Jothee wiped his lips with his fingertips, the strings of his cloath cap to his tankas dangeling around his shoulders as he slowly let his breath ease out from his lips and straddled the front of the helm. He gazed up at the massive screen as it began to show space and Reshari's moon.

"Ready Jaz?"

"It's been a very long time," she spoke doubtfully as she rubbed at the dime sized disk to her tempil. "I am afraid."

"So am I," he sighed his laughter as he pushed up along a deep groove. "Drive initiated, prepare for ... what, starburst?"

"I like," Jasmine flexed her brows as she scratched her hand through her dark ruby hair and gazed out.

Light filled their screen as the Hezmana slowly curved around the moon, the light filling the Mantaray mouth of the ship and along its long speared tail. It fired off like a shot, a ray of brilliant light shooting out of the mouth the ship traveled down as two flattened, oval shaped devises rose from its top and belly like firing cannons. They angled, firing into the beam of light nearly right in front of the ships nose. The Hezmana became consumed in what looked like a spider web of lightning and then disapeared. A tornadoed vortex of light remained for long moments almost like a wormhole before tracing away like wifts of a dust devil.

**********

Rygel chuckled nervously as he flexed his fingers at the fuming general. General Corrum seemed to strain in every muscle through his leathers. He could literally hear the leather creaking as he heaved his chest with a viscous snarl, and then sat on his console desk, carefully planting his fists on the table.

"The frelling Sebacean's have put us to court with Rashari!" He bellowed loud enough for Rygel to whimper, covering his ears as the Zenetan with him tensed even straighter. "I am ACCUSED! of blowing up one of the most ancient TEMPLAR'S in this sector of the PLANET! ... And YOU want MEEE! To accept assistance in the name of Lady Crichton, from a frelling HYNERIAN!"

"Not just!" Rygel protested as he sucked in his breath and raised his head. "Dominar! Your legalities are a frelling drannit compared to what I've been seeing going on. Ha ha! Accept my offer, or face the Rashari justice system by yourself and I'll ensure Lady Chiana's security without you!"

"Megroagan SLUG!" General Corrum bellowed as he stood, planting his feet to the floor with an unmistakable boom. "I would eat you if you weren't so frelling ugly!"

"Consider your house!" Rygel shouted back as he pointed his stubby finger at him darkly. "Your shame in loosing such a priceless technology as that wormhole prowler to a PeaceKeeper reconisance! Yes! I know far more than you think General, don't you dare underestimate me! Your shame in allowing Warlord Setig to live with a severed arm! Ha! You hold enough disgraces for me to expose you straight into the hands of Rashari like a squealing tralk. How would you like your head under the foot of Chiana herself!"

The General screamed as he clenched his fists up to his raging face and then threw his hands violently down to his sides. "You frelling Zenetan boot licking coward!"

"Face it General Corrum," Rygel spoke calmly as he levitated his throne to the Zenetan's head level. "You need me if you want to keep your name on this planet. Now, bring in that skrail. I want to see it for myself."

"What?"

"To assure," Rygel smiled as he half bowed. "You truly intend to loose to Setig and Pagar in the Darkrai ... naturally."

******************

 Shane swung the skrail, utilizing it as if he were dancing though his moves were the fighting accuracy of many different kinds from Scorvian, Luxan and PeaceKeeper to Scarren. He completed in a stance, pointing the blade end of the halbred at Corrum as fine electrical strands raced across the leafing blade.

"A fine demonstration," Corrum nodded his approval. "I did not know Sebacean colonists could fight like that."

Shane glanced at Rygel as he stood up at ease. "You forget General, I met you in the same demonstrations when I was a Scarren prisoner. It earned me enough respect to catch up with the RougeStar colonies. Even Scarren's as barbarious as Warlord BhoNead enjoy some entertainment."

"Yes," Corrum narrowed his eyes. "You're known well enough among us for your clever ingenuity. It's such a shame you are not Scarren."

Shane bowed his head slightly to him. "I'm not finished with the skrail General. Only the design."

"Dominar Rygel," Corrum grumbled, curling his lip with disgust. "Desired to see it for himself. He is the Zenetan lord of the flax and allie to Lady Crichton."

Rygel smiled as he levitated next to Corrum, snickering beneath his breath. "I'm more than sure a fine young gentleman like yourself has seen of her."

"I've heard of the Crichton estates," he nodded slightly. "But I make it my business to stay out of the political affairs of the planet as much as possible."

"We're on the brink of war," Rygel spoke more gravely as his earbrows lowered. "I'm afraid your trustworthiness with General Corrum, has already left you involved, Shane Norof."

"I understand," Shane stated quietly as he stepped up to them. "But I've made it very clear many times I am only a civilian, a smith of glass and metals."

Rygel snorted as he raised his head, narrowing his eyes on him keenly. "Of course ... but circumstances make it very important Chiana have as many allies as possible, whether she is aware of all of them or not. Will you deny your assistance, if it is your home that is at risk? Is it necessary for me to hold the creation of that skrail over your head? Because I will, to get this pathetic mess cleaned up and get your asses moving!"

Shane's eyes widened as he raised his head. "Allies, you mean, of Lady Crichton."

Rygel sucked in his breath as he raised his head dignantly, his earbrows flying up. "Yes."

"What were you asking of me, Dominar," Shane barely smiled as he leaned the skrail in front of himself. "I am a fugitive as far as PeaceKeeper's are concerned. If I get anywhere near them they'll imprison me for questioning."

"I agree," Rygel smiled. "You're much better off an unknown, heh, for as long as you can pull that off Norof. I would appreciate it if you would make another skrail."

"A second skrail," Shane said thoughtfully. "Any particular reason?"

"Just leave the reason to me."

Shane was expressionless as the Zenetan with Rygel handed him a scroll casing. His heart began to race as he held it, remembering that first tentative smile of the stranger that landed on his doorstep. Lady Chiana Crichton ...

*************

 Before sunrise Rygel went to the remains of the ancient Templar of the Rashari that now lay in total ruin. He glided his throne along the gathered Rashari in silence, four of his Zenetan royal guard around him. He noted a conciliate by their headdress of chainmail hanging from their lizard like head, dressed in fine satins of royal blue and gold, surrounded by mournful fellow officials.

"Council," Rygel spoke with gentle authority as he came to her.

"If I may Councilor," Rygel bowed as he stopped his throne beside them. "I am Rygel the Sixteenth, Hynerian Dominar of over six billion loyal subjects, Zenetan Pirate Lord of the Flax and representative of esteemed Lady Chiana Crichton's trades wealth on Rashari. I wish to reopen her delegations for planetary amnesty with the humble support of General Corrum, as an expression on his behalf for how appalled he is by this senseless devastation on your people."

"Senseless," The councilor barely muttered as they gazed out without moving. "I feel murdered ... the Templar itself does not seem so very important at all. But, it was the things it represented about us ... indeed ... Batham is severe in his blow this day, a dark day. Look, see how our sun rises."

Rygel gazed up solemnly as the dust and smoke still clouding the Templars remains blocked the very crest of the coming dawn with streaks of orange. Sillouetted within it the gathered Rashari began to sing in gentle monotones. Rygel glided forward, gasping in surprise as he noted most of them were not the emerald green natural to them, but were fiery reds. "What's happening to you?"

"The warning," the conciliate spoke quietly. "That which wiped out the Nebari so long ago. They are transforming into males."

"What?"

The conciliate looked to Rygel, their gold eyes filled with dred and sadness as they folded their hands into their wide sleeves. "All Rashari natives are female and A - sexual Lord Dominar. But this, it occurred when the Nebari tried to enslave us, and thousands of cycles before them to yet another war between ourselves. It was that war that concluded us to our peaceful and harmonious end even despite aggressors like the Scarren and PeaceKeepers. Now look ... there are males again ... As the time the Nebari vanished from our civilization."

"That's so full of yotz I'm laughing," Rygel growled. "You hear me? Ha ha! You must Conciliate, frelling rebuild with the Nebari Resistance as your allie. They will benefit you so much more than your aggressors. Once more, they do not believe this dren for one microt, they resist conformity. What will your males do to this planet, what are they, some kind of cleaning job? Well look around you Councilor, who are they going to vanquish for you exactly?"

The councilor lowered her head without answering. "We will grant Planetary Amnesty and alliance of the Nebari Resistance in honor of our Zenetan Pirate allies and Lord Corrum's condolences. But return without safety, we Rashari are now with males, hopefully there will not be many and this will pass without hinder but they are indeed more to fear than ten Scarren's for one male. If we make army ... all aggressors will leave, for as long ... or as far away ... as necessary to our survival. We are the natives of this world, and we are affected by what happens to it."

***********
 
nhfearme 
(9/13/01 6:58 am)
The Challenger
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 OOC: This post is in honor of the innocents who died and those who died working to save them on September 11th 2001. The day terror struck American soil.

IC:

There is a bustle at the grove. The young Scarran slave Gordag looks on as the Takars, tall lizard looking creatures serving the grove, hurry filling the transport with fruit, cages of the small Aslaw birds and Greneas, the kangaroo looking creatures plentiful at the grove.

Finally Rather, the managing Takar, nudges Gordag. Help with the loading! You are no longer lord here! Our lord is Crichton. Setig has ordered meat in celebration of the Lady Crichtons successful return and Lord Crichtons freedom! So get onto it!

Crichton has escaped the peacekeepers? Gordag seethes just below the surface breaking into a reserved smile at the thought. At last! My opportunity to challenge Crichton! He will die for his arrogance and the death of my brother. Gordag sneers. Of course. May I have the honor of transporting the cargo? Gordag gives a slight bow to his superior. I am anxious to again see Lord Crichton and serve him.

**************

 ChianaGray
(9/27/01 7:18 pm)
 The Challenger
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 "I'm receiving a transmission from ..." Pilot looked down from the clamshell just as it blipped to life in the command center where Stark sat with Zhaan and their daughter Amber.

"What is it Pilot?" Zhaan asked gently as she looked up.

"I'm receiving a distress signal from two prowlers," Pilot looked up again with some disbelief on his face. "It is Lady Chiana and Lord John Crichton. They are a great distance away from one of Chiana's safety zone points in space and running out of fuel."

"Yes!" Stark jumped from his seat excitedly. "Good, good, good! Take us there immediately!"

"Starburst is in five microts," Pilot smiled as he returned his attention to his helm.

Zhaan looked out of the portal screen to the planet Rashari, her brows creasing slightly with worry as she rested her hands into her lap. The screen drew off as starburst began.

**********

 Mokan's stealth fighter landed at Lord Crichton's grove. D'argo, Pagar, Rygel and Topik stood in waiting at the landing pad. When the hatch opened Mokan, Chiana and Setig stepped out with several Ejai.

D'argo stepped forward, placing his Qualta hilt down in front of himself, the tip of his blade touching the ground as he raised his head and began to sing in a deep monotone. "Djwoah' kosh, doch'shi'aaaa ... Mosh'ti'Khojuuuuu ... Rah Jaboaa, Rah Chiaaaanh'aa, Rah D'ho'juuuuu Kha! Rai 'eee ... Rai!"

Mokan raised her head proudly, sucking in her breath deeply and then began to trill an almost cricket like noise.

Chiana twisted her head up, gazing down at the pads surface in awe as chills and tingles washed through her body. Rygel presented her with a qualta dagger, stuffed with pride, he began to hyperventelate.

"Scorpius carrier - has fallen!" He gasped, sucking in his breath again as his ear brows flew up.

Chiana took the dagger, grasping it tightly as she gave them a wild look with another twist of her head and bellowed. "Yayayayaya yaaaaaaaaaa!"

"Arrrrrrddddi!" Mokan followed in trill. "Arrrrrdddi! Arrrrddddiiii!"

*************
 
nhfearme 
(9/30/01 2:37 am)
Playing With Fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Shane takes the materials given him by General Corrum and the contract given him by Dominar Rygel and goes back to his shop. As he prepares the metal for the second weapon, he ponders Chiana's part in all of this.

She came to me the very day before Corrum summoned me. Dominar Rygel mentioned her by name, perhaps accidentally in the same breath as Lady Crichton. She is the same person. The same. He thinks angrily stoking his fire. She came here to see if I could do the task. This weapon is to advance her position in Rashari government and in the Scarran forces using Lord Crichton's title. She is using me. Using me and playing me.

Shane looks into the hearth, watching the flames. Any other Sebacean stays clear of heat. He is somehow attracted to heat. The similarities to his relationship with Chiana escape him. But the fire in his blood now boils with anger at her misuse of him.

I didn't want to think the rumors of Lady Crichton's involvement with Crichton's kidnap were true. Then why would she do this? The thought tears through his mind before he can squelch it. Could that philistine base commander Kross be right? His eyes narrow. "I'll just have to ask the honorable Lady Chiana Crichton about all of this." He thinks aloud as he tries to concentrate on pouring the molten metal into the mold for the weapon that may change the face of the Rashari government. "The next time I see her."

Just then the doorbell rings as the shop door swings open. The dusty air blows in and around Shane at his work. He backs away from pouring the metal and pulls off his protective helmet as he turns to see his customer.

She smiles waiting for his acknowledgement, tilting her head to her shoulder waiting. "Well, it's been a while. Are you glad to see me?"

Shane throws his helmet onto his worktable and slams the press closed. "Your name is Chiana right?" he asks angrily.

"Yeah, sure why do you ask? You knew that the first day."

"The honorable lady Chiana?"

"Yeah, I didn't think it would matter to you, but yeah."

"You asked me about the design I'm working on. You acted like you knew nothing about it."

"I still don't know anything. What's this about?"

"What it is about is you using me to for your own advancement in Rashari government and becoming a leader in the Scarran forces using this!" He throws the near finished skrail across the floor. It skids across stopping at her feet.

Chiana blinks at the skrail. "What is that?" She asks innocently. "Is it a sword or somethin?" Says feeling angry at Shane's yelling, on the spot that's she's been caught in the act of something--she has no intention of admitting!

"You know very well what it is!" Shane yells, knowing she must be lying. "It's a skrail! The instrument of a Scarran lord! What? Did Crichton take his with him when you had him taken?"

"What?" Chiana says, very hurt at the suggestion. "You think I had *anything* to do with his capture?"

"His kidnap, Chiana. If the shangra fits!" He yells.

Chiana gasps at his accusation. "I didn't! John was taken--!" She gasps again, her voice is just below a whisper. "He was taken from me." She trembles, unable to finish what she has to say to Shane, she begins to cry.

"You did! You know how I know? Because of this!" he picks up the skrail from the floor and holds it between them. "You need this to advance. To hold Crichton's titles and lands." He turns angrily from her. "You only used me Chiana." he says with his back to her. "And you know what? --I'll finish it." He lays it on his worktable and leans next to it, eyeing it. "I'll finish making it but I'm not doing it for you Chiana, Lady Crichton or whatever you go by when you're slumming." Shane turns sharply to her. "I'll do it for the money because I was commissioned to do it! But I won't do it for you. I'll never do for you again."

***********
 
ChianaGray
(9/30/01 3:26 am)
Playing With Fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Chiana stood in shock, wondering at him as he turned his back to her to the work he was doing. She continued to tremble as a slow snarl worked over her face, her breath sucking in as she clenched her fists.

"FRELL YOU!" Chiana screamed vehmunantly at the top of her lungs, throwing her whole body into it. She backed away, turning her head down as she breathed in to scream again. "Fell you, you son of a FRELLING BASTARD!"

He turned to her, his eyes widening with alarm as she rushed to him and slung her fist into his chest, sobbing as she slung it again with all her worth. "It's not yours! It's not yours! Get Crichton's name out of your MOUTH! Judging me ... judge yourself!"

She took the skrail and slung it, bashing it into the shelves of his works, crying out until he grasped her. She slung herself away from him. He moved to approach her.

"No!" She cried as she backed away, slinging the skrail at him. "Don't touch me! I didn't ask you to do this, I wasn't here. I didn't - I didn't - I didn't kidnap Crichton. You - like it's any of your business."

"Chiana, your ripping my shop apart!" Shane shouted. "Give that to me now!"

"Oh you want it?" Chiana tocked her head as she swung back with the skrail, her eyes wild as she swayed her head when he stepped back, falling against his own shelves. "They took my husband from me! All I wanted was to have him back! He didn't come with me ... didn't want to. I - I - I don't want anything any more you - do you hear me Shane? Is your brain unstuffed from the frelling dren crammed in it enough to listen, no? Am I loud enough for you? I don't HAVE anything! But keep your frelling self justified answers. I don't want this skrail, so work on it all you want. Frell the whole damn planet. Keep the whole damn thing. I'm leaving, I came to say goodbye ... "

She fell into tears as she dropped the weapon and turned for the doorway. She grasped it, her sobs taking over as she drew to sitting squat and buried her face into her hands.

***********
 
nhfearme 
(9/30/01 4:06 am)
Playing With Fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Shane stands in shock at Chianas reaction to what he said. He hadnt thought she wouldnt know. She had to have known, but He looks at the skrail. It lies still, out of her hands. He lifts it and places it away from her in case she should use its destructive powers yet again. He eyes her. She is in pain from Crichtons capture. She really loved him? He is drawn to her to comfort her yet afraid of her anger that fiercely destroyed nearly everything he had. Only the skrail remains.

He finally walks to her and tries to lift her from the doorway.

Get your hands off me! She growls from her grief. Keep your frelling hands off of me!

Shane stands looking down at her. Im sorry, I thought--

You dont know anything! She yells, holding firmly to the doorway to help her stand. Why dont you frelling stay out of my business? She wipes her tears. John is my husband! She gasps and looks angrily into Shanes face. And he belongs to the Peacekeepers!

The look on her face tells of her fight to free John. Shane finally sees it. He feels remorse at his accusations. As she turns to go he takes her arm to stop her. Please Chiana. If I was wrong I apologize.

***************
 
ChianaGray
(9/30/01 5:55 am)
Playing With Fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Chiana jerked her arm to try to get it free of him, turning her head from looking at him. "Get your damn hands off of me Shane. I was just slumming by."

"No, please," Shane winced his eyes with his regret as he let go of her.

"Well if the shangra fits." She muttered shakily as she marched for the door.

"So maybe we both have wounds," Shane commented softly. "I could have been blinded by mine. You're walking out, justified. The lady tralk and her one night fling."

"This is one of the good days ... good days Chiana ..."

She stopped, gaping at the door way distantly as her lips parted. "I want to get out of here ... where - what did you say to me?"

"You can just fly that pod around on it's pad."

She turned at her shoulders to Shane slowly, gaping at him from the throws of her bangs nearly hiding her eyes. She turned fully then, tilting her head from one side to the other as she drew back her elbows, shifting at her hips restlessly. She flashed her eyes in a hiss as her hair flicked from them in a jerk of her head. "You wanna frell me again?"

Shane closed his eyes as he looked away.

"It hurts," Chiana barely spoke as fresh tears coursed down her cheeks. She eased around him, coming to his side as she drew her hand across her eyes. She looked up at him as if it was painful to meet his eyes. "Scorpius ... he - he said, I could live ... he said I could feed my daughter in his arms and frell him because that's what I was good for. Crichton's mistress tralk ... everyone's frelling prize, have some Shane, take a good shot ... Don't tell me about words that can hurt ... I have never said - I was anything. If I don't know then how do you? I don't want to join you in the labels."

Shane covered his mouth with his hand as he kept his eyes closed, leaning back against his counter. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I didn't think you would," she chuckled nervously in her sobs. "I came to see you and - and all this dren falls out ... I'm leaving Rashari. I'm taking - my daughter ... into hiding."

"To what," he wondered softly. "Where? End up on some street in back alleys? You have something here."

"I did," Chiana twitched as he slowly turned his gaze to her again.

"No, you do," he insisted as he moved to touch her shoulder, drawing his hand back carefully in second thought of it. "Don't leave Chiana. The second you stand for something, you'll be dead wrong no matter what. What's ... bothering me is ... are you going to turn that drive you had that put so much hezmana into Rashari ... just walking away trying to pretend not one dench of it had any purpose?"

Chiana gazed down with a lost expression, swaying her head. "I - I did?"

Shane barely smiled as he brushed the back of his fingers across her chin line. "You broke my shop."

"Ahhhhh," Chiana shook her head slightly with a soft sigh. She looked to him as she took his hand. "I'll hold the dust pan ..."

"Don't bother," he shook his head as he stood up. "I think something to drink would be better."

Chiana creased her brows, wondering at him as she followed. "Shouldn't you be mad at me?"

"Furious," he smiled as he began to climb the steps into his adobe. "Raslak?"

"Mmm," Chiana bit her lips as she gazed around the stair way to the mess below of broken glass. "Frellup nectar."

***********
 
nhfearme 
(9/30/01 11:08 pm)
 Playing With Fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Chiana looks out over the city at the Templar ruins while Shane prepares their drinks. She hears him hit the bottoms of the frellup bottles on the table and scoot out a chair. She turns to join him. I wonder what Rashari counsel will do now. She says as she walks to the table.

You already know. I try to stay out of it. For what good its done me. Shane grumbles.

Chiana giggles at his plight as she picks up her frellup bottle and sips it. Oooo! She purses her lips to say. Cool. Thank you Shane.

I dont suppose I can convince you to stay. Rashari will get mighty boring with you gone. When you went on this last trip I dont suppose I can ask you where you went?

I would if it was any of your business. She smirks. But no.

Fine. I wont ask. Still the skrail, general Corrums interest in you and now this Dominar Rygel wanting another one made makes me think

Rygel? Chiana says suddenly slamming her bottle down.

Yes, Dominar Rygel commissioned me to

"Rygel ordered you to make the skrail?"

You werent kidding. You really dont know anything about the skrail, do you?

****************
 
ChianaGray
(10/1/01 12:43 am)
Playing With Fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Chiana sighed, hair flicking up from her bangs in it as she took a heavy swallow of the frellup nectar. She rested her head into her hand as she stared down at the counter. She narrowed her eyes as she looked up at him. "It's kind of like where have you been, those papers of yours that make the PeaceKeeper's want to interrogate you ..."

"Oh," Shane glanced away. "You remember that."

"When did you meet Corrum?" She asked. "Wha - what's Rygel up to now? What are these weapons for?"

"For the Darkrai ceremony," Shane sighed as he leaned against his counter beside her and studied his glass. "If Setig and Pagar challenge Corrum with a skrail and win he will have to accept them as royal guards. Since these are - ah, illegal to make anymore I was asked to be the one to make them because I supposedly would never incriminate Corrum if he got busted in the whole deal. But, as long as he looses to Setig and Pagar these two skrails will be recognized as the scepters of John Crichton, making him real royalty in Scarren barbarianism."

"Ahh," Chiana smiled as she drank. "That's interesting, who's idea is that one?"

"I thought it was yours," Shane smiled softly as he looked to her. "It was rather convenient the way you showed up on my doorstep and then Corrum asked me to do this. I didn't think anything of it at all until Rygel commissioned me to make another one, and mentioned you were Lady Crichton. Why did you come to my shop?"

"IIIII," Chiana glanced away shyly as she licked her lips. She leaned to him, tilting her head up with a small smile.

"Fates?" He smiled back. "Chance? Destiny?"

"Just a little something blowing in your wind," Chiana cooed and then laughed, licking the back of her teeth as she leaned back to her drink. "What about you, now. You tell me about why PeaceKeeper's would want you so bad, really."

"You don't really want to hear my dren," he shook his head as turned to rest his arms on the bar. "My records are lost, I found that out when I was a Scarren prisoner. I took the opportunity to start over again as a Sebacean colonist. That's as much as anyone else knows. I strategically placed my self to be absolutely no one but a Sebacean glass blower ... only problem is Corrum kind of likes the way I wielded myself around to get this life. I have tried very carefully to decline being involved in this planets politics. I think - I must've put my foot right into the middle of it."

Chiana leaned closer to him, her lips almost touching his as she tilted her head. "I wasn't thinking about skrails when I saw you Shane. I never heard of the things before. My mind was on something else."

She smiled as her hand slipped up his thigh. "But if you want me to leave you alone so you can work on those weapons for them ... "

Shane drew his lips to hers, kissing her gently. He sighed at the warm touch of her lips and breath, his insides exploding away from him at the remembrance of their first encounter, how afraid she had seemed, the blue scars of her wrists, another slashed across her stomach, how shy she had been and yet so receptive. He touched her hips, desiring to know every bump, bruise and scar on her again, the way her silken flesh glistened in the dim lights, the soft moan she sighed now as her fingers teased along his inner thigh.

******************
 
nhfearme 
(10/1/01 2:15 am)
 Playing With Fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Shane stands and pulls Chiana to him. The sinew of his arms surrounds her in his embrace. So strong, like nothing can ever harm her when she is in his arms. The sad thing is it reminds her so of John. She closes her eyes and thinks of him as they kiss then she is jolted back to the reality of Shane. His strength demands her attention as he lifts her deftly from the floor and takes her to his bed.

This is what she needs in her heart, someone who can demand of her and bring her to lust, to make her forget her pain. The pain of her loss. She sighs and gives into him as he lay her there and presses against her. She reaches and rips the front of his shirt to touch his rippling muscles forged by his labor. He watches her touch him then kisses her wildly consuming her throat, tugging off her clothes as he does continuing to get drunk from the heady musk of her sumptuous body.

Chiana groans with delight at his attentions and drowns in lust for this man who can see beyond who she is to immerse themselves in pure passion. For these few precious arns nothing will exist but their bodies together in passionate embrace.

*************

 She rubbed her thumbs across the bottoms of his feet, smiling softly as he rested his head back. She looked to him as she massaged, taking his middle toe gently into her mouth and suckling. He moaned, grabbing wads of the sheets at his sides as she cupped his heel and trailed her tongue down his foot. He tried not to chuckle, twisting his head as she rolled her tongue around his next toe and trailed her fingers down his calf, digging her fingers into the hard muscles at his knee.

"Oh God!" He shouted and began to laugh, moaning again as her hand cupping his heel shifted, her fingers digging into the Achilles of it.

She sighed as she let his leg down and massaged into his calves, smiling wryly as he rose up enough to slap at the wall for a flat panel, turning the lights out to the bedroom lofted above his kitchenry.

**************

 "Planetary amnesty was granted," D'argo spoke as he glided his cruiser high above a valley that dipped away from Crichton's grove at the very end of it near the mountains. He glanced at Mokan with a boyish smile as he landed the cruiser to a small adobe over looking the valley from a cliff edge. He landed and stepped out, walking to the edge of the great cliff side to over look the valley bowl below filled with the lush green of an orchard harvest. "I have purchased this valley from a servant of Pagar's. It is Rashari grapes, for a winery."

He turned, his eyes beaming with life at Mokan. He turned to the small dense forest surrounding the adobe and began to walk down a trail with her into the mountain.

"So you're staying indefinitely on Rashari," Mokan spoke quietly as she laxed within the cool serenity of the land around her.

"Yes," D'argo breathed in proudly. "I'm going to represent the Jaboan people in alliance to the Rashari Native Conciliate."

"Jaboan," Mokan creased her brows at him as they came to a stop along the jagged rocks of a large, crystal blue spring. "You can't do that. Why not represent Luxan?"

D'argo turned to her, his lips parting with a solemn gaze. "I'm not a true general Mokan. You know, I took my generals tattoo to save him in battle from the tortures I faced in capture, so that he would survive. I cannot speak for Luxan's or I would face dishonor as a fraud ... but I can speak for Jaboa as a Luxan warrior. If your clans come to Rashari, they will already be allies, just like the Nebari Resistance now."

"My people were already here long ago," Mokan barely smiled as she crossed her arms. "We are nomads, you know this won't change anything for my kind."

"It's not a big deal, trust me," he sighed with his smile as he lowered his head. "It's what the Rashari call a minor alliance, like they have with Vorcarian Blood Trackers and Illiac's. It's like saying ... "

Mokan softened her copper eyes as she touched his lips, stepping closer to him. "You are Luxan, the Jaboan will be honored."

D'argo took in his breath uneasily, his stomach filled with butterflies as he slowly blinked in her touch. He seemed almost swept away by it as he stepped into her and rested his hands on her shoulders. He bent slightly at his knees as he carefully took her chin into his finger tips, drawing up at his shoulders as he tilted his head to her and kissed her passionately. Mokan returned the kiss, gently caressing his tattooed chin. She closed her eyes when he drew up, tears coursing down her cheeks.

"Mokan," he spoke softly. "I haven't touched anyone in so long. My wife was murdered. Chiana ... will never be mine. I haven't felt ... like holding a woman as close again. Krestan has abandoned you to a Jaboan warriors exile alone when a true mate would have stayed with you. I realize ... you love Chiana. Believe me I know what that's like, I still love her. But, I am a lonely man, with a lonely orchard. Will you share this with me, be my mannen?"

"You will complete my tattoo," Mokan stated as she raised her head. She glanced away then as she swallowed, breaking down to tears. "Forgive me, I - haven't seen ... anyone in so long. Then when I have they want to be my mate ..."

She covered her face with her hands as she cried. D'argo wrapped his hands around her, swaying with her as he rested his head on top of hers. He rubbed his hand down her tankas, patting her as her hands slowly slipped around his waist.

**************

 Thar'na stepped into the shop with her hood over her head, pausing as two men stepped in with her and gazed over the shop streaked with the golds of the very early morning sun. They walked into the back to the kilns. Thar'na narrowed her eyes in mild curiosity as she toed some of the broken glass that was strewn all over the floor. She looked up to the stairway and began to climb.

She paused inside as the two men began to spread out. One clicked his tongue, nodding to them as he came to the stairs to the bedroom loft above the kitchenry. Thar'na let out a sharp breath through her nostrils, barely smiling as she climbed. She gazed down at Chiana and Shane sleeping on the pallet bed entangled in the sheets.

"Take her," Thar'na stated flatly.

The two men came to the bed, grabbing Chiana by her feet and hands and dragging her out. She opened her eyes droggily, looking around herself. "Wha?"

She struggled to get away, narrowing her eyes as she pursed her lips and kicked the man holding her feet in his face. "Shane! Shane! Help me!"

Shane gasped as he came up. The man holding Chiana's hands back handed him across the face with the butt of a pulse pistol, knocking him back against the bed.

"No!" Chiana shouted as she turned on the man and planted her fist into his crotch. He wailed as he came to his knees. She tocked her head at him, her eyes flaring as she balled her fist. "Ryaah!" She planted it across his jaw, sending his head flying to one side.

The second man came up behind Chiana and swung up with his pulse pistol, he swung down to strike her across the head with it. Shane lunged for him, screaming as he tackled him and they both went crashing to the floor in front of the bar across the kitchenry below.

Thar'na lifted her weapon to Chiana's back as she stood grasping the shoulders of the first man as he began to get up. Chiana shouted again as she shoved his face into her knee. Thar'na fired, a white pulse of light slamming into Chiana's back. Chiana gasped, sucking in her breath as her arms threw out, gaping wide eyed as she rocked there for a moment and then fell, nearly falling to the floor below as Shane had.

"Chiana!" Shane screamed as he ran up the stairs. A pulse fire blasted. Shane screamed again, his face twisting with agony as he grabbed for his back and fell from the stairs. The man narrowed his eyes down at Shane's still form as he holstered his pulse pistol.

"Shane," Chiana barely whispered as she blinked, gazing down at his naked form where his blood began to seep out from under him. She felt as if she had been slammed into by an entire dredgnaught.

The two men grabbed her up again and laid her over a blanket they began to fold her into. She stared dimly up at Thar'na as the Nebari woman stepped away from the wall with a small smile, still holding on to her Nebari phaser.

"Chiana," she nearly cooed as the two men folded the blanket over Chiana's face and began to lift her. "Time to go home."