Collab story between Falruza Black & Artemiss-K-Arrow.

In this chapter:

OCS created by Falruza: Ventrek

OCS created by AKA: Halcyon Tiamat and the mutant turtle sisters Andromeda, Daphne, Eos, and Nerissa (For more info, visit notes in Ch.1)

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Rebels of the Stars

Chapter 7 - "The Best Kind"

"Krim's Bar" Dance Club & Bar - Location: XC4-Onyxian Space Station


After giving introductions and cheerful handshakes, they sat down as best they could fit in the remaining chairs. Daphne sat on Mikey's lap as Eos did the same with Don, none of them appearing to have a hint of objection to the arrangement. Don grinned slightly as he brushed Eos's dark curls out of his face, moving the silky locks over her left shoulder.

His compatriots gave their orders to the waiting server who had returned briefly with an extra chair for Leo, who had temporarily given up his to Nerissa.

"Please continue, Traximus." Perathon grinned.

Nodding and giving a glance around the table to include everyone in the discussion, he went on, "Their ruler, Queen Aomfi, has decided to widen their trade routes, and requests an alliance with the Triceraton Republic. I am sent to meet and greet, to put it simply." He smiled. He smiled, adding playfully, "After leading a war, this should be quite easy."

"Is this not a planet where quite a number of saurian and dragonkin exist?", Radonim asked, taking another sip of his drink.

The others were now sharing the drinks Traximus had ordered for them, making sounds of approval to each other after each sip of the very strong, thick, fruity drinks.

"Yes. Though there is another planet close to it, named Cceyroa, which is similarly occupied, though it is also shared with a large number of ancients from various races. This planet already is open to otherworldly visitors however, unlike Dione which will soon be. Queen Aomfi wishes to make Dione as prosperous and diverse, which is very honorable."

***

Ventrek glanced at Halcyon, her shifting expressions catching his interest. The sudden look told him that she was fearful of something he had just shared in overhearing and his perceptive and suspicious nature picked up on it. "So...Cceyroa isn't your home. Dione is."

"I-I'm sorry. I lied to you. In truth, my ship is still on Cceyroa, which is where I fled from." Halcyon admitted, wishing for her dagger as her muscles tightened, ready to defend herself. She felt a defensive line of hot fire in the back of her throat, but she stilled it, knowing that spitting fire would most likely be a VERY bad idea in this environment.

Ventrek smiled softly, catching her off-guard. "Don't worry. I understand. I think, perhaps though, you should tell me exactly what you are running from."

Halcyon was breathing a bit faster, her nerves on fire as the heat in her throat abated slightly. Should she trust him completely by telling him everything?

He already knows I'm a rebel, but...he has no idea what I'm worth and to whom. Halcyon exhaled loudly, blinking as she glanced down before looking back up at him.

Ventrek couldn't help but find his heart beating faster as her cerulean eyes stared so intensely into his. He had left it in her hands to trust him, to decide what he was. He had to trust that she'd believe his intents to be honorable, and he found himself wanting to help her beyond just this trip...whatever it was. He didn't know why, but he had to believe that her intentions were as honorable as his.

"Ventrek...", she began, testing him and herself. "I'm a princess..." She gritted her teeth, preparing for the worst, tensed to make a run for it, if necessary.

His eyes widened and, for a second, Halcyon thought that he was about to shout out her secret to the entire club. But he stayed silent, nodding once and not in as much surprise as she thought he might be, which made her wonder if he already knew and was now confirming himself to be a bounty hunter, or...

She sped into the next words, realizing quickly that she had already said too much, and that if he had indeed been sent to kill or capture her, he would do so without needing any further information. "I was betrayed by my best friend, Aomfi...who killed my brother, the King, and took my family's throne. She put a bounty on my head in order to keep it after framing me for his murder. I have been made an outcast, and have been marked accordingly..." She lifted her sleeve, showing him the vicious looking brand on her wrist.

She waited for him to respond. Gently, he reached for her wrist, and froze for a second as she started to pull back. Ventrek caught a glimpse of something in her which made him again think of home. It was a physically familiar and primal expression that was rarely seen in humans, her kind.

His eyes became more gentle as he tried again, this time giving her an added look of submission, as a beta would to an alpha. He noticed her expression change almost immediately and he could almost smell the retreat of defense as his hand at last touched hers.

She shivered under his surprisingly warm, scaly skin, cutting off a faint exclamation that nearly escaped her mouth. It was the first time she had ever been touched in this way by a male who was not of her family.

Wrapping his fingers gently under her hand, he pulled it closer to examine it. Her eyes closed as the last of her defenses slipped away. Her expression shifted to one of submission in return with a hint of sadness as he turned her marked wrist even closer to him and sighed.

"I am very sorry..." He looked back up at her with kind, sad amber eyes which looked more human than reptilian at the moment.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but didn't fall. Pulling her hand back very gently, she cleared her throat quickly turning her gaze away, and continued, "On Cceyroa, I was in discussion with a old friend and ally to recruit more toward our cause...to retake the throne. We're trying to get the numbers as high as possible before we make our move. But rebels are not easy to find. And my exit was interrupted when a dangerous dragon woman chased me away from my ship and tried to attack me. I think she had misunderstood something she overheard and took offense, however...she might be a bounty hunter. All I know is that she was about to kill me when I activated the Ishi, the transporting device I keep with me, and suddenly found myself falling through a gateway to what I hoped was safety."

She gave a faint, wry smile as she made a slight indication to him, "I guess you can be the judge of whether I fell to safety or not."

"You're safe with me, though I have never fought a dragon. I couldn't say how I'd do." He swallowed hard, putting a hand on hers. "I will help you. As you trusted me, so I will trust you. Consider me an ally."

At that moment, they heard laughter coming from the table with the turtle-like mutants and triceratons.

"I have a feeling that they don't know about the illegitimate on the throne. They might appreciate the knowledge, though it is a risk to involved them." He was giving Halcyon a very serious look. "We won't know we can trust them unless we get to know them better."

Their drinks arrived and Halcyon took a quick swig of hers. She exhaled again, thinking deeply for a moment on Ventrek's words. "I'm scared. It's too much, too fast."

"I know." Ventrek replied. "But we need all the allies we can get, right?"

Her eyes narrowed as she glanced back over his shoulder toward the table, before looking back at him. It hit her suddenly, as his eyes remained steadily on hers, that he truly had meant "We" not "You" when he spoke. His voice and confirmation stilled the squall of loneliness from her predicament that had been raging in her soul and after a long pause, she finally replied.

"Looks like we're introducing ourselves."

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NEXT UP! : Seek Haven