Chapter Eighteen
"Well done, Daa'salar!" M'aaranik laughed fiendishly as he joined him in the cockpit. "Now there's nothing standing between us and the Narundis!"
"Oh please! Cliché!!" N'aadija said, rolling her eyes at him.
"Shut your mouth!" M'aaranik growled. "I've had enough of your sarcasm for one day!
"Then don't even think of coming on to me for the rest of today," N'aadija mumbled with a smug smile.
"What did you say," M'aaranik said, a hint of warning in his voice. N'aadija gave him her most charming smile as he slowly turned around to face her.
"Daa'salar, remind me again why we shouldn't take our smart-alecky female companion and introduce her to the ship's refuse chute!" M'aaranik said, smiling venomously at N'aadija.
N'aadija glared at him and lifted the corner of her mouth in a snarl. M'aaranik got up from his seat and stalked fluidly over to where she was standing. He moved so quickly that she barely had enough time to react before he thrust her shoulders against the wall.
"Why must you always cross me? I grow tired of your insolence, N'aadija," M'aaranik whispered softly into her ear as she strained to get away. "Now, are we going to cooperate, or am I going to have to break a few bones?"
"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction," N'aadija smiled as she stopped struggling.
"I bet not," M'aaranik grumbled, letting up his grip on her. N'aadija rubbed her sore shoulder, casting silent curses at him as he turned away from her.
"Boss! We've got a small problem here!" Daa'salar said, frantically motioning toward the cockpit.
M'aaranik rushed in to hear a transmission from the N'aanwarian Royal Fleet crackle over the ship's comm. unit.
"Gold Rogue 1881, we received your distress call. What seems to be the problem?"
"Um, nothing at the moment, my commander. We had a bit of a commotion when a few weapons malfunctioned, but everything is currently under complete control," M'aaranik said in the Captain's voice.
"Weapons malfunction? Is anyone injured?"
N'aadija reached out and smacked M'aaranik angrily on the back of the head. When he turned around she mouthed the word "stupid!". M'aaranik ignored her and returned to the transmission.
"Not that I can tell, sir. Everyone here is present and accounted for," M'aaranik replied calmly.
"All right then. Carry on," Crackled the voice, and then it fell silent.
"We should be thankful that the comm. unit doesn't have a holoscreen, or else they would have had your hide for sure!" N'aadija snapped. "They almost had us with that stupid remark about the weapons! Why can't you lie effectively, M'aaranik?"
"Oh, you know I can lie effectively, N'aadija," M'aaranik purred with a smile. "In fact, I'm a virtual master at lying! I only said that thing about the weapons malfunction because I knew it would get a rise out of you!"
"Oh, you stupid, overconfident, sn'aala-brained idiot!!" N'aadija said, fuming. "Someday you're going to be your own downfall!!"
"Yes, someday," Mused M'aaranik with a smile, "But not today. Today, we shall triumph!"
"I'm glad that one of us is optimistic!" N'aadija said with a half-smile as she put her hands on her hips.
"Oh, believe me N'aadija. The Narundis are the overconfident ones, and they'll be fairly easy to overthrow, once I put my plan into action. Then, once they're gone, I'll be King, and you two will be my highest officers!" M'aaranik proclaimed.
"I can't wait," N'aadija muttered under her breath.
"Oh, how soon I forget. You don't want to be my highest officer! You want to be my queen!!" M'aaranik said with an devilish grin.
"Take that big, fat mouth of yours and shut it!!" N'aadija snapped angrily.
"Ah, such harsh words from such a beautiful woman!! They are the words of a stubborn child that sees something that can never belong to her!" M'aaranik said, his voice taking on a dreamy quality.
"I have enough problems dealing with the likes of you on a daily basis! I don't need your smug attitude added onto the pile!!" N'aadija yelled.
"Oh, am I getting to you N'aadija??" M'aaranik said, sliding his arms around her waist from behind. "I think you'd take me, smugness and all. That's why there's such fire in your words!!"
N'aadija whirled around and swung her open hand to smack him, but M'aaranik gripped her wrist and pulled her closer. She felt the warmth of his breath on her cheek, and it only made her heart pound harder in her chest.
"Lets not forget who's bigger, stronger, and the better jedi here, my dear N'aadija," M'aaranik breathed in a barely audible whisper. "Think about that the next time you try acting out of line!"
N'aadija looked up at him with tired, glazed over eyes, and nodded. She was sick of fighting with M'aaranik anyway. Sensing her desire for reconciliation, M'aaranik wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. She sighed in exhaustion as she rested her head against his chest, allowing his warmth to comfort her.
"Long day, huh?" M'aaranik muttered softly against her forehead. "I'm sorry that I lose my temper so easily, N'aadija. I really would never hurt you! It's just that you know how to push my buttons, that's all!!"
"Mmmmn," Mumbled N'aadija, already beginning to fall asleep in his arms. M'aaranik scooped her up and carried her gently into the ship's sleeping quarters. He set her sleeping form down on the bedding and covered her with a scratchy blanket. For a long time he just stared at her as she slept, mesmerized by her beauty . . .
'Stop it!' M'aaranik thought fiercely at himself. 'You don't want to get emotionally involved with her, regardless of how pretty she might be!'
Still, he couldn't pry his gaze from the beautiful young woman who was sleeping before him. He found himself bent over her, giving her a soft kiss goodnight.
"What have you been up to?" Asked Daa'salar as M'aaranik walked quietly into the cockpit.
"Oh, nothing much. Just finding out that I have feelings for N'aadija," M'aaranik mumbled with a distressed look on his face.
"So, after four years of mating with her you've actually just begun to harbor feelings for her?" Daa'salar said, the corner of his mouth turning up in a smirk.
"Yes, and if you say one word of it to N'aadija I'm going to have to tear your guts out!" M'aaranik laughed, a hint of wickedness in his voice. He obviously wasn't joking about this matter.
"You have nothing to worry about. I've kept dozens of secrets, both yours and N'aadija's. Nobody's going to ever find out," Daa'salar said, his face stony and serious.
Satisfied by his accomplice's statement, M'aaranik turned to the controls. They were just a few standard hours out of their final destination. M'aaranik had waited long enough for this chance, and now he was one step closer to defeating the Narundi Dynasty.
Nothing, not even his newfound love for N'aadija, could be allowed to jeopardize the mission.
*****************
A shadow of pain loomed over Cayaa'lan K'aanar as he drifted back into consciousness. His leg felt as if it were being gnawed off by D'aasnian fire-crae'aans, and he cussed out loud at the young N'aanwarian female who had caused his injury.
"Goddamn darksiders!! You'll pay for that, you little whore!! That's the last time I let people's charms get in the way of my job!! Oh well, at least I know your face, and therefore your reign of terror will be coming to an end!!" Cayaa'lan muttered angrily out loud to himself. He pushed himself off the floor and nearly collapsed from the agony. This was going to be harder than he thought.
"The first order of business is to get my leg fixed," Cayaa'lan pointed out to himself. There was no choice. The investigation would have to be put on hold. Cayaa'lan tapped into the force to relieve the pain, but he couldn't feel much of a difference. He sighed as he realized that this would mean at least two days in a bacta tank; two days that could be spent bringing the three Sith magicians to justice. At least his job in the heart of nowhere was finally over. Even through all of the pain, Cayaa'lan was able to smile at the thought of being reunited with his wife and daughter. He dragged himself over to the comm. unit and sent a transmission to the Royal Fleet.
"Narundi Fleet, come in! This is Lieutenant K'aanar communicating from an unknown vessel!"
"I read you Lieutenant. Why have you deserted your command?"
"The Sith terrorists took over our ship!! I presume I'm the only survivor," Cayaa'lan croaked.
"Are you currently aboard their ship, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, I am, and from the looks of it we're dealing with a very militant bunch!!" Cayaa'lan muttered as he looked around the main quarters at all of the illegal weaponry strewn about.
"Well, take a look around and see what you can drudge up on them. We need all the help we can get!"
"Uh, there's one small problem. My leg's in bad shape. Bad fracture. I'm going to need some immediate medical attention," Cayaa'lan said, wincing as he shifted his weight in the chair.
"Well, hang on there K'aanar. We'll send out an emergency crew ASAP, and don't worry about the terrorists. We'll track their vessel and follow them to wherever their destination may be."
"Good. Whatever you do, don't let them know we're coming. They're hard enough to deal with when you take them by surprise!"
"Well, it looks like this is jedi business now. I think we're best staying out of it."
"No can do. I already have a vendetta against one of them, and I could help identify her. It would help lead the jedi to her, but not if I get there first!" Cayaa'lan hissed.
"Well, it doesn't look as if you'll be on the case in the next couple of days, Lieutenant. My advice to you is to calm down and just go home. It'll still be here when you come back. I've already sent out the medical team. They should be arriving shortly."
"Thank you," Cayaa'lan muttered, but he couldn't just relax. It wasn't that easy. He wasn't going to allow the dark jedi to get away with such murder, not on his time. His father had always told him that revenge was not the kind of motive a jedi should have behind his actions, but he couldn't help being angry. He wasn't a quite a jedi yet, and there was plenty of room for excuses. He was one of His Majesty's best soldiers, and he was going to personally make their lives a living hell.
"Well done, Daa'salar!" M'aaranik laughed fiendishly as he joined him in the cockpit. "Now there's nothing standing between us and the Narundis!"
"Oh please! Cliché!!" N'aadija said, rolling her eyes at him.
"Shut your mouth!" M'aaranik growled. "I've had enough of your sarcasm for one day!
"Then don't even think of coming on to me for the rest of today," N'aadija mumbled with a smug smile.
"What did you say," M'aaranik said, a hint of warning in his voice. N'aadija gave him her most charming smile as he slowly turned around to face her.
"Daa'salar, remind me again why we shouldn't take our smart-alecky female companion and introduce her to the ship's refuse chute!" M'aaranik said, smiling venomously at N'aadija.
N'aadija glared at him and lifted the corner of her mouth in a snarl. M'aaranik got up from his seat and stalked fluidly over to where she was standing. He moved so quickly that she barely had enough time to react before he thrust her shoulders against the wall.
"Why must you always cross me? I grow tired of your insolence, N'aadija," M'aaranik whispered softly into her ear as she strained to get away. "Now, are we going to cooperate, or am I going to have to break a few bones?"
"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction," N'aadija smiled as she stopped struggling.
"I bet not," M'aaranik grumbled, letting up his grip on her. N'aadija rubbed her sore shoulder, casting silent curses at him as he turned away from her.
"Boss! We've got a small problem here!" Daa'salar said, frantically motioning toward the cockpit.
M'aaranik rushed in to hear a transmission from the N'aanwarian Royal Fleet crackle over the ship's comm. unit.
"Gold Rogue 1881, we received your distress call. What seems to be the problem?"
"Um, nothing at the moment, my commander. We had a bit of a commotion when a few weapons malfunctioned, but everything is currently under complete control," M'aaranik said in the Captain's voice.
"Weapons malfunction? Is anyone injured?"
N'aadija reached out and smacked M'aaranik angrily on the back of the head. When he turned around she mouthed the word "stupid!". M'aaranik ignored her and returned to the transmission.
"Not that I can tell, sir. Everyone here is present and accounted for," M'aaranik replied calmly.
"All right then. Carry on," Crackled the voice, and then it fell silent.
"We should be thankful that the comm. unit doesn't have a holoscreen, or else they would have had your hide for sure!" N'aadija snapped. "They almost had us with that stupid remark about the weapons! Why can't you lie effectively, M'aaranik?"
"Oh, you know I can lie effectively, N'aadija," M'aaranik purred with a smile. "In fact, I'm a virtual master at lying! I only said that thing about the weapons malfunction because I knew it would get a rise out of you!"
"Oh, you stupid, overconfident, sn'aala-brained idiot!!" N'aadija said, fuming. "Someday you're going to be your own downfall!!"
"Yes, someday," Mused M'aaranik with a smile, "But not today. Today, we shall triumph!"
"I'm glad that one of us is optimistic!" N'aadija said with a half-smile as she put her hands on her hips.
"Oh, believe me N'aadija. The Narundis are the overconfident ones, and they'll be fairly easy to overthrow, once I put my plan into action. Then, once they're gone, I'll be King, and you two will be my highest officers!" M'aaranik proclaimed.
"I can't wait," N'aadija muttered under her breath.
"Oh, how soon I forget. You don't want to be my highest officer! You want to be my queen!!" M'aaranik said with an devilish grin.
"Take that big, fat mouth of yours and shut it!!" N'aadija snapped angrily.
"Ah, such harsh words from such a beautiful woman!! They are the words of a stubborn child that sees something that can never belong to her!" M'aaranik said, his voice taking on a dreamy quality.
"I have enough problems dealing with the likes of you on a daily basis! I don't need your smug attitude added onto the pile!!" N'aadija yelled.
"Oh, am I getting to you N'aadija??" M'aaranik said, sliding his arms around her waist from behind. "I think you'd take me, smugness and all. That's why there's such fire in your words!!"
N'aadija whirled around and swung her open hand to smack him, but M'aaranik gripped her wrist and pulled her closer. She felt the warmth of his breath on her cheek, and it only made her heart pound harder in her chest.
"Lets not forget who's bigger, stronger, and the better jedi here, my dear N'aadija," M'aaranik breathed in a barely audible whisper. "Think about that the next time you try acting out of line!"
N'aadija looked up at him with tired, glazed over eyes, and nodded. She was sick of fighting with M'aaranik anyway. Sensing her desire for reconciliation, M'aaranik wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. She sighed in exhaustion as she rested her head against his chest, allowing his warmth to comfort her.
"Long day, huh?" M'aaranik muttered softly against her forehead. "I'm sorry that I lose my temper so easily, N'aadija. I really would never hurt you! It's just that you know how to push my buttons, that's all!!"
"Mmmmn," Mumbled N'aadija, already beginning to fall asleep in his arms. M'aaranik scooped her up and carried her gently into the ship's sleeping quarters. He set her sleeping form down on the bedding and covered her with a scratchy blanket. For a long time he just stared at her as she slept, mesmerized by her beauty . . .
'Stop it!' M'aaranik thought fiercely at himself. 'You don't want to get emotionally involved with her, regardless of how pretty she might be!'
Still, he couldn't pry his gaze from the beautiful young woman who was sleeping before him. He found himself bent over her, giving her a soft kiss goodnight.
"What have you been up to?" Asked Daa'salar as M'aaranik walked quietly into the cockpit.
"Oh, nothing much. Just finding out that I have feelings for N'aadija," M'aaranik mumbled with a distressed look on his face.
"So, after four years of mating with her you've actually just begun to harbor feelings for her?" Daa'salar said, the corner of his mouth turning up in a smirk.
"Yes, and if you say one word of it to N'aadija I'm going to have to tear your guts out!" M'aaranik laughed, a hint of wickedness in his voice. He obviously wasn't joking about this matter.
"You have nothing to worry about. I've kept dozens of secrets, both yours and N'aadija's. Nobody's going to ever find out," Daa'salar said, his face stony and serious.
Satisfied by his accomplice's statement, M'aaranik turned to the controls. They were just a few standard hours out of their final destination. M'aaranik had waited long enough for this chance, and now he was one step closer to defeating the Narundi Dynasty.
Nothing, not even his newfound love for N'aadija, could be allowed to jeopardize the mission.
*****************
A shadow of pain loomed over Cayaa'lan K'aanar as he drifted back into consciousness. His leg felt as if it were being gnawed off by D'aasnian fire-crae'aans, and he cussed out loud at the young N'aanwarian female who had caused his injury.
"Goddamn darksiders!! You'll pay for that, you little whore!! That's the last time I let people's charms get in the way of my job!! Oh well, at least I know your face, and therefore your reign of terror will be coming to an end!!" Cayaa'lan muttered angrily out loud to himself. He pushed himself off the floor and nearly collapsed from the agony. This was going to be harder than he thought.
"The first order of business is to get my leg fixed," Cayaa'lan pointed out to himself. There was no choice. The investigation would have to be put on hold. Cayaa'lan tapped into the force to relieve the pain, but he couldn't feel much of a difference. He sighed as he realized that this would mean at least two days in a bacta tank; two days that could be spent bringing the three Sith magicians to justice. At least his job in the heart of nowhere was finally over. Even through all of the pain, Cayaa'lan was able to smile at the thought of being reunited with his wife and daughter. He dragged himself over to the comm. unit and sent a transmission to the Royal Fleet.
"Narundi Fleet, come in! This is Lieutenant K'aanar communicating from an unknown vessel!"
"I read you Lieutenant. Why have you deserted your command?"
"The Sith terrorists took over our ship!! I presume I'm the only survivor," Cayaa'lan croaked.
"Are you currently aboard their ship, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, I am, and from the looks of it we're dealing with a very militant bunch!!" Cayaa'lan muttered as he looked around the main quarters at all of the illegal weaponry strewn about.
"Well, take a look around and see what you can drudge up on them. We need all the help we can get!"
"Uh, there's one small problem. My leg's in bad shape. Bad fracture. I'm going to need some immediate medical attention," Cayaa'lan said, wincing as he shifted his weight in the chair.
"Well, hang on there K'aanar. We'll send out an emergency crew ASAP, and don't worry about the terrorists. We'll track their vessel and follow them to wherever their destination may be."
"Good. Whatever you do, don't let them know we're coming. They're hard enough to deal with when you take them by surprise!"
"Well, it looks like this is jedi business now. I think we're best staying out of it."
"No can do. I already have a vendetta against one of them, and I could help identify her. It would help lead the jedi to her, but not if I get there first!" Cayaa'lan hissed.
"Well, it doesn't look as if you'll be on the case in the next couple of days, Lieutenant. My advice to you is to calm down and just go home. It'll still be here when you come back. I've already sent out the medical team. They should be arriving shortly."
"Thank you," Cayaa'lan muttered, but he couldn't just relax. It wasn't that easy. He wasn't going to allow the dark jedi to get away with such murder, not on his time. His father had always told him that revenge was not the kind of motive a jedi should have behind his actions, but he couldn't help being angry. He wasn't a quite a jedi yet, and there was plenty of room for excuses. He was one of His Majesty's best soldiers, and he was going to personally make their lives a living hell.
