"Incarceration, Part 1"
by Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr
and Commander Satar [NPC]
Location: Throntas Penal Colony, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 1, 4ABY

***

Zale growled under his breath as he and Kaysa walked side by side down the corridor. The pain in his side still flared as he moved, but the other guy was worse off. It was the second fight he'd been in since they'd arrived at the prison. It seemed everyone wanted to test themselves against him, and so far he'd been able to beat them back. And, he'd managed to forcefully discourage a trio of thugs to change their plans about raping Kaysa.

"We'd better get out of here soon," he finally said. "I feel like that bastard stabbed me. And he pulled my hair! A grown man in a prison pulling hair. Well, at least he didn't try to bite me."

Kaysa managed a laugh, but the situation was anything but humourous. She strained under Zale's weight as he used her as a crutch to ease his burden while he walked. It was the least she could do for her protector. "Well, it's nice hair. Can you blame them for wanting to run their fingers through it?"

"Well, I don't blame them for wanting that," Zale said with the laugh. "It was the saving it as a trophy that I had a problem with. I don't think that one will be bothering me again...at least not until he's eating solid food again."

"Gods, Zale...you've gotta be more careful. Maybe if...if you spent more time looking out for yourself, you'd be better able to deter the attacks." Kaysa helped Zale into their private area and moved towards their bed...well, mattress on the floor, but it was the closest thing to a bed they were going to get.

Zale laughed. "They're just testing the new guy," he said. "Especially a new guy who's bigger than most of them. I'm just glad the leadership of the various factions in this place is so scattered. If they were to organize, they could be dangerous. But, since we could be here for awhile, I think I'm going to start organizing my side. They won't know what hit them." As he lowered himself onto the mattress, he shook his head. "Did you notice the way the Imp guards were watching us out in the yard? It's like they're expecting something from us."

Kaysa sat down on the edge of the mattress and pushed Zale gently back onto the bed. She began unzipping Zale's coveralls to see the damage done in the most recent round of fighting and considering he had a set of the most finely sculpted abs she'd ever seen, she didn't mind tending to his wounds all that much. "Well, do you blame them, really? We're the two most ruthless, conniving people I know. Frankly, I'm surprised we haven't planned an uprising already. It's just...it's too damn hot to think." Kaysa cringed visibly at the bruises already spreading across Zale's side as she spread open his coveralls. "You better start paying more attention. Looks like he caught you offguard this time."

"I should have seen him coming," Zale said. "That and I didn't expect the bastard to pull my hair. I honestly didn't expect hair pulling in here, at least not by a guy. Women are dirty fighters, they pull on whatever they can get ahold of. Men aren't supposed to do that. I thought the testosterone would prohibit it."

"Hey! I do not pull hair. I'm actually a good fighter." She ran her fingers lightly over Zale's ribs, which brought a smile to her face. She remembered her first night with Merrick when she had tended to his wounds as well. The thoughts were quickly pushed aside, though; it would only make their prison term harder to bear. "Does it hurt?" she asked softly. "I don't think anything's broken."

"It hurts, but it's bearable," Zale said. He closed his eyes as she pressed her fingers against the tender skin. "I do think I have a bruised rib. I'll live though. Better than the other guy. I imagine his friends are still out there collecting teeth." He looked up into Kaysa's eyes and smiled. "You're gonna make it all better, aren't you?"

"Right now?" Kaysa laughed and shook her head. "It's too hot today. I can't believe you actually choose to work in the desert." She sighed deeply as she lay down beside Zale. She rested her head upon his chest and gently ran her fingers along his stomach. "It's only been three days and already we're barely getting by with our lives. Are we gonna make it here, Zale?"

"We'll make it," Zale said as he focused on the ceiling of their cell. "We're survivors, and we'll do what it takes to get by in here...even if it means facing off against the rest of the prison. Moril's working on getting us out of here. He'll have us out by the end of the week." He shifted his eyes down to Kaysa and grinned. "I really wish it wasn't so hot here... Though, tonight after it's cooled off, we'll have to find a way to stay warm."

"Well...I think I have a couple of ideas. It would make me indisposed for a time, which would really kill Roba and the rest of his brethren. I think they really have their eyes on me." Kaysa smiled wanly and kissed Zale softly. "Which is another reason you have to watch yourself. I need you. Their hair isn't long enough to pull if they decide to corner me one day and I'll need you and your brawny muscles to fend them off."

Zale laughed. "Don't worry, my dear," he said as he slipped his arms around her. "My brawny muscles are always at your disposal. I don't plan on being incapacitated here. I swore I'd watch after you in here, and that's what I intend to do. Merrick would kill me otherwise."

"He said that but I'm not sure how effective he'll be in carrying out that threat. Frankly, he's a wimp, but what he lacks in muscle mass he makes up for in spirit." Kaysa laughed and wrapped her arms tenderly around Zale's waist. "At any rate, I don't plan on being caught alone. I'm very glad they allow us to shower together...for more reasons than one."

Zale smiled and let his hand idly drift over Kaysa's body. "Well, in a place like this, you have to have someone to watch your back." He grinned. "So, if I ever wanted to take you for myself, I'd just need to thump my chest and beat up Merrick, and drag you off to my cave."

"You're forgetting about Shiv, though. She's really good with those knives of hers." With the darkness of the prison being dejecting enough, the memories of Shiv were quickly pushed aside, but the sadness had already infected her and it showed in her slowly fading smile. "It's...it's all gonna be alright," she said quietly. "Once we convince those idiots the evidence they have against us has been falsified, we'll be free again. We'll be okay."

"When I talked to Moril," Zale said, "he said he was trying to get his hands on the holorecordings they claim to have. We've got a few guys on staff who know holographics inside and out, and if there's anything false about them, they should be able to get it. It's just a matter of getting the Imps to turn over copies for examination. We'll make it, Kaysa. Moril knows what he's doing, and he'll do everything he can from his end to get us out of here."

"Did he...did he mention anything about Shiv?" Kaysa looked up at him with an imploring gaze. "I don't want them to divert resources from the search for her just to get us out of here. We have time, Zale. She may not."

"The resources he's diverted to help us weren't being used in the search for her," Zale said. "Don't worry. The search for Shiv is going as strong as it was before we were shoved in here. We'll get her back. I have to find some way to make up for what I did to her...if she'd even want to be near me again. I wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to see me again."

Kaysa propped herself up on her elbow and smiled gently at Zale. "She forgave me after the hell I put her through. She'll forgive you, Zale. She could never hold a grudge against anyone; it isn't in her nature. The foolish girl adores everyone she meets." She leaned over and kissed him upon the forehead. "After she left, I realized how much light she brought to my life. It's so dark now, Zale. We all need her back. It's amazing how one girl could be the key to the happiness of so many. I...I need her back."

"Usually it takes losing something to realize how much it means to you," he said. "It took having her out of your life again to realize that, despite the fact that you said you never would and believed you never could, you realized that you love her. I had that happen with you too. Though, I was able to realize before we were apart. I was a fool... But at least we were able to straighten things out before it went past the point of no return. With Shiv, I guess there is no point of no return. When we get her back, she'll love everyone just like she always has."

"I hope that's true." Kaysa closed her eyes and shook her head as visions of her girl being molested by dirty, strange men bored more holes into her heart. "What...what if she doesn't come back the same? What if those things they're doing to her... What if the light just goes out?" She sat up quickly and shook her head desperately as she clutched at the top of Zale's coveralls. "Oh gods, Zale. What if she's completely traumatized? She'll be so devastated and...and we'll lose her. We'll lose her, Zale!"

Zale flinched at the pain he saw in Kaysa's eyes. He had the same fears, but he held hope in the strength of Shiv's spirit. "If anyone can survive something like that," he said softly, "it's Shiv. She survived on the street for four months, and was just a little thinner." He looked up into Kaysa's eyes and then smiled. "Do you know what I think she does when it gets to be too much for her? I think, in her mind, she's being held in your arms. When things get too difficult, she goes to the most comfortable place she could ever think of, and that's being held in the warm embrace of the one person she loves more than any other."

Kaysa smiled softly and nodded her head slowly, hoping desperately that thoughts of her would be comfort enough for Shiv. She sighed gently and loosened her hold on Zale's coveralls. "I just...I just wish we could have had more time together." She slid down alongside Zale and embraced him. "I...I've always thought she was stronger than me. You're right, Zale; she can make it through this. She...she has to. I'll help her. For once, I'll be strong too, and I'll help her." She glanced up at him with a smile and ran her hand along his cheek. "And once she finds out how wonderful you've been through all this, she won't think twice about forgiving you."

"Good," Zale said. "I don't think I could have handled being the only person in the galaxy she hated. I think between you and Merrick, and me, I think she'll be feeling more love than even she can handle." He kissed her gently and slipped an arm around her. "That's just one more reason for us to do everything we can to survive through this. Together we can do it, Kaysa. Together we'll make it."

"Seems like we've been through so much together. I bet in the time you've known me, you're life has been more eventful than it's been for the last thirty years." Kaysa laughed and playfully poked Zale in the stomach. "You're glad to have met me. Admit it!"

Zale laughed. "I've never regretted a day I've known you," he said. "Though, that first night there was about an hour or so..."

"Zale!" Kaysa slapped his hands away then grasped his wrists and pinned back his arms. "Take it back!" With a laugh, she slid atop his waist and gave him a playfully menacing glare. "You loved every minute of my company...even when we weren't having sex. Admit it!"

"Every minute," Zale called out with a laugh. At her triumphant look, he quickly added, "Except...except when you tried to incapacitate my sexual prowess with those knees of yours. But, I will admit, you did certainly make up for it."

"Well, you took my bottle." Kaysa leaned over and kissed Zale deeply on the lips. "Besides, you like it when I'm rough. If I were some delicate, fragile flower, you wouldn't have as much fun as you do. And I'm fun," she said as she squeezed her thighs and constricted his waist. "I'm fun...right?"

Between laughs, Zale made a show of being in pain. "Yes, yes," he said, pleading, "you're very fun. The most fun I've ever had."

Kaysa gave an emphatic cheer and released Zale's arms from her grip. "I'm so glad you agree. I mean, you're already in so much pain, I didn't want you to give me a reason to inflict more upon you." She smoothed her hands over his chest as her smile became silky and her hips began gently swaying against his. "Is that why you fell in love with me? Because I was so much fun?"

Zale let his hands slide up to Kaysa's breasts as her hips worked magic against his groin. "One of many reasons," he said. "And, the fact that you have the knack of getting me blistering hot, especially when you do that." With a smile, he reached up and unzipped the front of her coverall.

Kaysa pushed the top of her coveralls down over her shoulders and freed her arms from the sleeves. "Tell me why else you love me. Or is it just pure sexual magnetism?" She bent over and kissed Zale tenderly as her hands worked inside his pants. "Was it for my beauty? My charm? My air of mystery?"

Zale smiled. "You have your charms, and beauty. Your mystery attracted me to you more than I can say. The thing that clinched it for me though was the love you are afraid to show, the love that you feel for Merrick, and now Shiv. You have a great capacity for love hidden within you, and that's what drew me to you."

"And you thought there was a chance you could unleash that love I've been locking away for so long?" Kaysa's features softened as she gazed down at Zale. She brought a hand to his cheek and cradled it gently as she smiled almost ruefully. "Did you think if you could help me discover my ability to love, that I would love you back?" she asked softly.

"I didn't really think that would happen," Zale said with a soft sigh. "But it was a hope. In the world where I've lived my life, love is a very rare thing. And, you're the first woman I've ever been with where there was true passion and fire between us. Something more than sexual. And, I hoped...but I don't think I was ever certain. Just hopeful."

Kaysa raised herself up enough to push her coveralls down to her knees, then reached into Zale's pants and pulled out his cock. In an easy motion, she sat back down and allowed him to slip inside of her. Taking a moment to recover from the small rush of pleasure that spread through her, Kaysa then opened her eyes and looked down at Zale with a gentle smile. "Whether I love you or not... Does it really matter, Zale?"

Zale looked up into her eyes as they found their very familiar rhythm. "It does and it doesn't," he said with a smile. "Really it just comes down to what happens between us when we're together. How we treat each other is important." He grinned a sly grin. "I hope you like how I'm treating you now, because I really like how you're treating me."

"It's the least I could do for my valiant hero, and the least you could do for your nursemaid." Kaysa ran her fingers lightly over Zale's sculpted abdomen and sighed softly at the gentle stirrings sending ripples of pleasure through her. She stared at him with an ironic smile and shook her head slowly. "If you only knew, Zale," she whispered. "If you only knew how close it's come to that."

Zale moaned softly and closed his eyes briefly before opening them and looking up into Kaysa's eyes. "I never want to go back to the bad," he said. "We're so much better together than apart. Together we could make something beautiful."

Kaysa chewed her lip to force back a moan, but managed a smile for him. "I like the good too. That's what makes everything so complicated though." Kaysa sighed deeply and let her head fall slowly back as she whispered, "That's what makes me think I could almost--"

"Alright," a voice from the cell door called out, "get your clothes on. You have a visitor."

Zale fought back a loud moan that turned into a groan and then a growl. He looked up into Kaysa's eyes and sighed. "We'll finish this later," he said softly. He glanced past Kaysa to the two guards and glared.

Kaysa looked down at Zale and smiled wanly. "A visitor. Maybe it's our lawyer come to tell us they've got another murder they wanna pin on Tae'Karada's favourite scapegoats." She sighed and shook her head as she slipped off Zale and stood by the edge of the bed, watching the guards angrily. It seemed they always managed to barge in at the perfect moment to upset their lovemaking. They were conspiring and she knew it.

Both guards smiled, and then one held out a hand to the other. The other pulled a wad of credit slips from a pocket and dropped a couple of them into the hand.

As he pocketed the money, the guard grinned at the other. "It was a sucker bet," he said. "But, I'll gladly take your money." He turned back to Zale and Kaysa, his smile still present. "Please make yourself decent, and I will escort you in."

Zale glanced down at the open front of his coveralls and then up at the guards. "You won't consider letting us finish what we started would you? Surely you must know what it's like to be interrupted from making love to a beautiful woman." He glanced between the two guards and shook his head. He started zipping up the coverall with mock resignation. "I'm sorry. My mistake. I should have thought about it a little more before asking. You know, if you were any other men, I know you'd know what I was talking about. So...do you know if that one trooper in New Plouton, do you know if he's going to recover? That's gotta be a real shock. Unwraps his dick for the first time to have it nearly bitten off. That's gotta leave scars." Both guards were glaring as Zale stepped forward so they could be marched to the interrogation room. "Kaysa and I can stage a demonstration for you later if you'd like. That way if you do ever find yourselves naked with a woman, you'll at least have an idea..."

Kaysa moved beside Zale as she finished zipping up her coveralls, leaving it a good deal open to give the deprived Imps a peek of her bare chest. She lazily ran a finger between her breasts and shot them all a silky smile. "I'd be happy to oblige." She licked her lips sensuously and gave a throaty laugh. "Your friend was really tasty. I bet you all taste just as good."

Both of the guards narrowed their eyes. One of them started out ahead, and the second stepped behind so they had Zale and Kaysa between them. They were marched in silence into the interrogation room and left there for a few moments.

Suddenly, the door opened again, and a man with a sour expression followed by two stormtroopers entered the room. He moved quickly to the table and sat. "My name is Commander Satar," he said, his voice crisp and precise. "I am here to discuss the new evidence that has been brought forward against you. Please have a seat."

"New fabricated evidence, you mean," Kaysa corrected with a smirk. With her arms stubbornly crossed over her chest, Kaysa moved over to one of the indicated chairs and slumped into it with a weary sigh. "So, you still think we're murderers then? I love the Imperial legal system. So ironic. You seek justice by condemning the innocent. I like it."

Satar smiled and turned his attention to Kaysa. "I like to see all scum dealt with as they deserve," he said. "So, tell me Ms. Zenarr, what in your life can you point to that would tell me that you're not scum?" He smiled again, and turned his attention to the data chips in front of him. "Are you interested in seeing the evidence, or would you care to continue elaborating on your disgust of our legal system?"

Kaysa reclined back in her chair with a wry laugh and rolled her eyes. "Fine. Go ahead, Commander. Show us your so-called evidence so I can tell you how deluded you are for believing such an obvious fabrication."

Zale laughed softly to himself and slid into the seat next to Kaysa.

The commander took one of the data chips and fed it into a reader built into the table. In the center of the table, a holographic image sprang to life. It was Kaysa straddling Zale as they slowly made love. As they continued to writhe against each other, they spoke of Rennor and their plans to eliminate him. Then the image cut to outside the White Noise; it was the night of the first fight with Rennor, the one that led to the entire mess in the first place. Then the image shifted again to Rennor's office where he and Kaysa were involved in a shouting match over her various lovers and infidelity to him. Before she stormed out of his office, Rennor gave her a week to change her ways, or he would see that all of her holdings became his. The next scene shifted back to a tender moment between Zale and Kaysa while he consoled her over the fight, and they planned the night of the murder.

When the holographics faded to nothingness, Satar sighed. "And, there you go," he said. "Your evidence."

Kaysa watched as the images disappeared from the air before her, but leaving behind no doubt about their apparent guilt. Overcome with rage and a sudden sense of hopelessness, Kaysa flew out of her chair and slammed her fists down upon the table. "This is fucking insane! They're lies! Half those things that holo says happened never did. How the hell can you believe that?!"

Satar shot out of his seat. "To see you unhinged now, how can I not believe it?"

"Kaysa," Zale growled as he came up next to her, his eyes narrowing to beads of chipped obsidian. "I strongly recommend you go over that information more thoroughly than you have. We are not the ones responsible for killing him, but someone out there is. You've got the wrong people locked up because someone wants you to have us locked up."

Satar shook his head. "You scum will say anything to save yourselves, won't you? The data on these chips has been authenticated. A warrant has been placed for that blonde haired accomplice of yours as well." His expression turned to one of revulsion. "Your bedroom antics disgust me."

In a cold, malevolent whisper, Kaysa hissed, "You leave her out of this. Do you hear me? Leave her out of this!" Kaysa's restraint crumbled under the rage she'd been trying to force down and she flew at the Commander with her fingers gnarled and ready to claw at his scowling face.

The commander stumbled away as one of Kaysa's hands narrowly missed his eye. Zale was up next to her, with an arm around her waist trying to stop her from doing something that would get her thrown into some sort of solitary confinement. The officer was yelling something, and Zale knew he was yelling back while still holding Kaysa in place. The Stormtroopers reacted as they were trained to, moving quickly and efficiently.

The entire moment seemed to slow to nothing and stretch out into infinity. The moment was shattered at the sound of a blaster being fired. Zale jumped, thinking them firing at them. When he saw the Imp with his blaster trained to the ceiling, his heart slowed slightly, but not enough.

The commander got back to his feet, his anger barely held in check. "Get her out of here," he snarled. "I'll deal with Mr. Tregat."

The guards clamped vice-like fists around Kaysa's arms and pulled her kicking and spitting out of the room. Once they were outside, they released her to the ground and made sure the door was secure. They took up positions on either side of the door with their blasters held ready.

Kaysa lay sprawled on the floor, trying to keep her temper from flaring by taking calming breaths through her clenched teeth. The bastard was trying to drag Shiv into her mess. She would defend her girl to the last minute and would kill him if he mentioned her again. Considering the sordid turn of events, she was almost glad Shiv was away; it saved her from getting thrown into the same hell pit she was roasting in.

She glanced up at the Imps, whose blasters were centred on her, and slowly pushed herself to her knees. "Can I get up? I promise to be a good girl."

One of the guards nodded slowly. "Just don't try anything," he said. "And, keep your sarcasm to yourself. You've used up all your good fortune today. I suggest you don't test the limits of Imperial patience."

A snappy comment was on the tip of her tongue, but considering she'd barely gotten out of the interrogation room without being shot in the back with a blaster, she decided to play the nice, cooperative prisoner and get to her feet without a word. She rubbed her wrists to ease the nagging pain the Imps' firm grips left and laughed dryly. "Do you want me to stand in the corner and wait or should I get outta your sight completely?"

The guard shrugged. "The choice is yours," he said. "Though, it may be best to be out of sight when the commander leaves that room. He's likely to have you thrown into solitary confinement."

Kaysa frowned and shook her head slowly. "I guess I have no choice then." She straightened out her coveralls, then ran a hand through her dishevelled hair. "Tell my friend in there that I've gone back to our room. Do you think you can do that for me?" she asked with a wry grin.

The guard shrugged again. "I think I can manage it," he said. "I imagine he won't be very long in there."

"Fine," Kaysa muttered as she started down the corridor. She looked back at the guards with pure contempt and mumbled a curse under her breath before she disappeared around the corner. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her prison standards, Kaysa sauntered down the empty, dank corridor. She hoped Zale was giving the commander something to think about, like his fist shoved down his throat. If he couldn't manage that, she at least hoped he was trying to find some way to convince the jerk that they might have been scum, but they weren't murderers.

---

"Incarceration, Part 2"
by Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr
and Commander Satar [NPC]
Location: Throntas Penal Colony, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 1, 4ABY

***

The heavy sounds of her prison issued boots slamming against the stone floor of the corridor echoed for meters. She wasn't even thinking about who she would be alerting to her location by making such a raucous; all she could do was review the images the commander had displayed to them. Whoever Vrax had hired to make those recordings was good, but what was eating away at Kaysa the most was that some of that very damning evidence was real. Her first night with Zale, the night at the White Noise... If she'd known anyone was watching, she wouldn't have been so stupid. But it was done now, and all either of them could do was find the best lawyer Zale's money could buy...or at least give some high ranking Imperial officer a payoff.

Turning the corner towards her room, Kaysa's footsteps grew louder until slowly, they became out of sync and sounded like a second pair of feet were treading along the path. Kaysa slowed her pace, the other footsteps mimicking, until she finally stopped. Nothing. The corridor was silent again and the only sound she could hear were the buzzing of the dying lights above and a tap dripping in the distance. Soon, her heart pounding arrhythmically in her chest joined the of ominous noises and set her again in motion. She regretted immediately leaving behind the interrogation room. At least if she'd been with the Imps, she'd have some form of protection from the shadows lurking about, waiting to catch her alone.

The minute her boots clunked against the pavement, the second pair of feet set into motion as well. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see who her shadow was; she wasn't imagining things, but in the darkness of the corridor beyond, she could see nothing. The thumping of more boots joining in clamoured in the background and it was then she realized she was being chased and clearly was outnumbered. In a vain attempt to delay the inevitable, Kaysa pounded the solid ground with her booted feet in a sprinting retreat.

She wanted to cry out Zale's name, but her voice stuck dead in her throat. Her heart thrashed in her chest as she ran faster, yet the footsteps seemed only to draw closer. At the frantic speed with which she attempted her escape, the air screamed in her ears and only heightened the fear permeating her. She knew what was to come if she was caught. There was no way she was getting out of this, but she wasn't going to submit and let them drag her away to a secluded room without a fight.

Her head whipped around again at the maddening sound of her pursuers gaining ground. Their disjointed footsteps began merging into one thunderous set of feet barrelling down the corridor, ready to topple her. She didn't have to see their faces to know who they were, but as they came into focus, all four faces wearing hungry smiles, Kaysa knew for certain who was waiting to pounce.

Facing forward again and seeing the tall, imposing figure of the nightmarish spectre blocking her path, her suspicions were suddenly given credence. Kaysa skidded to a halt with a terrified scream, only to end up directly in the arms of her soon to be tormentor. Gazing up into his wild, menacing eyes, her body stiffened as if frozen solid. The last thing she saw as a pair of hands from behind immersed her eyes in darkness was Roba pulling down the zipper of his coveralls and his tongue lapping his lips. He was preparing to feast and Kaysa was the meal.

One final, piercing cry escaped her lips before a hand was clamped over her mouth and left behind only a cold, deafening silence.

***

Once Kaysa was removed from the room, Zale turned his eyes back to the Imperial commander. "You did that on purpose," he said, his voice a low growl. "You know which of her buttons to press to get her riled, and you're hitting every one."

The commander only sneered as he started gathering the data chips.

"I can only hold my organization back for so long," Zale said slowly. "I'm the only thing keeping them from starting a guerrilla war against the Imperial encroachers. How long do you think the people of this planet, who don't want you here, would sit by idle while they watched us disrupting your governorship? How long would the Empire remain effective here with buildings blowing up left and right? Stormtroopers being sniped down in the middle of a crowded New Plouton street? One word from me, and the war starts." Zale leaned closer, his eyes fierce with menace. "Or no word."

Commander Satar's mouth pressed into a hard line as he leaned forward. "I have dealt with your kind of scum my entire life," he said. His eyes were cold and unfeeling. "Your threats do not scare me. Your intimidation will not work on me. If the Empire perceives your pestilent little gang of thugs to be a threat, then we'll just land our walkers and raze your Thanatos headquarters to dust. And, then we'll bring a demolitions team into New Plouton and reduce that office building of yours to rubble." His lips curved into a cruel smile as he brought his face even closer to Zale's. "And, if your primitive thuggish mind still can't let your petty honour rest, we'll turn this entire planet and all its primitive, scantily-clad inhabitants into an Imperial slave colony." Suddenly, his hand twisted into Zale's hair and he yanked down hard, slamming Zale's head into the table. With strength that belied his form, the man held Zale there. "Cooperate with me, and your little blonde trollop will not be dragged into this. Cooperate with me, or else I'll keep you in here all day while Roba has his way with your lover. I want justice done, Mr. Tregat. I want to see the people responsible for this act punished for their crime. At the moment, you and Ms. Zenarr are the most likely suspects. Until you can provide proof as to your innocence, and provide me with the person or persons responsible for the murder of Rennor Karradas, you are guilty and will be treated accordingly." He tugged hard on Zale's braids, bringing with it a sharp gasp. "From this moment forward, you will treat me and my men with respect or else I will see that you and Kaysa Zenarr are separated and that she's left wide open to the scum in this place that would love to get their hands on that body of hers. Am I making myself understood, Mr. Tregat?"

"I understand," Zale rasped. He wanted to lash out, to threaten...but he knew to do so would only hurt Kaysa, and Shiv when she was found. For them, he would swallow his pride, and do as the commander wished. But, he feared for the life of anyone wearing Imperial colours should they ever harm Kaysa or Shiv or Merrick. "I understand."

Satar smiled. "Good," he said, and let go of Zale's hair. "Now, if your people can provide proof of your innocence, then we will welcome it. Until then, you are prisoners here. Now, I will let you go. Make sure Ms. Zenarr hasn't gotten herself into more trouble. You will be allowed a comm session later today. You may contact your people, and Kaysa may talk to her musician." He watched Zale for a moment, then sat back. "Now get out of here."

Zale stood from the table, straightened his coverall, and then left without another word.

***

Her muffled cries were made even less effective by the snickers and laughter her situation appeared to have inspired in the attackers. She could hear the two beside her, covering her eyes and mouth, and the third pinning back her arms, but the fourth and Roba... A hand began tugging on her zipper and Kaysa's composure snapped like a thread. She thrashed her head to free her eyes and mouth from the hands clamped over them, and grunted as she attempted to wrench her hands free. Even more laughter erupted at her apparently vain attempt to break loose, but it quickly died and was replaced by shouts as one of her booted feet smacked hard against one of the attackers. The hand driving down her zipper disappeared and a body thudded against the pavement.

"Get up, you prak," Roba's voice shouted. "Get her legs. She kicks like that again, bust one of her knees. She don't need her knees to fuck."

Two of his gang quickly held Kaysa's legs down so she couldn't kick anymore. The wounded thug was struggling to his feet and trying to catch his breath. When the actual raping happened, he'd be out of luck...but it was his own fault for putting his crotch so easily available to the same woman who nearly chomped off an Imperial pecker.

As she struggled against the hands holding her, she felt another pair smother her breasts. Lips soon pressed themselves to her neck, kissing and sucking as a body flattened against hers. Through the coarse fabric of the coverall she wore, she could feel the spread zipper, indicating that Roba was bared before her. Hands grabbed the zipper holding her coverall closed and tugged it open. His hands quickly went to the soft flesh now revealed to all.

"Oh, she's beautiful, ain't she boys," Roba's voice purred. "She'll be a tasty treat. Let her scream, Durk. I want to hear her scream."

It was truly becoming a nightmare when the words that had once come from her own mouth suddenly formed from those of her attacker. A cry rose deep within her throat, and spilled out into the open air as the hand slipped away. The scene was far too familiar and now, more than ever, she regretted what she'd done to Shiv. Rape was the vilest form of punishment, and Kaysa knew she was learning that firsthand. Somehow, it was fitting retribution for her past ruthlessness and although Shiv had forgiven her, Kaysa would now receive true absolution for her crime.

The moment her cry cut out, Kaysa gathered her spit and blindly directed it at Roba. She hoped it had somehow found its way to his face, and to make certain it truly did, she spat at him again. "You bastard! Get the fuck off me!" She thrashed about again, trying to find some limb with which to knock him off, but all of them were rendered useless by the hands holding them to the ground.

Roba slapped his open palm--the one he'd used to catch the spit with--across Kaysa's cheek, smearing its contents across her delicate skin. "Fuck is exactly what's going to happen here," he said, and quickly tugged her coverall down her arms. His friends, the ones holding her arms, shifted to allow the garment to be dragged down her body. "Oh, look at that. She's getting all wet for me already." He slid a hand between her legs and slid his fingers inside of her. "Very nice. Now I know why that prick protects you so fiercely. Too bad Satar has him all occupied right now. Gives you and me time to really get to know each other."

With her hands now freed, Kaysa used them to claw at the ones shielding her eyes. She arched her back and wriggled fiercely to elude Roba's fingers, but her desperate cries conveyed clearly the hopelessness she felt. "You piece of nerf dung! Let's see how fucking brave you are without your boys holding me back. I'll kill you!"

"I don't need my fucking boys," Roba said, and then backhanded Kaysa. At the other side of the arc, he brought his open hand around again and smacked it against her cheek. He grabbed Kaysa roughly and pushed her face down onto the ground. He kicked her legs as far apart as they'd go, then he climbed atop her. "Time for a real man, bitch!"

"I've been with women who are more man than you are..." Kaysa's feeble insult sputtered away into nothing as a gentle whimper travelled up her throat. She clenched her eyes shut to hide the tears that were threatening to spill over. There was no way she was letting him see them. She wouldn't let them think, for one minute, that their attempt at dominating her was succeeding. The fact that she was lying helplessly on the ground with Roba's cock at the entrance of her cunt was indication enough, however, that he was in complete control.

Kaysa gave up her futile struggle and let her body relax; it would hurt less if she didn't tense up. Blocking out the sounds of their laughter and jeers, Kaysa thought to the one time in her life she was truly happy, and when Merrick and Shiv's faces resolved in her mind, she smiled, despite the situation she now found herself in. "Go ahead, you bastard," she whispered. "You can't touch me now."

"Just watch me touch you," Roba rasped in her ear. "Maybe when I'm done here, I'll make that boyfriend of yours, Tregat, into my bitch. I bet he'd like that. I bet he'd really like me filling him up. What do you think? You think he'll be my bitch?"

"No," a voice behind them said. "I don't think he'll be anyone's bitch."

The next second, all of the weight pressing down on Kaysa was suddenly removed. As she spun around to see what was happening, Zale was there slamming Roba into a wall. As the thug crumpled with the impact, Zale drove a knee deep into the thug's gut.

Roba's flunkies jumped into action and charged Zale once they realized what was happening.

Kaysa was momentarily disoriented, but seeing as Zale was now in more trouble than she'd been in, she sprang to her feet. She hastily jammed her arms into the sleeves of her coveralls and started for the circle of men. With a loud cry, she encircled one of the large men with her arms and tackled him to the ground. It surprised Kaysa how easily they fell when they were caught offguard. Curling her hands into fists, she straddled the man and took out her rage upon his face.

With Roba down, Zale turned toward the others rushing at him. He ducked away before they could pull his hair, or bite him. He rushed at one of the thugs, and caught him with a fist under the jaw, but it earned him a blow to the side that sent a shimmering array of stars through his field of vision. With a roar of rage and pain, he spun on the man with a circle kick aimed to cut his legs out from under him. When his boot met the fragile juncture of upper and lower leg, the sickening pop of a shattered knee shuddered through him. The man went down to the ground in a quivering, wailing heap.

But, Zale wasn't given the chance to celebrate the downed opponent before a blow aimed into the small of his back stole the breath from his lungs and sent him to the ground. As the thug rushed to take advantage, Zale turned on him. The blow that cracked across his cheek was expected, and Zale rolled with it. As his opponent recovered and prepared to strike again, Zale's hand shot out and struck a point on the man's inner thigh. The thug looked startled for a moment before his legs, now useless, collapsed under him. Gotta love those pressure points, Zale thought to himself.

With another opponent out of the way, Zale jumped to his feet to make sure Kaysa was alright.

A shriek, followed by a grunt escaped Kaysa's lips as her back flattened against a wall and quickly revealed her location to Zale. She ricocheted forward into the ground from the impact, and rolled to a stop on the cold floor. She was incapacitated for a moment as she attempted to regain the use of her limbs, which also made her completely vulnerable.

Sharp pain shot through her head and her scalp felt as if it were being torn from her as fingers entwined themselves in her hair and jerked her head back. She growled and clawed at the hand tugging at her hair, as well as the one now clutching her throat. Once again, she felt her back slammed against the dense, stone wall and pain forking through her body.

Zale surged forward, making sure at least one of his feet came down on the chest of the one Kaysa had pummeled into unconsciousness. Before he could close with the man, he saw the hand tighten around Kaysa's throat.

"I'll twist her head right off," the thug rasped. "Just back away. You can have her back when we're done with her, Tregat. Don't worry. There'll be some left for you. A bitch this good don't get worn out easily; she just keeps on giving. We're gonna gag her though. Don't want her snapping off anything that shouldn't be snapped."

"Let her go and I'll kill you quickly," Zale said. "Tighten that hand of yours anymore, and I'll help you redefine your definitions of pain. Most people think shac'tae is just about wild sex. To be a shac'tae master, you have to learn every nerve ending in the body. Many of them can be manipulated to cause exquisite pleasure. But then there are the pain centers. I once hit a man in a cluster just above the elbow. He begged me for over an hour to just cut off his arm. In the end, I handed him a knife and he did it himself. Now...let her go."

The thug just laughed. "Easy to say...but I don't see you rushing forward while I'm ready to pop her pretty little head off her shoulders."

Forcing away the darkness consuming her vision, Kaysa gagged and feebly tried to wrench off the thug's hands. Her limbs were numbing slowly as all the blood in her veins seemed to be forced up into her head and contained there by the man's constricting grip. Focusing one final surge of strength on one foot, one leg, Kaysa found her target between the man's parted legs and mashed her knee into his exposed groin. With a thick, pain-stricken cry, the vice around her neck released and Kaysa slid to the floor in a useless heap.

As the man staggered away from Kaysa, Zale approached him long enough to drive his fist into his jaw. Then, with the last of them down, Zale's entire world focused on Kaysa. He sagged down next to her and folded her into his embrace. "It's okay now, Kaysa," he said. "I'll never let them separate us again. Damn them. Damn all of them. This will never happen again." He kissed her cheeks and forehead, and then finally her lips. "No one will ever touch you again."

Her eyes stared blankly ahead at the wall opposite them, thinking nothing, feeling nothing, not even processing Zale's voice. All she did concentrate on was how deserving her punishment had been, and how cruelly just fate was. She was being served precisely what she'd dealt; every horrible thing she'd done in her life was coming back to her tenfold, but retribution seemed almost too ironic.

She'd turned Vrax into a monster, and in turn, he attempted to bite her hand off. She'd planned Shiv's rape and now she had almost become the victim of the same crime; the scene itself had even played out with an uncanny acurracy. She was meant to suffer, but it was still too unbearable.

Slowly, she shifted her eyes to Zale and focused only on the trail of blood running from the cut on his lip. "You're hurt," she said in an even, dead tone. "You're...there's blood."

"Serves me right for not ducking," Zale said with a smile. "That bastard Satar did this on purpose. He separated us on purpose so these thugs could do this to you. Fortunately, he let me go before they could complete their little mission. Another thirty seconds, and...and I don't think I could have stopped myself from killing all five of them with my bare hands." He looked into her haunted eyes and felt a pang of guilt at not getting there in time, or at not leaving the interrogation room with her right away. "Let's go back to our cell, Kaysa. Let's...let's get away from this bloodbath."

"I...I can't do this, Zale." Her dead eyes filled with watery tears and she whimpered as she looked down at her still exposed body. She sobbed quietly and with trembling hands, began pulling closed the zipper of her coveralls. A series of choked sobs escaped her lips and with sluggish movements, she lay down upon the cold, bloodied floor and curled in on herself. "We're not gonna make it, Zale. We're going to leave this place...we're going to come out dead inside."

With a growl, Zale reached down and lifted Kaysa into his arms. "Like hell we are," he said as he strode down the hallway, pausing only long enough to make sure his boot found Roba's face. Once he got into their shared cell, he laid Kaysa out on the bed and got a wet cloth. With great care, he started brushing it lightly over her face. "We're going to make it out of here, and we'll be fine." He pressed his lips to hers. "We have to make it, Kaysa. Don't you dare give up on me, Kaysa. Don't you dare give up and leave me alone in this hell hole."

"I'm trying," she said in a thick whisper. "It's so hard, Zale. I...I know I deserve everything that's happening, but I can't take it." She looked away from Zale's eyes, his face looking desperate and frightened, and she wept against her pillow. "This has to end, Zale. This has to end now. You don't deserve this; you've done nothing. This...this is the fate I'm meant to suffer, not you. I'm so sorry..."

Zale reached out and took Kaysa's face in his hands. He turned it so she was forced to look into his eyes. "Don't do this to me, Kaysa. Not now, not after what we've come through to get here. This isn't fate. This is someone out to get us. This is someone targeting you and me, and trying to do exactly what's happening to you. Someone's trying to break us. Don't let them, Kaysa. Don't let them break you. Don't let them win. Me and you, dammit. We're going to win, not them. We have to beat this! Dammit, Kaysa, come back to me!"

Kaysa pressed her hand to Zale's and wept silently. "Stop, Zale. Don't do this to yourself." She turned her lips to the palm of his hand and kissed it gently. "It doesn't matter whether fate's doing this or someone intentionally targeting me; I still gave them the ammunition they needed to do this. I married Rennor, I hurt Shiv... It doesn't matter who's doing this; I still deserve it."

"Bantha shit," Zale snarled. "If this is what you deserve because of Rennor and Shiv and all the other mistakes you've made in your life, then I deserve ten times that. Kaysa, you don't deserve this. You deserve to get out of here, to hold your girl in your arms again. To see your boy." Zale kissed her forehead, and then her lips. "You may have hurt Shiv, but that's changed now. You love her now. It's all changed, Kaysa. It's changing and you have to get out of here for that. You have to hold Shiv in your arms again, to look into her eyes and see that she still loves you more than life. We have to make it."

"Will we, Zale? How can we with everyone against us?" Kaysa smoothed her fingers over Zale's cut lip and sobbed quietly. "You...you have to take care of yourself, Zale. Please. They'll kill you, not me. All they want is...my body. That's the only way you'll make it out of here. I want you to do that for me. Watch your own back. Just...just please, Zale. If you love me--"

"Kaysa, no! Stop this now! We're doing this together or not at all. If you're not going to be with me on this, I'll go out into that fucking courtyard now and challenge every prisoner in this place. I do love you, Kaysa. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my life. And, if you want me to just sit around and do nothing while I let every piece of scum in this place have his way with you...I'd rather be dead."

Fear struck Kaysa and she shrieked at him in terror. "Zale, no!" She encircled him desperately with her arms and wept piteously against his chest. "No! Please, no! Don't do that." She kissed his neck and face hastily, spreading her tears across his flesh. "Don't you dare! I don't wanna lose you, Zale. Don't leave me, not like that. It would kill me." Her body shook with tears as she looked up at him with bleary eyes. She clutched at the fabric of his coveralls and pressed her cheek to his. "I couldn't bear it, Zale," she whispered. "Can't you see? I...I'm falling in love with you. I couldn't bear to see you lying out in the courtyard while the sands soak up your blood. Please...Zale. Don't leave me."

Zale's arms pulled Kaysa tight against him, her words hitting him with enough force to nearly knock him over. His heart thudded against his chest as if it were trying to reach out to her. He felt hot tears burning in his eyes, and he bit his lip to try to keep control of his resolve. "I'll never leave you, Kaysa," he said softly. "As long as you don't leave me either." He shifted so he could look into her eyes. "We can make it together, Kaysa. Together we're stronger than anything they throw at us. Together we can make this work. We can't let them divide us. We have to stay together."

"I don't want to leave your side, but I'm afraid. I don't want you to get hurt anymore, Zale." Kaysa ran her hand along his cheek and kissed him tenderly to soothe his obvious restlessness and anguish. "Please don't do anything stupid," she whispered desperately. "Please don't get yourself killed, Zale. I promise...I'll try. I'll try to hang in there if you please just don't die. I'll be as strong as you if you just stay here and be safe with me."

"I promise," Zale said softly. "I promise you I will make every effort to keep us both safe, and out of harm's way. We never leave each other's side for anything, and when they taunt us or try to provoke us, we don't take the bait. If they want a fight, they can fight each other. We're not going to play by those rules anymore. They're not going to tear us apart. Not anymore." He kissed her again, filling it with all his passion and need for her. "No more hurting."

"Those bastards," Kaysa said with a soft smile. "They tried to break us... They're only making us stronger." She gently pulled Zale down beside her and nestled her cheek against his chest. "I'm with you always, Zale. From now on, we're never apart, no matter what. Okay? We can't let them keep us apart. I won't let them. I'll fight if they even try it. I can fight, Zale. I thought I fought pretty well today."

"You fought beautifully," Zale said with a mischievous grin. "I never knew you had it in you, but now I'll know never to corner you in a dark alley." He nuzzled his face against her neck, his lips teasing the sensitive flesh there. "Though, under the right circumstances it could be kind of fun." He pulled back and looked up at her. "If we have to fight, we will. But from now on, we don't play their game. Besides, I can think of many more things to do in here with you than go out there anyway."

"Me too," Kaysa said softly. "But for now, can we just hold eachother? I...I just want to be warm and safe in your arms, Zale. I need to feel safe right now."

Zale pulled Kaysa against him and wrapped his arms around her. He made certain the length of her body touched his and that he enveloped her as much as possible. "Right now," he said, "I don't think I could do anything more than tell you I love you and hold you close. Nothing else feels right. Right now, the only thing I want or need is you in my arms."

"Why, Zale... If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a crimelord with a heart." Kaysa looked up at him with a smile, then gently kissed him upon the lips. "No...I know you are. It'd have to be a pretty big one if you fell in love with me. I've been told I'm hard to love. That's not true, is it?" she asked playfully.

"Once I got used to you," Zale said, "it wasn't hard at all. I think we've had our difficult moments, but we've always managed to get through them. I think it says something about...well, something. And, I don't care what any of the other crimelords say...I do have a heart, at least when it comes to one person." He grinned and kissed her. "Possibly two."

"Two? And here I thought I was someone special." Kaysa glared at Zale playfully. "Who is she? The other one. It better be your mother, Zale."

"I'd sell my own mother into slavery if I could make a decent credit on her," Zale said with a grin that said that he was clearly joking. "You are the only woman with any claim to my heart. However, even though some of my actions don't show it, I guess I am somewhat soft-hearted toward Shiv." He gave a wry laugh. "I can't imagine anyone not having some sort of fondness for her." He looked at Kaysa and then smiled. "After seeing that girl's love for you so clearly displayed, do you know how happy it makes me that you fell in love back with her?" He cupped Kaysa's face in his hands and kissed her gently. "And, when we rescue her, you are going to make her the happiest sexually confused nymph in the entire galaxy." He kissed her again. "But, even though I am fond of her, you are the only woman in my heart, the only woman I love."

Kaysa laughed softly and nodded her head. "I understand about Shiv. It's hard not to love the girl. And... I'm sorry about the last time we were all together. You should have been able to be with her without me having an immature fit. I guess I stole that from you, one last time to be with Shiv. Maybe when we find her, we can make her happy together. If...if that's what you want."

"As long as it causes no problems," Zale said, "then I'd like that. If it's going to cause problems between you and me, or you and Shiv, then it might not be a good idea. But if you want that, I'd like it too. Her spirit is infectious, and she's so full of life. If you want it, then so do I."

"I'm not sure. I won't forbid it...but..." Kaysa smiled tightly, then nestled her face into Zale's neck. "We'll have to see how it all works out. If you want that, I have no right denying you. If I can't give myself to you entirely, you shouldn't be obligated to either."

"But, that doesn't mean I should do something to jeopardize what we have by doing something I know you won't like...if you won't like it. I think we'll just have to see what happens with it, and go from there."

"Still so sensible," she whispered. "Maybe that's why I keep coming back to you. You always know what to do and you have a knack of keeping me from melting down when things get too stressful. I guess you're my saviour in more ways than one. So...thanks." She kissed his neck then laughed quietly as she rested her head upon his chest. "I still owe you, though, and I don't care what you say. When we get outta here, I'm going to... Hmm...well, I'll do something really nice for you like...let you walk around in public with me. How does that sound?"

Zale laughed. "You'd really do that for me? In public?" He grinned and kissed the top of her head. "As long as I get some time with you, then I'll be happy."

"Well...I still can't tell Merrick, but I'm afraid..." Kaysa looked up at Zale and sighed softly. "I think he already suspects. If you don't mind, I'd like to tell him...I think. I just...I don't wanna lose him and I need to be with you... I think I'm far too tired to contemplate all this right now."

"We'll figure it out," Zale said and then tugged the covers free and slid them to the side. It was hot enough in the desert that even the thin sheet provided would be too much until much later in the night. "For now, let's get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

Kaysa narrowed her eyes at Zale and gave him a suspicious smile. "Why? What's tomorrow? Or do I not wanna know."

Zale grinned. "Well, I don't know of anything special. Just that after today, tomorrow is the day we let them know we're not playing by their rules anymore. Tomorrow's the day, we let them know they won't break us or beat us. Tomorrow is the day we beat them at their own game."

Kaysa smiled mischievously and her eyes conveyed a hunger to turn the tables on whoever was manipulating them and take a stand. "So," she said with a laugh, "tomorrow's the day you and I become King and Queen of the desert." With a gentle sigh, Kaysa closed her eyes and let Zale's comforting embrace give her the security she always sought in him. "Tomorrow..." she mused wistfully. "I can't wait to use Roba and that Commander Satar as our thrones."

Zale grinned at the thought of their two tormentors acting as their royal seats of power. "If they're to be our thrones, then we should definitely have them gelded...I mean gilded. We should have them gilded." He looked into Kaysa's eyes with a wicked gleam. Together, they could accomplish so much. She was a partner like he'd never had in his life, in every capacity. She was a match in bedroom, in guile, and in business. He thanked whatever gods or powers existed for throwing them together. Despite the hardships, he knew that between them, something very special existed. And, together they would rule, be it the desert or New Plouton. Together, their power could not be denied. And, he almost felt pity for those who would face the vengeance together they would reap. Almost.

---

"The Outer Rim"
By: Typho Antilles

Location: Fondor, Core Systems
Date: Niothe 1, 4 ABY

***

God he was drunk. He blinked to try and keep himself from seeing double. It wasn't until several minutes later that he realized that the Twi'Lek female he'd brought back to the "Good Fortune" for the night was two Twi'Lek females and that he wasn't seeing double at all. The two females were on his bed, in various states of undress, kissing one another and indicating that he should come and join them. Typho looked around for his bottle. It wasn't that the invitation wasn't appealing to him it's just that he was losing the drunk feeling that he loved so much while in the sack. Their raspy voices became all the more insistent as he rummaged through his belongings, until he found the bottle, took a swig and commenced the evening's (or was it morning's?) activities.

***

"Quickly," she whispered, "before he wakes..."

Typho knew the drill. They let you take them home, then rob you while you're asleep. They were obviously new at this, seeing as how they'd been at this for an hour already, trying desperately to find something to make the evening's efforts worth while. He was, of course, feigning sleep and had been toying with the idea of pulling his blaster on them or letting Arty (who had dutifully positioned himself behind the door to stop just this thing from happening) deal with them.

"We need to leave," one of them said, their voice becoming very urgent. He had to get up sometime, he mused to himself, and there was no time like the present. He opened an eye and saw the Twi'Leks trying to pry the door open.

"Going somewhere ladies?"

They spun in surprise dropping all they had intended to steal. Just then the door slid open and Arty entered the cramped sleeping area, adding to the two women's fear.

"Now please put back everything you stole exactly where you got it then move to the centre of the room," he instructed them. As they did as he said, Typho began to dress, confident that his guests would be unable to escape given that Arty was still in the doorway. When they were done and he'd slid on his vest, all three stood in silence, only the ship's generators could be heard.

"Now I could report you to the port authority, right?" They nodded.

"I could kill you, dump you in space and no one would be the wiser, correct?" Again they nodded, although this time noticeably more scared.

"I won't do either, but I'm going to have to ask you to remove all your clothes." The two Twi'Lek women were unsure as to how to react. Typho drew his blaster from his leg holster as if to say get on with it, and they did. In less than thirty seconds, the two women were as nude as they had been the night before, their clothes down around their ankles.

"Arty, head to the cockpit and get ready to launch," he instructed the droid, then turning to face the naked Twi'Leks. "Ladies let's move to the exit ramp shall we." Utterly confused, they followed his instructions. Upon arriving, Antilles activated the ramp which dropped down to the concrete floor of the landing bay.

"Now get the hell off my ship," he said, training the blaster all the more closely on the two women. They didn't move. Typho squeezed off a shot which landed on the concrete outside. This got them moving and as soon as they were off, the ramp closed. Typho holstered his weapon and jogged to the cockpit, assuming the pilot's seat.

"Good Fortune to Fondor Port Control, do you copy?"

"Copy Fortune what can I do for you?"

"You want to give us clearing to get out of here, mate?"

"Negative, a no fly zone has been declared over this sector. Something about high level Imperials visiting the planet, I'm not sure. At any rate stay put."

Antilles had no intention of staying put and gunned his engines. Those two women weren't great at what they did but he was pretty sure that they had some friends who would want to talk to him if he stayed where he was, and by talk he meant use for target practice. It was one of the galaxy's little ironies. Twi'Lek women made up a large proportion of the sex trade but it was considered a great dishonour for them to be in public with no clothes on and as such their honour was closely guarded by big men with big guns. The Good Fortune's repulsors lifted her off the open air landing pad and the engines kicked in. Shouts from the tower controllers were coming in over the intercom, which was summarily shut off. Most people would go for facing a couple of Twi'Lek enforcers over challenging an Imperial no fly-zone but Typho really wasn't most people and his ship just wasn't any normal ship. As the Good Fortune rocketed through the lower atmosphere of Fondor, its computers told Typho of the incoming TIE-fighters.

"Arty what's the status of the weapons systems?" The droid warbled a response indicating that the dorsal and ventral guns weren't charged but the cockpit mounted torpedo launcher was armed. Typho let Arty fly the ship while he acquired the two TIEs that were tailing him with the targeting computer. the information was transferred to the proton torpedoes in the launch tubes. Typho launched both and turned his attention back to piloting. His torpedoes were top of the line, fire and forget models. They would hit their targets and give the Good Fortune the opportunity to escape. Arty warbled again indicating that the TIE-fighters had been destroyed and that there were more on the way.

"Don't worry about them, the computer has our trajectory set already." That being said, the space around Good Fortune dissolved into a tunnel of swirling light indicating that the Corellian freighter had entered hyperspace and the TIE-fighters were far behind them. Arty warbled again.

"No, we're heading out of the Core and into the Outer Rim my friend."

---

"New Crew"
By: Tysak Thoamis
Chappu [NPC]
Doc [NPC]
Alahna Corrin [NPC]

Location: Neutral Territory, aboard the Liberty Spirit
Date: Niothe 1, 4ABY

***

Tysak was running over his cargo manifest, checking out the deliveries that he was arranging for the rebels. He had been checking out the cargo containers when his first mate came in. "Grrooowwaaaa," the big Wookie bellowed.

"Chappu, keep quiet man. That approach to New Plouton was a little draining, and don't say it. We didn't get paid a fare but at least it was easier to get through customs with a local business woman here." As he spoke, the woman in question approached.

"How long will you be here? In case I wish to leave again," she asked imperiously.

"Ma'am, we don't go until the last of the cargo appears and is loaded." He nodded. "But as a matter of fact, we don't leave until you pay your fare, and then I'll assure you that you'll get guest quarters." He looked at her. "So if you'll excuse me I have to get my crew briefed for launch."

"I don't remember us discussing more of a fair than the use of my name to get you through customs." Her hands went to her hips as she glared at him. Her long red hair was pulled tightly back and made her face look older than she really was. Her clothing was a soft gray, the top flowing down over the silken pants.

"And from our discussion, your connections to the rebels to get a load of medical supplies to the Kepek Mountains and then off of the planet, so we gonna need a little more, not much, probably some creds to bribe customs just in case your name isn't enough."

"How much more?" she asked haughtily.

"Probably a thousand creds at most." He looked at her.

She frowned. "I will be back before you are loaded." She turned on her heel to leave.

"God, I hate this business. Why can't we just run freight like in the old days?" He shook his head. "Imps put down way too much restrictions to run freight anymore." He shook his head and started to load on the medical supplies.

***1 hour later***

"Hey gunner, our delivery to the Kepek, get through our usual channels." Gunner looked up and nodded. "Yep. The underground took it off our hands. We just gotta run this shipment of food and meds to Pelius 3 and we're clear to come back here and drop the other half of our Kepek shipment," he replied. "Okay, where the hell is that woman?" He looked at his wrist comm.

It was a good fifteen minutes before she hurried up with a bag. She thrust a credit chip into his hand. "I think this should be satisfactory." She had put 1500 credits on it.

"Close enough," he muttered, and tapped his wrist comm. "Chappu, let's get the hell out of here." He tapped it. He pulled another comm out of his pocket. "Here. You're gonna need this." He walked over and hit the old panel and the cargo bay closed. "I'll show you to quarters."

She nodded and followed him. She had the equipment she needed and she had a ride and that was all that mattered.

"If I may ask, why are the Imps trying to find you?" He looked back to her as they went up to quarters. "Here we are." He tapped the door chime and it opened into one of the staterooms. "Home sweet home for the next few days."

"I am a courier for someone they desperately want information on. That is all I can tell you," she said curtly.

"Ahhhh, someone important. You wouldn't call on the Ithorian Merchant marine if you didn't need some kind of protection." He looked at her. "And I never let my clients down." He sat in one of the stateroom chairs and kicked back. "We have all our meals in the galley and if you don't mind I'll be keeping a close eye on you myself." He smiled and nodded.

"Why?" she asked point blankly. "You said I would have guest quarters. I will not be leaving them." She didn't want anything to do with him or his crew.

"Yes, but when I do runs like this, I don't handle well to being kept in the dark. For all I know you could be a terrorist with bombing stuff, or you could hold info that endangers my crew." He looked at her. "And if I'm going to risk my ship and crew for something I know nothing about, I'm gonna keep my eye on you."

"You might have mentioned this before I agreed passage with you," she said with a frown. She sat her bag down and looked around. "How long till we are there?"

"Two days. We're going at maximum power. But it'll take two days. Problem with these old ships is they ain't nearly as fast with the newer ones but we pack a little more than other ships we have." He walked over to the bar and grabbed a small glass and opened the cooler. "Drink?"

"I would prefer to sleep if you don't mind." She clearly wanted him to go away.

"All right." He nodded and walked to the door. "Anything you need, just hit the comm panel and you'll get a reply." He opened the door and walked out.

She breathed a sigh of relief. She went to the bag and unzipped the compartment. She looked over at the door and then went over to it and locked it. He might have overrides but it would take him a moment and she would have time to close her files. She opened the datapad. The Admiral would pay a great deal for what she had gathered but she needed the final names. Her assumption of the face and name of a courier had gone well. This was the last leg and she could report back to the Admiral with a complete route. She wasn't worried about the data falling into wrong hands for its passwords were intricate, but she didn't want to draw suspicion either. She sat down on the bed and added a few more names and figures.

Tysak smiled. "Tsk tsk tsk tsk, my how the Imps plant moles." He smirked and looked at the vid feed on his wrist comm. "Boy am I glad I planted spy cams in quarters." He tapped his wrist comm. "Yo, old man, can you send a power surge through the locking system on door, Alpha 7? Gunner set course Station Omega. As expected we have a mole." He shook his head. "Stupid woman." He heard the door lock short out. He tapped the opening mechanism and drew his blaster. "All right, hands up"

Telia looked up in surprise as the door opened. She hit the delete button before her hands went up. "What are you doing? I am just reading."

"Bullshit. Stand up drop the padd." He looked at her. "We have vid feed evidence. You're under arrest. Sorry, but you're screwed." He looked at her. "One question: your contacts?"

She held the padd out to him. "If you will look, it is information for my employer. I told you, I am a courier and my employer is going to be heavily distressed. Look!"

"Your employer wants Intel on Rebel supply routes and contacts. Makes me believe you're Imperial." He nodded. "And don't try and tell me otherwise. I know everything that happens on my ship." He smiled. "Now, what is your real name and who is your employer?"

"I told you my name is Telia Evander. My employer I am not allowed to disclose and that is not what is on this padd." She looked at him, anger simmering in her eyes.

"I'm getting very tired of this game. I have no problem shooting you and shoving you out the nearest airlock." To emphasize his point, he shot her bag. "Now, what is your name and who is your employer?"

"That IS my name. Check my fingerdata or my eyescan," she said angrily. There was no way he could have read that data even with a spy cam. Was there?

"Your name and your employer," he repeated again.

She began to shake slightly. "If you want to rob me, do so. But I have told you my name. I can verify it in numerous ways for you. Want to talk to my parents?"

He shot the ground at her feet. "Who is your employer?"

Telia shrieked and stumbled backwards. The bed caused her to sit down hard. "My employer is classified by the head of the rebel command. I can show you my orders."

He fired at the wall by her head. "I'm not going to repeat myself anymore. The next one will be you."

"I am answering your damn question but you aren't listening," she answered. She was fairly sure he wouldn't kill her. If he really believed her to be a spy, the rebel command would need to interrogate her.

"Fair enough." He walked over and grabbed her bag and tossed it out the door. He grabbed the datapad and shot it and tossed it out the door. "Doc, get up here," he called in the comm. "Strip," he ordered.

Telia cringed when he shot the padd. There went four months investigation. However, by shooting it, he had just disposed of his evidence. When he spoke, she looked at him in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Strip." He looked at her.

She slowly began to remove her clothing. She wasn't sure what he was up to but she wasn't going to cause herself any more pain than was necessary.

"All right, Doc, scan her down."

Doc frowned at the woman and nodded. She scanned her, alternating to the necessary frequencies and scans to find implants. She frowned again.

"Can you remove them, Doc?" he asked and she nodded. "It'll be hard but can do."

Telia had finally began to show a little fear instead of anger. She stood shivering before the two of them.

"Do it. Sorry, ma'am this won't hurt a bit." He shook his head as she was injected with a sedative.

Telia wanted to scream but it faded to black very quickly.

Several hours later, the surgery was done and all genetic DNA traces and implants were removed. "All right, wake her." He looked at Doc.

"All right." She injected a counter agent and brought the spy around.

The woman in front of him looked nothing like she had before. She was in fact, much prettier than she had been before. She looked around groggily, uncertain where she was at first.

"All right, you've got one option: you can tell me exactly who you are and where you are from, who you work for, or I can turn you over to the rebels, and believe me they won't be as patient as I have been." He looked at her.

She looked up at him, clearly shaken. "My name is Alahna Corrin. I am from Tevius prime." Her eyes were now blue instead of brown.

"Continue." He looked at her.

"I can't tell you who I work for," she whispered. He could see a fear greater than she held for him within her eyes.

"Well, if you'd like. I shove you out an airlock right now, because the Empire will torture you and then kill you for certain failure in your mission. And if I turn you over to the rebels, they'll torture you then kill you, so you don't really have much choice here." He looked at her.

She shivered, for she knew he was right. "I am to report my findings to Admiral Tarkin," she said quietly. "On some world on the outer rim."

"Okay, you have a choice here. I'll tell the rebels exactly what you told me, but I'm not going to turn you over. You have one chance and one chance only here. You're gonna work for me now. I'm assuming you're fairly good at what you do to have gotten this far. I need someone who has Imperial access codes and knows them. I can protect you as best I can, and I will give you a chance at a new life to turn things around and maybe just maybe save a few lives in the process." He looked at her.

She nodded. She didn't dare go back to the Imperials without the data he had shot. She had memorized a great deal of it, but not enough to give a good picture.

"All communications sent from this ship are passed through me or Chappu." He nodded to the big Wookiee at the door. "Cross me once or make any attempt at betrayal and you're dead." He looked at her.

"I understand," she whispered. She pulled the sheet tighter around her. Had it just been hours ago when she had been totally in control of her world?

"Now." He nodded to Doc. She handed her a set of her clothing. "Any of your gear you had has been neutralized. You will have full quarters to yourself, and will assist Doc when she has need of it. Otherwise you report to me. You will have free rein of the ship." He looked at her. "You understand?"

"Yes," she whispered softly. She really didn't have any other choices open to her that didn't end in death.

"All right." He looked at his crewmates. "We'll be outside, and I'll show you back to your quarters." He nodded and the left for her to change.

Alahna put on her clothing quietly. At least it was a demure and quiet outfit. She pushed her long hair back over her shoulder and stepped out into the hall. She didn't speak for she had no idea what to even say.

Tysak walked back to quarters. "All right, well officially, welcome aboard." He looked at her and smiled. He opened the door. "After you."

Alahna entered. "You said my stuff had been neutralized, what about my personal belongings?" she asked quietly. She wasn't worried too much if he had; she had enough funds in her account to keep her going for quite some time. She always had transferred it to another untraceable account after she had been paid. Since her expenses had been covered, she had amassed quite a bit.

"It's there on the bed." He walked over to the bar again. "Drink?" he offered again.

"Yes, please." Her whole attitude had changed. Where before she had been pushy and a bitch, now she was quiet and withdrawn.

"All right." He poured her a glass of Ithorian brandy. "Two hundred creds a bottle," he said as he poured a glass for himself. "So, tell me about yourself."

"What do you want to know?" she asked carefully. She sipped the drink carefully. "I was born twenty years ago. My planet was overthrown fifteen years ago. I was raised in a training camp from the age of 7. Here I am, end of story," she said with a frown. She sat down and sipped the brandy, surprised at the gentle touch of it.

"Really?" He looked at her. "And you actually willingly let yourself be controlled like that, born and bred for something so hateful?" He looked at her as he drank.

"Hateful? War is always hateful if you are on the opposite side and just if you are not. Whose perspective is hateful?" She sighed. "Besides, when you are raised a certain way, you don't really notice anymore. Nor does the Empire really let you just say 'I don't want to do this'."

"I don't take sides, I carry medical and food aid to worlds that need it." He laughed. "The trade route you were about to shut down was a rebel relief aid on Pelius 3, a world still fighting the Empire, but refuses Rebellion help." He chuckled.

"Actually, my employer did not care about the trade route. I was to meet a Jedi on Pelius 3 for my rebel employer," she said carefully.

"Working both sides of the fence, eh?" He looked at her.

"Not really. The Empire was interested in three things. Actual Rebel leaders, Jedi and rebel bases," she said, taking another sip. "Everything else I did was legitimately done for my rebel employer."

He laughed. "So, you are a mole." He looked at her.

"I guess," she answered not finding it amusing. She had gotten caught and that irritated her more than anything. She had gotten this position because she numbered amongst the best in her class and she had been caught out by a trader.

He knew that face. "You're not the first mole that we've ferreted out. We registered with a neutral government because the Empire needs supplies and doesn't want to lose the allies it has to the rebel cause."

"How did you know?" She had to know where she had slipped up.

Tysak smiled and lifted his wrist comm and tapped it.

"I didn't say anything," she said with confusion.

"The wrist comm I gave you has a dummy circuit, feeds audio and video feeds on its own, plus spy cams." He smirked and nodded. "I've been doing this a long time."

She nodded. Just her luck to pick a ship with someone with those interests and skills. "I guess you have."

"So what do you like to do for fun?" He looked at her.

She looked up in surprise. "Fun? I-I don't know. I read," she said. She really didn't have much time for relaxation.

"You've got to be kidding me, you've never had actual fun?" He looked at her with a wry grin. "My gods, nothing can be said about the pleasures of life." He looked at her as he grabbed another drink. "More?"

"No thank you." She had been trained early on not to drink more than one drink in a short period of time. A person in her profession could not afford to be intoxicated.

"Why not? You're not exactly aboard an Imperial ship anymore. And you're free to have fun." He looked at her.

"I just don't drink much," she said with a frown. "Can I sleep now?"

"If you wish." He got up and turned for the door and walked out.

Alahna went to the bed and curled up in a little frightened ball. She gave into the tears that had been threatening since she had woken up. The fear and terror swept over her as did relief that she wasn't going to die.

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