Fear.

I crouched in the corner of the dusty cell, my thoughts racing as I stared at the bars. How did I get into this?

I flexed my fingers and held my head, still feeling the sting in my palm where a careless handshake with a patron days ago had left a tiny needle in my palm, an obscure toxin in my blood, and my life apparently in the hands of a rogue Imperial officer wanting a toy ? the same officer who had now betrayed me to these thugs on Lok.

The woman had showed up in the cantina that afternoon while I was working through a set, offering a handclasp in appreciation when I put aside my horn; I'd seen her on duty in the Imperial patrols and figured she was just one of the few who appreciated a soothing song. When whatever she had dosed me with started making me woozy, she pulled me away, informed that I would serve her, and explained the consequences of disobedience: Death by a slow poison. It was outside her residence that the cloaked man and his thugs caught up with us.

They told me they had a message they wanted me to deliver to someone who used to work with them -- the man who worked as my bodyguard. The rogue officer was apparently familiar with the group, and had sent me off to discuss the message in private.

My hands shook, and I shivered. Was it the poison? That officer said I would die without the antidote only she could provide. I don't want to die!

They'd taken my comm unit, and the lethan Twi'Lek had simply laughed in scorn when she saw that the channel was left open, obviously not concerned with my feeble attempt at summoning help on the sly. They knew I was harmless.

I ran my hands over my sweat-damp face, shuddering and trying not to look at the blank-eyed girl dancing next to me in the cell; the dancer's face was frozen in an insipid smile, and I could have sworn her tongue was metal. I didn't want to think about what had put the girl in such a state. I hoped I didn't look like such a vapid idiot when I danced, but that was really the least of my concerns. They said they just had a message for me to relay to him! Just a story to tell! Why did I believe them?

A voice thundered in response to my unspoken question, powerful, derisive, dripping with scorn, hissing like a snake. Because you are weak. Trust, and you are betrayed.

I looked around wildly, trying to figure out who was talking to me. Surely the little dancing girl on the other side of the cell couldn't have said that. Madness... I listened to the voices in the rooms above, hoping they would drown out the echoes of what could only be insanity in my mind; the cold voice of the cloaked man, the lethan who had led me here, and two other voices I thought I recognized.

Sick dread built in my stomach as I realized the topic of their conversation. The message they want relayed ? they're going to KILL me to get to him. Why me? I'm just an entertainer, I'm no threat! I should never have come back to Tatooine! Never! He was right... why didn't I listen to him?

The voice answered again. Because you are a fool. Do not trust, and you betray yourself.

I heard a clamor upstairs, and his proud zabrak voice swearing something at the crowd gathered around the cloaked man. My throat knotted up, and I whimpered involuntarily -- I didn't want him to see me like this: cowering in terror of this awful place like a vir-vur, my dancer's garb dusty and ragged, not to mention completely inappropriate for a day trip to Lok. ?She's still alive and unharmed ? for now,? I heard the cloaked man laugh coldly.

I heard him mutter a pledge of obesiance, his voice tight and resigned, and I realized I was disgusted by hearing him grovel to the cloaked man. I loathed him and the situation he'd drawn me into; I wanted to be on familiar ground, safe, surrounded by people I knew and loved and who weren't a bunch of psychotic professional killers. Spineless bastard! I trusted you to be strong! I trusted you to protect me, not get me killed by a bunch of underworld thugs! I don't want to die! I don't want to die for you!

You knew he would betray you, too, and that he was one of them. You were always afraid it would come to this, when he started down that path. That maddening voice chuckled softly. You have seen it happen before, haven't you.

?Who are you,? I mumbled almost inaudibly, looking down at the fourth finger of my left hand, touching my throat nervously. The dancing girl smiled at me, her metal tongue tapping against her teeth. ?Huh?? she giggled.

You will remember me...

Footsteps sounded in the hall outside the cell, and the cloaked man sneered at me through the bars. ?Daydream.?

...when you learn to use your fear.

?Come on,? the man grinned, ?I told you just needed to get out of that city. Forget about your show tonight, okay? Let's go for a drive! I'll take you to the river and we can go for a swim.?

I smiled politely and continued to walk with him. The engines of the Mid-System Transport shuttle settled to a dull whine as the rest of the
passengers disembarked behind us. I glanced at the zabrak, noting a faint frown tightening his brow, though he still wore that rakish smile. I thought it looked contrived.

?Look, babe. . . I'm sorry about what happened on Lok. I just wanted to keep you safe, Daydream. If I have to work for that bastard to keep him from killing you ? I'm not going to let him harm you, okay? I had to do it. He would have killed you. He still will if I don't work for him.?

I pulled away from him and folded my arms across my chest, knowing with his developing senses he'd pick up on my distress even if he didn't see it. I didn't want to talk about this. I didn't want him to know how scared I was.

?And you do what for him, exactly?" I snapped. "I don't think you're out performing charity work at the Mos Espa orphanage. Let me guess. You're a hired thug, a bullyboy like the rest of his men.?

He shrugged and turned to face me, his eyes glittering under the hood of his cloak.

?Is that supposed to make me feel safe?? I asked. I knew my voice was starting to get plaintive, even shrill. ?So you go around helping that psychotic freak take other innocents hostage, holding them for ransom or - or - killing them, too? That's supposed to make me feel safe? I hired you to protect me, not put me in more danger!?

?I will protect you, Daydream, I won't--?

I threw my hands up in the air and hissed, exasperated. ?You'll get me killed!?

?You're overreacting, now,? he smiled. He took a few steps closer and reached out with a gloved hand, letting the hood of his cloak fall to his shoulders, and stared at me with those bright, bright blue eyes. I backed away, half expecting him to choke me.

?You're frightened of me,? he stated quietly. ?You're frightened of my new abilities?? It wasn't really a question.

I settled my hand at my hip, fingers brushing against the blaster holstered there, not trusting myself to speak.

?I won't hurt you.?

?You already have.? I forced a cool smile, feeling my fear flare into anger for a moment: Bastard! This is your fault! It wouldn't have happened if not for you! ?You know I don't trust you - you Jedi."

There. I'd said it.

"That again. You know I'm not like him. You going to try to turn me over to the Empire, babe?"

"I should. I'm sure there's quite a bounty on your head. They'd probably even wipe my record clean."

"I can pay them off if they take me in," he announced, his mouth curling into a cocky grin. "'Sides, they probably have you under investigation, too, if they know about you and me."

I swore and turned away. "Whatever. If your boss is going to use me as a pawn because he knows I am with you, then I am not going to be with you.?

?Wait ? what? You're going to leave me because of this??

I started walking back to the shuttle, turning my head to speak to him over my shoulder. ?He won't come after me again if he doesn't think you're important to me, or I'm important to you. I'm sure you'll be a much better thug without being ruled by your fear.?

Stopping at the entry to the shuttle, I looked down and whispered ?Good bye.? I knew he'd hear it.

I slumped into my seat on the shuttle and looked out the window. He was walking slowly away, but somehow I heard his voice in my head.

?He'll kill you anyway.?

I glanced at the cryptic message on my datapad - it was short and to the point, directing me to find myself at one of the local hotels conference centers for a meeting, and it wasn't signed with a name. The header suggested it had gone through a city on Dantooine - a planet I really didn't know much about, and didn't care to know much about; it wasn't exactly a stop on the entertainment circuit, and the vicious wildlife reported to reside there probably didn't give a damn for song and dance. I didn't know anyone on Dantooine, either.

It was, however, signed with a phrase: ?We know what you seek.?

?I'll be back,? I mumbled at the guy I'd been practicing a duet with, and stepped away from my ommnibox, kicking it to silence. He nodded and shifted into something cheerful in a major key on the nalargon.

?Everythin' okay, DD?? Been looking a little stressed since she got back from Naboo. Spooked. Maybe she's in some sorta trouble.

?Nah, I'm not in trouble, just didn't sleep well on Naboo. Too used to the heat here, I guess.?

He looked confused, fumbling with a cannister of spice perched on his organ. ?Uh... wow, I gotta stop taking this stuff. Did I say that out loud??

He did, didn't he?

?Uh... yeah?? I flashed a bright, professionally cheerful smile, and sketched a salute to the other musician. ?I just have to take care of some business,? I explained blandly. I shrugged my black synthide jacket on and tucked the datapad in my pocket. ?I won't be long. Let's try something else with that song when I get back, right??

He nodded and grinned, freeing one hand from some frantic keymashing to wave a good-bye. ?See ya in a bit.?