Chapter 6

It was then that katiara realized just how dangerous this ball really was. Neks were dangerous, cyborrean battle dogs designed to do only the most malicious of deeds: kidnapping and killing. But they were so rare that of course when the lady mentioned that she had seen one of these beasts, no one believed her. But Katiara did. She wouldn't put it past an assassin.

Holding, Lizabea's hand tightly she turned to scan the room for any more 'drunken' people who had seen neks. Instead she saw Logan walking hastily towards her with a confused look upon his face. "What is going on? Bea doesn't need to be around the drunkards of the party," he insisted and tried to take his little sister's hand, but Katiara didn't let go.

"This place isn't safe, that women saw a nek! I'm sure she wasn't just seeing things either. I just why I don't understand why I'm not sensingt anything…" Katiara began to panic. She bent over and pulled up her skirt. Logan hesitantly looked away as Katiara pulled her lightsaber from a strap on her leg. "We need to get these people…"

"Katiara," Logan said, stopping her by putting his hands on her shoulders. "You don't need all this excited, just enjoy the party. I can personally assure you that there is no way neks could get in…" a scream interrupted the senators son and the noise was soon followed by snarls and chaos. People were running away and up the stairs, trying to get to safety. Trying to see amidst the confusion, the three stayed where they were as Lizabea clung to Katiara's skirt.

Then they saw it, or at least one of them, and it saw them in that same moment. The nek began to charge at full speed. "Go, go, go!" Katiara commanded as she began to run for the large, open doors, which led to a passageway. Bea was lagging as the little girl's short legs couldn't carry her far, but Katiara didn't want to take the time to stop. Once they got into the hall, Katiara flung out her free hand and used force push to close the doors, also knocking the dog back in the process. "That won't hold long," she said as she helped the scared girl climb one of the decoration banners to a higher, possibly safer spot.

She ignited her lightsaber and turned when she heard the familiar snap and crackle of Logan's lightsaber. "I thought you would have left that with your other toys," she commented, though it was hardly the time. The dogs could be heard tearing at the doors.

Logan shifted into a defensive stance. "I didn't want to miss another chance to beat you in a duel," he replied and then the doors began to break. Katiara could see the sniveling, metal noses of the neks. They were almost through. She only wished she knew how many. "I have a bad feeling about this," Logan said, and Katiara hated to admit that she felt the same way.

Logan and Katiara seemed to be doing their best to look as calm as possible but inside they were both anxious about what might follow. Then the dogs broke through. There were three of them and they were all snarling, preparing to pounce. "You ready?" Logan asked without turning his head away from the neks.

"I was born ready," Katiara replied, no matter how cliché it was. Then the dogs raced towards them barking and opening their jaws. Katiara did a somersault jump over them and slashed at one from behind. But he moved quickly and her saber only got his tail, something a cyborg dog didn't really need. The nek attacked again, going for her leg. She turned her saber down to block him, hoping he would chomp onto her saber. Then one of the other neks distracted her by jumping at her from behind and scratching her back.

Katiara swiftly jabbed her lightsaber behind her and she heard a shriek and a groan as the nek slid off her back with a cut through its metal. But it wasn't down yet. Meanwhile the first dog had snapped at her leg. Fortunately for Katiara, Logan had seen her dilemma and decapitated the dog quickly. Katiara was appreciative but later she wouldn't want to admit that he had struck down the first beast.

Then the scream of a little girl was heard and Katiara turned to see one of the neks attempting to climb the wall up to Lizabea, who was simply trying not to fall from the banister. Katiara pushed out her left hand and force pushed the beast against the wall, giving him minimal damage, but it was enough to take his attention off of Bea. He bounded at Katiara, who backed up a bit, hoping to find a better defense stance.

Her back hit something and she turned quickly to see Logan directly behind her, the other nek about to attack. The dogs noticed their opportunity and circled, waiting for just the right chance to pounce. Katiara had a single plan racing through her mind; the only problem was Logan. There was no way she could communicate it physically, for fear that the dogs would catch on. She closed her eyes for a moment, concentrating hard. A single word reached Logan.

Duck.

The neks sprung upon them and just as they did, Katiara and Logan fell to the floor. The dogs surprise was heard in a short whimper as they suddenly found themselves baring their teeth into the other. Piercing through their vital systems, the dogs fell the ground in pile of rubble, their inner circuits sparking a bit before completely dying out.

After being certain that the dogs were dead, lying just a meter or so away, she came back to reality. Almost shocked, all she could do was breath deeply and stare up at Logan's face. He was breathing deeply too, trying to catch his breath. The moment was brief before Katiara realized he had fallen on top of her and she pushed against him.

Rolling off of her, Logan stood and rubbed his neck. He seemed flustered. "Are you okay?" he questioned, helping Katiara up.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Katiara said, but her tone wasn't as sassy as she was hoping. An awkward silence followed.

"Can someone help me?" Lizabea finally said, hanging on to the banner with all the strength. Katiara sprinted over and helped her down gently. When she reached the floor, Bea started to run over to Logan who was walking towards them. But Katiara held the little girl's hand tightly. The brother and sister both looked at her confused. "Can't I go see Logan?"

"No, Lizabea. I think we should go up to your room," Katiara replied sternly. She was slightly confused by the night and the excitement. But the one thing she thought she knew for sure was that things weren't safe for Lizabea. Katiara needed to take matters into her own hands.

"Katiara, what are you talking about? You can't stop her from…" Logan began to protest.

"Be quiet, Logan! If it wasn't for you and your family, Bea would have been safe tonight, the neks might not have even been sent if whoever it was knew she wouldn't be there. If anything, listening to me when I said she shouldn't come to this party would have at least prevented your sister from going through this terror."

"That's not fair!" Logan retaliated. He sighed, realizing how childish it sounded and looked down. He seemed to be thinking a lot. Then he walked over. Katiara stood still, holding Lizabea's hand firmly. The senator's son placed his hands on the blonde's shoulders. "Things are going to be fine," he whispered.

Katiara looked away and shrugged him off. "That's what you said last time," she replied firmly, though her tone was softened by something. She turned and began to walk down the hall with Lizabea. Then she stopped and turned her head. She didn't looked up and directly at Logan; she simply said "I don't think I can trust you right now." She then turned and walked somewhat collectedly up to Lizabea's room.

The next few days were awkward and stiff. Katiara had demanded that she and Lizabea be left alone until she could figure at least something out. No one was allowed to see Bea. No matter who it was. Kat had all the windows closed up and securely fastened. There was no way someone was getting in this time. Katiara didn't want to be babysitting this little girl until she was just finally killed. She wanted things resolved. Who ever was making these threats and attacks couldn't stay in hiding forever.

It was time Katiara started acting like a Jedi and not a nursemaid.

She started off with examining one of the neks for any trace of evidence as to who had sent them. Some of their data was still in place but nothing too specific. The only thing she could find that might lead to something was the location where they had been trained: Raxus Prime. It was a toxic planet, she wasn't sure why anyone would go there, but she knew that it was a place where illegal activities were frequent. The Jedi thought this peace of information was nothing but a dead end.

Katiara searched the Bel Iblis home. Looking for any clues. She found none. Even through the Force she could not sense anything inherently wrong. It bothered her. Everything seemed so calm and perfect. But she just knew things weren't what they seemed. Surely someone wouldn't just give up after one attempt.

Plus, the threats were still coming. Katiara tried to keep a low profile on the letters, preferring that only she read them. She didn't want to cause much alarm, but her main motive was she didn't want anyone making rash actions. Even as a Jedi, she was paranoid that someone would misread a word and make a mistake that would lead to unneeded violence and chaos. But of course, she also liked being in control. She had let them step over her for far too long now.

Soon a week had passed with little progress. Katiara rarely talked to anyone except for Lizabea. She didn't mean to seem harsh by keeping the girl from her family, but sometimes the best thing isn't the most pleasant thing. And none of this was pleasant.