we must move fast. The longer we take to rescue them, more operatives will be in danger,� he stated as he accompanied her.

"Close Calls, Part 1"
By: Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston

Location: Coruscant
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Watching him in such a peaceful state of sleep, considering the strenuous morning, gave Kaysa pause to deliberate on whether to wake him, or simply let him sleep through dinner. As she remained kneeling at the bedside and gazing at his chest rise and fall measuredly, she became mesmerized with every nuance of him. From his flawless chocolate skin, to the well-defined muscles of his chest, directly up to his perfectly voluptuous lips that always felt so wonderful to kiss... Kaysa loved all of it, even those silly braids he had his hair twined into. She loved him no more and no less than she did Shiv or Merrick, but it felt different with Zale. He understood her more genuinely than anyone ever had. He didn't sympathize or empathize with her, he could relate to her. Merrick and Shiv were always understanding of her, especially during her more stubborn, neurotic hours, but Zale truly knew what she was going through.

They were the same in many respects, yet in other ways complemented each other perfectly, which meant he could comfort and console her when she was miserable, and rein her in when she was absolutely vitriol. They were meant for one another.

She smiled fondly at the eventful few months they'd shared together, and could only imagine what the rest of their lives together would be like. If those months were any indication, she had no doubt that there would never be a lack of excitement.

Kaysa brushed her fingers lightly up his bare arm, then dragged them over his chest. "Gods, I love you," she whispered. "You know that, I hope. You must. We have something special, Zale, which means we can't screw this up. Promise me we won't." She lay her head upon his chest and gazed up at his closed eyes. "Promise me."

"I promise," Zale whispered and his eyes opened slowly. "Hi there, my love. It's not-- Not too late, is it?"

Kaysa smiled softly. "Nope. I came in here extra early so I could watch you sleep for a while. Boy am I glad you don't snore."

"That makes two of us," Zale said. "You want to join me here? There's enough room. My bro hasn't been trying to seduce you has he? We had this game when we were growing up, though it was his game really. It was 'Let's see how many of Zale's girlfriends I can seduce away from him.' He was very sneaky that way."

"Did he ever succeed?" She chuckled and pushed herself to her feet, then sat at Zale's side. "I don't see how he could have," she added. "You're far more handsome, though that Neron..." She whistled lowly. "Those eyes got me all hot."

Zale smiled. "Thank you," he said and took her hand into his. "I must say your eyes do the same for me. And, he did succeed, but it wasn't his eyes he was getting them to look at. He can be very charming when he wants to be, though he's transparent if you know what you're looking at."

"I know that any interest he shows in me is simply to spite you." She kissed his brow. "Don't worry. You won't lose me to him...to anyone. So, that said, why don't you get up and get dressed, and we can go visit with your dear brothers?"

"Do we have to?" Zale asked, inserting the perfect amount of whining into his voice. He chuckled and then sat up. "I guess as long as we're here, we should be sociable. Come on. Help me pick something to wear."

"You actually want me to help?" Kaysa grinned and slipped off the bed. "You just want me to help you change because you know I won't be able to keep my hands to myself." She picked up one end of the bedsheets, and threw them back to expose Zale's half-clothed self. "And you say your brothers are sneaky."

Zale gave her a grin and slid out of the bed. "I think it's genetic," he said, "but I'm better at it than they are. I think I want to make a good impression. We may be on their turf, but I want them to see the power I do hold, even away from Tae'Karada. Would you care to help me find some clothes that will convey that impression, my love? And, if you're good -- which I know you will be -- I'll share a very special treat with you later tonight."

Kaysa shot Zale a sardonic grin and tugged him towards the closet. "I bet you will.... But I'll accept only if you behave tonight. That means no overturning tables, no hurling chairs at your brothers, no pulling blasters.... No violence!"

Zale smiled. "Real power is the ability to get your way without resorting to those tactics," he said. "That's how a thug operates, and that's what separates me from Dargus Kandran."

"That and you're far better looking." They stopped before the closet, and the door slid open to reveal Zale's selection of clothing, and upon first glance, the selection seemed limited. "Zale, must all your clothes be so...rugged and intimidating?" She pulled a leather trench coat from the mix and appraised it. "You really have to stop dressing like a crimelord. I think something more...family man would work for you."

"Family man? Sweater? Sensible everyman shoes? At least let me dress like a stylish family man."

Kaysa smiled. "Alright. I'm a woman willing to compromise." She placed the coat on the rack again and rifled through more of his clothes. "So...you still up for the whole baby thing, Zale? I mean, it doesn't have to be right at this moment, but it's something we still both want, right?"

He turned to her, and the joy in his eyes was unmistakable. "I want that very much," Zale said. "And, if you're willing to try right this moment, so am I. I want a baby with you, Kaysa. More than anything."

Kaysa laughed. "Right now? But...we have a dinner to get ready for. There won't be enough time to do a thorough job." She looked up at Zale with a raised eyebrow. "Will it?"

"I don't think it would," Zale said with a nod. "However, after dinner... I think we can definitely see what sort of progress we can make."

"If I don't choose to go home with Qual." She grinned slyly at him, then slipped past him, further into the closet. "So, a suit then? I wonder how you'd look in a tie..."

"I look damn good in a tie," Zale said. "And, I'll prove it to you. How about that suit there? Maybe tomorrow, you and I could go do some shopping. We could replace my wardrobe, and yours too if you'd like."

Kaysa plucked the suit off the rack and held it out to Zale as she turned to face him. "I really like shopping," she said with a sweet smile. "Though, that you're even offering leads me to believe you've done something very, very bad and you're trying to make up for it." She visually examined the suit covering the length of Zale's body. "Good choice, my love."

Zale smiled. "I just feel it's impolite, rude even, to go shopping for yourself and take someone along without buying something for them. And, besides, you said I need a change of style. In order to do that, I'll need to buy new clothes. Unless you feel a needle and thread will smooth out those rough edges of my crimelord style."

"Don't get cocky with me, Mr. Zenarr," she chided playfully. "But, if you feel the need to spend some credits on me, then who am I to argue?" She kissed him briefly as she draped the suit over his forearm. "Now, get dressed. I have to go prepare and make sure Merrick's shaved. He really tends to let himself go when he's writing."

"Well, when you return to me, I will be the perfect image of a stylish family man with an edge. If you need any help with Merrick, let me know. I know how hard it is to pull him away from a lyric once he catches hold of it."

"Oh, I'm sure I can manage." She patted Zale's chest lightly, then moved off towards the door. "Oh," she said as she stopped in the doorway. "And please do something else with your hair. It just doesn't go with a suit." With a kiss blown in his direction, Kaysa slipped out of the room.

"Like what?" Zale called to the closed door. He shook his head as he turned back to the clothes. "It's not like my hair does anything else." With a sigh, he started getting dressed for dinner. He only hoped he'd survive this night...

***

As she'd suspected, Merrick was still in the kitchen with his sheets of music spread out over the table, writing away furiously and pausing for a moment only to hum a note, then begin composing again. Kaysa leaned against the doorframe and watched him with a tender smile on her lips. Just as she loved Zale, she loved Merrick madly as well. She almost hated to disturb his train of thought, but did so with an unimposing, gentle clearing of her throat.

Merrick jotted down a few more scratches on the papers and nodded enthusiastically at his progress. "It's about that little crease Zale gets in his forehead whenever he gets upset over something."

Kaysa bit back a laugh and casually strolled into the room. "You mean, that cute one? The one you adore so much?" She leaned over Merrick's shoulder and studied the chaotic scribbles he was adding to the page. "How's it coming along? Do you need more time?"

"I think I'm at a stopping point actually," Merrick said. "And, yes, that's the one. The one he usually gets right before he snaps off some witty retort about my sexuality."

Kaysa's laugh escaped this time, and she quickly kissed Merrick's cheek to soothe his bruised ego. "My love, that's only because he's jealous. He's had all this Shac'tae training, yet you're still better than he could ever be."

"Damn right I am," Merrick said with a nod. "I'll show him and those braids of his." He chuckled and kissed Kaysa. "So, getting close to dinner?"

"Uh huh. You going to get ready now?" She brushed her hand against his cheek and grimaced. "You're going to shave, right?"

"Yes," Merrick said with a laugh as he caught her hand, "I will be shaving, and I will be dressing very nicely. I will even offer my services as a fashion consultant for that stylistically impaired other husband of yours." He began collecting his papers and notes. "So, how's he holding up around his brothers?"

Kaysa straightened up and sighed deeply. "He's going to make a conscious effort to avoid quarrelling with them. Though, he does seem more worried that one of them is going to seduce his wife, than that they'll pull a blaster on him."

"Well, could you blame them?" he asked, bringing her hand to his lips. "Though, if they do, they'll have to contend with me. I won't appreciate that one bit. Now, I'm assuming you already helped Zale pick his clothing since I wouldn't expect him to be able to do that on his own. How would you like to help me find something to wear?"

Kaysa shrugged, though her smile conveyed her enthusiasm. "I've managed to make-over Zale. I could try for a one hundred percent success rate."

"By all means, my love," Merrick said as he stood and offered her his arm. "Come on, I think I brought a few nice things with us. Well, nicer than anything we'll find in Zale's closet."

"Oh, don't be so mean. Besides, he's promised to take me shopping tomorrow, and while we're doing that, he's going to get himself a whole new wardrobe." She kissed his cheek, then pouted. "Don't be so sour. Is there something bothering you, my love? You've been a bit tense today." She grinned. "I haven't been doing a good enough job of satisfying you, have I?"

"Oh, you're doing fine satisfying me, my love," he said. "It's just...it's nothing really. I just overheard part of one of Zale's comm conversations...and, and I guess I'm still not used to him being a crimelord. It's alright though. I'm fine, and everything is fine."

"Well, when you say it like that, it convinces me even less that everything's alright. You've known he's a crimelord for months. And it's not like he does anything too illicit." She smiled quizzically at Merrick and asked, "Does it bother you that he's a crimelord, Merrick? Does it bother you that I'm involved with a man like that?"

"No," Merrick said with a smile. "Not at all. It's just...there are some things he must do in his professional life that...that I'm not used to. It's alright though...it'll just take a little more time for me to get used to those things. I've known he's a crimelord, but knowing and seeing evidence of are two different things. It'll be alright, my love."

Kaysa smiled wanly and simply let it drop. Merrick and Zale had been, only a day before, the best of friends despite the odd arrangement they all shared. Now, he seemed wary and suspicious. She didn't know if they'd had a fight while she was asleep, but she'd have to get the truth from Zale, it appeared. "Well, then," she said after a moment, "I won't worry about that and simply concern myself with making Mr. Merrick Braston the sexiest man at dinner tonight."

"Well, with your touch and what you have to work with, that should be an easy enough task. Come on, my love. And, don't worry about me and Zale. It's fine; I was just caught off-guard, that's all."

Kaysa frowned. "Merrick, what the hell did you hear anyway?" She stopped in the hallway and pulled Merrick to a halt. "Tell me what you heard," she told him firmly. "If you heard him ordering someone's murder, Merrick, you'd better tell me. As much as I love him, I won't stand for that. I won't."

Merrick looked away and sighed. He took a breath, let it out, then looked back to Kaysa. "It wasn't anything like that," he said. "It was a conversation with some person back on Tae'Karada. I'm sorry, Kaysa. I shouldn't have brought it up. It wasn't ordering any deaths or anything like that, believe me. But, I can't...I couldn't betray his confidence that way. I know he and I haven't always agreed or gotten along, but I couldn't betray him like that." No matter how easily he betrayed you, my love, he thought and briefly considered barging into Zale's room and wringing the life out of him for getting in this mess in the first place.

"I-I understand," Kaysa told him. She kissed him lightly, then reassured him with a smile. "He's lucky to have a friend like you, Merrick. And I'm even luckier to have you as my husband. Shall we go find you something to wear, then?"

"Yes," he said, then stopped suddenly and pulled her back into his arms. Before she could protest, he kissed her. "I love you, Kaysa. I know since you were in with Zale before you came to me, you've scheduled some time with him already. If you're still up for it afterwards, I think you and I could make some beautiful music together."

"Maybe," she replied silkily. "Loud, wonderful music." She chuckled throatily as they kissed again, and for added enjoyment, she slid her hands to Merrick's rear and squeezed it.

Merrick moaned playfully and then laughed. "Maybe Zale's brothers will want to keep him occupied for a little while," he said. "That will give us exclusive time alone. I'd suggest afterwards, I could entertain them by playing some music...but they'd probably entertain themselves by trying to beat me around the room."

"But I'd protect you. They can't very well beat you up if you're making love to me, now can they?"

"Only if we let them in the room," Merrick said. "Though, I don't think we'll be doing that." They opened the door to the room that adjoined the one Zale was currently in, and slipped inside. Merrick opened the closet, and his assortment was displayed for both of them to see. "It's going to be a tough choice tonight."

Kaysa rolled her eyes. "You men," she teased. "You're worse than women half the time." She sighed as she pushed Merrick aside and regarded his wardrobe, comprised of casual suits and outfits, to less casual. "Nothing appropriate for an important dinner party... But..." She reached in and pulled out a white, double-breasted suit for him. "This looks sharp. How about it?"

"I think that's a marvellous choice, my love," he said. "I didn't expect to be going to any important dinner parties, but I thought something nice might be needed at some point. How about the blue shirt?"

Kaysa searched through the clothing, and retrieved the shirt for Merrick. "Anything else? A tie? Zale's wearing one."

"Sure," Merrick said, looking through the meagre selection. "How about this one? It goes with the shirt."

"Mr. Braston, you have impeccable taste," she commented. "Frankly, I'm beginning to worry!" With his suit and shirt in hand, Kaysa took them over to the bed and laid them out. "Now, you get dressed. I have to get ready myself."

"I'll see you soon, my love," Merrick said. "Oh, and make sure Zale gets his shoes on the right feet." He grinned and gave her a kiss before she could get away.

Once she pulled free of Merrick's hold, Kaysa stumbled away, laughing as she went. "I'll tell him you said that." With a wave for her musician, Kaysa sauntered out of the room and returned to Zale's, where all her own attire was. Luckily for her, she managed to stop herself before she was flattened against the locked door. She frowned and rapped on it lightly. "Zale? What are you doing in there?"

"I downloaded a manual from the Coruscant ComNet database on how to tie a tie," Zale said from inside the room. "I was just...practicing."

"Well...why can't I come in? I can help."

"Actually, probably not help," Zale said as he unlocked the door. "I think it'd be closer to saving me from my own actions."

Kaysa's eyes fell first to the knotted, wrinkled tie dangling from Zale's throat, and all she could do was sigh. "Oh, my poor men. Completely lost without me." She flattened her hands against his chest and backed him into the room. "You didn't fix your hair yet either. We're gonna be late!"

"If you want me to do anything with my hair that requires removing the braids, we're going to have to reschedule dinner for the day after tomorrow. I can pull them all back, but that's about it. And, the tie's not that bad, is it?"

Kaysa sat him down upon the bed and took the end of the tie into her hand. "No, not that bad.... It only looks like you tried to knot it with your teeth, but other than that..." She grinned at him, then seated herself upon his lap and worked at undoing Zale's mess. "You're not nervous, are you?"

"A little," Zale admitted. "It's not every day you have dinner with your brothers, whom you haven't seen for nearly five years. And, it's not everyday you dress up, hoping to impress upon your wife that it is possible to get you looking nice."

Kaysa smiled as she dabbed his nose, then resumed working on his tie. "You already look nice. And you shouldn't be nervous. You've made a life for yourself, on your own. They're greedy little bastards who've probably never done anything without someone's help. You're better than they are, Zale. You've no reason to feel anxious about anything."

"I look better than they do too," Zale said. "And, I have a more beautiful wife than they could ever hope to have. Thank you, Kaysa. I love you so much, so very much."

Kaysa smoothed out Zale's tie and let her hands rest upon his chest. "I love you too." She stared distantly at the silken fabric running down the centre of Zale's shirt, and asked after a time, "Did you do something bad, Zale?" Her brown eyes, displaying concern, shifted up to his. "You got a comm this morning. Was it work? Was it something I wouldn't like?"

Zale stared at her for a moment, puzzling through how she'd know. He finally made the connection: Merrick. "You wouldn't like it," Zale said and looked away. "It's no longer a concern though. It's over with, and...and it's over."

Kaysa sighed softly. "You said you wanted to go legitimate," she said quietly. "If it was something bad enough for you to be ashamed of your actions... Maybe you really should give it up, Zale."

"Yes," Zale said. "The things Antorial will be involved in won't be entirely legal, but they'll be done to help people. To fight against the injustices. I can't sit by and watch cultures and civilizations decimated by people like Tarkin."

Kaysa cradled his face in her hands. "And I can't watch you suffering for something you've done that you now regret. I don't have to know what you've done, but please tell me you won't do it again...for your own sake."

Zale took her hands into his and brought them to his lips. He held them there with his eyes closed as the possible future outcomes of what he'd done played out before his mind's eye. "I need you to know what I've done," he whispered.

"You don't have to right now if it's too hard," she replied. Kaysa kissed his brow. "It's okay. Give it time, if it was that bad."

"It happened after you stormed out of that lunch with me and Merrick, intent on going after Dargus Kandran. I don't know how or why, but it happened. And...and I hate myself."

Kaysa closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again and smiled ruefully at Zale. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I-I drove you to it. I'm sorry I caused you to do something that's causing you so much heartache right now. Don't blame yourself, Zale. Just blame me, okay?"

"It'll never happen again, Kaysa. I was angry and upset. I didn't know what I was thinking. It'll never happen again. Oh gods, Kaysa. Oh gods...that I could do that to you..." He covered his face with his hands and let out a sob. "Oh gods I'm so sorry..."

Kaysa was rendered momentarily shocked by Zale's display of emotion. She couldn't ever remember him in tears before. Simply watching him so despondent put a knot in Kaysa's throat and made her even more guilty for driving him to whatever it was he had done. "Zale?" She whimpered quietly and pulled him securely into her arms. "I'm sorry. You're not to blame." She kissed the top of his head and soothingly rocked him. "I did this, not you. You've nothing to apologize for. Please don't be sorry. Please, Zale."

"I have everything to apologize for," Zale said through clenched teeth. "Everything. I slept with her, Kaysa. I was so angry and upset I went out...and...oh gods. Oh gods, Kaysa, I can't live with this anymore...not anymore..."

Whereas Kaysa was thinking murder, or the destruction of a massive Imperial facility, the truth was not what she'd expected or wanted. It was surprising how quickly the blood drained from her face and her entire body went cold. She still held Zale close, though, but there was no comfort in her embrace, not anymore. Her mouth parched, and even though she opened her lips to say something, nothing would come. Instead of bothering with words, Kaysa let her arms fall away from Zale and remained seated upon his lap, simply to let the wave of vertigo pass. Once it did, though, she rose. The more distance she put between them, the less disgusted she would feel.

Her eyes refused to look upon him, nor would the tears fall as his were. She was grateful now that he was suffering. He deserved it, but not at her hands. Tall and proud, Kaysa moved off silently towards the closet. With surprising calm, she chose an outfit for herself and pulled it from the rack. As she made her way to the door, her ability to speak returned, but all she could find to say was, "Finish getting ready. We don't want to be late."

Zale looked up and then away. "I won't be there," he said, and moved to get his shoes.

Kaysa stopped before the door, but didn't dare look back. "Yes, you will be," she replied levelly. "You will be there, Zale, and you will end this feud between you and your brothers."

"The hell I will," Zale growled as he pulled his tie free. "I will not go in there with things this way. I will not go in there knowing that you won't even be able to face me during the meal, that I've hurt you worse than I ever possibly could. I can't do that, Kaysa. I'll just...go tonight."

Kaysa whirled around, finally, to face him, but instead of pain expressed in her features, there was only stern resolve. "You'd better damn well be there, Zale. You will not run away like a coward. You did this and you'll face the consequences of your actions, and if that means having dinner with your brothers while sharing a dinner table with a woman who's sickened by the sight of you, then that's what you'll do."

Zale ripped his shirt open with one hand, sending a spray of buttons across the room, while he rifled through the closet with the other. "I may be a little late," he said. "And, yes, Kaysa, I will face the consequences...for the rest of my life."

She nodded slowly, finding nothing more to say. What could she say to the man who was slowly ripping her heart from her chest? With a dismissive shrug, Kaysa turned and opened the door. "Don't be too late," she said. "You'll miss dessert." Numb and filled with confusion, Kaysa stepped out of the room.

"I wouldn't miss it for the--" Whatever he'd planned on saying after that was lost in a hoarse sob. As the door closed, it blocked Zale collapsing to the floor from view, writhing in the agony of his own emotions. How could he do what he'd done? How could he so thoroughly destroy the woman he loved more than anything? It was too much to bear.

"Close Calls, Part 2"
By: Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Qual Tregat [NPC+]
Neron Tregat [NPC+]

Location: Coruscant
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Kaysa sat in the hoverlimo mutely and staring through the window. Merrick kept asking what was taking Zale so long, but she wasn't in the mood to explain. Finally, she asked the driver to proceed to Qual's residence, and he did just that.

"Zale's going to be late," she told Merrick finally. "He had...something to do."

"Of course he did," Merrick said, shifting in his seat to watch Kaysa. "What's going on, Kaysa? You're particularly down, and Zale didn't show up. What happened?"

Kaysa sighed and shook her head. "Leave it, Merrick. I don't want to discuss it just yet."

"Very well," Merrick said, but didn't turn away. "Is there anything I can do to help, my love?"

Kaysa looked over her shoulder at Merrick and gave him a wan smile. "Nothing, thank you. I just want this night to be over, that's all."

"I can help the night go smoothly, Kaysa," Merrick said. "I'll be a strong shoulder for you, if you want. And, I promise I won't press until you're ready to talk. I just want you to know that you don't have to go through this alone, whatever it is."

"I know," she replied. She shifted around in the seat to face him, then sank into his embrace. "I'm so glad you're here with me, Merrick. I don't know what I would've done if I were alone right now. I love you, and I know you'd never do anything to hurt me. I can trust you. I know that."

Merrick sighed and held her close. "I know we've had our share of fights, but you're the woman who captured my heart. I love you and I love Maeren, but it's different with each of you. I love Shiv's zest for life and everything, but it's very different with you. Until I met you, Kaysa, I wasn't whole. But now, with you as my wife, in my heart, and in my life, I am whole."

Kaysa held back a sob, and simply nodded. "With you as my husband, I feel the same. I-I want to spend tonight with you, in your bed...alone. I want to show you how completely I love you."

"I know that already, my love," Merrick said as he brought Kaysa's hands to his face and kissed each of her fingertips. "Though, demonstrations are always appreciated and encouraged."

"Of course they are, you fiend." She laughed softly as she embraced Merrick again, remaining that way until they arrived at Qual's residence. The hoverlimo stopped before the almost monumental dwelling and Kaysa could only express how impressed she was with a whistle. "That's even bigger than ours. I'm thinking Zale's brothers have exaggerated their financial woes."

"I think you're right," Merrick said as he took in the whole building. "They can't have any of his money as they're living in a place like this. How many square meters would you say this place is? It's gotta be bigger than the Palace of Stars even...without the bantha, of course."

"Well, we can always go inside and find out." She smiled at Merrick and went to push open the hatch before he could agree, though the driver had already beaten her to it. "Oh, thanks, Ferl." She took the man's offered hand and slipped out of the vehicle, with Merrick directly behind her. Kaysa smoothed out the layered skirts of her dress, then adjusted the low-cut bosom to ensure complete coverage of her endowments. Once she was presentable, she linked her arm with Merrick's and put on her most charming, attractive smile, even though she wasn't much in the mood to appear cheerful for Qual and Neron. "Let's go, my love. The sooner we get in, the sooner we get out."

"Dessert back at our place, right?" Merrick asked as he patted her arm. "I doubt they'll ask me to sing for them, so I think this could be a quick night...especially without Zale here."

"Well...why do you say that?" she asked awkwardly. "He'll come. He said he would."

"I hope so," Merrick said. "Come on, let's go impress his brothers with how wonderful Zale's wife and her other husband are."

Kaysa nodded solemnly and started up the large staircase with Merrick. Barely having reached the top, the two large, ornately carved doors were pulled open, and a very well-muscled, extremely menacing-looking guard eyed them intently. He nodded imperceptibly at the voice coming through his earpiece, then stepped aside. "Master Qual is expecting you." He extended his arm towards the long hallway. "Please follow the carpet. It will lead you to the dining hall."

Kaysa thanked the man with a bow of her head, and cautiously stepped into the mansion. As she and Merrick moved through the hallway, she noted how there wasn't much in the way of decoration, aside from the odd pedestal with marble statues in the form of naked females resting atop them. She chuckled to herself and thought just how alike Zale they were. She wondered if they were just as unfaithful to those they loved as well.

"Nice place," Kaysa commented. "Do you think it's theirs or they just rented it for the evening to impress Zale?"

"Rented? Hell no. I bet they barged in and kicked out whoever did live here, or worse. They probably dressed them up in servant's outfits, and have them waiting hand and foot on their every whim."

Kaysa laughed, glad that she had Merrick to raise her spirits. "And I'm betting they'll want to make one or both of us their sex slaves before the evening's out. I really do think you'd look lovely in just a thong, my love."

"I would, wouldn't I?" Merrick grinned and then laughed. "After the way they were looking at you earlier, I imagine you wouldn't even get that much."

"Well, they'll have to accept that I'm yours." She kissed his cheek. "Only yours, my love."

Merrick raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

They finally reached the end of a hallway, and a door opened to reveal Qual waiting for them inside.

"Kaysa, Musician," he said, throwing his arms wide in a gesture of welcoming. "Where's Zale?"

"He's coming," Kaysa said. "He's just.... He had an errand to run. Work...I think." She smiled amiably and added, "So, is dinner ready?"

"As a matter of fact, it is," Qual said. "Come this way, and the feast shall begin. I hope you've saved room."

Kaysa placed her hand upon her abdomen, regretting at the moment having chosen such a snug outfit. "I think I've got room. But, I'll make do if the food's as wonderful as it smells." As she and Merrick stepped into the room, instead of inhaling more of the aroma wafting throughout, she gasped softly. "This is...huge! I bet you could entertain over a thousand guests in here."

"We aim to please," Qual said. "And, capacity is actually two thousand five hundred. After the Empire's fall, we had quite the party in here. It was impressive, to say the least. So, you're from Tae'Karada? Isn't that where the Imperial stooge is trying to keep Palpatine's dream alive?"

"That's the place," Kaysa replied sourly. "But I only just live on Tae'Karada. I was originally born on Bespin, though even with the present state of the planet, I much prefer Tae'Karada."

"I've only seen the holo-footage, but it still looks like a nice place. Though, only in the civilized areas. How long have you lived there? And, would I ever be able to convince you to move to Coruscant?"

Kaysa laughed politely. "I've lived there far too long to want to pick up and leave, Mr. Tregat. Besides, I have many ties there. But thank you for the offer."

"I had to ask," Qual replied. "And, besides, my brother did not believe I'd have the chens to ask you. So, I understand you're a businesswoman..."

"I am." She mouthed a thank-you to Merrick as he pulled out a seat for her at the table. Once all three were seated, she continued. "I run a courier company on the planet. Did Zale tell you that or have you been studying me, Mr. Tregat?" She grinned and leaned forward. "And I'm not talking about my body either."

Qual smiled. "I did a little investigative work," he said. "We may not see eye to eye on everything, but Zale still is my little brother. I just wanted to know a little more about his wife. And, from what I see, your company is doing quite well right now. I'm impressed. It's a tough business to survive in."

"Quite so," she replied, "but I manage. I'm a smart girl; I can handle it." An attendant seemed to appear out of nowhere, and had already filled Qual's glass with a blush-coloured wine. When he came to fill hers, Kaysa refused with a shake of her head. "Just some water, please."

The attendant looked to Qual and raised an eyebrow.

"Is there a problem, Kaysa? I have a full stock of wines, if you're interested. If you'd prefer something less potent, we have additional options as well. We have a remarkable ale from Rodia if you'd like."

"No," she said abruptly. She paused for a moment to regain her composure, then smiled apologetically at Qual. "I don't drink. So, something without alcohol, please."

Qual smiled and nodded to the attendant. "We also have a wide selection of fruit juices, teas, and other non-alcoholic beverages. I'll have a list brought to you so you can see the selection."

"Thanks. You're far more congenial and gracious than you were this morning," Kaysa commented. "You sure you're not Zale's other brother, the one we haven't met yet?"

"This morning, I was putting the fear of family into Zale. Tonight, I am your host for dinner. To help with the confusion, I'm sure Neron will be his usual, charming self."

"Where is he anyway?" Kaysa asked. Then she laughed wryly. "Manners like his brother, I guess."

"He had some business matters he was attending to," Qual said. "I'm sure he'll be here soon."

Kaysa nodded thoughtfully. "Very much like his brother, then. But you're not, are you, Qual? Older, more refined... Am I right?"

Qual smiled. "You are right, Kaysa," he said. "However, I prefer to not talk about my brothers right now, since neither are here. That is, unless you wished to engage in a little bit of gossip..."

Kaysa's lips curled into a grin and she leaned in closer to Qual. "Is this anything I'd be particularly interested in?"

"That depends on what...interests you, Kaysa," Qual said. "As you can imagine, a man in my position learns many things."

Kaysa chuckled throatily and leaned her chin onto her fisted hand. "I can imagine, but you'll have to prove it to me. So, what is this tasty little secret you're going to share?"

"Well, I was hoping you might have a few secrets about my brother," Qual said. "So, perhaps we could...share."

Kaysa's expression sobered and she slowly sat back against her chair. "I don't know anything about Zale's business. He doesn't tell me anything, and the things he does, I'd rather not hear. If you want secrets, the only ones you'll get are those about his sexual prowess. Nothing more."

"I always heard he was some sexual master, but I never believed it. So, are you telling me that my little brother's good with the wood?"

Kaysa played idly with her fork, and simply shrugged. "Are you saying you're not?"

"It didn't sound like that did it?" Qual asked. "If that was the impression I gave you, then I must ask you to give me the chance to make it up to you. However, to answer your question, I am quite skilled in the art of giving pleasure. Where do you think Zale found the inspiration to follow along that path?"

"Are you saying," Kaysa asked with a suppressed grin, "that you taught him everything he knows? Through personal instruction?"

Qual chuckled. "Kaysa, you do like inferring much from the words others speak, don't you? Zale knew that I was quite remarkable in the area of sensuality and pleasure, and he made that a goal in his life as well. I have never personally instructed Zale in the art of making love to a woman, other than setting him up for his first time."

Kaysa furtively raised an eyebrow and regarded Qual sidelong. "His first time?" She nodded slowly, attempting to appear disinterested. "And...when was that? Was she...someone he knew or..."

"Oh, he knew her, and she was a nice girl. He was fourteen and she was sixteen. It was quite cute, actually. They made a nice couple for the time they were together, and then her family was moved to one of the mid-rim territories. I imagine he's forgotten all about her. He always had a habit of doing that with his...companions."

"I see," Kaysa said tightly. She found herself holding the fork in a deadly grip and thinking of how quickly Zale had forgotten about her when his mistress spread her legs for him. Kaysa exhaled a shaky breath and set down the utensil roughly. "You know, Qual, I think I might just have some of that wine. I'm sure a little couldn't hurt."

Qual ignored the look that Merrick was giving Kaysa, and picked the bottle up from the table to pour out a glass of the rosy liquid for her. "It's a good vintage, from one of my own vineyards on the moon of Rechedre. I hope you enjoy."

Kaysa smiled tautly at Qual as she wrapped her trembling fingers around the neck of the goblet and raised it to her lips. She could hear Merrick whispering to her, pleading with her not to do it, but the voice in her mind, reminding her of Zale's betrayal and the pain it was causing, spoke much louder. With a gentle whimper, Kaysa placed her mouth to the brim of the glass and tossed back the entire helping of wine. She closed her eyes and sighed as the sweet nectar flowed down her throat, numbing the heartache and easing her grief. Blindly, she set down the glass as a blissful smile curled her lips. "Another, please."

"Go easier on this one," Qual said as he poured out the second glass of wine. "If you get drunk now, you won't be able to truly enjoy the evening ahead."

"The rest of the evening?" Kaysa opened her brown eyes, already bleary from the rush of euphoria elicited by the liquor in her system, and grinned at Qual. "What exactly have you got planned?"

"I try not to plan my nights too closely," Qual said with a lazy smile, "but I'm willing to entertain whatever plans you'd like to make."

The brim of the goblet came to Kaysa's lips again, though her laughter prevented her from taking a sip. "Mr. Tregat, my husband is sitting right next to me. I can't very well make plans with you while he's listening, now can I?"

Qual smiled. "Well, I can always have him removed from the dining room. I'm sure he'd love to look at our recording studio."

"Well, if you do that now, he'll still know that we're conspiring. Though, I'm sure he'd still love to see your studio." Kaysa's eyes remained fixed to Qual's in a sultry gaze as she asked, "Wouldn't you like that, Merrick?"

"Of course," Merrick said blandly. "Just what I always wanted."

"Great," Qual said, never taking his eyes from Kaysa's. "I'll have Selt show you there." He indicated to a servant who quickly came in and moved to stand next to Qual. "See Mr. Braston to the studio."

"I was only--"

"Nonsense," Qual said, cutting off Merrick's protest.

"Kaysa?"

She finally tore her gaze away from Qual's and turned her head to look at Merrick. "Please," she said softly. "Let me do this, Merrick. I promise," she added in a voice only she and Merrick could hear, "I won't do anything. I just... I need to ask Qual a few things, and I know I'll get more if you're not here. My love, please."

"Of course," Merrick said, then kissed her gently. With that, he pushed away from the table and indicated for Selt to lead the way. The servant started toward the door, and Merrick followed after, glancing back once at Kaysa before disappearing through the doors.

"So," she said to Qual, her smile returning. "You said something about plans?"

***

The feel of fist connecting with flesh was exhilarating, freeing. A hoarse cry was pulled from his lips from the force of the blow. Normally, Zale Tregat would have been on the other end of that fist, the giving end. Tonight, he was happily on the receiving end. The pain, the growing numbness, was what he needed. It was what he required as payment, as penance.

From somewhere to his side, a large, heavy boot found his ribs, sending him sprawling into the dark, damp street. He could feel himself laughing as rough hands pulled him back to his feet. Fists, feet, elbows, and knees were everywhere, finding every vulnerable spot on his body.

He'd be bruised and battered in the morning, his normally dark skin even darker. Another punch to his gut drew the breath from his lungs, and what felt like a duranium pipe cracked hard against his jaw. The world tilted around him, and once again, he was crashing back to the ferrocrete ground. Pain blossomed anew as he was kicked and spat upon.

Suddenly, all went quiet.

He felt a laugh start in the back of his throat, though to his ears it sounded like something wet and organic being torn from places it shouldn't have been.

A sound came to his ears then, and he wasn't quite sure what it was until he heard it again on the other side of him. It was the unmistakable sound of a fly being opened. He heard four, six? others as well.

He shuddered at the first contact from the hot stream of liquid. He wanted to laugh more, to thank them for their beautiful brutality. The half-dozen streams of vile liquid finally ceased, and the sounds of zippers being zipped back up echoed again and again around him.

He sighed and coughed as one more foot worked its way under his ribs before they all began walking away. My punishment, he said to himself. Beautiful punishment.

Silence surrounded him then. It was an oppressive kind of silence that bespoke of the impending rush of feeling and emotion, the calm before the storm. While he may have been thankful for the punishment he'd received, he knew he would be in serious pain soon enough.

The startling, sharp sound of two palms slapping together incessantly, yet in a measured, lazy pace accompanied Zale's laughter and soon drowned it out. It too stopped after a time, and the crunching of pavement beneath heavy, booted feet replaced it. "Very entertaining," the deep, smooth voice drawled. The cloaked figure attached to it stopped before the broken remnants of the man who was once Zale Tregat, and crouched down at his side. "One thing's for sure, they certainly improved your looks."

"You wanna get your licks in too, brother? Maybe you could beat that money you want so badly out of me. Or maybe you could just steal my credit chip. Or maybe you just want to stand there and gloat, you--" He would have finished with a string of obscenities if he hadn't been seized by a coughing fit.

Neron stood upright and took a step away from Zale before his boots were splattered with the blood spraying from Zale's mouth. Once Zale was left wheezing, Neron cleared his throat and said, "I've been following you since you left your apartment. If I'd wanted to kick your ass, I could've done it before you picked a fight with those thugs." He sighed and held out a gloved hand to Zale. "Get up."

Zale struggled to his hands and knees and glared up at his brother. "You know if you'd tried to take me before, I would have been handing your ass back to you in a box." He struggled upright, though he was still kneeling. "You know, if I completely forget my pain, it's not so bad. So, why were you following me?"

Neron withdrew his offered hand with a shrug and shoved it into the pocket of his cloak along with his other hand. "No particular reason. My men reported that you'd left your hotel room before dinner, without your two travelling partners. I got curious and decided to pursue you. Good enough?"

"No," Zale growled as he tried to push himself to his feet. "But, it'll do." When he was nearly standing, he wobbled, and then toppled back to the ground. "Just leave me," he added in a rasp.

"I could do that," Neron said with a heavy, exaggerated sigh. "But I wanna spend some time with my big brother. Catch up on old times, trade stories...that sort of thing. Or I could tell you what you're wife's doing right now with Qual." He smiled smugly. "Your choice."

"Don't play games with me, Neron," Zale growled, and then fought back a hacking cough. "Whatever she does, I deserve it. I fucked up, Neron. I really did it this time."

He nodded his head thoughtfully and began pacing leisurely before his battered brother. "So, you're giving up, is that it? You screwed up - as you always do, mind you - so now everything's up for grabs." Neron chuckled. "And trust me, Qual does intend to grab your wife. The last my informant told me, they were alone while the pansy musician was off getting a tour of the grounds. Is that what you want? Now, frankly, I couldn't care less what happens to you or that wife of yours, but I have always looked up to you, Zale, and it disgusts me to see you reduced to this...pathetic state. Are you really gonna give up everything to me and Qual without a fight?"

"You didn't see the look in her eyes," Zale said, unable to meet his brother's pitiable gaze. "I hurt her more than I ever thought I could. It isn't what I want, Neron, it's what I deserve. She won't want me anymore. She won't even look at me now, not after that... You'll never get my money, but if Kaysa wants Qual, there's nothing I can do about it...not anymore."

"Oh, she doesn't want Qual," Neron said. "She wants to hurt you back and she's using Qual to do it. It's the ones who are truly still in love that sink low enough to do that." He halted directly in front of Zale and once again crouched low. "And I will have your money, brother," he whispered. "You're broken, weak... We'll take what we want from you, and that whore of a wife of yours will give Qual the rest. That's what's going to happen, and it'll be no one's doing but your own."

With surprising speed and strength, Zale's hand shot out and grasped Neron's throat. "Call my wife a whore again, and I will snap your head off with my bare hands. I may be broken, I may be battered, but you're still no match for me. Understand me, brother?"

Neron grinned, though his choked gasps and the tightness around his preternaturally blue eyes betrayed his extreme discomfort. "Under...stand," he croaked.

Zale's hand unclenched and he pulled it away, releasing his brother. As soon as the actions ceased, he seemed diminished by his pain once more. "Good," he rasped. "I'm glad we've cleared that up. Regardless of what I've done, or what Kaysa thinks of me now, she is still my wife and I won't have you talking about her that way. Now, let's get out of here."

Neron massaged his throat briefly, then extended his hand one last time to Zale. "Whether she's a whore or not, she's with Qual now, and no matter what her true intentions are regarding him, if he gets a chance, he'll take her, especially with the amount of liquor he plans on pumping into her."

Zale's gaze darkened. "She doesn't drink," he said. He clapped his hand into Neron's and let his brother help him to his feet. "Let's go stop our brother from starting a war, Neron."

Neron inclined his head to Zale. "Now, that's the Tregat I know. We'll get you cleaned up first. No offence, but you smell and look like shit, Zale."

"Actually, little brother," Zale said, taking a step away from Neron, "that's piss. I figured with as much as you wet the bed as a child, you'd recognize the smell by now."

Neron pulled his hand away from Zale's with a grimace. "Okay, we both need to be cleaned up now. You can do it at my place. It's on the way. Though, I'd suggest you hurry. My informant said they were looking pretty comfortable the last time he checked. You must've really pissed her off."

"About a month ago," Zale said as they started down the street, "I cheated on her. I told her about it tonight. Another crimelord had hurt her and me and all sorts of things. Afterwards, she was going to go after him, alone, with the intention to get herself killed. Things were said and she rushed off. I was upset, and that night I was meeting with a representative from the Rebellion. One thing happened after the next, and I woke up in her bed the following morning. Now, Kaysa hates me, even though she planned on being dead the day after that fight. It's just a mess."

"At least you told her," Neron said. "Most guys wouldn't have. Best thing is to give her space and let her cool off." He smiled. "But definitely not with Qual."

"If Merrick let's this happen, I'm going to kill him," Zale said. "I can't believe he'd leave them like that, especially since he's perceptive enough to notice what's going on. I'll give her space, but Merrick damn well better not. Will you talk to Qual?"

Neron snorted. "You think he listens to me? When the fuck has Qual listened to anyone but himself? He doesn't care, Zale. He'll hurt her, you...whoever stands in his way of achieving whatever the hell he's pursuing. And don't blame the pansy. Qual waved a studio in front of his face and he ran, and it's not like your woman was begging him to stay. She encouraged him, and now she's encouraging Qual."

Zale shook his head and let out a bitter laugh. "She won't hurt me with this," he said. "She'll hurt Merrick, Merrick who's never done anything to hurt her. I deserve this, but he doesn't. You may think he's a pansy, but I recommend you spar with him after dinner. You'll see just what pansies are made of. You'll see that he's not the weakling you and Qual make him out to be."

"Well, hopefully the pansy steps in soon," Neron said. "Because if you don't move your ass, we'll be too late."

"Well, then your place better be really damn close," Zale growled. "And, you'd better pray to whatever gods might inhabit this galaxy that Qual doesn't do anything stupid if you still want to have two brothers in your family."

"Hey, who said I wanted any at all?" He grinned at Zale, clapped him on the back (after forgetting he was still stained with urine) and led him to his apartment. Whether they got to Qual in time or not, Neron didn't care. He was actually looking forward to a little sibling rivalry. It would certainly put a little more spice into his tedious life.

"Close Calls, Part 3"
By: Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Qual Tregat [NPC+]
Neron Tregat [NPC+]

Location: Coruscant
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Qual swirled the wine in his glass as he watched Kaysa telling him about some of Zenarr Inc's operations as well as her lesbian lover. He smiled, his mind working to picture Kaysa and Maeren together--he found that it proved to be a very nice picture indeed. "So, she doesn't mind that you have two husbands?" he asked while she'd paused to take another drink from her wineglass.

Kaysa sighed as the effects of the liquor hit her once again, then she continued to smile dreamily at Qual, as she had been since the onset of her stupor. "Oh, she doesn't mind... And if she does, she forgets all about it the minute I stick my tongue into her cunt." She laughed throatily and leaned in closer to Qual. "If you really want to win a woman over, that's how you do it."

"Would you like me to win you over, Kaysa?"

She slid her hand up and down the neck of the goblet suggestively while smiling salaciously at Qual. "Do you think you can, Qual? I'm a difficult woman to please...but if you're willing to try..."

Qual slid out of his chair and slowly approached her. "I figure if I follow your advice, it can't be too bad, right." He lowered himself to his knees before her and smiled. He placed his hands on her thighs. "I am willing to try if you're willing to allow me to."

Kaysa felt a flush suffusing her body, and her nipples pushing against the tight fabric of her dress, both accompanying the tingle rising between her legs. She took in a deep breath and exhaled shakily. "I'm a married woman, Qual," she chided half-heartedly. She chuckled breathlessly and found her legs slightly spreading open of their own accord. "I'm drunk, you know. You would be taking advantage of me."

"It's alright," Qual said with a smile. "I'm not married, and you are married to my brother. We're practically family, practically married ourselves." He hooked his thumbs under the hem of her skirt and began trailing it upwards. "You don't mind, do you?"

Kaysa pulled her lip between her teeth, then laughed nervously. "I don't mind. I mean, Zale didn't when he was doing it to some whore of a woman, so why should I mind you doing it to...his whore?"

Qual pushed the skirt all the way up and gazed between Kaysa's thighs. "You're not a whore, Kaysa," he said softly, "and don't ever think you are, no matter how my brother behaves. Let me help you get him off your mind, Kaysa."

She stared down into Qual's eyes, then snickered. "This is more for you than for me, Qual. You Tregats can't pull a fast one on Kaysa Zenarr twice in a lifetime." Kaysa retrieved her glass of wine from the table and drained it. After slamming it back down, she sat back and held up the bottom of her dress for Qual. "Go on. Do what you Tregats do best. Screw over Kaysa Zenarr."

Qual started as she'd asked, bringing out a sharp gasp of pleasure from her. Though, it didn't last. He pulled back and returned to his seat. "No," he said as he picked up his wine glass. "My brother may have screwed you over, but I'm not going to."

Kaysa watched Qual in bewilderment, still breathing heavily from the brief moment of bliss. "What? Don't fuck with me, Qual. You're no better than Zale is. So why'd you really stop?"

"As much as I want you," Qual said, "I'm no better than Zale in your mind. So, why bother? I'd rather be with someone who enjoys being with me, rather than someone who's spouting their bitter resentment at me with every spare breath."

Kaysa laughed dryly. "I did no such thing." She leaned forward in her seat, the bottom of her dress still bunched at her waist. "You want me, Qual. You know you'll never find a woman like me anywhere else in the galaxy. This might be your only chance. When I'm sober, I'll most likely change my mind."

"I don't want a woman who'll only go to my bed if she's drunk," Qual said. "I believe you've mistaken me for someone who's desperate to get into your skirt. I find you very attractive and I think we could be very good together, Kaysa. I don't mind being your revenge on my brother, but I sure as hell won't be with you because it's the Tregat way to screw you over. Just because my brother screwed up doesn't mean it's a genetic trait."

Kaysa snorted bitterly and gave Qual a dismissive gesture as she staggered to her feet. The skirt of her dress fell into place, and after swiping the nearly empty bottle of wine from the table, Kaysa started forward on shaky legs. "Fine," she spat. "Fuck you, Qual." She guzzled down a large gulp of wine, nearly tripping over her own feet as she did. After barely recovering, she continued on a wobbly path towards the door. "Fuck you all!" she slurred. "I'm good enough, dammit. Kaysa Zenarr is good enough no matter what you cheating bastards think!"

"Cheating bastards? All of us? Even your musician? Even me? Even your lesbian love waiting for you back home?"

"All of them!" she shrieked. "Even that little whore! She's back on Tae'Karada probably screwing my son as we speak." She sobbed. "No one cares. I was good, but they don't care. I'm never good enough, not for them, not for anyone!"

"Even your musician? Even Merrick?"

Kaysa whirled around to face Qual, almost throwing herself off balance. "Even him!" she wailed as she still swayed slightly. "I've tried, but nothing I do is good enough. I don't even know why I bother anymore."

Qual shrugged. "So, what do you want, Kaysa? Obviously not them, scoundrels that they are. What do you want now? If I were in a position to give you whatever you wanted, what would you ask for?"

"I don't want anything, okay! I've tried, and I'm tired of trying! All it gets me is this...this ache that just won't go away." She lowered her head and sobbed gently, as if her rage had finally quelled. In another moment, an explosive cry ripped from Kaysa's throat and the bottle of wine was hurled across the room. As it shattered against the wall, sending up a spray of red liquid and broken glass onto the floor, the forward momentum of the throw knocked Kaysa onto her hands and knees where she wept bitterly. "All I did was love them," she groaned. "And this is what I get. It's not worth it anymore. None of it is."

"Do you want release, Kaysa?" Qual asked. "I can help you find release. No more problems to ever worry about. No more heartache or despair. I'll make it all go away, and you'll never need to worry again."

"Release?" She laughed tearfully, wryly. "Like the release you denied me moments ago?" Her eyes blazed at Qual as she hissed, "Don't fuck with me, Qual. Not now."

"A different kind of release," Qual said. "That would only be temporary. What I offer you now would be permanent."

Kaysa's tear-logged eyes narrowed curiously at Qual as she slowly sat back on her haunches. "What kind of release? Tell me, Qual."

"Death," Qual said. "No more pain, no more suffering. It sounds like you're tired of living, tired of fighting, and all those who are around you do nothing but drag you down. Consequently, you may just need a change of scenery. Cast off those who cling to you, and start anew."

"As a corpse?" She shrank back slightly and began shaking her head. "I-I don't want that. I just...I want to keep people from hurting me again. I need my control back. You can help me do that...can't you?"

"Of course, I can," Qual said. "And, I even know how to do it and keep you alive too." He moved closer, ever closer. "With my help, Kaysa, you'll feel more alive than you've felt in a very long time."

She watched Qual's approach warily while edging away from him the nearer he drew. "How?" she asked pleadingly. "Just...tell me how."

"If you want control," Qual said, his body suddenly seeming more agile and his movements graceful. His eyes smouldered and seemed to deliciously burn wherever they looked. "If you want control, you need to know how to get what you want. You need to offer just enough...and then...they beg."

"But I have nothing to offer," she said quietly, rendered utterly timid under Qual's dominating presence. "I offered them my love, and look what it got me."

"What do you want from them, Kaysa? Is there anything you can get from them now?" He was standing directly in front of her now, towering over her. He then slowly lowered himself until he was squatting directly in front of her with only a meter separating them. "Can they give you anything you want now?"

Kaysa whimpered as she turned her head away from Qual's oppressive stare. "I-I.... I don't know. I don't--" She sighed. "I'm confused. I don't know what to do."

"Don't use your head, Kaysa. Use your heart. What do you want in your heart? Your heart is true, your mind will only cloud your judgement and interfere with your desires. What does your heart tell you, Kaysa?"

She inhaled deeply, and in the time it took her to let out a slow, unsteady breath, she had made her decision. "I don't want to be hurt anymore." Her eyes met his again, but this time her gaze only faltered momentarily. "Can you help me protect myself from that?"

"With my help, Kaysa," Qual said, "you will never be hurt again. I will help you." He held his hand out for her to take.

As he did, a voice from down the hall called out. "Qual? Kaysa? Sorry I'm late. Merrick?"

Kaysa looked abruptly in the direction of the doors, expecting Zale to burst through them at any moment. She hoped he did. With a sultry smile curling her lips, she slipped her hand into Qual's without hesitation, then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to it. "I'm all yours, Qual."

Qual only smiled.

As Qual was helping Kaysa to her feet, making sure he was very close to her, Zale appeared in the doorway. His face was battered and bruised and it was obvious the clothing he wore wasn't his. As he stepped further into the room, he was limping. Neron lingered behind him.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Zale said, eyeing his brother and wife. "I ran into a little trouble. So, have I missed the...main course yet?"

"Not at all," Kaysa replied, dismissing Zale's presence entirely and focusing on only Qual. "In fact, I have a feeling it's about to begin very soon."

"Really," Zale said, sparing a glance at his brother. "And, without Merrick too. Well, I guess it's a good thing I showed up when I did. Have you been enjoying your time with my wife, Qual?"

"Immensely," Qual said, never taking his eyes from Kaysa's. "She's a remarkable woman, Zale. You'd be an idiot and a fool to ever do anything to lose her."

Zale tensed but after a heartbeat, forced himself to relax, though his mind was still filled with the thoughts of all the ways he could kill his brother right now.

"So," Qual continued, "where did you find our brother, Neron? It looks like you fished him out of a sewage canal."

"Pretty close," Neron replied with a chuckle. "Seems he was having too much fun fooling around with the other boys."

"Is that so?" Kaysa said. She turned her gaze onto Zale, and her eyes instantly hardened. "Seems Zale's done a lot of fooling around lately."

Zale let his gaze wander to Kaysa's rumpled skirt. "And, it would appear I'm not the only one. Qual?"

"I'm not the kind to lick and tell, my brother," Qual Tregat said. "Though, I will say...yummy."

Once again, Zale tensed, and if it hadn't been for Neron's hand on his shoulder, a fight would have started then and there. "If I so much as find that you've--"

"Oh cauterize that thing, would you, Zale?" Qual snapped. "The story's old already. Now, sit down at the table if you wish to have dinner with us, or get the hell out of my home!"

"If you leave now," Neron whispered into Zale's ear, "Qual will have her completely. You don't want that, now do you, brother?"

"No," Zale growled, "I don't."

Suddenly, from the other end of the hall, a shout was heard. "Will you get your hands off me?"

"But, sir, I just want to show you the studio. It's a magnificent studio."

"Yes," came the response, and soon the owner of the voice appeared in the doorway. Merrick Braston looked quite exasperated. "Yes, you've shown it to me. Three times. If I didn't know better, I would think you've been trying to keep me-- Oh, hello everyone. Zale."

Zale smiled. "Merrick."

Merrick hid a smile and nodded. He made a show of examining Zale's face and then added, "Well, Zale, I see you found that herd of raging banthas that escaped from the zoo, but you really didn't have to try to stop them with your face."

Neron chuckled, as much as he hated to give Merrick some credit for his humourous remark. Kaysa on the other hand looked pale and disoriented. In her attempts to hurt Zale, she never realized it would mean hurting Merrick too. Still, she found she couldn't pull away from Qual's lure.

Merrick looked at everyone standing around and raised an eyebrow. "So, did I miss something? Dinner is being served at the table, right?"

"Yes," Qual said with a smile. "Actually, they'll be bringing food out in just a few minutes." He glanced back at the long banquet table and then back to the group. "As the eldest, I'll be at the head of the table. Zale will be at the other end as the next eldest. Kaysa, would you do the honour of sitting beside me tonight? And, Neron, as the youngest, you may sit where you like. And, Musician...perhaps you could keep Zale company if you're finished with the studio."

"Zale," Neron warned quietly. "You'd better think of something clever soon." He gave his brother a pointed stare, then moved passed him towards the table.

"I think I need another drink," Kaysa whispered to Qual. "I feel... My stomach is a little fluttery."

As Kaysa and Qual moved to the other end of the table, Merrick stared after them. He glanced at Zale who'd meekly taken his place at the far end of the table, though he could still see the fire burning in his friend's eyes. He wondered how much longer Qual had to live. He swallowed hard and took a couple steps after Kaysa. "Wh-- what's going on?" He glanced between the two ends of the table, indicating what he was talking about.

Kaysa hesitantly regarded Merrick, though the stupor presented her with more than one of him at the moment. "Nothing's going on," she replied. "This is how the rich do things. T-The rich Tregats, I mean. It's nothing. You'll have fun over there with Zale. Now...go on."

Merrick didn't move. "Perhaps you would like to have dinner with one of your husbands. Or, would you prefer to eat your meal with Zale's brothers?"

Kaysa closed her eyes briefly against the vertigo induced by her inebriated state, then opened them again to regard Merrick, though her body continued to sway. "Whate'er do you mean...Mervick?" She giggled and aimed a slap at his chest, though it missed the mark and made contact with his face instead. Kaysa could only giggle harder.

"You're drunk," Merrick said, his voice a near-growl. "Kaysa, you are absolutely drunk. We're leaving."

"No!" She jerked back and would have continued doing so until she ended up on the ground if Qual hadn't been there to keep her upright. "I'm not drunk," she told Merrick, attempting to sound perfectly calm. "I'm jus' a lil'..." She groaned and covered her mouth as she swallowed back whatever it was that was rising in her throat.

"How much wine has she had?"

Qual smiled and glanced toward the table. "I think she's had most of a bottle. Maybe it was two; I lost count. Is there a problem?"

Merrick's eyes narrowed. "A slight one. She has a drinking problem."

Qual glanced down at her and then smiled. "So, Kaysa, you're a big girl, do you want to stay here with me, or go home with Merrick?"

She sucked in a shaky breath once it was safe to open her mouth. "I don't--" Her eyelids fluttered as her eyes began rolling back, but she shook her head quickly to ward off the unconsciousness. "I want...want to sit down. I need--" She whimpered. "I'm not going home," she sobbed. "Not if he's there."

"It's alright," Qual whispered, brushing a hand over Kaysa's shoulders soothingly. "I'll make everything alright. I think you should go, Merrick. Before you upset her anymore."

Merrick glowered. "I won't leave here without my wife."

Qual glanced up, his eyes fierce. "I'll give you the chance to walk out of here on your own two feet, or I will have my people throw you out."

From the end of the table, Zale laughed. "Yeah, just try it."

"Your choice, Musician."

Merrick looked to Kaysa, searching her face for any answers.

Kaysa could barely make out Merrick's features through the haze of tears, but the pain in his eyes was clearly visible. "It hurts," she whispered hoarsely. "Merrick...it hurts so much. I can't-- I can't do this anymore."

"Do what, Kaysa? What can't you do anymore?"

"I-I don't know," she replied thickly. She turned her face into Qual's chest and sobbed. "I can't think. I need space."

"Space? Usually when people want space, they don't cling to someone, especially someone who isn't there husband. Please, Kaysa, what's happening?" Merrick took a step closer, his imploring gaze finding only the back of her head.

Kaysa looked up at Merrick, then past him to Zale where her eyes blazed. "Why don't you ask him? He knows. He knows everything."

"Because I want to hear it from you," Merrick said. "I want to know why you're holding on to Qual and practically asking me to go away. I want to know what's gone wrong, and I want to hear it from my wife."

"I can't do this!" she hollered. She wrenched herself away from Qual and staggered into a chair, both almost toppling to the ground. Once she and the chair were steady, she reached out for the fresh bottle of wine set down upon the table by the attendant and poured herself a brimming glass full. "You see," she said calmly. "I've been good and it's been hard to be that way. Kaysa Zenarr isn't good, she's stubborn and vicious and cruel." After a large gulp of wine, she took a moment to savour it, then continued. "It isn't easy, Merrick, and it doesn't seem to be working. I still end up driving you all away, so what's the fucking point?" She laughed wryly and brought the glass to her lips again. "It's easier to just stop trying, I figure. So...that's what I'm going to do. And if you don't like it," she added, "you can all just fuck off!"

Merrick looked as if he'd been physically struck. "I'm returning to the hotel now," he said. "And, you're coming with me, Kaysa. You're going to sober up. You have no idea what you're talking about, so I'm going to ignore what you've said here tonight. I will pretend that your desire for me to fuck off isn't part of your subconscious and that you actually do really love me and want me in your life. The alternative is that I contact the Registry on Bespin and dissolve our marriage."

"Why?" she asked contemptuously. "So you can screw around on me too? Why go to the trouble, Merrick!" Her eyes flashed with hatred as they once again shifted to Zale. "He didn't."

"Maybe you don't realize it," Merrick growled, "but I'm not Zale. He may have screwed around on you, but that doesn't make it right for me to do. I'd never hurt you that way, Kaysa. I'd never hurt you the way you're hurting me right now!"

"I'm not hurting anyone!" she shrieked, rounding on Merrick. "I've done everything to keep you happy and now I all I have is suffering! Well...screw you, Merrick! Screw you!" To emphasize the ferocity of her statement, Kaysa slammed the goblet down onto the table. The red liquid spilled over the edge of the glass and onto the pristine, white cloth covering the grand table. The purple stain soon mingled with the viscous, darker-coloured substance draining from Kaysa's hand as the slender neck of the goblet fractured under the pressure and drove its jagged point into her palm. She cried out in agony and quickly pulled her bloody hand away. Unconsciousness threatened to consume her again as she stared at the open wound leaking profuse amounts of her life-blood. In another moment she was on her knees gripping the wrist of her throbbing hand with her uninjured one.

Qual started forward, but Merrick stayed him with a glare. "Get medical supplies," Merrick growled. "Bacta patches if you have them, synth-flesh if you don't." He quickly gripped the edges of the tablecloth and flung everything off onto the other side of the table.

He started ripping out strips of the fabric to staunch the flow of blood from Kaysa's hand. "Apply pressure to the wound," he said to Neron. "And, get her hand raised up above her head."

Neron was surprisingly compliant and did as Merrick asked. While holding up Kaysa's arm, he concentrated at the same time on keeping her from sagging forward and fainting. "Nice going, Qual," he said to his brother sardonically. "You always do enjoy causing strife, don't you?"

"It is a unique talent," Qual said with a smile. "Well, get her patched back up, would ya? She and I were going to have a special time tonight."

"The hell you were," Merrick growled, though he never took his eyes from Kaysa. He knew that if he looked up at Qual, he wouldn't be able to control his anger. "Just go get the medical supplies."

"Sure thing, Doc," Qual drawled, and then strolled out one of the side doors.

"If anything happens to her," Merrick said softly, "I will kill him."

Neron snorted. "You'll have a hell of a time trying. His men would take you down before you got within ten feet of him. He's got this whole room under surveillance, along with every other room in this place. I suggest you concentrate on fixing your woman and forget about Qual. Perhaps it would even be best if you left Coruscant. You never should have come here, not while the hatred between Zale and Qual was still this intense."

"Something else dear Zale neglected to mention," Merrick said. "What's taking him with those supplies? Kaysa? Can you hear me, Kaysa?"

She moaned as her head lolled against Neron's shoulder and her eyes refused to remain open. Neron looked down into her pallid face and shook his head. "You'd better take her home. I really don't think Qual's coming back anytime soon. He's not used to taking orders and especially not from a pansy musician."

"If he ever comes near me again," Merrick said as he finished tying off the bandage on Kaysa's hand, "I'll show him just how much of a pansy I am. We're leaving." He hefted Kaysa into his arms and started toward the door. "Get your ass out of the chair, Zale. Unless you want to be left behind."

"What does it matter?" Zale asked.

"Shut up and follow," Merrick said as he passed Zale and continued down the hall. "I'll kick some sense into that thick head of yours later."

Zale looked up at Neron, still not moving. "It's over, Neron."

Neron straightened upright and gave Zale a wry smile. "It is if you stay here. Go be with your wife. When she wakes up, make sure your face is one of the first she sees."

"She hates me now, Neron," Zale said. "You saw her. You saw how she looked at me. She hates me now. I'd be better off here..."

Neron narrowed his eyes at his elder brother. "You're a coward," he said. "When the hell did that happen?"

"It's not cowardice you ignorant fool," Zale snarled. "It's the realization of the truth. Maybe it's because you avoid any attachment and keep everyone at a distance, Neron, that way you can't see what's happening. She hates me, Neron. Absolutely hates me."

"She's drunk!" he shouted. "You saw her. She didn't know what the hell she was doing." Neron laughed and threw up his arms. "Fine, brother. Do whatever the fuck you want. I don't care so I don't know why I'm even bothering." Neron turned to leave, but paused and said over his shoulder, "Qual isn't through with her yet. If you want to protect her from him, you'll need to stop wallowing and do something about it. I'm through trying to help you, Zale. You're on your own." Without anymore stalling, Neron shoved his hands into the pockets of his cloak and strode out of the room.

Zale launched himself out of his chair and followed after Neron. "Do you truly believe that it was only the wine talking when she looked at me? Do you really believe it was only the wine talking when she pushed Merrick away. There's a truth in it, below the surface, but it's there. Why can't you see it, Neron? Is it because you don't want to see it? Or because you want to try to make me paranoid?"

Neron kept walking and simply shook his head. "I can't believe you're so easily willing to give up. It doesn't matter whether she meant it or not. If you walk away, she won't come running back to you and you'll lose her. If you think it's better that way, then go ahead. But if you love that woman - who obviously still loves you if she's hurting this badly - then you'll stop feeling sorry for yourself and make things right again."

"And, if when she sobers up, she still pushes me away? Do I keep pushing until she gets a restraining order from the Empire?"

Neron stopped abruptly and spun around to face Zale. "If that's what it takes, then yes. When the hell have us Tregats ever taken the easy way out?"

"When have we ever been in a situation like this with a woman as stubborn and willful as Kaysa? I'll go to her, but keep those medical supplies handy...I may need them once she's sobered."

Neron chuckled and clapped Zale on the back. "Nice to have you back, brother. I was beginning to hate that snivelling idiot. For a moment, I thought Tae'Karada had made you soft. Though, with a woman like Kaysa, I imagine she has no trouble hardening you up." He laughed and shot Zale a wink. "Still a master at the jokes, aren't I?"

"No," Zale said with a chuckle, "you're not. I'll catch up with you later, bro. I've gotta go make sure my wife knows that even though I was an idiot, I'm completely and totally her idiot."

"Go on, then. I've gotta go speak with Qual." Neron shrugged. "Business...you know. We'll talk soon, Zale. There are some matters that need discussing." Neron turned, but before he took a step forward, he added, "And keep the clothes. Though they do look better on me." Then, he was off towards Qual's office.

"In your dreams, little brother," Zale muttered as he turned and headed back toward the exit. "In your dreams."

***

Merrick set Kaysa on the bed they shared in their hotel room. He'd ordered up plenty of kaffe and something to take the edge off her inebriation. "Kaysa," Merrick whispered. "Kaysa, open your eyes, love."

Kaysa whimpered miserably, not relishing the headache she would be confronted with if she opened her eyes. Instead, she curled up onto her side with her back to Merrick. "Go 'way," she mumbled.

"Kaysa," Merrick whispered, "talk to me. Or mumble anyway. What happened between you and Zale? Who is she?"

Kaysa covered her ears with her hands, but even that was enough to send a shooting pain through her palm. She sucked in a sharp breath and opened her eyes to examine her bandaged hand. All she could do was sob at the reminder of how horrible her entire day had been. "I don't know who she is," Kaysa whispered. "I don't know anything."

"I heard him on the comm on the way here. Someone named Elle I think he said. At first I was curious and suspicious, but then I figured I was just jumping to conclusions. It could have just been business. I couldn't shake it, but it wasn't my place to accuse him, even if I knew anything. I couldn't do that, especially if I was wrong. Oh gods, Kaysa, I'm so sorry this happened. I'd never do that to you. You're the stars in my sky, and without you my entire world would go dark."

"I know," she said tearfully. "Or at least I think I know that." Kaysa turned her head towards Merrick. "I'm so confused, Merrick. Everything's just...falling apart again and I don't know what to do."

"Things aren't falling apart, Kaysa," Merrick said. "Zale fucked up, that's all. He fucked up big time, but that doesn't mean everything is falling apart. I'm still here and Shiv's still here. We'll make it work, even if Zale hurt you."

"Shiv?" Kaysa laughed wearily. "She loves Keeve. She pines for him. I'm losing her too, and you don't think things are falling apart?"

"Kaysa, Shiv may love Keeve, but she is still thoroughly your girl. You worry too much, my love. It'll be fine with her and with me, I promise." He brought his lips to her forehead and kissed her gently. "Do you trust me?"

Kaysa's eyes filled with tears that quickly spilled over onto her cheeks. "I trust you," she sobbed. "I trust you, Merrick. You're my musician. How could I not?"

Merrick sat on the bed next to Kaysa and took her into his arms. "I love you, Kaysa. With all my heart and everything I am, I love you." He kissed her tenderly. "When we get back, I say you, me, and Maeren should take a vacation together, just the three of us. And, we'll go somewhere where no one knows any of us."

Kaysa sighed heavily and buried her face into Merrick's chest. "I wanna go home now, Merrick. No more vacations. I-I just wanna go."

"Yes, my love," Merrick said. "Then we shall. Tomorrow morning, we'll get back on our transport and go."

"Okay," she replied. "I've already made a mess here. I don't want to stay longer and end up losing you too, Merrick."

"I think we should go too," Merrick said, "though, you don't ever have to worry about losing me. I'm here to stay." He kissed her again and smiled. After a moment, the smile faded. "So, what about Zale? Should we make him find his own transportation back to Tae'Karada?"

"He can do whatever he wants," Kaysa replied stubbornly. "I don't care, Merrick. I can't believe he did this to me." Her lips trembled with a new surge of tears. "After everything we've been through, why would he do this?"

"I couldn't begin to guess what goes on in his head," Merrick said. "Though, maybe someday we'll be able to figure out why he did it. For now, I think some time apart will be good for us. I know you still love him, Kaysa, and I know that you're hurting. Eventually we'll want to do some healing with Zale, but I don't believe now is the time."

Kaysa pulled back slowly and regarded Merrick curiously. "W-What do you mean? I shouldn't see him?"

"No, Kaysa," Merrick said. "I didn't mean that at all. I was just thinking a little distance right now might be good. Though, really it comes down to what you feel in here." He tapped gently at where her heart rested beneath her chest. "I know you love him, regardless of what he's done. We can go at whichever pace you feel is best, my love."

"But I don't know what pace is best," she told him. "Can't you see I'm not exactly in a condition to make any decisions for myself? Look at me." She held up her hand and looked briefly at her blood-stained and wrinkled dress. "I'm a mess. I don't know what to do. So...if you think I should put some space between me and Zale..." She sighed and lowered her head gravely. "I think that's what I have to do."

Merrick kissed her forehead. "For now," he said. "At least until the raw pain of what's happened has had a chance to heal some. I think it's important that you have the time to heal. Let's go slowly for now, but I'll be here the entire time."

She gazed up at Merrick from beneath her tear dampened lashes and smiled. "I know you will be. You didn't leave me behind tonight, no matter how hard I pushed. I love you for that."

"I'm done with my leaving you behind," Merrick said. "I've walked away too many times, and I know what it feels like to not have you in my life. I won't go through that again."

Kaysa sighed and sank into Merrick's arms again. As drunk as she still was, not even the alcohol could muddle her mind enough to make her forget how much she loved Merrick. After a time of embracing her husband and finding some little liberation from her heartache, she looked up at him and grinned. "Can I have some kaffe now? It smells really good."

"Of course, my love," Merrick said. He kissed her nose, then her forehead, and finally her lips. "Back in a moment."

He slipped off the bed and over to where the tray rested. He poured out a cup of the steaming liquid and brought it back to her. "One kaffe, coming up," he said as he placed the cup into her good hand.

"Thanks." She brought the cup to her lips and blew on the warm liquid. After taking a sip of the invigorating brew, she sighed and smiled at Merrick. "You're so good to me. I hope I deserve it."

"I think you deserve much more than I've been giving you," he said. "But, you definitely are. I hope you don't mind being spoiled, because you will be tonight and on our trip home."

She leaned forward and craned her neck further to gaze up at her love. "And I promise I won't vomit on you while you do."

"I thought your vomiting on me days was over," Merrick said with a chuckle. "Well, if anyone's going to vomit on me, I'd rather it be you."

He was going to continue, but the sound of booted feet in the hallway outside stalled him. He looked back at Kaysa, hoping to gauge her reaction and soothe her if needed.

"Close Calls, Part 4"
By: Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Qual Tregat [NPC+]
Neron Tregat [NPC+]

Location: Coruscant
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Kaysa's face immediately displayed her distress, and she was forced to set down her cup of kaffe before her trembling hand caused the liquid to spill. She looked anxiously towards the door, then back to Merrick. "Should I tell him to go? Should I-- What should I do, Merrick?"

"Let's wait to see what he does first," Merrick said, taking Kaysa's unwounded hand into his. "Maybe he'll just go into the other room."

The footsteps stopped just outside the door. A moment passed and was quickly followed by a second. Merrick and Kaysa sat together, and a whole group of moments seemed to march on past, and Zale still seemed to be standing outside. "Do you want me to tell him he should go to bed?"

"I don't know," she whispered helplessly. "Gods...Merrick. He looked horrible tonight. This is...it's killing him. My love...I have to see him, even if it's just to tell him we need space. As much as I hate him right now, I can't do this to him."

Merrick kissed Kaysa's forehead and then her lips. "I'll go get him, my love," he whispered.

With that, Merrick slipped to the door and opened it. Zale was standing on the other side, leaning against the frame.

"Come in," Merrick said. "She wants to see you."

Zale nodded and followed Merrick inside. As the musician moved to one of the chairs behind the bed, Zale stopped before Kaysa's bed and just stared at her, uncertain and afraid.

It was difficult to look at him, so Kaysa saved herself the trouble of doing so and instead focused on her injured hand. Ironically, the emotional wound Zale had inflicted upon her hurt far more than her physical injury, though only one of those wounds would ever heal. Kaysa took in a slow, deep breath and let it out. "Merrick... Could you just give us a few minutes? I don't think this will take long."

"Of course," Merrick said. "I'll be back soon." With that, he strode toward the door, pausing to cast a worried glance at them both before disappearing out of the room.

Zale shifted his weight between his feet and then suddenly stopped as if realizing he was fidgeting. He finally shifted his gaze off toward the far wall.

"I don't know why you should be nervous," she said quietly. "I'm the one who has to do something so hard." She still couldn't bare to hold his gaze, not when she was about to break his heart. "You hurt me, Zale. You hurt me more than Cadwin hurt me when he walked out, and that's because I love you more than I ever loved him." She sighed and placed her face into her hands. After a moment, she managed to raise her head and face him finally. "You know what I have to do, don't you?"

Zale's jaw was clenching and unclenching. "Yes," he whispered. "I--" He stopped himself and sighed. "I'm sorry."

Kaysa laughed weakly. "Sorry? For what, Zale? I forced you into this marriage, and if you didn't want to be with me..." She shrugged.

"Do you think I've ever stopped loving you, Kaysa? Do you think I've ever wanted out of this marriage? What happened with Ellemiek was stupid, but it doesn't mean I love you any less than I ever had. That was the day that Merrick tossed me onto the table and you walked out on us. The day before you nearly vapourized my arm and got yourself killed by Kandran. I was angry, upset, and I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry because I hurt you in a way I promised myself I never would."

"But you did," she snapped, once again showing the fire she'd shown during the dinner that never was. "You promised me this morning that we wouldn't screw this up, and you did!" She bit back another scathing accusation, and instead gestured to his bruised face and split lip. "Did you think that would make up for everything? Did you think I would feel sorry for you? Nothing can make this pain go away, Zale. Nothing."

"I was hoping that the physical pain would obscure what else I'm feeling," Zale rasped. "I did this to make my own pain go away, or diminish for awhile. I'll--I'll leave..."

"You should," she said. "But after we're done talking." Kaysa reached out with her good hand and picked up her cup of kaffe. After taking a sip to moisten her parched mouth, she set it down and paused. Even thinking of distance between she and Zale caused tears to well up in her eyes. No matter what he'd done, she loved him passionately. "Merrick said we need space," she whispered. "And...and I think he's right."

Zale nodded slowly, unable to speak. He couldn't meet her gaze, though he found a deep urge within himself to look at her, as if it would be the last time he'd ever see her again. His lips moved soundlessly, and he nodded again when he realized he could say nothing.

Kaysa found herself weeping, though she made not a sound. Only the tears cascading down her cheeks conveyed the inner torment she was experiencing. "Say something," she whispered hoarsely. "Gods...Zale. You're not even putting up a fight. I'm starting to believe this is what you want." She looked up him, the tears now streaming down the sides of her face. "Zale... Talk to me."

"What do you want me to say? What kind of fight can I make? I hurt you and I'll accept whatever you decide. I don't want to lose you, Kaysa, but I screwed up. I won't beg you to let me back, because I don't believe you deserve that. I love you more than I've ever loved anything in life, and I don't know what my life will be like without you after what I've done...but, I know that I've hurt you. I don't think I'm worthy to have your love anymore..."

"But you still have it," she told him. "You always will. That's the problem, Zale. I love you and I know I need time to think...but I don't know if we'll ever be able to fix things."

"Whatever you decide," Zale said with a sigh, "I'll abide by."

Kaysa pursed her lips, and all trace of sadness was replaced by annoyed frustration. She let out a sharp breath and rose from the bed. "Now's no time to be passive, Zale. Gods...you're not even willing to fight for us, Zale!" She stepped forward and clutched the fabric of his shirt in her fists. With tears still washing over her eyes, she whispered, "Are you just going to leave without a fight? Am I not worth it? Or is it just because you know you've got another woman to fall back on, and it doesn't matter anyway because a cunt is a cunt, no matter who it belongs to, isn't it?"

"It's nothing like that," Zale shouted, pushing away from her. "Nothing at all! I love you, Kaysa! And, you're the only woman I want to spend my life with. But, I hurt you, and I can barely live with myself. I want to fight for you, but...but...gods, Kaysa. How can I even face you after what I did? How can I face myself? I love you, but...but what have I done?"

"You betrayed me!" Kaysa hollered back. "That's what you did. I pissed you off and you turn around and throw yourself at another woman! Do you know how paranoid this is going to make me? I'll be afraid to even raise my voice at you, afraid that you'll run off in a rage and do this to me again. I can't, Zale! It'll destroy me!"

"What about me?" Zale roared back. "What the hell do you think I've been doing since those Jedi pulled you out of Kandran's building? You tried to walk away from all of us and get yourself killed. You stormed off and then Merrick threw me across a goddamn table! The next fucking day, you destroyed my biosynthetic arm. I was wrong to do what I did, and it's destroyed us; it's been destroying me since the day it happened. I was wrong, and I hurt you... I don't know what else I can do, Kaysa."

"So you blame me?" she said. She shrieked as she flew towards him. "Damn you!" she hollered while her fists battered his chest. The wound on her injured hand was becoming quickly reaggravated, but the sting of tears and the wrenching agony in her heart numbed any pain in her palm. "This wasn't me, this was you! You!"

"It was me," Zale sobbed as he shrank back away from her, tumbling to the floor as he did. "It was me, Kaysa. I was wrong. But...oh gods... It was all me..."

Kaysa stood, breathing heavily and watching him self-destruct before her, the man she'd always thought was so strong, the man she aspired to be like in that respect. Now, she had reduced him to tears. "Don't cry," she murmured. She slowly dropped to her knees and continued staring at him curiously. "Y-You can't. You're supposed to comfort me, Zale. I-I don't know how. I don't know how to make it better. Please stop." Kaysa sobbed along with Zale. "Stop...please!"

Zale looked up at her, though he looked completely miserable. "How do we make it better?" he asked softly.

"I don't know," she groaned. She sucked in a shuddering breath and collapsed into his arms with a heavy sob. "Zale...I don't know. I mean...this afternoon, we wanted to start a family and now... This shouldn't be happening, but I don't know how to stop it."

The feeling he never thought he would feel again in his life was upon him again. Kaysa was in his arms, and he told himself not to let go, never to let go. "Oh gods," he whispered. "All I know is that I've hurt you deeply, irrevocably. And, I know that I can't live without you, Kaysa. I want only you. I need only you. And...and I did a terrible, wrong thing. I still love you; I never stopped. I don't ever want to lose you, but I don't know if you can ever forgive me."

"I can't, not yet," she said. "But...I was wrong. I don't want space, Zale. I know if we do that, we might never see each other again." Kaysa held him tighter, trying to eliminate any physical distance between their bodies. "You don't love her...do you? Just tell me you don't love her. Please."

Zale chuckled, though there was little real humour there. "I'm not entirely sure if I like her," Zale said. "No, my love, I do not love her. She's a representative for the Rebel Alliance. While she's not my type, she is attractive. She's very similar in many ways to Arrista Faeg, though perhaps not quite so...vacuous. She was, as you said, just a cunt. You, however, are so much more. There's nothing I could ever find in any other woman that I haven't already found, and in more abundance, in you."

Kaysa pulled back slightly and searched Zale's glazed eyes. "What about the girl... The one Qual told me about. Your first love, the first girl you were ever with... You loved her, but Qual said that...you forgot about her. I just--" She sighed. "It got me thinking... Will you forget about me too one day, Zale?"

"Never," Zale said. "And, I didn't forget about her, she forgot about me. Though, I was young then, but I do know that she could never be to me what you are, that I could never love anyone the way I love you. Not even Merrick."

Kaysa laughed softly. "Not even Merrick." She passed the fingers of her good hand over Zale's bruised and cut lips, then kiss them lightly. "He might not be happy," she whispered. "He thinks we should have space... He might be right, but I can't do it, Zale. It would be too painful."

Zale caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "I know," he whispered. "The thought of losing you...it's been tearing me apart. And, I think Merrick will understand, even if he was hoping to have you all to himself."

"Well, I don't mind sharing myself, so neither should he." She smiled ruefully and added, "But I don't want to ever share you, Zale." Kaysa closed her eyes and sighed softly. "I was a mess tonight. I let...Qual get to me because I was mad at you. He's dangerous, and I'd rather we never saw him again."

"That makes two of us," Zale said. "Neron was surprisingly cooperative. I don't know if I should trust him or not, which is a bad thing to say about my own brother, but I agree. Why don't we get out of here tomorrow and go to that one planet we found on the way here. I think we could use some oceans, salt air, and sunshine while laying out on a nice sandy beach."

"Well...you did promise me a shopping trip," she said while her fingers brushed against his cheek. "And we need to talk...about a lot, Zale. We could do both, then leave for sunshine and beaches."

"I'd like that," Zale said with a smile. "Me, you, and Merrick? I think the three of us should go."

She smiled. "Weren't thinking of leaving him behind, were you?"

"No," Zale said with a laugh. "But, I think the three of us should go shopping together, and then go to the beach. Though, I think when we're having our long, much-needed talk, he should keep his unwanted comments to himself. The insightful ones are fine, but the ones that will make us roll our eyes and groan...he needs to keep his mouth shut for that."

"When does he ever say anything insightful?" she asked. She laughed and kissed Zale again. As she did, she couldn't help sobbing and shedding fresh tears. "Zale, I don't want this to happen to us again," she said tearfully. "I'm not mentally equipped to handle this sort of thing. I-I just...went over the edge. Qual was filling my head with things, and then combined with how upset I already was.... I guess I'm not as stable as I thought I was."

"I think this was enough to fray the nerves of a Jedi," Zale said. "I think you're very stable, or else we probably wouldn't be holding each other and talking right now."

Kaysa shook her head. "I don't think I am," she whimpered. "But I will be so we can make things right again. I just...I need to get this alcohol out of my system. And you, my love, need to get those cuts taken care of." She brushed a finger along the cut over his brow and winced. "What did you do anyway?"

"One of the local gangs didn't like a few of the things I said to them," Zale said with a chuckle.

She shook her head and sighed. "I always knew that mouth of yours would get you into trouble. Though, I think I know a few ways to shut you up." Her brown eyes flashed with mischief while her hands slid down his chest.

Zale laughed as Kaysa managed to find a few places that weren't in agonizing pain. "Oh, I'm really glad they didn't try doing that," he said. "Oh, Kaysa, have I mentioned how wonderful your hands are?"

She grinned and held up her bandaged hand. "Only one tonight, but I think that's all we need." Her uninjured hand managed to snake its way into Zale's pants, and her efforts were rewarded with a gasp of pleasure. She kissed him again, tenderly and fervently, then pulled back and smiled. "Do we want to try for a boy or a girl, my love?"

"Let's try for a girl," he said softly. "And, maybe we'll get lucky by getting a both." As he brushed his lips against hers, he thought he heard a snicker from behind the closed door.

Kaysa rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "I swear, sometimes that man is more a child than anything. Merrick, either get in here or go write some music and let us make up!"

"Sorry about that," Merrick's voice said through the door. "How about if I go next door into Zale's room and write some music. A love song to commemorate this occasion."

"You don't mind?" Kaysa asked uncertainly. "I mean...you and Zale are okay, aren't you?"

The door slid open and Merrick was standing there. "Of course it's okay," he said. "I do want you all to myself, but I know that's just a dream. You love both of us, and Maeren. I'm okay with that, my love. Now, you two make up, and I'll be next door."

She looked back at him with a hesitant smile. "You're sure? We don't have to. I mean..." She turned her loving gaze onto Zale again. "We can just hold each other while I clean up your wounds and you clean mine."

"I'd be content to spend the night with the two of you in here," Merrick said. "If it's alright with Zale."

"We arrived here together, we live together, we're all practically married to each other. This is where we all belong. Get your ass in here, Braston."

With a wide grin, Merrick stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

Kaysa smiled at her other husband and motioned him over. "You know," she mused once Merrick was kneeling at her side, "I really do hate Coruscant, my loves."

"Why do you think I left in the first place," Merrick and Zale said at the same time. They looked at each other and then laughed.

"I thought maybe things had changed here," Zale said. "But, they haven't. Tomorrow we'll go home, and never return. All the excitement's back home in Tae'Karada anyway."

"And so's my girl," Kaysa added. She patted both Merrick and Zale's knees, then rose. "Come on, my loves. You can go get some ice and some bandages, Merrick, and I'll help Zale get settled. You can get your own punches in later, my dear."

Merrick grinned. "I had a feeling this night would end up good," he said with a chuckle. "I'll be back in three and a half minutes, so use that time well if you plan to." With that, he started toward the door.

"It's going to work, Kaysa," Zale said once Merrick was gone. "All of this, I know it now. I feel it. Our life together, mine, yours, Merrick's, and Shiv's, it's all going to work."

"It better," she said with a sigh. "This is all I have, Zale. Without this, there's really no point in going on." Kaysa held out her good hand to Zale and motioned her head in the direction of the bed. "We'll start out where we began the day - in each other's arms. Maybe this way, we can start fresh and put this whole mess behind us."

Zale smiled and let her help him up. "I like the sound of that," he said. "Both, putting it behind us and being in your arms. There's so much ahead of us, our baby, our new house, trying to do something to help Tae'Karada from the Empire, and finding true happiness with each other."

She chuckled as she slipped her arms around his waist. "What? We haven't found true happiness yet? Well, if you make me the same promise you made me this afternoon, and this time keep it, I think we've got a good chance of finding it."

"The promise still holds," Zale said. "What happened with her happened a month ago. What I said this morning, what I promised, I meant then, and I mean it now. I hurt you by what I did, but now I intend to bring you more joy and happiness than you know what to do with."

"What happened with her, I can't ever forget, Zale, but I am glad you told me." She smiled wanly. "At least, now I am. You're forgiven though, and I hope I'm forgiven for my shameful display at dinner. I didn't do anything with Qual, but only because he stopped. I'm sorry for trying to hurt you in that way."

"I understand why you did it," Zale said. "And, I won't ever forget what happened with her either. I hate myself for what I did and what I put you through. She's my contact with the Rebellion, but I swear to you that nothing will ever happen with her or any other woman again. I'm only yours, from now until the end of my days."

She grinned and sensually slid her hand down his chest and to his groin. "And if you do cheat on me again," she whispered, then crushed the delicate organ in her hand, "I swear, you'll wish you were dead."

Zale groaned, his eyes rolling back in pain. "Oh gods," he gasped. "I get the picture..."

Kaysa giggled as she kissed his lips lightly, then she released her withering grip and stepped back. "Good. Now get on that bed. I want to see how much damage my foolish husband has done to himself."

Zale climbed onto the bed and rolled onto his back. "I'm just glad it was a bunch of punks out there, and not you with that vice-like grip."

She chuckled throatily and knelt down beside him upon the bed. "See? I've always said I can take care of myself." Kaysa leaned forward and kissed his brow. "And now, I'll take care of you too, my dear husband."

"Just remember," Zale said as he settled onto the bed, relaxing himself for Kaysa's examination, "in a fight there won't be many opportunities to grab a man like that. Just use your knees."

She laughed. "I'll remember." Kaysa slung her leg over his waist and pulled herself on top of him. At his wince, she frowned worriedly and eased her weight slightly off him. "Don't do this again, okay?"

"Never," Zale said with a chuckle. "Though it was a good ploy to get your hands on me, wasn't it?"

Kaysa slapped his stomach playfully. "Jerk... I bet you just wanted Merrick's hands on you."

"Merrick's hands belong on you...and maybe Shiv," Zale said with a laugh. "Your hands are the only hands I want on me."

She snorted. "You say that now... You should've been saying that to--" Kaysa abruptly cut herself off, realizing quickly enough that the pain was still there and the subject still too sensitive one to joke about. She smiled tightly at Zale instead and proceeded to rub his chest and shoulders gingerly. "I wonder where Merrick is," she muttered.

"Probably standing outside the door with a bucket of ice," Zale said.

"I am not," came the muffled reply.

Kaysa smiled softly. "Gods, Merrick, just come in here!"

The door swung open, and Merrick stood up from where he'd been sitting. "See? Not standing." He closed the door, and brought the ice over to the bed. "Now...let's see about those injuries..."

Kaysa winked at Zale as Merrick approached, then slipped off of him and sat down next to him upon the mattress. "Now, be gentle, Merrick. Zale's the worst patient ever."

"He's even worse than you? I don't believe that. Well, we'll just have to see, won't we? Now, hold still Zale. And, don't laugh yet, Kaysa, your hand is next."

"No fair." She pouted playfully, though smiled almost happily as Merrick pushed up Zale's shirt and grinned at him salaciously. It would've been difficult for anyone just walking into the room to detect any sign that a few minutes ago everything was near shambles. Kaysa knew it had to do with the strength of their love and its resilience, but also her own stubborn tenacity. If anything was going to keep them together for years to come, it would definitely be that.

***

Qual was staring out the window overlooking the square below, hands clasped behind his back and brooding as only a Tregat could. He heard the footsteps in the doorway, but didn't turn. "I take it they're gone," he said. "My brother, his wife, and the musician. I believe this is going to be an interesting turn of events for us."

"You almost had her," Neron said, a touch of admiration in his voice. He leaned against the door frame and grinned. "Zale went to the hotel and hasn't left yet. I think that means they've reconciled. Not sure if that's good news or bad news for us."

"Neither good nor bad for us yet," Qual said. He sighed and then turned away from the window, facing Neron. "So, my brother, how would you like to visit this...Tae'Karada?"

"Business?" he asked with a mischievous smile. "Or sick pleasure?"

"Why limit ourselves, Neron?" Qual asked. "I have a feeling our dear brother is going to cut his visit short, and that just won't do. We must make it a proper reunion. And, besides, Kaysa and I didn't finish what we started."

Neron's grin broadened. "So...pleasure after all. Maybe after you're done, I can have a go. I bet together, we could wreak enough havoc to make Zale think twice about ever screwing us over."

"I've always heard that Tae'Karada's a nice place," Qual said. "Well from those who have actually mentioned it. How would you like half of a planet, my brother? We can show Zale some of our own unique form of brotherly love, and then we can see what it takes to acquire the planet."

Neron strolled languidly into the room, chuckling as he went. "If we do that, we won't even need his money. Still, I like the idea of giving him a taste of what he's put us through all these years."

"As do I," Qual said. "And, while we won't need his money if we have the planet, I want it anyway. I don't like it when other people, even my own brother, have my things; I don't like it at all. We need to get back what is rightfully ours, Neron, or people will think they can take whatever they want from us. It isn't just about the money, it's about reputation."

"Well, I think tonight I've changed Zale's opinion of me." Neron stopped beside his brother, and assumed a similar pose with his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes searching the cityscape. "I think he's close to trusting me. We can use that to our advantage."

Qual smiled; it was a cruel and unpleasant expression and most likely would have made anyone gazing upon it shudder. He put a hand on Neron's shoulder. "Come on, we have much to do. Oh, and did you know that Kaysa has another lover? From what she says, this girl is somewhat wild and carefree. I think this is going to be fun, more fun than we've had in a very long time."

Neron's lips curled into a leering grin as the two brothers headed for the door. "Brother Qual," he said, "I certainly do like fun."

With sinister deeds burgeoning in their twisted minds, and the looming prospect of gaining new wealth on a planet ripe for the taking, Neron and Qual strode out of the office, and set about putting their plans of mayhem and domination into motion.

"Reconnaissance"
by Ellemiek Vermolen
and Auron Ronso

Location: Arcadia
Date: Eos 14, 4 ABY

***

The weather was hot and the city was shinning in its whites and silvers. Patrols of stormtroopers could be seen everywhere, normally walking in pairs, but this didn't seem to bother the locals at all. As they got near the city they were told to stop by a patrol. A stormtrooper went up to the speeder.

"Greetings. May I see your identifications?" he asked.

Ellemiek nodded and gave her and Auron's ID cards to the stormtrooper. "Good morning, officer." She forced herself to smile.

The stormtrooper glanced at the identification cards and ran them past a mechanical device. In just a few seconds he gave them back. "What is your business in Arcadia?" he asked.

"Just delivering some goods for a customer," she said simply. "Food supplies..." she added.

The stormtrooper nodded and pointed at the other one, tilting his head slightly. As he did so the other one went out to the back of the speeder and looked inside the storage compartment. He nodded back after looking at their goods.

"Very well, you may proceed and remain until curfew," the stormtrooper informed as he had them move along.

Ellemiek thanked them and went inside the city. They chose a more calm location to leave their speeder and walk about the city. "Okay, we should try to get close to the palace or to a good viewing point." She sighed as she glanced around. "Does this bring any memories? Any recollections?" she asked Auron.

"Well, yes. I perfectly remember the time we spent together here, but besides that nothing at all," he replied, pausing afterwards and looking at Ellemiek, smiling. "There is a good place where nobody will find us and in which we have a lovely view of the palace. Our secret spot!"

She smiled. "You remember that place?" she asked, surprised. With a nod she took his hand and drove him through the crowded streets. Once there they had left the crowded part of town and were near a building in construction of some sort. "They must be changing this place..." she whispered. "C'mon, let's go inside the place. I bet there's no one home anyway!"

They entered the building and it was visible that parts of the wall were missing and some cracks filled the main view. They climbed the stairs very carefully as some parts of it were very fragile. On the first floor there was a view of the entrance, of what used to be a reception hall. Going up to the fifth floor, they entered a small room. Auron walked up to the windows and opened what was left of window's doors. There they had a very beautiful view of the entire palace and its surroundings. Luckily, the day was sunny and clear, meaning the viewing distance was good.

During the next few hours they watched the palace carefully, using electrobinoculars. It was a boring job, but they had to do it. They saw the AT-AT Walkers wandering around the palace grounds as well as AT-ST Walkers and several stormtroopers and laser cannons placed in strategic locations. The palace seemed like an impenetrable fortress already, but the shields that gave the whole place air coverage only made it worse.

Auron looked at Ellemiek. "That's almost impossible to get into! Even if we had an army fifteen times larger than them, we would probably lose half of our army before entering the shield! The only way in is underground."

She nodded. "Yes, we thought so too, but we don't have any intel regarding any entrance to the palace!" she replied, getting closer to him. "But don't worry, I promise we'll get them back," she whispered as she ran her hand across his cheek. It was strange to see a person who probably had no recollection so committed to something. Strange, but inspiring.

They gazed upon each other's eyes and Auron leaned a bit forward, placing his hands on her waist. It was almost an impulse, a flashback to the old days, when they used to date. And only a minute later his lips met hers and they were kissing profoundly. Alas, she pulled back and turned around. "I'm sorry... I can't do this," she whispered.

"I know I have amnesia, but I want to know wh--" Auron said, only to be interrupted by Ellemiek.

"Don't. Please." She shook her head as she turned to the windows to pay attention once more. At that very same instant, something caught her attention off in the distance. She picked up her electrobinoculars and glanced once more. It was a man who was using some sort of grappling hook to ascend himself to the bottom part of an AT-AT that was placed outside the palace walls. She waved for Auron to look. "There's a man climbing up an AT-AT!" she told him.

Auron picked up his electrobinoculars and saw the man placing something on the All-Terrain Armoured Transport and quickly descending. Once on the ground, he started to run as fast as he could. Suddenly, the AT-AT walker exploded, which sent its remaining parts crashing into the ground. The stormtroopers all turned to see what had happened and saw a man running away from the scene, so they started to chase him.

The man was now making his way between the confusion of the crowd, trying to lose the guards after him. The way he was going was towards Ellemiek and Auron. He ran inside, while outside the stormtroopers rallied and made a perimeter to avoid an escape attempt, which closed all exits for them. Already had Auron and Ellemiek descended into the main room downstairs in order to meet him. After all, it was obvious he was no sympathizer of the New Empire!

When they met face-to-face, the man stopped, startled and pointed a blaster at them. "Who the hell are you?" he asked.

Ellemiek raised a hand. "We're with the New Republic," she told him. "We mean you no harm. In fact, we apparently seek the same goal."

The man let out a sarcastic laugh. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I do." She nodded seriously. "Because it's true! But who are you?" she asked him.

The man sighed and lowered his weapon. He nodded with a faint smile. Alas, as he did so, a sharp pain struck him in his back. He fell down to his knees and blood rushed to his mouth. He had just been shot at by a stormtrooper who was with the squadron that made the move into the building. Auron gasped and pushed Ellemiek down to the ground to avoid the shots from the Imperial blasters.

While Ellemiek shot with her blaster, Auron pulled the body to a secure area. The man glanced at him and put two weapons on the floor before he died. Auron glanced at the weapons and recognized them. They were old Tae'Morad weapons, rotation blasters known as shakraa. "Ellemiek turn over that table!" he shouted over the current noise.

Hearing his call she didn't stop to think twice and pushed the table over to provide some extra cover. She turned around to look at him. "Aren't those shakraa?" she asked. "I thought they were out of use because of that problem with the overheating that made them blow up right in your hands!" she said as she shot a couple more shots over the table and hit a stormtrooper.

"Have this weapon and make some covering fire while I do something!" Auron shouted as he threw his blaster to Ellemiek.

She grabbed the weapon in mid air and got up shooting several shots at the incoming troopers. Some of the shots were successful and a couple of the Imperial fire almost hit her. She dodged and got down. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked as she saw him open the weapons and dismount the inner rotation device and bending the axis bar. "Those are crap! And I'm not so sure we ought to stand here!" she told him as she got back up to fend off the stormtroopers and keep them from advancing.

Auron placed the weapons and the barrels back into place and closed the clips. He got up with a grin, having one shakraa in each hand. He started to fire shots that were not only precise but in a faster rate. It took him but a few seconds to completely free the room from the initial squadron.

Once the way was clear they both knew it was a matter of time before the second squad came in, so they decided to back up by climbing the stairs. "How the hell did you do that?" she asked. "Or better yet, what did you do?"

"The problem with these weapons is the axis. Unlike common sense tells us, they can't have straight axis or they'll overheat. But with bent ones they work fine!" he explained.

"How did you know that?" she asked.

"To tell the truth, I really don't know! I knew it, but I can't explain why. I just knew that the axis was the problem!" he replied. As they got to the top of the stairs Auron turned around. The second group of stormtroopers was coming in and as the first ones provided cover fire another of them spotted Auron and Ellemiek and threw a thermal detonator at them.

Ellemiek gasped in the few microseconds. It was as if she was watching everything in slow motion. And now they had a thermal detonator up in their way. But instead of seeing a flashback of her life she thought fast enough. "Auron, kick it!" she said, as she recalled that he was one of the key players in a game played by Tae'Morad, which they used to keep fit, called Brutball.

Without giving it a moment of thought, Auron did as she told him. Before the ball could reach the ground he tapped it upwards with his foot, kicking it with the other foot in a crossed strike. The thermal detonator hit the side wall and fell down the stairs, exploding the access to the upper floor and sending some nearby troopers flying against the walls.

Ellemiek pulled Auron back, who seemed amazed to discover that he could do what he just did. "Come on, we've gotta get out of here. It's just a matter of time before they find another way up!" she told him. Searching through the corridors they found an opening in a wall. Since the building was under construction there was a large gap that led down to the sewers. Ellemiek sighed. "It's our best chance."

They entered the gap and descended to the sewers. A few minutes later the stormtroopers found their way up and searched for them. It became obvious that they had gone through the gap. One of the troopers turned to his officer. "Sir, should we pursue them down there?" he asked.

"No. Open the water systems. Let them drown and have the bodies searched for in the reservoir of water treatment," the officer ordered.

***

Down in the sewers Ellemiek and Auron ran, trying to gain as much advantage as possible. It seemed that the sewers went on forever before another exit showed up. They weren't sure which way to go, and had no map whatsoever. Suddenly, they heard a very distinctive sound. It was the sound of water coming their way and it was clear enough that it was a lot of water, which explained why the troopers had not gone after them. They had obviously chosen to flush them out!

Auron located an exit of some sort ahead. It seemed old and unused, but it was their only chance. "There! An exit on that side! Come on!" he said as he ran over to open it. The crank was a bit rusty but with a little effort they were capable of prying the hatch open and quickly went inside. Already could the huge amount of water be seen in the distance, but with its speed it would get to their location in no time! Once inside the new tunnel they closed the hatch. It was just in time as they heard the water pass right past them on the other side.

Turning around Ellemiek raised her eyebrows. "Auron. I think you discovered something more than just an exit," she commented.

Auron turned around and saw some sort of transport. It was a small cockpit attached to some sort of a sphere. "It seems so." He nodded. "We have two options here. Either we wait for the water to pass and re-open the hatch or catch this thing, whatever it is."

Ellemiek nodded. "Well, we have no guarantees where this'll take us, but we have even less when and if they're going to close down the water until our bodies show up," she said.

"So, we catch a lift from this weird thing!" he glanced trying to figure what it was.

She nodded in consent and they got into the transport. It was very simple and had only four seats and one button up front. Ellemiek looked at Auron. "Here goes nothing!" she told him as she punched the button.

The sphere initiated and made some sort of a blue glow around it, as if a shield of some sort. Before they knew it, the transport shot down the tunnels. Its destination unknown to its passengers.

"Investigating"
By Kyra Ronso
and other minor NPCs

Location: Arcadia & New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4 ABY

***

Kyra was packing a few things to go to New Plouton. While she was packing, she remembered things well. Ellemiek was a good friend of hers. In past times they were almost like sisters. The two knew what was to lose someone they loved. Kyra didn't know who her parents were, but to her it felt like she had lost them.

It was Ellemiek who introduced her to Auron in the first place. And to Kyra that had been the start of the best part of her life. But now everything had changed, and she was now fighting for the New Empire. At first it was do get revenge for her husband's death. But now she fought because she believed in the New Empire.

Still, Kyra had to find Ellemiek before Grand Admiral Tarkin knew things. She was not betraying Grand Admiral Tarkin, but saving a friend and not a rebel. Maybe it was an opportunity to talk to her.

She picked up her bag, and went to her TIE Defender. She entered and sat down in the cockpit and thought to herself, Ellemiek, I'm going to find you and I will warn you only once. Then I'll have to capture you.

She blasted out of the hangar and made her direction to New Plouton. While she was piloting her TIE Defender, she glanced at the planet. "It's tough to be alone one more time, Auron, but I know that you're up there watching over me." She paused. "You must be very upset for me joining the Empire, but I had to. Sincerely, I could have gone to your parents, but I'm very ashamed to break your loyalty. If you were alive this could be very easy, but you're not."

She landed on the spaceport in New Plouton and went to the hotel in the Yesdol District. She put her bag on the floor and went to the window. There she watched the city and the buildings that surrounded the hotel. Her new destination was Ellemiek's apartment in the Yelldon District. She got out of her room and went to rent a speeder. On her arrival she parked her speeder and entered the building. There she saw a security officer. "Excuse me, which apartment does miss Ellemiek Vermolen live in?" she asked.

"She moved yesterday to a new apartment, she got promoted from her job, you know!" replied the security officer.

"Really?" She paused, thinking. "I was supposed to pick up a package she has for me. Could I see the apartment? Maybe she left there."

"I don't know, Miss..."

Kyra took a few credits out of her pocket. "And now, could I see the apartment?"

The security officer grabbed the credits and smiled. "Twentieth floor, apartment 2034."

"Thank you," she replied, grabbing the key of the apartment. She entered an elevator next to the desk where the security officer was.

Once on the right floor, she opened the door. Alas, the apartment was empty. She entered it and closed the door. Very well, Ellemiek. It seems that you're learning with professionals, she thought. She examined every centimeter of the apartment. There was nothing left. She got out of the room and saw an old lady entering the apartment in front of Ellemiek's.

"Excuse me?" she asked. "Did you know miss Vermolen?"

The old lady turned to Kyra. "Yes. Who wants to know?"

"I'm a very good friend of hers," she explained, taking a picture that she had from the old days, before Auron's death.

"Well, you missed her. She arrived with a young man and moved to another apartment, she said she got promoted," said the old lady.

"Do you know were they moved to?" Kyra asked, hoping the old lady knew.

"She didn't say, but I heard them talking about something in the Yesdol District, but I can't be precise," the old lady said.

"Thank you for your time." Kyra nodded as she walked away. So, now you're training rookies, Ellemiek?!

She went back outside and got in her speeder, going back to the hotel to get some rest. At night she was going to have a nice dinner alone in Raoral's restaurant.

"Spoiled Rotten, Part 1"
by Keeve Kandran [NPC+]
Maeren Shivral

Location: Rav'Dora Beach, Rav'Dora and Yesdol, New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

The mid-morning sunlight spilling through the uncovered windows cast a radiant glow upon Shiv's creamy, bare flesh. Keeve watched from the doorway of the bedroom, holding up the tray of stacked toast and juice in one hand, but he wasn't ready to surprise Shiv with it yet. He wanted to imprint the moment in his mind before he did, the way the rumpled sheets lay in folds over her curled up body, covering only her waist and leaving her shapely legs and beautifully curvaceous torso exposed for his pleasure.

Her tousled blonde hair came in waves about her illuminated face, where a contented, soft smile still graced her lips. She was an enchanting nymph, and Keeve knew he'd been a fool to almost push her away. Soon, he could no longer help himself, especially at the sight of those luscious, sweet lips waiting to be kissed, and moved silently towards her.

He carefully set down the tray upon the nightstand, cautious about toppling the tower of toast, and knelt by the bedside. For a few, fulfilling moments, he continued to gaze at her, then he leaned forward and lightly brushed his lips against hers. "I'm going to marry you, Maeren," he whispered, while his fingers pushed a stray strand of hair away from her cheek. "I'm going to marry you and we're gonna have children... We're gonna be happy, Maeren. I'll make you happy, I swear."

Shiv's body shifted slightly, a soft moan escaping her lips as she slowly drifted back toward wakefulness. Her eyes opened slowly, and his face was the first she saw. A smile spread her lips wide, and she kissed him slowly as his face was still close to hers. "Good morning," she whispered. "This is a wonderful way to wake up." She was silent for a moment, then she grinned again. "I love you, Keeve."

He chuckled. "I love you too." He hobbled aside until the tray on the stand was in view, then held his hands towards it in presentation. "And because I love you so much, I made breakfast. I hope you like toast. It's the only thing I know how to make."

Shiv glanced over at the tray and grinned. "I remember that," she said. "Your toast is wonderful, but your orange juice is suspect. I think I'll have to show you how to make a few more things. And, it happens to be your lucky day, because I do love toast."

Keeve's face lit up and he quickly pulled himself up onto the bed. He removed a slice of toast from the top of the pile and brought it towards Shiv's mouth. "Go on. Take a bite. We've got a big day ahead of us and I want you to build up your strength." His smile became quickly sly. "I imagine you're lacking in that after last night."

Shiv grinned and a blush swept across her cheeks. She took a bite of the toast, watching him as she did. After a moment of chewing, she nodded. "Very good toast," she said. "And, I don't think I'm lacking strength, just a little tired...and quite tingly still."

"It's understandable," Keeve replied with just a hint of arrogance. He ran a hand up her thigh and fed her another bite. "I'll try and stay again tonight so I can show you more of my talents. I don't know, though. I shouldn't stay away from the cruiser for too long."

"Can you contact them, and just get a report or something like that? If they don't need you there right now, then...then we can have more time. And, I really want to see your other talents because those you showed me last night were amazing."

"And yours too," Keeve said. "I had no idea you could dance like that, Maeren. It had my heart pounding against my chest. I want to watch you again. When's your next show?"

"I'm supposed to have one tonight," she said. "I'll get tickets for you if you want. We can go together, and you can either get one of the boxes or a front-row seat. Your choice, of course. I'll even do a special dance dedicated just to you."

"You mean, they're not all dedicated to me?" He laughed softly and kissed Shiv's brow. "You finish up here. I'm going to go shower so we can get going. You think you can handle the toast yourself?"

"I think I can manage," she said with a grin. "And, they all will be dedicated to you now, especially since I know you'll be there."

"Always," he whispered. After pressing his lips to her forehead, nose, then lips, Keeve rose from the bed and headed for the refresher. "Don't eat too much, though," he called back to her, "or you'll be too full to swim." Then, he stepped out of the room. A few moments later, the sound of water rushing out of the showerhead filtered into the bedroom.

Shiv continued to nibble on the toast, pausing every once in awhile to sip at the orange juice. It didn't even occur to her that there might be anything wrong with the juice until after she'd finished. She stared at the glass for a moment, a smile on her face. She set it aside and slid herself to the edge of the bed. It was ironic how similar the breakfast was to the one Keeve had served her before she and Lerrah were taken to Dargus' ship. She knew this time, however, that everything was different. She knew that this time around, she was perfectly safe with Keeve.

***

Walking hand in hand down the roadside, both focusing only on each other, Shiv and Keeve made their way towards the local shops, looking for swimming attire for them both. Each time someone passed too close to Shiv, Keeve slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, protectively. He had her now, and although it was unlikely to happen, he wasn't going to lose her again. When it came time to return to the cruiser, he wasn't certain he would be able to, though, he'd make sure Shiv had plenty of guards watching her from afar if he did have to leave.

"I remember this street," Keeve mused. "Did I ever walk down it with you before?"

"I think we did when we came down from the swoop last time," Shiv said as she looked around. "I think we stopped at that place right over there looking for kites, but they didn't have any shaped like swoops or pod racers."

"Well...I don't need one of those. I've got my own racer now." Keeve nuzzled Shiv's hair and sighed softly at the fragrance that drifted up his nose. "You'll come watch, won't you? Watch me race, Maeren. Be there for me, and celebrate with me after I win."

"Of course," Shiv said, pure delight showing in her eyes. "I wouldn't miss one of your races for anything. I hope you don't mind if Lerrah comes along. She's a huge pod racing fan, and I think you're now her favourite racer. Don't worry though, she's still strictly into girls. She just loves watching you in the pod."

Keeve cocked an eyebrow at Shiv. "Is she still strictly into you, too?"

"She used to be," Shiv said. "I think she still loves me a lot, but she knows that we can't be together anymore. Besides, I think she's got her eye on someone she saw at the Pink Monga."

"Well, then you should encourage her to go there more often." Keeve pointed to a shop up ahead and veered he and Shiv towards it. "Remember to pick up some lotion today. I don't want you to get all burned again. Although, I would enjoy rubbing some cooling lotion onto you..." He grinned slyly at her.

"Yes," she said. "And, I'll be wearing considerably less than I was at the race. Come on, let's get that lotion, and you can help me pick out a suit for me, and I can help pick one out for you. And, then we can slather each other with lotion."

"Keep giving me ideas like that," he murmured into her ear, "and we won't even make it to the beach."

"Oh, you are naughty, aren't you? Well, who says I really want to get to the beach? Though, it might be nice to lie out together, and swim together, and walk up and down the beach together."

"And if that's what you want, that's what you'll have, my love." Keeve kissed the top of Shiv's head and was already reaching into his pocket for his credit slip. He planned on giving Shiv everything she desired, even if it cost him a fortune. Anything to see her smile, anything to make his Maeren happy.

***

With hands clasped and standing on the boardwalk, Keeve and Shiv gazed out upon the stretching sands and sparkling ocean, savouring the cool spray of water carried in by the breeze. He remembered the sights and the sweet smell of the beach from his youth, and definitely remembered the time he'd spent there with Shiv. It was going to be even better the second time around. "Come on," he said with a large smile. "Let's find a nice spot."

They had both changed into their swimsuits already. Shiv wore only the bikini bottom and a thin cover-up that came down to mid-thigh. She carried their towels in her arms as they started down toward the sand. She smiled at Keeve, who wore a pair of swim trunks she'd help choose. "I think those look very nice on you," she said. "And, just a warning now, if you ever wear one of those awful, skimpy things, I will kill you."

"Don't worry," he said with a grimace, "I would kill myself." His eyes wandered down to Shiv's modest, perfectly supple breasts bouncing lightly as she moved. He had protested at first, begging her to wear the bikini top, but her pouting lips were too hard to resist and he gave in quickly enough. Though, he never did promise he wouldn't wrap a blanket around her when the opportunity presented itself...

"Over there," he told her. "There aren't too many people there. And it looks like it's quite close to the frazzy stand." He grinned. "Perfect."

"Oh, that's a great spot," Shiv said, angling toward the spot Keeve had found. "And, the sun is perfect there. You definitely have a good eye for this, my love. And, I think today, we're gonna get fat on frazzies."

"You can afford to," he replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "And with as hyperactive as you are, you'd burn it off in no time." Keeve removed the blanket from over Shiv's shoulder and spread it out upon the spot they'd chosen. He held Shiv's hand as he helped her seat herself upon the blanket, then took his place behind her. Chuckling softly, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him until she was positioned between his parted legs, propping her back against his torso. He held her in an all-encompassing embrace, letting all of the passers-by know she was solely his property. "Is this okay?" he asked her. His lips brushed against the curve of her neck, trailing kisses down to her shoulder.

"This is perfect," Shiv purred. "Wait...not quite perfect." She wriggled the cover-up until her shoulders were uncovered. "There, now it's perfect."

Keeve sighed and shifted his arms up higher to conceal her breasts entirely. "No...now it's perfect."

Shiv giggled. "See, I told you I didn't need the top." She leaned back and looked up at him. "If other people see me, Keeve, it's alright. I grew up like this, and it's no big thing. No one will steal me away from you, and if they wanna look, they can torment themselves with what they'll never have."

"But why torment them?" He glared at a man passing, definitely trying to catch a glimpse of what Shiv had to offer. "Gods...do you see that, Maeren? I mean...what was so wrong with the top?"

"Because I prefer it this way," Shiv said. "It feels so free and liberating this way. And, I don't care if they look. If they try to touch, then they'll find a very sharp knife stuck in the back of their hand. Or they'll get turned inside out by my jealous boyfriend."

Keeve chuckled in frustration and nipped at Shiv's shoulder playfully to relieve his stress. "You're going to drive me to an early death, Maeren Shivral."

"Oh no," she whispered. "I'll take you to the brink, and pull you back again. So, how would you like to get your new girlfriend and soon to be fianc�e a frazzy?"

"If you promise to cross your arms over your chest, I'd be delighted to." Keeve kissed Shiv's cheek, then, as reluctant as he was to remove his arms from around Shiv, he stood up. "Beebleberry, right?"

"Definitely beebleberry," Shiv said with a loving smile. She then crossed her arms over her chest for him and grinned. "I'll be good, don't worry."

Keeve narrowed his eyes skeptically, then laughed softly and trudged off towards the vendor. He looked back to ensure all the men that passed truly did walk on by without stopping to study Shiv, and to make certain she really did keep her breasts covered up. Satisfied for the time being, Keeve diverted his attention to the frazzy vendor and requested two extra drippy beebleberry frazzies.

He drummed his fingers impatiently on the counter, anxious to return to Shiv and change the minds of anyone who even thought of approaching her. He looked back once again, expecting Shiv to still be alone. His eyes performed a double-take as they saw the two, well-muscled, excessively oiled up men wearing disgustingly tight swimwear and definitely hitting on Shiv. With a growl, he was prepared to surge forward and pummel them, but the vendor tapped his shoulder and thrust out the two frazzies. Keeve took the frazzies, frantically and clumsily trying to hold them with one hand while his other juggled with the credit slip in his pocket. He finally slammed it down on the counter, told the vendor to keep the change - which amounted to a thousand creds - and marched furiously towards the two men. He might not look intimidating with two dripping frazzies in his hand, but when his fist connected with their faces, they'd realize how wrong they were.

Shiv sighed again. It was the fifth or sixth time since the two oily creeps had approached her. Her arms were folded across her breasts, but she was standing in front of them, listening to their empty promises of pleasure, fun, and a time she'd never forget.

"I'm here with my boyfriend," she said. "I really don't think you want to--"

"C'mon, Sweet Thing. Ditch him."

"We've got a place that overlooks a secluded cove. We even installed heaters under the water to keep it warm. It's like a natural spa."

"That's nice, but my--"

"What can he possibly have that we don't?"

"How about class? How about the fashion sense not to go out in anything like that? Especially since those things show everything you've got...or haven't got in your case. If a guy can't fill it out, he has no business wearing it."

"You're one to talk with those tiny--"

Whatever else he'd been about to say ended in a wheezing, pain-filled gasp as Shiv's foot found the soft spot hidden between his legs. "Don't you dare try that as a comeback," she said. His friend started to lunge forward, but Shiv dropped low, and came back up with a pair of thin, sharp blades in her hands. "Up for a game? You try to touch my tiny breasts, and I slice you to ribbons. How's that one sound?"

The guy made a rather pathetic noise, and then quickly bent to check on his groaning friend.

"Good choice," Shiv said. "I would have been very upset if you bled on my towel."

Keeve halted in mid-step, mouth agape at what he'd just witnessed. He cleared his throat lightly and started forward again, as casually as he could manage. Once he'd come up beside Shiv, completely ignoring the two pathetic creatures in front of their blanket, still gathering what little pride remained, he held out the dripping treat to her. "Frazzie?"

Shiv let out a squeal of delight and took the treat while she put both her knives away. "I can't believe they let such rude, arrogant people onto this beach. Well, I don't think they'll be bothering us again. Oh, this is very good. I don't know what it is, but the frazzies here at the beach are much better than the ones in the city."

Keeve made a series of tsking sounds and motioned his eyes towards Shiv's bare chest. "Where are those arms, my love?" He chuckled at the unpleasant look that crossed her features, then stepped forward until his body was pressed lightly to hers, sufficiently concealing her breasts. "That's better."

Shiv grinned up at him, and kissed him on the chin. "Thank you for my frazzie, and for concealing my temptations from the rest of the beachgoers. You know, you get better looking with each passing minute, especially when you get that look of loving concern in your eyes."

"Who said I was concerned? I wasn't concerned," he lied. "I'm not the jealous boyfriend you think I am. Besides...I knew I was better looking than those jerks. Wasn't worried for even a second."

"Of course not," Shiv said with a knowing grin. "Now, let's sit down on our towel and eat our frazzies, and make sure you keep that arm in place. After these, we have some swimming to do, and then I want to walk out to that lighthouse over there. How's that sound?"

"As I've said, whatever you wish, my love." Keeve and Shiv settled down upon the blanket again, this time the two of them facing each other and sitting between the other's legs. With Shiv hugged to his chest, no one was even going to steal a peek. Still, he scouted the area fastidiously as he lapped at his frazzy. If he was this protective now, he could only imagine what he'd be like when Shiv finally agreed to be his wife. That thought all but eliminated any of his tension, and finally relaxing, he sucked away at his frazzy, wearing a large, contented grin.

"Spoiled Rotten, Part 2"
by Keeve Kandran [NPC+]
Maeren Shivral
and an appearance by Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston

Location: Rav'Dora Beach, Rav'Dora and Yesdol, New Plouton
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

The sun sank lower toward the horizon, a blazing ball of orange-gold flame that seemed to paint everything a deep golden colour. Shiv's hand was laced with Keeve's as they walked slowly along a deserted part of the beach. A bonfire had been lit back on the main part of the beach, but they had opted to spend some time away from the crowd, alone together.

"So, do you like...do you like what Kallia is like? Subservient and everything? She seems very devoted and loyal to you, especially if she...you know, with the piercing." She looked up at him again. "So...do you like that?"

"In her," Keeve replied. He shrugged his shoulders awkwardly. "I...I don't know. I like her and she's beautiful.... I only really did it because of what was going on with me and you..." Keeve sighed and smiled tightly. "I needed something to get my mind off of you... And it was sort of nice having a woman completely devoted to me, willing to do anything I wanted... But it's not that way with you, Maeren. It's completely different."

"Good," Shiv said with a smile. "I mean, I wouldn't mind some of it, but I don't think I could be completely submissive like that. Some of the wild stuff sounds like it might be fun, but not so completely. I mean, I think it'd be fun to go out dressed like you had her. She's really sexy, and the way she carries herself is amazing. I guess it's like she's completely devoted to you, but she doesn't get meek and cowardly. She's proud to be yours and she stands tall. I think that was really...fascinating to see."

Keeve nodded and muttered distractedly, "Yeah... It's too bad it's not real."

Shiv looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"I-I--" He turned his face away, hiding his shame. "She's...been sort of...programmed." Keeve met Shiv's gaze again and hoped he looked convincingly apologetic for what he'd done. "Dargus' doctor...the one who made me... He has this technique. H-He does something to their brains... It makes them obedient and submissive. B-But it was Dargus' idea, Maeren! I swear."

"And, you're taking advantage of it. Oh gods, Keeve. How could you? She doesn't deserve that if she doesn't want it. Oh, please tell me there's a way to undo it. Please tell me you can put her back to how she was. She doesn't deserve to be like that, no one does. If you want me to be like that for you, Keeve, I will. I'll do the leashes and everything, but don't make her if she doesn't want it."

"But I don't want that!" Keeve exclaimed. He stopped and turned to Shiv, gripping her arms gently. "That was just for fun, Maeren. I like you how you are now. I don't want that for you. But Kallia... She likes it, Maeren. And besides, I don't know if it's reversible. Does it really matter? She's happy now. Doesn't that make it okay?"

"If it takes her choice in the matter away," Shiv said, "then yes it does matter. If she's happy because of the procedure, then that's not real happiness. If she does that for you, it should be her choice to do it, Keeve, not her programming. And...and, what happens with her now?"

Keeve sighed and dropped his arms to his sides. "I don't know.... Gods...Maeren, I didn't think we'd get to this point! I didn't think we'd ever be together. If I'd known, I wouldn't have done it. And now I don't know what to do with her."

"Try to free her from the programming," Shiv urged. "Try to give her her life back. If she still wants to be with you, and you want to be with her when you can't be with me, I don't mind. I know our love for each other goes beyond all of that. I know that I'll love you no matter who you're with. But, try to undo it, Keeve. Please? For me...and for her."

Keeve relented with a solemn nod. "I'll try... And I know I only want to be with you now, Maeren. You're all I need."

Shiv smiled and pulled herself closer to him. "I do still need Merrick and Kaysa in my life, Keeve," she whispered, "but I need you too. You're going to be my husband, and I love you more than I ever thought I could. I love you and you have my heart. And, I don't think it would be good to have a devoted sex slave following us around everywhere."

"And why not?" He winked at Shiv and smiled as he held her in his embrace. "Just you and me...and Merrick and Kaysa on the side, but hopefully not too often. I want us to be able to start our life together without interference. But, considering our history, I doubt anything will go as smoothly as we plan it."

"We'll just have to improvise," Shiv said with a grin. "I'm sure, now that we've actually gotten together, we'll manage the rest alright. I think getting each of us to open our eyes and see what we needed was the first step...and the first step is always the hardest."

"And the biggest." He kissed the top of her head, then sighed and stared out upon the sinking sun. "Everything's going to be good for us, Maeren. I feel it. All we need now is to convince everyone to stop meddling in our affairs. Then...we can devote all our attention to each other and the hundreds of children we'll have."

"Hundreds? My, you do dream big, my love. Let's start small, one or two and we can work from there. But, I want to give you a little boy and a little girl. How's that sound?"

Keeve made a show of deliberating the large reduction in the number of offspring, then sighed in submission. "Okay...two it is." He grinned, then, and nuzzled his lips to Shiv's throat. "Though, we will have to get a hundred reisakitties in compensation." He emitted a low, purring growl and nipped at her neck gently.

Shiv laughed in delight, throwing herself against him and holding tight. "Oh, that would be so much fun. They'd all have to have name tags or collars or something, because I don't know if I could keep the names of a hundred little kitties apart. Oh, they are so cute. There's this one in the house just down the street. Whenever I walk by, it pokes its head through the drapes and watches me. It's so cute."

"You like reisakitties?" Keeve smiled secretively, then kissed Shiv's lips lightly. "The sun's set," he whispered. "Are you cold?"

"I'm fine," Shiv said. "It's still pretty warm. During the summer here, it really doesn't cool down until after midnight. At least that's what I've heard, since this is my first summer here. Once it's Selene, I don't think it really cools down at all." She glanced at him, a mischievous grin curling her lips. "And, I don't think I could ever be cold when I'm around you."

Keeve returned her impish smile and slid his hands over her hips, bringing them forward to her rear. "Well...you know, the temperature could drop suddenly. We don't want to get caught out here if it does. So..." His lips teased the delicate flesh of her neck, just below the curve of her jaw. "I think, my love, we should get you home right away."

"Oh, if the temperature drops and you keep doing that," Shiv purred, "I don't think I'd even notice. But, yes, we need to get home before I drag you into a secluded cove to have my way with you."

"That might not be so bad," Keeve replied. "Though...we could use a shower to get rid of all this lotion. It does smell nice though..." He pushed his nose into her hair and inhaled deeply. "You always smell nice," he sighed.

"And for you I always will," Shiv said with a grin. "So, are we going to head back to the swoop? Or stay here on this deserted beach gazing into each other's eyes? Honestly, I could go either way. Though, standing here like this, we're more likely to get caught doing something naughty than if we're naughty on the swoop."

"Naughty on the swoop then," Keeve said decisively. "Then hopefully naughty at home." He slipped his hand into hers and began leading her back across the sands, towards their blanket.

"Oh, definitely naughty at home," she giggled. "And, then naughty after my show tonight. And, then back at home again. And, maybe, if I can get you to be daring enough, naughty on the way home."

"I think I can manage that," he said with a chuckle. When they reached their belongings, Keeve and Shiv proceeded to begin packing everything away. A muffled, persistent chirping sounded from somewhere around them, and Keeve paused to listen for the location of the source. "What the hells is that?"

"Oh! My comlink!" Shiv dropped to her knees next to her bag and quickly rummaged through it. Finally, she pulled the small device out. "Yes! This is Maeren! Hi!"

"Shiv?" Kaysa's voice from the other end sighed. "Where have you been? I've been comming you for the past hour."

Keeve's mouth screwed up into a knot and with a shake of his head, he snatched up the blanket and started for the swoop.

"Hi, Kaysa! I was away from my comlink. Oh, it's so good to hear your voice! How is everything? Oh gods, Kaysa, I miss you so much!" She quickly covered the mic with her hand. "Keeve, get your ass back here right now! I want you to talk to her and be nice. Oh gods, please do this for me, Keeve."

"What?!" Keeve whispered as he whirled around to face her. "Are you insane, Maeren? I am not talking to that woman."

"Please, Keeve? Please try to be nice. I don't want this kind of rift. I don't want to be divided like this. I know it's a lot, but...oh gods, please?"

"Maeren?" Kaysa's voice sounded again. "Hello?"

"Maeren! I don't want to talk to her," Keeve said. "It's too soon. Why are you trying to force me to do this?"

With a frustrated sigh, Shiv gave Keeve a dismissive wave of her hand as she turned her back to him. "Sorry," she finally said back into the comlink. "How is everything? How's Merrick? Has he written ten new songs for you? Oh gods, Kaysa, when are you coming back?"

"Soon, actually," she replied. "We're leaving Coruscant tomorrow and heading home." There was silence for a moment, then: "Shiv? I need to talk to you for a while. Do you have time?"

Shiv glanced back toward Keeve and then turned back toward the ocean. "Sure," she said. "I'm at the beach right now, but I still have time to get back to the city and get to the Palace. I have time for you, Kaysa. Always."

Keeve shook his head angrily and stormed away, twisting the blanket in his hands as if he were throttling Kaysa. Leave it up to her to ruin a perfectly nice evening... He grumbled and decided to save the tantrum for when he reached the swoop.

***

Shiv opened the door for them, and pushed it open. She glanced back to Keeve, who was still sulking behind her. She shook her head and strode through the door. She dropped the things she'd been carrying onto the floor and turned back to him. "It was only thirty minutes," she said. "And, you chose not to talk to her. You know how I feel about her, and I haven't talked to her in days. I can't just brush her off when she calls me, Keeve, especially with you openly hating her the way you do."

"You did it to spite me," he replied. "You did it to punish me for refusing to speak to Kaysa." He threw the blanket he'd been carrying aside and moved past Shiv towards the kitchen. "And besides, it's not like I told her I hated her to her face," he called back.

Shiv followed after him. "I talked to her because she needed to talk to me. I know you'd just love for me to break up with her and Merrick, but I can't do that Keeve. I love them both, and I am committed to them just as I am with you. You've had all of my time since last night, and you'll have the rest of my time tonight and tomorrow. She had thirty minutes out of that. She thinks you hate her. You won't even talk to her. And, every time her name is mentioned, you get this look in your eye. And, you won't even try to get to know her and see that she is likeable. All you're able to do is look at the past, and judge her based on that. The same thing you accused me of after Dargus grew you up, but I got past that and here I am now. But, you can't do it. You won't even try."

Keeve flung open the door of the refrigeration unit, barely stopping it before it slammed into the wall. "Gods, Maeren, what does it matter? Why can't I hate her!" He thrust his arm into the unit and pulled out a bottle of juice. "It's not like I've asked you recently to give either of them up," he added as he moved towards the counter, "so why are you asking this of me?"

"You just don't get it, do you? You just can't understand how much it hurts me, tears me apart, to hear you talk about her the way you do. You have no idea how much it hurts me to know that you hate her, that you won't talk to her. What would you do if Dargus hated me? What would you do if he would insult me when he was around you? Does that even matter to you? Or anyone. Kallia or Yelara or any of them. What if they said bad things about me. Told you they didn't like me and I was wrong for you. What would you say? What would you do?"

"I wouldn't care!" he hollered. He set the juice bottle down heavily and moved around the counter towards Shiv. "I wouldn't care about what they said; I'd know that I love you and nothing they say matters! You keep saying I was the one who pushed too hard, but you're doing the same, Maeren. How long do you think I'll be able to put up with it!"

Shiv turned away, her face red and eyes rimmed with sudden tears. "Oh gods, Keeve, I'm sorry. I just want this to work, that's all. I want all of us to be friends, and there not be any tension. Oh gods, I'm sorry. I won't push. I'll stop, I promise."

"Until the next time, right?" Keeve sighed and lightly placed his hands upon Shiv's shoulders. "Stop crying," he whispered. "There won't be any tension if you just stop trying to throw us together. Just...stop, Maeren."

"Only if you stop pouting whenever I think about Kaysa, talk to Kaysa, or do anything that isn't giving you my full, undivided attention."

"I wasn't pouting," he said. "I was frustrated with you for trying to push so hard." He massaged her shoulders soothingly and trepidly kissed the side of her neck. "I'm sorry, Maeren," he whispered. "You don't know how hard this is for me."

"Probably about as hard as it is for me," Shiv said. "And, you were too pouting. You had that little twist in your mouth and that look in your eyes. That's the Keeve Pout Face. I recognize it. The big change from when you were little is you don't stamp your feet when you pout now." She gave him a slight grin that threatened to turn into laughter.

"Well...I couldn't exactly stamp my feet in sand, now could I?" Keeve chuckled and turned Shiv around to face him. "Come on... Let's not fight about this. I wasn't angry with you for talking to Kaysa. I was just upset that you were pushing, especially with something that's kind of a sensitive topic." His hands came up to her cheeks and his thumbs smoothed away her drying tears. "No more crying, okay?"

"No more crying," Shiv whispered. "And, no more pushing either. So, you still want to come to the Palace tonight? Or should I be sick?"

"A very tempting proposal," Keeve said as his lips passed over hers. "We did promise to have drinks with Moril and Lerrah, though. However, I wouldn't be too upset if you did cancel..."

"We can cancel, and let them know, then have drinks with them," Shiv said with a smile. "And, I don't really feel like getting all glittered up tonight. I want to stay close to you, very close."

Keeve's hands slid down to Shiv's waist, and he pulled her into him, close, just as she wanted. "Shower again?" he asked.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea," Shiv purred. "It still feels like I have sand clinging to my body. Maybe you can help me find all of it." With that, she gave him a suggestively raised eyebrow as she started to move seductively toward the upstairs shower.

Keeve's jaw lowered slightly, then with a broad smile, he raced after Shiv and chased her up the stairs. His fingers pinched her rear and tickled her sides, bringing shrill squeals from Shiv, until he scooped her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way. "So...are you going to marry me yet, Maeren?" he asked with a playful wink. "Or is that going to take plenty more gifts?"

"If I agree to marry you," she asked as she wrapped her arms around him, "do I still get those gifts?"

Keeve's eyes grew wide, and he nodded hastily. "Oh definitely. And more! So...so will you then? Will you marry me, Maeren?"

"Not just yet, Keeve," Shiv said. "I want to very much, but I can't just yet. I want to tell Kaysa and Merrick about us before I tell them I've agreed to marry you. I love them so much, and I know if they came back and I told them that I was marrying you...it'd hurt them. As it is, with everything that's happened, me being with you will probably hurt Kaysa, but I can try to mend that. I don't know if I could mend it if... I will, my beautiful Keeve, but not just yet. I promise."

The excitement in Keeve's eyes dimmed, but he still smiled for Shiv. "I understand," he replied, a slight hint of dejection detectable in his voice. "I guess I'll have to start on those gifts. I have to find which one will win me Maeren Shivral's hand."

"Only if you want to, my love," Shiv said. "You've already got my heart, and soon my hand. It's just a little time, that's all. I haven't said no, Keeve. And, I won't."

"Well, what if I want to spoil my Auntie like my Auntie spoiled me when I was a kid?" Keeve kissed Shiv's plush lips delicately, then more fully until he found he couldn't pull away. He did, however, only to come up for air and to give her a desirous smile. "I think I want to spoil you right now, Maeren."

"Oh, you don't know how badly I've wanted to be spoiled all day," Shiv replied in a husky voice.

Keeve bowed his head obligingly and pushed into the refresher. Behind them, the door slid closed and muffled the delighted cries and pleasure-filled moans coming from within. If the intensity of Shiv's screams were any indication, Keeve was definitely spoiling her rotten.

"Big Score"
by Raxis L'Ygr [NPC+]
Grand Admiral Tarkin
Tralesha Zibel [NPC+]
Gort Donovan [NPC]
and Ronan Dayre [NPC]

Location: New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

It hadn't taken long for Raxis L'Ygr to get his comm connected in to Grand Admiral Tarkin. The aged Imperial's face appeared on the vidlink, and Raxis fixed him with a lazy smile. He blew out a cloud of smoke from his cigarra to momentarily obscure the display.

"Evenin', Admiral," he drawled. "I have something you want. Liam Zaneth, Jedi Knight. You have something I want. Five million credits for Liam Zaneth, Jedi Knight. Though, you may also know him as Kace Mordin."

Tarkin frowned. "I must warn you that I do not deal well with those who double-cross me, Mr. L'Ygr. And it seems you fit the profile. I am sure you will settle for two and a half million, or you may face your other options." He grinned.

"Very well, Grand Admiral Tarkin, then our business is at an end," Raxis said with a nod. "I shall take the Jedi to the other buyer I have arranged, who has placed a price tag of five million credits on his head. Good day."

Tarkin grinned. "Raxis, my boy, do you really think that I am this stupid? Think about it. Liam Zaneth is well capable of breaking loose and will have no mercy for you. He was once a Sith. Did you know that? Besides, would you place your friends in jeopardy as well?" he asked, then laughed for a brief moment. "You didn't think I didn't have some kind of insurance, did you? The Jedi, for the sum of two and a half million credits plus the lives of your mates..."

Raxis returned Tarkin's smile, then reached forward and touched a control on the vidlink interface. The screen expanded to take in the trio standing behind Raxis with Liam Zaneth held between them. "Those, dear grand admiral, sir, are what are commonly referred to as decoys. Some of the poor, pathetic chattel that inhabit this planet. These here, are my mates. So, yes, I do think you're that stupid, Admiral." He took a long drag off his cigarra and flicked it into the ashbin. "If you wish to get your hands on Liam Zaneth after this, I suggest you discuss the matter with Lord Dargus Kandran. Now, I hope you don't think me rude, but I have five mill to collect." With that, he cut the transmission.

Raxis turned back toward where Ronan, Gort, and Trelesha stood with Zaneth. Gort pushed the Jedi forward, and he toppled to the ground.

"The drugs are keeping him incoherent," the large merc announced. "I think we better get him to Kandran before he comes around. You know he'll wipe the floor with us if he gets free."

Raxis fixed him with a look, and sighed. He wouldn't start snapping at Gort now, not after all they'd been through. "Right," he said instead. "Tralesha, Ronan, get us a ship and get it prepped. Something with a secure holding cell and an auto-injection system. I want our friend set up here with bi-hourly doses to keep him sedated."

"Got it," Tralesha said, eyeing the Jedi on the ground. Without another word, she started away.

"You know, Darling," Ronan droned, "I really don't go in for this kidnapping business. It's really bad on the reputation, and just what does a man wear for that kind of thing? See you soon, you big hunk of masculine, tat-scratching, bantha steak." With a boisterous laugh, he followed Tralesha from the room.

Raxis chuckled and shook his head. He turned back to the vidlink and activated it. He routed the call through the Imperial system and then piggy-backed it on an obsolete planetary grid. The call would be secure, though clarity would suffer. A few moments later, a sour looking man answered the comm.

"May I help you, sir?"

"My name," Raxis began, "is Raxis L'Ygr. I am the leader of an organization known as the Red Dragons. I wish to speak to Dargus Kandran."

***

The Dragons had stowed their gear in their new ship, and the prisoner in the cargo bay. Gort was at the controls with Ronan beside him, that left Tralesha and Raxis in the main cabin.

"So, he agreed?"

Raxis looked at Tralesha and smiled. "Five million. All we need to do is bring the Jedi to him on Corellia."

"Corellia?"

"Long story. I guess he just got married, at least that's what his man said."

Tralesha nodded and turned her attention to her nails.

Raxis watched her. "So, speaking of marriages--"

"No."

"Tral--? We've been--"

"You know that kind of attachment is bad in groups like ours. I'll share your bed, Rax, but as long as we're doing this together...I can't."

"I understand," Raxis lied. "Well, maybe with the money we're getting, we can afford to settle down."

Tralesha didn't respond, and thankfully, a moment later Gort's voice called out: "Strap in! We're going up!"

It wouldn't be long, and the Red Dragons would make the biggest score of their careers.

"Liberation"
By: Dani
Koran Darr
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 14, 4ABY

***

Nieme glanced nervously at Dani again as they stood in the center of the large, oval room that had been designated as the Temple's council chamber. She'd had her hand tightly clinging to Dani's the entire time, waiting for Master Darr to enter and no doubt deal out their punishment. Nieme had rehearsed in her mind what she was going to say, the explanations she could give Koran to justify their actions, but knew even their tolerant master could not overlook what they'd done.

"Blame it all on me," Nieme whispered to Dani. "Tell him...it was an episode, or something, that I'm still not well after what happened in the desert. He'll believe that, won't he?"

"I can't do that, Nieme," Dani said. "I can't let you take the blame for this, especially since it was both of us. Whatever punishment he believes is necessary for us, we will accept together."

Nieme smiled at her lover and kissed her gently. "I love you, Dani. I know things have been a little shaky lately because of...Kael, but I do still love you so much."

"I know," Dani said with a smile. "I can feel it, and I can see it whenever you look at me. Oh goddess, Nieme, if we were anywhere else in the Temple I would--"

"And, that's exactly the problem the two of you have," came Master Koran Darr's voice as he strode soundlessly into the room. He flung a hand back behind him and the large heavy doors rolled shut. "Now, before I say any more, I would like to hear your side of this matter."

Nieme lowered her eyes to the ground, attempting to appear as meek as possible, and also to keep from having to regard Koran and absolutely cower under his stern gaze. "We...we had sex, that's all, Master Darr. And...and that new master guy...he walked in on us. That's all..."

"Master Andro indicated there were three of you having sex," Koran said. "The two of you and Aurra Sgall. Is this true?"

Nieme nodded, knowing that even attempting a denial would only make matters worse.

"Why have you taken to including her in your relationship?" Koran asked. "And, what of your newly rekindled relationship with Kael Selrid, Nieme? To me, this appears to be about more than a relationship. To me, this seems more about sex for the sake of sex, with little attachment."

"That's not true!" she protested, finally regarding him. "This is not just sex. It's about feeling good, and about showing those you care about how much you really do care. I love Kael, and me and Dani love our Aurra. The sex is just an extension of that. But...you wouldn't understand either. It's not like you've ever experienced that with anyone."

"Do not speak about things of which you know nothing, young padawan," Koran answered. "To let someone know you care for them does not require a sexual union. To give yourself so freely to those around you lessens the gift that you are giving them. It becomes more about fulfilling hedonistic desires than expressing any emotion. Your relationship with Dani is acceptable. I know the two of you love each other. However, what you have been sharing with the others...that must stop."

"What!" Nieme looked to Dani, then quickly shifted her gaze back to Koran. "You can't. I love Kael! And...and we love Aurra. She needs us! You can't do this, Master."

Dani's gaze darkened and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I am your Jedi Master," Koran said. "By rights, I don't have to allow the two of you to continue your relationship. I cannot allow this to continue, not if you wish to remain at the Temple."

Nieme frowned. "You mean...you want us to leave?"

"I don't want you to leave," Koran said. "But if you are unable to follow the rules of the Jedi Order, then I see little other option."

Nieme took a hasty step forward. "But, you said we could. You said relationships were allowed!"

"Relationships are allowed," Koran said softly, "but not with half the rest of the padawans. However, the two of you were seen with Talara the other day, which could possibly put you into relationships with every single other padawan at the Temple. The relationships that are allowed are the bond between two people, not what you've been engaged in." In the back of Koran's mind, a spark ignited. He had broken that very rule himself...but that was past now, and it had nearly gotten them all killed. "After recent events, I am uncertain that I agree that the forbiddance on attachments should have been lifted. I am willing to make allowances, however, but not for the hedonistic displays that you two are gaining a reputation for."

"Well, if others would mind their own damned business we wouldn't have a reputation," Nieme retorted caustically. "We were in the confines of Aurra's room when Andro barged in. And we haven't done anything with Talara! We just want to be her friend."

Koran crossed his arms over his chest. "When your emotions expand past the boundaries of your room, then it becomes our business as well. Will you abide by what I have said here today?"

Nieme looked helplessly to Dani, then back to Koran. She opened her mouth to protest one final time, but Koran's implacable gaze stifled any further objections. "You've left us no choice but to," she replied wryly.

"There is a choice," Koran said. "But it isn't an easy one, and definitely not a pleasant one if you wish to be a Jedi. I am not trying to be mean, Nieme. I am trying to instil some order and discipline into the chaos of your life. All the others have seen it, and I cannot allow it to continue. The path before you, the one I am trying to pull you from, leads to the dark side. I don't want to see you lost there."

"There is no darkness in what we do," she said with a narrowed gaze. "I've seen it, in Kael, in Liam Zaneth, and I know how to avoid it. You don't give me enough credit, Koran Darr; I am more disciplined than you think, and am insulted that you underestimate me so."

"Then you don't believe trying to steal Kael away from Raeila is an act of darkness? I can feel the anger and jealousy within you, Nieme. Your defiance and spite are leading you on a treacherous journey, and if you are unwilling to recognize that then you may be farther along than I'd suspected."

"I'm trying to steal no one," she said. "I love Kael and merely want to share in that love with him. I'm angry because you're accusing us of things we haven't done and you're trying to stifle our ability to love. You don't know what it's like," she told him more calmly. "You've never been in love, Koran Darr. You can't just turn it on and off. If you're unable to express that love...a piece of you just...dies. Can't you understand that? Can't you even try to?"

"How do you believe Raeila would react to your relationship with Kael?"

Nieme sighed. "I know she wouldn't like it. But why should I care how it would affect her? She didn't give a moment's thought to how having Dani and I beaten and raped would affect us."

"And so it is your belief that because she hurt you, you are perfectly justified in hurting her in return?"

Nieme sighed irritably. "No! I'm not saying that. I'm saying that if she does get hurt, I'm not going to feel sorry for her. Besides, who says she has to find out?"

"These are not the sentiments of a Jedi Knight, Nieme. These are not feelings that you should be harbouring as a Jedi padawan. Nieme, do you wish to be a Jedi Knight?"

"I do, Master Darr," she said sincerely. "I want to be a Diplomat with Dani, so we can help people and make them happy."

"You can be a diplomat without being a Jedi Knight," Koran said. "And, a diplomat's primary function is going to be negotiating between two parties. I want you both to be here, to learn to be Jedi, but it must be because this is what you wish. And, I do not want grudging cooperation, that will only breed resentment."

"We don't resent you, Master Darr," Nieme said. "It's just...we don't understand what the big deal is. We don't understand why expressing love is so wrong." She shrugged and stepped back to Dani's side, taking her lover's hand again. "I mean...is it so wrong that you like Laedra Vorrel and she's with Liam Zaneth? But I guess it's okay for Masters...because they're infallible, after all..."

"I have never said that expressing your love for each other is wrong," Koran said. "However, we are allowing you to continue your relationship with each other. What exists between myself, Liam, and Laedra is between us and not for discussion." Koran sighed. "You are walking a very thin line, Nieme. Your attitude will need to change, immediately. If I sense more confrontation with you, then I will have no option but to remove you from this Temple."

Dani stepped forward, her mouth opening to speak. Koran stayed her with a glance. He returned his penetrating gaze to Nieme. "Am I understood, Padawan?"

The squeeze of her hand that came from Dani suppressed Nieme's contentious urges and finally she relented. "You are understood, Master Darr," she said tightly.

"Good," Koran said. "The two of you should remain here for meditation. We will resume our lightsaber training this evening. May the Force be with you."

Nieme let out a cleansing breath and bowed her head. "Yes...Master."

"Yes, Master," Dani said softly, then added, "May the Force be with you, Master."

Koran nodded to them both, and then exited the room.

"Jerk," Nieme muttered once she was certain he was gone. "Can you believe him? Telling us we can't be with who we choose... We're like prisoners!"

"Nieme," Dani said. "I-- I don't think we should be talking like that about him, even if he can't hear. He was very upset with us, and...and I think he felt like we let him down."

Nieme looked quizzically to Dani. "What? Let him down?" She snorted. "We did not. How could we? It's not like we're his children and he raised us. Hells, Dani, he isn't even our master half the time. He's always off doing something or other, or following Master Vorrel around the Temple.... He wouldn't care what we did if Master Ki'Ayalin hadn't tattled on us."

"You've changed, Nieme," Dani said and turned toward the light streaming in through one of the large windows. "Liam Zaneth is gone, Nieme. He's a prisoner of the Dark Tower now, and he won't be coming back unchanged. He will be Kace Mordin again."

"So?" Nieme replied. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Dani could only shake her head. "What's happened to you, Nieme? Why are you so angry and bitter? Why does darkness rim your emotions now? What's happening?"

Nieme moved behind her lover and lightly placed her hands upon Dani's shoulders. "Nothing's wrong," she whispered. "I'm just being me and all the masters seem to think that's something horrible." She nuzzled her lips to Dani's neck. "Please...it isn't darkness, Dani. I'm just angry that we're being punished for being in love. It isn't right."

"It isn't right, but it's still the rules. We were breaking the rules before they allowed relationships. Koran seemed very serious, Nieme. If we mess this up, I think they will expel us. We have to be very careful from now on. We can't get thrown out, Nieme. We can't."

"And why not?" she asked with defiance. "What? Are we nothing without the Order now? We'd still have each other, Dani. That's what's important."

"Then let's leave," Dani said. "Let's just get our things and go. We'll find a place in the city for just us, and...and we'll be us, and there'll be the clubs and dancing and...and it'll be good, Nieme. We'll be able to do what we want without Masters telling us to do something else. Let's just go."

Nieme searched Dani's violet eyes, intrigue and curiousity shining in her own. "But...I thought you wanted to be a diplomat," she said. "I thought...I thought you wanted all this."

"I do want to be a diplomat Nieme, and I want to be a Jedi," Dani said softly. "But...but I don't want to hurt the people here. If...if that's the direction we're going anyway, I'd rather...I'd rather go before it gets bad. I'd rather go still as friends, than as an unwanted burden. There are many things I want to be in my life, Nieme, but nothing is more important in my life than you. I was happy for those first two days we were on our own in the desert. I loved sharing a house and a life with you. If this is all going to be...going to crumble, then...then I want to go before...before I feel unwanted or unwelcome here."

Nieme's lips broadened into a smile and her hand came up to caress Dani's cheek. "We could always come back and visit whenever we wanted to... And...and we could train each other to be Jedi. I have some of Jae Dyn Brael's knowledge still in my head... We could figure it all out together." She giggled excitedly and embraced her lover tightly. "And there'd be no one telling us what and what not to do... We wouldn't have to sneak out to go to the clubs and-- Oh gods, it'll be great, Dani!"

"Let's go get our things, Nieme," Dani whispered excitedly. "Let's get our things and take the swoop into the city. We'll find a place and...and we can find our happiness away from the Jedi Order, and we can be with whoever we want without upsetting anyone! Oh goddess, Nieme, it'll be amazing." For the first time since the meeting with Koran Darr had started, Dani's fear seemed to have lifted and she was genuinely excited again.

"Oh, but what about Orn?" Nieme asked. "Oh, Dani, we can't leave without saying goodbye...but what if he tries to stop us?"

"Let's leave a note," Dani said. "And, then...then next week, we can come back and talk to people. We can say our goodbyes then, and then they'll see that they aren't really goodbyes after all. We're just...just moving on. I'm sure they'll all understand."

"Yeah," Nieme agreed, less than emphatically. "It'll be like we aren't even gone." She stifled a squeal and embraced Dani again briefly. "We have to pack, and I think we should leave in the middle of the night when everyone's asleep. Let's get going, my love. We don't want stupid Master Darr to catch on to what we're planning."

Dani sighed and then nodded. "Come on, let's go get our things packed up. Hopefully we can get everything to the swoop in one trip tonight. We can probably even slip out the window in our room tonight!"

"We'll show them what good little Jedi we are when we sneak out right under their noses."

Making certain Koran Darr wasn't standing outside the door, ensuring that they really did complete their meditation session, Dani and Nieme peered up and down the corridor, then skulked out and towards their room. Once again, they were turning their backs on the Temple, on the place they felt was smothering their spirit and vitality. Together, they would travel to New Plouton where they would be free to grow and do as they pleased. Only together, without imposed restrictions and codes, could they love and be who they truly were meant to be.

"Recent Events"
by Kyra Ronso
and Grand Admiral Tarkin

Location: New Plouton & Arcadia
Date: Eos 14, 4 ABY

***

Kyra was eating a respari omelette at Raoral's restaurant. As she ate she thought about Ellemiek. It had been too many years since the last time, and it brought too many memories from the old days, days she would gladly forget if not for Auron...

Suddenly her small portable console started to beep. She quickly picked it up and saw that it was a message from the Grand Admiral himself. She got up and went to the bathroom. Once there she checked if there was someone else there, but the place was empty. She locked the bathroom door and turned the console on. "Yes, Grand Admiral..." she saluted.

Tarkin frowned from the other side. "Have you found any leads?" he asked simply.

"No, sir. I have been on their apartment but they were long gone, sir," Kyra informed, speaking to the holographic image of Grand Admiral Tarkin. "Is there something wrong, Grand Admiral?"

Tarkin nodded. "Indeed there is. There has been an attack right here in the city of Arcadia. Some kind of a terrorist attack on an AT-AT. It seems that they managed to escape, but must be nearby still. I want you to come and investigate at once... I need someone competent on this matter," he told her.

"Yes, my liege. I'm on my way." Kyra nodded just before turning off the comm. She made her way to pay the bill and went to the spaceport, entering her TIE defender. In an hour or so she arrived at Arcadia. She made her way to the throne room at once. "I came as soon as possible, my liege," she said as she walked in.

Tarkin turned to her as he was glancing at a padd, his back to the main doors. "The situation seems menacing," he told her. "We cannot allow rebels to practice these terrorist attacks on Arcadia! I want the guilty ones brought down. Butchered or not, they must fall!" he told her with a strong frown. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. I expect that you, with your experience, will be able to find them..."

"Of course, my liege, if they left some clues. If not they could be long gone by know," Kyra stated as she walked to the window. "I'll start right away, sir. But first I want to talk to every stormtrooper who was involved with this situation, and I also want to know were they have gone after they blew up the AT-AT walker."

"That can be arranged easily. I will have the Platoon Commander give you that data," Tarkin replied. "And there are plenty of tracks until the part where they disappear. You see, they were followed until they went into a sewer system. They tried to drown them by opening the conducts but the bodies never appeared and a sweep team has gone underground but come up with nothing."

"I'll start right way, my liege." Kyra bowed just before she turned around and walked out the doors. She was going to try to find the attackers but at this point it seemed it was too late. The attackers ought to be long gone...

"Underwater Base"
by Auron Ronso
and Ellemiek Vermolen

Location: Somewhere Underwater
Date: Eos 14, 4 ABY

***

Neither Auron or Ellemiek knew where this transport would take them. They hoped it wasn't a place with stormtroopers after that encounter in Arcadia, but truth was that it was all mere speculation. They were ridding the device for almost an hour in high speed. Auron picked up the shakraa weapon, getting ready for if they were received by unwelcome people.

The device slowly decreased speed. They knew that they were arriving to the end of the tunnel, wherever that was. The speed of the device decreased more rapidly as it got closer to the end of the tunnel until it finally stopped at a dock of some sort.

Auron got out and so he turned on a small lantern he had with him, since there were no lights. The place seemed to be a small docking bay with two heavy repeating blaster on the sides that seemed had never been used. There was a rusty door and on the right side of the door was a small panel. Auron checked it, but the console wasn't operational.

"The console isn't working so we'll have to open this with our bare hands..." Auron said as he looked at Ellemiek who was getting out of the transport device. "Or we can knock on the door and see if anybody is home," he added up with a grin.

She walked towards him and smiled, pushing him gently aside. She pried the panel at the doorside open and glanced at it with her own flashlight. "All it needs is a little woman's touch..." she said as she tampered with the wires. It took her but a few seconds to get it working. Lights turned on in the console and she pressed the main button, making the doors open. She nodded at Auron. "See?" she mocked him, as she got her blaster just in case.

"I could have done that!" Auron said as entered through the doors. He could tell it was a huge place because of the echo, and as soon as he flashed around his flashlight he could see that indeed it was huge. A secluded warehouse of some sort. "Try to find the light switcher, Ellemiek!" he said.

Ellemiek looked about. Since they were in a huge place there ought to be a command console somewhere nearby the entrance area, as it normally was. She looked about and found what seemed like a small console in a metallic structure. She glanced at its commands by pointing her flashlight at it and finally found what she was looking for.

Pressing a button, some generators could be heard as they sprung to life and the lights turned themselves on. It was no warehouse, but a huge hangar of some sort. There were thick walls and parts of it were made of a see-through material, glass-like. It then became obvious that they were underwater. Just where and how deep was unknown... There were also some starships. One huge one, with some avant-garde design. In it there seemed to be no markings but one. The symbol of the Royal Family of Tae'Karada. Beside it were several smaller fighters, similar to the ones flown by the Tae'Morad.

"This must be an emergency hangar. I've heard of this place when I was a kid!" Ellemiek said. "A specially built hangar for the Royal family to escape to in case something went wrong... I guess they were not able to reach it in time when the Imperial Forces came," she added.

"Yeah, must be..." Auron nodded, then pausing to glance at the symbol on the big ship. "So if this is an emergency hangar for the Royal family, that means that tunnel goes directly to the center of the palace."

"Not necessarily the center..." Ellemiek stated. "But it would be somewhere within the palace vicinity for sure! Still, at least this should be a safe place. I don't think the Imps know of it... In fact, I think we are the first ones here in a long time!" she smiled.

"Yes..." Auron paused for awhile as he watched one of the fighters. "I don't recall flying this starfighter model. Even so, it feels quite familiar," he added, pointing to one of the starfighters.

Ellemiek raised her eyebrows and sighed. "Well, I for one can't say the same thing. But they do resemble the Tae'Morad fighters in a way... Do you think they still work? Maybe we can use them to get out of here."

"Well we have to see if the cells still work. If they are dried up we have to recharge them," Auron said, as he looked at Ellemiek.

"Yeah, let's..." she nodded then made her way to the fighters to check them out. By that time there was a message coming through in her comm unit. She could not make it clear with all the static. "Come on, I have a plan... Let's connect this unit to the main ship. With its computer we ought to get a clearer signal," she said.

Entering the main ship they could see all the luxury, all the comfort and design. A starship truly made for royalty. It made Ellemiek gasp with the beauty as she had never expected a getaway ship to be so beautiful. In fact, she had never seen anything like it. Alas, she had little time to lose as the message was coming through, so she went up to the cockpit and connected the small portable communications unit to the main computer of the starship. Gladly, it was still working properly and had power.

"...Blair, come in, Commander Vermolen," the voice said.

Ellemiek pressed the comm button. "Vermolen here. Go through with message."

"Glad to hear you're still out there, Commander. This is Alisson Blair. We met sometime ago..." the voice said.

"Yes, I recall you. I was hoping you'd reach me sometime soon..." Ellemiek replied. "Do you have any news for me?"

"Indeed! I was hoping we could meet. Do you know where the Chalkyon Canyons are? Far west from New Plouton's area..." Alisson said.

"I know where it is. When do you want to meet?" she asked Alisson.

"On the 19th just before sundown," Alisson stated. "At the coordinates where parallel 47 crosses the canyons. Is that okay with you?"

"That is perfect, and it should be off the Imperial territory of occupation for sure!" Ellemiek smiled as she glanced at Auron. "Ellemiek out..." she said as she turned it off. She then turned to Auron. "So, it seems we have a long time before we can figure out how to get out of here," she said as she glanced around at the ship. "I've never been in a royal starship vessel before..." she smirked.

"Me neither..." Auron said as he looked at Ellemiek in the eyes. "We do have five days..." he grinned.

"Yes, maybe we can spare some time. It would be a good idea to lay low for a while after that incident in Arcadia..." She grinned as she looked deep into his eyes. She barely noticed that the distance between them had gotten shorter, and before she could tell, she had her arms around him and her lips sealed over his while they kissed.

Auron kissed her back, placing his arms around her as well. "You didn't change one bit," Auron said before he kissed her once more.

"I bet there's a royal room in this ship..." Ellemiek whispered in his ear.

They continued to kiss each other as they made their way to one of the rooms, parts of their clothing falling along the way. The main room was easier to find than they had expected. In it were a huge bed along with several decoration objects. Ellemiek fell on the bed, pulling Auron with her.

The following morning she was sleeping in his arms as she woke up with him curling his fingers in her hair. She looked up at him and smiled. "Hey..." she said. "I think we better contact Jukwon. He will be preoccupied with us not showing up, back in New Plouton."

"Yes, I agree! While you contact him, I will go and get started on the ships." Auron smiled at her.

"Yeah..." she smiled as she got out of bed and got dressed. After sending a message to New Plouton she made her way to meet with Auron who was checking the small starfighter ships.

"I have been checking the cells and they're in bad shape. How long would it take to recharge them?" he asked, making his way to Ellemiek.

"Let me take a look," she said as she neared the ships and glanced at the panel. She kneeled down and opened a lower panel door and pressed a button there as well as she saw the wiring connections. "The powercells are okay but they're dried up, meaning these ships are in a hibernation mode to prevent them from stopping working. They will work fine, but the cells take twenty four hours to recharge completely. So, until tomorrow at least, were stuck here..." she said as she adjusted the ship she was looking at. "There, this one's all done!" she smiled. "I'll get another one done. Find us some food supplies. Each ship ought to have a life support system, so get one of them at least for us."