"Latent Anger"
By: Kylas - Jedi Master Elisia - Padawan

Location: Bimmissaari - Kylas' ship
Date: Saris 21, 3 ABY

***

Kylas had finished stowing the gear and supplies and wore his heavier Jedi robes. "We're ready to go, Love. You ready?" he called back out to the house from the ramp.

Elisia gathered her things up and quickly joined him. "Why do you wear the robes?" She was curious; she liked how he dressed on planet.

"Because I am a Jedi, and it's our traditional wardrobe. That and I forgot to unpack some clothes. All my stuff's in my berth. I'll change once we're space born." He smiled. "Come on, slow poke, we're running a little late." He laughed and walked back in.

"Why is that?" she asked, following him. "Why are robes traditional? I mean, they don't seem very functional."

"I really don't know that. Must be symbolism. Never really cared much for knowing the reason. They're just comfortable I guess." He smiled and closed the main hatch and walked to the bridge.

She frowned. They did nothing for his excellent physique. She stowed her gear and quickly moved to help him get things buttoned down for lifting off.

He sat down at the con and powered up the engines. "Ack, well this will take a sec." He lifted off and cruised smoothly through the atmosphere. "Well we're airborne. Back to your training." He smiled.

"Training? What are we training now?" she asked with a frown. They were flying. "Don't you have to fly?"

"Ah...the marvels of auto pilot." He flicked a switch. "I want you to practice." He started working on the nave course.

"Practice what?" she asked with a smile. "I mean, you have taught me a lot of different things."

"Your saber work, trying to lift things with the force, extending your senses. Anything to do with your training, a few lessons. Won't teach you everything you need to know." He smiled back and walked off the bridge to his berth.

Elisia frowned. She could think of more interesting things to practice. She went to the main cabin and sat at the table. She sat a piece of metal equipment on the table. She had no idea what it did and sat down. She focused her mind on lifting it. Lifting was still the hardest thing she had found to do. She could sense its structure and form and yet lifting it felt as if she were lifting two hundred pounds physically, only her head hurt however.

Kylas walked back into the main cabin and looked at his ailing student. He sighed. "Love, you need to try and relax your mind. Let things focus more clearly." He walked up behind her and massaged her temples gently. "Let your mind flow with the force." He shook his head. He had changed into a blue tunic and black loose fitted pants.

The item fell hard to the table when he called her 'Love'. She looked up at him a little startled and then smiled. "Do you have one thing that is harder for you to use the force with than others?"

"In the beginning yes." He nodded and looked down at her. "Telepathy was my big thing." But now it's much easier. He smiled.

Telepathy is easy for me as is putting my will in others. I used to call it wishing. But moving things is like they weigh a thousand pounds. She reached up and stilled his hands. "And I cannot concentrate when you touch me." She smiled at him.

"I'm sorry. Do you want me to leave you to your studies then?" He smirked.

She shook her head no. "Did telepathy get easy or do you still have to work harder at it than other things?"

"It got easier with practice." He nodded. He sat down across from her. "It was only hard because I focused on defeating myself in a way. I thought it was hard, so it became hard." He smiled. "What other things would you like to do?"

"I thought you wanted me to train?" she responded, somewhat surprised.

"I do, but if you are not up to training, there is not any point in pushing it," he teased.

"Just because it is difficult, doesn't mean I am not up to it," she defended. "Do not go easy on me. I am tougher than I look. Evie has it much harder and she is doing all right."

"Good. Now focus on the object and make it feel like you're lifting it with your hands." He smiled.

"Easier said than done," she quipped. Nevertheless, she turned her attention back to the object. It wavered and wobbled, but she lifted it. However, any attempt to move it while in the air and she would drop it.

"Again," he said. "And this time as with the practice sphere feel the force move along and through it. Bend the force to your will, make it move," he replied and watched her closely.

Elisia concentrated harder and the sphere moved with a little more ease. However, when she focused on moving it again, she dropped it. Her anger flared and she wished the damn thing would just disappear. The ball hurled against the far wall and broke into a thousand pieces. Elisia just stared at the debris, stunned.

"Nice, but I would have just moved it." He looked at her. He stood again and started once again to massage her temples. "You must remain calm. Anger can lead to a place I don't want to see you." He looked at her and kissed her forehead.

"I did that? How did I do that? I didn't feel it move." She was still staring at the pieces.

"Because you allowed your anger to control the movement. You don't realize what you're capable of until you are forced into things."

"I don't understand. Why can I move it easier in anger than in controlled thought." She moved over and examined where it had hit. "And with such force."

"Because a surge of raw emotion is like a surge of raw energy, and uncontrolled can be dangerous." He walked over to where she was and looked down at the object.

"This is how Evie is...most of the time. I could sense a wildness in her. An...an unstable element of emotion and power. Will I be like that?" She looked up at him worriedly, holding a piece of the sphere.

"Yes, that's why I'm teaching you more slowly than your sister. Wisdom must come before power, or you will destroy yourself as well as others." He took the sphere fragment. "Then with control and wisdom, you can do this kind of thing but in control of it."

"One should not have such power," she whispered. She looked at him worriedly. "It was easier to believe that god just granted my wishes sometimes."

"No, he did not." He smiled. "The force did. People with the power have a great responsibility. You must learn control." He nodded.

"How do you control the anger. I can't believe you never get angry." She stood up and looked at him, still a little shaken.

"You must turn it outward and let it wash away from you. Frustration, all of that can be handled through meditation." He rubbed her back slightly.

"You never get angry?" she asked. She didn't understand how someone could do that, just let it go.

"No, I simply let things go around me and I cannot have any malice or feelings of anger." He smiled.

"Hmm...what if someone did something to someone you cared about? You would not be angry?" She was having a hard time with this concept.

"No, but I may not get angry but I do seek justice." He nodded.

"What is the difference? Justice is just a nicer name for vengeance," she retorted.

"No, vengeance is when someone seeks to harm another for personal reasons and gain; justice does not involve ego. Justice is taking the criminal to the authorities and letting the law handle the punishment," he replied.

"What if it's the authorities that are corrupt?" she asked.

"You take them before the people that are wronged and ask for their judgment, regardless of what happens," he replied.

She wasn't sure she believed in this herself. "I will go work some more," she replied quietly.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"Nothing. I just better work on this without anger," she said, returning to sit. She placed a new object on the table, one she was less likely to break.

He looked at her and smiled. "The important thing is to try and relax, conserve your reserves as much as possible." He rubbed her shoulders and went back to the bridge.

---

"Sport Hunting"
Daemor'rah - Bounty Huntress

Location: New Plouton
Date: Saris 21, 3 ABY

***

The streets were rather crowded, but as there were many different species she could pass simply undetected. She acquired a long dark brown cloak from a local and wore it to conceal herself from more curious eyes. She wondered how many bounty hunters there were on the planet, but she figured not too many. Besides, good ones were hard to find these days anyway.

Obviously, Tae'Karada was good hunting grounds for both things she did. She had only arrived and already had she learned about possible prizes to collect, such as Vicks Mason, who was wanted by two factions. And then she had learned that this planet was home to some secret Rebel Factions as well as runaways from the Empire. And both seemed to gather both prizes on their heads, some even dead or alive...

But that was not the main reason why she had come. Money prize hunting was just something she did to collect some money now and then. The real goal here was for her to hunt and collect more trophies from fallen ones, who had once belonged to the Jedi order. From under her cloak she felt the lightsabers she had collected from fallen foes. Amidst them was her own scarlet bladed lightsaber. But she would not rely simply upon those weapons. She always made a point to carry her blasters as well as her long projectile rifle, as well as thermal detonators that had saved her life in other confronts.

She recalled her training from the Vampiric Anzati. Most people would suffer traumas and would not be lucky enough to live and tell the tale about this dark race, but she had lived amongst them and through them had learned to be the best at what she did and become what she was: a cold and merciless killer. It was surprising that they knew the Jedi way of training but lucky enough for her, as she had not even achieved the rank of Padawan in the hands of the Jedi Order. Alas, she got to be as strong as a full Jedi, but rogue and with no code of conduct, but her own.

She would destroy those who had wronged her in the past, as she had promised she would, and she would do it alone, collecting more and more prizes as she did. It was just a matter of time until she did it... It had started a long time ago with the hunt for her former master and proceeded now towards other all the other Jedi. It was not a war against the Dark Side and the Light Side of the force, as she belonged to neither, but more pure killing for the pleasure of revenge.

She looked around. She had picked up a presence that had some influence in the Force. It wasn't a strong one, but it was something. Perhaps a Padawan or maybe not even that. Her bio computer made it easier to pinpoint a precise location of this person. Daemor'rah entered a deserted alley and leaped to the roof of a two story building, as if it was merely a few inches high. Something that came easy for her to do.

---

"Proposal"
By: Dargus Kandran - Crimelord, Kandran Syndicate
Evie Melouet [NPC] - Force Apprentice
High Princess Kalaira Ardelyr-Valreth of Tae'Karada

Location: The Royal Palace of Arcadia
Date: Saris 21, 3 ABY

***

It had taken considerable effort to gain an audience with Kalaira again. Dargus refused to let the woman turn Evie against him. Her honeyed tongue would be just what it would take to push Evie onto a path other than the one he had chosen for her. And, Dargus didn't trust that Kalaira wouldn't use every means in her control to cross him. He knew she hated him, and rightly so. He smiled at the thought. Eventually he would cast down the High Prince, and name himself to the throne, and then Kalaira could join his stable of concubines. He would enjoy taking her again.

When he helped Evie out of the speeder on the landing platform, he nodded to the droid sent to meet them. The droid turned and started into the palace. Not even enough courtesy to meet me herself, he thought. As they walked, he noted that the number of guards was well above normal. It looked like she really didn't trust him at all. That thought brought a chuckle.

Kalaira rose to meet them as they approached. Once again, she was in the regal dress of Tae'Karada. Her curves well accented and visible. "Lord Kandran, so soon? What a pleasure," she said smoothly. "Princess Melouet." She nodded in greeting.

Evie beamed at being called Princess and squeezed Dargus' arm.

It required all his control and restraint to keep from letting his arousal show at the sight of Kalaira's body beneath the equadi she wore. Oh I love this planet, Dargus thought to himself. He knew that showing admiration of Kalaira's attire or her figure beneath it would spark another of Evie's tantrums. "Thank you for seeing us, Your Majesty," he said with a low bow, that held only a little of the mockery he felt it should have.

"It is a pleasure, milord. What can I do for you?" She indicated that both should sit. Kalaira did not receive formally as did Airan in the throne room. She preferred her private parlor for almost all interviews.

"I have reconsidered my earlier position toward the Force, and Evie's training. I wish for her to train with Elisia's mentor. If you could provide me with their location so that we may visit them, and discuss the future, I would be grateful."

"Really? A sudden change of heart? How unlike you Kandran." Kalaira looked at him in surprise.

"I feel it is best for Evie to be instructed in the light, instead of the darkness," he said, knowing Evie would never walk the path of light, but it would bring Elisia back to him. The only thing better than a weapon trained to destruction through the Force was two such weapons.

"I see. It is not my choice. It will be Elisia's new Jedi Master's." She frowned, suspecting a trap.

Dargus nodded. "Then what course of action do you recommend?"

"I can only allow Evie to ask. I cannot determine his answer," Kalaira answered soothingly.

"That is reasonable," Dargus said with a nod. "I only wish to ensure Evie's safety. I would be very upset were anything to happen to my mate." He glanced at Evie, and then back to Kalaira. "If you could arrange for her to speak with him as soon as possible, that would be best. The pull of darkness on her is great, and I fear that I have not acted soon enough. I only hope Elisia's Master has the strength of will to turn her before I lose her completely. Elisia's master..." He shook his head and then softened his look for Kalaira. Such a look was an important tool in his arsenal where so many people distrusted him. "Surely the man has a proper name."

"His name is Kylas and yes she may speak and you may observe. But I suggest you stay out of the picture as he may refuse if he sees you," Kalaira suggested.

"It is only a matter of time before he learns of my involvement in this matter. I know nothing of this man, and you expect me to stand aside and let him do what he will? How do I know that I can trust him with her?"

"He will not touch your mate," Kalaira said with a smile. "But he will remove any Sith ways, I can tell you that up front." She looked at Evie and caught the frown before the girl wiped it from her face. "If it isn't too late already," she added quietly.

Dargus nodded gravely. "Good," he said, keeping the smile hidden. "The sooner the darkness fades, the better for all involved. I would hate to lose her fully to the evil of the Sith."

"You should have thought of that to begin with," chastised Kalaira. "I will contact them, come along and we will see what he says."

"Thank you," he said, bowing easily from where he sat.

Kalaira led them to the comm station and put through a call to Kylas' ship. He finally appeared on the screen. "Kylas, this is Kalaira. How is our student?" the High Princess' voice came in gently.

"She is fine your highness. But you have not observed your end of the deal. We were to remain undisturbed until her training is complete. And as I said she has the choice and may not wish to return to Tae'Karada. You agreed with this, why do you contact us? We are on a mission of the utmost importance,"

"Because her sister wishes to speak with you both," Kalaira answered evenly.

"As you request your majesty." He bowed in polite respect. "Elisia, your sister is on the line."

Evie moved forward to the screen to speak with her sister. She wasn't sure this is what she wanted to do.

Elisia moved forward apprehensively. "Evie? What do you want?"

"I want to train with you. Please?" Evie's voice came across almost pleading.

Kylas looked straight at Evie, "If you were to train with your sister, young one, it would mean you would have to turn your back on your Sith teachings for a time until I have finished training you." He looked at her.

"Dargus found out that being a Sith means more than he wishes me to experience. A recent confrontation convinced him that I would be a threat as a Sith and would cease to love him. Is this true?" Evie had been worried ever since.

"In a manner of speaking, the Dark Side will corrupt you. And you will do whatever it will lead you to do to become stronger, even destroy those you love," he responded evenly. He did not trust Kandran or the Sith.

"I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose my love for Dargus. But I like the powers I have gained." Evie was nothing if not honest. Well, unless she was playing a part, but that was not the case at the moment.

Dargus moved to the High Princess' side and made no effort to hide that he was admiring her body. He raised his hand toward one of her breasts and stopped himself as he caught her gaze. He smiled and then turned back to watch the conversation.

"Understand this: if we were to return to Tae'Karada, nothing will interrupt your training, and we not only focus on your powers, but we will focus your mind and educate you. I will teach wisdom before I teach you power. And your Sith Master must not know. If you would prefer you can join us." He nodded. He sensed something not quite right.

"Dargus is dismissing him. I am worried about that. I do not think he will take dismissal easily. He seems to thrive on my power rather than his own." Evie avoided discussion of what would take place for the moment.

"We need not show your teacher anything," he replied. "We can train and move until you are ready. I have a friend who can help you."

"Would I have to leave Dargus?" She looked worried.

"I will not leave your side, Evie," Dargus said. "They will not separate us."

Kylas could not see or hear Dargus and continued. "Hmm.for a time unless Dargus could assure our protection and a quiet place to learn," he responded.

"I think he can do that. But... Elisia said she would never come here," Evie said with concern.

"Exactly, so you see our dilemma. Your choice, child. Part with Dargus for a short time or not train. I will not violate any promises I have made to Elisia, and I will not endanger my life for a Kandran," he added.

"I will talk to Dargus." Evie sighed. She did not think he would agree for her to go off without him.

"Evie, watch yourself around your Sith master. I think he will betray you," Elisia warned.

Evie laughed a little nervously. "Dargus won't let anything happen to me."

"Perhaps not, but for your safety, I suggest you try and find a pirate ship called the Solar Wind. It is in your sector now. The captain owes me a favor. Tell him I sent you and he will know what to do until I arrive," Kylas replied, looking at Elisia.

"Alright. I will send a message as soon as I talk to Dargus." Evie turned to look at Elisia. "Elisia.I really want to be with you and Dargus. Please?" Her eyes pleaded with her sister.

"I will think about it," Elisia answered. The transmission cut off and Evie turned to look worriedly at Dargus.

"I will not allow you to leave my side, Evie," he said. "If it comes to it, I will find another teacher for you. But, I will not leave you."

"Perhaps we should discuss this at home," Evie suggested gently, looking at the High Princess.

"That may be best, my dear. I am sure you have a lot to think about," Kalaira said gently.

Dargus nodded to the High Princess and then took Evie's hand. "Come," he said. "We will continue this conversation from home."

Evie turned to the High Princess and bowed. "Thank you."

"By all means my dear, return if you wish to give Kylas a decision," Kalaira said gently.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Dargus said, giving her a bow that held obvious mockery. "We will take our leave, as I'm sure you must be quite busy." Without another word, he led Evie out of the communications bay and back toward the waiting speeder.

Evie let him lead her to the speeder. She didn't say much all the way there. She was deep in thought and held his hand firmly.

"Evie, we will get you a master, no matter the cost," he said. "And, I won't let that bastard Kylas take you from my side. I need you where you are."

"Yes, I don't want to leave you. Don't worry," she answered quietly.

Dargus smiled. It was all going to work beautifully. "It will be only a short time before you are instructed in the Jedi arts, and then you will become even more powerful."

"I don't know that I want to train with a Jedi. I like my dark force powers." She looked up at him coolly.

"It is only for a short time," Dargus said. "Only until my plan can be revealed."

She looked at him and frowned. "I need to think. Okay?"

"There should be no need to think, Evie. The plan is very simple. All we need is to get Elisia and Kylas here. Then everything becomes simple."

"Okay," she said with a beginning smile. "But what about my training?"

"Your training will be taken care of," he said with a mirthless grin. "Leave everything to me."

"Okay," she said. "Should I go back and tell them now or wait until tomorrow?"

"We don't want to appear to anxious. We shall tell them tomorrow. And, tomorrow, my ascension to power will begin in earnest. Emperor Dargus Kandran. I like the sound of that."

---

"Character Hunt"
Sandro Kaas [NPC] - Jedi Master
Lorianna Krell [NPC] - Jedi Padawan
Daemor'rah - Jedi Huntress

Location: Yellvin, New Plouton
Date: Saris 21, 3 ABY

***

Sandro Kaas was waiting just where Lori left him, admiring some piece of local sculpture in the middle of the main plaza. Upon seeing Lori, he waved and walked over to her... If walking is the best way to describe it. The Jedi had always been very sure and deliberate in everything he did, from speaking to acting, and the effect was that he didn't so much as walk but glide over to her.

"I trust," he asked in wry amusement, "that Mr. Filehykarr was less than cooperative?"

Lorianna grimaced. Dead on. As usual.

Blowing out a breath, and with it a good deal of tension, Lori answered, "Just frustrated, I suppose. It's taken us five weeks just to get this far, and it seems that the further we go, the more barriers pop up. If it's not a disrupted trade route, it's a Twi'lek who wants his palms greased."

Placing a strong hand on her shoulder, Sandro nodded in agreement. "I could offer a profound piece of timeless wisdom at this point, but I won't. It is frustrating, Lori, I won't deny it. However, we will be out of here in a matter of hours, and it would help if we had an idea of where to go."

Scanning the plaza, his eyes lit up as he noticed something behind her shoulder. "Lunch will be on me, then," he called as he moved toward the restaurant. He had already taken two steps when Lori's stomach began to gurgle in agreement, with a vigour that was surprising.

Falling into step behind him, Lori asked, "How did you know I was hungry?"

"Well, when beings get agitated, they burn energy much faster; that needs to be replaced." Entering the restaurant, he requested seats for two. "Also, when you're eating, your mind is doing something besides soaking in its own frustration. Besides, and don't take this the wrong way, you're putting out enough negative emotions to make a rancor think twice. Therefore,"--he nodded politely to the waiter as they take their seats-- "we eat."

"You learned all this on Darellia?"

Sandro nodded, but his dark eyes held a spark of humour, mirrored in his set jaw. "There's that...but to be honest, Lori, I brought us here mainly because I'm starving."

Typical Sandro, Lori thought, swallowing a chuckle. He'd offer some incredibly insightful comment on the nature of humanity and the fluidity of the universe, dangl a small glimpse of the greater whole bound up by the Force...and then promptly burst his own bubble of spiritual enlightenment with a perfectly mundane explanation as well. He wasn't a typical Jedi, Lori long ago decided, who transcended his origins to become a Guardian of Justice; he'd as dedicated as any, but he tended to celebrate his common roots more than transcend them.

"The way I see it," he continued, pulling out his datapad, "we have a couple of options. We can move into the Norsica Sector, which is closer to the last known location of your brother. Unfortunately, Norsica is being fought over by the Rebels and the Empire, so it could be a bumpy ride."

He spooned a forkful of salad into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully, "Conversely, we can take the scenic route-" Sandro never referred to detours or delays. To him, it was merely the 'scenic route.' "-and proceed through the Dantooine Sector. It's fairly quiet now. In fact, I doubt they even see much in the way of merchant ships, so it's likely that we might be the first people in a long time to visit...which may not be such a bad thing."

"Finally," his finger traced the map, "we could go through the Soccorah Sector. A major trade route runs through it, but only has one or two major stops, so most of the sector lives off of that one route. There are a few backwoods worlds off the route or on minor ones, but most of the region is laid out on a straight line, headed to the rim."

He grinned, casually taking another bite of salad, then asked, "What do you think?"

Lori chewed on a mouthful of her own salad as she thought about which option to take. Logically, Norsica would be the quickest and easiest route, but it was definitely out. She didn't just spend sixty credits getting the 'Forge' refurbished to have it damaged or even destroyed in the current battle between the Republic and Empire. The Soccorah Sector sounded a little safer, but it being a major trade route made it a little less appealing. There was bound to be some kind of bureaucracy in power, as well as any number of trade 'barons', and Lori just didn't have the time nor the patience to deal with it.

Sighing, she looked down at her salad. Dantooine was starting to look good. It had no industrial settlements or advanced technology, and it was far removed from most galactic traffic, which meant that they might be able to enter the system with the least amount of questions and hopefully, without even being detected. Chewing on another forkful of salad, Lori made her decision.

"Dantooine seems like the best way to go," she said around a mouthful of food, looking at Sandro.

"As you wish," Sandro replied, hiding a smile behind his napkin. He had hoped that she would pick Dantooine. There was an ancient Jedi training centre there, established by the Jedi Master Vodo-Siosk Baas over 4000 years ago. Since becoming a Jedi himself, he'd always wanted to visit, and now with only a minor suggestion on his part, it looked like he was going to get his chance to do so.

Lori could sense Sandro's amusement, but decided to ignore it. She'd had a feeling that he had wanted to go to Dantooine all along. Though she knew about the old Jedi training centre and though she was a little curious about it herself, she would never have admitted it.

Putting another forkful of salad in her mouth to hide her own smile, she chewed it for a few seconds. "It'll also be a good chance to test the hyperdrive adjustments Arcee is doing," she continued, " just on the off cha..." Suddenly Lori stopped and looked up, frowning. "What...?" she whispered. "What...?"

***

The following had proven useful. Indeed did the young one have training with a more skilled one. One who would surely be of much more interest to hunt down. A target from which to collect her prize. And one that should prove worth the time it could consume. Of course at this point she had to consider some bounty hunts in order to collect some money, but this was personal, and therefore more important to her.

She saw the young woman go into a restaurant with her jedi master. Even though they were inside she could easily pick up a spot to get a clear shot at him. Of course, it wouldn't be an honourable death, up close and personal, face to face, but it would do her purpose well, as the prize would still be hers to collect... She moved out of sight and went around the building to catch a good glimpse over the restaurant.

The building was not too large and surely if she threw a thermal detonator inside the whole thing would collapse. But that was very unprofessional and not her style. She wanted merely to take the Jedi's life. The others were of no importance to her and she could not care less about their lives... But blowing the whole thing up would be very amateur-like and certainly not her style.

So, instead she moved to a place where she had a clear shot at the table they were seated in. And to her advantage she was even able to conceal herself from sight as she had some junk in which to lay and hide from being seen. She took her long-projectile rifle and set the scope. She could easily, very easily take him down, but as she was about to press the trigger the young woman apprentice had a reaction.

Perhaps she had felt Daemor'rah... Well, this was worth the wait to see what they would do and how they would act. It was a hunting game, and she was the predator. It had been a long time since she had last done this, but she still remembered what it was like, and the fun of the game of killing the prey.

"Let the games begin..." she whispered to herself with a grin.

***

"What?" Suddenly, Lori cried out, sitting bolt upright and startling a group of Bothans sitting at a table behind them.

All conversation in the small restaurant stopped as all eyes turned towards them, curious to see what the commotion was about.

Ignoring them, Sandro turned towards her. "Lori?" he said, concerned with the sense of a sudden shift in the Force. "Lori, what's wrong?" But it was as if she couldn't hear him. He could sense that she had tapped into the Force, but he couldn't focus on what she was seeing. Reaching across the table, he placed his hand on hers. "What is it?" he asked again.

"Something," Lori mumbled, then frowned in concentration. She could feel it, cold and calculating, the presence of something. No wait, she corrected herself, of someone! Someone near!

Gasping at the realisation, Lori abruptly got to her feet and raced out of the restaurant.

"Lori, wait!" Sandro cried, but it was too late, she had already disappeared through the doorway. Quickly getting to his own feet, he threw a few credits onto the table and made his way out of the restaurant to follow Lori.

***

As it were, the young woman stepped outside the restaurant and was now in the open. Surprisingly enough the younger one seemed to have felt Daemor'rah, whereas her master Jedi had not. Perhaps the younger one was promising enough and a good prize for her to take down...

She decided that this game would be more of a hobby than a way of training. For now she would only mark her presence. See what type of reaction she could stir and what sort of prey she was hunting. But mainly she wanted to see how green this girl still was.

She safeguarded her long-projectile rifle and reached out for her lightsaber. Still, she carried one of her blasters also, in her other hand. She backed away from her concealed position and went around. She climbed onto a balcony and from there she ran and jumped, falling near the young woman. She saw the Jedi Master come out also, and she now stood frontwards to them. Daemor'rah waited for a response on their side.

***

Goosebumps rising on her forearms, Lori was filled with a sense of danger so strong, that it was echoing through her head. She could sense it with each beat of her own heart. It was becoming almost unbearable! She had to do something!

Rushing out of the restaurant, she stared wide-eyed into the milling crowd, then used the Force to guide her in the right direction. Turning to her left, she took a few steps forward and then stopped. Tilting her head slightly to the left, she frowned in concentration. Though her eyes were wide open and clear, she was not really 'seeing' the people around her, instead they were focused inwards, focused on the Force.

Sweat broke out on her forehead as she concentrated, panting from the effort, Lori looked around, trying to find the source of the feeling but... closing her eyes, she concentrated. Telling herself to relax, she slowly began to move in a small circle, then...

She sensed it rather than heard it. Someone had jumped down from the building to land before her.

Opening her eyes, Lori looked at the female quizzically for a moment, then, without making any conscious decision, gathered the Force to her.

***

Sandro stood in the restaurant's doorway and watched. Though he was concerned about what was happening, he was impressed with the way that Lori wove between the people walking through the street before she came to a complete stop. As she did, he stepped from the doorway and began making his way towards her.

That was when, finally, alarm bells started going off in his head. Slightly worried, he quickened his own pace. Frowning and thinking to himself that something about this situation just didn't feel right, he made his own way cautiously forward. As he did, he began to sense the presence of something... familiar, but there was something not quite...

With a sharp intake of breath, Sandro came to a stop as the figure landed before him.

Lori turned her head, "What?"

"Lori," Sandro said from a few feet behind her, "don't move." Ignoring his own advice, Sandro slowly stepped forward, till he was standing beside his pupil. Sandro's expression didn't change as he turned and watched the female. "Who are you?"

Daemor'rah looked at the other man in the eyes. In fact she was more interested in this one rather than the girl. He was less impulsive and would surely be more of a challenge.

"It is more a question of what I want rather than who I am wouldn't you say so?!" she told him. She then addressed the young girl, now behind her Jedi Master. "You shouldn't choose such bad companies to spend time with, and most especially you should not want to become one of them. I was once like you but I was lucky enough to have opened my eyes to see the truth."

She then pointed the blaster at them. "I am Daemor'rah, Jedi Huntress, and you are my prey." She grinned.

---

"Jedi Hunting Game"
By: Daemor'rah - Jedi/Bounty Huntress
Sandro Kaas - Jedi Master [NPC]
Lorianna Krell - Jedi in training [NPC]

Location: New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Saris 21, 3 ABY

***

There she stood, with the the Jedi and his Padawan pupil in front of her. It still came as an intriguing thought on whether it would be more of a prize to kill him, or her... After all, she seemed to have much more potential than him, much more influence over the Force. Or at least she got more vibe from her, and it had been the girl who had sensed her first, and not her Jedi Master.

"Well, well, well..." she whispered as she pointed her blaster with one hand and held her lightsaber with her other one. "What do we have here... A Jedi wanna-be, and her foul master who corrupts her! How will you choose to die?" she asked coldly.

Surprisingly it seemed she wasn't toying around and meant what she said.

Lori heard the ignition of the bounty hunter's saber, and instincitvely her hand fell to the hilt of her own. Drawing her weapon, and igniting it, she swung it across her body, easily falling into a defensive stance, then she waited for the attack, her Force senses reaching out.

Sandro, on the other hand, stood perfectly still, eyeing the bounty huntress, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I believe you have us confused with someone else," he began. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sandro Kaas, Jedi Master, and this impetuous one," he added, motioning towards Lori, "is my apprentice, Lorianna Krell."

"I care not for names!" Daemor'rah replied. "You don't even mark people at all to me... Besides, you said it. You are Jedi and she is Jedi-to-be. I despise what you stand for and therefore will deliver your death personally!"

"Indeed?" Sandro replied, cocking an eyebrow, though whether in amusement or confusion, Lori couldn't tell. "And what if I do not choose to die today?"

"That option is not yours to take... Not always do you choose when you die. Sometimes you simply die," Deamor'rah said with a sly grin.

Lori watched and listened to all this with growing angst. What in heaven's name did Sandro think he was doing? Obviously this female, for whatever reasons, meant to harm them, and here he was goading her.

Sandro, what are yo--

Stay still, Lori. Don't antagonise her further.

Lori's mouth almost dropped. Me?! she sent incredulously. She mentally shook her head; the man was insane.

Daemor'rah reached out to address both mentally. Quit the small talk! Are those your interesting last words?!

Sandro motioned Lori to take a position to the south of the area, while he himself moved silently to the north. Lori had an idea on what Sandro wanted, and nodded when she was in position.

Daemor'rah watched them both move about, taking positions, and set her bio-enhancement. So, they wanted to double attacker her perhaps, from opposite flanks. Well, not a bad strategy, but Daemor'rah was no fool and still had a trick or two she could pull, just in case. Still, this should not prove too hard.

She sensed the young woman, the Jedi apprentice, was a little bit nervous. Curiously enough, this meant that she could be lured out and into darker feelings that could strain Jedi's into the dark path. Maybe that could be explored to distract her master... She readied herself and waited for the duo to commence whatever they had in mind.

Sandro still had not drawn his saber. In fact, his arms were still hanging loosely at his sides. Face blank and devoid of all expression, he looked at Daemor'rah. Clearing his mind, he reached out towards the huntress, trying one last time, to find some clue, some reason, as to the attack he was sure to come.

But there was nothing. His mind was met with a blank wall. There were echoes of emotion - hate, anger - but little else. Sighing to himself, he admitted that there was no other course open to him, other than to fight, but...

Sandro paused, gathering the force towards him, then used the Force to levitate a stone from the alley floor and hurl it at Daemor'rah's waiting figure.

The huntress felt the Jedi using the force to levitate a stone and hurl it at her. As it approached she shifted her body away from it and, stretching her arm she used her own force capabilities to hurl the stone towards the woman Padawan, rushing right afterwards into an attack at the young woman.

Lori sensed the rock and dropped into a crouch as she heard Daemor'rah's saber change pitch. She instinctively went into a roll and came up with her own saber ignited, its emerald green blade deflecting the stone Daemor'rah had thrown at her. She spun, quickly evading Daemor'rah's rush and leapt over the huntress, just in time to avoid a violent slice from the woman's saber.

As she saw Lori leap over her, she thought this Padawan was quite impressive. She had given quite the challenge, being able to evade and control emotions. For now she would keep this fight with lightsabers only. Curiously, the Jedi master was still, simply observing. She turned and side hurled her red bladed lighsaber towards the woman.

Lori's lightsaber whirled about and clashed with Daemor'rah's. The huntress raised her weapon above her head and swung down, Lori stopping her saber as quickly as she could. She jumped back, pulling her saber into the en garde position, and jabbed forward, only to have her saber knocked upwards away from her.

As the weapon flew through the air, Lori flipped backwards once, catching the lightsaber in her left hand. She made contact with the ground a moment later, on one knee. With a touch, her lightsaber activated again, its emerald green blade rushing out of the metal device with a short snap-hiss.

But in order to keep from being cut down by the huntress, she drew upon the force, springing upwards into the air, once again somersaulting in midair and coming down behind Daemor'rah.

Daemor'rah grinned to herself. It had been a long time since she had last fought a Jedi and this one-to-be was quite skilled already. She kept her own techniques off from this battle, as she wanted to see how skilled indeed this woman was. She struck and continued to attack as she felt the woman growing more and more tired.

Lori struck out at her, swinging and defending herself, feeling the force rush through her. Lori could feel the perspiration running down her neck.

Sandro watched. For the time being, he watched as Lori jumped and dodged through the attacks, but he realized that she was quickly becoming tired. Her control on the force was still in its fledgling state, and he could sense her begin to struggle.

Lori realized she wouldn't win if she didn't pay attention, so she attempted to focus. And suddenly, it felt as if another's mind was controlling her own, and...

The huntress could see Lori's pattern of attack and defense growing weaker and more tired. She looked into the woman's eyes and smiled an evil smile.

"You grow weaker and more tired..." the huntress wispered to Lori. "Release your anger and feel your hate for my presence grow inside you!" She then leapt backwards with a somersault and took a stance with her blade pointed downwards, waiting for an attack from the woman and keeping attention for a possible threat from Sandro.

Lori barely heard the taunt from the huntress, she was concentrating so hard on staying in tune with the force. Add to that the fact that Sandro appeared to be standing to the side and doing nothing, well, she was having a hard time.

Panting from her exertions, she looked at Daemor'rah, noting the womans casual stance, then glanced at Sandro. Seeing him standing there, Lori began to feel angry. Why doesn't he do something, she thought to herself. Doesn't he have the courage to stand up and fight?

She took a deep breath and tried to clear her head. She knew that he was very non-confrontational, and in reality, could't blame him, but still...

Suddenly, she felt a darkness looming, realising after a few moments that it was the dark side of the force, always ready to accept you with open arms as soon as you give in. Lori pushed at the darkness mentally, shuddering at its coolness, the almost sly way it tried to sneak in.

Sandro stood quietly, watching Lori and noticing how she was growing angrier every moment. But he was reassured by the way she was trying to push the Dark side away.

"Yes..." Daemor'rah grinned to the young woman. "Let out your feelings. They will make you stronger... Look at your pitiful master, he does nothing to your aid! He leaves you to die when you would most need him. Coward! And to think you want to be like him..."

Anger pulsed through Lori. The darkness became all encompassing, filling her sight so she could see nothing else. It was a dark pit sitting right in front of her, and she could feel herself falling forward into it.

It was at that moment that Daemor'rah charged, swinging wildly in front of her. Lori tried to side step the charge, but miss-judged Daemor'rah's reach, and was forced into a hasty parry that brought her again to one knee. She pivoted quickly on her bent leg and sprang at the huntress as she was turning around.

Daemor'rah turned with her blade leading, and intercepted Lori's charge, her blade forcing Lori out wider than the smaller Jedi had planned. Daemor'rah's arm was folded over her chest and she swung back with her elbow leading. Lori ducked the elbow and brought her own weapon back in from her right, aimed at Daemor'rah's legs.

The huntress swung her weapon in an incredibly fast circle, up, down, and around in front of her, nearly blasting Lori's lightsaber from her hand.

They swung, slashed, parried, listened, watched, controlled and were both in a sense controlled, relentlessly defending and attacking. And before she knew it, Lori raised her arms, saber in hands, and swung in for the kill, knocking Daemor'rah's saber from hand and tossing it away with the force.

Lori rolled with the parry in an effort to keep her arm from popping out of its socket. Daemor'rah's swipe left her weapon pointing right at Lori's rolling form and she leaped forward to skewer the human.

It was at that moment that Sandro began to move. In a spin so fast it was a blur, Sandro hacked at the thrust weapon from right to left, continued in the counter-clockwise spin, and 360 degrees later, sliced cleanly into Daemor'rah's clothings.

Though Daemor'rah was surprised by the Jedi's attack, she was not impaired, and continued the fight with renewed ferocity.

Sandro's quick parry had sent the huntress's weapon to her right, and she brought it back in now, but Sandro was too close to the woman's chest to make her attack effective, but if he stayed there, he would be caught. Instead, he rolled under the attacking arm and spun about.

Daemor'rah did a 180º and brought her weapon down in a tremendous arc. This time the attack did blast Sandro's weapon out of his hand and sent the Jedi rolling. Daemor'rah again jumped toward Sandro, who leapt to his feet and deftly stepped inside the thrust.

Sandro grabbed onto the lightsaber handle with his right hand and spun about so his back was pressed against Daemor'rah's chest. He was miraculously able to wrench the weapon away, but instead of elbowing his opponent in the head, Sandro hooked his left elbow around the woman's side and flipped around to her back.

Sensing her saber slip from her hands and Sandro flip around now facing her back, Daemor'rah leaped forward doing a somersault jump with a 180º turn in mid-air. She had lost her saber to Sandro, but this did not disturb her, not even one slight bit.

As she landed, back on her feet, she had Sandro right in front of her. This battle was quite interesting and even thrilling as she felt the adrenaline. She had two opponents and both were quite skilled, although this Master had come as a surprise at the very last minute. She seemed to grin slightly, as she reached out to her belt taking one of her trophy lightsabers and igniting it.

The green light came about, and curiously it seemed larger than usual for a lightsaber, as of it had been modified to a certain extent. She grabbed the Jedi weapon in a different way, the blade coming out upside down. It was a different style of fighting with lighsabers, one she had learned a very long time ago... One very deadly and unknown.

"Now the games begin..." she wispered in a most lethal way. Running forward to Sandro, she turned and shifted direction very quickly at the very last instant, avoiding his quick attack. She struck her saber from a down to upward movement in order to slash him open in two, when his blade spun in a fast movement and encountered hers, midway.

Taking no rest the huntress leaped over him, making an attempt to hit the master while jumping. Still, this seemed to come as no surprise to Sandro as he blocked the attack very easily and made one of his own, trying to catch the huntress at a disadvantage. Alas, she had dodged the attack just by a few centimeters and backflipped, rolling her saber to get a certain secure distance.

Sandro had not realised, but Daemor'rah had placed herself between Sandro and Lorianna. The Jedi Huntress laughed, and taking advantage of Sandro's distraction she force pulled her own lightsaber from his hands, and force jumped backwards, landing near the woman Jedi Padawan.

Safeguarding her lightsabers, she picked the woman up before Sandro could even react or get there. She took a vibroblade and made a very small cut on the woman's shoulder, licking the very small portion of blood that came out of the wound.

"Now you are marked..." she told Lorianna. "A prey for your Huntress."

And with that said she took off, and jumped on top of a small structure nearby. Pointing at Sandro she added "You an I shall continue some other time perhaps..." and laughed before she disappeared.

---

"A Night on the Town, Part 1"
By: Merrick Braston
and Kaysa Zenarr

Location: All around New Plouton
Date: Saris 21, 3ABY

***

The music was flowing tonight, flowing like it hadn't flowed in over a year. The thrispin was tuned to a perfect pitch and the crowd was responding beautifully, enthusiastically. Oh, and what a crowd it was. They responded to the way his fingers caressed the strings, the way his voice carried through the room. Playing stadiums and concert halls had always been a thrill, but playing a small club with the crowd packed in close, where you can feel the emotional response to the reverberating music, that was something Merrick Braston missed.

He'd only recently arrived on Tae'Karada, and just the other night arranged with the owner of The White Noise, one of the nicer clubs in New Plouton, to play for a few sets. He was at the end of those sets, and couldn't remember a time when he'd felt more alive, more free.

The last lingering notes of his final song, " 'Til Life," faded away, and the applause started. It wasn't the screaming ravings of the stadium, but a much more fulfilling sound. He could look out and see the smiles as the hands worked to show approval. He could feel it all, and it felt wonderful. He was going to like it on Tae'Karada.

After a few autographs, Merrick finally made it to the bar and ordered a Blue Raider, a drink he'd discovered while touring on Bespin a few years back.

"There ya go, Merrick," the bartender said, and, as Merrick fished for a credit chip, he waved it off. "Compliments of the lady across the way."

Merrick glanced to where the bartender was pointing and smiled. Well hello there, he thought to himself as he found himself looking into the deepest brown eyes he thought he'd ever seen. "Thanks," he said to the bartender and moved through the crowd toward the woman who sat watching his approach.

He gave her a smile when he got to the table. "I hear I should thank you for this," he said, tapping the glass with a finger. "I'm Merrick Braston."

"I know who you are, Mr. Braston," she answered as clouds of smoke from the drag she'd just taken of her cigarra escaped her lips. "I've heard some of your stuff, and you're good...very good," she said suggestively. Her eyes wandered up and down his form and her pink lips curled into a satisfied grin as she realized she had chosen the right man to prey on tonight. "Have a seat," she said, her eyes motioning to the chair next to her.

Merrick took the offered seat and smiled at the mystery woman. He took a drink from his glass and allowed himself to settle into the chair. "Please call me Merrick. And, thank you. I love my music, and I guess that comes through. I hope you enjoyed the show tonight. It was my first since arriving on Tae'Karada. I'm hoping to have a regular gig here. It's nice to play in a venue like this; I like the personal touch." He watched her for a moment, definitely intrigued. "So,"--he took another sip of the drink and smiled--"what should I call you?"

"Piece of advice, Merrick? Try not to ramble. It's not attractive, and you call me Kaysa," she answered as she put the cigarra back to her lips. She inhaled deeply and the gray cinders burned red as her breath invigorated the dying fire. "You have amazing eyes, you know that," she commented as the burning embers of her cigarra reflected in his intense grey eyes.

His mouth turned up into a smile and he nodded slightly. "Kaysa," he said, as if testing the sound of her name in his mouth, "no more rambling." He reached and plucked the cigarra from between her fingers. He brought it to his lips and took a long drag. "My eyes can't be half as amazing as yours. I thought they were going to just pull me in over there at the bar." He held the cigarra back out to her between finger and thumb.

Kaysa laughed, but kept her eyes on Merrick, knowing now they were one of his weaknesses. She enjoyed having an advantage, even if she was only trying to lure a man into her bed for the night. "You certainly know exactly what to say to a woman, Merrick. Your lines are as catchy as your songs are," Kaysa quipped. She leaned forward and wrapped her lips around the end of the cigarra, her mouth brushing against Merrick's fingers as she did. She glanced up at Merrick and a smile creeped at the corners of her lips as she took a drag of the cigarra still resting between his fingers.

Merrick couldn't help wondering where things were leading with Kaysa, but he'd never been one to turn away from excitement, and things were definitely beginning to feel exciting. He couldn't take his eyes from her. He felt almost as if he could just get drunk watching her, being with her. "So, you want another drink, Kaysa?"

She pulled the cigarra from Merrick's fingers with her mouth and sat back in her chair, still keeping her gaze on him. "Trying to get me nice and drunk, Merrick? I do become more pliable when I've had a few drinks in me," she teased. She let her foot gently massage Merrick's leg, running it up and down slowly. She watched the expression on his face to help her gauge his reaction, one that would tell her just how long he would take to seduce. "Was that your last set of the night?"

Merrick's eyes revealed a definite playfulness as Kaysa began her foot massage. His interest was genuine, and he gave her a grin as he finished off his drink. "That was the last one," he said, "so, now I just need to find a good party." He leaned forward and took a drag from the cigarra as Kaysa had. As he straightened back up into his chair, he found himself in the grip of a boldness he hadn't felt in awhile. He allowed his body to brush against Kaysa's, just enough to be a touch, but nothing too outwardly obvious. Once upright, with heart pounding, he met her eyes again. "Do you know of any parties happening in this part of the city?"

"Hmm...I'm sure you and I could have plenty of fun all on our own," Kaysa replied. Her hand reached under the table and rested on Merrick's knee. "But if you're not ready for that, we could go somewhere more lively. The Yallder district has some happening bars and the drinks are cheap. What do you say we get outta here and check it out?"

Merrick covered Kaysa's hand with his own and smiled at her. "I definitely wouldn't say that I'm not ready for plenty of fun," he said with a twinkle in his eye, "but I think a couple public parties will be a nice warm-up for a private party. Yallder, you say? Yeah, I think Yallder sounds good. Let me grab my paystub from backstage, and then we can fly outta here." Before sliding out of the chair and heading toward the back of the bar, he slid his hand gently up Kaysa's arm. "I'll be right back."

Kaysa smiled and took a long puff of her cigarra. She watched intently as Merrick made his way across the room, his long jacket swaying as his tall frame cleared a path through the bar and finally disappeared behind two doors. Kaysa cursed the man who invented those long, form covering jackets; she was in the perfect position to view Merrick's ass, but the jacket hid it all too well. Kaysa smiled mischievously as she slowly exhaled the smoke into the air, remembering Merrick's eyes, his gentle touch... She would see him without that jacket on before the night was over and she was certain she'd get an even better view of his ass when he was naked from head to toe.

Merrick came strolling out of the backstage doors, and headed toward Kaysa's table. He was forced to sign a couple autographs on the way. He played polite, but a close look at his eyes showed an impatience, a need to get back to Kaysa and get the night started. Finally, the fans wandered off and he hustled to the table. "Sorry about that," he said, indicating where the swarm of fans had been. "One of the prices of fame. Let's get out of here before they want to tear my clothes off too."

Kaysa ground the butt of her cigarra out on the table as she rose from her seat. She grinned with amusement as she watched his devoted fan following disperse throughout the bar and return to their own seats. "They seem to like you well enough," Kaysa commented. She grabbed her jacket from the chair and pushed her arms through the sleeves. "And as for wanting to tear your clothes off, who might the 'too' be in reference to?" Kaysa asked coyly, knowing full well what Merrick implied with that statement.

Merrick laughed as he realized the double meaning of his statement, but decided her interpretation was much more fun. "You mean you don't want to tear my clothes off?" he asked. He shook his head and made a show of cursing under his breath. "And, I thought I was reading those signs right." He glanced at her and flashed a grin. "So, do you have transportation, or should we go public?"

"Transportation? No, I always enjoy strolling through New Plouton. I'm a bit of a voyeur," she answered as she slipped her arm through Merrick's and led him along. "And as for your interpretation," Kaysa added in a low, sultry whisper, "it was completely accurate."

Merrick laughed softly and leaned close to Kaysa. "Well, the feeling is mutual," he whispered in response. "Though, I don't think we want to be arrested, so we'll have to hold off on clothes ripping for now. If that's okay with you, of course."

Merrick shifted his arms so Kaysa and he were even closer together. She felt good nearly pressed against him. He could see she had a very wild side, and he was looking forward to seeing just how wild. They walked in silence for a long time, just looking at the scenery rising up above them. Kaysa was leading, and Merrick was content to follow wherever she went. He knew there would be excitement at the end of the journey, and he needed some excitement.

Finally, after a long silence, he shook his head. "I was born on Coruscant, and the construction around here still amazes me."

"Well, it is rather impressive, but I was born on Bespin and the architecture there is quite breathtaking. Have you ever stopped in on Bespin during one of your tours?" Kaysa asked as they entered the Yallder district. Despite its notoriety for being a more run down part of New Plouton, Kaysa was still amazed at how beautiful the buildings were, but then again, they still hadn't reached the heart of Yallder. That was where all the lowlifes and scum of New Plouton lived, the place where you got killed for looking at someone the wrong way. It was the place Kaysa proudly called 'home', and by the Force how she loved it.

While still looking around, Merrick nodded. "I did spend some time on Bespin," he said. "It's a very beautiful planet. I'd love to go back someday. Actually my song 'Bleeding Sunset' was inspired by my time there." He looked around and laughed. "This must be the seedier part of New Plouton. I like it." He paused for another moment, taking in the new world he'd just entered. "So, are we just wandering looking, or do you know where you're taking us?"

"Those questions have many different levels of meaning, Mr. Braston," Kaysa teased. "Do you mean where in the here and now am I taking you, or are you asking where things between us are going to lead?" Kaysa asked, looking up at Merrick and smiling.

Merrick laughed. "The here and now," he said with a playful grin. "I don't think a man should know too much about his own destiny. So, just the here and now. We can figure out where things are leading when we get there."

"You're a very profound man, Merrick. It explains why you're such a wonderful songwriter," Kaysa replied. As she looked at him, she caught the reflection of the neon lights of the bar she was leading them to in Merrick's radiant gray eyes. "Ah, here we are," Kaysa said as she turned her gaze to Lath's Bar. It wasn't the classiest place she could have chosen, but it was the one with the cheapest drinks and the loudest music, as well as the one with the least amount of insect life scuttling about.

Merrick glanced at the bar and nodded his approval. It was a dive. But, he'd found that the best places, the most exciting places, were dives. "Good choice," he said. "Let's just hope they hate my music here."

"Well, just hop on stage and start singing. Believe me, they won't hesitate to tell you what they think of you. Except my advice would be to duck if chairs start hurtling through the air," Kaysa said with a laugh as she pushed open the door to the bar. When she did, a torrent of loud, industrial music instantly bombarded them. "What do you think?" Kaysa shouted over the music, leading Merrick through the large crowds of people and looking around for an empty table.

"Nice place," Merrick shouted back. "Looks like a rough crowd. Maybe I shouldn't sing. I'll just drink and keep you company. Keep the riff-raff away. Wait, I am the riff-raff."

Kaysa laughed and continued to push her way through, dragging Merrick along behind her. "You better watch that smart mouth of yours," Kaysa called back with a look over her shoulder at Merrick. "People around here wouldn't appreciate your sense of humour as much as I do. Come on." Kaysa spotted a table ahead. She shoved her way through the drunken patrons and cut through the dense smoke filling the air. Their feet crushed the broken glass that littered the floor, telltale signs of a brawl, and with the amount of glass that was there, it had to have been some brawl.

Merrick let himself be pulled along, the crowd parting as his shoulders and arms pushed them aside. As they moved to the chairs, a waitress spotted them and started forward. Merrick slid in next to Kaysa, and glanced up at the young woman now hovering next to the table. They ordered their drinks and she disappeared back into the crowd. Merrick and Kaysa were alone again, or as alone as they could be in a bar full of other beings. Once settled, Merrick looked at Kaysa again. "I'll keep my sense of humour private then. So, should we make a night of this? Bar hopping?"

"I thought you didn't like to plan things. Why don't we just see where the night takes us? Besides, we've just gotten here and I see no reason to leave just yet." Kaysa smiled and began pulling off her jacket, revealing her thin, yellow tank, which was quite vibrant set against her black leather pants. It was a plain looking top, but Kaysa never needed flashy clothing to attract men. They were drawn to her no matter what manner of attire she wore. "You know, Merrick," Kaysa began as she placed her jacket on the back of her chair, "you're a complete mystery to me. Tell me about yourself, and I don't mean your music, I mean you."

Merrick started to speak as their drinks arrived, so he paused while the waitress fussed with tray and glass. Once she was gone, he smiled, took a sip, and then looked back over to Kaysa. "There's not a lot to tell," he began. "Okay, there is, but I can't tell it to you all now because we don't have that much time. A juicy piece is that I'm number forty-three on the Empire's most wanted list. I wrote some songs the empire didn't approve of, and I found a way out of their nice little navy. So, they don't like me much." He took another drink. "I'm very impulsive. And, I've done crazy things that my managers are still furious for. They don't think their star should be taking big risks. They don't think their star should come out of the glass case they want to keep him in. I'm a rebel and I like it that way. I like doing what I'm not supposed to do. I like doing what they don't expect me to do. Anything specific you want to know? Or should I just keep hitting the highlights as I think of them?" He flashed her another grin as he took another swallow of his drink.

"Oh, so you're the rebellious type. I knew that the moment I saw you," Kaysa said as she took a large swig of her drink. "I guess you consider yourself to be pretty daring, stickin' it to the Empire like that. You're a daredevil, aren't you? You love the fast life, thinking only about today and not caring about the consequences that slap you in the face tomorrow," Kaysa said. She leaned in closely to Merrick and brushed her hand against his. "In fact, you're kinda like me."

Merrick laughed softly, but there was a fire in his eyes when they met Kaysa's. "Yeah," he said, "I can see that in your eyes. It's nice to meet a kindred spirit in the galaxy, someone not afraid to do what they want, someone who won't shy away from a dangerous situation. I can't wait to see what consequences are going to slap me in the face in the morning." He gave her a sly grin.

"Well maybe I can be there to help you deal with those consequences," Kaysa said, smiling mischievously as she finally covered Merrick's hand with her own. "You intrigue me, you know that? I feel like I want to know everything about you, like I want to get into your head and just figure you out. Does that sound weird?"

Merrick's eyes sparkled in the light of the bar as he moved closer to Kaysa. "I don't think it's weird at all. I know I'm feeling a little of the same. I want to know more about you. I want to find out all about you, find out what makes you tick. I want to find out what twist of fate brought you to the club I was playing at, and now has me here having drinks with you. Fate's a powerful thing, I think. Or the Force. Or something. But, sometimes it feels like there's something else out there pulling strings, making things happen." He laughed. "I don't think I've had enough to drink yet."

"Or maybe too much," Kaysa shot back with a gentle smile. "I don't exactly believe in all that...stuff. Normally if I want something to happen, I go out and make it happen. Fate has had a habit of working against me, so I've decided not to rely on it to get me what I want."

"Well, there is that," he said. "And, you're right. Fate, or I guess what people call fate, whatever that happens to be, works both ways. It's best to just make your own way, and let chance be damned. So, you ready for another?"

"You're in my seat," a voice said from behind Merrick.

Merrick and Kaysa turned and looked up at a fairly large looking man with short horns protruding from his forehead and a pair of rather sinister looking pale green eyes. Merrick smirked and glanced at Kaysa.

"I'm sorry," he said. "We were here first, and there's a table right over there. It's even bigger than this table."

"But, I want this table," the man said, his voice coming out in a growl. "You go take the other table."

"I don't want any trouble with you," Merrick said. "But, I'm not going to move because some walking steroid wants me to. Take that other table, or take it up with the management."

The man moved with reflexes quicker than Merrick had ever seen before. He was suddenly up and out of his chair and being pulled up toward the oaf's face. "You don't listen too well," the man growled into Merrick's face, his breath like fetid Rodian spice stew.

"I listen fine," Merrick said, his voice betraying the calm he was trying to exude. "Now, get your hands off me before I really get upset." Good one, he told himself. He brought his hands up and down across the giant's wrists, breaking the hold. His feet hit the ground, and he quickly stepped back into a defensive position.

It wasn't quite fast enough as a fist crashed into his jaw, snapping his head around. Then a pair of massive hands slammed into his chest, knocking him back over the table, shattering it just after Kaysa had managed to get out of the way.

Merrick staggered to his feet, trying to clear away the millions of glittery lights flashing in his vision. Prickly fire filled his lungs as a violent punch to the gut sent all the air he'd just sucked in back out. Then, he felt his body lifted and thrown. The hard surface of the bar met his back, and Merrick rolled over to the other side with the bartender. From the ground, he groaned and wondered if this was one of those consequences he'd have slapping him in the face in the morning.

On the other side of the bar, an Ithorian stared down at where his drink had been a moment ago. He looked over the bar at the human on the floor, blinked, and shook his head. He grumbled under his breath and turned to see the Grith'let that had put the human on the floor, and ruined his drink. It was a good drink, and someone was going to have to pay for ruining it.

The Grith'let looked up just as the Ithorian landed on him. Both went down, arms and legs flailing. All around the rest of the bar patrons sensed the violence, and chaos gripped the bar. Conversations were stopped, drinks discarded. Friends became enemies, and human and alien faced off with nostrils flared and eyes burning with anger. Shouts and cries went up around the bar as the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed.

Merrick pulled himself up from behind the bar and looked out. His eyes found Kaysa and he forced a smile and a laugh.

"I told him to watch that mouth of his," Kaysa grumbled as she dodged flying fists and objects hurtling through the air. She managed to duck behind the bar unscathed and glared at Merrick. "You certainly are a troublemaker, aren't you?" she asked, not waiting for an answer as she grabbed Merrick by the hand. "You're bleeding. Let's get you out of here." She tugged on his arm and led him to the backdoor, which opened up into a dark, putrid smelling alleyway.

---

"A Night on the Town, Part 2"
By: Merrick Braston
and Kaysa Zenarr

Location: All around New Plouton
Date: Saris 21, 3ABY

***

Once outside, Merrick put his hand to his forehead and brought it away covered in blood. He wiped at the wound with the sleeve of his jacket and gave a wry laugh. "Sorry about that," he said. "I didn't think he'd try to wipe the bar down with me. I guess no more arguments with guys much bigger than me. At least I didn't try to hit him, that would have really done some damage. Well, to my hand at least." He shook his head and wiped at the blood again. "So, what now?"

"What now?" Kaysa repeated, looking at the blood welling up from the gash on Merrick's forehead. "Now, you come home with me so I can clean you up before you bleed to death. Look at you," Kaysa said. She held up Merrick's trembling hand. "You're shaking. Come on." Kaysa slung his arm over her shoulder and grabbed ahold of his waist with her free hand, easing some of the weight from his unsteady legs. "You're a dangerous man, Merrick Braston."

Merrick blinked slowly. "Yeah," he said, "that's what everyone keeps telling me." The world shifted slightly, and he let Kaysa take a little more of his weight. "I'm starting to believe them. It's not far is it? Your home?" He could tell the adrenaline rush was starting to wear off, and the shakes were hitting. He knew he'd be okay soon, but he'd need to get the wound tended and sit for a few minutes. After that, he'd be okay. His thoughts were becoming muddled and confused. He wondered if he was losing too much blood, or if it was the alcohol. He shook his head and decided to not think about it anymore.

"Merrick, try and stay awake. I swear, if you pass out now, I'm leaving you at the side of the road," Kaysa threatened, but only as a means of keeping him from going unconscious and bearing all his weight down on her. "Talk to me. Tell me...tell me about your parents, or...or your first girlfriend. Something. Anything!"

Merrick laughed. "My father is an interesting man," he said. "At least as interesting as a major in the Imperial service can be. He doesn't approve of my way of life. He pretty much disowned me, especially after his father died. His father liked me, and my music, and the way I spoke out against the Empire. But, once Ephram was gone, my father felt no real need to maintain the peace. My mother goes along with father, and my brothers and sister are just Imperial toadies. This sheep is as black as they get." He laughed again. And, then added another chuckle. "Girlfriends? Would you believe I've never had a serious girlfriend? I've never really slowed down long enough, I guess. Never really met someone who'd captured my interest enough that I'd want to be with them on a continued basis. I've never had a boyfriend either." Another laugh. "Your place is in New Plouton, isn't it?" He gave her a playful grin.

Kaysa laughed and hurried Merrick along as her apartment complex came into view. "Even while trying to cling to consciousness, you still have only one thing on your mind, don't you? Well, don't worry, my apartment is right over here. You don't actually think I can afford those classy joints outside of the Yallder district, do you?"

Merrick laughed. "I don't know what you can afford," he said. "Though, I'm sure wherever you live, it's lovely. And, if it has somewhere to sit down, it's perfect." He took a moment to breathe, to stop the world from spinning around him. "I'll try not to bleed on anything. And, if I do, I'll replace it. Or something like that."

"Here's an idea, Merrick: shut up," Kaysa said playfully as she helped Merrick into her apartment complex and brought him to her door up the stairs. "Getting to know you has just become a liability, Mr. Braston. Do you always attract trouble like that?" Kaysa asked. She punched in her password on the keypad and watched the door slide open.

"Not entirely," he said. "Though, I do seem to find my fair share of it." He put a hand to his forehead and winced. "Maybe I should learn to keep my mouth shut, or to at least move when a man much larger than I asks me to. Did you see how he moved? It was amazing." He let her lead him inside and looked around. You could usually tell a lot about a person by where they lived. Though, that only really worked when there was enough light so you could see the place. "I was out of line there, wasn't I? I should have kept my mouth shut?"

"Nah, he was a jerk looking for a fight. Even if you had given him what he wanted, he still would have pounded you," Kaysa replied. She lead Merrick to the bedroom and hit the wall panel, causing light to fill the room. "You actually fared pretty well for a while, until, of course, he threw you halfway across the bar," Kaysa teased. She brought Merrick over to the bed and set him down. "Take off your jacket and lie back. I'll clean out those cuts," Kaysa said as she disappeared into the bathroom and began rifling through the cabinet. "How long are you staying on Tae'Karada for?" Kaysa called out from within the bathroom.

Merrick pulled off his jacket and set it aside, and then laid back onto the bed, careful to make sure he didn't get blood on it. "I'm not sure yet," he said. "I'm thinking a couple months at least. Possibly longer depending on how things go. It'd be nice to just do some small clubs here and there around the planet. The crowd was great tonight, and that really makes the gig worth it. So, if they keep up like that, I'll stay here longer. And, Tae'Karada is neutral, which keeps the Empire at bay."

"Trying to escape your past too, aren't you?" Kaysa ventured as she walked back into the bedroom carrying some alcohol and gauze. "Everyone runs from something and I figure Tae'Karada's as good a place as any to run to. It's actually pretty isolated from the rest of the Outer Rim. You'll be safe here." She sat down on the bed next to Merrick and soaked the gauze with alcohol. "This might sting...actually, it will more than likely sting, so take a deep breath."

Merrick nodded and took a deep breath. His hands balled into fists as she brought the gauze close to his wound. As she pressed it against his skin, he couldn't help the shout that he had no control over. He bit down hard and closed his eyes tight. "Sting is right," he muttered through clenched teeth. "Hurts more than when he hit me. Maybe it'll teach me a lesson." He added a wry laugh and opened his eyes to look at Kaysa. The stinging started to lessen and he allowed himself a smile. "Thanks," he said softly.

"My pleasure," Kaysa answered as she continued to dab at Merrick's wounds. "How are the ribs? They look like they took quite a beating too." Kaysa placed the guaze on her nightstand, then gripped the edges of Merrick's shirt and gently began to lift it. "You don't mind if I take a look, do you?" she asked, looking up at him and smiling.

Merrick smiled in response and shook his head. "I don't mind," he said. "And, it feels like a starfighter fell on them. I don't think anything's broken though; I'm still breathing okay." He shifted so she could get the shirt clear. "Does it look bad, doctor?"

Kaysa smirked at Merrick and began gently running her fingers along his ribs. "Well, there's some bruising, but nothing damaged that I can tell," Kaysa muttered as her fingers brushed against Merrick's abdomen, which was, just as she had thought when she first saw him, finely sculpted. "Does it hurt anywhere else?" Kaysa asked with the hints of a smile on her lips.

Merrick tried not to grin himself. "It just kinda hurts all over right now," he said. "But, I guess that's the price I pay for standing in the way of a speeder as it bears down on me. So, know of anything that will take care of an all-over ache?"

"Smooth, very smooth, Merrick," Kaysa said with a laugh. "I can see what you're getting at, but I don't think you could handle me in your condition. I'll get some ice for those bruises," Kaysa said. She rose from the bed, with her fingers trailing across Merrick's stomach, and headed for her minibar. "Would you like a drink?"

Merrick watched her move, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah," he said. "A drink would be nice. Whatever you got that's good." He watched her starting the drinks and laughed. "So, you don't think I could handle you, eh? It's very tempting to ask you if you're a betting woman."

Kaysa filled a bucket with ice, holding it in one hand while carrying Merrick's drink in the other. "Not a betting woman, but you've probably already got a pretty good idea about what kind of woman I really am," Kaysa said with a wary smile on her face as she took a seat on the bed again. "That is why you're here, after all, isn't it?" she added, handing Merrick his drink.

Merrick took the glass from Kaysa and looked at it, then up at her. "I'm here because you bought me a drink, and then we started talking and I realized you're an interesting, exciting person. You live life; you don't float through it like everyone else. I'm not here for sex, but I won't deny that the thought of our bodies wrapped together in the heat of passion isn't one that's passed through my hand a number of times tonight." He brought a hand up to brush along her arm, his eyes moving to watch as his fingers worked across her skin. After a moment, he looked back up at her. "If you were to pounce on me, I wouldn't mind." He smiled, and his eyes twinkled in the light of her bedroom.

"And after that?" Kaysa asked. She took the ice from the bucket in her hand and ran it along Merrick's stomach. She laughed quietly as his body flinched from the shock of the cold hitting his tender flesh. She spread the ice across his entire abdomen, gazing up at him as the ice began to melt against the warmth of his body. "I give you my body and that's it? Shall I be another of your groupies?" Kaysa asked playfully.

Merrick laughed and shook his head. "You're more than a groupie," he said. "And, I don't know if that's it. It depends on if we want that to be it. I know I like you, and wouldn't mind spending more time with you. We're alike in many ways, and who else is going to pull me out of seedy bars when I let the local bully use me as a punching bag?"

"So, commitment is what you're looking for. Thinking of settling down with someone?" she asked. The ice slipped from her grasp and her hands began massaging his chest directly. She shifted closer to him on the bed, then leaned forward, which caused her top to fall away from her chest.

"I don't know what I'm looking for," he said softly. "Maybe commitment with the right person. I don't know really." He let his hand drift down to her side, caressing slowly from her hip up to under her arms. He couldn't help looking at the view she was giving him down her shirt. He shifted his eyes so they were looking into hers. He brought his hand across her chest, just barely brushing against her nipples. "I don't like planning things out, but if I found a woman I could love, I wouldn't turn away from that." He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and knew that she would notice that his breathing was much heavier. And, if that didn't give him away, the bulge in the front of his pants would. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers.

Merrick's touch immediately sent a rush of heat through Kaysa's body; her lips tingled as all the warmth seemed to collect at her mouth. She moved her hands against Merrick's chest to keep his shirt from falling back down. "So, you think I'm that woman, Merrick?" she whispered. She ran her tongue along his lips as her hands moved across his tender ribs.

He shook his head slightly. "I don't know," he said. Then, he added: "But, I'd like to find out." He closed his lips over her tongue, sucking it gently. He put his hands to her abdomen, brushing over it with fingers that seemed to trail fire. He kissed her again, a more forceful, needful kiss. He fought against the sharp pain in his chest, instead letting the pleasure of Kaysa's touch take over. He met her eyes again.

Kaysa shifted on the bed, moving onto her knees. She tugged at Merrick's shirt, pulling it off over his head and throwing it to the floor. "If love's what you're looking for, Merrick..." Kaysa said quickly as their kiss broke. She straddled him with her legs and pinned down his arms. "Then I can tell you now that you won't find it here."

He looked up into her eyes and nodded. "Then I guess that answers your question," he said with a smile. He forced his head up to kiss her again. With his hands pinned, Kaysa was in control; though he could see that she liked being there. "And, if I don't find it here, I'll be okay."

"So, you'll keep searching then?" Kaysa asked. She pulled away from Merrick's kiss and ran her hands along his arms and towards his chest. "Isn't that how it always is with men? They salvage what they want, then go elsewhere to find what they really need, what they're really looking for." Kaysa's touch was no longer gentle, but forceful, all the tenderness gone. "That's fine with me, Merrick because you're only here for a good fuck and nothing more. I only really wanted to see that ass of yours in the nude," Kaysa said coarsely as she ran her hands roughly across Merrick's stomach. Her fingers fumbled with the belt of his pants as she struggled to get it loose. "Just remember to leave something nice on my bedstand before you leave tonight."

Merrick grabbed Kaysa's hands and pulled them away from his pants. "No," he said. "I like you, alright? I like being with you, and I've had fun in your company tonight. I'm not here for a quick roll through the sheets, and then move on. If that's all it turns into, then that's what it is. If you don't want any more than that, then there won't be any more. If all you're interested in is seeing my ass, fine, and then I'm gone. All you wanted was a peek at my ass, fine. At least you'll get what you want."

Kaysa broke her hands free from Merrick's grip and gritted her teeth as she glared down at him. "You have to decide and decide quickly what you want, Merrick. If you stick your cock in me, it's over. I will have nothing more to do with you after this, but if you mean it when you say you like me, then I think you should leave now. I don't do commitment, Braston and if you want to continue to see me, then you're going to have to find a groupie to stick your dick into for now."

Merrick shook his head and rolled away from Kaysa. He looked around for his shirt and found it next to the bed. He picked it up and just slung it over a shoulder. He looked at her and shook his head again. "What's the point? All I am to you is an ass you want to peek at. What does it matter if I want to hang out with you? You've made it clear you don't care one way or another." He pushed away from the bed and headed toward the door. "Goodnight, Kaysa. Have yourself a nice life. And, the next time you want a little fling for yourself, don't accuse your prey of just wanting a quick fuck if that's all you want yourself."

Kaysa's face grew hot with rage as she hopped off the bed and sped after Merrick. "You said you liked me, thought I was fun and now you're leaving because I won't screw you? Well I guess we know now what kind of fun you had in mind all along," she spat as she moved to Merrick and stared him down. "I admit I came into that bar tonight because I was scouting for some nice ass, but when I saw you on that stage, your music coming alive as your fingers danced across that instrument," Kaysa said more calmly, bringing her fingers up and tracing the grooves of his abdomen, "I knew I wanted to meet you. I knew you were an enigma, your mind a labyrinth I wanted to explore and get lost in. Yes, making love to you was definitely on my mind." She moved closer to him and ran her fingers along his chest. "But if that happens, I'll never get a chance to figure you out. I might just become mesmerized by you, which I can't let happen."

"I, um," Merrick began, his mind a million places at once. He brought his hands to her waist, the warm flesh underneath the pants feeling like it could almost sear his fingers through the fabric. "I was leaving because I thought all I was to you was a piece of meat." He looked up to meet her gaze. "So, what now?"

"For once in my life," Kaysa replied, smiling nervously, "I have no idea. I mean, you don't have to go. After all," she added, "you did get bumped around a lot tonight. You could have a concussion and I would hate for you to suddenly pass out in an alleyway out there. This is the Yallder district and there are some dangerous people around." Kaysa reached for Merrick's shirt, pulling it from his grasp and slipping away from him, her smile mischievous now. "Besides, it's a cold night and, since I am a trained medical practitioner, I can't in good conscience allow you to go out there, bare chested, and risk catching...something."

Merrick laughed, and moved after Kaysa. "Yes," he said, "we can't have that. And, it'd be doubly worse to pass out in an alleyway without a shirt." He couldn't wipe the grin off his face. He had no idea where things were going or what was happening, but he couldn't deny that life around Kaysa, even in the short time he'd spent with her, was more enjoyable than alone, or with anyone else. He knew he'd like to spend more time with her, and even though that'd probably require lots of cold showers, it would be worth it.

Kaysa continued towards her bed, holding out Merrick's shirt and taunting him with it. She couldn't deny that she was sexually attracted to him, but more than that, she was intrigued by him. She would be satisfied with merely a night in his arms, but she knew herself and knew she hated leaving any puzzle unsolved. Merrick was that puzzle and if she stepped over that line with him, she could never go back. She refused to put herself in that position again - a position where a man could leave her in the dust - no matter how charming and alluring Merrick was. She wanted more from him, but if they took that step, she knew she wouldn't stay around long enough to get it. "Tell me something, Merrick," Kaysa said, holding his shirt behind her back now as he came within reach. "What, if anything, do you want to happen between us?"

He shook his head. "I don't really know," he said. "I know I want to make love to you, but I know I want to spend more time with you. There's a freedom that I feel with you. I can't really explain it. A lot of people want to be close to me because I'm famous, or a musician, or any number of other reasons. But, you're different. You do seem genuinely interested in me, Merrick the real person, not the star. And, because of that I want to know you better. You look at me differently than other people; you make me feel like a real person. If sex will ruin that for us, then I'll find a cold shower somewhere."

Kaysa smiled gently and nodded her head. She knew exactly what Merrick was talking about, for they were the same things she was feeling at that moment. She was beginning to remember the reason she'd bought Merrick that drink earlier that evening. It was her way of grabbing his attention, just as he had grabbed hers as he was performing on stage. His songs were hauntingly beautiful and profound, but there was something missing in them, something unfulfilled somehow. He sang those songs, pouring his very essence into them, but Kaysa could see in his eyes that he was holding back. Those grey portals, that should have been free for the world to peer into and catch a glimpse of his soul, were completely impenetrable.

As he sang, she was entranced by his eyes, trying somehow to find a crack through which she could guide her way in and seek out anything that would tell her who Merrick Braston was. There was nothing. Those eyes, those beautiful eyes, were focused not on the crowd, but somewhere else - a different place and a different time maybe. She could see almost a fear emanating from them, the fear that he would lose himself in the music and suddenly drop his shields, make himself vulnerable, free for everyone to gawk at. Kaysa, more than anyone, identified with that fear. She felt it too, at every moment, and would for as long as her secret remained hidden.

She feared that someone, someday would figure a way in, but she also knew that a part of her yearned for someone to; she just worried that it would be the wrong person. Sharing oneself with a person once required little emotional intimacy, at least in Kaysa's mind, but continually doing so always created a link between two people. That link was just the chink in her armour someone needed to peer into her past and break away that shield, opening her up and making her completely vulnerable. Kaysa wasn't ready for that yet, and a part of her knew Merrick was the one who could do it.

"Merrick," Kaysa began as she let the shirt fall from her fingertips and rose from the bed. "I want to see you again. I want to continue seeing you, but in what capacity, I'm not certain. I know I'm not prepared for us to be lovers, even though I can imagine just how wonderful the sex would be, but ask yourself these questions: Are you ready to become that intimate with someone? Can you handle it?"

He nodded. There was something very special about Kaysa. He felt like everything clicked, everything just seemed to fall into place. And, he had a strong feeling that she could be the one, the one he'd never found, but he couldn't run the risk of losing that. They weren't ready for the next step, for dropping all the masks and revealing to each other who they were. He knew how easy it would be for him to fall in love with her. He had a feeling it was probably already happening. It scared him like nothing had ever scared him before. "I've never been with anyone more than once," he said softly. "I've never found someone who could capture me enough to want to be with more than once. I think you're different than the rest; there's something about you. I can't explain it. I don't know if any of this is even making sense. It scares me. I want to make love to you, Kaysa, but with you I know it won't be just sex. There's already something between us, something powerful. It won't just be sex, it's going to be something more, something transcendent. I can feel it; and I don't think I'm ready to go through that just yet. I don't want to risk losing you completely. Sex changes things, always. And, I don't want to not see you again. I need to see you again. Does any of that make sense?"

Kaysa smiled broadly and placed her hand on Merrick's cheek, caressing it gently, even though she was scared to death of what he had just said. Her heart was jumping into her throat and she could feel herself becoming frantic. She knew there was something more between them than just a mutual attraction, but Kaysa wasn't certain if she was ready to explore that yet. She took a deep breath and swallowed back hard. "I know exactly what you mean, only because some of the same things you're thinking are going through my head right now. It's a little...unsettling, actually." Kaysa motioned her eyes quickly towards her bed, then looked back at Merrick, her grin spanning the entire width of her face. "You don't have to go tonight. We can just lay together and talk. I mean that, just talk."

Merrick grinned in response and moved over to the bed. "It looks like a very comfortable bed," he said. "Perfect for talking all night." He glanced at the bed, and then to Kaysa to make sure it was okay for him to climb onto it. At her nod, he did and smiled even wider. "A very comfortable bed," he added. He looked back to her and found her watching him with an amused smile. "It's good to have a friend." He found his voice thick with emotion and quickly cleared his throat. "It's good."

Kaysa didn't respond and merely gave him a warm smile as she threw off her shoes, unzipped her leather pants and slipped them off. She slowly slid under the sheets and lay close to Merrick with her head resting on his chest. The rhythm of it rising and falling with every breath putting Kaysa immediately at ease. "Talk to me, Merrick. Talk to me and tell me everything about you," she whispered. "Tell me...tell me anything."

Merrick slipped his arms around Kaysa and closed his eyes. As he began to speak, he could nearly see the images as if they were being projected against the backs of his eyelids. "It started a number of years ago," he said. "I was still very young, and had just gotten interested in music. My father didn't approve, naturally, but he was gone all the time, so he couldn't really enforce his dislike of my new hobby. It wasn't long before I got pretty good, and not long after that before I was playing in front of people..."

The story went on. He told her everything he could remember, leaving nothing out. It felt good to talk to someone, and for once, someone truly interested.

---

"A Different View"
By: Kylas Thoamis - Jedi Master
Elisia Melouet - Padawan
Evie Melouet [NPC] - Dargus' clone

Location: Space
Date: Saris 21, 3 ABY

***

Elisia worked the entire time he was gone. When he returned, she had learned to lift the item from one side of the table to the other.

"Excellent. How's your head feel?" He smirked.

"Like a Bantha sat on it," she admitted.

"All right, we'll stop this for now." He walked over and massaged her temples again. Using his mind, he tried to push away the tension and pain she might be feeling.

Where before, she had always pushed him away, this time she allowed him to give her ease. Elisia was slowly coming to trust him, at least in not wishing her harm. "I am tired," she admitted.

"Would you like to go rest?" He smiled.

"I am hungry," she said with a grin. Elisia thought that maybe the force made her hungry. She couldn't explain why else she was always eating and never looked like she ate at all.

"Well I have a surprise for you." He smiled and walked off into the galley and came back out with a sealed package. "It's cake. I gave a whirl at baking. It's just chocolate." He nodded.

"When did you do that?" She hadn't ever smelt anything baking.

"Last night while you were sleeping. You sleep so heavily well.... You know...when you have such loud .....well...sex." He shrugged.

Elisia blushed deeply. "I wouldn't know. It is a new experience for me." She couldn't believe she hadn't smelt a cake baking. She usually slept lightly.

He opened the package. "Well, you sleep heavily then, and you looked like an angel, so I didn't want to wake you." He smiled and took a knife and cut a piece off.

"I have never had chocolate," she admitted. "Well, I take that back. I had candy one time that had chocolate."

"Well I hope this is as good." He smiled and gave her the piece. "I'm not really all that good at baking." He frowned

Elisia took a bite. She looked up at him in surprise. "This is good," she said. "And you said you couldn't cook?"

"I can't normally, but you inspired me." He smirked. "You minx you," he teased.

"I am duly impressed." She stole more from the package.

He laughed and smiled. "You certainly do like to eat a lot don't you love." He laughed again. "Now that you've had dessert,"--He ate a piece himself--"I guess we skip supper." He laughed again.

"Heck no. I will still make supper." She helped to devour the cake however. "I do eat a lot, I know. I guess it is because for so long I went without. But...I don't gain weight."

"A very high metabolism." He smiled. "Nothing to worry about." He smiled.

A sound went off, indicating that Kylas had an incoming transmission. Elisia looked up. "What is that?"

"An incoming trans." He stood up and walked to the bridge and activated his comm unit.

"Kylas, this is Kalaira. How is our student?" the High Princess' voice came in gently. Elisia had followed Kylas to the unit. She frowned for she did not know this woman and her constant vigilance bothered her. "She is fine, your highness. But you have not observed your end of the deal. We were to remain undisturbed until her training is complete. And as I said she has the choice and may not wish to return to Tae'Karada. You agreed with this, why do you contact us? We are on a mission of the utmost importance."

"Because her sister wishes to speak with you both," Kalaira answered evenly.

"As you request your majesty." He bowed in polite respect. "Elisia, your sister is on the line."

Elisia moved forward apprehensively. "Evie? What do you want?"

"I want to train with you. Please?" Evie's voice came across almost pleading.

Elisia looked up at Kylas in shock. She didn't know how to respond to that.

Kylas looked straight at Evie. "If you were to train with your sister young one, it would mean you would have to turn your back on your Sith teachings for a time until I have finished training you." He looked at her.

"Dargus found out that being a Sith means more than he wishes me to experience. A recent confrontation convinced him that I would be a threat as a Sith and would cease to love him. Is this true?" Evie had been worried ever since.

"In a manner of speaking, the Dark Side will corrupt you. And you will do whatever it wills you to become stronger, even destroy those you love," he responded evenly. He didn't trust Kandran or the Sith.

"I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose my love for Dargus. I almost killed him today. But I like the powers I have gained." Evie was nothing if not honest. Well, unless she was playing a part, but that was not the case at the moment.

"Understand this: if we were to return to Tae'Karada, nothing will interrupt your training, and we not only focus on your powers, but we will focus your mind and educate you. I will teach wisdom before I teach you power. And your Sith Master must not know. If you would prefer you can join us." He nodded. He sensed something not quite right.

"Dargus is dismissing him. I am worried about that. I do not think he will take dismissal easily. He seems to thrive on my power rather than his own." Evie avoided discussion of what would take place for the moment.

"We need not show your teacher anything," he replied. "We can train and move until you are ready. I have a friend who can help you."

"Would I have to leave Dargus?" She looked worried.

"Hmm...for a time, unless Dargus could assure our protection and a quiet place to learn," he responded.

"I think he can do that. But...Elisia said she would never come here," Evie said with concern.

"Exactly, so you see our dilemma. Your choice, child. Part with Dargus for a short time or not train. I will not violate any promises I have made to Elisia, and I will not endanger my life for a Kandran," he added.

"I will talk to Dargus." Evie sighed. She did not think he would agree for her to go off without him.

"Evie, watch yourself around your Sith master. I think he will betray you," Elisia warned.

Evie laughed a little nervously. "Dargus won't let anything happen to me."

"Perhaps not, but for your safety, I suggest you try and find a pirate ship called the Solar Wind. It is in your sector now. The captain owes me a favor. Tell him I sent you; he will know what to do until I arrive," Kylas replied, looking at Elisia.

"All right. I will send a message as soon as I talk to Dargus." Evie turned to look at Elisia. "Elisia...I really want to be with you and Dargus. Please?" Her eyes pleaded with her sister.

"I will think about it," Elisia answered, uncomfortable by the sudden sense of guilt. The transmission went dead and Elisia stood stunned, staring at the blank wall.

"I don't trust this." He looked at the screen. "I have a sense of great danger. We must find your mother and get your sister as fast as we can." He adjusted course.

Elisia nodded. She too felt that something was wrong. And yet, she could not sense that Evie was lying. "Can I do anything to help?"

"Yes can get your credit chip ready. We're buying your mother and getting the hell of the planet. Her master must know of her plans by now, and will have informed the emperor. They will be coming after us in short order," he replied as the ship pulled into the atmosphere.

"Why would he tell the Emperor?" she said with concern. "I mean, wouldn't he get in trouble for not turning her over to start with?"

"Perhaps, but he could win the good graces of the emperor by turning you both in," he replied as he landed. "We are to meet with your mother's owner, Marth Daninis here." He looked around and saw a small man standing there waiting.

Elisia was nervous. She had the picture of her mother and her credit chip. Was this really going to happen? She would save her mother at last.

Kylas opened the hatch. "Remain here." He walked out and talked to the man in silence. The man nodded a few times and handed him a few documents. Kylas looked them over and looked back to the ship. He frowned and a part of his mind suddenly closed to Elisia. He walked back aboard and closed the main hatch.

"Well, can we buy her?" Elisia asked anxiously. "He will let me purchase her?" She looked at his face. "What is wrong?"

"She is not here," he replied quietly. He looked straightforward and started the lift off procedures.

"Where is she?" Elisia asked, following him anxiously. "Did they sell here?"

"No, I am sorry Elisia." He turned around. He could not lie to her.

Her eyes grew wide. "What do you mean? Why are you sorry?" She took a step back.

"She passed on about a year ago. She caught a strong fever. He showed me her death certificate." He frowned slightly.

"No...no that can't be true." Elisia's eyes filled with tears immediately. "I would know if she was dead. I would have felt it." She shook her head in disbelief and took another step back. "I promised to get help. I promised!"

"Perhaps Elisia, she is not dead. She lives in you and Evie." He forced a gentle smile and walked to her and took her gently in his arms.

"No...no I have to ask her about Evie. I have to...she was never there when I was a child. My mother never mentioned her. She can't be dead." Elisia's tone of voice rose in panic.

"Elisia, I am sorry. But she has passed on. The man told the truth and there is nothing we can do about it." He looked at her softly. He stroked her hair. "It will be all right."

Elisia had clung to the fact that if she eventually found her mother, then she hadn't failed her. If her mother was dead, then she died not knowing if Elisia was okay. She died without Elisia fulfilling her promise. "I would know," she said again in disbelief. She buried her face against his chest.

"Shhh, it's going to be all right. Let it out," he said quietly. "I'll try and find some answers for you. In the meantime, look inside yourself and you can see your mother." He rubbed her back gently.

"I see her as a child does." Elisia sobbed against him.

"You are her child and always will be. She is there in your heart. You can feel her concern for you, but should also know how proud she is of you." He kissed her forehead.

Elisia clung to him. She had never accepted her mother was dead. She had never drawn her death. "Is it possible they made a mistake?"

"There may be, but they are very thorough," he replied.

Elisia sagged against him as hope slid away. "Then I am alone." She still did not count Evie as family.

"No, Elisia. Heaven help us no. You have Evie, I guess. But just as importantly you have me." He gently lifted her chin and looked at her with a kind smile.

Elisia looked at him for the longest moment, searching his face. Then she reached out and pulled him close and kissed him as if her life depended on that kiss.

He returned her kiss. He looked into her eyes. "What was that for?" He raised an eyebrow. "I have done nothing."

"Because you care and I really appreciate that right now," she whispered. "I think...I think I will go draw. Okay?" Her eyes were bright with tears. She needed time to digest this and drawing was her way of reflection.

"All right, Love." He kissed her forehead and tried to dry her tears away. "I will get us out of here." He caressed her face and headed for the bridge.

Elisia in turn, turned to go find her bag. She had to draw. She had to see if she could find her mother. If she couldn't, she would know it was true.

---