"Trials, Part 1"
by Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Laedra Vorrel
Kael Selrid
Jae Dyn Brael
Liam Zaneth
and Koran Darr
Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 16, 4ABY
***
Their exuberant, crisp laughter projected above the thunderous rumbling of
the falls and dampened the dissonant susurrations mingling with the
breeze. She'd learned to otherwise ignore them, but at times they were
very persistent and almost succeeded in disturbing the fragile calm she had
achieved here. Though, the longer she spent here, the less imposing their
presence became and now they were all but relegated from her private
sanctuary.
"Niemiesh! Come this way!"
She giggled again as the girl rushed past her and darted into the copse.
Nieme followed and soon the two girls were once again traipsing
hand-in-hand through the forest towards the clearing.
"Now, Niemiesh," the brown-eyed girl began, "you must remember that I care
for you and that you should always remain here with me. You will remember
that, won't you, Niemiesh?"
Nieme nodded and smiled at the girl, who returned an identical smile with
the curling of her identical lips. Their steps fell in unison and each
gesture was mimicked by the other as if they shared like minds, and not
just like bodies. Understandably so, considering Nieme had created her
counterpart in the image of someone she felt absolutely comfortable with,
and someone she trusted above all others. The only difference between
herself and the alternate version of herself was that she bore qualities
Nieme lacked. She was confident and wilful; strong and assertive. She
made sure Nieme was never fooled by the voices trying to coax her from the
sanctuary, and comforted her when the storms came.
They were less frequent now, especially after Nieme began relinquishing her
hold on the place outside of the waterfalls, the place of pain and sadness
her friend had called it. No longer tethered to reality, Nieme could live
freely in her refuge and continue shaping it to give form to her whims and
yearnings, and to strengthen the shield she'd created to keep out the
storms.
"Here we are, Niemiesh." Her friend sighed happily as they entered the
clearing. Instead of taking Nieme towards the cliff, however, she steered
her towards the dense wall of darkness, the place where Kael resided.
Nieme shook her head and tried to pull her friend back. "W-We can't. We
can't disturb him."
"Oh, now now, Niemiesh. He loves you, doesn't he? He wants you to disturb
him."
Nieme stood fast and refused to go any further. "What if he's already come
out? What if he comes looking for me? He won't be able to find me."
"Don't worry, my Niemiesh. I'll stay out here and if he comes by, I'll
tell him where you've gone." She pressed her hand to Nieme's cheek - with
Nieme's hand - and gave her a reassuring smile. "Now, go on," she urged
gently. "I feel another storm coming on. You'll be safe in here."
Nieme gazed up at the graying sky and flinched as the crackling bolts of
lightening streaked across it. She looked uncertainly at her friend, then
reluctantly to the darkness. Kael would be happy she came, because it
would prove her love for him. She'd waited and waited for him to come out,
but he never had. Now, she would have to go in and retrieve him instead.
Her friend nodded encouragement and smiled warmly. "I have to go now,"
Nieme said with a sigh. "Remember, if Kael comes--"
"I'll tell him." The girls embraced and as the stormclouds amassed and
drew nearer, Nieme backed away from her friend and melded with the
darkness. "That's a good girl," her friend called out, and with a stiff
nod, she crossed her arms over her chest and stood guard at the entrance of
Nieme's most private abode.
***
"Nieme! Please, calm down!" Laedra held down Nieme's thrashing body after
abandoning all attempts to soothe her with the Force. "Kael! Is Liam
coming?" Before she could receive a response, Nieme's head swung forward
and dashed Laedra's face. She fell back and pressed her fingers to her
bleeding lip.
A shattering, sustained cry came from Nieme, then...surcease. Laedra
regained her footing and stood over Nieme's listless form. She stared
unfocused at the ceiling with glazed over eyes and mouth hanging
agape. Laedra passed her hand over Nieme's glassy eyes, but she received
not a blink or even a twitch. "Oh gods..." she whispered. "Kael...go
retrieve Jae Dyn. Gods...I hope it isn't too late."
Kael raced for the doorway, but skidded to a stop when a very serene
looking Jae Dyn Brael appeared in the doorway. "I sensed that it was
time," she said softly. She moved into the room and looked down at Nieme
lying still. She looked up at Laedra and saw the crimson droplets welling
on her lip. Jae Dyn raised a hand and pressed her fingers gently to
Laedra's lips. She closed her eyes, and focused briefly on healing the
damage done by Nieme's head. "We will have to do this a day early. Liam
will be here as soon as he is able," she said. "He and Yelara were loading
the speeder. I will need you to lend some of your power to me during this
procedure. We will link through the Force."
Laedra ran her tongue over the closed wound upon her lip as she nodded. "I
will assist you however you wish, Jae Dyn. But, are you certain it is not
already too late?"
"I am not certain of anything other than that if we don't act now, it will
be too late," Jae Dyn said. She moved into place at the head of the bed
where Nieme lay. She took a deep breath and focused herself. As she did,
she became aware of the power pulsing within both Kael and Laedra. She
sent out silent commands to each: join with me. And, as she did so, she
placed her hands on Nieme's head and started the procedure to enter Nieme's
mind.
Nieme's avatar gasped as a bolt of lightening pierced the protective dome
around their sanctuary. "Oh, no no no!" She stepped forward with her
hands fisted at her hips and glared up at the swirling clouds. "You can't
come here! Go away!" Her lips pressed thinly and her eyes narrowed as she
concentrated on the crack in their shield and worked at trying to mend it.
She was supposed to protect their haven, and she would do it at the expense
of whoever dared attempt to intrude.
Jae Dyn pulled back from the contact and took a deep breath. "She's
fortified in there," she said. "I'm going to need more power here. We
need Liam."
Kael nodded. "I'll get him," he said. At Jae Dyn's nod, he ran from the
room.
Once he was gone, Jae Dyn turned to Laedra. "I think if I can get inside,
I can bring her out again. I don't know what will happen when I'm inside
though."
"If she is this determined to keep you out now, I imagine you will be faced
with much resistance from within." Laedra stepped forward and fixed a firm
gaze upon Jae Dyn. "You could become trapped or lost in there, Jae Dyn. A
mind as disturbed as hers is can become quite a confused place. Are you
certain you are prepared for this?"
"I am prepared as I can be," Jae Dyn said. "Nieme is running out of time,
and this has to happen now. With the four of us linked, I will be more
focused than any single Jedi ever could be. It is dangerous, but I can't
sit and do nothing while she dies. It is dangerous, but I have to try."
"As long as you understand the risks, Jae Dyn. But please," she said with
a smile as she placed her hand upon Jae Dyn's shoulder, "go gentle on us."
Jae Dyn smiled at Laedra and held her eyes for a moment. "I promise," she
said. "I know something bad may happen when I'm in there. If it does,
please do one thing for me."
Laedra frowned slightly with concern, then nodded. "Anything you wish, Jae
Dyn Brael."
"Should anything happen to me, I want you to try to be Yelara's
friend. She'll need friends...if that happens. And, continue to love
Liam, and don't let him get away." She took a deep breath and then let it
out. "And, most importantly, please watch after my baby. I know Yara is
strong in the Force, and I would like for you to be the one who trains her."
Laedra sat down upon the bed and stared absently at her hands. "I...have
no idea what to say, Jae Dyn. After the other day, I would have thought
myself the last person you would ask such things of. Frankly...I don't
understand."
"You are an honourable and respectable woman," Jae Dyn said. "Of all the
people here, I would prefer that you, a woman and, despite other
considerations, someone I respect very much, train Yara as a Jedi. I know
you will be a good trainer for her, and I know that she will become a great
Jedi under your care."
"Then I accept, Jae Dyn Brael. I will train Yara as you have asked. As
for Yelara..." Laedra sighed and smiled ruefully. "I will be a friend to
her as best I can. It will be difficult considering she is Liam's wife and
I...am forced to occupy a position inferior to hers as his mistress. I use
that word because I've no illusions, Jae Dyn, that you still have no idea
what is going on between us. I am in love with him, and he with me. But I
will not let that interfere with my treatment of Yelara. She is his wife,
and I will give her the respect she deserves. I will protect her and keep
her safe, as you have. Though, I have faith in your abilities and I know
you will come through this, Jae Dyn." Laedra covered Jae Dyn's hand with
hers. "I just know it."
Jae Dyn bowed to Laedra. She gave her a smile and then turned her
attention back to Nieme. Her thoughts and emotions were channelled into
preparing for the task ahead of her. She took a deep breath, and sent a
silent thank you to Laedra. "As soon as they return," she said softly, "I
am going to begin."
Laedra nodded and rose from the bed to free Jae Dyn of the distraction her
presence might cause and allow her to focus. She would need it if she was
to succeed. A smile involuntarily formed on her lips as she sensed Liam's
arrival. She moved to the door and opened it as he was completing his
approach. "Has Kael told you everything?"
Liam nodded and glanced to the young Padawan at his heel. "He has," he
said. "I am ready to assist." He began shrugging out of his robe as he
passed through the doorway, taking the opportunity to brush against
Laedra. He let that one touch convey his love for her as he moved to the
opposite side of the bed to help lend his strength to Jae Dyn.
"Come, Kael," Laedra said after settling her heart beat. "I believe it
would be best if we had a seat." She placed her hand on Kael's back for
comfort and reassurance, but not only for him, but for herself as well.
Never had she participated in anything like this, and it was that she had
no idea what was to come that she grew anxious.
Kael took the seat next to Laedra and tried to give her his best look of
confidence. "It'll be fine," he said, not sure who he was trying to
reassure more. He reached out and touched a hand to Nieme, silently
offering her his strength as well as a prayer to Thana.
Jae Dyn reached out to each of the Jedi present, and pulled some of their
strength to her, aiding her focus. With her mind and emotions as calm as
glass, she once again pushed her consciousness inside of Nieme's mind.
"My, aren't we persistent?" The girl sighed wearily and shook her head
disparagingly as the clouds roiled and lightening lashed out towards the
dome protecting their sanctuary. "You're not supposed to be here!" she
sang irritably. Once again, she concentrated on closing the fissure being
created by the intruder, but the task was a difficult one, considering Jae
Dyn now had the power and focus of four Jedi instead of one.
Jae Dyn focused her attention on the fractures spreading from where she'd
made her entrance. She brought the will of all four Jedi to bear, and
pushed the edges of the widening gap aside. Once it was large enough, she
leapt through and into the clearing.
"I have come for Nieme," she said solemnly.
Jae Dyn was met with an airy sigh and a very sour frown. "You're not
supposed to be here," the girl chided. "I think you should leave."
"Nieme is not supposed to have withdrawn here either," Jae Dyn said. "And,
I will not leave without her. You will bring Nieme to me now." She
brought the force of all their minds to bear in the suggestion.
The girl staggered back and shook her head wildly. "Stop that, now! There
won't be any of that here! You have no grasp of the power of this
place. I suggest you leave before we're forced to make you go."
"I cannot leave without Nieme," Jae Dyn said. "Kael and Dani are anxiously
waiting to see her, and they are counting on me to bring her back to them."
The girl smiled coldly at Jae Dyn and circled her slowly. "She likes it
here. Why would you want to send her back there? I'm her friend and I
make her happy. I think you should just go now."
"If you are her friend," Jae Dyn said, keeping track of the girl with her
Force-enhanced senses, "then why do you keep her here away from her other
friends, those outside of this place who love her? Would she like it here
if she knew that Kael spends most of his nights sleepless with
worry? Would she like it here to know that Dani has barely eaten since she
arrived back at the Temple? Would she like it to know that her friends are
risking their lives to save her?"
"Save her from what?" The girl stopped in front of Jae Dyn and inclined
her head sideways, studying her as if she were an oddity, and not just an
unwelcome guest. "You're stupid. You don't know anything about what goes
on in here. This is where Niemiesh feels safest. Now...are you going to
leave or am I going to have to do something not very nice?"
"How long do you think Nieme will last when her body gives up?" Jae Dyn
asked. "This world in here is dependent on her mind's ability to continue
functioning. Once her body dies because she's no longer eating, then all
of this will be gone."
"And you'd let her die, wouldn't you? We know the marvels of medicine and
you could keep her alive indefinitely whether she chooses to eat or not."
The girl took a step closer and her lips curled sharply into a mischievous
grin. "You've let a lot of people die...haven't you? Not very good at
saving those you care for, so what makes you think you can save Niemiesh?"
Her laughter was startling and shrewd, but her eyes still held their icy,
predatory gleam. "Couldn't keep him alive, could you?" The girl glanced
over Jae Dyn's shoulder, then giggled and began backing away. "Have fun."
Then, she sped away.
Jae Dyn turned around and nearly gasped. "Master Tal Dan," she said. In
her mind she knew that the man standing before her was a fabrication of
Nieme's consciousness, and possibly some of her own as well. She couldn't
help the bad habits as she bowed low to him.
"Much changed since we last were together. But still the Jae Dyn I
remember." The man walked forward at a leisurely pace, nodding in approval
as he inspected Jae Dyn's appearance. "Are you well, Padawan?"
"I am well, Master," Jae Dyn replied. "I am preparing for my
trials. Soon, I will be a Jedi Knight." She stood tall in his presence,
even though he nearly towered over her. She knew she was still herself,
but now he seemed to her as he'd been when she first went with him for
training. She focused her mind on the here and now, the fact that she was
a woman, and no longer the child he had taken away.
"A Jedi Knight?" he repeated, but was soon chuckling lowly. "Oh, I think
not, my young Padawan. Do you really think you are prepared for such an
arduous endeavour?"
"I am quite prepared for the trials, Master Tal Dan," Jae Dyn
responded. "And, I am ready as well to be a Jedi Knight. We are
rebuilding the Jedi Order, and soon the Jedi will thrive again."
Tal Dan grasped his chin with his thumb and forefinger while narrowing his
eyes pensively. Finally, he shook his head. "No, you will fail, Jae Dyn.
How could you not? You failed me, didn't you? I did everything for you,
Padawan, and you repay me by allowing that perversion of a Jedi to murder
me. No, a Jedi Knight you will not be."
"You didn't take me with you," Jae Dyn said calmly. "I could not be there
to save you. I cannot hold myself responsible for every death I was unable
to prevent. I will not feel guilty for an action I could not have
prevented because of circumstance."
"Circumstance? Failure, Jae Dyn." He circled her much as the girl had,
closing in on his prey with a vicious smile. "You should have known, Jae
Dyn. You should have stopped him. If you truly were powerful, you would
have. Did you even hunt the killer down? Did you even bother to discover
who it was that took my life?"
"Revenge is not the way of the Jedi," Jae Dyn said. "We were hunted, and
searching for your killer would have only made me a target. If I had
searched for you, I would have likely ended up dead as well."
"Pathetic creature." His face contorted into an expression of disgust as
he stood before her now. "You would not have found him even if you had
searched. You are weak and untalented. How could you possibly believe you
are worthy of becoming a Jedi Knight when you cannot even sense your
Master's murderer as he stands directly in front of you?" He drew nearer
to her and with each step, his lips peeled back farther. "You've eaten
with him, shared a home with him. You have even shared your body with him,
yet you still do not recognize him for the vicious killer he is? Once
again," he whispered with an acidulous smile. "Pathetic creature."
"Liam," Jae Dyn whispered softly. "Liam is the one who killed you." The
feelings of doubt and anger surged within her, but she quickly pulled them
down and into a secure part of her mind. She couldn't afford to lose focus
now. She couldn't afford to divert from her goal of saving Nieme. She
would deal with Tal Dan's revelation later. "Liam Zaneth has changed since
then, and he regrets his past. The real Master Tal Dan would have
acknowledged his growth, and not condemned him for past mistakes."
"But it is you I condemn, Jae Dyn. You are the one who failed me." He
stood behind her now and the distinct thrum of a lightsaber igniting
sounded. "Prove your worth, Padawan. Fight me now and prove you deserve
the title of Knight."
Jae Dyn turned around but kept her lightsaber at her belt. "I am worthy,"
she said. She moved into a ready stance, and prepared for his attack. "I
feel it within myself, and I feel it in the Force."
"Imaginings of your greatest aspirations, nothing more." The man swung his
cyan blade before him, taking one deliberate, menacing step towards her
with each pass. "You won't even raise your weapon to me, and you believe
you're worthy? You're frightened that if you tried, you couldn't defeat
me. You are nothing, always were. I don't know why I didn't kill you long
ago." One hand shot out sideways and swept towards Jae Dyn with a jagged,
plump rock in its Force grip. It sailed towards her, along with Tal Dan's
blade as he followed with a lunge.
In a smooth graceful move, Jae Dyn dropped low as she pulled her lightsaber
up to parry his attack one-handed. Her other hand stretched out to erect a
wall of Force energy against the incoming projectile. Once that threat had
been diverted, she rolled away from his violent attacks, and brought
herself up ready once more. Arcs of cyan and purple flashed in the
darkening gloom of the storm raging above. Each attack was parried aside
as they traded blows.
"I will not give in to hatred," Jae Dyn said as she riposted one of his
attacks, and followed quickly with a lunge that nearly speared his side.
"Sluggish and unskilled. You always were a disappointment, Jae Dyn."
He vaulted over her just as a cry in the distance rang out. From the line
of sight he had just cleared and far beyond towards the treeline, a tall,
dark figure loomed. The man wore his characteristic malignant smile and
his liquid, black eyes oozed violent intent. His forearm was drawn across
the neck of his victim, constricting her throat and choking her cries. She
managed to croak Jae Dyn's name again and reached out a hand towards her.
Behind Jae Dyn, Tal Dan slashed down his blade, but it was intercepted by
Jae Dyn's before he could slice through her skull.
Jae Dyn rolled away from Tal Dan and came up in between the two men. As
Tal Dan started toward her, she flung out a hand and sent him flying back
into the trunk of a tree. Then, with renewed focus, she turned her
attention to the apparition of Dargus Kandran. "Get away from her," she
said. "If it's me you want, face me. But, don't drag Yelara into this."
"Now, here's a fine example of a worthy student!" Tal Dan walked out from
behind Dargus and patted his shoulder proudly. "If you had even a modicum
of the drive and talent of this one, you could have made something of
yourself, Jae Dyn."
Yelara gave another choked cry as Dargus' hold tightened. She clawed at
his arm, leaving behind trails of blood, but not a muscle upon his face so
much as twitched.
"Give up and leave this place," Dargus snarled. "You are not wanted
here. And, we have yet to make an example of your lover."
Jae Dyn started forward, but Dargus raised a hand. Before she could take
another step arcs of lightning leapt from his hand, but only made it as far
as Jae Dyn's extended lightsaber blade.
"I have made something of myself," Jae Dyn said. "I am a Jedi
Knight. And, neither of you are strong enough to take that away. Let her
go, and face me. Unless you fear that you're not strong enough to face me."
"Do I detect a note of arrogance in her voice?" Tal Dan tsked and sighed
gravely. "Well, we'll see how truly strong you are." A single nod to
Dargus, and he grasped Yelara's chin with his free hand. She screamed, but
it was clipped short by a snap of Dargus' wrist and the ensuing crack of
Yelara's spine.
Jae Dyn's body jerked at the sound, but she quickly brought her focus to
bear again. It's not really Yelara, she told herself. This is all in
Nieme's mind, and mine. She brought her lightsaber up to bear against the
threat of Tal Dan and Dargus, fighting back the despair at watching Dargus'
arms raised in a show of triumph, and Yelara's body crumpling to the ground
at his feet.
"Another dead at your hands, Jae Dyn," Tal Dan said as he prodded Yelara in
the leg with his foot. "So certain of your abilities now?"
"Give me another moment and I'll have two more to add to that total," Jae
Dyn said. "And, I'll accept the grief when I get out of Nieme's mind if
Yelara is in fact dead. Though, I am quite certain that she still lives."
"With you as her Jedi protector, how could she possibly?" Dargus' red
blades pierced the air as they sprang to life. With Tal Dan by his side,
the total became three against Jae Dyn's one. "No matter, Jae Dyn. You
will soon join her." The cyan blade of Tal Dan's lightsaber cast an icy
glow upon his grinning face, which disappeared as he swung his blade
forward.
Jae Dyn's purple blade came up to block Tal Dan's attack, and then quickly
arced her weapon to meet Dargus' attack. She could see already it was
going to be a difficult fight, but she had to win. Everything depended on
her winning now. She allowed herself to fall into the Force, and to reach
to levels of skill any normal person could never attain.
***
Kael Selrid let out a loud gasp, but kept his body still. Sweat dripped
from his brow and he could feel his body beginning to tremble. He didn't
know how long he'd be able to last acting as one of Jae Dyn Brael's
conduits to the Force.
"Focus, Padawan," Laedra called out gently. She reached out her hand and
covered Kael's. "You must hold on. For Jae Dyn's sake, Kael...and for
Nieme's."
Kael nodded, and redoubled his efforts. "I'm just not used to this
much...I'll hold on," he said. "I'll make it."
"Whatever is happening in there," Liam said, "it's requiring a considerable
amount of Jae Dyn's strength."
"Nieme's fighting back," Laedra supplied. "That has to be it." Her chin
sank to her chest as her body suddenly weakened. Laedra closed her eyes
and gathered the unravelling threads of her focus. She had to maintain it
if Jae Dyn was to succeed. With a deep breath, she raised her head again
and nodded to Liam that she was alright, but she knew she wouldn't be for
very much longer.
Liam wished he could lend his strength to both Laedra and Kael, but knew
that Jae Dyn needed it. And, with as much as she was drawing, he didn't
know how much more he had to give. His focus was fraying at the edges, and
he knew that Kael must be nearly at his wit's end. "She has to hurry."
"We can't rush her," Laedra replied wearily. "She will only get one chance
at this, and if she fails..." With Kael sitting directly beside her,
Laedra didn't feel it prudent to go into details, but they all knew the
importance of what Jae Dyn was doing, and the urgency, for if she did fail,
Nieme would be trapped within her mind without hope of return.
"Perhaps I can be of service," a voice from the doorway said. Koran Darr
stood, framed by the door, watching the small gathering in the room as they
fought to save Nieme.
"Trials, Part 2"
by Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Laedra Vorrel
Kael Selrid
Jae Dyn Brael
Liam Zaneth
and Koran Darr
Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 16, 4ABY
***
"Oh, Jae Dyn, you disappoint me." Tal Dan paced around a battered Jae Dyn
and shook his head disparagingly. "I could cut you down right now if I
chose to. I told you you were unworthy."
"Then why don't you?" Jae Dyn said, her breathing long past laboured. She
batted away two more of Dargus' attacks, and spun out of the way of another
barrage from Tal Dan. As she dove free of the melee, a sharp pain lanced
through her shoulder. She stifled a cry, and came up ready to defend
herself once more, but knowing that she was falling behind in this
fight. She used a Jedi pain-dampening trick to lessen the fire of the
wound she'd just received.
"My young, worthless Padawan, it is far more exciting this way. Yes,
killing an opponent is satisfying, but destroying their spirit first is
more fulfilling." Tal Dan chuckled. "What do you think, Lord Kandran?"
Dargus Kandran stepped forward twirling his twin lightsabers in an
intricate pattern. "I definitely agree. And, I think this one's spirit is
close to breaking. Though, before we kill her, after her mind has been
ravaged, I think that lovely body of hers -- far too lovely for a Jedi --
should be ravaged."
"I imagine you could do with her what you wish." Tal Dan thrust Jae Dyn
back with a pulse of the Force and laughed as she hit the ground. "It
doesn't look like she'll be putting up much of a fight."
"I'll fight this with every last microgram of energy I have," Jae Dyn
said. She struggled to a sitting position, and felt her strength
waning. Finally, as sweat beaded on her forehead from the effort, she
sagged back to the ground.
Tal Dan sighed airily and shook his head as he approached Jae Dyn's prone
form. "I don't know what I was thinking by taking her on as a Padawan. A
waste of my time. Now, that Liam fellow... He had confidence and fire.
You?" He sent his foot into Jae Dyn's side, then bent low towards her.
"You have nothing and are nothing. Lord Kandran? Do away with this
creature now."
Dargus moved in close, raising one of his lightsabers high to bring it down
for a final strike.
Jae Dyn struggled to move herself, but couldn't budge. Just as the
lightsaber came crashing down, she felt something stirring in the
Force. And then, as a tide rushing into shore, she was filled with the
energy of the Force. With lightning reflexes, she ignited her weapon and
brought it up in time to deflect Kandran's attack, bouncing his weapon away
from her own. As the crimelord turned Sith moved to recover, Jae Dyn
angled her lightsaber around, and slashed downward.
Dargus Kandran cried out in pain as his arm was severed at the elbow. The
limb and lightsaber seemed to vanish into wisps of oily black smoke as it
fell, and was gone before it could hit the ground. As he reeled to get his
other weapon around, Jae Dyn sprang to her feet. A hideous cry reverberated
through the clearing as Jae Dyn Brael slashed her lightsaber across
Kandran's middle, cutting his body in two.
With renewed vigour, Jae Dyn Brael turned to face Tal Dan, or this
perversion of the man who had taught her.
"Luck. That's all it was. You're still nothing, Jae Dyn, as you always
will be." Tal Dan deactivated his lightsaber and saluted Jae Dyn by
pressing the hilt to his forehead. The clearing filled with his mocking,
forceful laughter that waned not in intensity even as his body began
vanishing. Yelara's had already disappeared, leaving behind the shape of
her fallen body depressed in the tall grass. "Enjoy your failure, Jae
Dyn," he whispered. "For in your life, that is all you shall have." And
he was gone.
"I told you to leave," the girl's voice called from behind. "Will you
listen to me now? Will you leave this place and Niemiesh alone?"
"And, I told you I'm not leaving without Nieme," Jae Dyn said as she turned
around. "The longer I stay here, the more control I am able to
assert. You cannot believe you can hold me off indefinitely."
"Me and Niemiesh are stronger than you think. See, that was the problem
all along." The girl backed away slowly towards the forest. "You never
gave us enough credit; no one did. They always thought we were too
delicate or weak. But you were wrong. You were all wrong!" She bolted
into the forest.
Jae Dyn reached out her senses, and found where Nieme's doppelganger had
run off to, and immediately rushed off in that direction. As she broke
into the forest, she realized she was going about this the wrong way. In
this place, the power of the mind was key, and it was thoughts and emotions
that held sway over everything else.
She stopped suddenly and focused her thoughts on the running girl, and then
closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw the figure racing
toward her. Jae Dyn smiled.
"Stop it!" the girl shrieked as she skidded to a halt. "You're not
supposed to play this way!" She swung her head from side to side, and
arbitrarily chose a direction and ran.
Jae Dyn focused her thoughts, and suddenly stood in the girl's path
again. "As I said, I will not leave this place without Nieme." She
paused, cocked her head to the side, and smiled. "Or, at the very least,
speak with her."
The girl stared at Jae Dyn with a smug grin and shook her head slowly. "I
promised I'd protect her. If you want to speak to her...find her
yourself." With a giggle, the girl waved at Jae Dyn and vanished from sight.
"Very well," Jae Dyn said. She lowered herself to the ground and into a
meditative pose. She opened herself to the Force and all that was around
her, sending out her senses to seek out Nieme's true essence. Time seemed
to stretch out all around her. Finally, she slowly opened her eyes.
Nieme was huddled in a small corner of the cavern and stared at Jae Dyn,
but her face indicated no signs of recognition. She pulled her legs closer
to her and whimpered. "Who-- Do you know where he is? I looked...and I
couldn't find him."
"He's outside," Jae Dyn said softly. "Waiting for you. And, so is
Dani." She edged closer toward Nieme. "They're hoping you'll come out to
them again, Nieme. They miss you very much, and they're very worried about
you."
She scooted away from Jae Dyn, edging closer to a dark corner of the cave,
towards concealment. "He was supposed to wait here," she explained
quietly. "Right here for me... I don't understand." She gazed up at Jae
Dyn with glazing eyes and asked, "Why does he run away from me?"
"He's not mad at you, Nieme," Jae Dyn said. "He can't come in here, but
he's helping me so I could come in here to try to bring you to him. We're
in your mind, Nieme, and Kael can't come to you in here." She held out her
hand. "Come with me and I'll take you to him."
Nieme stared pensively at Jae Dyn's hand, then shook her head. "I can't.
The storm...it hurts. If I go out there...the storms will come and it'll
hurt me. She told me it was safe in here and that I should stay
because...because Kael will be able to find me in here."
"Kael won't find you," Jae Dyn said softly. "And, I'm going to make the
storm go away. And then you can leave here and see Kael again. And,
Dani. I need you to come with me, Nieme. I'll keep you safe."
"I am safe." Nieme looked down at her fingers picking at the edge of her
sleeve. "It's just...I'm a little lonely. My friend's nice and I like
her...but I do miss Kael and Dani." She sighed and glanced up at Jae Dyn.
"I love them...but I make it hard to, don't I? I-I'm just always afraid
and it makes them frustrated... That's why Kael got mad at me. That's why
he hurt me. I wanted to be a good lover for him, but I didn't know how. He
hurt me, but I think I deserved it for being so stupid and afraid."
"It's not your fault, Nieme," Jae Dyn said. "Whatever happened with Kael,
it wasn't because of you. He was fighting his jealousy because of your
relationship with Dani. They both love you very much, and they want you to
come back to them. He wasn't mad because of what you did. He was jealous,
and there's a very big difference."
"But...he's my arozeil. Why wasn't that enough for him? I married him,
not Dani. Why couldn't he understand that?"
A part of Jae Dyn's mind wanted to just pass off the comment as part of the
madness gripping Nieme at the moment. But, inside, she knew it to be the
truth. And, that did certainly complicate things. "Perhaps he wasn't
secure enough in that bond to accept that something wasn't going to happen
between you and Dani. He was still dangerously close to the dark side,
Nieme. That could have been fuelling his actions then. But, if you come
out with me, you will find that Kael is no longer in the thrall of
darkness, and he and Dani are becoming good friends. Now is the perfect
time for you to rejoin them."
Nieme sighed and rested her head upon her shoulder. She rocked gently upon
the cold, hard floor of the cave in silence, then asked quietly, "Will it
hurt? Going back there...will it hurt? I-It was always too bright for me.
Everyone was too bright. It hurt and I didn't like it. Will it hurt this
time?"
"It might for a time," Jae Dyn said softly. "But we can help you make it
not so bright. We can help everything be good again, Nieme. And, you'll
be back at the Temple with all of us, and Dani and Kael. Come back with
me, and everything will be better."
"I...I don't know how," she whispered. "I'm lost...like Kael was, and I
don't know how to find my way back."
Jae Dyn held her hands out to Nieme. "That's why I am here," she
whispered. "I can help you find your way."
Nieme unwound her arms from around her drawn up legs, but didn't reach out
to Jae Dyn. "But...it's so quiet here. The voices...you can't hear them
in here. They're not there all the time...but sometimes when I get
scared..." She looked down and sobbed gently. "I don't want them to come
back, or the visions. I want it to just all go away."
"I will help you make it go away," Jae Dyn said as she tried to coax Nieme
to come closer. "We will all help you make the visions go away, and the
voices. We'll help you learn to keep them quiet. We'll help you get
better, Nieme."
"I only wanted to love Kael," she said in barely a whisper. "That's all."
"And, if you come out where he is, you can love him again," Jae Dyn
said. "He's waiting for you. He's helping me now, so I can bring you
back. Please come out to him, Nieme."
Nieme sat motionless for a time, then dropped to her hands and knees. She
crawled a few paces, then stopped and whimpered. "But the storm..." she
iterated fearfully. "It'll just come again."
Once again, Jae Dyn stretched out her hands for Nieme to take. "You must
trust that I can help you get rid of the storm, Nieme. You have the
strength within you to do this, but you must also trust yourself."
That, above all else, was what Nieme lacked. She had never had confidence
in herself and relied on others, like Kael, to be her source of strength
and resolve. He wasn't here now to support her, which meant she would have
to act alone. She crawled another few feet, but her movements were slow
and uncertain. Jae Dyn's hands were within arm's reach, yet Nieme still
didn't attempt to reach out for them. She crept closer to Jae Dyn, sobbing
quietly but willing herself to continue.
Whatever she was to face when she left the safety of the cave, she would do
alone. No longer would she rely on others to help her overcome the
obstacles placed before her. She no longer worried about looking for Kael;
she'd chased him far too long already and it was time she let him go and
spared more concern for herself.
The distance between she and Jae Dyn closed, and with a relieved sigh,
Nieme shot out her hand and placed it in Jae Dyn's. "Take me home," she
said firmly. "Take me home now."
Jae Dyn pulled Nieme closer, and caught her in an embrace, willing some of
her strength into the girl. "Now close your eyes and concentrate on my
voice," she said. She began focusing her will on Nieme's fears and
confusion. Using her own mind as a conduit through which Nieme could
banish some of her doubt and cast off some of that fear, she began slowly
pulling them out of Nieme's mind.
***
Laedra felt the strain lessening and her strength no longer draining from
her. She was still weak, but at least she wasn't getting anymore so.
"Liam...what--" From the bed, a gentle whimpering could be heard. Laedra
narrowed her eyes and watched Nieme closely, only to see her blinking
slowly and her body gently shifting beneath the sheets covering her. "Oh
gods...Liam, she's back." Her eyes next went to Jae Dyn, who still sat at
Nieme's bedside, motionless and with her eyes sealed shut. "Jae Dyn?" she
whispered hesitantly.
Jae Dyn Brael's consciousness slowly returned as the journey into Nieme's
mind was completed. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. She saw
Laedra watching her intently, and she gave the woman a tired smile. "It
went alright," she said in a strained voice.
Laedra sighed slowly and looked to Kael, who seemed ready to slump over and
fall asleep. "You did well, Padawan."
Kael looked up at Laedra and bowed. When he straightened again, he had a
slight smile on his face. After a moment, he turned his attention solely
to Nieme. He moved up near the head of her bed and gazed down at
her. "Nieme," he said softly, and the fatigue in his voice was very
apparent. "Nieme, it's Kael. I'm here."
For the first time in a week, Nieme didn't throw a tantrum at the sight of
Kael, nor did she scream wildly and try to get her hands free to claw at
his face. Instead, her lips twitched into a stiff smile and voicelessly,
she called out his name.
Kael smiled and he moved slightly closer. "Oh Thana, it's good to see you,
Nieme," he whispered. He quickly looked away from the Jedi in the room and
wiped the tears from his eyes. When he looked back to Nieme, he laughed,
and reached out a tentative hand to brush against her cheek.
Nieme flinched slightly at the touch, but she didn't shrink away. She
lifted her own hand towards Kael, but the restraints holding them in place
stopped her short. The sight of her hands cuffed by straps made her gasp
and her anxiety to return. She whimpered and tugged at the restraints
trepidly at first, then as her panic rose, her struggles grew more
desperate. "P-Please! Please take them off...please."
Without thinking, Kael turned and gestured at the straps. They seemed to
unbuckle themselves, freeing Nieme from their restraint. He started
turning back to Nieme, but had to catch himself on the bed before he
collapsed. Undeterred, he did manage to return his attention to
Nieme. "They're gone now, my love."
Nieme cried out quietly and rolled into Kael's embrace. Her arms, thin
from malnourishment, trembled as they wrapped themselves around Kael's
neck. She buried her face into his shoulder and wept. "I'm sorry. I'm
sorry I went to the desert. I'm sorry I pushed you away. It was all my
fault and...I'm sorry."
Kael could feel his own tears burning their way down his cheeks as he held
her. "It's alright, Nieme," he whispered. "It's all okay now. You're
back here where it's safe. You're safe and it wasn't your fault. I was
wrong Nieme. I pushed you. I'm so sorry, Nieme. It's okay now
though. Or, we can try to make it okay. We'll go slow. Be friends
again. It's all going to be alright again, my asri, my arozeil. It's all
going to be okay again."
"I know," Nieme replied. "I'm going to make it all okay. I'm not going to
be afraid anymore, Kael, and I'm going to be strong now. You'll
see...you'll all see."
As Nieme and Kael got reacquainted, Jae Dyn pushed herself up to her
feet. She took a step toward Laedra and Liam, but nearly collapsed under
her own weight. "Thank you all for your assistance," Jae Dyn said. "I
couldn't have made it without your strength helping me."
Laedra moved to Jae Dyn's side and wrapped her arm around her waist to
assist her in standing. "You did well, Jae Dyn Brael. It felt like you
endured quite a struggle."
"Thank you," Jae Dyn said, gratefully accepting Laedra's assistance. "It
was not easy in there, but I made it through. And, I learned a few things
about myself and my limits...and a few things about other people." She
glanced at Liam who gave her a confused look. "The most important goal was
accomplished. Nieme is safe and back with us again."
"Then you must go and get some rest," Laedra said. "I realize you plan on
leaving immediately, but I would feel much better if you had at least a
small nap."
Jae Dyn nodded. "Good idea," she said. "Please let Yelara know I'll be
lying down for a little bit. And, then we can get underway."
She started toward the door, but Koran stopped her before she could get
there.
"I know that things are still pretty unofficial around here, and we have no
established council. However, I don't believe that anyone will contest
this. Jae Dyn Brael, as a member of the Jedi Order and as a Jedi Master, I
confer upon you the rank of Jedi Knight."
Jae Dyn looked up, completely stunned by his words. "My thanks," she said,
and bowed to him. "All of my thanks and deepest appreciation."
Koran smiled. "You have earned it, Jae Dyn. I know you will be going
away, but you are still a Jedi Knight."
"For now and always," Jae Dyn said with a smile. "Thank you." She turned
and smiled at Laedra. "And, thank you, Laedra. Thank you for being here
with me."
"Me?" Laedra laughed uncertainly and shook her head. "I did nothing, Jae
Dyn. I merely provided strength, that is all."
"And, to me when I was trying to bring Nieme back, that was everything. I
should go lie down now. If I'm not awake in an hour, could you please come
get me?"
Laedra glanced sideways at Liam, uncertain as to why she was being asked
such favours. She attributed it to the possibility that their past quarrel
was forgiven, so with a gentle smile, Laedra nodded and helped Jae Dyn from
the room.
Liam thanked Koran, and the Jedi Master excused himself from the room,
stopping briefly to praise Kael's efforts, and to offer a warm smile to
Nieme. Once they were gone, Liam moved over and placed a hand on Kael's
shoulder. "You did good," he said. "You're going to make a fine Jedi."
"Thank you," Kael said with a smile. He watched Liam go, and then turned
back to Nieme. "I learned so much while you were away, Nieme," he
said. "My darkness is going away. I'm getting better."
"And I will too...eventually." She looked down at her hand clasped in
Kael's, but her eyes wandered to her bare wrist where once, she wore his
wedding bracelet. "Kael...I don't think--" Nieme sighed and looked back
up into his eyes. "I can't be with you anymore, not if I'm going to get
better and not if I'm going to be a Jedi. You hurt me...and I know you're
sorry, but I refuse to let that happen again."
Kael held back his feelings as Laedra had taught him. "I understand," he
said softly. "We are both going through changes in our lives, and seeking
our directions. It is difficult, but it is the sensible thing to do
now. I am training to be a Jedi, and relationships like we had are
forbidden. I do not know what the future will hold for us, but I will be
your friend if you will have me." He took a deep breath and let it
out. "What are we going to do about our marriage, Nieme?"
"There is no marriage," she answered forthrightly. "There never really
was, Kael, not the way you treated me. I do love you and always will, but
as far as I'm concerned, our marriage vows were broken long ago. I will be
your friend, Kael, but nothing more. That is how I want it, and that is
how it shall be."
Kael nodded. "Legally, we are married, Nieme," he said. "The government
of this planet still views us as married. We should go into New Plouton,
and have the marriage dissolved then. I love you, Nieme, and will always
consider you one of my closest friends. I respect your wishes, and you are
right. I was wrong in the way I treated you. I am ashamed of what I was,
but I am working to become more than that. But, we should take care of the
legalities surrounding our joining."
"Then once I am well, we will go into the city and have that done." Nieme
was surprised at how confidently she spoke, and how her speech no longer
halted and her no longer tongue stumbled over the words. She felt as if
someone else were speaking for her, and she had no control over what came
from her lips. But she knew everything she said was what she felt in her
heart. "I'm a little tired now, Kael, but before I go to sleep, would you
please find Dani for me and bring her here? I would like to speak with
her."
Kael nodded and offered Nieme a slight bow. "I'll go find her right away,"
he said. "She's been waiting for someone to come bring her in. Jae Dyn
didn't want anyone in here who wasn't actively helping, but I know she's
very excited to see you." He reined in his emotions and nodded
again. "I'll go get her right away." With that, he stepped back from the
bed.
"Kael." Nieme took his hand before he got too far, and with a gentle
smile, she brought it to her lips. "Don't punish yourself for what
happened to me and Dani, Kael. It wasn't your fault. Besides...I think it
had to happen for things to get better. It was a good thing, in a way, so
never feel guilty for it, my love. Never."
Kael gave Nieme a warm smile, and returned to her side at the bed. "Your
confidence is quite becoming," he said. "What happened was...was wrong,
but the strength you've gained from the experience is very good." He
leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back with Dani in a few
moments."
Nieme watched Kael - walking poised and tall - leave the room. It seemed
even he had undergone a change, but his was due to training in the Jedi
arts, whereas Nieme hadn't the vaguest idea what had sparked hers. She
looked down at her hands, which trembled in her lap. That was the only
visible sign of her uneasiness, but otherwise she had shown not even a hint
of the old Nieme. She hadn't stuttered once and had even looked Kael
directly in the eyes when she ended their relationship. The old Nieme
never could have done that.
A smile gently curled her parched lips. She wouldn't have to be afraid
anymore and never again would she allow anyone to hurt her, not Kael, not
Ferrig-- Nieme shuddered at the memories that were slowly returning of her
time in the desert. She would overcome those too and refused to curl up
into a ball or return to the catatonia she had sought, to protect herself
from any more torment. She would face it and help Dani do the same, for
the new Nieme Yaresh was no longer a coward who started at a shadow strewn
across the floor; she was strong and confident, and as she sat in her
recovery bed, gazing with a fiery intensity at the light streaming in
through her window, she knew that as of now, she was a Jedi too.
"Vendra, Part 1"
By: Merrick Braston
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat
Various NPCs
Location: Vendra, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 16, 4 ABY
***
"That's twenty." Kaysa chuckled lowly as yet another unclad male sunbather
strolled past her chair. She couldn't help noting the smile on each of
their faces, as if they had absolutely no inhibitions or qualms about
displaying their naked bodies to a full beach of complete strangers,
especially since their lips weren't the only things smiling.
Trying to keep her eyes above their waistline had proven far too difficult,
so she'd abandoned any further effort to do so. If they were going to walk
around nude, she was going to look, and look she was. Unfortunately, so
was Merrick. "Will you stop that! I'm beginning to think you're fixated
on them."
"It's a comparative study," Merrick said. "Besides, you'd knock my head
off my shoulders if I started looking at the women."
"I'd feel more secure about your sexual preference if you did," Kaysa
replied. "So, go on and have a look if you want to."
Merrick replied and shifted himself in his chair so he was facing
Kaysa. "The only woman I want to look at is you," he said. "And, although
I may be looking at the men walking by, you're still the one who gets my
heart pounding, and the only one I have any desire of being with while
we're here."
"Yes, yes, that's all nice and good, Merrick, but I really would feel a lot
better if you were enthralled by...that woman's breasts." Kaysa gave an
approving nod. "Much bigger than mine. You really should have a look,
Merrick."
Merrick turned, and nodded. "Oh yes, very nice. Oh, and there's that
young brunette over there with the smaller ones. I'd say they're a little
smaller than Shiv's, wouldn't you? Very nice indeed. Hey...that woman
over there has...oh, right through the... That must have hurt. Can I
still say that yours are my favourite?"
Kaysa looked down at the supple mounds of flesh swelling from her purple
bikini top and laughed. "If you wish." She glanced down into Merrick's
lap and grinned. "Can I say that yours is my favourite too?"
Merrick slipped his hand into Kaysa's and brought it to his lips. "I think
I would like for mine to be your favourite very much. And, I think he
likes you very much as well, and tonight he wants to show you just how
well."
"Oh, he made that abundantly clear last night. Can you actually believe
the couple next door had the nerve to bang on our wall and tell us to keep
it down?" Kaysa folded her arms over her chest and glowered. "And I
thought Vendra was supposed to be the sex continent."
Merrick laughed. "Maybe not that sexy," he said. "And...we were kind of
loud. I think I found a crack in one of the water glasses this
morning. And, my body is still sore. I really like this new rough sex,
but tonight we'll have to go a little slower and softer or else I'll be in
a bacta tank tomorrow."
Kaysa ran her hand along Merrick's cheek and pouted playfully. "Poor
Merrick... Saving yourself for--" Kaysa pointed to a tall, blond-haired
man with rippling muscles. "--him?"
Merrick lazily turned his head to look at the man Kaysa indicated. He
immediately sat up. "Oh, well hello..."
Kaysa laughed dryly and gracefully rose from her beach chair. "Fine...you
two get acquainted." Kaysa raised her hand in the air and waved over the
young man. She smoothed out her sheer wrap and grinned at Merrick. "I'm
going to get us some drinks." Kaysa strode off, kicking up sand with her
bare feet, and headed for the outdoor bar.
Merrick looked up at the man approaching and smiled.
"Yes?" the man said.
Merrick just sat there watching him for a moment before he smiled
again. "Beautiful weather, isn't it?"
"Oh it is," the man said. "I still can't believe how different the weather
here is from in New Plouton."
Merrick nodded again, and then smiled. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't
mean to get you dragged over here. My girlfriend thinks I'm turning
homosexual."
The man stared down at Merrick and laughed. "Are you?"
It was Merrick's turn to laugh. "No, not turning gay."
"Pity," the man said, and then smiled. "If you do decide to, let me know."
Merrick could only stare dumbly at the man. Finally he nodded. "I'll do
that," he said.
They stared at each other for a few more moments before the young man moved
off down the beach. Merrick only shook his head and leaned back again in
his chair.
"Where'd your friend go?" Kaysa's arm jutted over Merrick's shoulder from
behind with a pink, fruity-looking drink in hand.
"He went to go get something...lubrication jelly or something like that,"
Merrick said with a shrug. "He said he'd be right back though. That looks
tasty." He reached up and took the drink from her, and then took a
sip. "It is tasty."
Kaysa's head came over his shoulder next and she gazed at him with a
mixture of amusement and anxiety. "I see... Well, maybe he has a
girlfriend to keep me company while you boys grow better acquainted," she
said, emphasizing the word 'grow.' She patted him on the shoulder, then
moved back to her chair with the frosted glass bearing her drink clenched
in her hand. "You got the alcoholic one, right? I asked for mine without."
"Yes, I did," Merrick said with a smile. "And, I think I'd rather grow
more acquainted with you. He may have been nice and everything, but it
just wouldn't be the same without your screams and nails on my back."
"I'm sure his nails are sharp enough." Kaysa puckered her lips in a
gestured kiss, then laughed and sucked some of her beverage through the
straw. "I know you're not really into men, Merrick, but I just want you to
know that if you do develop a preference for them...I really will bite off
a nipple."
"Oh," Merrick said with a laugh, "a definite incentive to stick with you
and only you. Well, and Shiv. And, I promise when you, me, and Zale are
together, I'll keep away from the dangerous parts."
Kaysa sucked away at the sweet concoction in her glass until she'd guzzled
the entire beverage. "What if Zale wants you near the dangerous
parts? I'm not so sure about him either, you know." She stared down into
her glass and aimed her straw at the small droplets left at the bottom,
then sucked them up. "Hmm...I think I'm going to get another of
these. Want one?"
Merrick looked at his half-full glass and laughed. "Not yet," he
said. "But, when you finish your next, I'll be ready for another."
Kaysa leaned over the edge of her chair and kissed Merrick upon the cheek.
"I'll be back in a second!" she said as she pushed out of her chair and
wandered back towards the outdoor bar. She asked for another of the same
drink and watched as the bartender mixed it in front of her. Her gaze
drifted back to the beach, unfortunately missing the part of the mixing
process where the bartender added a long stream of Yulian gin to her drink.
"Here you go."
Kaysa thanked him and with the drink in hand and straw to her lips, she
strolled merrily back to her chair. "I like this free drink thing. I plan
on having plenty more of these."
The shadow that crossed over his face told him that Kaysa had
returned. "That was quick," he said with a grin. He looked up at her and
watched as she got back into her chair. "You know, I don't think I've seen
you this happy in awhile, Kaysa. I think we're going to have to do this
more often."
"I'm always happy," she said. "I just don't always know how to show it."
She blindly reached her hand out towards Merrick as she focused upon the
pink, fluffy crushed ice drink whose level was quickly dropping within her
glass. "Are you happy, Merrick? Really happy?"
Merrick smiled and took Kaysa's hand. "Now? I'm happier than I can ever
remember being in my life," he said. "I feel like everything is going to
be good, and the way it should be, and there will be nothing but good
things from now on. Yes, I'm very happy."
Kaysa reclined her head against the chair and turned her face up to the
sun. She sighed softly and smiled as the warmth settled upon her
face. "I'm so glad..." She slurped up the remainder of her drink and let
the glass fall from her hand and into the sand. "I like the beach... So
many naked people. I'm not naked, though, and neither are you. Would you
like to be naked, Merrick? Would you?"
"I don't think I could be naked if you weren't," he said. "But, I guess it
might be a little fun. As it is, we stand out by our clothedness. Would
you like to be naked, Kaysa?" He slid himself a little closer to her,
ready to offer to help with her suit if she needed it.
Kaysa glanced sideways at Merrick and with a giggle dragged her hand over
his face. "I would like to be naked with you in an hour. But out here,
our pasty flesh would get all burnt and crispy. And then I'd have to hear
you whine about that on top of your nipple." She sighed and shook her
head. "It was only a tiny bite, Merrick. No need to be a baby about it."
"I'm just not used to having my nipples bitten," Merrick said. "I'm not
being a baby about it, I was just surprised is all. Besides, they're man
nipples, and there really isn't that much to grab on to...so I was a little
in awe that you managed to."
"Oh, never underestimate Kaysa Zenarr, Merrick. Besides, that's not the
only surprise I have for you." She grinned at him and lifted herself from
the chair again. "Another drink. Does my wimpy musician boyfriend want
another?"
"Just remember that your wimpy musician boyfriend tossed your brawny
crimelord husband over a table," Merrick said with a laugh, and then handed
his glass out to her. "And, yes. Another drink, please."
Kaysa swiped the glass from Merrick and saluted him with her free
hand. "Now...don't you go getting naked on me. I like those little
shorts. They hug your cute Merrick butt perfectly." She laughed and
started back towards the bar, stumbling in the shifting sands, but
regaining her footing.
"Two more, pal."
The bartender nodded and got to work. Kaysa neglected to mention to leave
the alcohol out of hers, but that was the last thing on her mind as she
caught sight in the distance of a very nude, very pink-skinned female, a
female that soon became distinguishable as a Twi'lek by the lekku swaying
across her back. For a moment, Kaysa thought she recognized her as the
Twi'lek from the masquerade ball, the woman who was trying to seduce her
husband, but the thought was quickly dismissed when Kaysa reminded herself
that Oot Kovan wasn't the only Twi'lek on Tae'Karada.
"Gods...paranoid, Kaysa?" she muttered to herself. Despite her
reassurances, Kaysa still spied the woman, with the straw of her newly
acquired drink already pushed between her lips. The pink creature moved
along the sand as if she were floating with her feet barely skimming the
surface. The men surrounding her turned their heads to watch as she
passed, swinging those curvaceous, smooth hips in perfect synchronicity
with her lekku, while the gentle suppleness of her rear bounced lightly.
Kaysa crushed her straw between her teeth and pushed away from the bar with
a growl. While the Twi'lek moved gracefully across the sand, Kaysa
stumbled and fountained it into the faces of sunbathers lying upon the
ground. She apologized half-heartedly and silently cursed the Twi'lek with
fervour. By the time she made it back to Merrick, her drink had been
emptied and his had been considerably reduced in volume, having been
spilled during her arduous trek back and now ran down her chest and
stomach. "Here." She thrust the drink out towards him.
Merrick looked at his drink and then up at Kaysa. "They're skimping," he
said as he sloshed the less-than-half-full glass around. He then looked at
her again and smiled. "Or did you expect me to lick it from your body?"
Kaysa grumbled and swiped at the towel hanging over the back of her chair.
"I'm not used to walking on sand. It's so...so...not sturdy." She dabbed
at the pink fluid already drying onto her skin. "It's
all...sticky!" Kaysa sighed sharply and threw down the towel as she sank
heavily into her chair.
"If you want, we can head back to our room for a shower," he said. "Or we
could go jump in the water. That would certainly get that stickiness
off." He took a sip from his drink and then glanced at her again. "I can
show you how well I swim..."
Kaysa snorted. "You just want to get closer to that group of naked men
that just jumped into the water. I don't swim anyways. Never learned how."
"How about I teach you?" Merrick said with a grin. "And, those naked men
are moving away now, so you don't have to worry. It'll be just you and me."
"I don't take orders or instructions from others very well." Kaysa crossed
her arms over her chest and glowered at the sparkling sea lapping at the
sands. "If you want to swim, you may. I'll just go and get another drink."
"What's wrong, Kaysa?" Merrick asked, his voice filled with
concern. "Something's going on. All of a sudden, it's...I don't
know. You seem upset or irritated. What's going on?"
Kaysa shifted in her chair and pushed away the hair a sudden breeze threw
into her face. "I'm just sticky, that's all. And it's hot and there's
naked people and you keep pestering me to swim when I don't want
to. Whyever would I be irritable?"
"Then let's go back to our room where there aren't any naked people, I
won't ask you to swim, and you can take a shower to get rid of the
stickiness."
Sighing deeply and batting away from her eyes more errant curls, Kaysa
pushed herself to her feet. She tottered off balance, but regained her
equilibrium. "Fine. But I want another drink on the way."
Merrick looked up Kaysa, and frowned. He couldn't shake that there was
something else going on here. He stood up and moved over to help steady
her. "I think I want to get something too, so I'll come along and then we
can head straight back to our room."
Kaysa shook the hair from her face and squeezed out of Merrick's hold, then
started unsteadily forward on her own. Her nerves felt on edge and even
the subtle crashing of the waves on the beach agitated her. At least the
Twi'lek was no longer in sight to irk here increasingly.
Merrick grabbed their towels and rushed after Kaysa. If she was like this
on their first day here, he couldn't wait to see what they'd be like at the
end of the week. I should probably have Chrik look for an apartment near
the White Noise for me...just in case.
"Gimme another one," she ordered to the bartender. She slammed her hand
down atop the bar to hurry him up, then turned her attention back to the
beach. She wondered where the Twi'lek had gotten to, then with a bitter
laugh, decided to look for the largest swarm of men to find her.
Merrick approached the bar and set his glass on the bar. He was looking
around when he saw something that nearly made his heart stop. "Hey," he
called out. "No gin in that one. Bartender, that's supposed to be a
non-alcoholic drink!"
"Huh?" Kaysa looked back towards the bar, and specifically at the
bartender with a bottle of gin in his hand and her drink in the other. She
turned her confused gaze to Merrick, then back to the tall glass of pink
liquid. A very distant part of her knew she should be yelling at the
bartender for the mistake, but another very vocal part of her wanted that
drink. "Oh gods." Kaysa pushed away from the bar and staggered towards the
boardwalk, away from the temptation she'd already succumbed to in the form
of three glasses of spiked fruit juice, and which she wanted more of
despite how wrong it was.
Merrick took a menacing step closer to the man. "I suggest you go turn in
your resignation right now," he said. "Because if you don't, I will see to
it that you are fired."
The bartender laughed and moved closer so that he was just opposite
Merrick. "Oh yeah? I've been working here for three years. There's
nothing you could say to anyone that would get me fired. Now, just shut
your mouth and go after your girl."
Merrick reached up and grabbed the collar of the man's shirt, then pulled
the man's head slamming down into the bar. He reversed his hands until
they were holding his neck in place so the bartender couldn't get up. He
leaned close. "My name is Merrick Braston," he rasped. "Perhaps you've
heard of me. And, you will resign within the next fifteen minutes, or I
will buy this whole fucking resort and fire your ass myself. Do I make
myself clear?"
The bartender struggled to get up, but Merrick's hold was too strong for
him to break. Finally, he sagged back to the bar and nodded. "Fine," he
said. "I'll go quit."
"That's a good boy," Merrick said, and then turned from the bar. He rushed
down toward the boardwalk to catch up with Kaysa. With her still
staggering away, he easily caught up with her at a run. "Kaysa," he said
softly. "Kaysa, don't run from me. We'll get through this."
"Go away, Merrick. Go away before I say something I'll regret later."
Merrick reached out, grabbed Kaysa's arm, and then spun her to him.
"Sorry," he said. "That's not gonna work with me. You bit my nipple,
there's nothing you could say or do that's worse than that."
"Merrick..." Kaysa sighed and closed her eyes to search for the quickly
dwindling calm she desperately needed right now. "Take me to our
room. I'm going to shower and you're going to comm the front desk for
something to get this alcohol out of my system." She pressed her forehead
to Merrick's chest and cursed. "I was doing so well, Merrick. I didn't
even feel tempted to have a drink and now..."
Merrick closed his arms around her and held her for a moment before turning
and starting back to their room. "That bartender is also submitting his
resignation. I told him to quit, or I'd buy this place and fire him."
"It's not completely his fault. I mean, after the first time, how was he
supposed to know I didn't want liquor in my drink?" Kaysa took deep,
calming breaths to keep herself together. She knew if she fell apart now,
Merrick would only be subjected to her wrath. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I
fucked up everything. We should probably just pack up and go home now
before I screw things up even more."
"No," Merrick said. "We're going to get you some rest. And, it was his
fault because he gave you that drink the first time. When someone asks for
a non-alcoholic drink, and the bartender serves them alcohol... Come on,
we just need some rest. It'll be fine after a little bit, Kaysa. Just a
little rest, that's all we need."
Kaysa nodded her head and tightened her hold on his waist. "If you
want...you can lick the stickiness off."
Merrick grinned. "I may have to do just that," he said with a wide
grin. "Now, let's go find us some privacy so I can get you naked and lick
that sticky goodness from your body."
"Vendra, Part 2"
By: Merrick Braston
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat
Zale Tregat
Oot Kovan
Location: Vendra, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 16, 4 ABY
***
Kaysa leaned against Merrick as they entered the lift and started its
ascent to their floor. The motion almost made her queasy, but the day was
already a failure and she refused to ruin it further by vomitting on
Merrick's feet. "How do you put up with me, Merrick? I mean...when I get
neurotic and insane, loving me just doesn't seem reason enough for you to
stick around."
"I just remember what it's like to not wake up with you in my arms, and it
gets pretty easy."
Kaysa laughed softly, then kissed Merrick's chest. "Having a songwriting
boyfriend comes in handy at times, especially when you start talking like
that."
Merrick laughed. "Well, just so you know, it comes from my heart
especially for you. I would never recycle a lyric to try to woo you,
Kaysa. And, I think once you're cleaned up, I'm going to have to show you
just how much I love you again."
"And if you really are in the mood for a swim, we can fill the tub to the
top and you can show me how to dive." She grinned slyly, and feeling
almost cheerful again, she ran her finger along the inside edge of
Merrick's waistband.
Merrick smiled. "I think you'd make a wonderful diver," he said. "I
definitely think we should try that out. And, then I can cheer for
you." He stepped closer until he was nearly pressed against her body. "I
really like your ideas."
"Really?" Kaysa cocked an eyebrow and smiled. "You didn't like it when I
suggested I tie you to the bedposts last night."
"And, then after I finally agreed to let you, it wasn't as bad as I
thought," Merrick said with a laugh. "I have found a new appreciation for
your ideas. But, sometime before we leave to go home, I get to tie you up."
Kaysa purred and gently nipped at Merrick's chest. "I think I'd enjoy
having you ravage me. It would be a big step in our relationship, too,
because for me to surrender control like that doesn't happen often, my
love."
"I know," he said. "And, in the past I haven't really ever taken
control. But, I think we need it." With a smile, he brought his hands up
to her chest and slipped her top up over her breasts. With a grin, he
lowered his mouth to suckle at each nipple, and then grinned up at
Kaysa. "Maybe by the end of the week we won't need our suits out there."
"Maybe then you'll pay more attention to my chest instead of those young
studs out there." She pushed Merrick's face back against her bosom. "I
love it when you take initiative," she said with a sigh. Her hand managed
to sneak its way into Merrick's shorts, and from there it wasn't difficult
to find what she was searching for. "You know, we can get naked in here
and do what we like, and for once, we won't be hauled off by the Morality
Guard."
Merrick pulled his face away from Kaysa's chest and smiled. "I think
that's a marvelous idea," he said. He glanced at the floors slowly
clicking past and was thankful they were in a very tall hotel. "So, do we
stop it or be daring?" He reached back as he was speaking and deftly
untied the strings holding Kaysa's top on.
Kaysa laughed and guided Merrick back against the wall of the lift, far
from the panel bearing the 'stop' button. "It's our vacation. We can
afford to be bold." As her top dropped to the ground, she worked at
undoing the knot of her wrap. It proved a difficult task with her lips
feeding voraciously from Merrick's, but she finally managed to loosen the
tie and pull away the sheer fabric.
Merrick reached down to the waistband of the shorts he was wearing and
pushed them down, leaving him completely bereft of clothing. Kaysa had
managed to regain her gentle grip on his erection, and was slowly taking
him toward the edge as she slowly manipulated him. He moaned and kissed
her roughly before moving his hands to her last remaining article of
clothing. He grinned, and pushed the fabric over her hips and down to the
floor. "This is much better," he said. "This is how vacations should be."
"This is how every day should be." Kaysa pressed her hips to Merrick's and
rubbed her mound against his erection. She weaved her fingers through his
hair and pulled his head back to expose his throat. "Oh, I think this is
going to be a very sobering experience." She moaned as her lips moved to
his neck and her teeth gently nibbled at the delicate flesh. Her hips
rhythmically undulated, grinding her groin against Merrick's, which was
almost as stimulating as would be the act that no doubt would ensue from
their foreplay.
Merrick moaned loudly as Kaysa's teeth nipped at his flesh. "What is it,"
he began between moans, "with us and elevators?" He quickly reversed their
positions so Kaysa's back was to the wall. "But, I sure like christening
them with you."
"Maybe it's the fact that they go up--" She jerked her hips forward into
Merrick's. "And down." Her lips locked with his in a numbing kiss and her
moans were lost in the hollow expanse of his mouth. The length of his firm
shaft rubbing against her opening ignited her desire to have him fully
within her. "This ride isn't that long," she said huskily. "Sober me up,
my love."
"One sober brunette coming up," Merrick said with a wide grin as he plunged
himself deep inside Kaysa. "Oh, that's nice." He started thrusting inside
her, as deep as he could, bringing out cries from Kaysa as he did.
Suddenly, the lift slowed to a stop, and a gentle pinging noise sounded as
the doors opened. Merrick didn't care who was there since there was no
Morality Guard here and he could do whatever he wanted, including having
sex in a public elevator. They could wait for another lift as far as he
was concerned.
Kaysa attempted to make herself oblivious to whoever was standing outside
the doors of their temporary love den, and closed her eyes to immerse
herself in the act, but the soft chuckling coming from one of the
unexpected guests was far too familiar to dismiss. She moaned and opened
her eyes almost hesitantly. Her moan transformed into a gasp, then a groan
as her bleary eyes focused on the two standing in the doorway.
"Oh gods..." She was incapable of preventing another moan from escaping
her lips, and in spite of the surprise and disappointment effected by
recognition of their onlookers, she whimpered and clutched Merrick closer
to her. "What the hell-- What the hell are you doing here?"
From the doorway, Zale laughed. "Going to dinner," he said. "There's a
restaurant on the top floor, and we were just going up to grab a bite to
eat."
Oot Kovan looked over the two in the elevator and chuckled softly to
herself. "So, this must be the wife and the musician," she said. "Very
nice."
Kaysa frowned at Oot and now knew for certain she had been the Twi'lek
flaunting her naked body on the beach...and seeing her standing nude before
her now made identification that much easier. She wouldn't have been so
enraged if it was merely a naked Oot hanging off of Zale's arm, but it was
the fact that Zale too shared her state of undress that pushed her over the
edge. Kaysa shoved Merrick away and gathered her swimming attire from the
ground. With one seething gaze at Zale, and a vicious smile for Oot, Kaysa
squeezed past them, breaking through their linked arms, and stalking down
the corridor.
Merrick stared after Kaysa, and then shook his head. He bent to pick up
his shorts, and by the time he stood up again Zale and Oot were in the lift
and the doors were closing. He shook his head and slumped back against the
wall.
Zale did his best to ignore Merrick, but Oot made no such effort. She gave
him a predatory smile and stepped in his direction. "So, Mr. Braston, do
you do private performances? Or just public?"
Before Merrick could answer, the doors to the lift opened at his and
Kaysa's floor, and he quickly squeezed out and off down the hall toward
their room. Oh, things are definitely a mess, he told himself.
***
Kaysa stopped in her hasty, angry retreat long enough to pull on her
bikini, then she continued storming down the corridor in full force. She
found another lift on the opposite side of the floor and descended to the
ground level where she inquired at the front desk as to the location of her
room. With her mind addled by liquor and fury, she couldn't seem to recall
her room number. Once she retrieved the information, she made her way
towards the room she shared with Merrick.
Each time the memory of a naked Zale standing with a naked Oot surged in
her mind, her teeth ground together and her fists clenched in anger. She
would see to it their vacation was cut short, especially after witnessing
the look in Oot's eyes, the one that stated clearly she would have Zale in
her bed and in her arms before the weekend was over.
Kaysa came upon the door of their room and hit the doorpanel. The door
didn't respond. "Great... Merrick? I hope you're in there because I'm
locked out."
The door slid open, but it wasn't Merrick standing there on the other
side. Instead, it was Zale working the panel that opened the door. "We
need to talk," he said, and then quickly backed away before she could use
the fists clenched at her side.
Kaysa folded her arms over her chest and stubbornly looked away from Zale.
"Where's Merrick?"
"I'm here," Merrick said. "He got here about a minute ago."
"I know you're upset, Kaysa," Zale said. "But nothing's happening between
me and Oot. I promise you that."
Kaysa looked down at Zale's dangling genitals and scoffed in disgust. "If
not, then why are you still walking around like that?" She shook her head
and shouldered past Zale as she entered the room. "Merrick..." She sighed
and moved towards him. "I'm sorry."
Zale turned around. "I'm walking around like this because that's what this
place is all about," he said. "This isn't something sexual, and Oot Kovan
is completely frustrated because she can't even do anything to get me
aroused. And, she won't for the entire time we're here."
Kaysa peered over her shoulder at Zale. "I'm talking to Merrick. I've
already heard everything you have to say and it's quite obvious from your
present state that I can't trust anything you tell me. Your nudity is an
invitation for her and before this weekend is over, she will take it."
"She may think it's an invitation, but it's not. She's not getting
anything out of me, Kaysa. You have my word as the head of the Antorial
Syndicate and as your husband. All I ask for is your trust. Trust me,
Kaysa. Nothing will happen between me and Oot."
"I'm trying," she said quietly. "Though, it would help a lot if you put
some clothes on." Kaysa sighed and sank down onto the bed, next to
Merrick. "Why Vendra? You couldn't have convinced her to take you
elsewhere? Now how am I supposed to have a good time knowing you're here
with her, fighting off her frisky hands?"
Zale smiled. "I figured, why fight it? Besides, coming here gives you a
chance to keep an eye on me. I'll make you a deal though. If you give me
an erection, I'll put on clothes."
"What?" Kaysa chuckled and shook her head. "Are you insane?"
Zale looked up at the ceiling for a moment, and then shook his head. "Try
to give me an erection," Zale said. "If you're successful at breaking
through my Shac'Tae training and get a reaction from me, then I'll go back
down to my room and put clothes on because I'm at risk from Oot Kovan. If
you can't get any reaction out of Sparky--"
There was a loud guffaw from the bed. "Sparky?"
"If you can't get a reaction out of Sparky, then will you agree that I'm
good enough to not give her what she wants?"
Kaysa drummed her fingers upon her knees, then threw up her arms and rose.
"Fine. It's obvious that's the only way to get clothes on you, so fine."
She stepped closer and grinned. "Maybe we should get Merrick to give you
this test. I imagine he could get you quite worked up."
"Whoever wants to do it," Zale said. "Just give me that erection or don't;
I'm hungry." The sparkle in his eyes told that he was joking.
"Okay, okay." Kaysa smiled and pressed her hand to Zale's chest. "This
shouldn't take long." Her eyes remained on his as she moved even closer to
him until her breasts lightly brushed against his chest. "You won't have
me for a whole week," she said softly. "Are you sure you can hold out that
long?" She brought her other hand to his inner thigh and caressed it
lightly. "There are plenty of elevators in this building. We could have a
re-enactment of that time when you took me in the elevator at the Segrelat
Tower." Kaysa moaned happily at the memory. "All I had on was that thin
equadi, then...nothing." Her one finger moved slowly up his shaft, then
down again. "You took me into your arms, I wrapped my legs around your
waist, and you took me then and there. Do you remember that?"
Merrick laughed on the bed. "So that's how that happened."
Zale shook his head and laughed. He glanced down at Sparky, lying limp
between his legs. He looked back up at Kaysa. "I remember. It was quite
a night. Especially killing the city's power so you could see the stars."
Merrick gasped and sat up. "That was you?"
Zale smiled. "Of course. It was quite a night."
"Shh!" Kaysa cupped Zale's chin in her hand and centred his face so their
eyes were directly in line. "That wasn't even the most intense time, was
it? Remember that night you found me in the alleyway and you took me
home." Her hand dropped from Zale's chin to her chest where she ran her
fingers over the tops of her breasts. "We were in your bed all night
long. First you took me from behind." She wrapped her hand around his
shaft and massaged it slowly, yet deliberately. "You refused to let me
climax and I was begging and begging..." Kaysa took in a staggering breath
and chewed her lip to silence a moan. "Oh...when you finally let me come,
I remember screaming so loud, I thought my voice would give out."
Zale smiled. "That was a nice night, wasn't it," he said. "I think we've
had a few of them. Like the first night the Imps grabbed us. And, then in
prison. We've got quite a history, you and me. A very charged, sexual
history."
Kaysa glanced down and neither saw, nor felt, even a trace of hardness in
Zale's penis. She stepped towards him, this time pressing her body to his
and swayed her hips against his groin to attempt a different tactic of
physical stimulation. "I let you take me every which way, and you
did." Her warm lips met his chest and kisses were spread across its
surface. "We could do that again, now, if you let me. Do you want that,
Zale?" She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. "Do you want me?"
"I want you very much," Zale said with a smile. "I'm just waiting for you
to work your magic that will allow you and I to re-enact all our times
together. I know you can do it, Kaysa. You know how to touch me, not like
Oot Kovan would. She doesn't have your experiences with me. She doesn't
know how I like it. But you...you know."
Kaysa gazed down at the limp appendage in her hand and sighed sharply as
she released it. Either she was losing the touch he spoke of, or he really
was capable of suppressing his urges. Whatever it was, it frustrated her
immensely. "Fine." She stepped away and slumped down onto the bed. "Go
play whatever game it is you're playing with Oot. I only wonder what you
will do when she figures out just how to get you going. I also wonder if
you'd tell your wife when it does happen."
"Merrick, treat her right," Zale said. "And, Kaysa, trust me. I love you
and only you. I'm not sleeping with anyone else, not without your
permission. I know I don't have your permission with Oot, and besides,
she's an alien. I prefer women from my own species."
Kaysa placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes inquisitively.
"You're serious? So, if Oot were a human, then I'd have a right to be
worried?" She sighed and shook her head. "Okay, Zale. I trust you.
Just...just try to stay out of sight for these two days. It's much easier
trusting you when I don't see you two together."
Zale nodded. "I'll do my best," he said. "And, you wouldn't have to worry
even if she were a clone of you. You're the only one I want, Kaysa. And,
I'll try to stay invisible."
Kaysa looked down at her hands in her lap, then sprang to her feet and
rushed into Zale's arms. She brought her legs around his waist and kissed
him deeply and hungrily. With a laugh, she pulled back and grinned at
Zale. "If you want more of that, you'll be a good boy."
Zale took in a deep breath and let it out. "Oh, I'll be an angel," he
said. "And, I'm glad this is just for a couple days, and not a whole
week. And, then I'll be waiting at home for you."
"Hopefully in bed and naked." She slipped her feet onto the ground and led
Zale towards the door. "Now, go give Oot a hard time while I finish what
Merrick and I started in the lift."
Zale laughed. "For what it's worth, the two of you looked damn good going
at it in that lift. I'll see you later, and next time you see me, it'll be
naked and horny in your bed. Keep her happy, Merrick."
"That's what I'm here for," Merrick said, climbing off the bed to move up
behind Kaysa. "Have something with lots of Falleen garlic. That'll keep
her away."
"But make sure to wash your mouth out really well before I get
home." Kaysa ran her eyes up and down Zale's naked form, then
sighed. "It's too bad you can't join Merrick and I. That would've been
quite the treat."
"Keep your door unlocked," Zale said with a grin, "and I might slip down
here for a visit when Oot goes to sleep."
Kaysa tried to contain her enthusiasm, but a squeal of excitement escaped.
She composed herself again with some effort and stepped back beside
Merrick. "We'll be waiting... See you soon, my love."
Zale blew a kiss to Kaysa, then paused in consideration. After a moment,
he shrugged and blew one to Merrick as well. Then with a rakish grin, he
turned and started down the hallway.
Merrick laughed once he was gone and grinned at Kaysa. "He wants to do me."
Kaysa nodded her head slowly. "You know, I think he does." She glanced
sidelong at Merrick and brushed her fingers along his arm. "I know someone
else who wants to do you."
"Oh really," Merrick said with a grin as he glanced down at Kaysa. "Do you
think I'll want to do her back? Does she want to tie me up again?" He
took Kaysa's hands and started leading the way back to the bed with her.
"No...but I think in repayment for being so cruel to her lover, she'll let
him tie her up if he's in the mood." Kaysa reached back with one hand and
released the ties holding her top on. She watched it hit the ground, then
gazed up at Merrick. "Do you think he's in the mood?"
Merrick grinned. "Oh, I think he definitely is," he said. He stepped
close and lifted Kaysa into his arms, to which she quickly wrapped her legs
around his waist. As he held her, he lowered his lips to her breasts,
sucking each of them as he slowly moved the rest of the way to the bed, and
then climbed on top with her. "Oh, I have a feeling you're going to like
this very much."
"Oh really? That confident in your abilities, musician?" Kaysa giggled
and placed her hands behind her back. "Well...I'm at your mercy. Show me
what you got."
Merrick shook his head and pointed to the head of the bed where the ties
they'd used the night before still rested. "Get your hands up there, my
dear, and I'll show you just what I've got."
Kaysa grinned slowly at Merrick and dropped her hands to the bed, on either
side of Merrick's head. "Yes, sir," she replied silkily. She crawled
towards the head of the bed, with Merrick between her arms and legs. A
moan greeted Merrick as her mound passed over his face where his lips were
waiting with a kiss. She finally settled onto her back with her arms
raised above her head and legs spread, while she waited to be tied into
submission. "Hurry, before Zale comes and decides he wants you all tied up,
dear."
Merrick climbed up to the top of the bed and tied up first Kaysa's left,
then her right hand. Once that was done, he crawled back down to the foot
of the bad and slipped the ties around both her feet. "Now," he said as he
slowly kissed his way up her leg, "you are at my mercy." He started with
slow, teasing kisses around her inner thighs while he slowly drew the
bottom of her suit down over her hips. "You know I'm going to have to cut
this away, don't you?"
"Do what you must," she replied. "Just get your lips back up there and do
it quick."
A quick tug ripped through the fabric of Kaysa's bikini bottoms. Before
returning his lips to hers, he first drew them along the slit between her
legs, earning himself a gasp of pleasure from Kaysa. Then, after removing
his shorts, he slid back up the bed and kissed Kaysa deeply. "You're
mine," he said with a seductive smile.
After the mishap on the beach, then their aborted lovemaking attempt on the
lift, Kaysa and Merrick were finally alone and free from anything that
could possibly pose a distraction. With a contented sigh, Kaysa closed her
eyes and surrendered herself to whatever Merrick had planned. "I'm all
yours, my love," she murmured. "Definitely all yours."
Out in the hall and in the surrounding rooms, the other occupants of the
hotel were treated to the screams of pleasure coming from Merrick and
Kaysa's room.
Up in the top floor of the hotel, in the restaurant, Zale Tregat had to
pause at one point while eating his meal as he thought he heard one of
Kaysa's cries drifting up from ten floors down. He shook his head and
returned to his meal. Just make sure you save some for me, he thought to
them, or this is going to be a very long couple days.
"Love Renewed"
By: Dani
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Orn Gham [NPC]
Laedra Vorrel
Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Niothe 16, 4 ABY
***
Dani had nearly run all the way from the training room to Nieme's
room. Koran Darr laughed as she ran by, but said nothing. He'd taught her
so much in the last couple days. She felt stronger, and as if she had a
better grasp on her powers. Well, what powers she had. He kept telling
her she needed to learn control. And, as she sent the small block she'd
been working with flying across the room, she had to agree with him.
But right now, none of that mattered. Right now, all that mattered was
that Nieme was awake. Nieme had asked for her. She let out a joyous
squeal as she skidded around a corner.
The room came into view, and Dani finally slowed her pace. She smoothed
the short leather tunic she wore and then the pants. She took a breath,
and then moved into the doorway. When she saw Nieme in the bed, her heart
leapt for joy, and she quickly stepped forward.
"Oh Nieme," she whispered, and a tear rolled down a purple cheek. "You
don't know how wonderful it is to see you like this." She closed the
distance to Nieme's bed, cautious and concerned. "How--?"
"Don't ask questions," Nieme said with a warm smile. "Just touch me, Dani,
and hold me."
Relief flooded through Dani as she pulled Nieme into her arms and held her
close. She positioned herself onto the bed, so she was half laying with
Nieme in her arms. She then pressed her lips to her friend's and kissed
her deeply.
Nieme sighed contentedly as the kiss ended and she was finally allowed to
breathe again. "I'm sorry I went away for so long...but I'm back now, and
I'm not leaving again." She stroked Dani's hair tenderly and kissed her
again briefly. "I didn't scare you, I hope."
"I was a little scared," Dani said, "but I knew you had a strong spirit and
would make it through. I just wish I had more training so I could have
helped you more. I am so happy you're back, Nieme. I think if I weren't
trying to not explode with happiness..." She laughed and pressed her
forehead to Nieme's. "I'm so happy you're safe again." She sat up
slightly to look at Nieme. "And, you're...no, no not just
as...more. You're more beautiful than you were before Nieme. And, you
make me fall in love with you all over again."
"Good. And this time, we can do it right, Dani." Nieme cradled Dani's
smiling face in her hands. "Dani...I'm not going to be with Kael anymore.
I
love him, but we can't be together." She kissed the tip of Dani's nose and
laughed softly. "But that doesn't mean we can't be, Dani. I know we're
training to be a Jedi, but it doesn't mean we can't love each other and be
with each other...that is if you still want that."
"I want that more than anything," Dani said. "I want to be a Jedi very
much...but I want to be with you more. I know they are being more strict
about relationships, or that's what they're talking about, but I still want
to be with you. I can't stop loving you, Nieme, and if I can't be with you,
I'll go mad. It'd be like telling a fish she can't be in water anymore."
Nieme giggled and drew Dani tighter into her arms. "And if they won't let
us be together, we'll just find a new pond to swim in." She pulled back
gently and gazed into Dani's eyes lovingly. "I missed you. Sometimes, in
my head, I could hear you singing to me. It made the storm go away when you
did. Thank you for that, Dani."
Dani smiled, and more tears slipped from her eyes. "I love singing for
you, Nieme," she whispered. "When I sang for you, it calmed my fears. I
stayed in here with you every night, and sang until I fell asleep. And,
I'll go with you to whichever pond we end up in. But I do hope they let us
stay here. And, I hope they let us share a room together."
"I don't think I'm afraid to be alone anymore, Dani, but I know I'll want to
be with you, in your arms." Nieme slid down and reclined back on the bed
with Dani by her side. "I'm glad you and Kael are friends now. And he
won't be jealous anymore, Dani, because he's a Jedi now...and because I'm
not his wife anymore. I think now we can be happy, but truly this time."
"I know we can be happy this time," Dani said. "Do you think Jedi are
allowed to go out and have fun? I think I'd like to go dancing with you
again. And, maybe we can train together. Master Koran Darr has been
helping me with my control, and I've been able to sense things better than
before. I think we'd make good training partners. And, then after
training we can be together, happy."
"Well...I don't think I'll be training...for today at least. But...I would
like to get out of this bed and shower, and definitely get something to eat.
Will you help me around?"
"Of course I will," Dani said as she slid to the edge of the bed. Then
suddenly she remembered a piece of news she had to tell her friend. "Orn's
here, Nieme. He's been making food. And, I'm certain he'd be happy to see
you again. Let's go shower first, and then we can visit Orn and get some
food."
Nieme's face lit up and she all but sprang from the bed. She stumbled on
her weak legs and fell into Dani, but even then she still grinned. "He's
here? For good? Oh, Dani! This is so...exciting! A very quick shower,
then we have to see him."
Dani giggled and helped support Nieme. "He's here for good. When they
rescued us, he came along and he's here for good. I think he's happy, but
he misses the desert. It'll make him so happy to see you again." She
wrapped an arm around Nieme's waist and grinned. "Let's go get you cleaned
up, because we've got some visiting to do."
After Dani had collected a change of clothes for her, they made their way to
the refresher. "Oh, everything seems so different now," Nieme said as she
looked around at the walls of the corridor, and peeked into every room they
passed. "It's so much warmer and softer. That's how it feels. It's nice."
Dani smiled. "It is," she said. "There are more people here now. It's
more alive. I think we should have a new room, different from the last
one. That will signify our new start."
"Yes...and one far from Kael's. It wouldn't be polite to have a room
together, so close to his. But we'll have a new room with a view of the
waterfalls in the distance. Oh, Dani, I have such a good feeling about
things now."
Dani closed her eyes and opened her senses to Nieme's emotions and
smiled. "You definitely do," she said. "It feels wonderful, Nieme. And,
everything will be great this time. I think I know the perfect room, and
it's empty now. We can start moving our things in after we talk to Orn,
and then we should probably check with Master Koran or Laedra."
"Don't worry," Nieme said with a confident smile, "I can convince them.
They won't say no to us." They stepped into the refresher and before Dani
could even think about waiting outside, Nieme closed the door and locked
them both inside. "I want you to stay and I want you to help me shower."
Dani felt herself break into a very large smile, and a slight blush washed
over her cheeks. "I would love to help you shower, my beautiful star," she
said. She slipped past Nieme to begin preparing the water for them, and
then turned to regard Nieme. "You shine much brighter now, much
bolder. It's a good bright, vibrant and alive."
"I like it too." Nieme sluggishly began removing her clothing, but despite
how much effort it required, she still smiled. "I don't know what happened.
As soon as Jae Dyn rescued me, I just felt so happy and confident. I felt
strong, Dani, and I like feeling that way."
Dani stepped forward and started helping Nieme with her tunic. "I like you
this way, Nieme," she said. "I liked you before too, but this way... Your
confidence really makes you pulse with life. And, I can feel your
happiness." Dani gave Nieme a sultry look. "It's almost intoxicating to
feel."
Nieme giggled and shrugged out of her tunic. She began undoing Dani's as
she returned her leer. "I like not being afraid anymore. This way, I can
love you the way you deserve, Dani. I couldn't do that before because I was
so uncertain and scared. I'm sorry for that."
"I could still feel your love for me through the fear then," Dani
said. "And, I definitely feel it now." Dani moved her hands to untie the
drawstring holding Nieme's pants closed. "I love you, Nieme. With all my
heart and everything I am, I love you. And, I know this is very rare among
my people, but I do want to be with only you. You are everything I could
ever need or want in a companion and love."
Nieme pushed back Dani's tunic then smoothed her hand over the tops of her
breasts. She gazed up into Dani's violet eyes and said, "Then you shall be
my
arozeil. It means I am bound to you and only you, and that I vow myself to
you forever. I want that very much so, Dani." Nieme leaned forward and
kissed her softly. "And I want you very much so as well," she whispered.
"I will be your arozeil, and you will be mine," Dani whispered back, and
pulled herself into Nieme's arms as they kissed. "I vow myself to be yours
and only yours, Nieme. No matter what happens, and no matter where we
end up, I will be there with you, loving you."
"And at my side, singing me to sleep." Nieme kissed Dani deeply, and with
more passion than she had ever dared express before. She stepped out of her
pants as they gathered around her ankles, and unfastened Dani's. "I love
you, my arozeil."
"I never dreamed that I could find love like this, but it's here with
us." Dani pushed her pants down over her hips, and quickly stepped out of
them and her boots before returning into Nieme's arms. "I never want to
leave your
side again. And, I will never stop singing for you." She slipped out of
their embrace and took Nieme's hands. With a gentle smile, she began
bringing them into the shower.
"Dani?" Nieme asked with a slight frown. "I don't remember much about our
time in the desert. Do I want to?"
"I don't think so," Dani said softly. "I don't remember a lot of it, but I
know I don't want to. But, the good parts are here now. Me, you, and
Orn. They made us do a lot of things...and act in ways...that we never
would. I'm glad we're safe here now."
"Me too." They stepped into the steaming shower and Nieme pulled Dani
close. "I'm glad I don't remember, then," she said. She gathered the
raining water in her hands and smoothed it over Dani's back. "I think if I
remembered what they did to us, I'd want to go back there and make them
pay."
Dani nodded and turned around and faced Nieme. "We'll be happy here
together," she said. "And, if later we decide they need to pay, we can
make them. But for now, after that, I just want happiness. I want our
happiness."
"And I'll give it to you, Dani." She brushed her hands along Dani's sides
and kissed her lightly. "I'll give you everything, and in return, I only
ask for your heart. That's all I've ever wanted of anyone."
"You have my heart," Dani said, "and you always will. And, while you may
only
ask for my heart, I will give you everything I am. Our love will last for
always, Nieme. From now until forever."
"We'll worry about forever later," Nieme said. "For now..." She smiled and
slid her hands up to Dani's breasts. "Now...I think we should shower."
***
The girls had giggled and chattered all the way from the refresher to the
large dining area, beyond which they knew they would find Orn. Dani had
redressed herself in the outfit she'd been wearing earlier, and had then
helped Nieme get into her new set of clothes. Their combined
friskiness had almost kept them in the refresher for longer, but the desire
to see Orn had won out. Dani's hair was still wet, but pulled back so that
it only left a single dripping trail down the center of her back.
"Maybe tomorrow," she was saying with a wide grin as they stepped through
the large double doors that led into the dining room, "we can go into the
city to buy some things to decorate our room with. I think we should
decorate it together, and it will be the most beautiful room in the whole
Temple."
"Purple," Nieme said immediately. "I want purple things for the room." She
grinned at Dani and ran a finger up her arm.
"Is that my Dani I hear out there?" Orn stepped through the kitchen door
and out into the dining area. He stopped short and the smile he wore
faltered as his eyes found Nieme. "Kiddo?"
Nieme's smile too waned, but not from surprise as with Orn, but a sudden
recollection. It was but a blur in her mind and the images were distorted
and fragmented, but the context was still discernable. She whimpered
quietly and stepped away as Orn took a step forward. His body swaying
against hers...the loud, chaotic cheers erupting around her...his sweat
dribbling onto her cheek... Nieme cried out and tore her hand from Dani's
grip.
"Nieme! Kiddo!"
She ignored the pleas and ran out of the dining area. The corridors melted
as the tears glazed over her eyes, but she could see enough to choose a
direction and run, away from the horrifying images the sight of Orn had
awakened. She ran not from him, but what he represented for her now: pain,
and torment, and fear.
"Stay here," Dani said as she raced away. "I'll talk to her." With that,
she sped out of the room after Nieme. She reached out her senses to find
Nieme, and ran toward her, dodging through the corridors as she moved.
"It's not real anymore," Nieme repeated continuously to herself. She
clapped her hands
over her ears and ran on weak, unsteady legs. She knew she was stronger
than this, and didn't need to run away, but a part of her former instincts
and habits still existed despite all the qualities she had gained in her
encounter with Jae Dyn, and now more than ever, they were telling her to run
and
seek safety.
Dani's longer legs caught her up to Nieme faster than Nieme could run
away. She called out to her friend, but kept running. "Please, Nieme,"
she called again. "I'll keep you safe! Please come back to me!"
Nieme slowed once she'd turned another corner and looked over her shoulder.
None of the figures associated with the voices laughing and jeering at her
were following. With a cry, Nieme threw herself into Dani's arms and wept
convulsively into her bosom. "I remember! I-I remember, Dani! I
remember...and I'm afraid I'll remember more and I won't be able to handle
it."
Dani held Nieme close, using her empathic senses to try to calm her
friend. "It's alright, Nieme," she whispered. "You're safe here with me
now. You're safe in my arms." She held her for a long time before she
loosened her embrace. "He didn't mean what happened there. They forced
him." And, the guilt is tearing him apart, she added to herself. "But,
it's the association, isn't it. Oh, Nieme." She held her friend close,
trying to fight back her own tears at the brutality that was suffered upon
Nieme. "It'll be alright again."
"It wasn't him. I know he would never..." She looked up at Dani, blinking
away her tears, then glanced over her shoulder toward where Orn was still
waiting, most likely filling with even greater guilt. "I made him sad,
didn't I? I didn't mean it... I'm not afraid of Orn. He loves me and I
love him. I just...wasn't prepared, that's all."
"I understand," Dani said. "And, inside, I know he does too. He feels
very guilty, and he's afraid that you'll hate him for what he did at the
Rhack. I tried to tell him you could never hate him. I tried, but his
guilt was too strong, and I didn't want to use my pheromones to convince
him."
"No...you were right not to." Nieme took a deep breath and stepped back
from Dani. She straightened her robes and gazed with resolve down the
corridor. "I'll have to convince him myself. Will you come with me?"
Dani slipped her hand into Nieme's. "Of course I will," she said. "I'd
follow you to the galactic rim and back if you wanted me to. As long as
you want me around, I'll be with you. So, I guess that's for always."
Nieme rubbed her eyes free of the tears then nodded to Dani. "Then let's go
make Orn as happy as we are."
They retraced their steps down the corridor and upon turning the corner, a
robust, tall Orn appeared just outside the door of the dining hall. His
shoulders were hunched forward and his eyes quivered with tears ready to
break from their surface. Nieme fought back the memories that attempted to
surge forth, and managed it only by opening herself up to Orn's guilt and
pain. It was then that she ran forward and leapt into his arms. He
wrapped his burly arms around her and held her, not certain what was
happening,
but after she kissed him on the cheek and rested her head upon his shoulder,
he knew he was forgiven. Thick, hearty laughter shook his body and he
returned Nieme's kiss. "Oh, Kiddo...it's good to have you back."
***
The happiness filling the room was like the warmth of the sun after a long,
cold winter to Dani as she, Nieme, and Orn all sat around one of the tables
in the dining room. They'd spent a good deal of time in the kitchen while
Orn prepared
them each a meal, and then had moved out into the dining area once the meal
was ready. Dani was sopping up some of the sauce from the chitsi stew Orn
had prepared, and both girls agreed was wonderful. "We're going to go
into the city tomorrow," Dani said after swallowing a large chunk of
bread. "Did you want us to get anything for you when we're there?"
"Well, with the way you two are eating, I think we'll need to refill the
refrigeration unit."
Nieme served herself another heaping spoonful of stew and giggled bashfully
as she caught Orn's surprised gaze upon her. "Sorry. Just...hungry."
Orn laughed. "Oh, go on and eat as much as you can. I've never seen you
with such a healthy appetite."
"Well, I've never had stew this good. You've got to teach me how to make
this."
"It's a secret recipe, but for you," he said as he leaned in close and
patted
her hand, "I think I'd be willing to make an exception."
Nieme grinned and stuffed her mouth with a spoonful of the stew. "I'm glad
we're all together," she commented, though her words were muffled by the
hearty stew.
"Me too," Dani said as she began dipping the large spoon back into the pot
for more of Orn's stew. "I think it's good that we're all here now. And
we have the forest and the streams and all of the trees." The waterfall
too,
she added mentally, but that was for her and Nieme. "It's so beautiful
here."
"I haven't had a chance to take a good look around," Orn said. "Maybe when
you girls get back, you can take me on a tour."
"Of course, Orn," Nieme replied cheerfully. She guzzled down a large glass
of water, then ran the back of her hand over her mouth. "It's much more
pretty at night, but it's easier not to get lost during the day."
"We will be your official Jedi Temple tour guides," Dani said with a wide
grin. "Oh, Nieme, tomorrow when we're in the city, I want to get another
speederbike. It won't be as nice as the last one, but we'll still be able
to use it to get into the city."
Nieme nodded her head, then sucked in a deep breath to mention the toys
they'd purchased together, but with Orn's attention on her now, she decided
it wouldn't be an appropriate topic of discussion. "A speederbike... I
think that's a good idea."
Orn nodded his head and stood up. He began gathering their plates, but
Nieme wrenched hers back with a giggle and only after licking it clean did
she surrender it to Orn. He laughed jovially and ruffled her hair, which
had grown considerably longer since she first arrived at the Temple. "I'll
go put these in the wash."
Nieme watched Orn disappear into the kitchen, then finally blurted out her
question about the toys. "Are they still there? I mean...I want you to
show me how to use them."
Dani felt her cheeks flush and she looked around to make sure they truly
were alone, for she knew exactly what Nieme was asking about. "I haven't
had a chance to look in the old room yet," she
said. "But, they could still be there. I think we should check before we
go look at our new room. They can be our first things in there." She
couldn't help giggling and burying her face against Nieme's shoulder.
"And since we'll be so far from everyone, I think that motorized one will be
extra fun to play with." Nieme laughed quietly along with Dani and slid her
hand up her thigh. "I like you in leather." She massaged Dani's leg and
sighed at the sensation of the soft leather against her finger tips.
Dani moaned softly, and then pressed her lips to Nieme's throat. "I like
me in leather too," she whispered. "I think it's my favourite material for
clothing. I think I'd like to see you in something like this too. I
think you'd look...oh very good." She brought her face up until it was
right in front of Nieme's. She sighed deeply and then smiled. She leaned
close and kissed Nieme, closing her eyes as she did and just giving herself
over to her feelings.
Nieme returned the kiss hungrily and revelled in the uninhibited passion she
was now able to express. Her hand slid easily over the leather and slipped
between Dani's legs. "I think I'd like me in leather too, but I rather like
us better in nothing at all," she said quickly, then kissed Dani again.
Dani shifted her hips forward to press more firmly against Nieme's
hand. "I like us that way," Dani said, her voice growing thicker with
arousal. "Especially with lots of water running over our bodies." She
brought her hand up to Nieme's breasts and gently massaged. She returned
her lips to their kiss, and couldn't help wondering if they were going to
end up on top of the table together.
Orn helped to decide the course of their after-meal romantic engagement by
walking back into the dining area announcing he was done with the dishes,
then stopping in mid-sentence and uttering a rather amused, rather
surprised: "Why, isn't that something?"
Nieme removed her hand from Dani's lap with a choked gasp and almost fell
out of her chair as she pulled away to put distance between them.
Dani quickly pulled her hand away from Nieme's breasts and whipped around
to face the front of the table. She tried her best to look innocent, but
the look on Orn's face told her that she had most definitely been caught
and there was absolutely no hiding what they'd been doing. She looked away
as her features flushed a deeper purple. "Hi Orn," she said. "Um, so the
dishes are going. That's good. We were just...um...so...is there any
dessert?"
Orn paced towards the table with his arms folded over his chest and a blank
expression upon his face. Nieme was in the midst of shooting off an
explanation when she was interrupted by a gruff, bellowing laugh and Orn's
hand slapping the table top. "You kids! Did you think I didn't know? I've
known since that first day you walked into the Rhack together."
Nieme looked to Dani in bewilderment, then back to Orn. "And...it doesn't
bother you?"
"Why would it? As long as my girls are happy."
Dani's grin spread from ear to ear as she quickly slid her chair back
toward Nieme. "Very happy," she said as she slipped her hand into her
friend's. "I've never been more happy, Orn. And, everything's going to be
perfect now."
Orn laughed again. "Then I'm gonna go back into the kitchen and you two can
pretend I'm not even here." He winked at his two girls and started away,
still chuckling to himself as he found his way back into the kitchen.
Nieme turned to Dani and shrugged, then with a laugh, she pushed back her
chair and pulled Dani up into her arms. "Let's go, Dani. I want to get the
most out of this day with you."
Dani laughed. "First, to see if our toys are still here," she said. "And,
then we have to go plan our decorations. After that, I really think that
you and me should go visit our waterfall. I have a feeling it's missed us."
"I never left it. I always go there in my mind when I'm sad or afraid, but
I don't think I need to anymore." She slipped her hands into Dani's while
they kissed, then with a laugh, she scurried back towards the door, pulling
Dani with her. "Toys, though. We'll have to smuggle them out...but I don't
think I have anywhere in this outfit to put them!"
Dani looked down at the tight-fitting leather she was clad in and
giggled. "Hopefully the bag is still there," she said. "Otherwise, we'll
have to sneak them out in a blanket. Let's go!"
The two filled the silence of the corridors with squeals and giggles, a
sound the Temple had been lacking in since Nieme and Dani first departed.
Orn could still hear the echoes of their laughter from within the kitchen
and
could only shake his head and chuckle. "Welcome back, kiddos," he muttered
to himself. "Welcome back."
***
The race through the corridors had ended once they reached Dani's old
room. Dani could sense Kael in the other room, meditating most
likely. She looked up and down the hallway to make sure no one else was
around,
and then cast a large grin at Nieme. Dani started to reach forward to open
the door, but another thought struck her. She quickly moved her hand up to
one of Nieme's shoulders, and pushed Nieme back against the wall. She was
still smiling and her eyes shone with the vibrant emotions inside. She
pressed her body against Nieme's and kissed her, the passion running very
hot as she did. When the kiss finally broke, she pulled away enough to
speak. "If the toys aren't there," she whispered, "then we'll have to get
more in the city. And we'll have to make do without them tonight. But, I
think we can do some really good improvising together. And, if they are
there, I think this is going to be a night we'll never forget."
Nieme brought her hands to Dani's waist and caressed the gentle curves of
her hips. "It's already a day I'll always remember. I think no matter what
happens, the night will be perfect too." She heard footsteps approaching
from down the corridor, and with a giggle, she grabbed Dani's hand, pushed
the door of the room open and flew inside. She peered through the small
slit in the doorway, and quickly sealed the door shut as the footsteps
resolved into the form of Laedra.
Nieme pressed her back to the door and
placed her forefinger over her lips. She listened for the footsteps, which
grew louder and reached a peak outside their door, then waned as Laedra
passed by. Nieme giggled and rushed towards Dani, where she wrapped her
arms around her waist and kissed her firmly.
Dani returned the kiss, happily succumbing to the feelings churning
within. "Oh gods," she whispered when the kiss finally broke. "With you,
everything is perfect. Let's find our toys, and then go to our new
room. I don't think we should use them here, since Kael's two rooms
down." She started looking around for the bag of toys they'd purchased on
their last shopping excursion into New Plouton.
"Dani, do you think he would mind us being together?" She moved towards the
bed and dropped to her knees to check beneath it for their toys. "He said
he's different...but it hasn't been very long and people can't change that
fast."
"I think he has changed," Dani said. "He genuinely considers himself my
friend now. I can sense it through my normal empathy, and I can kinda
sense it through the Force. I'm still learning to use the Force to gauge
emotions. And, I don't know if he would mind us together. I think that's
something we'll have to find out for ourselves. We should be able to tell
next time we're around him together. And, then we'll know if he
minds." Dani pulled the pillow back from the head of the bed, and let out
an excited squeal. "Here they are," she called as she pulled the bag over.
Nieme leapt to her feet, then flopped forward onto the bed. "Wow! I don't
remember there being this many." She reached into the bag and sifted
through the toys. "I think we could spend a whole week trying all these
out."
Dani laughed as she went through their collection and frowned. "There are
a lot, but believe it or not, there are a couple missing. Someone else has
been playing with our toys."
Nieme covered her mouth and giggled. "Really? Who do you think could have
taken them?"
"Well, the only people here that would have any use for them would
be...Aurra, Laedra, Master Jae Dyn, or Yelara." She looked over to Nieme
and laughed. "Oh my...who would have taken them?" She giggled and looked
away. "I bet Yelara and Master Jae Dyn have them."
"Well...should we let them keep them?" Nieme raised a phallus to eye level
and flexed the tip of it with her finger. "I wonder if Master Liam Zaneth
minds them using them."
Dani giggled and quickly looked away. "I don't know if he knows they have
them. I imagine he doesn't mind because they are together. Oh...if we
have to...oh, they're probably about to leave. Master Jae Dyn Brael and
Yelara Zaneth are going to Corellia."
Nieme removed her finger from the tip of the phallus and it sprang back to
its erect state. "And Master Liam Zaneth isn't going with them? Did he and
Yelara Zaneth have a fight?"
Dani shook her head. "I don't think they did," she said. "But, it's
complicated now. Dargus Kandran is back, and Yelara Zaneth doesn't feel
safe here, so she's going to Corellia. Liam Zaneth is staying here so he
can stop Dargus Kandran and be with Yelara Zaneth again. The only trouble
is Laedra Vorrel, who Liam Zaneth loves, and Yelara Zaneth would be very
jealous and upset over that."
"Liam Zaneth is in love with Laedra Vorrel?" Nieme tossed the phallus aside
and squirmed closer to Dani. "How do you know? Does anyone else know? Did
you see them kissing? This is so exciting!"
Dani giggled and turned to fully face Nieme. "I felt it from them," she
said. "They're doing really well at hiding their emotions now, but they
came in to see me one time when they weren't, and that's how I know. I
think they're really careful about not getting caught, but I bet we could
catch them if we tried. They're really cute together, but so are Liam
Zaneth and Yelara Zaneth. I really hope Yelara can accept that Liam
Zaneth's heart is big enough to love two people."
"Me too. It would be so sad if they broke up." She slid her hand across
the bed and covered Dani's. "But sometimes those things just aren't meant
to be, like with me and Kael. If he loves Laedra Vorrel, he should be with
her...then maybe we can spy on them for fun!" she said with a giggle.
"Yes," Dani said with an excited giggle. "And, then we have to do
everything we can to make sure that Liam Zaneth and Yelara Zaneth stay
together. They're good and they have a baby, and it'd be too sad. We
can't let them break up. That's one of our new missions, Nieme. That, and
spying on Liam Zaneth and Laedra Vorrel!"
"But before that, we have to smuggle these out of here without anyone
catching us." Nieme slid off the bed and looked around the room. The only
thing in the entire room they could use to conceal the bag was the bedsheet,
but even that would arouse suspicion. "I think the only way to do it is
just grab the bag and run."
Dani nodded and picked up the bag. "I've got it," she said. "Do you know
which room I was talking about, the one that would be perfect for us?"
"I think so. I'll go first and make sure the way is clear, then I'll signal
to you."
Nieme moved to the door and opened it a crack. She used her eyes,
and, almost instinctively, the Force to search for anyone in the corridors.
She nodded to Dani, then stepped out into the hallway. She waved her out of
the room and kept watch in case anyone happened along. "Come on," she
whispered.
With a wide grin, Dani stepped out into the corridor with the bag clutched
to her chest. Moving as silently as she could, she moved up until she was
right next to Nieme. "I like being sneaky with you," she whispered.
Nieme lightly ran her fingers along Dani's spine and smiled. "I like it
too." She gasped softly as distant footsteps echoed through the corridor.
"Someone's coming!" she whispered. "Run!" Nieme giggled and pushed Dani
into motion.
Dani didn't need to be told twice, and raced ahead at Nieme's urging. She
didn't know who it was that Nieme sensed, but she could sense them
too. They couldn't be caught with their precious bag of toys. She held a
hand clamped over her mouth to keep the giggles that wanted to escape
inside.
Nieme and Dani turned the corner just as Laedra was making her way back
towards the training room. She vaguely heard their giggles and light,
pattering footsteps, but it was their flaring auras filling the corridor
with warm, soft light that gave them away. Laedra paused and closed her
eyes to absorb the happiness effusing from the pulsing colours, then sighed
and continued on her way, leaving Dani and Nieme to bask in their newfound
contentment.
"Podrace Circuit"
by Jadda the Hutt - Hutt Crimelord
and Vorgoth - Assassin/Sith
Location: Tae'Sollar Desert, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 16, 4 ABY
***
The day was a hot one, but inside Jadda's sail barge
it was a little more cool, as he had an air system to
cool off his spot. Not that the heat was too hard on
him but he didn't enjoy it much. Still it was worth
his time to get out of his palace on such a day as his
Podrace circuit had been complete.
With a series of slave contractors that worked
solemnly for the Hutts he now had everything ready,
ranging from the track itself to the benches and the
vending places, all set to go at his command. Jadda
had to laugh as he imagined all the money he would be
making out of the betting systems and all the vending
and commerce.
Jadda turned to face Vorgoth at his right side. "Bae
touk chingaa bontchee noosaa baa Podrace..." he said
as he puffed on his long spice pipeline and gave his
right man a padd. The Zabrak bowed and walked away,
going up to the end of the sailbarge and off in his
speeder, which was attached to the long vehicle.
***
Back in Jadda's Palace, Vorgoth walked up to the main
console and placed the padd right next to it. Once the
padd was connected to the console he downloaded the
information that he set out to the main news boards
and to the undernets, where all the side jobs and
crooks went for info. The info consisted on of simple
message:
To all the interested ones. Podracing has now reached
Tae'Karada. Jadda the Hutt has the pleasure of extending invitation to all who might want to compete or place a
bet on the racers. So wait no longer! The Tae'Sollar
Podracing Classic is waiting for you!
Soon would the festivities begin...
"Needful Things"
By Zen Wayland - Smuggler/Mercenary
Syan Daywalker - Bounty Hunter
Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Niothe 16, 4ABY
***
Left-handed, Syan guided the Aesir out of Chimaeria's airspace, given into
the enjoyment of being at the stick of his own ship again. After two days
out, and one harrowing day in from Kessel aboard Wayland's Basilisk, Syan
grew to realize how much he preferred the comforts of his own vessel.
Light from the system's blanched sun hit the polarized view panes,
brightening the dimmed cockpit and reflecting off the clean white surfaces.
Turning into the outer traffic zone, Syan punched the thrust levers and
pushed the Headon-12 engines near redline. Bright blue fire leapt out of the
back of the Nubian Aesir as she tore through black space toward the Drogen
shipyards.
It must've been a strange sight, if anyone bothered to look, to see a
gleaming dagger of a vessel followed by such an asymmetrical and battered
ship like the Basilisk. But Zen d