Star Wars - Tales from the Outer Rim

"Amazing Podracing"
by Jukwon Thallos - Freelancer Pilot
and Vrattos [NPC] - Jadda's Employee
and Jadda the Hutt - Hutt Crimelord

Location: Tae'Sollar Gauntlet
Date: Eos 6, 4 ABY

***

Throughout the last few days he had occupied himself with constructing his own Podracer. Or better said, a new Podracer for Jadda the Hutt. Still, as it was he had no limit for credits, meaning he could build the best podracer he could manage to put together.

Initially he had a design layout, which later had suffered some changes. For its construction he had to assist him, half a dozen pit droids, who followed his every instruction in perfection, and, sent by Jadda himself, there was Vrattos, a verpine. Like all from his species, Vrattos had not only an amazing eyesight but also an advanced mathematical intelligence, which made him a prized mechanic who helped Jukwon to boost the podracer beyond its normal limits.

After three days work, it was done. A sleek blue model podracer with split-X configured engines sporting large fin-like steering vanes with an acceleration chair and lots of extras. It had been costly, but could earn Jadda twice as much as he had spent in its own construction. Jukwon softly pounded Vrattos on the shoulder and gave him a nod. "Thanks for the help," he said as he went off to tell Jadda.

As he got to the Hutt's location, it seemed that he was expected, as if Jadda knew already he had finished the building of the new podracer. "Boonta ib noodoo shaadoo be nunga toos!" Jadda said. The protocol droid standing next to him translated. "Jadda is content that you have finished and awaits your information."

Jukwon ran his fingers over his forehead and nodded to Jadda. "Well, it is fitted with split-X configured engines that sport large fin-like steering vanes. It has configured thrusters, though sleek and using the most advanced technology I could get. It uses two JAK Racing J930 Dash-8 engines with short tethers conecting them to the cockpit, which are also locked into eachother via an energy binder," he said, as it became obvious by Jadda's widening eyes that he was content indeed.

Jukwon sighed and continued. "To gain more speed, I have used a fuel atomizer and distribution system. They send more fuel into the combustion chambers and radically increase their thrust and the top speed to almost 1000 kilometers per hour. However, this can only be used temporarily because they will melt down the engines or possibly burn out the whole thing. But it shouldn't be a problem with the cooling system if it's used for about ten seconds. In addition, a duo of air scoops have been installed to provide additional control when braking and cornering. In the rear side, I have opted for an acceleration chair so that more field view is possible. The chair is also equipped with thermoregulator flaps to aid in the steering," he concluded.

Jadda laughed outloud. He was more than content. He had obviously chosen the right person to build him a podracer. The question remained: could he pilot his own creation? But that question was soon to reveal its own answer... "Tchunga ib noos dangoo billappa noo changoo Tae'Sollar podrace bantoo?" Jadda asked. The droid translated. "Jadda wishes to know if you can race the next event this afternoon in the Tae'Sollar podracing gauntlet?"

The Kiffex bowed and gave his approval, then left for some rest before the race. It would be interesting to say the least, competing against some of the best podracers, especially when Sebulba's grandson, Pugwis, was himself a competitor and favourite for the races.

***

A few hours later in the afternoon, the quiet of the Tae'Sollar arena had gone from almost empty with the sounds of the workers or the droids running about to what seemed millions of people coming from everywhere to see the races, bet their money on their favourite podracers, and see them go at the amazing speeds that they usually went.

Small selling stands could also be seen everwhere now, mostly selling either podracing merchandise or food. It became obvious to anyone watching the crowds that the people there came from different systems just to see this race. And that gave Jukwon a smile. He went back into his pit to check on his podracer. Standing there to keep watch was Vrattos. It was almost time and Jukwon gave a nod and had the droids carry out the new machine out into the arena to join the others who were already there.

As they walked in he could see several other podracers in all styles. Some had bigger engines and some were smaller. Some seemed to have pointy engines and some were just round. One even had the chair fitted into the engines in hard supporters rather than be pushed as it was regular in podracing.

As Jukwon looked around himself he could see the crowd as they all moved about and tried to get good seats as well as their small image pads to check out the race while the pilots were off the viewing points. He got to his position and right beside his was a small pod with some slim rounded engines. There was no mistake on the driver. It was Pugwis, the race favourite. The small Dug was walking about and complaining to his pit droids as well as looking around. Jukwon gave him a nod when the two crossed looks, but that was all.

The racers were all lined up and Jadda appeared only to be cheered as he gave the green light for the race to begin by having one of his aids sound the gong. All of the podracers immediately threw themselves at the course, except one, who had engine problems right at the start, only having moved slightly forward before his engines died. He was out when smoke started to pop out and had to run off just in case the whole thing would blow up.

The others were way off by then, with Pugwis leading the race and Dud Bolt right behind him. The Vulptereen was the eldest racer to run these days, as his race tended to live for quite a long time. His podracer had been the same since he had begun, only suffering some improvements. He followed Pugwis close enough and it was hard to tell whether he would even pass and take the pole position at times, but the Dug seemed to pull off well enough to keep his place.

Jukwon was running fourth by now, with his monstrous engines roaring and cutting through the sands of the tracks and concentrating just to keep clear of going against the other racers or having the other racers bump into him. The first lap was clean for all of the racers, and they were all pretty close to each other. It was just after the second curve, right off the end of the arena that one of the pilot's steering vanes got stuck somehow, driving him straight into a large rock which sent his cockpit flying into the sands.

The Kiffex barely had time to see it as he was now at the verge of passing to third place. He heard as the other podracer came behind him and it seemed that both Pugwis and Dud Bolt were now taking some advantage in the race, gaining some distance. Jukwon knew that he had to keep his super acceleration for the very end. But he also knew that Pugwis had one and had to watch so that he wouldn't get the advantage of using his first.

By the time they were finishing the second lap there were a couple less racers, as two of them had crashed into each other, one trying to get the other off the race, and ended up sticking the engines together as they did so. In the very end they both lost control and were off the race as a result. The crowds cheered as the last lap came about, now with merely six of the initial nine racers.

Thallos watched as the two leaders of the pack were slightly ahead. He almost hoped that the two would get into each other hard for the first place, leaving him the chance to get clear and accelerate. But both were pretty smooth and calm, or so it seemed. Jukwon had managed to get clear of the others following him and when he got to the end of the last lap he saw the arena at the very end and knew that Pugwis would try to use his top speed, which meant he had to do so just before.

But, to do so, he would have to try to make the last lap in top speed which could be suicidal. Alas, he had to try... He punched in and all of the sudden he could see and feel that he was going way beyond the regular speed, which was already quite fast. Approaching 970 kilometers per hour he merely saw the two other racers in front of him pass as he went beserk in speed. With help from his air scoops and the thermoregulator flaps in the chair he was able to corner just barely, and even though Pugwis had used his top speed also, Jukwon still had advantage to pass as first place.

The crowds cheered as the race came to an end. It had been a surprise for many, and some were amazed to say the least. Some were even mad at having lost the money they had bet, but that was podracing. anything could happen, and that was what was the best of it. Jadda was more than content to know that he owned a podracer that could actually win. He decided to send Jukwon to compete in the other races accross the galaxy and try to win as much money as possible.

Jukwon got out. "Congratulations!" a man said. He had come in Jadda's behalf as Jukwon had seen him in the Hutt's presence before. "Jadda wants you to race in the other races across the galaxy!"

It had begun...

"Unbridled, Part 1"
By: Dani
Koran Darr
Nieme Yaresh
Orn Gham [NPC]

Location: Jedi Temple; New Plouton
Date: Eos 6, 4ABY

***

Dani grinned happily as she munched on a tamega sausage. Orn had made them special for breakfast this morning. The omelettes he'd made were also quite delicious. She fended off Nieme's tickling fingers once more, though only she and Nieme knew of it. Above the table, both their faces were serene as they ate their food. It didn't help that last night Nieme had found out just how ticklish she was around her belly button. Make me think twice about wearing this outfit anymore, she thought with a mental grin.

She looked up at Orn and gave him one of her special smiles. "This is delicious," she said. "You're my favourite cook ever, next to Nieme. But, Nieme's my favourite everything ever." She looked at her love and smiled. "So, everything is second to her." She giggled and quickly looked back at Orn. "So, Orn-my-love, what are you going to make us for dinner tonight? Oh, and you must make a chocolate dessert. Nieme and I decided last night that we need some chocolate today."

"Oh, you did, did ya?" Orn chuckled as he set down a plate of Hojet, just the way Nieme liked it. He'd told her it was hard to find in the wetter lands, but he'd searched painstakingly for it, and finally found a vendor who had an abundant stock. Nieme showed her appreciation by eating six bowlfuls of it in one sitting that day. Now, though, both their cravings had switched to chocolate, it appeared.

"How about a chocolate cake?" Nieme said to Dani. "Or two? Or he could make us a pie. Would you like a pie, just as sweet as you, my sweet flower?"

Dani giggled, and then surreptitiously squirmed away from Nieme's fingers once more. "As long as there's chocolate. Oh! What if he makes chocolates in the shape of flowers and stars? That would be perfect. Do you think you could do that, Orn? Could you make us chocolates like that? A pie and a cake, and some chocolates. Is that too much for you to do, Orn? More Hojet please." She quickly filled her plate from the larger plate Orn handed her. "We can help. We'd be glad to help you in the kitchen, Orn. And, we promise not to have a fight with the flour like last time."

Orn shook his head and once again shook with laughter. "Fling as much flour as you like, but you're cleaning it up." He moved between his two girls and simultaneously grabbed each of their cheeks between his rough, yet gentle fingers and tugged. "Stars and flowers it is, but only for my two favourite girls on all of Tae'Karada."

He released his hold on their cheeks, and Nieme let out a deep sigh of relief. She rubbed the tender flesh briefly, then resumed trying to tickle Dani's now well-guarded stomach. "You hear that, my flower? We're his favourite. I think to prove it to us, he should serve us nothing but chocolate for the rest of the week."

Dani giggled again. "Oh, he should. We'll probably be sicker than anything at the end of the week, but at least we'll be in chocofied bliss!" She let out a screech and grabbed Nieme's hands. "If you keep this up, I'm gonna have to go back to that other shirt I was wearing with my robes instead of this. At least it kept my belly covered and protected from your naughty, roving fingers!"

"Okay, I think your slavish chef has seen enough silliness for one day." Orn affectionately patted them both on the back. "If you get frisky for something other than each other, call me and I'll whip you up whatever you like."

Nieme craned her neck back and looked up at Orn. "Will do, oh loyal servant."

Orn chuckled and tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. He never would have children of his own, but he found enough love and happiness from his two girls that they were a more than adequate replacement.

As Orn shuffled back into the kitchen, Nieme finally secured her arms around Dani's waist and pulled her in for a kiss. "I'm full," she whispered. "Should we hurry to our room before Master Darr finds us and forces us to train?"

"You know what we'll end up doing if we head to our room, don't you?" Dani asked. A slow smile spread across her face and then she nodded vigorously. "Let's go! And, he always stays away from us when he knows we're naked anyway!"

Nieme sprang up from her seat with a squeal and nearly toppled a chair as she flung Dani along with her towards the door. "Do you remember the first time he caught us naked?" Nieme giggled. "I thought his eyes were going to pop out from his sockets! He ran so fast back into the forest too! You'd think he was displeased with the view we gave him."

Dani giggled as they scurried through the maze-like corridors of the Temple. "Oh, his eyes weren't the only thing popping," Dani added. "You'd think that we actually planned that for him. It's not like we just go around naked for everyone to see."

"That's right," Nieme concurred. "We do it for each other to see. But if he wants to look, I don't mind. I think aside from Liam Zaneth, Koran Darr is the hunkiest master in the Temple!"

"He is! I would so love to grab him, pull him into bed with us, and pounce on him all night long! He's absolutely scrumptious!"

"Nieme, Dani," came a very familiar and (given the circumstances of the conversation already occurring) very embarrassing voice behind them. "Perhaps we should get together for some...training."

Dani's face took on a much darker purple cast as she slowly turned to look at Nieme, her eyes wide with her embarrassment and fear.

Nieme too was overcome with shock, but soon she was giggling again. "Yes, Master Hunky." She snickered and hid her face against Dani's arm.

Koran tried to hide his smile but failed. After a moment, he laughed and just shook his head watching his two padawans giggling. "I do not know what I'm going to do with you," he said. "However, for now, how about we work on your endurance. I want both of you to change into some workout clothes and meet me out in front of the Temple in ten minutes."

"Twenty," Nieme challenged with a grin. "Dani and I have...something we need to do."

Koran looked at the two girls, and almost laughed at the completely innocent look Dani was giving him. He shook his head and gave a resigned sigh. "Very well," he said. "Just don't wear yourselves out." As if they could. If someone could harness those two's energy, all the galaxy's energy needs would be solved.

"We won't!" Nieme stifled a shriek of excitement and without wasting a moment's time, jerked Dani along with her as she scampered down the corridor.

As they ran down the hallway, Dani waved back to Koran, unable to form words for all the giggles erupting from her. Koran just shook his head and started off to change his own clothes for their workout.

Nieme and Dani burst through the door of their room, and Dani had already managed to get the ties holding her top closed undone. "We have to hurry," she said with a wide grin.

"Oh, I hate hurrying," Nieme whined, but that didn't deter her from pushing down her pants and kicking them off. As Dani was unfastening her own, Nieme let out a playful growl and lunged at her lover, tackling her onto the bed. "Kiss me, my chocolate flower."

Dani let out a wild giggle as she did her best to get her pants off while Nieme did her best to pin her to the bed, where they would be able to make love to each other. Finally, Dani managed to kicking her pants off onto the floor, and she let out a squeal of delight. "Oh goddess," she sang, "I wish we could go training like this. Wouldn't Koran Darr just die?"

"Or smile really, really big!" As difficult as it was to kiss Dani while she laughed, Nieme did manage it with moderate success. It didn't, however, hamper her ability to pull open her tunic and toss it away behind her. Once the kiss broke, Nieme gave Dani a sultry smile and buried her hand under one of the bed's pillows. When her hand reappeared, it was holding a sleek, metallic phallus that they always kept handy whenever they had the urge to play with their toys. Nieme thumbed the button on the device and grinned even wider as it hummed. "And now," she whispered with her lips brushing against Dani's, "I get to make you smile really, really big."

A squeal of delight broke free from Dani's lips, and she did smile really big for her star. Nieme knew exactly how and where to touch her for the desired effect of complete and total bliss. They knew each other's bodies as well as they knew their own. And, there was no one in the galaxy who could deny that they loved each other more than anything. Dani had no idea if their passionate cries ever bothered anyone else at the Temple. She cared, but when in the middle of the bliss Nieme created for her, she just couldn't think of anything else. And, when they wandered the Temple -- which they did frequently -- no one had ever complained. She let out an extra loud cry as she thought that most people that saw them just smiled at them. Life with Nieme was pure bliss, and she wouldn't trade this life for anything else.

***

Nieme and Dani arrived outside of the Temple approximately twenty-two minutes later. Neither thought Koran would mind, especially if they explained that, had they been there on time, they most likely would not have been clothed. But, they were now, with Nieme in a sleeveless, purple top that bared her entire stomach - purple in honour of her beloved. The lightweight pants she wore didn't hug her form as tightly as the top did her breasts, but they still would stay securely on her during whatever Koran had in store for them. She had already begun her stretches in anticipation of Koran's arrival, but she still spared a moment to pinch Dani's rear whenever her love bent over.

Each pinch brought out a yelp and a playful glare from Dani. The clothing she'd chosen was form-fitting, both top and bottom. The bottom was solid blue with a stripe of purple running down the side of her leg with a delicate pattern of white stars running throughout the purple. The top was cut in a similar fashion to Nieme's, but was mostly white with panels of blue with purple trim. The top, too, had the white stars throughout, in honour of her beautiful star. The outfit did nothing to hide the contours of Dani's body and scream to whomever might be watching that Nieme was a very lucky girl.

Koran Darr kicked himself for thinking that very same thought, and closed his eyes for some quick meditation while they warmed up. He knew he was in absolutely no danger of succumbing to the pairs wiles, but he enjoyed looking far too much. And, he couldn't deny just how adorable they were together. He had no illusions about why Orn cared for them so. He smiled. "Let me know whenever you're ready," he said.

Nieme withdrew her hand abruptly from where it had been prepared to pinch the supple flesh of Dani's rear again and straightened up to greet Koran. "I think I'm nice and stretchy," Nieme answered. "What are we doing anyway?"

Koran smiled as he opened his eyes. "We're going to go into town for some creamy ice," he said. "I hope you two like creamy ice."

Dani's eyes went wide, though there was a hint of confusion in them. What sort of training required going to get a dessert?

Nieme placed her hands upon her hips and eyed Koran warily. "I like creamy ice.... But what do we have to do to get it?"

Koran's smile widened. "Not much really," he said. "We just have to go get it. There's a really nice shop that specializes in it in town. It's right down the street from that place that makes those toys you two like so much."

"Oh, I remember that place," Dani said, and then gaped. "Hey! No fair! You're not supposed to know about--" She couldn't finish as the rest of what she was going to say was lost in embarrassed giggles.

"The only catch is we're not taking a speeder," he said. "We're going to run from here until the edge of the city. It's a test of our endurance."

"We what?" Nieme's jaw refused to do anything but hang agape when she heard that. "You're insane! It takes a speeder twenty minutes to get to the city from here and you expect us to run there? You're gonna kill us!"

"Am I?" Koran asked. "I ran it this morning, and it took me an hour. Look at the two of you. You're in perfect health, in better than perfect shape, you're young and energetic, and in a day you two easily run this distance all within the Temple. Trust me, Nieme, it won't be that bad. And, I'm going to be there with you."

"Well, then," she said with a sweet smile. "You can carry us back home when we collapse from exhaustion!"

Koran laughed and then motioned them after him. "Let's go," he said, and broke into a run down the trail.

Dani looked after Koran and then to Nieme. "I think he's gone as mad as Master Vos," she said with a giggle. "Well, at least back here we'll be able to watch his butt while he runs."

Nieme glowered playfully at Dani, then shifted her gaze to Koran and raised her eyebrows at the view she was receiving. She definitely wanted a closer look. With a laugh, she gently shoved Dani and bolted after Koran. "Race ya to the chocolate creamy ice!"

Dani recovered quick enough, but Nieme still had a lead. She raced off after her love and their Master. "Hey," she called as she sped up behind Nieme, but not fast enough to pass her love, "that's mine. I saw it first!"

"Well I'm closer!" Nieme shot back. She giggled and pumped her legs harder to move up beside Koran, but he was already two meters ahead of them and only gaining distance. "Dani, you don't think he really expects us to run all that way, do you?"

"Look at him," Dani said, and then quickly added, "Not just his butt, either. He intends us to run all the way there. What I'm afraid of is having to run all the way back. Especially after creamy ice. I think we should make him carry us back!"

"Mmm..." Nieme purred with half-lidded eyes. "Over his shoulder so we could look at his butt all the way home."

A lust-filled grin spread across Dani's purple cheeks. "Oh, that would be very nice," she said. "I like how it moves when he runs. So...athletic."

Nieme noticed Koran's...athleticism as well and almost tripped on a gnarled tree root protruding from the ground as she did. After regaining her rhythm, Nieme sighed heavily and shook her head. "Oh, Dani. I can't do this! It's too far. Should we just give up and tell him to bring the creamy ices back to us?"

Dani reached out and slipped her hand into Nieme's. "You can make it," she said with confidence. "We both can. Reach inside of yourself, and use the Force, my love."

Nieme looked aside at her love and found in her eyes alone renewed strength and faith in herself. It always amazed her how Dani could do that as no one else could. "Hold my hand the whole way? If you're with me, I know I can do it."

"The whole way," Dani said with a firm nod. Together they could accomplish anything. Together, they were everything and more. Before she'd met Nieme, Dani had never thought of her life as incomplete; but now, she knew that when she was with her beautiful star, everything shone with brilliant perfection. She knew she was complete in her love and devotion, and in Nieme's for her. The thought gave her even more energy, and she knew that she and Nieme would make it to the end of the run with that.

***

"Look Nieme," Dani said. "Ahead of us. Past that beautiful, perfect, Jedi Masterly butt."

Ahead of them was the edge of the forest, and the end of their run. Beyond that was just a quick walk to the creamy ice. Dani was surprised to find that she could actually go farther if she needed to.

Nieme was fatigued, heavily, but knowing they were almost at the end of their marathon endurance test, she felt reinvigorated and maintained her steady, brisk jog. "Oh, he better give us two creamy ices for this."

Dani giggled. "Oh, we'll make him," she said. "How much do you have left in you, my love? Think we can beat him?"

Nieme glanced sidelong at her lover and gave her tacit reply with a mischievous grin. "One...two..." Before she could give the word, Nieme and Dani erupted into a fit of breathless giggles as they raced forward. Indeed, the Force was with them, channelling extra stamina into their bodies and giving that needed strength their fatigued legs required to overtake Koran Darr. On their way past him, Nieme outstretched her hand and swatted Koran on the rear, then gave him a cute little wave before they bounded into the city and out of the forest.

Koran called out at the slap on his backside, but just shook his head and laughed as they raced ahead. He didn't slow down, but he knew he couldn't catch them now. When he agreed to take them both on, he didn't anticipate this. Perhaps this was his punishment for being absent for so many years. With a smile, he corrected himself. It wasn't punishment at all.

***

Nieme lapped ravenously at her heaping scoop of chocolate creamy ice, her second helping of it, in fact. The sticky, brown dessert melted onto her hands, but she didn't mind; once she'd finished the entire thing, she'd just lick herself clean, as she was doing for Dani now. Another droplet of the creamy ice rolled down Dani's chin and onto her chest. Nieme giggled as she lowered her head and licked it off, noting then how good brown and purple looked together, but how they tasted even better. Once Dani was sufficiently clean for now, Nieme sat up again and returned her attention to her own melting treat.

Dani moaned softly and glanced sideways to see that Koran wasn't the only one watching the two of them. She was glad that Nieme's beautiful, sensual tongue had caught all of the creamy ice before it reached her top. Though, the couple times Nieme's tongue had dipped down into her cleavage, Dani had been very tempted to just dump it all down and let her love go crazy. Of course, just thinking about it wasn't helping. She smiled and then leaned over to catch the drips of creamy ice from Nieme's hand, and then her love's chin. There wasn't any on her chest, but she got there too, just in case. She gave Nieme a smile that carried her love, her desire, and her complete devotion. She could see that it made Nieme feel as fluttery as the feelings made her.

"I really like choco creamy ice," Nieme sighed as she gazed at Dani. "Don't you, Master Darr?" She turned her dreamy gaze towards him and smiled. "Isn't it delicious?"

Master Koran Darr, along with the four other men watching the girls all nodded dumbly at Nieme's question. Koran finally managed to snap himself out of their lustful show and laughed softly at himself. "It is very delicious, and if you two aren't careful you'll be responsible for the rest of the patrons here needing to go home quickly to wives, or to find the service of a joy girl."

"We're not doing it for them," Nieme said in all seriousness. "Or for you, Master Darr," she added with a hint of a smile. "We love each other and we like showing it. Is that so wrong?"

Koran smiled. "There's nothing wrong with that," he said. "It's just that the two of you are very sensual, and what you're doing can have a certain affect on people watching. But, I'm sure they'll get over that. You two just go on and keep loving each other."

Dani grinned. "Thank you, Master Koran," she said and then looked down at her chest. A large dollop of creamy ice had landed on her purple flesh and she looked demurely at Nieme. "I've made another mess, my love."

Nieme gave Koran a questioning gaze, and remembering what he'd said, she grinned and leaned over Dani's chest. She glanced up at the men still staring at them desirously, and as she ran her tongue slowly across Dani's breast and curled it back towards her mouth to consume the creamy ice, she thought many of them would fall off the edge of their seats. Nieme closed her eyes and moaned softly as the creamy ice melted on her tongue, then she peered up at her love and smiled. "Tasty as always."

"Can we get some creamy ice to take back with us?" she asked with a suggestive smile, then kissed Nieme. "It'd probably melt on the way back this time, but next time we come down here, I think we should get lots of choco creamy ice to take back with us." She let her eyes brush over Nieme's flesh and smiled. "It's a very tasty treat."

Nieme licked at her cone slowly while she watched Dani. She frowned as she realized her scoop of creamy ice had been worn away and with how overzealous in their creamy ice eating they'd been, she didn't think Koran would buy her another scoop. But she'd happily lick Dani anytime, so the disappointment faded quickly. Nieme shrugged dismissively as she crunched down into the rim of the cone and chewed away happily. "Master Darr?" she asked inquisitively. "How old are you? And how old would you have been if you hadn't gotten frozen in carbonite?"

"I'm forty-two years old," he said as he finished up the last of his creamy ice. "And, if I'd lived through the war, outside of carbonite, I would be in my mid-seventies right now. Though, even at that age, as a Jedi, I don't think I would have felt as old as seventy years sounds."

"I hope I live that long," Nieme said. "And I know that if I do, I'll definitely be living it with Dani." She bit off another piece of her cone and chewed it thoughtfully. "Master? Don't you wish you had someone to spend your years with? Don't you get lonely?"

Koran found his thoughts immediately turn to Laedra and it brought a smile to his face. "Sometimes I do," he said. "However, I still have friends around me. But, it would be nice to have closer. Perhaps one day I will find someone who can be that for me, and I for her."

"What about the rule?" Nieme exclaimed, rather than asked. "I mean, I know the original Jedi had it, and we're supposed to have it.... If it doesn't apply anymore, why'd they have it to begin with? Just seems so silly..."

"The Jedi had a prohibition against attachment because they didn't want their Jedi to pick favourites. If a Jedi were married, it would be too easy for them to put their wife or husband above the Order. It would also be easy for an enemy of the Jedi to use that attachment against the Jedi. That is why there was a restriction. Times are changing now, and I don't think we will ever be able to be the Order that we once were. When you think about the reasons why, it isn't silly; however, now it may be impractical. While not true in your case, but in the case of others, the offspring of Jedi may become Jedi in the future. Down the line, that will help grow our numbers again. As it is, there aren't many of us, and we'll have to hope that we can find Force-sensitive infants if the ban is held. It will take time for the birth rate to bring our numbers up, but it will be faster that way than the way we managed in the past. Does that make sense?"

Nieme looked into the cup of her empty cone, then up at Koran. "I understand, Master. I know I'd put Dani first if I had to. I guess that could be a bad thing in battle. I know I'd put her above the rest of you in a battle, if it came down to it. Is that wrong of me?"

Koran smiled and nodded. "As a Jedi, it is," he said. "You have to put your duty as a Jedi ahead of your personal life. However, that is why I'm training you the way I am. You work well together, as a team. You will rely on each other probably even better than you rely on yourselves individually. I have only taken what could be a weakness, and tried to turn it into something workable. You should both be willing to do what is required of you though. I know it may be impossible, but the Force will guide you. I also trust you both to keep yourselves safe. I don't foresee you in many battles. I think you will make a fine start to the new Jedi Diplomatic Team. How's that sound?"

Nieme turned her head to Dani and grinned broadly. "You hear that, Dani? We're going to be diplomats! We get to tell people what to do and we get to help them! Won't that be wonderful?"

Dani nodded vigorously. "It sure will," she said. "We'll get to make everything better for people. We can teach them how they should be, and how they shouldn't hurt. We'll teach them that love is the most important thing, not power or any of that silly stuff."

Nieme giggled. "We can even demonstrate." She returned her gaze to Koran and gave him a stiff nod. "We'll do it, Master. We'll be your new Jedi diplomats."

Koran laughed softly. "Well, you still have some more training to do, but I think you'll make fine diplomats when you've finished. And, speaking of training, we should be getting back. We can take a more relaxed pace back to the Temple if you'd like."

Dani grinned. "That would be nice, I think," she said. "After two creamy ices, I don't think I can run too fast yet."

"Me neither," Nieme added. She placed her hand onto her stomach and grimaced. "I think I ate too much today. Remind me not to stuff my face at breakfast before we have to run all the way to the city."

Dani giggled. "You had a lot of Hojet and sausages. I thought you were gonna pop. But you didn't, and I was very thankful for that. Especially after breakfast with Kimra."

Koran looked confused. "Kimra."

Dani blushed and looked to Nieme with a giggle. "Kimra is one of our toys. He's all silver and sleek, and he has the most beautiful vibrations you've ever felt. Well, not you personally. But us. We've ever felt."

Koran smiled, sorry he'd asked.

Nieme nudged Dani and glared playfully at her. "Now he'll want to borrow him, silly flower. Master Darr's a lonely man and once he's befriended Kimra, he might never give him back."

"No, no," Koran said. "I couldn't possibly think to separate you from such a close, dear, and thrilling friend. I will just have to get by without."

"If you insist. But if you change your mind...." Nieme winked at Koran then brought her fingers to her lips and began sucking off the sticky residue from each of them, slowly and salaciously to torment Koran even more.

Dani joined Nieme then, drawing one of Nieme's fingers into her mouth. One of the men across the way suddenly let out a muffled cry and quickly hid his face from view. Dani snorted with laughter. She looked up at Nieme with a lustful, sensual gaze that conveyed a desire deeper than anything else that could ever exist.

Koran quickly stood up. "I think it's time to go," he said.

"Whatever you say, Master Darr," Nieme sang. She smoothly rose from her seat with Dani beside her and slinked towards the doorway with her hips swaying lasciviously. She yelped and slapped away the purple hand locked onto her rear, and before either of them were even outside of the parlour, they were already engaged in a struggle to pinch the other's rump.

"Do not put your hand down my pants," Dani called out as they slipped out the door. The men inside seemed to be experiencing a mix of complete anguish and frustrated relief. It made Dani giggle even harder as they started down the street, slowly swatting each others hands away, in between touches and caresses.

Koran came up behind them watching and marvelling. They were an amazing pair, that was for certain. He couldn't remember ever seeing two other people so completely in love with each other. He smiled with the knowledge that he would do all he could to protect their relationship. It was too beautiful and free to let be destroyed.

"Unbridled, Part 2"
By: Dani
Nieme Yaresh
Orn Gham [NPC]

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 6, 4ABY

***

"See you later, Master Darr!" Nieme waved vigorously at Koran as he walked towards the Temple and she and Dani skipped into the forest to seek the waterfall. With as sticky as they were from the creamy ices, they needed a good wash, but it was the time alone together, naked, that sent them rushing to the reservoir.

Nieme was weary from the run to the city, and the walk back, and felt her muscles beginning to ache as she knew they would eventually. The Force may have aided them, but it didn't spare them from the after-effects of such exertion. "Oh, this is going to feel so nice," Nieme moaned. "And if you massage my back, I'll do yours."

"Oh definitely," Dani said with a grin as she once again slipped her hand into Nieme's. "I think when I get into the water, I'm going to just want to fall asleep there. Too bad it doesn't get all warm like a bath. I think that would be dreamy. Maybe we should take a bath later in the temple. Get the water all soapy and bubbly, and just sink in there and make all our aches go away. But, for now, my hands will banish all your aches and tiredness, my star."

They wended their way through the forest lazily until they came upon the waterfall clearing. The spray from the crashing water refreshed Nieme's worn body and cooled it down to a comfortable temperature. She closed her eyes and let the water droplets soothe her, and before she was even aware of it, she had begun shedding her sweat-dampened clothing. She opened her eyes again and saw Dani doing the same, and she couldn't help but watch. "Dani," Nieme said with a sigh. "Do you think we'll always be together?"

Dani smiled and moved closer to Nieme, her eyes holding Nieme's. "Always. I can't imagine my life without you in it now. We belong together, Nieme. We're a part of each other. It's like trying to go off without your arm or your nose."

Nieme giggled softly, then looked down solemnly at their fallen clothing. "I just don't want to be like Master Darr. I don't want to be alone again, Dani. I just get scared sometimes that I'll lose you and I will be."

"That won't happen," Dani said as she stepped closer to Nieme. "And, I don't think Master Darr plans to stay like that. I think there's someone he wants to be with. I got a sense of that, felt it, when you asked him. Now we just have to find out who it could be." She smiled and kissed Nieme. "I think that could be fun."

Her spirits lifted quickly upon mention of a possible secrete scouting mission, and that their own master was the target made her giggle along with Dani. "But the possibilities are so few!" Nieme started to the edge of the reservoir with Dani. "I mean, there's Jae Dyn Brael, and Yelara Zaneth, and Laedra Vorrel..." She gasped, and spun to face Dani. "Maybe it's one of us! Oh the hunky master must be so disappointed that we're both taken...."

Dani giggled wildly. "Oh it could be," she said. "But, he'll be so sad when we can't be what he wants us to be. Whichever of us it is. Oh, so sad. It's too bad we can't return his affections. He is quite hunky. But, if he wanted us, he should have come here before we'd committed ourselves to each other. Poor Master." She dipped her toe in the water. "Oh, it's perfect. I bet it's you, Nieme. He saw your tongue cleaning off my creamy ice drips, and he wanted you all for his own. Master Darr wants you to be able to clean up his creamy ice drips too!"

"Oh, I'd gladly clean him up," Nieme said with a throaty chuckle. She ran her fingers along Dani's spine and leaned in close to her ear. "But I'd rather clean you, my love. Now get in so I can start doing just that." Nieme kissed Dani's cheek quickly, then with a shrill whoop, launched herself into the reservoir.

Dani let out a wild giggle, and followed Nieme into the water. She stayed under the water for about thirty seconds, before breaking the surface and sending out a spray of water as she flung her hair about. It was too wonderful a feeling, but not nearly as wonderful as the feeling of Nieme's wet body sliding up against her own. At first, Nieme couldn't even float, but in their time together at the Temple, she and her love were practically fish. She grinned at Nieme who easily tread water before her, hands resting gently on Dani's hips. "I like getting clean with you," she whispered.

Nieme shook her head. "You're not clean yet, my love." She winked at Dani as she took in a deep lungful of air and submerged herself. Her mouth latched onto one of Dani's nipples and suckled it. She was able to hold her breath longer than she could upon first learning to swim, but she still needed to come up for air from time to time. Once she did, she grinned at Dani. "I missed a spot at the parlour. Had to make sure I got it this time."

Dani was still moaning when Nieme came up for air. "Oh, you definitely got it, my beautiful star," she said. "But, next time, I think you should make sure you get it while we're there. I think getting clean is very important, especially right when you get all not clean. So, next time, you will have to clean me completely right then." She gave her love a salacious grin. "I can only imagine what Master Darr and those others would have thought."

"I think Master Darr would have enjoyed watching," Nieme said. "He's not like the other masters. He's more...unconventional. I think he's wonderful! Except when he makes us train, of course."

"At least he's training us," Dani said. "We could have one of the other Masters teaching us. Or, we could have Kael's new Master, Alisson. He says that she makes him do strange things." She giggled. "But, you're right, Master Darr is very different. I think he's like us in a lot of ways. And, I think I would have enjoyed Master Darr watching too."

Nieme grinned. "There's still time."

She waded back and away from Dani, then reclined atop the water's surface and stared into the midday sky as she floated. Despite being surrounded by water and green forest, Nieme's mind wandered to her true home. "I'm afraid for the desert, Dani. I wish all the bad people would just go away and leave her be. Master Darr says it doesn't look like they'll be doing that any time soon."

Dani glided over toward Nieme and slightly ahead of her. "We're going to be diplomats for the Jedi," she said. "Maybe we can help make them go away. I don't want to think about what will happen if they don't go away. I don't want to think about the fighting, the dying. There's been too much already. We can help, Nieme. I know we can."

The cool breeze sweeping across her exposed breasts was the only thing that could snap Nieme out of her reverie and reminiscing of home. She curled inwards then brought herself upright in the water to gaze upon Dani. "We'll talk to Master Darr and when he thinks we're ready, maybe we could back to the desert and help."

"That means we'll probably have to train harder to become good Jedi," Dani said. "Maybe we should talk to Kael. He's becoming a good Jedi. He's actually getting to be really good. Sometimes when he talks, he even sounds like a Jedi."

"Well, if he were a true Jedi, he wouldn't be with Raeila." There was less bitterness in her tone than there had been before, but Nieme still felt the lingering resentment within her. "But I guess it's his choice," she muttered as she scooped up water and gently cascaded it down her chest. "If he wants to ruin his life, then he can go right ahead. I won't try and stop him again."

"She is very different with him," Dani said softly. "She doesn't feel as mean anymore. She almost feels nice. She's scared of Orn though." She brushed her lips over Nieme's shoulder and then smiled. "I imagine most of the men on this planet would say that you and I are ruining our lives by being together."

Nieme laughed quietly as she brushed her cheek against Dani's hand. "Point taken, but I still think he's making a mistake. Though, I am trying to be civil with her. I almost feel sorry for her. I pass her in the corridors sometimes, and she looks so frightened, Dani, and so lost. I guess I felt the same way when I first left Thanatos."

"If you can believe it, I felt that way when I first left Zeltron. Everything was so big and different. I want to be her friend because she needs friends. And, I really feel that she is trying to be better. She's not the same person as she was anymore. At least, she doesn't feel like it to me."

"Well..." Nieme sighed and shrugged. "All I can promise for now is that I won't try to hurt her anymore. But I am trying, Dani."

Dani trailed kisses up to Nieme's neck. "I know that, my love," she whispered. "I think one of the first parts of being a diplomat is being around people you don't want to be around...and not looking like you don't want to be around them. Raeila can be your practice."

"Really?" Nieme asked skeptically. She tilted her head to one side, graciously accepting Dani's kisses. "So I don't have to be friends, I just have to be nice?"

Dani giggled and then nodded. "Well, if you don't want to be friends, you don't have to," she said. "But diplomats always have to be nice to those people they don't like. I heard one time that you can tell who a diplomat really doesn't like because then they're super nice to that person."

"Hey!" Nieme spun around and with a laugh, pulled Dani into her arms. "Now you're saying I have to be super nice? My love, I think you're trying to be sneaky."

Dani giggled. "Not that sneaky," she said. "And, you only have to be as nice as you want to be." She brushed her lips against Nieme's. "But, as long as you're being nice to her, that's fine with me. I just don't want to feel dark feelings again. Though, I think lots of creamy ice will keep us nice and blissful for a long time. Master Koran Darr's treat. Especially if we let him clean us!"

"But only if he leaves some for me." Nieme pressed her lips fully to Dani's and let her hands slide down to her lover's rear. Even with the cool wind upon them, Nieme felt as warm as if she were baking in the hot, Thanatos sun. "Let's go onto the grass," she whispered. "We can dry off."

Dani laughed as she and Nieme started toward the edge of the reservoir. "I know what you like to do to dry off," she said. "And, I like it! I get to dry you off first though."

"It's only fair after I let you play with Kimra today." Nieme emerged from the water glistening as the waning sun shone down upon her, and shivering gently. But Dani would change that soon enough. Nieme chuckled as she lay back upon the grass, with her hands resting beneath her head and her legs spread wide in preparation. She certainly had grown to enjoy drying off with Dani.

Dani descended between Nieme's thighs, kissing her way along the tender flesh. She had a secret desire to have Koran Darr come by right now. It was completely naughty of her, but she couldn't help it. He was a very attractive man, and he got so embarrassed whenever she and Nieme did anything overtly sexual around him. Then again, their admissions earlier in the day had left both of them quite embarrassed. She had no illusions that nothing would ever happen with their Master. He wouldn't allow it, and their relationship was too strong to need anyone from the outside. However, their love was so strong, Dani was certain they could invite another to their bed and neither would be jealous. She knew that anyone else that would be invited to their bed would effectively be just like Kimra. It was no secret that she and Nieme really enjoyed their toys though...

But for now, Nieme was enjoying Dani's tongue more. She tore clumps of grass from the soil and moaned resoundingly as her love administered her expert caresses. She hoped the animals in the forest didn't mind the disruption, though she'd always thought her and Dani's cries of pleasure were beautiful sounds, ones derived from a pure, blissful love they felt for each other that she knew wasn't matched by anyone anywhere else in the universe. Not that they mattered, though. When she was with Dani, making certain her flower knew she was completely loved and admired was always foremost on Nieme's mind and the motivation behind each action she performed, whether it be a tender caress or merely a warm smile. And as she lay on the grass, crying out vocally and scraping the forest floor bare, she definitely felt Dani's love for her, and did so twice before they returned to the Temple.

***

"Oh Orn," Dani sang as she and Nieme entered the dining area. They'd changed clothes when they entered the Temple again. Now Dani wore a simple halter and a pair of tight leather pants. She'd pulled her hair back into a braid that fell down between her shoulder blades. "Orn, my love, where are you? Your two favourite girls in the whole galaxy are here to help you."

Nieme frowned at the silence that greeted them. "Maybe he's singing again and can't hear us. Let's go right in. I'm sure he won't mind." She tugged gently on Dani's hand and together they skipped towards the kitchen. The sundress Nieme wore fluttered behind her as they hopped along, and for Dani's convenience, she always abstained from wearing undergarments with that particular outfit. Besides, she enjoyed the gentle caress of the air between her legs as she moved, especially when it resembled Dani's feather light touch.

"Ready or not, Orn!" Nieme hollered. "We're coming in!" With loud roars, Nieme and Dani burst through the kitchen door, only to find Orn frantically lugging a large bag of flour towards the storage cupboard. "Oh, Orn!"

The man straightened up abruptly and stepped in front of the bag. He smiled at them and slapped his hands together eagerly as if he had been anticipating and looking forward to their arrival. In fact, he had been dreading it. "Girls, girls! I hadn't expected you here so soon. I was...uh...just getting rid of this flour over here. Seems to be infested with something or other. I'm afraid that means no baking today."

Dani frowned. "Oh, but what about the choco cake? We had our hearts and tummies set on it. Are you sure there isn't any flour at all? Is all of it bad?" Even pouting Dani was beautiful, and quite irresistible.

Orn stared at the girl and resented quickly the smile tugging at his lips. He never could deny his girls, especially when they looked as sullen and adorable as they did now. With a sigh, he threw up his hands and side-stepped away from the flour. "It's good," he said defeatedly. "All of it's good."

"You lied, Orn?" Nieme asked. The quivering lips and large, brown eyes made Orn repentant immediately.

"Look, girls, I didn't lie." He strode forward slowly and cradled both Dani and Nieme's cheeks in his hands. "It's just...you make such a mess when you're in here. I love making you things, but you're just...so sloppy."

"If you let us help, we promise not to throw flour all over the place," Dani said. "And we'll be really good. We promise. We'll try to not do silly things to each other...like pop open buttons or zips." She gave him her best sad eyes, large, round and purple. "Please?"

Not even the desert sun could affect Orn's icy, inexorable exterior, but one look from either Nieme or Dani, and one piteous entreaty, and he completely melted. "Aww, come on, then. We've got plenty of flour, my girls."

As Orn started back towards the pantry, Nieme turned to Dani and bounced soundlessly and excitedly. "Chocolate flowers, Dani! Oh I can't wait to eat those." She leaned in closer and giggled. "Just like I can't wait to eat you tonight."

The proclamation sent Dani into a fit of giggles that soon had her bouncing in place. She glanced to make sure Orn's back was turned as she turned to face Nieme, and quickly pulled her halter top up, flashing her breasts to Nieme. "Oh, I'm gonna be your giggly, squirmy purple snack tonight!"

Nieme covered her mouth with both hands, but even then her laughter was loud and boisterous. Orn glanced over his shoulder at them, but all seemed innocent enough, although he was a little suspicious of Dani adjusting her top. "Now, come over here, girls. You can help me mix the batter."

Dani grinned at Nieme, but refrained from pinching her love's beautiful butt. She knew that the halter top and the pants that were low on her hips may have been a mistake to wear with Nieme's wildly roving fingers, but Dani had to admit that she really loved those fingers. She leaned close to Nieme and whispered, "Maybe he'll let us lick the batter."

"Or maybe he'll even let us take some to our room and we can have fun with it there," Nieme suggested. "Remember, we promised to be good."

"I think he might," Dani said. "Especially if we're really good. We have to be really, really good, Nieme. I want to bring some to our room with us. I want to clean you up this time."

"What's all this chatter about?" Orn admonished playfully. "Get your little butts over here by me and mix this." He slid a large bowl of thick, brown batter towards Dani and handed her a wooden spoon. "Nieme, you can roll the dough when she's done."

"Ooh, rolling!" Nieme ran to the bag of flour and dipped her hands into it. When they came up coated with the powder, she clapped them together excitedly, creating a cloud of white dust around her.

"Be careful with that flower, Nieme," Orn called back, "or you'll be dusting the entire kitchen when we're done."

"Oh, you're such a sourpuss, Orn." Nieme giggled and returned to his side to display her floury hands. "All ready for rolling. Dani, hurry up and mix!"

"I'm hurrying," Dani said and grinned up at Orn. She worked the wooden spoon through the batter, trying to make it as smooth as possible. "I like cooking, Orn. You're a very good teacher you know. I think you're one of the best teachers here. I've learned more about cooking from you than I've learned about being a Jedi from any of the Masters. Oop." She glanced down at some of the batter as it dribbled out the side of the bowl. "I'll be careful. I've learned so much from you Orn. It's amazing. You're like...the Jedi of cooks."

Orn chuckled and grabbed a significant amount of flesh from Dani's cheek and tugged. Nieme winced at the sight, and absently rubbed her own cheek, leaving behind a streak of white powder.

"So, I'm a Jedi now, am I?" Orn mused. "Okay, but just don't expect me to become all rigid and proper like those Master fellas. They seem far too boring for me."

Dani brought a hand up and gently massaged her abused cheek. She looked up at Orn with wide eyes. After a moment, she laughed. "They are," she said. "They're so stodgy and reserved. I don't think they even know how to have fun. And, I don't think I've heard either of them laugh since we got here. What a lonely life that must be. And, I bet they couldn't even get a date if they wanted. Too uptight. You'd think they had Kimra stuffed up their--" She giggled again, not sure if she should say that in front of Orn or not. She giggled again, and pinched Orn's cheek, leaving behind a splotch of chocolate from her fingers.

"Hey!" Orn protested, but the stern expression he wore didn't last long under Dani's bewitching smile. He too was about to grin back at her when another giggle broke loose from beside him and a hand came smack down against his cheek. He swung his head around quickly toward Nieme just as she was pulling her hand away, leaving a powdery handprint on his other cheek. Orn wasn't sure whether to laugh, or reprove her, but seeing his girl smile always did touch him deeper than he ever thought another being could; he couldn't chide her after that. "You kids are crazy, you know that?" He chuckled and patted Nieme on the cheek.

"Just wait until we've got some chocolate in us," Nieme replied. "We'll be completely out of control!"

Dani dipped a finger into the large bowl of chocolate and licked a little away. She smiled at Orn and began advancing slowly toward him, hoping to leave a little smirch against his other cheek.

"When did you get so wild, Nieme?" Orn asked. "You used to be such a quiet kid."

Nieme's eyes flicked towards Dani and she barely managed to stifle a giggle. "I was only quiet on the outside," she went on to explain. "But on the inside, I always did talk a lot. It just took me a while to get it all out into the open."

"Well, I'm glad it's out. Though, I wish you wouldn't let it all out all at once. It's too much for an old guy to handle!" Orn chuckled gruffly, then turned back to hustle Dani.

Dani let out a shriek and quickly backed away. "I think you love it," she said. "I think you love us around here all wild and carefree because it makes everything so much fun. And, you love to see us happy." She glanced at Nieme and then smiled. "Just like we love to see you happy too."

Orn rearranged his facial expression to look as surly and ornery as he always had been before his two girls came along. "I'm not happy," he said, adding a stubborn grunt at the end.

"Oh, I think you are, Orn," Nieme sang. "You're happy and we make you happy."

"You do not."

Nieme snickered as she lightly tip-toed to the bag of flour with a bowl in her hand. "We do too. Tell him, Dani." She dipped the bowl into the bag and pulled it out again filled to the brim with the white substance.

Dani smiled at Nieme, and then dipped her spoon deep into the choco bowl. "Yes we do," she said with a giggle. "And, we're going to make you admit it, you know. You can't escape us, Orn my love. You'll just have to face the reality. We are your happy makers."

Orn glanced suspiciously at the dripping spoon of chocolate batter, then looked back at Nieme, skulking towards him and hefting a large bowl of flour. "Whoa! No, I don't think so, girls!" He began backing away with his hands out before him, prepared to deflect anything and everything they were planning on throwing at him. "You promised, girls!"

"We promised not to make a mess of the kitchen," Nieme explained with a mischievous smile. "But we never promised the same about you!"

"And, we promise to clean up any messes we make," Dani said with a giggle.

"No," he said firmly. "No, you will not make a mess of me and you definitely will not be cleaning me up!"

"But, Orn!" Nieme whined.

"No, Nieme. Put that spoon down, Dani." He was quickly running out of room for retreat, and the door was behind the girls so that route of escape was blocked. He was close to being cornered by two beautiful, young girls, ready and willing to tackle him and lick chocolate off his body, yet he wanted more than anything to escape. I really am getting old.

Dani dipped a finger into the spoon and sucked it off seductively. "It'll be just like painting, Orn," she said. "It's fun, Orn. You know how everyone else here is boring. This isn't boring. This is fun and exciting, and I can't think of anyone else we'd rather be sharing our choco with." Well, except for Liam Zaneth or Koran Darr, but they're not here. "And, you do so much for us..."

"No. Definitely no!" Orn bumped into the range behind him, and hastily edged along it in the direction of the door. "What about your stars and your flowers? Wouldn't you rather use your choco to make those?"

Nieme looked to Dani inquisitively, then giggled. "No, we'd rather use it to make you happy, Orn!"

"Please Orn?" Dani asked, her eyes going to their normal pleading look. "We'll make everything cleaner than it was before too. Please? Please please please?"

Orn was on the verge of relenting when Nieme gasped suddenly. "Look! He's cornered! Now, Dani! Now!"

Before he could react, a hurricane of white flour slammed into him from head to toe. He staggered aimlessly and blindly while coughing out clouds of the white substance. Then, he felt, rather than saw, the cold, dense batter slapping onto his face and torso, but with Dani's impeccable aim, most of it landed on his face. He growled and stumbled about as if in a drunken stupor. Nieme could only laugh. "Look! It's a monster! Get him again, Dani! We have to take him down. It's our duty to protect the Temple." Then she ran to refill her bowl with flour.

Dani leapt forward and flung her arms around the Orn monster. "He's big and trying to get away," she called out. "But, he's definitely cuddly! Hurry! The flour will subdue him. Gotcha, Orn monster," she said with a giggle.

"Dani!" Orn performed some intricate moves to avoid getting his legs tangled with Dani's, then toppling forward and crushing her beneath him, but still unable to see and now trying to avoid Nieme's next volley, Orn didn't think it would be long before she really did subdue the monster.

He bellowed and flailed his arms to regain his balance. Nieme erupted into a fit of laughter as pots atop the counter were tossed to the ground and created a greater din then all of her and Dani's giggles combined.

"Oh, Dani! I think we've got him!" Nieme cheered as Orn let out a final roar and collapsed to the ground with Dani sitting triumphantly atop him. "Dani! Get out of the way!" Nieme cried as she ran towards them with a bowl full of flour.

Orn finally managed to open his eyes, and when he saw what was about to befall him, he shook his head profusely. "Don't do it, Nieme!"

Dani grinned up at Nieme and then down at Orn. "I think we've got him, my love. No more need for that. See?" She leaned down and kissed him against his protests, a simple kiss and nothing that suggested more, but still a kiss. "Mmm...tasty monster."

Nieme skidded to a halt, causing the flour to spill over the edge of the bowl, but Orn was spared from it this time. "Hey," Nieme said. "I want a taste!" She giggled and pushed Dani off of Orn, then knelt by his side and licked a dab of chocolate from his cheek. "Ooh! The tastiest of monsters!"

Orn, as annoyed as he was, laughed at the treatment he was getting from his girls. "You're doing my laundry, I hope you know!"

Dani nodded. "Oh we will," she said. "We'll make sure your clothes are all nice and clean. But for now..." She went back to cleaning Orn, licking a dab of it from near his ear and then grinning at Nieme. She liked this part. Though, maybe next time they should see if Koran Darr wanted to help with making the treats.

Orn abandoned all attempts to resist, and simply lay back and enjoyed the oddest bath he'd ever had. It always amazed him how full of life his girls were, and how resilient their spirits were; they might have been injured during their captivity in the desert, but they seemed to have healed nicely.

Despite what they'd been through, they were still smiling, and he attributed it to their enduring love for one another and the joy they found in merely being alive, even if it was only to make his life difficult. But he didn't mind. He'd gladly clean the entire kitchen of flour and chocolate everyday, if only to see them as happy as they were now.