Shin woke up again, dizzy but not in pain. Most importantly, she was still alive, and was pretty sure this time, that it was real.

Reassuringly, when she opened her eyes, she found herself in a familiar place. She recognized the maintenance habitat where Sabine and she had paused earlier. A dim orange light was floating in the small room, making it look much cosier than it really was. Shin was lying on one of the futons that were previously piled by the supply crates.

She rose and sat up, the blanket on her falling down on her lap. She was in her underwear. Looking at her exposed body, she noticed most of her injuries were gone, or almost entirely healed. No bacta patch can work so fast, it's the power.

Reaching inside herself, she tried to find and tap again into that incredible power Abeloth had lent to her. Abeloth… if that's indeed that thing's name? She wasn't even sure she remembered right that last whisper.

But the power was gone. entirely, irremediably. She'd have to confirm later with a midi-chlorian count, but she just could feel that whatever Abeloth had giveth, she had taketh back. She did say it was just a taste… I guess that was more of a rental, thought Shin.

She lowered her eyes, to discover her lightsaber neatly laying down by her side. Mindlessly she snatched it and tried to switch it on, but the weapon made a faint exhausted whirring sound, the familiar crimson blade refusing to come to life.

"Sorry, I depleted it while hacking at the debris to get to you," said a familiar voice. 'They don't have the right batteries here, you'll have to charge it back up on the ship."

Shin spun around to meet Sabine's beaming smile. The girl was sitting at her bedside, grinning.

"Finally! You sleep like… a lot, girl," said the Mandalorian. "It's past twelve, get a grip on your life or something."

Even in the dim orange light, She could see the affection and relief in the girl's hazel eyes, and the sincerity of it. Now that's my real Mando, the thought, smiling interiorly.

"Yeah I've seen your apartment, Jedi girl, you're not making a podcast about healthy habits anytime soon," answered Shin, stretching her arms.

A musty-smelling pillow crashed on Shin's face.

"Sorry, did I interrupt your life lessons, suicide-girl? Got any more bits of advice?" asked Sabine, holding a second pillow in her hand in menace.

"I got one all right: next time you build a detonator, use a kriffin' wire you darn Jawa!" said Shin, falsely mad.

The second pillow came crashing on her head, and before she could put it aside, she felt Sabine's arms around her. This time there was no mistaking the warmness of the girl's body, her musty smell, and most importantly, the hungry kiss of her lips on Shin's mouth.

"That's you I'm wiring down and tying up next time," said Sabine, releasing her kiss.

Ok, I guess she's not that mad that we didn't talk our thing through… Thought Shin, surrendering into the kiss.

"Yes I'm familiar with your tendencies, you've strayed far from Jedi teaching," said Shin, gathering herself. "Are we in the worker's habitat again? That's quite a hike from the engine room…" she said suspiciously.

"Yes, and since we're on the subject", said Sabine, "I used to think you were a stick figure but after hauling you back here, I'd like to talk you into some diet options."

She shot her one of the musty pillows back.

"Are those nice arms just for show? Just work out more you lazy Hutt."

"Yeah we're past workout solutions on my part here, I had to modify a repulsor sled to haul you back," said Sabine, grinning, though pointing at the actual sled down by the habitat entry.

"So what, you're saying worked smart once in your life, and I should cheer?" jeered Shin, a bit reassured that it wasn't again some weird Force-god trick.

"No, I'm saying that sled was designed for kilotons engine parts," said Sabine, feigning an exhausted look.

"Oh fuck you!" shot Shin, outraged.

"I will honey, in a moment. Don't press these things…" said Sabine with a lopsided grin, almost sitting on her lap now.

Garret's voice came to life, interrupting them from a comlink at Sabine's belt.

"Miss Wren, it's Garret. Any news?" asked the engineer.

Sabine let out a loud jaded sigh, as she snatched the comlink up, still sitting on Shin.

"Yes, she's up, she's ok, like I told you she would be. Bugger off, go tell the other bitch and her Master or something," said Sabine, annoyed.

"And I'm ejecting you out of an airlock when get back up," added Shin with a croaked voice. "To make a point concerning your Ship design choices. Especially the signal-blocking doors, I got a graphic opinion about them for you"

"Hum… I… Please just make it a written report?" tried Garret, sounding truly afraid. "Should we expect you both back up soon, then?"

"Not that soon," said Sabine, "Shin's pretty beaten up, she gonna need a moment to…"

"I'm okay!" protested Shin. "I can perfectl…"

Sabine immediately put a hand on the blond's mouth, shutting her up.

"What's that?" asked Garret.

"Yeah, no, she's… babbling deliriously, some residual fever I think," said Shin, pressing harder on Shin's mouth as the apprentice was trying to protest with muffled cries. "The girl needs a bit of rest first."

Shin bit Sabine's hand nastily, whispering angrily at the Mandalorian.

" What the heck are you telling him? I'm fine! We could go now!"

"You're not fine", whispered Sabine back, wincing in pain and sahking her hand. "Well. Your ass is fine, sure, and some of the rest too. But shut the fuck up and play along, you moron."

" What do you mean some of the rest ?" gasped Shin, knowing she was off-topic but incapable of letting it go. " I'm fine all the way, thank you! "

" Your haircut disagrees," cut Sabine .

"It only disagrees with you, you buckethead!" Shin shot back.

"It's because it's an Old Republic haircut, you don't have the tech to get its messages, it's calling you on a landline," said Sabine, hushing her.

"Is everything okay? Are you two, whispering? I kinda hear something but you both sound very muffled and afar," asked Garret through the com.

"Sorry Garret, I was handling her. The awakening is a lot for her to manage. She's like… saying incoherent things. And drooling…"

"Drooling?" exclaimed Garret.

"Yeah, like some giant space snail, buckets of it, it's so disgusting. But at least she's not snoring anymore now, so vibrations in the ship should calm down," explained Sabine, mindlessly.

"Oh you fucking brat!" whispered Shin in outrage.

"Sorry pillow princess, I have to sell it to him. Though you do snore like a supercruiser," whispered Sabine in response.

The girl put a finger to Shin's mouth, gesturing her to shut up. Then, plunging her eyes into Shin's, intensely, Sabine nibbled at the blond's lips, slowly parting her teeth, making her way into the apprentice's mouth with her finger. Shin widened her eyes in surprise, too shocked to protest, the girl's index now in her mouth, titillating her tongue. What the…

"Fever and drooling? Uh… okay, do you need us to send a medical team with a stretcher?" asked Garret, confused.

Sabine's finger, made small swirling movements in Shin's mouth, wrapping and twisting the blond's tongue. Whether or not it was meant to shut her up, it worked, Shin blushing red in silent submission.

"Oh no no, Garret, please don't, that'd be cumbersome and so long. No, I think she just needs a bit of sleep before we hike back, don't bother," said Sabine calmly.

Sabine, pressing her gaze onto Shin, pulled her finger out, slowly. The tip of her saliva-soaked index caressed the blond's lower lip, sensually, before going down on her chin, then tracing a slow wet line on her naked neck.

"Are you sure?" asked Garret. "Maybe I can patch you through to the ship's medic? We can holocall so he can diagnose her…"

Shin opened her mouth silently in surprise, stunned, as Sabine's wet finger traced a line between her breast, and got caught in her bra's junction, pulling it down dangerously.

" Stop that..! If someone hears I'll have serious problems!" protested Shin

"You already have serious problems, but in the lack of a competent therapist, I'll handle you my way," whispered Sabine with a grin, picking back up her comlink . "Now let me get rid of Viberkiller MD over there."

"Yeah uh… the… holocam on the comlink is busted I think," said Sabine on the com, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, don't bother really, we'll take a beat, get her back on her feet soon enough…"

Sabine's finger was now pulling very hard on Shin's bra's middle junction. Shin raised a hand to stop her, but with a sharp snap , the bra's front strap gave up and broke, falling apart. Sabine lowered her gaze to Shin's now exposed breast, with a hungry smile.

"What was that? I heard a sharp noise?" asked Garret.

Sabine chuckled silently, biting her lips, and glaring at Shin with a complicit look. She ignored the outraged look Shin shot her back.

"Nothing, just a… uh… recalcitrant womp-rat. I'm handling it," said Sabine with an impressively straight voice.

" You're the recalcitrant womp-rat, you depraved peedunky!" whispered Shin between her teeth.

" Yeah? Let's see who's the squirming little animal in a couple of minutes… " hushed Sabine back.

"Uh, ok anyway about the holocom, I think there are emergency com supplies in the habitat," volunteered Garret. "Let me guide you through…"

Sabine's finger had resumed its journey, descending on Shin's stomach, lodging in her bellybutton and tingling it.

"No, the emergency com equipment is…" trailed Sabine, eating shin wither her hazel eyes. "uh… I repurposed it for the detonator, so you know… It's gone. Thanks for asking though, but we're managing. Talk to you soon ?"

As it got past her belly button and started to descend lower on her pelvis, Shin slapped the girl's hand, mouth wide open in protest.

What are you doing, you brat? she mouthed, in disbelief.

Like you don't know! mouthed Sabine back, grinning wider.

Sabine's finger pulled on her belly button and then shot out, resuming its pace down. Before Shin could protest some more, it reached her panty, pulling it down in its way.

Garret's voice interrupted again.

"Let me send a field medic, he'll get her up faster," he said.

"Nah Garret, I think she's gotta lie down for a while, but don't worry, I'll be monitoring her the whole time… All. The. Way. Down," said Sabine, detaching every word.

Shin could barely protest as the Mandalorian finger came slipping between her intimate lips, slick with the apprentice's excitation. Sabine started a slow circular motion, a lopsided smile birthing on her lips as Shin's breathing suddenly got louder.

"She's been awol for hours, watch for dehydration," volunteered Garret.

"Sure, let me see…" said Sabine.

Shin felt her cheek burning red. She felt totally exposed and to the mercy of the girl. She tried to get up but the Mandalorian was still sitting on her legs, though parting them firmly with her other hand. Shin opened her mouth to get her to stop, but she let out a deep moan instead as Sabine's finger went deep into her, foddering in her burning wet intimacy, curving to come titillating just the right spot.

"Yup, all good, she's… very hydrated," said Sabine, still pretending not to pay attention to Sabine as she was making her squirm. "Soaked even."

"Good, but I still feel like…" started the engineer.

"Garret, honey?" cut Sabine.

"Y… yes?" said Garret.

"Fuck off, bestie. I said we're gonna lie down for a couple of hours. Can you finally read between the lines here?"

Garret's silence was eloquent with realization.

"Oh. Uh. Yes of course. I'll… let you both… rest. Over and out. Very very out," said the engineer, his comilnk cutting out.

Sabine clicked her comlink off and tossed it away, before leaning over Shin. Not bothering to comment further, she slipped another finger inside the blond's slippery slit.

"Now that we're finally alone, my wet little womp-rat," purred Sabine, her agile fingers wrestling another loud moan from Shin, "I'm gonna make sure you understand what you'll be missing next time you consider killing yourself."

Shin could feel her sweat pearling over her naked body. Under the torture of Sabine's caresses, exploring every nook of her pussy, she had closed her eyes. Barely lifting up a lazy eyelid, she saw her panty was now nowhere to be found, probably discarded by her hungry lover.

"I… barely woke up…! You're savage…" Shin mewled, in a breath. "Can't a get a hot tea and a shower first?"

"I've been looking for you for hours down there," whispered Sabine, leaning over her, her arms wrapped around her neck. She smelled like smoke and fire. She was perfumed of sweat and deep underneath, of their earlier embraces in the elevator. She smelled of them both and of her animal desire.

"I don't care that we smell of smoke, dust and sweat," said Sabine, like she was reading her mind. "And of us fucking for hours in that elevator earlier. I don't care that you've been awake for five minutes. I don't care that you're not choosing me yet over whatever stupid dream of power. I got you back. I'm taking you whole."

Sabine kissed her so hard and deep she thought the girl was going to sallow her tongue, as she sucked it long and hard. Shin had no will to resist the storm of mouth and finger that was laying waste on all of her lips and wet interiors. She closed her eyes again, diving into the rough kiss, letting Sabine ravage her up and down.

Suddenly, Sabine broke the kiss, and before Shin could finish a moan of protest, she felt the Mandalorian's finger come out of her then a sharp and wet pain as the siled fingers came to slap her cheek severely.

"Wha…" started Shin in surprise.

Sabine cut her protest with another slap from the back of her hand, her finger spreading Shin's wetness on her own cheeks. The apprentice, pinned down and naked, could feel her cheeks burning. The animal smell of her own liquor was inflaming her senses. Sabine's effort between her legs had to be thorough for she swore she could feel a drop of the intimate liquid now dripping down her cheek.

" Blondie , my little Wolfcut dear…" purred Sabine, her face millimeters from Shin's, her intense hazel eyes gazing into her. "I'm gonna set some rules here. You're the psycho bitch out there, you can have that. But in my bed , you're a good girl. You listen, you moan, you mewl and squirm. You're mine."

Shin gasped as she felt two of Sabine's fingers dig deep between her legs again, the girl's thumb staying out to add some much-appreciated efforts. she let out a long moan.

"When you decide where we're going," said Sabine, her fingers punctuating her every words with much too precise gestures, "you can call some shots. In the meantime…"

Sabine's fingers pulled free again, letting Shin feel atrociously empty.

"...if you want to enjoy my care," continued Sabine, barely audible. "Then you will have to agree to…"

She shoved her wet finger back into Shin's mouth and the blond winced at her own sour intimate taste, taking over her mouth.

"...shut up, and be my obedient little pillow princess," finished Sabine, in a breath.

Shin felt herself melting in the Mandalorian girl's embrace. She'd felt vulnerable and taken care of before. But never so intensely, and with such a brutal, unstoppable desire directed at her.

Sucking on Sabine's fingers, docilely, she made a faint nod of agreement.

"Good," said Sabine, the girl's face slowly moving down toward her burning thighs. "Glad we're on the same page. Because I'm tired of talking now, and there are other things my mouth gotta do…"

The hike back to the elevator had been a hard one. Mostly because Shin's legs were still shaking. Not from her fall or the explosion, but, to her dismay, from Sabine's care.

Hours of walking had not chased away the redness in her cheeks, and she had not dared speak a word in miles, too dazzled and flustered to speak. If the musty futon they had left behind after a couple of hours of 'rest' was a battlefield, then Shin could not claim many victories against Sabine. The Mandalorian definitely had the high ground on that particular terrain.

Sabine too had been silent, though the grin at the corner of her thin lips was eloquent enough.

Then, as they were nearly close to the elevator, she felt a slight disturbance in the force. Extending her perception, she suddenly perceived multiple looming presences ahead.

"I think we got a welcome commity, up ahead," she warned. "They probably sent some escort."

"Ugh," groaned Sabine. "Fucking Garret. Can't he fuck off with the help? There goes my plan for that elevator ride back up…"

Shin grinned, rolling her eyes.

"For a Jedi you're grossly insatiable, you know?" she said.

"Yeah well, you know what they say: live and learn," said Sabine, smirking. "And the Order never learned its lesson about feelings. I'm choosing to rectify that, it's a matter of living…"

They punched open a last corridor door and sure enough, six of Elsbeth's soldiers were waiting by the lift, chatting patiently.

Spotting them, one of the soldiers stood up and walked to Shin, passing Sabine without a look.

"Nice to see you back, Ma'am. Brilliant work down there," said the soldier warmly. "We'll escort you up. May I take take that for you?" He said, pointing at Shin's utility bag.

Shin could not make his features nor the other men's as they were wearing their goggled helmets. Shrugging, Shin put the bag down, with a sigh.

"We appreciate the gesture, boys, but we can take a lift alone you know?" she said, exasperation in her voice.

The soldier picked up the bag, walking by her to give way to one of his mates. That one, recognized Shin at the galon on his shoulder, was the squad commander.

"I'm sure Ma'am, but we had reports of you being pretty banged up. Your Master insisted we get down with medical supplies just in case."

Shin had a faint smile at the mention of Baylan. Her Master had not commed her since she awoke. Sabine had mentioned angrily how fast he had given up on her. Well, to his credit, I was dead and he felt it. Could have called instead of sending the gogled batch, here, but I guess I'll take the gesture, she thought bitterly.

"I reported mere fatigue," moaned Sabine, drawing the soldier's gaze. They had made a suspicious effort not to look at her so far.

"You mentioned fever, Jedi, so I guess that got Master Skoll's attention," said the commander coldly.

"Yeah and drooling and snoring," mumbled Sabine with a grin.

Shin shot her a deadly look. She clasped her hand behind her back, mustering some seriousness.

"Well I'm good, so next time don't bother," she said, severely. "Let's not dawdle, this thing takes forever to go up."

The commander nodded faintly, then glanced sideways at his men. Shin noticed they all had their rifles out. Guess I made an impression on them... She thought.

"Uh... Is nobody gonna take my bag then? That's rude," complained Sabine pouting.

The soldiers exchanged a glance then the commander responded, tensely.

"Right. Where are our manners boys... Kurt, you mind taking the lady Jedi's bag?"

Shin felt the mood change in the small elevator room. She watched the soldiers suspiciously, as they all seemed both tense and yet packing with now obvious procrastination.

"Sure..." Said one of the soldiers, moving behind Sabine. "Of course Sir..."

The girl unfastened the straps of her backpack, letting it fall down. A shiver ran down Shin's spine, sudden angst creeping in her guts. As the soldier bent to snatch the bag, the feeling became utter screaming in her head.

Without warning, the soldier jumped back up, and rammed the butt of his rifle into Sabine's neck, sending her tumbling to the ground, dazzled.

Shin tried to warn Sabine but only cried in surprise as she felt a cold metal grasp on her wrists. She tried to grab her lightsaber but found herself to be cuffed.

The soldier behind her who had feigned to grab her bag kicked her leg down, sending her to her knee. She soon felt the cold deadly nozzle of a blaster rifle on her temple.

"You Huttspren! I will cut you down!" She shouted in anger.

Sabine, on the ground, groaned in pain. Caught by surprise, she had been sucker punched by the surprise attack and seemed to fight to remain conscious.

"Hey, fuck those guys! Blondie, can you kriffin' tell you Master to stop sending help, I'm letting go of the refund here, if he can just get lost!"

One of the soldiers rammed his riffle again on the girl's head and Shin gasped as she saw Sabine's face slam on the ground. Blood dripped from the back of her head, a gloomy velvet stain spreading among the purple locks of her hair.

Shin felt pure unfiltered rage bursting into her guts. She tried to stand up but was stopped by the pressure of her captor's cold blaster nozzle.

The commander of the squad turned to her, calmly.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, none of that Ma'am, please," he said, with a curt detached tone. "You'll get upstairs all fine, as per our orders. Because killing you would unfortunately be over the line."

He turned and walked to Sabine, looking mindlessly at the barely conscious Mandalorian.

"Not her though. It's too bad because you're the traitor in our eyes. It's you we were set on punishing, Ma'am . But since your Master is too much into the Magistrate's good graces, we'll settle for taking away your little side-piece."

Neglectingly, but without restraint, he kicked Sabine in the ribs, the girl gasping for air and coughing blood under the blow. Then, pulling a vibroblade from his belt, he crouched to her.

"I mean, I'm sure the Magistrate won't mind too much. Not enough to discard a whole squad. But you... You care about her. So that should make up for what you did to Rick.

Behind the pure hatred of her gaze, Shin gave him a puzzled look.

"Who now?" she said, darting at the man

The commander ran a gloved hand on Sabine's neck, unnerving Shin. Slowly, grabbing her by her hair, he put the blade under the girl's throat, as she was still grasping for air.

"Rick. There's seven men in our squads. You've led us, you're supposed to know that, blond girl," said the commander, calmly. "Rick was our number seven. Until you slaughtered him out of spite for that purple-haired bitch."

Shin gaped. She had been so carelessly certain of her authority and power she'd completely dismissed the possibility of some random soldier taking revenge on her whims. However, in this case, she felt less than sorry about it.

"Your pal wasn't much up to date with the concept of consent," she said coldly, burning rage in her voice. "So I taught him. I suggest you get inspired by the lesson he learned. And get that blade away from the prisoner"

The commander took off his helmet, laying down weary grey eyes on her. He was grinning mischievously.

"Oh, well," he said, getting the vibroblade off Sabine's throat.

Shin crossed the girl's eyes, shivering at the fear she saw there. The commander brought the vibroblade under Sabine's collar, and ripped meticulously the girl's shirt, exposing her back.

"You're right," he said. "I was going to finish this nice and quick, but how unfair to your girl would that be." He stood up and gestured invitedly to his men. "Rick died trying to get a ride of the Jedi girl. Maybe we should all finish what he started, as an hommage," he said chuckling.

This. This will never happen again if you come to me. Bath in my power. Let me be one with you. Said an eerily familiar and disincarnate voice.

Back so soon? Thought Shin. Do I get another taste?

No, said Abeloth, in her head. You don't. Deal with this on your own. You need to understand how limited you are without me. Maybe you lose the girl and it'll be easier then… With me, you could save her in a snap, you know? Those insect soldiers would be a speck of dust in your way.

Blast you then, e chutta. If you're not helping go catfish someone who listens.

You will listen, said Abeloth . When you finally understand what you're refusing.

Shin felt like puking, as she saw some of the men already taking their helmets down, lust in their eyes. Her heart burned with rage at the thought of what she would witness in the next moment if she didn't find a way out.

Two of the men had Sabine pinned down as the commander was caressing her naked back creepily.

"Should I go first, Mando slut?" He said, laughing.

"No thank you, osi'yaim, in case you haven't noticed I'm not playing for your team, just get the message chakaar !" swore Sabine to the men, conscious enough to shoot them a deadly stare.

"Oh, we know. It's amazing what you can learn when you tap into the ship's coms," said the commander, eerily. "That's why we're so convinced your girlfriend here is gonna hurt like a bitch, watching you suffer and die. You should have let her down there, Purple. Hell, we might I have let you alone if you had…"

"Well… I had to recover the spare explosive I dropped," said Sabine, suddenly looking to Shin with insistence. "Lucky I found both ." The Mandalorian shot a furtive look to her bag, behind one of the guards.

Shin's brain went to overdrive. She looked at Sabine, then the bag, then back to Sabine, lowering her gaze to the girl's belt. She grinned, as she saw the familiar detonator, all patched up and hanging from the belt.

"Hey, sleemo , no means no," said Shin. "Make better use of your last moment and be decent."

The man looked at her with disdain.

"Last moments?" He asked. What the hell are you babbling about now?"

"Wanna know about hell, commander gogglehead ?" Shin said, grinning eerily. "Because I do. I just came from there.

With a push of the Force, she pressed the detonator on Sabine's belt.

"And I warmed it all up for you…"

For a split second, everybody looked at her in silence, surprised. Then, Sabine's bag bleeped, and hell came to them. In chaos, the last thermal charge exploded, filling the room with fire and fury.