Space Cowboy: Highway to the Danger Zone

[Sanis Prent]

(The pink morning sunlight filtered through the window, and through my half-closed eyes. The air was warm, thick with a scent that wasn't my own. I stretched out on the couch, feeling the press of a warm body against mine. Saarrreeaa was curled into the fetal position, occupying whatever cushion I didn't, draping an arm and a leg over me. I should've felt uncomfortable, but for the first time, I didn't. That feeling spanned several ways. Her striped cocoa skin contrasted the wrinkled white shirt I was wearing, and caused my mind to wander. For the third time in two days, I was contemplating feelings that I thought I'd never have much less for somebody like her.

I eased my way out from under her, getting off the couch and standing in front of the sun-drenched window, stretching in the rising sun. Everything was easier before Daleethria made me discover I had feelings. After she'd left, I'd felt alone. Another byproduct of her brunette hair, quiet lips, and dark eyes that spoke volumes more. It made every day a new adventure. I was no longer the mundane prowler I used to be...not in some respects at least. I was searching for more than what I could see. I thought I'd long-since sold whatever soul I had. Funny, but I seemed to have one still.

A bird chirped on the balcony, as I ran two hands full of fingers through a head full of matted, sleep-pressed hair. I stepped out on to the balcony, and basked in the cool morning air...with a moment to myself to think. I stripped the shirt off my body, laying it on a handrail as I looked over the Arcan City skyline. I looked down at the handful of pink lines across my chest and torso. Pink lines and little circles, all silent witnesses to every knive, shiv, shell, and blaster bolt I'd bit in my illustrious career. A little line, 2 centimeters below my right nipple. Lolita. A cinnamon-haired sabacc player with a heart of gold. One I'd broken a long time ago. She took it personal, and slipped a knife on me. I took it personal back then, but now...I wondered if I'd blame her.

I'd mellowed...or maybe just gotten a different lattitude. The differences between the two were so grey they were simply clear afterhaze...no lines to be seen. I knew that feeling of getting your insides torn out, like a fish swallowing an iron barb, one that no surgeon could remove. It was a slow heal, a nasty scar...nastier than anything Lolita had given me. Maybe I was healed...but I never really believed in rehabilitation anyways. I drank...a slow sedative, and a quicker poison. But at least I had my health.

Lolita'd lost that a year ago, in a casino robbery. I didn't attend the funeral. Funerals aren't my style.

But now, I looked at that little pink line, and I thought about Saarrreeaa. It was there, as plainly as print, and I knew it. I'd felt it all before, and now...didn't know what to think. But I could see it in her eyes, and hear it on her lips. She was seeing something in me that her aunt wasn't. It had the potential to be the greatest and worst thing for the both of us. We were both on the same motorcycle, going full-tilt down a backroad at midnight. No telling if we'd make it, or fly off a banking.

I stretched again, leaning against the railing, and looking back inside...watching her sleep. In a perfect world, there wouldn't be the kind of pain involved in knowing something wouldn't work out. Everything would. Or maybe just that one first thing...and you'd never be the wiser. In a perfect world, I wouldn't even be here, and Daleethria would still be alive. But I had a dozen pink marks on my body, and they all said the world I lived in wasn't perfect. I was under the thumb of the galaxy's most notorious crime boss. The girl of my dreams was murdered...and now, I was about to do the worst thing of all...

...was I about to fall for somebody else?

I shook my head, padding back inside. Maybe I just got a little too philosophical in the mornings. A byproduct of rationality not waking up with my feet.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Sunlight filtered in through her eyelids as Saarrreeaa came to consciousness. Her heavy eyelids flickered open, and then closed again as she nestled further into the couch, pressing herself into the back of it where there was still a little bit of warmth.

She could hear footsteps behind her, and she sighed lazily, stretched, and rolled over. Sanis was walking out on the balcony, and Saa took a moment to admire his backside as he stripped off his shirt. The muscles of his back were cast into shadows as he faced the rising sun. She closed her eyes again, pulling her knees back against her chest as she tried to forget who she was.

Just for a moment, it might have been nice not to have been Saarrreeaa Meorrrei.

Pressured by her mother into working underneath her horrible half-breed aunt, Saarrreeaa had had her own plans for the future once. They still lived in her mind, ready to be replayed. If she had the ...She would not say she did not have the courage. However, her respect for her mother was high, even if her mother's respect for her only daughter was not as high.

And now, she was here, far away from home, and far away from the ideals of her people. The more she thought about Sanis, the less she thought about Carshoulis Prime. Saa hadn't decided yet if that was a good thing or not.

She cracked her eyes open and saw Sanis starting back into the apartment, so she yawned, stretched again, and pulled her lithe body into a sitting position. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she queried, "jIsss jit eleven hundrrred hourrrsss jyet? Orrr jisss therrre tjime forrr brrreakfassst?"

Even as she said it, she grinned suddenly, remembering the tale Sasseeri had told her of the breakfast she had with Sanis in the Jedi bar.

[Sanis Prent]

(Saa woke up, sitting up on the couch...querying about if there was time to eat...as usual. We were still at least five hours ahead of the race, so we had the time to burn.)

Yeah...lemme see what I can dredge up.

(My place on Arcan wasn't fancy...kinda like what I was used to living in, actually. Spartan for the most part, it relied on its own lack of cleaning for any decorative qualities. I padded over to the little area of the place where the "kitchen" was, opening the fridge, and pulling out milk, eggs, bacon, and the usual breakfast trimmings. Nothing close to large slabs of red meat, or crawling little creatures. I smirked. Too damn bad for her. She'd just have to stomach it. Although it was hard to imagine anybody turning down flapjacks and scrambled eggs.)

Yeah...I think I can manage that. Might be a little "human" for your tastes though.

(I smiled)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa shrugged in response to his jibe about her eating habits. Sasseeri might be able to survive on fish, but the average Cizerack metabolism required red meats and proteins at least twice a day, and in huge quantities just to keep their strength up.

Fumbling around in the living area, she found her overnight bag, and rummaged through it, finding clothes for the day. Without a thought to Sanis still being within sight, Saa stripped off her clothes from the day before and carefully set them in her bag.

With another lazy stretch she then pulled on clean clothes, some skin tight pants and a lacy top as the smell of something cooking reached her sensitive nose. It didn't smell all that great. The tip of her nose wrinkled up, and then she straightened her spine, and sat on the couch, brushing her hair, and waiting for Sanis to finish whatever it was he was cooking in the kitchenette.

[Sanis Prent]

(Cooking breakfast is a mundane matter. Its the one meal of the day that any guy can cook...and cook well. Grease a skillet, slap an egg in, or bacon, or pancake batter, and thats about it. Its one of the more intuitive culinary arts. So my attention wasn't exactly diverted on what I was doing when I saw Saa strip in front of me. Maybe I should've seen it coming, but I didn't. And I dropped an egg for my trouble.)

Krasst!

(I bent down to clean it up, but not without stealing another glance at her. True to the species, she was lean, sexy, and damn-near flawless. Her tail swung in lazy paths as she slid her clothes off, rummaging around to put on more. Half of me wondered if she really was that casual, or if she was trying to put on a show. At any rate, I couldn't offer too much conjecture on the matter...not with egg on the floor. I scooped up the rest, disposing of it as the stuff on the stove top got good and done. I heaped up a stack of pancakes on one plate, and arranged bacon and scrambled eggs with cheese...my favorite. The kitchen didn't have a full "table"...just a large island/bar, with room for four. I slid the plates onto it, taking a seat. Saa was still in the other room...playing aloof. Or maybe she really was aloof. Sometimes I just couldn't read her.)

Hey...food's ready.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

She tossed her brush into her bag, and walked into the other room, sitting across from Sanis at the table. Saa felt a little awkward, even... shy after the events of the night before.

He picked up a utensil, and started eating vigorously, seeming to avoid her eyes. Saarrreeaa poked at the mound of eggs with a finger, and hesitated before scooping it up gently in her fingers. She had never used a fork before, and didn't intend to start today.

Still, the very fact that she had lain beside, slept against and woken up with Sanis..and yet had not been true to the Burning... it bothered her. Yet old ways were hard to leave behind. If she even wanted to. She caught Sanis' eye, and winked at him. It was almost a reflex, she did it so often to try and unbalance him.

She smiled. "jItsss not bad, actually."

[Sanis Prent]

(The small talk cut the tension about as well as a plastic knife could carve a turkey. For a while, we just sat there silently, eating our food, and occasionally looking at each other. We knew what needed to be said. It was on the tips of our tongues. I didn't know about her, but I'd rather not have even brought it up. So we sat...and wordlessly had breakfast. It was the longest breakfast I'd ever eaten.

I reached for some salt for my eggs, and tipped over the cup of maple syrup.)

Frell!

(The warm syrup quickly made it to the edge of the table, and dripped down into my lap. My nerves were already a little high-strung, and this just made it snap. I threw my napkin across the room, shouting a handful of expletives)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa pushed away from the table in a reflex as Sanis suddenly went berserk, screaming swear words like a filthy space pirate gone mad. Her chair tipped backwards, and she went over her head, landing neatly on her feet. Picking up the chair as it appeared there was no immediate threat to herself, Saa recovered her senses.

His sudden outburst released a floodgate of frustration within her, and Saa flicked her bowl of eggs with her tail, upsetting it on the table. Their situation was so...mind boggling. No one from either culture would ever understand. Actually, the males from his own, hyuu-mann, culture would understand if he had an attraction to her.

Yet, she was destined for greatness on Carshoulis Prime. She would be the native business woman her aunt would never be. Accepted by the Pride, and with everything Carshoulis could offer her at her fingertips. Scruffy, two-bit card sharks and their unresolved issues didn't figure into her perfectly computed equation.

Saa hissed in her frustration, and silently tossed her napkin to Sanis, who was now trying to find something to wipe up the syrup. He didn't look at her, or even acknowledge the gesture, and she steamed under his inattention as he continued to spew words she had never even heard before.

Eyes half closed in disgust, frustration and confusion, Saa picked up her bowl, and stalked to the tiny dishwasher. Opening it roughly, she threw the bowl and the remains of its contents inside, and then slammed it closed on the sounds of the dish breaking. She had even attempted to like the food he'd made.

She silently left the room and locked herself in the refresher.

[Sanis Prent]

(I got a handle on the situation. I knew it wasn't all about my recent mishap. Just a bigger take on the whole situation. I usually knew what I wanted, when I wanted it, where I wanted it, and how I wanted it...all down to the letter. I never liked flying blind, and I always had a plan, or at least some cards up my sleeve for a contingency. But now, it was all ground clutter, and I was coming in fast. I had to figure out what I was gonna do, and doing nothing wasn't an option.

I remembered one of the last things Dalee had said to me. She said I couldn't grieve forever, and I had to continue being "me". Maybe it was wisdom, or maybe she just didn't know my situation. Being "me" changed when I met her. Before, it was love em and leave em. And now...I had more at stake.

Then again, she had a way of knowing me better than I knew myself. Maybe I should start taking her advice.

I blotted away the excess syrup from my shirt and pants, stripping both away, until I was in nothing but my boxers. Tossing both in my hamper, I padded over to the refresher. The door was closed and locked. Typical woman.

I knocked on the door.)

You gonna be all day in there?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa slammed her hand on the door lock, allowing the door to slide open. Fixing her makeup in the mirror, she pretended not to notice Sanis was standing there in only boxers.

All the same, she also refused to budge from where she was standing, leaning over the counter towards the mirror. He couldn't get to anything with her in the way, unless he squeezed past her.

[Sanis Prent]

(For a moment, I stood there, waiting for her to acknowledge me and let me by. She didn't. I had a feeling she was wanting to go for the roundabout and complicated approach. Whatever suited her, I guess. I crossed my arms, leaning against the far wall, for a moment just watching her apply her makeup. My gaze drifted, and I got lost in my thoughts)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa blinked into the mirror, her swirl of emotions threatening her makeup as she put on the finishing touches. Sanis hadn't moved from the doorway. Determined to regain her dominance over the situation, Saarrreeaa carefully zipped up her toiletries bag and turned to face him.

"Excussse me." She edged by him, careful not to lower her eyes from his once he looked at her. She was not going to be submissive to this hyuu-mann. There was barely enough room in the doorway, and her body brushed noticeably against his chest and arm as she attempted to squeeze past.

[Sanis Prent]

(I extended my left arm, pressing it up against the opposite side of the door frame, effectively cutting her off from leaving the refresher. I said nothing, simply looked at her.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa looked at his arm blocking her way, and considered ripping it off. She returned his gaze, waiting for him to either move his arm or say something.

[Sanis Prent]

You know, what we're doing is wrong.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa blinked, her feelings about Sanis threatening to surface again. Confusion must have shown on her face, because he almost smiled at her expression. Almost. "What do jyou mean?"

[Sanis Prent]

(I pointed with my other hand at her)

You...

(and jerked the thumb back at myself)

...me. Its wrong. We're wrong. Everytime I even catch myself thinking about you, thats what gets thrown back in my face.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

She leaned back against the door and his arm, her own arms folded against her chest. "jI'm gladd jyou thjink ssso, becaussse jI wasss jussst about to sajy the same thjing." Saa tapped his arm, "Can jI go now, orrr do jI have to rrrjip jyourrr arrrm off to get out beforrre jyou showerrr?"

Perhaps it was the thought that a Cizerack would want to leave him alone to shower, granting him a measure of privacy even Sasseeri would not allow him. But her comments seemed to speak volumes, and in the opposite way than they were intended initially. She nudged his arm with her shoulder.

[Sanis Prent]

(My eyes turned away, and my voice lowered)

I'm not finished.

(Slowly, I looked back at her)

I've been trying to find out what's "right" for a while now, Saa. Looking pretty damn hard. Maybe my definition of the word isn't the right one. I've been wrong before.

(I closed the distance between myself and Saa, the edge on my voice increasing)

I don't know where we're going, and I don't know what'll happen. But I'm not going to assume it, write it off, and look back on it a few years later and regret it.

What I'm saying...is that I'm willing to chance it, and be wrong in spite of myself.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

The proximity of his scantily clad body caused all sorts of interesting reactions in Saa's body. She tried to clamp down on them, but slowly reached forward and placed her slim hand on his chest, claws retracted. What he had said took her by surprise, and she frowned slightly.

"Then... jyou wjill not rrrefussse me?" Her tone for the first time truly indicated how hurt she had been the night before when he had turned her down again.

[Sanis Prent]

(I looked at her, listening to her silken voice. Once again, she was letting her personality slide through that well-rehearsed shell. A little more of that, and maybe my little hunch would prove another assumption wrong.)

Yeah. I'm willing to give it all a chance.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa stretched up a little, and hesitated. When Sanis didn't move away from her as she almost expected him to, she nosed against his neck, nipping him gently. He reacted to that, his arms slowly encircling her as she pulled his head down and looked into his eyes.

Then their lips met, and she kissed him hungrily.

[Sanis Prent]

(The motion was all a faceless blur, time and form passing into a haze of color and movement. My hands reached down, lifting her up by her backside, and planting her up on the counter as I pressed against her. I vaguely remember my left hand closing the door silently. The rest is lost to the moment, all ways of describing it probably copywrighted by the ramblings of some high musician's platinum ballad. Platinum like her hair, that brushed against my chest like the warm puff of her breath, throaty and full of carnal intent)

[Elieen Cross]

"Commander Cross?"

I didn't look up until the person who had spoken came closer and repeated themselves, only then did I realize they had been speaking to me. Somewhat apologetic, I glanced at the tall NRSF trooper, who had come to the place where I was eating, in a barracks not far from the Jedi Bar and Grill. And the barracks also had my office. And my own private bedroom.

How things had changed. Not only now counted with the Jedi, I had an office, a rank in the New Republic and I was being paid. There was also the new weaponry I had now at my disposal, like the new mark II Rail Guns, the new and improved battle armour and even modifications to the Force Pike I used when I was an Imperial. Not to mention I now wore my lightsabre openly and I was now becoming welcome in the Jedi. The military uniform I was wearing also had the patch of The Lone Wolves, General West’s personal Special Ops group. Which h did attract some attention, being the only woman to be in what I had learned was the Republic’s top group. In the last two months, a few of the more either curious or disbelieving had found out on the practice floor that I was more than good enough to belong in the Wolves.

I was still an outsider, but I was beginning to be accepted. Even more than accepted, I was beginning to get a status within the elite as the NRSF were, to the point where I was hearing I had gained my own name when they spoke about me – Hellcat. What I didn’t really like the name myself, it was a mark that I was fitting in. That bought some modicum of pleasure in what for myself and Jina, the young girl whom was my charge to look after, been a grim couple of months. Now that I was sinking myself in with my new situation, it was lessening the pain I still felt, which I knew from prior experience would dim. At least this time, I had something to replace what I had hoped for.

“Yes…. Corporal? What is it?” I asked as I took a quick look at the trooper’s rank bars.

“Commander, your wanted in Arcan Control. Would you be good enough to follow me please?”

“Is this urgent?” I asked as I used a napkin to wipe the sauce that was on the meal I had just finished.

“It seems to be, Commander. I was told to inform you that this is one of General Tohmahawk’s unfinished projects that you are aware of”

I had to admit, that was confusing. “Projects?”

“Nothing more was said to me Commander”

This was most odd. “Very well Corporal.” I got up, pushing the chair I had been sitting in picking up my Pike and making sure the guns at my hips were seated right. “Lead the way”

--

Arcan Control wasn’t far, being in the same barracks, but two buildings away from the building that held the mess hall. Thence, it only took five minutes and a lift ride, two checkpoints and a stairwell before the Corporal took me to where a Colonel was seated, in front of a group of scopes and terminals. He looked up as the Corporal announced me, then stood up to shake my hand with a firm and no nonsense grip.

“Commander Cross. I’ve heard good things of you. I am Hart Jusii”

“Elieen” I replied breaking off the hand shake. “What’s all this about Colonel? Your corporal said this was something about Tohmahawk’s unfinished business”

“Yes, very much so. Are you aware of a Sanis Prent?”

Prent? I had to pause for a moment, trying to recall the name. It did click after a few seconds. “The smuggler? Yes, I am. But I don’t remember him being referred to as unfinished business before. As far as I was aware, Tohmahawk was ignoring his activities before he died”

“Not quite Commander. He was beginning to take an interest in what Prent was doing. Now, the data files on him state that you were to be contacted and then…. Given this” He handed over a datapad. I gave the Colonel a puzzled look, before accepting the pad. Skimmed through it fast and thought about the information on it. Or more to the point Tohmahawk had been planning to contact me to help deal with this Prent. And a rather tenuious link to a shared problem we had.

“Hmm. Allright Colonel,” I said, putting the pad down on a terminal “why have I been contacted about this now and not earlier?”

“Because we have a definite location on Prent. He came to Arcan and is presently in a room above the Jedi Bar and Grill, along with someone we suspect is also criminal”

“Colonel, I could have told you that. He damn near lives in the Bar and Grill. How come it’s taken you so long to realize that?!?”

The man looked taken aback. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. That happens to be the place I go to as well”

“Errrr…. Okay Commander. Be that as it may, the government of Arcan would not take kindly to a person with connections to the Black Sun here. You know how much they hate any organized crime”

Indeed I did. I knew that very well, after witnessing the civil war that had bought down a government and had made what was a den of thieves into a rather nice and crime free place. That night, many thousands of the corrupt and evil had perished as the NRSF helped a fed up populace sweep the scum out. “So then, I ask again… why now Colonel?”

“Well, I would have said because we only became aware of his location, but if what your saying is right…”

“It’s right. I see him most days in there with his Cizerack bimbos. Look, enough of this. Do you want me to deal with him?”

“Yes” he replied.

“Very well, I will. But in my own way”

“That’s the orders Tohmahawk had left, Commander”

A few minutes later, I left Arcan Control, somewhat smoldering. This was complete bantha-DO-NOT-SWEAR--DO-NOT-SWEAR--DO-NOT-SWEAR--DO-NOT-SWEAR-. Prent was low level scum, why was Tohmahawk paying attention to him? And why was he planning to get me to deal with him? Right now, I could have strangled the idiot if he was alive.

Maybe because he knew quite well what Prent was up to, but had no evidence. He was General after all and even if he moved outside the laws at times, he was not going to move on Prent with no evidence. At least not obviously….. ahhhhh. That makes sense.

Now I smiled, because now I had it figured out. When Tohmahawk was alive, I was an outlaw and well suited to what he wanted to do, plus being more than capable. Very well, I would have to change into something different, remove all rank and insignia.

I got back to my room, and considered for a moment how best to really give him the biggest scare possible. And in the corner my eye was the blood red armour of my former life, that was racked in display in my room…. Yes. Perfect.

--

I had my helmet under my arm, keeping my face exposed as I walked up the building that held the Jedi Bar and Grill. In some ways, a criminal hiding out here was a good idea, cause normally you wouldn’t think a scum would want to be seen in a place where Jedi hung out. But unless you knew the Jedi, you would not know they would not care about petty crims as they would see them. Not their concern.

A couple of the NRSF troops had their weapons pointed at me and I suspect I might have been set on if I had not the helmet of my armour – the armour of an Imperial Royal Guard – under my arm. Fortunate for them, I would not like to have been stopped.

“Commander Cross” one burly guard said “Why are you….?”

“In this? I’ll explain later. Right now, I want no one allowed out… or in. I’m going to have a word to someone. See to it Trooper”

“Yes SIR!” he said, snapping an excellent salute. I think he might have clued in with what having a word could mean. As I entered the Bar, I knew the outside would be effectively locked down, leaving me the inside. I paused only to put the helmet on, making myself to be Lord Fire Blade, feared Imperial warrior once again. Up the stairs to the guest rooms I went, now silent in my movements, Force Pike in hand. I came to the right door, paused, looking it over.

I drew back, called on the Force to give me extra strength, and with an huge blow, kicked the wooden door into splinters with as much violence as I could muster, pushing aside the remains as other parts of the door as I entered, other parts of the door crashed into the opposite wall, such was the violence of my entry. Force Pike ready, I advanced, ready to deal with anything the Prent might come up with.

That is, if he could react. My entry was after all was a touch rude and sudden.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa was beginning to see why Sasseeri was so protective of Sanis. For a hyuu-mann he was...talented. Saa could barely think in the red hot haze that surrounded them, and then her ears perked up, and she pushed him back.

He reached for her again, and then they both froze as the front door slammed into the wall they were behind. Saa's eyes got as wide as saucers, and then she flicked her gaze to the window, suggesting to Sanis that they should leave. Footsteps sounded in his apartment, bold and heavy, Saa's claws extending from her fingertips as a reflex.

[Sanis Prent]

(The loud noise made me freeze, and I immediately snagged a towel, wrapping it around myself. Quietly, I reached for the small dental mirror sitting in a cup on the sink. With my other hand, I cracked the door open silently, inserting the tool through the opening. With its angled reflection, I panned around the corner to see the intruder. The red robes and armor brought memories of the Imperial crimson guard to the forefront. But...on Arcan? In the middle of the Jedi? And after me? It was a jigsaw puzzle made up of pieces from completely different jigsaw puzzles, coming together to make an even bigger problem. I silently closed the refresher door, noticing Saa glancing to the window.)

Well, I don't think they're here to sell us cookies. Thats a five story drop. You might be able to make it, but I can't.

(Its the whole debate over when to hold em and when to fold em. I'd been caught with my pants down...literally. Aside from dental floss maybe, I had nothing to even fight with. Saa might fare better, but I still wouldn't wager on a butt-naked Cizerack woman against an imperial guard. Might be a fake, but they put their credentials on the remnants of my door nicely enough to mean business.)

That just means we'll have to come out and see what they want I guess.

(I stood up, opening the refresher door, and walked into the living room)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa threw on her pants and her shirt as Sanis peeked out the door using the mirror, and then he turned to her, speaking softly. "Well, I don't think they're here to sell us cookies. Thats a five story drop. You might be able to make it, but I can't. That just means we'll have to come out and see what they want I guess."

With that, he stood up, with just a towel around his waist, and walked out into the living room. Saa's shirt was still almost completely unbuttoned, but she stalked out of the refresher behind Sanis, ready to rip the face off whatever forrrda was disturbing them.

Her riotous emotions were bad enough already when it came to her current situation. This intruder, whoever it was under that armour, had the luck to become the object of her anger. Even without a proper breakfast, Saarrreeaa was plenty strong, and her claws weren't something most beings would want to mess with.

Of course, this forrrda would be like a shellfish. Once cracked open, easy enough to eat. But first, to see how far Sanis got with his boldness. Saa hung back a little, but just behind his left shoulder.

[Elieen Cross]

Even if I hurtled into the front room at speed, I was still cautious, watching for any unexpected surprises. The Force Pike was up and ready, as I slowed and stepped forward. I used the Force to sense what was in here, locate anyone in here so that they would not be a surprise.

There was two. One whom was human, most likely Prent. The other... a alien. Familiar tyep of presence. I had seem and felt others of this race before, the Cizerack. I could not tell more from there, but that would be enough. I could hear talking, seemingly rushed movements that i could not quite hear, but it was clear I had indeed caught Prent and whomever was in here with thier....

Sanis caome out of the room he was in with a towel on and nothing else. Floowed by a female Cizerack

....with their pants down, literally. I could have just laughed, but that was not the reason I was here.

I raised my hand and pointed. One of the cahirs in the front room leapt off the floor and hurtled at Sanis and his companion and I came next, using the chair as a blind, swinging viciously with the Pike, aiming for where I estimated the Cizeracks's head would be. And if Prent's head got in the way, that would do me as well.

[Sanis Prent]

(The chair flew up to greet us, with the Imperial guard trailing far behind. I knew enough to what I saw to know we were tangling with a force-adept. My mind calculated a few options in the scant amount of time I had to work with...and I started to think more and more that maybe I should've tried the window like Saa said.)

Saa...duck!!

(I pitched forward into a fluid roll, gliding under both the chair and the smashing pike attack that followed it. I got to my feet, having made my way into the periphery of the living room. Across the way, I dove to where my gear was stowed, coming up with my shell gun, and a handful of shells. My quick hands popped two in the double chamber, and I leveled the sidearm off, snapping the breach shut with a flick of my wrist as I stood....

....and noticed that I'd lost the towel somewhere in my forward roll. With a funny grin, I hopped backwards, behind the small kitchenette bar, to give myself cover in more ways than one.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

With a cat's inborn reflexes, Saarrreeaa was already aware of the chair flying through the air when Sanis yelled at her to duck. He hit the floor in a roll as she crouched, grabbing the incoming furniture with both hands. Her strength stopped the flight of the chair dead in the air.

As the Force pike swung towards her head, Saa caught the brunt of the blow with the titanisteel chair (engineered for strength and lightness). The pike cut through it, but Saa gathered her muscles and threw the chair back at the Guardsman. It was enough to divert the pike and throw the intruder off balance...and give her time to leap away.

Sanis was diving for the kitchenette, fully nude, she noticed with a detatched smirk, so she went the other direction and ended up behind the couch...and within reach of her overnight bag. As the Guardsman turned his attention back towards Sanis, Saa snatched at her bag, finding the derringer Sanis had leant her on Kessel. Without another thought she pointed it and fired from behind the couch.

[Elieen Cross]

One thing the Cizerack would not know, even if my attention was turned to Sains, the Force was ay ally and it warned me of the danger behind. Keeping part of my focus on Sains, I mentally tracked where the feline went. She dived behind a couch...

DANGER!!

With relfex born from fighting Jedi one of my hands pointed, a tendril of The Force spinning out, connecting with the couch and pushing. The couch almsot came off the ground with the force of my push, smashing backwards as a gun went off. The couch slammmed into the feline hard enough to burst through the wall, while the gun blast went past my helmet.

I could not see Prent from where I was, but I could see in his mind what he was thinking, Emotions at times like this were easier to read and the there was no need for me to see he now had a weapon..... which with another twist of The Force, the barrel of which was slammed into his face, the gun going off. Must of had a finger twitch on the trigger as the gun was whacked into his face.

The cat, I didn't want, but she would have to be neutralised. Prent, I wanted alive, and not damaged - yet.

[Sanis Prent]

(The cold steel of the gun barrel smacked into my chin, hard enough to send me stumbling back. A loud bang echoed in my ears, and for the first split second, I thought I'd shot myself in the face. However, I looked up to see a shiny tensilweb sprawled onto the ceiling, and knew I'd come out okay. I righted myself, rubbing my jaw. Fortunately for me, the shell-gun had two barrels, and I still had a card up my sleeve. I fired the blue shell, another bang rattling the windows as the slug raced for the Imperial. She never saw it till it hit...the shimmering blue flash that hit her with a freight-train's intensity as the magnetic shield-generating shell threw a wall of intangible barrier at her with supersonic force. She took the hit squarely, and it took her off her feet, loosening her pike from her grasp and smashing her through the doorframe and out into the hall. I smiled...it was a small victory. But I knew she'd be back. From the stunts she'd pulled on me and Saa, I could tell she was force-sensitive. If that was the case, my chances of fighting on her terms weren't that great. I snagged up my shell bandolier and pants, sliding a foot through each leg as I made an unwieldly dash to the bedroom. I saw Saa lying behind the couch, as if she'd gotten smacked pretty hard. I leaned out the doorway.)

Saa, now isn't a good time to be lying around. She's coming back.

(With that, I regrouped in the bedroom, loading another blue shell and an orange shell to boot. I glanced at the pet cage on the other side of the bed as I scoured through the bedside drawer, plucking out another handblaster and inserting it down the front of my pants)

[Elieen Cross]

"@#%$!!" A most unladylike expression, but apt right now.

What the frell was that? I wondered as I picked myself of the ground... in the hallway again? All I remembered was a flash of blue and an almighty push. I sucked in a breath, cancewlling pain with the Force. This attack It was not the Force, so it meant a weapon I had no real knowledge of. I would have to tread a bit warily. It was however a good thing that I always believed in backup. Not the personael variety, but in the sort that would tip the odds in your favour, no matter the odds to begin with. Thermal Detonators were always a good, even the wrist rockets... but as part of the NRSF, I had gotten access to other toys.

Like the Mark II Rail Gun pistol i had holstered... or the brand new device I now tounslung from my back. Over a hald meter long, it was painted black, had an enormous bore and a pump action loading system. A plastisteel handle / trigger / power mechanism formed the rest of the NRSF Assault Shotgun, something Scorpion had handed to me not long ago and promised would be a lot of fun to use. I had not fired one, so now was a good time to try the device out.

I pulled the arming mechanism back, heard a solid thump as the cartridge loaded and armed, them I bought it up to fire.

BOOM!!

The damn thing nearly broke my hand with the recoil. What it did do was blow a huge hole in the wall Prent and his cat friend was behind. I reloaded, the spent shell spitting out, fired. 4 more times. The wall was turned into a smoking a broken sieve, wood, metal, plaster flying in the assault.

This... was a FINE gun.

Now I moved, as only a Jedi could. Fast. If I moved fast enough, they would be staring down the barrel of this thing before they finished ducking fliying debris.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

"Saa, now isn't a good time to be lying around. She's coming back." The Cizerack shook her head slowly, dazed from being smacked into the wall. With a heave, Saa pushed the couch away from her, and then looked behind at the wall.

There was a dent in the wall from her body. She coughed, and winced as a rib poked at a lung. Carrreful, Sssaa... She pulled herself to her feet and bounded over the upturned couch, just as their attacker came back through the doorway (or at least, what was left of the doorway).

Saa threw herself into the room Sanis had retreated into, scrambling over the bed and landing awkwardly on a cage of some sort. She winced, and then ducked behind the bed as the wall seemed to erupt with thunder. Her knee throbbed from the awkward landing, and she suspected it had been sprained. "Sssanjisss?!"[/i] She coughed from the dust.

[Sanis Prent]

(The pitter-pattering of falling plaster and the settling of a million bits of drywall dust draped the room in a chalky and blinding cloud. Through the hiss of falling debris and the ringing of my ears, I heard Saa call my name from behind the bed. Good, at least she'd gotten clear of the kill zone. The orange shell still remained in my gun, and I lay on the floor, as still as death.)

clod-upp

(I heard the sound of her combat boots negotiating the hard linoleum as she approached the ruins of my bedroom. With the dust cloud as thick as it was, she was likely having a harder time finding us than we were finding her. Yes, she was force-sensitive, but I somehow didn't expect that to help her. Not now. She came up quickly, up to about the peirphery of where the wall should have been. I heard her footfalls stop in an awkward fashion, as if something was wrong. And I was betting that "something" was her losing her grasp on the Force. Despite what I've seen some Jedi do in my time...they all have to take half a second to get over the sensory loss.

The half a second was all I needed. Through the dust cloud, I raised my sidearm, pulling the hammer back on it as the Imperial guard also readied her weapon. There we stood, silent and unmoving. I finally broke the tension)

Without the Force, I guarantee you I'm a quicker shot than you are. But, my money's on us both blowing each other away, and I don't want that. So, the only other option is for us to talk this one out.

[Elieen Cross]

I was quite sure Prent was congratulating himself on his own cleverness. Except for one thing – I had noticed him disappearing in the Force and had realised what was going on, before I deliberately stepped into the effect of the Yalsalimir. If I wanted him dead, one of thermal detonators I had on my belt would have gone into the room. That was not what I wanted however…. And also unlike the Jedi, the Imperial Guards were trained to fight and think without the Force. Sensors in the visor of my helmet marked out where the life forms of the room were, my Assault gun was pointed at his head and even though I didn’t know what that gun of his was, I was quite certain he hadn’t seen the likes of mine either.

Or the fact it had a targeting laser. With my thumb right above and leaning on the activation button.

With the tiniest of movement, the laser clicked on, shining right into the right eye of Prent. Not powerful enough to cause blindness, but enough to make a lot of pain and vision problems for an hour or two. Prepared to move I stepped fast out of the front of the barrel of his gun as he reacted to what must have been what a burning feeling in his eye, the arm not holding the handle of my gun moving and pointing at a cage near the bed. A single wrist rocket launched.

As the thunder of the explosion faded, my voice – which was changed from female to male by the voc-box in the helmet sounded, a snarling and vicious human male.

“Drop the gun or your cat eats the next rocket. And don’t worry, if I wanted you dead, you would be a red stain already. For you, I have a message to deliver”

[Sanis Prent]

(The gun barrel lowered as I opened the weapon's breech. Turning the shell gun to the side, I let the two projectiles slide out of the weapon, and onto the floor...which was followed by the gun. She wanted to talk. I had enough to talk her ear off for a while.)

I hope you've got a fat wallet, whoever you are. Those shells are 500 apiece. Tack on the cost of the ysalimir and your creative redecoration of my condo, and we're damn near 3000. But you have my attention, so make your spiel.

(I sat up slowly, scratching my right earlobe)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa's sensitive ears were bleeding from the explosion, and the creature that had been in the cage was now splattered all over her. Well, the bits that hadn't been vaped on contact with the rocket or whatever it had been.

The acrid odor of burning carpet filled her nose as she pried her eyes open. Her small body was pressed against a nightstand, and the metal from the cage had blown up into her. She bled from a number of minor cuts...but the worst part of it was she could not hear.

Through the smoke she could see the red helmeted trooper gesturing, and Sanis seemed to be unloading his shell gun. Saa's hand twitched around the derringer that she was holding in a death grip, but then she relaxed her hand and let it fall to the smoldering carpet. She could smell anger mixed with the tantalizing odor of Sanis' sweat. Saa had just been getting to know his scent better when they had been rudely interrupted.

The Cizerack didn't dare move, as it appeared that the trooper was pointing the rocket launcher at her. It seemed like overkill...she'd just been narrowly missed by the first one as it shattered the cage sitting next to her. She blinked, and opened her mouth, mewling softly in pain.

She couldn't even hear herself.

Betterrr to conssserrrve jyourrr strrrength, Sssaa...one leap and that thrrroat can be rrrjipped out, helmet orrr no. But she would have to gather her strength, and the timing would have to be perfect. This person had obscene reflexes. Wajit a mjinute. Whjy hasssn't anjyone come to check out the blasssterrr fjirrre? Poljicjing jis absssurrrd on Arrrcan IV nowadaysss, sssomeone ssshould have rrresssponded bjy now.

Unless, of course, this man was one of them. In which case they were both very frelled.

[Elieen Cross]

I could almost laugh at Prent's bravvado.

"My message is...."

The barrel of the assault rifle was whipped around in one violent and fast swing, smacking Prent in the face. I double stepped before he could recover and kicked him in the groin with my boot - steel capped.

"You can come here....."

The barrel ripped through the air again crashing into Prent's nose.

"But keep your business off Force Master Hunter's territory!"

I hadn't planned on saying that. To be honest, I hadn't been sure how to say what I was to. However, it was probably not a bad thing to say in hindsight. The barrel of the gun swung around again into Prent's skull. A quick reverse and I fired it in the general direction of the Cizerack, just to make sure she didn't get any fatal ideas. A quick reload, I put my foot on Prent's gun and slid it well away from reach.

"Either that or you pay him 60%. It would be a pity if I had to visit again as I wont be as forgiving as I was on the last person I visited.... I have a droid good enough with medical so I can rip out a spine and put it on display and they will live."

Which was true. But before I became a Jedi.

No more needed here.... although I would love to sift this mind. What he would know of the criminal uderworld would be facinating and also make the NRSF's job simple. Ahhh, but that is not why I am here. It was only the warning.

Or maybe I could profit from this.... and in a way he could too? I wonder....

Gun at Prent, wrist rocket at the Cizerack, I spoke again, softer. "Normally this is where I leave. I'm only a messenger in this case and your not going to get a credit out of me or my employer..... except..."

This was goign to sound odd. I just beat him up and now I was going to put forward an offer he couldn't refuse.

"75,000 credits. Payable now. And I ignore your existance for a few months as will Hunter. We want a man by the man of Turbogeek. Tell me what you know of some beings near him that I will list. More you say, the bigger the credits"

[Sanis Prent]

(It was a long mile to walk before getting to the heart of the matter. She'd tapdanced on my family jewels, and used my skull for a drumset. I sat there for a moment, the throbbing pulse of pain mixed with the endorphine rush of flowing blood.

Whatever association this person had with Hunter, I didn't know, and didn't particuarly care. There was just as equal of a chance that she was using the name to pull information on him. If the nature of our association had changed, I'd find him, and take it up on more personal terms than he'd afforded me. I gave the guardswoman her props...she was good. Although she'd caught me on the most severe of handicaps. When my six degrees of premeditation were clicking...nobody could stop me. But now, she'd gotten my attention. Depending on her, it could be a health hazard.

Then she pulled an about face...and started speaking my kind of language. She wanted information on a mark...and not just any mark. One named Darth Turbogeek. Although he'd gone underground a while back, I could always get what the doctor ordered for the right price.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my face)

He's either a clone or a HRD. I'm banking on a clone. He's spent some time with a smuggler girl named Ravenwing. Went under for a while...but there's some talk of some kind of underground assassin's guild. Nothing concrete, but there are reports out of him taking out an imperial governor on Coruscant...with an arrow, of all things.

[Elieen Cross]

An arrow?!?!?!

"He's disappeared so well, no one can find him. So we are looking to go after his known associates. The beings we know he is associated with - or at least been seen with - are Ravenwing, Jeseth Cloak, Lilaena De'ville and a young girl, about 4 years old. What do you know of these beings? The more you know, the more the credit stack grows"

"Especially Ravenwing"

[Sanis Prent]

Ravenwing's a smuggler, rather small-time actually. I don't have a whole lot on her. She's associated with Azure Regalia in the past...a rather nasty bounty hunter. Not sure what the score was on that.

De'Ville...

(I laughed)

...she's harmless. To me, at least.

I don't know about Jeseth Cloak...or any young girl.

[Elieen Cross]

"Ravenwing is the closest person to Turbogeek. Jeseth Cloak is his Dark Jedi Master..."

Deville is harmless to Prent? That would mean he had something on her. How did you make a Stih Master harmless?

"... and that is an interesting trick to make a Sith Master harmless. But I suppose you wouldn't tell me. However, Turbogeek and her have some sort of connection that any leverage would help in our search for Turbogeek..."

I wondered. Gaining leverage over a Sith Master might be an advantage.

"How about a trade. You tell me what your prepared to how you neutralised a Sith and I'll tell you why the little girl I mentioned has a 3 million credit bountry on her head"

I wasn't even making that up. 3 million for a 4 year old. It was mind boggling, but true.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

The last projectile shot in her direction had shattered the lamp on the nightstand above Saa, showering her with cheap ceramic shards. She flinched at the touch of the debris, but the fact that she didn't hear the shot was what bothered her the most.

Not daring to move a muscle, even if she had felt able to, Saa lay crumpled in the corner quietly, watching Sanis and the hyuu-mann converse. She could smell the odor of the dust settling around her and sneezed.

[Sanis Prent]

(I raised an eyebrow)

I hear things. I heard De'Ville has a poison problem. Something stuck in her, waiting to go off.

(Sighing, I shrugged)

I heard it was nanopoisons, triggered to go if she went somewhere, said something, or after a certain amount of time. Which one of these, I don't know. Damn nasty way to go. Whoever did that to her must be pretty calculating.

[Elieen Cross]

Well...... I had to admit, that was nicely done.

"Interesting. Then for my part, the girl is named Jina Jade. What I know is she is the daughter of Lady Mara Jade. The father is likely to be Darth Turbogeek. Imagine the potential that child has and you know why she is wanted alive and the credit price. Turbogeek is wanted dead, payment of half million on proof of death. Now...."

The hand not holding the assault gun reached to my belt and pulled out a small data pad. I checked what was on it, made a slight change, then tossed it at Prent.

"Unlisted account, not traceable, even by us. 95,000 is the credit line limit you now have. Anything you have and pass on to a woman named Elieen Cross, your limit increases. Understood?"

[Sanis Prent]

(I slowly took the datapad, glancing back to Saa as she lay in the corner. She looked pretty rattled, with a few cuts and bruises to be seen.

The place was smashed to hell and back. But the compensation was enough to get me to go along. Still pissed as hell, but most things in life came with a price tag. All that was needed was to make that price right.)

I'll consider the bounties.

(I slowly rose to my feet, breathing deeply)

But as for now, you've overstepped your welcome.

(I walked over to Saa, leaning down to check on her.)

[Elieen Cross]

One of windows was broken - which was perfect for a quick exit. With no further words, I quick stepped, then dived forward. Some of my armour smashed the glass further as I flew out the window, tucked and rolled as I fell to the ground. The Force I used absorbed the impact, immediatly merging with the shadows as they were and disappearing from sight.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

The helmeted intruder chose to exit through the window and take the five story fall to the ground. Something Sanis hadn't wanted to try before. Saa's eyes widened as Sanis loomed over her, and started moving, then winced.

Defjinetljy a brrroken rrrjib. She pushed an arm underneath her body and levered herself to the bed, grabbing Sanis' arm as her legs seemed to not want to support her weight. "Sssanjiss..." Saa paused. Had she spoken? "jI can't hearrr."

Putting a hand to her right ear, she brought it away with blood on her fingertips.

[Sanis Prent]

Alright, hold still...

(I shifted Saa's weight so that she lay on the bed. Wiping the comforter, I pushed the residual chunks of drywall and plaster off the bed. Quickly, I assessed the situation. Numerous cuts and bruises all over her body, but nothing major. Just then, she said something...

Sssanjisss, jI can't hearrr

...that made me stop. I noticed the blood, visible on the inside of her ear.)

Frell!

(I tore part of a tattered pillowcase, wrapping over Saa's head and her injured ears. Just then, I noticed another injury. A sliver of wood had impacted into her thigh. I cursed, scratching my head. I'd have to get her to medical facilities, since her situation was getting a little beyond my "band-aid" capabilities. I leaned over her, speaking with exaggerated lip motions.)

Saa, you have some schrapnel in your leg! I'm going to pull it out. Hang on.

(I braced myself, not only to help Saa, but also because of her temperament. It would probably hurt like hell, and if she didn't restrain herself, she'd likely put a hole through the other wall...by throwing me through it.

With a three count, I removed the bloody piece of wood.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa frowned, trying to understand what Sanis was saying. Then he bent over the shard of wood in her thigh, and her eyes widened in understanding. Grabbing the headboard with one hand and the side of the bed with the other, she gritted her teeth.

Sanis yanked the wood from her leg, leaving a hole in her bloodstained pants. She yelped, claws digging into the headboard.

[Sanis Prent]

(I looked her over. All in all, it wasn't anything too bad. She'd be just fine, if I could get her to a med droid and maybe a little bacta. I wrapped the remaining pillowcase around her bleeding thigh, getting Saa to look at me again as I exaggerated my mouth movements)

I'm taking you to get healed, either by a droid or by a Jedi.

(Slowly, I hefted her up, careful not to aggrivate her broken rib or hurt leg. I wrapped my right hand around her narrow waist, draping her left arm around my neck and holding her hand.)

Lets go, little steps. Lean on me.

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

She winced as he pulled her to her feet, but didn't attempt to nod understanding at his words. His lips were easy enough to read, but her head hurt. A lot.

Saa was almost afraid to lean on Sanis as human strength did not compare with that of the Cizerack race. But he was strong enough, for a hyuu-mann. After a slight hesitation, she leaned into him, trusting herself to his help.

"Sssanjisss, jyourrr aparrrtment..." She allowed herself a wry grin, hoping he was hearing her, and that she wasn't talking too loudly. "jI don't thjink jyou'll get jyourrr deposssjit back." She sucked in her breath as they negotiated the torn out wall on the way out of his rooms.

[Sanis Prent]

(I glanced around, the sound of falling drywall still trickling down like sandy rain. With a heavy sigh, I shrugged)

Yeah...you're probably right there. But who knows? Maybe my policy covers random insane Imperial guard attacks.

(Shifting Saa against me, I walked with her, helping her down the stairs, and toward the Bar & Grill. Maybe a medic or Jedi could help there.)

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saarrreeaa winced as walking down the stairs jarred her broken rib. Then her eyes widened, "Sssanjisss, what tjime jiss jit?"

[AmazonBabe]

:: AB was finishing sipping her tea, nearly choking on the last sip when she looked up to see a man struggling to help a wounded Cizerack female down the stairs. She immediately stood, taking a few long strides towards them. ::

By the stars in the heavens! What happened?!

:: With a quick glance and with help from the Force, she could tell the woman would live, but she had a broken rib dangerously near her lung, and her ears were bleeding leading her to believe she could not hear. ::

:: She looked at the man, switching from passive-Jedi mode, to command-Jedi mode. She looked up at the bar tender, shouting in his direction over the din that was growing in the bar. ::

Call a medical team! And bring some warm water and clean clothes!

:: She looked to the man, whom she recognized to be Sanis Prent. She unfastened her hunter-green cloak and laid it flat on the bar's floor, gesturing towards it. ::

Lie her down here. It is not safe for her to be in an upright position while the rib is broken. It is near her lung, and I do not wish for it to be puntured.

:: She helped Sanis to gingerly lay the Cizerack down, keeping her mind focused on the rib to keep it from jostling too much near the lung inside the woman's body. Once she was laid out, she knelt beside her, placing a hand over the area where the broken rib... she focused... ribs, there were two broken ribs... were. The female's clothing was tattered and ripped, exposing the area where the broken ribs were hidden under the skin. No punture. That was good. But the area where the ribs were was starting to swell, leaving a brilliant bruise in it's place. She closed her eyes for a moment, and began to administer small surges of the Force to realign the ribs. She would not be able to set them in such a short time, but at least she could prevent them from doing any further damage to the woman. ::

:: After a long moment, she opened her eyes and looked at Sanis. ::

What is her name?

[Sanis Prent]

Its...

(I checked my chrono)

Nine thirty-four.

(I helped her along, with the help of a Jedi woman. Easing her onto the floor, I answered Amazonbabe's question)

Her name's Saarreeaa.

[AmazonBabe]

:: AB nodded and looked back at the Cizerack woman. By now the Force had subsided the pain. ::

Saarreeaa... can you hear me?

:: The Cizerack didn't answer, nor did she acknowledge she'd been spoken to. This prompted AB to try a different approach. Using the Force, she spoke softly into the Cizerack's mind. ::

Saarreeaa... can you hear me?

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Her ribs felt, felt warm as the redheaded woman laid a gentle hand on the affected area. The pain was subsiding, and with it the confusion. Closing her eyes lightly, Saa almost slipped away into sleep under the Jedi's ministrations.

Saarreeaa... can you hear me?

Her blue eyes snapped open. "What arrre jyou dojing? jI - " Saa tried to push herself up on her elbows, "jI can't even hearrr mjyssself ssspeakjing."

[AmazonBabe]

:: AB put a gentle, yet firm hand, on the Cizerack woman's shoulder to get her to lie down again. She smiled at the perplex feline, letting some Jedi calm flow into her to still her nerves. ::

Please lie still. You are hearing me in your mind, not through your hearing.

:: She slowly released her grip on the woman's shoulder as she started to feel her relax, and placed a hand on either of her ears. The warmth of the Force soothed the throbbing in the delicate ears, stopping the flow of blood. ::

You will survive your injuries, and your ears will heal. But you will need to rest for some days.

:: She released her hands from the sides of the woman's head, resting them on her arm. AB noted that Saarreeaa was breathing more regularly now, her mind going into a soothing numbness as the Force's healing effects started to make the woman drowzy. AB smiled at the woman. ::

Rest. The medics will be here soon to treat what I could not.

:: She ceased her speaking, knowing anything else she said would only seem like a dream to Saarreeaa. She turned in Sanis' direction just as the medics came through the bar's door. ::

She will be fine. Because of the Force's effects, she will be very sleepy for the next couple of days. But in that time, her healing will be doubled, especially with the help of conventional medicines.

:: She stood and moved back, giving the med team room to work, placing Saarreeaa tenderly on a stretcher, leaving her now sullied cloak on the floor. ::

[Saarreeaa Meorrrei]

Saa fell into a dreamless sleep, even as she struggled to remain conscious. Sssanjisss, jyourrr rrrace...

She slipped into the void, and slept.