Location: Yallder, New Plouton
Date: Eos 5, 4ABY

***

Liberation. That's what Kaysa had finally found after a full night of entertaining Vrax's guests, though she participated very little in the evening's events, especially since she was tied helplessly to the bed the entire time. She'd managed to detach her mind and spare herself the actual knowledge of what was being inflicted upon her at that moment; hence, liberation, but only for a time.

She was aware now of being used by those dirty, drunken men, have them inside of her, their fingers groping her flesh, their lips kissing her, feasting on her as if they hadn't eaten for weeks. She was their banquet, and none scrupled to partake of her. Then, to finish off the meal, Vrax himself had taken her - three times, in fact, and so roughly that she still ached from it. The physical sensations of her torment still remained, so, in the end, there hadn't been true freedom from it all, only abeyance.

As long as her memory functioned, there would never be true escape from the horrors suffered her. But, she would not break as Vrax hoped she would soon. She had been through enough struggles in her life and had persevered; she would not succumb now to the torment, not if it meant Vrax would gain whatever it was he sought. Her victory over him would be more fulfilling, at any rate, if she did maintain, especially if it meant watching Vrax die at Zale's hands in the end.

Kaysa refused to cry again as her thoughts went out to her husband, both of them, and then to her Shiv. Each day that passed, her hope that she'd see them again waned a little more, but she knew Zale wouldn't stop searching for until she was found, even if it was only to collect her dead and decaying body from an alley. She clenched her eyes closed and tried to clear her mind. She needed her rest for whatever Vrax had planned for this evening, but she doubted she could sleep; she doubted she would ever again after this was over.

"Oh, you're looking quite beautiful this morning," Vrax said as he slipped up to the bed beside her. "Quite beautiful indeed. And, that bruise is healing nicely. In a day or so, you'll hardly even be able to see it. Are you sore? I bet you are sore. That one guy, I'll call him Bantha, he was big, wasn't he? Oh, but the way you screamed...or was that him? Oh, the night is all a blur for me now. I'd ask you to do me a favour, but I know what those naughty teeth of yours would do, and we can't have that. Oh no. We can't have that at all. Would you care for some breakfast, Kaysa? Would you? Eggs and bacon perhaps? Fresh. I just got them this morning."

"Poison, I bet," she said hoarsely. "Leave me alone."

"Oh, not poison," Vrax said with a laugh. "Poison you now, and you'll miss all the fun tonight. You were how old again?" The grin he was giving her held a sick, twisted madness coloured with a feral rage. "Oh, you will like tonight. It will be so much more fun. And, I figured you could enjoy a different position tonight. Strapped on your back to the bed is just so...limited."

"You're accomplishing nothing, Vrax. You're not even close to breaking me." She closed her eyes and looked away from the food. Her stomach beseeched her to accept it, especially when the aroma hit her nose, but she refused. She wasn't for a moment going to allow him to think she was weakening. "Go away. I don't want anything from you."

"Oh, okay," Vrax said, and then chomped down into a piece of bacon. The look that came over his face was pure bliss. After a moment of savouring he opened his eyes and looked at Kaysa. "Oh, this is good. Oh." He munched off another piece of the bacon and nodded. "Best I've ever tasted. Oh, and I haven't even reached the eggs yet. I think I'm going to have to have a cigarra after this."

"I said go away!" she growled. "I know what you're trying to do and it isn't going to fucking work! I'm gonna starve myself and die long before you even come close to getting what you want from me. You're gonna lose, Vrax, so give up now."

"Oh, you won't die," Vrax said, not bothering to finish chewing before speaking. "They've got nutrients in these packs. I just plug a needle into your arm, and you're getting all your vitamins and minerals." He took in a big helping of eggs and again his body was overcome with bliss. "Oh, Kaysa, you have to try this. These eggs, they're perfect."

"I said no!" she screamed. If her legs weren't cuffed to the bed, she would have been kicking them in a tantrum. "I won't eat your fucking eggs! And the first chance I got, I'd tear that fucking needle out of my arm with my teeth. You're pathetic. You never could do anything right, and you certainly won't succeed in doing this either, so just give up!"

With a grin, Vrax flung a piece of egg at Kaysa with his fork. "Oops," he said and the next forkful made it to his mouth. "I'll just finish eating, if you don't mind. And, if you do, I don't care." He laughed, and shoved what remained of another piece of bacon into his mouth. While he chewed on that, he picked up another piece from his plate, bit off half of it, and tossed the rest onto Kaysa's chest.

Kaysa looked down at the scraps, given to her as if she were nothing more than a starving beast upon which he'd taken pity. It was degrading, and the food was tempting, but she wouldn't beg for it, nor would she give any sign that he was succeeding in affecting her. "Enjoy your meal, Vrax," she gibed, "for this will no doubt be one of your last. Zale will be here soon, and you won't be spared from his wrath."

"Oh, I don't think so," Vrax said. "I've got surprises for Zale. You know he tried to kick my ass before. He almost succeeded. I won't almost succeed when he gets here. I know it's difficult, Kaysa, but it must happen. Our relationship won't have any peace until he's out of the way."

"And you think you can kill him? You don't think he'll send twenty of his men in here before him before Zale himself comes to finish you off?" Kaysa snorted derisively. "Fool."

Vrax bounced some egg off her forehead. "No," he said, "I think he will send them. I think he prefers to sacrifice his men so he doesn't have to get his hands dirty. Of course, that won't help him this time. Oh definitely not this time." Vrax giggled softly to himself as if laughing at some private joke. "Oh, this is going to be very good. Oh yes. You will want flowers sent to his funeral?"

Kaysa shook her head wildly to clear it of any remaining egg droppings, then fixed her angry gaze upon him. "You're insane," she said simply. "They should've killed you in Throntas. You're completely mad."

"Oh, they loved me," Vrax said. "My sweet, Kaysa. You don't have to hate me this way. It's much easier if you don't. Fewer people get hurt, especially you."

"And you get a fuck toy? I don't think so, Vrax. It won't work. I won't let it."

"Half the city was your fuck toy," he spat at her, the sudden vehemence like an explosion. "Now I get to have you as mine! You're my fuck toy now, Kaysa. Like it or not, but you are!"

"Well go ahead," she snarled. "Take me again! Keep taking me! One day maybe I'll grow to like it. Is that what you want? Is that what you think will happen? Well it won't!"

"No, Kaysa," Vrax said, his voice a harsh rasp, "I want the snapping crack of your spirit breaking, your hope shattering, and that beautiful sound of you giving in to me. I want to watch Kaysa Zenarr succumb to the torment she thrust upon me all the days I knew her. I want to break you, Kaysa. Snap you in half and drink the marrow from your bones. It will be true glory!"

Kaysa shuddered but kept a smug grin firmly planted on her cut and bruised face. "You're so melodramatic, Vrax. None of that will ever happen. That's another reason I fired you. You always thought big -- too big! Never got anything done while you planned your next incredible scheme that was doomed to fail before you even pitched it to me. Just like you'll fail with this."

"Oh," Vrax said, a pout curving his lips, "you're just being cynical. And, torturing that little bitch of yours might not have worked the first time, but I got her later. Oh, and she's the sweetest thing too. But, I'm sure you know how she screams, don't you? Oh, and she didn't try to snap anyone's dick off. She was quite greedy that way. Couldn't get enough. As soon as one guy would spend himself in her mouth, she'd be begging for another. Oh, but she begged loudest for mine."

"Begged for you to stop maybe," Kaysa riposted. "Look, I was never the fool you may think I am, Vrax. I'm not for one moment going to listen to anymore lies you've concocted to break me down. In fact, I think I'll start ignoring you altogether."

Vrax flung another dollop of egg at Kaysa's chest, and then tossed the plate off to the side of the room. In his hand, though, he still held the fork. "You're not being nice, Kaysa. I think you need to be nicer to me, or you're going to end up getting hurt. Hurt very bad."

Kaysa's eyes flicked towards the fork held in his grip like a dagger, but her smile remained. "You won't. You love me. It makes no sense to hurt me."

Vrax smiled but the expression never touched his eyes. He reached out slowly with the fork and pressed it to Kaysa's naked thigh. He slowly dragged the tines along her flesh as he watched her. "But you hurt me, so it makes perfect sense. You hurt me, I hurt you. Eventually, you won't like being hurt, so you'll stop hurting me. It's simple really."

Kaysa watched the fork carefully, but more closely at the red tracks being left on her pale flesh. "And you think this is the best way to gain my love? My devotion?"

"Of course," Vrax answered, and then smoothed a hand over the unbroken flesh of her thigh. The trails of red would be blood rather than just the gentle scratches scored into her flesh if he got upset. She'd be wise not to upset him. Though, he knew she excelled at that. "You may not love me, but before this is over, you will beg for me. You won't want me the way you do Zale, but you will desire me. Your body will quiver for the taste of what I can give you." He rubbed a hand over his erection. "Oh, you will desire me."

"A disgusting creature like you?" Kaysa laughed derisively. "I'm sickened by the sight of you, and you think I will grow to desire you? It's a good thing I fired you. You're an idiot."

"No I'm not!" Vrax shouted as he slammed his fists down. The cry torn from Kaysa's lips alerted him that something went wrong and he looked down to where the fork protruded from her leg and his hand was slicked with blood. He looked up at her and smiled. "You shouldn't upset a man when he's holding a fork to you."

Kaysa groaned and trembled violently as pain radiated out from her thigh to the rest of her body. She clenched her eyes shut and bit down on her lip to suppress another cry that would likely only bring Vrax pleasure. "Take it out," she whispered. "Just...take it out."

"Tell me you want me then," Vrax said. "Tell me you want me to take you now. To give you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams. Tell me you need me inside you." He slid a hand along her calf, revelling in the touch of her skin. Oh, she was beautiful.

A new spike of pain coursed through her and Kaysa arched off the bed with a cry. She quickly stifled it and settled her quivering body onto the mattress again. If she could remember how much it hurt to be stabbed by a vibrodagger, she imagined it was only slightly more painful than this. "I don't...want you," she managed. "Get away from me."

"Suit yourself," Vrax said as he began licking Kaysa's blood from his hand. "Oh, don't move around too much. I don't think it hit anything vital, but you could lose a lot of blood if you keep moving that leg."

She laughed, a thick, pain-tinged sound, but she still managed to convey through it the disdain she felt for him. "I'll move as much as I want. I hope I die. Then you'll never be able to break me. That would just vex you till the end of your days, wouldn't it?"

"Oh, it would hurt," Vrax said, "but I think that it would hurt Zale, Merrick, and Shiv worse. Oh how distraught they will be. Losing you, the epoxy that keeps them all bound together, gone. I can see them all crumbling now. So tragic, so terrible."

"You would cry, wouldn't you?" Kaysa sucked in a sharp breath and the pain that had been building quickly passed. "You'd die without me. You'd have no reason to live. It's true, isn't it? I'm everything, and without me, there's nothing to live for."

"Oh, I don't know," Vrax said. "I think I could find a new object to focus all of my attention on. I'm sure I could fixate myself on Shiv. Or maybe her new girlfriend. Oh, that little lesbian is very hot. Dargus was telling me about her when I talked to him a few days ago. I'll have to find out if she's as tasty as he says she is."

"Take the girl," Kaysa said. "I was going to get rid of her anyway. And I dare you to try and get near Shiv. She's more well-protected than an Imperial penal facility. In fact, I'd like you to try. You wouldn't get a hundred feet before you were shot down."

"I got close to you with all those guards outside, didn't I? Doesn't look like I've been shot down."

"Technicality," she explained. "You knew a secret passage I hadn't told them about. You got lucky." She could feel the warm, viscous blood trickling down her thigh, but she dared not look. If she did, she knew she'd faint. Blood had made her queasy since the night of her stabbing, and seeing a fork sticking out of her leg would only traumatize her further.

"Of course, you don't give me credit," Vrax said. "I expected as much from you. But, that doesn't matter. I know I'll succeed with her. Oh, your precious star. She's going to be my favourite toy, after you. Maybe I'll even let you watch."

Kaysa laughed jeeringly. "And maybe Zale will let me watch when he literally tears you in two. Wouldn't that be fun?"

Vrax leaned closer. "I think he'll thank me for removing some of that wild spirit of yours," he said. "Take away some of that desire to bring home strays. How many men do you think you can keep in your bed? And, you've got women. At least they get to share her though. I'm sure they like that."

"Zale likes my spirit," Kaysa stated. "And I think they'd be fine with me bringing home men, as long as you weren't one of them. And believe me, you will never be."

"Oh, sweet, dear, Kaysa, you don't have to try to keep hurting me," Vrax said. "You've wounded me deep enough. I think that fork you've got sticking outta your leg there is damn small compared to the pain you've given me."

"It was your own fault for falling in love with me, Vrax." She raised her head, staring at him straight on now. "Did you ever think I could love you? Your own mother probably didn't love you, so how could a cold bitch like me?"

"And, you wonder why I am the way I am? You helped make me this way, Kaysa. So, now it's time to pay for what you caused. You went with every other man, but you would openly show how repulsed you were by me. And, you wonder... Oh, it's going to be fun breaking you down. How many men will it take to shatter that resolve? Oh, and it will happen. There have been scientific studies."

"And Dargus Kandran, your former employer, the one who betrayed you.... He lead those studies, I'm sure." Kaysa lay her head upon the pillow again and sighed. "You're boring me with your obvious lies. You should just go now."

"You're right," Vrax said, and then stood and started toward the other room.

"Wait," she said quietly. "Wait! The fork."

Vrax stopped and turned around. He picked up a first aid kit and brought it back to the bed. He sat down next to her and popped the kit open. It took him a few minutes to get everything ready. "Make sure you're looking away." Once she was, he removed the fork, and quickly covered the wound with a treated sterile patch. Surprisingly, as he cared for her wound, he was quite gentle. It was only about ten minutes later that he finally sat back. "All set."

Kaysa ventured a look at her leg, and sighed at the absence of the foreign object that had formerly been protruding from it. "Thanks," she muttered. "Now please leave."

Vrax nodded. "I'll be back later," he said. "Don't do anything crazy while I'm gone."

Kaysa chuckled wryly at the irony of a sadistic rapist admonishing her to behave. He really was a lunatic. She turned her head away from him and finally let the tears silently slide down her cheeks. The pain combined with her despair had finally gotten too overwhelming, but Vrax would never know that if she could help it. He'd just think he was one step closer to breaking her. Truth be told, he was.

***

It felt like they'd been searching for weeks, not days. Maeren Shivral couldn't remember the last time she'd actually gotten any sleep. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she'd even felt tired. She was going off of pure adrenalin now, and maybe some rage mixed in. Zale was searching north and east, she was searching west, and Merrick was searching to the south. Zale's men were covering the city like a creepy-crawly blanket, not that Zale's men were creepy.

"Let's go," she whispered and Lerrah nodded. Elf tooted a response and rolled into place behind them. His antenna was up and set to his widest scanning radius. He had yet to pick anything up.

To look at her, Shiv didn't seem that imposing. She was taller than average, made moreso by the boots she wore. Her long hair was pulled back in a braid, but she didn't appear very muscular. One look from her dark eyes or the scowl that seemed to have affixed itself to her face, and anyone looking for trouble started looking elsewhere. Hidden within the many pockets of her pants were dozens of knives, some small, some not. She had a blaster strapped to her thigh and a pair of long blades secured at the small of her back. She could easily draw both in a heartbeat. Strapped to each forearm was a throwing knife and her boots carried several, strapped inside and out. Anyone looking for trouble would certainly find it if they crossed Maeren Shivral.

"I still remember when you first learned how to use those," Lerrah commented, indicating the knives that bristled about Shiv's body. "God you were beautiful. It was like a dance. I don't think anyone ever made it look quite so simple or graceful."

"Thank you," Shiv said, remembering those days fondly. Of course, the thought of Kaysa tied up and bound, tortured and broken at the hands of Vrax Draydge was more than enough to sour any memories.

A large, burly man was striding down the walk ahead of them. Shiv glanced to Lerrah who nodded. They approached him.

"Hi there," Shiv said. "We're looking for someone and I was wondering if you'd be able to help."

The man gave them a guarded expression. "Dunno," he said.

Shiv pulled out a flat metallic plate, about five centimeters in diameter. She held it before him. "Her." She pressed her thumb against the activator, and a holographic image of Kaysa sprung into existence.

Something flashed in his eyes. His mouth almost twisted up into a smile. "Never seen her before."

Shiv moved quickly, a long, thin blade appearing in her hand as she did. She pressed it to his throat. "Unless you want me to poke holes all along your neck so you can play it like a flute, I suggest you talk."

"I don' know nothin'!" He winced as she produced another blade and pressed it against his groin. "Okay. Okay! There's a woman. This red-haired guy's got her tied to a bed, and he comes out askin' for people to do her. He asked me, and I did. Oh god...please don't kill me."

Shiv growled. "Where?"

He gave the address. It was only a few blocks away.

Shiv pulled her blades away, and kicked him down the street. Once he regained his balance, he ran.

"Come on," Shiv said, grabbing Lerrah's hand. They were there in a minute and looking at the place from the outside. A couple quick questions confirmed that an angry red-haired man lived there.

Shiv pulled out her comlink. "Zale!"

"I hear you, Shiv. No need to shout." He chuckled softly. "What do you have?"

"Kaysa!"

"What!? Where?"

Shiv gave the address. "Vrax is in there too. We've got them, Zale."

"I hear you. Merrick, you copy that?"

"I copy," Merrick said. "I'm on Valreth right now, I'll cut over on Royal and meet you in Yallder."

"Good. Shiv, stand back. We'll be there in a few minutes. Don't do anything until we get there."

Shiv sighed. "I understand," she said, the dejection in her voice clear. "See you soon."

When she clicked off the comlink, a mischievous gleam shone in her eyes. Lerrah saw it. "We're not waiting, are we?"

"You are. But, you have to help me up into that window. Come on, Lerrah. We have to save her."

With that, the two young women rushed around to the back of the apartment. Zale would be so upset, but she had to save her love. She realized she had to do it because she wanted to be Kaysa's hero this time. Zale always got to be; it was her turn now.

***

Time seemed to stretch out into infinity. The passage of time in that room with no light save what was hung on the ceiling was difficult to mark. Kaysa would never be sure if she'd laid there on the bed for ten minutes or ten hours. But finally there was a sound other than Vrax Draydge's barking laughter in the other room. The boarded up window with black cloth creaked and groaned, but still showed no signs other than the heavy fabric blocking out all light from the outside world. But in those creaks and groans, there was a glimmer of hope.

Still worn out from crying, Kaysa raised her head with some effort and peered across the room at the window. She laughed softly to herself as her mind conjured an image of her laying on the bed while a couple of thieves broke into the place. She wondered if they'd even bother to notice her. With a sigh, her head fell back onto the pillow and she once again closed her eyes. "Come on in," she murmured. "Half the province has had me. Why not sample the delights for yourself?"

A moment later, the room filled with the light of a streetlamp outside, and then reverted to normal. In front of the window, as the black fabric fell back into place, a lone figure dropped to the floor of the room. She was clad in a pair of pants in a variety of blacks and greys, patterned in a style of camouflage, and a tight-fitting black shirt. Long blonde hair was braided back behind her head and fell down between her shoulder blades. A pair of silver blades appeared in her hands as if by magic. There was a hiss of surprise, and as quick as lightning she was at Kaysa's side. Knives flashed, and the bindings holding Kaysa to the bed disappeared. "Kaysa, we're getting out of here. Can you move?"

Kaysa blinked slowly at the figure looming over her, yet in her eyes there was no sign of recognition. "I can move," she replied uncertainly. "I think... What's going on?"

"Kaysa, it's me. It's Shiv. And, I'm getting you out of here. Come on. Let's get you up. We'll have to go out the window so he won't catch us. Zale's on his way." She decided it would be best not to mention that Zale had told her to wait for him to get there before going in. She'd let him lecture her later, for now she had to get Kaysa to safety, and by the looks of it, to a doctor.

Kaysa slung her stiff, sore arm across Shiv's shoulders and Shiv helped her to sit up slowly. Her back ached from laying on a bed for... How long had it been? She didn't remember. She hadn't seen daylight at any time during her captivity, and now had no sense of time; though, she did know that even one more moment in that dingy room was far too long for her.

Kaysa slung her legs over the edge of the bed and cried out softly at the pain that shot through her injured leg. Blood was soaking through the bandage covering the wound, but Kaysa no longer had any idea what had caused it or even when it had happened. With Shiv's arm supporting her by the waist, Kaysa managed to rise, but her legs were weak from disuse and buckled beneath her weight. She crumpled to the ground, almost taking Shiv down with her. "I can't," she groaned. "I can barely feel my legs. Just go away now. He'll be back soon."

"Like hell I'm leaving you here, Kaysa," Shiv said. "I've spent the last two days looking for you and I'll die before I leave you with that monster. I'll carry you if I have to."

As if affected profoundly by her fervour, Kaysa squinted up at Shiv quizzically. "Maeren? Is that you? What the hell are you doing here?" Kaysa climbed her way up onto her feet using Shiv's body as an anchor. She embraced her love tightly to remain upright. "You fool!" she whispered. "You're gonna get caught. Gods, please go, Shiv!"

"Not without you," Shiv said. "Zale's on his way. He's gonna teach Vrax a lesson. But, we have to get out of here. Come on Kaysa, I'll help you to the window."

The sound of the door opening broke their whispering, and Vrax was standing there. "What the fuck's all the-- Fuck! What's that bitch doin' here? No matter. I've got two in my collection now."

"Lie back down," Shiv told Kaysa. "It's time this bastard got taught a lesson."

"Shiv! Just run!" Kaysa framed Shiv's face with her trembling hands and pleaded with her tacitly. "Go," she whispered.

"Yes," Shiv whispered, and then moved away from Kaysa. Instead of running, she turned to face Vrax. Again, as if conjured out of nothingness, two blades appeared in her hands. "I'm going to show you what a very big mistake grabbing her was," Shiv rasped.

"Give it your best," Vrax snarled. He dropped into a fighting crouch.

Shiv charged at him, blades flashing. She brought up a booted foot and slammed it hard into his gut. With a whoof, he staggered back. She was a ferocious blur of energy, spurred on by a dark, seething rage. Ribbons of red appeared across his arms, chest, and face as Shiv's blade took away nicks and slashes on his body.

Vrax knew he had to do something. He knew he needed his blaster. That would end all this right now. Shiv's boot slammed his knee and then reversed and took him in the stomach again. He felt ready to be sick. His own rage was building, and he let out a howl of rage. She was going to die now!

Using some of the martial arts moves he'd learned years ago, he fired off rapid shots at her. He connected a couple times, but she was damn fast. Time seemed to slow and suddenly it was as if only he and Shiv were there, each trying to kill the other. His open-fist ripped through the air toward her. The shot would drive into her throat, crushing her windpipe, and killing her within seconds. How many times had he used that manoeuvre for Kaysa?

A second too late, he saw Shiv's block coming up. He would have stopped himself. He would have altered if he wasn't fully committed. As the blade bit deep into his pinkie, he barely felt it. He felt fire ignite within his hand as the blade tore into the joint of his third finger. He cried out when it scored his middle finger.

He felt himself going into shock as he watched two of his fingers drop in bloody pools to the floor. The third finger hung useless by only skin, cartilage and a little bit of the bone not yet severed. He looked at his maimed hand, and was pulled out of the shock long enough to stumble back away from Shiv's other blade. Both weapons were nothing more than silver gleams in the dull light of the room, though one of those gleams was tinged a deep, violent red. He staggered toward the door on legs growing numb. He was running. He didn't know how, but he was. Pain flared in his back and he knew it for what it was. True to her name, Shiv was an expert with small blades, and he knew she'd just buried one of those blades in his back. He wouldn't succumb, couldn't. The light of day assaulted his eyes as he ran into the street, screaming with the pain of his wounds.

Kaysa, on the other hand, could do nothing but stare in horror as blood seeped into the floorboards, and onto the bedding to mingle with the dried blood of her own. Her eyes shifted mechanically to Shiv, but focused only on a single red droplet plummeting from the blade in her hand to the ground, with Kaysa following it. She didn't know she was falling until pain shot through her arm from where it had been crushed beneath her weight upon hitting the floor.

So much blood and fury and suffering.... Kaysa felt sickened again. All this had been her doing. She was a scourge and the blood shed in her name proved it. With a gentle groan, Kaysa's eyes rolled back into her head as she felt unconsciousness tugging at her.

Shiv rushed back into the room, her knives vanishing as swiftly as they'd appeared. She was at Kaysa's side, trying to coax her back to consciousness. "He's gone Kaysa. I couldn't kill him, but I hurt him. He'll think twice before coming after us again."

"Shiv!!"

The colour drained from Shiv's face. "Oh gods..."

"Maeren Shivral!"

"In here," Shiv said, her voice carrying a sheepish quality.

Zale appeared in the doorway. "I told you to wait for-- Oh gods, Kaysa!" Zale was at Kaysa's side in a flash. "Kaysa...oh gods, Kaysa. I'm so sorry. We got to you as quickly as we could. Damn that... I would have... Oh gods...I've got you back."

If Kaysa were in full control of her higher functions, she would have flinched away from Zale's touch, but remaining awake was proving enough of a struggle so she merely murmured a protest.

"Get her other side," Zale told Shiv. Shiv did as he told her.

Another form appeared in the doorway. "Oh Kaysa!" Merrick started forward, but realized Shiv and Zale had things under control. He stepped back, earning a yelp from Lerrah, who'd come up behind him. "Call a speeder, Lerrah."

Lerrah did as he commanded, and rushed back outside, with Elf right behind her.

Merrick came forward and brought a gentle hand to Kaysa's cheek. "Oh gods," he whispered, and then quickly wiped away the tears that suddenly filled his eyes. "We'll...we'll get him, Kaysa. We'll...oh gods."

Kaysa turned her head away from Merrick's loving touch, and would have broken free of the hands holding her up if she'd had the strength. She missed all of them and, before, couldn't wait to hold them all again, but now, she wanted to be as far away from every person on the planet as she could get. Vrax had tried so hard to wear her down, and to break her spirit, but she'd stubbornly refused to let him. Now, as she yearned for solitude instead of the comfort of her three lovers, she realized he might just have succeeded in the end.

"Let's get her to a hospital," Zale said, and he and Shiv helped Kaysa out of the apartment.

Lerrah had a speeder waiting and Merrick and Zale climbed into it with Kaysa, with Shiv assuring them she and Lerrah would be right behind them.

"We'll get you home, my love," Merrick said. "Just a quick trip to the doctor and then you'll be home. You're safe again with us, Kaysa. You're safe again."

"No doctor," she announced, the first coherent words she'd managed since Shiv's display of prowess. "I don't need one." She drew her knees up into her chest and curled up against the door, as far away from everyone in the speeder as she could get. "Just get me away from here."

"You're wounded," Zale said. "That should be looked at, Kaysa."

"We've got medical supplies at the apartment," Merrick said, as he removed his jacket and covered Kaysa with it. "She'll be fine there." He gave the driver the address of their apartment, and the speeder started forward.

Kaysa wrapped the jacket completely around herself like a shroud so that no part of her was visible to the outside world, so no one could witness the weakness that had been a disgrace to her for her entire life. Vrax had made it visible to everyone now by beating her, raping her, wearing away her shield until the soft, fragile interior had been exposed. She couldn't face anyone again; she couldn't bear to see the pity in their expressions that would only reinforce her shame.

She'd come so far in such a short time, but it was all being obliterated now by what Vrax had put her through. Once again everything was falling apart for her, and once again, Kaysa wasn't certain she was strong enough to survive it.

"Salvage Rights"
By: Laedra Vorrel
Liam Zaneth
with Koran Darr

Location: Corellia System
Date: Eos 5, 4ABY

***

Never before had Laedra experienced such relaxation as was enveloping her now. The gentle vibration of the ship's engines lulled her as she sat cross-legged on the deck, and Koran's voice over the comm wrapped her in a comforting embrace.

She stretched her senses to their limits and sought out the Temple, reached out to make a connection with her master, but the distance was too great, so for now she relied on the communication devices aboard the ship to bring her Master to her. She missed the only home she'd known, and missed her friends there, but her place was with Liam now and her love for him forbade her from doing anything but follow him.

With a slow, deep exhalation, Laedra's consciousness returned and she opened her eyes. She gazed silently at Koran's face, still basking in the calm that had swept over her, and finally smiled. "Thank you for that, Master. I feel much more energized and refreshed. I needed that."

Koran inclined his head. "You are most welcome, Laedra," he said. "You were wearing quite a bit of tension in your shoulders. I could tell by the way you were standing. In this state, you'll find the Force much more open to you. I am proud of you, my Padawan." He gave her a smile that conveyed that feeling.

Laedra shrugged her shoulders and looked away demurely. "It has been hard being away from the Temple." She gazed back at Koran and smiled. "Away from you. I find it difficult to concentrate. But I feel much more at peace now."

"You're going through a troubled time now," Koran said. "It's good to have someone to guide you through. Sometimes the hardest thing to do in life is to walk a path alone. I assure you that you will never have to experience that again."

Laedra bowed her head in gratitude. "It has taken the struggle to make me realize I was flawed in my training, Master. But with your help now, I know I can overcome it. Besides, I have the Force, Master. I was never alone to begin with. You've shown me that."

Koran's smile brightened. "You have learned very well, Laedra," he said. "So, how is your search going? Have you any leads?"

Noting the change of topic, one that suited Laedra not in the least, her body went instantly rigid. She was doing well to hide her emotional reaction from Koran, but her body was betraying her. She required a diversion, and stretching exercises seemed just the thing. Laedra clasped her arms behind her back and extended them, pulling her tunic taut against her chest. She figured that alone was adequate enough to distract Koran.

"The search," she began finally, "is not going as well as planned. So far, we've only got rumours to go on." She rolled her head from side to side to work out the stiffness and smiled briefly at Koran watching her. "We stopped in on Corellia again. This time we were told by the system patrols that there are signs of a space battle having taken place, but nothing substantial yet."

Koran nodded. "I do hope you find something there," he said. "The sooner you are able to find Yelara, the sooner you are able to come home. However, this time on the holonet is a suitable replacement to our time together here at the Temple." He smiled. "Are you keeping up with your lightsaber drills?"

Laedra rotated her shoulders slowly and hid a guilty little smile. "Not as faithfully as I should be," she admitted. "But Liam says I am doing better, from what practice we've had. It's been a little hectic lately, but now that things are slowing down, I promise to practice more often."

"Very good," Koran said. "I have a feeling that we're all going to get more use than we'd like out of our lightsabers before all of this is over. It seems like the situation with the Empire is worsening, and Tae'Karada may become a battlefield. It is our hope that the conflict will end quickly. I don't know of anyone but Tarkin who is eager for this fight. Our wounds are still too fresh."

Abandoning her exercises and drawing her knees up to her chest, Laedra leaned forward to pay closer attention to Koran. "You don't anticipate things erupting soon, do you, Master? I would feel guilty if Liam and I weren't there to fight alongside you if it does come to that."

"It's too early to tell," Koran said. "I don't believe anything would start without some sort of diplomatic overtures. If I have anything to say about it, those overtures will extend for some time. It'll at least give the civilians in this conflict time to evacuate. That will be our primary goal in this. I have Nieme, Dani, Kael and Raeila learning some emergency triage skills right now. Just as a precaution. I figure as long as we won't be directly in the conflict, their help will be good. Kael is the closest to actual readiness to face a foe in combat like that, but even then, he's still learning. I wouldn't wish to put him in that."

Laedra wrapped her arms around her legs and shook her head slowly. "I should be there," she said softly. "I should be by my master's side if I'm needed."

"May the Force open the path to Yelara before you so that you and Liam may return here as quickly as possible," Koran said. "Until then, if you feel you must stay with Liam, then do. I sense...I sense that darkness looms ahead of him. He'll need you to keep him in the light."

If Laedra was disturbed by Koran's portent, she could do nothing but show it. She looked over her shoulder to make certain Liam was still in the cockpit and not listening, then pushed herself onto her knees and shifted closer to the projection of Koran. "Master," she whispered. "You've seen something, haven't you? Please...tell me. Tell me so I can be prepared for what's to come."

Koran closed his eyes and gathered his thoughts. He opened them and looked at Laedra again. "I have seen Liam descend into darkness," he said. "The circumstances are still clouded. I do know without you there to make him see reason that we could lose him to the darkness, Laedra."

Laedra involuntarily shrank back and shook her head rigorously. "I can't. Master, I am not up to such a task." She shifted closer to the image of her Master's face and more than anything wished he was there to hold her and comfort her. "How can I help Liam when I could barely keep myself from the darkness? Master, I can't do this. Please...I...I need you. How can I do this on my own?"

"Trust in yourself and in the Force," Koran said softly. "Keep your mind focused and you will do the most good for Liam. If Liam faces Dargus Kandran, keep Liam's wife as far away as possible. Yelara should not be allowed near either of them when they fight. I'll talk to you every day, Laedra. I'll talk you through this. Together, we'll make sure that Liam continues to walk in the Light."

Her fears momentarily quelled, Laedra bowed her head to her Master and rested her hands on either side of the holographic image to steady herself. "I will do my best, Master. I love him and I will not lose him to the darkness if I am able to prevent it."

"I know you will," Koran said with a smile, despite the anguish he felt inside at her comment. He cared for her, of that he was certain, but she was Liam's. "There isn't really any other news here other than that Orn is still the only one here who hasn't accepted Raeila as part of the Temple now."

"I'm certain, in time, Nieme and Dani will bring him around," Laedra replied. "After all, if he sees that they have forgiven her and have embraced her presence, then he must as well...eventually." Laedra lifted her soft green eyes once again towards Koran and smiled. "You're very good at changing the subject. But I thank you for sparing me any further anxiety."

Koran inclined his head. "You are welcome, Laedra. I figured it was time to stop talking about prophesy and what may be. With you there, my vision should only be something I saw in my mind's eye. Now, I believe it is time for me to go. It is time for Nieme and Dani's lessons. And, later I must once again justify why I have taken on two Padawans. I imagine they would really complain if they knew I had a third." He smiled. "Let them complain though."

Laedra laughed, as only Koran could make her after a tense conversation. "I thank you for the lesson, Master. I am glad even for what little time we have with each other." She folded her arms atop the crate she'd set the holoprojector upon and rested her chin on her hands. She gazed up at Koran with a gentle smile stretching her lips. "I shall miss you until our next session."

"And, I you," Koran said. "When you're back here, we're going to have some good long training sessions. I think I'll run you through my endurance training test. Which, by the way, is nothing like Quinlan's. It's just a run from the Temple to the edge of the road into town and back. I'm going to run it with Nieme and Dani tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes."

"I guess I should get a head start in training for that, but there isn't much room to run around on a ship." Laedra sighed, trying to prolong the moment, but she knew Liam would be calling for her soon, so it was time to say goodbye again. "May the Force be with you, Koran. I hope to speak to you again very soon."

"And I, you, Laedra," Koran said. "I'll try to contact you again about the same time tomorrow. Take care of yourself, and Liam." He waved a hand before him, and the hologram shimmered back into nothingness, leaving Laedra all alone in the room.

She passed her fingers through the now empty air where Koran's face had been suspended and sighed softly to herself. "Until tomorrow, Master." Laedra pushed herself onto her feet and raised her arms above her head to stretch her back and shoulders. Even sitting in a meditative position for an hour took its toll on the body. After sufficiently limbering up her limbs, Laedra moved out of the make-shift training room set up in the cargo bay and headed for the cockpit.

Once there, she made not a sound and simply observed Liam from the doorway as he constructed an extra lightsaber casing for the Force crystal he had brought along with them. She knew he was preparing for a battle, and a very arduous one at that. Laedra would back him up if necessary, but she feared she would not be up to the challenge, especially if it came down to facing off with Dargus Kandran himself. Though, she would worry over that when the time came. Instead, she padded lightly into the room and wrapped her arms around Liam's neck from behind. She kissed his neck, then moved her lips to his ear. "Busy?"

Liam glanced up at her and smiled. "Just putting this together," he said. "So, not very busy. I've got two others built already. One of them is something that hasn't been around for awhile. Well, both of them are. One will just look different. It's got a slight curve in it. It allows for quicker strokes, and a more powerful cut. The other is a duel phase lightsaber. It has two settings, one has the blade at standard length. The other extends the blade out to about twice its length. I had the time, so I figured I'd experiment. How'd your training go?"

"Fine," Laedra answered, "but from the looks of it, you had far more fun than I did!" She moved around to Liam's side, then set herself down onto his lap. "He also gave me some news from Tae'Karada. He says things in the desert aren't going well. I told him we wished we could be there. But for now, there's nothing to worry about."

Liam set the casing aside and slipped his arms around Laedra. "That's good," he said. "I'm hoping that Dargus will eventually move his operation back toward Tae'Karada. That way we're close enough if they need our help, and we're searching in an area we know. I hate having to run halfway across the galaxy like this. There's too much space to miss."

"Well, at least we've got a lead for now. I'm not sure how reliable tracking the Kestrel's hyperdrive exhaust signatures are, but it's a start, don't you think?"

"It's a good start," Liam said. "It's getting a little old by now, but there's still enough for us to follow. I've had the navputer plotting the course, and it does look like it's actually leading somewhere. The trick is not disturbing the trail, but we've been doing well so far."

"Which means we deserve a break." Laedra kissed Liam before he could disagree and slipped her hands to the ties of his tunic to hint at what kind of a break she had in mind.

Liam laughed. "Why is it that you're always ready for this kind of break as soon as you finish a training session with Koran?" He slid his own hands to her tunic and began sliding them beneath and up towards her breasts. "And, I'm not complaining. I like breaks." He pushed her tunic up and began tracing kisses over her abdomen and up toward her chest.

Laedra moaned gently, then laughed as she reached behind and with a gentle push of the Force, swept back the contents of the table. Once there was enough space, Laedra lifted herself onto the edge of the table and grinned at Liam. "It couldn't be any less comfortable than the bed." She closed her fingers around the fabric of Liam's tunic and pulled him up towards her for another kiss.

There was no doubt about the passion that existed between Liam and Laedra. While they kissed, he deftly unfastened his pants and started helping her with hers. Before they could get too far, though, an alarm filled the ship. Liam cursed under his breath and looked at what the sensors had found. "Debris," he said. "There's something out there." He looked back at Laedra with her pants pushed down to her knees while she lay back on the table, and then his own pants down about the same place. He shook his head and sighed. "Maybe we'll find something big here and we can celebrate after?"

Laedra whimpered quietly and nodded her head, although the throbbing between her legs begged her to demand for satisfaction now. "Debris," she repeated breathlessly. "Celebrate after." Laedra sat up and kissed Liam deeply again, then pulled back and attended to her pants.

Liam attended to his pants as he slid into his chair in the cockpit and began picking a path through the debris. There wasn't all that much of it, which indicated a smaller ship. Probably about the size of a freighter. "There's a ship up ahead," he announced. "I wonder if they know anything. I'm going to take us closer."

Laedra pushed down her tunic and hopped off the table. She fastened her pants as she approached Liam and stopped behind him to gaze out of the viewscreen at the drifting chunks of metal littering their field of view. "Hopefully they're friendly. I doubt this ship is capable of handling itself in a firefight."

"I hope so," he said. "But, if they're not, I'm fairly certain I can keep us in one piece, even with our lack of armament. We don't have much punch, but we've got speed. Their transponder lists them as Lucky Find." He looked up at her and smiled. "Maybe some of their luck will rub off."

Laedra certainly knew something she'd like rubbed off, but Liam had promised to afterwards so she settled into the seat beside him and waited patiently. "What would a ship be doing out here among a bunch of junk? He couldn't actually be scavenging, could he? There's nothing but charred metal out there."

"You should see some of the things Jawas will try to sell," Liam said. "Maybe they've already found the good stuff, and now they're just combing through to make sure they didn't miss anything."

Ahead of them, the scavenging ship shifted and took a strong defensive stance.

Liam sighed. "It's spotted us," he said. "It looks like it's protecting its junk. It's like a cornered nerf. They get their heads down, and they'll poke anything with their horns if it gets close enough. Do you want to talk to them, or should I?"

"Do you think they would be less aggressive towards a woman?" Laedra asked. "I could accidentally lose my tunic if you think it would help."

"You do that, and they'd probably sell us their ship," he said. "But, if they're like most spacers I've known, they'll open up to you a lot quicker than they would to me."

"Alright then." Laedra sat up straighter and cleared her throat in preparation. "Open the channel."

Liam grinned at Laedra, and then opened a channel to the scavenging vessel.

"Lucky Find," Laedra began, with a commanding, yet pleasant tone to her voice, "this is the..." She glanced at Liam, momentarily at a loss, then a smile touched her lips. "The Love Nest. We were just wondering if you knew what happened here."

There was a bemused chuckle on the other end. A moment later a voice filtered out of the comm. It was a combination of gruffness and hard-edged, spaceborne living all wrapped up into a lazy drawl that conjured up images of sitting around the cabin with cool drinks and not a single care. "Why hello there, Love Nest. Looks like there was a fight. It was some big ol' cat pickin' on a little bird. You'd think they'd go in for a fair fight, but these are the days. A cruiser taking on a little transport. Can you believe it?"

Laedra once again glanced at Liam, but with tinge of concern marking her features. "An unprovoked attack, Lucky Find?"

"Could be," the salvager replied. "Then again, is anything ever unprovoked? Someone always does something. Looks like these folks here weren't so lucky. From what I've found, it would have been a really nice little ship when it was whole."

Laedra reached over and covered Liam's hand with hers. So far, the news wasn't good. "Lucky Find, how long has this debris been here?"

"Oh, I'd guess it's been here about a week or so, judging by drift. Looks like there's some other debris mixed in. My guess is they're probably starfighters." There was a moment of silence. "So, Love Nest, there someone that you're lookin' for out here?"

"If there were," Laedra replied grimly, "I doubt we'd find them among that scatter." She squeezed Liam's hand and hoped he was maintaining. "Have you found anything that would help us identify the vessel? Any markings? Anything?"

"The pieces and parts of the transport were pretty much too small to bear anything identifiable. Though, we did find one section of hull intact. Took it down to the planet yesterday, as a matter of fact. It had a big symbol on it. A bird. Like one of those kestrels you see above the cliffs by the capital."

A shudder went through Liam's body, and he found himself gripping Laedra's hand. He had to maintain...

Laedra found her voice catching in her throat. As much as she wanted Yelara out of the way, she soon realized wishing for her death was too harsh and something she certainly no longer desired. But it may have been too late to retract such morbid thoughts now. "Lucky Find, do you happen to know the last coords of the cruiser that did this?"

"We haven't checked in the last day, but we did a scan when we got here. Didn't want them to come back for us too, if ya get me. Anyway, it looked like they were headed off toward nine-nine-seven."

"Thank you for you assistance, Lucky Find," Laedra said. "And if we catch sight of that cruiser heading back your way, we'll give you a heads up."

"Much obliged, Love Nest," he said. "Happy hunting out there, and I hope whoever you're looking for turns up. Lucky Find out."

Laedra could not even force her eyes to look at Liam, not when the helpless despair he was feeling radiated so strongly towards her. "Nine-nine-seven," she said quietly. "That's where they're headed, Liam. That's where Yelara will be, my love."

His hands moved instinctively, adjusting their course, and preparing for a jump to lightspeed. "We'll find her," he said, his voice weak and hollow. "We'll find her there." A soft chuckle broke through the anguish. "Love Nest?"

The sound all but quashed Laedra's anxieties and she too laughed. "It's all I could think of on such short notice. It is quite appropriate, though, do you not think?"

Liam smiled and looked over at Laedra. "It is appropriate," he said. "Why don't we...we put the name to use. I think I could use the distraction of your arms and love right now."

"You still want that?" she asked softly. She finally turned to meet his gaze, and searched his eyes for sincerity and a true desire to be with her. She wouldn't make love to a man whose mind was completely on another woman. "I can hold you and love you, Liam, but I want you to be there with me, all of you. We can't do anything more to find Yelara than to follow that cruiser. In the meantime, be with me, Liam. Only me."

Liam slipped a hand into hers and met her gaze. "Only you," he whispered. "Once we jump to lightspeed, let's go back to our room, and just be together until we come out of hyperspace. Just you and me, Laedra. Just our love."

"Okay," she whispered. She kissed his hand tenderly, then pressed it to her cheek. "Just you and me."

Once they were clear of the debris, Liam dropped the Love Nest into hyperspace and then turned to Laedra. "So, cabin or something more adventurous, my love? I don't think we've made love in zero-g yet."

"Believe me, if we had," she said with a salacious grin, "you would have remembered."

Liam slipped out of his seat and took both of Laedra's hands. "Come along my dear," he said. "I'm going to turn off the gravity generators. And, we're going to see what making love in freefall is like. And, if we're good enough -- and I know we will be -- then maybe we can try again with gravity."

More than eager to oblige Liam, Laedra kissed him fervently, then with a giggle, she raced ahead of him towards the gravity generators at the back of the ship. Wasting no time, she began stripping off her clothes along the way so they could get back to what they'd started earlier as quickly as possible.

Laedra would not show it, but once the lovemaking ended, she knew she would be filled with confusion and uncertainty. She no longer yearned for Yelara Zaneth's death, but only because her conscience forbade her from harbouring such dark, negative sentiments. She still hoped Yelara and Jae Dyn were never found, but each day spent with Liam, she grew more confident that his love for her was strong enough to keep them together, even if Yelara returned. And if she didn't, Laedra knew she certainly wouldn't be grieving her loss.

"Genetic Improvement"
by Grand Admiral Tarkin - New Empire Grand Admiral
and Doctor Yankovic [NPC] - Engineer/Genetic Scientist

Location: New Empire Mainbase, Arcadia
Date: Eos 5, 4 ABY

***

The experiences had all gone wrong so far, although progress was visible. Yankovic knew that he had missed something, but he hadn't known what... Until now. He decided it best to inform the Grand Admiral and so he left the laboratory for the first time since the first experiment had gone wrong. This was undoubtedly the most important discovery he had made!

In the throne room Tarkin was studying the latest of the reports from his various outposts in other regions and systems. The scientist entered without even asking for permission. Of course, immediately did a Red Guard stand in the doctor's way, making him stop. Tarkin overlooked and got up, placing the padd down.

"Let him come forward," Tarkin ordered. The Red Guard stood off and back into his post as Tarkin walked down towards Yankovic. "What is the purpose of your coming here doctor? How may I help?" he asked.

"I believe it is I who can help you..." the doctor answered. "Look here..." he said as he showed a holo projector. Pressing a button it showed an image of a string of human DNA. "The midichlorine used to go up against the DNA parts and destroy them instead of just replacing them correctly. Furthermore, they used to be transported too fast in the bloodstream and sent to every organ, making them malfunction. But I have found a way to recalibrate the crystals and insert its power into the DNA. This way it will reconfigure the whole bloodstream and internal organs without damage!" he explained.

Tarkin nodded, content at the news. If the doctor was right he could have his Elite Force on the way... And endless power with it. "Well then, let us get a test going on!" he said as he walked the scientist out and back to the laboratory.

Once back in the test lab, Tarkin had yet another Red Guard come and sit in the machine. He was hoping that this experiment went up to his expectations. He could not afford to lose Red Guards in the name of science, even if the reason was a good one! The Red Guard took off his armor and sat in the machine, which closed in on him afterwards. The light came as the crystal was inserted into the stream and a few minutes later, after the learning process, the process was done with.

Steam came off as the chamber opened and there was a glow that could be seen from amidst the steam. It was like two red glowing eyes that lost their light as the steam passed. Inside the Red Guard was still sitting down. He got up slowly and looked up at the window from where Tarkin and Yankovic overlooked him. He gave them a nod. It seemed the experience had gone well. It was time to take him to the course to see how well.

A door below opened and the Red Guard walked through it. There he found a lightsaber. Igniting its crimson blade he looked at what laid ahead. Blades swung by and there was a door that was closed shut in an upper level, about two stories high. At the speed in which the blades moved he would have to move a lot faster than a regular human could.

He waited for the crucial moment and ran past the blades with an incredible speed, jumping at the very end and reaching the second floor with a truly amazing ease. As he got to the door, however, a sentry cannon appeared and fired at him. Without a second thought he turned and fended off the shots fired at him, making them go back, destroying the cannon. The door opened and there was Grand Admiral Tarkin.

"Most impresive..." he said as the guard safeguarded his lightsaber and bowed in respect. Soon there would be many more. And with them, total domination! Tarkin dismissed the Red Guard and went back to meet doctor Yankovic.

"Get the others ready! I want them all to run through this process!" Tarkin told the scientist.

"Of course my liege..." Yankovic nodded.

Tarkin walked out the room. With this new genetic improvement he would rule the whole Galaxy. An army of trained Sith who were devoted to him meant an unstoppable army.

"Fellow Students"
by Aurra Sgall - Jedi Padawan
and Dani - Jedi Padawan
and Nieme Yaresh - Jedi Padawan

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 5, 4ABY

***

She got up and yawned. The night had been almost too good to want to get up. She stretched her body and grabbed her clothes, putting them on. Grabbing her lightsaber she decided it was still early. Stepping outside into the hot sun, she smiled at the thought that had just crossed her mind and left to the forest into the spring waters that were nearby.

Some minutes later, she was bathing herself. She had left her clothes by the riverside and gone in. The cool water felt more than nice and she sat back, relaxing herself. She had been training perhaps too often and took less time for fun. She just wanted to show she was adequate. But sometimes she lacked some fun and so made a mental note to come out sometime. Maybe she could enjoy the company of Master Laedra Vorrel...

Suddenly, Aurra heard a noise. Someone was nearby. No, more than one person, coming her way. Without a second thought she reached for her lightsaber and used the Force to pull it into her hands. "Who comes forth? Announce yourself!" she demanded fiercely, although knowing that if she ignited her lightsaber then she would have to keep it above water, if the blade was to remain ignited.

A giggle sounded from within the foliage and a moment later a purple face poked out. "Oh, put that away," Dani said with a grin. "It's just us, and we're unarmed. We were just coming down for a little swim." She stepped clear of the leaves and pulled Nieme along with her. She was wearing a short, silk robe and a pair of sandals while Nieme wore similar attire. "We're not gonna hurt you, silly Aurra."

"Yeah," Nieme added with a large grin. "We just wanted a swim...like you! Except we won't be using our lightsabers in there." She smothered a giggle with a hand over her mouth at the thought of what possible use a naked Aurra could make of a long, slender rod such as her lightsaber's hilt.

Aurra smiled and loosened up as she saw that it was just Nieme and Dani who had come for the same reason she had. "Sorry..." she said as she tossed her weapon back to the shore, making it fall right on top of her clothes. "I just thought that... Well... Forget it. I guess I was a little bit too jumpy!" She giggled, a little bit shy at the sight of Dani's purple body that reminded her of the coloured Twi'leks. She thought Dani was beautiful to say the least, but knew better than to envy her for it. She just appreciated the sight.

Dani slipped out of her robe and set it on the side of the lake. After that, she removed her sandals and set them beside the robe. She stepped to the edge of the water and smiled at Aurra. "You don't mind if we join you, do you?"

"Not at all..." Aurra nodded cordially as she sat back and breathed deep to relax. Closing her eyes she heard Dani's body against the water and Nieme coming into the water also. "We haven't really crossed paths at the Temple... Funny that we did outside of it!" Aurra laughed.

"We've been busy, that's all," Nieme explained. She giggled as Dani hugged her from behind and nibbled on the curve of her neck. "We should associate with each other more often. Dani and I can teach you how to be just as silly as we are."

Aurra was somewhat shy as to the other girls behaviour even in spite of her Twi'lek lineage. Truth was that she had never had much contact with that side of her, as she strayed from them at an early age. "I guess I have been much too occupied with my learnings..." she admitted. "I haven't taken the time to learn about this system really."

"Our Jedi training is very important," Dani said with a smile as she leaned gently against Nieme. "But it's also important to learn about yourself. A big part of being a Jedi is the inner discovery, and you can't do that if you don't know yourself. And, people can't be serious and dour all the time. Even Jedi have to have time to have fun and be themselves. Since we're not real Jedi yet, Nieme and I have a lot of time to just be ourselves." She brushed her lips against Nieme's cheek. "I couldn't do this any other way."

Aurra was surprised at the girls being so fond of one another, but then again she had heard about the newest Padawans being trained under different circumnstances than those she knew. It seemed sexuality was an open thing, unlike the old Republic days. She wondered what Master Kal'Aran had to say about that. "You seem more Twi'lek than myself!" Aurra laughed. "Perhaps I ought to learn more about life outside the Order."

"You should!" Nieme exclaimed. "Oh, there's so much to see outside of the Temple, Aurra. Dani and I could show you if you want." She grinned wickedly at Dani, then giggled. "But not everything at once. That might be too much."

Dani returned Nieme's grin and then looked over at their new blue-skinned friend. "We can show you if you want us to," she said gently. "There's so much to see, and to deny all of that is almost tragic. We were all given emotions for a reason, and we shouldn't hide them away, we shouldn't shun fun. Just the dark things. Fun is good. But, you have to keep up your studies as a Jedi. We'll show you, Aurra. Being a Jedi is very good, but you can still be a good Jedi and have fun. Like us. That the Jedi weren't allowed to love before is just silly. I couldn't live if I couldn't love."

"Oh love is not forbidden..." Aurra said raising her eyebrows. "It was just sexual intercourse I think. I learned that from Master Kal'Aran. I have learned much from him, and I feel that I am becoming better and more skilled by the day. But yes, I would like to learn about the life outside the Temple. Maybe I can tag with you next time you go to the city?" she asked.

"Definitely!" Nieme said. "Oh, we'd have so much to show you." She glided over to Aurra and waded in front of her, not even concerned with how the girl would react to a nude girl in such close proximity to her. "We could go shopping. I mean, all we see you wear is those robes. We could help you pick out some nice clothes. You've got a wonderful body, Aurra. We'll help you show it off."

Aurra almost blushed at the comment on her body if that was possible for a Twi'lek. "You are most kind. I thank you. Perhaps I still have much to learn about my femininity... I guess I have been much too involved in my training and less with my personal life," concluded Aurra. "You are very beautiful..." she added shyly as she tried to grant back a nice comment which was true.

Nieme looked down bashfully and giggled. "Well... I guess so." She glanced over her shoulder at Dani and smiled warmly at her love. "Dani seems to think so. Oh, but I know I'm nowhere as beautiful as she is."

Dani slipped her arms around Nieme and held her close. "Oh, you're definitely beautiful," she said. She kissed Nieme. "I know so. And, so are you, Aurra. You have a definite sensuality that you aren't even aware of yet, but we can help you change that. It's never too late to start exploring that side of your life. If you want, we'll teach you everything you want to know. We can even go shopping with you to buy new clothing. We know of some really great stores."

"I think you are both very interesting and I am sure you have much to give," Aurra nodded cordially. She then moved out of the waters and picked up a towel, letting herself sit at the edge of the lake. "This is a beautiful place... Not at all like the last system I was in."

Dani watched Aurra get out of the water and then looked to Nieme. They were both smiling as they turned back to watch Aurra. She tilted her head toward their new friend and nodded. She untangled herself from her embrace with Nieme, and then slowly started toward the edge of the small lake. "It's a very beautiful place," she said. "We love it here. And, we're both very willing to give."

Nieme nodded and glided over to Dani's side. "Very willing. Whatever you want, Aurra."

Dani climbed out of the water and moved up to sit on one side of Aurra. "Anything at all we can give you, Aurra; that's what friends are for."

The Twi'lek girl felt kind of embarrassed but it wasn't anything she'd never seen before. It was something she had rejected up until this point, but she felt it not right to shove away her new friends, especially when they were Padawans as well. This, however made her wonder about their pasts and training. She had never seen them in the training rooms...

"Thank you..." she said as the could almost feel the heat coming from Dani's body. "I am most appreciative. I have...I have never...had any...uh, experiences like you, I think," she pointed out, not wanting to accuse them of sexual intercourse, since it was not accepted in the old Jedi Council laws.

Nieme planted her feet on the rocky bottom of the reservoir and stood to her full height, exposing her glistening breasts for all to see...but mainly Aurra who she now stood before. "Come on, Aurra. It'll be fun." Nieme smiled and gently placed her hands atop Aurra's knees. "We'll go easy on you the first time."

Dani placed a hand on Aurra's thigh and smiled. "We'll help you experience all sorts of things," she said. "All the training and stuff is good, but it's also really good to just go wild sometimes. It's healthier for the spirt, you know." She leaned closer until her breasts brushed against Aurra's arm. "You'll see just how amazing, beautiful, and alive things can be with us. We think you'll really like it."

Aurra felt a small shiver, but it felt like her whole body was compelling her to let go, as if it was in her genes. Maybe it was. She placed her hands on top of Nieme's hands and smiled. "I am glad you have shown up and are willing to teach me other things... New things I would never learn in Jedi training," she said gently. She then looked at Dani and let herself rest in her bosom, ever so slightly, looking up into her eyes.

Dani slipped an arm around Aurra and looked up at Nieme. She smiled at her love and then looked back to Aurra. "We'll teach you many things, Aurra," she said. "Won't we, Nieme?"

"Oh, yes," Nieme replied softly. She delicately slid her hands higher up Aurra's thighs and felt the shudder that ran through the girl. "We can teach you everything we know. Dani helped me learn a lot, and now we'll help you."

"We like helping, Aurra," Dani said. "And, you're our friend now, so we'll help you any way we can, any way you want us to."

"You've...uh, had sex, right?" Aurra asked coyly. "I want to learn about that," she said, then sliding one of her arms around Dani's neck and caressing her hair.

Dani giggled and settled closer to Aurra. "It's a secret, but we've had lots of sex. But, I don't think anyone would believe us if we said we hadn't." She glanced over at Nieme and smiled as she brushed her hand over Aurra's cheek. "What do you think?"

Nieme smiled at Dani and nodded her head exuberantly. "I think that'd be wonderful." She slipped her hands to Aurra's waist and lightly brushed her fingers up and down her sides. She looked up into Aurra's eyes and smiled silkily. "I really would like to know what blue tastes like," she whispered softly.

Aurra breathed deeply and let herself guide in her emotions just for this one time, since no anger nor hatred was involved. She leaned forward and decided to kiss Nieme on the cheeks first and then taking her chances at the lips, not knowing what Dani would say or think. Nieme's lips felt silky and warm and she couldn't say it wasn't nice even if she tried to mean it.

"I can tell you that you taste exquisite..." Aurra told Nieme.

Nieme closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "And blue tastes wonderful," she whispered. Nieme giggled softly as she opened her eyes, then pulled herself out of the water to seat herself on Aurra's other side. "Dani, you really should have a taste. Not as good as purple, but still tasty."

Dani grinned at Nieme and then leaned close to Aurra. She brushed her lips against their new Twi'lek friend's. She then kissed her a little more firmly, savouring the taste of their kiss. She pulled away slowly and kept her eyes on Aurra's. "Very nice," she whispered. "Blue is very nice, for certain." She looked at Nieme. "I think I like blue too, my love."

Nieme smoothed her hand over Aurra's back and gently nibbled on the delicate flesh of her neck. "We can like blue together...if that's what you want, Aurra." She regarded their new friend again and trailed a finger down her lekku. "Do you want us to show you everything, Aurra?"

The feeling of the kisses was something new and most exhilarating in a way, and as Nieme touched the bottom of Aurra's lekku, the blue skinned girl shivered in a good way. The lekku twitched slightly. "Yes... Please show me?" she asked. "Help me learn about the secrets of the flesh."

Nieme looked over at Dani and shrugged. "Should we?" she mouthed. She'd never been involved in something like this before, and Dani seemed the expert in all things sexual, so of course Nieme looked to her for guidance. Aurra was still shivering from her touch and Nieme felt almost obligated to gratify her now, but as confident as she was in other aspects of life, she knew little about this.

Dani gazed into Nieme's eyes and then looked down at Aurra. She glanced back up to Nieme and mouthed, "Yes?" She had to make sure that Nieme wanted to do this, that they could share themselves with their new friend too. She knew that they could have sex with Aurra and not lose anything from their own relationship. "Do you want to?" she added silently.

Nieme sighed, and as her eyes fell to Aurra's heaving chest and her hardened nipples protruding from her blue flesh, she giggled. "Yes," she said to Dani eagerly. "Yes."

Dani smiled at Nieme, and then leaned in close to Aurra again. She kissed the Twi'lek girl, savouring the taste once more. The touch was beautiful, and the emotions of the three of them were completely amazing. She slid her hand slowly down Aurra's flat, blue stomach, and slipped it just between her thighs. "We'll teach you," she whispered. "We'll teach you everything."

Aurra opened her mouth to Dani, as the purple-skinned girl's tongue was making its way into hers, rolling about gently. She felt Dani's fingers between her legs as they moved about and made her linger in these new sensations that were beggining to make her become moist from all the pleasure. She reached down to Nieme and smiled warmly. "By the gods!" she moaned. "You are amazing... Both of you..."

"We're so glad we could make you happy," Nieme whispered. She brought her hands to Aurra's breasts and massaged them sensually. "We're going to be diplomats. It's our duty to make sure everyone stays happy."

"Though, most people we'll just be really nice to," Dani said between kisses. "We'll only have sex with beautiful people we like, like you. The people we have sex with, other than each other, have to taste really nice. And, you taste wonderfully, Aurra. We're very happy to share ourselves with you. And, you can be our best friend now."

"I want us to be together..." she smiled in between hard breaths. She let herself fall back as Nieme's hands worked her way through in unison with Dani's. She looked up at the two girls. "But I want to give you pleasure too. Just tell me how..."

"Making you happy is pleasure enough for us," Nieme answered. She lay down next to Aurra and spread kisses from her neck to her lips while her hands continued caressing her breasts.

"Once we've made you happy," Dani whispered while her hands continued to explore between Aurra's thighs, "then you can make us happy. We'll help you, Aurra. We'll teach you anything you'd like, anything at all."

"By the gods, what you're doing is enough!" Aurra said happily. "I feel as if I'm going to burst into a flame of sensations that are tingling the whole of my body! Don't stop!" she said just before she shivered in full excitement and felt her legs become wet where Dani had her hands.

Nieme almost giggled at Aurra's reaction and imagined she sounded just as amusing when Dani did that to her. Instead, she covered Aurra's lips with her own and kissed her deeply and slowly. She sighed once the kiss ended and licked her lips. "Oh, you really do taste wonderful."

The Twi'lek girl smiled at Nieme. She could barely make herself talk at this point as the exhilaration was too much to do anything more than breathe. "So do you Nieme. So wonderful!" she managed to say.

Dani giggled and, while not stopping what her hand was doing, slid herself down along Aurra's body. Once she was there, she gazed up at her blue friend and then gave her an alluring smile before brushing her lips against her friend's nether region.

Aurra jerked forward and tilted her head backwards. She found that her hands had moved to caress Dani's hair, as the need to do so proved to be stronger than her, it would seem. "By the gods!" she moaned. "This is so..." she said, not being able to finish her own sentence, but letting herself fall back again. She placed her hands on her breasts as she massaged them as Nieme had earlier.

Auura then looked up at Nieme and smiled warmly. She pulled her on top of her as she closed her eyes once in a while due to the pleasure Dani was giving her. She gazed into Nieme's eyes. "Thank you..." she told her as she suckled on the girls breasts, toying with her tongue around her nipples.

Nieme gasped softly and brought her hands to Aurra's lekku again. She caressed them sensually and tried not to crush them between her fingers as Aurra's tongue worked magic. "Oh...Aurra." She sighed happily. "You may never have done this before, but you're wonderful at it!"

"Not as good as you two... No, never have I tasted an exhilaration like this!" Auura replied. With a moan she jerked and felt herself as she released her juices at the licking of Dani. She let her body fall limp and just breathed hard. She was tired and yet she felt as if she had been rejuvenated at the same time.

As Aurra's body seemed to melt into the rocks, Dani peeked up over the girl's belly at Nieme and grinned. "I think she likes us," she said. "She's very tasty, my love. I bet she would go well with creamy ice too."

Nieme giggled as she nuzzled her lips to Aurra's. "Vanilla creamy ice...." She sighed and kissed her fully, then finally rolled off of her onto her back upon the lush grass. "We really have to do this again."

Aurra giggled in a most girlish way. "Yes, we do..." she agreed. She then looked at both girls and smiled. They had just given her the best time in a long time and she had never tasted such pleasure before. "You must teach me so I may return the favour," she told them. She felt she had just found best friends to be with. Other girls to count with and share whatever she couldn't tell her master. Girl things... Yes, they were her new friends, her fellow students. "I think I need to bathe again," she added up with yet another giggle.

Nieme ran her finger silkily down Aurra's chest and between her breasts. "We'd love to help you," she purred. "We'll get you squeaky clean in no time."

Dani reached up and took Aurra's hand. "We'll get you so clean, dirt won't come near you for a week. And, you can be our girlfriend too if you want." She looked at Nieme and smiled. "I think we'd both like that."

"Oh, definitely!" Nieme exclaimed. "We'll have so much fun, especially when we show you Kimra." She winked at Aurra and giggled. "Don't worry, you'll understand soon enough."

"Oh, Kimra's a lot of fun, Aurra," Dani said, unable to control her giggling. "You have to make sure you're quiet though, because with Kimra, it's really tempting to just get really loud." She kissed their new girlfriend's belly and smiled. "Maybe when you're clean, we can teach you how to make us all squirmy happy."

"Oh, yes please!" the Twi'lek girl exclaimed happily with a smile. "Teach me more... I want to know more and to please you too. But I think I better bathe before that," she said as she got up and walked back into the water. She turned around and winked at the other two girls. "Or better yet, we'll clean each other by taking turns!"

Dani slipped her hand into Nieme's and started slowly to follow Aurra into the water again. She glanced at Nieme and smiled. "Aurra, we have a really big bed in our room, and tonight, if you want, you can sleep in it with us. We'd like that very much."

Aurra was struck with surprise by this invitation. One thing was to hang out with the other girls and even have sexual intercourse, but that was time off the Temple. "I...I'm not sure Master Kal'Aran would give his approval..." she said nervously. "But if no one tells him, and if I can slip in there in the night..." she concluded as she looked at the other girls. "I will tell him, but when the time is right. But I want it to be me to tell him and not for him to discover on his own!" she explained, then giving a smile. "But I would like that very much."

"We're very good at being sneaky when we want to," Dani said with a grin. "No one has to know as long as we want to keep it a secret."

"Ok then..." Aurra smiled. "I will join you then. The hard part will be keeping quiet! I don't know if I can do that if you do to me what you just did a minute ago!" she teased as she approached Dani and kissed her lips then pulling back and rubbing her tongue to get her taste in full. She then pulled Nieme along and and got her to stand with her back to her as she gave her a backrub and kissed her neck. "Thanks for everything again..."

Nieme sighed and turned her lips to Aurra's hand as it moved to her shoulder. "No need to thank us. It was our pleasure as well as yours. And don't worry about Kal'Aran, we'll make sure he doesn't find out until you want him to."

Aurra smiled. She trusted these two girls. They were more than she had thought them to be before she really got to know them. Much more. "Ok... I am glad that we crossed paths here today. Maybe the Force wanted it to happen. Forever friends?"

Nieme turned and embraced Aurra tenderly. "Forever," she said. She smiled at Dani and held out a hand to her. "And along the way, Dani and I will teach you everything we know."

Aurra nodded happily. "And even in training we can help each other... I am sure that we will have the best times together. But for now, if I take too much time I will be late for my training. I'll meet you tonight at your room." She winked. She then bathed herself fast and let the other girls help out. She then got out of the water and grabbed her towel. As she dried herself again she smiled at the girls still in the water and reminded herself of the pleasure she had experienced before with them. "We'll have to make that trip to the city sometime..."

Dani giggled. "Oh, we know some great places to go in the city. There's dance clubs, clothing stores, restaurants with the best food. Oh! and there's the most amazing toy store. That's where we got Kimra. Oh, he is definitely our favourite. We'll introduce you, and we think you'll love him. Right, Nieme?"

Nieme smiled dreamily. "Oh, you definitely will. But perhaps tonight. Kal'Aran and that evil Master Vos will be looking for you. We don't want them to ruin our fun before it's even started!"

Aurra frowned. "Master Vos is not evil!" she stated rather firmly. "He is a great Jedi Master you know... Master Kal'Aran told me he was once one of the very best there was in the Order, but he lost his memory and lurked very close to the Dark Side, which still haunts him. Master Kal'Aran also told me Master Vos can feel and see what people saw and felt through objects. Why do you call him evil? He was quite nice to me!"

Nieme's jaw almost dropped and her eyes grew wide with surprise. She looked between Dani and Aurra, stammering quickly. "I-I didn't mean it, Aurra. It's just... Well, we all heard about his obstacle course and... We -- I just thought he sounded a little...strange. That's all!"

Dani nodded vigourously. "Yes," she said quickly. "And...and he doesn't like us having fun. He wants us to be all stoic, unemotional, and boring. We didn't mean evil like in dark side evil. Nieme was just being melodramatic, that's all. We're both very melodramatic about a lot of things. Masters Kal'Aran and Vos are both great Jedi Knights, but they're still...dull when it comes to having fun."

"Well you have to consider they are Old Republic Jedi who were hunted for a great amount of time. They had no time for fun and they were taught in the Old Jedi ways where sexual gratification was not part of the life of a Jedi..." she argued. "But I guess they should get accustomed to the new days!" she smiled. Truth was she didn't want to start off wrong with her newest friends. But she didn't like the words about Master Quinlan Vos, and Master Kal'Aran was anything but dull. Knowledgeable! She felt like telling them that she would be lucky to be half of what he was, but decided not to. Instead she smiled. "I have to go... See you two later!" She winked.

Dani and Nieme watched as Aurra scrambled up the path toward the Temple. With a sigh, Dani looked at Nieme and shook her head. "I guess we'll have to watch what we say around her. They've brainwashed her."

"Obviously," Nieme said. "But a few more sessions with us, and she'll be perfect!"

Dani giggled as she slipped her arms sensuously around Nieme. "She's pretty close to perfect already," she said. "Though, I don't think anyone could ever be as perfect as you are."

"Oh really?" Nieme kissed Dani briefly, then coyly pulled away. "Prove it."

Dani purred as she followed after Nieme. Koran Darr wouldn't be looking for them for awhile, and they had time. She would gladly prove to Nieme just how perfect their love was. She loved giving Nieme proof, and Nieme enjoyed receiving. Later, they would introduce Aurra to Kimra and give her an initiation of a different manner. Now was their time alone, though. Nieme only hoped they didn't wear themselves out for what was to come later that night.

"Conversations, Part 1"
by Jack Black
and Grand Admiral Tarkin

Location: Main Imperial Outpost, Arcadia
Date: Eos 5, 4 ABY

***

Jack stepped into the control booth of his ship and started up the transmitter. It had taken his brother several hours to get it operating, and now he could contact any area on the planet. He tuned the channel in to the govenment frequency. He looked at the computer records and got the location of the Arcadia government center.

He began to transmit a coded message: "I have news on the rebellion in Thanatos. If you would like to discuss payment for services provided, please contact me through this space channel. Do not bother trying to trace it."

Jack smiled to himself. Of course they would try and trace it but it was nice to know they would fail. According to their computer the signal had come from the stratosphere of the planet and it wouldn't take a genius to realise that there was nothing there capable of sending such a message.

***

In the palace, the communications officer called upon his superior. "Sir, we have an inbound coded message in our standards. But it has been transmitted from none of our outposts or officers."

"Well, who sent it? What is the point of origin?" the Commader in duty demanded.

"We don't know, sir. It seems to come from the planet stratosphere," the ensign answered promptly.

"What?! That is impossible! Trace that message! I will notify the Grand Admiral myself," the Commander said as he stormed out of the room.

***

The Grand Admiral was in his main room, where it had once been the High Prince's throne room. The room's decoration had been maintained mostly, with its large marble columns with large windows and stone walls. The difference was in some high tech changes as well as the presence of not only the Grand Admiral himself but of the Red Guards as well.

The Commander was let into the room, facing Tarkin straight ahead of him, sitting at the end of the red carpet. "Sir..." He saluted. "A transmission has been received. It has no New Empire point of origin but it was in our code. We are trying to trace it now."

"And the message?" Tarkin asked thoughtfully.

"Someone claiming to have news on the Rebellion in Thanatos, willing to discuss payment for services provided," the Commander answered. "We are asked to answer to the same channel."

"So, it could be a rat selling out or a trap from those pesky rebels..." Tarkin concluded easily. "Well, we will see of what worth this information is. Send a message back and invite this person, whoever he or she is, and grant him a clearance codename to pass through the main gates. Only one person may come forth," Tarkin ordered.

The Commander nodded and saluted once more before leaving the room.

***

The blip blip of the console awoke Jack fom a fitfull sleep. He turned around and faced the console; a message light was blinking. A sly smile crept across Jack's face, his eyes narrowed as he read the message.

The message read: You are to come alone to the New Empire Homebase in the region of Arcadia and present yourself to the Grand Admiral for discussion on your information value. Use codename 'insider' for perosnal clearance at the maingates.

He smiled to himself, and got up and closed down the computer. The lights flickered and died. He cursed his brother. He moved out into the main engineering. Surely enough his brother was rerouting power to a 'more vital' system. "Robin?"

Jack moved and stat across from where his brother was working. His brother looked up, his innocent face speared with grease and grime. "Yeah, Jack?" he asked then nothing. His brother's troubled face pulled himself out of the machinery. "What's wrong?"

"I'm going to have to make a trip to the capital. You will keep repairing the ship. Should I not report here in two days, go to Ferrig, offer your services as a mercenary, and slaughter all Imperials you get a chance to for they will have killed me," Jack explained.

"What are you going to do?" Robin asked. "It's not dangerous is it?"

Jack sighed at his brother's naivit�. "Yes, it is dangerous, however it will earn us a position in this proxy planet. Get this ship operational fast as you can, but prepare a travel pack for me. I'm going to get a speeder working."

An hour later, just as the sun was starting to rise over the sand dunes, the air golden with new sunlight, Jack departed, leaving his worried fretful brother behind. Jack cruised over the dunes at a breakneck speed. The only sound other than the rushing wind was the gentle hum of the engine.

***

In his main office, the Grand Admiral sat. Around him, standing guard in the same room where the deadly and most silent Red Guards that vowed allegience to him. He thought about this message. Could he indeed obtain the information or was it a trap? Either way there was no chance of a raid since the shields were up and AT-ATs were in the palace vicinity. Only a fool would go for a ground attack!

And airstrikes were useless against the shields since they were much too strong and he had radars to tell if there were inbound starships. No, a raid would be an utter failure. He knew that soon enough he would learn what this was all about. He would measure this single man and evaluate what he had or not to offer. If not enough then he would send him off or have him killed or incarcerated. If a traitor or a rebel friendly who was trying to gain intel, he could squeeze and torture him to turn the odds around to his favour. This made Tarkin grin. It was a win-win situation, or a no-loss at a minimum.

The guards at the gates had already been informed of the man who was due there soon enough. Carrying their duties as usual they caught an eye on any vessel that seemed to come closer and viewed all the activity in the nearby city of Arcadia. Sometime later they saw a man who approached alone on a speeder. One of the guards pointed his blaster rifle, overzealous so that nothing would go wrong, as the other one approached the man in the speeder.

"Identify yourself and state your business here!" the guard demanded.

Jack smirked at the blank face of the stormtrooper. The white armour was supposed to represent a skeleton or something just as fearful; Jack had long since given the emotion of fear away. He pulled himself off the speeder. "My name is Insider," Jack stated with a smile. "I believe you're expecting me." He waved his arms vaguely towards the AT-AT's that surrounded the palace. "I'm not quite sure what you thought I was, but a one man army I am not." He paced forward until the point of the rifle rested against his chest. Slowly and hypnotically he moved the guard's rifle away. "Don't want to hurt anyone now do we?" He shrugged smoothly.

The guard shook his head. Jack's voice seemed so calming, filled with obvious flirtation and little real meaning, and yet he seemed so convincing. "You're expected," was all the guard could utter.

"Then show me in, my dear chap."

Jack admired the furnishings as he made his way through the corridors of the palace. It must have been spectacular in its day, but now it was nothing more than another military stronghold. Jack's black eyes picked up every detail and he committed them to memory, the positions of guards, troops, the AT-AT deployment, he could even see the faint blue hum of the shields that protected the place from an air raid.

The guard grasped Jack's arm a little too roughly for his liking. Jack pulled his arm away harshly spraining the mans hand. "If you want my weapons then ask," Jack said simply, and unclipped his pistol from his belt and handed it to the guard who was rubbing his wrist.

Jack entered the main throne room. The lights were dimmed, and even in the mid-day sun it was still gloomy. It was a soft given trait of all imperial strong rooms. They liked their gloom. Jack found it impractical as it was much easier to work at night. Jack was suprised by the visage in front of him. The spitting image of Admiral Moff Tarkin. He glanced at the red robed guards, and smirked to himself. It seemed the man fancied himself as a bit of an emperor himself.

"Welcome..." was all Tarkin said initially as he did a fast study on the man. Bounty hunter was his first impression. And one with an attitude as well.

Jack nodded. "My name is Jack Black, and I'm well aware of the Empire's way of dealing. Hence why I've given my brother the order to fight for the rebellion should I not return. You may have heard of us. Eight years ago we were responsible for many Imperial casualties. The Black brothers? Due to an unfortunate visit to one of your testing facilities my brother fought for the Rebellion with rather impressive destruction... This is not a threat or a boast, just a fact that you should think about while we are talking," Jack said with a smile.

Right on the spot! Tarkin had managed to figure him out only too well. This man, whoever he was, seemed to believe that he was not only smarter, but actually thought that Tarkin cared for him or the fact that his brother would join the Alliance. Just one more dead rebel... But he decided to play this game. "I never heard of you before," Tarkin lied convincingly.

"Never heard of us? Well never mind, there usually weren't too many survivors to speak any way." Jack paused, he glanced around. "Do you mind if I could get a seat? It's been a rough journey."

"Yes, of course. Please do!" Tarkin exclaimed as he motioned for a guard to bring a chair for Jack.

Jack watched the lesser guard go to fetch the chair, his shoes clicking on the marble floor. He then turned back to this Christoffer Tarkin. "I knew your brother," Jack mentioned in conversation. "By reputation only. A rather ruthless leader. Efficient and ruthless, two good qualities. He was slightly too confident in his own power, which I believe was his only failing."

"Actually, the failing was on the security measures that were taken with less precaution than needed," Tarkin said. "But I don't think that you came over to discuss my brother or the Death Star, so why don't we move along to business..."

"Right you are. To business. The information and services I can provide are very simple. I can either give you people's names to get rid of leaders of the rebellion cells, or I could tell you how to bring Thanatos' rebellion to heel. Your methods are too vicious. When you deal with them the heavier handed you get the more support you lose; you've got to be subtle. They are only simple minded folk out there out for their own gains, the best trick is to bring them to work for you."

Tarkin actually grinned. Was it possible that this man was trying to give him a lesson on tactics and ways to proceed?! This man probably had no idea that Tarkin was one of the best tacticians in the Empire, that he had conceived the Death Star along with his brother and that he had won over more battles than he had seen in his entire life! It almost gave him a reason to laugh. But he frowned. "I would be interested in both then. No matter your fees," Tarkin said.

Jack sighed, "Ok, names first, tactics later. The one gang who is the best armed, and your forces should look to destroy, is a gang named the Feltreys. They are well organised with a brilliant leader. However, in my opinion, you would do better to buy off his gang and set them up as the leaders of the place. The gangs out there are fighting each other constantly. You've given them the only reason to ally together. What you need to do is get them to turn back on each other."

"And what is this man's name?" Tarkin demanded.

"His name is Ferrig Mullerin," Jack said with a shake of his head. "Well organised, very paranoid. I've got a banter going with him. I could always help you set up a bit of an ambush if you wanted. I would need some weapons though. They seem to be only intrested in weaponry," Jack said with a smile.

"And how did you come across this man?" the Grand Admiral asked, wanting to learn whether this man was or not part of this gang.

"I was trying to sell some ore I've got on my ship. However, he wasn't intrested. But he said if I could get hold of some weapons he would be," Jack lied smoothly.

Tarkin could tell that maybe this man wasn't part of this Feltreys' gang, but it was obvious that he wasn't telling the truth, as convincing as he might be. But that was quite fine, as he could play the game still and win. "Very well, I will provide the weapons," he said, not adding up that the weapons wouldn't work and that, in fact, they were merely setups with small transmitters so that he could find the locations he needed to know.

"Conversations, Part 2"
by Jack Black
and Grand Admiral Tarkin

Location: Main Imperial Outpost, Arcadia
Date: Eos 5, 4 ABY

***

Jack looked into Tarkin's eyes. He didn't let his inward glee show. He had given him the infomation and still had his skin. This Admiral was clearly a bit smarter than the avarage lackey. Jack had no doubt that the weapons would be faulty, or traced, or both. It was an obvious deception, just a method to lead the Feltreys to the slaughter. Jack had no objection to that. However, he wanted his payment first, so he could skip away before the blasting started.

"Sir, I think we're forgeting the business of my payment?" Jack said with a raised eye. "I know I can trust you as far as I can trust a rancor not to eat me." Jack smirked at his own joke not really feeling it. He let his pure black eyes scan Tarkin's almost impassable face.

"Once your part of the deal is set I will gladly pay you your fees," Tarkin said simply and seriously.

Jack shrugged. "If you waited till afterwards to pay me what would prevent you from turning around and killing me?" Jack asked.

Tarkin nodded. "Very well then. Half now, half upon delivery of your promises. Any other way is not open for discussion," he stated.

Jack looked at the guard as he finally entered with the chair. Jack slouched down, and his robe fell open, showing the broken lightsaber around his waist. Jack looked at the Admiral.

Tarkin saw the lightsaber. It seemed the guard had not done much of a job. Perhaps someone smarter would prevent this from ever happening again. Perhaps a red guard standing watch also... Tarkin smirked. "You're no Jedi. Why would you have interest in that sort of a weapon?"

Jack shook his head. "You're right. I'm no Jedi. Just a man with a lightsaber. You really should teach your guards to be a bit more thorough." Jack unclipped it and rolled it across the large table to Tarkin. "Doesn't work," Jack added. "Picked it up on a dead world. We were just picking up some salvage and found it."

The Grand Admiral picked up the weapon and looked at it. It was a great weapon, he knew. But without the knowledge to wield it it would be worth nothing or almost nothing. "Would you mind if I keep this?" he asked. "Since it's broken and of no use..." Truth was he wanted to see the diferences between these and his Elite Guards' ones.

"I would rather keep it." Jack smiled, picking it back up and clipping it back to his belt. "Interested in the ways of the Jedi?" Jack asked. "I remember long ago, when I was guest of the Empire in a testing facility. I remember seeing them remove some of the corpses as they tried to build Jedi." Jack smiled. "Didn't you wonder where a human got pure black eyes from?" Jack asked.

"I am well aware of your past in our facilities, Mr Jack Black. And both of us know that you were no mere guest there. So why don't we both be frank? I am sure you haven't forgotten what you went through there, but having enhanced peripheral vision and precision as well as genetically re-coded muscles to be tougher than the average human has its advantages," Tarkin said. "But none impress me at all! So let us get to the point here."

"Sorry. It's been a while since I've had a conversation with a man of intelligence. Too many people favor physical muscles instead of mental capabilities." Jack then felt a cough grip at his chest. He tried to ease it, but as it spluttered out blood flickered over his hand. His explosive coughes brought the red guards closer to their Grand Admiral. Eventually the pressure eased off Jack's chest and he was able to breathe again. He spat a globule of blood to the ground.

Tarkin frowned. "I would appreciate if you wouldn't spit in my house," Tarkin warned him. "Now, as I've said, the shipment of weapons will be delivered. Now, I expect you to complete your part of the deal also. And, for what it's worth, if you try any tricks I will not flicker at having both you and your brother killed. Now, do we have a deal, Mr. Black?" he asked.

"I've heard many a thousand threats like that in my life, and, to be honest, yours is one of the few I believe." Jack paused. "If this goes according to plan, I'm sure you'll try to kill me anyway," Jack smiled. "Anyway, I better be going. If you'll arrange for my payment to be loaded on my speeder, the guns can be taken to this location," Jack said as he handed Tarkin a set of coordinates. "You will see an R1 droid unit awaiting your troops. Leave the weapons there. It will take one day to arrange a pick-up from the gang, so get your troops hidden and ready by sunset tomorrow," Jack said, lifting himself out of his chair. He wheezed slightly. "Admiral, don't underestimate those outbackers. They are willing to fight and die for their cause. Fanatics are the hardest to kill." Jack smirked noting that the Grand Admiral, while intelligent and a brilliant liar, had forgotten to keep his lies consistent. He would know who the Black Brothers were, and although he didn't show it he must have been just slightly worried. Jack's brother had killed more Imperials in face-to-face combat than any other single rebel.

Jack swept out of the room retrieving his weapon from the guard. His cloak flapped in the wind then he was out the door.

Tarkin sat back as Jack went off. This could yet come to be of great advantage. The Thanatos rebel leaders and knowledge of their locations. Of course he could never trust Jack to keep his end of the bargain. No bounty hunter or trader could be trusted at all. But they could be put to good use. And if they died in the process nothing was lost really...

"Get me the SSD Nemesis online!" he ordered as soon as the room was totally empty. "Have the tracers been located?" he asked, only to receive a confirmation.

***

Jack looked at the crates as they were loaded on. He smiled to the guard, a sly smile. The guard looked up at Jack trying to read Jack's strange grin. Jack mounted the speeder bike and began to hum over, out of the capital. The going was slower than his journey there. Once out of sight. Jack pulled a unit out of his belt and scanned the boxes of credits. All of the boxes were being tracked. The signal wasn't even disguised. Jack shook his head slightly. Why did the Imperials always consider themselves so superior, as if everyone else was of limited intellect? He used the scanner and located the devices. He then scanned the boxes again; he wouldn't put it past the Grand Admiral to use a decoy method. The emissions level was zero. Jack recalibrated. A faint signal betrayed the real tracer. Jack reached into the case and carefully removed it.

Jack knelt beside his speeder, and pulled open the storage compartment. He pulled out several space rockets. Carfully he bound the tracers onto the rocket. Slowly he programmed in the location of the flare to explode. Moving away from his speeder slighly he launched the rockets into outer space. "Follow me now," Jack suggested. He scanned his vehicle once again, it was clean. He mounted it again and engaged the camoline stealth suit. Slowly the speeder merged into the background. Then Jack shot off under the camouflage. It only lasted a few minutes, but in those minutes Jack was well past scanning range and his trail would be exceptionally cold.

Once out of range, Jack contacted Robin. "Robin, we've got some more cash, and we've got to arrange another meeting with the Feltreys." Jack smiled to himself. "I'll head to Thanatos straight away, you get together the R1 unit to these coordinates!" Jack transmited the location he had given the Empire. "Also, load up equipment box twelve and get it working. This is a radio silent message just in case I'm being scanned, so don't reply," Jack ordered.

Jack's speeder approached Thanatos just as night was falling. He sped into the streets. There were few people about. Burns from fire fights could be seen marking the sidewalks, the occasional dead stormtrooper or rebel littered around as well.

"Nice to see my weapons went to good use." Jack smirked.

***

At the Main Office, the Grand Admiral was in contact with the SSD Nemesis as well as Intel from the palace. He followed Jack Black on a screen and had the data read out to him.

"Sir, the speeder stopped, just a few miles from the city," the Intel Officer told Tarkin. "We believe that he has found the decoy emitters..."

"Of course he is!" Tarkin shot back. He trusted Jack not to be that stupid. After all, he had had Imperial training. "Now, let us see if he can discover the real thing!"

"Sir, I don't believe--" the Intel officer stated, just to be cut off by the Grand Admiral.

"That is your problem and failure, Commander! You do not believe! Don't think that just because this man is not with us that he cannot think! After all he was able to deceive communications, was he not?" Tarkin said. "And if he does find it, I will hold you for the responsibility of it! Now, I hope, for your sake, that he doesn't."

"My Lord!" The Commander nodded. Just as he did so, it became clear that even the last tracer had been found and that signal scanners were of no use now. "Sir, I am sorry... We did the best we could!" the Commander said.

"Well, then I will have to find someone who can do better!" Tarkin raged. "No more failures Commander! You are relieved of your post for the time being until I can decide what to do with you!" he said. The man saluted the Grand Admiral and went away, out of the room.

Tarkin then turned to the screen, where the Admiral for the SSD Nemesis was at. "Admiral?" Tarkin asked.

"Sir! We have him on our screens. We are using both heat detection as well as viewing screens. We have him right on our sight!" he informed.

"Good. Don't lose him!" Tarkin said with a warning tone.

The screens showed that the optical tracing would be harder. Jack was a resourceful man and had thought of it. But he never considered that the opticals on the Super Star Destroyer could magnify up to focus on a small desert rodent, let alone a speeder or its driver even with camouflage, as it wasn't perfect. And even then the heat sensors were tracking him.

The scanning continued and it was almost dark. It was lucky for them, since in the dark it would have been a lot more difficult to keep tracking him with opticals. The destination had been Thanatos. Now they had two chances. Either seize them then or have him bring them out. Tarkin knew that in Thanatos the terrain was an advantage for the locals. But as soon as they left it the tides would turn.

Tarkin sent a message to Moff Albren Seare. In it there were orders for seizing the gang leaders in Thanatos as well as everyone getting out of the city and making sure none went in as well. Along went the information about Jack Black and the supposed deal as well as clearance to use all means necessary, icluding four AT-ATs he was sending along. They had little time to get things done, but great results if successful.

"Planning A Downfall"
by Grand Admiral Tarkin
and Moff Albren Seare

Location: New Empire's Main Base, Arcadia
Date: Eos 5, 4 ABY

***

As Seare walked into the room, Tarkin turned towards him. He had been waiting for him, as in his mind he had been planning the attack on Thanatos. It would come down and it would serve as the example. Even if he had to bomb it away. Plus, he had better plans for that region once the city was down...

"Moff Albren Seare," Tarkin complimented. "I trust you got my message?" he asked.

"That is correct, Grand Admiral," Seare said with a bow. "I have left control of my forces in the desert to Captain Stiles. He will shoot down anything trying to get in or out Additionally, I have word from the assault team assigned to it that the Thanatos starport will fall tonight. We will then be in control of desert spacebound traffic. The fist is closing."

Tarkin grinned. No doubt that the man was efficient. And it reminded the Grand Admiral of one person only: his own self. Careful and manipulative and efficient with no pity or remorse for his enemies. Of course none of these thoughts did Tarkin show as he addressed the man. "Good! But do take care in your actions... We want to have them come off the Thanatos region first, so place your perimeter at a safe distance and let the gang leaders and Jack Black leave the region to a safe distance for a strike. Then take care of Thanatos. I don't care what you do with them as long as the city falls! For now just make sure no aid comes and that no person leaves the region," Tarkin said. "Any recent reports or facts I should know?"

"There are no recent events that have not already been disclosed in my reports to you," Moff Seare answered. "I have a question of procedure, sir. You just said that the gang leaders should be allowed to leave. Should they not be dealt with as the rabble they are? They have killed my men, and they still stand in defiance of our might."

"Your men are also my troopers," Tarkin reminded Seare with a slight frown. "And I hate the gang leaders as much as you do, I assure you. But strategy is needed and it has to be planned flawlessly. You see, inside the city they hold not only the advantage of terrain knowledge, but also they have hiding places and many allies, since the people would follow their lead. But outside there is only desert. Nowhere to run off to. And once captured, the citizens won't organize against us, and thus they will succumb in our hands," Tarkin explained.

The Grand Admiral then took a few steps to watch over the outside gardens. He could see an AT-ST walker as it walked about near them. "I don't wish them to go as they want, however. Just let them get off the city up to a point of no return. This way they cannot run back to the city and there's nowhere else to go. And I am sure they will fight, but they shouldn't stand a chance against AT-AT walkers or a legion of our best stormtroopers..." Tarkin said confidently.

"Very good, sir," Seare said. "However, I have one more question. How should I encourage the gang leaders to leave Thanatos? Were I the leader of a gang fighting for my territory, I do not believe I could be encouraged to leave my territory. What incentive can we offer them to leave the settlement without triggering their paranoia?"

Tarkin handed Seare a padd which contained detailed information of the location which he had discussed over with Jack Black. "Over there is a location where the gang leaders are supposed to collect a series of weapons. It is off Thanatos and it is where we are going to leave the weapons. Faulty, of course. Now, to pick them up they have to leave Thanatos. Then, we will have our chance!" Tarkin explained.

"I understand," Seare said with a smile. "A very good plan if it works. Let us hope the Rebel scum doesn't suspect the trap. I shall prepare my men at once."

"I have reasons to believe they will because this Jack Black is aware that I can blow him and the whole city of Thanatos where he stands as we speak into oblivion would he not cooperate. Besides, as a dealer he wants only his cut..." Tarkin said. "Of course there is the chance of his selling information to the Feltreys but he wants his money still, and the gang doesn't have what it takes to ambush our operation. They lack the weapons for it!"

Seare smiled. "Then we do finally have them," he said. "I can have my people begin moving in as soon as Mr. Black has the gangs out of the way."

Tarkin mumbled something as if he was thinking outloud while Seare made his comment. He approached the window and rubbed his eyes. Although he was optimistic, there would be no flaws in this one plan. "Begin moving your people now... Although I believe this Mr. Jack Black will uphold his end of the bargain I am sure that he is aware that the weapons are probably faulty. Now, I want the ambush before the weapons location. This he shouldn't consider... It was not what we agreed upon," Tarkin said.

The Grand Admiral then turned to face the Moff that had been serving him well. "Enclose and block all escape routes. In the end, I will let you decide Mr. Black's fate... I trust you can decide whether he deserves to go or not," he added. "If done correctly, the city of Thanatos should fall fast and without too much opposition. If done correctly, I will not forget your actions and past efforts and I will personally reward you for it."

"Thank you, Admiral," Moff Seare said, bowing reverently. "I do not believe I can allow this weapons dealer to live. He has sold out one of his clients, therefore he has little or no honour. It is my belief he would sell us out if it served his goals in the end. He who would betray one group is not above betraying another. I say take what he gives us, but kill him in the end before he can do the same to us."

Tarkin was content to know that Seare was a man with a good judgement over things. After all, he didn't want to tell Seare what to do exactly but truth was that he concurred with what the Moff had just said. Never trust a man who had commited a betrayal, for he was bound to do it again. "Your arguments are very valid," Tarkin said. "And although I don't think he could harm the Empire even if he tried, I believe that he would try. So, yes, I concur with your line of thought," he said grinning ever so slightly. "Anything else?"

Seare opted to say nothing about even allowing one man to think they can get away with something, no matter how much power you held over him, only led to certain doom. They could not allow even one man to betray them, for there were many men in the galaxy, and if they were to unify...

"There is nothing else, Admiral," the moff said after a moment's thought. "Shall I return to Thanatos?"

Tarkin crossed his hands behind his back and raised an eyebrow. "Nothing for now..." he said simply. "It is needless to say that I expect nothing other than total victory in this! And I trust that you have all the means you need?" he asked in the very end just to make sure there was no room for flaws, even though he had trust in Moff Seare to be competent.

Albren Seare smiled. "All resources are in order," he said. "Everything I require to crush the desert settlement is prepared. I will begin my attack as soon as I have received word that your plan for the gangs has been carried out."

"That part you may follow up with the SSD Nemesis, as they are monitoring it. They will inform you of the precise time when they leave," Tarkin explained. He then shook the Moff's hand firmly. "Thank you for coming down in such short notice... I will let you go off to your duties." He nodded.

"Thank you," Moff Seare said with a snapped salute. "If you need me again, I am at your disposal. I will ready the troops for an assault, and we will bring a great victory to the Empire."

Grand Admiral Tarkin nodded slightly and extended his arm to the door. Already was a Red Guard standing by Moff Seare's side, ready to escort him out. As Seare left the room Tarkin sat at his chair and rubbed his chin. It would be a total downfall for the Rebels at Thanatos, and not anything this Jack Black or Ferrig could do... Sooner or later Thanatos would be his!