"Rendezvous Overdue, Part 1"
By: Zari Zathmir
Dev [NPC+]
Kimara
Keeve Zenarr
Talara Sorenne

Location: Keeve's Apartment, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 5, 5 ABY

***

Zari and Dev were sitting together on the sofa. On the table before them, a holoprojector was running a drama both seemed to have decided they liked. In it, a rebel officer was being chased by a group of Stormtroopers. Kellin was cradled in Zari's arms as she watched, her attention split more between her son and Dev than on the show. Something about being able to deflect blaster bolts and move flower pots with the Force made the show take on a less-than-real feeling.

Kim watched the pair for a moment, then after Keeve's retreating back as he headed for their bedroom. She was actually enjoying the show, though wasn't quite certain if it was the rebel hero or Zari and Dev she enjoyed more. So, she followed after Keeve for the "little chat" he wanted to have. She could see something in his eyes, and she couldn't remember the last time he'd been in such a good mood.

Entering the bedroom, she found him pacing at the end of the bed. On top of the bed, Hope had paused in cleaning one of her legs to watch him. Spotting Kim, though, the little reisacat quickly sprang to the edge of the bed and then into her arms.

"You look ready to burst," Kim said as she took a seat on the edge of the bed.

"I'm just a little anxious, that's all," Keeve explained, though he showed no signs of stopping. "I don't know how you'll react and if this will change anything between us and if it will, I want you to let me know and...and...." He sighed. "I have to try, but I don't know if you'll want me to."

"What do you want to try, Keeve," Kim said. "If you keep pacing like that, love, you're going to make Hope dizzy, or she'll think you're a piece of string." She reached out a hand to him. "What is it you want?"

Her touch halted Keeve and drew him down onto the edge of the mattress beside Kim. Shoulders hunched forward in defeat, Keeve told her sullenly, "This has to be a secret. Certain...people could be hurt if they find out too soon."

"Of course," Kim said. "I won't tell a soul, I promise." She grinned. "Is it okay if Hope knows?"

Keeve sneered playfully at the reisacat. "Only if she promises not to say a word."

Hope cocked her head at Keeve and emitted an indignant mrrar before sauntering off to the top of the bed. She plopped herself down and curled up into a compact ball. Keeve had the irrational feeling that he was being ignored. Rolling his eyes, he turned back to Kim. His smile was apologetic as he took her hand. "I've been thinking about this for a couple months now...but I only really came to a decision today. Otherwise, I really would have told you, Kim. Believe me."

"You're keeping me in suspense," Kim said. There was a hint of nervousness in her eyes as she watched him. "What decision?"

"To..." His mouth worked soundlessly as he struggled to regain his equanimity; the softness of Kim's dark eyes seemed to put him at ease as he stared into them, for Keeve barely realized he'd managed to utter, "I kissed Talara...and I might love her."

"Really?" Kim's eyebrows shot up. As much as she'd encouraged Keeve, it was a shock to actually hear his admission. "Well, that's wonderful, for both of you. That...that doesn't change things between you and me, does it? You don't want to leave me? I know you've always been fairly singular in your affections, but you...you still want to be with me too, right?"

"Of course!" he exclaimed, her question a surprise. "No...no I would never give you up, Kim, especially since I have no idea where all this with Tala is going to lead. I mean...we haven't even had our first date yet." Keeve smiled hesitantly. "Which is another thing I wanted to mention. We've...planned to go out to dinner. I wanted your permission."

"To go on a date with Talara?" Kim said, then grinned. "I don't mind, Keeve. Have a lot of fun. I know she's been very gone on you for so long. But, you have to promise me that you'll take me on a date like that too. We've never done anything like that."

Keeve frowned quizzically. "We haven't? Are you sure? We're practically married - how could we have not?"

"There was always stuff going on," Kim said with a laugh. "How about next week? But you and Tala have your date first. Oh Keeve, what does she think? Or do you know yet?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "She seems excited...but I think she might be unsure about what to do with" --he lowered his voice to ensure his words didn't penetrate the walls-- "Dev. One minute she's asking me if they can have sex...and now she's ready to dump him. I can't really tell what she's thinking."

"I guess you'll be finding that out soon, won't you," Kim said. "So, when is your date?"

"Um..." Keeve smiled guiltily. "In about twenty minutes. But if you're not fine with this," he added hastily, "then I'll break it off. You're going to be my wife, Kim. If I have to give up Talara for you, then...that's what I'll have to do, no matter how hard it would be."

Kim leaned in and kissed him. "I am happy for you, Keeve," she said. "If I'm going to be sharing you, Talara is a perfect choice. She's a wonderful young woman, and the two of you are a cute couple. You go out, and have a lot of fun. I give you and Talara my full blessings."

Keeve grinned. "Really? You know you don't have to lie to me - if it's going to cause problems I'll just stop things now before they get too far. But..." He sighed, afraid to admit, "I need to see where this could go, Kim. Kaysa...she told me some things about myself I've begun to realize are painfully true." Looking somber he added, "I'm too controlling - not just of you guys, but myself. I won't just relax and let things happen. It's really no fun at all."

"I've noticed that," Kim said with a loving smile. "I'm okay with this. I know Talara, and I like her. I've seen how much she cares about you, and if this is something you want, I'm fine with it. As long as you and I still have time for ourselves. If you love her or think you love her, then explore that. Depending on how it goes, the three of us should sit down and talk about how it will all work out. I don't know if you want to love us separately, or if we should get a bigger bed."

"For now, there won't be any loving," Keeve explained. "I want to take this slowly in case....just in case it's a mistake and I've got my feelings all wrong. Besides," he added, smiling suggestively, "I don't think I want to share you."

"Oh, that's very good," Kim said. "Well, if it gets to a point where you want to make love with Talara, we'll need to see that she has a room of her own, rather than sharing one with Zari. But for now, I imagine you should get ready for your date. So, do you need any help?"

"I do need to shower," he told her. He grinned salaciously. "You think you can help me with that?"

"Oh, I definitely think I can help you with that," she said. With her natural grace, she stood and started toward their refresher. She deftly pulled off her shirt and tossed it behind her where it fluttered down onto Keeve's head.

Grinning from ear to ear, Keeve sprang from the bed and dashed towards Kim. Her shirt sailed off his head, and sweeping her into his arms Keeve holed them up in the refresher. He suspected he might be late for his appointment with Talara.

***

Kim was sitting with Keeve in the living room. With wet hair and a grin that wouldn't go away, she contented herself with just being near Keeve. Kallia had gone to the Jedi Temple for a meeting, Zari was helping Talara get dressed, and Shiv had taken Dev out to do some more shopping. Kim had made the request to Shiv, knowing it was best to get both Shiv and Dev out of the house until Keeve and Talara had left. They could deal with the drama later, and Kim was certain there would be drama.

With Kim looking on, smiling lazily, Keeve fussed with his hair, unable to decide between a neat, combed look, or rugged, slightly dishevelled style; if Kim hadn't chosen his outfit for him, he still would be walking around in only underpants. But, she had chosen well, garbing Keeve in a deep blue suit and high collared, white tunic. Keeve was sleek in the well-tailored ensemble, dressed to charm, though he was regularly dapper, thanks to Kim's impeccable taste.

The door to Talara and Zari's room opened, and Zari came out. She was practically bursting with excitement as she skipped over to where Kim and Keeve were waiting.

Talara appeared in the doorway a moment later. The dress she had chosen was a shimmering fabric of silver and deep blue. The neckline plunged, revealing a modest amount of cleavage. A large oval had been cut from the bodice. A silver ring adorned her bare navel. The skirt was full and came to a stop just above the high-heeled shoes she had bought earlier that day. A sleeve covered her right shoulder and arm while the left shoulder remained bare. A golden band circled her left bicep. The stitching of the dress was picked out in silver thread. As she turned, the back of the dress also featured a larger, empty oval.

Her hair had been partially twisted back into a braid that then lay atop the rest of her hair which had been left loose. Framing her face were a pair of additional braids. While she moved easily on her heeled shoes, she looked very nervous. She smiled at Keeve, and approached carefully.

The sight of Talara finally ceased the fixation on his hair; Keeve blinked in surprise and absently rose from the sofa. He grinned slowly as he approached her. There was no question in his mind, viewing Talara as she was now: no longer a child, Talara had undoubtedly entered womanhood. Keeve stopped before her, eyes still roaming over the length of her figure. "This is why you didn't want to show me at the store," he guessed, his voice nearly a breathless whisper. Eyes settling on hers, Keeve composed himself and told her, "You look great - better than that! You're" --he glanced briefly at the women listening and watching intently, then lowered his voice to avoid embarrassment-- "mesmerizing, Tala."

"Thank you," she whispered. "I really wanted it to be a surprise for you. I hope it worked." She studied him for a moment as he was doing to her. "You look really great, Keeve." She compared the colours of their clothing. "We almost match."

Keeve smirked. "Kim's doing. She said blue brought out my eyes." Which he now rolled playfully. "She's always silly like that."

Tala nudged him. "She's right," she said. "Should I say something to Kim? She's okay with us going out, right?"

"She said she was," Keeve answered with a shrug. "Though I'm sure I owe her a very expensive gift after this." Chuckling, Keeve cocked his head towards the door. "Let's get going - before the snow starts falling." He placed his hand on the small of Talara's back, fingers laying against the exposed flesh there, and led her towards the doorway. "We promise to be back at a decent hour," he called back to the others.

"Have fun," Zari said with a frantic wave. She was grinning from ear to ear.

Kim gave the thumbs up sign to Talara and Keeve as they stopped to get jackets before heading out the door.

Rather than a jacket, Talara had a cape-like wrap that covered her bare skin against the chill outside. Once suitably attired to brave the cold, they dashed to the speeder. Keeve helped Talara into the passenger side, then he skirted the speeder to the driver's side. He exhaled heavily once within, then smiled at Talara as he activated the repulsors. "You know...if your make-up weren't so perfect, I'd probably kiss you right now. But since it is...." He shrugged innocently, concealing a smile.

With a laugh, she cocked her head to the side to regard him. "It's not that perfect, you know."

"So modest," Keeve teased and hit the thrusters. The speeder propelled forward, Keeve smiling roguishly as they sailed towards their destination.

***

"Don't tell me you eat as much as Kim does." Keeve grimaced as he reviewed the prices on the menu. One dish cost even more than Talara's dress.

"I promise I'll only eat a little," Talara said. "Hopefully the portions are big."

Keeve cleared his throat and sat taller, after swallowing his miserly apprehensions, and told her, "Get whatever you like - whatever the cost. This is our first date. I want you to remember it as a good one."

"As long as you're sure," she said, and reached across the table to brush his hand with hers. "I think I want to try the poached sailfish in lemon butter."

The waiter approached seconds later, and Keeve relayed Talara's order to him, as well as his own. When the man departed, another appeared, pushing a hovercart into place beside their table. A chilled wine bottle was pulled from a bucket and both Talara and Keeve's glasses were filled. Keeve raised his goblet as the man took his leave. "Ever had wine before or is this the first time?"

"Only a few times for special occasions on Naboo," Talara said. "So it's been a few years."

"Yeah...I don't have it much myself," Keeve admitted, smiling wanly. "My mother...she's had a problem with alcohol. I swore I'd never be like her, so I prefer to practice restraint when it comes to drinking."

"While I'm probably not one to really talk, drugs and alcohol dull your senses, and as a-- well, I don't like that," Tala said. She looked around to judge how close anyone who might overhear might be. While no one was seated right next to them, she knew the risk was still great. "I had her other problem, and probably still do. I don't think I'm as blind as she was, though. Though, Maeren's the same way. With sex, I mean. I'm glad I can put all that behind me."

"Is that why initially you..." Keeve waved his hand, hoping his meaning would be gleaned off the gesture. Talara frowned, trying to comprehend his meaning. With a sigh, he continued awkwardly, "Is it why you were so intent on bedding me? Because you couldn't control yourself?"

"No," she said with a grin. "It was because you're very handsome and you helped me see what I was doing was wrong. You didn't give me many reasons to love you, but then there were other times. And, then we became friends despite the tension. You've also got a really big...you know."

Keeve smiled slyly, doing nothing to contradict Talara. "Well, that doesn't mean much for most guys," he explained. "That Reinrich man...I'm sure he was endowed, but did he know how to please?" Keeve shook his head, convinced that Reinrich Tas couldn't possibly satisfy a woman in bed.

Talara sighed as if remembering something unpleasant. "He knows what to do, but is such a boorish jerk. There were a couple times when I could almost forget that I was a prisoner and slave, where he was actually gentle and caring. But then, he'd turn right around and do something painful. Pulling my hair was his favourite. Gods, Keeve, it was so awful." She squeezed her eyes closed to ward off the tears at the memory. Guilt at actually enjoying any of what happened lingered, but distance had given her the clarity to see what had happened.

The pressure of Keeve's hand atop her own was meant to console Talara, as was Keeve's soothing whisper, "I'm sorry. I won't bring it up again. I just thought...I thought, since you'd been through the same before, it wouldn't be so bad this time around."

"It's okay," she said. "I got to do some singing, even though the people in the audience probably didn't even care about the music. I'm free of it all now, and safe with you. So, I'm happy."

"Really?" he asked dubiously. "Or are you just saying that? If anything's still bothering you...you should talk to me about it."

"If anything was still bothering me," Tala said as she rubbed her thumb over his knuckles, "spending today with you banished it all away. I'm happier than I've been in so long, Keeve. It's a wonderful feeling. Tonight is a beautiful night, this is a wonderful restaurant, and I'm here with you. What more could I ever hope for?"

"I...have no idea," he chuckled. "Except, maybe, for our meals to arrive?"

"I'm so hungry," she said. "I only had a little to eat earlier. I just hope I don't embarrass you by being a snortbeast."

"I've been out to dinner with Kim," he quipped, "I don't think I can be embarrassed anymore."

"Your meals," the waiter announced as he arrived at their table. After setting down their plates, and asking if they needed anything else, he departed. Keeve watched Talara expectantly. "Dig in."

Despite her warning, Talara managed to comport herself as a lady as she began eating her meal. As she tasted the first bite, she knew immediately why the restaurant was so expensive. The food was very flavourful, tantalizing her tongue and filling her nose with the most amazing aromas ever found in food. After several bites, she grinned at Keeve. "This is incredible, Keeve," she said. "You should have a taste."

"What's this?" he asked in feigned shock. "You're offering a bite of your food? You know that means there'll be less for yourself, don't you?"

"I am well aware of that," she answered with mock severity. "I am hoping that I will not pass out from hunger, but I wanted to share this with you."

Keeve sighed airily and answered, "Fine...if I must." Leaning forward, he smiled and accepted the morsel from Talara's fork. After a moment of chewing, he nodded his head in approval. "Very good choice. How much is it gonna cost me?"

Talara grinned. "I don't know," she said. "I think your menu was the one with the prices in it. But I'm sure if you can't pay, they can accept the speeder as payment. I don't think it'd be as expensive as to need you to give them the house."

"Or that dress." Keeve smiled slowly. "Although, if I did offer it as payment, it would mean you were no longer wearing it."

"And that would leave me wearing nothing but my shoes," Talara said.

Keeve shrugged, though he watched her hungrily. "That it would. Is that a problem?"

The look she gave him carried heat with it. "No," she said, "it's not a problem at all."

"We're going to be skipping dessert," Keeve mentioned knowingly, "aren't we?"

Talara grinned. "Depends on what you mean by dessert," she said.

"I meant it in the most innocent of terms," Keeve explained with mock gravity. "It's our first date. I would never take advantage of you in that way."

Talara pondered that for a moment, then nodded. "That is fine," she said. "Because I did just see the dessert cart float past, and it looked like it had some very delicious things on it."

Leering at Talara, Keeve affirmed, "It certainly does."

Talara flashed a grin back at him. "You're not looking down my dress, are you," she said softly.

"I might be." He cocked an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"

"No," she said. "Not a problem. Do you like what you see?"

"Well," he answered carefully, "there's a lot more down there than before."

She giggled. "I'll take that as a yes," she said.

Shrugging, though with a sly grin, Keeve returned to his meal. His eyes continued feasting on Talara's ample assets. Somehow, the food tasted far better with his current view.

---

"Rendezvous Overdue, Part 2"
By: Keeve Zenarr
Talara Sorenne

Location: Keeve's Apartment, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 5, 5 ABY

***

They were standing at the door on the way out of the restaurant. Keeve was looking at the flimsiplast receipt and the large bill they'd racked up between the two meals, bottle of wine, and a slice of crumbleberry pie they'd shared. Talara's arm was threaded through his and she was gazing up at him with adoring affection, with a hint of needful desire.

"How bad was it," she asked as they slipped out the door and started toward the speeder.

Keeve smiled briefly and tucked the receipt into his pocket. "You can keep your dress after all."

"Oh," Talara said, almost sounding a little disappointed.

"It's a nice dress," Keeve explained quickly. "I want you to keep it. And since I can still afford it...you can keep it." He smiled uncertainly. "That's good...right?"

"Well, that is good, " she said. Then added hopefully, "because I could wear it on our next date."

Keeve turned to Talara, settling his hands gently onto her shoulders and smiling down into her dour face. "What's wrong? Don't you think there'll be another date?"

"Well, I'm hoping there will be," she said. "Thank you so much Keeve. So far, I've had a wonderful night. The best night I can ever remember."

"Then you're happy?"

The smile she gave him lit up her face. "Very," she said. "I was just...afraid for a moment. I thought you might be having second thoughts about us."

He laughed. "Because I don't want you to lose your dress?" Sighing, Keeve raised his hand to Talara's cheek, cradling it in his palm. "No second thoughts," he assured her softly. "I've just been thinking...I'm not sure how fast I want us to take things. You see, on Dargus' cruiser, I had all the women I wanted, when I did, and just tossed them aside when I was through. It was...meaningless, empty. I don't want that for us so...we shouldn't rush anything."

"I understand," Talara said. "Though, if you toss me aside, I'm just coming back." She gave him a grin and reached up to press her lips to his cheek. "I don't think anything we could have could be meaningless, Keeve, but I'm willing to take it slowly."

"I didn't say it would be," he clarified. "I don't want to realize, too late, that...we're not right for each other. It would just make things ugly."

"I know," Tala said. "That could make things real awkward."

"And," he added while stroking her cheek tenderly, "after all you've been through, I don't want you to get hurt again, Tala. You need time. You shouldn't rush."

"Promise me one thing, Keeve," Talara whispered. "If it feels right, it is."

He nodded solemnly. "I promise." The ensuing smile he flashed her would banish any doubt Talara might have. "Now...are you ready to go home or would you prefer we continue?"

"Well, if we don't go home, what would we do?"

Keeve grinned enigmatically and escorted Talara out into the cold towards their vehicle. As he opened the hatch for Talara and helped her inside, Keeve brushed his lips against her ear and whispered, "It's a surprise...but one I think you'll like."

Talara turned so that her lips brushed ever so softly against his. "Let's go then," she said.

"Oh, I am," he chuckled and made haste in getting to the pilot's seat. Winking at Talara, Keeve hit the thrusters, conveying Talara to her surprise.

***

With building excitement, Talara watched the landscape passing by. It truly was beautiful as the snow fell around their speeder, coating the world in a peaceful white cocoon. She turned to watch Keeve as he piloted them through the streets of Vendra. She reached over and placed a hand on his thigh so she could be touching him.

They passed out of the city proper, and into an area near one of the boardwalks that was no longer used. A long warehouse lined the way, showing signs of long disuse.

"Where are you taking us," she finally asked.

"To your surprise," he answered cryptically. "Don't you know how to be patient?"

"Of course I can be patient," Talara said. "But, out here? It's all abandoned. So mysterious."

Keeve grinned, sitting up straighter. "Just what I wanted to be." And before Talara could pry for more details, Keeve maneuvered the speeder into one of the vacant lots. He parked them before a lone door among the unfathomable lengths of durasteel comprising the building's exterior. Keeve hopped out rather excitedly and rushed to Talara's side to help her out of the vehicle. "Okay, this is it."

As Talara stared down the length of the building, she couldn't for the life of her figure out why Keeve would have brought her here. Even so, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her toward the building. "That's a big building, Keeve."

"It sure is," he agreed. "But trust me - it's more amazing on the inside." Stepping aside, Keeve opened the door for Talara. Heat rolled out of the entrance, engulfing them both. Keeve grinned. "Go on."

Tentatively, Talara stepped through the door. Her eyes went wide as she looked around. "Wow," she whispered. "It's...it's amazing, Keeve! Oh it's so amazing! It's snowing outside, but...but you saved a beautiful slice of summer." She spun toward him and flung her arms around him to engulf him in a hug.

Laid out before them was wall-to-wall golden sand, though the walls themselves were no longer durasteel - holoprojectors converted them to clear blue sky and sunshine, and a length of sand that stretched into the distance to give the illusion of one of Vendra's endless beaches. Even a salty, cool seabreeze blew against them, speckling their faces with water, though no source was in sight. Keeve winked and led Talara deeper inside his illusory paradise.

"Now, it might be too much, but...." Keeve was unable to finish his thought, for the tremendous crash of waves breaking against the shore drowned out his voice. And before them was an ocean that stretched to the far wall of the vast warehouse, a wall that was now a horizon of sparkling water touching an azure sky, and the sun beginning to descend. Keeve grinned and whispered, "Surprise."

"Oh Keeve," Talara rasped. "It's so wonderful. You did all this? Oh Keeve, you're wonderful! Are there any swimsuits? I don't want to get my dress all full of sand."

Keeve swept his arm towards a pair of lounge chairs set upon the sand. On each lay an article of clothing - one swimsuit for Talara, and one for himself. "I promise not to watch you change if you do."

"And if I don't want to make that promise," she said as she moved over to the lounge chair with the bikini on it. She began slipping off the high heeled shoes she'd picked out just for Keeve.

He chuckled lowly and approached. "Then I refuse to make it as well." Stopping nearly on top of her, Keeve gazed down into Talara's upturned face with a thrilling smile. "Turn around," he whispered. His lay his hands upon her shoulders and gently turned Talara. Delicately, he smoothed his palms over her back and reached for the zipper holding closed her dress. In a smooth, easy motion, he began driving it down, exposing more and more of Talara's back. "See," he murmured, lips at her throat, "I can be helpful."

"Very helpful," she answered. She tilted her head forward, exposing more of her neck to him. "You have wonderful hands, Keeve. So gentle."

"Really?" He smiled against her flesh, and with the zipper finally down, Keeve slid his fingers beneath the fabric covering her shoulders and pushed it off. The dress seemed to simply fall away, leaving Talara entirely bare. Keeve's eyes studied her naked form of their own volition. His fingers followed, tracing the curve of her back, down to where it became the slope of her backside. "Ready to change?" he asked.

"Do I have to," she asked softly.

Keeve chuckled. "I guess not. But I probably should. Kim would kill me if I wrecked this suit." Disengaging himself from Talara, Keeve began removing his shirt, still grinning at the sight of Talara. "So...has Dev seen you naked?"

She turned to face him and reached up to help with his shirt. "Only my top when I was tanning at the beach one time."

"And if he wanted to see it again?" He shrugged of his jacket and shirt. Both dropped to the sands while Keeve slipped out of his shoes and started to unfasten his pants.

Talara drew in an anxious breath as she watched. "Well, I think the time has passed for him on that."

Keeve bent forward as he pushed his pants and underpants down, turning away from Talara in the process. Deprived of a frontal view, Keeve did allow her a clear look at his strong back and flexing muscles of his legs and backside as he leaned forward to retrieve his swimming trunks. He shot Talara the faintest of smiles over one shoulder. "And have you seen Dev naked?"

"I haven't," she said as she admired the play of his muscles as he moved.

"Well." Keeve sighed as he straightened, swimming trunks sliding into place. He turned to Talara, his smiled lopsided and charming. "If you had, I'm sure he wouldn't have looked like this."

"No," she said with a large smile. "Definitely not."

Chuckling, Keeve pointed towards the ocean and said sternly, "Go."

With a grin, Talara raced off toward the water. The feeling of running across the hot sand as the snows fell outside was exhilarating. She crashed into the surf and let it lift her and push her back. Curling her body, she arced over and into the water. She broke the surface several meters away, grinning foolishly as she looked about for Keeve.

He was still only at the shallow depths, seeming apprehensive about venturing too far in, though he attempted to mask his hesitation by smiling and shouting across at Talara, "You're just trying to show me up. But I'm not falling for it!"

"Come on out," Talara said, waving him closer. "The water is wonderful! It's warm like in the summer." With smooth graceful strokes, she turned and started back toward him.

"Actually," Keeve told her, "this is as far as I go." The water had reached Keeve's chest, but his feet remained touching the sand beneath. As Talara neared, Keeve backed away, suspecting she might attempt to pull him deeper into the water. "I prefer the view from here," he explained.

Talara watched him as she tread water. "Come on out closer, and I'll make sure you see an even better view."

"As appealing as that sounds...." Keeve sighed and muttered, "I never learned to swim."

"Oh," Talara whispered. "I didn't know that. But, I can help you learn to swim if you'd like. I'm pretty good."

Keeve smirked. "I'm supposed to be the big, strong, sexy man here. What kind of blow to my ego would it be if I let a girl teach me to swim?"

"You can still be big, strong, and sexy and learn to swim," Talara said. "Besides, you do everything so well, I can't imagine you not picking this up quickly."

"Then how about," he suggested, still nearly neck deep in the water, "you come here and we start slowly, hm?"

"Okay," she said. She swam slowly and carefully over to him, not wanting to lose his trust. "Have you tried to float, you'll want to try that first."

Keeve feigned concentration as he listened to Talara explain the basics, then demonstrate herself by floating on her back. A slow, mischievous smile crept onto Keeve's lips as her bare bosom and abdomen surfaced; unable to resist the impulse, Keeve looped his arms about her waist and hefted Talara into the air. As she squealed, and he laughed, Keeve tossed her back into the water. He appeared mightily pleased at the great surge of water that spewed into the air when Talara splashed down.

As Talara resurfaced, she cupped both hands together and skimmed them across the water at him. The resulting fountain of water crashed down over his head, fully drenching him.

Keeve was indignant, but could hardly be taken seriously with water-logged hair plastered over his eyes. Still, he glared, unseen, at Talara. "Very nice. You know I can't catch you! I'll drown if I try it."

"Don't worry," Talara said. "I won't let you drown." She swam back over to him and grinned before disappearing under the water. Another moment later, there was a tug at his swimsuit, and it shot down toward his ankles.

Blinking slowly, Keeve felt beneath the surface for Talara. Tendrils of hair tangled around his fingers as he searched, and guided him to her head, then shoulders. He slipped his hands beneath her arms and raised Talara from the water. His embrace trapped her close, the length of her torso flattened against his. Keeve grinned and shook the hair from his eyes. "Nothing separating us now," he drawled.

"Nothing at all," she said, then wrapped her legs around his waist. It was partially so he couldn't throw her again, but to try to be even closer to him.

"So, is this what we're doing?" he asked, feeling himself begin to stir against the warmth of Talara's centre. Keeve struggled to master his arousal. "You teach me how to swim...and I teach you other things?"

"I'll happy to teach you to swim because I think you'll like it," Talara said. "If you want to teach me other things, I will be your willing student." Her breathing was already deeper, and she could feel him against her. Holding her as he was, she could look straight into his eyes without straining her neck, and the look he gave her shot straight to her core.

"Teach you what, Tala?" he whispered. "You already know it all - more than even I know. Nothing I could teach you would impress."

"I don't know everything, Keeve," Talara said. "Teach me what it's like to be with someone who truly cares about me, who truly wants me, and that doesn't just think of me as a piece of meat or credits well spent."

"Then we need to wait," he explained softly. "We need to take our time...if it's to be done right." Smiling, he kissed her tenderly, hoping to appease her. "Okay? We wait?"

"We wait," she said, then leaned forward and kissed the end of his nose. "Now, if you promise not to throw me in the water again, I'll teach you how to swim."

Keeve raised his hand as if giving an oath. "I promise...if you promise to find my shorts."

"Oh are you sure," Talara asked, then disappeared underwater for a moment, and came back up holding Keeve's swim trunks. "They were right under me."

"Where you'd like me to be, I'm sure," he muttered and snatched the shorts from her hand. With some effort, he succeeded in putting them back on, then nodded decisively. "Alright then. Teach me to swim."

"Okay," Talara said. "You're going to start by floating. I'll help you. And no splashing and no throwing." With a patient smile, she swam closer and rested her hands beneath him as he floated up onto his back.

***

The house was dark when they finally returned home. Talara's hair still dripped occasionally, but the cape she wore caught most of it. Holding her cape closed with one hand and her shoes in the other, she slipped out of the speeder and darted for the door. The snow beneath her bare feet was cold, but she reached the porch before the icy chill could work its way up her legs.

She waited for Keeve as he locked up the speeder and sauntered up to her. Once he was close enough, she leaned into him and gave him a lingering kiss.

He smiled, interpreting its meaning. "You're welcome. I would've made it more elaborate, but I only had a few hours." And enfolding her in an embrace, Keeve reciprocated her gesture, delivering a kiss that was deeper and filled with yearning.

"I had the best night I can ever remember," Tala said when they finally had to take a breath. "Thank you for everything, Keeve. I hope we can go back to our beach again. If we want to share it, I bet the little ones would love it."

"I don't mind sharing," he said, "as long as we don't have to tell them about the nude swimming lessons." As they lazily strolled to the door, Keeve mentioned, "I think that went well. You naked...me watching." He grinned salaciously at the memory. "My how you've grown, Tala...."

She smiled at him, remembering the way he looked when she'd managed to get his suit away from him. "I had fun, and thanks to that wonderfully clear water, I know you did too. And anytime you want to watch me, I'm all yours."

"I should hope so," he stated, puffing up his chest. "I'm not sharing, not for anything. Which means Dev better keep his hands off."

"I'll make sure he does," Tala said. She brushed her lips again, and when she spoke again, her voice as hopeful. "So, does this mean we're committed to each other, Keeve? That I'm your girlfriend now?"

"I-If you want to be," he answered hesitantly. "Is that what you want? I mean...you're not a child anymore. You're more, now. I can't see you any other way...and, frankly, I like what I see now. So...." Keeve smiled, gaining confidence in his decision from Talara's ardent gaze. "Yes. You are."

She kissed him again. "I want that more than anything, Keeve," she whispered. "Thank you. I love you, Keeve."

"I already knew that," he teased. "You've been telling me that since you were a kid. Now, it doesn't scare me so much to hear it."

"I'm glad to hear that," Talara said with a grin. She kissed him again, and looked at the front door of their home with trepidation. "Can we just stay here?"

Keeve slid his hands down to her hips as they faced one another, his smile enticing. "What did you have planned?"

"Well, when we go inside, you'll go to your room with Kim, and I'll go to my room that I share with Zari," Talara said as she slipped her arms around his neck and gazed lovingly into his eyes. "I just want more time with you."

"Tomorrow," he assured her. "I told Zari I'd take her shopping for Kellin. You'll come with us."

"Perfect," Talara said. "I want to spend as much time with you as I can, Keeve. Maybe while Zari's focused on Kellin, we can sneak a couple kisses. Do you think we should tell her? She already knows we were going on a date. I'm sure she'll guess that it's more than that. She'll probably be sitting up awake for me when I get in."

"You can tell her," he answered, chuckling. "Just make sure she doesn't tell Dev before you do. He should probably know...but will he react badly - so much so that he'd do something stupid?" Keeve frowned and finished grimly, "Like turn us in."

"I still want to be his friend," Talara said. "He really is a great guy, Keeve. I hope he doesn't take this too hard. If he does, living here will be really hard."

"And what would you propose we do if he does take it badly? Throw him out?"

"No," Talara said quickly. "Whatever happens, he's a friend. He has nowhere else to go. We'll have to figure something out, but I'm not giving you up, and I'm not giving up on him as a friend."

"Well then" --he pressed his lips to her brow-- "you need to get some rest if you're going to tell him. I'll be there...if you want, when you do it."

"I'll see you in the morning, Keeve," Talara said, kissing his chin. "Maybe soon we won't have to say goodnight like this. That would be nice."

He smiled. "In time. Goodnight, Tala." Then, he opened the door, letting Talara pass through first and only following when she had already disappeared from sight.

For once in a long while, Keeve didn't feel irritated or angry about anything, when normally even a trifle would have put him in a dour mood for days. He couldn't fully attribute it to Talara, but exploring a relationship with her had brightened his mood notably. Loosening up really was doing wonders for his overall attitude. Maybe now, Zari would stop referring to him as a grumpy poodoo head.

---

"The Courier, Part One"
By: Cirran Tyris (PC)
Lerrah Breijal (PC)
Kemma Tyris a.k.a Banin (NPC+)
Gorta Jax (NPC+)

Date: Vadris 5, 5 ABY
Location: Allied Tion Sector, Outer Rim

***

Cirran's head crashed painfully into the deckplating - again. He gazed up at the man who had so recently backhanded him across the chin. "How unlike you to resort to physical violence," he snapped sarcastically. "Mind you, your last girlfriend did indicate to me that she liked it rough." For this one he only got a half hearted boot in the ribs - not one of the man's better efforts. The cell door slid shut. "Same time tomorrow, then?" he yelled at the bulkhead. There was no reply.

There was no doubt in Cirran's mind that Jax wanted him relatively healthy now for some reason. The last sustained beating had been a while ago now. Since he had been transferred to the freighter - how long ago had that been now, a week? Two weeks? - the most he could generally expect to be on the receiving end of was the occasional clip round the head and casual kicking combo he had just received. This had been a puzzling development to him, and he continued to test the new situation with as many insults as he could throw at the surly troops who brought him his food each day.

If Cirran was to be honest with himself though, hurling verbal abuse at the guards when it resulted in painful blows - even relatively minor ones - was serving another important purpose: it felt like resisting. Jax was a former Imperial intelligence agent, and his old job skills had served him well as he had set about trying to break Cirran down. The revelation of seeing his sister alive and well, but working for Jax and blaming her own brother - at homicidal levels - for the death of their parents, had been a huge mental blow for Cirran. Then had come the threats against Lerrah. Cirran had not been allowed to see either woman for months; but occasionally he would be wordlessly dragged in front of a screen to see a holovid feed of one or the other of them on the asteroid base, Lerrah in a cell similar to his somewhere, Kemma - or Banin, as she seemed to be known now - going about her business as a part of whatever Jax had going on. None of his questions or demands were answered, and then he would inevitably be dragged back to his room for another working-over.

No-one asked him anything during these 'sessions' as his guards euphemistically referred to them, and nothing he yelled or pleaded during them would get them to stop before they wanted to. He had screamed that he would do anything Jax asked; and yet the physical torture would only be relieved by the mental torture of seeing the two women he cared about so close and yet being unable to reach them. After what seemed like years of this, Cirran had all but collapsed inside; and at was at this low point that he had been marched out of his cell, through the asteroid complex and onto a darkly coloured medium freighter, which had promptly set out for who knows where. And over the past couple of weeks, the vid sessions had continued - it seemed Jax wanted him to know that Kemma and Lerrah were both on this ship somewhere, or at least somewhere that looked like it - but the serious beatings had stopped. In fact he had been nursed back to a reasonable state of health, bar the bruises his acid tongue had brought him. Jax had even gone so far as to have a hand fitted for him.

Cirran was still growing used to the sensation of actually having the hand again and the faintest of whirring clicks from the delicate servos as he flexed his fingers, but would have welcomed the opportunity to try his new appendage out properly by punching his jailer in the face. From there perhaps he could move on to wrapping it around Gorta's neck.

Cirran had nursed his hatred of Jax, stoking with it the last guttering flame of his defiance. Though bowed, taken to the brink, he had never been completely broken. While he had been frog-marched about Jax's asteroid base he had been observing what he could, learning anything that might help he and Lerrah later on. It seemed that the asteroid base was of a decent size, but undermanned; Jax seemed to have the services of some kind of private army at his disposal, but as far as Cirran could see, they probably numbered no more than 40 or 50. Preparations had been being made for some kind of mission, that he had seen - a mission that probably was based around the freighter he now found himself on.

Now as he felt his bodily strength returning, he was determined. He knew physical resistance or escape might prove impossible, but would look desperately for one or both if he could. He knew Lerrah would want him to, and aside from anything else he owed it to his parents - and his sister.

Elsewhere, Lerrah Breijal paced her cell. Her thoughts, as they were frequently of late, were focused on Cirran. She hoped he was alright. She wished she could talk to him, at least see him. But Jax kept her away from him, and gave her no information. In truth, Jax could have killed Cirran already. Lerrah felt that she'd know if that were true, and she didn't feel it. Besides, Jax still seemed to want something from Cirran. And, he continued to try to get her help. She had finally given in and told Jax that she would help him convince Cirran to help. If only to be able to see him again... The man had only smiled that snake's smile and returned her to her cell, where she'd remained for a week. Food was regular, but there was nothing else to do. She could only sit and wait. And pace. She had paced enough in the last week alone to last her a lifetime.

She only hoped that something happened soon before she went crazy.

***

Both experienced pilots, Lerrah and Cirran both sensed the freighter come to a stop after a what had seemed like an aeon of constant travel. Both steeled themselves as guards appeared at the entrance to their cells, ordering them to their feet. And both were overcome with relief as, frog-marched from separate areas in the bowels of the freighter towards the bridge, they entered a corridor, each flanked by guards, they found themselves side by side for the first time in months, totally without warning.

"Lerrah!" cried an overjoyed Cirran, willing to pay whatever price the guards might extract for a hug. He lurched sideways and threw his bound wrists around her shoulders. The guards didn't object however, but merely kept the embracing two marching up the corridor. "Gods, I thought I was never going to see you again," Cirran confessed.

"Me too," Lerrah said, hugging him back just as fiercely. "It's been horrid just sitting in that cell. I've been so worried, but I knew you were still there. I knew it. Oh! Your hand! You...they...how is it?"

Cirran held out the mechanical replacement, flexing his still alien fingers. "It feels pretty weird, I have to say, but I'm getting used to it, and it's definitely better than nothing - but the fact that Jax bothered having it put on worries me some - it means he's got plans. On the bright side though, if he's gone to the trouble of re-handing me, I guess it means it's unlikely that they're taking us to be thrown out of the nearest airlock." Cirran gazed uselessly at the bulkhead, as if trying to will himself x-ray vision. "Of course if he did, I might get an idea of where in the galaxy we are - at least briefly, anyway." He allowed himself a smile.

"I know what he wants," Lerrah said. "There's some alien race that took over Tae'Karada and probably the whole system. Jax thinks you know something about some thing and he plans to give that to the aliens so they won't kill him or something. I told him I'd try to convince you, but I didn't mean it. I wanted to see you again, Cirran, to know you're still alive. If...if he tries to do anything to me, don't tell him. Don't help him."

This was a lot of information for Cirran to process after months alone in a cell. What in the hells have I got worth anything? he thought to himself. Something to do with Kemma, maybe? "Aliens?" he blurted to Lerrah, confused. "Which aliens? What about ..." But further questions were suddenly halted as a now familiar hooded figure stepped through the door ahead they were being led towards.

The figure in the cloak stepped forward and pulled back its black hood, which brought Cirran and Lerrah and their guards to a stop. Piercing blue eyes gazed malevolently at Cirran and Lerrah from an olive-skinned face framed by long black hair. As Lerrah looked at the woman, and saw the look Cirran was giving her, their family resemblance - subtle but present - became obvious. Kemma Tyris was a striking woman, but her beauty sat on her like a mask that could not even begin to properly hide the simmering anger and hatred beneath it.

"It's time to begin your atonement for what you did, Cirran," she snarled in icy tones.

"You know you can't believe a word Jax has told you, Kemma," Cirran pleaded urgently. "Deep down you know that I would never - "

For the second time that day Cirran received a blow to the face as his sister's gloved hand delivered a stinging slap across his cheek. "No more of your lies," his sister insisted quietly, the steely tone of her voice rendering shouting unnecessary. "Payment for your crimes begins here and now. You would be wise to do exactly what the mas-- what Jax asks of you."

Cirran looked aghast at his sibling for a moment, remembering the free-spirited girl who had once been repulsed at the mere thought of Gorta Jax. "Gods Kemma, what did he to do you?"

For a second, Kemma's expression softened, but then her expression of hatred quickly returned. "You long ago lost the right to express brotherly concern for me, Cirran. I suggest you save the honeyed words for your station trash floozy here."

"She's not..." Cirran started in protest but gave up and merely shook his head, bewildered and sad. "Lerrah, this woman used to be my sister, Kemma," he said sadly by way of introduction.

"I'd say nice to meet you," Lerrah said, "but considering whose team you're on, that would be a lie. How can you see that bastard put your own brother through all of this? Oh, that's right, you're probably far too consumed with your own selfish self-pity to ever consider what anyone else is feeling. Forget I asked." With that, she pointedly turned her attention away from Kemma and back to Cirran. Since they hadn't been separated yet, she took the opportunity to hold him, promising herself and him that somehow they'd find their way out of this.

Kemma's pretty face twisted itself into a sneer of contempt. "Still fooling gullible females, Cirran? Told you he'd always look after you, did he?" she spat at Lerrah. "Did he get around to telling you he was a liar and a murderer yet?"

"Kemma..." Cirran started again hopelessly.

"Kemma died down in those mines where you left her, Cirran," his sister snapped, but again with a hint of regret. "My name is Banin. And I know the truth. And I know Gorta is a great man, a man of vision. If you don't do what he says, it will go poorly for your little friend here." With a nod of her head to the guards, she turned and led the way through the door. Cirran and Lerrah got a shove in the back and were forced to follow.

"Dear Gods, he's really got her completely brainwashed," Cirran murmured to Lerrah as they entered a small docking bay within the bulk freighter. Two small ships of a design Cirran hadn't seen before were within. Several troops were loading some generic looking crates on board one of them.

"She's not completely gone," Lerrah said. "There has to be some of your sister there. I'll help you find her again, Cirran. Whatever it takes. If you still want..."

"I can't believe she would ever take Jax's word over mine. He must have her head so full of lies she doesn't know which way is up any more. I have to..." But Cirran had trailed off as, travelling further into the hangar, they had come far enough to get a full view of the space beyond the shielded entrance to the hangar bay, a view that had rooted him to the spot. Outside the ship a blue-brown planet surrounded by some truly massive shipyards shone out of the blackness. "Lianna," Cirran said to no-one in particular.

"Welcome home, Cirran," came a familiarly smug voice. Gorta Jax approached from where he had been supervising the loading of the smaller ship, hands clasped casually behind his ramrod straight back. Behind his right shoulder Kemma stood, eyes smouldering. "It's been a while, yes? And I assume this is probably a first visit for you to the Allied Tion Sector for you, Miss Breijal."

"You could say that," Lerrah snarled. The planet hanging in space could have been anywhere, the obvious ship-production facilities narrowed those places down a little. Even so, Lerrah flew ships, she didn't make a habit of studying up on where they were built. At least that particular piece of the puzzle had been filled in. "Last chance to switch sides before you commit too far. After all the times Tae'Karada has been used and abused, I'm pretty sure whoever ends up in power will have very little affection for Jau sympathisers or their brainwashed lackeys."

Jax laughed. "Ah, negotiation from a position of strength. My dear, shortly after you and Cirran here perform this little task for me, it is inevitable that the Jau will take much if not all of the galaxy by storm, and then the only affections that should concern you should be mine, and whether or not I choose to bestow them on you and your friends." The officer turned to Cirran. "So my boy, has that tiny little spacer brain of yours worked out what is going on here, what with all the time I've given you over the last few months to reflect on things?"

Cirran produced his own hate-filled gaze, a mirror image of his sister's, and sent it back towards Jax. "Our parents. Our parents discovered something or produced something, a new propulsion system, a weapon, something, and you need me to get it so you can hand it over to these Jau, whoever they are."

Jax brought his hands around in front of him and broke into slow, ironic applause. "Very good, Cirran! You're a quicker study than I imagined. Yes, there is some research data of your parents I need you to retrieve for me. I hate to impose on you with this particular task - but all of this would have been a good deal easier if you hadn't killed them, of course."

"I didn't - " Cirran started to retort furiously, but he stopped himself in mid sentence as blaster came up in Kemma's hand and stopped with the muzzle a few inches from Lerrah's forehead. Cirran bit down on the anger and frustration. "Don't. Please," he asked carefully.

"I thought Banin and myself have made it perfectly clear that we do not appreciate liars, Cirran," Jax said smoothly. "If you do not learn to keep your ludicrous denials to yourself, I cannot be held accountable for what my associate might do."

"Will you please put that thing away so we can just get on with this," Lerrah said. Her voice much calmer than she would have thought it might have been under the circumstances. "Just...whatever we're doing, let's do it. This posturing isn't doing anything."

Jax looked impressed. "Such strength of character. Again, I can only imagine what this magnificent creature is doing kicking around with the likes of you, Tyris." He jerked his head slightly and Kemma lowered the gun, still glowering. "Our posturing, as you call it Miss Breijal, should at least keep your friend here honest."

Cirran looked at Lerrah. He knew a bit, from personal experience, about just where a person was mentally when they reacted so casually to immediate threats on their life. He swore to himself again that somehow he would get Lerrah out of this mess he had dragged her into.

"Fine," he said. "Whatever you say, it's all true. Now can we do as she suggested and just get on with it?"

"An extremely sensible suggestion, Cirran," Jax said almost cheerfully. "The task I have for you is quite simple, so you can do it quickly and then we can continue these enjoyable little discussions of ours afterwards where we left off, perhaps." He flashed a supercilious smile at the scowling Lerrah. "As Miss Breijal here has no doubt told you, there's some information I'd like to share with certain parties, and you're going to retrieve it for me. Banin and two squads of my men are going to accompany you both down to Anxarta. There's an out-of-the-way private research facility there you will visit, one that your parents spent considerable time at."

Cirran frowned. "Anxarta? My parents never spent much time in Anxarta."

"Shows how well you knew them, doesn't it?" Jax countered smugly. "They did a lot of work for me there. No doubt you assumed that they were somewhere in Lianna City the entire time they were working for me, slaving away for Sienaar and the Empire. The truth is they were working on something considerably more important. They were quite brilliant, your parents - it was truly a monstrous crime for you to bring them to a premature end before their best work could be done."

Cirran saw the mockery in Jax's eyes as he blamed him for the crime that Jax himself was responsible for, but he fought back the urge to surge forward and bludgeon the insufferable officer's face into a bloody pulp. Gritting his teeth, he allowed the accusation to pass. "So what's your plan? Any schoolkid knows tech research on Lianna is up there with the most securely protected information in the galaxy. If you're hoping to extract it by force somehow, you don't have nearly enough men - local authority will be down on you like a herd of stampeding bantha within minutes. And I'm sure as hells no slicer, and neither is Lerrah. What do you expect me to do, saunter up to the front door and ask nicely for it?"

Jax's smile reflected total satisfaction. "My dear boy, I have taken the trouble to acquire and drag your otherwise useless carcass halfway across the galaxy to this spot today for you to do precisely that."

---

"The Courier, Part Two"
By: Cirran Tyris (PC)
Lerrah Breijal (PC)
Kemma Tyris a.k.a Banin (NPC+)

Date: Vadris 5, 5 ABY
Location: Anxarta, Lianna: Allied Tion Sector, Outer Rim

***

Cirran looked at the faces that moved around him. These were Liannans - his compatriots - and for the first time in many years he was back, and he had felt a little surge at the starport as he had stepped out of Jax's strange shuttle ships onto his home planet. Yet what might have been a happy homecoming could not really be enjoyed given the circumstances. Trooping down the streets of Anxarta just behind him were several of Jax's men, conspicuously armed in the guise of security men for the equipment shipment they were bringing to the research lab on a loadlifter platform as a cover, and just ahead and to his right walked Lerrah, and keeping close to her, his sister. Kemma carried no obvious weapon - but Cirran was in no doubt as to what would happen to Lerrah if he tried anything. Still, at least they were both alive for now, he reflected, and at least he was out of the cell he seemed to have spent years in and free to stretch his legs.

Cirran had visited Anxarta several times in his youth, and nothing much seemed to have changed in the city since then. Much of Lianna looked the same when it came down to it - the same grimy domed buildings, busy factories and bustling populace of a world industrialised on a massive scale for far too long. The one noticeable difference were the soldiers of the planetary force on many corners, many with tired looks on their faces. Imperial reprisal attacks and acts of sabotage had been continuing intermittently since just after the Battle of Endor, punishment for Lianna's swift declaration of neutrality, and it was not just the soldiers who seemed to occasionally cast a wary glance at the smoky sky. Towards the outskirts of the city a little relief could be found from the noise, traffic and pollution, but here at its heart, the weak winter sun was largely failing in its attempt to beat a path through the thick haze in the air, as Kemma led the party towards the address Jax had directed her to. Cirran shivered and pulled up the coat he had been given to wear.

Cirran still had no idea what was expected of him at the research lab. All Jax had told he and Lerrah was that they were to act as if they were part of the equipment delivery that his men were using as a pretence to visit the lab, and then follow Kemma's instructions when they arrived. The mysterious circumstances were more than a little bit unnerving, especially given the importance Jax seemed to place on the data Cirran had been seemingly sent - been kidnapped and dragged here, in fact - to retrieve.

Cirran quickened a step or two and drew level with Lerrah and his sister. "So, Kemma..." he started.

"I've told you I don't answer to that name any more," his sister replied evenly, continuing to stride down the street.

"Fine," Cirran sighed. "So, woman-formerly-known-as-my-sister, you want to clue us in as to what's going on here a bit more? I'd like a cue for when I'm supposed to start dodging the blaster bolts."

Kemma scowled at Cirran's mention of their sibling relationship, but offered an answer anyway. "There won't be any blaster bolts, if you do what you're told. Unless you force me to put some into your friend here."

Cirran gave Lerrah a cocky smile. "I must apologise. Prattling on too much has always been one of her problems. As you can see though, she's all talk and no action. Family trait, just quietly."

Kemma came to a sudden stop and spun on her heel to face her brother. "I suggest that if you want to keep pushing me brother, you would also do well to think about where to find your next girlfriend," she hissed. Motioning to two of her men, she stormed ahead, seething.

Cirran and Lerrah followed, now flanked by Jax's heavies. Cirran squeezed Lerrah's hand. "She's not so bad when Jax isn't around to pour hate into her ears - that was positively jovial. I think that takes threats on your life up to the 500 mark since we left Drogen." His smile faded. "I'm sorry I got you into this, Lerrah. It's pretty clear they're only using you to get me to do what they want."

"This was probably the only way I'd actually get to spend some quality time with you," Lerrah said with a grin. "When this is all over, though, I think we're going to need a vacation. Somewhere without psychotic people who want to use us to end the world and all that."

Cirran nodded readily. "Agreed." A guard behind them clapped a hand on his shoulder and motioned ahead, where Kemma could now be seen entering a large if nondescript building. "In there," he grunted, adding, "Don't try anything," by way of a warning.

"Make up your mind," Cirran muttered. "Clearly you've dragged me all the way here to try something, or this is all a bit pointless."

The guard scowled at Cirran's backchat, but couldn't administer the punishment that he would have liked to in the public street. "I hope Jax lets me take a proper crack at you when where finished here Tyris, I really do," he growled.

"I look forward to it," Cirran retorted. "Tell you what, I'll clear my schedule. How's the day after tomorrow for you?" The man looked daggers at him but this time stayed silent.

Cirran and Lerrah entered the building through the front door with two guards behind them as the rest of the contingent took the loadlifter around to a service entrance at the side. Her hood thrown back for once, Kemma was in conversation with a prim looking receptionist who was situated behind what looked to be some kind of transparent shielding.

"...delivery as agreed looks fine, we'll run it through processing, and perhaps while we do you'd like to make that withdrawal from the data vault you requested?" the employee was saying.

Kemma nodded curtly. "Of course. The account holder is with us," she said, nodding towards Cirran. "He'll need to be familiarised with your access and sanitation procedures."

Cirran bent to Lerrah's ear. "Sanitation?" he mumbled. "That can't be good."

"Sanitation," Lerrah murmured. "Clean room type stuff? Isolation chambers and all that?"

"Search me. I'm a humble stick jockey. Where's an astromech or a slicer when you need one?" Cirran replied. He straightened as Kemma left the counter and approached them as the receptionist disappeared out of the lobby to make some kind of preparations.

"I need you to go with these people and follow their instructions to the letter," she said quietly, but with menace. "We'll be out here with your friend. Just do exactly what they tell you, retrieve the data, and maybe she'll survive this."

Cirran frowned. "I'm noticing I don't get any promises of potential survival," he commented. His sister though merely produced a satisfied smirk. The receptionist reappeared through a security door, and not knowing anything about the nature of the conversation that had just been taking place in his lobby, gestured with an obsequious customer-serving smile for Cirran to follow him.

Cirran took a deep breath. "Guess it's time to go and get sanitised," he said to Lerrah.

"Stay safe," Lerrah called. A part of her wanted to go to him and kiss the hell out of him, but she didn't think that would go over very well with their captors. So, instead, she gave him a smile and promised herself and him that kiss for when they were out of this mess.

Cirran took his direction from the attendant and followed him further into the depths of the clean, white and brightly lit building. After leading Cirran into a broad corridor, the attendant halted in front of a door protected on either side with small but efficient looking automatic blaster turrets. The attendant caught Cirran eyeing them nervously. "Not to worry sir," he chirped. "Those are of course mostly for show. As you'll know, we keep your data much safer here than we ever could using brute force - although the physical security measures that we do have in place are of course some comfort to us here with the Imperial attacks of late."

Cirran opted for smiling and nodded, while noting uneasily that the door was labeled "Stage 1 Sanitation". The attendant swiped a card and the heavy doors opened, the attendant gesturing for Cirran to enter into what seemed to be an airlock.

"In you go sir - I'll talk you through it from the control centre. It's important you follow any instructions you receive to the absolute letter. No electronic devices on you, of course?" Cirran shook his head dumbly as the attendant handed him a pair of goggles. "Excellent, excellent. We will provide a datapad for your use, of course. We'll begin then!" The attendant gestured again and Cirran stepped forward, the door sliding shut behind him. After a few seconds the second security door opened, and he entered a small chamber. The door closed, and he was lit only dimly by a red glow in the chamber, which he could see had one wall straight ahead made of a see-through substance, with gloom beyond.

Cirran stood there for what seemed like a while before a string of green characters began to scroll across a screen outside the transparent wall. "Welcome to level one sanitation. Scan and frequency pulse burst will begin in 15 seconds. Don goggles, remain still and wait until tone sounds before removing goggles."

Cirran slipped the protective eyewear on and stood in complete blackness, slowly counting. When he had hit about 16 he sensed warmth passing through the room, a tingling, vibrating sensation, and experienced a highly unpleasant ringing in his ears that almost made him forget to count, but it slowly faded. A muted beep sounded presumably from behind the wall. Cautiously he raised goggles and saw that the dull red glow had been replaced by a dull green one. A small cloud of dust billowed down in front of his eyes as he slid the goggles up, and more appeared as he raised a hand to wave it away. Coughing, he raised his hand to his mouth and it came away gritty. Only then did he realise whatever the process he had just undergone was, it had neatly granulated his outer layer of skin. His clothes seemed to be similarly micro-damaged.

The text scrolled again. "Stage one confirmed. Please proceed to stage two." A door at one side of the chamber popped ajar and Cirran exited into another short corridor, still dusting himself off all over. A metal globe was raised on a dais just in front of another security door, with guns again in place. Cirran watched them track his movement as he entered the corridor, and decided to stay put. The voice of the attendant crackled across a PA system. "Please don't be nervous, Mr. Tyris - our systems ensure the safety of your data. This is stage two sanitation. Please move to the globe and place both hands on it."

Cirran did as he was told. A low humming began and he felt his palms buzz slightly. The voice of the attendant returned, questioning. "You have a biomechanical hand, Mr. Tyris?"

"That's right," Cirran affirmed, seeing little point in denying it. "A recent addition."

"Well, it seems to check out on the scan, but I'm afraid we must ionise the limb anyway as part of our protocols. Full use of your hand will return in 30-40 minutes."

"Now hold on..." started Cirran, but his sentence turned into a yelp as there was a crack and a jolt shot through his hand. Cirran whipped his arm away, but his replacement hand felt totally numb, and his fingers hung limp and useless.

"Sanitation is complete. Please proceed directly to your vault, Mr. Tyris. You have 10 minutes." The security door slid open and Cirran entered into a broad foyer. Across from him, 20 security doors stood, with another 20 on the second story accessed by a cat walk. One of the upper floor vaults had a blinking indicator light above it, and Cirran assumed that this must be his vault. He climbed the stairs to the catwalk, trying fruitlessly to massage some live back into his replacement hand.

Having reached the door to his vault, he saw a small console to one side. A cursor blinked at then end of a sentence: "Begin retinal scan? Failure will result in permanent destruction of stored data."

Cirran hesitated. When had he ever had a retinal scan? How did they have his readings here? He looked around the vault access room as if for further instruction, but none was forthcoming. Still... "Guess this is what they needed me for," he muttered, hoping for Lerrah's sake more than anything that his was the eyeball the security system was looking for. He keyed in the affirmative, and placed his face over the scanner, the bright light playing over his eye.

"Retinal scan confirmed," the display acknowledged, and then a new line of interrogation: "Begin DNA scan? Failure will result in permanent destruction of stored data." Mentally crossing his fingers, Cirran hit the confirm key again, and a light lit up on the console. Remembering to use the hand that A) currently worked and B) definitely contained some of his DNA in it, he pressed his thumb to the lit area. He swore as his thumb was pricked rather nastily, but after a second or two the console let him breath again: "Subject confirmed - Cirran Tyris. Access granted." The heavy door swung inward - revealing another door.

"Laying it on a bit thick here, aren't they?" Cirran muttered to himself, but nonetheless approached the new door. This one however was not another test for him, but rather a precaution against the outside world. As he entered, scanners confirmed he was both still alone and still the same shape, and the heavy vault door swung closed behind him, leaving Cirran trapped in a rather claustrophobic space between the two doors. A second or so later though, the inner door swung open, finally allowing Cirran access to the vault proper.

After all the build up, the vault itself was something of a let down. A fairly standard looking terminal was positioned with a desk and chair in the middle of a small room, with 4 large deposit boxes comprising most of the far wall, the room, like the rest of the establishment, clean, bright, and humming faintly with what was no doubt the sound of hidden monitoring equipment. There were no obvious locks or handles, so Cirran sat down at the terminal, noticing the camera watching him from the top of the display.

An otherwise blank screen offered Cirran 2 choices: "Access Strongboxes" or Data Retrieval". Cirran moved the cursor to the second option and selected it. Rather than a confirmation screen however, the screen displayed a single message: "Mnemonic ID check initiated. Stand by. Please continue to concentrate on this screen and await confirmation. Failure to do so or to remain seated during procedure will result in destruction of data."

Cirran leaned back from the screen, puzzled. "Mnemonic? What?" He fought the temptation to leap out of the chair to possibly avoid another shock though, keeping his eyes riveted on the screen, and after a few seconds the message vanished and was replaced with...nothing. Or so he thought, until he realised that of all things, music was being piped into the room.

Cirran kept staring at the blank screen, awaiting some visual clue for what to do next, but as the music crept into his consciousness, it stirred things at the bottom of his brain. Memories flashed. He could dimly remember a bedroom...his mother over him singing a lullaby, a fragment of a tune... come to think of it, she had always been singing it to herself when he had been a little kid - this tune. And had there been a game? Some kind of secret? The vague, indistinct recollections came floating up from beneath 20 years, and he blinked in surprise as he realised he was whistling the tune along to himself under his breath.

No, he corrected himself, he hadn't blinked, he had twitched. As he realised this, he definitely twitched again, in just his right eye this time. Now his left. Now his right again. Now both. Seemingly quite independently from his own conscious brain, his eyelids were flickering in what seemed to be some kind of pattern. Cirran instinctively began to raise a hand to his face, but remembered the instructions on the screen and fought down the urge as his eyes continued to dance. Another long blink and then a quick flap of first his left and then right eyelids, and the suddenly the music stopped as unexpectedly as it had begun. Text scrolled across the screen: "Confirmed user: Cirran Tyris. Withdrawal approved." In fewer than 30 seconds after he sat down, a bewildered Cirran reached across with his functioning hand to take the datapad that had ejected smoothly from the body of the terminal.

Cirran wasn't sure what had just happened, or exactly what it meant, but a second or two of staring at the datapad in his hand and remembering just what the circumstances of its retrieval were was enough to bring him back to reality. Hope was slim, but just maybe...he put the datapad on the desk for a moment and turned his attention to the terminal again.

---

"Perfect Solitude"
By Omri Kedemoth

Location: Tae'Sollar Desert
Date: Vadris 5, 5ABY

***

Fluid motion. It was how most observers described the Targa, the ritual exercise of the Nexi Warriors of Saccoria, named after the S-shaped sword wielded during the ritual. The movement was almost dance-like, with spins, jumps and elaborate footwork, the deadly blade a gleaming whirl of sharpened steel.

A lone silhouette moved gracefully along the top of a dune. The moonlight slid along the swiftly moving blade with a soft glare. His long robe-like coat flapped in the cool night breeze, his long tangled hair, damp with perspiration as he executed every move, every slash, every thrust, every turn and lunge of the ancient exercise. Omri felt more alive than he had in months.

His time in the desert alone had brought him back to pique physical condition. Not only his physique, but his soul also. He shed the weight of the galactic war, his guilt over Kai, his mixed feelings for Tara. It became only he and the Nexi virtues that helped define him. He felt focused and tuned.

Omri performed the final move of the Targa, a slow wide sweep of the sword while poised on one foot. His other booted foot stomped to the ground and the blade came down in a savage arc, completing the move. He stood motionless for a moment, feeling his lungs burn as he heaved for air, then smiled wide. Many times he had found the chink in a stormtrooper's armor with that sword. Not made with modern plasteel, but of steel forged from natural ores, giving a gleam that the layered ceramic plasteel swords could not match. It required more maintenance, sharpening and repairs, but to Omri it was a beautiful extension of his own spirit in his hands.

He dropped to a kneeling position and quieted his breathing. He felt his Talach, his time of serene isolation, was nearing completion. Soon he would have to return to the rest of the galaxy, to take his part in whatever fate had in store. After a long silence, Omri stood up. He took one more deep breath, filling his lungs, exhaled slowly, then made is way down the dune and into the darkness.

---

"Gatecrashers"
By: Cirran Tyris (PC)
Lerrah Breijal (PC)
Kemma Tyris a.k.a Banin (NPC+)

Date: Vadris 5, 5 ABY
Location: Anxarta, Lianna: Allied Tion Sector, Outer Rim

***

Kemma Tyris strode impatiently around the foyer. She knew the process of withdrawing data from any secure facility - especially this one - was complicated, but her brother was taking too long for her liking. The data that Jax wanted was crucially important, but more important to Kemma was that her, long, long-delayed revenge was being delayed even further. The sooner Cirran re-emerged, the sooner he could be paid in full for his crimes.

Kemma's eyes flicked to Cirran's companion, the girl called Lerrah. Her fate was still undecided - if she came to surrender to Jax's wishes, she might ultimately survive. But Kemma could see she had a stubborn streak in her, which the older woman begrudgingly admired, even as she knew it might result in her death. She didn't seem stupid, although she had obviously been taken in by her brother. Where was he, anyway? This was taking forever.

Kemma approached the girl, who looked surprisingly calm, and looked her up and down, trying to read her.

"What are you doing here with him, anyway?" she demanded testily.

"We were kidnapped off Drogen together," Lerrah answered with a sidelong look at Cirran's sister. "I'm sure you'd find life much more enjoyable if you weren't so cranky all the time. Jax must not treat you well enough, or does he prefer you that way. While I didn't have enough time to enjoy just being with Cirran, I can tell he knows how to treat women. Not to mention just being so caring and giving. I really can't see Jax putting his own ass on the line to protect you, but Cirran did that for me. So, why do you hate him so much?"

"He killed our parents," Kemma hissed. "That's not the sort of thing that endears someone to their sibling. Then he left me rotting in a mine on an Imperial prison planet. I don't know what he's told you, girl, but he's not the man you obviously think he is. Wake up and cut him loose, and you might just survive this."

"He didn't tell me about any of that," Lerrah said. "We didn't exactly have time, all things considered. What I do know is that for as long as I've known him, he's been obsessed over trying to find you." She turned from where she was watching for Cirran's return to face Kemma fully. "Did you see him kill your parents, or is that just what Jax told you happened?"

"I've seen more than enough evidence to know just what he did." Kemma retorted, but Lerrah thought she had detected the briefest flicker of hesitation come over her face before she had spoken, perhaps caused by hearing that Cirran had been trying to find her. Kemma blustered on though: "Gorta Jax is a great man - a visionary. What he's doing here today will put him in the position he belongs, and save millions of lives. It sickens him as much as it does me that my brother has to be involved in that," she railed, almost spitting the word 'brother'. "As soon as he retrieves that data, he's going to get the punishment he deserves. There's no need for you to share that fate, but the choice is yours." Kemma turned on her heels with a flap of her cloak and again strode angrily across the room.

"I'll stand by Cirran through it all," Lerrah answered. "And Jax is nothing but an opportunist using this to get a leg up. He's a bully and a thug, and you're a blind fool if you can't see it. He'll use you as long as you're useful to him, and then he'll leave you behind when he no longer needs you. Just like those aliens will do to him once he's not longer providing them with anything they need."

Kemma turned to fix Lerrah with a malevolent stare for a second or two, and then advanced towards her rapidly. "You ignorant little piece of station trash, what do you know of..." she started, but she was instantly halted by a "Hey!" from across the foyer. Cirran had reemerged from the security area, a datapad held aloft in his hand. Kemma turned to face her brother, a satisfied smile quickly replacing her fury.

"I got what you wanted," Cirran said quietly. "Now let Lerrah go."

Kemma took a few steps towards her brother. "That's not up to me. Hand it over quietly, and things will go better for her."

"Oh, but I think it is up to you," Cirran replied, steel in his voice. "I don't think Jax would be happy to know you let me erase the contents of this datapad."

"You're bluffing," Kemma said, but her advance towards her sibling stopped. If Cirran erased the data, it might be forensically retrieved later, but that would take more time, time Jax didn't have. Besides, it was likely that her parents used a deletion method that made retrieval impossible.

"Really?" Cirran mocked, raising the datapad so that Kemma could read the "Delete data? Yes / No," on the screen, Cirran's thumb covering over the key for confirmation. He threw Lerrah a smile. "Get out of here, Lerrah."

Lerrah edged toward the door, her eyes jumping between Cirran and Kemma. "I'm not leaving here without you," she said. "They plan to kill you or hurt you really bad. I don't want to have to try to find them again to get revenge."

"Stubborn as a grumpy bantha," Cirran muttered to himself. "Damn it Lerrah, will you please stop worrying about me and..."

"She's not going anywhere," Kemma interrupted, a blaster appearing as if from nowhere from beneath the folds of her cloak and coming up to be leveled at Lerrah. Jax's men moved to flank their leader, weapons also at the ready.

"This is a secure facility! No weapons are allowed!" blurted the receptionist in a terrified squawk of protest, but a single blast into the paneling above his head from Kemma sent him scuttling away to safety. "I'm notifying security!" he bleated as he disappeared from the room.

"It seems we don't have a lot of time here, brother, so I'll make this simple," Kemma growled. "Hand over that datapad or I'm going to vape your girlfriend here."

"You do that, this research is all gone, Kemma," Cirran warned. "And knowing Mum and Dad - you won't be getting it back. Will Jax be happy with that?"

An internal war was taking place in his sister, Cirran saw, and eventually one side won. "I don't care. I'm not giving you the satisfaction," she said, raising the blaster with intent at Lerrah again. Cirran was shocked to see just how deep her desire for 'revenge' really was.

"OK, OK!" he began to acquiesce, but a low whining hum had started from above them, and very very quickly seemed to almost fill the air. Cirran, a veteran, had identified the source first - he'd heard this sound before, and had hoped to avoid repeating the experience. "Down!" he yelled to Lerrah, and threw himself to the floor.

There was just time enough for a couple of Kemma's men to regard the prostrate pilot with a look of contempt before across the street, several green energy bolts lanced down from above. The terrible destructive energy of the turbolaser shots smashed into a boutique shopping arcade and several hundred people were all but instantly vaporised. Secondary explosions ripped through the area, and in the data security facility the front wall blew in, filling the lobby with shrapnel, debris, smoke, and confusion.

Lerrah managed to drop to the floor just in time as a large piece of something that used to part of something official and structure-like zipped through the spot where she'd been standing and embedded itself several centimeters into the floor. She reached for Cirran and found his hand. "Door!" she rasped. "Let's get out of here before we get blown up!"

"Must be the Imps," Cirran guessed, coughing and peering cautiously into the haze. He could make out the outline of some bodies on the floor. No-one shot at him. Across what remained of the foyer, someone was groaning. "Never thought I'd be so glad to be under an Imperial bombardment! Come on, let's get out of here - the front door is under a pile of rubble, but there might still be another way out." Cirran pressed a datapad into Lerrah's hand. "Take this and go find it. I'll be right behind you. I have to find Kemma."

"Be careful," Lerrah said. "Jax has messed with her head bad, and she may hurt you. And, I'm not leaving without you, no matter what." With that, she pressed her lips to his, then hurried to find an exit before she lost her resolve to leave his side even temporarily.

Cirran coughed and peered through the gloom. The room - or what was left of it - was eerily quiet, with only the occasional trickle of masonry breaking the silence. Cirran headed towards the nearest body shape. It was one of Jax's men - still recognisable, but considerably more perforated than Cirran remembered him. The pilot grimaced. He and Lerrah had clearly been lucky, and there was no telling if the same luck had applied to his sister. He surveyed the wall of debris ahead. Bits of the building they had been standing in had fallen into the lobby like the reaching fingers of a giant hand, and chances were that Kemma was under one of them. He pushed that thought away, unable to contemplate losing his sister so soon after finding her again.

"Kemma?" he called out into the swirling dust. "Kemma, are you--"

Although his veteran status had served to warn him of the impending attack, never in all his years of warfare or since had he had a gun pushed directly into his temple before - but it was at once a fairly unmistakable feeling. He risked a sideways glance and took in the gun, and then traveled down an extended, trembling arm to his sister, her cloak torn away by the blast, and the combat suit beneath torn in several places. Blood trickled profusely down one side of her face from a cut on her scalp.

"You're hurt," Cirran offered.

"Stow it," his sister retorted, her voice still steely despite her trembling arm. Her other hand held a commlink, which she raised to her lips. "Jax? This is Kemma. I have Tyris secured. What was it, the Imps?" The only answer was a hiss of static, however. "Jax, do you read? Jax? Gorta?" There was still no answer. Cirran saw the physical pain she had been straining not to show creep into her expression, overwhelming her defences with the aid of fear and doubt. She caught his look of sympathy, and furiously snapped back to a more upright position. "Where's the data?" she barked.

Cirran simply shrugged. "Gone. Destroyed in the explosion. I'm afraid your megalomaniac friend won't be getting his talons on it."

Kemma swore, then looked at him with a cold fury. "In that case, there's certainly no reason I can think of to keep you alive anymore," she sneered, and pressed the gun harder into his head.

"I can think of a few." Moving in swiftly from the side, Lerrah swung the remains of a support beam in an arc that caught Kemma's wrist. The blaster went off, but it was well away from Cirran's head at the time, and then sailed up and into a pile of debris. Pretty sure she'd probably just broken Kemma's wrist, Lerrah knew she had the upper hand and had to act fast. She pulled the blaster she'd retrieved from one of Jax's fallen guards and pointed it at Kemma's chest. "You're a real pain in the ass, you know? But, you're Cirran's sister, so I can't just kill you."

Kemma sunk to her knees, holding her shattered limb in close to her body, much like a wounded bird would. "You might want to rethink that, because otherwise you can count on the fact I'll be coming after both of you," she snarled.

"Don't be stupid, Kemma," Lerrah said. "I said I'm not going to kill you, but I never said I was just going to let you go." With that, she pulled the trigger on the blaster. Concentric rings of blue energy struck Kemma Tyris full in the chest. With delight, Lerrah watched that split-second moment as realization struck, and then Kemma was knocked unconscious by the stun.

Cirran sighed. "I have some serious issues to raise at the next family meeting." He stooped, and with the difficult that came with having only one hand working, awkwardly threw his sister over his shoulder in a fireman's lift.

"I saw a door over this way," Lerrah said. "It's partially obscured by rubble, but I think we can get through."

Cirran followed Lerrah as she picked her way through the rubble. Outside, muffled blast noises and distant screams could be heard, as the Imperials pressed their attack on the city. And Jax was still out there somewhere. Cirran was sure of that. It wasn't the best situation to find one's self in, but as he awkwardly managed to pass the inert form of the sister that hated him through the partially blocked doorway, Cirran thought it was probably the best set of circumstances he had found himself in for months.

---

"Break Out"
By: Cirran Tyris (PC)
Lerrah Breijal (PC)
Gorta Jax (NPC+)

Date: Vadris 5, 5 ABY
Location: Low orbit over Lianna: Allied Tion Sector, Outer Rim

***

The ancient YT-1300, registered as the Graceful Raptor, soared up toward the atmosphere. Ahead through the outrigger canopy, the line of the Imperial picket could be seen. Other ships had been stopped, and most likely searched.

In the pilot's chair, Lerrah Breijal glanced back behind her, but saw no sign of Cirran. She frowned, and turned her attention back to the Imperials in front of her. Somewhere in orbit would also be Jax, and he would be very unhappy to see them escape his clutches. But, would he risk going after them in full view of the Imps?

If it came down to it, Lerrah had already considered running for the Imperial ships and turning themselves in. Would treatment by Imperial hands be any worse than Jax though? Sure, they were in a stolen ship. Sure, they wouldn't be considered ideal Imperial citizens, even though the Empire had little control left in the galaxy. But, they were both human, so they might be able to expect decent treatment.

In the end, the best option was getting away from both Jax and the Imps. The sound of Cirran's approach tempted her to look back, but she kept her attention forward. "We just broke free of the atmosphere. Ten minutes 'til the picket. I haven't seen Jax yet, but I know he's out here somewhere."

She spared a glance as Cirran stood behind her, his brain still trying to catch up with recent events. "How is she?"

"Still out to it. That was a pretty good whack you gave her. With any luck you knocked some sense into her head as well." Cirran rubbed his left arm, which was finally starting to have some feeling come back into it after the security pulse he had received at the data vault.

The chaos of the Imperial attack on Lianna had made what might have been a difficult escape a lot easier so far. As the barely adequate defence forces of the city had scrambled to respond, and the citizens panicked as the brief

Imperial bombardment had continued, Cirran and Lerrah had simply helped themselves to a ship, and no-one seemed to have noticed. Cirran reflected that it was hardly surprising - people had better things to do in the middle of a war and besides, there was every chance that the ship's owner was now buried under a hundred tonnes of ferrocrete somewhere down on the planet's surface, thanks to the gods-damned Imps.

Still, if grabbing a ship had been easy, what was coming up would not be. While putting his still unconscious sister into a bunk in the cargo compartment, Cirran had run a professional eye over their new acquisition, and neither the pilot or the mechanic in him had much liked what they saw. The "Graceful Raptor" was not some flashed up, tricked-out smuggler's boat - far from it. It was instead essentially a standard, out-of-the-box model light freighter that had obviously seen far too many parsecs since its last decent service. Trying to outrun an Imperial blockade in it would not be high on Cirran's list of fun activities to attempt. And yet they seemed to have little choice. He glanced down at the innocent, ordinary looking datapad that had caused so much trouble already. He had considered destroying it, but the thought of what the technology could mean in the right hands had stopped him. Besides, this was the last legacy of his parents - one they had entrusted to him. He couldn't bring himself to wipe out their greatest achievement.

"If this data does what Jax seems to think it'll do, we can't possibly let the Imps get their hands on it," he told Lerrah, placing the datapad aside for the moment and advancing to lower himself somewhat gingerly into the co-pilot's chair.

"Definitely not," Lerrah said as she angled their approach to give them a smaller sensor shadow. "I don't want to think about the Empire coming back to power, and with ships that could deflect turbolasers, I don't think they'd have much trouble." She scanned the vast expanse in front of them, but no openings revealed themselves. "A diversion right about now would not go unappreciated. Do you see any weak spots we might be able to punch through?"

Cirran ran a critical eye over a scanner readout, and then looked ahead to the ships hanging in space. While he had punched through Imperial pickets before, to do so at the front of a formation of A or X-Wings was an entirely different prospect to taking one on in this run down and totally unfamiliar junker. The one thing in their favour was that there was no sign of an Interdictor cruiser - with Imperial resources spread considerably thinner these days, Imperial command had obviously been unable to spare one for this mere reprisal attack - but there was still a considerable force ahead of them. A couple of bright flares in succession to the right of the Imperial formation signalled the death knell of two unfortunate ships that had just attempted what Lerrah and he were about to do. Cirran frowned, knowing their chances were slim.

"Well, I think about the best we can hope for is to stay as far away from that Star Destroyer as possible." The triangular brute, a Victory class, sat at the centre of the formation. "If we try to go around them, or turn back, we'll just draw attention to ourselves. Our best bet is to head for the left hand side there, get in amongst some of the smaller ships - that will make it harder for the big boys to get a tractor beam lock on us. And then - well, then I guess we redline this thing and hope like hell."

Lerrah was already edging the ship toward the cluster of smaller ships. She kept a wary eye on the Imperial ships dominating the view from the cockpit, but maintained an almost leisurely pace to meld in with the others.

"I never had to worry much about the Empire when I was smuggling," she said.

"Most of what I did was out in the Outer Rim. Most times, I only ever had to worry about planetary defense or pirates. They'd try to vape you, sure enough, but there was never much worry about tractor beams. And, the ships I was flying then weren't quite as decrepit as this thing."

"Don't sweat it, the Imperial Navy's really not all it's cracked up to be," Cirran smiled, doing a reasonable job of covering his doubts. He was the one with experience in this sort of thing, but his arm and fingers were still unresponsive, and he was still incapable of the precision demanded when piloting the ship in this sort of a situation. After a not inconsiderable amount of bickering and teasing between him and Lerrah about their respective piloting skills in the past months, Cirran was going to have a chance to appraise her skills from close up.

The Graceful Raptor slipped in amongst a pair of similar haulers, though a bit shinier with better engines, as they slowly moved up toward the Imperials. "Here's where the fun begins," Lerrah said.

Cirran flashed her a tense smile. Stormtrooper assault transports were approaching from the body of the main fleet, already close enough to see their turbolaser turrets turning to bear on the trio of freighters. "OK, looks like they plan to pay us a visit...try and keep that freighter on the right between them and us...that's it. OK, on the count of three, I'm going to throw the shields up. When I do, make like hell for open space and hope this thing's nav computer isn't too old to actually calculate a hyperspace jump." Cirran scanned the space ahead. The quickest route out of the fleet would take them straight past a heavily beweaponed Carrack class cruiser, and a pair of TIE interceptors were flying the perimeter not far away. Gods, if we survive this in this rustbucket, it'll be a miracle. Cirran took a deep breath. "One..."

Before Cirran could make it as far as 'two' however, he was interrupted by a streak of light that shot past them to their right, followed by a blinding flash. Behind the YT-1300 on the right, the nearest assault transport was suddenly drifting helplessly in space, a spray of flame spurting from a mortal wound in its side. As Cirran and Lerrah watched, 4 more concussion missiles streaked into a second transport, quickly followed by another pair which punched through the hapless ship's shield to destroy it in a spectacular fireball. Barely visible but for their glowing thrusters, 6 black-painted A-Wings in two flight groups of 3 shot past the Graceful Raptor above and below to the right. Angry at the ease with which they had been caught napping, surprised TIE escorts throughout the fleet began to buzz into order.

"Who..." Cirran started, but he had realised the answer to the question before he even finished articulating it. "Jax. Punch it, Lerrah!"

Lerrah slammed levers forward and threw the ship into a spiraling roll to escape the fighters. Her hands were quick on the board as she fought with a determined focus to keep them alive. A blast hit too close and rocked the ship hard. Dozens of lights flashed on the main board. Ignoring them, she swung the ship away in an evasive maneuver that she wasn't even sure if the old tug could manage. A quick check of the scope told her she hadn't lost their pursuers, but she'd gained them a little distance.

"I'm reading ten...twelve...more...he's got a lot of fighters, and most of them are headed toward us. The Imps are hopping mad."

As Jax's fighters closed to their rear, Imperial escort fighters, now unconcerned with the escapades of what seemed to be an ordinary civilian freighter, shot past them to clash head-on with the black painted A-Wings. A snarling dogfight erupted, and a number of their pursuers were forced to give up the chase to try and deal with the Imp fighters. But a handful still shot out of the melee to cling doggedly to the tail of Graceful Raptor, sniping away at the twisting target that Lerrah was making it.

Biting her lip, Lerrah swung wide and veered over toward where other civilian ships were making a break for it, inserting herself and hopefully making them less conspicuous...and more importantly a harder target.

"Free passage through the blockade today," she said. "The Imps are focusing on Jax. Damn. His ship is coming up and trading shots with that big Star Destroyer."

Cirran looked up. "Gods, he really is desperate. Son of a bitch had that thing rigged up to look like a bulk freighter!" Cirran exclaimed, spotting the discarded hull cladding that had been used to disguise the numerous weapon blisters on Jax's ship floating away behind the cruiser as it angled towards the Imperial capital ship for a full broadside. A couple of Corellian corvettes Jax had rustled up from the gods knew where were in support. Jax's little navy currently had surprise on its side, but that advantage wouldn't last. This was strictly hit-and-fade stuff, with one obvious objective - Cirran and Lerrah.

As if in answer to Cirran's thoughts, the communications console crackled to life and a familiarly oily voice filled the cockpit with a reproachful tone.

"This is an absolutely shocking battle order they've presented. Standards have certainly dropped. We'd have had the commander of this fleet up on charges when I was in the Navy. Nevertheless, as you'll appreciate Tyris, time is a factor here, so if you'll power down your engines now I might allow..."

Numb as they were, Cirran's fingers were up to the task of reaching out and stabbing the control that cut off the incoming transmission. "I've heard about enough out of that bastard lately," he muttered, and Lerrah nodded her approval.

Beside them, an even older ship than the one they'd stolen lurched forward and then all systems seemed to short out. The ship started to drift, and the Graceful Raptor shot past it. Their cover gone, Lerrah opened the throttle and gave the little ship everything it could take. They were moving ahead, but the fighters were still with them. Another loud blast rocked the ship.

"Shields are holding back there, such as they are. Another shot like that, though, and they're gone. They've got ion cannons. They're trying to take us alive, so at least we won't be blown to space dust. Ten seconds until we can make the jump."

"Given the alternative, I think I might prefer being space dust," Cirran suggested, furiously trying to divert power away from non-essential systems into the engine and shields - but the ship had nothing much left to give. "Why did we steal this one?" he grumbled to himself.

The whole board was lit up as they ran for freedom, warning sirens and alarm tones sounding throughout the cockpit from half a dozen systems. The A-Wing fighters were closing in again, threading their way nimbly through the panicking civilian traffic, the nearest Imperials dealt with. Too close. One blast. Two. The shields were gone, overloaded. Anything more from them, and they'd be dead in space. All Jax would have to do then was sweep in, grab them with a tractor beam, survive the Imps, and get away.

On the board, a light flashed green. Lerrah grinned with relief. She reached forward and pulled the toggles back. The lines of space stretched into infinity and exploded. Suddenly, they were away. An explosive breath escaped her and she nearly collapsed in her seat. They were alive and in hyper space. They were free!

"I take everything negative I might have said about your piloting back, unreservedly." Cirran grinned, slumping in his own seat.

She turned and gave him a smile, one that was filled with relief, concern, and all of her feelings for him. She was about to go to him, to hug him and kiss him, but a solitary flashing light on the board drew her attention. She cocked her head to the side as she looked at it, wondering. And then she saw what the light indicated, and understood what it meant. An escape pod had jettisoned.

"Kemma!" they cried together. Cirran was first out of the cockpit, but Lerrah was right behind him. In the rear of the ship, the bunk was empty. A flashing red light outside the sealed airlock door confirmed what the cockpit indicator had told them. Cirran slammed the bulkhead in frustration.

"Damn it, Kemma, you rode a lifeboat into the middle of that?" He turned to Lerrah. "I can't believe I lost her again" he said sadly. "But at least we're..." But a sudden thought had struck him.

"Oh Gods." Turning, the tall pilot hurried back to the cockpit, again followed by Lerrah. With a sinking feeling, Cirran frantically scrabbled around the rear of the compartment, but his desperate search turned up nothing, and his fears were realised. Cirran swore, first in Basic, and then in Rodian for good measure.

"The datapad. Gone. She sneaked in while we were busy and took it!"

Lerrah grimaced. "There's no way we can get it back now," she said. "Blast! How can he have her so sucked in to his lies? It doesn't make sense." She let out a long sigh, then looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Cirran. We'll get her back if possible. At least we know about that stuff. We can at least get that back and tell someone, I guess. Do you suppose it's really as bad as he made it seem?"

Cirran knew Gorta Jax was as deceitful as they came, but he also knew that he was a man who would never go to the trouble and expense and take the risks To himself he had without what he considered to be a very good reason.

"I'm afraid it might be," he frowned. "And if this Jau lot are as fearsome as he makes out as well..." There was no need to finish the sentence. Both of them knew what the technology Jax might even now be taking possession of might mean for Drogen Station, the Tae'Karada system and beyond. There was a moment of silence in the cockpit as it sunk in, eventually broken by Cirran.

"Gods, this is certainly unprecedented," he admitted, "but I think I'm rooting for the Imps."

"I think I'm with you on that," Lerrah said. "We'd better set a course for Tae'Remok and Drogen. I think I'm ready to be home, even if it is occupied by ugly aliens intent on turning the entire system into slaves. I want a real bed and to actually spend time with you. Ril and Tase are probably worried sick about us, and Walker's probably climbing the walls."

Lerrah watched Cirran as he set the coordinates for their trip home. She brought the ship out of hyperspace long enough to set the new coordinates into the navcomputer. That done, she gave him a smile and gave his hand a squeeze.

"Let's go home," she said as the stars stretched out before them.

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