"Touring The Town"
By: Zion "The Worm" Xandler
Raeila Mullerin
Karo Moran [NPC]

Location: Yellvin, New Plouton
Date: Niothe 25, 4ABY

***

The rest of the night had passed on smoothly. Zion had not heard any more shattering or even Raeila walking about if she had indeed. He got up and put on one of his robes. Just before exiting his bedroom he got to his commlink console and ordered breakfast to be taken in by a pastry catering. He had brought in a bit of almost anything and everything. Cakes and juices and creamy sugary looking things.

He had them all placed in the dining room's large black marble table and headed to Raeila's room just after tipping the delivery man. Once there he could not stop looking at her, still asleep, looking better than the prettiest of the Twi'leks in absolute peace. He almost thought it was wrong to wake her up.

Instead, Zion decided to sit on the bedside and run his fingers over her smooth skin, even in spite of her being a girl who had been brought up in the desert city of Thanatos. "Wake up, kitty-cat..." he whispered.

Raeila moaned quietly and a haggard, tired smile touched her lips in response to the soft caresses being administered to her. "Kael..." she murmured. She shifted onto her side and forced open her sleep-heavy eyes. The blurred figure sitting on her bedside was unmistakably not Kael's, much to her dismay, but as the fog began to dissipate from her vision, she recognized Zion and felt less disappointed. "Morning." She sighed and pushed herself upright. "It is morning, right?"

"Yep, sure is..." he said with a grin. "And I'm sorry that I ain't this Kael fellow..." he said as he got up and laughed at her confusing him with her lover. He turned to her. "Hey, I got us some stuff for breakfast but I didn't know what you liked so I had a little bit of everythin' brought in. Except what I knew wasn't any good..."

"Oh, I'll eat anything," Raeila replied brightly, then with a silky smile, she motioned her eyes towards Zion's groin. "Anything at all, but some things I enjoy eating more than others." She chuckled. "So, escort me to breakfast then?"

He took her hand and lead her to the dining room where all the food was set. "Well, I know what I want to eat..." he teased as he looked at her body. "But I doubt that it would satisfy my stomach, although it would satisfy other parts."

"Well, perhaps we can work something out for later. I need some creds and since I have no other job skills..." Raeila brushed her fingertips along Zion's arm. "I could even accompany you to important events, or when you need a pretty woman on your arm for special occasions... It'll cost ya, but I could do that for you."

"You know, that's not a bad idea. Even though I almost never meet with clients nor have social commitments, I might need an escort. You know, one that doesn't need too much attention and acts regularly without making a scene or somethin'!" he laughed. "But I might take on your offer 'bout later on. You're gonna need the creds for the apartment!"

"So, you're still gonna help me find one?" Raeila slipped off her robe and draped it over the back of the chair Zion had pulled out for her. She took a seat and at once stared at the bounty of food awaiting her. "You went all out, didn't you?" Foregoing table etiquette, Raeila swiped at a pastry and tore a large chunk out of it with her teeth.

"Like I said, I didn't know what you wanted or liked and I can keep the rest anyway, so it's okay... And yes, I'll help you find a better place than the one you had in the first place..." he told her as he took his seat and took a pastry as well. "You know, actually you could use another house that I have. It's smaller than this one but it's okay. It was my parents' house."

Raeila passed the back of her hand over her mouth to clear away the powdered topping of the pastry. "Your folks' place? I couldn't do that... It wouldn't feel right. I want a place that's all my own, you know? But thanks for the offer." She bit down into the fluffy crusted pastry again and chewed ravenously. "So," she said after a large swallow, "did you and your folks get along alright? I mean...I can only imagine how interesting raising someone like you must have been."

"Actually I never got along with them much... Besides they were always reprimanding me for gettin' into trouble. But I always had all I needed. Anyway they passed away, so the place is deserted... You sure you don't wanna check it out?" he asked her one more time. "Well, whatever suits you best!"

Raeila looked down at her half eaten pastry, then shrugged. "Sure, why don't we go and check it out? I've got nothing else to do today, and I might as well take a tour of the city since I'm gonna be here for a while. So...sure, I'll take a look."

Zion grinned at Raeila as he took another pastry and drank some juice. "I'll show you around and tell you what, if the apartment doesn't suit you then we can look for another one... There are more than many in New Plouton anyway! I'm goin' for a shower. Wanna come with me?" he asked her with a grin.

Raeila licked her fingers salaciously while her eyes fixed upon Zion's. "For a hundred creds I do."

Zion laughed outloud. "You never quit do you?" he said as he took her hand and lead them into his bedroom's private bathroom. They showered and washed each other, and inevitably ended up having sex, which Zion paid up some creds for. After that, Raeila went to her room to dress.

Zion chose a pair of long dark purple trousers and an orange tank-top with a silver arm bracelet and red boots. His hair was now in a red and white pattern. He walked out of his room and put on his shades. "Hey, you ready?" he called out to Raeila.

"Yeah, coming!" Raeila skipped out of her room wearing one of the outfits Zion had purchased for her, a white, flowing shirt contrasted with sleek, black leather pants. Her loose hair bounced lightly as she pranced toward Zion and leapt into his arms. She kissed him deeply, then giggled and scrubbed at his oddly coloured hair. "I think we're gonna have fun today, and if I'm in a generous mood, I won't even make you pay for it."

"Well that oughta be a laugh! We're lookin' for your apartment, remember?!" he grinned as he slapped her ass playfully, rushing her out the door.

Raeila strolled alongside Zion, and for the first time in almost four days, her mood was something other than sombre. The sight of equadi-clad women contributed to her shift in emotions as well, oddly enough. They were oppressed and submissive; she wasn't, which meant that they had it worse off than she did, and definitely weren't having as much fun. "Do you think I'd look good in one of those?" she asked as a young brunette strode past them in a pink equadi.

"I think you look good with anything on! Or nothin' at all for that matter!" he teased. "But, yeah, I think you'd look hot in an equadi," he told her as they walked along the streets. "By the way, this is the market area. Here you can find food stores and carts and restaurants or cafés, which is just parallel to the street where we got your clothes yesterday... The apartment building in which my parents lived is two blocks ahead."

"A good location... But, how much will I have to pay for rent? I haven't acquired enough clientele just yet and that means no money's coming in." She slipped her arm through Zion's and smiled silkily. "Unless you'd like to help me with that too."

"I'm sure you can get easy clientele 'round here..." he smirked. "And it should be easier with your own place and all. Besides, it's mine, so maybe you can work your rent until you make the money..."

Once they got there he used a four digit code to open the doors and went in. They took the elevator and went up to the apartment. It had a wooden floor and cream coloured walls with matching sofas and large windows. Zion walked in. "So, what do ya think? It's not as good as my current one, but it's okay."

"Okay?" Raeila repeated incredulously. "This place is amazing!" She walked into the living area and ran her hand over the armrest of the sofa. "Leather," she purred. "My favourite." With a laugh, she bounded down the hallway and made her way into the bedroom. "Look at this bed!" The sound of the springs in the mattress creaking filled the room as Raeila dove onto the bed. "Come in here and look at this!"

Zion walked into the room, his arms folded. "I know," he grinned. "It used to be my old room... Bathroom's down the hall and there's another room there too. Oh, and the kitchen is by the dining hall there," he said as he pointed it out. "Glad you like it! You look good over there."

"I always look good on a bed," Raeila retorted. She sat upright with her back to the headboard and gazed about the room. "So, how much's rent on this place? And will I be able to do entertaining in here? Customers and such, you know."

"Well, if you rent the apartment I guess so... I mean I do whatever I want in my place and I guess it oughta be the same anywhere else!" he said. "And the rent... Well, like I said, this place is mine, so we may have to work that out," he purred with a grin.

Raeila smiled knowingly. "Sexual favours in other words?" She nodded her head slowly, then wriggled aside and patted the mattress for Zion to join her. "I think we can negotiate something."

"I believe so..." He grinned as he took his place beside her. "Making out with the landlord I see. Do you do this type of negotiations all the time, miss?" he teased. "How much shall we make this rent? How 'bout 500 creds per week... Which you can pay in sexual gratification at your choice."

Raeila slung her leg over Zion's lap and sat astraddle upon him. "How about 400 and you can sleep with me whenever you like...within reason." She massaged his chest sensually and shot him her silkiest smile. "How about that?"

"Deal! Wanna start paying in advance?" he asked with a smile as he placed his hands around her body and gazed upon her eyes.

"Well, I haven't decided if I want the place yet." Raeila giggled, then kissed Zion quickly. "I would be an idiot to give this place up! Now, I can't pay you the 400 yet, but I figure I can make that in one night, especially if I can find some wealthy clients. Like that 'Trancemania' place. I saw some choice customers there that night, but that bastard at the door kicked me onto the street before I could get anywhere."

"Oh really?" Zion said with a raised eyebrow. "Well, I don't think you were properly dressed, but even still, what do you think 'bout us goin' there tonight and not only gettin' in but fixin' you a membership card? You could wear one of those outfits we bought."

"You can get me in there? Would you do that for me?" Raeila bounced excitedly in Zion's lap and squeezed his neck tightly with her arms. "You're amazing, Zion!" She kissed his cheek hastily. "I bet I could make a thou in one night!"

"I bet you could!" he laughed. "I'd love t'see the bouncer's face though... C'mon, let's get some lunch and then I'll show you 'round town and we can go to Trancemania later. What do ya think?"

"I think you're brilliant, Zion Xandler." Raeila kissed Zion fully on the mouth this time and pressed her body to his. She was going to be rich and some of her thanks had to go to Zion...but only some. She was the one who would have to perform the hardest part, but at least she'd be paid well for it. "Lunch," she said breathlessly after pulling away. "Then we can go back to your place and get my things to bring over here. If you want, we can even have a little housewarming, just with the two of us." Her smile was lascivious and highly suggestive.

"Now that's an invitation that I will not let pass by..." Zion grinned. He kissed Raeila one more time and once she got back up, so did he and walked out of the apartment and back onto the streets.

Sometime later, they were seated at a fine restaurant that had a most exquisite look. They were seated at a table that was near a window and next to a stage were a Jizz band played a soft tune.

"This place belongs to the same owner of Trancemania. He's quite a good friend of mine. Pulled a job for him that paid the big creds..." He smiled. The waiter arrived at that point.

"What do you desire?" he asked them. He was a pale looking man with deep eyes, dressed in a fine black tailored suit.

"What does the chef recommend?" Zion asked.

"Well, today's special is a Rodian Fish with Solaris salad and vegetables, and the Bantha steak is also good..." he said offering the menus.

"Would you go for that, Raeila, or do you want another thing?" Zion asked with a smile.

Not relishing having to feign reading a menu, Raeila ordered the Bantha steak along with a bottle of the house wine. The waiter nodded, placed their orders in the datapad and scurried away to fill them. "This place is nice," Raeila commented. She gnawed on a breadstick and gazed around at the resplendent dining hall. "This is gonna cost a fortune, isn't it?"

Zion was about to answer Raeila's question when a man approached their table. He was medium tall and had long dark hair and a small beard, nicely trimmed. He was dressed all in black in a nicely handmade suit. He smiled to Zion with a cordial nod. "Mr. Xandler... So you have finally come to my restaurant. The check is on the house. You made me a very wealthy man! And who is this lovely lady, if I may ask?"

Zion got up and shook his hand. "Karo Moran!" Zion smiled. "I hope all is well... This is Raeila. Raeila this is Karo Moran, owner of the Trancemania and this restaurant," Zion introduced them both.

Moran took Raeila's hand and kissed it ever slightly with a bow. "Ma'am. A pleasure to have you as my guest here."

"Well, I haven't tasted the food yet, but I'm sure it's a pleasure to be here," Raeila replied coyly. "Why don't you have a seat, Mr. Moran? I'd love to hear more about your business enterprises." She leaned forward and whispered, but loud enough for Zion to hear: "I'd love it even more if you told me all about Zion. He can be a little evasive when it comes to talking about himself."

Karo took a seat as invited. "Well I guess I'm your regular businessman with little time free. But since I like what I do, I guess one couldn't possibly call it anything other than fun! But it is costly and does require work..." he smiled. "As for our mutual friend here, I am afraid I cannot tell you much. He is good on a professional level at what he does," Moran said with a grin. "And eccentric I would dare to say, and a good friend..." Moran then got up. "I would love to stay longer but I have business to attend to. Enjoy your meal!" he smiled.

Zion got up as well. "I do have one request. Raeila had some problems getting into Trancemania last night. I would appreciate if you could do something about it really..." he said simply.

"But of course!" Moran replied. "Drop by tonight and I will take care of that... Now, if you'll excuse me." He bowed slightly and left.

"Well, I guess that takes care of your problem at the club!" Zion grinned to Raeila. By then the food came and it looked fabulously well prepared. Zion was sure the taste would be just the same as the aspect. Zion smiled. "Let's see if his restaurant is as good as it is said to be!"

Raeila once again assessed her surroundings and noted that this wasn't the confines of a Feltrey hang-out or a sleazy diner, but a glitzy restaurant patronized by some of the most affluent socialites in New Plouton. In other words, no shovelling food into her mouth. She spread out her napkin atop her lap and delicately sliced into her Bantha steak. She even chewed it with her mouth closed. "I've never had Bantha steak before," she commented with a large, beaming smile. "And your friend was nice. He seems like a good one too, someone who'd keep the secrets you want kept."

Zion laughed. "Actually it's more the other way 'round, kitty-cat. I know the secrets and he expects me to keep 'em that way... Never let loose info on those for whom I pull jobs before an' I don't plan to!" he said. "Bantha steak's good!" he smiled, changing the subject. "And I didn't know you had interest in what I did for a livin' and stuff..." he added with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, if you and I are gonna be spending a lot of time with each other, I figure I oughta at least get to know you." She placed another morsel of the succulent meat into her mouth and chewed slowly. "At any rate, what else are we supposed to talk about?"

Zion chuckled. "Ok, so what do you wanna know?"

Raeila tapped the tines of her fork lightly against her chin and looked up pensively. "Let's see... Well..." She gasped and threw her arms up, quickly directing all attention towards them. "I know! Have you ever been married? Ever had a girlfriend? Ever been in love," she finished, smiling dreamily at the thoughts of Kael that went through her mind.

"Never been married and never wanna be!" He laughed outloud. "Not my style. Girlfriends, yeah I had some but too complicated. In love... Well, maybe but I'm not too sure," he grinned looking at Raeila. "And you, kitty-cat? Where's this fiancé of yours?"

"That's what I'm still trying to find out, remember?" Raeila shrugged ruefully and averted her eyes to her plate where her fork was now pushing around the uneaten meal. "It's a big province. I could be here a year and I might never see him. But...he's my arozeil. Our asri are drawn together. We have to meet again some day. We have to."

"Girl, your guy is weird! To let you 'round just like that and not caring for you..." he let out. "Sorry, none of my business. Whatever makes you happy!" he added. He then asked for the dessert cart which was brought along. Zion chose just coffee with cinnamon. He then looked at Raeila. "How 'bout we get all your stuff into your apartment?" He smiled.

Raeila snatched up a custard tart and set it down onto her dessert plate. "I don't really have anything except for what you bought me. We could do that if you want, then later we can check out that club you told me about. I think I need a distraction to keep me from pining for home."

"Very well then..." Zion smiled.

***

Their afternoon had been quite good with Zion showing some locations to Raeila and making sure she knew where she shouldn't go for her own sake. They had her things brought up to her apartment and Raeila had bought some food for the house also. They finished up by having sex in her new room, giving her bed a strange sort of christening, then eventually dressed up and headed to the nightclub.

Trancemania was packed with people trying to get in. Zion lead Raeila by taking her hand and going all the way up to the Bouncer. The large man merely looked at him and nodded. "Mr. Xandler..." he said as he let him and Raeila pass by.

Inside the music was loud and with remixes. The four columns had people on them and so did the cages, filled with dancers in them. This time Zion was sure that the DJ did have four arms, since he didn't have anything to cover his upper body. "I have to go up there to meet Karo. You wanna come?" Zion asked.

"I am your date, aren't I?" Raeila replied sweetly. "You have to show me off to everyone. What better way to get the most out of your investment by making your friends absolutely jealous?"

Zion smiled at her comment and took her hand, leading them up the stairs. They passed by the tables and the seats there and onto a bar near a balcony where Karo was. Zion tapped on his shoulder, making him turn around. Karo smiled. "Nice to see you again! And you, Miss Raeila. I have something for you..." he told Raeila as he gave her a card. It was a membership card to get into Trancemania without having to wait or pay. Karo spoke above the music. "I don't want a lady like you waiting to get into my club!"

"Thanks, man!" Zion smiled, as he knew he would give it to Raeila. He then turned to her, clinging to her side and with a hand over her shoulder. "C'mon, let's blow the dancefloor!"

"I've never heard music like this," Raeila hollered as she and Zion started back to the ground level. "It's got such a hypnotic beat. I guess that's where the name for the club came from."

"This is known as Trance music!" Zion explained. "So yeah you have a point..." He smiled. They went down to the dancefloor where lights and lasers burst into life creating amazing patterns of light that made the music that much better. It was impossible to stay without moving to the beat.

Zion took Raeila and started to dance funky with her, taking her near to his body and rubbing against one other. He learned that she was better than he had expected, which only made him have more fun out of it. "Not bad for a desert girl, kitty-cat..." He smiled as he held her, then kissed her amidst the music and the lights.

Raeila pulled back and grinned at Zion. "You're not bad either...for a tall, lanky, clumsy-looking thing. You move with surprising grace." She wound her arms around his neck loosely and continued to grind her hips with his. "For all you've done for me today, I'll only charge you ten percent when we get back. And you can do whatever you want with me. How's that?"

"Deal!" he grinned and kissed her again.

After a couple of hours of lewd dancing, they left the dancefloor and went outside. They returned to Zion's apartment and went straight on to his room. He almost tore her clothes off before making love to her a couple of times until finally he fell asleep in her arms.

---

"Avoiding Despair"
by Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Merrick Braston
and Zale Tregat

Location: New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 25, 4ABY

***

Her tired fingers were now useless in gathering the stray strands of brown curls that refused to be trapped into a bun with the rest of her hair. Each time she thought her hairstyle ready to be secured, a stubborn lock would spring itself loose and find freedom again to dangle by her cheek. Her hair had grown longer over the months, but still provided an obstacle in styling, especially in tying away from her face. She couldn't very well leave it down today, not with how unruly it appeared, and Merrick was waiting to share a hovercab with her to work. Time was growing short. She desperately needed expert hands.

"Shiv! Can you--" Kaysa's voice caught in her throat and a lump soon replaced it. Shiv's presence was still felt wherever she went within the apartment, and although she'd found that slowly fading, it still didn't keep her from calling out Shiv's name from time to time.

Her hands dropped from her hair and into her lap. The gathered hair seemed to sigh as cascading curls tumbled down to frame her face, casting a mottle of shadows on her already darkened, sombre features. There was no light without Shiv, but she wouldn't let the loss destroy her as it almost had the first time. She was stronger this time and would find her lover, but until then, she couldn't help but miss her.

Kaysa remembered her with always a cheerful smile on her face that infected with happiness everyone who witnessed it. She'd yet to discover Shiv's secret, how she could make so many people so happy with just one look. It made her heart ache to think of Dargus extinguishing that brightness within her, to have him touching her whereas she could not. And Keeve... A stifled groan broke from Kaysa's throat as she folded her arms atop the dresser table at which she sat and lay down her head upon them. "Oh, my loves..."

"Is everything alright in here?" Merrick asked as he stepped into the bedroom. "Let me help, my love. I'm not exactly an expert with hair, but I think an extra set of hands will keep that one lock in place."

Kaysa shifted around in the chair and wrapped her arms around Merrick's waist as he came to her side. "I miss them," she whispered. She nestled her cheek to his abdomen and held him tighter. "The place is too quiet without them."

"I know," he whispered. "I miss them too. I miss Keeve's taunts. And, then the looks of adoration he was giving me before we left. How could it have happened like this? How could we have lost them so quickly?" Merrick shook his head and then slid down to where he could look Kaysa in the eyes, could rest his forehead against hers. "We'll get them back, my love."

"We did it once, and I know we can do it again," Kaysa said quietly. "I just..." She lowered her gaze, away from Merrick's. "I don't want it to tear us apart again."

"Then we won't let it tear us apart," Merrick said with a smile. "If I remember last night well enough, and I may still be partially delirious, I think we're doing a good enough job staying together."

Kaysa hated Merrick for making her laugh, but loved him at the same time for it. "All newlyweds are that excitable at first. It'll wear off after a week or two."

"My wife, it hasn't worn off in the year that we've known each other. And, do you and Zale have a sort of exemption card yet? I don't think I've ever seen a more frisky couple than you and Zale. Well...other than you and me, of course."

"I'm sure once he finds out I ran off and married you, he'll overcome the friskiness." Kaysa sighed, but none of her stress escaped through the expelled breath. She pulled back from Merrick's gentle hold then turned to face the mirror again. "He'll think I regret marrying him and that I ran off to marry the man I wanted to truly be with all along."

"I'll straighten him out," Merrick said as he started working at getting Kaysa's hair to stay in the bun she'd been working with. "I have a way with Zale. I'm sure when I get through with him, he'll have a cigarra, and everything will be fine."

"Or you could just threaten to throw him through a table again." Kaysa's hands joined Merrick's in helping to gather ribbons of hair for him. "I like being married to you, Merrick. It feels so different. I love you just as much as I did before, but there's a sense of something more now, something more fulfilling. Do you feel it too?"

"Yes," Merrick whispered. "There's a completeness now," he said. "It's like hearing someone whistling a song, and then finally hearing the whole song."

Kaysa closed her eyes and sighed. "I love how you put things, just like I love how you touch me."

Merrick smiled as he slipped his hands around to her chest, just above her breasts. He drew his fingers back along her skin, trailing his touch up her throat and back along her jaw. "I love touching you," he whispered. "Every touch reminds me just how happy I am to be alive, how grateful for what I have in life. I'm not sure whether I enjoy touching you more with my hands or my music. Or maybe it's because of one that the other is so beautiful, and vice versa. We almost fell apart last time, Kaysa. This time we're drawing closer together, gaining strength."

She moaned softly and guided her cheek into Merrick's cradling hand. "I know it's a horrible thing to say, but losing Shiv has made me realize how much I need you, Merrick."

Merrick kissed the top of her head. "It's strange to have her taken from us, and still find some happiness in life," he said. "But, I think that's what Shiv would have wanted of us. She'd want us to be as happy as we could be until she was back with us."

"And Keeve?" Kaysa opened her eyes and all but shattered the tender moment with a disconcerting thought. "He chose a stranger over me, his mother, Merrick." She leaned forward in her chair, away from Merrick's delicate hands. "Does he hate me that much?"

"I don't know," Merrick said softly, "but we will find out. I can't imagine anyone hating you, Kaysa. But, maybe he hasn't given you a chance. Or Dargus offered to give him everything he could possibly ever want...like your parents did. Something like that, and we seem like a family of rancors by comparison."

"I let him go all those years ago... I abandoned him," she said dejectedly, "and now he's doing the same to me. Fitting payback, I say."

Merrick kissed Kaysa's neck. "And, you came back to him," he whispered. "Remember that too. He'll remember it too, my love. And, he's got Shiv there to help him learn to love you. If anyone can do it, she's the one."

"Not if she's drugged and subdued," Kaysa muttered. She decided to pin back the rest of her hair instead of wasting time wrapping it impossibly into a bun. "He hates me, he always will. Dargus will poison him further against me, and I'll have lost him forever." Kaysa slipped out of the chair and strode across the room to find a shirt.

Merrick turned around and watched her. "And we'll get them both back, and the Jedi Knights will take care of Dargus Kandran for good. We'll get him back and prove to him how much you love him, how much you've always loved him. You may have abandoned him, Kaysa, but you did it for him. You thought it best for him. And, now we'll get him back, for him. We'll make everything right again, for all of us. He's a kid, Kaysa. He thought Dargus could give him what he wanted. He came from a place where a tantrum got him everything. Here, his tantrums got him spankings and scoldings. He's a spoiled brat, and he chose to go with someone who promises the world. When Kandran doesn't deliver, Keeve will gladly come back to us. We'll get through this, my love. We'll get them back, and prove to them this is where they belong. This is where they're loved the most."

"We know that," Kaysa called back as she rifled through the clothes in her drawer. "He doesn't. I'm the enemy. I'm the one who was trying to keep him and his Auntie Shiv apart." Instead of being wrapped around her body, the shirt Kaysa had retrieved was flung across the room in a fit of frustration. "I'm the one he despises, dammit! His own mother. He hates me and there's nothing we can do. And for the rest of my days, that'll pain me, Merrick."

"We'll find a way, Kaysa," Merrick said, trying to stay calm. "We have to have hope, Kaysa. We have to hope we can get them back. We can't give up, Kaysa. We can't give up on Keeve or then we really have lost him."

Kaysa laughed dryly and propped her bared back against the wall. "I always have loved you for your optimism, Merrick. The future always looks so bright in your eyes, even when it may not be. How do you do it?"

"Because if it's not optimism, it's gonna be despair. Things do have a way of working out for the best most of the time. And, those are the times I look forward to. When you anticipate the failure, then that only breeds misery. I don't like misery anymore, especially not with you in my life."

"Merrick..." Kaysa hugged her arms around herself and felt the cold metal of the wedding ring on her finger against the bare flesh of her arm. She wouldn't give in to the despair either, not if it meant losing Merrick again. "I won't give up," she whispered. "I promise. I want to believe they'll come back to us whole, but I need you to make me believe it."

Merrick approached slowly, and then folded her into his embrace. "I'll make you believe," he whispered. "And, it will be so."

Kaysa smiled gently as she nestled her cheek to his chest. "I believe you," she said softly. "Your wife believes you, Mr. Braston."

"We're going to be late," he said, his voice only for her. "Though, I've never had a problem with being late. There's no point in rushing. So, we'll be late, but I'm going to comfort my wife and the love of my life. And, whoever doesn't like that can jump out of an airlock."

"Your impertinence is so charming." Kaysa gazed up at her husband and ran silken caresses across his strong back. "Don't go into work today. I don't want to be away from you."

Merrick smiled. "No work then," he said. "I am completely and fully yours, my love. And, you won't have to be away from me. I'd say you could come in with me, but I don't want to be giving anyone else the attention you deserve."

"You won't if you sing only for me." She gave him her most alluring smile then pressed her warm lips to his throat. "We could always go back to your dressing room if you feel I'm not receiving enough attention."

Merrick closed his eyes at her touch. "We could always just stay here and I could give you a private show," he whispered. "This could be our stage and our dressing room. And, then we don't have to worry about all the fans, or Chrik, or anything. Just you and me."

"That's how it always is though," she whispered. Her lips touched the hollow of his neck and her fingers tugged at the bottom of his shirt, pulling the neatly tucked tails free of his pants. "When I'm with you, no one else exists. My love for you consumes me, Merrick, but I'm not afraid. I accept it."

"But I can't touch you when I'm on the stage," Merrick said. "I couldn't just leave the stage when I felt the need to touch you. I wouldn't even get into the first song. Maybe we can go tomorrow and see how it goes. Today, I think for both of our sakes, we should stay here together. I have this insatiable urge to be naked with you."

"Don't worry," Kaysa said as her hands moved to the fastenings of his pants, "I'm already on it." She giggled excitedly as the zipper descended and her hand dipped into his white undergarment, while her other jerked open his buttoned shirt aggressively. He'd have to sew back a few buttons when they were finished, but he always had plenty more shirts if necessary.

"Oh, I love it when you get forceful," Merrick murmured. He moved his hands to Kaysa's chest, happy that she'd tossed her shirt across the room. "I guess this means we're still feeling that newlywed feeling. Should we hit the bed? Or are you feeling more wild?"

Kaysa laughed huskily and indicated her response by hooking her foot around Merrick's ankle and tripping him to the carpeted floor. She followed soon after and flattened her body to his. "So, does that answer your question?"

"It does," he said with a laugh, and wrapped his arms around her. "Looks like you're on top this time, my love. Eventually I'll have to call Chrik, but...but that can definitely wait until later. Much later."

"Much, much later."

Kaysa kissed Merrick deeply and proceeded to take care of removing their remaining clothing. Sex was part solace and comfort over Shiv and Keeve's loss, but it was more an expression of their passion for each other, the need to simply touch and be near one another. She was now growing closer to Merrick as his wife than she ever could have as simply his girlfriend, and, although it disheartened her to some extent, without having to divide their attention among Shiv and Keeve, they had more time just to themselves, more time for intimacy they couldn't share with a young child watching, and Shiv asking to join in. As much as she hated to admit it, they needed this time alone and she was grateful to have it.

Still, she would give anything to have her two babies back, but it was out of her hands for now, and dwelling on their loss would only drive her to near madness again. But she had Merrick still and there was no point in driving him away through her despondency. Loving him fully would make them stronger and allow them to overcome the obstacle presented to them. Loving Merrick would keep her mind off the grief...at least for an hour or so.

***

Merrick sat back in the chair on the patio of Rafoa's, one of his and Kaysa's new favourite restaurants in New Plouton. Glasses of fruit juice sat before them and they were each well into their second glass of it. It wasn't the best for taking the edge off of worry, but the sex they'd shared only a few hours ago had worked marvelously. Merrick sighed with near-contentment and looked over at Kaysa. He smiled. "We will have to tell him soon," he said. "Which means we're going to have to corner him somewhere that Oot Kovan isn't. For as sneaky as she was, she's really thrown herself into helping us.."

"I think it's just for the chance to be around Zale." Kaysa idly traced the lip of the cup with her finger and watched yet another equadi clad woman pass by the restaurant. "She's persistent, but at least now I know she won't be intentionally seducing him."

"Well, judging by the way that Zale watches you, there isn't much of a chance of her accidentally seducing him either. He knows where his heart is, my love, and that's you. Fortunately, he's a good boy and knows how to share."

Kaysa chuckled as she dunked her finger into the juice. "I think he's hoping I'll share you with him someday soon. I'm not man enough for him."

Merrick raised an eyebrow and shifted in his seat. "Really?" A smile quirked at the edges of his lips.

"Stop getting ideas," Kaysa warned playfully. "You're not having sex with Zale."

"But you just said... That's just mean and heartless, Kaysa. What's wrong with your husband having sex with your husband? And besides, he said I have a cute ass."

"Well, he was teasing," Kaysa snapped. "My husbands may not be with any other besides me, not even each other. Understood, Mr. Braston?"

He gave her a playful pout. "But what about my ass?" he asked. "People just don't tease about things like that." He gave a heavy sigh and fought back a grin. "Well, I guess I'll just have to be with you. You'll more than make up for him. I never thought he was that good anyway."

Kaysa smiled dreamily and a blush reddened her cheeks. "Oh, but he is... He's a Shac'tae master, you know."

"No, I don't," Merrick said with a grin, "I didn't know that because you won't let him touch me."

"Well, we can go to his office right now and he can demonstrate his sexual prowess with me as his willing subject." Kaysa sucked the juice off her soaking finger and smiled slyly.

"I don't think that's a good idea if Oot Kovan's still there," Merrick said. "She might try to join you, or seduce me. Not that she could seduce me. There's only one woman who could do that."

"Oh yeah?" Kaysa raised a suspicious eyebrow at Merrick. "Tell me where the bitch is, and I'll take care of her."

Merrick picked up the spoon from his place setting and held it up so that Kaysa could see her reflection in the shiny surface. "There she is," he said with a grin.

Kaysa studied the face staring at her and nodded her approval. "Well, at least she's good looking. You've done well, Braston."

"She's more beautiful than any woman I've ever met in my life," Merrick said. "Especially her eyes. And, I know I've done well."

"Romantic jerk," she muttered fondly. Her hand closed around the head of the spoon and she gently pushed it down to the table as she leaned forward to kiss Merrick.

As Kaysa was leaning forward to kiss her new husband, a shadow in the distance resolved into the approaching form of her not-so-new husband. His face broke into a large smile and he waved. "I thought I might find the two of you here," he said as he neared the table. "Mind if I join you?"

Kaysa paused with her lips barely touching Merrick's and glanced sidelong at Zale. With a sigh, she sat back in her chair and gestured him over. "How do you always manage to find us?"

Zale grinned and dropped into the empty seat. "Well, the two of you are very predictable. I figured you'd either be in the bed, at the White Noise, or here. I thought about it, and figured you probably already spent a good deal of time in the bed -- or the near vicinity -- and would have to recharge your engines. I thought maybe White Noise later, but back at the bed was more likely. Anyway, I checked the position of the sun and figured it was past bed and before White Noise, which left food as the option. Did I get it close?"

Kaysa grimaced and dismissed Zale with a wave of her hand. "Show-off."

Zale laughed. "I've got people watching," he said. "They told me I could find you here."

"And you decided to come whether your company was welcomed or not?" Kaysa smiled sweetly at Zale and kicked his foot under the table. "How presumptuous of you, my dear love."

"That's no way for a woman to speak to her husband," Zale said with a laugh. "You haven't adopted the customs of this place nearly enough."

"And I'm not wearing an equadi either. What does that suggest to you about my present and future adherence to the customs of Tae'Karada, my love?"

"It says you need to be put into your place," Zale said with a smile. "What do you say, Merrick? Equadi?"

Merrick's eyes got large and he glanced between Kaysa and Zale. "Uh...I can't say that I really wouldn't mind."

Kaysa snorted dryly and eyed Merrick. "I imagine you'd mind even less if it was Zale wearing one."

"Zale would look silly in an equadi. I think a leather harness and thong. I think you'd look absolutely amazing in an equadi though."

"Of course I would," Kaysa stated with an air of complete confidence, and a hint of arrogance. "I do, as a matter of fact. But you both have never doubted that, right?" She divided a pointed glance among both of them and repeated: "Right?"

"Hmmm," Merrick said. "I don't know."

"It's been awhile," Zale added.

"I think you'll have to reassure us," Merrick said.

Kaysa narrowed her eyes at her two husbands and, showing extreme grace, stuck her tongue out at them. "How's that for reassurance?"

"I'll take that as a promise of what's to come later," Zale said with a grin.

"Me too," Merrick added quickly. "And, I think we should get you that equadi to wear."

Zale grinned. "Oh, I can't imagine another woman on the planet who makes the equadi look as good as Kaysa does. More sexy than being naked, I think."

"You two stop that now!" Kaysa laughed helplessly and tossed her napkin in their direction, not caring who ended up getting hit. "You're a bad influence on Merrick, Zale. What are you doing here anyway, besides tormenting me?"

"Do I need another reason?" he asked with a grin. "I just wanted to stop by to give you an update. Dargus's ship appears to be heading back this way. One of my scouts detected his ship in hyperspace about two days out. Oot is moving her fleet farther into the system. We'll be launching the assault against his base later today. We'll have them back soon, my love."

All sign of jest vanished from Kaysa's face. "Today? We could have them back by today? Is that what you're telling me, Zale?"

"Not today," Zale said. "But at most a week. It won't be long. The problem...the problem is that Oot can't get ahold of her Jedi contact, that blue-eyed guy. But, as soon as she does, we'll go after Dargus and get them back."

Kaysa closed her eyes and allowed herself a small sigh of relief. "A week's not so bad. I think I can handle one week."

Zale smiled. "Good," he said. "And, then we'll have them back. Unfortunately, with as much as their ship has been in hyperspace, Oot hasn't been able to get in contact with her person on the inside. She has her people ready for as soon as the ship emerges though. Once that happens, we'll have another full update. But, a week before we get them back. And, we will get them back."

She opened her eyes again and reached out her hand to cover his. "I know you'll do everything you can to make that happen. But if it doesn't, I want you to know I love you for trying."

Zale smiled. "Thank you," he whispered. "When he returns to this system, he'll find his base here smashed into oblivion. Hopefully it'll make him careless."

"To take Shiv from us a second time, he's gotta be either careless or stupid." Kaysa laughed softly. "From what I know of him, both."

"And, we're going to snap him back hard and make him see that he's both. After this, I don't think he'll be much trouble to anyone anymore."

"I hope you're right, my love." She squeezed his hand and gave him a tender smile, one just for him. "Just don't go getting yourself killed in the process, okay?"

"Of course not," Zale said with a grin. "I'm not going to go do anything stupid like last time." He was about to pull his hand back from hers when he stopped and stared at the ring now circling her third finger. He raised an eyebrow. "That's new."

Kaysa looked down at the subject of his attention, then glanced up at Merrick uncertainly. "It was...a gift. Merrick gave it to me."

Merrick swallowed hard and Zale nodded. "That's a big rock," Zale continued. Very nice. It matches your eyes. Well, in a sparkling gemstone kind of way."

"Merrick's a celebrity. He can afford it." She slowly shifted her gaze to Zale, back to Merrick, then apprehensively to Zale again. "Especially for...um..." Kaysa closed her eyes and braced herself mentally. "For his wife."

"Well of course," Zale said. "I mean, that'd be silly if he didn't get something like that for his-- Wife? Wi-- I missed something. His wife?"

Merrick smiled and then nodded. "Wife."

Kaysa sighed and leaned forward to gaze intently at Zale. "We went to Bespin. We got married there. It doesn't mean I love you any less or that our marriage is meaningless to me. But, I love Merrick and we had to do this for us. Can you understand that?"

"Of course," Zale said with a smile. "I've been wondering if there was a way to get Merrick out of that depression he's been in. I knew there was a way to make him feel like you loved him just as much as you love me."

"But don't go thinking this gives you permission to have sex with me whenever you want," Merrick said, waggling a cautioning finger at Zale. "We're married to her, not to each other. So, you just stay on your own side of the sheets."

Zale rolled his eyes and looked at Kaysa. "All because I told him he had a cute ass."

"You actually told him that?" Kaysa slapped Zale's hand and playfully glowered at him. "Now we'll never hear the end of it. I hope you're happy, Mr. Zenarr-Tregat."

"What was I supposed to say? He was trying on a new pair of pants and kept shoving his ass in my face and asking me if they made him look too fat. I had to say something."

"You could have told him to ask his girlfriend!" Kaysa laughed, glad that the conversation held such levity instead of the disappointment she expected as Zale's reaction. She'd underestimated his love for her far too much, especially if she could confess something so startling, and still see him laughing. She couldn't fathom how she loved two men so much, but she did, and would never dare choose one over the other. "So...you're not mad?" she asked, veering the conversation back to her marriage with Merrick.

"I wish you'd told me beforehand," Zale said with a smile. "But, I'm not mad. I know you love me and I know you love him. You're married to me, and it's easy to think that you love the man you're married to more. Now you're married to both of us. It makes sense, and it lets us both know that we're both yours completely and totally, and not one more than the other."

"Oh, I always knew you were a rational thinker." Kaysa leaned forward and kissed Zale lightly upon the lips. "I do love you and I'm happy to be your wife. I'm happy to be Merrick's wife too. He and I needed this, Zale. I think now we'll all be stronger, more secure in this strange relationship we share. But if you ever feel it change, Zale, tell me. I don't want to lose you for anything. Just tell me, and we can fix it."

"I don't think my feelings for you could ever change," Zale said. "But I will talk to you if anything ever does. That should go for all of us. If we ever need to talk, we do. No hiding, no internalizing any problems we find with our relationship. Deal?"

Kaysa gave a curt nod, then looked sideways at Merrick expectantly.

Merrick looked between the two several times before finally grinning. "Deal. No silent treatment for anything. We talk it all out."

"Or just have a threesome to clear the air," Kaysa added with a large smile. "I think that works."

Merrick and Zale looked at each other and then at Kaysa. "You sure?" they both said in unison.

Kaysa shrugged and slid back her chair. With a secretive smile, but mischief clear in her eyes, she rose and dawdled away from the table, swinging her hips especially salaciously. She glanced over her shoulder at her two husbands and gave them a crooked smile. "Care to see for yourself?"

"Let's get the food to go," Merrick said as he pushed out his chair.

"I'll have someone deliver it," Zale said as he moved to Kaysa's side and linked his arm with hers.

Kaysa placed a kiss upon Zale's cheek, then on Merrick's as he came up to her other side. "Gentlemen," she greeted with a nod to each. "Ground rules: all your attention shall be on me, not each other. Agreed?"

"Damn," Merrick muttered, and then laughed. "Oh alright. Agreed."

"Agreed," Zale said. "Just you, and making you scream with delightful pleasure. Our attention will be focused completely on you, my love."

"Isn't it always?" Kaysa quipped. She grinned to herself and glanced sidelong at both of them. "And if it isn't, I'm sure I can attract it easily enough. I think I know a few tricks I've yet to show either of you."

"Oh, I don't think you'll need those tricks," Merrick said with a grin. "Though, I don't think we'd mind seeing them."

Zale quickly gave a passing waiter the order to have the food delivered to the apartment, and then he hurried the three of them out to the street. It was a strange feeling heading toward the apartment they all shared knowing the purpose for going there was to engage in a threesome with his wife and her other husband. He grinned and then laughed. It wasn't any more strange than any other part of their relationship. "I'm on top," he said as they turned up an alley that would let out right near the apartment. It would be an interesting afternoon indeed.

---

"Betrayals, Part 1"
By: Jae Dyn Brael
Dargus Kandran
Yelara Zaneth

Location: Dargus' Cruiser - En route to Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 25, 4ABY

***

The contoured muscles of his back tensed and relaxed in a steady rhythm mirrored by the undulations of his long, naked frame. The kestrel's wings that spanned across his shoulder blades seemed to flap gracefully and called out in a sudden piercing cry. Delicate, white fingers clawed at the bird of prey; the beast contorted as the muscles contracted and the back arched. The man too cried out then as her fingers dug deep into the bronzed flesh and her long legs girded his waist.

Their nude, glistening bodies writhed and the kestrel shrieked again, but its voice grew shrill and feminine - mocking, as she realized it was not her own. The hands touching his back were someone else's, someone who had no right touching her husband in that manner. Jealousy raged and burned even hotter at the obvious pleasure Liam was deriving from the act. How could he enjoy being with a woman not her? He shouldn't, but he was, and this filled Yelara with the urge to strangle them both.

The whore's arms clutched him and pulled him into a tight embrace as their bodies jerked and twisted wildly with the oncoming climax. Yelara screamed in a fulminating, uncontrollable fury just as the two naked forms cried out in unison. The woman's face was visible, but the exertion deformed it and rendered it unrecognizable. But she knew those tangled, damp locks of brown hair, those green eyes... And once the rush of ecstasy subsided, and their breathless bodies heaved with the effort of drawing in air, the woman's features relaxed and a satisfied, dreamy grin curled her full lips. It was then that Yelara knew her for the seductive whore she was. But instead of lashing out, she drew back, horrified and disheartened by the knowledge that Liam, her husband, had willingly given himself to her.

Laedra's mouth formed the words 'I love you,' and Yelara heard Liam's voice reply with the same declaration. Yelara's agonized wail shattered the shroud of sleep that had enveloped her and began thrusting her back into the clutches of consciousness.

Her shrill cry relentlessly battered the scene before her. The image of her husband and his mistress lying together in bed cracked and exploded into a torrent of mirrored glass shards that dispersed the scene, but taunted her still with disjointed reflections of Liam's arm, Laedra's hand stroking his back... Her smile. He'd betrayed her as suspected, and with a woman he had sworn was nothing more than a friend and colleague. Did he even miss her? Did he even care that she was in the snare of the most vile man in the galaxy? Obviously, he didn't.

Her cry became a gasp as Yelara jolted upwards in bed and looked frantically about the darkened room. She briefly glanced upon Kallia sleeping next to her and quickly remembered where she was. Not witnessing her husband making love to another woman, but in a room on Dargus' cruiser, waiting for him to separate her from Kallia again. All at once, she found little hope of rescue, especially with Liam too occupied having sex with Laedra to even search for her. Yelara covered her face with her hands and sobbed quietly. Everything was so wrong and would never be right again. At least crying helped a little. A very little.

"Yel," Kallia's sleepy voice asked from the darkness. She rolled over and looked up at her love, at the tears, at the slump of her shoulders. "Oh, Yelara, what's wrong? What's the matter?"

"How can you even ask that?" Yelara wiped away stinging tears and threw her legs over the edge of the bed, keeping her back to Kallia. "We've been abducted by Dargus Kandran, we're trapped on his floating prison. Isn't that enough of an excuse to cry?"

Kallia looked around the room and sighed. "Lying here, with you in my arms, it was possible to put some things out of my mind," she said. "I'm sorry, my love. Come back to my arms. I'll try to make it hurt less."

"I'm too anxious to lie still," Yelara muttered. "I can't be in this room anymore, this prison. We're prisoners, Kal. Stop trying to make it seem like it's a vacation getaway."

"Just because we're prisoners here doesn't mean that we can't comfort each other, Yel," Kallia said. "We probably have less than an hour or so before Dargus's people come in to take you away from me. We may be prisoners, but I'm not about to give up on my love for you. I won't let that bastard break my spirit. I'm not about to give up."

Yelara looked over her shoulder at Kallia, at her love trying so hard to maintain some happiness and normalcy despite their predicament. She loved her even more for it. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Yelara shifted back towards Kallia and slipped into her embrace. "I just... I had a bad dream, that's all. I'm sorry."

Kallia lowered her lips to Yelara's neck and kissed gently. "You're safe with me," she whispered. "As long as you're with me, I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you." She kissed her neck again and then her ear. "Tell me about the dream, my love. It always helps to talk about bad dreams. It takes their power away."

"Not this one," Yelara said. "This one... It was too real, Kal. I know I'm paranoid, but there's no doubt in my mind that some aspect of it was true."

"Well, just stay in my arms," Kallia whispered. "I'll try to make everything fine. If you want to talk though, I'm here, Yel. I'm always here for you."

"I know." Her naked, trembling body curled up against Kallia's, and her presence alone managed to lessen her quivering with the security it provided. "You're here and he's not. He's... He's with her, alone. He has her to console him, if he's grieving at all. She's there to replace me, Kal. Isn't she? That's what I dreamed about. He was with...her, not me. Her."

Kallia closed her eyes and bit her lip. She felt her body stiffen and knew that Yelara felt it as well. She didn't want to be in the middle, but she wanted to be with Yelara. This would be her chance to get Yelara all to herself. This would be her chance to become Yelara's sole lover. "There is something going on between them," she whispered, "but I don't know to what extent."

Yelara suppressed an anguished moan before it escaped her lips, but her tightening hold on Kallia conveyed her despair just as effectively. "Oh gods... What, Kallia? What's going on between them? Please tell me. I have to know. I have to know if he's been lying to me. He said...said there was nothing going on. He promised." She propped herself up onto her elbow and regarded Kallia with an imploring gaze. "Please tell me. Please, Kallia. Is Liam cheating on me with...her?"

"I think so," Kallia said softly. "I-- I almost walked in on them. That was when we were all leaving. And, shortly after that, he decided to stay. Oh gods, Yelara, I'm so sorry. I don't know for certain, but...but I think so."

"Then my dream--" Yelara closed her eyes and took in a staggering breath to settle her nerves. "Is that why he didn't want to come?" Her eyelids pulled back and saddened violet eyes stared down at Kallia. "He wanted to be with her. He loved her enough to want to stay with her. He...he chose her over us, Kal. My husband, my soul chose another over me." Yelara's body trembled again with the physical effort to keep her emotions under control. "Why? Why, Kallia?"

Kallia tightened her embrace. "I don't know, my love," she whispered. "I have no idea why he would do that. I have no idea how anyone could do such a thing. I don't know what happened, Yelara. I don't know what would happen to make him not want to be with us, with his son."

"Leshie..." Yelara groaned. "His own father doesn't want him." She sobbed against Kallia's bosom and shook her head gently. "How could he? What couldn't I give him?"

Kallia shook her head and kissed the top of Yelara's. "Maybe it was me," she said. "Maybe he didn't want to have to share his love with another. Or maybe the darkness is still in him. A good Jedi would never do something like this."

"Do you think that's it? Do you...do you think he's returning to the darkness?" Yelara gasped and desperately held Kallia to her. "Oh gods... Oh gods, she led him to the darkness, Kal. Do you think that was it? Is that why he's with her? He can't help it. She has this hold over him. Is that it? Could that be it, Kal? Is that why he abandoned us?"

"I don't know," Kallia whispered. "Maybe he fell in love with her. Maybe she's got some influence on his mind. I don't know why, my love. But, it happened. How could he do this? He knew how much this would hurt us. How could he hurt us like this?"

Yelara clenched her eyes against the tears. "Because he's a bastard," she rasped. "If he'd been with us on Corellia, he could have helped protect us. If he hadn't insisted on staying at that Temple -- for her! -- none of this would be happening." Her sadness, her disappointment, and her rage expressed itself in a piercing cry that roused the children from their peaceful rest. "All this is his fault. I'll never forgive him, Kallia. Never!"

"Oh, Yelara, my love," Kallia whispered. "Oh gods, Yel. I'm so sorry. I-- He's such a bastard for this. But...but I'll take care of you from now on. I'll get us out of here. I don't know how I'll do it, but I will. I'll get us out of here, and we'll be free again. I'll get us away from Dargus Kandran, and we'll be together, just you and me, again."

"For always," Yelara added quietly, calmly. "He betrayed us and something like that can never be forgiven." She disentangled herself from Kallia's embrace and slipped sedately from the bed. Her body moved stiffly and lethargically towards a squealing Leshie, but as she approached his crib the sight of his gleaming blue eyes stopped her short. His father's eyes. Yelara clutched at her chest and giving a tortured scream, she fell to her knees. "Liam Zaneth! You bastard!"

Kallia scrambled from the bed and quickly gathered Yelara into her arms. "Oh gods, my love," she whispered. "Oh Yelara. We'll get through this. We'll get out of this together and we'll go far away. Maybe I can kill Dargus, cut his head off and send his body drifting out into space. And, then we'll be free. We'll take our babies, and go. We'll have our lives back."

Her piteous sobs mingled with those of the children, but hers were by far louder and more prolonged. She'd loved Liam entirely, giving over to him everything she kept sacred and that she'd cherished. He'd vowed to remain with her, and love only her for always, but barely a year and already had he turned to another for comfort. He'd saved her from Dargus Kandran only to hurt her far more than the crimelord ever had, and for that, she hated him.

The door to the chamber slid open silently. Framed in the doorway was Dargus Kandran. "Yelara? Is everything-- Do you want me to come back in a little while?"

"No," she replied thickly. "Just...just a minute." Yelara blinked away the burning tears and the bleariness so she could get one last, long look at Kallia before Dargus took her away. She pressed her hand to Kallia's cheek and smiled for her, to reassure her lover just as she had done for her. "I have to go protect you now," she said softly. "You won't worry about me, will you?"

"Yel," Kallia whispered. "He just gave us time here alone. You don't have to go yet. Stay here with me. A little longer. Stay with me. He said he'd come back in a little while."

"If I stay, I won't be able to leave." Yelara kissed Kallia tenderly. "I'll make him bring me back. Believe that I will. I love you, Kallia. I love you for telling me about Liam, even though you knew how much it would hurt me. I love that you would never lie to me like he did. I love you."

"I love you too, my love," she whispered. "I'll watch over Leshie while you're gone. Don't let him break you down. Stay strong and don't let him get to you."

Yelara smiled warmly at Kallia and embraced her again. "I'll show you how strong I am, Kal. You'll be safe, don't worry." With one last kiss, Yelara reluctantly pulled away and gathered her feet beneath. Once she rose, she stared down lovingly at Kallia, then glanced over at her child, a spawn of Liam Zaneth, and felt nothing but bitter disgust towards him. It sickened her that she could have borne that man a child, but she would not give him another, not ever again.

"Kallia," she said, redirecting her attention to her love. "I'll be back soon." Then she turned and made her way towards her captor, but not as grudgingly as she would have expected. Perhaps she would find warmth in his arms as Liam apparently had in Laedra's.

Once Yelara was at his side, Dargus closed the door. "Is everything alright, Yelara," he asked. "Is there anything I can do? I don't think I've seen you look...look like this. It concerns me."

"I'm sure it does," she replied coldly. "I'm in an emotionally weakened state. You should be able to much better manipulate me now." Her resolve crumbled again, as valiantly as she had tried to keep up a composed front. She looked away from Dargus and choked back a sob. "Let's just-- Just do what you want to me, Dargus. I'm in no mood to fight with you."

Dargus slipped an arm around Yelara's shoulder, and pulled her to him. "I don't want to fight," he whispered. "I don't want to hurt you, Yelara. I want to help however I can." He slipped his arms around her and held her to his chest. "I don't want to manipulate you."

"Then don't," she said quietly. "I don't wanna be hurt again. Please just don't hurt me, Dargus." She brushed her lips across his cheek then gazed up into his liquid black eyes. "Can you love me, Dargus? Can you love me and only me?"

"I've never done it before," he whispered. He felt his stomach lurch. "But I want to. I want to love. I want to love you, Yelara. To have you in my heart... I-- I want to try..."

"Liam wanted that too." Yelara's eyes grew distant and her body stiffened in Dargus' embrace. "He loved me, but I couldn't make him love me enough. I don't know if I can make you love me, Dargus. I think there's something wrong with me. Men like to hurt me so badly." Her eyes once again focused on Dargus', but they radiated no warmth. "Just take me to your bed," she mumbled. "It's just easier that way, less painful."

"Come on," Dargus said quietly and then led her toward his bedroom. It was obvious that she was aware of Liam's dalliances. Most likely that was the cause of her current listlessness. She was hurt, and he was here for her now. He would succeed where Liam Zaneth had failed.

They entered Dargus' extravagant bedroom in silence, and Yelara deep in thought. She wanted to punish Liam for his infidelity by giving herself to Dargus and enjoying it. But, she also wanted to submit to Dargus to gain affirmation that he truly had loved her and it wasn't a mistake to have stayed with him as long as she had. She couldn't decide which she wanted more. "How do you want me?" she asked somberly.

Dargus smiled and trailed kisses from high on her neck out to her shoulder. "I want you on top," Dargus said. "I don't want it like it was before. You're not some sex slave. I want you to be my lover, Yelara. I want us to make love. I don't want to dictate how we are in bed." He moved to the bed and gracefully dropped onto the thick mattress. "I want give and take with you, Yel."

"Really?" Yelara crawled onto the bed and knelt at Dargus' side. "This is new. Should I be suspicious, Dargus Kandran?"

Dargus smiled. "I guess you can be if you want," he said. "But, it won't get you very far. I mean it, Yelara. I want to love you...and...and I think I may already be there. I've never felt this way before. I've never had an overwhelming desire to treat someone nicely unless it served my purposes. But that's different with you. I want to treat you well because I want you to be treated well. I can't explain it."

Yelara gripped the tail of the belt holding Dargus' robe closed and tugged on it. The bow came undone and her hand slipped lightly under the silk fabric to caress his abdomen. "You didn't love me before, did you? You said you did. I believed you then and you lied. How do you expect me to believe you now?"

"I don't know any other way to convince you, Yelara, than to just love you," he said. "What else can I do to prove my love to you? What else will prove that what I say this time is the truth?"

Yelara stared absently at Dargus' nude groin as she spread open his robe. "I don't know. And even if you do prove it, that doesn't mean it will keep you from hurting me in the future. Love is no assurance of that." She chuckled wryly. "I'm beginning to wonder if it even exists at all."

"He hurt you, didn't he?" Dargus asked. "Liam hurt you."

Her hands moved across the flesh of his stomach, but there was little warmth in her touch. She felt stupid and naive for believing Liam, for falling for his promises and vows. She'd been young and too vulnerable, and Liam had taken advantage of that. He preferred old, wiser women, and Laedra seemed to fit into that role perfectly. She hoped at least they were happy, because she was utterly miserable.

"Take off your robe," she ordered in a deadened monotone. "It'll just get in the way."

Dargus did as she commanded and tossed it to the side. Once he was free of the garment, he looked up into her eyes and felt his heart wrench in his chest. What could drive a man to hurt a woman like he saw in Yelara's eyes right now? Perhaps Liam should be punished for hurting Yelara so deeply.

"That's better," she muttered. Her hands caressed his thighs as she brought her lips to his stomach and began trailing kisses down to his groin. Even if Dargus would never love her, she'd willingly be his whore, if only to punish Liam. "You'll send someone around to give his child milk, will you not?"

"Of course," Dargus said. "I'll have one of the other girls take care of him." He saw what was going on. On one level it saddened him, on the other it raised his chances. The child was caught in the middle, but he knew fully what that kind of reminder could do to a person. Yelara wanted no reminders of her ties to Liam. He would be everything he could to her. He slipped a hand down to trace the pattern of her tattoo. "The child will be cared for." He was quiet for a moment, only savouring her touch against his skin. "Will you move into my room here with me?"

She kissed the base of his shaft, then paused to ask, "Will I be able to see Kallia?"

"Yes," he said. "You will have time with her. We'll see what kind of arrangement we can come up with, but yes of course."

"Then I agree." She moved her lips along his hardening shaft and briefly, teasingly wrapped her mouth around the tip. "I've never done this for you before. Do you want me to?"

Dargus looked down into Yelara's eyes. "Yes, please," he whispered.

---

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

Location: Dargus' Cruiser - En route to Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 25, 4ABY

***

Yelara chuckled as her lips hovered above the head of Dargus' penis. She caressed his shaft lightly and studied his face, suddenly amused at their situation. "When did you start begging, Dargus? Do you do it often? Or is this just for my benefit?"

"I've never begged before," he said. "Until now, I've never been in a situation where I've felt a need to even come close to begging. I don't think I could ever for anyone else, anyone but you."

"Touching," she mused before she wrapped her lips around his shaft and pleasured him orally, as he had begged. She felt no shame in the act; she couldn't, not when she was completely numb inside. Liam did this to her, and she would never forgive him for it. Perhaps if she satisfied Dargus sufficiently, he would punish Liam for her while she watched. As much as she resented him, Yelara couldn't deny that she did still love him, and the tears that dribbled down her cheeks now evidenced that for her.

Dargus sensed Yelara's despair, but his attempts to console her kept getting interrupted by her amazing talent. He used his hands to caress and touch as he could, but other than that all he could think about was the feelings she was causing in him. He could hear his own moans and his noises of pleasure. Before long however, she managed to bring cries past his lips as he gave himself over to her.

Yelara silenced the choked sobs in her throat and mentally cursed Liam for forcing her to demean herself in this way, for bringing her to perform this disgraceful act for a man she didn't love, but who she wanted to just to spite her cheating husband.

She pulled her lips away from Dargus' erection and climbed onto his waist. Breathing heavily and gazing down at him, she gripped his shaft from behind, prepared to ease it inside of her, but hesitated. She was without contraceptives and hadn't been keeping track of her cycle. The greatest torment she could inflict upon Liam was giving Dargus Kandran a child, and loving it as she refused to love his. With a feral smile, Yelara slid Dargus' penis inside of her and began swaying against him.

Dargus moaned as Yelara moved against him. He could feel passion in her movements, a wild need and desire. The touch made his blood boil. He'd forgotten just how good they were together, especially when Yelara gave herself to him willingly. That's the only way he wanted her now. He didn't want to take. He wanted her to give, and he would do the same. He would give her everything she could ever dream of, no matter the cost.

Yelara gripped Dargus' shoulders and threw her head back in an abrupt cry, then writhed against him more quickly and with greater intensity. Sweat beaded up on her forehead and trickled down the sides of her face. She licked at the salty secretion and moaned with a desire to feed from Dargus' lips too, to taste him as she had, at one time, done to Liam. Their lips touched and Yelara kissed him ravenously, desperate to erase anything that lingered of Liam upon her mouth and tongue from their last kiss that day in the spaceport. That too had been a lie, for it was a seal to his promise of return, but he had never planned to join them on Corellia.

She tore her lips from Dargus' and cried out again, but a guttural, frustrated cry that unsettled her. How could she feel such despair over the loss of a man who had betrayed her? Why did she pine for him, and how could she hate him at the same time as she missed him? She was confused and hurt, and was turning to her husband's nemesis for comfort. Yelara truly was lost.

There was a disjointedness in Yelara's movements, but they still moved very well together. His hands rested on her hips, guiding her movements. With her head thrown back, he needed something to do with his mouth, so he leaned forward to suckle from her breasts, pausing to trace the pattern of her new tattoo with his tongue. He cried out and knew that his climax was fast approaching. Their pace was frenetic and there was no attempt to make this time last. They would have plenty of time for that later.

Her nails dug harder into Dargus' shoulders and as he worked his lips over her breasts, she became reminded of the first time they were together. She'd been on top then too, but he had still been in control then. Now, there was a mutual need and both took what they desired without he struggling to subjugate her and she resisting him. They were both desperate for something and together, they would receive what they craved.

Yelara emitted a reverberant groan and lowered her eyes to Dargus'. The smile on his face was indication enough of her success in pleasuring him; he had what he wanted this time, and now she wanted satisfaction in return. "Say it," she whispered hoarsely. "Tell me you love me, Dargus." She drove her hips harder into his and gritted her teeth. "Say it to me. Do it."

He pulled her down and kissed her with a greater need than he'd ever felt before. When the kiss broke, their faces were centimeters apart. He held her gaze with his. "I love you," he said. "Oh gods, Yelara. I love you. I never thought I could feel it for someone, but oh gods, I love you. I need you. I love you."

Yelara was on the verge of shooting off a sardonic, skeptical reply, but the softness of Dargus' harshly black eyes and the gentle tone of his voice caught her off guard. She believed him, just as she had the first time. This time, however, she knew he was sincere - she hoped.

Yelara pressed her lips tightly to his again and cried out into his mouth as her climax hit. Her arms tightened around his neck as she pulled herself firmly against him. The muscles in her body stiffened from the intense ecstasy coursing through her, overloading her senses. She pulled her mouth away from his and took in a deep, staggering breath before crying out his name.

Spent and exhausted, emotionally and physically, Yelara collapsed atop Dargus and wept soundlessly. He loved her. That's all she'd ever wanted from him and now she had it. Yet, she wasn't fulfilled. How could she be when the first man she'd ever loved was with another? "Say it again," she pleaded quietly. "Say you love me again, Dargus."

Dargus pulled her into a tender embrace and then kissed her gently. "I love you, Yelara," he said. "And, I'll say it as loud and as often as you wish. I never thought it would happen to me, that I would ever feel this for someone, but with you, I do." He kissed her again. "I love you, Yelara, truly and passionately."

She closed her eyes and consequently forced out more tears that ran down her cheeks and splattered onto his chest. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for coming for me, for bringing me here. I have to be here with you now, Dargus. Thank you."

"If I couldn't do anything to help you, I would hate myself for it. I only hope my love, my embrace, and whatever release from your thoughts I can give you is enough," he said. "As much time as you want to spend with me, it's okay. And, you won't have to worry about any others. From now on, you're the only one for me. Even if I were with someone else, yours would be the body, kisses, and cries I'd want."

Yelara's violet eyes opened and gazed into Dargus'. "You mean that? I asked it of you so long ago, but you refused. Now you're offering?" She framed his face with her hands and studied his inscrutable black eyes. "Do you really love me that much? What about Kallia? Will you love her too?"

"I don't know," Dargus said. "I care for her. She is important to me, very important. She's the mother of my daughter. I don't know if I can feel for her as I feel for you. You asked this of me before and I refused. Now, without you asking, I want to do this. I want to prove to you I love you, Yelara. I want you to know." He cupped her face in his hands. "I don't need anyone else but you."

Unlike Liam, Yelara told herself. She hadn't been enough for him. She'd given him her soul, a child, everything she was, and still he craved more, which he now received from another. Yelara pressed her cheek to Dargus' hand and smiled, one filled with warmth she had never felt towards Dargus before. "I remember a time when you offered to make me your alpha, the first among all your women." She turned her lips into his hand and kissed his palm tenderly before replacing her cheek into it. "Is it too late to accept?"

Dargus smiled, and then leaned in to kiss her before responding. "It's not too late at all," he said. "However, it's hard to be first among them when you are my only. But, I want you with me, Yelara. I want you to share my bed, my love, and my life. I want to make up for all the hurt I've given you. I want to make up for the time we've been apart. I accept you as my alpha, as my only woman."

"Then release Kallia." Yelara sat upright upon Dargus' waist and slowly began swaying against him again. "You won't need her if I'm your alpha. Let her and the children go."

Dargus moaned and closed his eyes. "I've really missed you, Yelara," he said. "And, done. I'll have a ship return them to Tae'Karada immediately. They will be free." He shifted his gaze up to her eyes. "The other women I have here. Does their presence bother you or should I send them away as well? Say the word and I shall. Otherwise, their job functions shall change. They'll just be slaves who are here to make our lives better."

"I could use some servants to wait upon me." She smoothed her hands over his chest and sighed contentedly. "Keep the women, but Kallia gets to go home. I love her. She doesn't deserve to be locked away all day and night. Besides, I think there's a recorded message I would like to make and get to Liam, and she's the only one who can deliver it personally."

Dargus smiled. "Consider it done," he said. "I don't like the thought of sending my daughter away, but for you, and for Kallia, I can deal with it. If you'd like, you can select a few of the women as your personal servants."

"Later," she murmured. She moaned at the sensation of Dargus' increasing hardness within her, once again filling her. "For now, you shall make love to me, my lord, then we have much to discuss about our future together."

"As you command, my lady," Dargus said as he started moving with the rhythm she had found. How was it that they could move so well together? "I do have a long-term plan that I'd like to implement as soon as I can get Tarkin's forces off of Tae'Karada. How would you like to be an empress, Yelara?"

"Your empress?" Yelara looked down at Dargus and laughed. "As long as I can help rule."

"Of course," he said. "I don't think you would be happy otherwise. Speaking of happiness. I'll have someone available to you to fashion a new wardrobe. And, you'll need to meet with one of the medical staff about the contraception."

"Not going to force your empress to give you an heir?" Yelara stifled a cry as Dargus' hips jerked upwards. Once the sharp peak of pleasure subsided, she let out a steady breath and continued. "I haven't decided if I want to give you one yet. But to spite Liam, perhaps I will. I have to think about that."

"I would love for you to give me an heir," Dargus said breathlessly. "But I won't force you. More than an heir, it would be our baby, Yelara. Yours and mine. Which would definitely spite Liam for what he did to you. I'm sure that would really hurt to know you fathered a child with his greatest nemesis. If you really want to send him a message, we can also record ourselves here for Kallia to deliver to him."

"You're evil, Dargus." She leaned forward and kissed him fervently. "For once," she whispered, "it actually doesn't bother me."

"We'll have to make sure that he knows that you're coming to me willingly, that I'm not taking you against your will. I think if you tie me up, that will clearly get that idea across." His eyes flashed as he grinned. "How does that sound?"

Yelara dragged her nails lightly over Dargus' chest, then again, harder. "I think you're brilliant, my lord. We can try that later tonight, once we're both well rested. It would make for a more lively, realistic performance."

"Oh yes," he moaned. "You know, I think we go together. You and I compliment each other very well, my love. Liam will be beside himself. I know he doesn't like me, and I don't like him. But, this is his own fault. He shouldn't have done what he did. He should have held on tighter. But, I am grateful to him for giving me a second chance with you. I thank him for the chance to love you like you deserve to be loved."

"Shouldn't have done what he did?" Yelara's pace slackened slightly as she searched Dargus face with a questioning gaze. "What did he do, Dargus? I never did mention that." She leaned forward, bringing her face closer to his, but her body still writhed against his. "You knew, didn't you? You've always known, but why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you use it to lure me away from Liam? Or had you simply not had enough time?"

"I knew," Dargus said, "but I hadn't found a way to tell you. I didn't want you to hate me for telling you about it. I didn't want you to not believe me and think I was just trying to deceive you. I didn't want to hurt you like that. There are so many reasons. The biggest among them is how do I tell you that the man you married, that you had a child with, that you have given yourself fully to is with another woman behind your back? I may be an evil man. I may have a dark and seedy past. But, I have always cared for you, and now I can fully admit that I love you. How could I do that to you?"

Yelara looked away, then back to Dargus and kissed him gently. "I would have hated you if you'd told me," she admitted. "I would have thought it a ploy to turn me against Liam. You were right not to tell me. We wouldn't be at this point right now if you had."

"I like this point," Dargus said with a smile. "I don't have very much information on them. But, I do have spaceport footage of them together. They left the system together. Normally I would say that there isn't much to it, but there are certain characteristics in body language that give things away. They're far too comfortable physically together. I can make any of the information available to you, if you'd like. I'm so sorry, Yelara."

"No, you're not." She grinned at Dargus and stroked his cheek tenderly. "But I would like to see this footage. I have to see for myself if it's true, although I've no doubt it is. I've always suspected. I just didn't think Liam could--" She chewed on her lip to suppress the tears. It wasn't her fault she still loved the man she'd married, the man she'd vowed to be with for always. It might have been weakness, but she couldn't help how she still felt for him. Yelara pulled out of Dargus, breaking the pleasurable link between them, and slid onto her stomach atop the mattress. "Make me forget him for now, Dargus. Tomorrow, we can plot his demise, but for now, I want to feel your love for me."

"I hope you want to feel my love for you for longer than just now," Dargus said with a smile as he moved into position and slowly slid himself inside her again. "I was kind of hoping for always." He worked his way up to a fast rhythm, one to banish thoughts of things like Liam Zaneth's infidelity. For now it would just be them. He would give her all his love, and together they would make Liam sorry for what he'd done. They would talk about Liam later. This was their time.

---