Cross posted as a response to http://www.twoleftwings.com/srpn/viewtopic.php?t=6 77

-Begin Interlude: As Tatooine Turns-

Daydream let her eyes flicker over the cantina appraisingly, catching a hint of fury simmering somewhere in the room; fury with almost deadly intent. A cluster of jawas skittered away from the bar, and as the knot of little speederbike thieves dispersed, Daydream spied the source: Kis'met Zolof, a lithe young twi'lek, blue-skinned and wearing black clothes and a perfectly coordinated black mood.

Ah, yes. Kis'met. I guess the last time I told her off wasn't enough. Maybe she's out for blood and vengeance this time.

Catching sight of the blue-skinned twi'lek's hand moving towards her sleeve, Daydream felt her lips work towards a smirk, and let the wry expression show. Pale blue-green eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and she moved to put her conversation partner in the line of fire, smiling genially, reaching with tanned fingers to brush along his sleeve, withdrawing it to straighten the collar of her own white duster.

Burning stars, why does she always have to go for the same men as me? Why can't she keep her hands off? I can't compete with a bloody fighter, not when she works with him! Her mind formed the thought, left it unspoken. It was petulant, hardly graceful, and more worthy of one of those embarassing holosoaps. I can't fault her taste in zabrak, though.

The anger Daydream felt growing in Kis'met flared, and she watched the blue figure approach. The human male before her turned, obviously recognizing Kis'met by the pale blue gleam of her skin and the molten fire of her scarlet eyes, and he grinned rakishly. "Kis'met, would you like to dance?" he drawled.

Kis'met met the man's words with a silent, icy stare, letting the glare settle on Daydream. The tan twi'lek responded with a wide smile, the expression colored with arrogance.

"Uh oh, don't want to get in the middle of this," the human stammered hastily, backing away. Apparently Kis'met's reputation for being skilled with pain was well known.

Saevio stepped forward, hooded and cloaked, and offered a nod towards the two of them, crimson eyes narrowed. The zabrak gestured silently towards the exit of the cantina, obviously expecting a catfight. His stance suggested that the personal and private dispute between the two women had better NOT be made very, very public, and that his associate had better remain on good behavior.

The hell with that. He's probably been hoping we'd fight... maybe one of us would kill the other off and spare him our ultimatums. We've probably played right into his plans.

Daydream watched Kis'met lick her lips, and decided to fire the first round before the other woman could get the upper hand, interjecting, "Do make it good, Kis'met, I know you have trouble with words over one syllable."

"Such a pity I cannot take your tongue, and use your silver words. Isn't it?" the blue twi'lek spoke deceptively softly.

"You'd not be the first to envy the way I use my tongue," Daydream responded calmly, wearing a faint smile.

Kis'met responded with a smirk: "I'm sure I could ask the Nightsisters, and they would tell me of your skills."

"You must be on very good terms with the Nightsisters to speak with them so," Daydream managed, feeling her own temper flare at the unspoken implications and assumptions. Calm... can't afford to get angry here.

"I am... With a few," Kis'met hissed.

The zabrak standing between the two twi'leks announced, in his usual obscure manner, "I'd like to have a word with both of you... In a more private vicinity." Crimson eyes focused on one, moved to the other, narrowed.

"Why, you look uneasy, Saevio," Daydream declared levelly. "Afraid I'm going to hurt your rabid little huurton's feelings... perhaps make a fool of her in public?"

"Hardly, you tainted harpy!" Kis'met retorted.

Saevio shook his head as he turned to Kis'met, reaching out to grab a fistful of her jacket's sleeve, leaning in to whisper to her.

Daydream watched the hissed exchange end abruptly as Kis'met jerked her sleeve free of Saevio's grasp.

"I warned you," Kis'met announced coldly, turning to stalk out of the cantina.

I'm not going to let her have the last word. Daydream followed, her brow knitting into a scowl as she heard Saevio mutter a single word: "Insolent."

"Bitch," Daydream responded. She wasn't sure whether she was referring to the other twi'lek girl or the zabrak male.

* * *
The two women glared hotly at each other, ignoring the scorching brilliance of the twin suns glaring down outside the cantina.

"Was there more you wanted to say? Or do you always stare at your betters?" Kis'met smirked.

"I'm looking for someone who's my better," Daydream retorted, staring at the blue-skinned twi'lek appraisingly. "You, of course, are not her."

"Ooo, pretty sting! Funny, it didn't work." Kis'met said.

The zabrak stepped up beside the bickering women. "Enough," he declared.

"It worked enough that you had to react, hm?" Daydream asked, paying no heed to Saevio, but watching the crimson glow in Kis'met's eyes. She'd seen the woman almost snap the last time they'd spoken, and those eyes had flashed almost purple.

"Ah, but I only reacted to fuel my anger. I'm sure it'll settle once my hands are around that pretty little neck."

"Kis'met," Saevio intoned again.

Daydream continued, speaking over the dark zabrak, "Have you ever been to that overrun Imperial research facility on Dantooine? There are some huurtons there, foaming at the mouth... They bear great resemblance to you in that state."

She smirked as her taunt elicited a growl from the blue-skinned twi'lek. So easily manipulated... though I'm going to have to move fast if she pulls her weapon.

Saevio made a show of reaching a hand into his cloak, low at his waist upon his hip, staring at Kis'met. "Drop it," he ordered. Glaring, the woman's eyes followed the movement, and she raised her chin.

"You'll pull your saber to defend her--?" Kis'met asked incredulously, her voice growing louder.

Saevio interjected flatly, "She doesn't need my defense--"

"--Her?!", Kis'met continued, visibly angry. "The tainted harpy that wants nothing more then a seat of power?!"

"You are acting unbecoming of your... position," Saevio began, "Perhaps I should rethink my decision, hmm?"

"Oh, please excuse my insolence, Master Saevio. I'll take my anger elsewhere," Kis'met announced, offering a deep bow before the zabrak.

"I'm not your master."

"Funny, you act as if I were your slave!" Kis'met snarled, furious. She gathered her coat about herself and strode off.

Removing his hand from the inside of his cloak, Saevio cast a quick glance at Daydream.

She glared.

He shook his head slowly.

"Oh, don't you get all condescending and smug on me, mister," Daydream growled.

"Look at yourself," he stated.

Daydream shoved her hands into the pockets of her cloak, hiding fists clenched with intense annoyance. "And what, precisely, is that supposed to mean?"

"You allow yourself to get so flustered... Over what?"

"I'm not flustered at all!"

"Aren't you?" the dark zabrak squinted at Daydream. "Fooled me."

"Now who's the fool?" she retorted.

"Apparently I am, for thinking you were above being led into such a confrontation."

"Well, if you wouldn't - led? LED?" Daydream hissed. She took a deep breath, attempting to gather the shreds of her control, her composure and her dignity. This was going downhill fast. Led? I'm the one leading this, I'm the one pushing -their- buttons, aren't I?

* * *
Daydream realized they had both been walking, and following Kis'met's path. The woman stood waiting, radiating controlled fury.

"Aw, what's the matter, princess?" Kis'met intoned mockingly, obviously noting Daydream's tense posture, "Feeling some rage?"

Saevio made a show of checking the time display on the datapad at his waist. "Can we move this along, hmm?"

"What's wrong? Bored already, 'Master'?" Kis'met sketched a bow before the zabrak. "Please forgive me!"

"You really are his slave, aren't you," Daydream forced a laugh. "Little ... puppy."

"I'll show you slave, you tainted harpy -- what's wrong, did he not sleep with you?" Kis'met taunted.

Daydream whirled to glare at Kis'met. "I don't kiss and tell."

"I haven't slept with either of you... To clarify," Saevio interjected helpfully.

"Admit it, the only reason you're mad at me is because you couldn't sleep with him to get a seat of power!" Kis'met said.

"Power?"

"Yes, power. Don't act like you don't crave it!"

"Power? What on earth would I want power for, you screeching harridan? I think I have a successful enough career, with enough reknown, that I don't need any more power. I don't have to sleep my way to a position of power! Is that how YOU have to do things?" Daydream realized she was on the verge of yelling, but the other woman's anger was practically being broadcast around her, and Day couldn't help but wear the emotions of those around her. The insinuations had her boiling with anger, and she didn't really care who heard her.

"Hardly! I don't have to sleep around to get what I want!" Kis'met thrust her hands out, pushing Daydream away. The tan twi'lek growled and shoved back, letting her feet slide into a wide stance, dropping slightly to lower her center of gravity.

"A growl... now who's the huurton, hm?" Kis'met laughed mockingly, scarlet eyes wide and glowing with anger as she circled Daydream slowly and deliberately.

"Unlike you, I don't yap," Daydream announced, letting her eyes follow the pacing blue figure. "And every...single...time... you open your mouth, that's all anyone hears! Yap, yap, yap, yap, yap!"

Kis'met decked Daydream, snarling. Catching the woman's gloved hands in her own, Daydream pulled with one, pushed with the other, sending her spinning towards Saevio with a forceful shove. As Saevio stepped out of the way, leaving Kis'met to fall, the blue twi'lek managed to curl her fingers about the silvered choker about Daydream's throat, dragging the tan twi'lek down with her.

"This is sad," Saevio announced mysteriously to the small crowd that had gathered.

Hooking a leg around Daydream for leverage, Kis'met twisted and rolled herself atop the tan twi'lek.

"I am going to kill you!" Kis'met hissed, venom and ice dripping from her words.

Blue eyes glaring hotly at red eyes, Daydream sneered, "It'd take a better woman than you to do it, bitch!"

"Whore!" Kis'met retorted.

Shrilly, Daydream yelled, "I am NOT a whore!"

Her eyes flickering purple, her features twisted with rage and cold fury, Kis'met growled, "Right." She reared back, bringing to mind the image of a rawl preparing to strike. . .

. . . and they both came to the same conclusion simultaneously, hate and rage and fury getting all tangled and confused with some sort of passion.

They caught each others' shoulders and kissed.

The gathered audience stood in stunned disbelief, with several weighty, triple-ellipse silences being shared.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Saevio prompted.

-End Interlude-

Saevio caught Kis'met's shoulder as she moved to lead Daydream to the starport. "Kis'met.." he began.

She paused, turned to study him, scarlet eyes casting a faint glow on her blue skin. "Yes?" Kismet responded.

"She mentioned before a problem with...? the zabrak paused, recalling the conversation, his expression distant for a moment. ?...voices. Perhaps she can tell you more of this. I think it would be wise to handle this obstacle as soon as possible, hmm?"

Kis'met stared at Saevio for a moment, perhaps trying to fathom his intentions. ?As you wish,? she replied softly.

"Just a suggestion," Saevio clarified, though his tone of voice indicated it was less a suggestion and more a specific instruction with consequences for failure.

Turning away, Kis'met looped her arm through Daydream's, guiding her away. ?Let us be off, then.? Daydream offered a polite nod to the woman, tension worn on her features. Kis'met paused again, glancing over her shoulder at the zabrak thoughtfully.

?We should speak,? she announced to Saevio. ?Later.?

- - - - -

The twi'leks sat perched on a gentle swelling of earth, a hillside buried under a lush carpet of cheerful pink and purple flowers. The afternoon sun was bright, even a little glaring, and each of the women had draped their coats over a branch of the gnarled, twisted tree that arced overhead.

"Tell me about these voices," Kis'met began.

"Voices? They're not so much voices as they are - well, I suppose it started that way."

"Tell me of them." Kis'met repeated, "Tell me when, and how it started."

Daydream sighed, tanned fingers plucking fitfully at the pink and purple flowers shrouding the ground. She cleared her throat reluctantly, began detailing the incidents which started with a single voice in an instant of terror, and culminated with what she described as a complete nervous breakdown, with her being infected by the intentions and emotions of others, picking up a cacophony of voices and feelings which would be enough to drive anyone mad. Certainly nothing anyone who worked around crowds could afford. And quite embarrassing for an entertainer.

She didn't mention that she'd gone to others seeking help, with the plea that there must be some way to burn this madness out of her or silence it forever. Nor did she mention the help she'd already received, or rather, the guidance she was still receiving.

Kis'met had then asked about voices and thoughts. Taking a deep breath, Daydream continued, describing the guidance she had received first on Tatooine, then on Talus, where her lover and mentor at the time had no qualms about addressing his thoughts directly to her mind.

Hell of a way to slam the door on someone after an argument, Daydream found herself thinking. Storm out, throw the personal comlink into the nearest trash compactor when it starts beeping, and then the -thoughts- start, right in your head where you can't slam any doors or shut any comm channels off...! ?Daydream, Daydream, why do you always run away? Let's talk this over.? Shut up! Somehow I don't think that's how it's supposed to be used!

"Did he teach you how to block others from getting into your mind?" Kis'met asked, breaking into her reverie.

"Block...?"

The blue-skinned twi'lek offered a nod. ?This is not a difficult matter. It just takes a centered mind, and a strong will."

"Block?? Daydream repeated, staring off in the distance at the jagged spires of some ruined buildings. ?No, they sort of... practice... an open mind philosophy, literally. Why would you block someone?"

::Can you feel my thoughts?::

Drawing her arms about herself to hug her knees, Daydream turned her attention back to Kis'met, nodding, letting the woman feel a wordless impression of assent and agreement.

"Because your enemies can feel what you broadcast ? just as your allies can." Kis'met stated softly, her eyes casting an eerie crimson glow. She leaned back, looking relaxed and at ease.

Daydream blinked, her expression suggesting that it had never occurred to her. She squinted at Kis'met, attempting to focus on the nebulous presence of ::other/Kis'met:: in her thoughts.

::Good, now shove me from your mind. Close your mind to me. Build a wall, a structure, to lock in your thoughts and feelings. Anything to keep my feelings from yours, and yours from mine!::

Kis'met Zolof continued aloud, gesturing vaguely with a hand, ?Imagine, if you will, being so far into battle, and losing it all because your enemies can feel what you are sending your allies ? they would know your moves, your thoughts, your feelings."

Daydream stared through Kis'met, allowing a vague impression of pushing or shoving to reach the other woman. She was obviously trying to search for a method or device that would serve her. Kis'met, in turn, let a pleased smile creep over her full, purple lips.

Chill. Daydream settled on the impression of chilled darkness, letting the image of a cold black wall rise between her and Kis'met, dimming but not occluding the presence of ::other/Kis'met::.

"I... see..." Daydream breathed.

Snare-like and clinging, Kis'met's mind tangled with Daydream's, forcing her feelings through the tan twi'lek's defenses.

Kis'met, crafty, calculating Kis'met, had chosen the one subject which she knew would easily afflict Daydream; the one subject which was still an unspoken point of contention and competition between the two women, the one subject Daydream preferred to address analytically instead of emotionally, and the one subject she really didn't care to discuss openly with other people: Saevio.

Images unbidden, unwanted, laden with all the color and intensity of Kis'met's very personal and very strong feelings, flooded into Daydream's mind, barreling past her novice defenses with ease, settling there and digging in with insidious little hooks of emotion. Images of Kis'met and Saevio together, presented as memories of the blue-skinned twi'lek: The pair chasing each other under a bridge against the opulent backdrop of some city on Naboo; clinging to each other in a smoky, sandy cantina; frolicking and teasing in a pool of water.

Lekku twitching restlessly, Daydream shook her head, made a warding gesture with her hands, quickly clenched into fists. I don't need to see this! Don't want to see this! Her attempt at shielding herself faltered; gaping holes in a black wall, wisps of tangible irritation, petty jealousy and hot anger leaking out like tongues of fire looking for fuel to burn.

::Good, become angry!:: Abandoning the memory-images she was projecting, Kis'met's feelings washed over Daydream, wrapping her mind in a bewildering rush of hurt/ betrayal/lust/caring/love, all mixed up, all at once. ::Force me out! Block out that which you do not want to see, do not want to feel!::

Kis'met was obviously no novice at this sort of thing, either offensively or defensively. If Daydream had a thought to spare, she would have wondered where Kis'met learned how to do this, since it wasn't exactly a common use of the Force, as far as she knew. But Kis'met's silent assault did not leave her opponent with the time or opportunity to focus on such.

Keeping the struggling twi'lek off guard, Kis'met shifted to inflicting her own sensory memories on Daydream: The feel of his hand hot on ::her:: skin, the gentle press of his lips against ::hers::, the heady scent of his being near ::her::, the thrill ::she:: felt at the sound of his voice... then the cold emptiness of it being ripped away from ::her::.

::BLOCK IT OUT! DO NOT GIVE IN!::

Overwhelmed, Daydream shuddered and stared sightlessly with glimmering, tear-filled eyes, her features mirroring each emotion being cast at her. Stop....

::If you want it gone, STOP it!:: Kis'met watched the other woman struggle, smirking vaguely.

Daydream's anger boiled into poisonous fury and confusion as she struggled with the wash of foreign sensations, trying to sort them out and avoid them, finding herself lost in her own mind. Or was she ::other/Kis'met::, the one trying to focus the untrained will of a student, rather than the one bearing the assault? She wasn't even sure anymore.

Lashing out with another blistering assault of her hurt/betrayal/lust/love/rage, Kis'met shared a silent suggestion with her student/opponent: A glimpse of a force field, a barrier, the image of the same one that protected her own mind; the look, the feel, but not the how.

::Find it. Block me out!::

Latching onto the sense of other/Kis'met speaking into her mind with cold, wordless anger, Daydream focused on the impression of building a wall, a pyramid... images being built up and torn down amidst Kis'met's attack.

::Good:: Kis'met flung another set of image-memories on Daydream, relentless and brutal: The lithe blue twi'lek caught tight in the dark arms of the zabrak, ::her:: figure pressed tight against him to demand a kiss, crimson eyes locked onto each other's, passion almost tangible between the two.

Her anger manifesting via the Force as a physical pulse of chilled rage, Daydream separated her feelings and thoughts from those of Kis'met's, sealing her off with the impression of a sphere of featureless black ice.

Kis'met straightened from her languid posture, shivering, rubbing her palms across her bare arms in an attempt to warm herself. ?Very good,? she whispered.

Daydream sat silently for several moments, her face completely blank and expressionless, if tear-streaked, pale, drawn and drained.

"...An effective lesson," Daydream managed after a time, her voice cold and hoarse.

((Still not sure about this part.))

Saevio stood silent, impassive. Kis'met winced slightly at Daydream's response.

"He knew about my nightmares," Daydream clarified.

Moving quickly and without any subtlety, the zabrak reached a hand to his waist where his saber hilt dangled from his belt.

Kis'met glanced down, took a step forward to stand between the two.

The hell? Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. . . "Let him do what he must, Kis'met," Daydream said quietly.

"You need to move while I speak with Daydream, Kis'met," Saevio commanded coldly.

Flashing a charming, bright smile, Kis'met addressed her words with honeyed sweetness to the glowering zabrak: "Can you assure me that you will not strike her down?"

"My directions were not conditional." Saevio Metatron stated, appearing emotionally distant. "Move."

"Trust him to do what is best, Kis'met," Daydream interjected with a whisper.

"Now." Saevio ordered Kis'met, his eyes burning with a baleful crimson glow as he watched Daydream.

"You do not think I should have accepted his advice," Daydream spoke the words slowly, watching Saevio's hand hover near his saber.

"The same man that attacked one of our own? Hmm? The same man who is in our suspect database, hmm?" His voice grew louder, each syllable pronounced coldly and sharply. "The same HUMAN who's skin has felt your lips, yes? Stop me if I'm wrong, Dream." Saevio snarled.

Kis'met brought a hand to her chin, blue fingertips tapping an idle pattern as she watched Saevio. The tap-tap-tapping was mirrored in a subtle twitch of her lekku.

Burning stars, it was just a friendly kiss on the cheek, Daydream thought irreverently, but decided against vocalizing it. "I have been with your organization for scarcely -- what -- three days, Saevio?" the diminutive twi'lek reasoned calmly. "If I'm supposed to know your entire history with him. . . Who did he attack? What's he suspected of?"

"An acolyte . . . He's a damned Force-sensitive, Daydream! The very thing we are here for," Saevio responded icily.

"He offered help," Daydream explained calmly. "What was I supposed to do? Tell him to piss off?"

"Would that not suffice?" Saevio raised an eyebrow.

Daydream folds her arms across her chest, fighting with her temper. "So he's got knowledge, and I used it. If he is wanted, I am sure he will be dealt with." Sarcasm crept into her voice. "I'm sure you've always been so strong that you've never had to accept help offered from someone, and you've always told people to 'piss off' when they've offered help. Besides, you already had him questioned, or something, didn't you? I fail to see the issue."

"The issue? The issue is ... you are learning under a SUSPECT!! How, in the name of Kun, can I possibly know he has not turned you against us, whom he despises and wishes dead?" Saevio snarled.

Distract, deflect, defuse. . . This is NOT going well! "How'd you get him to go with you?" Daydream blurted.

Saevio announced coldly, "Ask Kis'met. She's the one who did the questioning."

Daydream glanced to Kis'met, looking relieved at the opportunity to direct the conversation away from whatever it was that had Saevio fuming. "What did it take?" Daydream chuckled. "Corellian whisky? I could have gotten him to come without subterfuge."

Kis'met was glaring at Saevio, her cheeks flushed a light purple. "I did what was necessary to get the job done."

Saevio muttered an obscenity, then: "This is all too familiar."

((See above for OOC blah blah blah))

The twi'lek females had quickly realized that the zabrak was unconscious, probably having blacked out from a lack of air. Competent despite her worry, Kis'met located the helm he normally wore and fit the device onto his head, rewarded by the sound of the mechanical rebreather activating, steadying his labored breaths. The two women lifted him onto Kis'met's bed, and Kis'met stepped away, her comlink clutched in her fist as she attempted to summon Adahiana, a competent doctor with skills that went far beyond medical science.

It helped that Adahiana had known Saevio longer than either of the two twi'leks.

Adahiana appeared in the doorway, sparing a glance for the two women, Kis'met's large bed, and the zabrak thereon restless but unresponsive. She tossed her medical bag onto the bed, and her expression suggested that she expected there had been one hell of a party between the three.

Daydream had the grace to blush, noting Ada's pointed look over the little scene. She took a few steps back, keeping a polite or safe distance from the tableau.

" . . . Can you fix it?" Kis'met asked, sounding troubled.

Adahiana glanced at the two women, her left eyebrow arching delicately over a bright green eye. "What happened," she prompted, moving to stand at the side of the bed.

"He, ah... Got a little irritated," Daydream stated quietly.

"He hyperventilated," Kis'met added.

Adahiana reached toward Saevio's helmet, shifting her fingers beneath the base of it enough to place against his pulse. ". . . irritated?" The pale woman mused.

"Okay, he was a little more than irritated," Daydream acknowledged.

Adahiana spread the black cloak shrouding Saevio, drawing her hand down his chest, over his lungs; her right hand reached into her bag, drawing forth a small scanner. "I need a little more detail," she remarked patiently. "People don't pass out from irritation."

"He started having trouble breathing. He was leaning against the wall, then just. . . passed out. He's been restless, tossing. Saying things in Iridonian. We can't wake him." Kis'met said matter-of-factly, her lekku phrasing quiet anxiety as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

"What was going on before then?" Adahiana asked clinically, passing the scanner over Saevio's figure, a smirk playing over her lips.

"We were arguing. . . " Kis'met began.

Daydream continued, her voice little more than a whisper: ". . . He figured out I was learning from someone he didn't approve of, in addition to my learning from Kis'met."

Clearing her throat, the smirk flowed from Adahiana's face to be replaced by a serious look. She tilted her head to one side, staring at the zabrak. "What has he been saying?" She glanced to Kis'met, knowing the blue-skinned twi'lek understood the Iridonian dialects.

"That he failed Ahmad. He said some things like. . . 'Why?' and 'You promised!' He's been talking about his brother, his own brother, over a woman. What does that mean, Ada?"

Glancing towards Daydream, then towards Kis'met, Adahiana muttered a name, shaking her head. She explained, "This isn't . . . medical. Not in the sense that I can 'fix'."

"What is the problem, then, and how is it remedied?" Daydream asked quietly, watching the restless, muttering zabrak.

Adahiana studied Daydream, her head tilted so her gleaming black locks framed her face. "I'm not sure I should tell either of you what this is about, considering the circumstances." She glanced over her shoulder back to the figure on the bed: Saevio was rousing from his slumber, beginning to lean up on his elbows.

"I'm curious," Daydream admitted, "but I respect your opinion so long as --"

Kis'met interjected, "-- It is clear enough without knowing who she was. I have figured out who he means, there is no way I could be wrong in this. The only man he called brother was Lord Bishop."

"She was many things: A slave, a whore. The list goes on," Adahiana stated. "Oravn owned her once, which is one of her reasons for loathing me. She used everyone around her, and betrayed Saevio."

So they think I'm like her.

((Tentative again, REALLY not sure about including this part, conclusion is a bit too sappy))

"Where is he? Find him at once!" the zabrak ordered, furious and pacing outside Kis'met's home.

Adahiana tilted her head, eyes shifting over the length of Saevio's tall, dark form. "Mos Eisley, last I saw," she intoned. "Before Kis'met contacted me about you."

Moving to stand at Adahiana's elbow, Daydream whispered, "What did she do, after she learned from another?" Adahiana glanced down at the diminutive twi'lek.

"Please," Daydream murmured.

"She killed him," Adahiana stated flatly, motioning towards Saevio, who was staring at the two women. "And then his brother married her."

Daydream stared blankly past the human and the zabrak, obviously horror-struck.

"Mos Eisley. That's my bet," Adahiana repeated, shaking her head slightly at the pair before turning and walking away.

Saevio reached down for his saber hilt, gripping the weapon with a white-knuckled grasp as he unclipped it from the belt about his waist.

"You think I'd try to kill you?" Daydream asked softly.

"I won't let it happen!" he retorted, furious.

"You really think I would." This is ridiculous. Daydream reached to wrap her fingers around his sword hand where it gripped his saber.

"I have to stop him!" Saevio ranted.

Turning his hand to point the hilt towards her, Daydream muttered irritably, "Then go ahead and kill me instead, if you don't trust me. I'm not going to betray you."

Saevio Metatron glared down at her hand as it touched his own, then back up at her, fire burning in his eyes. "You would sacrifice yourself to save him?!" he snarled with disbelief.

"No. You can kill him if you want."

"I don't understand.", Saevio Metatron stated coldly.

"That's obvious."

"If not to save him, then why?" he asked, open puzzlement worn on his face.

"I don't care to have my loyalty questioned." Daydream answered, her fingers still wrapped tightly around his hand and his saber.

"He will use you," Saevio muttered. "I have seen it before."

"So will you. That is the way of things," Daydream responded calmly. "I will not be used against you, however. I would rather die, honestly, than let myself be used as some sort of pawn against you or let you think I'm being used as a pawn against you." Blue-green eyes narrowed, glanced down, pointedly focused on his saber. Saevio released his grip on the saber.

"I'm not her, and I'm not going to be her," she continued quietly. She paused, recalling the words he'd thrown at her the night before, after she'd stormed out of the cantina: This will never work if I cannot trust in you to trust in me... "If you can't trust me, then this will not go very far, will it," Daydream muttered.

The zabrak abandoned his black expression for a moment, managing a slight smirk. "Stealing my words, now?"

"Yes."

"It is difficult... But I want to."

"You think you would be a fool to trust me," Daydream said. "Well, if you're not going to trust me, make sure it's for the right reasons, reasons I've given you, not the reasons given by someone else."

Saevio gently shook his head. "I think I'd be a fool to lose you, whatever the circumstance."

"Then don't be a fool."

CONTINUED INTERLUDE: Starshine Surprise

Rather than meet at Kis'met's bunker, the woman had instead brought Daydream aboard her private yacht, an exquisitely furnished Sorosuub model, announcing that Adahiana and any others could board with her vessel when they caught up. A moment of thought, and Daydream shrugged and followed.

Kis'met draped her black coat over a chair with a bleak sigh, tension holding her bright crimson eyes in a hard expression.

"You are troubled," the petite tan-skinned twi'lek observed, clasping her hands behind her at the small of her back.

"Very," Kis'met replied. ?It is as though my world crumbles around me, and I cannot do anything to stop it."

"Perhaps you feel powerless," Daydream suggested.

"I do," Kis'met answered quietly.

A silent phrase ran unbidden over Daydream's thoughts: ?Through strength, I gain power.? Where is her strength now? "What can you not change?" Daydream continued calmly.

Kis'met exhaled slowly, a heavy sigh, and leaned her head back in the chair. Daydream followed suit, shrugging her coat off, draping the length of black synthleather over the back of a chair. She seated herself, watching Kis'met carefully with a serene stare.

"I cannot change anything," Kis'met finally answered.

"What is it you wish to change?" Daydream prodded.

"To be honest, quite a bit,? the lithe blue figure stated. Daydream responded with a little smile, her lekku poised in an expression of patient waiting.

Picking up a bottle from the table the two sat at, Kis'met slid an empty glass towards Daydream. ?Pick your poison.?

Bemused at the choice of words, Daydream nodded her thanks, accepting the glass. She looked over the array of bottles, selected a short clear one, and unsealed it. Kis'met's hand stretched towards the familiar shape of a bottle of Breath of Heaven... paused... selected a flask of Starshine Surprise instead, popping the cork.

"Anything can be changed, Kis'met. It just takes time," Daydream declared, filling her own glass.

A nod, a sigh. Kis'met looked into her flask. "Something tells me the things I want changed, you would rather they stay as they are."

". . . You speak of Saevio."

"Yes." Kis'met replied.

Daydream swallowed a mouthful of her drink, grimaced, then coughed, her eyes bulging slightly. She clamped her hands over her mouth, wheezing. "Wha--!"

Kis'met Zolof chuckled indulgently. ?Deuterium Pyro.? She held out the bottle of the smoother Starshine Surprise. ?Chase with this.?

Waving the bottle aside, Daydream choked, "Never knew how . . . Ackgt . . . strong this is!"

Kis'met shrugged, tipped the bottle back, drinking deeply. "Just as strong as Breath of Heaven, but not anywhere as smooth."

Taking a deep breath, tanned fingertips nudging her glass of Deuterium Pyro a few inches away from her, Daydream continued. "You must know that I know how you feel about him, because of your. . . lesson. I can't blame you. If I let myself, I'd be . . ." She trailed off, shook her head.

"Let yourself?" Kis'met asked. "I did not expect it to happen at all. I did not realize... If I had, I would have squashed it. I cannot figure out how he acted those things we shared... so well. I think it is more fury and rage than a broken heart."

"I don't think he was acting, Kis'met,? Daydream intoned softly, her voice tinted with cynicism as she reflected on the memory/image/feelings Kis'met had shared in her earlier lesson. ?Or if he was, he's acting now, too."

"I must admit, it hurts to see you with him. I could not leave him if you were in my place," Kis'met mused.

?It is not my intention to hurt you, Kis'met. It's more in my interest to see you strong and whole." Daydream explained, a little awkwardly.Why is she telling me this? I don't want to hurt anyone . . . I don't want to see her indulging in this ...hurt...

"I will live,? Kis'met announced, ?If I can just get past my weakness, I will be strong again. I am feeling much better. The medications Ada gave me seemed to have worked faultlessly."

Daydream smiled faintly, taking another gulp of the Deuterium Pyro. Another eye-watering cough.

"Then I have to sort out the feelings that seemed to have sparked around you,? Kis'met continued.

"Feelings tend to sort themselves out over time," Daydream offered neutrally.

Flashing the tan twi'lek a devilish grin, Kis'met smirked, "I should be able to sort it out. If I could just figure out who is behind these feelings . . . Bleh!"

"Normally you are behind your own feelings, milady," Daydream stated, staring into her glass. She brought it to her lips, swallowed a mouthful of the Deuterium Pyro, and looked up to see Kis'met smirking at her. Daydream's eyebrows arched, her lekku resettling about her shoulders in a restless phrase of curiousity: "...Ah, perhaps not?"

"Yes." Kis'met paused, watching Daydream spin her glass of Deuterium Pyro between small hands, setting the drink inside to spiraling. "What I mean is that someone is sending suggestions, feelings and emotions, like I did to you, while I was weak."

Daydream studied Kis'met over the rim of her glass. "Someone is trying to manipulate you." Wait . . . like she did to me?

Kis'met nodded. "Yes. I think the poison was a way to weaken my defenses in order for me to be controlled."

Daydream set her glass down, staring. "I trus' the others know of this," Daydream spoke softly, her words slow and a little slurred.

"I am not so sure how much Saevio knows." Kis'met stated. "But Ada does, yes."

"I'd trust Ada to do more with such information than Saevio. He has seemed a little distracted with that incident in Bestine," Daydream said ponderously.

"I doubt he cares, anyhow."

"You're his associate. He must care, if not on a personal level, than for what you contribute to the Empire!"

"I'm sure he can find a replacement," Kis'met muttered bitterly. "And I'm sure he thinks in the same manner."

Daydream slapped the palm of her hand against the glass surface of the table, causing the bottles and glasses to jump and rattle. She looked impatient, annoyed: "No!"

Kis'met Zolof arched an eyebrow.

"I am not going to hear you talk like this, Kis'met," Daydream announced, her expression hard, the words spoken with the exaggerated cold clarity of someone who is getting rather drunk. "You are stronger than that."

The tan twi'lek took a deep breath, slowly blew it out in a long sigh. She picked up her glass and drained it, managing not to cough.

"Have I made you angry?" Kis'met asked, smirking slowly.

Daydream took a few moments to reach for the bottle of Deuterium Pyro, managing to get most of the drink in the glass. "Yes," she decided. "I'm angry. That you think you could be replaced. You're my teacher. I have things to learn. You're not allowed to be replaced."

Kis'met smiled.

((Tentatively included pending feedback....if this scene is posted it will probably be moved to its own thread since it's so long.))

CONTINUED INTERLUDE: Starshine Surprise
FLASHBACK: "Perhaps we should turn his game back onto him?"

Saevio stormed out of the cantina after Daydream left, finding her tucked into the shady alcove set into the building across the street. With another zabrak male: dark-skinned, muscular, not tall, wearing a smug, possessive grin. Standing very close. Speaking in hushed voices. He stared at her. Glared at the man.

"The hell is this?" he snarled coldly.

Daydream's companion smirked insouciantly up at Saevio, asking, "Remind me. Who are you, again?"

"If you don't mind, Saevio, I need to talk to him," Daydream advised Saevio, glancing at the looming figure with the burning scarlet eyes. She turned back to face the shorter man, smiling easily.

"I do mind," Saevio stated, venomous ice dripping from his words.

Kis'met had taken a step forward, her eyes wide. "What's the matter, Saevio...?"

"I see this man has anger issues," the other zabrak observed.

"You don't know the half of it, peon."

"If making me seem inferior feeds your ego, continue," the smaller zabrak facing Daydream smirked, "I wouldn't want you to fall into a state of depression. You might just do me a favor and kill yourself."

"Jealous, Saevio?" Kis'met intoned, having realized that Daydream had made herself quite visible with the other zabrak, just as Saevio had done with Daydream when Kis'met was near, and vice-versa.

"If I wasn't me, I would be, also," the zabrak grinned, flipping his topknot arrogantly, taking a step closer to the tan-skinned twi'lek.

Eyes burning with cold fury, Saevio turned to stare at Daydream. "We need to talk," he stated coldly.

"There's a line." Daydream smiled graciously.

"Then whoever is in front of me will have to move to the back or die," Saevio stated emphatically.

Daydream turned slowly, trying to gauge whether the tall zabrak was being sincere in his threat or just posturing.

Easily reading her unspoken assessment, Saevio declared coldly, "I'm serious."

An exasperated sigh escaped Daydream, and she leaned to whisper softly into the other man's ear, shaking her head. His eyes flickered from her to study Saevio. "Enjoy it," he muttered darkly, "while it lasts."

Saevio decided that the discussion should be continued in less public quarters, and taking Daydream's hand, Kis'met led them to the starport to board her yacht.

CONTINUED INTERLUDE: Starshine Surprise
Kis'met said, "Perhaps we should turn his game back onto him?"

"We tried that . . . Hmm?" Daydream stared blankly at Kis'met.

"We did, but it was half-assed."

"Whar.. Uh. What else can we do?"

Rolling her shoulders in an eloquent shrug, Kis'met reached for another bottle of Starshine. "Other then us both just . . . dropping him, I've no clue."

"Don' think you can just drop him. Not sure I can, either. I dunno. . . . Lotsa other zabrak in the galaxy. Ones who aren't so --", Daydream slurred.

"-- so stupid?", Kis'met asked.

Daydream stared into her glass. "He's not stupid . . . Smarter than I am." she whispered.

"No, he just makes it seem as though he is," Kis'met declared. "His way of pulling strings is a series of lucky events. You actually watch, and pull with precise actions."

Gesturing vaguely with unsteady hands, Daydream explained, "I jus' planned ahead . . . He's already thinking in the future."

"Doubtful. Has he already picked out 'His and Her' towels?" the blue-skinned twi 'lek asked, her lips curled into a wicked grin behind her bottle of Starshine Surprise.

Rolling her eyes dramatically, Daydream groaned in dismay. "The man does that, and I'll be gone like. . . " She paused, trying to snap her fingers. "Like . . ." She continued trying to snap her fingers, giggling. "Like that. Yeah." She gave up on her attempts, settling on another mouthful of Deuterium Pyro. "Wh... Less - let's talk 'bout what would be fair for you, Kis'met . . . what would make you strong?"

Kis'met drank from her bottle, her expression pensive. She set the bottle down and dropped her head to lay atop her arms on the table. Daydream reached a tanned hand across the table to touch Kis'met's bare shoulder in a wordless attempt at comfort.

Kis'met smiled up at Daydream. "To forget the feelings I have for him," she whispered softly.

No one ever forgets, you just get used to the pain and suffering . . . But she's had so much pain . . . It would make her feel so much better if I just left him . . . I don't want to see her weak and hurting . . . She must think I get everything I want.

Maybe she's right.

Daydream mumbled, "Bes' way is to find feelings for 'nother..."

Kis'met Zolof nodded.

Reaching unsteadily for the bottle of Deuterium Pyro, Daydream attempted to refill her glass, and failed miserably. "Whoops," she slurred, managing to slosh quite a bit of the potent drink onto the table. "Haa, haa..."

"Dun' worry, droid 'll get it," Kis'met giggled. She paused, then: "Do. . . you ever think about the. . . whole kiss thing ?"

"Mmm. Sometimes."

"What do you think 'bout it?" Kis'met asked. "I was so pissed, and then it was like . . . I couldn't stop myself, I had to kiss you!" Kis'met Zolof giggled, her words vaguely slurred. Slender blue fingertips toyed idly with the mouth of the bottle of Starshine.

"You probably know well as any, better than most . . . anger gets confused sometimes." Daydream sighed, slouching in her chair, staring past the purple-cheeked twi'lek to watch the stars glimmering coldly outside the Sorosuub vessel. "Strong feelings do . . . Well, like with Saevio, hm? Never know whether to swing at him or kiss him. Guess it was th'same with you.

"S'good way to end an argument though, hm?" Daydream concluded, peering into her empty glass with a thoughtful expression. Burning stars, how much of this muck have I had? Can't think straight.

Kis'met nodded once, looking thoughtful.

"I thin' I'm a little drunk," Daydream announced, having the grace to look sheepish. She held her fingers together, about an inch apart, and peered at Kis'met through them. "Jus' a little."

"I was thinking about Saevio seeing us like this," Kis'met giggled.

"He'd be soooo mad, or something...! Disappointeded," Daydream drawled.

Kis'met Zolof shrugged. "I don't care!" she burst out, "He doesn't run my life! Just my work!"

". . . My work is my life." Daydream rolled her shoulders in a shrug. Sure seems like she cares.

Kis'met's head dipped in a nod of begrudging agreement. "Mine, too." A sigh escaped her as her comlink chirped. Adahiana's quiet voice sounded from the unit and Kis'met pushed herself to her feet, spotting the ship moving to dock with them. "I believe the others have decided to join us."