Three Months Later

Kure had called her to the dungeon. She went to the dungeons door. She hesitated, then opened it and came in. Her hair hung in her face and she walked lightly. Ailana was in there as well as Kure and the prisoner. The prisoner was a young woman a little older than Randon herself. She was laid out on the table, currently unconscious. "Master…who's this?" "Laylosota. Darth Ailana's former master."

Laylosota! The girl Kure liked…Randon bit her tongue. Ailana nodded her eyes down, a dagger in her hand. Randon stood off to the side, uncertain of what she should do. Kure strode over to Laylosota. "Why won't she wake up?" he muttered impatiently. He grabbed the dagger from Ailana, and ran it over Laylosota's forehead, drawing a thin line of blood.

Randon watched, unblinking. Ailana walked up to the table, and grabbed an overhead light, and shinned it directly in Laylosota's face. Laylosota's eyes fluttered open "Where am I?" She stammered. "Hello, Scrag." Kure smirked. "Hello Laylosota." Ailana echoed softly. Randon stayed quiet, it seemed they had forgotten about her, but that was fine. She wanted to watch this with out doing anything. "Note the title she addresses you with. There is only one person she addresses as 'Master' now, isn't there, Darth Ailana?" Kure sneered at Laylosota.

"Yes, my Master," Ailana answered, eyes downcast. "Hello, padawan. Notice the title I address her with, you overgrown dog of a Sith!" Kure glared at Laylosota. "You... Have... No... Padawan... Now. Shanalia is gone. Ailana is far more powerful, strong, and intelligent under my training than she ever was under yours! You are weak!" he shouted. Randon frowned and stared at Kures face. He was angry. More angry than she had seen him in months. Kure flipped a switch on the wall and metal handcuffs snapped around Laylosota's wrist. Then he grabbed a whip off the wall. Ailana began to leave. "Stay Darth Ailana." He ordered. "Yes master." Ailana stood next to him.

Randon itched to do something…but what? Kure began using the whip viciously and cruelly. Randon tried not to, but against her will, she winced at every strike. Kure suddenly stopped and turned to Ailana, fire burning in the shadows in his eyes. "Darth Ailana," he mused slowly. "Take over here. I think it would be exceedingly good for you."

Ailana rose shakily. It was an order, not a request. She took the whip from Kure, and nodded. "Of course." She raised the whip, and brought it down with her eyes closed. "Harder, girl! Anyone would think you're a weak Jedi Youngling!" Ailana struck again, but this time the whip stung more sharply, and drew more blood. "Darth Ailana, try again. You're not trying hard enough."

Randon didn't feel sorry for Ailana at all. This time, she raised the whip over her head, and it whistled through the air. She raised the other hand, and lightning flew from her fingertips, arching and connecting with the whip at the precise moment it touched Laylosota. It danced over her back, sizzling and crackling. Ailana let out a shrill cry as the lightning took its toll on her, yet she struck again, and again.

Suddenly Ailana collapsed on her hands and knee's. Kure stepped over her and glared at Laylosota. "Ready to talk?" "Master." Ailana pulled herself up. "May I go to Shadowfire?" Kure nodded to her absently. Ailana slipped past Randon and didn't look her way as she left the dungeon. Randon looked back to Kure and Laylosota. "Talk about what dog breath." Laylosota rasped, flinching as she tried to sit up. Blood dripped over her face. She tried in vain to wipe it away on her sleeve, wincing all the while. Kure ripped off the end of her dress and wiped the blood. "I mean evil hypocrite. Whoops, I mean, Oh Sith Lord Kure." Kure slapped her.

Then he looked back and seemed to realize Randon was still there. "Darth Randon, go help Ailana with her dragon." Randon didn't hesitate, she turned and exited. Ailana was on the other side of the door and she bounced back. She looked at Randon sheepishly. They both stared at each other, than Ailana pressed her ear against the door, and Radon looked through the crack in the door and listened, and watched.

What she saw made her stomach twist and she blinked rapidly. Kure had poured a healing lotion over Laylosota's wounds and was rubbing it in, in massaging gestures. Laylosota cried out slightly. "Now, where was I? Right? You know. Battle Plans. Weaknesses. The usual." He cupped her chin in his palm and turned her face him violently. "Talk. Now." "I will tell you the battle plans and weaknesses."

"Start." He commanded and folded his arms across his chest and glared at her. "My battle plan is to kill you and my weakness is I haven't done it yet!" Kure rolled his eyes. He grabbed her by the shoulders, the chains the bound her to the table rattling. "So far I have spared you from my most intense torture. Don't think I'll hesitate to use it this time." "Kure…" The prisoner spoke softly. "I will never betray the Jedi. I will never betray this galaxy. Yet I will betray one person." Laylosota stared at Kure hard, Kure met her gaze and frowned.

Randon shifted. "Mercy is not for the Sith." He whispered, bowing his head, to Randon it seemed, in thought. "I hope you're aware that this little confession won't spare you from torture. But it might post pone it." He scowled darkly. "Who would you betray?" She whispered something that Randon could not hear. Then she repeated herself. "Myself! I have betraying myself my whole life! It was for the freedom of other people. Now do what you will, I will never bend for anyone but myself." Kure stared at her.

Randon could tell he was worried, but about what? "Now what? If you really care so little for yourself, I'm certain you won't mind turning to the Dark Side." "That would hurt the queen, but it would give the king of my heart great pleasure."

Randon froze and Ailana stared at the door in disbelief. Now Randon knew Laylosota liked Kure back…but did he still like her? Randon saw Kures face. It was a look of horror and shock. "Oh no, no. I'm hearing things. My prisoner is…." He sank in a chair staring at Laylosota. I should have known someone as weak-minded as yourself….." Laylosota looked back at him. "This shocks you, I know it's stupid. I may have a weak mind, but I still hate you Kure Deathun. You would've made a great Jedi."

"Forces sake, did you have to say this here? Now?" "Kure, you were about to kill me. I had to tell you before you did, do." "One, its Darth Kure to you. Two, I'm not going to kill you." He answered weakly. "You're not going to kill me?" She asked in disbelief. "No. Not now. Possibly not ever. Why? How would it benefit me? Or anyone?"

Randon could tell a way it would benefit her. "I thought your mission in life was to kill me?" "My mission in life is to capture you and put you somewhere where you can rot and never see the sun ever again. But now that you made this dramatic profession of love, I can't exactly do that now can I?" "it wasn't dramatic." She snapped.

Beside her Ailana snorted. "And another thing, it is possible for ME to kill you. The galaxy would be much safer. Like I said, I will betray myself. Hate and love can pretty wrapped up in each other." "Ditto." Kure murmured. Randon bit her lip, that was pretty much the truth. Kure was watching Laylosota, smirking mischievously. "Go ahead. Try and kill me. May I remind you that you are still chained to a table?" "I ment my emotions would allow me to kill you. And I know I'm chained to a table."

"Do you really want to know why I can't possibly kill you?" Kure got out of his chair and picked the whip up off the floor and hung it on a hook fastened to the wall. "Think about it." "Kure, I Have thought about it, and I can't even fathom." "Of course. You never could figure it out, why should now be any different. As children, I tried to make it easy for you. You wouldn't know it, but I went home with many scars and bruises, because I was fighting the bullies."

Here he paused. "For you. As we grew up, my heart broke more and more often, you didn't care. Then when you beat me in the duel, it broke. For years I was in pain every time I saw you. Then the year you left and e…." He seemed to change his mind of what he was going to say. "But now that wound is healed. Your place has been taken by another. I have no room for you now."

Randon's heart leapt and sank in less then five seconds. Who had taken Laylosota spot in Kures heart? "Now things have changed. I am a powerful leader of the sith, respected and obeyed by my kind. And among the Jedi, you are looked down on and scorned. See the difference?" he hissed. "Kure, why did that fight break your heart? I thought you hated me. You beat me, you tortured me. Oh kure I didn't know if I had' she sobbed.

"Laylo," he whispered. "You still don't get it. THEY made me torture you. THEY made us duel. When you beat me, the other kids laughed. They said I was no good. You laughed with them. You were just... Smug, I suppose." He looked distant. "Who made you Kure why did they and why didn't you tell me and I didn't mean to act smug but I thought you hated me and oh Kure I LOVE YOU!"

"I was shy. And, THEY were the Sith Masters. They didn't like you." Kure drew closer, and then force-clicked the switch on the wall. The handcuffs opened and sank into the table. "Shy, SHY your shyness was years of pain and anguish for me" Oh, obviously, meteor head. Why didn't YOU speak up? Didn't you know that if I had told you, SOMEONE would find out and then I'd die of embarrassment?"

He extended his hand. "I'd say torture is over for today. Go see the medic. I don't want you dying on me." He started to leave. "Kure, before I go, I want to ... to...'' Laylosota ran over and kissed Kure passionately. Randon moved from the door. Ailana glanced at her, and then ran down the hall. Randon walked away. A couple minutes later Kure caught her arm. She was a long ways from the dungeon, so he probably didn't know she had heard and saw everything.

"Hello, Darth Randon," he muttered darkly. She nodded and blinked to him. "Master Kure." She took her hands out of her pockets and looked at the ground. "Is everything...alright." She asked. "No," Kure hissed. "Nothing is right. In fact, everything's a mess. Because of HER!" he whispered, pointing down the hall to where Laylosota was hurrying to the medic. Randon raised her eyes and watched her leave with a strange look on her face. "Ahsee. I'll leave.' She turned to go.

"No, you won't." Kure sat down, and glared at her. "I need you to sort out the mixed-up mind of the Scrag. She is completely convinced she loves me. Perhaps you would persuade her otherwise?" Kure bit his lip. Randon stared at him. Was he completely insane? Her talk to Laylosota? Her stomach twisted. Kure watched her. Finally she breathed. "As you wish." She turned to leave once again. "And Darth Randon…." She paused. "Er……nevermind."

Randon looked down and then ran down the hall. She caught up with Laylosota. She grabbed her roughly by the arm. To bad Laylosota was taller than her, it lost the effect. "We need to talk." Randon said to Laylosota. Laylosota looked her up and down. "Who are you again?" "Darth Randon." "What do we need to talk about?" "You and my master." "What about us?" "That's just it. There is no us between you two. There is nothing between you two. Just air. For now and for ever."

Randon hoped that was true. Laylosota stared at her; she looked as if she was going to cry. Randon seriously hoped not. Suddenly Laylosota turned back down the hall to Kure. Randon sighed and followed her. To her horror Laylosota ran up to Kure and kissed him soundly on the lips. Randon froze and was barely aware of Lady Kastera, a Sith that was away often so Randon didn't know her to well.

"How! How could you Kure? You said you loved me!" She then fell to her knee's and began to sob violently. Kure took her by the wrist and lifted her.

Lady Kastera touched Randons shoulder, she jumped. "Darth Randon, Kure likes you." She blurted out. Everything seemed to fade away from Randon. She was vaguely aware of people talking and crying, but she didn't know what. Lady Kastera was lying, joking... Randon suddenly came back to reality. She angrily turned to Lady Kastera and slapped her. "How dare you..." She was so anger and frustrated, she screamed. Lady Kastera stared at her confused. "But Darth Randon you-" Randon screamed again. Lady Kastera backed away. "I'll be going."

She ran down the hall. Randon walked down the hall. She had to get away. She ran to her room and slammed the door. She hugged herself leaned against the wall shut her eyes. She screamed one more time, for no reason, except it felt good. Then she breathed deeply, and stepped out of her room. She saw Kure and Laylosota coming down the hall; she turned to go back into her room. "Stop right there Darth Randon." She stopped and turned to face him. He looked at her imploringly. Laylosota then took action. "Get out of here or I'll cut you to pieces!"

To prove her point she slashed a steel column in half with one blow with her incredibly long nails. Then Laylosota sliced the tender skin on Randon arm "Get out "she screamed. Randon wrenched her arm away, and Kure grabbed the crazed prisoner's arm and hissed, "You will pay for that in your own blood!"

"If there is nothing you want master, I will return to my room." Randon said in a steely voice. Kure released Laylosota. "Guards!" Three droidekas rolled in and pointed their guns at Laylosota. Kure programmed the droids to escort the "Scrag" back to her cell. Then he turned to Randon. "I'm sorry. Why are you angry?" "I'm not angry." She muttered darkly. "Then why are you acting so upset?" "I'm not. This is how I act normally. You are just to busy to pay attention." She stated.

Kure stared at her. "Er... Okay, then." "Now, if you are done master I have...well actually I have nothing to do, but I will go find something if you are through." Randon said with her arms akimbo. "Almost. Well... I want you to know that what Lady Kastera said was true. You may go now." He turned and left. She watched him leave then whispered. "Why..."

She opened her mouth to say something then closed it. He didn't know how she felt about him. Did he care? Would she tell him? Did she want to tell him? "You're his apprentice." She maundered. She went to her room. Thoughts raced through her mind. She would tell Kure, just not now. Later, maybe when Laylosota had...chilled. She didn't want to press herself on him like the other one had, how stupid would that be. Randon sat at her desk. She took out a long sharp knife, and stared at it. She turned it expertly in her experienced hands.

Then she looked at her arms, then back at the knife. She had done this before. Many times. DT had done it to her. She needed to think on something else. Randon lazily put the tip of the knife on her arm. She slowly ran it up and down, not doing any damage...yet. She then pushed hard and drew blood. She tipped her arm and her blood fell to the desk.

Kure burst in, and came to a halt at her desk, knocking a few papers down, which fluttered lazily to the floor. Randons heart skipped a beat as his sudden appearance. "What are you doing?" he bellowed. Randon blinked up at him. "Nothing. Why?" She set down her knife, and took a cloth and wiped her arm. Kure narrowed his eyes at her. "Sith do not self-destruct." She rolled her eyes. "I've done this billion of times before Master. Why are you just noticing now? Before I became you apprentice, my old master would do it to me, and I just got used to it. So?"

"Because. I don't do it," he stated. "Neither does Lady Valeena or Lady Kastera, or any of the apprentices. I don't even let the prisoners do it. Sheesh. Stop it." She stood. "What are going to do? Kill me?" She asked her arms akimbo looking defiant. Kure gave her an odd look. "Want me to?" She blinked. "Only if you want to master."

Kure sighed. "Er... I'll pass." "Fine. May I go back to doing what I was doing?" "No." He stated the left the room. Randon stared at the desk, then sighed and stepped out of the room. "Master…I'll stop." She dropped her gaze and fingered the wall and waited for his curt answers that for some odd reason, gave her comfort. Kure looked at her, nodded, and said, "You'd better." She blinked. "I will master."

She went back into her room and put the knife away, and Kure left. Randon opened her door, then left, and followed Kure quietly. He went to the dungeon. Randon made herself practically invisible and listened outside the room. "Hello Scrag," he hissed as he entered the dungeon. "How are you doing? Not well, I hope." Randon listened for her answer.

"Not well at all, that was stupid of me Kure can you forgive me? I can't bear to die thinking that you hate me. Strike true Kure I can't bear it any longer since you are infatuated with Darth Randon." "It's more than infatuation, if you must know Laylo." Randons eyes widen and she pulled back and pressed her back against the wall her heart pounding.

Suddenly Kastera was at Randon's side she put her fingers to her lips and whispered "I'm sorry about before...just know that you can have your romance in peace" Randon could almost Kure's freezing cold stare directed at Laylosota. "And I thought I told you. I'm not going to kill you." Randon pushed Kastera away. "I don't know what you're talking about, Lady Kastera!" She hissed.

Lady Kastera shook her head and left. Randon went back to listening. "I don't believe you any more. You said you loved me, you don't. Everything you EVER said to me was a lie. Why should I believe you now Sir Murderer Deathun?"

"Exactly, I said I lovED you. Thing of the past. AND, I said there was no room for you. You are a prisoner. I can't afford to let you be any more." It was quiet. "If that's how it's going to be Kure." "Yes...sheesh." Randon leaned against the wall and smiled softly to herself.