Rude Awakening [Nallia]

[Syravari Elik]

Stepping through the doorway to the holding room, secretly hidden within the port side cargo bay, Syravari quickly inspected the rectangular room whose walls and floor were marked uniformly by magnacoupled shackles and neck rings. The room having recently been sanitized after their last run, Syravari knew that the next money making batch would have to be delivered in good condition. Reluctance to see them as anything more than property for sale, the pirate turned and let the door close on it's own, concealing the room once more. Continuing through stacked dull grey crates and containers of supplies, the captain of the Grosetto knew they were ready. Credits needed to keep flowing for his brothel and casino to take off on Cloud City and this was only one way for him to do that. Plus, his lavish lifestyle aboard this yacht needed to be fed as well.

Boots climbed the short stair back into the main hallway which joined both cargo bays, engineering and crew quarters then turned left as the door slid shut quietly and automatically locked. "Everything set, Cap," his engineer asked.

Syravari turned to eye Bodil and nod. "Okay."

They all knew their individual tasks when on a mission and as he thought about it, the only one that truly didn't at the moment was his new companion. A thought that slowed his pace a bit as the tall, lean forty year old shifted his path slightly to the right and then climbed the carpeted, circular stair that climbed to the second level. Though she had taken to learning how to fire a weapon rather well, as well as being a part of his life, she had no idea what it was like taking a prize or enslaving a village. This was going to take some finesse, he mused.

Entering the upper floor, it's more ornate decoration on the walls and ceiling gleaming from constant cleaning by a small army of droids, Syravari headed to the kitchen and interrupted the quartet of females, one of them waking up to him these last three mornings. "About ready to head out," he stated, their previous conversation now forgotten apparently, though the smiles told him everything he needed to know. "Hope you got everything you needed, it's going to be a while before we hit another port," he informed, moving to Nallia and kissing her on the cheek, then backed.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia still wasn't used to being Syravari's girl. The kiss, most definitely welcomed, still brought a bright blush to her cheeks. Her hand raised to rest on his chest as he mentioned them being away from any ports for quite a while. "I think we've got plenty." She laughed. "Even enough of your favorites to keep you happy for a couple months."

She hadn't been back for long, but something had changed enough that she knew the ease he felt when she was near. That's how she knew something was on his mind. The tension, normally absent when they were touching, was back. A slight frown touched her cheek a moment before she was all smiles once more.

Knowing she didn't want to press him in front of others, she nodded towards the hall. "Will you come show me how you like your bar stocked? It's something I didn't learn last time."

She turned and headed down the hall towards his office after telling the others she'd see them for dinner. If he didn't follow, she'd simply wait for him there. But once they were in his office, arms crossed in determination of getting an answer, she'd finally ask her question. What is it, Syra? What's wrong?"

She knew he was under a lot of pressure to get the rest of the capital to open his establishment. But this seemed to be something more. Unfortunately she couldn't, for the life of her, guess what it was.

[Syravari Elik]

As Syravari turned to follow her out of the kitchen, he heard Bethany's voice, "The boss suddenly has a boss," she said, prompting the others to chuckle until he flashed a glance back to them and they immediately shuffled off to work. Though he still wasn't totally comfortable with anyone thinking that, the pirate still had to keep the respect of his crew aboard his ship and for those that suddenly lost that inclination, he would ensure that they were off his yacht. Touring through the main and secondary dining rooms, he turned right and eventually stepped into his office where she turned and had that look on her face.

Closing the door behind him, he smirked as the muffled hum of the repulsor engines notified him that they were about to take off. "Nothing to worry about," he assured, placing his hands on her upper arms. "We're going to be getting into the business that I talked about and just not sure you're ready for all this yet. It's going to get rough, so just stick with the girls for now," he moved in and kissed her on the forehead, then backed. "They know what to do if things go south." Though he knew that would never happen, there were always those moments that no one expected and though his crew were veterans of the spacelanes, he wasn't about to lose his ship.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia didn't hear the comment, but she heard the chuckle. When he closed the door, she had expected him to give her a lecture about how she addressed him in front of the others. Yet, as he held her shoulders and kissed her forehead, she couldn't help but smile.

Her hands rose to his chest as she nodded. “I will this time. I just hope you don't plan on me remaining in the background all the time, Syra. I want to learn.” She looked up at him and the seriousness in her eyes and voice was evident. “I know there will be things that bother me at first. But it's a different world out here. And I am willing to learn about your world. Will you give me the chance to learn?” She knew he would want to dig his heels in and protect her. So she thought of a compromise. “Maybe just things aboard the ship, first. All right? As long as there isn't any danger, I want to know whatever there is to learn. The cargo, it's storage, shipping, care, etc. Is that all right?”

She rose on tip toes to kiss his cheek and smiled. “And I promise, if there is a time where my gasp, sigh, smile or scream will put you or the ship in danger, I will stay with the girls in the kitchen. Or wherever they tell me to go. Is that acceptable?” She knew that negotiating wasn't her strong suit. But she also knew she would never learn if she didn't push a bit. She just wanted to be sure she didn't push too much.

[Syravari Elik]

Shaking his head at her mention of teaching her the ropes, he knew that she was going to learn all of it, but it was necessary to see how she reacted to the first raid and claiming of slaves before he allowed her full reign of everything else. Though it was hard to think about what might happen should she become a liability instead, he kept his mind on the here and now as she continued. Her hand on his chest also sent another charge through him and that was hard to deny, regardless of how he tried his best to appear cold and heartless in front of everyone else.

"Yeah," he nodded at her promise. "We've got some time so I'll show you all the other things that are involved with the crew and business." He moved around the desk and to his black leather, high backed chair and sat down, then motioned for her to bring one of the others from the opposite side, around. Turning on the computer as she did so, he then opened up the main file for their accounts revealing finally what she would be working with. Though everything was encoded with names that meant nothing to anyone outside the crew itself, he began teaching her how things were organized. "These titles are all contacts that we go through to fence the things that we get during a raid." Pointing down the list, "Tech, weapons, medical gear, industrial equipment, vehicles, exotic animals, precious metals, gems, drugs," he labeled each fence down the left side until reaching the last name. "This one is our most recent contact on Cloud City for slaves."

Judging her reaction to that revelation, he let that simmer for a moment....

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia smiled as Syra shook his head a moment. She knew he wouldn't shut her out, but she also knew he wouldn't give it to her all at once. It was hard enough that their relationship was so fast, she imagined having that same timid girl he once knew suddenly wanting to be at his side was just as unsettling.

His look down at her as he nodded and promised to show her more as they went along seemed a mix of resignation and something darker. It definitely wasn't a bad dark. It was the kind that made Nallia want to kill the light sources in the room just to experience the pounce that was pacing behind the eyes. She had come to learn that look meant she had surprised him again... in a good way.

She tensed her fingers in his shirt a moment before letting go as he pulled away. She hoped her own look was enough to let him know that she felt the same way for him.

She pulled the other chair up to the desk at his silent motion and sat beside him as he keyed up his comm and went over the files and lists. She knew she wouldn't have any trouble learning this aspect of the business. She had a head for memorization and wouldn't have been good on the station if she hadn't. Each ship and Captain had their peculiar likes and habits. It was knowing those that kept her a most valued treasure... well, at least till she had stowed away on Syra's ship last year.

As he went down the list, she nodded. There were a lot of things the GROSETTO had transported over his time if he had amassed a list of places to off load nearly anything the galaxy found fit to fill her bays with.

When he said the last was a contact on Cloud City for slaves, her face went still as stone.

Slaves... people as nothing more than traded cargo...

Her lower lip slid between her teeth a moment as she glanced from his face, still and waiting, to the screen. Yes, it was real. It hadn't been her imagination or a misunderstanding. Her lover not only traded gems and weapons, but people. Her heart raced a moment as her mind went over a million scenarios. None of them were pretty, but she also knew Syra wasn't a monster. As she slowed her breathing and her senses calmed from the initial shock, her voice was surprisingly calm as she looked back at him. “I will never leave you, Syra. No matter what. But I need to know something.” How she managed to remain looking at him, even she couldn't have said. She only knew that she would consider herself a coward if she didn't remain as fixed on him now as she had been a little while ago when the topic was more mundane.

“How young do you take 'em?” She asked. Her eyes, a moment ago filled with a warmth and desire that would have been clear to him that the top of his desk would have been as welcome as his bed, were now strangely still and waiting. “And if you take kids, do you take the family, or take them away from their parents?” She wasn't sure what she wanted the answers to be. She only knew she had to have them.

[Syravari Elik]

Amazingly calm, he mused as her words became steady and even, though he could tell that she wasn't totally comfortable with that arrangement and the pirate knew that she wouldn't ever have to deal with any of them firsthand. At least not intentionally. "Depends on them, really. Fisk said that sometimes he has requests for younger slaves, so if we come by any they'd be worth a lot. Those with skills are definitely worth money, as well as entertainers for a variety of tastes." Steel-blue eyes drifted back to the list as he reclined a bit more in the chair. "Money flowing through this vessel and other means are going to be the main way that we get the casino and brothel going, so the more we can make, the better. I've already invested a lot in that venture and have three already on tap to help run it while we're out here," he informed, returning his gaze to the gorgeous brunette.

Strong fingers moved to her hand and caressed it, coursing over her forehand. "You don't ever have to even see any of them if you don't want to. So don't sweat that part," he motioned with his head toward the computer screen. "Just keep the numbers and let me know if anyone skims from what they owe us." He grinned and winked, knowing that roughing up those that thought they could cheat him and the crew was becoming a favorite pastime. Most would learn that it was a bad idea before too long, though he still had yet to make his name on Cloud City.

[Nallia Oberon]

It wasn't a no. She knew it wouldn't be, and she was glad he accepted her uneasiness about it all.

As always, he was honest with her. She knew he would never lie to her about something serious. Lie to save her life? Possibly. Lie to spare her feelings? More than likely not. He knew she wanted this part of him, as well, and would help her when she asked.

Nallia nodded her head as she listened.He wouldn't take kids for no reason, but he would if he had to.

As he touched her hand and caressed her forehead, she leaned to his touch. She wouldn't have to see the slaves, or deal with them, he said. Just keep the books and make sure no one on Cloud City ripped them off when they weren't there. “I can do that.” She smiled and covered his hand with her own.

Without thinking, she slid easily into his lap and kissed his cheek. “So what's next on the agenda then? Something tells me the talk of Fisk and slaves is more than just a passing comment.” She felt herself settling with the idea a bit more... well as much as she could. “We are about to get some, aren't we?” There was no judgment in her eyes, merely a question to be answered. Her hands were in her lap as she watched him to see if he was going to be ok with her hesitations and curiosities.

[Syravari Elik]

She enjoyed the edge of danger, he knew and smirked at the thought. There had been something about this one that kept him from saying goodbye after their first night together and Syravari began to think for the first time in his life, she might be the one. Though it was a bit early to tell that for certain, it was entertaining to think so. Nodding at her query, "Yeah, heading there now and should be arriving tomorrow. There's going to be a contact who works for the syndicate there in the capital that we'll link up with and afterwards, we'll hit the village," he informed, running his fingers through her long hair, then shoulder.

"Got a lot of free time until then," he smiled.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia felt her head roll to his touch and when his hand settled on her shoulder, her eyes settled on his. Her hand rose to caress his cheek, her fingers lingering on the edge of his beard. “Tomorrow, huh?” She had questions. Probably more than she wanted to honestly know the answer to. The next few days were going to be interesting, to say the least. She knew that those questions would need to be asked and answered. But as she looked at Syra and listened to him say that the GROSETTO would have slaves in it in the next day or so, she decided to change the subject. Business could wait and she knew this may be the last time to distract him for quite a while.

The door was closed and no one would bother them while it was. She kissed him deeply as she shifted to straddle his lap. Her hands both gripped lightly at his shirt as she did. Breaking the kiss, she smiled at him, her eyes full of offering and desire at the same time. “Maybe we need to discuss our partnership. You know... settle the details.” She laughed.

[Syravari Elik]

He opened himself to her once more and loved her warmth, needing this since their last time together as she moved to his lap. Hands coursing up her back and then down once more, kissing her in return, he moved to her neck as she joked about what part she would play as part of the crew and his small, budding business. Chuckling lightly as his lips coursed around the more dramatic points of her neck. "Absolutely," he agreed, then began taking her hungrily.


********

Taking the rest of the afternoon and evening back up to the master bedroom, then a long bath, Syravari moved from the bed after several hours sleep, quietly moving the comforter over Nallia's smooth back. Continuing to the dresser, he threw on a button-up and pants, then his boots and headed out. There were a few last minute things to get ready before they landed, he mused, though the scents of her still lingered in the air around him, prompting a smile to his face. Though he had been around a long time, loving many in the past, Nallia seemed a lot different. Less drama and fewer credits disappearing from his account for drugs or other recreational addictions would be a nice change of pace.

Entering the cockpit for the first time since they had left Cloud City, he noted Tomas's right foot up on the main console which promptly dropped as the pilot turned to see the yacht's owner enter the otherwise plush and clean interior. "Hey boss," the younger veteran pilot greeted, smiling. "Surprised you're able to move around after all that."

Syravari grinned, chuckling, though the comment was to be expected with the company that he kept. "How much longer to the rendezvous?"

"About," he glanced to the navicomputer and it's chrono. "One hour. I shaved some time off, so maybe we'll get there before he does," Tomas shrugged.

"Not a problem," he replied and claimed the copilot's chair and turned his attention to the navicomputer once more. Accessing the information on Tokmia, he mused over the notes left by the few mining operations that once took root there and how they used the local Oku people. He grinned knowing that they would be easily lured into the vessel with promises of gifts and make their job so much easier.

"How many you think we'll get before they start fighting?"

Syravari shook his head, "Don't need many for this run."

Quietly nodding, Tomas understood the implications of that statement and remained silent.

Rising, steel-blue eyes glanced to the dark haired, twenty-six year old. "Just let me know when we've got fifteen, going to grab something for breakfast," he informed and headed for the exit of the cockpit.

"Surprised you didn't stop there first, old man," he chuckled.

"Not that old."

[Nallia Oberon]

As he consumed her with his passion, they consumed the remainder of the day with their love making. From his office to their quarters, he taught her there were still more ways to explore variations of their touching and kissing.

She awoke to the darkness of the room with merely the bathroom light left on to help her see. The darkness of space left no way to tell day from night, so the chrono on the bedside table did it for her. It was nearly dinner and she had been allowed to sleep.

“Should be arriving tomorrow,” Syrahad said.

Slipping from the bed Nallia opted for a quicker shower rather than a languid bath. She then swiftly tied up her damp hair in a quick knot, donned her denims and boots, slid a short sleeved deep blue shirt on and a button up over-shirt, left open for easy removal. Smiling as she passed the mirror, she was pleased that the flush of their joining was gone from her face, despite the fact no one on the Grosetto needed that tell to know when the two had been together. Everyone had come to accept them being together. And while she knew it may not last, for Syra was a wild thing, not to be tamed or caged, she was glad for having him now and had no plans to surrender him to another if given the chance or the option. As protective and possessive as he had been with her at the beginning, to the reflection in the mirror, she could admit she now felt the same towards him.

Slipping from the room and palming the door shut, she headed for the kitchen to see if it was too late to help with dinner. She arrived to two heads popping up and huge grins covering their faces. The women didn't say anything, but they didn't have to. The blush Nallia was so glad wasn't present, immediately sprang to life on her skin and she shook her head. “You guys are terrible.” She laughed with them and the three began making dinner as the other two spoke of lovers they had had that had made them blush that way in the past.

None of them were paying attention as the boss came around the corner. He would hear the two bantering with Nallia as she tried to impress on them that she really didn't have other tryst stories to tell. She didn't exactly say Syra had been her first and only, but with the disbelief the women were kindly teasing her with, she doubted they would believe her if she had said it outright anyway.

[Syravari Elik]

His mind on business and the eventual capture of a score of the Oku, he casually moved through the private dining area and into the kitchen, hearing the girls beyond the door chuckling as he entered, their glances softening the words used, though he didn't need any more visuals to understand the subject. Grinning, he moved to Nallia, his hand on the small of her back as he kissed her on the cheek. "Morning," he greeted, his deeper, gravely voice interrupting the otherwise softer, higher pitched filling the kitchen.

Letting her cook, he picked at a fruit within the large, crystal bowl set on the near counter and backed, turning to face the trio of veteran cooks and crewmembers as he ate. "Going to depend on you three to help Nallia if things get interesting once we land."

Nodding, they all knew their role as the oldest at thirty spoke. "Don't worry," blue eyes motioned to their new chef. "She's in good hands," Bethany smirked, "When not in yours."

Syravari smiled as he chewed, trying not to chuckle and end up choking.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia blushed but her hand reached up to graze his arm as Syra pulled back from the kiss and moved to get a snack.

As he reiterated her sticking with the others during their next mission, she smiled softly. “I am sure they will take good care of me."

When Bethany made the comment of her being in good hands, Nallia blushed deeper and threw a small hand towel at her that had been over her shoulder for wiping her hands on. “OOOoooo! You!” Her growl, while half laugh and half embarrassment, was not threatening in any way. The teasing was nice. She had missed it.

“I promise not to embarrass you, boss. Or get my backside in a sling. I will stay behind like a good girl.” She made a cute pouty face at him knowing how close he was to laughing. She knew, despite her teasing, she would stay out of trouble. The business was important to him, and he was important to her. In time, perhaps, she would be at his side more often. But for now, even this dark haired upstart knew when she had to take a backseat.

[Syravari Elik]

Syravari smiled at Nallia with her promise as he ate, then lowered the apple for a moment. "It's not when they are brought onboard that's the dangerous part, it's when they're on with us during the trip. Sometimes we have to keep someone on duty to keep an eye on the... room they're kept in, just to make sure they don't escape. Losing the ship's not something I want to be known for." His tone and statement sobering the mood with the others as they continued working on ideas for lunch, later. Steel-blue eyes motioned to them as he talked to Nallia. "They've all been through this for at least a year or more, so they've seen several moments when we had trouble. They're also trained in self defense, so you get a chance when I'm busy, get with them and work out."

"Yeah, we can do that here shortly," Sabrina suggested. "This meal's almost prepped, so," she shrugged as Bethany and Rebecca nodded.

Bethany grinned as she continued messing with the head chef. "Unless you're too tired."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia nodded as Syra mentioned the risk of escaped prisoners being a deadly thing on ship like this. It didn't take an entire crew to pilot the Grosetto, so there was no need to take prisoners if they truly wanted their freedom. She also knew, short of shoving her pitiful boot knife into someone's gut accidentally as they rushed her, she doubted she had enough skill to stand the watch over their room and be effective if something happened. “I understand.”

When the boss mentioned the women having training she lacked, and her getting to learn from that, she nodded once more. Her smile soft for him. “I will learn. I want to.”

And as Bethany made the sly comment, Nallia wished she still had her towel. Instead, she settled for throwing back as good as she gave. “Not tired at all, deary. I am not the one who stayed up all night reading one of those holo romances you love so much. Perhaps we should allow you the nap. You have told me, yourself, how distracting those illusionary men can be.” She laughed remembering a conversation before her absence when the woman had admitted to remaining up all night sometimes when a new one came available. The romance and the steamy men in the holos becoming imaginary lovers to her she could dream about without fear of their infidelity, or rotten tempers that often accompanied real men they met at various stations in their travels.

Her tongue flicked out in childish retort as well when she knew she had earned her comeback point.

[Syravari Elik]

Bethany's eyes widened at the revelation that Syravari had no clue about, throwing the towel back at Nallia now. "Really?" The brunette smirked wryly as the other two girls chuckled, "Know what? I'm looking forward to sparring now," she nodded in mock challenge.

Syravari knew they wouldn't intentionally hurt Nallia, but if she wanted to learn how to fight this was the best trio to do it, and they were also female which meant they would also teach her the nastier side of fighting. Especially when the targets were male. He had known them long enough to know they didn't fight fair, and neither did he for that matter. He had no qualms about their training of his lover which was why he suggested it. Winking at the trio, he turned and left them to their bantering, heading back to the cockpit as they had some more preparations to make.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia laughed as the look of embarrassment lit up Bethany's face. Syra's touch as he departed, and his smile, made Nallia feel home once more. It was a good feeling.

They finished the lunch prep and went to change for a quick spar before lunch. There wasn't a lot of time, but it would be enough.

**
As the women returned in time to set lunch on the table in the dining room and everyone gathered round, Nallia's freshly showered scent would waft past Syra's senses as she set his drink by him and moved to settle the rest of the meats and salad stuff around. It was a light fare, but one that would keep them satisfied till the larger dinner was served.

She laughed as Bethany told her first attempt to put the woman on the floor. The picture she painted of Nallia's slight frame trying to wrap itself around throwing someone was comical to even the target of the jest. “I couldn't help it. I discovered the hard way that you can't use their momentum if you stop them.” She sneered teasing Bethany as she remembered doing just that. The woman had come at her like someone charging a hall. Nallia's assignment had been to use Bethany's momentum and body to throw her over Nallia's hip and land her on her backside. Unfortunately, Nallia was more used to stopping someone than disabling them. She had stopped Bethany just long enough to realize the larger girl now had strength advantage.

The talk as the three spoke of Nallia being the one who ended on the floor in a stunned position was one that left all the women laughing as the men listened. “She learned though, didn't she?” One of the others brought up as they caught their breath.

“True enough,” Bethany admitted. “I doubt the bruise will disappear before we return to Cloud City.” She smiled rubbing her arm. Her look to Syra and slight nod would let him know that Nallia did him proud. “She is definitely a little Nexu, boss. Keep your eye on her.” She winked so only Syra would see.

Nallia's blush was hidden as she tucked into her food and ignored the jeers.

[Syravari Elik]

Seated with the team in the cockpit, Syravari glanced over the details of the Oku people that he would have to soon be gathering. Their simple lifestyle and culture made this one and easy choice as opposed to a more aggressive race that would have to be fought to catch.

"So," Brannoc began. "What's the plan for this round?"

"Oku have an odd cult that's been waiting on a returning ship from the Figg Corporation who used to mine there," the captain informed. "They light huge fires like landing lights," he smiled, turning his attention to them. "Makes it pretty easy for us. Just lure them in with food that'll be in the cargo room, then shut the door."

The quartet smiled as if this was going to be a milk run. "That sound too easy to you," Bodil suggested.

"Everyone's going to be armed and ready, so just keep your eyes open," Syravari commanded. "Not going to have this mission go south, so all we've gotta do is make sure to lead them to the food, then close up and head back."

"How many you wanting to grab," Tomas asked.

"We can fit twenty in the hold, so." A reply prompting them all to nod. "Just make the rest understand that we can only take that many at a time, then once the first batch is in the room," he glanced to Tomas. "We take off."

Once all that was figured out, the group headed to the dining room and grabbed their usual seats as the girls and two serving droids had already prepared the table. Taking his seat at the head of the table, he listened to the days events for them and had a feeling that Nallia would do well enough. Nodding lightly at Bethany as she winked, he then motioned for them to grab their own seats and began eating, glancing to Nallia. "Sounds like you got this." Taking a bite, he sat back as quiet music played in the background. He hated a quiet ship when he wasn't working.

"Finally got some competition, huh," Brannoc joked with Bethany as he glanced to her on his right, smiling.

"No, she just learns fast. Think the boss is gonna bring someone on that can't hang with the crew?"

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia listened to the banter, occasionally watching Syra's face to make sure her actions, and reactions, hadn't been the wrong ones. As Brannoc and Bethany teased one another, she smiled. “I doubt I'm ready to hold myself against any of you if you seriously tried,” she laughed, “but I think I will be ok enough to scramble out of the way if things get crazy.”

She wasn't used to being a combatant in a one-on-one scale. She was more used to crawling out on the fringes of a mod. They talked some more of the sparring lessons and Nallia admitted her own bruises would run the gambit for as long as Bethany's. It occurred to her that it was a good thing she wouldn't be one of the ladies in the brothel. With her bruises, she would fail on a galactic scale for making money cause she looked beaten up. She knew Syra would never ask it of her, and would probably tan her hide if she even jested. But the idea made her smile as she hid it in a forkful of beef and veggies. She didn't want to raise his ire with the joke, so she decided to change the subject.

“So what preparations need to be made for the,” she stumbled a moment on the word but recovered quick enough that she doubted anyone but Syra would catch it, “cargo we are getting tomorrow?” She knew there would be people in the cargo hold. So she wasn't sure what food, blankets, or anything, IF anything, needed to be seen to tonight before they went to bed. She wanted to help as much as she could since she knew that tomorrow, she would be of little use while her mind settled on what was happening and the other girls kept her occupied in the depths of Grosetto.

[Syravari Elik]

Glancing to her, the group all realized that he had informed her after all and that she apparently wasn't all that flustered about it, which was a good thing. "Things are already in place," he assured. "Just need to keep an eye on things while we're planetside, then once we close up, it won't be an issue." He hoped.

"Another milk run," Bodil grinned as he ate. "Almost like going out in the yard and picking flowers," he glanced to Nallia.

"Nothing's ever that simple," Brannoc's more serious demeanor quietened the conversation a bit again, then he also raised his eyes across to Nallia. "You still got that pistol I gave you?"

Syravari noted that he neglected to say when he had given her that weapon though he recalled it being mentioned.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia was smiling as they bantered about how easy it would be. She knew in her gut that nothing that easy really was easy, but she wasn't going to be the bad seer in the bunch. She had just finished her last bite when Brannoc asked about the pistol.

Immediately her eyes shot to Syra. She had actually forgotten about it. Brannoc had given her the parting gift when Syra had gone missing. “I have it, Brannoc.” She looked back at the man. “I managed to keep it hidden in my bag on the station when you guys left. No one expected a half scared whisp of a thing like me to have a weapon, so no one asked. So technically I didn't lie about not having one.” She bit her lip and rose to busy herself with cleaning the dishes to the tub by the wall and moving to bring the dessert from the same table.

The girls and her had made a fresh berry pie with local fruits raised in the artificial gardens on Cloud City. She was cutting a piece and setting it before Syra when she almost paused. She knew he hadn't been happy with her inability to fire properly at the range at first. That's why he'd made her keep trying. And here she had hidden the fact she had a weapon, despite no knowledge to use it. “Bethany made the pie. So I assure you it's edible.” She quickly covered her hesitation. Her own foray into the dessert realm the last time they had all been together, hadn't gone over well. It was barely palatable and genuinely in need of more cream to cover the tart taste.

[Syravari Elik]

Once dinner was done, Syravari sat back and wiped his mouth with the napkin, then folded it again and set it on the table as the girls began bringing dessert, his steel-blue eyes rarely leaving Nallia as she moved. As she approached with the slice of pie, he grinned at her statement. "Not to worry. I can't boil water, so."

"No kidding," Bethany stated as she carried several pieces over for the other guys and herself while the other two did the same.

Syravari glanced to her at the comment and was getting used to the playful banter that they had between them, so wasn't offended. "In fact, it's probably best that you keep any of the guys away from that part of the kitchen."

Grinning as he began to eat, Tomas chuckled. "Unless it goes boom or fires blaster bolts, not our expertise that's for sure."

Taking his first bite, the captain enjoyed the pie as the girls then joined them. "Had this one girl in my mom's brothel that could cook anything," he reminisced. "She used to have me bring in all the fish that I caught and she'd clean and fry them with hush puppies. Wow," he shook his head and then glanced to Nallia. "Gonna have to take you to Ord Cestus one day, where I grew up."

"Your mom still run that place, Cap," Brannoc inquired, apparently never hearing this story before, even after all the years they had been together.

"Yeah," he nodded, glancing to the loadmaster. "Last I heard anyway."

"How long since you talked to her," Bodil asked.

He thought a long moment, "About two years ago, but I've heard through others that her place is still booming in Grosetto," he revealed, then chuckled at the insinuation, prompting a few others to follow suit.

[Nallia Oberon]

She laughed as Syra mentioned he could boil water. “Good, then next time you want tea, you won't have toask, will you?” She laughed and winked before settling back beside him with her own dessert and drink.

Nallia listened as he spoke of home and his mother. She had never been to a brothel, even on the station where she had been left. There had been no point. She was not naïve, she knew what happened there, just hadn't been there herself.

When he mentioned taking her there to meet his mom, she had a moment of panic. To be at Syra's side was something she would fight to keep. But what if the woman didn't like her? Would Syra change his mind about what they had?

Pushing the thought swiftly from her mind, she smiled and nodded. “I'd love to meet her.” And as Syra made the comment that her business was in Grosetto, she smiled. “That's why you named the ship what you did. Isn't it? So you could always have a piece of home with you no matter where you went.” She hadn't gotten the slight joke the others laughed at, but she smiled none the less.

She was seeing and thinking about another side of Syravari. He was more than the Captain of the ship, and more than her lover. He was someone's son. She would remember that if she ever got to meet the woman. Having never known her father, and only known that the woman they pointed to as she grew had been the one to give birth to her, Nallia had never had a mother or father figure in her life. Kids on the station were birthed, raised by the group and if you were lucky, became the interest of an Overseer and birthed more whelps themselves. It was how the stations stayed manned. Sometimes the women were traded with other ships. And sometimes the kids were swapped with other stations and ships as well. It kept the blood lines from becoming polluted to the point of deformities.

Moving her mind away from that, she went back to the topic at hand. “I will also have to ask your mom for recipes then. To make sure you don't stray elsewhere for food.” She laughed and took another bite of her dessert and smiled at him, her hand touching his knee briefly in reassurance she was teasing. “After all, can't have you going to some other woman cause her cookin' reminds you of home.”

[Syravari Elik]

Nodding to her statement about home, he hadn't ever thought of it that way, but it was true had he been honest with himself. Most of those aboard his ship with him now had those same stories about someone that had raised them and how they got to where they were now. A few could relate to Nallia's sordid upbringing and Syravari hoped that their new life would overshadow all those dark times. Before he could reply to her concerns about someone else, Britanny cut in.

"Hun if he hasn't by now it's not going to happen," she grinned, glancing to their captain and then back to the piece of pie before her.

Smiles and thoughts no doubt ran on that line as Syravari lightly chuckled, for they had all seen his darker side before. A lighter mood in the ship was definitely a welcomed change. Once he finished with his slice, he steepled his fingers before his mouth and thought for a long moment. "Once this mission is over, thought we might also tap into a more remote trade route and see what we could come up with. After the sale, that is."

"What'd you have in mind," Tomas inquired.

"Not sure yet. We can take a look at the nav, maybe get a tip on Cloud City before we leave." Steel-blue eyes scanned the group. "Keep your ears open for any leads once we get back, maybe we'll learn something useful that no one else is working on yet."

Nodding, they all agreed as the visit would be a short one once they did get back. But, Tokmia was on the agenda first and they still had yet to arrive there.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia laughed as they bantered. It was good to be home.

After dinner, the guys retired to the lounge and the girls cleaned up. While in the kitchen, more friendly jokes at everyone's expense, were passed around. And as they parted with good night hugs, everyone was laughing and happy.

Nallia headed for the lounge to see if the guys were still up. Dinner had been over more than two hours, but she knew they could talk as long as women sometimes. And with tomorrow's job coming up, it wouldn't surprise her.

Poking her head around the corner through the half opened door, she looked to see if anyone was around. “Syra?” Her hair was down and her shirt untucked. The front was still a bit damn from the slight water fight that had ensued in the kitchen as well. But there was a happiness in her eyes few would fail to notice if they bothered to look. She was settling in and tonight was more than proof of that.

[Syravari Elik]

Most having already gone to bed or taking care of hobbies, Syravari relaxed in the lounge as his favorite band's music played from the host of hidden speakers around the plush room's interior. Eyes closed, his head lay on the thickly padded leather couch's headrest. His mind adrift, her voice cut through the flashes of thoughts running through his mind. Lids opened as he glanced toward the door and the vision there put a grin on his face as he reached out with his left hand. Though his mentor back home would be chiding him to no end about getting attached, he didn't care right now.

Noticing her wet shirt, the pirate wondered what had been going on, his grin turning to a smile. "You girls decide to bathe together without me?"

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia saw him dozing just before he looked up. She was going to let him be when his hand rose towards her, beckoning. His question about her shirt made her laugh. "No, sir. Just teasing and a small water fight."

She didn't come around to his lap this time. Rather, she came up behind the couch, took his hand in hers, and set them on his chest as her other hand wrapped around to hug him from behind. She kissed his neck, then the top of his head. "I guess the others turned in early, huh?"

Laying her cheek on his head, she closed her eyes and asked softy, "Are you upset that Brannoc gave me a pistol?" He had avoided mentioning the cargo master's query since it has been mentioned. "He gave it to me when they went to search for you. He said it was for protection in case your enemies had figured me out. It's why I thought they weren't coming back."

She half held her breath waiting for his answer. He hadn't allowed the man to give her a weapon the week before, so she braced herself for him to be angry.

[Syravari Elik]

Drawing her arms in closer to him, he grinned at the attention and relaxed in her arms. "Nope," he replied. "Just hadn't mentioned it before so didn't think you had one. No big deal." The mention of the past, being a guest of the thugs in the remote facility almost a year ago flashed memories of the torture he had endured, the scars more internal than external now.

Lids opened again as he sobered. "Just because these Oku may seem ignorant as shit when we get them onboard, don't go in the cargo bay for anything while they're with us. We've only survived this long together because we didn't underestimate anyone we've taken." Turning his head to the left and up, he eyed her seriously. "Got it? Don't need you getting hurt."

[Nallia Oberon]

She nodded as he mentioned the weapon and brushed it off as it is was nothing. "I had honestly forgotten it was still in my bag. I kept it on me because I didn't want anyone there to know I had checked a weapon, so I pretended I had a whole bag of weapons. The guard laughed and waved me through without even bothering to check. The bag was in my room till," she didn't want to say the real reason, so just kept going, "I moved in to the kitchen behind the Cantina."

She had run out of credit. She had enough left for one more night in the room, or three more days of meals. She had chosen to get a job and move out of her room. Despite the meals now being whatever they deigned to give her and the cook at night, she still hadn't been well enough off to get a room again. All her credit had been held for her. She had it now, but then...

Nallia felt him go still and tugged a bit tighter to remind he had her there, no matter what, always. Her mind no longer winding down her own path. She knew she would never leave him, or the ship, no matter what came of their relationship. When he mentioned the slaves they would be capturing the next day, she nodded.

Moving around the sofa to sit on the arm beside him, she kept her hand firmly under his against his chest. "I promise, Syravari." She only used his whole name when serious or mad. She definitely wasn't mad. "The girls told me they will handle the water and food they get depending on how long we are out. I was made to promise to remain in my room, the kitchen, or with you. No where else." She smiled to let him know she didn't mind. "Bethany can be very persuasive. She said the only way I was allowed anywhere besides my room or kitchen was at your side. So looks like you are stuck with me." She laughed and brushed the edge of his cheek lightly with her hand. "I'm told I can be a handful." She winked and hoped to bring a smile back to his eyes. She didn't like him brooding, and whatever thought he had had was making her worry.

[Syravari Elik]

Still reclined in the sofa, he smiled at her last comment, his steel-blue eyes caressing her curves. "More than one, actually." Taking in a deep breath, he slowly exhaled as the music continued pumping, though tuned low enough to help him think. "May not be as relaxed once we have them aboard, so don't take it personally. Bad thing about mixing business with pleasure on the same ship," he shrugged. She was going to have to get used to this new life sooner or later and it looked like that sooner was coming pretty quickly.

"Yeah, the girls know the drill, so just stick with them. To be honest, I don't see this run being nearly as bad as some in the past, especially once we take our next prize. Boarding a ship and taking it is more dangerous than anything you've done before." His eyes glanced toward the windows behind him, then back. "Assholes trying to board or defend themselves in G-suits, trying to hole us and make the ship lose pressure. Shit like that. There are never moments in your life that'll make the adrenaline pump harder than a fight in space." Trying to always be in control, for some reason he was finding it hard not to be honest with her and perhaps that was what his mentor back home was getting at. "But, with natural charm and a big gun, be surprised how much you can accomplish when you put your mind to it."

Was he becoming a mentor now?

[Nallia Oberon]

She felt the blush rise as he commented on just how much of his hands she filled for him. But when he mentioned it being more business than pleasure while they did the run, her instinct was, as usual, to offer to make his life easier. "I can move back into my room while we do this, if you prefer. Then you won't have to feel bad if you get too busy with things." She didn't like the idea, which hit her oddly in the pit of her stomach. She had grown accustomed to being in his bed, at his side, at night. But she also knew that if it had to be business only, her out of sight and out of mind might be best.

"The next prize? You want to capture another ship?" She frowned slightly as it didn't seem to make sense. She was obviously missing something. "You want to trade in the Grosetto?" While she knew he had bigger aspirations, she never considered stealing a bigger vessel was cheaper than buying one. If he captured a big enough one, then she was sure the boys would simply find a way to manufacture the papers and data links needed to make it a legit ship by the time they got back to Cloud City. The idea was interesting, but to her, it made no sense.

When he said there were no better ways to get the adrenalin pumping, she laughed and stroked his cheek. "If anything makes my adrenalin run faster than you, my dear, Syravari, I will surely die from the collapse of my heart." She smiled down at him. If tonight was the last night for a while, she wanted to make it last. "And with your charm and my gun I am sure we can accomplish quite a bit." She wriggled her eyebrows teasing and laughed. Her hand came up and made her fingers into a pistol shape. Blowing on the tip of her index finger, she pretended she had just made a crack shot.

She had reversed their possessions to see his reaction. She was no marksman with a weapon, and she doubted his name and charm were used in the same sentence with those who knew him well. Bethany herself had said the man was so slick, the word couldn't stick to him long enough to make itself known.

[Syravari Elik]

Brow furrowed on both her initial counts. "Oh, f*** no. I'm not getting rid of my ship and need you beside me when I wake up, so." He chuckled. "We sell prizes we take. Shops specialize in changing out the transponder code, then selling the ship to someone else. We make money just taking it and selling it to them. That list of contacts that I showed you? One of them is for ships."

When Nallia became more intimate, he turned his head toward her and enjoyed her touch, smiling at how her personality had changed since they met. Going from a scared girl to this woman was definitely a welcomed change and he chuckled again as she acted like a sharpshooter. However, things would be proved once the shooting actually did start, he knew. "Won't be too much longer and we'll be landing on Tokmia, so may want to keep practising that," his steel-blue eyes glanced to her hand. Their coming adventures were going to prove how strong she really was.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia laughed out loud at Syra's determination to keep not just his ship, but her at his side. His gruff demeanor was something she adored. As he mentioned the need to practice, she leaned closer and hovered just over his lips. "If we are going to be there soon, perhaps we should practice now." She kissed him and slid into his lap in a single smooth motion, her knees settling on either side of his hips. Her hands rested on the back of the couch keeping her just far enough away to kiss him without pressing too hard against him.

Whether they passed out in the lounge, or managed to make it to their room, she didn't care. If it was going to be all business in the days to come, she wanted one final time to reassure him she was there, in whatever capacity he would have her. Breaking the kiss slightly she smiled looking at him with open invitation. "And after tonight, if pacing the floor and worrying are all you want, I will be there for that as well." She knew he would stay up. He used to all the time when they were carrying cargo. And if he worried that much about inanimate boxes and crates, how much stress would he put himself through with the cargo they would have this time? She didn't know, but she would see to it he ate, and rested, as much as she was able...

... starting right now.

[Syravari Elik]

Truly enjoying their intimate hours they had spent, Syravari didn't worry about anything else as she took him up on the unspoken offer. Needing to forget everything outside the Grosetto more often than not, he explored her once more with his hands and lips, letting the continuous music in the background set the tone. Ecstasy filled the room as they loved and eventually, he lay there on the couch with her in his arms, the afterglow brightening the room more than the luma lamps ever could.

Eventually falling asleep, he dreamed of being at home again, the familiar smells from his mother's brothel mingled with all the muffled noises in the background, he was a kid again. Ayrton in the garage, working on one of the speeders, offered Syravari a chance to help him for once. This definitely was a dream for that never happened, he mused.

"You looking forward to running this place one day," the older mechanic and ex-mercenary inquired.

"Why," Syravari glanced to his mentor as he held up a hose that was being installed, keeping it out of the way.

"Mom's not going to want to be doing this forever. Just wondered."

Brow furrowed in confusion. "She's not going to want anyone else running this place. Especially me."

Aryton chuckled. "Boy, you have no idea how the world works, do you?"

"I know more than you ever did...." The words awoke Syravari to the ship's lounge once more. Glancing over to the large chronometer displayed on the holovprojector, he realized it had been several hours already. Sighing, he glanced over to Nallia laying against his chest, her long brown hair askew.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia had enjoyed every moment of their evening. They had fallen asleep beneath one of the covers off a nearby chair, stretched out on the couch. Her body was nearly on top of his. Her arm was over his stomach, leg laced over his and her head rested on his chest as her hair cascaded over her face and down his side. She felt his stirring as if from a dream and murmured softly in her half asleep state, “Ssshhhhh... I am here....” Her own lack of full consciousness not letting her know he was already awake and watching her.

Slowly she began to stir. She felt his breath and the way his body felt beneath her and knew he was awake. She opened her eyes a moment, the closed them again and sighed. “Is it time to get ready, yet?” She couldn't see the chrono, didn't want to see it. If it was time, she would do as needed. But if it wasn't, she didn't want to know how much longer they had. She tilted her head and kissed his chest. “I wonder if you have any idea what you have done to me, Syravari.”

The words were soft and full of emotions. She wanted him to know, before all hell broke lose, that she was there for him in whatever capacity was needed. She wasn't up to par to stand at his side. But she had his back and wanted him to know.

[Syravari Elik]

Watching her as she awoke, the sleepy look in her eyes and long, curly hair around her face, Syavari knew he was indeed in trouble. Though he had never uttered those three little words to anyone before, he was feeling the need all of a sudden. Though, the hardened street thug held his peace as she asked about the scheduled stop. "Soon," he whispered, his deep, gravely voice kept low as they were only inches from one another's faces.

Her statement after that made him smile, hugging her close and kissed her again passionately, drawing her within. She had no idea what she had done to him either. Actions definitely spoke louder than words.

Not long after, the intercom came to life as Tomas's voice cut in, muting the music as it was programmed to do. "Cap, half hour from Tokmia. We're lingering on the outer part of the system and making sure no one else's found this place already."

"Alright," he replied, the word that allowed them their privacy once more as he looked back to Nallia. "Well, time to make some money," he winked, kissing her once more and then slid out from underneath her body and the blanket, searching for his clothes.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia smiled as he merely held her closer. She wasn't expecting him to be boyfriend she saw in holos or heard of from others. He was a predator. And she was a liability if he allowed himself to get too close. At least, that's what her mind told her. in reality, she was just glad to be there.

His whisper of "Soon" allowed her time to let reality seep in just before the comm went off. A small giggle rose and she kissed his neck, propping up on her elbow to look down at him. "Sounds like soon is now. And yes... credits are a good thing to have." She laughed and watched him walk to get his clothes.

She took in the line of his body and a possessiveness came over her in a way she never felt before. It embarrassed her and she stood up with the small cover over her and untangled her own shirt from his in the small pile of cloth strewn before the couch. "Wonder if anyone would notice me wearing your shirt?" She laughed at the idea, but still slipped her own on. Chances are no one would make a comment. Everyone had already gotten used to her being in his room and coming in and out of his office with more permissions than most of them had. So it was no secret they were in a relationship. She just mused it would be an interesting thing to see their faces.

She slipped her boots on and gave up on finding her hair tie when she realized it had probably ended up between cushions, on the floor, or who knew where. There was probably a good chance someone would find it when they were all in their next. She just braced herself now for the jeers and teasing that would certainly ensue from such a discovery. Standing up when done, her eyes having never left him as he dressed, she moved towards him. Smiling, she looked up, set her hands on his chest and rose on tip toes to kiss him once more. "Be safe and come back to me tonight." She kissed him sweetly and turned to head for the kitchen.

*Probably no reason to say it,* she thought to herself. *Easy run... right?*

[Syravari Elik]

Chuckling as she inquired about his shirt, Syravari knew in fact everyone was already taking bets as to how long they would last. His past with girls aboard the Grosetto wasn't a great one and his average thus far had been no longer than a couple weeks. The middle aged pirate however, liked his odds against their bets and though the others had been totally different, Nallia had a vornskr beneath that pleasant veneer and he couldn't wait until she discovered it. That day would be one that would definitely endear her to the crew as a regular for now she was just another pretty face. A yacht passing in the night.

That, he knew, was the going theory anyway.

He dressed as she did so as well, then kissed her in return as she then left him alone in the lounge as the cleaning droids entered shortly after. Moving to the whetbar, he poured himself a lunch and took the glass with him to the cockpit. Her perfume still lingering on his clothing and body, Syravari switched over to business mode once in the presence of his crew, turning to him now as he walked in. "Whattya got," he asked.

"Nothing so far," Tomas replied, glancing to him as Syravari moved to his chair, centered in the bridge with a half circle of monitors and controls arrayed before him. Relaxing, steel-blue eyes mused on the information streaming before him as gathered by the array of sensor suites hidden throughout the yacht. "Pretty quiet, though not surprised with this system. Tokmia is a cold weather planet, so Brannoc's got the arctic gear ready."

Nodding, Syravari took another sip of his drink and set the glass into the holder on the armrest. "Twenty's the target number, anyone else trying to board gets shot gets pushed back. Use the protocol droid to make sure they understand that we can only take twenty at a time, then once the first group's in the hold, close it up and we're gone."

"Got it."

Soon, he was assured that no other space traffic was in system, so motioned to the pilot. "Tomas, let's head in."

With that, the veteran pilot guided the sleek yacht toward Tokmia, then tapped on the intercom suite. "Five minutes out." Words that sparked the crew and droids into their own mode and Syravari knew the girls would keep Nallia close during their gathering and eventual escape.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia had swung by her room to grab a clean shirt before ending up back in the kitchen. The other ladies were there already fixing the 'offering' they were bating the cargo bay with for the pick up. The brunette knew this was bait, knew it was merely to guide them into the trap that would slam shut behind them and carry them away to whatever fate was their next stop. She didn't say much, but set to the tasks that Bethany put before her. For their credit, the girls kept conversation light and after a few minutes of awkwardness had passed, Bethany took a breath and looked at Nallia.

"Ok, young lady. I know this is awkward, and I know it's probably your first time..." She laid the knife down she was cutting with and came to stand beside Nallia, a serious look on her face. "And I know it can be a little daunting..." Suddenly her face broke into a grin. "But when you spend the night in the common room, take the time to change more than your shirt when you come down afterwards."

All the others broke out in a fit of laughter and Nallia couldn't help it. Her face went redder than the cabbage on the table and she felt her head spin with relief. "Bethany, I swear if you weren't my friend." She hugged the woman tightly and felt a little better. It was easier now to settle into usual banter and take it in stride they were merely making lunch like any other day... just more of it.

When they heard the five minute warning from Syra, the girls nodded to one another and Bethany nodded smiling to Nallia. "Just stay in here. Understand? There is no reason for you to do anything but fill platters and pitchers. Don't make Syra worry, Nalli... please. You have him so spun up, he would lose the whole ship for you. Please don't make that a choice he has to make. Promise me you will stay in here."

Nallia had never seen the woman so candid nor serious. All she could do was nod, "I will stay here, Bethany. I promise."

[Syravari Elik]

Syravari finished his drink as the Grosetto cruised into the atmosphere of the world, it's heavy clouded sky shrouding the ground below. Though they had a fair idea on the location of his odd cult of Oku waiting for the next ship to arrive, he knew this fanatical reception they were about to receive could go wrong in a moment. Rising, he carried his glass back to the lounge and then continued on to the cargo bay, meeting Brannoc and four others already geared and clothed in the heavier coats and boots. Weapons holstered or across their chests, Syravari reached into the locker and joined them.

"Food's being arranged in the room now," Brannoc informed, motioning with his head through the stacks of crates to the open door to their holding cell.

Nodding, Syravari zipped up the coat and took in the faces of those that he had been working with now for several years. "Don't take their simple ass minds for granted, these aliens aren't going to be happy once the cargo ramp raises, so be ready to shoot." They all knew what they were doing as his eyes lowered to the boots as he crouched and snapped the buckles on either side. Standing once more, he paced quietly until Tomas's voice chimed in over the intercom.

"Found 'em. Coming in now," the pilot informed everyone. "Large crowd gathering on the outside of a cleared area bordered by bonfires," he chuckled. "Damn, look at these things."

Tensions rose as his team in the cargo bay spaced out, taking up positions as Syravari placed his hand near the cargo bay's button to open the wide door which commanded the starboard side and though their back would be protected by the ship itself, they would have to keep their eyes along the lowered edge which would touch the ground.

"Ready," Tomas stated. "Three.... two.... one. Open the bay door."

Doing so, Syravari did his best to step up and prepare to calm the masses that he expected. Servos whined as the door lowered and the large group of white furred aliens in jubilation was as expected, their celebration filling the air with an uproar of emotion. Stepping up, the tall, middle aged pirate motioned to them as a larger male rose and stepped to him, then bowed. It's large, black orbs lowering to his hand as he moved to kiss the glove. Letting him, Syravari was beginning these aliens were out of their minds, but he played along for now. It's toothy maw full of flattened, wide teeth with only two incisors, it began speaking to him in it's language and then motioned to his people.

Nodding, Syravari backed a step and then raised his hands twice, all fingers outward and then motioned to the crowd as the protocol droid approached from within the ship. "Tell them we can only take twenty at a time."

"Yes, sir." It's polite, tinny voice then translated the instructions and the leader of the clan clapped once, loudly and turned to choose the first group, including himself among them. A good mix of male and female were in the first group and so far Syravari was pleased with the choices. He then turned and motioned for them to enter the cargo bay and they did so reluctantly. Once the last of them stepped aboard and were guided toward the cell, Syravari punched the button for the cargo bay to rise.

"Tomas, let's get out of here," Syravari stated.

"Got it."

A command that the chieftain and the few males among them didn't like....

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia bit her lip as Bethany headed out into the hallway. She had never been reprimanded on the ship, not once. She had thought, at first, it was cause no one wanted to scare her. Then she knew it was because she knew better than to earn it. She had seen Bethany's temper at the guys on more than one occasion. It was amusing, but only because she wasn't on the receiving end of it.

This time, she had been. And it deeply hit her somewhere she didn't know she could hurt. Syra would give up his ship for her. That's what the woman had said. It scared her to think that, though her mind couldn't honestly grasp it.
Blinking back a couple tears she knew were coming, she busied herself with the other two and filled platters and pitchers. It was simple fair, almost like a large lunch buffet they had all partaken of themselves once or twice. Meat,c heese, bread, water, juice and a couple types of fruits. She loaded the platters and watched as the others took them out.

A moment later she felt the familiar jolt as the ship landed. Knowing better than to exit the galley, she glanced out the window. The natives were dancing around in glee. Huge fires were scattered everywhere. She had never seen such a beautiful thing. She had seen fire of course, but not like this. Each bonfire was in the shape of a large triangle. The pinnacle of them was almost twice as high as most of the inhabitants. They were interesting creatures. She had never seen anything like them either. Suddenly a few of them spotted her in the window and waved jubilantly at her.

She ducked and turned away. She didn't want to wave, to be nice, to make friends. It was a job. That was all.

She turned to the counter and began cleaning up. It wasn't that far back to their destination, so she made sure the second set of trays were filled, and then covered them and set about cleaning up the rest of the kitchen. No more than ten minutes had gone by when she felt the once more familiar move of the ship. They were taking off. Voices were raised down the hall and she couldn't help herself, she moved to the kitchen door and palmed it open. She remained inside the threshold of the galley, but she strained to hear what the raised voices were saying.

[Syravari Elik]

With the ship moving, Syravari's cold steel blue eyes now fixed on the males in the cell and quickdrew his pistol, firing stun bolts into the aliens, now scrambling for cover though with the large, open room there was none. That cue also prompted the rest of his team to do the same until all the Oku were down. "Lock 'em up," he commanded. Moving inside, Brannoc and the others began dragging each alien to the walls, binding their wrists with shackles. That done, the team moved the food within reach once the property could claim them. Dead slaves weren't worth anything to the crew.

Sighing, he turned and left the holding cell and holstered his pistol as he moved past all the crates and barrels lined in the cargo bay.

"Aron, take first watch," Brannoc stated as they closed the holding room's door and locked it.

Following Syravari out, the rest of the team would be keeping the cargo bay's hidden holorecorder in sight as well. The security stations located not only in the bridge, but also engineering and a small communications room central to the ship. Heading down the long hallway, the captain headed upstairs and continued on to the medbay where the pair of medical droids were preparing to evaluate their catch. "Let me know if any of them aren't going to make the trip back to Cloud City. Also any other traits that we may not know about."

"Yes, sir," the newest addition to the Grosetto replied. "My report will also be filed in your private server as well."

Nodding, Syravari turned and left the medbay, heading toward his office as he began shedding the arctic gear.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia heard the weapons firing and took a deep breath. That many shots had to be stun settings. They were collecting slaves, not meat. She listened to the myriad of sounds, unable to tell what was happening. A few moments later, the ladies came in and smiled with a nod to her. "It's clear, Nallia. Just stay out of the cargo area till Syra says it's ok." Bethany added.

They finished cleaning up the kitchen when Nallia looked up and saw the back of Syravari cross the hall intersection on the way to his office. Her hand was paused on the counter as she was wiping it down. The girls, out of her sight, looked to one another and Bethany nodded. A hand took the towel gently from her hand and a voice whispered, "Go to him, little nexu. But be kind. This is work. He will not be the man he was this morning."

Without another word, or even a thank you, Nallia was heading down the hallway, her legs tight as she forced herself not to run. The door to the office wasn't completely closed, so she walked in and headed for the bar. If he had a drink, she'd need one. If he didn't, then he certainly did. She saw his arctic jacket tossed on the floor where it had fallen off the back of the couch. She picked it up and tossed it into one of the chairs and then grabbed the fresh glass of amber liquid and turned towards him. "Thought you might need a drink." She was smiling, though concern was still in her eyes. "Couldn't remember if I set the new bottles in here this morning or not." She was doing her best to pretend nothing was going on. She could be strong for him. She would be, for them both. "Any idea what you want for dinner? I think there is one of your favorite steaks in the ice box. Or with the cold here, maybe a good stew to warm us all up?" She stood half way between him and the bar to see if he would simply tell her his dinner desire and dismiss her, or ask for the drink.

[Syravari Elik]

Disregarding where his clothes fell as he moved to the desk, Syravari sat down in the leather chair and turned on his computer, his mind abuzz with all that had to be arranged now that their quarry was stowed away. Even though the catch was fairly straightforward, they still had to get the Oku to Cloud City without discovery by local authorities enroute. Business on the brain, he almost didn't notice Nallia come into the office and pour a drink. Names from his list now before him, he tapped on their new contact for slaves and began encrypting a message to him.

Glancing up as he finished, steel-blue eyes glanced to the tumbler in her hand and nodded, then returned his gaze to the message as it's letters became symbols, then was transmitted. The mention of dinner was the farthest thing from his mind as he leaned to the left, his arm perched atop the rest, fingers to his chin. "Yeah, that's fine," he stated distractedly, glancing to her once the transmission was received and he waited for an answer.

[Nallia Oberon]

Bethany had been right. This wasn't the warm Syravari that had tumbled her across that same couch this morning. But this was also the same one. She had come to him in a time of static and peace. This was the man she had seen, years before, the one other time he had come to the station she had been on as a child. The man with little to say and eyes that, while seeming to be miles away, were taking in every nuance, movement and glance she gave him. It may be filing away elsewhere, but she had no doubt he would recite word and line of their conversation a week from now if someone made him.

She moved towards him and set the glass down near his hand. "I'll see to it." She smiled and almost leaned down to kiss him. This wasn't the time. He had things to do it was time for business.

She was about to turn and head for the door when she thought of something. "Syra, you said there was a man who took on this type of... cargo. Is he the one who asked for this race in particular?" She wasn't sure why she asked, but something set off her mind and worry. Turning back to him, her gaze was suddenly serious like she had thought of something and feared telling him. "I don't know the specifics, and you don't have to answer me." She moved back to the side of his desk so she could look at him. "Think of who is asking for these strangelings. Then think of who sent you here, and where the exchange will take place." She wanted him to know this wasn't personal.

"Syra, you need to make sure, beyond all shadow of a doubt that this cargo isn't a setup. I have never seen or heard of these creatures." She bit her lip a moment. "I mean, I know I was isolated and lived a rather sheltered life. But I heard and saw a lot. Just please..." She had to ball her fists once more and take a step back just out of reach of him to continue. "Please make sure this is 'all in a row'." She let the silence hang a moment then nodded. "That's all I wanted to say. I wanted to be sure my return and the desire to get the brothel and hall set up hadn't been a distraction." She turned to head back to the kitchen.

On one hand, it was a valid worry and concern for her. She had been a great distraction to him, and vice versa, since her return. But on the other hand, she had just expressed doubt to him on his decision. One part of her knew he might think twice, go over the intel, numbers, and plan and ease her mind that all was well. Another part of her knew he might get enraged merely for second guessing his decision. Both ideas battled for supremacy in her mind and her heart raced in worry over which it would be.

[Syravari Elik]

Taking in a deep breath, he let it out again slowly as the tumbler on the near edge of the desk caught his attention as the confirmation of the message received then began denoting a rotating symbol that he was about to get a reply. Taking the small glass as she asked about the cargo, he nodded and downed the drink in one swift gulp and then set the tumbler back on the desk. His eyes never leaving the screen, "Yeah, talking to him now. He's wanting them to be delivered on Cloud City, but we're going to have to smuggle them through Customs, but we have a Tenloss insider with them. He cleared us the last time, so." Not long after, he let the computer decrypt the returning message.

Her continued knowledge of the Oku caught his attention finally, glancing up to her as he listened. Sniffing as his brow furrowed lightly, "Don't worry, we know what we're doing. If I f*** up it's all our asses, so no need to get too concerned," he replied, his tone even and far from condescending, though his words may have relayed the wrong message. "They're well hidden, so even if his forged paperwork isn't on point, we're safe from anyone finding them. It's sensor resistant, so not even an LFI will detect them."

Returning his gaze to the screen, he was assured at least to this point that everything was on schedule. He had to admit though, any contract had the potential of being a setup so the buyer didn't have to pay him.

[Nallia Oberon]

The Nallia of a year ago would have begged and pleaded for forgiveness for doubting him with the tone of his voice echoing back her fear of having pushed a wrong button with him. She moved to the bar, filled a second glass, and turned back to him. "Well, that's good then." Was all she said and turned to go. She left his jacket on the chair and headed for the door.

Oddly enough, she didn't even feel like she would tear up. Either she was growing tougher, or just her bravado was stronger than it used to be. "I'll leave you be, then." She half murmured on her way out so he wouldn't think she was stalking out in a snit.

Once in the hallway, she pulled his door nearly closed to where it was before her entrance and headed back to the kitchen. Surely there was preparations for dinner that could be made. She had voiced concern, was answered, and didn't see a need to pursue it further. He was the boss, and besides the rest of the crew, she had no doubt he would see to it his own backside was safe from anything before or behind them.

[Syravari Elik]

Keeping his mind on the business side of his lifestyle, Syravari failed to catch the reaction given and went back to the message now being decrypted and then translated on the screen before him. His past kept the pirate from picking up on the small things that others felt, having only ever keeping track of his own desires and wants. Brannoc stepped in not long after as a droid followed him, picking up the excess clothing scattered in the room and then left the two as the loadmaster poured himself a drink, then approached the left chair across from the desk and plopped down.

"So, we on schedule with this asshole," the gruff, dark haired mercenary asked.

Nodding, Syravari glanced to him as he read the reply: 'Have several buyers lined up already and eager to see what you've found.' Deleting the message, the Grosetto's captain reclined once more, leather groaning in protest. "Yeah, Tanner's saying they've got people lined up already, so just have to get this cargo there in once piece."

Downing the drink in his hand, "Sure you trust this guy?"

"For now," he shrugged. "Why?"

"Just wanted to know what kind of rounds I need to have the guys load when we arrive. Don't need Tanner or his own hired guns thinking they can take any of this instead of paying for it."

Syravari grinned darkly, "That would be a huge mistake on his part. Plus, bad for his business if he's backstabbing his own suppliers. Know what I mean?"

Brannoc nodded, lowering the empty glass. "So," he glanced toward the door, then back. "You and Nalli," he grinned. "This one going to be sticking around, or you kicking her to the curb once we get back?"

"Already got her involved, so yeah," steel blue eyes glanced to the door, "She'll stick for a while."

"Cool. Kind of like this one." He pushed himself up and moved back to the whetbar and poured another. "At least she's not sleeping with the rest of us, which is a disappointment to be honest."

Chuckling, "F*** you."

[Nallia Oberon]

A few hours later the dining room table was I've more covered in the dishes the girls had made for dinner. Nallia shooed Bethany into a chair and finished bringing in the last of it herself.

She had been quiet all day, softly humming to herself. She didn't brood or even seem put out by how the boss had barked at her before lunch. Bethany and the others had kept her busy in the kitchen while they took everyone lunch. Between the watches in the cargo bay and discussions happening all over, the young woman thought it best to just stay put.

Nallia managed to keep herself busy in the kitchen, watching through the doorway as the others filed into the next room to eat. She decided she wasn't gonna join them. It wasn't necessarily Syravari's reaction earlier. It was more because this run was important and she knew it. People missed steps explaining how something was done. For her, it just made more sense to stay out of the way, then ask how it was all done.

She has her back to the door, rinsing pots and pans, if the others bothered to glance her way as they headed in to eat. The steak, Syra's favorite, was on the table with vegetables, potatoes and fresh bread.

[Syravari Elik]

Keeping his mind on the security of their catch, Syravari remained touring the ship closer to the bridge and his office finding himself staying busy more than anything. Droids cleaned and kept the ship's interior spotless as normal, keeping out of everyone's way. Soon, as he sat in the lounge and watched the latest episode of a holo that he had been collecting, Rebecca stepped in through the main door, "Dinner's ready."

Nodding, he glanced to the redhead as she moved to leave. "How's she doing?"

Stepping back into the room, hands on the door and handle, "Seems fine. I think she's lost with all this, but she'll get it," she grinned. "She's really taken with you, boss."

Syravari grinned and nodded, his eyes falling back toward the holoprojector sported in the center of the large, round, glass table. "See how she feels after this first run."

Letting him finish the show, Rebecca disappeared once more. Once done, the native of Ord Cestus pushed himself from the comfortable couch and turned off the show, then made his way to the main dining room. His mind adrift with future plans and things that he had learned from mentors growing up in Grosetto, the son of a brothel madame was starting to see fruits for all that frustration and scars. Entering the beautifully decorated room, the rest of the crew except for Brannoc on security duty sat down, joining him. Noting the empty chair as he began to eat, steel blue eyes glanced up to the door to the kitchen and wondered where Nallia was. Unsure if she had a few last minute things to do, he ate and enjoyed the meal. Light conversation between the group there filled the air along with music in the background, he finished and sat back and soon pushed himself up. Rounding the table, he pushed the door open to the kitchen and stepped in, leaving the others behind as it closed once more.

Nearing the long island, he leaned on the outer edge and watched her clean the host of pots and pans. "You know we have a washer for that," his deep, gravely voice cut into the otherwise silent kitchen.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia had learned around the Overseers to keep track of who was at her back. Syra's steps into the galley were hid giveaway, and the fact he wasn't talking when he first entered. A soft smile he couldn't see would touch her lips as he entered. "I know. But it gives me something to do." She wasn't going to say it made her feel useful, that wasn't the right word. She was useful and she knew it. But right now, she just didn't have anything else to do.

If he looked around, her half finished meal was on the edge of the counter. She was taking bits from it between the scrubbing. She had a nice stack sitting off to the side, drip drying and was on the last pan as she spoke again. She didn't turn around to face him, and hoped he wouldn't go silent and sneak out on her. She could hear him breathing so she knew she wasn't talking to dead air. "So how is it going? Everyone settled into watch shifts for the night?" She knew she wouldn't be on the rotation. Chances are the other girls wouldn't either. The trip wasn't that long so there was no need to make sure they men had some respite and time to see to their other jobs as well as sleep. "I'll get Brannoc to start teaching me hand to hand again when this trip is over." She glanced over her back to see his reaction. "Maybe next time it's needed I can handle a small shift to give the others a chance to rest as well."

She took a deep breath and set the final pan to the side. Realizing there was nothing more to do, she busied herself rinsing the sinks, wiping off the counter, whatever kept her from looking at him. He would never see her cry, she wasn't about to now, either. She just knew if she looked at him, he would see she was strong, and proud and glad to be part of this. She wasn't sure why she didn't want him to see that, only that it made her uneasy somehow. How do you tell someone who wants nothing more than to protect you, that it's all right to feel that way?

How do you tell the Captain, a man who practically wrote the book on 'survival as a smuggler' that she was ready for this kind of life?

The only way she knew how was to let him do his thing and not worry about her being underfoot, or trying to explain everything to her just to placate her.

[Syravari Elik]

Even though he hadn't been the warmest person in the galaxy, Syravari had grown up around a host of women and could tell some of their moods at times. Though he wasn't an expert by any stretch, he understood what may be going on with Nallia now and as she continued working, taking a bite to eat occasionally as she moved, the pirate was finding himself admiring her lines again. The softness of her skin as he recalled some of the things they had talked about in private. Her query prompted him to cross his arms, still leaning on the island. "Yeah, this is a milk run compared to some in the past. Brannoc's going to be pissed that he missed dinner, but he actually enjoys this part of the job instead of sitting around. Never known many like him in my life, but he's definitely someone you want in your corner when things go to hell."

Nallia's idea with having him teach her how to fight was a good one as Syravari nodded. "Yeah, that'd be fine. Just be careful he doesn't get too handsy. I'll have to beat his ass." he grinned, though noted she still wasn't looking at him as they talked. "May sound old fashioned, but having any of you girls take up guard duty has never been my thing. Not that it's a man's job by any stretch, but just rather one of us be the ones to be the first line of defense should things go to shit." Was he becoming a knight in shining armor, like some of those stories that Tiffany would read him at night, growing up? Grinning to himself, he changed the subject.

"Once we get back, going to have you keep track of the finances, like I mentioned before. Make sure Tanner pays us every credit he owes for this cargo. You have the account numbers in there with all the names, on my computer, so."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia blushed as Syra made the comment he'd hurt Brannoc if he got fresh with her. She knew if she was hurt, the smuggler would be upset. But she'd gotten the feeling lately that he'd be mad if more than that occurred. "He'll behave, hun. I doubt he wants synthetic limbs." She hadn't realized the term of endearment. "And no worries about food. I believe Bethany took him a plate before she finished setting the table."

Another thing Nia was oblivious to was the man's gaze up and down her body as she stretched across the counter to wipe it, or reach into a cupboard.

"I'm glad the run's smooth. We all deserve a break." At the mention of getting paid properly, and with nothing valid to keep her back to him, she finally turned to face him as she dried her hands. "I'll make sure every credit is there." She smiled slightly at him.

"Did you get enough to eat? We figured a nicer dinner tonight, and make soup tomorrow night since we'll be wrung out from the run. I'm sure no one will sleep tight tonight."

Glancing at the ice box the young woman nodded. "There's already food in there. Trays set for the morning watch for the cargo hold and a tray for anyone up wandering the floors." She reached over to run her hand down Syra's arm lightly in reassurance. "Everything will be fine. They know what they're doing. And I'll stay in your office when we get there if you prefer."

[Syravari Elik]

Syravari smiled at her initial comment and continued admiring her as she continued cleaning until she moved toward him. Nodding, "I did, that was great as always. You've got many talents in and out of the kitchen," he smirked, winking at her and then listened to the plan for the later meals as well as what had been set aside for the cargo who no doubt were still agitated and afraid.

"Only need to be in the office when the money's transferred, otherwise I don't mind you coming with us and see how this is all done. Better than hiding in here," he moved his right hand to hers situated on his left forearm and held it. "You're a part of this crew, like it or not, so might as well start getting comfortable with this rabble."

"I heard that," Sabrina interrupted as she led the other girls into the kitchen, hands full of dirty dishes as they moved to the sink.

Glancing to the trio, he smirked. "Hey, shoe fits, right?"

"Don't be corrupting her already," Rebecca winked at Nallia as she added her load to the rest.

"Bit too late for that now," Syravari countered.

[Nallia Oberon]

A blush finally rose for his viewing as he spoke of the myriad of talents she had that he was aware of. She shook her head and laughed. "I'm gonna have to see to it you remember that, boss."

Nallia smiled as Syra touched her hand. "I just didn't want you side tracked 'cause of me. That was all. I'd love to see how it all goes." She winked teasing. "Gotta make sure you are kept coming back on board, after all, right?"

When the others came in, she didn't bother to move her hand. Everyone knew of the pair and it didn't seem necessary to maintain a front. And she wasn't quite ready to let him go. "I'm afraid he's right. I was corrupt when I got here." She laughed and moved to the Syra's side to make room for the three. "Well, nice timing. All the other dishes are done, so these are yours." She glanced at Syra and nodded down the hall. "I believe I have an assignment in your office, don't I, boss?" She smiled for his eyes alone, despite the fact anyone else looking could see it. She knew the only way to make sure money was settled after the upcoming transaction, was to be sure it was fine before hand. And seeing as everyone was still up and about, now seemed the perfect time. Otherwise, her mind wanted nothing more than to drag Syravari to their room, give him a good back rub and see what happened when the lights when out.

[Syravari Elik]

Nodding, he was ready for some more private time and led her from the kitchen and through the side entrance, avoiding Brannoc and the others as he entered the main hall, leading her to the stairwell and up to the master bedroom instead. The office could wait, he mused. As their relationship had progressed, he realized that soon she would be privy to all the business dealings and back alley agreements that he had been a part of. If none of that scared her off, she was going to stay for the long haul. Few had even made it this far so he was sure that she was either too afraid to leave now, or the life really did intrigue her.

Entering the room, he let her enter first, then closed the door behind them and began kissing her as they slowly made their way to the bed. Hands exploring as they did so, Syravari began undressing her slowly, leading with his hands and following with kisses down her frame.

*****

Ending some time later in the large, marble bathtub, his fingers slowly coursed from her shoulder to her lower back. The warmth of the water eased his muscles after their primal intimacy, the smell of her and nearness made him realize that this was what life was meant to be.

"Tomorrow we're going to be back on Cloud City and this cargo's going to be transferred to Tanner. He's going to evaluate them and then sign off, then the money'll be in the account. From that point on, we're on our own." He knew this wasn't great pillow talk, but it was on his mind and so far she had been great at distracting him from what they were doing. Though he didn't mind a bit.

[Nallia Oberon]

When his leading ended them at their bedroom, a smile lit her whole face. Hands and kisses trailed as his own did and the comfort between them grew, as did their needs and passion.

Later, in the tub, clothes strewn across the floor and bed in disarray, she arched to his touch slightly and nodded. "I'll see to it the credit balance is as it should be, Syra." When he said they would be on her own, she shifted to look up at him. Her hand rose to brush water drops lightly from his shoulder as she looked at him. "Haven't you always been that way? I mean, it strikes me that this is no different. The job is done, we see how the new venture is coming along, then we find another job." She rested her hand on his chest, her smile softening slightly. "I'm not leaving, Syra. On our own or not. I realized when I watched you drop the cargo you received when you acquired me, you are always on your own. But that's how you work best." Resting her head against his chest, she laughed softly. "I know the new venture will mean people working for you, but I imagine you will be more of an absentee landlord if you have your way."

Her eyes closed as she relaxed against him. He was a wanderer, she knew that much. Being in a clean suit, dealing with things like liquor orders and the upkeep of pleasure rooms on a day to day basis wasn't for him. She knew he would always meander, and it was perfectly fine with her... as long as she could be there as well. "We'll be fine, Syr... you always are." She wasn't sure why he felt he needed to point out they were going to be back to themselves, but she hoped her response let him know it was all right with her.

[Syravari Elik]

He thought more on the brothel and casino idea and how that was all shaping up on Cloud City and knew she was right, he had no intentions on being the CEO of a company that was around for daily meetings or worrying about all the other things that came with being a manager. Other people would definitely be better suited for that. Perhaps Molly would take that on, he mused as Nallia talked. Nodding as she relaxed with him in the warm water, chuckling lightly. "My mom was the businesswoman and never taught me much about the money side of it, but I learned most of the rest from her. Keeping track of people, knowing that each of them had their own lives and troubles. Family. She used to say it's not easy governing a large group of independent women, but understanding them and giving them their space when they needed it was important. She had thirty girls working for her at one point, not sure how many she's got now. Also had to keep good ties with the local leaders and cops too," he smirked. "Half those guys were regulars, so that helped a lot."

He was going to have to do some networking with the underbelly of Cloud City, he knew, if he wanted his business to succeed. "May have to stick around Cloud City for a few weeks, start making contacts and all that." Leaning his head into hers, "Give you some time to do some training and maybe some shopping. Bethany and the girls won't mind helping you spend some money." And give Nallia some time to be one of the girls as well.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia smiled. She had figured he hadgotten his business mind from his mother. “Well, books are easy,it's the rest that's hard. If you aren't going to always be around,you need someone you trust to hold the reins. And you don't want eachaspect, the casino and the brothel, to be running independantly.”Her mind started wandering about all the things she had learnedlistening from the dark corners late at night. Till she stowed awayon the Grosetto, she had plans to one day kill the Overseers and takeover the whole operation herself. So she listened and learned. Shenever guessed, squatting behind those crates in the cargo hold,looking up at the man who once terrified her, but now intrigued her,that she would want to help him to be as great a man as the Overseershad been.


“I would say whoever you get tooversee the brothel side, should oversee them both. Maybe get aperson to see to the day to day of the casino, cause it's hard to runboth, but make the casino manager answer to the brothel manager. Andhave that person answer to you.” She figured the person taking careof the human, versus the alcohol and gambling aspect, would be morelevel headed. Though the person on the casino side would probably bemore profit driven. The balance would work well if he found the rightpeople.


“Your mother sounds like a wonderfulwoman.” She smiled. What would that woman think of her? An upstartstowaway who was enamored with her son. “She was right to cultivatethe locals, especially law givers. If you keep them happy, help themget what they can't, you can be amazingly profitable. But has tostart straight up. Nothing illegal to begin with. Then maybe find adrink someone can't get, or a weapon they want.” She bit her lipand looked up at him worried. “I'm sorry, you know that already.”She looked back down, stiffening slightly in his embrace. She hadcrossed him earlier that night, second guessing his choices, thoughnot really meaning to. She was worried she had just done it again andbit her lip as she waited to see bad it was.


The idea of shopping with the girls,momentarily forgotten as once more, her foot filled her mouth insteadof her brain.

[Syravari Elik]

Noticing her tense in his arms, he chuckled. "You're catching on quick. Too bad you're not free to run either business, but we'll have to find someone that can run at least one. I met a girl named Molly that's up for running the brothel, so think she'll be great for that end. And she doesn't take any shit, knows most of the gang leaders and key people in the area. Kind of perfect for the job, really." He thought about the first time he and Molly had met and knew she was a tough one, though very dependable when it came to money. "Have to at least try her out in the spot of madame anyway. For the casino, that's going to take some time to find the right person that I can trust. Never been to Cloud City before. I'd even bring someone in from home if I thought I could, but don't think that's an option. They're all too busy pirating like us. Few of them would be able to sit in one port long enough." Though he could definitely think of several that knew gambling well enough to fit.

Sighing, he relaxed more and let their time together be the focus instead. "What do you think of the crew so far?"

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia let out the breath she was holding. She had feared his anger at her butting in once more. As he mentioned her staying behind, she was glad it was in the context that it wasn't going to be possible. She had a moment of thought that he would send her there to wait out while he went on jobs he worried she wouldn't do well on. She was gratified she was wrong.

"I am sure whoever you choose will be great. I can't see you picking someone just because they can mix a drink or smile at a woman." She laughed and relaxed against him once more. Being in his arms was a nice way to relax, despite the fact it was going to be another short time.

She ran her hand absently back and forth over his chest. "I like them. The girls are great. Already told me I'm to go shopping when we are done with this deal." She laughed because she remembered that shopping was something he believed she should do more often, himself. "And I promised I would let Bethany help me pick out something other than more t-shirts and denims." She couldn't imagine herself in anything else but her leggings and one-size-too-big shirts. She wasn't sure what he would think of her in anything else, either. The last thing she wanted him to see her as was overly done like a harlot. "Apparently make up is supposed to accompany the shopping list as well. We compromised in that I agreed to eye coloring and lip stain. But the rest, I don't see a need for. Do you?" She was asking almost rhetorically. She couldn't imagine coming into the dining room with makeup and a dress on and everyone going gaga over it. Every time she pictured herself like that, they were all laughing at her. It wasn't a pleasant thought.

[Syravari Elik]

He began imagining her in other clothes and though he loved her simpler style, she would look amazing in a more elegant dress whenever they did visit a nicer club or restaurant. "You don't need any makeup," he mused aloud as she rested against him. "It's nice during certain events, but not much. Mom used to say less is more when it came to that. She pushed that thought on her girls too."

He yawned and did his best to not fall asleep here in the tub, though being this comfortable it was becoming harder. "Probably should dry off here shortly and get to bed," he grinned. "Hate to drown in my own tub," he chuckled.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia laughed thinking of her and Syra discussing makeup. It seemed odd yet normal, somehow. She wasn't exactly sure why or how, but there was a comfort settling between them that she wasn't sure how to handle. Closing her eyes, she smiled. “I can't imagine finding myself at such obscure events.” She mused. “But I will still get the lip and eye stains. Will make for interesting lessons with Bethany if nothing else.”

When he mentioned possibly drowning in his tub, she shifted to sit up beside him and laughed. “And I think we are shriveling up, too.” She held a hand up to show the pads of her fingers all pruned from the prolonged water exposure. Leaning over and kissing him, she then stepped from the tub, dripping wet reached for a large bath sheet and wrapped it around her before smiling to hand him one. “I'll go warm up the bedroom.” She winked and moved out of the room.

Once in the bedroom, she adjusted the heat and turned down the covers. Drying off, she sat on the edge of the bed and started brushing her hair. Her long bare back was to the bathroom door and she was absently humming a tune she had heard at dinner in the other room that night from the entertainment music Syra often played.

[Syravari Elik]

Letting the water drain from the tub, he pushed himself up and stepped out from the tub. Drying off while standing on the large throw rug, his eyes followed her from the bathroom and at moments while she crossed the doorway. Moving to the sink, he combed his short hair and then moved toward the entry to the master bedroom, hitting a switch which turned out the many candles situated around the room. Listening to the familiar tune now being hummed, he felt his adrenaline rush again as she sat there brushing out her long, brown hair. Moving around to the opposite side of the bed, he slid under the covers and continued watching her. Though he had never been truly in love with anyone before, it was becoming painfully obvious that this feeling was a great indicator. The only down side to all this would be that Nallia's life could be in danger should one of his enemies find out about the Grosetto's chef. Measures were going to have to be taken to ensure that never happened.

Grinning at her as she finished brushing her hair and soon finished, he raised the comforter and sheet as an invitation and then settled in with her, laying on his side as he wrapped his arms around her. Kissing her one last time, passionately, Syravari left his eyes closed as he drifted off to sleep.

[Nallia Oberon]

Laying against his side, Nallia tilted her head to kiss his neck and snuggled back into his arms. Fitting there seemed natural now. She couldn't have imagined in a million galaxies that she would have trusted a man like Syravari, much less come to care for him this much. She did know that she would have to treat lightly. If she distracted him, became a liability, or began to get underfoot, she would have to see it and leave... she knew it was never going to come from him.

**
The middle of the night, her sleep broken every couple hours worrying she was oversleeping, she managed to rise and have trouble falling back asleep. Slipping from his loose embrace, she got dressed in boots and jeans, and her tshirt. She had a jacket hanging in the hall before the cargo bay if she needed it. Her knife went to her boot and her hair up in a ponytail. She went to the kitchen to start the coffee and get things ready for breakfast.

Once the hot stim drink was done, she headed for the cockpit to bring the pilot a bit of early refreshment. She also brought him some toast on a plate with a couple different scoops of jam and butter. "Morning... I hope everything is going all right." She mentioned, taking a moment to look out the front of the ship into the stars. She had often looked out at similar scenes, but on the ship, moving, it seemed so different. Like watching a perpetual star shower.

She had a few moments before the others woke. Deciding to keep a hold of her bold streak, she moved to sit in the co-pilot chair, she pulled her heels up on the seat and wrapped her arms around her legs. "Is everything going ok? I mean, nothing seriously wrong last night?" She wasn't sure why she was asking. After all, it wasn't like there was anything she could do besides wake Syra if there had been. And surely if it was that severe, chances are they would have been interrupted last night.

"Thanks," the pilot said and took the drink, setting the small tray on the jump seat behind him. "Nah, everything is fine," he added after glancing sideways at her. She had never asked before and he was hesitant to say anything. So the best idea, just shrug. "I'll be buzzing the boss shortly. But no worries." He winked and went back to sipping his stim drink. If she wanted to sit here in silence, who was he to stop her?

Realizing there was someone else who hadn't gotten stimcaf, Nallia murmured a good bye and headed back to the kitchen. Fixing one more cup, she set off towards the cargo hold. Everyone was still sleeping, the guard would need something to refresh them, whoever it was, and she wasn't going to ignore him.

As she came to the end of the walk, and glanced down into the hold, a smile lit her face. "Someone order some stimcaf?" She called to the man she saw sitting on a crate sharpening his knife. Brannoc looked up and saw her and the smile that lit his face made her smile brighter.

"Morning, little minx. What are you doing out here?" He set the knife down on the crate and hopped off to take the steps two at a time. "You shouldn't be in here, you know?" His eyebrow rose in mock reprimand.

"I am not in the cargo hold. Technically I am in the hallway outside the cargo hold." She knew she was picking, but she needed to know she could walk down here and not crumble under the thought of the 'cargo' in the other room just down to her right. There was silence in there so she assumed they, like the others on the ship, were still sleeping. "I couldn't sleep. So I made coffee. Thought you may want some." She held out the offered cup and tried to look innocent.

Brannoc took it and smiled. "You are gonna have the boss killing us both. You know that, don't you?" He laughed but leaned on the wall, clearly not planning on inviting her past the point she had already come.

[Syravari Elik]

Eyes fluttered open and Syravari stretched, then lay on his back as he sighed. The master bedroom completely quiet, it took a moment to focus in on the fact that he was alone. So that's what that felt like, he mused. Typically he was the one escaping the room early, but it seemed that he had been over tired after all. Pushing himself up, he noticed that her side of the bed was nearly made which meant for some reason she couldn't sleep. Glancing to the chronometer at the bedside table, they had only an hour before they arrived on Cloud City which quickly put the pirate back into business mode.

Getting dressed, he then let the droids tend to the room as he headed for downstairs for the kitchen. Hearing the girls within, he pushed the door open to see only the regular three. "Hey," he greeted and moved to the bowl of fruit on the center island.

"Morning, boss," Bethany returned, handing him a cup of stimcaf. "Sleep well?"

Nodding, he took the cup and a piece of fruit. "Yeah. Seen Nallia?"

"Think she's touring the ship, delivering caf to Tomas and the others," Sabrina informed. "Been up a while though."

"Hmm," he ate and turned from them, taking his quick breakfast with him as he continued up to the bridge. His mind racing again through the various things that would have to be offered to Customs and bribes paid, he soon arrived at the bridge to see Tomas preparing for their exit from hyperspace.

"Hey Cap," the pilot greeted distractedly as his copilot joined them and soon claimed his own seat. Tapping the intercom button, "Crew, two minutes out."

Everyone knew what that meant as Syravari continued sipping his caf and waited.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia was laughing with Brannoc a moment before heading back to the kitchen when the two minute warning went up. Realizing she was and the others needed to get to work, she took Brannoc's coffee as he headed back into the hold and she high tailed it back to the kitchen. Seeing the ladies there, she nodded and blushed at the laughs and snickers. But then it was all business once more.

She was told they weren't making breakfast this morning, but they weren't to leave the kitchen till Syra gave the all clear, either. Nallia guess that had it not been for her, the other ladies wouldn't be locked behind the kitchen doors with only the dining room to escape to. That room was locked to the hallway as well. With the two rooms, the women could maneuver and relax without risk of being attacked or cornered if the 'cargo' decided to run amuck.

Nallia was sitting in the dining room with Bethany, the other two were in the kitchen tidying up with the prospect of relaxing in Cloud City for a bit before heading out again. The ship had landed about fifteen minutes prior and Bethany had told the girls it would probably take an hour or so to get all the cargo off. As they sat at the table nibbling breakfast for themselves, Nallia watched Bethany watch her and finally she shook her head and smiled. "What is it? Did I grow a second head or something?" There was a hint of teasing in her voice, but underlying it, and much stronger, were worry and fear.

Before the poor girl could panic even more, Bethany shook her head and smiled patting her hand. "No, nothing is wrong. And no you haven't grown two heads. But I see what is happening between you and the boss and I worry for you both. This is the first time he didn't spend the whole night pacing the floors like he was the only one capable of standing watching, with cargo this precious in the hold. Don't spin his head, Nallia. We love you, you know we do. But if he loses that edge because of you, bad things could happen to not just him but the rest of us as well. Just please be careful." Without another word the woman rose and headed into the kitchen.

Nallia ground her jaw trying to fight back the tears. The crew was happy for her and Syra, they had all said so. But now, because he chose to sleep instead of pace for two days, she was maybe not such a good thing.

Without thinking, Nallia silently unlocked the passageway door and closed it behind her. She decided perhaps being in her own room was safer for everyone. Not the one she shared with Syra, but her own bunk room. She hadn't moved all her things out yet, so it wasn't like she was moving out on Syravari, but she didn't want to be around anyone right now and her room seemed the safest and best bet. Rounding the corner she headed for the hall where her bunk room was. She wasn't paying any attention to the hall or anything around her.

[Syravari Elik]

Strolling from the open ramp to the stained tarmac, lit by encircling luma lamps within the flooring, Syravari glanced toward the distant entry to the hangar, passed the squat refueling stations. The air smelling of tabanna, oil and burned in grease, he was becoming used to this atmosphere and wondered if he could ever survive anywhere else. Nallia had changed many things in his life and though he hadn't said the 'L' word yet, it wasn't too far distant. Steel-blue eyes turned to the open cargo door and he noticed Brannoc glancing over the regular cargo as if tallying what was to be dropped off and which crates to be kept. He and the others working with him had become experts at this life, he mused.

"Cargo and manifest," the Port Authority official called out as the hard soled footsteps approached.

Turning, Syravari handed the uniformed man the flimsiplast credentials and waited.

Perusing the information, the dark haired human glanced to him and then back. "Says here you're a private freight company. Not contracted to anyone right now?"

"No."

Nodding, he continued his scrutiny. "I'll need to tour the ship."

Stepping aside, Syravari swept his right arm wide toward the ramp, then followed the man aboard and knew at some point in the visit he was going to have to pay this man for some supposed infraction. Money was always exchanged this way for a host of reasons, one of those being that the official was a Black Sun employee looking for other avenues for more. Just like everyone else, it seemed.

Through many ornately decorated rooms they moved until reaching the main hallway which would soon lead them to the cargo bays. "Seems you've come by some money," the man stated, turning to Syravari. "Inherited?"

"Earned."

"Ah," he nodded, then turned and continued toward the facing doors which would lead them to either cargo bay. "Well, you've done well for yourself. And with a large crew as well, which can't be cheap." Stopping at the port side cargo door, he turned to it and reached for the access button. "Hope I don't find anyone aboard here that's got a warrant on them. That would be unfortunate."

"You've got their ident cards there."

"I do," he continued and began his descent into the small sea of crates and barrels. "Just hate to have you lose any profit on this run because someone didn't get their past taken care of." Brown eyes scanned the contents of medium grey as they walked among the well organized items. "Be amazed how often I have to surprise someone with the past of a crewmember that the captain thought he knew well enough. Happens all the time."

"If you don't have anyone on my crew that's got a problem, then just get this over with. I have a lot to do today."

Grinning wryly, the official knew he was getting beneath Syravari's skin already. "And this cargo, where'd you come by it?"

"Everything's on the manifest." Read it, dumbass.

As they talked, Brannoc and Tomas joined them and both had impatient looks on their faces, glancing between their captain and the intrusive inspector. Soon, their tour emerged back out in the hangar and the official handed the manifest and other forms back.

Taking them, Syravari hoped that this was it and he could move on to more important things. "We done?"

Nodding, the official turned to leave. "Everything's been taken care of. Have a nice day."

About damn time. Heading back into the ship's starboard cargo bay, he heard the approach of a cargo skiff and turned to recognize Tanner and his men aboard it, dressed as loaders. Time to get to business, he mused.

"Anything about that inspector's visit seem odd to you," Brannoc asked as the skiff's approaching engines grew louder.

"Yeah, but until I know why not going to worry about it."

Nodding, the trusted lieutenant let it go. "Copy that."

"Well, well, well," Tanner grinned and dropped down to the tarmac. "Great to see you, my friend." Green eyes motioned to the cargo's door which was now folded out to be a floor. "Permission to come aboard?"

Motioning with his head, Syravari glanced to the men and possible weapons which he noticed several with shoulder holstered pistols. "Just you for now, then they can help you escort the cargo out."

"Not a problem," he replied and followed to the hidden compartment. "How many did you get?"

"Twenty." Touching the button, he held out the stun baton in his right hand as the door opened to reveal the Oku now all eyeing them in fear.

"Oooh," Tanner smiled as he stepped in and perused the merchandise. "You've done it," he laughed. "Never thought I'd see one of them, but here they are."

"Twenty a head. They're healthy, medical droid's report is here as well."

"Don't doubt you," Tanner said as he crouched and eyed several of the larger males, their muscle tone lean and agile. "I have several buyers already eager to get theirs," he stood again and nodded. Backing out, the low grunts and whimpers from the slaves unnerved no one. Reaching out his right hand as he returned to the door. "Deal."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia had been in her room when the pacing got to be too much. She wasn't a child, or a fragile woman of pleasure to be coddled in packing webbing and protected from every little bump and scrape. If she was going to be Syra's lady, or at the very least, a member of the crew, she needed to show her spine.

Slipping on a clean pair of tight black leggings, her boots slipped back on with knife tucked discretely out of sight, she donned her tshirt and a button up over the top of it. It didn't occur to her that the over shirt was one of her boss's. She pulled her hair back in a pony tail and, after palming her door shut, headed for the cargo bay. She reached the top of the rails and saw Syra and another man head for the cargo room under the ramp she stood over. The secret compartment was one she was aware of, but had never seen anything in before. Syravari had showed it to her before his disappearance when he was showing her around the ship.

Brannoc glanced up as the she appeared on the railing. Syra had passed beneath her already and apparently hadn't seen her. As Tanner glanced over the prisoners, Brannoc came up behind his boss and whispered so Tanner wouldn't hear, being so close to the whimpering aliens. "Just to let you know, a certain little nexu is peering over the railing. She hasn't come down, doubt she will, but thought you should know." He then stepped back to guard the door and his boss' back as Tanner came back to them.

[Syravari Elik]

Nodding to Brannoc's warning, Syravari kept Tanner and his men in his sights first and foremost, hoping that none of them decided to take the cargo instead of paying for it which wouldn't end well for the intruders. Glancing to the brunette on the stair, Tanner smiled as he addressed the pirate captain. "You certainly have an amazing talent for finding attractive help," his brown eyes then fell back to Syravari. "I take it she's not for sale?"

Head canted lightly to the left as his stone cold expression remained. "Twenty a head for them in the room, no one else. Got it?"

Right hand raised defensively, "Understood. Had to ask." Turning to his men awaiting his command on the skiff, he motioned to them. "Have yours unlock them and I'll get this all taken care of."

"Not seeing any money yet."

Reaching into his jacket pocket, Tanner produced a credstick which Syravari immediately evaluated for the correct amount, then nodded. Taking it, he backed as Brannoc and the men began unlocking the Oku and soon watched over Tanner's men who then escorted the white furred aliens from the ship. Moving back to the base of the stair, Syravari handed Nallia the credstick. "Go ahead and put that in the account, then we'll get everyone paid."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia felt the man's gaze up at her crawl over her skin leaving behind a feeling she had no desire to explore further. She grit her teeth to keep from rubbing her arms as if to wipe him away. A breath of relief slipped past her lips as she heard Syra cut him off quick with his wish for more than the cargo. She squared her shoulders as the men finished talking and Syra approached her with the credstick. Not wanting to give the other men any cause to make trouble, she merely nodded. "Yes, Sir." She let her finger absently brush his as she took the stick and moved away. Thankfully it was small enough that the gesture wasn't obvious.

Moving to the office, she had the nagging suspicion the order had been given to get her away from the prying eyes of the others as they offloaded the cargo.

**

It was sitting at his desk, her mind working over numbers as she looked over the books, that he would find her when he came in. She had remembered he had said there was a balance for her to draw from from before she had been left on Drifter's. For the first time, just out of curiosity, she chose to look at that balance and her open shock was evident on her face. Surely it was a mistake. The balance, even before this trip was split up, was more than she could have imagined owning in a whole lifetime, much less merely as pocket change. Her hand was on her mouth to keep the gasp of surprise from leaking into the hallway as her eyes shone on the edge of tears. Surely it was a mistake...

[Syravari Elik]

Shaking Syravari's hand, Tanner smiled as the last of the Oku were loaded aboard his skiff. "Pleasure doing business. Looking forward to seeing what else you can get me."

"Need anything in particular?"

"Nah," he shook his head and took a step away, retrieving his hand. "Surprise me."

Steel-blue eyes turned toward the personnel skiff as he nodded. "Alright, see what I can do." Backing as well, he let Tanner leave his ship, then reached up and tapped the button to close the open cargo ramp and as the servo motors whined in protest, he moved to the stair as Brannoc and the others joined him. "Have the droids clean that room, then we'll take some down time here for a few days. Have some business to attend to."

"Sounds good," Tomas replied.

Brannoc cleared his throat, "One of those shit himself quite a lot, so sanitizing this whole cargo bay's probably going to be a good idea."

Nodding, Syravari knew the droids would handle the dirtier part of this job, so left it to them as he made his way toward his office. Entering, he saw Nallia's face as she sat in his chair and smiled at her as he moved to the whetbar. Mixing himself a drink, he made her one as well and carried them to his desk, setting hers on the black leather mat. "What's wrong," he asked, then took a sip.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia bit her lip and dropped her hand as Syra entered. Seeing him pour the drink, she moved out of his chair and reached for the one he poured her. Taking a rather long slow draw from it, she coughed and looked at him shaking her head. "I think there is a mistake, Syra. There is a huge balance in my account. I know I didn't have that much when I came here. The credstick I gave you from my tips on the station were barely a 10th of that. How in the all the stars..." she still had trouble wrapping her head around it. "Where did it come from? I mean, I think it's an error we need to fix before you dole out the others' credits for this job."

Since she hadn't been part of the loading, or feeding or anything else, it was more or less settled in her head that her cut this time, if she got one, wasn't going to be much. After all, she merely did as she always did, fixing meals for the crew. "I mean, I didn't look at the balance before you left, so I am thinking maybe when you were gone, extra money was moved. I just don't want you to think I moved it and I am sure I can't think of who would." She took another long swig and realized as she coughed hard once more that the two fingers of amber liquid were gone. She set the glass down on the bar and moved to stand by the couch. Her look back up at him was one of utmost concern. He had asked her to look over the books and she had. Everything had seemed ok, but then this... this made her wonder what other slips she may not be aware of. Not wanting to accuse anyone, she quickly added, "I mean, I am sure it was a slip up by whoever was or is doing your books till now. I highly doubt anyone would seriously want to steal from you, much less give it to me on purpose."

The only thing that went through her mind was someone was possibly framing her. But no one on the ship fit that description. Was there someone else, doing the books, who was onboard perhaps when searching for Syra, who may have done it to hide money till they could reach it? Whatever it was, she wanted Syra to know right away. He needed this money for his venture.

[Syravari Elik]

Taking his sip, he lowered the glass and then laughed at her surprise. "You've been part of this crew now for several months, so that's all yours." Watching her concerned face was priceless as he knew she had never seen this kind of money being an indentured servant to a dirtbag. "No one would ever do this behind my back, you and I are the only ones with the passcodes for this account." His brow raised to accentuate his point, then he downed the rest of his drink. Sitting, he placed the empty glass on the desk and then tabbed over another page to the payroll. "Here's everyone's salary," he began, then pointed to hers as the head chef and accountant. "That's your monthly salary."

Fifty thousand a year was a lot of money for most anyone aboard a yacht that also pirated and slaved, but his business had been very lucrative for a very long time.

Sniffing, he sat back, hands upon the ends of the arms of the chair. "You ever decide you've had enough of this life, your money goes with you and I'll help set you up wherever you want," giving her the option of leaving at any point, he now also tested her resolve of remaining with them. Now was that moment in their relationship where he discovered whether she was in this for the long haul or just another ship passing in the night.

[Nallia Oberon]

She couldn't believe it. It wasn't a mistake. She was... well she was rich. But somehow even that word seemed to pale with the idea of the immense amount of credit she had. When he pointed to the others, she shook her head. They all had incredible balances. Most were larger than hers, but she guessed longevity was part of that. She leaned on the desk, her knees brushing his as he sat at his chair. "I didn't know. I figured you needed the money for the new place. I don't have a need for all that Syra. You can take what you need and want to get the business going." She didn't want him doing something he didn't want to because he was short money while she had no clue how to spend even the generous monthly salary in a whole lifetime.

Her bottom lip slid between her teeth as he leaned back and offered to let her go. "Do you want me to go?" Her body froze like a prey sensing a predator. Few people could find a true stillness. They moved, constantly, even when at rest. Syra was like that. But he was a predator. Even at rest, sitting there in his chair watching her, she could sense the coiled creature in him. It wasn't something she feared, rather she felt protected and wanted. But she knew, no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't be like him. She would have that utter stillness that could make her blend into a wall even in brilliant yellow attire. "Did that man, Tanner, want me on his ship?" Her voice choked. If given a choice, she would say no. She had been bought and sold before, without a choice. She never told him. She also knew sometimes 'business was business'.

Without realizing she said it out loud, a soft whisper parted her lips as knuckles went white beside her hips as she gripped the desk as terror slid through her. "I want to stay... with you..."

[Syravari Elik]

"Club's taken care of," he relayed, shaking his head and realizing firsthand how much she had been neglected all these years, before they met. Almost sad, really. Her query met with a furrowed brow, not having said or done anything to relay such a thought and he watched her as she continued asking about Tanner, then he heard her answer whispered as if a secret which slipped out.

Reaching for her, he drew her into his lap knowing he had found the one and though he still hadn't said the words, he had a feeling that his actions spoke volumes. "I said, if you wanted to go," he grinned. "I've given you access to the money aboard this ship without concern, which means you've already proven yourself and had I thought otherwise, you'd never lasted this long with us." Wrapping his right arm around her waist, Syravari drew her in closer and reached up, kissing her on the chin. "Tanner or any other bastard ever thinks that I'm letting you out of my sight's got another thing coming. In fact, I'd burn him down if he ever tried to take you or anyone else from this ship without my consent." Brow raised to accentuate his point, though within his steel-blue eyes raged a fire that he had been born with.

Mom called it protective instincts.

[Nallia Oberon]

She watched the range of emotions on his face as she spoke. Whether it was because it was her, or she was getting better at reading him, she didn't know. She suddenly realized that he was closed and guarded with others around. Was he open like this when one on one with the others? Smiling, she decided it didn't matter.

When he pulled her into his lap and assured her no one was taking her away from him, she relaxed against his body. He said he'd protect them all. As she looked into his eyes she saw his possessiveness. But it was different than she'd seen before. Then another word came yup mind... Protective. He was protective of his crew, and of her.

Without another word, she caresses his cheek and kissed him. It was full of everything she couldn't put words to...the money, the position she held the ship, the feelings she had for him.

After a long moment she pulled back, ran her fingers thru his hair and smiled. "Well, boss," she laughed, "since I have plans to stick around and harm anyone coming after 'you' as well...what now?"

The mission was done, at least this one was. As her own possessive eyes stared back at him, she wondered where life would take her, and him, next.

[Nallia Oberon]

Duplicate

[Nallia Oberon]

End of thread