Star Wars - Tales from the Outer Rim

"Invisible Always"
By: Yelara Neerou - Lover of Dargus Kandran
Parven Raliek [NPC] - Lamb to the Slaughter

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 1, 3 ABY

***

As soon as Yelara returned to the shipyards after her rather interesting encounter with Dargus, she sprinted towards the flight deck. If Yelara could anticipate what Dargus' next move would be, and she probably could, Mer'rrar and Gor'garr would be on their way to the flight deck right now, looking for Parven. She just had to beat them to it.

Yelara sped down the corridor and could hear the characteristic racket of the flight deck getting nearer. She picked up her feet and continued running faster, even though her heart felt as if it were going to jump out of her chest. What have I done?, she thought to herself, frantically as she ran into the flight deck. She prepared herself to see Parven's blood splattered all over the plating with his lifeless body sprawled out on the floor.

Yelara looked around, but nothing looked out of place. She dashed up to Parven's ship and noticed the docking ramp was down, but no one was around. Yelara stopped and stared at the abandoned ship, the blood draining from her face and her blood turning cold. She took a deep breath and swallowed hard as she slowly approached the ramp. She stood at the base of the ramp and looked into the ship, afraid to go inside for fear of what she might find.

Yelara was about to step up the ramp, when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She spun around quickly letting out a gasp as she saw Parven standing in front of her, alive and giving her a dashing smile. "Parven!" she called out in a shrill voice as she wrapped her arms around him and embraced him. "I thought you were...gone," she whispered in his ear, not certain if she should tell him what she really meant.

Parven laughed. "Three days, remember? No, I'm still here." He watched her for a moment, and then shook his head. "Is everything alright, Yelara? I mean, the way you ran out the other day...and... Is everything alright?"

Yelara pushed away from Parven and looked at him sternly. "You have to leave this place. Now! It's not safe for you."

Parven glanced around the docking bay, looking for anyone giving him too much attention. "What is it? Imperials? They're not even in this sector. Are they? There can't be Imperials here. I would have heard about it." His hand went to his blaster as he scanned the bay again.

"It is not the Imperials you should be worried about," Yelara answered as she leaned in close to Parven. "Listen to me, I've done something really stupid, something that will end up costing you your life." Yelara looked at Parven uneasily, and took a deep breath as she continued. "I can't go into detail, but you have to just trust me. Go. Now."

His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "Unless you sold me out to the Empire, I should be fine. You didn't sell me out, did you? I trusted you. You wouldn't do that to me, would you?" He shook his head. "No. No. What did you do? What happened?"

"Look, my being here with you now is just putting you into more danger. I've gotten you into deep water with a very dangerous man and he wants you dead." Yelara frowned at stared into Parven's eyes. "And believe me, whatever he wants, he gets. I know that firsthand."

"My ship's in pieces," he said. "I don't have the money for a transport. And, I can't fly it out of there. Can your people get it back together?"

Yelara sighed in frustration. "Fine, I'll have an entire team work on it and have it done by the end of today...if you promise to just go!"

"I promise," he said, the concern showing in his voice. He looked around nervously. Something was up, and he could feel it. "As soon as my ship is spaceworthy, I'm gone."

Yelara smiled in relief. "Thank you!" she said as she hugged him again. "But I have to go now. I don't want to get you into anymore trouble."

He returned the hug, and then turned to go. If she was worried about him, he'd lie low for the day. As he took a step, he remembered why he'd come out on the deck looking for her. "Oh," he said. "I've got something for you." He glanced around again, then pulled a datapad from a hidden pocket. "Contacts. You know for what." He gave her a smile. "Password will be sent to you later tonight. Everything you need is in there." He held out a hand to her. "Welcome aboard."

Yelara looked at the datapad and froze. Her lifelong dream was beginning to become reality, yet she stood there, staring at the pad dumbfounded. She slowly reached out, her hand trembling and took the datapad, holding it as if it were so fragile it would shatter. A smile formed on her face and her heart was racing. Finally, she was one step closer to avenging her parents. Instead of taking Parven's hand she rushed towards him and embraced him. "Thank you! You don't know how much this means to me!"

"About as much as it means to any of us that join up," he said. "Just guard that information with your life. And, I'll see you around. Maybe we can actually finish that drink."

Yelara released her embrace and looked seriously into Parven's eyes. "They'll have to kill me before I give these names up. I promise you that."

"Don't be a stranger," he said with a grin. "Oh, and if you could check the charge rate on the turret batteries. I think I'm getting a bleed on those systems. Could be nasty if I run into any trouble out there."

Yelara stood up taller and nodded her head. "I will. But I must go now. I'll get my men to work on your ship and then you can leave, safely." Yelara held out her hand this time, towards Parven. "I'll visit you later, just to make sure you actually do leave," she said with a smile.

"Trying to get rid of me, I see," he said with a grin and started down the ramp.

"Nah, actually, you're starting to grow on me," Yelara said as she smiled slyly. "See you around, Raliek," she said with a wink as she turned to walk away.

"It's that natural charm my mom always told me I had," he said with a laugh, and then disappeared down out of the ship.

***

Yelara strolled from her quarters down the corridor towards the flight deck. Her shift had started ten minutes ago, but she figured no one would notice. The men she had ordered to help repair Parven's ship were definitely done by now, after all, she had left them there to work on it 8 hours ago and even though they looked incompetent, they were still damn good mechanics.

Yelara walked into the flight deck, finally feeling half content. The moment she stepped through the doorway, her heart leapt into her chest. Parven's ship was still there.

Yelara ran towards his ship, in a panic and scurried up the docking ramp into the ship. "Parven!" she cried out in panic. "Are you here!?"

Yelara got no answer. Her heart was thumping in her chest as she searched the ship. Parven was nowhere to be found.

She ran back down onto the flightdeck and frantically pulled aside one of the workers. "Where's the man who owns this ship?"

The worker simply shrugged and answered, "Dunno. He left about an hour ago."

Yelara clenched her teeth and began shaking the man. "Where the hell is he?!" she yelled, her eyes fierce.

"He said he forgot his credit slip and went to go get it...back at his room or something," the man said, cowering slightly.

Yelara pushed the man aside and sprinted out of the flight deck. Something in the pit of her stomach told her that something wasn't right, that Parven was most likely in trouble, but she still held hope that he was alright. She zipped through the twisting and turning corridors, finally approaching the area where Parven was staying. She slowed down her approach as she neared his room, her palms becoming sweaty and her face becoming flush.

She crept slowly towards his door, but stopped in panic as she realized it was already halfway open, jammed somehow. She could scarcely catch her breath, knowing what was most likely on the other side, but when she slid the door fully open, she could never have anticipated what she saw next.

Across the white tiles of the floor, a growing pool of red spread outward. A crumpled body lay in the center of the floor. The walls were splattered red and the heavy smell of blood filled the air. The body appeared to have been stripped of its pants, and they now lay at the edge of the pool soaking up the blood.

Yelara tried to scream, but her voice caught in her throat. Her body started to shake uncontrollably and suddenly went cold. Her legs were shaking beneath her and she hung onto the doorway to keep from fainting.

"Parven?" she whispered, somehow hoping he would answer her.

Yelara took a deep, staggering breath and slowly moved into the room. She stepped closer avoiding the sickening pool of red blood, but gagged and turned away. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to get the image of what she just saw out of her mind. She dropped to her knees, wheezing and coughing up vomit induced by the disgusting sight before her.

The man's sightless eyes stared up at the ceiling. His throat had been slit, a clean cut that had quickly ended his life. The blood had ceased flowing from the wound, and it was clear that he would serve the Rebellion no longer.

What made it nightmarish was that the man's genitals had been sliced off and laid on the floor next to the body. It looked as if he had bled to death from both cuts. There was no way to hide this killing. It was a message to all.

Yelara knew this was the work of Dargus Kandran. He was the only one who would send such a violent and vile message. She could even smell his scent in the room, despite the smells of death and blood. He left his smell wherever he went, most of all on her. She still kneeled on the ground near Parven, loud sobs wracking her body as she tried to claw her way from room. She couldn't find her footing, instead slowly thrashing in place. She felt like she too was drowning in the blood that Parven had surely drowned in as it filled his lungs.

The smell of blood was everyway, and Yelara could even taste it in her mouth. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." she whispered, the tears choking her every word. Yelara finally slid out of the room and sat back against the wall in the corridor, catching her breath and trying to compose herself.

Dargus said he loved her, but how could she possibly love a man as brutal as he was? She finally managed to get to her feet and just started running, not knowing where she was going or when she would stop.

She knew what Dargus was capable of, more so now than ever. She was cursed and all she touched would bear the brunt of that curse. She was stuck with Dargus, she knew that now, and as long as she was, she could never lay eyes on another man for as long as either of them lived. Yelara had learned her lesson, a valuable one at that.

"Competition"
By: Oot Kovan - Head of the Tarabassic Syndicate
Kambra Gant [NPC]

Location: In orbit around Geth'qabw, Outer Rim
Date: Selene 1, 3 ABY

***

The Rodian stared at the floor, afraid to raise his eyes to meet hers. She knew she was an intimidating woman. It brought a smile to Oot Kovan's face. She did like seeing a man who wouldn't meet her gaze for the fear running through him. Especially when that man was a spy. Especially when that man had infiltrated one of her operations and sold valuable secrets to someone outside. Most likely one of the Hutts, or Black Sun. Or, possibly Kandran.

"Once again," Oot said, her voice like silk, "who sent you, Gandrik?"

The Rodian, Gandrik if that was even his name, shook his head. His lips twisted into a sneer, but his eyes still showed his fear. "I can't do that."

Oot gave a terse nod to the man standing behind Gandrik. His one eye sparkled with the smile that formed on his face. Around the patch covering the end of his other eyestalk, she could see the crinkling of skin, but not the gleam.

He jabbed a thin rod into the Rodian's back, sending a violent shock through his body. "Yousa gonna answer da questions Dame Kovan ask you."

"Go p'kaszh yourself, Frog," the Rodian rasped, his voice thick with pain from the rod in his back.

Oot smiled. "Gandrik," she said. "Do you want to die?"

The Rodian smiled. The feverish glint in his eye told her everything she needed to know. She shook her head and gave the nod to Kambra Gant, the Gungan with the pain rod.

"Get up, Gandrik," Kambra said, shoving the rod under the Rodian's armpit. He lifted, and the Rodian rose to his feet, unable to do anything else because of the pain.

He pushed Gandrik to the door, and led him into an antechamber. Five minutes later, he returned without the pain rod, but the gleam in his eye shone even brighter. When he stepped to her side, she was just finishing arranging the jeweled net covering her head tails. She smiled at him, and he returned it.

"The Hutts would be my guess," Kambra said. "Mesa no think any of da others would consider yousa a threat. Especially Kandran. Dey say he no even sweat over da Hutts now."

Oot nodded, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth as her head tails twitched. "With the surprise Gorda is cooking up for him, he should be more wary."

Kambra frowned. "Dame Kovan?"

"I am not the only one being spied upon, Kambra. I have eyes and ears spread around the galaxy." The smile turned feral. "I make it a point to know more about them than they know about me."

Kambra's frown disappeared, and was replaced with a smile more sinister than her own. "Dey know not'ing of you. Dey ken get no close. Dey no get by da droids."

Oot shrugged. "It is not my place to judge my fellow syndicate leaders," she said. "It is their own undoing if they fill their inner circles with organics. I cannot be spied upon if I control those who work for me."

Kambra nodded. "Mesa have da information from da lotus ring."

Oot smiled. "Such a profitable business black lotus is. So much more so than most of the drugs on the market now. I will see them now. While I do, take the ship to the outer perimeter of the system. Prepare for a hyperspace jump."

"Da location, Dame?"

Oot tapped the datapad. "I will tell you soon."

Kambra bowed and left her chambers. Oot Kovan smiled, and focused her attention on the reports set before her. Working through the numbers was one of the parts of her position she loved. Then there was the control.

"Revenge, Part 1
By: Yelara Neerou - Shipyard Foreman
Jae Dyn Brael - Jedi Knight
Gin Toran [NPC] - Flight Deck Mechanic

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 1, 3 ABY

***

Yelara wasn't in the mood to go back to work that night. She had just indirectly caused the death of an innocent man, but with the amount of guilt she was feeling, she might as well have done it with her own hands. The sight of his lifeless, mutilated body would forever be seared in her mind. Yelara was determined now to keep her distance from Kace; if Dargus found her even talking to him, he would be next and Yelara wasn't sure if her heart could carry the weight of anymore guilt without breaking in two. She felt so foolish believing all the sweet words Dargus had whispered in her ear last night, telling her he loved her and cared for her. To think she actually fell for it turned Yelara's stomach and made her feel stupid.

She never was a big drinker, but upon her arrival at the shipyards and her unfortunate situation with Dargus, she acquired quite a taste for it. The bartenders around the shipyard knew her by name and knew that she always had the creds to pay with. She had become their new best customer.

"Good night, Dirg!" Yelara called out to the bartender as she stumbled out of the bar, giggling and holding a large bottle of Corellian brandy. She took a swig of the brandy as she started down the corridor, the sweet liquor dribbling down the sides of her mouth. Her equilibrium was completely off and she needed to hang onto the wall to steady herself. "Well, Parven. This is to you," she said in a grim voice, raising the bottle towards the sky in a salute. "That'll teach you to mess with Dargus� girl," she said quietly as she brought the mouth of the bottle to her lips and drank.

She continued down the darkly lit corridor, the jizz music from the bar still able to be heard. Yelara always chose to hang out at the more seedier bars on the station only because she had gotten herself banned from the others. She didn't mind, though. Once she was completely drunk, they all looked the same to her. Yelara stopped in the corridor and leaned against a wall, drinking some more of the brandy kindly given to her by Dirg, whom she considered her new best friend. She had to keep drinking; it was the only way to stop her from crying and she always did hate crying. It made her feel weak.

As she continued her slow trek down the deserted corridor she saw a figure appear in the shadows, standing motionless a distance away in front of her. "Get outta my way!" she cried out as she continued approaching. As she got closer to the figure, her ears began to make out a distinct mechanical humming sound - the sound only a cybernetic limb makes. Yelara stopped two feet from the figure and let the bottle slip from her fingers, sending it crashing to the floor. As she did, Gin Toran crept out of the shadows, letting the light fall upon his face. "Hiya boss,� he said in an ominous voice.

Moments ago, Yelara had been completely drunk, but she sobered up quickly when she saw Toran's face. A glint of light hit her eyes, which she then shifted to Toran's right hand. The light from the corridor had been hitting the dagger he held in his hand, reflecting the light into her eyes like a warning beacon, which caused Yelara's heart to race. She knew what he was here to do; he had told her himself in that letter he wrote on her commpadd.

As the realization hit, Yelara frantically stumbled backwards to escape. She turned around to run, but her balance was still off and she fell to the ground. She looked back to see Toran chasing her as she tried to crawl away. Yelara let out a scream when she felt the fingers of Toran's cybernetic arm wrap around her ankle. The music from the bar was drowning her out; no one could hear her scream.

Yelara tried to pull her ankle away, but Toran's grip tightened. She could feel the bones beginning to break, causing her to let out a blood-curdling cry of pain.

"You're not going anywhere, boss,� he whispered as he finally released her ankle. Yelara tried to crawl away, even with the immense pain that coursed through her foot with every move, but she felt Toran's fingers entwine themselves into her hair, pulling her back towards him. Yelara tried to grasp at his hand, trying to pry his fingers from her hair, but the cybernetic replacement Dargus had provided for him was working impeccibly well and Yelara had no chance of budging them.

"I told you we'd be meeting very soon. I always keep my promises,� Gin said with a smile before he released her hair and wrapped his fingers around her throat.

Yelara began gagging as she felt her airway being crushed and the ground beneath her disappearing. Toran slammed her back against the wall, holding her above the ground with his one arm. Yelara tried desperately to grab at his arm, but it was a futile effort. "Where's your red dress, Yelara? Tsk tsk,� he said as he brought the dagger close to Yelara's face. "Don't worry," he grinned, "I'm not going to kill you yet, not out here. I've got something special planned for you."

Yelara was gagging, her legs kicking beneath her trying to make contact with the ground. She began to reach down into her boot towards her dagger without Toran noticing.

"You're going to pay, Neerou. I want your death to be slow and painful,� he continued, as Yelara felt her fingers grace the handle of her dagger. "I want to have a little fun with you,� he said with a menacing smile, which faded quickly as Yelara pulled out her weapon and slashed him across the face with it.

Toran cried out in pain and released Yelara. She fell to the ground, dazed, but she still tried to get away. "You little bitch!" he yelled out as he grabbed her by the arm and whipped her against the wall with such force that it caused a dent in the plating, and left a blood smear from Yelara's face.

She tumbled to the ground, her eyes flickering and her vision going blurry. The last thing Yelara saw was Gin standing over her, smiling. She tried to hang on to consciousness, but her eyes eventually closed and her senses went dead as unconsciousness enveloped her.

"We'll finish this my way now, Neerou,� Toran said as he picked up Yelara's limp body and slung it over his shoulder, carrying her away into the darkness of the corridor.

***

Jae Dyn Brael had left High Prince Airan in his throne room and started a search of the city for the things she would need to get the information from Dargus. It was taking longer than she'd anticipated, but most of what she'd purchased was packed up and ready to life off. Back to the shipyards tomorrow night, she thought.

She was on her hands in the middle of her small hotel room. She'd been there for close to an hour and her mind was just settling. It was relaxing, and her mind was clearing. A little more with each breath. Her thoughts drifted, scattering on the wind. She smiled as Yelara's face shimmered into the view of her mind's eye.

The image shifted and blood poured down Yelara's face. Darkness bloomed around her face as cuts opened all over her body. A hand, clunky and metallic, slashed out with a knife, blood spraying in its wake. Toran.

Jae Dyn dropped to the ground and reached back for the duffel by her bed. It leapt into her hand and she was moving toward the door. Yelara was in danger. That could be the only purpose for the vision. And, she had no one to protect her. She had to get to the shipyards.

Once on the street, Jae Dyn sprinted for the yard where she'd berthed her ship. She wasn't supposed to take it out at this hour. She would have to persuade the guards.

As expected, the man in High Prince Airan's colors stepped in her way, hand upon his holstered blaster. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, his voice even and forceful, "but docking berths are closed tonight. You'll need to return in the morning."

No time for this. Jae Dyn passed a hand before him. "I have authorization to leave."

"Ma'am, you have authorization to leave."

Another wave. "Open the gate and let me by."

"Let me open the gate, so you can get to your ship." He moved to the control station and opened the gate so she could go in."

A wave. "Release the docking clamps on my ship."

"You get aboard the ship, and I'll release the clamps."

Jae Dyn rushed through the gate and climbed into her ship. A soft jolt went through the ship as the clamps dropped away. She ran through the preflight procedure. It seemed to take forever while she waited. But, then all lights went green. Jae Dyn pushed the thrusters to full and blasted away from Tae�Karada.

"Hold on, Yelara," she whispered, "I'm coming."

"Revenge, Part 2"
By: Yelara Neerou - Shipyard Foreman
Jae Dyn Brael - Jedi Knight
Gin Toran [NPC] - Flight Deck Mechanic

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 1, 3 ABY

***

"I love you," Yelara heard Jae Dyn's voice whispering in her mind. She was still partially unconscious but she smiled as she swore she could feel Jae Dyn's hand caressing her cheek. As the smile formed, Yelara felt her face throbbing in pain and she winced as she awoke slowly. Her dulled senses begun to come to life and she groaned as the pain in her face grew. She opened her eyes, but noticed her right one was still slightly closed, most likely swollen from the impact her face made against the wall.

As her vision focused, she realized she was in a small, dark room, apparently alone. She felt a pain in her side everytime she took in a breath and attributed it to a bruised, possibly broken rib. Yelara was seated in a chair, her wrists bound to the armrests by cuffs. She was now wearing a red dress, most likely placed on her by Toran, just as he had asked her to wear in his letter. In fact, everything was playing out as it had been written in that letter.

Yelara began to face the reality that she was actually going to die, at his hands. She suddenly became frantic and tried to free herself from the bindings. As she did, her body convulsed and was wracked with pain as she felt electricity coursing through her. She cried out in pain until the shocks finally ended. Yelara was a bit dazed but she had not lost consciousness again.

"Electro-bindings," Toran's voice called out from behind. He walked slowly up behind Yelara and leaned over, his mouth next to her ear. "Struggle to get out of them, and they send a wave of electricity through your body, as you have already seen."

"Let me go Toran," Yelara said in a shaky voice, trying to mask her fear.

"Why would I do that, boss? After all I went through to get you here?" he said with a laugh as he walked around and stood in front of Yelara. "How do you like the dress? It's one of yours. I took it from your room one night. Unfortunately you weren't there, else I could have finished you off then," Toran teased, his brown eyes glaring at Yelara.

"I'm not the one who took your arm, Toran," Yelara said, trying to steady her voice.

Toran became enraged and rushed towards Yelara, wrapping his fingers around her throat and holding the blade of his dagger close to face. "No, you weren't, but you see, I can't touch Kandran. I wouldn't get a within hundred feet of him before his wookiees shot me down."

"So you're going to take it out on me, is that it?" Yelara answered, glaring at Toran.

"You should have kept your big mouth shut about me, boss," Toran spat as he began twirling the blade between his fingers. "Do you know how much it hurt when that wookiee was slowly tearing my arm out of its socket? Huh?!" Toran grabbed Yelara's throat tighter and brought the blade close to her eye. "Maybe to demonstrate, I should cut your eye right out of its socket. What do you think?"

Yelara stared at the blade next to her eye, her breathing becoming heavy and loud. She could see in his eyes that he had completely snapped and was out for blood. Unfortunately, it was Yelara's blood he had a taste for.

Yelara saw the blade coming closer and closer to her eye and was certain he would do it, when the blade suddenly stopped. "Hmm...no. I think I'll let you keep the eye. I'll enjoy it much better watching you cry as I tear a hole in your stomach and lay your guts out onto your lap."

"I won't give you the satisfaction you bastard!" Yelara scoffed in rage.

"Oh, but I think you will," Toran answered in a quiet, malevolent voice. He slowly dragged his blade across Yelara's cheek and watched as the blood trickled out onto her red dress. She let out a loud, shrill cry of pain, but was determined not to cry now.

Toran pulled the dagger away and stepped back, admiring his work. "I told you the red dress would come in handy, didn't I?" he said with a chuckle. "I can barely make out the blood stains."

"You're a coward, Toran!" Yelara hollered at him. "You can't get to Dargus, so you take out your anger and your rage on me. You're pathetic!"

Toran stepped in close again, his face barely and inch from Yelara's and he just stared at her. "I'm not the pathetic one, Neerou. You are. I'm not the one who spread her legs open and screwed her way to the top," Toran said with a smile on his face.

Yelara glared at Toran, trying to hide her spite, then smiled and spat in his face. Toran jumped back and backhanded her across the cheek. He took his hand and wiped the drops of spit from his face, scowling at Yelara. "You may act tough, Neerou, but I know you're scared out of your wits. Don't fret, though," he said in a dark tone as he ran his finger over the blade of his dagger. "It'll all be over very soon."

***

Jae Dyn Brael had pushed her small fighter to the limit. Away from Tae'Karada it had climbed, and now streaked across the planet's orbit toward the shipyards. She closed her eyes and focused her energies. She only hoped she was in time. Yelara was in danger, grave danger. She urged the small ship forward.

"Please," she pleaded with it, "a little faster, just a little."

Ahead of her, the station peeked out around the blue curve of the planet. Damn Dargus for keeping his shipyards so far from the palace. She pushed a little more speed out of the ship as it screamed through space.

A voice crackled through her comm. "This is Shipyards Control to starfighter Tal Dan, we need you to back off the throttle and come to three oh two. You'll have a twenty minute hold for a berth. We've gotten busy since you left. Three oh two and hold."

Jae Dyn clenched and unclenched her jaw. She shook her head. "Bugger that, Control," she said. "You find a place for me, or I'll make one."

"I'm sorry Tal Dan, I'm afraid--"

"Do it, or Dargus Kandran will wear your skin as a robe," she barked.

She could tell by his sudden silence that she'd cowed him. After a moment, the comm clicked and he was back. "Adjust course to oh five, and take it down in docking berth twenty-one."

"Got it," she said, and adjusted her course.

She brought her down hotter than she'd ever done before. She'd have to repair the struts later, but she didn't care. Only Yelara mattered.

The canopy opened, and Jae Dyn leapt to the deck. She stretched out with her and felt for Yelara. A spike of pain shot through Jae that nearly sent her to her knees. She plucked the lightsaber off her belt, and raced off into the station.

***

Toran circled around Yelara's chair like a scavenging bird circling its prey, waiting for it to slowly die. Yelara was beginning to lose consciousness again, her head bobbing up and down as she tried to stay awake. She had most likely sustained a concussion when Toran slammed her against the wall, but a concussion was the least of her worries now.

"Uh uh uh, Neerou!" Toran said quickly as he grabbed Yelara's head and began slapping her gently. "I want you to be awake for all this. We are going to have so much fun!"

Yelara felt herself sinking into the dark abyss. She tried to open her eyes, but her body was going against her and forcing her to sleep.

"No, Neerou!" Toran yelled out in frustration. He knelt down quickly at Yelara's side and held out his bloody dagger. He grabbed her arm and held the blade to it. "That's a lovely tattoo you have there on your arm, boss. I bet it would look good on my wall," Toran said playfully. He pierced Yelara's skin with his blade and began cutting out her tattoo, tracing every twist and turn of it perfectly. "Wakey wakey!"

Yelara felt a blinding pain in her upper arm and quickly regained consciousness, letting out a high-pitched scream as she did.

Toran laughed maniacally and pulled his dagger from Yelara's skin, blood dripping down her arm now. Yelara closed her eyes tightly, trying to hold back the tears. If she even let one drop fall, she would have admitted defeat and Toran would have killed her instantly.

"Let me go you son of a bitch!" Yelara hissed

"Oh, well since you asked so politely..." Toran answered playfully with a laugh. "I'm not finished with you yet," he added, his expression quickly changing to one of rage. "Not after the pain you caused me!" Toran slowly approached Yelara, the dagger still gripped in his hand. "Do you know how painful a cybernetic implant is?" Toran stopped in front of Yelara, smiling down at her and practically salivating. "Allow me to demonstrate," he said in a cold whisper.

"Toran, stop this! When Dargus finds out you've killed me, you're just as good as dead," Yelara cried out, becoming desperate. She was determined not to beg for her release, but fear was beginning to consume her.

The moment Yelara mentioned Dargus' name, Toran's eyes narrowed and he began gritting his teeth. "Don't ever say that bastard's name again!" he cried out, grabbing Yelara from behind and holding the dagger to her throat. "Always running to Dargus to solve your problems, aren't ya, boss! You rely on him so much because you are so weak." Toran held the blade hard against her skin, his hand trembling with anticipation. "You truly are pathetic, boss."

Toran's words rang so true for Yelara. Everything he said was absolutely correct; she did need Dargus and relied on him to get her to where she wanted to be: fighting alongside the rebels. Just as Toran had said, Yelara was pathetic and she began to feel it too. She closed her eyes, no longer having the will to fight. "Do it," she whispered, her voice sounding tired and expressing the sense of defeat she was feeling.

Toran leaned in closer and squinted. "What? What was that you said, boss?"

"I said do it! Kill me you bastard! Or don't you have the balls?" she hissed.

Toran bellowed with laughter and tightened his grip on Yelara. "As you wish, boss," he said. His voice was still tinged with laughter as he dug the knife into Yelara's neck and prepared to slit it. "Sweet dreams, Neerou."

In the door, a bright shaft of brilliant purple slashed through hinges and control circuitry. The door buckled as a thunderous boom sent it crashing to the floor. Through the still smoking remains of electrical conduits and wiring, a dark form with a laser sword stepped into the room.

Toran had been too shocked to continue with his cut and only watched, awed by the sudden appearance of the stranger. The smoke curled around the figure as she moved closer. At first, she seemed out of focus, but suddenly she was before him clear as crystal. Black leather encased her legs and feet, and most of her torso. A blaster hung at her hip, but it was holstered and looked far less dangerous than the blade in her hand. Dark hair flared out behind her as she moved.

Toran pressed the knife against Yelara's throat again. He grinned as if he had already won. "Another step and you'll kill her." He gave the woman a wink.

The purple blade of the lightsaber disappeared and suddenly it was hanging from her belt again. She watched him for a moment, then turned her attention to Yelara.

"Get out, or she dies," he rasped. "You get out, or I'll slit her throat."

Jae Dyn caught his gaze in hers. "You were intending to kill her anyway," Jae Dyn said. "Though, I am afraid I can't allow that. Set down your knife and you won't be harmed."

"Screw you," he spat, and moved to open Yelara's throat.

As he moved though, the blade whipped out of his hand. Jae Dyn's lightsaber was suddenly out and lit. It slashed the knife lengthwise, disintegrating it.

Toran's eyes went wide. "How'd you--"

His body jerked upright and into the air. As Jae Dyn moved close to Yelara, Toran crashed back into the wall. He stuck there as a magnet would adhere to a piece of metal.

Jae Dyn's attention shifted to Yelara. Her control almost faltered when she looked down at her love. Tears welled in her eyes, but she forced them away.

"Yelara," she said softly, her face in front of her friend. "It's me, it's Jae Dyn."

Yelara looked up, confused and unaware if she was dead or alive. She blinked a couple of times and let the words spoken by the still unfamiliar voice, sink in. "Jae Dyn?" she whispered hesitantly. Yelara assumed her mind was playing tricks on her, for Jae Dyn was on Tae'Karada. "Who is it? I...I can't see your face."

"I'm here," Jae Dyn said. "I stopped Toran from hurting you. I'm here. I'm back. Oh, I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner." She raised her hand up to her forehead and closed her eyes. The Force flowed through her and into Yelara. She could sense it healing the damage Toran had done, undoing the physical damage he'd done.

Yelara moaned gently as she felt the pain that had been tormenting her body dissipate. The moment she felt Jae Dyn's hand touch her face, she knew for certain it was really her. The tears she had been holding back from spilling, trickled down her face. "I thought I'd never see you again. I thought I'd never get the chance to tell you..."

"Shhh." Jae Dyn brushed a gentle hand across Yelara's cheek. "Let me get you out of here, and then we need to figure out what to do with Toran. Oh gods, I missed you Yelara." She quickly released the bindings holding Yelara in the chair. "I'm never leaving you again."

Upon hearing Toran's name, Yelara's eyes shot open and her body went tense. "Where is he?!" she cried out, looking around frantically and hanging on tightly to Jae Dyn. "Jae Dyn, don't let him get you too! He'll kill you, like he did me!" Yelara was beginning to get delirious, her mind racing and panic setting in.

Jae Dyn caressed Yelara's cheek, hoping to calm her. "It's okay. He's behind you and stuck to the wall until I let him down." Jae Dyn glanced up at Toran and smiled. He sneered back at her. With a thought, she sent him into the opposite wall. "There he is. And, I have no intention of letting him touch you ever again. I don't know if I can kill him, but if you want him dead, I will." She looked into Yelara's eyes, hoping she wouldn't want him dead. She didn't want to go down that path, but knew she would for Yelara.

Yelara didn't look back at Toran; she feared she would break down screaming if she did. She tried to get out of the chair, but her legs gave out and she slid to the ground, wrapping her arms tightly around Jae Dyn's legs. "No! Don't kill him, Jae Dyn. Please." Yelara was crying uncontrollably as some residual pain still coursed through her body. "Not for me. Don't bloody your hands for me. Please," Yelara begged as she still clung to Jae Dyn. "Just take me home," she whispered in a hoarse voice.

"Give me a moment with Toran then," she said. She kissed Yelara's forehead, then moved toward the door. Under her control, Toran glided out the door.

She set him on the ground in front of him and looked into his eyes. She waved a hand before him. "You will leave this place and never return," she said.

"I'll leave this place and never return," he repeated.

"You will forget Yelara Neerou, and all that happened here."

"I will forget Yelara Neerou and all that happend here."

Jae Dyn nodded. "Now, go."

He turned and left. The suggestions she'd given him were strong. A man with a mind like Toran would never be able to unravel them.

She returned to Yelara and lifted her into her arms. "We're going home," she said softly.

Yelara finally felt safe and melted into Jae Dyn's arms. She rested her head against Jae Dyn's chest and closed her eyes, trying to push away all her fear. "What are you going to do with him?" she asked softly, knowing Toran would just come back for her when he next got the chance.

"I used a trick taught to many Jedis," she said. "It is sort of like a hypnotic suggestion, though much stronger. I told him to leave this place and never return; and to forget about you and all that happened here. He will not bother you again. And, if he ever does, I will be with you. I will never let him touch you again."

Yelara began to whimper and her body shook as she began crying again. "Don't you ever leave me again!" Yelara wrapped her arms tighter around Jae Dyn, then looked up into her eyes. "I tried to stop you the first time, but I was a coward." Yelara gently caressed Jae Dyn's cheek and held her gaze. "I love you. I know that now. I've always known," she whispered, confident, now, that she meant every word.

Yelara looked back down and rested her head against Jae Dyn's chest again, the warmth from her body soothing Yelara. "Take me home now."

"Okay," Jae Dyn said, and gently kissed Yelara's forehead.

She moved quickly through the corridors of the station, holding Yelara protectively as she moved. The door to her apartment still recognized her and opened without hesitation. She headed straight for the bedroom and set Yelara on the bed. "You're home."

Yelara clung to Jae Dyn, trembling still, not wanting her to ever let go. "Don't leave me tonight, Jae Dyn. I'm afraid to be alone," she whispered, her voice still shaky.

Jae Dyn nodded as she ran a hand through Yelara's hair. "I'll stay with you," she said. "I won't leave you alone."

Yelara finally looked up at Jae Dyn and smiled. "Never again? You promise? I didn't think I was going to make it when you left the first time."

Jae Dyn looked into Yelara's eyes and returned the smile. "I didn't think I was going to make it either. And, I will never leave you again, ever. Never unless you want me to go. I love you, and I'll do anything for you."

"Want you to go?!" Yelara repeated incredulously. "I never wanted you to leave the first time. I wanted to tell you I loved you, so that you wouldn't go but...I was a coward. I was afraid."

"There's nothing wrong with being afraid," Jae Dyn said. "And, admitting you love someone isn't easy, especially when that someone is another woman. I am so sorry I left. I didn't want to. I almost didn't. But, I put the ambassador in danger, and I had to help her. But, I'm back now, and I'll never leave you again, not for anything or anyone."

Yelara's face began to scrunch up as tears formed in her eyes. "I put someone in danger too," she said as she wept loudly, "and now he's dead! I feel like a little piece of my heart just went cold." She buried her face into Jae Dyn's vest to drown out her sobs. "The worst part of all, is that Dargus lied to me, made me feel foolish for believing him," she whispered.

Jae Dyn cradled Yelara in her arms. "Dargus is who he is," she said. "He is a petty, jealous man who cares for nothing but his own needs. Any acts of kindness are merely to lull you into a false sense of comfort. They're all lies. Everything about that man is a lie." Her own resolve was starting to waver, but she kept herself in control. Barely. "I know what that feeling is like, your heart going dead. I felt it when my master died. And, I felt it when I walked away from you. I'll never do that again." The tears fell, but Jae Dyn managed to keep her voice steady. "I am so sorry for hurting you, love."

Yelara slipped out of Jae Dyn's arms and limped towards the couch, where she sat down. She stared at the floor and said in a grim voice, "So when he told me he loved me, it was a lie?"

Jae Dyn watched Yelara move. She didn't follow. If Yelara wanted her near, she wouldn't have gone to the couch. "I don't know," she said. "Perhaps in some twisted way, he did. But, I don't think he's capable of feeling love for anything other than himself or his credits. I don't know. Maybe he does, and I've misjudged him."

Yelara looked up at Jae Dyn, her face still wet with tears. "I feel so stupid. I...I actually believed him. Or maybe I knew he was lying, but wanted it to be true." Yelara wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up, walking towards Jae Dyn. "I guess I thought that if he did love me, I wouldn't feel like such a slut when he took me to bed." Yelara grabbed Jae Dyn's hand and brought it to her lips, gently kissing it. "Will you take me to bed now, Jae Dyn?" she said gently, wanting so much to be in her embrace, comforted by it.

Jae Dyn nodded. "Sure," she said. Then she smiled, her brown eyes brightening as she looked up into Yelara's. "Sure. Let's get you out of that dress. I think tomorrow, we should burn it." She stood and caressed Yelara's cheek with her fingers. "Let's go to bed."

Yelara slowly took off her dress, letting it fall to the floor. Her body still ached from the torture Toran had inflicted upon it, but at least the wounds had almost disappeared. "Hold me, Jae Dyn," she said as her body trembled.

Jae Dyn pulled Yelara into her arms. She closed her eyes and just held her as close as she could, hoping to push the trembling away. She kissed Yelara's shoulder, and hoped the zips on her leather vest weren't biting into Yelara's skin. She reached down and undid the buckle and tie for her blaster belt and tossed it away. "I'll hold you until the end of time."

Yelara gently took Jae Dyn's face into her hands and raised her head so their eyes met. She smiled at her, no longer trembling and brought her lips to Jae Dyn's, kissing her tenderly. "I wouldn't want it any other way," she whispered, gazing into Jae Dyn's soulful eyes.

Jae Dyn reached up and took Yelara's hands into her own. With her eyes still on Yelara's, she drew her friend back toward the bed.

Yelara smiled as she took her hands from Jae Dyn's. She ran them up Jae Dyn's waist, caressing her stomach and finally stopping at her chest. She began to slowly unzip Jae Dyn's leather vest, revealing her bare flesh. "I'm new at this, Jae Dyn. What do we do?" she said, looking up at Jae Dyn in confusion.

Jae Dyn kissed Yelara gently and smiled. She shrugged out of her vest and let it fall to the floor. She kissed Yelara again and pulled her down onto the bed. She moved her kisses to Yel's neck and down to her chest. She looked up and smiled. "Whatever feels right," she said.