Star Wars - Tales from the Outer Rim

"Results"
by Darius Drake
Valin'erade - NPC
Kee Two (droid medic) - NPC
Quistis Knox
and special guest Dumah Gardan - NPC+

Location: Yalyssar and Yesopol District, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

Darius took a day off to see the city of New Plouton. Of course, he was working for his new boss who Darius barely knew. He only accepted the deal because it was the only way he could get his medic credentials back.

He was also taking the day to visit some points of New Plouton, especially the famous Dome in the Yandrosa District where the games of Brutball were going to be played. Also, he was somewhat interested what this Brutball was all about, since it captured citizens into buying the tickets to the opening game to a point where the tickets that were for sale were sold out in one day.

Darius got into the speeder that he had rented and made way to the Dome. Once there, Darius didn't bother to get out. It was visible that a few workers were still making the final adjustments to have it ready for the opening day... Whenever that is! Darius thought.

He took from the front seat next to him a brochure that mentioned the game. It was quite interesting that a game like this barely had rules, which caused great confusion. Darius saw that he would only understand it when he actually saw a game.

He then heard his comm beeping. He took it out of one of his pockets and activated it. "This is Darius!"

"Darius? It's good to hear your ugly voice again!" a male voice came from Darius' comm receiver.

"Valin'erade? Is that you?" Darius smiled as it was good to hear the voice of a good old friend.

"Yes, I received your message and it said it was urgent! So what is it?"

Darius sighed for moment. "Well, I got the intel out of Zackery. It seems that he delivered Lani to a Duro named Ferkinos and said that he has a job on Thanatos."

"Well, that was quite a blow to you wasn't it? You really thought that it was Zackery who killed Lani..."

"Hey, she's not dead yet, Vali. I mean, she'll only be dead when I see her body and I can recognize her face..." Darius said with an angry voice and as he tried to breathe normally.

"I know, I know..." Valin'erade said with a rather annoyed tone for Darius speaking to him that way. "I have good news. That bounty on your head has been completely erased. You can now move free on every planet!"

"Gods you're an angel! If you were here I could kiss you..."

"Yeah, if you do that I might collect the reward myself!" Valin'erade said in a serious manner.

"Just kidding... I knew it was a good thing to have a bounty hunter friend in high places! I have, however, another job for you!" Darius said as he looked seriously towards the Dome.

"Are you in some kind of trouble again?"

"No... Well, I got a job as medic to see players in some new sport. I know that there's something fishy in this deal because I'm being paid a lot of money to make players faster. I don't like it one bit."

"So, quit the job!"

"I can't just quit the job, Vali!" Darius then looked inside the speeder. "I made a deal that I accepted to do this in exchange for information that Zackery could have about Lani... It's a long story. Try to find anything about Dumah Gardan, Alicia Ashantee Gardan and one Kaede Aoki."

"Are these people drug dealers or something?"

Darius laughed. "I wish, but no. They look like angels. I just want to know what in the hell I'm dealing with, ok?"

"Ok, I will see what I can do. Just give me two days, tops. It was good to hear from you again."

"Me too..." Darius disconnected the call and placed his comm in the same pocket he took it out of. He glanced to the dome one last time and then turned on his speeder and made way to the Med Center where he was going to work.

A few minutes later he arrived at the Med Center that was still in repairs. He exited his speeder and walked towards the entrance. The entrance of the Med Center was huge with many services still functioning.

Darius took time to appreciate the architecture of the building. He glanced over to the secretary who was behind the desk and who was examining him.

"Hi. I'm Darius Drake, the new doctor for the department of Brutball..." Darius smiled and nodded with a certain charm.

The secretary smiled. "Hello, Dr. Darius. Dr. Kallo has been waiting for you. Wait just one moment while I call him."

Darius waited while the secretary activated her inner comm and spoke in a very low voice that Darius couldn't understand.

Minutes later, Dr. Kallo arrived. He was a young man with blond hair, red eyes and blue skin. "Hello, Dr. Drake. I'm Dr. Kallo."

"Hello, pleased to meet you!" Darius extended his arm. Dr. Kallo shook his hand with a smile.

"Mr. Dumah Gardan said that you might appear today. I see that he was correct, as always. Please, this way." Dr. Kallo showed Darius the way.

Darius winked towards the secretary officer, who blushed and smiled embarrassed. He then took his full attention towards Dr. Kallo.

"This Med Center is going to be one of the largest Med Centers in Tae'Karada. It will accommodate about 25,000 patients. That includes the urgencies and the Department of Brutball. This building was heavily hit during the Tae'Karada liberation war, and that is why it's still the only building that is still in rebuilding on this district..." He paused as he opened a door. A few doctors and workers were visible, but the beds were already half full. "This is the section that we use to make check-ups on the patients that stay overnight. If it wasn't for the nice contribution of the Gardan Corporation and Brath'Nam Inter-Galactic Guild we still wouldn't have opened the doors."

"Interesting..." Darius said and continued to follow Dr. Kallo. So Mr. Alicia and her brother did a nice thing. Who would have thought that they had nice versions of themselves? But do they have a bad side? Darius asked himself.

"Half of the building is functioning, but it will take about two weeks to one month until the rest of the building starts functioning..." Dr. Kallo paused and smiled. "To visit every part of this Med Center would take about the entire morning, and I do have patients waiting, so do you have any part in particular you want to visit?"

"Yes. I want to see the bacta tanks and the place I'm going to work in," Darius said, a smile on the edge of his mouth.

"Very well!" Dr. Kallo nodded, showing Darius the way. "Tell me, Dr. Drake, Mr. Dumah told me that you were a doctor, but he never told me what you were specialized in, and I haven't received your file yet..."

Darius was looking to one of the rooms and then glanced back to Dr. Kallo. "Oh, you will receive it. And to answer your question, I'm the kind of doctor that basically does little of everything, but I'm specialized in everything, if you know what I mean."

"Good! We need an experienced doctor for the youngsters!" Dr. Kallo continued to walk.

After a few minutes they arrived to where Darius was going to work. He had two video walls, five droids and the additional equipment to do his job. It was a good environment. Even better than the one he had on Kuat.

"Great! This is perfect!" Darius said simply as he entered the room.

"Yes, it is!" Dr. Kallo looked proudly towards the room. "Do you want to see the Bacta tanks?"

"Yes." Darius exited the room following Dr. Kallo. He knew that he was going to have some time to know the room he was going to work in.

"Just a curious question. Where are you recruiting the doctors, wardlies and the droids?" Darius asked as he followed.

"Well, the Gardan Cooperation are the ones who are supplying the droids, but B.I.G. gave us equipments, the personnel and, to think of it, the rest that we needed was given by Miccho Bio-Technology and Medicine. Have you heard of it?"

"Yes..." Darius said and continued to speak. "One of my teachers worked for them and I had the privilege to see their installation on Coronet. Very sophisticated!"

Dr. Kallo opened the doors and then Darius saw the bacta tanks. "Here we have about 50 bacta tanks, but in total we will have 200 tanks."

Darius walked and the bacta tank that was near the door was occupied. "Who is this?"

"This is the very first patient that we received. Her name is Quistis Knox. She is the representative of B.I.G. in Tae'Karada. She came from Gallor in the verge of death, but thankfully we had one of the bacta tanks ready. She was placed two days ago again on the bacta because she wanted to attend the Winter Ball at the New Republic embassy..." Dr. Kallo smiled. "Ah, this is Kee Two. He is the one who has been monitoring her state..." Dr. Kallo was interrupted while his comm beeped. He took it out and spoke with someone, but Darius didn't hear the conversation. He was admiring the tank and the person in it. "Dr. Drake, I have a patient waiting. Can you remember the way back to your room?"

"Yes. Go to your patient, I will be fine!" Darius said as he shook again Dr. Kallo's hand and saw him exit the room. Darius looked to the droid. "Hi. I'm Darius Drake, the new doctor for the Brutball department!"

"Pleased to meet you," the droid replied as he punched one on his console that was always in front of him. "Oh dear! Oh dear!"

"What is it, Kee Two?" Darius asked as he walked near the droid.

"Her heart beat has increased again. I used a tranquillizer, but it had no effect on her. If the heartbeat continues to increase, the rest of her wounds will not heal."

Darius looked to the bacta tank and to her face. "Do a brain scan on her and pass the results to this screen," Darius said as he pointed to the screen he had near him.

The droid did as he said. He activated an adjacent machine that was placed near the glass of the tank. The machine moved downwards as a red light passed on Quistis' body. The results came minutes later. Darius sat and looked to the screen. "Did her heartbeat rate increase?"

"Yes, it did," the droid answered Darius' question.

Darius glanced to the results of the scans and touched the screen as he looked over it. He saw that the part of her brain that processed sight was receiving information. How can it be? Darius asked himself. He got up and examined the part of Quistis' face. He saw up close that her eyes were moving, but her eyes were shut, so that only meant one thing. "Kee, wake her up. Now!"

Kee placed a small device on the glass and activated it. Seconds later Quistis opened her eyes.

Quistis glanced to the side and saw a man standing there. She couldn't quite focus on his face because of the bacta liquid.

Darius smiled and waved and Quistis waved her hand also. "So?" he asked.

"Her heart beat is decreasing, and she is calming down," Kee Two said, somewhat relieved and continued to monitor her.

"Kee, she has to remain awake for the rest of the cure. How much time until she can leave the tank?"

"Approximately two hours," Kee Two answered.

Darius glanced over Quistis and smiled. He then heard the clapping of hands coming from the entrance. Darius looked back and the one clapping his hands was Dumah Gardan.

"I must congratulate you on your achievement..." he told Darius. "I see I have made a right choice by getting you to work with us. And as it seems, the girl also owes you!" he smiled.

"Well, it was what you hired me for! I'm a doctor and my job is to save lives. And no, the girl doesn't owe me. It's in the job description, Mr. Dumah," Darius glanced towards Dumah and nodded.

"Well, that's between the girl and yourself! I never said anything about me owing you for saving her life!" Dumah grinned. "Anyway, good job. I just came here to see if there would be anything special that you would require for your department..."

"I barely saw the place, but if I need anything you will be the first to know, Dumah," Darius looked and gave a smile, a forced smile.

"Very well," Dumah nodded. "I'm off then. I have some other matters to attend to. Oh, and I thought you might want to know that preliminary reports state that Brutball will begin soon. Maybe one to two weeks from now. But I'll let you know in advance the correct date of the first game as soon as it's defined."

"Thank you, for the news." He saw Dumah exit the room. I know you're preparing something, but I just can't put my finger on what, Darius thought. He then turned to Kee Two. "Kee, tell me when she wakes up."

"As you wish..." the droid said, moving its head.

***

Two hours later Darius was seated in his room, seeing if every equipment was functioning in there. Also he connected to the Holonet to see if there were news in the medicine that he didn't know of, because he wanted to be prepared than to have unsuspected surprises. His screen terminal beeped and Darius took his time to turn it on. Kee Two appeared on the image. "Dr. Drake, the patient has exited the tank, she is being washed as we speak."

"Thanks Kee, I'm on my way." Darius turned to his computer and turned it off and exited the room as fast as he could. Minutes later he entered the tank area and a woman was seated in one of the chairs. Darius glanced towards the woman and recognized it was the woman that was inside the tank. "Hello there, Miss. I'm Darius Drake, Doctor of the area of Brutball of this place."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Darius. I'm Quistis Knox." She paused. "Well, I have to thank you for saving my life, I didn't know that I was in danger."

"No, problem, it's in my job description..." Darius saw Quistis put her hand against her nose, but Darius saw that she was pressing in fact the part of her nose that was nearest to her eyes. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah... I just have this small pain, like a headache after being drunk. My eyes are heavy," Quistis said, as she looked again to Darius.

"Let me have a look." Darius took a small device and scanned the left side of her head. The device didn't detect anything. "You're fine, there is no indication of damage of any sort."

"That is good..."

"Did you dream or something?" Darius asked curiously.

"Yes I did. It was strange, like I was looking towards a figure, I couldn't distinguish what was it, but I remember that she spoke something I couldn't understand. Shaakeni itum lakish. I don't know what it means and then I woke up and saw you waving."

"I'm sure it was only a nightmare!" Darius extended his hand and Quistis accepted, gladly getting up. "I would like you to make a check up if you let me. Just in case!"

"Ok," Quistis said, as she followed Darius.

Darius went to make scans all over her body and of everything, while the machines scanned her. He got to is computer and saw Quistis' record. He studied it for mere moments. Quistis had a discolouration of her eyes that it was why her pale blue eyes. Quistis moments later sat on the chair as he examined the results.

Darius glanced and stopped for moment. "Hello."

"What is it?" Quistis said somewhat in panic.

"You know that you suffer form Discoloris?" Darius asked, because he wanted to examine the way she moved.

"Yes, I have since I can remember. Why?" Quistis glanced and was somewhat relieved when Darius smile.

"Well you are in perfect health, but from this results says that you don't suffer anymore from Discoloris. As I can see from your eyes that they are brown. You are not using contact lens are you?"

Quistis got up and looked in the mirror. Darius was not mocking her, her eyes were brown now. How can this be? Quistis thought. "Doctor, what happened? Where are my pale blue eyes?"

Darius looked towards Quistis and was amazed. "I don't know, the results of the scanners don't tell me why. Did you have a drink or something that you never drink before or did you use some kind of medicine that could probably cure your Discoloris?"

"Not that I know of..." She paused and glanced towards the mirror. "Why do you ask?"

"Well there is a chance that some medicine or even bacta could cure it, but it is not certain." Darius sat back on the chair. "The rest of the results said that you are in extremely perfect health, so there is no point to keep you here, so you can go. In the case of your amazing cure of Discoloris... I tell you what, I'm going to give my contact and when you notice something different, pain or the like, you give me a buzz. Ok?" He wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it over to Quistis.

Quistis caught the paper and read it. "Ok. Thank you once again, Dr. Drake." Quistis shook Darius' hand and exited the room.

Darius looked to the computer, where it had the comparison between the results. Darius could not think why this happened.

"Touchdown"
by Catri Sontebren - Bounty Hunter

Location: Yelldon Starport, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

"Kelisea, you have final clearance to land at Yelldon dock number 16. Come around to heading 5-1-5, speed 300. Remote auto on. Welcome to New Plouton."

The Skipray Blastboat came smoothly around to the proper heading and speed, then the planet-bound facility's remote autopilot took control of the ship. Most pilots would have taken their hands off the controls, then, and sat back in their seats.

As it happened, however, the Kelisea's pilot was already sitting back in her seat. Reclining in her seat, actually, with eyes closed. Images flashed across her field of vision - sensor readings, ship status, communications traffic, and the like. She was doing something most people would have said was impossible - controlling a starship mentally. Wirelessly, really, since it was her internal network that was meshed with the Skipray's controls.

Even more amazing, however, was that there was more information than that being processed by the pilot's impressive mind. She was perusing a half dozen databases, reading recent missives sent from her contacts in the region, scanning a galaxy wide news network, and running a diagnostic on herself.

A diagnostic to make sure that all her many components were in optimal condition, since she was a droid.

A remarkably human looking droid, though, and one that would fool most cursory scans into thinking she was a human. But under that biofiber skin and muscle was a skeleton of hyper resilient ceramic and inside that beautifully shaped skull was a neural network that almost perfectly replicated the abilities of a human being.

Almost, but not quite. She was superior in many, many ways to normal humans. But in others, she was sorely lacking. Like other droids, she had no concept of morality, only a will to survive. Oh, she could simulate one with aplomb, but inside, she felt nothing.

Only a little of that was reflected in her voice - a mental stream of data, really, sent without her even opening her mouth - as she replied to the ground controller. "Thank you, Yelldon. Kelisea out."

As the Skipray entered the atmosphere the forward canted wings rotated around the hull, moving from the active, battle ready mode with one wing on top and one under the ship to landing mode, with the wings 'flat' on either side of the ship. The GAT-12j was quite pretty, in an aggressive, fast and deadly looking sort of way, especially with the glittering, laser ablative hull reflecting the sky and the ground as the ship made its approach.

Catri Sontebren gave a mental command and the captain's chair silently rose to a sitting position. She stayed there almost the entire time she was in her ship unless someone else was on board. The droid had no need to eat, to change clothes, to void waste, or to do any of a thousand things that a living being would need to get out of the chair for.

The ship was set up with living quarters and a kitchen, complete with partly depleted store of supplies. She'd had a decade to perfect the image of a living being and was as close to perfect as anyone could expect.

She didn't have much to do to get ready to disembark - she was wearing what she wanted to wear and had all the gear she needed at the moment - so the human replica droid just went to the main hatch to wait for the ship to land.

Someone who had seen her then might have recognized her as a droid - her face and body were completely motionless, like a mannequin's, in a way that no living being could be. Catri stood there in the hatchway for the seventeen minutes and twenty six seconds it took to land.

When the repulsors powered up to settle into the Yelldon dock, her face lit up again and her body, though still, now reflected the many tiny movements of a 'real' person. She even blinked when the hatch slid open, letting in the bright, hot sunshine of the Karadan day.

She had tracked her quarry across countless parsecs- and she intended to have him in a cage when the Kelisea lifted off again.

"In Search of Destiny"
By Vaya Bek, Jedi Padawan (PC)

Location: Yuarteira District, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 3rd, 4ABY

***

Vaya strode along a busy street within the Yuarteira District of New Plouton. She searched out with her feelings, with the Force, trying to get some sense of where to go. She didn't get what she hoped for. All around her were the busy minds of vacationers and tourists, a jumbled wave of emotions and thoughts. Vaya couldn't make sense of any of it even if she tried. Their thoughts were their own of course, she knew she had no business trying to poke around, but she was still unskilled in many areas of the Force. She just wanted to find some direction, some clue from the Force to help lead her way.

Vaya had been travelling from one end of New Plouton to the other for some time now. She was out of credits and still she needed to find the Jedi. Vaya felt apprehensive about showing up at the Temple. She had hoped to come across a Jedi that may take her there.

What will they think of me? Vaya asked herself with some worry. Will they even accept me?

Vaya missed her former Master and friend, Kherris. How she wished he could be here with her and she wouldn't have to search out these Jedi.

Deep in thought, oblivious to her surroundings, she was caught unaware as her satchel was ripped from he shoulder.

"What the...HEY! That's MINE!!!"

A young boy was running off with her satchel, shoving out of his way pedestrians as he zigged and zagged through the sea of people on the busy street. Vaya ran off after him.

Vaya tried to clear her mind and get a sense of the boy, but she was too riled up at his blatant act of thievery. She chided herself for not paying attention, for not following one of the first lessons Kherris ever taught her. He would be ashamed, damn it, Vaya you know better!

Vaya raced through the crowd after the boy, catching glimpses of him through the crowd. Vaya spotted a ledge by which she could get a better view. She jumped up onto the ledge and looked out among the sea of people for the boy with her satchel.

There! she thought as she saw him running off.

Vaya leapt off the ledge and with one clean and sure move she landed and resumed to run off after the thief.

She began to close in on him, she could feel it just as she felt the blood coursing through her veins. She used the Force in a simple technique to sustain more oxygen rich cells with every breath so that she would not tire as fast as a normal person. When she was close enough, she leapt up into the air and somersaulted over the boy's head, twisting in mid air to land in front of him face to face.

The boy skidded to a stop and stumbled to his knees. His eyes were wide with fear of being caught, and at the girl's aerial maneuver.

"Stop!" Vaya commanded. "That, young man, belongs to me, you would do good to return it now." She held out her hand for her bag.

The boy gave it up reluctantly, "That was way cool! How'd you do that!"

"I've spent my time practicing and learning skills to better myself, something you should learn to do rather than steal from people."

The boy gave her a nasty look and darted off, flipping her a derogatory gesture with his finger as he fled.

Vaya didn't give chase. She had her bag. She slung it over her shoulder so that the strap crossed along her body to prevent it from being snatched again.

All I have in this galaxy is what's in this bag, it isn't much, but it is all I have, can't afford to lose that! Vaya thought to herself as she started to walk down the street again. It was getting dark, she would need to find a place to sleep for the night. She knew there were some woods outside of the district, maybe she could find a nice a little place there to crash and resume her search for the first day of the rest of her life.

"A Valuable Piece"
By Tidus Highwind
Gengis Zibel
Elina Kasn - NPC

Location: Forest, East of New Plouton
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

He walked through the streets and looked at the entrance of the Casino and walked in. The sound of the slot machines was the primary sound that came from this place. Tidus made his way through the ground floor and approached one of the security guards.

"Where can I find Mr. Zibel?" Tidus said calmly.

The security guard glanced towards him, like he was scanning him. "Who asks?"

"Tidus Highwind. I think Mr. Zibel is expecting me." Tidus stood there as the guard communicated to central, a few minutes later he made sign for Tidus to follow him to the elevator.

The guard accompanied Tidus all the way to Gengis's office. The Guard left him standing at the entrance of Gengis' office.

Tidus glanced to the room. There were several paintings in it, a fine carpet near Gengis' desk. The chairs were pure brown leather and the desk was one of the most expensive woods that existed. Tidus walked near Gengis and shook his hand.

"Mr. Highwind, so did my driver cause much trouble?" Gengis showed one of the two seats in front of his desk.

Tidus sat on the nearest chair and glanced towards Gengis. He took out the ring and smiled. "No, I suspected that his guards were better trained. I took them out in less than a second," Tidus said, but it was true he was no expert at fighting, but the guards were the worst that he ever faced. "Now, my payment?"

Gengis smiled as he put the cigar in his mouth and smoked a little, as he moved behind his desk. He the opened one of her drawers and took a wooden box. "You know it was extremely hard to find the piece you wanted to. Luckily I know some archaeologists. Some of them owe me some money and they pay me with different favours..." Gengis paused as he set the box on the desk. Tidus got up, glancing to it, as Gengis stood beside him. "This piece cost me 25 thousand Republic Credits! I glimpsed it and, my friend, this is one of the most value pieces that my eyes crossed."

Tidus opened the wooden box and the light that entered inside the box made it shine a silver color. It was a medallion that was very decorated with a cross in it. The cross was extremely detailed, with several tiny precious stones. Tidus realised that this piece was worth more than 650 million credits, more or less.

"I could have bargained this piece for more than a simple job to retrieve a ring. But I'm a man of my word, Mr. Highwind. Also this ring can value much, since my pilot has something to win for and I hope that he earns me as much as that piece."

"You are an honourable man, Mr. Zibel. It is hard to find owner of casinos with such honour then you have," Tidus said as he closed the box. "Well if you need anything to be retrieved I'm the man to call." Tidus shook Gengis' hand and exited Gengis' office.

***

A few hours later, Tidus was walking in the middle of the forest east of New Plouton. The vegetation was somewhat dense and Tidus could feel the forest in harmony. A breeze passed between the trees and the vegetation like a melody.

The trail was somewhat rough to his fit, but that didn't prevent him from moving forward, to reach the meeting point, it was a clearing that he didn't exactly know where it was. He stopped in the trail and took a pad to see the direction that his contractor had delivered him. He saw that he was not far or he was completely lost.

Tidus continued to move forward and for his luck he wasn't lost, since he reached the supposed clearing. It had green grass on the ground. Tidus glanced all around him, but there is no sign of the woman he was supposed to meet. He circled around him and then suddenly there she was. Tidus was not expecting her there so he jumped in fright. "Sithspawn, you gave me a fright."

The woman laughed. She showed her beautifully blond hair that went by her shoulder, with blue eyes and the most perfect skin he had ever seen. She was dressed with a white top and a tunic that was wrapped around her waist, covering her gorgeous body, but it was visible between the tunic her legs. "Yes, that is what I'm best to do, among other things, Tidus. Do you have the cross?"

Tidus took the wooden box that was under his left arm and presented it to the woman. "Yes, Elina. I have the cross."

Elina approached the box and opened it, the color that came from the cross glowed in her eyes, made her smile. "Good, excellent. In all the years I have been searching for this cross, you were the only one that made possible to find it... How did you do it?"

"Well, let's say I asked the right people, Elina." Tidus realised the he was drawn to her beauty and stepped back and shook his head.

Elina glanced over him and gave a smile. "Don't you find me attractive?" she said as she grabbed the wooden box from Tidus' hand.

"Yes, you are a beautiful woman, but I can't... I just can't," Tidus said as stepped backwards again.

Elina read the way he avoided contact and smiled. She then stepped backwards, making Tidus more comfortable. "You still love someone... Yes, you do." Elina paused, for a moment. "I admire that." She took out a bag from the waist of her left leg and glanced to it. "400 Million credits in precious stones. Don't worry they aren't fakes. I keep always my part of the deal, if the other person keeps theirs."

"Thank you very much. I will be on my way, then." Tidus started to walk towards the dense vegetation.

"Wait," Elina said. She saw Tidus looking towards her. "Since you're a man of your word I have another job for you." She glanced towards Tidus as she came closer.

Tidus felt more comfortable now when Elina was approaching him and that made him wonder why he felt so...so comfortable. "What kind of job are we talking about?"

Elina smiled. "I like your straightness. There is an old ruin on a planet called Dathomir. The ruins are located in the north of the planet away from its so-called Internal conflict. It is called the Felas ruins and what I want is the sword that is located in the deepest chamber there, but you need help to enter there. Don't worry, that help will find you soon enough."

Tidus nodded at the strange the way she said it. "The reward?"

Elina laughed. "100 million credits non negotiable, paid in the same precious stones."

Tidus whistled in admiration, for the amount that Elina said. "Well, a few jobs paying me this sort of amounts I can retire and live wealthy for the rest of my life." He smiled as Elina laughed towards Tidus' commentary. "Well, Elina you got yourself a deal." Elina gave her hand to Tidus and he kissed it softly. "Well you know where that help can find me." Tidus turned away and disappeared through the dense vegetation.

Elina glanced and made sure that Tidus had really left then turned and saw a woman standing there with black hair and brown eyes. Under her left eye was a tattoo written 92. "Geez. Sister, you almost scared me."

"Almost? Come on, you know I was listening to your conversation. So, you are trying to get a new mate, using your charms." The woman approached her and hugged her sister.

"It is good to see you again, sister. Well you know me trying to find my perfect mate like you..." Elina paused. She knew well that she was going to pressure a weak point again. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry. So?" the woman said as she looked towards where Tidus exited.

"Your plan is in motion, sister," Elina said, looking serious enough to her sister.

"I just hope that goes as we plan," the woman said as she looked to her sister eyes. "For our sake."

"Surprising Reunion"
by Jae Dyn Brael
Yara Brael
and Dargus Kandran

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: 3 Vadris 4ABY

***

She and Zari had arrived at the Temple, and Jae Dyn Brael quickly met with the other masters to discuss matters concerning Zari. They agreed with her, and allowed for her to continue training Zari in the city until after her baby was born. After the meeting, she sent her padawan off to gather her belongings, and had headed toward her own room to do the same. Yara was strapped to her back as she moved, tiny hands waving wildly as her enthusiasm seemed to grow.

"You are an excitable one," she said and Yara gurgled.

"Blaboo!"

"Maybe later," Kallia said. "When we get back to the city. We can take Zari with us."

She could feel Yara's little feet kicking in excitement and it brought a smile to her face. She continued on toward her room, mentally reaching out to find Zari.

Before Kallia could contact her padawan through the Force, though, Yara's squeal derailed her thoughts.

"Dadei!"

It was a new word for the little one, but one that Kal thought she understood immediately, especially considering the feeling that went with it. She turned, and he was standing there. She didn't know the face, but she knew his presence, the feel of him. She started to reach for her lightsaber, but something stopped her. It only took a moment to realize that she felt no menace or alarm at his approach. She felt no threat coming from him, only a sense of peace and contentment. And, Yara was nearly giddy with excitement.

"Dargus," Kal whispered.

"Jae Dyn," he said as he took steps closer, moving slowly, almost as if he were mesmerized. "I think she knows me."

Kallia looked over her shoulder where Yara was trying to turn around and reach for Dargus. "She does," she answered. "You've changed."

"Quite a bit, actually," he said. "And, not just my appearance. It's good to see you, Kallia."

"It's good to see you too," she said, and was surprised to realize that she meant it. She closed her eyes for a moment, and used the Force to sense him. Yes, it was good to see him. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Would you like to say hello to your daughter?"

Dargus smiled and his eyes seemed to light up at that. "I think that's the first time you've willingly admitted that."

Kallia nearly blushed. "It's the first time it's felt true," she said as she unstrapped the carrier from her back and lifted Yara out. The little girl was beside herself with happiness as she snuggled into Dargus' arms. "She really likes you."

"I see," he said with a laugh. Yara's tiny fist reached up and grabbed a hold of the hair on his chin. "She likes this beard too."

"Anything that isn't firmly fastened is in danger of those little hands." She watched him for a moment, wondering how he'd managed to be good with children considering his past, but to watch him with Yara...it was refreshing in a way she couldn't describe. "I was just here to pick up some things. My student and I, we're returning to New Plouton. That way I'm closer to the doctor for when the time comes." She touched a hand to her abdomen. "And, to get away from some of the distractions of this place."

Dargus raised an eyebrow.

"She's only fourteen years old," Kallia explained. "But she's managed to find a boyfriend here, and they're..."

"They're having sex already," Dargus finished. "I can see where you'd want to take her away for a time. Though, my first time was at fourteen. Other than a distraction from her studies, as long as she's careful... Look at others around her and when their first times were."

Kallia nodded. "She used that argument. I'm trying to be lenient with her, and as long as she continues to be a good student, I'm going to allow her time with Cole." She started down the hall toward her room, with Dargus at her side still holding Yara. Without really realizing it, she slipped her hand into his. She noted by the expression on his face that she'd surprised him. She smiled and continued on, happy at being able to surprise this new enigma that was Dargus.

They reached her room and she pushed the door open, allowing him to enter first. He looked around the room, and found a small crib where he set Yara down.

"Are you going to be here for awhile?"

Dargus nodded. "I made a promise I intend to keep," he said. "I'm going to be receiving training as a Jedi."

It was her turn to be surprised, and Kallia definitely looked it. "Oh, if only I would be the one allowed to train you."

"Now that sounded almost naughty," Dargus said as he regarded her.

Kallia gave him a coy look. "Did it?"

Before she knew what was happening, she was in his arms, holding him carefully but close. Things were happening that neither really seemed to have much control over. First she was kissing him, then he was kissing her. Somewhere along the way, clothing started to disappear as well, and they managed to make their way to the bed. One thing that was still vivid in her mind was how considerate a lover Dargus was. As they came together, she was not disappointed. She gave herself to him freely, seeking to give him as much pleasure as he gave her. After they'd climaxed, Dargus and Kallia lay together for a long time, talking softly and then bringing Yara over to be with them as they held one another and their daughter. It was as if the wall that had always kept her at a distance from Dargus had been torn down, and when they were together, she could not contain what she felt for him.

It had all happened so fast, but Kallia didn't know where this would go next. She knew though that if this was the new Dargus, if he was trying to be a decent person, she was willing to have him in her life, to allow him a hand in raising their child.

"I don't know what's next," he said, as if reading her thoughts.

"We should go slow," Kallia answered. "See where this takes us with all the new changes in our lives. I do know that if this is who you are now, I wouldn't mind having you around."

"We'll see what happens," Dargus said as he kissed Yara's forehead. "I think...I think I'd like to be around too. I want to see my little girl grow up."

Kallia smiled and brushed her lips against his. "I definitely like this you. If you change, I will kill you."

Dargus sighed. "If I end up losing this, I'll welcome you killing me. But, let's just keep on like this, and see how happy we can be." With Yara, Kallia snuggled closer to him. "That sounds like a plan to me."

And, so they stayed, content to remain together, to enjoy one another's company, and hopefully find a future they could be pleased with, especially for Yara. It was much later, that Kallia forced herself out of the bed and off in search of Zari, leaving Dargus asleep in the bed with Yara on his chest. She only wished, before slipping out of the door, that she had a holorecorder to capture the moment.

"Arrival"
by: Reeve

Location: Thanatos
Date: Vadris 3, 4ABY

***

The entrance ramp of the medium-sized, Corellian-built freighter hissed as it lowered to the ground of the docking-bay. A figure clad in black, finely-made clothing started down the ramp, his boots making a loud clanking on the grated surface of the exit-ramp. The figure was slightly over two meters in height, with black hair and dark eyes. He carried himself with an unmistakable pride and nobility, but also with a sense of grace and balance, as though every step and movement was perfectly calculated, balanced, and executed to betray no sign of weakness or fallibility. A slight smile was on the man's lips, as his left hand rested on the hilt of the sword that hung at his side.

Once the figure reached the end of the ramp and stepped onto the hard docking-bay floor, he turned and took a final glance at the ship that had conveyed him thus. His slight smile did not waver as he looked for a moment into the ship, not speaking. Then, with a slight nod of his head, he said, "I must say, it was quite a comfortable ride. I would love to recommend your services to my friends... if only I hadn't killed you all two days into the journey."

The man turned now and continued away from the ship. By now, various technicians and engineers at work in the docking bay had noticed he was the only one to disembark, but something about the way he carried himself (and the way his hand rested casually on the hilt of his rather menacing blade) made them wait until he had gone before daring to investigate the ship's interior. Which was a good thing, considering they found the bodies of the ship's crew, four in all, stabbed to death and piled in the cargo-hold.

***

The man in black wandered down the streets of Thanatos, taking in the various sites. It was not the cleanest place in the galaxy - certainly not the place he would have chosen to begin his rise to power from - but perhaps the most practical. After all, a city run by a council of gangs was obviously not overly concerned about a few crimes here and there... like, for example, the murder of an entire freighter's crew and disappearance of their one, unlisted passenger.

The man smirked, despite himself. He had stowed away aboard the freighter just hours before it had left. He knew its destination was Tae'Karada, which was exactly where he wanted to go. He could have taken the time and trouble to collect enough credits and buy legitimate passage to Tae'Karada... but why bother with that when stowing away and subsequently murdering the crew was faster and more efficient?

The man continued his stroll, earning quite a few stares as he wandered down the street. Typically, a man dressed in fine clothing such as he would be marked in a place as rough as Thanatos, but he was left unmolested as he made his way forward. Perhaps it was the fact that it was still daylight, and recent crackdowns on crime by a security-force made up of planetary volunteers had made daytime in Thanatos at least a fraction safer. Or perhaps it was the way the man's unfaltering smile coupled with the dark look in his eyes gave off an aura of danger to those around him.

In either case, it was almost certainly too good to last long, as few can resist the lure of credits. When the man rounded a corner into a secluded alley-way between two large building, he was quietly followed by two large, gruff looking humans, each armed with a small vibroblade and hold-out blaster.

The man continued down the alley, his two pursuers taking care to keep their distance. When a white-skinned Twi'lek, flanked by a large and surly looking Gammorrean, stepped out from behind a pile of boxes, the man stopped. The Twi'lek grinned as he looked the man over. Emboldened by the fact that he had about 300 lbs of Gammorrean behind him, he walked right up to the man in black and flashed a toothy, yellow grin.

"Man like you shouldn't be walking the streets alone," he said. "Might not be safe."

"Indeed," the man in black smiled. "I'm told Thanatos has quite a rough reputation."

"You heard right," one of the two humans said. The man in black turned to look at them, before returning his attention to the Twi'lek in front of him.

"Maybe you hand over some credits," the Twi'lek said. "And we keep an eye on you... make sure you don't get into anything too rough for you to handle."

"And if I refuse?" the man in black asked, raising an eyebrow.

"This is a pretty secluded place," the Twi'lek sneered. "No witnesses."

"A good point," the man said, looking around. "No witnesses at all. Why, there'd be no one to come to my aid."

"So you better pay up," the Twi'lek said. "Or my friend here might decide he doesn't like you."

At that, the Gammorrean stepped forward, grabbing the man by the collar and staring down into his dark eyes. The man could feel the Gammorrean's hot, offensive breath against his face. The Gammorrean looked about ready to tear the man's head off if he didn't hand over some credits.

The man did not give him any credits. Instead, he merely winked at the Gammorrean. The alien blinked in surprise, unsure of what to make of it. What happened next was a flash - the next thing anyone knew, the Gammorean's arm had been sliced off and lay in a pool of congealing blood on the street. The Gammorrean squealed in a mix of confusion and pain, falling to the ground and writhing in agony.

The man in black stood, his sword in his hands. The ever-present grin on his face widened slightly, as his dark eyes peered into those of the shocked Twi'lek.

"Like you said," the man sneered, "no witnesses."

With that, his sword flashed again, separating the Twi'lek's head from his neck. The head flew and hit the alley wall before hitting the street and rolling to stop. Meanwhile, the Gammorrean's squeals had not subsided.

The man stepped forward now, plunging his sword into the writhing alien's stomach. The Gammorrean died with a sickening gurgle as the man in black pulled out his sword and whirled around to face the two humans behind him.

The two humans were terrified now. One of them pulled his blaster - and immediately, his hand was chopped off as a fountain of crimson blood sprayed the wall of the alley. The man in black followed this up with a spinning roundhouse to the thug's chest, sending him flying down the alley. He did not get up, as blood still gushed from the stump of his arm.

The other thug merely stood, too frightened and shocked to move. He could merely stare into the black eyes of his attacker. Weakly, he managed to mumble out a question:

"Wh-who... are you?"

"My name is Reeve," the man in black said. "A pleasure to meet you."

And with that, his sword flashed again. The last thing the thug saw were those black, soulless eyes burning into him. Then, the darkness took him and he saw nothing more.

***

The man called Reeve took a moment to survey the scene around him. The Twi'lek, the Gammorrean, and one of the human thugs lay dead. The other lay unconscious, blood still pouring from his lopped-off hand. Reeve thought about finishing him off, but decided against it. He would probably bleed to death long before anyone found him - there was hardly a need to expend further effort to finish him off.

Reeve's attention shifted to the blade of his sword, and he frowned. It was covered in three separate hues of blood. He leaned down and wiped the blade clean on the Twi'lek's clothes, making sure that it was immaculate before returning it to its sheath. With that, he took one last look at the head of the Twi'lek - which still had the shocked expression it had held before Reeve had lopped it off.

"Well, I think you've learned your lesson," Reeve said with a smirk. "And do you want to know what the funny thing is? I don't even have any credits for you to steal."

With that, he continued on his way, leaving the bodies of the dead and dying behind him.

"Retribution, Part 1"
By Girra Xel-Xux Zillar, Bounty Hunter/Smuggler (PC)
Morg Nar, Thug (NPC)
Nikto Thugs (NPC's)

Location: Thanatos
Date: Vadris 3, 4ABY

***

Girra had landed the Helix in the desert surrounding Thanatos. She had spent the last few days preparing for this night, and for the days to come. Days when blood would be shed and some heads would roll. It was more than a week since her abduction by the Vekker's minions, when she had been made to participate in a twisted game of hide and seek. But she had played the game and won, and now it was her turn to play a game. The game of pay back, the game of retribution. The rules were simple, Vekker and his lackeys would die. They would all die.

Girra had forgone her Ubese battle armor, her former captors knew her face, and when she killed them, she wanted them to see the fire that burned in her eyes. She wanted anyone and everyone to know who she was and what she was capable of. Girra wore instead, a black body suit with kinetic dampeners. It was quite sexy the way it formed to her body, and quite advantageous as the kinetic dampeners would absorb and disperse a fair amount of physical force, giving her an edge in battle.

Girra had traveled the rest of the way into Thanatos via her swoop. She knew where her first target was, where they usually were. Morg Nar and his Nikto thugs commonly conducted illegal business within Thanatos; collecting protection payments, running guns and drugs, bullying lesser street scum into service for Vekkers crime syndicate.

Girra had found that Morg, at least, would be roaming the streets of Thanatos, no doubt with his Nikto thugs, going about his business as usual. But tonight, Girra had thought, it would not be as usual. She swooped through the dredges of Thanatos in search of her prey until she had found him.

Morg and his Nikto were roughing up some mangy Wookiee in one of the many back alleys. Girra silently strode through the alley, keeping to the darkest edges until she was at a desired position. The Wookiee looked as if he had seen much better days. His fur was all knotty and dirty, patches were missing. When he opened his mouth in a growling protest to Morg and his thugs bullying, Girra could see he had teeth missing. Girra always thought Wookiees were graceful yet intimidating beings, but this Wookiee put the race to shame. She didn't know what his situation was, or what Morg had to do with it, and she really didn't care either. Still she thought, This is your lucky day, Wook, hope you have enough sense to pick your life back up, at least Morg and his nerf poodoo won't live to bother you again.

"Gnaaarl woouff, wroooarr!?" the Wookiee said pathetically.

Morg stood to one side as two of the Nikto held the Wookiee against the wall, the other two stood guard at opposite ends.

"Now, now, Chakka, you know the rules!" Morg replied non-chalantly. "You don't pay me, you lose something...I'm thinking maybe a knee cap!"

At that Morg swung a metal rod and bashed the Wookiee in the knee. The Wookiee howled so painfully that Girra could have sworn it was heard clear across the Outer Rim. Her stomach tightened with disgust at Morg as she made her move.

Girra leapt into a somersault over the head of one of the Nikto point men, she brandished her custom stun baton, cracking the Nikto upside his ugly head as she came to land relatively in front of the man. She spun around to face the Nikto, using the inertia to release the baton into a quarter staff. She took a half step back, spreading her legs, bent at the knees, in a battle stance. She swung the stun staff at the same Nikto, another brilliant flash of crackling stun energy washed him in the ribs where she struck. The Nikto fell down to the ground, ribs broke.

"What the fuck!!!" Morg hollered as he jumped back.

The Wookiee had flung the Nikto from their grasp and was wriggling in pain on the ground. He kicked out and struck Morg, as he was pulling a blaster from behind his back. Morg fell to the ground hard, huffing air from his lungs.

Girra swung around and positioned the stun staff behind her as she pulled out her own firearm, a very lethal and menacing Death Hammer.

Thwaaam! Thwaaam!

She released the trigger twice, brilliant bolts of red laser energy blurred through the dark alley, finding its targets, the Nikto. Each Nikto were slammed back off their feet with smoking holes in their chests. Girra spun around to face the other Nikto. Last man standing, she thought, as she kicked out with her right leg, delivering a terrible blow to the man's chin. Girra heard his neck snap back as his head made contact with the stone wall. The Nikto slumped down to the ground.

"Youuuu...juss what you tink you doin, biiitch!!" Morg cursed. He had already gotten up from his feet and had his blaster pointed but a hair width away from Girra's face. She stood there, staring him down, boring her eyes into the ugly Houk's own beady eyes.

"What I'm doing, you worthless piece of Hutt slime, is paying your ass back!" Girra spat.

"Haaaahar haaa! You stooopid whoa-mon," Morg laughed in his heavy accented Basic, "I have blaster pointed at you purty blue face! Me, Morg think you no do much anyting." Morg waved the gun around a bit in front of her face for emphasis.

"And I, you pathetic slug, have my much bigger blaster pointed down there..." she said as she darted her eyes downward.

The Houk, Morg, looked down just as she knew he would, and in that split second she pivoted to the side, out of the way of the blaster's muzzle. She pushed out with her staff to knock his arm away from her. Spinning around, she brought her gun hand to bare as she pistol whipped Morg's bald and bumpy skull. He stumbled away both in shock and from the force of her attack.

"Uuumph!" Morg huffed as he attempted to raise his blaster toward her.

He was too late.

Girra spun her staff about and cracked his gun hand with the stun nodule. A blue crackling energy washed over him, drowning the sound of his hand bones cracking. Morg fell to his knees, desperately grasping at the gun with his other hand.

Girra kicked the blaster down the alley and stomped down on his good hand.

"Gnaaaaarrrrghh!!"

"Now, now, Morg, you know the rules!" Girra mocked. "You fuck with me, you die!!"

Girra jabbed the Death Hammer to the side of his skull and pulled the trigger.

"Fund Raising, Part 1"
By Reeve

Location: Thanatos
Date: Vadris 3, 4ABY

***

Later that evening, Reeve found himself seated at a table in a local cantina. His opinion of the establishment was less than favorable, as he found the unclean conditions to be not to his liking. He had considered waiting after the bar had closed and snapping the proprietor's neck for failing to keep his establishment "up to code", but decided against it. Reeve wasn't there to murder a simple barkeep. No, he had needs to fulfill - specifically, the need for credits and information.

Of course, it was difficult to acquire both these things when one was new to an area, and for all Reeve's intelligence and experience, he had never been to Tae'Karada before, and it was unwise to make rash actions in a place one knows next to nothing about. Of course, Reeve could have simply taken to killing people on the street and taking their credits - but that would have been monumentally foolish. Not only would it draw unwanted attention to himself, but it would likely cause a run-in with the local city police-force, such as it was.

Reeve felt confident he could survive such an encounter - most of the guards were, after all, only human. But though his life would not likely be in danger, his position would be. Right now, Reeve enjoyed an anonymity that he did not have in the core worlds, where he was already a wanted criminal from both the Empire and the New Republic, not to mention the fact that several powerful crime lords had put prices on his head, as well.

Reeve wasn't afraid - he could handle simple bounty hunters if one was lucky enough to track him down. But when so many people know your face, it makes it difficult to act in secret, which is exactly what Reeve was relying on. He had plans for the galaxy, and plans of such magnitude are not easily executed. If he could keep the local powers in the dark about his true intentions, Reeve felt that Tae'Karada would be the perfect staging area for the fulfillment of his destiny.

But first things first - Reeve needed money. He hadn't yet had call to spend any credits (the thought of ordering a drink from this dive was simply out of the question for a man of Reeve's refined tastes), but he knew that wouldn't last for long. He still didn't have a place to stay, which was a problem that needed to be rectified - even a being of superior attributes and abilities such as Reeve would have to sleep eventually.

And so Reeve sat. Once, the barkeep had come over and complained that Reeve had to "buy something or get out", but Reeve had merely glared at him with his dark eyes and cowed the man into submission. The barkeep could see Reeve was not someone to be trifled with, and had let him alone for the rest of the night.

Reeve had spent the evening watching and listening. He scanned the faces of the people as they entered or left the cantina, he overheard snippets of conversation, but through it all, saw and heard nothing that would be of any use to him. He was beginning to grow impatient and restless - he'd been sitting there for close to four hours - but then he noticed a fat, well-dressed man with a bald head and pouting expression enter the cantina.

From his clothes, Reeve could tell he was no simple commoner. Nor did he look like he belonged in Thanatos. Reeve noticed that several of the cantina's surlier looking occupants were giving the man similar looks, undoubtedly wondering when the best time to mug this man and leave him dead in an alley would be.

Of course, they were all out of luck. For Reeve had decided that this man would suit his needs quite perfectly...

"Fund Raising, Part 2"
by Reeve

Location: Seedy Cantina, Thanatos
Date: Vadris 3, 4ABY

***

As Reeve watched the fat, bald man who had just entered the bar, he noted two humans looking at him, as well. They gave the fat man a look over, then one of them leaned over and whispered something to the other. The other nodded, then looked back at the fat man with an evil-looking smile.

This was troubling for Reeve, as he had plans of his own for this well-dressed newcomer. When the two humans stood and headed over to where the fat man was standing, Reeve started to rise and follow them.

The fat man was shouting at the bartender about the conditions of the cantina. Obviously, he was not accustomed to dirty tables and chairs. That, coupled with the way he was dressed, led Reeve to believe he was certainly a rich man - possibly a wealthy merchant or some sort of noble. Reeve wondered for a moment why he'd been in Thanatos (of all places).

The two thugs had now reached the fat man, standing on either side of them. Reeve came and stood at the bar a few feet away from one of the thugs - in prime position to overhear what they said without looking like he was eavesdropping.

"I can't believe my good-for-nothing pilot didn't check the power-cells before we took off," the man said, shaking his head. "The last place I ever wanted to see was this dingy hole, and now I'm stuck here until tomorrow!"

"Sounds like you've had a spot of bad luck, friend," one of the thugs said, looking down at the fat, bald man. The man did not look intimidated - he stared up at the thug and scowled.

"If you don't mind, I'd rather avoid fraternizing with the locals," he said. "And if I may say so, your breath reeks like a bantha's rear-end!"

"Quite a mouth on this one, isn't there?" the second thug asked the first.

"Sure looks that way," the first thug nodded. His hand suddenly held a vibroblade, and it was pressed against the fat man's throat. "Now why doesn't the little piggy give us all his credits if he wants to live?"

"I will not be spoken to in such a manner!" the fat man protested. "Barkeep, I demand that you throw these men on the street!"

The barkeep, meanwhile, was busy wiping down the counter and was obviously in no hurry to interfere with the two thugs.

"Looks like you're out of friends," the second thug sneered. "Now, where are those credits?"

Reeve, who had been listening to the exchange, decided that it was time to interfere. It wasn't that he was concerned for the fat man's life - indeed, Reeve was already planning on killing him later on - it was simply too good an opportunity to pass up. If Reeve stepped in and saved him now, it would be quite helpful in earning the fat man's trust, which would in turn open the way into his wallet.

"Gentlemen," Reeve said, turning to face the two thugs. The thugs turned to look at him, their scowls making their attitude toward Reeve plainly obvious.

"What?" the first thug demanded.

"Perhaps you'd better leave this nice man be," Reeve said. "It would be a shame if something were to happen to you both."

"Is that a threat?!" the second thug demanded, pushing the fat man aside and stepping over to Reeve. Reeve stared back at him with his black eyes and smiled slightly.

"No," Reeve said. "It's a warning."

The thugs looked at each other and laughed, obviously not aware of just how much danger they were in. Then, the first thug stabbed out with the vibroblade, attempting to skewer Reeve in the gut.

But Reeve was much faster - he sidestepped the attack effortlessly and caught the man's arm. With a jerk, the man's arm snapped, his bone poking out through the skin. The vibroblade clattered harmlessly to the floor as the man screamed in agony, clutching his arm.

The second thug could not believe his eyes. His drew his blaster-pistol and took aim at Reeve, but Reeve was already moving. He knocked the man's arm aside, sending the blaster-shot flying into the cantina wall. Reeve followed up with a kick to the man's midsection, causing him to double-over, gasping for breath. Reeve raised his arm and brought his elbow down hard onto the man's back, sending him to the ground. He did not move.

Reeve's first instinct was to take his sword and stab the two men - both of whom were still alive - but he restrained himself. It would not suit his purposes to have his new "patron" thinking he was a cold-blooded killer. Instead, he smiled politely and turned to the fat man.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Er... quite so," the man nodded. "Thank you - it's so good to find someone with the proper respect for social status in this place."

"Not at all," Reeve said, still smiling. "My name is Reeve...and you are?"

"Budo," the fat man said. "Budo Pumbular."

"Well, Mr. Pumbular, may I offer you some advice?"

"Most certainly," the fat man nodded.

"It's unwise for a man of your obvious wealth to wander the streets of Thanatos without an escort," Reeve said. "This isn't exactly the safest place in the galaxy."

"Yes," Budo nodded. "It's all my idiot pilot's fault. He forgot to make sure the power-cells of our transport were fully charged before we disembarked. We had to touch down here to recharge before we can continue on our way."

"What brings you so far out into the Outer Rim?" Reeve asked.

"I'm a merchant," Budo said. "I travel all over the galaxy, moving goods between star-systems."

"A merchant," Reeve nodded. "That explains your financial security."

"Indeed," Budo nodded. "Many merchants would kill to know even a tenth of the trade-routes that I do. I have contracts with governments all over the galaxy."

"Still, all of that will amount to very little if you get yourself killed wandering these streets," Reeve said. "I suggest you return to your ship - it's safer there, and probably a good deal cleaner. I will accompany you, if you'd like."

"You're not some sort of confidence artist or something, are you?" Budo asked, raising an eyebrow. "I warn you, I will not be taken advantage of."

"No, nothing like that," Reeve chuckled. "I'm simply concerned for the safety of my fellow man."

"Hmm," Budo mumbled, looking Reeve over. "Very well...you seem on the level, and you've certainly shown you're quite capable of dealing with any ruffians who would accost me. Come, follow me."

As Reeve followed the fat merchant named Budo Pumbular out of the cantina, he allowed himself a smile. Not one of the fake, calculated smiles that he'd been giving Budo - a real smile. His plan was working out quite well...

"Matters of Security, Part 1"
By Theen Fida
and Amii'a Val'or

Location: New Republic Embassy, Yalyssar District
Date: Vadris 3rd, 4ABY

***

"Ambassador?" Amii'a asked at the door way to the New Republic's Ambassador to Tae'Karada. "A moment of your time?"

Theen Fida was standing behind his desk, a massive wooden construct from a native tree of his homeworld Gravlex Mex. The wood had a charcoal black finish, glossy and almost non-organic looking if one didn't know better.

"Come in, Consular, you always have my ear, my dear, always do I have time for you," Theen replied as he turned from the window to give his attention to his friend and diplomatic partner. "What is on your mind, my dear?"

"I have the latest reports from our contact on GSS-9874," she said.

Theen knew right away what she meant by GSS-9874, it was a code system they had implemented to refer to planets, systems, people and ships. It was a safe guard against any possible surveillance, a system derived from their time as Rebel operatives against the Empire. GSS-9874 referred to a planet in this case.

"And what does your operative have to say in this report?"

Amii'a punched a few keys on her datapad and took a seat at Theen's desk. "Everything stated is collaborated by what we have been told by the representative, and some more. She probably didn't have all the information, but as I said, the state of things have been corroborated. The government is definitely at the brink of falling, it appears another civil war may in fact be ready to break."

"That's no surprise considering the parties involved. Do we have confirmation on involvement from the Imperial Remnant or from CSA?" Theen questioned.

"Not very clear, no. I have yet to hear from my contact within the CSA. I surmise we shall have some more facts from the representative herself, unless you would like me to take a covert team in for intelligence gathering. I have everything set up through our contact on world."

Theen stood thoughtfully. Never an easy decision to meddle in the affairs of another world, even when the consequences of such are at such high stakes, he thought to himself. "That would be prudent. Take Beta Team, you know the drill. I must have immediate confirmation so that I can act accordingly. I have forces standing by to make our move." Theen instructed. "I trust you are ready to go this day then?"

Amii'a grinned. "Of course. A lady should always be prepared for any occasion."

"Very well then. Report back in 48 hours, you know the procedure."

Amii'a nodded in accordance and left his office.

"Matters of Security, Part 2"
By Theen Fida (NPC+)
Senator Osh Kosh, of Gravlex Mex (NPC)
Admiral Jorges, Commander of the New Republic's Outer Rim Fleet (NPC)

Location: New Republic Embassy, Yalyssar District
Date: Vadris 3rd, 4ABY

***

"Greetings and salutations my old friend," Theen said to the holographic image that flickered on his desk.

"Greetings, Ambassador." The glowing blue figure of an Anx, like Theen, replied back.

"I need to call in a favor, Senator, there are matters here that need to be dealt with, as I have stated before."

The image of the Anx Senator flickered a bit. "I see. New Republic forces are stretched quite thin these days, Ambassador," the Anx Senator of Gravlex Mex Osh Kosh explained. "What exactly are you looking for, Theen?"

Theen replied, "I need a small force for rescue. The world in question is in the midst of political upheaval. I have promised aid, but I need someone of skill and with fire-power to help defend and secure refugees making it off world."

Osh Kosh's imaged flickered as his head moved as if to look at someone out of view of the holo-projector.

"It can be arranged, under the guise of refugee aid only. I have here Admiral Jorges of the Outer Rim Fleet, a small force from the fleet can be in system in just a few days," Osh Kosh stated.

"My thanks, old friend."

"The Admiral is on strict orders, Ambassador - the New Republic cannot be dragged into this situation, we do not have the resources at this time to commit to a campaign outside of our current commitments. New Republic forces are pushing back the Imperial Warlords to retake the galaxy in and around the Core. It is a mess here," Osh Kosh explained.

Theen knew of the state of things in the Core, of course, but he also knew the Senator's position. Osh Kosh was on the New Republic Military Committee; he was one of several Senators who had the power to devote forces and to choose for what reasons those forces were used for. Still, he owed Theen a favor. He was quick to cash in.

"Of course, Senator, rescue is the prime directive. I just want to ensure that your man is capable and his force can hold their own and safely deliver the refugees in midst of probable battle," Theen said.

"Admiral Jorges is most capable, I assure you. He is here with me now, as we speak. You may discuss with him the state of things. I must leave now, I have business to attend to, my friend. Take care, be well," Senator Osh Kosh said as his image faded from the projector, to be replaced with an image of a man.

"Admiral Jorges at your services, Ambassador," the image of the man spoke. He stood at attention and spoke with clarity and obedience. The man's height could not be determined via the holo, but his facial features were that of a well bred man, strong, confident, and his eyes showed many years of experience.

"Admiral, as you were," Theen commanded as the man took a more relaxed posture. "I trust you are aware of the situation by which you shall be engaging in, Admiral?"

"Yes, sir, Ambassador. I have read all the reports. My force is ready and capable I assure you, Sir."

"Very well then, Admiral, you have the coordinates. Time is of the essence. Push off and await for further instructions," Theen commanded.

"Sir, yes sir." And the holo dissolved.

Theen sat back in his chair and pulled the file on Admiral Jorges that his friend Senator Osh Kosh had sent during their brief conversation. The Admiral was born in the Outer Rim, attended the Imperial Academy and had graduated with honors as an officer in the Navy. His first assignment was recon in the Mid Rim as the Civil War with the Rebellion was escalating. Then Captain Jorges and his ship the Star Fury had defected to the Rebellion and had served in every major conflict and several black-ops since then. He gained the rank of Admiral just prior to the Battle of Endor, and had just recently been assigned to the Outer Rim from a campaign against one of the many Imperial Warlords.

Impressive, Theen thought to himself. The man was well educated; not only was he career military, but he was well versed in diplomacy and sociology. Theen always held a higher respect for those with higher educational standards. It was one thing to be well trained and respected officer in the culture of the military, but to have other areas of study always made one much more well rounded, adaptive and resourceful. Theen admired resourcefulness.

Theen then read the specs on the force that was led by Admiral Jorges. Jorges commanded an Imperial Star Destroyer II, an impressive ship with a high degree of firepower and cargo capability. The Star Fury berthed 3 squadrons of star fighters, a squad of X-wings, B-wings, and a squad of A-wings, as well as a platoon of ground forces. Accompanying the Star Fury were 3 other ships, a gunboat, a capital cruiser, and a Corellian Blockade runner.

Everything seemed to be in order, Theen thought as he looked over the information. All he could do now is wait, wait for the right time.

"Fund Raising, Part 3"
by Reeve
Budo Pumbular (NPC)

Location: Thanatos
Date: Vadris 3, 4ABY

***

"So, tell me more about yourself, Mr. Reeve," Budo said, as the pair of them walked down the darkened streets of Thanatos. Reeve noted that a few street urchins and thugs were still out and about at this late hour, but they were giving the two of them quite a wide berth, as word of Reeve's demonstration in the cantina had already spread. And, any time one of the thugs would look as though he had worked up the courage to confront them, Reeve would merely glance in his direction and rest his hand on the hilt of his sword, and the thug would quickly lose all confidence and slink away, defeated.

"Just Reeve, thank you," Reeve said. "What is there to tell? I've only recently arrived in Thanatos myself."

"Well, I can see from the way you speak and the way you are dressed that you aren't from the common rabble," Budo said. "But judging from that sword, and the way you acquitted yourself in the cantina earlier, I doubt very much you are a merchant or a noble."

"Very astute, Mr. Pumbular," Reeve nodded.

"So...what are you?" Budo asked, raising an eyebrow and casting a sidelong glance in Reeve's direction.

"I am...unique," Reeve said, and he left it at that. He could tell Budo was not satisfied with this answer, but Reeve did not want to elaborate further. Reeve hated having to lie, even to strangers (he considered dishonesty to be quite rude, and though he was a ruthless killer who would and had murdered men without hesitation or remorse, rudeness was something he simply could not abide), and he doubted if telling Budo the truth would be the best idea.

"I see," the merchant grumbled, wisely letting the matter drop. "Well, in any case, I suppose I'm lucky you were here, or else I might have had a rather rough evening."

Unable to help himself, Reeve smiled, finding the irony in the fat merchant's statement to be quite amusing. After all, Reeve had saved him from two thugs with the full intention of killing him later... so really, the merchant still had quite a rough night ahead of him.

But in the meantime, they still had a walk to get to the hangar, where Budo's ship was recharging, and Reeve found that he was enjoying this little charade. After all, Budo was the only one in Thanatos who seemed capable of holding an intelligent conversation, and though Reeve knew that his own intelligence far surpassed that of the merchant's, it was still refreshing to engage in some light conversation while they walked towards the hangar.

"So, Mr. Pumbular," Reeve said. "I don't believe I've heard of you before. What exactly is it that you sell?"

"Oh, this and that," the merchant shrugged. "Whatever will turn the highest profit. All of it is legitimate, I assure you."

"Of course," Reeve nodded, suspecting that Budo was probably lying. Smuggling was a quick way to turn a high profit, and Budo looked as though he enjoyed quite a costly lifestyle. Chances were that the merchant had smuggled illegal goods on at least a few occasions. But in the end, it didn't much matter to Reeve what the merchant sold, so long as he had credits.

"Yes, the trade business has been booming recently, with the civil war and everything," Budo said. "Although until recently, dealing with the rebels was strictly illegal, the Empire still offered very good prices on things such as blasters, TIE parts, and kolto. If one knows the proper trade routes - and takes the proper steps to ensure that one's competitors do not - one could make quite a killing."

"Clearly," Reeve nodded. "I'm beginning to think I may be in the wrong business."

"Well, that time has come and gone," Budo shrugged. "To tell the truth, I never thought the rebels would defeat the Empire, but I suppose one must adapt to fit the changing political climate. Of course, now that the war is over, prices will surely drop."

"There will always be another war," Reeve said.

"Undoubtedly," Budo nodded. "But not for some time, I think. After the Empire, many systems are eager to join the New Republic. Personally, I didn't find life under the Imperials to be all that bad - after all, I was making quite a tidy profit."

"All good things must come to an end," Reeve shrugged. "And so has our walk, I see."

"Indeed," Budo nodded, seeing that they had reached the hangar. "Now, Mr. Reeve, I'm not quite as foolhardy as our encounter in the cantina might have led you to believe. I know that you did not walk with me all this way simply for the sake of my safety. What is it, exactly, that you want?"

"You are very perceptive, Mr. Pumbular," Reeve said. "Would you mind if we talked aboard your ship, in private?"

"I suppose not," Budo said. "Follow me."

***

"Elvee, I'm back," Budo said as he stepped into the ship's main area. A humanoid droid looked up from the control console it was sitting at and nodded.

"Good evening, Master Pumbular," the droid said.

"How are the energy cells?" Budo asked.

"They are currently at 35% charge," the droid said.

"Reeve," Budo said, turning to face his guest. "Allow me to introduce you to my pilot, LV-227."

"A pleasure to meet you," the droid said.

"Quite," Reeve nodded. He did not like droids, finding them to be irritating and dull, but he did not want to offend his host, either. At least, not until he had learned what he wanted to know.

"You needn't worry about hurting his feelings," Budo said. "He's an idiot - droids aren't supposed to forget anything, but he can't even remember to check the fuel-cell charge before we take off. That's how we got stuck in this dingy desert wasteland."

"I am sorry, Master," the droid said. "I will endeavor to serve you more adequately in the future."

"Yes, I'm sure," Budo said, rolling his eyes. He returned his attention to Reeve. "Now, you may speak. You needn't worry about Elvee... chances are, he'll forget what you say in a matter of hours, anyway."

"I find that conclusion to be unlikely," Elvee said. "My memory banks are designed to absorb and retain--"

"Shut up," Budo said. The droid obediently fell silent, returning its attention to the control console.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Mr. Pumbular," Reeve said.

"You want some sort of handout?" Budo sighed. "Spare me your sob story, I'll give you a few hundred credits for your assistance in the cantina." He rose and headed towards a lock-box mounted to one of the ship's walls.

"Very generous of you," Reeve said. "But I'm afraid a few hundred simply won't do."

Budo stopped, and turned to look at Reeve. "I don't understand."

"Mr. Pumbular, I'm afraid that my helping you in the cantina tonight was not motivated by my concern for my fellow man," Reeve said. "And now that we're alone, I think it's time to drop the charade and come clean. I need all your credits, Budo."

"What?!" the merchant asked, his eyes widening.

"Well, not all, of course," Reeve said with a slight smile. "Certainly, most of your wealth is stored in a bank somewhere back in the core worlds. But clearly, you are not one who is used to an impoverished lifestyle, so you no doubt have quite a cache of credits with one the ship. I will be taking them."

"This... is outrageous!" Budo said. "What makes you think I'd give them to you?!"

"My dear Budo," Reeve said, walking over to the merchant and staring into his eyes. Budo shrank back noticeably, his anger seeming to evaporate, replaced with fear. "You weren't listening. I didn't say you'd give them to me. I said I'd be taking them."

"Elvee!" Budo said, turning. The droid, who had until now remained totally silent (as per his Master's previous order to "shut up"), sprang to action. He moved towards Reeve, grabbing him by the arm. While the droid was obviously stronger than a human, so was Reeve. He managed to pull out of the droids grasp and kick out, striking Elvee in the midsection. The droid stumbled back, freeing up enough room for Reeve to grab his sword.

Elvee moved forward to attack again, but it was already over. Reeve's sword sailed through the air, easily slicing through the droid's neck, sending its head flying into the ship's wall. The body clattered loudly to the floor, sparks still shooting out of its severed neck.

Reeve took one final look to make sure the droid was down for good, before sheathing his sword and returning his attention to Budo. He smiled.

"Any other pathetic attempts to stop me?" he asked. "Or shall we simply get down to business?"

"You...you won't get away with this," Budo said, all his confidence gone.

"Then that's my problem," Reeve said. "Your problem is what I'm going to do to you if you don't open that lock-box."

Budo looked as though he was going to voice another protest, but his gaze dropped and he turned, punching in the code to open the lockbox. Inside, there was a wealth of credits - it looked to be at least 10,000 - and what appeared to be a small package of illegal spice.

"Hmm," Reeve said, holding the spice package up and looked at it for a moment. "I thought you said all your trade was legitimate."

Budo did not answer. Reeve merely shrugged, tossing the package back into the lockbox. He grabbed the credits, looking around the ship for something to put them all in. He saw a black satchel hanging off the back of a chair, and decided it would do nicely.

"Oh, Budo," he said. "Be a dear and hand me that satchel. I'm afraid I'll be helping myself to it, as well. After all, I can hardly be expected to carry all these credits by hand, now can I?"

Budo weakly nodded, walking over to the satchel and grabbing it. He turned and handed it to Reeve, who began to shovel the credits into the bag. When he was finished, he politely closed the lockbox and re-locked it.

"We wouldn't want someone to rob you, would we?" he said with a grin.

Budo, meanwhile, had slumped into a chair and held his head in his hands. Reeve walked over to him and regarded him for a moment.

"Now, there's the matter of what to do with you," Reeve said. Budo looked up, the fear in his eyes apparent. "I can't have you running to the authorities and telling them what I've done. That would stir up trouble that I simply don't need. But on the other hand, you have been quite a charming host and a most cooperative hostage, so I have no wish to inflict undue pain on you."

"Wh-what are you going to do?" Budo asked, his eyes wide, his lower lip quivering slightly.

"For you, my dear Budo," Reeve said, leaning in close. "I'm going to make it quick."

***

Reeve stepped down the ramp of the ship, not paying it a second glance. Behind him, the droid LV-227 lay with its head lopped off. Perhaps it could be repaired, but Reeve doubted anyone would bother. Based on what Budo had said about him being "forgetful", it was likely the droid's memory circuits were corrupted, and Reeve doubted that having its head cut off would help its functionality much.

Also, there was the body of the fat, bald merchant named Budo Pumbular. His head was twisted at a sickening angle, his eyes bulging out of his chubby head. Reeve had promised the merchant a quick death, and that is what he had delivered - the merchant hadn't even seen it coming. In his own, strange way, Reeve felt as though he'd done the merchant a favor, since he could have just as easily made Budo's final moments full of intense pain. Years of training to be an Imperial assassin had given Reeve that much, at least.

Slung around Reeve's shoulder was the black satchel, full of Budo Pumbular's credits. Reeve had counted before leaving the ship - it totalled to be just over 10,000. It was enough for Reeve to secure himself a solid position in Thanatos (or wherever he decided to go from there), but not enough to support his true plans. He still needed a lot of credits, but at least now he had enough of a bankroll to find a place to stay and get some food, and perhaps buy passage to another area on Tae'Karada if the need arose.

For now, though, all Reeve was interested in was sleep. He had considered using Budo's bed on the ship (since it was a good deal cleaner than any of the local establishments), but decided that hanging around a crime-scene was probably not the best idea.

So, he again found himself walking the streets of Thanatos, looking for the cleanest place to stay for the night. As he walked, he reflected on what he had done that day - he had killed four thugs in an alley, saved a foolish merchant from his own folly, and later killed that merchant and taken all his credits. Already, Reeve felt he was on his way to fulfilling his ultimate goal.

All in all, it was the end of a rich, full day.

"Faith in the Force"
By Vaya Bek, Jedi Padawan (PC)

Location: Chimaedel Forest
Date: Vadris 3rd, 4ABY

***

Vaya had managed to make it to the Chimaedel forest east of Arcadia. She had been walking through the forest for some time, taking in the sounds of the creatures and plant life. It was getting quite cold as the sun was setting.

Vaya had been in contemplation for hours. About her life, about her former Master Kherris, and about her search for the Tae'Karadan Jedi. She awoke that day determined, determined to find the Temple and again resume her training to one day be a Jedi. But after hours of walking and the cold setting in, Vaya was tired. She was tired of all the sharp right turns and of her life taking one drastic turn to another.

She decided to find a spot to call it in for a night. She found a spot next to several trees that were close together. Unpacking her bag, Vaya began to have tears well up, she tried to fight against them, but her emotions took the better of her.

A fine Jedi I would make, stuck in the forest, in the middle of winter, on some damned planet you've never heard of before in your life! she berated herself as she unpacked her all-weather-self-contained-survival-environ-pod, a tent of sorts that was more like a large sleeping bag. It unfolded with a touch of a button and was only big enough for one person in relative comfort. Alas, it was not created for the recreational person, but as a means to survive outside of civilization. The environ-pod could be used in most climates, be they tropical, arctic, desert or otherwise. It was water proof, light weight, and kept a comfortable temperature in a variety of climates and conditions. Vaya's own body heat would start the reaction within the pod, to produce and keep heat to keep her warm throughout the winter night.

Vaya entered into her pod and curled up into a ball. She tried to relax herself as she had been taught, to relax through the Force, but she was too upset and tired. She just lay there and cried silently as the warm tears trickled down her cheek. She felt so alone, so tired, so unsure of her life and future.

Trust in the Force, Vaya, believe in yourself and in the Force, a familiar voice told her out of thin air. The voice sounded as if it were coming from a deep well, but it was clear as if someone was sitting right next to her.

"Go away, Qel. Go away, go back to wherever in the stars you came from!"

Child, I am with the Force, I am everywhere. And I'm not going away until I know you are safe in your destiny, the voice of Qel told her.

Qel was once a Jedi Knight. Some years ago he had come to her, almost like in a dream she had thought. He was now a spirit, a Force spirit. He had helped her in her time of need, told her about the Jedi, that she too could one day be a Jedi. Vaya hadn't heard from Qel in some time.

"Why are you here now?" Vaya asked. "If you want to do some good why don't you just leave me alone."

Vaya, you must get a hold of yourself. Your emotions can do you good, but they can be made to disserve you, child.

"Bla bla bla...I'm trying to get some sleep here okay? I've been wandering this damned forest all day in search of my almighty destiny. I have yet to find a Temple or any Jedi. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and my patience is wearing thin!"

What do you think the Jedi would think of you like this, Vaya? Do you think they would see a worth while student to train? Or would they see a scared girl with no faith in herself or the Force?

Vaya sat up and shook her fist to the air, "What do you expect, Qel?! I am so tired of losing everyone in my life, is this what the Force has in store for me?! Things were just fine at the School with Kherris, and then when it was just me and Kherris, and then he was taken from me, and I have been made to wander this alien world all alone. I'm supposed to seek out these Jedi, and then what? Have that ripped from me as well? Who's to say they will even want me. I'm a stranger, I know nothing of them, and they know nothing of me!"

There was a long silence as Vaya sat with her head low.

Vaya, they are Jedi, that is all that matters. The Force is everywhere, in everything, binding everything...the past, present and future. You are a special young lady, you are gifted with the Force and so much more. They will accept you, you only have to trust in them, trust in the Force. You must not falter, child, you have to have Faith.

"I...I wish Kherris could talk to me, the way you do. Why can he not be here?" Vaya asked.

I'm not all knowing, Vaya. It takes a lot of energy to be here with you, to be here for you. I know you cared for Kherris with all your being. He was a good man and a good friend to you. It is time to move on and claim your destiny. You do want to be a Jedi don't you? You do want to continue with all that Kherris had taught and hoped for you, yes?

"Of course I do...I'm sorry. I...I'm just scared, everything is so unsure."

That is the way of life, Vaya. You mustn't be afraid, child, fear is the path of the dark side. You are better than this. You know it. Use your instincts, you have good instincts, you have a good heart and good sense, and you will always have the Force. In the Force you will always have Kherris. Have faith, child, persevere... Qel said as his voice trailed off into the night.

Vaya sat, alone again. She didn't feel too much better, more ashamed at herself, and disappointed with herself than anything. And still tired and hungry.

Vaya laid down and relaxed. She let her mind clear and used her breathing exercises calm her and relax her as she drifted into a calm sleep through the Force. Her muscles relaxed, her mind became calm, and her hunger subsided.

The next morning she awoke feeling refreshed. Vaya took a drink of her water bottle and swished the sleep from her mouth. She packed up her pod and began to track through the woods again.

I will trust in the Force, I will become a Jedi and find my destiny. I will always honor you, Kherris, honor you by fulfilling my training and becoming a Jedi as you had foreseen in me.

"A New Beginning"
by Spyke

Location: Thanatos
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

The creature was lying in its small cell, its green, glowing eyes being the only source of light. His dark blue skin was a natural camouflage in the darkness, and nothing could be seen but those eyes... Blood was still dripping from its claws, and every now and then it shuddered slightly from the memory of soft flesh giving way to its weapons. Yes, it remembered. It had a mind, a consciousness, it knew the meaning of the word "I"... Still it was held captive here, alone. A pet, a slave, no better than any other beast to hunt down the two-leggers that did or did not pose a threat to its owner... Usually because they simply angered him, as far as the creature understood it.

It never learned about anything else, and still... Still there was this feeling of something amiss, something that the creature intended to find out... One day... It just had to wait for a small mistake, for some time... The door opened and one of the two-leggers entered, holding something black and shiny in his hand as if it was a weapon. And well, in fact it was: once activated it was this thing that could cause the collar around the creature's neck to emanate waves of electricity, causing endless pain...

But the creature didn't know that. All it knew was that, whenever this thing was in the hand of a two-legger, it could cause pain... Much pain.... "Hey Spyke, your master wants you to do another 'job'..." The creature snorted, growling in a low tone. Still, it rose from its resting place, standing now on all fours, its claws digging into the uneven ground. But what was that? Having become chary over the years and years that passed the servant put the control aside to loose Spyke's chain....! His teeth showing in a "grin" filled with bloodlust, Spyke hit the chain that was holding him with his claws, a loud clanging noise filling the small cell for a moment as one end of the chain fell to the floor.

Fear in his eyes, the two-legger servant turned around - he didn't even have the chance to try and run towards the remote control. After showing him all the frustration and anger that had been boiling beneath the surface during all these years there really wasn't that much left of him, but Spyke didn't care. He had a strange feeling around the place where his stomach was, and his heart raced faster than ever when he was excited before. Was this... Freedom? Showing his teeth in a long growl the dragonlike creature climbed the wall until he was hanging upside down with his full weight on his large, sharp claws. Then he walked through the door, leaving the cell he had lived in for so many years that he couldn't count them... Not that he could count anyway.

***Some time later***

This world indeed was strange... Somehow Spyke had always assumed that his - now former - owner was a rare creature, an evil abomination that was bred and hatched by mere coincidence... But now he had to accept the fact that there indeed seemed to be a whole world filled with his kind. And not only that, but also other, different looking types of two-leggers!

After a few of them screamed and ran off, leaving the impression of fear and wanting to call for help in his mind, the creature decided that it might be wiser to not be spotted again. He felt too warm anyway, he wasn't used to the sun burning down onto him, was used to darkness, shade... and especially not used to crowds. Thus he searched for a place to hide.

Basically climbing on walls and ceilings he finally spotted a small "entrance" to a building. Of course, this entrance really was a window, but how should Spyke know that? It was cool and shady inside, and it didn't even smell that bad like two-legger, so he sneaked around a bit, sniffing and touching a few things, careful to not make too much noise by breaking stuff.

After a while he snorted, satisfied and scratched around a bit on a large, comfortable area that soon wasn't looking as if it could be used by a human being anymore. Yes, this would be his nest for the day... Maybe during the night would be the time where less two-leggers were around... And maybe he would find a safe place to hunt then, he was hungry...

"An... Interesting Acquaintance"
By: Spyke
Laen [NPC]

Location: Thanatos, Tae'Karada
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

"What do you think it is?" one of the voices whispered.

The other, high-pitched and trembling audibly, replied, "I don't know...but I don't wanna be here when it wakes up." Quickly fleeting footsteps shook the floorboards, then stopped abruptly. "Laen!" the voice hissed. "What are you doing? You're gonna wake it!"

The other chuckled softly. "I won't if you shut your yap. I just want a closer look. It's not every day you get to see a blue dog."

A claw twitched. His dreams invaded by sounds, ugly sounds, evil sounds... The sounds two-leggers called talk, called their "language". Spyke didn't like it, but he learned to understand it...the hard way. At first the creature thought that this was merely a dream, or these two-legged beings talking outside of this shady structure... But then he noticed that they were far too close, and, even more important, that he could sense and smell fear.

Suddenly, two green glowing eyes opened up and he stared at the intruders of his territory. Unmoving. Only staring with what could almost be a scary amount of intelligence... Or was it the focusing sort of silence, like a snake before lunging forward to perform its deadly bite?

"I told you so!" the whiny, prepubescent one squeaked as he saw the glowing green orbs. There was a crash of toppling boxes and the bang of the wooden door smashing open as he made his fumbling escape.

Laen, the other, was frozen in awe and paralyzing fear. Sweat beaded his brow, dampening the thick locks of brown hair hanging over his forehead. Blue eyes were wide and pupils were dilated, only further evidencing his panic. He licked his parched lips and raised his shaking hands in submission. "It's...it's okay. I was just looking." He swallowed hard. "I'm going to back away now...and leave, okay?"

Spyke briefly glanced at the running two-legger, muscles tensing in a first reflex to run after the prey that attempted to flee. And yet the air in the room was still thick with fear from the other one and so he turned his attention back to him... Him backing away caused the creature to tilt his head slightly to one side. Of course the two-legger was afraid... He had no weapon. Slowly, almost unnaturally so Spyke rose from his "nest" and former bed and climbed out of it, moving closer to the human and memorizing his scent. He was afraid, why didn't he try to run? As his stomach growled a bit he remembered that he was hungry, and wondered if this one would taste good...

Too gripped by panic to tear his eyes from the beast, Laen used instinct and luck to guide himself towards the door. Judging from the beast's large stature and powerful legs, Laen doubted he could outrun the creature. Instead, he maintained his tense, carefully slow pace. "T-That collar," he mentioned, hoping to distract the creature. "Did...did you get lost? Your owner might be looking...if you let me go, I could find him for you...."

Always following the two-legged male towards the door Spyke listened to what he had to say. He actually did glance down as he mentioned his collar and his former owner... And then growled. Aggressively. Oh no, this two-legger wouldn't get a weapon to activate his collar, not this time! And he definitely would not go back! With quick movements he jumped around the intruder and stood in front of the door, his tail "accidentally" whipping and hitting it so it closed. Again he growled, then became silent again. He wondered if the two-legger had anything edible on him... Aside from himself, and once more he intensely sniffed the air.

Laen was breathing heavily now, and backing away in the opposite direction. "Okay...bad idea," he quipped weakly. His gait, this time, was far less smooth as he stumbled over Dorin's mess of fallen crates and abandoned wares. Each time he caught himself, but, much to his despair one solid box finally knocked his feet out from under him, landing Laen flat on his back. He groaned and struggled to sit upright before the creature pounced.

That of course was a chance Spyke wouldn't let pass without at least trying to take it...! Or jump it, literally spoken. Once the kind of clumsy two-legger landed on his back the creature jumped forward, his front claws lying on his front legs with ease. He knew that he was too heavy for those of this race and size, thus he was careful not to accidentally destroy the two-legger. Quizzically he once more tilted his head to one side, trying to will the impression of his hunger into the other male's brain with all his might. Either he soon got something to eat or he just would eat him! Well... Though, could this two-legger be useful after all...? Or was that too risky...? And Spyke wondered, nudging the two-legger with his snout before carefully climbing down from him and sitting beside him, tail curling around his body. Maybe now this creature would lose some of its fear... It smelled quite...tempting, to say the least.

Laen was stunned, unconsciously feeling for any gaping holes or torn flesh. But, he was intact, and close enough to see the spark of awareness in the beast's luminescent eyes. He wasn't an ordinary animal - though simply looking at him was enough to gather that much. There was an intelligence about him Laen didn't often see in those pesky reisacats that were always skulking about, stealing food from the table when they weren't looking. No...Laen had a sense that the animal understood every word he spoke.

At his proximity, he distinctly heard a deep growl rumbling from the creature, but Laen swallowed a gasp when he realized it wasn't issuing from the creature's fanged mouth. He nearly chuckled when he did recognize where it had come from. "Haven't eaten lately...have you?" he asked, then frowned. "I hope I'm not on the menu...I-I swear, I don't taste good." Then, his eyes lit with hope. "But I know something that might!" He held up one hand to stay the creature, then insisted as his other crept towards his pocket, "I swear...I'm not going to hurt you."

At last the two-legger seemed to understand a bit of Spyke's situation, and the creature watched every movement of the male like a hawk. Well, he understood that Spyke was hungry... but could he get to the conclusion on his own? Somehow he doubted it, but hey, never underestimate two-leggers... He briefly sniffed at the paw the two-legger was holding up, then involuntarily ducked and jumped a bit away when he saw his other hand disappearing in his clothes... Did he have a control there? Would he hurt him, control him, force him to do as he wished? Warily he watched him, body still crouched down and tensed, looking more like a dog who fears to get beaten than a fearsome creature at the moment. But slowly his head inched closer, neck stretching, nose sniffing... What was in his clothes, what would come out? And, could he trust...?

"A dumjabar," Laen announced, producing the rectangular snack from his pocket. He held it up towards the beast on his palm...then thought better of it and dangled it between two fingers lest the creature swallow both hand and bar. "I've got plenty," he explained. "And...it's not poison. You can have it."

Still wary and suspicious Spyke gazed at the "dumjabar", then at the two-legger, then back at the snack. No poison... How come the two-legger knew he thought of that? Rising back to his full height the creature moved closer again - yet still careful and tensed. Now it was his turn to be the one whose heart was filled with fear and doubts. Should he eat this? Or eat the stranger? He was hungry, that was for sure... Sniffing the snack he first licked over it, then grabbed it with the tip of his muzzle and bit down on it, chewing thoughtfully. Didn't taste that bad... Nothing compared to the blood and fresh meat he was used to, of course... And involuntarily he sent that impression to the stranger. The snack was gone all too soon and feeling bold Spyke went to halfway tower over Laen once more and nudge him in several places so as to find more of this odd food.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly, wincing at every prod of the creature's muzzle for fear that the next would involve teeth. "I don't have anything else on me right. I keep it all at the headquarters... A...a creature like you...you want something fresh anyway - meat, right?" Laen wasn't certain how he managed to intuit that, but something about the creature simply inspired the thought. "I know where we can get some," he insisted. "I-I could take you."

At these words from the stranger Spyke stopped his nudging about and stepped backwards again. Meat sounded good, fresh meat even better. A small snack like this was not much more than an appetizer for him and so he still was hungry... Briefly sitting down he went to the door and with ease used his claws to open it again. Then he stopped, looking back at Laen to allow him take over the lead... It was only briefly that he wondered about the two-legger's friend or at least companion who ran away before... And he hoped he wouldn't call for help or this might become a bad day for those creatures...

Giving the cobalt beast a wide berth, Laen sidled towards the doorway and stumbled outside. He whipped around again to insure he was always facing the creature. "We...we should probably duck into the alley. If anyone sees you...they'd likely freak out, you know?" He frowned at him inquisitively. "What are you, anyway? I don't think I've ever seen something like you before."

Spyke inwardly frowned, slightly hesitating before every next step that followed the male two-legger. He was a...thing. Something brought to this place from far away, but that was all he knew... Silently he looked up to the sky, then back at the male. Sadness, loneliness flickering in those green eyes for just a second... Then it was as if nothing happened at all, and he continued following his new...companion, if he could call him that already. But somehow he had to call him... He knew that two-leggers used names to identify themselves and each other... He had been given a name too, after all. Too bad he couldn't do much more than send impressions to the two-legger; he seemed to be at least a little susceptible to this - or it had just been by chance that he knew that Spyke wanted fresh meat rather than those snacks.

"So, you're an orphan too, then." Laen shook his head sympathetically, growing more and more comfortable with the beast. "Most of us around here are - all the guys have been on their own since they were kids." He glanced hesitantly at his captor of sorts and said, "I could introduce you to them...but they might be a little scared. You'd have to promise not to eat them, first."

Introduce him... To even more two-leggers...? Spyke wasn't so sure if he really wanted that. First came the food, then, later on he could start to consider doing other things together with this...stranger. He was odd. The first one who actually tried to understand him, and he already was on this planet for a long time.... Maybe even longer than the two-legger himself, Spyke didn't know too much about how those creatures aged. Quietly he followed Laen. He couldn't promise anything. Not to a two-legger about two-leggers and concerning two-leggers. They were evil, hurting him, torturing him... Yes, and feeding him, in one or the other way. He was still unsure whether to trust this one at all, he wouldn't start to trust others even faster.

The two slipped into an alley, concealing them both from the street. Laen kept an eye closely on his guest - a very strange one at that. "You got a name?" he asked it, then snickered at his own stupidity. "Do you talk?"

Spyke shook his head in what looked strange enough like a very human shake of the head. Another "trick" he learned from the two-leggers. One didn't need their language for that, and still it was some sort of... answer. Of course, that shake of his head was the response to the second question. Yes, he did have a name, but how to tell... He stopped moving and looked up to the male two-legger. Maybe it would work? He tried hard to get the impression of his name over to his new companion... At the very least the image of a spike, which was as close to his name as it could get.

Aside from feeling slightly unnerved by the creature's stare, Laen knew this was more than a dull-witted animal's inquisitive gaze. The creature had clearly comprehended - the shake of his head as an appropriate response to his question didn't escape Laen. Nor did the almost magnetic pull on his eyes that drew them to the animal's collar. "Spikes..." he muttered.

A low, short growl together with what resembled a human nod was the reward to Laen's muttering. Okay, so he didn't exactly get it, but "Spikes" was close enough to Spyke, wasn't it? Still he continued to look up to the two-legger, this time in an inquisitive manner - it was only fair if he now requested to know the male's name.

Laen grinned, then thought better of it; baring his teeth at an animal like this wasn't a good idea. "Well...you like Spikes well enough, don't you? So, I'll call you-- Can I call you Spike? I personally think it sounds better...but if you prefer Spikes, and it'll keep me from getting eaten, who am I to complain?" He chuckled uneasily, and decided it was best to keep on moving. "Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm Laen - I sorta help run things around here, keep the peace...that sorta thing." He tossed his head to sweep his bangs from his eyes. "See, we figured this was our home, so it was in our best interests to keep it safe, rather than contribute to the violence." Now he smiled with clear pride. "We had a hand in freeing it from the Imps a while back." He sniffed. "Yep...that was us."

Laen... Spyke repeated this "name" in his mind... It was an odd one, with a meaning in it, but then again, who was he to throw the first stone with his own odd name? Thus he memorized it for later use... Not that he could say it or something, but the communication with this stranger went well until now, so it might be useful to at least know how he called himself. So, he kept the peace on this planet? How... Unusual.

Spyke never heard of such a thing to be necessary, and he briefly wondered if it would be called peace to enslave creatures like him and put them into a small, dark cell. Though... What were imps? The scene Laen described didn't tell the creature anything, but since it seemed to be important to the two-legger he gave and affirmative short growl. At least this two-legger should be experienced in fighting... Maybe this new acquaintance would be a useful one after all.

At the end of the alley, Laen raised a hand to halt his companion, then peeked around the corner. The street wasn't bustling, but there were still pedestrians milling about, ones that would likely suffer a real shock if they saw Spyke. He turned back to the imposing creature, studying him closely. Then, his eyes lit up with inspiration as he quickly shrugged out of his cloak. "You mind?" he asked Spyke, holding the garment towards him. "It may look strange, a walking cloak...but it'll be a lot better than a scary beast - no offense."

At first Spyke simply looked questioningly at the cloak Laen was offering to him. What should he do with that, lie down on it? However when the two-legger explained what he wanted to do with this the creature got the idea and positioned himself so that it would fall down upon his back if Laen would let it. Once this disguise was created he followed the two-legged male out of the small alley and onto the larger street...

He sure got more than one odd look, but as long as he was not revealed by some street kid or whatever everything would be fine... Though he really didn't know why these people should be scared of him. Okay, so he was hungry, but one of them would be enough and he didn't need more...

"For an animal like you," Laen mentioned as he strolled as casually as possible along the sandy stretch of road, "you sure you don't know how to hunt? Animals like you don't usually stay hungry long." Then, he shrugged and pointed to the sky - rather, to an open circle of hovering beasts in the near distance. "See those?" He grinned down at Spyke. "Scavenger birds. If you're looking for fresh meat, they're the best indicator."

Spyke almost stopped to look at Laen. Did he just say that he wasn't a good hunter...?! He growled. Of course he was a good hunter, but he wasn't so stupid as to hunt one of the two-leggers while others were around and would probably kill him before he could escape with his dead prey! Feeling slightly irritated he still looked up to the scavengers and snorted in disapproval and general stubborn disagreement. Scavengers were around dead meat, not fresh one. Plus they were highly annoying when one wanted to eat... He knew that from his experience with the small rat-like things who always wanted to steal some of his food... So, now, should he just go and eat dead things instead of hunting them down on his own? For a moment the creature wondered if it wouldn't be better to try his luck here in the "crowd", pick one of the herd, surely no one would miss a single person, after all there still were plenty of them left...

Laen glanced aside at Spyke, and performed a double-take as he noted the steady drip of saliva coming from his mouth, and the creature's wandering gaze. Laen halted abruptly and stood directly in front of the beast. "Okay, we need to make some rules here. The first and most important: no eating people! I know they look tasty and all...but it's just not proper etiquette."

As the two-legger stood in front of Spyke, accusing him of having forgotten about the basic rule they already talked about the creature was dumbfounded. And irritated once more. He growled, deeply this time, and his eyes narrowed to small slits as the muscles beneath the cloak involuntarily tensed. If this one wanted to give him orders...! Stupid two-legged creature! He should just lead him towards some fresh food he could either hunt or eat immediately, and even seemed to be a task that was too difficult for Laen, or why was he delaying it all the time?

"Okay, okay," Laen whispered, nervously looking around him. Some of the pedestrians shot him inquisitive looks, most directed at the walking cloak he was impeding. Before he upset Spyke further, Laen stepped out of the way and urged him gently forward. "Okay...eat what you want. Just...let me show you this first before you make up your mind, right?"

With what could almost be interpreted as a satisfied smirk Spyke stopped growling, but didn't restrain himself to glare at Laen one last time. It felt good to be in charge for the first time... Almost as good as he felt when he killed the servant of his owner in order to free himself. Maybe Laen wasn't such a stupid two-legger after all... Though he wondered what it now exactly was that he wanted to show him... Quiet again he continued to follow the two-legger, avoiding gazing around at the walking meat as he supposed that it only helped to anger his new companion.

It was some time later, with Laen anxious Spyke would become agitated and simply eat him instead, that the two arrived at location being circled by the carrion birds. Just as Laen suspected, there was a dead reisacat lying on its side and as yet untouched by the birds and other scavenging animals. Laen turned and smiled at the beast. "Okay...my gift to you...for not eating me."

Merely glancing at Laen the creature's full attention was now on the dead meat lying right there in front of him... And his stomach growled. It smelled good... With not much more than another glance at Laen Spyke lunged forward at his already dead prey, the cloak flying down from his back... Well, at least it was food. His claws easily penetrated the soft skin and within minutes the creature lay there with a full stomach, licking the last remains of blood and flesh from his claws...

He didn't even leave the bones for the scavengers, the creature was able to digest almost everything. Yawning a bit - and showing off his impressive teeth once more as a side effect - he lazily turned his head to look at Laen... He was curious how the two-legger would react to what he just witnessed.

Laen couldn't help the repulsed grimace, though he was trying to smile at Spyke's apparent contentment. He cleared his throat. "Well. Uh...you must be real tired...right?" He frowned. "Don't tell me you're still hungry..."

He was disgusted? Scared? Spyke couldn't really identify the face Laen made... To him they all looked kind of the same. He thought about his question. This feline thing sure had been smaller than his usual prey... Two-leggers. His biggest hunger was satiated, but he could use some more and still felt a bit hungry.... Looking at the place where formerly the remains of his meal were lying he then looked back at Laen, nodding slowly. Rising to all fours again he shook the dust off his scales and looked back at the two-legger, expecting to take the lead again. It didn't matter to him, really. For now he could rest, digest what was inside his stomach... Or eat some more and rest then, whatever the two-legger wanted...

This earned a chuckled from Laen, who almost reached out to pat his head, but thought better of it. He didn't know what it was - maybe the blue scales, the large, green eyes - but Spyke almost passed for cute. "You're not so bad, Spike," Laen allowed. "I bet the guys would get a kick out of you." He paused, then asked, "Unless you have to get home or something." Again he pointed to his collar. "Someone gave that to you. Won't they miss you?"

Oh. Right. The collar. He almost forgot about that damn thing... Together with the bandages around his front ankles they were the only remembrance left of his former owner... Time to get rid of at least the dangling metal. Sitting down he used one front claw to try and get beneath the metal collar around his neck... He already tried that many times before, but no use. It was tight like a second skin and too thin for Spyke to just turn his claw around and cut the other way... His claws were so sharp he might accidentally badly hurt himself. Growling in frustration he looked up to Laen as if asking him for help.

It wasn't difficult to gather Spyke's meaning, but Laen was still hesitant. "I can help. I'll take a look if you want...." With hands held up in a show of good-intent, Laen moved forward. "I don't see a buckle...so not sure what kind of collar it is. But me and the boys are real resourceful...if you let me see...."

When Laen went to take a closer look at Spyke's collar the creature watched him with mixed feelings... Sure, he did more or less ask the two-legger to help him with that annoying thing, but the slave collar wasn't supposed to be taken off some time... Except if its owner was dead. He could feel Laen's hesitation and turned away his muzzle and face as if he couldn't watch what was going on. On top of that he cowered to the ground, claws digging slightly into the sand below. He feared the pain that this thing around his neck was able to inflict, even more so since it was now used in combination with a two-legger...

The collar, as Laen would find out if he dared to check on Spyke now, was one solid round circle with - if looked at in the proper light - electricity or at least energy flowing through it. It was your typical slave collar, except heavier and larger in its appearance. It was a good thing that the creature never managed to get it off on its own... The pain being unleashed by improper use would have been able to kill him.

Spyke's cowering was enough to give Laen second thoughts, as did a longer look at the collar. He shook his head. "Man...that's some fancy piece of equipment," he told Spyke. "Whoever put that on you must have some stash of credits. If you come back with me... maybe some of the guys can take a look at it. Fortish is an amazing tech."

Moving back into a more normal position Spyke listened to the two-legger... Part of him frustrated, part of him glad that he didn't seem to want to take control of him by reconfiguring his collar. Though, maybe this... 'Fortish' wanted to do that... He assumed Fortish to be Laen's hunting companion, but then again he wasn't sure how much a bond like this meant to two-leggers, so there. Still he moved to Laen's side again, nudging him slightly with his muzzle before looking up to him, asking the two-legger to take the lead once more.

Laen grinned down at Spyke, musing to himself how such a fierce creature could prove useful, even if only for intimidation factor. And Laen empathized with him. They were all orphans in Thanatos, and early on Laen had learned that the lonely had to stick together to survive. He nearly patted Spyke on the head companionably when he thought of that, but thought twice about it. Instead, he stuffed both hands into his pockets and grinned. "Wait till the guys get a load of you...."

A... load of him? Should he jump onto Laen's friends or something? Those two-leggers, curiouser and curiouser... Despite his experience with those creatures Spyke still was curious though as to how this male's friends were. Did they look like him, with the same fur and all that? Not that two-leggers looked so different from each other anyway - if it wouldn't have been for their smell he surely would even confuse male and female - but still he was just...curious. All of this was new to him. The sky, new types of meat, the power he had to insist on his own opinion about things... And he could do anything he wanted and no one would punish him for it. Once this collar was down.... A slight shiver went down the creature's spine as he started to follow the two-legger back to the streets.

"The Thanatos Unified Front"
By: Spyke
Laen [NPC+]
Yannick [NPC+]
Other members of the TUF (Thanatos Unified Front)

Location: Thanatos, Tae'Karada
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

"Okay, this is it."

Standing tall and proud with both hands planted on his hips, Laen had stopped in front of a squat dwelling from which laughter and other merry rackets were coming. He looked over his shoulder at Spyke, grinning broadly. "This is our headquarters. Now, don't be afraid - they may be loud, but they're all good guys."

Despite Laen's encouraging words, Spyke still hesitated. Loud simply was an understatement. Looking up at Laen he also wondered if it wasn't a better idea if the two-legger entered this structure first... Wouldn't his 'friends' think that he was an unknown attacker, a beast maybe even sent to kill them? Who knew? With an inward shrug the creature then just started moving... Wasn't like he couldn't defend himself, after all.

"Whoa!" Laen hurried to catch up with the creature, but before he could, Spyke had nudged open the door and was standing on the threshold.

There was a collective gasp and frantic scrambling in the room as all spotted the strange creature watching them. A high-pitch scream ripped from Laen's companion from earlier, who recognized the beast immediately. "Don't eat me!"

"Guys!" Laen rushed up behind Spyke, waving his hands excitedly. "It's okay...he's a--" He paused. "Um...a friend, I guess. I hope...."

Spyke watched the frantic, even every now and then scared movements around with much interest. And there it was again... The smell of fear, the same voice that woke him from his dreams and ran afterwards... His attention focused on the one and he moved closer, growling lowly. When Laen managed to catch up with the creature it looked up to him, its green glowing eyes almost swirling with mischief and telling that he was up to no good... One could almost assume that, if Spyke would have been a human, he surely would have laughed out loudly. But since he wasn't he was simply showing a toothy grin and turned his attention then back to this friend of Laen... He ran away before, leaving his hunting companion at the mercy of what seemed to be great danger... He deserved a punishment.

With this decided within seconds the creature ran forward and lunged at the two-legger, effortlessly pinning him down to the ground and more than probably helping him to get some slighter bruises. There he growled, for a moment just revelling in this intense smell of fear he knew from so many of his prey... Then he became silent, nudged him once as if saying 'tag!' and stepped backwards and down from him, just now triumphantly looking at the rest of the two-leggers around and how they reacted to all this excitement.

Their wide eyes and nearly pale faces were indication of astonished fear. When Fortish clambered away from Spyke, Laen forced a laugh as if it was some big joke and some did join in, but less than enthusiastically. "Oh, come on!" he told them. "You guys have faced Imperials twice his size and you're scared of a little..." He studied Spyke and grimaced. "Whatever that is."

"That," Nerish answered, "is a big creature with teeth...and claws like I've never seen!" Others gave muttered agreement and brisk nods.

"He's harmless!" Laen insisted, then winked at Spyke. "Right?"

Spyke was surprised. These two-leggers really had no sense of what was right and what wrong... He didn't even make this male bleed, and they were all fussy about it. At Laen's question he showed a toothy grin - he somehow doubted that the male's friends would believe him that the creature was "harmless". He wasn't harmless, but he was intelligent enough to understand them and not mindlessly kill all of them in one blind rush of bloodlust. With an inward shrug he nodded sharply, mimicking the two-leggers when they confirmed something non-verbally. Then he slowly walked back over to Laen, tail swaying and head turning to look at several and various types of two-leggers. They still smelled a bit frightened - or ready to kill him. Still intentionally slow in his movements he sat beside back like a good dog would, tail curling slightly around him and looking up to his two-legged companion.

"Hey...he understands you, doesn't he?" Yannick, the leader of the Thanatos Unified Front - as they liked to call themselves - pushed through the crowd of onlookers until he was standing before Laen and Spyke. He smirked at the animal. "Where'd you find him?"

"Back at the abandoned pottery warehouse," Laen answered. "He was sleeping. I sorta showed him how to hunt."

Yannick snorted. "I'm sure you did when you couldn't track a girl if your life depended on it." The others chortled and Laen glared.

Hm... Wait, he found Spyke? He showed him how to hunt??? A low growl escaped the creature's throat and "by chance" one of his clawed paws landed on Laen's foot. Not that he was digging his claws into the two-legger's flesh, but he sure would prevent the male from bluntly bragging and getting him to tell the truth. Showed him how to hunt... Bah. And what was this girl talk about anyway? Was this two-legger in heat or something? If so, Spyke couldn't smell it at the moment... Not that he knew how a two-legger in heat smelled...

Or if they had something like that at all. Still, he wanted to get his very own person back into the middle of Laen's attention... After all his companion promised to help him get this collar off... To show him what he wanted Spyke shook his neck and head like any ordinary dog would - the short remains of the chain clanging against the collar in the effort.

Some of the boys involuntarily took a step back at the sudden action, but Laen seized that moment to tug his foot free of Spyke's heavy paw. He grunted as it was freed, and began hopping slightly to keep weight off his now sore appendage. This display seemed to settle the boys' fears enough to laugh at Laen. "So," Yannick said, "What'd you bring him here for anyway?"

"Because," Laen answered, still rubbing the toes beneath his boot, "I promised I'd help him. Seems he's got some high-tech collar locked to his neck. I didn't think a creature like him would be too happy with something like that attached to him."

"And you figured we could help?" Yannick surmised, then chuckled and shook his head. "Always the humanitarian, Laen...."

"Well...we could at least try," Fortish spoke up, though he still glanced with slight anxiety at Spyke. "I mean...maybe if we do, he won't want to eat all of us."

Yannick scrutinized Spyke. "Does he bite?"

Laen shrugged. "Hasn't bitten me yet." He looked down at Spyke. "And I don't think he will if we keep him fed."

When the wimp from before spoke up again Spyke gave him a toothy grin as a present, and if it only was to scare him again. All this was just... Hilarious. If he could only speak in the two-leggers' tongue... But then again, maybe he as well would talk so much about such a little thing like a newcomer. He sighed. Then, noticing that the Laen-leader looked at him more closely he stared back. Without flinching or looking away like a normal animal might have done... He was no animal after all... Not in their sense of the word, as far as he understood it.

Hm... They talked about food... He only hoped that he would be able to hunt something that was still alive here - at least every now and then... Dead meat was alright to stay strong, but where was the fun in that? Again he sighed a bit, front legs sliding down the floor until he was lying down. These two-leggers seemed to need some more time for this discussion, and he was...well, bored.

"Look at him," said Derg, a stocky ganger with an orange shock of hair. He was pointing at Spyke. "He sits all by himself!"

"Of course he does, you ragdrek," Laen jeered, "he's not a rock!" Derg pouted. "Now, come on," he urged his boys. "If we help Spike, we could just have found ourselves a guard..." He searched for an appropriate noun. "...animal."

"One that could turn on us at any instant," Yannick pointed out. He sighed. Spyke's facial expression was nearly doleful, and Yannick experienced a moment of sympathy. "Well...I guess we could remove the collar, even if we don't keep him around."

Laen grinned. "Great!"

Yannick shook his head sympathetically at his friend. "If only your dongas were as big as your heart...."

"Oh, they are," he assured Yannick with a conspiratorial wink.

The boys collectively rolled their eyes.

"Alright, alright," Yannick called back. "Get back to work and someone get Xanre in here." One of the younger, new recruits scampered away.

"See?" Laen whispered to Spyke as the conversation began stirring once more. "I told you the boys would help."

Well, that was the question, wasn't it? Would they be able to help him? The two-leggers didn't seem to be too happy about it... Though at least until now they didn't try to kill nor enslave him one or the other way, so there... Aside from the useless babbling in between the important bits of information they seemed to be intelligent enough... Use him as a guard, hm... Guard what? Or rather, whom?

Oh well, he could wonder about that later on, first he had to wait for this... Xanre or whatever was his name to hopefully help him. Questioningly the creature looked up to Laen, generally wanting to know what he thought about Xanre or how he reacted to this new male two-legger... If it was a male, that is.

"Don't look so skeptical," Laen chided. "Xanre's the best slicer and tech in all of Thanatos, I bet you. It'll be fine."

"What is it?" an irritated voice grumped. A heavy-footed youngster stamped into the hovel with a deep-set frown. "I was just about to score! What do--" The short, scrawny ganger gaped when Spyke came into view, but his surprise lasted only a moment before he was smirking at Laen. "Your date?"

Laen scowled and Yannick swatted the back of Xanre's head. "We have a guest. Show some respect."

"To a dog?" Xanre quipped, then snorted and tramped forward. "Okay, so someone mentioned a collar."

"It's Spike's," Laen explained. "I took a look at it and it seemed pretty technical..."

"Then you've called the right person," Xanre boasted. Still displaying his proud smirk, he dropped fearlessly to his knees before Spyke and brought his toolkit forward from where it hung by his side. "So...does he drool?"

Laen glared. "If you're not careful, he'll do more than that."

"Cool it," Yannick admonished both. "Can you get it off, Xanre?"

He flipped open the lid of his case, revealing an array of tools from spanners to laser cutters, and others that comprised a tech's necessaries. "I'll need to do some tweaking, but I'll be able to tell you in a minute, boss." He plucked up one metallic tool with a pointed tip and brought it towards Spyke.

Involuntarily Spyke jerked backwards, effectively evading the odd thing the two-legger held for the moment. Definitely suspicious he looked at Laen, then Xanre, a short growl escaping his throat once more. It was a warning to not hurt him. If this two-legger would enslave him once more... He wouldn't stay another couple of decades in a small, dark cell for someone's amusement. Slowly, with all muscles tensed and ready, he sat down again, trying to watch everything the male was doing to him... Or the collar around his neck.

Xanre cocked an eyebrow at Laen, who waved for him to proceed. "He's just nervous," the ganger explained. "I would be too if you were holding a probe at my neck."

Xanre smiled peevishly then poked his tongue out at Laen. "Well," he sighed, focusing on the collar once again, "here we go...blue thing." And began his investigation of the strange spiked collar.

"Shadows and (Finally) 'Food' "
By: Spyke
Laen [NPC]
Yannick [NPC+]
Xanre [NPC]

Location: Thanatos
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

The two-legger called Xanre needed a whole eternity to finish his poking and prodding and looking at the collar... At least that was how it felt to Spyke, of course it didn't take that long. He was pretty nervous, and meanwhile his muscles hurt a little from being all tensed up during the whole process...

He couldn't help it, he just wasn't able to relax completely while that close to a two-legger... Especially not if that male was working on something that could cause much pain to surge through his body. The worst thing was that Spyke couldn't do anything. He was of no use. It was frustrating, he could only wait...

"I don't know, Laen," Yannick was saying quietly as the two continued their lengthy conversation in one corner of the room, "that's not something we want to have around here - and not just because it looks vicious. I mean...the collar...those bandages around his ankles.... Someone gave those to him, which means someone's probably looking for him."

"I know," Laen whispered, glancing across the room at Xanre still focusing on Spyke's collar. "But I don't think he was happy wherever he was. Everytime I mention his owners, he growls and gets this panicked look in his eyes. They must've treated him badly, Yannick."

"Which makes him even more dangerous," he pressed. "If he was treated badly, he could snap at any moment and turn on us."

"He wouldn't," Laen insisted. "I mean...he's playful and, sure, rough sometimes, but he wouldn't bite or anything." Another look at Spyke and recollection of his rather sharp, fanged teeth, and Laen amended, "Unless provoked...."

Yannick sighed. "We'll need to have a meeting with the boys about this. We'll take a vote."

Laen smiled wanly. "Agreed."

"Well, that's not gonna do it," Xanre exclaimed from across the room. He tossed a tool back into his kit and leaned back onto his hands with a heavy sigh.

"What won't do it?" Laen asked as he and Yannick approached.

"Nothing will," the tech answered. "This thing is tamper-proof. The best slave collar credits can buy, I'd say."

Yannick gave Laen a meaningful look. "So, he was someone's slave creature."

"Looks like," Xanre affirmed. "And an escapee at that."

Laen sighed. "It's no wonder he tried to attack us the first time we saw him."

"And if whoever owns him is looking," Yannick added, "we could get into big trouble for having him."

So much Spyke understood from what he heard: First, the slave collar wouldn't go down his neck without the allowance of his former owner - except if the creature died, maybe... Even this Xanre-two-legger wasn't able to do anything to it, except for looking at the collar... Secondly, the male Laen was talking to wasn't really happy about having Spyke here. With a heavy sigh and something that could almost be described as a short whine the creature rose and strolled over to Laen before sitting down in front of him again.

The whole room was filled with two-legger scents, so heavy he thought he could almost claw it if he swiped at the air. During his whole life up until now his only prey had been various types of two-leggers... No matter what colour or size, and being around so many of them at a time started to both get on his nerves and make him hungry again. And that was what he tried to project onto or rather towards Laen as he was sitting in front of him.

"Look, now you've upset him," Laen chided the tech. "Are you sure you can't get it off?"

Xanre sighed tiredly, pushing a hand through his dark hair. "I could try again tomorrow. If I can figure out the frequency it runs on, I think I can manage to override it."

"Then try again tomorrow," Yannick told him as Laen opened his mouth to say just that. He shot a quizzical stare in the Front leader's direction. Moments ago he was ready to toss Spyke out, and now.... His questioning gaze was spotted by Yannick, who grinned. "Well...we can't let him run around like that. If we let him go, he'll need to be in peak shape to survive the desert, right?"

Laen nodded dumbly, then cracked a smile. "Definitely."

With a furtive wink, Yannick slung his hands into his pockets and swaggered from the room. Laen was still grinning as he absently reached down to rub Spyke's head. It was actually smoother than he expected despite the tough scales. "You hear that? We won't let you down, Spyke. Promise."

Caught off guard by the sudden approach of Laen's hand Spyke didn't get the chance to evade it - though he winced noticeably at the touch. Odd... What was Laen doing? Not that it hurt or something, but... No one touched him like that before. Hunger and irritation gone for the moment the creature simply looked up to its two-legged companion, eyes showing wonder and confusion. It just...felt strangely...nice?

Laen chuckled at his bemused look, then waved him to follow as he started forward. "Come on. You're probably thirsty and a little hungry after that. We'll get you some nice Beeja rats, hm?"

Beeja rats? Were those equal to this dead feline-thing he was allowed to eat earlier on? Hm... Spyke only hoped they weren't small and alive. He was a quick hunter, but not as fast as small, little bugs or whatever those rats were - or how large. But thirsty he was, he hadn't drunk anything aside from blood since... Well... A few days? He couldn't be sure about it.

Trotting along beside Laen he curiously looked around, every now and then sniffing the air or taking in the scent of someone passing the uneven couple. The creature also tried to memorize the paths they used and the turns they took - if there were some. He didn't want to find himself all alone and trapped, unable to find a way out on his own.

That path eventually led them to the back of the Front's headquarters, essentially an alley with bins of trash, tipped wooden buckets and stacked crates the boys often used for lounging when the night was cool and the stars bright. Laen nodded his head towards one of the bins. "I bet if we scrounge through there, we'll find ourselves some nice rats." He walked to a bucket and motioned Spyke to follow. "This one's still nearly full. We don't drink it - it's not the best quality, but it's not poison either."

Spyke looked at the bucket. If the two-leggers didn't drink that, why exactly should he drink it? Oh well... Couldn't be worse than the water he got from his former owner... Sniffing it first he tentatively lapped at the liquid. Convinced that it wasn't poison he continued to drink until the bucket was halfway empty. Then he looked up and around. It smelled badly. He almost could smell fresh flesh... But it was small, not worth a real hunt. A rat scurried along a wall, gawking at the creature before running to hide in some hole... And the look that Spyke gave Laen was all like: You don't mean that I should hunt that, do you...?

Laen watched Spyke expectantly. "Well...what are you waiting for? Aren't you hungry?" He motioned towards the fleeing rat. "Go on...before it gets away!"

Oh, by all the gods that Laen might believe in...! This was embarrassing. Simply hilarious. Without even looking at the rat he turned and jumped, the little thing being simply pinned below one enormous looking claw. Spyke snorted. Filthy little thing that. With an inward frown he brushed some dirt off the little shivering creature.

With another "brush" his claws entered the rat's body with ease, killing it in an instant. With two large bites it was gone, and he once more looked back at Laen. Didn't he see the stupidity of all this? He, eating a rat?! Such a small thing...

"Don't look at me!" Laen told him with a laugh. "No eating the humans, remember? There are more rats around here anyway. Though, if you're interested, we could always go for a walk and look for something...bigger."

Spyke growled. Even if there was a whole bunch of rats situated here he almost used as much energy catching them as he gathered by eating them. Duh. Weren't there any...bigger wild animals available to hunt on this planet? Larger than rats, or maybe even larger than those felines... If not, then Spyke all of the sudden understood why he always got two-leggers to eat... The creature looked around again, nodding. He needed something larger...

***Somewhere else on the planet...***

A human male paced back and forth in front of huge, old-styled doubledoors. He knew that his father was busy, he always was, but he wanted to talk one last time with him about this...incident. Finally two servants opened the doors for him and Kyle looked up, rushing past them with all the arrogance of a young teenager. "Father, I have to..."

"Talk to me? Yes, I know, Kyle. And how would you know, I even think I already guessed what exactly you want to talk about..."

The man sitting behind the desk was old, but his mind was still awake and quick. His attention, however, was focused on a screen on his desk and not, as might be assumed, on his son. "Look at this incredible intelligence. He was simply climbing on the walls... Good, he killed that servant; I wouldn't have been so nice to give him such a pleasant and fast death." Kyle chuckled. He never understood his father's obsession with this...creature.

He knew that he got it as an egg for many, almost uncountable credits a long time ago... 40 years or whatever. It was his pet, his lapdog. Something that got rid of idiots trying to fool him. "Father, this... thing isn't worth the effort. I know that it did cost you very much, but meanwhile you have twice as much credits... Why don't you just buy another one or something? Or send some mercenaries to get another one, if it's so far away..."

Kyle's father simply shook his head. "No, I won't. He is...special to me. Would he have been a female, I surely would've tried to breed, to make more of his race. As it was I hoped I could make cloning experiments... He is intelligent, Kyle, don't underestimate him..." Suddenly he looked up to the young man. His son. "And I want him back, no matter the costs," he bellowed then, one hand coming down onto the desk with a loud thud.

***

"I don't know how we're going to keep you fed," Laen was telling his companion as they roamed the nearly deserted streets of Thanatos. "Do you always eat this much?"

Only when I am around two-leggers... Spyke thought to himself. How to explain such a thing to Laen? He surely never ate his own kind... But he was right, it would indeed be difficult to keep him fed if he was going to stay with this group. Though, as long as there were going to be fights... Valuables for the two-leggers, food for him, everyone would be happy.

"Well...maybe once you lose a little weight, you won't be so hungry anymore," Laen mused. "You were certainly well-fed, weren't you?" He sighed and stared off at the distant moon. "Guess your former owners weren't so bad after all if they kept you fed."

Spyke winced. Then he growled. His owners weren't so bad after all?! Sometimes two-leggers were just... stupid. Turning he started to walk into a random direction. He was going to search for some real food now, even if it was on his own. He wasn't scared, he could defend himself. And as for the food... There were always the outcasts of this society, right? People that already were halfway dead... Or "evil" people, no one would miss those... Right? The creature was pissed, and it wanted to live out its frustration, "show" it to someone.

"Hey!" Laen called out. "Where you going? Wait up!" He dashed off to catch up to Spyke, the faster quadruped having already disappeared in the darkness. "Hey, Spike! Wait-- Oof!" Thrown flat on his back, Laen looked up at the solid object that had obstructed his path. The large shadow spread until there were three standing over him. Their leering smiles penetrated the darkness.

"Seems we've found ourselves something to play with tonight." A chorus of hoarse laughter followed, then Laen was yanked to his feet. He protested and thrashed, but he had encountered these men before. He hadn't escaped then, either.

"W-wait...Yorg...I--" Laen grunted as a fist crumpled his stomach inwards. He dropped to his knees, coughing. This only induced more laughter and jeers.

"It's always the same isn't it?" The leader, Yorg, leaned over to clutch a handful of Laen's hair and jerk his head back. Laen narrowed his eyes at the hulking man. "We tell you we plan to have a little fun, you beg...and then we're forced to be unkind." Laen could hear the stretch of Yorg's leathery skin as he clenched a fist. The young Front member gritted his teeth and steeled himself for what was to come.

Chanting encouragement from either side, Yorg's cohorts watched on as the leader's heavy arm cocked back. "Sweet dreams, pretty boy," he rasped at Laen, then swung.

That was the moment when a solid, rather large object hit him, throwing him backwards and pinning him down. Oh, and his arm was somewhere on the floor, having been cut into two pieces by enormous, sharp claws. Yes, sure, Spyke did intend to find some food, but why bother finding some if the very same food attacked a companion of his...?

Okay, so Laen wasn't really his best friend (not that he knew what friendship was anyway), and a two-legger on top of that, but the creature as a rule couldn't stand people punishing another, outnumbered one. Unfair. Time to teach them a lesson. Instincts kicking in the creature simply lunged at the one that had been beating up Laen and now was biting into his throat. A shudder of pleasure surged through his body as fresh two-legger blood filled his muzzle, and he growled with pleasure.

Yes, that was what he called food...! Still growling ferociously the creature turned its attention to the other two males, blood dripping from his fangs and claws - he buried all of them into the now dead man's body. His eyes glowed, and he wasted no time to show them mercy, already attacking the second one...

Laen, meanwhile, was filled with dread, but still managed to get himself to a safe distance. The tang of fresh blood permeated the air around them and accompanied the sickening, wet sound of flesh being torn and body fluids spurting. He gagged and turned away to retch. It was all he could do, even though his first instinct was to call off Spyke. But would he have listened anyway? He was untamed, vicious, and driven by a hunger that seemed incapable of quenching. The deafening screams echoed and pounded against his ears until Laen could take no more and slapped both hands over them. Still, the sound penetrated. "Oh, Thana," he whispered.

Prey. Blood. Two-leggers. Meat. Food. The three men were dead, one and a half eaten, and yet their blood was still warm. Their loud screams satisfied something inside of him, another type of hunger. Rage. Revenge. Green glowing eyes focused on Laen. In a ducked, ready stance Spyke moved closer to the two-legger - as if to pounce him. More flesh, more blood, just another two-legger...

Laen gasped and willed feeling back into his legs, urging them to push him upright so that he could flee the creature still seeking to indulge his hunger. "Spike," he said weakly, fearfully, "don't do it..."

Suddenly he stopped, right in front of Laen, staring at him. Then he roared, or howled, however one wants to call it. Whatever it was, it was loud. Rage. Hunger. Satisfaction. Sadness. Frustration. Everything was inside of this sound. As sudden as it started it ended again, and Spyke lay down, claws digging deep into the dirt beneath him. He was silent, staring at the two and a half dead bodies that were left of his meal. At least now the food question was answered.

Laen exhaled shakily to dispel his fright. Even in the wan lighting from the stars, he could see the blood seeping into the sands. The carnage and death...someone would notice, and soon the reisacats would come out to pick at the remnants. "Spike," he whispered. "We have to go. If someone sees...." He swallowed back more of the bile creeping up his throat and unsteadily found his footing. He averted his eyes from the scene. At least Yorg wouldn't be bullying anyone anymore. "Spike...come on," Laen urged, then began teetering away.

Laen's voice pulled Spyke out of his daydreams, and his eyes focused again. Watching the two-legger get up he remained silent, looking back at his former prey. The three males angered Laen, didn't they? He didn't seem too happy about Spyke "rescuing" him... Though, of course, he almost also killed Laen... It was a pity he had to leave his prey here, really. A short growl, then the creature rose as well, following his male companion back to...where ever he led him. He was full, and deep in thought, not really noticing anything around him.

"You can't do that," Laen was muttering as he led them towards an alley. "You just can't...go around killing people." He whirled on Spyke, nearly throwing himself off balance. "If the authorities figure out it was you...they'll have you killed! Don't you know that?"

Well, frankly, Spyke didn't know that. He threw Laen a look that was halfway surprise and halfway irritation. These men attacked the two-legger, thus he had to fight. It was that easy, and he couldn't understand why Laen seemed to be so... well, was making such a fuss about what happened. He wasn't beaten, Spyke's stomach was filled, these predators wouldn't bug anyone anymore. Where was his problem? And who were the so-called authorities anyway?

Laen sighed and waved vaguely at Spyke as he rounded a corner onto the next street over. Laen was silent for a good part of the trek back towards the Front's headquarters, until finally he looked sideways at Spyke and smiled. "Well...thanks at any rate for defending me back there. Yorg and his pals were nothing but trouble anyway."

Ha! Finally the two-legger admitted that Spyke did a good job back in that alley! Raising his head a bit in a proud way the creature followed his two-legged companion. He was convinced that, even if those "authorities" would find the corpses, they either wouldn't know what did this or simply wouldn't find him. He didn't belong to their society anyway.

"We should probably hurry, though," Laen advised. "I'm not sure it's a good idea to have you out anymore tonight. It'll raise suspicions. And besides," he added, grinning, "I can't wait to tell the boys we've found ourselves a loyal protector." Speeding up into a jog, Laen hurried towards shelter, and despite what he'd seen that night, he couldn't help experiencing a certain fondness and respect for Spyke...for his new friend.

Spyke gave Laen an odd look as they increased the pace of their movements. So the two-legger didn't notice before how close the creature really had been to killing him as well, dwelling on the taste of his blood just as he did with the three thugs? Oh well... He was just a two-legger after all, maybe his senses weren't good enough or something.

Trotting beside Laen they soon reached the headquarters of his friends again. Meanwhile Spyke wouldn't have anything against a good rest to digest his meal...

"Bounty Punishment"
by Gengis Zibel
Taja West

Location: New Plouton
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

Taja entered the Arena area and took her seat. She looked to the fights and the crowd vibrated, while some techniques were applied in the arena. Taja saw that this was a pit of money. She felt amused by the fights that she didn't notice the time fly by.

Taja, after the end of the round, got up and walked away from the arena, then she approached the elevator that lead to the main offices of the casino. The guard stopped her before she could get in. "My name is Taja West, Mr. Zibel is expecting me."

The guard looked and entered in contact with central and waited for the reply. He got the reply he wanted and walked to the side, letting Taja pass.

Taja entered the elevator and she felt it climb. After a time the doors opened that lead to a office that had a few desks and quite a huge door that lead to Gengis' private office.

She opened it, before any of the man or woman could stop her. She looked at Gengis who was smoking a huge cigar. "Mr. Gengis, I presume."

Gengis took the cigar from his mouth and smiled. "Miss West... Quite an entrance that you made. Do you do that often or you like to piss the people that hold your money?"

Taja frowned as she took the seat near the desk. "Well, I'm simply someone that can be hired to do a job, not to take orders from you or anyone."

Gengis smiled. "I like your attitude, Miss West. So cold to the people that hire you. Or you don't like people like me."

Taja nodded. "Yes I don't like people like you, so let's do business, the faster I go away from here, the better."

Gengis smoked a little of the cigar and placed a datapad on the desk and chip the value to be transfered. "Her name is Tralesha Zibel and I want her alive and unharmed. Can you do that?"

"Yes..." Taja picked up the chip and looked to the datapad. "Your daughter."

Gengis nodded. "Very good. Yes it is, I want her here as soon as possible, Miss West and if she is with anyone, make sure that you dispose of them if necessary. I want her to know what it is too lose everything from one day to another... No better! Make sure that she betrayed every single of her friends, that she will never be trusted by them ever again."

Taja finally smiled. He is definitely different from the rest. He wants to get revenge on his daughter! Taja thought for a moment. "I can even put her friends be disgusting just to be near her. How does that sound to you?"

Gengis took his seat. "If you are able to do that, I'll put another 10k on the second payment, but make sure to punish Shaza Nightshade and remind her what is her job, Miss West. She must pay greatly to betray me and my mistress."

Taja smiled again. "Do you want her to look like a punching bag or incapacitated?"

"Both, Miss West. Both." Gengis smiled as Taja got up and exited without saying anything. Gengis turned to the window to see the next round of the arena.

"Meeting The Ronsos"
by Auron Ronso
Kyra Ronso
Ellemiek Vermolen
Aeris Strife
Tifa Alexandros Lionhart
Jubey Khaanor - NPC
Kilgara Saaknor - NPC
Seymour Ronso - NPC
and Yuna Ronso - NPC

Location: Ronso Estate, Arcadia
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

Kyra flew her ship across the skies of New Plouton towards Arcadia. She passed right through the lake that divided both cities.

Auron looked to the lake down below. The hangar's still probably down there, waiting to be used once again, but the new Rulers of Tae'Karada probably don't know about it, Auron thought. He wasn't going to tell because it was a secret that the High Prince took to the grave with him. And Auron wasn't about to tell the world about it.

He smiled back at Kyra and looked at Ellemiek who was seated in the seat right behind him. "A few months ago, we would never have guessed that all of us would be returning together to Tae'Karada."

"Tell me about it! Life can turn someone's life!" Kyra said, but shut off her mouth again since Ellemiek had not yet forgiven her for past things and recent ones. She could see in Auron and Ellemiek that she was to blame for the taking over of Underworld having failed.

She activated the landing gear of the Hell Breaker and landed on the private hangar inside the Ronso Estate. "Well here we are!"

Ellemiek got up from her seat and looked around. It had been at least six years since she had last come to this place. And yet it seemed to have more or less the same landscape, when she and Auron were dating and she was part of the Tae'Morad starfighter pilots. "Brings back good memories, doesn't it, Auron?"

"Yeah, lots of memories," he sighed as he looked to the mansion. He hadn't seen his parents for four long years. He was so naive, he was going to make friends, but most of them died in the many fights against the Empire. He never would have guessed that what he learned on the Tae'Morad was useful, although not so useful in those fights. He had to learn everything from scratch.

Aeris exited, followed by Auron and stopped at the ramp looking to the house. She felt butterflies in her stomach. She was nervous without knowing why.

Jubey and Kilgara joined Ellemiek and looked around. Kilgara smiled and gave a small giggle. "Well, I had heard that Auron was a rich kid, but this goes far beyond my imagination!"

"Yeah... Seems just the right place to spend some time in leave!" Jubey grinned. "Had you ever been here, Elle?"

"Yeah..." Ellemiek sighed. She wasn't sure she liked being there. It wasn't too bad, but it brought some memories that she didn't care to remember. Herself and Auron, back when her father was still alive. Things had changed a lot since then, and Ellemiek felt more at ease around a fighter, either flying it or working on it with its greasy parts and the whole lot.

Auron nodded towards Aeris and decided to leave her alone with her thoughts. It was hard for her to be again in this place. He knew about her quest to find her real parents. She wondered if the next door neighbours could be her real parents. "So are you nervous to meet my parents?"

Kyra smiled. "A little, parent-in-laws are always little scary!"

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Jubey asked with a grin.

Auron approached the main entrance where his parents were waiting. "Father, Mother! It is so good to see you again!"

"You too, son, it's been four long years," Seymour said, hugging his son.

"Yes, father! You remember Ellemiek, don't you?"

"Is that Ellemiek?" Yuna asked, surprised looking at the beautiful blond woman standing there.

Ellemiek smiled. Yuna had always been so very kind to her. "Hello, Yuna," she said, bowing her head. "It's been a long time. You still look the same as five or six years ago."

Auron's stepmother laughed. "Thank you, you're so kind." She then looked at Kyra. "You must be Kyra. It is nice to meet you."

"So you're the one that won my son's heart... Welcome to the family!" Seymour said as he looked to the others.

"Oh this is Kilgara, Jubey and Aeris. They are work colleagues," Auron explained.

"Welcome," Yuna said with a smile on her face.

"Thanks," Jubey smiled.

"Thank you for accommodating us here," Kilgara said with a gentle smile. She then laughed. "I think this is the first time that a former student stays with a teacher! You see, Auron was my teacher at the Academy when I was still learning."

"Well, Auron's friends are always welcome here!" Seymoure smiled. "Come, let us go inside and warm up."

"Going Down"
By: Mathias "Walker" Coin
Tasia Harough
Ty Kat'Ritara
Cirran Tyris
Rilanna Kir

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

She winced again as the shouting reached a new intensity, though was still pleasantly amused by the entire commotion. The station's chief of security had a reputation for acerbity of temper when her subordinates did not aspire to her strict demands for perfection, and this one in particular seemed to be receiving more than a sampling of her wrath.

The durasteel bulkhead her shoulder was propped against shuddered when Rilanna Kir's voice boomed yet another vituperation. Thinking of her infrequent lover, clad in form-fitting armour and dressing down a man twice her size, made Tasia shiver with arousal. It passed quickly enough as the shouting abruptly ended and the door to her office swished open. Tasia Harough smiled lazily at the retreating back of Mathias 'Walker' Coin, who had veered out of Rilanna's office in either fear, or fury. Either way, she was still quite entertained.

"Have fun?" she called to him before he could shove his broad frame further down the corridor. "I know I certainly did." Walker uttered a few choice words not-quite-under his breath, fighting his natural urge to hit something, anything. Generally he liked Drogen and his work there, but there were two things that prevented it from being truly satisfying; firstly his job sometimes became a tad dull for his liking, and secondly the place sometimes seemed to be full of acid-tongued harridans. It was possible that some time he might actually admit to himself that sometimes he rather liked that second set of circumstances; but having just been on the receiving end of possibly the second or third biggest dressing-down of his long and varied military career, just now was not going to be that time.

He harrumphed in Tasia's direction. "Shouldn't you be off welding something to something else?" he asked gruffly, and then something occurred to him. "Mind you, you'd've probably heard that down in the flight bays anyway. That woman must have some kind of cybernetic amplifier implanted somewhere, I swear. It's the only possible explanation for the sheer volume."

Catching up to his side, Tasia chuckled lowly. "You should hear her in bed," she muttered, then: "So...what was that about in there?"

"Let's just say Captain Kir's interpretation of leave is slightly different to mine," said Walker. "As in I had some leave saved up, and thought I would take it. Apparently though, she is under the impression I should actually tell her before doing this, rather than just taking off. Also she's apparently not keen on me using my, er, unofficial leave time to conduct crazy rescue missions with the station's best techs and, as it turns out, a known criminal."

Tasia's keen eyes caught him sidelong in their snare. "Cirran Tyris?" she guessed. "I knew there was something shady about him the day he crashed onto my flight deck...." Cutting to the chase, she asked, "What'd he do?"

"Well, it's a funny thing, actually, a pretty similar thing," Walker said, as he headed for the lifts on the administration level, Tasia almost having to jog to keep up with his stride. "His interpretation of leave differs from that of the New Republic command. He, um, borrowed a B-Wing and took off with it some months ago - after that little scene in that prison medbay, you can probably guess why. New Republic brass being just like brass everywhere...now they know where he is, he's in trouble. In more trouble even than me, and you heard your stroppy girlfriend in there."

"He's a deserter," Tasia reasoned, "why would the New republic care? I mean...he could just pay them back for the B-Wing and let bygones be bygones?" She smiled hopefully. "Right? I mean...he did help rescue a mine full of slaves. That's gotta be worth some to the New Republic."

Walker grunted in what sounded like a combination of annoyance and amusement as they entered the turbolift. He stabbed a button that would take them to the flight decks. "You're such a civilian," he said, using the last word much as other people might use 'criminal', or perhaps 'Rebel scum'. "I'm afraid the military justice system isn't known for its leniency. But you're right, our little escapade might count in his favour - not to mention his service record. From what Kir said in there, the spacer's been on a par with the best when it's come to vaping Imps. But with luck, it won't matter anyway - because you and me are going down to find him and tell him to get off this hulk, right now."

Tasia pouted. "And here I thought you were taking me out for a drink." At his glower, she chuckled, a husky, sultry sound and leaned back against the lift's wall. "How's he been holding up anyway? That stuff with his sister...doesn't seem like he got the answers he was looking for."

"Well as you may have noticed, he wasn't a barrel of laughs on our return voyage," Walker said. "Me, I was pretty happy just to have survived that amateur-hour debacle...although I think I'm going to finally have to retire that suit of battle armour...godsdamnit, had it for years. Saved me more than a few times, I can tell ya. Me and a coupla mates were trying to head off this slaver raid on Gammorrea once..." Walker looked down and saw Tasia's impatient look and folded arms, and his story promptly trailed off. "Right, the spacer. Well...he's not good. He's been looking for his sister a while I guess; to get a lead like that, and then find she was in that hole half the time he was fighting the war, and nobody knew about it...and he still doesn't know if she's alive or dead - he's taken it bad. He's hardly come out of that cupboard they assigned him since we got back, and when he has, it's only been to make flight preparations...which'll hopefully make it easier for him to make himself scarce in a hurry. Which reminds me."

Walker flicked on a commlink. "Got some friends - hell, a lot of friends - in security who owe me a few favours," he said by way of explanation. "Those New Republic boys are gonna find themselves delayed going downstairs. Might be time for that drink after all."

Tasia's eyebrow shot up, both at the offer and his planned deception. Instead of inquiring him about the latter, very underhanded idea, she asked, "You're really buying me a drink?" She chuckled throatily. "Will that make me an accomplice? Because I certainly don't mind...especially if it's you protecting me again." Tasia winked, doing nothing to conceal her interest.

Walker threw a crooked grin in her direction. He wasn't exactly sure where things were going with the crew chief, but he wasn't the sort of guy who worried too much about a lack of clear direction. He had a tendency to jump feet first into a situation and deal with the consequences later, which was the reason that, despite his complaints, he had ended up on such an insane mission in the first place. In fact, it was probably this tendency that he shared with the pilot Tyris that had made them bond as friends so quickly, despite being so different in other ways.

Now, as he looked the tech up and down, he thought to himself: To hells with it - why not? We'll see where it goes. She's up for it - and if later on I have to take more abuse from Captain Kir, or wake up with that smuggler Breijal trying to stick a vibroblade in me, then I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. He took an appreciative look down at Tasia. "Hold that thought," he said, grinning, and raised the commlink again.

"Smitty? You there, mate?" he said.

"Uh, yeah, Walker," a voice replied, somewhat nervously.

"Good," said Walker, trying to not get distracted by visions of the tech chief sliding out of her overalls. "I need a favour from you boys in turbolift control." He cocked another grin at Tasia. She, in turn, fanned herself with one hand, staving off the sudden heat arising in the lift.

"Yeah, I know," replied Smitty on the commlink, while Tasia worked at driving the zipper of her jumpsuit down a fraction, enough for a hint of cleavage to find Walker's wandering gaze.

"I need..." Walker suddenly threw off the mental chokehold of Tasia's distraction and caught up with the actual conversation he was having. "Wait - you know?"

"Yeah, security all over this station knows, mate," said Smitty. "You didn't see this memo? Everyone got it. Came in about 30 minutes ago from head office."

"What memo?" Walker demanded. There was suddenly a sinking feeling in his stomach that had nothing to do with the turbolift's continued descent.

"It says: 'Anyone on security detail having found to have performed Sergeant Coin any 'favours' in the next 24 hour period will be out of a job'," said the tinny voice of Smitty from the commlink.

"Look, Smitty..." Walker began desperately.

"No, I'm sorry, Walker," Smitty interrupted. "I'm not even supposed to be talking to you. Kir called down here personally. Threatened to fire me out of a torpedo tube. You know I'd help you out normally, mate, but..." Smitty trailed off, embarrassed. "Good luck anyway," he finished, and the commlink clicked off.

"Bollocks," said Walker.

Tasia was nearly as stricken as the big man, though her alluring smile remained. "Become the station's pariah, have we? This is because you aided Tyris," she gathered. "I have a feeling your chief is about ready to rain hell down on him, and you don't want to be there when she does." Expression now grave, Tasia advised, "Take this as a warning, Walker. Kir's stripping you of the means by which you could get yourself into some real trouble if you decide to help out your friend. Without the backing of your buddies in security, you're powerless to do anything for him." She sighed. "It's better for you this way."

The sultry technician was suddenly treated to a colourful galactic smorgasbord of soldier's profanities, the giant opposite her failing to notice that while in mid-tirade he had crushed the commlink into its component parts with his angrily clenched fist. Eventually the torrent of expletives came to an abrupt end, and Walker looked thoughtful, although with his angry glower still evident.

"Damn you for being right," he conceded begrudgingly. "Still, ain't no-one yet said ol' Walker can't just march down there himself and deliver the message personally." Tasia could see though that the sergeant realised Kir was well ahead of him, his frustration evident. "Can't this damned lift move any faster?" he asked impatiently. "What do you techs do with your days?"

Tasia shrugged coyly. "Convince headstrong, tough security officers not to walk into trouble?" With a smile of complete mischief, Tasia dipped into one of the many pockets on her coveralls, adding, "And, not to mention, engaging in intrigue with the station's friendly slicer." As Walker's face registered puzzlement and interest, Tasia raised her own commlink to her lips. "Ty, you there?"

"I'm here," came Ty's reply. "What'cha need, Tasia?"

"What makes you think I want something, Ty? Just because I comm you out of the blue doesn't mean I need a favour," she chided, feigning insult. Then, she chuckled. "You know me too well to dissemble... I need a favour. It might piss of Kir royally, though. You up for it?"

"Sure," Ty answered. "I've been too comfortable living here on the station and everything. I figure life as space debris will be much more fulfilling. How can I help?"

"You think you can stall Ril and her lackeys for a while?" she asked in her most persuasive tone. "We just need enough time to get to someone before she does. Can you do it?"

"I'll try," Ty answered. "She's still not forgiven me for that incident with the supply bins in bay seven. Still, I'll try."

Tasia winked at Walker. "Do what you can, Ty, and I'll owe you monumentally." She relayed a noisy kiss across the comm to her friend.

"I'll try to wear a beacon so you can find me floating in space after she's through with me," Ty said before closing the connection.

Regarding Walker with self-satisfaction, Tasia jabbed a finger into his solid chest and boasted, "Now you owe me two drinks. But first, we can go save your friend's wanted butt. I figure we've got at least ten minutes before Kir figures out what's going on and has us all vaped."

Walker smiled. "Ain't got too much time for the establishment, do ya, tech? I like that. I only hope the flyboy's got that tub of his ready to go." He looked up as the elevator panel indicated the long journey from the top to the bottom of the station was nearly over. "He's still in Bay 36. Let's go."

The doors hissed open and Walker jogged out onto the busy flight deck concourse, to be immediately confronted by two armed security staff.

"Sorry, sarge. Captain's orders. No access to the..." but he was suddenly cut off by Walker.

"Corporal Jenner! Good to see you. Let me sum up the situation here - Kir's threatened death and hellfire if you let me past. Fair enough, you could stop me here. Or, you could tell the Captain that I came down a different lift and you missed me, and that way your lovely wife will never have to find out what you get up to after shifts on the weekend. Whaddya reckon?"

Corporal Jenner's face fell, and there was the briefest of internal debates.

"Carry on, sarge," he said, stepping aside.

"Thank you, corporal!" said Walker jauntily, throwing a salute as he tugged Tasia after him. He hurried down the concourse with the tech struggling to keep up. "What's our little tech friend up to anyway? He can slice from the med bay?"

Tasia laughed, but more at the excitement she was suddenly being drawn into than Walker's preposterous question. "Ty can slice from anywhere! You worried he won't deliver?"

"Step aside! Security business," Walker bellowed, not in answer to Tasia, but to warn the bustling pedestrian traffic in the concourse of his passage.

Startled aliens and humans veered clear of his path, especially those that knew the sergeant by name or reputation. Walker shook his head as they jogged down the long corridor that provided access to the top level of flight bays, the lithe tech running to keep up with his long strides. "Got nothin' but respect for the young fella, not after his slicing prevented a lot of heavily armed gun-bunnies from showing up and turning me, you, n' everyone else into protein smears inside that mountain...and I can't normally say that for someone who looks like he's not sure which end of the blaster you're supposed to point at the enemy." He gave a grunt, this time an appreciative one. "But I just hope the Captain goes for whatever he comes up with. Move aside, there!" he added in a roar to a particularly ponderous Bith, who stopped dithering when he saw the size of what was bearing down on him, and did what he was told.

Walker increased his pace, feeling his recent wounds. He ignored the pain though, and glanced down at the woman beside him who now seemed to be running virtually at full tilt just to keep up. "Do you need a ride?" he asked, almost but not quite managing to keep a straight face.

Tasia shot him a challenging smile and sped forward, overtaking Walker but maintaining her hold on his large hand. "People will be more willing to clear a path for an attractive woman rather than a barrel-chested hulk."

Flashing him a charming grin, Tasia turned them down a side-corridor that would lead to Bay 36, where they hoped Cirran would still be.

They weaved around the odd worker in toolbelts travelling to their posts in adjacent bays, at least those who didn't leap out of their thunderous path. But, all soon stopped and raised their heads towards the overhead comm systems as an alarm klaxon set to blaring. Tasia and Walker paused momentarily, just as startled, but Tasia jerked him forward again with a whooping laugh. "That's it! I told you Ty would come through. Kir's just got to respond to that. Anoran's prodigious security chief could never ignore a station-wide warning of impending attack. We've got some time before she figures out it's a hoax."

"Station-wide. Nice," Walker rumbled admiringly, before realising what this would probably mean for later. "Pelor's Teeth, Kir is gonna be pissed," he added, sounding apprehensive.

Their passage was suddenly slightly easier as the startled and screaming public and station personnel stopped walking in a generally orderly stream up and down the corridor, and began instead to run madly about, panicking. "Like Jawas with their heads cut off," the sergeant murmured, fighting his natural urge to stop and yell until some order was restored.

Bay 36 finally appeared in sight ahead. Walker and Tasia sprinted through the personnel entrance next to the closed, large cargo doors and into the bay. On the far side of the bay to the right, the strangely patchworked sight of the 'Fool's Hope' could be seen squatting on the deck. Walker swore as he saw the hangar entrance was shut, meaning that before Cirran could go anywhere, he would have to get the doors open, or make a hole in them. Walker hoped that the doors were closed merely because there were no scheduled arrivals or departures in the bay that day; however he suspected that again Captain Kir was thinking ahead. There was no sign of any security or New Republic staff, however.

"C'mon!" he urged Tasia, sprinting out into the open space of the bay with scant regard for proper dock procedures. As they neared the YT-2000, they could see Cirran in the canopy, who looked to be brooding over some readouts. Walker ran to where Cirran could see him and waved frantically, trying to indicate he should come out. The pilot looked surprised, but then disappeared back into his ship, and moments later the bay echoed with the deafening clang caused by the freefalling weight of the freighter's idiosyncratic entrance ramp. Her gangly pilot shuffled down it, looking unshaved and sleep-deprived.

"Mr. Coin and Ms. Harough," he observed. "Can I take it this is a social call, or is there some more prisoners need rescuing somewhere? Or possibly some orphans?"

Walker took what seemed to him as appropriate action by cuffing Cirran smartly upside the head. "Ow! Wha--" the indignant pilot responded, but was cut off by the giant.

"Shut it, spacer. You've got to get off this crate, now."

"What in the hells is this madman on about?" said Cirran, rubbing the back of his head and looking to Tasia for an explanation.

"Kir's got it in for you, that's what," Tasia replied breathlessly. "It's time you took your leave of this station, Tyris." She smiled warmly at the spacer. "All debts have been repaid...so get lost."

"Ah. Guess someone in authority looked up my service record then," Cirran replied sheepishly. "Well, I guess there wasn't a lot of point in my hanging around here any longer anyway - except to watch you two argue, of course." He smiled.

"We'll send you the transcripts of the best ones, spacer," Walker assured him. "Now you go fire up that junkpile of yours and I'll have a word to docking control..." Walker suddenly noticed that Cirran's goodbye smile had turned into a serious frown at something over his shoulder, the direction of the entrance to the hangar. "Um, do I want to turn around?" the security man asked quietly. Cirran shook his head slowly.

"Probably not a good idea," came the voice from behind Walker. "And, don't worry, Docking Control's already under other orders; they know what to do already. Now, this is the part where I say, 'Nobody move.'"

Tasia sighed and glanced aside at Walker. "I guess she's more tenacious than I ever gave her credit for...even in bed." She smirked.

"Too much information," muttered Cirran out the side of his mouth, as Walker turned slowly to see what Cirran was already seeing; a squad of relaxed-looking security men who nevertheless held their weapons at the ready, a couple of New Republic fleet officials and the scowling figure of Captain Rilanna Kir. Walker took all this in and snapped immediately to attention like a ramrod, drawing himself up to his full intimidating height and firing off a salute with courtyard precision.

"Captain Kir, ma'am! Surprised to see you here, ma'am. I understood there was a general alarm sounding! My first thought in such a situation was of course to make sure the docking bays were secure against incursion by enemy forces."

"Licking my boots isn't going to work, Walker," Kir snapped, "so stow it. If you happen to like your job on this station, trying to feed a line of bantha dung like that to the person who signs for your paychecks is only going to bring an end to the paychecks." She took a step closer. "Put another way, keep lying to me and you'll be in bigger trouble than your friend here." She cast a glance at Tasia, unable to hide her disappointment, then raked her gaze back to Walker. "Explain yourself."

"Is he really gonna try this on?" Cirran whispered incredulously to Tasia.

She smiled proudly. "Of course he is. I wouldn't waste my time with a man who wasn't daring."

"Begging the Captain's pardon, ma'am!" bellowed Walker, still acting like he was in a military parade somewhere. "But while informed of this spacer's offences, as far as I know, Mr. Tyris here has committed no offences in violation of station laws, and as I am not in the employ of the New Republic - no disrespect intended, sirs - " he indicated to the two frowning military representatives, " - I merely came down here to discuss something with Mr. Tyris before what I assumed would be his imminent arrest, ma'am! May I enquire as to the cause of the alarm, ma'am?" he asked seriously, giving nothing away in his face and determined to keep Ty out of serious trouble.

Rilanna chose to ignore his question. "You are in the employ of the station, under my command, and under orders. This station is loyal to the New Republic, and is assisting in the capture of a known criminal. These are all facts that I made you very well aware of in my office a very short time ago. You came down here with the assistance of Foreman Tasia Harough to help Cirran Tyris escape -- Ty's in cell Ten-B if you want to visit him later, Tase -- and I already told you to get your tongue off my boots. You can plead ignorance all you want, Walker, but if you think it's going to get you anywhere, I think you need to medically examine your head for injuries." Rilanna turned to two of her security people, one of them the hulking figure of a Wookiee. "Take Mr. Tyris into custody. Put him in cell Ten-C." She rounded on Walker. "I'll deal with you later." Before turning away, the gesture was very subtle, but it was definitely a noticeable wink directed at the man.

"Understood, ma'am!" said Walker in his clipped military tone, saluting again, his face possibly showing the briefest flash of relief. He turned to where Cirran stood passively being put into binders by the Wookiee, as Rilanna headed back to her more important duties elsewhere on the station, leaving her underlings to take care of the details. "Sorry, son," Walker said to Cirran, as soon as she was out of earshot. "Unfortunately, she's a hard one to put one over on."

"No problem," Cirran replied tiredly, as the Wookiee finished securing him and, laying a massive hand on his shoulder, began to frogmarch him towards the concourse. "At least you tried. I imagine I won't be in long once the brass here realises I can still fly rings around most of their duty roster, and sticks me on combat duty somewhere..." he called back over his shoulder.

"Dream on, Tyris," one of the New Republic MPs snarled. "Don't count on your record to save you - you're going down. They're gonna throw the book at you." He laughed to himself until he saw Walker glowering at him with a look like blaster bolts, and hurried his step to catch up with the rest of the detachment as they led Cirran out of the hangar. Tasia and Walker watched them go as they stood under Cirran's now pilotless ship.

"Well, Ty and the spacer are in jail and we might be lucky to avoid joining them," Walker sighed. "Really, there's only one course of action."

Tasia shook her head in astonishment at all that had transpired. "After that, I can't think of what that might be."

"Let's go get drunk," Walker concluded.

Looking sidelong at him with her sultry, hooded eyes and impish smile, Tasia slipped her thin arm around his muscled one and leaned in close. "Is that all we'll be doing really?" she purred, and sauntered away with Walker, amazed that they were still free to do what Tasia had been desiring all day.

"Unanswered Questions, Part One"
By: Unknown
Cirran Tyris
Mathias "Walker" Coin

Location: Drogen Shipyards, outside docking bay 36
Date: Vadris 3, 4 ABY

***

The alarm sirens had died out soon enough, and the foolish, panic-stricken mob had quieted down eventually. It was only a few moments after that that the predictably thick-set squad of security troops had led the mark away in binders; the idiot giant had followed soon after with that tech chief slut in tow, making eyes at him. Although he may well have been unimpressed, annoyed, or even enraged at these events, the figure who stood quietly near the entrance to Bay 36 allowed all this to pass, and it was only when he was virtually isolated in the access corridor that he activated the commlink he held in its hand.

"Tyris has been arrested," it said quietly.

"Excellent," replied the voice of his superior in the tinny tones brought on by the communications device. "It seems the stories of the efficiency of the redoubtable Captain Kir were not exaggerated. She has acted with commendable alacrity in acting upon the information we supplied to the New Republic presence on this station..."

"She seems too efficient for my liking," hissed the cloaked agent conducting its part of the conversation in the shadows. "An anonymous tip-off? She'll have questions."

"You let me worry about her questions. We've come too far to be stopped by some overblown police chief throwing her weight about in this backwater tin can."

"What of the security man? And the technician? They have plenty of influence around here, astounding as that may seem."

"They can be...dealt with, if and when it is necessary," replied the disembodied voice in a chilling fashion. "Your only concern is to keep an eye on Tyris. I will make sure he ends up where we want him to. Once we have him tied quite neatly to the one spot, it shouldn't be that difficult even for you to keep tabs on him. It would have been most distressing if he had gotten himself killed on his little visit to Gallor, wouldn't it?"

An observer, had there been one at that time, might have noticed the cloaked figure bristling, as if it had been severely reproached. "I told you that wasn't my fault," it said. "They faked their shipping records - very convincingly." The spy inwardly cursed the aptitude of Tyris's slicer acquaintance. "They were gone before I noticed."

The reply came in the same cold tones. "It was a basic error, and it could have cost us everything. Make another like it and you'll be cut loose - and I don't need to tell you what that means, do I?"

"No...." his underling responded, eventually adding "...sir" in a reluctant voice.

"Good. Now I suggest you start keeping a close eye on young Cirran. After all, he does have plenty of enemies...doesn't he?"

Sardonic laughter burst suddenly out of the commlink. The laughter seemed to crescendo beyond the limits of the small speaker, until, attracting the glances of passers-by, the cloaked figure cut it off irritably and abruptly with the flick of a switch, and began to move quietly off in the direction of the main concourse.

***

Location: Drogen Shipyards, Prison Level 2
Date: Vadris 17th, 4ABY

Cirran dropped his spoon, his sigh accompanying the 'spluck!' noise of the utensil plopping into his dinner. There were general assumptions that normal, law-abiding people made about prison life; one of the most common was that the food in prison would be bad. Cirran reflected that he could now tell people that they didn't know the half of it. Living the peripatetic life of a spacer, Cirran had eaten in some low-rent dives, but the most Troon-infested of them all had never produced food as bad as the stuff they'd been serving him up here for months. Gruel. I can't believe there actually is such a thing, he thought.

"How could such a clich� be so true?" he muttered aloud to no-one in particular. He tried a longer sigh for variety and took a glance around the low-ceilinged dining area. Most of the other prisoners had the same level of appreciation for the cuisine as he did, although one Aqualish at the end of the table was wolfing the stuff down with great relish. Apart from that of the enthusiastic Aqualish, the other expressions were the usual mixture of boredom, disgust, frustration and barely repressed homicidal rage. Cirran decided that anyone with that much appreciation for the 'food' was obviously dangerously insane, and quickly lowered his gaze back to his plate to prevent himself from accidentally making eye contact with the Aqualish or anyone else.

Two weeks now, thought Cirran. Two weeks and still no word of his ultimate fate. Something was definitely fishy, and it wasn't just the gruel. Cirran had expected a speedy court martial and a possibly severe but strictly military punishment. But although he had at first been dumped in a holding cell next to Ty (where he figured his prospects of escape had been reasonable), he had been there for all of 2 hours without being allowed visitors or legal representation, and then all of a sudden for reasons that no-one in authority he questioned could quite put their fingers on, he had been unceremoniously dumped into the station's relatively small but generally quite nasty civilian prison population to 'await trial', having apparently been classified as a 'high security risk'. And 'await' it he had, convincing himself by turns that they were bringing someone out from Coruscant especially to try him, that there had been a backlog of cases, that he had slipped into anonymity due to an administrative error, that someone had somehow connected him to some of the thefts he had committed while travelling the galaxy searching for Kemma...and now - well now, he didn't know what to think anymore. Instead he simply lingered here amongst smugglers, pirates and murderers. What are you complaining about, Tyris? You're two out of three these days, after all, he reminded himself bitterly.

Cirran had kept to himself as much as possible in the two-level prison facility, which, located as it was on a station, was of the kind where prisoner comfort and efficient internal security took a definite back seat to isolating prisoners from the rest of the station and cramming as many undesirables into the available space as was possible. As such, tempers simmered, assaults and fights were a daily occurrence, and Cirran had himself seen plenty of violence, and even one killing, in his 2 weeks. He had adopted the policy of trying to make himself as invisible - and thus hopefully as non-offensive - as possible, by talking to or even acknowledging people only when it was absolutely necessary. So far this had largely kept him out of trouble, but Cirran suspected it was well past due for some maniac to decide he had a pretty mouth, and - well, Cirran didn't really want to think too hard about where that would go.

His only consolation came from the fact that he had had a brief - extremely brief - visit from Walker early on in his stay. The big sergeant had assured him in the two minute conversation that Cirran had had with him that he was trying to find out what was going on. "I'm not sure what the brass is up to," Walker had said, falling once again into his habit of using the term 'brass' to refer to anyone from the rank of 2nd Lieutenant right up to the likes of Ackbar and Mon Mothma, "...but Captain Kir doesn't much like it."

He also told Cirran that he had "someone on the inside" in the prison keeping an eye out for him. Walker wouldn't say who this was, as apparently the anonymous guardian angel was in "...enough trouble already - and so am I," but it was slightly reassuring for Cirran to think he had a friend in here somewhere. Walker had been in some 11 days ago however, and Cirran had heard nothing more from him or any of the other people he knew on the station.

Cirran cast an eye around the room again, wondering who his protector might be, and came to the same conclusion he had several times already - he had no idea. No-one gave him much of a second look, or seemed to always be around when he was, looking over his shoulder - but then this was also a good thing, he reflected. He looked down at his gruel, decided he had no interest in finishing it, and pushed back his plastic chair, intent on heading back to his cell 5 or 10 minutes before the end of the allotted dinner break meant he would have to anyway.

As he stood up he was suddenly aware of a presence standing in his personal space. He turned to face a large, snarling Saurin, who was staring intently at him from his one remaining eye, a livid knife or vibroblade scar down one side of his face telling the story of his missing one. The two locked gazes for a moment, and then the Saurin sneered. Something in the sneer told Cirran all he need to know, and he threw himself backwards, tumbling over a chair behind him as the Saurin slashed at him with a shiv that was big enough to be called a short sword in many cultures, ripping open the front of his prison jumpsuit and slicing his sparse flesh. Although Cirran had succeeded in avoiding an immediate disembowelment, he crashed heavily onto the floor, his legs tangled in the chair, and lay stunned, helpless and bleeding with the Saurin standing over him.

Looking around bewildered and panicked, Cirran could see some of the insufficient number of guards making a fairly uninterested attempt to force their way through the sudden violent clamour that had erupted in the canteen amongst the inmates at the prospect of some entertaining violence. Food had been forgotten as the prisoners rushed forward, jeering and yelling, and climbing over chairs, tables and each other to get a better view. Aiding Cirran seemed to be an idea far from any of their minds. The guards, who might have actually had this intention, (it was difficult to tell, Cirran decided) were just across the room, but in the throng, it may as well have been across the galaxy as far as rescue purposes were concerned. Cirran desperately tried to struggle to his feet, but the Saurin simply planted a foot in his chest and smashed him back on to the floor, sending pain shooting along the cut that ran along the pilot's stomach and chest. His attacker smirked and raised his weapon. "Durga the Hutt sends his regards, human!" it growled.

Who knew that old worm's reach was this long? I should have shot him in the head! was Cirran's last horrified thought as he closed his eyes and waited for the end.

It was several seconds later that he realised that the expected stabbing pain in his gut was yet to arrive. The pressure on his chest had eased somewhat as well. He wondered if he had died and not noticed, and decided to risk opening his eyes to see how the afterlife situation was shaping up.

The view that greeted him was still one of general chaos, but the most important feature in the midst of it all was the Saurin above him, suddenly looking far less murderous as it swayed gently with a glazed look on its existing eye. It took one faltering step off Cirran's chest, and dropped its knife to the floor, and then its legs buckled and it dropped kneeling onto Cirran and the chair with which he was intricated. Confused, Cirran was unsure if this was some new method of attack, but not being one to look a gift bantha in the horns, he heaved up with what strength he could muster, and the Saurin pitched sideways, smashing face-first into the dining table and up-ending platefuls of the delightful prison gruel, and then bouncing off to crash face down on to the floor.

With the Saurin's fall came total uproar in the dining hall. Dazed, buffeted and half trampled, Cirran crawled under the table as more guards were called in to wade into what could now safely be called a riot, laying about them with stun prods. As the melee surged around him, Cirran took another look at the Saurin, which was unmoving, its one eye towards him open and unblinking. He risked poking it with his outstretched foot; no reaction. Cirran didn't know a great deal about Saurin anatomy, but it looked dead to him. The only question was why. There were no obvious wounds or marks on the alien, excepting the years-old scar on its face, and unless there was a case of seriously delayed blood poisoning going on, something else was obviously responsible for this particular thug's demise. Could it be he had a brain hemorrhage as he was about to nail me to the floor? Cirran wondered. Surely not even I can be that lucky.

Thoughts of how lucky he was suddenly reminded Cirran he was sometimes not as blasterproof as he liked to think. He looked down at himself and winced as he saw a scarlet stain still spreading across the front of his jumpsuit. However despite the fact the cut was nasty and hurt like a bastard, it was (he hoped) not fatal, and certainly better than being trapped in a burning cockpit. Nonetheless, he was seeing more of his blood than he liked, lately...he shook his head as he began to feel dizzy, trying to clear his vision.

From his limited viewpoint from under the table, he could see the impromptu battle raging up and down the mess hall, with no clear winning side. As he looked on though, some inexorable force seemed to be forging its way into the prisoners, driving away from the main door they had settled through non-spoken agreement upon attacking, and back past him towards the entrance that led to the cell block. As he turned around to see what was going on behind him on the other side of the long table, a long arm snaked under the table top and, grabbing him by the scruff of his jumpsuit, and began to haul him out from his safe haven. Cirran tried to resist, but found, perhaps being more seriously hurt than he had estimated, that he lacked the energy to do so, and he was unceremoniously dragged out into the maelstrom.

"Afternoon, spacer!" said the savagely grinning face of Sergeant "Walker" Coin, heaving Cirran to a roughly upright position as he backhanded a pointy-faced felon unconscious with his free right hand. "Havin' a good day?" he added, planting an enormous boot into the midriff of another unfortunate, who collapsed wheezing to the floor.

Cirran quickly noted that Walker seemed to be in that special sergeant's mood known and feared by enlisted men in every military organisation everywhere: cheerfully furious. "Oh, you know, just another day at the office," he muttered in reply, trying to will some strength into his legs, which seemed to have elected to take a holiday, thus leaving Walker do most of the 'keeping him standing' work.

"Yeah, heard there was some fun and games down here," the big soldier said. "Course, normally a regular security boy like me wouldn't want to come here and breathe the same air as this criminal vermin..." he roared, the word 'vermin' expelled with an extra grunt of angry effort as it coincided with him right-crossing his armoured fist into a convicted arms smuggler, knocking out two of the man's teeth "...but the Captain's suggested I should be more of a team player! And I was in the neighbourhood. So here I am, helping out my team-mates on the good ol' prison level! Cirran lurched sideways slightly, as a Bith in for armed robbery who had decided that a full on running charge at Walker would be a good idea found he was mistaken, as his chin went speeding into Walker's swiftly dropped right shoulder. He bounced back a couple of metres and crashed back into a dazed sitting position on the floor.

"I can't convey to you just how much I love the prison level!" Walker ranted on, swapping his Cirran-supporting hand over, and viciously elbowing a prisoner to his back-left in the nose, producing a nasty crunching noise. "Course, I've got plenty of time on my hands for helping out my team-mates, having got the cold-shoulder from Harough, and having been handed the snore-patrol assignments from our beloved Captain lately..." As Walker finished, another approaching prisoner was grabbed by the neck in one massive hand, lifted off the ground and choke-slammed into the unyielding decking, and as the giant bent down to bellow 'HAAAAA!' in furious contempt into the groaning man's face, suddenly a space seemed to be opening up around him and Cirran. Many of the prisoners seemed to have decided, for some reason, that co-operation with the authorities might not be such an unreasonable idea.

"Ohhhh, is no-one game?" taunted Walker, stepping forward. "Did I scare you, lads?" While most of the prisoners stood back, the Aqualish who Cirran had seen so enjoying his gruel, a very large specimen of his species, pushed his way through their ranks. He was brandishing a stun-prod that he had acquired from a downed guard.

Placing Cirran relatively gently into a sitting position on the dining room table, Walker broke into his sharkish grin. "Sit tight for a bit, spacer," he said. "Won't be a minute."