Book II: The Cure

Chapter 1

The Levana and the Star Searcher settled down upon the landing platform on Aquaris. Aquaris, as its name implied, was a planet completely covered by water. However, like Kamino, there was also a way for ships to land. There was a large high-tech underwater base maintained by the planet's only permanent inhabitants, The Freeholders. The base was accessible by several large retractable landing platforms. The Freeholders were one of the largest pirate groups in the universe. They used the rarely-visited Aquaris as a base of operations and their base maintained a cover as a Hyper-drive refueling station. Because of this profitable cover, The Empire maintained no presence on the planet and usually turned a blind eye to the pirates' practices.

The refueling station used an advanced technique of gathering fuel. A row of solar panels were hidden underwater underneath the platform. When it was time to refuel a ship's Hyper-drive core, the panels mechanically rose out of the water and gathered solar energy and transferred it to Hyper-drive energy in the ship's core.

At the moment, the station was supervised by a shrewd Freeholder businessman named Kraaken. Marik took a deep breath, exited the ship and walked over to the office to meet with Kraaken. Marik knew he might be taking a chance because it was such a dangerous time to be helping strangers that could be Jedi and Kraaken was known to have had even more unscrupulous dealings before he became a Freeholder. The Freeholders were known to have opposed the Empire several times and were at one time friendly to Jedi. However, some things might have changed.

As Marik spoke with the pointy-eared humanoid, Kraaken, Alanna and the group stepped out of the ship to stretch their legs. Shiro wandered about, humming.

Marik returned to the group and said, "Kraaken has agreed to refuel our ship and resupply us with food and other necessities. I might need some help picking out and carrying the supplies towards the ship." Marik looked at Alanna with a nervous half-smile. "Alanna? Care to assist me?"

Alanna brushed her hair away in uncertainty and shyness. "Um, sure." She looked over her shoulder at Shiro, who was strolling aimlessly around the dock away from the ship. "Shiro, don't go too far now. Be careful."

"Yes, Mother." Shiro sneered sarcastically yet playfully. He strolled past the ship and far out across the platform. He began to playfully walk around the edge of the platform. As he walked, he spoke in a sing-song style. "Has buckets of energy, poor dear. Been lying in wait for moment. Bugs walking back to the anthill. Queen's missing."

Suddenly he slipped over the edge and fell. Shiro cried out in fear as he fell toward the water below. Instantly a hand grabbed him and held him in mid-air.

Shiro recovered and looked up at a young girl, about his age. The sun blocked out most of her appearance. She spoke, "Got you, kid! You wanna watch yourself. People might think you have a death wish."

Shiro smiled uncertainly. "It's not like I don't have a reason, if that were true."

The girl pulled Shiro up and set him down on the platform. He looked her over. She wore a simple purple hood and cloak over her outer garments, her hair was a slightly unnatural red and her eyes were both dark brown. There was something oddly familiar about her but Shiro couldn't tell what it was for some reason. He also noticed that she had a very attractive and friendly look to her. Maybe too friendly.

"Well, thank you for saving me, um… Sorry, I didn't catch the name." He put out his hand for her to shake.

She shook his hand amiably. "Name's Sarre. Just Sarre."

Shiro grinned. "Well, I'm Shiro. Just Shiro."

"I know you are. I know a lot about you, Jedi."

Shiro gasped in surprise. "How…?"

She put a finger to her lips. "All will be explained. Why don't you take me to meet your friends, Shiro? I have important information for them."

To his surprise, Shiro complied without question. He led and Sarre followed over to the ship. The group was staring, aghast at Shiro's near meeting with death and the young lady who saved his life. They both came up to Amelie.

Amelie grabbed Shiro's hand. "Hey," she said, "You be more careful." Shiro nodded. "Who's your new friend?"

Sarre offered her hand and as soon as Amelie took it, she said, "The sun is awfully dark today don't you think?"

Amelie's eyes went wide. She answered back, "Dark day this is."

Sarre returned, "The blue skies turn black at dawn."

The group looked back and forth from Amelie to Sarre. Shiro looked at Sarre and asked, "Who are you and what do want?"

Alanna walked up beside Shiro. "That is a very good question."

Sarre turned and looked at the group with a big, exaggerated smile and said, "I have been looking for someone loyal. I have information and I need to transport it to you. We have had our eyes on you for a long time. I was told that you are... sympathetic by certain people. I was told that…certain people aboard this ship had some… sympathies." She turned back to Amelie. "And you…you answered the question."

Amelie said, "Sarre?"

"Amelie, what is going on?" Alanna said. "Do you know this girl?"

"Not really. But I've heard of her from earlier days. She's younger than I expected but she spoke the password. And I was told that I would meet her some day when I wasn't expecting it."

Sarre grinned. "Ah, I see that they did give you the message."

Shiro suddenly sensed something. "Oh. I see. Vengeance from the grave. Kills the people she once saved. You are a delivery girl sent by grocery clerks to collect a bill. BLACK…" Shiro lowered his voice to a whisper. "Black Sun."

Sarre stepped back in surprise. "What is this… BOY?!" She suddenly pulled out a blaster and pointed it at Shiro. "I was told that this was a sympathetic group!"

Alanna pulled out her blaster and pointed it towards Sarre. "I suggest you put the blaster away."

Alexia got between Shiro and the blaster and spoke bravely to Sarre. "Please. Shiro's just a little crazy."

Shiro smirked. Then he turned Sarre's blaster around towards her with the Force. "Go ahead and fire!" Shiro smiled, turned around and walked away, muttering, "See, now why would he do that? Because he's a lummox, isn't he? We shall have a wonderful garden party and you're not invited."

Sarre nodded and lowered her gun. "Ah, well, crazy I can work with." She looked around at the group as if nothing had happened. "Well, we should get in before we attract attention, don't you think?" She walked towards the opening of the Levana.

"Not so fast." Alanna said. She continued pointing her gun at Sarre. "I think you've got some explaining to do."

Sarre rolled her eyes and sighed as if this was all an unnecessary burden. "Look, we're on the same team. We're working for the same goal."

"Oh, really?"

Sarre sighed again. "I might as well get on with it. I am an agent of the Black Sun. The Black Sun has followed the adventures of your band. The Black Sun has decided to aid you in your crusade against the Empire. I have been sent to assist you and join your crew. I have data from the Black Sun and Bothan Spy networks that will help undo the Empire."

Alanna raised an eyebrow. "Based on our pursuit by the Black Sun agent, Drakk Menace, I was under the impression that the Black Sun was only interested in capturing Shiro just as the Empire is."

"Please, do not judge us by Menace's actions. Menace was working on his own initiative. He was hoping that nabbing Shiro for us would gain him more favor among us. The truth is that Black Sun is frustrated with the Empire's actions and hopes to overtake them as the rulers of the galaxy. Assisting your band would aid us in this goal. The enemy of our enemy is our friend."

Alanna remained apprehensive. "Right. And how does Amelie know of you, Sarre?"

"Amelie Stryker once worked for the Black Sun, as she can tell you."

Amelie nodded at Alanna to verify this. Alanna stared at Sarre with distrustful eyes.

"And she spoke the code, so…" Sarre chucked a portable hologame to Shiro. "…We're cool!"

Shiro looked the game over and then a thought occurred to him. He looked up at Alanna. "Alanna, she's coming with us. Another shrimp on the barbie."

Alanna's eyes went wide. "What?! Shiro, I'm not sure I like that idea."

"She can help us, Alanna. She has information and connections we could use to bring our enemies down. Be a good little taun-taun and chill. Or don't you trust my judgment?"

Sarre said, "Look, I know that this seems a little out of the ordinary but keep in mind that this is all time sensitive material."

"See, Alanna. 'Time sensitive.' The enemy of our enemy is my friend."

Alanna responded, "Shiro, may I remind you she tried to shoot you?!"

Sarre raised her hand, "Uh yeah, sorry about that. I get a little jumpy when my cover is blown. But I also did save his life."

Alexia nodded. "She's got a point, Alanna."

Kyra spoke up, "We could use extra information on the Empire's movements."

Alanna held an angry expression on her face. She did trust Shiro's judgment but there was just something about this "Sarre" she didn't trust.

Marik returned from speaking with Kraaken. "Uh, am I interrupting something?"

Alanna exclaimed, "Ooh! Why am I the only one who sees a problem with this?!"

At that moment, Kraaken walked up to the group. "If I may, my friends…" he interjected. "I can personally vouch for Miss Sarre's character. Not everyone in the Black Sun is a corrupt, backstabbing criminal. Some of them are earnest, loyal souls who wish to help others but sometimes have to use illegal means to do that. We Freeholders also skirt on the other side of the law at times. At this time, it is completely illegal to aid Jedi in any way. The only help you could expect would be the illegal kind. Sarre's intentions are impeccable. She has performed many noble services for me and the other Freeholders."

Convinced, the rest of the group looked back at Alanna, who huffed, "Fine! She can come with us, for now! But if there's one slip-up, one backstabbing act, then she's out and I can't be held responsible for what actions I might take against her!" She folded her arms in frustration. "She better not have a lot of luggage to take along!"

Sarre smiled. "Oh, not too much. Just one or two bags." She motioned to a worker droid, who wheeled over a cart filled with baggage. She picked up one of the bags and threw it over Alanna's shoulder. "Here you go!" Alanna groaned under the weight of the bag. "The droid and this strong, young teen can help me get the rest of it." Shiro smiled at the flattery, nodded and picked up one of the bags, while the droid wheeled the rest in.

Alanna cursed under her breath and carried the heavy bag, reluctantly, toward the ship. Now that the ship was finished refueling, the rest of the group went into the ship. Marik bid farewell to Kraaken and went into the ship as it prepared for take-off.

Amelie turned to Frell, "Frell, darling, would you do me a favor and pilot the Star Searcher to Bothawui for me? I think it would be a good idea if I stayed on the Levana for a while, just to make sure Alanna doesn't do anything crazy, like killing Sarre." Frell nodded and headed over to the Star Searcher.

As Shiro and Sarre walked down the hall, Alexia came up to Sarre. "Hey, Sarre, sometime you've got to tell me about the Black Sun. Like all those cool code phrases. Tell me another one of those."

Sarre turned and smiled. "Well, if you insist. 'Sky is black…' Oh, but I'm tired. Excuse me. I should get to my room."

Alexia got a weird look in her eyes and walked off. Shiro raised an eyebrow and looked at her but then turned back around and led the way down the hall to Sarre's appointed room.

Once Sarre's luggage was all loaded in her room, Shiro took her on a tour of the ship. "Sometime later, I'd like to talk with you about Byss. I'm sure you must know of some of the secrets there."

Suddenly, Amelie screamed and ran down the hall toward Shiro and the group.

"Ame, what is it?!"

Amelie pointed down the hall. Shiro ran up and saw Alexia kneeling over the dead body of one of the Jedi officers from Wayland.

Alexia wept and looked up at Shiro. "I killed him!"

Shiro gasped. "Alexia… Why?! What have you done?!"

"I didn't mean to, Shiro, believe me! It was Crow! I felt his command! He's still able to control me!"

"But how? I cancelled your chip and Marik helped me subdue him! How can he still be so active?"

Alexia shook her head. "I don't know!

Shiro stood a moment in silence, contemplating his next move. Marik ran up to see the calamity.

Shiro looked up meaningfully at him, speaking to him telepathically. "You know what we must do, Marik."

Marik nodded. At that moment, Bors ran up to the group and saw the sight. He took a deep breath and looked at Marik. "What happened?"

Marik put his hand on Bors' shoulder. "Now, Bors, please listen…"

"WHAT HAPPENED?!"

"Bors, brother, please. I will explain later. Right now, you must help the crew attend to the body. Everyone, please excuse me and Shiro." Marik looked around at the entire group. "It is vital to our mission that I try the Mind Trance once more. I have discovered something. Shiro is the key to reaching the Crow program and possibly destroying it. Our overall mission is still to find a crystal on Ilum and then use that crystal to destroy the computer on Byss controlling the Crow program and the Youngling Project. But before that mission can be accomplished we have other tasks to perform, such as taking the Jedi officers to Bothawui so they can take jobs working under the protection of the Bothan Spy Network. In the meantime, I believe I can use my power of Mind Healing to defeat the Crow program at its core by undergoing the Mind Trance with Shiro. Please, trust me. Give me this chance to help combat the Empire's deeds against us."

Alanna and the group nodded. Alexia looked away and continued crying. Shiro put his hand on Alexia's shoulder. "It's okay, Alexia. You didn't know what you were doing. He is a harsh puppet master."

Alexia began breathing heavily. "No! No!" She ran off down the hall.

"I'll go get her," said Kyra. She followed Alexia to comfort her.

"The Jedi and I will deal with the body," Alanna said to Marik.

Marik said, "Thank you." He turned back to Shiro.

"Alright," said Shiro. "Let's go."

Marik and Shiro walked into a private room in the ship. "We need to try harder this time!" Shiro said.

"Very well," Marik sighed. "I'll do my best."

"NO! Your best isn't good enough!" Shiro turned and shouted. "We need to try HARDER! We can't have another failure like last time! Not if we're to be fully rid of him!"

Marik looked at Shiro. "Shiro? Are you alright?"

"ALRIGHT?! No, I'm not bloody alright, okay?! I'm completely mental, thanks to you!"

Marik gasped. "What?!"

"If you had taken me as your apprentice and hadn't left me in the Temple, none of this would have happened to me!"

"Shiro!" This wasn't like Shiro. Not like him at all. Marik suddenly realized that Crow was so strong, he was actually possessing Shiro.

"You're nothing but a disappointment to me!"

"SHIRO, STOP!" Marik commanded. Shiro held his head and cried out in pain. He fell to the floor. Marik knelt down and grasped Shiro's hand. Shiro squeezed Marik's hand and Marik fell back and closed his eyes. Once more Shiro and Marik entered the realm of Shiro's mind and came face to face with the specter of the Crow.

Marik and Shiro suddenly envisioned a fiery crow flying out of the night sky. The crow settled to the ground and the fire died down. The crow transformed into a hooded figure. The figure turned to Marik. Then it spoke as if interested in a conversation.

"You called?"

Marik faced the figure down. "You will no longer have control of this boy. We will defeat you..."

The figure laughed softly yet cruelly. His voice began to sound much like Emperor Palpatine's. "So confident, Marik? So eager to fight. Truly, what need is there for us to fight? Let us talk. Perhaps I can help you. Think of this boy and me as your guides to destroying your enemies."

Marik scoffed. "Like I would fall for that when you ARE my enemy."

"We are similar in many ways. We are both teachers. Powerful teachers. If we combined forces and learned from each other, then none would stand in our path. I don't care about the Empire. I can make the boy do anything for you."

Marik spoke firmly. "I won't let you use Shiro any longer!"

The hooded figure lifted its head, revealing the withered, scarred face of Palpatine. His eyes glowed red and he cried out in rage. "I'LL DO AS I PLEASE! YOU CANNOT STOP ME! NOTHING CAN STOP ME! YOUUU WIILLL FAAIILLL!"

Immediately, Marik knew what to do. He unleashed a mental Force wave at the Crow apparition. Then suddenly the Crow possessed Shiro and Shiro shot Force lightning at Marik. Marik cringed and used a Force shield to block it.

"Shiro," he cried, "I am trying to help you!"

Crow screamed, "HE IS MINE! I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!"

Suddenly, Shiro sent his own Force wave out to attack the Crow. "Good work, Shiro!" Marik shouted.

The Crow faded away, shrieking, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

Marik and Shiro awakened, breathing heavily.

"Fade away but still there," Shiro said. "Stolen thunder."

Marik shook his head. "How do you feel, Shiro?

"I… I feel fine, I guess."

Marik breathed a sigh of relief. Shiro was back to normal. Well, somewhat normal. "I want you to know I am very proud of you. It looked bleak there for a second but you ultimately helped me defeat Crow."

"But he's not defeated, Marik. It's not that easy. We only temporarily silenced him. He's still there. Getting stronger and stronger. He can still control us. We failed. The only way to destroy him is on Byss with the crystal." He looked at Marik with deep regret. "I... I'm sorry I attacked you. He possessed me. He can still use me. Promise me you'll kill me before he takes over permanently."

"That is a promise that I hate to make. But if there is no other choice, I will end your suffering."

Shiro suddenly smiled and decided to change the subject. "There are two weevils going for food on a table: one large, one small. Which will eat the food first and will eat the most of it?"

Marik thought a moment. "The smaller?"

"Right. Why?"

"He is quicker."

"You always pick the 'lesser of two weevils.'"

Marik chuckled. "I like that."

"That's why Sarre can help us, Marik. Sarre can tell us what Crow and the Empire are planning... I think. She is the lesser of two evils."

Marik smirked and said matter-of-factly "I think Alanna dislikes her."

"Well she's become protective of me. She's made progress. She's letting her time with me clear her of her guilt."

Marik marveled at how much insight Shiro had at his age. He sighed. "I think this will be an interesting trip..."

"To say the least." Shiro raised an eyebrow. "What do you think of Alanna, Marik? Honestly?"

Marik was startled by this question and hesitated. "I… like her." He was obviously leaving something unsaid.

Shiro immediately sensed the truth. "Uh oh. Someone's got it bad." He smiled smugly.

"Hmm? What are you talking about?"

Shiro giggled. "Marik and Alanna sitting in a tree…"

Marik rolled his eyes. He could hide nothing from Shiro. "She is a very… intriguing… woman."

But Shiro knew the truth and he couldn't resist teasing Marik. Even though he approved. He folded his arms and said slyly, "Isn't that against the 'Jedi Code?' You ole rule-breaker, you? Heh!"

"Hey, I'm Corellian! We have special rules! We were allowed to marry, you know…. However, yes, you're right. It was frowned upon. The Jedi teachings make it clear. Attachment is forbidden." Marik sighed.

"Right. Well the Council's gone. No one's stopping you. I don't see anything wrong with it. Love is love. You shouldn't deny it, right? I mean I always thought that rule was a little strange."

"Shiro, that is putting the cart a little before the beast, isn't it?"

Shiro looked questioningly. "I don't know that one, Master."

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. I barely know Alanna as yet."

"Heh. Things happen." Shiro winked at Marik.

Marik felt uncomfortable. He sat back and mumbled something under his breath.

That night, Shiro tossed and turned with unsettling dreams. Restless, he dwelt on vivid, disturbing memories of the past and frightening visions of the future.

"No! NO! LEAVE THEM ALONE!" Shiro awoke and jumped up in bed, reaching out in front of him.

He saw Alexia sitting in front of him. "Sshh, Shiro! It's alright." She reached out a hand to comfort him.

Shiro breathed out a sigh of relief. "Alexia, what are you doing here?"

"You were having a nightmare. I heard you crying out from the next room. I came to check on you."

Shiro rubbed his forehead. "Well, thank you. I didn't mean to disturb you. I was quite disturbed myself."

"It's no trouble, Shiro. You must try not to worry so much. You always seem to. We're all worried how it will turn out, Shiro. You should not take all the problems we face upon yourself."

Shiro sighed, "You're probably right."

"You were dreaming about when the Younglings were killed, weren't you?"

"Strangely enough, no. Actually, I was dreaming about the time I raided that base on Ord Mantell and killed all the operatives there. I realize now that I truly did go too far." Shiro held his head. "Oh, I've doomed us all!"

"Don't say that! You have saved us! You saved me, remember? I would still be a slave to the Empire if it weren't for you."

"But still, the evil that I have done!"

"It wasn't your fault. You were controlled by Crow."

"Crow merely tempted me to kill all the operatives. It was I who willingly gave in to his command. I didn't have to kill them. I could have used my power to put them all to sleep. Instead I gave into anger. Exactly what a Jedi should not do." Tears began to fall from Shiro's eyes. "Marik was right. Even though they worked for the Empire, they didn't deserve that. Most of them were just information gatherers, rudimentary workers. Not killers. They had done nothing to me. What kind of a Jedi am I?!"

"I know what you mean. I'm still trying to get over what I did today when I killed that Jedi. I fear I might do the same thing again. But you can't remain cowering from your fears. You have to face them."

Shiro smiled. "Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant only taste death once."

Alexia looked over at Shiro. "So which are you, Shiro? A valiant or a coward?"

Shiro chuckled and wiped his tears away. "A little bit of both, I think."

"Well I certainly don't think you're a coward, Shiro. Not after all you've done for me." She looked deeply into Shiro's eyes. "I don't want you to continue to suffer, Shiro. I… I really care for you." She moved closer to Shiro.

Shiro began to feel nervous. "Y-you do?" He gulped. "Well, that… that's wonderful, Alexia. But, you see, the thing is… I… I'm in love with someone else. I'm sorry, really sorry."

Alexia drew back. "Oh… I see…" She looked away in sadness. "Kyra, huh?"

Shiro nodded. "Yeah. Alexia, please try to understand. Kyra and I, we've been friends for years. I guess after a while, it became something more than that for me." He put his hand on Alexia's shoulder. "I still care for you, Alexia. Just not in the same way."

Alexia held back her tears. She sighed deeply. "Yeah. I understand. Of course. It's alright. No problem."

"No hard feelings, Alexia?"

"No… hard feelings." Alexia got up to leave. 'Well I'd better be getting to bed. I pray you sleep well, Shiro."

"Thank you for your counsel, Alexia. You've helped me feel better."

As she walked away, Alexia bent down and kissed Shiro on the cheek. Then, embarrassed, she moved back to the door. "Good night." She quickly opened the door and closed it, leaving Shiro confused. Outside the door in the hall, Alexia sat down and held her head in her hands and heaved a sigh.

Marik sat in the dark, alone, in the lounge of the ship, nursing a glass of a clear liquid. Nearby was a bottle with a label that read Corellian Rum. It was obvious that he was deep in thought, and he was more than a little intoxicated.

I failed him. I promised him that I could help him and I failed. His thoughts followed the same spiraling pattern that had consumed him as he took another drink from the glass, draining it. He reached for the bottle and poured another one.

Alanna walked by the open door of the lounge and heard him pour the drink. Who could be sitting in there in the dark?, she wondered to herself. Curious, she went into the lounge and hit the lights.

Marik blinked owlishly, but his eyes remained blurry. Alanna sighed as she settled into the chair across from him. She picked up the bottle and read the label. The bottle was already half-empty.

"Marik, what are you doing? Getting drunk won't solve anything…" she began.

He interrupted her, "I failed."

"What are you talking about?" Alanna asked him, confused.

Marik sighed, as he attempted to hide his face in his hands. Alanna grabbed his hands to stop him. His face appeared shattered, as if he might have been on the verge of a breakdown. His words were shaky, "I promised Shiro that I could help him be rid of Crow, and I failed him. He is like a brother to me, and I CAN'T HELP HIM!" His hysteria rose and he began to sob.

Alanna took his head in her hands and gently forced him to look at her. "Shhh. It'll be alright. Shiro knows that you were trying, right? This was a first attempt; you can and will try again. Everything will be fine…" She tried to comfort him, repeating her reassurance like a mantra.

She rose from her chair, still comforting the bereft Marik, and came to his side of the table. She knelt down next to him and allowed him to embrace her. As he continued to sob, she just held him.

Slowly, the small part of Marik's mind that was not drunk realized what he was doing, and more importantly, who it was that he was embracing. He quieted his sobbing and attempted to gain control of himself. He began to pull away from Alanna.

His words were slightly slurred as he spoke, "I am sorry, Alanna. I sincerely wish that you had not seen me like this…"

She made a rude noise. "Do you really believe that you are the first man I've seen drunk and emotional? Or, for that matter that you are the first one that I have comforted in a state of drunken depression? It seems that I have lived half of my life in bars and cantinas. And YOU try to comfort a man after his whole family has been killed…"

"Helping you is no hardship…" The last came out as a soft whisper. She stopped him from pulling away and ran her fingers through his hair. She felt Marik relax. She looked up into his eyes, and started a little when he began to laugh.

"Who would have thought that of all people I would feel the safest with a bounty hunter?" He stated, still chuckling.

Alanna began to laugh as well. "Just don't make me angry, or I might turn you in!" She winked at him impishly. She brushed a long piece of hair away from his eyes. "Although I think in truth that I could never let the Empire get to you, even if it may cost me dear…"

Marik reached out and stroked her cheek tenderly. He began to lean in close to her, and found no resistance. Tenderly and tentatively, he brushed her lips with his.

Alanna gently pulled away, and slowly stood. Marik stood as well, swaying slightly. "Marik, you're drunk. I think that this is a bad idea tonight. Let me see you to your room." She offered Marik a shoulder for support.

Slowly she helped him stagger down the hall. They reached the door of his room and she opened it. She turned to leave and then suddenly she turned back. Without warning, she leaned in towards Marik and kissed him. Startled, he returned the kiss. She slowly pulled away and simply said, "Good night, Marik." Then she turned and walked away, leaving Marik behind, blinking in surprise.

Alanna returned to the lounge, to pick up Marik's mess before Shiro, Kyra, or Alexia could find it. She sighed. With all of the teenagers on ship right now, the last thing that I need is for them to find alcohol! She drank the glass that Marik had poured and placed the glass into the dish cleaner. Hmm, that is damn good rum. She then took the bottle and corked it. I think that I will hide the alcohol in the smuggling compartment, in the cargo hold. I doubt that Marik will be able to find it there.

Alanna went around the lounge and gathered up all of the hard liquor in the lounge that belonged to her, with the exception of her refrigerated milk, and the rum of Marik's, and turned out the light behind her. She made her way down the dark hallway towards the cargo hold. She opened a panel in the wall and placed the bottles there. She then replaced the panel and walked back towards her room.

She entered her room and readied herself for some sleep. What am I thinking? Marik was drunk tonight, did I take advantage of him? How much of what he did tonight was because he was drunk and I was convenient? Does he even like me? We are so different; he is a Jedi and I… I'm a bounty hunter. She sighed as she settled into her bunk. Well, keeping myself up with maybe's and rhetorical questions isn't going to change the way that he feels about me. One thing that I know for sure, however; I am falling for him…

And with that last thought, the long day finally caught up with her, and she was lost in sleep.

Marik sighed as he watched Alanna walk away. What is it about her that intrigues me so? He wondered as he watched her go. Well, there is no help for it; I made an idiot of myself in front of her. He smiled. It must not be too bad; she did kiss me. And did I imagine it, or did she say that she would protect me? Sketi, I'm too drunk for this…

Slowly Marik moved around the room readying himself for sleep. He slowly drank a glass of water, and grimaced. I'm gonna have a hangover in the morning. Damn, how could I be so stupid! I know that getting drunk won't help Shiro, and yet I fell victim to my vice again. He slammed his hand against the wall in anger. And why did it have to be Alanna that found me? I can't believe I did that in front of her. I'm such an idiot…

He stretched out on the bunk and covered his eyes with his arm. He used the Force to turn off the lights. At least she had the sense to stop me before I did something that I would truly regret… And yet, I think that I love her…

And with that last lingering thought, Marik was thrust into sleep, into drunken dreams of black crows and a shining light that took the form of Alanna.