Chapter II

"Tera, hurry up," Rage whined as the Med droid hovered over to her quickly. They were standing in a slim alleyway, with tall buildings at their sides. The shade was comforting, crawling around the edges of everything without the sunlight directly on it.

"Yes?" Tera's mechanical voice had become soothing to Rage, like a parent to child. That's how it was among them. Tera took care of her as best he could and Rage, well, she played the child part. He never knew what would come from her but always tried his best to teach her, though he found she was quite the teacher herself.

"Do you remember where we hid the bag?" She took one step out of the alley and into the sunshine, seeing various creatures and humans scuttle about on the nice day. It was warmer than usual on Skip 1 but that didn't stop Rage from wearing her black cloak, once too big and now perfect size.

"Of course, Master," he answered smugly, soaring above her.

"Tera, if I told you once, I've told you a bunch of times. Just call me Rage." She looked up at an angle and gave him a look even a droid would understand.

"Rage, huh?" A voice from down the alley spoke.

Rage spun her body around completely to face a girl leaning against the wall a few meters away. She was about the same age as Rage, ten standard years. Her hair was the dirtiest and darkest shade of blonde that it was almost to the point of being brown. It was loose and fell on its own, knowing how to adjust to the girl's appearance. She had on white cargo pants with a belt and a dark blue shirt with a vest over it. Her eyes shone blue with wonder at Rage as she crossed her arms.

"Yeah, who's asking?" Rage was young but she'd seen a lot in her years. She would have been dead if she hadn't picked up on tricks quickly, or if her father's blood hadn't pulsed through her own veins.

"Athena Rose," she announced. Rage watched her eyes hand on Tera a second longer than they needed to.

"Can I help you?" Rage asked rudely and slightly annoyed, not wanting to deal with the girl standing ahead.

"Maybe, maybe not. How come I haven't seen you around before?"

Typical, Rage thought. Another one come to take my droid. She was simply annoyed at the thought, just as she was each time it happened. "How come I haven't seen you before?"

"I try not to be seen. So, that's an odd droid." She eyed Tera smiling.

"Tera? I guess he is." Tera looked at Rage without an expression.

Athena pulled a wrench off her belt. "I hope you don't mind if I take a look." A grin grew across her mouth instantly.

"In fact, I do mind. You're not touching him." Rage managed a sneer and stared her down.

"Wanna' bet?"

I know exactly what she is, I sense it. I know exactly what she wants, my Tera droid. It's a shame she doesn't know exactly what she's doing. Rage found a wicked smile on her face as she watched Athena prepare to throw the wrench at her. The second it left Athena's hand with much effort behind it, Rage took over. She lifted her hand rapidly wrapped her energy around the metal and used her power to slow it down, the power of the Force. She let it drop to her feet before sliding it to Athena's feet, then put her hand back to her side. Athena's mouth gaped open in surprise as Rage watched her, expressionless.

"Master Rage," Tera voiced, "I think Athena Rose is a thief."

"Well no duh, metal brain. And the term is smuggler-in-training." Athena picked up her own wrench. "So, you're a Jedi? Come to take my grandfather?" She pouted.

"No, I despise Jedi, but let me make one thing clear. You don't touch Tera." Rage sneered once more.

"Master Rage doesn't like me being fiddled with," Tera crooned as a backup. "Nor does she like herself to be touched."

"Great to know," Athena declared sarcastically. "So," Athena waved her hand to lure Rage closer, "Let's go."

Rage hesitantly took a few steps forward, approaching the young smuggler cautiously. "Go where?"

Athena chuckled to herself. "We're going to meet my grandfather of course, where else?"

"Why him?" Rage faltered.

"Well, seeing as we're going to be best friends and all, you might as well meet my family." Athena made the answer seem so obvious to Rage, grinning at her stunned look.

"Friends?"

"You betcha'." Athena tugged Rage along by her sleeve, whipping her through the corners of the alley hastily. Tera hovered right along right behind them, ready to assist his master at any given moment. They reached Athena Rose's hidden home in no time.

Tera knew something about Rage was unusual, he'd seen how other girls her age acted. Sure, she had no parents, but it was more than that; she was showing superiority even he as a droid couldn't comprehend. Had her parents known that? He didn't want to find out, knowing it would cause trouble for her, something he didn't want yet. Though Tera was a droid, he was thinking. It was how he was programmed by Vil Lonethorn, to think, to process, to have an opinion at the right moments. Maybe Vil knew he would need a droid equipped with those things, so that they would help his daughter. Had he known he was going to die? Tera quit thinking about it and focused on Rage as she introduced herself to the Rose home.

"Are we ready to go?" Rage looked at the cigarette in her hand before thinking twice. She let it burn and smashed the tip into the ashtray, the smoky scent filling the room. Not worth it, she thought to herself. I'd rather be killed by a living creature than an inanimate object. She wiped her hands off on her black cloak, a few days old and it already had rips in it. She adjusted it haughtily, smiling to herself. It was signature; nothing else could make her Rage Lonethorn besides that robe, without it she was another nobody in the world. Although no one knew her, she was a nobody with a plan of action.

"Just about." Tera replied in his metallicky voice. He came into the room, his motor purring quietly for the first time in years.

"Alright then, let's get a move on. I want to talk to Finn before Athena gets home." Rage fixed her hair, brushing a piece behind her ear. Her hair was longer, past her shoulders by inches but with newly side-swept bangs, it was darker than when she was a child. Her eyes were colder, a glacier like grey that pierced thru people at second glance. She was taller, leaner, her body now made for acrobatics. Her face had matured, it was round and detailed, not so much with marks but bone structure. The one thing that truly dignified it was the slight scar across her left cheek, it was faintly faded but the memory was still held within it.

"Yes, Master Rage."

She scowled at her droid, as always. "Tera, I swear…Just call me Rage." She clenched her teeth tightly. It had bothered her for so many years that her wonderful droid could do everything except follow one simple request.

If Tera could have smiled, he would have. Instead he answered back innocently to her. "I do apologize, Rage. It's a force of habit and old habits die hard. Now, if I might ask, why do you want to speak to Finn?"

"I like his stories." Her small frustration melted away. "We'd better hurry, though. Finn Rose doesn't like to be by himself and Athena isn't home yet. She said she was bringing her brother, weird though. I never knew she had family outside of good ol' Finn."

"Didn't she say he wasn't a blood brother?"

"Probably, but still, I didn't hear of him till a few weeks ago. Some brother." She walked over to the open door and walked through carefully. It wasn't her house and she reluctantly left with Tera. The owners wouldn't be home for a while, and she'd miss the look on their faces when they realized how much of their stuff was gone. Rage got by on her own just fine, even if she asked a few venders for some assistance once in a while.

They headed out onto the streets and Rage held her hood up, making sure her face was concealed when she looked down. The heat was building around everyone, but he swept around them slyly. Smuggler's Run wasn't her home, that's how Rage saw it. It was just where she so happened to be at the time. She'd been on it for nineteen years, not born on it though. Her body had become accustomed to the weather, reacting only when necessary.

"This one, right?" She breathed out lowly, enough for only Tera to hear. She'd halted at a corner of a bar that turned left into an alley.

Instead of answering, he drifted into the tight space, only a meter in width with plenty of height. Rage trailed behind him eagerly. She trusted that he knew the way to the Rose's perfectly, it's just who he was. Rage took light steps in her black moccasins, the sound of her feet pattering on the ground filling the alley. She'd noticed the temperature change from the willing shade, it refreshed her enough. They approached an intersection and Rage turned the corner.

Suddenly, a big palm covered her mouth and pulled her around the corner completely. Rage's eyes widened at the man holding her. He was taller than the average male with dark brown hair shagged on his head. He had on a loose pair of dark pants with a shirt and vest to cover his torso and such. His jawline was strong and masculine, half of his face was shaded in with a five 'o' clock shadow and any women would have sworn his body had been chiseled with perfection. He was sturdy and rough, his hands were calloused and scarred, but he never minded. He secretly knew how to appeal to women in any and all ways, but he considered it a tool.

Rage's eyes stared up coldly into his deep hazel ones. She was shorter than this stranger by a few inches, making her seem trivial and petite in size. She was tempted to bite his hand viciously, but gathered her energy quickly. Her eyes shut on instinct and she let her energy flow through her through the Force.

"Now," his deep and coarse voice soothing to her ears, "I really would appreciate it if you—"

Her body shoved the blistering energy outwards, sending the man stumbling back in the tight spaced alley. His face was caught in surprise as he fumbled with his footing and fell onto his back harshly, knocking the wind out of him.

Her eyes flashed back open and a devious smile crossed her rosy lips. She drew her lightsaber hilt and triggered the glowing scarlet 'blade of beauty.' Immediately, she pounced over to his body and stood over him, lowering the tip of the blade close to his face.

"Damnit," he bellowed. "Please, would you put that damn toy away?"

Rage ignored the comment and sneered at him. "Why did you attack me?" She inched the blade closer to his forehead.

"I didn't attack you. I thought you were someone else I was looking for." His face stood composed.

"Sure. Now, tell me what you want. This lightsaber is growing heavier each second. What would happen if my arm gave out?" The same smile appeared on her mouth once more, enjoying the limelight.

"Well," a voice from behind Rage began, "First, you'd burn a hole through his skull. Then, I'd have to kick your ass." The chipper voice was teasing and Rage turned her head to see Athena. "I see you've met my brother."

"Brother?" Rage deactivated her saber and looked at the man lying on the ground between her legs.

He pulled her down onto his chest and in the most uncomfortable of ways, rolled over. He pinned her down and smiled at her, a sense of victory lingering. He leaned his lips to her ear and her heart choked up. "That's right," he spoke in his devilish tone, "I'm Athena's big bad brother. Darrsok Rose." He pressed his lips to her forehead quickly and got himself off her like nothing. "Where've you been Athena?"

"Nowhere that concerns you, Darrsok. Rage?" Athena watched her friend get up and dust herself off.

"Athena," she heaved out, "It's good to see you again." She smiled and pulled her hood back up. She felt the blood rushing to her cheeks from Darrsok's lips and ignored it. Males are scum, she thought to herself in hopes it would make some of the moods disperse.

"Same here." She grinned, obviously not noticing her friend's change in color.

"You nearly put a hurt on my assets," Darrsok goaded at Rage playfully.

"Athena," Rage grinned, annoyed, "Your brother's ego is the size of Corellia."

"Tell me about it," Athena agreed.

"Hey now," Darrsok defended, looking slightly hurt. "I'm not that bad. Why can't I be cocky?"

"Because," Athena looked bored with the subject, "If you get cocky, then you think you can bang every chick in the galaxy. It's quite sad watching you, really."

"Oh, come on. What girl doesn't want a piece of this?" He waved a hand across his body as if to present it.

"Any girl with a brain," Rage answered simply.

"Careful now, Rage. Keep up the attitude and I'm gonna' have to make you work for it." He winked at her and let his eyes wander around her body.

Rage shook her, becoming flustered with Darrsok. "Athena, let's go see your grandfather before I murder your damn brother."

Athena laughed and led them through the alleyway with her in front and Darrsok in the back. Rage knew that meeting Darrsok hadn't been pleasant and that whatever other time they saw each other would be a mess as well. She couldn't exactly pinpoint the feeling, but she expected he would be some fun in the future. She wondered if he would ever be of good assistance to her in the plans she had ready for action. At the point, things changed.

If only she'd known the true difference between their minds. She wanted him to become her accomplice in the small plans she'd prepared. He wanted her in the bed.

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