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Author	Topic: In Love and In War (RotS timeline, OCs, ISRR) Chapter III posted! Updated 9/19/05!
Master_Dylan_Frazer Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 9/15/05 12:49pm Subject: In Love and In War (RotS timeline, OCs, ISRR) Chapter III posted! Updated 9/19/05! - Date Edited: 9/20/05 2:10pm (5 edits total) Edited By: Master_Dylan_Frazer
	Title – In Love and In War Author – Master_Dylan_Frazer Genre – Action/Romance/Mystery Timeframe – +3 years ABG (After the Battle of Geonosis) Main Characters – Rae Ten-Ser, Human female Padawan Tyel Hewen, Bothan male Padawan Kassuren Cenace, Trandoshan male slaver captain Setting – As the Clone War continues to rage throughout the galaxy, two young, would-be Jedi Knights are returning to Coruscant. They stop at the small, Mid-Rim world of Yanhes for fuel when they learn of a bounty that has been placed on the heads of all Jedi and their Padawans who travel through the sector. As the duo prepares to leave, they discover their ship has been destroyed and come to the awful conclusion that a band of the most merciless Trandoshan slavers have come looking for them. In the meantime, the new Emperor has declared all Jedi outlaws and orders their deaths on sight. Soon, Rae Tun-Ser and Tyel Hewen head into the jungle where they will discover the temptation of the Dark Side and their own feelings while learning that their own skills might not be enough for survival. Chapter I It had been nearly three weeks since either Rae Tun-Ser or Tyel Hewen had been able to sleep in their own beds back at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Both of the Padawans had been orphaned, in a manner of speaking, when their Masters had been killed during the Republic’s assault on the Separatist base on Geonosis. The Jedi had already been spread dangerously thin but now with the war taking place on multiple fronts throughout the galaxy there were even fewer Knights and Masters to do the “menial” assignments that must be attended. A dispute between two small kingdoms on Glaeng over territoral rights caused the planet’s diplomat to the Republic to request that a Jedi Knight be dispatched to settle the contention. There were none in the Temple at the time, unfortunately, or Rae and Tyel would never have been selected to handle such a task at their age. Both Padawans were barely old enough to legally pilot an air speeder on Coruscant but they had still been assigned to their first “real” mission, as it was in their eyes. The two had a closeness that few Padawans shared. Both Rae and Tyel had grown up together as members of the same clan of Younglings that were given their basic instructions in the Force and being a Jedi by Yoda. Growing up they became inseparable from one another at every turn until their masters took them as Padawan learners. Rae became the apprentice to Horjuus Nyfyg, an Alderaanian master deeply in touch with the Living Force, while Keplan Rosh, a Quarren who was known for his skills of stealth and negotiations, took Tyel. For nearly four years the two only saw each other on the rare chance that both were at the Temple at the same time. That was before the attack on Geonosis by the Jedi and the new Grand Army of the Republic, before the beginning of the conflict that had come to be known as the Clone Wars. Master Windu had summoned all available Jedi Knights and Masters in the Temple to accompany him to the rocky, barren planet where Master Kenobi, his Padawan Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala Naberrie were being held as prisoners by estranged Jedi Master Count Dooku of Serrano. Within days, Rae and Tyel both learned that Masters Nyfyg and Rosh were killed during the assault on the Separtist stronghold. Orphaned without Masters, the two joined more than four dozen other Padawans who no longer had someone to complete their Jedi training. The Council decided that the older Padawans would be given smaller assignments both with the war effort and to maintain peace as much as they were ready. Meanwhile the younger would continue their training at the Temple under the guidance of Master Yoda and the few Jedi Knights that could be spared from leading the armies. Thus, as if no time between them had ever passed, Rae and Tyel were soon seen together as much as anyone was. They were each other’s tutor, sparring partner and constant companion. Time passed by quickly, the Republic winning and losing a hundred battles on a thousand worlds every day for two and a half years. Rae and Tyel quickly found themselves becoming more and more like the Masters that they had lost on that dusty planet. Rae began taking on more and more of Horjuus Nyfyg’s traits, honing her lightsaber skills to a razor’s edge with her focus in the here and the now. Tyel, on the other hand, developing his natural skills, as a Bothan, in stealth and the ability to sense the feelings through the Force became one of the “orphans” greatest negotiators; constantly settling disputes between others in the Temple. Since they were hardly ever apart from the other, the two became known as “War” and “Peace” for their respective talents. Then it had come time for the older orphans to receive their tests of Knighthood. Each was sent off, individually, on different assignments with the army and as diplomats throughout the galaxy. Yoda, recognizing the two were much more valuable to the Republic and Jedi Order as a team, ordered Rae and Tyel to the Glaeng system in hopes that the attention from the Republic would keep the system from breaking out into civil war. The system was being torn apart from the inside out as the two kingdoms on the small planet were on the brink of attacking the other when one of the kings was killed by an unknown assassin. Through two and a half weeks of intense negotiation on the part of Tyel and Rae’s never-ending search for the assassin, it was found that a Separatist had killed the king in hopes of showing that the Republic was weak and drawing Glaeng to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems. With the great thanks from both kingdoms, now united through a joining of the crowns from a mutually beneficial marriage, the Padawans reported their results to the Council. Pleased with their actions, they called Rae and Tyel home where their braids would be ritually severed and the “twins” would take up the mantel of Jedi Knights. That was the plan, at least, until they dropped out of hyperspace in the Mid-Rim. Low of fuel, they landed on Yanhes where the real trial was only waiting to begin… ~~~~~~ “I—I can’t believe what I’m hearing, Rae.” Tyel said as he sat at a booth near the back of the small cantina. The fur on the young Bothan’s forehead and ears rippled in waves of shock and anger at the situation. His female companion could only sit and watch the holo broadcast in horror as the realization of this new danger came crashing down upon her shoulders. “The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning.” The newly crowned “Emperor” Palpatine said as applause erupted throughout the Senate rotunda, “In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you will last for ten thousand years. An empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body, and a sovereign ruler chosen for life… an empire ruled by the majority… ruled by a new constitution…” Without waiting for the holo broadcast to end, Rae pulled Tyel from his seat and made a move for the door while using the Force to cloak them as much as she could. They were in very real, very imminent danger just by being in that cantina with a garrison of clone troopers less than five kilometers away. If anyone saw them or recognized who they were… No, Rae thought, I can’t concern myself with that right now. What matters are Tyel and I getting to safety as far away from here and Coruscant as we possibly can. The two were quickly out of the cantina and heading down a side alley. Tyel finally managed to pull his arm away from Rae, stopping the young woman dead in her tracks. “What was that for?” He asked with irritation in his voice, “I was watching that!” “Tyel, don’t you realize what just happened?” She demanded incredulously. The Bothan just shook his head, the events of the past few minutes apparently flying over his head. “Chancellor Palpatine just made you, me and every other Jedi Master, Knight, Padawan and Youngling enemies of the state. Once beings start to realize that then were going to be hunted down like mad kath hounds and killed!” Finally understanding, Tyel’s purple and gold eyes filled with horror. Taking charge once more, Rae grabbed him back by his arm and began to lead him back to their ship. The Padawan peeked out from around the corner of the alley into a main thoroughfare, looking for signs of clone troops or anyone who might pose a danger to the two of them. Sensing no malice from any of the beings that passed them by, she motioned for her companion to follow her and took off down the street at a dead sprint. As they passed a miniature holovid station, an emergency news broadcast appeared on the screen showing the newly installed planetary governor and the two stopped to watch. “Citizens of Yanhes, as I am sure you have all heard there has been a revolt by the Jedi Order on Coruscant and an attempt on Emperor Palpatine’s life was made by the traitors. As such, anyone on this world who captures or kills anyone affiliated with the Jedi Order will be granted a fifty-thousand bounty by the Imperial government.” The white haired human announced, “We have word that there are currently two of these outlaws here on our lovely, peaceful world who are seeking to cause terror and disruption among the population. I am, therefore, ordering a planetary blockade of the incoming and outgoing traffic to this system and a mandatory curfew, both taking effect at 1900 hours local time. Anyone caught outdoors afterwards will be arrested by the local army garrison’s patrols or our own police force and will be held until their intentions can be verified. That is all.” Rae and Tyel looked at one another as the feed stopped with the realization that they only had a very limited time to get back to their ship and leave before their escape route was cut off. The two began running even harder now for the spaceport, hoping that the Force would grant them the strength to do what must be done along the way. If it doesn’t, Rae mused, then this might get a lot more complicated. ~~~~~~ “How much did he sssay that bounty wasss?” The Trandoshan inquired of the police officer he had stopped walking down the street. When the man told him, the reptilian’s black eyes lit up as much as they could. Kassuren told the officer that he was a bounty hunter licensed by the Republic, well, what had been the Republic and inquired where he could get a permit that would give him the freedom to roam the streets after dark. The man directed him to the main office in the city and Kassuren thanked him before heading in the appointed direction. He pulled the comlink from his belt, calling back to his crew on board the modified YT-1300 Futility. The Trandoshan informed them to keep a watch out on the transport that they had seen the Jedi enter the spaceport from and to, as discreetly as possible, plant detonating charges on the ship. He would let them know when to trigger the explosion and it would either kill the Jedi if they were on the ship or trap them here on the planet. After that, there will be no way for them to escape me, he thought. Kassuren continued toward the police office when he saw something out of the corner of his eye that looked like two people who were in a hurry to get to the spaceport. It looked like they were in a hurry to be anywhere but where they were at this moment. He quickly called back to his crew to hurry up with the demolition charges and turned around to follow the two figures from as safe a distance as possible. ~~~~~~ The fur on the back of Tyel’s neck began to ripple and stir. He was sure that someone was following them, watching every move and path they made. “Rae, stop for a minute.” He told her, “I think someone or something is tracking us.” The young woman reached out through the Force, feeling as far as she could with her abilities. Everyone she touched suddenly felt some sort of hate towards both her and Tyel. It wasn’t that they hated them specifically but all the Jedi were resented. Nor could she detect anyone in particular that was after him or her with all the other feelings that flowed into her. “You’re just being paranoid. I can’t sense any one being after us. This whole planet wants us dead or as prisoners.” She told the Bothan and then starting on to the spaceport again. Tyel caught up to her and shook his head. “I promise, Rae,” He told her between breaths, “Someone in particular wants us dead,” She nodded while slowing pace so her shorter companion could keep up, “I know. That would be Chancellor Palpatine”. Tyel was getting ready to say something to her when she pointed up ahead, “Look, there’s the spaceport”. Seeing that the end was in sight, both Padawans poured on what last bit of strength they had. ~~~~~~ Kassuren was not a being who was oafish, out of shape or weak. The Trandoshan was a feared and merciless slaver and bounty hunter who took pride in his physical fitness and his hunting. These two probable Jedi, however, began to rapidly pull away from him as the spaceport came into view and confirmed that they were not your average being. The creature reached for his comlink again and called to his crew. “Blow those chargesss asss sssoon asss they are ready!” He ordered loudly into his comlink. The bounty hunter slung the weapon from his back and began running as fast as possible to catch up with the fleeing Jedi. It would only be a minute or two more and then his prey would become his bounty. ~~~~~~ “Come on, Tyel, there’s the ship!” Rae shouted as she picked up her speed. She got within fifty meters of the ship when a premonition came to her through the Force. The Padawan had barely enough time to turn and cover herself with her cloak as the transport exploded, the force of the blast knocking her down as shrapnel easily sliced through her cloak and robes. Tyel quickly arrived at her side, lifting her from the ground, now fully aware that his suspicion had been correct. A hot, searing pain shot through Rae’s left thigh as she stood up causing her vision to go red with agony. She looked down and saw that a six-centimeter long piece of the ship had pierced her leg, soaking her previously sand colored trousers with blood. She wrapped her arm over Tyel’s shoulder, using him for support to stand. “We’ve got to get out of here and now; we can take care of that later!” He shouted at her above the din of the spaceport’s sirens, “How well can you move?” “Well enough.” She responded. The Bothan nodded at her and it was now his turn to lead. “We can hide out in the jungle,” He suggested while moving to where the civil, constructed spaceport met the wild, untamed edge of Yanhes’ wilderness, “We’ll take care of your wound when we’ve gotten to safety.” The two made it to the edge of the landing pads and began picking a way through the undergrowth of the jungle. Their pace was slowed greatly by Rae’s injury and, for what would not be the last time; Tyel began to wonder if they would ever make it off the planet alive. ~~~~~~ Kassuren arrived at the Futility expecting to find two captured Jedi or, at the very least, their corpses. What he found, instead, was the police questioning his crew for their part in the explosion. It took the saurian nearly two hours to explain that they were licensed bounty hunters in pursuit of the fugitives. By the time the police and emergency crews had finished cleaning up the scene another three hours had passed and it was well into the pitch black of the Yanhes evening. The Trandoshan looked out at the jungle after hearing from his crew how they watched the two move into the jungle. Kassuren winced as much as a Trandoshan could do so. He knew of the Jedi’s ability to cloud minds and hide in places that would normally kill other beings or leave them exposed. Then one of the more observant spoke up and noted that it looked like the human female was injured, having to use the Bothan for support. With one of them wounded they would have to travel much more slowly and would leave signs of their path. “There isss sssome light at the end of thisss tunnel, then.” He told the crew, “We will ssset out in the morning. Get a good night’sss sssleep and have your gear ready at daybreak. Thisss will be our biggest reward yet.” -----signature----- "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Master Yoda The only thing necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.
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amidalachick Registered: Aug '03	Date Posted: 9/15/05 2:29pm Subject: RE: In Love and In War (RotS timeline, OCs)
	Great start! I'll be keeping an eye on this one! -----signature----- "Special day? What have I forgot now? Don't panic...is it Bacon Day? No, that's crazy talk! She's getting impatient - take a stab at it! Happy...Valentine's Day?"
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Master_Dylan_Frazer Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 9/15/05 2:36pm Subject: RE: In Love and In War (RotS timeline, OCs)
	Thanks. I've always been good at writing action and romance but I find writing a plot where the two intertwine is much more fun, rewarding and easy. -----signature----- "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Master Yoda The only thing necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.
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Master_Dylan_Frazer Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 9/16/05 10:58am Subject: RE: In Love and In War (RotS timeline, OCs) - Date Edited: 9/16/05 11:01am (1 edits total) Edited By: Master_Dylan_Frazer
	Chapter II The night air in the jungle was filled with a cacophony of sounds that were common on in every tree filled environment, yet, they were completely alien to Rae and Tyel. Their progress was slow in going as they moved through the brush, constantly trying to put as much distance between themselves and the spaceport as possible. Finally, when all her Jedi calm had diminished and her body would carry her no longer, Rae cried out in pain. The wound she had suffered during the explosion was getting worse by the hour and she had already lost a fair amount of blood in just trying to escape whomever it was that had their deaths at the forefront of concern. “Ty—Tyel, I can’t go any further,” She told him with exhaustion through her clenched teeth, “We’ve got to stop and rest and take care of my wound or you’re going to have to keep going by yourself.” The Bothan’s fur rippled violently at the thought of leaving his companion, his friend, behind here alone with no way to truly defend herself. She would still have her lightsaber but he knew that a wound as severe as her would still cripple even a full-fledged Jedi Knight, much less Rae no matter how skilled she was with the blade. Tyel conceded the point to her and sat the young woman gently down upon the wet ground. “Let us see just how bad this really is,” Tyel told her as he knelt down to feel of the wound with his hands and the Force. He closed his eyes and focused intensely, diving into the flow of the Force as he had done hundred of times before. The power of the mystic energy field that all Jedi knew so well filled him with the sense of life that teemed in the jungle around him. He used that energy, asking it to bend to his purpose, and probed the wound with its power. Tyel couldn’t feel the shrapnel but he could feel Rae’s skin and muscle that had been ripped and torn due to the injury and further stress they had placed on her body by trying to escape their assailants. Rae, even through the blinding pain that was shooting through her thigh, watched her friend as he did everything he knew to try to help her. The warmth of his hands on her thighs caused a slight tingling sensation in her fingertips and her heart to flutter but she had no idea why. She had seen his face nearly every day for ten years, remembering how he still looked when they had been taken as Padawans at the age of eleven. It’s amazing, she recalled privately, how after that he changed a little more, grew a little taller, acted maturer, and carried himself with more confidence as he developed in to someone that would be a great Jedi Knight one day. But it had always amazed her the most is that no matter the changes that had affected his body, mind or soul he had always treated her differently from everyone else; he had always treated her with the same love and kindness they had shared as Younglings at five. Rae calmed down greatly; feeling the Force flow back into her weary limbs as the memories of her unbroken time with Tyel warmed her heart. She reached out, her fingertips brushing the soft, downy tufts of fur on his cheeks. The Bothan jumped, shocked from his commune with the Force as Rae snatched her hand back. What was that all about? She asked herself silently. Little did she know that Tyel was thinking the exact same thing that was crossing her mind at that moment. The young Padawan recovered from his shock and took a deep breath, letting out a ragged sigh. “Well,” He stated, “It looks and feels like the metal is about four centimeters in. I can pull it out but we’re going to need to make some sort of crude tourniquet to keep you from losing too much blood until we can apply a small bacta patch to the opening.” Rae nodded, removing the tattered remains of her cloak and tore off a long strip of the cloth. Tyel held up a finger to her, indicating that he would be right back, and dashed off a ways to look for a sizable stick that would not break as it was turned to tighten the cloth. The young woman took that time to regain her composure, trying to discern why she had suddenly reached out to her companion when she knew he was in deep meditation. Rae never had time to find out the answer as Tyel returned shortly with a stick that would serve their purposes. A few minutes later the tourniquet was ready and in place, tightly wound around Rae’s upper thigh. “Now, I can’t promise this won’t hurt as bad as being tossed into a pit of gundarks... because it probably will.” Tyel informed her. Rae looked back at him in mock anger and then laughed. For the first time, her friend listened to the noise coming from her throat and just stared quizzically. No, he thought, calling it noise would be an injustice to the melody it’s creating. The laughter was light and pixie-like as she did her best to hold the stick still so that it would stay as tight as possible. “Thanks a lot, Tyel. That fills me with reassurance.” She told him jokingly before quickly wiping her expression clean. “Ready?” He asked and waited until she nodded her assent before taking hold of the metal between his fingertips. As Tyel pulled, the metal began to give ever so slightly causing Rae extreme pain as the jagged edged shrapnel tore more of the muscle and flesh as it made its way out. She cried out in agony and then quickly bit down on her lip teeth digging into the skin and drawing blood as she struggled to keep quiet. The process was excruciatingly slow, taking nearly five minutes to completely dislodge the shard of starship hull from her thigh. All the while, her Jedi composure had evaporated and so had her sense of propriety as Rae let sobs of fear and pain rack her body while every curse and expletive in ever language she knew left her mouth. The second Tyel had the metal completely removed from Rae’s thigh he ripped open her trouser leg. What he saw stopped him dead in his actions as the Bothan marveled over the silky, smooth skin of the young woman’s leg. He found his heart beating slightly faster at the sight but caught himself before he could stare. Pulling a small canister from his utility belt, Tyel sprayed the wound with an antiseptic before placing a bacta patch on the opening and sealing it against the very skin he found himself wanting to just look at. At last he injected a miniscule amount of analgesic medicine into her thigh and waited for the drugs to take effect and ease some of Rae’s pain. “I didn’t want to give you too much,” He told her, “In case we have to get out of here quickly.” Rae nodded her head and released the tourniquet allowing blood to flow back into her limb. The sudden in rush of fluid caused her leg to pound heavily all the way down to her foot. The Padawan pulled herself into a meditating position and spent the next few minutes doing her best to will away the pain of the injury and calm her nerves. ~~~~~~ While the Padawans were doing their best to hide out in the jungles of Yanhes, Kassuren knew that it would not be hard to find the two of them. He knew that at least one of them was injured and would drag down their ability to quickly make their way through the wilderness. He also was well aware of the fact that, even with all their resourcefulness as Jedi, they had never tracked Wookiee through the wroshyr forests of Kashyyyk. They would not be elusive for long. The Trandoshan sat in the operation planning area, converted from what had been the lounge, with his two lieutenants as they mapped out what the course of action during the coming day would be. His subordinates, both Rodians, were vicious and ruthless but neither had the cunning and intelligence that Kassuren had. “Why don’t we just go in full force? That way we’ll be sure to flush them out of hiding.” One of his lieutenants inquired, “There are only two of them and seventeen of us. It won’t even be a contest.” Kassuren reached out and hit the Rodian on the snout like always when he asked a question that did not really need an answer. The green skinned creature yelped in pain and began to rub the snout, positive that his facial bones had once again been broken by the overtly aggressive reptiloid. “Because,” The Trandoshan answered, “If we go trampling through the jungle like rampaging banthas then they’ll know we’re coming and will run and hide. This requires finesse, laser brain! When we leave in the morning I will take the two Shistavenan with me and you two will divide the rest among you. Half of each team will have their blasters set for stun and the others on full power. If they resist, you will kill them… understand?” Kassuren drew his fist back again, but the Rodians needed no further instructions and nodded their acceptance. Kassuren motioned them out of the room to their quarters and began to prepare his personal blasters for long range assault and vibroblades for melee combat with the Jedi. He knew that it would require him to get in close if killing the two Jedi became the case and he hoped that it would most certainly come to that. There was no Wookiee he had ever failed to capture and enslave, there was no bounty he had ever failed to collect on and now he would be able to count two Jedi among his trophies. His lips curled back in what amounted to a smile and Kassuren know that the joy of the hunt would soon be upon him once more. ~~~~~~ Rae’s pain had faded after what seemed an eternity but Tyel assured her that it had only been about one and a half standard hours. The night air was growing colder by the minute and the fact that their robes were soaked with sweat and the dampness from the forest floor did not help. All around them were the sounds and smells of the wild; avian creatures were whistling and shrieking; there would be the sound of a predator chasing its prey and then nothing as poor beast was silenced. They could smell flowers and plants in all directions but the smell of death and decay of the forest floor was almost overwhelming and, tonight, they would call that floor a bed. Both Rae and Tyel had finally noticed the hunger from their activities had caught up to them. Rather than risk starting a fire and alerting the presence to anyone who might still be looking for them, the two ate the small ration cubes stored in pouches on their belts. The small, square foodstuffs had become standard issue for anyone in the Grand Army of the Republic or Jedi who were sent out on missions and contained the appropriate number of vitamins, nutrients and calories needed for the specific species for which they were manufactured. “Kind of bland, aren’t they?” Tyel asked Rae as he finished the sole cube that he had decided to consume for dinner. She nodded back, choking down hers before a sour look crossed her face. “They’re definitely not the food we have back at the Temple.” The woman responded. Only we won’t ever have that food again. The Temple isn’t there anymore or, rather, it is but no one is alive inside of it. She reminded herself. Tyel must have been thinking the same thing, as the mood grew somber while the two reminisced over an age that had died. The Bothan turned to his friend and took off his cloak, handing it to her. “Use that for a pillow, Rae. I know you’ve got to be tired.” He said. She nodded her assent, “I am but so are you.” “I know. You’ve lost a lot of blood though and have been through a lot more today. I’ll keep the first watch and wake you up in about five hours, then I’ll sleep and when I wake up we’ll get moving again.” Without so much as a rebuttal, Rae was more than happy to oblige his hospitality and rolled over to try and get as much sleep as possible. In truth, Tyel was willing to take the first guard duty but he did so for a reason he wasn’t quite sure. All he wanted to do was watch his friend sleep and be able to look at her soft features, long hair and lithe body without having to worry if she’d catch him staring at her. Within moment, Tyel felt Rae’s consciousness relax into a deep sleep through the Force. He stood up; taking the hilt of his lightsaber in hand and constantly moved his line of sight between the young woman and the areas surrounding them. Tyel, like all Jedi, was highly trained in the use of the weapon he held in hand but, unlike Rae, was somewhat opposed to its use. Not that he was incompetent or unwilling to ignite the blade, he just preferred to work things out peacefully. That isn’t an option now, though. He told himself, Whoever these beings are obviously want us either dead or as slaves and I’m not going to let anyone hurt Rae. Even if it means killing everyone and everything else I swear by the Force no one will harm you, my friend. He looked down upon her with his purple eyes and felt the ripple of fur move across his neck. She was in a heavy sleep and he couldn’t help but smile at her form. As far as Tyel was concerned it was angelic. He knelt down beside her and placed a small kiss on her cheek, drawing a subconscious smile from his companion, before he turned his full attention back to the area around them. -----signature----- "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Master Yoda The only thing necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.
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VadersMistress Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 9/17/05 10:30pm Subject: RE: In Love and In War (RotS timeline, OCs) Chapter II posted! Updated 9/16/05!
	I like it so far. Very well written. Love and war cannot co-exist peacefully and nearly always end in tragedy. I'm crossing my fingers for the characters! -----signature----- Harry Potter > Twilight Would I rather be feared or loved? Um... Easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me. Persia pwns your face.
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Master_Dylan_Frazer Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 9/19/05 5:54am Subject: RE: In Love and In War (RotS timeline, OCs) Chapter II posted! Updated 9/16/05!
	VadersMistress posted: I like it so far. Very well written. Love and war cannot co-exist peacefully and nearly always end in tragedy. I'm crossing my fingers for the characters! Quite right. Love and war can not co-exist. But as to whether or not this ends in tragedy, well, you'll have to wait and see. Keep watching, keep ready and remember "The Force will be with you... always" but that remains to be seen for our hero and heroine. -----signature----- "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Master Yoda The only thing necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.
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Master_Dylan_Frazer Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 9/19/05 2:20pm Subject: RE: In Love and In War (RotS timeline, OCs) Chapter II posted! Updated 9/16/05! - Date Edited: 9/19/05 2:21pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Master_Dylan_Frazer
	Chapter III The dawning of a new day on Yanhes was one of celebration for Kassuren and the rest of his crew of slavers and bounty hunters. With the outbreak of the war it had been profitable from one day to the next, as they were finally able to indulge their vices of mayhem and violence to full extent. The slave trade to the Hutts and other nefarious organizations had filled their credit chits to overflowing but it was reduced to nearly nothing every time they had run upon Republic security patrols in the various systems they traveled. Times were changing, however, and this was evident from the communiqué that the Trandoshan leader had received from Yanhes’ police chief and planetary governor. He had been informed that his hunt had the full sanction of the new Imperial moff that had been installed over this and several other nearby systems. The bounty from the Yanhes government still stood at fifty thousand credits a piece for the Jedi, dead or alive, but the newly minted Galactic Empire was now offering a bonus bounty of two million credits for each Jedi they could capture alive. Now this is a hunt worthy of my skills, Kassuren mused, anyone can kill a bounty and it has been proved that the Jedi are not all powerful as they had once seemed. Taking them alive is a different matter all together. As he rose from his bunk that morning, Kassuren strapped on specially modified armor that he had commissioned from an armorer on Trandosh. The protective chest and back plate, greaves and forearm gauntlets had been specially made using an ancient technique known as a cortosis weave. It rendered all but the most powerful blaster rifles ineffective against him and even offered a limited protection against a lightsaber, generally considered unstoppable in its effectiveness to kill or maim. No less impressive was the array of weaponry he carried on his body. A half dozen thermal detonators were strapped to an integral load-bearing harness on the body armor with a single, two-meter long vibroblade sheathed against his back. The highly accurate BlasTech DL-45 with a range finding scope sat holstered against his hip and his much-prized T-22 heavy repeating blaster was cradled gently in his large, clawed hands. Kassuren knew that he was a walking instrument of death and destruction, able to destroy at will small homes and any being foolish enough to get in his way. He knew that brute force was not what would be required of him on this hunt but the ability to quietly and expertly track his prey until they had nowhere left to run. Kassuren already knew that the two Jedi would fight until the very end, as deadly swift as Corellian sand panthers and would most likely make his share of the bounty a little large by killing some of his “associates”. And that thought did not bother the bounty hunter in the least. “The men are ready to go,” The Rodian he had hit last night informed him. Kassuren looked to his men and waved them forward. Now the games began. ~~~~~~ Sunlight broke through the heavy canopy of tree branches overhead. Rae stirred gently from her sleep as a ray of light shone brightly down upon her eyes. Her eyelids fluttered open and she saw Tyel standing guard over her with the hilt of his lightsaber held loosely in his right hand. Her sleep, surprisingly, had been deep and restful throughout the night even though she had been forced to sleep on the uneven ground on top of tree roots and in the wet, mucky undergrowth. The young woman didn’t remember waking at all during the night hours; which meant Tyel had stood guard the entire time. She was quiet even as she woke, watching his form in the hazy morning air. He was at least fifteen centimeters shorter than she was but he still looked ten meters tall and blaster proof to her. It was clear that even with his reputation as a negotiator and pacifistic soul he was a being that had come of age in a time of war. His physique was strongly outlined beneath his robes, strong and robust in his health. However, he had a soft, gently quality to him that exuded from the aura she perceived in the Force. The light side of the Force radiated out from his presence like a glowlamp that had been turned on in a room of complete blackness. He is a lovely being indeed, she thought to herself while admiring his fur. It was chestnut colored with streaks of black, gold and auburn that she had never noticed before and could almost hit herself for not having taken the time to truly see her friend. Rae let out a small, satisfied sigh as she rose from her makeshift bed. Tyel turned to her quickly, preparing to ignite his blade in case there was some danger he had missed through his vigilant watch or the Force. What he saw, instead, caught the breath in his throat. Rae rose up from the ground with leaves stuck in her shoulder length, red tresses of hair. Dew that had accumulated during the night glistened from her face and hair, falling away in what felt like slow motion as she shook her head. “Good morning, Tyel.” She said, moving over to him with a slight limp. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled, “Thanks for letting me sleep through the night, my friend.” The Bothan did his best to relax the muscles in his shoulders and arms as Rae embraced him. “Y—you’re welcome. You needed the rest more than I did.” He told her, sounding more like a lustful; love struck pup than a Padawan on the verge of Knighthood. Rae could see the awkwardness in his speech and the pleasantly surprised look on his face. She could only smile at his inept attempts to remain unaffected by her actions and words. “What time is it?” She inquired, trying to break the silence. “If my chronometer isn’t broken it’s about 0715 hours local time.” Tyel told her. Rae could see the Bothan’s fur ripple violently across his neck as his ears perked up. Suddenly, the morning calm was shattered by the snap-hiss of his jade green blade erupting forth from the emitter housing. His lips were pulled back in a snarl while a low, guttural growl came instinctively from between his teeth. The young woman moved her hand slowly to the hilt attached to her own belt. “What is it?” She asked as the weapon was removed from its place at her side. “Something doesn’t smell right. The animals here, even the insects, have all gone quiet,” He told her, causing Rae to notice the silence, “And I sense danger nearby.” Before Tyel could even move there was a large, creature that sprang through the undergrowth from out of nowhere. The beast was in midair with a deep roar echoing all around them and lunging for Rae with its massive paws. The Bothan knew there was nothing he could do to save the young woman from being immediately mauled. And then, there was their attacker on the ground behind his companion with a smoking hole in its forehead. Tyel saw Rae standing there next to him, cool and collected with the blue blade of her lightsaber angled toward the ground. Rae had lit her blade in a split second and aimed its tip for the creature’s skull, lunging forward and letting the creature’s own momentum carry it into death. As the blade pierced its skull, destroying the brain, Rae rolled underneath the beast and let it hit the ground violently behind her. Tyel looked at Rae incredulously. She doesn’t even look shaken up, he thought as he watched her stare off in the direction that the creature had come. The Bothan went over and examined the thing when he noticed something that made his blood run cold. “It’s time to move, now.” Tyel informed Rae, “The thing has some sort of tracking device on it and looks like it was given some sort of hunter’s mark. That means if we stick around here then whoever it is that is after us is probably not far away.” There was a silent agreement between the two as they both started clearing out the area of any signs of their presence and left immediately thereafter. The two had almost run the opposite direction from the way the beast had attacked them but thought better of it, moving deeper still into the jungle and further away from the civilization that now wanted them dead. ~~~~~~ “The tracking signal has stopped approximately four hundred meters from here, sir. The life signs are also reading negative. I think it would be safe to assume that it found the Jedi,” One of the Shistavanen hunters with Kassuren told him. The Trandoshan nodded, “Then that meansss they will be coming right to usss”. Kassuren knew that if you sent a hunting creature after your prey the chances of them running the opposite direction were extremely high. His claws clutched the T-22 a little tighter before motioning the two others with him forward. The reptiloid’s powerful legs pumped him had through the jungle’s undergrowth as he broke tree branches against his body and pushed anything aside that was in his way. As the trio neared the spot where the signal has stopped they slowed to a creeping walk. One of the wolfmen climbed up a nearby tree and took aim at a clearing with a high-powered sniper rifle. His keen eyes peered through the scope, turning on the low-light function. Even with the light coming through gaps in the trees it was still almost as black as night in the jungle. Through the scope he saw what appeared to be movement, firing off two shots very rapidly and dropping both his targets. Kassuren’s hearts grew elated at the sounds, rushing forward to only find that two of his own men had been killed with devastating blasts to the head. One was the Rodian lieutenant whose facial bones he had broken and the other was an empty-headed Twi’lek that had only recently joined the crew. A hiss and roar of utter anger left his gullet and shook the silence that has gathered since the shots were fired. The Shistavanen hunter came running rapidly toward his employer, expecting to find himself in Kassuren’s good graces. Instead, he quickly found himself unable to breathe as the vibroblade strapped to the Trandoshen’s back lodged itself in the wolfman’s chest cavity. The lizard had drawn the weapon, hurling at the being and intending to kill him with one, clean blow. However, things seemed not to want to go his way, as the Shistavanen was still alive on the ground, struggling for air. Kassuren pulled one of the thermal detonators from its place on the load-bearing harness and set the timer for thirty standard seconds, shoving the explosive device in the dying wolfman’s muzzle. Kassuren and the other Shistavanen walked away from their dying companion with neither of them looking back. The bounty hunter called for his crew to rendezvous at a location nearly half a kilometer away from his current position. He had to repeat the order as the thermal detonator went off, reducing his former employee to atomized bits of flesh and gore. ~~~~~~ The distant, muffled sound of the explosion caused both Rae and Tyel to look back even though they could not see what had happened. The two knew that their pursuers were not far behind them and set off at as rapid a speed as Rae’s injury would let them. After nearly five hours of near relentless running and sapping the energy given to them by the Force, they were near the physical breaking point. They stopped next to a stream, nearly thirty-five kilometers from their original position by Tyel’s estimation. They were both soaked with sweat, their robes made several shades darker by the moisture absorbed off their bodies. “I could use a bath.” Tyel said breathlessly to his companion. Rae nodded her head, rivulets of sweat dropping off the tips of her hair and nose. “But I’m getting one first,” she told Tyel as she immediately began stripping off her clothes. The Bothan quickly turned his head to the side, making sure not to look at his friend while she walked the few meters to the stream and bathed. However, whatever it was controlling a lustful part of his mind took over and he did turn to look. He was in luck as Rae was facing away from him. His mind was dissatisfied when all he saw was only a momentary glimpse of her bare backside before it slipped into the water and disappeared beneath it. Quickly, Tyel turned back away from the stream and shook his head. What is happening to me? I am a Jedi Padawan, almost a Knight! I am not supposed to think this way!* His mind was screaming to itself. But the lustful part of his soul won out again as his purple eyes watched the shapely young woman as much as possible without being seen even while his heart was pained with guilt. ~~~~~*~ Imperial Commando one-seven-two-five, Daethan to his squadmates, snapped to attention as the hologram of Moff Gethax appeared in front of him. “IC-1725, there has been an incursion on Yanhes by two outlaw Jedi. We have sent a group of bounty hunters after them. In case the fail, I want you to take Eta squad and deploy into the Yanhes jungle to track the two of them,” The translucent blue figure told the clone as possible information on their names and skills scrolled rapidly in front of his eyes. Daethan nodded, putting all the information to memory, “Anything we should know about them, sir?” “They are only Padawans, Sergeant, and should pose no threat to either you or your men.” Gethax said, “If you find them, take them alive. And, if you find them with the bounty hunters… kill them, we don’t need their scum. You have until sunset to prepare, then leave the garrison and end this mess.” The commando saluted the hologram before it winked out. Daethan went to inform his squad of their latest assignment, all of whom were more than happy to deal out a world of hurt to the traitors to the Empire. -----signature----- "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Master Yoda The only thing necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.
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