"Sneaking Off"
Dargus Kandran, Crimelord
Elisia Melouet, Jedi Padawan

Location: Arcadia
Date: Selene 28, 3 ABY

***

Elisia spent the next two days working very hard. If she buried herself in her lessons, she did not have to think. While the experience had robbed Elisia of some of the youthful innocence that had surrounded her, it had created some beneficial effects as well. She had been able to sense the fork on the first try and now could reach out with her mind to any object. She did not yet have the control to lift them easily, but she could touch them, feel them and move them. Her time in meditation had been more difficult. However, this morning, she had remembered part of her day with Dargus. He had given her a piece of her planet. She wanted it.

But how to get it? Kace would not let her out of his sight. Finally, she came up with a plan. She waited till Kace fell asleep. It had taken forever because he was waiting for her to sleep it seemed as well. Finally, she had been able to slip from the apartment. She would have used the vid in their quarters, but Kace had stuck a saber through it. She found one of the station phones and paid the attendant for its use. She put a call in for Dargus. She informed the surly operator of her name and the fact that Kandran would take her call.

"Good evening, Princess," the smug, effusively pleasant voice answered. "Isn't this a pleasure."

"For you maybe, I don't have a lot of time. The other day in New Plouton you gave me a necklace. I would like it," she said quietly.

He frowned. He hadn't expected her to remember that. But, his voice didn't betray his surprise. "And the rock too, dear girl?"

"Yes!" she said. "I think under the circumstances, that some recompense might be in order. At least give me back what you gave in the first place."

"Of course, Elisia," he replied. "I only want to help you, to be your friend. I'll do whatever I can to make you see that."

"Don't drug me would be a good first step," she snapped. "I don't know when I can get away again. Can you bring it to me?"

"Oh, I don't think so, dear," Dargus said with a chuckle. "I don't relish having to explain to Kace Mordin why I saw you alone."

She sighed. She couldn't leave the station. Kace would feel it instantly. "Then how am I to get it?" she asked finally.

Dargus sighed, sounding as if he was making the ultimate sacrifice for her. "Well...if you promise me Kace will not hear of this, I can bring it to you at a predetermined location. But only if you promise no harm will come to me."

"I can't promise that." She sighed. "He is not happy with you and to be honest, neither am I," she said with blunt truthfulness.

"Oh? And why is that?" Dargus asked.

"Don't play stupid, Dargus. It doesn't become you," she said. She could tell by the sound of his voice that he knew what she was talking about.

"Dear Elisia," he drawled. "You kissed me first, my little darling. Don't you recall?"

"I didn't know what I was doing and you know it, " she said firmly. "And what about at the bazaar? I suppose you know nothing of that?"

"The bazaar?" His voice sounded perfectly confused. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Right, whatever, can you just send it to me? Someplace I can pick it up at my convenience?" she asked quietly. Her eyes had hardened as she had mentioned the bazaar.

"Elisia," he told her, his voice low, mesmerizing, "I can give you much more than the necklace. Wouldn't you like more power than you've ever dreamed of?"

"If I want your power, you will be the first to know. Tell me where to get my necklace," she said coldly.

"I'll give you the necklace," he assured. "Just let me meet you, Elisia. Just this once. Let me just speak to you and if you decide you never wish to speak to me again, I will abide by your wishes. Just this once. Please."

Elisia thought of all that Kace had told her. She thought of the damage she had done in the warehouse. "I can't get away that long without Kace knowing," she finally admitted.

Dargus sighed. "So be it... I will have your necklace delivered to you then. Just remember...I can make you a powerful woman...if you would just let me."

"All things in time, Kandran," she said firmly. "But sending me the necklace, no strings would be a good first step towards trusting you," she said quietly.

"If you would just let me show you the power you can behold, there would be no question of trust, Elisia. I can offer you the entire world if you would just have some faith. Think about it."

"There is just one problem with that. I don't share," Elisia said quietly. "Think about that!" She turned off the vid com.

True to his word. Dargus sent the necklace. Kace was out when she signed for it. She slipped it around her neck, comforted to have a piece of home. It was the first piece she had a memory of even touching.

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