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I feel the sting as Chorion lashes out, striking anyone he chooses. I have felt this sting many times in the past. Somehow, I believe the Sith that brought me here paid him, somehow, to cause me pain and torture. I wouldn't reveal the crystal's location, or where she'd gone. Or how, I didn't say. I promised.
I feel another sting. The people around me cower. I pretend to do so as well, although though the pain is inconsequential to the pain others would have suffered.
"Shift's up."
I stand, my backbones cracking and popping. Leaning over or crouching for twelve hours can do a number on your back. The prisoners around me have been here for years and are cowed by Chorion. I've met a Genuine, No-Holds-Barred Sith, and this guy's a piece of Ryhskate compared to her.
But then, someone who's married and life-bonded to a Sailor Jedi shouldn't be afraid of too much. Sorta lets 'em down, if you don't measure up, I guess.
The next work crew passes us as we head toward the surface. They all appear the same as us: tired, worn-out, shocked. They don't care anymore. If I didn't have my own worries and the knowledge I have, I'd probably be the same.
Although I sometimes admit to myself that if I'm going to be here for the rest of Time, I'd rather Nelanhi had transported us both, and not had agelessness.
I step into the blinding lights as hands belonging to arms I cannot see search me for anything I might have kept. They don't want us escaping. Who knows, it might even promote dissent in the prisoners. Whoa... mindboggling.
I stifle a smile as I think of what Nom would have said in response to that thought. She'd most likely says something to the effect of how no prison could prevent such escapes, and that the odds were slim, but not impossible, to escape.
But then, she's got the Force. I don't. Of course now, Nom would escape without using the Force just to prove she could.
"Let 'em go. 'E's not carryin' nothing."
I get back in my coverall as I walk down the cramped corridor that leads to the mess. On the walls of the mess, there's faded, ancient holoposters of wanted smugglers, mercenaries, and space pirates. My eyes flit over them. Someone said that the Hawkbat's on there somewhere. I'm not really looking for anyone when a familiar face pops out and slaps me, saying, "Hi there! Recognize me?"
I take the goop I was given and start eating it. Fortunately, I'm sitting next to the poster.
It's Nom.
Or as the poster says, it's Nemo De'Gen, wanted for hijacking a convoy of ships heading for Disaster Relief from Alderaan to some troubled planet. The name's not quite right, but then, the description's not right either. Height 1.5 metres (way off!), black hair (close enough...), humanoid with dark eyes. It doesn't mention the metallic device covering most of the left side of her face. But then, I've never seen it, so it could be poetic license. I finish the goop and look closer. Under all of this mostly-incorrect information, I notice this little sentence under "Alias and Affiliations" - "Known as the Mechanic with the Black Sidhe."
I whistle softly. Dang... I married the Mechanic! I think about it a moment, then realize it doesn't really suprise me.
I look hard at the issue date. Who's Chancellor Valorum? And Alderaan's been gone for... Sith... at least five years. Why is this thing still up?
Hell, there hasn't been a Republic for... at least not in my lifetime. Maybe Nom's... definitely Nom's.
Much later that night, while the other prisoners sleep, I recollect. I've been here... I guess about two years. Maybe a little more, but not much. But I can remember Nom perfectly.
When I first met her, she'd captured me... as some sort of slave mate. I wasn't too pleased. I managed to knock her out, but I couldn't leave her. I didn't then, and still don't know why I did, but I took her with me. She was ticked, to put it mildly, but she didn't really have anytime to beat me or anything. Someone started shooting at us. That was a good thing and a bad thing. Good thing was that it distracted Nom so I didn't die right then and there, and bad thing was it damaged the ship.
We landed on Ithor, and Nom almost killed me.
I stare up at the ceiling. Every time, without fail, when I was doing something, I found myself sneaking looks. It was strange... why was I in love with someone who'd be perfectly happy to sell me as a slave?
Fortunately, she'd mellowed a bit by the last night on Ithor. She asked about me, and I said something about my mother. I suprised myself by telling the truth. I didn't realize what I'd done until I couldn't take it back. Nom just somehow made people tell the truth...
She seemed to sympathize. She showed me her back, and it was seriously scarred. Several tattoos, as well. Nom told me the scars were from her mother.
I seriously found myself wanting to take a blaster to her mother. I didn't know why... but I do know. I was in love with Nom.
Although... I will admit, I didn't expect to fall in love with a Sailor Jedi!!
I sigh. One day, the Senshi of Justice will come after me, if I don't come after her first.
But it'd be just like her to show up first, just to show off. But hey, I didn't marry her just for her looks.
