* Fly Away Fantasy *
CaRày was now Nivek's. She had no choice now, but follow his every command. She was his. But she didn't love him. At least not anymore.
Her hand slid across the liquid in the organic bulb plant. The water rippled, distorting her reflection.
"You are awake." His deep sinister voice echoed in their room.
Taking her hand out of the water, she rested it on her stomach not answering Nivek.
Coming up from behind her his arms encircled her landing on her stomach. "You feel our child?"
CaRày nodded shakily. Soon his lips kissed her lightly on the neck. "I came to see how you were feeling, but it seems your better." She nodded again. Shivers tingled down her spine as he continued to speak. "There is a visitor at the door for you."
He pulled away from her as she turned in surprise. "For me?"
Nivek raised his arm pointing to the outer chamber of their rooms. "I will remain here."
"Thank you," she breathed. Quickly she went to attend to her visitor. Slipping through the valve door, it sucked closed. The room was lit softly with luminescent plants strategically placed along the upper part of the walls and ceiling. From the corner of the room CaRày saw a hobbled broken creature emerge from the darkness.
"Vergere. what h-"
The badly beaten female held up a hand silencing the other's words. "Khalee is dead."
Shock over took CaRày. "No." she shook her head. "How? Why?" she begged for answers.
"He was sick. I tried to save him. His father asked me to help him, but it was just too late."
The slender Yuuzhan Vong held herself close. Khalee Lah had been the one to keep her alive. He always made sure that she was safe. He was the reason why she was still alive. And now he was dead? Just like that?
Somehow, she was able to speak. "How will we rise against the rest now? The Shamed. how will we ever be free?"
"You still have the power. You always have." The hollow eyes of Vergere darted to CaRày's stomach as if she noticed something that never was. She looked up into her eyes again, taking a few steps closer. "You are."
"I am." She admitted in defeat. "I could not stop it."
Vergere's voice lowered only for her ears. "Don't let them subdue the child. It must live."
"I would never let anything become of it. It is a life. It has a heartbeat of its own. I can feel the child's soul intertwine with mine. We are one."
Vergere nodded. "If you were still captive in the cell, helping you out of her would have been an option. But now-"
"We'll find a way. Feng. My brother. He."
"I will contact him." She breathed. "May the Force be with you and your child."
"You too." CaRày watched solemnly as Vergere hobbled out of the room leaving her standing alone in the main audience chamber. She would survive this. She had too. This time, CaRày could see how much her life meant keeping another's alive. Soon she would have the tummy to prove it.
***
Morning.
Jaina felt sick and tight. Moving hurt her constricted muscles. Where was she? Opening her eyes, she saw all sorts of cleaning equipment.
*Son of a Sith.* she thought to herself.
Cautiously she stood up realizing her left leg was asleep, and unlocked the door. The hallway flooded unwanted light into her eyes. She must look horrible. No one seemed to be in the hallway so it gave her a chance to possibly make a break to her room.
"Jaina?"
Spinning around she saw Jag. She winced. "Morning."
"What happened to you?" he came over and aided her.
"I needed to hide. That's all. I'm ok."
His arm wrapped around her waist and walked her to her room. "Let's skip the sim today."
"No! I need it. Just give me a few minutes to get ready."
"Are you sure you're up to it?"
"I'm up to any challenge Fel. You of all people should know that."
They were in front of her quarters. Turning her towards his face he smiled wickedly. "Will this be the day we won't tie and I can have my victory kiss?"
Laughing, Jaina punched Jag playfully in the shoulder. "Nice try flyboy, but I believe I have the upper hand in this one."
"Oh you do now?" he mumbled under his breath, inching closer towards her.
"Mmmmmm," Jaina mused. Touching her finger on his nose she slid it down to the tip pushing him slightly away. "No fair having freebees." With that she pulled away from him and went into her room to get ready leaving him standing in front of a shut door with a smile of success on his face.
*I already got my trophy, Jaina. I already have won.* Quietly he headed towards the hanger bay.
***
Jumping out of the sim, Kyp checked the readouts on his score. He was getting better, but it wasn't good enough to count as improvement in his books. Wiping the sweat from his brow he picked up his cape and lightsaber that he had set on the chair that was at the far wall of the room.
"Well look who's here. Never thought you would step into this place Durron." Jag Fel leaned against the door jam to the simulator room watching Kyp.
"Stuff it Fel. You don't own the Venture. I have a right to go anywhere I want." Kyp Durron slung his cloak over his arm and clipped his lightsaber to his side. He didn't need to put up with the younger man's mindless remarks. He began to exit the room, but as he past him, Fel's mouth opened again.
"Imperials always win, Durron. Look at who has Jaina." Jag remarked. "Besides, who are you fooling?"
Defense lit up inside the Jedi Master. He stopped in his tracks, glaring down the pilot. "I'm not fooling anyone. But you sure as hell are fooling her!"
"Fooling? Me? No. She honestly loves me. And I love her."
"You don't love her." Kyp spat out. "You just want her. Love and desire are two completely different concepts." He paused for a moment, thinking if he should say what he really wanted. Heck, what was he thinking? This was Fel he was talking about. "How bout you take the advice your parents branded you with, Jagged Fel. Go jump off a cliff." Kyp retorted angrily. He was fed up with the younger man's arrogance.
"Go back to Kessel, Durron. You're wanted more there than anywhere else."
Kyp glared at Jag with contempt, but kept his anger under control. This boy was pushing it. "Stop Fel, before you hurt yourself."
But he didn't. In fact, all Kyp's remark did was edge him on.
Jag was still leaning against the wall, except his face was not expressionless like the cardboard dummy he was. For the first time Kyp saw Jag display a victorious grin of almost. triumph. "You'll never have Jaina. No matter how hard you try, she'll never be yours. And just for the record, her kisses are unbelievable. And you'll never know what they taste like again. Never." Jag let his smile linger. He finally had the one thing that Kyp had wanted more than anything, and this time there was no way of him getting back at him.
Not giving himself the seconds to stay behind and punch the daylights out of Jag, Kyp denied his trust in his patience and left the room. He could not believe that Jaina did not see Jag for who he really was. But it was her choice. Not his.
And he would do anything to make her smile again.
***
Jaina was halfway to the Sims. She waited for the lift to the next level opened and she climbed in. Punching in the floor where the simulators where located, Jaina leaned against the handle bar as she pulled her hair back.
Her morning was not going exactly as planned, but she needed to make the best of it. It had to get better. Having running into Jag looking like she hadn't slept for weeks hadn't been her plan. The night before.
She didn't need to think about that. She couldn't think about it. Some things were just best left, put away, and not dealt with.
The lift jerked to a stop causing her to loose her balance, but she managed to steady herself.
[i]What now?[/i] She sighed.
A yellow light began blinking on the council. Lately on the Venture, she hadn't heard anything about the technical glitches. Frowning hoping that the light was just blinking abnormally, Jaina reached out and pressed the button to take her to the next floor. Jaina cursed. Why did the lift have to stop working now? All she needed to do was go one more floor and she would be there. Now she was bound to be late.
The door slowly opened and without looking the young woman stepped out letting out a few more unlady like words.
"Something wrong?" a deep voice inquired in front of her.
Freezing to a stop, Jaina found herself face to face with Kyp. He looked a bit worn out, and sweaty. Her heart leaped seeing him in the white wife beater and loose black pants, cloak thrown over one muscular arm. Forcing herself back into reality, she masked her feelings.
"The lift just is stuck, and I'm already late." Not waiting for Kyp to say something, she barged passed him. The further she got something echoed into her ears; her eyes watered from the emotion.
She loved Jag.
Then why didn't she smile?
"Jaina?" Kyp called out her name. Each vibration that bounced off the corridor walls hit her in the gut.
She slowed her pace. "Yes?"
Kyp swallowed. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. [i]If only you could you, read my mind.[/i] He thought. Watching her, she turned to face him again.
"What Kyp? I have to go!"
"Why? So you could go meet up with Jag?" he replied harshly. The sting of his words hurt even him, but he did not even try to take them back. She had to know.
Shocked, Jaina's lips quivered; brown eyes watering again. A few tears escaped and trailed down her cheek, but she did not feel them. She did not need to speak. Her eyes spoke for her.
"Jaina, he. Jag is not who you think he is."
"H-how do you know? He loves me." As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she put herself into a corner. Closing her eyes, she spun around. It was too much for her to listen to Kyp. "No," she stated simply.
"No what?" Kyp said.
"No, I'm not going to let you walk away again without." Jaina spun around, advanced towards Kyp, and looked deep into his heart.
Just seeing her cry made Kyp's heart shatter. But he stood still.
Her eyes searched his, trying to find something. Finally, she shook her head in defeat.
"What?"
"Just hoping I guess." More tears came even though she tried to hold them back.
"Hoping for what?"
"For something, a sign of sadness maybe? That you actually cared for me once."
"Why do you think I still don't?"
"Why would you? After what I did?"
Kyp's green eyes widened in sympathy. "I always will Jaina. And no matter what you do to me, I'm your friend. I would never lie to you."
"Thank you Kyp."
[i]I can't keep this from her. She has to know.[/i] He told himself. "But about Jag, he. he is just using you. He doesn't love you."
"Excuse me?"
"Jaina, don't take this the wrong way I-"
Backing away, she made a face of disgust. "You what? Love me? No shivat Kyp! But that does not give you the right to go and make up false accusations about Fel!"
"But I'm not! If you would only believe me!"
"Believe you? Jagged holds more chivalry than any person I have ever met."
"He's a joke!"
"You're the joke, Durron!" Anger fumed through her. Hurrying to the stairway she made her way up the next flight of stairs in less than a minute.
Oh, the nerve of the pompous arrogant lizard monkey. Of all the things he had to make up. saying Jag was a liar was hardly believable. [i]One could not pay a Tuskan Raider to believe such![/i] she remarked to herself.
The door to the Sims came into her view and she sighed. How come her only get away was make believe? Her thoughts were broken as she entered the spacious. Scanning the room she saw Jag getting the simulators started up. His back faced away from her.
Coming up behind the Chiss pilot, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Hey, Jag."
"Are you conceding victory to me? I was sure that you would at least wait another minute."
Pulling back, she hit him playfully in the arm. "You wish." Strolling over to her simulator she climbed in. Before the top closed down on her, she called out to him laughing. "The only victor here will be royalty."
Jag smiled devilishly as he got into his seat. [i]If you only knew how wrong you are.[/i]
CaRày was now Nivek's. She had no choice now, but follow his every command. She was his. But she didn't love him. At least not anymore.
Her hand slid across the liquid in the organic bulb plant. The water rippled, distorting her reflection.
"You are awake." His deep sinister voice echoed in their room.
Taking her hand out of the water, she rested it on her stomach not answering Nivek.
Coming up from behind her his arms encircled her landing on her stomach. "You feel our child?"
CaRày nodded shakily. Soon his lips kissed her lightly on the neck. "I came to see how you were feeling, but it seems your better." She nodded again. Shivers tingled down her spine as he continued to speak. "There is a visitor at the door for you."
He pulled away from her as she turned in surprise. "For me?"
Nivek raised his arm pointing to the outer chamber of their rooms. "I will remain here."
"Thank you," she breathed. Quickly she went to attend to her visitor. Slipping through the valve door, it sucked closed. The room was lit softly with luminescent plants strategically placed along the upper part of the walls and ceiling. From the corner of the room CaRày saw a hobbled broken creature emerge from the darkness.
"Vergere. what h-"
The badly beaten female held up a hand silencing the other's words. "Khalee is dead."
Shock over took CaRày. "No." she shook her head. "How? Why?" she begged for answers.
"He was sick. I tried to save him. His father asked me to help him, but it was just too late."
The slender Yuuzhan Vong held herself close. Khalee Lah had been the one to keep her alive. He always made sure that she was safe. He was the reason why she was still alive. And now he was dead? Just like that?
Somehow, she was able to speak. "How will we rise against the rest now? The Shamed. how will we ever be free?"
"You still have the power. You always have." The hollow eyes of Vergere darted to CaRày's stomach as if she noticed something that never was. She looked up into her eyes again, taking a few steps closer. "You are."
"I am." She admitted in defeat. "I could not stop it."
Vergere's voice lowered only for her ears. "Don't let them subdue the child. It must live."
"I would never let anything become of it. It is a life. It has a heartbeat of its own. I can feel the child's soul intertwine with mine. We are one."
Vergere nodded. "If you were still captive in the cell, helping you out of her would have been an option. But now-"
"We'll find a way. Feng. My brother. He."
"I will contact him." She breathed. "May the Force be with you and your child."
"You too." CaRày watched solemnly as Vergere hobbled out of the room leaving her standing alone in the main audience chamber. She would survive this. She had too. This time, CaRày could see how much her life meant keeping another's alive. Soon she would have the tummy to prove it.
***
Morning.
Jaina felt sick and tight. Moving hurt her constricted muscles. Where was she? Opening her eyes, she saw all sorts of cleaning equipment.
*Son of a Sith.* she thought to herself.
Cautiously she stood up realizing her left leg was asleep, and unlocked the door. The hallway flooded unwanted light into her eyes. She must look horrible. No one seemed to be in the hallway so it gave her a chance to possibly make a break to her room.
"Jaina?"
Spinning around she saw Jag. She winced. "Morning."
"What happened to you?" he came over and aided her.
"I needed to hide. That's all. I'm ok."
His arm wrapped around her waist and walked her to her room. "Let's skip the sim today."
"No! I need it. Just give me a few minutes to get ready."
"Are you sure you're up to it?"
"I'm up to any challenge Fel. You of all people should know that."
They were in front of her quarters. Turning her towards his face he smiled wickedly. "Will this be the day we won't tie and I can have my victory kiss?"
Laughing, Jaina punched Jag playfully in the shoulder. "Nice try flyboy, but I believe I have the upper hand in this one."
"Oh you do now?" he mumbled under his breath, inching closer towards her.
"Mmmmmm," Jaina mused. Touching her finger on his nose she slid it down to the tip pushing him slightly away. "No fair having freebees." With that she pulled away from him and went into her room to get ready leaving him standing in front of a shut door with a smile of success on his face.
*I already got my trophy, Jaina. I already have won.* Quietly he headed towards the hanger bay.
***
Jumping out of the sim, Kyp checked the readouts on his score. He was getting better, but it wasn't good enough to count as improvement in his books. Wiping the sweat from his brow he picked up his cape and lightsaber that he had set on the chair that was at the far wall of the room.
"Well look who's here. Never thought you would step into this place Durron." Jag Fel leaned against the door jam to the simulator room watching Kyp.
"Stuff it Fel. You don't own the Venture. I have a right to go anywhere I want." Kyp Durron slung his cloak over his arm and clipped his lightsaber to his side. He didn't need to put up with the younger man's mindless remarks. He began to exit the room, but as he past him, Fel's mouth opened again.
"Imperials always win, Durron. Look at who has Jaina." Jag remarked. "Besides, who are you fooling?"
Defense lit up inside the Jedi Master. He stopped in his tracks, glaring down the pilot. "I'm not fooling anyone. But you sure as hell are fooling her!"
"Fooling? Me? No. She honestly loves me. And I love her."
"You don't love her." Kyp spat out. "You just want her. Love and desire are two completely different concepts." He paused for a moment, thinking if he should say what he really wanted. Heck, what was he thinking? This was Fel he was talking about. "How bout you take the advice your parents branded you with, Jagged Fel. Go jump off a cliff." Kyp retorted angrily. He was fed up with the younger man's arrogance.
"Go back to Kessel, Durron. You're wanted more there than anywhere else."
Kyp glared at Jag with contempt, but kept his anger under control. This boy was pushing it. "Stop Fel, before you hurt yourself."
But he didn't. In fact, all Kyp's remark did was edge him on.
Jag was still leaning against the wall, except his face was not expressionless like the cardboard dummy he was. For the first time Kyp saw Jag display a victorious grin of almost. triumph. "You'll never have Jaina. No matter how hard you try, she'll never be yours. And just for the record, her kisses are unbelievable. And you'll never know what they taste like again. Never." Jag let his smile linger. He finally had the one thing that Kyp had wanted more than anything, and this time there was no way of him getting back at him.
Not giving himself the seconds to stay behind and punch the daylights out of Jag, Kyp denied his trust in his patience and left the room. He could not believe that Jaina did not see Jag for who he really was. But it was her choice. Not his.
And he would do anything to make her smile again.
***
Jaina was halfway to the Sims. She waited for the lift to the next level opened and she climbed in. Punching in the floor where the simulators where located, Jaina leaned against the handle bar as she pulled her hair back.
Her morning was not going exactly as planned, but she needed to make the best of it. It had to get better. Having running into Jag looking like she hadn't slept for weeks hadn't been her plan. The night before.
She didn't need to think about that. She couldn't think about it. Some things were just best left, put away, and not dealt with.
The lift jerked to a stop causing her to loose her balance, but she managed to steady herself.
[i]What now?[/i] She sighed.
A yellow light began blinking on the council. Lately on the Venture, she hadn't heard anything about the technical glitches. Frowning hoping that the light was just blinking abnormally, Jaina reached out and pressed the button to take her to the next floor. Jaina cursed. Why did the lift have to stop working now? All she needed to do was go one more floor and she would be there. Now she was bound to be late.
The door slowly opened and without looking the young woman stepped out letting out a few more unlady like words.
"Something wrong?" a deep voice inquired in front of her.
Freezing to a stop, Jaina found herself face to face with Kyp. He looked a bit worn out, and sweaty. Her heart leaped seeing him in the white wife beater and loose black pants, cloak thrown over one muscular arm. Forcing herself back into reality, she masked her feelings.
"The lift just is stuck, and I'm already late." Not waiting for Kyp to say something, she barged passed him. The further she got something echoed into her ears; her eyes watered from the emotion.
She loved Jag.
Then why didn't she smile?
"Jaina?" Kyp called out her name. Each vibration that bounced off the corridor walls hit her in the gut.
She slowed her pace. "Yes?"
Kyp swallowed. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. [i]If only you could you, read my mind.[/i] He thought. Watching her, she turned to face him again.
"What Kyp? I have to go!"
"Why? So you could go meet up with Jag?" he replied harshly. The sting of his words hurt even him, but he did not even try to take them back. She had to know.
Shocked, Jaina's lips quivered; brown eyes watering again. A few tears escaped and trailed down her cheek, but she did not feel them. She did not need to speak. Her eyes spoke for her.
"Jaina, he. Jag is not who you think he is."
"H-how do you know? He loves me." As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she put herself into a corner. Closing her eyes, she spun around. It was too much for her to listen to Kyp. "No," she stated simply.
"No what?" Kyp said.
"No, I'm not going to let you walk away again without." Jaina spun around, advanced towards Kyp, and looked deep into his heart.
Just seeing her cry made Kyp's heart shatter. But he stood still.
Her eyes searched his, trying to find something. Finally, she shook her head in defeat.
"What?"
"Just hoping I guess." More tears came even though she tried to hold them back.
"Hoping for what?"
"For something, a sign of sadness maybe? That you actually cared for me once."
"Why do you think I still don't?"
"Why would you? After what I did?"
Kyp's green eyes widened in sympathy. "I always will Jaina. And no matter what you do to me, I'm your friend. I would never lie to you."
"Thank you Kyp."
[i]I can't keep this from her. She has to know.[/i] He told himself. "But about Jag, he. he is just using you. He doesn't love you."
"Excuse me?"
"Jaina, don't take this the wrong way I-"
Backing away, she made a face of disgust. "You what? Love me? No shivat Kyp! But that does not give you the right to go and make up false accusations about Fel!"
"But I'm not! If you would only believe me!"
"Believe you? Jagged holds more chivalry than any person I have ever met."
"He's a joke!"
"You're the joke, Durron!" Anger fumed through her. Hurrying to the stairway she made her way up the next flight of stairs in less than a minute.
Oh, the nerve of the pompous arrogant lizard monkey. Of all the things he had to make up. saying Jag was a liar was hardly believable. [i]One could not pay a Tuskan Raider to believe such![/i] she remarked to herself.
The door to the Sims came into her view and she sighed. How come her only get away was make believe? Her thoughts were broken as she entered the spacious. Scanning the room she saw Jag getting the simulators started up. His back faced away from her.
Coming up behind the Chiss pilot, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Hey, Jag."
"Are you conceding victory to me? I was sure that you would at least wait another minute."
Pulling back, she hit him playfully in the arm. "You wish." Strolling over to her simulator she climbed in. Before the top closed down on her, she called out to him laughing. "The only victor here will be royalty."
Jag smiled devilishly as he got into his seat. [i]If you only knew how wrong you are.[/i]