"Wasting Away, Part 1"
Yelara Neerou - Shipyards Mechanic
Kace Mordin - Traveller

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 19, 3 ABY

***

Yelara strode along the flight deck, slowly and unsteadily as she stared ahead looking at nothing in particular. Her eyes, however, seemed to be focused on something in the distance, something that existed only in her mind. Black circles had engulfed Yelara's once soulful, violet eyes, the light in them completely gone now. She had not eaten or slept since she received Kallia's heartbreaking recording. She was now certain that everything she had ever cared for was gone, and all because she was a stubborn, impetuous fool.

Yelara's clothes no longer clung tightly to her voluptuous form as they had done so before; they were now baggy, hanging from the skin and bones her body had withered away to. Her flesh was a pasty, deathly white and her once subtle cheekbones were now protruding from her sunken face.

She blamed herself for pushing Kallia away, and now she was exacting a brutal punishment upon her body with a vengeance. Her appetite was completely gone and even when her body craved sustenance, she denied it, for the pain of hunger was the only thing that dulled the pain in her heart...and the guilt.

She had been distant and unresponsive for weeks. She had been fired from her position of foreman after she broke it off with Dargus, but she was still obligated to finish the work she had started and remain there until a new foreman had been hired. Yet, even though she was still technically working there, she wasn't helping much around the place. If a worker came to her asking a question, she would simply stare past them and mutter a response to a question other than the one he had asked. After a couple of days of that, they stopped going to her altogether.

The sounds from the flight deck were deafening that day, but Yelara heard nothing but the cries of anguish in her heart and Kallia's voice resounding in her mind. She knew she was going mad, but she welcomed it, for in her psychotic induced delusions, Yelara envisioned Kallia standing before and sometimes even caressing her cheek gently. She smiled now as she walked towards Kallia, who was standing across the flight deck, calling to her. A smile crept across Yelara's mouth as she whispered Kallia's name.

Before she could reach her, the image of Kallia disappeared and Yelara stopped, looking around for her frantically and tugging at her hair in frustration. "No. Come back!" she called out desperately, spinning around and around, searching for her lost love. Yelara's body wavered and staggered as the flight deck spun around her. "Kal?" she whispered, before finally collapsing to the ground. Her eyes rolled back into her head as exhaustion finally consumed her and darkness descended upon her vision.

Kace had been walking from the equipment bay with a new set of coils for the Corellia when he heard Yelara's voice crying out. He turned in time to see her collapse. Pain went through him with a jolt. He heard himself call out and started forward. He couldn't imagine a time when he had moved faster. Visions of so many bad things flashed across his vision.

One of the workers managed to get to Yelara before he did, but not by much. The man reached down to touch her throat when Kace got there. He looked up, startled as Kace's backhand lifted him off the ground and sent him flying ten meters.

Kace dropped to his knees next to Yelara and reached out with all his heightened senses. She was still alive. She was really weak and he didn't know how much longer she would hold on. He bit back his anger for not being there for her and scooped her into his arms.

Her face was sunken and her body frail and thin. He could still see her beauty, shrouded in the darkness with which she had surrounded herself. But, it was still there.

With fluid movements, Kace Mordin started toward his apartment. He could sense the deck crew gathering around him, their anger brewing.

He stopped, still holding Yelara in his arms. He did not turn to look them in the eyes, to allow them to see his eyes blazing a fierce blue, casting a glow across Yelara's face. "I won't hurt her," he said, his voice echoing around him. "But, if you try to stop me, I cannot assure the same for you. Go back to your work."

He sensed them moving away, so he continued toward his new apartment. He couldn't understand how a man like Dargus Kandran could claim to love Yelara, and then take everything back, leaving her like this. He was glad he got Elisia away from him when he did.

Once inside the apartment, he gently set Yelara down on the bed. He put a hand to her head and sighed. The pain of seeing her so hollow was tearing him up inside. He took a deep breath, and let some of the Force flow from him into her. He sensed her consciousness rousing, her body starting to show the signs of waking.

"Yelara," he said softly.

Yelara stirred gently. Her body trembled from hunger and her mind was reeling still with thoughts of Kallia. "No...come back..." she muttered as her eyes flickered open and closed. Her hands flew to grasp at anything she could find to cling to. Her right hand finally gripped Kace's pant leg, latching onto it tightly. She feared if she wasn't anchored to something, she would fall back into unconsciousness and never find her way out again.

Kace covered her hand with his own. Tight leather didn't leave much to hold on to, but she'd managed. He brushed a hand over her cheek. "Yelara, it's me. It's Kace. You're safe here with me."

Yelara forced her eyes open at the sound of the familiar voice. As she squinted to focus her blurred vision, she began to make out the shape of a face - Kace's face. "Did you see her?" she mumbled incoherently, believing herself still on the flight deck. "She was right there..."

"There's no one here but us," he assured her. "Just me and you. Who did you see?"

Yelara's eyes shot open as if a burst of energy had surged through her. "No! She's here!" Yelara managed to holler, her voice hoarse. She sat up in bed quickly, still clutching Kace's pant leg and looking around frantically. "Where...where is she? What have you done to her!?" She pushed away from Kace, trying to get to her feet. "I have to find her..." The room began spinning around her, but she tried to rise at any rate. Her eyes caught sight of the door and she set out to walk towards it and leave to find Kallia.

Kace moved into the path to the door. "Yelara, she's gone. She's been gone for two weeks." It wasn't a secret. Anyone who had been around Dargus Kandran knew that the young Jedi woman had left, and hurt both Dargus and Yelara in the process. It still surprised him that anyone could hurt Dargus. "You need food. You need decent sleep. Please, listen to me. You need to eat something."

Yelara stood up, staggering to regain her balance. "No! I don't need food or sleep!" She pushed past Kace, trying to make it to the door, but only succeeding in toppling to the ground. "I need Kallia! That's the only thing that can save me now." Yelara pounded the floor with her fists as she cried out, her voice still weak. "She left me...she said she would never leave me again. She lied!"

"Yelara," he said, watching from where she pushed past him. "Something happened and she left. All I know is you two had a big argument in one of the station restaurants, and then you practically disappeared. I haven't seen you in two weeks. You are destroying yourself. Please at least tell me what happened." He sighed, knowing it would take him on a path he wasn't sure was best. "Maybe I can go find her..."

"I'm so tired," Yelara whispered, her voice sounding dejected. She placed her face into her hands and tried to weep, but she was so exhausted that even the effort it took to form the tears was too much for her. "You'll never find her...not if she doesn't want to be found. She's gone." Yelara turned to face Kace, his bright blue eyes beckoning to her and pleading with her. She could see that he was worried and almost frightened by the state she was in. It was then that she realized she was being selfish, thinking only of herself and how depressed she was feeling at that moment, that she never considered how those around her would suffer as they watched her destroy herself. "Kace..." she beckoned. She held out her arms to him, yearning for an embrace.

He moved to her instantly, pulling her into his arms. "It will get better," he said softly. "It has to get better from here. And, maybe someday, she'll want to be found. I know for you, I would." He held her close, feeling guilty at enjoying the feel of her body against his. She was grieving, but he was feeling contentment at having her in his arms. But, he knew he wanted her happy too. He knew someday he would have to find Jae Dyn Brael, or Kallia Brael as she was calling herself now. He knew Yelara was right; she did need her. "We need to get some food in you before you disappear."

Yelara lay her head upon Kace's shoulder. "I hurt her...and now she's hurt me back. We've evened the score; there's nothing left for her and I now, except for the memories of what we once had. It's over." Yelara clung to Kace, her hands trembling as she gripped his shirt. "I feel so empty inside, an emptiness not even food could fill. You're lucky, Kace. You've never been in love so you've never had to experience the pain of loss. Believe me, it's devastating."

"Before I met you," he said, "I would have agreed with you." He wanted to shake her, and tell her not to give up so easily. He wanted to tell her that he saw the love in her eyes, and he knew she couldn't just stop loving. He wanted to tell her that no matter how deeply she could ever hurt him, he could never change his feelings for her; Kallia Brael must be the same to have loved her in the first place. "I am going to make you eat some food now. You're wasting away." He kissed her forehead, wishing it could be more. He scooped her into his arms and carried her back to the bed. "Do you have any preferences?"

"Well, poison, for a start," Yelara answered, attempting to be sarcastic, but her voice not quite achieving the effect. "I'm not in the mood to eat. And I don't even think I could lift the utensils right now." Yelara nestled her head against Kace's chest, listening to his heart as it beat rhythmically and almost hypnotically. She suddenly shot her head up and stared into his eyes apologetically. "Our dinner date! I'm sorry Kace, I forgot. Well, I guess now is as good a time as any, don't you?"

He smiled, a gentle warm expression accentuated by his bright blue eyes as they gazed right into Yelara. "Don't worry," he said. "You've had other more important things occupying you. And, if you wish, I will lift the utensils for you. I've got some food in here. And, then you can sleep. I almost put you in the shower myself, but I didn't figure you'd like that. I didn't think that would really be that good of an idea. Besides, I wouldn't have had anything clean to put you in. Except for my clothes. Since Dargus took back your apartment, I don't have any of your clothes here anymore. And, when they were around, I was good and didn't try them on."

Yelara looked up at Kace, an expression of surprise flashing across her face before she burst out laughing, followed by a fit of coughing. She took a couple of long deep breaths as the coughing passed and she laced her fingers around Kace's. "I'm sure you would have looked wonderful in them." Yelara smiled mischievously at Kace as she squeezed his hand gently. "And who says I would have minded if you'd showered me?" Yelara frowned suddenly. It seemed even mention of showers could bring up memories of Kallia. She remembered she and Kallia bathing each other, laughing as if they'd known each other for ages instead of weeks. It was one of the brief happy moments they'd had together.

She looked away from Kace, almost ashamed that she could even think about being with him after she had destroyed another's life. "Get away from me Kace. You'd be better off just forgetting me. I wreak havoc upon everyone I touch." Yelara pulled her hand away from Kace's, truly believing her touch would damn him.

Kace frowned. "I happen to like havoc," he said. "But, if you really want me to leave you alone, I will. I would hate doing that, but if you really don't want me around, I'll go. The Corellia's nearly repaired anyway. I'm just trying to be a friend. I'm a little new at it, but I'm still trying." He stood and stepped away from the bed. "I--I'll go. You can stay here. I'll just use the bunk in my ship."

But I don't want you to go, Yelara thought in her mind. She couldn't admit that to him or else the line she had laid down for them would be completely wiped out and she would thrust him into her turbulent life, with Dargus at the centre of the storm. Even though she and Dargus were no longer seeing each other, she knew he was still a looming presence in her life. She had been followed more than once as she walked down the corridors, presumably a spy sent by Dargus to see what she was up to. She didn't think he would give her up that easily and assumed he was out to make her life a struggle from now on. That meant he would most likely still kill anyone she consorted with, but more out of spite, now, than jealousy.

It may have been paranoia and maybe Dargus really didn't care what she did anymore, but Yelara had a feeling Dargus wouldn't just cut her loose that easily. She had already lost Kallia because of her refusal to live a life free of Dargus' control and now Kace was becoming a victim to her insecurities as well. She could now be with Kace if she wanted to be, but if she did act on her feelings and Dargus found out, she feared his reaction would be the same, meaning Kace wouldn't live long enough to make it to Yelara's bed.

"You're doing a fine job, Kace. Don't...don't go," she said softly as she stood up. "Not you too."

He moved closer. "I won't go if you don't want me to," he said. "But, pushing a person away isn't the best way to keep them close. I don't want to go, I never did. I never will. I like you, and like being around you even when you're being difficult. And, from your reaction, showering you would have been a bad idea." He gave her a smile. "Ready for some food?"

Yelara sighed and nodded her head. "I think so. I haven't eaten a decent meal since I got to this bloody place." She rested her hand on Kace's shoulder, feeling the firm muscles beneath the leather. "So you really like me?" she asked, gazing up at him and giving a sweet smile. "I thought by now you'd be sick of all my ranting and my suddenly changing moods."

Kace smiled at her. "Yes," he said, "I really like you. Now, do we eat here, or risk going out somewhere for someone else to serve us a meal?"

Yelara looked down at her frail body and her ashen complexion, angry at herself for letting it get that bad. She knew now that she was not only capable of hurting others, but that she could also be destructive towards herself. "I don't think I'm fit to be seen, Kace."

"You're still beautiful, but we can eat here if you want." He moved to the small kitchen nook and started searching for the fixings for a good meal. He started preparing the meal and glanced over at Yelara.

---

"Wasting Away, Part 2"
By: Yelara Neerou - Shipyards Mechanic
Kace Mordin - Traveller

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 19, 3 ABY

***

"I hope you're not too finicky," Kace said with a grin as he continued preparing the meal, "because I'm not working with the best ingredients here." He glanced up at Yelara as he stirred in some of the spices that came with the kitchen.

"Well, after not having eaten for almost two weeks, I don't think I can complain." Yelara sat down on the bed, feeling flush and her limbs weak. "Will you really be leaving after your ship is done?" Yelara asked.

He looked up. "It depends on if there's a reason for me to stay here," he said, his eyes searching hers.

Yelara looked back at him, her heart being torn in two. "Don't make me say it, Kace. Please. You must know how I feel and I know you understand why I can't act on those feelings, even with Dargus out of the picture...well, somewhat out of the picture. He doesn't cut loose his girls that easily. Once you've been in Kandran's bed, he owns you forever."

"I do understand," he said. "And, I won't make you say anything." He scooped what would pass as their meal onto plates and approached the bed. "It's not gourmet, but it'll fill out that leather again." He handed her a plate and sat down next to her. "I don't know what I'll do yet, but I won't really decide until the ship's fixed." He ate a couple bites and looked back at her. "I want to stay."

Yelara lifted the fork with her still trembling hand and tried to force the food into her mouth, but it only spilled onto the plate again. "Well, I would eat if I could get the bloody fork anywhere near my mouth," she said in frustration. She put down her fork and looked back at Kace with a smile. "If you want to stay, then why don't you? What's stopping you?"

He filled a fork with food and lifted it toward Yelara's lips. "The only thing that gives me pause is whether or not you want me here. You're my only connection in this place, my only friend. If you don't want me around, as a friend, then I have no reason to stay." That wasn't quite true though. He did have Elisia, but he could take her with him. She would go with him, he figured. "I know nothing can happen between us because of Dargus, and it can be very difficult to endure sometimes, but I still enjoy being around you."

"Well, I don't think Dargus will be much of a problem anymore. As you probably know, I've dumped him. That's why I've been sleeping in corridors and under stairwells for the past two weeks." Yelara wrapped her fingers around Kace's wrist and steadied it as she brought her lips to the fork. She pulled the food off with her mouth and began chewing. Her motions were slow as if she hadn't eaten in so long that she had forgotten what to do with the food once it was in her mouth. She still clung to Kace's wrist, turning the food around with her tongue and closing her eyes as her body began to thank her for finally giving into its cries of hunger.

She let the food linger in her mouth before she swallowed it down and sighed with delight. "Handsome, and you can cook," she said with a smile as she turned to Kace. She finally released his hand so he could scoop up more of the food. "I can't let you leave now, especially now that I've tasted this." Yelara's stomach began to grumble, begging for more and she blushed as she look away from Kace. "Sorry. She gets a little anxious at times," Yelara said bashfully as she wrapped her arms around her stomach, trying to drown out the noises.

Kace laughed as he scooped up more food. "I'll hurry," he said and held the food toward her mouth again. "And, to get compliments on my cooking, I think I will stay."

Yelara held Kace's hand away from her mouth, looking at him and smiling gently. "You will? Even if it means we can only ever be friends? I mean, the only way I'll be free of Dargus is if he's dead and until that happens, we can never be together...if that is what you want." Yelara looked away, uncertain if Kace even felt that way about her anymore, if he even had at all.

He nodded. "Every night I will ask whatever fates exist out there that Dargus Kandran drop dead immediately," he said with a playful smile. "In the interim, I will be the best friend I possibly can to you. And, I will hold what I feel for you in check."

Yelara looked back at Kace, his mesmerizing blue eyes drawing her in. Her heart jumped into her throat as her mind screamed at her, telling her to ask him the question she wanted a direct and true answer to. What were his feelings? She knew there was an attraction between them, a definitely physical one, but did it go beyond that?

Yelara pushed his hand completely away and put her plate onto the nightstand beside her. She sighed deeply, wringing her hands nervously as she moved slightly away from Kace. "And how long would you be willing to refrain from expressing those feelings, whatever they are, Kace? No one, not even an honourable, patient man such as yourself would wait for someone forever."

He dropped his eyes and looked for something he could focus on. He took a breath to gather his strength, and then looked up to Yelara. "I have no one else to wait for," he said, his eyes holding hers. "So, I am okay waiting."

Yelara's heart dropped as he said that. She knew at that moment that she was holding him back and that if she didn't push him away harder, he would waste his life waiting for something that would never happen. She didn't want to do to him what she had done to Kallia, but there was still time to prevent that from happening to Kace if she didn't let herself fall for him too hard; that would only encourage him and lead him on. She could leave the station, get away from Dargus forever and be free to love Kace, but she still had that sinking feeling in her stomach telling her that without Dargus, she would no longer have the means to help the rebels. She would be right back where she started when she had first arrived on the station. Besides, she had nowhere else in the galaxy to go. She had no money, no clothes, no connections... She wouldn't last very long outside of the shipyards if she left. She had to stay, even if it meant her and Kace could never be.

"Kace," Yelara began, not looking at him, knowing it was too difficult to keep brushing him off if she had to stare into those beautiful blue eyes. "Friends is all we can ever be, so...don't wait. Find someone you can be with, but truly be with in every way two lovers should be. You deserve a fulfilling relationship with a woman who doesn't have the attachments I do." Yelara turned towards Kace, not able to resist looking into the pool of blue that were his eyes. "Don't expect anything more out of this than friendship, Kace. I just want to let you know that now before it goes too far."

He nodded. "Okay," he said. He wasn't quite sure what to think, but he knew he shouldn't think about it too hard. He walled off the parts of him that would be hurt by what she said. He moved the fork back toward her mouth. "You still need to eat. And, if I find someone I can care for, I will. But, I'm not going to go out searching." He smiled. "And, don't worry. I'll be alright."

Yelara sighed, knowing Kace had heard her words, but he didn't seem phased by them. "You're more stubborn than I am. I didn't think I could say that about anyone!" Yelara smiled, although somewhat ruefully as she moved closer to Kace and let the fork come to her mouth again. "I'm certain I can manage to eat by myself now, but you seem to be enjoying feeding me so maybe I should just humour you," she quipped with her mouth still full of food.

He laughed softly. "It is nice," he said. "If you want to though, I'll turn the fork back over to you. But, I don't mind feeding you. It's a new experience for me." He sighed and looked away for a moment. "I can't turn off my feelings for you, and I do want to be close to you. I won't let it go farther than that though."

Yelara slowly took the fork from Kace, brushing his hand as she did. It sent a pleasant shiver up her arm. She looked up at him and gave a smile as she brought the fork to her mouth. She stared ahead of her, chewing slowly and both of them remaining silent for a time. She could hear the disappointment in his voice as he reluctantly made the promise to keep his distance. Yelara wished she had given Kallia that same option before they began their torrid relationship; it would have saved them both a lot of pain if she had pushed Kallia away sooner.

"Kallia, that was her name," Yelara began suddenly. "I met her, we fell in love, and my relationship with Dargus tore us apart. I just thought you deserved to know." Yelara instantly lost her appetite as she thought of Kallia, and thought of the night she left. Yelara had been out laughing with Dargus, making love to him, while Kallia was sitting in her room, most likely blaming herself for their fight and ultimately deciding to leave. The tortured sound of Kallia's voice on the recording pierced Yelara's heart. Kallia's pain clearly emanated from her words and it had torn Yelara apart inside having to listen to them.

"I broke her spirit, something we both promised Dargus would never do to us, meanwhile, I'm the one who did it to her." Yelara's hands began to tremble again, but from the sudden surge of emotion this time and not the hunger. "I've suddenly lost my appetite," she said in a cool voice as she lay down on the bed and brought her knees to her chest.

Kace slid up the bed toward Yelara and put a comforting hand on her knee. "In the end, though, it was Dargus that did it," he said. "His hold over you drove the two of you apart, just as his hold over you keeps us apart. Dargus is an evil man, much more so than I ever was." His thoughts turned to Elisia, and Dargus' involvement there. "The man is a poison. Everything he touches becomes corrupted. When I look in your eyes, I can see that you still love Kallia. And, I can't believe that she would stop loving you that quickly. Dargus is at the center of all of this."

Yelara placed her hand atop Kace's, gripping it tightly. "If she loves me, then she's a fool," Yelara answered, her voice distant and cold. "Dargus may be poison, but I'm the one who killed her spirit."

He looked away. "Okay," he said. "I'm sorry I pressed the issue. I just don't want to see you hurt yourself more over this. We should probably talk about something else. Like finding you a regular place to stay."

"Maybe I can just break into my old office and sleep in there. The chair is quite comfortable, you know," Yelara answered, half-jokingly. "I could always just bunk in your ship, if you don't mind," she said, glancing up at Kace. "Or would that be too much of an imposition?"

He shook his head. "It wouldn't be an imposition," he said. "And, if you do decide to sleep in your office, at least let me drag in a cot for you."

"Or..." Yelara added quickly, "I could sleep here - if you stayed the night. I could sleep on the couch and you could have the bed." Yelara sat up in bed, facing Kace. "I don't want to be alone. It gives me too much time to think, and thinking is not what I want to do right now."

"Then you won't be alone," he said. "You can stay here." He brushed a hand over her cheek. "And, I'll let you sleep in the bed with me if you promise to be good." He smiled and took her hand. "I won't let anything happen, but I will hold you and comfort you during the night. You look like you can use a little comforting."

Yelara touched the hand Kace had placed upon her cheek, then she leaned forward quickly and wrapped her arms around him in an embrace. "I promise to behave myself. Besides, I trust you, Kace. And I could use the comfort," she whispered softly, burying her head into his chest. She knew that with Kace by her side, she could close her eyes and not worry that she would get lost in the darkness of her mind. Everything about him exuded a calm over her; the sound of his voice, the way he touched her - all of it allowed her to just let go and bask in serenity. "I guess I'll be the first woman you've shared a bed with," she teased, stifling a giggle.

He laughed and shook his head. "Yes," he said, still grinning. "You will be. And, I am glad it will be you."

Yelara drew away from Kace and slipped off the bed, smiling down at him. "I don't exactly have appropriate sleeping attire; leather isn't the most comfortable thing to sleep in," she commented. "Will you be sleeping in that? Do you have anything for me?" she asked, looking down at the only outfit she had in her possession after Dargus had confiscated her others. She'd been wearing it for almost two weeks and frankly, it was getting a bit ripe.

Kace looked at his own leather ensemble and smiled. "I don't really have anything good for sleeping in platonic company myself," he said, a slighting of red darkening his cheeks. "Though, I think I might be able to find something of mine for you that would work to sleep in."

He rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a large shirt that would work for her. He held it out, still showing signs of slight embarrassment.

Yelara bowed her head and smiled before taking the large shirt and going into the other room to change. Her movements were still slow and unsteady as she entered the bathroom, but she made it there and began to peel off her clothing.

Yelara hadn't been in front of a mirror since she was last with Kallia and as she stood looking into it, naked, she gasped. No longer was there a voluptuous beauty staring back at her; instead there was only a pale, ghastly figure that looked entirely foreign to her. Her face was ashen and her eyes looked distant and lifeless. Her ribs jutted out from her stomach and her legs looked scarcely strong enough to hold up even her now slender frame. She had become only a shell of who she used to be, one she barely recognized. Yelara cried out in horror and sank to the floor, weeping and cradling herself in her arms.

Kace was in the doorway instantly. He was taken aback by her nakedness at first, but quickly put it to the back of his mind. He dropped to his knees and pulled her into his arms. "It's okay," he murmured. "It's going to be okay."

"What have I done? What have I done to myself?" she cried out, her voice choked with tears. "I'm hideous. Look at me!" Yelara gripped Kace's shirt, wanting to get lost in it so her ravaged body couldn't be seen. "I don't even know who I am anymore," she wept.

He held her tight, knowing it would do no good to tell her he still thought her beautiful. "We'll get you back to who you were," he said. "We'll find you and bring you back. And, you'll be beautiful and confident. It will be okay, Yelara. We'll make it okay."

He helped her into the shirt he'd found for her. He wiped the tears from her cheeks and gently kissed her forehead.

Yelara wrapped her arms around Kace's neck and rested her head upon his shoulder. "Take me to bed now. I want to close my eyes and just dream of another place, and another time," she whispered desperately.

He picked her up and took her into the other room. He set her down on one side of the bed and pulled the covers over her. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and moved to the other side of the bed. He stripped down to his underclothes and climbed into the bed next to Yelara. He slid close to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Lights off," he said to the room. The lights flicked off, leaving them in the darkness. "Sleep now," he whispered.

Yelara placed her arms on top of Kace's, holding them there so he wouldn't let go. His voice was hypnotic, his suggestion to sleep instantly causing her eyelids to grow heavy and close. Her breathing began to relax, and her tense body now melted into Kace's. Her mind had drifted off, but being uninhibited now and rather unknowingly, Yelara spoke the words that would make things between her and Kace even harder to sort out. With one last moment of consciousness, Yelara's mouth moved, forming the words, "I love you, Kace," and nothing more before she drifted to sleep.

Kace closed his eyes tight against her words. The truth dug deep inside, deeper than the vibroblade that had wounded him. He knew he loved her, and now her words were as good as an admission of her feelings for him. But, because of Dargus, it could never be. His thoughts touched briefly on Elisia and he quickly derailed his thoughts, not wanting to fully think about his young student. He kept his arms around Yelara, not wanting to ever let go, knowing when morning came Dargus would once again stand between them.

---

"Farthest Planet From..."
By: Kallia Brael

Location: Mos Espa, Tatooine
Date: Selene 19, 3 ABY

***

The day was hot. Then again, every day was hot on Tatooine. Kallia Brael wiped the sheen of sweat from her forehead and sighed. She had been living on the planet for just about a month. The small home she had made for herself was feeling more comfortable every day. She felt a sadness descend when she found herself wishing she could share it with Yelara.

She pulled herself out of her thoughts and glanced around the small room where she waited. She hoped he returned soon. She had to get back to her stall. She'd established a small stand out along the main street of Mos Espa. The money wasn't great, but at least it was enough to give her food and other provisions. A good chunk of the money she'd made from selling her ship had gone into the property and small house.

She never imagined she could be so lonely. Of course, she realized the loneliness was self-imposed at this point. She'd turned a cold eye on Thorbin, one of the other venders who'd taken an interest in her. He had been trying to get her into his bed since she first set up her stall. She'd refused every time. She didn't want to be with anyone now. She didn't want to find happiness. She didn't deserve happiness.

Kallia was brought out of her musing at the creak of the door. She looked up and smiled at the man as he stepped into the room. He was what passed for a doctor in the little town. She'd heard he was very good. The spells of dizziness had passed, but the nausea was still there. She thought it was a concussion from the fight that had broken out in the central square the day before. She couldn't imagine herself getting a concussion. She'd fought against a dark Jedi and walked away battered and bruised, but there wasn't a concussion. But, the hard-shelled melon that hit her in the head threatens with a concussion. She smiled at the doctor because it was the courteous thing to do. He smiled back.

The doctor, who kept telling her to to call him Regall, handed across a datapad. Kallia took it without looking at it. "So?"

Regall pulled a chair forward and sat. "There's no concussion," he said. "You're perfectly healthy from the fight, and in every other respect. I can't remember the last time I've seen a human being quite as healthy as you are. It's astounding really."

Kallia nodded. "Okay," she said, "then why do I feel like I have a concussion? Even though I don't know what a concussion would feel like, but if I did it would probably feel like this."

"It is a natural reaction to the processes your body is going through at this point," he said.

Kallia's brow furrowed and she watched the doctor with a critical eye. "Natural proc-- What are you talking about?"

Regall's smile seemed to extend all the way around to the back of his head. Kallia couldn't remember ever seeing a man with as large a smile as the one on the doctor's face. "You're going to be a mother, Kallia," he said. "Congratulations."

She felt the color drain from her face. Confusion boiled up inside, panic creeping in around the edges of her conscious mind. "I'm going to have a--? That's not possible. It can't be." She couldn't. The only man she had been with was Dargus. She couldn't have Dargus' baby.

Regall nodded. "Yes," he said. "It is possible. You are pregnant, Kallia. I can see this wasn't something planned, or expected."

She shook her head, not trusting her voice. She looked down at the datapad and it showed the test results. Everything there confirmed the doctor's report.

"You're about two and a half months along right now," he said. "I know you came here alone, so the father is not with you. If you need any help going through this, please don't hesitate to get ahold of me."

Kallia nodded, the shock more fully setting in. She looked up into his eyes, hoping they would tell him he was only joking, it was just a joke being played on the new kid on the street. He wasn't though. She was going to be having a baby. "Thank you," was all she said before going back to her stall.

She wasn't ready for this. She could barely take care of her own life, let alone a child. The rest of Kallia's day was subdued, but even though she wanted to cry, she couldn't bring herself to do so.

---

"Stunned"
By: Elisia Melouet - Padawan

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 19, 3 ABY

***

Elisia had been working cheerfully with Kace all morning. The ship repairs were nearly complete. She went to ask Kace something and saw him rush off. She followed him and saw him bend over a fallen woman. Then, he picked her up and strode off without so much as a backwards glance. Her heart froze as she watched his back disappear out of the area.

She went back to the ship and sat in the main cabin for a long time. They had worked hard since the night they had gone out. They had been friends and laughed together. There had been no more kissing, but it had been a good time. True to his word, some of the lessons were difficult. She still could not close her eyes and see the fork.

Finally, she realized he wasn't coming back. The woman must have been Yelera. She crept back to the apartment. Opening the door, she saw the remains of a meal. There was no one in the room. She crept to Kace's door and pressed her ear to it.

His words floated through it. "Then you won't be alone," he said. "You can stay here... And, I'll let you sleep in the bed with me if you promise to be good...I won't let anything happen, but I will hold you and comfort you during the night. You look like you can use a little comforting."

Elisia put a hand to her mouth and stepped back. She swiftly went to her room and recovered her picture and shoved an outfit in a bag. She then headed back to the ship. It was only once inside the ship that she allowed herself to burst into tears. She cycled the ramp locks and gave into her heartbreak.

Once the tears had been spent. She activated the little training sphere and pulled out her saber. She turned it up a level higher than she was decent at and began to vent the energy, anger and heartbreak on the little sphere, dropping it to the ground again and again...

---