A/N: This chapter has gone on so long I've opted to cut it in half in order to get a submission to you guys sooner. Still waiting; desperately and patiently, for feedback. Comments are my bread and butter. Now, onto the reason you are here…

Chapter 3: Keeping the Edge Off (1/2)

The farther she walked away, the more relaxed I became. My head was still reeling in the aftermath, however. I pressed the service button near the door, summoning Toovee. I could hear him bantering to himself all the way from the other side of the ship. I ducked back into the med center as the diagnostic program chirped to its completion. I routed the results to my data pad and told Toovee to immediately set out toast and tea, then to prepare a full meal service for the entire crew. I had not slept for nearly 23 hours, and was really beginning to feel it. The time required to rest was not in the cards. A shower, shave, clean uniform, and stim pack were going to have to do the trick. I marched toward my quarters.

As I was undressing and preparing to shower, my data pad lit up and chirped. There was an encrypted message from one of my contacts at Imperial Intelligence. I ran the decryption program and read the message.

Mal,

Found a secure transmission sequence. Available for a chat?

-Mac

I quickly responded, agreeing to take the incoming holocall in 20 minutes.

Once the hot water began to pour and I was alone, I finally allowed my body to have the physical reaction I had been attempting to avoid since I removed Scarlette's armor in the cargo hold the afternoon before. My cock swelled and throbbed in my hand. I imagined a world where it was possible for me to submit to her desires without the dire consequences. In this more perfect world, it was her hand in place of mine, her lips running trails down my neck, and the feeling of sinking myself deep into her hot…pink… well the truth is that the effect my lord had begun to have on me was painfully evident in the brevity of the event.

I shaved quickly, dressed in a clean pressed uniform and combed my wet hair back, letting the sentiment linger.

With eight minutes to go until the call, I settled onto my bunk with my data pad to review the diagnostic reports. They showed that the limbic system of her brain, specifically the amygdala, was being overstimulated in an unusual way. I ran a quick reference for prior research, and found that when electrically stimulated the amygdala was responsible for great episodes of anger and aggression in test subjects. Reversely, when the amygdala was removed or inhibited, all sexual, aggression and fear responses were neutralized. The studies that only temporarily hindered use of the amygdala used a particularly potent and habit-forming sedative called Tranquillen. This was commonly given to overly stressed soldiers on the front lines in order to 'keep the edge off'. Men who had seen too much and snapped, or were about to get their entire company killed due to erratic behavior. I had personally prescribed this to a handful of soldiers in my charge on Balmorra, and just the day before I had given a small dose to Scarlette. I was beginning to search for the effects of long-term use and potential withdrawal symptoms when my communicator beeped.

I accepted the call on the first note of it sounding. The woman on the screen radiated a very familiar smile, "Hello baby brother," her eyes lit up with excitement; "I have news that may seem too good to be true at first" She looked to be seated in a communications cubicle. If I had to guess, she was still in Kaas City.

"Have you found him?" I questioned straight away.

"Calm yourself for a moment Malavai. I'm going to hold this information over your head until you answer some questions," she let her own annoyance at the situation come through, "Although, I don't see why mother doesn't just call you to find out for herself."

"She does call, I just don't answer," I rolled my eyes and invited the inevitable, "What does she want to know Macayla?"

"Actually, we would both like to know if this Sith Lord of yours, Scarlette Uthallis, is as beautiful as she is rumored to be," she giggled mercilessly as my face reddened.

I attempted to compose myself, but continued to blush fiercely, "Yes, it is true that she is certainly more pleasant to look at than most Sith Lords, but I assure you, my intentions-"

She cut me off, "Gross Mal, I don't want to hear about your intentions," I glared at her impatiently and she giggled and stuck her tongue out at me. I was beginning to tire of all of the women in my life ruthlessly teasing me. "Well, it turns out that she is probably the Empire's most wanted bachelorette. They did a piece featuring her on the holonet Society channel. Apparently, she inherited millions of credits just before her admission into the Korriban Academy. The attendants at mom's hospital are all saying that she is the secret bastard daughter of the dead, but still widely adored Dark Councilman, Darth Zander."

I loathed my mother and her tolerance and support of the 'rumor mill'. Still, I admitted to myself that this was all new information to me. I listened to my sister intently.

"That last bit I can't verify though. However, we do know she is an heiress, although the information regarding the who-from is irretrievable," Macayla looked up at me, her expression became more serious, "Mother seems to like the idea of you marrying this Sith. She'd like to see you give up your quest for revenge on Moff Broysc, make peace with father's death and start giving her grandchildren, since I can't," her eyes turned downward, saddened by the truth, "My opinion however, is that there are too many unknown variables and all of this missing data smells exactly like Sith politics. I want you to be careful."

"And you wonder why I don't accept her calls anymore?" I paced my quarters impatiently, a scowl forming on my brow, "Are you through with your questioning now; you said you had good news?"

"I suppose I have enough intel to appease her for a while," her face lit up again and she went on, "To answer your earlier question, yes, I did find him, and you are never going to believe where he's at!" She paused for effect and spoke the words slowly, "He just booked a shuttle for later this evening… opened up a bar tab and put 1,000 credits into a Sabaac game… at the Mezenti Spaceport Cantina."

She was waiting for my response and I immediately sprang into action collecting my gear and supplies. I was, for the most part, no longer paying attention to her. "I'll sign off now, it is clear you have some work to do," she winked at me, "Go make us proud baby brother."

Together we saluted each other. "Captain," she smiled.

"Watcher… thank you again."

With a smile on my face I changed into my civilian outfit, strapped on my blaster and grabbed my data pad and holoprojector. I could hear Scarlette's voice outside in the lounge, followed quickly by Darth Baras.

"I agree master. I'll head there right away."

"Do not keep me waiting this time apprentice," there was an underlying threat in his voice.

The moment I heard the transmission end, I exited my quarters. Her eyes turned toward mine and she smiled at my approach.

"My lord, my efforts to locate SIS Agent Voloren have finally paid off and there is only a small window of opportunity in which to confront him. I assure you I can handle the matter personally;" I lowered my head in a slight bow as I asked, "permission to intercept and bring him down?"

Her response rolled across her lips immediately, "Of course Quinn, but do stay in contact. I'll be out running an errand for Baras."

"Yes, my lord," I looked deeply into her large gray eyes, "but do be careful."

Oh goodie, more notes: Much of the hurt/comfort fic I've read with this pairing has assumed that Quinn, in one way or another, has had a violent, tragic, or otherwise melodramatic past. Today, I pose the question… What if our dear Captain has a loving and truly supportive, traditional Imperial family?