Chapter 11
The Dark Siren
Keira stood in a dark room. She was a guest there, a man who sought for affection from this beautiful white haired specimen. She danced slowly, sensually before him. Then her gown came off revealing a knife... The man didn't know what to think, all he could do was scream and grip his throat after Keira slit into it. The last thing he saw before death was the grey skin of a Sith Lady. He was to die a fearful death, one full of agony and torment. This was her gift to the departing. A return of all their suffering.
She'd changed so much since the day she left Shanrio there on Naboo. She was much older now, twenty years old. Life had taken her in many directions. She'd received her Sith title: Lady Seductra. She'd become a bounty hunter for the Renliss House. A society of bounty hunting women that targeted and specialized in subduing male bounties. Keira was the greatest among them. She used her flawless body to lure them in. Then she would send them to be one with the force. Keira relished making these men pay for their crimes. Most of them having been against women.
She stepped away from the dying body and contacted the head mother of the Renliss House. "It is done." She spoke simply before breaking the connection. She then slipped back into her white gown and left the minutes she was boarding her own ship. A Marauder Class vessel, it's name was a sentimentality: The Solemn Vow. It was the one truly loving thing that had ever happened to her, Shanrio's pledge for everlasting love.
Even as she boarded this heartless shell of a woman began to think back."Could you really love me now Shanrio?" She asked herself remembering the look of confusion on his face at that last moment before she left him.
"Keira, we're ready to disembark." Ela reported. She too had grown much during this time. Through all the hard times their friendship had remained. The only difference being that Keira had become a very cold person. Lacking a lot of the feeling she once had. It was astounding how one so far detached from emotions could command such power over the dark side. But somehow she had managed exactly that. She'd developed a talent for force lightning that was almost unheard of. The bright blue colored fury she unleashed from her hands was fatal in almost all cases of it's use.
"Good to hear. I don't like staying very long after a kill." Keira spoke in an almost dead tone. Her skin in this form was grey and cracked in many places. The dark side had changed much of her bodies coloration and vitality. Though she could still move like one of the living and retained all her physical prowess. Her hair was no grey instead of white, but her eyes... They had remained the same.
"Captain!" Keira barked when she arrived at the bridge.
"Yes, Ma'am." The man stated standing up to face her with a salute.
"Take us off, set a course for Tatooine." She said in the same commanding voice she'd used earlier.
"Right away my Lady." He continued taking the ship out into orbit. Within a few minutes they had entered hyperspace.
Chapter 12
Return To Innocence
Silently someone lurked in the shadows of the ship. "This time that animal won't be here to save you." It whispered as it watched Keira dress herself. For her next mission she had to play the role of a pilot. So she'd be wearing a flight suit, something that wouldn't do much to show off her figure, but for once it was a relief that she didn't have to.
Suddenly a man jumped out from her closet and pounced against her landing them both flat on the bed. "Hey, Keira. This bringing back any memories? This time cat man isn't here to save you." Zalen said pulling at her flight suit. He was stronger, and had grown a lot larger.
"Get off me!" Keira shouted struggling so hard to fight him back. But he was too strong and he'd have what he wanted. That is if someone didn't interfere and fast.
"She told you to leave her alone Zalen!" Ela said extending her staff. She used it to jump off the floor kicking with both legs right into his side. He was flung right off of Keira and landed hard against the wall with a loud grunt. Ela took Keira by the hand and the two vanished immediately. Ela using her ability to hide them with the force. Zalen would not be able to see them, but if his senses where keen enough with time he could find them. Hopefully though this would buy them enough time to get Keira into an escape pod.
Zalen got up slamming his fist on the floor and he ran out after them. He couldn't sense them but he had a good idea where they were headed. Ela would do whatever she could to get Keira to safety. This meant a really risky move: Launching an escape pod in mid-hyperspace. Their speed was tremendous they risked so much launching the pod like this.
"Ela, you're insane I can't go in there. We're moving at light speed." Keira pleaded she felt more comfortable with her idea to try and fight Zalen off. But the truth was neither of them truly had the power to stop him.
"Keira, you must go now. You can't wait any longer, please let me save you, sister..." Ela begged. This was their only opportunity and they had to act fast. Ela balled up her fists and with tears in her eyes pushed Keira into the escape pod. She immediately there after pressed the button to start the launch cycle. Keira all the while slammed her fists on the door of the pod but it was no use. In seconds she was sent spinning off into space. Eventually the vertigo was too much for her mind, and it caved in. She lost consciousness, and even her memories began to fade. She would know nothing when she awoke.
"Where is she?" Zalen demanded as he stepped into the evacuation area. "What did you do with her Ela?" He snapped angrily at her.
"I set her free..." Ela spoke softly as she sat curled up against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees as she sobbed. She knew the odds for survival where tremendously against her dear friend. But the risk was worth freeing her from Zalen's brutish lust. He could do no more than clench his fist as he turned around and walked away...
Three days later-
"Captain Onasi! We're picking up a distress beacon off of a drifting escape pod. There are vital signs onboard." One of the crew members of the Shadow's Edge stated. The Shadow's Edge was a Firefly-class transport/freighter. It had just happened upon the area with the floating escape pod.
"We should investigate, head for it immediately. Just handle it with caution we have no idea in what kind of state the passenger will be in." The good captain commanded. He then rested his hand on his chin while he sat ponderously in his command chair.
"Yes sir!"
It didn't take long to secure the pod. Much to their surprise inside they found a woman. She was pretty badly hurt and in desperate need of medical care. The crew wasted no time in taking this Echani woman into the infirmary where they began to treat her.
Later on that evening Cade walked over toward the infirmary where he met up with their medical droid. "What can you report?" He asked not wanting to intrude on her while she was being treated.
"The woman is in perfect condition physically. However, there is one problem. There's been severe bruising on her cerebral tissue. I can't say for sure until she wakes up. But she may not remember anything about herself. She will most likely be suffering from complete amnesia." The droid voiced. "She's lucky to even be alive, her escape pod was launched while in hyperspace, the odds of surviving such a thing are astronomical."
'Woman?' he thought. "Notify me when she regains consciousness. I'll want to speak to her then." He said before walking off to go give some areas of the ship a tune-up.
Only a few hours passed before she opened her eyes. She groaned a bit from the pain of her aching neck. "Where am I?" She asked slowly sitting up. She pressed down on a section of her neck before giving the joint a good pop, after which she breathed a sigh of relief.
"You should try to take things slowly Ms. Nomi... You've been through quite an ordeal." The droid spoke calmingly. "That is your name, correct?" It questioned.
Keira began to have a momentary flashback she saw a furry man, with a lion's head. he spoke her name lovingly, but almost as if he was being betrayed and his hand stretched out to her. She shook her head and sprung herself out of the daze. "I think so..."
"You are onboard The Shadow's Edge, the captain would like to speak with you now. If you wait a moment one of the crew will escort you to him." He continued. Meanwhile Keira decided to put on the clothes she'd been found with. It was a pilot's suit with her name on it. The outfit itself was a bit sporty. Baggy pants, a matching navy colored short cut off coat, and a black sports bra.
Shortly thereafter one of the crew had arrived just as the droid had said and took her to meet the captain. He was working on some electrical wires under the central control panel. Mr. Onasi was spotted with stains from the greasy lubricants and other oils used in the area. From what Keira could see, he was well built, well-formed legs, strong chest, and big arms.
"Captain, the girl is here." Her escort said before returning to his previous agenda. Some of the other shipmates were first to set down what they were doing and gave Keira a good stare.
"Alright." He said plugging back all the circuits and putting the panel back on to keep them protected. He then tried to sit up forgetting he was under the dashboard. His head made a loud thud against the dashboard, as he let a string of curses. Keira quietly giggled at this for a second until He stepped out from under the console and looked her over. He silently cursed at himself for being so clumsy moments before. 'Great! she's a total babe, and the first impression I give is; idiot..!'
"Hey, we should pick up stray escape pods more often..." One of the other crewmen whispered to his partner. This warranted a strict disapproving stare from the captain.
"Don't mind them..." Cade said extending his hand for a brief shake. He then retracted it noticing the grease and oils he then began wiping off his hand. Keira took this time to examine him more thoroughly. He was a bit taller than her, he had brown hair and gentle green eyes.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Captain. I'm Keira Nomi." She said extending her hand in a very refined manner.
Cade finished wiping the grease off his hand and threw the cloth aimlessly behind him. "Please, call me Cade, Cade Onasi." He said with a light crooked smile. He then gently took her hand in his and bowed down to plant a gentle kiss on it. Oh, he was a scoundrel... Keira's heart was in danger of being unlocked, and it looked like this guy had just the right key.
"You have my thanks for saving me. Though as for where things go from here I'm not sure. I remember almost nothing about myself. I have no idea if I've got somewhere I can stay, but I'd hate to impose..." She spoke getting a little shy at the end of her sentence.
"Oh, no... You can stay here... Well if you'd like to, that is." Cade said scratching the back of his head for a second. He was so embarrassed over the fact that he couldn't seem to keep from blundering over everything. Why was it he was all the sudden to clumsy? The answer was obvious, and standing right in front of him. She was gorgeous, her mere presence caused insecurities to rise up into his conscious mind. He wanted to say, and do the right things. For reasons beyond his explanation he was drawn to her. Cade's hormones were sent into overdrive. After all he was only twenty-three years old. She was his age too. "So just out of curiosity, do you have any skills. Like maybe cooking?" Cade had his mental fingers crossed their food synthesizer had been on the fritz lately. Even if that wasn't losing much in the first place, so he hoped that she knew.
Keira thought for a moment. That word reminded her of something, Keira could see herself preparing meals even at a young age for a strange man she couldn't recognize. The memories of various recipes she'd come up with during that time started coming back to her and she saw a piping hot dish appear with a service droid carrying it into the room to announce that dinner was ready. Everyone in the room immediately suffered from a simultaneous turning of the stomach. "Better than that? Yes, I'll get to work right away." Keira said rushing off to the kitchen where at blazing speed she was able to prepare meals that not only smelled but looked great as well. Taste? That would all depend on the recipient She walked out of the kitchen carrying one tray followed by the other service droids who each took their specified platters to the appropriate crew-mate.
Keira went straight for the Captain who's eyes widened at the sight of the food. These were complete meals comprised of foods that could even be told apart rather than looking like one or several mounds of hot slush. Varying colors, textures, and flavors all carefully arranged. "So what do you think, Captain?" Keira asked temptingly daring the captain let his eyes stop worshipping the meal and just taste it. She handed him the tray.
Cade took a brief moment to take in a bit of the foods odor. The smell was pleasant, but here came the true test. He brought a spoonful of some of the food up to his mouth and stood completely still for a moment taking in all the sensation going on inside of his mouth. In under a minute the plate was empty and clean enough to sparkle even though it hadn't been washed by anything but the utensil that scraped it clean. "There hasn't been food that good on this ship for years." Cade said in a very satisfied manner.
Keira let out a small yawn it was starting to get late and she was feeling a bit drowsy. "So, where do I stay then?" She asked obviously being immediately flooded with a sea of volunteers. All of them more than happy to share their beds.
Just as well however they were all pushed back by Captain Onasi as he stepped forward. He gave them an evil glare his eyes flashed red with burning flames which immediately dissapated the second Keira glanced back at him to see why the rest of the crew was suddenly huddled in the corner. "You should probably stay with me. I mean just so I can keep a good eye on you... Well you know, to make sure you have everything you need." Cade said to Keira though there was something he found surprising. For a girl who had just been in such an accident Keira was fine and in good spirits. She seemed if not completely almost unfazed by it. But how often was he going to run into a hot woman of this calibur? No, he would miss her cooking too bad, so he pushed that thought to the back of his head he didn't want to ruin any possible chances by being paranoid.
"Oh? How noble, I'm flattered..." Keira said in a slippery tone.
"Shall I show you to your room?" Cade said smoothly taking Keira's hand softly into his like a real gentleman. He then led her off to the room leaving the jealous crew with a 'And that's how ya do it!' look. Keira only followed his lead. Cade lead her to the other side of his ship where his quarters were a door opened to a hall that had two doors at the end on one side was the Captain's personal quarters, exactly on the other side would be Keira's new room.
"You should probably rest up we'll arrive at Tatooine tomorrow." Cade said after walking her to her door. "I trust you can find your way around the room? And just in case there's something else you need I'm just a room away so feel free to ask." Cade continued looking down into her eyes seemingly lost in space and time. Their sparkling blue complexion was mesmerizing the one stare was all it took to send him away with a simple "Thanks Cade…" Then off to his bed, to fantasize about a future that had yet to arrive.
Keira closed the door behind her with a smile on her face. But why was he looking at her that way? What did it mean? What was he hiding behind those misty eyes of his? She couldn't answer these questions but perhaps this was how things should be now. Little did she know her life was about to change for the better. She didn't know it but she was given a fresh start. She walked over to the bed and allowed herself to slowly fall back onto the pillow and her eyes slowly closed.