"A Friendly Bet, Part 1"
by Kallia Brael
Liam Zaneth
Yelara Zaneth
Kael Selrid
Oot Kovan
Kambra Gant [NPC]

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

Kallia watched with a slight smile on her face as Yelara fed Va'Lesh. She looked so content while he suckled at her breast, so radiant as their eyes met and they shared the bond of motherhood. She knew it scared both of them, but they'd get through this together. She imagined it wouldn't be easy, but they could at least learn how to raise their children together. And, she already had three months of practice with Yara.

Liam sat on the bed next to Yel with a hand slipped into one of hers. They looked so happy together, and so unaware of what lay ahead of them. Damn, she thought. Just stay away. She quickly brushed the darkling thoughts away and smiled. "You're taking to that like a mother of three months."

"Well it's not exactly difficult," Yelara replied. "I just thrust out my breast to him and he just lets pure male instinct guide his actions." She glanced at Liam with a loving smile and teased, "Just like his father and becoming so more and more each day."

"Just be glad Leshie doesn't have any teeth," Kal said with a grin. "Liam bit me last night. It was still sore this morning when I fed Yara. Fortunately she was content with the other nipple."

Liam laughed. "Well, you were the one who scratched me first. You should see my back."

Kallia just shook her head and laughed. "I don't even have the fingernails for that. Tell him, Yel. Tell him I don't have the fingernails to scratch like that."

Yelara lifted Kallia's hand and examined her fingertips. She glanced back at Liam with a smile. "Sorry...she's right. Those things have been worn down to nubs. You'll need better justification than that, Liam."

Liam just laughed. "I guess I got carried away," he said. "But, it's her fault for putting her nipple in my mouth in the first place. Besides, your nipples were all tired from Leshie. You know us men and our need for nipples. And, speaking of nipples, we should contact Oot today."

Yelara emitted a surprised laugh and playfully slapped Liam in the arm. "And I would like to know how Oot and nipples are even remotely related in your mind. I'm beginning to think you've reverted to the sex fiend you were so quick to label Kal and I at one time."

Liam laughed. "She's a woman," he said. "I'm sure she's got nipples. I'm not very familiar with Twi'lek anatomy, but I'm still sure she's got them. But, honestly, nipples really didn't figure into my thinking of Oot, but I figured it was a good tension breaking segue."

"Certainly," Yelara replied skeptically. "At any rate, I think Oot would be delighted to hear that I'm finally able to work for her again. I imagine I should probably get right on it now." She looked down into Leshie's sparkling blue eyes and said playfully, "Sorry, my dear, but mommy needs to build some high tech surveillance device for the local crimelord. You'll have to borrow someone else's nipples."

Liam smiled as his son gurgled happily. "How could I ever look at another woman's nipples when I've got those? Of course, my son is monopolizing them now, so I've had to make do with my wife's lover's nipples, but how could I ever?" He looked up at Yel and grinned. "Well, how about Kallia goes and makes sure Nieme has things under control with breakfast, and you and I can contact Oot about the progress with the surveillance?"

Yelara nodded in agreement and held Va'Lesh to her chest to rub his back soothingly. "Oh, and Kallia...make sure they don't make me anymore of that carbosyrup glazed Hojet. I just can't seem to stomach the stuff anymore."

Kallia laughed. "I noticed that last night at dinner when it all came back up and then over the floor. I've seen Nieme look pretty scared, but I don't think she's ever looked that scared. I think we got her to understand that it wasn't her cooking, just that you can't handle the carbosyrup anymore. Though, I don't think Liam's over the whole vat of that we have in the kitchen. I don't think we'll ever be able to get rid of all that."

"Well...I don't care what you do with it, just keep it out of my sight!" Yelara laughed as Leshie belched softly. "Like I said...more and more like you everyday, Liam."

"Tomorrow I'm going to teach him volume," Liam said. "By tomorrow night, I don't care where you are in this temple, you'll know when my son's finished his meal. That's my boy." Liam stuck a finger up toward Leshie's mouth, and the infant quickly closed his lips around it. He laughed softly as Leshie gummed at his knuckle. "He's a special boy."

"I know," Yelara said softly. She smiled at Liam and once again felt the overpowering joy that consumed her each time she held their son. "Let's contact Oot now so we can spend more quiet time with Leshie."

Kallia slipped from the room while Liam helped Yelara settle her clothing. Together, they left the main bedroom and entered the small office adjacent to it. A small desk was pushed against one wall, and on that sat a holographic communications suite. He led the way into the office with Yelara and Leshie following behind. "According to the information I have, we shouldn't have much difficulty in contacting her. With the data we're gathering, she mentioned in her last communication that she's keeping her fleet closer to Tae'Karada. I just hope she stays out of Imperial sensor range." He looked over at Yel and smiled. "Ready to show off our son?"

"My love, of course! He's going to be the most handsome child on Tae'Karada." She gently smoothed her hand over Leshie's head and laughed. "Look at that...look at how it picks up the light. I imagine his hair will be as red as my mother's was."

"Red hair and blue eyes," Liam said. "He's definitely going to stand out around here. And, with your looks, we're going to have to fight off the women. Well, the girls. He'll have to fight off the women himself. Though, given our appetites for things of that sort, we'll probably have to watch him carefully. When the lines start forming outside his bedroom, we know we have trouble." He looked down at Leshie who just looked up at him and made a burbling noise. "You're going to send girls and women swooning with your dashing good looks, aren't you?"

"Don't start getting jealous now, Liam. He may outcompete you eventually, but you'll still have Kallia and I...as well as Dani, it would appear." Yelara tried to conceal her grimace with a smile. "She's been very friendly with you lately. And I also notice she's taken to wearing her equadi...a lot."

"You noticed that too? She even showed up for training in it. And, made sure she was very close to me for our warm-up exercises. I have no idea what I should do. I guess I could talk to her."

"Well...I guess it's alright as long as it's harmless. And as long as your heart is securely mine...and Leshie's too." Momentary concerns of threat vanished as Yelara kissed Liam tenderly. She shifted Leshie to her other arm and nodded to the holovid. "Now for Oot. I always enjoy hearing people praise Leshie...even though he's too young to really appreciate it. I guess we'll just have to appreciate it for him, won't we, my little soul?" Yelara nuzzled Leshie's nose with hers and continued to coo at him in unintelligible gibberish.

As Liam started preparing the communications array, he glanced at Yelara and grinned. "So, have you thought about what you're going to do with all the attention Kael's been lavishing on you lately?"

Yelara stopped in mid-fawning and glanced at Liam with a wry smile. "He's only paying so much attention to me because of the baby. Do you blame him? Who wouldn't want to steal of peek of our precious boy?"

"Well, I guess we can't blame him for that," Liam said. "Though, it seems like he pays particular attention when it's time to feed Leshie. I don't think me and our son are the only ones attracted to those lovely nipples of yours."

Yelara sighed impatiently at Liam and pursed her lips tightly. "Like I said...he's only admiring the baby." She grumbled and held Leshie close to spare him witnessing her display of irritation. "Just get Oot on the comm, will you? We can discuss the matter of the lusting padawans after we deliver the news."

Liam laughed. "Put on a big smile, because we're going to be seeing Oot right about--" He tapped at a couple more buttons on the console, and the screen resolved itself into Oot's smiling face. "--Now."

"Liam. Yelara. It's so good to see you. Oh...oh my...oh, Yelara-- Is that--? Oh, I have to get Kambra!"

Yelara moved closer to Liam with Leshie resting in her arms and facing the empty screen that had held Oot's face for only a brief moment. She grinned expectantly, waiting for Oot and Kambra to come to the screen and dote over their new child. She shifted her eyes sideways to Liam and said between clenched teeth, "I only hope she doesn't send us carbosyrup as a birthday gift for Leshie."

"We'll deal with it," Liam said softly. "We've still got that thousand kiloliter vat you made me buy when we got here. We'll have to use it as fertilizer or something."

"Oh! A baby! Mesa so happy for you, Yelara! Mesa ecstatic! Oh! Isn't yousa the cute one! The baby has your eyes, Liam. Dat for sure! Kambra very happy for you! Very happy!"

Oot laughed as she looked at the baby. "He's quite adorable, Yelara. I think we're going to have to arrange a visit, if it isn't too much of an inconvenience."

Yelara's eyes flickered to Liam, but she hoped the reaction was subtle enough that Oot wouldn't notice. She didn't think Liam would appreciate an outsider knowing of the Temple's location, even if it was Oot. "We...we'd love for you to come see the baby! We'd have to get the apartment tidied up for your arrival but... Just tell us when and... That'd be wonderful!"

"Very well," Oot said. "I think our schedule will allow it within the next couple weeks. Now that we have seen him, I do hope you've given him a good name. A good child does need a good name."

"Actually, Liam came up with the name." She gazed down at Leshie with pride gleaming from her smile and said reverently, "His name is Va'Lesh. It's from the Old Corellian tongue." She glanced up at Liam and added quietly, "It means 'freedom.'"

Oot nodded. "I recognize the word," she said with a warm smile. "It is very appropriate. I am happy for both of you. I cannot think of two people more deserving to have such joy in their lives. And, two people who do such fine work. There are moments, Yelara, when I wonder if you made that device too well. There are things that I am finding out that I wonder if I should know them."

"It's nothing too troubling, I hope." Yelara looked down at Va'Lesh for a moment, envying his innocence and obliviousness to the pugnacity of the world he had been born into. An instinctive protectiveness was immediately called up in Yelara, and she embraced her child tightly. "If there's anything you need us to do, Oot, you know we're here for you."

"As long as your device keeps working, that's good for me," she said. "And, it's nothing troubling. Just, I'm learning more about Zale Tregat's sexual appetite than I'd hoped to." Oot smiled. "Though, his habits have shown me a number of exploitable holes in his organization that'll come in handy for me. I won't bore you with the details though. You are looking remarkably well. I look forward to spending more time with you and hearing all about Va'Lesh's exploits around your home. I hope you still have room there for a gift from a friend."

Oh gods, not the carbosyrup. "A gift?" Yelara raised her brow at Liam, then looked to Oot with a smile masking her apprehension. "Really, Oot, a gift isn't necessary. Liam's already spoiling the boy!"

"A child never has enough toys," Oot said with a smile. "And, I know of a few of my favourites from growing up on Ryloth. He's probably too young for sweets yet, or else I'd spoil him with those too. Though, perhaps his parents..."

"No sweets!" Yelara blurted out impulsively. Oot's face flashed with surprise and Yelara immediately corrected herself with a smile. "I mean...I'm making a conscious effort to regain my trim figure and I've a fond weakness for anything sweet." Yelara had to swallow the sickening taste of carbosyrup that rose in her throat as she uttered that final word, the one that summed up in full an accurate description of the saccharin sludge. "If you'd like to give Leshie a gift, I think that would be fine. You'd be his favourite auntie...you and Kambra both!"

"Mesa no auntie," Kambra said. "Mesa be favourite unco! Unco Kambra!"

Oot smiled. "No sweets, but we'll bring the gifts along when visit. We should probably get back to things here. We'll have plenty of time to visit soon."

"You have the frequency of Liam's personal comlink, right? You can contact us if ever you need our assistance. I would really like to get my hands into some technical work...if you need anything special." She laughed softly as Leshie burbled then yawned his tiny mouth. She held him up closer to the screen to give Oot and Kambra a better view. "Say goodbye to Auntie Oot and Uncle Kambra, my love."

Both Oot and Kambra laughed and waved at the baby. "We'll let you know if we have any other projects. I'm sure there is something that will be perfect for your talents."

Liam grinned. "Please, whatever you can have for her. I need something to keep her out of trouble when she's not taking care of Leshie." At Yelara's glare, he held up his hands defensively. "It was good to see you two again. We'll see you again soon." He slipped an arm around Yelara and kissed the side of her head while she made faces at their son.

"It is good to see you happy," Oot said. "Now, you must stay that way. We'll have to check on you often to make sure you are still happy."

"I plan on staying this way for a long while, so don't you worry about that." Yelara wrapped her fingers around Leshie's small, delicate wrist and waved his curled up hand at Oot and Kambra. "Be safe, you two."

With a final wave from the holographic representations of Oot and Kambra, and promises that they would stay safe, their images fizzled into nothingness.

Once they had disappeared, Liam gave kisses to both Yelara and Leshie and slipped his arms around Yel and just held her. "I don't think I've ever felt this content in my life. Almost as if things are normal. I know they're hardly normal. We're on a planet run by the Empire while secretly building a new Jedi order, but it certainly feels...good."

"Maybe it just feels that way because you've got your hands on my rear, Liam." Yelara laughed softly and pressed her cheek to Liam's. They swayed gently in each other's arms as if their joy had transformed itself into a sweet melody. Leshie lay cradled in her arms, which were seemingly moulded to his tiny frame. She kissed Liam tenderly upon the cheek and sighed quietly in his ear. "I love you, Liam Zaneth. I never would have found happiness if you hadn't walked into my life...or onto my flight deck."

Liam kissed Yel and laughed. "I think we'll have to find all those former workers of yours. If they hadn't tried to make me pay ten times the going repair rate, we may not have ever met. Though, I think they're all gone now. I killed most of them when they attacked me, and then that one guy disappeared off the station."

Yelara stiffened at recollection of Gin Toran and the torture he'd inflicted upon her. She remembered the blood, the scars, then Kallia making love to her for the first time. It was both the best and most traumatizing day she'd ever experienced. "I think we should hold off on the reunion." She managed a smile for Liam, then moved to his side and wedged herself under his arm. "Let's just go eat breakfast then we can start decorating the baby's room."

The sudden feelings Liam caught through the bond he shared with Yelara told him there was something about those men that still haunted her. He wouldn't pursue it now, but later they would have to talk it out. "I think that Nieme would have happily made a carbosyrup-free breakfast. I think when she first realized she was supposed to cook with it, she looked quite scandalized."

"Well, I can't believe I actually engorged that sludge. I'm surprised my teeth haven't rotted by now." Yelara walked with Liam by her side and holding her in a tender embrace. They headed toward the dining hall with Leshie still in her arms. "I should probably put him down with Yara. He looks like he's getting groggy."

"Well, he did have quite a meal before the call to Oot," Liam said. "Besides, I think Yara and Lesh need to spend more time together if they're going to be best friends. I just hope Dani's wearing something other than that equadi. There's just so much purple nakedness in the form of a nymphette that I can handle."

"Has she worn anything other than the equadi since we got back, Liam? Don't worry. If she does wear it, just gaze into your wife's...oh wait, there's purple there too. Sorry, can't help you, Liam." Rational thinking assured Yelara that Dani's attentions were merely the result of infatuation, but she couldn't deny that she was worried past events would repeat themselves. Yet, through their bond, Yelara knew Liam's heart was firmly hers and no matter how prone to his masculine urges he might have been, he wouldn't take that step again...she hoped.

As they passed down the corridor, Yelara and Liam stopped by Kallia's room to lay Leshie to rest in the carrier Kallia had surprised them with. He fell asleep the moment his head hit the soft pillow and they stepped lightly from the room so as not to wake him again. Over the past two days, Yelara had learned that getting Leshie to sleep was more of struggle than she'd thought it would have been, so these moments when sleep came easily to him were rare ones not to be intruded upon. Yelara slipped her arm around Liam's waist and rested her weary head upon his shoulder. "So, what do you have planned for today?"

"I'd like to swing into the city for some more supplies," Liam said. "And, Nieme's been asking to go in for some ingredients to this new recipe she's come up with. So, I imagine I'll head in with the three of them, since they seem inseparable these days, get the supplies, and then come back for some more training with them. After the training, I was thinking of spending some quality time with my wife who is really getting her figure back quickly."

"Stop it, Liam," she said with a smile. "It's only been two days. It'll be a while before I can squeeze into my leather comfortably again. I could go for very long walks through the forest to speed things along. And maybe Kael can serve as my escort," she added mischievously.

"Oh really? Well, if he doesn't fall over his own two feet while clearing any obstacles out of your way, I'm sure it will be a very pleasant walk. Perhaps when I go into the city, I can take Nieme and Dani, and leave Kael here to help you...with walking."

"Well, as long as Dani and Nieme are only helping you replenish supplies, I think that would be a wonderful idea." Yelara jabbed Liam in the stomach and rushed ahead of him towards the dining area. "And maybe I'll wear something tight and leathery. Maybe I won't wear anything at all!"

"Flirt!" Liam called after her while he followed. "You wouldn't be satisfied anyway! You know I'm the only man who could ever make you scream like that. I don't think he'd even know what to do with you!"

"We'll see about that, now won't we?" Yelara giggled and fled into the dining area with a squeal. She saw Liam following quickly after her and rounded the table to elude him. Her eyes caught a bottle filled with carbosyrup and, laughing wickedly, she took it up in her hand. "Keep away or I'll find a new use for this carbosyrup. Did you manage to get it out of your hair after all?"

"Don't forget what happened last night with the carbosyrup," Liam said, his taunts punctuated with laughter. "All that sweetness and goopiness, running over...your hand. Oh, and that smell. Carbosyrup definitely has that distinctive smell, doesn't it? Mmmm."

Yelara's stomach began churning and she felt her mouth filling with the acrid taste of her newfound hatred for carbosyrup. She covered her mouth with her free hand as she remembered the overly sweet smell of the thick liquid, which was soon accompanied by recollection of its taste that seemed permanently absorbed into her tongue. She shook her head in a pleading gesture to Liam, begging him to stop before she made a visible display of her dislike for carbosyrup. "I'm gonna be sick," she said in a muffled voice.

Liam quickly shut up, and used the Force to pull the bottle of carbosyrup from her grip before she dropped it and the situation became much worse. He stepped forward slowly, after setting the carbosyrup on the small table near the door. "I'm sorry, Yel," he said, his voice filled with genuine sincerity. "I knew it affected you, but I didn't realize it was this bad. I won't use carbosyrup as a weapon anymore...as long as you don't."

She took a deep breath and glanced at Liam with a sour smile. "Fine...truce. I'll just have to find something else to torture you with." As the words left her mouth, Dani and Kael walked into the room, which brought a mischievous smile to Yelara's face. "Yes...something else indeed," she said as she fixed her gaze on Kael, then shifted it back to Liam.

"You wouldn't dare," Liam said as he glanced at the two unsuspecting Padawans. Of course, Dani was wearing her equadi again, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. "If you do that, you know what I'll have to do in response..."

She gasped and playfully scowled at Liam. She moved from behind the table and keeping her eyes on Liam, she moved towards the two padawans. "Good morning, Dani." She swept her gaze past Dani and fixed her eyes on Kael. With a sultry smile, she greeted him. "And you look like you're doing very well this morning, Kael. Very well indeed..."

Kael nearly stumbled. "Thank you, Yelara," he said with a smile. "You're looking...oh very nice yourself. I think since the baby was born, you're starting to get back into a very nice shape...I mean, you're getting back into shape nicely."

Yelara smiled proudly at her minor triumph and glanced back at Liam momentarily. "I'm making an active effort to get back to my original form." She gave Kael a lopsided smile and took a step closer. "I was actually thinking about going for a walk in the forest today. Liam's going to be busy so I thought...maybe you'd like to accompany me."

"M-m-me? Uh, s-sure." Kael suddenly grinned. "Sure. I'd love to accompany you, Yelara. I think it would be very nice. Dani, Nieme and I have been spending some time out there, so I'm getting to know my way around. There's a really nice waterfall, and a lake. Oh, and lots of places to walk. I'll go with you. It'll be great!"

"Good! After breakfast, I'll go and change and then we can get on our way." She ran a hand along Kael's arm and held his gaze for a long while before laughing softly and moving back towards the table. As she passed Liam she whispered to him, "Beat that, Mr. Jedi Master."

---

"A Friendly Bet, Part 2"
by Kallia Brael
Liam Zaneth
Yelara Zaneth
Kael Selrid
Dani
and Nieme Yaresh-Selrid

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

Liam grinned. "I shall," he said, and then stepped over to where Dani was setting out the place settings. "Good morning, Dani."

Dani turned and her eyes brightened when she saw Liam there. "Good morning, Liam," she said, a slight purr in her voice. "You're looking pretty amazing today. But, I've always had a weakness for leather. Though, I am really beginning to like the fabric this dress is made out of."

"I don't think anyone could wear an equadi quite the way you do," Liam said. "Very few women have the bodies or the confidence to wear the dress so comfortably." He met her eyes and for a moment, thought she was going to rush into his arms.

"Thank you," she said. "I get compliments often, but they're seldom as sincere as yours."

Liam smiled. "On the way into the city today, it'll just be me, you, and Nieme. Kael's going to be staying behind to...help Yelara with some things. If you don't mind, I'd like for you to sit up in front of the speeder with me and we can talk about your training."

Dani nodded slowly. "That would be good. I'd like that very much."

"Me too," Liam said as he held her gaze.

Without thinking, Dani reached up and brushed a hand over his chest. "I look forward to it, Liam," she said. "Nieme and I will be ready to leave right after breakfast."

"Good," Liam said, and then brushed a hand across the bare skin of one of her arms. He could feel her trembling through the touch. "You do look very beautiful in that dress...I just wanted to...let you know." With that, he slipped away and back to where Yelara was sitting. "Beaten."

She smiled at him sardonically and folded her arms across her chest. She pouted stubbornly at Liam and as Kael entered her field of view, she sat up straight and called out to him. "Why don't you sit by me, Kael? We can plan out our day together." She pulled out the chair next to her and patted the seat. "Sit. We have much to talk about."

Kael glanced between Yelara and Liam and felt the blood drain from his face. "Sure," he said slowly, and cautiously approached.

Once Kael was close enough, Yelara placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him down into the seat. She patted him on the knee as he settled into place, but neglected intentionally to remove her hand from his leg. "I really am looking forward to that walk, you know. The two of us, all alone in the forest..." Her hand slid higher along his thigh and she leaned in closer. "It would give us a chance to get to know one another a lot better."

Kael brushed his hand over Yelara's and shifted his eyes to hers. "I'd like that a lot," he said slowly. He shifted his hand over to her thigh and smiled. "I know some very nice...secluded places we can go to."

Yelara grinned, hoping Liam was witnessing her success and her triumph. "I bet you could show me a lot more than that," she said allusively. "I bet I could show you a lot too."

Kael's eyes shifted to Liam who seemed to be watching them, but unphased by what was happening. "I'd like that," he said as he looked back at Yelara. "I'd like to find out what we can show each other." He let his hand drift higher up her thigh as his desire seemed to burn even hotter. "We've developed some special...techniques in the desert that you might find to your liking..."

Yelara's face drifted closer to Kael's and she said in a sultry whisper, "I imagine I'd them very much--"

"B-Breakfast's ready!"

Yelara gave a startled gasp and pulled away from Kael as Nieme's sing-song voice rang through the dining area. The girl giggled as she set the plate of towering flatcakes upon the table. Yelara cleared her throat uncomfortably, but still managed a smile for Kael. "That looks really delicious, Nieme," Yelara commented while keeping her gaze on Kael.

Without taking his eyes from Yelara, Kael nodded slowly. "Yes," he said, "it does."

Dani slid into a chair next to Liam and grinned at him. The flowing gown finally settled around her and she reached out to pull a pitcher of juice closer, making certain to brush her arm against Liam.

Kallia stood back and watched the whole display with a grin on her face. This was going to get very interesting very fast. She moved to the other side of the table and took a seat. As she did, she glanced at Nieme. "Why don't you sit next to me this morning, Nieme?"

Nieme nodded happily in assent and set down the bowl of scrambled Dernian eggs in her other hand before taking her seat. "I...I made sure not to put carbosyrup into anything, Yelara Zaneth. I know it upsets your s-stomach."

Yelara frowned at the mention of carbosyrup and all thoughts of seducing Kael vanished. She sat back in her chair and wrapped her arms around her already churning stomach. "Thank you...Nieme. But I'd appreciate it if you refrained from even saying the word."

Nieme looked worried for a moment then nodded her head quickly. "I-I'm sorry. No more mention of carbosyrup." A look of anguish crossed Yelara's face and Nieme panicked. " I mean...oh...I'm sorry!"

"It's alright, Nieme," Liam said with a smile. "It's just that Yelara doesn't have the stomach for much anymore. She's just getting older now, and losing touch with certain aspects of her youth, such as being able to eat everything. And other things." He passed the plate of flatcakes to Dani with an alluring smile.

"You'd be surprised what I can eat, Liam," she muttered as she cast her eyes down towards Kael's lap. She sighed wistfully and turned her attention to Kael's face. She brushed her hand along his and asked sweetly, "Would you pass me the eggs, please, my dear?"

"Gladly," Kael said and quickly handed the eggs over to Yelara. "These eggs are the best, and you deserve only the best."

Kallia struggled hard not to laugh, but knew she wasn't succeeding very well. She turned her attention to Nieme. "You make marvellous meals, Nieme. It's surprising to find such skill in someone so young, but I've found that the universe is always surprising me. I imagine you're happiest in the kitchen?"

"Well...before I came here and before I found Kael and all of you, I was happiest there. But now it's just a fun hobby." She smiled shyly then spoke quietly to Kallia. "Today...will you teach me, Master Jae Dyn Brael? I want to learn how to be happy...I want to learn how to keep the visions away."

Kallia smiled. "I will teach you everything I can," she said. "When you return from the city with Liam, I will teach you to gain control of the visions. I'll teach you, so you can be happy all the time."

"And so everyone else can be happy too," Nieme added quickly. "Dani... I made her scared. She felt what I felt and it made her scared. I don't want anyone to be unhappy because of my visions. But we'll make them go away; you and I will make them go away."

Kallia smiled. "Everything will be much better once you have them under control," she said. "And, you won't have to worry about getting Dani caught up in them anymore."

Across the table, Kael was still trying to comfort Yelara after the mention of carbosyrup. As Yel slowly chewed her food, the youth was telling her about this one small cave he'd found out in the forest that he'd love to show her later in the day. "We'll need to bring a light with us, but it's very cozy inside."

"A light? Who needs lights?" Yelara ran her foot sensuously up Kael's calf as she placed another forkful of food into her mouth. "We'll just use our hands to guide us." She said this while smoothing her free hand along Kael's thigh and squeezing it firmly. "Hands are all we need."

Kael slipped his hand onto Yelara's thigh and grinned. "Hands are all we need," he said, and slowly let his hand creep up higher.

Yelara watched Kael's hand as it slid along her thigh. She looked to Liam and furtively stuck her tongue out at him as a sign of victory. Yelara let an accidental moan escape when Kael's hand slipped between her legs. She jerked in her seat to evade his frisky fingers and laughed nervously as all eyes turned in her direction. "Uh...a hiccup, that's all. Um...excuse me?" she offered as an apology, as well as a cover up for what was going on underneath the table and away from their eyes.

Kael looked up into her eyes and grinned. "Later," he whispered. He moved his hand back to her thigh, where he let his fingers continue caressing. His eyes went wide when he noticed Dani's hand in Liam's lap, and the noticeable lump she'd caused there.

Nieme looked around the table for a moment, noticing something strange going on but not certain what to think. She let the moment of awkwardness pass and said happily, "Does anyone want anything else for breakfast? I don't mind cooking something else. Kael...did you want some Hojet?"

Kael looked up at Nieme and his face brightened. "Yes," he said. "I'd love some Hojet." He turned to Yelara and grinned. "Nieme's Hojet is the best there is."

"I'll help you get it," Kallia said. "I really want to learn how to make it." And, I want to get Nieme out of here long enough for the other four to come to their senses before they do something that shatters the poor girl. "Come on, now you can be my teacher."

"Okay!" Nieme giggled excitedly and pushed back her chair. She looked around the table at Dani and Kael, both of whom seemed to be intently staring at Liam and Yelara respectively. "We'll be back soon," she said as she and Jae Dyn departed for the kitchen.

Before disappearing into the kitchen, Kallia cast a glance to Yelara and Liam and shook her head. She really hoped they knew what they were doing. She could see it in their eyes, and figured it was some sort of challenge for each. She just hoped nothing bad came of it. She just hoped that nothing got out of hand, especially not with the baby.

Yelara noticed Kallia's stern look and casually removed her hand from Kael's lap. "You know, I think I should go get ready for that walk." She rose stiffly from her chair and motioned Liam with her eyes to follow. Glancing down at Kael, she smiled sweetly. "You eat up. You're going to need to build up your energy for that walk." She shot him a wink and with a gentle laugh she started towards the doorway.

With a smile to Dani, Liam removed the girl's hand from his lap and slid out of his chair. He followed after Yelara until they were out of the dining room, and then he moved up to walk next to her. "Looks like you're doing well with Kael."

She looked down at the lump protruding from Liam's pants and grinned. "Looks like Dani's doing well with you." With a laugh, she punched him in the arm and started towards their room. "I'm going to win this you know. You haven't got a chance."

"Are you telling me you're unaffected by Kael's attentions? I saw his hands getting in close there, until you scared the poor boy away." He paused for a moment, and then laughed. "So, what exactly are you trying to win?"

Yelara stopped and gazed pensively at the ceiling. "Not exactly certain, yet," she replied. She shrugged her shoulders dismissively and continued forward with a laugh. "I'll figure that out when I win. And as a matter of fact, I wasn't affected by him in the least. He's gonna have to do better than that to seduce me."

"You're going to ruin that poor boy," Liam said with a laugh. "Just make sure you don't break Nieme's heart."

Yelara stopped again, but when she turned around this time, her face held no sign of amusement. "Is this wrong, Liam? I mean...it's just innocent fun, right? No one's gonna get hurt?"

"It depends on how far we take this," Liam said. "But, we're leading Dani and Kael on, even though they've been flirting with us. I don't know if one of them will be hurt in the end. We'll have to be careful."

"We will be. Besides, it's not like either of them are going to fall madly in love with us. They're mature enough to realize it's merely infatuation." Yelara smiled wanly, then started for the room again. "At any rate they both love Nieme and I doubt anything would change that. And I love you and you love me and we love Kallia so I think we can trust each other not to do anything too stupid."

Liam took Yelara into his arms and smiled. "Nothing too stupid," he said. "You know, I like this. You fit in my arms much nicer now. With Leshie in there, hugging you was a little cumbersome. But, everything fits now."

"Except my clothing." Yelara chuckled and turned to face Liam. She kissed him tenderly as they made their way to their bedroom, Yelara awkwardly walking backwards and Liam stepping on her feet from time to time. "Maybe tonight," she said between kisses, "we can make love. I think I'm feeling all healed up. We should make love, Liam."

"I'd like that," Liam said softly. "I do care for Kal, but I really want to be with my wife. I want to make love to you, and let you know you're still the woman who has completely captured my heart. No one else can come close." He kissed her and then grinned. "And, who needs to worry about clothes? You look perfect in or out of them."

"Well, for awhile I'll be spending a lot of time out of them. My maternity clothes are too big now, but my pre-pregnancy clothes are still too small." Yelara smiled excitedly and jumped up and down in Liam's arms. "I could go shopping! Maybe Kael can take me..." She laughed again and tugged Liam into their room. "I bet he'd like to watch me try on clothes."

Liam laughed. "I bet he would," Liam said. "But the way he was looking at you at breakfast, I think he'd be perfectly content watching you just sitting and doing nothing. Did you know, before he let his hand delve between your thighs, he actually looked over to me for permission?"

"And you gave it?!" Yelara laughed and moved away from Liam towards the closet. "Soon you'll be selling me off to the locals. Perhaps I could do the same for you." She glanced back at Liam with a grin as she rifled through the hanging clothes. "Oot has been wanting a night with you for a while. Perhaps I should loan you out to her after all."

Liam followed slowly after Yel. "Well, I wouldn't make it sound like I was selling you off," he said. "I figured, if I said no to him, he would have pulled his hand away, and I don't think the boy would have looked at you again. But, if you want, I can go tell him to stay away from my wife, and then I'll win this little bet we have going." He paused for a moment. "Twi'leks learn some special pleasure techniques, don't they?"

"I wouldn't know, but I'm certain you'll find out when I sell you to her." She chortled jeeringly as she finally pulled out a pair of pants and a lightweight top, both made of a resilient material that would stretch to fit her figure. "You know," she said as she turned towards Liam, "I think until I get slim enough again, I might consider wearing an equadi. Would Kael... I mean, would you like that." She gave him a sarcastic grin, then moved past him towards the bed to lay down her clothes.

"Well, considering the glances I've noticed him giving Dani in hers, I think he'd like you in one. You know, I don't think I've ever seen you in an equadi either. Though, with just all of us around here, you could just forgo clothes all together if you wanted. Nieme may be a little startled and mortified, but I don't think any of the rest of us would mind."

Following Liam's suggestion, Yelara stripped down bare and turned to face him with her hands on her hips. "Is that what you want, my love?" Yelara edged slowly away from the bed, eyeing Liam with a mischievous gleam. With a sudden laugh, Yelara evaded Liam and rushed towards the door. Before Liam could reach her, she flung it open and stepped out into the hallway while taunting him with laughter. "You shouldn't make such suggestions to your impressionable wife, Liam!"

Liam laughed and followed after her. "Just don't catch a cold," he said as he reached the door. "And, if either Kael or Nieme passes out, you have to put clothes back on. I don't think Nieme would be able to handle the sight of a naked person just wandering around. And, Kael would just go into overloaded lust shock, and be gone."

"Fine, I'll make a deal with you: I won't frighten your padawans, and wear clothing if you promise to...well...not sabotage my chances of winning the bet. That means no scaring Kael with menacing glares or doing that thing where your eyes glow. Deal?"

"Deal," Liam said with a grin. "Because I think if you walked into that dining area like that, you'd win without a fight. So, I think it's best that you put some clothes on and at least make this fair."

Yelara laughed with what could only be described as triumphant glee. She sprinted back towards the door and jumped into Liam's arms, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist and kissing him fervently. "I'm gonna win," she sang. "And I don't even have to be naked."

"Oh," Liam said once his lips were free, "if you want to win this, you will have to be naked. I'm gonna be the one who wins. And, I won't even need to use any Force powers to do it! Now, get in there and put some clothes on before you send Nieme into a coma."

"That's your fear of defeat talking, my love, but I shall do as you wish to assuage those fears so you don't start brooding." Yelara slipped from Liam's arms with another kiss, then skipped lightly towards the clothes she'd laid out. The game was seemingly fun now, but Yelara knew its outcome would have a far greater impact for her than for Liam. She couldn't tell him it was a test, one she'd been meaning to give him since he began taking on Padawans. Through it, she would either prove her insecurities false, or give even more credence to the paranoid thoughts drifting through her mind.

---

"A Friendly Bet, Part 3"
by Liam Zaneth
Yelara Zaneth
Kael Selrid
and Nieme Yaresh-Selrid

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

The small group gathered outside of the temple at the speeder as Liam, Dani, and Nieme prepared to head into the city for some supplies. Dani had also mentioned something about needing to purchase a few things for herself. Liam stood in front of Yelara while Dani, Nieme, and Kael all huddled in a small group nearby. As Liam stood holding Yelara's hand, he could hear Dani's distinctive laughter as the trio talked about something. He could only guess what it might be. He smiled at Yel. "I'm going to have my hands full today, and I think you are too."

"Are you saying you can't handle it, my love?" Yelara raised an eyebrow at Liam and smiled haughtily. "Does that mean you're dropping out of the bet?"

"Oh, I can handle it," he said. "I just thought that things may get too hot for you here with Kael. I just wanted to give you one last chance to back out. I wouldn't want for you to get in over your head."

"Gods, Liam. I can handle myself. I've been with men before, remember?" Yelara slipped from behind Liam, who was no doubt trying to give himself the advantage by blocking her from Kael's view. She looked up at him for a moment and sighed. "Maybe you'd like a chance to back out. Dani is pretty alluring and you might not be able to resist."

"She's very alluring," Liam said with a grin, "and I will be able to resist. I won't be backing out. I'll be...I'm going to be doing whatever our bet is with Dani. So there!"

Yelara smiled slowly, but only felt bitterness as her suspicions began taking shape. "Fine...you do that, Liam. And I'll be doing...other things with Kael." She turned away from Liam and set her eyes upon Kael, but then her focus shifted to Dani. She was enticing and irresistible, it would seem. For Liam's sake, and for the sake of her sanity, she hoped he could resist. "So, shall we get going then?" she asked with a glance back in his direction.

"Yes," he said, "so we have time for us later." With a grin, he slipped around to the other side of the speeder. Before he slid inside, he blew a kiss to Yelara. "I'll see you soon, my love. Be good."

"You too," she said more seriously than she'd intended. She forced a smile for Liam, then quickly turned away and started for the group of padawans. The charm was instantly turned on as she sauntered over to them with a sensuous smile meant only for Kael. "Is everyone ready to go?"

Kael felt his face go red at Yelara's attention, but he seemed to keep his calm. "I think so," he said. "Nieme and Dani were just about to get into the speeder." He looked at them and grinned. "I'll see you guys later." First, he kissed Dani, and then Nieme. "I'll see you when you get back, my love. And, do you think you can get the...uh, you know?" He nodded his head toward Dani, hoping Nieme would understand what he was talking about.

Nieme frowned for a moment, then comprehended Kael's meaning and nodded quickly. "I-I'll do my best. And I'll even make it a surprise." Nieme giggled bashfully and scurried along towards the speeder.

Yelara smiled silkily and slipped her arm through Kael's. "Are we done here? I'm really looking forward to that walk."

Kael shifted his gaze to Yelara's and smiled. "I'm more than ready for that walk." He started leading them away, pausing momentarily to wave to Dani and Nieme as the speeder disappeared down the path. "So, is there anywhere you'd like to go first? We can go see the waterfall if you'd like."

"I could tell you an interesting story about a waterfall involving Liam and I...but I don't think you'd wanna hear about that sort of thing." She leaned in closer to Kael and brushed her lips against his ear. "I'd rather show you," she whispered. "I bet I could show you a lot if you let me."

Kael smiled and glanced at Yel. He could feel a shiver radiating from where her lips touched and it felt wonderful. "You can show me whatever you'd like," he said. "Maybe we can show each other a few things." In a fit of daring, Kael returned the gesture and brushed his lips against Yelara's ear. "Would you like to go reminisce at the waterfall?"

Yelara looked up into Kael's eyes, filling with lust as they walked. In them also, she saw her chance to achieve something she thought she never needed before, but now knew she wanted: revenge. She loved Liam, enjoyed the happiness they now had, but there were matters that still gnawed at her and she would put them to rest today if she could. She trailed her fingers lightly along Kael's arm and smiled. "Let's go visit those waterfalls. Then perhaps, we can find a secluded spot somewhere to become better...acquainted."

Kael slipped an arm around Yelara and shifted his body closer to hers. Together they walked up toward the top of the waterfall where he paused briefly so they could watch the water crashing down into the small lake below. As they stood there, a fine mist brushed over their bodies, cooling them from the exertion of the walk.

"Down this trail," Kael said, pointing to the trail that wound its way down the hill, "is the lake down there, and then that cave I mentioned earlier. And, I believe there are plenty of secluded spots all over down there. We could take our pick."

"Then let's." Yelara laughed as she pulled away from Kael and walked briskly ahead of him down the trail. She was feeling immensely carefree with her movement now unhindered by the former load she'd been carrying in her belly. Being able to frolic with her arms swinging and her back free of pain, she regained the sense of youthfulness she thought she'd lost while carrying Leshie. "Come on!" she called back to Kael. "Can't keep up with me?"

"I'm right behind you," Kael called, as he bounded down after her. As they reached the bottom, Kael stumbled into Yelara. As they both teetered, he slipped his arms around her waist to steady them both. Once they were in no danger of falling over, he took a moment to look around. "It's beautiful down here, isn't it?"

"It is," Yelara replied as she took a look around. "The spray from the waterfall's made it much cooler." She shifted her sultry gaze back to Kael and said huskily, "I could use a bit of cooling down. I'm feeling a little...warm right now."

Kael let his hands trail up Yelara's arms. "Anything I can do to help?" Kael asked. He pressed himself closer to her until the length of his body was against hers.

"I think so," Yelara purred as her hand went to Kael's chest. Their eyes locked in a lustful embrace until Yelara laughed and pushed herself away. "You can help me cool off in the water!" Yelara shrieked with fitful laughter and fled towards the lake. The longer the game went on, the more prominent became her reversion to that youth she'd ceased to become almost a year ago. More than she was enjoying Kael fawning over her, she was thrilled by the chance to regain even a moment of her adolescence.

With a laugh, Kael followed quickly after her. He couldn't remember a time when he'd had so much fun. Times with Nieme were fun, but she was far too shy and inhibited to let herself go the way Yelara did. He liked that with Yelara, which made him enjoy her company even more. His thoughts focused on Nieme for a moment, and he felt a pang of guilt at what he was doing here with Yelara. He pushed it away just as quickly as another voice in his mind told him that she'd suggested this. And, if Nieme could have fun with Dani, then Kael could have fun with Yelara. He really wanted to keep having this fun with Yelara. "One thing," he said with a grin. "I don't really know how to swim...so, you'll have to make sure I don't drown."

"Oh, can't swim," Yelara said with a pout. She slowed to an amble as she approached the lake's edge. She took a deep breath and looked out upon the glistening surface of the pristine lake. "Don't worry," she murmured, "I'll keep you safe." Her senses were overwhelmed by the beauty of the surroundings and despite her determination to carry out her charade to its culmination, thoughts of her time with Liam on Turren rose like the mist from the cascading water. They were happy then and happy now, but Yelara had too many haunting memories and dark thoughts that needed to be put to rest before true happiness would come for her. "Let's go for a swim," she uttered absently. She turned back towards Kael and managed to force an enticing smile onto her face. "Clothed or unclothed? Your pick, my treat."

Without a thought, Kael quickly started removing his clothing. He couldn't imagine going into the water fully clothed, especially since he was wearing leather pants. As he dropped the last of his clothes to the ground and looked up at Yel, he had to make considerable effort not to look at the rather embarrassing condition of his groin. "I guess unclothed," he said. After a moment, Kael grinned. "Did you need any help?"

"So chivalrous..." Yelara remarked. She stepped closer to Kael with her arms outstretched to the side. She gave him a smile of encouragement, then closed the short distance between them. "Disrobe me, Kael."

Kael needed no more encouragement as he quickly pulled Yelara's shirt off and dropped it into the pile with his clothes. He gazed for a long, lustful moment into her eyes and then slid her pants down over her hips. He easily slipped one foot out of a boot, and then the other, and then finished pulling the tight fabric off and deposited it with the rest of the clothing. When he stood again, he felt his heart pounding against his chest. Then, he took Yelara into his arms and kissed her.

She greeted the kiss with pure, carnal passion and gripped his shoulders to steady them both. Her lips sought his roughly and desperately while her nails drove into the delicate skin of his back like talons. As she kissed him with their naked bodies pressed together, she imagined if it had been that way with Elisia and Liam. Was it as primal and frenzied as their moment of passion was, or did they hold and touch each other tenderly as two lovers would? The thoughts only fueled Yelara's fears and paranoia, also flaring the lust she felt as their tongues danced. "Show me the cave, Kael," she said breathlessly. "Show it to me now."

Kael nodded dumbly, and took Yelara's hand and led her toward the dark secluded spot he'd been planning to share with Nieme. But, Nieme insisted on going everywhere and doing everything with Dani. He was surprised she hadn't asked him if Dani could join them in their bed. "Right behind these trees," Kael rasped as he slipped under the branches, careful to hold them out of the way for Yelara to come through. Once they were at the entrance to the cave, he pulled her to him again, and kissed her fiercely. The need with which she responded, only fueled his desire and need. When the kiss broke, he took her hand again, and led Yelara inside.

"Are you sure there aren't any strange creatures in here?" Yelara laughed and moved behind Kael as he led them inside. She trailed kisses along his shoulders and back while pressing her breasts to him to accentuate the experience. "Ever been with anyone before, Kael? Anyone other than Nieme, presuming you two have been together, that is..."

"The only strange creatures in here are us," Kael said as he turned back to Yelara. "I checked it out the other day, and there's nothing in here. Well, except us." He pulled her to him and kissed her roughly again. "I've been with others," he said. "There were actually quite a few back in Thanatos." He lowered his head to kiss her throat and chest, and then he moved down to kiss across her breasts. He straightened again and pulled her to him, sliding his prick between her thighs to brush across her mound.

Yelara sighed and reached down to run her fingers along his hard shaft. With her free hand, she reached back to pull her hair loose from its tie. She shook out the curls of raven hair and let them settle upon her shoulders. "I can tell you're very experienced," she commented softly. "The way you touch...the way you kiss... You're a sexually driven being. I know you crave it like you're craving me." She kissed him firmly upon the mouth, nibbling on his lower lip gently while she wrapped her hand around his shaft. "Show me how truly experienced you are, Kael," she whispered. "I won't tell; I promise."

Kael shifted his lips while Yelara guided him to her entrance. He kissed her once more, and then as the kiss broke, he gazed into the shadows that were her eyes. He could just barely see the glints of violet, beautiful eyes in which he'd seen her desire for him. He plunged himself inside of her. He heard himself moan, or maybe it was Yelara...possibly both of them together. But, once he was all the way inside her, he pulled out, and then set up a rhythm. He couldn't remember a time when he felt this aroused, this excited. No woman had ever affected him the way this secret tryst with Yelara was. Kael smiled as he realized he'd get to finally use some of the things he and Raeila had shared again; he had a feeling Yelara would like them as much as he did.

Yelara clawed at Kael's back and grinned as she gazed fixedly into his eyes. She felt disconnected from her inner voice admonishing her about her actions, but its tiny whispers still reached her frenzied mind. Yelara didn't want to listen to what they had to say. Yelara didn't care. This would be her only chance to retrieve some of what she'd lost by marrying Liam and then giving birth to Leshie. Kael was her one link to the youth she'd been forced to abandon, and through their frantic act, she hoped to shed the regret of loss and pull herself from the depression she felt she was drowning in.

Yelara's moans echoed through the small cavern, then a harsh, throaty laugh followed it as she gripped Kael by the shoulders and pressed him to the rugged stone wall. "Is that all you've got, Kael? I thought you were gonna show me something new."

Kael laughed. "Oh, you want something new, do you?" He shifted positions again, and knew by the sudden loud moan from Yelara, that he'd succeeded. "How's that?" He quickly turned them around and pressed Yelara against the wall. He felt his climax approaching, but quickly adjusted his rhythm to keep it at bay, while continuing to drive Yelara toward her own climax. As he felt her orgasm about to hit, he slowed enough to drive it back a few strokes, and then shifted them around and down onto the ground. He'd already dragged a bed of leaves into the cave, but since Nieme didn't want them, he'd share them with Yelara. Once they were settled, he resumed his previous rhythm to bring Yelara racing back toward her climax.

Yelara blinked away her sudden surprise at Kael's mastery then cried out and dragged her fingers through the soil beneath while she writhed in ecstasy. No matter how much guilt she'd be feeling afterwards, the pleasure was too great and was all she focused on. She thrust her hips forward to match Kael's rhythm, but she grew desperate and her motions erratic as she attempted to bring the climax nearer. Their panting breaths and their ecstasy-tinged groans reverberated through the small, darkened cave and were mingled with the ambient thundering of the falls outside.

She hoped this was punishment enough for Liam, for how he'd betrayed her, for how he'd stolen her youth by giving her Va'Lesh. She hoped she could convince herself that this was what he deserved after the moment of passion ended...an end which was approaching fast. Words eluded Yelara as she clutched Kael again and dragged her nails across his back, no doubt leaving visible marks of their rough, bestial union. "Do it, Kael," she groaned volubly. "Now...please!"

With a lust-filled cry, Kael let himself go inside Yelara. Their cries merged until it sounded as if one voice cried out with the pleasure they were sharing. It felt like the moment stretched on into forever, but then slowly, the euphoric bliss of their union started to fade, leaving Yelara and Kael clutching at each other. He held her tight to him as they lay together for several moments afterwards, until he finally found the strength to look into her eyes again. "That was beautiful too."

Yelara lay breathlessly, ignoring Kael, whose presence had now become unnecessary and superfluous. He had served his purpose and had given Yelara the victory she'd strived for, but there was no time to bask in it before the inevitable guilt settled in. She looked up into Kael's languid eyes and with a tight smile, she gently wriggled out from under him. She got to her feet, standing on legs that were still weak from the overwhelming rush of ecstasy, and started for the entrance of the cave. "Come on," she called back to Kael. "We should wash off the evidence."

Kael just stared. Finally, he found his voice. "What? We just-- And, now you--" He watched her for another long moment, as her smile suddenly took on a more malicious meaning. She'd used him. She was trying to get something from him, and now that she had there was no need for-- "Why?"

"Why what?" Yelara turned around. She squinted in the darkness to find Kael's face, but his voice conveyed clearly his confusion and disappointment. "Kael...why what? Why can't we cuddle and share a tender moment? Why am I in such a rush to eliminate all signs that we've been together?" Yelara gave a short laugh and stepped back into the cave towards Kael. "You have Nieme, Kael, and I'm married with a lover on the side. You can't possibly believe either of us have room for another lover, do you?"

Kael guickly got to his feet and took a couple steps forward. "Then why do this at all? Why, Yelara? You've got a husband and a lover on the side. Why go through this with me? If you just wanted a quick screw, you've got Kallia and Liam. Why do this to me? We were good together, and you know it. You liked what I did to you; I could hear it in your voice. No one will find us out here. Kallia's inside watching the babies, and Liam, Dani, and Nieme are all in the city. We've got hours out here if we want it. Do you want it? Or is this part of some other plan you guys have concocted?"

"What are you talking about, Kael? Does Liam look like the type of man who'd send his wife on a mission to have sex with a student in an attempt to entrap him?" Yelara laughed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Kael...I did this on my own. I came here because..." She looked down as she shook her head slowly. With a soft sigh, she continued. "I'm just a kid, Kael. I don't wanna grow up as fast as Liam expects me to or anyone expects me to. I may have a child, but it's not fair that I should have to grow up just to raise it." She gazed up at him again with a rueful smile. "So I guess I was using you in a way. I needed you to make me feel young again. And you did, more than you know." Yelara figured the partial truth would suffice for Kael. She had no intention of telling him all her motivations and didn't think he needed to know.

Kael stepped closer and tried to find her eyes with his. "I understand," he said. "I was forced to grow up really fast when I took over as the leader of the Feltreys. I was suddenly responsible for the whole gang and keeping them all alive. I had to stop being reckless and...grow up. Before I was supposed to. And, I think I made it worse when I came here. The day...the day Nieme and I went into the city...we, uh, we got married." He held up his wrist with the wedding bracelet. "Please don't tell anyone else about it. We're trying to keep it a secret. But, with the gang and that, and...everything else. You were freedom from that, being with you was complete freedom from all the burdens. Probably like I was with you." He took a breath, and then continued. "If you ever want to be a kid again, to just let go and be wild...I'm here if you want me."

Yelara's mind had retreated after Kael showed her his marriage bracelet, which added more guilt to that she was already feeling. Somehow, it was different having an affair with a man who too was married. With Nieme merely his girlfriend, Yelara didn't feel she was doing anything too depraved, but now, she'd seduced Kael into breaking a sacred bond and threatened to destroy it. "You're married?" she whispered incredulously. "Oh gods..." Yelara turned away slowly and shook her head to try and negate the truth of what she'd just heard. She walked slowly out of the cave and into the sunlight, still shaking her head and trying to dispell the mounting disgust she was feeling towards herself. "Why didn't you tell me?" she said in a horrified whisper. "You should have told me, Kael..."

"Because if I told you, you would have stopped," he said. "And, I didn't want to stop."

Yelara spun around to face Kael in utter confusion and disbelief. "What? Don't you care, Kael? She's your wife! If she finds out, this will destroy her. We can't... We can't do this again, Kael, no matter how much you want to and no matter how much I think I want to." Yelara's stomach churned and filled heavily with regret. She sluggishly dropped to the ground and pulled her knees to her for comfort. "I didn't mean for this to happen," she whispered. "I only wanted him to hurt, not anyone else..."

"I love her," Kael said flatly, and then moved to the ground next to her. "But, she's got her fling with Dani, so why can't I have one too? And, no one has to find out. It'll be our secret. No one will ever know, and if they do...if they do, then we just point to everything else and say, so why can't we? You can't just give your heart to one person, so why should I? And, if not my heart, then my body. You're a beautiful woman, Yelara, and the thought of being with you...it affects me. You're married to Liam, but you still share your heart and body with Kallia. If we want to be together, where's the problem in that? When we agreed to marry, we had no idea where our hearts would lead us in life, or who we'd be attracted to. We can't know those things. And, even though I'm married to Nieme, I can't deny my attraction to you." He cautiously slipped his arms around her. "Yelara? Who did you want to hurt?"

Yelara stiffened and glanced sideways at Kael. She dismissed his question with a shake of the head and murmured, "No one..." His justification for their actions today were valid ones, but they didn't apply to why Yelara was sitting naked in Kael's embrace. She was content giving her heart to just Liam and Kallia; it was merely a crusade to gain understanding and insight into why Liam did what he did with Elisia, and the only way to comprehend that was to experience it for herself. But Yelara was realizing she was getting far more out of this experience than she'd wanted or bargained for.

---

"A Friendly Bet, Part 4"
by Liam Zaneth
Dani
and Nieme Yaresh-Selrid

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

Liam swung the speeder into the parking structure and found a vacant stall. He shut down the engines and opened the canopy. He climbed out of the speeder and waited for Nieme and Dani to climb free. In her equadi, it was more difficult for Dani to remove herself from the back of the speeder, but Nieme had insisted that the girl sit in back with her. "Okay, did you two want to come with me, or did you have your own things you wanted to do?"

Nieme looked between Liam and Dani as she stammered in an attempt to concoct an excuse so she could get away. She promised Kael she'd purchase the pleasure toys for Dani, and she knew they wouldn't be a surprise if Dani was there while she bought them. "G-Go on ahead without me. I have some things... I need to..." Nieme laughed nervously and began backing away from them. "You two go on. I'll m-meet you back here in an hour. Is that okay?"

Liam and Dani watched Nieme go, and once she was out of sight, Dani slipped her hand into Liam's and looked up at him. "We're getting supplies?"

Glancing down at their joined hands, Liam nodded. "Yes," he said. "Mainly food, and a few other things we need for the Temple. It's this way."

She fell into step beside him, making sure her body was as close to his as she could make it and not trip them both up. They crossed the parking structure easily enough and found themselves at a bank of lifts. As they waited, Dani smiled at Liam again, and tried to close the distance between their bodies even further. She gazed up at him with obvious lust and longing in her eyes.

Liam was suddenly surprised as her hand covered his groin and started massaging gently. "We were interrupted at breakfast," she said with a sensuous smile. "I hate leaving things unfinished, Liam."

He cursed the involuntary reaction her touch invoked, but was grateful when the lift arrived. He stepped inside, with Dani still pressed against him. He realized the folly of the move as soon as the doors closed, leaving him in a closed, confined space with a very sensuous and lust-filled young woman. The worst part of it was the lust for her he could feel within himself.

She moved around until she was fully in front of him, grinning at him. Before he could stop her, she was kissing him. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her close as they kept kissing. Suddenly, his eyes opened wide when he felt her hand deftly open the front of his pants and pull him out into the open. He moaned softly as she started massaging him, her hand sliding up and down his shaft. The kiss ended, and he moaned again as she slid down the front of his body until she was on her knees in front of him.

When she suddenly took him into her mouth, he heard himself gasp and moan. His head lolled back against the back of the lift as she started working him with her lips and tongue. "Oh gods," he murmured.

***

On the harsh streets of Thanatos with murderers and rapists rampant, Nieme felt more safe and secure than she felt walking through the crowded streets of New Plouton. She was still a stranger to her surroundings and frankly had no idea where she was headed. She stopped for a moment and looked back to get her bearings. The speeder was no longer in sight and Nieme panicked for a moment. She had hoped to use it as a landmark with which she could find her way back if she got lost, but now she only had her instincts to guide her. She thought about turning back and trying to retrace her steps, but if she didn't come back to the Temple with Dani's surprise, Kael would be disappointed. More than anything, she hated upsetting Kael and wanted to do everything she could to gain his good favour. Nieme took a deep breath to calm herself and continued onward, looking for the shop she'd spotted one day with Kael.

She tried to weave her way through the crowded sidewalk without tripping and getting trampled on. Everyone seemed to loom above her like the towering monoliths lining the streets, and Nieme made herself even smaller by shrinking away. She was pushed and bumped aside by the many passersby. A particularly large man stepped in front of Nieme and started towards her blindly. Nieme gasped as he towered over her and threatened to stomp on her like a giant nerf. She quickly jumped out of the way and escaped the crowd, only to place herself into even more perilous danger. A blaring horn sounded from out of nowhere and Nieme gave a start followed by a shriek as the roaring speeder veered around her, barely missing her. She stood frozen on the roadway as speeders rushed past her, sounding their startling horns and passengers spewing angry curses. Her legs refused to function as she faced her looming death.

"Hey, kid!"

Nieme gasped as she was plunged backwards into the thick crowd again. She was gripped by the arms and spun around to be reproved by a tall man. None of his chides reached her ears which were rendered deafened by the thundering of her heartbeat in them. With a whimper, she managed to wriggle free of the man's grip, and fled through the crowd.

She no longer thought about Dani's toys or Kael's disappointment; her sense of self-preservation kicked in and all she could think about now was finding her way back to the speeder, back to the Temple and back to Kael's arms. She wanted to be anywhere, as long as she was out of reach of the raging beasts roaming the streets.

***

Liam heard himself moan again as a ripple of pleasure swept through his body. He opened his eyes and moved his hands down to run them through Yelara's hair. But the hair his hands found wasn't Yel's long black, but long and purple. Oh gods, he thought. "Dani," he said, his voice a hoarse rasp. "Dani, stop. We can't do this. Dani, please stop. I'm married, and I can't do this to my wife, not like this."

Dani had managed to stop herself, and now was looking up at Liam. There was understanding in her eyes, and the hint of tears. He reached his hands down to her and lifted her from her knees. "I'm sorry," she said. "I thought, you wanted..."

Liam smiled. "If my situation were different, I would welcome it. But, I can't do this to Yelara, or Leshie, or Kallia. I'm sorry for leading you on like I did. I didn't think it would go this far. Though, for what it's worth, you're good."

Dani shrugged. "We get lots of practice on Zeltros. Pleasure capital of the galaxy."

Liam pulled her to him, and kissed her gently on the forehead, and then on the lips. "It's alright, Dani. Why don't you go try to track down Nieme and see if you can help her out."

Dani nodded and then quickly stepped away and re-settled her gown. "Yelara's lucky."

Liam smiled. "I'll have to take your word for it."

The doors opened and Dani stepped out quickly. "I'll see you in an hour, Liam. I'm...I'm sorry."

She turned away and hurried off down the street. From the way she held her body, Liam had the aching feeling that she was crying. "Damn," he muttered to himself. He watched her for a moment, then he started off toward the store.

---

"A Friendly Bet, Part 5"
by Yelara Zaneth
Kael Selrid
Dani
and Nieme Yaresh-Selrid

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

Yelara waded in the lake with the water lapping at her skin and managing to soothe her rampant fears and anxieties. She watched Kael from the corner of her eye and noticed him keeping his distance. The mess she'd caused was becoming worse the longer the game went on. She'd intended only on gaining retribution for Liam's betrayal, but in the process, a more complex and convoluted situation had arisen. She couldn't deny that she'd enjoyed being with Kael on a physical level, but she hadn't anticipated his marriage to Nieme. It wasn't fair to have her dragged down into this; she was sweet and innocent, and finding out that her husband had cheated on her would break the poor girl. But she needed this. Yelara knew she had to clear her mind of the residual doubts, the resentment, the disappointment. All those things had been bred when Liam took his padawan to his bed, so she hoped to eliminate them by doing the same. The only problem was, she'd bred even more of those dark elements through her actions and all were now directed towards herself.

As the water gently rippled from Kael's movements, Yelara turned around and sighed. He said he wanted more moments like these and for the pure enjoyment of it, Yelara wouldn't mind either. She moved through the water carefully and approached Kael whose back was turned to her. Even from afar she could make out the discoloured lines of abraded flesh she'd caused in the throes of passion. She always was very expressive during sex. "We should cleanse those," she said softly as she stopped before Kael. "Let me." She took up water in her cupped hands and let it cascade down Kael's back. She repeated again and again, mostly to make the awkward situation less so.

Kael sighed softly as the water washed away some of the fiery sting of the scratches down his back. "Thank you," he said softly. "It's been awhile since that's happened. My second-in-command in the gang, his sister did the same. I'd almost forgotten what it feels like. It's probably really strange, but I like it."

"Well, I'm glad I could give you at least something to remember our experience by." Yelara smoothed her hands over his back and found herself gently kissing his wounds. "If you like it so rough," she said while administering her mouth's healing touch to his scratches, "then why are you with someone like Nieme? She's timid and gentle... Have you two even had sex, Kael?"

"We have," Kael said with a moan. "With all the trouble the other day with Dani, I was upset, and was pretty rough. Nieme didn't like that. I love her. There's something in her gentleness and innocence that clicks with me. I guess because I'm not gentle or innocent, it's sort of like a gentle, innocent extension of myself. But, I guess I do miss the more voracious and wild sex." He turned slowly and looked at Yelara. With a gentle smile, he took her into his arms and just held her. "I guess I like it both ways, and I did have that with Raeila, but she'd never give me her heart. With Nieme, she doesn't like the rougher things, but she willingly gave me her heart." Finally he laughed softly and shook his head. "I guess I'm pretty confused."

"You just want the best of everything, that's all," Yelara replied gently. She allowed herself to be held and continued blindly washing water over Kael's back. "I love Liam and I love Kallia, but there's still a tiny piece of satisfaction that eludes me. I think it's that way with everyone. No one's truly happy, because true happiness only comes when the struggle ends. If the struggle ends," Yelara said as she shrugged her shoulders, "then life's not worth living."

"So, I guess we just look for that satisfaction where we can find it," Kael said. "I imagine it would be so much easier to find one thing you like and want on the first try, something that satisfied every need you have...but that would be really boring. I hate being bored." He said nothing for several minutes while just gazing into her eyes as she gently splashed water over his back. Finally he smiled. "I know I didn't scratch you, but is there anything I can do to help?"

Yelara thought about asking him to massage her sore breasts, but figured that would lead to only one thing. Instead, she pulled away from him and moved towards the water's edge. She stepped out of the lake and sat upon the grassy bank, gazing at Kael. "Come out here and keep me warm. We have to dry off before we can put our clothes back on."

Kael followed after her and climbed up onto the patch of grass Yelara had stretched out on. Hey lay down next to her, and folded her into his arms to keep them both warm. "So," he finally said, "what do you think about the two of us taking more walks from now on? To help you get your figure back." Before she could respond, he put his lips next to her ear. "Though, if you ask me, there's absolutely nothing wrong with your figure."

Kael's flattery worked well enough on Yelara and she laughed softly while her cheeks took on a rosey hue. "Keep talking like that, and I think these walks could become a daily event." Yelara sighed as she rested her head upon Kael's chest and smoothed her hand along his cheek. "We...we could try it out. I mean, I like talking to you, Kael. I can confide in you about things there's no way I'd ever tell Kallia or Liam. Besides, I think we understand each other alot. We're very alike in many respects. I'm glad about that."

"Me too," Kael said with a smile. "I've never really talked much with people. Being in a gang, especially a gang in Thanatos, you tend to jump into a fight before you jump into talking to anyone. And, my friends have always been other gangers. But, I can talk to you. I feel like I can say anything and it's alright. I don't think I've ever had a friend I could do that with before; it's nice to finally have one." He leaned close and brushed his lips over hers. "I want to try it out and see what happens. It feels like, at least right now, what we have here is something that I haven't had before. Have you ever played one of those games where you have these little pieces of a picture, and you have to arrange them so they show the whole picture? Sometimes that's how I view myself, like one of those games. And, I feel like with you, I can fill in a couple of those pieces I couldn't arrange before."

"And what about with Nieme?" Yelara asked gently. "You love her, you married her... Do you see some of those pieces falling into place when you're with her?"

Kael smiled. "A lot of pieces fall into place when I'm with her," he said. "Though, her pieces and your pieces aren't quite the same. But, yes, they do fall into place. Dani even puts a couple pieces into place. I still think she's trying to woo Nieme, but I don't think she'll steal her from me. I think she'd just want to share. But, I guess a lot of people represent a lot of pieces."

"I get that," she said softly. "I don't think all the pieces are quite in place yet for me. Maybe that's why, subconsciously, I came out here with you today." Yelara looked up into Kael's eyes. They always seemed to look so pensive and rueful as if he were searching for something but had yet to find it. She was searching too, and together, they might be able to find what eluded them. "Kiss me, Kael," she said softly. "Kiss me and then take me to the cave again. I want you to take me there again."

Without another word, Kael pressed his lips to Yelara's and kissed her deeply. As they kissed, he managed to get himself to his feet with Yelara in his arms. He walked slowly up to the cave, and entered. Once inside, he did as Yelara had asked, and took her for a second time. It was fortunate that the roaring of the waterfall drowned out their impassioned cries.

***

Frightened and lost, Nieme burst through the thick crowd and managed to find her way into a deserted area of the street. She pressed her balled up hands to her stinging eyes and wiped away the tears. She was still lost, but at least she didn't have to fight her way through the ocean of passersby anymore. She recognized nothing about the area she was standing in and felt certain she would never find her way back to the speeder.

Feeling helpless and scared, Nieme pressed her back to the wall of the building behind her and slid to the floor. She placed her face into raised knees and wept quietly, thinking she'd be lost forever. She was getting hungry and cold, which only intensified her sense of panic. "Oh, Dani," she sobbed. "Where are you?"

"Nieme? Nieme!?" a voice out on the street called. Every couple moments, the call was repeated, and each time it was a little closer. "Nieme!"

Thinking her mind was deluding her, Nieme ignored the voice calling her name. Yet again and again, the soft, sweet voice called to her until finally, Nieme looked up. She searched up and down the street to find the source of the voice...Dani's voice! Nieme sprang to her feet as her purple friend slipped out of the crowd and into plain view. "Dani!" Nieme ran over frantically to her until finally her arms were around Dani and she was embracing her desperately. "I was lost and then I thought I'd never find my way again. Oh thank you for coming. Oh thank you, Dani..."

"I'm here now, Nieme," Dani said quietly as she just held Nieme to her. "It's all okay now. Liam's off buying things now, so I'm here. I was so stupid, Nieme. I was so stupid. But, it's okay now. Why don't we go buy some things? I think I want to get some other clothes other than this equadi. And, some other things too. Let's go find a clothes store, okay?"

Nieme looked up at Dani, and along with the subtle waves of disappointment she felt coming from her friend, her eyes and her voice conveyed her sadness clearly. "What happened, Dani? Why are you so unhappy?"

"Liam was flirting with me earlier, and when I was flirting and more back, he seemed to like that. So, when we were alone, I tried to do more. I tried to--" She looked at Nieme, and wasn't sure how much of what she'd done Nieme would understand. "I tried to use my mouth on him, down there. But, I shouldn't have done that. He didn't get upset, but I shouldn't have done that. I was so wrong. I thought he wanted that, but then he stopped me. I wanted to do that for him, to show him that I wanted him. I wanted to give him pleasure, but he didn't. I--I guess I'm unhappy because I misjudged everything."

Nieme looked down and couldn't help but be affected by Dani's dejection. It permeated her and made her akin to her friend's sadness as if it were her own. She held Dani even tighter in the embrace and kissed her lightly upon the lips. "Don't worry," she said soothingly. "He...he won't be mad. Besides, he's not that h-handsome anyway. We'll find you someone better, Dani. Someone much better."

Dani brightened immediately. "Thank you, Nieme," she said. "He is very handsome, but there are still lots of other handsome guys out there." She kissed Nieme again and held her friend close. "If only I could have you. You'd be perfect. Let's go find a store for clothes."

Nieme giggled, then gasped excitedly. "Oh! I know a better store. I tried to find it before, but I got lost and I never got there. Maybe together, we can find it. I think you'd like it...I really do."

Dani nodded vigourously, and then slipped her hand into Nieme's. "Together we can do it, Nieme. Together, I know we can find it." With that, they started out towards the nearest grouping of shops.

---

"A Friendly Bet, Part 6"
by Dani
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Kael Selrid
Yelara Zaneth
and Kallia Brael

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

After searching at length for a shop that sold the particular specialty items Nieme wanted for Dani, they finally came across one half a kilometer away and nowhere near in the direction Nieme had set out upon the first time. It was just as she remembered it from when she and Kael had first come across it during one of their shopping excursions. They'd never actually delved inside, but peeking through the part in the red curtain hanging over the display window, they knew the store had everything Dani would need to satiate her hunger.

Perusing the items on the shelf now, Nieme realized there was a much wider selection of items than they'd glimpsed through the window that day. Looking at the moulded penises, so life-like and standing permanently erect, Nieme found herself blushing but unable to look away. She knew her mouth was gaping, but it was more from intrigue rather than shock; she'd gotten over that a moment after entering the store when she emitted a gasp loud enough to disturb the other customers. Dani, however, seemed excited as she pulled Nieme along through the shop. Nieme had her explaining the function of some of the items, and it seemed she knew everything there was to know about them. "Oh my..." Nieme whispered. "What's that one for?"

Dani giggled. "That one is for two girls," she said. "It's almost like a girl and a guy. But, this would strap on here, and then...it's just like normal. I've only ever used one once, but it was very nice."

"Well...hmm..." Nieme hesitantly ran her finger along the shaft of the phallus, but pulled it away and giggled. "It almost feels real. But Kael's is warmer." Nieme blushed again and quickly scampered over to the next set of displayed items. On the table sat what looked like more penises, but without the straps attached. She picked up one of the items and turned it over in her hand as she examined it. "How do those ones work? I mean...how do you put them on? There's no--" Nieme yelped and quickly fumbled as she replaced the item atop the table when it began vibrating and emitting repititious, droning undulations. "What-- Oh dear..."

"That one," Dani said, "is for using on yourself, or myself. Or whoever. The vibrations help the stimulation." She giggled. "Unfortunately, they wouldn't let me show you how they all work, or else I would. Oh, those there are for boys who don't have someone. They just...you know, right into there."

Nieme nodded her head slowly as she gazed in wonderment at all the tools available to satisfy the sexual urges of all those without someone to share their bed with. It was a strange, unusual world to Nieme, but it was Dani's world and as a friend, Nieme wanted to become acquainted with it. "So, what are you going to buy? I-I can help you pick some things out and then...well...maybe at the Temple you can... Well...I can see how you use them."

Dani looked at Nieme and grinned. "Sure," she said. "I'll show you how to use whatever you want to know about. I've still got lots of money on my credit chip from when I was working on the station, so we can just get a bunch of them. I don't think you can ever have too many toys." She grabbed a basket from the front and quickly started piling in a bunch of the toys. Anything Nieme had seemed interested in, and the things that Dani knew she herself liked, all of it went into the basket. "There," Dani said. "I think we have a good selection there. And, we can always come back and get more."

"Kael wanted it to be a surprise for you, but I think if I'd come here on my own, I would have had no idea what to get." Nieme waited with Dani by the counter as the clerk began scanning through their purchases. She still gawked in amazement at the toys Dani had chosen and was anxious to get back to the Temple and discover how they were truly used. "With these," she whispered to Dani, "you won't need Liam Zaneth. He wasn't right for you anyway. Too...too bright. It's not good when people are too bright. It's easy for them to hide that way."

"Yelara always talks about him brooding too," Dani said. "I don't like guys who brood. They're not as much fun as the guys who just love having fun. And, while the toys don't love having fun, they never brood and they never complain. And, with these, I won't need boys for awhile. Though, the emotions while making love are really the beautiful part. But, your emotions are beautiful too, and I'll just be with you."

Nieme smiled and slipped her hand into Dani's. "I'll always be here and I'll never brood or do anything to make you unhappy. And who knows, maybe today while we're shopping, we can find someone for you, someone to live with us at the T-- at home."

Dani grinned. "That would be really nice," she said. "Though, if we don't find someone, I'm content enough right now. Especially with you and Kael as my friends." She grinned at the shopkeeper and held up the bundle of toys she'd just purchased. "And, I've got my new friends here too." As they started toward the door, Dani's face brightened even more. "There's something else I want to get while we're here, another toy."

"Another?" Nieme looked surprised for a moment, then let her face relax into a bright smile. "Alright. But it looks like you've gotten everything already."

Dani grinned. "It's a different kind of toy," she said. "Come on, I saw a place down the street that sells what I'm looking for." With Nieme's hand in hers, Dani led the way out onto the street again and down toward where a lot was filled with speeder bikes and swoops. Dani turned to Nieme and grinned. "I want one," she said. "And, then when we come into the city for dancing, we don't have to sneak the speeder out."

Nieme gawked at Dani, then turned her gaze slowly to the rows of bikes before them. "Do you even know how to ride, Dani? And...and how will you pay for one? Oh...do you think you should? I mean...aren't those things dangerous?"

Dani grinned. "Only if you don't know what you're doing," Dani said. "And I grew up riding them on Zeltros. They're actually pretty easy, once you know what you're doing. I made all the boys jealous because I was better than all of them. And, I have enough for one...and I'll still have some money left over."

"Really? I don't think I've ever seen that kind of money ever!" Nieme laughed and appraised the speeders again. She pictured herself riding on the back of one through the forest and through the trees. She would do this with Dani. She wanted to do everything with Dani. "Let's get one," Nieme said with an excited giggle. "Let's get one and let's ride back to the Temple on it!"

Dani let out a squeal of delight, but quickly turned away from the speeder bike dealer. "Let's go get me something else to wear first," she said. "I really don't want to wear this equadi on that thing. I have a feeling, I'd lose it before we got back to the Temple; and while I don't exactly mind being naked, I'd rather not go riding on a speeder bike that way."

Nieme agreed with a delighted squeak and pulled Dani along by the hand. "You deserve to spoil yourself today. And I'll spoil me too!"

"We both deserve much spoilage!" With giggles that drew attention from passersby, Nieme and Dani raced down the street to find Dani a new set of clothes more suitable to riding a speeder bike through the forest.

***

"No," Kael said as he and Yelara slowly meandered their way back toward the temple. "I think the stinging has gone down some, especially once I got used to the shirt against my back. I guess we got a little wild down there, didn't we? I think you just bring out the animal in me."

"I can see that," Yelara said as she examined the scrape on her elbow. "Just try and keep your shirt on until the scratches heal. The last thing we need is anyone getting suspicious. That means training with your shirt on!" Yelara laughed and playfully pushed Kael. "I don't care how many women you want to flaunt your bare chest to, you will keep your shirt on until you're healed."

Kael laughed. "Don't worry," he said. "I tend to heal quickly. In a day or two, you'd never know there was a scratch. Though, in the future, maybe we should try harder not to break skin if we can restrain ourselves. And, if Nieme asks about the scratches, I'll just tell her I was showing you one of the caves, and I accidentally banged against the wall when a systa bat flew out."

Yelara raised a skeptical eyebrow and laughed. "And she'd believe that without question? Those are clearly scratch marks... And if Liam asks me where I got all the scrapes and bruises, I'll just tell him we had mad, passionate sex and things got a little rough."

Kael stumbled. "I really hope you're joking," he said. "I'm too young to die. And, I have a feeling if Liam knew that you and I were having wild rambunctious sex, he'd be a little upset. If that happened, I think you'd have to visit me in the hospital while I recovered from having all of my anatomy reattached."

"Don't worry, Kael, I'm not some malicious, conniving bitch. Just because I'm cheating on my husband and my lover doesn't mean I can't be trusted." Her wry smile was a manifestation of the bitter taste rising from her stomach, but she forced it down just like she was trying to force down her guilt. Liam had a lot to be guilty about too, so Yelara figured she deserved to do something underhanded for a change.

With her hand in Kael's, they trampled through the leaf-littered floor of the forest. She'd lost complete track of time, but it was bound to happen when one was preoccupied with sex, as well as talking and getting to know a new sexual partner. "So...you were really five when you lost your parents? And you had to live all alone on the streets? Gods...I don't think I would have survived that. I'm lucky I had my grandparents when my parents died. Not that I turned out any better for it, but it still helped."

"Well, I did have the gang to help me through the worst of it," he said. "But, it wasn't easy. And, the foster home they put me into was...well, I already told you about that. All in all, I think I turned out alright all things considered. Though, I can't imagine what it would be like to have to... I mean, to be forced to sell yourself like that. In Thanatos, Raeila made the choice on her own. But to be forced to do that because a bunch of..." Kael chuckled softly. "I guess both of us took our knocks from life."

"Well, after a while, you just grow to accept your lot in life. I did what I had to do to survive. I'm not ashamed of what I had to do...not anymore. I survived, didn't I? That's all that really counts..." Yelara sighed wistfully as they walked in silence for a time along the path leading to the Temple. "So what about this Raeila?" Yelara asked quietly. "Was she...someone you loved? She sounds like she was a pretty wild girl. And it sounded like the sex was good too."

"Sex is one of Rae's passions in life," he said. "And...I don't know if I loved her. I don't think I ever let myself fall in love with her, because I knew she couldn't love me back. I guess if she was more open, I probably would have. But, I doubt I'll ever see her again. I've got Nieme now, anyway. And, you. I've got the women who I have given my heart, and the one to whom I can confide my deepest and darkest secrets."

"Hardly dark, but still nothing I'd want to confide to someone I didn't trust." Yelara gazed at Kael with a queer smile as conflict arose in her mind. She wasn't ready to tell him everything, even if she had already shared more with him than she'd shared even with Liam. There were some things she needed to keep enclosed safely within her, but some things were begging to be set free. "I had someone like Raeila in my life too. He was someone I thought I could love, someone I desperately wanted to love... He wasn't a nice man, but I tried to love him still. He exploited and manipulated me; he beat me and just hurt me in every way a person could possibly be hurt, yet I still kept searching for a reason to love him." She laughed ruefully and lay her head upon Kael's shoulder. "He said he loved me," she whispered. "And I thought that after that, I could be happy with him despite all he put me through. Now, I know that if I'd stayed with him, I would be dead inside right now. He tried to break me so I would be more compliant with his wishes; I was rebellious even then. All the scars have healed today, but a part of me still wonders whether I could have changed him if I'd just loved him. Wishful thinking, I guess..."

"There are some people who just can't love," Kael said. "Though, I think it's their own doing that they can't. Either that they feel they can't because of things that have happened, or they're so bitter that anything like that just doesn't happen. I don't think Raeila ever allows herself to feel close to anyone but her brother. I think a lot of times it's because they're afraid of getting hurt, either for the first time, or because it's happened before." He looked at her and smiled. "I think you're in a pretty good place now, though."

"How so? I've just finished committing adultery with one of my husband's students." Yelara glanced up at Kael and smiled wanly. "Hardly a pretty good place...for any of us. I mean, if he finds out, I can't exactly predict what he'll do to you. He was...a violent man before I met him. Who knows when that side of him will suddenly reappear, which is why he's so unpredictable."

"I know," Kael said softly. "I've known what could happen from...from when I first realized I was attracted to you. But, without risk, what's the point? If there were no risk involved in...what we share, then I think it wouldn't have been as powerful as it was. And, even though you committed adultery with one of your husband's students, I committed adultery with my teacher's wife." He couldn't help grinning. "You know, Yelara, we are both quite naughty."

"I know. Isn't it just so exciting?" Kael and Yelara finally entered the clearing where the Temple stood, still walking hand in hand. She smiled mischievously as she glanced sideways at him and said, "And how naughty am I again?" Before he could answer, Yelara pulled him towards her and wrapped her arms around him. One hand went to his rear, where she gripped it firmly, and the other went to his groin. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him roughly while trying to suppress her giggles.

Kael wanted to tell Yelara just how naughty she was, but with her lips pressed to his and her tongue dancing inside his mouth, not to mention her hand massaging his groin, he didn't really feel like talking. He moaned as they continued their rough treatment, nearly stripping out of their clothes for another quick roll through the leaves. It was dangerous where they were, right in visible sight of anyone who happened into the clearing. Just as Kael slipped a hand under Yelara's shirt, the screaming of an engine approaching shattered the moment.

Yelara pushed Kael away, far enough so his proximity to her wouldn't rouse any suspicions. She quickly straightened her clothes and was in the process of running her hands through her hair when the cavalry burst into the clearing. The speeder hovered five meters above the ground and upon it sat Dani and what appeared to be Nieme. The way she wove the vehicle through the trees was impressive and alluded to the probable fact that Dani had driven one before. "Naughty enough for you?" Yelara muttered to Kael with a grin.

Kael laughed and glanced at Yelara. "Have I mentioned that I really like naughty?" he asked, his grin mischievous. As Dani slowed the speeder to a stop, he led the way forward, and grinned when he heard Nieme's giggles from the back of the speederbike where she clung to their purple friend. "You two look like you're having too much fun," he called out.

"D-Dani bought it just today! Isn't it wonderful?" Nieme waited for the speeder to descend and once it was hovering only inches from the forest floor, she slid off and ran towards Kael. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, clutching his back and kissing him timidly. "You can have a ride too," she said as she looked up at him.

Kael tried to keep from wincing as Nieme hugged him tightly. "I'd love a ride," he said with a grin. "You two look like you were having fun. And, you certainly did some shopping. That's quite a package you've got there."

Nieme suppressed a giggle, then elevated herself upon her toes and cupped his ear with her hand. "It's the toys. Dani helped pick them out. You should see them...so strange." She giggled nervously upon remembrance of the penises and vibrating mechanisms she saw and handled. For a reason she couldn't comprehend, Nieme desperately wanted to lock herself away in her chambers with Kael in her arms. "Uh...are you and Yelara Zaneth done with your walk?"

Kael grinned and then nodded. "We're just getting back," he said. "I showed her the waterfall, and then we just walked around and talked...and stuff. It was good. I think it's helping her get back in shape after the baby. So, you and Dani had fun? You didn't just leave Master Liam, did you?"

"Oh he...he had things to do. But we left him a message...well Dani did on the canopy." Nieme covered her mouth as she giggled boisterously. "She wrote it in lipstick," Nieme whispered as if Dani had performed some shocking deed.

Kael laughed. "I'm sure he'll love that. I imagine he'll have to wash it off before he drives the speeder home. Though, it would be funny if he left it there. So, you guys got a speeder bike? That's really great. Is it fast? It looked like you were having fun. I'm really glad you were having fun."

"It was so fast and at first I was frightened but then after a while, after I saw how good Dani handled it, I wasn't afraid anymore. It was so high too! Oh, I felt like I was--."

"Kael." Yelara delicately placed her hand atop Kael's shoulder and leaned in close to his ear. "I think I'm going to shower," she said in a voice only audible to him. "Sure you won't join me?"

Nieme watched curiously but without concern. All she could think about was going back to their chambers and snuggling next to Kael.

Kael glanced at Yel, then back to Nieme. "That sounds so wonderful," he said with a wide grin. "I have to help Yelara with something now. When I'm done with that, maybe we can get really close and you can tell me all about it. How's that?"

Nieme sighed, but kept her smile large and bright while trying to hide her disappointment. "O-Okay, Kael. Dani and I can look at her toys for a while." She hesitantly reached up and kissed Kael upon the cheek. "I'll be in Dani's room when you're ready." With another resigned sigh, Nieme turned and trudged along toward Dani solemnly.

Kael felt a pang of guilt as he watched Nieme's dejected progress toward Dani. Yelara's touch against his arm brought him out of his thoughts. And, he realized that Nieme would be locked away in Dani's room looking at sex toys. Probably more than looking, he told himself. She can have her sex toys, and I can have mine. With a grin for Yel, he followed her inside. "Fortunately," he said once they were inside, "she has Dani to keep her company."

"You sure she'll be okay? I mean...she doesn't suspect anything I hope."

Kael shook his head. "No," he said. "She doesn't suspect anything. She thinks I'm helping you, but she doesn't realize I'm helping you shower. She'll be fine. She and Dani will go into Dani's room, and they'll just play around with the sex toys Dani bought."

Yelara shrugged her shoulders and continued along towards the refresher. She maintained somewhat of a distance from Kael, in case Kallia was looming about and caught on to their little scheme. "Look," she whispered conspiratorially. "I'll go on ahead and start the shower. I'll leave the door unlocked and in a while, you can just slip on inside. How does that sound?"

Kael smiled. "I'll head that way in a couple minutes," he said. "I'll see you then. And, save me some hot water." With a quick glance around, he blew her a kiss and added, "I'll see you soon."

Yelara laughed as she strolled away from Kael with a lighthearted bounce in her step. For the first time in many months, Yelara felt like she'd finally reclaimed her youth, and with the abandon she found in being with Kael, she knew this time, she could retain it indefinitely. She hummed a high-spirited tune as she rounded the corner of the hall leading to the refresher. It was her second day on the shipyards all over again as she collided with the lithe figure of Kallia. "Sneaking up on me?" Yelara asked playfully after she recovered.

"I just put our children down for a nap," Kallia said with a grin, "and I thought I'd try to find you. For a moment there, I thought you and Kael had walked all the way into the city. I take it by that invigourated look about you, it was a good walk. So, where were you off to, my love, and do you mind a little company?"

"It was a good walk...as far as walks go. I got a little scraped up when the branches of the trees brushed against me." Yelara wrapped her arms around herself to secure her resolve and keep her body from displaying mannerisms that would no doubt betray to Kallia her anxieties and the fact that she was no doubt lying. "I...I was just off to take a shower actually. I don't think Leshie would appreciate sucking on an uncleanly nipple."

Kallia took a step closer. "Are you up for a little company in there," she asked with a smile. "Or, are you too tired from your walk for a little help?"

Yelara laughed to disguise her sudden apprehension. Kael would be in for quite a surprise if he found both she and Kallia waiting for him in the shower...not that that would stop him from joining them. "Uh...shouldn't...shouldn't someone watch the babies? I just wouldn't feel right leaving them all alone with no one to tend them. One of us should be out here just in case."

Kallia smiled and then gave Yel a quick kiss. "A good idea," she said. "Though, next time you get in that shower, you're not getting off so easily. I want to make sure you're washing all the places that need to be washed." She grinned, and kissed her lover again. "I'll see you in a little bit, Yelara."

"Give Leshie and Yara a kiss for me." She smoothed her hand over Kallia's cheek and without further idling, Yelara slipped away and continued her seemingly treacherous journey to the refresher. She allowed herself a quiet sigh of relief, but realized there would be many more close calls like that one and others in which Kallia or Liam weren't so easily influenced.

***

With the package in one hand and her folded equadi in the other, Dani led the way back into the Temple. She and Nieme walked side by side, while Dani told Nieme of her first experience with a vibrator. "After that, I swore never to try taking one apart again. It practically rocketed across the room. I think if I weren't so startled, I would have been laughing much more. You don't have to worry though, they're not actually dangerous. Just when you try to take them apart, and don't really know how to put them back together."

Nieme nodded her head dumbly as she listened in horror to Dani's seemingly traumatic encounter. After hearing about it, she wasn't so certain if she wanted to ever go near one again. "So...does it go...inside you? Does it hurt? I mean, when Kael stuck his p-penis in me the first time, it really hurt at first, then it didn't hurt anymore. But I imagine if it did hurt you wouldn't like them so much."

"Well," Dani said, thinking for a moment, "the very first time, like when Kael and you had sex, that can hurt. But, after that it doesn't. And, it doesn't with these. It actually feels very nice. I think you'd like it, especially if you like being with Kael."

"I don't know... It scared me to just touch them. Oh they just look so real! I bet Kael would blush if we showed them to him." Nieme sighed. "I wonder what he's helping Yelara Zaneth with. It sounded very important."

"I'm sure it's something about recovering from having a baby," Dani said. "We can find out later when he gets back. And, you can try to make him blush when you show him this!" Dani quickly pulled out one of the large, realistic-looking phalluses from the packaging.

Nieme squealed and erupted in a fit of laughter as she hurried down the hallway to escape the massive instrument of pleasure. Up ahead, she spotted Kael heading away from her and called out to him. "Kael...wait!"

Kael turned around, startled. "Nieme!" He laughed, thankful he hadn't been heading into Yelara's room yet. "Yelara had to take care of something in there she was...too modest for me to see. I was just about to head in there. I thought you two were heading for Dani's room to marvel at her new collection." He glanced at Dani's hand and his eyes widened at the sheer size of the penis being brandished there. "Oh, I see you already are."

"Aren't they amazing, Kael? They look funny too, but Dani says they serve another more important purpose." Nieme smiled at Kael. "Uh...how long will you be? I haven't really seen you all day and...I want to...well...see you."

Kael pulled Nieme into his arms. "I shouldn't be too long," he said. "And, then I'll have lots of time to...see you." He kissed her, a long, slow kiss. "I'll be with you before you know it."

The kiss melted away all of Nieme's disappointment and she was filled with rapt serenity. "Later then," she said with a wistful sigh. She gazed dreamily up at him and a tremour of excitement ran through her at the prospect of having Kael all to herself in only a short while. No power operated sex toy could replace the joy Nieme felt as she watched Kael and awaited the moment when his hands would smooth over her flushed, naked flesh. "Come on, Dani," she said as she fumbled blindly to find Dani's hand. "Let's go find a place to put your toys." Finally finding Dani's hand with hers, Nieme gave Kael a hastened kiss and started down the corridor, still gazing at her lover.

Kael watched Dani and Nieme down the hallway. He gave them a slight wave, and then blew a kiss before they were out of site. Once they were gone, he slipped into the room after Yelara.

As they walked, Dani grinned at Nieme. "Well, you won't be needing any of my toys, but I sure will." She sighed wistfully. "They'll never replace an actual lover, but they'll do for now."

"Well...let's go to your room and we can play with them...but not in that way u-unless you want to." Nieme smiled with pride as she said, "I have to keep myself rested for when Kael gets back. I think he's going to show me a new position."

Dani laughed. "Well, unless you want to watch me masturbate with my new collection, I can wait until later," she said. "Do you know what position he's going to show you? I have never been able to pick a favourite. I like almost all of them. Though, not the detached ones. For me, I want to have a connection to the person I'm making love with." They slipped into Dani's room, and she immediately went to the bed to spread out her new purchases.

"I really don't know what he has in mind. Nothing like the last time." Nieme moved into Dani's room and sank into a chair by her dresser. "He likes to try new things. I mean...I guess he needs some way to keep things interesting." She shrugged her shoulders and gave a plaintive sigh. "I think I bore him. I'm not experienced and he's used to being with women who...well...who know what they're doing."

Dani looked up from the large phallus she'd been examining and frowned. "But he loves you so much," she said. "I mean, when he's around you, I can feel his love for you. And, each time you're with him, you get more experience. And, you know how to kiss. You're really good at that. And, you can dance now too!"

"I would hardly call it dancing. Besides I haven't done it since that other night..." Nieme smiled and sat up straighter in the chair with renewed excitement. "We should go again! Really soon. And Kael can come and then you can teach him too!"

Dani giggled. "We should! We could all go dancing together! And, more Steaming Passions! It'll be so great. Maybe later tonight, we can sneak out and go in to that club again. We can do more dancing. Kael can come along, and we'll have so much fun!"

Nieme sprang from her chair with a squeal and flew into Dani's arms. They hopped about gleefully with their arms encircled. "I'm so glad we came here. I'm so glad I dreamt about you and about Kael and the Temple. There wouldn't have been any Steaming Passions if I'd stayed in the desert!"

"Well, I would still be on that icky station with smelly, nasty men wanting to have a good time with me. But you saved me, and now we get to have Steaming Passions together." Dani giggled as she hugged Nieme to her again, and then gave her a kiss. "You are the most wonderful person I've ever met, Nieme. You really are."

"And aside from Kael, you're the funnest person I've ever met." Nieme placed her lips to Dani's ear and whispered, "And you taste better than Kael too. But don't tell him that!"

Dani grinned and felt herself blushing. "Thank you," she said. "I like the way you taste too. I think you're my favourite. And, you can taste me whenever you want, Nieme. Especially if I'm better tasting than Kael." She kissed Nieme again, savouring the distinct flavour that was her friend. "I wish we could sleep together like we did that first night, but I understand."

"Well...it doesn't mean we can't just be in eachother's arms. I mean...Kael's busy with Yelara Zaneth right now... I bet he wouldn't mind it if we just took a small nap."

Dani grinned. "After that speeder bike ride, I could use one. Come, my beautiful star, let us curl up together on my bed. We can take a nap until Kael returns." She pulled Nieme along with her, pausing briefly to move the package of toys to the floor next to the bed. Then, taking Nieme's hands again, she climbed up onto the bed.

Nieme curled up beside Dani and wrapped her arms around her friend. She sighed contentedly as she became awash with tranquility. Everything seemed so uncomplicated and less strenuous when she was with her flower. "Dani," she whispered hesitantly. "Is it... Is it alright if I think I love you? You're my best friend...it's right to love you, isn't it?"

The joy Dani felt was nearly overwhelming. She thought her face would split in two with the smile that was there. Before saying anything, she gently kissed Nieme. "Yes," she said. "It's alright to love me, my beautiful star. Because I know I love you. If you feel that you love me, then there's nothing wrong with that at all. It's wonderful."

Nieme sighed as if a weight had been released from her chest. "Oh, I'm so glad! You make me so happy and you always make me feel uplifted and we always have fun..." She smiled at Dani, whose eyes sparkled with welling tears. "You're my best friend and I want to love you. I want to make you feel as happy as you've made me." Without trepidations, Nieme lightly pressed her lips to Dani's and held them there as she fed from the swirl of joyous emotions emanating from her. Being filled with such bliss was exaltant and made Nieme even more certain of her love for her friend. "You still taste so wonderful," she whispered with a sigh.

"Thank you," Dani said with a smile. "I will always try to taste good for you, Nieme. I've never had a friend like you, Nieme. It's so wonderful to feel like this. Being with you...it feels wonderful, and is almost as good as sex...and better in some ways. We have to always be together, you and me. It will be so great."

Nieme muttered a response that got lost in a weary yawn. She kissed Dani's neck softly as she snuggled closer to her friend. She'd never known anyone who could evoke such comfort in her, other than Kael, but oftentimes she sought comfort from distress he'd caused in her. At least now, she had another pair of arms to seek solace in.

"Let's sleep now," Dani murmured. "And, before you know it, Kael will come sweeping in here to take you back to your room."

---

"New Mastery"
by Liam Zaneth
Kal'Aran
and Aurra Sgall

Location: New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

As Liam Zaneth stepped out into the bright sunlight filtering through the New Plouton skyline, he secured the bundle with supplies for the temple on his back. He wasn't sure how often the trips into the city could happen once they had more Masters and Padawans. He started back toward the speeder. The thought of returning to his wife and newborn son brought a smile to his face, but it quickly vanished when a tremor in the Force brought his attention to a crowd of people standing nearby. He shifted his gaze over each individual, and finally came to the source; an older man stood with a young Twi'lek girl. He stopped and watched them for a moment, wondering if they would notice him.

Kal'Aran and Aurra Sgall, his new Padawan, were near the market, getting some supplies. The girl's new Jedi Master had contacted her former Padawan and they were using her apartment as she was out of town at the present moment. Kal'Aran suddenly felt a presence in the Force. But he was not too alarmed as it was no Sith or even darkforce. So there was no danger of it being the Jedi Huntress. Kal'Aran wanted to make sure no confrontation came between Aurra and the Huntress, not before Aurra Sgall was ready.

Kal'Aran knew that his Padawan might as well have felt the presence, or maybe not as she had yet to learn a great deal of things. He nodded to the girl with a small smile and they made their way, passing right next to the man that was watching them. The Jedi Master stopped and looked into the man's eyes, as he knew he was not suffering a menace from this man.

"May I ask why you are watching us, friend?" he asked simply.

Liam's eyes flicked to the other pedestrians manoeuvring around himself and the two other Jedi. "I thought you looked familiar," he said. He saw the look of recognition in the older man's eyes. "Apologies for my rudeness. I did not wish to bother you or your student. In fact, I should probably be returning to my own student."

The girl looked at Liam and then at her Master. She knew that this man in front of her was a Jedi as well. "Are there many?" she asked. She was somewhat confused. She thought the Jedi to be few.

Kal'Aran set his hand on the young girl's shoulder and nodded. "Midi-chlorian is present everywhere. It lives in accord with all living things and bonds life together. Some have a higher level than the others. These may be Force sensitive and trained in our ways. It seems we have found another, my young Padawan."

Kal'Aran then turned to Liam. "No offense was taken. I do not believe I have met you before but if we ran into you, then perhaps the Force wanted it so... So as we crossed paths perhaps you would grant us a little bit more of your time and share a meal? If you are not alone then I would like to know more."

Liam smiled. "A meal sounds like a good idea," he said. "Two of the three Padawans are in the city with me now, though they are purchasing supplies and other necessities. I have time now to share a meal with you and your Padawan, and we can discuss the current state of things here and elsewhere." Liam motioned for the two to follow him as he led the way toward a small café down the street. "My name is Liam Zaneth," he said.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Liam Zaneth," Kal'Aran said. "I am Kal'Aran and the younger one is Aurra Sgall, my Padawan. But I am intrigued. You said three of your Padawans?" he asked.

Aurra Sgall was intrigued. "You mean you have three Padawans? I thought the ways of the Jedi only allowed one Jedi to have a Padawan..." she said.

"The rules of the Jedi Council are only carried by those who belonged to it in the old Republic days," Kal'Aran explained. "But, yes, that was a rule in the Jedi code of the old days. But perhaps that is misjudging words," he said with a gentle smile. "Please tell us more..." he asked of Liam.

"It is one of the rules of the former Council that I wish I could adhere to now," Liam said. "Currently, there is myself and another who are capable of teaching a Padawan learner. However, in my travels, I happened across another who is sensitive to the flows of the Force. We have taken her into our care and have been teaching as we can. As soon as someone who can take her as their Padawan shows up, then Dani will have a dedicated Master. The other Jedi Knight I mentioned is Jae Dyn Brael, and together we have formed a new Jedi Temple to the east of the city. It is in a secluded part of the forest where no advanced scanning can penetrate, and the Force willfully keeps out any without pure intent."

"Tal Dan's apprentice?" Kal'Aran said in surprise. "I am surprised to find her here in Chimaeria. I do not know her personally but I did know Tal Dan, and knew he had taken under an apprentice of the name Jae Dyn," he said. "And a Jedi temple is most surprising. Would it be possible to see it?"

Liam studied Kal'Aran for a moment. He felt no threat from the man, and knew that there would be no trouble in allowing him to see the Temple. And, he realized that bringing Kal'Aran into the Temple could only strengthen the new Jedi Order he was trying to build. They needed everyone they could. Finally, he nodded. "Very well," he said. "I have a speeder this way. Nieme and Dani should be returning to there soon, so perhaps we shall meet them as we're arriving."

"Very well then." Kal'Aran nodded. It had been a good thing that he had met other Jedi, although this seemed more a new type that arose with different principles. But with new times and younger ones that was to be expected. "Let me pay for our meal..." he said as he placed some credits on the table for the waiter to pick up.

Aurra got up and smiled. "I am eager to find out what the other Padawans are like. Are they my age?" she asked. "I wonder what it was like for them and what kind of influence the Force has on them. My former Master, Yandoor, used to say that each Jedi has both equal and different abilities to others..."

Liam smiled. "The others are a few years older," he said. "Though, Dani may be closer to your age. I think the best answer to your questions, though, will be to meet the others."

With that, Liam led the way to the speeder. He had anticipated waiting there for Nieme and Dani to show up, but upon reaching the speeder he found a message written in a flowing script across the canopy of the speeder. It was written in purple, and he had a feeling it was Dani's lipstick. The message was simple: Dani had bought a speederbike, and she and Nieme were heading on back to the Temple ahead of him. He laughed softly to himself, and then quickly cleaned it off.

Once the writing was cleared away, the trio climbed into the speeder and sped out of the city toward the Jedi Temple hidden in the forest east of New Plouton.

---

"The Temple"
By: Kal'Aran - Jedi Master
Aurra Sgall - Jedi Padawan
Kallia Brael - Jedi Knight

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4 ABY

***

As he and Aurra got out of the speeder with Liam, they were both quite impressed. Kal'Aran could tell that indeed the place was blessed with the Force. It seemed it was rich in something. Something other than just life. The currents of the Force seemed to blend in with the building structures, almost as one.

Aurra found it most pretty, and then they were shown around and introduced to another Jedi, one called Kallia, who would show them more, as Liam left. She smiled to the other woman, although she found it odd that she looked different from the Jedi she was more accustomed to.

"This is a most pretty place!" she said. "I would like to see more..."

Kal'Aran nodded at the other woman. "I am Kal'Aran and the young one is my Padawan, Aurra Sgall."

Kallia smiled and offered a slight bow. "Welcome to you both," she said. "My name is Kallia Brael, though you may also call me Jae Dyn if you'd like. Would you care for the grand tour?"

"Yes please!" Aurra said, quite eager to find out more about the most beautiful place. She wandered around to see more, but never quite going away from her Master.

As they started to walk, Kal'Aran took Jae Dyn's side. He looked at her. "So, you were Tal Dan Laeken's Padawan..." he said. "I knew him from the older days of the Republic."

"He was a very good man," Jae Dyn said with a nod. "It was a great loss when the Empire cut him down. The times have become so dark for the Jedi, darker than I know Tal Dan ever thought they could become. I only hope that we can build a Temple worthy of all those of us who died. It will be slow to rebuild, but if we can find enough who can teach..."

"Let us hope to see better and more civilized days..." Kal'Aran agreed. "The Temple is indeed a blessed one. Perhaps one used long before even my time. Nothing can be said for sure, except that the Force flows quite well within these walls..."

Meanwhile, Aurra kept close enough and viewed all that could be seen. She found the Temple most beautiful and quite peaceful. She was dazed at the location and wasn't paying too much attention to Jae Dyn, except to keep close, as she rather liked seeing more than anything else right now.

Kal'Aran then stopped and turned to face Jae Dyn. "One thing does trouble me some, I must say... I am sure that you will understand, as you were probably raised in the old Jedi Council ways. I cannot fail to see that your teaching system is rather different than that of the former Jedi Council. Even with Liam, I can sense that there is another side he fights..." he said hoping that she would comment.

"Liam is returning to the Light," Jae Dyn said as they walked. "He was also a student of Tal Dan before he was swayed to the dark side." She looked around the Temple, and then sighed. "We are doing what we can with what we have. There have only been two of us, and neither of us have attained the rank of Master. The truth of it is that neither of us have officially been named Knights. I was the closest to my completion, but I was never given the Trials. Liam was taken earlier, and never completed training as a Jedi Knight. He does what he does out of instinct and based on my advice." She turned to Kal'Aran. "That makes your presence here that much more vital."

"I see your point..." Kal'Aran said thoughtfully. "But something I have come to learn is that time, effort, and will makes one readier than expected. The Jedi Order was about keeping peace. Chosen ones had to pass certain tests and get ready when they would go for the Trials. You never did... Neither did Liam. Or so you say..."

He then sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder with a nod and a smile. "I am sure you faced many great dangers, many fears. What the Trials are indeed about is dominating your fears and making sure that the one being tested masters the necessary skills to be a Jedi. I feel that you have nothing more to learn but wisdom, and that comes only with age."

He then took her side again. "You remind me of my former Padawan, Alisson... She had the same doubt of being ready, and yet I can think of nothing wrong to point on her conduct. To be perfectly honest I believe Liam has a battle to win, and I know only one person who has been where he is now... A very good friend of mine, who once lost his path and had to find it once more."

"I have come to know Liam fairly well in our work here," Jae Dyn said. "He is steadfast on his path toward the light, and he feels that restarting the Temple, and rebuilding the Jedi Order will help him achieve that again. One of our primary tasks in the days to come is going to be organizing the Council once again. We will soon be able to emerge out of hiding, and once again take up the mantle of keeping the Galaxy's peace."

"A Jedi Council? I am sure the Emperor would seek its utter destruction at once, and yet together we hold stronger than we do dispersed. But it is not a simple task. One would have to choose the right ones to integrate its circle. Who would you choose Jae Dyn?" he asked.

"The members of the council would need wisdom and knowledge of the Jedi Code," Jae Dyn said. "We do not have enough yet from which to make an adequate selection. Of those of us who are trained, I would only count you as one with the qualifications to sit on the council. And, we need order within the Temple. Without it, we are left with chaos, and there the darkside reigns. We wouldn't announce ourselves to the Emperor, but we do need the guidance of a Council here. The Empire cannot destroy what it cannot see, and thus we remain hidden. But, if we are to train a new Jedi Order, then we will need a Council to act as our guides."

Kal'Aran nodded. "Very well then, I agree and shall grant you support in this matter. Furthermore, I am honoured that you consider me first. Indeed it seems that you already have more students than you can handle. A Council would make sure that tasks are organized. But to this, all would have to oblige in the conduct of the ways of the Jedi Code... Do you believe that all would endure this?" he asked. He then sighed. "Jae Dyn, I do believe you are wise enough, and ready, but I must question the ways in which the Jedi path has been settled here until now. I sense that some of your students have a battle inside them. One between the Force and its Dark side. Even Liam is fighting that battle, as you said... I would not think it adequate that he teaches at this point, no matter what calm he may control. But I can help him before I do the Order."

"Liam was lured to the dark side, and trained as a Sith," Jae Dyn said. "He has struggled to return to the light, but his journey is not yet complete. With your help, perhaps he can finish that quest. He was given a vision to start a new Jedi Temple here, and we have sought those who have the potential to be trained. There were only two of us, and we searched. We found Nieme and Kael, and then Dani; yet there still were only two of us with any training. We had to start somewhere, but with you here now... As I said before, I never took the Trials, I was never given the title Knight, and neither was Liam. But, you are a Jedi Master. You know of the old ways, you were a Jedi during the times of the Republic. With your guidance, we can rebuild the Jedi as they were, and become what we once were. I am certain Liam would accept your help. We will need to find others, and they have to be out there. We were able to survive, so others must have too. If we can find a way to secretly locate them without the Empire knowing..."

"Finding Force sensitive people and training them are two different things. Not all that are strongly bonded with the Force are apt to be trained. Like I said, I feel Liam must be aided before anything else. I can think only of one person who can help him. His name is Quinlan Vos, a Jedi who once lost his path and refound it. He resides on Tatooine. Perhaps Liam should talk to him. As for you, perhaps you should face the Trials. I cannot grant you the title of Jedi Knight but you would know just as much as one would in the old days." He smiled. "We may have to restart, but I believe that if the Force brought us together then this is the reason why..."

"I think so as well," Jae Dyn said. She thought for a moment, and then glanced back to Kal'Aran. "Do you think that Quinlan Vos would be interested in helping us here? To restart the Jedi Order, it will require as many people as we can. Perhaps he can assist us."

Kal'Aran smiled gently. "All I can do is ask him. But Quinlan has always been much of a loner. Even more after he set his path and fate into the hands of the Force and let his destiny be whatever the Force made of it. You see, Quinlan is a Jedi whom lost his memory a long time ago. Until he refound himself he had to battle between light and darkness. The same battle Liam fights. I believe he would help Liam, but to join the Council is a question only he can answer."

Jae Dyn nodded. "Well, whether he would or not, we will never know until he is asked. However, if we are to make this work, there will need to be more of us. One Jedi Master, two who have the ability of trained Jedi Knights, and a few Padawans aren't exactly going to be the new Jedi Order."

Kal'Aran smiled as Aurra approached them both smiling. It was obvious the young girl liked the Temple. The Jedi Master turned to Jae Dyn. "One must start at some point and place. I will talk to Quinlan. And as for yourself, we must see about the Trials then. For you first and for Liam once he is ready. But for that you must be ready to travel with me to Ilum. Only there would I have the possibility of granting you a Trial good enough to stand close to the ones of the Jedi Council."

"Thank you," Jae Dyn said. "I am confident that we can do this, especially with your guidance." She was silent for a moment, before she decided to ask the other question she had been curious about. "Liam and I have searched as we could on Tae'Karada for others strong in the Force. How do you suggest we go about searching for others who can train or be trained?"

Kal'Aran smiled and nodded. "The most important part would be to figure out whether the initiates would have darker pasts and anger or hate or fear inside them. That is a point that would decide character. To train someone under those conditions would lead them to the dark side and that is a most dangerous path."

Jae Dyn nodded. "I understand your point, Master Kal'Aran, but in these times I feel that we should look into trying to pull those who have succumbed back from the darkness. The Jedi Order always took infants into the Order, so they wouldn't be exposed to those things that would cause them trouble as they became Jedi. I don't feel we have that luxury now."

Kal'Aran patted Aurra's shoulder gently, sending the girl free to explore once more. He then turned to Jae Dyn again. "I beg to differ, Jae Dyn, but what we do not have is the luxury of affording a place for chaos to install itself inside the new Jedi Order. Did you know that Vader was once a powerful Jedi Padawan? An example of one who was not ready, who is now our most deadly foe... Perhaps one day, hopefully soon. But I do not think it wise for that moment to be now."

"Then you suggest that we take no one new on? That the handful of us we have now will be the Jedi Order? We can try to help those with the talent find the light, instead of waiting for Vader and the Emperor to find them and pull them further into darkness."

"There are very few Sith. The code they stand by makes it so, as only one Sith Master and one pupil may be... Of course it is not always so and there are others with training, but those are very few. The Emperor does not want to lure more, but to extinguish those who are. Before we have more Padawans we need better organization," Kal'Aran argued. "We need patience, Jae Dyn. Not acting over our resources. Already have we more Padawans than Jedi to teach them, and those we do need attention."

"I will agree that we need organization," Jae Dyn said. "Which is why we need a Council. And, we need more who have the training to teach. I am not suggesting that we find everyone with potential and train them. But we should know who they are. And, if we do find those young enough to accept, they would not require a single Master for several more years."

"But they would require our time nonetheless, as well as infrastructure. If I recall it correctly, it is almost a greater challenge to initiate Padawans than to teach them the correct path after initiation. Teaching several is harder than teaching merely one. Plus it takes time and patience... Furthermore we must consider our exposure level," Kal'Aran reminded. "Yes, leaning is good, but as long as we are careful..."

Jae Dyn only nodded. She knew that there was nothing she could say to Kal'Aran to make him see the need to train. He only knew the old ways, and wasn't willing to adapt to the changing times. He wasn't willing to accept that either she or Liam were ready for the task that they had undertaken, and perhaps they weren't. "Thus far," she finally said, "we have taken care in our actions. And, we have searched to match the numbers of those capable of teaching with those who need to be taught."

"And you have done quite well!" He smiled with a nod. He looked around. "I am sure you speak for Liam also and that he would agree with you. Indeed you both have done quite well. I would like to speak further with him too, and perhaps I would like to call in for my former Padawan, Alisson, as well as Quinlan. All together we will figure out how to start a new Jedi Council, I am sure."

Jae Dyn nodded. "I am certain, working together, things can be worked out. Perhaps we should hold a meeting of all of us who are trained."

"Perhaps so..." Kal'Aran agreed. By then Aurra Sgall came by. He could see that the young girl was content with the Temple, and indeed it was a wondrous place.

"Master, are we staying here?" Aurra asked simply.

Kal'Aran smiled gently. "Indeed it seems so, my young apprentice." He nodded. He then turned to Jae Dyn. "Am I to call upon Alisson and Quinlan as well, or shall we decide on that along with the others?" he asked.

"I think if we're to make this work," Jae Dyn said, "we'll need their help. However, maybe it would be best for all of us to discuss it."

Kal'Aran nodded. "Very well. If Liam and the others agree I will call upon them both."

"Thank you," Jae Dyn said to him. "I'll talk to Liam this evening then."

Kal'Aran nodded simply. "Well, if you will excuse me, Aurra and I will settle in then." And with that the Jedi Master called upon his Padawan, Aurra Sgall, and left.

---

"Falling to Pieces, Part 1"
by Kael Selrid
Yelara Zaneth
and Liam Zaneth

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

Kael pushed the door to the refresher open, thankful he'd managed to convince Nieme and Dani to go away for a little while. He grinned as his eyes found Yelara. "Did I hear someone in here asking for some help?"

"Oh, that was me," Yelara called back as she poked her head out of the shower. "There's this hard to reach spot on my back I can't get to." She shot Kael a sultry smile and moved to the opening of the shower, fully exposed and covered in a fine sheen of water. "You think you could help me with that?

Kael quickly started pulling his clothes off. "I think I can manage," he said. Once his clothes were piled on the floor, he slipped into the shower with Yelara. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely, his passion igniting in an instant. When the kiss broke, he looked into her eyes. "You like danger, don't you Yelara?"

"It's only dangerous if we get caught." Yelara ran her finger along Kael's lips and whispered silkily, "Or do you mean yourself? Are you dangerous, Kael? Hmm?" She slid her hand down Kael's chest as the water flowed over their embracing forms. "Wouldn't you like to show me how rough and dangerous you can be? Don't worry," she whispered as her hand dipped lower, "I can handle it."

Kael grinned and decided to not say another word. Instead, he pushed Yelara up against the wall, and pressed his lips to hers. As he pulled away, he bit her lip and laughed softly as she whimpered. Then, he forced her legs apart, and pushed himself to her entrance. He kissed her again, feasting on her mouth and tongue, and then roughly pushed himself inside her. He started a hard thrusting rhythm that seemed to be punctuated by sharp, yet quiet, cries from Yelara. "You handle it very well," he said with a mischievous gleam in his eye.

She nodded her head quickly in response and ran her tongue along her lips as she delighted in the exquisite pain Kael was subjecting her to. It was even more delicious when mingled with the pleasure she derived from it, as well as the invigorating rush that filled her by performing an act so daring in a shower she'd once shared with Liam and Kallia.

She moaned plaintively, but didn't fight back the throbbing pain between her legs. She relished it and revelled in seeing how much Kael enjoyed inflicting it upon her. "I knew you liked it this way," she groaned. "You're a passionate, primal being. I saw it in your eyes that day you beat the hell out of Dani." Yelara arched back against the wall with a cry, then laughed huskily and moved her lips to Kael's ear. "I bet you got turned on when she pleaded for you to stop. Do you want me to beg, Kael? Do you want me to beg for mercy?"

"Yes," Kael moaned. "Beg me like Dani begged me. Beg me for mercy. I should have given it to her like this. She's very sensual and sex-driven. I bet she'd like this way too. But, not like you. You're fire, Yelara. You're beautiful, sensual fire. Beg me. Beg me now!"

"I'll beg, Kael," she said breathlessly. "I'll beg... Shall I get on my hands and knees for you, Kael? Would that appease you? Hmm?"

"Just your knees will do," Kael rasped. "On your knees and beg me."

Yelara let out a throaty laugh that echoed in the small shower. She smoothed her hands over Kael's slick chest, then pushed him away from her and into the opposite wall. She held him there with one hand while her other teased his hard, throbbing cock. "Now, I'm going to beg, Kael. I've never begged anyone before, except for my husband." She slowly dropped to her knees but kept her eyes locked with Kael's. "Consider this your lucky day," she said before she kissed the tip of his erect phallus, then laughed and wrapped her mouth fully around it.

Kael couldn't help moaning as her mouth engulfed him. It was the most beautiful feeling, and one he knew that Nieme would be repulsed by.

***

The speeder slowed to a stop in the clearing before the Temple. Liam climbed out one side as Kal'Aran and Aurra Sgall got out the other. He led the way toward the Temple entrance. As they walked, he explained what little they knew about the Temple, and the renovations he and Kallia had been forced to make in order for it to be habitable.

Once they were inside, he started back toward the training area, hoping that he'd find either Kallia or one of the Padawans on the way. He also smiled at the thought of finding Yelara, and telling her she'd won the bet. Though, he still didn't know what the bet was really about.

"It's this way," he said.

***

"Oh gods," Kael moaned again. He closed his eyes and used his hands to guide Yelara's head along his shaft. He couldn't stop moaning, and he had to admit that Yelara was better than even Raeila. "You...you beg beautifully, Yelara. You are a beautiful beggar."

A laugh rose in Yelara's throat and continued as she engorged Kael's cock. Her hands had moved to his rear and with one massaging it, the fingers of the other were exploring his anus. She thought about how amusing it would be if Liam walked in on their lascivious display. It would serve him right, she thought bitterly. If he could have a student, why couldn't she? She'd always thought the Jedi to be sanctimonious, self-important hypocrites, but Liam hadn't been a Jedi for years and would have no right to rebuke her for doing precisely what he had done.

Yelara pulled her mouth away from Kael's cock and rose before him. She was weary of begging and wanted to scream, a scream that would expel all her rage and bitterness and fill her with only delirious ecstasy. She laughed wickedly as she turned towards the wall and parted her legs wide. With each hand on the cold shower wall, she braced herself and looked back at Kael. "I bet you like it this way, just like you enjoyed taking Nieme for the first time. Nice and tight."

Kael smiled and moved up behind Yelara, positioning himself at the entrance to her anus. "This is a good way," he said, his voice thick with arousal. He pressed his lips to her neck, as he pushed himself inside her. He felt his eyes rolling back in his skull just from the sensations caused by her tightness. "Nice and tight," he said as he started pumping in and out. "I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to shower alone again."

Yelara whimpered and breathed sharply as the burning pain forked its way through her body. She hadn't been taken in this position since requested to do so years ago during her days as a prostitute, but even then the pain was a release from the heartache and dejection she suffered from the pitiful existence that was her life.

She reached back and clutched Kael's thighs as she cried out. Her head fell forward into the wall and she chewed her lip to force back the cries and the gentle tears that were tumbling down her cheeks. She grasped Kael's hand with hers and brought it around and down between her legs. Forcing his fingers inside of her, she looked back at him and smiled. "We can shower all we want when Liam and Kal are away. And definitely more walks... I don't think I could do without those."

"Oh definitely not," Kael said with a feral grin. "I couldn't do without them either. I think we're becoming quite needful of each other." He let his fingers explore her inside, bringing out more and more moans. "I think maybe daily walks are in order, don't you? Or at least every other day."

"Every other day...but only because I need at least a day to recover." Yelara groaned and felt her legs sliding out from beneath her. Her entire body was becoming feeble as she became absorbed completely by the sounds of her pain-tinged cries echoing in the shower accompanied by Kael's grunts and their bare flesh slapping together rhythmically. "Don't stop," Yelara whispered. "No matter what, don't stop."

Kael nipped at Yelara's neck and followed it with a kiss. "I'll never stop," he said with a grunt as he plunged back into her. "Ever."

***

Liam and his entourage found Kallia in the training room. She was balancing on one hand while repositioning the chairs around the room with her thoughts. As she sensed them enter, she quickly dropped out of her handstand, but continued through the last cycle of chair movements before letting them go.

Liam made quick introductions, and then asked about Yelara's whereabouts.

"She and Kael had just returned from their walk a short time ago, and she was heading into the shower. She's hasn't come out yet, so I believe she's still there."

Liam nodded. "Thanks, Kal. Would you mind showing Kal'Aran and Aurra around while I go see how she's doing?"

"Go ahead, Liam," Kallia said. "I'll get them situated."

Liam gave her a smile, and then slipped out of the room in search of Yelara.

***

"I don't know how much longer I can last," Kael rasped. "Maybe just a little longer." He kissed her again. "When I go off, where do you want it?"

Yelara's head lolled back onto Kael's shoulder as her mind whirled in a frenzy. Her moans grew in intensity and pitch while her body jerked forward with the strength of Kael's thrusts. "On me," she whispered. "I want you to release onto my breasts and face...and then I want to slather it over my body and let you lick it off. That's what I want..."

"Oh gods, yes," Kael groaned as he continued his thrusts. "Now. Get down now, 'cause I can't hold it back much longer." He pulled all the way out, his prick harder than it'd ever been as he prepared to release his load onto Yelara.

As she got onto her knees again, he started taking himself to that final climax when a voice in the other room almost caused his heart to stop beating.

"Yelara? Yelara, my love, are you in here?"

Yelara looked up at Kael wide-eyed and with a mixture of shock and excitement. It took her a moment to process what was happening and it was the water from the shower raining down upon her that finally snapped her into action. She scrambled to her feet, but quickly broke into quiet laughter at the look of horror on Kael's face. "Should we ask him to join, do you think?"

"He'll kill me," Kael whispered. "If he finds me here, like this, he'll kill me. I gotta-- I have to go. If he finds us, we'll never be able to do this again. We can't be caught, Yel. Not like this."

Yelara couldn't keep her laughter from rising as the blood drained from Kael's face. She heard Liam moving about in the bedroom and his footsteps were approaching the refresher door. "Oh...come on then," Yelara whispered. She pushed open the shower door and hurried out with Kael in tow. "Get your clothes and jump out the window. I don't think it's that far of a fall. But anything's better than Liam's wrath. Now go!"

Kael quickly picked up his clothes and moved to the window with Yelara. He shoved the bundle out and after a quick kiss, he said, "We will have to finish this. I'll see you soon." Another kiss, and he followed his clothes out the window.

A moment later, and the door opened. Liam stepped into the refresher, spotted the still-dripping Yelara and smiled. "What are you doing over there at the window? Hello, my love, Kallia said you had a good walk with Kael."

"Oh..." Yelara laughed nervously. "I...I heard the most beautiful song and I wanted to see which bird it was." She turned towards the open window again and glanced down to see Kael disappearing into the forest. She sighed quietly and pulled closed the shutter. As she turned back to Liam, she stepped towards him, but her gait faltered and a gasp stuck in her throat. She pulled her eyes away quickly from the source of her sudden distress, one in the form of Kael's shirt laying in plain view behind the door. Before Liam had a chance to survey the room and spot the physical evidence of her betrayal, she rushed towards him and covered his mouth with hers. She moaned softly and pushed him out of the refresher and back into the bedroom. "If you'd come sooner, you could have joined me in the shower, my love."

"I would have liked that," Liam said. "Though, you're still pretty wet, so I'm getting part of the shower already. However, I have a feeling if we were in the shower together, we wouldn't be doing too much showering." He kissed her. "We don't need a shower for that though."

Yelara laughed - a long, drawn out one that would give her time to think of an excuse to get Liam out of the room long enough to hide Kael's shirt. She sighed airily as she continued pushing Liam towards the bed and even farther from the crime scene in the refresher. "Did you have fun today, my love? Did...Dani?"

Liam laughed and turned away slightly. "Dani almost had too much fun," he finally said. "That girl is a little seductress. She was flirting all morning, and then Nieme had to go get something at one of the stores in the city, and it left me and Dani alone. She made her intentions very clear, but...I--I guess you win the bet."

"So...you refused her advances then?" Yelara asked, trying to mask the skepticism in her voice with a smile. She leaned in close to Liam and took in a whiff of the scent from his clothing. She thought she'd smelled something before, vaguely, but after his admission, she knew what she'd detected wasn't merely a concoction of her imagination. "You smell like flowers, Liam," she whispered.

Her paranoia was quick to return and infect her mind with thoughts of betrayal and unfaithfulness. Dani had been near him, of that she was certain. How close? Her mind answered that question for her before Liam could even utter a word. "No, Liam," she said coldly. "I think you've won the bet unanimously." She pulled away from him and moved back towards the refresher. Before Liam could follow, she kicked Kael's shirt into the shower and closed the door behind it.

Liam followed her into the refresher. "I refused her advances," Liam snapped. "She kissed me, she--she started to do more, and I stopped her. I stopped her before it got carried away. Before I realized what was going on, she had my pants open, and me in her mouth, but I stopped her. And, then she went off to find Nieme and I went to get the supplies, that's the last I saw of her. She left a note in that purple lipstick of hers on the canopy of the speeder telling me she and Nieme came back here, or I'd probably still be in the city waiting for the two of them. I stopped it, Yelara."

"But you wanted it," she whispered. She wrapped her arms around herself, covering some of the scrapes and bruises from her and Kael's exploits. "Don't deny to me that you wanted it, Liam. I think you've always had a penchant for little girls. Is that why you decided to go for this whole Temple deal? I bet you could round up a whole herd of Padawans to screw behind my back, just like you did--" Yelara sighed and looked away. "You won the bet, Liam. Congratulations."

Liam grabbed Yelara and turned her to face him. "I did not screw anyone," he said, his voice a growl. "Let go of this damn paranoia of yours. Nothing happened. Nothing at all happened. Do you really think I would do something to you? Especially now? You're my wife, Yelara. I would never cheat on you. Ever!"

"Not anymore, you mean? Not unless you know there's no way I'd find out?" Yelara laughed dryly and tried to pry her arms from Liam's grasp. "I can smell her on you," she said sourly. "I can taste her on your lips! I bet if you planned things out carefully, you could have Nieme and Dani at the same time."

Liam grabbed Yelara by the shoulders and pulled her to him. "I did not fuck that girl," he rasped, his eyes glowing a sinister blue. "Do you seriously think me capable of that? Do you seriously think I'd do something like that to you? If you do, then perhaps we should rethink this whole marriage thing. If you can't trust me, then maybe this is wrong."

Yelara shrank back against the malevolence reflecting upon her from the cold blue of Liam's gaze. She visibly trembled and desisted any attempts at struggling for fear the attempt would cause him to come completely unhinged. "Of course you're capable of it," she said in a frightened whisper. "You've done it before..." Yelara whimpered, unable to look away from Liam's horrifying eyes. For the first time since they'd been together, she legitimately believed he would do her harm. "Let go," she pleaded trepidly. "You're holding me too tight. You're hurting me, Liam. Let go."

Liam released his hold on Yelara and stepped back. "What I did before was before we were married," he said. "If you still think me capable of doing something like that now, then you really don't know me at all. I am your husband, Yelara. I wouldn't do something like that, couldn't do it. What happened with Elisia... I'd never do something like that again, not after the pain we went through because of it. Do you really think I'd do that again after almost losing you because of it?"

"I..." Yelara took in a ragged breath and staggered back towards the nearest wall of the refresher. She pressed her back to it and looked down upon the floor - anywhere but Liam's chilling, blue eyes. "I don't feel well," she said quietly as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Just...just leave me alone. I'm not well and I need to be alone."

"Fine," Liam said. "I'll be staying in one of the other rooms tonight. And, there is a new Jedi Master in the Temple, just so you know."

"Great," she said quietly. "That makes one more member of the family. Things around here can't get any more joyous."

Without another word, Liam left their room.

---

"Falling to Pieces, Part 2"
by Kael Selrid
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
and Dani

Location: Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

The walk around to the front of the Temple had managed to help Kael get rid of the limp he'd earned himself jumping out of the window. There was still a twinge of pain, but he could at least look like he was feeling fine. He'd managed to get his clothing back on, but cursed himself when he realized his shirt was missing.

He slipped into the Temple again, and went in search of Nieme. He figured she'd be in Dani's room. He heard voices out toward the training area, but hurried away toward the room he shared with Nieme. Once arriving, he went to the next door down, he pushed it open and slipped inside. He saw Nieme and Dani curled up together. At the sight of Dani's lips, partly open and so close to Nieme's he felt a surge of need. Yelara was right, and he wanted her. He wanted her to beg him. He smiled and moved next to the bed. He pressed his lips to Nieme's. "I'm back, my love," he whispered.

Nieme sighed deeply and opened her eyes slowly. Even blurred, Nieme knew it was Kael's face she was gazing into. "Oh...I missed you." She smiled lazily and pulled her arms free of the embrace they'd held Dani in, then wrapped them loosely around Kael's neck. She blinked away the residual bleariness and once Kael came into focus, she frowned. "Were you showering, Kael? Your hair...it's all wet."

Kael grinned. "Yeah," he said. "After that walk today, I figured I'd shower before I spent time with you. Just so I wasn't all smelly. I don't want to be smelly for my arozeil." He kissed her again. "I missed you too. Yelara can be very demanding. She--she needed her calves massaged after that long walk." He shook his head. "But, I'm here with you now."

"I'm so glad." Nieme grinned happily and sat upright in bed. She looked back at Dani, who was still soundly napping and giggled softly. "Come on, Kael," she whispered. "Let's go so we don't wake her." Nieme rose from the bed and gazed up with renewed longing in her eyes. "I really did miss you today, Kael."

Kael smiled and pulled Nieme to him. "Unless we wanted to see if we could do this without waking her up," he said as he kissed her softly. "Do you think you can be really quiet?"

"In...in here, Kael?" Nieme looked back at Dani, afraid she'd heard Kael's suggestion in her sleep. Nieme swallowed hard and slowly shifted her gaze back to Kael. "I-I can be quiet...if this is what you really want. I... Anything you want, Kael."

Kael kissed Nieme again, and then eased her shirt off. As he started removing the pants she wore, he lowered his lips to her breasts, suckling gently. Nieme's trembling hands fumbled with his pants. When she finally got them open, she found him very ready to make love. He eased her back onto the bed next to Dani, careful not to disturb Dani in her sleep. He covered Nieme's lips with his again, mainly to muffle the sounds he knew would emerge, and then slid himself inside her. He pulled his lips away and smiled. "You okay," he whispered.

Nieme chewed her bottom lip and nodded her head quickly. She glanced nervously at Dani, hoping she wouldn't be roused by their movements. She whimpered quietly and bit on her lip even more heavily to make certain no other sounds escaped. Her hands moved over Kael's chest, then around to his back. Her brow furrowed as her hands passed over a series of rough patches of skin. She ran her fingers over them to get a better idea of what they were, and without even looking, Nieme knew they were scabbed flesh. She'd cut herself enough in the kitchen to know a scab when she felt one. But so many of them... "Did you--" Nieme moaned quietly and clenched her eyes shut. The passion building from their union was becoming overwhelming and she could barely contain her gentle cries. "You cut yourself in the forest? Did you?"

Kael kissed Nieme to get her thoughts off his back, and to keep her from making noise. As he felt a moan coming from Nieme, though, he pulled his lips away. As she moaned, he looked startled by the sound, and quickly covered her lips again. Next to them, Dani shifted. Finally, he pulled his lips away again. "I got scraped with a tree branch," he whispered, the lie coming naturally. "It hurt when it happened, but it's better now." He was having a difficult time containing his own moans. Dani moaned as her body started undulating with the obvious arousal she was feeling. He smiled. They'd get her all worked up. At least she has her toys now, Kael said.

"I'll...I'll take care of them after." Nieme sighed with the overwhelming ecstasy rising in her. She could hear moans coming from Dani and saw her body gently writhing. Nieme panicked for a moment, afraid Dani would awaken and that she would be upset by the scene. "K-Kael," she whispered. "Maybe...maybe we should stop. I mean...Dani..." Her legs tightened around Kael's waist and Nieme groaned. Her protests seemed less than earnest compared to the way her body was reacting to Kael's thrusts. She told him to stop, but she knew she wanted to continue.

Kael didn't stop. He knew he couldn't even if he wanted to. Dani's moans were more insistent now, and he could see out of the corner of his eye that one of her hands had slipped down between her thighs. He smiled at the image, and continued making love to Nieme. He kissed her passionately as he lengthened his thrusts. "I love you," he whispered into Nieme's ear. As he glanced to the side again, he could see Dani's eyes opening and focusing on them. He turned so he wasn't looking at her, focusing on Nieme instead. At least she wouldn't see the smile on his face this way.

Nieme's breathing hastened and her body burned with the fire of her arousal. She was nervous about waking Dani, which made her tense, and no matter how desperately she tried to keep from vocalizing her pleasure, she could hear her moans resonating through the room. "I'm sorry, Kael," she whispered huskily. "I'm trying to be quiet..." Her moans now mingled with Dani's, which worried Nieme. Her eyes were still closed, but her hands were moving hastily between her legs. The sight shocked Nieme, who looked away quickly and focused on Kael's grinning face. "We should stop," she moaned. "This...this is bad, Kael." Nieme fingers dug into the flesh of Kael's back in an attempt to channel the intense sensation through them instead of having them expressed through her moans and cries. Her nails clawed at the wounds already on Kael's back, but she needed something to cling to in order to keep herself controlled.

The pleasure of their union, mingling with the pain of Nieme clawing at his back was sublime. Kael couldn't stop himself, not until he'd filled Nieme with his seed. After his aborted climax with Yelara, he had to now. "It's alright, Nieme," Kael whispered. "It's alright. There's nothing wrong with this, nothing wrong with three friends like this."

At their side, Dani was moving again, her body writhing with ecstasy, but at the same time, she was coming fully awake. "Oh gods, Nieme," she murmured. "Oh...oh Kael..."

Nieme gasped and her clenched eyes flew open. She looked quickly to her side and saw Dani gazing at them dreamily. She pressed her hands to the bed and tried to push up both her weight and Kael's so she could scramble out from under him. "We...we have to stop," she cried out frantically. "Dani...I'm sorry," she sobbed. Nieme vainly continued trying to topple Kael from her so she could rush out of the room and hide her face and her shame. She knew they were tormenting Dani, and this pained Nieme. "Stop...we have to..."

"No," Kael rasped. "Just. A little. More. Oh gods. Nieme. Please. Just a. Little." Before she could respond, he plunged himself inside her again and filled her with his seed. He cried out with the climax, pulling Nieme to him as he did.

Weeping softly into Kael's arm, Nieme was glad that Dani couldn't see her face, and even more glad that she didn't have to see the contorted expression of denied fulfillment in Dani's. She could feel the bed shifting under Dani's frantic motions and she whispered quietly, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Dani... I didn't...I didn't mean it..."

Looking at the trembling form beneath Kael, Dani ceased her movements and pulled her hand out of her pants. When she spoke, her voice was thick with her own arousal. "It's alright," she said. "I know you didn't mean to, and you have nothing to be sorry for, Nieme."

"And, you're saying I do?" Kael asked, his voice clearly relaying his irritation. "Yeah, it's all my fault for getting you worked up. You're just pissed off because you're not the one getting fucked. That's what the toys are for though, so you shouldn't have any complaints."

Dani looked at Kael and she felt the tears welling in her eyes. "That was mean to say," she said. "Why do you have to be cruel? I didn't mean it like that, Kael. I don't mind...it's just...I don't mind. It's alright. I'm happy for the two of you making love. It's important."

Kael only nodded, not trusting his voice or that he wouldn't snap at her again.

Nieme's sobs ceased as she felt the sickening wave of emotions coming from Kael and the immense sadness from Dani. She groaned and struggled to push Kael off of her so she could evade the anger that seemed to singe her flesh. "Get off," she cried out desperately. "I...I have to get out of here. Please...get off!"

"Fine," Kael finally said, and rolled off Nieme, allowing her to get up if she wanted. "Look, I'm sorry. I just wanted to be with you. It'd been all day, and we'd hardly seen each other. I just wanted to be with you, Nieme. But, go ahead, if you have to go...

The tears never came again for Nieme, for she was too possessed by Kael's offensive emotions that the sickening roiling of her stomach was all she could concentrate on. She scrambled off the bed and with tremulous motions, she gathered her clothes and quickly pulled them on. "Dani..." she whispered. She couldn't turn to the bed, not at the risk of meeting Kael's gaze. "Come with me, Dani. We...we have to train now." Nieme blindly held out her hand and awaited the gentle touch of her friend's hand when it would land softly in hers.

Dani scrambled off the bed, carefully avoiding getting anywhere near Kael. She slipped her hand into Nieme's and tried to give her a reassuring look. She wasn't sure if she succeeded. "Let's go train," she said softly.

On the bed, Kael watched them both passively, but his eyes were blazing with anger. "I guess I'll see you two later, then."

Nieme squeezed Dani's hand and smiled at her comfortingly. Without acknowledging Kael, she moved with her friend towards the door. Kael had progressed so much in such a short time, but he kept regressing no matter how happy they were. She involuntarily let tears escape and turned her face away from Dani so she wouldn't see them, although she knew her anguish would definitely be felt by her friend.

When Dani felt Nieme's emotions reach the point of tears, she felt her own tears coming. She looked at Nieme and tried to smile. "It's okay," she said, and kissed Nieme's throat. "It's okay to cry, Nieme." She pulled Nieme closer to her and slipped an arm around her. "We have each other at least."

"But...he was doing so well..." Nieme buried her face into Dani's bosom and shook gently with tears. "I didn't want to do it, but I knew he wanted to... He didn't have to be so mean to you..." She looked up with tears washing over her eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry he made you unhappy. I'm sorry we made you...excited. I'm sorry, my love."

Dani held Nieme close and kissed the top of her head. "I forgive you, my sweet Nieme," she whispered. "You did nothing wrong. You were only doing what Kael wanted to, though you didn't know he was doing it to get me worked up. And, now that I am excited, it just means that I have a real reason to use my new toys." She lifted Nieme's face so she could gaze into her eyes. She smiled sweetly, and then kissed her friend.

Nieme sighed softly at Dani's touch and she felt her body become limber as the gentle fragrance of flowers drifted into her nose and wrapped itself around her tense nerves. They were massaged loose by Dani's euphoric scent and all thoughts of Kael's anger and Dani's sadness dissipated into nothing. She wrapped her arms around Dani's waist and let her friend explore her mouth while their lips locked. She was no longer hesitant when she let her tongue tease Dani's and her hands explore her back. With Dani, it always felt right, even though it was Kael she thought she was destined to be with.

Dani moaned softly as the kiss seemed to stretch into infinity. Nieme's body pressed tightly to hers felt amazing, and she could feel warmth returning where Kael's anger had driven it away. She wished she could just disappear with Nieme and they could share this moment forever, just being with each other.

"If the two of you are going to be having your little lesbian lovefest, at least do it behind closed doors," Kael called out.

Nieme paused and slowly pulled her lips from Dani's. She glanced over her friend's shoulder and saw Kael grinning at them smugly. She'd never been as enraged before as she became upon seeing the man she loved treat her so cruelly. "Fine," she said in a voice so calm, it surprised even her. "We'll heed your advice, Kael." She glanced back at Dani and her expression softened. She ran her hand lightly along Dani's cheek, then quickly turned and headed down the corridor, dragging Dani along. "We'll be in the refresher...together!" she hollered back.

Kael sprang off the bed and flew out the door. He started after them and stopped. "Nieme," he called. He held up one arm and took hold of his marriage bracelet with the other hand. "You do that, in there with her, and it's over." He gave the bracelet a gentle tug, enough to let her know what he meant.

Nieme stopped suddenly and looked over to Dani with a disheartened frown. Over her shoulder, she saw the bracelet glistening in the natural light of the corridor and she felt her heart sink. Their marriage had become nothing more than a tool used to deal out empty threats and strike fear in one another. It had become a method of controlling the other and had now become meaningless to Nieme.

She looked down at the bracelet hanging loosely from her wrist and she ran her finger along it tenderly. With a plaintive sigh, she pulled her hand gently from Dani's and turned to face Kael. She opened her mouth to plead with him, to make him stop the foolishness and bitterness. She had no more fight in her, though. Her fingers clutched the bracelet and with a wince, she broke it free from her arm. Her lips trembled with emotion as she gazed at Kael and whispered, "I love you." She tossed the fragile bracelet far away from her and towards Kael. It had to be done. She couldn't love him like this, because he had ceased to become the man she loved. Her back turned to Kael, she slipped her hand into Dani's again and started down the corridor.

"No," cried Kael, it was at once both plaintive and enraged. "You can't do this, Nieme. We love each other. We can't just throw what we have away like this. You can't go with her like that. That's adultery, and you can't do that to our marriage. You can't have sex outside of our bed, with anyone other than me. Those are the rules of marriage, those are the rules of love. You can't do this! Please, Nieme. Please, my arozeil."

Nieme looked up at Dani imploringly. She loved Kael and even now wanted to run to him. She needed strength to do this and Dani would be that for her. She'd convinced Kael to leave the desert so he could escape the darkness, but now it was she who was pushing him into it. "I'm sorry, Kael," she whispered. She looked back at him with tears she hadn't meant to shed rolling down her cheeks. "I think...I think I'm going to tell Jae Dyn Brael everything. She can help you, Kael. Then maybe I can wear your bracelet again. But...I don't know..."

Kael stepped closer to Nieme, and Dani's hand tightened slightly. "If you need to talk to her," he said, "that's alright. She's good. She can help us. But, do we really need her help? We're from the desert, Nieme. We're kir'thana. We can get through this together. We're strong, desert strong. It's you and me, Nieme. Just you and me."

"And Dani..." She raised her hand, still holding Dani's firmly, and brought it to her lips. She kissed her friend's purple flesh tenderly, then brought it to her cheek. "I love her. She's my best friend, Kael. When you make me sad, I need her to make me happy again. And when you make her sad, it makes me...hate you, Kael. I don't want to hate you. I've only ever wanted to love you. Why can't you just let me love you, Kael?"

Kael looked at Dani and a pained expression crossed his face. "But, I don't understand, Nieme. Why can't you just love me? Aren't I enough? Am I that bad that you have to find another person to love too?"

"You're not...bad, Kael. You just..." Nieme sighed and felt her will weakening against the onslaught of tortured anguish crossing Kael's features and the sight of her broken bracelet - a sign of their marriage bond - lying on the floor. She desperately wanted to wear it again, to resolidify their bond, but she couldn't let Kael win this time. He had promised to change, manipulated her into thinking he would, then he simply returned to his former ways. She refused to allow him to hurt her or Dani again. "I can't choose who I love, Kael. If I could, right now, I would choose not to love you. B-But I do, despite how awful you're being. I'm sorry...but it has to be like this." Nieme looked to Dani and sighed. "Come on, Dani. Let's go talk to Master Jae Dyn Brael."

"You can love her," Kael said, taking a couple steps after them. "But it doesn't mean you have to act on those feelings. Nieme! You are my wife! We belong together. You and me, Nieme. We're kir'thana. She's not even from this world! Nieme, please... Why can't you just love the person you married?"

Nieme spun around, whirling Dani with her in the process. She released the grip she'd had on Dani's hand and strode towards Kael with a fierce glare. He barely had time to react before Nieme clutched at the bracelet on his wrist and yanked it free. She held the broken chain in her clenched fist, then threw it into Kael's chest. "There is no you and me anymore, Kael. We're not married either. I refuse to b-be with a man who's malevolent and...and spiteful, a man who's unkind and who hurts me and my friends. You're that man, Kael, and that means I can't be with you."

Kael stared at his wrist, and then he looked up into Nieme's eyes. He knew she'd see the genuine pain there, and he knew it would give her pause. At least now when he was with Yelara, it wouldn't be cheating anymore. He could feel a large part of himself crumbling inside, turning to dust. But, the Kael who ran the Feltreys was in control, unaffected. He looked at the two broken chains lying on the ground and he sighed. "Fine," he said. Without another word, he turned and returned to his room.

With Kael no longer before her, Nieme allowed herself to drop the guise of confidence and dropped to her knees. Her hands went to her face to muffle the sobs and to keep the glare from the reflective metal of their bracelets from piercing her heart. Kael was gone and behind him he'd left a trail of thick, lingering darkness. She'd failed and all because she wasn't strong enough to keep Kael from stumbling into the darkness. If she'd loved him more...

Nieme sank into a trembling ball and wept with anguish and regret. Things were so much easier in the desert, life so much less complicated. The desert was where she needed to be. A surprised, excited gasp escaped Nieme's lips as she staggered to her feet and turned to Dani. "Follow me." Without another word, Nieme turned and fled down the corridor, her steps determined and confident.

Dani didn't ask questions, she just followed. She could still feel both Kael and Nieme's anguish. She sighed heavily, but kept her pace behind her friend. Nieme knew what to do, and she'd make things alright again. With a smile, Dani knew that she would help Nieme however she needed it.

"Do you have any creds left on you cred slip?" Nieme asked. Her brisk pace never waned and with her brewing anticipation, she even hastened her gait.

Dani nodded. "Yeah," she said. "I could probably buy another speeder bike, and still have enough for an equadi and a pair of those really fancy sandal things most of the women wear with them. Not that I'd want to buy another one of those. Whatever you need, Nieme, it's yours."

Nieme slowed down until she had halted in the foyer near the large doors that led into the courtyard at the front of the Temple. "Come with me," she said softly. She turned around to face Dani and smiled solemnly. "Let's take your bike and let's go, Dani. I want to show you my home. I want to take you to the desert."

Dani grinned and then nodded. "I want to go," she said. "We can go right now. The power cell definitely has enough to get us there. It could probably get us all the way around the planet if we wanted to. We can go. I want to go with you." She took Nieme's hand and felt their shared serenity fill her. "We can leave a note on the canopy of the speeder, unless you don't want to leave a note, and that's okay too. But, we have to go."

"No note," Nieme said flatly. "I don't want them following us. This is just you and me, Dani. We'll go together, and we'll never come back. We can be happy there. That's all we need." She embraced Dani needfully and kissed her tenderly upon the lips. "Let's go now before someone comes looking for us. We've got a long ride ahead of us."

Dani nodded, and returned the kiss. "Anywhere you go, I want to be too," she said. "I love you, Nieme. I know together we'll be happy." She slipped her hand into Nieme's. "Come on, our new home awaits us."

Together, they pushed open the large doors of the temple and let the sunlight flood into the foyer. She loved the sun, and Dani would too once they'd arrived at Thanatos. "We'll need to buy some protective clothing, but other than that, we have everything we need." Nieme smiled at Dani and the two stepped out of the Temple and towards the speederbike. "No Temple, no sadness... I love you, my purple flower."

Hand in hand, they quickly moved to the speederbike and climbed on. Dani glanced back toward the Temple doors, then looked at Nieme and grinned. She kissed her friend once more, and then started up the bike. Without wasting another moment, they sped away out into the forest, and away from the troubles that would plague them at the Temple.

---

"Elusive Happiness, Part 1"
By: Liam Zaneth
Jae Dyn (Kallia) Brael
Dani
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid

Location: Jedi Temple, New Plouton; Thanatos
Date: Niothe 2, 4 ABY

***

Liam Zaneth found peace in meditation. Peace he couldn't find while around his wife while her paranoia had her in its grip. He had felt his nerves untangle and the stress of his fight diminish. He smiled at the feeling he found himself filled with. This was what being a Jedi was about. This is what he had been searching for.

"Yelara's locked herself in the bedroom," Kallia's voice said from behind him. "I've set Kal'Aran and Padawan Sgall up in rooms. I am sensing some strife from the other wing, the one with Nieme, Dani, and Kael."

"Do you think they have had another fight?"

"It is possible," Kallia said. "I should go check on them."

"Yelara and I fought."

Kallia stopped from her departure and turned back to face him.

"She thinks that something happened between me and Dani," Liam said. "Nothing did. I stopped it before it could go too far."

"I see," Kallia said. "But she didn't believe you."

"I think the strain on her body from having Leshie is affecting her deeper than I had thought. She resents me because of him. She is losing her youth because she married me and had a child."

"She is still young, Liam."

He nodded. "I know," he said. "I've been doing some thinking, and a lot of it has to do with recent events. I don't feel that anyone is going to be happy."

"Go on," Kallia said.

"I want to return to some of the old traditions. I think the fraternizing has to stop."

Kallia nodded. "I had a feeling it would come to this," she said. "I agree with your decision."

"Good," Liam said. "I don't know Kal'Aran very well, but I have a feeling he'd agree as well."

"I don't think Nieme, Kael, and Dani will appreciate it."

"They are to be Jedi Knights. They must commit themselves to this, and not to their relationships. They must learn the ways of the Force; they must become Jedi."

Kallia smiled. "It's going to be a long road. Did you want to tell them now?"

"I think now is the best time. Putting it off longer only makes for more problems."

"I'll go get them," Kallia said. With that, she started off down the wing where the three Padawans' rooms were.

She knocked on Kael and Nieme's door. "We're calling a meeting," she said through the door. "Assemble in the training room."

"Yeah," Kael's voice sounded. "I'll be there."

"Is Nieme in there with you, Kael?"

"She's off with her purple flower," he said, his voice dripping with acid.

"I see," Kallia answered. So they did have a fight. She moved to Dani's door and knocked. There was no answer. She knocked again. She pushed the door open and frowned at the emptiness of the room.

She left the room and headed out to the front of the Temple. She looked around and her heightened senses could not find either of the girls. Another frown and she moved out toward the speeder. In the center of the clearing, she closed her eyes and focused. Images started to form. A speederbike with two riders, one with violet skin, the other clinging to her friend. They fled from the clearing and out toward the city. Gone!

Dani and Nieme had fled, and there was no telling where they could be.

"I had a bad feeling about this," she muttered, and then ran back inside the temple to find Liam. Damn, she thought.

It was still hot when the speeder finally arrived at the outskirts of Thanatos. Dani realized as soon as they got there, she'd have to make some modifications to keep all the sand out. She could feel a trickle of sweat dripping down her back as Nieme clung to her. She smiled at the comforting touch of her friend's body against hers. They'd only made brief stops between leaving the temple and arriving in the desert town.

As they looked at the sign marking the edge of Thanatos, Dani slowed the speeder to a stop. "We're here," she whispered softly. "We're in the desert, Nieme. It's beautiful."

"It is...especially at night." Nieme's chin rested upon Dani's shoulder, giving her a better view of the landscape ahead of them. They had gotten past the border patrols easily enough, but getting in wasn't normally the problem; getting out was where trouble was encountered. She and Dani, however, wouldn't be leaving any time soon, or ever, if Nieme had her wish.

There were sparsely placed moisture farms lining the corridor to central Thanatos, and although Nieme had no idea how to run one, it was another ambition of hers to live on one with Dani and away from the crime and violence of central Thanatos, when they gathered up enough creds, of course. "It'll be dark soon," she said above the hum of the repulsors. "W-We shouldn't be out at night. And...I think we'll have to sell the speederbike too. It'll only get stolen..."

Dani nodded. "I hate to sell it, but at least we'd get more selling it than having it stolen." She pushed them forward at a slower pace and looked around. "Where to now?"

Nieme looked around for a moment to get her bearing, then pointed to the northwest section of the terrain. "That should lead us to the city. Home, now."

Dani throttled up the repulsors, and the speederbike shot off toward the small desert city. It didn't take long for the compact vehicle to cross the distance toward the small collection of squat buildings. Once they got close enough, Dani followed Nieme's directions until they slowed to a stop before a small building. Dani looked at the house, and then looked back at Nieme. "Our new home?"

Nieme frowned and nodded. "Well...it's not so bad on the inside." She sighed and with a smile, she slid off the speeder. "Come on. I'll show you the inside. There's only one bed though...sorry."

Dani followed Nieme off the speeder, and slid her hand into her friend's. As they approached the front door, she smiled. "I don't mind one bed if you you don't," she said. "And, it's perfect Nieme. But really, I don't care what it looks like as long as I'm here with you."

"It's not as nice as the Temple, but it's still comfortable." Nieme pushed open the creaking door and sighed as she surveyed the room. It hadn't been inhabited yet by the street urchins and had yet to be raided, although there wouldn't have been much to take if it had been. Nieme giggled happily as she led the way inside. "This is my living room, my kitchen, and my bedroom." She looked to Dani and kissed her quickly upon the cheek. "How do you like it?"

Dani looked around the small house and grinned. She turned to Nieme, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's perfect! It's everything we need and more, Nieme. It'll be a perfect home. It's so cozy and comfortable. I like this better than the Temple. The Temple is so large and all stone, but this is nice. It's cozy."

"Well, it gets very cold at night, but once we get some new blankets it'll be fine." Nieme's cheeks reddened as she added, "And if we snuggle close, we should be able to keep warm." She laughed bashfully and started circuiting the room with Dani, as if a tour was needed in the small hovel where each area lacked demarcation by walls or other dividing structures and was basically one, large room. "There's no refresher...which means no showers. I hope that isn't too much trouble for you."

Dani smiled. "I'll have to get used to it," she said. "I think we can keep each other warm enough." She stepped close and slipped her arms around Nieme. "It's going to be perfect here. Me and you, and everything we could ever want. We're going to be happy here together, Nieme. I can feel it."

"It'll be better," she said with a wan smile. "I...I didn't want to leave Kael, but I had to, Dani. I had to so we could still be friends and so we could both be happy." Nieme's resolve wavered and for support she rested her head upon Dani's bosom. "Tell me I did the right thing, Dani. Tell me it was right to leave Kael."

"It was the right thing," Dani said softly as she held Nieme close. "I think if we'd stayed, it would have only been more difficult. And, I think he would have tried harder to keep us apart. He was very dark before we left. His emotions were very...mean. It was right for us to come here, to be together where we can find happiness." She kissed Nieme and then smiled. "It was right."

Nieme sighed and nodded her head solemnly. "I know. But I still miss him." She gazed up at Dani and ran a hand over her friend's soft cheek. "Everything will be right, here. And I can even get my old job back! Wouldn't that be wonderful? I could work at the Rhack and during the day, we can walk around and look at the beautiful desert."

Dani grinned and nodded. "That would be very nice," she said. "I should probably get a job too though. Where do you think I could work? I'd have to work near you. I don't want to be too far away from you; I think I like being near you too much. Oh, Nieme, it is going to be wonderful here. It's going to be so wonderful." Dani was quiet for a moment, and then she smiled. "Nieme, now that you're not married to Kael, what does that make you and me?"

She looked pensive for a moment, then Nieme cast Dani a speculative gaze. "I don't know... What did you want us to be, Dani? I love you... Is that what you mean?"

Dani smiled and glanced away in a fit of shyness. A moment later, she looked back, her eyes meeting Nieme's. "I've never had a girlfriend before, or a boyfriend."

Nieme gasped quietly and her lips trembled as Dani's soft gaze elucidated her true meaning. "You...you want me to be that for you? Your girlfriend, I mean. What...what would I have to do? Oh, I'd do anything for you, Dani! Anything..."

"It's kind of like being married," Dani said. "But, not quite. It's what happens when two people care for each other very much, and they sort of pledge themselves to each other. And, you wouldn't really have to do anything, we just be us, except we're committed to each other, but not quite as strongly bonded as marriage. I don't know if that makes sense. I love you very much, Nieme, and I want to be yours."

"So...I pledge myself to you and promise to love you always?" Nieme laughed. "I would have done that anyway, Dani. But if you need to hear it then...yes, Dani, I'll be your g-girlfriend."

Dani grinned, and then kissed Nieme. "I love you, Nieme. And, you're the first person I've ever committed myself to like this. There's never been anyone I've loved enough to want to be with for always. Not until you."

"And here in the desert, we'll have all the time in the world to be together." Nieme's eyes grew wide with a sudden thought formulating in her mind. "And we can be together even when you're at work! Dani...you can work at the Rhack with me. That would be the most wonderful thing!"

"I could? Oh, I would love that," Dani said with a wide grin. "I would love to work with you! And, from what you've said, the Rhack sounds like a wonderful place. And, even though Orn is gruff, he still sounds like he has a really big heart. I'd love to work there with you. Maybe we can go see about that in the morning. Do you think he'll want me to work there with you? Oh, I hope he does. That would be so wonderful!"

Nieme laughed at Dani's excitement and instinctively covered Dani's mouth with hers. She pulled her lips away to take a breath, then giggled shyly. "Kael used to do that to shut me up. I think my rambling upset him a lot. He...he got mad at me sometimes...mostly when I got uptight or shy about something." Nieme refused to let the frown consume her sudden happiness, so she enveloped it with a smile. "But no more of that. I know you'd never do that to me."

"I love listening to you," Dani said. "I'd never want you to...to shut up. And, I hope I never make you feel uptight or shy. If I ever do, please tell me. I'd never do anything like that deliberately." She kissed Nieme. "And, you don't have to worry about me getting upset or angry. Would you believe that I can't remember the last time I was angry at anyone or any thing?"

"Really?" Nieme sighed and smiled serenely. The thought of never having to confront a dark, negative emotion again was a burden lifted for her. Being with Dani would be a genuine relief from all the evil they would face living in the desert. She only hoped Dani could tolerate it. "You're amazing, Dani. I...I want to show you the flower you remind me of tomorrow. We'll take a walk and I'll show it to you."

"I would love that," Dani said. "I'd love to show you which star you remind me of, but that'd be all of them. I want to take walks with you. I want you to show me all the beauty of the desert." Dani suddenly blushed. "I'm going to like sleeping with you again, Nieme. That's going to be really nice."

"Then let's do that now. It was a long trip and..." Nieme laughed as she abandoned her search for an excuse and said simply, "I just want to be in your arms again, Dani, where it's safe."

Dani slipped her hand into Nieme's. "Let's go to bed, my love," she whispered. "Oh, is there a window so we can lie together and see the stars. I would love to see the Thanatos stars with you, Nieme. That would make everything just perfect."

"There's a window, but I keep it barred shut. It isn't safe otherwise. But...but there's this abandoned building I know of. I found it one night and...it's a good place for stargazing." Nieme strolled to her tiny bed with Dani and sighed. "We'll have to sleep really close, I'm afraid."

Dani grinned. "I like close," she said. "Maybe, if it's too close on the bed, we can try to get one that's a little bigger." She glanced at the bed again. "But I think it'll be perfect for us."

Nieme detached from Dani as they reached the bed and moved towards a pile of ragged blankets piled in a corner. "I think tomorrow we should look for some supplies. Blankets and other things. I didn't have much to begin with, but...I figured if we're going to be living here for a long while, we might need some things to make us more comfortable." Nieme pulled two large blankets from the pile, ones that weren't completely riddled with holes. "We'll need these," she said as she approached the bed. "It's not now, but the temperature will drop very low by the time the sun sets."

Dani climbed onto the bed and moved over to the far side. "Well, we'll have each other to keep warm. And, I think we can do a lot to make this more comfortable for us. I used to work as a tech on starships, so I think I can do pretty good fixing things up around here. Maybe we can even figure out a way to have a refresher."

"Really?" Nieme was both amazed and excited about the prospect of having a working refresher, something completely unheard of in the desert. "I think that would be wonderful. This entire arrangement is going to be wonderful!"

Dani grinned and held her hand out to Nieme. "Come to bed, my love. I want to sleep with my girlfriend, now." She stretched out on the bed, and beckoned Nieme to her.

Nieme smiled gently and slipped her hand into Dani's as she moved onto the bed. She passed Dani one of the threadbare blankets and covered herself with the other. Nieme could scarcely believe they'd done what they did. Together, they'd fled from the misery of the Temple and were starting a new life together. It brought a smile to Nieme's face. "Tomorrow, we'll spend our first full day in our new home, Dani. And it will be together, as it always will be."

Once they were both lying on the bed, Dani slipped her arms around Nieme and pulled her close. Together like that felt good, and so very comfortable. "This is how it should be, my love," she said. "This is how it should always be." She was quiet for a moment before she said, "Do you think they've noticed that we're gone yet?"

"I hope not," Nieme whispered. "If they do...they'll look for us. I don't ever want them to find us. Not ever."

Dani pressed her lips to Nieme's forehead. "If they do," she said, "we don't have to go with them. We can refuse. And, we can stay here and be happy."

"You mean, we don't have to be Jedi?" Nieme looked puzzled for a moment, then said, "But I thought we were...obligated to be Jedi. The dream...it told me..."

Dani shifted slightly on the bed, and then frowned. "I don't know. Maybe the dream was a warning. Or, you were just supposed to get Kael there, and your part is done." She brought up a hand and brushed it over Nieme's cheek. "I'm sure it's okay if we don't become Jedi. It's not like either of us would be much good with a lightsaber or anything. I think we're better off here together."

"I would have liked for Jae Dyn Brael to have taught me how to make the dreams go away..." Nieme shuddered visibly and closed her eyes. She would have to live with the dreams, no matter how much they plagued her. Anything to be with Dani and to be happy. "I...I guess we'll get through it. We'll make it out here...as long as we never leave each other's side."

"I've always been fairly happy," Dani said with a soft sigh. "But, I never thought I'd be this happy." She suddenly giggled. "We're going to have so much to do tomorrow. But, together we can do it."

Nieme felt more secure in Dani's embrace than she had been since arriving at the Temple. The desert was a vile, dangerous place, yet knowing Dani was with her now, she saw herself feeling safer than she had at the Temple. "We have lots of tomorrows, Dani. And I know you'll always be in mine."

Dani kissed Nieme, a slow, lingering kiss. When it finally broke, she smiled. "And, you in mine," she whispered. "I think we should try to keep the speederbike, if we can. That way we can sneak into the city for some dancing, or ride out into the desert. If we can keep it safe."

"We can...we can keep it in here...though it might take up a lot of room. But I don't think we need that much." Nieme looked away shyly and added quietly, "As long as we have the bed..."

Dani shifted her lips to Nieme's throat. "I do like your bed, Nieme," she said. "It's very cozy, especially with both of us here." She raised her eyes to look up into Nieme's. "It's too bad we had to leave all my toys at the Temple."

"I'm sorry about your toys, Dani. But...you can hold me and kiss me if it makes you feel better." Nieme didn't await Dani's reply and prevented her from doing so by pressing her lips to her friend's. She tentatively placed her hand upon Dani's chest, then slowly and giving herself time to judge Dani's response and her own courage, she let it slid over Dani's breast and held it there. "Is this alright?" Nieme whispered with a slight quiver in her voice.

Dani let out a soft moan and nodded. "That's very alright," she said. "I love you, Nieme. I want you to touch me if you want to. It's definitely alright."

"I...I think I do. It feels...nice to make you happy like that." Nieme's eyes dropped to where he hand was resting and she let out a plaintive sigh. "But...no more than touching for now. I'm still... I'm sad about Kael still and I just want to hold you, Dani. I'm sorry if that makes you sad..."

Dani kissed Nieme's lips, and then brought one of her friend's hands to her own lips and kissed it. "Just touching is fine with me, Nieme. And, while I do want to make love to you, we can go at your pace. I don't want for us to rush into something you're not ready for. As long as I'm near you, and can feel you, then I'm happy."

"Thank you, Dani," Nieme replied with a whimper. "You're always so kind and good to me. I'm so very glad I dreamt about you." She nuzzled her face into Dani's neck and let herself become washed over by her friend's radiant warmth and comfort. "I love you, Dani."

"With all my heart, and everything I am, I love you too, Nieme," Dani said softly. She snuggled in close to Nieme and closed her eyes. "Everything is perfect now. Nothing can go wrong for us."

Nieme nodded gently and felt a smile pulling at her lips. It still caused her anguish that she'd lost Kael, that she'd been forced to turn her back on him, but she refused to lose Dani. The desert had always been Nieme's home and it would be Dani's too now. If Nieme had control over what was to come, she knew she'd never return to the Temple, not when things were already going so perfectly for she and Dani. Happiness was all that mattered and now that she'd found it again in Dani's arms and in the desert, she refused to let anything tear it away from her.

---

"Elusive Happiness, Part 2"
By: Yelara Zaneth
Jae Dyn (Kallia) Brael
Liam Zaneth
Kael Selrid

Location: Jedi Temple, New Plouton
Date: Niothe 2, 4 ABY

***

Their small, accommodating chambers had become suddenly too confining for Yelara. She'd paced around the entire room in a perpetual state of contemplation and had finally grown weary of her surroundings. She needed a change of scenery, one that wouldn't elicit memories of Liam's blazing, implacable blue eyes. She'd never seen his anger directed at her before and for a moment, she'd feared for her life.

Wandering through the corridor now, she felt disoriented and dazed. She could barely remember what she'd gotten so upset about or why, for that matter. She did know, however, that she'd threatened her marriage bond by making love to Kael. She let out a slow, deep breath and wrapped her arms tightly around herself at the guilt that memory dredged up. "What's happening to me?" she asked in a desperate whisper. She knew she could never admit to Liam what she'd done, or Kallia for that matter. The disappointment and pain on their faces would be too much to bear and she was already festering in her own bitter guilt. There had to be some way to stop herself before she self-destructed and destroyed Liam and Kallia along with her. There had to be some way to salvage what she hadn't already compromised of her marriage and her sanity. "Gods help me..."

"Is everything alright," said a voice from behind her. As Yelara looked, Kallia stood in one of the doorways with a look of concern on her face. She stepped out into the corridor with Yel and approached slowly. "Liam mentioned that you and he had had a fight. Do you want to talk about anything with me? Or maybe just some company..."

A dismissal of both Kallia's offers was on the tip of Yelara's tongue, but her fears and hopelessness persuaded her to rush to Kallia and bury herself in her arms. "Kal...I don't know what the hell's wrong with me. I'm so confused and... I just feel like I'm suffocating."

"Oh my love," Kallia whispered. "You're going through a difficult time. You just had a baby, and this sort of thing happens. You have doubts and depression. I went through the same thing after Yara was born. But, if it makes any help, I'm here with you. I'll always have an embrace to comfort, or an ear to listen." She kissed Yelara's forehead. "Or anything else you need from me. Let's go to the kitchen and find something cool to drink. Then, if you feel like talking, we can talk. Otherwise we can just be together."

"Liam...he's not around, is he? You should have seen him... I've never witnessed that side of him before, Kal, not like that." Yelara shuddered and clung tighter to Kallia. "For a moment, I thought he was... I thought he'd hurt me. But I would have deserved it, nonetheless."

"When I saw him, he was fairly calm," Kallia said. "He'd been meditating, and I think that helped him to get his emotions under control. He didn't go into details on the fight, other than that it was about him and Dani. I could tell he was feeling very bad about what happened between you. Unfortunately, it was shortly after that we discovered that Nieme and Dani were missing. He, Kael, Kal'Aran, and Aurra are out searching right now."

Yelara pulled back just as she emitted a wry laugh. "I guess today's just been full of all sorts of trouble." She sighed deeply. "What happened? Why did they leave?"

Kallia shook her head. "We don't know, and Kael's not talking very much. Our suspicions are that it was another fight, and Nieme and Dani needed to get away. We're hoping they'll be back later tonight after they've had a chance to...to do whatever they're doing. The others are in the city searching for them now. They didn't take any of their belongings, so that's a good sign."

Yelara tensed involuntarily and immediately thought the worst. Somehow, Nieme had found out about what she and Kael had done and the poor girl had been devastated. That was reason enough to flee and with Kael's reticence to explain the events leading to Nieme and Dani's departure, Yelara presumed he was trying to protect them both by keeping their tryst secret. "Yes...I'm sure they'll be back," Yelara mumbled. "We...we should go check on the children. It's about time to feed Leshie I think."

Kallia sensed Yelara's sudden anxiety, but she decided not to press the issue. "Yes," she said with a smile. "I think that Yara probably wants to be fed too. Can you imagine us in five years? With our children still sitting down to meals together?"

"I hope so," Yelara replied morosely. "That is if Liam and I are still together in five years. At the rate we're going, I doubt we'll even be together by the end of the day."

Kallia frowned and pulled Yelara back into an embrace. "If you still love him, then you have to fight for him. He's a good man, Yelara. And, he loves you more than anything. Anything you need to make your marriage work, I'll help. You have to hold on to him if you still love him."

"I do, Kal. It's just...all of a sudden, loose ends from the past have decided to sneak up on me and put these dark thoughts into my head. Today, I even accused him of sleeping with Dani. I was so convinced he would, that when he denied it, I refused to believe him." She moaned grievously and whimpered against Kallia's breast. "He'll never forgive me... Not for what I did."

Kallia smiled gently and shook her head. "He loves you, Yelara. He loves you very much, and he'll do anything and everything for you. He may have been upset, but he'll forgive you. He'll always forgive you, Yel. There's nothing you could do that Liam wouldn't forgive you for."

***

Liam and Kael strode through the streets of New Plouton. Kael's assistance was of little use due to his lack of skill with the Force, but an extra set of eyes were always helpful. Liam's senses were strained to the limit as he tried to find a glimmering indication of either Dani or Nieme. He could find neither of them.

"You won't find them," Kael finally said, breaking the silence that had started since before they'd left the Temple.

"They aren't in the city," Liam said.

"No."

"Nieme would have either gone out into the forest or to Thanatos. I wouldn't want to ride out into Thanatos on a speederbike, but they probably tried it."

Kael nodded. "Nieme would have."

Liam glanced down at the Padawan. "What happened?"

Kael shrugged.

"Something happened," Liam said, "and you will tell me what it was."

"We had another fight. I did something I shouldn't have with Nieme while we were in Dani's room, and now Nieme is upset at me. She broke...broke the bracelet I gave her and ran off, both of them did."

Liam sensed no falsehood, but he could tell that the youth wasn't telling him everything. "It's too late now to search for them. We'll have to go to Thanatos in the morning."

"They don't want you to find them," Kael said. "They wouldn't have gone to Thanatos otherwise. If they wanted you to find them, they would have just gone into the forest."

Liam lowered his voice. "They are training to be Jedi Knights, and they can't do that without my help. Kallia and I will go into the desert tomorrow to bring them back."

"Nieme doesn't want to be a Jedi, she just wants her dreams to go away."

Liam glared at the young man. "I at least have to talk to them. I want to hear why they ran off."

"It was my fault." Kael was silent for a moment, and then he sighed. "I did this to them, I should be the one to bring them back."

"The situation is volatile enough as it is," Liam said. He remembered the encounter with Dani, and felt his guilt rise. "I'll send Jae Dyn in the morning. I think if anyone has a chance to convince them to return, or to at least find out what happened, she'll be the one."

Kael said nothing, just stared off into the distance.

"Come on," Liam said, turning back toward the speeder. "Let's go find Kal'Aran. We're not going to find them here."

***

Yelara gently massaged her sore breasts, one made so by Leshie's feast, and the other by Kael's overly enthusiastic ravaging of it. It almost brought a smile to her face at how daring she'd been, just as she had been as a youth. At least she'd managed to gain something out of the experience and that was a recapture of what she'd thought lost to her. She was on the verge of losing something else more important - her marriage - however, and despite that realization, Yelara couldn't help but continue resenting Liam.

Their quarrel was about more than his suspected relations with Dani, and was a probable result of her imbalanced hormones and surprisingly enough, envy. She coveted Leshie's innocence, his freedom from the influence of the harsh world in which they lived. He knew nothing of what awaited him outside the Temple walls and the happiness she saw when he gurgled or when he slept was pure and untouched by the darkness he had yet to witness. She too had felt such happiness before, but it had been so long since she'd experienced it that she'd forgotten what it felt like.

Yelara was beginning to reconsider everything in her life: her marriage, motherhood... It was too overwhelming for her and she knew another breakdown was on the horizon if she didn't put things into perspective and discover what she truly wanted.

She was in the process of heading back to her chambers for a rest, but she noticed the set of gates leading to a courtyard she'd passed occasionally but had never bothered to explore. She had all the time in the world today, so she took a detour and headed towards the wrought ferric gates. She gripped the bars and peered into the large courtyard. There were untended flowers potted and vines creeping along the adobe walls. As she pushed on the rusted gates, the hinges emitted a shrill creak. She only opened them part of the way, afraid the squeaking of the gates would further disturb whatever spirits were slumbering within.

She slipped inside slowly and scanned the area. It exuded a tranquility and calm Yelara most definitely needed, and along with being beautiful, she was instantly enamoured with it.

She paced softly along the cobbled walkway and gently sat upon one of the many benches lining the path. This was as close to happiness as she had found all day; this would be her private sanctuary from the darkness that had encroached itself on her life.

Liam had seen Yelara disappear through the now-open gate. The sadness he felt from her was too much, both in the look in her eyes and what he could feel through their bond. He moved to the gate and stopped there, not wanting to intrude further just yet. "Yelara," he called softly, hoping just the sound of his voice wouldn't spur her anger again. "Yel?"

She felt herself cringe, but more at the thought of having to face Liam than his presence itself. Her eyes remained fixed to a vibrant, blue flower standing alone on a nearby patch of soil, and a part of her empathized with it. She only imagined how abandoned it felt and seeing it, and hearing the sadness in Liam's voice, made her heart ache. "Did you... How did the search go?" she replied softly. "Did you find them?"

Liam approached slowly. "We didn't find them," he said. "But, we think they went to Thanatos. I'm going to send Kallia to look for them tomorrow. I wish Kael would talk about what happened. I think it had to do with Nieme and Dani growing closer again, at least from what I could pick up from his emotional context."

Yelara was about to volunteer to talk to Kael and get more information from him, but it seemed inappropriate at the time. Rousing Liam's suspicions would only strain an already tense relationship, and she wasn't in the mood to fight anymore. "This place is beautiful," she commented with a sigh. "We could...we could plant some more flowers and just spruce it up. It's a good place to come to if you need to think or...just be alone."

Liam moved closer. "It is beautiful here," he said. "I think a nice garden would be a good addition." He glanced at the space on the bench next to her. "Next time we're in the city, we can pick up some plants and flowers that would go well in here."

"I...I was thinking about that," she said quietly. She shifted on the bench to face Liam and for a moment, lost her nerve. Her eyes fell to the floor and she felt her body trembling. "If it would be easier for the both of us, I thought I might return to the apartment. I don't want to interfere with what you're doing here and I thought... If I moved back there, you would have at least some peace."

Liam's eyes went wide with Yelara's suggestion. "I don't want that," he said. "We may have had a fight, but I don't want you to go away. We have to work this out, and find a way for us to keep going. I don't want you to go away, Yel."

"But look at what I do to you, Liam." She hazarded a look in his direction, but the anguish in his eyes was too much to bear and she was forced to look away again. "I bring out the worst in you. Like earlier... I caused you to lose your temper and with an ex-Dark Jedi, that can never be a good thing. The last thing I want is for everything you've worked for to be compromised because of my jealous whims."

"I want to make this work, Yel," Liam said. "Me and you, and Leshie. I want us to be together, and a family. I have things in my life that are important, but nothing comes close to how important you two are. I need you, my love. Even your jealous whims. I need you."

"But you don't need my stubborn jealousy or my insecurities. There are things you don't know, Liam, things that are just eating me up inside. I don't know how to make them go away and they're only making me resent you." She finally met Liam's gaze and whispered sadly, "I resent you, Liam."

The words were like a vibroblade driven deep into his heart. "So you want to leave," he said. "You want to get away from me." He nodded slowly. "I will get the papers necessary. I'm sure we can have this matter resolved within a couple weeks." He swallowed, or tried to but the inside of his mouth and throat had gone dry. "I'm sorry to have made you resent me. I'll--I'll leave you alone now."

"I'm sorry, Liam," she said in a voice gripped by emotion. "I think I just need time to think about things. Everything's happening so fast, Liam. I'm becoming overwhelmed and I don't want, in the end, to hate you." She took in a deep breath and steadied herself. "I don't want a divorce, Liam. I want...time."

Liam nodded. "Time," he said. "Well, I guess you have whatever time you need." He took a breath and let it out. "I wish you'd talk to me about it instead of just keeping it inside. I'll be here if you want to come back to me."

"I can't tell you. You'd only hate me if I did and I think relations between us are strained enough. If I told you, you'd never want me back."

Liam sat down next to Yelara and gazed into her eyes. "Nothing could ever make me want to give you up," he said. "Look at what we've been through. Do you think there is anything that could make me want you less? There's nothing, Yel. Absolutely nothing."

"Don't be so certain of that, Liam," she whispered. Yelara lowered her head and prepared herself for whatever emotions Liam would throw at her. She was betraying herself and Kael, but she couldn't leave Liam with all the guilt upon himself for their troubles. "If you return to our room, go into the refresher, open the door of the shower, and look inside." She slowly shifted her gaze to his and felt her lips trembling against the suppressed tears. "I'm sorry, Liam."

Liam nodded. "Will you still be here after I go look in the shower?"

Yelara shook her head gently. "I'm taking Leshie, but only because he's still breastfeeding. Kallia can come by and pick him up from time to time, just so he can see his father."

Liam nodded. "So you don't even want to see me," he said. "You're not going to give me a chance. Why? Why does it have to happen like this? Why do we have to just give up?"

"Look in the shower, Liam," she said softly. "Then decide if you still want to see me."

"All I need to know is if I go look in the shower if you'll be around to talk, or if I'm going to have to find you. At least give me the chance to decide whether you should go or not. Please don't make this decision by yourself. Let me see if I want to see you again."

"You won't, Liam, not when I can barely look at myself." Yelara rose quickly, startled by the tears spilling down her cheeks. She could feel Liam's heart slowly breaking, and tearing hers apart in the process. "Just...take all your anger out on me. Remember that. Don't be mad at anyone but me."

Liam nodded slowly. He was starting to suspect what she had been alluding to. He'd have to look for himself, but he needed to know she'd not leave while he was. "Please, just don't leave yet. Please stay long enough for us to...to talk. Please promise me you'll stay at least for that."

Yelara wrapped her arms slowly around herself and fought against the tears. "I promise," she said quietly, "if only to keep you from doing something irrational."

"Thank you," Liam said softly. "Do you want to stay out here? I promise to be rational."

"I... I don't know. You should probably just get it over with now, without me there. I don't know. I'm just so confused, Liam. How did everything get so complicated?"

"I don't know," Liam said. "We're complicated people, so things get complicated in our lives. I'll be back soon...and we can talk about this."

Yelara kept her back to Liam and moved somberly towards a bed of flowers across the path. She needed to mentally prepare herself for what was to come. She knew it would either destroy what they had, or make it stronger. For the sake of their future, she was hoping for the latter outcome.

It was fifteen minutes later when the sound of footsteps in the gravel brought Yelara out of her thoughts. When she glanced back, she saw Liam standing there holding Kael's shirt. "So, you and Kael," he said. "I wonder if Nieme knew, and that's why she and Dani left. Or if it was something else entirely." He moved to the bench and took a seat. "I'm upset, but I can deal with that. And, I know why you did it. I am so sorry for putting you into that situation, Yelara. I wish, with all my power with the Force, I wish I could go back and change that."

"You've no idea why I did it, Liam." She looked back at him and almost gasped when she saw Kael's shirt. Kael would hate her, but no more than she hated herself. "It wasn't your fault, Liam, so don't blame yourself. It wasn't Kael either. This is why I have to leave. Look at how much turmoil I've already caused everyone. Poor Nieme..." Yelara sighed. "Poor you, Liam."

"If you leave, we can't get through this," Liam said. "If you go, nothing gets fixed and it only gets worse. I love you, Yelara. I won't give you up, unless that's what you really want. I don't want you to go. I don't want to lose you. And, if you leave...if you leave, then I've lost you."

"Stop that, Liam. Please!" Yelara rushed towards him and dropped to her knees before his feet. "I need time to think about my life, Liam. I'm a wife and a mother now...before I even had a chance to decide if I was ready for all this. I love you and Leshie more than anything, and that's why I'm doing this. I don't want to hurt you like I know I already have." She trepidly placed her hands on his knees and gazed up at him with eyes awash in tears. "I slept with...Kael because I thought I'd find something there I couldn't find with you. I thought I found it, but now, after it all ended, I realized it had gone missing again. I'm so sorry I'm doing this to you, Liam. I need to leave so I can't keep doing this to you."

Liam nodded slowly. "Okay," he said. "I wish I could understand why you have to leave, but...but it doesn't seem like I have any choice in this." He was quiet for a moment, staring off into the distance, and then he looked back at her. "When will I see you again?"

Yelara sighed shakily as she lay her head in Liam's lap. "I don't know," she said softly. "I don't know how long it's going to take me to figure out what's missing or why I feel something's missing. I guess it depends on how long you'll wait for me."

Liam could feel his resolve and control wavering as he looked down at her face. "I'll wait for you until the end of time," he said softly. "Don't go, Yelara. Please don't go. I love you more than life, and I don't want to be without you." He could feel the start of hot tears in his eyes, seeming to burn his very soul.

"Liam..." Yelara couldn't bear to hear the anguish in his voice, and through their bond, the feelings were only intensified. She buried her face into his lap to hide her own tears, but her trembling body betrayed her sadness. "Don't make me hate myself more than I already do," she managed in a thick whisper.

"Then don't leave me like this, Yelara. We've been through so much, and gotten through it. Together we beat Dargus Kandran. We can get through this. Please stay with me, and together we can figure this out."

"I...I don't know, Liam. Oh gods...what do I do?" Yelara wrapped her arms desperately around Liam's calves and wept bitterly now into his lap. "I need... I don't know what I need. I love you, Liam. Help me... Gods, please help me..."

Liam pulled her up into his arms and kissed her desperately. "We'll figure it out together, Yelara. We'll figure it out together." He kissed her again, with as much longing and need as he'd ever felt for her. "We'll figure it out, my beautiful love."

Yelara returned Liam's kisses and clung tightly to him, but her reluctance to stay wouldn't quell. "I don't know... I just don't know. You have your students to worry about... There isn't enough time...not the time we need to make this better. If only Leshie--" Yelara clenched shut her mouth and eyes, and shook her head vigorously to dispell the thought. "I hate myself," she whispered angrily. "I hate myself for doubting. I hate myself for being too paranoid to appreciate what we have. I hate myself..."

"And, I love you, Yelara," Liam said softly. "We'll make the time. Kal'Aran, a new Jedi Master, is here now. He can help train and things. That will give me more time for us. It'll be alright. We'll make this work, Yel. Please tell me you want this to work, that we can try to make this work."

"Of course I want this to work. But somedays I just feel... I feel like you saved me from Dargus - from one prison - only to condemn me to another." Yelara paused, realizing how cruel and spiteful her statement sounded, but it was only an expression of what was in her heart. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry I said that, Liam...but I wanted to be honest. I'm so sorry."

Liam nodded slowly. "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't want this to feel like a prison for you. You never said anything though. I never even felt it through...through our bond. Yelara, if this is going to really work, I think we need to make some changes. I know I haven't been very open with you, and it seems you with me either...at least about our feelings. We have to change that. We have to talk about things, we have to be open with each other so we can help each other."

"Open up about what, Liam? I've told you everything; sometimes, you feel like a stranger to me." Yelara lowered her head and laughed softly. "I don't know what there is to talk about. I feel lost, and smothered. I love Va'Lesh, but I don't want to lose my freedom in order to raise him. I love you, but...there are just some things you can't give me." Yelara swallowed back her anxieties and said gently, "Why do you think I went to Kael?"

"I don't know," Liam said softly. "I never knew there was something I couldn't give you. I never knew you felt smothered. I never knew any of this, because you didn't tell me everything. That's what I'm talking about when I say open up."

Yelara narrowed her eyes slowly at Liam. "So now this is all my fault?" She pushed away from him and stumbled backwards into the centre of the courtyard. "So it's entirely my fault now! You have a life; I don't! I have to feed Va'Lesh, and change him, and soothe him when he wakes up in the middle of the night! I'm the one who's had to grow up fast enough to keep up with all these new changes in my life. Did you ever think, just once, that maybe I don't want to grow up? That maybe I want to be out there, in the forest, running around with Dani, and Nieme, and Kael. I want to be rebellious and carefree, not weighed down by these new responsibilities I never asked for! For once," Yelara said with her chest heaving and her face flushed with anger, "I just want to be a kid."

Liam took a step forward. "I understand that now," he said. "If you need time to be a child, then you need that. We can see what we can do to give you the time you need. I want you to be happy, Yelara, and I'll do anything I have to for that to happen. Anything. It's not your fault, and it's not my fault. It's a combination of our fault and no one's fault. But, as long as we can see the problems, we can fix them." He held his arms open to her. "Come to me, and let's fix the problems together."

Yelara took in staggering, deep breaths to expell the rest of her anger, then she whimpered and covered her face with her hands. "Oh...Liam," she wailed as she rushed blindly into his arms. She nestled her face into his chest and clutched tightly at his cloak. "It's going to be okay... It...it has to be. I'll...I'll stop being so foolish. I'm sorry about what I did with Kael...but I thought I needed it. I thought... I was so stupid."

Liam felt the tears finally fall as he held Yelara to him. "It's alright my love," he said softly. "Everything will be alright now. And, we'll figure out a way for you to have fun, and do all the things you want to do. And, I'll try to learn the things that I can do to help with Leshie. I'll make the time for us, and we'll make everything good again." He kissed her, just savouring the feel of her pressed against him. "We're going to be good again, Yelara."

"I hope so, Liam. I don't want to resent you like I did...not ever again. It was horrible." Yelara kissed Liam's neck fervently and let him support her fully. "I'm so tired, Liam. I need to sleep in your arms. Take me to bed and hold me, Liam, my love."

With an easy move, Liam scooped Yelara into his arms, and started back into the Temple with her. As they walked together, he kissed her gently, using his Jedi senses to guide him to their room. "Tomorrow, while Kallia is searching for Nieme and Dani, you and I are going to take time for ourselves. Just you and me, and whatever we can think of to do."

Yelara nodded her head gently and gave a quivering smile to Liam. She had some confidence that this was a turning point and that her concerns about the loss of her youth would never haunt her again, but there was still much to discuss with Liam. There was still a taint of resentment towards him on her mind, and her jealousy would still flare occasionally for as long as they lived in the Temple with young women running around. She wanted to be like those young girls so that his attention would never again stray to them, but recapturing the qualities of youthfulness would force her to take measures that would only threaten their marriage again. "Time will tell," she said softly, for only then would they know if she and Liam would survive the obstacles she herself was placing in the way of their relationship.

---

"Meeting Others"
By: Kylas Thoamis - Jedi Knight
Kael Selrid - Padawan

Location: New Plouton
Date: Niothe 2, 4ABY

***

Kylas made his way through the streets of New Plouton. His mind had been clouded by much these past few days and he sought to strike back at the man who had attacked his home, or at least he did initially. He had to rethink his strategy; he couldn't be sure who it was really. He was second guessing: I mean, who else could have done this, who wanted to hurt Elisia? A few he could think of but none that he knew well enough. He also had to find allies - people who knew this world, other Jedi. He knew of an Alisson Blair. She had been an experienced and well-learned Padawan in the service of the princess. There was also her mentor, Kal something... He couldn't remember the older man's name.

He walked along a road. He opened his senses to the surroundings, to calm his mind. He needed to find Elisia. Maybe he could sense her. He could sense she was fine, but nothing more. Wait...there was something else, another... Anger. It was close. The violent feelings - remembered them from his own youth well. He followed the feeling and saw a young man. Tall, but not much tmaller than him. A force user, he thought to himself. His dark cloak was pulled around him and his hood pulled over and low. He walked closer to the young man. The anger had to be from him. It was like a choking cloud around him. He stepped beside the man. "Some people would say you stick out like a sore thumb young one. Maybe you should keep that anger of yours in check." He looked at him and whispered, "I hear the dark side is looking for recruits and I'd hate to have anymore of ours lost to them."

Kael glanced at the person suddenly walking next to him and frowned. "You know what I am," he said, a quizzical expression coming to his face. "I'm not going to the dark side. I was, but not any more. It's just...just that things have been upsetting lately. And...it's hard to be bright and cheery, or stoic when your world is turned upside down."

"Take heart my friend, for if your world is upside down, things can only look right side up," he replied. "But still you say you're turning to the darkside. One can see your anger hanging over you like storm clouds. You must resolve this issue within yourself or it will consume. I sense you have much to learn of the living force, much that I myself had forgotten until recently." He smiled. "So who is she?" he asked, walking in step beside the this young Jedi. "And why does she cloud your mind so?"

"She's my arozeil, and she's not content to love only me," he said. "But, she left me, so it doesn't matter anymore. I was just stupid. I don't belong in any of this. She's the one who talked me into it, and now she's gone. How am I supposed to go on when the one person who believed in me...when I hurt them more than... Isn't there someone else in this city you could bother?"

"For someone so bothered by this, you have opened up and told me much more than you would tell a stranger. And are you sure she stopped loving you? You say you hurt them, but from the look in your eyes, it seems you hurt yourself more. You must have faith in yourself before others can have faith in you. What you trust is your gut, but so far your gut hasn't really gotten you far as of late, has it?" He looked at the man. "Maybe it's time to follow your head as much as your heart. If you give up now, they've won." He waved his hand in an exaggerated sweep to show the crowd and the city. "But from what I see you hate to lose. Don't you think what you had is worth trying to fight to regain?" He smirked. "Have you let them win, or are you finished playing the game?" He looked at the young man.

"It's not easy to play in a game you haven't been invited to play in," Kael said. "Or one you have been asked to leave." He was silent for a moment, and then he shook his head. "No I haven't given up. But, we need time. I'll go to her soon, but...it's too soon. And...a friend is going to talk to her today. Hopefully she'll come back. If I had to, I'd give all this up for her. But, time will tell." He glanced at the stranger and frowned. "So, are you one of them too?"

"One of them?" he repeated with an almost whimsical smirk. "I was never one of them. I've never been trained by one of them. But I fight and I think as they do. I teach as they do, and I learn as they do. But by all intents and purposes, I'm not one of them. I teach the aspects of the force that the Jedi never did teach. They teach to suppress your emotions in the force and fight with solely your mind. I teach to be aware of yourself and your surroundings for that is where the living force is: your soul. Your mind, your heart, and your body are all connected to one thing and one thing alone, your soul. And if you can learn to make all these work in unison, you can harness things about yourself you never thought possible. To be your own mind and not what a code tells you to be."

"I imagine you and Master Liam could have some rousing debates," Kael said. "However, as I am a testament to, acting with emotion can get you into trouble, especially acting out of the darker emotions. But, I haven't been at this long, so I don't know. I'm to continue training this evening. Perhaps I will learn a good counter to your argument; or I'll learn that what you say makes sense. Only time will tell."

"Time is irrelevant. Only the force can guide you in the path best for you, but to keep an open mind and heart is the first step to understanding what you have to both gain and give. Who you are is what you can mould yourself to be. No one can take that from you. That above all else - if anything I said today - you must remember." He nodded. "This Master, Kael, where is he? I wish to speak to him."

Kael laughed. "The Master is at the temple," he said. "And, if you tell me what you want to talk to him about, I can tell him you want to talk to him. I'm sure he can arrange for a neutral meeting location if you'd like."

"I am afraid a neutral ground may not be suitable. I am in need of finding one called Kace Mordin. He, too, like us, is a Jedi Knight. And I feel he and a woman by the name of Yelara may be in danger of a dangerous man. He knows more of this planet than I do, and I need his help to locate these people. I wish to head to this temple. I will cause you no harm. You have my word of honour." He looked at the young man.

"Do I look like I have sand on my nose? I'm not leading you to the Temple without clearing it with Master Liam," Kael said. "Now, what dangerous man is putting Yelara in danger? For all I know, you could be the dangerous man, and want me to lead you right into the safety of the Temple where you can do as you please. Give me more information, and I'll pass it on to Master Liam. He will then figure out best how to handle this. Without his approval, I will not take you to the Temple."

"I do not have time for this. Lives are at stake." He turned to Kael and probed into his mind, searching for the image of the temple. The Padawan's mind was stronger than he suspected, and he found nothing. "Now listen to me Padawan, if I was the man that I spoke of, I could have simply and rather painfully pulled what I wanted from your head. You can accompany me if you wish, but I need to know. Besides, if I wanted to I could have left you dead in your own tracks and no one here would have been the wiser. Right now, three people's lives are in danger: Kace Mordin, Yelara, and my fiancée's. That is all the info. you need, young one, but now I need your help. And I am asking for it."

Kael crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the other man. "You will do this my way, or you'll have to deal with this on your own. I'll warn my side, and you can take care of yours. You leave me dead here, and I assure you you won't get the help of the Jedi Temple for anything. I have given my Master a vow to lead no one to the Temple without his knowledge, and I will not have that vow broken by the likes of you. You will do this properly, wetter, or you can forget the Jedi Temple."

"Then tell your master Dargus Kandran is looking for Yelara and Kace for their heads, and you have sentenced them to death," he replied with a sigh. "Goodbye." He turned and walked away.

Before the man could get far, Kael laughed. "He's dead," he called back. "Maybe you missed the parties, but he went down in the middle of the Tarkayze. They named the day a planetary holiday. Everyone took a day off, and everyone got drunk on Tarkayze ale. I know there are some wild things in the universe, but death is still death."

He called back, "A marvellous thing about the force; even the youngest Padawan knows: 'There is no emotion, only serenity; there is no Death, only the Force'," Kylas quoted from the Jedi Code.

"There is no passion, only serenity," Kael corrected. "And, there is no Death, only the Force. But, that does not mean there is no such thing as Death, only that death is not something to be feared for one who walks the path of Light. Dargus Kandran's corpse is rotting at the bottom of the sea. Everyone saw it go down. If he survived, I think someone would know it. A man like that, who craved power like he did, doesn't lie low for long. He is gone, sir, and not coming back. The Force is powerful, but I doubt it could bring someone dead back to life."

"Even the force can heal the most fatal of wounds. He is alive; I can promise you that. And he is no fool. A man with a proper plan can deal with any situation, even 'lie low'. But as I have said, young one, if you do not wish me to bring the information that I have, then I have pity for you." He smiled. "And you are right: There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is only serenity. There is no Death; there is only the Force. Forgive an old man for taking poetic license. You have heard the code and learned it well but only part. Jedi are guardians of the galaxy. Jedi use their powers to defend and protect, never to attack others. Jedi respect all life, in any form. Jedi serve others rather than ruling over them for the good of the galaxy. Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training. You, my young Padawan, choose ignorance over knowledge. Then so be it, I will look elsewhere."

Kael laughed. "I choose logic and reason, not fancy and whim," he said. "His ship went down. No other ships got free. He died at the bottom of the Tarkayze sea. Unless you're telling me that Dargus Kandran was also part fish... When his ship sank into the sand and coral, he swam away to live with a school of suckerfish? I'll pass the information on that you are looking for this Kace person, and Yelara. Tell me where you'll be so my Master can contact you, if you'd like."

"The Cyberins hills," Kylas replied and turned and walked off.

Kael watched the man go and only could shake his head. With a sigh, he started off into the city again to get his supplies. He'd surprised himself with the knowledge of Jedi and the Force. Perhaps the early lessons had stuck more than he anticipated. Maybe this Jedi thing was going to work after all. He smiled as he turned into a shop entrance and proceeded to get what he needed.

When he returned to the Temple, he found Liam and told him all that had transpired. Liam nodded, and told him he would go find the stranger the following day.

---