"Now covered in the blood of the arboreal octopi, which all the local predators should recognize the scent of, we should be able to make our way safely to the ship" I tell the Jedi as I take the lead in the right direction, keeping my lightsabre lit without demonstrating any sign of aggression towards her. Realizing finally that I've been thinking of this girl as nothing more than the Jedi, I decide to attempt a mild venture, still keeping my eyes on the trees above us as I proceed, just in case.

"So, Jedi... Considering that I've failed my mission, and you're probably on the run, why not work together for now? It's in both our interest, trust me on that. My mistress... does not take failure as an acceptable result... What is your name?" I finish asking, just as my ship comes into sight through the trees ahead.

"Oh, and call me Wolfe." I add finally as I disengage my lightsabre's blade before making my way into the familiar place that I almost call a second home in my mind now.

Well, considering that I'll be in here for a while, might as well.

"Home sweet home." I say experimentally under my breath. It feels nice.

Noticing I was distracted again, and the Jedi hasn't answered me yet, I glance in her direction, with an expectant look.

I smirked at the comment about being safe covered in the octopi's blood. Surely he knew they were one of the nexu's favourite meals. Maybe he really did have a sense of humour. How... unexpected.

The next time he spoke he gave me a great deal to consider. Seemingly he'd given up on his mission and was now suggesting we join forces. That or he was trying to lull me into a false sense of security. Of course the Togorian were known for their sense of honour, though I had no way of knowing if his the value of his word meant more to him than his loyalty to the Empire.
I weighed the options carefully. Dumping him on a habitable planet with a com-link seemed like a very safe bet... but I'd been on this planet for far too long myself. I had no idea what had become of the galaxy my master and comrades had sworn to protect. There were few who came to this hostile planet that I could have trusted not to turn me over to the empire for whatever bounty they put on the heads of jedi these days. His help, or at the very least the information he had, could be very useful. Vital, even. Master had not returned for me, as he'd promised. I had to accept the possibility he was dead... and that his mission had been left unfulfilled.

I looked up, realizing we'd made it to the ship, and he was looking at me, apparently waiting for my answer.

"My name Aayla Ven. And I'm willing to cooperate... but don't think that means I trust you," I added. Though I doubted he thought I'd give him my trust so easily... we both knew the mission he so casually mentioned was to hunt me down.

I disengaged my own sabre and confidently walked unto the ship. Not wanting to let him think I was intimidated, I calmly walked past him into the ready room. "So, which room is mine?" I asked, eyeing the two rooms on either side of the lift, removing my stained cloak. It had seen better days, but would have to do until I could get a new one. I draped it over my arm and did a visual inspection of my gear without removing it, making sure to casually keep Wolfe in the corner of my eye. Nothing looked damaged, but a thorough cleaning wouldn't go amiss. Thinking of cleaning, I suddenly remembered there were such things as warm showers.

"Do you have a shower on this thing?" I asked, trying not to sound eager.

You've found the ship! Sith Infiltrator will be added to the public profile!
You can now see what the Jedi looks like. See public profile.

That was easier than I thought it was going to be. Suppose I should keep my guard up, if only mentally...

"You get the room on the right, since I already use the other one. I for one am exhausted and wish to rest and recuperate from my injuries. Explore the ship if you wish. The cell opposite your room has been modified for facilities. Explore the other cells... if you're not too timid." I finish, sly grin on my face and over my shoulder as I enter my own room, making sure to give Aayla a good view of all the fun things I missed while I was away.

"If you consume all the hot water, I will not be pleased." I add grimly, finally shutting the door.

I looked into one of the cells. What an... interesting collection. I almost wondered if he actually ever kept prisoners in the cells... but that was actually a rather troubling thought. Perhaps this was his personal ship, then. Rather than wonder if I should be concerned--after all I'd already made my choice--I made a suggestion.

"Well given it will take us almost two days to reach a hyperdrive route, perhaps we should take off now. I'd hate for your poacher friends to show up uninvited," I said casually as I opened the door and inspected "my" room. The room looked comfortable enough. None of the paraphernalia from the cells adorned the walls, at least. I started removing my excess gear, though I left my holster and sabre on. Then, feeling a bit guilty and not really knowing why, I added loud enough that he might here me; "I could heal your injuries, you know."

When the door closes behind me, I finally relax. That is one distractingly attractive Twi'lek. And on top of that, she doesn't seem all that unreasonable at all.

Dammit, look at me, barely able to keep my cool in her presence... and she's a Jedi! If Mistress found out, I wouldn't last long at all... let alone Aayla.

After a moment, I hear her ask something about taking off before the poachers show... They must have hit my head hard, I completely forgot about them. And moments later, I hear her offer to heal me...

Mistress will not find out.

Collecting my flustered thoughts, I step back out of my room and towards hers, until I remember the shower she mentioned. Then my thoughts fall apart again, flooded with memories of past experiences... So used to my own ship, my hand moves automatically towards the access panel to her room as I attempt to recollect my composure, my mouth starting the sentence "We shouldn't leave those poachers.." And apart fall my thoughts again at the stunning sight of Aayla undressing for her shower...

~At this point, Wolfe fails to continue thought.~

It was a relief to take my protective gear off. Placing it with my other gear on the floor by the bed, I felt like I could breath easily for the first time in months. An odd thought to have, given the owner of the ship that would be my rescue... and the allegiances of it's owner.

Wolfe started to say something about the poachers as the door to the room opened. I looks up sharply, having expected a knock.

Wolfe's sentence trailed off abruptly, and I recognized a look I'd seen often as a slave. Apparently the Togorian were just as fascinated with my race as any others. I was unable to prevent a small smirk from twisting my lips. He was rather clumsy for a Sith, letting his guard down so easily.

"I realize this is your ship, Wolfe, it would be lovely if next time you could knock," I said patiently.

"And... what were you saying?" I prompted, reminding him he'd been speaking. "And where are you hurt?" I added, remembering why he was even here. I looked at him properly. In the doorway he seemed even larger than he'd been in the cell. The small space emphasized his imposing stature. He didn't seem seriously injured... in fact he seemed rather fit. Not bad... if you like your men with fur, I observed, idly wondering what a Togorian's fur actually felt like. Tsk, focus Aayla. He's a Sith.

"Right, poachers" I fumbled out as I glanced away from the pretty Twi'lek.

"They saw us. They can't be allowed to leave this planet. We will lose much opportunity for discretion if they decide to do something stupid like try and sell their information."

Smooth, Wolfe.

"You mentioned healing?" I added, finally remembering. Damn my head hurts...

"I will knock next time."

"Absolutely not." I said, a bit sharply. "We're not killing them OR stranding them on this planet." This was what I expected from the Sith--violence without remorse. Though he had a point. I should have thought to try and alter the poacher's memories while I was there. Master would not have forgotten such an important thing.

"But there's something else I could try," I admitted with a sigh. It wasn't a skill I had trained greatly, but it was worth a try. Failing that, a lightsabre and some quality time with the communications could buy me the time I needed.

"Show me where you're hurt," I said in reply to his question.

"My head. They knocked me out as I was... distracted. And we don't necessarily have to kill them." I say, moving forward and offering my still bound wrists to her first. Pieces of a fun plan fall into place in my mind as I speak, still noticeably slow. Thrice damned poachers...

"I have this blindfold." Offering the carefully retrieved item forward. "My hands free for my eyes covered. At least while we're on the ship. Off the ship, I will allow you to rebind my wrists. On my honor, only you can remove this blindfold. I will allow nobody else, not even myself, to do so."

Sitting now, with all the words I want now finally in mind, I continue "I imagine we could fool them into believing their information is meaningless. Take me to them bound and apparently obedient, claim that we are nothing worth remembering. Maybe push their minds in the right direction. With luck, they won't give our story a second thought, and never tell anyone about their encounter here."

I almost gaped at his offer. Did he know his own ship so well he didn't need to actually see to get around? The whole offer was a bit strange. Only I would be able to remove the blindfold? How exactly did he intent to prevent others from removing it? Or more importantly, why make such an offer at all? Surely he realized that I had no reason to keep his hands bound if we were cooperating? Or was this his idea of apologizing for the open staring from before. Though he'd picked the blindfold up much earlier... was this part of some long-term plan?
It might be funny to see him manage without his sight for a while, I mused, but perhaps not practical. "That doesn't seem like a good plan. What if your... mistress calls to check in on your progress?"

I fished out the key to his shackles and offered them to him while he considered the question. I went to inspect the back of his head. I saw what might have been traces of blood--but it was hard to tell with such dark fur. Detecting my own hesitancy to touch him I scolded myself again mentally. Pushing down the thoughts clouding my mind I pretended he was any other patient and gently, but firmly, probed under his fur--which was surprisingly soft--searching for the offending injury. I located the offending bump.

"This will take 10-15 minutes," I admitted. This skill was once I had only recently begun to master. I slowed my breathing and concentrated, pushing energy towards the wound. Had I truly thought of him as an enemy this wouldn't have worked at all.

"Thank you" I say, taking the keys and unbinding the shackles from each other. The shackles stay? Nice.

"Well, if she called, you would remove the blindfold and hide yourself before I answered, and it wouldn't have to be all the time. I would be lying if I said the offer was only for your consideration, though your comfort was in mind." I add, looking at the rejected blindfold in my hands.

Maybe next time...

"I distinctly remember you telling me you did not trust me, and thought this might ease your worry a bit."

Her hands feel nice back there... besides the bump, but still. I think to myself, settling into the sitting position more comfortably.

If she called I would remove the blindfold. It was strange for me to see someone offering to give up control. I'd been spent too long dreaming of nothing but having the power to make those choices for myself. Long enough to grown sick of being the dancing doll, dressed for my master's entertainment. I knew what it felt like to not even be able to choose the shoes you wore. To let another person decide when you could see? The concept was foreign to me.

And yet he seemed genuinely disappointed, and for some reason I felt a bit guilty. It wasn't as if it would inconvenience me.

"And if not just for my consideration, then why?"

Why does it seem like you've already decided to trust me? I wondered, without speaking the words. It made no sense. Had I not been forced to concentrate on the healing I might have tried to skim him mind. Perhaps later, when his attention was elsewhere.

"Heh. For my own fun, of course. You're a Jedi, it's not like you'll blindfold me and lop my head off. Giving you control, feeling that you won't betray my trust, that is a good feeling."

If she had to ask, I guess I should explain a bit more...

"I've been forced to give control away to others against my will for a long time, forced to... enjoy it. Giving that control willingly... feels good."

Even her hands sitting still feels good... what is this Jedi? Why am I complaining?

~Wolfe begins to purr gently without noticing, totally lost in thought~

He has a point. You wouldn't kill him... not if he were at your mercy, I thought. Though of course this could all be part of a plan... Though I had to admit that thus far I'd seen little evidence that he was someone who planned very far ahead. He had gotten caught by poachers after all. Surrendering control feeling good? Unlikely. But to each his own, I supposed.

"I see your point. I suppose it couldn't hurt... I certainly wouldn't feel less comfortable. I'll be done soon," I added. This was going quicker than I'd thought.

I didn't try about his past. I wasn't sure I was ready to feel pity for him. I certainly needed none of his for myself. Though if this is what had led him to the Dark Side... did that mean he could be redeemed? He certainly didn't seem to be the evil servant of the Empire I'd anticipated. He was nothing like what my Master had told me about.

I certainly hadn't expected a servant of darkness to start purring like a house cat. A small laugh escaped me as the image of this giant cat-man lying on his back begging for a belly rub like some kind of giant house cat jumped to mind.

Hearing her giggle snapped me out of my peaceful daze, making me notice the purring for the first time.

Does this really have to stop? I moan internally. I was really enjoying that, haven't purred since...

The thought stops there. No need to spoil this moment for myself.

Relaxing into her hands a bit, I say "So. What brought you here anyway? You haven't mentioned it yet, so if there's a reason for that, don't mind my curiosity."

"You mean other than the fact that you and your Masters are hunting down and eradicating all the Jedi in the galaxy?" I asked, bemused. Anger was not the Jedi way, so I had thrown what anger I had into ensuring my survival. The planet wasn't so bad, once you knew it's rhythm. But this part of the world was cold. I wouldn't miss that.

"When the warning came my master and I were already in the outer rim, well away from the Jedi Temple. My master was entrusted with a final mission of great importance, but he couldn't bring me with him."

After a moment, quietly and almost to myself I said; "He was supposed to come back."

I banished the thought. I hadn't thought about my Master's failure to return in many moons. I think deep down I knew that I could have left sooner--bought passage on some smuggler's ship. No one would have known me for a Jedi. But I hadn't left. I'd waited.

It seemed like the healing was done. I gently but firmly probed the area the injury had been, taking this last opportunity to admire the softness of his fur. "How does that feel?"

"That actually feels wonderful." Purring again... "I'm sorry. About the empire. I wasn't always..." Purring stops.

Why can't I tell her my past, she deserves to know... why must it hurt so much...

Straightening up, all relaxation gone from my mind, I start to get up.

"Anyway, we really do need to do something about the poachers. Can we at least wipe their memories of you? That way if word gets out, it was just a clumsy Sith apprentice who got captured, and then escaped on his own. Much less conspicuous."

Now standing facing out of her room, I await her response.

He really was just like a big cat, I thought. At least with the purring. When he stood I corrected myself. He was a really big cat.

"That was my thought," I replied. "Given the time and the native fauna, they may very well still be at their ship," I said, picking up my light armour again. The shower would have to wait. It seemed unlikely they'd brave the woods at night. But come morning... No, best to deal with them now. I almost suggested I should go back to their ship alone... but then remembered he might just leave me. We'd have to go together.

"This is an infiltrator, yes? Quiet? We could move closer and save ourselves a track back through the woods," I suggested. "Unless you'd like to meet the nexu? They're very friendly. Big, toothy smiles. Stringy tasting, too," I added with a light tone so he'd now I was joking.

"I'll bring the ship close to their clearing but out of their sight. Since we're doing this your way, and not just killing them, you can take it from there when we arrive. And you probably have time for a shower, still."

Pausing for a moment before fully leaving her room, I think for a moment before simply adding "Thank you, Aayla." before heading in to the lift to prime the ship for launch.

She... doesn't hurt at all...

~If Aayla had been within proximity of the giant Togorian, she would have heard again the unmistakable sound of him purring, as his thoughts wandered back to the feeling of her hands on his fur. Not that he noticed the purring himself, so focused was he on unlocking the controls of the ship, and on his thoughts of the showering Twi'lek bellow.~

After Wolfe left, I sighed. A shower was a good idea. Warm water sounded nice too. I grabbed my Jedi robes, which I'd stopped wearing soon after arriving on the planet in favour of the more survival friendly gear I'd acquired. I decided to make the shower a quick one--no point lingering when there was work to do. The water was, of course, heavenly. I'd missed hot water so much!

Ten minutes later I inspected my appearance, unable to help myself grinning. Ah, to be wearing my robes again! I knew some of my kind who had found their way into the order favoured a different style more similar to that of the traditional dress of out home world... but I had little reason to honour a place that had sold me away. So I had adopted a look more traditional Jedi outfit similar to my Master's.

Without the gloves, I could see the tattoo on the back of my hand. I'd been glad not to see it, while I was here. I rubbed it absentmindedly, then stopped myself. Time to check on our progress. I left everything but my sabre in the room--that my Master had taught me to keep with me always. I took the lift up to the deck.

"How are we doing?" I asked as I looked around.