Author's Note
A piece for my Sith Legacy series, exploring the next generation of my original stories. These stories explore what happens to my characters after their stories from Star Wars, The Old Republic and the tales of their children.
"I swear, Buck," Conrad whispered, "She won't stop looking at you."
Buck rolled his red eyes at his classmate's enthusiasm. They were celebrating their graduation from the Imperial Academy with drinks in the Kaas City cantina, one final lighthearted jaunt before they picked up their assignments from Imperial Intelligence. This could be the last time they saw each other, and a darker part of Buck wondered how many of his pals would still be alive at the end of the year.
He'd been trying to drown out those thoughts with several glasses of Jorian whiskey, but the same Chiss metabolism that kept his physique toned also made it difficult to maintain the level of inebriation that his pals were enjoying. Who am I to spoil their fun? he thought, just enjoy the night of camaraderie. One last night with the boys enjoying the fleeting friendships they'd struck while training, then they could scatter across the galaxy. But as soon as the enigmatic woman had walked into the cantina, his classmates hadn't been able to focus on anything else.
"Of course she's looking at me," Buck muttered to his classmate, "I tend to stand out." He shot a pointed look at Conrad's blonde waves before running a hand through his short indigo hair. But his friend shook his head, not about to be dissuaded.
"Don't assume it's that. She hasn't stopped glancing your way since she came in; maybe she thinks you're cute."
Conrad indicated the slender woman in the skin-tight black body suit sitting down at the bar. She had short black dreadlocks and the cybernetic implants along her forehead and cheek gleamed in the dim light. True to Conrad's assessment, she'd been shooting looks over at them all night, at him in particular, providing his friends an excuse to rib the only Chiss in their group.
Buck wasn't vain but he knew women found him attractive. He had a chiseled bone structure emphasized by short indigo hair that never wanted to lie straight. His skin was a rich medium blue and, thanks to his Chiss metabolism, he looked like he'd been poured into the Imperial uniform he was currently wearing. He was just tired of being viewed as a novelty, bragging rights for any female who just wanted to say she'd scored a Chiss.
"Go talk to her," Heston encouraged, "So what if she's curious about you because you're Chiss. If I were you I'd use it every chance I'd get." Buck groaned in exasperation.
"Take my word for it," he grumbled, "It gets old. You don't have to hear 'Ooh, a Chiss' or 'Are you blue everywhere?' anytime you try to talk to a girl." Buck put his hand to his forehead as he shook his head.
"Come on, Buck," Heston needled, "In all that time we shared a room, I never saw you bring someone back to it. And I know you don't have a sweet girl waiting for you back on Csilla, otherwise you wouldn't have requested Cipher training."
Buck groaned again at his roommate's astute observations. Serves me right for rooming with a potential Watcher, he thought, but Heston had a point. The girls on his home world tended to distance themselves when they found out he wasn't full Chiss, having a human father. As a result he usually socialized more with humans; intolerance stung less when it came from those who didn't share your looks.
But even human girls tended to balk when they found out his age in Galactic Years. For some reason the girls who were the age he resembled, around 25, didn't like the idea that he was in fact closer to 16. At least being a Cipher would allow him to serve the Empire and Csilla and keep him underground where no one knew his history. Age wasn't the only thing he'd rather not make public knowledge. But those were matters he hadn't wanted to worry about tonight.
Looking over at the woman sitting at the bar again, he was surprised when she caught his eye and gave him a wink. His compatriots caught the gesture and started teasing him more.
"See, I told you, Buck," Conrad chuckled, "She wants you." This time Buck laughed in defeat.
"This won't die until I do something will it?" He hung his head as the guys he'd spent the last couple years with gave him playful shoves and jostles. Sliding off of his seat, he wandered over to the woman, trying to ignore the hoots from his friends. By the time he'd reached her, she'd noticed his approach and was giving him an expectant smile.
"Miss, please excuse those idiots I call friends," he gave her an apologetic grin, "I'd be more than happy to pay for your drink if you just nod, giggle like I said something funny, and then shoo me away." She giggled and Buck nodded.
"Perfect, but next time the nod should come first," This time the woman laughed outright.
"That has to be more unique line I'd ever heard," she said, "Has it ever worked?"
"First time I've used it, but it wasn't a line," he grimaced as he looked back at his classmates, "Just trying to get back to enjoying the night with the boys." The woman gave him a considering look as her eyes traced his form.
"So you'd rather let them think I shot you down?
"Beats the alternative. If they think their tactics worked they might be tempted to use them again." She laughed again and patted the seat beside her.
"Well, why don't we string them along for a bit longer," she said, "What's your name Cutie?" Buck was surprised enough to take the offered seat.
"Buck," he said reaching over to shake her hand and watched her smile widen.
"Buck, huh? Not very Chiss, a nickname?" He shot her an impish grin.
"Yeah, short for 'Buyahk'a', long for 'Buh'," This time her laugh pealed through the cantina and he caught some approving looks from his friends.
"Call me Em," she shook his hand firmly, "You guys look like you're celebrating, what's going on?"
"One last hurrah. We finished our Intelligence training and tomorrow we pick up our first assignments." She gave him a wicked grin.
"So they have to train Imperials to be intelligent? I'm not surprised."
"In some cases it's more difficult than others," he said conspiratorially as he laughed, "What brings you here, Em?"
"Just passing through, my boss and I are working a job while her husband and boys are on a hunting expedition. She's already hit the bunk, so I'm out and about, enjoying the sights."
"Boss, eh? So what do you do?" he asked.
"Ahh, now that would be telling. But tell ya what. If you really want to impress your friends, I'm about to get out of here. Would you care to join me?" Buck couldn't believe her forwardness.
"Impressing them wasn't my goal," he explained, "I just wanted to shut them up. Are you serious about me leaving with you?" She gave him a sultry grin and reached over to stroke his hand.
"Cutie, I'm only here for the night and you've been especially charming. I have a room across the way and wouldn't mind you keeping me company," the hand on his dropped down and squeezed his leg, "Now that can be for a game of pazaak, but I had more 'physical' activities in mind."
Em slid out of her seat with the grace of a Vorn tiger, and gave him a shrug that traveled down the slim curves of her body. Looking back at his friends, Buck saw several enthusiastic nods and decided to take her up on her offer. He followed her out of the cantina, still not believing his luck and trying to ignore the whoops that trailed after them.
She wasn't lying when she said she had a room across the way, Buck thought, they'd only had to walk about a Kaas City block before reaching a discrete but expensive looking hotel. The droid at the front gave her a brisk nod as she took him to the elevator and they entered.
"So what convinced you?" she asked as she slid her hand up and down his arm.
"You didn't say 'ooh, a Chiss' in the first ten words we spoke," he bantered, "even if you thought it you had the grace to keep it to yourself. Your turn, why me?"
"'Cause you're a Chiss," she replied and laughed at the stunned look on his face, "I'm kidding Cutie. I've been enough places to know that someone's species doesn't prove their worth. One of the nicest guys I know is a Devaronian, and they've got a nasty reputation. And Jawas are downright cuddly when you get to know them." Jawas? Buck thought in amazement, Devaronians? This woman has been around, even in his travels he'd never had the chance to meet those species.
"But to answer your question, Buck, long for 'Buh'… like I said, you are exceptionally charming and I think I can only benefit from your company tonight."
For some reason her answer pleased him even as evasive as it was. When the elevator came to a stop Em took his hand and tugged.
"My floor, come on Cutie," she led him to an unmarked door down the narrow hallway and for the first time Buck wondered what he'd gotten himself into. He'd just left his friends to walk off with a woman he didn't know, maybe it hadn't been the best decision after all. When she opened the door he looked inside, cautiously. All he could see was an expansive suite with stylish décor and a fresh, clean scent. He looked at Em hearing her giggle and realized his sigh of relief had been heard.
"Don't worry, the room's a treat from my boss. She told me to enjoy myself," Em gave him another sultry look, "That's where you come in Cutie."
As soon as the door shut, Em whirled on Buck. Her hand reached up around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss. He was disoriented by her sudden aggression and fought to catch up as her tongue raced across his. She quickly unbuttoned his uniform top and his arms were forced back as she wrenched it down, trapping them. He was still trying to free them when Em pulled her mouth from his and ran her hand down his thin undershirt then lifted it.
"Cutie, you are built!" she exclaimed, and she traced his chest and abdomen. She bent her head down and Buck groaned at the feel of her mouth on his skin, kissing then nibbling his flat nipple. She raised her head back up and smiled.
"Still stuck?" she laughed before reaching behind him and yanking the offending top off of his arms, "Must have worked you into a frenzy if you couldn't undress fast enough."
She grasped his hand and pulled him to the couch in the main area of the suite, pushing him down to straddle him. Her hands seemed everywhere as she covered his mouth with hers again, tracing his arms and torso. Buck let his hands move on her as well, caressing more slowly, trying to learn her curves. He explored her bodysuit, trying to find the way to open it and she giggled again. Backing up she gave him a heated look.
"Here," she said as she guided his hand to the hidden tab of her zipper.
Her garment was so well constructed he hadn't noticed the zipper down the front of her suit. He slowly pulled it down, loving the reveal of pale flesh as it parted down to her navel. Reaching up he nudged aside the garment, making her breasts visible before stroking one with the back of his hand. He was surprised to feel her shiver as her nipple peaked. Tilting his head, he moved both hands to cover her breasts, massaging gently and running his thumbs over the hardened tips.
"Do you caress all of your girls so well, or am I special, Cutie?" she teased breathlessly, and Buck decided if he would confess, now would be the time to do it.
"You're definitely special, Em. But I, uh, haven't 'caressed' anyone like this." She froze above him.
"Anyone?" her voice dropped, "You're still a…." she cleared her throat discretely and he nodded instead of making her finish.
"Yeah, it's a long story," he said dryly, not wanting to discuss Chiss maturity rates and how old he was in Galactic Standard years at this moment, "Does that affect anything?"
She shifted and Buck was afraid she was going to get up and leave. Instead she ran her hands back over his chest and leaned in to give him a kiss. Lacking the frenzied hunger of before, this kiss was soothing and gentle. When she sat back up he saw she was still smiling at him.
"We all gotta start somewhere," she quipped, "Not every day a girl gets a blank slate. But let's do this right?" She shifted off of him and stood up, reaching for his hand. She led him to a room towards the back of the suite occupied by a huge bed.
"Let's make your first time mean more than a wrestling match on a couch," Em said before capturing his lips again.
Footnote... For anyone who recognized it, Buck's line about "short for 'Buyahk'a', long for 'Buh'" is semi-stolen from Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs. I love the crazed weasel Buck, and had to let my Buck use that line. One of my other favorite lines may get used in a later story, "What's rule Number One? Always listen to Buck!"