A Fine Line To Cross

[EmilyHuene]

Suddenly everything was happening so fast. Blasters were fired from both sides. Keiyara's hands were free and she saw the perfect opportunity. Having expected something like this to occur, she already knew exactly which way to move. Plus, she had her hands which was half the battle already. She rolled back and lifted her legs up as she did a backwards somersault. Just at the right time a blaster bolt flew by and caught the bindings around her ankles. The blast broke the metal and the resulting kick pushed her the rest of the way around. She continued her motion and did a backwards cartwheel followed by a backhand spring. Lastly, she bounded backwards, spun in the air, and landed the opposite way; she made a mad dash for Vandis' ship.

There was just a single bounty hunter in her way and she quickly disposed of him using her Force speed. Three quick jabs to his ribs, shoulder blade, then jugular, the man fell to his knees grasping for air. She moved past him and jumped over the ramp into the ship. She didn't need to look for directions since she'd scanned the ship while being walked through it. Had then been smart they would have blindfolded her. She was shortly in the cockpit and tore open the man's pack. He wouldn't need it anyone, if he even survived the battle. Keiyara pulled out her sabers and ignited one of the beams just in case someone foolishly came after her. With her other hand she clipped Anthoni's saber to her belt then held her own saber which she'd ignite after leaving the ship.

As she left the cockpit she found one of the mercs who had taken her sabers when they first were captured. He stared at her for a moment, not sure whether to shoot her or not. Their boss had said they were going to let the Jedi go. But Keiyara did not trust bounty hunters. He had taken her sabers. She would return them. With a quick thrust she gave him back her saber, right through his stomach. He gasped for air, then fell to the ground.

"Told ya," she said with a cheery grin. She then headed out toward the ramp where she saw Vandis and his droid behind him. She raised her saber just in case they tried anything funny.

If they would shoot, she'd ignite her beam and deflect their laser bolts. She'd then escape the ship and head into battle.

If Vandis and them travelled past her without incident, she'd still head out into the chaos. She'd killed one of the mercenaries, one had died in battle, and the other three were likely on the ship now. All that was left was Anthoni, who was currently taking cover behind a corpse. With one last look at the mercenaries she said to herself, "Gorram bounty hunters."

Keiyara moved out into the wasteland once more and wasted no time running to Anthoni's rescue. She jumped over and in front of him and began to deflect the lasers with her sabers. Anthoni would see his saber strapped to her hip.

She called to him, laughing with glee in her voice, "Are you goin' to sit there all day?"

As she waited for Anthoni to take his saber back, she would survey the battle ground. Seven of Black's men were still alive. The other three had been shot down already. Once he'd gotten to his feet, Keiyara would give him a single nod and then advanced on the team to their right; Anthoni would take the three to the left, while she got the four on the right. All they had on them were blasters, which would be their downfall. If Black was smart, he would have paid someone who was proficient with an exotic weapon. For the first time, Anthoni would get to see Keiyara in action. He had been powerful when he let his anger rage and flourish back in the hotel, but Keiyara...she was something else. She flew through the battlefield with perfect grace. She was so nimble and flawless in her excecution. Every step and every spin led her closer to her next target.

Keiyara jumped into a spinning leap and landed before one of the guards. He tried to shoot her down, but only a fool would shoot a Jedi so close range. She deflected the first bolt directly back at him and he was dead before he could pull the trigger a second time. She turned to her left and backhanded one of the lasers with her left hand. She then crossed her right arm over her left to deflect the next. With quick succession she began to rotate her arms around. Right swing, left over right, right swing, left over right. Right over left, left swing, right over left. It was a perfect dance.

The blasters bounced in every which direction as Keiyara deflected them. But it only took a few seconds for her to get the right angle and send one right back at them. She took out the second man then did a spin to her left. Her left arm deflected a beam at her head then her right arm came around next and angled his next shot to his chest. Three down; it had only been 20 seconds.

The last guard was a good ten feet from her and raised his rifle to her in one last hope of bringing her down. He fired as quick as his finger could pull the trigger. Keiyara jumped and rotated her body horizontally. She rolled over the first bolt and brought her saber around to block the second. Then, with perfect syncronization, she rebounded the next four in a row as her arms came around: left, right, left, right. WhoostWhoostWhoostWhoost. She landed on her left foot and spun around, her sabers held outward as she paused where she landed. The man, now behind her, fell to the ground with a thud, four deep holes in his chest.

 

[Venk]

Vandis and his droid had made no moves on Keiyara; they had half the credits they were promised, and that was good enough. As Aiden went to the cockpit and began preparations to launch, Vandis stayed back and watched the duo take out the remaining guards. As they finished, Vandis yelled out to them; "Keep the other case of credits, we'll call it even." He then ducked back into his ship and flew off, away from the chaos on the planet below.
"That Keiyara girl sure was somethin'...maybe, in another world, and another time..." Vandis smiled at his thoughts as he counted the credits. He was ready to make a purchase.

 

[Mr.BossMan]

The human shield that Anthoni was using as cover was getting riddled with bullets. Once Keiyara seemingly came out of nowhere it was a pleasant surprise. He looked up as she jumped over him and watched as she deflected there bullets. "Are you goin' to sit there all day?" Anthoni saw his saber on the back of her belt, Pushing the dead corpse off of him he grabbed it.

Rushing to his feet Anthoni looked at Keiyara and they exchanged nod's. Enough communication passed between them with that single gesture, then any words could have said. Anthoni watched for a few seconds as Keiyara fought, she was fast and executed her attacks with precision. Then he charged his three foes. They where lined up in a firing postion. As the first barrage of fire came, Anthni deflected the attacks and sent them back at them. One of them went down with a Thud, Still charging they shot again.

This time Anthoni would go into a roll, completely dodging the shots. While in the role Anthoni swept out his Lightsaber and a thug lost his bottom half. Anthoni heard him scream out in pain as he fell to the ground. Exiting his roll Anthoni came up behind the last opponent, the man tried to hit him with his rifle. Ducking the strike Anthoni then cut the man's weapon in half, Then he kicked at his knee. Anthoni heard the crunch as the mans leg gave way. Sending him down to his knees.

As the man cradled his leg Anthoni scanned his surroundings. All he saw was dead bodies litter the ground. Then he saw Mr.Blacks ship start to leave. Anthoni made eye contact with Black as the hanger door closed. There faces were blank, but the message was clear. Another time. He was grateful for surviving the encounter if not for Keiyara and Vandis then he would have surely died. Anthoni put away his Lightsaber and placed it on his belt. Then he spoke to Keiyara, "Over here he is still alive, maybe he can tell us where Mr.Black is located."

Anthoni then looked down at the defeated man. His face was full of terror, but he said nothing. Anthoni felt Pity for him, he then whispered to the man. "Tell her what she wants and i promise, You will live to see another day." Anthoni would let Keiyara interrogate him. When she got the Information he would tell her of the promise he made the man.

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Over here he is still alive, maybe he can tell us where Mr.Black is located."

Keiyara would look up from her pile of bodies and turn off her sabers while putting them back to her belt. She walked over and saw the mercenary Anthoni cleverly decided to keep alive. She would then hear Anthoni say to him, "Tell her what she wants and i promise, You will live to see another day."

Suddenly, everything changed. Anthoni would look at Keiyara and see her face had gone white. She was staring at the man on the ground like she was staring at a ghost. Her hands began to shake; her breathing became eradic. Anthoni would feel a tremor in the Force as everything around her began to shake. Then, like it hadn't happened, she snapped out of her little episode. She held her hand outward to her left and one of the mercenary's guns rapidly came to her hand. As soon as her finger was around the trigger she turned it on the dying man and fired. It was over before either of them realized it. Keiyara then dropped the gun and turned away from Anthoni. With no explanation why she had just killed the one man who could have given them information, she walked over to the dead men and began to pull out whatever they had in their pockets, keeping the gold for herself.

 

[Mr.BossMan]

Anthoni watched as Keiyara walked over to him and the man. Once Anthoni told the wounded mercenary that he would make sure he lived everything happened so fast. He looked over at Keiyara and saw her face was pale. All she looked at was the man on the ground, like she was looking straight through him. Then her hands started to shake, she started to breath rapidly. Finally everything started to shake, the dead bodies, the ground, her even Anthoni.

Almost as quick as it all happened, it stopped. Then there was several seconds of nothing, just silence and no one moved. Keiyara thrust out her hand suddenly and a blaster pistol came to her hand. Almost instantly Keiyara shot the wounded man several times. Then dropped the gun ans went to loot the bodies. Anthoni just stood there in disbelief of what just happened. Then he spoke to Keiyara "What did you just do?" Either she did not hear him or she just ignored him. So he spoke again louder this time "What the hell did you just do keiyara?"

She still did not answer so Anthoni walked over to her and knelt next to her. She was looting a corpse and taking his money. Anthoni grabbed her wrist and spoke calmly "Keiyara, what just happened back there?" Anthoni wanted to yell at her for what she just did. He didn't though, he just looked at her genuinely concerned.

 

[EmilyHuene]

It was quiet for a moment as she walked over to the other bodies. She said nothing, leaving Anthoni to ask, "What did you just do?" She did not respond, so he asked again, "What the hell did you just do Keiyara?"

She couldn't think. She wouldn't say what was on her mind. When he came over and knelt next to her he'd see her hand was still shaking; she could barely hold onto the small handful of credits she'd taken.

"Keiyara, what just happened back there?"

She shook her head. Her hands trembled. Suddenly her eyes were watering and she smeared them away with her free hand. She yanked her other hand free of Anthoni and gave him a shove, pushing him onto his butt. She got up and turned away from him. Her hands curled up at her sides like she was deciding whether to punch something or not.

"I'm not a monster," was all she said to him.

 

[Mr.BossMan]

As Anthoni held Keiyara's wrist he could see the pain on her face. He took a quick glance at the man she just shot, then looked at her again. She was on the verge of crying, he could tell, but as soon as she saw him looking she wiped the tears away. Then she yanked her hand away from Anthoni and pushed him. Anthoni fell on his butt with his hands behind him in supporting his body to stay up.

Then Keiyara stood like she was in a hurry and turned away from him. Her back facing him, All of those scars each with a different story. Anthoni thought remembering Keiyara's scarred back. She is such a mystery and i want to know more. Anthoni studied her and saw that her hands were in a fist, ready to fight. "I'm not a monster." Anthoni heard Keiyara say, breaking the silence. Anthoni sis not know what to say to that. So he rose to his feet instead.

I know you are not a monster Keiyara, I know what a monster is, almost to well. Anthoni said as he looked at the ground. Then he rose his head and spoke softly, all to aware of her emotion. He took a step towards her "Keiyara, i have seen monsters, i know monsters." I see one everyday. Anthoni took another step "But when i look at you Keiyara, I do not see a monster." He was now a foot away from her. I don't know what i see in you, but no monster.

Anthoni towered over Keiyara, but was still nervous to touch her. He did not know how she would react, especially after her sudden lash of anger. He did anyway's though and put both of his hands on Keiyara's clenched fist. Then he whispered in her ear "What's wrong Keiyara?" Anthoni tried to calm her, she wanted to talk, he knew it. Anthoni would listen her.

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Keiyara, i have seen monsters, i know monsters. But when i look at you Keiyara, I do not see a monster." He moved over to her and put his hands over hers. He was behind her now and she could feel the warmth of his body against hers. He was so tall, so muscular. She fit into him and for a second she was calm. Then he whispered, "What's wrong Keiyara?"

She then realized what he was doing and didn't want any part of it. She turned around and gave him another shove, this time much for violently. "Leave me alone!" she shouted. "Who do you think you are!"

She turned away from him and turned around, searching for something. She turned left and right and back again until she faced the ship. She screamed, and with a powerful surge of the Force, punched one of the ships that Black's men had come in. She left a major dent around her hand but not enough to break through the metal.

"You don't know anything about me! I was tortured, Anthoni. For three years! It never stopped! I was alone. My master murdered in front of me. You've seen my scars. Those are just the ones I haven't been able to heal! You have no idea what I've been through and you think you know me? You're a fool, Anthoni! A gorram fool."

 

[Mr.BossMan]

For an instant Anthoni thought he calmed her. He felt her body relax and could sense her anger leave, then in an instant her anger spiked again. She turned and pushed Anthoni harder then she did before, he was prepared this time and shove only made him take a step back. He watched as she released her anger, punching one of Mr.Black's ships.

"You don't know anything about me! I was tortured, Anthoni. For three years! It never stopped! I was alone. My master murdered in front of me. You've seen my scars. Those are just the ones I haven't been able to heal! You have no idea what I've been through and you think you know me? You're a fool, Anthoni! A gorram fool." Anthoni heard Keiyara scream at him.

This action brought back memories that were better left forgotten. Anthoni was suddenly back on Tatooine walking away from a girl he barely knew, leaving her to find her own way. He was in a ship speaking to that very girl, speaking similar words that Keiyara was speaking now. Keiyara said she was tortured for three years, watched her master die. Anthoni could relate to these things. He knew what it felt like to be tortured, to be helpless and watch as your friends died in front of you. All of these sudden memories made Anthoni angry.

Anthoni stared down Keiyara and made eye contact, his voice was calm but cold. "You are right Keiyara, I do not know you. I do not know your story, your background, your life. I am just man, trying to find my way." His voice got a little louder as he continued. "Do you want my Pity? Do you want my sorrow, my pain, my love? Have you ever walked in my damn shoes!" Anthoni would now fight fire with fire. For some reason Anthoni could not take being the nice guy anymore.

"I am a simple man Keiyara, so let tell you true. I will never fully understand you. I was torutured beaten down cut stabbed broken and defeated. I begged to die, not live, I have learned that all life is suffering. You have scars, so do i just look at my face. Your masters dead, no amount of rage or tears will bring him back. You say i am a fool, Yes i am. I came back for you, i saved you twice now. Although i don't think you want to be saved.

Tell me if i am wrong, tell me you don't want to see me again and i will leave. Do you not need my help? Do you not wan't it? It make's no matter, Make your move Keiyara. Was that Keiyara that killed that man, or was it something else?

 

[EmilyHuene]

"You are right Keiyara, I do not know you. I do not know your story, your background, your life. I am just man, trying to find my way. Do you want my Pity? Do you want my sorrow, my pain, my love? Have you ever walked in my damn shoes! I am a simple man Keiyara, so let tell you true. I will never fully understand you. I was torutured beaten down cut stabbed broken and defeated. I begged to die, not live, I have learned that all life is suffering. You have scars, so do i just look at my face. Your masters dead, no amount of rage or tears will bring him back. You say i am a fool, Yes i am. I came back for you, i saved you twice now. Although i don't think you want to be saved."

Something in his last few words got to her and he would see her face recoil with hurt. But he kept on, "Tell me if i am wrong, tell me you don't want to see me again and i will leave. Do you not need my help? Do you not wan't it? It make's no matter, Make your move Keiyara. Was that Keiyara that killed that man, or was it something else?"

He had been so close in his words to calming her down and getting to her until he said "Was that Keiyara that killed that man, or was it something else?" Her face then got red with anger and she swept her arm out in a defensive motion. "I saved his life! I saved him from pain. Could you really sit there and torture someone knowing what it's like to have it done to you?!"

She then held both of her arms out, offering her body to him, "Go ahead, Anthoni! Hit me. Strike me down. Kill me even." Obviously when he did nothing she lowered her arms. Her voice began to waver, "I may be evil. I may be a Hwen Dan, but I ain't a sadistic person. I refuse to be the monster that tortures people."

 

[Mr.BossMan]

"I saved his life! I saved him from pain. Could you really sit there and torture someone knowing what it's like to have it done to you?!" If it needed to be done then yes. Then Keiyara held out both of her arms and told him. "Go ahead, Anthoni! Hit me. Strike me down. Kill me even." Have you gone mad? Why would i hit you? Once it was clear Anthoni would not hit her she lowered her arms and continued. "I may be evil. I may be a Hwen Dan, but I ain't a sadistic person. I refuse to be the monster that tortures people."

Anthoni finally understood everything, why she was mad, why she shot him. All of it. He felt like he just got punched in the gut. I refuse to be the monster that tortures people he heard her say over and over in his mind. Anthoni was the one that left the man alive, to be tortured and questioned. It was Anthoni who started this whole thing. He looked down at the man, who all of this started over. Then he looked at his hands. What have i become? Who am I?

Anthoni could not take it anymore, he was constantly fighting this inner battle, but why? Why fight, why can't i just let one side win? I refuse to be the monster He heard Keiyara say again in his head. Then he yelled out loud "Well someone has to! There is a time when you must accept who you are Keiyara. Thank you, for making me realize this. Sometime's there has to be a bad guy." For the grater good He thought to himself but did not say out loud.

"You killed the only man who could tell us where Mr.Black was. For what! A drop of mercy, I gave the man my word i would let him live if he told me what i wanted to know. You robbed me of my vengeance." Anthoni's darker side was starting to come out with words he could not hold down. "Who the hell do you think you are Keiyara! You dare me the monster? I came to help you! Why does this one man bother you so much? But these one's did not!" Anthoni said waving his hands at the dead that litterd the ground.

"How many men have you killed? How many do you think wanted to die? This one wanted to live, if you did not have the courage to see the deed done, All you had to do was tell me! Not shoot the bastard!"

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Well someone has to! There is a time when you must accept who you are Keiyara. Thank you, for making me realize this. Sometime's there has to be a bad guy."

"The bad guy?" she repeated with a scoff. "Thing's ain't so black and white, Anthoni. You sound just like my master."

"You killed the only man who could tell us where Mr.Black was. For what! A drop of mercy, I gave the man my word i would let him live if he told me what i wanted to know. You robbed me of my vengeance. Who the hell do you think you are Keiyara! You dare me the monster? I came to help you! Why does this one man bother you so much? But these one's did not!"

"That's right!" she screamed back at him. "They died quick and painlessly. If they wanted to live they shouldn't have shot at me!"

"How many men have you killed? How many do you think wanted to die? This one wanted to live, if you did not have the courage to see the deed done, All you had to do was tell me! Not shoot the bastard!"

"They shot at me first!" she tried to reiterate. She then groaned and pointed her finger at him. "I've killed more people than you can image, Anthoni. And you know what? I don't care. The world is full of bad people. You just have to accept that. You want to think the 'verse can be saved, be my guest. Ain't nothin' you can do to save them, Anthoni. You want to go after Black then go! Get yourself killed. Go run off like my master and die! See if I care. But I won't let you be the death of me. I'm takin' this ship and gettin' the Guai off this planet."

 

[Mr.BossMan]

"I've killed more people than you can image, Anthoni. And you know what? I don't care." Ya because you obviously seem to not care. "The world is full of bad people. You just have to accept that." I do accept that, but it needs to change! "You want to think the 'verse can be saved, be my guest. Ain't nothin' you can do to save them, Anthoni. You want to go after Black then go! Get yourself killed. Go run off like my master and die! See if I care. But I won't let you be the death of me. I'm takin' this ship and gettin' the Guai off this planet."

The last part is what bothered Anthoni. He had to say something to her. "Damn it Keiyara you don't understand!" Anthoni yelled, but then he realized he has yelled enough. He took a deep breath then spoke softer. "I apologize i should of never raised my voice. Keiyara there is alot i don't know about you, but there is alot you don't know about me to. Maybe this will always be the case, maybe it wont. But trust me when i say this. I am going to find Mr.Black and i am going to kill him. With or without you, I will see this done. Let's go Keiyara take me to my ship and i'll leave you alone."

Anthoni was tired it has been a long day and he was just going to get to his ship and sleep. Anthoni looked at Keiyara and wondered why he ever slept with her. I don't think i will ever know. At the time it seemed like the thing to do, but now he realized how different Keiyara and he was. Anthoni was all around disappointed, He tried to comfort her when she needed him but all he did was make things worse. That's all Anthoni seemed to do.

He reached in his pocket for his coin. It was supposed to bring luck. It doesn't ever seem to bring anything though.

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Fine!" she shouted and waved her arms again. She turned to the ship and opened the ramp. She turned to him and spit her words at him, "Check their pockets before you follow me. They might have something worth taking."

She then stormed inside and headed to the cockpit to prepare the ship for their next journey. Would she help him find Black, or would they part ways once more?

 

[Mr.BossMan]

Anthoni watched her storm inside the ship and said nothing. Anthoni tried to calm himself the best he could, but it did not seem fair. Anthoni tried to be the nice one, he tried to comfort her, he apologized. It was not good enough though. Anthoi saw Keiyara's dent she put in the ship, then he punched the area right next to it. The pain caused him to reel back and shake his hand, while he said a few choice words.

Once it was all said and done Anthoni could not help but laugh. "Women" he muttered to himself with a new found smile. Then he saw the dead bodies and realized he could not leave them like this and he was not going to turn into a common looter. Anthoni walked over each one and shut their eyes, It was a kindness maybe a few of them did not deserve. He did it all the same, their uniforms were bloody and torn from the fight that commenced earlier. So Anthoni would hope for the best inside the ship.

He walked up the ramp and pressed a button that brought the ramp back up. Finding Keiyara in the cockpit e said nothing, then continued his search for some uniforms. Anthoni found them inside a closet in a room with a small bed. One looked like it would fit him just fine and he saw a much smaller one as well. She said she was leaving though so Anthoni did not grab it. If one thing was true about Anthoni, it was his word was his bond. He said he would kill Black and he meant it. Then again he said he would let that man live, Keiyara put an end to that.

It was my fault though, I should of never imposed such a task on her. Anthoni needed to finish this on a good note. He would try one more time to make things right with Keiyara. Walking back to the cockpit Anthoni found a kitchen. He opened the fridge and and all he could do was hope for the best. "Today is getting better and better." He quickly kissed his lucky coin.

Then he took a quick drink of the Whisky he just found. Anthoni walked into the Cockpit again and sat in the co-pilot seat. He took a drink of the Whisky and saw Keyara's face. "What?" he said defensively "It calms me. Want some?" He added with a smile. "Come on, your not above some good old fashioned Corellian Whiskey?

 

[EmilyHuene]

As Keiyara walked into the ship and headed toward the cockpit, she felt the hull shake from outside as Anthoni punched it. He hadn't put all of his anger into it as she had, but it was loud enough to make a noise on the inside, which of curse reverberated several times before finally vanishing. She shook her head and sat in the pilot seat and began to turn on the control systems. Once everything was set and ready, she did a quick log of the ship's destinations. Like taking candy from a baby, she got everything she needed right off the last three destinations. The first from Corellia where Black's headquarters were. The second an outer rim world most likely used as a factory or storage base. And then the last being their current one. She pulled out a small disk from one of her pockets and plugged it in then began downloading everything, just in case. After she finished, she tucked the disk in her pocket and wiped the data.

Once Anthoni was inside, the ship was active and ready to go. She plugged in the coordinates to Raxus Prime so they could return to their ships. Behind her, Anthoni was obviously sulking and left her alone. "Fine. Be that way."

She started the take off procedures and soon the ship had left orbit and they were on their way. When he came back she watched him sit and she couldn't help but glare at him.

"What?" he said defensively "It calms me. Want some? Come on, your not above some good old fashioned Corellian Whiskey?

His humor finally got the better of her and she reached over and took the bottle from him. She took a large mouthful and handed it back after swallowing. "Oh you really have no idea" She then turned the ship over to the navi-computer and let the ship take off in lightspeed.

~/End Thread/~​

The story continues in End of the Line