Time.
Space.
Reality.
The unenlightened believe each of these to be separate and unchanging, a single linear path that all must follow. Those who walk in harmony with the Cosmic Force, however, see them for what they are - interchangeable aspects of the Living Force, a prism of endless possibility where a single choice can branch out into infinite destinies. The unenlightened will ask which of these destinies is true? Which will come to pass? But those who walk in harmony with the Cosmic Force will understand.
All of them are true.
All of them will come to pass.
All are united, in the Cosmic Force.
"You wanna get in on the pool?"
Two men sat at a small table, idly watching a bank of monitors. The speaker, a tall, pale human in a gray jumpsuit, slouched in his chair with an air of boredom. His companion, a leathery Gungan, looked up from the blaster he was servicing. "What pool?"
"How long it'll take the Jedi to escape and kill us all."
The Gungan glanced at the lone figure on the monitor screens, then turned back to his weapon. "Miss Linora thinks we can hold him. How do we collect if we die?"
A shrug. "Nah. It's the satisfaction of knowing you were right, really. You know, before you die."
The Gungan snorted, then made a few adjustments with a wrench. "Right. And if he doesn't and none of us win?"
"Then, in a month, we use the money to bring a few girls in and we have ourselves a party." The human chuckled. "That way, everyone wins."
The Gungan chuckled as well. "Right. I'm in, then. Twenty-two days open?"
"Ooh, optimistic!" the human laughed, checking his data slate. "And yeah, it is. I'll put you down."
Suspended in his restraints, Quentin was sweating profusely. Not out of fear or discomfort, although the restraints certainly weren't comfortable, but because he had drawn on the Force to accelerate his metabolism. All of the various drugs he was purging had to go somewhere, after all, and not everything could be exhaled.
Linora had clearly had a hand in designing this cell, because it was clearly designed to restrain a Jedi. Suspension restraints that held him spread-eagled and which injected a chemical cocktail to muddy his thinking. Randomly strobing lights to keep him disoriented. Oh, and the occasional electric shock, just to convulse his muscles and keep things interesting. Very clever work.
He figured he'd be out in another half hour. But then, he wasn't the typical Jedi.
Muscles still twitching from the latest shock, Quentin concentrated his perceptions on the restraint engulfing his right hand and wrist. Matter was nothing but fields of interlocking forces, after all. Once you had the knack, it was as easy to look within an object as upon it. The Miraluka had mastered this secret tens of thousands of years ago, and had taught it to the Jedi. Slowly, he began to understand the structure of the restraint.
Then he heard the door open. Waves of fear washed across his skin, followed by two familiar presences. One like dark flame, burning by freezing. The other seething rage, armoring a core of despair. With a sigh he opened his eyes, taking in the forms of Linora and Kaydia. Both were guarding their thoughts, but it was clear from their body language that this wasn't a rescue. He composed his thoughts, submerging his distress at seeing the woman he loved standing with the woman who he had loved.
"I hope you'll forgive my poor manners," he said, forcing a wry smile. "I pride myself on my manners, but... well, I'm a little tied up right now."<|im_end|>
Quentin deserves this.
Kaydia had to repeat the mantra to herself, again and again, hardening herself against the love that lingered in her heart. Instead, she rubbed her wrists, wrists that still chaffed from her ordeals with the pirates who had had
Rage flared in Kaydia, making it easier to ignore Quentin's distress. He let them hurt me. He deserves this.
Linora, on the other hand, smirked. "I would have considered rude if you weren't tied up right now." With a faint clink, she opened a locked cabinet on the far side of the cell. A plethora of implements awaited within, tools of torture as well as drugs and even first aid. After all, torment was far more effective so long as your target didn't bleed out or die of an infection. Linora selected a needle and a small milky vial that needed no label.
"Not Inertia," Kaydia protested, despite the way her body craved another hit. "It's not going to work on him."
Linora put the needle down, "What are you thinking, then?"
"That you catch more flies with honey," Kaydia dipped one finger into the jar, creating sticky currents. Maintaining eye contact with Linora, she sucked her finger clean, and pulled the brunette into a hungry kiss. Lips and tongues met and dueled, fighting for every last drop in each other's mouths. Kaydia tightened her fist in Linora's hair, bending her back so Kaydia could feast on her throat and chest. After the lavender sweetness of the honey, the salty sweat of her skin was divine.
Linora moaned, and met Quentin's eyes. "You want to join us, don't you Quentin?" Kaydia opened her blouse to the waist, cupping her perky, soft breasts. Her own harden in turned, empathic feedback reflecting Linora's sensations back to her. "You could join us. It would be so easy."
Kaydia bit Linora there, leaving a red mark on her fair skin. She didn't want Quentin to come along easy. It wasn't easy for her, after all. Why should he get off without any struggle?
"He's not going to," she rasped, collecting another dollop of honey. "He's far too good of Jedi for all that." Smearing amber fluid over her lips, she met his eyes for the first time since entering his cell.
He never loved you, he only pretended. He would have protected you, if he truly loved you.
Kaydia silenced his protests with her lips, forcing her sweetened tongue into his mouth. Her nails dug into his shoulders as the kiss deepened, hating how much she loved this. How much she still loved him, even after everything. He was supposed to be her way out, her happily ever after. Now? He was just another man who'd used her. Who abandoned her after she was no longer useful. She would still be there now, if it wasn't for Linora. Fuck that, and fuck him. He'd know what he'd abandoned her to, once they were done.
He'd know.<|im_end|>