Chapter 7: Confrontation

It's been two weeks since the fight and Trazu couldn't get it out of his head. He felt guilty for what he had said and realized he not only said things he didn't mean but things he didn't really believe in the first place. On top of that he felt lonely without her and he was still having those dreams. He honestly wanted to see her again, but wasn't sure if she would let him back into her life. Of course he wouldn't know if he didn't at least try, but his pride was holding him back: he did say he wouldn't come back and to come back meant he admitted defeat.

He lingered out in the wilds a couple days more, then found himself back in Dearic, ascending the stairs to her apartment. At first he wasn't sure what he was going to do, but as he lingered in front of her door he finally decided he should at least apologize. Hesitantly he reached for the doorbell, but stopped when the door suddenly opened, making him jump, Tzosha now standing in the doorway: she looked rather sullen.

They stared at each other a moment, then finally Tzosha stepped out of the way, motioning for him to come in. A few more moments of tense silence passed, Trazu almost shrugging off his pack out of pure habit before stopping himself. Now that he was here, he found the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat and he had difficultly making himself look at her. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Tzosha was keeping herself busy by washing off the table, but kept on washing it needlessly: it was evident she too had words she wanted to say but couldn't bring them forth.

"Tzosha..." Trazu said, hesitantly. "I think that table is clean enough..."

"Yes...yes it is..." Tzosha said quietly, straightening up and tossing the rag into the sink. "I keep seeing your footprints on it, though I know it's only in my head. Silly...isn't it? But it's an unwanted memory that just won't go away..."

He wasn't sure if she was referring to their fight or him as a whole. However there was something in her demeanor that bothered him: she seemed nervous and somewhat anxious. Plus she kept glancing off to one side, toward a section of the room that was hidden from view by a wall. Then he felt that 'nagging' feeling in the back of his mind, the feeling of something being very 'wrong' here. Looking at her eyes, he saw fear: fear of what though?

"You must leave..." She said quietly, now staring hard in the direction she was glancing in before. "Quickly before..."

"Too late for that now." A familiar voice said behind him. Trazu felt his blood freeze and panic start to overwhelm him: he didn't need to turn around to know who that was. Immediately the memory of that one night pushed it's way to the front of his mind, reminding him of the fear, the helplessness, the shame she forced on him. He knew he should stand up to her, after all he wasn't injured like he was before, but he was paralyzed with fear. "Isn't this a surprise?" The female cooed. "My short little T'Doshok friend, coming right up to the doorstep of my sister."

"I am not...your friend." Trazu managed quietly, having to force the words through a tightened throat.

"I'm not?" She said, stepping around in front of him. He noted she wore the colors of the pirate gang now and sported a small blaster. "Oh I am so hurt...after all the fun we had too..."

"Leave him alone Zista." Tzosha hissed quietly. "You've made him suffer enough as is."

"Oh can it sis." Zisha said, rolling her eyes. "You were always the softy of the family: even mother was ruthless enough to know when to take advantage of a situation."

"Mother's actions never did bodily or emotional harm to others." Tzosha countered. "What you did was heartless, even for our people."

"You seem to forget one thing sis. With our people only the fittest survive: if he really didn't want it he would have fought me with everything he had. But he didn't, instead allowing his own sword to intimidate him enough to do as I wanted. I dare say he actually enjoyed it..."

Trazu was taken back by her last statement: that wasn't true at all. He even felt somewhat insulted she would even suggest such a thing. "Only in your twisted mind." He hissed.

"Oh really? I bet I can prove it. Here and now." She grinned maliciously. "I got something better then your stupid sword to make you do what I want this time too." She brandished her pistol. Trazu hissed in response, but beyond that he couldn't make himself do anything, his body unwilling to release itself from fears grip.

"No...I won't let you do that to him!" Tzosha growled, starting to rush up behind her. Zista whirled around and leveled the weapon at her, Tzosha freezing in her tracks and Trazu's heart skipping a beat.

"Do not interfere sis..." Zista hissed warningly. "I suggest you back off like a good sister and let me do what I want."

Tzosha however stood her ground, growling. The two sisters were only a couple feet from each other, Zista's weapon pointed at Tzosha's chest. Trazu was shaking his head, his mouth agape. He wasn't sure if he should feel touched that she was standing up to Zista for him or embarrassed she had to do it for him. Either way, the possibility she would get hurt due to this he found distressing, yet still he couldn't get himself to act.

The stand off continued for a few moments. Then suddenly Tzosha swung up and slashed Zista across the face with her claws, leaving a few bright scarlet wounds across her face. Due to reflex however, the gun went off and Tzosha was blown back, a black charred spot on her shoulder. With a cry of pain Tzosha clutched her shoulder, felt to one knee and whimpered softly.

Tzosha! Trazu felt guilt wash over him. Because of his weakness he couldn't stand up to Zista himself. No. It was Zista's fault. She did this to him, made him fear her and unable to act, unable to prevent this. He felt anger and rage building up inside him and start pushing aside the fear, unparalyzing his limbs and mind.

"Little bitch..." Zista hissed, wiping the blood off her face. "You were always getting in the way, always trying to hold me down. I should have gotten rid of you long ago. Well I can fix that now."

Trazu watched as she leveled her weapon again at Tzosha, but this time he wasn't going to stand helplessly by and watch. With a cry of denial, he leapt forward, his sword seemingly to fly out of it's sheath on it's own accord and into his hand. Zista looked in his direction and to her credit recognized the danger right away and spin around to face him, only to have her hand chopped off by Trazu's fine blade. It took a moment for it to register that her hand, along with her gun, was now on the floor. She screamed in agony, clutching her suddenly shorter limb with her uninjured one. To a Trandoshan a loss of limb was actually a minor thing, for they grow them back within a couple months, however she was now in a very dicey situation without her weapon and a healthy, uninjured, and pissed off Trazu facing her.

"H…how..." She stammered as she backed away. "You couldn't even move a moment ago."

"You hurt her...that's how." Trazu hissed dangerously, advancing on her with his sword at the ready. "See how it feels bitch? Understand what it's like to feel helpless and afraid now? Yes I was too weak then, and you had a mental hold over me. Not anymore. I do not fear you now and what you did no longer controls my life. So If you value your pathetic life I suggest you leave...now."

Zista stared at him a moment, then with a hiss she ran for the door. "You'll pay for this...both of you!" She growled before disappearing out the door.

Trazu stared long and hard at the door, a part of him wanting to pursue and finish her. He nearly did, but a moan from Tzosha redirected his attention to what was more important at that moment. Setting down his sword he knelt beside her and coached her hand away from the wound so he could inspect it. It wasn't serious, her scaly hide prevented the bolt from penetrating deeply, but from her whimpering you'd think she had lost a limb.

"You're a wuss you know that?" Trazu said teasingly, shaking his head.

Tzosha managed a smile. "I'm not a fighter like you, so I am entitled to be a 'wuss'."

Trazu chuckled and fetched the first aid kit. As he cleaned her wound they were silent, a silence very much like it was a few moments ago.

"Tzosha..." Trazu said quietly, breaking the silence. "I...I'm sorry. That day I...I don't know what came over me...and said things I didn't mean."

"We both did." Tzosha said softly. "And our trademark short temper didn't help us either."

He chuckled half heartedly. "I admit I've been feeling a bit confused." He said softly. "Between what I've been taught, what I've heard to expect from our people, and my own...feelings." He sighed. "I felt lonely when I left."

"As did I...and I feared I would never see you again."

Trazu stared at her for a moment. Did she just admit something that is frowned upon by his people? Something that's considered an even worse taboo then friendship? Then again, is that 'fact' about their people just another mask to keep them from being perceived as weak? Did his dreams and his recent action mean he was having the same 'blasphemous' feelings as well? It was too confusing and he shook his head, pushing those thoughts and feelings away.

"If your sister is to be believed." He said, changing the subject. "We should probably move."

"I agree." Tzosha said, standing. "She may not be a direct threat to us, but if the boosts she was giving me earlier are true she has enough rank in that gang to convince some lackeys to come after us." There was pause, then she added. "Wait...you said 'we should move'."

"I did?" Trazu said, realizing he subconsciously felt he lived with her now. Beside himself with embarrassment, he blushed. He blushed even more when Tzosha commented that he looked 'cute' when he blushed.