Cantonica glittered. Even in a galaxy with so much variety and life, Lorash was shocked by the wealth and power on display. Even the starport landing pad was clean enough to eat off of. She looked down at the package in her hands. Eso had ventured out with Seia several hours ago to shop for clothes that would be appropriate for an evening at the casino frequented by Zul's foe. The note atop the paper made her nervous.
I didn't tell Seia what I was hunting for you. She said she'll arrange transport and pick us up. You can thank me later. -Eso
Lorash sighed. Dithering was going to do her no good. She opened the package, silky fabric as deep red as a ruby slipping between her fingers. "Eso, I can't wear this!"
The pilot was in the cockpit doing a systems check, in case they needed to leave in a hurry. "Why, uh, not?" He flipped a few switches, more focused on the diagnostic panels than Lorash's shock.
"There's not enough of it, for one!" Lorash said hotly, trying to ignore the thought of Seia seeing her in it. She was certain she'd be a comical, panicked, awkward creature.
Eso poked his head out of the cockpit. "Showing skin's the, uh, fashion on Cantonica, Lorash. Trust me, they modulate the climate for it. You'd stick out like a sore thumb if I'd picked something else. Just try it on."
Lorash sputtered, trying to find the words for a rebuttal. "What will Seia think?" she demanded finally. "This is a serious mission! What if there's a fight?"
"What moronic nerf herder would start a fight around, uh, that much private security? Besides, I guarantee Seia will like it." Eso's lips twitched into a little grin. "Trust me."
The padawan knew she should stay practical and humble, refusing this avenue. It led to all kinds of doubts and intemperate thoughts. The siren call of temptation, however, whispered dark possibilities into her heart that made it drum a frantic rhythm in her chest. What could it hurt?
Two fundamentally incompatible goals, following the Jedi code and being with Seia, meant that Lorash was living perpetually without peace of mind. She could capture tranquility for a few moments when she meditated, but it was like water in cupped hands. After her agonizing heart to heart with Seia, things still felt fragile and tentative. The sith hadn't pushed her into anything, saving their moments of closeness for sparring and the occasional touch on Lorash's arm or her lower back. The padawan knew it was Seia's way of respecting Lorash's conflicting emotions and giving her the space to sort out what she wanted.
"Hey, ground control to, uh, Lorash. You okay?" Eso's face creased with concern as he watched her stare at the dress, clearly lost in thought.
Lorash sucked in a deep breath and looked up, chewing on her lower lip anxiously. She wasn't certain which of the dozens of outcomes she was more afraid of. "Are you sure she'll like it?"
Eso smiled. "Pretty sure. I don't know if you've, uh, noticed, but she likes to look your way."
Color flooded into Lorash's cheeks. Really, the only time she'd been aware of Seia's attention fixed on her was the dance with Kherang. The memory of what had followed still made her blush. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The pilot sighed and shook his head, still smiling. "I thought jedi were supposed to be, uh, masters of perception. You really haven't noticed?"
"There's a lot else to pay attention to," Lorash said defensively. "If you knew what it felt like just to be near her, you wouldn't blame me for being distracted."
"Well, uh, pay attention to it tonight," Eso said, giving her shoulder a gentle push. "We only have half an hour. You should get dressed."
Lorash sighed and stood up. It was too late to wriggle out of it. She knew nothing about cosmetics, so she'd be going without there, but she could at least clean up and change. At this point, all she could do was hope that Eso was right. "What about weapons?"
"Scanners would pick anything up," the pilot said. He'd already changed into a nice button up shirt, a stylish vest, and tailored pants tucked into new boots. "I've got Seia's lightsaber pieces disassembled in my holster, uh, except for the crystal. She's keeping that on her. If something happens, uh, we'll be improvising. The handle on yours is too long to do the same."
"It's probably for the best. Someone would recognize it as what it is and then we'd be in serious trouble," Lorash murmured. She actually felt relief at the idea of not carrying the weapon. It meant she wouldn't be expected to use it. Her abilities with the Niman form had advanced by leaps and bounds since the beginning of her training with Seia, but it was a form that needed mastery of Force powers and will as much as martial training. She appreciated the style for its relative gentleness, particularly when compared with the sith's raw savagery, but a lightsaber was still a weapon not lightly drawn.
Lorash padded into her room to change, spreading the dress out on the bed. The fabric was sari-like in style, but with a slit up each side of the skirt and something about the shimmering silk bordered on transparent in places in lace-like patterns. Her arms and shoulders would be bare completely, but honestly the rest of it barely felt more covering. It wasn't the most daring cut they'd seen since they arrived, but it wasn't far from it either. Worse yet, it fit close enough to be a second skin, not at all like the looser clothes Lorash preferred.
She really hoped there wasn't a fight. She doubted she'd be able to pitch in without tearing the fabric.
Lorash wasn't certain what to do with her hair, so she put it back in a single braid. She was clean and presentable at the very least, if still anxious. Mercifully, the shoes Eso found were sandal-style rather than heels, so she knew how to walk in them.
"See? You look great," Eso said when she stepped out, leaning against the wall.
Yyrfh was with him, the wookie clean and well groomed for the first time since she'd met him even though he would be staying with the ship. The engineer gave an approving, almost cooing growl and two thumb-claws up in support.
The padawan blushed slightly. "Thanks." At least she could count on Eso and Yyrfh to have her back. It made her feel less awkward about the entire endeavor.
"Seia's here with a rented speeder. I, uh, let our man know we're coming."
Lorash nodded, nerves redoubling in her stomach. They'd all agreed that the best way to approach an arms dealer with rebel sympathies was through the past business done on behalf of rebel forces. Eso had enough contacts to get them a meeting with the man, but they didn't really know if they were walking into a trap or not. The casino was at least public ground, even if it probably wasn't very neutral given he was a regular. "So what's the plan?" she asked to distract herself.
"I mean, we figure out if he's actually a, uh, rebel. Seia wanted to talk to him if that's the case. If Zul lied and he's actually loyal to the Empire, uh, we shake hands and part ways with some future business deal on the table. I suggested to his aide that we were looking for work and plenty reliable at getting through, uh, blockades."
"Seia wants to talk if he is?" Lorash said dubiously.
"You played much sabacc?" Eso asked. When she shook her head, he sighed. "I think, uh, she's hedging her bets. Getting ready to play against Zul before he can lay too many plans of his own. She, uh, said she didn't want to give him your master. For obvious reasons."
Lorash smoothed out the front of the dress, the knot of nerves in her stomach loosening slightly. The idea of what would happen with Zul and Master Vori still kept her up at night, but she was trying to maintain hope. Seia making any kind of effort to show her master grace gave breath to that tiny, tremulous flame. If the two came to blows…Lorash didn't know what she would do. Master Vori and the twins were the only family she had, but she didn't want to lose the sith either.
We are going to destroy each other.
"You okay?" Eso asked, concern creasing his brow again.
"Just nervous," Lorash admitted, pushing the thought down. "Let's go. Will Yyrfh be okay with the ship?"
Eso nodded and offered Lorash his arm. "Yeah. Security's, uh, real tight on planet and even if they get past it, they'll have to deal with a wookie who's a real mean one with that big wrench."
Lorash linked her arm through Eso's. "You should be careful playing gentleman. Seia might get jealous."
"Yeah, but she, uh, owes me for the dress," Eso confided.
"I thought I owed you for the dress," Lorash said, narrowing her eyes playfully when he grinned. "Playing both sides, Eso?"
"Hey, uh, if it keeps you both happy, is it such a bad thing?"
"I suppose n—" Lorash's words died on her tongue as she stepped out of the ship, sensing Seia's gaze before she saw it. She turned her head to the waiting speeder, a sleek silver closed-cab that was probably more credits even to rent than she'd ever seen. Apparently Eso's exchange of the krayt dragon pearl had gone even better than anticipated.
Seia was standing near the speeder's open back door, eyes flashing orange like coals for a moment as she locked gaze with Lorash before returning to their now normal gold. The sith had switched out her armor for dark pants and a loose white silk shirt left open, a band of dark fabric covering her breasts and leaving her midriff bare. She'd made no effort to cover her tattoos, but had opted for cosmetics: dark eyeshadow and liner that highlighted the intensity of her gold eyes and a small crimson rectangle bisecting her lower lip to cover the last of the healing bruising.
The conflict in the Force around her felt like a fiery tempest as Lorash stepped closer, heat and desire as much as the normal darkness. Lorash shivered slightly when she stepped into the aura, more intense than even their encounter in the cargo bay after the stupid dance.
Suddenly, all her insecurities about Seia thinking she looked like a fool in the dress felt very, very silly.
How is it that you grow more beautiful every time I see you? The rasping of Seia's thoughts seemed more pronounced than before, raising goosebumps down Lorash's spine.
Eso picked out the dress, Lorash managed, letting go of the pilot's arm when Seia extended a hand to her. It was hard not to lose herself in the sith's burning gaze.
It only highlights what is there already, Seia purred in her thoughts. Would that we had the night alone…
The unspoken wishes in that trailing off statement left Lorash feeling slightly weak at the knees, as did the control of Seia's hand on hers. The sith had the strength to crush, but made no use of it, only offered firmness.
"Uh, vine cat got your tongue, Seia?" Eso teased.
"Merely appreciation," Seia rasped, voice just as intense as it had been in Lorash's thoughts.
Their pilot slid into the speeder first, scooting to give them both room in the limousine-like seats. Lorash moved to follow him, hesitating only when she felt Seia's warmth close against her side and back, the hand holding hers tightening slightly for a moment.
"I meant what I said, Lorash." Seia's breath against her ear felt scorching.
Lorash blushed to the tips of her ears. "Thank you, Seia," she said, turning slightly to look into the sith's golden eyes. There was scarcely any distance at all between them now. "I just…I'm not used to anyone thinking I'm beautiful."
"Something we will have to remedy. I would not have you doubt it for an instant." Seia moved back slightly rather than closer, helping Lorash into the speeder before taking a seat at the padawan's side. The sith settled in like a cat, stretching out her legs before crossing them and letting her arm rest along the back of the seat behind Lorash's shoulders. She seemed far more comfortable in this luxury than either Eso or Lorash, but then again, it was Seia. Lorash had yet to see the sith shift awkwardly in a situation.
"You seem, uh, comfortable," Eso commented.
"Not all of my life was spent in the rougher parts of the galaxy or in war." Seia's lips curved into a faint smile, more amusement than any fondness for the memories. "There was a time I was quite comfortable on Dromund Kaas in the Imperial City. Rank had its privileges."
Lorash supposed decadence was to be expected with any sith, though she forgot sometimes with Seia's few stories of her past consisting mostly of violence. "Why did you leave it?"
"The games played there were not to my liking," Seia murmured. "Many were content to let others do the fighting for them, playing their back room politics and intrigues. I resolved I would not become weak and lazy as they had. I wanted to test myself, push my mastery, purge myself of softness through combat."
The padawan was certain that was true, but she doubted it was the whole truth. No doubt Seia's apprentice and master had both played their own roles in her reason for leaving as well. It was hard to sort too much through what was left unsaid when she felt Seia's thumb brush against her shoulder with a feather-light touch.
Eso rubbed the back of his neck. "This is my, uh, first time in this much glam," he admitted. "Just the docking fees here are worth more than my ship."
Lorash's eyes widened. "How much was that pearl worth?"
"Well, uh, it was flawless," Eso said with a grin. "And ancient. And from a greater krayt dragon. Which, uh, made the price point shoot right up." He looked over at Seia. "How'd you get your hands on it, anyway?"
Seia smiled, but there was a tinge of bitterness to it. "The desert is a fine place to train and few foes more dangerous than such beasts can be found. Not that it was a planned hunt. Fortunately for you, my apprentice stumbled across one near its nest. It almost ate him, but I reached the beast first."
Eso's eyebrows shot up. "Didn't know you, uh, had an apprentice."
Seia seemed to choose her next words with care. "It is not a subject I enjoy discussing."
The pilot's voice softened slightly with sympathy, "Betrayal?"
"Yes, though perhaps not as you think," Seia said, her tone guarded. "I would prefer to say no more."
Lorash put a hand on Seia's knee and squeezed, offering silent comfort. The sith didn't react, but some of the hardness in her expression seemed to soften for a moment. Even without sensing, Lorash was aware of the echoes of old pain and a burning anger from Seia, the salt in her wounds stinging bitterly at the reminder.
Eso's brow creased with concern. "Sorry."
"It is in the past," Seia said quietly. "It would be better if we focused on the night ahead. Are you a gambling man, Eso?"
"Nah. Always figured it was a, uh, waste of money."
"Perhaps." A faint tinge of amusement crept into the sith's tone. "I always enjoyed it, but money means little to me. I liked the challenge and the thrill."
Eso shrugged a little. "So let's make a bet," he said, looking from Seia to Lorash. "Might be fun."
"I play to win," Seia warned.
Lorash felt her nerves spike. "I've never gambled," she admitted.
"You'll have, uh, beginner's luck, then," Eso said comfortingly. "Whoever wins most at the tables?"
"What do you want for a prize?" Seia asked.
"Whoever wins gets to make a request of the losers," Eso explained.
Seia arched an eyebrow questioningly. "Do go on."
He glanced at the droid driver, making sure the privacy screen was up. "If I win, Seia has to carry my drunk ass home, uh, and I get to cut something with Lorash's lightsaber."
"You'll hurt yourself!" Lorash protested.
"Not while I'm drunk," Eso said before quickly amending, "Well, probably."
"Not mine?" Seia said with amusement.
"I was, uh, afraid you'd have to kill me or something." Eso pointed at Lorash. "What do you want if you win?"
"You have to do dishes for a week, Eso," Lorash said. It was her least favorite chore on the ship.
"And from me?" Seia asked, catlike smile forming. It sent another shiver down Lorash's spine.
Lorash sucked in a deep breath. "Starlilies and dinner. Preferably without a running battle erupting."
Seia looked amused. "Very well."
"Seia?" Eso said expectantly.
The sith grinned. "You pay for a suite in the casino for this evening, Eso." She glanced over at the padawan, a hint of that smoldering orange back in her eyes. "You owe me a dance, Lorash."
Eso grinned. "Setting yourself up to be a, uh, sour loser, Seia," he teased.
Seia's smile seemed downright predatory, her customary arrogance settling in. "I don't lose."