Roon

[Shy-Ree]

((over 3 days))

 

 

Reluctant to leave her children with caregivers for any great length of time, Shy-Ree's free hours were rare. Precious moments alone were spent further mastering darker aspects of the force or in solo lightsaber training.

 

Though Barton had improved upon her sabers Shy had been continually seduced by thoughts of constructing a new weapon. So, she'd further divided her short stints of freedom to include working up preliminary drafts for one. Designing it was easy enough. Scraping together time to construct it might prove a bit more trying. And actually getting the thing to work the way she intended would be even more difficult. If nothing else, it would be a test of her determination and devotion to complete a task on her own.

 

In the many days alone with the children, Shy noticed that they were growing rapidly both physically and mentally. But even more astounding was their growing connection to the force. In the evening she tested their states of advancement. Though it pained her to, she waited until they were crying to be fed. Shy then set the twins next to each other and at a comfortable angle. She used the Force to suspend their feeding bottles just out of reach then observed their reactions.

 

Both twins stopped crying. Shy grinned proudly upon seeing that both Rose and Rath recognised their food source. The twins tried to reach for the bottles. Their movements were jerky and yet lacking cooridination. But neither child surrendered. This pleased their mother all the more. After a couple of more minutes of this teasing the twins began to fuss. But their big bright eyes never once strayed from their food.

 

Shy-Ree leaned in close and smiled down upon her children. "You know what you want. It's right there. Lets see you take it.." she whispered. As if they understood her meaning, Shy suddenly felt tiny twinges within the Force. Nothing anyone else but she or their father might detect. Slowly but surely she could feel miniscule and primative tugs upon the bottles. The faint feelings were just as jerky and uncoordinated as their physical attempts to reach out and grasp. And just as with their physical attempts, their Force attempts were just as determined.

 

Shy was amazed. The twins were already striving to manipulate the Force. She gradually let up her hold on the bottles as Rose and Rath managed to eventually tug them towards their hungry little mouths. When finally they began feeding both babies reached up and additionally wrapped their hands around the bottles. Shy kept her gentle hold over them as well so they wouldn't drop unexpectedly.

 

"And here I thought you were little angels. You're nothing but a couple of greedy little devils." she whispered cherrily while caressing the babies' cheeks. She couldn't help but bare the proud smile of a concieted parent who thinks their offspring are geniuses. "No matter. Angels or devils. I'll love you just the same."

 

After the feeding session both babies dropped quickly off to sleep. Shy carried them to Barton's room and laid them in their separate bassinettes. In turn, she slipped out of her confining clothes and slid into Trowa's bed. But she didn't sleep. Her thoughts shifted back and forth between the grand possibilities that might lay in store for her children... and wondering where Trowa was. She'd experienced the occasional pang of worry, even fear, that something bad might have happened to him.

 

A twisted little grin formed as she eventually considered chaining Trowa up, locking him in a snug little trunk and shoving him under the bed and keeping him there... just to be certain he was safe and always there when she needed him...

[Bad karma]

The Requiem and Ecstasy simultaneously dropped out of hyper-space above Roon. The occupants of both ships were informed they had arrived, but only a select few would be allowed to head towards the surface. Those few were named over the intercom (all pc's)

 

Trowa entered a starfighter and descended towards the surface. In less then a minute the large hole in the ground opened up and let him enter his personal compound. It was busy with workers moving all about, people waiting for him to exit his ship and okay this or inform him of that. Once he got out of the ship he glanced at a few of the forms, noting that the research he had called be done was complete and the cloning tanks had been set up.

 

After that he moved through the hallways, rather eager to see those he hadn't seen in some time. His footsteps could be heard echoing through out the area as he swiftly approached his chambers, sensing Shy and the twins inside. In his hand he held a bit of a surprise for Shy, something he had picked up on the way back. He opened the door, but didn't say anything, rather he just smiled and held out the scarlet rose in his hand.

 

 

((Okay, okay, People still on the ship. Move about, practice do whatever, but I'd prefer you guys to get to know each other a bit while I do my thing, ya know? Get to know eachother!))

[Shy-Ree]

Shy was nudged awake by Barton's returning presence. She rolled onto her side to face the door, the silk sheet lovingly embraced every delecate undulation of the unadorned body beneath it. She closed her eyes as she heard him approach. Each footstep sent a shiver of furiously mixed emotions down Shy's spine. She despised the way her emotions were so easily stirred by the man. Just the sound of him nearing was enough to cause her most basic feelings to twist into a small tempest.

 

The door opened, as did her eyes. And there stood the man of both her dreams and nightmares. Shy-Ree's head cocked to the side a tiny bit as she took in the unusual sight of Trowa Barton bearing a rose. She said nothing but glared hungrily into his radiant green eyes. After a few moments of admiring the view Shy eased off of the bed. The sheet slid fluidly from her body and fluttered to the floor, forgotten.

 

She slinked towards Trowa. Her eyes never left his as she gently plucked the rose from his fingers. She lifted the blood red bloom to her nose and indulged in it's scent, then moved in and kissed Trowa with a passion that had been pent up for days. Her tongue had just pried his lips apart when a slight but familiar scent assaulted her nostrils. Shy turned her face from Trowa, breaking the kiss. She glared at him out of the corner of her eyes.

 

"You've been to Tattooine." she said with the hint of a smile. "You reek of the place."

 

Shy took another indulgent smell of the rose to get the stench of planet out of her head. Shy turned again to face Trowa, lightly traced the rose over her cheek, down to her neck then let it settle in the valley in the midst of her chest. There she gently swirled the blossom. The sensation of lush petals upon her skin was sweetly arousing.

 

"Tell me Trowa, what was an angellic creature such as yourself doing on a Hell hole like Tattooine? You know nothing good ever comes from that place, " she said with a wink.

[Bad karma]

Trowa's blazing emerald eyes never left Shy's violently violet eyes. He caught the movement of the sheet with the corner of his eye, watching as the silky smooth cloth fell to the ground. He could feel the primal desire began to swirl about in the very pit of his stomach at the sight of her body, just as smooth as the silk that lay in a puddle upon the floor. For the briefest of seconds he was curious as to what she had done with her time alone with the twins, but the thought was plucked from his mind as she lifted the rose from his fingers.

 

And just like that the feeling in the pit of his gut exploded up as her gentle lips touched upon his, the enticing scent of the rose and Shy filled his nostrils. It felt good to be back, smelled good, and quite frankly even tasted good to be back inside the safe confines of his compound that was now home to him and various others. Then, the angel before him pulled away, something having caused her to other then herself.

 

Her senses were exquisite, trained to near perfection it would seem. There was, of course, the chance she just knew the stench of Tattooine that well though, perhaps even searching for an odd scent upon him. Trowa raised an eye brow, it would seem to be at her comment but it was meant towards his own queer thought which was quickly pushed away, gone for good with any luck.

 

His eyes escaped capture, turning from her own brilliant orbs and following the rose as it traversed her in ways no other but him should. A sly grin formed at the edge of his mouth as he looked back up, taking in her words. He thought over he to break the news to Shy for a bit, unsure of how she would react. He knew she had originally tried to get away from such things and for him to delve into it by choice would surely not have good results.

 

"I was simply gathering a bit of a crew, I've to keep my family in the lifestyle they've grown accustomed to after all." His words were delivered in a jokingly manner, knowing full well that at this point in time he could sit back and do nothing for the rest of his life and still be set. "Besides, the place isn't all bad...I happened across a Jedi there, I believe his name is...Ulos?"

 

He paused for a few seconds, reading her face for any sort of reaction. She knew full well who the man was, having met him on Dagobah when she sought out Darex. Trowa felt a rush of emotions surge through his body before being shut down, confined within the force. That man was the one that got away, the only Jedi to ever elude him. A worthy opponent, perhaps even rival. One of these days the two would meet again. It would either be the final meeting or the beginning of the end for the others Jedi days.

 

"If you really wish to know what the jobs concern, I will tell you, but it doesn't really matter. What did you do to pass the ever dreadful, I'm sure, time whilst I was gone?"

 

He took a step forward, wrapping his powerful arms around her waist and pulling her to him. The touch of her smooth flesh upon his felt excellent. It had seemed like years since he had last touched her, held her, or even seen her. A busy life would do that to a person though. Soon enough he would have all the time in the world to focus on honing his combat skills and spending time with the Twins, as well as Shy-Ree

[Shy-Ree]

All other thought momentarily came to a halt at the mention of Ulos.

 

Outwardly, Shy showed absolutely no interest at the mention of the name. Inwardly, however, the name reawakened a mangle of feelings that she'd rather be mired in at the moment. The rest of Trowa's words did not fall upon deaf ears. But went unheeded for a time. She momentarily wondered if he'd mentioned the name Ulos to intentionally distract her thoughts from other things. Other subjects that he might want to hold secret. He'd been gone a while. Quite a while. She knew he had done much more than merely bump into Jedi and scrape together an alleged crew...

 

But then Trowa pulled her into his arms. All suspicions slid from her mind as easily as the silk sheet had earlier slid from her body. Shy shivered slightly, pressed closer against him and wrapped her arms about his shoulders. Her fingers snaked up into his hair and gently began to twist into it. She suddenly gripped tighter into his hair, tugged his head back a little, which left his neck vulnerable to attack. Her lips lauched their supple asault up and down the newly exposed flesh.

 

To hell with everything else. Shy merely wanted savor their time together. To bask in Trowa's fiendishly delectable presence... even if he did stink of the filthy, Hutt haven called Tattooine. Other matters could wait. They would be made to wait as Shy-Ree decided to steal her Barton back from the rest of the galaxy...just for a little while. She moved backward, pulled him along as she did. When the back of her calves touched the cool base of the bed, Shy forced Trowa to his knees. She then sat on the edge of the bed, smiled down at him then leaned in and lapped at his ear. "Missed you..." she whispered heavily into it.

 

She pulled away, glanced at the rose in her right hand then gazed into the deep emerald depths of Trowa's eyes, "...miss me?" she asked, her voice soft yet laced with delicate threat.

[Bad karma]

Delicate, yet precise fingers slid through his hair pulling at tangles here and there and providing an interesting sensation. It was something he'd always enjoyed substantially. His mouth opened up slightly, letting out a breath of air as her fingers tightened in his hair. He didn't dare fight her when she pulled his head back, as he wasn't fond of the idea of losing some of his hair.

 

He felt her lips press onto his neck, an ever welcome feeling that he loved. He let his powerful hands rest on her hips, his eyes watching the ceiling. All the while his face had a smirk plastered upon it. He stepped forward as she moved backwards, sinking to his knees when she moved to force him down. His eyes scanned her slowly before raising up a bit.

 

A shiver ran through his body as he felt her breath in his ear. He couldn't help but shy away slightly at the feeling, his mouth opening and closing a bit. When she pulled away he straightened up and looked back at her, his eyes meeting his again. He could sense the under-tone of a threat in her voice, it was a curious thing, but he didn't ask about it.

 

"Perhaps..." His tone was sly and mischievous..."Need I prove it?"

[Shy-Ree]

Shy smirked at his response, then shoved Trowa aside.

 

"Perhaps?"

 

She stood, draped a silk sheet over her body and strolled to where the twins were sleeping. She checked the both of them then glared across the room to Trowa.

 

"Perhaps." she said again, this time her voice was heavy with thought. "You are gone for days on end doing heaven only knows what...and all you have for me upon your return is a rose and perhaps?"

 

She sauntered back to Trowa, her eyes shimmering and sad. Shy readjusted the silk sheet so that it clung to and accentuated her body.

 

"Perhaps... I will just go on about my own business then. Since apparently I am not, and will not, be missed."

 

Shy-Ree turned from Trowa and began to rummage through nearby drawers. Her fingers finally found and wrapped around the items she sought. She gently closed the drawer and moved towards the door, the silk sheet fluttering delicately out from behind her. She stopped and turned back a bit but did not look at Trowa.

 

"Perhaps... I shall see you soon... Barton." she said quietly then exited the room.

[Bad karma]

Trowa raised an eye brow at Shy's response. It was a curious one, one she obviously took the wrong way. He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, pondering what to do all the while. Of course, the best thing to do would to be hone his own skills. It had been quite sometime since he'd done anything on his own. Always traveling or fighting for some cause that was pointless in the grand scheme of things.

 

Considering he was already dirty from his trip, now would be the perfect time. It would provide just the right amount of distractions from the mixed emotions within him. Shy would come around soon enough, at least he hoped she would. She would realize soon enough that he had missed her, indeed he had missed her greatly. It shouldn't need to be spoken, but females were just odd like that.

 

____

 

The cold hilt felt good in his hands, he felt as if the simple design of the hilt was melding with his hand. It was as if it became just another part of him, it was as it should feel. The air around him was fresh, a hint of pine in it. He was standing on the edge of a large forest, the sky was bright with oranges and blues as the sun was sinking just beyond the horizon.

 

His eyes slowly blinked as he turned on his heel to face the figure behind him. The man stood at the same height as Trowa, but his eyes were an icy blue. His hair was thick and blond, down to his shoulders. Neither the man, nor Trowa had a shirt on, but both held a finely crafted lightsaber in their hands. The sun cast its fading light onto both of them from the side, long shadows falling forth from their powerful figures.

 

Trowa ignited the weapon in his hand, a blue blade extended with the snap, hiss he had grown to know over the years. It was like a Requiem that he performed for his foe as a final tribute, the last thing they would ever know before his blade licked away their life as it had so many before.

 

The figure before him ignited his own weapon with a snap. hiss. Its green blade slipped out of the near perfect hilt in his hands. A hint of a grin crossed his sly face, it would be obvious to all, but the most dull, that he was a practiced professional who took great joy in his line of work. His hand moved like a blur, the dark energy around him swelling as the dark power around Trowa mirrored it. A green blaze of light was left in the lightsabers wake as the other loosened up his form.

 

Trowa extended his left arm, tilting his head to the left as the lightsaber was held straight out. At a snails pace he placed his left hand behind his back, fist closed. Upon opening his eyes, he twisted his right wrist around twice in a tight circle then brought it around in front of him, to signal he was ready. It was a stance from the style of form two, direct lightsaber to lightsaber combat.

 

His foe brought his saber down in a style that could only mean one form; three. He kept the weapon close to his body to minimize openings in his defense, as well as make it so he would have to expend less energy to block each attack.

 

Not a millisecond after his foe completed his stance, did Trowa charge forward. His left hand remained behind his back as his body at an angle as he thrusted forward, only to be knocked away and a brilliant display of color and sparks. Neither of them left the ground for a second during the battle. Trowa pushed the other back at a constant rate, being that he was fighting very aggressively and the other was keeping a tight defense.

 

All through the fight Trowa kept his mind focused, not wanting any of the distractions of life to disturb him in anyway. He loathed most parts of life, only two truly brought him moments of positive emotions, or at least the after effects brought such. Seeing Shy and his family was the first, he lived for the fleeting moments he had with them now. They were all he had really, his everything.

 

The second is what he was currently engaging in, deprived of the first. The rush of adrenaline, the power of the force feeling his every bone and muscle, and knowing that his next breath could very well be his last if he did not watch his step. It was simply amazing, nothing could be compared to it.

 

That was one of the reasons he sought after Darex as he did. He was a Jedi that could hold his own against Trowa, he gave Trowa a couple of his greatest fights. Isolder was the only other to give him a truly amazing fight, even if he had been slew at the hands of the blade Master.

 

And so the two combatants continued their fight...

[Shy-Ree]

She'd strolled through the halls with nothing but the smooth caress of silk beween her nakedness and the rest of the world. She could sense the occasional wide eyed stare that crawled over her skantily clad figure. Shy-Ree didn't care. Such things bothered her not. The shame or humiliation that others associated with nudity had been effectively trained out of her years ago on Tattooine.

 

Even odder than the sight of a nearly naked Shy-Ree, was the sight of her gently smiling face and her light and lively step. Those that happened across her path that day were amazed to see that she looked genuinely... happy. Especially since they'd only come to know the dark, somber and easily angered Shy-Ree that Barton had left behind. A few of Barton's employs smiled upon seeing her but their greetings went unaknowledged. Her thoughts were trained on one thing and one thing only.

 

A few minutes later she was in a private room and slipping into black form fitting pants and a latex-like tank top. Shy then pulled her dark, shoulder length hair back into a short tail and tied it securely. She quickly stepped into a pair of black boots then completed the ensemble by calling her lightsabers into her waiting grip.

 

She made her way back through the compound. This time resembling the miserable creature that all were accustomed to seeing. Shy checked in on the babies, graced each with a gentle kiss then assigned only the most trustworthy of caretakers to the twins. Before she left Shy retrieved her rose from the bed. She slid the stem of the flower down into her cleavage until the scarlet blossom was nestled neatly against her chest. It's perfume was nearly intoxicating. Shy smiled a small bit and prowled out of the room.

 

This time she stalked through the structure, her stride calm and full of purpose. Her face was a mask of grim determination. Her eyes glinted with a hunger previously unseen. She knew exactly what she wanted and knew exactly where to find it. She wanted it so badly that she could taste it...

 

Moments later, with a lightsaber hilt in each hand, Shy-Ree invaded Trowa's training session. Never taking her eyes off of him, she closed in on he and his simulated sparring partner. As she came up behind the simulation it turned to attack. One of Shy's weapon hissed to life. Her Jedi saber easily blocked the attack. As both green weapons clashed and locked momentarily, Shy-Ree's red saber snapped to life and was but a scarlet blur as it rounded and ripped up through her attacker, splitting it in two from crotch to crown. As the pieces of his partner fell aside, Shy-Ree pointed her Sith saber at Trowa.

 

"I want you." She demanded, her stare stabbing directly into Trowa's emerald eyes.

 

As she inhaled Shy caught the scent of his sweat lightly wafting upon the air. It only fueled her manic desire to duel. Her tongue slowly licked across her top lip as she savored the scent and sight of Trowa Barton.

 

"I want you now. Don't be shy. Give it to me... and give it to me hard. You know I like it rough." A twisted grin formed upon her lips. She was ready and willing to welcome as well as deal out some pain.

[Bad karma]

Trowa had stopped, raising his saber up and watching on as, of all people, Shy- Ree invaded his training session. It seemed she had been practicing with her sabers in his absence, it had paid off. He showed no reaction as she cut the man in twine, rather he just held out his hand and called the emerald saber to his hand. A few seconds later it was hooked onto his belt.

 

It would appear with her increase in rank that she began to state what she wanted more and more. It didn't bother Trowa, but she would have to work to earn that which she desired. He returned her stare, gazing into her violet orbs for a bit and waiting for her to continue. It was obvious she would.

 

He was tempted to allow his face to slip into the grin She and he both knew all to well, but he stopped himself. She wanted a fight and she would get nothing but. He had yet to have the opportunity to truly duel her and he refused to let it slip between his fingers. With a simple manipulation of the micro-chip firmly implanted in his brain he changed the scenery.

 

The wind whistled through the concrete forest. Speeders zipped past quicker then any mundane eye could perceive as various sounds and scents assaulted ones senses. After just leaving the setting of a forest this amount of stimuli would prove to be to much for most, but the two Sith Masters took it in stride. The only light from the roof top was the pulsing glow of three lightsabers in the hands of trained professionals.

 

"You asked for it."

 

The wind caressed Trowa's hair, taking it this way and that as he watched her with a tilted gaze. No emotion was upon his face and his inner feelings were behind a thick wall of protection. It would make this duel simple to keep things this way, as if either of them lost control of their emotions it could mean the end of the other. Maybe even the end of everyone in this station.

 

Trowa moved forward, turning his lightsaber and bringing it down in a large arc. His movements were fast, but he had yet to call upon the aid of the force to empower him and grant him more speed. His first onslaught of attacks was meant to do nothing more then test her abilities and just which form she used, something he had neglected to figure out. He back peddled slightly, then without warning the force swelled within him and he was upon her.

 

He jumped over her head, his body practicly shrinking to half his normal size as his legs were pulled close to his chest. It looked as if he would hit the ground in the same form, leaving him open and an easy target to be rid of, but at the last second he thrusted his legs outward hitting Shy in the side as she turned to face him. He quickly caught himself, planting his left hand on the ground inches in front of his left foot and knee as he lay in wait in the crouched position.

[Vash Mammon]

Vash felt it appropriate to learn something about his new teammates. Get to know them a little. As the Shi'ido wandered the ship, he had some trouble finding the rest of Trowa's followers.

 

Is this guy legitimate? Am I the only one he's recruited?

 

Undiscouraged, the assassin took the free time to use the ships computer. He attempted to find the signal of the Slashrat. After hours of searching, his old ship replied.

 

It is still functioning.

 

Vash began to download some of the files from his ship, and examine his personal logs. He would soon know exactly what had gotten him into this situation. He signaled for the Slashrat to head for Roon.

 

What was it doing on Bakura? Ik krijg het voelen ik geluk om ben in leven te zijn.

[Shy-Ree]

The abrupt change in surroundings as well as the man before her was dually noted. Shy's smile faded. Emotion died. Senses hightened. Eyes narrowed. Her weapons hung limply at either side of her body as Barton advanced.

 

As his weapon bore down both Shy's sabers were up to block in a split second. She pushed him off then handled the brunt of his attack with ease. Nothing but love taps thus far, she thought knowing full well he was only feeling her out. As if he'd read her mind Trowa was suddenly in the air. A second later his boots plunged into her side. She staggered sideways a few steps then swung fiercely around to face Trowa again.

 

The dull ache in her side felt good. She inhaled deeply, forced the pain to flare up some more and savored the feeling. Emotionless violet eyes stayed trained on the target as her mind ran through the list of modifications she knew Trowa enhanced himself with. She knew of his embellishments but didn't know exactly what he was capeable of. She expected though that Trowa Barton was capeable of damned near anything. He had perfected himself to be just that.

 

Shy extended her left arm, pointed the green saber low and directly at Trowa. The red saber, pulled back and held high near to her head, also pointed at the crouching man. Both weapons purred like obedient pets as Shy quickly but calmly advanced. She lunged, her green saber made a low sharp backhand sweep to engage and entangle Trowa's weapon as her red saber sliced down from above. The ease with which her target handled the feeble attack was expected. She had never actually seen Trowa battle and was secretly impressed with the fluidity and flexibiltiy his body posessed... though not impressed to point of distraction.

 

She stayed on the offensive. Shy ripped at the Force and moulded it to her muscles to enhance her strength. Each swipe of her lightsabers became more powerful, more pronounced, more exacting. She pressed Trowa continually back. She did not let up. Hesitation was not an option. Not yet. So the two continued to be showered by the sparks and shifting shades of light born of their weapons' relentless clashing.

 

All three lightsabers locked for the breifest moment. Shy-Ree's knee ploughed savagely into Trowa's side just under his broken ribs. She wondered if they had even come close to healing then kneed him again, harder. She physically pushed him off then with a wave of her lightsaber Shy Force smacked Trowa across the room. She spun around to face the man. Shy was ready for more. Waiting for more. Wanting for more.

 

"I don't recall asking for anything." she said in a low dead voice. "I believe I demanded it."

[Bad karma]

Trowa's feet remained firmly planted on the floor. He had added just enough of a push of his own to stop himself from being flung over the edge of the massive skyscraper they stood upon. His face turned down to face the ground as the force impacted it. He had been slapped very few times in his life, but he had never been slapped in this manner.

 

He raised his once emerald eyes to face Shy, it was immediately obvious something had changed within them. The almost seemed to be pulsating with fury, but his face was unreadable otherwise. His emotions kept on a short leash, unable to escape his body and tell his secrets. The clouds above them swirled as a storm was starting to roll in, preparing to unleash a rage surpassed by none.

 

"Never one to displease."

 

His voice seemed to come from his gut, a throaty whisper to the female before him. Women were creators, men destroyers. It was time he taught this lesson to his, former, apprentice. Whether or not she would regret forcing him to teach her this lesson would be determined at a later date, but now it was time for them engage in the delicately deadly battle before them.

 

Trowa brought his saber around and leveled it out in front of him. His hands were resting on his upper legs with the saber pointing up at a sharp angel in front of him. He had one goal in mind, finding her weak spot and exploiting it to maximum efficiency. He would not under-estimate her skills, but he wouldn't do the opposite either. Combat was a weak spot for her in general, it was something of his specialty.

 

Long ago it had been written in the ancient Jedi texts that master of Form Iv were sometimes little more then a blur in combat. Their foe having to rely completely on the force to guide their body in an effort to protect themselves from such a fast being. It was as if they could fly, spending more of their time in the air then the ground itself. Shy had looked the forms over, she would recognize this form. The question was if she would be able to effectively combat it.

 

In the blink of an eye it was as if Trowa had simply disappeared. His natural speed and grace had been boosted by the dark side, pumping adrenaline into his system and empowering him. The green blade contrasted the dark sky and was the single thing that would allow someone to trace him by sight alone. He let his raw emotions flow directly into the force as he bolted around her, attacking from seemingly all angels at once.

 

The force gripped her left wrist tightly at the same instant his blade collided with the weapon in that hand. He made sure it was knocked free, putting just enough power behind his blow to do such and nothing more. She would risk exposing herself to attack if she tried to retrieve it and it would only take one opening for this duel to be finished. The abomination to nature, for all the unnatural changes he had brought about in his body, continued his onslaught...

 

Until he had her just where he wanted her; it was time to repay her last attack. She had performed hers from a distance as a coward would, he would get up close and personal and deliver the crushing blow himself. Sparks erupted as she defended a blow behind her, a few milliseconds later another blast of sparks spawning from above her head where the two blades now lay locked.

 

He raised his eye brows, a devious smile upon his face. His eyes were almost hypnoticly seducing as they pulsating inside his head. Time seemed to froze as he cast his gaze away from her, turning aside her eyes as his free hand sliced through the air with no effort. The sound of skin on skin contact filled the air as the backside of his left hand collided with her face and lifted her from the ground through sheer power.

 

As she moved through the air towards the other side of the roof he pulled the saber from his belt and connected it to the hilt of his own, forming a staff. He spun it around over his head, by his side then halted it with the azure blade behind his back and the emerald one pointing towards the ground at his left side. Unforgiving in his attacks he moved forward once more, keeping a keen eye on Shy...

[Shy-Ree]

Shy found herself battling nothing but a blur of battle lusting Barton. Mere moments later she was minus one weapon and still being ruthlessly attacked. The only reason she'd been able hold her own against him was because she'd anticipated such an attack. He was already deadly swift and flexible without the aid of the Force. Falling into a form IV attack was only natural.

 

What she hadn't unexpected was to be sent hurtling through the air courtesy of the back of Barton's hand. Before she slammed into the ground Shy twisted, curled into a ball and spun so that her feet were first to hit the ground. The force cushioned her landing as she crouched and spun to face Trowa. The sting from where his hand made contact was still fresh. She could feel a thick warm fluid beginning to pool between her teeth and inner cheek. The pain didn't bother her so much as the bruise she'd be sporting afterward. Shy flashed Trowa a quick joyless grin, half her teeth slick and shimmering with blood.

 

With habitual ease Shy-Ree pulled the Force to her. It obediently infused and invigorated her senses and flesh. She never took her eyes from Barton's as she turned her head and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. She lazily drew the back of her arm across her lips to wipe away any lingering traces of scarlet.

 

"I'm not feeling particularly pleased yet." she said as if extremely bored.

 

A thin stream of red tried to slide out from the corner of her mouth. She quickly licked it away. Truth was she had never felt so disturbingly aroused in all her life. He could kill her in a split second and Shy couldn't care less.

 

She suddenly launched herself into the air and began her own livid blur of attacks on Barton. IV was one of the two forms Shy had taken to, being of small stature and build. Her weapon was nothing but a nebulous green glow that shifted and swirled around Trowa's furiously defending weapons. But she was no where near as practiced as Trowa and knew she could not keep up such an attack on him for long.

 

In the midst of the clashing and slashing sabers, Shy-Ree exended her awareness out to her fallen weapon, her Sith saber. It leapt from the ground, spun horizontally then launched suddenly straight for Trowa's back. He easily swung back, blocked the attack from behind. In that split second Shy landed and issued a super speed round house kick to Trowa's jaw. As he spiraled from the force of the blow Shy delivered a force fueled kick to one of his knees, took it out before he could leap away.

 

She flipped backward, landed in a semi crouched position, both weapons in hand and waited for Barton's brutal wrath.

[Krishna]

Exiting from The Requiem, the young man quietly walked out from the lowered plank onto the suspicious planet. It seemed he was visiting a wild variety of worlds, the like he never seen or exoperienced before. Yet, this was all part of the deal he made with Mr. Barton, having given what services he can provide in exchange for lessons and seeing the entire world in a different light; both which he highly cherished.

 

It wasn't before long, after his employer's absence, that Krishna began to become bored with the scenario. Fumbling around the hangar bay, waiting for whatever reason he decided to leave in first place to return, there was no other choice then to move about the cabins of the other ships, looking for some relative company during this downtime in their activity.

 

His eyes spotted a man in red (Vash) who was deligently working on a computer display, for what seemed a long period of time. Silently approaching him, the rather muscular young man who carried himself in very suave charismatic mannerm, turned to him, folding his arms over his chest and stating..

 

"That's a mighty fine looking ship, you have there, partner. Care to tell me more about it?"

 

As soon as the stranger turned, one hand graciously pointed down to the seated man, generously extending it so that they might be formally introduced.

 

"I'm Krishna, 'new to these parts.. You must be..?"

[Bad karma]

The kick to his jaw would have surely sent him flying, had she not hit his left knee with equal force. He grunted at the pain, fully embracing it and letting it fuel his unequaled fury. He raised his hand up to his jaw slowly, touching his fingers to his mouth. The warm, sticky fluid could only be one thing. She had drawn blood, as had he...the scent was in the air and he could feel his body grumbling for some of the crimson juices they both leaked.

 

He stood up, the force allowing him to go on even with the pain in his knee. He would switch styles on her now, rather then going for the quick attacks he would go for the powerful blows. He separated the two weapons and placed one back onto his belt, holding his original firmly in his grip. He raised his head up a bit and cast his stony gaze upon Shy-Ree.

 

She was the object of his desire for so long, the one he had chased after and finally caught. He had risked his very life fighting Darex over petty jealousy at how she viewed him. She was somehow different from all the rest. She held a hidden depth about her and if anyone simply took her for face value they would be sadly mistaken when they met the true woman inside.

 

He moved forward, hints of his anger flaring through his iron facade. Try as he might his emotions were starting to get the better of him. He was better then her, she shouldn't have even been able to touch him. His breath caught in his throat as his blade moved in a succession of quick, precise attacks that could only be form II. The world around him evaporated for a brief second as he submersed himself in the force, seeing through it completely.

 

His attacks were becoming more precise, more aggressive with each passing second. He expended as little energy as possible, knowing it would be wise to conserve such a valuable resource. The wind began to whisper to him, a familiar voice being carried upon it. He couldn't make out the words, or place the voice but it seemed all to real to him, as if he heard it every day of his life.

 

He was brought back to reality by the shower of sparks produced from the two eloquent blades. His anger was threatening to boil over. She was taunting him, practicly asking him to beat her beyond recognition. It was quite the challenge, one he planned to fulfill. The scent of blood and sweat filled the air and his nostrils, enticing him. It was an odd sensation feeling the burning fury flowing through his entire body at the same time a deeply rooted passion and lust was coursing through him.

 

Trowa had picked out a hole in her defenses as he pushed her steadily back. He waited for the perfect moment to exploit it and his patience was reward as the time presented itself. He feigned as if to attack her once more with the pulsing emerald blade, but instead he twisted the weapon around and planted the hilt firmly in her face. In one swift movement he rolled around her, opening his mouth, and caught a single drop of her delicious scarlet fluid in his mouth. Its taste was different from the metallic taste of his own blood, it was better.

 

Trowa dropped low, his saber shutting off for a few seconds as he planted a powerful blow to the back of Shy's right knee cap. Before she could even begin to fall he was on the opposite side of the roof watching her with a devious smile on his face, if this wasn't enough for her he would continue....

 

"I really do hope you aren't trying.."

[Vash Mammon]

Vash quickly made the screen black. He could not have anyone else observing his personal logs. The Shi'ido spun in his chair, ignoring the extended hand.

 

"It is awfully rude to glance over someone's shoulder."

 

He winced slightly at his own words. Vash did not want to start off with an enemy. Perhaps this was a time for him to swallow his anger. After all the man before him was a mere mortal.

 

En een dwaas.

 

"I apologize for my reaction. I have had a very harrowing experience recently. Apparently I am actually a clone, and have been trapped in stasis for about fifty years. That can make someone cranky."

 

He gripped Krishna's hand.

 

"My name is Vash Mammon. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

 

My name is Vash.

[Krishna]

OOC: Actually, Vash-mun, you'd be surprised how wrong you are about Krishna being a mere mortal. But, that's something for him to find out later..

 

 

"Vash, eh?.. I like that name," Giving the other man a geniune smile, returning the tight grip with his own before pulling away, hands roaming the back of his neck now.

 

"Soo," Krishna began with a tad bit of a juvenille tone, "A clone, you say. That's quite a story, I'd love to hear more about it. That is, if you're alright with that. I can say quite a deal about myself, too."

 

"I'm mostly interested how you ended up joining our rag tag group. 'Lot of others seem to be shy or non existant, so to speak.."

 

The tone of his voice descended from that higher pitch to a lower one upon mentioning the others. This other man was the only other person he had encountered thus far beside Mr. Barton. He seeked to gain new allies, new experiences; he would prove to be another name to add to that growing list.

[Shy-Ree]

The sudden shift in attack had caught Shy off guard. It was a struggle to defend as each attack increased in power and prescision. She reeled more of the Force into her small frame and used it as fortification against Trowa's masterful assault. But far worse than the physical attack was the sadistic glimmer that she'd occasionally catch sight of in Trowa's blazing eyes. His glare sent tangled pangs of despair, determination and desire dancing throughout her entire body. Emotions were beginning to drip through the dam...

 

Then...PAIN. Blackness. Her face felt shattered. Lightning like fingers of agony exploded outward from the inital point of impact. The universe swirled out of control around her for a moment.

 

Then more pain. Her knee. Existence slowed to a crawl as gravity gripped and ripped her downward. Shy's sabers swiped wildly about before she crumpled to the cold, hard ground. The Force was called to her aid again. Like loving arms it reached under and elegantly lifted her into a standing position. She breathed in deeply, attempted to lull the rage that was clawing for freedom.

 

His voice found her, surrounded her...."I really do hope you aren't trying..."

 

 

 

A low, rabid growl slipped out from Shy-Ree's pain laden face. Her senses exploded outward. She sensed him and turned to face Trowa. She was met by the devious grin that ever riled her anger. It made her remember how badly she'd wanted to kill him back when he'd first abducted her. To make Trowa Barton suffer endlessly had been Shy-Ree's driving force. Had been her obsession. Her passion. Her lust to mutilate and murder Barton was what caused her to slide into the twisted grip of the darkside.

 

She stared across at him, her violet eyes trailed over every splendid detail of Trowa's sculpted form. The murderous urge melted away... as always it had. Despite all the physical and mental agony he had inflicted Shy could never bring herself to kill him. She'd never be able to bring herself to kill him, though she was certain he wouldn't think twice about thrusting her brutally into death's grip yet again. She'd never kill him... but hurt she could and would do.

 

As the wind whipped Trowa's hair wildly about Shy spun her sabers around in an impressive but pointless light show. She smiled and hurt flashed like lightning through her face again. The pain acted as an accelerant to her rage. She was suddenly engulfed in it... it consumed even her physical agony.

 

"Trying?" she asked, her voice laced with tatters of anger. She began a quick, hobbled walk towards Trowa.

 

"Trying?" she asked again, her rage more prominant. Shy deactivated her weapons and broke into a Force enhanced jog.

 

"Try this..." she hissed.

 

Shy dictated the Force to slink up Trowa's body. It constricted like a murderous serpent. He was suddenly ripped through the air towards the running Shy. She was, by then, nothing but a blur. Just before they clashed Shy soared into the air and viciously dropkicked Trowa in the midsection. She dropped as he flew backward. Shy spun, reasserted her Force grip over the still hurtling man, pulled him back towards her and flung him with ease in a high arc upward. In the blink of an eye she jerked him down with all the Force she could muster and slammed him into the ground.

 

Shy-Ree was upon him in a second, kicked him over onto his back, dropped to her knees and smashed him in the face with her Jedi lightsaber. Her chest heaved up and down as she breathed heavily, "I've not yet begun to try, " she muttered, blood spattered from her mouth and onto Trowa's face, "Just as I know you haven't begun to try." She struck him in face with hilt of her Sith saber, the dull thud of metal striking flesh was dementedly sweet and roused an entirely new mess of feelings within her already severly screwed up emotions.

[Bad karma]

Trowa sailed through the air, his breath gone from the kick Shy had planted firmly in his chest. His face was contorted in pain, but only a fool would mistake this pain for what it truly was. His ego had been attacked by Shy and some of the air taken out of it. This would not due, he would have to come out on top. His rage was apparent now and had he been paying more attention rather then letting it take over he might have been able to stop her from slamming him into the ground.

 

His chest heaved and lifted away from the ground. Shy took advantage of this and kicked him in the gut, forcing him to roll over in pain. The force whispered of immediate danger, but he didn't have time to react before the hilt of a lightsaber crashed down into his face with bone shattering force. He felt the blood pouring out of his broken nose. Scarlet rain fell down from above, when he opened his blazing emerald eyes to glance at the source he was greeted with nothing but more pain.

 

The saber had hit him in the space between his upper lip and his nose, hitting flesh and metal at the same time. His vision escaped his grasp for a few seconds as his mind reeled at the new pain. He heard a faint voice howling out in rage and pain, it was familiar but his ears couldn't process that is was his own. A hidden presence crept into his mind and took over, one that had not been in control for far too long.

 

He opened his eyes, a deviously sly grin plastered on his blood coated face as he stared into Shy-Ree's eyes. He felt a sudden surge of emotion. All of his previously felt becoming heightened to new levels. The force wrapped its powerful arms around Shy and flung her off of Trowa and back at least five feet. He practicly flew up, blood flying off of him in every direction. He was upon the girl before she landed, catching her shoulders in his arms he brought her face down to meet his knee as it moved up.

 

He released his grip on her as her face was hit, allowing the force to propel her back up into the air. Her sabers flew out of her hands in opposite directions as he chased after her. He wanted her in more ways then one now, but for now the brutal abuse of her poor, un-deserving body suit him just fine. Her body hit the ground ruffly and the unforgiving man before her did nothing to ease her landing as he came down on her gut, both boots first.

 

A few seconds later he was straddling her chest and holding her hair in his left hand. Blood was pouring off of his face, but even through it all anyone could make out that sadistic grin. Only Shy would notice the subtle change in it, as if another person was in control of Trowa now. His right fist came down and connected with the side of Shy's face, the force of it nearly breaking her neck...and would have, had Trowa not been holding her hair tightly.

 

"Come on Shy!" His voice was taunting..."Too weak to stop me?!"

 

He stood up and ran his tongue over the fluid on his lips. A person could swallow a pint of blood before becoming sick, he was quick to approach this point. He brought his right foot back and slammed it into Shy's side, sending her sliding over the ground towards the edge of the massive roof.

 

His breaths were being taken in quick inhales as his chest heaved up and down. He ran his forearm across his face, flinging a large amount of blood off of him and onto the ground to his side. His shoulders were back and his chin high in defiance. He awaited her retort.

[Vash Mammon]

Vash did not like revealing personal details to others. It was better if they were surprised by what he truly was. Not that he had any intention of betraying his new comrades, but it was always wise to keep an ace up one's sleeve. This moment would be no different, Krishna would not yet find out that Vash was a two hundred year old shapeshifter.

 

Eventually he will find out, but there's no need to rush.

 

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what happened."

 

That much was true.

 

"It was my purpose for contacting my ship. I've signaled for it to come to my location. Once here, I will be able to determine precisely what occurred from my personal logs. It is clear I lived for sometime after the cloning. Which leads me to believe the sample was taken without my knowledge."

 

Vash was not a true clone however. A single cell of a Shi'ido contained all of his consciousness. He was more a piece of Vash, than a clone.

 

"Trowa awakened me, and so I feel obligated to help him. That is my only reason for joining."

 

Vash was an evil creature, but he repayed his debts.

 

"How about you? What are you doing here?"

[Krishna]

The young man could only comprehend so much of the conversation, but seemed to be something that was very important and could tell by way he spoke the severity of the case. Krishna could only look onwards, taking a more thoughtful pose by raising a hand to his chin, nodding slightly up and down..

 

"I see. So, Mr. Barton has helped you as well.. To be short, I ran away from the only home I knew, or what was left of it. My father left my mother and I not too long ago, taking my siblings with him. I followed in my mother's shadow until I could take it no longer, wanting to live life by my own means and wanting to find the truth as to why my father had gone. That is my reason.."

 

There was no need to go into details about who his parents or siblings were. Even if they both were very important and very powerful, his father especially being a reverred God, himself a demi-God, it was a futile effort to try and explain to strangers. His story would suffice without telling a single lie.

 

"..Now, I look to him to begin building myself up for the time where my father and I shall meet. I want to have knowledge of the dark arts, as well as what good I have seen, in order to deceipher the truth for myself. Not by anyone else."

[Shy-Ree]

The tide shifted and Shy-Ree was suddenly crushed by wave after wave of pain. It happened so swiftly that she barely comprehended what the hell was happening. The only thing she knew for certain, as explosion after explosion of agony bashed into her body, was Barton was behind the brutality. For a split second, in the midst of it all, her vision focused enough to see Trowa's demented grin. She'd opened her mouth to say something but his fist rammed into the side of her face, knocked the thought right out of her head.

 

She heard him then. But the only words she made out over the blood soaked growl that rumbled in her throat was..."Shy" and "weak".

 

A sharp jolt of pain erupted in her side. Shy nearly yelped as Trowa's boot launched her broken body away from him. Bits of her clothing were torn by friction as she skidded across the roof. The newly exposed flesh was scaped and scoured away. Amidst all her agonies Shy was vaguely aware that roof's edge rapidly approached. Her hands reached out, fingers gripped for anything to anchor herself from sliding over the edge. Gouging fingernails snapped and broke away as they raked across the impervious surface of the roof.

 

Lastly, she reached out to the Force and bent it to her bidding. It wrapped around her body and jerked it to a sudden halt just as her legs flopped over the edge of the roof. Half hanging off the building, Shy's eyes sought out the defiant form of her beloved Barton. Murderous lust surged through her body, blazed like a wildfire across all her nerve endings. With a grunt of pain laden effort she swung her legs back up onto the roof and rolled away from the edge. She lay there breathing rapidly for a few seconds. Her head flopped to the side so she could look upon the sadistic creature that she loved and loathed with all her mangled heart.

 

She inhaled deeply then regurgitated most of her pain out and into the accepting face of the Force. Shy rolled onto her stomach. A low groan spilled from her lips as she did. She pushed herself up into a crouch, steeled her will then sprung into a standing position. Pain flared and fed her maniacal determination. She glanced about for her weapons, found them and let them lie where they fell. Her fingers balled into tight fists as she was overcome with the urge to deal out a good ol' fashioned ass stomping. Beneath her mask of blood, sweat and tears Shy managed a divinely twisted grin.

 

The two former Sith charged each other. They met mid roof, nothing more than a blur of rabid kicks and punches. Shy fought furiously but could not land a single hit. Barton blocked her every swing, countered her every kick. Through it all his face was plastered with that maddening grin that served only to infuriate Shy-Ree all the more. It made her want to tear his face off and trample it until it was nothing but a greasy smear on the bottom of her boots...

 

A low scream of frustration erupted from between Shy's clenched teeth. She wrenched at the Force used it to pry Trowa's arms out from his body. She punched him in the throat then gripped his neck and squeezed with hell bent rage. Shy took two steps, leapt a good 10 ft into the air then choke slammed his sadistic carcass. The force of the landing caused an upsurge of blood to fill Shy's mouth. She coughed a sticky scarlet mess onto the creature beneath her.

 

She dropped a wall of Force down onto the man to partly hold him in place as she circled then savagely kicked him in the side of the face a few times. Each time her boot made contact she muttered a different huttese curseword. She then moved around and drove her boot into Barton's injured ribs, causing him to roll onto his stomach. Shy jumped up, dropped a knee onto his spine then straddled his back. Her fingers tangled into his hair, ruthlessly yanked his head back.

 

"I may be weak..." she mumbled in a low breathless voice, "But at least...I'm not the one...tasting rooftop..."

 

Shy growled as she smashed his face onto the ground. She pressed forward and raked his face around a bit before lifting and slamming it down again a couple of more times. Her breathing was thick and low but not from pain or exhaustion. Having Barton broken and bleeding beneath her filled Shy-Ree with a crazed carnal passion that defied all explenation. She trembled violently as the feeling undulated through her body. She dug in and raked the ragged nails of her free hand down his back and growled, "Bastard...."

[Bad karma]

Trowa's chest shot upwards as the surface below him exploded outwards. The sheer power exherted from Shy was amazing, beyond what he had thought she could bring forth. He didn't have time to catch his breath as a scarlet rain fell from above and the force pressed him deeper into the imprint his body had made. His head jerked to the side as her boot collided with it. His vision turned to darkness, only the will of the force keeping him conscious and aware of his surroundings.

 

The kick to his ribs caused a sudden burst of blood and bile to fill his mouth. He cough it up onto the ground in front of him as his head shot backwards, Shy's onslaught continuing with a knee to the spine. He had just enough time to soften the blow with the force, enough to keep her from snapping his spine in two.

 

Her words fell upon deaf ears, his mind was reeling with pain. The skin on his face began to tear away as she ruthlessly ground his face back and forth, following it up by slamming it into the ground a bit. As she lifted his head the final time the area around his eye brow seemingly stuck to the ground. A large gash had been from the fragments he had been slammed onto had cut into it. The blood was pooling where his face had been, dripping downwards like a crimson waterfall.

 

The pain flowed into the force, his rage following it in. He tapped into previously unused resources and flung the woman off of him. She landed upon her feet as a cat would, grace obvious in her near broken form. Trowa's head slowly began to turn at an angle, until it was completely crooked. Then he began to shake it back and forth slinging excess blood from it. His vision was gone from his right eye and he was starting to get light headed from blood loss, but this was not over. Not yet.

 

A feral rumble came from deep within his throat as he charged her. Sadomasochistic glee imprinted upon his disfigured face. He brought his open hand upwards with great power behind it, the nails catching her face and ripping some of the flesh away. He could already feel the blood and skin under his nails as he repeated the process to more times. He feigned doing it once more, but instead brought his closed fist upwards and connected with her chin, upper cutting her into the air.

 

In the heat of battle neither of their emotions could be completely concealed, but neither would they be trying to read each other at this point in time either. One thing Trowa had always believed was no decision was more pure then when it was made in the heat of battle, making it impossible to go on anything but gut instinct. He wanted her, she was too good for anyone else to ever have. He was hers, and she his no matter what either of them said.

 

He followed her into the air and caught her body, placing her over his shoulder with her face into his back. In an instant he flipped her over his shoulder and sent her careening towards the ground at an amazing speed. The force snaking all around her to reduce the air resistance and increase the impact damage. Trowa followed her down, planting himself on top of her before the dust and debris was able to settle. His knees ran along her sides, his midsection just above hers as he starred down into her violet eyes with his furious green spheres.

 

The air around them settled, but neither moved towards the other in an aggressive manner. It was as if time had forgotten them, leaving them frozen forever here. Blood was still pouring out of Trowa as he looked upon her, Shy was in quite a state herself. Lucky to even still be conscious herself. He spoke up, his voice horse and forming in his throat as more of a growl. The emotion within it was apparent, his statement would take anyone by surprise after such a brutal display, spoken in the last few seconds before he passed out from blood loss.

 

"Marry me."

[Shy-Ree]

Yet again Shy was flung through the air. A fist bashed into her chin. A billion shards of pain exploded up from her jaw and through her head. Reality shattered. Nothing existed but pain and the feeling of plummeting at an impossible velocity. She tried to create a cushion of Force to soften the impact but wasn't fast enough. Her body struck. It felt as if every bone in her body shattered. A molton eruption of breath exploded from her lungs. A small fountain of ruby fluid spewed from her mouth and rained down around her face.

 

The pain was immense, so potent that Shy's body and mind screamed for the sweet nothing of unconciousness. It'd be so easy to surrender. To let go and fall away from the pain. But her spirit was stubborn. More so than ever. It slashed and stabbed away at the darkness that circled and stalked like hungry scavengers about the edges of her vision. She could not give in...

 

Then she felt him. He was above her. Looking at her. The weight of his stare further crushed her quivering will. His blood trickled down onto her mangled face, into her gasping mouth. Shy tasted Trowa, felt him, breathed him in. She did so greedily with the understanding that her life was at it's end. She used her final few seconds to indulge her senses in the man she loved with an insane passion. She knew it was the end. It had to be. After all the brutality, what else was left to come but the death...

 

"Marry me."

 

In disbelief, Shy choked up another mouthful of blood. As the words truly sunk into her pain riddled mind Trowa collapsed onto her. His dead weight crushed her, caused even more agony. She coughed some more and struggled to breathe. Those two words broke her down faster than the beating she'd just suffered. She never thought mere words could knock the sense out of her.

 

"Death or marriage. Marriage or death." Shy pondered breathlessly. "Which is the lesser hell?" She broke into a hacking laughter. As the world further faded to black she snaked her arms around Trowa and surrendered.

[Bad karma]

A few of the lesser agents moved through the ships high above the planet, searching out three specific people. The agents each held a datapad with a few missions on it. These would be their first tests. It would test their combat abilities as well as their diplomatic capabilities. First they were to take care of those that had placed a bounty on Trowa's head and anyone who accepted it. Secondly they were to go to Corrilia and speak with one, Lycus Thorpe.

 

Trowa had kept a keen eye on the man and all of his escapades. He knew that recently he had taken a great chance in aiding the Republic and it had failed, he would need money and support now to stay on top and Trowa would offer it to him, as long as he got something in return. Vash, Ulos, and Krishna would have to complete these missions then return.

 

_____

 

 

The next ship, Cocaine, arrived in system and took up its spot floating in space above the planet of Roon.

 

_____

 

Far below his agents and the newly arrived ship lay Trowa Barton in the medical bay. Surgeons worked furiously on his body, doing everything they could to fix up the damage done to him by Shy. They worked with just as much vigor on her body as well. During the middle of it, a scientist was brought in to inject Trowa with something they had been working on for a while.

 

The healing process of his body was increased ten fold thanks to this tiny micro organisms. It would still take some time for his body to fully heal, but at least now he would be up and going about his business at a much quicker pace. Once they were finished fixing him up he came too, glancing about and not quite remembering all of what had happened between him and Shy.

 

Trowa didn't plan to waste any time hanging around doing nothing, he knew that three of his new agents would be on a mission shortly so he sent for Clarisson. He would have sent her with them, but she had made it quite clear she was not good at anything and would need training. He figured now was a good a time as any to do such.

[Darth Clarisson]

Every muscle, every nerve was open, trembling at the edge of her consciousness, waiting for...what? Clari struggled to place the feeling. The only thing that half covered it was...hunger? Going without food, she had a few times felt this way.

Sharper. Quicker. Nearer. Exposed.

 

Maybe I am hungry. A day and a night on Tatooine, and here... And she realized just how she was cut loose. Time was intangible so far away from Tatooine's suns, and what you can't see, or hear, or smell, or taste, or touch...doesn't exist? How long had it been?

 

Not long enough for her to think her way out, before she had been called out, in, down, away, along...somewhere. Another game, and another riddle, and another chance. She looked up to Him, and smelled suspense[like salt sweat] and saw fear[like grey mist] and tasted...blood, no, not really... It was tangy-metallic, set her teeth on edge as her mouth watered. don't think him Don't think Him? don't let him see, don't let him hear She fought down the urge to scream, just to clear her head. you'll get hurt, he'll””

 

Her mother...

Be safe.

 

Clari's eyes slipped closed as she choked on hot, bitter bile.

[Bad karma]

Trowa's eyes rested upon her from within his hooded cloak. He had slipped into it to save her the sight of his face at this point, as the skin had been torn free and the structure altered to the point of being near beyond recognition. He didn't move a muscle, or speak for sometime rather he just watched her with his emerald globes. He had considered what to do with her for some time now and still, nothing came to mind. She had given him nothing at all to work with.

 

He raised his left hand as she began to sway a bit, he knew what was coming. Everything had overwhelmed her. The shadows on the ground swirled up to catch her as she lost consciousness about the same time her mouth opened up, releasing a payload of vomit. He pulled her to him, sitting her down beside him and calling in someone to fix things up.

 

___

 

 

A few moments later when she came too there were a few easy to make dishes of food on the table in front of her, with Trowa sitting across from her. He waited for her to get her bearings back before speaking up. His voice was slightly raw, but the reason was not obvious. The only portion of his body she could see were his glowing eyes from beneath the dark hood.

 

"I haven't come up with anything for you to do, but from the looks of it you will just need to get used to things around here first. If you would, tell me about yourself. After that I will answer any questions you may have..."

[Shy-Ree]

Shy-Ree awakened, her body still riddled with aches. For a moment, she thought she'd died and was cloned again...

 

Her eyes adjusted to the stark clinical white light in the room and she sat up suddenly. The room swirled out of control for an instant before she angrily forced away the dizzy spell. A couple of surgeons rushed over and attemtped to restrain her but she grabbed one by the throat and tossed him into the other. Both slid across the room and crashed into the wall. Shy slid out of bed and looked down at her body then looked around the room. Rage, her reflex emotion, flared up instantly. After a couple of seconds worry, like a white hot daggar to her heart, caused her rage to melt away. She stormed out of the room draped in nothing more than a thin patient's gown.

 

A few minutes later she was in Trowa's room shoving aside the aides that had been assigned to take care of the twins. She peeked into the babies' bassinets. A smile spread slowly over her still aching face to see that they were still there and still okay. She glanced around the room and wondered where the hell Trowa had sneaked away to. Always sneaking about, he was. A look of mild displeasure crept over her features as she ripped out into the Force to find out where his creeping ass had slinked away to. She sensed him and her displeasure shifted into right out anger.

 

"He nearly beats me to death and now..." She rummaged through Trowa's clothing to find something that would fit her. "That lousey sack of bastard," she hissed, a sinister grin crept over her mangled features.

[Darth Clarisson]

I don't understand.

 

 

But I'm about to.

Clari felt her world narrow to a clear pinprick of thought and sensation””sharp, refined, brilliant. An exhausted euphoria slowly soothed her brain into a rhythm of logic as He waited. That was interesting...

 

She took her time to assess the situation, letting her eyes wander from Him, around the room, back to Him... Her mind paused a moment on the food...do I need that? Logic said now, but intuition said twenty-four hours. And which of those has never let you down?

A rush of sensation hit her, and she stood and walked around the table to escape the sudden feeling of being confined...oppressed.

 

”