Before - Legends Loch's Luck--Finis!!--author replies

?Loch,? Kyrie shifted her bag from one shoulder to the other and knocked on the old metallic door to his apartment. ?Loch! Let me in.? She fished her key card out of her jacket pocket and slid it into the panel. A moment later a green light flashed and the door slid open.

Kyrie stepped in, set her bag down and stopped dead. Loch?s apartment looked like a battle zone. His dining room table was turned on its side; a metal chair had been thrown forcibly into one of the old-fashioned plaster walls. Papers and Sabacc cards littered the floor. His holovid unit bore a smoking hole through its console.

She paused, blue eyes wide as her mind raced through various explanations. The first scenario that she thought of involved loan sharks and some new gambling debt he?d gotten himself into.

?Loch,? she called again, stepping forward. And then she saw it. In the corner of the room, almost obscured by the overturned table, a palm sized holo message was playing. She picked it up and watched the serious visage of a Corellian officer speak succinctly and clearly-- ?? we regret to inform you as next-of-kin that Nera Thrindarr died yesterday at 3:20 standard time when transport #36887 crashed on course to Coruscant.? The message began to repeat and she switched it off.

?Loch!? Kyrie stepped over some wreckage and peered in his bedroom. She felt a surge of relief when she saw his form lying diagonally across his bed. Her first impression was that he was sleeping, but he shifted slightly at her call.
?Go away,? his voice sounded gruffer than usual.

?Lochlann,? Kyrie?s expression grew tender. ?Are you all right??

?Please leave me alone.?

She remained silent as she took in the empty liquor bottles strewn about the floor. For a moment, she considered listening to his request and leaving him to his own devices- - no matter how self-destructive they might be.

Her relationship with Loch was casual. She stopped by whenever her transport landed back on Corellia and she was afforded the opportunity to skip work for a few days. Thus far, the situation worked quite well and neither of them had seen a reason to change it.

Until now, their relationship had been based on one thing, pleasure. Kyrie found Loch an attractive, witty companion who never demanded too much of her, never took too much. He was fun to be with. Her eyes settled back on his well-built figure sprawled across the bed. A lot of fun.

Something in the back of her mind warned her not to leave him. ?When was the last time you ate anything??

Loch finally cracked an eye open and looked fuzzily at her. His jaw was darkened with stubble and his hair was rumpled.

?I?m serious. This place is littered with wine bottles but I don?t see any food remnants anywhere. When was the last time you ate something??

?I don?t know. What day is it??

?It?s the day I?m going to kick your ass if you don?t get up and get in the ?fresher.?
Loch groaned. ?Kyrie, leave me alone.?

She clenched her fists at her sides. ?Why are you acting like a nerf?s ass??

He looked away.

?Force, Loch, you smell like a brewery.?

?Nera?s dead.? His voice was flat, expressionless.
?I know.?

He looked at her and furrowed his brow in puzzlement.

?You left the holo message running in the other room.?

For a moment his bravado broke and she saw a wave of anguish pass over his handsome features. She blinked and it was gone ? replaced with the unreadable Sabacc face he was so adept at. He was holding himself together for her sake and barely succeeding.

?Come on.? She tugged on his arm. ?Get up, get in the fresher and I?ll fix something to eat.?

Loch sat up with a groan and clenched his head. He swore under his breath. Kyrie rolled her eyes and helped him stand. She ushered him in to the fresher and left him there while she hunted for something to eat.

 

"Loch's Luck", eh? Is that kind of like the luck of the Irish?

Poor guy. Life really dealt him a bad hand.

PM list, please!

 

Please put me on the PM list, this looks too good to miss!

 

Pasta was the only thing she found that wasn?t past the expiration date or turning green. Loch had been in the fresher so long that she was beginning to fear that he?d drowned, when he emerged damp, but dressed and shaved. He looked unsteady on his feet until he sat down at the table that Kyrie had righted. He grimaced when he noticed the gaping hole in the wall where one of the chairs had been. ?There goes my security deposit.?

She set a plate of spiral noodles in front of him and sat down. He picked up his fork and pushed the food around his plate like a recalcitrant 6 year old. He was silent a moment and then he locked gazes with her. His hazel eyes were sad. ?What am I gonna do without her??

Kyrie shook her head. ?I don?t know. Why don?t you just concentrate on getting through the day right now? We?ll answer the big questions later.?

?Damn it!? He slammed his fist on the table in a sudden spurt of anger and knocked over the chair as he stood. ?She wasn?t supposed to die, Kyrie! She never did anything wrong in her life! I?ve known Jedi with less moral fiber.? He kicked the wall with a booted foot and ran a hand through his dark hair. ?Life handed Nera nothing but crap and she gave it back nothing but good! And now... now... ?he paused, took a gulp of air. ?Aw, it should have been me on that transport.?

?Loch!?

?I?ve asked for it so many times, I?? he paused. ?Kyrie, leave.?

?No.? She leaned forward in her chair challengingly.

?I don?t need you, right now.?

?You can be act like the back end of a Bantha all you want, I?m not going.?

A surge of mute frustration passed over Loch?s rugged features, it quickly dissolved into despair and he turned away from her, leaned his forehead against the smooth, cold wall.

Kyrie stood up and wordlessly wrapped her arms around him. He stiffened at first and then melted into her embrace, burying his head in her golden hair. A half-repressed sob escaped him and Kyrie kissed the side of his neck. ?I?m not going to leave you alone.?

?I am alone,? he whispered too softly for her to hear.

 

Whoa, that last line was a killer. It really cinched up the despair and loneliness he's feeling without his sister. An amazing update. Very heart-wrenching.

 

Kyrie stood up and wordlessly wrapped her arms around him. He stiffened at first and then melted into her embrace, burying his head in her golden hair. A half-repressed sob escaped him and Kyrie kissed the side of his neck. ?I?m not going to leave you alone.?

?I am alone,? he whispered too softly for her to hear.

Break my heart why don't you??

Wonderful update!

 

Loch stared out the viewscreen of his cabin on the Gallofree Transport, King?s Jewel. The stars shone starkly against the empty vacuum of space.

Kyrie stopped primping her hair a moment and watched him. ?Take me out tonight,? she suggested, adjusting an errant hair pin.

Loch ignored her a moment. ?How did I let you talk me into this??

?Oh, come on, Loch. You could use some R&R. Most people would love to be on a pleasure cruise to Alderaan.?
?That?s because they didn?t work on one for two years.?

?I still work on one. I still love it.? Kyrie approached his spot on the bed and leaned down to smile at him. ?I only have one show a night, then I?m free to do whatever we want.?

Loch looked at her without really seeing her. She frowned, understanding that it might be a long three weeks with him. His mood had not lifted being at his old place of work, nor did he seem inclined to take advantage of the food and fun to be found on a pleasure cruise ship. He?d slept almost continuously in the two days they?d been aboard.

?Honey, I?m really tired.?

Kyrie put on her best pout and toyed with the collar of his shirt. ?Oh, come on, Lochlann. Please??

Slowly he smiled, despite himself. ?You can?t get your way every time you use that tone with me, Kyrie.?

?I can?t?? she asked, the picture of doe-eyed innocence.

?No, but we?ll see how I feel later.? He kissed her once and lay back against the bed.

Kyrie smiled and strode to the door. ?I?ll see you later.? She noted with disappointment that his face had already sunken back into an expression of sorrow.

Loch showered and shaved then headed off to familiar territory: the casino.

The ship hadn?t changed much in his absence, and when he stepped into the large gambling room, everything was just as gaudy as he?d remembered it ? all deep reds and greens, filled with clueless tourists who?d lose everything they put down, except for some lucky sentient who would invariably win at the slot machines.

He stepped o the counter to get some chips when a loud voice rang across the room. ?My prayers have been answered! Look who?s back; Loch Thrindarr.?

Loch turned and smiled at a middle-aged twilek female. She was all womanly curves in a low cut black dress that showcased her best assets. She approached him slowly and put a hand on his arm. ?Hey honey, how are you??

Loch kissed her cheek. ?I?m okay, Sola,? he lied. He leaned casually back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. Sola?s eyes traveled up and down his figure once and she smiled wickedly, revealing two pointed incisors. ?Please tell me you?ve had a change of heart and are going back to your old piloting job.?

?Nope, sorry, just here for some R & R.?

?R & R?? she asked curiously.

?With Kyrie.?

?Are you still with her?? Sola ran a hand along one of her head tails.

?We keep it casual.?

?Mmm,? Sola traced a finger along Loch?s jaw line. ?We could keep it casual too.?

He seized her hand, pulled it away from him and gave it a kiss. ?I think you?d kill me with your intensity, darling.?

She laughed. ?I?m telling you Loch, one night with a real woman and you?ll never go back to those skinny blonde chicks.?

?If I ever decide to go interspecial, you know that you?re the first one I?d call.?

?What about me?? came a second voice.

Loch turned and gave the fallen female beside him a hug. ?Hey, Raas.? Inside, his heart sank. He really just wanted a quiet game of cards, but everyone here knew him. He couldn?t think of a quick comeback line for her playful advance.

For the first time, Loch found himself rethinking his policy of flirting indiscriminately with female sentients.
Usually, he fed off the attention, but now keeping up the façade felt draining? and false in a way it never had before. Not that his playful verbal sparring had ever been in earnest- well, except with attractive human females ? but it had been more of a game. One of wit and repartee, walking on a ver

 

What wonderful OCs you've got here!

Loved this:

For the first time, Loch found himself rethinking his policy of flirting indiscriminately with female sentients.

Yeah, it might be time for a new policy!

Great update.

 

Loch headed down the huge walkway and peered into the restaurant he?d stopped at. After a cursory glance, he saw that the place was dark and quietly elegant, and most importantly he didn?t recognize anyone there. He could not socialize at the moment. He needed to be alone.

Loch found himself the most isolated, dimly lit booth in the place where he could sit and nurse his Corellian whiskey. From his dark corner he watched everyone else?s chatter and allowed himself to dwell on some painful ruminations of Nera... times he?d disappointed her, ways he?d let her down. All the ways he didn?t deserve to have her as his sister. How the one person who truly knew him was gone... and he knew no one could ever really know him again. It was a lonely thought.

He felt himself start to slide deeper into the abyss of emptiness that he?d fought to keep at bay since he was a child. Most of the time, he found that he could, although he sometimes couldn?t resist poking a foot in, or leaning over the crevice and looking down. Some part of him knew this was dangerous and never let him go in too far, but since Nera?s death he?d felt himself being swallowed by a fresh despair that the abyss fed off of. He wondered if he?d ever really manage to pull himself out of it again.

He was so deep inside himself that he didn?t notice the old Twi?lek until she sat down across from him. Loch snapped to attention and groaned.

Her blue head tails were obscured by a rich purple hood that trailed into a long velvet cape. She held a deck of cards in her hands, the fingers of which were adorned with gaudy rings. ?I can tell you your future for ten credits.?

Loch narrowed his eyes and stared into his whiskey glass. ?How about I give you ten credits just to leave me alone??

?You don?t mean that.?

?Oh no. I do. I really do,? he replied acidly, still averting his gaze and vainly hoping that if he didn?t acknowledge her she?d go harass some tourists.

?May I see your hand??

He finally met her gaze. ?Why??

?Hands are a roadmap of your life, young one.?

Loch glared at her a moment and then thrust a hand at her. She took it gently and stared at it for the space of several moments.

?Pilot?s hands,? she said softly.

Loch drew it away. ?Wow. So impressed.? He fished ten credits out of his jacket pocket and fairly threw it at her. ?Here. You?ve earned it.?

She left it lying on the table and continued to gaze at him. ?Recently you?ve suffered a great loss.?

Loch stiffened. The line of his jaw tightened. He closed his eyes. The Twi?lek studied his reaction quietly. ?The
wounds are still fresh... they will be for sometime. We all have our scars to bear.?

Loch looked at her. ?Yours are just a bit deeper than others, my young Corellian,? she said.

He took a sip of his whiskey and ignored her.

Gently, she reached out and pried one of his hands off the half-empty glass. He relented and watched her warily.

She studied it again, lightly tracing her way across each of his fingers with her own. He had nicely proportioned hands, almost aristocratic, if it weren?t for the calluses and scars laced across them.

The Twi?lek looked up. ?What sign were you born under??

Loch hesitated. ?The scorpion?

?Ah.? She nodded to herself knowingly. ?Your tongue is your stinger, your first line of defense. If someone edges in too close, gets under your armour, you parry them with sarcasm, well-aimed quips, sharp words because if they know you too well; see you up close, they?ll realize there is no poison in your tail. You?re just a little insect fighting for space.?

?Insect,? Loch repeated. ?Right. Thanks, I?ll remember that.?

She smiled and studied the warm hand she still had clasped in hers. ?I see much travel ? and a strange destiny that unfolds for you if you follow the right path.

?Your life is entwined with Cereans for some reason, even though you, my dear, are all human. With human foibles and human trials.

?I see you as a savior of Cereans. A champion for their plight.?

L

 

Wow! Wonderful collection of OCs!

Put me on the PM list for this one too, please?

 

Lovely update!

?Ah.? She nodded to herself knowingly. ?Your tongue is your stinger, your first line of defense. If someone edges in too close, gets under your armour, you parry them with sarcasm, well-aimed quips, sharp words because if they know you too well; see you up close, they?ll realize there is no poison in your tail. You?re just a little insect fighting for space.?

Wonderful description, and then the comeback at the end was priceless!

 

Nera?s eyes were alight with laughter as she watched Loch tell about the time he?d stolen one of their foster parents? landspeeders and taken it for a highly illegal jaunt through the Corellian countryside before being discovered by Das Kordren ? their foster father ? and duly punished.

Loch was in rare form. Kyrie had never seen him so animated and vivacious. He was holding court among their friends like a holovid star, entertaining everyone with ribald jokes and slightly exaggerated tales of past exploits. She realized then that he was a different person with his sister around.

He had one arm slung over the back of the booth and the other casually around Nera?s shoulders. Her eyes were greener than Loch?s, her skin paler, her hair lighter ? but there was something about their smiles that was pure Thrindarr and Kyrie would have known they were siblings even if no one had told her.

She?d been spending a lot of time with Loch and so Kyrie was eager to meet the Nera she?d heard countless tales of. As soon as she saw them together, Kyrie understood why no woman had won Lochlann Thrindarr?s heart ? it was given to his sister with an adoration built upon years of struggle together, years of being the only one that each could really depend on. No other woman could compete with that, no matter how sexy and blonde.

Luckily, Kyrie wasn?t in a relationship with Loch to win his heart ? her aims were on other more aesthetically pleasing body parts. So she wasn?t threatened by their closeness, merely intrigued by it.

Loch seemed to sense that she was studying him; he turned his head to look at her and pulled her close with his free arm. The U-shaped booth seemed to suit him well ? he could have his sister on one side and his lady on the other. ?You okay sweetie?? he asked in a low whisper, his breath warming her ear.

Kyrie smiled. ?Of course.?

He gave her one of those intense looks that made her feel as if she were the only woman in the universe. That was a lie, she knew, but it was a beautiful illusion that became highly addictive very quickly.

Then just as suddenly, his attention had turned away and he was actively listening to the conversation Nera had started.

She was smiling, demonstrating with her hands as she spoke. ?..I?m telling you, Sola. There?s good luck, there?s bad luck and then there?s Loch?s Luck...? she laughed, pushing her hair back from her eyes. ?It?s true. I?m not making it up.?

Loch looked at everyone earnestly. ?Yes she is. She?s been a pathological liar since childhood.?

Nera punched his arm in retaliation. He pretended to be affronted.

?Do you guys see what I?ve had to put up with my whole life?? she asked, a smile playing around the corners of her mouth.

Raas nodded. ?My sympathies are with you dear.?

?So what?s an example of this ?Loch?s Luck??? Sola asked, arching an eyebrow and staring at Loch across the table.

He grinned back and relaxed against the cushiony booth allowing Nera some time in the spotlight.

?Things happen to Loch all the time that don?t happen to normal people.?

Sola looked at Rass. ?He does kind of ask for it you know.?

?Hey,? He furrowed his dark brows. ?I do not.?

?Yes you do,? Nera replied. ?But...? she held up a finger. ?Even if he doesn?t do something reckless and stupid, things find him,? She paused with an enigmatic smile. ?For instance, Loch could be minding his own business on his way to a fruit market on Alderaan and he would just happen to get caught in the crossfire of a blaster fight.?

Kyrie spoke up. ?Let me guess... this actually happened.?

Nera met her gaze. ?Wow, you do know my brother well. I?m impressed.?

Raas looked incredulous. ?You got caught in a firefight on Alderaan? Isn?t that, like, impossible??

Loch laughed. ?Nearly. But there are weapons there ? even though you ain?t supposed to have ?em. However, Nera?s got it wrong. I was passing the fruit market ? I was on my way to the pharmacy.?

Sola blinked. ?So what happened??

? Well, one of them tri

 

He gave her one of those intense looks that made her feel as if she were the only woman in the universe. That was a lie, she knew, but it was a beautiful illusion that became highly addictive very quickly.

Wonderfully worded!

 

Thanks, "Golden!"

Loch's such a flirt!

 

He gave her one of those intense looks that made her feel as if she were the only woman in the universe. That was a lie, she knew, but it was a beautiful illusion that became highly addictive very quickly.

Beautiful!

 

You liked the exact same quote as my other faithful reader, VaderLVR!

Those looks are addictive! I remember a certain Ren Fest performer who used to look at women that way...swoon.

 

I think it would be a much better gift if he always got out unscathed, not "almost" always.

I missed a few updates, but I'm all caught up now. Looking forward to reading more!

 

Kyrie broke away from her reminiscence as the door to her room slid open. The Loch that sat moping in one of the big, over stuffed chairs was as far from the one in her memory as a vrelt from the moon of Kashyyyk.

She couldn?t help but think that he looked destroyed. Utterly destroyed. There was no other word for it. Her heart gave a little flip-flop as she caught his gaze.

?Oh honey, don?t tell me you?ve been sitting here alone all evening?? Kyrie pulled the pins out of her hair and let it fall into a blonde cascade. She approached him slowly.

?No,? he replied. ?I went out for a quick drink.? His voice did not hold the edge of hostility that she?d grown used to over the last several days, just a resigned quietness.

She kissed his cheek. It felt smooth under her lips. He?d recently shaven then. Well, that was progress at least. Kyrie settled into his lap. Loch?s arms went around her.

?How was your show?? he asked.

She shrugged. ?Okay. I mixed up the verses to ?Moonlit Memories? though, and my voice went a little flat on a couple of notes.?

?That?s my girl,? he replied absently. Something about his abrupt change in demeanor unsettled her. On the surface he sounded a little more like the old Loch, but underneath it ran a current of sorrow. His anger was somehow more palatable. Anger always seemed a natural outlet for the fiery intensity that characterized Loch ? that was Loch at his core. But this wasn?t anger ? this was apathy.

Kyrie locked gazes with him. ?What?s wrong?? she asked.

There was a silent pause and then Loch said simply, without a hint of bitterness in his voice, ?My sister died.?

For the first time, Kyrie felt as if she wanted to cry for him. But she didn?t let herself. Loch needed someone else to be strong. If she crumbled, he would too.

?But you didn?t. You?re alive, Lochlann.? She brushed his dark bangs out of his eyes.

?I know,? he choked. ?Being dead couldn?t hurt this much.?

He closed his expressive hazel eyes and sighed brokenly. When he opened them, he leaned in for a kiss. It was a question: soft, hesitant. Kyrie answered him with her hands as she slid them across his shoulders and then around his neck. It was awhile before either of them spoke again.

 

Beautiful! You've got a lovely, lyrical writing style.

Kyrie locked gazes with him. ?What?s wrong?? she asked.

There was a silent pause and then Loch said simply, without a hint of bitterness in his voice, ?My sister died.?

For the first time, Kyrie felt as if she wanted to cry for him. But she didn?t let herself. Loch needed someone else to be strong. If she crumbled, he would too.

?But you didn?t. You?re alive, Lochlann.? She brushed his dark bangs out of his eyes.

?I know,? he choked. ?Being dead couldn?t hurt this much.?

He closed his expressive hazel eyes and sighed brokenly. When he opened them, he leaned in for a kiss. It was a question: soft, hesitant. Kyrie answered him with her hands as she slid them across his shoulders and then around his neck. It was awhile before either of them spoke again.

 

Awwwww... At least he has someone there for him!

 

Vadey--Thank you so much for the compliment!

Golden--Yes at least he's got one person in his corner

 

The next ?day,? Kyrie found Loch willing to take her to dinner and dancing after her performance. She arrived back at the suite to find him waiting for her with an Alderaanian rose.

He was dressed in a black pair of breeches, an open-collar white shirt that was cleaned and pressed, his newly shined spacer?s boots, and an olive vest that caught the color of his eyes. He looked good.

Loch offered her his arm as they strode down the wide maze of hallways to one of the lounges. They were almost there, when someone slammed into Loch?s side so hard that he staggered sideways and nearly knocked Kyrie over. He regained his balance with an indignant exclamation and spun to face whoever had purposefully run into him.

He stopped dead when he saw the quietly angry face of the Devaronian male that towered over him. Shektarr Bimm was
not someone that he had expected to ?run into? literally, or figuratively, during his stay on the ?Kings Jewel.?

Loch put on a nervous smile. ?Hey, Shek.?

?You owe me money, Loch.? There was no hint of a smile on his devilish features.

Loch shrugged. ?Yeah, well, what?s a couple thousand credits among friends??

?I?m not your friend.?

Loch?s manner shifted abruptly. ?That?s a relief. I was thinking to myself that I have to start keepin? better company.?

Shektarr?s red skin darkened a bit. ?Twenty thousand credits, Thrindarr. I want it within 24 standard hours.?

Loch scowled. ?I only owe you ten.?

?Plus interest.? Shektarr replied, showing his fangs slightly. ?...and penalties for skipping out on me six months ago.?

?I can?t come up with that in 24 hours!? Loch shot back, his tone incredulous.

The Devaronian?s black eyes flashed. ?You?d better.? He pushed past Loch and continued down the hall.

Kyrie smacked Loch?s arm. Her pretty face was genuinely concerned. ?Are you crazy talking to Shektarr Bimm that way? What do you owe him money for??

?A loan I took out some time ago.?

She went pale. ?Loch, you didn?t.?

He shrugged. ?I did.?

?Do you know what loan sharks like him do to people who owe them money??

?Yeah,? he replied flippantly. ?I think it involves vibroblades and sensitive parts of the male anatomy.?

Kyrie?s expression didn?t change.

Loch?s rugged features betrayed his exasperation. ?Yes Kyrie. It?s not like I haven?t dealt with these types before.?

He studied her accusing, worried stare and sighed. ?Look honey,? he brushed her cheek tenderly with the back of his hand. ?I?ve had a really bad week. Let?s just go eat and do some dancing and I?ll deal with it tomorrow.?

Kyrie nodded. ?Well, I have always wanted to teach you to waltz.?

Loch hid a smile. ?I might just surprise you, baby.?

He did surprise her. When dinner was through, he led her to the dance floor, pressed her up against the length of him, and took the lead. He led her through a graceful waltz and a fiery corellian tango. He knew all the steps and rhythms, in fact he led with a confidence borne of practice. He moved hypnotically, sexily, with a bit of showman?s charisma...and once again Kyrie was on the receiving end of that fiery Loch intensity that he poured into everything he did, piloting, gambling...lovemaking.

At last, he whirled her to a finish, barely winded.

Kyrie looked up at him. ?Where did you learn to dance like that??

He feigned surprise. ?I always dance with you like that.?

?We?ve danced to Jizz music in clubs. This is different.?

He shrugged, ?I?m just a natural.?

She gave him a flirtatious push. ?You?ve been trained.?

He grinned lopsidedly. ?Yeah I was.?

Kyrie?s blue eyes searched his face a moment. ?Well...? she baited. ?Tell.?

They walked back to their seats and sat down. Loch leaned back in his chair and traced the edge of the table with his finger. ?My Cerean foster parents took me in when I was about thirteen. I wasn?t the happy, well-adjusted guy you see before you now. In fact, I was kind of a pain in the ass.? He paused; let her have time to reply with the inevitable.

?So yo

 

Loved it! You've got great dialogue.

?You owe me money, Loch.? There was no hint of a smile on his devilish features.

Loch shrugged. ?Yeah, well, what?s a couple thousand credits among friends??

?I?m not your friend.?

Loch?s manner shifted abruptly. ?That?s a relief. I was thinking to myself that I have to start keepin? better company.?

 

?Loch, are you implying that you used your charms on the girls in that class?? Kyrie asked, her smile inviting him to turn them on her.

He ducked his head shyly and looked up at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. ?Honey, I learned my charms in that class.?

Scoundrel!

 

Years of experience told Loch who the two men barring his way out of the fresher were before they even said anything. Loch tilted his head to the side. ?You?ve gotta be kidding me.?

?This is no joke, Thrindarr.? The bigger of the men replied, casually revealing to Loch the vibroblade in his hand. He ran his thumb along the handle. ?We have a message from Bimm.?

The Corellian backed up a step. His hand dropped automatically to where his blaster should?ve been and slapped impotently against his thigh. Only then did he remember that he was unarmed. He swore, and that was all he had time to do before a fist rocked his head back with a blow that sent him reeling into the sinks. Loch caught himself on the countertop?s edge and pulled himself to his feet.

?Listen, I don?t have 20,000 credits on me!?

?Unfortunately for you.? The armed man replied. He started towards Loch, his bulk dwarfing the young Corellian.

Loch weaved sideways and attempted to bolt for the door. He elbowed the thug in the ribs as he passed, but the other man tackled him from the side. The unexpected weight threw Loch into a metallic stall door with a resounding thwack.

Loch attempted to throw the assailant off of him, thrashing and kicking like a cornered Ronto. And then he felt the blade of an old-fashioned steel shiv at his throat.

Barbaric, but effective enough to cut his jugular all the same. Loch went still, and a hand tangled in his mussed brown hair and snapped his head back.

Bimm?s associate placed a knee in the small of Lochlann?s back. He suppressed a groan. The knee pressed harder until he involuntary whimpered.

?Bimm wants his money, Thrindarr.?

?I?ll...I?ll get it,? Loch replied, his voice strangled. ?He won?t get any money if you kill me though.?

A hand grabbed his shoulder and hauled him to his feet. The man behind him pinned his arms behind his back.

?Look guys, I?ll get the money, give me a chance!?

The man with the vibroblade shifted it to his left hand and punched Loch solidly in the stomach. The air whooshed out
of his lungs and he found himself gasping and half-gagging. The vibroblade was at his throat again, and then Loch felt the sting of the blade being slowly drawn down across his shoulder.

He gathered breath to cry out for help and received a backhand across the face before he could make a sound. "What did you expect, backing out on Bimm, like that, Thrindarr? Did you think he'd just forget about it?"

Loch struggled frantically but could not break the grip of the person restraining him. He lashed out blindly with a kick and felt his boot connect with his opponent?s shin. The vibroblade dropped to the ground with an ominous clatter as the assassin almost went down on one knee with a gasp.

Loch yelled as loud as he could, praying that someone, anyone in the adjoining room could hear him over the live orchestra. The person behind him twisted his arm until a fiery pain immobilized him. The next few minutes seemed to drag forever as he was beaten until he sagged against his assailant?s grip, little more than a dead weight. Finally, they let Loch fall unceremoniously to the ground. ?Twenty thousand credits in 24 standard hours, or we start getting mean.?

Loch lay against the cold tile floor for several minutes until he crawled to the wall and sat up, leaning against it. He noted dispassionately that his shoulder wound was bleeding profusely and some part of his mind knew he ought to try and stop it, but he couldn?t force his body to make the effort.

A wave of blackness swept over him and he fought to stay conscious. ?I could die,? some traitorous part of his mind whispered. ?I could crawl into a stall and bleed to death, and it would all be over. And I wouldn?t have to go on without Nera.?

Sith, what would she think?

?Nothing, she?s dead.? He answered his own question. Loch gritted his teeth as a wave of pain swept over him.

And then there was an unfamiliar face peering down at him. ?Sir, sir, are you okay??

Loch shook his head and let the blackn