Wheel in the Sky keeps on turning
I don't know where I'll be tomorrow
Wheel in the sky keeps on turning
Both, Yumeko and SunTzu were singing the classic rock song out loud inside AICA's cockpit as they fell out of Hyperspace near the huge space station called The Wheel.
The Wheel was located in the Besh Gorgon System in the Mid Rim and famous for it's Casinos. It would be the place where the final game of the tournament and probably the following game against Stavro would be played at.
Outside the space station starfighters and gunships, and even two frigates, were patrolling.
AICA had landed two days before at the dock of the Cruise Ship Halcyon, on which the semi and half finals of the Sabacc Tournament had been held at.
After Yumeko had been told about their new destination by Stavro's right hand man Auric, the duo had left the Cruise Ship again and began their journey to The Wheel. On the way AICA had introduced herself to Yumeko and the two of them had formed an amicable bond.
As they made their way to the space station a pair of older X-Wings came closer and formed up, AICA in their middle.
SunTzu greeted them with a wave of AICA's wings and the two X-Wings reciprocated the greeting.
"If things turn bad, can we make it through these security forces?" Yumeko asked from the backseat, wearing a slightly too large flight suit and a helmet, a tad bit too big as well.
On the front seat SunTzu nodded.
"No doubt, AICA is one of the fastest ships there is. And if shit hits the fan we can still blast through. A few X-Wings and older fighters are nothing we couldn't take care of."
"We're quite experienced with fighting snubs by now." AICA chimed in.
"How many ships did you actually shoot down? I read you got a medal for it." Yumeko asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"I stopped counting after Rago. I could never kill more of them than as how many people they killed on Rago."
"I'm sorry. I read about the Loss of Rago, terrible."
I'm sorry about Rago's fall too my dear Yumeko, who knows what would have been if Rago wouldn't have fallen…
And here was that question again, if Rago wouldn't have fallen, would he still be with Rei?
"SunTzu?" Yumeko's voice tore him out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry, that I reminded you of that. I know it must have been horrible."
"It was but we're here to make sure this Galaxy is safe. And I'm also here to make sure that you stay safe while doing so."
SunTzu felt a hand on his shoulder, which then gently squeezed.
"Right now I would give up my safety for a shower. No offense AICA but we've been in here for what seems like an eternity."
"None taken." The AI called out.
"Almost there. And then you can take your shower."
"Awesome. I wouldn't mind having my bodyguard around then by the way. You know for safety reason."
"Duty before dishonor." SunTzu answered with a smile.
They had gotten a private landing dock and SunTzu had told AICA to keep her sensor open for any signs of trouble when they had landed.
What did surprise the duo was that when they showed up at the reception, Auric was waiting for them.
He greeted Yumeko with a bow and SunTzu with a nod.
"Miss Jabami, Mister Stavro has a room for you in his private part of the station."
"That's a surprise, but I can't say I don't feel honored." Yumeko replied with played delight. "What about my bodyguard?"
"I'm afraid we don't have the room to accommodate him, but there is an exquisite room for him waiting in the nearest top class accommodation hotel. Don't worry about your security, the personal protection detail of Mister Stavro is ordered to protect you as well."
SunTzu and Yumeko withstand the urge to look at each other.
"I wouldn't mind if my guard would have a firsthand look at my quarter first nonetheless."
"He can, of course. I'll have an access authorization done for him while you move into your room."
That wasn't perfect but better than nothing.
"That would be very much to my content." Yumeko said and Auric nodded.
If you would follow me then Miss Jabami?" Auric motioned a nearby servant that was standing a few meters apart with his hand and the young Zeltron came and lifted the luggage up.
The small group left an annoyed looking SunTzu behind, his bag to his feet.
Thirty minutes later SunTzu was back at the reception. His room wasn't big but offered more than enough comfort and after putting down his bags, he immediately went for the refresher.
He had even checked the room for bugs, fortunately he hadn't found any before he had left for the reception twenty minutes ago. And now he was waiting for someone to bring him the authorization card to enter the privately owned premises of Stavro onboard the station.
And of course he already had AICA secretly hack herself into the station's systems.
Unfortunately she didn't find much, except that Stavro's security detachment onboard consisted of more than twenty bodyguards. She didn't found any cameras or sensors to hack into though, which probably meant that there was a closed network for those, outside of the station's systems.
Another five minutes later two brawny men appeared and walked to SunTzu.
"Are you the bodyguard of Miss Jabami?"
SunTzu nodded, after espying the blasters under their clothing.
"Follow us please then." One of them said and handed him a lace with the access card.
The two men lead him to the quarters where his access card was checked again. He was also searched for weapons there and accordingly had to leave his pistol behind with the guards there.
SunTzu noticed that there were a lot of patrols and guards on post as well.
No way one of them could sneak around undetected here.
After a few minutes, and realizing that even if he would have been running it would have taken him several minutes to get here from his room, SunTzu was standing in front of the door of Yumeko's room.
"That's Miss Jabami's room." One of the two guards said and then the two men just left him standing there. The next guard post was in visual range though.
SunTzu knocked on the door
"Who is this?" A female voice answered and SunTzu opened the door a crack.
"It's me, Miss Jabami."
"Ah, the bodyguard. Come in please."
SunTzu entered and found Yumeko, sitting on an expensive looking sofa, her black hair was wrapped in a white towel and she was wearing a white wool bathrobe. The dark haired beauty got up as SunTzu entered her luxurious suite.
"Are you okay?" SunTzu asked after the door was closed.
"I am. But I took my shower without you already. Why are you coming just now?"
"Took forever until they gave me the access card."
"I see." She wanted to say something more but SunTzu motioned her to be silent.
He grabbed into the front of his pants and pulled out a small sensor.
Yumeko's eyes widened as she saw that he put his hands into his pants and she expected that he would pull out something else. And she was kind of disappointed that it wasn't what she had been expecting to pull out.
SunTzu began to scan the room while Yumeko walked up and kneeled down in front of him.
"I have to do it all around here!" She said as she began to open his pants.
"What are you doing there, Yumeko? I have to scan these rooms for bugs first." SunTzu looked down the scanner in his hands.
"I don't care if anybody listens in. What happens at the Wheel stays at the Wheel."
A few hours later, a dinner had been set, with both the two finalists, Auric and Stavro. Yumeko's opponent was a human from Corellia called Titucol Mabash and Yumeko had already told SunTzu about him. Pro Gambler, on par with her and Savis Caadras, but more specified in Corellian Gambit, a variation of Sabacc.
SunTzu hadn't been invited to the table, but after an inquiry from Yumeko, at least had been allowed inside the room.
Trying to keep his stomach from growling while thinking about what Master Durron had thought him about austerity while the target person, his right hand man and the two gamblers had the finest of foods wasn't exactly fulfilling him with joy. He tried to shift his concentration away from the food on the table and the way Yumeko absolutely savored her dinner, at least partly just to tease him, and concentrated in the Force to feel out for any bad intentions lingering around Stavro.
Of course the man had a strong mind and it wouldn't be, if any how at all, readable without noticing him that someone was trying to get into his head.
Yumeko, who sat on a way at the table so she could face him without moving her head much, ripped him straight out of his concentration when she ate a fruit that pretty much resembled a cherry from earth.
She took the fruit's stem into her mouth, when she saw SunTzu was scanning the room and when he looked her way she briefly opened her mouth slightly and showed the tip of her tongue with the stem having been knotted by her tongue.
Goddamnit Woman, wait till we're done here and I can be around you again. Oh and after I ate something.
After the dinner the two gamblers and their hosts left for their rooms, SunTzu accompanying the small group and their bodyguards to the reception of Stavro's quarters, hoping that Yumeko was safe here but at this lion den they had to take care to not blow their cover, even if it meant to split up to keep their covers up.
"I'll be at your disposal if you need me, Miss Jabami." He said to Yumeko before he left for the nearest place to grab some food and then head to his room.
After contacting AICA to find out if she had any new Intel, which the AI negated, the Pilot took a shower and went into his bed, suit neatly folded but within reach on the backrest of a chair next to him, the Glock on his nightstand.
SunTzu tried to dose a bit, one eye and a ear open if Yumeko would need him but he couldn't really get some rest in.
Something felt very bad but SunTzu couldn't say if it was a premonition or just his mood.
Having sex with Yumeko until we both collapse completely exhausted into each other's arms at least keeps the bad thoughts away.
The Force-Sensitive worried about Yumeko and was thinking about if his feelings for her were going deeper than for someone he had just an affair with. He genuinely did care for her and he'd say she'd care about him but was there more? Or was it just a lust filled crush on each other of two people that were on a potential deadly mission together?
For what seemed like hours SunTzu rolled uneasily around in his bed.
He didn't even know what time it was when someone banged on his door.
He got up and grabbed his Glock 19 from the nightstand and hid it behind his back before he walked up to the door and opened it a crack.
The beautiful smile of a beautiful black haired woman greeted him.
"You're gonna let me in or not?"
SunTzu opened the door and stepped a step back, so the woman could enter.
SunTzu noticed she was wearing comfortable clothes, while she looked at him just wearing boxer shorts and another small smile formed on her lips, as her gaze wandered down his body for a moment before she looked him in the face again.
"I told them I'll go for a small walk around the station because I couldn't sleep." And after a short pause she threw in a hasty information. "Don't worry, I checked if I was followed around. Those guards even asked me if they should accompany me but I declined."
"Good." SunTzu nodded and put his gun back on the nightstand, which made Yumeko's eyes widden.
"I couldn't sleep as well." SunTzu continued and sat down on the edge of his bed.
Yumeko's eyes moved from the gun to SunTzu.
"Guess we need each other to tuck us in." Yumeko replied and walked over to the sitting SunTzu, stoping in front of him.
He looked up to her.
Even if it's just lust, at least it makes me feel alive…
His left hand grabbed around her and his right hand lifted up her shirt a bit before he started kissing her around her navel and hips while Yumeko closed her eyes and slung her arms around his head.
The next day, noon at the station's time, the final match was scheduled.
Yumeko had stayed a few hours and even got some sleep in before she sneaked out of SunTzu's room, leaving a sound sleeping SunTzu behind.
Before she left the room she looked back at him, not sure if she should have had smiled or felt bad at what he had mumbled in his sleep when she had woken up and moved.
"Can you stay a bit longer, Rei?" He had asked, only his mouth moving, eyes still firm shut, confirming Yumeko's theory about his still strong feelings for the Senator.
The two of them met again later in the morning, when room service just had served breakfast in Yumeko's room.
As soon as they were alone, Yumeko motioned SunTzu to sit down and join her.
"You have to try this. And that caf is so strong and good!" The young woman told her protector.
SunTzu nodded but then looked at her.
"Any trouble when you came back? I have to admit I was a bit surprised to find myself alone when I woke up."
"I thought it would be better to get back to my room, to not make Stavro suspicious. I told the guards at the reception, that I've been wandering the station and played a bit at the gambling machines and then lost time. No further questions asked." She paused for a moment as he was still looking at her. "You were sleeping so deep and seemed so at peace that I simply couldn't wake you up."
She got up and when she passed him on the other side of the table she leaned down and kissed his temple.
"I'll get ready, and then will train a bit before the game starts. You'll help me with that, right?"
SunTzu locked eyes with her.
"Sure thing. However i can."
A few minutes before noon Yumeko, dressed in a black skirt, tights, a white blouse and a red blazer, was on her way to the game table. SunTzu was a step behind her, scanning for any threats.
Before they had left her room he had kissed her gently and wished her the best of luck.
The room the game was held in was full of spectators and the game would also be broadcasted live into the Holonet.
Titucol Mabash had already been waiting at the table and the noble looking, groomed middle aged man played with his chips and smiled as Yumeko sat down opposite of him.
She reciprocated the smile.
"Miss Jabami, i wish we would have met somewhere else than on the Sabacc table." The man said with his low voice which draw an irresistible look from Yumeko towards him.
"Oh believe me my dear Titucol, you don't mind if I call you by your first name, right, I'd wished the same."
For a moment they locked eyes and a few meters behind Yumeko, SunTzu had to persuade himself that this was just skirmish before the game.
"Now, let's get our gambling freak on!" Yumeko than announced and the middle aged man nodded.
SunTzu wasn't anywhere near being something else than an absolute rookie in Sabacc, even though Yumeko had done a splendid job in trying to teach him the nips of the game, but even him understood how close and on an even scale this game was going right now.
It was purely a game of luck as both adversaries neither couldn't break down the other's pokerface, nor their mental defenses to bring the other to the point he would make an error.
Around him the onlookers were glued to the table and from a lodge overlooking the casino even Stavro and Auric were completely drawn to the match.
SunTzu reached out with the Force, at least he couldn't find any harmful thoughts against Yumeko, just a few people wishing for her to loose as they had bet against her, making SunTzu's eyebrow rise up.
On the other side there were people cheering for her, be it because they had put their bets on her or other reasons.
SunTzu reached out to the table. Mabash's mind was completely set on the game.
Yumeko's mind gave away pure joy, she loved this game and what she was doing , fighting a worthy opponent on her battlefield of choice.
SunTzu also felt lust and he had to admit he got kind of jealous when he could sense that it wasn't only reserved for him but also streaming out from Yumeko towards her opponent.
The pilot turned bodyguard took a deep breather and concentrated, trying to sense the feelings of Stavro but he was too far away for SunTzu to properly catch any emotions.
Let's try it the old fashioned way then…
Quietly SunTzu left the Casino and made his way to the private rooms of Stavro, maybe they weren't guarded properly while the magnate was at the game.
A few minutes later and a very careful and sneakily approach SunTzu was already on his way back to the casino again, the guards hadn't left their posts and still were patrolling and if SunTzu would have just entered the quarters with Yumeko playing in the final of the tournament right now, he would have raised suspicion.
Back in the Casino the game still was stalling at a professional level.
SunTzu could sense the growing tenseness in both players, no matter how hard they both tried, they couldn't move their opponent into making a mistake.
Long minutes passed with Yumeko and Mabash taking spoken stabs at each other to no effect.
Through sensing how much pressure the two players felt now and understanding how even this game was, although it was coming to an end, even SunTzu was on the edge.
The Force-sensitive used breathing techniques to calm himself down to keep a cool head and be able to react immediately if any danger for Yumeko should come up.
The match had become a pure battle of will, as both opponents were two of the best Sabacc players in the Galaxy and both were the epitome of professional gamblers.
SunTzu could feel that Yumeko was in ecstasy as the game neared it's forced ending. Another point of pressure for the two gamblers.
Ecstasy was the right word as SunTzu could feel that Yumeko, her eyes sparkling again, was reaching a height of pleasure that resembled an orgasm and he could see how she had to restrain herself to not moan and quiver.
And then it happened, maybe it was his surprise to see Yumeko on her way to climax or maybe it was the pressure, that made Titucol Mabash finally raise an eyebrow after he took an card and even in her current state Yumeko noticed the look he gave the card.
She clenched her fists around the edge of the table as she needed something to hold on to, and then leaned forward and SunTzu noticed that it surely resembled her behavior somewhere else, somewhere way more intimate.
"I wanna see your cards!" She cried out the same way she cried out SunTzu's name when they were fucking and laid her cards on the table, almost gently. It was a middle sized fifteen points.
Reluctantly Mabash laid his cards down as well and everybody and every camera in the room focused in on them.
And in a blink of an eye the room erupted in applause. Twelve points and therefore Yumeko was closer. The game was over, the raven haired woman had won.
And in the moment she saw the cards of her opponent SunTzu could feel how she came. She tried to hide it but SunTzu felt it and maybe, just maybe, he let her know through the Force that he could sense it and used the energy that bound the whole Galaxy together to make it even more intense for her.
After a few seconds she sat down on her chair, completely spent and everyone thought it was purely because of that galaxy class Sabacc game.
With a satisfied smile Yumeko turned to SunTzu who gave her a wink and a smile.
Just to make sure you don't forget who I am and how good I can do you.
Even without the Force Yumeko could feel how proud SunTzu was of her and her smile got bigger with the feeling of accomplishment that flowed through her now.
She got up and leaned over the table to shake hands with her opponent and the two of them exchanged a few words of sincere sportsmanship before Yumeko looked up the lodge and saw Guntram Stavro smiling at her and applauding.
She smiled back at him and bowed slightly down and the magnate turned around and walked away from the railing of the lodge.
A few minutes later the rich industrialist and his right hand man had joined the black haired beauty to congratulate her.
Yumeko was beaming as she talked with the man and SunTzu tried again to sense what was going on with the man but again to no avail.
It was announced that the winner of the championship and the magnate would enjoy a celebratory dinner together. SunTzu would be at least around to keep an eye on Yumeko.
Yumeko enjoyed herself and Stavro was quite the charming and interesting man but he didn't give into Yumeko's tries to get closer to him before tomorrow's game against him and the dinner ended with no progress in their mission. At least her and SunTzu now knew that the game against him would be inside his quarters. To their surprise SunTzu was handed a new key lace with permission to visit Yumeko, apparently her pleading for access for her bodyguard had finally worked.
SunTzu accompanied Yumeko back to her room.
As soon as they were alone and the door closed she pulled him in for a passionate kiss.
"Finally, my victory kiss." She said afterwards as she stayed in an embrace with him.
"That was outstanding Yumeko. This game was crazy. You should be so proud of yourself to kept your guard up under pressure like this."
Yumeko blushed.
"Thank you." She pressed herself tighter onto him. "I'm just sorry, we didn't make any progress with the mission."
"We'll get him after your game tomorrow. Since he told that he wants to play in his private quarters I already have a plan."
SunTzu's stomach growled and Yumeko giggled.
"Sounds you need to eat something. You want me to get the room service?"
SunTzu shook his head.
"It's okay. I have to get some stuff from my room. I'll grab something on the way."
Yumeko nodded and kissed his bearded chin.
"Okay. I'll be here, changing into something more comfortable and put my feet a bit up."
"Yeah, try to relax a bit."
"And you eat well. I'll need you tonight to trump my earlier climax."
A finger appeared on SunTzu's chest.
"I don't know how and what you did but it felt amazing."
After another meeting of two pairs of lips later, mostly initated from her to get that smug grin out of his face, SunTzu was out the door and with a whistle on his lips he walked towards the reception of Stavro's private quarters.
SunTzu was pretty deep inside the station, it was night cycle on the station, sitting on a chair of a food stand and he just had finished a large bowl of some great, spicy Rylothian soup with lots of ingredients, when someone sat down on the chair on his left.
SunTzu didn't pay the person next to him any attention when a few seconds later another person sat down on the chair right to him as well.
SunTzu quickly glanced over and a saw a very well dressed man sitting next to him, somehow he felt that he had seen the face before.
And then it hit him and he looked to his left where the man known as Auric was staring at him and smiled a vicious smile when he saw SunTzu's gaze. The man on his right leaned forward and SunTzu could feel the barrel of a blaster in his back, hidden in view for bystanders under the table.
"Mister SunTzu, you enjoyed your dinner? Mister Stavro wants to see you." Auric motioned SunTzu to move as he got up.
Well, fuck…
SunTzu got up and the man behind him put a jacket over his blaster so it wasn't visible while the barrel was still pointed at SunTzu.
For a brief moment SunTzu thought about to attack the man behind him but when he noticed the half dozen men of Stavro around him he changed his plans. Auric extended his arm towards him and SunTzu snorted and put a hand into his jacket, the barrel of the gun behind him, pressed onto where his liver was, and he handed his pistol to Auric.
SunTzu was lead into the private hangar of Guntram Stavro, the magnate and his around two dozen of his guards already waiting inside the huge hall, which housed two large space yachts.
SunTzu was lead inside and forced on a single chair, his arms were pulled back and tied up behind his back.
Stavro stepped forward and took a look at SunTzu.
The magnate nodded as if he was impressed with something.
"So, you are the One they call Personified War."
SunTzu wheezed again, this definitely wasn't time and place for this but he had to think about Rei when he heard that.
"I get called a lot of things." SunTzu replied with a smug grin and abstained to tell the man that for example his mother was calling him daddy.
Stavro nodded.
"You know, I admire your audacity. Do you really thought that it wouldn't ring any bells if a war hero suddenly turns up as bodyguard of a professional gambler, right when I'm holding my tournament? Next time Galactic Intelligence should send someone who's face wasn't over the news just a few weeks ago. Does Miss Jabami know about it? Does she know that you're just using her?"
SunTzu stared at the man, trying to keep his emotions in check, while he began to concentrate in the Force.
What Stavro just had said, meant that they probably didn't know about Yumeko being part of the GAIS. Maybe he could save her.
"She doesn't know anything." SunTzu said with fake bad conscience in his voice. "She was just means to an end."
Stavro shook his head and what he said, showed that SunTzu was on the right path.
"Such a talented girl and you just use her."
"It's war, you know. And I want to win." SunTzu spat out as answer.
"Oh yes, i do know it's war. This tournament was sponsored by it. Can you imagine how much money I'm making with this war?"
Somehow Stavro's words infuriated SunTzu, probably the man had been supplying both sides already.
"Anyways, since I'm a man of intelligence and not an emotionless monster like you are, I'll make sure that Miss Jabami will know how bad you were after your demise. Don't worry, we won't shot you."
He snapped his finger and Auric, who was standing very close next to him, even a bit closer than it would have been necessary, stepped forward and produced a syringe. Two of the guards appeared next to SunTzu and pressed him onto the chair and Auric leaned down and injected a colorless liquid inside the syringe into SunTzu's carotid.
It was like a hammer had hit SunTzu, the drug worked instantly, his pupils widened and his thoughts became cotton wool. He felt like he could fly, every sensory perception was more intense, and the only emotion he felt was euphoria. He also felt the immense pressure in his chest as his pulse went through the roof. He closed his eyes and glided into the sensation.
Something far, far away reached his ears.
"You just got an overdose of pure MDMA. Just a few moments and your heart will suffer cardiac arrest." A loud laughter was to be heard. "Although I can imagine it will negatively influence her playing tomorrow, Miss Yabami will get to know what kind of low-life scum you are, overdosing on drugs. Low-life, warmongering scum! And people wonder why this Senator you used to be with, left you."
After hearing this sentence something happened in SunTzu. The euphoria was gone.
I… am… not… scum!
The pressure in his heart stopped and it felt like the energy flowed out into his body, his emotions and finally in his connection to the Force.
I… am… not… scum! Personified War or not!
SunTzu's eyes opened agaub and when they did they were brightly glowing yellow. For the Force-Welder time slowed down, absolute power flowing through him and after a moment of concentrating it felt like he was there physically two dozen times, like he was at every guards neck and it was like he did it himself two dozen times, snapping their necks like it was nothing.
Stavro and Auric watched in shock as the guards feel, all of them almost at the same time.
SunTzu ripped his bonds apart as if they were made out of tin foil and stood up, all within the blink of an eye.
He ripped the used syringe out of the arms of Auric, pulled it around and rammed it into the man's neck, right from side to side and through the blood vessels, blood shooting out of the wounds, flooding the man's esophagus and trachea. Auric sank to his knees and tried to stop the intense bleeding with his hands, while SunTzu just walked on, fixing his glowing eyes on the horrified Guntram Stavro.
"I have my reasons to be the Man that I became."
Stavro stumbled and fell as he wanted to get away and SunTzu now stood in front of him, staring down at the man.
"And people like you are one of them." SunTzu raised his left hand and clenched it.
Guntram Stavro felt something In his throat, he couldn't breathe anymore, there was no more air flowing into his lunges.
SunTzu took a last look at the man fighting for his life, knowing that he would die, SunTzu had his windpipe crushed.
While SunTzu began to walk away, just stopping briefly at the corpse of the man who had taken his pistol to retrieve it, a pale, blood smeared, dying Auric crawled over to his suffocating boss and both men's hands met and grasped around each other as life was flowing out of both of them. They died holding hands.
SunTzu didn't look back to them, he still was on a mission. His eyes were still glowing yellow.
Yumeko was getting impatient, SunTzu sure took his sweet time to get back to her room. Well, she had heard how hungry he had been but she had changed into this set of red lace lingerie for what felt like hours already. And the red high heels didn't make things better.
Next time, I'll just stay naked while wait ing for him.
But as she waited she began to think about something else. Did something happen to him? Since her part on this mission had mostly been gambling and therefore something she absolutely loved, it was hard sometimes to not forget that she was on a potential deadly mission.
Suddenly it knocked on her door, three times in rapid succession and she was about to don a robe over the revealing clothes but the the three knocks were repeated and then a set of four slow knocks followed. That was the secret code SunTzu and she had agreed on if he wanted to know if she was safe.
Within seconds she was at the door and opened it and she was startled for a moment.
Outside the whole corridor was dark and the only thing that was visible was a pair of eyes in front of her, giving away a faint glow of yellow.
"Are you unharmed?" SunTzu's voice asked, more serious than she ever had heard it before.
"Y-yes." She asked, partly surprised and not really sure how to act right now but he walked inside, pulled his hands around here and lifted her up into his arms, while he closed the door with his leg.
He kissed her, gently at first, as if he was glad to see she was okay and than more demanding.
Something in his whole being gave away an animalistic vibe about him now while the kissing continued and it immensely turned her on. He was emitting lust although she couldn't say how she actually sensed it.
Their mouths were all over each other's lips, faces and necks as he carried her to the bed as if she was a feather in his arms.
Animalistic had been the right word.
It described how he had taken her yesterday and his lust and passion had rubbed off onto her.
They had fucked for hours and they do had fucked each other's brain out. She was still sore, still feeling him inside her, but she made sure he would not forget this night so fast as well. She was sure the time she had drawn blood from his lip because of her biting had turned him immensely on.
Laying in his arms, having sleept with her head on his muscular chest, Yumeko looked up and saw that he already was awake as well and greeted her with a small smile although his eyes told that he was not exactly happy.
"Good morning." She hushed and kissed his chest.
"Good Morning." SunTzu replied and Yumeko felt a hand gently caress her head but when she looked at him she saw SunTzu was not good.
"What's wrong?"
"I… Yumeko. I... Stavro is dead. Auric is dead. All the guards are dead."
Yumeko's eyes widened although she had been expecting that something had happened yesterday night.
"How? What happened?"
"My cover was blown. They wanted to kill me but their plan backfired."
Yumeko felt a second arm around her pulling her tight onto him.
"I'm glad you weren't harmed. But there is something I have to talk about with you."
"You're leaving." It was a cognition not a question.
"If I stay I'll make you a target. And I can't make you a target. I care too much for you to endanger you."
Both were looking into each other's eyes for a silent moment.
"I see."
"Ada is on her way to get here and I guess the first GAIS Agents are already at the station, securing the private rooms of Stavro. I'll leave as soon as she's here and I know you're safe."
Yumeko looked deep into his eyes for a moment. There was more to that than just her being in danger because he was around. Somehow she knew, she always had known.
"You still love her, right?"
SunTzu nodded slowly.
"I hope I don't hurt you."
"Don't worry." Yumeko forced herself to a smile. "But I hope one day she will understand what she had in you."
His hand wandered from her back to her hand and gently entangled with it.
"I haven't felt this good, this human, this worthy, for a very long time. Thank you, Yumeko."
A hand cupped around his face and a gentle kiss between the gambler and her bodyguard followed before she got up from the bed.
"Care for a last shower together?"
Forty minutes later it knocked on the door and SunTzu, now dressed in his flight suit, opened it.
Two undercover GAIS Agent were outside and he and Yumeko followed them out the room.
"I see you made sure, I was safe." Yumeko commented the three covered bodies around the reception of the private owned part of the station, more GAIS personnel and security forces of the station guarding the entrance.
The two Agents lead Yumeko and SunTzu to the hangar in which AICA was parked and next to AICA an assault shuttle had been landed now.
Ada was standing in front of it, two armored troopers next to her.
She smiled a wry grin when she saw her subordinates.
"If that isn't my new dream team."
As both were walking up to her, Ada nodded to one of the agents and the agents and the troopers left the hangar.
"I'm glad to see you guys are okay." Ada said and SunTzu looked at her.
"I'm sorry, I fucked up."
Ada shot him another grin.
"No you didn't. You're particular mission was a total success. Yumeko is completely unharmed." Apart from some bruises and spank marks I guess, Ada mentally added.
"Than it's my fault the mission was a failure." Yumeko said, looking to the ground.
"Failure? We have all his data. The possibility to nationalize Stavro's docks or at least put someone in charge we can trust. We can seize his fortune."
Yumeko looked at Ada in surprise.
"It's war my dear Yumeko. The death of an enemy is not necessarily a tragedy. Good work you two. It wasn't the outcome we expected but it's a successful one for us nonetheless."
Yumeko was thinking about the twisted, cynical logic behind that and SunTzu leaned into her and whispered into her ear.
"There is no room for morality in war. Just another point why I should go. To keep you away from this madness."
She looked at him for a moment while Ada observed her two subordinates. She understood what was going on.
Too bad, those two would have made a nice couple.
Ada cleared her throat.
"I see you're ready to go." She said at SunTzu and the pilot nodded. Ada looked at Yumeko and sighed.
"Very well then. AICA is ready to go, updated on the newest Intel regarding the fronts and waiting for you. Beware though, she might be still a bit upset, that you didn't tell her immediately that you got caught."
SunTzu smiled, he knew the AI would give him shit for not letting her know earlier but just after he had left Stavro's hangar and after he had told her to contact Ada.
Yumeko and SunTzu looked at each other.
"Uhm, I'll give you two a minute to say goodbye." Ada said and walked away.
"Guess that's it." Yumeko said, after Ada was out of earshot.
"It is." SunTzu looked briefly to the ground.
"I'm glad I met you." He said as he looked back up.
"I am too. Thank you for taking care of me and protecting me."
She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down for a last amorous kiss.
"Until next time then, Captain." She said with a gentle smile after the kiss.
"Until next time, Miss Jabami. It's been my pleasure."
Then he turned around and walked up to AICA, Yumeko following him slowly.
AICA's canopy opened and SunTzu climbed in.
"Hey meatbag, you're in trouble. Be happy that Yumeko is around so that I have to wait until I can give you shit."
SunTzu just nodded while he got ready to lift off.
The canopy closed again and when the repulsor lifts came to life, SunTzu, who had just put on his helmet, saluted at Yumeko which waved at him with a small smile. AICA said goodbye with a small wave of her wings as they climbed up two meters in the air.
Ada appeared next to Yumeko again and waved at the starfighter as well and both women observed how AICA began to head out of the hangar.
"I'm sorry Yumeko." Ada said, with true meaning, when AICA turned around to face the hangar gate.
"Part why he left is because he doesn't want me to become a target." Yumeko replied without taking her gaze away from the departing starfighter.
"That's how he is. He might be Personified War but he always thinks about others first. Just like another someone I know. I saw you already transferred your prize money to a charity organization."
"They transfered it to me immediately after the final game. And I thought it would help refugees of the War way better than me." Yumeko shrugged. "I don't need another three million credits, especially if it's blood money."
Ada smiled, Yumeko had been holding up really well, in the mission and in her believes and values.
"Good, but does the rich gambler mind if I'll invite her to a cup of ice cream? You know against this stupid feelings coming up."
"Only if it has liquor and extra cream on it."
SunTzu was on the way to the jump point, next stop would be the middle of the Shadow War again.
AICA had finished her scolding very fast after she apparently had understood that there had been something between her pilot and Yumeko.
"Don't worry AICA, Its okay, I'm not depressed about it or something. Me and Yumeko parted in a very adult and understanding way."
"Ah yes, for sure. So you're a player now."
"That's not what I said."
"Yeah, yeah. Fucking dark haired Asians, flying pitch black Fresian. On to the next."
Against his will SunTzu, had to smile while he was shaking his head, was AICA trying to cheer him up? And although he kind of felt sad to leave Yumeko, he still didn't felt that heartbroken.
A last time before the jump to hyperspace he took a look into his rear view and the space station, mentally thanking Yumeko for making him feel better.
AICA began to play music in the cockpit while her hyperdrive was about to push them above the speed of light.