Tales from Carshoulis Prime

[Sanis Prent]

Continued from <a href=http://pub56.ezboard.com/fgjofrm2.showMessage?topicID=1632.topic>here</a>...

(The procession made their way outside, and quickly, we moved toward the hangar bays. There were several around Arcan City that were reserved close to the important areas of the town. They were VIP hangar bays, and I recognized the group as heading toward Hangar Bay One. It was a massive bay, practically opening up onto the main city thoroughfare, for quick access to any major point in the city, including the Bar and Grill. As the double doors opened, the Pride Mother's yacht gleamed, faint sunbeams striking its sleek surfaces.

It was a Geocore...but far larger than any model I'd ever seen. From eyeballing it, I gave it 120 meters. Every surface was hand-polished, sleek and seamless. The whole ship was a beautiful contrast of gold and crimson, glittering like some kind of spaceworthy Faberge' egg. The curves were aerodynamically perfect, with some kind of retro Art Nouveau throwback to it. Tapering maneuvering fins, egg-shaped intake manifolds, and a sweeping design made it pleasing to the eye, and from the size of those engines, I figured it could probably go as fast as the Silent Princess...maybe.

The nearly inaudible hum of the lowering gangplank brought me back into the forefront of reality, like a doe-eyed kid pulled away from the display window of a candy store. A tail nudged against me, and I looked up...and up...to one of Rourrsseerri's red-armored honor guard. His eyes were fixed forward like some kind of feline automaton, and I looked around at the other half dozen, all similarly at attention. It was a disturbing feeling, as nerve-racking as sitting in a steel chair with a florescent lamp shined in my blinded eyes. The Cizerack in the black dress uniform stared at me, a cold, analyzing stare, as we walked forward to board the ship. He made a gesture, beckoning me to be the first aboard. Everything was so crisp, polished and formal. I was a bit out of my league, like a work boot tossed in a row of patton-leather loafers. I'd have to fall into rhythm pretty fast, or I was sure they had a hammer to beat down any nails that stuck up.

The interior of the ship was as lavish as anything I'd ever seen; ship or penthouse or palace. Beautiful curved furnishings, rare upholstery, and other affluent trappings were evident at every turn. I took it all in for a moment, and quit trying to count the credits about a minute into it all. It was sharp, beautiful, and utterly amazing. It was also a cage...every bit as much as the actual cages of gold in the room that held exotic birds and other such creatures. I took a seat on an immense, plush couch, the leather as soft as a baby's skin, and in the shade of a sultry burgundy. As I did so, the others filed in. First, the Honor Guard, and then the black-uniformed male, escorting the Pride Mother in by the arm. The pomp and pageantry was thick and all-permeating. It was all just a little too uptight for me, and I was starting to wonder about my little trip. It wasn't exactly a voluntary vacation, and we all knew it. Rourrsseeri was just as sharp-minded as the other females of her race, if not moreso. Judging from what I'd seen so far, she always got what she wanted. And she'd made it pretty obvious she wanted me, now. I'd kept Sasseeri off me, for the most part, and kept some of the others at bay. But now, I was stepping into Cizerack home court, where people like me were less than nothing. It wouldn't matter how much money I had, how successful my business was, or what my name was. In the Pride, I was a plaything. A pet.

I glanced at a bright-feathered parrot-like bird, preening itself in an ornate cage, cocking a half-lipped smile)

Looks like you and me are in this together, Polly.

(I leaned back against the soft upholstery, taking whatever relaxation I could from this sticky situation.)

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseerri released herself from Keerrourri's arm, patting it gently and giveing him a smile she reserved only for him. Then turning, she made her way to the plush couch Sanis had plopped himself on. Sliding onto the couch beside him, she nestled herself right up against his side, certain soft parts of her touching his arm. Signaling to one of the servants, she had him pour out two glasses of wine. She received her glass as Sanis was handed his. Once this was completed, she waved her guards and the servant away, leaving Sanis and her alone in the vast lounge area.

Thjisss wjine jisss made jin mjy rojyal vjinejyarrrd on Carrrssshouljisss. jI ssshall ssshow jit to jyou when we get therrre. jIt wjill be sssome tjime, though, beforrre we arrrrrrjive.

She set the glass down after sipping from it, and nestled even further against Sanis.

jI notjiced jyou admjirrrjing mjy ssshjip when we came jinto the hangarrr.

She looked him deep in the eye, a playful smile creeping onto her lips.

Do jyou ljike what jyou sssee?

[Sanis Prent]

(Trick question...trick question...trick question.

In the back of my mind, a faint murmuring of insight bubbled up, like a weighted-down body drowning in a pool. Me. In that case, Rourrsseeri was the pool, all around me, encompassing me as she slid against my body. Her skin was warm to the touch, and her purring reverberated through me like my own increased heartrate. In the midst of it all, I lost my train of thought. What had she asked? Oh yeah, something about liking the ship.

I glanced at her casually, a stark contrast to her carnal stare.)

You have a very nice ship. Geocores are about as high-class as they come.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

In the background, Sarrtarroa stood by, stately and formal as always. Of course, he would oversee that everything went according to his mistress's demands. It always disappointed him to let another male to warm the Pride Mother's bed...but she often had fickle tastes.

Sarrtarroa glanced at the hyuu-mann plaything she had chosen for now. Sanis Prent, if memory served. A former smuggler, turned businessman...he seemed rather unremarkable to the Emissary. The Pride Mother would have him, eventually break him, and become bored of him. Then she would be ready again for her favorite. Sarrtarroa purred, thinking of his time in the sun, to come soon again. In the meantime, the manservant stepped into an adjoining room, preparing the chosen male's garb. It was a set of silk coveralls, with a loose-fitting silk robe over it. The Pride Mother preferred all her males to wear such things, as they were comfortable, yet easily removed should the need arise. In addition to the silk clothing, Sarrtarroa carried with him an ornate, silver-chain collar, with an engraved portion showing Rourrsseeri's name. It was a sign of Cizerack formality, marking a taken male. The hyuu-mann likely didn't know this...but what was the phrase? Caveat Emptor?

He would know soon enough that he belonged to her.

Sarrtarroa smiled, leaving the clothes on an ornate ottoman in the main room.

A prrroperrr change of clothesss, Mjisssterrr Prrrent.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Her purr kept up it's steady pace, her breathing raising and lowering her chest, making it rub up against Sanis' bare arm.

jYesss, she jisss a beautjiful and expesssjive ssshjip. Though, jI wasss wonderrrjing... jyou ssseem to know a fajirrr amount about ssshjipsss... tell me, do jyou sssee anjythjing about the jinterrrjiorrr that jyou wouldn't fjind on mossst Geocorrre jyatchsss?

But before sanis could answer, Keerrourri stepped back into the hatch way of the lounge room, beckening Sanis to change into some more comfortable clothing. She was tempted to follow him and just keep the clothes off, but she retrained herself. She prefered a bit of foreplay anyways.

As Sanis stood, she patted his behind once, making him turn to look at her.

jI'll be wajitjing...

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Exiting the darkened bar and grill, Saarrreeaa blinked once in the bright open air, and let out a barely audible sigh. The hanger bay in which the Layla was docked was not the same as the Pride Mother's, and she paused. Saa turned back to let the Huntress Admiral know where her ship was docked, and then caught a shuttle to Hanger Bay Eight. The Director, Kajeela, was also heading towards her personal ship.

Unbeknownst to most of everyone, Saa had never flown solo before. And certainly never with someone else's ship. The Layla was Prent's baby, and she was going to have to take it up herself. She swallowed hard, keying the hatch open, and forced herself to walk slowly inside, without looking back in the direction of Hanger Bay One, and the Pride Mother's personal yacht. Sanis was inside it, getting the royal treatment, no doubt.

She slammed her fist on the panel to retract the ramp, and stomped up the passageway to the cockpit. Frrrelljing luck. The Prrrjide Motherrr, majy ssshe ljive a thousssand jyearrrsss and neverrr age a dajy, takesss Sssanjisss awajy frrrom me. jI can compete wjith Sssasssssseerrrji, ssshe'sss jussst a half brrreed, but the Prrrjide Motherrr herrrssself? Neverrr. Thoroughly glum, she settled into the pilots seat and tentatively began the preflight checks.

[Jasseeri Arreearruu]

The Huntress Admiral watched as Saarreeaa made her way to Hangar Bay Eight. She was heading in the opposite direction, in the same direction as Kajeela, and followed behind her. Kajeela turned and entered into Hangar Bay Four, leaving Jasseerri and her guards to keep walking towards Hangar Bay Two where her personal shuttle waited.

Once boarding inside, she ordered for it's immediate take off. The ship's pilot flew the craft towards the waiting battle cruiser she had come in. Leaving the shuttle and hangar bay aboard the massive ship, she went to the command center, where she looked out into the vastness of space. She could already see the Pride Mother's gold and crimson ship sparkling just a ways away from the bow of the cruiser. The other ships, two light cruisers, were lesser in size than the command ship, but no less powerful.

Jasseerri clasped her hands behind her back and awaited the order for them to escort the ships, including not only the Pride Mother's, but also Saarreeaa's and Kajeela's ships, to Carshoulis Prime.

[Marcus v4]

A small access hatch opened on the main cockpit console, and a familiar-looking pink cyllinder wheeled out, its optical sensors focusing on Saa, and a polite mechanical voice speaking.

Hello Saarreeaa. I trust you are well today. Is there anything I can help you with? I'm afraid Sanis has left on a separate ship, and won't be able to take you anywhere. Should I arrange a space yacht for you?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

She growled and continued flipping switches and toggling levers. "jI am sssupposssed to take the Layla to Carrrsssholjisss Prrrjime. Bjy mjyssself."

Saa dialed up the interial compensator to one hundred percent. She wanted to make sure she had a smooth ride, no matter what happened. The freighter began the preflight warmup, and she gripped the controls. "Marrrcusss, jI majy need sssome help." She eyed the droid module.

"And how do jyou know what jisss gojing on wjith Sssanjisss?"

[Marcus v4]

Oh my. Saarreeaa, I do not reccomend you flying the Layla. You have not logged enough hours to become certified, and your safety cannot be guaranteed. If we have an accident, it will not be covered by our insurance, and there is a 74.34% chance that you might sustain serious injury or even death.

The droid paused.

As far as Sanis is concerned, module 387 is currently within his jacket, and is relaying information into my main database. Would you like me to open a communications channel?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

It was tempting. "No, we cannot endangerrr hjim orrr ourrrssselvesss bjy attemptjing to communjicate. Howeverrr...can you open a one wajy channel? Ssso jI can hearrr, but thejy can not hearrr me?"

His dire predictions weighed on her, but she fired up the repulsors anyway as Arcan IV control gave her permission to take off. The Layla rose into the air slowly, and she carefully took the YV-666 light freighter into the atmosphere.

[Marcus v4]

I can do that, Saarreeaa. In fact, I can include holoprojection.

The little droid's processor began working. Meanwhile, on the Pride Mother's yacht, another Marcus module wiggled out of the pocket of Sanis' jacket, which was draped over a chair. It activated its holorecorder, and discreetly got Sanis' attention.

Sanis, Saarreeaa is requesting me to keep track of you.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Aboard the KAR FlagShip "LYNX"


Kajeela leaned back on her low-back chaisse, a Marsheena Double(otherwise known as 'liquid pleasure') in her pettite hand, her favored Enforcer "Therorrrru" massaging deliciously with his huge hands her bare feet.

She wondered vaguely if Sorreessa, her KAR spy had managed to follow Saarrreeaa successfully or not. Her thoughts dropped back to Saarrreeaa Meorrrei..She growled outloud to her manservant,
"And then that ljittle fool Saa and herrr lovesjick machjinatjionssssssss jinterrruptjing me! - landjing usssss wjith Jassssseerrrrji as an essscorrrrrt"

The Director was cutting loose. All her accents were heavy and accentuated - obvious signs to those who knew her, like her males did - that she was extremely annoyed.

Missing out on bagging Prent was something Kajeela could rectify at some point in the future. She consoled herself with that thought.

And then there was the invitation by the Pride Mother herself - now THAT was a bonus.

Her thoughts drifted to her Highness and that manservant of hers, Kerrourri. Her tail swayed lightly and Therorrrru smiled assuming it was his handywork that brought the gleam into his mistresses eye.

"Thats good, Therorrru, like that"

In her mind, Kajeela's thoughts stayed on Keerrourri and other possibilites upon arrival on Carshoulis..

[Sanis Prent]

(I almost jumped out of my skin...it was so sudden. Marcus' computerized timbre cut straight through the deafening silence of the changing room. I looked in the mirror, making sure my "new clothes" were suitable. They were comfortable...but the colors were LOUD! The typical deep red and bright gold of Cizerack choice, it wasn't exactly something I'd wear out of habit. Nevertheless, I made it look good...as best I could. Tying the belt around the robe, I turned to Marcus)

Marcus!

(I froze, lowering my voice)

Marcus, what the HELL are you doing here?

(I stopped, realizing how utterly stupid that question was. He couldn't have "gotten here" if I hadn't put him in my coat pocket to begin with.)

Okay, next question. Now that you're here...help me get OUT of here. Where's Saa?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa watched with half an eye as the tiny droid module projected a holo of Sanis. He was talking, but she ignored his query to Marcus, and eyed his clothing.

She caught sight of a silvery collar around his neck, and her eyes widened. "Marrrcusss, ssswjitch on audjio! jItsss jimperrratjive!" Without waiting more than a second, she hissed, "Sssanjisss, take that collarrr off! jIt jisss urrrgent that jyou neverrr wearrr herrr collarrr!"

Saa squeaked as she looked at the console again, and throttled into orbit of Arcan IV. She looked back at Sanis' holo almost frantically.

[Marcus v4]

Stand by, Sanis. Saarreeaa does not have enough thrust to attain atmospheric escape velocity. Compensating.

Back aboard the Layla...

...oh my...

...Saarreeaa, look out for that...

...up, not down...

On the Pride Mother's yacht, the droid's visual sensors blinked several times

Sanis, this is a very bad idea. If I may make a postulation, Saarreeaa can fly a freighter as well as you can cook.

[Sanis Prent]

(I glared at the droid)

Shut your squawk box, Tin Man, or take a flying leap down the garbage receptacle!

(I looked at the projected holo of Saa, concentrating on flying the ship. I was afraid to say anything, lest it lead to a catastrophic screwup that would destroy my baby...and kill Saarreeaa to boot!

Saa...

(My eyes widened)

Don't look at me! Keep your eyes on the viewport!

Saa...listen, Saa...what is with the collar?

(I fiddled with the clasp...only to find that it wouldn't budge!)

Is this some kind of trick lock? What the frell?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa glued her eyes to the viewport and concentrated on flying and on not tossing Marcus off the console. She throttled up again, and managed to escape orbit and reach open space. There she waited for the rest of the Pride Mother's entourage to appear.

"Sssanjisss, the collarrr sssjignjifjiesss jyou asss the Motherrr'sss prrroperrrtjy. No one elssse majy touch jyou, but ssshe can trrreat jyou howeverrr ssshe ljikesss. Not even Sssasssssseerrrji would trrrjy to quessstjion herrr. And jit jisss a trrjick lock, how verrrjy assstute of jyou, Captjian Obvjiousss."

[Marcus v4]

Sanis, such a comment was not necessary. I only made a quantitatively-prudent assertation of the situation between Saarreeaa's flight inexperience and your culinary shortcomings.

The droid weebled closely to Sanis, its manipulator arms extending from its frame

Sanis, perhaps I can analyze the locking mechanism, and attempt a bypass the system.

The droid reached forward, clasping onto the lock as a small sensor began to shine an energy beam onto the lock clasp, analyzing it fully.

[Sanis Prent]

(Okay that crossed the line, I made a face, jabbing an index finger at my smartass little droid)

Lets get one thing clear here, chips-for-brains...I can cook some great...

(Damn, drew a blank)

...grilled cheese! Process that, nimrod! Just, figure this collar thing out, or I'm kitty bitch.

(I ran a hand through my hair, shaking my head)

I've been in here for a while now...maybe I should give a courtesy flush.

Saa, how's she flying?

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Unbeknowest to the Pride Mother, the little pink droid was attempting to unlock the mehcanism on her seal. What the little droid did not know until it had occured, was that the colar was secured for such an intrusion. As the little droid finished it's sensory examination and reached out a pincer-like arm to remove the colar, a spark of electricity sprung out, attacking the little droid. The charge was only strong enough to make Sanis' hair stand on end and give him a large pinch to the back of his neck, but to the little droid, the charge was catastrophic. In the blink of an eye, the charge raced through the droids circuits, ultimately frying all wires, which burned inside the droid, melting the outter casing. The droid had by now dropped to the floor with a metalic thud against the carpeted plating, sparking. It would never rise again. Hence, the connection to the other Marcus module had been destroyed.

Rourrsseerri was getting impatient. How long did it take to put clothes on? She smiled. Certainly not as short a time as it took to rip them off. She licked her lips at the thought and then turned to Keerrourri, who was standing by the closed door.

Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji... sssee jif ourrr guessst jisss fjinjissshed yet.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Sarrtarroa gave three polite raps at the door.

Hjyuu-mann, the Prrrjide Motherrr beckonsss jyou.

The Emissary stood politely at the door, his hands clasped behind his back.

[Sanis Prent]

Ah..ahhh....no....frell don't do that!

(Marcus fried like wet bacon in a skillet, smoke curling out of his frame as he plunked to the ground. White smoke puffed up, thick with the stench of ozone and melted plastic. It was worth a moment of melancholy, as I sat and watched him smolder.)

Damn...now what do I do?

(The knock came, and the Pride Mother's assistant called on me. Suddenly the heat turned to a cold sweat, and I thought of the options. Glancing at the fried droid module, I got a hairbrained idea...)

Ahh frell...can you tell her I'll be there in a few minutes. Gaahh!

(I gave the toilet a flush)

That is the last bantha burrito I order from that hellhole! I might as well swallow a lightsaber.

(Wincing, I hot-potatoed Marcus' fried frame, the heat-scored metal searing at my fingertips)

Ah...AHH...oh FRACK!

(Genuine words. The casing was red hot. I took it like a man...that's to say with squinty eyes, gritted teeth, and a string of unbroken expletives. I pried the case open, blowing on the hot inside. Looking over my shoulder briefly, I got to work)

Okay...power source was here, here's the microprocessor, commlink....manipulator laser, bingo.

(Unclipping the microshield generator from my belt, I hotwired its power source to the laser, the "power on" light blinking weakly.)

Okay...okay...

(I turned the collar around, to where I could clearly see the clasp. I snorted and hacked, getting a nice fat wad of spit and whatever I had up there.)

Hnngghh...hnnngghh...hhwwwaack...ptuuh!

(The spit hit the clasp, sizzling and sparking, shorting out the countermeasure inside. A faint puff of smoke rose up from it, the signal for me to start cutting.)

Alright you bastard...work...

(It was slow business. With incompatible power cells, the laser didn't operate to full. Slowly, the metal heated up, and started to peel away. Back to acting)

Oooh...aaahh....hunnnghhh....I'll be right out!!

(Another courtesy flush)

Almost there...

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

"Ssshe jisss fljyjing fjine. jI, on the otherrr hand..." Saa's eyes darted to the holo of Sanis. "Wajit, Marrrcusss, don't -!"

The holo flashed, and dissappated into nothingness. "Marrrcusss! Can jyou get that back?" She slammed a fist on the console, and something sparked. Oopsss. She put her eyes on the viewscreen, waiting for the Mother's space yacht to appear.

[Marcus v4]

Oh my. Stop that. Owch. You are hurting me.

The droid paused, servomechanisms whirring slightly.

Oh how terrible. Module 387 has been destroyed. I do not think tampering with the collar locking mechanism was wise.

His visual sensors locked onto Saa.

I'm sorry, Saarreeaa, but I am no longer in contact with Sanis.

As Marcus spoke, another module appeared from a wall hatch, and began fastidiously fixing a flared-out circuit board that Saa destroyed.

Please be more careful with the Layla's systems, Saarreeaa. While I can affect repairs and assist you in piloting, it would be most distressing to Sanis to know of any damage.

Marcus's visual sensors zoomed in on Saa's left hand.

Oh. You have a minor skin abrasion from your emotionally-motivated contact. Should I apply an analgesic cream to the injury?

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorreessa managed to get into the Layla just before the ramp went up and she swiftly headed towards the back and hid herself for the time being. Saa would notice her scent eventually but for now, Sorreessa listened to Saa and the droid talk back and forth with themselves and Sanis. All she would have to do was avoid the many little Marcus droids' sensors and just stay still to remain unnoticed until it was too late for the other female to kick her off the ship.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Hrrrmph...rrr....urrmmm

Cirrsseeto slept uncomfortably. The freighter was jostling around an awful lot, and it made getting a catnap virtually impossible. Cirrsseeto lay in the small secondary quarters, ears fluttering in annoyed vexation. Sanis was flying very badly today! Cirr hoped that Saa would scold him, so he could get some sleep. With a growl of resignation, Cirrsseeto closed his eyes again...

...and cracked them open again, as he smelled a scent he'd never smelled before. It was a Cizerack...no...half-Cizerack...

The big felinoid sat up in bed, his head smacking against a low bulkhead with a clang


Rourrr!!!

Cirr whined loudly, rubbing his tender noggin as he hopped out of bed, curious...

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorreessa tensed as she heard the noise from other parts of the ship followed by a rour.

(just what I don't need right now, why did I forget completely about her servant? Well let the oaf find me, he'll let go once I hint to what I know about him, he definately wouldn't want his mistress to know about his cub. Besides he should recognize my uniform anyway from his brief dealing with the director)

She thought before she moved to better spot, hidden a little bit more from the male's sight although she would never be able to avoid his sense of smell.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr sleepily stumbled out of his quarters, sliding a t-shirt on. Where were they going? Saa never said anything about a trip. The big Cizerack shuffled up to the cockpit, and his eyes widened.

jYou arrre pjilotjing? Alone? Wherrre jisss Sssanjisss?

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseeri was getting impatient. She was considering throwing Sanis out the airlock when he emerged, side stepping Keerrourri, who was giving him a distrustful look. As he walked towards her smiling, she looked him up and down, licking her lips visibly. He looked possitively delicious in the royal colors, especially with her seal on him. She did not notice Sanis had attempted to tamper with the colar, for he had concealed the scraped clasp with the colar of his shirt.

She too had changed while he had been in the refresher. What she wore now was a sheer crimson robe, laced with patterns of gold and silver threads. Underneath the robe, she was nude, visible at certain angles because of the low lighting, letting the imagination work double-time.

As he sat down beisde her, she waved Keerrourri away, slidding towards Sanis, getting up nice and close to him, and draping an arm around his neck. She nuzzled her nose against his ear.

The colorrrsss of the rrrojyal houssse sssjitu jyou, Sssanjisss.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa squeaked at the sound of another voice in the bridge of the Layla. "Cjirrrrr!" She half turned towards him, and then swiveled back to the console as the Huntress Admiral's ship fed the Layla's navicomp the vectors.

She bit her lip and throttled up the sublights as she caught sight of the other ships. The Pride Mother's GeoCore caught the light from Arcan's star as it flashed towards the jump point and then vanished. Cirr grabbed the back of her chair to keep from toppling over as she reached the jump point and pulled down the lever to enable the hyperdrive.

Stars streaked into starlines, and the young Cizerack was pushed back into the pilot's seat. Sanis' seat.

"Cjirrrrrr...ssshe hasss Sssanjisss. jI..." He sat down in the copilots seat, looking at her with the sweet dumb look he wore so often. Saa unbuckled her restraints and climbed into his lap, her arms around his neck. "We'rrre gojing to Carrrssshouljisss to sssee mjy motherrr. And Sssanjisss...he jisss meetjing usss therrre." She buried her face in his warm, comforting chest.

[Sanis Prent]

(The jig was up a beat too soon. The Pride Mother's toadie walked in as I was hard at work. I pondered for a moment, thinking of a good lie...but I was caught red-handed. Literally, as I looked at my heat-singed fingertips. No excuse would cut it, and from the felinoid's face, he wasn't buying any. I shrugged, putting away my tools and the disassembled remains of the droid, walking out of the fresher as Sarrtarroa led me to her.

She wore a crimson whisper, draped like hot caramel over her curvatious figure. Ribbons of regal gold and silver sparkled like dewdrops on spider silk, waiting for prey to catch the glitter in their eyes. The only thing about her that was left to the imagination was how long imagination would even be needed. Like a man walking a navy plank, I took my seat on the soft leather sofa, a whoosh of displaced air settling me into place. She wasted little time, pressing against me as she draped her arm over me. With only a fraction of an inch of combined layers of royal silk in between our bodies, the frictionless and warm caress was almost euphoric.

I glanced down at my wardrobe, as Rourrsseerri eyed me over)


Its comfortable...but I prefer red on my starships, not on my clothes.

(I smiled to ease the carnal tension that was evident in every amount of posturing she gave)

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

She chuckled, playfull tugging at a sleeve, still nosing his ear. Her voice had become a whisper at this point, warm against the side of his face.

Well, Sssanjisss, jyou won't have to worrrrrrjy about wearrrjing jit forrr too long.

She smiled mischievously, and reached for the goblets of wine that were sitting on the table in front of the couch. She handed one to Sanis. She enjoyed this wine immensly, always having it before she had any male. It just made her feel so... alive.

As Sanis tasted it, she drank half the glass in a quick gulp, feeling the coolness of the liquer on her tongue, and the warmth it created in her stomache. Setting it down, she placed her hand on Sanis' knee, and began to let it slide upward.

jYou arrre a luckjy man, Sssanjisss.

She could already feel the wine's effects beginning to flow through her veins. Her hand had reached the midpoint between knee and where his leg met his hips.

Ssso manjy malesss would kjill to be jin jyourrr ssshoesss rrrjight now.

The hand kept creeping further up.

[Sanis Prent]

(Well, at least she was direct. Maybe if I changed the subject? I took a deep drink of the wine. It was full-bodied and strong, about how I expected, and yet still caught me off guard. Undaunted, I finished it all, putting the empty glass aside, as Rourrsseeri began to move up my leg with her hand. Her warm, purry breath puffed in my ear, which definitely didn't help my strategy of staying out of her grasp.

I managed to get my train of thoughts in order, fingering the silver necklace)

So Rourrsseeri...whats with this thing here?

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

At about the time Sanis had asked the question, Rourrsseerri's hand had reached her mark, and she made it known. She felt Sanis jump a bit, but her arm around his neck kept him firmly in place. She brught her lips close to his ear, brushing it slightly.

Plajy fjirrrssst, talk laterrr.

Being where she was, she attacked his ear gently, first with her lips and then her tongue. Her purring became louder and more prominent, her breathing becoming rapid. She began to slid one long leg over Sanis' lap, stradling him. She continued to nibble at his ear, while the arm that had been around his neck, began to tear at the fabric of the silk suit, the claws easily cutting through the fine threads. She was hungry for him, and she would have him now.

[Sanis Prent]

(Ear-play was dirty pool in my rules of engagement. A low-down dirty trick, used by unscrupulous women for the easy win. A damning fault of mine was that I was easy as a jello recipe if you pushed the right buttons. Two big ones were on either side of my head, and apparently her Royal Highness had done her homework as she went after her target. The touch, the temperature, the wetness of left behind saliva...all combined with the most damning of all...the sound. The feeling shell-shocked me, and I hardly felt the silken garments getting shredded away as she switched positions. Like a man with singular brain damage, all I could say was...)

...ohh....oh frell....thats it....


(And all defenses fell. Hail to the Pride Mother, indeed!)

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Roursseerri felt Sanis give in as he grabbed her and kissed her forcably. She wasn't used to the male taking charge, but somehow it excited her even more. She snarled softly, rolling onto him, causing them both to roll off the couch and onto the floor. In the process of rolling, Rourrsseerri had lost her robe along the line, and Sanis' shirt was completely torn off.

She was retruning his kiss now, with far more passion than she would have expected. Oh, yes, he was certainly a good choice to have been made. And now with him wearing her seal, no one could touch him, and no Cizerack female would even dare.

[Sanis Prent]

(I tasted the wine on her tongue, as her shock-platinum hair spilled around me in long, wild strands. My hands roamed, my rhythm was constant, and I was the Zen Master. It occurred to me that it had all come to pass rather easily. Then again, I figured if I wasn't a little forthcoming here, I'd be killed with not too much second thought. Sex at gunpoint versus death. Wait, was there even such a category as Sex at gunpoint? After all, this wasn't exactly dental work.

I peeled back her draping hair, gazing at the side viewport, and the stars that flew by.

Love in an elevator?

Whoever wrote that never went to hyperdrive.)

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

We'rrre gojing home?

Cirrsseeto's ears immediately perked up. He missed home!

That jisss good....rrrjight?

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

The kneading of her feet was becoming irritating, and Kajeela gave Therorrru the message with one swift kick to his jaw.

"Enough!"

Obediently, the huge male desisted and awaited further instruction at the feet of his Mistress, his ears drooping a little dejectedly.

The Director's mind was racing from one ploy to another. She must somehow use this latest development to her advantage and further ingratiate herself to the Pride Mother...and in turn oust that irritatiing Manservant from his pedastal. Well, that would be impossible (she knew), but at the very least, Kajeela wished to sink her claws one way or another into the lofty male and yank him down a peg or two... and effectively insert herself into a postion of greater favor.

She rolled over onto her tummy and snapped her fingers at Therorrru, who immediately began to massage her back and shoulders, eager to please her. Draping her slender arms over the edge of the chaisse, her devious mind seeking actively for the angle she would work once arriving on Carshoulis Prime.

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorreessa grimaced as she then understood that the other female's connection to Sanis had to be terminated.

:What am I supposed to do now?:

Sorreessa's thoughts raced for a moment, just when she had been learning what was going on the line was severed. The director wasn't going to like this one bit, Sorreessa had hardly learned anything. Still she watched Saa and her servant talk to one another.

:Sure, lie to your own servant as well, as long as you don't say it they'll never know, right? If that were true, the Kei' Ai Reei wouldn't be able to survive. And as long as you don't say it, you won't have to admit to yourself either. Foolish girl, that never works. Well hopefully I can at the very least learn something from listening to these two:

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa kept her head leaning on his chest as hyperspace streaked by the viewscreen. The droid was keeping quiet, for once. It had already managed to slap a synflesh bandage onto her hand before Cirr had lumbered into the bridge and sent the pink thing into silence.

"Home...jit wjill be an jinterrressstjing thjing. Asss long asss Motherrr can keep herrr handsss off mjy thjingsss." Her words had a double meaning that Cirr would not comprehend. Saa wrapped her strong arms around him. "Ssshe put usss togetherrr, and mjight want to tessst jyou out, to make sssurrre jyou arrre qujite capable of sssatjisssfjyjing me."

A thought struck her. "Unlessssss, of courrrssse, ssshe alrrreadjy hasss." Saa looked up at Cirr's gentle face, and raised an eyebrow. Then a movement caught her eye, as well as a strange scent on her nose, and she sat up straighter, looking intently at the open door to the cockpit. "Cjirrrrrr, jyou djidn't clossse the dooorrr."

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorreessa cursed in her head for a moment as Saa's eyes looked in her general direction but when she mentioned the door, Sorreessa relaxed somewhat. She wasn't anywhere near the door and hidden still on the side that faced the door as well as on the other sides.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseerri stirred in her sleep and awoke. She blinked a few times and yawned widely, her canines gleaming. She sat up a bit, bringing the silken sheet up to cover her breasts. She looked down to find Sanis still sleeping like a cub. She had worn him out. She stiffled another yawn. Or had he worn her out? She smiled. In either case, he had pleased her to no end. In the course of their play-time, they had ended up in the corner covered with lavish pillows, and there had fallen asleep. She looked around the room, remembering their romp of just an hour ago. The couch; the floor; the chair; the table, now splintered in several places from where she'd carved her claws into it while in the throws of exctasy. And now here, on the pillows.

Purring softly, she scooted herself back under the sheet, pressing herself next to Sanis' warm body. She propted herself up on one elbow, watching him sleep, and with the other hand began to stroke his hair gently.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Kajeela stretched her strong, but lithe, body forward and hit a button on a holovid screen that sat on a table next to her couch.

The Cizerack male continued to massage her back and the Director felt some of the stress and agitation bleed off of her under his delicous and capable hands.

A small Bip was all she got from the screen.

Frowing in annoyance, Kajeela prodded with her index claw which opened a communications chanel to Sorreessa. The Director had no idea where she was, or what success she had had in following Saa, and wanted to find out.

Onboard the "Layla" a faint vibrating buzz alerted the K.A.R. spy to the Directors hail.

"Sorrrrrreesssssa" Kajeela whispered lowly into the mic on the holdvid mount-pad. Tarruurri was an experienced espionage agent and knew enough not to compromise her agent with a blearing screech and kept her voice to a quiet hiss."Rrrreporrrt!"

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

The amazingly beautiful royal Geocore yacht exited the kaliedoscope of hyperspace, swooping down gracefully into the busy area of space known as the Carshoulis cluster. Dominated by three stars, the cluster was full of an impressive 39 planets, of which 13 were habitable. Rows of interstellar commerce vessels occasionally flew past, criss-crossing the inner trade paths of the Pride, and occasionally disembarking for territory beyond Cizerack reach. As the Geocore approached a glittering green planet, the number of ships around them increased immensely, space becoming abuzz with activity.

Sarrtarroa watched as the Pride Mother's royal pilot deftly maneuvered into the Royal spacelanes, which were unoccupied for swift travel. Smiling, he exited the cockpit, and entered the Pride Mother's chambers, where he found his mistress slowly rousing from sleep. The hyuu-mann male was still locked in slumber. He smiled, bowing.

Mjissstrrressssss, we have arrrrrrjived. We wjill land at the palace sssoon.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr nuzzled gently against Saa's neck, his big hands rubbing against her backside. He suddenly snapped out of his fixation, looking at the door, with a confused face.

Oh....sssorrrjy.

The big felinoid moved Saa off his lap as he hopped up. When he approached the door, however, he paused, sniffing the air in a scrutinizing fashion.

Therrresss sssomebodjy jin herrre, Sssaarrrrrreeaa.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa inhaled deeply, testing the air. "jYou arrre rrrjight." She moved quietly to the door, just to the right of Cirr. Her claws unsheathed themselves as her eyes narrowed. "Whoeverrr jit jisss can't have good jintentjionsss, orrr elssse thejy wouldn't have sssnuck on boarrrd the Lajyla. We mussst fjind and dessstrrrojy ourrr ssstowawajy beforrre we rrreach Carrrssshouljisss."

She winked at Cirr, "Perrrhapsss jit wjill prrrovjide usss a ssssnack forrr ourrr jourrrnejy." Saa's face settled into a serious frown, and she sniffed again, smelling a bit of fear on the air. She smiled, and followed Cirr through the door as he headed down the passageway.

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorreessa winced as she heard the buzzing sound of the comm.

(why of all times now?)

But then her attention turned back to Saa and Cirr as she listened to them again, they were headed her way. She tensed as her hand went for her katana, of all times why did the director have to pick just then to contact her?

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseerrii looked up from playing with Sanis' hair as Keerrourri entered her private chambers. He informed her of their immenant arrival to the palace. She yawned, all her sharp canines showing.

Mmmm... thank jyou, Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji.

She looked back at Sanis, fingering the colar with her seal, and leaned in close to his ear.

Wake up, mjy darrrljing. We arrre at Carrrssshouljisss Prrrjime.

She gave the ear a playful lick which all but brought Sanis fully awake. She watched him blink and rub his face. Smiling sweetly, she stood up, still completely nude, and walked over to the closet that held her clothing. As she passed Keerrourri, she gave him a playful love-tap to his sculpted rear with her tail. Reaching the closet, she proceeded to dress.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

There was no response from Sorr. Not a good sign.

The Director's ears pricked upward and a slight tug at the corner of her perfect little mouth was the only sign that she was a little alarmed.

She buzzed again. A short definitive buzz..


Nothing.



Kajaeela, in one swift movement pulled up onto her knees on the couch and pushed Therorrru away from her.

"Hajil the Lajyla jimmedjiateljy! and have the Lynx brrrought rrround clossse to Sssaa's vesssssel wjithout delajy."


Perhaps Sorr had not even managed to get aboard..but then why didnt she answer? No. She must have been discovered.
If so, the Director would confront this head on.

She left the comfort of her private quarters to speak with Saa directly.


......Aboard the Layla as Cirrsseeto and Saarrreeaa moved toward the area where Sorr was hidden, the hail came loud and unexpected. The proximity alarms also began to sound as the Director's Flagship moved in an agressive course toward them.

[Sanis Prent]

(I woke up with a start, and a tongue in my ear. She stood up, flaunting herself as she got dressed. Suddenly, I realized that my robes had been conveniently shredded. Making with as much of my dignity as I could spare, I stood...walking to the fresher to get a bath, and retrieve my original clothes.)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

As she walked towards the doorway, Cirr was already through it, stalking whoever it was he had scented. The Layla's ETA alarm sounded, and the ship dropped into real space with a slight lurch. Saa put a hand on the bulkhead to steady herself, and her ears pricked as she heard something. A whisper, perhaps.

Cirr turned his head, and seemed to have determined where their stowaway was hidden. He darted forward -

- and a hail blasted over the comm, from the Lynx, Kajeela's ship. Even as Saa was turning to answer the hail, proximity alarms sounded their clarion call, causing her to whip around and stare at the viewscreen. "What jin Carrrssshouljisss'sss grrreen fjieldsss -"

The Director's ship was closing in on them, moving aggressively and getting entirely too close. Ssstowawajy, and then Kajeela drrropsss out of nowherrre... It seemed impossible for the two events to simply be coincidence. Saa shouted down the passage, "Get whoeverrr that jisss and brrrjing them to the brrrjidge, jimmedjiateljy!" Cirr grunted in response, apparently he was already trying to do just that.

Saarrreeaa vaulted into the pilot's seat, and enabled the frieghter's shields before silencing the proximity alarms. The Lynx appeared to have stopped moving towards them. The Pride Mother's ship went on ahead of them, already approaching the planet.

Furious, Saa answered the hail. "What jisss the meanjing of thjisss, Djirrrectorrr?" She attempted soften her tone, but failed. Her voice was hard and angry. "Back jyourrr shjip awajy frrrom mjine, sssuch actjionsss wjill not be tolerrrated jin Prrrjide ssspace." Her fingers twitched, wishing she had learned about the weapons systems. Blowing Kajeela up would rid the Pride of much that they could live better without.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

The Director was in no mood for Saarrreeaa's bravado, anger or indignation - whatever it was that motivated the little whelp to make such demands. Kajeela was already in a bad mood, and Saa would be smart not to push her luck.

"jYou forrrget jyourrrssself Sssaarrrrrrrrreeaaa." The Directors voice was chilling and thick with menace.

(So far, no sign from Saa that Sorr was discovered...)

"jYourrr ssshjip hasss been jidentjifjied as havjing contrrraband aboarrrd. jYou arrr jin vjiolatjion of Prjide Law!"

She snarled an order to one of her officers, and immediately the Layla's sensors indicated that the Lynx's weapons were armed and trained onto the center of its hulk. Saa had already initiated the Layla's sheilds, but Kajeela wished to indicate her intent nevertheless.

"jYou wjill dock the Lajyla jin the Keji Aji' Rrreeji compound wherrre we wjill boarrrd jyou to jinvestjigate."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Suddenly, Cirr was confronted with a half-Cizerack female wielding a blade. His blue eyes widening, Cirr moved lighting fast, catching the woman's arm by the wrist, and using his strength as leverage to insure she couldn't stab him.

She struggled vehemently, but Cirrsseeto was an oak, holding her wriggling body close to him as he removed the weapon, letting it clatter aside.

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorreessa struggled the best she could but it was plain to see he was stronger than her. Her thoughts raced as she tried to figure out what to do but escape seemed impossible.

jit would be jin yourrr best jinterrrests for jyou to let me go now unless you want your mjistrrress to know about cerrrtajin thjings.

She said while hissing that lowly so she hopefully wouldn't be heard by Saa for the time being.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa sighed, "We have done nothjing wrrrong, and have no contrrraband on boarrrd. Neverrr the lessssss, we wjill dock asss you requesssted. Sssaa out." She cut the feed, and swiveled around in the chair as Cirr pulled a Cizerack of questionable heritage into the bridge.

"What wasss that? jYou wjill tell me what?" Saa waved her hand, cutting off whatever the female was going to say. "Neverrr mjind. Who arrre jyou, and whjy arrre jyou herrre? Make jit good and make jit fassst, orrr jI wjill kjill jyou mjyssself." She turned back to the control panel, and plotted a course to the planet's surface.

[Jasseeri Arreearruu]

The Huntress Admiral was informed by her sensors officer that the Director's ship had come within dangerous proximity to Sass' ship. She had to smirk. The two weren't exactly on friendly ground between each other. Never the less, to see that peace was kept, she dispatched four fighters to escort them to the planet without damage to either party.

She signaled her comm officer to open a frequency between both ships.

Kajeela... Sssaarrrrrreeaa... I am sssendjing fourrr fjighterrrsss to essscorrrt jyourrr rrressspectjive ssshjipsss to thejirrr landjing sssjightsss. Sssee to jit jyou do not delajy. The Prrrjide Motherrr doesss not abjide delajysss.

She made a chopping signal with her hand to her comm officer, having the comm closed before either ship could protest.

Standing and making her way to her shuttle, she boarded it, and made her way down to the planet with a dual fighter escort. The larger battle ships would remain in orbit around the planet.

----------------------------------------------

She stood and dawned on her command cape as the shuttle settled on it's landing pad, next to the Pride Mother's. Exiting the shuttle, she made her way with her soldiers to await the Pride Mother's decent from her yacht's gang plank.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Having finished getting dressed, Rourrsseerri went to the refresher's door and knocked on it softly.

Sssanjisss, darrrljing, jit jisss tjime to deparrrt and sssee the glorrjiesss of Carrrssshouljisss Prjime.

She heard something muffled behind the door, and then sanis emerged, back in his old clothing. She made a mental note to ask Keerrourri to have him change again into something more... appealing.

No sooner had he stepped through the door, that she laced her arm through his, steering him towards the exit. Keerrourri went before them, walking lightly between the rows of Cizerack soldiers to either side of the red and gold carpet extended from the ramp. As Rourrsseerri and Sanis came down the plank and stepped onto the surface, she stopped and extended her free hand to encompass all around her.

Welcome, Sssanjisss, to Carrrssshouljisss Prrrjime!

She was smiling from ear to ear, her canines gleaming white in the bright, warm sun. She turned to Sanis, whispering in his ear.

We arrre gojing to have ssso much fun... jin busssjinessssss and jin pleasssurrre.

With that, she continued down the red carpet with sanis to the ornate palace looming over them.

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

:Why the hell would I tell you who I am and what I'm doing here? Of all the idiotic questions, besides my uniform should be a dead giveaway. Hmmm, wonder if he knows, he did deal with the director briefly but then again he wouldn't say so since he's probably mulling over what I said. At any rate, Saa knows better than to kill another Cizerack even if I'm only half besides what good would killing me do? you'll never get far if you don't think things through Miss Meeorrei:

Sorreessa thought to herself as she glared at Saa but she said nothing, she wasn't going to be saying anything about why she was there.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa glared at the half breed, and turned back to see the fighter escort. Njice. Things were getting worse and worse. jI am gojing to shrrred jyou, Sssanjisss, when jI sssee jyou agajin. When, and if.

She set the Layla into a descent towards the surface, and snapped at Cirr to bring the female closer, so she wouldn't have to turn around so much. Cirr obeyed, and moved his hands a little, revealing the patch on the female's uniform. Saa felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

The K.A.R. went too far sometimes. But what could she do? There was nothing anyone would say against punishing a stowaway caught onboard ones ship. But to touch a K.A.R. infiltrator? The Director obviously had planted her there, to try and uncover whatever dirt she could on Saarrreeaa. Or on Sanis.

Saa followed the Director's ship, the Lynx in, and allowed the control tower to tractor the Layla to its docking platform. It freed up her hands for other business.

Waving Cirr away, she stepped up to the slightly shorter female, who stood thee, silent and smirking. "Half brrreed bjitch." Saa circled her, Cirr ready to pounce on the female if she tried anything. The female's eyes flashed with anger, but still she said nothing, as if her silence meant that she wasn't really there.

"jI bet jyou thjink that jyou'rrre prrrettjy smarrrt, sssneakjing on boarrrd, and dojing the Djirrrectorrr'sss djirrrtjy worrrk forrr herrr. But jyou'rrre nothjing but a low level half brrreed. jI would have expected betterrrr, frrrom the Keji Aji' Rrreeji." She completed another circuit of the female, the other's head turning uncomfortably to keep her eyes on Saa.

Saa stood in front of her, and fingered the collar on the uncomfortable looking dark blue uniform. The female knocked Saa's hand away, and Saa backhanded her, rocking her head back. The female bristled, but a look at Cirr calmed her down somewhat.

Saa smiled, looking like the cat that ate the canary. She held up her hand that the half-breed had touched. "Look what jyou have done." There was a cut on the side of her hand from her earlier encounter with the console (which had since been repaired by a Marcus module). She tsked, and picked up the katana the female had dropped.

With a slight grimace, she re-cut through the wound, staining the blade with her blood, and then dropped the knife on the ground. As the Layla docked, and the ramp descended, she shrieked in pain, and Cirr grabbed the female, who had started for the door.

As K.A.R. officials started up the ramp, Saa shouted, "Ssshe cut me, that half brrreed bjitch!" She picked up the weapon, gave it to a male lackey, and hissed at the female, while shouting for medical attention.

No sane Cizerack would take the word of an impure half breed against the word of a respected full breed. K.A.R. or not, there wasn't much even Kajeela would be able to do about it.

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorr's eyes widened when Saa cut her own hand open but not a trace of fear was seen on her face. The female may have thought she was quite smart with that but anyone with half a brain would know that a blade like her katana would have done a lot more than a simple slash wound. The sword's razor sharp blade would have cut off anything in its path not just caused a gouge in her hand. Her eyes shut though as Cirr caught her again, there was nothing she could do about this, all she could do was hope things went well.

[Sanis Prent]

(Carshoulis was a looker, if ever there was one. Spires and skyscrapers jutted upwards, looking vaguely akin to Coruscant, but not quite as urbanized. Several large buildings were pyramid shaped, with graceful-looking minnarets rising at various points on the sloped superstructure. Rourrsseerri's palace was of such a shape, accented in a well-carved red stone, akin to marble, with other luxurious furnishings. The walk to the palace was adorned with fountains, gardens, and opulent statues, depicting various noteworthy Cizerack of days past. Two red-clad male servants pulled the massive black hardwood doors wide, as the royal entourage entered. The interior was cavernous and well-decorated, with countless works of art adorning the walls, and other marks of luxury. Various lackeys and members of the court shuffled around, their eyes inexorably drawn to the Pride Mother, causing them to salute in the traditional Cizerack manner. A few glanced at me. The manservants looked away, while the females seemed to smirk. It was a little unsettling, but I'd gotten used to the catbird seat as best I could. All there was to do now, was figure out the order of the day, and get on with business. In the back of my mind, I thought about Saa, following in the Layla. I would have to link up with her, eventually. Hopefully an opportunity would arise.)

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

The KAR detachment jogged double-time to board the "Layla" in clockwork precision - this was not the first, nor would it be the last, vessel they had sumarily taken into their investigative claws.

Kajeela, who normally would not bother herself to come aboard, followed in behind them at a walk. She had a vestid interest both due to Sorr being aboard and with it being Saa whom she was dealing with. She needed to watch this one closely..

Saarrreeaa greeted the troops with squawkings and histrionics of injury, and it took a moment for the Director to take in just what was going on. Sorr stood in the grip of Cirrsseeto and Saa nursed a badly bleeding hand. The KAR troops fanned out into the ship and methodically began a thorough search. None of them reacted to Saa's cries of foul against her. The Director's men only saw what the Director told them to see. Saa didnt seem to realise what kind of game one had to play with the Kei Ai' Reei. That the rules were changed and the KAR were a force of shadows and suggestions and truths twisted to suit the moments. Their moments. The only ones who cared for the accusations that Sorr had cut Saa where Saarrreeaa herself and her manservant, Cirr.

Kajeela latched onto Saarreeaa's elbow as she walked past, and with a cool smile dropped her eyes to the bleeding hand.

"Oh dearrr, Saarrrrreeaa. jYou have met wjith an accjident. jI am glad jit jisss nothjing morrrre serrrjious..."

Kajeela snarled at Cirrsseeto. "Take jyourrr pawsss off my offjicer jimmedjiately, jyou oaf!!"

Bewildered, Cirr looked from Kajeela to Saa, unsure what to do.

"NOW!" The shout made him jump slightly with its suddenness and volume and Sorr shrugged off his powerful grip. Coming to stand along side the director, her smug grin goaded Saa across from her.

Kajeela turned again to Saa, her tone civil and friendly. "jI do apologjise forrr all thjiss" she waved a hand gesturing to the men crawling all about the ship. "jIt jis jussst busjinesss, unforrrtunateljy. Mjy job, jyou underrrssstand."

Lifting Saa's elbow so as to reveal the cut better, the Director "tskd tskd".

"Let usss get that cut looked at bjy mjy medjics on the wajy to the Palace. Mjy ljimosjine can take usss all."

The Director instructed a captain to oversee the search and then to leave the Layla in better condition that they found it should no contraband be found.

This meant, the KAR would re-provision the Layla and pehaps leave a little Kei Ai' Reei momento or two aboard.


"Ssshall we go?"

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr reacted badly to the tongue-lashing from Kajeela, lowering his ears as his face took a confused, almost pained expression. This was a very bad thing. He loved Saarreeaa, but Kajeela and the KAR were very intimidating, and had him in a sticky situation. He just wanted to crawl into a hole and make it all go away. As Kajeela and Saa walked away, he obediently followed.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa knew the cards were against her, but with youthful determination she stayed the course she had plotted. Her hand was starting to hurt a lot now, and she had it wrapped in a rag torn from Cirr's undershirt.

The katana had cut deeper than she had intended, the blade was amazingly sharp. Still, it looked convincing. Too convincing. Saa nodded at Kajeela's suggestion, praying to the gods of the hunt that Sanis had nothing illegal on board his ship.

Cirr was creeping along behind them, acting very strangely. She didn't have a thought to waste on him at the moment, but when they had this figured out and some time alone she'd make it up to him. Saa turned to the Director, considering demanding that she punish her officer for harming her. Half brrreed. The female had gone completely pop-eyed when Saa had cut herself.

It did not matter if she got this looked at - she hesitated. If K.A.R medics healed her hand before she got someone else to see the wound, no one would believe her story. ...If only her mother were around, she would know what to do.

The Director and Saarrreeaa continued walking to the limosine, Cirr trailing them with a hang dog look about his face, and all of them flanked by K.A.R. guards.

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorr stopped smiling smugly as the group turned away but she was in a good mood after all of this.

: Hmmm, your plan didn't work as well as you would have liked, huh Saa? :

But Sorr knew better than to continue smiling, the director most likely wouldn't have tolerated it. It was enough for her to just look back at the frustrated look on Saa's face and to be grateful that the director had come to her aid. Still Sorr couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen next with all things considered and what was to become of the male with the Pride Mother.:

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

And here they were again. Saa and Kajeela in one anothers company yet again.

They had stopped breifly - just long enough for the young Cizeracks hand to be tended too and a healing balm applied to it, a medicine unique to the Cizerack that was thick and pasty and surprisingly aromatic.

The KAR guards saw them safely ensconced in the Official Limosine of the Kei Ai Reei and escorted the four travellers to the Palace, the Pride Mother and Prent.

During the journey, the Director made eye contact with Saa's manservant reminding him with a deliberate glance that he was once in her employ and could well find himself in that position again. However, it was never clear whether the simpleton got the message or not. Kajeela had found out the hard way that Cirrsseeto could be a most frustrating pawn.

She was pleased with Sorreessa's work so far. The half-breed had proven her initiative time and again. What she lacked in good breeding, she made up for in zeal. A quality Kajeela prized.

Conversation in the limosine was polite, but strained and it amused the Director no end as she knew Saa would love to scratch her eyes out...and thereafter Sorrs...But as fun as that would be, Saa no doubt had the human Sanis Prent consuming the majority of her thoughts.

The limosine slowed and Kajeela shuffled herself within her jacket, doing up the vest buttons and straightening her collar. Her petite and delightfully compact form taking again the air of lethal efficiency. She noted Cirrs eyes stray to her chest as she wriggled inside her clothing and winked at him. He quickly looked away as Saa kicked him hard in the shin.
Kajeela would have liked to have changed...slipped into a sleek little number and turned a few heads in the palace, maybe distract that stuffy Keerrourri a little...but there'd been no time.

Kajeela announced redundantly.

"We arrre herrrrre"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taataani waited in the palace's grand lobby, hoping to be able to speak to the illustrious Pride Mother, or at least one of her lackeys. She had a lucrative tourism contract that she was working on, and that meant commercials on Holonet, and, of course, everybody wanted to see the beautiful Feessarro Palace on Carshoulis Prime. But that also meant that she'd have to get the big cat's approval for the advertising, and any other nit-picky detail she'd want to lord over. Taa sighed...sometimes it never payed to be the middle woman.

A new group of people entered the palace's antechamber. Most were unknown to Taa, but the sign of the KAR was something to dread. Taa made a nervous face. She never did like those paranoid cretins. They were always looking into her business dealings...and occasionally her personal life.

Taa looked again, and her mouth stood agape as she noticed who was walking with the KAR goon squad. The big, cream-skinned one had to be Cirrsseeto...and that made the lithe, darker one...)

Sssaarrrrrreeaa!!!

(Taa nearly burst out of her seat. This was an unexpected visit! She smiled widely, nearly tripping over her two feet as she pushed her glasses up on her nose)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa pulled at the bandage on her palm, wincing at the pain. Peeking underneath, she saw that the balm was soothing the cut, but it was still quite visible. She would have to get it stitched up, and perhaps some bacta salve later...

Sssaarrrrrreeaa!!!

Saa looked up at the familiar voice, and her jaw almost fell open at the sight of her mother in the extravagant lobby of the palace. She raised a hand and waved, showing she'd seen her, and then took the excuse to slip away from the group of K.A.R. agents, and the Director.

Hustling over to Taataani, and dragging Cirr behind her, Saa threw her arms around her mother. She actually felt glad to see her, which was strange. "jI djidn't expect to sssee jyou herrre."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Ljikewjissse! Ljikewjissse! jYou werrren't due home forrr a week!

(Taa suddenly remembered that the plans for her party were still far from complete)

Oh no! jYou'rrre too earrrljy forrr the parrrtjy! What am jI gojing to do! jI have to make sssome callsss, and prrreparrratjions!

(She paused, taking a little breath, and looking at Saa again)

jYou look ssso much morrre grrrown up sssjince lassst jyearrr. Ljike anotherrr Meorrrrrrrrreji busssjinesssssswoman, rrreadjy to take hold of the galaxjy.

(She smiled, an affectionate hand being placed on Saa's face)

jI'm glad jyou'rrre home.

(She glanced over Saa's shoulder, at her dimwitted manservant.)

And Cjirrrrrrsssssseeto! jI haven't ssseen that one jin a whjile!

(Taa winked luridly at Saa's mate, undressing him with her eyes out of sheer habit. Perhaps he'd remember her, and maybe she'd reacquaint herself later.

Glancing away, Taa noticed the large bandage on Saa's hand, and her mouth gaped.)

Bjy Karrrrrrjaanji'sss Tajil, what have jyou done to jyourrr hand??!!

(With motherly concern, she held Saa's hand, peering under the bandage to make sure that the injury was properly taken care of, and not infected.)

Thjisss jisss a ljittle morrre ssseverrre than a paperrrcut at the offjice!

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa growled, letting her mother fuss over her hand. "A half brrrreed operrratjive attacked me on boarrrrd mjy bujisssnessssss parrrtnerrr'sss shjip. K.A.R, ssso jI don't expect anjyone to look jinto jit too closssseljy. Frrrell them! jInvadjing mjy prrrjivacjy..." She looked at her hand, and saw that it wasn't as inflamed as it had been, and looked better. The aromatic salve was helping, but she couldn't be sure that the medics hadn't put a listening device into the bandage or...

She was getting paranoid. The K.A.R. did that to a person: made them second guess everything and everyone. The quickest way to get what they wanted would be to break their quarry's spirit, and the best way to do that would be to totally alienate them and take away all their customary saftey nets. Saa leaned into her mother, "jItsss been a ljittle much, Motherrr. The Prrrjide Motherrr took mjy bujisssnessssss asssocjiate. Sssomehow jit ssseemsss that everrrjy hjigh Prrrjide offjicjial knowsss about hjim, and jisss fassscjinated wjith hjim."

Saa shrugged, "He'sss jussst an untrrrajined human male. But...the Motherrr hasss clajimed hjim." She tried to keep her voice nonchalant, but Taataani was sharper than she acted. Saa knew she could not hide her feelings from her own mother.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Frrrell. What have jyou done to get them on jyourrr back?

(Taa's eyebrows knit with concern)

jIt'sss prrrobabljy Sssasssssseerrrrrrji'sss fault. Thejy arrre alwajysss lookjing forrr jinforrrmatjion on herrr. Thejy drrrjive me crrrazjy!

(She huffed, noticing something her daughter said)

A male busssjinessssss assssssocjiate?

(She grinned fiendishly, her ears perking)

And gettjing the attentjion of the Prrrjide Motherrr, no lessssss. That sssoundsss ljike qujite the male jyou've dug jyourrr clawsss jinto. jI'll have to meet mjy rrravjissshjing daughterrr'sss new plajythjing!

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

"jYou have no jidea, Motherrr." Saa pulled Cirr to her side, and leaned against his strong body. "jI thjink jI am frrree to go, forrr now. Wajit one mjinute, jI need to frrressshen up, and then, can we go home? jI need to talk to jyou in prrrjivate."

Leaving Cirr in the arguably good hands of her mother, Saa slipped off to the refresher. Locking herself into a stall, she slipped her hand in her pocket, and withdrew two small pink cyclinders. "Marrrcusss."

[Marcus v4]

The two droid modules sprung to life in complete unison, their visual sensors flashing on as servomotivators whined slightly.

Hello, Saarreeaa. How can I assist you?

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr watched as Saa left for the refresher. He opened his mouth to ask her to stay, but stopped short, knowing better than to do so. His ears fluttered and he looked at Taataani, smiling nervously.

Hello Taataanji.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Hello Cirrrrrrsssssseeto.

(Taa's normally chirpy voice was now sultry and breathy, as she stared at her daughter's manservant with fiery intent. She pulled her glasses off, and reached to the hairpin holding her well-styled locks. She pulled it away, shaking down her silky platinum hair, as she loosened the top three buttons on her blouse, exposing cleavage to light. She smiled carnally, lip curling over a fanged tooth as she growled.

He was so stupid. So utterly dense and clueless. It was a sense of leading a lamb to slaughter, and she revelled in it.)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

The female shushed the pair of identical droids quickly. "Ljisssten to me. Sssanjisss jisss sssomewherrre jin thjisss bujildjing. Prrrobabljy at the top, jin the Prrrjide Motherrr'sss quarrrterrrsss. jIf ssshe'sss sssmarrrt, ssshe won't let hjim out of herrr rrroomsss." The twin droids looked at her, their optical sensors unblinking.

"jI need one of jyou to locate hjim, and ssstajy wjith hjim. The otherrr unjit ssstajysss wjith me." As she whispered, she stood on the john and pried open the vent near the ceiling, putting one Marcus unit inside before closing the vent opening again. "Make contact wjith hjim, becaussse we need to talk."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirrsseeto watched the swift mood swing take effect, as Taataani shook down her hair and growled out his name. He smiled, still nervous, glancing back in the direction of the refresher before returning his attention to her. He shuffled his feet, and made a guess at what was happening.

Mrrrsss. Meorrrrrrrrreji, arrre jyou trrrjyjing to ssseduce me?

[Marcus v4]

It may take some amount of time. My database does not contain technical schematics of the Feessarro Palace, I'm afraid. However, I can make a series of qualitative postulations...or a guesstimation.

The droid cyllinder bounced into the vent, skittering away to its task. The other droid "blinked", looking up at Saarreeaa.

I don't suppose now is the time to ask for a software upgrade?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa bared her teeth in what might be classified as a smile, and tucked the little droid into her pocket again. Exiting the 'fresher, she made her way back to her mother and manservant.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa laughed throatily, stepping closer.)

Am jI trrrjyjing to ssseduce jyou??

(She licked her lips, a clawed hand grasping Cirr's jacket collar tightly, as she dragged him into another refresher down the hall.)

Whjy even trrrjy?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa looked around. Wherrre djid thejy go?! She growled, and sat down, hoping no one she knew would come by. Especially not anyone from the Pride Mother's court, or the Navy or the K.A.R.

She sighed.

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Sorreessa stopped as soon as she heard the elder Meorreei woman yell. She watched what unfolded before rolling her eyes and looking away in disgust. :when that woman ever act her age?:

[Marcus v4]

The droid modzule zipped through the ventillation network, continuing on his way, and contantly changing his course. Meanwhile, the other Marcus module continued his courteous banter, even after being stuffed away.

Its always what everybody else wants. Fix the ship, find the smuggler, or maybe teach me how to tie a necktie. Nobody is ever so attentive to my needs. How am I going to stay competitive without regular upgrading and maintenenance?

I suppose you will find a way to make it my fault when my operating system crashes and my network has to be restarted.

He paused, noticing that Saa was essentially ignoring him.

Very well, Saarreeaa. I will power down for now.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

<center>Ten minutes later...</center>

(Taataani exits the refresher demurely, adjusting her petite skirt around her waist as she presses her glasses up on her nose. Smirking in a sultry manner, she saunters back toward Saa)

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

A minute after that, Cirrsseeto runs frantically out of the fresher, looking the mirror opposite of Taataani's collected poise. His hair was a mess, his shirt half unbuttoned, and worst of all...he'd put his underwear on over his pants, which he only noticed when he was finally outside. His ears drooped lowly, and he frowned.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

She looked up to see her mother approaching. "Wherrre jisss Cjirrrrrr?" Saa narrowed her eyes at her mother, who looked just a bit too smug. "Motherrr. Wherrre jisss he?"

Before Taataani could answer, the answer was provided. Cirrsseeto stumbled out of the 'fresher that her mother had emerged from, in horrendous disarray. Saa jumped to her feet, eyes wide with horror. She didn't dare shout out at him, drawing more attention to him would be even more embarrassing than the situation already was.

Thankfully he ducked back into the 'fresher to fix his pants. Saa turned her eyes on her mother, but held her tongue. Not jin publjic. "When he comesss back, can we go home?" Her voice trembled a little bit, from stress.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa smiled)

Of courrrssse, that wjill be fjine! Not ljike jI wasss gettjing anjywherrre wjith wajitjing herrre! jI can alwajysss make an appojintment.

(She gestured with a clawed hand)

Mjy ssspeederrr jisss outsssjide. Letsss go. jItsss about lunchtjime asss jit jisss, and jI'm famjissshed.

(Taa led Saa and Cirr to the speeder, slapping Cirr on the backside with her tail as she went. They climbed in, and one of Taa's manservants sped them away to the Meorrrei house)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

She sat next to Cirrsseeto, her hand on his thigh protectively. Childish, maybe, but her mother was as smug as the cat that swallowed the canary. Saa counted the minutes until they reached her childhood home.

She couldn't argue with her mother in front of Cirr. It would tear him apart, being caught in the middle. Wasn't his fault, anyway, that her mother couldn't keep her frelling claws to herself.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(It was a half hour drive, but eventually they arrived at the Meorrrei house. It was a large, stately home, on the southern continent, a distance away from Feessarro Brens. The house was nestled in an area of semi-urban homes, and was well-decorated. The speeder arrived, and Taataani exited, with her manservant in escort. The male opened the door, taking Taa's coat, and offering to take Saa's as well. The smell of waiting food could be sniffed out, down the hall and toward the feeding room. Taa's ears perked up as she waltzed in. She always did enjoy coming back home.)

Welcome home, Sssaarrrrrreeaa. jItsss been a long tjime, jI know!

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa looked around, smelling the familiar smells and shrugging out of her coat. Her mother's newest manservant caught it before it hit the ground, and Saa snapped at Cirrsseeto. "Take ourrr bagsss to mjy old rrroom." His ears drooped, and she felt a pang of ..shame?

She waved the thought away as Cirr shuffled off down the hall, and then she rounded on her mother. "Can't jyou leave a sssjingle male to me? Ssso how wasss he? Hmm?" Saa stood with her feet spread apart and her hands on her hips, glaring at her slightly shorter mother.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Oh come now, Sssaa!

(Taa shrugged it off, laughing a little as she flitted a hand in the air)

How do jyou thjink jyou got hjim jin the fjirrrssst place. jYou thjink jI'd fjind a male forrr mjy perrrfect daughterrr wjithout a tessst drrrjive?

(She winked, then realized Saa was really upset. Her smile faded)

Okajy Sssaa, jI'm sssorrrrrrjy. jI lossse contrrrol sssometjimesss.

(She gingerly hugged her daughter)

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr ambled away with the luggage, a little stung at Saa's tone. Then again, she probably knew what he did, and it was bad. Cirr knew it, but couldn't say anything. He liked Taa, but she wasn't his mistress, and it was a different matter entirely.

Stepping into Saa's old room, Cirrsseeto instantly remembered it. He set down the luggage, and just stood around for a moment, looking at things. When he was here, everything was happy and simple, and he liked that.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseerri was all smiles coming back into her realm. It wasn't that she'd been gone for so long, but she enjoyed the ceramony, especially all the males begging for her attention.

She continued to walk Sanis through the fast corridors, her arm draped through his. The few females that roamed the corridors would look at Sanis, but once they laid eyes on the colar would instantly turn away, pretending as though he weren't there. No doubt he would notice this. But there was not much he could do about it at the moment. He was, after all, on her turf.

She led him through two ornate wooden doors, into a large dining hall. The table was already adorned with foods and wines.

Herrre on Carrrssshouljisss, jit jisss now the mjid-dajy meal. We ssshall djine, but fjirrrssst jI ssshall have Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji take jyou to jyourrr sssujite to frrressshen up and change.

She smiled, all the while gently stroking his arm as she spoke. As she finished, she turned to her manservant.

Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji, sssee to Sssanjisss' needsss. jI wjill awajit forrr hjim to jojin me jin half an hourrr.

She added a short phrase to the end of her command, in the Cizerack's native tongue.

Krrrjou'lo'makji'fohrrr'jah'sssahr'kjirrr.
(Make sure the colar remains on.)

She smiled politely at Sanis, and let him go with a short tap of her tail to his thigh. She watched him follow Keerrourri for awhile before turning herself to go to her own chambers.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

She let her mother hug her, and then Saa wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tightly. "jI don't mean to complajin, but...jitsss been a long dajy, and jI'd apprrrecjiate jit jif jyou would leave Cjirrrrrr alone forrr the rrressst of ourrr vjisssjit." Saa leaned back from the hug and ventured a smile.

"jI sssmell sssomethjing deljicjiousss...could jI have djinnerrr jin mjy rrroom wjith Cjirrrrrr? Then jI need to talk to jyou about mjy bujisssnesss parrrtnerrr."

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Sarrtarroa escorted Prent through the winding hallways, offhandedly giving him a small tour.

"And herrre jisss qujite a famousss pajintjing, frrrom a ssstjyle hjyuu-mann arrrtjissstsss would call "jImprrressssssjionjisssm".

Then again, his efforts seemed wasted on this scruffy Hyuu-mann. He seemed as cultured as a doormat. Sarrtarroa arrived at the suite, opening the door.

jYourrr change of clothesss jisss jinsssjide.

Prent moved to enter, and Sarrtarroa clamped a vice-like grip on his arm, his face stern and seriousl

The Prrrjide Motherrr rrreljissshesss jyourrr companjy, Hjyuu-mann. Don't offend herrr bjy rrrefusssjing jit. jIf jyou pleassse herrr, ssshe rrrewarrrdsss grrreatljy. jIf jyou do not, ssshe punjissshesss....grrreatljy.

With a stately bow, Sarrtarroa made his exit, leaving the hyuu-mann to dress himself, and consider his words.

[Sanis Prent]

More silk robes...

(I said glumly, sliding on the red and gold garments. There seemed to be a pattern here, and the tour guide male Cizerack didn't exactly lift my spirits. What was she gonna do? Split me down the middle and eat me alive?

...

...damn.

There wasn't a single alternative for me to work with for a parsec around me. The Cizerack Pride was all a trap. It figured. I had seen it coming all the way, but they'd closed all avenues of escape. Maybe it was a short term thing. One could only hope.

My hand strayed to the silver necklace, but then I paused. I didn't like it at all, but I'd have to ditch it at another time entirely. After a moment to dress and two more moments to contemplate, I made my exit, heading back with the tourguide to the dining hall)

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa frowned a little)

Oh, okajy...

(She wrung her hands. She'd really wanted to eat as a family in the feeding room, but...Saa was a grown woman now, and she'd respect that.)

jI'll have a manssserrrvant brrrjing jin the kalljiesss*. Thejyrrre njice and fat thjisss tjime of jyearrr, and jI know jyou ljike them.

(She kissed her daughter's cheek, then left her on her own)





* = animal resembling a turkey

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa watched her mother leave, and then almost scampered down the hallway towards her old room. Cirr was sitting on the bed, but he leapt to his feet when she entered. "No, sssjit." He sat.

She sat behind him, hugging him from behind. "jItsss okajy, Cjirrrrrr." Saa laid her head on his back, listening to his strong heart through his jacket until the kalljiesss arrived. It was actually live, a rarity on Coruscant, she'd forgotten what it was like to kill her own food. Almost.

Springing from the bed, she took the struggling bird-like mammal from the manservant, waiting until the door was closed to snap its neck. Luckily the floors were all tiled and relatively easy to clean. Not that she'd have to do the cleaning. Saa beckoned Cirrsseeto over to share the still warm meat.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr began to clear the animal, removing the feathers with his teeth, and preparing the first Kallie for Saa. The feathers were messy, but fun, and eventually, Cirr cleaned it up nicely for her, and then, leapt across the room, pouncing onto the second as it squawked, trying to fly away. A growl and a snap later, and Cirr began to work on his own.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

She tore at the flesh of the kallie with her sharp little teeth, watching feathers float around as Cirr plucked his own meal. Saa found herself giggling as he got one stuck in his sensitive nose, and reached over and brushed it away.

Her hand lingered on his face, and she inched closer to him. She was still chewing the raw meat in her mouth as she brought her face close for a kiss.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr ripped a leg away, and was contentedly gnawing away at it when Saa approached him. He may not be smart, but he knew that look in her eyes. Pulling away a stringy mouthful, Cirr chewed it down, straddling his mate as she purred. He felt upset at his actions of late, and maybe even felt like he had something to prove. Licking at his face, he kissed her lustfully, ripping away his shirt in a swift show of brawn.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa raked her fingers down his back, claws sheathed thoughtfully, and half rose to meet him. Their movements stirred up the feathers which had fallen to the ground, and he let her flip him on his back. Their tails intertwined, and she held his head between her hands as they kissed.

Then she stopped, took a piece of meat, and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly, savoring the flavors of the fresh kill. Then she rolled over, bring Cirr around, and kissed him again, from a submissive position.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr's strong legs straddled Saa's slender waist as he caressed her, gently at first, then with more and more passion. He kissed where her neck met her shoulder, working his way to her jawline with his rough tongue. At the same time, he carefully unbuttoned Saa's jacket, mindful not to hurt her more-fashionable clothes. His tail ran up her inner thigh, tickling it as he breathed heavily against her exposed chest.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa lay against Cirr on the rumpled bed, letting his arms enfold her. Her head lay on his chest, and she breathed deeply, trying to match his breath rate. Snuggling closer, she wished that she didn't have to get up. Ever.

She felt safe, and warm in his arms. Cirr wasn't the sharpest vibroblade in the pack, but he knew how to make her feel wanted and safe. Sanis couldn't even take care of himself. Not that Cirr was much better, but they were both sleeping around on her.

Unwillingly, but that was beside the point. It didn't even cross Saa's mind to observe the fact that she was with both Cirr and Sanis. Cirr was hers, and she was his mistress. She was there to take care of him, and keep him fed and clothed, and -

And Sanis was not hers, but she was his. She'd given herself to him, and their relationship was unlike anything she could have imagined. Hyuu-manns were very strange, and not as monogamous as she'd heard. But, she had a niggling feeling that eventually Sanis would get jealous of Cirr. And then what wjill jyou do?

Saa snuggled into Cirr's chest, amidst the feathers that littered the entire room, and a hot tear dripped onto his skin.

[Jasseeri Arreearruu]

After having given the Pride Mother her respect by standing at attention when she had disembarked her ship, the Huntress Admiral had returned back to her shuttle, speaking to two of her most trusted guards.

Each of jyou, keep an ejye on Sssaarrrrrrrrreeaa and Kajeela. Though thejy majy ressspect the Prrrjide, I trrrussst them about asss farrr asss jI can thrrrow them.

Which she realized belated was quite far, as she was taller and more built than both petite women. Never the less, both guards saluted in the customary fashion of the Cizerack, their right fists clasps over their left breast, and turned, heading for the palace. One would observe Saarrreeaa, and the other Kajeel, and both would report back to the Huntress Admiral. And she would report directly to the Emissary if anything was amiss.

With that done, she boarded her shuttle and went back to her flag ship, to see to her other duties.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

The Pride Mother stood before her closet, just having emerged from a refreshing bath. She felt comfortable in her nude state, but for a business meal, she would dress. Now if only she could make up her mind for something appropriate for business, and yet be alluring.

She was still deciding when two strong around wrapped around her slender waist from behind, nearly making her jump out of her skin. She could tell from the hands that it was Keerrourri. This wasn't the first time he had done this to her, coming in so quietly that even her sensitive hearing could not pick him out in the room. But, she didn't mind, so long as he kept his place. In play, she chided him, slapping his thigh somewhat hard with her tail.

One of thessse dajysss, Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji, jI am gojing to end up reactjng bjy attackjing mjy... assssssajilent.

She twisted around to face him, still encircled by his arms. She pressed her warm body against his, playing with the small ornate tassles on his shirt.

Perrrhapsss jyoy can help me wjith mjy jindecjissssssjivnessssss. jI cannot make up mjy mjind on what to wearrr.

And jI'd hate to keep mjy guessst wajitjing.

She continued to twirl the tassle around her finger, purring softly.

[Sanis Prent]

(The dining hall was huge...no, more like enormous. Lofted ceiling, wide spaces, and a table that could seat probably 100 or more. The smell of...something...was in here. I had no idea what, exactly. Personally, I could live without knowing what a good Cizerack meal was like. In my time alone, I stood next to a mirror, looking at myself in the ridiculous silken garments. Okay, this one wasn't nearly as bad as the first. It had weird padded shoulders, which gave my frame a squarish appearance, as well as a deep V-neck, which was undertoned by lower levels of brighter silk, and offset by a sash. Okay...maybe it WAS worse than the first, but it was at least less revealing, if not more fashionably loud.

Suddenly from behind, a trio of females appered, and all seemed to be looking at me. I turned around, rather indifferent. This whole thing couldn't get any crazier.)

Yeah?

(Their ears perked up, as they smiled...making me feel a little uncomfortable. A tall one spoke)

"We arrre the Prrrjide Motherrr'sss perrrsssonal ssstjyljissstsss."

(A shorter one with big, curly blonde locks approached me, padding me down and seeming to glance over every inch of me.)

We wjill make jyou prrresssentable forrr Herrr Rrrojyal Hjighnessssss.

(The third, a pale skinned Cizerack with very short hair growled at me, but in a strange manner)

Come wjith usss, male. We have worrrk to do.

(They escorted me away, without even bothering to hear otherwise about it.)

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Sarrtarroa glanced at the rows of clothes, picking an outfit out, a flowing dress made of sheer green material

Perrrhapsss thjisss one wjill be sssujitable. Grrreen asss envjy.

He pressed the dress against her, to show it off in the mirror.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa pulled away a mouthful of meat from a Kallie drumstick, gulping it down as she cleaned the bone, tossing it away in a pile of others she had gnawed clean. Licking at her lips and fingers, Taa cleaned herself up from her meal, as her manservants disposed of what little remained of her kallie. She glanced toward the hall that lead to Saa's room.)

Sssaa, Cjirrrr...arrre jyou fjinjissshed?

(Taa smiled, as she was smart enough to realize the two lovebirds were doing more in that room than devouring kallies. After all, they were Cizerack. It was the norm.)

Ssshould jI sssend ssserrrvantsss to clean?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa sniffed once, and sat up, wiping his chest to remove the traces of her tears. "jYesss, Motherrr, jitsss a bjit...well, messssssjy jin herrre." She giggled a little bit, and hiccupped.

"Jussst gjive usss fjive mjinutesss." Saa snuggled against Cirr's chest again.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Okajy...

(Taa chimed, humming to herself as she walked along the hallways. She paused to look at a family picture on the wall, smiling at the times when Saa was just a kitten. Shrugging off the nostalgia, she continued on her way, pausing briefly to snatch a straggler out of a nearby fish tank, gulping it down without a second thought.)

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr was softly roused from his sleep, smiling at Saa as they lay together. He put a large hand over hers, dwarfing it, as he held her, giving a reassuring kiss. His blue eyes looked at her expectingly, wondering what she was going to do.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

She propped herself on her elbow, and looked down at him, giving his nose a little kiss. "jI need to talk to motherrr about Sssanjisss. Sssasssssseerrrji wjill have kjittensss when ssshe hearrrsss that the Prrrjide Motherrr got herrr clawsss jinto hjim."

Saa slipped off the bed and pulled her shirt on, buttoning it up slowly while Cirr continued to watch her. "jIf jI can get hjim back... perrrhapsss jit wjill put me clossserrr to herrr good grrracesss. And," she yanked her pants up, "No one messssssesss wjith one of mjy malesss. Even jif he'sss onljy parrrtljy mjine." She leaned over him on the bed, handing him his shirt as she kissed him again. His large hands carressed her again, but she pulled away.

"Laterrr." She smiled, and left the room, heading for her mother's rooms. Cirr just kept getting better and better. Saa ran her fingers through her blonde hair as she walked.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

She twisted around again, to view the dress pressed against her by Keerrourri. Though her favorite color was red, she liked the way the green of the fabric played with the color of her eyes, making them look more green than blue.

Smiling, Rourrsseerri took the dress from her manservant, and slid it on, deciding on nothing else underneath. She did the clasp up on one side as Keerrourri did up the other. She looked at herself in the mirror, smoothing out the fabric with her hands.

Excellent chojice, Keerrrourrrji...

She turned and planted an exceptionally passionate kiss on his lips, being forceful about it. When she released him, she was smiling from ear to ear.

jI wouldn't have accepted anjythjing lessssss.

She turned, still smiling, to look herself over again in the mirror, the dress doing her figure justice, and then some. From the closet, she retrieved a silken wrap made of gold, and draped it over her arms, letting most of it loop at her back. Matching shoes, of course, were in order, and she knew the perfect golden pair to go with such a combination.

Once she was finished with the dressing part, she snapped her fingers sharply, and two almost delicate looking males entered, each with an array of beautifying objects, from hair to makeup. She sat herself down at her vanity and let them work, doing her makeup in shades of soft greens and golds, and looping shimmering gold ribbons in her hair, letting little curls fall at natural angles.

Keerrourri stood by, protecively, over-seeing that everything went smoothly.

[Sanis Prent]

(Pampered was too soft a word to describe it. I was being completely reassembled from scratch. The three women sat me down in this expansive beauticians chair, and went to work. Manicure, pedicure, the works. They plucked my eyebrows, exfoliated my pores, and even crap that I'd never read before in Cosmopolitan. I suddenly found myself in darkness, slices of some strange vegetable over my eyes.)

Is this really necessary? I have a sonic shower and old spice. Anything else is just a little bit overkill!

(I heard purry laughter at my comment, and then, a wad of packing material went in my mouth to silence me. Well this was an experience. One of the voices humored me with a response.)

The Prrrjide Motherrr hasss ssstandarrrdsss hjyuu-mann femalesss do not. We wjill make sssurrre jyou pleassse herrr.

(I heard the sound of shears. They were cutting my hair?!? I struggled against the gag in my mouth, only to find two strong hands holding my shoulders down. Another pair of hands kept my head still, as a trimmer groomed my head of hair. Yeah it was growing over the ears and a little long in the back, but I made it look good! Who was she to tell me how to wear my hair?)

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Downstairs, Taa lay stretched on a plush couch, watching the holoviewer as some dubious Rodian comedy came on that she didn't understand. With an apathetic yawn, she stretched her lithe little body on the couch, smiling somewhat as one of her manservants massaged her feet.)

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Thankfully, Saa's presence eclipsed everyone but Saa herself from Taataani's exhuberant attentions. The woman rubbed the Director the wrong way - she was so outlandish and noisy... Kajeela felt a migrane coming on just at the sight of her. Such flambouyance should be outlawed.

She noted one of Jasseerri's officers follow the small troupe out as Saa and her mother left - and strangely enough, there was another one standing not far off from herself, his attention focused her way. Sorreessa and the Director exchanged a glance and a wordless snipe between them as they turned their backs condescendingly to the male 'spy'. "..Amateurrrrressss.."

Having arrived at the Palace as "requested" by the Pride Mother and being relieved of the company of Saa and Cirrseetto, and the rascal Prent as good as gone being in the hands of the Pride Mother, the Director strode off down the gleaming corridors, flanked by her Enforcers. Her mood was palpably sour.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa slipped into the living area, and sat down in a chair near her mother. Stretched out on a couch, Taa didn't see her at first as her manservant massaged her feet. Saa looked at the male, and recognized him as her sire. He was looking at her, and she ventured a smile at him before Taa turned her attention on her. "Motherrr, what can jI do about Sssanjisss, the male the Prrrjide Motherrr has taken?"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa propped her head up on a shoulder, fluttering her ears as if to say "I don't know")

Weellll....jyou could jussst wajit forrr the Prrrjide Motherrr to get tjirrred of hjim.

(She makes a face)

Then agajin, ssshe mjight kjill hjim jif that happensss. Ssshe'sss done jit beforrre...

(Taa drifts off into thought, smiling as her manservants bring drinks to her and her daughter)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

She accepted a drink, the outside of the glass covered with condensation that dripped down her hand when she gripped it. Saa sighed. "Djid jI mentjion that he jisss Sssasssssseerrrji'sss favorrrjite male? jI trrrjied to sssteal hjim frrrom herrr frrrom underrr herrr verrrjy nossse, and now he'sss been ssstolen frrrom me."

"jIf jI can't get hjim back, Sssassssseerrrji wjill pjitch a fjit. And jI can't ssstand the thought of anotherrr female touchjing hjim." She leaned back into her chair, her face worried.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

jIf worrrssse comesss to worrrssse, jyou could alwajysss hjirrre a bountjy hunterrr.

(Taa purred, sipping her drink, and finishing with an audible smack)

jI'm sssurrre worrrkjing forrr Sssasssssseerrrrrrji, jyou could fjind one, and coverrr the monejy trrrajil to prrrotect jyou...orrr betterrr jyet, pojint to Sssassssss.

(Taa smiled toothily, giggling at the thought of such trouble falling on her sister's head)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa's ears twitched. Bountjy hunterrr? It was an excellent idea. But who? Perhaps a female, no male would get anywhere on Carshoulis.

She sipped her drink in silence, letting her mind mull over the scheme. Kajeela and her hounds would be all over her as soon as she stepped out into the city, of that she had no doubt. Saa's eyes closed sleepily, and she frowned as she puzzled over the problem.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa smiled warmly at Saa)

Arrre jyou tjirrred mjy ljittle kjitten? Whjy don't jyou ljie down, and one of mjy malesss wjill attend to jyou.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseerri sat at the long dining table, just having emerged from her grooming. She waited patiently for Sanis to appear, plucking at little strips of krr'tll, a fat, flightless water-bird that inhabited the small plots of bogs on Carshoulis.

She was already going through her head what would transpire through the mid-day meal. It would be a business meal. but then, afterwards, dessert would be a more pleasurable experience.

She smiled predatorily, and continued to absentmindedly tear at the tender, meaty strips.

[Sanis Prent]

(An eternity later, the three ladies had removed me from their torture chair, passing me by a mirror. What I saw was beyond words. They had placed matching color hair extensions in my hair, forming the appearance of long, brown locks, which were braided in places and scented with some kind of oil. My face still stung slightly from the exfoliant, but seemed to glow in spite of it. I looked myself over, thinking I looked more like some kind of old-school Jedi crossed with a Coruscant gigolo. I smiled weakly, as the ladies herded me back to the dining hall, the hair extensions itching at the back of my neck as I went.

I arrived to find Rourrsseeri already seated and stuffing her face at the table. I felt a little ridiculous in the crazy costume, no doubt her idea from the start. Quietly, I seated myself at the table, looking squeamishly at the array of food heaped toward the Pride Mother's side of the table.)

You know, I'm not exactly the makeover kind of guy, and I have other places to be after our meeting.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

She waved a half-eaten leg from some beast at Sanis, splattering small droplets of blood on the table.

jYesss, jyesss, of courrrssse, Sssanjisss, dearrr.

More important matters indeed. Like in my bed chamber.

But forrr now, let usss eat and dissscussssss busssjinessssss. jI have found jit helpsss wjith mjy djigessstjion.

She tore a mouthfull of meat from the half eaten leg, giving the bone a long, slow lick upward to clean it dry, her versatile tongue doing it's work on the bone.

When she finished, she set the cleaned bone down and grabbed the other leg to the beast. There were still four other legs to consume. Taking a bite, she chewed and then glanced at Sanis.

Ssso, tell me, what busssjinessssss jisss jit jyou arrre wantjing orrr lookjing forrr herrre on Carrrssshouljisss?

[Sanis Prent]

Actually...I wasn't aware that there was much demand for the...uh...import business on Carshoulis.

(Some furry animal scurried around on my plate, and I shooed it away. Maybe it was a good thing on Carshoulis, but I wasn't up for food I had to catch.)

My associate is a native, though...and she has loose ends on your homeworld, as well as family matters, from what she said.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseerri slurped up the remains of the leg she had been nawing at, and reached for another, this time grabbing one of the scurrying rodents, like the one that had just passed over sanis' plate, spearing it with a claw and popping it in her mouth like a dumpling. She licked the finger that had caught it, and looked at Sanis.

And who jisss thjisss assssssocjiate of yourrrsss that jisss natjive to herrre?

She proceeded to tear at the new leg, making amental note to find out whether this "associate" was of importance or not.

[Sanis Prent]

Her name's Saarreeaa. She does most of my financial bookwork...and is pretty brilliant with it.

(I glanced around, taking a brief sip from my glass of water, which was the only thing on the food-laden table that seemed edible)

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Recognition crossed Rourrsseerri's face.

Ah, jyesss, the jyoung female back at the barrr jif jI am not mjissstaken. jYesss, herrr famjiljy jisss qujite jinfluentjial on Carrrssshouljis, and jin mossst casssesss rrreporrrt to me djirrrectljy. jYesss, a fjine famjiljy. Verrrjy lojyal.

She called Keerrourri to her, speaking to him softly in the Cizerack tongue.

Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji'grrrasssjirrr'harrr'nah'lorrra ji'rrrousssa'ja'kjitrrr.
Glaji'nuarrr'cerrrourrr'errrji'nak'jia'sssjiorrr'h jiuu'mahn'forrda.
(Keerrourri, find what you can about this female. And get something edible for our guest... human food.)

Keerrourri bowed and walked off to fullfill her wishes. She then returned to tearing at the meaty leg she held in her hand.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa rolled onto her stomach on the couch, and laid her head on her hands. "jI sssuppossse...therrre jisss one jI could talk to, rrregarrrdjing Sssanjisss'sss sssafe rrreturrrn...." She let her voice trail off as she closed her eyes again. One of her mother's younger males approached her, and slipped her out of her shirt. He applied scented oil to her back and began massaging as Saa drifted into daydreams.

They mostly involved Sanis..and Cirr...

[Sanis Prent]

(The grey-haired man of the house returned, with a plate of painstakingly-arranged foodstuffs, which he set in front of me)

Mon Calamarrrjian sssussshji. Enjojy...

(He walked away as curtly as he approached. Funny. The only edible stuff in the house, and not bad, either. Figures that the Cizerack would know to have sushi...the raw fish fit their culinary paradigm. I applied dabs of soy and wassabe to the nigiri-style Mon Calamari Albacore, and taking a bite. Thank the Force, the felinoids can make appealing sushi. I swallowed, noticing that the guy had also deposited a cold, draft beer on the table as well. There was a god, indeed. Setting my chopsticks down, I wet my whistle, smiling to the intensely-staring Rourrsseeri, across the table)

So, I take it you two are somewhat-close?

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(The thought that her good daughter actually knew some nefarious bounty hunters disturbed Taa, but then, she did work for her sister, and it was to be expected. Though, her brow knit as one of her males gave a similar massage. She turned her head over, looking at Saa)

Daughterrr, jyou haven't done anjythjing....jillegal....have jyou? jI mean, jI know jyou worrrk forrr Sssasssssseerrrji, jI jussst hope that jyou know betterrr....

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

She looked up from the mound of cleaned bones on her plate, already having finished the last leg of the beast she had been consuming, and having started on the ribs.

Keerrrourrrji jisss mjy manssserrrvant, and at tjimesss, mjy conjident. He obejysss me wjith out a quessstjion, and fullfjillsss mjy everjy whjim.

She eyed Sanis predatorily.

jIt jisss ourrr wajy.

She raised an eyebrow at him, the predatory look still lingering in her eyes.

What about jyou, Sssanjisss... do jyou have a mjissstrrressssss orrr mate?

She tore a large piece of raw meat from the rib held tightly between her claws.

[Sanis Prent]

Thats not exactly my way...

(I diverted my attention to spear another bit of nigiri)

...I can't be fenced in by girl problems.

(Suddenly, I realized the precariousness of my statement)

No offense, your Majesty.

I enjoy their company, and I'd be lying if I said otherwise. I just never consider giving up my lifestyle for that kind of company.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

She stopped eating and raised an eyebrow in his direction, an inaudible growl inside her throat, though he would not hear it, but Keerrourri's sensitive hearing would, and no doubt pick up that her scent had changed. Never the less, she kept her voice light, and even chuckled softly.

Carrreful, Sssanjisss, orrr jI'll have to punjisssh jyou laterrr.

She laughed. Yes, it was a joke in more ways than one, and the pushiment she refered to wouldn't be considered much of a punishment.

But what he had said had indeed disturbed her. She had to remind herself that he was from a different culture. But if he was to be one of hers, then she was going to have to persuade him, forcebly if neccessary, that it was an honor to become one of the Pride Mother's males.

She waved her hand.

No offenssse taken, jI'm sssurrre. but, eventualljy, jyou wjill succumb to the wjilesss of a female. jIt happensss to all malesss... of anjy culturrre.

And that female would be her. As she had been speaking, her mind had taken a different turn, and she began to wonder what he'd look like chained to her bed. With that thought, she smiled, and proceeded to eat again.

[Sanis Prent]

You make it sound like I don't have a choice in the manner.

(I slowly, carefully set my bottle down, looking at Rourrsseeri. Nothing she said was in jest.)

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

She finished off the rest of the beast, the bones laying gleaming on the table, white and cleaned of all flesh. She tok a sip from her blood wine, looking at Sanis over the rim of her glassas he spoke, and then set the glass down, chuckling softly.

He was beginning to get difficult and somewhat demanding.

Now, whjy would jyou thjink that, Sssanjisss?

Her eyes seemd to take on a deeper shade of blue as she began to desire "dessert".

[Sanis Prent]

No reason.

(I took another bite of my nigiri, changing approach)

I was rather hoping I could meet up with my associate after dinner. We have some business to discuss.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Meandering the long hallways of the palace, the Director stopped at a set of large french doors that opened to the Royal Gardens.

With an emphasised tilt of her head, one of the Royal Guards took the hint and twisted a goldplated handle, opening the door for Kajeela to pass through it.

As her body guards followed a good distance behind her, and Jasseeri's lurker behind them, the felinoid strolled the grounds, inhaling the beautiful scents that drifted from every corner of the elaborately designed and manicured grounds.

She took a seat on a small wrought iron bench and let the warm night air calm her mood.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Mmmm...

She was half listening, thinking of all the things she would do to him. She snapped out of it for a moment to stand, walking towards him as he finished his last bite of the sushi.

jYesss, jyesss, jyou wjill have plentjy of tjime to do dealjingsss wjith yourrr busssjinessssss parrrtnerrr.

She extended a hand to him as one of the servants pulled his chair out away from the table.

But we ssstjill have to have desssssserrrt. jYou have not tasssted desssssserrrtsss untjil jyou have trrrjied Carrrssshouljisss' rjich sssugarrry tarrrts.

She took him by the arm as he stood, and led him away to an adjoining lounge room, plush in all it's glory. There were couches, reclining chairs, and fluffy pillows scattered in decorative states in the room, the carpet adding a spring to ones step. Carvings decorated the wooden walls and in the corners of the marble fire place, now roaring with a holographic fire, it being to warm of a night to have a real fire going. At the foot of the fireplace was the skin of a furry beast, white in color, it's pelt clean and soft to the touch. The ceiling was made entirely of mirrors, and a large balcony shot out from the large beveled windows to look down on the gardens below.

She led him to recline near a wooden table, where upon it were the tarts she had spoken of, and a large bottle of Carshoulis' finest wine.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Kajeela stretched back, her arms locked over her head and her back arched against the back of the benchseat unlocking the tensed kinks out of her spine.

Two moving silohetts caught her eye as they moved about an upper room of the palace and it wasn't a huge leap to figure just who's rooms they belonged to.

Stiffling her own disappointment of how events turned out from such promising beginings at the Bar & Grill, she relaxed again and released her breath slowly.


Out of nowhere a faint scent drifted to her nose on the evening air, and she thought, without really realising it, that she was hungry all of a sudden.

Then a sound - a sort of warble or gorbling - tickled her sensitive ears and Kajeela turned her head to look in the direction of the subtle sound, realising now too that the scent was coming from that direction also.

Her eyes crinkled in concentration, trying to put an image to the things she was picking up on. Her ears twitched alertly and her nose scrunched up to cause a small ripple of the skin along its bridge.

Even before she saw the brightly colored plumes of the peacocks tail confirming her conclusion - she knew. She KNEW!


"Live Game!!!!!"


Springing from the bench and jogging stealthily into the garden hedgerows - Kajeela Tarruurri, Director of the Kei Ai' Reei and Master Spy - was going to HUNT.

[Sanis Prent]

(I laid back on the animal skin, against a heap of soft pillows, watching Rourrsseeri do the same. It was plush, and totally comfortable, and it felt like I could fall asleep in here. I picked up one of the tarts, smelling it and breaking it open, half-expecting to find ground-up mice or something...but instead found something that smelled like fruit...and tasted like it too. In fact, it was pretty good. I smiled, somewhat relieved, as I watched Rourrsseeri in the firelight)

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Peering through a delicately scented T'rrjiaaee hedge, its exotic white flowers though closed to the night air still managed to give off their unique aroma, Kajeela spied the bird.

So far it had no inckling that it was being stalked - too docile to notice, too plump and pampered here in the royal gardens to consider itself in danger.

A small rough pink tongue darted between pert little lips as the Director envisioned sinking her sharp teeth into the still-warm flesh of the Pride Mothers live decoration...Prent popped unbidden into Kajeela's mind. Yes, the association was not far off...

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseeri watched as Sanis laid himself on the animal skin, and a soft purr began to eminate from her throat. As he watched her, she bent over to pick up one of the tarts, revealing a bounty of cleavage and then some, and knelt down next to the wooden table, popping the tart in her mouth and licking her fingers slowly.

When she had finished, she slowly crawled to where Sanis was lying, oneshoulder of her sheer, green dress fall midway down her upper arm. With the other hand, she carressed Sanis' face gently.

jI have neverrr met a hjyuu-mann sssuch asss jyourrrssself, Sssanjisss.

She slid closer to him, letting her fingers go from the side of his face up into his hair, to come down the back of his head.

jYou arrre an jinterrressstjing one. Differrrent. And...

She slid onto him.

...jyou excjite me.

She kissed him hungrily, attacking his mouth with her tongue.

[Sanis Prent]

(The kiss came on in a way I couldn't resist, as she overpowered me in every sense of the word, sprawling me over the animal skin, like a whole different kind of skinned animal entirely. Her tail teased by touch intermittently across my legs, sliding up my sides as she made her affections known. The hair extensions felt bizarre as her hair and mine intertwined in a curtain. My hands roamed down and around, giving her what she wanted and taking whatever physical satisfaction I could from the encounter)

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Somewhere along the course of rolling on the fluffy animal skin, Sanis had managed to removed her dress, and she his clothes. At another point he'd hit a good spot, sending a wonderful sensation through her, making her snarl. Being only a human, he knew how to treat a lady, and he knew exactly what she wanted.

Of course, she was just as good, and knew exactly what to give him in return.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Outside, in the early morning breeze, down below in the garden, a small bird chirped, causing other's of it's kind to start up a sweet song. The noise made one of Rourrsseeri's sensitive ears twitch, bringing her slowly back to consiousness. Her eyes slowly opened, blinking several time against the fingers of light coming through shutters that were half closed against the large room's windows. She yawned, a small meow escaping her throat as the yawn ended. She blinked again, shaking her hair out of her eyes with a flick of her head. She was exhausted. It'd been a long time since the actions of a night had made her this tired. And she liked it.

Stretching, she curled her tail tightly around Sanis' leg, who was still slumbering next to her, the animal skin having been folded in half to create not only a sort of matress, but cover. Pressing her body close to his, she nuzzled his ear with her nose, a small sleepy purr coming from her throat, as the tip of her tail contentedly tapped gently against his ankle.

[Azure Regalia]

After receiving the new assignment, the Bounty Hunter had laughed about Prent needing rescueing until her side had ached, and then had set off for Carshoulis Prime.

Along the trip, the Huntress had touched up on Cizerack culture, familerizing herself with it, and giving herself an appropriate name. At the same time she had worked on her accent, and even gone so far as to find a disguise worthy of playing the role of a Cizerack business woman. Camolfaging her skin to look like the species had not been a problem, nor changing the color of her eyes and hair. Her natural fangs worked well, and as for ears she merely appropriated some prostetics that would do the job. Her tail was a little thicker at the base, and to cover this up, she wore a skirt that draped lower in the back, but from the front showed more than enough leg.

Her buisness suit was appropriate for that of a respected Cizerack buisness woman; low cut white blouse, allowing her cleavage to show at the top of the buttons, dark blue skirt, and a matching jacket to finish off the ensemble.

She had changed the name and ID to her ship, and had even given it a new "paint job", having programed the bio-skin to appear in bright golds, browns, and reds.

She had arrived on Carshoulis, the morning bussle just starting. Getting through security had been no problem for her, the codes having been given to her by one of the more wealthier and respected Cizeracks of the planet.

When she disembarked the ship, she was the perfect picture of a Cizerack female, intent on business.

Locking her ship down, she walked straight to the exit of the hangar bay, not giving the Cizerack males working there a second glance. Outside, she caught a towncar, seating herself inside, and giving orders to the driver with a destination.

Her next stop: The Meorrrei Estates.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa opened her eyes to the morning light, and wondered how her message had been recieved the previous night. After shrugging off her mother's question about "illegal activities," she had excused herself to her room.

Under the eye of Cirrsseeto, who didn't really care what she was doing as long as she came back to bed when she was done, Saa sent a quick transmission to a female bounty hunter she had heard of in connection with her aunt. She didn't know when the Hunter would arrive, but she would be coming to Taataani's estate. Perhaps tomorrow?

The sooner the better. The thought of her Sanis' arms and legs entangled with the Pride Mother's made her want to vomit. Saa snuggled into Cirr's side and waited for the aroma of breakfast to fill the hallway.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taataani rose early, slipping into a sunny yellow outfit as she stretched. Saa didn't answer her question, and that made her worry. She spent half an hour just looking idly at baby pictures, and wondering where she might have gone wrong. Then, she heard scuffling feet, as her manservants brought breakfast into the feeding room from the outside pen. By the braying and the strong odor, it could only be...)

Tauntaun...

(Taa smacked her lips, rising from her bed as she put away Saa's baby albums. She strode down the hall, gently knocking at the doorframe as she mewled quietly and sweetly)

Sssaarrrrrreeaa, Cjirrrrrrsssssseetto....wake up forrr brrreakfassst.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa threw the covers back, rousing Cirr with an elbow to his side, and pulled on some fresh clothes. Cirr rubbed his eyes sleepily, but smiled at her as he too dressed. The odor of their meal was wafting up the hallway as she'd suspected, and from the awful smell it was tauntaun.

Even when washed the beasts stank...somone had told her once it was a hormonal secretion that gave the tauntaun's their nefarious scent. Whatever it was, it was only tolerable because she knew how good a haunch of tauntaun was. While Cirr pulled on his pants, she leaned over the dresser and lit a stick of incense to purge the room of the odor.

The trail of smoke wafted towards the ceiling as the pair exited her room, and shut the door behind them. Once in the main feeding room, Saa grinned with delight at the beast standing in the pen. Around the edges of the circular room (painted a gaudy red with gold trimmings) there were several braziers and censers of incense already smoking. They could not hide the odor of the beast, which brayed nervously as Saa nodded to her mother. "Good morrrnjing, Motherrr. jI trrrussst jyou ssslept well?"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Oh jyesss, jI djid...

(Taa smiled in a sunny manner, adjusting her glasses in the mirror as she eyed the fidgeting animal in the center of the feeding room, tied to a tether as it struggled desperately. Taa paied it no immediate mind. It wasn't going anywhere, until they decided it was time to eat.)

Thossse massssssagesss arrre wonderrrful. jI neverrr ssseem to fall asssleep wjithout one nowadajysss.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirrsseeto stood behind Saa, wrapping her up in his large arms as he looked over her head, at the struggling Tauntaun...and anticipating breakfast. His keen, pale blue eyes focused tightly, his ears pivoting to triangulate every movement of the animal.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa licked her lips, and then turned back to her mother. "jYesss, the massssssage was wonderrrful. Perrrhapsss Cjirrrrrr could be taught sssome of jyourrr manssserrrvant'sss trrrjicksss beforrre we leave?"

She leaned back into Cirr's strong arms, feeling him anticipating the kill. It pleased her. Everything...well almost everything he did pleased her. It was only off of Carshoulis Prime when he seemed to get into trouble incessantly. Perhaps she shouldn't allow him out of her sight anymore.

Wriggling out of his arms, Saa prowled around the outer rim of the room, taking a few steps down to the level the tauntaun was tethered on, already salivating in anticipation of the feast.

[Azure Regalia]

The towncar came to a hovering hault outside of a grand gate, and the Huntress paid the driver, exited the vehicle, and watched the car speed off down the hill and around the curve.

Turning back, she looked at the gates, starting from the top and traveling down the center bar to the bottom. Well, she would hand it to the Ciz, they knew how to build doors. Walking up to the intercom at the side, she punched a button and spoke, first in Cizerack...

Meorrr'sssorrrji.
(Good morning.)

...Then clearing her throat, she spoke in basic.

jI am herrre on busssjinesss wjith Mjissssss Sssaarrrrrrrrreeaa Meorrrrrrrrreji.

She finished, moving her tongue about in her mouth. That name was a pain to say in a Cizerack-acented voice speaking in Basic. She looked forward to be behind closed doors and speaking regularly again, but only in private with Meorrrei. And the sooner the better. Before she started thinking in Cizerack-acented Basic and dreaming in Cizerack.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa busied herself with the doorchime immediately, strolling to the commbox and answering. After a moment, she turned around, her ears perked)

Sssaarrrrrreeaa, jyou have a vjisssjitorrr at the doorrr!

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa backed away disappointedly from the beast, and leapt up the stairs to the door to the hallway. "Ssshow them jinto the ljibrrrarrrjy, jI wjill meet them therrre."

With a final hungry look at the tauntaun, Saarrreeaa showed herself into the library and awaited her visitor. jI wonderrr who jit jisss....

[Azure Regalia]

The Huntress was shown through the house, and led into a vast library. There, already waiting for her, was Saarrreeaa Meorrrei. She'd already decided to carry the charade, to see if even her employer would be impressed with her abilities.

Smiling, she came forward, and placed her briefcase down. She walked to Saarrreeaa and took her by the shoulders as she did the same, each giving the other an "air nuzzle" (equivilent to the "hollywood kiss").

Sssaarrrrrrrrreeaa...

There was that damn name again.

...jI came asss sssoon asss jI rrrecejived jyourrr messssssage. jI mussst sssajy, thjisss busssjinessssss prrroposssjitjion jyou presssented to me jisss qujite jintrrrjiqujing.

She kept her smile in place, but she watched the other woman for any indication. First reactions were always the best. Now, lets see if she could muddle through this one.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa sat down opposite the strange female, her scent completely off for a Cizerack. Her eyebrows quirked a little at the woman, and then the puzzle fell into place.

"Ahhh....Rrregaljia, jisss jit not?" She grinned in spite of her rumbly stomach. "jI djid not expect jyou ssso qujickljy, but, the qujickerrr the betterrr. The djisssgujissse jisss qujite good, betterrr than jI had hoped, jin fact." She sniffed once, delicately. "The onljy hole jisss jyourrr odorrr. jItsss not qujite rrrjight." Saa leaned forward, eyes hardening. "jI am prrreparrred to offerrr jyou twelve thousssand crrredjitsss forrr thjisss job."

[Azure Regalia]

The smell had been one thing she couldn't find a way around. Perhaps a dose of pheremones or rolling around with a Ciz male would do the trick. But for now, she was glad to finally be able to speak regularly.

I was more than interested in this assignment. To say the least, I find it rather humerous that Prent needs rescuing, but from what I have heard of the Pride Mother, I'd say he could use some rescuing.

She nodded her head.

I'll take the twelve thousand.

She spread her hands.

All I need now is a good place to start.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taataani wandered her way to the library)

Sssaarrrrrreeaa? Sssaarrrrrreeaa? Won't jyou come jintrrroduce jyourrr frrrjiend? jItsss tjime forrr brrreakfassst, and ssshe mussst be hungrrrjy too!

(Taa beamed as she entered the library, smiling at her daughter and her visitor)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa nodded, secretly grateful the Hunter had taken what she offered without asking for more. "jI would have jyou drrrjiven to the Palace, but jyou can't be seen comjing frrrom herrre. The K.A.R and prrrobabljy a few of the Motherrr'sss own ssspjysss arrre watchjing ourrr essstate. Anjyone assssssocjiated wjith the Meorrrrrrrrreji name wjill be jinssstantljy sssussspect."

She pondered for a moment, her stomach growling loudly. Saa didn't bother apologizing, but her eyes popped open. "He jisss jin the Motherrr'sss quarrrterrrsss, wjithout quessstjion, untjil perrrhapsss noon. Then, jif ssshe followsss cussstom, the Prrrjide Motherrr wjill take a jaunt arrround town, to ssshow off herrr newessst male."

Saa steepled her slim fingers beneath her chin. "jI hope that wjill help."

Taataani wandered into the library at that moment, and Saa stood smoothly to her feet. "jI'm sssurrre ssshe would love to jojin usss, but perrrhapsss ssshe hasss prrressjing matterrrsss to attend to?" She looked back at the Hunter, leaving the invitation open to breakfast.

[Azure Regalia]

The Huntress scowled.

I've had dealings with the K.A.R. before. During an assignment, they had the audacity to aprehend me, and then plant a bug on me. I will not let that happen again.

At this time, another Cizerack female entered offering breakfast. She could only imagine breakfast meant raw meat, freshly killed, rotting somewhere. No thanks. She smiled, waving her hand, switching back to her Cizerack mode.

jI don't mean to be rrrude, but jI do need to get to mjy busssjinessssss. jI wjill take a rrrajin check on jyourrr generrrousss jinvjitajion.

She smiled politely to both females, and turning one last time to face Saarrreeaa, she nodded her head.

jI ssshall keep jin touch.

And with that, she picked up her suitcase and followed one of the male servants out the door.

Within minutes, she was in another hover towncar, heading to her base of operations. A small hotel near the space port, where she could have easy access to her disguised ship.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taataani paused, mouth agape, looking rather shocked)

Well...that wasss sssudden.

(Her ears fluttered in confusion as she looked to Saa)

What wasss that all about?

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

It was just past sunrise when Kajeela entered back through the same French doors, now guarded by two different male royal guards, but with the same dedicated starchiness in their bearing, Kajeela asked to be led to somewhere she could freshen up.

The Director had spent the whole night outside. She had caught, and subsequently devoured the bird (one of many and would not be missed) and enjoyed the freedom of no walls, no subordinates- her Enforcers smart enough to give her space - and no demands.

But now it was back to the real world and Kajeela wanted a briefing with the Pride Mother before leaving for her K.A.R. Offices.

After being ushered by one of the guards to a guest room, equipped with refresher and all the amenities the Pride's Royal household could provide, Kajeela instructed the male to summon the Pride Mother's Manservant, Keerrourri Sarrtarroa.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

"Bujisssnessssss." She walked towards the door, putting her arm around her mother. "jI took jyourrr advjice Motherrr. Letsss jussst leave jit at that. And jI majy have to leave jin a hurrrrrrjy, but don't be offended. Come vjisjit me on Arrrcan IV sssometjime. jI do a lot of mjy bujisssnessssss out of therrre."

They returned to the feeding room, one of her mother's manservants holdig the door open for them.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirrsseeto's tail swayed as he waited for his mistress and her mother to return to eat. He smiled widely, purring at her approach.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa's eyes widened as she understood)

Ohhhh....jI sssee. jYesss, pleassse be carrreful, Sssaa. Thjisss jidea jisss dangerrrousss.

(She paused, hugging her daughter and giving a knowing smile, before following her into the feeding room)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa gave Taataani a half smile before leaping down the steps towards the still braying tauntaun. She bounded onto its back, tearing through the fur and flesh of its neck with claws and teeth.

Hiring Hunters was hungry work.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

(Taa watched her daughter leap for the kill, smiling as she daintily put her glasses on a small, ornamental table, before leaping upon the wounded animal herself, tackling it around the ankles as Saa clamped on its back and neck. The two females soon caused the braying animal to falter, and stumble to the ground. Taa pinned the tauntaun's struggling hindquarters, as Saa went for the kill.)

Good to know that ljivjing offworrrld hasssn't made jyou forrrget basssjic etjiquette.

(She winked, returning her securing bite until Saa finished her job)

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

The huge beast stumbled to the ground, nearly dislodging Saa as it crumpled, but she clung on grimly, all four limbs digging in with their claws. Her tail whipped around for balance as she tore the main artery in the forrrda's neck, hot blood spurting in her face.

She licked her lips, and looked over to Cirr, using her eyes to invite him to feast with her.

[Azure Regalia]

The Huntress reached her hotel room with no problem and set her briefcase down on the table. A bell-droid had brought her single bag up and set it down in the room, leaving her alone.

The first thing she did was remove a round device from the bag and shift the coffee table to the middle of the room, setting the device on it. She flipped a switch and immediately the small device gave a whine and hum, then went silent. The device was a dampening field, able to keep nosey people out of her business, from scanners to spying devices, which included listening and video electronics.

After that, she set to work lining up the wardrobe she would wear out on the streets. A simple outfit, not of business attire. This outfit was of play. Shorts, sneakers, and a top. She was just another Cizerack living a day on the streets.

Once her clothes had been laid out, she set up her computer, making a direct and secure link to her ship. She would use her ship to help her track Sanis, if she could find his bio signs. She would have to turn off the dampening field when using her computer's link, for even the field hampered the effectivness of the link.

It wasn't quite noon yet, so she went to work preparing the things she would need. At about noon she would hit the streets near the palace, in search of the Pride Mother's entreage, with Prent in tow.

[Sanis Prent]

(I woke up, stretched out on the animal skin, and looked into the morning light, stretching slightly. Rourrsseeri watched me rouse from my sleep, her gaze was piercing, and a little uncomfortable in its intensity. I smiled to ease some of the tension, rubbing my hair as I sat up)

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Sarrtarroa entered the luxurious palatial suite, the doors sliding back like a gentle breeze. His ears rose somewhat, as he greeted his guest with a warm gesture.

Madam Tarrrrrrurrrrrrji, a pleasssurrre.

He smiled as sweet as nectar, his refined charms giving him grace and poise of a social sophisticant. He seated himself across from her, steepling his fingers together on the table.

To what can jI attrrrjibute jyourrr comforrrtjing prrresssence herrre?

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

The manservant could almost be Kei Ai' Reei the way he worded his flattery with veiled comtempt. For all his charm - and he had a great deal - Kajeela saw him as a threat and an obstical.

As he sat across from her - confident, handsome - she could see the Pride Mothers value in him. He would be irresistable were he not so smug.

"jIt jis alwajysss a pleassssurrre to sssee jyou, Keerrrrrrourrrji." she lied smoothly.

"jI am everrrr rrreadjy to ssserrrve the Prrrjide, as jyou know. jI wasss asssked herrre bjy the Prrrjide Motherrr, and jif ssshe doesss not requjie mjy presence longerrrr, jI wjish to rrreturrrn to mjy offjicesss."

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Sarrtarroa saw in the director's request, a distinct opportunity. He smiled, accenting his canines as he thought it over.

jI thjink ssshe majy be able to accomodate jyou. Ssshe jisss not...parrrtjicuarrrljy busssjy at the moment.

Which was a lie of course. She was with Sanis Prent. But to Sarrtarroa, it was a waste of her majesty's energies. The sooner she bored of Prent, the better. And if Kajeela was that catalyst, so be it. Sarrtarroa rose, nodding.

Come wjith me. jI wjill sssee what jI can do.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Following the manservant, Kajeela's thoughts drifted to Prent. The huuy-man had probably served his purpose and was on the next transport out of Carshoulis Prime. The thought pleased her, for some reason.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

They arrived at the Pride Mother's chambers. Keerrourri smiled at Kajeela conspiratorily, giving the door three cursory raps.

Mjissstrrressssss, Kajeella Tarrrrrrurrrrrrji jisss herrre forrr jyou.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Her eyes slid from Kerrourri's fist to his smiling face, and then back to the door again. And her eyebrows furrowed a little.

Her ears twittered like two sonar-cons as she stood outside the door.

Something felt amis.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseerri watched Sanis sit up, and sat up along side him, pressing against him. She began to kiss him lightly on his shoulders as purr began to eminate from her. She was all ready to have a little mornging "breakfast" when the knock came at the door and she heard Keerrourri's anouncement. She stopped caressing Sanis shoulder to let a softly spoken curse, and then looked at Sanis, a hand patting him on a cheek.

Busssjinessssss callsss, jI'm arrrajid.

She stood and walked over to grab a robe and slip it on.

jI ssshouldn't be long.

With that, she called to the door, walking towards another door leading to an adjacent room.

Keerrourrji, pleassse djirrrect Mjisss Tarrrrrrurrrrrrji to the adjacent lounge rrroom.

As an after thought.

And have sssome brrreakfassst brrrought up.

With that, she was already in the other room, awaiting the Director of the K.A.R.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Kajeela glimpsed Sanis through the breifly opened door as the Pride Mother came through it. All she saw was a bed-tousled blonde head and bare tanned chest, one hand rubbing the morning from his face.

Following Kerrourri into the adjoining room, Kajeela bowed deeply and addressed the Pride Mother.

"What can jI do to be of ssserrrvjice to jyou, Prrrjide Motherrr?"

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseeri waved Keerrourri out of the room, and he left, closing the door behind him. Once he'd gone, she looked at the Director.

Kajeela...jit jisss ussualljy not mjy stjyle to be blunt, but jin thjisss jinssstance, I wjill be qujite blunt.

She reached towards a small glass bowl centered on a glass table and grabbed a sugar coated candy, popping it in her mouth.

Asss jyou prrrobabljy know, jI am enterrrtajinjing a guessst. A mjisssterrr Sssanjisss Prrrent. Whjile thjisss ssserrrvesss mjy purrrpossse, jI am concerrrned he majy be... prrreoccupjied.

He keepsss brjingjing up that he hasss to do sssome busssjinessssss. Now, jI fjind thjisss qujite admjirable, and frrrankljy qujite jintrrrjigjing, he bejing a male.

But, jI am morrre currrjiousss about hjisss busssjinessssss parrrtnerrr. jI want jyou to fjind out all jyou can about a Sssaarrrrrrrrreeaa Meorrrrrrrrreji. Anjythjing and everrrjythjing. And jI want to know jussst how farrr thejir busssjinessssss rrrelatjionssshjip goesss.

Yes, she had basically asked Keerrourri the same question over the evening meal the night before. But if she could get more information from two sources, then so be it. Besides, she knew both competed for her attention. It wouldn't hurt for either of them to work on those competetive spirits of theirs.

She continued, leaning back in the plush seat, running an extended claw along the cushions seam.

Sssanjisss now bearrrsss mjy ssseal. jI'd hate forrr sssomeone to brrreak Cjizerrrack law and dissshonorrr mjy ssseal.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Listening attentively to the Pride Mother, the Director smiled in her sly manner - the kind of smile she got whenever she knew she was about to cast her net and reel in a plump wriggling fish. And the Catch of the Day's name was to be Saarreeaa.. Kajeela saw the opportunity to teach the brazen little upstart a lesson in respect, ingratiate herself with the Pride Mother, and best that stiff-backed Kerrourri all in one master stroke.

"jYourrr jinssstjinctsss ssserrrve jyou well, Hjighnesss. jI too, am qujite cerrrtajin therrre jis morrre to Sssaa's and the hjuu-mann...err....jyourrr newessst male, that jis....than sssjimpljy busjinesss." (Kajeela leaned forward a little, her voice lowered in a conspiratorial tone) "Sssaarrrreeeaa all but admjited sssuch to me."

The Director leaned back, all official and stately once again.

"Leave jit wjith me, jYourrr Majessstjy. jI wjill get the prrroof of the matterrr wjith all hassste."

[Sorreessa Tarrineezi]

Outside in one of the small gardens nearby, Sorreessa waited. Debating on how the hell she was going to get back, she half-wondered where the director was now. Sorreessa hadn't really gotten any information from her stowaway experience but still any info was better than none. Still thinking, Sorreessa's tail lashed back and forth.

[Sanis Prent]

(The Pride Mother and her entourage of lackeys left the room, leaving me in silence. I felt like the canary pried out of the cat's mouth. A little ruffled, but still in one piece. The silence allowed me some time to think about my predicament...which wasn't necessarily the best thing to do. It was a beautiful place, but it was a cage. There didn't need to be bars on the windows to get that feeling. I stood up, and quickly clothed myself in another convenient set of silk clothes. Glancing in the mirror, I made a face, pulling back my artificially lengthened hair into a makeshift ponytail. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice an ornate computer pad, and an idea pops into my mind. Taking the device, I calibrate it to output on a very specific frequency. In a hushed tone, I spoke)

Marcus...you there?

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter readied her things, and stepped out of the hotel. She was in full disguise (http://junglecat.clanpages.com/AzureRegalia/ARcizerack.jpg) now, and would not be recognized. The only thing that seperated her from other Cizeracks was her scent. And to remedy that, she made her way to a perfume shop just across the street from the hotel. Inside, she found several mixtures of scents and phermonally enhanced perfumes. Being careful not to pick one that was too string, she purchased one and walked out of the shop, ducking into an alley way. There she dowsed herself in the light scent. Human's would not be able to pick it out, except for the faint rose in the mixture. Her own nose twitched at smelling the light phermones, and knew the Cizerack would pick it out more than her own nose would. With that problem out of the way, she threw the bottle away and made her way back into the streets to grab a bite to eat at the nearest cafe, and test out her new scent.

Entering the cafe, she noticed from the corner of her eye a good number of male Cizeracks turn to face her. Whether they were attracted to the scent or physical look, she could only hazzard a guess. Not wanting to stay within the cafe long, she ordered a drink and downed it in one gulp, before standing and making her way toards the cafe's exist.

Her next stop was the gardens that the Pride Mother would stroll along, showing off her new prize.

[Marcus v4]

Back at the Meorrrei house, a small pink cyllinder began to wriggle its way out of Saa's purse. It escaped, but fell off the table, clattering onto the floor. With a whine of frustration, the droid righted itself, wheeling over to the periphery of the Cizerack feeding den.

Pardon my interruption, Saarreeaa, but I have just re-established communication with Sanis.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

PLEASE DELETE THIS POST. THANK YOU!

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa looked up from the haunch she was tearing to pieces, and leapt to her feet. "Marrrcusss?"

She ran to him, picked him up and dashed to the nearest comm, her mothers protests fading behind her. Saa turned to the droid. "Put hjim on pleasse."

[Sanis Prent]

(I watched Saa's face appear on the screen, and let out a small sigh of victory)

You're a sight for sore eyes...but what the frell are you doing? Can't you get me out of here before stopping for a bite to eat?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Her eyes narrowed, "Don't worrrrrrjy ssso much, Sssanjisss. jI have been worrrkjing towardsss thjisss verrrjy thjing everrr sjince jyou became the Prrrjide Motherrrsss."

In fact, he should be very worried, but it was no good telling him the danger he was in. He most likely already knew. Saa pulled a bit of flesh from between her teeth and licked it off her fingers absently. "Ssshe wjill want to take jyou outsssjide. Do jit and be rrreadjy forrr anjythjing. jIt hasss been arrranged."

[Sanis Prent]

(I unconciously winced when she mentioned who I belonged to)

Yeah, don't remind me. I'm finding the best locksmith this side of Ord Mantell when we bust outta here, and losing this thing.

(I glanced over my shoulder at the sound of increasing voices)

Outside, huh?

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

"jYesss. The Prrrjide Motherrr wjill want to ssshow jyou off to the populace asss herrr latessst prrrjize male." Saa looked to the right and saw Cirr standing in the doorway to the feeding area, looking...well he had a strange expression on his face.

Protective. He looked protective. Saa turned back to Sanis, "Be rrreadjy!"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taa's delicate ears easily picked up part of the conversation going on, and she stood, watching her young daughter with a look of concern.

[Sanis Prent]

Ready??? Ready for what? This place is locked up tighter than an imperial garrison. What the frell do you have up your sleeve?

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Rourrsseeri nodded towards Kajeela, standing as she did so.

jI have fajith jin jyou that jyou wjill brrrjing me back rrresssultsss.

She began walking towards the door that would lead back into the chambers she had just spent the night with Sanis.

Now, jif jyou wjill excussse me, jI mussst prrreparrre forrr mjy dajiljy appearrrance among mjy people.

She turned at the last minute before opening the door, pointing a manicured claw in Kajeela's direction.

Do not fajil me, Dirrrectorrr. jI'd hate to have mjy fajith jin jyou... djissshonorrred.

With that, she was through the door, closing it behind her, leaving Kajeela to go about her task. Inside the room, she saw Sanis sitting at the comm station, though she couldn't see what he was doing. Probably just checking up on Cizerack culture. She made her way towards him.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

"Rrregaljia. Do jyou rrrecognjize the name?" Saarrreeaa saw something behind him and nearly squeaked with fear. "Marrrcusss cut jit." She managed to retain a relatively low and composed tone of voice, but she was sure Sanis could see how she felt in her eyes.

Marcus cut the transmission. "I have pulled up maps of the city on the terminal he is on for his protection. The Pride Mother was approaching him. This situation is not good!" The little pink droid peeped its little voice at her, and she growled at it.

"jI know, ssshut up alrrreadjy." She stood slowly to her feet. "We majy have to leave jin a hurrrrrrjy jif Rrregaljia jisss sssuccesssful."

[Daanarri Raurrssaatta]

Daani pouted as she stood behind the bulky male who rang the doorbell. The top of her head barely came up to his waist, and she watched his tail as it flicked slowly from side to side.

Another male stood behind her. His name was Karrno. At least that was what she had always called him...it was short for...something... The seven year old Cizerack female screwed up her face as she tried to remember.

Karrno pushed her shoulder slightly as the door opened. "Mjissssss Rrraurrrssssssaatta jisss herrre to vjisssjit Taataanji Meorrrrrreji." Daani balked at the doorway, remembering what had happened last time she'd stayed with Taa.

Karrno propelled her forward, and her little feet went over the threshold. "jIt wasss arrrrrranged bjy mjy mjissstrrresss'sss motherrr, asss ssshe wjilll be awajy forrr a few monthsss."

Daani pouted some more, and then sniffed. "Tauntaun!" Her ears perked up, and she would have darted forward to investigate, had not Karrno's hand clamped down on her shoulder.

[Sanis Prent]

(Saa's transmission cut about the same time that Rourrsseerri entered the room. I feigned a warm smile as she approached, deactivating the computer terminal.)

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

Reaching Sanis, Rourrsseerri bent over, her shirt flopping free of her chest, and she placed a sweet kiss on the man's semi-tossled head.

Good morrrnjing. jI trrrussst jyou ssslept well?

She winked at him before turning and went to a closet to pick some clothes out. Dropping her robe, she slipped on a royal-looking dress, that showed skin in all the right places. Then she came back for Sanis, taking him by the arm.

Come, we wjill have a qujick brrreakfassst and then go out on the town. Everrrjtdajy jI take a walk outsjide in the larrrge parrrk jin the centerrr of the cjitjy to grrrreet mjy lojyal sssubjectsss. And jyou wjill be mjy ssspecjial guessst.

[Sanis Prent]

Sounds great.

(A lie, but a good, polite one. Never hurt to butter a biscuit)

Maybe with some time outside the compound, I can get some local work done.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

DAANjI!! Ljittle Daanji!

Taa quickly cleaned up, running across the living area, smiling at the little girl. Though not related, any chance to spoil the little cubling was never resisted. Taa couldn't help it. Shooing the male back, she scooped Daani up in a big hug.

How arrre jyou, mjy ljittle kjitten??

[Daanarri Raurrssaatta]

Daani's face was squished into Taa's shoulder in a bear hug, and she wrapped her small arms around the female she called her aunt. "jI'm ssso happjy to be herrre!"

She wriggled out of Taa's arms, and stood in front of her. "Look!" Daani bared her teeth, and Taa could see that she'd lost two in the front..one on the top and one on the bottom. "jI lossst mjy teeth! And sssee what jI can do!"

Daani stood carefully on one foot, and then started hopping up and down. "jI've gotten to a hunnerrred beforrre..." She continued to hop...up..and down, and up, and down, while the two maleservants brought in her bags.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Oh! That'sss verrrjy good! Majybe one dajy jyou'll be a dancerrr! And be verrrjy famousss, too!

Taa messed Daani's hair a little, as she reached into her pocket, pulling out two pieces of candy...

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

After a light breakfast, so as not to ruin the appetite for the heavier mid-day meal to come, Rourrsseerri ordered her entourage to prepare for her immediate departure to the Grou'gou'rousa park, located centrally in the city.

She led Sanis to a luxurious, open air limousine. Once both had climbed aboard, they were off, four swoops to the front ridden by Cizerack roya guards, and four swoops behind also ridden by guards. She and Sanis rode in the back seat, where champaigns and wines could easily be poured from the mini-frig, while Keerrourri sat in the passenger seat at the front of the vehicle, seeing that everything went smoothly.

She leaned in close to Sanis.

jYou werrren't able to sssee much of the cjitjy jyesssterrrdajy, but now jyou wjill have a chance to sssee jit jin all jit'sss glorrrjy.

She smiled, looping her arm through his as they zoomed past several tall buildings towards the park.

[Daanarri Raurrssaatta]

Daani grabbed the candies and popped them both into her mouth, the hopping ceasing for the moment. She sniffed slowly. "jIsss...Cjirrrrr?! CjIRRRRR!" She ran up the hall, looking for the one she had scented.

It had been a long time since she'd seen her older brother.

[Sanis Prent]

(The Carshoulis cityscape was vast and sprawling, nearing the scope of Coruscant's super-metropolis, though the Cizerack managed to keep a few well-cultivated natural parks amid the thick jungle of skyscrapers and other buildings. I immediately felt at home, even if the Cizerack architechture was profoundly different. Watching buildings and speeders pass by, I took a glass of champagne from Rourrsseeri, diverting my attention to various sights as we passed by.)

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr diverted his attention from being concerned over his mate, when his sister ran down the hall, chirping his name. He smiled, catching the rambunctious cubling in her tracks.

Hji Daanji...what arrre jyou dojing herrre?

[Azure Regalia]

The Huntress found a spot in the vast park in the center of the even greater city, after having taken an early jog around the area the Pride Mother would make her appearance. That early in the morning, there had been hardly anyone present, save for some Cizerack out for a morning exercise. It had given her the needed time to set her plan into motion.

Now, several Cizerack mingled about the area, waiting the Pride Mother's arrival. The Huntress didn't have to wait long. Soon the escorts and her majesty's vehicle arrived, parking beside the stone walkway that lead to a flowering gazeebo in the center of the park.

The Huntress snuffed slightly, gently pushing her way through the medium crowd. No doubt this was only one of the many stops the Pride Mother would make today. And it would be the only stop she would make with Prent.

Setting up near the gazeebo for a good look, her disguise (http://junglecat.clanpages.com/AzureRegalia/ARcizerack.jpg) allowed her to mingle with the other Cizerack, her face easily becoming lost among the felines. But the disguise she wore now would only be on a moment longer. For as soon as the Pride Mother arrived, the Huntress would step away from the crowd for a quick change behind a tool shed at the far edge, hidden by some strategically placed bushes by the gardeners to hide the eyesore.

Having witnessed the Pride Mother exiting with Prent in hand, she wormed her way back out from the crowd, and headed back to the shed. Hidden from all prying eyes, she stripped from her jogging disguise into a military police disguise. Stepping from around the other side, she fell into step with the security forces that had arrived to keep the peace and the crowds at bay. She stationed herself near one of the steps leading up into the gazeebo, and there she waited for her time to come where she would alleviate the Pride Mother of her newest prize.

[Daanarri Raurrssaatta]

Daani leapt into her brother's arms, and threw her short arms around his shoulders. He smelled comforting, like gnawed up tauntaun. She giggled, 'Motherrr jisss gojing awajy forrr a whjile, ssso Aunt Taa jisss gojing to take carrre of me."

She pulled back from him and pounted, "jI wjisssh jI could go wjith jyou though! jYou'rrre ssso farrr awajy all the tjime!" Daani sniffed dramatically, lower lip trembling.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr frowned empathetically

jI'm sssorrrrrrjy Daanji...but Sssaarrrrrreeaa hasss thjingsss to do, and needsss me therrre.

His ears rose a little

Majybe jyou could asssk to come along, jif jitsss okajy wjith herrr. Though we sssometjimesss sssharrre ljivjing quarrrterrrsss wjith a hjyuu-mann named Sssanjisss.

His face took on a blank look, neither pleased nor displeased at the name. If Cirr didn't know any better, he was almost beginning to tolerate the bad-mannered forrda. That was a marked improvement over wanting to tear him in half with his bare hands.

[Daanarri Raurrssaatta]

Daani's eyes widened with surprise. "Oh, can jI?! Motherrr won't carrre! Ssshe'sss at the ssspa agajin. Rrressstjing." The little Cizerack looked back at Taa. "Can jI do wjith Sssaa and Cjirrr!?"

Saarrreeaa chose that moment to come around the corner, and Daani threw herself at her. "Can jI come wjith jyou, huh, huh? Can jI!? jI'll be good, and qujiet! jI won't even make a sssound!"

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa was startled by the cubling, but quickly recovered. "Daanarrrrrrji! Come wherrre?"

At the child's persistant begging, she frowned, "jYou can ssstart bjy bejing qujiet now." Daani's eyes widened, and her jaws clicked shut, bathing the quartet in silence.

Saa smiled, "That'sss betterrr. Now, what jisss thjisss about comjing wjith me?" She looked at Cirr, who seemed pleased to see his younger sister, and then she distractedly looked at the chrono on the wall. Almossst tjime forrr the Motherrrr'sss walk. Her stomach knotted with nervousness, but she forced a smile at Daani, who grinned back happily.

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

They had finally reached their destination, one of many at any rate, and were being escorted out of the vehicle. Rourrsseerri still had her arm looped through Sanis', and the colar with her seal was still around his neck. She let out an involuntary purr, sliding her body closer to his as they walked towards the large gazeebo surrounded by the many Cizerack police.

Her entourage stopped at the gazeebo's steps, letting herself, Sanis, and Keerrourri step up. The crowd gathered there cheered, waving red and gold scarves. She smiled back at them, waving a similar scarf, turning to whisper into Sanis' ear.

And to thjink thjisss jisss onljy a frrractjion of the populatjion on Carrrssshouljisss.

She noticed some of the upper class Cizeracks notice the seal upon Sanis, the waving scarves now being circle over their heads, a gesture that let her know they approved of her choice. She smiled to herself, squeezing even closer to Sanis.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Ssshe wantsss to come along wjith usss back to Corrrussscant, jI thjink.

Cirr shrugged. It seemed fine enough, if she could stay out of trouble. But she was his kid sister...so what harm could she do?

[Daanarri Raurrssaatta]

Daani fidgited with the end of her tail, until Taataani gave her a stern look. She dropped it hurriedly, and stood on her tip toes. "jI don't eat much." She pleaded with her eyes, and noticed that Karrno and the others had already left.

She sighed. Who would take care of her? Saa didn't even look like she was paying attention to her. Daani coughed a little, trying to get attention back to herself.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa looked down at the sound of the cough, and raised her eyebrows. "Arrre jyou sssjick, Daanji?"

What was taking Regalia so long? She felt as fidgity as Daani, and hoped it didn't show.

[Sanis Prent]

(I stood on the raised gazebo, on the dais with Rourrsseerri. A massive crowd had gathered around, all fervently fawning for the attention of their leader. The sea of red and gold color was impressive...though I would have rather seen it from a different vantage point. She was putting on a show, with me as the attraction. It didn't sit well with me. As much as I was a fan of fame and fortune, I didn't imagine making mine by digging at someone else's table scraps. Nevertheless, I played the fool, and allowed myself to wave to the crowd, glancing back to my amorous host.)

[Azure Regalia]

She used the moment as the guards were busy keeping the line of people away from touching the gazeebo. As she herself pushed at the crowd, she was able to slip her hand into a pocket, and press a small button on the side of an equally small remote.

An enormous explosion emitted from the shed where she had changed earlier, making the crowd duck and scream, turning them into a milling mob of frightened creatures. The guards about the area went into overtime, trying to calm the corwd, trying to protect the Pride Mother, trying to figure out where that bomb had originated from. It was complete chaos in the park.

The Huntress turned up towards the gazeebo, witnessing as the Pride Mother was escorted protectively away by a stately looking Cizerack male and several guards. She herself headed towards Prent, grabbing him by the arm, and hauling him off the gazeebo. Two other Cizerack guards joined her to escort the man to safety.

In the insuing pandamonium, she and the other two guards stuffed Prent into an armored security vehicle, the Pride Mother in her own vehicle. In the safety of the vehicle, she suddenly turned on the two guards, a small hold-out blaster in her hands, and stunned them both. The driver turned and was about to say something when another shot silenced him as well.

Pushing her way to the controls, she jumped in the vehicles pilot seat and started to follow the royal vehicles as they milled into a single file line down the road, and away from the chaotic crowd and billowing smoke rising from a large section of the park.

During the entire time, Prent had not said a word. She didn't blame him. It had happened so fast... just like she'd intended. She figured she'd break into his thoughts with a few words.

What's the matter, Prent? Cat got your tongue?

She let out a chuckle, suddenly veering the vehicle into an alley as the entourage went in the opposite direction. Then she gunned it.

[Sanis Prent]

(It was a turn of events that happened so fast, I'd have to see the instant replay. The blast, the fever-paced pandemonium, and now...this.)

Who are you?

(She didn't have an accent, which was unusual in itself. And the voice sounded strangely familiar)

[Daanarri Raurrssaatta]

Daani coughed again, and grinned up at Saa. "jI'm not sssjick!"

"Ssso can jI go?!" She hopped around on one foot, and then turned to look at the holovid. Daani hopped over to it and switched it on, hoping to catch a few cartoons.

She frowned. No cartoons. Only... "What jisss that!?"

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa turned at Daani's question, and studied the vid. "Looksss ljike a newsss brrrjief."

The holovid cut to raw footage of the bedlam in the park, and Saa gasped. Sssanjisss! It must have been Regalia. In which case... "We'rrre gojing to have to go. Rrrjight awajy."

She ran to her room without a backwards glance, frantic to get her suitcase packed up again. Cirr, Taa, and Daani looked at her, then at the holovid, and then at each other.

Daani snuggled up to Taa while Cirr loped down the hallway after Saarrreeaa.

[Kajeela Tarruurri]

Kajeela had left the Palace and returned directly to her plush office in the Headquarters of the Kei Ai' Reei.


She leant back in her deep leather chair, rubbing her temples slowly, her thoughts on her latest quarry.

Saarrrreeaa, Saarrrreeeaa.... Mjy kjitten. What sssshall jI djissscoverrr on jyou....

If Kajeela's suspicions were correct - as they always were - Saa would stay close to where ever Prent was. Her involvement with the hju-mann was undeniably strong and with him now the Pride Mothers toy, Saa would be upset, angry....rash. Functioning largely by emotion. And that was the weakness that Kajeela would exploit.

The Director pulled open a glit handled desk drawer and pulled a small jar from within onto the desk. One spin of her forefinger and the lid came off obediently. Scooping a claw inside, she withdrew a squirming delacacy and popped it into her mouth. Chewing with relish, some clear fluid escaping her mouth to dribble down her chin, she looked over to her Enforcer standing attentively opposite her.


"jI want to know assss sssoon assss Sssaarrrrrreeaa leavesss herrrr houssse.'

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Sarrtarroa was quick to the task, shielding his mistress as she was moved to a more secure location. From all sides, scores of Cizerack elite bristled, ready to strike any attacker. Sarrtarroa's blue eyes flashed with rage, as he scanned the panic-stricken crowd.

Prrrotect the Prrrjide Motherrr!

[Kiattaarra Feessaarro]

The explosion rocked the ground and hurt her ears. And then it was complete chaos in the park. She felt two strong ahdns graps her by the shoulders as she ducks a few pieces of flying wood chips. She recognized the hands as being Keerrourri's and was greatful for her manservant's quick attentiveness.

She was hussled quickly to one of the armored vehicles that had driven up behind her sleek speeder, several large guards creating a circle around her. She'd barely registered what had happened, as terrorism was not something very common on Carshoulis.

Once inside the vehicle, the door was shut, and she began to breathe a bit more normally, answering Keerrourri's question whether she was alright. She nodded her head, not saying anything as her mind worked furiously to understand why this had happened. And then another thought struck her. She looked up suddenly, grasping her manservant's arm firmly.

Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji! Wherrre jisss Sssanjisss?!

[Azure Regalia]

She didn't answer Sanis' question right away, suddenly stopping the armored vehicle at a small pier. They were near the ocean now, and she began to rig a contraption at the controls to send the vehicle into the vast sean.

n the process, she looked at Sanis, letting her eyes shift from the deep blue they were to the golden yellow that was her natural color, before shifting them back to blue.

Apparently, your guardian angel.

She saw his face register recognition, in which case she thrust a small bundle at him.

Here. Put those on. And be sure to rub those peremones all over. And I mean all over.

Sanis looked at her for a second before obliging, looking at the disguise. He couldn't be concealed as a cizerack male as he wasn't stocky nor tall enough, so the disguise consisted of tight leggines with a short skirt, blouse with voluptuous breasts, a silvery wig with tie down cap, a bottle of peremones, and body paint that would allow him to give himself some stripes. The paint itself was a special mix where it would not rub off without a special solution. He already had blue eyes, so that wouldn't be a problem.

She changed back into her disguise (http://junglecat.clanpages.com/AzureRegalia/ARcizerack.jpg) by merely stripping her uniform. She had worn the second disguise underneath.

She looked back at Sanis as he eyed the short skirt, cleverly made so it wasn't tight.

Well, at least the color matches your eyes.

[Sanis Prent]

(It took the better part of twenty minutes to get it on. I sat, glum-faced...taking in the sight through the vanity mirror.)

Thiss...iss...ridiculouss.

(It wasn't just that I was dressing up like a Cizerack female. It was worse that I could almost pull it off! Scowling, I applied the finishing touches to my makeup, and made sure the prosthetic ears were presentable. I looked like the kind of broad you'd find at 3AM at a Tattooine sabacc table. And the acrylic tooth caps were probably the worst. I was bastardizing every word coming out of my mouth now. No wonder Cizerack spoke so...weird. Huffing angrily, I crossed my arms, looking out the window of the vehicle. I then re-adjusted my arms. It wasn't such an easy task when you're carrying a set of cantaloupes on your chest.)

Un-frelling-believable...

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Go? Go!! But jyou jussst got herrre, Sssaa!!!

Taa ran after Saa and Cirr, tugging little Daani with her as an afterthought.

[Azure Regalia]

The Huntress finished her gontraption at the vehicles controls, and turned back to exit through the side hatch, looking at Sanis.

I guess it'll have to do. I hope you have some of the Cizerack accent down, otherwise try not to talk too much.

She opened the hatch and existed, looking about the pier. Their "borrowed" vehicle was hidden by large barge crates, near the edge of the pier. As soon as Sanis exited the vehicle, she'd send the armored patrol speeder down into a watery grave.

Tjime to hjit the town, Prrrent. jI gotta get jyou out of herrre and off planet. We'll be rendevoujing with mjy cljient sssomewherrre elssse.

She spoke in a whisper, but still with the accent, in case there happen to be a drunk or sailer that would happen by.

[Sanis Prent]

And wherrre isss that?

(I frowned, wiping at my lip. This stupid accent and prosthetic teeth were making me drool! Not to mention, there was a breeze now...and the skirt wasn't exactly my favorite part of this costume. Idly, I "felt myself up" a bit.)

Wow...these feel real...

[Azure Regalia]

She raised an eyebrow as Sanis stepped out of the armored vehicle, a bit wobbly on the heels, and felt his newly aquired breasts. She shook her head marginally, reaching into the vehicle through the open window and pressing a button. Quickly she pulled out as the speeder leapt forward, barreling down towards the edge of the pier, tipping at the end, and kerplunking into the ocean. Needless to say, it wasn't a very graceful vehicle. It was doubtful anyone had seen it's dive into the ocean due to all the barge crates, but one could never be too careful.

She turned and stalked to a thick tarp, pulling it back to reveal a sleek speeder with tinted windows.

Get jin. We've got a trrrjip to make to the ssspaceporrrt.

She checked a monitor on the small computer wrist gauntlet she had placed on her left forearm. n the monitor a small map appeared with the quickest route to the spaceport. And on the way they'd be pasing the hotel she had been holed up for one night. A little surprise would be waiting for the authorities once they passed the hotel. For now, she has to get to her ship.

With Sanis in the passengers seat, fiddling with his skirt and futiley trying to lengthen it, she gunned the engine towards the main skyway towards the spaceport. She had moved her ship from the spaceport the night before, it now being camofladged and concealed just north of the port. But that was the direction they needed to head in.

[Sanis Prent]

(I drummed my press-on nails on the dash as we drove. The silence was palpable. After all...there was no real guarantee that Azure was doing this as a favor. After all, despite my charms, I had my enemies. No time to kick a man like when he's down. After a few minutes of uncomfortable quiet...I broke the ice)

So who's bankrolling all this? You don't exactly seem to be one of those "out of the kindness of your heart" types.

[Saarrreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa was jamming things into her suitcase frantically when Cirr entered the room, but by the time her mother and sister-in-law had arrived, she was sitting calmly on the edge of the bed.

Cirr was carefully emptying his drawer, his clothes still neatly folded. Saa ran her hands through her hair as Daani jumped on the bed next to her, and started bouncing. "We;ve jussst got to go. But jI do want to ssspend morrre tjime wjith jyou, Motherrr." Djid jI jussst sssajy that?! "jI rrrealljy have to go now, though. Mjy assssssocjiate...jI can't tell jyou. The KAR mjight fjind out."

She hopped up and kissed her mother on the cheek. "But jitsss jimporrrtant that thjisss looksss plannned and orrrderrrljy."

Saa paused. The Lajyla. "Ssshjit!"

[Azure Regalia]

The Huntress changed lanes at that moment at an alarming speed, avoiding being stuck behind a lumbering transport barge. She looked through the corner of her eye as Sanis cursed, resticking one of the nails that had popped off in his attempt to hold onto something.

Let's just say she's an old freind of yours that didn't like the idea fo you being in the Pride's Mother's clutches.

She looked at Sanis again.

Which reminds me...

She reached into a small satchel and pulled out a cutting tool, almost resembling a small vibroblade or lightsaber.

Here, use that vanity mirror and this tool to cut through that ridiculous colar you have around your neck. I don't want to take any chances there's a homing device on it. Once you've gotten it off, toss it out the window.

[Daanarri Raurrssaatta]

Daani bounced on the bed. "Can jI go too? Taa, take me to vjisssjit Sssaa!!"

She bounced again, tail flailing and whapping Saa in the arm. Saa reached out reflexively, and pushed her off the bed. Daani went head over heels, and landed on her feet on the ground..but lost her balance and tipped over onto her rump.

She giggled, and crawled over to help her brother pack down the suitcases.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Well...jI've been meanjing to take a vacatjion forrr the longessst tjime...

Taa mulled it over, smiling as she fixed Daani's hair

Sssaa...would that be alrrrjight, jif we came to ssstajy wjith you offworrrld?

She smiled sweetly, banding up Daani's loose locks in a scrunchie

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Prrrent?

Sarrtarroa pondered...

He mussst have gotten ssseparrrated jin the commotjion.

His countenance darkened

Orrr he fled jyour companjy wjilljingljy.

Such was a prospect that would no doubt infuriate his mistress. A male leaving a female's company without her consent was a serious act, and one with dire punishment

[Sanis Prent]

(Something I practically jumped at. Taking the cutter, I went to work on the clasp, grinding away at it until the metal gave under the pressure, linked chain coming apart in a spark.)

Good riddance! Tacky little thing anyway!

(I tossed it out the window as we passed, brushing my artificial locks back as the wind tussled them.)