((Contains material of an adult nature.))

Contrary to Kalen's belief that she had been too far gone to remember anything from the evening before, Yana Triem woke with a pounding head and a very clear memory. Parts of it were too clear for her liking - why did I have to talk about his ass so much" - but the part that resounded through her head most was his insistence that they were now partners. Partners in need of a bigger ship. As much as she loved her Pandora, she knew it was not suitable for more than a one person crew, and the thought of living in that close quarters with Kalen Dain was more than enough to get her up and moving.

Leaving him sleeping, and with strict instructions to Kless to keep the merc pilot in the Pearl by whatever means necessary until she returned, she made her way out into the Spaceport, steeling herself for what she had planned. First stop was Landing Pad Seven, where she checked on the state of her newly repaired cargo shuttle, reclaiming the credit chit she'd handed over to pay for those repairs and the full tank of fuel. It didn't take long to pack her meager belongings from inside, hoisting a bag that felt too light to hold the necessities of her life onto her shoulder to head out once again.

She avoided the yards that proliferated in the classy end of the 'port; even if the scrapyards did hold a ship suitable, she would never be able to afford it. No, she knew exactly where she was going, treading the walkways down into the heart of the Spaceport, where criminal activity was virtually the only career worth pursuing. Keeping one hand on her blaster at all times, she walked with purpose. She'd grown up here; she knew these byways like the back of her hand, and enough people here could recognize not to trouble her, if not for her own sake, then for the memory of her father. Humans were fewer down here even than they were up top, but she didn't let that deter her. She knew exactly where she was going. It was known locally as The Graveyard, and it was run by a Hutt.

Not a true Hutt; you'd never catch one of them outside their own galaxy. No, Orsk Hitin the Hutt was a Bothan - from the same galaxy as the Hutts, certainly, but wily enough to get out and create a Hutt persona for himself that spread their reputation while keeping his own name safely out of the rumor mill. He'd run a few tricks with her father when she was a small girl; if she was very lucky, Hix Triem's name would still open doors here.

It was no surprise to see Jawas crawling all over The Graveyard, busily working on ships and ship parts, seemingly to their own agenda. Orsk had made sure to populate his inner ranks with races he was familiar with; people that, for one reason or another, had felt the need to leave their own galaxy and gravitated to what was familiar in this one. Therefore she was even less surprised to be challenged by a Rodian just a few moments after entering.

"Uba! Uba chuba chowbasa wata!"

Yana sighed, coming to a halt in front of the green-skinned mercenary. She hated Huttese - too guttural and generally nonsensical for her liking. She refused to speak it.

"I've got business with the Hutt," she informed the Rodian with an unfriendly glare. "Just you tell him there's a Triem who wants his time."

"Ta Hutt chuba bargon foo tah uba," the Rodian insisted.

Yana rolled her eyes. "Yes, he will," she countered through ground teeth, cursing her pounding hangover. She was not in the best of moods. "Pass the message, or I'm going to make trouble."

The Rodian clicked his muzzle-like mouth dismissively. "Bolla goola che uba."

"Oh, yeah?" Without missing a beat, Yana kicked his kneecap hard, drawing her blaster as he staggered to set the barrel against the side of his head. "Wanna think that over?"

The Rodian snarled at her, but was interrupted by the jabbering sound of a Jawa rushing over to them, waving his arms wildly. Stepping back, Yana let the pair talk, keeping her blaster trained on the mercenary all the while. If she heard anything she didn't like, he was going to regret it. After a few moments, however, the Rodian snarled once again, limping backward and out of her way. The Jawa bowed to her, gesturing for her to come with him as he pottered away, toward the hollowed out remains of what might once have been a Hammerhead Corvette-class freighter.

Following, Yana ducked inside at the Jawa's invitation, finding herself in the heart of Orsk Hitin's underclass empire. And there was the man himself - well, man was probably an insult. He was a Bothan, and proud of it, all shaggy fur around his canine-like face and standing no more than five feet in height. His muzzle swung about as she entered, and she felt a little of her tension relax at his booming greeting.

"Little Yan! Welcome to my humble home!"

"Hardly humble, Orsk," she pointed out, but she couldn't deny the wry fondness in her tone. This Bothan had kept a close eye on her after her father's death; if it wasn't for him, she would likely not still be standing.

"What brings you to me, hmm?" Orsk asked, gesturing for her to join him as he moved to sit comfortably on a couch that had never been designed for use on a starship.

She smiled. This was familiar. Straight to business, no need for reliving old memories or revisiting past misadventures. Her name got her in, and the memory of her father kept her in Orsk's good books. That was enough for now.

"I need to trade up," she told him, taking a seat opposite as she dug a datapad with her ship's schematics out of her bag. "Going into partnership with a good pilot, and Pandora's just not going to cut it for both of us. She's newly repaired, full tank of fuel, modified with a rear-mounted laser cannon and side turret, and jumps to light with half-calculation in a pinch."

"How far up are you wanting to trade?" the Bothan asked thoughtfully, taking the pad to scan the details in front of him. "Knowing you, it needs to be speedy and maneuverable as well as having fair cargo space. And two crew suggests separate quarters. I've a couple that might suit."

He nodded to the Jawa who had stayed with them, and the little creature went scurrying for another datapad as the Bothan turned his eyes back to Yana.

"Pandora would fetch a good price with any disreputable businessman," he told her. "Good enough to trade up without coming here."

"But I don't know any honest disreputable businessmen but you, Orsk," she pointed out in amusement.

He let out a bark of laughter, appreciating her distinction. "How do you plan to pay for what the trade doesn't cover?"

She bit her lip, not liking what had to come next. "I've got 5,000 creds to play with," she told him. "Bit of gold here on Rhy'Din, too. But if it's not enough, I propose to keep my creds and my gold, and cut you in on all deals I make until it's paid off." She eyed him pointedly. "You know I'm good for it."

"What's the cut you're offering?" he asked sharply.

"15% on all deals over 10,000," she answered promptly - she'd done the math while packing up her belongings. "5% on anything under that."

Smirking herself, Yana took a slow sip of her coffee, deeply relieved just to be tasting the stuff. "Lingering," was her answer to his question. "So ....your first job, pilot - this ship needs a name so I can register her with the 'port and get her configured for the Nexus Gates. Then we put out feelers and tweak her a bit until she fits what we need."

If he was the pilot, what did that make her, he wondered" The captain, maybe? "I'll have to think about it," he said, unsure if he wanted the honor. "Do you care to tell me how you managed to buy her?" he asked since, thus far, she hadn't chosen to give him any details. If they were going to be partners - equal partners - then he needed to know what kind of deal she'd made to procure their so-called ship.

"I called in a favor," she admitted. "You probably don't want to know with who. Traded in Pandora to do it. You don't need to worry about paying off the rest - I worked it out, and I can pay it out of my take from whatever jobs we pick up. My risk, my foul if I miss a payment."

His expression turned even more serious, if that was at all possible, and he leaned forward, as if to make a point. "If we are going to be partners, then we need to share information, especially information that could put the other at risk. I have told you that there is or was a bounty on my head; now, I am asking you who we are indebted to and by how much?" As if it wasn't enough that they were indebted to Trethin - or rather, she was. He had just, for some strange reason he had yet to fathom, volunteered to help her pay it off, so she could be free.

Either she wasn't being clear, or he was very selective about what he paid attention to when she was talking. She wasn't sure which yet. Rubbing her forehead, she sighed. "I just finished telling you that you're not the one in debt," she pointed out. "This whole thing was your idea." But he obviously wasn't going to let her get away with not telling him. "Do you have any idea who Orsk Hitin is?"

Oh, he'd heard her just fine, but he also knew that as partners, they would be equally responsible for that debt, unless she was planning on taking charge and using him merely as hired help, but that was not a partnership nor was that what he'd had in mind. "Yes, it was, but it we are to be partners, then we share the debt equally ....unless this ship belongs solely to you. Then, I am nothing more than hired help, and you can pay me for my services," he pointed out, just as stubborn as she was. "And yes, I know who Hitin is. Is that who loaned you money for this ship?"

"It's not really a loan he gave me," she said thoughtfully. "I traded up through him. Kind of like ....32,000 on credit that I can pay back. I'm good for it, he knows I am. And I kept your name out of it, because he's not the only person in his circle with contacts in Trethin's galaxy, okay' Believe it or not, actually protecting your ungrateful ass."

"You added 32,000 to the 40,000 you already owe Trethin?" he asked, but it wasn't that that made him angry so much as her remark about his ass again, this time not as flattering as before. "My ungrateful ass is the one who suggested this partnership," he reminded her, though it seemed she knew this already.

"Difference being, Orsk isn't going to kill me the second I hesitate about obeying his merest whim," she frowned. "I know him. He knows me. Like I said, he knows I'm good for the debt he just incurred. And you're pretty judgemental for a man who's been spending what little money I do have the last twenty-four hours. Look, we have a ship; we have a little time to do whatever it is you think we're going to do before we head back into Trethin's space and I get shot out from next to you, so look at it this way - my debt dies with me. You just got a free ship." She stamped up onto her feet, angry with him for making her feel like an idiot, abandoning the prospect of breakfast in favor of getting as far away from his condescending attitude as possible.

"I spent your money?" he echoed, furrowing his brows at her, eyes flashing with some anger of his own. "If you hadn't left me behind, I wouldn't have lost everything I had, including my cred chip! I am not a pauper, you know, and I have my own share of contacts. Just ....not here," he pointed out, trying to contain his temper. He wasn't really sure what they were arguing about, only that they were arguing.

"What, you don't think I've repaid you enough for that?" she demanded, whirling around to glare at him. "I came back for you, I risked my own neck to do that - which you've conveniently forgotten - I got you somewhere safe, healed up, fed. I get it - I've screwed up by getting a better ship, thank you for telling me. But guess what? You are not the center of my universe, sweetheart, I am! And right now, all I want is to get this thing space-ready and out of here so we can work on your plan to get me out of debt, okay' Not that I ever asked in the first place!"

Suddenly, he wasn't quite sure what they'd been arguing about. They were on the same side, for the most part. They wanted the same things. He had even offered her a partnership so they could work toward the same goals, and yet, here they were arguing. Why' Because she had gone ahead and wrangled a deal for a ship without him. Why was he feeling annoyed by it instead of pleasantly surprised"

"Let's get it ready, then," he said abruptly, having his own reasons for wanting to help her get free from Trethin.

"Fine, cockpit's that way," she snapped, jerking her head in the right direction before stalking off toward the engine crawlspace. She hadn't even looked at the breakfast he'd brought for her, abandoning her coffee on the table as she stamped away, snatching up her toolkit from on top of the single bag that held everything she owned.

The big question was who was going to be the captain of this scrapheap. She was talking about him naming it so she could register it, but whose name was she going to register it under? His, hers, or both of them' What was really rankling him was the fact that none of these things had been discussed; she'd just gone out and got herself into further debt without thinking to ask if he had a better plan. Not that he did. That wasn't the point. But instead of arguing the point further, he, too, stalked away in the direction of the cockpit. Unlike her, he took his coffee and breakfast with him.

And there they stayed for a good few hours - she working on the engine, and he with the computer in the cockpit. Yana refused to apologize, though she had admitted she had acted wrongly, in a roundabout way. She didn't understand why he made her so angry so easily, but working on the engine helped her to at least ignore those confused thoughts. It didn't occur to her until she'd finally managed to work the past lightspeed output to point-seven from point-four that she'd left the datapad containing the registration form half-completed in the cockpit. Too late to go and get it now, she realized, hoping he hadn't noticed it, or that if he had, he hadn't noticed what she'd put in the fields.

He hadn't noticed the datapad at first, mostly because he'd been too busy taking his frustration out on the spiderweb of wires within the control panel of the cockpit. It wasn't as relaxing as flying, but at least it distracted him from his annoyance with Yana. He still hadn't sorted out why he was annoyed with her, but their relationship had started out rocky right from the beginning. The problem, he'd decided, was that they were too much alike - both of them a little too defensive, a little too reluctant to trust, to let anyone get close - but if they were going to be partners, they were going to have to get past that, or they were doomed to failure. It wasn't until he was just about finished with his tinkering that he noticed the datapad and couldn't resist taking a peek. What he found there only confounded him further, until he decided to just swallow his pride and go find her.

A loud clunk from the crawlspace reverberated through the silent ship, swallowed by the sound of Yana letting out a frustrated yell. That yell dissolved into expletive-ridden muttering that finally petered out just as it grew clearer. She clambered out of the crawlspace and headed for the cockpit to run a simulation on the new hyperdrive output, grabbing a dirty rag as she went to staunch the blood dripping from her hand. Apparently, while she was generally good at engine work, she had a clumsy streak.

The tour started at the port cargo hold and went all the way around to the starboard cargo hold. All in all, she was a pretty good size ship, with plenty of room for a small crew, as well as cargo. The fact was she was a little big for just the two of them. They could probably go for days without ever running into each other, if they wanted. But it wasn't until they reached the captain's and crew quarters that he asked his first question. "So, we should probably flip for the captain's quarters," he said, fishing into a pocket for a small coin he'd received back after paying for breakfast.

Yana shook her head with a faint smirk. "Captain gets the captain's quarters," she pointed out, resting her hands on her hips as she looked up at him. "You can pretend all you like, I know you read the data pad. It's what I would have done, Captain Dain."

"Why?" he asked simply, needing to know her reasons for making him Captain. He was the one with a bounty on his head, though he'd changed his name and appearance since then.

"Because there's every chance that Trethin's going to shoot me as soon as he sees me, and this way, you don't have to pay out to re-register the ship in your name," she explained with a shrug. "That, and it makes the ship harder to trace. Going one way, people follow me until they get to Orsk, and the trail goes cold. Going the other way, they follow you until they hit the registry, and it goes cold on them too."

"That makes sense," he said agreeably, shoving the coin back into his pocket for safekeeping, impressed with her logic, though he wasn't going to say so. "That brings us back to the matter of food. I assume the galley isn't stocked yet, and breakfast was a long time ago."

She frowned thoughtfully. "I hadn't really thought about that," she admitted. "We should probably look into those quarters, see if we have enough blankets. Space gets cold."

"We aren't in space yet," he pointed out. It would take at least a few days to get the ship kitted out with supplies, not to mention finding some job that earn them enough creds to pay off her debt to Trethin. "I need to check in with Trethin," he remarked, not even bothering to hide the scowl on his face at the mention of Trethin.

Her expression shut down at the mention of actually making contact with their employer. "Not from the ship," she suggested, her voice dull. "There are comm ports all over the Spaceport. Use one of those." She was not proposing to be a part of that call, but neither had she immediately assumed he was going to give her up to Trethin. It was the beginnings of trust. She looked down at herself in vague disgust. "I guess I need to clean up - thank gods I already checked the crew 'fresher was working."

He furrowed his brows at her, feeling just a little insulted that she'd even feel the need to tell him this. "Yes, of course, because that was exactly what I was going to do," he said, with more than a hint of sarcasm, her remark pushing a few of his buttons and putting him on the defensive again. What he needed was for Trethin to transfer what was due him so that he was not beholden to her for everything.

And just like that, the resentment from the argument earlier flared up in Yana. Her jaw clamped, hands falling from her sides as she backed up. "Try not to let the gangway hit you on the arse on your way out," she told him, rubbing the wound just a little more. "Oh, but wait, of course. That never happens to you, because you never make mistakes, clearly. I'm taking a shower." She turned on her heel, stooping to pick up the bag in the curving corridor, rummaging through it on her way to the crew quarters. Extracting what she needed, she let the bag drop onto the floor once again. "That's yours."

He narrowed his eyes at her, knowing he'd irked her, but she'd irked him first. He was at least ten years her senior and didn't particularly like being treated like a child. Of course he'd made mistakes; he just hoped she wasn't one of them. Clearly, both of them were too accustomed to being alone, but though she'd shared at least some of her story, he'd shared very little. What difference would it make, after all" He let her go, mumbling under his breath as he took up the bag and made his way to the so-called captain's quarters to freshen up. He wasn't going to be able to contact Trethin, anyway, until he could get to a comm link. Despite her warning, he wasn't stupid enough to contact him from the ship.

Half an hour later, after a steaming shower in which she had vented some of the frustrated anger she was feeling in tears she was incredibly glad he had no way of overhearing, Yana was back in the crew lounge, carefully applying bacta to the cut on her hand. Her hair was down, curling liberally about her shoulders; her clothing was decidedly better quality than what he had seen her in this far. It looked as though this second set of clothes was what she kept on hand for presenting herself to fussy clients. She was also muttering to herself, but that was probably more a habit borne of days and weeks spent all alone in space.

By the time he found her in the crew lounge, he had freshened up himself, though he was still wearing the second-hand clothes she had found him to change into. She didn't seem to notice him there at first, and he paused in the doorway to watch her quietly a moment, noticing the way her hair fell about her shoulders, making her look even younger than he'd thought. Prettier, too, but that was a thought he didn't want to entertain too much. He cleared his throat to let her know he was there before joining her, their argument not quite forgotten, but pushed aside for now.

She visibly tensed at the sound of his throat clearing, swallowing her mutters as she glanced toward him briefly. She didn't trust herself to say something even mildly polite at this point, deeply annoyed by the way he seemed to go out of his way to find fault with everything she did and said. She was even annoyed with herself for trusting him with her reasons for needing a link to Trethin; obviously she had made a bad call, telling him about her father.

He was observant enough to notice her tense and wondered if he'd made a mistake in suggesting a partnership with such a volatile woman, but then there was something about her that made him feel almost protective, and it wasn't in a fatherly or even brotherly way. "I know you don't like my connection to Trethin, and I know you don't trust me because of it, but I don't like him anymore than you do," he told her, trying to assure her of that fact yet again. "To be honest, I am not sure we need to repay your debt." He had obviously been considering some things since they'd agreed on a partnerships - things he had not yet told her.

"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have traded up," she pointed out, wiping the bacta off her hand now the cut was healed over once again. "I'd have left you to die, if I didn't trust you." She caught his gaze. "But I don't trust you enough, you're right," she agreed. "Give me a reason to trust you. You've done nothing but blame me for every little thing I've done. Some of it, fine. I've already accepted responsibility. The rest of it' Why should I risk my neck again for someone who would rather start an argument than swallow his pride and admit that I might have been right?"

"I will, but not now. You need to eat," he told her. Oh, yes, he'd found the evidence she'd left behind of her uneaten breakfast, and he was getting hungry again himself, too, which didn't put either of them in a very good mood. "But no booze. Not tonight. We need to be able to think straight," he said, trying not to sound like a doting father or older brother. He sure as hell didn't want to be either of those. He nodded toward her hand. "All better?"

They had no sooner entered the place, when a droid approached the pair, asking its programmed question in a very proper voice, "Welcome to the Stars End Bar. Can I help you with something?"

Kalen waved the droid off, one arm still slung around Yana's shoulder. "No, thank you. We're just passing through."

"Telepad online?" Yana asked, even as they kept walking, knowing the droid would answer without following. So long as they kept moving confidently, they weren't likely to garner more than a casual glance from any of the few customers who were scattered about the place.

"Yes, miss," the droid replied obediently. "Just drop your coins or cred chips in the slot or swipe your cred card," it added helpfully. Most of the customers hardly glanced their way, more interested in drinking or gambling or making deals than in a couple who were only passing through. They might not have as easy a time on the way back, but Kalen would worry about that later.

"Thanks."

Yana deliberately didn't look around at the various denizens sitting comfortably in booths and seats. She didn't need to look to know that one of them was bad news. Ee'kree Malastar was there - a Gran she had grown up with, who had developed his own distinctive smell that stretched about twenty feet around him. He was big and mean, and he liked to think he was a big man. Essentially, he was always on the lookout for trouble, and the second he recognized her, he'd make it, she knew. Sending Kalen through the telepad first would mean she was unlikely to meet him on the other side; going through herself first meant leaving him here alone where he was likely to be recognized himself. So she did the only thing she could think of.

Swiping her credit chip through the slot, she twisted, taking hold of Kalen's lapel to pull him into the telepad with her. "Don't look," she murmured, careful to keep her face hidden behind him as Ee'kree's three eyes swiveled in their direction.

Kalen wasn't quite sure why she was tugging him onto the telepad with her, until he spied those three eyes looking around and realized she'd recognized someone. A very big, mean-looking someone that even Kalen didn't want to get into a scrape with. Going along with the ruse, he pulled her close, so that she could bury her face against his chest while he keyed in their destination, as nonchalantly as he could manage.

Hidden against him, only Kalen could possibly be aware that Yana had drawn her blaster from her hip, holding it ready, just in case. She was going to have to explain this one to him, she knew, but hopefully that explanation would not come with a shootout in the Stars End.

"Easy," he whispered, knowing she'd just pulled the blaster pistol from her hip but hoping she wouldn't have to use it. There were other ways to get back to the Spaceport, if they had to make use of them, but he needed to make use of that comm link to contact Trethin if he wanted his creds.

She raised her head just enough to meet his gaze, acutely aware of how close he was and how tense she was. "He's not moving," she whispered back, relief coloring her voice. As the teleport activated, however, they both heard a guttural voice snarl her name.

"Better hope he doesn't follow us through," Kalen remarked, though he might be waiting for them on the way back, and Kalen needed to use that comm link. Maybe going for pasta wasn't the best idea, after all, but it was too late to worry about it now. There was always the risk of running into trouble, no matter where they went, so there wasn't much use in worrying about it until it happened.

"I can handle him," she assured him quietly, holstering her blaster once again. "I just didn't want him drawing attention to you. If you're going to be recognized anywhere, it'll be at Stars End." Her free hand clutched reflexively against his back as she felt the familiar, uncomfortable sensation of being disassembled and put back together again, pressing her face against his chest in the process. It seemed as though teleporting was not her favorite mode of transportation.

"You can handle him," Kalen echoed, not exactly doubting her, but unsure who he'd place a bet on in that fight. Though the Gran was a lot bigger than she was and had the advantage of three eyes, a couple of well-aimed shots of her blaster pistol would even the odds. "Did you miss the word partner in partnership?" he asked, wondering if she thought he'd let her handle the guy alone.

She tilted her head back, relaxing as the teleport ended. The expression on her face was torn between offense and amusement. "Did you miss everything I said after that first sentence?" she countered, brows high, unwinding her arm from about his waist as she stepped back to look around them. She really didn't have the first idea where they were, or if he needed her to keep up the pretense of a relationship here.

From the look on his face, apparently, he had. He frowned back at her. "You should worry about yourself more or you're going to get yourself killed," he told her, though he was grateful she'd come back for him. Grateful for more than that, though it might hurt his pride to say it. He'd already thanked her last night, though it was unlikely she remembered due to her state of inebriation. "Shall we?" he asked, finding himself reluctant to let her go as she pulled away from him. It felt kind of nice to hold her close, but he'd never admit that out loud.

"Dead woman walking, remember?" she shrugged, sensing the reluctance even as she stepped back. She hesitated, turning her eyes back to him. "Are you likely to be recognized here?" she asked, tilting her head curiously. Do you need the pretense to continue was what she was really asking.

He forced himself to turn away from her to take a quick look around before turning back. "I don't think so," he said, though one could never be too sure. "I haven't been back here in a long time," he reminded her, and though the place may not have changed that much, he had. "We should go," he added, one hand going to the small of her back as if to urge her forward. He didn't want to chance her friend following them here and causing a scene.

She moved easily at the touch of his hand, letting him guide her away from where they had materialized. With luck, even if Ee'kree followed, he wouldn't know where they had gone. "I have no idea where we are, you know," she pointed out as Kalen urged her along.

"It's not far," he assured her as he fell into step beside her to lead the way. "Just stay close," he warned, not wanting to get separated. If they did, she might have a problem finding her way back on her own. "Have you never been to the old city?" he asked, as they strolled side by side, getting a few glances from passersby. Spacers weren't often seen in these quarters, but it wasn't unheard of either. It was the blaster pistols that drew most of the attention.

She shook her head, finding it only too easy to fall into step close beside him. The last thing she wanted was to get lost here - she could probably find her way back, but she didn't want to test her independence that badly. "No, I've never been here," she admitted quietly, unconsciously tucking her shoulder beneath his arm as she caught the interested glance of what she assumed was a male. "I don't think I've ever seen so many humans on one street before."

He flinched a little upon hearing her mention the name that had caused him so much heartache, even if it had been a long time ago. "Rhel is the man who raised me," he replied, simply enough. Not only raised him, but rescued him from the streets of Rhy'Din, took him in, and taught him everything he knows. All of that went unspoken, but silently understood. Obviously, it seemed, Rhel had not been his father, but a father-like figure in Kalen's life.

It takes a special kind of grief to recognize its echo in another person. The loss of the one person who had been the center of your world was that kind of grief. Yana stopped fighting the urge, unfolding one arm to reach over and touch his hand with her own. "I'm sorry," she said softly. It wasn't pity; it wasn't just a platitude. She knew what it was to lose that one person around whom your universe revolved, the person who had made you who you were. It wasn't even condolence. It was a simple acknowledgement of the pain, and the way it never truly left.

He drew a slow breath, even as she touched his hand. He really didn't want to talk about it, and yet, in a way, it was a relief to tell someone what had happened without worrying they might betray his trust. He paused a moment as if to gather his courage before continuing. "Trethin had him killed. I am quite sure of it. And then he set me up. He framed me for Rhel's death and when the authorities put a bounty on my head, he offered me a job and a place to stay. It took me years to unravel all this and to realize it was Trethin who had Rhel killed. When I confronted him, he said that if I betrayed him, he would turn me over to the authorities and collect the bounty for himself. So, as you can see, I have no more love for him than you do. You might as well know, I intend to kill him," he added, lowering his voice to barely a whisper. "It is what he deserves, after all."

Listening, Yana felt some of her barriers peeling away, understanding what it cost to share this at all. Her eyes narrowed at his addendum. "You mean we'll kill him," she corrected him quietly. "Partners, remember" The man's holding my father's last message to me hostage. If I could gut him myself, I would. But then I don't think things through very well."

"I would have done it already, but ..." Kalen trailed off. Killing Trethin wasn't going to be easy, or he would have done it already. "So, I am not sure we will need to repay your debt," he told her, though they would need work to pay their expenses, including the loan she'd taken for the ship. "I do not like ....killing. I am not a murderer or an assassin. I am not even a mercenary. Not really. I am a pilot, but it is time Trethin paid for his misdeeds."

Realizing she was still holding his hand, she drew her arm back as he spoke. "Yes, we do," she countered. "Because the only way he'll trust us to be on his turf is if he thinks he's the one with all the power, and the only way we can kill him is to be on his turf. He needs to believe we're broken to his will if we're ever going to get close enough to get the holo and end him." She bit her lip, frowning as she considered something. "My father once told me that the highest return he ever had was on information," she said thoughtfully. "High risk, but the return was hundreds of thousands of credits from an information broker. We could pay off all debts in one go, and keep ourselves close enough to Trethin to end him."

He had not minded her touch; in fact, he had found her touch reassuring, frowning a little as she drew back, but too lost in his own grief and pain to mention it. There were no tears; he was long past tears, but his heart ached to speak of the past, and that was part of the reason he preferred to keep that part of his history to himself. "Or get ourselves killed trying," he said, pointing out an obvious but unpleasant possibility. He didn't want anything to happen to her, but he couldn't deny that they both wanted this badly enough to accept the risk. "There will be no leaving me behind next time. We need to trust each other implicitly."

"Life is risk," she pointed out herself, and visibly flinched when he brought up her cut and run yet again. Under his gaze, she seemed to fold in on herself, arms almost wrapped around her own torso as she looked down at the table, curls falling forward to hide her face. "You can't ask me to trust you and keep throwing that in my face," she said in a low voice, her jaw tense once again. "I made a mistake. I also corrected it, in case you hadn't noticed. Trust goes both ways, and you don't trust me, either."

"You are wrong, Yana," he disagreed. "You did what you had to do. I accept that. It is because you came back for me that we are talking at all." Of course, that went without saying; if she hadn't gone back for him, there was a good chance he'd have been dead by now. "It has been a long time since I have trusted anyone, but I am starting to trust you." The fact that she'd gone back for him was a big part of that trust, and part of why he kept bringing it up, but he could tell how guilty she felt about it and offered a reassuring smile. "It is in the past. I will not mention it again," he promised her, hoping he could keep that promise, even though he'd felt the need to warn her one final time.

Whatever he might have said next was pre-empted by the waitress as she brought over two steaming plates of pasta covered in tomato sauce, along with freshly baked bread and butter, and a carafe of red wine. Now, that put a smile on his face, as he leaned in to inhale the aroma.

She looked up as he spoke, the wariness in her eyes fading at his reassuring smile. He really had no idea how devastatingly handsome he was, she decided in that moment, or he wouldn't keep smiling at her and expecting her not to react to it. As it was, she could feel herself blushing, hoping it wasn't too noticeable, grateful for the distraction of the food arriving. She raised her head to thank the waitress, only to find the woman flashing a kilowatt smile at Kalen and pretty much ignoring her.

"Should I leave?" Yana asked the woman pointedly. "You're obviously enjoying this date more than I am."

Kalen arched a brow, unaware of anything unusual in the waitress' attention. She was paid to wait on them, after all, and so far, he'd didn't think she'd done anything to warrant such a response from Yana.

The waitress finally acknowledged Yana by flashing her a sweet, if predatory smile - something that a man might not notice but a rival female would. "Then perhaps you should find someone more to your liking and leave the leftovers for someone else," she said, turning that smile back on Kalen, who seemed to finally be getting the jist of what was going on right under his nose.

"I'm flattered, but I'm afraid I'm not available," he started, with a smile of his own that was more conciliatory than friendly, one hand sliding across the table to capture Yana's. "Please forgive my wife. She has a terrible jealous streak."

"And a blaster," Yana added, offering the waitress a smile that was only just this side of threatening. Then her brain caught up with what Kalen had said. Wife" Now who's moving fast" Still, it was just as well he'd caught her right hand in his; if she'd been able to, she would have drawn that blaster to make her point.

The waitress flushed, eyes flashing, more at Yana's threat than at Kalen's explanation, but she knew better than to push her luck, especially if she wanted a decent tip. "I'm sorry. I thought from the lack of affection, perhaps you were his sister," she shot back, unable to stop herself, despite the obvious warning. "Enjoy your meal," she added, before turning away, with one last glance at Kalen.

"If you have to perform for other people's benefit, then it's not real, sweetheart," Yana spat at the woman's back, but she was already feeling the creep of mortification. Why had she done that' He didn't belong to her. They'd only just finished telling each other that they didn't trust each other all the way. For that matter, why had he played along and upped the stakes? After staring at Kalen for a long moment, aware of the warmth and weight of his hand over hers, she finally came up with something. "Well, this is awkward."

He arched a brow at her, not having missed the compliments she'd given him over the course of the last few days, drunk or otherwise. They'd known each other only a few weeks at most, almost a week of which he'd spent in a prison cell. "I am older, that much is certain," he replied, hoping he was wiser, too. His gaze lingered on her a moment longer than necessary, thoughtfully admiring the face before him, but not for the first time. "You look ....different with your hair down," he told her, not quite a compliment, though he'd meant it as one. Clearly he was not used to offering compliments to young women who he was not romantically attached to.

Yana lifted her eyes, on firmer ground with this. She was dreadful at accepting compliments herself, but she was at least smiling. "I look about twelve with my hair down," she pointed out in amusement. "You'd be amazed how many idiots think that looking young goes hand in hand with being gullible."

"Trust me, you do not look twelve," he assured her with a charming smile, though he wasn't really trying to be charming. "It suits you," he told her, just a little awkwardly before reaching to take a sip of his wine. He had a feeling he could have had his way with her the night before, but he had his scruples and taking advantage of inebriated women wasn't one of them, no matter how much she may have wanted it. Now that they were both sober, it was a different matter, though he wasn't sure how wise it was to mix business with pleasure.

She snorted with laughter, wiping her mouth and chin clean with a napkin. As much as she enjoyed the pasta, she knew she'd be decorating the ground somewhere if she ate all of it on a very empty stomach. "You really think so?" Her surprise was genuine, unused to being complimented by a man she had a horrible feeling she liked more than a little.

"I would not say so if I thought otherwise," he replied, priding himself on being honest, or at least as honest as a smuggler could be. He had just about finished his pasta, together they had nearly drained the carafe of wine, but he found himself hesitant to return to the 'port just yet, though that call to Trethin was still hanging over his head.

"That's ....thank you." She wasn't sure if that was the correct way to respond, but it was all she had in the face of a handsome man telling her she didn't look awful. It was fairly obvious by the way she drained what was left in her glass, feeling strangely nervous in his company now he'd made it clear he had noticed what she looked like.

No, he certainly didn't think she looked awful; in fact, quite the opposite, though he wasn't too sure how to tell her that without sounding ridiculous and romance had never been his strong suit. He'd always been too busy for romance. An occasional fling was one thing, but a long-term relationship was another, and yet, it seemed he and Yana had formed a bond with each other, despite their insistence on being loners.

"We should get back," he found himself saying, despite wishing this little date of theirs could go on longer. They couldn't afford to dilly dally like some people. He couldn't help the frown that was proof he wasn't looking forward to the return trip.

She sighed, offering a reluctant nod in return. "I guess we should," she agreed, digging in her pocket for her credit chit. Her frown echoed his, but she was equally displeased with the idea of inviting that waitress back to their table. She had to do it, though, twisting to catch the woman's eye and request their bill.

His frown deepened when he noticed her paying for yet another meal. Somehow, he was going to have to convince Trethin to transfer some creds to his account so that he wasn't so dependent on her generosity. After all, the man did owe him his pay, including a bonus for getting the crap beat out of him and not betraying his trust, however shaky that trust might be. The waitress was clearly ignoring them now that they had their meal and her flirtation with Kalen had been rebuffed.

"Okay." Yana sighed, getting to her feet. "Finish your drink, I'll be back in a minute." She headed for the bar, having a much easier time getting the owner's attention to pay their bill. This did, however, leave Kalen wide open for more attention from their waitress.

Annoyed that he was unable even to pay for a simple meal, he fished around in a pocket to see just how many creds he had available, looking up to find the waitress had joined him almost as soon as Yana had left.

"Please tell me you're not really married to that ....woman," she said with as sweet a smile as she could muster, despite the hint of loathing in her voice for his companion. "I don't see a ring on your finger claiming you," she pointed out, reaching for his left hand and rubbing her fingers against his ring finger as if to make a point. "I can't blame her for being possessive though. Men like you don't come along often."

She didn't have a chance to get much further than that. Yana was already on her way back over, her eyes narrowing as she approached. Even an old-towner could recognize the sensation of a blaster sticking into their back. "How about you take your hands off" Or you're going to be looking for a good doctor really soon."

Kalen didn't have much of a chance to respond to the waitress' advances before Yana rejoined them. He noticed the look of jealousy in Yana's eyes, as well as startled fear on the face of the waitress and he knew without asking that Yana had her blaster sticking in the waitress' back. "Yana, put it away. She means no harm," he urged her, with a look of warning in his eyes. They didn't need any trouble, not over this.

"She means a lot of harm, just not to you," Yana countered, but she removed the blaster, holstering it with a snap. "But by all means, continue to prostitute yourself." Stepping back, she turned on her heel, not wanting to watch whatever it was the waitress was going to do to thank him for saving her life.

"Excuse me," he told the waitress, moving to his feet and stepping past her, annoyed that Yana's temper was getting the best of her again. So much for ever eating pasta in this establishment again. They'd be lucky if the girl didn't report her to the Watch. Of course, it didn't help that she'd accused him of something that was completely untrue. And he'd thought they'd been getting along so well. "Yana!" he called as he hurried after her.

"Yell my name a little louder, I don't think they can hear you in the Governor's Office," she snapped over her shoulder, stalking out of the building without the first idea of where she was going. Right now, she just wanted away.

He had to run to catch up with her, grabbing hold of her arm to turn her to face him. "What the hells do you think you're doing?" he asked, dark eyes glinting with anger and maybe a little confusion. "That temper of yours is going to get us both killed!"

Yanked about, she didn't really have much choice but to face him, significantly smaller and weaker than he was at the best of times. She met him, glare for glare. "Oh, you think I'm just going to stand there and watch you get yourself laid?" she snapped back. "Not going to happen, Dain."

"Get myself laid?" he echoed, brows furrowing in anger and confusion. He would never understand women. "Is that what you think was going on' You hardly gave me a chance to respond, and if that was what was going on, why then am I here with you?" He didn't bother to point out that she had no claims on him, though he might if she continued to be unreasonable.

They were both a little shocked by those kisses, it seemed, shocked enough that there were no more angry words as he claimed her hand. She let herself be tugged to his side, suddenly embarrassingly aware of the smirks on the faces of the people around them who had witnessed their passionate exchange. "How do you know your way around here?"

"Rhel had dealings here. He liked the old city and took me here sometimes. After he died ....It was safer in the old city, and I learned to find my way around. It was Trethin's men who found me and brought me to him. I didn't have much choice but to work for him or be turned over to the authorities," he explained, struggling a little to keep the loathing from his voice.

She nodded, squeezing his hand just a little. It was all she could think of to apologize for asking him a question that brought those memories to the fore. Still, there was a need to distract herself now. Her thoughts were coming back, and with them was the refrain what the hell are you doing sex and partnerships don't mix what if he rejects you you have to live and work with him now was on repeat in the back of her mind. "Is it very different here now?" she asked, desperately trying not to listen to that voice.

"Not very," he replied, as she pulled him back out of his thoughts of the past to take a look around. "The streets are the same, but some of the buildings have changed." He nodded his head toward a large building with a lighted marquee that could only be a theater. "That was not here before," he told her. Though some things had changed, much of it still looked the same.

"Isn't that kind of big for a theater?" Yana mused. The theaters she was used to played movies, and were generally underground bunker-type things with extortionately-priced snacks. She paused a little too long, tugged on again by his forward motion.

"Not for a live theater," he explained. He had been to many worlds and places within those worlds, but none was such a mix of species and cultures as was Rhy'Din. It had been his home for a long time, though he had not been born there. "Have you never visited the city?" he asked. "I thought you were born here."

"In the 'port," she clarified, still looking around curiously even as he steered them both in the appropriate direction. "I've never been in the city before today. Whole life, very ...space-centric."

"We should explore it some then," he suggested, though probably not today. He didn't bother to add the word "together" as he hoped it went without saying. The 'port had plenty to offer, but the old city was quaint by comparison, and arguably, a little safer, so long as one was careful. He came to a halt as they reached the portal, which didn't look like much to speak of. "Here we are."

"Really?" For just a moment, an excited smile flickered across her face, proving that there was more that interested her than ships and engines. The smile, however, died as they came to a halt, eying the portal like it was a death trap. "What is that?"

"That is the portal," he told her, stepping out of the way to let a few other travelers go ahead of them. "There are several scattered about the city. They are tied to the Nexus, so if you use them, you have to be careful." The portals were a quick means of transportation, but not without risks. "Hold tight to my hand, and I will get us there safely," he added.

"Meaning we could end up anywhere," Yana said, frowning at that thought. She glanced up at him doubtfully, tightening her grip on his hand obediently. Possibly a little too much, but he did say hold tight. "You're driving, evidently."

"We could, but we won't. It is the quickest mode of travel," he assured her, though perhaps not the safest. He frowned a little, hoping the contents of her stomach would remain intact. Whether it was safer to have one's molecules scrambled and reassembled via a teleporter beam or take a chance on the Nexus was a matter of opinion. He would have tightened his grip on her hand, but she was holding on tight enough to make his hand ache already. "Ready?"

She nodded sharply, moving forward with him to enter the portal. And almost instantly wished she hadn't. If teleporting felt weird, this was worse. She could feel her stomach roiling in protest, but her own pride wouldn't let her throw up in front of him again. Still, when they emerged on the other side, she was definitely a little green around the gills. "Not fun."

"Next time, we'll take a shuttle," he promised, once they stepped out safely on the other side. It seemed the trip had affected him equally, his face looking a shade too pale, but it beat the hells out of most other forms of travel. Even a shuttle would attract too much attention in the old city, though one would go hardly noticed at the 'port. "Are you all right?" he asked, taking a deep breath of his own.

She blinked to clear her vision, belatedly loosening her grip on his hand. "I feel like I left my stomach back there," she admitted, but the color was quick to return to her face, along with the relief of recognizing where they were now. She knew the Spaceport like the back of her hand. "You needed a comm link. This way."

Well, at least, she hadn't lost her lunch - literally. "I'm sorry. We should have stayed in 'port, but ..." He frowned when she mentioned the comm link, not looking forward to contacting Trethin, but knowing it was necessary. But what? He'd wanted to take her someplace nice, but without access to his account, he didn't have much choice but to rely on her generosity.

"Staying in 'port and away from the ship invites a lot of interest," she pointed out. Walking through the 'port holding hands is going to invite interest too. She ignored that thought, relegating it to the back of her mind along with the repetitive insistence that anything more than a kiss with this man was a bad idea. "Give it a couple of days, we can take off and relax a little."

It wasn't the bounty on his head that was worrying him so much as her safety. When was the last time he'd worried about anyone's safety but his own" It was a disturbing thought. Had it been foolish to kiss her, he wondered" But he had no regrets. He'd enjoyed kissing her, and it had been a very long time since he'd enjoyed the company of another human being as much as he was enjoying hers. Of course, he didn't tell her any of this. He knew sleeping with your partner wasn't a very good idea, but maybe they'd both been alone for too long. "I don't want to call Trethin," he admitted abruptly. But it wasn't so much a matter of what he wanted to do as much as what he needed to do.

That pretty much stopped her brain dead. It stopped the rest of her, too. She turned to face him, confusion all over her face. "But -" A passing stranger knocked her shoulder, and she sighed, pulling Kalen out of the mid-way. "You said you had to call him," she reminded him. "You've been fixated on it all day."

"I know, and I do," he replied, that frown still in place. "I just ..." He trailed off, unsure how to explain. He'd never had much reason to explain his feelings before, not to anyone. Not since Rhel had died, anyway. What was it about Yana that suddenly had him wanting to make her understand everything about him' He hardly noticed the bump, as distracted as he was with the impending call. "I need to know what you told him," he said, unsure how much he needed to tell the man. He found that he didn't want Trethin to know that Yana had left him behind or that they had sought refuge on Rhy'Din, but he had to tell him something.

"Don't you dare," she warned him, one hand rising to point her finger at his nose from barely an inch away. "You're causing a scene. Should've kept walking." And to demonstrate her point, she backed up, her expression daring him to argue with her, green eyes glinting with something that was almost mischief and definitely amused.

He couldn't help but smile at her, though he wanted to laugh. She was trying so hard to seem fierce, when he could see the mischief in her eyes. She certainly was a firecracker, if he'd ever met one. "I am not the only one who knows how to cause a scene," he said, not bothering to remind her of the little scene she'd caused in the old city. All because she'd been jealous of a waitress he'd hardly given a second glance.

"I've raised it to an art form," she agreed, turning to keep walking, trusting that he was following her again. "You should feel honored - you're the only person who ever let me practice on them without punching me."

"Honored is not quite the word I would use," he told her, unable to hide the amusement from his voice. It was strange to think that just a few days ago he'd been convinced she had betrayed him, and now they were on the verge of ....of what? That was a good question. Of having an affair" Becoming friends" He couldn't be falling in love with her, could he"

"I would," she insisted, her lips curving into a smirk as they entered the shadow of the walls surrounding Landing Pad 87. "In fact, I'd probably say you're privileged. I am, after all, an absolute goddess when it comes to irrational temper tantrums." Oh yes, she knew herself very well indeed. Well enough to know that her temper was the best and worst part of her, and that if they continued on this course, he would be seeing a lot of it. Pausing at the door, she glanced back at him, letting him see her smirk before she turned her attention to punching in the code to unlock it.

"I shall consider myself warned," he replied, though he had already witnessed several temper tantrums in person. He might never learn how to avoid them, but he could learn how soothe them. Maybe it was a good thing he was a little more level-headed than she was. He took a lean against the wall, watching her as she punched the code into the lock and admiring her profile, the fall of her hair, the way her mouth looked when she flashed him that smirk.

She knew he was watching her. Just feeling his gaze on her was enough to make her fumble the code, swearing under her breath as she tried a second time. "You're staring," she pointed out to him as the door opened in front of her, flicking her gaze to his briefly.

"Admiring," he corrected - a very different thing, in his opinion. Why was it they'd never thought to flirt with each other before" Had they both been so focused on the job that it had never occurred to them' What exactly was it that had changed" Perhaps it was simply the fact that they'd realized they were more alike than different and that they made better allies than enemies. It was more than just that, but it was a start, anyway.

"Staring," she insisted, and this time she was smiling, shaking her head at him as she stepped out of side, one hand gesturing for him to follow her. "At least it's at my face and not my arse."

"Admiring that, too," he assured her, now that he was following her, his gaze moving lower to admire more than just her pretty face, whether it was forward of him or not. She didn't seem to have minded his kisses, and he had a feeling she wouldn't have protested if he wanted something more.

"See, now I can't tell you to read my lips," she countered. She actually laughed at that, passing out of the accessway and into the late sunshine before finding the shadow cast by their ship.

"If I could, what would they be saying?" he asked, calling her bluff. What did it matter if he could read her lips or not when he could hear everything she was saying, unless she wanted him to kiss her again. He had every intention of fulfilling that request, as soon as they were assured of some privacy.

Under the hang of the ship, she jumped to hit the release for the gangway, stumbling on her landing even as the gangway lowered behind her. She turned to look at him, one brow raised above a definitely inviting smile. "It's rude to stare."

Was he staring" He didn't think so, but she didn't seem to have minded. Even now, he knew she was teasing him and almost daring him to do more than just stare. "Then perhaps I should do something else," he said as he closed the distance between them.

"Mm, maybe you should," she agreed, but she wasn't making it easy for him. As he closed the distance, she backed away, slow steps taking her up the ramp and into the ship as her smile grew to a definitely teasing grin. How long had it been since she'd been comfortable enough with anyone to smile like this, to tease at all" And what was it about him that encouraged her to be comfortable" It couldn't be just those kisses ....could it"

He was half tempted to rush up the gangway and take her over his shoulder again, but he wasn't sure how she'd take that. She might be amused or she might be angry, and suddenly, he realized he had no idea how she might react to anything, but then, that was part of the challenge. What fun was it trying to win the heart of a woman who was so tame she was always in agreement and never dared to speak her own mind" Yana was certainly not that woman, and he knew it was in good part her fiery spirit that had at last drawn his attention. Instead, he only stalked her up the gangway, his heart pounding. What awaited him when they were safely inside" Would she melt under his touch again or would she play hard to get?

He found out when he reached the top of the ramp. Yana was against him in a moment, hungry lips seeking his, hands pushing him back against the hull as her palm slapped the button to close the ramp. To close them in together. Privacy, at last. And with that privacy, the hasty impatience of a woman who didn't know tender and didn't like waiting for what she wanted.

He was an experienced enough lover to know that sometimes a woman wanted tenderness and sometimes the desire was so great, she only wanted immediate gratification. That seemed to be the case with Yana, and though he didn't want to make any assumptions, he was only to happy to comply with her wishes. It was hard enough for him not to let his own desires get the best of him as he returned those kisses, his lips just as hungry for hers, his arms reaching to draw her close, fingers sliding through the cascade of hair down her back.

She was fierce in her desire, her hands already busy even as her lips trailed to his throat, clever fingers undoing his holster and her own, letting them fall as they may as her hands curled over his hips, pressing herself closer in pulsing rhythm that spoke louder than any words ever could of what she wanted. The feel of his hands in her hair, the smell of his skin, the taste of him ....she couldn't get enough. She wanted it all, now, heedless of comfort in her quest to fulfill that wanting, knowing he wouldn't let her keep him pinned there forever.

He wasn't surprised to find that she seemed to know what she was doing, but he was surprised at the urgency and the passion with which she was doing it. Every kiss, every touch urgent with desire, and he found his passion matching hers, like two flames burning brightly to make one fiery blaze. He fumbled with her clothing in a hurry to explore her and claim her, taking as much as giving, wanting her as much as she wanted him.

He savored her touch and her kisses, allowing her to take the lead for a short while before he took over, unable to hold himself back from taking charge. He rolled her onto her back, covering her body with his, as they moved together in the oldest dance known to mankind. He took her slowly at first, his lips finding hers before trailing kisses against her neck and down between her breasts. He didn't say anything, but only let his actions speak for him, as their bodies crashed together until they were both breathless and spent.

Falling back to the bunk, for the first time in her life Yana didn't feel the need to rise and escape as soon as she could. For the first time, she welcomed the weight of his body against her own, the feel of his breath against her skin as they struggled to gather some semblance of control over themselves together. She wasn't entirely sure what had just happened. It hadn't gone the way she had expected; far from what she had experienced in the past. For a start, she was naked, and she hadn't been naked with anyone since she was a baby.

He hadn't been expecting this either. Oh, he had certainly thought about it, even fantasized about it, but he hadn't really expected to end up with her like this, and he sure as hells wasn't disappointed. He seemed as comfortable being naked as he was clothed, so long as she was there beside him - or more accurately, beneath him. When all was said and done, and they were both lying breathless in each other's arms, he found himself kissing her again, tenderly this time, almost lovingly. He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her brow, almost protectively, lazily enjoying the warm weight of her against him.

Resting against him, she found herself returning the kiss he touched to her lips more gently than she'd kissed, or been kissed, with anyone. Despite the satisfying sing of her body, she couldn't help the confusion rippling through her mind, compounded all the more by the lazy way he kissed her brow and gathered her close. She wasn't used to being so still, so vulnerable, in someone's arms, and it showed in the growing tension of her frame. As much she was enjoying this unexpectedly soft interlude, she had no idea how to react to it.

An awkward silence seemed to settle between them, now that they had scratched that mutual itch. While some lovers might simply enjoy the quiet closeness and others might whisper sweet nothings, neither Kalen nor Yana seemed to know what to do with the quiet interlude that had settled between them. As for himself, Kalen seemed content to simply lie close with Yana in his arms, almost as if he was wishing the moment would last, and yet, it seemed it never did. Not with anyone he'd ever known, and maybe not with Yana either. That brought a frown to his face, and he found himself wishing for something more than just a quick and meaningless fling just once.

As much as he was enjoying the silence, however, the longer it went on, the more uncomfortable Yana seemed to get. It felt as though something was expected of her; something she didn't know how to give, something she couldn't even identify. "So, um ....what happens now?" she asked quietly, addressing her question to the hair on his chest, rather than to his face.

His frown deepened at her question, unsure how to answer that. He'd never really been asked that question before or considered that there could be something more than just a fling between himself and a woman. Not until now, and he wasn't sure why. What was it about her that was different from anyone else he'd ever met' "I don't know," he replied, as honestly as he could. "What would you like to happen now?"

"Am I supposed to know the answer to that?" she asked, her voice still very small. She hadn't taken her eyes off his chest, either, reluctant to admit that she was afraid to look up and see for herself whether or not he actually wanted her there or not. "I, um ....I've never been with anyone - like this, I mean. You know. Naked and on a bed."

He sighed a little, as he considered her answer - or lack of answer. Had they made a mistake in throwing caution to the wind" What harm was there in a little meaningless sex" But maybe that was the problem - maybe it wasn't as meaningless as either of them wanted to believe. Her confession gave him pause, wondering if he'd taken advantage of her lack of experience somehow, though she'd seemed to have been agreeable. "I haven't been with anyone like this in a long time," he admitted, as unsure of what to say as she was, it seemed.

"What was it like with her?" The question came from nowhere, fueled as much by jealousy as it was by genuine curiosity. Yana was beginning to realize that she might be getting attached to this pilot, who had pretty much reordered her life in the space of three days after annoying her for almost a month beforehand. She wasn't sure if she was pleased about that attachment. Surely friends ....lovers ....they were just another way of getting killed.

"Short," he replied, with a frown of regret that she might not see but would hear in his voice, even given such a brief reply. He hesitated a moment before he went on. "She was with the Rebellion," he added, the past tense hinting at what might have happened. "She wanted me to join them, but ..." He shrugged again. "There was a bounty on my head already, and I like it where it is. She thought me a selfish coward, more interested in collecting creds than in fighting the Empire." It was a harsh assumption for someone to make who didn't know everything about him, but it had obviously come between them.

Yana frowned, unconsciously inching a little closer to him. She didn't need the hints laid out for her; with the turmoil in that galaxy, life was fleeting. "I know you're not selfish, or a coward," she offered thoughtfully. "But some people have to have a cause. Personally, I'd rather live a long life than die for something that might never happen."

"It was a good cause, but I didn't want to die for it," he said, his voice quiet, lost for a moment in a memory he'd rather forget. "Maybe she's right. Maybe I am a coward," he admitted. Or maybe his life had just taken a different turn.

"It wasn't that good a cause," she objected. "I get the whole Evil Emperor thing being bad, absolutely. But turning to terrorism to bring down a system that provided galacticized transport, health service, and education, rather than, I don't know ....getting a good assassin to remove the problem and then dealing with the fallout through the political channels already available? It seems like a terrible decision to me."

"It's not that simple, Yana." It wasn't simple at all, and that was partly why he'd stayed the hells out of it. "You're lucky. You were born on Rhy'Din. You knew your father. He raised you. You didn't have to wonder where you came from or if you should go back there."

"My father didn't raise me." She shook her head, though she wasn't exactly prepared to share exactly what she meant by that. "And nothing's ever simple. The Rebellion weren't the good guys just because they were fighting an Empire that seemed evil to them. Shades of gray, Kalen. Everything's in shades of gray."

"I'm sorry, Yana. I'm sorry about your father," Kalen said, not wanting to seem morose after what they'd just shared. It had been a very long time since he'd opened up to anyone, but he found himself wanting her to know him better and vice versa.

She was quiet for a long moment, her mind racing. Her father was always going to be a touchy subject, but perhaps there was something else she could offer up to him. "My mother was from that galaxy," she ventured, a little wary of sharing even this about a woman she'd never known. "She was from somewhere called Dantooine."