Sorry it's taken so long to get the next chapter up.  Had SEVERE writer's block!!!  Thank you for the helpful tips everyone.  I'm working on the "scene thing" but I still don't have it down pat yet.  Well, without further ado, here's the newest chapter!!!  Enjoy!

Chapter 7

"What do you mean 'trouble'?"  I sidestepped Carth and walked over towards Kahelle.

"Enough trouble to postpone Kahelle's home-coming for a few days."  Kimno leaned against the doorway as she walked towards the center of the room.

"What's going on?"  Bastilla cast a cautious glance at Kahelle as she walked in.

I couldn't tell if she didn't realize it was Bastilla that had said anything or if she was purposefully ignoring her.  Either way, Kahelle leaned against the table with her arms crossed, "Vampires never congregate. . ."

"Wait a sec, vampires?"  I looked at her confused.

She sighed, "They are people who feed on the blood of other creatures.  Vampires appear human and many times act human.  However, for what matters, they're dead."

"Okay," I crossed my arms, "so what's odd about so many of them being here?"

Kahelle's face was very stoic.  Any of her usual airiness wasn't visible.

"Vampires normally don't like to gather in large groups unless there is something big about to happen."

"Which usually ends up as a mass feeding frenzy. . ." Kimno started.  Kahelle shot him a look.

"Well, you can read minds, right?"  Carth came and stood next to me, "Can't you use that to find out what they're up to?"

Kahelle leaned back with her hands on the table, "I can read the minds of anything alive, Carth.  And as I mentioned earlier, vampires aren't exactly alive."

"Anyways," Kimno stepped forward from his place at the doorway, "we have a friend named Seth who gets what information he can from inside one of the covens."

"So, exactly how does he keep from being eaten?"  I asked.

Kahelle looked at Kimno then back to me, "Well, you see. . . Seth IS one of them."

"Wonderful, so we're supposed to trust the exact thing you are hunting down?" Bastilla finally spoke up.

"Look, he hates Gavin for his own reasons and helps us so we'll get rid of him.  Without our intervention, Gavin. . ."

"Hold it. . . who's Gavin?"  I held up my hands.

"Let's just say he's a very powerful man." Kahelle stood up," And the longer we stand here yakking, the less chance we have of stopping whatever it is he's got planned."

"Slow it down, Hell-cat."  Kimno crossed his arms, "I want to beat the shit out of Gavin as much as you do, but we can't just run off half-cocked. We need a plan."

I tapped my fingers on my arms, "So what information was your friend able to get, Kimno?"

"Seth found me this morning and told me that Gavin had called all the covens together.  The elders are supposed to be meeting tonight.  The lesser vampires are supposed to keep Kahelle and I distracted.  However, he hasn't counted on the fact that we have a. . . well, a few more people here now.  While the elders are meeting, the second-in-commands of each coven are going to go to one of the local clubs to 'unwind'."

"So what's the plan?"  I looked at Kahelle.

I don't know. . . she shrugged.

"Actually, I do have an idea of what will work." Kimno looked warily at Kahelle, "We'll split into 2 groups.  One group will go with me to keep the free buffet down to a minimum.  The other group. . ." he rubbed the back of his neck, "well, they'll go with Kahelle to the club. . .to make sure she can. . .well. . ."

"Hell no!!!"  Kahelle's face started to turn red, "There is no fucking way I'm gonna do that again. . ."

Do what again, Kahelle?

She looked over at me He wants me to try to seduce a vampire I looked at Kimno wide-eyed, in disbelief.  True, I'd flirted with a Sith trooper on Taris to get uniforms. . .but she said again. . .what happened last time. . . how far was she forced to go?

"Please Kahelle.  You just have to lure him out and back to the house."  He pleaded.

"And by lure you mean. . ." Carth began.

"Shamelessly throw myself at one of them."  Kahelle looked as though she could kill him at that moment and not bat an eye.

"Look, it seems to be the easiest way to take care of this." Kimno stood defensively.

"Fine, who's going with me."  She crossed her arms, still pissed.

"You'll take Carth and Revan.  Everyone else will be with me. . . I don't think anyone would mind a few. . . unusual looking people wandering through the alleys."

"Is there any way Mission could come with me, Kahelle and Carth, Kimno?"  The Twi'lek could take care of herself but I just didn't like the idea of putting her in that unnecessary danger.  I nearly passed out when she helped us past the Rancor on Taris.

Kahelle looked at me, She'd be in more danger with us in the club.  Trust Kimno on this.

I sighed and glanced at the ground. "Never mind.  Just don't let anything happen to her, Kimno."

"Believe me, I don't like the idea of taking a teenager along on a vampire hunt but. . . " He smiled at Kahelle, "I learned a long time ago that sometimes kids can be a stronger asset than the most experienced warrior."

"Hey, what's going on in here?"  As if on cue, Mission poked her head around the door, "What's with the old folks convention in here?"

"Just a small change in plans.  I'll explain later."  I knew that she wanted to know immediately, but she seemed tolerant about waiting . . . for the moment.

Kahelle glanced at Mission and back to Kimno, "So, what do you want me to do after I get him out of the club?" she almost visibly shuddered.

"The house is closest, we'll meet you there.  How you get him there . . . well . . . that's up to you."

Mission was itching to ask what was going on.  I had to keep myself from laughing at her.

"Okay, sounds decent.  You do know that you owe me big time for this, right?" Kahelle's eyes were almost slits as she glared at him.

Kimno just nodded and walked off down the hall.  Kahelle let out an exasperated sigh and went back towards the crew quarters.

"What was that all about?!" 

Carth and I laughed, "Okay, I promised an explanation. Here's what's going on. . ."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kahelle:

I slammed my fist into the wall.

Damn you, Kimno!

The wall clanked as I hit it again.  The last time he sent me to gather information it had been from Gavin himself.  I shuddered remembering the event. 

We had stopped him that time.  Although, I couldn't bring myself to look at Kimno for a long time after that.  I was so afraid that he would see what I had done to convince Gavin to give up his secrets. I fought down the bile that was rising in my throat. What I had done to convince him that I was still in love with him. 

I wiped my eyes as the tears began.  Just thinking of what had transpired that night . . . the guilt of using myself that way.  Betraying everything I'd ever thought, ever believed . . . betraying how I felt.

Like he'd care.

I leaned forward and rested my forehead against the cool metal.  My tears flowed down my face.  I had wanted to tell him everything . . . thought about it more than once but I stopped as soon as the words reached my mouth.  The memory of my betrayal still cut deep. . .

"Kimno?"  I placed a hand on his sagging shoulders.  "I'm sorry. . . I. . ." I bowed my head and then looked at the handsome 20-year-old who stood, defeated, in front of me.

"Stop it, Kahelle!" he brushed my hand off his shoulder.  "This is the worst thing you could have done. . ."his words stung.

"I. . . I'm sorry. . . I didn't know. . ." the tears welled up in my eyes.

"No, you didn't know he'd leave you . . . but you knew she would overwhelmed by his power."  He looked at me, the betrayal darkened his eyes, "Did you think that I'd come running to you?  Huh?! That I'd all of a sudden fall for you. . . I can't love you!!  Especially not now."  I stepped back and looked down.  The tears now flowing down my face, "I don't even know if I can ever consider you a friend again."

"Kimno. . ."  I watched as he stormed off down the dark alley, "please don't leave . . . come back" my voice sounded so puny, so weak. He turned and looked at me before disappearing.

I wiped my face, turned with my back against the wall and sat down.

Thankfully, he did come back.  5 years later, but he did come back.  I had never tried to ask if all was forgiven.  It seemed that neither of us really wanted to talk about it.  Then again, maybe sending me to get information from Gavin had been his own sick, twisted way of revenge.

I looked up to see Revan standing at the doorway.

"Want to talk?"  She came and sat next to me.

I shook my head.  "Just reminiscing."

I wiped my eyes and looked at her.  "So, is everyone ready?"

"I guess so.  Kimno hasn't come out for a while.  I explained most of the plan to everyone."

"Now we just play the waiting game. . ." I stood up and offered a hand to Revan.

She smiled and stood up.  "Come on . . . let me show you how I pass the time. . ."

"You mean you do something rather than pine for a certain pilot?" I grinned.

She began to blush.  I chuckled.  "You know about that?"

"Both sides."  Her attention perked.

I held up my hands in mock-surrender, "Hey, you should discuss that with him . . . not me. . ." I smiled, "Give it a chance, sis."

"You know what the Council. . ."

"Fuck the council.  If push comes to shove, I'll take them on.  They don't know what I know."  I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall.

"Fine," she smiled, "I'll go talk to him." She cast a glance at me; it reminded me of a teenager, "so . . . uh . . . does he . . . well. . ."

I smiled surreptitiously at her, "You'll never find out if you stay here. . ."

She looked at me with mock-disappointment and turned to leave.

"You sure I can't just get you to tell me. . ."

I laughed, "Go!"

She did a half-salute to me and left.

Now maybe they'll both finally get everything together.

I smiled to myself.

I heard Revan talking to someone outside my door.  Shortly afterwards, Kimno walked in.

Speaking of the guys in our lives.

"I just wanted to make sure you're alright with this.  I know last time was. . ."

I held up my hand, "I'll be fine, K."

He looked down at the floor, "Look, I know you say that now." He sighed, "You just have to get him to the house.  We can interrogate there.  It won't be like last time.  I promise."  He looked at me, I stood as though fixed to the spot by his eyes, "You know you can always come talk to me right?"

I nodded, and mocked a yawn, "yeah, though talking to you always seems about as interesting as watching water evaporate. . ."

He glared at me, and then laughed.  "Well, I better go then. . . I'll come find you when everything's ready."

He paused at the door, "Oh, and remember that the vampire will need a voice box to speak with, Hell-cat."

I faked an exasperated sigh, "If you say so. . ."

He smiled and left.

I watched him walk out the door, Was that his way of an apology?

A smile played across my lips as I laid down on the bed with my arms behind my head, Maybe some things can change.