Sorry for the delay, had some writer's block and a thesis to finish :)

Andronikos adjusted to having Liri around again. She spent a great deal of time working with Magda. Andronikos went by once and saw how patient Liri was, but he felt uncomfortable with how damaged the woman was. He was glad Ravage was dead, but underneath he recognized that Decimus and possibly Liri had done this sort of thing to people before. It felt worse than murder. Magda didn't get much better, but she was able to feed herself now.

Decimus and Pella kept their relationship up and Decimus started making plans to have Magda taken care of when it became clear that Liri wouldn't be able to fully restore her. Liri was disheartened that she wasn't able to help more, but Andronikos managed to keep her from becoming too sad.

It took awhile for Decimus to track down a high enough ranking SIS agent.

Several weeks later, they landed Fury on Taris.

Andronikos flashed back to the last time he'd been on Taris with Liri and caught her eye. She grinned at him. Later, I'll open a bottle of that Corellian whisky; make some more memories. Decimus and Pella proceeded them down the ramp and the four of them hopped speeders. They pulled up outside a hole in the ground and Andronikos' lip curled in disgust.

"Underground? We're going underground?"

Decimus gave him an exasperated look while Pella practically skipped down the steps, calling back, "Liri, can I get started?"

"Yes, go ahead!" Liri called back, before turning to face Andronikos. She waved Decimus away and he followed Pella down the steps.

"If it's a problem, you can wait here," Liri said to him. "I know you how much you hate being underground." Her lips twitched. "You always managed to follow me the last time we were on this planet."

"I was trying to impress you. And I couldn't help hoping one of those bands of clothes would fall off halfway through a fight."

Liri grinned at him and grimaced down at her current robes. "I don't like fighting in these, but I'm supposed to look proper."

"I like it when you look improper."

"I'm pretty sure you like me any way you can have me."

"Very true."

He reached for her hand and she held hers out. "Lir, now that we're well away from any sort of civilization or monitoring, I want you to think about something."

Her eyes met his and he struggled for words.

"I want us to-" he sighed. "I want to be with you forever."

"I want that too," she moved closer to him and let him wrap his arms around her.

"After we get married, this business taken care of, I want to disappear."

Liri looked up at him, "What are you talking about?"

"I want us to go off somewhere we can be together. You give up your council seat, I give up the fleet. Jorif and Pella can handle it fine. You do jobs for Decimus if he needs you, I show up as a figure head occasionally, but we make a life together somewhere else."

Liri gaped at him.

She wasn't pulling away, so he kept going, "The Sith thing, the stuff you have to do, it's killing you. You're too soft for this life. But you're perfect for me. Perfect as Decimus' weapon." He rocked her a bit, "You can give your crew the option of coming with, although I don't enjoy the idea of Xalek walking in on us constantly as he seems to have perfect timing. We make a home, Lir."

He ran his hand up and tugged one of her lekku gently.

"We get the life we want."

She still wasn't pulling away, just watching him warily. "How can I do that?" she whispered.

"Make sure someone like you gets put onto the council. Liri, I want a life with you. I don't want to watch you wince every time you have to rip someone's mind apart."

He drew her in until their foreheads were touching, "And you're not a huge supporter of the Empire. You just like the power. So choose which you want. I'm with you either way, but just..." She was staring into his eyes in wonder. "Just think about it, Lir."

When she whispered "I will," he thought his heart would explode.

She leaned forward and kissed him then, not the usual kind of kiss, but a soft kiss. A kiss with promise beyond just passion. He kissed her back, just as softly, hopeful.

When she finally pulled back, she was breathing hard. "Do you think we have time to-"

"Rakghouls, Lir. As much as I'd love to."

He took her hand and paused by the entrance to the stairs that led underground. He took a deep breath and felt her squeeze his hand. They descended down the stairs.

"I hate this damn rock," he muttered and heard her answering laugh.

After the reached the bottom, they followed a hallway around in a half circle to a room set up with extravagant torture equipment. Andronikos sighed inwardly. He didn't enjoy watching this happen unless he had a personal stake in it. Someone who might have information about a plot against his wife... Okay wait, I guess I care about this more than I thought.

There was a clean-shaven man strapped to a table, Pella was straddling him, cooing something in the man's ear as she rested her hand on his chest below her. Lightning flickered from her hand into the man's chest. Decimus was watching Pella with a hungry look, occasionally making a comment.

Liri walked in and settled on a chair in the corner. Andronikos joined her and they watched Pella try to coax information out of the man. A droid recorded what was being said, but they couldn't hear the details. Liri was staring at Pella thoughtfully. Andronikos eventually grew bored and started exploring the room. Just when he'd gotten to a box of what he could only assume were just shiny metal, Decimus had gotten to his feet and was pacing back and forth. Pella turned and caught his eye.

"My turn," Liri interrupted.

Decimus almost jumped at her voice and Pella scowled back at her until she caught the expression on Decimus' face.

Pella grinned and hopped off the table. "We'll just be around the corner then." Decimus snarled at her and she took off around the corner out of his reach. Decimus controlled himself and stalked out of the room without looking at them.

Noises started from down the hallway, but nothing that sounded like rakghouls, well, possibly sounded like rakghouls, but the faint groans of pleasure definitely aren't.

Andronikos raised an eyebrow at Liri who sighed at him and then held a finger to her lips.

She approached the man on the table, who saw her and his eyes widened.

"No," he said in desperation. "You have to get out of here. There's Sith nearby."

"Where can I go?" Liri answered.

"Just away from here. They want information."

"What information?"

"About the Twi'lek Sith."

"Why do they want it?"

"Because they think we want to kill her! Please, please go."

"I won't go without you," Liri murmured, moving closer and taking the man's hand.

Andronikos was enthralled. She was getting information without hurting the man; she was thinking about what he said. She could absolutely leave this life behind her.

"They think there's a plot against her."

"What's the truth?"

"There's a Jedi, Hadrian; he thinks she can be saved. He's had a vision. She's a possible force of good. We need to get them to each other, but she never leaves Imperial space."

Liri recoiled, her head snapping back and then she paused, listening to make sure the rakghoul noises continued. She tossed him the droid and gestured for him to erase the tape.

Andronikos froze briefly and then deleted part of the recording.

Liri looked at him, her eyes wide. She mouthed, 'what now' at him. He started the recording up and purposefully dropped his voice, "Lir, nevermind that. I'm feeling a little..." he let a seductive tone roll through his voice, "unrestrained myself over here."

"Always so ready, Rev," she said, her voice just as seductive. They locked expressions, both worried. For the first time, he wasn't turned on. Her eyes were just as shocked as his, but he crossed to her, growling purposefully. They didn't speak further, just quickly made it sound real, which slid into actual desire at some point. They kept their eyes locked, trying to convey thought while they sank into each other on the floor. They'd only be able to discuss this in private, later.