Somewhere on the Outer Rim 3 (Jheryth)

Jheryth emerged from Olivia's fighter, looking around at the hanger bay he found himself in. The hanger was large enough to hold a couple of fighters, a small shuttle, and the crew assembled to greet the return of their captain. The contingent of armored soldiers snapped to attention when Olivia made her way past Jheryth, walking down the ramp of her ship.

The commander stepped forward, bowing his head with a practiced snap, “Welcome back, Captain. I see we have a guest.”

Jheryth followed Olivia, stopping at her side and facing the man that had ordered his death only a short time ago.

The alluring blond traced a finger down the length of Jheryth's arm, “Jheryth will be joining us. Show him around and get him settled.” Olivia made a show of appraising Jheryth hungrily with her eyes, “I am certain he will fit in quite nicely.” She turned on her heel and walked away, two of the soldiers falling into step behind her.

She called over her shoulder without missing a step, “Grendyl, I do expect you to make sure he feels welcome.”

Grendyl offered only a vicious smile, “I am Quartermaster Grendyl. Welcome to the Rising Tempest.”

Jheryth squared off with the man, returning the gesture with a wry grin, “I am certain the pleasure is all yours.”

They stared each other down, Grendyl calling out “Dismissed.” The soldiers snapped to attention, nodding in unison, then broke formation, removing helmets and talking amongst themselves, ambling out of the hanger.

“Follow me.”

Grendyl spun with a snap of his boots, making his way out of the hanger with precise steps, Jheryth striding behind.

“Not exactly the military exit I would have expected.”

“This is not the military. “ He motions to an open room as they pass by, “This is the galley. Meals are at 0700, 1300, and 1800 hours.”

“Whose army did you serve in?”

“My own.”

“A quartermaster with his own army? I find that hard to believe.”

“The Captain calls me that because she put me in command of her arsenal.” He motions to the upcoming intersection, “To the right leads to the weapons storage, cargo bay, and engine room.”

“Commanding her arsenal is not the same as commanding an army.”

Grendyl grunted in amusement, “Straight ahead leads to the forward guns as well as the bridge.” He hangs a left, continuing his brisk pace. “This way leads to the crew's quarters.”

“You may as well show me to Olivia's quarters. I expect to be spending most of my time there.”

“You will refer to her as Captain.” He passes several doorways before finally stopping, “And these would be your quarters.”

Grendyl grabbed Jheryth's arm, using Jheryth's continued momentum to shove him into the doorway, twisting his arm behind his back and forcing his face into the door with an elbow, “You killed one of my crew. That is not something I intend to forget.”

Jheryth worked his other arm free, using the force to push Grendyl away. He whirled to face him, closing his fist in the air as Grendyl struggled to breathe.

“It is not in my best interest to kill you now. Olivia will be giving me control of this ship. I suggest you accept the new pecking order. She will not have any use for a broken toy soldier.”

Jheryth released his hold.

Grendyl took a few moments, rubbing at his sore throat, regaining his composure, “Everyone on board has a job. The crew have very little experience in fighting a force user. You will be teaching them how. Training is at 0900 hours.”

Somewhere on the Outer Rim (2)

Jheryth came to a skidding halt on the dirt path outside the cantina. He scanned the horizon, growling in frustration. He opened himself to the force, reaching out to catch Vedeti's trail, when he felt the blond watching him. He whirled to face her, lightsaber flaring to life in his hand. She was just leaning against the wall, smirking. She slid her arms up the wall, languidly crossing them above her head, accentuating her curves.

“And she didn't even thank you for your trouble. How impolite.”

Her Imperial lilt struck a nerve, and before he knew it, he leapt at her, pinning her hands above her head with his free hand, his lightsaber poised to strike.

“What exactly did you want with Vedeti?”

The blond purred, “I could care less about her. You on the other hand, “ she shifted her body seductively against his, “you I want.”

Jheryth squeezed her hands even tighter, growling, “I am in no mood for games.”

She hummed a sigh of pleasure, “I am sure we could have all kinds of fun playing together - and I have what you want.”

He switched off his lightsaber, but kept his grip on her hands, “You could not possibly know what I want.”

She leaned forward to whisper in his ear, “I beg to differ.” She moved back enough to look him in the eyes, “I know you want a job.” She rested her head against the wall, smiling seductively, “I want to see if you can keep up with me.”

Jheryth stared back into her eyes, being captured by the swirling gold hues of her light brown eyes. Her hair fanned out against the wall, reflecting the setting sun in a halo. His eyes drifted down her form, finally finding their way back up to her waiting lips.

He let go of her hands, fixated on those luscious lips. He thrust his hand behind her, grabbing a fist-full of hair and pulled her into a deep kiss. She wrapped her fingers in his hair, nails digging into his scalp. After a time, she bit down on his lip in the same spot, drawing blood once again. He jerked his head away in reaction, gaping at her. She leaned forward enough for her breath to caress his lips.

“You can call me Olivia.”

Somewhere on the Outer Rim

Jheryth Chrystopher made his way into the cantina his contact had given him the name and location of. He looked at the few patrons and the bartender, and then down at his own clothes. He sighed and strode to the bar, “I am looking for Captain Vedeti.”

The hulking Gen'dai bartender just shrugged his shoulders, never bothering to look up from the mug he was cleaning.

Jheryth furrowed his brow in frustration, “What do you mean you don't know?”

The bartender looked up at Jheryth, barking out a language that seemed more like grunts and gibberish.

“I have no idea what that means, but I was supposed to meet him here. Do you know where he is or not?”

The bartender just gave a hearty laugh, continuing to laugh as he finished cleaning the mug, setting it upside down on a dowel rod, next to a few other mugs that looked just as 'clean'.

“Fine. Get me a brandy then.”

The bartender looked up, then started to laugh even harder than before.

Jheryth growled, taking a seat on one of the stools, “Ok, ok. Get me anything to drink then.”

The bartender picked up the same glass he had just finished wiping down, and grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a shelf and set them both on the counter. Jheryth reached into his pocket and pulled out an emerald sliver, letting it drop into the waiting palm of the bartender. Jheryth had no sooner opened the bottle and started to pour himself a drink when he felt three figures surrounding him. He placed the bottle down calmly and took a sip from the glass, grimacing with the sting.

“HEY! I'm talking to you! We don't need your kind here, outsider!”

Jheryth shifted slightly, placing his feet firmly on the floor, setting the mug down.

“We don't want anyone else mucking around with Captain Vedeti. You need to shuttle your as...”

Jheryth used the leverage of the bar to spring up, throwing his elbow into the face of the man with the big mouth, using his momentum to thrust his knee into the gut of a wiry human too stunned to react. As the wiry man started to double over, Jheryth dodged backward, narrowly avoiding a wild swing from a huge arm. Jheryth caught the arm, pulling a mammoth of a man off balance, placing a hand on the back of his massive neck and slammed his head into the one that was doubled over. He looked down at the three unconscious men, dusted off his well-tailored armor, and sat back down, using his boot to push away one of the men from the leg of the stool. He was just about to take another drink when he heard the door open.

Jheryth turned around to watch a female Cathar walk across the cantina to the bar, greeting the bartender like an old friend. His time in Alderaan court told him that her flowing trench coat and leather attire were well-made, reinforced, and fashionable. Even the shine on her riding boots would impress the most critical Imperial Commander.

“Grunthar! I hope business is better than your whiskey.”

The bartender greeted her with a toothy grin, “Ho Captain Vedeti.” He spoke a few words to her in that gutteral language and then hooked a thumb in Jheryth's direction.

Captain Vedeti looked over at Jheryth, giving him a critical once over, her brow arched in curiosity, “I hear you are looking for me?”

As the Cathar turned to address him, Jheryth could see the handle of a sword draped across her hip, secured in a leather scabbard. He flicked his eyes back up to her, “You are Captain Vedeti?”

She smirked, “ I know who I am better than you do, and since you obviously have no idea what I'm supposed to look like, I guess you'll have to take my word for it. What do you want?”

“My contact gave me the impression that you were male. Regardless, I understand that you have an interesting business venture, and I would like to offer my services.”

She looked at him, down to the three men on the floor now beginning to stir, and then back up to Jheryth, “You were misinformed. My crew is full. I don't need you.”

“They took offense to my asking about you. I hope they were not part of this crew of yours.”

Before she could answer, the cantina door opened, a half-dozen more thugs piled in, leering at her, some with nets, others with stun batons. The three men that were starting to groan on the floor, scrambled to their feet, pulling out their own batons, scowling at Jheryth, but squaring their shoulders towards Vedeti.

As the group with batons descended on her, she manged to deflect a few swings before one of them landed a blow to her face, sending her reeling backwards into the bar, next to Jheryth.

She leaned against the bar, breathing heavily as she turned to him, “A little help would be nice.”

Jheryth picked up his glass, raising it to her in a toast, “Don't block with your face.”

She scoffed and then looked down at the bottle, “May I?”

Jheryth motioned to the bottle in assent as he took another sip.

She picked up the bottle and swung it around in time to break it against the head of the first ruffian to lunge at her. She managed to disable a few more before a man and woman in armor walked in. The man called a halt. He was well-built, calm in demeanor, and exuding a commanding presence. The woman held all of Jheryth's attention. She was every bit as tall and built as he was, flowing blond hair falling across gleaming armor, large vibrosword strapped to her back, and a wild hunger in her eyes.

Vedeti motioned to the man that entered, glancing over at Jheryth, “To answer your last question, the trash belongs to him.”

The man looked around at the gathering, taking a moment to tilt his head in thought as he regarded Jheryth, then smiled to Vedeti, “Why make all this fuss? You know I'm taking you with me, why make it any harder?”

Vedeti motioned to the woman, “Aww, and your sister was just telling me the other day how you like it rough.”

The man held an arm out to block the blond from rushing forward as Vedeti drew her sword, turning to Jheryth, “Help me out and I'll reconsider your offer.”

Jheryth watched the man punch something into his wristband, and two more armored soldiers entered the cantina, making it an even dozen against the lone Cathar. He stood up, unhooking the lightsaber from his belt.

“That's an awful lot of muscle to capture one girl.”

Vedeti scoffed again, talking out of the corner of her mouth, keeping an eye on the threat before her, “Remind me to be insulted about that later.”

“The Outsider doesn't matter, but Vedeti is taken alive. ENGAGE!”

The two soldiers rushed forward with staffs drawn as the assembled crowd converged on them. Jheryth kept an eye on Vedeti, noting that she handled herself very well. She was just as good with her sword as she was with her mouth. As Jheryth ducked a staff, she rolled over his back, forcing him to react quickly to a baton he otherwise would not have had to worry about. Jheryth thrust his lightsaber through the midsection of one of the soldiers, giving the soldier a nod of respect before he let him fall, narrowly dodging a swing from Vedeti's blade as she took down two of the ruffians with that very swing.

Jheryth watched the blonde draw her blade, licking her lips as she made her way towards Jheryth. Vedeti tried to move to cut her off, but the woman grabbed one of the ruffians and shoved him at Vedeti, cutting her off instead.

As Jheryth's lightsaber greeted her swing, their eyes locked.

Her technique was exceptional, matching swing and parry. She continued to maneuver him away from Vedeti, keeping him isolated. As sword and lighsaber locked again, she pulled Jherth against her, blades close to each others necks, and she kissed him, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood and then jumped away from him. She gave him a satisfied smile and made her way toward the door, the commander following her out.

A few minutes later, Vedeti spun on Jheryth, her sword raised, still breathing hard, finding no one left standing but him.

She lowered her sword, “You lived.”

“I am annoying that way. I guess that means you'll still have to take me along.”

She took a step backwards toward the door, “Oh yeah. I did think about it. I'm still not hiring you.”

Jheryth glowered, “You have got to be joking. I just saved your ass!”

Vedeti started walking backward across the cantina, “And you did that without securing a payment, which makes you gullible,” She waved her sword up and down, “Plus, your clothing.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, “What about my clothing?”

“You're vain, overly defensive, and I don't hire Sith.”

“I am not SITH!”

She pointed her sword at him, “See? That right there. Defensive.” She was at the door now, “See you in the Hyper-lanes, Blondie.”

Jheryth stared at the door in disbelief for a few moments, and then started to stride after her. He had gotten half way there when a strong hand grabbed his arm, bringing him up short. He turned to look up at the bartender, who was keeping a very firm grip, “You no leave. You pay.”

Jheryth looked around at the destruction left by the fight, and then back up at the bartender. He reached into his belt and pulled out a velvet pouch, thrusting it in the awaiting hand of the bartender, “At least get some decent drinks in here.” As the bartender let go, Jheryth rushed out the door.

Because there aren't enough men telling her what to do...

(( Thanks to the player of Jheryth Chrystopher for always being a fun collaborator when it comes to mucking up my characters' lives and just being an all around great husband. :P ))

The crowded pleasure barge hummed with conversation as music throbbed from the speakers and seemingly through the guests who were dancing. The party was in full swing, as the saying goes, and the stunning redhead who cut a path through the throng seemed to gleam from within in her white strapless evening gown. She was searching for someone, and now that she'd spotted her quarry, she made her way toward where he stood at the railing with his back to her.

Jheryth Chrystopher rested his full weight against the railing, one hand propping up his chin, the other holding a glass of brandy that was balancing  precariously on the edge of the railing. The occasional breeze tossed his hair back and forth across his back, revealing how thick and long it really was. As another gust of wind played by, he took a deep breath, catching the scent of the light, distinctive perfume she always wore.  His head turned slightly to the side, the well tailored black suit shifting effortlessly with the motion. Turning back, he rested his arm down on the railing, and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before speaking. “I knew it was only a matter of time until you returned.” 

The assault of noises coming from the party seemed to bend away from his voice, making his words heard clearly.

The raucous party-goers faded from the corners of Aittera's vision, and the music died away. She knew without looking back that the barge was now empty save for herself and the white-haired man before her. She stepped to the railing beside him with a wry chuckle and took the glass from his hand to take a sip. "I suppose it makes a certain kind of sense - dreaming about you again after seeing you at a couple of these parties."

As the glass slipped from between his fingers, he turned to face her. That green energy flashed across his eyes, revealing an intense seriousness that the wry grin on his face did not reflect. “This must be of your doing. I would not dream you in such a place.” 

He moved his hand away from the railing, motioning down the length of her body before falling to rest at his side, “You wear that halo of yours very well.”

She looked down to take in the beaded, shimmering white material that wrapped around the curvature of her voluptuous form and lifted a reproachful glance back to Jheryth's face. "If the party barge is my doing, this dress is obviously yours," she chided, and a sudden thought occurred to her. "The green dress in the woods - that was you too. Just how long have you been stalking me in my sleep?"

His eyes flashed again, and he turned away from her, staring out over the skyline, “Of course I must be the monster. How else could you absolve yourself if it were you who sought out my company?”

Aittera smirked. "Aww...feeling the martyrdom vibe, are we?" She was not about to let him play the victim card with her. It was beneath both of them. "So, if you're not doing this, and I'm not...who or what is?"

He spun around to face her, his face set, growling, “I DON'T KNOW!” He took a breath, avoiding her eyes, looking around at the surroundings, his right hand clenched. “What we do know of already, it would seem we both are.”

She flashed him an angry look. "Don't be melodramatic. What the hell are you yelling at?"

Jheryth looked back at her, pain written on his face. “I have a lot to be angry about! How dare you presume to know what I'm feeling?” He glared at her. “I am glad to see that your time with him has hardly broken your stride!”

Aittera rolled her eyes at him. "You have a lot of nerve! It's not my fault we're in each other's dreams! Why the hell are you yelling at me?"

"It is amazing how lucky you are. You saunter in here like you haven't a care in the world. Tell me, did you enjoy your stay with Lord Ragious? Because you do not even have a scratch to show for it!”

That hit a nerve. The storm that suddenly shook the air around them in the dreamscape dumped buckets on them as she threw a fist toward his face in a sudden rush of anger.

He rolled his head back with the punch, avoiding a broken jaw, thrusting an open palm towards her rib cage.

Thankfully, the rain had already rendered the beaded evening gown slick, and Jheryth's palm slid over it, reducing the impact and propelling his hand off toward her side. It slowed her momentum though, diminishing the power she put into a follow-up jab to his gut. 

He let out a grunt as her fist landed, the drenched suit offering no protection. He swung his fist under her extended arm, aiming for her kidney, but the telegraphed punch was easily avoided with a quick step to his side, where Aittera sent a kick into the back of his knee.

He felt his knee give way, and he let himself drop down to both knees, Force reflexes already bringing his hands up to meet her swing, aiming both hands to grab hold of her arm. Trying to throw the matted hair out of his eyes with a flick of his head as he looked up at her, he raised his voice over the rush of wind and rain. “Aittera! Look at me!”

She was about to wrench her arm from Jheryth's grasp, but stopped to shoot a look of pure rage at his face. Blinking the rain from his eyes, his hair was a tangled, dripping mess, some of it plastered to his face. He kept a firm grip on her arm, keeping his senses alert for another attack. “He were are, fighting each other – and he's out there, laughing at us! I did not lie when I said you got off easy. I've watched him utterly destroy someone I care about. Twisted her mind, broken her, made her a true pet. Complete with her own cage, whoring her out. She's so broken now, she's just accepted that's who she is!”

The rain was gone as quickly as it had come, though the storm clouds remained, and she was backing away from him with the look of someone begrudgingly conceding a point. "You mean the slave."

He let go of her arm, picking himself off of the ground, "Her name was Renn'a. She was someone I care about. He destroyed that person when I abandoned her to save her sister. And what she went through was far worse than what you or Renn'a had to endure."

"You know there's no record of a sister, right?"

Jheryth nodded. "I am very much aware of that. I have been trying to look into it, but have made no headway. Without ever having met, they share the same last name."

Aittera fixed him with a dubious expression. "Dawes is not an uncommon last name. Sounds like you're reaching."

He smiled calmly back. "That would be a valid point if they were not identical. She believes Kiabe intended to use that fact to replace Renn'a with her to spy on Ragious."

"Wait. Back up. I think I'm missing a few puzzle pieces. Twins? And what does Kiabe have to do with any of this?"

His eyes sparkled with a soft green glow and he folded his arms across his chest. "Of course you are. Until last week, the only two people who knew Will'a existed were Kiabe and myself, and I worked very hard to keep her identity a secret." He looked down at his soaked clothing.

"I guess it's time to start talking then. Who is Will'a to Kiabe?"

Jheryth closed his eyes, concentrating as he lowered his arms to his side. After a few moments his suit melted away, being replaced by a green terry cloth robe. He opened his eyes and looked at her, smiling in satisfaction. "That's better."

Aittera rolled her eyes and stalked back to the railing, folding her arms to rest against it, looking up at the storm clouds. In spite of the rain that had poured on them earlier, she was completely dry, her dress unaffected. Dream or psychotic break, it wasn't her that needed to put on a show. "Are you going to give me a straight answer, or do I need to wake up and hunt you down?"

He sighed as he joined her at the railing. "Of course, Aittera." He looked out at the horizon as he spoke, keeping his face passive. "As I understand, Will'a would have been a tool for Kiabe to use. Allow me to expound on the question. Will'a had been a guest of Kiabe's torture room for about a year before I rescued her."

A hushed expletive left her lips with a look of disgust. "How did you find out about her?"

Jheryth continued to keep his face passive as he spoke. "Completely by accident actually. I was summoned to Kiabe's estate for business. I do not believe she expected me to find out about her. When I happened to see her on a security monitor, I destroyed anyone who attempted to keep me from leaving with her. Leaving Renn'a where she was, and keeping off Ragious and Kiabe's radar was the only way to keep them both safe."

"That explains why you disappeared for so long, I suppose. Why is she wandering around Nar, asking my boyfriend to arrange a meeting with Renn'a if you're trying to keep her off the radar?"

"Because she asked me to give her the truth about her imprisonment, not because she was fully ready, but because Kiabe has found her. I told her it was unwise to seek out her sister, but she is determined."

Aittera nodded with a slight scowl. "That'll be a disappointing family reunion for her."

"I am inclined to agree with you. I am also certain that should she accomplish that, then Ragious will learn of her existence."

"You think he'll decide he wants a pair?" She smirked at her own double entendre.

"As sick and twisted as he is, how could he resist?"

"So, what are you going to do about it?"

Jheryth turned to her with an evil glint in his eyes. "Kill them both."

"Good luck with that." 

"I despise everything they are. For all that power they have, they pervert themselves by preying on the weak. They use dirty, underhanded tactics to get what they want. They have hurt people that I care about. Even Will'a understands that the only way to be safe is to kill them. That is my stake in this. You at least deserve the truth, though I'm willing to bet you do not want to hear the rest of it."

Aittera's expression became hardened, and she kept her gaze fixed to a point on the horizon. "I don't care."

"Only one of us is going to speak the truth. I do not blame you. I had hoped I earned at least that much."

Had he? She supposed she owed him something for giving Selus the security codes to the Avenger. "The truth is I can't help you."

Jheryth looked at her with tenderness. "The truth is you would rather run than stay and fight. It does not matter how many others he hurts, as long as it is not you. If that is your position, at least have the courage to admit it."

Aittera growled low, clenching her fists where they rested on the railing. "It's not. My hands are tied. If this was my call, I'd still be going after him like gangbusters until the bastard is dead."

"I truly apologize. If I had not given him the means to rescue you, perhaps this conversation would have gone differently."

"Oh sure. You'd be having this conversation with a dead woman. I bet that'd be useful."

"You misunderstand. I had intended to get you out myself. I chose to give that information to Selus instead."

"You'll understand if my confidence in Selus's abilities overwhelms any I might have in your own."

"His confidence in your abilities seems lacking."

"Kriff you." Aittera spun to face him, the storm raging in her deep blue gaze as intensely as it had assaulted the dreamscape around them. "Do you really think that coming to me with this self-righteous spin on things is going to sway me or get me to help you? You really think I'm so blind as to not see that you're just as selfish and self-serving as you ever were? You saw a girl who looked like the one you lost to your rival on a security monitor and ran to her rescue. What if she'd been a common soldier or a captured Jedi you had no personal stake in? You were already doing business with a damn Sith known for her cruelty and viciousness, Jheryth! I may have shed my ideals for a more realistic view of the universe, but at least I don't pretend to be something I'm not!"

He met her gaze without flinching. "That is why I gave the information to Selus."

"Exactly. That's exactly why I didn't choose to walk away from my partner and best friend for you, and it's why you don't get to criticize him or his influence in my damn life. You forget that I have as much intel on you as I do on Ragious, and all I see are similarities. The only loyalty either of you have is to yourselves and your own self interests. The idea of putting someone else's interests ahead of your own for no other reason than loyalty or honor is a foreign concept." 

She cast about for a way to end the dream, finally settling for walking toward the pleasure barge's exit without waiting for a response. 

Moments later, she was seething as she sat up in the still unfamiliar surroundings of her new flat on Nar Shaddaa.  

The Death of Jheryth Chrystopher

Jheryth defended himself from the crowd of attackers he had gathered. He was surrounded, barely able to deflect the onslaught of blaster fire, not able to find the advantage on any one target. He saw Aittera closing the distance between them, determination set on her face as she tried to her best to land a shot, squeezing the trigger as quickly as her blaster could manage. He made his mind up then, using the force to hurl himself at her. He thrust his saber forward, stopping just in front of her. A sensation like nothing he ever felt, burned in his chest. He looked down between the two of them, seeing his saber in her hand, the blade illuminating the point where it protruded from his chest. He looked back up at her, noting the emotion swirling behind her eyes, but not understanding, as she seemed to fall away from him.

 A kaleidoscope of colors burst in his vision, and he threw his arms around her shoulders to steady himself. He saw the crystal blue waters of her eyes, feeling a cool breeze caress his face, the smell of sea mist filling his senses. She watched as his eyes dawned with clarity, like he received an answer to a question. He touched his lips to hers, then fell to his knees. She watched as a simple smile spread over his lips. And then he laid himself down and was still. She shut her eyes, refusing to show any emotion, letting the saber hilt fall out of her hand, clattering to the ground. She opened her eyes and walked away. She was dimly aware of someone asking what to do with the body. Some else replied, "Leave him with the rest of the trash." And the crowd dispersed.

Several minutes later, a young woman moved into the street from the shadows, her hood sliding further down around her face as she looked down at her former master. She found him exactly as she expected. She knew he told her this was to happen, but she let a tear fall for him anyway. She removed a burial cloth from the pack on her shoulder. She held out her free hand, lifting his body, and willing the cloth to wind its way around him, making a conscious effort to make his arms fold up around his chest. She lifted him higher, then laid him over her shoulder, letting his way sink down upon her. This was her burden to bear...

She lowered him into a boat, waiting on the shore of Alderaan's east coast. She arranged him on the boat, bright orange locks escaping her hood, falling down against her check. She removed an oil lamp from her pack, lit it and placed it on his chest, between where his hands were folded. She let the current pull the boat away, watching as it moved itself further out on the current. She motioned her hand, and the oil lamp broke, setting occupant and boat ablaze. She watched the flames spread quickly, feeling the breeze tug at the loose strands of her hair. She heard footfalls in the sand.

 She looked down as a young boy looked up at her, a mane of long red hair falling down his back as he stared up at her. "Where is my father?" 

She stared into those piercing green eyes for a moment, then looked back out at the water, the boy turning his head to follow her gaze. The wake of the sinking boat reflected an emerald green glow, then faded and the spot returned to it's normal color, becoming as still as if nothing had happened upon the surface. 

"Your father cannot be with you now. Come with me, and I will tell you everything about him."

Jheryth's eyes flew open. The stone he was levitating burst, spraying pebbles across the meditation room. His heart was beating fast, but an eerie calm settled over him. He had to blink twice to get those blue eyes out of his vision. He looked up to see his tactical officer crossing through the doorway into the room.

“My lord. Decker has found something that you will want to see.”

Jheryth blinked again, trying to process what he had just seen, “How is she?”

His tactical officer looked wary, but spoke with confidence, “We have lost track of her my lord. Our sources confirm that she is unharmed.”

Jheryth nodded and then rose, motioning for his officer to lead the way. He followed, making his way to the conference room, where large computer station stands where the table would be.

Decker swiveled around in her chair, her lekku twitching with excitement, “My lord! You will not believe what I have found. You have to see this!”

Decker tapped a few keys, and the holo-screen came to life, showing the aftermath of an attack an archaeological dig site. A reporter was interviewing a Jedi Sage.

“...it has still not been confirmed, and the attack and theft of the datacron does not lead credence to it's existence. The Aether Axiom is still a myth, and will remain a myth....”

Jheryth tuned out the drone of the Sage, looking at Decker, “There are very few who haven't heard the myth. It doesn't sur...”

“My lord, “ Decker interrupted in her excitement, “I know. Even us thieves have heard of it. It's like the ultimate treasure! I also found this.” She tapped a few buttons, and the screen switched to a bunch of different websites.

Jheryth looked at the screens blankly, “Ok, what am I looking at?”

Decker motioned to the different screens, “Well, to you it's a bunch of random stuff, but to someone like me, it's a trail. Someone's got that datacron, and they are making it known. Hopefully I can track 'em down.”

Jheryth nodded, “Keep me updated.” He turned to his tactical officer, “Aven, keep an eye out for her. Let me know when she resurfaces.”

Chrystopher Legacy-Chapter 4: Chaos

Jheryth watched the man become semi-solid in front of him. “How is this possible?”

The man smiled, “It is by no means easy, but it is something you have encountered before. You remember the young twi'lek, apprenticed to your enemy. What was her name? The blue one.”

Jheryth cocked his head to the side, processing this information, “Temivi?”

“Yes, that one. So you see, there are those of us who can remain, even after death.”

Jheryth looked at him accusingly, “So you mean to possess me?”

The man's smile faltered slightly, “Of course not. Let me properly introduce myeslf. I am Na'ethyn Jadett. I am your ancestor.”

Jheryth quirked a brow, “My ancestor?”

Jadett nodded, “The Chrystophers were once Jadetts. Politics and alliances shift, as you know. I myself became disillusioned with the Empire, so I broke ties.
Apart from the Empire, I became even more powerful. Others learned of this power, and and tried to take it for themselves. I destroyed anyone that came after me, so it was made to look like I was a threat to the Empire. As more people aligned themselves against me, I knew it was time to hide my knowledge, preserve my legacy, so one day a true Jadett would reclaim it!”

“What about the Chrystophers?” Jheryth inquired.

Jadett scoffed. “The Jadetts ran like rats - trying to distance themselves from the political backlash - assuming that the tide would turn against them as well. They went so far as to forsake their own name. They wormed their way onto Alderaan, jostling and marrying into nobility where they could. You are the first force-sensitive the Chrystophers have produced in ten generations!”

Jheryth shifted his weight from one foot to the other, absorbing this information, still wary. “So why haven't you been more present? Been my master instead of leading me to Korriban?”

Jadett motioned to the crystal hovering above the dais, “My essence is stored in that crystal. It keeps me anchored to this existence. However, I am only an echo of what I once was. I can watch you with little difficulty, but manifesting takes a lot of energy. I can also monitor things from this computer station. When I found out that a Chrystopher had been accepted to the Academy, and then expelled, I knew you were the one I needed.”

“Needed?” Jheryth asked dubiously, folding his arms across his chest.

“Yes! To reclaim my legacy! Bring the Jadett name back. To make the universe fear us! Take the power I'm offering you. We can make the universe tremble. After everything I've done for you, you still don't trust me?”

Jheryth narrowed his eyes at the apparition. “No.”

He lunged at the crystal, grabbing it with both hands. It showered the room in green light, energy traveling down through his arms into his chest....

Chrystopher Legacy-Chapter 3:Discord

Jheryth bolted upright, breath coming in ragged gasps. The smell of a very familiar perfume seemed to fade from his consciousness as he registered his tactical adviser's voice blaring at him from the ships's comm system. "M'lord, we have arrived."

Jheryth closed his eyes, willing himself into calmness before answering. "Where are we?"

"Alderaan, m'lord.", his tactical adviser responded, with some surprise in his voice. "You have appointments to visit your businesses here."

"Alderaan", Jheryth repeated, trying to clear the clouded state he found his thoughts to currently be in. He'd been very focused and calm the past few years.

"M'lord?", his tactical adviser queried with some concern. Jheryth could feel the force whispering to him, pulling his focus to his forest clearing.

He threw off the covers and sprang out of bed, "Change of plans." He got dressed and made his way to the cockpit. "You and Decker go check in, give my blessing and then take some time off." He handed them each a cred stick, "Take me to my clearing. I'll call you when I'm ready."

An hour later, Jheryth stepped out into the clearing, slung his pack over his shoulder, and narrowed his eyes at the spot at the edge of the clearing where the stranger appeared to him twice in his life. He pursed his lips in dissatisfaction and then scoffed to the air, "Destiny?" He growled in frustration and made his way into the forest.

The forest closed in around him, becoming so thick he had to draw his saber to cut a path through for himself. A half day worth of traveling brought him to a mass of hanging vines blocking his way. As his saber sliced through, the vines cascaded to the floor, revealing the crumbling remains of a stone wall. He worked his way past the wall, stepping into what appeared to be a secluded clearing, much like his own, except much larger. The trees grew so thick, the clearing was covered in a canopy of foliage, leaving the area in perpetual twilight. He picked his way through, stone and leaves crunching under his boots.

He made his way to the center, surveying the area. Based on the remnants of walls and bits of foundation jutting from the ground, what once stood here was impressive in size. He took a slow, deep breath and closed his eyes. Starting a slow rotation, he watched the scenery move in his mind, until something caught his attention. He stopped and opened his eyes.

Before him was part of a wall, partially covered by undergrowth. He moved closer, narrowing his eyes, absorbing every detail. The wall appeared to be one of the largest standing pieces of the ruins. He brushed back the dust and foliage, and a strange thrill ran through him as his fingertips moved across the rough stone. He cleared as much away as he could, tracing his fingers along the surface, stopping on a small inlet that pulsed with a green shimmer. Smiling to himself, he pressed down on the inset and stepped back as a hiss of stale air escaped from underneath the wall, heralding the rough sound of stone moving against stone.

A large piece of the wall sank down and away, pieces of the wall and earth crumbling down the newly exposed stairway that greeted him. As he started his descent, the wall started its return to its steadfast vigil, dropping more bits of rubble and earth down upon him and the stairway. Jheryth reached out with the force, using the glow of his saber to light his way, making for the end of the stairs. Taking a couple of cautious steps forward, overhead lights flickered to life, illuminating the corridor he was now standing in.

He followed for a way, and a few turns later the corridor opened up into what could be described as a rather well-furnished bunker. The circular aspect of its design, as well as the orderly way each living area was arranged had a familiar appeal. What held his attention most readily was the circular computer station, and the most beautiful emerald that hovered at a dais just beyond that, suspended in a shaft of green light.

Jheryth moved forward, skirting the computer, entranced by the emerald. He heard a voice whipering to him, "...take it..." He reached his hand out to take the emerald, and as soon as his hand broke the plane of light, the computer station came to life, announcing that his DNA had been confirmed. He pulled his hand away quickly as the holo-terminal erupted in green beams of light that fanned out, forming the shape of the mysterious stranger that knew so much about him. The silky male voice that came from the holo-image was unmistakable. "I have been waiting for you for a long time. Welcome home."

Picking up the Pieces, cont'd

"Go ahead. Shoot."

Aittera's vision was filled with the vibrant green eyes that spoke the dare behind the challenge as he took another step closer so that the blaster's barrel was pressed lightly against his chest. The scent of him - after-shave, the barest presence of a cologne that mingled well with his natural musk - hung in the air between them, drawing her further in. She could feel the heat of him, the barely contained desire to touch her, and the weight of his hand as it came to rest on the top of the blaster with the barest brush of his fingers against her hand.

She hesitated. Her instincts failed her as they wavered between a very real sense of danger and an equal portion of yearning. The recent dream swam to the forefront of her mind to taunt her with the time spent in the light of the dying fire. If she could just bring herself to squeeze the trigger, she could be free of this moment and the influence of that emerald gaze that dared her to give in to the inexplicable passion between them.

Her hand was at the back of his neck, pulling him into a heated kiss. He swept her into his arms and held her body against his as the blaster fell from her gun hand.

Time stopped.

The spell broke as their lips parted, and she took a step back. There was a new, deadly element in her demeanor as she recovered and glared at Jheryth. "Leave. Now."

Her shotgun was in hand before he'd cleared the hangar entrance, and she turned with a furious growl to loose shot after shot at the large cargo containers that had been waiting to be loaded. The smell of burning plastoid rose from one of them as her shotgun jammed, and she threw it forcefully against the far wall.

The fire suppression system kicked on, spraying the smoldering crate with white foam, while she stalked to a stack of smaller crates and picked up one after the other, hurling them against the closest wall. Several of them broke open on impact, spilling their contents - mostly food and dry goods - onto the floor as they landed, a tirade of expletives in a smattering of languages accompanying the act.

Later, after convincing dubious security personnel that she'd had a weapon malfunction with a great deal of smooth talk and a credit voucher passed between hands, she sat down heavily on an undamaged crate to survey the damage.

She could still taste him on her lips.

A not-so Quiet Drink ( How Aittera met Jheryth )

Aittera looked around her at the destruction in the hangar where the Devious Hope rested as she reflected on the first time she'd met Jheryth Chrystopher several months before.


Aittera was sitting in a small cantina in the back of a casino on Narr Shadaa's Promenade with her third or fourth drink in hand. She'd chosen the brightly lit and garishly colorful venue, because at this time of the evening, it was mostly empty as the larger, more well-known places drew the heft of the gambling crowd. This was the kind of place that filled up later, after the bigger prizes were doled out and the parties were over. 

She'd been feeling anti-social, and in spite of the sounds of slot machines and the canned music from the speakers overhead in the ceiling, this was as close to a quiet drink as she was likely to find on the Promenade. She could've gone elsewhere, of course. There was no lack of seedy dives on the Smuggler's Moon. However, she had a meeting later, and convenience trumped...well, anything else, really. She'd felt a slight tickle at the edges of her perception since she'd landed, and it made her eager to get business wrapped up so she could leave.

As a rule, she relied on her gut, but this was very different. It wasn't the feeling she got when she knew she was being watched, for example, or when something dangerous was about to happen. Instinct and sharp reflexes were the cornerstone of her ability to stay alive in spite of her tendency to put herself into situations she shouldn't be able to walk away from. This was more like something that remained just out of focus, but hinted at a kind of feeling a child might get when reaching for the stove in the moment before his mother smacks his hand. The more she tried to analyze the feeling or figure out what it was, it darted away and left the question as to whether or not it was there at all.

She knew her luck, though. It was there, and whatever that sense was indicative of, it would not be a good thing. What was worse was that she'd be the idiot reaching for the hot stove.

"Just a brandy, please."

The voice had come from a little further down the bar, and she was roused from her thoughts at the same moment that little tickle became a magnetic pull. What struck her first was the vibrant green gaze that was fixed on her with intense contemplation. Immediately, she liked and hated the way he was watching her, taking her measure, smiling with an unnerving confidence that mirrored her usual brazen cockiness. His white hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail at the back of his neck, and the suit that framed his muscular six foot form was easily worth more than she'd made in the past six months. 

The air between them was electric, and she could have easily focused on that save for the mental image of the hand and the stove top. Her gut was finally weighing in, and it was screaming danger. 

He started the short exchange of bantering and flirting that followed as they spent the better part of the next hour in the usual dance. He bought her a drink. She gave him a hard time for being so pedestrian as hitting on a woman at a bar. He insinuated. She deflected. In any other circumstances, she would have been enjoying it, but damned if that stove top wasn't beckoning. There was a flow to it that was just so easy that she was tempted to stay and blow off her meeting to see where things might lead. 

And then, she noticed the lightsaber hilt on his belt.

With a final witty jab, she got up and was halfway to the door before he came up from behind her, asserting that he'd at least earned her name. When she turned to respond, he was close enough to her that she was in his space, and the draw had somehow felt even stronger. 

Looking up into his face, she saw it there - he wasn't creating that magnetic pull, he was experiencing it too. She leaned forward as he bent his head forward, and she whispered something in his ear. It wasn't her name, but it would surely stick with him long after she'd left, and it was distraction enough that he didn't notice that his jacket pocket was a little lighter as she turned to walk away.

Picking Up the Pieces, cont'd

Jheryth stirred, his arm instinctively reaching out for something. He became dimly aware of the empty space under his arm, and the cool dampness of the grass. He opened his eyes, sitting bolt upright, looking around. He was still at the campsite, the sun was rising, and he was alone. He blinked his eyes, absently rubbing the scruff of his chin. He filled his lungs deeply, certain he could still smell her perfume. He could see her face so clearly in his mind. It felt so real, he was certain she was really here.

Or was.

He shook his head, chuckling to himself. If it was his dream, he was amazed at how beautiful she looked in that green dress. He contemplated having one made the next time he was at a marketplace. The dream was so intense, it still hadn't begun to fade as he started to pack up the campsite. There was something important about that dream, instinct screamed it at him, he just could not piece together what exactly that was.

He pulled his comm out from his backpack, placing it into his ear and pressing the call button, "Good morning you two. It's time to go. I've found what I was looking for." Jheryth pulled out a green holocron crystal, made of pure Emerald, in just the perfect shape for his lightsaber. He rolled it around in his fingertips, admiring it, before placing it back into his backpack. He finished getting dressed and packed up the campsite. He could feel the wind stir from the wake of his ship.

He looked back, across the ashen remains of the campfire, "She would have been standing right there."

Chrystopher Legacy- Chapter 2:Introductions

Chapter 2: Introductions

Jheryth felt his lightsabre fly off from his belt a moment before he felt an unfamiliar presence at the edge of the clearing. He turned in the direction of the invader, standing to his feet in one motion. He saw the blade of this lightsabre ignite, hovering in mid-air, casting a faint glow against a blurry figure. He moved cautiously towards the strange visage, stretching out with the Force to gain any information about this new threat. The closer he got, the more solid the figure became, revealing a humanoid shape just barely taller than his own six feet, though not as broad. The stranger was clothed in green robes with black trim and odd symbols. Jheryth kept his focus more on his lightsaber, ready to react, taking into account the sleeved arm hovering over the handle. An older voice, strong and commanding, emanated forth, having a very strong and unfamiliar accent, "A well constructed lightsabre. Very classic design. That part is very curious, though perhaps not very surprising." Jheryth remembered hearing the voice not to long ago.

The man lowered his hood, the green glow of his eyes revealing stark white hair and a face very similar to his father's. "When I found you in this clearing, five years ago, I had very high expectations." Jheryth narrowed his eyes, studying the man's face, his hand twitching slightly, wanting to grab his saber. The body of the man shimmered in the moonlight, his eyes seemed to arc green tendrils of energy from his pupils outward. "What are you?", Jheryth asked softly, awed and intrigued by the power of the man before him. A wicked grin spread across The man's lips as the green energy in his eyes sparked more intensly, "What I am is not of real consequence. Who I am to you, and if you can live up to those expectations, that is the real question." He motioned his hand along the saber's projection, "I see you chose a red color crystal. How common." Rage contorted Jheryth's face, grabbing his lightsabre, "I am a Sith Lord!" As he swung his sabre, the man calmly put his hand up, creating a barrier that held the swing in place, "I've heard that mantra that you chose, and you're going to cling to belonging to the Sith? You don't fit in. Not with Jedi. Or Sith. You could care less about the Empire, and even House Ulgo has disowned you." Jheryth starred in disbelief, turning off his sabre and attaching it back to his belt, "How do you know this?"

The man smiled for the first time, "I know a great deal about your family, and what they truly come from." He motioned a hand towards the clearing, "This place that you claim as home, this clearing, this forest, it is not by chance. It already belongs to you. If you want to know who you are, and what you could become, then find what I have left here for you. You will find what you really belong to." The man became translucent, then faded away in a green mist.

Chrystopher Legacy Chapter 1: Echoes of the Past

Chapter 1: Echoes of the Past

Jheryth opened the bay doors on his fury class starship to reveal a small forest clearing. He slung a survival pack over his shoulder and turned to address his small crew, "Head to house Thul, you should be received well. Enjoy some time off. I shall contact you when it is time to leave." His crew nodded and made their way back to the cockpit. Jheryth stepped out into the forest, hearing the door hiss close and the thrusters warm up. He turned and watch his ship and crew take off.

He turned back to the clearing. He placed a hand on a hearty tree, like a friend gripping the hand of an old friend. He marveled at the strong brown bark, having a distaste of the Hydenock trees that Alderaan was famous for. He ran his hand along the bark, then rubbed the dirt into both hands.

His thoughts and emotions spun around in his head. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, slowing down the personal onslaught he was feeling. Knowing it all must come to the surface, feel it all, put all his thoughts in their place.

He took another deep breath, centering himself, letting the forst fade away, his mind's eye pulling up the memory of his parents. He remembered how pleased they were when he was identified as force-sensitive, that a Chrystopher was to be trained as a Jedi. Jheryth's brow furrowed as the scene was replaced by the look on his parents faces when he returned from the Acadamy. Having to tell his parents that he was kicked out of the Academy. Their looks of disappointment, disdain, and rejection. Jheryth watched his former self, taking a few personal belongings and a survival pack, walking out without another word to his parents.

Jheryth opened his eyes, surveying the clearing, watching the shadows slowly creep across, heralding the coming nightfall. He set his pack down against an old log, the clearing having the look of a well-used campsite. He pulled out a few things from his pack, arranging a few cooking tools, sleeping bag, and a flint stone. He stood, looked around, and moved about the clearing, picking up some bits of wood and kindling. He thought back to the long walk from his parents estate, living off the forest, wandering for weeks, loosing all sense of time, until he found this very clearing. Without the slightest trace of civilization, he claimed this clearing as his own.

He made his way back to the campsite, set a fire going, then sat down on the sleeping bag, just starring into the fire, watching orange embers drift into the night. He couldn't fight the grin spreading across his lips as he thought of auburn hair and green eyes. He tried to recall any other woman he had been with, but no woman ever held his attention quite like she did. It was that hunger, that unbridled passion that matched his own, that first attracted him to her. Add on top of that, she was the property of a Sith Lord. The pursuit was too tantalizing to resist. He breathed in deeply, knowing the emoiton of defeat was surfacing again. No matter how much he thought he wanted her, she was not to be his. This Sith Lord was far stronger, and more cunning, beating him at every turn, taking every opportunity to humiliate him. In the end, another Sith convinced him that she just wasn't worth it. He let the thought of his first infatuation drift away with the winking embers.

"Aittera." He let her name roll off his lips. He remembered meeting her in one of the many cantinas on Nar Shadaa. He remembered knowing that he just had to go to that cantina that night. her wit, sharp banter, beautiful scarlet curls. A pull to this woman beyond anything physical. He just had to have her. Her name, her scent burned inside his chest. He had to hand it to her. She was really good at staying off of Imperial records. Standard inquiries got him no where, and it wasn't until their second meeting that he got her name, and so much more.

He sighed heavily, thinking back to his recent attack on an SIS station. He stood up suddenly, growling to himself. Disaster hardly described the results of that attack. Not only was it just a small surveillance station, monitoring some Hutt, but the computer server went no where. Not even a data link to slice. He gripped his hands into fists as he relived the battle inside the SIS station. The Force was with him. He defeated everyone inside. Not once had he let an enemy live. In every battle, there is victory. And the Force claims her spoils, and makes her champion stronger. So why did he let that Jedi leave with his life? He pressed his fists to his head, letting out an anguished scream.

Picking Up the Pieces, part 2

Jheryth opened his eyes calmly and sat up in bed, the covers sliding down his bare chest to pool in his lap. He cocked his head slightly, feeling out with the force. Nothing stood out at him. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He looked at the clock on his nightstand, glaring at him a time some 3 hours before daybreak. Something woke him up. He could not sense any reason for it and sighed. Disappointing he thought to himself, as recalling the last thing he remembered before waking up was 'her'.

The image of her face, the scent of her body, the feel of her against him, was all he could think about. He took another deep breath, letting it out slowly and took stock of his emotions. He shrugged his shoulders, and releasing yet another breath, threw the covers off and swung his feet off the bed, placing them on the soft rug that spread out from under his bed. He knew, with her image now fixed in his mind, sleep was no longer going to happen today.

He made his way to the closet, pulling out his mediation robe and padded across the floor, through his bedroom and into his meditation room. He set about the meticulous placement of incense, music and kneeling mat. He brushed his robe outward, allowing him mobility to sit down, breathing in the serenity.

"Power is Knowledge, Knowledge has no sides.
Without emotion, there is emptiness.
Without passion, there is no life.
There is no death, there is only the Force.
In battle, there is the Force.
While I am worthy, defeating my enemies gives me strength.
May I be defeated by hands more worthy than my own."