"Final Act"
By: Jack Black
Robin Black [NPC+]
with Jemul - Droid Trader

Location: New Plouton
Date: Eos 18, 4ABY

***

The sun rose over the horizon. Today was the day. Jack had spent the last four days preparing and now all units were ready. The Scalie thugs and the droids were all prepared, the Battle Droid that Jack had been repairing was now fully functional. Its huge combat programmed head lifted as it notice Jack arise. Jack looked at the ugly war droid. "Today is the beginning of a new war." He smiled.

The Jawa had delivered all the equipment needed, the messenger droids were all prepared, seventeen minor messenger droids all loaded with thermal detonators.... Jack pulled himself out of bed. He had worked till late at night, but now everything was ready, the droids, the thugs.... He swung his legs of the bed and stretched out. The standard bedding was very hard and often left Jack with a sore back. A gentle rumble of Jack's stronger brother's snoring was soothing.

Reaching for his staff Jack pushed himself to his feet. He made his way to the bathroom and preformed his morning ablutions. He felt refreshed. Cracking his neck he walked towards the table. His mobile computer unit was linked to all of the droids, and he could see all of their positions. He had spent time pre-programming their paths and positions. He had removed their personality chips so fear of death was no longer an option. He tapped the activate box on the computer and the seventeen droids flickered to life.

Robin had began to wake up, his huge frame shifting out of his bed. His hair was matted down looking most unkempt. He dropped to the floor and began doing his morning exercises. His huge powerful arms lifted his body and dropped back down, his biceps the size of other men's thighs. Jack looked at the powerful fool with a little wry smile.

Jack activated the communications window, calling Jemul. A little figure of the Jawa appeared.

"Ah, Mr. Black. I was just getting ready to call you. The droids you purchased have all arrived, with one exception. The Empire has put new restrictions on R2 droid units. I have only been able to obtain one. The paperwork for the second bot is in the works, and I expect it to arrive next week."

"That is most annoying," Jack muttered. His mind buzzed as he tried to think of ways around the little problem. "I'm sure I'll be able to cope with just one. I have other resources I didn't mention to you before. Anything else?" Jack asked.

"I also have some information I would prefer to discuss in person. Perhaps we could meet for lunch?"

Jack looked down at his time piece. "I think a late breakfast is more likely. I'll meet you at your place in half an hour." Closing the channel Jack thought for a moment that it could be a trap, but no, the Jawa hated Imperials too much. Jack berated himself for trusting the diminutive fellow. "Robin!" Jack yelled.

"Yes, Jack?" he asked, lumbering over. He already had washed and changed. He was strapping on his body armor and battle shield.

"I've got to go and meet Jemul, would you cover me?"

"Certainly, Jack." He looked over at the droids filing out of the room. "Are we going to strike today?"

"Perhaps. Inform your Scalie friends to meet me here at noon," Jack muttered. He then pulled his staff close to him and, using it for support, got to his feet.

Jack arrived at the shop. One hand leaned on his staff; the other was tucked under his robes, his fingers gripping his pistol. Robin was just outside, ready should any sign of trouble occur. However there was none. Jemul walked around the curtains in his shop and almost bumped into Jack.

"Hello, I'm glad you came," Jemul greeted.

Jack looked around the small shop. "Now, if you've got something secretive to tell me, tell me here. I'm assuming that you're not bugged."

"My security bots, which you've purchased, send out a signal jamming all communication frequencies. So it's safe to talk here."

"I see. What did you want to discuss?"

Jemul paused briefly to organize his information. "You may remember I have a maintenance contract with the space port to service their electronics. I overheard one of the Stormtroopers complaining about having to pack their personal gear. The troops are to be rotated at the end of the week, leaving inexperienced guards at all Imperial posts!"

"Interesting", Jack said. "Guards that are just learning their jobs might overlook something seasoned troops would catch. That could simplify our heist, increasing chances for success, However I will not lax my guard as our plans are meticulous." Jack smiled, "But your information is interesting. I'm sure it will prove useful in the future."

Jemul drank from a pitcher of water and offered some to Jack, who declined. "That was my feeling is well. I didn't want to discuss it over a comm channel where it could raise suspicions of other ears. My jamming technology only covers this building, not public communications."

"You are smart...for a Jawa," Jack complimented. "My forces are in position, and we will be ready to strike tomorrow morning. The first bomb will be set off. This should get the Imperials' attention. I've left a number of pre-recorded messages that will be transmitted after a bomb is set off. The bombs are placed in hotels academies, schools..." Jack looked at the Jawa's worried face. "No, there will be few casualties," Jack lied. "Anyway they will only be Imperials."

Robin knocked at the door. He stepped in, his huge frame towering over Jack and Jemul as they sat at the table. "The Scalies are ready to strike on your order. All the bombs you requested are in position, and hooked up to your computer." Robin smiled and knelt beside the two of them. "I've found a place where I can jack a shuttle which is capable of space travel. We may consider getting out of here after the heist."

"Agreed." Jack smiled at Jemul. "I'm sure you would like a lift as well?"

Jemul thought a moment. While the long range escape pod he had repaired would take him and Wamba away from the area, it wouldn't be as secure as a larger space vehicle. "It sounds like I will soon be enjoying your hospitality. However, if I leave I would have to take Wamba along with me, so retribution wouldn't follow her. I can program the bots to destroy the shop, so the Empire won't find the extent of my technological resources. It will appear that Wamba and I perished in the flames that will conceal our retreat. If you wish, we could plant enough Imperial corpses to make it appear that you and your brother also perished when coming to pick up your shipment. The 'bodies' could have melted identi-cards with our personal information on them."

"I hadn't thought of that, but faking our deaths would help conceal our escape." Jack said, "No, the Imperials would never believe we had died in an accidental fire." Jack smiled. "They will believe that you died, but not us. We've got out of far too many scrapes for them to believe our deaths." Jack turned his eyes back on to the Jawa. "Excellent." Jack smiled around. "Leave as much as you can, little man. We will have more than enough Imperial credits to purchase anything you desire."

Jemul was sincere in his plan to destroy his shop should the plan go as scheduled. After delivering Jack's purchases, he saw Wamba emerge from the sleeping area. The female Jawa had saved him from the disruptions of Thanatos, by advising him to turn back. He vowed not to let her get into trouble, and would be adamant she should come.

After Jack and Robin left, the small humanoid opened a panel in the floor. He carefully examined the contents of a hidden compartment below the deck. The droid control computer (salvaged from the forest) would have to be destroyed when he fled, as would the escape pod. Jemul tinkered with the computer's control inputs. During the heist, it would send conflicting orders to Imperial bots, adding to the confusion. But it would destroy itself and the shop in a few days if Jemul didn't issue a counter acting command.

Jack paced around the corner, his mind ablaze with ideas. A smart little Jawa, Jack thought to himself. Very smart indeed.

---

"Unexpected Returns, Part 2"
By: Merrick Braston
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Maeren Shivral
Keeve Kandran [NPC+]

Location: Tregat Residence - Yelldon, New Plouton
Date: Eos 18, 4ABY

***

Keeve groaned happily, holding onto his final thrust as the wave of ecstasy washed over him. Shiv's cries were beautiful, as usual, and the way her hands clutched at his back while her body arched beneath his made the experience that much more potent. She needed and wanted him. It's all he had ever asked for.

As her scream slowly dwindled, Keeve sighed deeply and rolled onto his back where he collapsed upon the bed. A gentle laugh rippled through him as he stared at the ceiling dazedly. "Oh, Maeren," he said breathlessly. "You're wearing me out. Were you always this voracious?"

"Always," Shiv said with a grin. "You should have seen me and Lerrah on Stiletto before we broke up. Oh we were wild. Though, you and I are really wild too. And, I don't know where you learned to do that thing with your tongue, but gods... They should make you an honourary Shac'tae master for that!"

"I imagine Zale Tregat would think it the gravest travesty if that happened." He shifted onto his side and propped himself up on one elbow, then he gazed down lovingly at Shiv. "So...am I sleeping here again tonight?" he asked, stroking her cheek tenderly with one finger.

"I would like that very much," Shiv said with a grin. "I hate sleeping alone, and with the others still away, this huge house is so empty and frightening. I need my Keeve here to keep me safe and warm."

"And that I will," he replied as he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "I'm not leaving you alone ever again, my Maeren," he said genuinely. A gentle kiss to her lips accompanied his vow. "I'm taking you to dinner again tonight," he added. His hands refused to remain still and caressed any part of her flesh they could find. "Then we're coming back here, together, and I'll prove to you that with me, you'll always be safe and warm...and very satisfied."

Shiv smiled and pressed her lips to his. "Oh, that sounds like a truly wonderful idea," she said. "And, I must say that you have excellent choice in restaurants, at least for the last couple. We'll see how you do tonight."

"I'll impress you, that's what I'll do," Keeve claimed. He drew her leg up around his waist and smoothed his hand over her thigh. "Almost ready again?" he asked with a hungry smile.

"Oh definitely," Shiv said as she slid her hands up to his chest. "I'm ready for whatever you can give me!"

Keeve pulled Shiv fully onto him, then gently tugged on the loose ends of her dishevelled blonde hair and brought her face down towards his for a tender kiss. Before it could connect, a barely perceptible sob sounded in the room. Keeve furrowed his brow at Shiv, then tilted his head to one side and peered around her to the doorway. An almost satisfied smile touched his lips upon recognition of the figure that stood there, though he had a feeling Shiv wouldn't be as delighted.

"Hi there...mother dearest. Just in time for the show I see."

Shiv whirled around to see Kaysa there, and as she saw the look on her love's face, she could almost feel her heart breaking. "Oh gods, Kaysa... Oh...oh gods..." She quickly scrambled off of Keeve and fumbled for the robe at the side of the bed. "Oh gods, Kaysa...oh..."

Kaysa could only shake her head slowly, causing fresh tears to trickle down her cheeks. In her eyes, there was no anger, only heart-rending pain and clear disillusionment. "Don't bother, Shiv," she rasped. "Finish up. Then leave. Leave and don't fucking come back." Before another sob could rise from her throat, Kaysa whirled around and stormed off.

"Let her go, Maeren," Keeve called out from the bed.

Shiv was still pulling on the robe as she rushed out of the bedroom door after Kaysa, not sparing a glance back at Keeve. Not now, not when what she shared with Kaysa was crumbling. She knew he'd be upset. She knew he'd throw it in her face, and try to tear her down with it. She couldn't just let her go though. "Kaysa," she called. "Kaysa, wait. Oh gods, please, wait!"

She didn't. She continued through the corridor, then thundered down the staircase, seeking somewhere to escape the disappointment and anguish. If it had been anyone else, Kaysa didn't think her reaction would have been as drastic. But it wasn't just anyone, it was her son and her star. She knew his face from the pictures Shiv had sketched and she'd known Shiv's apparent love for him. What she didn't know was that her star would betray her with him, that she would break her heart to be with him. It didn't matter anymore. As far as Kaysa was concerned, Shiv could have him.

"Kaysa," Shiv called again. "Kaysa, please. Oh gods, please don't do this to me!"

Merrick saw Kaysa running, tears flowing and her hand seemingly holding back her anguish. "Kaysa," he rasped, and ran toward her.

She managed to evade Merrick and flee directly towards the door. As it slid open for her, Zale's imposing form appeared there, blocking her path. Instead of escape, Kaysa settled for collapsing against him and sobbing bitterly. "Zale...get me out of here. Please..."

Zale looked past her to see Shiv running forward and Merrick looking very lost and hurt. He looked down at Kaysa, then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her through the door with him.

From atop the stairs, Keeve appeared wearing only his pants with its top button still undone, and his shirt draped over his shoulder. He descended slowly, watching the scene below. A part of him relished the misery he was causing his mother, but there was also a small sense of regret that opposed it. He attributed it to the pain of having to watch Shiv suffer; he didn't want to think about the possibility that he actually felt sorry for Kaysa.

"Maeren," he called out. "Just leave it for now."

"Oh gods," Shiv whispered as she collapsed to the floor.

Merrick moved over to her and looked up at where Keeve was standing. He swallowed hard, kissed the top of Shiv's head and murmured a few words to her. She looked up at him and smiled, then gave him an unsteady kiss.

"I love you," she whispered.

"And, I love you too," he whispered back. "It'll take her a while to calm down. I'll be right back, I want to talk to Keeve."

Shiv nodded.

Merrick stood and approached Kaysa's grown son. "You're looking very well, Keeve," he said with a hint of a smile. "We should have commed ahead."

Keeve shrugged as he descended the last couple steps to stand before Merrick. "She would've found out sooner or later. I doubt her reaction would be much different than it was now."

"With time," Merrick said with a shrug, "maybe not. I don't know if Maeren told you, but while we were on Coruscant, we found out that Zale had cheated on her. She's still very sensitive toward that, and...and finding out about the two of you was too much for her. Given time, it may have not been as bad. I imagine I don't have to ask if you two are happy together. I won't make any threats about what'll happen if you happen to hurt her because I can see it in your eyes that there's nothing anyone else could do to you that would ever be close to the pain you'd cause yourself. I know that feeling, Keeve. Where will the two of you go tonight?"

"Anywhere Maeren wants," Keeve replied. He closed his pants fully, then stepped past Merrick dismissively to go to Shiv. "Maeren," he murmured as he dropped to his knees and took her into his arms. He didn't know if or think that she could be consoled, but he would do anything to stop her crying.

Merrick watched Keeve with a sour expression. His fears about the young man were confirmed, and he didn't like it at all. They made an attractive couple, but Keeve's anti-social behaviour was not good. He still seemed to be angry at the galaxy, and the only thing that could brighten his mood was Maeren.

Shiv looked up into Keeve's face, and a sob burbled up from within. She collapsed against his chest, unable to speak.

"We'll go to the cruiser," he told her gently. His strong arms encircled her entirely and bore her insubstantial weight as they lifted her from the ground. "We'll go now and you can change there." He brushed his lips against her cheek and looked briefly to Merrick. "I'll take care of my fiancée. You don't have to worry about her."

"Please no," Shiv whispered. "Not there, Keeve. I don't want to go there. Not on his ship. Please, Keeve. Let's...let's find a hotel tonight. Not there."

"I love her, Keeve," Merrick said. "I will worry about her. I will always worry about her. Please don't think that Kaysa's reaction to this has changed my feelings for Maeren any; and please don't stop her if she does wish to see me...or us...again."

Keeve's eyes flashed with malice as he regarded Merrick. "I want Maeren to do whatever makes her happy. If seeing you is what brings a smile to her face, then I won't stop her. Whatever you think about me, Merrick Braston, doesn't matter. Just know that I love Maeren and I won't do anything to hurt her like Kaysa's hurt her today." Keeve turned his attention to Shiv again, all to Shiv, and buried his lips in her hair. "We'll go to a hotel then, my love," he whispered. "Come on...you don't need to be here anymore."

"Merrick," Shiv whispered. "Please...let me...just say bye to Merrick." There was deep pain in her eyes and she couldn't bear looking at him for long. "Please, Keeve."

The tears in her eyes, threatening to spill over was the only thing that convinced him to allow her her moment with Merrick. He knew if he refused, he'd have to see her cry again. With a tender smile, Keeve nodded then kissed her brow. "I'll be outside flagging down a hovercab. Take as much time as you need." Keeve looked back at Merrick with nothing resembling congeniality, then pulled away from Shiv and started for the door.

Once Keeve was gone, Shiv slipped into Merrick's embrace. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Merrick whispered. "You're following your heart, like you've always done. You love him and he, you. It's not your fault Kaysa overreacted."

"I hurt her, Merrick. She...you should have seen her eyes."

"She'll get over it. Zale and I will see to it. You go be with Keeve now, and I'll contact you tomorrow. I'll use Stiletto's frequency."

Shiv nodded. "I'm so--"

"If you love him, there's no reason to be sorry. I still love you, and regardless of what Kaysa's feeling, I want to still be with you. You're my girl. If you're free tomorrow, we'll have lunch together. Though, I don't think it should be with Keeve there. I don't think he likes me."

Shiv sighed. "He's so cynical," she said. "He doesn't like anything that doesn't have to do with me sometimes, except for you guys. As long as it's not other people I love, he loves it. But...he's so jealous."

"Well, then you'd better get out to him and reassure him he has nothing to be jealous of." He kissed her then, a long, lingering kiss that said much.

With that, she gave him a wave, and followed after Keeve. She found him standing out in front of the house and she went immediately to him. She was thankful for the warm air that breezed through the courtyard, knowing that if it were another time of year, she would have frozen in her flimsy robe. "I'm ready," she said.

Keeve smiled at Shiv and pulled her close once again. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you're happy again, Maeren. I wouldn't be a good boyfriend if I didn't."

Maeren nodded and clung to him. "I love you, Keeve," she whispered. "Thank you. I'm sorry for not wanting to go...go to the cruiser, but...but I can't. We can find me a place here in New Plouton tomorrow, maybe. And, then you can visit whenever...and... Oh gods. I could...I could share the apartment Lerrah's in...but she's not here. She left for Riga earlier today. An apartment...our little love nest...that's what it'll be. How's that?"

Keeve kept his concern from showing in his features and held Shiv even tighter. "I'm not leaving you until I'm sure you're alright. We'll find a hotel for now, and we'll stay there together. I won't leave you alone, Maeren. No matter what."

The hovercab Keeve had commed for slowed to a halt adjacent to them and Keeve blindly reached aside to pull open the hatch. "I know you're hurting right now, Maeren, but I'll make everything okay again. I swear."

"Thank you, my beautiful Keeve," Shiv whispered. "You always make everything okay. Let's...let's go. I want to be in your arms now."

With one arm around Shiv's waist to support her suddenly frail body, Keeve helped her into the waiting cab. He had Shiv to himself now, but for some reason, it wasn't as fulfilling as he thought it would be. As long as Shiv and Kaysa remained in conflict, he knew he would never see her truly happy again. If it came to it, he would do the noble thing and force them to reconcile. Though, that was a last resort and an avenue he would explore with great reluctance. He would try in his own way to get Shiv shining brightly again and to make her forget about Kaysa forever if he could.

***

"Talk to me, Kaysa," Zale finally said after they'd walked for several blocks. "What happened back in there, my love? What happened with Shiv?"

Kaysa shook her head. "It doesn't matter. It's...it's over. I can't--" She looked away, then turned her face into Zale's chest.

"It's over with Shiv? My god, Kaysa, that's... That's very big. What did happen? She...what did she do?"

Kaysa clenched her eyes tightly closed and a tremble shook her body gently. "It's...it's just a little too close to home right now, Zale. I--" She sobbed weakly and gripped Zale's shirt desperately as she felt her legs giving way beneath her. "Oh gods," she groaned. "Not again... Why-- Why is this happening? What did I do?"

"Most likely," Zale answered, "you did nothing. Whatever happened, Kaysa, I am willing to bet you are blameless. However, without knowing what happened, I cannot say for certain."

Kaysa turned her face up towards Zale's and blinked away fresh tears. "I need to sit down," she whispered. "Just...let's just sit and I'll try and tell you, Zale."

Zale found a bench and led her toward it. Once they were both seated, and his arms were safely around her, he kissed the back of her neck gently.

Kaysa's body remained stiffened and cold, even to Zale's warm touch. She still felt the pain of his betrayal, but she felt that of Shiv's even more strongly. But, she could not resent either of them; she could only wonder where she'd gone wrong. "Keeve was there," she began quietly. "He was...so big, so different..." She laughed wryly. "He looked exactly like Cadwin."

"You caught them in bed together," Zale deduced.

With a hard swallow, Kaysa nodded. "She kept it from me," she whispered. "I-I talked to her the other day... She said nothing. But who knows? They could've just decided to jump into bed together today. But I've always known...that she loves him, that she's always wanted him. This was just one big slap in the face, and it hurt."

"Do you believe she loves you any less?" Zale asked. "Do you believe that now that she's with him, she'll leave you? You have two husbands, Kaysa, and Shiv as well. And, despite the fact that you've married secretly without her knowing, not once but twice, she still loves you, is still your girl."

"So what?" she asked, pulling slightly away from him. "Are you saying I have no right to be hurt? Are you saying I've done far worse and I deserved this?"

"No, Kaysa," Zale said. "I'm not saying that at all. You have every right to be hurt by what she did. It's a difficult situation, especially with recent events. All I'm suggesting is that perhaps Shiv felt she needed someone else, or was entitled or...I don't know. I guess I'm just trying to find some reason for what she did. One thing I know is that she didn't do this to hurt you."

"Well she did," Kaysa said stubbornly. "And after what happened with...you, I'm not ready to deal with this. I-I don't want to see her, Zale." She sucked in a shuddering breath, then sobbed. "Oh gods...my star..."

"So, because of what happened with me, and now what's happened with her, you just want to toss her aside? On a selfish note, I guess I'm glad I got the second chance."

Kaysa laughed incredulously. "You insensitive bastard," she whispered. Pushing entirely free of his embrace, Kaysa slid off the bench and faced him with a pained expression. "I come to you for consolation and you accuse me? Joke around?" She whimpered quietly and stalked off along the path.

Zale started after her. "Kaysa," he called out, "I am not joking around. I don't understand. You just threw Shiv out of the house. You threw Shiv out. What do you want me to say? Do you want me to agree with you? Say nothing and just hold you? What do you want from me, and I'll be that."

"I want you to be yourself!" she cried. "But it's obvious the real you is a cruel, insensitive asshole!"

A hundred different responses sped through his mind, and he rejected every one. He couldn't risk exacerbating the situation. "Kaysa," he said softly, "I'm sorry. I'm just very confused and I feel like I don't have all the information. I don't understand what's happening. All I know is that...that you kicked her out. And...and I guess I'm in shock. I'm sorry, my love."

Kaysa's brisk pace slowed and she finally stopped. Her face fell into her hands and she sobbed again, wearily and mournfully. "I'm so confused," she said hoarsely. "Oh gods, Zale...what's happening to us? To all of us?"

"I don't know," he whispered as he came up behind her. "We were getting stronger, but now this. I don't know, Kaysa. It's...we can recover from it, but it'll take time. We need time, that's all."

"I need... I think I need time to think." She turned to face Zale. "Alone. I need to sort out my feelings. I need to figure out why I'm so mad at Shiv...and if I can forgive her."

"Let's go back to the house," Zale said. "Merrick and I can give you some privacy there."

Kaysa pressed her hands flat to Zale's chest and gently shook her head. "I'll comm you later. I'm gonna go to the office and... Just go home and I'll see you later."

"No, you won't," Zale said. "If you're not going straight home, I'm going with you. If you try to lose me, I'll have twenty of my men following you everywhere you go. Vrax is still out here, and I'll be damned if I'm going to abandon you in this condition. You may need your space and privacy, Kaysa, but I need my wife."

Fresh tears spilled from Kaysa's eyes and with a choked sob, she sank into Zale's embrace again. "And I need my Shiv," she whispered.

"Let's go home," Zale whispered. "We'll see if Merrick knows anything more."

Kaysa nodded sullenly and trudged along despondently towards their mansion. When they walked through the door half an hour later, Kaysa looked around nervously, afraid to confront Shiv if she was still there. Merrick, however, informed her that she'd left with Keeve and all Kaysa could do was break into tears again.

"Where did they go?" she sobbed. "I mean...together?"

"He wanted to take her to Dargus' cruiser," Merrick answered. "She wanted to stay on the planet. I believe they were going to get a hotel room for the night."

She closed her eyes, disheartened. "Together," she concluded somberly. "I've lost her.... I never should've gone away. I-I should've been here to keep her from straying..."

Merrick shook his head and sighed. "If you've lost her, Kaysa, that means I've lost her too. And, I won't believe that until I hear the words from her. I held her in my arms, Kaysa. She's still Maeren, she's still ours."

"And his?" Kaysa sighed shakily and moved listlessly towards the couch in the center of the living area. "I'm so tired of this... I thought things were supposed to be easy now, happy. All I feel is...hopelessness."

"You're starting to sound like him," Merrick said. "Turning up his nose at the thought of his Maeren spending time with Merrick and Kaysa."

"Please," she said wearily, "don't start, Merrick." With a heavy sigh, she sank down onto the couch and reclined upon the length of it. "If it were your son sleeping with your lover, how would you react?"

"Does the son of my wife sleeping with my lover count?" Merrick asked. "It's not easy to deal with, but she's not abandoning us unless we abandon her."

"Gods...you don't understand, Merrick. Just...just leave it." She waved him off and shifted onto her side, her back to Merrick. "Just leave me alone. Please."

"No, of course not," Merrick said. "How could Merrick Braston ever understand? How could I possibly know what it feels like? How could I possibly understand that kind of pain?" The sound of his retreating footsteps echoed in the room. "I'll be at the club," he growled.

Humourless, weary laughter accompanied Merrick's steps and grew less muffled as Kaysa rolled onto her opposite side, facing away from the couch's backrest. "It's happening all over again, isn't it?" she said. "It's all falling apart...and it's because of me."

Merrick spun around to face her. "How the hell can it be about you, Kaysa? You're not doing anything. You just lie down and let it happen. If you'd pull us in instead of pushing us away, we could keep ourselves going; at the first sign of trouble you erect walls and demand to be alone. It's not your fault that Maeren fell in love with Keeve. It's not your fault they're together. Stop blaming yourself and realize that things happen in this universe for reasons other than to spite Kaysa Zenarr."

"I never said that!" she hissed, her body bolting upright. "But maybe...maybe if I hadn't tried so hard to keep them apart I wouldn't have ended up practically throwing them together! Damn you, Merrick, you don't know how much this hurts! You don't know how debilitating this is for me. I can't deal with this! I'm just...I'm so tired, dammit!"

"How hard did you try to keep them apart, Kaysa?" Merrick asked, softer and more gentle. "I didn't think you were trying very hard to keep them apart. But, from what I see right now, you seem to be trying very hard to push them together."

"And what do you expect me to do?" she asked. "Do you expect me to run to them and tell them I condone what they're doing? I won't, Merrick. I won't, not when it causes me this much pain."

Merrick sighed. "I'll give you your time alone," he said. "Perhaps we can talk about this tomorrow. I asked Shiv to have lunch with me tomorrow. We'll see what happens."

Kaysa crossed the room to Merrick and kissed her husband tenderly. "I love you, Merrick. I don't want this to get taken out on you or Zale... If it does, I'm sorry in advance."

"I'm sure we understand," Merrick said with a glance over to where Zale stood. "It's not an easy time. If you're feeling up to it tomorrow, you should come to that lunch with me. I think the three of us in this little triad should talk this out, but if it's too soon tomorrow we can do it another time."

"I-I'll think about it, okay?" She kissed him again as her fingers brushed through his hair. "Now, promise you'll play a song just for me tonight. And tomorrow, I'll come by so you can sing to me too."

"I promise," Merrick said with a grin. "And, you get some rest, Kaysa. I'll see you later tonight or in the morning. I love you, and everything will work out. I promise that too."

"I know you'll try, husband dear, and I love you for it."

With one final departing kiss, Kaysa walked Merrick to the door and saw him off. Once he'd hopped into a hovercab he'd flagged down, Kaysa stepped back into the house and regarded Zale still standing across the room. As they stared silently at one another, Kaysa drifted slowly closer, and decided before she was halfway there that she really didn't want to be alone after all. Zale had something he could give her, a remedy to the pain he had offered her many times before their marriage. By the time she reached him and rested her hands upon his chest, her eyes were burning with a desire for the cure he could dispense to her.

"You're staying, aren't you?" she asked in a husky whisper.

"Actually," Zale said with a salacious smile, "I believe I'm coming."

Kaysa grinned at him ferally, then planted a firm kiss to his lips. As her hands went to his waist and proceeded to tug at the bindings on his pants, her lips moved to his ear and she whispered, "Rough tonight. I want it rough."

"My favourite," Zale rasped as he reached down to the seam at the front of Kaysa's shirt and tugged it open. A spray of buttons went flying off behind him as he quickly pushed the ruined garment back over Kaysa's shoulders. He began pushing her back toward the couch while his deft hands moved down to her pants.

Kaysa reached back to frantically unclasp her bra. When it came loose, she flung it aside, already breathing heavily from the effort and the anticipation of what was to come: release, from the pain, the heartache, and the betrayal; from the pain of knowing she would never be enough for any of them. The physical torment Zale would inflict upon her would bring oblivion from that for a time, as he was so adept at doing. When it was over, though, the bitter anguish would return and torture her, and the guilt would eat away at her again. Her star, her Shiv had hurt her far worse than Kaysa thought her capable of; she hoped Zale's ravaging would hurt her sufficiently far worse or she knew she would be doomed to despair.

---

"New Job, New Risks, Part 1"
Iyika - Bounty Hunter, Assassin, Intelligence Spy
Jack Summons - Jedi Liaison Agent [NPC+]

Location: Arcadia and Thanatos
Date: Eos 18, 4ABY

***

He had arrived from the civilian transport the night before from a Jedi Temple far off in the galaxy. It had taken all his sources working together to finally pin her down to this planet. Now came the moment facing possibly the most dangerous women alive.

He hated his job. Don't get him wrong, he loved working for the Jedi but this part of the job he hated above all else, going into the unknown, not knowing if he was going to be laughed at and sent packing or shot without warning. But his pay was handsome; it have to be with the risks he took. He had family to look after, his second daughter was going on two now only having a birthday last winter. If half the stories he'd heard about this woman were true he should have asked for triple pay at least! But here he was standing outside the entrance in one of the shadiest places in Arcadia; it had taken him a full day talking to every source he could think of before finally tracking her down.

A thought suddenly came to him as he recalled the trouble it cost to track her down: What if she didn't want to be found? What if she shot him the moment he asked for her help?

He swallowed like he had something hard stuck at the back of his throat, taking the time to pray to the gods to look after his wife, children, and friends before walking through the double doors into the bar. The smoke, smell, and heat struck him like a shockwave from an anti-matter bomb, the smell of sweat, booze and things he couldn't even put a name to.

His eyes searched the tables as he walked around the bar. The looks he got back were chilling to the bone. The moment he entered the bar several guys of various sizes had turned to see who had entered while most either didn't notice or didn't care. Two of the men who had turned to look at his entrance were still watching him with murder in their eyes.

Jack couldn't help but look over his shoulder, every second looking back at what appeared to be a human only he had red eyes seemingly glowing in the dark almost like he could see in perfect darkness.

"What can I do you for?" asked the bartender. The bartender was huge with six arms all looking able to crush a man's skull with ease; the bartender placed his middle hands on the bar in front of him as he growled at the newcomer. "Well? I haven't all bloody day!"

"I-I'm looking for... Iyika..."

"Her?" the bartender replied, sniggering as he grabbed a used glass and with another hand started cleaning it with a dirty rag wrapped around his belt; the rag was covered in stains. "You? A puny human. You're no Jedi, not Imperial soldier, not even a lower life form... What business have you with her?"

Out of the blue the bartender pulled out a huge pistol. To Jack it looked more like a cannon with two barrels pointed right at his head, looking like it would blast a whole building into ash.

"I have a proposition for her..." he replied as quickly as he could just in case the bartender decided to shoot before waiting for a response. As Jack watched, there seemed to be a slight beeping noise from close to the bartender who slowly lowered the huge cannon, his smile vanishing almost instantly.

"Seems this is either your lucky day, or your worst; I honestly can't decide. Back room! Don't get lost, she gets annoyed easily." With that the bartender moved away to serve three aliens wearing enough ammo and guns to arm an army.

Jack made his way across the bar and came up to the entrance into the back room the bartender indicated far too quickly for his liking, taking a long deep breath, which he let out slowly, he stepped forward, the door opening automatically for him. He stepped through into a dark room. There was a light imbedded in the right wall several inches above the small round table. The light came down, hitting the table with the rest of the room in almost complete darkness.

He jumped at seeing the figure seated at the table on the far side. He hadn't seen her when he first looked around, almost thinking he'd got the wrong room. The figure wore a large thick coat with the hood up, helping to hide her face and with the shadows inside the room it was impossible to identify her.

"Sit down..." a forceful female voice said and Jack quickly sat down on the only seat available directly in front of him. "Why are you here?"

"I have a proposition for you... My employers wish to employ your services." Jack tried his best to keep his voice even but failed on all attempts.

Any ID on this guy and who his so-called employers are? she asked, staring at the human sitting in front of her. He was scared shitless and he was having a hard time hiding it.

What would you do without me? This is Mr. Jack Summons, a liaison agent meeting various contacts and shady people who work for his employers. He's their messenger boy. You'd never guess who his employers are...

Who! screamed Iyika, getting seriously annoyed with the history lesson. She didn't want the guy's professional history.

Jedi, was her A.I's only response before going off in his usual huff. Iyika was almost certain she heard him curse silently before cutting the link of which she was most happy for.

"Who do you want killed?"

Jack was shocked at the question asked in a way someone might ask about the weather. After the initial shock it took a moment to dig out the photo in his inside pocket; once his fingers finally grabbed the photo he placed it on the table, sliding it towards Iyika. "This is Martain Seriksho, an intelligence officer who has vanished. My employers believe he's been captured or gone into hiding fearing for his life. We don't want him terminated; we need him alive to inform us of the intelligence he's gathered."

"I don't normally do alive. It's more trouble than it's worth. Where was he last seen?" she asked, becoming more and more interested in this. There were many questions she wanted to ask but she was a professional and they had to wait until she got the full picture of the job.

"He was last seen on this planet in Thanatos. That was three days ago. He vanished without a trace."

"Why me?" she asked, raising her head slightly at the question. "The Jedi have more than enough operatives, spies, intelligence agents and resources to find this man. Why me? My price is high for a transport."

Jack was completely stunned. He closed his mouth, which he hadn't realised he'd opened. Dozens of questions ran through his mind from 'had he'd heard her correctly?' to 'how the hell did she know?' With all the ones in between. "How...?" he finally managed to say.

"I know many things, Mr. Summons; I'm paid to know, remember? Now answer my question: why send me and not another one of the Jedi's operatives? They'll be far more likely not to kill him than I will."

"I don't know, they never told me. They only sent me here to relay their request for your services." His eyes grew wide as he watched Iyika pull out a knife, placing it on the table in front of her.

"Do you have a family, Mr. Summons?" she asked, her voice a slight whisper like someone shouting far off but their voice carried on a slight breeze.

"Y-y-yes, yes I do... I have a wife and two children..." he replied. "I love them very much," he added, thinking about them. He'd met many people in his line of work, met many thieves, bounty hunters, even a few murderers but nothing came close to this woman. He was scared of some Jedi staying in the Temple where he spent most of his time but they didn't come close to the lady sitting in front of him.

"I'm glad. One always must have people to love and be loved in return. To come home to a loving partner is one of the most magical things in the galaxy. Cherish every moment you have with them, Mr. Summons, every breath, ever heartbeat because if I find out this a set up in any way or form.... I'll show you just how good I am at finding people. Clear?"

Jack nodded furiously until it felt like his neck was about to snap. "Yes, yes! I assure you this isn't a set up. Then you will take the job and find this man?"

Iyika took a moment to consider her answer. She'd only been here a few days and had just got her home the way she wanted it, but on the other hand this looked to be easy money. No doubt this human was hiding in some hole somewhere in Thanatos only waiting for the Jedi to send someone to collect him. Simple. "I want the money before I move a finger, in cash...no creds."

"Cash? No one deals in cash anymore..."

"Only those who don't like keeping records."

***

It hadn't taken the human long to gather the money. Once the transaction had taken place, placing the money safely aboard her ship. While she placed the money in her well-concealed safe she had Oz contact the control tower, asking clearance to leave.

"Okay, princess, control has granted clearance. We're safe to depart," came Oz's voice over the ship's speakers placed throughout the ship.

"Take us up to Thanatos!" she ordered while walking the sleek corridors of the vessel, making her way to the bridge. The door slid open, revealing the bridge with the single seat positioned in the middle where she sat looking ahead.

The NightFire rose up from the landing platform. The landing struts lifted, folding away into the underside of the ship. Once everything was locked away and secure she turned with the single main engine running the entire length of the rear, firing out a huge blue flame, sending her soaring up into the sky. The NightFire flew in between the buildings passing throughout Arcadia. She swerved left and right, dodging around the tall buildings that reached up into the heavens.

"Any forecast as to when we'll be able to dock?" Iyika asked, relaxing in her seat, watching the city pass her by on the view screen. The last of the buildings faded. Their wake and the NightFire came over the desert, the uncountable sand dunes stretching as far as the eye could see.

By the rate they're going it will take an hour at least. There seems to be a problem with the landing platforms. Looks like an engine blow-out. Took half the ship with it, poor bastards... Debris is over half the landing pads.

"Couldn't they have waited!?" she asked, sighing to herself. "No consideration to others."

The droids are en-route now to make a survey of the damaged ship. You might as well get comfy, it's going to be a long wait.

It took them just over an hour and a half to get the ship moved, the only survivor of the seven man crew to a hospital, and for the debris to be cleared. The NightFire came down, its small but powerful vertical thrusters firing. The landing struts folded out, touching down on the landing platform, taking the weight of the black ship. Iyika found herself on the largest of the landing platforms in Thanatos. Oz had supplied the local authorities with a fake ID and serial number for herself and the ship.

Anyone who was watching would just have seen the access ramp lower and then rise with no one visibly exiting the ship, but of course Iyika had exited her ship and was walking the sandy streets of Thanatos with no one the wiser.

The streets were filled with all the kinds: crooks, low lives and general scum working and living here but she couldn't picture people living in such a dump. She saw men, women and children sleeping huddled together in dark corners virtually anywhere they could get some space. There were even some lining the darker alleys on either side, making it look like an obstacle course just walking a couple of metres. Finally she ended up in a large street coming out into a large area full of shops, bars and restaurants though by looking at them you'd never have guessed.

Any idea where to go to get answers?

There was a long pause before Oz finally responded. Well there's not much on this poor excuse for a city. There are more gangs here than most planets. A few names of the usual so called *Crime Lords* but no forwarding addresses. You can always try the Hutt. The security is a joke; they win some battles but most are lost. Most are on the take from one crime lord or another, some having income from more than one crime boss.

"Well don't keep me in suspense..." she said out loud, which caused several people to look her way before continuing on their business. She glanced over to the side and saw what appeared to be a brothel; women were flaunting themselves out of the top windows, revealing just enough to entice customers.

She saw several men of various species entering the establishment, vanishing behind closed doors; she was so preoccupied with studying the sexy ladies that she was paying no attention to where she was walking. She suddenly felt something hard press up in her back.

"Go into the back alley just up on your left," a husky voice whispered close to her ear.

Iyika sighed, complying with the man's demands. Entering the dark alley, two men walked out from the shadows in front of her; she quickly spun around as the pistol pressed up against her back slowly moved back. All she did was slap the blaster to the side out of the man's hand; she kicked forward, her foot impacting with the man's chest.

He flew back, crashing into the ground, sliding several feet along the sand. He held his chest, coughing, trying to get air back into his lungs. She glanced over at the other two men while their companion picked himself up, wiping the dirt off his back.

I don't believe it! screamed Oz. I mean do you intentionally go around looking for trouble wherever you go?

No... It generally knows where I am most of the time, but I get your point. Seems old age is catching up with me, I think I need a short break.

"Give us all your money!" shouted one of the men in front of her with his comrade just behind him. He slowly drew a knife from his back. He wasn't much to talk about, roughly medium sized with some muscle to him; he had some stubble where he hadn't shaved for a few days. "And we might let you go!"

"No..." replied Iyika, sighing, shaking her head slightly. It wasn't enough she had attracted trouble but it was the fact these were such amateurs it was pathetic. "Go back to whatever stone you crawled out from before I jam that knife into your neck and leave you here to die."

They all suddenly attacked without warning, charging towards her. The alley wasn't big enough for both the men in front of her to attack together so she moved forward to deflecting the attack that came at her face with the knife. While she deflected the attack she took hold of the man's wrist and twisted it around, reversing the knife. Then all she had to do was hold it in place; his own momentum killed him. The knife's blade pierced his throat, slicing all way through until it came out through the other side.

Iyika threw the man back into his friend, who was standing in shocked horror as suddenly seeing the point of the knife sticking out through the back of his friend's neck. She ducked under the punch that came from the man behind her and spinning on the ground, she swept the guy's legs out from under him. He slammed down to the ground, smacking his head hard, dazing him slightly. The next thing he saw when his eyes opened was Iyika's face lit up, no longer covered from the shadows cast by her hood.

That was the last thing he saw as Iyika slammed the heal of her hand into his nose, snapping the bone, sending it up into his brain killing him instantly. There was only a slight gurgling sound that came out as he let out his last breath, the air trying its best to come up through the blood now in his throat. Iyika turned and looked over at the last remaining man. By this time he was scared out of his mind after witnessing his two companions killed right before his eyes.

As she stood she moved her right hand in such a way as to activate a hidden blaster under her sleeve. The holster threw the blaster out, which Iyika caught expertly without looking in her right hand. She brought the blaster up, aiming it right at the man standing in front of her. He was too shocked and frightened to even register the fact he was staring death right in the face.

His eyes blinked a few minutes later, his mind returning to reality. He looked down at the ground and saw the two bodies lying on the ground. One at his feet with blood gushing out into the sand with his friend's hand still holding the knife in a death's grip. His eyes then looked further along at the other dead body lying motionless. There was no sign anywhere of the woman. Their plan seemed so easy, and how wrong could they have been?

---

"New Job, New Risks, Part 2"
Iyika - Bounty Hunter, Assassin, Intelligence Spy

Location: Thanatos
Date: Eos 18, 4ABY

***

The back alley was a lonely one, only the shadows and the darkness kept her company as she strolled through the province of Thanatos. She'd made the decision to let the human live. It had been like lightening hitting her without warning, a plan formed in her mind. Of course Oz wasn't happy about it.

Of course I'm not happy! You should have killed him! the A.I. shouted through Iyika's inner ear.

"Maybe..." she whispered after making sure she was alone. Looking up and down the dark alley she moved to the right, vanishing into the shadows before shimmering of out sight like a ghost.

There's no 'maybe' about it! You should have put a cap in his ass! screamed Oz.

"Have you been watching those gangster movies again? One of these days I'll find those files and delete them and a few other things as well. Don't be too quick to judge, I have a very cunning plan..."

A cunning plan? As cunning a plan which has ever been or ever will be conceived by which even the Ablaran Fox, the most cunning of animals, would say 'That is a cunning plan'?

"Yes..." Iyika replied flatly, inwardly cursing the A.I. "I placed a tracker on the poor bastard; right know I expect him to be wandering around until he finally arrives back at his boss. When I'll arrive, shoot everyone I don't like the look of, ask him some questions, shoot him and then leave. Simple."

Most impressive... I'm lost for words...

Iyika just growled in response, heading along another street, passing down back alleys, always moving parallel to the signal coming from the tracker.

She followed the signal through Thanatos until it finally stopped in a lousy bar. The floor had more stains on it than you can shake a stick at, the tables were covered in more alcohol than a small army could drink and the smell was sickening. She had to force herself not to spew as she made her way through the bar; everyone was completely oblivious to the ghost walking among them, mostly because they were in various stages of unconsciousness.

She watched from the side wall as her favourite man approached two aliens. Seated at a table was a human and a Devshan, long tendrils coming down from his head where hair should have been. He had no ears with two huge jet black eyes almost like black holes swallowing up all the light. Iyika couldn't hear what was being said but then she didn't care. She instantly moved off as soon as the three aliens moved off together, passing through the back door.

***

It was a long walk for Jonas, a small time crook and nothing more, and what made matters worse for him was he'd gone against his boss. Everyone in the lower circles of society, which was most of the city, was aware of the Ghost Assassin, that she was coming here; even with the fake ID the moment her jet black ship arrived and the access ramp lowering down and rising again with no one exiting people started to ask questions. His boss wanted nothing to do with her and ordered everyone to stay well clear of her. But then Donel came up with his brilliant plan: to trap the Ghost Assassin and kill her, earning them a huge fortune in money for her head and a reputation that would earn them respect throughout the known galaxy.

He had led them into the dark street, awaiting her, which was the biggest mistake of their short lives. Jonas still didn't know how or why he was still alive. The last thing he remembered was seeing his life-long companions fall dead within a matter of seconds. He had never considered them friends, knowing they'd stab him in the back the first chance they got and the same with him, but the way they'd been killed with no effort....

The three of them came up to a corridor in the back of the bar and turned to the right just as Jonas shivered from the memory. They turned to the wall but there was no door anywhere along it. Or at least no visible door. Reaching forward the Devshan opened a small hatch, revealing a small button which he pressed. In front of them silent bolts slid to the side, unlocking a hidden door which swung open, making no sound while gliding along the floor.

"For your sake, Jonas, I hope you have a good reason for what you did. Or you'd wish you were killed in that dark alley with your friends. Now get inside!" said the other human, pushing Jonas through the door, vanishing from view. Jonas walked through the cramped tunnel just high enough to walk but most had to hunch over while walking. By the time they came to the end Jonas's back was killing him and he moaned as he slowly and very painfully straightened his back.

Opening his eyes after realising he'd closed them, though with no memory of the act, he looked around him. He was standing in a large room, metal bulkheads all around on the walls and ceiling, chains handing down from the ceiling with water dripping from a large vent in the middle of the ceiling with chains swaying to and fro, dripping wet. There were dozens of people all around of all kinds of species, from three foot flying aliens to huge monstrous beasts. By the look of them they appeared to have escaped from a horror film or were laboratory experiments gone very wrong or very right.

Then Jonas's eyes fell on the boss, a man half human and half Twi'lek with the blue head-tails hanging freely from his head. He wore a brown coat large enough to keep him warm in winter on most worlds; the hood was down around his neck. The large man stared at Jonas with cold eyes full of hate for the small human and with the three bodyguards standing on either side of him he looked like he could crush anyone.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, Jonas..." he said. "We told you and your companions like everyone present here, we told you to stay away from her! You disobeyed me! You could have killed us all! Who knows what drives her. Lucky she has no idea where we are..."

That was the moment all hell broke loose. Lasers flashed throughout the huge room, hitting men and women all around. They passed through bone, flesh and armour, stopping for no one. A knife threw through the air spinning before imbedding itself into the neck of its unfortunate victim; in the space of mere seconds dozens of bodies now lay everywhere, even one of the bodyguards had been hit and now lay on the ground, blood flowing out, mixing with the water on the floor.

There was a long deadly silence in the hall. Everyone was expecting something to happen like the calm before the storm but nothing happened. Someone stepped forward, sighing with relief at being alive but he stopped the instant his foot touched the ground at the sight before him.

Now standing among the chains hanging down in the huge circular vent in the ceiling stood the Ghost Assassin. She stood perfectly still in her jet black coat with the hood pulled over her head, the extra material dangling in front of her, and the slight drizzle of water falling down from the vent above her hitting the unusual material making up the coat. Her head slowly rose and looked around her. No one could see her face as it was always covered in shadow. Just when it appeared the light would finally show who this person was a shadow took its place, hiding her identity.

"Now I have your attention..." she said, looking back at the boss, the only man seated. The two remaining bodyguards standing at his side made a move to grab their weapons but were stopped by their boss, his hands rising swiftly. He knew and so did everyone else in the room that he'd just saved their lives and probably his own. "I'm looking for someone...someone I know you have information on..."

"We know nothing that can help you..." He paused for a moment, watching one of the most deadly people in the known galaxy. She turned to face him, her arms positioned at her side. "Who is the person you seek?"

"A man, Martain Seriksho." Iyika turned to a woman and handed a small photo of Martain. The woman almost fainted, thinking Iyika had turned to fire on her. She'd braced herself for the impact only it never came. Looking down she saw the photo in Iyika's hand. Shaking hands took the photo and the woman walked over to the crime lord, still seated though obviously still more than a little agitated with Iyika standing so close.

"I know this man, but not by the name you give," he said, looking down at the photo. "This is Kelrov... He's not here anymore. He left on a transport, two days ago..." He went on to tell her which transport and other information Iyika might need to track the man.

And so with the information she wanted, she left, not the usual way of walking out the door but vanished before their eyes, giving the name most had given her: Ghost Assassin. Left behind bodies lay on the floor, blood from different species merging together, mixing with water running down the drains. It took those still living long minutes to find the courage to move and start to look among the dead. A human was lying on his back with a huge hole through his back. Hands helped to turn him over, revealing the face of Jonas, his eyes wide in shock, frozen in time. Fingers ran down his face, closing his eyes.

---

"Two Fingers Less"
By: Symm Ruus Dunn

Location: Yallder District of New Plouton
Date: Eos 18, 4 ABY

***

"Wake up wake up!"

Symm was roused by a young, excited intern of Doctor Fysand, shaking his shoulders while trying to lift him off of his bed. "Wake up, come on. Imperial Inspectors are coming. We gotta get you somewhere hidden."

Symm groggily opened his eyes and allowed himself to be pulled up into a sitting position. "What? Wha..." Symm began but was cut off as the intern, who couldn't be more than fifteen, yelled into his face before turning and dashing out of the room. "IMMMPPEEERRIIIAAALLSS!!!"

She poked her face back in the room as Symm got up and left to follow her. "Follow me!" Then the young woman scurried down the back hallway.

Symm followed hurriedly. He was grateful for these civilians who had taken him in. He would regret involving them further in his dilemma. The intern turned to excitedly say something, but Symm clamped his hand around the scared young woman's mouth.

"Now," Symm began, lowly. "What do you think the Imps would do if they heard the fact that they were coming being yelled about as if the end of the world was near?" The intern shrugged. "Okay, first, they would dig through this place as if there were Plaxian gems stashed about, and second, they would arrest anyone they hear." Symm turned the now quaking intern's face to his. "Be very, very quiet. It will all be over soon." The intern slowly calmed as Symm led her by her head to the door leading to the basement.

Once down the stairs, the intern looked calm enough for Symm to remove his hand from the intern's mouth. When he did, the intern - Dava, I think - sat heavily down against the wall and Symm slowly made his way around boxes of medical supplies, tables, and other what-nots. He found a small corner of the room that was hidden from sight from everywhere but right next to it and he chose that for the location of his retreat. He pulled the intern onto her feet and told her in a low voice, "Walk back up there with a box of bacta sponges and act calm. I am not down here. Think of somewhere peaceful or something. You are all screwed if you act squirrelly like before." Symm put as patronly a look on his face as possible. "Got it?"

The intern gulped. "O-Okay. Go hide, I'll be fine. Don't worry, I won't mess this up."

Symm turned back toward his hiding place as the young woman grabbed a box of hypospray syringes and headed slowly upstairs. Symm settled in the corner and the light from the door winked out. He began thinking of his options.

I can't stay here any longer. Gotta go, I've put these folks in danger for too long. I can heal away from the city quicker and with less worry. That's it, I'm going. Symm resolved to pay the old doc and his helper back somehow before he fell into a light sleep.

He woke to a voice coming from upstairs. "Okay son, you can come out now, they're gone." The old man's humor was evident in his voice as always. "First you drain all of my bacta reserves, and then you decide to scare the living crap out of the best intern I have ever had. You need help."

Just then Symm reached the bottom of the stairs and looked up at the old doctor. He noticed, for the first time a small tattoo on the doc's left wrist.

"Arbis Mines? You were sent to the Arbis mines?" Symm asked. "I have never met anyone who lived through its destruction. Who are you?" Symm had never gotten a true and straight answer from the doctor and didn't really expect one now.

"What do you know of the pits?" The doc recoiled his left arms as if struck by a Corellian Scrub Serpent. "Come on up, this little thing doesn't change anything. Come up, I'll tell you all about it." The doctor reached forward to help Symm up the stairs but Symm refused the help and made it up rather well.

"Doc, I am not as young as you think. What is your name anyway? Where the hell am I? Why heal me if you put yourself in danger? What is this?" Symm walked alongside the doctor, following the older man into the back yard.

"Son." The doc began, chuckling as he spoke. "You have been in a free clinic for a couple days now. My name is not important. Doc works alright, I've been called worse. By your papers you could be Rond, Skal, Farbin, or anyone..." The doc looked at Symm expectantly. "...because you didn't have any papers...a joke? You didn't have any... Oh well.. Anyway, you had injuries that told me Imperial prisoner and interrogation subject. That means one of two things. One, you are a rebel sympathizer and know something that the Imps want. Or, you are someone who has assisted in the crap breakin' out in Thanatos. Either way, I don't care where you came from, I just saw a man passing quickly into the beyond and felt pity. I was young once, and impulsive. Whatever is going on, you can do what you want. You are welcome here for as long as you need to." The Old man stopped at a small tomato plant and picked two small, shrivelled tomatoes from the sickly looking plant.

"I have to go," Symm began in a low voice. "Sorry about your intern. She was freakin' out a little too much for just an inspection." Symm looked down at the old man who was trimming weeds from his small plot of garden. "That certainly didn't seem normal. What happened anyway? I haven't seen anyone go to pieces like that for just an inspection."

The old doctor stood up, brushed his hands on his pants and spoke, looking down at the ground. "I adopted her a few months back. She came in on some ship as a stowaway, I guess, and was a bundle of nerves and fear. She isn't quite all there. She knows medicine better than a fourth year med school student, but, put here within a block of an Imperial patrol, or a uniform for that matter, and she turns into a quivering mass. I don't know what to do. I have convinced the Inspectors who see me every week, that she is deranged and I guess she is. But, none that bright was born like that. Something happened to her and the Imperial military has something to do with it." Symm saw that the tomatoes that were in the doctors hand were now crushed to a pulp that was oozing from between the fingers of a fist.

"Okay, okay. I shouldn't have brought it up," Symm apologized. "Look, can I have these clothes? I need to go. The longer I am here, the longer you are in danger." Symm reached out to the old doctor's shoulder. The doctor's body was taut and well muscled under his baggy tweeds and flannels and this surprised Symm. He withdrew his hand as the doctor nodded 'yes' and then turned away.

Symm walked through the clinic to a door that opened onto the street and turned right. He was on the move again. Now he knew that he had more to do on this planet. If Thanatos was in open rebellion, he couldn't go back there; he could do something here, but he would be caught quickly. Options and plans began racing through his head as he walked down the streets of New Plouton. He knew he was lucky. He had a new lease on life. Less two fingers, but generally whole. Symm Ruus Dunn would come back into the Imperials' attention on Tae'Karada if Symm had anything to do with it.

---

"Let Loose the Hounds of War, Part 1"
By: Symm Ruus Dunn

Location: New Plouton to Outskirts
Date: Eos 18, 4 ABY

***

Symm had walked several miles and had spent a day roaming the city streets. He had evaded Imperial security patrols the night before and was feeling slowly better about his general condition. His mind still raced with ideas of what he could contribute to the insurrection on Tae'Karada and he figured that to do so, he had to go back to Thanatos to help there. He had changed his mind back and forth with going or not going since he left the clinic, but he had decided to get back to the flashpoint. If Thanatos was brought under Imperial martial law, the whole planet was doomed. Insurrections always started somewhere, it just so happened that for Tae'Karada, it was a desert town with nothing important. Symm was going to be part of it, whether it worked or not.

Symm rounded the corner of a run-down hotel and spotted a trio of stormtroopers enter a bar and their leader staying by their small scout vehicle, talking on a commset. Grabbing a length of durasteel reinforcing rod that was left in a pile of garbage, he lowered his head and made his best impression of a homeless nobody. He winced as he was hailed by the young officer in Imperial grey.

"You! You in the brown coat."

Symm stopped and looked at the officer with a dumbfounded look on his face. He slowly began to walk forward. The rod was getting heavy in his hand as he had hidden it up his sleeve. He began to doubt if his arm would hold. He hadn't exerted himself in three days and his strength wasn't fully returned yet.

"You come here! I need to see your ID! Quickly now, hurry hurry. ID now!" The officer held one hand out and reached up to his comset with the other. Turning his head ever so slightly to speak into his shoulder mounted mike, the officer didn't notice the two foot length of steel extend from the sleeve of the shuffling figure who had begun a brisk walk straight towards him.

"15983-5. I need you out here to assis...Ahh!" The communication was cut short as Symm reached the officer and with one movement brought the steel rod into intimate relations with the officer's chin. The snap of bone and soft sound of other things was all that continued into the mike as Symm hefted the lifeless body into the scout car. He then hurried over to the driver's side and jumped into the cockpit of the speeder. As he pulled away, blaster fire erupted around him as the stormtroopers rushed out of the club, firing as they came.

Symm throttled the four man scout speeder to its max and smiled as the sight of nervous faces looked at him from windows. The fire from the stranded stormtroopers slackened as he got further from them and once he turned, it dropped off completely. He could hear the radio chatter he had created on the comset in the speeder. They were directing at least two other speeders his way, and he figured that he should find a good place to dig in.

As he turned onto a major airlane, his eyes widened as an idea struck him. He dove out of the lane and raced into an abandoned alley. There, he stopped and got out. Then, it took six and a half minutes till one could see the little car, a bit dinged up from its ordeal, pull out of the alley at a reasonable pace and merge into traffic. A minute or so later, two speeders came up alongside it and saw that it was empty.

"Command, 172. Speeder 156 is empty and on autopilot. Your orders."

"172, this is Command. Do not attempt to stop, I say again, do not stop. It could be trapped. 172, clear the area around 156 first. 172 acknowledge."

"Roger, Command. 172 acknowledges command. Command, 184 and 103 have just arrived. They will assist me. 172 out."

"Roger. Command out."

***

Symm ran another quick inventory as he gathered his stolen gear up in two of the duffel bags he found on the speeder. Two Dl-22 blaster pistols, three energy cells each. One Trooper Blaster Carbine with four cells. Six stun grenades. Four stun batons, three portable comm sets, and a cred chit for 650 credits. Good, good.

Symm picked the duffel bags up and began to walk out of the city. It would take him several days to reach the outskirts of Thanatos and he hoped it would not all be over by that time. With a groan as his back began to ache, he headed to a war; or to start one anyway.

---

"Let Loose the Hounds of War, Part 2"
By: Symm Ruus Dunn

Location: New Plouton Landing Field and Outskirts of New Plouton
Date: Eos 18, 4 ABY

***

"172, this is Command, what is the status?"

"Command, 172. We have cleared the airlane around 156 and were going to move in, but it began to accelerate. We are in pursuit now. I have sent 184 ahead to clear the lane in case."

"Good thinking, 172. I will report this higher in the chain, maintain current posture and wait for further instructions."

"Roger, Command. 172 ...wait, it's turning. Command, 156 has turned towards the landing fields. It has accelerated to 200 and is beginning to lose altitude."

"172, I'll take the heat on this one. Destroy it! Wipe it from the sky! It must not hit the landing field! Fire at will 172. Report its destruction when complete."

"Roger that command. 103, this is 172, I have received authorization to fire on 156. Destroy it!"

"172, this is 103. Roger."

Blaster bolts began to lance from the door gunners of the two scout speeders. Flashes of hits were combined with the misses for a spectacular light show for anyone on the ground. The speeder known as 156 began smoking as more hits smashed into its body. Black smoke began pouring from the engine compartment of the speeder and it fell quickly towards earth. The two pursuing speeders followed it down and began to pull up when 156 plowed into the ground; setting the jury-rigged explosive, hidden inside, off. The explosion damaged little and was nothing more than an oily smoke by the time the two pursuers landed next to the wreck.

"Command, 172. 156 has been brought down near pad 4 in landing field sector. It detonated a device of some sort. Damage is negligible."

"Roger that, 172. Good work. I spoke with the watch commander, expect a commendation."

"Roger command."

***

Symm looked to the north as he heard the muffled thump and saw the thick smoke rise into the air. Humph, he thought. He was headed for the forest and then Thanatos. He was relieved that his ordeal was over. In the countryside, Symm could hide for days and not worry about being found. He grinned as he looked down at his left hand, now missing its last two digits, as he flexed it and picked up the lighter of the two bags, threw it on his back with the other and walked up the next rise.

---

"Unfortunate"
By Daleev Durv [NPC+]

Location: Yallder
Date Eos 14, 4ABY

***

The night was quiet. Empty. Eerie.

Dal wandered in the shadows, clutching the edges of buildings, boots softened by cat feet and hands dug deep in his pockets. He was exhausted, but luckily sober, though thought fondly of the warm brandy that awaited him in his apartment was encouraging. He nestled his nose, red with the cold, deep into the scarf lining of his jacket, protection against the smoky mist that circled above him each time he exhaled. He hated this curfew - it made the streets of New Plouton a ghost town, devoid of any life or feeling. Not even warm lights in the windows of apartments drifted down into the streets - now nearing the dawn, the city was quietly sleeping or pretending to.

Not that Daleev was particularly happy about the risk he took every night. Walking home, flagrantly flaunting his disregard of curfew. It was both an insult to his dignity and a question for his soul, to run home like a lost little boy or to walk boldly into the night, and forget the nagging fear of Imperial soldiers that lurked behind every corner.

He often chose a calm medium in between - staying close to shadows, using direct routes, a brisk stride and unassuming attitude. He shuddered, half with cold, half with anticipation. He was only a few blocks away, to a warm, shoddy apartment with second-hand furniture and a dank glow. It was home, and tonight he would be glad of it, empty though it was.

At that moment, he saw a flash of white refraction from across the street, and instinct took over. He ducked into a particularly dark shadow, slowly inching his way across the wall and eyes trained in that direction. Papers or no, he had no desire to run into a street patrol at this hour.

In the quiet of the dark, two soldiers' voices carried, mist pervading.

"Cold as a witch's tit," one remarked crudely.

"Shift's nearly over, stop complaining."

"Still, I'll be glad to get back to bed. Got no sleep night before, of course." He was obviously referring to a past boast.

"Of course. Who was it?"

"Rhea. That buxom blonde from security, you know?"

"Yeah, right, Jal." The other gave a haughty, dismissive laugh. "That one's so tight, it'd take the work of three to loosen her up."

"I'm serious! Man, was she a fuck to remember--"

"You are so full of shit, man. You know that? Completely full of shit."

Dal breathed a sigh of relief that combined with disgust, nearing the steel corner that led to his own apartment. Still eyeing the soldiers at the corner, he quickly threw himself to the other side, and set off to run the last few legs - dignity or no. Eyes up, he watched the dark window to his apartment nearing closer and closer...

And ran head-on into a solid figure with thick, heavy armor.

"Now, where are we off to in such a hurry?" a deep, mocking voice demanded, holding his shoulder in a pair of thick gloves. The white armor sparkled in the lamp light, strangely formed helmet leering at him through black bug-eyes. His right hand was steadily on the dark barrel of a rather large blaster. Dal didn't want to think what setting it was on.

"Home from work. Apartment. There," he muttered, pointing up the street, brain running a mile a minute with panic.

"Papers," the soldier demanded.

"I have papers," he said, fumbling through the pockets of his vest. "They're right...oh, gods," he whispered, his pockets empty. "No, I swear, officer, I have papers. I've lived here for seven years, just up the street, I live just up the street, number 27--"

"Papers," he demanded again, his grip tightening.

"I...I must've left them at work," he finally admitted, his mouth taking over - never a good sign. "I work at the Pink Monga...just five blocks that way. You see? I'm a bartender, I keep late hours. I can't help being out past curfew, I go straight home, I just live up the street there--"

"Your babbling is becoming quiet irritating, so I suggest you cease your cowardly prattle." The soldier was surprisingly articulate, so uncharacteristic that Dal bit back the sarcastic quip that sprang to his mind when dealing with soldiers.

"Officer, please, this can be easily remedied," he forced himself to speak clearly, noting too late that the two peon-soldiers were now standing behind him, glaring with their blasters menacing. "My name is Daleev Durv, I'm an employee of the Pink Monga establishment, and I'm certain I left my papers behind at my place of work. It is just an honest mistake."

"I'm sure it was," the officer purred. "But why don't we just bring you down for a few questions and we can check your verification in our identification database? Just to be sure? There are some dangerous people roaming the streets tonight."

Before he could answer, the other two soldiers had clamped hard grips onto his shoulders, and the officer was comming for a shuttle.

---

"Plan A"
by Ty Kat'Ritara
Tasia Harough
and Lerrah Breijal

Locations: Drogen Shipyards and New Plouton
Spaceport Date: Eos 18, 4ABY

***

Ty slipped into the booth and glanced around before turning to Tasia who sat across from him. He slipped a datapad out of his side pocket and surreptitiously passed it to her under the table. "Just got the latest news off the ComNet," he whispered. "There was an encoded message in one of the Rebel drop points I set up last week. It looks like there's a little sunshine in our forecast afterall. Word's come through, and we know where Administrator Anoran is hiding out."

Tasia's eyes widened slightly, but she suppressed her show of surprise and simply nodded her head. She slid the padd out far enough from beneath the table to get an unobstructed view of the screen and furtively glossed over the scrolling text. "She's got the Wookiee, Kir, and the annoying secretary with her too? I wonder why Anoran wasn't smart enough to part ways with them. Travelling alone would make her less conspicuous."

"Travelling with Kir keeps her alive. A Wookiee's gonna stand out, and I don't remember a time when Hajne could stay quiet for five minutes in a stretch. However, I have a feeling they don't want to abandon them. I've never known Mrs. Anoran to have much of a sense of honour or compassion, so it could be Kir's influence that's keeping the other two around. But, what that means, is we need to try to get a message to them. They're not trusting many people, but I think I can still dig up some of the old codes used here on the station. They should recognize them when they see them. I don't know of anyone on the surface who we could trust with a message, if we can even get a message to the surface."

"Even if we do manage it, what makes you think Anoran will even want to return?" Tasia asked. "I mean, yes, this station was like her flesh and blood child, but she's a smart woman and even she knows when to cut her losses and just let go."

"You've dealt with her more than I have," Ty said. "But, from what I've heard about her, she hated the scum inhabiting this station...and right now, we've got the biggest scum in the galaxy occupying it. If she can find a way to drive them from the station, she will. And, if we can help her with that, maybe get a head start, perhaps we'll be able to have drinks on a clean table again."

"What?" Tasia said with a small grin. "You don't like the joints I've been picking? But yes, you may be right. And even if the witch doesn't come to our aid, if we can get a message out to her, we should. The least she could do is pass it on to someone who is willing to help us."

Ty nodded. "I'm getting tired of sneaking through access tunnels and looking over my shoulder at every corner," he said. "At least they don't water the drinks down in here. So, do you know anyone planetside who might be willing to work as a relay?"

Tasia mulled over it, stirring her drink with one finger as she did. She'd lived on the station for so long, yet she rarely had contact with anyone on the planet. But that didn't mean she had no associates from the shipyards who had moved there. With a secretive smile, Tasia pulled her finger from the amber liquid and sucked the sweet liquor off almost salaciously as she thought of the young woman who had swept into the shipyards - and into Tasia's bed on more than one occasion - but who had suddenly left to pursue something or other on Tae'Karada. She would be glad for an opportunity to get in touch with her once again. "I think I know someone, Ty," she said absently. Her sultry brown eyes flicked up towards him and her smile broadened. "We'll write the message and I'll make sure it gets delivered."

"You got the most amazing look on your face just now," Ty said. "Oh to be able to read minds and know what it was that caused that smile. Though, I have a feeling I wouldn't be far off if I suggested that you and your contact have a...past?"

"She wouldn't be my contact if we didn't," Tasia replied vaguely. "I only deal with those I trust. And I trust her. If we can get that message to her, I know it'll go where it's supposed to."

Ty grinned. "The next window we have to get a message down to the planet, I'll try to find a comm-code for her. We can do the standard piggy-back carrier signal. As long as she's got a box off the ComNet, she'll get the message."

Tasia's good mood waned and she sighed. "That's the problem. I'm not sure if she's still on the planet. Our best bet would be to contact her through her ship's frequency. Though, still, if she's not on the planet..."

"If she is, we'll get the message to her. If not, we go with Plan B."

Tasia laughed softly. "Plan B? You'll have to run that by me again."

"Well, it's still in the formative stages," Ty said with a grin. "At the moment, all it has is a name. But, I figure, if we can't get ahold of her, we might be able to get in contact with a Rebel cell on the planet. Let's hope she's down there and we won't have to worry about other plans."

"If she's not down there," Tasia added, "I'll be utterly heartbroken in thinking she couldn't wait to get as far away from me as possible." She raised her glass and shrugged. "I've always thought I was a charming woman."

"You have been as long as I've known you," Ty said with a grin, and raised his glass to hers. "If she's smart, she'll be down there where you can get ahold of her. And, then she'll help us get free of the Empire by getting that message to Anoran."

"And then I can give my dear girl a big kiss in gratitude." Tasia's glass clanged lightly against Ty's, then the two drank to the success of their plan.

***

Lerrah Breijal had pushed the top of her coverall down to her waist and stood surveying her ship. Below her was the canopy bubble where Elf sat, monitoring all the systems. She stretched as she started back toward the sensor dish, looking for any signs of breaks or the tell-tale sparking of a damaged system. "Increase power point five percent," she said into her comlink. "I know there's a problem out here, and I want to find it."

Elf tooted a response and Lerrah laughed. "No, I don't think it'll be hard to find if you'd just increase that power."

A jet of sparks shot up a meter from where Lerrah stood, and she let out a victorious cheer. "Got it! Go ahead and power down, we've got it here." With that, she squatted down next to the break in cabling and pulled a spanner from the toolbelt slung low on her hips. It'd be quick work, she decided, since it doesn't look that bad.

Before she could get far in the repairs though, Elf tootled in the comlink again.

"An incoming call? From who?" The droid answered with a hooting whistle and Lerrah frowned. "Okay, well, I'll take it here." There was an audible click and then a short beep to indicate the link had been transferred. "This is Lerrah Breijal."

"Ah, it's good to hear that beautiful sound again," the husky female voice on the other end replied.

"Tasia?" Lerrah asked hesitantly. "Tasia, is that you? Oh wow...please tell me you're transmitting on a vidlink so I can get down in my ship and see your face."

"Sorry, beautiful. Couldn't risk it. It was hard enough to piggyback on a comm frequency without having it traced back." Tasia sighed softly on the other end and in her voice, it was clear she was smiling fondly. "I wish I had time to chat, Lerrah, but we're gonna lose our window soon and I need your help."

"Anything," Lerrah responded. "Anything at all. Just name it."

"I want you to get a message to someone. It's Shrezade Anoran. She's currently on the planet Riga and we need her help. I'm transmitting some codes to you, Lerr. Don't let anyone see those and when you send them along, make sure it's on a secure frequency. Give those only to Reza when you contact her. When she sees them, she'll know what they are. Keep those safe, Lerrah. Can you do that for me, my precious?"

"Definitely," Lerrah answered, knowing something big must be up. "If it's that important, I can even go to Riga with the message. If I leave within the next hour, I can be there by moonrise."

"It wouldn't be dangerous, would it?" Tasia asked. "Oh, I wish I could go with you, my girl. Just you and me, alone on a ship... We could certainly re-enact the last time we were together." A gentle laugh rippled through the comm, then Tasia refocused on the task and added, "If you can manage it, tell Reza we need her help. Tell her we have the Rebels on our side and they're willing to aid us in retaking...her station. But we can't do it without her."

"I will, Tase," Lerrah said. "It won't be dangerous. In fact, it'll be less dangerous than sending a message there. I'll get her to help you...and I will too. Whatever else I can do, I will. Especially, if it means I'll get to see you again."

"You'll get to," Tasia assured her. "It's been too long already and I miss my jungle girl." The comm was engulfed in static as Tasia pressed her lips to it and sent a kiss to her girl. "Now, I have to get going. Be safe, precious. I'll see you sooner than you think."

"Bye, Tase," Lerrah said softly as she too kissed the comlink, envisioning Tasia's lips there instead. "I'll get that message through. I'll bring help for you. I promise."

"I know you will. Bye now, beautiful." Then, the comm cut out.

Lerrah stood in place for several minutes, holding her comlink to her chest and daydreaming about her brief stay on the Drogen Shipyards. Finally, she snapped herself out of her reverie. "Elf," she called, "get the ship prepped, we're heading out. Also, contact Maeren and Moril; I need to let them know where we're going."

With her grin still in place, Lerrah settled down to repair the conduit on top of the ship, and then they'd be ready to go.

***

Ty couldn't help grinning as he watched Tasia finishing up the call to her friend on the planet below. "She sounds like a very nice girl," he said.

"The best," Tasia said with a dreamy smile. "And she's willing to help. I hope she doesn't get into trouble."

"I'm sure she'll be fine, Tasia," Ty said. "I don't think there are many Imperial patrols between here and Riga. It should be a straight shot."

"Yeah...if she can convince that bitch Anoran to go along with her." Tasia sighed and patted Ty on the back. "Come on, old friend. Let's go begin arrangements on what we're gonna do if Lerrah does succeed in getting Reza off her snooty ass."

Ty laughed and put a hand on her shoulder. "Well, if she doesn't return, we can always kick the Imps off and run the place ourselves. So, it sounds like you and Lorrah were pretty close."

"Lerrah," Tasia corrected with a gentle grin. "And I wouldn't say we were emotionally close, but I did like the girl. Someday I'll get to see her again. We'll get to see all those the Imps have kept us apart from."

"I don't really have anyone outside of the station, but it'd be really nice to know people from outside the station. I'm surprised no one's killed that old fart Tarkin yet. One of the guys down here says he heard the guy's around two hundred years old, and has had so much of himself replaced with machinery that he's practically got a power cable."

"Hopefully someone down there will be smart enough soon to unplug it," Tasia quipped.

"I'd do it gladly," Ty said, "if I had the skills for it. I guess I'll have to settle for using what skills I do have to make him look bad. We should start spreading the word that we've got things in motion. You want to take upper and I'll take lower? Then we can meet back for more of those unwatered drinks."

Tasia laughed and nodded her head. "We do our best planning over unwatered drinks. So, I'll meet you there." She rubbed Ty's back briefly, then departed for the upper levels of the station to let everyone know that freedom was on its way.

Ty watched her go with a smile on his face. Once he could no longer see her, he turned and started back the other direction so he could head Down Below. The plans were in motion, and soon they'd be free of the Empire...hopefully forever.

---

"Life Debt"
by Kharak clan Bakh'tor - Assassin

Location: The Tae'Morad Headquarters, Arcadia
Date: Eos 18, 4 ABY

***

Why must humans always build everything so big?

Kharak craned his neck as he peered up towards the top of the Tae'Morad headquarters. After leaving Honoghr, everywhere he went had large buildings. The tall buildings always bunched everyone together, and there were times when gazing out over a city that his thoughts would return home and make him wish that the ecosystem would return to normal and the Noghri would find a way to fully repay the debt they owed to the Empire for their help.

But that did not happen, and so Kharak continued his work. He was a very proud creature, a very common Noghri trait, and so he would continue to pay the debt as long as he owed it. And he would have this debt to pay unless Vader himself returned and told him his work was done.

Speaking of which... he thought, sniffing the air. He was able to smell Vader in the air earlier, although it was the faintest scent, intermingled with all the other city smells in Arcadia. The faintness of the smell told him that it was only an acquaintance of the Dark Lord, and that this person was somewhere else in the city. It made no difference, however. A friend of Vader was a friend of his.

Kharak sighed. There was no trace now. He pulled the hood of his cloak back over his head and entered the Tae'Morad.

The guard at the door looked down at the small figure. "What do you want?"

"I am here to inform your commander that I have arrived," Kharak mewed.

There was a pause. "Are you the Noghri?"

"I am."

Kharak heard a faint click in the stormtrooper's helmet as he conveyed the arrival to his immediate superior. After a few moments, the stormtrooper nodded and waved him through.

An orderly met him inside. The man handed Kharak a datapad, a commlink, and a key. "When we heard that you were coming, we obtained a small place for you to live in one of the quieter sections of the city. The datapad has a map that will show you the way there. If there is a situation that requires your attention, we will call you on that commlink."

The three items disappeared inside the Noghri's cloak. "Thank you," he said, and then walked out.

Once outside, he took another deep breath. Still no sign of Vader.

I guess I have no other choice but to continue.

---

"Your Business Is My Pleasure, Part 1"
By: Shala Bali (aka Sharis Shade) - Bounty Hunter, Merc

Introducing K'tala N'umina [NPC]
and Kaazi [NPC]

Location: Mos Eisley, Tatooine
Date: Eos 18, 4ABY

***

The sleek starship made its way into Tatooine's atmosphere as it breached the cloud cover and made its approach to the sleepless city of Mos Eisley. Typically there were at least 50 ships that made their flight to and fro from the lawless Starport. It was pretty easy for the ship to make its approach undetected.

With the heavy hiss of the replusors, landing gears exited their berth as the ship finally found its landing padd. It only took a few minutes when the ship made its touchdown within one of the more private hangars. As the thrusters powered down, and the loading ramp slid down and opened to reveal a dark figure making its descent to solid ground.

"It's been a long time, Shade," replied the feminine voice from the shadows as she stepped forward. The lights of the landing pad revealed a beautiful yellowish-skinned Twi'lek. Unlike most, this female of the species wore very elegant clothing that still did well to reveal her form underneath. Her name was K'tala N'umina and she had many contacts with the Black Sun, one of the universe's most feared criminal organization.

"It has," replied the modulated male voice from behind the mask. The light revealed a humanoid wearing the most feared and dreaded armor of the Mandalorian Warriors. There were only a few individuals in the galaxy that possessed armor like this one, but only one kept his reputation in check. Yet, Shade could sense that K'tala had more to say. "Is there something bothering you?" he asked as he waited for a reaction.

The Twi'lek turned to face him as she slammed her fist into his shoulder. Her features were certainly full of discontent. "You think you can come back here and do what you want!? You're damn lucky I let you land in this hangar," replied K'tala as her eyes blazed with every word she spoke.

"I've had a few things to take care of, K. I would have contacted you sooner given the opportunity...but you know how that goes," said Shade as his features were always cold, as they were always hidden behind the blue-grey mask. The hit didn't even make him flinch. The two began to walk towards the exit. Movement in the shadows only told that K'tal was a smarter girl than Shade thought.

"Speaking of business... Pulled some strings and got you that meeting you wanted. Everything has been arranged. Why are you so interested in this guy again? He only runs a few Casinos and gangs around here," replied the Twi'lek as her soft violet eyes made contact with the dark eyes behind the visor. Shade could easily tell that she truly loved him.

"I have some personal business to take care of...bigger fish to fry," said Shade as the two stepped into the desert city. Mos Eisley was known as the city of scum. Every dark corner and dead end had a criminal waiting in the shadows for the opportunity to strike at a chance to make some cash. One with any common sense didn't travel alone, or without any protection hidden or showing on their person. So, when K'tala exited, she was quickly flanked by at least six Gamorrean guards carrying heavy blaster rifles.

A buzzing sound came from above as a skiff hovered down and landed before them. A Dug pilot moved into his seat as K'tala and her guest stepped on board. Each guard took theirs as the skiff lifted off into the sky and to their next destination.

The sandtorn wind blew as the skiff quickly came to the platform up head. Unlike the big cities all over the Fringe, Mos Eisley had possessed a wheel-like building structure as most of its rooftops held a mushroom like appearance. Some bigger than others, but their destination soon took them to a public ramp that was used by those brave enough to use it. Slowly the skiff hovered next to it as K'tala and Shade quickly jumped off.

"The place you are looking for is right around the corner from here. Be careful," replied the Twi'lek as she gave him a soft smile. Jumping back onto the skiff, it darted away and disappeared into the city. Slowly Shade made his way down the ramp and into the streets below them. He had been here quite a numerous amount of time and from the looks of it, he had found himself into Gardola the Hutt's turf. Gleaming in the desert sun, his blaster at his side, always at the ready as he came around the corner into the sprawling neighborhood K had directed him to.

The house was quite large as he made his way towards it. A few groups of various humanoids loitered about as they all seemed to be waiting for something.

"Perhaps the latest victims of the death stick craze, or, maybe even part of this guy's little army. You getting all of this?" he replied through the com helmet as he slowly made his way through them. They were scattered about the huge black smoldering barrels that no doubt provided the warmth needed during the cold desert nights. None seem to bothered by the bounty hunter's movements as he stepped up the stairs and into the huge building that they surrounded.

You sure this is worth finding, Avatar fellow? growled the Trianii who was back on board the Widowmaker. The petite feline-like humanoid was known for her skills with the wrench. After all if it wasn't for Kaazi, a lot of things wouldn't be the way they are. She sat in the cockpit as she viewed the video footage that Shade was transmitting through his helmet.

"If this guy knows where the Slicer is, it would certainly be Xappa," replied Shade as he looked about. Inside the makeshift office-like reception, a tall Sullustan sat behind the counter.

"Yes, may I help you?" he babbled in his tongue.

"I have a meeting with Xappa. He's expecting me," replied Shade as he seemed quite forward and to the point. The mere fact that he stood before him in full gear would certainly mean that he meant business.

"And you are?" asked the Sullustan, beads of sweat beginning to form on his brow.

"Sharis Shade. Let him know that I've got the money he wants," he replied. This was getting to be a pain in the ass.

"Let me check if he's expecting you," replied the receptionist as he picked up a comlink and whispered into it.

"Be quick about it," replied Shade, remaining on the alert.

Bail out now. I have a bad feeling about this, said Kaazi as she shifted in her seat.

"Shut up, let me handle this," replied Shade. He didn't want to burn his bridges on this guy, after all it would be a waste of time getting rid of Gordaan from the galaxy.

After a few minutes, the receptionist looked up and smiled. "You may enter. Keep in mind that you will be watched and any sudden moves will be considered an act of aggression. The Master awaits you inside."

With the push of a button, the iron doors slowly opened to reveal the inside of a manufacturing plant. There was a reason why the zombies were out there after all.

---

"Your Business Is My Pleasure, Part 2"
By: Shala Bali [aka Sharis Shade] - Bounty Hunter, Merc
Introducing Xappa [NPC]

Location: Mos Eisley, Tatooine
Date: Eos 18, 4ABY

***

The floor quickly changed to catwalks as Sharis' boots made a more clanking sound as he stepped upon it. At either side of him a Quarren and a Rodian greeted him. Each holding a blaster rifle, they wore enough body armor to take at least a few blaster hits before even feeling the effects. Sharis knew that this wasn't any small time operation.

"Follow me," replied the Rodian in broken Trade speak.

Taking his cue, Sharis followed closely behind him as the Quarren took his position last. Below them a huge factory outfitted with various alien races were heavily at work providing the support to numerous yet archaic machinery. Death Sticks were quite the commodity to a lot of individuals who were stupid enough to fall into their very addictive trance.

Their trek took them a few minutes as Sharis got quite a view of their operations. Going up a flight of stairs, they headed to the large office that towered the facility and looked down upon the workers that seemed to be more slaving than happily working. Two Weequays guarded the entrance with blaster pikes as their mouthless faces frowned at the approach of the obvious Bounty Hunter.

The Rodian and one of the Weequays exchanged a few words and allowed them to move forward into the room. Inside the make-shift office, a huge wooden table lay centered within. Various computers holding controls to the machinery downstairs were scattered about as three astromech droids were hard at work keeping the computers going.

Located at the more comfortable side of the room was a Trandoshan, two Twi'lek slave girls, and, of course, sitting on a plush purple pillow - a Toydarian. The Trandoshan lizard man stood almost seven feet tall as he appeared quite menacing despite the two slave girls that seemed to be hard at work messaging the Toydarian.

"Ahh, welcome, Mr. Shade," replied the Toydarian as he fluttered towards him. The musky smell and the sound of his buzzing wings could easily make the faint of heart retract back at his approach. He waved to his two goons to ease a little as he extending his hand in a friendly gesture. "I am Xappa. Miss N'umina has told me a lot about you," replied Xappa with a big toothy grin.

"Good to hear," said Sharis as he shook the creature's hand. He was quite used to dealing with this type of scum.

"Please, please, make yourself comfortable. We have much to talk about," replied Xappa as he motioned for Sharis to take a seat. Fluttering to his oversized chair, he was quickly flanked by his two slave women and of course his bodyguard.

"Enough with the pleasantries, Xappa. You know what I'm here for," said Sharis as he just stood. His jetpack prevented him from taking any comfort that his host wanted of him. Placing the neckpurse upon the table, the sound of money made the Toydarian's eyes widen with glee.

"Ah, a man always on business. You are my type of scum, and my favorite type of guest...yes very easy to please," replied Xappa as he quickly grabbed the purse and fiddled through it. Inside was his fee, something he wasn't used to seeing rather quickly.

"Of course the best kind of customer. What are you looking for?" asked the Toydarian.

"A man by the name of Avatar," replied Sharis as he noticed the frightened look that seemed to melt away in a moment.

"Hmm...oh, yes. The Slicer. Interesting you are looking for him. This is a good price for this kind of information. But, with the Imperial occupation on Tae'Karada, it maybe a little hard to find him...or her," he replied, scratching away at the stubble upon his chin. He appeared to be wrapped up into his own dealings.

"Him or her?" asked Sharis. He was quickly reminded of the status of the Galaxy. Rebels or Imperials...they were all the same to him at the moment.

"Oh yes, you see no one really knows how the Avatar looks like. Most of the time it deals through holo graphics of a featureless individual. Some say it was the Avatar that provided the information that led to the destruction of the second Death Star orbiting the moon of Endor. Other people state that it's the Emperor coming back to reclaim the Galaxy for the glory of the Empire lost...of course these are all rumors," replied Xappa as his eyes squinted at the Bounty Hunter. "There are so many rumors spinning round and round...almost like a broken astromech droid. You just need to know which to pick to listen to."

That's it, he knows...get out of there now! replied a familiar cat-like voice within Sharis' ear.

"Depends what kind of rumors are out there, doesn't it?" replied Shadis as his hands remained close to his blasters. When he had first entered the office, he had quickly noticed the skylight...could easily serve as an escape route if needed.

"Hmm, very true. I think I'm tired now...all the information I can give you," replied Xappa as he relaxed with each touch his slave girls gave him. Motioning to his bodyguard, he merely smiled. "You can leave now."

Sharis paused for a moment. The Trandoshan reached for his weapon as he motioned for Sharis to exit. Just before the lizard creature could get close enough to react, Sharis pulled his two blaster pistols and fired. His accuracy was dead on as the creature fell hard upon the floor. With another motion, a dart escaped the wrist weapon and found its mark onto Xappa. It didn't take long for the other two guards to rush in and make their presence know. However, the shrieking slavegirls did well to give Sharis that extra time he needed to grab the Toydarian and escape out of the skylight. With the flick of his wrist, he let a present slide from its home within his belt clip and onto the floor of the office.

Moving as quickly as he could, the jetpack only provided enough fuel for one quick exit. With blaster fire erupting all around him, he ventured quickly to the extraction point...the communication tower not too far from their position that was located on the other building.

Sharis to Widowmaker, I need a lift now!

Understood, already on my way to the extraction point. Widow out.

Quickly the Bounty Hunter found a semi-protective access point and returned fire to the incoming goons. Rushing into the office, they utilized the ladder that provided them with a quick way to the roof. As more and more guards pored into the room to help save their boss from being captured, a Gammorian quickly noticed something shiny on the floor. With ignorance fully backing up in his gene pool, the goon picked up the object as he watched the last of the digital lettering reach its final count down. Unfortunately too late, the establishment was rocketed by a huge explosion that shook the foundation and caused the roof to cave in. No one noticed the wide grin within Sharis' helmet as his thermal detonator had done its work.

Suddenly the sound of replusor jets erupted behind him as the access ramp opened. The Incom Scout Ship known as the Widowmaker hovered as it moved closer to the roof. Picking up the unconscious Toydarian, Sharis quickly jumped into the ship. The ramp slid shut as the huge duel-mounted engines blasted away, lifting the ship into the atmosphere and out of sight.

---

"A Plan Starts To Form"
By Dimitry Jung - Forger
Cortez Ak'Raduul - Wetwork Contractor [NPC+]

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Eos 18, 4 ABY

***

Dimitry Jung lit another bacstick and inhaled and looked out the window from behind his workbench. "What do you think, Tez?"

"What do I think about what?"

"How long do you think these Imps are going to stick around here?"

"No idea man," he answered, pouring himself another shot of Halika. "No idea." Cortez Ak'Raduul leaned back into the chair he'd been sitting in and sipped his drink. "It's a bitch though isn't it?"

"You can say that again," Dimitry answered, leaning back over his work. "I'm hardly pulling in any creds right now with this blockade in place. Everyone's dry because nothing is going in or out."

"I hear ya, man. It's getting hard to fill out a contract with all those 'whities' stomping around as well."

"What?" the forger laughed. "Don't tell me you're afraid to take on a stormtrooper now?"

"It's not single numbers I'm worried about but a wise man once told me that if you have one man with a gun and 50 with knives, always bet on the 50 with knives."

"You got any contract out right now?"

"Three of them, got Heike, Jarneau, and Flinders on them. But the marks are all in New Plouton so they're non-starters. How are the ID chips coming along?" he asked, draining his glass.

"Almost finished with this one. It's for one of those slaveworkers that DeVries sold someone, don't know who. Don't want to know who actually. They give me the creds, I make the ID."

"So this guy's on the lam is he?"

"Probably, though with this lockdown I don't know where he's going to run to."

"You've got that right. I wonder what they're up to in those sections they parceled off for themselves."

"You hear rumours. Some say it's a ship, some say it's some kind of super missile." Dimitry snapped a small piece of plaz in place. "There, finished"

"So what's this guy's new name?"

"Elnorden Bullig, a salesman from Coruscant."

"He picking that up today?" asked the assassin, standing and walking over to the window.

"Tonight supposedly." He sat up straight and stretched his back. "I always insist on payment up front so it's on him if he doesn't show."

"Man, we've got to do something about this bloody Imp business?"

"Well what's worse man, the Imps or that witch Anoran?"

"Right now, I'd say it's a dead heat with the Imps pulling away. We can't do anything down here. They've got to go. You know what I heard" --Dimitry started turning to Cortez-- "I've heard that she's in hiding somewhere offworld."

"I hope she stays there. That's the one thing the Imps got right, they got rid of her."

"I don't know, I did a freebie for her a few weeks back"

Cortez turned and looked at the forger. "You never told me that."

The smaller man grinned and stubbed out his bacstick. "Heh, I don't tell you everything, my friend. Actually it was for her Chief of Security."

"Rilanna Kir?" the killer asked somewhat incredulously. "She wants to split me open in only a dozen ways."

"Still, it's got to be worth something."

"Where are you going with this, Dimitry?"

"If we were to somehow get the Imps off of Drogen, we could earn ourselves a debt of gratitude."

"You want us to do what? You're full of surprises today aren't you? I suppose the next thing you're going to say is that you're a Jedi in disguise?"

"No, no, I'm not one of those," Dimitry smiled, "but it's doable. Look, we can sit here and hope we can outlast what looks to be a lengthy occupation or we can get up off our asses and do something about it and put ourselves in position to collect from whoever takes over once the Imps are gone. Anoran might be long gone by now for all we know. Hell, if we're lucky we get to put our own puppet in place. Worst case scenario the witch owes us big time."

"No man," Cortez said, shaking his head. "Worst case we end up in front of a firing squad."

"Look man, there are going to be risks no doubt about it, but hell what we're doing now is risky. Sitting here just waiting to be picked off one by one. At least hear me out."

"Ok, man, ok. What's this great and glorious plan of yours?"

"Everything about the Imps' presence here hinges around what they are doing in those damn docking bays they've sectioned off. We need to get inside those bays."

"And how do we do that? Walk up to the doors and knock?"

"Sort of. We need some wetwork done first though."

"Just tell me who?"

"One of the technicians who work in the place. Someone low down. I watched a bunch of them go in the other day. Each of them has an ID chip they have to pass through a scanner of some sort at the door. I need to get my hands on one of those chips."

"Ok, let's assume I get my hands on one of those ID chips. Then what?"

"I make enough of them for each of your crew and then we take a look inside. Once we see what's what, all of you go in and blow the place to smithereens."

"You have never set explosives before have you?" asked the assassin rhetorically, leaning against the wall. "It's really no good to even speculate as to whether we could blow the place up until we actually get in there, but I suspect the best way to go about this is to knock out the outer wall and whatever it is they are working on and let space take what it will."

"So you'll do it?"

"I'm not saying that yet. I want to see what's in there first. I'll take out a technician and you make me an ID. Once I've been inside I'll know better what I'm going to do."

"Ok, I can live with that."

"Let's just hope we don't die with it as well."

---