I'm still working on the next chapter and a few details are giving me a hard time, so I may fall behind in writing for a bit. Thanks for reviews. :)

Chapter Twenty – Traps

"Well, gee, I'm glad that's not a trap…" Atton drawled, shaking his head in disgust as the image of the Quarren Exchange Boss faded.

"A trap it may be," Kreia murmured in acknowledgement, "but traps can be turned to our advantage."

Visas turned toward Aeryn. "I believe it would be unwise for you to go to this meeting alone. I sense…something else at work here…."

"I feel it as well," Aeryn conceded, "but I just don't see any other choice. This guy is one step closer to Goto, and those assassins confirmed that the bounty on Jedi is from him."

There was a round of confused looks from everyone but Atton, who looked innocent and refused to meet anyone's eyes. "Assassins?" Bao-Dur frowned in worry. "Something you're not telling us, General?"

Aeryn quickly explained how the twin twi'lek bounty hunters had attacked her and Atton, fudging the story just enough so she wouldn't have to explain certain details…like how her lightsaber ended up in Atton's pocket. They don't need to know I danced for Vogga…. "They mentioned Goto by name. I can't ignore this – I have to meet this Visquis, and if he'll only meet me alone, then so be it."

"Were you even watching the same message I was?" Atton waved his arm, exasperated. "He wants you to meet him in the Jekk'Jekk Tarr. That alien dive is full of noxious gasses and toxins. He knows you're human – you can't survive there!"

Aeryn frowned and started to pace. "I take it a breathing mask won't be enough," she muttered.

"No way, that stuff will come in right through your pores. You'll be dead in less than a minute."

"What of the space suit from Peragus?" Everyone turned at Kreia's unexpected suggestion. "We did bring it onboard, did we not?"

"Yeah, you're right," Aeryn said, perking up. "Would it work?"

Atton scratched the back of his head and looked thoughtful. "Well, I suppose…technically it would protect you from the fumes in that place. But you'll stick out like a bantha on a gizka farm, and those aliens in there aren't exactly human-friendly, if you catch my meaning. If you get attacked wearing that bulky suit…."

"I'll get my ass kicked," Aeryn finished grimly. "I think it's just a risk I'm going to have to take. Bao, can I borrow you for a moment? I'd like a second pair of eyes when I look over this suit, make sure it's all in one piece."

"Of course, General."

Atton's eyes followed Aeryn as she led the Zabrak toward the garage. Frowning, the scoundrel wondered to himself what she was thinking before he realized that Kreia's attention seemed keenly focused on him. Frustrated, he muttered something about needing air and stalked down the loading ramp.

As he circled the ship, the scoundrel lost himself in his thoughts. It was stupid to tell her. That look on her face…I've never seen her in that much pain. She'll never understand, but it was what she wanted…honesty. Taking my shirt off was a little much….

With a confused sigh, Atton headed back up the loading ramp, only to find himself face-to-face with Aeryn, a heavy pack slung over her shoulder and the space suit helmet under one arm. They stared at each other, startled, then Aeryn looked down and started to walk past him.

Atton's stomach sank as it seemed like his worse fears were realized, but his breath caught in his throat as her smooth, warm fingers intertwined with his, squeezing briefly. "We'll talk when I get back," she murmured softly, then continued down the ramp.

Staring after her, Atton's mind whirled. I should follow her. No, that would be stupid, what would I say? "Hi, Aeryn, just wanted to say if you die, it was nice knowing you." Yeah, that sounds really sharp. She's heading straight into a trap right now, probably a deadly one…you'll regret it if you don't follow her….

The scoundrel abruptly darted into the ship and came running out seconds later with a few antidote packs. He was panting a little when he finally caught up with a surprised looking Aeryn in a mostly empty side street.

"Hey, I…uh…just…you know…" yes, smooth, very smooth so far…. "I know you probably hate me right now, but I just wanted to tell you to be careful."

Aeryn looked very sad as she shook her head. "Atton, I don't hate you at all. I…" she swallowed hard and ran her free hand through her hair, "you really don't have any idea just how much we have in common."

Confused by her unexpected words, Atton frowned and wanted to question her, but she was glancing nervously over her shoulder and he knew she needed to get on with her mission. "Here," he said as he stepped close and stowed the antidote kits into a small pocket on her pack. "If your suit gets breached, inject these right away. It won't help much, but it should be enough to survive a few seconds – enough to run like hell out of there."

Aeryn chuckled as she watched him. "Thanks Atton. I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes." Atton flushed as she turned to face him fully and gave him a warm, genuine smile.

Being alone with her, seeing her smile like that, knowing that she wasn't pushing him away for telling her the truth, it was too much for the scoundrel to resist. A sudden impulse overtook him and before he could think, he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, careful not to dislodge the pack or the helmet. Aeryn stiffened in complete surprise and eyed him warily, but didn't pull away as she stared up into his unreadable gaze. "Atton…what…?"

"I have a very bad feeling about this meeting," he explained quietly, letting some of his fear seep into his words. "I don't know how, but I just know something big is going to happen. If…if something happens to one of us…well, I've wanted to do this for a long time, and nothing's going to stop me now." His face dipped toward hers, and the scoundrel's breath was hot against her lips as he added, "But you can slap me afterward if you want."

As his lips brushed hers, Aeryn froze, breathless and a little afraid, but she slowly relaxed under the tender and undemanding kiss. He opened his mind then and let her experience some of the affection and protectiveness he felt toward her, feelings he'd been trying to stifle since they'd met on Peragus, and seeing him so exposed, Aeryn leaned into the kiss and twined the fingers of her free hand into his hair. Feeling his emotions mirrored in her, Atton grew bold and cupped her jaw in his other hand as he ran his tongue over her slightly parted lips. With a regretful sigh, Aeryn pulled away.

"I…" Atton eased his hold on her and stepped away, looking a bit sheepish, "I don't know what came over me, I'm sorry."

Smirking, Aeryn said, "Well, don't be sorry. It's just that…."

"You have somewhere to be," Atton finished for her, then added with a smirk of his own, "and I guess I'm not really sorry."

Aeryn gave a short laugh, "And I'm not surprised. When this is over," she started to back away, the Force warning her to hurry to her meeting, "we'll talk. Until then, keep everyone on my ship safe."

"Yes ma'am," he said with a half-salute.

Atton didn't remember a thing about the walk back to the Hawk, expect that he couldn't stop thinking about the tingling heat of her lips on his. Maybe this whole being open and honest thing isn't so bad after all.

The ship was peaceful when he stepped on board, but as he made the turn at the top of the loading ramp Atton felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. Before he could move, he was thrown hard against the wall of the narrow hallway, his air supply partially cut off by a crushing force at his throat. The scoundrel lashed out at his attacker, but his blows hit nothing but air. Struggling for breath, he snarled as his focus landed on the woman at the end of the hallway.

"What…took you so long?" he wheezed, defiant and angry despite being helpless.

Kreia sneered as she approached him, her hand raised as she continued her Force hold on his neck. "You were not a threat until now, fool. You have no idea how much harm your actions will cause."

Atton forced a sharp, bitter laugh through his constricted throat. "You…lecture me…about harming her? Talk about…duplicity."

"Pretend for a moment that you are not a complete imbecile," the old woman murmured with palpable condescension. "There is a reason Jedi do not form intimate bonds – they are a distraction that can be used against them. What would a Sith do with the knowledge that you are important to her? How would he use it, fool?"

Atton's heart clenched with guilt; it was an answer he knew all too well. "Since you're…the former Sith Lord…why don't you…tell me."

"Because you already know," she hissed. "They will break her, and all that rests on her will be lost when she falls. A fool you may be, but even you can see this."

With a grim smile, Atton goaded, "Why not…just kill me now then? I'm sure…she'll be more than…understanding."

The pressure on the scoundrel's throat increased dramatically until he thought his windpipe would crush under the weight. Piss off the old witch, really smart move. "Do not think it has not crossed my mind," Kreia said with cold malevolence. "I could handle her wrath, fool, and your death could easily be made to look like an accident…or perhaps it would be better to say you simply abandoned her. Would she really be surprised?" Atton shuddered and felt a thrill of real fear as black spots swam in the corner of his vision.

"However…" with a jolt, Atton landed hard on the floor, holding his throat and gulping air as Kreia turned from him, "there is still a role for you to play." She paused and turned her head toward him for a moment. "A role I will be glad for you to take when the time comes. Until that day, heed my words and do not distract her. She is far more vital than you could ever imagine."

-

It was hard for Aeryn to part with Atton after he kissed her like that, and if the Force wasn't urging her on so insistently, she probably would have forgotten all about her current mission. It was not the kind of thing she'd expected from Atton – so tender and honest, more like a token of affection than a demanding passion.

That was the first time anyone has kissed me since Malak, she realized as she hurried down the street. It was so different though…kissing Malak felt wrong…because it was wrong, according to the Code we'd sworn to live by. Atton was afraid I would despise him…he really has no idea how alike we are….

"Well, that was just plain adorable." Aeryn spun around as a small, young human female wearing a very revealing shirt and skintight pants swaggered out of the shadows. "Funny, I always thought your kind wasn't allowed to suck face like that."

Aeryn's lightsaber jumped into her hand, but she made no effort to active it just yet. "Who the hell are you?"

"Oh, me?" the young woman was all innocence and sarcastic smiles. "I'm no one important, believe me. Just a bounty hunter looking for the 'last of the Jedi.' You wouldn't have happened to see any of those around here, would you?"

Blinking in surprise, Aeryn took a closer look at the woman. Once she got past the ridiculous amount of skin the smaller woman was showing, Aeryn realized she was armed with blasters, grenades, a vibroblade on her back and a rather unique looking rocket launcher on her wrist. The woman held herself with a quiet, deceptive confidence that told Aeryn not to underestimate her.

"Why don't you just get to the point and tell me what you want from me, hmm?" Aeryn said with obvious scorn, the call of the Force now louder than ever.

"I want what any other bounty hunter wants: the highest paying target."

Aeryn sighed, all patience with the banter leaving her. "Look, if you're going to try to collect, attack me already. I have somewhere to be and I'd rather not stand around chatting."

The bounty hunter was clearly not expecting Aeryn's response, and she actually laughed before she answered. "No, no, I'm not going to attack you. I may be young, but I'm not stupid – attacking a Jedi would get me nothing but a scorched hole in the gut I'd imagine. I'm actually here because I know where you're going, to meet with that squidhead Visquis, and I want to stop you before you walk into his trap."

"Look, I don't know how you know that, but you're not going to stop me," Aeryn said turning to continue her trip to the Jekk'Jekk Tarr. "It was nice meeting you, miss…?"

"Mira," she replied then leaned against the wall with a sigh. "Well, what am I going to tell Zez-Kai Ell now?" she muttered just loud enough for Aeryn to hear. "Damn stubborn Jedi."

Aeryn froze mid-stride. In her drive to find out why Jedi were being hunted by the Exchange, Aeryn had almost totally forgotten why she was here, what she was really looking for. Her mind wavered and she shifted her weight uncertainly for a moment before turning back to the smug bounty hunter. "I'm listening."

"Good," Mira winked, "but the middle of the street isn't the best place to stand and chat, at least not on this moon. Your friend wants to meet you at my place – before you run head on into this trap."

Aeryn gave her a dry stare. "And I'm just supposed to trust you? Some random kid bounty hunter who throws out a name and thinks she's got it all figured out?"

Real anger flashed across Mira's face, but she hid it quickly under impatience. "Look, I'm trying to help you here, Jedi. I know you've been asking for this guy, and I thought I'd do you both a favor, but I can see I'm wasting my time." The young woman spun on her heels and made to walk away.

"Oh knock off the dramatics for Force sake," Aeryn snapped and Mira turned to her with a cold look. "Your offer sounds as much like a trap as Visquis', but too bad for him, finding Master Ell is more important."

"So now you want my help."

Aeryn forced herself not to roll her eyes at the impertinent look on the younger woman's face. "If you're telling the truth, then yes."

-

Visas roused herself from her meditations with a start. From the moment she'd seen the message from the Quarren Exchange Boss, the Miraluka had felt increasing unease creep over her. Something was about to happen, but the Force was turbulent on Nar Shaddaa, and not even solitary mediation had helped clarify the matter. Now the urgency had risen to a crescendo and she felt driven to seek out the others aboard the Hawk.

Moving soundlessly down the hallway, she found the Iridonian mechanic crouched in the garage, hard at work as always. Not wanting to startle him, she moved into his peripheral vision before she spoke. "We are in danger."

Bao-Dur rocked back on his heels and regarded her with hidden curiosity. "How do you know?" he asked softly.

"Can't you feel it?" Visas whispered, urgency leaking into her hushed voice, and Bao-Dur felt a twinge of fear as the words confirmed some nagging feeling he'd been suffering. "The air itself is alive with tension…something…someone is coming."

Sharp footsteps outside the door turned the pair's attention to the door just before a distressed Atton, blaster pistols in hand, appeared in the doorway. If he was surprised to find the two together, he hid it immediately as he said, "Get your asses armed and ready – we're about to be attacked."

"What?" Bao-Dur stood and frowned at the scoundrel in obvious doubt. "I hear nothing. Why would anyone attack us?"

Atton looked ready to break from the room at any moment, but said, almost as if to himself, "I should have realized it when the assassins attacked us. The bounty hunter truce – the law around here – it's over. I don't know how this could have happened, but I'd wager my weight in spice it has something to do with our fearless leader."

Visas frowned. "Truce?"

"It's a…silent agreement," Atton tried to explain, "that keeps the hunters from stealing from each other, taking their bounties or…starting wars and things like that. Like a moral guideline for the immoral."

"I don't understand," the Zabrak cut in, "why would bounty hunters come after us? The bounty is only on Jedi, right?"

The scoundrel sighed in disgusted exasperation. "Please tell me you're not always this naïve." Turning to Visas he growled, "I'm sure you understand this tactic very well."

The Miraluka gave no indication that his words bothered her, and she said in a very quiet voice, "Not as well as some." Atton glared at her as she turned to Bao-Dur and explained, "They are coming to kill us in order to break her – to make her weak enough to be captured. It is a Sith technique, though clearly not exclusively theirs."

"Exactly," Atton said as he started to back out of the room, "so let's not sit around here chatting, shall we? They probably have the ship surrounded by now, but the loading ramp is closed, so I think we should wait for them to make the first move. Oh," he turned his back and called out over his shoulder, "and one of you better tell the old witch what's going on because I'm sure as hell not going to."

-

Ughh…why does my head always hurt when I wake up?

Aeryn groaned aloud as she tried to raise her head and open her eyes, but the world was spinning and she let her body settle back onto what she assumed was the cold ground. What is going on?

"Easy, child." The deep and slightly familiar voice nearby forced Aeryn to open her eyes, and she tried in vain to focus on the blurred figure crouched beside her. "Looks like you hit your head pretty hard when you passed out."

Aeryn relaxed as the voice clicked into place in her memories. "Master Ell," she croaked, her throat raw and tight.

The aging Jedi Master shook his head sadly. "Not anymore. Call me Zez-Kai…" his voice drifted off, "even that name I hardly deserve anymore…."

Slowly sitting up, Aeryn leaned against the wall as she gained her bearings, glad that she was feeling better with every moment that passed. "What happened? Last thing I remember…I was…" Aeryn's face turn to stone and her eyes narrowed, "Mira."

Zez-Kai gave a mirthless chuckle. "Yes, it seems our brazen mutual friend decided to take matters into her own hands. Not that I'm surprised."

"She stole the damned suit," Aeryn spat as she peered around the filthy apartment that Mira called "home." Flashes of memory started to come back. "I traded one trap for another – I'm such an idiot." Aeryn sighed in disgust, then gazed at the Jedi Master. "Well, at least I found you."

"That you did," the older man said warily as he stood and crossed his arms over his chest. Aeryn forced herself to her feet, stretching her stiff limbs and ignoring the throbbing in her head. "I'm decidedly anxious to hear why you've been looking for me, but I'm afraid it will have to wait. Our little bounty hunter friend went to your meeting in your place, for reasons I cannot imagine, and by now I'm sure she is in far over her head."

"Should just let the little nuisance get what's coming to her," Aeryn muttered angrily, but she caught the sharp stare of Zez-Kai. "Oh, don't look like that, I'm going after her - and there may still be a chance for me to get some answers about this Jedi bounty."

"Good," he said with a hint of relief. "It's hard for me to judge your intentions, Exile." His eyes fixated on the Sith tattoos on her forehead, and Aeryn felt an irrational guilt and shame, but she swallowed the words of apology that sprang to her lips.

"The problem is, Mira stole the suit," Aeryn ground out, trying to stay focused on the present. "It was my only ticket into the Jekk'Jekk Tarr."

The first tiny traces of amusement showed on Zez-Kai's face as he lifted an eyebrow at her. "You think Jedi need a space suit simply because there is not breathable air?"

Blinking in astonishment, Aeryn stammered for a moment. "W-well…yes?"

The old Master gave a wry headshake and led her from the apartment. "Then you have much to learn. Let us hope you prove to be as much a quick study as you once were."