"What are you talking about?" Juhani spat. Saleairy felt her Cathar blood seethe.
"Look around. Revan's family is back." He blinked long, black eyelashes at Saleairy. "If you survive, I will be back, beautiful." He disappeared and she cursed Shifters. New faces appeared around them. Grim, bitter and vindictive faces. They were all men, with black eyes and weapons.
"Hello Revan."
"I'm not Revan. I'm Saleairy." She blinked at the faces around her. "I don't want to fight you."
"We know who you are." They blinked at her. Black haired, black eyed and black hearted.
"Then perhaps you know it would be pointless to attack. She may not want to kill you, but if you attack us, we will be forced to defend ourselves." Juhani said.
"Revan is a threat to the galaxy unless dead."
"Some family." Bastila said.
"We're not Revan's family. We are followers of an ideal. Revan's family is in hiding, waiting for an opportune moment to strike." Their black eyes blinked at Saleairy. "Do you know what we are?"
"Shifters." Saleairy said.
"Yes. Why would we care whether you live or die though?" The darkest among them was very close to Saleairy.
"Enlighten me." Saleairy said.
"Revan had a few very secret projects. We were one of them. The people from Revan's home planet were genetically altered to be Shifters. Bred to hunt. It appears we're fulfilling our calling." He drew a twisted, vibro double blade that glowed. She leapt back and drew her lightsabers.
The battle that followed involved the slow retreat of all but three black-eyed men. One cracked Saleairy on the side of her ribs and she fell, gasping. He pinned her with his boot and rested the blade to her throat.
"Perhaps I should give you the Sith honor?" He picked up her lightsaber and it hummed to life. She was bleeding and she couldn't breathe. The lightsaber rested against her neck, burning. She whimpered and waited. His black eyes flickered. "I was told your blood would heal the virus that you infected us with." It burned her and she struggled under his foot. God, his weight was crushing her ribs.
"My death will only bring about the end of your followers. I am not Revan and you are the only ones who don't see it." Saleairy gasped.
"I hope you suffer once you are dead Revan."
Juhani slammed into him and they both fell. Saleairy rolled clear and saw he was the only Shifter remaining. She tried to stand but found she didn't have the strength. The man disappeared and Saleairy didn't see Bastila. Juhani helped her up and Saleairy blinked at the Cathar.
"You're not-" The Shifter changed back to Dustil, smiling.
"No beautiful. I don't want you dead. Battle tells all. You aren't Revan anymore." She stared at the black eyed Dustil. He came closer to her until an inch separated them. He leaned closer to her neck and smiled.
"Why are you here?" She asked.
"I've never seen you confused before, beautiful. You shouldn't be. I'll always be back." He bit her neck like a kath hound and disappeared.
"God dammit." She was now bleeding from another wound. She'd tried not to hurt them all and she'd taken too much damage for her efforts. Where had Bastila and Juhani gone? She sat down and felt the blood draining from her wounds. God, Shifters were vicious.
"Saleairy?" Canderous came busting through some shrubs and Saleairy used to the force to ensure it was Canderous.
"Where did they go?" Saleairy asked.
"Who?" Canderous asked.
"Bastila and Juhani."
"They chased the others off. Mission and HK went for help. Are you hurt?" Canderous asked.
"Yes but-"
"Is that a bite wound?" He asked.
"Yes." Canderous' expression was enough to ensure her that he would watch her to make certain she wasn't foaming at the mouth.
"I didn't see any feral animals so I'm guessing you've had a long battle. You're bleeding, a lot." Canderous looked her over.
"I know." Saleairy said.
"Hold still." Canderous picked her up and swung her into his arms like a child and she gripped his shoulders. He was tall. He'd terrified her when she first met him. She wasn't a Jedi then and Taris didn't inspire trust in the inhabitants. Seeing Canderous and his dark eyes made her wish she could find another way off the rock. She'd just kept from trembling when she met him and put up her best front. By then she already faced all the duel arena contestants, Vulkars and Sith. He knew her bluff and got as close as possible when he made the deal, towering over her. When she left, she left with Canderous watching her tremble in fear. He was surprised when the fear faded but he reasoned that if every woman got a lightsaber, there would be no self-confidence issues. She was used to him now but the initial terror still made her hesitant to touch his shoulder or any part of him at any time.
Canderous carried her for a long time through the forest until they found more of their companions. HK, Mission and Zaalbar were relieved to see Saleairy alive.
"Statement: Master, I wish you had not placed the safety of those dresses above your own."
"We were really worried about you." Zaalbar said.
"What happened?" Mission asked.
"We fought, I bled and they ran." She said with a hint of weariness. She was losing her focus because blood kept running.
"Saleairy!" Juhani and Bastila cried out and ran to her. Bastila saw Canderous holding her, cradling her like a child and softened.
"Canderous, thank you for finding her. We were worried when we got separated." Bastila said.
"We feared the worst." Juhani said.
"Canderous saved the day." Saleairy said. "Where are Jolee, T3 and Carth?"
"How did I get stuck with this party?" Carth came running and Canderous dropped Saleairy. She was so startled she would've fell to the ground if Carth hadn't caught her. God she was in pain. She showed it too. Carth picked her up like Canderous had moments earlier and sighed. "God I was worried sick." Carth was breathing heavy and he kissed her forehead. "Did you get bitten again?"
"Yes."
"Sick freak. Are you all right?" Carth asked.
"You're carrying me back." She rested her head on Carth's shoulder. T3 beeped.
"The droid is right. She needs some healing and a meal. Let's head back." Jolee said. Carth carried her the entire way and set her down outside the shower room. Her legs felt unsteady.
"Are you all right? Need help?" He was concerned and his eyes were as big as dinner plates.
"I can take a shower by myself Carth. I might need help at some other point though." She winked at him and almost fell over getting into the shower.
After the Jedi spent some time healing her, she joined her crew for dinner. The only wounds that refused to heal under the Jedi powers were the bite marks. Teeth impressions. She ate dinner beside Carth and they discussed what happened without her having to comment much. They moved on to drinks and entertainment.
Saleairy walked back to her room without accompaniment. She was tired and wanted to rest. She ached and her head throbbed. She sat on the bed to remove her shoes and sighed. She leaned back onto the bed and shut her eyes.
She felt a weight beside her and rolled to face Carth. A strange, cold hand touched her cheek. She didn't open her eyes.
"What is it, Shifter?" She spat.
"Beautiful, don't I get a better name than that?"
"What would you have me call you then? A stalker perhaps?" She opened her eyes and found Dustil's form next to her, hand on her thigh. His eyes were black and almost soulless. Almost.
"A messenger." His voice purred much like hers.
"A harbinger of doom." She muttered.
"Do you want my message?" He asked.
"Yes." Saleairy sighed. She'd been sleeping so well.
"How do you know you can trust me?"
"You are strangely calm and unemotional. You don't want me dead and whatever motivated you, you saved my life." Saleairy said.
"You're very sharp. The Jedi Council wants to see you before the celebration. They'll meet you on Telos. They felt your vision. They feel your struggle. They care." He touched her cheek. "I care too."
"You're a Jedi then?" Saleairy asked.
"Indeed." He said.
"Can I ask you something Jedi to Jedi?"
"Absolutely, beautiful." He said. His teeth were like a wild jungle cats and she shuttered.
"Why the biting fetish?" Saleairy rubbed her neck.
"To keep you from figuring out who I was." He touched the wounds and they faded to light scars.
"I found out anyway."
"At the right time." He corrected.
"Why did you lead those Shifter to me, then?" Saleairy asked.
"The Council wanted to make sure you would handle the situation appropriately before I gave you a message." She blinked.
"I must've missed the logic in that somewhere. One more question."
"Yes?" He smiled and reveled in her attention.
"Why are you in my bed?"
"Sorry." He got up and smiled. "Aren't you going to ask why I'm using such strange forms instead of the real Shifter I am?" She blinked at his atrocious sentence structure.
"Fine." Saleairy said.
"Don't act so dispirited. I choose those forms because I had to give the message to you alone and if a stranger walked up to you alone, I would have the entire crew on me. Besides, calling you beautiful was well worth it." He teased.
"Why Dustil?" She asked.
"To keep you guessing."
"What's your name?" She asked.
"No more questions for now, beautiful. I hear Carth coming." He disappeared and she yawned. Carth opened the door and smiled at her.
"You didn't even get in your pajamas."
"I'm tired and I got my message from the biting Shifter." She said.
"What did he say?" Carth growled.
"The Council wants to see me once we land. They felt the vision I had. They want to help me with whatever it is I'm going through." She yawned. He sat down and pulled off his boots.
"It's good they're treating you humanely, not sending Shifters after you or anything." Carth said.
"You're only irritated because I wouldn't let you come and protect me." She said, smiling.
"So?" He bent and kissed her lips. "I have a right to worry."
"Okay pilot man." She yawned and her eyes became bleary. She needed to get more sleep. She snuggled to one of the pillows and watched Carth get ready for bed.
"Saleairy?" She opened her eyes with the lethargy of a hibernating krayt dragon.
"Yes?"
"I love you." Carth said. She was awake.
"Is something wrong?" She asked. Carth chuckled and turned his back to her.
"The phrase 'I love you' always struck fear in your heart." Carth said. She narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you torturing me you damned Shifter?" She hissed. She almost gagged when she realized she'd kissed the Shifter, not Carth.
"I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't stab me." He smiled and Carth's chocolate eyes faded to his pitch black ones.
"Does this mean I get to know your name?"
"I have a few names and most humans don't toss them around lightly." He smiled.
"Why are you still here if you aren't going to tell me anything else?" She asked.
"I'm testing how angry you'll get." He said.
"Did the Council put you up to it?" She asked.
"No, I just think you're cute when you're mad or confused." He said.
"Your name in exchange for not getting pinned to the wall again." She hissed. She knew where Carth's vibro blade was and it was as dangerous as the angered solder who wielded it. It rested against her bedside.
"Daniel."
"Was that so hard Daniel?" She asked.
"Of course not. Be careful when you travel my dear, some of the galaxy's most dangerous people need more redemption on your part to forgive you." He smiled at her as she remained motionless on the bed.
"Are you going to leave now before I punish you for kissing me?" She asked.
"I suppose. Sleep well Saleairy." He disappeared again and she was tempted to pin whoever came through the door next just to ensure the end of any games. Carth wouldn't mind.