"Inner Demons"
By: Elisia Melouet - Jedi Padawan
Kace Mordin - Jedi Master

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 21, 3 ABY

***

Kace could feel sleep creeping in at the edge of his awareness. He pushed it back like he had been doing for hours. The darkened room offered no hindrance to his Jedi enhanced senses. His eyes had spent most of their time focused on the small form in the bed. They'd been in there for so many hours, he'd lost count. Kace glanced down at the small scanning device in his hand, frowning at the results once more. The Hutts used a similar drug to keep their women docile. It seemed so many young women required additional assistance to want to share intimate relations with a Hutt.

And, it seemed Dargus Kandran did as well. He had not probed too deeply, and only found the memories of her last day. He stayed away from her private thoughts, not wanting to intrude. His suspicions had been confirmed. It was Dargus Kandran's doing. He would deal with that later. He would deal with the breaking of agreements in time. When he first felt the memories burst into his own mind, he had thought his rage would run hot. But, it was cold, more cold than the depths of space. He had kept his wits, and the plans had been passing through his mind as he waited the hours for Elisia to awaken. The room was still washed in blue from his eyes, shining in the darkness. He blinked, and the blackness returned, only to be driven back with his eyes opening once more.

He would need to be more careful from now on. Dargus Kandran could not be trusted. He could not let Elisia alone for long with Dargus around. He trusted her, she'd proven that she deserved his trust by her actions. She had weakened at the end, but he could not fault her. It could have just as easily been one of Dargus' smelly Wookies, and she would have reacted.

There was a definite sickness upon the crimelord. What sort of man drugged young girls in order to seduce them? And, drugged them and tried to get them to initiate the seduction. The thought sent Kace's skin crawling. He sent up a silent prayer that Dargus Kandran would fall victim to a rampaging herd of nerfs in heat. He pushed away from the thoughts before the rage consumed him, though it was already coming close. A wave of frost had coated his insides as the memories of Elisia's ordeal returned, but they were lessening now. Kandran would pay.

A sound drew his attention from his thoughts and to the bed where Elisia stirred. Kace leaned forward, his attention focused on his young padawan, his friend. She was his friend. A part of his mind was screaming at him: she's more than a friend, she's the one who's captured your heart. Kace ignored it as he had been for weeks. How could he love her? She was so young, and his student. How could he love her? Very easily, the voice answered.

She stirred again, and Kace put the thoughts back where they belonged. He would examine them again later.

Elisia's body was fighting off the drug. Her mind was fighting off the memory that had surged up at the intimate contact. Instinctively once again, she drew herself into a small ball to protect herself. She could not have become smaller had she consciously willed it. A strange static filled the room as the air around her shimmered and began to crack. She moaned in fear once again. She was not remembering the time with Dargus, he had never frightened her. She was remembering her time in the brothel, just before she had been beaten senseless.

Kace stayed where he was, not wanting to frighten Elisia any more than she already was. His heightened senses watched the Force swirling around her, a storm of churning emotions. He pushed his fear back away from consciousness. It would all be dealt with later. For now, making sure Elisia was okay was far more important.

Elisia was somewhere else.some place else.she drifted back once again...

***

"Come child, come here and let me look at you," the large man said to Elisia. She stood barefoot and in a white silk gown. Her long hair had been cleaned and brushed until it shone and fell almost to her hips. Her young body just barely showing signs of the blossoms of womanhood. She looked about 8 years old, the truth was she was closer to 13.

Elisia stepped closer, fear pounding in her chest. She knew where she was and she knew that whores worked here. She didn't want to be a whore. She didn't want this man to touch her. But the mistress of the house had said if she made him happy, she could go free. This man was a powerful man on the planet.

"Here child, a gift." He held out a small delicate ring to draw her near him. She moved slowly and hesitantly. Her fear excited him. She reached out to take the ring. He let her have it and watched as she slid it on her finger. "Let me see how it looks child," he said softly, coaxing her a little closer.

She moved so he could see the little ring on her hand. He reached out suddenly and grabbed her to him. The little firebrand erupted and he laughed as she tried to fight her way free. The more she struggled the more he liked it and his pleasure was heightened for she fought him until the very end. After he had regained his stamina, he reached for her where she laid curled in a ball. She had also had time to recoup and bit him hard, taking a piece out of his hand. Furious, he hit her. Her shriek of pain and fear excited him more than her struggles and he hit her again.and again.and again.this time taking her and hitting her every time she stilled her struggles....

***

Back in the ship, Elisia was in her little ball, fear beginning to erupt within her little body. Then a blue shimmering echoed from her, and it quickly turned into green and blue bolts of lightning. Everything mechanic was effected, but it was powerful and the fear in the room was tangible. The static field grew stronger and the streaks of lightning full of power. A scary moment for anyone to witness such power from such a little street urchin.

As the arcs licked out around the room, Kace rushed forward. A tendril of white-blue slashed across his chest, the material of his shirt and jacket smoldering and burning. It only took a split-second for him to bring his defenses up. The lightning touched him, but dissolved into nothing against his skin. Another step forward, almost there. The lightning arced over his body. As he took the next step, he felt the room shift and then the wall as he slammed back against it. He could feel the material crack and crumble with the impact of the blow.

Kace stood again, bringing all his defenses to full. His eyes glowed bright against the onslaught of Elisia's defenses. He moved forward again. This time when the lightning neared, it just dissipated into nothing. He neared the bed and reached out with the Force. He was never strong with empathic projections, but he would have to be this time. He reached deep inside himself for the Force, the Force of light and good. He felt it flow through him, and down into his outstretched hand. A soft blue glow enveloped Elisia as he filled her with calm, slowly so he didn't overload her emotions. "It's going to be alright," he said as a tendril of electricity licked across his face. "It's going to be alright."

It took a moment and then the electric show of defense began to fade. He could see her physically reacting to his voice and efforts. Her head tossed back and forth as she clung to the sounds of comfort. Finally, the shimmering static faded and her body relaxed. It was a while longer before her eyes began to flutter. She tried to think of where she was. What was going on? The dream still had a powerful hold on her and yet the voice she could hear was familiar and safe.

Kace's heart slowed as Elisia began to calm. He had blocked his conscious mind from the dream she had been caught in, but now that the tension had dissipated he fought against the flashes she had been forced to endure. It was a nightmare from her past, he was certain of that. He had gone through enough of these types of ordeals that he could recognize it. His heart ached at what Elisia had been forced to suffer. His rage had diminished to where he could not bring his hate upon Dargus Kandran, the instigator of the nightmare. Later he would, though. Later when he could plan more fully, and extract from the crimelord the justice he deserved.

"You're safe now, Elisia," Kace said, his voice soothing. He dared not make physical contact, not unless she gave him a sign that she needed it. He understood now why she flinched at a man's touch, and why she had fled when he had kissed her. "Everything will be okay now. You're safe in your bed, in your home. It's going to be okay."

"Kace?" she called. Her head pounded heavily as if a drum was sounding in it. She felt sick and weak.

Kace knelt at the side of the bed. "I'm here," he said softly. "I'm right here."

"I don't feel well. I think I am going to be sick," she said, turning a pasty shade of color. Her head pounded furiously. She had no idea what happened or how she got here.

Kace nodded. "You had a lot to drink," he said. "And, other things. Can you make it to the bathroom, or do you want me to carry you?"

She tried to struggle up and fell back. "I feel so weak," she said in confusion. Her stomach churned and she closed her eyes willing it to be still. It felt as if she had spent the day running. Her whole body was sore and protesting any movement.

"You've been through a lot," he said. "Hold still for a moment. This should help with the weakness." Kace reached out to touch her forehead, hoping it would be okay if he did. He closed his eyes and let some of his strength flow into her.

Elisia felt the strange sensation course through her. It also helped to settle her churning stomach, though she still felt ill. "What happened? The last thing I remember was...was walking in Commerce City," she whispered. His touch was comforting and the memory of the dream faded. Just the thought of the dream made her shiver in fear.

"Dargus found you," he said, his voice seeming both calm and tense at the same time. "He did some things that were...not very nice."

"What?" she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. She didn't remember seeing Dargus. She didn't remember drinking as far as that went.

"He contacted me earlier this morning," he said. "Said that you'd been arrested for making a drunken disturbance at one of the bars. When I came to get you, you were out like a light. I didn't like the whole situation, and don't trust Dargus, so I ran a blood scan. The sedative the Tae'Morad guard say they gave you is actually a drug used to make a person more docile. It's generally used to loosen a woman up so she won't fight as much when she's raped." He held up a calming hand. "Nothing happened. You threw him back ten meters and he didn't touch you after that. But, he managed to get enough of the stuff in you that I'm surprised he didn't end up killing you. I'm very glad he didn't, but with the levels of it in your body... He took you to one of his offices, and tried to get you drunk and loose enough that you'd try to seduce him. That coupled with him turning up the heat in the place, he nearly got you. But, when he started to touch you, your fear took over. But, it appears that he no longer feels a need to keep to our agreement. I am glad you are safe." As he looked at her, he couldn't hide the emotions raging inside of him. His anger was silent, but the fear of losing Elisia, of caring for her so deeply it hurt, and wanting to protect her boiled inside and out.

Elisia stared at him. Most of what he had just told her made no sense to her. What was worse, she didn't remember any of it. "How do you know all this? I doubt Dargus would confess to such a thing." She groaned lightly for she had moved her head too much.

Kace shook his head. "He didn't," he said. "I was very concerned with what happened to you, and the amount of the drug in your system. I went into your mind to see what your senses picked up over the last day. So, I saw the world through your eyes from the time you left, until you finally passed out. In a sense, I went through what you did. I didn't look into your thoughts though; since you wanted to be alone, I left your thoughts to you."

"I appreciate that," she said in a flushed whisper. She knew why she had left the station and what she had been thinking. She didn't want him knowing those things. She opened her eyes and then they widened. "What happened to you?" she said in horror.

Kace looked down at his clothing, blackened and torn by the lightning, and frowned. "As the drug was wearing off," he said, "you were caught in a dream. Your body reacted through electricity. Some of the walls are damaged, and I think most of the electrical fixtures and devices. Of me, only my clothing was hurt. I was able to raise my own defenses in time. I am unharmed. Is there anything I can get for you? Water, or something to eat?"

"I would like the bathroom," she admitted, "but I don't think I can walk there." She looked around the room. "I did this?" she said in awe.

Kace nodded. "You did," he said. "It was a very impressive sight. The entire room was filled with arcs of electricity." He pulled back the covers. "I can carry you in if you aren't able to walk with my assistance."

She held up her arms, knowing her legs would never make it. When he picked her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He smelt strangely of sulphur and she frowned, knowing that something odd had happened and she could have killed him. When he set her down, she smiled her thanks and shooed him from the room. It took a bit because she was so weak, but she cleaned up and felt a little better when the door opened once again. She leaned against the door and tried to smile. She was confused and disoriented a little still.

Kace moved closer and smiled. "You're looking better," he said. "Are you hungry at all, or do you feel like more sleep?" He looked around the room and frowned. "We'll need to fix this place back up. If you want, you can sleep in my bed and I'll use the couch. It'll only take a couple days to get your room looking like new again."

"I couldn't eat." The thought made her stomach churn. She hadn't eaten anything that she remembered yesterday at all. Her stomach rebelled at the very thought. She looked at the damage she had done. She had never done anything like this before. She couldn't take a step, her legs were trembling so bad.

"Okay," he said and stepped forward another step. "Let's move out of here at least." He gave her a questioning look, not sure if she wanted him to carry her or not.

She held out her arms for him to pick her up. She knew if she tried to walk she would just fall down. She wondered if it was the alcohol or the thing she did to the room that made her so tired and weak. After he had picked her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "What.why would Dargus try that? He has concubines and...and other women." She laid her head on his shoulder; this felt wonderful and safe.

Kace carried her out into the other room. "I had a lot of time to think about that one while you were still out," he said as he set her on one of the couches and then sat next to her. "I can think of a couple possible reasons, and none of them are good. First, I don't think Dargus is ever satisfied with what he has. He wants whatever pleases him, and if a person he wants doesn't give themselves to him, he uses other means, such as drugs. You are an attractive young lady, and I think that Dargus sees that as well. So, I think he wishes to make you one of his possessions. The other reason I came up with is not one that I even like thinking about. You are strong in the Force. Dargus mentioned that he is also sensitive to the flows of the Force, and I have no real reason to doubt that he was lying to me. He thought I already knew when he mentioned it to me. He's not bright enough to remember that every time he and I have encountered each other, he's been within the void made by the ysalamiri. In any case, I think he wants you to bear him a child. With both your strength, and whatever he has, the child would also be strong. And, yesterday, he tried to take that by force."

She looked at him in confusion. She understood the words he had said, but none of that made any sense to her. "Why give me back to you then? If what you say is true, he could have just buried me away somewhere." Her head pounded and she laid back and closed her eyes. She was so tired.

Kace nodded. "When he touched you, your fear kicked in and responded through the Force. You threw him back. I think at that point he may have realized trying to do anything else might actually get him hurt. And, I think he let you return to me because he does want you trained to use the Force. Whatever his motivations there, I'm glad he did. This place wouldn't be the same if I couldn't share it with you." He studied her a moment. "You look pretty tired. Let me change out the bedding on my bed, and let you get some sleep."

Her eyes fluttered sleepily. "I can sleep here. I don't...I don't want to sleep where she was," she said without thinking. She curled back into her little ball and was asleep before he could answer.

Kace brushed a hand over her forehead, her soft blond hair tickling the back of his fingers. "Sleep well," he whispered. He grabbed one of the spare blankets and covered her with it before returning to his room. He stood in place, time passing around him, as he reflected on all that had happened in the previous day, on all he had seen though Elisia's eyes. Finally he blinked and moved to the shower, he had to get rid of the burned smell and his ruined clothing. He would check in on her again when he was done. And, if she had the strength for it, they would work on something easy like reading.

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