Chapter 45: Fun and Games
Children grew faster than plans.
Avaryss was not sure where she had heard that, but as Zay stepped into the small dueling ring outside of Survivor base, she knew it to be true.
Three weeks had passed since Sri-Luur. Three weeks since she had returned to the Survivors with the third key in hand. Three weeks since, after they had left the world, that Avaryss' agents had descended on Phylon's now deserted estate, and seized his library for her, moving it safely back to Sanctuary Base.
The Jedi didn't know that, however, she doubted they would be pleased considering what was going to happen after all five keys were in her hands.
Things would happen quicker now. The Survivors had been shocked to learn that she had just lucked into one of the keys, but both Avaryss and Jas Dar Bynn had had an explanation.
The Force was guiding events, what had happened, was part of a larger plan.
Avaryss agreed, though, she knew that the old Jedi Master didn't see the truth.
It wasn't the plan of the Force that was being served here…it was hers.
Even now she was preparing the ritual that would allow her to find the remaining two keys. Once that ritual was done, they would need to move fast. The keys would sing out at once, all of them, and they would be like a beacon, a flare shot into a clear sky.
The Survivors would not be the only ones who would detect their call. Where ever the missing keys were; the Survivors would need to be move fast to claim them. Plus, it would be necessary to conduct the ritual far from Survivor base, lest someone stumble on it, called by the three keys in their possession.
A risky plan, the Colonel didn't like it, and Avy agreed with him, but without risk…there was no reward.
It would take time to prepare the ritual, and in the meantime, they would search conventionally for the last two keys, hopefully the ritual would not be necessary…
…hopefully.
She didn't focus on that now, those were concerns for the future, right now, her mind was focused on the dueling ring, and the two apprentices about to face off.
Zay, still wearing the hooded cloak she had claimed for the trip to Sri-Luur looked across the small ring at Temmin, her opponent for today.
Both of the young people, were greatly changed.
A week after their return, Temmin had discovered something during one of his private conversations with the girl. Something that he thought was of great importance.
Zay's birthday had come.
A small celebration was held at the base, honoring the day. Avaryss had allowed it, because the girl had never really had the chance to celebrate it before. It had only been marked by her mother, and as slaves, they had had little to celebrate with.
The celebration, a gathering of those that Zay had grown closer with had amused the dark lord.
Listening to Temmin's mother, Gilly and the rest talk about the girl, her sense of helpfulness, gentleness and other virtues, almost made Avaryss laugh.
They truly didn't see what the girl was, what she had done to claim her place. They would not be celebrating her if they knew.
Zay said nothing to dispel their misconceptions, if anything, she reveled in that moment, and her master allowed it. She let her simply, enjoy the day.
Let her have this one last moment of innocence, as an adult, her life would be much more…interesting.
She was still going through the transition stage of her development. Soon, such distractions would not matter to her, she would no longer care about such mundane trivialities, power would be what she desired most, not the simple pleasures of the mundane world.
She would be Sith.
Yet, considering what had happened on Sri-Luur, her saving her master from Phylon. The dark lord thought it an appropriate reward.
The Survivors, those not on missions had attended. Zay had blushed at the attention, while her master kept a respectful distance, not wishing to distract her from this simple pleasure.
The girl was fifteen now, one year from adulthood on Avaryss' former home of Oridanna, it was therefore appropriate that her training continue. Zay had decided to make a life for herself within the Sith order.
Avaryss was determined to see that it was a successful one.
Time was finally changing the girl, as well, she finally hit what might be called, her growth spurt, not that it was much of a spurt at all. She now stood about one and half meters in height, just a few centimeters shorter than her master.
She was still petite, but no longer would be mistaken for a boy, her figure had become much more shapely…more feminine.
She was not alone in making a change.
Temmin had had his own experience with adolescence, his growth spurt, being more…dramatic.
He had been close in height to his master when they had first met the boy. Fenn was by no need a small man, but now, his student had surpassed him.
Temmin was no longer a young boy, he had shot up to a little over two meters in height. He was still thin, a lanky giant, but it was not hard to imagine what he would look like when his large frame started to fill out with muscle.
He will be as big as Fehl, Avaryss thought, again feeling just a hint of regret, what might have been had the Force been kinder.
She tried not to think about it. If anything…it didn't hurt so bad anymore, not with Fenn at her side. Not with him simply being there.
Temm would be as big as Fehl, taller, possibly stronger too, a true warrior of the old blood.
Master Jas had not been surprised. General Gnar, Temmin's grandfather had been a monster of man, easily passing the two-meter mark in height. His son, Temmin's father, had been shorter, taking after his mother's line apparently.
It was easy to see whose genetics the boy had inherited.
Avaryss smiled at the two students, a girl of darkness, and a half-blood trying to walk in the light.
Ironic, to say the least.
Fenn came up behind her, watching their students.
They circled each other warily, neither wishing to give a single centimeter.
"Ready, Temm?" Zay asked, a playful smile on her face.
"Ready when you are," the half-blood answered, cracking his neck.
Zay smirked as she gestured with her right hand, using the Force to undo the clasp holding up her cloak. She rolled her shoulders, letting it fall away, jutting out her small breast.
Temmin's pink cheeks darkened, he watched as the girl he liked as strutted suggestively before him, even with her limp, she still looked good. Weeks of hard training had added muscle to the girl's more lady-like form. The tank top and shorts she wore exposed her arms and shapely bare legs. Some bruises remained, results of perception drills carried out by Xen, but they had grown fewer as the girl's training continued.
Yes, Phylon would not have mistaken her for a boy had he seen her now.
She was lithe, slender, her body was what one might have expected of a swimmer, her short blond hair was growing out too, turning into an unruly nest of pretty blond curls.
The only thing her master didn't care for, was the small braid the girl wore over her right ear, it was not quite a padawan braid, she had added two black beads to it, but still…Avaryss didn't like seeing her student wearing it.
She didn't like what it hinted at, a touch of rebellion on her apprentice's part, but maybe…the girl was just playing games with their Jedi hosts. Avaryss would not put it past her.
She was starting to show a talent…for games.
Zay had been a cute child, even with her bad foot, but now…she was growing into an attractive young woman. Temmin had not been the only one to notice, several of the younger soldiers and technicians serving here at Survivor base had changed their opinions of Zay in the last few weeks, no longer seeing her as the child who followed in her master's wake. They were noticing her now, and were more open to helping the girl when they saw her, hoping to win her favor, even if it was only a cute smile, or a kind word.
Foolish, Avaryss thought with a sneer.
Very foolish.
Zay had been self-conscious of the change, at first, but…with Xen's prompting, she was starting to like the extra attention, thrive on it, and more importantly…use it.
"The Force isn't your only weapon, girl," Xen had purred, "The Force and genetics have been generous, you have a beauty all your own. Your looks, they can be a powerful tool, if used correctly.
"You will be greatly surprised how far an attracted fool will go to please you."
Zay had taken that lesson to heart, and realized that Xen was right, but her looks were only part of it.
Avaryss' apprentice was making great strides in the Force, as well.
She had begun her training from the manuals that Phylon had selected for her, or rather from the sheets of flimsy copied by her master from those manuals. The girl's powers were advancing again, in ways that surprised even her master.
Most had been written in the old tongue of the Sith. Zay didn't know how to read it yet. So, Avy translated and copied those lessons into basic, while at the same time, recording the originals for posterity into her holocron, further enhancing its value and usefulness to future Sith masters, and saving that knowledge for future generations to use.
She did her best to guide her student, rarely offering up the actual manuals. Only letting her see the actual pages if their lessons were in basic, and contained side notes in the margins that the girl might find useful. This part of the training was difficult for the master, she could not perform the exercises described in them herself, her abilities didn't allow it.
As always, she preached caution.
"Studying the dark side alone can be a perilous endeavor, apprentice," Avaryss had warned her, "You will be on your own in working with the powers that you find in these tomes. Exercise extreme caution, I will not be able to aid you directly. My own talents lay in a different direction."
The girl had nodded, happily taking the first pages that had been copied.
"I will not disappoint you, master."
"See that you don't…
…and apprentice…"
"Yes, my master?"
"Never attempt to dominate my mind. I will punish you severely if you try, and fail."
She nodded, fearful of her master's threat, but also excited beyond measure to learn secrets that were beyond even her teacher.
In the weeks since first opening those books, Zay had grown in confidence, playing little games with both the beasts on the plains, and the young men here. No longer were her powers simply the ability to freeze a person in their tracks or slow them down if they were stronger willed. She didn't even have to sing out loudly anymore. A simple hum might suffice, those notes a physical manifestation of the girl reaching out and drawing people into her web. Zay was starting to see the true power she possessed. She had discovered how to make those in her sway actually do things. Things that they would not have done normally.
Avaryss watched the girl's games with a smile, the petty cruelties she inflicted.
Amusing…every last one.
From making someone spill their drinks on themselves or their companions, or coming out of the fresher not fully dressed. These were the smallest examples of her experiments with the powers of the mind.
Zay was careful though; she only used the Force when there were no Jedi around to sense it. Early in the morning, or late in the evening. Any strange occurrence could have been explained away as exhaustion on behalf of the girl's victims.
If she had gotten caught, she would have apologized to the people involved, a small prank, nothing more…no harm done. The Survivors trusted her now, and would have discounted it as youthful indiscretion.
The dark lord…knew better.
Zay was starting to see that these people were tools to be used, pawns to be played with, and discarded when their usefulness came to an end.
Again, her master was impressed.
Subtlety, cunning, betrayal, and a touch of cruelty.
Zay was progressing quickly in the dark side. She would be a powerful Sith one day.
Avaryss was most pleased.
Yet, her mental games would not save her today, only her martial skill.
Avaryss was determined that she master that part of her training as well.
As Zay looked across the ring at Temmin, she turned her attention to her teacher.
"What is thy bidding, my master? What would you like of me today?"
"Let us see another defensive drill from you, acolyte," she said, "Let us see how long you can last against your young friend."
The girl smirked.
"I was hoping for a more offensive test. Master Agony has taught me some interesting new sequences. In less than two minutes, I can end this duel. I think you might be impressed by my speed."
"I'm sure you are growing quicker every day, my dear," Avaryss said with a slight frown, "But that is not the point of today's lesson. You need to work on your stamina, you must gain endurance. I need to see how long it takes you to reach your breaking point. A defensive drill, if you please."
Avaryss kept her rebuke light, she didn't like to be questioned.
"As you say, master," the girl answered with a slight bow.
The dark lord knew that Zay could end things quickly, she had seen her do it on the plains during their private lessons. The girl was turning into a vicious killer, make no mistake.
Ending things quickly, that talent was useful, but Zay needed more than that. Avaryss understood the value of endurance. Zay needed to work that side of her physicality.
In a defensive drill, Zay's opponent was tasked with playing the aggressor, while the girl defended herself, for as long as she was able. The apprentice's style of lightsaber combat could be taxing both physically and mentally. These drills allowed her to get used to the feeling of exhaustion, get used to it, and power on through. She needed to learn to pace herself, so that she would not fall easily into the trap of being worn down by an enemy.
Zay and Temm both scooped up their training blades. Hers was modified to function as her actual weapon did, with a retractable haft.
She extended it to full length, thrusting it forward like a spear.
"Ready, Temm?"
"When you are," he said with a smile.
The two apprentices began to circle. Zay jabbing out with the spear, its end humming forcing the larger boy to keep his distance.
"Two minutes, huh," he asked.
"I have reach on you, and I'm faster too." Zay reminded him with a laugh.
"Two minutes is probably a little longer than I need."
"I'm not so easily beaten," he responded, "I can definitely last longer than your two minutes.
The boy gave her a cruel smirk, his blush darkening, even Zay blushed.
He had not meant the comment to be suggestive, Avaryss thought, or…had he?
Fenn leaned over so that he could whisper in her ear.
"They're not sleeping together if that is what concerns you," he informed her. "Roxxi asked me to keep an eye on him, make sure he is behaving himself.
Avaryss suppressed a chuckle.
The fun part about having your mom living with you in a military camp.
Not that Zay would have a chance either, she made sure of that.
She had not given Zay any time to seek out such…revels, and would warn her about the dangers of such a thing. Her own experience with Fehl had taught Avaryss a valuable lesson. This was an important time in Zay's training, she could not afford to be distracted by physical urges. Avaryss had fallen into that trap herself, and suffered greatly for it.
The girl will thank me later. If she does finally give into her desires for Temm, it should be at a time of her choosing, when it serves the purpose of her master. When the chance to manipulate the boy was at its peak.
The dark lord smirked.
Speaking of giving into temptation…
"I could come to you tonight, if you wish," she informed her dream friend, "I know I've been busy, but…"
"You have the girl to think of right now," he advised, "You should try and remained focused on that, yes?"
"I…I suppose so."
Fenn chuckled.
"I should take that advice myself. Temm may look like a man now, but he is still young; still needs to be guided."
"That…is true too," she agreed.
Avaryss frowned.
What was that about?
What the hell was going on?
Before she had left for Sri-Luur, her seduction of Fenn had been proceeding nicely, their touchy-feely sessions in his quarters had almost broken down the last of the walls between them, he had been close to succumbing, she knew that to be true.
Since her return, something had changed.
Something had happened while she had been away, she could sense it. Fenn, though not actively. pushing her away, had chosen to back away whenever she tried to draw closer.
Every time she tried to figure it out, even using their Force connection, she found herself running into a wall. He was blocking her not only physically, and his excuses, but with the Force.
Had Master Jas talked to him? Asked him to slow down, not risk further attachment? If so, she found it frustrating.
She would ask Agony about it, maybe Xen. Xen had been friends with him during his padawan pack days, she could reach him, if she pretended to need his help, Avy was sure of it.
Agony was…
Agony had been training with Fenn lately, she had noticed that too. Perhaps he had said something to her.
The dark lord was most eager to find out. She…
Temmin struck in the dueling ring, drawing her attention back to the here and now.
Zay swung her fully extended pike back and forth, trying to keep him at bay.
He tried to batter the weapon away, get inside her guard, and push her down, running her over like some charging beast.
Zay dropped back rolling out of the way, letting Temm run past her. She whirled around coming up facing him, looking to jab him in the back with the training blade, ending this drill right now.
Temm anticipated the blow, and blocked it, his blade swinging behind his back, pushing the light-pike out of the way.
The two apprentices once again found their ready position.
Avaryss evaluated the first move.
The sequence Zay had used was inspired, but again, she was a little slow on the transition. It was clear what she had done was a move she had not mastered yet.
The dark lord was not concerned. For two hours each day the girl drilled with her sequences, in time, she would do them without thinking, the Force would take her body in its hands, and guide her. She would become an extension of the dark side, and the unorthodox style would flow from move to move like water.
She would be a lethal weapon, a weapon that few force wielders would be able to predict.
Again, her master was pleased.
Temm growled, and charged in again. Zay shortened her pike, and met his heavy blows, not parrying, but misdirecting them. She pirouetted and tumbled around her larger foe, jabbing and stabbing out with the tip of her pike, not trying to score a hit, but to keep the boy off balance, to keep him worrying about the point of the blade, and occasionally taking whacks from the extended haft of the girl's weapon.
Avaryss fought the urge to applaud.
Zay was slowly turning into a crafty fighter. In time, her blade would be like her mind abilities. Working her opponents into playing her game, not the one that would lead them to victory. She was also humming now, drawing on the dark side, that hum was lost under the hum of the training sword, but Avaryss heard it, she was used to hearing it now.
Zay was slowing Temm's perceptions, just enough to keep her from getting mentally and physically worn out. The dark lord wondered how long the girl would make the drill last this time, her record was fifteen minutes, and it had been set against Xen.
That had been an interesting confrontation.
IOI
The duel had taken place on the plains, far from the Survivor's camp.
Xen had expected a quick and easy victory, after almost ten minutes of Zay evading her. The fallen Jedi's patience was starting to wear thin.
"Are you a circus performer, or a Sith! STAND AND FIGHT YOU LITTLE CLOWN!"
Zay giggled as she tumbled out of Xen's path again, ducking the blade with ease."
"Clowns," she exclaimed, "I always liked clowns, the circus too, not that I was ever allowed to go to a show.
She pirouetted around her opponent, lightly tapping her on the rear with the extended hilt of her weapon.
Xen hissed and spun, her yellow Sith eyes glowing with menace. The training saber in her hand pulsing with energy.
Zay playfully whirled her training pike, her mood light, despite the growing rage of her opponent.
"Slaves weren't welcome at the shows," she said with a hint of bitterness in her voice.
Her smile sprung back quickly though, amused by the older Sith's frustration.
"At least I got see the circus coming into our town, it was so bright and…YIPES!"
Xen charged her, swinging her blade viciously at her head.
She leaned back ducking under the blade, the electricity in it making her eyebrows stand up.
Avaryss watched the duel closely.
She could sense Xen's rage, her jealousy boiling like a pot ready to run over.
The fallen Jedi didn't like the way her former master doted on the young girl.
The dark lord had been cautious in letting Xen and Zay duel. It would not be unexpected if Xen tried to injure her young apprentice.
Avaryss was standing close by, to make sure that didn't happen.
Zay's gifts were far more valuable to her than Xen's savagery with a blade.
She would intervene if necessary.
Zay should have been frightened, but either her youthful bravado, or confidence in her master's protection made her continue to goad her opponent.
Missed me!
Whoops. Missed again!
"And again. Ha, ha-dee, ha-ha!"
"YOU LIITLE WRETCH!"
"Come now, Xen, hit me, the little clown is making you look bad!"
"Yikes!"
"DAMN YOU!"
"And, oops, you missed again!"
For the moment though, the girl was holding her own, goading her opponent, working her emotions like a puppeteer.
When Zay fully mastered all of her gifts, and the blade, she would be a terrifying force on the battlefield.
For though now, she was just poking the rancor.
Avy was there to make sure the girl didn't get eaten.
Again she cartwheeled out of Xen's path, poking her between the shoulder blades with the tip of the haft of her weapon. For fifteen minutes this had gone on.
Xen…had finally had enough.
She threw down her training sword and drew her lightsaber!
SNAP HISS!
HISS! HISS!
"XEN!" Avaryss growled.
The young Sith didn't hear, she charged.
Zay dropped her training blade and drew her own lightsaber.
She tried to get out of the way, but Xen didn't let her dodge this time. She swept out with his cross-guard lightsaber.
Zay brought up her blade just in time, misdirecting a strike that would have gone straight through her face.
The apprentice retreated. She tumbled out of range, barely, and extended her pike to full length.
She didn't cry out for help from her master, she tried to deal with the attack herself.
She struck at the older girl's ribs, but the fallen Jedi had anticipated that move.
Xen brought her blade up and with a flick of her wrist, used the cross guard to slice through the haft. Zay threw the broken part away, and dropped into a standard Niman fighting stance.
Their blades crossed once, twice, three times. Finally overwhelmed, Zay took a kick to the stomach sending her sprawling.
Xen brought her blade up for a killing stroke.
"STOP!"
Avaryss flung out her hand.
She pinned her former student in place with the Force, paralyzing her mid swing. It was a move that Darth Feer had been particularly fond of, Xen didn't like it any more than her master did. She howled in frustration as Zay scooped up her weapon and got out of the way.
Retreating behind the safety of her Sith Master.
Avaryss glared at her former student.
Though she was pleased with the strength that Xen now wielded, she had given specific orders.
This had been a training session, nothing more.
She would not tolerate the other woman harming Zay, not until Zay had the full capability to defend herself.
The Sith Master was not pleased.
"This exercise is terminated!" she said coldly.
"That isn't the only thing that is about to be terminated," Xen snarled back, glaring hatefully at Zay.
The younger girl stuck out her tongue, but still held her weapon before her, at the ready, unsure if her rival would manage to escape her master's trap.
Avaryss approached her, her eyes cold and imperious.
Xen shut down her lightsaber, let it fall from her grip.
She knew that look. She knew what it meant when her teacher was displeased.
"If the runt is too weak to survive these drills, she has no place among us," Xen said with a cruel sneer.
The dark lord didn't reply right away, she continued to stare the fallen Jedi down.
Finally, cowed, Xen lowered her eyes.
It was only then that Avaryss chose to speak.
"Do not make the same mistake that Dym made," she cautioned, "Just because we are not on Dromund Kaas, and I don't have the full might of my house behind me, that doesn't make me weak."
"I do not question your strength, master," Xen replied morosely, "Nor do I wish to oppose you, but the girl, despite what gifts she may possess is not worthy of calling herself your apprentice."
Zay snorted at that, and was about to say something, but paused when Avaryss raised her hand, stopping her before she could comment.
"See to your weapon, Zay. Recover the broken pieces," she ordered, "Leave this to me."
"Yes, my master."
The girl hobbled away, but not quite out of earshot.
Avaryss leaned in, whispering in Xen's ear.
"You look down on her because she was my serving girl."
"I look down on her because she was nothing, a common slave."
"And so were you…once."
Xen's eyes widened.
"I wasn't a slave!
"So you didn't belong to Sy Dar Bynn? He didn't turn you into his personal lackey, having you risk yourself while he hid behind his network of spies and informers?"
Xen lowered her head; she looked down at her feet.
"Don't you remember what it was like, when you served him. When you were nothing but a tool of his will?"
"I…I remember, master."
"And who freed you from that fate? Why gave you the strength to slay Sy Dar Bynn, and find your own way in the galaxy?"
Xen looked up, her golden eyes pained, her lip trembling.
"You…you did master. I…I owe you everything."
Avaryss frowned.
"Then why do you seek to disobey me?"
"I don't…I…I only want…"
She fell silent, and shook her head.
"I only wish to serve you, to win back what I once possessed."
She looked up, held her master's gaze.
"I live only to serve…you, and through that service, find my own freedom once more."
Avaryss smiled.
"Then perhaps, you are not as foolish as that idiot Muun, perhaps you are ready to serve as the executioner of my house."
Xen blinked.
"Your what?"
"My executioner, I will need one for the war I'm about to start. Bleez is my Warmaster, she advises our forces, but I need someone to stand on the front line when I cannot, someone that knows her place in my empire."
"Isn't such a command reserved for the first apprentice, if Zay is that…"
"Zay's value on the battle field will be in a meditation chamber, using her mind to enhance our forces, and demoralize our enemies. An invaluable tool, don't you think, but not the only one, an executioner will be needed to lead our forced in battle."
"And…you wish for me to serve this role?"
Avaryss nodded.
"That and more…"
She leaned in even closer, whispering in the girl's ear.
"I think that I can use Zay's abilities to bring Beric back to us. I think she might be able to free him from the conditioning that shutta Sadi put in his head."
Xen's eyes widened at that.
"BERIC! You…you would forgive him?"
Avaryss nodded.
"If he can be brought back to his senses, sure."
Xen's whole expression changed.
"But…but what was done to him. What you did…there isn't any way too…"
"What was done to Beric can be undone. Remember, I cheated death, myself, fixing the damage to his body would be easy enough, and if not, I can find him a new body. Replacing his old shell is easy enough. I could grow him a new shell from the blood samples stored in the citadel. Sith alchemy had done far less, in the past. An empty vessel would not require the large number of sacrifices that I needed to prepare the body for his will and mind."
A single tear ran down Xen's cheek.
"And…if he came back, if you restored him…?
"If he swears allegiance to me, as you have. I will let the two of you be together again. I will give you back your child, and let you two wed as is proper." Hell, I'll perform the rite myself, such is my generosity."
"Beric," Xen sniffled, "My daughter."
"All will be yours, and more," Avaryss promised, "All I ask in return is that you let this jealousy between you and Zay end. Do that, and you will have your life, and your freedom."
Avaryss backed up, she stood before the frozen Sith, she drew her lightsaber.
"So, what shall it be? Are you my executioner, or just another fool to be executed, make your choice."
She released the girl from her force grip, she fell to the ground, and her knees.
Xen bowed her head to the ground, arms spread in the dirt, debasing herself.
"I am yours, my lord. Until I die in battle or by your hand."
Avaryss smirked.
Amazing how well that worked, she mused.
She understood the value of stick and treat. You showed your pet the stick, and they knew you were willing to use it, but when faced with the treat, they were more apt to take it.
The policy had worked well for her in the past.
Zay hobbled up before her master, she frowned down at the older Sith.
"So, are we all friends now," she asked sweetly.
Xen looked up and glared at her.
"We are allies," she said, "Nothing more."
"Oh good," Zay replied, "It so nice that I know you will be standing in front of me during a battle, drinking up all those blaster bolts meant for me."
"Kriff you, kid!"
Zay walked at her master's side as they made their way back to camp, though she flipped a rude gesture over her shoulder at the Fallen Jedi.
Avaryss noticed, rolling her eyes.
"You are reckless, young one. Don't you remember what I said, about picking battles?"
"I remember, but whatever you offered her, I think it is more valuable than a bit of petty revenge against me, isn't it?"
Avaryss nodded.
That…was true.
Xen grumbled and rose to her feet, but would not act against her master, or her new apprentice.
She had a reason to keep Zay alive now, and that was what was important.
Avaryss smiled.
You never could overlook the value of a little incentive…
…it went a long way.
IOI
Zay continued to dodge and spin around Temmin. The boy was still not quite used to his larger size. He had become clumsier, as a result, and that disadvantage was all that Zay needed, she was running rings around him.
Yet, Temm was not getting angry, if anything he was amused.
"See," he called out, "We have gone beyond two minutes. "I'm guessing we are closer to ten."
"Well, huzzah for you, handsome," Zay quipped.
Temmin blinked.
"Handsome?"
Zay jabbed playfully with her pike.
"I bet you can't touch me in the next five minutes."
He grinned gamely.
"What will I get if I do?"
"Well, what would you like? What can I do for you?"
Temm's pink skin darkened to red.
"Knock it off, you two," Fenn called out, "Less flirting, more fighting."
"Who's flirting, Master Fenn?" Zay asked. Batting her eyes innocently.
"We're just talking."
"Uh huh," the Jedi said.
Avaryss chuckled.
Maybe she and Fenn needed to duel more.
Maybe that would help her break through the shell of Jedi calm.
She took a shuddering breath, looking at him.
Thoughts of their nights together flooding her mind, the smell of his skin, that wonderful maleness that made her warm and her knees weak.
Damn, she really needed to break down the last of his resistance!
What did she have to do!
Walk into his quarters, strip down, and demand that he throw her down on the bed and make love to her!
How hard was that to accept!
Seriously!
Temmin struck at Zay again, she spun around him and caught him in the shins with the haft of her pike.
A loud crack rang out.
Temm went down on his knees; he cried out in pain.
Zay blinked, her weapon, stopping in mid swing.
"Temmin? Temmin! What did I…"
That was all it took.
Temmin grabbed her, he knocked her light pike from her grasp, and spun her around.
"Eek!"
Zay hit the ground hard, the young half blood pinning her beneath him. He grinned down at her, panting.
"Gotcha," he said.
Zay looked up at him, realizing what had happened.
"Ow," she muttered.
Temm laughed.
"Exercise over," he declared, "I win."
Avaryss and Fenn came up to him.
"You okay there, padawan," Fenn asked.
"Fine, master," he answered.
Avaryss gave him a curious look.
"What was that crack?"
"Oh this," Temmin gestured.
They all heard a loud cracking sound. A small mental trick through the Force…
…small, but it had been enough.
Zay smirked up at her…friend, possible paramour.
"You just wanted an excuse to get me on my back."
Temm laughed nervously and rose to his feet.
He offered her a hand up. Zay accepted, and he pulled her into his arms.
She popped up on her toes and gave him a chaste kiss.
"A prize to the winner," she purred.
Fenn and Avaryss looked at each other.
So much for the Force requiring a lack of attachment.
They would both need to speak with their students, though who could say it would work, and besides…
…wouldn't that make the two masters hypocrites, given their own connection.
"Nice trick, boy," Avaryss said to Temm.
He shrugged his now broad shoulders.
"Just a bit of fun, Master Avaryss."
"Fun and games."
A/N: A bit of light fun this chapter, but the fun won't last long, something is coming next chapter, hoping you will all be here for it. Until next time, dear readers.
DG