Shayla wasn't sure at first she was really hearing these words. How could this be, that she wants to know what I want of her? What does she want of me?

No, this was no dream, this was the real thing. Worry began to chew at the corners of Shayla's mind, but she pushed it away. Then suddenly, something bubbled from within her. The peace that had come to her just only a little while ago arose in her anew.

And suddenly she knew exactly what to say.

Realizing that she was sitting there stupidly, still holding the fruit in front of her, Shayla smiled softly, putting it down near her lap.

"My friend," she started, surprised at how smoothly and certainly her words flowed, "I do not know what I would have of you, as I do not yet know what you would have of me. There is so much here that I do not understand, and without that understanding, I cannot make a fair decision on what should come next.

I am a padawan, and because of that I truly feel that I belong with the Jedi. However, nothing occurs without design, and I am certain the Force is here with me, guiding me to hear you out.

So I suppose what I truly would have of you...is that you tell me the truth of why I am here."

With that Shayla stopped, her blue-green eyes still not shifting from the other's violet ones. Try to read them she might, but she did not yet have that ability.

Only the woman's verbal answer would determine Shayla's next move...

[ 08-16-2001 07:54 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

--------------------

Oh my, they were actually shined....

...to his still-damp hair. It was quite obvious he had taken the care to make himself presentable for the occasion; okay, so a part of me was beginning to hope that care was prompted by my presence here on the Hornett.

For a moment I flashed back to another day, another occasion, seeming a lifetime ago, when a certain bounty hunter had stood before my door with practically the same awe-stricken look on his face, as he took in my appearance in the identical manner in which Terrin was taking it in now. I drew in a deep breath, waiting for the hurt to hit...

...only, surprisingly enough, it didn't. There was something in Terrin's face which was, oh I don't know, more sincere maybe....

I smiled my widest smile, allowing my teeth to flash at him. "I'm ready whenever you are," I announced as I glided from my quarters, stopping to slip my arm into the crook of his. I looked up into those deep blue eyes, and gave his arm a little squeeze.

"Lead on, Mon Capitain," I announced a bit breathlessly. I then let him lead me down the corridor toward a meeting with who knew who, but over a topic I'm afraid I knew all too much about.

--------------------

At length she leaned back upon the lounge, one hand toying gracefully upon the headrest. "In my travels I have heard it be said that Jedi revere life; yet they would stand silent by while that which would threaten that life grows in strength and power."

She paused a bit, well aware that she had piqued Shayla's curiosity by her seeming non sequiteur, then went on. "I find this discrepency... odd."

Now she rose to her feet, gliding silently to the back of the little room, staring out a small viewport there which revealed the planet over which they still orbited. Even as she stood there, the planet's terminator slipped around it's disk, followed by a sprinkling of sparkling stars as, one by one, the cities and communities below began to turn on their lights.

Graysith nodded in the direction of the planet, her slim hands clasped together within the folds of her cloak. "There is a greater Light I would show the Jedi," she purred, then whirled faster than Shayla could give her credit for, pinning her once again with her violet stare.

Deep within the very core of the Chosen Daughter, a great and crescendoing rumble began to build. It was like the core-deep strain of converging tectonic plates, beginning low and deep but building inexorably in power and strength until the rock at last would give way in its destined slippage....

"Take care in thy current ministrations, my love."

Graysith only continued smoothly, as though that inner warning was but a fleeting thought... or some form of self-induced imagery. She regained her seat, settled herself comfortably there. Then she leaned forward, suddenly earnest.

"I am not Who you think, nor the What," she whispered. "Once I tried to reveal this to you, to show you, but was scorned. In foolish anger I retaliated; later I was able to appease my regret, for are you not here with me now?

"These things, though, are of no import." She sat up straighter, laying her hands quietly in her lap, her eyes never leaving the pair before her. Then slowly, in some admixture of invitation and entreaty, she held out one hand toward Shayla.

"What would I have of you in turn? Why, you. It is you that I, Graysith, the Chosen Daughter and Retainer of the All, have need of. For there is Great Life which has been horribly taken, as well as small, and I would that both be restored to their rightful places.

"I need you to assist me as sister, Shayla. I need to teach you how."

She fell silent, staring into the shocked gaze of the young padawan. The only thing to mar their perfect silence was M'wonBo'o's raging howl without the door.

--------------------

But this was so different. Galen was beautiful, but there was more. She was obviously a woman who had been through much, and who possessed a very strong character.

That strong character rather attracted him. Terrin had suspected that the same type of character had also attracted him to Shayla, but he had shoved her away for fear of losing himself in her strength. Now, well, this was different. He didn't care if he lost himself in Galen. In fact, he almost wanted to.

At last, they reached the meeting room, and the door slid open, admitting them into a small room with one hard wood table surrounded by wooden chairs with soft padding. The set up easily suggested this was a conference room.

Around the table sat three men, and two women. The first was Matt Stanza, a short man with red hair. Next to him sat an older man with thinning hair and rough skin. This man Terrin knew well, his name was Scott Garber and he was one of the founding fathers of the company. Next to him sat one of the two females, Tarna Sykes, an older overweight blonde whose only business there was her large contributions to Eagle Enterprises. Next to her sat her daughter and Terrin's partner's fiance, Renee Sykes. Renee was tall and slender with long smooth brown hair that reached past her shoulders. She was a stylish dresser, and tonight wore a pale green gown that sat off her shoulders and accentuated her dark skin and green eyes. Next to Renee was Terrin's business partner, Aaron Barnes. Aaron was a fairly tall man with wide shoulders and large muscles. He had short dark hair and deep brown eyes that usually implied he was brooding over something.

Terrin smiled at his partner and the other guests as he entered. "Hello all, sorry to be late. Time slipped by faster than I thought it would."

He lead Galen over to one of the two chairs left, let her sit, then seated himself in the chair next to her. "This is Galen Jinn'Dar, a brillant pilot who escorted me out of Ambria."

With the mention of Ambria, Aaron shot Terrin a rather dark look, as though he wished that Terrin had stayed to close out the deal rather than wrecklessly leaving.

Oh well, Aaron, we'll get to that, sooner than I'd like I suspect. He shifted his gaze from Aaron back to Galen, and smiled warmly at her. "Galen," he said, introducing everyone from his right on around, "Meet Aaron Barnes, my partner; his fiance, Renee Sykes; her mother, Tarna Sykes; Scott Garber, one of Eagle Enterprises founders; and Matt Stanza, my personal assistant whom you've already met.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries, and Terrin noticed that Aaron had gone from his look of questioning to one of amusement.

Was it THAT obvious? Ah well, so what?

"Now that everyone knows everyone," Matt said, exchanging the grin and knowing look with Aaron that Terrin thought he was seeing alot of as of late, "Can we eat? I'm starved!"

"Yes," Aaron said. "We eat this wonderful roast nerf first. Only after then will we talk business. Although while we eat I'd love to hear this tale, Terrin, of how Galen so smoothly aided you in your escape from Ambria..."

[ 08-16-2001 09:57 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

--------------------

Your potential...your True Potential...

And at last, Shayla knew what she had to do and that she alone was the one who could do it. She didn't know where the strength was coming from, or how long it would last. But for once, she had to believe in the sole guidance of the Force, and in herself, Shayla Petrolu.

Finally, as her musings spun to a screeching halt, Shayla locked her sparkling blue-green eyes with Graysith's piercing violet ones and spoke calmly and evenly. "Teach me your ways, my new-found Sister."

--------------------

What are you doing, Galen Jhin'Dar?! it scolded in an aggrieved tone of voice. Remember what it is you carry, who it is that seeks you, as well as why...

...and why you left Sorben to begin with.

Or was the reason you professed indeed why you did?

I blinked, suddenly aware that the conversation around the table had quieted, and folks' eyes were affixed to where I sat still holding my fork in mid-air.

I let out a little breath, then straightened in my chair. "Perhaps that exit wasn't quite as smooth as Terrin would have preferred," I offerred as, with a somewhat forced little smile, I took the meat into my mouth and chewed.

Next to me, I could practically feel the moan I knew Terrin was holding inside himself, as all eyes now swiveled as one in his direction.

I hid my widening grin with my hand, then removed it and swallowed. "But then again, perhaps his last meal that day hadn't been as 'worthy of savoring' as is this delicious roast," I concluded, an innocent look on my face. Quite calmly then, I stabbed out with my fork and took another bite of nerf.

Thank Khaandon that annoyance had left my shoulder. I'd more closely inspect what it had to say...

...but not right at this moment in time.

[ 08-17-2001 12:04 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

--------------------

Matt chuckled. "Never one for rough exits, were you Terrin, buddy?"

Terrin rolled his eyes at the short redheaded man. "As I recall you lost a meal or two during our escapades with David Wyner," he said, his lip curling in a nesty grin.

"Hey! You know as well as I did the food there left little to be desired!"

"Sure, sure. But I don't recall you complaining about it when you were out with that Nina from his staff," Terrin teased.

Matt frowned at him, but a smile was obviously pulling at the corners of his lips.

"So," Aaron interrupted, "What is this of our switching courses, and why is Krenoff calling here on the hour like a madman?"

Terrin winced. "Well, I sorta left him hanging. I know where Shayla is, and he's not listening to me. He'd rather keep me pinned on Ambria where I'm not doing any good, and I'm not going to play that game anymore."

Aaron seemed to consider this. "So...where is Ms. Stargazer?"

Terrin hesitated, and shot a look over at Galen. Then he mustered up the best half-truth he could come up with. "She's being held hostage on board a shuttle that was last seen near Ambria. I'd like to take The Hornett, a few of our smaller shuttles, and one of the Eclipses in to find her."

Scott chimed in. "Why do we need that much manpower to get her?"

"Umm...best to make a lasting impression on her captor. We'd look pretty pathetic only bringing one or two shuttles in to get her."

"Okay, allright," Aaron said, "I'll buy that we need to appear impressive. But who captures a Jedi padawan anyway? Or does someone else have unfinished business with Ms. Stargazer as well?"

Avoid the Sith thing, Terrin buddy, if you can. I can't say who would want a Jedi padawan."

"Then how do you know she's on this shuttle?" Matt interjected.

Terrin wanted to crawl under the table. This wasn't going the way he wanted. "An Admiral Actar has advised me that she is there. He also knows who is holding Shayla."

Time to tell the truth. "Galen also has experience with Shayla's captor, and will be of great help. But you must trust me on this, and lend me the resources Galen thinks we will require. The truth is...well, Shayla's captor...is a Sith."

Terrin thought Aaron was going to fall out of his chair after hearing that. Aaron started to object, but Terrin held up a hand to silence him.

"I know, it's risky. But if we don't fullfill the Moff's demands Eagle Enterprises will be sunk. Besides," he said, a flash of concern running through him that he hadn't realized was there, "Shayla will fair far better dealing with the Moff than dealing with a Sith."

He scanned the group, who had now gone completely quiet. All eyes were on him. He glanced over at Galen, who was looking at him somewhat quizzically. "And I think I owe it to Galen, after she so artfully got us away from Ambria, to help her find this Sith whom she is also searching for."

You think that's it, eh buddy? You just want to help her because she helped you? Right. You're going soft. You like her, and you like her alot. So much that you want to show her...

Aaron sat quietly, and seemed to be mulling over the whole thing in his mind. He sighed, but seemed resigned. "Allright, you can have the fleet."

Terrin kept his jaw from dropping. "All of it?"

Aaron nodded. "You're gonna need it. You're right, if we don't follow this through, the Moff will kill the company. Besides, Eagle Enterprises is mostly yours now anyway, Terrin. I only design the shuttles. You've earned the right to use the fleet for what you feel you must. She's all yours, Captain."

Terrin sighed in relief. "Thank you Aaron, thank you very much."

[ 08-17-2001 12:25 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

--------------------

Then she blinked; whatever had been there disappearing into some deeper realm where a pewter-eyed Beast still hunkered, its razor-taloned paw clutching an impossible little kernel, an unseeming speck of warmth in an entire wasteland of ice and moraine and rock-hard determination.

For a brief moment she merely looked at Shayla. Then that inky stare somehow became sharper, piercing, and suddenly tore into the young padawan's psyche with the ease of a ship plunging into hyperdrive. There she probed, seeking, finding, storing...

...until with a little sigh, she backed out and sat back against the lounge with a graceful nod of her head. Before her, Shayla seemed to shiver, but then firmed. Not one word had she spoken; not one mental guard had come anywhere close to being lifted against that inner probing she had endured.

The Chosen Daughter was satisfied with all she had seen there. Again she nodded; then, in one smooth motion, she leaned forward, and plucked a t'plykk fruit from the platter. She held it up thoughtfully before her, then placed it carefully in the center of the table.

"And now, my young Adept," she whispered in a low and musical tone of voice. "A mere introduction to a new understanding.

"Tell me, concerning this fruit before you. Which side of it is the better half?"

Then she sat back against the lounge, waiting to hear Shayla's answer.

--------------------

She also felt another there, one whose presence she had not felt for some time. He was entreating with her, pleading for her to not do what she was determined she must do. She sent out a word to him to trust her, and she was certain the woman before her was well aware of this.

"I...love...you," he said at last. Then, as soon as she had felt his Force-touch, she felt it dissipate.

Shayla shivered, well aware of the fact that the two minds that had been linked with hers were certainly now aware of each other. But she must trust herself that what she was doing was what must be done, and that Graysith cared about and trusted her and would therefore cause no harm to those she...well, those she loved.

At last she returned to the reality of the moment, and pushed the emotion that was creeping within her back into the recesses of her mind. There is no emotion, only logic, she thought to herself. And logic tells me that the things Graysith has to teach me are things that I need to learn. There is no wisdom without knowledge.

Graysith reached for one of the fruits, looked at it thoughtfully, then placed it in the center of the table before them both. "Tell me, concerning this fruit before you. Which side of it is the better half?"

The answer was simple, and Shayla thought she saw where this all might be heading. "The fruit has no sides. It is a whole, and therefore is the same throughout."

That being said, Shayla eyed the fruit that was now lying next to her lap, and took it in her hand. She raised it to her lips and took a bite, waiting for Graysith's next reply...

[ 08-18-2001 01:25 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

--------------------

This left Terrin alone with Galen, who hadn't said much of anything since the business dealings had begun. He suspected she was wondering exactly what was going on.

"Shall we go somewhere that's a bit more comfortable than this stuffy conference room?" he asked her.

She seemed to consider this a minute, then nodded. "Sure."

He stood, took her right hand in his left, and helped her from her chair. He took her out of the conference room and lead her back to the Red Level, where he stopped at the door to his quarters and punched in the access code into the keypad by the door. The door slid open, and Galen and he stepped inside.

Terrin lead her into his living area. The walls of the room were white, and a green couch of plush material sat against the wall to the right of the door. In front of the couch was a sturdy dark wooden table, and to each side of the couch highback chairs colored in the same plush green were placed. The carpet was a light tan color, and felt velvety to bare feet.

Terrin released Galen's hand, allowing her to wander into the living area and take a seat on the couch. He kicked off his boots then padded across the floor, sitting down on the couch next to her.

She still hasn't said much, he thought to himself. Maybe the business talk overwhelmed her. Or maybe she's wondering what she's gotten herself into.

He looked over at her, trying to analyze exactly what she might be thinking. Once again, his mind wandered to how wonderful she looked in that blue dress and how much he really liked her. Her big brown eyes met his blue ones and for a moment he thought of leaning in close to kiss her, but then looked down, not wanting to push her too fast. He folded his hands in his lap. "So," he said at last, "now that we have the fleet, what are we going to do with it?"

[ 08-18-2001 02:31 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

--------------------

For another moment they seemed to blacken, as if in response to something she found swimming in Shayla's. Determination was there, eagerness perhaps, but toward what end?

Then backing down a bit, slicing through the mental reply Shayla sent to Erik...

Ahh-- yet another player enters this enticing little 'game....'

...she finally spoke aloud.

"It is but a beginning. Be mindful, the road to fruition is a long one, and one strewn with objects not quite as obvious."

With those words, the Chosen Daughter turned her focus once again to the fruit platter. One slim finger poked delicately amidst the various fruits and edibles piled upon it, as though seeking the ripest and most succulent of the bunch. At length she found what she had been looking for, and withdrew a rungar-apple from the platter.

She held it aloft, directly in front of Shayla, rotating it slowly so as to present all its sides to the young and still-silent padawan/adept. At length she paused, holding it firmly in one spot.

There upon otherwise perfection, a blackened bruise marred its surface. From its center there writhed a small red object. It moved about in a serpentine manner, coiling and raising itself into the air outside it's little kingdom as though seeking something it just couldn't quite see.

For a long moment, Graysith continued to hold the marred fruit before Shayla's greeny-blue gaze; then, her movement delicate, she placed a slim finger against the head of the blarnworm, and thus induced it to seek the haven of its den. Smiling a bit to herself, she reached forward, and placed the apple on the table beside the t'pyllk.

"And now, my young friend," she murmured, her voice low and musical. "Again, which is the better half?"

She sat back once more, her gaze boring into Shayla's, and waited to hear her response.

--------------------

But then, what determines what is truly perfect? she asked herself.

"Well," Shayla began, "Some would say that the better half is the unbruised one. However, what one determines as worse another may determine as being better. I wouldn't want the part of the fruit with the bruise, but the so-called marred portion of the fruit is that which the worm desires most," she reasoned.

Graysith listened intently, seeming intrigued.

"Everything has a purpose," Shayla added, taking yet another bite from the fruit in her hand.

--------------------

"Then, my young one, you are stating that there is a certain... equality in both sides of the fruit? That it is all a matter of one's perspective, and that from the view of its entirety the fruit is indeed Whole."

She reached out and plucked the rungar-apple from the table, looked at it thoughtfully. Then, her movement sure and swift, she plunged her finger into the bruise, twisting about in the flesh of the fruit, then pulling it out. The little blarnworm was impaled upon one sharp nail.

The smile on her face became a topic of mystery as, still pinning Shayla's eyes with her own, she lifted the worm to her mouth and devoured it.

"And how would this action be interpreted, young one?" she commented, sitting back, the smile suddenly leaving her face, her eyes deepening further into the inkiest of twilight.

The Glyph upon her forehead began to glow softly....

--------------------

She shuddered obviously, and Graysith's mysterious smile spread just a little bit more. "Honestly, my friend?" Shayla dared to ask.

Graysith nodded.

"I would interpret the action as twisted and unnatural."

Having said this, Shayla felt an icy feeling creep up in her heart in anticipation of Graysith's next move...

--------------------

Truth of the matter though, was that my heart was beginning to pound as wildly as were my churning thoughts.

I managed to keep the rising emotion from my face as I let Terrin lead me to a nicely plush couch, where I seated myself. As expected, he sat down beside me, but seemed to strive to keep himself strangely... removed. Almost as though he was trying to present himself as part of the accoutrements of his comfortable--if kinda spare--quarters.

"Now that we have the Fleet, what shall we do with it?" he queried in my direction.

Now that we have the Fleet? Do I interpret this question as one solidifying my earlier guess, that it isn't quite, er, all his? And logic leading my thoughts from there: is this guy not quite the possessor of the 'oomph' I had formerly believed? And egads, what's all this with a Moff? Yet another big and baddie, Hell's Bells Galen, are you ever going to find one little corner of the Galaxy which these guys will leave alone?

I tilted my head to the side, scrutinizing Terrin, waiting for him to continue. He remained obstinately silent, as though in deference to me. Then quite suddenly, he got to his feet, and walked over to the wall closest to us. He stood there, silent, a strange sort of look darkening his handsome face.

I opened my mouth, ready to erupt with a scathing comment of the sort I used to flare back at Sorben... only it never left my lips. In fact, it never materialized. Hadn't even come close to being the merest glimmer of an idea which would lead to a comment...

I bit off that line of wonder as truth slammed into me like a runaway ronto. Galen, he's trying to impress you. Not only that, but he really means it, at a far deeper level than maybe he admits.

And he's not quite used to doing this, either.

I couldn't keep my jaw from dropping, as my pounding heart began trying to inexplicably leap completely out of my throat. Finally I realized how stupid I was probably looking, and brought my lower jaw somewhat closer to the upper. Kinda hard to gulp like that, but I managed.

Before I knew what I was doing, I was on my feet, approaching him. I stopped in front of him, my head tilting up to stare into his eyes. Suddenly, I didn't want anything to happen to him...

...and a sudden assurety that something would indeed happen if we kept along this route slammed into my gut. Something was happening...

...something on so many levels and regarding so many different aspects of the future that they all twined together in one jumbled snarl and laughed at my attempt to disentangle them.

I reached out a hand in silent entreaty, waved it helplessly about. Dammit, Galen! This isn't like you one bit...!

Finally I found the words to speak. "I don't think the Fleet is going to be enough, Terrin. And I don't know if you ought to risk it as you are offering. I know you want me to help you..."

I cut my words off, staring into his eyes.

He wants my help; I want to help him!

He wants to help me....

Suddenly it all melded, merging together like the confluence of the myriad tributaries which make up a river.

"I should never had agreed to work with you, Terrin," I whispered, the softness of my whisper in diametric opposition to the growing size of my eyes. "I don't want anything to happen to you...."

But there IS something else you can do, Galen! The thought niggled upward, seeking to break through the pausal moment I found myself suddenly swallowed up in. Tell him....

A part of me zipped that particular lip, and I merely stood there, like some big gandy rak frozen in headlights, waiting....

--------------------

He looked down at the woman before him blankly, a million thoughts speeding through his brain. He felt the monster inside of him trying to break free, the monster that always managed to make him say something stupid and shove those closest to him away. It dared him to utter the words, "I can take care of myself," but those words never came. They just weren't with him anymore.

His hands felt clammy, and he was feeling a little shakey as the realization of how he was feeling hit him like a Super Star Deystroyer. He reached out with his right hand, and took her chin in it. "I...I don't want anything to happen to you either," he managed. Slowly, but with sudden certainty, he leaned in, and gently met his lips with hers. She didn't resist, and he took in her sweet warmness with a longing that he hadn't known was within him til now. Finally, he pulled away from her, but his eyes never left her face. "Galen...I know there is danger. But I need you. I need you..." He looked down, suddenly aware and shocked to find that his eyes were damp. He blinked the tears away. "I need you to help me redeem myself."

[ 08-18-2001 04:10 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

--------------------

...and which remained yet so obstinately Dark to the young woman.

At length she rose gracefully to her feet, the smile she directed toward Shayla a gracious one, the tilt of her head her only release of her. Upon her forehead, though, the Sigil began to flare in shorter and shorter frequencies, until at last these energies approached that of the extremely high ultraviolet as the Rune in turn became most difficult indeed to discern as yet being imbedded within her flesh.

"You are a strong one, my Adept," she commented into the suddenly upwelling iciness which strove to completely encompass the little lounge. "Your insights serve you well, as they always have. And in that servience, they do not surprise me, although I had hoped..."

Graysith bit off the remainder of the words, merely turning with sudden quickness to glide silently over to the hatch. It whooshed open without her so much as lifting one a finger. She began to step forward, but paused momentarily within its frame.

"Every learning endeavor needs a baseline from which true testing of knowledge gained may be weighed. Such is the truth in regards to every student... to those who seek knowledge for knowledge's sake, as well as for those who seek to utilize that knowledge gained.

"And for whatever purpose."

The hatch closed with a sighing exhalation of air as Graysith left the lounge.

--------------------

As Graysith exited the little lounge, Shayla's mind wondered over the meaning of those words.

Baseline for knowledge...

Quite obviously, Shayla's answer had been the wrong one. Not that this surprised her, for she had suspected it before she'd ever uttered her feelings on the matter.

"Many of the truths we cling to depend only greatly on our own point of view..."

Shayla remembered Master Skywalker quoting the line of Ben Kenobi's frequently, and suddenly she wondered just exactly what it meant. If the truths we cling to truly depend on our own point of view, then we are the ones who ultimately determine what is good and what is bad. Following this line of reasoning, only I can determine, for myself, what truth and good is.

Shayla was also intrigued to know yet even more of Graysith's own Truths. Knowledge for knowledge's sake, at this point that was what it truly was. Shayla stood by her belief though that she must have the knowledge first before deciding how to utilize it. And have the knowledge she would.

The words "I love you," still echoed in her brain, although she had since silenced the speaker of the words from her mind. She hesitated, but at last whispered back. "I love you too, and I hope someday you will understand."

With that, Shayla rose from her seat, and wandered over to the hatch hesitantly. She hit the release button, watched the hatch open before her, then exited the lounge.

[ 08-18-2001 05:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

--------------------

The words pounded in my brain, danced before my inner eye, coursed through my entire body with the pulsation of each exhilarated beat of my heart, which grew so loud that they nearly blocked out the unexpected sweetness of the words altogether.

He needs me.

A little part of me relived the wonder of his touch on my chin, of his sweet kiss on my lips, and replayed over and over that shocking image, still standing before me, of the tears in his eyes, deepening the blueness therein to the depth of a veritable ocean.

An ocean in which I quite suddenly and with every fiber of my being wanted to fling myself into and drown, so as never to be parted from it.

Ever.

Those blue, damnably blue eyes. Like Sorben's....

He wasn't Sorben...

That lusciously sweet kiss, so like when Sorben's lips first brushed mine, a lifetime ago...

He wasn't Sorben.

The strength in his arms, sending me silent entreaty, like that in Sorben's....

Dammit, he wasn't Sorben!

And thank Khaandon, he never would be.

My eyes widened with this sudden disclosure as, from somewhere deep within my essence a tiny little being ceased waving its arms about, and crossed them in front of itself as if to say, "Well, I FINALLY seem to have captured your attention!"

Now the image of Terrin blurred before me as, tears springing into my own eyes, I turned inward and listened to what that little being was trying to tell me. Had been trying to tell me, for months and months and months.

You know why you left Sorben, don't you Galen? It wasn't because of the baby, nor was it due to the fact that your sister poses such a terrible threat to you and everyone around you...

...everyone you love....

My eyes closed now, tears freely escaping them to wet the lashes and roll unheeding down my own cheeks. Images of Dad, of Jharmeen, of that hideous day on that even more hideous ball of dust and rock; all sped through my head at lightspeed, circling faster and faster like an event horizon whirling about some abyssal black hole... finally spewing out a portion thereof to reveal that black hole for the emptiness it truly represented.

It wasn't too great of a surprise to find that emptiness as being something which had existed within me for a long, long time. A deep-down, soul-encompassing null that Sorben hadn't even come close to filling.

He never needed you. With him, you were a companion, perhaps even an equal. Your days would have been filled with laughter and excitement and adventure. But these things don't satiate a black hole, do they Galen?

My eyes slowly opened, to reveal a blurred image of Terrin before me. He remained silent, some great and overpowering pain clearly evident in every crease of his features. That this pain was so ready to go in either direction at what words I would utter was equally evident.

He needs you. And surprise, surprise... you NEED him to need you, don't you? Together, the two of us can be so much more than the sum of our parts...

...and Oh Khaandon, I want to be whole again!

What a shock to realize I hadn't been whole since that thing killed our father on the Sith world.

And somehow, from the moment you met him, you knew this was the One....

Slowly, that realization brought me back to the reality of the situation at hand. I blinked, trying to bring Terrin into focus. He still stood silently awaiting my answer; Khaandon knows how long I had lost myself in my self-inspection.

Trembling, I reached a hand up, placed it quietly alongside the strong plane of his face. "I won't leave you, Terrin," I murmured softly, scarcely daring to speak the words so fragile was the moment. "I won't, I promise. I need you too, more than I ever thought I would. I--"

I paused, drawing in a breath, suddenly halted in mid-speech when his eyes focused with unspoken insistence upon me. Was suddenly frightened to the core of my being at the next words which were seeking release from my throat. Was lost in the complete incongruity of how quickly they had formed, and from what foundation, in turn so quickly built, but as solid as the very bedrock of the Universe.

"I-- I think that I love you, Terrin," came the barely discernable whisper. "I'll do the best I can to help you in any way that I can."

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"I--I think that I love you, Terrin," she said at last. "I'll do the best to help you in any way I can."

His heart swelled with sudden hope as he was surprised by her reply. No one had ever loved him, not before...not even Shayla. And no one ever wanted to help him...

He dared not speak a word, for he wasn't sure if he could get it out anyway. He savored the feel of her soft hand on his face, and reached one of his own hands up to grasp hers. Keeping her hand in firm grasp, he pulled her in close and wrapped his other hand around her back, kissing her long and full on the lips. After a while they parted although he kept her within his embrace, only breaking it momentarily to wipe the tears from her face with his hand. He looked into her big brown eyes and smiled softly. "I love you," he whispered softly. "And I promise I'll help you too. Our paths seem to be speeding in the same direction, and," he paused, his blue eyes searching her brown ones, "there's no one else I'd rather travel the way with than you."

[ 08-18-2001 08:27 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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"Galen," he said, breaking the silence, "I need to make sure you know what is going on here before we go any further."

She tilted her head slightly, then nodded.

He led her back to the couch where they sat facing each other, still hand in hand.

"The woman I've been looking for, Shayla Stargazer, is wanted by Moff Krenoff for uncovering a plan he had to assassinate Admiral Palleon. Eagle Enterprises had built him a few Eclipse-class SSDs in order to build up his fleet for this event and also provided him with a source that would provide the means to carry out the asassination. While the Eclipses where being built, I was on board the Hornett in the Moff's area, assigned to the task of keeping all stray traffic out of the system either by command or by force, whichever was necessary. Shayla's freighter came in system, I tractored it in, and of course told her she'd best leave. Only later did I find out she had a delivery for the Moff, so I released her. This action came to late, however, for Shayla had gotten suspicious of the whole thing because of my involvement. So she uncovered the scheme and the assassination attempt went bust.

When the Moff found out Shayla and I had previously been involved, that I had tractored her freighter the Starlight in, and that this might have triggered her suspicion, he refused to pay Eagle Enterprises the sum for the Eclipses until Shayla was brought to him.

Originally, I agreed to do it because I was mad at her. Later, I continued with it because I wanted to be paid and knew the company would be finished if it was never paid for the parts and labor for those Eclipses.

Now..." his words trailed off as he sorted through what he was thinking. "Well, now I know that I must find a way to save my company, stand up to the Moff, and save Shayla before she is harmed by this Sith or the Moff. My company will never be paid whether I find Shayla or not, I'm almost certain of that. I need you, Galen, to keep me honest. I need you to stand by me when things get rough. And I need you to help me find Shayla. I'm not certain now if I was mad at her because she ruined my dealings with the Moff, or because she came with someone else when I pulled her in on the Hornett. Probably the latter, for I knew then that she had someone, and I was desperately alone. Since I've been with you, Galen...well, that feeling has vanished."

With that, he finished, searching her brown eyes thoughtfully and awaiting her reply to all that he had revealed...

[ 08-18-2001 09:06 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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I couldn't help closing my eyes in an instinctive gesture which borderlined self-defense. Somewhere deep within, a tiny hurt sought to well upward, spreading throughout me until it would have me firmly in its grasp, thus provoking me to blat forth with my usual hot retort.

Strangely enough, that tiny little hurt lasted but a hair's-breadth of a moment. It had scarcely begun to form when it's black little heart quite suddenly segued into the surprising entry of common-sense, and POOF! It was gone, leaving me to ponder what Terrin had revealed in an entirely new light.

That light shone with a particular strength upon the final words he had spoken.

Since he had been with me, he no longer felt alone. And neither did I, in his warm presence.

I opened my eyes, a gleam of humor sparkling in their depths, and I actually smiled. I don't think Terrin was quite expecting that; from the look on his face, one would have thought he was somehow expecting me to either tear off his head or something else of greater and more personal value to him... or both.

He blinked in surprise. That only made my smile widen. The fact that his face only lengthened in utterly confused shock made me actually giggle a little.

Sheesh, Galen ol' girl; he's gonna think you've gone hyper-happy or something. Control, control...!

With some effort, I sobered. Then I allowed a quite different smile to warm my face as, reaching out, I cupped his face in my hands.

"What you ever felt for... Shayla," I stumbled only the briefest of moments upon the name, then firmed and continued smoothly on, "I trust is behind you. I mean, if it weren't, I really believe in you enough that you would tell me now... not to mention you would not have told me everything you already have."

I paused, searching his face for a hint of what he was thinking. He remained remarkably inscrutable, considering how blatant he had been with his emotional luggage mere moments before. I drew in a breath, and continued.

"The fact that you told me all this speaks for itself, Terrin, and doesn't change one whit what I feel for you, or my pledge to help you find and rescue Shayla."

If it isn't too late. I frowned at those words, which rose with the smooth unfolding of an uncoiling adder. Then I gritted my teeth, and put that thought aside, suddenly realizing that he wasn't the only one with a history which needed telling.

Only I didn't know if I dared tell him, at this point. I had pledged my assistance, as well as my love. While the latter would go on no matter what happened to me, I knew deep in my very soul that if he knew I was pregnant, he'd have me buried so deeply within the fleet, attended by med-droids and nannies that I'd be lucky to see starlight again for months on end.

The very thought was enough to make me gag. I decided that discretion was the better part of valor, promising myself that I would tell him...

...but not until we rescued his ex-interest.

For a little moment my eyes defocused, and I inspected those words. Ex-interest. Then I firmed again, my resolve steady. No matter what he might end up feeling, I knew what I was feeling now. Didn't someone once say, "Better to have loved and lost...?"

He was a complete idiot to pen those words, whoever he was. Had to be a crotchetty old Impy, sheesh...

I cleared my throat. "Umm--" I began uncertainly. "I, uh- I think I can really help you, Terrin, on both counts.

"I think I know a way to rescue Shayla, as well as how to save your company."

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With that, he took her chin in his hand once again, smiling warmly. "I love you Galen, and nothing will change that. Not now, not ever.

As to your thoughts on what we might do to find the Sith, save Shayla, and save Eagle Enterprises, that can wait til morning. It is late, and it's been a very emotional night." He sighed, mostly to spare himself time to sort out what he should say next. "I'd be happy for you to stay with me, but, since this thing has happened so fast, I'll understand if you want me to take you back to the guest suite. It's up to you," he finished, waiting for her decision.

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I refrained from all that, managing to hold myself to the grin I knew was planted upon my face, and in one smooth motion reached out to wrap my arms about Terrin's broad shoulders. I kneaded them gently, considering the rest of his statement, now that the fireworks regarding the former were finally beginning to quiet down.

Then I sobered, my eyes widening before the intensity of Terrin's gaze as the true import of his last statement sunk in. My choice...

I trembled suddenly, a quick and quite uncontrollable little shiver. I had never been given the choice before, and that freedom was almost too heady to bear. I suddenly wanted more than anything else in the Universe to stay here with him, to stay wrapped up and protected by his warm embrace, to lose myself in his eyes and his grasp and everything that made him who he was; indeed, in that meeting learn even more about who and what he was, as much and as quickly as I could....

I sighed, then smiled. "I- I think I'd better go back to my suites, Terrin. You're right; this has been a very emotional night. I have to sort it all out, too.

"But I'm not at all sorry for any of it. I love you, more than I have ever loved anyone, more than thought I could."

I leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on his lips, closing my eyes and allowing my being to merge with his through that one, incredibly sweet connection. Then I drew back, and rose to my feet.

"I- I guess it's time to get some sleep," I finished somewhat reluctantly. "You're right; I want to be fresh tomorrow to discuss my ideas with you and whoever else needs to hear of them."

I then pulled him to his feet, and snuggled against him. He was so much taller than me; my face was buried somewhere at his chest level. I sighed again into the material of his tunic.

"Guess I'd better go now..." My muffled voice was anything but confident in the matter. But as another soul much wiser than me had indeed once said, "to everything there is a season."

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Ah well, buddy, everything has it's own time.

"Let's go," he said, dropping his arms from her then taking her left hand in his right and squeezing it. Together they walked out of the living area, through the door, and down the hall to her quarters. When they were both standing in front of the door, she turned to look at him, and he leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips once more. Their lips parted, and she smiled at him.

"Goodnight, Galen," he said softly. And, relishing the words as they came from his heart, he added, "I love you,"

[ 08-19-2001 12:23 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin Danner ]

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