"Gardens of the Heart"
By: Dargus Kandran - Head of Kandran Syndicate
Yelara Neerou - Shipyard Repair Foreman
Various NPCs

Location: Tae'Karadan surface, Gardens in Arcadia
Date: Selene 3, 3 ABY

***

Yelara wished Dargus would consider moving permanently onto the shipyards. She would most likely have to see him everyday, if he did, but at least she wouldn't have to fly everytime she had to go to him.

She entered the docking bay, walking up to Dargus' transport shuttle and going through the same routine she always did. She sat down in the passenger's chair and put on the blindfold, by herself this time. She prepared herself for when the shuttle would lift off and take them out into the vacuum of space, which always instilled fear in Yelara. She took long, deep breaths and gripped the armrests of the seat, digging her nails in deep.

Yelara was filling with rage as the shuttle lifted off and they neared Dargus' floating palace. She wanted to wrap her fingers around his throat and squeeze the life out of him for everything that had happened to her over the past two days. All of it had been Dargus' fault, or at least that's what Yelara thought in her mind.

Her ankle still hurt from where Gin had broken it, but Jae had healed it nicely and now it was only a sprain. The scars caused by Gin's dagger still showed, and her head still ached from her run in with the wall. They were all constant, nagging reminders of how she had almost died because of Dargus' arrogance and jealousy.

More importantly, he had caused the major blow up between her and Jae Dyn the previous night, which had most likely ended their relationship. It seemed that everytime his name came up, they got riled up and flew at eachother. Yelara knew she wouldn't have to worry about that anymore, not after what happened last night in the restaurant. The look in Jae Dyn's eyes scared Yelara more than Dargus ever could; she didn't want to see that side of her again, so she decided some distance was best for now.

Her stomach was turning now as the shuttle bounced around and finally landed. Yelara threw off the helmet and stormed off the shuttle, pushing past all of Dargus' guards and stomping down the corridor.

"Uh, ma'am!" one of the palace guards called out as he chased Yelara down the hallway. "Mr. Kandran isn't on board."

Yelara stopped suddenly and let out an exasperated sigh. "What do you mean, he isn't on board!?" she hollered as she turned around and marched over to the guard.

"He's on planet...in the gardens in Arcadia."

Yelara rolled her eyes and shook her head. "So you're telling me I made the trip all the way over here and Mr. Kandran wasn't even courteous enough to be here?" she said with clenched teeth. "Get out of my way," she grumbled as she pushed past the guard and headed back towards the docking bay.

***

The trip down to the planet's surface was shorter, but still as uncomfortable as the flight to the ship. She was more enraged at Dargus now, her face becoming hot and her eyes narrowing with anger.

As the shuttle landed, yet again, Yelara stepped off, her legs a little shaky from living in space for so long, but she still managed to march over to the gardens looking fearsome.

As she approached the huge doors that led to the garden, outside stood a large entourage of men, no doubt Dargus' men. They halted Yelara as she tried to force her way through, causing her to get angry. "Let me in, you bastards!" she hollered at them. "I have a bone to pick with Kandran."

The guard who appeared to be in charge laughed. "Take a number," he said. "You're Neerou?"

"Damn right I am! Now let me in," she said threateningly as she stood inches from the large man, not cowering a bit.

"We need to do a weapons check first," he said He ran a sensor over her body, watching the read out on a datapad in his other hand. "She's clear. Let her through. Have a nice day, ma'am."

As the guards opened the doors, Yelara's rage disappeared. She stepped into the most beautiful place she had ever seen. The gardens seemed enchanted, with flowers of all colours, and even some colours she had never seen before. Her heart beat faster as her eyes flew furiously over every inch of the garden trying to take in all the sights. She began to wonder what a man like Dargus would be doing in such a calm, almost pure place such as this. She couldn't help thinking that if he had his way, he would have already turned this place into a brothel.

Yelara continued to walk through the almost whimsical gardens, when she spotted Dargus standing in front of a flower bed, with his two wookiees on either side of him. Yelara's teeth gritted and her face grew hot with rage as she let out a cry and sprinted towards him in a rage, ready to pounce him. "You son of a bitch!"

Dargus backed off and away before Yelara could reach him. Gor'garr and Mer'rrar were there immediately and picked the frantic woman off her feet and held her fast.

"Well good morning to you as well," he said in a calm voice, though his heart beat madly in his chest. If she were an assassin, she could have easily taken him out. He'd have to talk to the wookiees about their attentiveness. "And, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company today? Remember our talk the other night? The one about kindness and tenderness. 'Son of a bitch' is hardly a kind or tender idiom. Now, calm yourself, or they'll just keep holding you there."

"Screw you, Dargus! Let me down you pieces of bantha dung!" Yelara cried out as she thrashed and kicked at the wookiees. "Come on, Dargus. I dare you to tell them to put me down. I want to see how tough you are without them!"

Dargus let out a laugh. "When you promise to be good, we can talk like civilized beings. Until then, I'll be over there by the...red and purple flowers."

Yelara decided that she would have no chance to pummel Dargus if she couldn't get anywhere near him, so she took a deep breath and stopped kicking. "Fine," she said, rage still tingeing her voice. "I'll be good."

"Good," he said. "So you can be reasonable." He looked at her warily. "On your honour you'll be good?"

"My honour?" she said bitterly. "Don't you dare talk to me of honour!" Yelara looked down, trying to calm herself. She could get nowhere near Dargus if she was being held off the ground by the two wookiees. "I promise Dargus. Now tell them to let me down."

"Your anger has passed? You still look quite upset. None of my workers has harmed you have they? I certainly know that I haven't lain a hurtful hand on you, not since your last bout of insolence. Per our agreement, my dear, I have no harmed you."

"Not directly you haven't. Let me down and I'll tell you precisely what you have done."

Dargus nodded to Mer'rrar, and the wookiees put her down immediately. "Now," he said, impatiently. "What is it?"

Yelara freed herself from the wookiee's grip and had to stop herself from tackling Dargus. She couldn't believe he had no idea what he had done, but she would tell him alright. "You really don't know? Are you that stupid, Dargus?!" Yelara walked up to Dargus, glaring up at him with her fists clenched. "Look!" she hollered at him as she pointed to the scar on her cheek, then to the one on her arm. "This is your doing Dargus. I'm lucky I wasn't killed because of your stupidity!"

Dargus' eyes darkened as he reached out and examined her scars. "What happened to you? I didn't touch you. Who did this?"

"How can you be so simple, Dargus!? And I don't want to sit in any of your damn bacta either, so don't even mention it." Yelara tried to calm herself and settle her heart, which was beating practically out of her chest. "Of course it wasn't you...but this happened as a result of your turning Gin Toran into a raving lunatic!"

"He was half gone before he lost his arm. He did this to you? He will pay."

Yelara didn't answer. She simply stared at Dargus, knowing he already answered his own question. "What did you think would happen, Dargus? That is just your problem. You don't think before you act. How could you not have known Gin would lash out at me for what you did to him?"

"None of my employees would ever defy me! They know what happens. They saw it with their own eyes. I've been watching, and since my demonstration they've been treating you well." He reached out and brushed her cheek. "I am sorry you were made to suffer. It will be known that anyone who harms you will be die slowly and quite painfully."

He turned from her and pulled out a commlink. Into it, he whispered: "This is Kandran. Gin Toran is to be found and dealt with. Permanently." Once his message was acknowledged, he turned back to her with a pleasant smile. "Now, where were we?"

"We are nowhere, Dargus. We are over! I don't want anything to do with you anymore!"

Yelara closed her eyes tightly as she remembered Parven's bloody body, lying lifeless on the ground. She was shaking with rage now, feeling trapped by Dargus and practically suffocating. "How could you have done it?" she said, her voice shaky as Pavren's face kept flashing through her mind. "Why?!" she cried out as she slapped Dargus across the face and began beating on his chest. "Why do you do it Dargus? Don't you know how it makes me feel? How cold my heart gets everytime someone is hurt in my name?" Yelara burst into tears, still beating on Dargus' chest as she slowly sank to her knees, weeping.

"Because you are mine," he said. "And, anyone who attacks you attacks me. I can't let that go unpunished. Gin Toran hurt you, and now he will pay the price with his life. I am sorry, Yelara. I have to do this. I cannot tolerate anyone trying to harm my girlfriend." He smiled coldly.

Yelara pushed away from Dargus and sat on the ground, still weeping. "Girlfriend? That's a load, Dargus. I'm just another one of your concubines, a possession and one you need to declare ownership of to everyone. It's all just one big power trip with you, Kandran."

"You know that is not true," he said. "We went over this, and my feelings for you. When you hit me just now, did I strike back? I could put you in with the rest of my concubines, and nothing you could do or say would make any difference. I could chain you to my bed and take you whenever the whim struck me. I could chain you in the center of the flight deck, and tell everyone there that you were free for the taking. I am giving you everything. Everything! Open your eyes!"

"I have, Dargus, and now I see what a truly evil snake you are. You killed that innocent man out of jealousy and now you'll kill Toran, won't you?" she asked, staring up at him.

Yelara was beginning to believe what Jae Dyn had told her about Dargus. Yelara thought he meant it when he said he loved her, but now she felt as if he was just trying to manipulate her. "Admit it. You killed Parven. You can go ahead and try to lie to me, but I know you did it."

"Gin Toran will soon be dead," he said with a satisfied smile. "I have some of my best men tracking him down. His death will be pleasant. Perhaps we can attend it together. He will be chained, arms and legs, to speederbikes. And, then they will wait for my command before they go. Have you ever seen a man drawn and quartered. I am told that the patterns of the blood can be read. Quite a sight indeed." He gave her a gentle smile. "Now, how can I make this up to you, Yelara? We shared a beautiful night. There are many more beautiful nights waiting for us. You can have everything you desire, including my love."

Yelara began to laugh uncontrollably at his profession. "Love?" Yelara stood up now, standing away from Dargus and glaring at him. "I think your definition of the word is slightly flawed, Dargus. That's not love. That's manipulation."

Yelara turned to walk away, not able to look at Dargus anymore. He had taken her heart and crushed it, something she would never forgive him for. "You can sleep with one of your other concubines tonight, Kandran!"

"Who are you to judge me, Yelara? I am a crimelord. I run a syndicate that specializes in things that most people don't want to even acknowledge, but it is a necessity." He took her into his arms. "I don't have to be that way when we're together though. I will show you nothing but kindness. You have nearly broken our agreement here today."

Yelara had half expected Dargus to have backhanded her by now, but he had not raised a finger. As she stood there, in his arms, she felt her confusion setting in all over again. Moments ago, she was certain the feelings he professed as feeling for her were a lie, but his gentleness now was causing her mind to do cartwheels. "Tell me the truth about Parven," she said simply. "Did you do it?"

"It does not matter. If he is dead, then he is dead."

Yelara closed her eyes and sighed. If he would just admit he had done it, some of the rage she was feeling towards him would diminish...as well as the guilt she was feeling about Parven's death. Hearing directly from his mouth that Raliek's death was his doing, and not hers, she might be able to sleep better. "Fine Dargus. Stand here and lie to me. I already know the truth." Yelara stopped struggling and just let Dargus hold her. "I only wonder how many other lies you've told me," she said quietly.

"He is dead because you wanted him," he said. "I could not bear hearing his name called out in the heat of passion, and he has suffered for his influence on your heart."

Yelara looked curiously at Dargus, furrowing her brow in disbelief. "You are the most confident, arrogant man I have ever known and now you're telling me you killed him because you felt threatened? No, Dargus. You could have any woman you wanted, so what does it matter if I keep company with other men?"

"But, I don't want other women," he said. "I want you." He kissed her, pouring all his passion into her.

Yelara tried to push Dargus away, but his kiss sent shivers down her spine. One woman couldn't possibly be enough for Dargus, she thought to herself. He liked extravagance and grandeur, and certainly liked his women.

Yelara pushed her lips away from Dargus' and looked at him sternly. "Then give them up. All of them," she said. "If one is all you need, let all those other women go. I would truly love to see that," Yelara said with a sly grin.

"You could not handle my sexual appetite, my dear," he said. "You would be completely exhausted and useless to me." Telling her he had had sex with three of his concubines that morning would probably be unwise.

Yelara rolled her eyes as she continued to try and push away from Dargus. "I'm not in the mood today. Let me go," she said, turning her face away from Dargus'. "I'm still angry with you. You don't seem to realize how much pain you caused me."

"For any pain I have caused you, I am sorry," he said. "I don't like competition, least of all in bed. Now, what can I do to make this up to you." He let his hands caress her, entice her.

Yelara shook her head. She didn't know how or if he could make it up to her. She wasn't certain she wanted him to. "Just...stop being so jealous. I don't want you killing every man I talk to. In the end, I always end up in your bed, don't I?" she answered as she stared up into his pleading eyes.

"Of course you do," he said. "That's where you belong. But, I won't tolerate you calling out the names of other men."

Yelara closed her eyes and smiled bashfully. "I'm sorry about that. But you still had no right to kill that man. He didn't know about you and I. I'm certain if he did, he would have left me alone immediately."

Yelara looked up at Dargus and slowly wrapped her arms around his waist. "The only reason you don't call out the names of other women, is because you can't remember them."

"Yes I can," he said defensively. He really knew mentioning the concubines from the morning was a bad idea now. Especially because he couldn't remember which he'd had. It didn't matter, he told himself. They're just women.

Yelara frowned and closed her eyes tightly as Parven's face flashed through her mind again. She would never be able to forget it, and being with Dargus, knowing he had ordered his death, only caused the memories to resurface. "Can I go now, Dargus? Just this once. I'm not feeling up to it today."

"That will be three days we've been apart," he said sternly.

"So is that a 'no'?" she asked, knowing he wanted her and wanted her now.

"That is not a no," he said. "If you need time, you have it."

Yelara stared at Dargus with a baffled expression. "You're actually letting me go?" she asked in disbelief. "What do I have to do in return?"

"Love me someday," he smiled back at her.

Yelara looked away and slipped out of Dargus' embrace. She couldn't promise him that. In fact, she couldn't promise that to anyone. Her heart was in such disarray, that she didn't trust a thing it was telling her. "I'll see you tomorrow, Dargus," was all she could say.

"I'll put more security on your room," he said. "No one like Toran will ever get near you again."

Yelara turned back suddenly as Dargus mentioned security on her room. Kace was still living in her quarters, and Dargus had no idea she'd moved in with Jae Dyn. If he saw a man entering and exiting her living quarters, Kace would be a dead man. "No, Dargus. That won't be necessary," she tried to say calmly.

"It is for your safety, and most definitely necessary," he snapped. "I will not see you hurt again."

"Dargus, just leave it!" she hollered back, becoming frantic now. "I don't want to be watched or followed around by your men. It makes me uneasy. Please, no security," she said, trying to plead with him.

"Just remember that if you are hurt, the deaths could have been avoided with more security," he said with a sneer.

Yelara tried not frown with disgust at how Dargus could so easily talk of killing as if he were talking about the weather. "I promise, I won't," she said grimly as she headed towards the doors of the garden.

"You are beautiful from behind," he called after her with a laugh.

Yelara looked back at Dargus as he hollered at her and couldn't help but laugh. He had changed slightly since that first night she was with him; she certainly no longer feared him.

She watched him as he stared back at her and sighed. She knew she could fall in love with him, the gentle, fun-loving person trapped inside of him that surfaced momentarily.

She knew Jae Dyn had tried to bring out that side of him, but she hadn't succeeded. Yelara, for a moment, thought that maybe she could do just that, but had no idea what it would take to accomplish it.

For her sake, and for the sake of everyone around her, she hoped she could succeed. She gave a smile as she took one last look at Dargus, then turned and walked out through the doors.

---

"After The Morning"
By: Dargus Kandran - Crimelord, Kandran Syndicate
Kace Mordin - Jedi Master

Location: Vid-link; Dargus' ship
Date: Selene 11, 3 ABY

***

Dargus Kandran sat down before his vidlink, and made the connection to Kace Mordin. He imagined the worrisome Jedi must be sick with grief by this point. As the connection was established, he smiled. "Kace," he said with a cheerful smile. "I imagine you're looking for Elisia, or at least sick with worry. Well, you need not be. She's safe. A nice, warm comfortable bed. She was found sleeping beneath a staircase on the shipyards, and my employee thought it best that she be brought somewhere safe. Now, now...did you throw her out of your ship? Now, why were you not there to take care of her when I was. So where were you?"

Kace's eyes narrowed at the image on the screen. "Seems the wedge you were trying to drive between us worked," he said. "It isn't a good thing when a student begins hiding all the free merchandise the spaceport owner has instructed all the shop owners in his station to give. I told her I planned to pay for it all, and things exploded." His eyes found the shattered remains of what had been a crystal statue sitting on one of the tables. "It seems that she wants neither of us to provide anything for her. She doesn't want us to use her. I believe she ended her training with me."

"You lost her, Kace, because you're using her as much as I am. I have asked nothing of her, and yet you're skeptical. I offered her my best room, fed her. She likes it here, you know." He frowned at Kace, and then smiled. "You really need to lighten up. All that dark brooding isn't good for your health. If you'd like, you may come to my ship and see her. I have prepared a facility for you to train her. I wish her no harm, I wish you'd believe that. In the future, let her go where she wishes. She doesn't need to be protected or coddled."

He nodded. "I will come," he said, trying to ignore the smugness and condescension in Dargus' manner. "If she wishes to continue her training with me, then I will continue it. Though, her training will have to be under my conditions."

"A master requires a facility, and I will provide it here." Dargus smiled. "I'll have you picked up in a shuttle, Kace. I'll see you in an hour, my friend."

"I'll be waiting," Kace said.

***An hour later***

With a ysalamiri draped over his shoulders, Dargus met Kace Mordin in the landing bay. At his side were his Wookiee bodyguards. "Welcome to my home," he said as he approached Kace. "Make yourself at home. Now, the girl has already had breakfast. I've let her know you're coming." He amused himself at the sight of Kace coming to him, humbly begging to get the girl back. A true victory. "You are looking very well, Kace."

"Stow the pleasantries, Dargus," Kace said. His face was impassive, a neutral appearance that showed neither defeat, sorrow, shame, victory, happiness, nor pride. His lightsabers hung in plain view, but he kept his hands at his sides. "Just take me to see Elisia. If she still wishes to train with me, then I will train her. And, it will be because she wants it, not because you have encouraged it."

"Whatever you say," Dargus said with the smile still on his face. "I've taken the liberty of replacing those rags you bought for her with something expensive. I know you are running, Kace. I know who you're running from. You know I have Force powers; you've felt them within me. Only Vader and Palpatine would have offered to train me, but I turned them down." It was a lie, but with the ysalamiri, Mordin would never know. "Think what you will of me, but I want the best for the girl. Together we can help her."

Kace laughed. "If you insist you have Force powers, then I guess I will have to believe you. I have never encountered you without your necklace, so I have never been able to sense you. And, you were wise to not train with either. While they are strong in the Force, and can teach much, they are both difficult masters to serve." His anxiety was building, but he kept it masked. He wanted to see Elisia again, but a part of him wanted to turn and run. She had rejected him once, and he did not know if he could weather it a second time. It had been a long time since Kace had tasted fear, and this was far greater than anything he experienced at the hands of either Vader or Palpatine. "Please, can we go see Elisia now? It's not that I don't like talking with you, it's just that I don't like talking with you."

"I keep the necklace because I don't trust you. I don't like you either. You disgust me. But, you are the one who can help her."

Kace glanced at Dargus and suppressed a laugh. To kill him would be so easy, and the Wookiees would follow quick enough after. In each encounter, he could have destroyed Dargus. But he hadn't. And, yet Dargus still distrusted him. Then again, he may just place too much faith in his ysalamiri. "Perhaps," he said. His control was wavering, but he covered it perfectly. Only one who knew him intimately would notice a change, and the only one who had ever known him that well was long dead. The pang of guilt struck hard, but it too didn't show. "As long as you wear that necklace around me, you'll never earn my trust. When I was last here, I stood within the range of the creature. You had ample opportunity to destroy me if you wished."

"I don't want to kill you," Dargus snapped. "If I'd wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have offered you a job. You don't understand me, and never could. I will never trust the Jedi no matter what colour they fancy themselves. I love a Jedi woman, but she doesn't trust me. But, trust is rare in my line of work. If you want trust, then it is for you to forge, not me."

Kace looked around the corridor they were walking through. He couldn't help wondering if Dargus was compensating for something. He let the thought pass and returned his thoughts to the present, knowing he would require his focus. Trust works two ways, he thought, if you cannot trust me, I cannot trust you. He wasn't sure if he had violated Elisia's trust in him. He wanted to believe there was nothing going on, but everything felt so wrong. And, then things fell apart. Hopefully they can be put back together, he thought as they approached a large ornate door.

They entered a room ornately decorated. On the far side, lounging in a pile of pillows, was Elisia. "Your Jedi Master is here, Elisia," Dargus announced. "I'll leave the two of you to discuss things. You have a second chance, Mordin. Don't screw this one up."

Kace watched as the doors closed in front of Dargus. He shook his head, and turned. His neutral exterior melting away as he did, leaving only the pain of the damage he had wrought in its place.

---