Star Wars - Tales from the Outer Rim

"Corellia: Imperial Entanglements, Part 1"
By: Kace Mordin - Grey Jedi & Lecherous Bastard
Yelara Neerou - Drogen Shipyard Foreman

Location: Corellia
Date: Saris 7, 3 ABY

***

The blazing fire from the funeral pyre brightened the evening sky, with smoke spiraling up towards the heavens as the fire flared. The faces of the three sole attendees were illuminated by the amber flames and Yelara could feel her flesh almost burning from the heat radiated by the inferno. She could hear her grandfather's whimpering cries as they watched the flames envelop her grandmother's shrouded body and listened to the priest's recitations of Old Corellian prayers. Her grandparents had taught her some of the old tongue when she was a child, and although she only vaguely remembered words here and there, she was able to comprehend every word the priest was saying. It was like she was in a dream, where one begins speaking fluently in a language they have never studied, conversing with someone who is never really there, but once their eyes open, the language becomes foreign to them again.

The entire trip was beginning to play out like a dream, but the smell of her grandmother's smouldering flesh and the heat of the flames thrust Yelara back into the reality of the situation. Her grandmother was dead and she had just been betrayed by the man she loved. This was turning out to be quite a vacation away from Tae'Karada.

A cold wind seemed to rush past Yelara, ruffling her short, black hair and causing her long, burgundy dress to stream like flowing water. The fire began to rise as the wind fed the flames and Yelara shivered as she recalled the same scene at her parents' funeral. She had only been a child then and the flames seemed to cry out to her, the thin tendrils reaching out and summoning her. "Not too close," her grandfather had warned her as she began venturing too near. He had held her close to him that day, his arms folding around her, as she watched her parents becoming only cinders before her.

It was her turn to pull her grandfather away from the flames and hold him close this time, while he used Yelara as a crutch. She couldn't remember if he had been as devastated on the day of his own son's funeral, but he certainly was now. His tears dripped upon her dark-coloured dress, causing the damp areas to appear blood red. Yelara's own tears never fell, even though the pain in her heart was almost overwhelming. It was her grandmother's funeral, yet her thoughts were consumed with those of Kace and the stabbing pain in her stomach she felt when he had confessed his unfaithfulness to her. She was determined never to forgive him, and would not if she had any sense left in her.

Yelara watched on as the intense fire burned away at the remaining bits of her grandmother's flesh. The priest touched his hand to his forehead in a religious gesture Yelara never did understand. He wished her grandmother's soul a safe flight and ended the ceremony with a final blessing. "Ol'val, min dul'skal, ahn guld domina, Raline Neerou," he said with his arms outstretched in another gesture.

Orinth repeated the blessing in a choked voice before he was overcome with grief and sank to the ground in a trembling heap. Yelara hardly noticed her grandfather slipping from her embrace and simply stared ahead at the dancing flames as if in a trance, leaving the priest to rush to Orinth's side and comfort him. She was once again being called by them, but their tone this time around was aggressive and almost seductive, not like the first time when at her parents' funeral. Now, the fire seemed to feed off her own rage, tantalizing her and becoming the embodiment of the hate and spite that had built up in Yelara since she set foot on Corellia.

Her angst had now become tangible and began to burn fiercely within her, giving her the drive she needed to carry out her thirst for vengeance. Yelara let a feral smirk spread across her face as she recited the priests final incantation. "Rest in peace, grandmother," she whispered to the flames before turning away from them and walking out of the cemetery with the heat of the fire beating against her back, pushing her onward.

***

From atop a nearby hill, beneath a low-hanging chifagra tree, Kace Mordin watched. As the flames reached higher, Kace felt his grief deepening. His eyes weren't on the frail body atop the pyre, but on one of the figures to the side. His body was surrounded by a blue, almost black nimbus of energy, a physical manifestation of the torrential grief warring within. Beneath him, the grass upon which he stood had frosted, despite the warmth of the day still left in the ground. Crystals of ice stood out along the trunk of the tree, but Kace was oblivious to it.

He knew he could go no closer, not without having Yelara's rage turned against him, a rage he could feel even from where he stood. He had hurt her deeper than he thought could ever heal.

Kace had no idea why he was still on Corellia. He should have left. He should have cut his ties, and left her to a life without him causing her more pain. She'd felt enough pain in her life, and now he'd piled on more. She had trusted him, and he had broken that trust. He did not think he would be able to regain it. Her words carried a finality, and he did not think they could ever rekindle their relationship. The future was clouded to him, and the shadowy images revealed only doubt.

Kace sighed and another layer of icy whiteness spread out from where his boots met the ground. He wondered if he were to approach the fire if the cold would actually douse the flames. Under different circumstances, the thought would have brought a smile to his face. Today, it only brought more frost.

His thoughts dissolved as movement below caught his attention. The funeral service was over and Yelara was leaving. He started to back away, but not before her eyes raised to a level where they could see him standing on the hill. Her step didn't falter, but Kace could have sworn her anger grew when she looked at him. She had to shift her gaze to open the gate leading out of the Corellian cemetery, and he used the time it gave him.

Kace pulled the force around him, shrouding himself from sight. When she looked up again, she would only see the tree and hill. The pain within sent a sharp stab through his chest. A calming breath didn't do much good, but it kept him from cutting the tree to splinters. He turned and followed the path back down away from the cemetery. She didn't need him nearby now.

***

Yelara stared blankly ahead as she walked through the city, far away from the cemetery now. She turned back momentarily to check if Kace had been following her. She swore she saw him hiding behind a tree at the cemetery, but when she took a second glance, he was gone...or was it that he was never there at all? Her heart and body still ached for him, but the pain of betrayal was stronger at that moment and could not be overlooked. She felt almost dirty knowing that he had been inside of her while he had been with another. She had thoughts that she may not have been good enough for him, that she had driven him away, but she refused to believe that. No, he was to blame for this one and she would not convince herself of otherwise.

The wind had picked up since Yelara left the funeral and the sky was darkening as twilight approached. There were townspeople still bustling about and most of the shops were still open for business. Yelara passed the small shop where she had bought the dress she wore at the funeral. She looked down as she realized how odd she looked walking the streets in with a long, dark dress that was only fitting for a funeral. She couldn't help thinking how brooding she must have looked in it, but she had only bought it to please her grandfather. He would never have approved of her attending her own grandmother's funeral in tight leather, but he was so emotional that Yelara could have gone naked and he wouldn't have noticed.

Yelara picked up the bottom of her dress slightly; the heavy material hindered her movement. She regretted not going back to the cottage to change, but she wasn't thinking too clearly nowadays. Thoughts of Kace consumed her as well as those of her grandmother, now gone. She thought of Dargus momentarily, but only thoughts of how she could use him to punish Kace. She closed her eyes tightly as she pushed Kace's face out of her mind. She didn't need him anymore, for she didn't need any more pain. Her eyes stared intensely into the distance as she neared the edge of the town. She felt as if she could walk forever and thought the farther away she got from anything that reminded her of Kace or her past, the better off she'd be.

As she strolled along, she finally approached the city. The contrast between her small town and the city was stark and just the escape Yelara needed. Nothing here could possibly trigger any memories she didn't want to explore and it was so busy, no one would notice her. She could just disappear there and become another nameless face, or at least that's what she thought.

Yelara perused the little vendor stands and looked through the shop windows. Her eyes shot open as she saw the prices of some of the more elegant-looking items. 200 creds for a necklace, Yelara thought to herself. She knew she could afford almost anything with the money Dargus had given her, but she still wasn't accustomed to being wealthy. It was a lifestyle she knew she could get used to, but she never did like fancy dresses or expensive jewelry. At least there was one thing about herself that hadn't changed in spite of all she'd gone through recently.

Yelara walked over to the next shop, once again staring into the window, but this time she wasn't looking at the merchandise in them. In the reflection, she focused on two Imps standing in the crowd behind her - two Imps staring in her direction. A sudden pang of fear built up in Yelara. She had never thought of it consciously before, but she was a member of the Alliance. Her cell had pictures and personal information on her...information that, if in the wrong hands, could cause her a heap of trouble. Thoughts flew through Yelara's mind. What if her cell had been infiltrated by Imperials? They would know all about her and her ties to the Alliance, which meant she was a dead woman.

Yelara slowly walked away from the shop, trying to act as casual as she could despite the panic she was feeling. She may have been over reacting. Perhaps the Imps were merely admiring the dresses in the window? A foolish thought, but one she wanted more than anything to be true. Yelara walked to the next shop, and the next, each time glancing at the reflection in the glass to keep track of the Imps, and each time she moved, they moved. She was certain now that she was being followed.

***

Kace walked slowly down the street. He didn't want Yelara to think he was following her. He wasn't. At least that's what he kept telling himself. He wasn't sure if he believed it or not. He'd been debating purchasing a ticket on a transport back to Tae'Karada, he told himself again. It's to help Yelara get back...to Dargus. His anger had settled somewhat, but the thoughts of Dargus brought his anger down near freezing again. He focused his will and forced the anger away. It worked somewhat. It would have been a little conspicuous to walk through the middle of the town with a dark, cold menacing cloud surrounding him. People would definitely notice that, and probably sic the authorities on him. More trouble with the authorities wouldn't be good.

He glanced up from where he was sampling some tea and saw Yelara looking through the merchandise of one of the vendors. Jewelry by the look of it. He wished he could go to her. He wished he could make things right. A part of his brain realized he could use the Force to make things right. He hated that part of his mind. He was just glad it had taken it this long to speak up. But, he shut it down nonetheless. He would not use the Force against Yelara. He would never be able to forgive himself for what he'd done to her already. To manipulate her like that, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

Kace looked around without seeing anything. Just go do it, he thought. She doesn't want me here. She doesn't need me here. I'll just end up hurting her even more. He glanced at his credit chip, and looked around for a credit transfer station. She could purchase a ticket back with that. He sighed and glanced up to see Yelara was gone.

Looking around quickly, he spotted her further down. If he timed it right he could get the ticket back to the small home before either she or her grandfather returned.

Don't run, a part of his mind said.

It's not running if she doesn't want me around any longer, another part answered.

Kace sighed again, and moved across the way to the transfer station. He made sure to position himself so he could just see Yelara.

***

Yelara casually picked up the pace and tried not to appear as if she was ready to bolt. If she did, and those Imps really were after her, she'd be dead before she got very far. Yelara cursed under her breath as her dress got caught under her feet again. She wasn't doing a very good job of making a clean getaway; and she had no doubt that tripping and stumbling through the marketplace was only raising more suspicion.

She tried not to glance over her shoulder to see if the troopers were still following her; she didn't need to. She had her ears tuned to them and could hear their quiet conversation back and forth, though she couldn't make out a word they were saying for the noise of the crowd. Yelara picked up the bottom of her dress and merged into the crowd of people. If she could blend in with them, she could most certainly evade the Imps.

Unfortunately, she soon realized she would have trouble getting lost in the crowd. She looked out of place, and certainly felt that way. She towered above most of the people, and her dark dress stood out against the light coloured clothing of the townspeople.

Yelara panicked as she looked back and saw the stormtroopers still closely following her. She knew she had to find cover soon or they would be hauling her away to some Imperial prison in no time. Yelara darted through the large crowd, bumping into people and drawing more attention to herself. She realized a graceful exit was now out of the question, so she pulled her dress up higher and made a run for it. The two stormtroopers yelled at her above the crowd, ordering her to stop, but Yelara knew if she did, it was all over.

She pushed her way through the mass of people, knocking unsuspecting victims to the ground and almost losing her own footing several times. Yelara looked back and saw the Imps gaining ground on her. She cursed at herself and the dress hindering her movement, and momentarily considered stripping down to nothing, but realized that would only slow her down more. The stormtroopers continued to shout at her, but Yelara didn't heed their warnings. As she continued to push her way through, shouts and cries erupted from the crowd as blaster fire filled the air. Luckily they were only warning shots, but unfortunately they sent most of the villagers either running for cover or cowering in fear on the ground. This only cleared the way for the troopers to get a clean shot off on Yelara the next time they fired.

She found herself running out of places to hide and knew she was also running out of time. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her legs were beginning to hurt from overexertion. She had never run so quickly in her life, but knew the soreness in her limbs would be nothing compared to the torture she would be faced with if those Imps caught up to her. She reached the end of the marketplace and took a sharp left around a large building. The street seemed to be deserted, which only scared Yelara more. There was no one there to keep the Imps from shooting at her now, and if they did, they certainly wouldn't miss.

She looked back, but furrowed her brow as she saw only a deserted street behind her. Had she lost the troopers? Had they given up? Yelara swung her head back around and came to a sudden halt, tripping on her dress and stumbling to the ground. She had no idea how they had done it, or where they had come from, but the two troopers were now standing before her with their guns poised. "Yelara Neerou," the crackling voice of the trooper sounded. "You're under arrest for treason. Surrender."

"Corellia: Imperial Entanglements, Part 2"
By: Kace Mordin - Grey Jedi & Lecherous Bastard
Yelara Neerou - Drogen Shipyard Foreman

Location: Corellia
Date: Saris 7, 3 ABY

***

Kace was halfway through the transaction when he looked up and saw Yelara moving quickly off through the crowd. She glanced back and he followed her gaze to the...the pair of Imperial stormtroopers. He watched for a moment, and realized the troops were following after Yelara.

That wasn't good.

What were they after Yelara for?

Either her connection to the Kandran Syndicate or her ties to the Rebellion. He guessed her ties to the Rebellion; Dargus wasn't important enough to warrant Stormtroopers chasing after you.

He turned back to the transaction vendor. "I've changed my mind," he said. "Cancel it."

"I will still need the transaction fee, sir," the man said. "And, the cancellation fee." Kace's glare made the man swallow. "On the house this time, sir. Please come again."

Kace snatched away his credit chip and turned, his cloak billowing around him as he strode off after the two white-armored troops. As he moved into the street, he could see Yelara ahead of them, but her lead was diminishing quickly.

One of the troops raised a blaster over his head and fired off a series of shots. Kace's hand vanished beneath his cloak and came out holding one of his lightsabers. He quickened his pace as the crowd scattered before the advancing Imps. They had a clear shot at Yelara until she moved around a corner.

They continued after her. Kace followed.

He realized as they moved in a different direction that they were planning on cutting Yelara off. His heart still ached. He would save her from this mess, and then go. They turned around the corner and Kace followed again.

His heart ached when he saw the troops raise their weapons and Yelara tumbled to the ground, her dress wrapped around her legs.

"Yelara Neerou," Kace heard the trooper say, through the crackling microphone inside his helmet. "You're under arrest for treason. Surrender."

Kace activated the blade of his lightsaber. One of the troopers started turning at the sound. Kicking his Jedi reflexes into action, Kace charged forward at the pair of soldiers. The one facing him brought the blaster to bear and fired. Kace wasn't there when the bolt reached where his body had been. He vaulted high over the heads of the two men. The other trooper, with his blaster still aimed at Yelara, started to pull the trigger. The blast could have taken Yelara in the face if Kace's blade hadn't slashed down, slicing clean through the weapon, sending the barrel clattering to the ground. He wished he could have seen the startled look behind the Imp's mask.

Kace landed gracefully behind Yelara and brought his saber into a ready position. "I was going to let you go," he said, the menace turning the Stormtrooper's blood to ice. "But, he tried to kill me, and you tried to kill her. I'm afraid I can't allow you to live after that." One hand slid beneath the cloak and pulled out the cylindrical shaft of the other lightsaber. Kace looked down at Yelara, his heart again a mass of pain against what he had done to her. "Are you alright?"

Yelara scrambled to her feet and moved to Kace's side, keeping her eyes on the Imps. She had come close to losing her life moments ago, closer than she cared to imagine, but being with Kace now, she felt safe. She felt herself moving behind him and gripping his cloak with her trembling hands. She continued to stare at the trooper and somehow knew that beneath that mask, his face would be pale with terror. Yelara had seen the rage in Kace's eyes and knew the poor soul standing in front of them would most likely be dead in a matter of moments. "Kace, I'm fine. Just...let's get out of here," she whispered in his ear. Hearing her own shaky voice surprised even herself.

Kace returned his second lightsaber to his belt, his eyes never leaving the stormtroopers. "Go," he said. "And never speak of this to anyone. If you do, I will find out about it, and I will kill you..." -- he reached into their minds and pulled the information he needed -- "...Bendric San and Gaidin Tol. Now go."

Both troopers turned and fled. Kace wouldn't have thought a man in Imperial Stormtrooper armor could run like that, but those two managed to get some good speed as they ran.

Once they were gone, Kace turned back to Yelara. He wanted to reach out to her, to touch her and hold her. He shut down his saber and returned it to his belt. "You're alright?" The hard edge that had been in his voice had diminished. His eyes showed his concern and his love, but he fought to keep a distance. She didn't want him anymore, but he was still concerned about her, and her safety. "I would have gotten here sooner, but I was held up at a vendor."

Yelara was still gripping Kace's cloak as he turned to face her, and remembering that she was supposed to be angry with him, she released her hold on it and stepped back. "So you were following me?" she snapped. She tried to sound stern but the lingering fear still clearly bled through. "I thought you'd have left Corellia by now..." Yelara looked away. The fear and panic she felt as she watched the Imps pointing their blasters at her finally beared down upon her. She felt her body trembling violently as she pressed herself against the wall, using it to support her now tired legs. She didn't want to show Kace any sign of weakness. The last thing she wanted to do was to make him think she needed him. "This whole trip has been one big mess..." she whispered to herself, forcing the tears back.

"You won't get an argument from me," he said. He looked around the alley where they were. "I was going to leave; I didn't think you wanted me around you anymore. But, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I kept hoping there was a way to go back, to fix things." He could feel the strain in his voice. His throat was tight and he was starting to feel a tightness in his chest as well. He was feeling fear, fear of losing Yelara forever. He knew that was in front of him now. The sound of her voice, her words, the way she looked at him... It all said she wanted him no longer. "I was arranging for transport back to Tae'Karada for you. Since I got you here, I figured I should at least see that you get back. Can you get back to your grandfather's okay?"

"I think so, but I'm not sure if I want to go back there. I'm not sure what I want to do," Yelara answered as she hugged the wall. The anger she felt towards Kace the last time they spoke had dissipated. The fright caused by her run-in with the Imps was forefront now, yet she still wanted to lash out at Kace. The troopers - the one way she had to tangibly hurt the Empire - were gone now, but she still needed something to wreak her thirst for vengeance upon.

She turned her head, looking back at Kace and seeing the despair in his cold eyes. It would have been so easy to focus her rage and hate on him, but looking at him standing there helplessly, forced the urge away. He didn't deserve to bear the brunt of her wrath; all he'd done was made a mistake, one he obviously regretted. She wasn't ready to forgive him yet, but she could no longer hate him either. "Kace," she called out gently as she turned around completely, "I don't want you to go, but...I can't be with you right now. Do you understand?"

Kace nodded. "I understand," he said. He wasn't quite sure exactly what he was supposed to understand though. She could have been telling him that she could no longer be with him because of what he had done, or she was saying she would need time. He looked around, unsure of what would happen next. He thought perhaps he should just return to his ship and wait until she was ready to leave. He had a feeling that even though she didn't want him to go, she didn't want to be around him. He wished he had a glimmer of an idea of what he should do. It was quite ironic to be a Jedi master, and be unable to figure out something as seemingly simple as dealing with another human. Irony had been Kace Mordin's life though.

Yelara stepped forward, feeling now like she could actually go near Kace without having to resist the urge to slap him. Her legs were still weak beneath her, but she knew she wouldn't fall. She wanted to reach out her hand and press it against Kace's cheek. She wanted to cradled his face in her hands and tell him she forgave him, but she knew if she did that, eventually the bitterness she felt towards him would resurface and they would be right back where they started. The situation had to be repaired slowly; Yelara had to give herself time to clear her head and separate her now twisted and jumbled emotions. Was the bitterness and rage she was feeling really meant for Kace, or had the love she had once felt for him merely gotten tangled up in all the hate?

"Shall we walk, Kace?" Yelara offered as she stood, gazing up at him. "I don't want to be alone, not after what just happened. I'm obviously in no position to protect myself and I do plan to leave this planet alive. Don't worry, I won't slap you again," she said with a gentle smile.

Kace smiled. "Thanks," he said. "I've been involved in a lot of fights in my life, but I think that hurt more than any other wound I've ever had." He looked at her and realized he was saying more than he should. "Let's go ahead and walk. You won't be attacked again, and if anyone does try, I don't plan on being as congenial next time."

"I wasn't certain if I could stop you. You seemed almost...possessed. It was almost frightening to see you like that. I'm only glad you didn't turn on me like you did them," Yelara said with a sideways glance at Kace. As they walked back through the crowds of people, Yelara scanned the streets, keeping a wary eye out for any more Imps. She still wondered how they had recognized her, but they had and she had to be very careful from now on.

"Kace, when you were with...her," Yelara began awkwardly, "what did you say to her? Did you really think you could have us both and that we would all three of us live happily ever after?"

"No," he said. "I didn't. I knew that I would lose one of you out of this. I knew I loved both of you. And, I didn't think I could really have you. I mean, you have Dargus. And, so I thought I'd follow my feelings with her. But, when I was there with you when we met your grandfather, and later when we were walking together, I knew I couldn't be with her. I knew I didn't really want to be with her, not like I wanted to be with you. I knew that even if you had Dargus, I still wanted to be with you." He swallowed. He was quiet for a moment. "I don't know what I was thinking before, or if I even was. I thought I was doing the thing that-- I don't know what I was doing. I have loved you from the beginning, and I have no idea what I was doing. I guess I was just reacting that when this was all over you'd be back with Dargus, and I'd be left out. And, I did have feelings for...her. I thought it was more than it was. But, nothing could ever be more than what I feel for you. I don't remember what I said to her, but I was terribly wrong."

Yelara and Kace had left the confusion of the city, and were now walking on the path back to her grandfather's home. Somehow, being away from all the distractions and tumult of the city allowed Yelara to clear her mind. Kace was truly sorry, she could see that now, but she was still hurt by his actions and hurt more knowing how much guilt he was feeling about it. She understood his reasoning, that she would run back to Dargus, and leave him behind, but she had no choice, especially now. After the run in with the Imps, Yelara knew she needed Dargus' protection. She could no longer openly help the rebels, for she was now a known sympathizer and couldn't risk raising any suspicions. Yet still, she wanted to be with Kace, despite what he'd done. If only she could forgive him...

"I think I understand why you did what you did, Kace. I've been confused many times before and I still am. I guess you could have kept it from me, but you didn't. That was noble of you, Kace. Still, you messed things up. I was even considering leaving Dargus forever, but I'm not so certain anymore. If I did, how could I be assured that you wouldn't just run back to Elisia? You must have felt love for her if you could open yourself up enough to sleep with her." Yelara sighed and stared straight down the path. She wanted to feel Kace's hand in hers and wanted to follow the path together, as lovers, but she wasn't ready yet, if she could be at all. "You made a mistake, Kace, but it's going to take time for things to become mended. Again," she added, stopping and turning to Kace, "I ask you to wait for me like I asked of you once before. Would you be willing to wait for me until I'm ready to look at you again without feeling the betrayal I'm feeling right now?"

"I can try," he said. "I don't know how long I'll be able to look at myself. I don't know how long I'll be able to see you with Dargus now, knowing that I may never have you again. You will never have to worry about me being back with Elisia. I don't think she would want me now, and I know I don't want to be with her. I don't think I could ever be with anyone else again. But, I can try." He glanced at her. "I can't promise how long I'll be able to hold out though."

Yelara began walking again and allowed herself to walk closer to Kace so that her arm was gently brushing against his. She suddenly missed being in his arms and it felt almost as if the tension between them hadn't happened, but it had, unfortunately and Yelara couldn't just forget that. "I don't want you to leave, Kace. We've been through too much together to just part like this. I want you to take me back to Tae'Karada. Who knows, maybe the trip together will do us some good," Yelara said, looking up at Kace and giving him a rueful grin.

Kace chuckled. "Maybe," he said. Her closeness felt good. He wished he could take her into his arms. He wished he could make everything that had happened go away. He wished he could make right, the wrongs he had made. More wrong in a lifetime of them. Far too many for one man to ever make up for, even a Jedi master. But, of all of them, this one was the worst. "Did you want to stay here for a few more days?"

Yelara sighed and shrugged her shoulders. She didn't see any point in staying much longer. She had done what she came to do and now she couldn't wait to leave behind Corellia, along with all the bad memories that had been bred there. She would never return to Corellia again, she knew that, and it was most likely for the best. "I think I should be with my grandfather for another day, just to make sure he's alright," she answered as they neared her grandparents' cottage. "Then we can leave, and Kace," Yelara added, stopping again and stepping in front of him, "I just wanted to say thank you for what you did back there. If you hadn't shown up I would be most likely dead right now. So, I guess I owe you one, anything you want. Name it, and you've got it."

Kace nodded. "Well, I think my first wish would be too much and I probably don't deserve it," he said. "Can I get back to you?"

Yelara grumbled playfully then sighed. "Sure, if that's what you want to do, but you know how impatient I am. I could take back my offer at any time, so this might be your only chance." Yelara smiled at Kace, then picked up her dress and began walking again, calling back to him, "Kace Mordin, I don't know whether to curse the day that I met you, or to thank the force that you were brought into my life."

"I guess that depends on what day it is," he said with a laugh. He started moving and quickly caught up with Yelara's long strides. "Well, if this is my only chance," he said, wondering if he was doing the right thing or not. He may only have one shot at it. "It's probably too much to ask for. But, I have to try." He paused for a second, deliberating whether to take the next step. He could be pushing too much. But, it was the only thing he truly wanted. He braced himself for the rejection, or the slap, or whatever was coming next. "A second chance. If it's anything I want, that's it. The only thing I want."

Yelara suddenly felt her heart drop into her stomach. He had asked for the one thing she could not give him yet, but he was brave to ask it of her, she had to give him that much. Yelara stared at the ground as she held her now tattered dress in her hands. Their future together, if there was one, rested in those hands now and it was a responsibility that weighed too heavily upon her. She couldn't grant such a request yet, but she didn't want to reject him either, not when she wasn't certain whether she wanted a second chance with Kace. Yelara decided on a diplomatic approach. "Kace," she said slowly, still looking to the ground and feeling her heart pounding in her chest, "a second chance...I can't give you that yet, but the possibility of one in the future...now that, I can grant."

Her rejection was much gentler than he imagined, but he had still been expecting a rejection. Despite his readiness, it hurt. He tried to shrug off the pain and failed, and decided to just move on. He nodded. "Well, even that's probably more than I deserve." He continued walking, his eyes focused ahead of them. They were nearly at her grandfather's house where they would part ways. He would be able to take out his grief on a remote back on the ship.

Yelara stopped at the door to her grandparents' cottage. She stood there in front of Kace, watching him in silence. It seemed almost awkward, standing there with him, as if they were two young kids out on their first date. Yelara smiled at Kace uncomfortably. She began wringing her hands as she shivered from the cold night air. "The stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they? I mean, you don't get to see those when you're trapped on a space station for weeks on end." Yelara stood on the doorstep, looking up at the stars and breathing in the crisp air. It would have been the most romantic moment, if it had been another time and if her and Kace had been fully reconciled.

Kace looked up into the sky and smiled. He actually hadn't seen that sight in quite awhile. "You know," he said. "I think it's been over a year since I was actually able to look up at the stars like that. They're much more beautiful with an atmosphere to look through." He glanced at Yelara and felt the pang return. He didn't know if he could make it through this. He didn't know if he could at all. He didn't know what would happen when they returned to the station. He didn't know if he could handle Yelara going back to Dargus. Not now at least. Kace sighed. "I should probably let you get inside to be with your grandfather." He made no effort to move, instead letting his eyes go to her face, but not her eyes. He didn't want to know what he would see in her eyes. "I'll be down at my ship."

"Kace..." Yelara heard herself saying as she reached her hand out to him. "You don't have to go back to your ship. There's an extra bedroom here for you, if you want it. I don't mind. Really." Yelara drew her hand slowly back and wrapped her arms around herself. She didn't know if she was shivering because of the cold air, or because of how nervous she suddenly was, standing there with Kace. "It...it might not be safe for you to go back there yet, especially with what happened tonight."

He nodded. "Okay," he said. "I should run down and grab a few things. But, yeah, maybe we should all be here together. Good idea." He gave her a smile and looked up at the stars again. He knew there were customs in some locations where wishing on a falling star was supposed to bring luck. Kace didn't believe it though. But, he made a wish on one of the stars as it fell anyway.