"Easy Search"
By Vincenzo Lapenta - Neurosurgeon
Sarah Lapage - Neurosurgeon (NPC+)
Joachim Rees - Neurosurgeon (NPC)
Jean Van der Morken - Patient (NPC)

Location: New Plouton Institute of Neuroscience General Hospital, Arcadia
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Vincenzo was going over some documentation while sipping some hot caf. It was 4 days since he started at the enpin, and he had been going over a lot of documents. Like Standard Operating Procedures, Protocols, some articles, laboratory stuff, and more. It was logical, but after a couple of days it became tiring. And he had to read a bit more as he was charged with setting up a neurotoxicity lab, which was not something that appeared out of nowhere.

Suddenly his comm beeped. "Dr. Lapenta," he said as he picked up.

"Vincenzo, it's Joachim," came the voice of Joachim Rees, one of his colleagues, "I have a very interesting case here. Can you come and take a look. I'm in my office."

"I'll be right there," Vincenzo said. He shut down the comm and headed towards Joachim's office. He knocked and entered. Inside he saw Joachim with a young man who clearly looked not well. He had his left arm in a mitella.

"Mr. Van der Morken, this is Dr. Lapenta," Joachim said.

"Good afternoon, sir," Vincenzo greeted him.

"I've asked Dr. Lapenta here because he might know more about your problem then me," Joachim went on. The man just nodded.

"Would you wait in the waiting room for a moment, please," Joachim asked the patient. The man nodded again and shuffled out of the room.

"What's wrong," Vincenzo asked when he was gone.

"He's referred to us by Dr. Lapage from the Arcadia General Hospital," Joachim started, but he was interrupted by Vincenzo.

"Lapage, Sarah Lapage," he asked.

"Indeed, you know her."

"I studied with her on Commenor," Vincenzo said, his heart racing. He had found back Sarah without having to go looking for her on the whole planet. "Now, what's the case?"

"He's been living near a waste dump for all his life. Although it should have been safe, clearly there has been some toxic waste on it, and now he can't move his arm anymore, and perhaps there's some brain damage as well. Here's the datapad."

Vincenzo took the pad and quickly went over it. He immediately recognised Sarah's style on the report. "What would be the best is to get a sample of the toxic waste," he said.

"Not possible," Joachim said, "Sarah tried to get some, but she didn't got it."

"Then we don't have to try," Vincenzo said, "if it's okay with you, I'll take him over."

"Sure," Joachim said, "I have more then enough work already."

"I'll keep you informed," Vincenzo promised, before going into the waiting room, where he informed the patient that he would take over the case. He and Jean went to his office, where the first order of business was to draw some blood.

"They already did that, doctor" the patient said, seemingly awakening, "back in Arcadia."

"I've seen that, sir," Vincenzo said, "but I would like to do a few tests they didn't do there."

"Why didn't they do them right away," Jean asked.

"Because it's a number of tests they don't routinely do there," Vincenzo said, "I come from Russ VII, a planet so polluted that we have a whole series of tests that are not commonly used on other planets. If it's toxic waste that caused your condition, I'll find it."

He put the tubes away for now, and asked the patient to lie down on the exam bed. "So you're having trouble moving your arm," he asked.

"That's right, doctor," Jean answered.

"Do you still feel anything in the arm," Vincenzo asked next as he touched the hand, "like this?"

"No, doctor," the patient said.

"Hmm," Vincenzo said as he moved on. That the patient couldn't move his arm was for some toxins not all that uncommon, but that he didn't feel anything was.

"Anything wrong, doctor," Jean asked. Vincenzo could sense his unease and anxiety.

"Every person is different," he said, "I'll first have to conclude the examinations."

He continued to feel on different parts of the arm, each time asking the patient if he could feel it. "Shouldn't we do some scans or something," the patient asked after a while.

"Those were done in Arcadia," Vincenzo said, "there's no need to repeat them, I have all the results. But there are some things you can't find on a scan. Sometimes just feeling will tell you more."

After five minutes on the other arm, as comparison, he told the patient to put his jacket back on and went back to his desk. Jean sat at the other side.

"I think I know what the problem is," Vincenzo said, "you probably have some damage to your ulnar nerve. I'll have to wait for the blood tests for confirmation, but that's my best guess for the moment. Do you still live near the waste dump?"

"No, I currently live with family," he answered.

"Very good," Vincenzo said, "then the damage will not worsen. I'll have the blood test results in two days, so if you can come back then, we'll see what we can do. If it's what I think it is, it will be possible to reverse the damage."

"Then I hope you're right," Jean said, "is it possible to come around two in the afternoon. I have an appointment with my lawyer before that."

"Of course," Vincenzo said, marking it in his agenda, "two in the afternoon it is."

When the patient was gone, Vincenzo went to the lab with the blood samples and instructed them on the tests they needed to run. When he found out that they luckily had everything they needed to run the tests, he let them do their job while he went back to his office. There he informed the receptionist that he would be going early because he still had some things to do. She confirmed and told him to have a good day. She probably assumed it was to get some things in order in his apartment or something like that, and he didn't correct her, as he wanted to go looking for Sarah. And if they really made noise he could always say he wanted to speak to her about Jean Van der Morken.

He took the shuttle service to Arcadia and arriving there, he took a taxi to the hospital. Arriving there he showed his neuroscience card to the receptionist and asked for Dr. Lapage. As a doctor from a well known institution, he was allowed entry without questions and he was directed to the neurology department. Before he could introduce himself to the reception there, he spotted Sarah walking through the corridor.

"Sarah," he called out to her. She looked at him in surprise as she came closer.

"Vincenzo," she said softly, "what are you doing here."

"The ground became a bit hot under my feet on Russ," he said, "so I had to move. As I still remembered the most beautiful woman in the galaxy, I moved here. I work at the neuroscience institute in New Plouton."

"Why don't you come to my office," she said as she saw the receptionist and two nurses look at them.

Vincenzo followed her and entered her office. "You have a nice view," he said as he could see the royal palace from her office.

"Yeah," was all she said. He took her in his arms, but she struggled free.

"What's wrong," he asked. She just sat down behind her desk and looked at him.

"Why did you have to come here," she said, "now I finally thought I was over you, you come back. You know I'm married?"

"No," he said. Well that would explain a lot.

"I am," she said, "with a very nice guy. I thought I'd never see you again, and he's very nice. I did send you a message."

"I never got that," he said, "but I was under police scrutiny, so they probably intercepted it and never bothered to forward it once they were through with it."

"Police scrutiny," she asked, "what did you do?"

"I was just part of an environmental group," he said, "you remember I told you about Russ and the pollution. I joined a group who thought it had to be cleaned up, and the government didn't like that."

Sarah looked at him.

"Well, my brother and some of his friends thought to take decisive action," Vincenzo said, "I spoke out against this, but they went on anyway. The government liked that even less, so I decided to come here until things have cooled over.

"That's the way I know you," she said with a smile, "so, how did you find me?"

"I wanted to go searching for you," he said, "but earlier today, Joachim Rees asked me to look at a case he got from you, and that way I knew where you were."

"You mean Jean Van der Morken," Sarah asked, "if I'd known you were here, I'd referred them directly to you. If there's one person on this planet who can find what's wrong with him, it's you."

"Thanks," Vincenzo said.

"I mean that, Vince," she said, "you've had a lot of toxicology that we haven't. So, found anything already?"

"I think I know what's wrong, but I'm waiting for confirmation from the lab," he said, "if I'm right, it will be almost completely reversible, say about 10% permanent reduction."

"It could be worse," Sarah said, while trying to fight back the unease she felt upon seeing Vincenzo again. Her life certainly had turned more interesting.

There fell an awkward silence. "I think I'll better get going," Vincenzo said, "but maybe we should have dinner one day."

"Maybe," was all Sarah could say.

"I'll contact you later," Vincenzo said. He gave her a quick kiss and then he walked out, leaving Sarah with her thoughts in turmoil, even though he hadn't intended it.

---

"Tangled Web, Part 4"
By Yelara Neerou
Meer'esh
Amii'a Val'or

Location: Royal Palace, Arcadia
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Despite suggesting firmly that he not attend the private conference, but when he escorted Consular Amii'a into her chambers and closed the door behind them, Yelara was disheartened to learn he would not be leaving. She eyed him scathingly, but her expression softened when she turned her focus to Amii'a. Rising from her seat at the small table within her solarium, Yelara gestured Amii'a forward. "It's good to see you back safely from your trip. I hope things went well?"

Amii'a bowed with respect as she stood before the High Princess. With a smile she replied, "Thank you, your Highness. All things considered it went well enough," she said, knowing that she needn't reiterate the basic details of her past mission to the Riga colony. It was all in her report, except for one very important and troubling matter.

She glanced at Meer'esh for a second, what she had to report was something the two had talked about before. Her and the Princess's apparent consort both shared grave concerns about Ambassador Theen Fida. In recent months Amii'a had uncovered more and more information that led her to believe the New Republic ambassador was grossly abusing his station and influence over Tae'Karadan politics and economics.

Turning her attention back to Yelara, Amii'a graciously accepted a seat across from the High Princess.

"This is a matter that is not in my report," she began. "An ongoing investigation that, with some new information I have uncovered from the mission to Riga, has led me to believe that several members of the council, and the New Republic Ambassador have been engaged in numerous unethical economic and political dealings that are showing serious consequences in the economy as well as a potentially dangerous fallback in credibility and viability of the government."

Yelara glanced aside at Meer'esh, who had thought it necessary to remain for the meeting, standing over Yelara's shoulder and irritating her to no end. But, any request for his departure would no doubt end in a verbal spar that Yelara thought highly unprofessional. Barely tolerating his presence, she returned her focus to the consular. "I believe you should elaborate, Ms. Val'or. It would benefit all of us to expose any shady characters operating in this government. Do you have specific names?"

"Of course, your Highness," Amii'a informed. "For some time I have been looking into many transactions between prominent business leaders and those who now make up the council, in regard to our many dealings through the New Republic Embassy. In more instances than I cared to discover, a vast sum of contracts, capital and the acquisitioning of Tae'Karadan commerce and industry has been directed towards these individuals and New Republic holdings rather than to our own people. Many of these dealings I myself have helped to collaborate with Ambassador Fida, in the interest of mutual cooperation. Only now do I see that my efforts to help strengthen our world only served to deepen the pockets of these traitors."

"Who?" Yelara pressed. "Who are these people? And does Ambassador Fida know of their deeds?"

"Ministers A'jassu, Urioq and Representative Chol'ub Ueb," she named. "They appear to be at the core, but I must say that this web of deceit and corruption may go further. The evidence is quite clear, your Grace, though well hidden within multiple accounts, faux identities and dummy corporations. As for the Ambassador...it would appear he is right in the middle of it all," she explained. "Numerous accounts of redirected funds, contractual underbidding, company buy-outs, questionable donations to public offices, pay-offs...they are slowly bleeding us to death and acquiring a dangerously large percentage in the economy to where we would be all but totally dependant on the foreign market."

With a thoughtful pause before continuing: "I am so sorry, your Highness...I cannot begin to express my outrage and regret! I trusted him, I have worked by his side for many years. I...I have helped to arrange many of these transactions between our world and the New Republic, all-the-while thinking I was helping to build a greater future for our people..."

"Your intentions were true, Ms. Val'or," Yelara assured her gently. "Even if your loyalties were misplaced." Her eyes flashed briefly towards Meer'esh as she added, "As were mine. It would appear I have no recourse but to have these traitors apprehended. Though, I trust you have tangible evidence of these crimes?"

"I do, your Highness," Amii'a replied as she produced a data card with everything she had collected before the mission to Riga and since. "With your permission, your Highness, I would like to bring them in myself, especially Ambassador Theen," she requested with stern conviction.

Yelara lowered her head in a permissive nod. "The rest of the council will have to be briefed."

"I can be doing that," Meer'esh interrupted.

"No you cannot," Yelara informed him politely, yet obdurately. "It should come from me, and only me. I will do so while you take Ambassador Theen and his accomplices into custody," she told Amii'a, ignoring Meer'esh's glower. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Consular. I'm just sorry Ambassador Theen had to be involved. I respected him and valued his advice. Ambition and greed" --her eyes shifted meaningfully Meer'esh's way-- "seem to infect and ruin many. We must end the corruption here and now."

A mixture of grief and satisfaction boiled within Amii'a. She dreaded having to bring Theen in after all they had shared, but at the same time his apparent betrayal of her trust and people all but overpowered her later emotions.

"I understand, your Highness, I had the utmost respect for him too. He was a mentor, and a good friend," she said with a sour taste in her mouth. "I will bring them in to answer for these crimes. I thank you for trusting me with this responsibility." Amii'a bowed before Yelara and awaited permission to be dismissed.

"Keep me apprised of your progress," Yelara requested, and rose to indicate the end of their meeting. She tipped her head at Amii'a, then at Meer'esh, who received a stern glare as tacit warning that he should leave with Amii'a. In a blur and rustle of dark skirts Yelara departed, leaving Amii'a and Meer'esh to show themselves out.

Meer'esh extended his arm towards the door, gesturing Amii'a to go before him. As they began walking, he moved closer to his associate. "That has been smooth. Many people are being happy to know Theen is gone, I know. You will be rewarded."

Amii'a started for the doorway but then paused at the man's words. The High Princess's looks had not gone unnoticed. Reward? she thought, thinking the situation and her past relationship with Theen entirely unwarranted for such a comment, let alone that Amii'a would expect to be rewarded for doing her job and having to turn in a longtime friend.

"Personally, I am reluctant in this misfortune," she said curtly. "A grave injustice has been committed to my people and against this new government. I take no pleasure in what must be done, Meer'esh, nor do I expect a reward. Justice is its own reward, and a bitter sweet one at that, all things considered."

Meer'esh hesitated, wondering if his employers had yet to fill Amii'a in on their grand scheme, or if she was simply an unwitting pawn. "Still," he added carefully, "you are being a useful ally. Your aid will not be going unnoticed. I am thanking you."

Amii'a yet again wanted to set the man straight, but she had some serious work to do and time was of the essence. Besides, she thought, this is politics; alliances, compromise, working with those you dislike and love for the common good... She only hoped that her and Meer'esh's little talks, as well as those with the mysterious Ron'amon, were indeed for the common good. Neither had asked anything from her, and neither did she ever accept anything - unlike Theen and his cohorts. Still, she wasn't about to be an unwitting pawn twice.

"Your thanks isn't necessary Meer'esh," she said as she left his presence. "I'm just doing my job."

Slowing to a halt in the corridor, studying Amii'a with some confusion as she hurried off, Meer'esh suspected he had fewer co-conspirators within the palace than he had been led to believe, and that Amii'a was oblivious to the machinations laid out by his overlords. She, too, was as blind as Yelara to the existence of those masterminds slowly bringing about the ruin of Tae'Karada, looking no further than their nearest friends and allies for fault and blame. Wreaking dissent and sowing doubt were their most powerful weapons...and they were indeed striking true, for soon only their allies would remain on the council, all the others weeded out. All that would be left, thereafter, was the conquest of Tae'Karada, and judging from how easily even the most loyal turned on one another, that day would be coming sooner than projected.

---

"Arriving on Coruscant"
By Chun Li (currently Ivana Skonezcna) - escort pilot, PI
Alekzander Kerensky - captain of Altdorf (NPC)
Lorgal - Bodyguard and Secretary (NPC+)

Location: Coruscant
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Li looked at Imperial center, as she still thought about Coruscant. The look from space hadn't changed much since she was here for the last time. It seemed like ages ago.

"We've just received clearance to go though the shields," Kerensky said.

"Good," Li replied, "take us in, captain."

She had come to like the master of the Altdorf, even though he really towered above her. Luckily she hadn't seen all that much of Lorgal, who she liked a little less. But if having to deal with Lorgal was the way to get 40.000 creds, then deal with him she would.

The massive Barabel had kept to himself inside his stateroom, interacting with very few people. When the captain announced that they had been given clearance to go through the planetary shields, he decided to make an appearance on the bridge. Lorgal had worked with Captain Kerensky before, and he respected the man, but he could not help that everyone on the bridge stopped working to stare at his huge form.

Leaning casually against a bulkhead, he nodded to Chun Li, whom he had not gotten to know very well, as well as to the bear-sized human captain. Alekzander nodded back, a smile barely showing through his forest of a beard, and expertly directed the Corvette towards their pattern.

"Chun Li," Lorgal said when they were situated safely in the landing pattern, "Can I see you a moment in my room? I've got some things to discuss."

"It's Ivana Skonezcna," Li said as she walked towards him, "try to remember that. It can save our lives."

'And definitely mine,' she didn't add.

"Right, Ivana, apologies." The last remark sounded almost like an afterthought. They made their way to his stateroom in silence. When they arrived, Lorgal grabbed a datapad from his desk. "This has everything we need to begin our investigation here. Well... I should say for you to begin the investigation. I'm mostly here as backup and as a liaison with Rylaa and his assets. The Bothan we are looking for was last registered the address provided, though he has not been seen there for some time. The majority of the background information is here on this pad," Lorgal handed the datapad to Li, "If you want, I can go along with you. The residential area that Dirge's apartment was located in is a former Imperial sector though, and they don't take big ugly aliens like myself very kindly."

"You can better stay on the ship or whatever Rylaa provides here," Li said, "at least initially. Depending on my initial findings that might change of course."

"The Boss didn't arrange for much out here, as a just-in-case factor. Dirge had quite a long arm in the information sector and the Boss didn't want any tip-offs. If you say for me to stay here, then here is where I'll stay. Just call if you need some backup, and me and the boys'll be there quick."

"Okay," Li said, "well, I'll be reading this until we've landed."

Lorgal nodded and they left his room together. Chun Li to hers and him to the bridge to watch the ship's captain at work.

*** two hours later, one of the many starports ***

As soon as the Corellian corvette touched down and lowered its ramp, a customs official entered flanked by two security guards. Li knew the routine by now, and she had her ID cards and some other stuff ready. "Miss Skonezcna," the official said after running the card through his reader, "everything seems okay here. Enjoy your stay on Imperial Center." He moved on to the next person.

The massive barabel watched her go from the ramp. When she had disappeared into the crowd, he nodded to the group of men behind him. The five non-descript humans pulled hoods over their heads and walked calmly down the ramp, their fake documents already in hand. Lorgal smiled as they left, his needle-sharp teeth catching the dim light of the lower-level hanger. The five were part of a larger plan, one that Rylaa had kept even from his trusted aide. That was fine with Lorgal, he didn't need to know everything his boss was doing.

Alekzander joined him at the ramp. "Is she gone?" he asked quietly.

"She is."

"What do we do now?"

Lorgal turned to look at the big man. "We wait until she needs us."

Li took a cab towards a tower where she knew she would find some answers. Sitting back, she looked around to see if she was followed, but seeing nothing special.

---

"First Search"
by Chun Li (currently Ivana Skonezcna) - Escort Pilot, PI

Location: Ministry of Commerce Archive, Coruscant
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

"Here you will find everything you need, Ms. Skonezcna," the librarian of the archive said as he had lead Li towards one of the viewers. "Thank you," Li said, sitting down and starting up the console. She had come here to get as much information about Rising Thunder's activities after Rylaa had been forced to get out. She had posed as a journalist making a documentary about the company to get access to the records.

By starting her search here she wanted to get an idea about the status of the company at the moment, something which often included contact information of the current and past CEOs. She doubted that the information here would be current, but it would provide her with a starting point. She suspected that this company probably had some less legal businesses as well which she would have to investigate, but this would prove a start.

The first thing she did notice was that Rising Thunder seemed to be only a front, as a crime syndicate with the same name had been taken down a couple of months ago. A lot of files were not accessible from where she was as they pertained to the investigation. She did however, managed to get a list of the last set of board members with their addresses in a routine report that they probably forgot to classify. The address of Dirge, the Bothan she was looking for, was the address she already had and knew not to be valid anymore. And probably the ones for the other board members weren't either. One probably didn't stay when a criminal investigation was in place. Comparing the list with the one Rylaa had provided, she saw that only 4 of the original board members had stayed after the Bothan had taken over.

That would make things a lot more difficult, but it could be done. First of all she needed more information about this company, or crime syndicate. Maybe first of all the newspaper records, followed, if necessary, by police records. From there she might find some leads to get to some of the board members. One of them had to know where the CEO was, it would just be a matter of getting the data. Her training with imperial intelligence had provided her with some knowledge on getting information out of people not willing to give it.

---

"Parting Ways"
By Omri Kedemoth
Tara Darellia - Pilot (NPC+)

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

An overstuffed duffel bag flew out of the Griffon's access hatch, landing on the hanger's deck. Omri followed it out, hoisting the bag up and carrying it to a small pile of well-worn plasteel cases. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his bare arm. The hanger was exceptionally warm, and he had removed his traditional black tunic and was working in a light, sleeveless white shirt.

He returned to the vessel and climbed back inside. He strolled through the small ship from bow to stern. He told himself it was to make sure he had removed all his belongings. He walked along the short corridor, running his had along the bulkhead. When he reach the small cargo hold, he paused.

Omri allowed himself to reminisce. He remembered the day Kai and he escaped the imperials on this ship. How she managed to destroy two TIE fighters before jumping to hyperspace. Their first kiss was in this cargo hold, not much more than a large closet. He reached out to touch the cold metal. It was a farewell gesture to both the ship and its memories.

Climbing back out of the vessel, he began to stack his belongings onto a repulsorlift cart.

Omri saw the blast door on the far side of the bay open up and Tara Darellia walked through. She was dressed equally casually, in a sleeveless tan shirt and black cargo pants. A small red duffel bag was slung over her shoulder.

"Good morning, Mr. Kedemoth." Tara's greeting was accompanied by smug grin.

Omri, without looking up, replied. "Good morning Ms. Darellia. She's all yours."

With a satisfied "hmmm", Tara turned and strolled toward her ship. Dropping the duffel bag, she climbed into the access hatch.

"Geez, it smells in here!" Tara yelled from inside the cockpit.

Rolling his eyes, Omri yelled back, "I was in transit almost two weeks getting here."

"Could ya change the air scrubbers once in a while?" She complained as she climbed back out. She strode back towards Omri. "Well, it will need a thorough cleaning and sanitizing, but I think I can make it livable again." She said, wiping her hands on her pants.

"I am pained to know you are not satisfied with its condition." Omri taunted without an ounce of sincerity.

As Omri arranged his belongings on the cart, Tara picked up a small wooden box near the stack of cases. Opening it, she pulled out a small holoprojector.

"What's this?" she asked as Omri turned toward her.

"Leave that alone!" Omri barked, scowling. Tara activated the projector and a small holograph of a woman appeared. She was dressed in the same dark clothes Tara had seen Omri wear, as well as a sword. The woman was tall, dark-haired and beautiful, with tattoos on her face, just like Omri.

"Give me that!" Omri snapped as he snatched the device from her hand before she could react. He deactivate it and placed it back in the box.

"Sorry!" Tara snipped. After a moment, she asked coyly, "So, who is she?"

"She is - was - my wife." Omri replied as he tightened the straps on the hover cart.

Omri's strong reaction deterred Tara from further questioning. "Sorry," she fumbled, placing a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

"Ms. Darellia," Omri turned to face her, his tone flat and business-like, "It has been a pleasure to meet you, I hope you enjoy your ship." He turned toward the hover cart controls.

"Wait," Tara stopped him. "Omri, I want to thank you again for giving my ship back to me. I don't think I would have done the same in your place." She confessed.

Omri sensed the sincerity of her statement, and how difficult it must have been for her to admit it. "Tara, it was the right thing to do."

Their eyes had met, locked for a moment. Uncomfortable, Omri broke it off.

Tara looked down awkwardly. "Well," She stood up straight, composing herself. "Let me know if I can ever do anything for you. And good luck on, well, whatever you are going to do."

"Thanks, and good luck on your new business." Omri reach out his hand, Tara took it in hers and they shook.

"Actually, I have my first job." Tara interjected cheerily, " I'm taking some perishable medical supplies to Riga."

Omri nodded politely, "It's a good start."

"Yeah... well, I guess I should get the ship ready." She motioned over her shoulder at the ship.

"Yeah, I need to get this stuff out of here." Omri replied.

As Tara turned back toward the ship, Omri pushed the hover cart toward the hanger exit. Before opening the blast door, he looked back. Tara was taking the coupling connector from her bag and placing it back onto the ship. For a long moment he watched. He told himself he was taking one last look at the ship. But that was only partly true. He turned back and pushed his gear through the open door.

He didn't see Tara turn to watch him leave.

---

"More Search"
By: Chun Li (currently Ivana Skonezcna) - PI, Escort Pilot

Location: Police station, Sector 45-B, Coruscant
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Her search in the newspaper archives had not given the results she wanted. In fact, it had only been in the news for a couple of days, before other events took over. So now she had to get her information from the police files, and that was a bit trickier. First of all some of the files were on a separate network, not accessible from the outside. So not only she had to get into the police building, which was not so difficult, but also to the correct files, which was a bit more trouble.

She walked into the bar where she had just seen a police officer disappear. Finding a woman near her height had been difficult, but Imperial Center had lots of police. She had located the woman's address and as soon as she was on duty, Li had sneaked in to get one of her uniforms. With that uniform she headed towards the duty station that had done the investigation. Timing it so she arrived at the changing of the shift, she managed to slip in with a bunch of police officer coming in to start their shift.

Once inside she moved as if she belonged, something among the first things they learned with intel. Make sure everybody thinks you belong there, and less people will question you, even if they don't know who you are. Finding a terminal in a secluded area, Li sat down and started her search for information. Due to the fact that these systems were separate from the main network, security was less inside the building. It didn't take her long to get to the files she wanted.

"What are you doing there," she suddenly heard behind her. Slowly turning she saw an officer -she only had the uniform of a standard police woman- look at her.

"I don't know you," he said.

"I'm sorry, sir," Li said, "I'm Ivana, I transferred from sector 492-A a couple of days ago. I work the graveyard shift, but the lieutenant, Ehmmm..."

"Lieutenant Mackinson," the other lieutenant helped her.

"Yes, sir," Li continued, "he told me to read these files for another case I'm helping on. It's just taking me longer then expected, but I want to have it finished before I go home. It will only take about half an hour longer."

"Okay," he said, before leaving.

Li sighed with relief. That was a close call. Now she had to get out as quickly as possible, before the lieutenant realised that there was no Ivana on the night shift. She quickly downloaded the files on her datapad, closed down the terminal and left the building. She would read them somewhere else and then plan her next step.

---

"New Friends, New Enemies, Part Two"
By: Mielikki Aune (PC)
Cirran Tyris (PC)
J2O RA-7 (NPC+)
Sgt Mathias "Walker" Coin (NPC+)
Drer Rda (NPC+)
Random NPC's

Location: The Drogen Shipyards, Tae'Remok system, Outer Rim
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Cirran's rapid string of expletives, some of which aimed at the Gamorrean, some at his ship, the ramp of which had obviously let him down again, and some at the situation in general, would have made his friend Walker proud. "What is it on this ship, open day?" he asked as he circled around to get a packing crate between him and the jabbering porcine alien, who was making threatening jabs in his direction. "Friend of yours?" he yelled to Mielikki.

"Worse, my escort!" she yelled as she hid fearfully behind Cirran. "Look, it's a long story but please just get me out of here! I beg of you!!" she remarked pulling on his arm. Fearfully she glanced back at the Gamorrean as he attempted to figure out a way to get to the two humanoids.

"I don't suppose he's going to listen to reason?" Cirran asked in the momentary lull.

"Doubtfully," she replied.

Cirran bobbed beyond the reach of the spear a couple of times. He looked at the girl, the Gamorrean, and all things considered came to a decision rather rapidly. Nevertheless, he muttered "Why me?" to himself as he stood up straight, and added "I mean, really!" with a bitter laugh at the craziness and sheer unfairness of life in the universe. Then he planted a foot on the mostly empty durasteel packing crate and heaved with a long leg, sliding it across the deck into the spear-wielding Gamorrean. The crate thudded into the alien at thigh height and sent him sprawling slightly, which gave Cirran enough time to launch himself shoulder first at the staggered alien in a flying tackle over the top of the crate. It was hard to say who the result was worse for. The Gamorrean was slammed back into a bulkhead, dropping his spear, but Cirran's gangly form bounced off the solid thug and he crashed heavily to the deck.

"Ow," he said, struggling slowly to his feet as the alien did the same. The spear was nowhere in sight. Probably joined my blaster somewhere, Cirran thought groggily to himself, also noting that given the things that kept happening to him, it might actually be a good idea to get hold of a replacement blaster at some later date, assuming he survived this.

Agork also rose slowly to his feet, holding his head he looked about nervously for his weapon, then at the humanoid male who was getting back up. Deciding this was not a foe to be dealt with weaponless, the Gamorrean fighter squealed angrily before he staggered off; he knew he would not live this down very well once the others got wind of a Gamorrean getting bested by a puny humanoid. Snorting, Agork took once last glance at the pair before he ambled off. Mielikki ran over to Cirran and worriedly looked over his injuries. "I don't think he's coming back, are you alright?" she asked.

"It depends. Am I dreaming this?" Cirran asked wearily.

"I wish I could say no," she remarked, then without giving it a second thought she ducked under Cirran's arm and helped him stand up. "Does this mean you're going to help me escape?" she asked. "I promise I'll find a way to pay you back, though I don't have any money I'm afraid..."

Cirran gazed blearily at the direction in which the alien had taken off. "He ran away! Unprecedented," he mumbled to himself in surprise. He shook his head, trying to clear it and catch up with events, and with that realised just what sort of situation he was in. "Help you escape? From what? " he said. "All it means is that somehow, I just stopped that big lug from impaling me, for now," he explained angrily. "Just exactly who are you, anyway? And who was he? Let me guess, there's a crime lord involved. Or a bounty hunter. Or your Palpatine's secret love child. Gods, why am I such a magnet for this stuff? And who uses a spear, for Gods' sakes?" He muttered a quick highlights package of his earlier outburst of profanity to himself under his breath. "I think you'd better tell me exactly what's going on here -" he now addressed Mielikki, " - starting with such pertinent details as can we expect your 'escort' back - probably with an AT-AT next time, knowing my luck."

Mielikki hung her head low, she was dreading this. She suddenly felt small, and vulnerable. "I...I'm a slavegirl for a man named Drer Rda, a Twi'lek crime lord. That Gamorrean who attacked you was the escort he assigned to watch over me while I walked around the station...with my friend Jaytwo...he's my droid friend. Drer had to make a forced stop here, since the engines and hyperdrive are completely fried thanks to the droid in charge aboard his ship the Wabretonc. I know they're going to be stuck here for a good while with repairs, but..."

She could feel tears beginning to collect in her eyes, her heart sank as the chance of being free of her owner hung barely out of reach. "I beg of you, please help me, this man stole away ten years of my life! I just want to get away from him..."

"I knew there'd be a crime lord," Cirran muttered, but he knew he was already committed, and his attitude softened somewhat when he saw the girl's tears. "Well, I don't have a lot of time for slavers," he admitted, smiling to reassure her. "But I'm not sure I'll be so lucky again when that Gamorrean tells his friends where you are. Time to take this ship somewhere, and fast. We can come back later and..well, I don't know what we'll do, but we'll work something out. Luckily for you, I'm on a mission to compile the galaxy's longest list of enemies." He smiled and squeezed the girl on the shoulder for comfort, and started to head towards the cockpit. However, his attention was arrested by another noise further back in the cargo bay. He looked frantically around until he spied the Gamorrean's lost spear, which was sliding as if by magic under a tarpaulin. "Gods, he's not back already?" he muttered, snatching at the cover to try and reveal any potential foe.

"No, wait!" Fearing the worst, she ended up nearly doubling over with laughter at the sight of J20 RA-7 yelling out before the droid banged his head against the crate as he stood up, dropping the spear.

"Jaytwo, it's alright he won't hurt us."

The droid carefully peeked out of the crate. "Are you sure? I heard loud noises just a moment ago, are you sure he didn't try and hurt you?"

Cirran regarded the droid with a resigned look, wondering what else the evening could have in store for him. "Right - would any other people or machines who may be currently lurking in my cargo hold please make themselves known now?" he yelled into the darkness.

"What other droids?" J20 asked confusedly. Mielikki stepped forward to Cirran. "There's nobody else, just him and me of course...I swear...I didn't plan on making this trip with a friend...well more like the only one I have" she replied quickly.

"Nevertheless, you'll forgive me if I turn on the lights on," Cirran said, moving across the cargo bay to do so, and thinking about his options as he looked down towards the cockpit. It's going to take a while to get out of here at this time of night...and then they could follow us anyway, he thought. He thought back to his Alliance training. Use your local knowledge, it's a tactical advantage.

"What's the name of this Twi'Lek's ship again?" he called out to Mielikki from across the compartment. "I may have an idea."

"The Wabretonc." She squinted at the sudden increase of light, as her eyes adjusted to the lighting. "You do?" She asked. She cursed herself for not grabbing her cloak when she left Drer's ship, and absentmindedly she rubbed her arms.

"This is more or less a New Republic station these days, or a New Republic affiliated one anyway," Cirran told her, "And as I understand it the New Republic isn't big on slavery - in fact, emancipation is kind of a founding principle of the whole outfit, really. It's technically legal in some systems still, but we could make it mighty uncomfortable for this boss - sorry, owner - of yours if station security finds out about their activities. And would I be right in presuming he's probably up to other questionably legal stuff as well?"

"Yes, I could compile a whole list if you'd like." Mielikki gestured to J20. "Or you could just ask Jaytwo..."

The droid stepped backwards holding up his arms, "But Rda would have me reduced to scrap if he ever found out!" He retorted quickly.

"He also has a fair number of friends and enemies, some of them want him dead and others...well, in pieces," she finished.

Cirran gave a resigned smile. "I feel his pain. But your mechanical friend here doesn't need to worry - for the moment. We just need to let this Rda character know that security on this station has taken an interest in his affairs, and that there's an inspection of his ship on the way, a random check - I'm betting he won't stick around long after that. And as it happens I know just the security officer for the job."

She couldn't help but beam, this sounded too good to be true. Mielikki threw her arms around Cirran in a hug and smiled at him. "Thank you...uh...what did you say your name was?" she asked her brow furrowing.

Cirran smiled, abashed - this was the damsel in distress bit, alright. "Uh, I didn't - it's Cirran, Cirran Tyris," he said. "And don't thank me until this works," he added as a caveat.

"Who said you can't thank anyone for helping them?" she asked, it was then that she became aware of the acute proximity she and Cirran were now in, the sensation was strange; she didn't feel frightened like she did with Drer yet somehow being held by a total stranger caused her to feel at ease.

"Fair enough," Cirran said, smiling and withdrawing slowly from Mielikki's hug to retrieve a commlink from his pocket, giving her a pat to the shoulder. He flicked it on. "Walker?" he inquired down the line.

There was a series of noises on the other end of the line, and then a gruff voice came online. "Pelor's Teeth spacer, it's half past three in the morning. This better be good."

Cirran took a glance at the scene around him, which included Mielikki, J2, the droid, and the Gamorrean's spear in his hand which he had picked up from the floor. "Oh, it is," he remarked. "Besides, I thought you were always on duty?"

"Even sergeants have to sleep some time, Tyris. So what is can I do for you? You need me to sing you a lullaby? No, don't tell me, you've got yourself in trouble here again already. This Jax bloke you were telling me about?"

"Er..." Cirran looked sideways at the girl and her somewhat cowardly robot now seemingly looking to him for protection, "Probably not."

"Look, I'm tired right now, spacer," Walker replied. "M'brain's all fuzzy. So if that's some kind of weak code for 'melt through my door with a plasma cutter and a squad of commandos and save my skinny hide again please, Walker', you should just say so."

"No, look, Walker, I'm fine - mostly," Cirran explained, rubbing his shoulder where he'd bounced off the Gamorrean. "It's not my door that I need you to kick down. I've got something of a tip-off for you."

"Really? This should be good." Walker harrumphed cynically.

"Oh, it is," Cirran confirmed. "You might want to check out a ship called the Wabretonc in bay...do we know the bay number?" he asked his guest.

"Uh...I think it's bay number 463," she replied.

Sithspit, that's only a few levels down from here, he thought."463, Walker. Captain's a Twi'lek, name of Rda. Almost certainly something fishy onboard. Can't tell you specifically what he's doing...except he's a slaver," he said, with another glance at Mielikki.

"A slaver?" growled the big security man in disapproval. "I'll pack my favourite gun, the really big one. But is there something you not filling me in on, Tyris?" came a suspicious voice down the line.

"Yes - be on the lookout for an angry Gamorrean. And sooner would be better than later," the pilot added, omitting a few other details.

"All right then mystery boy, I'll take a squad down," Walker agreed reluctantly, "but you're gonna owe me another drink after this, at least," the soldier finished, signing off.

Cirran turned to Mielikki. "Well, I guess this is where you've got to work out whether you want this Twi'lek friend of yours arrested, because Walker will find something to arrest him for. But then he'll be here. Are there other slaves on his ship?"

Mielikki nodded, "There are, though some of them I'm not on very good terms with; like the Gamorrean you met earlier."

Cirran grimaced. "Gods, I wouldn't wanna own him...or, er, anyone else obviously," he quickly explained.

Before Cirran could embarrass himself any further however, an alarm tone in the hold signalled that someone was trying to get into the ship, and that more amazingly, for once the security system had elected to do its job of keeping people outside. "Not good," said Cirran, and jogged to the cockpit where he could see an external monitor that showed the area just below the ramp. The screen showed the Gamorrean he had just finished warning Walker about, along with a tall sickly, Twi'lek male whose skin was a dark near black purple color. Alongside next to him stood a burly Gran male toting a blaster. The Gran paced the area as the Twi'lek - no doubt Drer Rda himself, Cirran figured - stood talking heatedly with the Gamorrean.

"We're dead!!" J20 remarked as he took in the sight, the droid and Mielikki having followed Cirran to the ship's control centre.

"Relax!" Mielikki quipped as she stopped behind J20. "What? What's going on?" she asked looking to Cirran, and then at the monitor.

"Company," Cirran muttered. "And me without any good silverware." He tried to appraise the three aliens under his ship and concluded that it was unlikely that kicking a box into all three of them would work - if the ramp decided to misbehave itself as it usually did, and with the Bay more or less deserted at this time of night, it was going to go badly for him. He could power up his gun turrets perhaps, but in-dock that would likely cause alarms, questioning, and maybe even arrest, so instead he flicked the channel on the comm system that allowed use of the intercom under the ship near the ramp. "Gentlemen!" he started. "Good morning. Look, I hate to break this to you, but I've already got a copy of the Encyclopaedia Galactica."

"No, but you do have something that belongs to me human." Drer remarked speaking in the direction of the intercom, "Agork is also very displeased to inform me that you failed to cooperate with him; where is the girl and the droid?" He finished coldly: "If you fail to cooperate with me, I feel the results will not be very well in your favor, human." At this the Gran sniggered.

Pleeeease ramp, not now, Cirran prayed desperately, but his mouth said, "Ah yes, the girl and the droid. Sorry, we've had a chat and the girl seems to feel your relationship is no longer working out, so she'll be staying here. And the droid was intensely irritating, so he's spare parts now. So looks like no girl or droid for you. Thanks for calling, though."

Drer was unfazed by Cirran's answer. "It is much more complicated than that I'm afraid, now I suggest you hand the girl and the droid over now, before Idvat decides to make a new docking hatch for you..." Rda than looked to Idvat and the Gran raised his blaster and took aim at the ship, preparing to fire.

"Ignoring the question of whether you could seriously hope to blow your way in with that peashooter, I'd worry about my own ship, if I were you," Cirran said hurriedly, strangely conscious at a time like this of the spoiling effect the Gran's weapon would have on the 'Fool's Hope's shiny, new, aesthetically pleasing hull plating.

At this, Cirran had caught the Twi'lek's attention. "What of my ship?" Drer replied quickly.

"Everything stowed away on board, is it? Nothing untoward going on in it, just on the off chance that, say, station security should arrive to turn things upside down?" Cirran asked in mock curiosity.

AS if on queue, Cirran watched as the Gran evidently called Idvat lowered his blaster and fumbled around in his jacket before retrieving a comm unit. He spoke angrily in reply before listening intently, and his three eyes blinked rapidly in surprise before he turned to face his boss and Rda snatched the comm unit from him. "This better be important." Drer snapped. "Yes?" He asked clicking on the comm unit.

"Captain Rda, this is Sergeant Coin of station security," came a voice down the line. "We are going to conduct a routine random inspection of your vessel in approximately 5 minutes time, please stand by for our arrival and have your documentation ready."

Rda refrained from bursting into several stringed together curses in Huttese and Ryl over the comm unit and instead calmly replied, "Acknowledged Sergeant Coin, I will see to meeting with you personally." Inwardly his blood was boiling, already this human was making more trouble than he already needed to deal with, aside from ship's repairs. Mentally the gaunt Twi'lek was already forming a haphazardly shaped plan. Signing off, Drer looked back to ship. "By sheer coincidence it seems station security is arriving, I'm not finished with you just yet, human - make no mistakes, you'll not be the first I have dealt with who has attempted to steal away my girls. Be grateful that I have not I had the pleasure of dealing with you face to face," Drer finished.

"Station security? That is a coincidence. Well, I'd love to come down and see you guys off, but I'm sure you're in a hurry to you know, go and avoid arrest," Cirran snapped sarcastically.

Turning to face Idvat and the Gamorrean, Drer waved them over, "We're leaving, I will attend to this matter at a later time." He began walking following the Gran and Gamorrean but stopped not bothering to look over his shoulder. "Do not think that I will forget about this encounter, or you. I trust we will meet again soon human, for your sake I hope you unlike the others I have dealt will walk away unscathed, or rather I should say not missing anything important." Sneering Rda disappeared, following his subordinates.

"I-is he g-g-gone?" J20 asked fearfully.

"Yes," Cirran said, offering up silent but heartfelt thanks to the gremlins who lived in his ship's ramp, "and if he's even half the criminal you suggest, he's going to speed up those repairs and be more gone, and very soon, if he doesn't want Walker to bring his little operation to a shuddering halt."

The Veaseph woman now sat on the floor, her arms hugging her knees tightly as her small frame shook violently. Several thoughts raced through her mind as she attempted to quell her breathing. Oh Sinikka,where are you when I need you most? She then thought of her other family members absentmindedly, wondering if she'd ever see any of them alive ever again.

Cirran registered the girl's emotion, but like many males, was at something of a loss for what to do about it. "Hey, cheer up," he tried, moving to the girl's side on the floor and giving her a lopsided grin. "We've survived this particular moment, and now we can get on with the task of figuring out how to survive the next one - which in my recent experience is about the most you can hope for out of life." It didn't take him too long to realise that maybe this didn't sound as comforting as he thought. "Er...I'm not sure if I properly indicated before that I'm maybe not the safest person to go getting emancipated by," he finished with a shrug.

Mielikki managed a small smile. "I can't help but wonder if we just happened to have lady luck on our side and manage to avoid Drer for the moment." She shivered swallowing a lump in her throat. "Gods know what'll he do if gets a hold of me." Attempting calm her rattled nerves as best as possible for the moment anyways, she looked to J20 who spoke up at Cirran's last remark.

"I knew it! We've taken up refuge with a reprobate! If we don't get taken back by Rda, we'll all end up rusting in a prison cell!"

"Jaytwo! You shouldn't jump to conclusions so quickly." Mielikki remarked standing up next to the droid, J20 buzzed incomprehensibly in his originally programmed language which resulted in Mielikki batting him in the back in the head. "Calm down, I'm sure we'll manage to get out of this somehow...what should we do now though?" she asked, turning her attention back to Cirran.

"Well, I don't think they'll be back - they'll either be headed off-station as fast as they can go, or arrested. So I suggest you try and get some sleep, and I'll keep an eye on things from up here for a while - that is, if your friend here's willing to let you sleep in the same ship as, what was it you called me, a reprobate?" he asked, glaring fairly pointedly at the droid.

J20 stepped back nervously. "I er…take it back, I guess we have no choice considering the circumstances…we'd probably be better off staying here then taking any chances with any of the station's more colorful characters." Jaytwo added quickly as an afterthought.

"Well I can only hope I live up to your monochromatic ideals," Cirran said sarcastically. "But I've met quite a few of the station's 'characters', as you call them, and trust me, I'm not the worst of them," he confirmed.

"I'm glad you both agree with one another, to some degree or the next." Mielikki remarked in regards to the exchange between her droid friend and Cirran. "Where do you want me to sleep?" She asked then looking back to Cirran.

"Well, there's a bunk back there. You might actually fit into it, that'd make for a change," Cirran said, stretching his sore back. "Your droid can plug into the charge unit in the cargo hold if you can convince him I have no immediate interest in frying his circuits. I'll stick around up here for a bit and make sure we're in the clear."

"Thank you." She turned to J20, "Jaytwo I trust you have no problems staying here now right?" She asked a questioning edge to her tone.

The droid shrugged his mechanical limbs. "No, not at all, I'll go back to the cargo hold, call me if you need anything please."

She gave her friend a reassuring smile, "I'll be alright, go about your business."

J20 nodded before turning and heading off in the direction of the cargo hold.

Mielikki walked in the direction that Cirran indicated the bunk was though not before glancing over her shoulder in his direction. After having found the said sleeping area, Mielikki sat down on the bunk and stretched, letting out a tired yawn as she did. Lying so she was facing the wall, the young Veaseph studied its texture blankly as her mind ran abuzz with many thoughts. Her eyes grew heavy yet the will to fall asleep seemed far away for her.

In the cockpit, Cirran collapsed wearily into his pilot's chair and stifled a yawn, his sore limbs providing evidence if he needed it that recent events had been no hallucination. Before this evening he would have found it difficult to believe that his life could get too much more complex, but the universe seemed determine to prove him wrong. He could only hope that the Twi'lek's threats had been empty ones, and that he would soon abandon his former slave to...well, to what? Cirran had no idea what was to become of the girl that had sought refuge in his ship, but he realised that he would help her if he could. Like him, she was nearly alone in the universe, and in addition...well, he could virtually hear the jokes his old friend Feena would have made when he saw the girl that had all but dropped into his lap... But remember what you told her? You're a dangerous friend to have, Tyris. You couldn't protect Kemma, he reminded himself. He stared out into the now quiet ship bay, thinking, and suspected it might be a long night.

---

"First Findings"
by Chun Li (currently Ivana Skonezcna) - PI, Escort Pilot
and Lorgal - Secretary and bodyguard to Rylaa (NPC)

Location: Coruscant
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

It was late in the evening when Li went back to the ship. She only had the time to skim through the files she had obtained from the police station, but there were a couple of things that needed to be checked out. Li quickly found her way to the ship and got onboard. "I think I've found a lead," she announced.

Lorgal was lounging in the recreation area of the ship cleaning a massive repeater that your average soldier would call a "crew served weapon". Next to the couch was a medium sized fusion battery that had been heavily modified to be worn as part of a backpack assembly. The barabel looked up at Li's announcement and grinned. "Great! What do you have?"

"Rising Thunder doesn't exist anymore," Li started, "inspectors of the ministry of trade and commerce got a bit suspicious and the police crashed their little party. They have two of the last set of boardmembers in custody, the others are either dead or escaped. Dirge was in the group that got away. The interesting part is that the police discovered that he had a bit of land on Commenor and he went there, or so it shows in their records. I'm sure he wouldn't be there anymore, but I think we can pick up some extra leads down there."

"Then we go to Commenor, and from there where ever the new lead takes us." A small red light began to flash on the communicator at Lorgal's belt and he glanced at it. "Especially since our work here is now completely concluded. Whenever you are ready..."

Li now had confirmation about the reason of him joining the little party. She could have handled this alone, with her fighter, but it was clear they had some business, probably only marginally legal, on Imperial Center. It wasn't her business, and she wouldn't worry about it. "Let's go then," she said.

Lorgal's bulk rose from the couch, which gave a thankful squeak, as he nodded to her. Alekzander poked his head in and said, "The Altdorf's ready to go, Lorgal, so when you want we can lift off.

"Go ahead, Captain, we're headed to Commenor, I believe Ms. Li has the coordinates we need."

"Just Commenor for now," Li said, "I'll have to go through the files to get a more precise location on the planet itself, but I'll have it before we arrive." When the captain was gone to prepare the departure, Li turned back to Lorgal. "Nice gun," she said, "there's only one disadvantage, and that's concealment. And the fact that it's illegal on most worlds to walk around with a thing like that."

Lorgal's grin nearly split his face. "I don't usually worry about a thing like concealment, and when I cart it around I usually don't get bothered by whatever passes for the law on most planets. Besides, this is only my sidearm. I left my big guns at home."

"Why do I have the feeling I don't want to find out," Li said with a smile, "well, I'm going to see what I can find out more in those files. I'm in my quarters if you need me."

"Right," the big barabel said as he turned to follow the Altdorf's captain into the cockpit. Minutes later, the Corellian Corvette launched from the platform and rocketed into space towards its destination.

---

"The Morning After"
By: Mielikki Aune (PC)
Cirran Tyris (PC)
Tasia Harough (NPC+)
J20 RA7 (NPC+)

Location: , Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Cocooned in a tangle of blankets, Mielikki jolted awake instantaneously from her slumber and clutched her head in her hands, a light sheen of sweat covering her spotted form. That dream, she had it again, the one that so vividly reminded her of the day the Empire invaded. The memories always seemed to come in bits and pieces, sometimes she would dream specific memories of that time in her troubled youth and other times she would recall playing with her sister peacefully only to be swept up by men in blinding white armor and helmets who tore her from her sister into separate directions. Deciding that sleep would not come easily, Mielikki rose from the floor thin blanket still wrapped around her small form.

Quietly she peeked out from her room before padding out into the ship, aimlessly she looked around trying to rid the memories of the dream from her mind, its imprint still fresh and bright. Shivering she pulled the blanket tighter around her form and continued walking until she found herself in the ship's cockpit. Immediately she spied a tall form hunched over in one of the chairs and saw that Cirran sat sleeping upright, though apparently in a rather uncomfortable position, or at least to Mielikki's viewpoint. Had he sat watch all night?

Squatting down next to the chair Mielikki tossed her thin blanket over Cirran's frame and studied his features inquisitively, trying to read his thoughts as his eyes registered REM. She had lost track of time until eventually she fall asleep herself.

It was only a short time later, as light from the station's artificial day cycle streamed into the cockpit, that Cirran awoke with a start, probably caused by his pleasant surprise that no-one was trying to kill him at that particular point in time. His own vague dreams had been full of both shadowy figures, laughing at him out of reach, and a not so shadowy Gamorrean in a chef's hat who was trying to make him the final morsel at the end of a giant, well-laden kebab skewer. No need to psychoanalyze that one too hard, he thought to himself, as last night's events came rushing back.

He stretched and was further reminded of what had taken place on his ship recently by the all-over body ache he seemed to be feeling. As he groaned, he registered the blanket over him, and then the Veaseph girl sleeping on the floor of the cockpit. She has to be cold. And uncomfortable. I guess she's used to sleeping pretty rough...and I complain about my bunk, he thought grimly. It helped him realize that despite the pain and trouble he was in, he had probably done the right thing, and a smile flashed over his face. Still, things were undoubtedly a mess. He hoped Walker had the Twi'lek in a cell by now, but even if that was the case, between the truly unexpected arrival of Mielikki, having Ares after him, and whatever the meaning of Jax's taunting message was, he'd be damned if he knew what he was going to do next.

The moment the light touched her face, Mielikki awakened from her slumber. She sat upright, and glanced in Cirran's direction hearing him groan out in pain. She felt bad for the pilot, having dragged him into this mess that was her life, she could only imagine what his life consisted of from what he had told her of the previous night. "You look worse than I feel," she remarked, "Are you gonna be alright?" she asked, touching a hand to his face trying to judge the severity of the angry black and blue bruise along his jaw.

"I dare say. I've had worse lately, sadly," Cirran replied, wincing slightly, and gingerly touching the bruise himself. "This is why I prefer to fight with a ship. Sure you might get vaporized, but you don't get the crap painfully kicked out of you before it happens." He sat up in the chair with a pained expression, and looked down at Mielikki. "So - good morning," he said, smiling at the randomness of the universe, that he now found this girl in his cockpit.

"I...uh...woke up in the middle of the night and wandered around, since I couldn't sleep and I noticed that some-- I mean I noticed you were still here, I was worried and decided to come see if you were okay," she replied quickly, noting her face suddenly felt warmer, she smiled embarrassedly.

"Well, I think I'm mostly fine, although I'm not so impressed with myself for falling asleep when I'm supposed to be keeping an eye out for your Twi'lek friend," Cirran admitted. "But it seems that you're still here, and I'm still alive, so I guess he didn't come back. I guess that means our next move is...breakfast?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me...can't remember when I last ate...or rather anything that actually resembled food that I heard of," she replied shrugging her shoulders. "But I'm up for anything," she stated sincerely.

The sound of metal scraping against metal caught her ears, and both saw that J20 had awoken, or rather finished his charging cycle. "Up for anything of what?" the droid asked looking curiously at the humanoids.

"Anything to eat...save for...well you know that bantha fodder that Drer gives the slaves." J20 visibly shuddered. "Oh never mind then. I'm in complete agreement then," the droid replied.

"Right then, now that we have the droid's approval, let's see what we can find," Cirran said. "I'd better check something first." He fished out his ever-present commlink and flicked it on. "Walker? Awake yet?"

The gruff voice on the other end of the line sounded tired. "Haven't had any sleep yet, thanks to you...been up all night processing this mystery ship of yours. Threw the Twi'lek in a cell - he's a slaver, all right, and he's running contraband too. We've impounded the ship, but the slave issue's a legal nightmare...not sure what's gonna happen to 'em, plus more than a few seem to be quite happy to stay in his service...I had to lay a couple of 'em out. How did you know to tip us off anyway, spacer?"

Cirran looked over at Mielikki, thinking that if it was known she was an escapee from the crime lords service, she could end up in some net of red tape that might see her detained for processing for months, or even back with the Twi'lek, if he had good enough lawyers. He decided Walker didn't need that information just yet.

"I'll tell you later, Walker...but you say the Twi'lek's in a cell?"

"Him and a few of his uncooperative men," Walker confirmed.

"Right, cheers." Cirran flicked off the commlink. "Looks like it's safe to go for a wander for some breakfast...maybe we can call past medical, too," he added wincing, concluding he had possibly cracked some ribs.

"Alright, but first before we head out, you don't suppose you have something I could wear...no offense but a girl like me might draw you some unwanted attention...dressed this like this, anyway."

Cirran looked Mielikki up and down, kept doing it just a bit too long, and then realized he was doing it. "Uh...good point," he finally acknowledged. "Although I'm not sure I have much in the way of suitable clothing around," he finished, thinking of his wardrobe that consisted mostly of coveralls designed to fit his own nearly 2 metre frame. "I might have an idea, though." He raised the commlink again, dialing it to a different frequency.

"Hey, Tasia. Guess who?" he tried uncertainly into the device.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," the foreman was overheard mumbling in reaction. She cleared her throat and answered at full volume now. "Mr. Tyris...have another dangerous and completely unprofitable proposition for me? You do realize Anoran nearly sent me out of an airlock the last time, I hope."

Cirran winced slightly, remembering the events that unfolded last time he had talked Tasia into helping him out with something. Nevertheless, he pressed on cheerfully: "Oh come on, I'm putting adventure into your life! Plus Walker tells me you've been on holiday, for which I'm sure you were overdue, and for which I was the inspiration - from a certain point of view."

"Lerrah and I prefer to call it 'running for our hides', but 'vacation' could work too," Tasia stated caustically. "So...what is it you want? A freebie ship tune-up?"

Cirran paused briefly and looked skywards. There was nothing for it but to just say it. "Clothes," he sighed into the commlink. "I need you come to my ship with some of your clothes."

There was a stifled laugh that transformed into a snicker. "My clothes?" she repeated, still chuckling. "How...kinky. Do you want to borrow some heels, too?"

Cirran smiled. "Don't think I'd fit them. But they aren't for me...I have something of a situation here...well, you'll see when you get here. I promise no fleeing required...at least not initially."

"Ooh...now I'm intrigued," Tasia purred. "Where should I meet you? And how slinky a dress do you want?"

"Come to my ship, she's in bay 63 - oh, and she's a bit shinier than the last time you might have seen her. Don't bring anything too slinky..." he looked Mielikki up and down briefly "...we've got slinky covered here - we're trying to avoid attention."

"You're no fun," she sighed. "I'll be right over."

"Was that a friend of yours or something of sorts between an enemy and shall I say a colleague?" Mielikki asked, trying to hide the smile that was creeping across her features.

J20 shrugged, "Well whoever she was she certainly sounded quite upset, and her sense of humor was truly most peculiar indeed." The RA-7 unit shrugged his mechanical shoulders again before turning to the side slightly.

Cirran wondered how to best answer the question. "Tasia and me go way back..." He frowned. "No, that's not right...we go back, anyway. Let's just say we've had some rather intense experiences in each other's company...she won't sell you out to anyone, anyway. Plus hopefully she's about your size."

"Now I'm really curious about what kind of person this woman is," she remarked. "Though I do question her taste of clothing given her suggested offerings," Mielikki added before leaning against the wall.

Cirran smiled. "I guess we'll see what she's come up when she gets here. And speaking of visitors, I think I had better go to take another look at that godsdamned ramp of mine until she does. If it had decided to drop open when your Twi'Lek friend had shown up, I think we'd have been in serious trouble." He stood up and stretched. "There's some food back in the cabin somewhere...not anything much more exciting than protein bars, I'm afraid," he said apologetically.

"That's alright, I don't think I've ever had rations in a long time. I wonder if they're anything like the rations I remember from back home..." she thought growing nostalgic, only to feel an accompanying pain at the thought that she didn't know what happened to her father or brother during the war with the Empire along with her sister.

"Where is the cabin again?" she asked, quickly diverting her mind from the subject.

"I call the bunk area the cabin," Cirran explained. "Follow me, it's a bit of a mess, but I'll dig them out of the right cupboard." He led Mielikki back to the small living area of the freighter and rooted around in some cupboards until he emerged with a couple of ration packs. "Go for your life," he said, handing one to her. "I'm going to take a look at these servos - don't be surprised if you hear me swearing loudly. The droid can plug himself in the cargo bay if he needs power." He grabbed a hydrospanner, noting with slight annoyance that it would have made a much a better weapon than the length of tubing he had picked up in the dark last night, and headed further back into the ship to begin tinkering with its idiosyncratic entry system.

Mielikki fiddled around with a ration pack before she managed to open it, and pulled out a protein bar which she sniffed curiously before taking a tentative bite. "Definitely nothing like what I remember," she remarked to herself before taking another bite. "Good though." She leaned back against the bunk as she continued her meal for a few minutes Grabbing another protein bar she grimaced as she noticed the lights briefly dim before flickering back on, followed by a string of what sounded like curses in Huttese followed by clinking noises. "You need any help?" she called out to Cirran.

There were loud mutterings from the cargo bay. "Do you know how to speak Trandoshan? Because I'm pretty sure that's what this piece of Sithspit subsystem is programmed in," came the reply. The lights in the ship dimmed again.

"A little, if that helps any," she called back. Protein bar forgotten for the moment Mielikki got up and made her way to the cargo bay where she heard Cirran's voice.

Cirran was standing over the small podium that housed the supposedly simple system that lowered the ship's ramp, muttering to himself and looking very much like he wanted to take to it with the hydrospanner he was holding in a more violent manner than the one for which the tool was designed. "The blasted thing seems to thing we're in space," he said. "Can't get the ramp open to check the hydraulics, and there seems to be something here about an emergency override - but who knows, it may as well be in Wookiee. And I have no idea why we lost the lights. Bloody fluidics...who builds anything using fluidics anymore, anyway?"

Mielikki walked over to where Cirran stood and furrowed her brow as she attempted to make sense of the gibberish the computer was giving her. "Who in the galaxy programmed this thing?" Mielikki asked reading the data feedout before looking back up to Cirran.

Cirran frowned. "It was like this when I bought the ship - one of the reasons it was so cheap." He didn't add that his half-informed and under-funded attempts to fix the problem and only resulted in additional malfunctions. "If you grab that handle over there, we can try the emergency manual release," he said continuing to enter commands into the system, mostly at random.

"Sure. It's worth a shot, even if it is apparently in the dark," she replied before moving to grab the said handle. "Ready when you are."

"OK, give it a go," Cirran nodded. Mielikki pulled down on the emergency release, which in theory should have opened the cargo hold even in flight. Nothing happened. Cirran sighed. "Looks like we're going to starve to death in here...guess I'll try and bypass the system entirely." He moved onto the ramp itself in order to access the system's feed line. "Can you pass me that plasma cutter?" he asked his lovely assistant.

"Here you go." She picked up the tool and handed it to Cirran, watching as he worked curious with interest. "So what exactly are you hoping to accomplish, trying to hotwire the ramp so it will do your bidding for you?" she asked teasingly.

"Well, I'll be happy if I can just get it to..." Cirran started, but he didn't get to finish his sentence as the ramp, which seemed to have been waiting for an opportune moment to strike, dropped without warning into the space below the ship. Mielikki and Cirran were sent suddenly tumbling down its slope to land in a tangle of limbs on the hangar deck as the ramp crashed into it.

"Should have seen that coming," Cirran sighed wearily, after a moment or two of silence.

"Maybe we should just hire an exorcist," Mielikki mumbled as she lifted her head up, hitting her head against Cirran's chin in the process. "Ow! Sorry," she remarked grabbing at her temple in pain.

Cirran rubbed his bruised chin painfully, and attempted to sit up as much as was possible with Mielikki largely on top of him. "Yes, or maybe I should FLY THE DAMNED SHIP INTO A STAR. You HEAR ME, SHIP!" he bellowed up at his vessel. The ship offered no reply. Venting complete, Cirran sank back onto the deck with a ringing head. It had been a tough 48 hours.

Sounds of hurried mechanical scuffling was heard, and Mielikki heard J20 call out worriedly. "What happened? Are you two alright!? Should I send for help!?"

"Your droid worries too much," Cirran muttered from the ground. "Or in light of recent events around here, maybe not enough."

A shadow descended over the two entangled forms upon the flightdeck, from which issued an amused, throaty chuckle. As Cirran looked up and Mielikki craned her neck to do the same, Tasia Harough leaned over to peer down at them. She was grinning slyly. "See? I knew you wanted kinky."

Cirran struggled guiltily to extricate himself from under Mielikki. "We were trying to fix the ramp," he explained lamely.

"It's true, it just so happened to decide to drop when we were both standing on it, I mean really who programs a ramp to open itself at random--" Mielikki tripped in her attempt to stand, her legs entangled within Cirran's longer legs, causing her to fall forward and giving Cirran barely enough time to catch her.

Tasia nodded her head skeptically, amused by their flustered display. "Sure thing... Now" --she raised her hand, in which was clutched a pair of black cropped pants and an ivory tunic-- "who do these belong to?"

Cirran scowled slightly. "Fetching as I'm sure that'd look on me, they're for her. Tasia Harough, meet Mielikki," Cirran said, getting Mielikki and himself into a stable standing position with a final steadying hand.

The Veaseph offered an embarrassed half smile to Tasia as she was handed the garments. "Thank you, though I'm afraid I can't offer you anything in return..." she remarked, lowering her head.

Shrugging, Tasia quipped, "Don't worry...seeing you two engaging in foreplay on the flightdeck is payment enough."

Cirran reddened slightly. "Look, we're not..." he started, and then sighed. "Doesn't matter," he decided. "How did your own run from bounty hunter justice go anyway, chief?" he asked. "Mine was a regular barrel of laughs."

"Don't even mention it," she grunted, her cheerful expression twisting into a scowl. "You got us into that. I hardly think it's a laughing matter." Then, Tasia grinned again. "Though, watching you fumble through a pathetic attempt at sex makes it all better."

Cirran sighed again. "Look, I already told you it's not like that - she's a pleasure slave! Er, I mean she was a pleasure slave," he added hastily, as Mielikki looked at him askance.

"It's not like I chose to become a pleasure slave! The situation is complicated..." Mielikki barked in rebuttal. "Now if you're both through catching up I'm going to go change."

Cirran caught Tasia's inquisitive look. "It's a long story," he explained, and then considered that statement. "Actually, it's a pretty short story. She ran off from some Twi' Lek criminal and hid in my ship, I found her, a Gamorrean showed up, I tackled him, he ran off and came back with her boss to get her back, I objected, he took off, and Walker caught him and hurled him in the brig. Now you've turned up here with clothes. I think that about covers it."

The sound of metal footsteps heralded the arrival of the RA-7 unit, who had been concerned to see the look on Mielikki's face as she stormed back into the ship. "She seems upset. Did I do something wrong?" he asked Cirran and Tasia.

"No," Tasia assured the droid facetiously, "but your owner did. He just declared his newest girlfriend a prostitute." She gave Cirran a simpering smile. "How charming!"

J20 jumped at Tasia's remark, and at first began speaking in his normal buzzing speech before composing himself. "A prostitute?! Mielikki may be a slave girl, but she is not a prostitute!!" He then looked over to Cirran briefly. "And this man is certainly not my owner! More or less he's an acquaintance."

Cirran buried his face in his hands. He suddenly felt old. "The droid's right, it's not mine...it came free with the girl. No, I mean..." He took a deep breath. "Look, I'm going to stop trying to dig my way out of this nice little hole I've made for myself. She's a runaway slave, Tasia, and as may be clear by now..." here he turned his back on J20, and lowered his voice, hoping the droid wouldn't hear, "...I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Where does the station management stand on this sort of thing, do you know?"

"If I know anything about Anoran," Tasia replied in all seriousness now, "prostitution is not something she allows. You could turn these people in...and earn the ire of these very dangerous individuals, or you could just stay out of it." She smirked. "Even with Walker's protection, I'd choose the latter."

Cirran sighed. "Too late. I turned them in already. But then what's the ire of a few more dangerous people? It seems I won't be happy until the entire galaxy is out to kill me. I didn't think, I just sort of...rescued. It sounds like she's had it pretty tough... and the poor kid's probably out of the frying pan and into the fire if she stays hanging out with me. Look,you've got some pull around this place, do you think you could find her a job somewhere - one that involved standing up? She seems to know a bit about machines. Right, droid?" he asked J20 for confirmation.

"Mielikki knows more about droids if anything, but she does certainly know enough to get by. I hope you're not suggesting she works for this woman here," the RA-7 unit replied eyeing Tasia warily.

"She can hardly be worse than your former 'employer'," Cirran retorted, only the smallest smidgen of doubt crossing his mind as he said it.

Mielikki had just caught the tail end of the group's conversation as she descended the ramp, now dressed in the clothing given to her by Tasia, her former attire was rolled together into the skirt, neatly and was tucked under her arm. The feeling of the garments felt alien to her, she could not recall the last time she had ever dressed in the equivalent of normal clothing designed to cover her form rather than to expose her spotted skin. "What's going on?" she asked, stopping at the bottom of the ramp.

Tasia's keen brown eyes scanned the girl from head to toe. She emitted an approving sound. "I think I can work something out...especially if she comes to work everyday looking like she is now." Her smile was wholly unchaste, though it lasted only a moment before she became stern. "But I swear, Tyris, if her former owners end up coming to look for her and make a mess of things on my flightdeck, I'll have Walker pound you into the deckplating. Deal?"

Cirran frowned, wondering if Walker would side with him or Tasia in such a situation, and deciding that Tasia could probably provide certain favours for the big sergeant that he couldn't. "Pounded into the deckplating. Got it." He put that image out of his mind, and flashed a smile at a confused looking Mielikki. "Think I just got you a job," he said.

"That's great!" Mielikki replied cheerfully a smile on her face, it melted though as realization kicked in. Granted getting a job was one thing, but what good would that do her if she had no place to return to? "But what am I going to do about living conditions? I can't hide with you forever..." she finished, looking to Cirran.

"Well, once Tasia here starts giving you paychecks, there's plenty of low rental stuff on the station," Cirran said, thinking back to the uncomfortable time he had spent in his super cheap accommodation on his first arrival. "In the meantime though, maybe Walker or Tasia can find you somewhere, or there's always the ship...although I can understand you might not want to...I mean...well, you know," he finally trailed off uncertainly, rubbing the back of his neck. Tasia looked amused.

"Tyris, you're an absolute coward, you know that?" Smiling at Mielikki reassuringly, Tasia offered, "You can stay with me for a while...until you can find your own accommodations, because I know you certainly wouldn't want to bunk with Cirran. I mean, how many showers can a girl take in a day to wash off all the drool he'll be spilling?"

Cirran grimaced, but seemed to swallow his retort...slightly. "You'll be fine with Tasia..." he confirmed to Mielikki, "....probably," he finished almost inaudibly. J20 looked alarmed at this last part, and seemed to start scrutinising Tasia afresh. Cirran nudged the droid with his elbow where it would have had ribs if it was alive. "Don't worry, droid. She's OK. She's just never forgiven me for crashing into her hangar deck," he said to the automation by way of explanation.

"Alright then, Jaytwo and I will stay with Tasia until I'm able to move out and afford a place of my own...which hopefully will not be a long time," Mielikki replied after hearing over Tasia's suggestion. She then looked to Tasia, "I doubt we'll be seeing my former mast--" She bit the last word as thought it were acidic before quickly correcting herself. "I mean my former owner will show up anytime soon...I don't think he quite knew what he was getting himself into when he came to this station..."

"Ha, who does?" Cirran laughed. Both women were looking at him somewhat strangely though, so he wiped the smile off his face. "Ahem...right, well, you keep your head down Mielikki, and if you need anything, you let me know," he said, smiling reassuringly.

"Don't worry," Tasia assured Cirran, her smile uncomfortably suggestive, "I'll give her everything she needs."

"Nearly everything I'm sure," Mielikki replied reddening. "I'm sorry but I don't accept propositions from anyone...former pleasure slave or not." Before Tasia could offer any suggestive replies J20 stepped forward.

"Mielikki if you wish to leave, I'm ready," the droid said. She nodded.

"I'm ready to go Jaytwo." She looked to Cirran and smiled shyly. "Thank you for helping us, I really appreciate all that you've done to help me and Jaytwo." She paused. "Will I see you again?" Her tone was uncertain as she asked the question, she knew that Drer was locked away yet...part of herself also feared the possibility that this was all a sheer chance of luck.

Cirran flashed an only-slightly-unbalanced-looking grin. "Assuming nobody vapes me shortly, the odds of which I'd put at about 60-40 at the moment, then definitely. I'll be around. If Tasia gives you any hassles then let me know, and I'll tell Lerrah on her." He pretended he couldn't see Tasia's scowl. It's not like she'd probably mind... he thought to himself. "We should have a drink sometime..." he continued to Mielikki, "...meet under better circumstances maybe. There are some good bars around here...no, that's a lie, but the chances of being attacked by an angry Gamorrean with a spear in any given one of them are, oh, I would say, at least a good 5 to 10 percent lower than they were last night."

Mielikki gave him a smile in return, and then she and her droid followed Tasia out of the bay. Cirran watched them go, and then turned and headed up the malfunctioning ramp of his ship.

"Well, what do you think, Hope?" he asked his ship as he entered the cargo bay. The ship did not offer its opinion.

"Yeah, I know, I know," Cirran continued, slumping wearily onto a packing crate, "I've got enough problems of my own...like talking to a ship, for example...still..."

As he got up to begin working on the ship's ramp again, he couldn't help thinking that although the Veasaph girl seemed to have at least temporarily disappeared from as life as quickly as she arrived in it, a new set of complications had arrived in his already complex life.

---

"Order of Business: Part 2"
By Amii'a Val'or
NPC's

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 20th, 5ABY

***

Someone knew, Amii'a thought as she sat inside the hover van, surrounded by high tech surveillance equipment. Once is a coincidence, twice most surely isn't, she thought in regards to the bombing of Minister Ueb's personal suite the day before, and the mysterious circumstances of Minister A'jassu's own demise the day after. Both were culprits in a web of political corruption that she had been charged with bringing to justice. Both were killed before she could do so, before either could be depositioned. A third time will not happen, she thoughtfully commanded.

Several city blocks away she sat and listened as Minister Urioq ranted and raved about the shocking deaths of two Council members, two who were political colleagues, two who were apparent cohorts in a tangled web of corruption and deceit. She had wanted to bring them all in to solidify her case against Ambassador Theen, but deep down she had held high hopes that it would prove his innocence. It was still painful to think the New Republic Ambassador, her long-time friend, could be in the middle of such erroneousness. She had triple checked all the gathered information herself, even having had her blue protocol droid confirm all the corroborating evidence. Droids are many things, she thought - not entirely confident in their place of society. But they don't run on emotions and desires like people, they are true to their programming.

"Madam Consular, the target is on the move," a young security officer informed as he noted the trace on his screen for her to see.

She had obtained the proper warrants, and had staked-out her mark and had placed a tracking device upon Minister Urioq's speeder. She had put in motion a plan to apprehend the man before he two was destroyed.

"Yelzara, we are ready," Amii'a informed by way of a secure comlink. The message was encrypted and sent to a special agent who sat by the minister's side. She had been placed under the guise that she was taking the minister into protective custody by order of the High Princess- as there was an apparent death list on key members of the Council.

Amii'a thought it was fitting, and not entirely untrue. After all, there was an apparent conspiracy to off those she was to apprehend, and the High Princess had ordered the likes of Minister Urioq into apprehension, Just not for the same reasons the Minister has been led to believe, she thought with some satisfaction. She was pleased with the plan, and did want to apprehend the man before he too could be killed, but she wanted to do so to bring him to justice and try to get to the bottom of all that had transpired.

"Alright people, the target is in motion," she said to her team. "Maintain positions and communications silence. When the traffic signals change, all agents move out."

Amii'a had arranged for the path to come to a stop, having among her entourage a government slicer who would remotely control the Minister's droid chauffeur and would change the traffic signals to stop all traffic at a four corner intersection on the ground level of the heart of New Plouton. The path was not preplanned, only Amii'a knew. She wanted to be cautious and didn't trust the information to not be leaked. Only she, Meer'esh and the High Princess were privy to the list of those political figures to be apprehended. Two had been taken out already.

She waited.

Waited.

The Minister's speeder approached. She silently instructed directions for his speeder by pointing to left and right turns for the slicer to command the droid driver. The intersection she had chosen, that she waited upon, was very near. She checked her other screen, her teams' positions were in motion, each being directed by a coordinator that took direction from Amii'a's droid. Only she and it new the route for the teams and the Minister's speeder, and where they all would meet.

"Here," she ordered verbally for the first time since she had called for communications silence. All teams stopped, the slicer changed the traffic signals to stop traffic on all levels. "GO!" she ordered, and she exited the hover van to converge upon the speeder with the rest of her team.

Exiting her vehicle she noted all team members that converged from every direction. It seemed a well choreographed operation, everything was in-place. Amii'a allowed herself a moment of satisfaction.

And then all hell broke out.

A deafening roar of explosion rocked the intersection. A wave of heat and a concussive blast knocked her back against the hover van. The world around her was silent and time seemed to slow to an eerie crawl as a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions flooded her mind. She hit the van with considerable force, the world around her quickly faded to black.

Her eyes fluttered opened, foggy and unfocused. Her mind was jumbled, her thoughts incoherent. Sounds came and went as her hearing struggled to process information to her brain, everything was chaos.

She thought for a moment that only a few seconds had passed. As she regained her senses and fought to place everything into order, she realized that more than a few seconds had transpired. Looking around, still blinking and still processing, she could see that her staging point had changed dramatically. Traffic was everywhere, emergency vehicles and crews were clearing debris, guiding traffic, maintaining traffic stops, and the smoldering wreckage of the Minister's speeder, what was left, was being extinguished.

"What the hell," she tried to say, her voice breaking and sticking into: uh-uh ell?!

"It was the Minister's speeder Consular," the robotic voice of her droid informed. "It seems to have self-destructed. You were harmed in the blast, but the medics assure me you have sustained no lasting damage to your body or programming."

Amii'a heard the droid's words, but didn't. She was too concerned about the Minister's demise, the agent that had escorted him, her failed objection to bring the man to justice, and having been undermined yet again.

She boiled from within, wanting to scream and curse, but her raging thoughts and emotions were dammed. All she could do was sit there and let the tears of frustration flow.

---

"Doing Stuff"
by Chun Li (currently Ivana Skonezcna) - PI, escort pilot

Location: In Hyperspace, en route to Commenor
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Li was in her room, or the closet that was supposed to be her room. At least it was bigger then the room in her fighter, but space was still not unlimited on the Corellian corvette. As a freighter, most of the ship's space was for moving cargo, not for bunking crew members or passengers.

She sat on her bed reading the datapads she had downloaded from the police station, trying to figure out where on Commenor she had to be, and also what extra information she could get. Specially the financial information was useful, and certainly the account information. If one had a lot of accounts with banks on one planet, there was a high probability that he showed up on that planet at one time.

She spent a couple of hours going through all the information, making notes on another datapad, so she could find back the important stuff easily later on. While she had done this often enough, she still liked to stretch her legs from time to time, if the possibility existed. Now it did, so she stood up and walked to the almost empty cargo bay. There she had set up a small range for blaster practice. Reducing the power of the blaster so it couldn't do any real damage, she started her daily practice.

A couple of crew members joined in and it became a bit of a game. Li only had to let one of the gunners go before her, proving she could hold her own in a blaster fight. After the practice she put her blaster back on full power and walked back to her quarters to dig some more in the files she had stolen.

---

"Party Pooper"
By: Merrick Braston
Analesse D'vrishay
Reinrich Tas [NPC+]
Felicita Hes'ta

Location: Rondeau Hall - Yesdol, New Plouton
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

"Duke N'Beras! You're looking well this evening." Receiving a gracious wave from the Aqualish mogul, the starstruck reporter flashed his toothy grin at the holorecorder hovering before him to begin his introduction. "I'm Dack Fischler from 'TIN Scoop!' schmoozing with the celebrities outside of Rondeau Hall where we're gathered for a very special someone's Name Day--"

A very sharp, nearly giddy gasp swallowed the man's words as one of Tae'Karada's most popular entertainers came into view. The reporter scurried towards the fleeing musician, hollering his name. Having flagged his target down, the man turned on his smile and thrust a microphone under the musician's nose as he trotted alongside him. "Mr. Braston! How are you doing tonight? You look great!"

"I'm doing fantastic," Merrick Braston said, flashing a star's smile. "We're really looking forward to the party tonight, and what a night for it. I don't think we've had a night this great for quite awhile." He turned slightly to his side to Analesse and gave her hand, still nestled snuggly in his, a squeeze. "It's a perfect night."

Analesse refused comment, only smiling politely at the reporters, even as many shouted questions concerning their illicit affair, and the still unknown whereabouts of Merrick's wife. They were both well-acquainted with such questions, and had learned they were best ignored - it was the easiest way to avoid more controversy by accidentally saying the wrong thing.

Dazzling in their formal wear, Analesse and Merrick managed to finally clear the swarm of reporters and enter the hall. Doors barred the inquiring photographers and journalists from gaining entry, and from putting a damper on their evening.

"Wow," Analesse sighed, looking back for a moment to ensure they hadn't been followed. "They were pressing so close I thought I'd lose my dress."

"With this group," Merrick said as he looked around, "I don't think they would have noticed if you did. Would you like a drink? I think I see someone passing by over there with a tray."

Analesse nodded, and the two passed the foray into the ballroom. It was like so many of the social functions they'd attended together, with much of the same people, and music just as dull. Tawdry, flashy gowns abounded, the women encased within them nearly bursting through the seams and alluding not to their substantial girths, but to their vanity in believing their too-small dresses need not conform to their actual physical measurements. Analesse, on the other hand, was far more up to date with the current trends and well-acquainted with subtlety, if not absolutely subscribing to it that night.

Her willowy frame was perfectly fitted to the long dress, made of a black, iridescent material that displayed varying shades of purple, all deep and rich. Although strapless, her neckline was modest, though she flaunted far more flesh through a slit on the right side, one that continued beyond her thigh to the edge of the topmost hem, leaving a thick gap along her side that exposed the curve of her hip and the contour of one breast. The cleaved fabric was held together by a wide strip of diaphanous lace that concealed nothing; the other side of her dress was the same, only differing in that there was no slit, only a length of lace running straight from bottom hem to top. Just as much flesh peeked through. Analesse wore the dress well, appearing not in the least self-conscious about the alluring garment, for she wore it only for Merrick and no one else in the room.

Merrick picked two glasses from the tray of a passing server and handed one of the bubbling beverages to Analesse. "You know, one of these days we really should host one of these and show this set what real music is. I think I've heard this piece at every party we've been to, and age and repetition isn't improving it."

Analesse shrugged delicate, slender shoulders. "It's the house band. What do you expect from amateurs?" She sparkled when a smile curled her lips. "You thinking of getting up there and showing them how it's done?"

"It's my night to not be up there showing everyone how it's done," Merrick said with a chuckle. "I will thoroughly enjoy myself at your side, and endure the music. Besides, I don't think I would enjoy myself being away from you for that long."

Watching him alluringly from past the brim of her glass, Analesse chided, "Sweet-talker. Why bother trying? You know you'll be coming home with me tonight no matter what."

"Just saying it as I see it," Merrick said. "And, I like it when you look at me like that."

"Who says I'm looking at you in any way?" she asked coyly. Gaze shifting quickly towards one of the banquet tables, Analesse straightened alertly and lowered her glass. "It's Felicita. I need to speak with her...but I won't be long. You can get us something to eat, maybe?"

"Of course," Merrick said with a grin. "I just hope half the table isn't Chippin Delight again."

"So do we both," she answered with a gentle laugh. Pressing her lips to his cheek, Analesse whispered, "After we're seen for a while, we can leave. Kim has Aria all night, correct?"

"All night," Merrick confirmed. "She even said she could watch her all morning tomorrow if you wanted breakfast in bed."

"If? You know I do, so stop teasing." And planting another kiss to his cheek, she departed for the always ebullient Felicita Hes'tar.

A delighted, hooting laugh shook the plump woman, who had chosen a long, draping gown as opposed to the constricting numbers she normally selected. Analesse smiled to herself, wondering if the courteous suggestion concerning Felicita's choice in garments had been taken to heart by the elderly lady. It was amusing to, for once, advise her mentor.

Felicita had begun chatting away again to the small circle of aristocrats who only half-listened as their eyes quested about in search of other more influential attendees they could latch onto and fawn over for personal gain, as they were now doing with Felicita. For the time being, however, Felicita's tale provided an amusing break in the night's tedium and an opportunity to rub elbows with one of Tae'Karada's most powerful women; feigning laughter, they believed, was an effective way to curry her favour, even if it they had chosen an ill-timed moment in the story to express their false amusement. Analesse, however, knew Felicita Hes'Tar, understood that she was not impressed or affected by such contrived displays. In fact, the woman relished in keeping her audience literally captive with her elaborate stories, and making them absolutely miserable without giving away her true aim: to expose them for the absurd fools they truly were. She enjoyed it so much, Analesse was hesitant to intrude, but required a moment of her mentor's time. Waiting for the punchline of Felicita's humourous narration to be delivered, Analesse came up beside the older woman and requested a private chat. As the others forced chortles and summoned shrill titters, Felicita excused herself and walked off with Analesse. The gap her departure made in the circle was quickly closed up.

"My dear girl," Felicita was observing as they found a spot out of the way, "you are a vivacious one, aren't you? A ravishing outfit!" Leaning in, Felicita playfully asked, "May I borrow it one night? I dare say I would astound in that one!" Her clarion laughter rang through the hall, though little attention was drawn since many were accustomed to Felicita's raucous vocalizations and simply quaffed their liquored beverages to mitigate the painful ring in their ears. She chuckled lowly, then, and grinned mischievously up at Analesse. "I do enjoy tormenting them. If only they knew how that is the highlight of these dreadful evenings!"

"You're truly horrible, Felicita," Analesse teased fondly. "I don't know why you attend these parties if you hate them so. In fact, I wish you wouldn't. Your attendance is the only reason I come, otherwise I would gladly stay home."

Felicita watched her with an accusing eye as she chided, "Don't lie to me, my girl. You come for the boon to your status on this planet. If you didn't make an appearance here once in a while, you'd be nothing."

"And I'm something as it is?" Analesse shook her head, smiling wanly. "The White Noise's renovation is stalled indefinitely. I don't have the proper connections yet, Felicita. I don't know how to get out of this rut a certain someone's put me in."

"Reinrich again?" At Analesse's nod, Felicita sighed wearily. "That brat is certainly persistent, is he not? I'll go ahead and make a few calls."

Analesse took Felicita's hands and squeezed them in gratitude. "You know I wouldn't ask for your help if it wasn't absolutely necessary. I value your friendship more than I do your list of contacts."

"I know, my dear." Her small, yet pudgy hand patted Analesse's cheek. "Don't worry - let your wonderful, glorious, beautiful friend take care of this!" Cocking an eyebrow conspiratorially, Felicita confided, "Besides, if this project doesn't get completed, I'll never see you married to that adorable musician over there."

Blush wholly visible while spreading over her creamy flesh, Analesse smiled demurely. "I don't think it's anywhere near that yet. He has an ex-wife to put in the back of his mind, and only time - a lot of it! - will accomplish that."

"That," Felicita quipped, "or this dress of yours." As Analesse chuckled quietly, Felicita's eye caught an intriguing scene playing out across the way. She clucked her tongue disapprovingly and nodded past Analesse's shoulder. "It seems you're needed, dear girl, and in a hurry."

Analesse looked back and gasped softly at the situation escalating quickly behind her. She was already backing away when she returned her attention to Felicita. "I'm sorry...I need to--"

"Don't you worry about it," she assured her. "I'll take care of your little problem. You go and handle this, darling!" Her shooing gesture was entirely unnecessary, for Analesse barely had time to wave before she was off hurrying through the maze of socialites, hoping to prevent another embarrassing incident.

***

Merrick took his time strolling around the food table, filling a plate with tasty morsels that he knew Analesse would like. He passed over a plate of Chippen Surprise, and added a few stuffed Bespin olives, before moving along to where he thought he saw a plate of beebleberry tarts. Lessa would laugh at him for sure, but he knew she would appreciate the effort. He hummed to himself as he moved off to pick up some napkins and another drink.

His food hunt, however, was impeded by a solid body clad in black tuxedo and standing within his path. A wistful sigh preceded the man's smug chuckle, and his statement: "I love it when she's not afraid to expose her assets. Sure, it's bad for business, but not for my own gratification."

"Reinrich Tas," Merrick said with a forced smile. "Why whatever are you doing here?"

"This is a party for the elite," he explained superciliously, "and I'm one of them...which would lead me to ask what you're doing here?"

"I'm here for the stuffed olives," Merrick answered. "Oh, and I guess someone thought I was one of the elite too. You should try one of the olives, Reinrich, they're quite tasty."

"No thanks," he declined. His smile was voracious as his eyes continued to travel up and down Analesse's figure. "I have...tastes of a different kind. Though, so does she." He shifted his gaze to Merrick. "Has she opened her legs for you yet?"

"Actually, Reinrich, we're still at the holding hands stage," Merrick said as he followed the man's gaze. "I mean, we only just got out of the part where I'd pull her hair and she'd kick my shin, and then we'd accuse each other of having cooties. If you won't have the olives, maybe you'd prefer one of those sausages there."

His grin broadened with disgusting arrogance. "Those are more her taste...at least they were that night in the back of my limo. Say, Braston," Reinrich asked, his innocent curiousity feigned, "does she still have that birth mark on her inner thigh?" A deep chuckle filled with lusty mirth shook him. "Oh does she enjoy having it kissed...you should try sometime, pretty boy."

"Reinrich, what exactly are you trying to do here," Merrick asked, turning to face the man fully. "I get the feeling you're trying to get under my skin and make me angry. If that's the case, then you're not succeeding. Whatever you and Analesse had in the past is in the past, and will only affect the present if you continue to push it. Now, do you have anything else you need to say to me, or can I finish with this and return to my date?"

"Of course," Reinrich allowed, but before stepping out of Merrick's path, he said, "though do ask her why she hasn't mentioned her past to you" --he smirked-- "if you can call last month her 'past'."

Merrick blinked slowly. "Do we want to go see what Lessa has to say, Reinrich?" Merrick half turned. He stopped one of the servers who was carrying a plate of refreshments out onto the floor. "Excuse me, the woman there, could you ask her to come see me at the tables here? It's very important."

The server followed Merrick's brief head gesture, identified Analesse, then bowed before leaving to carry out his task. Reinrich, meanwhile, remained smiling. "Ask her all you want - you believe she'll admit the truth? She's a great bluffer. If you truly knew her that well, you'd know that." He paused, studying Merrick with mild amusement. "But then, you really know nothing about her, do you? Not even the husband she abandoned on her homeworld? Sure, he slapped her around once in a while, but that's no reason to break the guy's heart, is it?"

"That's not my place to say," Merrick said with a smile. He took a step closer. "You know nothing about me, do you? My history, what I've left in the past? All you're doing is trying to get me upset so you have a chance to get at her. You know, even if there were truth to what you're saying, I still wouldn't turn my back on her. I'm guessing you're hoping that if I'm out of the picture, you can sleaze your way in to try to woo her into your bed. Like that dress she's wearing? Pretty scandalous, isn't it? And, I'll give you one guess who she'll be going home with tonight."

Reinrich's conceited smile took on a fierceness as the men stared one another down. "And I'll give you one guess how many times she's barely avoided screaming out my name instead of yours."

"Merrick?" Analesse cautiously laid a hand on his shoulder, glancing between both men with complete bewilderment. "What's going on?"

"Reinrich is trying to make it so I don't have a good time at this party," Merrick said as he turned to Analesse. "He claims that you were unfaithful to me, with him. Just a month ago. Oh, and he claims that you have some difficulty in not screaming out his name instead of mine. And, you're a great bluffer, and that I would know that if I truly knew you. Was that it, Reinrich, or was there more?"

"Oh, there's plenty more," he drawled. Only Analesse saw it, but Reinrich puckered his lips, miming a kiss for his proclaimed lover. She looked away quickly. "Don't listen to him," she urged Merrick, though Analesse had begun trembling visibly. Was it rage over Reinrich's lies or panic over her infidelity being discovered? "Let's just go, Merrick. Reinrich's toying with you to avoid boredom."

"You say much the same thing when you show up at my place late at night for some excitement." Reinrich grinning hungrily.

"Shut up," Analesse hissed. "Just be quiet."

"Why? Afraid he'll believe the truth?"

"Reinrich," Merrick said without any hint of a smile, "I suggest you give up on this fantasy of yours. It's not healthy, and it's liable to get you hurt. I would question the sanity of anyone who would ever consider engaging you in any sort of bedsport. You have all the charms of a Hutt after a mud bath and considering you couldn't even move the butter dish as you were slavering over Analesse in her dress, you really can't have much going for you down there to interest a woman. Now, you've had your fun, I suggest you drop it there and move on with your life. Let's go, Lessa. The music at this party is beginning to hurt my ears."

She nodded unsteadily, and while Merrick turned away from Reinrich to escort her from the party, Analesse remained fixed to Reinrich's smarmy grin and predatory stare. It was undeniable that he was up to something...but Analesse had no idea what, aside from the sabotage of the White Noise's renovations. Not yet, at least.

Although his verbal assault seemed to have ended as they started off, Reinrich felt it necessary to land another blow, reminding Merrick, "Just ask her! Ask her how I know about the birthmark." A low chuckle followed.

Analesse gripped Merrick's hand, urging him not to turn around or respond, not with Reinrich's comments having gained the attention of many in the room. "What is he talking about?" she murmured.

"He knows about your birthmark, and that you like to be kissed there," Merrick answered as softly as he could. "He claims that you had sex with him in his limo a month ago. He claimed you left a husband behind on your homeworld, and that I could expect the same when you got bored of me, or that was the implication."

Analesse's face paled visibly and thin frame began trembling once again. "He said that?" Her voice was slightly breathless. "And do you believe him?"

"He does seem to know a lot of personal information about you, Analesse," Merrick said. "I don't want to believe it, but he seems to have a lot of private, specific information."

In the semi-seclusion of the foray, Analesse tore her hand free of Merrick's and rounded on him. She was far more devastated than angry. "I told you I'd never been with him. I can't explain how he knows what he knows...but nothing he said is true. What kind of woman do you think I am, Merrick, to believe that I'd had sex with another man - in the back of a limo, of all places! - while we were together. Please tell me you're not serious."

"He found out somehow, Analesse," Merrick said. "Somehow, he's come by the information, and that's what scares me. There are men who are complete slime, yet have all sorts of charm and could woo a woman into their bed. Reinrich Tas has no charm, and I couldn't imagine him ever succeeding at seducing anyone with half a brain." He shook his head. "I don't believe him, Analesse. After the time we've been together, everything we've gone through and everything we've shared, I could never believe that of you. But, somehow, despite all of that, he does know things. Once we're out of here, I'm going to contact Zale's people. I think they might be able to help."

"Just forget it," Analesse told him somberly. "He knows about a birthmark - it doesn't matter. What does is that you almost believed him. I'm not Kaysa, Merrick," she informed him harshly. "If you wanted a promiscuous mad-woman, you should have stayed with her."

"Does it bother you that he knows about your birthmark," Merrick asked. "What about the husband? I stood up for you against him, and now here you are taking me down. He knows things about you that a man like him shouldn't know, and you just shrug it off and tell me to forget it as well. I don't believe what he's said of you, Lessa, but it does concern me that he knows and that you're handling it this way. And, that I'm suddenly the bad guy."

"I'm not mad at you," she relented, again reaching for his hand. "I just don't think we should give Reinrich what he wants. Why would he say all he's said if he didn't want us to be bothered by it? He just hopes we'll divert our focus from the White Noise project to this so he can finally slip in and steal it out from under us. It's what he's wanted throughout all of this! So...just let it be, Merrick."

"It's not all he's wanted," Merrick answered. "And, he's not going to go away. He's not going to stop at this, Lessa. What if next time he pulls this, he's got some other intimate detail of your life to throw in my face? At what point does the very detailed knowledge he possesses about your life and your body become an issue for you? What if he's somehow managing to spy on us while we make love? Doesn't that bother you?"

"Of course," she insisted, quickly dropping her voice to a whisper as a passerby inquisitively watched them. "We can take measures to prevent espionage if that's what's happened, but I'd rather we didn't devote too much of our attention to this. Reinrich Tas is easily dealt with, if you just leave it to me."

"After this today, no," Merrick said. "If there's going to be any dealing with him, I want to be in on it. For what he's trying to do to us, I want to see his face when it happens."

Analesse looked away to collect her quickly fleeting patience, then returned her gaze to Merrick. With a cleansing deep breath, she nodded. "Alright...but if I tell you to drop it, will you?"

"I won't drop it as long as that bastard is invading my privacy and my life with you," Merrick said. "If he wants to get in our way, he'd better be prepared for the consequences."

Refraining from an answer, Analesse sighed gently and managed a smile. "Let's just go home right now and see if we can salvage any portion of this night."

"Of course," Merrick said. "At least Kim's still watching Aria for the day."

"At least," Analesse echoed, knowing there was no chance of finding joy again that night, but as they stepped out of the building to again be assailed by questions and followed doggedly by holocameras, Analesse mustered a dazzling smile to appear for all the world like nothing in the universe was at all amiss. How horribly different reality was.

---

"Artfully Unconvincing"
By: Yelara Zaneth
Meer'esh

Location: Royal Palace of Arcadia
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

It was the end of another long, tedious council session where much was said, but absolutely nothing resolved. Yelara was convinced they preferred listening to their own voices over considering the welfare of Tae'Karada. Disillusioned, frustrated, and filled with longing for Liam's return, Yelara was prepared to quit the palace and seek seclusion in the city. Meer'esh's troubling behaviour only fueled the urge.

While he had been docile after her harsh words to him, now he had fully recovered his backbone and was far worse than previously. No longer timid, he was becoming more outspoken during the council meetings, and increasingly aggressive in his advances behind closed doors. Yelara had now resorted to sleeping with her bedchamber door locked, knowing Meer'esh remained through the night in her chambers, rather than retiring to his own. He was there during the day as well, watching her at every moment and forbidding her from wandering about the palace and interacting with anyone. Yet, Yelara's defiance refused to be quashed.

She'd demanded he not attend the council meetings, and recommended he sleep in his own quarters - when he refused, she made a point of ridiculing him publicly, forcing him to carry the train of her gown through the halls of the palace, or polishing a spot on her shoe in a crowded courtyard. It wasn't anger that blazed in his eyes whenever performing these menial, degrading tasks, however; they implored her with a sadness that nearly shattered her resolve each time, but the incomprehensibility of what had caused his sudden change in demeanour puzzled Yelara enough to ignore his pleas. Was it possessiveness that made him overbearing, or was his true personality finally exposing itself, one that gave Yelara doubt over his professed affection for her? No matter the cause, Yelara despised him.

Now, Yelara picked up her skirts and hurried through her chamber door, hoping to fasten it shut before Meer'esh could invite himself in. He snaked himself through before it could seal, and snatched Yelara's hand away from the panel. The other swiped at his face, but Meer'esh caught her wrist and drew her forward into a constrictive embrace.

"No, don't," she rasped, turning her cheek to intercept what she suspected was an intended kiss.

Meer'esh sighed lamentably. "I am not forcing you, Yelara. I am wanting you to be calm. There are things you must be knowing...dangerous things."

"I already know everything!" Eyes now violet slits exuding venomous spite, Yelara twisted and strained against Meer'esh's hold. "You're cruel, and hateful, and you disgust me. I don't know who you are! I never did! You've lied to me about everything!"

His arms held fast to Yelara, despite the beaded embellishments on Yelara's dress scraping the flesh of his inner arms as she thrashed. "I was wanting to tell you everything," he said gently, inured to the pain after years of subjugation and ill-treatment. "Let me...be explaining some things, Yelara. I am not wanting to harm you."

Feeling his arms loosen their grip, Yelara shoved herself away, pushing off his chest. She placed as much distance between them as she could manage in that short moment of freedom. Meer'esh raised his hands before him innocuously, hoping to assure her he meant what he had said, and to keep her from bolting. The skepticism and uncertainty warred with compassion for the once soft-spoken, gentle man she'd met outside a café one summer morning. She yearned for his return, and hoped displaying some tenderness would coax that man out of him.

Her expression softened, and although hesitant Yelara closed the distance between them to take his hands into her own. There was surprise in the pale violet of his eyes, and a sorrow that ran deep, obviously having resided there for longer than that very moment. It wasn't the first time she'd witnessed it, but Meer'esh refused to speak on that subject, though now it was of minimal importance compared to his erratic behaviour. "Meer'esh," she whispered, "what's happened to you? What's changed?"

"You should not have been letting that Jedi in here," he told her in despair. "If he wasn't filling your head with...thoughts and ideas everything would be easy now. There would not be concern."

"Concern for what?" she asked softly. "Liam and I...we're not more than friends, not any longer. You don't have to worry--"

Meer'esh shook his head firmly. "This is not being about my jealousy, Yelara! It is his influence that is bringing worry. You are making decisions they are not liking. That is why you must be listening to me!"

"What are you talking about?" she asked in complete exasperation. "Who are 'they'? The council?"

"I can't. I am not to be saying anything more, but you must be listening to me, to do what I am telling you." He looked away, finding frustration with his limited knowledge of basic, which was creating an inability to speak plainly without divulging too much, though he wanted more than anything to tell Yelara everything. "Just know, Yelara," he said quietly, "that there is being more here than you can see. You must be trusting no one but me." Now he held her puzzled gaze in the snare of his entrancing lilac eyes and cupped her face in trembling, pale hands. "Yelara...I am protecting you. I am wishing I could be telling you everything, but you would be in danger if I did." Her mouth opened to ask for details, but he shook his head. "Just follow my directions, Yelara, and you will be safe. As long as they can be using you, you are okay. Otherwise, I cannot be protecting you."

"From who?" she demanded. "Meer'esh, who! Who is doing this!?"

"No," he whispered, the remorse clear. "It is being better if you don't know. Please...do not be fighting me in public, in plain sight of them. They will think I cannot be controlling you."

"You can't," she informed him with a wry, faint smile. "I can't just ignore what I know is right to please whoever it is manipulating you, Meer'esh. I won't be a mindless figurehead - my conscience won't allow it. I'm High Princess, and I'll do what I believe is right, whether you and your friends like it or not!"

"Yelara," he pleaded, but she'd snatched her hands away and was departing for her bedchamber already. "You're not being the only one in danger here, Yelara! There is much at stake, many lives, including my own." Yet his words fell on deaf ears, intercepted by the closing door of Yelara's private sanctum.

In desperation, he continued to beseech her, to explain the repercussions of her defiance, but she refused to listen, and Meer'esh was out of options. He could not return to Ron'amon and report of Yelara's insolence, not again. It left him with little choice but to go against his heart and pressure Yelara more forcefully, to torment her endlessly until she submitted to his demands.

With his back pressed to Yelara's door, Meer'esh's legs crumpled beneath him and he slid to the ground. He wrapped his arms around his drawn-up knees and buried his face in them, blotting out the cruel, twisted world with the darkness there. Malevolence was not in his nature, especially when it concerned the woman he loved, but Meer'esh's life was not his own; he was not free to defy his overlords, not if he wished to live, though he suspected they would do far worse if he failed - Ron'amon had undoubtedly conveyed suspicion of Meer'esh's attachment with Yelara, and as they had done on many occasions, forcing him to watch as those he loved were made to suffer at their hands was punishment worse than death. Yelara would be their first target, and if they were merciful, they would kill him before they killed her.

Quaking with fear and grief, Meer'esh resolved to change Yelara's mind, no matter how aggressive his methods. She would hate him, of course, but if it spared her life, he would gladly accept her spite.

---

"Jumping to Conclusions"
By: Keeve Shivral
Dargus Kandran
Talara Sorenne
Kimara

Location: Pride of Agarra, En Route to Tae'Karada
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

The ship was quiet as it worked its way home through hyperspace. In general, there wasn't a lot to do on a ship travelling through hyperspace. One could only handle so many matches of holographic chess, and the body could only tolerate so much lounging around before it required something much more active. Even so, there was only so much space on a ship, and that did limit what sort of activities a body could engage in to really get the blood moving and the heart pumping.

As Keeve was wandering the ship, carefully avoiding any contact with the women aboard who seemed to desire him above all else, one such energetic workout was just finishing. As he turned the corner and started the next leg of his restless pacing through the ship, the door to the small cabin assigned to Talara opened. He was in the process of turning to head back the other way when his brain registered that the figure emerging from the darkened interior was not Talara's. At first, the head was hidden as a tunic was pulled over a naked, muscular chest still glistening with sweat, but finally as the tunic settled into place, it was Dargus Kandran's head that belonged to the body. His movements were deft as he reassembled the Jedi robes he wore, putting outer tunic and obi into their proper places before fitting the tabard into place. He let the door close behind him and started off in the other direction. After three or four steps, he began to whistle a cheerful tune.

Keeve Shivral was now motionless, and gaping. All of Talara's seductive looks and alluring smiles shot forth in his mind, only giving credence to what he was seeing. Then, aside from utter shock, another emotion struck Keeve. Before he had a chance to qualify his feelings, Keeve was storming towards Dargus with pointed finger jabbing vehemently his way, and voice shouting, "You brute! She's just a kid!"

Dargus turned and frowned at Keeve. He looked at Talara's door. "It was her idea," he said. "And I let her set the pace. I don't see why you're getting upset about it. If you have a problem with it, you really should talk to Talara."

"Talara?!" he repeated in disbelief. "She's a reisacat in heat! You're the adult here - you should've said 'no'!" Keeve was now before Dargus, invading his personal space threateningly. Face looming close to Dargus', Keeve growled, "Don't go near her again, understand?"

"Of course," Dargus answered. "I'll keep my distance, but that may be difficult when we return to the Temple. I will uphold my promise to you, though, Keeve, as best I can."

"You...you Jedi!" Keeve stammered. "Aren't you supposed to have self-control or whatever the Force teaches you?" Lowering his voice to an angry whisper, Keeve rasped, "You just don't touch her again or I'll forget that you're partly my friend." And shouldering past Dargus, Keeve burst into Talara's room. The door swished closed behind him, yet she was nowhere to be found. "Talara!" he hollered. "Come out here...now!"

"I'm not dressed yet," came the response. "You'll have to wait a moment."

"Trying to cover up the evidence?" Keeve accused brashly. "Get out here!"

When she finally came into view from behind the screen that hid the other side of the room, Talara was wearing a close-fitting tank top and a pair of lightweight pants that fell to mid-calf. Her wet hair was dripping down onto her shoulders. "What is the matter with you," she said. "What are you talking about?"

Hands planted firmly on both hips and foot tapping, Keeve glowered at Talara. "Don't lie to me, Tala. I saw Dargus. I know what's going on and after your speech about how I'm the only one, how you'll never be with another because your love is only for me...I feel stupid for actually, for one tiny moment, feeling bad for you!"

"You thought...that me and...me and Dargus!? You thought he was in here...and we--!?" She shook her head. "We didn't! We were just doing a close quarters combat workout. No sex happened! We were sexless!"

"You liar!" he shrieked in a wholly unmanly way. "He had his shirt off so don't even dare tell me there wasn't any...mingling of the flesh," he sputtered.

"Keeve, there wasn't," Talara snapped back. "And even if there had been, which there wasn't, why does it matter to you? You don't want me! Why does it even matter? If you want me, take me and make me yours, but don't you dare turn me away and then expect me to hold myself for you. If you don't want me, and someone else does, then you have no say in it. I didn't have sex with Dargus, but if I wanted to that's my choice and you have no part of it."

Keeve rushed forward, but came to a halt one foot from Talara as he reigned in his anger. Taking a calming breath, he said slowly, "You don't want to have sex with Dargus. You don't want to have sex with anyone, Tala. And don't go off and do so to test my reaction. You'll only be hurting yourself."

"But, if I choose to, it's my choice," Talara said softly. "It's my choice and my life. I'm your friend and always will be. If you don't want me as your lover though, you can't dictate who can or can't be. If you're not going to make me a part of your life, I'm going to have to make my own life for myself. You thought I was in here having sex with Dargus?" She reached up and put a hand on his chest and her eyes found his. "Why do you think I would be in here with him, doing that Keeve? Do you really think I'm that fickle? That you'd get me so worked up that any guy would do?"

Keeve clenched and unclenched his jaw, overcome by utter embarrassment and guilt. "The way you looked at me...and then your past...I only thought you were promiscuous and were that way with everyone," he admitted tightly.

"I only want to be with you, Keeve," Talara said, the hurt clear in her eyes. "I didn't realize you thought so little of me. It's like nothing I've said has even sunk in to you. You just jumped to whatever the worst conclusion your mind could make, and that was me...who's supposed to be your friend. And to think I love you..."

"Well...I'm sorry!" Keeve exclaimed petulantly. "I'm sorry for trying to protect you. That's what friends are supposed to do, isn't it? Even if I do say the wrong things sometimes, at least I care, Tala. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Sure, Keeve, but that doesn't change the fact that you think very little of me, apparently," she answered back. "You get to go marry Kim, and then you try to control what I can do to move on with my life. You don't want me, but then you don't want anyone else to have me. Is that what a friend does? Turn me away, but don't let me move on to anyone else? I'd like to think it's because you secretly do want me to be yours, but you can't bear to see me with anyone else." She looked up into his eyes, so very close that their bodies were nearly touching. "I don't want to get my hopes too high, Keeve, because it'll only hurt in the end, so...so I need to move on...but I don't want to...and you're going to make me want to... You mean everything to me, Keeve, but I have no idea what I mean to you...other than just being a slut..."

"You're not a slut," he insisted softly, covering her hand with his and giving it a squeeze. "And I'm not going to push you away, Tala. I like doing things with you." He smiled as a memory came to mind. "Remember the shopping trip we took before coming here? Those are the times I want us to have together, without all this complication."

"I'd like that too," Talara said. "Next to Zari, you're my best friend, Keeve. When we get back, maybe we could go shopping again. Both me and Zee have birthdays coming up, we'll have to do something fun."

"Sure," he chuckled gently. "I'll buy you anything you want...though saying that got me into trouble the last time. How many outfits does a Jedi need?"

"Well, just our robes, really," Talara answered. "But, it is nice to have some other stuff now and then, and besides, I keep all of that at your place for when I visit. I'll try not to want so much next time we go shopping. Some of those outfits are so irresistible though."

Keeve rolled his eyes and teased fondly, "You're as bad as Kim. I can't help spoiling her, too...so don't feel guilty; get as much as you want." Sighing, Keeve patted her hand and released it. "That reminds me...I'd better go try and contact her again. Had trouble getting a connection yesterday, but now that we're closer to home, I might have a better chance...if she's there yet."

She stepped in close to him and hugged him. "Thanks for being my friend," she whispered. While he was still quite a bit taller than she, it seemed that she wasn't quite as short as she used to be. "I hope you get in touch with her, and tell her how lucky she is...though, I think she already knows."

"If I tell her that, she'll call me an arrogant jerk," Keeve quipped. He rubbed her back affectionately, then kissed the top of her head and stepped out of the embrace to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow...but you promise not to sneak some guy in here after I leave?"

Talara grinned at him. "No, I don't promise," she said. "It's not like I have a lot of choice. You, Dargus, or Liam, and you're devoted to Kim, Liam's devoted to Yelara, and Dargus is too devoted to being good. I bet he would if I asked him, though, and he is really good in bed, not to mention that he's big, but he's not really my type."

Suppressing his consternation, Keeve asked with strained calm, "And how would you know that?"

"He was associating with Dani and Nieme for awhile before, when I was their prisoner," Talara said.

"So you had sex with him?" Keeve gave a loud, booming laugh that was a touch bitter. "You're more experienced than I thought. Kim would be jealous, that's for sure. I guess you've one upped her, hm?" Smiling facetiously, Keeve saluted Talara playfully and ducked out of the room.

"You'll never know how good I am, Keeve," Talara called after him. "You'll never know."

As the door slid closed, Keeve muttered to himself ruefully, "I hope I never do, Tala, for both our sakes." And exhausted by his perpetual verbal sparring with Talara, Keeve trudged to his quarters, hoping to contact Kim. It would be nice, for once, to speak to a woman who wasn't trying to seduce him.

Several minutes passed as Keeve waited for someone in his home to answer. Just as he was about to cancel the connection, the screen flickered and a face began to take form. A squeal of pure delight echoed from the comm's speakers as Kimara's face finally appeared. "Keeve! Oh gods, I've missed you! Where are you? How did it go? I love you!"

Keeve's laugh was tired, but still expressing his joy. "There you are...thought you were ignoring me there for a while. How long have you been back?"

"I got back late last night," Kim said. "You wouldn't believe it. There were pirates all over the place, and military chasing them down. Took a bit of fancy flying, but it all seemed to come back to me once I was at the controls. Kallia, Zari, and I just got back from doing some shopping and having a quick meal. How did everything go?"

"It was fast and brutal." He grinned and added, "On them. We managed to rescue them with minor injuries on our side." Finding it hard to look into her gleaming, adoring eyes, Keeve lowered his head and murmured, "Maeren's fine... I haven't told her yet though. I couldn't Kim, not yet."

"How is she," Kim asked. "And...and Keeve, if you can't, I understand. I know you love her, despite everything, and having to put her aside will hurt you both so much. If you can't, I can accept that. We'll still be just as happy, and...and we can deal with it."

"I don't want you to have to deal with it," Keeve explained with slight irritation. "We need to start our lives together, Kim - just you and I. Now I've got Talara trying to lure me to her bed.... No," he decided adamantly, "I've got to marry you and get them all off my back for good!"

"If that is what you truly want," Kim said, "then we'll move on, just you and I. I'll tell Kallia and Zari they'll need to find a new place, unless we wanted to find a multi-level where they could be like our tenants and have their own space and we can have our own. And, we'll have to tell Talara no more uninvited visits, and considering she wants to get you into her bed, we may be best telling her not to come around at all anymore. I have no idea what you want to do with Maeren, but I guess you'll have to gauge her when you tell her it's over and you're marrying me. I'll start working on those wedding preparations again, though I'll need to adjust the guest list. How long after you get back do you want the wedding?"

Keeve was dumbstruck to the point of speechlessness. Was she serious, or had he missed the sarcasm in her voice? He blinked slowly, and asked, "Are you trying to trick me? Because if you are, and I'm going to get in huge trouble if I fall for it and agree, then I'm not saying a word!"

"I am serious about a new place," Kim said. "I think we need the space, and it would be nice to have it set up so we have our own privacy. We could still live with Kallia and Zari for as long as she's here, but we'd have our area, they could have theirs, and maybe a communal area. I think that'd be perfect. About the rest, I guess that depends on what you really want. When you say starting our life together, and getting them off your back, it sort of implies that you do want them off your back and not around anymore. Do you know what you want, Keeve? It's okay if you don't know, really it is. And, if you think that I'm not okay with you loving Maeren and Talara, then you don't know me. If you love them and want them as part of your life, then I'm in full support."

"I want," he reiterated, leaning closer to the screen and smiling warmly, "to try a life with just you and me, and no complications, and see how things go. We've earned that much. As for Kallia and Zari...we can't just turn them out. I'd rather we find some way to accommodate them. Especially Zari. She can't go back to that Temple, Kim. She's been through enough."

"You don't know the half of it," Kim said. She sighed. "I'll see what I can arrange and put them up somewhere. I can make sure they have enough money, but it'll be a nice, clean place nearby. We won't be turning them out into the streets and they'll have a nice place to live. Who knows what will happen with Maeren. Maybe she can stay with Kaysa and Zale for a bit. And, we can just send Talara back to the Temple with the other Jedi."

"Send her back? But--" Keeve exhaled sharply, not quite comfortable with Kim's suggestions. "She's our friend, Kim," he reminded her softly. "I don't want to hurt her. I think...we have an understanding now. She knows we're just friends. I did just promise to take her on a shopping spree for her birthday. I can't go back on it - it'd hurt her."

"Perhaps," Kim answered. "But, it'd be one way to make it clear to her that you don't want her trying to get you into her bed. Unless you do have an understanding, and all that about her trying to seduce you was just being dramatic."

Keeve frowned at Kim. "It's not an exaggeration. She's just...got a crush and finds sport in trying to unnerve me. We'll just let her know that...she can't show up unannounced, that's all."

"As long as that's what you want," Kim said with a warm smile for him. "I'll support whatever you decide, Keeve, no matter what you decide. If you don't want her flirting with you or being too close, then we'll tell her not to. But if you like her flirting with you, that's okay with me too. Whatever you want and makes you happy will make me happy. So, if pushing them away is going to make you miserable, I don't want you to do that."

"Uh huh," Keeve uttered with a skeptical look sidelong at Kim. "Are you sure you haven't been replaced by a replica droid? A very cheerfully understanding one?"

"When have I ever given you the impression that I'm not cheerful or understanding," Kim asked. "I want you to be happy, Keeve. I don't want you to be miserable because of some societal convention that says you have to devote your every emotion to me. If you love Talara, I don't want you to hold that all inside. Express it if you need to, Keeve. I know you love me, and I'm always in your heart, and that won't change no matter who else you love. Same for Maeren or Kallia. I don't want you squashing your emotions just because of me. I won't be jealous, I promise you. It's just the way I am."

"It's not about you," he informed her. "It's about me not wanting life to be more complicated than it is. And besides...she's just a kid! She needs to be a kid for just a while, especially after all that's happened to her. I'm not going to ruin that for her."

"If you think loving her is going to ruin her, then you're silly," Kim said with a chuckle. "I'm not saying you should go jump into bed with her, or marry her too, Keeve. All I'm saying is that if you do love her, and you do want express that love, then you should. Maeren and Kallia too. I'm not saying you have to, but if you love them and they love you, don't bury your feelings for them."

"Alright." He smirked playfully. "I'll work things out, don't you worry. Just focus on getting the wedding preparations done. I expect to be married as soon as I return."

"Me too," Kim answered with a grin of her own. "Before you go, should we invite Talara and Maeren?"

"Of course," came his hasty answer, then he paused in thought. "However, I should probably tell Maeren before then. I don't want to destroy her...she's so fragile right now, Kim."

Kim nodded. "Do you still love her, Keeve?"

He gave an answering, yet ambiguous shrug. "She's not you. That's all that matters."

Kim sighed. "Do you want to divorce her and kick her out to fend for herself wherever she may land? You'll destroy her if you do that, Keeve, regardless of when you do it. If you still love her, still want her in your life, and want her to be happy again, then marry me but keep her as your wife too. If you don't want that, tell her you're divorcing her and that she's on her own. But if you do still love her, don't just set her aside."

"Do I have to decide everything now?" he asked in frustration. "Can't we just do it and figure things out with Maeren later?"

"You really should talk to Maeren before though," Kim said. "She does deserve to know at least, even if you don't decide what to do with your marriage with her until after we're married."

"Fine," he grumbled, "I'll...I'll do it. I always have to be the bad one."

"Would you rather I tell her," Kim asked with a grin. "I could."

"Then she'd resent both of us." Keeve shook his head. "I'll do this. I just...need some courage. Though...will you promise to love me even if she claws out my eyes?"

Kim laughed softly. "I promise," she said. "You'll be fine, and she won't take finding out you're marrying me so bad. You'll see."

"I hope you're right...." Sighing, Keeve smiled at the monitor. "Make those preparations, Kim, and I'll handle things on this end. I should be home soon."

"I can't wait," Kim said, nearly bouncing in her seat. "I love you, Keeve. I'll be waiting when you get here."

"I love you too," he chuckled. "Stay safe, and I'll be there in no time."

"You're going to have to end the connection, Keeve," Kim said as she gazed into his eyes, "because I can't do it."

"Me too," he admitted. "Give...give Hope a kiss for me. But don't squeeze her too hard."

"I will," Kim said with a giggle. "I think she misses you too. She keeps sitting in the window right about the time you usually come home. She'll be very happy when you get home too."

"Our little girl," he commented fondly. "I'd better not keep her waiting then, hm?" Leaning forward, Keeve placed a kiss on the monitor, the spot corresponding to Kim's brow. "I do love you, Kim," he whispered. "We'll be together again, I promise." Noting the tears beginning to well in her sparkling eyes, Keeve gave her a flutter of his eyelid that passed for a wink, then he severed the connection.

A deep, groaning sigh and Keeve pushed off his bunk and headed for the door. He halted before exiting, dreading what was to come next. Maeren would be heartbroken.

Momentarily disoriented, Keeve wondered if it was Kim giving him a shove from lightyears away when he was knocked forward into the door. His senses returned after the second jolt, realizing it was the ship tossing him about and not his meddlesome fiancée. "What the hells?" he spat, hit the door actuator and sprinted from his room towards the cockpit to determine if Lerrah was as bad a pilot as he suspected, or if Vrax's minions had decided to follow them. Either way, Maeren would have to wait...and Keeve didn't mind one lick.

---

"Unforeseen Allies"
By: Drer Rda (NPC+)
Rashid al-Hyu al-Hamad (NPC+)
Random NPCs

Location: Drogen Prison Block, Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Drer Rda stood facing the wall of his holding cell, hands clasped behind his back. He was being held on account of the slaves he was found housing on his ship the Wabretonc, the said ship now sat in the impound area of the Drogen Shipyards being run over with a fine tooth comb for further evidence that could be used against the Twi'lek. Rda suspected that his ship would be sent off to be scrapped afterwards, though it was in fairly good condition, the ship itself was well on in the years.

The silent hissing of the breathing device attached to his neck was the only sound that filled the holding cell. The dark skinned Twi'lek's eyes gazed aimlessly at the wall, his mind still mulling over the incident earlier with the human he encountered. His sources were still working to gather information, yet Rda had no doubt in his mind that this human was the one who had stolen Mielikki from his grasp. She had been known to sneak off before, more often than not would Drer catch some of the men he transpired with attempting to cull the young Veaseph for themselves. As soon as he was able to leave this cage, he would find this human and Mielikki and he would make the man pay.

Suddenly, a quiet thump sounded from outside the cell. Drer turned towards the entrance of his cell, it was still covered by a shimmering field. A tall, lithe figure stepped into view, a dripping vibroknife in one hand. With a swift movement, the field collapsed and the figure stepped into the cell. Drer was unsure of what to do, so he remained in place. Was this an assassin, or an assistant?

"Drer Rda?" the figure asked in a strangely accented Basic. Now that the figure was closer, Drer could tell that it was a dark-skinned human. His features were hawkish but regal. Steel gray eyes regarded the Twi'lek with a silent arrogance of their own. He was dressed in a brown tunic belted at the waist by a thin strip of leather with white pants that seemed to flow around his legs. Around his head was a curious wrap of white cloth, one tail of which hug down past the man's shoulders.

Drer nodded, still unsure of the man's intentions.

"Excellent," the man said. The strange accent put an almost musical lilt to the intergalactic trading language and Drer found that it was not altogether unpleasant to listen to. "I am Rashid al-Hyu al-Hamad," the man said with a curt bow, "I was sent to watch over you by a mutual friend."

"A mutual friend?" Drer paced in his cell before turning to face Rashid again. "I do not have many friends who would spring me from a prison cell unless they did not want something in return, who sent you or are you not at liberty to say?" the Twi'lek asked awaiting for his response as he studied the man again.

"I apologize, sir, but I cannot say. I actually do not know, for I was asked through an assortment of channels. Our friend suggested that his name not be mentioned in the case of my being captured in this attempt." As he spoke, Rashid took out a cloth from his belt and wiped his curiously curved blade. The cloth came away bright red, the color of arterial blood. "I was not told of anything to take from you in return, only to free you, and remain by your side. I will be yours to command."

At those words, Drer Rda's interest became piqued. Not only was this man here to help him, but also to answer to his every wit and whim. It seemed almost too convenient. Making a mental note to remain highly on his guard, Drer decided it for the best that this opportune moment at freedom be taken advantage of. "Then may I give you your first assignment, Rashid, we must find a way away from this place where I can avoid being pressed by proper authorities regarding my imprisonment here; as it so happens I have person business I must attend to quickly." A beat. "Is there anywhere planetside where I can reside for the moment, or are they just as nosy as the shipyard officials here?"

"In Thanatos, a city far from the normal laws of government, you can both hide your ship and your presence," Rashid said as he sheathed his weapon. "Come, the docking supervisor has been carefully paid to ignore your departure. It is too bad that this guard here could not also be bought off. It will be some time before the next shift, so we should be ok." The strangely dressed human turned and hurried out of the cell.

The Twi'lek took a long look at his temporary prison before stepping out of the cell and following after his new friend? Or would the better term be spectre? Deciding not to dwell for very long on the thought, Drer quickened his steps and caught up with Rashid. "I'm interested to know how we will get down to the planet without being shot down to the planet itself, or don't tell me you already have a plan formulated incase this was to transpire?" He asked glancing briefly in the dark skinned man's direction.

"Everything is taken care of," the human said without looking back. As they passed the entrance of the prison, Rashid snagged a conveniently placed robe hanging on a hook and tossed it to the Twi'lek who caught it expertly. "That will hide your features. Come, your ship is waiting for our return. The officers on duty have been bribed, but my credits will only be good for so long, we need to hurry."

Drer tossed the robe over his shoulders and covered his head with the hood, hiding his alien features from view. After what seemed to be an eternity, the unusual pair arrived at the location of the Wabretonc, the YV-330 freighter sat between a pair of ships, one a barge, the other a fighter of some kind which Rda didn't recognize. As he and Rashid stepped towards the ship, Idvat stomped down the loading ramp blaster pistol at the ready. "Idvat wait!" The Gran looked in the Twi'lek's direction, a look of questioning reflected in his three eyes. "He's here to help us." Drer remarked gesturing at Rashid. "Huh." Idvat holstered his weapon before stepping off to the side to allow them both entry. "Strange company, you keep these days." The Gran stated as he ducked back inside the Wabretonc. "Prepare for us to leave for Thanatos immediately." Idvat nodded and ran off making the necessary preparations as the prepping for departure went underway. Soon, very soon, Drer would see to it that he had his revenge.

*** Later, in the 'Lucky Hooligan', Thanatos ***

A hooded figure sat alone in the corner of the dimly lit cantina sipping on a drink. It looked up as the imposing form of a barabel was framed by the setting desert sun at the door. The barabel was well known around Thanatos, he had taken over from the Hutt a while back, him and his group known as the New Dawn. No one at the cantina, however, would ever remember seeing him if asked, they knew better than to wag their tongues.

The barabel spied the hooded figure and saunter over. With a grunt, he slid between the seat and the table, tucking his tail underneath. "What isss your sstatusss?" the reptilian alien asked in basic.

"He is in the city now," the figure said in the barabel's native tongue. "I will continue to get close, but he is rightly suspicious."

"Excellent," the barabel grinned, "From now on all reports will be made via this communicator. It has an encryption on it that even the boss' personal slicer droid couldn't crack, do don't lose it."

"Just keep the credits rolling, and I will do whatever is asked of me." The door to the cantina opened and the barabel looked over his shoulder briefly. When he turned back, the Desert Shadow was gone, and so was the tiny communicator that was placed on the table.

---

"Not Your Ordinary Kind of Pillow Talk"
By: Mielikki Aune (PC)
Tasia Harough (NPC+)

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

A heavy sigh and Tasia Harough fell back onto her mattress, freshly showered and exhausted from a long day's work. She glanced aside at the enigmatic woman Cirran had rescued, and smiled congenially as she folded back the sheets of her cot. Although she'd vowed never to perform another favour for Tyris, Tasia had willingly offered the former pleasure girl a place to sleep, even if it required her to wear clothing to bed when otherwise she would have slid under her sheets without a stitch on. Now, she opted for a tank top and panties - as modest as her sleeping attire got. It was confining, but she would tolerate it for a while, at least.

Mielikki crawled into her bunk and laid on her side yawning sleepily as she did so. J20 had gone off somewhere inside the ship to find a suitable spot to spend the night charging, with Tasia's permission first of course.

Tasia pushed up on both elbows to watch the young woman. "So...you known Tyris long? I have and I wish I didn't."

The Veaseph woman had just begun to close her eyes when she heard Tasia's voice causing her to look toward the other woman's direction. "Huh? Oh no, I haven't known him very long at all, we just met by circumstance I suppose you could say." Pulling the pillow over to her form, Mielikki studied Tasia curiously. "Why do you wish that you didn't know Cirran, are you rivals or something?" She asked, her brow furrowing.

"Not rivals," Tasia explained. "He's more like...an annoying brother." Grinning suggestively at Mielikki, she teased, "But it looked like he was more than a brother to you. Feeling maybe a little something for your saviour?"

The Veaseph could feel her face darkening with embarrassment. "I told you already, we were trying to fix the ramp when you um...found us," she offered weakly as she traced at the sheets absently with her fingernail.

The sultry repair foreman chuckled and crawled forward onto her stomach to watch Mielikki. "You like him," she sang. "Just admit it - you do! And it's understandable. I mean, sure, he's irritating, but he's still good-looking, and he saved you from dire circumstances. What's there not to like?"

Rolling her eyes in despair Mielikki rolled onto her stomach so that she was now facing the foreman again. "I don't like him!" she rebutted briefly, pausing to think over her next response. "Well, maybe a little...bu-but I hardly even know the man! Besides, being a former pleasure slave doesn't help matters much either you know...for all he knows I slept with half the galaxy--I mean not like I did thank you very much!!"

"Really?" Tasia grinned mischievously. "I have, and it doesn't make me any less a woman. Don't you ever want to be with a man because you want to be and not because you're being forced to? Is that so wrong?"

"No I suppose it's not wrong, but the real question is could I ever trust someone without worrying if I'll end up living the life I used to have? I feel that Cirran is a good person but would he want to get mixed up with a girl like me? I think I have already caused more than enough trouble," she remarked, pulling the pillow over her head.

Chuckling dryly, Tasia informed her, "Trust me...he likes trouble. He's certainly got me into enough of it. If you're interested, why not ask him out for a drink? Get to know him a little better?"

"That doesn't sound like such a bad id--hey wait a minute...do you do this with all your new applicants - give them dating advice?!" she retorted, suddenly realizing where the conversation had headed.

"Not all. Just the attractive ones." She winked silkily at Mielikki. "If you want, I could take you out somewhere...give you a little practice."

Mielikki managed a small smile as she felt her face flush with embarrassment. "I'm only interested in the opposite sex, vile and repulsive as some of them may be at times, not my own."

Tasia's chuckle was rich and throaty. "Then how about just drinks? You won't have to slip into bed with me or anything."

"Drinks will be fine with me...provided you promise not to slip me a mickey," she replied jokingly.

Sitting up, Tasia informed Mielikki, "I don't make promises...but I'll try. Tomorrow after shift, then?"

"Yeah that'll be fine." Yawning sleepily, Mielikki hugged her pillow close to herself as she slithered about a bit under the blankets, attempting to get comfortable. "Goodnight Tasia, thank you again for taking me under your wing like this," she murmured as she could feel sleep beginning to overtake her senses.

"Goodnight, Mielikki," Tasia whispered back. "I can't wait to corrupt you tomorrow." While Mielikki snored softly, Tasia chuckled and wriggled beneath her own covers. It would be an exciting challenge breaking Mielikki out of her shell, and provide Tasia with much satisfaction if she could steal a single kiss, but if not, time with Mielikki in which she could admire her beauty was all Tasia could ask for.

---

"Suitable Offerings"
By: Ferrig Mullerin
Raeila Selrid
Dani

Location: Thanatos
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Ferrig Mullerin stepped away from the bed with a smile. The small form tied to the frame of the bed glared at him angrily. He'd used specially designed cuffs that were lined with reisa fur to be as gentle as possible. She would have shouted at him again had he not gagged her.

"Now stay quiet and everything will be fine," he said. It was an empty threat. Despite kidnapping her from the city and bringing her here then tying her to a bed, he did still love her. He doubted anyone would believe him, but it was the truth of the matter. "I'll be back later and we can spend some quality time together." He'd considered drugs that would make her more amenable, but didn't want to risk the harm they could cause her.

He stepped back through the doorway and closed the door. He turned and found Raeila standing there watching him. He couldn't help wondering just how much she'd seen before he'd closed the door. He guessed enough. "Good morning, my beautiful sister. How are you today? I must say I've missed you terribly."

"So much so you needed to bring home a pleasure girl?" she asked coolly. "Get her out of here, Ferrig! I don't want that trash in our house." Raeila lunged past Ferrig, her hand grasping the door latch.

He moved to catch her. "It's not a pleasure girl, Raeila. It's Tralesha. She's pregnant and a little emotional, so she's there to keep her safe. She's going to have my baby."

Raeila's wide, stunned eyes stared up at Ferrig. "What?" she breathed. "You can't do this, Ferrig. You...you have to let her go!"

"Just let her walk away with my baby? Our baby? Until Kael fixes whatever Nieme did to you, Rae, this baby is as much yours as it is mine. It has a part of us in it."

"I...I don't want this," she whispered, though her eyes drifted towards the room within which Tralesha lay, and reflected in her thoughtfully uncertain gaze were all her hopes and desires, though one dominated all the others. "I want a baby," she sobbed gently. "But...not like this, Ferrig. It can't be like this!"

"You're willing to let Kael have one with Dani and claim it as yours though," Ferrig said. "It's a great idea, of course. Dani's a beautiful, wonderful woman, but...but what of you will be in your baby if Kael has it with her? With Tralesha's baby, it'll have some of us. And, she did love me, Rae. I know she can again. Maybe...maybe you could help her come to see me better."

Raeila shook her head briskly and jerked away from Ferrig, but he held fast to her arms. That she relented in her struggles so easily alluded to Raeila's weakening resolve. To have a child with her own blood when she could not conceive her own was a recurrent dream that tormented her daily. It was difficult to refuse Ferrig's gift, but Raeila's conscience impelled her to resist. "Ferrig...please stop this. I...I couldn't-- What about Tralesha? You can't keep her locked up forever. This can't work!"

"What...what if I go with Dani, she has a baby with me, with our blood," Ferrig said. "Unless you wanted her baby with Kael, so you could have both of your lovers in your baby. I mean, if you do...help me get Tralesha to remember her love for me. If she loves me again, she won't have to be locked up. All she has to do is love me and want to be with me, and we can let her live here with us without bindings or restraints."

"With your child?" Her compunction quickly fading, Raeila closed her fists around the front of Ferrig's shirt and pulled him closer. "No, Ferrig! No! You can't raise that baby with her. She's not one of us!" Tears streamed from her eyes, which had become wild and vacant as if looking into her mind to consider the crazed ideas Ferrig had awakened. "She's a wetter, Ferrig. You can't let her taint that baby's mind, fill it with wetter ideals. She'll ruin our baby, Ferrig! She'll ruin everything!"

"Then we must take the baby from her," Ferrig said. "Or, she goes through the ceremony like Dani did, becomes one of us. As long as she does before the baby is born, everything will be fine. Or, I could have the baby with Dani. If we could get Talara back or Zari, they could go through the ceremony. Zari's hair is blonde, just like yours."

Raeila smiled hesitantly and absently reached out to touch her hair. "Like mine," she murmured. "And maybe...maybe my eyes?"

"Zari's are blue, but still pretty close," Ferrig said with a smile. "I think her baby would look a lot like you. I know she's afraid of me, but in time she'd love me. If we could bring her here, we could make her one of us. If she looks enough like you, Kael could even have a baby with her, and it'd almost be like he had one with you. I don't think she'd want to go with me, but...but you could convince her. I know you could, Rae."

"But Kael would never agree." She wept plaintively and instead of recoiling from Ferrig's embrace, she accepted it wholeheartedly. "I need a baby, Ferrig. I'm dying inside...I feel so empty."

"If he knows how badly you want this, Rae, he'll accept," Ferrig whispered. "He will, I know it, especially with you guiding him. He loves you and would do anything for you, as he should. First things first though, we need to rescue Zari from those who would keep her from us, from what she was destined for." He kissed her then, tender yet passionate. "Everything will be perfect."

"You promise?" she asked desperately. "You won't let any of them get in the way of our love, Ferrig. I'm the only one you really love, aren't I?"

"I do love them," Ferrig said. "But you will always be my first and greatest love, and no other will ever be able to compare with you. I'll never be able to love another as much as I love you."

He kissed her again, this time with even more passion and desire.

"Oh." As the kiss broke and they both looked, Dani was standing in the hall. Her hair was mussed and she was wearing a light robe that covered just enough of her purple flesh. "I didn't expect you here in the hall." She smiled. "I'll slip downstairs and let the two of you continue."

"You don't have to go," Raeila told her gently. Glancing up at Ferrig, she smiled and added, "If you want...you can join us."

Dani looked at Ferrig, but then at the smile on Rae's lips. "Of course," she said.

Ferrig reached out and gave the tie holding her robe closed a tug. "You won't be needing that, of course," he said with a grin. As he kissed Raeila again, Dani's robe slid open and he took her hand in his and pulled her close. "Just the way it was meant to be," he added as he moved to kiss Dani. "Come on, let's go into the bedroom where we can be more comfortable."

They steered Dani away from the room holding Tralesha, and instead entered Raeila's shared bedroom with Kael. With renewed hope for her chances of being a mother finally, Raeila eagerly joined Ferrig in caressing and kissing Dani. Fully divested of their own clothing, Raeila and Ferrig sank onto the bed with Dani between them. Purple limbs tangled and twined with sun-bronzed, while fingers and tongues probed. As Raeila turned her face to Ferrig's to engage him in a greedy kiss, their eyes connected and shared between them an unspoken agreement. Her plans with Kael to conceive a child through Dani were forgotten as Raeila gave Ferrig room to maneuver, to take her friend.

Ferrig needed no additional encouragement as he slid inside Dani and began to work himself vigourously toward a climax. Between his own actions and Raeila's, Dani was gaining as much pleasure out of their union as he was, and she'd even moved one of her hands up to massage between Raeila's legs. The delirious joy he felt at the union was overwhelming, and when Ferrig's climax hit, it was powerful. As his seed filled her, Dani cried out as well and succumbed to her own orgasm. Their joined cries reached a crescendo as Raeila joined her voice to theirs.

Finally, all three sank back onto the bed, their bodies glistening with sweat. Ferrig let out a long sigh and smiled up at Dani.

Dani, however, looked confused. "What about Kael? About having the baby...with Kael... I shouldn't have done that, as nice as it was, but...but I shouldn't have."

"Don't worry," Raeila whispered soothingly. "If you get pregnant, the baby will still be mine - even more so. It'll have my blood, Dani." She laughed, a free, elated laugh and kissed Dani gleefully. "It'll be even better. It'll be ours, too, Dani - yours and mine."

Dani smiled happily at that. "I'd like that very much," she said. "Do you want two? I can have a baby for you, one with Ferrig and one with Kael. If you'd like."

Raeila giggled and embraced her friend. "We'll see. We have to make sure it took...but just in case, shall we try again in a little while?" Her smile was lascivious and her touch inviting. "Just to be sure...."

Dani grinned and nodded. "Just to be sure," she echoed. "For now, I say we do a bit of snuggling and let your brother get his energy back."

"The two of you are going to be the death of me," he said with a grin as he pulled the two closer against his body. "Though, strangely, I don't mind a bit."

While Dani and Ferrig relaxed drowsily together, Raeila remained wide awake, excited and nervous about the future. "We can't tell Kael," she decided, whispering to herself. "I don't know how he'd react...so he just can't know."

"I won't say a word," Ferrig said as he patted her leg affectionately. "It'll be our secret."

Dani bit her lip, but did not say a word.

"We should go into the city tomorrow," Raeila suggested. "Maybe we could do some shopping...some visiting..."

"A perfect idea, my beautiful sister," Ferrig said with a smile. "I especially like the visiting part. There are some friends we haven't seen in awhile I'd love to visit with again."

"That sounds really fun," Dani said with a sleepy smile.

"If you behave yourself," Raeila told Ferrig seriously, "maybe the Jedi will let you visit the Temple. Then...we could visit Zari. She might like to see us, right?"

"She's not at the Temple," Dani said. "When I was there yesterday, she'd gone. She's staying with Kallia now. I know Talara misses you, Rae."

Raeila smiled slowly. "Really? How do you know?"

"Despite everything Nieme and I did to her, she still likes me and is my friend," Dani said with a smile. "And we talk. She was away on a mission, but last we talked...she asked how you were."

Excitedly propping herself up on one elbow, Raeila gasped, "She did?! I-I should see her. I do miss her. It'd be nice to catch up, right?"

"It would," Dani said with a smile. "I'll see if I can find out where we can track her down. She's been so very busy lately."

"I'm sure there'll be time for us." Raeila sighed dreamily, imagining their joyful day together with everyone reunited. She hoped Ferrig's presence wouldn't ruin it.

Dani leaned over and gave Raeila a tender, loving kiss. "I'm sure there will be."

Ferrig grinned at both and added, "And speaking of time for us, I think I'm ready to go again if you are."

Dani giggled. "Work, work, work." And once again, despite the uneasy feeling deep in her gut, she twined her limbs with Ferrig's and Raeila's.

---

"Night Vision"
By Omri Kedemoth

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

The planet Tae'Karada hung in space, spinning slowly. It's surface mottled with deep blue, greens and browns, topped with swirls of wispy white. The perfect sphere was bathed on one side in the light of the star, the other covered in darkness, pitted with the pin-lights of civilization. The titanium speck of Drogen Shipyards and the small moon Somnie completed the picturesque vision.

Omri admired the view surrounding him as he hung in space. The solemn beauty washed him in a sense of peace.

Suddenly, a dark shadow crept over the planet. He could not see the source, but it darkened the dayside of the world, and it deepened the nightside even more.

Omri felt a sensation of dread and danger. He thought he heard Tae'Karada itself cry out. The dark shadow swallowed Somnie like a thick liquid, and blotted out Drogen. A tendril of inky black reached toward him. He tried to flee, but could not move. As the shadow drew closer, his heart pounded harder, his breath left him, a tangible fear gripped him..

Omri shot up in bed, gasping for breath. He looked frantically around his small room. The dream had been so vivid, he found it difficult to orient himself to reality.

Catching his breath, he laid back in bed, staring at the ceiling. He shivered involuntarily as cool recycled air touched his sweat-covered skin. Closing his eyes, he regulated his breathing and heart rate again, eventually drifting back to sleep, pondering the significance of the dream . . .

---

"From The City to the Sands"
by: Brenna Hennely - Smuggler (PC)
Marsar Tilimat - Smuggler/Co-Pilot (NPC+)

Location: Yelldon District Spaceport New Plouton
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Marsar let out a long sigh as she fumbled around for her tool box which was just out of reach. She was currently in the process of repairing the damage to the ion cannon targeting sensors. For a long time the ion cannon had been a little off while firing and she had decided to see what the problem was. As it turned out the problem was with the sensor located on the underside of the Ion cannon, it had been damaged, for how long she didn't know all she knew was there was no way to repair it, it had to be replaced

"This is going to put us in the black so fast it's not even funny." She let out a long sigh. "At least she's fully fueled or else we would be in a world of trouble." She finally got a hold of her wrench then noticed something, it was completely wet. She glanced over to her left, noticing the Carbuncle just starring innocently at her.

"Thank you, just don't slobber all over it next time, please," she requested as she dried the item with her coverall sleeve. She spied Brenna approaching with two bags, probably the food that they had decided on and ordered. Marsar set her tools down and walked around the cannon, adjusting her sleeve so the dart gun around her wrist was ready to use at a moments notice. "You been followed?" she asked. Brenna shook her head as she approached.

"No Bounty Hunters and no creepy ex-Imperials for that matter, but I got food though," she said tossing one of the bags to her. "I believe that one is yours." Marsar nodded then looked at her.

"They got it right for once, I hope we aren't going to need the credits you spent on this for something else." She finally removed the damaged sensor and tossed it on the table. "Like that, as of right now we can only fire the Ion cannon visually, the targeting sensor is trash and I don't think we have enough credits to get a new one."

***

Brenna set her food down on the table then looked at it. They definitely didn't have the funds to replace the thing now. "Right, well let's just have lunch and then we'll talk;" she insisted pulling her food out of the bag and looking at it' "They got my order wrong'" She though for a few moments as the two went about there meal. Brenna's mind kept flashing back to certain events that had been going on since her father warned them. The encounter with Magnus that almost cost both her and Marsar there lives, the constant worry of Bounty hunters and mercenaries hunting them and now the problem with Credits. She looked at Marsar who had just finished eating and gave her a nervous smile.

"So what exactly are we going to do Brenna?" she asked "She's space worthy, but I wouldn't want to take her to far from here for awhile, she still needs a lot of work'" Brenna nodded in agreement then looked at Mar'

"Do you think she would survive a trip to Thanatos'" Marsar looked at her.

"I believe so why....did you get us a job?" she replied' "A legal one this time?" Brenna nodded in reply. "What's the job?" Brenna pulled her data pad from her pocket and passed it to Marsar.

"There is a small clinic in the Thanatos area that ordered some supplies, I know the pay isn't that large this time around but it's something, It will keep us on our feet for a few months, the man who wants to hire is will be meeting me later to see if were still good, what do you say?" Brenna watched Marsar's reaction and shrugged. "I'll let you think on it ok?" she said Marsar nodded and smiled.

"Thanks," she replied. "I better get back to work." Brenna watched her copilot continue to work on the ship's Ion cannon and though for a moment. Marsar didn't seem too happy about there current situation either but the two of them had to work to survive. She just hoped that it wasn't going to ruin there friendship. They were truly all each other had.

---

"Blind-ish Date"
By Korva Valkier
Amii'a Val'or
Chowe

Location: Trillion Arms, New Plouton
Date: Selene 20th, 5ABY

***

"I know!" he called out from the back room. He didn't know why but the last few days Chowe had been acting very strangely. At first Korva had thought he was in heat, or whatever Wookiees went through for mating, do they have seasons? Korva shook his head. "I don't frigging want to know!" he cursed trying to get the images of Wookiees mating out of his mind, and failing miserably.

"Gggreeahhh!" came the Wookiee's roar followed by the furball himself.

"I won't be late, will you calm down your making me nervous. You're worse than your bloody mother!" he shouted causing Chowe to growl underbreath. "And yes, you do take after her to matter what you say, and I'm talking appearance here!" he called after the vanishing Wookiee.

Smiling to himself, with mild satisfaction, truth to told it was more than mild, regardless Korva grabbed his leather jacket sliding his hands through the arms completing the picture. The red shirt underneath, with the top two buttons left undone showing glimpses of the silver chain around his neck, black trousers and black boots. His blaster was on the bed in plain sight, black against the white sheet, staring up at him wanting him to take it. Reaching forward his hand took the blaster, feeling its cold hard surface, lifting it up. "Just the backup."

Shaking his head he threw the blaster back on the bed. It bounced into the air before coming to rest in the middle of the double-bed. The backup was already slotted in his boot, hidden by the leather material. "I don't know what he wants to see me now, after all these years, did he mention why?"

Chowe only shook his head. Odd, he always offered advice. 'To be careful', 'Don't take any risks'. The list was endless. Sometimes the Wookiee was worse than any relative Korva remembered. "I'm going!" he shouted stepping into his bedroom giving the blaster another glance. Shaking his head, muttering 'no' a few times, Korva stepped out. A speeder was waiting to take him to his destination.

Trillon Arms. The large, and very expensive, restaurant was also owned by the same lucrative individual who owned Kyron Hotel, situated across the street. Never setting foot in the hotel, or the restaurant for that matter, as they were far too expensive and in such a high-class part of the city Korva was a little nervous while sitting in the back of the speeder. He didn't have a clue as to what to expect. "Perhaps this wasn't a good idea..." he whispered to himself.

Amii'a waited alone at the table as the waitress brought her cocktail. She'd not had the pleasure of dining at the Trillion Arms for quite sometime, and she was rather impressed with the table. It offered a stunning view of the city. It was well known that the waiting list spanned at least three years. Wonder who he had to kill for this table, she thought as she smiled at the thought of seeing Korva again. It had been too long.

Try as she might though, her thoughts kept slipping to the previous day and her confrontation with Ambassador Jelv'rey, and her failure to bring Theen under arrest. It was all so twisted, Common now, she thought as she forced herself to put it aside. She had made her report to the High princess, though she was not able to see her in person. Meer'esh was insistent that Yelara was not able to see anyone, but that he would be sure to have the report at the top of the High Princess's itinerary. He was always so quick, and a little to more-than-happy when it came to damning Theen. No matter, it is out of my hands. For the moment.

The restaurant was everything Korva expected, and more. "Wow..." he whispered mouth wide open. Checking his collar he looked around at those waiting for a table and the customers already seated, in various stages of dining. "Should have worn a tie..."

"May I help you sir?" The voice was filled with an undertone that turned Korva's stomach, but he was here for a reason and that didn't include punching the waiter, not matter how much he wanted.

"Reservations for Valkier." Strange that Chowe had set the reservations in his name, and that Tom had allowed him. Tom Jerilam wasn't a man who liked to be upstaged, far from it in fact, he demanded the satisfaction of beating everyone at everything. If he didn't he either pretended he knew the outcome, the he let them win, or called them down-right cheats. That had happened once too often and Tom now walked with a limp, a limp Korva gave him two years ago. So the question remained, why contact Korva now?

"Ah, yes..." the waiter said with an almost bemused smile. It wasn't hard to suspect he'd double checked the booking, probably triple checked it. "This way sir, your friend is already seated and awaiting you." Korva found that odd. Tom wasn't one to arrive early. This must be good, or very very bad.

They walked past tables, some occupied, others not, and entering another section of the restaurant, this had the far wall made of tainted glass so everyone could look out over the city. It was an impressive view. "Your seat sir."

"Hi--" Korva's turned away from the view, having been watching it more than where he was going he hadn't seen who was sitting at the table. He wasn't expecting this. "Amii?" he asked in a shocked and bemused voice. Reflex took over taking the offered seat, as the waiter was still stood behind the chair waiting for Korva to take it. "Your the one who set..." the way Amii'a's eyes knotted together into a frown told Korva different. "Chowe... that rat-raced-traitorous snake. I'll turn his hide into a carpet..."

Amii'a grabbed his hand, "Hold on now, your not getting away that easily mister," she said, her previous thoughts slowly but surely melting away with Korva's arrival. She relished the contact, her skin against his. And it was only their hands.

Korva glanced down at the hand resting on his, his finger interlocked with hers. A shiver ran up at the touch of her skin against his. Damn she was beautiful. "I... suppose I could stay... I don't know why he just couldn't tell me, I wanted to see you, I've just been busy is all."

"You don't say?" she mocked with hurt feelings. "You know, your not gaining my sympathy here. You don't call...and I have to negotiate via a Wookiee. Not exactly the way you impress a girl Korva. I thought you better than that," she said in continuing with her little charade.

"I said I was busy," he said pulling the seat closer. "You have to believe me, I wanted to call, to see you, but with the repairs to my ship its been a full time commitment."

"So I must compete with a boat for your affections?!" she replied, feinting shock and hurt.

"No, of course the ship doesn't mean more to me." Though he crossed his fingers against the lie. So he loved two women. The Wraith. And Amii'a. "I'm here now aren't I?"

"Indeed. Thanks to Chowe," she said with a sigh, followed by a generous sip of her drink. She really needed it. Amii'a gave the man a wink, seeing the look in his eyes. She couldn't bust his balls all night. "It's alright Korvan, really. I could have tried, I should have tried...more...to call, I mean..." she stammered, the alcohol taking a bit of effect, but more so was the intense gaze from Korva, and that stupid grin of his. "I do understand, your ship is your livelihood. As my duties here are mine," she said, realizing she was yet again speaking like a diplomat. It never failed. Gods, why I can't just be normal for one evening... "I'm sorry...I, just having a series a very bad days. I am glad to see you. And you shouldn't be so hard on Chowe," she said with a wide smile.

"Maybe I'll turn his hide into a hanging tapestry instead of a rug," Korva joked waving for a drink of his own, and a refill for Amii'a. "You've had a bad day? What trouble have you been getting yourself into this time?"

"Oh, you know," she said not really wanting to get into it, and not that she was really suppose to divulge such information. "It doesn't really matter. it was yesterday. I'd rather just enjoy the here and now. They seem so far and few between, you know?" she side-stepped the conversation, slipping off a shoe and resting her foot upon Korvan's crotch. "Glad to see me?" she smirked.

Korva glanced around, luckily the table cloth hid most of the action. He had to suppress a yelp when her foot pushed harder, and it happened just at the right time, when the waiter came with their drinks. "Your drinks... sir." The waiter huffed, or sniffed, at them but being a Gelgian it was hard to tell which it was.

"Someone's... frisky..." he grinned running his hand down her foot and up her leg. Her skin was so smooth. "Not that I'm complaining."

"I'd imagine not. So, how long are you planet-bound Mr. Valkier?" she asked as she set to work on her next drink.

Korva shrugged taking his own. "I honestly don't know. The work on the Wraith is extensive, she's been need of repairs for weeks, and with the creds from my last job I've got enough to give her a good work over. A few weeks at least." Korva smiled over the glass looking at Amii'a. "You have anything in mind to keep me busy?"

"I just might," she replied while her foot continued to explore. "The question is, what about yourself, Korva?" she asked more seriously, her playful tone disappearing a the drop of a cred. She removed her foot, never taking her eyes away from his. "We're both busy, we're both adults and I do enjoy our get-togethers. But honestly? Where is this going? A girl needs more than the casual romp and fun."

"Casual romp...?" Where the hell did she get this from? "I enjoy our get-togethers too, I err... just don't know... I mean I like you a lot... don't get me wrong..." Taking a deep breath trying to get his thoughts in order, which proved to be far more difficult. He'd planned this moment a hundred times over, and him yammering on like a Tolikan Parrot wasn't part of the plan. "What are you asking here? You want me to give my life up?" A sudden horrible thought came to him. HIS SHIP!?

"Oh don't look so shocked flyboy, I'm not asking you to choose between me and your ship," she comforted after unintentionally putting the man on the spot. "I just need to know where I really stand. You know me well enough, I respect what you do, and for the most part I'm alright with the times in between, even not knowing where in the stars you are or what your getting yourself into. Gods knows my job takes a lot of my time and travels as well. I look forward to our time together, I...just need to know that its not just all fun and games, Korva. You know? I'm looking...for something...more?"

Standing sharply. He did this sometimes, as a smuggler, pirate and everything in between you sometimes needed to take a chance, so he was making a damned-ass fool of himself for what? Love? Ha. Stepping up to Amii'a he cupped her cheeks with his hands before kissing her long and passionately. Gasps echoed in his ears, he didn't know if it was from Amii'a or the audience around them watching wide eyed in shock. But he didn't care. "There has always been a line I get to in relationships where I bolt for the door and head for the nearest starport, that happened weeks ago. I can't get you out of my head. Even when I'm flying, more so when I'm flying, I want everything."

Amii'a didn't know what to say, and couldn't even if she had wanted to. Still in shock over the abrupt surprise, she opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off.

Kissing her again, for good measure, Korva stepped back a grin plastered on his face. "You wanting some?" he asked a old couple staring at them with a horrific expression on their faces. Huffing, and not all too friendly manner, they turned away trying to act as if Korva, or Amii'a, didn't exist. "Take that as a no." Turning back to Amii'a he stared into her beautiful sparkling eyes. "Just so you know, I'm a smuggler, pirate and sometimes a hell of a lot worse, and I'm not going to change one little bit... not for you, your mother or family, or anyone else."

Amii'a laughed rather out loud, maybe a little to do with the rapid consumption of her drinks, but more to do with Korva...being Korva. She could sense the sincerity in his words, felt it in his actions. "I know," she finally managed, blushing from it all. "I wouldn't want to change you, even if I could."

Nodding in satisfaction Korva took his drink downing the last of it. "Good." He said with pride coming through the smile he was trying to hold back. "You hungry, or want to skip to desert?"

"Mmm, let's skip to it."

---

"Nightcap"
By Amii'a Val'or
and Korva Valkier

Location: Amii'a's apartment, New Plouton
Date: Selene 20th, 5ABY

***

They had left a trail of clothing from the door to her bedroom; a boot here, a shirt there, a blaster here and a blaster there. A small table had been up-ended, its contents added to the numerous articles about the apartment, having been discarded with little concern in the heat of the moment.

Amii'a strode atop Korva, digging her nails into his chest with each wave of motion. Sweat glittered about her body from the illumination the city lights had cast through her window. She bent over, her tongue hungrily searching for his. A moan escaped her mouth as her position changed atop him, causing a shudder of pleasurable satisfaction.

"Ah... god..." he moaned against her hands on both of her hips partially guiding her, partially just enjoying the feeling of her. Opening his eyes he looked up at her, her mouth was wide open in a half moan, eyes closed, face looking to the ceiling. Already strands of hair were plastered to her neck and face from sweat. She was intoxicating.

***

Amii'a had laid her head on his shoulder, slowly running her fingers up and down his muscular chest and abdomen, stopping momentarily at various scars. Every inch of her body begged for sleep, but she still remained in the afterglow throes of ecstasy. "Damn," she sighed with satisfaction.

Korva couldn't help but laugh, agreeing with the statement entirely. "Feeling's more than mutual..." he whispered kissing her lightly on the head running his fingers through her hair. His hand continued down her spine to as far as he could reach, which was just bellow the centre of her back. It was a struggle to keep his eyes open, but he wanted to, gazing up at the ceiling, he wanted this to last forever. It would be perfect if they were flying and making love, that would have been perfect, and it conjured interesting images.

She relished his strong hands that gently caressed her back, forcing her to press closer to his warm body. Her thoughts drifted as sleep tried to claim her, but she wouldn't allow it just yet. She knew he'd by flying away once the Wraith was fixed and she was okay with it. Her duties kept her busy for days upon days, hours upon hours, just as his own travels would keep him away. She wasn't the neediest of women, all-to-independent, and she suspected Korva liked that about her. He was the kind of guy that needed that freedom and space. She still had needs though, but he had assured her of his intentions, not so articulately- but in a fashion that was all Korva.

She knew she had strong feelings for Korva, feelings that seemed to grow exponentially with each of their encounters, emotions that didn't fade even when time kept them apart. She knew if they were ever to have a real life together, it would be as unconventional as the facts of their own separate lives. The stars continually beckoned him as the duties of serving her people called to her. Somehow, someway, she knew they would find that common ground that would work for them both. It got her thinking, with all things considered of the past days. She wondered if she couldn't tie up things at work and take some time off, just escape from everything and be with him.

"I was thinking," she whispered as she snuggled closer. "While your here, I have some things to finish up on with work. I haven't really haven't taken any time off in only gods knows when. I don't want to intrude, but I think it would be nice to leave with you for awhile," she said as she grabbed him firmly-but-gently. "I'd earn my keep of course."

An old proverb came to mind: 'Women, ships and bad luck walked hand-in-hand'. Of course whoever said that didn't know women every well, it remained well known that refusing a woman passage was considerably worse than taking your chance against Lady Luck, less unhealthy anyhow, and Lady Luck was a lady after all. You'd think she'd understand, but being of the female persuasion who could say what she understood. "Earn you keep eh?" he asked grinning. "And what would those services entail?"

"I'm sure we could work out an arrangement, but I'll tell you now I don't clean or cook!"

"I see... what no cooking?" That got him a nice elbow in the ribs for his troubles, he faked an injury moaning as he rolled onto his side coughing. As a hand reached around him he grabbed it pulling Amii'a over him, she yelled, much to his satisfaction, as she hit the back on her back with Korva sliding around pinning her arms above her head. "So I ask again, no cooking?"

"What? You have Nerf-shit between the ears," she laughed. "I'm not the domesticated type."

"Such language, and from a high-class born, I'm deeply shocked." Of course he wasn't, the grin and gleam in his eyes spoke the truth. Adjusting his hands so he only needed one to keep her arms pinned, his left hand ran down the side of her face and neck to cup her breast feeling its firmness. "Suppose I could think of other things..." he trailed off as his thumb ran over her nipple.

"Uh-huh," she said with a smile as she wriggled her way out from under him. As she left the bed she said: "Nice try you pirate. Now put your pants on and come buy me something to eat. We'll negotiate afterwards, I'm starving."

"Didn't mommy tell you, 'never negotiate with a pirate'", he laughed kicking his legs over the bed standing. He saw his boxers lying in the middle of the carpet. "Where did I put my trousers, and shirt, and boots..." the list seemed endless...

"Mmm, let's skip to it."

---

"Uncooperative Prisoner"
By Connor Moonsgrave
Rilanna Kir

Location: Prison Block, Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

Connor glanced over to the dim light that slight illumination to his prison cell. He felt his body in pain, but he remembered the medical droid saying that he'd been far enough away from the bomb, and that was the factor that saved Connor's life.

How is possible that I got away unhurt from the explosion with only a few bruises and a few cuts, if I was looking directly at it? Connor thought as the guards making their rounds passed his cell. It was the only comforting sound and would broke the monotonous sound of buzz from the shielding from his prison cell.

He also heard sometimes the prisoner on the cell next to him, began to sing out loud just not to hear the buzzing sound. But for almost a day - Connor measured through the rounds of the soldiers and by the times they served meals to the prisoners - he did not heard him.

He closed his eyes and continued to entertain his mind by counting the paces of the guards and calculating the average of paces that guards took to complete the corridor.

After several minutes Connor began to hear another set of paces and it stopped in front of his cell. "The name is Connor Moonsgrave, ma'am!"

"That saves me a question," the woman said. "I'm Rilanna Kir, head of security here on Drogen. You were pretty banged up in that explosion. Our medical facilities patched you up. The reason you're in a cell is because we don't have a lot of information, so until we have everything sorted out, everyone involved in that incident is in a cell. Now, do you have anything you'd like to tell me?"

Connor continue to keep his eyes closed and focus on the voice of the woman. "How I do I know that you are who you say you are? You can be an assassin that works for the bomber and wants to kill the only person that remembers him! Why should I trust you?"

"That you're still breathing is your first clue," Rilanna said. "And I'm the one who controls the locks to this place. If you're happy in there, and don't want to help me, then enjoy your stay. If you want to have a hope of getting out of there before your hair turns grey and your teeth fall out, start talking."

Connor laughed and finally looked to Rilanna. "I like you! You don't take crap from nobody!" Connor smiled and finally sat on his small bed and glanced to beautiful woman. "Shoot away!"

"So, what can you tell me about what happened down there," Rilanna asked. "Someone set off a bomb, and I think it was more than a thrillseeker. I'm thinking it was deliberate, and there was a target."

"I agree with you." Connor said. "The assassin knew very well where to place the bomb to eliminate every head of the criminal faction, but I can't figure who would win over this." Connor looked towards Rilanna and thought for moment and then quickly shook is head. "At first hand the person who win with this is your superior, the big head of Drogen Shipyards, but..."

"When Administrator Anoran wants something done, she has me do it," Rilanna said. "And, she wouldn't have anyone set off bombs in her own station. What was the meeting for? Why were those people there?"

Connor nodded in surprise from what Rilanna said. "I'm surprise that you do not know! Since Rila Silvari was working for Administrator Anoran to try to find a pacific solution to the gangs problems in lower levels." Connor watched and saw that Rilanna did not knew what he was talking about. Connor could see in Rilanna's eyes that she was speaking the truth when she mentioned Anoran... "OH, SHIT!" Connor raised his hands to cover his face and then his mouth. "I have been played! I can not believe this!" Connor punched the wall in pure anger. "Let me guess Administrator Anoran never ordered Rila Silvari to negotiate with the gangs in the lower decks, did she?"

"She would never go outside of station personnel on something like that," Rilanna answered. "And she definitely wouldn't leave me out of the loop. No, Rila Silvari was not working for her. Either someone was deceiving him into thinking he was, or he was deceiving you into thinking he was. Do you know what these negotiations entailed?"

"First of all Rila is a she and the reunion was in stand off, since there was discussion between two gangs that wanted the control of a particular sector." Connor looked to Rilanna. "Rila presented her credentials. And let me tell you something, I have been in this kind of business long enough to distinguish a forgery when I see it and the credentials I saw were real and there was no sign the credentials were changed."

"I can assure you that she was not working for this station," Rilanna said flatly. "Regardless of how real they looked, they were forgeries. Now, the gangs wanted control over sectors of the station, I'm assuming. Do you know which section?"

"I think it was the thirty second!" Connor said.

"How much do you know about their plans, what they wanted and what they were going to do? And do you know who wanted to stop them from gaining that control? Unless it was a hit on the leaders who were there, the only other logical reason to bomb that meeting was to stop it from happening."

"All things indicate it was one of the leaders, but the clues seems to point in the direction that there was much more happening. With Rila not working for Administrator Anoran, this indicates that it was Administrator Anoran who planned the bombing, since she did not worked for her. Who would benefit to incriminate her?" Connor believed that Rila was played too, because the credentials did not seem fake, but to Rilanna's words that it was. It was a good job to fool him and when she hired him she looked that was taking this job for sure.

"I do not want to rush, things, but I figure that while we debate what happen or coming up with conspiracy theories, the real bomber is getting away." Connor said as he continued to look at Rilanna. "The bomber is professional assassin and we will never know who was behind it until we are able to find him. And I am the only person that can recognize him."

"And how can I be certain you aren't the assassin?" Rilanna asked. "And, before you utter another word, just forget about Shrezade Anoran having anything to do with this, alright? If she wanted someone dead, she'd send me, and I'd finish the job with a single blaster bolt. If you had any idea who you were talking about, you'd realize how utterly crazy it is to think that Anoran would authorize anyone to use any sort of explosive device on this station, even Down Below. This is her station, and she has no intention to see any of it damaged in any fashion."

Connor watched while Rilanna accuse him of being the bomber. Connor turned away and walked to the bed and where he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes again. "It seams that you are trying to blame this on me while the true bomber is running free on the station. Now if you have something of interest to say, then say it, because you made me lose count of the steps of your guards!"

"You blatantly accuse the administrator of this facility of trying to blow up her own station, but as soon as I suggest that you could potentially be a suspect and have given me no credentials to assure me that anything you've said is on the level or even truthful, and you curl up in the corner and sulk like a spoiled child. Perhaps it's for the best. Things can get rough here on the station, and there's no room in this investigation for a so-called man who hides in the corner when he gets his feelings hurt."

"Spoiled?" Connor burst in laugh. "You call me spoiled?" Connor opened his eyes and looked to the side. "The one who is being spoiled is you because you want your precious administrator not to be involved in some way in this because she would rely on you to solve the problem." Connor paused. "Oh, I see. You want me to be guilty, don't you? You are scared to find the truth, so you are trying to blame this on me, anyway you can." Connor gave small smile and closed his eyes again. "Well lady you can forget it, find another scapegoat for you precious administrator."

Rilanna Kir's weapon cleared her holster in the blink of an eye. Scarlet blasts panged against the walls of the cell, far too close to Connor's head to have been accidental, one to either side, and one just above. She adjusted her aim one more time until the weapon was directed to the point just between his eyes. "Now that I have your attention," she said, her voice a growl. "Stop trying to point this investigation at Administrator Shrezade Anoran. Do so one more time, I will core your skull and flush you out of the nearest airlock where no one will ever care that you're gone. I don't know if you are insane or just incredibly stupid, though I think perhaps it may just be a bit of both. Anoran is not a suspect at this time. She has no motive for the actions you've described. The fact that you keep trying to insist that she involved gives me cause to suspect you have other motives in pointing a finger at her. Give me a reason not to suspect you, and perhaps I can scratch you off my list. Or, let me put it another way: you are a suspect in the investigation, and I strongly suggest you start trying to help yourself. Give me proof that you're not involved other than as an innocent bystander, and we can start trying to find the person responsible."

Connor lay there on his bed staring down the barrel of Rilanna's blaster. "Intimidation is an odd weapon when you use it too hard." Connor smiled for a second, then he approached the woman with a look of tranquility in his eyes. "I'm beyond saving Rilanna and if my destiny is to die right here, it will make things extremely easier."

The silence stretched for several long moments. Connor never closed his eyes, and instead looked into hers. He waited for death to reclaim his soul, but the shot never came. "I do not have any proof that will help me in this lifetime, unless you would believe in my word, but I figure that is impossible, since you do not believe me."

Connor looked to the corridor. "GUARD!" The guard looked down at the cell, saw Rilanna standing there, then continued on with his business. "I'm finished with the lady. I have nothing more to say to you. You now hold all the cards and it is up to you how you play your hand: you believe me and I help you catch the real criminals behind the explosion or you leave me to here until there is twist of destiny."

Connor walked to the bed and lay down and closed his eyes, waiting for Rilanna's reply, but he already knew what would be her reply.

Rilanna holstered her blaster. "You started out so well," she said. "But then you stopped being helpful and got caught on accusing the last person who would ever try to damage this station. If you decide you want to be helpful again, let one of the guards know and I'll come back. If all you can do is accuse Administrator Anoran, then there's no help you can give me."

With that, she turned and was gone.

---

"Jedi Downfall"
By: High Princess Yelara Zaneth
Meer'esh
Various Officials

Location: Palace of Arcadia, Arcadia
Date: Selene 20, 5 ABY

***

The rumour was that the story had its beginnings in one of the clubs of the Yemol district. The Fallen Empresses still live. The Jedi are harbouring the Fallen Empresses. The Jedi are in league with the Fallen Empresses. Security cameras had captured the fleeing form of Dani, purple skin concealed by a large cloak. As she ran from the crowd, however, the camera had recorded the flash of flesh that told the story true. Two women and a man, and the man was clearly a Jedi. The other woman, the crowds had asserted, was Nieme. The man had tried to use the Jedi Mind Trick on the crowd, one man assured reporters on the scene, but most had not fallen prey to the suggestions. One man evidenced the signs of one subjected to the Force suggestions as he calmly sipped a Jawa beer in the corner while rioters tore Trancemania apart from within.

The three had disappeared before the crowd could get to them, and calls to the Jedi had not revealed any information as of yet. Koran Darr, Grand Master of the Jedi Order, had been the Jedi to answer most of the calls made to the Temple, but after only a few replies that such accusations were out of place, had ceased to answer the calls.

And so it was that the issue was brought before High Princess Yelara Neerou. Advisors and Councillors filled the hall, now moved into a much larger room with representatives from all over the planet and system, as well as many Alliance members from outsystem.

"The lies and deceit of the Jedi are a thing of legend," Representative Cline Barred of the Yesdol district said from the floor as he addressed his fellow delegates and High Princess. "We now know that Emperor Palpatine's reign was a vile and murderous thing, built on fear and oppression, but perhaps the charges leveled at the Jedi during the Old Republic were not the deception these new Jedi claim it to be. It is now clear that we cannot trust them!" More calmly, he turned to face Yelara. "Your Grace, we must demand the Jedi surrender Nieme and Dani to us to be tried for their crimes against all of Tae'Karada. The Jedi are not above the law, and they should not be allowed to withhold known criminals from justice. If the Jedi are unwilling to cooperate with this government in handing over the fugitives, Nieme and Dani, then the Jedi are just as guilty!"

The entire hall rose to its feet and roared with thunderous applause. Yelara remained as composed as she could manage in the face of the outcry assailing her. She raised her hand to command silence and order, but her authority meant very little in that moment. They were demanding action, but Yelara couldn't indulge them. Doing so meant shunning the Jedi...and Liam. Her head was pounding, the pain sending daggers into the backs of her eyes, and worrying Yelara that her symptoms were returning. There were more pressing concerns now, however, and making certain her council didn't tear up the conference room was one of them.

Anticipating what she was about to do, Meer'esh rose swiftly and fanned his hands at the representatives to hush them. "Your High Princess is wanting to speak," he informed them boomingly. Everyone seemed shocked when the demure, normally timid aide's voice rattled the chambers. Yelara, however, was not in the least surprised. She had seen a side of him in the past few days she never believed could exist in the gentle man she once cared for. Within him there lived a monster, a dangerous one, and even now she dreaded its awakening, so she remained silent, allowing him to command the room, and he did, for all the irate comments ceased at once and everyone turned their attention to Meer'esh. His glare flashed across each of their faces, and everyone in turn reclaimed their seats. Meer'esh tipped his head at Yelara, who returned with a look that burned with hatred. He frowned as he began to seat himself, but Yelara was already gazing out upon the representatives.

"I've heard the claims and I understand the concerns," she began, addressing them in a voice lacking power and clarity. "The Jedi are our greatest allies, and possess admirable loyalty and virtue. How can I, and how can you all be so hasty to believe these uncorroborated claims?"

"The Jedi were once the greatest allies of the Old Republic as well," the young representative from the province of Arcadia said, "and we see where it ended up. If you are concerned, contact the Grand Master of the Jedi, and request his prisoners be turned over to us for their lawful judgement. His response will allow this body to assess the loyalty and the virtue of the Jedi. That is if the Jedi will even admit to giving the two who caused so much pain and suffering a safe haven to hide from justice."

"Why is it, Representative Palin, you would rather believe they are deceiving us than consider they may be telling the truth?" Yelara inquired a touch sardonically.

"Because it gives me more comfort to think that the Jedi are harbouring these fugitives than rogue Jedi upon the planet protecting them from the justice they deserve," was the answer. "The Jedi Order can be dealt with...a rogue Jedi apart from them, not so much. The Jedi wield a power greater than any of us in this chamber can comprehend. If they cannot be trusted to turn fugitives from justice over to us, can we truly trust them to survive among us? We can strengthen our military to protect ourselves from threats, but I say the chance of a Jedi turning, as Nieme and Dani have already done, is too great a threat to our planet. They would cut our soldiers to ribbons. The danger is too great to your people, Your Grace. I have heard rumours that they've even lost another apprentice. What protection do we have if this lost Padawan follows the path of darkness. The Jedi Order presents too much of a danger to the people of this planet. If those two still covet that throne, or even this new lost Jedi , do you believe your protectors could hold your throne against them? Even now, they could be stealing into your chambers to use your baby as the leverage to take the throne back. Are the guards who guard your son capable of defeating a Dark Jedi? Three Dark Jedi?"

Yelara's eyes narrowed to cold shards of violet ice that speared the politician. "I will not be swayed by scare tactics, sir," she informed him coolly. "I thank you for your concern - though its sincerity is questionable - but leave the safety of my child to his mother." Then, she turned her scathing look from the man to the rest of the council members. "If you suggest we ostracize the Jedi because you fear their powers, then you, ladies and gentlemen, are no better than the former Empire and are leading me to question your judgement. Have none of you the capacity to see reason? Yes, they have lost control of three of their students in the past, but have they not worked alongside this government to rectify the matter? Have they not been apologetic?" Yelara paused a brief moment, holding up her hand to stay any who would interpret her silence as an opportunity for comment. "I refuse to heed the advice of this council to sever ties with the Jedi on the basis of unsubstantiated rumours. If I were to do so, we would seriously need to question the competency of myself, and this council, as the ruling body of this planet. I won't, on the other hand, dismiss these claims. If there is truth in them, then and only then will I proceed with appropriate measures to protect the people of Tae'Karada. That is why," she concluded with finality, "I will personally speak with Master Koran Darr and the rest of the Jedi council to seek the truth of the matter. Then we will reconvene, where I will divulge my findings to you all. Until then" --Yelara rose to indicate the end of their inquisition-- "this ends. I will not have you feeding the paranoia of our citizens. If it's the incitement of riots and violence you desire, then stay your course, and you will undoubtedly succeed, to the detriment of us all."

As Yelara departed, the assembled councillors and representatives erupted into shouts and cries, appealing to each other and to Meer'esh. "Show her some sense," some cried. "You must make her see," others intoned.

From the table that sat Riga's representatives, one stood and announced that if the Jedi threat were not addressed, Riga would withdraw from the Outer Rim alliance. Other representatives from other Tae'Remok planets and systems echoed a similar sentiment. While most of the expressions showed deep outrage over the matter, a small, yet significant, number appeared quite pleased with the turn of events. To look at them, if any within the hall had bothered, an observer would clearly see that things were going exactly as planned.

***

"That is not what I had been telling you to do in there, Yelara!" Meer'esh grasped her arm and twisted it painfully as he jerked Yelara back towards him. He had been containing his anger with varying degrees of success en route to Yelara's chambers. Now inside, he could no longer hold back. Yelara gasped sharply as she spun about, but when facing him her expression conveyed not pain but abhorrence.

"You want me to denounce the Jedi," she hissed, "and I won't do it! You hate Liam and what we have, but I won't condemn these people because you want him out of the way." She wrenched her arm free and staggered back unsteadily. "I won't do it!"

"You will," he informed her darkly. No matter how quickly, yet clumsily, Yelara backed away, Meer'esh seemed always looming over her like a shadow, impossible to shake unless she submersed herself in complete darkness, yet it was the darkness she feared most and it thrived within Meer'esh's gaze. "This must be done, Yelara...or there is being consequences."

"I accept those," she growled. "You can harm me as you wish, I will not bend." Her present condition, however, belied those noble words. She was frail and obviously ailing - her skin had again become clammy and ashen, giving evidence to the return of her previous condition. As outwardly hostile and threatening as Meer'esh was forced to appear to protect Yelara's life, within he was in agony. She hated him so, but Meer'esh loved Yelara unfalteringly; if forces weren't conspiring against them and if circumstances had been different, he was convinced she would return his love. Perhaps once it was all over.....

He nearly dropped the charade and rushed forward to assist as Yelara's heels knocked against one of the steps leading to her bedchambers. She fell on an angle, landing on her side instead of her back, and gave a cry as the edge of the steps buried into her hip, ribs and thigh. Already weakened, Yelara was incapable of picking herself up from the ground. The sight was enough to shatter Meer'esh's resolve, but more was at stake than Yelara's opinion of him - Meer'esh approached and stood above her, offering no help. Sobbing breathlessly, with pain-stricken gasps intermingled, Yelara clawed her way up the stairs, the embellishments and jewels sewn into her gown grating against the marble flooring. Meer'esh followed slowly behind.

"Yelara" --his voice had softened but was still insistent-- "go back in there and tell them you have been making a decision. Tell them you are placing the Jedi under arrest, that you will be raiding the Temple for those two demons. Then, all will be well, Yelara." She had managed to reach the landing and was crawling towards her doors. It was a piteous sight, and Meer'esh was forced to close his eyes as he whispered, "Then...then your son will be returning to you, unharmed."

Yelara's reaction was delayed, but only to provide her with time enough to gather her strength. And when she did, a keening, achingly sorrowful cry ripped from Yelara's throat. The panic replenished her once waning vigour; Yelara scrambled to her bedchamber door, managing to regain her footing. She flew through the room, eyes blinded by tears and feet tripping on her skirts, shrieking her son's name without reply. Bursting into his nursery, reality was still unsuccessful in hitting her until Yelara reached the empty crib.

"Va'Lesh!" she cried, tearing his blankets free and tossing them aside. "Va'Lesh...my son!" The mattress followed, but by then Yelara was convinced. Prepared for the backlash, but still surprised by it, Meer'esh found himself evading Yelara as she rushed him. A palm smeared with blue blood came away from Meer'esh's face after Yelara's blow had landed; her second attempt was impeded as Meer'esh seized her wrists, though she struggled feverishly, intent on murdering him with her bare hands. "He will be returning, Yelara, if you will only be listening to me! Why are you resisting!?"

"I can't," she mouthed, barely able to speak amid the sobs. "This is wrong."

"It is not mattering to my employers," he told her gently. "They want this to be done. Tell them, Yelara...you must be telling the council you are condemning the Jedi for their crimes...that they are outlaws."

"No," she gasped. "No...Liam!"

He visibly winced at the sound of his name, making his hatred and fear of the man apparent. "He is not here...he will not be in time to stop this thing. Do this" --one pale hand raised towards Yelara's cheek-- "and Va'Lesh will be back."

Yelara sank slowly to her knees, despair overwhelming her, and the realization of what she was on the brink of agreeing to. "I...I can't.... It's wrong."

"There is not being a choice," he whispered. "Do this, Yelara.... If it is not coming from your own lips, a statement can be fabricated, your identity forged... In the end, the Jedi will be damned still and your son..." He lowered his voice so that the regret in it could not be discerned. "He will be dead, Yelara, as will you be. It is being your choice."

An ironic, tearful laugh emerged from her trembling lips. "Not much of a choice...not if it's the only option."

Meer'esh smiled. "Then you will be doing it?" He released her and Yelara crumpled fully to the floor. She shook with quiet sobs, but even so Meer'esh perceived a faint nod. He withheld a relieved sigh and watched her with much regret. "I will contact my employers and be giving them the good news. Then I will be arranging a meeting with the council members, followed by a press conference where you will be announcing your decision."

"I need to speak to Liam first," Yelara murmured. "I have to warn him."

"You cannot. You are not being allowed to communicate with anyone outside the palace...not until this is being resolved."

Yelara was silent, then haltingly looked up at Meer'esh with eyes so visibly consumed by hatred he was certain there could never be a future for them. One never forgot being so horribly wronged by another; Meer'esh knew from experience - he would never forgive his overlords, no matter the apologies offered, nor would Yelara. She was lost to him forever.

A sad, contrite smile touched Meer'esh's purple lips, but Yelara's expression refused to soften. He bowed curtly. "I will be leaving you now. The guards posted outside your door are knowing you cannot leave your chambers. Good day, your Highness." Turning on his heel, Meer'esh stalked away, allowing Yelara an opportunity to nurse her grief in privacy. And that she did, curling in on herself to weep into her lap while she pined for her missing child, and for Liam's return.

Not even Oot was there to provide support, though Yelara now suspected the sudden business meeting she was called away for had been contrived by forces even the Twi'lek didn't understand. She was thoroughly alone with no way out, and no way to warn the Jedi of what was about to befall them. If only she'd seen Meer'esh for the villain he was instead of being blinded by his innocent charm. If only her memory had returned sooner...

Dwelling on all her "what if's", Yelara remained alone with her despair, waiting for the moment when the disaster orchestrated by Meer'esh and his employers would strike.

---