"Nightly Encounters"
By: Raeila Mullerin
Zion Xandler

Location: Yellvin, New Plouton
Date: Niothe 24, 4 ABY

***

Once again, the dream came. It was as it had been the first time it invaded her mind - frightening, vivid, engrossing. Each time she saw Ferrig's body reduced to dust, she screamed, just as she did now. The only difference this time was instead of waking up with a cold sweat drenching her clothing, the dream retained its hold on her. She dropped to her knees in the sand and frantically clawed at it, ingathering a large mound of the miniscule grains, the only remains of her brother.

Raeila wept onto the banked sand girded by her arms, calling out her brother's name and hoping her tears would moisten the dessicated remnants of him and reinvigorate her dear Ferrig. It all proved futile, for nothing happened but the wind coming in and stealing the sand from her, once again scattering it across the vast desert. Her cry now was bitter and piteous as she watched her brother torn from her embrace and forever gone.

"Ferrig! Ferrig, no!"

The grip of the dream loosened and slowly, regrettably, consciousness began returning to Raeila, yet still she called out to her brother, knowing she would receive no reply. She sobbed into the plush pillow upon the bed for a long while, then finally slipped out of bed in search of something to soothe her hoarse throat.

The marbled floor was cold against her bare feet and the thin nightgown she wore provided little warmth as she moved about the house. The hallway was darkened and with how unfamiliar she was with the layout of the apartment, she already found herself completely lost. Her hands groped along the wall to guide her through the hall. There appeared to be no panels with which to activate the lights, none that she could feel and certainly had no chance of seeing if they did exist. As she slid her hand further along the wall, it brushed against an obstruction in her hand's path. The object toppled to the ground and made a startling crash that resounded deafeningly throughout the hallway.

Raeila cried out and leapt back. She'd broken something, that was for certain. She only hoped she hadn't awakened Zion with the clatter, but as light suddenly filled the corridor and stabbed at her sensitive eyes, Raeila knew it was too late to hope for such a thing.

"Lights at 20 percent!" Zion ordered as the lights became more dim. "Better?" he asked as he had noticed that the initial strong lights had confused Raeila. He had just finished his work and the transaction had already been made to his account, making him a little richer, and had heard Raeila as he was about to lie down.

On the floor laid broken pieces of a stone statuette that he had. It was easy for him to see that Raeila was preoccupied with what she had broken. "Don't worry about it," he reassured her. "But be careful not to cut yourself on the broken stone pieces..."

"Sorry. I was thirsty and...I didn't know how to turn on the lights." She backed away from the shards of ceramic littering the floor and brought her hands up around herself to fight off the chill running through her from her feet. "I'll help clean it up. Do you have a broom or something around here?"

"No need really. The astromech droid will do that for us instead," he said as an R5 unit appeared to clean the shards on the floor. "As for the lights, my dear, they are voice activated..." Zion said as he neared Raeila and placed his silk robe around her, seeing she was cold.

"Voice activated?" Raeila accepted the offered robe readily and pulled it tightly around herself. "We don't have that sort of thing in the desert." Raeila frowned. "Did, I mean."

"Well, here we do..." he smiled. "So, whenever you wish to turn on the lights you can just say so or you can order automatic lights, which means that the house lights turn themselves on depending on which house division you're in automatically. Hey, I was about to go get something to eat. You want somethin'?" he asked her.

Raeila shrugged. "A drink, if that's okay." She looked back at the broken statue, the pieces of which were already being collected by the droid. "I really am sorry about that. Did it cost a lot?"

"Nah, not really..." Zion said as they went into the kitchen. "So, what did you want to drink? I got lots of different stuff..." he said as he opened some sort of a refrigerator and looked inside it.

"Juice will do." Raeila seated herself upon one of the stools lined adjacent to the counter and folded her arms atop the marbled topsurface. "I just wanted to thank you again for letting me sleep here. The bed's really nice."

"No sweat!" he said with a grin as he took the juice and some kind of brownie with a white top. He handed Raeila a glass of juice and cut a piece of the cake for himself. "You feelin' better? I mean 'bout the bruises and all..." he said as he looked at her, even though her nightgown covered the bruises underneath the thin silk.

"Bruises, I can handle. It was the broken ribs poking into my vital organs that was a little hard to tolerate." Raeila sipped slowly at the juice, then set her glass down and looked around the kitchen. "Your place is amazing. Too bad you live here alone. I bet any girl would jump at the chance to live in a place like this."

"Thanks... I guess good places are hard to find, even though I got this one easy," he said. "But I kind of like livin' alone, ya'know? I mean, I can set my own rules and stuff... No questions or explanations to be answered or given. Plus, I find most girls to be too much pokey and wanna know everthin' 'bout my life and what I do, and that can be a hassle in my line of work, know what I mean?"

He then looked into her eyes. "But don't take me wrong, kitty-cat, I didn't mean you were like the other girls that have come by... Just don't turn into one!" He laughed. "I guess life can be pretty tough in the desert, huh?"

Raeila shrugged. She idly ran her finger around the brim of the glass. "It can be if you don't watch out for yourself. Besides, I had protection there. The gangers knew to stay away from me or else there'd be trouble. Unfortunately, the same thing isn't true about this place. If this were Thanatos, I wouldn't have spent three hours in the hospital tonight."

"Maybe, but then again it was only because you had protection that you could do well in Thanatos. But I guess that some areas can be pretty hard around here too. Just gotta learn where to go and where not to..." he told Raeila. "But you're safe now... Anyway, if you had all that in Thanatos why did you choose to make it in the big regoin?"

"I had no choice," Raeila replied grimly. "I wasn't welcome anymore, so I left. If I'd stayed, I would have been subjected to endless criticism and derision. I'd rather take the beatings I get here than stay in Thanatos and realize my friends are no longer my friends. It hurts less."

"I guess... New friends come easily and in your case I guess most men would want to be more than just your friend," he said, not being able to hold it back and only then realising what he'd said. "Sorry... I didn't mean to imply anythin'... You're a good person, has anyone ever told you that? I can tell."

Raeila snorted and shook her head emphatically. "You wouldn't be saying that if you had seen me operating in my element. The desert makes you aggressive and violent...and I guess looking back on all I've done in my past, I deserved what happened to me in that alleyway." She smiled at Zion and added, "As for your implication, you're right, you know. I know I'm attractive and any man would want to be seen with me at their side. But all they want is sex. I'm a prostitute and after a long day and night of selling myself to men, it'd be nice to have someone to go home to who's interested in more than my body, and who wants nothing more than to just...talk. You know?"

"Yeah, I guess... Although I wouldn't wanna share my woman with another man's pleasure! But I guess I can be a little jealous when it comes to my girl. Anyway, you're engaged so I guess he's okay with it, right?"

"Well, he hasn't been bothered by it before. But I don't know if he'll still be okay with it knowing I share myself with Wetters now. See, in Thanatos, they don't like to mingle with you Wetters, and anyone who does is a traitor." Raeila looked sullenly into her glass and trembled. "That's why I came here. I'm a traitor. I've been with a Wetter, been to their lands. I'm tainted now. My own brother won't even associate with me."

Zion frowned. Raeila had been with him and then she had suddenly popped out in New Plouton, and now this traitor story. "So I guess I'm to blame for that..." he concluded. "That's ridiculous! What the heck is wrong with us wetters, as you put it, to make you hate us such?!" He then sighed and raised up a hand. "I don't mean you... I mean those in Thanatos."

"You enslaved our land, our planet. Tae'Karada was once a desert planet and your people came and flooded it with water and subjugated the Kir'Thana," Raeila replied fervently. "We live the way we live today because the Wetters stole everything from us. That's why we hate your kind." She closed her eyes to rein in her emotions, then sighed and looked up at Zion. "Sorry. It's not you, Zion. I know it was your ancestors who did this to us, but hatred this strong doesn't die. I personally don't hate Wetters, not particularly." She laughed wryly. "I am one of them now, after all, according to my brother. It's just that we've been conditioned to hate your kind. It's the way it is."

"And I guess it seems fair to blame what happened ages ago on those who were here and those who arrived, right?" Zion stated crossing his arms. "So you would prefer to live with no water and the such? All desert like Tatooine... C'mon Raeila, you don't really think it was better then, do you? No plantlife, no food, no water. Call it progress if you want!"

He then took a couple of steps away and laughed. "I don't know why we're even discussing this! It doesn't matter now and it sure ain't gonna change anythin'... So what do you wanna do tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" Raeila laughed softly and shook her head. "Zion...what exactly do you think is going on here? I mean, I thank you for being so good to me, but...I just don't want you thinking there's more going on here than there really is. You allow me into your home, pay for my medical treatment, now offer to spend the day with me, it would appear. Are you asking me to be your girlfriend, Zion?"

"Is that an offer?" He grinned. "No, seriously. I was thinking we would get you a decent place to live in but that might not just show up from thin air. Besides that, we're not going to spend all day goin' lookin' for apartments anyway! So I was wonderin' if you'd like to do somethin' in particular or not..."

"As...acquaintances, I accept. I'm even open to sleeping with you for money if you still want that. But nothing more. I...I can't." Raeila craned her neck to gaze up at Zion, and almost strained it doing so. He certainly was tall. "We can have breakfast tomorrow morning and then you can help me find a decent apartment. Okay?"

"Sure thing, kitty-cat! But I don't think I could sleep with you and payin' to get it. But never say never!" he smiled. "Well, I'm pretty tired, so I'm goin' off. You okay? Need anythin' or have any doubts about how anythin' else works?" he decided to ask her before going off to his room.

"All I need is the lights." Raeila thought about it for a moment, then to appear less ungrateful than she had been thus far, she slipped off of her chair and moved to Zion's side of the counter. With a grin, she pushed herself up onto the countertop and almost succeeded in being able to look upon Zion at eye-level. She slipped her arms loosely around his neck and kissed him tenderly. "Thanks for everything," she whispered.

Zion kissed her back and smiled. "No problem! See if you can catch some sleep, okay? If you need anything, I'll be in my room... Don't worry 'bout wakin' me up if ya need to!" he said as he slipped his arm across hers and headed out the door.

"And don't worry about slipping into bed with me, just remember the creds!" Raeila called back after him. She pulled up the hem of her nightgown and laughed as she flashed Zion some leg. As long as she was in New Plouton, she would need some regular customers who wouldn't beat her when they were done, and from what she could determine just by the cursory look around the house she'd gotten, he certainly could afford her.

"You never know..." he laughed back as he raised an eyebrow at the sight of her legs. Raeila was indeed a gorgeous woman. Too bad he couldn't have her as an exclusive. Zion wandered off to his bedroom and laid down, closing his eyes upon that thought.

---

"Broken Wings, Part 1"
By: Kallia Brael
Yelara Zaneth
Yara Brael [NPC]
Leshie Zaneth [NPC]

Location: Corellia
Date: Niothe 24, 4 ABY

***

They sat in a sun-dappled clearing on a blanket spread over the soft, mossy grass. They'd found the place the day before, and decided to come back with the babies and a picnic lunch today. It was a beautiful day, made more so by each other's company. Leshie was laying on the blanket, kicking his tiny feet happily while Yara was trying to crawl across the blanket toward mommy.

The scene warmed Kallia like nothing ever could. Sharing this time with her love and their children was a greater joy than she ever thought she could know. She smiled at Yelara who was nibbling from a plate of food and watching her.

"I think Orinth was sad when we told him we were bringing the babies with us today," she said. "I think he likes having them with him."

"It's only for the day, and besides, even though he would never admit it, he does need a break from them." Yara clumsily grabbed for Leshie's foot and ended up only falling flat upon her stomach. She whimpered and her lips pouted, but before she could break into her distinctive shrill sobs, Yelara scooped her up and rocked her soothingly. "Do you think our children will grow up thinking they have two mommies? I hope so, Kal. Sometimes I feel as if Yara is mine as much as she's yours."

"How could they not think that?" Kallia said with a smile. "And, they do. They're both our babies, just as they're both Liam's babies." She touched a finger to Yara's nose, and Yara quickly tried to grab it. "If you're not careful, my little dear, then you are going to end up right in that plate of mashed stuff. That would be worse than a dirty diaper, I think." Yara gurgled and Kal laughed. "We're all one big family."

"Last year, I don't think I could have imagined us like this, Kal. We're suited to motherhood, don't you think?"

"And taking to it like nerfs to grazing," Kallia said with a large smile. "I never would have believed that I would have a baby and be happy and fulfilled. It's amazing how wrong you can be about things."

Yelara chuckled bitterly at the thought of how many time she'd been mistaken in her life, and in particular how foolish she was to believe she loved Dargue and he, her. Oh, how wrong she was about that. "I think I wouldn't mind another one, once Leshie's older. Would you want one? I mean, Liam's capable enough of providing..."

Kallia smiled and felt her face blushing slightly. "You wouldn't mind? Me having a baby by Liam?"

Yelara kissed the top of Yara's head. "Nope. It's strange, as jealous as I am, but I don't think I would mind."

"Well, we'll see what happens," she said. "And, besides, you know both Liam and I love you more than anything. You know you don't have to worry about me stealing him away from you." She kissed the top of Yara's head where Yel had kissed, and then kissed Yelara's lips. "I want to look for cottages today."

Yelara smiled serenely. "Our own little place... We can take a nice walk with the babies and have a look around. They can even help us choose," she said with a laugh.

Yara let out a squeal and tried to grab Yelara's nose. Kallia watched her daughter, filling up with so much love as she did, and laughed. "I think she likes the idea."

"She's feisty, just like her mother!" Yelara kissed Yara's pudgy cheek, then handed her to Kallia to free her arms for Leshie. He fidgeted irritably and whined, but once Yelara pulled down the top of her dress and Leshie found her breast with his mouth, he calmed instantly. She gazed down at her son's blue eyes, the eyes that were Liam's and was reminded of him all too quickly. "Why hasn't he contacted us, Kal? He said he would..."

"I'm sure he wants to, love," Kallia said. "He's probably busy. Plus, getting the timing for a call from Tae'Karada to Corellia has to be tricky. Maybe we can try to call him tonight. We can surprise him."

"I'm just worried. He'll be going after Dargus..." Yelara held Leshie more tightly to her and nestled her cheek against his head. "What if something's

happened? Kallia...I can barely sleep at night I'm so worried about him."

"We'll try to get ahold of him tonight," Kallia said softly. "Everything will be fine, my love. Liam's very strong in the Force, and not even Dargus can touch him. But, we'll call tonight and we can spend a long time just talking."

Yelara nodded and smiled for Kallia's sake. "Once I speak with him, I'll be alright. And once Leshie's done, we can go find our new home."

With Yara held close, Kallia smiled at Yelara. "I was doing some reading on the public net last night, and they seemed to have some nice ones just up the road." She looked down into her daughter's large, brown eyes. "I'm glad you're not hungry too or we'd never find our new home."

Yelara laughed, finally feeling her concerns lessen. "I think no matter how heavy your hungry little girl gets, Leshie will still love her...to some extent. But just in case, ease her off the breast, my love."

"Oh, I'm sure they'll love each other as much as we love each other," Kallia said. "Though, I'll have to feed her again later. She was certainly hungry when we got here though. Speaking of hungry, the way Lesh's going after your breast, he's gonna leave nothing but a desiccated husk."

"He's a growing boy!" Yelara said in her son's defense. "And he's like his father, remember? He's a breast-man too."

Kallia giggled. "Oh, I know it," she said. "I was holding him last night, and he nearly gummed his way through my shirt to get at a nipple. I have to be careful not to pick him up after I've showered or he'll leave nothing for Yara."

"And nothing left for Liam," Yelara added. "Well...when he gets here. And he will get here soon. He will. I have to believe that, Kal, and when we speak to him today, I'll know it to be true."

"Oh, he'll assure us," Kallia said. "Everything will be fine again. You'll see. He loves you, and he'll come back to you really, really soon."

Yelara smiled wanly at Kal and kissed her tenderly. "Thank you, my love. You hear that, Leshie?" She looked down at her son, and her smile brightened. "Daddy's coming soon. Mama Kallia says so, and she's a Jedi. She knows these things."

"And, she knows that we'll all be happily together soon," Kallia said. "And, we'll have our new home all to ourselves. I've never had a family before. Not like this." She took Yelara's hand in hers and smiled. "Me, you, Liam and the babies. It's going to be right."

"And Grandpa Orinth coming around to meddle and trying to convince me to divorce Liam." Yelara smiled fondly. "I can't wait."

"Oh, but then he'll see Liam with Leshie, and he'll know that Liam belongs with us, and his son," Kallia said. "I imagine even Orinth won't be able to resist smiling when he sees them together."

"They are cute together, aren't they?" Leshie gurgled and kicked his feet excitedly as Yara squealed. "Just as Leshie and Yara will be when they're sleeping together in their own room in that new cottage." Yelara grinned at Kallia. "Let's start looking now. I want to find one by the end of the day, my love, so we can have it all ready for when Liam arrives."

"You get the babies settled," Kallia said, "and I'll put the picnic away."

Yelara giggled as she carefully laid Leshie into his carrier, then Yara. After they were secured, she scrambled to help Kallia gather up the blanket. "Should we get a big one, or a little one? Oh, it definitely has to have a garden."

"Big," Kallia said with a smile. "Especially if we're gonna be having more like those two. Not too many though. But, I think it'll nice to have space in our home. A cottage though. Not some mansion. Just nice and cozy, for the five of us, and more if they arrive."

"When they arrive." Yelara laughed at Kallia's look, then picked up the children's carriers and backed away towards the path. "And they will arrive, Kal! With as happy as we are, it would be selfish not to share it with anyone else."

Kallia laughed happily and slung the picnic supplies around onto her back. "When they arrive," she echoed. "Now, let's go find that home for our babies, present and future."

***

Yelara wrinkled her nose in distaste and strode directly past the dwelling without halting. "Definitely not this one," she said. "I liked that one we saw awhile back. The one with the swing on the porch, remember? And I hadn't realized how far away our neighbours will be. At least we can be as vocal as we wish without receiving complaints."

"Or have some urchin with macrobinoculars trying to get a peek in our window," Kallia said. "At the first place, did you see how that boy watched us? He's got a pair of macrobinoculars stashed away for spying on the neighbours. I think lots of space is going to be good. The more the better."

"Especially in the bedroom. We'll need an extra big bed for the three of us." Yelara squinted at the next cottage up ahead. "That one looks cute. We should check it out if it's for sale."

"Oh, that one's really cute," Kallia said as they approached. "And there's a sign in the window. Oh Yel, I think it is. We have to look inside, and I know this is the one."

"You think?" Yelara looked down at Leshie and smiled. "What do you think, Leshie? Do you like this on?" He gurgled and bounced in his carrier, giving Yelara as emphatic a response as she could expect from a two month old baby. "Kallia, I think this might just be the one."

Kallia laughed, and led the way up through the door. There was a lingering sense of wrongness, but her excitement overrode it all. How could they not choose this place? It was their future. "I love it!"

"Oh gods... It even smells beautiful!" Yelara closed her eyes and inhaled deeply the aroma present all around them. "It's flowers... It must be the wildflowers outside. Oh, I've got a good feeling about this place, my love."

"Yes," Kallia said as she gazed around the front room of the cottage. "It's perfect. We have to go find the person selling it. We have to sign the papers. It must be ours today!"

Yelara laughed at Kallia's enthusiasm, but hers was quickly being stimulated by the gleam in her lover's eyes. "Let's go find them then. Let's go find them and make this our home, Kal." She kissed Kallia warmly, then giggled and started for the door with Leshie. "I think Liam's gonna love this place."

"He is! He's going to absolutely--" The sudden onrush of dread nearly sickened Kallia. The impending sense of trouble slammed into her like a ship smacking hard into the atmosphere. "Danger," she whispered. "Outside." She reached out a hand, and her lightsaber jumped out of the pack with the remains of their picnic. "We have to find a back way out."

Yelara felt suddenly cold and instinctively cradled Leshie's carrier in her arms, close to her chest. "Kallia... My love, what's wrong?"

"I sense danger," Kallia said as all of her Jedi training snapped her focus into place. "There are a lot of men outside and they're here for us." The colour drained from her face and a visible shudder ran through her body. "Dargus' men."

Yelara groaned in anguish and staggered back into the wall. The jostle startled Leshie and triggered his most piercing, grating cry. Yelara barely noticed. Her mind blanked for a moment and her body froze, but soon the reality of the situation impacted her. "Oh gods...Kallia! Kallia, no! What do we do? Oh gods, what do we do?!"

"We find a back way out of here," Kallia said. "We get out, and we go as fast as we can. We get to the Kestrel, and we get out of here. We'll signal Orinth as soon as we can. We want to keep him out of this. We don't want him involved. We have to get away, Yel. We can do it."

Yelara nodded dumbly but remained where she was with her back to the wall. "The babies... Kallia, they can't have the babies. We have to go. We...we have to go." Her voice shrank into a sob and tears obstructed her vision at the thought of her precious boy in Dargus' hands. Not that. Anything but that.

Yelara took in a shuddering breath and lurched forward. Leshie's cries became more shrill but there was no time to soothe him. They had to find a way out. "Kallia. Help me find a door!"

"Back this way," Kallia said as she moved toward the back of the cottage. She shrugged free of their picnic supplies and left it on the floor. She had one hand holding Yara's carrier and the other held her lightsaber. "There has to be one. They can't build only... Here!" She reached out her senses. "There's some out there. Can you carry both babies? If you can't, let me know and I'll make due. Can you?"

Yelara shifted Leshie's carrier into her one hand again, then grabbed Yara's from Kallia's grasp. "Just get us out of here, my love. Please."

"I will," Kallia said, then kissed Yelara fiercely. They would make it. "You know the way to the ship from here. From here it should only be about a kilometer or so." Another kiss. "I'll go out first. Ready?"

Yelara whimpered, but nodded her head despite how frightened she was. It was either run or let Dargus' men come in and take them. There was little choice. "Be careful, my love. Watch out for yourself. I'll take care of me and the babies."

Kallia summoned her focus, and then used the Force to pull the door open. As expected two of Dargus' men stood there waiting for them. They fired, but Kal had her blade up and ready. The weapons were set on stun, and as she deflected the bolts back at them both thugs went down like sacks of grain.

Holding her lightsaber before her, she danced forward and quickly dispatched the two on either side of the door. She turned back, her senses open for danger. "Come on," she said quickly, urging Yel forward.

Yelara set into motion without hesitation and despite the bulk created by Leshie and Yara's carriers, she hurried with Kallia out of the cottage. Their future home had been compromised already and tainted now by Dargus, but at least they would get away and find a new home that was free of his touch.

The babies screamed and wept miserably as the carriers bashed against her legs during her sprint, but no matter how much it hurt and how much she wanted to calm them, Yelara refused to stop.

Once they were two hundred meters from the cottage, Kallia took Yara back from Yelara, but did not shut down her blade. She could hear the pursuit behind them, but they weren't catching up with the two women in the midst of a desperate flight. They made it to the small town where the Kestrel was docked. They slowed their pace some, but not much. Kallia used the Force to determine who might be an agent of Dargus' but found no one.

Finally, the small spaceport was just ahead of them. "Let's go," Kallia said.

Once again, Yelara wished Liam was there with them now. She trusted Kallia with her life, but she alone couldn't protect them sufficiently. Liam and Kallia together could have. But still, they were so close and would soon be off the planet and once again to safety...wherever that was. Nowhere seemed secure any longer and it was obvious Dargus would go to any lengths to have her and Kallia within his grasp again. "Kallia, don't let him take me. Don't let him find us, my love."

"We'll head for the Core," Kallia said. "To Coruscant. He'll never find us there. And, with all the people. We'll blend in. He won't touch us, Yel. Once we get up and out of orbit, we'll jump to hyperspace and he'll never find us."

"He already did," Yelara said grimly. "He found us here. We'll never be free. Never..."

"Here was easy to find us, Yelara," Kallia said. "Last time you left him, where did you go? Here. I bet now he expects us to run back to Tae'Karada."

"Would that be so bad?" Yelara muttered. "Liam's there."

The spaceport neared, yet still seemed frustratingly out of reach. She didn't want to run off to another planet, she wanted to be with her husband. Tears blinded her and she choked on sobs of Liam's name. Only hours ago they had been happy, and now they were enacting a nightmare.

Kallia nodded. "Then we're going back to the Temple. The Jedi will keep us safe. Liam will keep us safe." They entered the spaceport and headed straight for the Kestrel.

A quick visual inspection told Kallia that nothing had been tampered with. She dropped the landing ramp for them to enter. "I promise you, my love, as soon as Dargus Kandran is dead, we're coming back here and buying that cottage. And, I don't care if someone else has bought it already."

Yelara kissed Kallia deeply, then started up the ramp, hefting along the two carriers. It was almost a relief to be on board and away from the mob, but they hadn't left the planet yet which meant they were still in danger. "Kallia, fly us out of here. Get us safe, my love."

Kallia slapped the control that retracted the ramp and closed the hatch. Once it was secure, she rushed to the cockpit and began firing up the engines. They'd be up and safely back on Tae'Karada with Liam soon enough. Once the panel was green, she punched the Kestrel upward, and angled them for space. "I'm going to make the jump as soon as I can, so get yourself and the babies strapped in."

Yelara moved to obey and secured the children into the passenger seats. Each of them received a kiss before Yelara herself slid into the seat next to Kallia and buckled herself in. "We're almost free. Almost free my loves." Yelara closed her eyes and braced herself for the ship's lift-off, hoping that she at least wouldn't be sick during the flight.

Kallia broke out of the atmosphere and angled their way around the planet, gathering speed as they did. She was nowhere near the pilot that Liam was, but she could hold her own. And, at this point, there wasn't anything tricky about the manoeuvres she was taking the Kestrel through.

"We'll be making the jump in just a moment, my love," she said. "Once we hit lightspeed, we're free."

As the Kestrel came around the curve of the planet and rocketed out into space, Kallia cursed under her breath. Ahead of them loomed a large, heavily armed ship that was moving to block their path. It was a Mon Calamari cruiser, and its weapons were hot. She threw the ship into evasive manoeuvres as fighters boiled out of the large beast's underbelly.

"Damn."

"What?" Yelara's eyes skittered about the viewport, watching the fighters move into formation. "Kallia, what is it? Oh gods, please don't tell me they're after us. Kallia, please!"

Kallia sank into the void offered to her by the Force. Her hands danced across the controls of the Kestrel as she stretched out with thought and feeling, anticipating every move by the fighters. The Kestrel spiralled away from the onrushing ships. Without someone in the gunpods, they would only have the forward guns that were under her control. But, all she needed to do was stay ahead of them and then they could jump to lightspeed. Just a little longer.

Yelara's head darted from side to side as the ships streaked past them. The ominous whine of the fighters' engines was all she could focus on and barely heard Leshie and Yara's persistent screams. She slapped her hands over her ears and clenched her eyes shut, hoping it all would go away. "Oh, Liam," she sobbed. "My love...help us. Please, help us."

"We're almost clear," Kallia shouted, and then banked the ship through the opening the fighters gave them. The Kestrel roared free, racing toward the safety of Tae'Karada.

And, then everything stopped.

Kallia lurched forward as the ship's forward momentum disappeared. The stars that had been streaking past as they moved forward slowly began to roll away. She looked down at the instruments, telling her the engines were at full power, but they weren't moving the ship. "Oh gods no," Kallia whispered.

The jolt would have thrown Yelara out of her seat if she hadn't been strapped in, but it did manage to thrust her into reality again. She looked around frantically and finally fixed her gaze upon Kallia. The sudden pallor of her skin terrified Yelara more than the fact that they were no longer moving. "Kallia... Kallia! Get us out of here! What are you doing?!"

"They have us in a tractor beam," Kal said as she tried everything she could to break free. As if anticipating her next thought, the cruiser opened fire on the ventral and dorsal surfaces, destroying both weapon pods. They couldn't shoot out the tractor emitters and break free now. They couldn't do anything. Tears welled in her eyes, as Kallia shut down the engines before they burned out. "We can't get away this way." She lifted the hilt of her lightsaber and stared at it. "But, we'll get away, my love. They won't take us from this ship."

"Kallia," Yelara tried to say, but her voice stuck in her constricting throat. She unfastened the safety restraints and reached out to press a hand to Kallia's cheek. No words managed to escape, although the tears had no trouble doing just that from her eyes. It was over, and she knew it. Yelara just didn't have the heart to tell Kallia, even if she could. Instead, she rose from her seat and stood over her lover with one hand extended towards her. "We'll do this together, my love," she whispered. "Get me a blaster and we'll do this."

Kallia took Yelara's hand and kissed it. "Together," she said. She led the way back to the small armoury and pulled out a blaster for Yelara. "Let's put the babies in the cabin for now. If there is a fight, we don't want them caught in it. We're going to make him pay, my love. He will pay with his blood."

Yelara kissed Kallia tenderly. "He'll bathe in it," she said softly. "And then we'll burn his body to cinders. Not even he can return from that." She pressed her lips to Kallia's again, then gazed into her eyes for a moment before rushing back into the cockpit to retrieve the children. She kissed each upon the brow once she'd adequately concealed them within the cabin and stood back to look upon them. The last of her tears were shed as she watched Yara reach out and cling to Leshie's hand. It was then she knew she'd fight to the death to protect them from Dargus, and that fight was most likely about to begin. She was determined that no one would be spared, and she made certain of that by setting her blaster to its maximum power level. One shot would kill anyone who dared come near them.

"Kallia, they're safe." Yelara returned to her lover's side and stared fiercely at the blast doors, the only thing standing between them and the enemy now. "Are they coming?"

"They're out there," Kallia said. "I can feel them." She shuddered. "I can feel him."

Outside, the sounds of the ship settling on the deckplates of the cruiser echoed through where they waited. Kallia tightened the grip on her weapon just as Yelara did with hers. Her eyes shone with barely contained fury. Dargus Kandran would pay. She ignited the lightsaber and the room was bathed in its violet light. "Ready?"

"I've been ready to kill that bastard since the day I met him." Yelara aimed the blaster at the hatch and awaited their first victim. "I love you, Kallia Brael."

"And, I love you, Yelara Neerou Zaneth," Kallia said. She took a deep breath, centred herself, and then reached out with the Force to open the hatch.

---

"Broken Wings, Part 2"
By: Kallia Brael
Yelara Zaneth
Dargus Kandran
Yara Brael [NPC]
Leshie Zaneth [NPC]

Location: Dargus Kandran's Battle Cruiser
Date: Niothe 24, 4 ABY

***

Dargus' people waited for them outside. A small group of them were shoved hard to the ground with a thick wave of the Force from Kallia. She raised her weapon in defense, ready to deflect any attacks from herself and from Yelara. They wouldn't be taking them easily that was certain. And, if Kallia Brael had anything to say about it, they wouldn't be taking them at all.

Yelara sent a spray of blaster bolts through the opening as she darted past it and sought cover behind hull of the ship. With her back to the wall, she nodded to Kallia and pushed her weapon blindly through the opening. She provided continuous cover fire for Kallia in case it was required, but Yelara had never been in a fire-fight before and was working only on pure instinct now.

"You can't win," a familiar voice called. It was like a sweet perfume poured over stinking refuse. "Please, my dears, just come down and you won't be harmed. You have my word on that."

"Your word?" Kallia called out. "You're as trustworthy as a snake, Dargus. You'll have to come up here and get us yourself."

"Very well," came the reply. After a moment, Dargus appeared in their view at the bottom of the ramp, a shaft of crimson energy held easily in one hand. His face had changed, but the way he moved hadn't. "Yelara. Jae Dyn. You don't know how good it is to see you. We have so much to catch up on."

At first, Yelara was stunned into inaction. The eyes and the voice were the only recognizable indications that the man grinning coldly at them was Dargus Kandran, the man for whom Yelara bore such hatred that seeing him now, her stomach churned.

"No," she shrieked. "No!" Yelara stepped into the doorway and gave a cry as she aimed at Dargus and let loose with a barrage of blaster fire. Each lance of orange energy rebounded off of Dargus' artfully swinging crimson blade, providing him with more defense than the fifty soldiers flanking him ever could. Still, Yelara continued to fire even after her finger had gone numb.

Dargus lifted a hand, and the blaster flew from Yelara's grip. "Oh, come, come, Yelara," he said. "Is that anyway to greet a former lover? And, you Jae Dyn? Is this how a Jedi treats a man who gave her lodging, protected her from the Empire?"

"You're no man, Dargus," Kallia spat. "You're the monster parents use to frighten their children into behaving."

"Oh, you truly wound me," he drawled. "Now, put that weapon away, or I swear that I'll make life for Yelara very difficult." He reached out with his mind, and gave Yelara's throat a single squeeze. It wasn't enough to choke her, or really even injure. It was just enough to remind her of his power and to make her fear. "You wouldn't want your disobedience to be the cause of her death now, would you?"

Kallia lowered her weapon. "Leave us alone, Dargus," she whispered.

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't do that," he said. "I am going to make sure the two of you appreciate me again. Now, I want to see my child." He shifted his gaze to Yelara.

She, in return, emitted a scoffing laugh. "What child, Dargus?"

"You do want to do this the hard way, don't you," he said. "Perhaps I should give you to Keeve for a time. I'm sure he'd enjoy breaking you of your insolence. However, I must teach you a lesson, mustn't I?" With that, he returned his caress to her throat and tightened. He wouldn't kill her, but she'd certainly be thinking about her death as the air would no longer pass into her lungs. "The child, Yelara. You will cooperate, or I will tear this ship apart looking for him."

Yelara closed her hands around her throat, but much like the first time, months ago, when he had exacted the same punishment on her, she now found no fingers to pry from her neck. Not even the pain that shot up from her knees as she fell to the deck could match the agony brought on by her struggle to force vital air past her throat and into her lungs. Oh gods, Va'Lesh, she thought frantically. No. He can't have you. Not ever!

"Do you wish to die, Yelara? Do you think that by dying you'll protect your child from me? Do you think I won't tear this ship apart searching? Will you behave? If you are good, I will treat you as such. If you're not good, then I'll just turn you over to my apprentice."

Yelara managed to emit a hoarse, choked cry before slumping forward onto the deck. If she lived, at least there was a chance Leshie would be safe. But, he was Liam's child, and when Dargus discovered that, he would kill him whether she lived or died. Alive, she could bargain with Dargus for her son's life, but the thought of what would be required of her in order to ensure her son's safety made the decision more difficult than it should have been. At least she could recover from the defilement Dargus would inflict upon her; if her child died, she would never be truly the same.

With the last of her strength, Yelara raised her head and met Dargus' merciless gaze. She mimed her submission with a nod, then groaned and lay her head back down upon the deck in defeat.

The vice-like grip on her throat ceased and Yelara was free to breathe again. "That wasn't so difficult was it?" he said. "Now, Jae Dyn, I'm going to have to ask you to drop your weapon. Not that I don't trust you. It's just that it would give the wrong impression if my two new sex slaves were wandering around armed."

A shudder mingled with her convulsions as Yelara took in wheezing gasps. The darkness occluding her vision lifted, but the first sight her eyes set upon - Dargus Kandran smiling down at her - only filled her with such disgust she wished she was blind. She unsteadily raised herself to her knees and scowled at Dargus. "You can try," she rasped, "but there's no way we're spreading our legs for you, bastard."

"You'll never have us the way you want us," Kallia growled as she tossed her weapon to the deck.

"Oh, you don't know how I want you," Dargus said with a smile as he moved closer. "On your feet, Yelara. We can't have you remaining on this scow. And, you have two choices: we go get the babies, or I haul you out of here and my men search the ship for them."

"No one touches my child, Dargus," she spat. Yelara managed to regain her footing, but staggered for a moment before she balanced herself. She turned away from Dargus and paused to gaze into Kallia's eyes. The pain and grief she saw in them no doubt mirrored her own. At least they were together. No matter what Dargus did to them now, at least they had each other. Dejectedly and sedately, Yelara carried out Dargus' wishes and sought out Yara and Leshie.

Kallia regarded Dargus with a sneer. "You may have the upper hand now. You may violate our bodies. But, in the end you will lose. And, for all that you do to us, you will only make it that much worse on yourself."

Dargus laughed. "Unlikely," he said. "And, at least I'll have fun getting to that point, won't I? And, I know your tastes, Jae Dyn. I know Yelara's. I know you will enjoy it as well."

"Never."

"Never say never, my dear," Dargus said with a sing-song quality in his voice.

A gentle gurgle and soft coos interrupted their conversation as Yelara returned. She carried Leshie's carrier in one hand and Yara in the other. Her motherly instincts prevented her from moving any further towards Dargus, and when it came to it, she knew they would prevent her from handing the children over to him as well. She watched him from a distance and shook her head slowly in a plea for leniency. "Let them stay with us, Dargus," she plead gently. "Just let them be with their mothers."

Dargus watched Yelara for a moment, though his gaze was focused on the children in her arms. "For now, I will allow it," he said. "But, they will only stay with you as long as you do as I say. Defy me, and I will take them away from you. Now...come closer. I want to see my child."

Yelara closed her eyes and forced back the sickening taste creeping up into her mouth. Liam...oh gods, I'm sorry. She felt herself moving forward haltingly and laboriously. Leshie whimpered and soon she heard herself sobbing as well. "Don't do this, Dargus," she whispered. "Don't do this to us."

Once she was close enough, Dargus examined the two babies. He shifted his attention to Yara and smiled. "This one is mine," he said. "A daughter. But, Jae Dyn, my dear, we will have to work harder at producing a son. And, Yelara, my sweet, this time you will bear my child. A son, as well." He looked at Leshie for a moment. "He will act as suitable bait to bring Kace here for his execution, I think."

"No!" Yelara stumbled back with the children's carriers still tightly in her grip. "You bastard! I won't let you use my child to destroy my husband. And you'll get nothing from me! I'll kill myself before I bear you a bastard son, but not before I murder you!"

"Is it better to let me use your child to destroy your husband than to just destroy your child? How about this, Yelara, you bear me a son, and I won't kill Kace. I'll let the two of you live. I'll let you and your child go once you have provided me with a son. Give me a son, and I'll never interfere in yours and Kace's life again."

"I don't believe you," she hollered. "You've never once spoken the truth to me. Once I give you a son, you'll just kill us all." Yelara laughed jeeringly at Dargus and backed further away from him slowly. "Whether or not I agree to give you a child you'll take what you want anyway. That's how I know you're lying! You don't make compromises, Dargus. You covet, and you take. That's how it is and how it will always be!"

"Then I will take the son I want from you," Dargus growled, "and I will hold your son as hostage until I get what I want." He held out a hand, and Leshie's carrier leapt from Yelara's grasp and into his hand. "You will give me what I want."

"Va'Lesh!" She lunged for her son's carrier in desperation. The turbulence caused by the abrupt movement unsettled Yara and her shrill cries mingled with Yelara's as she made a frantic attempt to retrieve her son. She managed to get her fingers around the handle of Leshie's carrier and attempted to jerk it free of Dargus' grasp.

"Stop!" Kallia shrieked.

The carrier came free of Dargus' grip and he immediately sank to his knees, one hand moving to claw at his throat. His eyes bulged with the effort. He turned a fierce gaze on Kallia. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He raised a hand to Kallia, and an arc of electric fire sprang free, knocking Kallia back against a bulkhead where she slumped to the ground.

Immediately, the grip around his throat lessened, and he surged to his feet. "Impressive," he crooned. "I think you've aroused me, Jae Dyn. Yes. Yes, you have. And, I shall quench my desires with Yelara. And, if she says no, her child will die."

Yelara watched in terror at the unfolding scene before her and finally admitted to herself that there was no hope. Dargus was in control, just as he liked it, and her child was a pawn in the baneful game he was playing. She would defy him and fight him for as long as she could, but when it came down to it, she would submit to Dargus to protect her loved ones. What pained her even more so was that Kallia would do the same.

Weeping silently, Yelara trudged towards Dargus to give him what he desired. She held out Leshie's carrier, then Yara's. "He...he needs to be fed every two hours," she said distantly. "And Yara...she's still breastfeeding. She needs her mother for that too."

"The two of you will still be able to feed your babies when they are hungry," Dargus said as he watched the two babies in their carriers. He took them both from Yelara and smiled. "It's much better this way. If you two behave, then they will be safe and cared for. If you behave yourself, you will be unharmed. I may like my sex rough, but I really don't like abusing those I take as lovers. And, I know you do not wish for me to abuse you. Now, remove your clothes and we will leave to a more comfortable location."

Yelara opened her mouth to protest, but knew that would only lead to more struggle. Instead, she pushed down the straps of her dress and let the light fabric fall to the ground. She gripped the edges of her panties and slowly slipped them off. Yelara then stepped away from her crumpled clothing and stood trembling and naked before Dargus. "I hate you," she whispered. "Go to hell, Dargus Kandran."

"Much better," Dargus said. He turned his attention to her breasts and the new tattoo there. "Oh, and I like the addition. Very sexy." He turned to regard Jae Dyn. "Oh gods, I've missed that body. Both of your bodies. And, now...both of them are mine." He smiled a wolfish smile and then gestured toward the exit. "Now, let's go."

Yelara moved to Jae Dyn's side and helped her onto her feet. She smiled for her lover, but there was no mirth only sorrowful tenderness there. "It's time to go, my love. Let's go."

"He will die," Kallia rasped. Her clothing was piled around her on the floor, but the lightsaber she had dropped was nowhere in site. "A brutal, painful death. A long, agonizing death. He will be visited by every flinch of pain he's ever inflicted on another being. He will feel his blood boil with the hate of all who have ever known him. He will die." She brushed a trembling hand against Yelara's arm, and shivered against both the chill of her nakedness and the thought of Dargus Kandran's hands on her body. Perhaps he would find her an unpleasant lover and kill her outright. She knew she couldn't allow that. She had to protect Yara from the man. She had to keep her baby safe from the demon. Tears slipped from her eyes and fell down her cheeks as she started toward the hatch.

"We'll make sure we can be together," she whispered to Kallia. She held tightly to her lover's arm as they followed Dargus down the ramp. "It won't be so bad if we're together, Kal."

"As long as we're together," Kallia said and wished she could lean close and kiss Yelara.

"I will allow you to be together tonight," Dargus said. "But, I am afraid I will have to separate you after that. Yelara, there's a lovely young girl in my employ that I think you will absolutely love. You'll meet her soon, but for now, I will take you somewhere special. I need to decide how you should be branded. I think just a tattoo will suffice. However, I may need to make it more permanent if you defy me too much. Now, down you go. Stop at the back column of my men and don't cover up. They do love a good show."

Yelara didn't cower and held her head aloft as she and Kallia walked along the path lined by the ranks of soldiers. Their smiles were leering and feral, and if Dargus hadn't been there to keep them under control, Yelara was certain they would have pounced upon them already. Vulgar comments and rude gestures were made, but with Jae Dyn by her side, Yelara's poise and resolve held firm. Do what you will, Dargus, she thought, but you'll never break us. Batter us, threaten us, throw us to your men, but we won't crack.

Dargus moved down until he was standing nearly ten meters from them, then turned to his men. "Tractor that pile of trash out into space and let our fighters use it for target practice."

Yelara stifled an anguished cry. The Kestrel had been her home and a place where she and Liam had shared many memorable moments. Now Dargus would destroy it as he had done to their happiness and their peace. Wherever Dargus was, ruination followed. Her hand tightened around Kallia's forearm and she closed her eyes against the tears. This was yet another vile act he would pay for. Yelara vowed it.

She opened her eyes and looked ahead at the two carriers in Dargus' hands, dwarfed by his supple, tall frame. Leshie and Yara were silent, but soon they would miss their mothers. Yelara worried that Leshie would be frightened and unable to sleep. She had to soothe him, to rock him. She had to be with him. The yearning was so overpowering, Yelara almost dashed forward and tore the children from his grip. Not yet. That would get them nowhere and for her son's life, she had to behave.

The Kestrel was lifted off the deck and slowly drifted toward the large opening, beyond which was empty, black space. It was long, painful minutes before it cleared the bay. A push from the tractor beams sent it spinning away from Dargus' cruiser. It just drifted lazily, for a minute.

Then the air filled with fighters and laser discharges. Each shot sent a jolt through Kallia and she could feel Yelara's hand digging even further into her arm. Explosions rippled across the hull. The canopy blossomed in a gout of orange and yellow fire. They tore at the ship, ripping it apart like a pack of wild dogs. And, then finally the whole ship exploded with a fury that seemed to shake even the cruiser. Kallia hid a secret smile as three of the fighters were caught in the blast.

A wail from Yelara coincided with the booming explosion produced by the destruction of the Kestrel. She could bear it no longer and flung herself into Kallia's arms where she cried out into her bosom. Dargus was cruel and vicious, and this was only a small example of the torment he would soon inflict upon them. Yelara didn't care. Nothing he could do now could hurt her more than he already had. This gave her an advantage and a sense of control. And empowered Yelara Zaneth was a dangerous Yelara Zaneth. Dargus didn't have a chance.

---

"Captive, Part 1"
By: Dargus Kandran
Yelara Zaneth
Leshie Zaneth [NPC]
Keeve Zenarr [NPC]
Dyran [NPC]

Location: Dargus' cruiser - Unknown Coordinates
Date: Niothe 24, 4 ABY

***

Leshie had finally calmed down after an hour of keening and shrill cries that all but frayed Yelara's nerves. She had last seen Kallia over two hours ago, before Dargus' guards intruded into her small cell and tore her lover from her embrace. Yelara had wept for her and pined for her, sobbing until her throat grew hoarse. Kallia, however, never returned. So, Yelara was left with her solitude and the enclosed box that was now her chambers, trying to soothe her child and transfer the same comfort to herself. She did attempt to compose herself with the hope of rescue by Liam, but how would he even know they were missing, and if he discovered they were, would he even know where to begin the search? Their bond was strong, but Yelara was so weary and distraught that she was hesitant to believe it could span the vast expanse now separating them.

She wedged herself further into the tight space between the bed and the wall, rocking Leshie gently in her arms and whispering consoling words into his tiny ear. The chill of the floor against her naked rear made her shiver and quake almost violently, but it was of little consequence to her now, not when compared to what would no doubt befall her at Dargus' hands. He was seeking vindication, that much was clear, and for a man incapable of compassion and mercy, there would be no conscience to restrain his violent justice. She welcomed the blood and the suffering, as long as he spared her child. Leshie was everything to her now, and as long as he remained safe, she would have some purpose to live.

The deafening snick of the doorlock disengaging startled Yelara and inspired a gasping yelp. She brushed her cheek against Leshie's to quiet him and curled into a tighter ball, believing if she made herself as small as possible, whoever was now entering the room would be unable to find her. If that happened, perhaps they would not bother to search for her and she would be left alone. Not a man working for Dargus, though. He would never allow the release of an animal after capture; either they remained caged up forever, or they died trying to escape.

There was no middle road with Dargus, no compromises, only extremes, and one of Yelara's worst fears was that she had involuntarily pushed the limits of those extremes by failing in assassinating him. She would now be a subject upon which he could test those new limits...if they at all existed anymore. One look into his eyes that morning, and she knew that in trying to kill a monster, they had created a merciless demon.

A guard stomped into the room, and moved to stand over Yelara. "Stand," he said. "You're to be taken to Lord Kandran. Your child will be cared for while you are indisposed."

Yelara shook her head rigorously and clung to Leshie tighter. "I'm not letting my child out of my sight."

"Do you really want your child present for whatever Lord Kandran has in store for you? Your child would be better off being cared for by one of his lordship's other women while you're with him. He'll be unharmed, you can be certain of that. However, even so, you would be powerless if he so wished to take out his anger on the child. It would be best not to rouse him to such so soon."

Displaying good judgement uncharacteristic of a mere lackey for Dargus Kandran, the guard convinced Yelara to do as was ordered. She picked herself up from the floor and grudgingly trudged towards the man with Leshie still clutched to her chest. "Where's my friend?" she muttered to the guard. "I want to see her."

"She is being bathed as far as I know," the man said. "Perhaps Lord Kandran will allow you to visit with her later, after he has...afterwards. Please come this way, one of the women is waiting outside to take the child to be cared for while you are occupied."

"He needs to be fed," she said sedately, morosely. "He doesn't like being away from me for too long." Yelara looked up into the man's eyes imploringly. "Please...help me. Help me find a way out. I'll give you anything. Anything! Just please help me and my child get to my friend so that we can leave."

"Anything won't do me any good when I'm dead," the man said, and the look of genuine regret filled his eyes. "When Brakem defied his wishes, he choked the man to death without touching him. It took about ten minutes before he finally suffocated. I'm sorry, ma'am. As much as I'd like to help you, I can't. Your son will be well cared for, and he'll be waiting when you're finished."

"You know what he'll do to me," Yelara said, persisting in her plea for aid. "He'll rape me and beat me. He'll kill me when I've served my purpose. And my son! He'll kill him too! Don't you care? Doesn't anyone care?!"

"You want me to get myself killed so he can catch you and rape you some more? I know what he'll do to you, but I know I can't do anything to help you. Please, don't make this any harder than it already is. Don't get him mad at you."

Leshie fussed and squirmed in her arms, sensing his mother's distress. She adjusted her hold on him and brought him up against her shoulder. "At least help me get a message out. My husband can save us. You won't have to do anything except help me get out a message."

"Dyran!" The tall, well-built form of Keeve Zenarr stepped into the doorway and swept his deep brown eyes over the guard. "Father wants the girl now. What's the hold up?"

"She is reluctant to give up the child, my lord," the guard, Dyran, explained. "I was just bringing her along now. Lerrah was going to bring the child to the harem room to be cared for by his lordship's other slave women."

Keeve sighed impatiently and stalked into the room. Yelara screamed and kicked at Keeve's shins with her bare feet as he pried one of her arms free and grabbed a handful of Leshie's clothing to pull him away. "Let the child go," he ordered.

"No! Not to you, not to anyone!" She clung to Leshie desperately, frightened she would crush him with the strength of her hold, but more worried about giving him up to a stranger.

"Dyran! Get her other arm and pin it behind her back. Father doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Dyran did as he was told, frantic with worry as he did. "Please, let the boy go before he's hurt. Please. He'll be safe. I'll promise you that. If you let the girl take him, he'll be safe."

A wail pierced the air and Yelara called out Leshie's name shrilly as Keeve held the fussy child in his arms now and headed for the door. "Get her to Father...now!"

Yelara jerked her body aggressively to escape the restraining hands, but as Leshie disappeared into the corridor with Keeve, she moaned piteously and sank to her knees. "Leshie... Va'Lesh!"

Dyran hauled Yelara to her feet, guilt, regret and a deep sorrow filling him. "It'll all be over soon and you'll be with him again. Come along, and everything can go back to normal when it's done."

"Normal?" she sobbed. She stumbled over her first few steps, then managed to regain her mobility. "How can having your child ripped from your arms ever be construed as normal? How can being raped by a madman be normal!?"

"Your child will be put back into your arms, and you will be given respite from Lord Kandran's advances. I am afraid that's as normal as it can get in this situation."

"Fine then," she conceded bitterly. "Take me to him, but rest assured that when my husband comes to rescue me, you'll all die. You hear that, Dargus Kandran?! Dead. Dead!"

Dyran swallowed and continued leading her through the corridor until finally stopping before an ornate door. He pressed a button to the side, waited for five seconds and then opened the door. He looked up at Yelara, sighed, and then indicated that she should go inside.

"I imagine he pays you well for your work," Yelara said, her words thick with disdain. "I hope it's worth losing your soul for." Yelara wrenched her arms from his grasp and raised her head aloft. Dargus would know that she would not be easily broken, and the confidence in her walk as well as the smirk touching her lips would clearly present that impression to him.

As Yelara stepped proudly into the room, Dargus Kandran couldn't help smiling from where he reclined. He was off to the side, on a plush couch, watching her. He wore a silk robe and drank slowly from a large goblet. He sat up and nodded his approval. "Leave us," he said to the guards, and then eased himself to his feet to approach. "I hear you put up quite the fuss. For that I shall keep you away from your darling child for an additional hour."

"Knowing that, I would have done the same. Anything to make your life difficult." Yelara strolled leisurely along the far wall of the room, quite a distance from Dargus and with no intention of getting closer to him. She ran her fingers lightly along the burnished mantle of the decorative fireplace. "Nice room. Much nicer than the one you had on Drogen." She rubbed invisible dust between her fingers. "Really moving up in the galaxy, aren't you?"

"The price of power," he said with a wolfish smile. "I take it you know why you're here. And, I take it you know what will happen if you don't please me. Such a fragile thing the life of a child. No doubt you saw my son. Big, strapping young man. Well, just a few days ago, he was only ten years old. The wonders of cloning technology. Now, I know your son is going to be strong with the Force, and Jae Dyn's child even stronger. I imagine it would really destroy Kace if I were to advance their ages twenty years and then have my Master instruct them in the ways of the dark side. Or, I could really break you by just destroying that poor little dear you clung to so fiercely."

"You won't do that." Yelara propped her back against the fireplace and grinned smugly at Dargus. "If you do, what will you use to keep me in line, to keep me docile? You kill my child and there will no leverage left to prevent me from causing a ruckus each time I'm called to your room, and nothing to keep me from injuring you in ways you'd never recover." Her eyes drifted down to the flaccid organ concealed beneath his robe and she laughed. "You've got your weaknesses and I've got mine, Kandran."

Dargus pulled a comlink from the pocket of his robe and activated it. "Have a separate room prepared for Yelara's child. Go ahead and have Tia Am begin cloning synthetic milk for the baby. Begin recording his crying and have that piped into Yelara's room."

"What are you doing?" she whispered. "He needs his mother. He needs me!" She flew towards Dargus in an attempt to slap the comlink from his hand.

Dargus raised a hand and used the Force to stop Yelara in her tracks. He closed out the comlink and turned to face her. "If you are good and please me, then I will allow you to see your son. If you are cooperative and attend to my needs and desires, then you will have extended time with your son. If you defy me and fight me, all you will hear are his cries in your room."

Yelara looked down at her motionless body and emitted a groan of despair. Helpless, she was utterly helpless. "What do you want from us? If you want revenge, why don't you just kill us all and end it!?"

"Slow revenges are the best kind," Dargus said. "Now, come with me. The bed awaits us, and I wish to reacquaint myself with your body. Motherhood has been good to you, Yelara."

She lurched forward as the hold on her body was released, but instead of going to Dargus, she looked frantically around the room and bolted. She pounded furiously on the thick, durasteel door in a futile attempt to punch through it and escape, but all she achieved was sore and bruised fists.

Dargus approached Yelara slowly, shaking his head at her insolence. "It's locked. There's no way out. And, each minute you defy me will be another hour away from your son. Now...my bed."

Yelara whirled around and glared at Dargus. "Why? Why!? What purpose will raping me serve? Do you think it'll break me down, make me more responsive to your wishes? It didn't work before, Dargus, and it won't work now."

"We'll see if that attitude still prevails after a few days," Dargus said with a menacing smile. "If you'd like, I'll just return you to your cell now. You can spend your time in my bed with me or in your cell. I will give you that choice."

With a wry laugh, Yelara folded her arms over her bare chest. "And what's the catch, Dargus? There has to be one; there always is."

"You'll be all alone in your cell," Dargus said. "Perhaps I'll bring Jae Dyn to my bed. She never was as unruly as you."

Yelara clenched and unclenched her jaw, but kept her rage under check. "And...if I go to your bed, you'll leave her alone? You'll let her be?"

"Oh so noble of you," Dargus said with a smile. "If you go to my bed, are enthusiastic, and please me...well, then I'll have no need to force Jae Dyn to my bed, will I?"

"Just answer the question!" Yelara snapped. "If I go to your bed, you leave Jae Dyn alone. Yes or no, Dargus."

"If you going to my bed is the only condition, then no. If I am pleased with your actions in my bed, then yes."

"That's unacceptable, Dargus. You could so easily lie to have us both. How can I believe you're telling the truth?"

"As a woman, I think you'd be able to tell," Dargus said. "However, if you feel it's unacceptable, I'll send you back to your cell now."

"No," she protested abruptly. "No. I'll come to your bed." The words made her shudder involuntarily, but for Kallia, she'd degrade herself, allow Dargus to defile her all to keep her lover safe. If only she could ensure Dargus would keep his promise... "Will you let me see her too? After all, I'd like first hand evidence that you actually are keeping your promise."

Dargus smiled. "Of course," he said. "I will make sure you get time with her. Now, are you ready? We have a lot to do, and since it's been so long, I may need extra time to get used to you again."

"You're disgusting," she whispered. "I know you have no heart, Dargus, but even you have to see how despicable what you're doing is. How can you do this to us?"

"And what exactly is despicable about this? You are a woman. You are weaker. Women are here to provide babies, to pleasure their men, and to look beautiful. That is their only purpose, and that is your purpose here. You are my slave, Yelara, and you will do as I please. If you are unwilling to do it of your own accord, there are drugs I will give you that will ensure your compliance. How can I do this to you? Because this is what you are here for."

Yelara's eyes narrowed and the intangible repugnance she experienced became a palpable roiling in her stomach. "I won't have your child, Dargus. I'd kill it before I handed it to you." She pulled the tie in her hair free and her black curls sprang loose. "Just know that when you're inside of me, Dargus, it's Liam I'm thinking of, it's his face I'm seeing." Her lips curled into a smirk. "I might even call out his name."

Dargus smiled. "That's alright," he said. "After I've killed him, perhaps I'll cut off his face and use it as a mask while we have sex."

Yelara's grin faltered and a sob stuck in her throat. He'd gotten far more vile since she was last with him and she was convinced he was utterly mad. Truly, Yelara was frightened. "What is wrong with you?" she asked in horror.

"The more you try to defy me, the harder you will make it on yourself," Dargus said. "If you wish to be defiant and go against me at every turn, then expect plenty more of this. Now, my bed is this way." He took her hand in his and started toward the other room.

Yelara recoiled at the touch and from her reaction, she knew she would be physically sick once his touch became more intimate. Her mind screamed Liam's name and the tears in her eyes were for him, for the distance separating them. She clung to the memories of her husband, of his blue eyes and his charming smile. She grasped at any thought that would detach her mind from the sensation of Dargus' silk sheets now against her body as he reclined her back upon the bed, and then from the feel of his coarse, invasive hands groping her flesh. "Gently," she begged softly. "Please."

"Gently," Dargus whispered. He moved himself between her thighs, gently -- as she begged -- kissing his way along the tender flesh. He knew she was hating his touch, but soon she would beg for it. Finally, he brushed his lips against the tender flesh of her mound. He would break her down, and make her his. Soon she would cease her thoughts of Liam, and would devote herself to his pleasure.

Yelara whimpered, but not from pleasure, and stiffened as the ravaging began. He was gentle, but behind each tender kiss and soft caress, there was an aggressive, violent undertone. Dargus had to force her legs open to get between them, and despite telling herself not to resist, her body did so impulsively. After all the brutality and forceful sexual encounters with him, her body had become conditioned to shrink away from him and rebel, but this time, for Kallia's sake, she couldn't.

A startled cry escaped Yelara's lips and she chastised herself mentally for the slight stirring of arousal she had momentarily felt. She wouldn't let Dargus get to her, wouldn't let him revive the memories of their gentler moments, the ones where Yelara thought she was falling in love with him. To do so would only drive her insane with doubt and confusion. She hated Dargus with everything that she was; she had to remember that and not allow him to obscure that truth lest she truly become broken by him.

As the minutes passed, Dargus found himself becoming more gentle, more caring. He needed to break her and he could sense that the tenderness, the tenderness that almost grabbed her before, was what would lure her in. She craves love, and will respond if she thinks that's what she's getting.

Slowly, he crawled up toward her face, watching as he did. He brushed a hand along her body, letting his fingers convey his gentleness.

"You never loved me," she said numbly. "You've never loved anyone." Her eyes shifted languidly to his and slowly, she brought a hand to his cheek, studying the mask that was now his face. "Why did you say you did? Why have you no heart, Dargus Kandran?"

"It's easier to not be hurt if I don't give my heart to anyone," Dargus said, his voice tight. "It's much easier to hate and hurt. You can hide your own pain in someone else's suffering."

"Pain?" Yelara nodded slowly. "So you do feel after all..." She brought her other hand up and cradled his face, while her violet eyes gazed fixedly into his depthless brown. "By hurting me, you're only increasing your pain, Dargus. Can't you see that? For your own sake, stop this now. Please."

"I know what you're going for," Dargus said. "You're hoping I'll show a heart and release you. If I do that...then I only get hurt. And, then Kace will want to come after me and kill me. And, that other crimelord, Oot Kovan. If I show softness now, then in their eyes I'll be weak, an easy target. I am a Sith apprentice now, Yelara. I thrive on that darkness, and from it comes my power. If I give that up, I am powerless against those who would kill me."

"They only wish to harm you because of what you've done, Dargus. They think you're a soulless bastard incapable of being redeemed. I can show them. I can show them that you deserve mercy. I'll protect you, Dargus."

Dargus laughed. "Oh, I'm sure Kace will give you a nice kiss before he plunges his lightsaber into my heart. Thank you, no." He moved himself to her entrance. He'd missed this part. They'd been good together. Despite all of Yelara's insolence, she'd been a good lover. Before she could say another word, he kissed her, and as he was doing so he gently slid himself inside her.

---

"Captive, Part 2"
By: Dargus Kandran
Yelara Zaneth

Location: Dargus' cruiser - Unknown Coordinates
Date: Niothe 24, 4 ABY

***

Yelara flinched and her hands flew to the sheets. She crushed the red silk in her fists and groaned miserably into Dargus' mouth. She was momentarily angered with herself for feeling the surge of pleasure that preceded her disgust; she would find no enjoyment in the act, but would do everything she could to satisfy Dargus for Kallia's sake, and for Leshie's and Yara's. For them, she would subject herself to the violation of giving herself to a man she loathed, but that wasn't entirely so. A part of her pitied him, but the more outspoken part of herself cautioned her that his confession of vulnerability was a ploy to make her manageable and spark compassion for him that would allow him to exploit her. But still, she could not deny that she felt at least a little sympathetic towards Dargus.

Yelara pulled her lips away from his and implored him tacitly with her eyes. "Stop this. Dargus...not like this. Don't do this to us."

"Then how?" he asked. "If not like this, then how? Please, Yelara. We were close once. I've come closer to loving you than anyone I've ever met. We could have that."

Yelara closed her eyes and told herself to resist the lure of his offer. He'd fooled her with such a proposal once, and this appeared to be the same tactic. She didn't need his love, nor did she want it, but if it was one way to break him down and coax him into releasing them... Yelara shook her head vigorously and pressed her hands to Dargus' chest, pushing him away. "No," she groaned. "You don't want that. You're...you're lying to me again. Stop lying to me! You don't want to love me, you want to destroy me."

"Fine," Dargus said rolling over until he was laying on his back and staring up at the ceiling. "You know me so well. I'll have a guard take you back to your room now."

"No." Yelara pushed herself onto her knees and looked down upon Dargus. "For Kallia's sake, no. You can hurt me, Dargus, play these mindgames with me, but not her." She slung her leg over his waist and straddled him, the very position they had been in on the tumultuous day they first met. "You bastard... You know I'd do anything for her, even sacrifice my self-respect by submitting to you." Yelara sighed and shook her head. "We tried to help you, Dargus," she whispered. "We tried to pull you from the darkness, but you refused to leave. We tried... Why are you punishing us now?"

"You both tried, and you gave up. You ran off with Kace, and Jae Dyn just left. You married him, and you had his child. She had my child and she hid her from me. Why do you think I'm punishing you now?"

"How long did you expect us to stay, Dargus? How long did you think we would be able to tolerate your violence and belittlement?" Yelara leaned forward until their faces were but a hair's breadth apart. "I tried to love you, Dargus," she said softly. "I did. I wanted so badly to, and all I gained in return was pain and heartache. What did you expect me to do?"

"I didn't trust you," Dargus said. "I didn't trust anyone, not even my own people. But...but when you and Kace tried to kill me...everything changed. That man died. I'm a new man, more sure of himself, more secure in his abilities and power. I don't know why I did what I did before. I was stupid. Anyone that would throw away the love of a woman is stupid. We have a chance to set that right though."

"Set it right? Dargus, you kidnapped us, tore my child from my arms... How could that possibly be a first step towards change?"

"If I hadn't kidnapped you, you wouldn't be here. And, before...before I just wanted my revenge for the pain. You tried to kill me, Yelara. That's not an easy thing to forget. But having you here now, being so close. I can't help remembering the good times we had together. And, don't deny there was some good in what we shared."

With a grudging nod, Yelara slipped off of Dargus and curled up beside him on the bed. "You made me strong, Dargus. Because of all you put me through, I became the woman I am today. There were brief moments of something akin to happiness...but you ruined it with your jealousy and hatred. Why couldn't you have just let us help you? Why did you have to lash out and hurt us...like you are now?"

"Because I was afraid of losing you," he said as he turned to face her. "The only women I've ever been able to keep around are the ones I've been able to control into it. They are alright in bed and can relieve some of my stresses, but I loved your fire and spirit. I didn't like your defiance. I was controlling because I was afraid you'd find someone else, or leave. In the end, you did anyway. It was all I knew. That's how my father maintained. That's how most of the people who have had an influence on my life have behaved." He trailed a hand over her hip as he enjoyed the feeling of the length of her body against his. "You can help me. I can give you a room, a real room. I can have a crib in there for your baby. You can help me to be what I wasn't before."

Yelara sighed quietly at his light caresses, unable to deny that she did enjoy them. "Do you even want to change?" she asked. "You say all this, but I've only known you to be insincere and manipulative. This could be another ploy to gain my trust, only to destroy me in the end. Give me a reason to trust you, Dargus." Against all her better judgement, Yelara kissed Dargus lightly upon the lips and found herself almost savouring the expertise with which he returned it. Her violet eyes locked with his again and her voice became soothing and gentle. "Give me one reason so that I can help you, Dargus. Let me help you."

"What can I do to prove myself to you, Yelara? What can I do to prove my sincerity?"

Yelara glanced down at her hand tenderly caressing his arm and was momentarily startled. She was letting him do it to her again; he was weaving his web of deceit and manipulation, and she was willingly allowing it to enshroud her. But there was no other way than to appeal to whatever emotions he bore to gain their freedom. "Let me see her," Yelara said, finally looking up at him again. "Let me see Kallia as a token of good faith. Then...we can go from there."

Dargus nodded. He sat up and then stood, and held a hand out to her. "Come on," he said. "It's a few minutes to her room, but we will go there now." He reached out a hand and his robe jumped into it. He quickly slipped into it and then led the way to the door.

With her hand in his, Yelara walked briskly to keep up with his long strides. "Thank you, Dargus." She squeezed his hand gently and brushed her cheek against his arm. "You're taking a good first step. Please don't falter."

"With you helping me," Dargus said. "How could I?"

Yelara smiled wanly. She knew the chances of this being a trap were extreme, but her options were limited for the time. If she connected with him on an emotional level, if she allowed him to confide in her and expose his weaknesses, she could take advantage of them and find a way to freedom or have Dargus hand it to them. The only danger was she could end up believing all of Dargus' heartfelt confessions and his displays of tenderness, and end up only coming close to loving him again. For Kallia's safety and the children's, she was willing to take that risk.

"You haven't harmed her, have you?" Yelara asked, but in a nonaccusatory tone.

"No," he said. "As the mother of my child, she has been given a nice room. She wasn't as appreciative as I would have liked, but I think she may yet come around. I have a monitor set up so that I can watch Yelara when she's in her crib. But, they are both unharmed and in excellent health."

"Of course she wasn't appreciative," Yelara quipped. "You threw her against a bulkhead. How did you expect she would react to you?"

"Oh, of course, I should have just let her choke the life out of me," he snapped. "I didn't throw her against the bulkhead for my amusement. She was choking me, trying to kill me. I may be crazy, but I wasn't quite ready to die yet."

"And she wasn't prepared to let our happiness come to an end by allowing you to intrude upon our lives again. As far as I'm concerned, you're even now. Just let it go."

"She's still unharmed," Dargus said. "I even had the bump on the back of her head looked at. She's just right up this way. There was a time when I truly hated you for what you did...but I know why you did it. If I'd been in your position, I would probably have done the same thing. It's not easy being the bad guy, you know. Especially when the fair damsel chooses the so-called hero."

"You drove me to him, Dargus," Yelara explained, careful not to let her bitterness come through in her voice. "When you hurt me, I ran to him. He comforted me and made me feel safe. I chose him because I loved him, and there really was no other choice. If you'd been a different man, there might have been one. You just...refused to be anything other than Dargus Kandran: merciless, cruel crimelord. What else was I to do?"

"I was wrong to be that way," Dargus said. "But, it was all I knew to be. I figured by being that controlling I could keep you. I tried to show you love, but it wasn't the right kind of love." He glanced at her. "Maybe I can do it the right way this time."

Yelara struggled to tear her eyes free of Dargus' hypnotic gaze, and finally managed it after being rendered breathless by the intensity of it. He was being insincere and deceptive, his sweet words meant to provoke her into dropping her defenses so he could strike, but she still couldn't deny that he was having an unwanted influence on her.

She longed for Kallia, the children, and Liam. This isolation from them made her vulnerable, and Dargus, of course was using it to his advantage to make her compliant and less belligerent. It was almost working.

"That man," Yelara began, diverting her thoughts to a new subject. "The one who calls you 'Father.' He's not really your son, is he?"

"No," Dargus said. "He's the son of a rival who didn't like his mother. He was in love with his mother's lover, a young woman who reminds me very much of you. However, he was only ten years old. He wanted to grow up, and I needed to test my cloning equipment. So, both our goals meshed. He feels closer to me than to his mother, and therefore has adopted me. He's the son I never had, and absolutely perfect except for his penchant for violence."

Yelara deliberately placed some distance between she and Dargus while trying to hide the dismay on her visage. He apparently had more power - aside from his Force abilities - than a man as malicious as he should be allowed to have. More frightening was that he actually enjoyed using them. "I hadn't realized that was possible," she said quietly, fearfully. She now worried about her son's safety more so. Would he do the same to Leshie to make her behave? Or worse, use him as a test subject for some other experimental technology? Yelara was beginning to feel physically sick.

"The technology was perfected by the Kaminoans over twenty years ago, and one of the doctors on my staff is a Kaminoan. One of the greatest impracticalities is that you don't just clone a fully grown person. The cloned fetus grows at the same rate as any. So, a method had to be developed to increase the maturation from fetus to adult. Don't worry, Yelara. I won't do anything with your son. I can see the fear in your eyes."

"And from your past actions, do you really think it's misplaced, Dargus?"

"I don't," Dargus said. "But, I do want to assure you that I intend no harm to your child. Va'Lesh is perfectly safe. Aside from the fact that I don't wish to hurt a baby, I wouldn't want to risk Kace's wrath at injuring his son."

Yelara sighed. "Dargus, there's nothing you can do now to prevent that. You've abducted his wife and child. When he finds out, he will not rest until you are dead...and I'm afraid there may be nothing I can do to stop him."

"Not that long ago, you were saying you'd protect me," he said. "If he does come after me though, I will do everything I can to stop him from doing so. Jae Dyn is just around this corner."

"I will try to protect you." Yelara gripped Dargus' arm and pulled him back as she stopped in the corridor. "I will try, but if your actions push him back towards the dark side, there will be no one in this universe capable of stopping him. Not even you, Dargus Kandran."

Dargus nodded slowly. "I understand," he said. "Perhaps that level-headed Jedi he faced me with can keep him in the light."

Yelara's body trembled with the simmering fury the subject of Laedra Vorrel surprisingly evoked. She had believed herself past the paranoia that her relationship with Liam was more than mere friendship, but as her grip on Dargus' arm tightened and images of Liam now alone at the Temple with Laedra flashed in her mind, she knew she was still as jealous as she had first been. And Dargus had done far too well in triggering it again. "For your sake," she said between clenched teeth, "I hope you're right."

Dargus put an arm around Yelara's shoulder. "And, from your reaction, for Liam's sake I hope there isn't anything more going on between them. She did seem very concerned for his well-being, but that could just be her as a Jedi. I'm sure it's fine."

"Yeah...just fine," she replied wryly. She shrugged Dargus' arm off of her then gestured for him to continue down the corridor. "And while I'm visiting with Kallia, I would like to have my child brought to me."

"I'll have your son brought to you," Dargus said and moved ahead to the door to Jae Dyn's room. "When should I return for you, Yelara?"

"Tomorrow morning." She expected Dargus' brow to arch as it did, but she would have her time with Kallia. "What's the harm in it, Dargus? You have us for however long you want. What's one night with my lover?"

"The rest of today and tonight with her, and then tomorrow with me."

Yelara repressed a weary sigh and nodded her head. "But before we begin, I would like to negotiate some terms with you, if that is alright, Master Kandran."

"Name your terms," Dargus said as he turned back to face her fully.

"Clothing in some form and no drugs. I will submit without a fight, Dargus, so there will be no need for them." Yelara crossed her arms over her chest to give herself an air of firmness and resoluteness. "Most importantly, I wish to be given some form of contraceptive. I won't give you a child, Dargus, not against my wishes. I won't."

Dargus nodded. "Clothing, no drugs, and contraception. Very well. And, my terms are that if you do put up a fight, you will lose your privileges, starting with clothing, then drugs, and finally contraception."

Yelara bowed her head and came up again with a grin upon her face. "Agreed. I had no idea you could be so reasonable, Dargus. Quite a change."

"I may be an evil bastard, but I'm at least willing to extend kindness to those near me. Death, or even near-death, can have a powerful influence on a person. I shall see you in the morning, Yelara. I don't think I need to tell you to have an enjoyable night."

"I will, Dargus." They stopped before the door to Kallia's chamber and as Dargus proceeded to press his hand to the console adjacent the door, which acted as a DNA scanner, Yelara caressed his cheek lightly and shook her head. "I'm gonna have to keep my guard up around you. You're far more clever than you were before, Dargus. That truly is disconcerting."

Dargus smiled and looked at her. "Part of it is cleverness and part of it is recognizing what I lost before," he said. "Before you go, can I get one kiss?" He gave her an impish smile, an expression that was foreign to his face, but not unwelcome.

"Only one?" Yelara laughed softly at Dargus' boyish grin, although it still carried the taint of his malevolence in it. She pushed herself up onto the balls of her feet and slung her arms loosely around his neck. "Just one," she whispered. "And don't think for a second I'm gonna like it."

"I wouldn't begin to think that," Dargus whispered in response. And, then he slowly pressed his lips to hers, throwing passion and desire into the kiss, but not too much. Despite everything else, they had been very passionate together at one time, and he thrived on that passion. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer as they kissed. Gods, he missed this.

The ground slipped away from her feet as Dargus' arms collected her, and nearing delirium from the sensations Dargus had managed to produce, she truly believed she was flying. Yelara mentally berated herself for allowing herself to react so strongly to Dargus' kiss, but there had always been the lingering curiousity of whether he truly had ever loved her and if she could have loved him back, and a very vocal part of her wanted to now discover this for certain.

---

"Captive, Part 3"
By: Dargus Kandran
Yelara Zaneth
Jae Dyn Brael
Yara Brael [NPC]

Location: Dargus' cruiser - Unknown Coordinates
Date: Niothe 24, 4 ABY

***

She moaned softly and tightened her hold on him, almost giving herself completely to this one kiss. Not even as the door to Kallia's chamber hissed open did she break the kiss with Dargus.

Dargus shifted them around into the alcove with the now open door. He pressed Yelara to the side wall and continued to kiss her. He could feel her passion as it mingled with his and expressed itself through their kiss. He didn't want to be good, but he knew if anyone could do it to him, it'd be Yelara.

As her legs came up around his waist and his growing hardness now pressed against her mound, Yelara reacquainted herself with why, in the past, she had stayed with Dargus as long as she had. The ecstasy she shared with him and the smouldering passion with which they made love compensated for all the anguish and suffering at his hands. The physicality had made for a shallow relationship without substance, but Yelara could do nothing to help the fact that those months she was with him, she had desired him with a ferocity that overshadowed all her doubts. Now, he was beginning to rekindle those yearnings, and all with one kiss. She feared anything more, and she would find herself falling in love with him again.

"Stop," she murmured, but quickly returned the kiss again. "You're not gonna...do this to me. Not again."

Dargus lowered his lips to her throat, kissing gently before brushing them against her lips again. "I don't want to hurt you, Yelara," he whispered. "I know I can, but I don't want to. You are a beautiful, passionate woman, and I don't want to do what I did before. I won't hurt you." He looked up into her eyes, and swallowed against the sudden ache in his chest. "I've never loved before, Yelara. But, I want to." A part of him was repulsed by the honest desire to love and be loved, but he had come so close before. How could he give that up again? "I want to love you, Yelara." He brought his lips to hers again.

Lies, she tried to tell herself, all lies fabricated to subjugate you. But still, his professions sounded all too appealing to her. She hated him for everything he had done to her, but it didn't mean she was repelled completely by his malicious nature, and that is what made resisting him so difficult.

Another protest rose in her throat, but came out only as a moan. Her body burned against his and her fingers tangled in his hair. There was a struggle between stopping herself and pulling away, or giving herself over to the desire for him that had lain dormant and unquenched for so long, but which could be now if he only took here then and there. She debated between the two, yet in the interim, she knew she could not tear her lips from his.

With one hand massaging her breasts, Dargus used the other to open his robe. Their kiss had been more powerful than anything except being filled with the Force. But even being filled with the Force didn't feel this good. His bare skin pressed against hers was nearly too much. He lowered one hand between her legs and brushed tentatively across the wetness there. Gods he wanted her here and now, and she was almost prepared to give.

A muffled cry greeted Dargus' intimate touch and her hips rocked forward to plead for more. Her mind was frenzied and thinking no rational thoughts. Formerly latent desire was driving her now and motivating her hand to massage his erection, to reinvigorate it too along with her passion for Dargus. Why couldn't she resist him when deep down she knew she should? Why was she betraying the vow to herself and her love for Kallia and Liam by reciprocating Dargus' caresses? She knew now, and had always known that it was because she had wanted his love all those months ago and felt solely responsible for not inspiring it in him. She had felt lacking since then, but she would change that now by proving she was capable of evoking in Dargus a love for her.

Her touch nearly sent him over the edge, but he managed to get control of himself. He pulled his lips away long enough to draw in a long breath. He moved the tip of his erection to her entrance, and nearly plunged himself inside. The feeling was exquisite. He opened his eyes and looked into hers, seeking permission.

Yelara paused, breathing heavily and staring at Dargus in disbelief and confusion. He'd always taken what he wanted, no matter how fiercely she fought him, but now he was giving her the power to decide what happened next. She was unprepared for this and realized she was stunned into indecision. "I don't--" Yelara closed her eyes and heard herself sob quietly. "Dargus... What do I do? I know what I should and shouldn't do, but I don't trust myself to know which is right." She opened her tearful violet eyes and searched his. "I should hate you...but I want you, Dargus. How can that be?"

Dargus shook his head. "I don't know," he whispered. "I just know that there is something about us, about you and me, that burns with desire and passion. When I'm not being an asshole, we're good together. We're very good. If you'd rather wait until tomorrow, we can."

Yelara's lips trembled for a taste of Dargus' again, and that yearning alone was enough to make her decision for her. She leaned forward slowly, seeking his kiss again, but like glass shattering, a shrill, familiar cry from within the room broke the private moment of tenderness they had been sharing and alerted Yelara to the fact that they had been ready to make love...directly in front of Kallia.

"Oh gods." Yelara whimpered quietly and unwound her legs from Dargus' waist. She sighed involuntarily as his hardness brushed against her mound during her descent, but any pleasure she derived from the brief touch was extinguished by the fear of now looking upon Kallia, the fear of seeing her disappointment and betrayal. Looking up at Dargus again, the stirring between her legs returned and it was then she knew if Yara's cry had been a moment later, they would have acted on their desires. "Go," she whispered to him, beseeched him. "Please... Tomorrow morning, but for now...just go."

Dargus nodded and pulled his robe closed. He wanted to kiss her once more, but he made no move to do so. He let his eyes speak his desire for him before stepping away. "I'll see you in the morning," he said. "Have a good night, Yelara."

Yelara took in a deep, cleansing breath and refrained from watching Dargus depart. She suspected she'd go after him if she looked upon him once more. Instead, she trepidly turned her gaze towards the room, but avoided making eye contact with Kallia. She let her eyes fall upon Yara instead and kept them there as she started forward. "He's...he's letting me stay the night," she said quietly and awkwardly. "I can stay with you tonight, my love."

"I'm glad you'll be here," Kallia said, concern still showing on her face. The shock that had been there was now masked and hidden from view. She didn't know what to say about what she'd just seen. "He's treated us fairly well." She indicated the large room with gilt fixtures. "Are you alright?"

Yelara nodded quickly and halted before Kallia, still peering down at Yara. "He didn't hurt me. We came to an agreement, Kal. He won't hurt you either."

"The way you two were going at it out there, it must be one hell of an agreement. I thought you were going to have sex in the doorway." She held a hand out to Yel.

She grabbed at it desperately and pulled herself into Kallia's arms with a sob, careful not to crush Yara beneath her. "Oh gods... I don't know what he's doing to me, Kal. He knows what buttons to push to get to me. I...I can't resist him and I know if I try to, he'll hurt you and Yara. I have to protect you. I have to do this to keep you safe."

"Do what you can to resist him without seeming to," Kallia said softly, nuzzling her face into Yelara's neck. "We can beat him together. We're stronger than he is and we can win together."

"But we won't be together, Kal. He's only giving us one night, then..." She held fast to Kallia and spread gentle kisses along her throat. "I can't be strong without you. But I will protect you, my love. Don't doubt that ever."

"I'm a Jedi Knight," Kallia said as she pulled Yelara closer. "I can take care of both of us. I'm stronger. Let me go with Dargus. Let me protect you and the babies. I can use the Force to get through it."

"No!" Yelara stepped back and gazed intently into Kallia's eyes. "He'll try and lure you to the dark side, Kal. I know it. It's the only way he knows how to defeat you. I can't let you do that, Kal. I can't lose you like that!"

"I don't like it Yel," Kallia said with a sigh. "But, what choices do we have? When you're with him, be careful, my love. He's an evil, despicable man. He'll do anything to break us. All his pleasantries, remember that he's not telling the truth. He'll do anything to bring us down and break us."

Yelara nodded her head, and before would have believe Kallia's words without question. Now, however, she wondered if he truly was as evil as they had initially thought him to be. "I'll be careful," she said. "I know he's using me to get to Liam and his kindness is only meant to break down my defenses... I won't let him fool me, my love. I'll be strong."

"Good," Kallia said, and kissed Yelara. "How about I put Yara down for a nap, and we use the time he's giving us to the fullest?"

"I think I'd like that. Leshie should be coming soon and I imagine he'll be glad to see Yara...more so than seeing his mother." She leaned forward and kissed Kallia tenderly. "I love you, Kallia Brael. We will get through this. I promise you."

"Maybe Liam will find us, and bring the rest of the Jedi with him to stop Dargus. I want out of this, Yel, but I want to see Dargus Kandran fall for good."

"Not at your hands though, my love," Yelara said. "Please let someone else destroy him. I want you safe and protected. I don't want to lose you. Let...let Laedra Vorrel do it," she added with a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Anyone but you."

"I'm sure Laedra and Liam would cut him down together," Kallia said. "They both went after him before. I can't see them not going after him again."

"If they find us..." Yelara sighed and once again embraced Kallia. "Let's not think about all that right now. Let's just lay together and think only about our love for each other."

Kallia nodded, and quickly removed herself from Yel's embrace, and put Yara into her crib. Once her arms were free, she returned to the bed and Yelara. "Now, I think I'm ready to think only about my love for you."

"And no matter what happens," Yelara said as her arms looped around Kallia's waist, "I want you to never forget I do love you. I might have to do things that will cause you to question that, but know that everything I'm doing is for you and our children. Remember that, my love."

Kallia kissed Yelara, happy to have time alone with her love. "I will always remember that," she said. "But, with us in here like this, I'm going to have to remember that we're still in the heart of the rancor's den. We'll make that bastard pay, my love. Maybe we can hang his head outside the Temple once he's dead."

The gruesome image was one she hadn't expected to come from Kallia's tender, sweet lips, but it had and once again she feared Dargus' presence would breed only darkness into their lives. Though, she couldn't deny that she was looking forward to spending time with Dargus and settling the questions that had plagued her regarding her past relationship with him and what it truly had been. She loved Kallia and Liam, yet discovering if Dargus loved her seemed just as important. I must be losing my mind.

"Kallia," she whispered softly, "will you make love to me one last time before they separate us? I want your scent to be all over my body so I can remember it when you're gone."

"Of course," Kallia whispered. "But we'll have time together again. We can make sure Dargus gives us time. He has to. We have to have our time together or we'll go insane. We can't exist off of his touch, his vile, repulsive touch."

"You won't have to," Yelara assured her. "I'll make certain of that. He won't touch you or Yara. I promise."

"I hate that you're taking this all onto yourself," Kallia said. "I don't like that you have to endure his depravity on your own."

"I can handle it." Yelara kissed Kallia's brow and gave her a reassuring smile. "I've been with men like him before. I'll be fine, Kal."

"Just because you have doesn't mean you should be," Kallia said. "I guess I just don't like the thought of you having to endure him while I sit here happily with my baby."

"But knowing that will help me endure it." Yelara laughed softly and pulled Kallia tightly into an embrace. "I love you so much. Promise me you'll never be sad because of what I have to go through with Dargus. Promise me that, Kallia."

"I promise," Kallia said and then kissed Yel. She let her kiss linger, and then trail down over Yelara's jaw and down her throat. "You know, I think I like this being naked all the time thing."

"When we get out of here, we should try walking around our cottage unclothed." She moved her hands to Kallia's breasts and sighed happily. "I can almost imagine we're there right now."

"Oh," Kallia moaned. "Have I mentioned how much I love your imagination? He's probably watching us, you know. But at this point, I really don't care."

"Neither do I. He can watch all he wants, but he'll never be invited to join." Yelara kissed Kallia fully on the mouth and pushed her onto her back. "Now...I want you to scream, my love. Let him hear what he can never have." With a sultry smile, she slid down the length of Kallia's body and buried her face between her thighs.

---

"Courting Behaviour"
By: Dargus Kandran
Maeren Shivral
Keeve Zenarr [NPC]
Leshie Zaneth [NPC]

Location: Dargus' Cruiser - Unknown Coordinates
Date: Niothe 24, 4ABY

***

Va'Lesh Zaneth's small form fit perfectly in his hands now. Keeve imagined he'd once been just as tiny as the child he held now was, but he had no wish to return to such a fragile state. He was strong and powerful now, and capable of seizing what he wanted instead of waiting for his next birthday or when someone other than himself decided the time was appropriate to receive what he desired. Now, the choice was all his, and at present, he chose to visit the woman he loved.

The child in his arms had calmed considerably since he first tore it from the embrace of Dargus' unruly concubine. He chuckled lowly and shook his head. Dargus seemed to like his women fiery, but Keeve could only imagine why. He preferred Shiv docile and receptive to his wishes, but he would rather she submit to him willingly because she truly loved him, not because a drug addled her mind enough to convince her she did. But, it would take time, and he had a sufficient amount of that to either achieve her love, or irreparably damage his chances of ever receiving it by fuelling her hatred for him further. He had his plans, though, to slowly gain her trust and affection, and Va'Lesh Zaneth was part of one. He knew of no better way to portray his gentler, tender side to Shiv by coming to her with a child cradled in his arms.

Keeve nodded to the guards on either side of the door to Shiv's chambers and stepped through it. He looked around the room briefly, with Shiv nowhere in sight, and laughed. "Come on, Maeren. Hiding will do you no good. I've brought a surprise for you and this is how you greet me?"

"I don't want to see you," came the muffled voice from under the bed. "Please leave me alone. I don't want to come out."

"But you'll like what I have to show you." Keeve strode lightly and slowly to the bed, and careful not to disturb the mattress too much, he sat down upon it. "Maeren, I'm not going to hurt you. I promise you that, my love. Just come out and have a look."

She emerged slowly from the side of the bed and looked up at him. "He's beautiful," she whispered looking at the small child. "Who's his mother?"

"A woman Dargus picked up today. She was putting up a fight so Dargus confiscated the child." Keeve smiled at Shiv and motioned with his eyes to the space beside him upon the bed. "I can't hurt you with the child in my arms, now can I? Have a seat."

Shiv nodded slowly, and then moved to the bed where he'd indicated. "He's beautiful. What's his name?"

Keeve gazed at Shiv, nothing but warmth radiating from his eyes. "Va'Lesh," he said softly. "Would you like to hold him? I promise to keep my hands to myself."

The smile that formed couldn't be helped. Shiv held out her arms to take the baby from Keeve. "Oh, such a beautiful little guy, aren't you." Once Va'Lesh was in her arms, she closed her eyes and held him. He made a gurgling noise, and reached out a hand to grab a fistful of her hair. She giggled. "He's so sweet."

"It's too bad his mother's such a bitch. Father might have to use the child to make her compliant, but perhaps he can get her to come around sooner." Keeve brushed his hand across Leshie's brow, but kept his focus on Shiv. "Wouldn't you like a child some day, Maeren? I could give you one, you know. We could make a beautiful baby together."

"I don't know," she said softly. "Someday I'd like a baby, but not yet." She looked at him. "And, maybe we could, but there's only one way you're getting a baby out of me. I still mean what I said before, Keeve."

Keeve pushed himself to his feet and paced angrily before Shiv. "Why can't you give me a chance, Maeren? I can show you how gentle I can be if you just let me! Why are you being so difficult?"

"Because if I say one thing you get angry like you're doing now," Shiv said. "You want me to be docile and willing, but I'm not like that, Keeve. If you want me, you get me. I don't like being forced and pressured. If you want me, you'll have to accept me for who I am."

"Maeren, I love you, all of you! It's only when you resist me do I get angry." Keeve stopped before he tread a hole into the carpet and rubbed slowly at his eyes. "Maeren..." He sighed and looked down at her. "Do you think I would try so hard to win you over if I didn't love you?"

"But you seem like you want to possess me," Shiv said. "All I was telling you was I didn't want to decide to marry you while we were in the middle of having sex. I couldn't think straight. But you knew that, and you were trying to pressure me anyway. You try to push, Keeve. You try to force me to do what you want me to, and if I don't, you throw a tantrum. You may be big now, but you're still a child in so many ways. I won't love a spoiled brat."

Keeve rushed toward Shiv and dropped onto his knees at her feet. "Maeren," he whispered. He placed his hands upon her bare knees and caressed them lightly. "I wasn't trying to pressure you into anything. I got ahead of myself, that's all. I was just so excited that I was finally making love to you and you weren't pushing me away that...I got carried away. That's all. I want you to be happy with me, Maeren. I don't want to hurt you."

Shiv looked down at him while she rocked Va'Lesh in her arms. "We...we can try again," she said. "But slowly. And, if you show any signs of being the brat that you were the other day...then I can't, I won't, Keeve. I can't be what that boy wanted of her. I can only be me, anything else is just false."

"And that's all I want." Keeve grinned and once again moved to sit beside Shiv on the bed. He covered her knee with one hand, and brought the other to her cheek and cradled it gently. "I'm trying, Maeren. I've only been a man for a day. Please, be patient with me. I want to be the kind of man you can love, but I need time to forget about the child I was and be the man I know I can be. For you, Maeren, I will try."

"Thank you," she whispered, and brought her hand to brush against his on her cheek. "I...I hope it works out, Keeve."

"Me too." He pressed his lips to her forehead, then slipped his arm around her waist and held her close as they both watched Leshie kicking happily. "Have dinner with me tonight, Maeren. We can talk, just talk and...go from there."

She looked up into his eyes, and felt herself flush slightly. She nodded. "I'd like that," she whispered. "Do I have to go like this, or do I get any clothes?"

"If you wish to have clothing, I can provide some for you. Anything you want, my love."

"Thank you," Shiv whispered, and then allowed herself to lean slightly into Keeve. "I'll let you pick out something for me, if that's okay."

"Of course," Keeve replied, almost ecstatic at Shiv's sudden turnaround. "Something red. You look good in red, Maeren." He nuzzled his lips to her neck and brushed his hand along her arm. "Is there anything special you would like prepared for yourself? I can do that for you, Shiv. I can give you anything you could ever hope for."

"No," she whispered. "Something nice to wear, and whatever food we have. It's fine. Can I have a bath before? I think that would be very nice."

"If you want," Keeve said as he kissed her neck, "we can bathe together. Would you like that, Maeren? I'll be gentle. I promise."

Shiv tilted her head to give him more access to her throat. "I think the one before dinner I'd like to take by myself." She gave him a smile. "But, I think perhaps after dinner we can share a bath if you'd like."

"Of course I would like," Keeve replied with a chuckle. "And perhaps more if you're up to it. If things go well..."

"If things go well," Shiv said with a gentle smile. "Hey!" She suddenly looked down at Leshie and laughed. "Oh, I think someone is hungry. I'm sorry, little one, I don't have anything in there for you."

Keeve almost grumbled at the distraction, but couldn't help but smile at the young child, eager for some lunch. "We should find him some food." He couldn't resist kissing Shiv's cheek and all but resisted pulling her into his arms, baby or no baby, and kissing her lips fiercely. He had to go slowly this time, or surely he would lose her. "Would you care to join me in looking for some lunch for our little friend here?"

"Of course," Shiv said with a smile. "He looks young enough that he's probably still breast feeding. Should we try to find his mama?"

Keeve shook his head. "Not without Father's approval. He took the child away for a reason and I doubt he'd appreciate it if we just handed him back." He rose from the bed and held out his arms to relieve Shiv of Leshie. Sensing that the comfort he had found from Shiv was about to end, Leshie whimpered and began sobbing. "On second thought..." Keeve took a step back and held up his hands defensively. "Don't worry, kid, you can stay right where you are. I know how hard it is to let go of a woman like Maeren."

Shiv smiled, and blushed slightly at his words. "It's okay, little one," she said. "We'll get you something to eat really soon." She turned to Keeve. "Should we talk to Dargus to see if we can take him to his mama? He's hungry, and he'll want her milk. Otherwise, I don't know what else we can do."

"We'll talk to him, if he's not busy with his concubine." He helped Shiv up, then slipped his arm around her waist as they started for the door. "If he won't allow it...I don't know what else to do."

Shiv nodded, and then smiled at Keeve. "Only one way to find out."

The door slid open for Keeve, and at the guards' questioning looks, he firmly announced that he was taking the prisoner for a stroll through the cruiser. Neither made a protest.

"Are you cold?" Keeve asked as they started down the corridor. He quickly pulled off his longcoat and draped it over Shiv's shoulders. "Is that better now?"

"Much better," Shiv said with a soft laugh. "It's a nice coat, and it looks very good on you. I think Va'Lesh likes it too."

"I don't think that's the coat he's reaching for." Keeve grinned and kissed the top of Shiv's head. He was so close to having her that he could barely contain his excitement, and if everything went smoothly, he truly would have her in his arms tonight.

They made a quick stop at Dargus' chambers, where he was not, surprisingly so to Keeve. He figured his father would have been occupied for the rest of the day with his new concubine, but the bed hadn't even been used. "He's probably in his office," he told Shiv, then they continued down the corridor.

After a few moments of silence, Keeve looked sidelong at Shiv. "He hasn't touched you again, has he? My father, I mean. He hasn't visited you since that first night, has he?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "I haven't even seen him since that night. That's the last I saw Lerrah too. It's just been me in my room. The guards would come in to look every once in awhile, but they never touched."

Keeve nodded, satisfied. "If they ever touch you, Maeren, just tell me and they won't ever again. If the way they look at you even makes you feel uncomfortable, I'll have it taken care of."

"Thank you," Shiv said, and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "I don't think anyone out there protects me the way you do. Well, except Zale, but he's not here. But he saved me one time." She smiled. "I can see you doing that for me now."

"I would," Keeve said earnestly. "Maeren, don't you know by now that I'd do anything for you? I love you."

Shiv smiled. "I love you too, Keeve," she said. "Things are going much better this time. If it keeps going like this, I think we're going to have a very nice night together."

"I'll make certain of it." Keeve leaned forward and kissed Shiv's lips tenderly, then more deeply and with passion. He was growing confident now that he had redeemed himself after the initial encounter with Shiv, and if he kept it up, they'd be married by the end of the month, and hopefully Shiv with child. He gazed softly into her eyes as the kiss broke, then laughed softly. "You're beautiful, Maeren."

She was slightly breathless after the kiss, staring up into his eyes. "You're beautiful too," she said. "We'll have to watch the passion a little though. We don't want to crush little Va'Lesh. But we'll have plenty of time for more of that tonight. And, more."

"Definitely more," he said with a salacious grin. "Why don't you go have that bath now and I'll find Va'Lesh's mother. I've got some errands to run anyway. You need an outfit for this evening, don't you?"

"Okay," she said. "I guess I'll see you soon then." She looked down at Va'Lesh who was still quiet, but persistent in trying to get milk from her breast. "Come on, little one. You have to go with Keeve now, to find your mama. It'll be okay, my little love." She moved close to Keeve to hand Leshie over to him. "He's so cute."

Keeve made certain to brush his hands over Shiv's as he took Leshie from her. He fussed at first, but once he was cradled securely in Keeve's arms, he ceased his whining. "You have permission to roam freely. I'll meet you in your chambers at 0800 hours to deliver your clothing. Don't get into any trouble, Maeren." He gazed at her with restrained longing for a moment, and finally had to kiss her lips before he went mad.

Shiv sighed happily once the kiss finally broke. Her knees were weak, and her heart was pounding. "I'll see you soon," she whispered. She looked down at Va'Lesh and smiled. She gave him a kiss, and added, "You too." She stepped away, or she knew she'd never leave. "I'll see you soon, Keeve."

Keeve nodded, his smile charming and conveying his desire for her. "Keep the coat. No unworthy eyes should get to look at that beautiful body of yours."

Shiv grinned and let the coat open a little. "I don't mind them looking," she said, "but they don't get to touch. They should at least be able to see what they're missing, right?"

Keeve chuckled and allowed his eyes to roam over her smooth, radiant flesh. "Just make sure they know they don't get to touch." He ran his hand along her cheek one last time, then stepped back only for the sake of necessity. If he didn't put distance between them, he wouldn't be able to wait until after dinner. "Have fun during your bath." He visually examined her body again, before taking a deep breath and turning his back on her. She was undeniably a divine creature. He was even more grateful now that she was almost his.

***

Upon handing Dargus' new concubine her child, Keeve couldn't help but notice how exquisite his taste in women really was. The stern looking one was older than he preferred, but the one with raven hair and preternaturally violet eyes would have suited him nicely if he hadn't been so smitten with Shiv. He did disapprove, however, of all the tattoos marring their otherwise flawless skin. A true goddess was free of unnatural markings of any kind. Shiv was the exception, however, for the tokens of her last visit with Dargus were not placed upon her of her own choosing. That could be forgiven and detracted not from her perfection. He would have to warn his father about that as well: Shiv's flesh must remain untouched by anyone other than himself. During his visit with him, he would tell Dargus as much.

He strode casually into Dargus' office, still surprised he was working rather than partaking of the beauty of his new acquisitions. Dargus had told him once to wait for entrance into his office instead of barging in, but Keeve was not one to take orders, not even from his father. He plunked himself down into the leather chair across from Dargus' desk and grinned at his father. "What happened?" he asked smugly. "Have you grown weary of your whores already, Father?"

Dargus kept his attention on the data scrolling across the screen in front of him. Most of it was reports from Tae'Karada, but some of it was also various informants along the corridor that led to Corellia. Interesting information to say the least. He hid his annoyance at Keeve's entrance and the question. Without looking up, he smiled. "Have you grown weary of yours?"

Keeve stiffened, but kept his temper from flaring. "If you mean Lerrah, she's in her room, half unconscious and in a drugged daze. If you're referring to Shiv, she's not my whore. In fact, by this evening, she'll likely become my wife."

"I was referring to the one you've been paying attention to," Dargus said. "Now, if Shiv is not your whore, what would ever give you the idea that either Jae Dyn or Yelara are mine?"

"I've seen them together," Keeve said, distaste clear in his tone. "I walked in on those two, pleasuring each other, screaming in ecstasy. And in front of their own children." He shook his head and snorted derisively. "They're whores, Father. But, at least you shouldn't have trouble getting them to spread their legs for you."

"So, my boy, your definition of a whore is any woman who enjoys the pleasure of another woman? Well, well, then it appears that your darling Maeren is exactly that. She's quite fond of your mother you know. I've actually got quite a bit of holo-footage of them together, pleasuring each other, screaming in ecstasy."

"Shut up," Keeve growled. "Maeren was lost, but I'm helping her now. She knows she's mine, only mine. Which reminds me, Father." He sat forward in his seat and smirked at Dargus. "No one touches her but me from now on. That includes you. You have your own women. Leave Maeren to me."

Dargus laughed. "Oh really? Very well. She's yours, but on one condition: you pull your head out of your ass and realize that before she met your mother, she was a lesbian. She enjoys women. Don't delude yourself, my son."

"She'll be enjoying me tonight," he replied with a grin. "That was her past. She loves me now and that's all that matters. At least I have her devotion. Your...women are with each other right now, not with you, Father. Strange way of subjugating them, don't you think?"

"I thought I had Tia Am give you some intelligence," Dargus said. "How about we put her back with Merrick and Kaysa and see how devoted she is? I gave this night to them. That is what Yelara wanted, and that's what I gave her. Now that she has time with Jae Dyn, she'll be more willing when she comes to me. However, I don't expect you to understand that, my son. From now on I'll make sure to speak simply to you since the more advanced concepts seem to elude you. I will have to talk to the doctor...this is somewhat disappointing."

Keeve sat up straighter and did nothing to hide the scowl on his face. "That won't be necessary, Father. I just found it odd that you'd go through so much trouble to retrieve them, then allow them one last chance to be together. It builds up their hope, makes them believe they can manipulate you into showing them mercy again. They won't want to settle for just one time, Father. They'll want more. But," he said with a sigh, "they're your problem. So...whatever works for you."

"So, you believe me weak," Dargus said. "You believe I should be firm. I should give them no ground. I should dictate their actions to them. They should be my slaves, and nothing more." He leaned forward. "Like that show of tenderness you gave Maeren today. Using Yelara's child, how very low. I'm sure you were quite firm and forceful