Star Wars - Tales from the Outer Rim

"Unsolicited Advice"
By: Merrick Braston
Analesse D'vrishay
Nemyos [NPC+]
Dr. Yesheva Po

Location: Analesse's Office, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 3, 5 ABY

***

As Merrick Braston entered the office, he could see that the door past the reception desk was closed, and the man occupying the desk itself was far too busy mooning over a holographic image being displayed in air before him. Merrick didn't need a good look at it to know that the image was of Zale's assistant, Moril, and he had a feeling that the man also had Moril on an open comm frequency as he tried to woo him. With a smile and a shake of his head, Merrick knew that Moril would never leave Saris, but he couldn't be the one to tell Analesse's assistant that his dream was a hopeless one.

He stepped closer to the desk and cleared his throat, startling Nemyos -- who quickly began fumbling to close down the holo-emitter.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Nemyos," Merrick said, "but is Analesse available. She said I could come back and speak to her today."

Nemyos smiled brightly. "Oh yes...she's ready for you, Merrick. You may go in now." He stifled a titter.

"Thank you," Merrick said, then stepped past the desk. The door opened at his approach, and he stepped through. As he opened his mouth, he noticed that Analesse was not alone in the office. He did not recognize the woman, and was fairly certain she didn't belong in the same crowd in which he and Analesse moved. He closed his mouth, glanced between the two, then finally focused his gaze on Analesse. "Nemyos said it was alright for me to come on in. If this is a bad time, I can come back later."

Analesse rose from the couch, the woman following. "No...you're just in time. Merrick, this is Dr. Yesheva Po." Analesse smiled hesitantly. "She's a therapist. I've called her here to help us."

The woman, shorter in stature than Analesse and with fairer features, smiled in welcome to Merrick. "It's nice to meet you, Merrick. If you'll join us here, we can begin."

Merrick looked uncomfortable, but he nodded. His steps as he moved toward the other chair opposite Analesse's desk were uncertain. He took a seat and nodded to the doctor. "Thank you," he said.

Analesse's smile was one of encouragement as she sat down next to Merrick. "We're here today," Dr. Po began without preamble, "because Analesse is uncomfortable with your past and loves you enough to seek counselling so that she may become accepting of your...tendencies."

"What's happened in my past is my past," Merrick said. "With Analesse, I am where I want to be, leading the life I want to lead, and I don't long for anything that's happened before. I want to live in the present and for our future, and not have to fear my past." He gave Lessa a tender smile. "I want to get everything into the open so we don't have to worry about surprises."

"Then you won't object to exploring your sexual deviancy?" the doctor asked. "Perhaps, by doing so, we can rehabilitate you."

"Deviancy," Merrick said with a wry laugh. He explained his capture by Zale's brothers and subsequent torment at their hands. "With both Talara and Dani, it was just sex. They were both very skilled. I hate myself for it, but they were both very skilled and the experience, while all happening under fairly harsh circumstances, was...pleasurable. But, once I was freed from that experience, I had no desire to see either again or continue the relationships. I don't want to go back to that life. While I enjoy sex, I prefer...normal sex."

"With only a single woman?" the doctor asked pointedly. "Analesse has told me you enjoyed sharing yourself with numerous women, sometimes at the same instance."

"And I've assured her time and again that I am perfectly satisfied with being with only her," Merrick said. "I have no idea, though, how I can prove myself other than by doing what I've been doing since we started our relationship. Every instance from my past that gets dug up, however, seems to be treated as if it just happened and that it must be what I want. Despite my having said or done nothing that indicates that I am displeased with our relationship."

"No, that's not true," Analesse told him softly. "You said you want us to work this out...and I just want to get everything out in the open so we can fix this."

"I want that too," Merrick said. "I want you to be able to trust me again."

"Then why are you being so defensive?" she asked. "The doctor's trying to help us."

"I'm sexually deviant? I enjoy sharing myself with numerous women? How am I supposed to react to these questions? How am I supposed to answer questions like that? Questions so obviously slanted toward disparaging my character, so obviously negative toward me, that I can't see how anyone short of a Jedi would be put on the defensive immediately. If this is help, why don't we both get help, rather than me being asked leading questions about things that are in my past?"

"And what help is it you think Analesse needs?" the doctor probed.

"We need to get to where she can accept what happened to me in the past is the past," Merrick said. "It's my history, not my future. But, I don't believe painting me as deviant or aberrant is going to help matters."

The doctor cleared her throat and chose an alternate strategy. "I acknowledge that you may not deem your behaviour obscene or dysfunctional in any way...but how do you think Analesse feels about all this?"

"Is the problem that my behaviour was dysfunctional or obscene? If Analesse is unable to cope with things that I had done before I ever met her, and things I have not even thought of engaging in since I met her, then I do not see anything I can do to solve that problem. I have given no sign that I have any regrets over the life we've shared since meeting. Why don't you offer us suggestions on how Analesse can come to grips with the life I once led and no longer have any intention of leading. Because I've done everything in my power to be supportive and loving in our relationship. The things I didn't say, were because I thought them best left in the past. And, when Reinrich Tas revealed some of Analesse's secrets, I stood by her and supported her, regardless of what the revelations might have meant. If you have answers for us, Doctor, then please. If not, I would kindly request that you temper your language so that every utterance you make isn't an accusation leveled at me and things that happened a year ago."

Analesse turned in her seat. "Revelations about me?" she echoed incredulously. "None of what he said about me was true. Those things I saw you do...they did happen! How can you even compare the two?"

"And the information he did get, he got from your father," Merrick said. "A connection you never explained to me. Reinrich, a man who is trying to sabotage our relationship, is working with your father and getting information to use to split us up. In any case, once it was revealed, I told you about my encounters with Zale's brothers. Then all of this started again, when Reinrich sent you a recording." He took a deep breath and let it out. "What do you want me to do, Lessa?"

"I want you to take this seriously," she responded. "The doctor is trying to help us and you're being resistant."

"Can you guess why I might be a little resistant after the questions the doctor has been asking?" Merrick asked. "Since our relationship has begun, I've done everything I could to be the best partner I was able to. I haven't been unfaithful, I have asked anything of you that you weren't willing to give, and I've been perfectly content at the pace you were willing to go at. If I could go back and alter my past for you, to make you happy and to make our relationship like it was before, I would do so. Happily. But, I can't change my past. I can't alter what I've done. And, you keep telling me I'm uncooperative and resistant. Telling me not to be resistant isn't going to change anything. Tell me what I can do or what I can say, because I don't know what more I can do that I haven't tried doing already."

Analesse pressed her lips thin to contain her anger. She glanced briefly at the doctor, who nodded her head in encouragement. Finally, Analesse blurted, "Fire Kaysa. If you're truly through with that phase in your life...then don't interact with your ex-wife, and especially not alone, not any longer."

"I will," Merrick said. "But, there is a condition. You no longer interact with Reinrich Tas, and especially not alone."

"I have no desire to," she told him. "And I won't. Are we agreed?"

"We will need to figure out the financing on the White Noise renovations," Merrick said. "If I'm cutting ties with Kaysa, it should be a clean break and also cut ties with Zale. It'll be a cut, but I might be able to free up enough money to manage the financing Zale put into the project."

"You're being sarcastic," she accused mildly. "You don't really want to do it - you won't give her up."

"You don't trust me with her," Merrick said. "You don't trust that I can control myself in her presence. When you wouldn't see me last night, I went over to see Zale and Kaysa. I stayed the night there. I stayed in their guest room. Kaysa tried to make a move, and I resisted. Just like I've always resisted since I met you. Always. You're the only one I want to be with, the only one I want to spend my life with."

"It's not that I don't trust you," she insisted, while the doctor looked on with interest, "it's that she's always there, ready and waiting to take you back whenever she senses the slightest rift between us. I don't trust her, Merrick. She may very well seek to remind you of your past together...stir memories of all the good times you had and you may just be wooed away."

"I detect insecurity in you, Analesse," Dr. Po observed. "Is there a particular trigger from your past that is causing this?"

"I am not insecure," she informed the doctor stiffly. "I'm just worried, that's all."

"The bad times that Kaysa and I shared overshadow the good now," Merrick said. "I can't think of any of the good without remembering the way she treated me that night, the look in her eye and the tone of her voice. I don't trust her either, but she is a friend and I want to be a friend to her if I can. But friendship is all I want with her. As much as she wants it to go beyond that, I don't want it to. After everything, do you still think I'm going to leave you?"

"I don't," she answered sincerely. "I just think she's a complication we don't need."

"I broke a lot of promises to Kaysa when I ended our marriage and walked away from her," Merrick said. "While there's a part of me that still cares for her and still does love her, I can't see myself as anything more than a friend to her. Part of that friendship is because of the guilt I feel over breaking promises I'd made. Friendship is the least I can do for her, and probably is far more than she deserves. I don't want to be her lover again, but I want to be a friend to her. But, I don't want that friendship to come between us. Can we still be together, you and I, if I'm still a friend to Kaysa? Do you trust me to not give in to her advances? Do you trust me to keep my promises to you?"

Analesse smiled and slipped her hand over his. "I do. I've always trusted you. I'm still just a little confused about everything I've seen...but I don't know how anyone wouldn't be. It's just an odd situation."

"It is," Merrick said. "But, I do think that was the last of any situations like that hiding in my past. If that's any consolation."

"It is. Though," Analesse added, "I think a quiet dinner together would prove a bigger consolation."

"I think that sounds like a good idea," Merrick said. "How about at the Spire? I think I can get us seats near one of the windows looking out over the city."

Dr. Po interrupted Analesse's reply. "I really don't think we've come to the crux of the situation, you two. We need to discuss this further...like why Merrick is still interacting with an ex-lover, and her ex-rapist husband, if I recall."

"Actually, Kaysa is my ex-wife," Merrick said. "And, I'm going to assume that the ex-rapist you're referring to is Zale. Despite what happened in the past, he is a good friend. My ex-wife is a friend, and someone that I wish to remain in contact with. The situation is complex, and I don't know if I can adequately explain it, but if Analesse can accept that I only want to remain on friendly terms with Kaysa and have no interest in anything further, then do we really have to discuss it? Have you never had a relationship not work out, but you still wanted to remain in touch with the person you were with?"

"It's not a matter of what I would do," the doctor answered. "This is all about you and Analesse."

"And I think," Analesse interjected politely, "that we've probably discussed enough for one session." She rose and extended a hand Dr. Po's way, signalling blatantly that she was being dismissed. Dr. Po reluctantly accepted. "I'll contact you if we require your assistance once again. Nemyos will handle your payment."

"I really think we need more time," Dr. Po urged.

"Perhaps," Merrick said, "but we will need to discuss that another time. Thank you for your time doctor."

Clearing her throat tautly, the doctor gathered her things and departed. Analesse shrugged at Merrick as the clearly upset woman left without a goodbye. "I guess she was angry we didn't go another hour. Her rate is really steep."

"She seemed a bit pushy there," Merrick said. "But, I guess when you're dealing with couples who need to be counseled, perhaps some pushiness is needed. So, would you like to go on that date tonight? That isn't too soon to get ready? If we want tonight, I'll have to contact them right away to make sure they have a table for us."

Without responding, Analesse sank into Merrick's embrace. She was reminded of how lonely her night had been without his body pressed against her own. Face buried into the crook of his neck she whispered, "I'm sorry. I overreacted."

"I didn't know there were recordings of that," Merrick whispered as he held her close. "I wish I could have saved you the shock. I'm not proud of what happened, Analesse, but I never meant to hide any of that from you." He kissed the top of her head. "Now we can heal and move forward again, and maybe this incident will somehow help strengthen our relationship by drawing us even closer together."

Analesse nodded, then craned her neck to gaze up at him and ask, "So...you really slept there? With her? And you didn't think she'd try to seduce you?"

"I knew she'd try," Merrick said. "But I didn't let myself get seduced. I slept in the guest bedroom, and she was in her bed with Zale. None of us thought it would be a good idea for me to try to head on home with the curfew, and they do have the room there."

She playfully narrowed her eyes at him. "Excuses, excuses," Analesse muttered and kissed him briefly. "From now on, your place is in my bed, and only my bed, got it?"

"Got it," he said. "And, honestly, there's no other place I'd rather spend my nights."

"And some days," she reminded him with a knowing smile.

"Oh, I like the way you think," Merrick said. "Maybe we should postpone our dinner date until tomorrow, and we can both take the day off. How does that sound?"

"Sure. I have work to do anyway. You will be home tonight, right?"

"I definitely will," Merrick said. "I have an appointment in an hour to lay down some tracks for a holo-net spot for the new album. Going to try to get in a plug for the club if I can."

"Free promotion," she said approvingly. "I've taught you well."

"I'm not sure if now is really the time to be inviting off-worlders in to enjoy the ambiance at the White Noise, but if it helps us out and no one gets hurt, we're in good. How soon before you have to get back to work?"

Analesse raised an eyebrow at him. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, nothing too scandalous," Merrick said. "We don't want to give Nemyos any gossip fodder. But, I was thinking we could just spend some time together, talk some, and make up for the time we lost yesterday."

"And I can apologize for inviting that woman here." Analesse sighed. "She was a terror, wasn't she?"

"She really didn't seem to be very effective as a counselor," Merrick said. "I think we figured out more talking to each other than she managed to help."

Analesse nodded solemnly. "I see, now, that talking is always better than shutting you out. We should have discussed this yesterday. I'm sorry we didn't."

"Sometimes, it's very difficult to see things like that when you're smack right in them," Merrick said. "All in all, I think everything worked out well for us. And, our future is even brighter now than it was." He took her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. "No harm done, and we'll get some quality time together tonight as a bonus."

"And in anticipation of that," she mused, "I think I'll pick up a little something at one of the shops in the square." She smiled mysteriously. "Something...special."

"Oh," Merrick said with a smile of anticipation, "I definitely like the sound of that. On that note, perhaps I should head on out to prepare for my meeting, and you can get to work. And maybe we can meet up together earlier tonight."

"I'll be there." She delivered a farewell kiss to Merrick then stepped back, smiling. "Have a good day."

"You too," Merrick said. "I'll see you tonight. I'll be thinking of you all day."

Analesse escorted Merrick to the door and waved to him as he departed. She was still grinning when he left, relieved that she hadn't erred so fatally as to have lost Merrick for good. But, she would make it up to him tonight...while wearing the most alluring nightgown he had ever seen.

"Reunited"
By Chun Li, Escort Pilot
and Rylaa Lyssander, Crime Boss

Date: Vadris 3, 5ABY
Location: Drogen and Rylaa's Command Ship

***

Li was back on Drogen, currently sitting in a bar doing nothing. In fact, with the Jau having a good grip on the station, it had become safer. Li actually liked it like this as she didn't have to watch her back all the time.

A man wearing flowing crimson robes and a white featureless mask walked into the bar. He made no illusions as to who he was after as he glided up to Li.

"Do I know you," Li asked as she turned around. While it had been safer on the station, she still had a small hold-out blaster with her, enough to drill a hole in this guy.

"No," a harsh voice said behind the mask. "But that doesn't matter. My boss wants to speak with you." The golden sunburst displayed on his chest explained much about what he was talking about. Li had seen the symbol around the Atldorf and on some of the things Lorgal carried with him.

"And what makes you think I want to speak with him," Li asked, "he still owes me 20,000 creds. Tell him to pay up and then we can see."

"You either come with me right now or I slip this little blade I've got pointed at your back between your vertebrae. Your choice."

"Okay, let me get my ship and we can be off," she said.

"Wise choice." The masked man drops a small datacube on the bar and glided out.

***Onboard the Spending Spree***

The Soro-suub Luxury Space Yacht drifted in a lazy orbit around the outer planet of the system. Hefty bribes had been paid and the right palms greased in order to gain the permit to take off from the New Plouton Spaceport. More bribes had been paid in order to keep Jau patrols away while the ship conducted its business. Rylaa had learned quickly that dealing with the Jau themselves was worthless, as the strange aliens would always refuse the healthy 'donations'. Their slaves and servants on the other hand, as well former infrastructure workers, were very much open to the sizable wad of credits being offered.

Li put her ship next to the shuttle that had brought the Dawn Seeker cultist here. She had given Axon some commands on the short jump here.

"Axon, if someone comes within 2 metres of the ship, activate the self-destruct," she said loud enough for the techs in the bay to hear. Axon beeped an affirmative. Now she had to hope that her bluff would work, as Fa'Rong didn't have a self-destruct. Axon could however, fire a concussion missile, which would have about the same effect on the shuttle bay. While it wouldn't kill a ship this size, it could do a lot of damage, specially since she had 10 missiles in her tubes.

"Lead the way," she said to the robed man, who had met her at the ramp of his ship.

"Follow," he said simply. The small hanger easily fit the Lambda-class shuttle as well as the Fa'rong and could probably house one other snub-fighter. The man led the way through opulently decorated corridors and into the massive central area of the yacht. Where normally an elegant party would be held was the scene of debauchery. Grizzled thugs mixed with sharp dressed assassins and scantily clad dancing girls. The smell of spice was thick in the air and the four droids that worked the central bar were obviously overworked. "Up there," her escort said and pointed to a loft that overlooked the party.

Li shook her head. Specially the smell of spice was offending. While she worked for her own now, her imperial past still had an influence on her. Maybe she should throw some TRX-7 in the air to spice things up a bit. She moved onto the higher portion of the room to see Rylaa sitting there. Ignoring anything around him, she spoke up. "You could simply have send in invitation, instead of that jerk."

"That jerk is effective," the crimelord said. He was playing Sabaac with several of his lieutenants. Having been proclaimed Duke of Tae'karada had given Rylaa the leeway to live the lifestyle he enjoyed. Staying behind the shadows and pulling strings had never really been his style. Only the Council and a few select men knew that he was the true head of the New Dawn. "You know why you are here, Ms. Li, so why don't we cut to the chase. You owe me for the Altdorf."

"And you owe me 20,000 creds, the three months of my life I spend in revalidation and for 5,000 credits of repairs to my ship," Li snapped back. This was probably not the best idea, but she didn't care. If Rylaa wanted her dead, there was nothing she could with a small holdout blaster and a vibro knife and that gave her a more desperate outlook on life. And desperate people were known to take desperate measures.

Rylaa laughed. "I owe you? Woman that ship was worth far more than your pathetic life. I would have had you killed the second you stepped foot on Drogen if not for my secretary." Lorgal's massive form stepped out of the shadows. "So the way I see it, you owe me. Now how do you think you should repay me? After all, I'm doing you the service of letting you live."

"It's not my fault that the people you hire to kill me are incompetent," Li snapped back, "if you have anything interesting to say, say it. Otherwise, I'm off. I have more important things to do."

"Like die?" Rylaa laughed. "You've got balls, and for a lady that's a pretty rare thing." The thugs surrounding the crimelord laughed at the bad joke. "I think I can use you, and your ship, in a way that you can slowly pay off your debt to me."

"You think I'm stupid," Li asked, "I know what you're trying to do, namely to get me working for you for free the rest of my life. If, and I stress, if I'm going to work for you, it will be with a written contract where everything is described completely and detailed."

"Contract?" The short man lunged out of his chair. "Do you think this is a game, Ms. Li? Do you think this is a business deal? No, this is you bargaining for you life. If, and I stress that, I let you walk out of here, it will be in my employ. Otherwise I'll simply have shoved from an airlock and watch you try to breath vacuum while sipping on my Corellian Ale."

He sat back down, anger evident in his voice as he spat, "Do not think you are the one in control. You have no bargaining chip, Ms. Li, nothing that I really want. Lorgal here is the only reason you are alive right now, do you understand this?"

"I have," Li said, "to be exact I have 10 of them. If I don't report back in time to my droid in the shuttle bay, he will fire the concussion missiles in my ship, as well as sending a signal to the Jau. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to put my ship in a bay close to the engines. Oh yeah, before I forget, that program is also triggered when someone comes to close to the ship. Useful things, those droids."

Rylaa laughed again. "Do you really think you weren't scanned before I allowed you to land? Really, you underestimate the power of paranoia. I know about the missiles you have in your launchers and even know I have men working on that with a portable ion cannon. I really hope your droid is not plugged in or he might end up with a bit of a headache."

"Do you feel lucky tonight," Li asked with a smile, "I hope you do realise that sometimes Imperial intelligence adapted missile warheads so that if an ion cannon shorted them out, the charge of the ion canon triggered the explosives. It is very dangerous, but the only way to protect certain secrets."

She was seriously bluffing at the moment, but it was the only thing she had. She didn't know how to do what she had just described, but she had heard rumours at the academy. It would also make it very easy to make a disappearance look like an accident, by putting a small system in the ship that could short the missiles. Any investigation would show that it was a missile malfunctioning.

The crimelord rubbed his chin. "Hrmm." He raised a finger and Lorgal leaned over. Rylaa whispered a brief command into his ear and the big barabel went bounding away, swatting an unfortunate thug with his tail. A minute later he came back with a diminutive Sullustian in tow. "This is Bantus Cor, a former member of Imperial Intelligence's R&D laboratory on Dathomir." The Sullustian's jowls wobbled back and forth in his species display of open fear as Rylaa leaned down to him. "This woman claims that Imperial Intelligence adapted some concussion missile warheads to detonate if shorted by an ion blast. Is this true?"

The Sullustian chittered in his own language for a moment before a protocol droid stomp forward and said, "He says, that they did indeed modify some missile that way in order eliminate agents that may be captured."

Rylaa nods and waves the Sullustian away, much to that being's relief. "Well Ms. Li it seems that you do have a bargaining chip after all. Well played. But do not fall under the illusion that you have any power at all."

"It's enough to get me out of here alive," Li said. Inwardly she was relieved that her bluff had worked. The fact that Rylaa had some ex-imperial intel officers in his employ was not really surprising.

"Okay, I'll work for you," Li said, "but I continue to work alone, and no suicide missions. I can't pay of that 'debt' to you if I'm dead, but I'd rather have it in the open."

"Please, you think little of me. Or perhaps too much of yourself." Rylaa begins to play another hand of Sabaac. "No, Ms. Li, you will be involved in smuggling some of the more sensitive items that I need transported Coreward. First, however, I will require a more martial use of your ship. It's a Skipray Blastboat, is it not?"

"It's an Cygnus XG-1 assault gunboat," Li said, "it's not as powerful as the Skipray, but it's smaller and faster. While the Skipray is like a B-wing, the gunboat is more comparable to the X-wing. But mine has been modified. I only carry 10 missiles instead of 16, but I have rear-firing blasters, and a droid. I also have 3 engines, giving me more speed, but if I want to use those for longer periods I need extra fuel pods."

"Good enough," Rylaa admitted as he collected his winnings. "In the not to distant future I'll be needing you for an air to ground operation."

"As long as I have enough missiles and fuel, there's no problem," Li said.

"The missiles might be a problem, the Jau have taken a lot, but fuel is cheap and easy to come by."

"There are more then enough missiles in this galaxy," Li said, "I'm sure a man of your resources can get some. Besides, my ship is next to worthless without them."

Rylaa scowled. "I'm sure." Lorgal tapped him on the shoulder and whispered something into his ear. "Well, it seems I have to be on the surface soon for another important meeting. Our business is concluded, Ms. Li. And don't think you can run or hide, my eyes and ears are everywhere."

Li just smiled. Running away was not her plan at the moment. She would try to find out as much as she could about Rylaa's organisation, and the best way to do that is to stay close to him. At the correct moment she could make a runner and destroy him, depending on the situation at that time. Another person escorted her back to her ship, and after a thorough check of her ship, she left the hangar. She would have her fighter checked for tracking devices as soon as possible.

"Paths to Rebellion"
A'Kin
Campbell (NPC)

Location: New Plouton, Midnights Nightclub
Date: Vadris 3, 5 ABY

***

Turning away from the live feed, using his implant to switch the screen off, he stepped over to the window. The feed had shown another execution, of suspected individuals involved in spreading propaganda against the Jau. No one with half a brain believed this, another fabricated lie showing the Jau in an honest and just race. A'Kin had looked at every face before they were hidden behind black shrouds, was he keeping a mental record? Surprisingly one shouted something at the Jau, and was left with his shroud off. Wanted to see it coming, admirable, though foolish.

Four Jau warriors stood before the line of innocent victims. It was indeed possible one or two, or even all, were in fact guilty of the crimes, but that was beside the point. Dozens, if not hundreds, of innocents had already been killed.

How many more before someone struck back?

Throughout history oppression always ended in two ultimately different ways. The first, complete extinction of the original culture and society, and the second - of which A'Kin hope would come to pass - was rebellion. Resistance cells working for one goal, retaking what was lost.

It was tempting to just sit ideally by and watch it play itself to its final conclusion, dozens if not hundreds of men in the past had done just that. Some had continued on a path of wealth and continually prospered to this very day, others were not so fortunate caught in the cross-hairs of a rifle, whether held by one foe or another made little different, a blast was just as deadly in anyone's hand. This decision was plaguing A'Kin, or more accurately indecision.

Perhaps his age was finally getting to him, making him slow, making him soft. He never used to be like this. Always saw the true path and stuck to it, as effective as klycon manufactured glue. There was also one distinct difference, other than his inevitable change of age, he had responsibilities, he now had thousands working for him. Both within the nightclub and throughout is other business, both legal and most assuredly illegal. "Sir...?"

Blinking A'Kin turning away from the reinforced window to look at his aid. Campbell had been with him for what most would consider an age. The human bowed before approaching his employer, though their relationship had long since gone passed that, still Campbell refrained from speaking A'Kin's name. Always sir, always the aid, never the friend.

"What is it Campbell?"

"Sir, word has just reached us of an attack." Handing A'Kin the datapad, not that he needed to he continued with his report. "The lunar production facility was hit during the night. The details are still sketchy but it's estimated three thousand were killed."

"Antorial Industries..." he whispered bringing the information up via his optic implant. Campbell nodded. "Zale Tregat..."

"Sir?"

"A man who's acquired a great deal of power and influence, obviously the Jau were a little nervous and thought in prudent to send a message." Watching Campbell for a moment he could see he hadn't caught on, not that it mattered.

"You know Mr. Tregat?"

A'Kin shook his head before replying. "No... I've not met the man, I only know him by reputation, and if what I've heard is true I can't see him taking this lying down." Frowning a smile began to grow, to which Campbell knew the exact meaning.

"I will try and make a discreet connection with him sir, or one of his representatives within Antorial Industries." A'Kin approved waving his hand in dismissal. Plans and schemes were already forming within his mind, formulating strategies.

Their paths had never truly crossed, until now.

"Full Production"
by Moril Astren
Zale Tregat
and Saris

Location: Antorial Industries Galactic Headquarters
Date: Vadris 3, 5 ABY

***

Moril Astren placed the datapad on the edge of Zale Tregat's desk, then slid it over using a finger. He knew Zale would wish to see the contents of the included memo. As he watched Zale's eyes shift from the screen in front of him, he tried to judge his friend and employer's reaction.

There was a slight widening of the eyes as Zale first read through the memo. Then, he picked it up and held it before him as he read it one more time. After the second reading he looked up at Moril for silent confirmation. With a soft sigh, Moril nodded almost imperceptibly.

"How?"

"I'm still trying to put together reports," Moril said. "As far as I've been able to gather, and Tal agrees, is that the hit came in the middle of the night. Word suggests suspected weapons shipments."

"But there weren't any weapons there," Zale growled. "There haven't been weapons there for a year. We're completely clean!"

"We both know that, Zale," Moril said. "The Jau, however, apparently either did not, or they wished to make an example of our lunar production facility."

Zale put his head in his hands. "How many?"

"I estimate three thousand, plus all non-sentient personnel as well." Moril placed another datapad on the desk. "Tal is on his way to do an on-site inspection. He took an entire security detail with him. I suggested a starfighter escort, but he thought that starfighters would be too provocative. Put that way, given the circumstances, I had to agree with him."

"Have him report to me as soon as he has a report," Zale said. "Why would they do this? We weren't doing anything illegal there! We weren't doing anything that would interfere with their operations! We were minding our own fracking business!"

The calming hand Moril placed on Zale's shoulder seemed to do the trick. "I cannot hope to know the mind of the Jau," he said. "But, my suspicion is that the facility proved to be too great of a show of your power on the planet and they needed to take you down a peg or two."

Zale stood from his chair and began pacing behind his desk as Moril watched him. "I won't just take this. Those bastards have been too much of a disruption already. I won't let them destroy the lives of people under my employ and just get away with it. I was content to let them run their little operation here and move on when they're done. Not any-fracking-more!"

Moril nodded, knowing that such a statement was inevitable, as was his own next question. "And Kaysa and Aria? What about them?"

The sigh that came from Zale's lips was explosive as he turned to meet Moril's gaze. The light that shone in his eyes and the way his braided locks fell about his shoulders gave him a feral look. Moril almost had to smile, as it had been a long time since this particular Zale, the warrior, had been around.

"I'll talk to her tonight," Zale said. "We'll get through this somehow, and it won't be sitting on our thumbs, that's for sure. I've been idle for too long. It's time to take the fight to the Jau."

With a smile, Moril left Zale to his thoughts and plans and returned to his desk. Saris was waiting for him there. As she lifted a questioning eyebrow at him, the look he gave her spoke more than words ever could.

"Bendes is waiting on a secure channel," Saris said.

Moril tapped a key to engage the comm suite and found himself looking into the glowing, holographic face of Alton Bendes from Ord Mantell.

"Moril Astren, it's good to see you again," Bendes said with a laugh. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this communication?"

"Start up the facilities, Bendes," Moril said. "Orbital and planetary. I'm sending complete specs in an encrypted burst."

Alton Bendes broke into a grin. "I was just starting to get bored with life and here you are to brighten my day," he said. "I'll have things running by the end of the day. This was unexpected. I thought Zale was out of this business for good. What, may I ask, is going on that he needs full production running again?"

Moril's grin was predatory. "We're going to war."

"Pursuing Objectives"
by Minn Starcrash

Location: The Streets of New Plouton
Date: Vadris 3, 5 ABY

***

The dark cloak marked her as an outsider, someone not part of the regular masses that crowded the streets of Tae'Karada. She knew that she had attracted attention from a pair of the alien overlords, and was doing her best to slip through the crowd to lose them.

The cloak that provided her anonymity and hid the weapon she carried would have to be lost. It would be a small price to pay, but her first concern were her pursuers. She ducked down an alley, hoping that the taller beings surrounding her would screen her passage from view.

As she spotted the two towering beings altering their course toward the alley entrance, she let out a string of curses and hurried further down the alley. Shadows darkened the way behind her, and she knew they were just behind her.

The Force filled her, lengthening her stride and giving her unparalleled speed.

But it was all for naught. The alien ended with a ferrocrete wall. There was nowhere to go but up, and the buildings above towered too high into the sky. She cursed herself for not knowing the city as well as she should. In one move, she spun back toward the aliens and shrugged free of her heavy cloak.

The aliens' eyes widened when they saw the black cylinder that swung from her belt.

"Jedi," one of them growled.

With a pretty smile that did not match the dark look in her eyes, Minn Starcrash laughed. "Sorry," she said, "not even close."

She swept up the cylinder in one hand and ignited it to bathe the alley in a blood red hue.

They raised their weapons and fired. Her blade deftly swept across the path of the projectiles and burned them to dust before they could reach her. Minn stepped forward, blade held forward aggressively. The aliens did not seem to fear her, but she would see that they did before she was done with them.

The first high cut destroyed one Jau weapon, and she sliced the other in half on the return stroke. As the pieces were still clattering to the ground at their feet, she pivoted, and brought her weapon around in a cross strike aimed at the alien on the left's midsection.

Returning her blade to center, she prepared to dispatch the second Jau.

That was when she noticed that the first Jau still remained on his feet, and her lightsaber was now sputtering crimson sparks. She cast a withering glance at the Jau, but both were already drawing heavy, bladed weapons.

The first blade opened her shirt just below her ribs, drawing a crimson line across her now-bared belly before she could back away from the cut. The second she avoided as she backed against the alley wall.

No where left to run. With her anger rising, Minn raised one hand and clenched it into a fist before the first Jau. His weapon was raised, ready to strike her down, but it wavered. He gasped for breath. The hand holding the sword wavered, then dropped the blade. He staggered back, choking. The other looked confused for a moment, then returned his attention to her.

Minn reached out with her free hand and the dropped sword leapt from the ground and into her waiting palm. As the hilt slapped into her hand, she already had brought it around to parry the attack. Concentration lost, her hold on the other was gone but the damage was done. Blood seeped from the alien's nostrils as he tried to suck air through his ruined throat.

With nowhere to move, she was forced into a defensive stance, and had to rely on her Soresu training to keep the alien's blade from scoring hits against her. She saw in his eyes that he knew the fight was unwinnable. She slowly changed her defensive parries to offensive ripostes and the Jau was forced into retreat.

He stepped easily over the cooling corpse of his partner. He was muttering something under his breath, and nearly too late, Minn realized he was using an internal commlink to call for backup. She saw them at the head of the alley just before they opened fire.

Using his reinforcements' arrival to his advantage, the Jau sliced savagely to cut her in two, but she had already gathered her energy and leapt in the nick of time. She hit a ledge thirty meters up and came down hard, but out of the path of their attacks. It wouldn't take them long to track her down.

Minn took a moment to search for an opening, and with Force-guided precision leapt again. Three Force-assisted leaps and they were left behind, but she could hear the beginnings of the search in the distance. She would need to go to ground and wait for the right moment. She tore away the part of the shirt he'd sliced and wiped away the blood from the wound. She focused briefly on it, and could feel the flesh knitting back together.

She came down to surface level again a kilometer from where the fight had taken place, and turned in the direction of Yallder. The run-down section of the city would provide her with a safe haven to wait out their search efforts. Once it was safe, she would need to send another report to her master. He would certainly wish to know of her latest findings in regard to the alien aggressors.