Chapter 3

Lizabea ran over to the young man, squeezing in front of Katiara, and embraced him with a hug. He was tall and muscular with hair as black as Bea's and was dressed in a rather formal looking uniform. Katiara lowered her blaster uncertainly and released her hold on him. Obviously the girl she was protecting knew this man though she didn't know why. And she was eager to know why he was on the balcony. She did not put her gun back in its holster, but took a step backwards, trying not to look so confused.

The two hugged rather affectionately and when they separated, Lizabea still stood beside him, holding his hand and smiling up at Katiara. Before any words could leave the Jedi's mouth, the young man looked over her and said abruptly. "So this is who father picked to guard you, huh?" It appeared Senator Bel Iblis forgot to mention any other children. "Maybe I'll have to stick around a while to make sure you are protected properly," he said, though Bea seemed not to notice the condescending undertone that Katiara immediately picked up.

He began to walk inside with Lizabea as she squealed with delight at the prospect of him staying for a long while. "And who would you be?" Katiara said, tucking her gun away. She could draw it quickly if needed. The man – assuming Lizabea's brother "Logan" – ignored her and began to play with the little girl on the floor. "Excuse me, I'm in charge here and unless…"

"Look, missy, you can go play bodyguard somewhere else. No one else can protect my sister like I can," he said rather defensively, glaring at her. Katiara readily glared back with equal fierceness. When he turned away from her, she heard him mutter "Especially not inferior, orphan scum." Katiara had had it with his arrogance. She drew her lightsaber and ignited it so that it was merely inches from his neck. Bea yelped from surprise.

"I suggest you stand, you nerfherder, before I decide to remove your head from your shoulders," she said sternly. Though she hadn't used the lightsaber in years, she held it with the same control she remembered learning at the academy. Logan looked up surprised, but also annoyed. He stood slowly, with his hands raised in some sort of defense.

"What?" he simply asked, obviously seeing that Katiara was irritated.

"Who are you and what were you doing?" she inquired, her sapphire lightsaber was still raised and the blade was pointed at his neck. One quick movement from him and he wouldn't see another sunset.

"Logan Bel Iblis. The Senator's son, Bea's brother. Don't you know anything, you..." he began, but Katiara didn't let him get far in his insults.

"Shut up," she said casually. "What were you doing, Mister 'Senator's son'?"

"Waiting for Bea to come back. I didn't know she was bring a…"

"And you were waiting because…?"

"I've been gone for a while and wanted to surprise her. Is that okay with you or are there some forms I need to fill out?" he replied, putting his hands on his hips. They were both annoyed with each other.

"Fine," Katiara consented. She knew she had no business telling Lizabea's own brother he couldn't see her, though it went against her better judgment.

She went to look out the balcony so that they could have a bit more privacy, though as she walked away, she heard Logan whisper to Lizabea, "You don't need her, I'm here, she's just a…" then she was out of earshot and didn't hear anything else. She focused her attention on how quickly she could get the balcony sealed off from any other intruders.

Logan stayed half an hour then left. A few hours later they all met for dinner. As suggested by Lizabea, Katiara put on some cleaner - though not fancier – clothes and brushed her hair, securing it in quick ponytail. Her short skirt, tank top and pull over had lost their wrinkles from being hung in a closet for perhaps the first time. She walked with Bea, who was wearing a very princess-esque green dress, down to the dinning hall.

In the dining hall, though there was a long, glamorous table for banquets, only five were to be dining on it that evening. She saw that everyone present had changed into much nicer clothing, yet she didn't feel the least bit out of place. Katiara and Bea walked over to the others. She noticed Logan standing beside his father, looking serious and complacent. He seemed much different, but Katiara wasn't fooled. Venom traced her glare at him, though no one else noticed.

"Katiara, this is my son, Logan. He wasn't able to greet us earlier," Garm Bel Iblis introduced. Logan bowed his head politely as if nothing had happened previously, as if this was the first time they were meeting. Katiara looked at him with suspicion but didn't say anything as they all took their seats.

"I hope you have found your room comfortable," Lady Bel Iblis inquired as they all began to eat the exquisite meal. Katiara looked up, her mouth half full of food.

"Yes," she said, still chewing. The senator's wife was shocked by Katiara's ignorance of manners. The Jedi swallowed and replied again, hoping to smooth over the impression. "Yes, it is very nice."

"Were the dresses not to your liking? I was hoping to find you wearing one of them," she asked politely, though it seemed to Katiara like an interrogation.

"They were very nice but not appropriate for my position." Or my style. She replied and took another bite of her meat. Katiara's thoughts dwelt for a moment on the prospect of her wearing a ballgown whilst wielding a lightsaber. Lady Bel Iblis cleared her throat loudly. The Jedi was sure that the Senator's wife didn't like her. There was no doubt that she was measuring Katiara up against her mother…and Katiara was failing.

"Not appropriate! Why, your mother looked beautiful in her gowns, I'm sure you could pull it off," the older woman said rather nonchalantly. It appeared to Katiara that in this crowd, you could only be beautiful if you wore some extravagant gown. But Katiara didn't really care much about looking like a princess; her job wasn't really concerned with appearance.

"Darling, give her a rest. I'm sure she is tired from the trip," Garm Bel Iblis said, though it was obviously just an excuse to get the aggressive conversation off topic. It seemed to work well. "Logan, how is the military base holding up in Tyrena? Any new information?" Finally, Katiara could eat without being interrupted. Though she was curious as to what the father and son would be discussing.

"It is all well," Logan began. He sounded very stiff and formal, hardly what Katiara would have expected after their first encounter. "I believe no one would attempt attacking the city even if they had a good reason. Also," he began, but lowered his voice considerably. "Apparently recruiting has been good. They are finding it harder to sort the real patriots from the spies. But so far they have had good luck making connections."

"Good, good," the senator simply replied at normal volume and then continued to eat. For a few moments there was silence at the table, though Katiara could sense she wouldn't fit in properly. She sincerely hoped that she wouldn't have to accompany Lizabea to any banquets. There was no way she could put up with fifty 'Adeline Bel Iblis's.

Over the next couple days, things at the capital were quiet. Nothing out of the ordinary. Though one or two politicians came over for lunch with the senator, there were no other guests to the Bel Iblis apartments, at least none that Katiara knew of. So her days were spent watching Lizabea do studies in the library with a tutor she had thoroughly checked out and keeping an eye on her as she played in her room. But all in all, it was a dull job and Katiara began to wonder if she was even needed. She could have made at least two shipments in the time she had been there.

During those few days, she had found time to meditate and practice with her lightsaber. Though she had to be discrete about it, it seemed to clear her mind somewhat and she felt better having a lightsaber in her hands once again. Bea often watched Katiara practice and though the little girl still didn't talk much, she mused aloud quite often about how her brother, Logan, had still not paid her another visit. But she wouldn't have to wait long.

On the third day after her arrival, Katiara was practicing her lightsaber techniques in her room, while keeping an eye on Lizabea napping next door. She went through the seven forms of combat, remembering all over again what Duncan had taught her at the academy. Shii-Cho. Makashi. Soresu. It was all coming back to her like the memories of an old friend. But unlike an old friend, she could not tell anyone or she would risk becoming one of the hunted.

There was a beep, signaling to Katiara that someone was about to enter the room. She quickly disengaged her saber and clipped it onto her belt just as the door slid open and Logan strutted into the room. Though his walk was casual enough, Katiara could tell by the look in his eyes that he was annoyed by something. "Where's my sister? I couldn't enter her room," he inquired. He was probably about to accuse Katiara of something, but she replied before he had the chance.

"Bea is sleeping in her room, but I've locked the door until this is all settled. Anyone who wants to enter her room has to come through mine now," she told him. Then she smiled slyly. "I hope you don't have a problem with that."

"Well, I don't care. But I want to see her now," he told Katiara and took a step forward, but stopped when he saw her hand fly to her lightsaber. He smirked. "And don't even try it this time." He pulled aside his jacket to reveal a shiny, golden lightsaber with silver inlays. A beautiful weapon that must have taken at least three months to fashion, while Katiara's own saber only took one month after she finished meditating on the crystal.

"Is that a toy your daddy bought for you?" she inquired with a snarl. She hated it when non-force sensitive humans tried to act like Jedi when it was obvious they had no talent. Even if he did drawl, she was sure she could disarm him within minutes, probably even seconds.

Logan laughed. "Just because I didn't attend the academy doesn't mean I can't beat you. I wouldn't be so arrogant sometimes, Katiara," he told her. He pulled out his lightsaber and held it loosely in his hand.

"Me being arrogant?" Katiara replied. "Maybe you should take a look in the mirror, hero," she told him mockingly, hoping he would take the hint and stand down. He had no business being so forceful. Why would he want to wake his sister anyways? She was sleeping safely in her room, Katiara could sense it.

"Well then, we'll just have to see if you can take me or not," he said, clearly implying that she had no chance what so ever. He activated his lightsaber and a gold blade appeared. He held it up in the Shii-Cho Neutral Forward position. Katiara merely laughed as he decided to use the most elementary of the lightsaber forms.

"Well, I guess I can give the youngling a lesson," she said, drawing her own weapon and igniting the blue blade. She smirked and stood in a Soresu stance and waited for him to advance. She was certain this would be a piece of cake.

Logan at Katiara in some sort of jung, but he missed by so much that Katiara merely had to step out of the way. "That all you got?" she taunted as she spun and swung at him, reminding herself that she had a real saber and not a trainee. There was no need to go cutting off limbs. Logan blocked the swing easily and pushed her away. Then he attacked again, swinging twice at Katiara, she blocked both times and spun around, bringing her lightsaber down upon his and kicking him back.

Logan stumbled backwards, but didn't fall down. He was a bit caught off guard but gripped his lightsaber fiercely and came towards her again, spinning and swinging, but not even letting Katiara break a sweat. "I thought you were gonna bring something new," Katiara taunted again. She knew that Master Yoda would have chided her for being so sarcastic and growing her opponent's anger. But she wasn't at the academy anymore. They weren't going to tell her what to do.

She swung at Logan and her blocked as their lightsabers got into a lock. Bea's door was right behind Katiara and she was pushed up against the door as Logan pushed his lightsaber against hers with force. She let him gain a little ground and was about to push him away when she saw him smile slyly, making her hesitate. She looked at him questionably for a moment. He had something up his sleeves, she could just tell.

But that something wasn't up his sleeves. "You want something new?" he asked as his smirk grew. Then he leaned his head quickly between the blades and planted a stern kiss on Katiara's lips catching her completely off guard. When he pulled away she was determined to slap him hard, but as her hand made contact with his cheek, he pressed the button and the door slid open, making her fall back onto the floor of Lizabea's room.

"I bet that was something you've never experienced," Logan said as he deactivated his lightsaber and stepped over her into Bea's room. Katiara glared at him but her pride was too hurt to try and stop him again. Lizabea would just have to have a shorter nap that day. The blonde Jedi was going to do her best to avoid any more aggressive encounters.