Solasta woke feeling Gursan's body pressed next to hers, his hot breath in the mess of her long brown her hair as his lips tried to find the back of her neck, his hand stroking the short grey fur on her belly. Rolling over to face him, Gursan swept the strands of hair from her face and kissed her quick on the lips before gently pushing her to lie back. Sitting up he pressed soft kisses on her lips and the heat from both their bodies became undeniable as their mouths became ravenous.
Climbing over top of Solasta, he kissed the fine fur on the side of her neck and was rewarded with a soft gasp. Sliding his body down over hers, he pulled up her nightshirt to place gentle kisses over her belly while reaching his hands up so his fingertips could gently stroke the soft fur along her sides and teased the sides of her breasts beneath the light fabric of the shirt. Solasta's breathing began to race and she fought not to laugh as her stomach muscles tightened in spasms from the tickling of his kisses and breath. Sliding himself towards the edge of the bed, Gursan grabbed at the waistband of her trunks with both hands and pulled at them, Solasta wiggled herself to assist, as he continued exploring with soft kisses.
Grabbing a fistful of bedsheets in each hand, Solasta arched her back and the deep groaning purr of pleasure that began welling in her throat was interrupted with a sudden silence – holding her breath, ears twitching, and listening intensely to the sounds in the dark.
Reaching down and grabbing the short horns on the crown of Gursan's head, she raised his face so their eyes met in the dark and said, "Aissa's awake."
Gursan's eyebrows arched, surprised, before falling into a deep furrow of defeat.
Pulling himself up beside Solasta he fell heavily onto the bed next to her and blew out a heavy, disappointed sigh as his body hit the mattress. Lying on his back and looking up at the ceiling, waiting for what they both knew would come next, Gursan said, "I was a little offended when you asked me if my mother was stupid the other day, but now I'm starting to understand why you did."
For several seconds later they listened until the sounds of claws hooking into fabric could be heard and the bedsheets pulled to one side to support the weight of the kitling scaling the bedside, mewling inquisitively as she pulled herself over the top of the bed. Scampering between her parents, Aissa nuzzled each of their faces before pouncing around on the folds of bedsheets that was jumbled on the bed and purring happily. After fifteen minutes of the kitling rolling around on the bed between them Solasta slid out of bed and redressed in her trunks as Aissa crawled to the edge of bed, watching her mother with wide blue eyes that glowed softly in the dark.
"Sleep. You have to go tour the Haven site tomorrow. I'll stay up and tire her out," said Solasta as she scooped up Aissa with one hand, picked up her data pad with the other, and walked out to the common room.
Uldisa and the dozen Zakuulan's who were left stranded waited beneath the tree canopy at the edge of the clearing. The deep guttural growls, pitched screeching, and occasional roar from creatures deep in the bush didn't make sitting in the tree line desirable, but once the heavy rains returned, getting drenched and risking sickness from cold, soaked clothing was even less desirable.
In the first hour they waited, two young men in their early twenties attempted to scout deeper into the dense bush and were away from the group for only two or three minutes before the screams of the men could be heard through the steady pattering of rain hitting the tree fronds above them. One of the men came running back, screaming and holding his arm as blood soaked through the length of his sleeve and fingers, but the second was never seen again.
Uldisa couldn't say how many more hours passed as they waited in the rain beneath the trees, Della sitting on her lap and fussing from hunger, before movement in the trees across from the group caught everyone's attention. The group watched as two large transports approached on a course parallel to the far edge of the clearing and Uldisa realized that a vehicle path had been concealed by clever cutting into the wild forest, the small clearing they sat in had been carefully manicured into the trees on purpose – everything about their capture had been calculated and detailed, not clumsy and amateur as it first appeared to her.
Speeding across the clearing, the transports cut a wide arc in front before coming to rest with their cargo doors facing them, the engines throttled down to a rhythmic thrum, as the heavy gantry ramps hissed and lowered. Uldisa counted the six heavily armored guards with blaster rifles who filed hastily from the lead transport as a petite, bald Rattataki woman with dull blue-grey eyes followed casually down the ramp behind them. Unlike the busy black and grey tattoos of the guards; the one's not wearing helmets at least, the woman had delicate bloodstain coloured tattoos that framed her eyes and chin with intricate designs that reminded Uldisa of streaks of lightening.
A grey-haired man stepped forward and pointed a finger at the woman, "This is illegal. We have all paid our fares for transport to Dromund Kaa-aaaaah!"
The man's words fell short as the Rattataki woman pulled her blaster, fired a single plasma bolt through the man's chest and laughed maniacally as his body hunched forward and fell to the ground. A grey-haired woman howled in pain as she rushed to the body and Uldisa pulled Della's face close to her shoulder, turning away, trying to shield her daughter from the sight of the man crumpled on the grass.
"Any more questions or complaints? No? Good. Strip down and line-up, so I can see what kind of talent I have to work with," said the woman as she slid her pistol back into its holster and looked at the group of Zakuulan's who cowered together.
Uldisa nervously put Della down on the grass and mouthed the word stay. Della looked up at her mother and understood that the serious expression on her face, and the tense mood of all the adults, meant this was not the time to disobey.
Disrobed, everyone stood in a row and tried to cling to the little modesty they had left by covering themselves with their hands while the Rattataki woman walked up the row and examined everyone.
One blaster shots rang out as the Rattataki woman muttered aloud, "too old," and the grey-haired woman fell beside the body of her husband. A second shot rang out, "damaged goods," and the young man with the injured arm fell.
Uldisa cradled Della on her hip with one arm and tried to cover herself with the other as the Rattataki approached her.
"What's this?" barked the Rattataki as she grabbed Uldisa's arm and pulled her forward roughly off balance, nearly causing Della to fall from her arm.
"I… I didn't think you'd need a child to undress."
"What?" snapped the Rattataki as her intense gaze shifted from the orange Havoc Squad tattoo that covered the ball of Uldisa's shoulder, to Uldisa's eyes, then at Della who was looking curiously back at her.
"What?" repeated the Rattataki, "Of course not, we're not savages," and snorted a laugh in amusement.
Looking back at the tattoo, "You're Havoc Squad. There are so many Imperials and Sith that are going to pay handsomely to meet you."
"I'm not anymore – there isn't a Havoc Squad anymore."
"I know there isn't, but I have many clients who still hold a grudge against Havoc for the murdered family members, lost credits, or the premature end to careers in the military or among the Sith Council. All courtesy of Havoc Squad's meddling in the Empire's affairs."
"I… I had nothing to do with any of that," Uldisa nervously protested.
Releasing her grip on Uldisa's arm, the Rattataki took a step back and examined her body with a discerning gaze, not unlike a rancher sizing up a Ronto for its value and pedigree. "Some modifications by my doctors to remove the evidence of the child and you will be my star attraction."
Reaching for her blaster, a cruel smile crept across the woman's lips. "Now, what should we do about the child…"
Uldisa wrapped both arms around Della and turned away from the Rattataki, pleading, "She's only a child – she's innocent! I will mind her. I promise, she won't cause any problems."
"See that she doesn't, and to be sure she isn't a problem, we'll have a slave collar fitted for her – not sure what the shock would do to someone so small, but I guess we'll find out," and the cruel smile was replaced with a wide wicked grin.
Stepping back to address everyone, the Rattataki woman announced, "You are all my slaves now. You will call me Mistress Kaliyo."
Pulling her legs beneath her as she sat on the couch, Solasta watched Aissa follow clumsily on uncertain legs behind the disc shaped mouse droid that was performing its nightly task of cleaning the apartment floors. Satisfied that neither the droid nor Aissa were in danger of injuring each other, she switched on her datapad and began re-reading Colonel Boleme's days old report of the most recent incident over Odessen.
:begin
Odessen Orbital Station, Peloare.
[13h22] Secured the Windwalker in main hangar bay for emergency refueling before ship is scheduled to return to Alliance Base space docks. Major Aric Jorgan requests visual inspection of fuel storage tanks to confirm standing fuel levels and reserve levels.
[13h24] Deck Crew begin fuel tank inspection and diagnostics of hyperdrive systems.
[13h25] Major Jorgan communicates fuel calculations to flight control for independent verification.
[13h28] Deck Crew communicate the discovery of a bomb planted inside the fuel storage tanks to Flight Control. Flight Control requests and receives confirmation of findings three (3) times.
[13h29] Flight Control communicates findings to Major Jorgan. Flight Control communicates a Priority Alpha alert station-wide and orders all ships in immediate vicinity to travel to a safe distance of one (1) million kilometers from Station Peloare.
[13h29] Major Jorgan pilots the Windwalker to high orbit while Flight Control clears airspace over Odessen in preparation for Escape Pod launches.
[13h34] Escape Pods (count 4) breach atmosphere; landing trajectories vectored and communicated to Responder Teams for retrieval.
[13h35] Bomb aboard Windwalker detonates in high orbit. Logistics calculate destruction of ship to be; 86% lost upon initial explosion, 11% of remaining debris incinerated during re-entry of Odessen's atmosphere, and remaining 3% to be dispersed over a three thousand (3000) square kilometer unpopulated area to the south of the base.
…
Solasta was interrupted by the sounds of tired mewling and the kitling's claws trying to hook into the couch fabric as Aissa, who finally exhausted herself, struggled to pull herself up next to her mother. Reaching forward, Solasta scooped her daughter up and onto her lap where she snuggled into a ball of grey and white spotted kitling fuzz. Once Solasta was certain Aissa was sound asleep, she carefully cradled the kitling in her arms, stood, and started to make her way to Aissa's room. Passing the large window in the common room, she saw the first light of morning as it touched the tops of the cliffs across from the base.
"I figured I'd find you both asleep on the couch," said Gursan as they met in the hallway. Leaning down, he kissed the top of Aissa's head before kissing Solasta on the nose, "I'll grab something to eat at the mess. I'll see you tonight when I get home," and left to start his day.
Trying not wake Aissa, Solasta carefully changed her into a clean, dry diaper and thought to herself, no more napping during the day – you're going to be miserable for a few days, but by Gods you're going to sleep at night. Not wanting to risk waking Aissa by twisting and contorting her limbs into a sleeper, she was tucked into her crib with a warm blanket wrapped over her, and Solasta returned to the common room to flop down on the couch. Closing her eyes, she fell asleep instantly.
The sound of soft knocking woke Solasta and she shot upright, blinking rapidly to focus her eyes, confused – had she been asleep for minutes? Hours? She had no idea. When it registered that someone was tapping on the apartment door, she leapt up and raced silently through the apartment on the balls of her feet with a murderous intent if whoever was there woke Aissa.
Pressing the door release, it began to slide open. Furious, Solasta grabbed the opened edge and jerked it hard to force it completely, and was met with a warm smile from Alliance Commander. Feeling herself relax, Solasta grinned and greeted Miriah with a gentle cant of her head.
"Come in, Commander," she said softly and stepping aside, inviting Miriah in. "It's been a long night. Aissa is finally asleep, so I was going to murder anyone who woke her," Solasta went on to explain as the two women sat across from each other in the small apartment kitchen.
Miriah laughed softly and said, "I remember that feeling," as her eyes studied Solasta, and Solasta became acutely aware that she had just answered the door in nothing more than a nightshirt and sport trunks, hadn't brushed her hair, smoothed her fur, and had no idea what she must look like.
"How's it going? Do you need anything?" asked Miriah in a casual and caring tone.
Blowing out a breath of relief, Solasta admitted, "I need a shower and something to eat."
"Go and shower. I'll have something ready for you by time you're done," said Miriah as she made a shooing motion with her hands. Sensing Solasta's uncertainty, Miriah chuckled. "I do know how take care of a baby, if she wakes."
Solasta blinked slowly and nodded, "Thank-you. Gursan went back on duty and I haven't found my– "
"Just go, hon. See you in a few," said Miriah as she stood and opened the door to the refrigeration unit.
Standing in the shower unit, Solasta let the hot water soothe the knotted muscles in her neck and shoulders for a good ten minutes before she lathered her hair with shampoo. I need to figure out how my ancestors dealt with kitlings walking so early. Maybe they had kitling sized playpens like a prisoner holding cell? Environmentally controlled, unclimbable walls, and a roof, she thought but quickly shook the idea from her mind as over-tired nonsense as she rinsed her hair.
Miriah was waiting in the common room with sandwiches and had warmed up some soup by time Solasta made her way back from the refresher. "There now," said Miriah, "Sit and eat with me." As Miriah ladled out soup into bowls, Solasta politely took a bite of her sandwich then fell hungrily into it and felt considerably better once she was done.
"Day off?" Solasta asked.
Miriah nodded and asked, "Feel better?"
Solasta picked up her bowl of soup and held it on her lap as she settled back on the couch. "I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel," murmured Solasta as she rested her eyes and nodded off to sleep.
Miriah sat and watched in equal parts amusement and amazement at Solasta's slow motion crash and grinned, reveling in the fact those days were behind her and Corso. Carefully, so she didn't wake Solasta, Miriah collected the bowl of soup that balanced precariously on her knee and took all the dishes to the kitchen before quietly letting herself out of the apartment.