Jealousy: The Betrayal

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa Meorrrei fingered her commlink nervously as she was patched through to Navaria Tarkin's line. A previous message left at the Jedi's apartment had not warranted a call back, apparently, so she was trying again.

And once she did, Saa would be forever severed from her relationship with Sanis, business or personal. Oh sure they'd had some good times, but she'd almost left her life in the Pride for him. And he'd repaid her with lies and half-truths. She'd invested too much in him and he'd repaid her with a rubber check.

The full blood Cizerack female, young and lithe and exuding sensuality, had literally made a deal with the devil. Her aunt wanted Sanis all to herself, well, she could have him. Saarrreeaa had offered her help to Sasseeri Reeouurra, half-breed Cizerack CEO of the Sector Rangers, and now there was no turning back.

Even if she'd wanted to now, there were too many other factors. Sith factors. The female didn't pretend to understand Hera DrenKast or the other Dalee look-a-like, Dalethria, but she was here to do her part, and leave. Navaria deserved the truth about Sanis, before she died, of course.

The part of her heart that was cold and cruel seemed to grow a bit at that thought, and she smiled as the transmission finally went through. A strong voice at the other end of the line answered, and Saarrreeaa cleared her throat. "jYesss, Navarrrjia? Thjisss jisss Sssaarrrrrrrrreeaa Meorrrrrrrrreji. jI am Sssanjisss' busssjinessssss parrrtnerrr. jI have...sssomethjing to talk to jyou about.

"The trrrruth."

[Navaria Tarkin]

Navaria had been informed that this woman tried to contact her previously sometime ago. It happened while she was incapacitated, forced into amnesia by her nemesis Dalethria. Thanks to Estelle Russard, she was able to fully recover mentally and return to her duties as a council member and master to her Padawans.

In light of that, the Knight decided to have the call re-routed to a personal office used by the council just outside their chambers. Otherwise, the person wanting to contact her would have to wait even longer until she was able to pick up the line at her apartment.

She sat down and cued up the transmission, "This is Jedi Knight Navaria Tarkin. How can I help you?"

"jYesss, Navarrrjia? Thjisss jisss Sssaarrrrrrrrreeaa Meorrrrrrrrreji. jI am Sssanjisss' busssjinessssss parrrtnerrr. jI have...sssomethjing to talk to jyou about.

"The trrrruth."

Undoubtedly, this woman was a Cizerack by the thick accent. That didn't interest her as much as this woman knew Sanis. Recently, her and Sanis had come to terms with one another, finally being able to push the past aside and have their relationship start on solid footing. The one factor that she couldn't control was his business dealings. She had made a promise that their opposite lives wouldn't compromise their relationship.

Seems like someone wanted to do it for her anyway. She wasn't going to stand for it but was pleasant when speaking to Saarrreeaa. "Well Ms. Meorrrei, I do apologize that I couldn't receive your earlier call do to extenuating circumstances, but I do not deal with Mr. Prent's business affairs ... regardless of what they may be."

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Don't back down now, Sssaa. "No, no, Jedji Tarrrkjin, jI do not wjisssh to talk busssjinessssss ejitherrr. Do jyou rrrememberrr the njight that Sssanjisss sssshot jyou? jIt jisss the next dajy that jI wjisssh to djissscussssss wjith jyou, jin perrrssson."

Saa held her breath, knowing that unless Navaria took the bait all this was useless and Sasseeri would cease to play at being nice to her and would have her murdered. Better Navaria than her. For that matter, better Sanis than her.

[Navaria Tarkin]

How could she forget. Sanis' vengeance had gotten the better of him. Not only did he injure his intended target, he also had shot Navaria in the process.

It happened so long ago. Why was this piece of history being brought up now. Morgan and Rie told her what happened with Dalethria sneaking into the prison to meet with Sanis before taking Tirsa away. What more could there have been?

Navaria was starting to get a bad feeling about this...

"I see no need to discuss this in person. This is quite a secure line. We can speak like this."

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

No, no, no! Saarrreeaa looked past the spot on the desk she was focusing on, and to the woman who was sitting across from her. Hera looked impatient.

"But jyou have a rrrjight to know. jI...jI can't sssajy rrrjight now, jI'm at worrrk. Mjy aunt ... ssshe'd kjill me ..." Saa took a deep, shuddering breath. It really wasn't hard to pretend she was in mortal fear of Sasseeri, because she was in mortal fear of Sasseeri. "jIf ssshe knew that Sssanjisss and jI -" Saa cut off her sentance sharply, as though she'd already said too much.

[Navaria Tarkin]

She caught her breath. Saarrreeaa's last words caused her heart to sink. Navaria didn't want to think about the implications. Not after that night with Sanis...

The Jedi swallowed the lump in her throat but her mouth had gone dry. She was grateful that her voice remain strong and didn't crack. "What did you mean by that?"

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

"jI don't want jyou to make the sssame mjissstake jI djid. Meet me at mjy aparrrtment tonjight." Saa gave the address, in the Chiba district. "jI feel jI've wajited too long alrrreadjy, but jyou dessserrrve to know as much asss anjy female would."

The Jedi female's voice nearly faltered as she spoke. The hook was set, now to bring the bait to the trap. And Sanis would know, he'd know he'd made the worst mistake of his life. Saa thought she should feel comforted, knowing that her scheming was finally coming to fruition, but instead she felt a ball of dread forming in her stomach.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"Ah! jIt jis beautjiful." A cloud of grey smoke erupted from the middle of the room, and Sasseri clapped her hands. Everything was falling into place, and soon she'd have the biggest prize of them all. Sanis Prent, that gorgeous male, so capable of pleasing her, and so bent on breaking her trust.

He'd taken Kessel from her. Well, technically he'd merely scooped it up before she had the chance. And she'd allowed it. She'd permitted his little games and intrigues, hoping he'd learn how benevolent she was, but he'd persisted in his pursuit of what he referred to as his "freedom."

Freedom, ha! Vastly overrrrrrated. Sasseeri left the high ceilings of the room she'd been in, and entered a hallway that took her to a turbolift. Sin Vamel followed close behind her, although the need for a bodyguard shouldn't exist deep inside her own company.

But the other Vigo's could be planning her assassination. The thread of removal and take-over was a very real one, and Sasseeri was a little paranoid on top of that. Her ears swiveled back and forth as the doors closed, and Sin selected the button that would take them to her office.

She hadn't seen Sanis in some time, since he'd used the revenues from his 'pharmecuetical' company and paid back the debt he owed her. By the Pride, but she'd fumed that day, and broken a good set of office furniture when Saarrreeaa had told her the news. But, as they said, there was more than one way to skin a cat. Sanis was finally to be totally hers. And there was nothing he could do about it.

Sasseeri smiled, patting Sin's arm as they exited the 'lift. Today was an excellent day.

[Navaria Tarkin]

Navaria found herself agreeing to the meeting, no longer thinking about the situation she could find herself in. Caution was thrown out the window. The last words Saarrreeaa spoke had placed doubt in the Jedi's mind and where her mind went was breaking her heart. He always told her everything!

That was a lie. He couldn't tell her everything. It was impossible given who he was. She wanted to confront Sanis now but about what? Fling accusations his way without knowing the situation, if there even was a situation? She could end up ruining what they built on still shaky ground if the Cizerack woman was playing head games with her, perhaps thinking Navaria would go to Sanis first.

Or there was something hidden from her. If that was the case, then yes, Saarrreeaa was correct. Navaria had a right to know.

The address was punched into her datapad. "What time did you wish to meet me?"

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa tried not to smile, it would show in her voice. Sssasssssseerrrji wantsss jyou dead, rrrememberrr that, Sssaa. "jI don't get off worrrk untjil njine tonjight. Ten would be bessst." She paused, and added, "jI have to go. Untjil laterrr." She cut the transmission, and sagged back into her chair.

"Well," she said to Hera DrenKast. "jIt'sss done."

[Hera]

Hera turned her cool stare from Saarrreeaa to smile over at Dalethria who was slouching beligerently in a large leather office chair.

"I told you this was going to be fun"

[Miranda Tarkin]

Dalethria shrugged, "It will be fun when I get my hands on Navaria. Right now all I get to do is watch and be patient." She managed a smile, "Which I am more then willing to do ..." and glared at the Cizerack woman. Her thoughts were not unknown to her. Saarrreeaa wanted her Sister quite dead but the Mistress wanted to emphasis that the kill was her's and her's alone. "... as long as she is mine."

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa's ears flicked back and forth as the two women talked, her nose twitching at the scent one of them was wearing. It smelled horrible to her sensitive nose. Sasseeri wanted the Jedi dead, and this Dalethria wanted the Jedi for her own reasons, one of which was probably that they were twins, or something.

Rarely on Carshoulis were twins born, litters were unheard of. But if Saarrreeaa put the facts together properly, there were three women who had shared the same face. Dalee, the one time girlfriend of Sanis Prent who had been killed by some Force wielding maniac; Navaria Tarkin, who was a Jedi Knight of no small renown and also Sanis Prent's lover, and Dalethria. Would Sanis move onto this third one if Navaria did not survive? It was all very confusing, but this thing called... trrrjipletsss happened in hyu-mann families occasionally.

Of course, she did realize that if Sasseeri saw Dalethria, she'd fly into a rage and probably try to tear her apart with her own hands. It would be interesting, at least, to see what happened. The female didn't seem to realize that Navaria was a different person from Dalee, and seeing Dalethria would only complicate what was, at the moment, a very simple plan.

"The Jedji female jisss none of mjy concerrrn afterrr mjy aunt'sss objectjive jis achejived. But jif jyou don't go qujickljy, Sssassssssseerrrji majy fjind jyou," to Dalethria, "herrre, and thjingsss wjill get morrre compljicated."

She stood up, short compared to the other two females, but not feeling cowed in the least. The door opened, and she started, expecting Sasseeri to storm in, but it was only Cirrsseetto. Her manservant hesitated inside the door, looking at the women before him, and his ears drooped. The situation wasn't normal, and that was worrying to him. He smiled a bit at Dalethria, probably recognizing her as Dalee, who'd always been quiet around him. Cirr liked quiet, it was less confusing.

Saa glared and snapped her fingers, and Cirr's eyes widened, and he backed out of the room. The door shut awkwardly.

[Hera]

With a playful air, as if she were up to no more mischief than salting someone's cereal or short-sheeting someone's bed, Hera invited Dalethria with a smile, "shall we?"

It was the cue to leave, and both women strode from the room.

And, it was the cue to act. To set in motion events that would shatter one, if not two, destinies in a single stroke of malice and evil intent.

Navaria. Dalethria's prize, would be the bait. Beautiful, soulful, gentle. Bait.

Hera could hardly wait.

Outside the building, the two Sith walked to their waiting speeder. Hera with a jaunty spring in her step all but leapt into the vehicle. With a happy smile, she pulled into the traffic and sped to the Chiba district via the Ella route.

Show time.

[Navaria Tarkin]

It was ten minutes before her scheduled meeting with Saarrreeaa. Navaria was always early to any meeting that required her personal attention. Normally she would be even more early then a mere ten minutes, but she had put off coming to the Cizerack's condo for as long as it was possible. There was a sinking suspicion as to what Saarrreeaa wanted to speak with her about.

Navaria was afraid and nervous. Her nerves were jumbled into knots, but those feelings were locked away deeply. Nothing about her suggested other then the collective calm Council Member of the Order that everyone knew her to be.

The doorman greeted her warmly and opened the door for Navaria. Another man showed her to the elevator. She closed her eyes to steady herself for a moment before pressing the button that would take her to Saarrreeaa's floor. Seconds felt like eternity but Navaria was able to wait patiently, keeping all thoughts from her mind clear. The Jedi had to remember, this could be a trap. Saarrreeaa could just be telling her lies to get under her skin. That woman never liked her. Well, Daleethria techincally, but that hatred spilled over onto her now. All of this could be a clever ruse and she had to stay focused.

A dull chime sounded and the doors to the lift opened. As she stepped through, Navaria stopped right outside, eyes wide opened.

Cirrsseeto was standing right outside the door. It was foolish to think he wouldn't be here. Navaria was so caught up in what Saarrreeaa was planning she had forgotten about him. He was unpredictable when it came to his anger, but he was fiercly loyal to his mistress. The Knight was uncertain of how he was going to react to her.

She caught herself and returned to calm, "Hello Cirrsseeto, I know I'm early." Navaria really didn't know what to say besides that. Maybe he would like that she remembered her.... or perhaps not.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

"Hello, how arrre jyou?"

Cirr smiled nervously, and quickly turned his blue eyes away from Navaria's.

"Sssaarrrrrreeaa jisss wajitjing forrr jyou jinsssjide."

Almost forgetting, Cirr moved from in front of the door, and opened it for Navaria. He smiled at her again in spite of himself.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa smoothed her hair, and got up from the sofa where she'd been waiting. As Navaria Tarkin walked into the living area through the short entry she caught her breath. She was pretty, from a hyuu-man point of view, although her arms were a little too skinny - not muscular enough.

Saa's blond hair was pulled back in a jaunty ponytail, and she'd changed from her business suit into a matching bright blue cotton ensemble - tank top and pants with white stripes down the sides. She stuck her hand out towards the Jedi Knight. "Mjissstrrresss Tarrrkjin, thank jyou forrr comjing." She was quite a few inches shorter than the Jedi, which irritated her.

Overwhelmingly, however, she was nervous. "Pleassse, sssjit. Would jyou ljike sssomethjing to drrrjink?" Saa nodded to Cirr who had closed the door and was standing in the entry still.

[Navaria Tarkin]

Navaria did not shake the offered hand, instead she bowed in a polite greeting. When she rose back to her full height, the Knight looked down at Saarrreeaa. It was obvious the Jedi was not here for pleasantries, "My apologies for being curt, but I came here for only one reason. I'd rather like to get this over with if you do not mind."

Not to look completely rude, Navaria did pick up her robes about her and sat down upon the couch, eyes fixated on the Cizerack woman.

[Hera]

It was great effort to cloak their presence. Two powerful darksiders are not something easily masked, especially from a Jedi of such strong empathic skills and force sensitivity of Navaria Tarkin. Hera's face was stern with focus.

Beside her, Dalethria moved almost imperceptibly forward and Hera reached a restraining finger to lightly touch her comrade's arm.

"Not yet." she whispered. "Lets see the Cat torment the Mouse first. I have a feeling much of the fight in this Jedi is about to evaporate at what news the Cizerack brings her"

A dark smile.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

"I'd rather like to get this over with if you do not mind."

Saa nodded soberly. "Cerrrtajinljy, jI underrrssstand." She moved to the easy chair that sat opposite the sofa, and perched on the edge of it. She had no idea where the other two women were, although there was a vague scent of something else in the room. It was barely perceptible to her sensitive nose, and the Jedi Knight would have had no idea what the apartment smelled like in a normal situation anyway.

"jI asssked jyou to come herrre becaussse jI wanted to tell jyou the trrruth. About Sssanjisss." Navaria sat even stiffer, and a part of the Cizerack felt sorry for her. She let it leak into her tone. "Do jyou rrrememberrr when Sssanjisss ssshot jyou - bjy accjident of courrrssse..?"

Saa took a deep breath as Navaria opened her mouth to affirm, or protest, or say anything, and rushed onward, cutting the Jedi Knight off. "jI went to vjisssjit hjim jin jajil. jI djidn't know about jyou, orrr jyourrr sssjisssterrr. jI would have come to jyou sssoonerrr, but jI thought jyou alrrreadjy knew becaussse jI sssaw jyou at the jajil too. Onljy jit wasssn't jyou." Saa frowned, and rubbed her forehead with a striped hand. Navaria looked confused, and she didn't blame her.

"jI mean to sssay - at the tjime of that epjisssode, jI had been jinvolved wjith Sssanjisss Prrrent as morrre than jussst hjisss busssjinesss parrrtnerrr. Forrr at leassst sssjix monthsss we werrre loverrrsss. jIt wasss not untjil jI sssaw hjim jin the cell and found out that he had been wjith jyou for about thrrree of thossse monthsss... jI had no jidea, and frrrom jyourrr face, nejitherrr djid jyou." Saa fell silent, watching Navaria cautiously.

[Navaria Tarkin]

The irrational part of her mind that was always kept in check through training was begging to take over. Navaria felt the need to stand up straight and point an accusing finger at Saarrreeaa and demand that she take back that lie about Sanis.

Then there was the part of her that was in control and kept that part of her locked up. It was not to say there was no visible reaction, although subtle at first. Her eyes widened at the news and Navaria felt herself blanch, still thinking that Saarrreeaa was lying to her. Her abilities told her otherwise. The Cizerack was telling the Knight the truth, there was no mistake. Navaria was a powerful telepath and she could weed out lies with ease.

With that realization her heart continued to break and solemnly, her head bowed forward, forcing her eyes to stare at the ground, not wanting to look at the face of Sanis' former mistress... Or was it the other way around? She did say that they were together six months. Navaria stepped into the picture around three. The times made sense to her, but something was still nagging at her.

The Jedi swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing that it had gone dry as a desert. "You said that this had to be done face to face. You had something to tell me that I should know. You did." Her jaw set in thought and with more determination, but the hurt was still within her voice, "But I know something is wrong. There is something you're not telling me. It is hidden well within the bigger truth." Slowly the Jedi's saddened blue eyes peeled themselves away from the floor and back towards Saarrreeaa, "Why hold back anything now?"

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Whjy jindeed?

"jI hate jyou forrr takjing hjim awajy frrrom me." Irrationally, her eyes were sad, and her voice limp. This was her moment of triumph, but she felt no elation. "All thjisss tjime jI have ssstood bjy, and ...and allowed hjim to contjinue hjisss deceptjion...

"But no morrre. jI thought... jI thought thjisss would make me feel betterrrr..." Saa scrubbed away an unwanted tear.

[Navaria Tarkin]

She closed her eyes, hiding her own pain, "And it did not."

Navaria rose from the couch, "I shall take my leave now. I have much to think about and you do as well it seems." She did not hate this woman, but still there was that ever lingering doubt in the back of her mind that something was still amiss. Saarrreeaa was finished speaking, Navaria could sense this and it was the perfect time to go. Her emotions were under control right now but inside, her heart was broken and the Jedi needed time to be alone to deal with this news and how to face Sanis.

[Hera]

What was this?

Hera looked on dumbfounded at the bravely composed Navaria. She must have been shocked. How could she not? But the Jedi held a class of discipline that Hera had no real comprehension of, or appreciation for.

Where were the hysterics? The broken hearted sobbings? The pathetic "No this can be true-s"?

Where's the fun of that?

Surely even a Jedi's blood could feel the gut-burn of betrayal, the suffocating sting of humiliation, and react with some drama and histrionics? Surely the Jedi Code had not stiffled the natural urgings of the soul and imaginings of the mind to cushion such a shock as hearing one's own lover -- the love of one's life, even -- was getting down and nasty with such a creature as the Cizerack, while the whole time playing romeo to Navaria?

And what was with the Cat?? Was there a hint of remorse in her declaration? Did Hera detect sadness and regret at being the bearer of such news and doing some betrayal of her own?

Hera couldn't stand it.

"Oh gods give us the cruelty of the Sith before I choke" she hissed to her companion, Dalethria, who had remained a dangerous dark presence beside her.

Hera stepped forward, revealing herself from the shallow alcove at one corner of the room where she and Dale had been concealed.

"Please, please" she encouraged as she stepped further into the room, "dont be shy with the details Saarrreeaa - my friend and I would love to hear of the duplicitous handsprings Prent must have gone through to juggle two lovers of such... (her eyes turned disdainfully to Navaria)... obvious passions"

Hera strolled in a semi-circular fashion, deliberatly cutting the angle of escape for the Jedi toward the front door by half.

"We'd like to know all the sordid little strategies such an enterprising man like Sanis Prent employed - its sure to be very entertaining. Wouldn't you agree Dalethria?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

"Oh yes, Hera." The Mistress had her arms crossed and was leaning against the alcove's wall, making sure that this means of escape was blocked as well. Navaria's composed form broke for a moment and Dalethria caught sight of it. For a brief second, she saw the Jedi flinch at the mention of her name and could sense her fear. It wasn't because she was up against two Master's of the Dark Side, no. Navaria's instincts were correct about the danger. The Jedi Knight was afraid because Dalethria was here. She was impressed at how fast her twin covered up that fear. Perhaps even Hera couldn't sense it any longer but when both pairs of blue eyes met, Dalethria could see it clearly. Time to ruffle the feathers further so this could become interesting, since Navaria was being difficult.

"But I think you're forgetting the real reason as to why this entire situation occurred in the first place. And it's not even Sanis' or Saarrreeaa's fault." She clicked her tongue and winked at the Cizerack, "I mean, girl was in the right place at the right time and got lucky. Sanis wasn't getting any from Navaria here, so who could really blame the man for wanting to get his itch scratched from someone willing to do it, right? A man like Sanis needs that kind of attention and starves when he isn't gettin' it. Unless I'm wrong and Nav was putting out."

She rolled her smirking face back to her sister. "Well, am I wrong?" The Jedi didn't even have to answer. The quivering lip and defeated look upon her face spoke volumes. "Heh, I thought so. Oh well." Dalethria shrugged, "Had to learn the hard way that love isn't a substitute for pleasure."

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa perked up a bit as Herrra and Dalethrrrjia made themselves known. "Sssanjisss wasss alwaysss qujite.... eagerrr to be wjith me. And jit wasss not harrrd to keep Navarrrjia and jI frrrom each otherrr. We werrre bujisssnessssss parrrtnerrrsss, and we went on a lot of bujisssnessssss trrrjipssss togetherrr. Not to mentjion, we ljived jin the sssame penthoussse for nearrrljy a jyearrrr."

[Hera]

"And who ever said 'Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder' .."

If Dale and Nav noticed Hera's misquote, neither identical set of eyes indicated so, but remained locked one toward the other unblinking, as the Faene mistress sauntered forward to stand beside the Cizerack.
"
"True though - I guess" she relented. "Prent could be forgiven for seeking comfort from our shapely felinoid friend here, deprived as he was..." (she and Saa exchanged cordial smiles) "...hard for any male to resist. And after all, men are not exactly the stronger species, everyone knows that."

She strolled around behind Nav, speaking over the Jedi's shoulder.

"He could even be forgiven the secretiveness, if one assumed he was doing it to protect your feelings." Hera brushed a strand of Navaria's glossy brown hair so that it fell softly on behind her shoulder. "Yes...." adding sagely, "much can be forgiven, if one is the forgiving type..."

She leaned forward then, her lips to Nav's ear, "Which we are not."

Then stood back with a snap.

"No. No forgiveness for Prent. And when one can mix revenge with business, as our lovely host has provided us, even better."

If Hera had clapped her hands in glee, none would have been surprised. The Sith was having a thoroughly good time.

"And so - to business we shall get."

Turning to Nav, Hera inclined her head politely as if inviting a guest to join her for dinner, "If you will come this way, Dalethria and I would like to take you for a ride."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Dalethria blinked first and stepped away, leaving the only way out Hera offered. She was beside herself, seeing what was going through Navaria's mind. The Sith had to stay her hand from slapping it across the identical face across from her. "As much as you want to resist it, don't. You know this is right. Men like Sanis deserve payback, so stop trying to find an excuse against it and listen to Hera."

The lines of hatred around her eyes had softened, something that caught her Jedi Sister off guard. "He didn't just mess with you," her arm whirled around to point at Saarrreeaa, "He played the both of you."

The well spoken and stern Navaria from before was starting to crumble. Her emotions were in turmoil since receiving the news about Sanis. Yet, she hid them well until Dalethria and Hera made themselves known. It was always the same song and dance between the two of them. The longer Navaria was in the presence of her Sith Sister, the more her inner defenses crumbled. As much as it would be more entertaining to beat the Jedi into submission, breaking Navaria down mentally and have her come with them willingly was just as devious. To think that the great Jedi Knight Tarkin would condone the actions set against Prent. What would the Jedi Order think of their beloved Navaria then?

[Navaria Tarkin]

On the very tip of the surface, Hera and Dalethria provided a provocative argument. They were a means to an end for the betrayal caused by Sanis. No thought was required, only to follow along with the program to get her revenge for the pain and sorrow created by him.

Once not too long ago, a weak minded Navaria might have broke down in tears at the entire situation, even before the Sith had entered into the picture. She would have been easily subdued, helpless as a sheep. Her mind would be ripe for suggestions, feeding her line after line until the mindless creature was molded into an angry woman bent on revenge. Again Dalethria would be the one pulling her strings, making her dance around like a simpleton.

That Navaria had no existed since her forced exile into the Yavin jungles. The Padawan had realized that her mind was too fractured and her mood swings would end up putting her, or her fellow Jedi, at risk. It was no way to live, in fear and uncertainty. Navaria was spiraling quickly towards the Dark Side and due to that realization, she headed out into the jungles, vowing to return when her mind found peace. The details of what exactly happened out there remain a mystery to everyone, even to this day, save for the Jedi Knight herself. The Council had welcomed her back without question, sensing that a profound changed had occurred within Navaria. The taint of the Dark Side that had touched the Padawan was gone and on that very day she was Knighted. She would not betray the trust placed upon her and stray from the calling of the Light.

To deny that she was hurt by Sanis' betrayal was an out right lie. Of course she was, her heart was shattered for there was some truth in what the Sith had twisted around about their relationship. That did not help to quell her feelings, but Navaria had to push them aside to think through this situation clearly. Swallowing the lump inside her throat, she steadied her mind. The Force began to flow into her easier now and in turn caused her body to relax. Her bunched up nerves recoiled, the erratic pacing of her heartbeat settled into a familiar rhythm and her breathing slowed. The Knight's senses returned to being sharp and focused once her emotions had been reigned in.

"No," came the firm response towards the two of them, but her sister was subjected to the defiant stare. "I refuse to play into your hands again, Dalethria. I've grown tired of these games." The chances of winning a physical contest between two Sith Masters were slim to none, but she will not go with them willingly. No longer will their mind games give them satisfaction and this would turn into a fight soon. Then there was the matter of Saarrreeaa. She was an unknown variable since she had been quiet most of the time. Three to one odds for now till Cirrsseeto joined in. This was going to get messy fast.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa had done her job in luring Navaria here and getting her guard down, although the other women seemed only to be riling the Jedi instead of subduing her. The Cizerack female retreated to Cirrsseetto's side, waiting for the fireworks to start. She wrapped her arms around his arm, and leaned her head on his bicep.

[Hera]

----"No"------

Hera smirked at Navaria's reply.


"We thought you might say that. Expected it even."

Hera threw open her arms in grand mocking gesture (the sudden movement making Cirrsseetto's ears prick up with a start) - "Behold! The Jedi-defiant!" She dropped them again with a sneer of contempt. "What a surprise."

Hera took a small vile from the inside of her cloak. Encased within the tiny rubber tipped capule was an unassuming clear fluid.

"Could be as harmless as water" she remarked with detatchment, holding it between slender fingers.

"Could. But isnt. Introduced into the body, the liquid acts as a paralytic. The potent chemical structure has a mortifying effect on muscular tissue. Attacking at first the weaker, more susceptible tissues around the fingers, toes, eyelids, moving onto the larger masses-quads, hamstrings biceps, pectorals. (She paused) Getting the idea? (And continued) "It behaves as an invading army - assulting the weaker fringe elements and working its relentless way inward to the bigger, stronger ones eventually attacking the vital organs. Sinister in its simplicty, really." (Validation from nutty professor she-evil) "Makes me all warm inside just thinking about it."

"There is an antidote, of course. But it doesnt always work. Depends on how long the drug is in the body's system." She canted her head toward Saa and Cirr, wanting to include them in the general education "took quite a few 'trials' for me to figure that part out. It didnt exactly come with a manual."

All the while she spoke, Dalethria stood ready. She'd heard this schpiel before, although, she didn't remember it being quite so long.

"So, perhaps I should ask you again, Navaria. Dale and I would like to take you for a ride. You can come with all your motor-skills functioning and without the risk of suffocating as your own lungs contract into spasm and refuse to inflate, clinging to the frail hope that we will administer to you the antidote.. Which, by the by, doesnt always reverse all the muscle damage done. You might not look so pretty when its all over"

A resigned shrug.

"So what do you say. Prent is getting what's coming to him and you're a part of it. Cant change that. But is resisting and showing that Jedi spirit worth what's in this little vile?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

Hera was really into the dramatics tonight, but she couldn't blame her. This was incredibly fun. The plan was working perfectly and Navaria was playing right into their hands as she knew she would. Her Jedi sister was foolish to think that there was going to be a way out of this situation. As much as she continued to deny it, Dalethria dictated her life. A cold hard fact that she was going to learn to live with.

She smiled over at the Cizerack couple, reassuring that this was going to be over soon; even letting her eyes linger on Cirrsseeto for a moment longer since he had been startled by Hera earlier.

[Navaria Tarkin]

Again her answer was firm, "No. I will not come with you. I hold no fantasy that you will be so kind as to give me the antidote, but I will not put Sanis at risk, regardless of what he has done. No one deserves vengeance at the hands of the Sith." The Jedi held her head high in defiance and waited for the inevitable.

There was some measure of hope for the Jedi Knight. Her abilities within the Force were strongly associated with healing. She had restored Anbira's voice even before she was bestowed the title of Knight. Navaria may not be able to counteract the poison completely, but she was quite sure that the effects would not be as devastating as Hera had commented ... at least for a considerable amount of time. Even if she was wrong and her power could not contain the spread of the toxin, she'd rather die then willing take part in hurting Sanis. This was going far beyond a lover's spat and though her heart had broke, she did not wish any harm to befall the man she loved so dearly.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Smack!

Navaria's head rocked to the side as Saarrreeaa slapped her across the face. The two darksiders had had the Knight's full attention. As she'd been talking, Saa had had enough. The diminutive Cizerack followed up with a verbal tirade.

"How ssselfjisssh jyou arrrre! jYou thjink that thjisss 'vengence' jisss jussst forrr jyourrr sssake? Bjitch!" Saa tried to tackle the Jedi and wrap her hands around her throat, but Cirr camly picked her up and pulled her back. She made an angry cry, a yowl that would have instantly put any Cizerack's back up.

[Hera]

The slap was a good one. Right on target. Navaria's cheek blossomed into a bright pink flush as Saa growled and flashed daggers from her feline eyes. Dalethria quipped a laugh as Cirrsseetto struggled to restrain his mistress.

Puckering her lips in thought, Hera peirced the tip of the rubber stop of the vial with a hypodermic she'd produced from the folds of her cloak. She drew the lethal liquid deftly up into the cone of the syringe and with a physician's care, squirted just a drop from the pin-sharp end.

"The Cizerack thinks you selfish, Navaria..." Hera cut cold blue eyes to the Jedi's. "But I still have faith in you."

Turning in one smooth, deliberate step, her arm striking out in the manner of lighting to a tree, Hera jabbed the needle deep into the extended bicep of Cirrseetto, who still held his seething Mistress in his loyal and devoted grip, and pluinged the entire contents of the syringe into the felinoids arm.

"Care to prove Saarrreeaa wrong, do you?"

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr's eyes widened as he let his mistress go, yanking the needle from his arm and throwing it aside. He reached to Hera, lifting her up by the neck...and then promptly dropped her as the poison took its toll, deadening the claws that held her fast.

Dumbstruck, he stumbled away, drool coming out of the corner of his mouth as he fell to the floor. He made an effort to crawl to his feet, but even that too failed after a moment longer. He lay on the floor, staring glassy-eyed up at the trio, breathing erratically.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa was struggling against her mate's strong grasp, but not expecting to get free. So, when he suddenly dropped her she was completely unprepared and fell painfully on her side. The Cizerack female leapt back up to her feet, but was distracted from Navaria by the sight of Cirrsseeto stumbling away.

She looked at DrrrenKassst, and the needle in her hand, and then at Cirr, and her anger melted away into concern. "What have jyou done to hjim! Thjisss wasss not parrrt of the plan!" Saa ran to Cirr and cradled his head in her lap, trying to wipe away the drool from his mouth.

[Miranda Tarkin]

"Well, Saa, you see, if we would've told you the entire plan then you might not have gone along with it. And as you can see, darling Sis here wasn't cooperating as expected." Dalethria was highly amused by this and flashed a canine grin over at her twin. "Better hurry. Who knows what damage is being caused. "

[Navaria Tarkin]

The Knight had expected betrayal, but it was suppose to have been directed at her after they had Sanis in their clutches. She should have known better and was beating herself inside by her miscalculation, which was evident by the look of horror as Cirrsseeto went to the ground, suffering the fate that was suppose to be her's. Damn Dalethria for exploiting her weaknesses, giving Hera all the ammo she required and giving her no choice but to comply with their demands by attacking an innocent.

"Give him the antidote. NOW!" Of course neither of the Sith moved on her order. Navaria watched Cirrsseeto's breathing and was thankful he was able to take in air smoothly but for how long? She hoped that not enough time had passed to damage his muscles that were effected by the toxin. She snapped her hand out, pointing at the suffering cizerack and spoke with urgency. "I'll go with you. Give him the antidote!"

[Hera]

"Why dont you escort the clone to the The Paylode"

She directed the perfunct instruction to Dalethria, exchanging with her a smile of conquest. Hera deliberately used the impersonal description of clone to further impress upon Navaria that, to them, she was no more than a game peice, a pawn. A means to an end. An implement of personal spite for each one of them. Dale's spite for Nav. Meorrrei's spite for Prent. And DrenKast's for whoever happened to be handy that particular day. Today it was Cirrsseetto, innocent that he was.

Saarrreeaa's concern for her manservant surprised Hera. She had expected the Cizerack to be furious, which she certainly was. But genuine fear for her male's wellbeing had superceded her initial reaction.

Hera shrugged. She never would understand Cizeracks. Unpredictable as ping-pong balls, the lot of them.

Bending to Cirrsseetto, Hera produced a small white pill and placed it under his tongue. Easy enough to do seeming as how it lolled flacidly in his slack-jawed mouth.

Responding to Saa's skeptical look from the pill and back, DrenKast explained, "This is just an inhibitor. It will arrest the progress of the toxin, curtailing its invasion further into the body."
She tilted her head in examination of Cirrsseetto, confirming what she thought she could already hear - his breathing was slightly regulating better, less eratic. "The second part of the antidote needs to be infused slowly over a 24 hour period to reduce the risk of the body going into shock. All that we need is on the ship."

She stood up.

"Better move. The sooner we start infusing, the better for your male. Besides, we have a date with Prent none of us want to miss."

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa kept silent, only nodding. She put her hands underneath Cirr's armpits, hefting the heaviest part of him. DrenKast made no move to help, and she gritted her teeth around the words, "jI majy be ssstrrrongerrr than jyou, but jI can't ljift hjim alone."

Inside she was fuming. Her anger at the Tarkin female was eclipsed by her fury at the mistreatment of her manservant. How long have jyou been plannjing thjisss, Herrra? Prrrobabljy sjince jyou fjirrrssst met usss! She said nothing, however, keeping her eyes on Cirrsseetto so the Sith would not be offended by the anger in her eyes.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr was out of it. He was barely concious, utterly exhausted, and had no idea what was happening. He certainly couldn't stand. His glassy eyes were half shut, and he muttered a silly rhyme under his breath.

"Marres eat oats
And goats eat oats
And ljittle lambs eat jivy.
Kjid's'll eat jivy too
Wouldn't you?"

And then, he was unconcious again.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri paced the nearly empty warehouse, tail swishing behind her excitedly. Or, anxiously. If the DrenKast woman was not behind schedule, they would be there momentarily.

If she was behind schedule, her pay would be cut. These things were not acceptable, at least not in this business. Sin lounged against a wall, fiddling with the controls on a slab of carbonite. There were about a hundred such slabs stacked by the walls, waiting transport out of the warehouse district and to their ultimate destinations.

Sasseeri checked her chrono, again, and resumed her pacing. Sanis was going to pay. The thought made her laugh. Hysterically.

[Navaria Tarkin]

It was merely seconds that Sasseeri had to wait before the large double doors to the warehouse began to open. Several figures were silhouetted by the cover of night until the lighting from the panels high above inside the buidling revealed their identities. Hera had delivered on her end of the bargain precisely on schedule, though the Cizerack woman would find it odd that the Jedi Knight was not bound nor seemingly harmed in the least. It would appear that Navaria had come along quietly and was being flanked on either side by Hera and Dalethia, was remained close to the Jedi, practically breathing down her neck,

Navaria's face did not betray her thoughts, but she was concerned about the welfare of Cirrsseeto. He was talking jibberish before passing out again. She had tried to gauge a reading on his condition to ease her mind, but her captors were in too big of a hurry escorting her outside to the hovercar to probe deeply. The extent of his condition was unknown to her and she hoped that the Force would guide him to a quick recovery from the poison that the Sith forced upon him.

Right now, her mind needed to be focused upon what was occurring if there was a chance that her and Sanis could escape this predicament alive.

[Hera]

The trio stode into the warehouse in almost complete unison of step. Each woman's stride was firm, steady, set on a course that they all knew was now unchangeable.

The deal would be sealed, just as had been set. The trap was laid as planned. It's outcome inevitable. Prent would show up, just as he had been instructed via subspace communication from the Paylode. He would take Navaria's place as captive. The gentle Jedi would be spared all and any future subversives against her by Sasseerri and her niece and would come to no harm from them. (Hera had omitted to mention Dalethria from any intentions regarding Navaria. That, after all, was a family matter..) It was to be an even trade with the Cizerack. His life, for hers. How could he argue? Sasseerri knew he wouldn't. As did Hera and Dalethria. The odds were in their favour. They held the one, true thing Prent would not risk to roll the die on, and loose. Navaria. His precious love.

It was perfect.

Bringing up the rear was Saarrreeaa and a still disoriented Cirrsseeto. The Cizerack male was strong, Hera had to admit, and had recovered better than most in such a short time. But he was still some days from being fully restored. She bet he had one heck of a headache. A half glance over her shoulder and Hera could see Saarreeaa's feline eyes glinting darkly at her. Yes, the attack against Cirrsseeto would not be forgiven, or forgotten, quickly. The Sith smiled thinly, turning back. What did she care? She already had her battle frigate as payment for services rendered. The Cizerack male had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tough break.

They came to a halt now infront of Sasseerri, who's eyes seemed riveted upon Navaria. Hera glanced at the carbon blocks, and at the scurroulous looking man loitering next to them. Dalethria eyed them also, and her developing smile indicated she approved of what surely was to be Prent's intended fate.

All round, Hera thought this had been a very satisfactory business transaction.

She addressed Sasseerri with a scoundrel grin.

"One Jedi bait-bag, as promised"

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri nearly clapped her hands with glee, estatic to finally get her hands on Dalee. It didn't matter what name she was going by -

"There are two of them?!" She sputtered with rage and confusion. "What trickery is this!"

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

She led her mate to a quiet corner as the fireworks began. She could have told the DrenKast woman that leading two "Dalee" look-a-likes into the warehouse was probably the stupidest thing she could have done, but after what she'd put Cirr through... she was content to watch and see what happened. Saa patted Cirr's arm as his ears twitched from the noise in the large room.

"Everrrjythjing jisss gojing to be fjine." She stared burning holes into Hera's back as her aunt started turning red.

[Sanis Prent]

"Let her go!"

I eased the door of the warehouse open with the barrel of my Mandalorian shell gun, and leveled it at the first convenient target - Hera DrenKast.

"It's me you want. Let her go, and that's what you'll get."

My eyes traced to the others. Sasseeri, Saa, Nav's evil doppleganger. I was in over my head, and the odds were against me.

It wasn't the first time it had happened.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Dalethria chuckled at Sanis' bravery since it was obvious he was way in over his head. She wrapped an arm around Navaria's shoulders and gave her a warm sisterly hug, even kissing the Jedi Knight on the temple who still stood defiant but made no move against her captors. If needed, Dalethria wasn't above sacrificing her sister Jedi to ensure Hera's safety. She'd rather have Navaria dead anyway and wouldn't mind using her for a shield against Sanis' gun. "Now, now Prent. Lower the gun and follow this one's lead."

She motioned with her head towards Sasseeri. "Then we'll let her go." She was also hoping that Sasseeri would calm down now that her prey had been lured out of hiding and things could be explained later.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

The two Dalee's were distracted by Sanis' unfortunately early entry to the warehouse. That stupid Saarrreeaa had probably frelled things up again.

Sasseeri had her blaster in her hand, and had burned off a shot before anyone could say 'boo.' It put a hole in the ceiling over the twin's heads, raining debris down on them. "You two - come overrr herrre." She motioned with the blaster, and added to Drrrenkast, "jI sajid you could have herrr, but not untjil jI was done."

[Hera]

Talk about an explosive cocktail. Hera took in at a glance her current company and thought, well, this is one helluva party.

Prent, not surprisingly, had arrived with weapon drawn and was weilding a healthy amount of attitude along with it. Hera felt her skin prickle as she looked down the barrel. She'd been at the wrong end of this situation before with Prent, and it had not ended well. The memory of it a big part of the reason she had taken this job in the first place.

But she'd no time to dwell on such unpleasantness before Sasseerri squeezed off a shot and began barking orders in her grating Cizerack accents.

"Now is not the time to dot your "i"s and cross your "t"s regarding our deal, Sasseerri. If I were you, I'd be focusing my attention on prince charming over there. He is here, but not yet under your control. And might I add, that shell gun is still pointing uncomfortably in my direction. I think we should deal with that issue first, dont you?"

[Navaria Tarkin]

Navaria closed her eyes and winced as the rubbled tumbled down and hit both her and Dalethria. After that of fell, she sighed and looked towards her sister, who was shaking out her hair. Both of them shared the same look of irritation before the Knight turned her attention towards Sanis and pleaded with him.

You know you don't have to do this. You still have a chance to leave.

She spoke to him as quickly as she could through the Force, hoping that with the distractions going on, such a faint shimmer of its power would go unnoticed. Sanis wouldn't go. It was a futile attempt, but she had to try because she was more then willing to die, knowing that Sanis would be free.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Her ears flattened in irritation, laying back against her head as she pointed the blaster at the Dalees. She was non-plussed to realize that Dalee must have an identical twin, and wasn't sure now which one it was she wanted dead. Er, wanted to give to DrenKast. Presumably, the woman hadn't been able to decide which was which and brought her both. Both had entered willingly, but one had a dark look in her eyes, the other a pleading.

It was easy to tell which one loved Sanis. With a faint growl of displeasure, Sasseeri leveled the blaster at the one in Jedi robes. "Sanjis, sweet, jI don't carrre what you do to that woman. But know that whoeverrr you shoot, Dalee wjill djie too. So put down yourrr gun, and get overrr herrre. jI have somethjing to show you, and your lady luck."

[Jak Prent]

The door opened wider behind Sanis, and a second figure stepped inside, with his smokewagon leveled at Vigo Reeouurra.

"Drop the gat. I got you zeroed. Best case scenario, you get your ears bobbed, so step off!"

A blonde-haired teenager stood parallel to Sanis, with a look on his face that indicated he had done this at least a few times before.

[Miranda Tarkin]

"Oh, no. No, no, no." Dalethria, the one dressed in all the black leather, turned around and was now pointing a blaster at Sasseeri. Her intentions were to kill Navaria. She could sense that this wasn't a ploy to get Sanis to stand down. She had no idea who the young punk was with him but really didn't care right now.

"I had assurances that Navaria wouldn't be harmed," she grabbed the Knight's wrist and squeezed it tight. Navaria made no motion to move and wouldn't. The situation was volatile enough. "So, if that has changed. Then so has the deal. ... ..."

A moment ticked away and something that Sasseeri said just clicked. Her blaster did not lower though. "Waitaminute. Why the frell are you calling her Dalee?"

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa's narrowed as a younger male stepped through the door beside Sanis. This hyuu-man stood far enough inside the warehouse that he was almost in front of her, and his attention was arrested by the quartet of females near the center of the warehouse.

She decided in a split second, and drew a holdout blaster from the back of her pants, leveling it at the younger male's head. "Drrrop jit."

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri growled, "Thjis jis rrrjidjiculous. Drrrenkast, jI'm starrrtjing to care less and less whetherrr Sanjis shoots you orrr not." The Vigo pointed her weapon at the Force user, and then back to the two Dalee's, and then to Sanis... Waving it around was fun. Everyone flinched.

Her niece was showing some backbone, which was encouraging. It was too bad that it was too late for Saarrreeaa. Really, it was. Her eyes met Sanis', and a shiver of delicious desire rippled through the half-breed. He was as fantastic as ever, standing there framed by the open door. And the other male was almost just as attractive. She almost hoped that his head didn't get blown off by Saa's blaster. Almost.

Three tense seconds ticked by, and then the windows blew in. Sasseeri laughed as Sanis felt a blaster touch his head from the open door behind him. Armed beings filled the perimeter of the room, and Dalethria looked over to see Sin Vamel with his silver plated pistols jointly aimed at her head.

Sasseeri laughed again. "Sweet Sanjis. You neverrr learrrned not to bet when the House holds all the aces."

[Sanis Prent]

She'd won me in a crooked game of chance. Using all the same metaphors was getting tiresome.

"We're not playing cards anymore, Sass."

I reluctantly holstered my shell gun. Jak followed suit with his pistol, tossing Saarrreeaa a dirty look.

I shrugged my overcoat off my shoulders, revealing three rows of thermal detonators on my torso.

"Navaria lives, or we all die."

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

She glowered at him, and nodded, "Of courrrse yourrr prrrecjious Dalee ljives. jI only want you."

[Jak Prent]

"Uh....what?"

Jak's head bobbed in the direction of Sanis's suicide vest, and his mouth gaped. He took a few uneasy steps back, until he bumped into the barrel of a henchman's blaster. Tossing a "you gotta be kidding me" look at the cronie, the thug eased up. Every eye in the house was on Sanis's itchy trigger finger.

[Hera]

"It is a wise woman who knows who her ally's are in a situation like this" Hera intoned deliberately toward Sasseeri, "and I believe you could not be more unwise than to leave your man training his pistol's on Dalethria. It would be a pity to end this enterprise with his head, and your's along with it, decorating the duel blade tips of my lightsaber" Her fingers curled around her saber hilt in an obvious punctuation of her point. "... Well, a small pity, anyway."

Hera couldnt believe it. What could Reeouurra be thinking? To have them fighting each other would be a gift to Prent. A gift to be exploited to their own demise. Stupid felinoid.

Sasseeri had Prent where she wanted him. Sanis for Navaria. It was simple. He was there for the taking as long as Tarkin was unharmed. Sasseeri could even have the brat who had showed up with him if she so chose. Or toss him as a bone to her neice for her part in this little plot. It couldn't end better. Everyone goes home with something.

As long as Prent didnt blow them all to smithereens, that is.

Hera looked at Dalethria and jerked her head toward the door, indicating discussion time was over.

"Bring the jedi, Dale. We are leaving."

[Miranda Tarkin]

With a smug look, she holstered her blaster. Her sabre would be needed more in this instance and now Dalethria's hand was near the weapon. If Vamel tried to take a shot at her, she'd be ready.

Her hand tightened around Navaria's arm and she took two steps towards the exit, agreeing with her friend's declaration. Sanis wouldn't blow them up .. at least there was a high chance he wouldn't. He'd rather die himself then take his lady love with him in a blaze of glory.

[Navaria Tarkin]

She followed willingly still. Any sign of aggression from her part would result in Sasseerii and Vamel to open fire and spiral the situation out of control further.

The only thing troubling her was Sanis. He was always unpredictable and it made him difficult to read. If she attempted to break away from Dalethria and by chance those detonators exploded ...

No. She couldn't think like that. Only if Dalethria and Hera were able to lead her out of the warehouse could she make her move and try to escape.

[Sanis Prent]

I held the detonator stick up for everyone to see. If Hera and Dale wanted to test me, they were in for a shock.

"Another step and I blow it. I don't believe for a minute you'd do anything less than kill her anyways."

To hell with what Jak or Saarrreeaa thought. It was their choices to be here in the first place. None of it mattered.

My off-hand dropped to my belt, and my eyes fixated on Navaria.

"Hear me." I mouthed breathlessly. We had a connection, and I needed it now more than ever. For her.

My personal shield generator switched on.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"STOP!" Sasseeri shouted at Hera. "He jisn't bluffjing."

She gave the man behind Sanis' shoulder a significant look.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Dalethria stopped and looked towards Hera, "She just stalling. He wouldn't dare."

She pulled Navaria around with a hard yank, "She'll die too. He won't do it."

[Navaria Tarkin]

How wrong Dalethria was. Their connection was still there, strong as ever and Sanis meant to do this. There was no bluff to be called. He was going to blow the charges and set this entire warehouse ablaze.

He was willing to die so she could live. The man she loved was going to martyr himself. She didn't know what to feel. How could she not have felt some guidance from the Force that this was his plan? Perhaps with the Dark Side present by her captors, it blocked her vision. With their connection so strong how could she not foresee his death? Maybe because she couldn't accept an ending or maybe there was something else she was missing.

Regardless, this was their reality. She could try and talk him out of it, but with what time? Dalethria was going to be leading her out of the warehouse and damn whomever got in her way. If Navaria didn't go with his plan, then they would all die in one massive inferno.

It was difficult to explain why she did it. Maybe it was because this was Sanis' salvation for all the pain and mistakes he had caused in his past. Maybe it was for a selfish reason since Dalethria would die in the explosion. As a Jedi you are to trust in your instincts and the Force, and her instincts were telling her that this was the right thing to do. Somehow this insane plan was the window of opportunity.

I love you.

The words were spoken only to Sanis and a warmth washed over him. For a second, an emphatic connection was created so he could feel how strong and pure that love was. As quickly as it was made, the connection ended. Navaria's mind was no focused to what needed to be done next.

She shoved Dalethria away easily since her twin was used to her complacency. Her free hand pulled the shield generator to her by the Force and prayed that it would find a way to save them both.

[Sanis Prent]

A smile decorated my face as I felt the shield generator pulled from my belt. I raised my hand up, placed my thumb on the detonator switch...

[General Dan]

<font color=ff0000>BLAM!</font>

A single blaster shot cut through that perfect moment, severing the very threads of time, as it burned Sanis's hand from his wrist. The detonator fell from the maelstrom, charred, warped, and useless.

The pistoleer's weathered face snaked from a sneer into a confident smile, as he watched Prent take more pain than he'd taken in the entirety of his short life.

Sasseeri Reeouurra would not be denied a scorned woman's revenge. Better still that Dan feel the weight of that revenge in his own hand. It smelled of ozone and seared flesh.

[Sanis Prent]

..."Aaaaagh!!"

I was cut violently back into the land of the living. My plan, and my hand, had gone up in smoke. Falling to the floor, I tucked my wound close to my chest, feeling the heat of cauterized flesh against me.

The pain didn't come for a few minutes. It was dull and persistent, like a drumbeat hammering me into the ground. The horror of losing something so basic was surreal, but there was a greater and more acute horror.

I had failed. Now, there was nothing I could do.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa fell back into her corner at the sudden outburst of violence. Cirr was looking around, wild-eyed, and she had to make sure he didn't make himself a target for Sasseeri's thugs. Her holdout blaster clattered to the floor, breaking the silence after ... after Sanis lost his hand.

She looked away, hiding her face from the Jedi and Sanis. Shame filled her, but she willed away self-pity and focused on Cirrsseetto.

[Hera]

Dan's unexpected arrival proved timely. As it always seemed to be. The assassin had instincts that bordered on the unnatural, and Hera was not displeased by this.

She snatched a fistful of Navaria's hair close to the scalp and dragged the jedi forward towards Prent. Pushing Navaria roughly to her knees, she forced the two lovers to look into each other's eyes.

"Happy now Prent? You've served to frell everybody off and now there will be no more civility from any of us"

The one chance Sanis had of allowing Navaria to leave this warehouse under an honest trade, giving the jedi the best chance of living to fight another day and perhaps escape the Sith using her own devices, had been obliterated - much like the detonator Dan had just destroyed.

"You're a fool, Sanis. And you can go to whatever end Sasseeri has planned for you, knowing that you have failed your girlfriend in every way a man possibly could. You were unfaithful and now you've proven to all to be unworthy."

Hera yanked Nav again to her feet, and ripped the sheild generator still clutched in the jedi's hand, flinging it to smash against the wall, missing Cirrsseetto's head by inches.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa and Cirrsseetto both flinched, fragments from the shield generator peppering them. She lifted her hand to her cheek, and found blood from a few small cuts.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri stalked forward, kneeling down and grabbing Sanis by the nape of the neck. Forcing his head up, she clucked her tongue. "jIt was not too long ago that jI thought you carrred forrr me as well." The man groaned, his face twisted in agony as she kissed his forehead. He tasted of salt, and fear. "jI'd forrrgotten, howeverrr, that fjirrrst and forrremost you arrre a gamblerrr.

"And you masterrred the bluff long ago." She smiled, looking like the cat that had swallowed the canary. "Too bad jI always hold the wjinnjing carrrds."

She dipped her hand to his side, extracting his shell gun from it's holster. "As agrrreed, Dan." She stood up, holding it out to her fellow Vigo.

[Jak Prent]

Jak was slow to recover from his near-death experience. First, he was aware that he hadn't exploded. Next, he watched his older brother drop to the floor, hand incinerated from his wrist. Neither he, nor Sanis, nor the Jedi Navaria could do a damn thing about it, and the desperation was eating at him.

Not minding the thugs around him, Jak bull-rushed Sasseeri, spilling the half-Cizerack on the floor as he screamed his lungs empty. The shell gun clattered on the ground, and all the boy's unfocused rage could do was to clamp his hands around her throat and squeeze the life out of her...

It wasn't thought out, and it was doomed to fail.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Dalethria didn't give a damn at the commotion, nor Sanis' hand being vaporized off. Very few things set her off as of late. Her Sister Sorsha and as always, Navaria.

She would not let Navaria off easily any longer. The deal was done. Her life was forfeit.

It started as a low rumble in the back of her throat, but as she stalked closer to the Jedi with each step, soon it was a full blown growl. A fast fist cracked Navaria against her left cheek. The impact sent her to the floor and Hera found strands of brown hair left in her hand.

snap-hiss

Murder was set into Dalethria's cold blue eyes as she freed her lightsabre. The weapon snapped to life within Dalethria's hand, the purple blade lingering in the air for barely a second before it descended towards her twin.

[Navaria Tarkin]

For the first time today, Navaria's emotions overwhelmed her. The sight of Sanis being shot by Dan shocked her that she even screamed out in disbelief. Then everything happened so fast. Hera yanking her towards him, Dalethria blind siding her with a sucker punch ...Then tremendous danger.

She acted as soon as the lightsabre was ignited. Though her own lightsabre was taken from her, Navaria was not weaponless. She pulled off Hera's own lightsabre with the Force and was able to block the purple blade a few inches from her face. The stunned look on Dalethria's face was priceless. It soon became a contest of strength and Navaria was in a precarious position. Narrowing her eyes, she pushed against the opposing blade and rolled out of the way, hearing the hum of the weapon crackle against the floor.

The Jedi was shaky getting to her feet and felt the weight of the outer robe she was wearing lighten. The back lower half of it was cut off cleanly. She had escaped injury, and possible death, just barely.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri felt the boy's hand around her throat tighten and she gripped his wrists with her own hands, pulling him off of her. Strong as he was, he was only strong for a hyuu-man, and her Cizerack blood had given her more than a voracious appetite.

Jak's eyes widened as the smaller female fixed her fury on his wrists, the delicate bones popping and grinding against each other as her hands increased their pressure. Once his grip had sufficiently weakened, she turned her head to Sin. "Put Sanjis jin the chamberrr!"

The young man jerked into life, ignoring the lightsabers flashing nearby as he grabbed Sanis by the collar and started dragging him towards the middle of the warehouse. Two other goons moved forward, helping Vamel.

Sass narrowed her eyes at the other Prent. "Perrrhaps you'd ljike to jojin hjim?" She threw him away from her - all the fight seemed to have drained out of him.

[Hera]

Hera contented herself to stand aside and watch the spectacle of clashing blades. The mirrored images of Dalethria and Navaria slicing and arcing the brilliant sabers had an almost mersmerizing effect, and Hera found she could not pull her gaze from them.

Somewhere to the side of her, she vaguely registered Sanis being dragged along the floor.

[Jak Prent]

Instantly beaten by Sasseeri, but not out of the fight, Jak turned his desperation to the goon squad hauling Sanis away. He ran at them, body-checking one to the floor, as he turned on the rest of them. Others rushed to him, and Jak was at the eye of a hurricane, a storm of flailing fists, elbows, feet, and profanity. It was pure rage.

[Sanis Prent]

I watched wearily as he fought his way toward me. By the time he was adjacent to me, the other guards were on him and he was overpowered. A thug braced behind each of his arms and one at his midsection, wrangling him immobile. He still strained, his face red and streaked with tears.

"Jak, no! This won't help me, or you."

I wearily leaned forward against him, and the guards at my side grudgingly allowed it.

"Nav."

I looked over Jak's shoulder at the Jedi battling desperately against her counterpart.

"Do what you can for her. For me."

The cyllinder in my coat pocket pressed against his abdomen, and the guards began to pull me away again.

[Navaria Tarkin]

There was no clear way to tell who had the advantage in this duel. Dalethria was the more experienced combatant and what shocked the Knight was how focused her darker twin was. The aura of rage surrounding her was potent. In the past, Dalethria was reckless when it came to their confrontations. Her only flaw this time was impatience but her determination was pure.

Navaria may not be as worldly as her counterpart but there were strengths within the Knight that surpassed anything that the Dark Side could give any Sith. There was no fear within her mind or heart. That gave her strength. She believed in herself and of the power that was granted her through the Light. But above all, Navaria knew Dalethria intimately. How she fought, how she strategized, weaknesses and strengths. It was impossible to use that knowledge previously for she was very much a coward when faced against her. She represented everything that Navaria was ashamed of. A nightmare created from her own fears and anger.

Now, Dalethria Mal Pannis was nothing but another Sith to her. She held no power over her. She was just in the way.

Extending her feelings outwards through the Force, she tried to get a clear defintion of the situation now. The duel had taken them further away from Sanis and the others. A scorched and broken mess was left in their wake from where they had fought.

Her ear then twitched. Something was wrong

"Put Sanjis jin the chamberrr!"

Murder was Dalethria's primary objective but her twin wasn't stupid. She had led Navaria away from helping Sanis so easily!

[Miranda Tarkin]

Realization shined in Navaria's eyes. She figured it out and tried to feint right to breach through the defensive position that Dalethria had set up. It was too predictable and she countered, locking up both of the blades together. Both women were testing their strength, debating on who would escape from the hold first.

The stance was perfect for their matching eyes to meet. Dalethria could tell that Navaria was trying to think of a way out of this precarious position. It was quite humorous to her and smirked at her beloved twin, "You can't get passed me."

Navaria blinked as if noticing her for the first time. Dalethria thought that odd. "Perhaps, but that has yet to be seen."

"True. We've still have a ways to go." Dalethria was the first to break the hold and pivoted on her foot. She pushed her body forward into Navaria's blade and dodge to her right, spinning around in a complete circle as she avoided Hera's lightsabre. It cut into the steel post completely, sending sparks off the frame and the smell of ozone permeated the air once more.

Before Navaria could regroup, her free hand extended forwards and sent the Knight flying off her feet. A set of reinforced crates stopped the Jedi's aerial journey, causing Navaria's back to be plastered against it momentarily before falling to the ground.