"Preparations For War, Part 1"
By: Dargus Kandran
Yelara Neerou
Keeve Zenarr [NPC+]

Location: Dargus' Cruiser - Tae'Remok System
Date: Eos 7, 4ABY

***

Three assault shuttles were ready to launch. He had two full squads ready. Thanks to the information from Yelara, he knew how many Jedi to expect. The last two days had seen preparations and plans made. All was in readiness, and soon Yelara would have Va'Lesh, Yara, and Kallia back. Keeve was standing by and ready as well. He would be in charge of Beta team, and would come in from the back of the Temple along with Alpha team. Gamma and Omega would assault from the front. Epsilon would be in charge of clean up. He didn't even want to think about what the fighters would do to the building. The Jedi wouldn't stand a chance.

He stood at the window looking out the port side of the ship, and below he could see the planet spinning slowly. He imagined he could see New Plouton and then the Jedi Temple hidden within the forest. He had the exact coordinates from Yelara, and was certain that all the Jedi would love her for revealing that information. Simultaneously to his assault, the information she'd given him would be released into the public nets. There would be a two hour timed release when the information would decrypt. Soon, everyone would know where to find the Jedi...if there were any left after his assault.

He turned as the door opened and he smiled as Yelara stepped into his office wearing a full suit of battle armour. Her helmet was tucked under one arm and the other carried a force pike. At her hip was a heavy blaster. The Jedi would be able to easily deflect the blaster bolts, to a point. He was quite certain there was a saturation point, beyond which even the most highly trained Jedi couldn't keep up. He had enough people with him that he would definitely find that limit.

"Good afternoon, my love," he said. "I see that you are ready. We will be leaving in thirty minutes. My assault troops are in a briefing right now, last minute details and adjustments to plan. You don't have to go along on this, you know. I will have them brought here as soon as we have them."

"No," Yelara said adamantly. "I have to be there. I have to convince Kallia to come back willingly. You know how stubborn she can be." She came before Dargus and reached up to kiss him tenderly. "Thank you for this, my dear. You'll be rewarded later for it."

"Your happiness is all the thanks I need," Dargus said with a smile. "But, I will accept whatever thanks you wish to give me. I'm certain you will have no problem convincing her to come with us. The Jedi won't know what hit them. Oh, this will be a glorious day, to be sure. You'll have your loves back in your arms, and the Jedi will lie in a smoking ruin."

"Well, there are a couple I might ask you to spare," Yelara mused. "But the rest are fair game."

Dargus nodded. "You will need to point out those who should be spared," Dargus said. "And, we shall allow them to live. The rest, however, will be destroyed."

"Don't worry, I'll let you know. But if you could," she said with a slow smile, "make sure you kill Laedra. She's the one with the brown hair and green eyes my husband seems to have fallen in love with."

Dargus nodded slowly. "It will be my pleasure," he said. "I don't know if she'll be there or not; I know that she and Liam had gone off-planet searching. But, if she's not there, then I will make sure to arrange a special meeting just for her. Do not worry, my love, she will die."

"Then let's get started." Yelara stepped back and gazed up at Dargus with a countenance of fierce determination. "This shall be my wedding gift to you, my Emperor. I hope it is much appreciated."

"And a wonderful gift it is too," Dargus said with a slow smile. "We'll need to catch up with Keeve first. I want to see him before the assault." He held out an arm for her to take and started toward the door. "This will be the beginning of our push to take over this planet. This is the start of the Reign of Kandran."

"And Neerou?" She glanced up at him slyly, then chuckled. "We can alternate weekly."

"And Neerou," Dargus said with an answering chuckle. "However, if you take my name when we marry, then it could be just Kandran. Whatever we call it though, it will give us more power than either of us have ever had before in our lives."

"You haven't defeated the Empire yet," Yelara reminded him. The odd guard lining the corridor bowed their heads as she and Dargus passed, making Yelara feel like an empress with or without the Empire out of the way. "Once the Jedi are dead, we can focus our attention on Tarkin's forces. They should be easy enough to dispatch."

"If we can wipe out the Jedi, we can easily handle the Empire's back-up forces. Those white-clad buffoons Tarkin is parading around down there will be no challenge at all." He looked at her and smiled. "I cannot wait to see you seated on the throne in Arcadia. You were born to grace a place such as that. Our people will adore you as much as I do."

"No, they shall worship me. And you as well." Yelara smiled dreamily as she rested her head against Dargus' arm. "Oh, the gala balls we could have, the clothes your money can buy me.... Oh, why ever did I leave you in the first place, Dargus?"

"Because Kace Mordin sweet-talked you with his lies," Dargus said. "But, you have finally come to your senses. And, soon he will no longer be a concern to anyone. I still don't understand why you would ever leave me for someone like that."

"I thought I loved him," Yelara replied quietly. "And he didn't hurt me like you did. I thought everything would be better and happier with him, and it was for a time. I should've known, though. When I found out he screwed his student, I should've known he couldn't be trusted. Gods...I was so stupid."

"He slept with Elisia? And she didn't fry his nuts off? That girl was the most frigid piece of ass I've ever met. Well, sticking his dick in her didn't thaw her out any. However, soon he shall join her. Perhaps they can be together in the afterlife."

"Wait," Yelara said with a look of confusion. "That little whore is dead? How do you know?"

"I know because I did it," Dargus said. "She had come back to me surprisingly for the same goal you now have: to hurt Liam Zaneth as badly as she could. Her new love interest, again her master, came looking for her and didn't appreciate that she was working with me. He was unbalanced, and attacked me. She chose her side, his, and I was forced to kill them both. However, it seems that Liam is not a very popular man."

Yelara nodded slowly as she absorbed Dargus' account, then shrugged lightly. "Perhaps he should've learned to keep his dick in his pants. But because of that, he will now be the cause of the Jedi's destruction. I want him to know that before he dies."

Dargus smiled. "Oh, I'll make sure he knows it. If you'd like, I can beat him down to nothing, and you can make the killing blow. I can't imagine watching me kill him will be as fulfilling. But to take out your pain, rage, and hatred all right then and there on him...I imagine you'd like that."

"Perhaps," she said uncertainly. "I've never killed anyone before, Dargus. As much as I hate him, I don't know that I can do that." Yelara sighed. "But, I also never thought I would share myself with you again, so anything's possible."

"We'll see when we get there then," Dargus said. "I'll give you the chance if you are willing, otherwise I will kill him." They turned a corner and approached Keeve's door. He looked down at her and smiled. "When I talked to him a couple hours ago, he was very excited about this. He's really looking forward to this assault."

"Well, the prospect of battle will always take a boy's mind off a lost love."

Dargus rang the doorchime, and as if he had been awaiting them to come and inform him it was time, Keeve promptly answered the door. He too was decked out in armour with a blaster strapped to each thigh. He nodded to Dargus and grinned at Yelara as he glossed his eyes over her form, especially the breastplate moulded perfectly to the shape of her breasts. "Mother dearest, you're looking enchanting as ever."

Yelara chuckled dryly. "And you're looking as cocky as ever."

"That's a trait I inherited from my father," Keeve replied. "I would've thought you'd appreciate that."

"I appreciate that organ dangling between your legs more."

Keeve moaned dramatically as he pressed his hand to his heart. "Oh, you wound me, Lady Bitch."

"And you bore me," she retorted sweetly.

"Your banter is arousing," Dargus said with a laugh. "Now, it looks like you're ready to go, Keeve. I take it Beta Squad is all set." He put a hand on Keeve's shoulder. "At the end of the day, I want you to come back to me. Don't get yourself killed. You're the only son I have, and even though I wasn't involved in your conception, you are very important to me, Keeve. Stay safe, but take out as many of them as you can."

Keeve gave Dargus a duteous nod. "I'll bring home some heads if I can manage it. I won't fail you, Father."

Dargus smiled. "Just make sure to get them preserved before they stink up the place," he said. "And, Yelara has a few people there she doesn't want killed. She'll be able to tell us who that is though."

"And you better obey me!" she warned playfully. "I know how to use this force pike. I was taught by a Jedi Master himself."

"I'm living in fear," Keeve replied sarcastically. He laughed and leaned forward to kiss Yelara upon the cheek. "Don't worry. Father will be leading the men infiltrating the Temple. He'll keep me in line."

Dargus laughed and slapped Keeve's arm. "You can do better than that," he said. "If you're going to kiss her, kiss her. Otherwise just shake her hand. I taught you better than that."

Keeve rubbed his arm while he wore a pained expression on his face. "I figured you'd hit me if I did," he explained. "But now I see I've got it backwards." He gave Yelara his most dashing smile and slipped an arm around her waist. "For good luck," he said before pulling her to him and kissing her fervently on the lips. Yelara returned the kiss with as much intensity, and when it broke, she staggered back towards Dargus looking flustered. "Better, Father?"

"Oh yes," Yelara replied breathlessly. "Much."

"Yes, definitely much better," Dargus said. "Now, I am certain that you're my son. Of course, she's not going to be able to get any satisfaction from that kiss until after all of this is over." He slipped an arm around her and kissed her throat. "Don't worry, my love, I'll take care of you once we're safe and back aboard ship. Then again, you could probably have Kallia do the same."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Yelara said more seriously. "We have to find her first and get her to return. Then we can start making plans."

"Well, then let's get going," Keeve said eagerly. "The sooner we get there, Father, the sooner you and Yelara can...relieve each other."

"If you're really good," Dargus said, "perhaps you can get some relief too. Come on." With that, he led them out of the room and toward the launch bay.

"Repairs seem to be coming along nicely," Keeve commented as he made a show of looking around the corridor. "I'm surprised, though, that your cloning facility managed to remain intact."

"There was some minor damage, but the cloning areas are one of the most well defended sections of the ship. All bulkheads are double-thick with enhanced shielding. There was a pile of dead bodies stacked outside there because they couldn't get past the interior defenses. I have a feeling once the reports are made, if they make another attack, that's where they'll concentrate their efforts."

"Why not set up your cloning facility on a base?" Yelara asked. "I mean...having it on your cruiser just makes it a bigger target. Who wouldn't wanna get their hands on that technology?"

"Anyone that could find a reason to use clones of people. Armies are the biggest reason, and with the noise Tarkin's making, then I can definitely see how others might want it...or Tarkin. I think the New Republic would be too squeamish about it. I want to set up a base in a different system, and establish a cloning facility there. In Tae'Remok is too close."

"Especially with that bastard Zale Tregat sticking his nose where it doesn't belong," Keeve spat vehemently. "Him and Kaysa!"

"Oh, they will definitely learn they can't go around sticking their nose into my business. After we've dealt with the Temple, we'll go after them. Though, I think they'll have to suffer first. There will be much suffering for the pain they've caused. Maybe their musician will get caught in the way too. Won't that be a pity?"

Keeve snorted wryly and shook his head. "I can't believe she chose them over me.... I can't--" He sighed and looked away.

"Now, now, Keeve. You mustn't think about her." Yelara smiled at him warmly and added, "Aren't I enough of a consolation for her loss?"

He chuckled wanly and brushed a hand against Yelara's cheek. "Yeah. Yeah, you are."

"Well, once they're dead, Keeve, she can't really choose them any longer, can she? Once they're out of the way, she'll be yours again. But for now, we must concentrate on the here and now. Now, don't make me ask Yelara to loosen that tension you're feeling..."

Yelara laughed softly and Keeve forced a smile for Dargus. He was trying, but Dargus didn't understand that he wanted Shiv to love him freely and solely. Even with Kaysa and Merrick out of the way, her love for them would still live, and that's what he couldn't bear.

The three of them reached the launch bay, and as the blast doors parted sluggishly, Keeve immediately felt like royalty. There were at least twelve ranks of soldiers, all in gleaming black armour, flanking either side of Dargus' Bothan Amberstrike carrier, and creating an unobstructed path for their procession. All stood at attention and bowed their heads as the three of them passed, which awed Keeve. Dargus' presence alone commanded unwavering respect, though he believed that had more to do with the fear he instilled in his men than anything noble in Dargus' character. Keeve knew he could never be as imposing a presence as Dargus was, but then again, he didn't want to lead an army or run an Empire; he only wanted to be with Shiv.

As they came to the ramp of the dwarfing vessel, Dargus turned to face his soldiers. Keeve took his place on Dargus' left, while Yelara took his right, a place legitimately hers as his alpha and future empress. He watched, once again in amazement as all eyes shifted to Dargus and waited expectantly for what inspiring words would come from his lips.

"A few short days ago, a group from the planet below attacked our ship, disrupted our way of life, and took from us that which they had no right. Today, we will get some of what they took back. Today we will strike fear into the hearts of those who would steal from us again and strike down those who would oppose us later. Today we will fight the Jedi that stand between us and our goal. We outnumber them twenty to one. Some of us will die, but our cause is noble. For each of us that fall, our ferocity will grow...and I pity any who stand against us, for they will surely fail against our might. Carry yourselves bravely, shoot straight, and, no matter the outcome, you will be honoured and remembered. Now, get into your ships, and bring honour to the cause for which we fight: the future Empire that will begin here on Tae'Karada. Victory is ours!"

That alone was more than enough to tear victorious cheers from his men's throats and send them sprinting to their ships. Even with their uproarious cries and seemingly mad rush, they still looked orderly and well-organized.

Keeve saw the pride in Yelara's face as she gazed up at Dargus, and he too felt the same for this man who had become his father. He stepped away from Dargus and stood at attention before him, as any good soldier would do for his leader. "Good luck, Lord Kandran," he said dutifully. "We will not fail you today."

Dargus reached out and put a hand on Keeve's shoulder. "Fight well, my son," he said. "When this day is over, you shall be rewarded. Make me proud."

Keeve bowed his head to Dargus, then looked up again and smiled at Yelara. "Take care of your beauty, Father. You'll never find one like her anywhere else in the universe."

Yelara elbowed Dargus and grinned at him. "I told you so."

Dargus grinned. "Yes, you did," he said. "Keeve, stay safe. And, tonight, we'll share Yelara, you and me." He held out a hand to the boy, the pride showing clearly in his eyes as he did.

Keeve clasped Dargus' hand in a firm grip. "See you on the battlefield, Father." He pulled his hand away and rested it atop the helmet under his arm. With a wink for Yelara, he turned on his heel and marched towards his shuttle.

"You think he'll be alright down there?" Yelara asked with mild concern.

Dargus watched after Keeve and finally nodded. "Yes," he said. "I think he'll be better than alright down there. It'll help take his mind off Maeren, and he knows what he's doing. He'll be fine." He reached down and took her hand. "You don't mind being shared tonight, do you?"

Yelara looked pensively at her hand linked with Dargus', then shook her head. "I don't mind. I know you love me." She gazed up at him and smiled tenderly. "And I know where my heart lies as well. Besides, it'll be a time for celebration, therefore fun will be in order. I'm surprised you suggested it, but I'm all for it."

Dargus laughed. "If it were anyone but Keeve, I probably wouldn't have suggested it. And, after today, I think the celebration for the three of us will be a good thing. And, I know you and I have fun together, and you and Keeve have fun together, so I figured the three of us would have a great time. We'll see..." He kissed her. "And, I do love you, Yelara, more than I ever thought I could."

"More than I ever thought you could." She returned Dargus' kiss, then giggled as she playfully pushed him away. "Now, Lord Kandran, you have a fleet to command. We'd better get moving. I want my babies back."

"Come on, let's get aboard," he said as he started up inside of the command shuttle. "Now, I don't want you doing anything down there that will get you hurt or worse. Stay near me and we'll find Kallia and the babies. Once we find them, you can talk to them and convince them to return with us. And, I know you can."

Yelara nodded in agreement, but when they were actually down there, she wasn't so sure if she could keep her promise. "Don't worry. I'll be okay. I know my way around the Temple, so I should be able to move in unseen."

As they settled inside the shuttle, he handed her a comlink. "If you need my help, just contact me through that. It has a locater in it, so I should be able to find you almost immediately. Hopefully you'll be in less danger because you used to live there. I doubt the Jedi would be too willing to cut down the wife of Liam Zaneth, regardless of your feelings for him now."

Yelara strapped the comlink to her wrist. "I'm sure I'll have Kallia's protection as well. Just worry about yourself, Dargus. We can't have an Empire with a dead emperor."

"Oh, you don't need to worry about me, my love. I doubt any of those Jedi down there could even cause me to break a sweat. They're all either old men and children. Besides, the Force is with me, not them."

"How about me?" Yelara asked with a pout. "I've slept with enough Jedi. That's gotta be good for a little protection from the Force."

Dargus laughed. "Well, considering those you've been with...with one exception, you'll have a lot on your side. Get her back, Yel. I know you can. If she'll listen to anyone in this, it's you. And, with as much as she loves you, she'll jump at the chance. I imagine they had to take her kicking and screaming from the ship in the first place."

"She wanted to be here with me," she said quietly. "I know she wouldn't have gone willingly. She'll come back to me." She smiled confidently at Dargus. "She'll be back."

"I know I said that you, Keeve, and I would be together tonight, but I don't mind if you spend tonight in her bed. You deserve the time there." He reached down into the control panel by his side, and signalled the pilot to move out with the rest of the fleet. He looked up at her and smiled. "And, it begins."

Yelara kept her own smile in place, but inside, there was a swirl of confusion and doubt. She'd lived among the Jedi for months, she'd befriended them and had become a part of their unique family; now, she was helping lead an attack against them that would most likely end up with some of them hurt or dead.

She looked away from Dargus and gazed out of the viewport by her seat. Tae'Karada was a prominent figure in the otherwise desolate darkness outside, and soon it would become a battlefield where Dargus would wage his war for power. She would help him, and each death that came as a result would be her fault, and remain on her conscience for as long as she still had one; considering what she was in the process of helping Dargus do, she didn't think it would last for much longer. But it would be worth it if she could have Kallia once again in her arms, and worth it if she could make Liam pay.

---

"Preparations For War, Part 2"
By: Dani
Koran Darr
Kael Selrid
Nieme Yaresh
Dargus Kandran
Yelara Neerou
Keeve Zenarr [NPC+]

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 7, 4ABY

***

Down on the planet, outside of the Temple that was Dargus Kandran's target, Dani and Nieme frolicked in the water. It was a sign that the Jedi suspected nothing, that everything was as it should be. They'd helped Orn with his cooking and then cleaned up the mess they made of him. To clean up the mess they'd made of themselves, they'd opted for another swim in the small lake at the base of the waterfall.

Dani came up out of water and giggled at Nieme who was floating beside her. "I think we need to find Orn a girlfriend," she said.

"I thought we were his girlfriends?" Nieme said with a note of sincerity in her voice. "If we find him someone, he won't have time to cook us all those yummy meals."

Dani grinned. "Well, I think when we were licking all that choco off him, he was getting really happy. He was very good and didn't take advantage of us, but he was still liking what we were doing very much. He needs girlfriends who will...do that for him." Dani giggled, and then launched a splash of water onto Nieme's belly.

Nieme held her hands up defensively and yelped as the disruptive movement submerged her. She came up from under the water laughing and shook off her hair rigorously. "Well, we don't really know anyone, Dani," she said, returning to the topic of discussion. "And he wouldn't go for it anyway. He's really shy, though he doesn't show it."

Dani giggled. "That's true," she said, and began chewing her lip deep in thought. "Maybe we can find someone in the city. I mean, if I wasn't completely and absolutely devoted to you, I would be with him. But, like you said, he might not like that. He is a wonderful man, and I'm sure he'd make someone very happy. There's a new club opening up, maybe we can find someone there for him. Then we can lick the choco off his face, and they can lick it from...other places."

Nieme snickered and playfully splashed Dani with a handful of water. "He might not want us licking after we find him the most beautiful woman on Tae'Karada...aside from us, of course."

"Oh, I think Orn will always have a place for us licking him in his life," Dani said. "His new beautiful woman might not like that, but she'll just have to get used to it. And, she shouldn't complain anyway...she'll get to have the most fun parts anyway."

"Well, we've got our own fun parts." Nieme took Dani's hands and pulled her into an embrace. "And I like playing with yours much more than I could ever like playing with anyone else's."

"Oh, we've got very nice parts," Dani said with a giggle. "I especially like your boobies. They are absolutely perfect. On my homeworld, you would be loved and respected for your boobies. Well for other reasons too, but them especially." A gentle rippling suddenly spread out over the water, and Dani shivered when a breeze whipped over the water. "Oh my...it sure got cold fast. I wonder if bad weather's coming."

Nieme moaned happily and brushed her lips against Dani's. "I hope it rains. I love it when it's all dark and gloomy. We can lock ourselves away in our room and just lay in bed for the rest of the day." The wind seemed to pick up unnaturally quickly and set the tree leaves fluttering, and the water from the falls pelting them with droplets that felt like needles poking their flesh. Nieme too shivered. "Should we go back now? I don't think I like it out here anymore."

Dani looked around and shivered from more than the cold. "Yes," she said absently, "we should go back. Let's get our clothes and go."

Nieme and Dani moved to the edge of the reservoir and emerged from the water. Nieme's teeth chattered loudly as the wind continued to chill their bodies to the bone. A low rumbling grew in the distance and Nieme looked overhead at the sky. It was still clear, but all signs indicated a storm approaching. "Such strange weather," she mumbled as she hastily threw on her robes.

Dani grabbed her robe and pulled it on while bundling the rest of her clothes under her arm. With one arm holding her robe closed and the other carrying her clothes, she had to rely on her Jedi training to keep her balance. "Come on," she said. "I bet there's rain on the way. I don't think we want to get caught in it down here. If nothing else, we can just lock ourselves in our room for the rest of the night."

"Yeah..." Nieme slipped her hand into Dani's and gripped it tightly. She didn't know what it was, but she was anxious about something. All she did know was she couldn't wait to get back to the Temple and to the security of their room. Barefoot and trembling, Nieme and Dani started down the path back to the Temple. Gentle, almost imperceptible vibrations arose from the forest floor, which caused Nieme to quiver even more, and the rumbling in the distance only grew louder, closer. "What is that?" Nieme whispered.

Dani shook her head, not trusting her voice to speak with the sense of dread filling her. They climbed the path that would take them past the top of the falls, and then down the trail to the front of the Temple. They'd walked it every day since they'd returned from the desert...well, since Nieme awoke anyway.

As they topped the rise, Dani stopped in her tracks. "Oh goddess," she whispered. Out in the distance, a ship was descending below the canopy. One other hovered above it, waiting its turn to set down. Far in the distance, specks dotted the darkening sky. Having worked around enough ships, Dani immediately knew that those were fighters, and they were coming in this direction. "Nieme...we...we need to hurry..."

"Dani...what's going on?" She too saw the ships, and although she wasn't familiar with ship configurations, their presence still scared Nieme almost speechless. "Dani.... What are they doing here?"

"I don't know," Dani said. "But, I don't think it's good. Those are assault shuttles, and in the distance, those are fighters. I-- I think they're attacking, Nieme. I think they're here to attack the Temple." She looked at Nieme, fear clear in her eyes. "We have to warn them!"

"Oh gods," Nieme breathed. "Oh gods!" She jerked Dani forward, and together they dashed to the Temple as quickly as they could. Nieme was suddenly glad for the endurance runs Koran had taken them on, for with as fast as they were sprinting, they would have been otherwise winded before reaching the Temple if they hadn't built up their stamina. With the Force aiding them, Nieme and Dani reached the Temple in short time and burst through the front doors shouting at the top of their lungs.

Koran Darr was the first to arrive as Nieme and Dani's alarms rang throughout the Temple. His lightsaber was in hand and he quickly shed his cloak. He was piecing together what they were saying. Outside of their words though, he felt the presence. Their state of undress or the fact that Dani was trying (and failing) to hold her robe closed with one hand and holding a boot and Nieme's hand in the other didn't phase him.

"You two go get dressed, quickly," he said. "Trouble is on the way here." He turned to Nieme and stopped her before she got too far. He held up his lightsaber and tossed it to her. "I was going to be giving you that tomorrow, but now will have to do."

Nieme stared dumbfounded at the metallic rod in her hand, then up at Koran again in disbelief. "Oh.... Thank you, Master! I promise I'll use it wisely."

"I know you will," Koran said with a reassuring smile. "Now, go get dressed. We still have a little time. We'll need to gather and quickly discuss defenses around the Temple. I don't want the two of you in the middle of this, but we'll figure it out. Now go. I'll see you soon."

Nieme nodded quickly and once again pulled Dani along as she hurried down the corridor towards their room. Although they were about to face an unknown, but apparently well-armed enemy, Nieme couldn't wipe the smile off her face. "Oh, Dani. A lightsaber! All of my own! Oh, wow!"

Dani, too, was excited at the prospect. "We're really gonna be Jedi, Nieme. We both have lightsabers. It's for real! Oh, my love, it's so perfect!"

"I know!" Nieme's jog turned into a skip once they'd rounded the corner to their room. As they did, Nieme caught a flash of white hair and robes in the training room, and instantly pulled Dani to a halt. "Kael!" she called out. "Kael, come here!"

Kael stopped his training and cast a quizzical glance at Nieme and Dani. His eyebrows raised when he noted the amount of skin showing through the gaps in the front of their robes. He started toward them, shutting his lightsaber off and clipping it to his belt as he did. "Hi there," he said with a grin, unable to not appreciate the view they were giving him. But, he was allowed since he'd seen Raeila giving them the exact same appraising and approving look. "What's going on?"

"We're being attacked!" Nieme said, far too excitedly. "And look!" She held out her lightsaber and giggled. "Master Darr gave it to me. I can be a real Jedi now!"

Kael grinned. "Congratulations," he said. "I've always known that you'll be a great Jedi, Nieme. This just shows that you're on your way. Who's attacking us?"

Dani giggled. "We don't know yet, but they're landing their ships about three kilometers away. Master Darr just told us to go get dressed."

Kael chuckled. "Well, dressed as you are, you'd be certain to distract them...but it is best that you get dressed. I'll see you soon. Before they get here, we should get the civilians to safety."

Nieme gasped softly and looked immediately to Dani. "Orn! Oh no, no! He'll want to stay and fight. Oh, Dani, how will we keep him safe?"

Dani grinned and then laughed. "Well, my first idea wouldn't work, but my second one has merit. We hit him over the head with a pot, and then drag him to safety. What if we send him and Raeila down to the caves?"

"Yes! No one would find them there." Nieme turned to Kael again and hastily told him to find Raeila. "Bring her to the courtyard. From there, we'll take her and Orn to the caves. No one will find them there."

"Good," Kael said. "I'll go get her. Get yourselves dressed...though, I must admit you do look nice wearing nothing but your robes. I think you'd distract us as much as them if you were fighting in them." He started down the hallway backwards, still watching them. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

"Okay, and we promise to be naked when you get back!" Nieme giggled and gave Kael a wink before turning with Dani and starting off in the opposite direction.

"I think he likes looking at us too much," Dani said with a grin. "Though, I guess it's fair since we got to watch him change the other day. He's...very nice looking. But, not as nice as you. I guess that's why he prefers to look at us, instead of into a mirror."

Nieme couldn't help but blush and looked absolutely unfazed by what was about to befall them all, especially with Dani flattering her like she was. "Do you think we have time to play with Kimra before we see Orn?"

Dani looked back down the hall they'd walked through just a few moments before. "I don't think we do," she said. "They're coming quickly. I can sorta feel them. I think we need to hurry, Nieme."

Nieme's mood sobered and she instinctively drew closer to Dani. "I'm so scared, Dani. I love you and I don't want to lose you. We have to stay safe together."

Dani smiled and wrapped her arms around Nieme. "We'll protect each other," she said. "And, I bet that Master Darr will send us to the caves too. We're not good fighters yet, not like Kael. He'll want us to watch over Raeila and Orn."

"With our lightsabers?" That alone almost raised Nieme's spirits again, but the melancholy she now felt was too great to be dispelled by the prospect of using her weapon, especially since its main use would be to help keep them all alive. "I wish we could fight. I don't want Kael or anyone to get hurt."

Dani nodded and then smiled at her love. "Kael will be fine, Nieme. You've seen him with his lightsaber. He's practically a master with it already. And he's so focused and centered. They'll all be fine. And, maybe they'll send Aurra with us too. And, if they do come after us there in our hiding place, then we can stop them with our lightsabers. But, our job as Jedi will be to keep the others safe. That's an important job too. Kael and Master Darr can protect themselves, but not Orn or Raeila."

Nieme nodded, but still clung to her love for support. "We're diplomats. We're supposed to make sure people are safe and protected. I guess this will be like practice for us, right?"

"Exactly like practice," Dani said with a grin. "Come on, let's get in our most influential clothes so we can be perfect diplomats. Then we have to go make sure the others are safe."

So, together, Dani and Nieme slipped into their shared room and found clothing as sophisticated as they could find within their wardrobe full of revealing leather outfits. They'd be diplomats for the first time today, but judging from the armada that had landed in the forest, she didn't feel too confident about approaching them for a parley. She hoped the Masters and Kael were enough to stop them, but if they weren't, Nieme and Dani would be waiting in the caves, ready to fight for their home.

***

It was several minutes later when Kael joined Koran Darr at the entrance of the Temple. The Jedi Master seemed concerned, but not worried. He turned to face Kael and nodded.

"Dani and Nieme told me," Kael said. "They're taking Raeila and Orn to the caves for safety."

"Good, it'll keep all of them out of harm's way. Aurra Sgall should probably be there as well. She isn't ready for this sort of conflict."

Kael stared out through the door in the direction Koran had been looking. "Are they there?"

"They are. The fighters are hovering for now. They're waiting for the ground troops to get into position. Once they're ready, the fighters will come in first, and hit the Temple. And, then the ground troops will pour over us."

Kael looked up at the Jedi Master. "Are there enough of us to hold them off?"

"There will have to be. In the fight, I want you to be careful. You're making much progress, but you're not a full Jedi yet."

"I'm one of the best with a lightsaber here!"

Koran smiled. "You have to be more than good with a lightsaber, Kael. You will do fine, I know, but I still want you to be careful. And, be mindful of your feelings." Kael was good, but in the boy's mind he was better than he was. It was clear that he would eventually be one of the best, and was on the way there now, but he wasn't a master of the lightsaber yet.

"Yes, Master," Kael said with a bow.

"Now, go and get Alisson, Kal'Aran, and Quinlan." He shook his head and looked to the stars. If he'd ever needed Laedra and Liam, this would be the time. "Hopefully we can hold back the invaders with just us. Now go, Kael and hurry. They're getting closer."

***

All the shuttles were on the ground and the fighters were circling, waiting for the order to begin their strafing runs. Dargus surveyed his people lined up and ready for the trek that would take them into the front door of the Temple. Yelara had already used the shuttle's systems to remotely disable the perimeter early-warning systems.

He turned to Yelara once all the squads were assembled. "They probably know we're here, but they won't know where we are with the sensors knocked out."

"And to give us more of an advantage, some can storm through the front, and the rest can go with us through the courtyard in the back," Yelara suggested. "They won't even see us coming."

Dargus gave her a lust-filled smile. "Oh I love you," he said. "How could we not have seen how good we are together sooner?" He spun away to face his men. "Alpha and Beta teams are with me. Gamma and Omega, go in from the front. Epsilon, form a perimeter. No one gets through. Let's move out!" He turned back to Yelara. "Ready to get your loved ones back?"

Yelara slipped her helmet on and gripped her force pike before her with both gloved hands. "I'm ready, my lord."

Dargus started ahead with Yelara at his side. He was the only one without armour, but he was the only one who didn't need it. Within fifteen minutes, they would be at the Temple, and within an hour the Jedi would lie in destruction. Dargus looked over at Keeve, marching at the head of his columns of troops. He was the perfect soldier, and Dargus couldn't be more proud of him. He turned to Yelara. "He's going to make us very proud today."

Yelara knew who he was talking of without having to look in Keeve's direction. "The son you've always wanted?"

"He is," Dargus said with a smile. "And, I didn't even have to change a single diaper."

Yelara laughed softly. "It's a good thing, then, that I won't be giving you one. I hate changing diapers too."

"I guess I could always get one of my protocol droids to do it," Dargus said with a laugh.

With the blast shield of her helmet still up, Yelara shot Dargus a suspicious gaze. "You want a child, don't you. You want me to give you a son, an heir."

"You would make me the happiest emperor in the galaxy. But, I don't want to force you into having my child, but if you want to, then I will be very happy. And, if not, I'll still be content. Though, I am very curious to see what we could make together."

Yelara grinned slowly and shifted her gaze to the path they were treading to the Temple. She had to admit, she was curious too and it certainly would torment Liam to know his wife was bearing the child of his enemy, as she had seen an example of when they feared Leshie was Dargus'; knowing she willingly conceived one with him would be worse by tenfold. Her grin became feral as she thought of the pain she could inflict upon Liam. Despite the struggles of labour, pregnancy was beginning to look far too appealing now. "I'll stop the contraceptives," she said decisively. "It might take another month before we can even attempt to conceive, but if I stop now, it could be even sooner."

"Keeve will be sad, but I'm certain he'll understand. Or, we just make him use contraceptives when he's with you. I love you, Yelara. I'll give you anything and everything, and today I give you the means to get back your loves."

"And in return, you get the son you've always wanted." Yelara chuckled throatily. "Perhaps we can even name him 'Liam.' Wouldn't Kace Mordin just love that...."

"Oh, I think he would love it," Dargus said with a large smile. "Our son, Liam Kace Kandran. Perhaps we could send Mr. Mordin some holographs of the birth, and our baby boy's proud parents. Oh, we are truly viciously wonderful, my dear."

Yelara slipped her arm through Dargus' and gazed sidelong at him. "I wouldn't be if you hadn't helped me reach my full potential. We really should have done this a long time ago."

Dargus laughed. "Oh, we have plenty of lost time to make up for, my love," he said. "I think after we've gotten your babes back, we should take a little vacation. Just nothing but practicing for making our baby."

"To Corellia? Oh, please say Corellia. I want to visit my grandfather. He'll be so worried about me!" Yelara's smile disappeared and a look of concern crossed her features. "Oh gods.... I should've commed him long ago. He'll think something horrible's happened. Definitely Corellia, Dargus. I can even introduce you," she added with a slight grin.

"I'd be honoured to meet your grandfather," Dargus said. "And, as soon as we're out of here, you can contact him. How does that sound?"

"Thank you," she whispered. "I imagine Orinth will like you much better than he did Liam."

"Oh, I can't imagine how anyone could ever like Liam. He's so dark, brooding, and boring."

"Oh, I know!" Yelara agreed. "Though, it used to be charming. I guess the mysterious air is what appealed to me at first, and then his eyes..." She grinned at Dargus as she nudged him gently. "Don't worry. I still hate him more than I ever loved him. I'm yours now, Dargus."

"As it should have been," Dargus said. "But, all things happen for a reason. Your choosing Liam led me down the path I'm on now. Had you chosen me from the beginning, then I doubt I would have gained the power I now possess. All things happen for a reason, and today they happen for our reasons. Now, the Jedi shall stay dead."

"Except for the ones I told you to leave alive, right?" She looked sternly at Dargus and nodded slowly. "Right? You'll make sure Kael lives, and make sure they don't hurt Kallia."

"Yes," Dargus said with a smile. "But, the rest will all be killed. Perhaps when this is over, your friend Kael might like to join us."

Yelara sighed. "I don't know." A slow smile then spread her lips. "But I know of a way to convince him if necessary..."

Dargus laughed. "Well, I don't know if there will be time for that with the fight going on, but if you can convince him, then do so. He sounds like he has the kind of talent we could use. If he won't join us, you'll need to make sure he doesn't stand against us."

"He and I have a...bond of sorts. He won't oppose us," she assured him with complete confidence.

Dargus chuckled and kept himself from putting an arm around her. "Oh, I can just imagine what kind of bond you have with him," he said. "Well, you work your magic on him, and we'll make sure he stays alive."

Yelara nodded and hid another smile. She'd enjoy working her magic on Kael again. As she twirled her pike in her hands to warm-up for the coming battle, Dargus' comlink began chirping. "Who is it?"

Dargus checked the incoming signal. "It's Keeve," he said, and then opened the channel. "This is Dargus. Report, Beta Leader."

"Team Epsilon is in position, my lord. Gamma and Delta are approaching the Temple, and I've told them to hold once they are in position to await your go ahead."

"Very good, Keeve," Dargus said. "Take up your position. We'll move as soon as we have reached the attack positions. You'll be to the left, Alpha to the right, and vapourize anyone that gets stuck between you."

"Will do, my lord." Keeve paused for a moment. "Good luck again, Father. And tell Yelara to stay out of trouble."

"I'll do so, Keeve," Dargus said. "Make sure to watch for the one named Kael. He's not to be harmed, nor is Kallia Brael. The others are all fair game, however. The Force will be with you, Keeve."

"I know it will, Father. Beta Leader out."

"He'll be well protected," Yelara said to Dargus. "Don't worry about him."

"I know he will, and I'm not worried. Despite the fact that he's only ten years old, he has a lot of experience packed into his head and he was made for this sort of action. I have confidence in him, my love. I have full confidence in him. Now, get yourself prepared for this. We're coming up on our position."

Yelara flicked closed her blast shield and tightened her grip on the force pike in her hands. She wasn't prepared to go against trained Jedi, but she'd have protection. All she needed to do was find Kallia and the children, and it would be done. Hopefully she could get her love out of there before the bloodshed started. Kallia would never forgive her for this, but she was doing this for love, and if Kallia didn't understand, she'd make her.

Dargus unclipped his lightsaber from his belt and raised the double hilt above his head. He looked around to where his people were arrayed around him. He ignited the blade, and his warriors dropped into battle crouches. He twirled the blade and brought it down quickly. As the crimson beam cut through the air, Alpha and Beta teams charged forward, blaster rifles held ready for any opposition.

It had begun.

---

"Recent Arrivals"
by Talara Sorenne
and Jedi Master Andro Ki'Ayalin

Location: Yemol District, New Plouton
Date: Eos 7, 4ABY

***

"They're all naked!"

From behind where Talara Sorenne crouched by the window looking down at the various throngs moving along on the streets below, a deep sigh was heard. "It is the custom of this planet. They have few inhibitions and do not feel discomfort at walking around in this...manner."

"Don't they get cold?"

Andro Ki'Ayalin sighed once more and sat on the edge of his bed. "I am certain if the weather gets cold enough here they will be cold. Perhaps then they dress in warmer clothing. However, most of this planet is a desert, therefore I imagine there isn't much of a winter season."

"Why would they wear those dresses though, Master? And, all the men, they aren't as equally revealed."

Another sigh. "They're not in the same state as the women because this planet was once run by a high prince who made that flimsy garment the standard attire for women."

Tala nodded, understanding a little more. "Oh, so...so the women were like those slave girls on Maelstra?"

"Something like that," he said. "From the little I have read, the women of this planet are little more than second-class citizens who are expected to devote themselves to their husband. And, all women are expected to become a wife to some man. Possibly one of many."

She wrinkled her nose and gazed out the window once more. "I don't ever want to be married. Especially not like that." She turned back to him. "I am going to be a Jedi."

Andro smiled once more. "And, you're going to be a wonderful Jedi at that, my young Padawan. Now, it's time for your meditation. While you do that, I am going to run out for some food for us."

"Yes, Master," Tala said as she moved to the foot of the bed that she had claimed when they'd walked into the door. She settled to the ground, smoothing her skirt as she did. "Can you get some of that choco too?"

Andro laughed. "Just a little," he said. "I knew it was a mistake to buy that for you after we got off the transport."

"But it looked so tasty, and it was too!"

Andro moved toward the door. "I'll see you soon, Talara. This time, I would like for you to contemplate Odann's Seventh Axiom."

"Yes, Master," Tala said again. "Though, I prefer his sixth. It seems to have more relevance in today's society."

"What do you know of today's society? You've barely been off your homeworld for two weeks."

The girl grinned. "I've heard the news reports," she answered. "But I will meditate on Odann's Seventh."

"Very good." And, with that, he'd stepped out the door.

Once the door was closed, Talara Sorenne closed her eyes. This had been the only life she'd known for all of her life. Well, eleven years of her life since she really didn't remember much of those first two years. Not consciously at least. During meditations she would often see glimpses of the time before Master Ki'Ayalin had come to her parents. He'd said that two years old was a perfect time to begin training as a Jedi, and so she had.

She was destined to be a Jedi, and the look in her master's eyes clearly showed that he was pleased with her progress. At thirteen years old, she was actually farther along than she would have been had she been trained in the Old Republic. With a single master dedicated to her training, it was much easier to move ahead. And, now, Master Ki'Ayalin did not wish to move her too far past her body's own development. He was quite certain that in two years, she'd be able to take her trials.

She liked that idea, especially since Master Ki'Ayalin had had a vision of the new Temple on this planet. They hadn't expected the Empire to be a presence here, but since neither showed outward signs of what they were, there were no difficulties. They'd gotten off their transport earlier that day, and found this hotel to stay in. Tomorrow they would begin searching for the Temple that had drawn them here. Perhaps tomorrow, for the first time in her life, Talara would be able to train alongside other Jedi. As she descended deeper into her meditation, the thought brought a smile to her face.

---

"Slow Recovery"
By: Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat-Braston
Merrick Braston

Location: The gang's apartment - Yesdol, New Plouton
Date: Eos 7, 4ABY

***

It had been a day since her rescue and not once had Kaysa found one moment alone. Zale had forbid her from stepping foot outside the apartment without an escort, so even then she could find no solitude. It did show how much they loved her, but she only wished they would stop being so overprotective. They did stop asking her how she was feeling once they realized they would get nothing more out of her than a reassurance that she was fine, but they still hovered about, watching her scrupulously to make certain she really was as well as she professed she was.

The truth was, Kaysa Zenarr was not okay. She had barely had an hour's sleep the previous night and didn't think she'd get anymore that night. Each time she closed her eyes and the darkness consumed her vision, his face appeared. She didn't wake up screaming as Shiv had after her return, but inside her mind did scream for a release from the prison Vrax had trapped it in.

His smell was still on her skin, no matter how many times she showered, and she tasted him on her lips. The physical signs of her ordeal were still visible in the many bruises, cuts, and other marks upon her body; so, with all that remained to trigger memories of her time with Vrax, there could be no escape.

She wrapped the blanket draped over her shoulders tighter around herself and curled up into an even smaller ball on the window embrasure. At least while she was staring out into the city, she could let her mind roam and give herself the illusion that she had found some time alone. The first time Merrick had seen her like this, he worried that she'd gone catatonic until Shiv had assured him she was only thinking. Kaysa almost laughed to herself. He cared too much - they all did. That was the problem, but she didn't have the heart to tell them. It was the only way they knew how to cope with something like this. Just as she was suffering, so were they, and if smothering her with love was their way of healing, then she wouldn't keep them from doing so.

Maeren Shivral crept up silently behind Kaysa, making certain not to startle her. "Kaysa," she said softly before reaching her love. She knew she couldn't just come up behind her without letting Kaysa know. The first time she'd done that, Kaysa had nearly jumped out of the window from fright. At least now, when she announced her presence, Kaysa only nodded slowly. "I've made some soup." She sat down on the floor toward Kaysa's feet. They could look at each other this way, that was if Kaysa actually decided to look at her. "It's your favourite."

"It is?" she mumbled sedately. She unwittingly shifted farther away from Shiv and readjusted the sheet around herself. "What kind?"

"That one with those noodles and little bits of veggies. You said you loved it when we had it last time. Of course, I made it this time instead of Merrick, but I still think it's really good. Want me to bring it to you here?"

Kaysa looked down at her feet peeking out from under the blanket, then shook her head. "Not really hungry. Maybe someone else wants some."

"I know what you went through there, Kaysa," Shiv said. "If you want to talk about any of it, to get it out, I know what it's like. You can't keep it inside you like this, Kaysa. You have to heal. Do you want to talk about any of it?"

"You were with...him." She closed her eyes and shuddered upon even the indirect reference to Vrax. "What is there to talk about?"

"What hurts, Kaysa? What part of it hurts the most? When you close your eyes, which part do you keep seeing in your mind?"

"All of it hurts," she whispered. "But it was the things he said.... The lies. They hurt the most."

Shiv edged closer. "What did he say?" she asked gently. "How did he hurt my beautiful love?"

Kaysa sighed and pressed her forehead to her knees. "He just...knew what to say to get to me. He knew exactly what I was most sensitive about...and he used that against me. And even though I knew they were lies...there were just some things I had my doubts about. I just...I hate myself for almost believing him."

Shiv reached up slowly and brushed her hand along Kaysa's calf, still covered by the blanket. "I don't think he's ever said anything that was true," she said. "He's a liar, but he knows how to make it sound like the truth. When I was...when I was with Dargus the first time, he said things to me too. He gave me reports about Dargus' meetings with you and Zale. He said that you didn't want me, that's why I was still there. I knew it wasn't true, but...but he said it enough. Usually it would be him whispering that to me...while his men used me. He was very convincing..."

"That's what gets to me the most, Shiv. I know none of it was true, but he made me almost believe it was." Kaysa sighed again and turned her gaze to the window. "That's what I hate myself for the most."

"I knew it wasn't true too," Shiv whispered, "but he almost had me convinced. He knows how to deceive. He'd be able to convince the Mon Calamari to buy more water. He practically had me convinced that you didn't love me anymore. He plays on our fears, and twists his lies to include them. You shouldn't hate yourself for believing them, Kaysa. You should hate him for making you believe. You should never hate yourself, Kaysa. Ever."

Kaysa nodded slowly, prepared and desperate to believe Shiv, but it was going to take more time to convince herself that Vrax truly was the villain and that all her hatred should be directed at him. She wasn't strong enough yet to do that. "I want you to know, Shiv," she said quietly, "that I never stopped loving you. Just in case there were any more doubts you had..."

Shiv smiled. "I know that," she said. "I can see it when you look at me, and I can feel it when we're in each other's arms. I know it as strongly as I know that I love you. And, your love is what got me through my last time with Dargus. I know we can't really, but if we could, I'd ask you to marry me."

Surprised that she even remembered how, Kaysa chuckled softly and looked down upon Shiv. "Merrick has been wanting to dress up in a bride's maid gown for some time, you know."

"I had a feeling he was," Shiv said with a giggle. "Maybe Zale can be your best man and Merrick can be my maid of honour. I think they'll like that. And, then we can go to Vendra for our honeymoon. We'll have to leave them here all alone, but we'll be there all alone, and what we don't know won't hurt us."

"Well...I think we'll have to hold off on that for a while. I'm sorry, Shiv. I just.... Every time someone touches me, I think of him. I know I shouldn't...but I do. It's only been a day, and I need more time." She smiled ruefully. "I do love you though, and Merrick and Zale.... I just can't show it to you yet."

"I understand," Shiv said. "Whenever you're ready again. Until then, I'll just be here to make sure you know everything is alright. I'll make sure you know that he can't come back and touch you. I'll protect you, Kaysa."

Kaysa's smile faded quickly enough upon remembering what Shiv's protection entailed. Her face flushed and her stomach churned as the image of Vrax's severed fingers, coated in blood upon the ground came to mind. She looked away and pressed her forehead to the cool window pane as she worked to settle her breathing and keep the stomach acid from backing up into her throat. Her innocent, delicate Shiv was no longer, and Vrax had done that. It was yet another mark he'd left on their lives, and it was as indelible as the malignant smile he'd imprinted in her mind. "I don't want to talk about this anymore," Kaysa whispered breathlessly. "Please...just stop."

"Zale's at the office," Shiv said. "He had a meeting with someone from the New Republic, I think. At least, that's what I overheard him saying on his comlink. Don't let him know I know, or he'd kill me for eavesdropping again. Merrick's rehearsing at the White Noise. And, Lerrah and Elf are making a run to Riga."

"A run?" Kaysa regarded Shiv inquisitively. "For who?"

"For you," Shiv said. "It was that load of ore that Karada Corp Mining has been negotiating for the last month. They finally came through the other day and said to send it. So, Lerrah loaded up and set out around 04h00 this morning."

"Oh gods..." Kaysa turned fully around to face Shiv and gripped her tightly by the arms. "Don't go to Zenarr Inc., do you hear me! Stay away from there!" All she could think of was Vrax waiting in the darkness for her, and saw the same thing happening to Shiv if she went near her office. "Tell me you won't go there again," she said between clenched teeth. She shook Shiv roughly and squeezed her arms even harder. "Say it. Say it!"

"Alright," Shiv stammered. "I won't go there. I'll stay away. Zale's got men inside now, but I won't go. I promise."

Kaysa stared blankly into Shiv's eyes and focused on Vrax's face limned by the light in her office, then everything suddenly veiled in darkness. Her voice screamed as she'd screamed out then and her body spasmed with the renewed fear her memories brought with them. Kaysa's nails bit into Shiv's bare arms, clinging to her desperately as if she were the only link left to sanity, but looking into her face now, she only saw Vrax. "No!" She shoved Shiv away and cradled herself into a ball atop the sill, trembling violently now. "Get away," she breathed. "Just go away...."

Shiv cried out as she landed on her back and her ankle twisted beneath her. The red welts that dripped blood from her arms didn't matter though, not with the wild, fearful look in Kaysa's eyes. "Kaysa! It's Maeren. It's me, Kaysa. What's going on? Please, talk to me, Kaysa. Please...?"

Despite her hands firmly planted over ears, and her eyes sealed shut, Kaysa heard Shiv's pleas, but it wasn't her voice anymore; it was Vrax's whispering to her lies and threats, professing his love to her and divulging every brutal deed he would commit in her name. Kaysa let out a whimpering cry and shrank back against the window. She needed to feel secure, and with the solid pane pressing against her, it helped her achieve some sense of security. If only he would go away now....

Shiv moved closer. She didn't know what was going on with Kaysa, but something was very wrong. "Please, Kaysa," she whispered. "Please, come back to me." Just look at me. See that it's me, Kaysa. I won't hurt you. It's Shiv.

"Stop talking!" she shrieked. "I won't listen to your lies anymore! You're trying to break me, but you won't. Just go!"

Shiv reached out and grabbed Kaysa's wrists. She pulled them away from her ears. "Kaysa, it's Shiv. How can I prove it's me? I'm not lying to you and I'm not trying to break you. Please, Kaysa. Please listen to me. I love you. I won't hurt you. I won't lie to you. It's Maeren, Kaysa. It's Shiv."

Kaysa struggled feebly with Shiv and choked on her cries. "I can't," she groaned. "His face.... Oh gods...it's there. It's always there." She sobbed and turned her face into her arm. "I can't.... I can't make it go away. Why can't I forget?" The burning tears made trails down her cheeks as she finally let them come and gave up her fight against Shiv.

Shiv couldn't answer, but instead took Kaysa into her arms. She held her as close as possible, making sure that Kaysa knew through the touch that she was there. She knew no one could touch Kaysa the way she did, especially not Vrax. Even something as simple as holding Kaysa in her arms, there could be no doubt.

"Maeren," she whispered. "Maeren, make him go away. Please, help me. I can't do this anymore. I can't go on like this."

"I'll do whatever I can to make him go away," Shiv whispered softly. "I'll do whatever I can to make everything alright again. Oh gods, Kaysa. Just tell me what I can do. What will help make him go away?"

"I don't know," she said helplessly. "Shiv, I don't know." Kaysa slipped her arms around Shiv and nestled her cheek against her shoulder. "I feel like just giving up, like just...letting go."

"No! Oh gods no, Kaysa. You can't give up. You can't give up for him or anyone. That's what he wants. That's what they both want, and we can't give it to them. We can't give them what they want, Kaysa. We have to keep going. I need you still, Kaysa. I couldn't...if you weren't here anymore... You have to stay here with me if only to keep Zale and Merrick from having sex with each other."

Kaysa laughed tearfully and held Shiv even closer. "And you and Lerrah from doing the same?"

Shiv laughed softly. "Well, when I've got you around, it's a little easier to resist her seduction. But, yeah. I love you, Kaysa. We all do, well except for Elf, and we all need you here. So, you have to stay here with us. You can't go. It's not allowed."

"I know. And I wish I didn't feel that way sometimes. It's just so hard, Shiv. I feel like I'm going insane and I don't want that." She sighed and added quietly, "I'd rather be dead."

"Oh gods," Shiv whispered. "I'll help you however I can. He can't hurt us anymore, Kaysa. He can't get to us. And...and if he gets close, Zale's people will get him. And, if they don't, then Zale will. Zale said that he plans on extending his pike right up Vrax's butt. I think that would be nice to see. Especially the look on his face."

"He's not afraid, Shiv," Kaysa said. "You should've seen him. He was insane and deluded. Nothing is of any importance to him but getting to me and making me pay. He got to me once.... He can do it again, Shiv."

Shiv flexed her hand, the one that had maimed Vrax. "Oh, if he gets close to us again, he'll lose more than fingers. He's afraid now, Kaysa. He may not show it, but he's afraid. He knows he can be hurt. And, he's seen just a little of what I can do with a knife." A knife appeared in the hand at Shiv's side. It seemed to appear out of nowhere, and then disappeared in the same fashion. "He'll fear us now, Kaysa. He lost three fingers, and I pinned his shoulder. He'll know fear now."

"I told you to stay away from Zenarr Inc.," Kaysa said quietly, "and now I'll tell you to stay away from him. If you even smell him, you run to safety, Shiv." She pulled back and held Shiv's gaze sternly. "Promise me, Maeren. You won't confront him."

"I can't promise that, Kaysa," Shiv said. "But I will promise to do my best to get us to safety. If I can't go near him, then I'm not letting him anywhere near you either."

Kaysa nodded slowly, but showed her dissatisfaction with a frown. "If you won't do what I ask of you, then allow me the same freedom of choice. Let me go for a walk...alone, Shiv. I have to go out there now, or I'll never be able to. I need to go. Let me go, Shiv."

"No," Shiv said softly. "I can't let you go out alone like that. You know that Zale would kill me if I did. And, besides, Vrax or Dargus or any of their men could be out there. I can't let you go out there like that...especially after some of the things you've said..."

"Then promise me you won't go after Vrax," Kaysa repeated firmly. "If you can't promise, then I can't either."

"I won't go after him," Shiv said, "but I won't hesitate to make him hurt if he gets close to us again. If I go after him, that means I have to leave you, and I won't do that. If he comes after us, I'll get us away."

Kaysa sighed deeply and finally nodded her head. "Fine, but only if it's absolutely necessary. And if you do break your promise, I won't hesitate to break mine." She pulled fully away from Shiv and curled up again into her small corner of the window sill. "Now, I'm a little tired. I don't wanna talk about any of this anymore."

"You want that soup now? I could go get you some if you'd like. It's really good, but not too heavy or filling."

Kaysa resumed her vigil of the city below and shrugged. "Set it down on here somewhere. If I get hungry, maybe I'll have a taste."

Shiv nodded and then backed slowly away from Kaysa. She turned away quickly so Kaysa wouldn't see the tears filling her eyes. She hurried to the kitchen and filled a bowl full of soup. She waited a few moments to let her emotions settle. Finally calm, she returned to Kaysa with the bowl and spoon. "Here you are," she said. "It's nice and warm. If you don't eat it right away, I can get you another bowl."

Already retreating deep into her own thoughts, Kaysa nodded numbly and murmured a thank-you. She knew she wouldn't touch the soup, but she accepted it only for Shiv's sake. "You should go draw," she mumbled absently. "You should do that."

Without a word, Shiv turned and headed to grab her pad. She had something she needed to draw for Keeve. The thought of being so far from him brought tears back to her eyes. She had no idea how to get her messages to him, but she had to. She had to get messages to him. Oh gods how she missed him...

Once Shiv was safely gone, Kaysa looked back into the living area. The apartment was quiet, and although that's what she needed now, it allowed her mind to dwell without distraction on thoughts she'd rather forget. Her eyes went to the kitchen next, but more specifically, the mini jizzbox Shiv had purchased for the purpose of listening to Merrick's music while she cooked. Kaysa figured that if she put the volume loud enough, she wouldn't be able to concentrate and could simply view the cityscape without having to think.

So, Kaysa scanned the open room carefully to ensure all was safe, then she slipped off the window sill and padded silently towards the kitchen. The wound on her leg was beginning to heal thanks to the bacta patches Shiv had applied to it, but it still ached if she put too much weight on her leg, so she was forced to walk with a shuffle for the time being.

Kaysa reached the kitchen and once again surveyed the room. She knew no one but Shiv was in the house and that all the entryways were securely locked, but she still couldn't shake the paranoia that someone would suddenly appear before her - that someone being Vrax.

Assured for now that no one was going to sneak up on her, Kaysa turned to the jizzbox and began fiddling with the buttons until she found a station to her liking. She adjusted the volume to a suitable level, then started back to the living area. Kaysa was stopped cold before she got two feet by the distinct hiss of the front door sliding open, then closing again. She couldn't see who had come through from where she was, and didn't dare move forward to get an unobstructed view, but she knew no one was expected to return home yet.

Her heart pounded furiously in her chest and her breathing began to grow shallow and rapid. All she could surmise was that Vrax had managed to elude Zale's men again, and he was coming to finish what he'd started. Kaysa sobbed quietly and stumbled backwards into the kitchen. She looked around frantically for a weapon and found a knife on the counter with which Shiv had cut vegetables for the soup. Shiv was the expert in using such weapons, but Kaysa would use it if she had to, though, she'd avoid such a confrontation if she could.

Stifling another sob, Kaysa rushed to the other side of the kitchen and squeezed herself into the small crevice between the wall and the refrigeration unit. It was a tight fit, but at least she was concealed for a time and that would give her an advantage over Vrax. "You can't touch me again," she whispered to herself. "I'll kill you first."

Her body tensed as footsteps landed on the tiled floor of the kitchen. She still couldn't see the intruder, but she could hear him, and he was only drawing nearer. He was going to find her, it was inevitable, but then the footsteps stopped. Kaysa found a moment's relief in thinking that he'd given up his search and was going to move on. Instead, the music filtering through the jizzbox was turned off and in response, Kaysa tightened her grip on the knife handle. He said he liked hearing her scream, and he couldn't if the music was blaring. Now, the setting was perfect. Now he could grab her and make her cry out as he drove himself into her, as he tore the knife from her hand and turned it on her.

The footsteps echoed off the tiles again, an ominous sound made even more so by the situation. "Kaysa," the familiar voice called out, laughter undercutting it. Him. HIM! "Kaysa. Come on out. You know you want to. You know what we have to do." More laughter, wild and maniacal. "Kaysa, love. You know it's me. We have unfinished business. And, I have to pay you back for your bitch's behaviour. That wasn't nice of her." The words seemed to echo, penetrate deep into the mind and reverberate. The next was a long, drawn out whisper. "Kaysa..."

"No," she whimpered. She snapped her eyes shut and held the knife flat against her chest. The footsteps grew deafening as he approached her position. Her eyes cracked open just as his shadow appeared upon the floor and in it, she swore she could see his smile. "Oh gods," she whispered. "No." Kaysa slipped out of her hiding place and raised the knife high above her head. "No!"

"No!" the intruder cried out as she flung herself forward. He brought his hands up to protect himself from her knife, but the laughter was still there, echoing in the room, all around.

Her first slash missed and dug into the cutting board upon the counter. She unwedged the blade and staggered back with the knife pointed at him. "You'll die this time, bastard. I'm gonna stick this blade in you once for every time you thrust your dick into me. Then we'll see how loud you laugh!" Kaysa cried out again and lunged forward with the blade guiding her towards her former tormenter.

He reached up and deflected her blow aside. However, her wild swings worked against his carefully trained fighting style. He cried out as the blade sunk into his shoulder. He cried out again and nearly went to his knees when she pulled it out and cocked her arm back to strike again. As she brought it down, this time he did fully block the blow, and reversed the attack, which effectively disarmed her. The knife clattered to the floor at their feet, and he pushed her away. "Kaysa stop!" The voice was no longer Vrax's, but instead Merrick's. "Kaysa, it's Merrick."

Kaysa flattened her back against the refrigeration unit and looked frenetically about the kitchen. "Merrick," she whispered fearfully. "He's here. Oh gods, you have to go. Go before he gets you too!"

"No one's here," Merrick said. He reached out to support himself against the counter. "It's just me, Kaysa. It wasn't him...only me." He tried to straighten himself up and winced with pain. Every time he tried to move his left arm, pain flared through his whole body, so he let it hang at his side, useless. "I think I need to see a doctor..."

"Oh my gods, Merrick. He got to you, didn't he? Oh gods!" Kaysa brought up her hands to cover her mouth, then saw the blood upon her fingers. She gave a startled cry and held her hands out before her. They trembled violently and with every movement, the blood caught the angle of light in the room and glistened to a brighter shade of red. Kaysa shook her head slowly and slid to the ground mumbling incoherently to herself. He'd gotten to her too.... He'd killed her for real this time, and now it was all over....

"What's-- Oh gods, Kaysa!" Shiv rushed forward to where Kaysa lay on the floor, bursting into the kitchen without even seeing Merrick. She cradled Kaysa in her arms, and that's when she saw Merrick. "Oh gods! What-- what happened?"

"I think she thought I was Vrax. She...she got me."

"Oh gods," Shiv said again, not caring how many times she'd repeated herself. "We have to get you to the hospital. Kaysa, please Kaysa, hear me. We need to get Merrick to a doctor. Kaysa, we have to go."

"Too late for me," she muttered as her eyes stared fixedly at her hands. "Save yourselves...too late for me."

"Kaysa, get up," Shiv said. "Merrick's bleeding all over the place, and I can't leave you here by yourself." She started trying to haul Kaysa to her feet. "Come on, my love. Please, just work with me here."

Kaysa screamed and swatted frantically at Shiv's hands. "Go! Get away! Just leave me!"

"Kaysa, stop this! You have to come with me! We have to go get Merrick to the hospital. Now, dammit, stop fighting me! Please, Kaysa? Please don't fight me."

"Why won't you leave?" Kaysa groaned. Her hands fell limply at her sides and her head hung low as she abandoned her struggle and simply wept. "Just go.... I have to stay here...I have to face him. Just let me do this."

"Dammit, Kaysa, stop this!" Shiv grabbed Kaysa's chin and brought her face up. "You do not have to face him. You do not have to even think about him. Now stop wallowing in this, and help me get your fucking husband to the hospital!"

Kaysa gazed into Shiv's eyes, then mechanically shifted her eyes towards Merrick holding one hand to his bloody shoulder and watching her with a pained, saddened expression. He was her husband, not Vrax, not the demon who haunted her memories. It was Merrick, and she'd harmed him. "Merrick?" Kaysa whimpered and shook her head slowly. "Oh, Merrick. I'm so sorry. I didn't.... Oh gods, please forgive me."

"Don't worry about it," Merrick said, his voice strained. "Just, let's get to the hospital. Don't worry about this, Kaysa. You're forgiven. Nothing to worry about at all, alright?"

She sobbed quietly and was laboriously dragged to her feet by Shiv. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I can't believe-- Oh gods." Her body quivered tremulously as she wept. "The hospital.... We have to go. It's getting dark outside, but I think I can make it. I can do this. We can go."

"Come on," Shiv said and put an arm around Kaysa. As Merrick came forward, she put another arm around him as well. "We should be there really soon. Keep pressure on it Merrick. Grab that towel."

Merrick did as he was told and grabbed the towel while Shiv helped them all toward the door.

"You're doing great, Kaysa. You're doing perfect."

Kaysa nodded vigorously as she clutched tightly to Shiv's shirt. She didn't know how she'd react once they went out into the darkness, but she had Shiv with her, and she'd sworn to protect her. But how effective could Shiv be against Vrax when she couldn't even see him? Kaysa could though, and when he showed up again, she'd warn them. It was all she could do right now, for otherwise, she was helpless.

"Shiv?" Kaysa asked softly. "I'm not doing so well, am I?"

"You're going forward," Shiv said softly. "And that's very good. We'll get through this, Kaysa. We'll get through this together. You'll see."

"I hope so, Shiv." She sighed and lay her head upon Shiv's shoulder. "I don't know if I can, but if you think so, then maybe it'll happen."

"It will happen," Shiv said. "I don't have those nightmares anymore, and you're stronger than I am. You'll make it Kaysa. You'll be fine. You just need people around you who love you. You just need to see that things are still okay at home and you can be safe there."

They all stepped onto the lift, and as the doors closed, Kaysa almost bolted. She wasn't strong as Shiv said she was. She was weak and afraid, and she needed to be in the apartment hiding away so Vrax couldn't see her. But even within those closed walls, she knew she wasn't safe, no matter what Shiv had said.

His voice came to her from the darkness during the night, and when she was alone, laying in bed, she smelled his scent in the air and felt his hands touching her beneath the sheets. He would always be there, whether in the flesh or in a physical manifestation of her delusions; whatever the case, he had succeeded in imposing himself upon her life. Whereas she never used to give him more than a moment's thought, now Vrax Draydge was forever on her mind. She realized that's all he'd ever wanted and now that he'd accomplished that, Kaysa knew he'd finally won.

---

"Eternal Gratitude"
By: Shrezade Anoran
Rilanna Kir
Chamlembac [NPC+]
Hajne Toray [NPC+]

Location: Riga
Date: Eos 7, 4ABY

***

Rilanna walked into the main room of the house they were all sharing on Riga. Thankfully, the last couple nights she'd been able to get out of making visits to Nec at the starport. She knew she'd have to go again soon to keep him congenial to their cause. She dropped into an open chair next to Shrezade and smiled. "I've got our lunch going now," she said. "Are Hajne and Cham back from that trip to the market yet? I can't make the sauce without those aspriga leaves."

Reza looked up from the holonovel she'd been reading and shook her head. "Their daily trips have gotten longer and longer. I'm beginning to wonder what they do out there all day."

Rilanna was quiet for a moment, and then she shuddered. "I really don't want to know the answer to that question."

"Then let's talk of something else." Reza set the holonovel aside upon the cusion of the sofa and shifted around to face Rilanna. She gazed the girl speechlessly, then broke the silence with a laugh. "So, what shall we talk about?"

"Not Hajne or Cham and definitely not the spaceport," Rilanna said. "How about...how about going home? I know we don't have the resources yet, and I'm not sure how we could hold it, but there has to be a way to re-take the station."

"I haven't been able to reach Dargus Kandran," Reza replied. "And we have...nothing. We need his assistance, but for now, we're on our own."

"We'll need a fleet to take it," Rilanna said, "but I think the key will be having a fleet to hold it. I don't know if I'm entirely pleased with that idea, at least not if it means a continued partnership with Dargus Kandran." She looked around the room, and then back to Reza. "How long do you think we should stay here? I'm inclined to say that waiting for the Empire to show up isn't a good idea, even if we can get out ahead of them. I was thinking...perhaps we should try to get back to Tae'Karada and do some snooping."

Reza smiled warily at Rilanna and idly tapped her knee with her forefinger. "Snooping? How so?"

"Do a little advanced reconnaissance work," Rilanna said. "Find out what the Empire is up to. Find out where Dane is, kill him if we can. See about making contact with people there who could help us re-take the station. I feel so isolated and out of touch here. We're not getting any information here, and we don't know what's going on."

"But, we're safe," Reza said calmly. "We need time for Tarkin to find a new preoccupation, aside from us. Then we can make our move."

Rilanna nodded. "Yes," she said. "I guess I just don't like that we haven't heard anything. Do they think we're dead? Are they hunting us? I haven't heard anything, and I hate not knowing what they're up to. Or it could just be that the time I've been spending in the space port makes me edgy."

Reza grimaced for Rilanna. "You shouldn't go to him so often. For your own sake. I think he's sufficiently allied to us."

"Yes," Rilanna said. "Though, he is helping me thoroughly scrub the taint of that bastard off. I can't believe-- I want him dead, Shrezade. I want him dead by my own hands." She shook her head as if to free herself of the thoughts and then sighed sharply. "At least he's far away now."

"For the time being. After all, he must have felt something for you if he willingly gave himself to you. A man does not give up his possessions so easily." Reza looked at Rilanna pensively for a moment, then nodded slightly. "He will come for you. I'm certain of it."

"I wasn't a possession," Rilanna said. "But, he'll come for me. He'll want me to suffer for duping him. He'll want to make me pay for lying to him and deceiving him. But, he'll be dead before he can ever do that."

"You feel very strongly about this," Reza noted. "I wonder... Is it just his betrayal or is there something more you're angry about?"

"The betrayal," Rilanna said. "And, the fact that he could so quickly turn his attention from loving me to wanting me dead."

"But you don't love him back, never did," Reza stated. "Are you upset that you believed he actually loved you, yet he could turn around and do something this horrible to you?"

"You think it's the same between us, don't you? I didn't love him, but he said he loved me. I believed him, and I think he believed himself. It's not the same between us, so don't go trying to say it is. It's not. He was only a job for me."

Reza shrugged eloquently and clasped her hands upon her lap with a sigh. "Of course it was, my dear. It is alright if you felt something for the man. You can admit it to me. You're human, you're allowed to feel."

"I feel more for you than I ever felt for him," Rilanna said with a dismissive wave.

Reza chuckled. "In that case, I feel quite sorry for Mr. Weyland. His affections were wasted on you. But, I can't help feeling as if he deserved it."

"He's Imperial scum, and willing to turn on those he cares for in a heartbeat," Rilanna said. "He's not deserving of love. I don't understand why he did it, but he did. And, after that, I don't think I could even bear to have his hands touching me."

Reza smiled shrewdly and kept her scrutinizing gaze upon Rilanna. "But you have thought of it?"

"After what he did? Not for anything," Rilanna said. "I'd rather do Nec."

"You already have," Reza shot back blithely.

"More than once," Rilanna said. "And, I'd go back again before I'd spend a moment with Dane."

Reza sighed. "So be it, my dear. If you change your mind, though, I won't fault you for it."

"Oh, we won't have to worry about that," Rilanna said. "When I find a man, it will be someone who doesn't want me dead."

"He only wanted you dead after he found out you betrayed him," Reza pointed out. "Can you blame him?"

"Well, he wants you dead as well, so I don't think it's anything special on my part."

"True," Reza said, "however I don't seem as angry as you do, now do I?"

"That's because you're probably used to people not liking you," Rilanna said with a grin.

Reza laughed and nodded her head readily. "Very good, my dear. Your wit is amusing and refreshing. Just what I need to keep the tedium of this dull existence from driving me to suicide." Although Reza was joking, her tone and expression was absolutely serious. Only her smile conveyed the playfulness of her statement. "Now, my dear, what else shall we do to entertain ourselves?"

"Well, we could always--" Rilanna turned toward the front of the house. "Hajne and Cham are back," she said. And, just on cue, the sound of the front door opening could be heard. There was a rumbling howl from Cham, followed by Hajne's usual incessant chattering.

"Hajne?" Reza called out languidly. "You two come in here. We've been waiting."

Hajne and Cham strode into the living area with Hajne's arm wrapped around Cham's. He carried all the bags while Hajne lazily strolled beside him carrying only a wide brimmed sun hat in one hand, and smiling dreamily up at Cham. Reza chuckled lowly at the sight. "It would appear they had an enjoyable day," she muttered to Rilanna.

Rilanna was sitting and staring open-mouthed. When Cham returned the look that Hajne was giving him, her jaw nearly hit the floor. She snapped her head around to look at Shrezade. "Please tell me I imagined that," she whispered.

Reza looked to Rilanna and narrowed her eyes curiously at her. "What? You think it odd that that foolish girl could fall in love with a beast?"

"It's when the beast falls in love with her that surprises me. What have we created?"

Reza shrugged. "What does it matter? As long as they're happy... At least someone is."

Rilanna looked back at where Hajne and Cham were gazing at each other, and then back to Reza. A quizzical expression had filled her face as she gazed at Shrezade. "What's happened to you?" she asked with a smile. "This is certainly a change. It's almost optimistic. It's a nice change."

Reza frowned at Rilanna and haughtily look away. "I have not changed," she stated, punctuating it with a stubborn grunt. "I merely feel that if that idiot woman wishes to associate with that creature in an intimate nature, she may do so, as long as I am in neither hearing nor viewing distance."

"Oh, but I don't think I've ever heard you mention anyone else's happiness as anything other than an affront to your sensibilities."

"I have never said that. Simply because I don't smile at the sight of two lovers clinging shamelessly to one another does not mean I am bitter towards them for finding contentment with their situation."

"Well, that is a change," Rilanna said with a laugh. "When we were on the station, you were bitter, cynical, and looked down on anything that remotely resembled happiness in anyone else. I think somehow your romantic notions have been renewed and revitalized."

Reza sighed. "Well, whatever change you think I've gone through, I've no use for romanticism. Staying alive is more important."

Rilanna smiled. "So you've said," she added with a teasing look.

"Rilanna Kir," Reza said in a chiding tone. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

Rilanna's grin broadened. "Oh, I just think you are still a romantic at heart," she said. "And, that's nothing to be ashamed of. I think it's good for the spirit to have hope and feel joy, even when it's Hajne and Cham--" She glanced back at Hajne and Cham and nearly fell off her chair. "--kissing?! Oh, please go somewhere private, you two!"

Hajne pulled away from Cham and covered her mouth as she giggled boisterously. Reza glanced at them for a moment, and was forced to quickly look away before she insulted the two by rolling her eyes at them. "I can't help it," Hajne explained. "He's so furry and cuddly and..." Hajne squealed excitedly as she embraced Cham's waist firmly. "How could you not love him!"

Rilanna smiled as she looked up at Cham, who looked like he'd be blushing if he were human. He let out a rumbling bark of a laugh, and slipped his arms around Hajne. "We're very happy for you," she said, with genuine feeling. "Both of us are."

Reza looked up at Rilanna and cocked a brow at her. "I am?"

"A few moments ago, you said it didn't matter, as long as they're happy. Oh, go on, Shrezade, you can admit you're happy for them."

"No," she said, and shifted around on the sofa until her back was partially to them. In that position, no one would see the slight smile touching her lips.

"It's okay, Rilanna," Hajne assured her, still grinning broadly. "Chammie and I are happy. That's all that matters to us." She gazed up at her wookiee lover and nuzzled her nose to his. "Isn't that right, my big, furry love machine...other than Dargie Jr. of course."

Cham let out a low growl, punctuated by a soft howl. He glanced at Rilanna and Reza, then back to Hajne. He shifted his eyes to the side, and then indicated the direction of the bedrooms with his head.

"Please," Rilanna said quickly. "That's a great idea. Go, please. Have fun."

Hajne cooed and smiled serenely at Cham. "A wonderful idea, my Chammie-Wammie." She climbed onto Cham's lap, rather gracelessly, and wrapped her arms around his neck...wherever it was beneath all his fur. "To our love den!" she announced triumphantly.

Cham let out a braying howl, and led the way off toward the bedroom he'd been sleeping in, and now would obviously be sharing with Hajne.

Rilanna watched for a moment, and then turned to Reza. "How would you like to take a walk?"

"Gladly," Reza replied with an expression of enormous relief upon her face. She rose promptly and headed for the door before Hajne's giggles and squeals could transform into those sounds related to what would no doubt be going on in the bedroom. "Hurry, my dear. This could get frightening very soon."

"Just a moment," Rilanna said quickly. She rushed into the kitchen and quickly shut off everything that had been on for food preparation. Once she was satisfied there would be no fires or other accidents, she dashed toward the door. They both managed to make it outside before the first screams started. "I think it's going to have to be a long walk. Maybe we can grab a bite of food as well."

"Of course," Reza replied. "So, you don't feel we need to keep a low profile any longer?"

"Well, we can keep a low profile," Rilanna said. "So no fights, weapons, or public disturbances. Though, if we time it right we can have some food when we get back. Right now though, I don't think I'd have an appetite after the two of them."

"I'm not hungry myself," Reza admitted. "I could use a drink though..."

Ril glanced back at the house and nodded. "Something strong, I think," she said. "I think there's a bar down the street. Why don't we walk in that direction?"

Reza smiled at Rilanna and responded by changing course and moving across the road. "I already know where the bar is," she told Ril. "I scouted out the neighbourhood our second day here. Just in case I wanted to sneak out for a drink late at night."

Rilanna chuckled. "Very well," she said. "You won't ever admit that you're still a romantic at heart, will you?"

"I'm not a romantic," Reza began, "but I am capable of being touched by tender scenes, though Cham and Hajne doing whatever they were doing in there does not count as one of those." She sighed wistfully and gazed up nostalgically at the darkening sky. "I loved and still love my husband. That is as romantic as I will ever get."

Rilanna smiled. "Well, before they started rushing for the bedrooms, it was very cute. They do look very happy together, don't they? And, perhaps Hajne will spend a little less time bemoaning whatever fate may befall Dargie Jr."

"I'm not familiar with Wookiee anatomy, but is he...compatible with humans?"

Rilanna shuddered. "I haven't looked," she said. "I imagine he's got similar parts, but I don't think we need to worry about a little Chammie Jr. running around, not without serious genetic manipulation."

Reza snorted. "It's a little Hajne Jr. I'm more worried about. Oh, here's the bar I had my eye on the other day. It looked respectable enough from the outside."

Rilanna looked over the establishment and nodded. "Only one way to find out if it's respectable on the inside," she said. "Shall we?"

Reza bowed her head in assent, then shot Rilanna a grin as she pushed her way through the door. It wasn't what she was used to, compared with the more classy places she frequented on the station, but at least there weren't insects scuttling across the ground...that she could see. "There's a free table over there. Let's go before they realize that a pair of women have just entered."

Rilanna strode toward the table, and settled into a chair as Reza did the same on the other side of the table. "Not a bad place if you like dark and gloomy," she said. "Still, dark and gloomy suits our needs just fine."

A woman across the bar signalled that she'd seen them and would be right there.

"Well, at least we won't be easily spotted in the darkness." Reza looked around the bar, then back to Rilanna again. "Never can be too careful," she said.

Rilanna did a quick scan of the bar and then gave a satisfied nod that everything was clear. "I don't see anyone that appears to pose an immediate threat, so we should be safe for now."

A woman in her mid-thirties approached and gave them both a nod. "Hi there," she said. "What can I get you?"

"A Tolarian brandy," Reza said langourously. "And use a clean glass."

The woman gave Reza an offended look before turning her attention to Rilanna. "I'll have the same," she said.

With a withering glance, the waitress turned and disappeared back toward the bar.

Rilanna grinned. "I don't think she liked that."

"Of course she didn't." Reza grinned slyly. "Though, it was quite enjoyable."

Rilanna laughed softly and looked back to where the woman was giving the bartender an earful. She shook her head and leaned close to Reza. "Before you take a sip, I'd double-check your glass."

"I plan to. Though, I don't think she'd even think about doing anything daring. These commoners," she said with a vague gesture. "They don't have the brains or the guts."

Rilanna laughed and shook her head. "Well, you did definitely liven up her day."

A moment later, the woman returned with their drinks. Before leaving again, she gave Reza a scathing look.

"Excuse me, dear," Reza called out to the woman. She crooked her forefinger at the waitress and motioned her back to the table. With an exasperated sigh, the waitress cooperated. "Now, now. No need to get agitated." Reza reached into the inner pocket of her jacket and pulled a credit chip from it. She held it out to the woman and nodded her encouragement.

The woman returned to the table, looking cautiously between Reza and Rilanna. "I'm sorry, ma'am," the woman said. "It's just...your comment..."

"Take the creds," Reza told her. She winked at the woman and added, "For the comment."

She accepted the creds and gave Reza a smile. "Thank you," she said. She then leaned close, and added with a whisper, "Next round's on the house."

Reza inclined her head slightly in gratitude. As the girl returned to her duties, Reza gave Rilanna a sidelong glance and smiled. "So, am I still a cruel, evil witch?"

"I'm impressed," Rilanna said with a smile. "And, I think you may have just gained us an ally here as well. I'm certain she could provide us information on those who come in here looking for four escaped Imperial bounties. And, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't have prices on our heads yet."

"I know we do. But, they'll want us alive. Of course, we will be killed if we're captured, but only after we're tortured." Reza sipped her brandy and made a small sound of approval.

"Well, it's fortunate you have me," Ril said with a grin as she took a sip from her own glass. "Not bad at all. I think I know most of the tricks any hunters will try, and I can keep us out of their snares."

"And keep yourself alive at the same time?" Reza set down her glass and sighed. "I want you to hold your life supreme above all else, Rilanna. I would not be able to live with the guilt of knowing you sacrificed yourself for me or any of us."

"I happen to like living," Rilanna said. "And, I happen to like living my life with you in it. Be assured that I will do everything to keep both happening."

"Well, since I do trust you, Rilanna, I will have to believe that you will." Reza raised her glass to Rilanna. "A toast to continued good fortune, and a very dead Major Weyland."

"Oh, I will definitely drink to that," Rilanna said. "And, for the hell of it, to Cham and Hajne's happiness."

"I doubt they need anymore luck in that. I've never heard the fool giggle more than she has over this past week." Reza tapped Rilanna's glass lightly, then tossed back the rest of her drink. After a moment of savouring the drink, she added, "It certainly brings a new urgency to the matter of getting them to safety, though."

Rilanna nodded gravely. "I don't want them dragged into this problem with the Empire. This is our problem, not theirs. And, if they have a chance at happiness together, I don't want it ruined by this."

Reza leaned back against her chair and rolled her glass between her hands. "Then it's settled. We'll find them a ship and we'll send them away as soon as we can. We'll stay behind so some distance can be placed between us. If the Empire comes for us, they'll be long gone."

"It's a good plan," Rilanna said. "And, I think it'll be easier for us to hide together, than for all four of us. Especially with Hajne and Cham not concerned about anything but themselves. Still, I feel sorry for anyone who tries to take her away from him."

"The only reason I would ever grudgingly consider a Wookiee for a lover," Reza quipped. "Does he really tear arms?"

"Only when he's really upset at someone," Rilanna said. "He says that the only time he's ever pulled someone's arm out of their socket was an Imperial customs agent who tried to confiscate his bowcaster. He's actually very gentle. I think that Hajne will be very safe with him."

"He seems to approve of her. I'm not worried." Reza caught their waitress' attention and mimed an order for another round of drinks. "It's a good thing she's giving us free drinks," Reza muttered. "I hate using our credits. I don't want them tracked."

"As do I," Rilanna said. "I have some...alternate names. We can start doing our transactions through those accounts. We'll have to find a way to filter the other money through to those accounts. Perhaps we can find a slicer around here who doesn't like the Empire."

"Yet another ally?" Reza pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed wearily. "Yet another mouth we have to make sure stays shut."

Rilanna nodded. "Yes," she said. "That is the catch. Are you interested at all in looking into it? If you say no, we'll figure another way. We're both intelligent, resourceful women. We can make this work, I know that. If you don't want to risk another potential leak, then we won't."

"We must take the risk," Reza replied. "If we want to survive, we can't afford to be careful. We will do this, Rilanna."

Rilanna nodded her head once. "Very well," she said. "I'll ask around at the space port and see what I can find out. Hopefully it will be minimal contact and over and done with."

Reza almost grimaced at the thought of what manner of contact Rilanna would need to carry out to gain whatever information they required. "More nights with men like Nec?"

"No," Rilanna said, with a grim laugh. "No more of that. I think I'm ready to give up men for awhile."

"Good." Reza reached over and patted Rilanna's hand. "They're not good for much." She leaned forward and winked at the girl. "And half the time, they're not even good at that," she whispered.

Rilanna couldn't stop her giggle, and quickly covered her mouth. She nodded quickly and then leaned back close to Reza. "Oh, and I can name a few right now. Oh gods, they're bad."

Reza cocked her eyebrow at Rilanna. "Dane included?"

"At least Dane can hit where he's aiming," Rilanna said. "But...when we were together, he was...so dispassionate. There were times when I thought he was actually going to hurt me. Or try to anyway."

"No worries anymore, my dear. That's over now. Drink up and I promise you you'll forget all about it."

"With this stuff, I just may," she said. "It's quite potent. So what do you suppose Ch-- No, no, I really don't want to know. How about another round?"

Reza laughed and blindly gestured to their waitress again. "Get as drunk as you want. I'll help you home, my dear. I'll always be here if you need my support. Remember that."

Rilanna smiled and reached across the table to take Reza's hand. "Thank you," she said. "That means very much to me, and know that you can always expect the same from me. We'll make it through this together; I know it."

Reza chuckled. "Not if we're drunk. Let's go. It'll be dark soon." She rose from her seat and nodded her thanks to the waitress. "Come along, Rilanna, dear. We must return before Cham and Hajne get...out of hand."

Rilanna finished off the last of her drink, and set the glass back down on the table. She fished into one of her side pockets, and came out with a large coin. She flipped it onto the table and grinned. "Fortunately, hard currency like that can't be traced like a credit trail."

"Always thinking ahead, my dear girl." She lightly placed her hand on Ril's back and led her out of the bar. "Oh, if Vraner could see me now." Reza sighed and closed her eyes as she savoured the cool evening breeze brushing against her face. "His wife, a fugitive. I think he'd be amused."

Rilanna grinned. "I imagine my family would be very pleased with me," she said. "They thought I was insane when I opted to hunt down criminal scum rather than joining their ranks."

"Perhaps we both are," Reza said. She opened her eyes again and gazed out at the sun setting in the distance. "But, at least we're living our lives as we choose. How many others can say that?"

"Very few," Rilanna said as they started down the street. "Then again, you have those like Cham and Hajne choosing this new direction with their life. But, as odd as it may be, at least it is their choice and their happiness."

"Precisely, Ril." Reza smiled gently. "I was beginning to feel smothered on that station anyhow. Maybe I don't want it back. Maybe I just want to run away and start all over again. Wouldn't you like to do that?"

"I think that'd be nice," Rilanna said. "Not many people ever get the chance to start again. We both could have the chance with this. In a backhanded way, the Empire may have done us a favour."

"Well, I think our new start in life could be much easier to attain if they weren't chasing us. But we will divest ourselves of those wretches very soon."

"If we go farther away from their influence, it'll be easier to make a start without their interference. Someplace they'd never look for us. Maybe when we get back we should start looking at some starmaps."

Reza regarded Rilanna significantly, then chuckled. "It sounds like our paths are going to be converging for quite some time."

As they turned the corner that led toward the house, Rilanna glanced sidelong at Reza. "You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"My dear, if it were anyone but you, I would." She patted Rilanna's back lightly and smiled at her friend. Reza chuckled fondly to herself. For the first time in her life, she had a friend, and as she looked upon Rilanna now, she was convinced that her taste in acquaintances was impeccable. It spoke of the flawless judgement she boasted in herself, but more so, it spoke of the changes she was experiencing. Reza felt herself becoming a different person, a better one, and she owed it all to Rilanna.

She gazed at her friend for a long while and mouthed a thank-you to her. Of course she wouldn't admit to Rilanna that it had been she who had provoked this change, but in her actions, she'd convey her gratitude, and one day, in the long future she hoped to share with Rilanna, she just might cast aside her pride long enough to thank her friend properly.

---

"Fateful Meeting"
by Jedi Knight Sirra Xanye
and Jedi Master Andro Ki'Ayalin

Location: Yemol District, New Plouton
Date: Eos 7, 4ABY

***

Sirra drew glances as she walked down the street. Her pants were skin tight and almost the same green as her natural skintone. And though the thin, wide shawl hanging from her shoulders hid most of her upper body, the white sleeves were sheer enough to reveal her supple pale green arms as she moved. The muscles of her legs were clearly evident as she walked - stalked - down the street. Her pale lavender eyes glittered as they scanned the street and the crowds, and her hair, though only pulled back into a simple ponytail, shimmered darkly in the light. She was hard to miss, even with women mostly naked all around her. Her smile was pleased as she thought of herself wearing the equadi she had bought today. She knew how she would look.

Though her plans hadn't included touring the city when she left the Remembrance, something had compelled her to pass by the hovercraft rental stands near the spaceport, to walk. So she had; Sirra knew to trust these feelings when she had them. The Force moved in and through everything - a Jedi's intuition was more than just that. It was a large city, and she had been walking for quite some time. She was glad that she had worn comfortable boots.

The buildings had changed almost a half standard time unit ago. From office buildings and stores they had turned into residences large and small, glass apartment buildings that reached to the sky and huge residential blocks that hunkered along the street like manufactured mountains. The stores here weren't the trendy boutiques and expensive stores that were near the port and the businesses, they were food stores and places that sold clothes and furniture - necessaries, really.

The crowds had changed along with the buildings. Near the port were creatures from a hundred worlds, here on business or pleasure. Here were the real residents of this city, from the wealthy, who lived and worked hundreds of meters above the streets, to the workers who toiled in the factories and in the bowels of the city and the port. Real people.

Sirra was meditating on the people of the city as she walked when something made her stop in her tracks. Luckily for her, the crowd was sparse and no one ran into her back. She felt something...strange in the Force. It was almost as if Asra were here, probing all around her. They had done this before - Asra would lose herself in the crowd, disguised, and Sirra would have to find her by the eddies her Master made in the living Force. But it wasn't Asra. It couldn't be. Another Force wielder, someone who used the all-pervasive energy as easily and unconsciously as Sirra - even more than Sirra, who was close to Mastery herself.

Who was it?

***

Andro Ki'Ayalin motioned to the vendor, holding up two fingers, as others around him were doing, to show how many of the dinners he wanted. The woman behind the counter marked off each order on a pad and handed a ticket back to the man actually preparing the meals.

He wasn't quite certain how she was able to keep all the orders straight, but she managed it flawlessly.

He stood waiting for his and Talara's food when a feeling of recognition passed over him. He turned and looked, but could not find the source of the feeling. With a slight frown, he turned back toward the vendor's stall and opened his mind to the feelings of those around him.

***

She was probing more actively now, not simply trying to feel the subtle changes in the Force. This was dangerous. Sirra had run into Force sensitive bounty hunters in the past and had heard from her Master that the Emperor had trained assassins in the Force, who would be able to feel her own use of the Force. But the initial feeling she had was familiar to her. It almost had to be a Jedi. Someone with Jedi training, at least, or so she thought.

Sirra started walking again. Standing still too long made her a target. Where was it? Who was it? The feeling was emanating from...there. There. The food stand. It had a large crowd in front of it, but...she knew who it was.

A noble looking human, he had turned around and looked, then back to the vendor. The feeling was definitely coming from him. She decided to wait for him to come away from the crowd before talking to him. Now that she knew who it was, she stopped probing with the Force.

Sirra leaned against the side of the building across the narrow street from the food vendor and the crowd. And the Jedi? Some people glanced at her, but most ignored the green skinned woman leaning against the building.

***

For several moments, it was like the buzzing hum of a generator, and then it suddenly stopped. Someone nearby was using the Force, searching most likely. But, he couldn't tell who without making himself very obvious.

Finally the woman grabbed two boxes of food, wrapped them in a sack, and handed them to him. He offered a polite bow and then turned to go back to the room with Talara. He kept his senses attuned to whomever had been searching for him.

And then he saw her watching him. He would have to pass her location as he returned to the hotel room. As he neared, he slowed his pace and nodded in her direction.

Sirra waited a few moments before falling back into the crowd behind him. She had returned his nod slightly, wary of onlookers connecting the two of them. You never knew who was watching. Her eyes had examined him for telltales - voluminous robes or pockets that could conceal a Jedi's equipment - but they hadn't revealed anything to her. She kept pace with the man, several paces back, sometimes letting him get out of her sight, though never out of her head.

She could feel him. He was open to her, on purpose, she had no doubt. To prove to her that he was a Jedi, not an enemy, a tool of the Emperor, to show that he knew she was there. Sirra couldn't lose him in a crowd ten times this size.

The Falleen followed the human as discreetly as possible to wherever it was he was going.

---

"Darkness Descending, Part 1"
By: Dani
Kal'Aran
Alisson Blair
Jae Dyn Brael
Koran Darr
Dargus Kandran
Raeila Mullerin
Yelara Neerou
Kael Selrid
Aurra Sgall
Quinlan Vos
Nieme Yaresh
Yara Brael [NPC+]
Orn Gham [NPC+]
Leshie Zaneth [NPC+]

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 7, 4ABY

***

The cries went up all around the Temple as all of Dargus Kandran's people charged into battle. Blaster fire rained down on the imposing structure, but there was still no sign of the Jedi.

All of a sudden, the charge stopped as if they'd run into a wall. The forward ranks of his people dropped to the ground. Some clutched at their helmets, others merely rolled on the ground in agony. The fighters that had been flying in and bombarding the building veered away as if they'd been hit. Dargus growled under his breath and gazed hard into the area where his people were writhing. He could see the ghostly shapes between them all, silent screams and taunts that only they could hear. He knew that if he moved any closer those screams and taunts would be directed at him. This place was protected.

Dargus turned to Yelara, who was still at his side, and frowned. "There is some presence there protecting the Temple. I don't want you going forward. I don't want you...hurt by that. I have to figure out a way to get us past these wards."

"They're spirits of some kind," Yelara told him. "Liam talked of them. Frankly, I thought they were just a myth. Can you overcome them?"

"I believe I can," Dargus said. "But it will require tapping into powers that I have little experience with. What you see here may frighten you, may disgust you. It is the dark side, Yelara, and it's very powerful. If it were not to get your child back, I would not do this. But...but I want to warn you."

Yelara gazed up anxiously at Dargus, though her eyes could not be seen through her blast shield. "Don't worry about me. I can handle it. Just...do what you have to do."

"Bring back a few guards to watch over me while I do this," he said. "And, then go check on Keeve."

Yelara pressed her gloved hand to Dargus' cheek. "I will. Be careful, Dargus." Then, with her force pike still in her grip, she rushed away from him to carry out her errand.

Once she was gone, Dargus moved to a nearby tree where he dropped to the ground in a meditative crouch. He faced the direction of the spirits and closed his eyes. This would be the difficult part. He just hoped it didn't leave him too exhausted to continue. He reached out through the Force and felt the spirits there. They came after him then, trying to rend him, trying to destroy his mind with their wailing. He reached out as they rushed at him, and just managed to grab one.

In the name of darkness, he cried out in his mind and the world seemed to shudder. In the name that is black and power! Begone from here. With a fierce cry, he plunged his hand through the spirit's ethereal breast and clutched its phantasmal heart. He yanked it back, bringing the still beating organ with it.

A rumble went through the ground and all the spirits around him trembled. A wailing cry shattered his senses and he felt a wind rushing all around. And, then they were gone.

Dargus' mind snapped back into his body and he looked up at the two guards now standing over him. "It's done," he whispered. He moved to stand, and then collapsed to the ground.

"Dargus!" Yelara was still a distance away from the scene, but close enough to see Dargus go down. She rushed to him and knelt at his side with her hands already cradling his face. "Dargus," she whispered. "Oh gods, please be alright. Dargus?"

Dargus slowly rolled to his side and looked up at Yelara. He smiled weakly and nodded. "Just...just a little tired. That's all."

"You're in no condition to fight. Dargus, you have to stay behind. I'll post some guards around you for your protection, but you can't go into the Temple."

"Can you take command?" Dargus asked. "Can you work with Keeve to get them back?" He reached a shaking hand up to her. "Bring them back, Yelara. Bring them back so we can be happy again."

Yelara took his hand to stop it from trembling then squeezed it tenderly. "I'll bring them back, Dargus. I won't fail." She looked up at the two guards and gave them strict orders to protect Dargus, even at the cost of their own lives. They were devoted to him and would not hesitate to perform their assigned duty. "Now promise me you'll stay here, Dargus. Promise."

"Of course," Dargus said, and nearly collapsed back against the tree. "I don't think I could move even if I wanted to. Stay safe, my love. I need my empress to be in one beautiful piece for her coronation."

"Don't worry about me," she assured him. "It's those Jedi who have something to be concerned about." She smiled at Dargus, though only her eyes were visible through the opening of her raised blast shield, but in them the expression was conveyed. "I'll be back in no time, my Emperor." Yelara held his hand for a moment longer, then rose to her full height. She activated the comm device on her wrist and ordered the teams to move in, save the one she'd relieved from Dargus' command for his protection. "Wish me luck." With another smile for him, Yelara sprinted forward and ordered her team to do the same.

***

Inside the Temple, Kael and Koran stood together watching out to where the onrushing troops were foundering against the spirits of the Temple. Koran shook his head and tightened his grip on his lightsaber. The sounds of approaching booted feet brought him around as Kal'Aran, Quinlan Vos, and Alisson Blair entered the courtyard.

"They're falling against the spirits outside so far, but they won't stay there forever."

Kael swallowed hard and glanced back at the Jedi Masters. "Yelara is out there," he said.

"Yelara?" Kal'Aran questioned. "Why is she going up against us? What is the meaning of this attack?"

Quinlan put up a hand quickly. "I fear that the worst is not that. She is not alone and there is someone out there who is a follower of the Dark Side. A Sith perhaps," he said. "I can feel his presence. He has broken the barrier of the spirits that protect this very Temple and his troops are headed here!"

Alisson was appalled by the events, but she remained focused and ready nonetheless. She ignited her weapon and leaned in closer to Kael. "Be careful and tame your feelings, Kael. We will need all the help we may get," she told him, as she had confidence in him and gave him a reassuring nod. "Remember all you learned."

Aurra also ignited her lightsaber. Kal'Aran placed himself in front of the Padawan girl. "You may not be ready for this yet. Go meet Dani and Nieme and stand together. You will be stronger unified as one. And be careful. Troops will storm in from everywhere," he told her. In return she nodded and ran off to the Temple's indoor rooms.

Koran looked around at the small group and frowned. "Let us hope the Force is with us today, because we are severely outnumbered. It will take all of our strength and effort." He looked out as the troops outside advanced even closer. "It may be necessary for us to retreat as well. In the old days, we could have stood against a group this large. Now, we have not enough among us. Kael and I will take these forward attackers. The three of you should move around to the back and protect from there. If they break through, we may need to move for the caves as well. We can then take the others deeper into the forest."

Kal'Aran nodded. He didn't like the situation, but it was true that they didn't have much of a choice. They were five, not counting the Padawan girls who were not prepared for something like this. "Very well. We will hold off the back side of the Temple. May the Force be with you!" he said as he moved off with Vos to the back.

Alisson felt like staying there. It was a bad example to leave a Padawan alone for such a battle, and even though Kael was prepared and good enough to fend off the incoming battalions, she wasn't sure she should be there still to aid him and stand at his side. "Be careful," she told him once more. "And may the Force be with you," she added, knowing that he would be well off along with Master Darr.

"May the Force be with you as well, Master," Kael said with a bow to Alisson. "I will see you again when we are through this."

Koran gave Kael a nod, and then turned to face the onrushing troops. He ignited his lightsaber and set himself back into a defensive crouch. Their shots were poorly aimed, and most were hitting the ground and walls. He didn't know how well they would manage this. There were so many of them.

Around back, as Kal'Aran, Quinlan, and Alisson took their positions, the charging force broke through the trees. Their blasters were firing, creating a blanket of iridescent light around the Temple. The Jedi were definitely outnumbered.

Alisson had dodged and parried shots before but never something so grand. Still it was as if her training allowed her to dodge and block every shot without much thought, and truth was she forgot all and felt her way through for the most part of it. The question here was for how long could she do so.

Kal'Aran, on the other hand, had seen quite a similar scenario before when the Clone Wars had begun. Only this time they were even more outnumbered and they had few chances of being able to make stand down all the troops. His blade swept past shots and most were sent back, some hitting the soldiers. Luckily they weren't very well trained troopers, but if an escape route was needed, the back side didn't seem like the best option at this point.

"We need to move closer!" Quinlan shouted. "They will lose their focus if we are amongst them and we will be able to Force pull them! Here we are sitting ducks up to the point where we get too tired to fend them off!" And he was right...

Around the front, Kael and Koran were faring about the same. Their lightsabers were in constant movement to keep the blaster bolts from finding their targets. Koran's skill was remarkable and it took everything Kael had to not just stop and watch the fluid movements of the Jedi Master. Every fourth or fifth bolt was redirected back into the crowd, while the rest only found themselves driven into the ground.

Suddenly Kael cried out, but quickly followed with, "I'm alright! They just grazed me. I'm alright!"

"We can't hold out here much longer," Koran called back. "There are too many of them. Prepare to retreat when I say."

"Yes, Master Koran," Kael said through gritted teeth.

The problem as Koran could see it though, was that there wasn't much room for an escape here. They'd have to figure it out...somehow.

***

Dani and Nieme led the way toward the series of caves down near the waterfall. It was a perfect place to hide, and as much as she wished she could help, she really didn't want to be in the middle of a fight. She pulled her robe out from the tangle of a shrub it had gotten caught in. Orn was huffing and puffing, and she gave him a warm, sympathetic smile.

The sounds of the fight could be heard, and Dani was glad that she was farther away. Feeling the deaths of all those people through her own natural senses and through the Force. It would have been too much.

She smiled at Raeila and put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll be safe here," she said. "And, when it's over up there, Kael will come down here, take you into his arms, and carry you back to the Temple with him. It will be very romantic...the returning hero."

Raeila forced a smile and placed her hand atop Dani's. "I hope you're right. Still, though, I worry about him."

Nieme suppressed a wry snort. Raeila Mullerin didn't care about anyone but herself. Although she was less hostile towards the girl now, Nieme still couldn't force herself to change her opinion of Raeila. She was still, to her, the girl who carved up her cheek with a knife, and it would be a long while before she thought any differently about her.

"We...have to hurry, girls," Orn said breathlessly. He passed the back of his hand across his forehead to clear away the beads of sweat. "Just in case they venture down here."

Dani moved quickly to where Orn moved, nearly stumbling through the brush. "We're almost there, Orn," she said. "It's just up ahead here. We'll be safe in the cave."

"Will we, though?" Raeila asked. "What if they find us? They'll kill us, I know it."

"They won't find us," Dani assured her. "It's the only thing we can do. Nieme and I will watch for them though. If they start coming down here, then we run deeper in the forest and try to make it to the city."

"Easy for you to say, Dani," Orn said. "You're young and fit. I wouldn't make it ten feet before I dropped dead from exhaustion."

Dani smiled affectionately at Orn. "We'll help you make it, Orn," she said. "We won't let them get any of us. There's the cave there. We have a light for us if we need it, otherwise we can just duck inside. We'll be safe enough for now." She reached up and kissed his cheek. "Trust me."

Orn chuckled breathlessly at Dani and patted her cheek. "With you girls, how could I not be fine?"

The four of them filed into the cave, staying close to each other so as not to lose their way in the darkness. They groped the walls with their hands to make their passage safer and once deep enough into the cave, they hunkered down against the cold stone and finally found rest.

"I hope they're all okay," Raeila whispered.

Dani slipped her hand into Raeila's and smiled in the darkness. She didn't think that the girl would be able to see it, but she'd hopefully feel it. "They'll be fine. Kael is one of the best out there. He'll be safe and fine. I promise."

"But it's all of them I'm worrying about," Raeila said. "They're so outn