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Author	Topic: Friends No More [Jag and Shawnkyr] - COMPLETE - Replies, 2/13/05!!!
FelsGoddess Registered: Sep '04	Date Posted: 9/28/05 10:03pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/28!!
	highly illegal Taanabian brandy Jag picked up a lot from his time with the "Rebels." horror of all horrors, with their children Jeez, that's mean. Though how Chak knew that was questionable. Hmm, wonder how Chak found that out. Great updates! -----signature----- Knighted by Tahi
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Inara Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 9/29/05 8:16pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/28!!
	WynssaStarflare: Welcome, Wynssa! I'm glad you're enjoying the story Chimpo_the_Sith: And this would be Troy style to do such thing That would be sad. But I am hoping that Jaina and Jag can reconcile... Gloria: I'm glad you like Cem! When I first started writing, he was meant to be a minor character, but I wanted Jag to be close with his fam. I mean, who else does he have besides them and Shawnkyr? FelsGoddess: Jag picked up a lot from his time with the "Rebels." Just wait until he opens his closet... -----signature----- "The Sun Crusher was originally conceived as a humane alternative to Kyle Katarn." http://www.thedarknest.com Dark!Horny!Jacen 1 6177 86515
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JadeSolo Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 9/29/05 10:15pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/28!!
	Okay, I'm behind - only past the first post. But bravo for this 'ship! I really like the way you have them talk to each other, and just after that first post, I think you're doing a great job with describing Chiss society. Shawnkyr, tough yet feminine. Oh, I love it. -----signature----- "If you expect a kick in the balls and you get a slap in the face, it's a victory." "May God bless you and keep you always...I mean that in a civic deist way." -Prof. Siegel "No guaranteed money, but all guaranteed fun!"
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Inara Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 9/30/05 7:44am Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/30!!
	JadeSolo: Shawnkyr, tough yet feminine. That's her to a T Thanks for reading!!! ~ Many Confrontations ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Instead of going forward, some people take a step sideways. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chiss Buffer Zone, near Qoribu “Do you think they will meet the deadline?” asked Carnen. Jag pursed his lips as he stared at the readout. “I certainly hope so, Lieutenant Commander. The Jedi were given ten days to stop further Killik migration into the buffer zone. It has only been five. They are still working.” “But with relatively little success.” Carnen was an able soldier, but he was still a Chiss, and he did not understand why his commanding officer was always so hopeful. Jag kept himself from slumping in his command chair. All around him, several Chiss manned various stations on the bridge, and in front of him, the view port gave him a view of black space. “We should not underestimate the Jedi, Carnen,” he said mildly. “I have worked with them before. But if their attempts are not successful, then we will take the battle to them.” Carnen nodded. “Yes, sir.” “When is the CEDF intelligence officer set to arrive?” “Within the next half hour, Commander.” Jag pursed his lips. “Good. I could use more information on what we are about to face.” Unlike most other militaries, the Chiss navy was actually on good terms with its intelligence division. This mostly had to do with the nature of the Chiss themselves, which insured that no threats emerged from within the Ascendancy. Thus, CEDF Intel spent its time on threats outside of their territories. Hopefully the officer from Intel could tell Jag what – and whom – he was facing. “I will be in the officer’s lounge until he arrives,” he said, handing over control of the bridge to Carnen. Most people were surprised to discover that Chiss ships even provided lounges for their crews, but even the most self-contained Chiss needed something to do. Often times, crew members would exchange stories, play chess or some other game, dabble in the arts – anything to keep their minds active while on tours of duties. The Chiss that were musically inclined often times brought their instruments with them, and on rare occasions, would get together and perform. The first time Jag had seen such a show was on his second tour of duty, right before the war had started. He had been with Commander Avela’s fleet, and he had felt honored when he had been invited to one of the musical recitals. He had gloated about that for days. Arriving at the officer’s lounge, he found Shawnkyr with Cem and one of his squad mates, Adlor. Adlor was a tall Chiss from one of the Colonial phalanxes – he must have been sent to represent his phalanx on this particular tour. As he approached, he overheard snatches of their conversation. Cem was regaling the two Chiss with stories about Wyn and her adventures at the academy. Shawnkyr listened on in amusement, as she was well acquainted with the feisty young woman, but Adlor was fascinated. Wyn had grown to be a stunningly beautiful young woman, who aspired to serve in the CEDF with her brothers. It was a relief for Soontir and Syal. Though they would have preferred their daughter to work in another, less dangerous house, such as the Sabosen, they wanted Wyn in the Ascendancy. For the longest time, Syal had feared that Wyn’s exposure to the Jedi during the war would have prompted Wyn to travel the galaxy. But Wyn was Soontir’s daughter, and though the pilot blood flowed hotly in her veins, she much preferred the Chiss to her own human kind. Which was another reason for the Baron’s happiness with his daughter’s decision. Wyn’s looks elicited very little reaction from the Chiss. It kept Wyn from becoming vain, and it also prevented her from being subjected to certain forms of attention that she would have received in the Alliance. Pausing near one of the pillars, Jag listened in unnoticed. “She says she plans to be a better pilot than Jag and I,” complained Cem. “Which is completely unfair, since everyone already likes her best anyway.” “I agree with Wyn. I like her more too.” “You are so mean sometimes, Kyrn. I do not know why Jag puts up with you.” She sounded entirely too self-satisfied. “No doubt he needs someone intelligent to converse with after he is finished talking with you.” Adlor smirked slightly. “I cannot speak of your sister’s personality, Cem, but judging from your flying, I can well believe it if she says she can best you.” He rose. “Well, I am about to go on duty. When I am off, perhaps we can have a go at the new simulator programs?” he asked Cem. “Sure, but if at the end you say you would rather compete against my sister, I will have no choice but to shoot you.” Adlor smirked again before heading off. Cem turned back to Shawnkyr. “Have you marked Jag’s mood of late? He has been characterized with extreme edginess.” Perhaps this was a good time to announce his presence, but he wanted to hear what Shawnkyr would have to say. “You must give him time. Having been with Jag through many of his ordeals with Jaina Solo, I can sympathize with his predicament.” “You are more solicitous of him than I am,” observed Cem. Shawnkyr considered this. “I am, I suppose, though I owe much of it to understanding his habits and moods. Worry not. He will return to his usual self within a few days.” She paused, and then, “I have an interesting story I overhead the other day in the forward docking bay. One of my technicians spent some time on one of the Remnant’s bases helping them modify their shield generators.” “Oh?” Her voice lowered, and Jag had to strain to hear what she was saying. “Apparently, one of the Imperials developed quite an interest in her and pursued her for the entire month she was there.” “What happened?” “Well, naturally, she rebuffed his attempts. Tell me something, Cem. Are humans inclined to seek out relations with non-humans?” Cem hesitated before saying, “Well, it depends. It is rarer for a human to pair with a non-human, but it does happen.” Her voice sounded puzzled. “Why?” Cem sounded equally as puzzled. “What do you mean, why?” “Does a person from another species not repulse you? I cannot speak for humans, but as for the Chiss, we find non-Chiss relations distasteful.” Cem’s voice sounded very sad. “Well, when love is genuine, at least for humans, it crosses all racial boundaries. We do not love for the shell but the spirit.” “Ahh. As to that, perhaps I can answer why Chiss do not engage in such relations. We do not marry for love but for the purposes of establishing alliances. Therefore, this concept of love transcending all boundaries is a foreign idea to me. There can be nothing gained by it, and so we are taught to avoid it.” “So you would never marry a non-Chiss?” “No.” “What if you loved him?” Shawnkyr sighed. “I cannot imagine that ever happening. We do not make such decisions based on sentiment.” Cem sounded very dejected. “Oh.” He shifted topics. “So when do I get to try out that new clawcraft prototype that’s sitting in the hanger bay?” Jag did not want to listen any longer. He had heard enough. Backing away quietly, he made his way circuitously to the docking bay to meet with the Intel officers. He should not have been surprised. A part of him had always known that Shawnkyr felt this way. It did not mean she was close-minded – this was simply how she was raised to be. What had he been hoping for? That she would suddenly change her mind and go against her entire culture for him? For Jag, it was the height of flattery when she smiled at him in front of other Chiss. What more could he ask from her anyway? At the docking bay, he moved to stand near the docking area and watched as the elegant Chiss shuttle finally finished its docking sequence when the object of his thoughts appeared at his side. Jag turned surprised eyes towards Shawnkyr. She must have left the lounge immediately after him. Why was it that when he was doing his best to avoid her, she appeared more often? He could swear that he had seen her half as less before this disaster had started. “What are you doing here?” “I am joining my commanding officer in welcoming the Intel party on board,” she replied matter-of-factly. “If that is acceptable,” she added. Jag nodded. “Of course.” The shuttle ramp descended, and a Chiss officer made his way down the ramp. He was tall, and his very aura projected vitality. As he came closer, his eyes flicked to Shawnkyr briefly, but that was enough. Suddenly, Jag knew, he knew as Shawnkyr’s unexpected arrival made sense. Her voice echoed in his head. Athan is with Chiss intelligence... Jag saluted him, though it was more of a courtesy than anything else. Though this officer was a colonel, Jag was the fleet commander, but it did not hurt in being polite. The officer returned the salute. “Commander Fel, I am Colonel Rusa’tha’nuruodo of CEDF Intelligence.” “It is an honor to have you on board, Colonel Rusa’tha’nuruodo.” He dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Please, call me by my core name, Athan.” Though Jag saw no point in introducing Athan to Shawnkyr, he had to follow protocol and pretend that he had no idea that they knew each other. “Colonel, may I introduce you to Commander Shawnkyr? She is my wing commander.” The corners of Athan’s mouth turned up ever so slightly. “I already have the pleasure of being acquainted with Commander Shawnkyr.” Shawnkyr nodded. “Please allow me to second Commander Fel’s welcome.” Annoyed for no apparent reason, Jag gestured the colonel to precede him. “I am eager to hear your report, Colonel, but I imagine that you would like to be shown to your quarters first. I can have an aide show you.” “That will not be necessary, Commander Fel,” interrupted Shawnkyr. The crew deck is on my way; I will be happy to show the colonel to his rooms.” Jag wanted to turn away. Did they already have to act like a married couple? Granted, Shawnkyr and Athan had not acted out of the ordinary. She was just being courteous, and had it been anyone other than Athan, Jag would not have blinked. But now that Jag knew of their future relationship, every action seemed exacerbated. He felt as if he were being pushed to the shadows, fighting off this unknown threat to what he considered his. The sight of Shawnkyr standing next to Athan was like a knife to his heart, and he was forced to admit that this was how things were meant to be. He was drowning in a wave of truth, caught in an undertow of pain. Jag nodded, drawing all of his learned Chiss control to him now as he observed the perfect couple in front of him. “Very well. I will be on the bridge.” He nodded to both of them. “Commander, Colonel.” As he turned away, he thought he saw Shawnkyr smile at Athan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two hours later, when his shift was over, Jag made his way to the gym. He knew it would be deserted at this time of day, and he wanted to work out his frustrations before meeting with Athan. Truth be told, Jag really had no right to be angry. He knew that he was not in love with Shawnkyr – at least not yet. But he did want to sleep with her, and that made him feel worse. It made him feel dirty. His friendship with Shawnkyr was one of the best things that had ever happened to him. To sully this friendship with such thoughts disturbed him. Jag simply did not know how this attraction to his friend came about, or why. Part of him wanted to blame Jaina for this situation. If she had not left him and had started acting to irrational, then he could still love her peacefully without getting mad at her every ten minutes. If Jaina were still in his life, he could love her and desire her. His attention would not have been diverted to Shawnkyr. At his core, Jag was an elemental man who was very much driven by passion. His Chiss upbringing had brought him into line, but Jag had always reveled in the physical – whether in sports, in the adrenaline of flying his clawcraft at hurtling speeds, or in intimate relationships, he had always found ways of expressing his emotions since he could not do so any other way. At first, he had been worried that the reason for his sudden attraction to Shawnkyr was because Jag needed someone to desire. However, he had spent an entire afternoon discreetly eyeing the other Chiss female officers on the bridge one afternoon, and none had elicited such a reaction. Furthermore, he had never had this problem before. Jag had always had the singular ability to keep his personal life separated from the Chiss, though in all other aspects, he was Chiss. It was a necessary tactic in order to live among them. The small smile Shawnkyr had flashed to Athan still lingered in his mind. Angrily, he added more weights to the bar as he began to lift, hoping the pain would block out the painful image. Her smile had been nothing special – he had received it before as well. But what had Athan done to deserve it? Fine, he was eventually going to marry her, but so what? It was nothing to become excited over, according to Shawnkyr. So why was she smiling at him? Her face flashed in his mind. Unwillingly, he wondered if her darker-than-dark hair was as soft as it looked. He had never touched it before. Was her skin as smooth as it seemed? Did she have any scars marking that strong, slender body? What did she look like when she slept? Did the stern lines of her face melt away into something younger, sweeter? And her eyes…they always reflected clarity, intelligence, amusement, determination, and at times, coldness or affection, depending on her mood. But just once, Jag wanted to see something else in those red eyes. Something other what he saw normally. Something softer, something brighter. Just once, Jag wanted Shawnkyr to look at him the way he looked at her. To grant him a special smile, one for him alone, so full of joy and tenderness and deepest trust. Just once. Then he could move on with this life. “Hey, Jag.” He looked up to see Cem standing there, looking very sympathetic. “Hi.” Jag lowered his weights and flinched as his muscles twinged uncomfortably. Maybe he had stressed himself overly. Cem took a seat on a nearby bench. “I, uh, just ran into Shawnkyr. She was showing Colonel Athan around.” “Did she tell you?” Jag’s voice was quiet. “Yes.” Cem sighed. “I still think you should tell her.” Jag fixed his brother with an incredulous stare. “After what she said to you this morning?” At Cem’s surprised look, Jag sneered. “I came to join you in the lounge, and I overheard your conversation. Now we both know exactly how she feels about aliens.” He shook his head. “She would hate me.” “You do not know that.” A helpless look crossed Cem’s face. “Jag, she does not consider you alien. In fact, I think she considers you Chiss in all respects. You are different. You are her friend – her best friend. You are dearer to her than anyone else, including Athan.” “All the more reason not to chance ruining whatever closeness we do share,” retorted Jag. He wiped his face with a towel. “No, in the matter I am quite determined. I will keep quiet on this matter and hope the problem eventually becomes a passing memory.” Cem nodded reluctantly. “I will respect your wishes in this, but I confess that I do not like it.” He smoothed his uniform. “In any case, Athan is in the forward observation gallery waiting to begin briefing you.” Jag nodded. “I shall take a quick shower. It will only take me a few minutes.” “You know who he is with?” asked Cem cautiously. Jag smiled at his brother wryly as he headed towards the showers. “I am not a child, Cem.” But Cem remained seated a few moments longer. Of all the people on this ship, perhaps in the entire Ascendancy, he knew better than anyone how Jag felt about Shawnkyr, and he knew how Shawnkyr felt about Jag. And he was not sure if it were the best thing for either one. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notes: - A lot of TUQ spoilers here, but seen from the Chiss side - Chiss are known to be xenophobes -----signature----- "The Sun Crusher was originally conceived as a humane alternative to Kyle Katarn." http://www.thedarknest.com Dark!Horny!Jacen 1 6177 86515
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WynssaStarflare Registered: Nov '04	Date Posted: 9/30/05 12:02pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/30!!
	Great post! Poor Jag... Unrequited love or lust is not fun. Can't wait for the next -----signature----- Finally free!!! Now only to find employment....
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JadeSolo Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 9/30/05 12:46pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/30!!
	Finished the second post! Chiss did not have friends; at least, not in the way other races viewed such relationships. Chiss had acquaintances, and on occasion, a close relationship brought together by shared careers. But friendship was a selfish thing, one that complicated professional relationships. To care for a friend meant to put his interests above one’s own, or worse, above one’s duties. Again, love how you portray Chiss society. It says so much about why Jag is the way he is in the NJO books, and why he and Shawnkyr have a certain relationship. Not to mention any feelings of romance are going to be a bucket of cold water, with this kind of foundation to their friendship. -----signature----- "If you expect a kick in the balls and you get a slap in the face, it's a victory." "May God bless you and keep you always...I mean that in a civic deist way." -Prof. Siegel "No guaranteed money, but all guaranteed fun!"
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jags_gurl Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 9/30/05 12:54pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/30!!
	Excellent! Hah, I find myself wishing that Jag would take his frustrations out on Athan...I'd post more but I have a wicked cold and I'm going to head back to bed. Thanks for a good update, it made me feel a little bit better! -----signature----- limiting my time on the boards to focus on the school year sooooo....lurkerextrodanaire i am.... =====@[-------------------------------- O< Squishy of TKL's Lomin Ale Wraiths >O chi omega
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JadeSolo Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 9/30/05 8:23pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/30!!
	Three down so far! "And what was it you brought me? Oh yes, I remember. A Twi'lek dancing girl." Jag hid a smile. "You did say you wanted one." "Not a fake one." Cem really is something. And of course, love the nicknames that Jag and Shawnkyr have for each other. Yes, that's what friends do, but then he had to go and buy her a comb... -----signature----- "If you expect a kick in the balls and you get a slap in the face, it's a victory." "May God bless you and keep you always...I mean that in a civic deist way." -Prof. Siegel "No guaranteed money, but all guaranteed fun!"
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Gloria Registered: Nov '04	Date Posted: 9/30/05 9:25pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/30!!
	Poor Jag. He needs a hug. Jaina's an idiot for leaving him - er, or whatever happened. Cem's the coolest thing since sliced bread. And Kyrn? She's.. gah. -----signature----- "And when the Chiss grew suspicious, they killed things."
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Jaya Solo Registered: Jul '99	Date Posted: 10/3/05 12:48pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/30!!
	Nice story. I feel bad for those two and knowing how you like torturing relationships... I do not see anything coming out of this happily for everyone. You write angst well! -----signature----- Padawans: DreamingIce, LostJedi26 Restoring Order: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/24000645 Green Eyes 4: http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=24195159 Palpatine's Blog: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25399668
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Inara Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 10/5/05 11:17am Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 9/30!!
	WynssaStarflare: Unrequited love or lust is not fun It really isn't. Poor Jaggy. JadeSolo: Again, love how you portray Chiss society. It says so much about why Jag is the way he is in the NJO books, and why he and Shawnkyr have a certain relationship. Thanks! I'm glad someone else enjoys this very interesting culture! Yes, that's what friends do, but then he had to go and buy her a comb... Boys. Just when things become normal, they do something to tip the scale. jags_gurl: Hah, I find myself wishing that Jag would take his frustrations out on Athan... Alpha males coming up next chapter Gloria: Poor Jag. He needs a hug. Jaina's an idiot for leaving him - er, or whatever happened. Cem's the coolest thing since sliced bread. And Kyrn? She's.. gah. Very true! And Cem is cool, isn't he? A sort of unexpected character to emerge from all this. Jaya Solo: I feel bad for those two and knowing how you like torturing relationships... I can't hide anything from my master. But I did promise you a silly story, and you shall receive it! -----signature----- "The Sun Crusher was originally conceived as a humane alternative to Kyle Katarn." http://www.thedarknest.com Dark!Horny!Jacen 1 6177 86515
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Inara Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 10/5/05 11:24am Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 10/05!! - Date Edited: 10/5/05 11:35am (1 edits total) Edited By: Inara
	~ Athan comes to some realizations ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “The flower that blossoms lives once and dies forever.” – Omar Khayyam ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Cselarn “Your friend seems out of sorts,” commented Athan. He and Shawnkyr were sitting in the mess hall of the Cselarn, where they had arrived after Athan’s meeting with Jag. A small frown marred Shawkyr’s pleasant features. “His mood has been…distracted as of late. But one can hardly blame him.” Her eyes turned to his. “The information you brought for him was not meant to lift his spirits.” “It seems to me that you are quick to take offense on his behalf,” he commented idly. Though he had known that Shawnkyr and Jag were friends, Athan had been surprised by the depth of the affection between the two. It was almost unnatural – not because Jag was human but because Chiss friendships were not meant to burn so bright. “If I take offense on his behalf, ‘tis only because he has done the same for me,” she retorted. “Peace, Shawnkyr,” he said, placating. “If you must know, I admire your friend, and I did not intend for the news I brought to hurt him. It is hardly my fault that Jaina Solo is so far gone into the collective mind that she must be considered an enemy if she moves against the Chiss. Even if she claims to be working for the Jedi Council, it is not prudent for us to trust her.” She nodded reluctantly. “I did not mean to imply that you were to blame,” she conceded. A small sigh escaped her lips. “It is unfortunate that our scientists, for all their discoveries and skills, have been unable to find a way for Joiners to leave the collective mind.” Athan agreed. “We have lost many fine soldiers to the Killiks.” The Chiss policy on accepting Joiners back into the Ascendancy was non-existent. Chiss, once joined, could never be trusted again – at least until some sort of cure was found. However, their policy on destroying Chiss joiners had drawn criticism from the GFFA, but to the Chiss, it was an act of mercy. Better to be dead than to be enslaved. Which was why Athan felt sorry for Jag Fel. To love a woman who was all but doomed – it was not easy. “Your mother is a scientist. Is there anything…to hope for?” “No, my mother has kept silent on the matter. Though if there were good news, she would have told me. She is also aware of Jag’s dilemma.” Her expression became more serious. “How long are you assigned to the Cselarn?” Athan raised his brows. “Our future does not bode well if you are so eager to be rid of me.” “I did not mean that,” she protested. “I know. It was a joke. Perhaps your two human friends have rubbed off on my otherwise staid persona.” “You can blame Cem for that. Jag is often too reserved to joke – though he has loosened up considerably since his exposure to humans during the war.” Amusement glittered in his eyes. “Do you like the change?” Shawnkyr considered this for a few moments. “I think that his willingness to indulge in some of his human characteristics adds depth to his character. After all, it is important to remember that Jag is human, and a Corellian at that. To pretend that he is not is an insult to his heritage. And though I am often taken aback by his strange quirks, I like them. A refreshing change that can be attributed to Jaina Solo.” “Is that why you do not like Jaina Solo?” he asked perceptively. Enjoying her surprise, he added, “Do not be alarmed, Shawnkyr. It is not obvious by any means. But remember that I am an intelligence officer and thus am trained to look at situations in a more subtle light.” “My dislike of Jaina Solo has nothing to do with her as a person,” she finally confessed. “But it was hard for me to accept that it was her friendship that brought out the best in my friend. And I am angry with the way she has treaded upon his feelings.” Athan narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “No doubt Jag would rise to your defense should I tread upon your feelings.” “Yes,” she said. “But you are different from Jaina Solo, and I am different from Jag. You will not tread on my feelings, and I will not allow you to do so.” “Well, Jag does not like me,” he said. “One only has to observe his manner around me to ascertain that.” Shawnkyr smiled slightly. “Parallelism at its finest.” She looked out the viewport. “But give him a chance to adjust. And I think that seeing you here has reminded him of what he is missing.” “I care not how he overcomes his hesitancy so long as he does. I have no wish to be at odds with your friend.” Or with you, he added mentally. Athan looked to the center of the table, where Shawnkyr’s hands rested so close to his own. He moved his own hands to rest near hers, deliberately, just allowing the faintest brush of flesh between the two of them. That small amount of contact caused her to look at him in surprise. She looked down at their hands, then back up at his, astonished at his bold move. Yet her eyes told him she understood what he had said, and more importantly, what he had not said. When his mother had first mentioned Shawnkyr as a possible choice for him, he had balked. Though Shawnkyr’s exploits were well-known within the Ascendancy and quite admired for her courage and perseverance, her friendship with the human was looked upon less favorably. But when her father had introduced her to him, Athan had been quite taken with her comeliness and her cleverness. It was a heart-stopping combination, even for a Chiss. Later, he had been surprised to find how well he got along with Shawnkyr and how much he enjoyed her company. She was a good match, the best he could have hoped for. He did not want to lose her over such a small matter as friendship. The problem was that for Shawnkyr, friendship was not a small matter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At some point in his day, Jag knew he would have to stop avoiding Shawnkyr. It was easier now that Athan was on board and monopolizing a good deal of her free time, but his absence at their shared meal times and avoidance of her company was drawing notice from several of his officers, who were used to seeing the two of them attached at the hip. So at the end of his shift, he informed Carnen that he would be in Shawnkyr’s office, and if anything came up, he could be paged there. The truth was that he missed her. There were so many things on his mind, and before, she had always patiently listened to him and given him advice. Even in the heyday of his romance with Jaina, he had always basked in the knowledge that Shawnkyr was still his, the person who viewed him without the rose-colored glasses that was love. She had never hesitated in telling him when he was doing something wrong – he still remembered her tongue-lashing on Hapes – and more importantly, she had encouraged him when he was doing something right. It was her hand that he had grasped as he had maneuvered his way in the CEDF. Being surrounded by a race that was convinced he would fail to meet their standards had worn him thin, and had it not been for Shawnkyr’s confidence in his abilities, as well as her trust in him, he would not have made it so far. And now he was repaying her by sullying their friendship with desire, a desire that could never be reciprocated. He really should have taken up Cem’s offer to meet one of his friends. Jag knew that Shawnkyr was in her office right now reviewing flight data from the latest sweeps of the buffer zone. Clawcraft patrols were actively monitoring the Killik colonists. True to their word, the Jedi had convinced the colonists to stop their expansion, but now the Jedi had the greater task in convincing them to leave. And they only had a hundred days to do it. He was also aware of the fact that Athan was engaged in a conference call with his superiors at intel headquarters, which meant that Jag could spend some time with Shawnkyr uninterrupted. He keyed her intercom, and as he waited for her to allow him in, he nodded at a few passing lieutenants, who seemed unsurprised to see him there. Yes, this was how things should be. The door opened. He entered to see Shawnkyr typing notes into her computer terminal. “Please come in,” she said, waving him into a seat. She saved her work before turning to face him. “Is there something I can do for you, Commander Fel?” He flinched. So she had noticed he was avoiding her. “Anything to report?” “Nothing new,” she said crisply. “Patrols have not detected further migration, but the colonists have shown no sign of moving thus far.” She looked at him pointedly. “But surely you could have sent an aide? Or better yet, you could have simply sent me a message.” Her voice was unnaturally sharp, and he was surprised to note that there was hurt hidden in her eyes. Jag sighed. “I’m sorry, Shawnkyr. These past days have been really hard for me.” Though the hurt now mingled with sympathy, she still did not relent. “You are worried because Jaina is part of the Jedi team sent to Qoribu?” she asked. He barked out a laugh. “I wish that were my only problem,” he said. “I see. But what does that have to do with anything?” At his sharp intake of breath, she continued. “Jag, even Athan has noticed your behavior. And while so far your performance on this mission has been nothing short of commendable, you must be careful. As the only human fleet commander in the Ascendancy, your behavior will always be critiqued more harshly, and even now, your detractors are waiting for you to fumble so they can discredit you.” She rose from her seat and moved to sit next to him on the couch. “Jag, I am your friend. I know you are uneasy with Athan on board, and perhaps having him here has brought back memories of your own past circumstances. But you have always been honest with me, Jag. Tell me. I can help you.” The sincerity radiating from her eyes almost made him break. Almost. But would she be as willing to help him if she knew that his recent distractions were not because of Jaina but because of her? He had to lie to her. And he hated himself for it. “This situation with the Killiks makes me nervous. And I am scared about how things are going to turn out. What if we do go to war? What if I cannot stay true to my command?” “Jag, do not let your fears guide you in this. You will stay true to your command because you know your duty. It is who you are. I have every confidence in you – and so does the CEDF. They did not give you command lightly.” “I do not want to fail in your trust.” Her eyes widened. “Jag, you will never fail in my trust. Never. I gave it to you that day at the academy, and you have not failed me since. You will not start now,” she said firmly. Though Shawnkyr was trying to make him feel better, he just felt worse. How cruel it was to have her trust him with her honor while all he wanted to do was push her back against the couch and kiss her. Unwillingly, he noticed how the soft light from the ceiling made her hair gleam. Her black uniform was a pleasant contrast to her blue skin, and he suddenly wondered if her skin under her uniform were paler than what was exposed. Jag mentally swore. Being near her was becoming physically painful but irresistible at the same time. Shawnkyr raised one eyebrow as he stared at her with a pensive, intensely concentrated look, the same he fastened on approaching enemy ships. He had never been able to resist a challenging puzzle, and Shawnkyr Nuruodo was the most challenging person he had ever met. Her intellect and skill made her interesting in ways he could not define while her sense of honor and discipline were rigid indications of a unique brand of courage he could easily identify with. Though he knew it was foolish, he raised his hand to her face in careful deliberation. She reared back a bit but held still as he tentatively touched her cheek, brushing away the strands of hair obscuring the side of her face. His thumb came to rest on the high jut of her cheekbone while his fingers slid across her temple and into her hair. He was pleased to note that her skin and hair were as soft as he had imagined. To his surprise, her eyes closed slowly as she leaned into his caress. It occurred to him that, no matter that she hid it so deeply, this was a woman starving for physical contact. Had anyone ever touched her like this before? Touched her in such a simple yet primal way? The heel of his hand skimmed over the fine edge of her jaw and rested lightly on her smooth skin. Her eyes opened again, guarded despite her carefully blank face. Knowing he had pushed his luck nearly as far as possible, he seized the last of his courage and brushed his fingertips along her lower lip before standing hastily. “Have those reports delivered to me when you are finished, Commander,” he said, desperately trying to regain formality. Confused, she nodded. “I will see you at dinner.” With that, he quickly departed her office before he did something he would regret later. Unfortunately, he left behind someone whose questions grew in complexity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - No footnotes! -----signature----- "The Sun Crusher was originally conceived as a humane alternative to Kyle Katarn." http://www.thedarknest.com Dark!Horny!Jacen 1 6177 86515
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TheCrazyRodian Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 10/5/05 11:59am Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 10/05!!
	Oh my goodness. This is amazing. I haven't been around the boards in a while, but I've read a lot of stories nonetheless, and this is amazing. It has a note of depth that the vast majority of others can't quite imitate. Wow. I absolutely love how you're developing this. Count me in as a regular reader from now on. -----signature----- My body wears a green scent, as on the verge Between green laughter and green sorrow I have walked all day Until my legs have gone lame, and still the spring seems spirited away. --Yi Sanghwa
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jags_gurl Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 10/5/05 2:08pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 10/05!! - Date Edited: 10/5/05 2:13pm (1 edits total) Edited By: jags_gurl
	That small amount of contact caused her to look at him in surprise. She looked down at their hands, then back up at his, astonished at his bold move. Heh...Jaggie's gonna give her a flippin' heart attack! The heel of his hand skimmed over the fine edge of her jaw and rested lightly on her smooth skin. Her eyes opened again, guarded despite her carefully blank face. Knowing he had pushed his luck nearly as far as possible, he seized the last of his courage and brushed his fingertips along her lower lip before standing hastily. Wow, Jag is really pushing his luck...and she's letting him push it! [face_hopeful] I the tension. [Teen_Girl_Squad_voice] It's sooooooo good![/Teen_Girl_Squad_voice] And Athan? I like him but the relationship with Shawnie... [Teen_Girl_Squad_voice] No good. [/Teen_Girl_Squad_voice] Shawnkyr's a pretty sharp girl, so let's hope she starts putting two and seven together...Jag's avoiding her....He doesn't like Athan...he touched her face...touched her lips!...has been acting irritable.... Come on, Kyr! Magnificent update...again, love the tension. Say no to angst for this story! -----signature----- limiting my time on the boards to focus on the school year sooooo....lurkerextrodanaire i am.... =====@[-------------------------------- O< Squishy of TKL's Lomin Ale Wraiths >O chi omega
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summerdaisy Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 10/5/05 4:19pm Subject: RE: Friends No More (Jag and Shawnkyr) - New Update - 10/05!! - Date Edited: 10/5/05 4:19pm (1 edits total) Edited By: summerdaisy
	I have finally finished catching up on this story... Let me take a moment to gloat...since I suggested a J/S pairing towards you...except you take it the complicated way and try to make it into a realistic story as opposed to the fluff I was hoping for. Alright, here's my review... WONDERFUL. Definitely not fluffy, but if you ever wrote fluff, I'd have a heart attack. At the very least, I'd be prompted to write my own story (which will never happen ). I really like what you do with the Chiss (I'm gonna go and review Pawn to Queen after this), and I like how you don't villify the Chiss like a lot of writers do in their Jag stories. This story is a really nice exposure to very mysterious people. Hmm, what else... I love Cem. Great job in forming a character out of a name that fell off of Wyn Fel's lips and cryptically mentioned by Formbi. I think you have created a Cem Fel fan girl out of me (and I sincerely hope Cem is a guy...it'd be so embarrassing if Cem was a girl). He interacts wonderfully with Jag, just the kind of little brother everyone would want. Shawnkyr is great. You show how attached she is to her friend but she's still so Chiss. I like how she refers to Jag at times as "human." And she's not apologetic about thinking she's superior to him. It's what keeps her from becoming OOC. Jag is wonderful here too. He's so lost and lonely. His girlfriend has become a bug, and he has the hots for his friend who is gonna marry someone else. Sigh. You always did like giving him a hard time. I even like Athan. YOu've got to be the only person I know who has made an OC out of a Chiss character that's actually likeable. Poor guy. On one hand I want him to get shafted by Shawnkyr, but then I want him to get the girl as well. Alright. I think that's it for now. Just try to give me some fluff. That's all I ask.
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