Aaah!! I am so squarely on team Quinn right now!! Can't wait to see how you wrap this up! <3 Well I can, cause I love reading it....but I'm curious to see where you take it.

“Boprssopsssschhhhhlllllick.”

 

 

I realized after posting...I have written a line of suggestive Broonmark fanfic. And that is one more line than this world really needed.

 

...

 

92. In which Quinn lets the cat out of the bag

 

In spite of a job that’s quite crappy

True friendship can get downright sappy.

The fraternization

May raise indignation,

But keeps the participants happy.

 

 

A holonet café on Nar Shaddaa. Quinn and 2V were busy at a terminal labeled ‘secure’ which, Quinn maintained, was nothing of the sort, but would have to do. Pierce, Broonmark, and Jaesa sat nearby. Nalenne was just coming up with a huge tray of food.

 

“Last armload,” she gasped, setting it down before the crew. “I thought Vette’s friends’ order was going to kill me. I swear whatever they’re asking for is Twi’lek for ‘bricks.’”

 

“You brought Vette’s friends lunch?” said Quinn.

 

“Yeah. It was on the way anyway, and one of her friends is only in town a few hours, I couldn’t ask Vette to take time out of that.”

 

Quinn turned away from his terminal entirely. “My lord.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I’ve held my peace long enough about this.”

 

“Uh, what’d I do?”

 

“You arrested your entire schedule to carry Vette here.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You worked all week to earn the credits to hand directly to her.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Captain,” said Pierce, “this isn’t the wisest line of inquiry.”

 

“Be quiet, lieutenant. My lord, you then proceeded onto the surface, to stay close to her, so that if she needs you – as, for example, if someone challenges her collar – you can immediately be summoned to sort it out for her.”

 

“Um, Captain Quinn,” said Jaesa diffidently, “wouldn’t you rather finish up your report?”

 

“No. Now, my lord, you are staying in town, at her beck and call, and fetching meals for her and her friends?”

 

Pierce slammed one huge hand on the table. “Captain, please, can we put aside our differences just this once, just long enough for you to really listen to me and SHUT UP?”

 

A stunned silence descended.

 

“Yeah, like that,” said Pierce.

 

“No,” said Quinn. “As I was saying, my lord, have you forgotten that Vette is your slave, and not the other way around?”

 

“What?” said Nalenne blankly. A few seconds passed. “Uh, yeah – I mean, no! Of course not! Who would forget that Vette’s my slave? Ha ha!”

 

“Dammit, man,” growled Pierce.

 

“We were going on nine weeks since she gave any indication of remembering,” said Jaesa glumly.

 

“My money was on another five before she picked up on it again,” added Pierce.

 

“Eight here,” said Jaesa. “Broonmark’s closest in the pool, by a wide margin.”

 

Broonmark quorked contentedly.

 

Quinn looked to Nalenne. “Shall I start from where this behavior is completely inappropriate for a Sith of your station, or shall I start from where she’s an insufferable brat who wouldn’t deserve this level of consideration from anyone?”

 

“Don’t start at all, captain. That’s an order.”

 

Quinn glared.

 

“Vette’s a complete failure as a slave. She has yet to admit to that status and she’s certainly never acted like one. I wouldn’t try to break down that level of denial.”

 

“You would and you have,” said Quinn.

 

“But that was for you. You’re different.” Jaesa and Pierce exchanged looks after seeing the look on Nalenne’s face there. Jaesa failed to suppress a smile. Pierce rolled his eyes.

 

“As compared to her? I should hope so.”

 

“So she’s terrible slave material. That’s not a big deal. I like her. She’s incredibly helpful with things like keeping my life from collapsing around me and sampling all the new cocktails so she can tell me what’s worth trying. She’s my friend, Quinn. That means I’ll look after her.” She looked around the room. “Especially if ‘looking after her’ means having Tionese for lunch in a reasonably comfortable café with the people I like.”

 

“Plus Quinn,” said Pierce.

 

“Plus Quinn,” agreed Nalenne. “ – Hey, wait.”

 

Broonmark and Pierce snickered.

 

“Remind me to stop trusting you, lieutenant.”

 

“I’ll get right on that, milord.”

 

“Look. Quinn. I know you don’t like her, and I know the impropriety of her status bothers you, and if it were any less important matter I’d take care of it for you. But my ship, my rules, my loved ones.”

 

“Plus Quinn,” muttered Pierce.

 

“Vette stays and I’ll treat her as nicely as I like, collar or no collar.”

 

“Bravo, master,” said Jaesa.

 

“Back to killing soon?” yawned Broonmark.

 

“You’re free to wander, big guy. I gotta stay here and make sure nobody messes with my Twi’lek.”

93. In which Niselle makes Nalenne an offer she can’t refuse (I/VII)

 

This entry and seven-part series contains spoilers for the Sith Inquisitor Belsavis line. Overall class arc significance has been omitted.

 

A Knight who has captured a Queen

Should never be too quick to preen.

The final reward

May stand ‘cross a board

More hostile than any he’s seen.

 

 

“AGH,” yelled Nalenne.

 

Vette ran from her quarters and skidded to a halt by the reading nook while ghost-Quinn charged straight through the wall for the same destination. “What is it?” they said in unison.

 

“Ultraguy. They did this awesome arc about killing him, and I thought they were going to bring in a new hero for the cape, but no. They just reconstructed the guy. Brought him right back as if nothing ever happened. That’s so stupid!”

 

“My lord…” said Quinn.

 

“It’s different when I’m doing it, okay? In a comic book it’s just cheap drama. Stars, this kind of thing drives me nuts.”

 

“You are defective, my lord,” said Vette.

 

“Go ‘way,” said Nalenne.

 

As her crew returned to their spots, Nalenne’s holocommunicator rang. She answered it to find her sister Niselle.

 

“Nis,” oozed Nalenne.

 

“Save it,” said Niselle. “I’m in trouble. I need your help.”

 

“That’s unusually blunt of you.”

 

“I don’t. have. time.” said Niselle. “Some Jedi Knight has me, claims he’s going to bring me before his Council for justice. Andronikos managed to damage the engines on this ship, so we’re stuck for a little while, but I don’t think my crew can get me out of here alone.”

 

“Wow, can you send me the trial date? I’ll have to find a way to attend.”

 

“Very funny.”

 

“Give me one good reason to help you.”

 

“Because when I was in trouble, back in the bad old days, I came upon something that could rebuild a body. Restore what was broken, deteriorating beyond any reasonable expectation of repair. The machine made entire species once, designing bodies and building them. I believe the AI that runs it may be able to get your dear captain what he wants.”

 

Nalenne swallowed past a sudden lump in her throat. “You’re lying.”

 

“Ask Andronikos. I’ve kept his mouth shut so far, but he was there.” Niselle raised a finger. “Even now, he won’t give you details until after I’m free.”

 

“You knew what it could do all this time and you never told me?”

 

“It was funnier for you not to know, sweetheart.”

 

“I’ll free you, Nis. I’ll get your machine. And I will kill you.”

 

“One thing at a time,” drawled Niselle. “Sending coordinates now. Come in strength.”

94. In which Nalenne locates Niselle (II/VII)

This entry and seven-part series contains spoilers for the Sith Inquisitor Belsavis line. Overall class arc significance has been omitted.

 

 

An especially vicious Kaleesh

Is safest if kept on a leash.

He’s eager to serve,

To watch and observe,

Then mix his own murder pastiche.

 

 

Nalenne rendezvoused with Niselle’s ship at an orbital station near the source of Niselle’s transmission. Andronikos Revel came on board the Helicarrier, along with the hulking Khem Val and little Talos Drellik.

 

“Ashara’s minding the ship,” said Andronikos. “Don’t know when those guys are going to recover from the torpedoes I put in their engines. Let’s go.”

 

“Where’s the boneface?” asked Nalenne.

 

“Laughing to himself and trying on selections from Niselle’s armor,” said Andronikos.

 

“Helpful.”

 

“He does that every time Niselle might conceivably be in danger.”

 

“Let’s go pull off a boarding action, eh?”

 

“Thought you’d never ask.”

 

Andronikos took the Helicarrier’s controls while the crew crowded onto the bridge, straining to spot the first sign of the Jedi’s crippled transport. Ghost-Quinn kept his eyes on his console while murmuring a quiet continuous stream of commands to 2V. Nalenne watched the starscape closely. Khem Val watched Nalenne closely. Jaesa watched Khem Val closely. Talos, when he thought no one was looking, watched Jaesa closely. Vette and Pierce watched Talos with poorly masked amusement. What Broonmark was looking at was anyone’s guess.

 

Quinn did look up once the Jedi ship was in sight. “My lord, do you have any intention whatsoever of waiting long enough for me to put together a plan?”

 

“No. I want to smash this.” Closer, and closer. “But whatever you’re doing over there, use my full authority if you need it.”

 

“Yes, my lord.”

 

“You realize, Andronikos, you and my sister will die in every creative way I can think of, all at once, if you’re lying about this machine of yours.”

 

“Yeah, I figured. It’s real. It’s creepy. It might help. You won’t hear another word about it until Niselle’s back with me.”

 

“I don’t see why you’re so keen on helping the likes of her.”

 

Andronikos set a control lever in place and turned to shoot Quinn a significant look. “You’re one to talk.”

 

“Fine, then.” She shut up and let him pilot.

 

“Got access for one of those hangars?” asked Pierce.

 

“I have a few tricks. They’ll welcome us like one of their own.”

 

“Automated systems, maybe. The armed guards may disagree.”

 

“Yeah, well, I have to leave something interesting for us to do once our feet are on deck.”

 

“Good man,” said Pierce.

 

But the hangar they slotted themselves into was abandoned. So, strangely, were the hallways. Quinn led Nalenne and her party on the winding path up to the ship’s command deck. It was a wide open space with a high window wrapping around a third of it. And there were Rho and Niselle, standing side by side, looking out the front window to an empty starscape. Niselle was, Nalenne couldn’t help but notice, bound in shackles. It was a profoundly satisfying sight.

 

The Jedi turned. “Lord Nalenne,” he said with the same serene smile she remembered from Ord Mantell. (*) “I thought you might come.”

Edited June 29, 2012 by bright_ephemera

95. In which Nalenne confronts the Jedi Knight (III/VII)

 

This seven-part series contains spoilers for the Sith Inquisitor Belsavis line. Overall class arc significance has been omitted.

 

 

Evangelists love to spend days

Sharpening fine turns of phrase:

To trigger remorse,

Or virtue-enforce,

Or point out the errors of ways.

 

 

“Not here to chat. Give me my sister.”

 

Nalenne cased the room. Rho the handsome Mirialan Jedi. And with him: hot Sith Warrior, check. Crazed-looking Chagrian gunman, check. Cute human with regrettable soul patch, check. Pretty redheaded Jedi, check. Little astromech droid, check. And four strange Jedi besides. Four.

 

“Your sister Niselle is wanted for war crimes,” said Rho. “We’re taking her to Coruscant to stand trial under Republic law.”

 

“I don’t care what you want her for. She’s coming home with me.”

 

“I can’t allow that.”

 

“Want to make it a fight?”

 

“Are you giving me a choice, Wrath?”

 

“Sure. Give me Niselle, no fight today.” I’m in a hurry.

 

“That isn’t a choice at all,” he said with that patented Jedi self-righteous regret.

 

The battle was different this time. Businesslike. Intense. For once Nalenne had something more than pride and bloodlust at stake. When she attacked Rho, she dispensed with the stylish flourishes; this fight was intended to kill, nothing more and nothing less.

 

Nalenne lost track of time. She lost everything but the burn of muscles, the flow of the Force, the desire to cut the smile off that smug Jedi’s face. The third factor was by far the most powerful one.

 

Inconveniently, Rho was a worthy opponent. Well matched. Determined. It was all she could do to keep him on the defensive half the time. Worst of all, he had as much staying power as she did.

 

Rho finally broke the flow and backed off. It was enough for Nalenne to scan the battleground. As soon as she did, she wished she hadn’t.

 

Rusk and some Jedi had Broonmark facedown on the ground. Scourge, impossibly, had Pierce disarmed and was holding him in a corner of the command deck. A Jedi had knocked Andronikos out and was currently dueling Vette; Kira and another Jedi were holding Khem Val at bay while T7-01 ran around doing something behind him. Talos was doing his best, but one arm was hanging limply at his side. Doc was still free to move and tend to his comrades. And Quinn…Quinn was nowhere to be seen.

 

“What the hell is wrong with you people?” she asked. “I can’t bail you all out at once.”

 

Rho leaped back toward Nalenne and hit her side, hard. She cried out in frustration and pain. He’s winning. He’s winning again. He’s winning and I’ll never find out what chance Niselle had to offer.

 

“Hold,” she yelled. “I yield.”

 

“What?” said Rho.

 

“What?” said Scourge, Kira, Doc, Pierce, Rusk, Broonmark, Vette, Niselle, and Talos.

 

“Take me. Just let Niselle go with my people, or else our allies will make you bleed until you’ve forgotten what the absence of pain is.” As soon as I find some allies who haven’t been beaten up yet. Stars stars stars must get person with useful information to safety first.

 

“My lord?” said Vette in a very small voice.

 

“Arrest me,” said Nalenne. “Or lecture me to death, or whatever it is people like you do to people like me – it’s not like I’ve ever paid attention to the losing scenario – but let Niselle and my crew go.”

 

“Did you forget to be Sith when you woke up this morning?” scoffed Niselle.

 

Don’t remind me. Nalenne’s heart pounded. “That doesn’t matter now, Nis. You know what you’ll owe him.”

 

“Is that selflessness I’m seeing?” gloated Rho. “I never thought love could reach you.”

 

“No moralizing until after I get my end of the deal. Take it or fight.” With an effort she raised her saber again.

 

“Lay down your weapon, and your sister and your friends can go free.”

 

Nalenne swallowed hard and deactivated her lightsaber. She heard Niselle laughing a disdainful silver laugh behind her. Nalenne surrendered her weapon to Lord Scourge, then turned to face her sister. “Take care of him.”

 

“I just might consider it, you poor sap.”

 

Right, forgot, this only works if Nis stays in a good mood. Is it too late for takebacks?

 

Rho beckoned, and Scourge and that Chagrian Rusk fell in to either side of Nalenne, escorting her up to the command deck. Definitely too late for takebacks. “I think there’s hope for you, Nalenne,” said Rho. “Your love for your sister may be the beginning of your redemption.”

 

Nalenne blinked. “Wait, who said anything about love for my sister?”

 

Rho’s smile wavered. “But you just gave yourself up to save her.”

 

“Screw her, I just needed what she knows to help – “

 

A calm, almost conversational voice carried from the bridge’s entryway. “Jedi. I would release her if I were you.”

 

“Quinn,” said Nalenne.

96. In which Quinn makes demands (IV/VII)

This seven-part series contains spoilers for the Sith Inquisitor Belsavis line. Overall class arc significance has been omitted.

 

 

A villain in search of an in

Must menace in order to win.

A victory speech

Must be earned, each to each,

With power. Just ask Captain Quinn.

 

 

Ghost-Quinn stood alone in the doorway and set himself at parade rest, hands folded behind him. “At the moment two boarding parties are securing access to your ship. I leave it to you to figure out where. Also, if you’ll check behind you you may notice the destroyer Retribution.”

 

“You always come through for me, Quinn,” said Nalenne.

 

Quinn kept his eyes on Rho. “For such a high-value target as yourself, Jedi, I am fully authorized to destroy this vessel and everyone on it.”

 

“Wait. I didn’t agree to that plan,” said Nalenne.

 

“I gave you the chance to make suggestions, my lord. You told me you wanted things smashed.”

 

“Don’t be foolish,” said Rho, but Nalenne already sensed doubt in him. “Consider my offer. Your Wrath will survive and receive fair treatment, and your Dark Council member can go free. How is killing us all a better option?”

 

“I believe my lord Marr’s exact words when authorizing this operation were ‘the brats and Tython-boy? Great shades of Marka Ragnos, please, blow that ship up and take a video.’” Quinn cocked his head. “Fortunately for you, Jedi, I can be satisfied with a lesser objective today.” He looked over at Lord Scourge. “Incidentally, I would advise taking your hands off her. I rarely lose my temper on the job, but I am getting close.”

 

Rusk and Scourge both straightened a little. Neither one released Nalenne’s arms.

 

“You’ve never seen this guy pissed off, have you?” said Nalenne.

 

“We do not answer to you, nor to him,” said Scourge calmly.

 

“Jerk,” said Nalenne.

 

“When you get to be my age, very few things intimidate you,” said Scourge.

 

Quinn looked off to one side and spoke a quiet command to someone Nalenne couldn’t see. Then he faced Rho again. “Boarding party one will arrive here shortly. Release the Wrath.”

 

“I cannot do that.” Rho looked over at one of the bridge crew. “We’re working on hyperspace coordinates, right?”

 

“According to my reports,” said Quinn, “boarding party two has already disabled your hyperdrive.” He smiled thinly. “Release the Wrath.”

 

Something impacted on the hull, shaking the whole bridge. Everyone turned to see the Retribution fire a volley, then two, of saturated blaster cannon bolts.

 

“Return fire,” said Rho. He extended a cautioning hand toward Quinn. “You know this ship isn’t armed for this. Listen to me. I’ll surrender myself, just let the crew go. Do we have a deal?”

 

“There will be no deal. Release the Wrath.”

 

Another salvo slammed into the ship somewhere above the bridge deck. A few pieces from the ceiling broke loose, swung, and fell.

 

“This is a terrible plan, Quinn!” squeaked Nalenne.

 

“Release the Wrath,” said Quinn, “and you may yet make the escape pods in time. Those are all the terms I have to offer.”

 

Rho threw Nalenne a desperate look. “Lord Nalenne. Can’t you reason with him?”

 

“Are you kidding? He is the reasonable one! Or was.” It would actually be kind of cool to see where he goes from here, except for the part where we’re all about to die because of it.

 

Rho shook his head. “Take her, Imperial,” he called. “Everyone, get to the escape pods. Now, you have what you want. Don’t try to harm my people on our way out.”

 

“Tick tock, Jedi,” Quinn said calmly. Another cannon volley rocked the ship.

 

Rusk released Nalenne and bolted alongside Rho. Scourge paused a moment. “Not intimidated,” he said quietly, “but somewhat impressed.” He handed her her saber, nodded respectfully, and went on his way. Nalenne trotted to join Niselle and her crew. Quinn reached out as she approached and seemed to let an expression slip past his guard for a second, but he caught himself and started back toward the hangar bay. Nalenne and the others followed.

 

“I wanted to see you tied up, too,” pouted Niselle.

 

“Run and whine at the same time, sweetie, if you think you can manage it.” Nalenne kept moving.

I love how this is progressing. And a big <3 to Scourge, as always

Great shades of Marka Ragnos...love that line

Scourge paused a moment. “Not intimidated' date='” he said quietly, “but somewhat impressed.” He handed her her saber, nodded respectfully, and went on his way. [/quote']

 

Scourge is both cool and hot even when he is retreating

97. In which two couples discuss (V/VII)

 

This entry and seven-part series contains spoilers for the Sith Inquisitor Belsavis line. Overall class arc significance has been omitted.

 

 

A sister shares feelings and more,

A warm and supportive rapport.

For some, anyway.

For others, let’s say

That the sibling dynamic is poor.

 

 

Jaesa was ready with a hyperspace route charted when the party got on board. They cleared the Jedi transport before the ship exploded entirely, stayed at sublight for a few moments on ghost-Quinn’s orders, then streaked away.

 

Quinn prompted 2V to do something at the nav computer. “Video taken,” Quinn murmured. “Ship blown up. Darth Marr’s objectives met.”

 

Nalenne faced him. “You know I hate it when you leave me out of the loop on your dramatic-entrance thing.”

 

He turned away from the console to face her. “You know I hate it when you throw resources away for a strategically worthless personal goal, especially a resource as valuable as yourself.”

 

“I’d do it again.”

 

He got that stubborn look. “So would I.”

 

“I love you.”

 

Quinn hesitated. “This isn’t the time,” he said. Then he turned to Niselle. “My lord, it seems terribly convenient that you spontaneously developed a reconstruction idea when you needed a bargaining chip.”

 

Niselle met his blue eyes with her own bleach-pale ones. “It didn’t occur to me for the longest time,” she said languidly. “And then I didn’t know whether it would work. I still don’t. But in either case I rather enjoyed having the knowledge of a hope my sister will never have.”

 

“Sorry,” Andronikos told Nalenne. “If I’d known earlier how you…how serious it was…but to be honest, I always kinda figured you two were doomed anyway. More I thought about it, less I thought lifting a finger to help him would be a plus for anybody.” He scratched his ear. “I was just about coming round again. With Servant Nine and today and all. But Captain ‘This isn’t the time’ isn’t exactly helping his own case here.”

 

“I hardly think you’re in a position to complain about someone being insufficiently demonstrative,” said Quinn.

 

“Hey,” said Andronikos. “I could say it. Don’t care who hears it, either.” He looked at Quinn, then Nalenne.

 

“I already said it,” said Nalenne, “I’m fine.”

 

“And I can say it any time I want,” purred Niselle. “Seems the Imperial is the cold one here, but we already knew that.”

 

Quinn scowled. “Neither of you has said it at all!”

 

Niselle and Andronikos exchanged unreadable looks. “After you, Captain Intrepid-Leader-Man,” said Andronikos.

 

“I should point out that I diverted a destroyer from its actual assignment to be here for no purpose other than to assist her,” said Quinn.

 

“Psht. I diverted Nalenne to help my girl. That’s firepower,” said Andronikos.

 

“I voluntarily helped my brat sister for my guy,” said Nalenne.

 

Everyone looked at Niselle.

 

She shrugged irritably. “I haven’t killed mine yet, have I?”

 

Andronikos laughed and stroked her head. “That still puts you ahead of some in our present company.”

 

“So as long as we’re talking about changing the subject,” Nalenne said loudly, “I came here today for one reason, and it wasn’t to compare devotion checklists with you guys. Nis, we had a deal.”

 

“And I’ll follow through, Lenny,” said Niselle. “If only because the entertainment value of your throwing yourself to the flame back there was beyond anything I could have imagined. That was pathetic.”

 

“It was deeply inadvisable, my lord,” said Quinn.

 

“Had a certain punch the destroyer lacked,” muttered Andronikos. “But yeah, for a payoff that’s not even guaranteed? It was royally stupid.”

 

“Start talking,” said Nalenne.

 

“Well,” said Niselle, “it was an ancient Rakatan device on Belsavis…”

 

She described the apparatus: A ‘Mother machine,’ Ashaa, an ancient AI originally designed to create Force-sensitive species in a Rakatan effort to understand and reverse their loss of the same. Its biological construction tools had managed to reconstruct Niselle. It might be able to do the same for Quinn.

 

It was Andronikos Nalenne smiled at when Niselle finished. “I know she wouldn’t have talked without a word from you. I owe you.”

 

“Don’t think I’ll forget it,” grinned Andronikos.

 

“You owe me, too,” Niselle said petulantly.

 

“Get your man to ask nicely and I’ll consider it,” said Nalenne.

 

“I’m calling ahead and telling Ashaa to kill you when you get there.”

 

“Nis! Okay, fine, I owe you.”

 

“That’s better.” Niselle struggled a little against the Jedi-crafted shackles binding her wrists behind her back. “Now is anyone going to untie me?”

98. In which Nalenne and Quinn go to Belsavis (VI/VII)

 

This entry and seven-part series contains spoilers for the Sith Inquisitor Belsavis line. Overall class arc significance has been omitted.

 

 

Rakatans are commonly known

For screwing each ‘slave race’ they ‘own.’

Their old machinations

Doomed species and nations;

Now each struggles onward alone.

 

 

Nalenne and Quinn followed Niselle’s directions into the depths of the old Rakatan prison on Belsavis, well beyond where Republic or Empire had ever established operations.

 

Niselle’s recommended route ran through every possible frenzied riot on the way. That was intentional, Nalenne was sure of it.

 

But in time they reached a high cliff wall with a narrow fissure in it. Within moments of stepping in, the cave resolved itself into a smooth square stone tunnel. Unfamiliar runes ran along the wall.

 

“So what are the odds this AI kills us on sight?” said Nalenne.

 

“Based on previous patterns, a ninety-three per cent chance that it will try, my lord.”

 

“Well, here’s hoping there’s enough of it left to help you after.”

 

“Try negotiating first. Please.”

 

They rounded a corner into a great hall, dimly illuminated by bluish lights here and there. A raised circle of stone stood in the middle. The edges of both the room and the circle were lined with computer terminals.

 

“My lord. A moment,” said Quinn.

 

“Hmm? What is it?”

 

“There remains…a great deal that’s better left unsaid. But...I am not unaware of what you have risked and what you have done for me.”

 

She turned her attention away from the room’s machinery and fully to Quinn. “It was nothing,” she told him.

 

“You always think that. It’s what makes you so dangerous when someone you care for is threatened.”

 

“And, see, that’s the look I would burn half the galaxy to earn.”

 

“Don’t!” He straightened up a little more. “I never know when you’re being serious.”

 

“I would grab a torch right now if I thought it would help. But for you, I’ll behave.”

 

He shook his head. “It’s like turning an earthquake on and off. Every now and then you do listen to me.”

 

“Of course I listen. You’re one of mine.”

 

He considered her for a long moment. “Nalenne, there is a great deal that’s better left unsaid. But I do love you. And have, and will.”

 

That feels…weirder than expected. “Yeah,” she said, once her voice started working again. “Yeah, I figured.”

 

“I am grateful you didn’t force the issue in front of your sister.”

 

“Like I would give her the satisfaction. You know she would turn any declaration of love into something horrible just for fun.”

 

“I agree, but, ah, you declared it anyway.”

 

Nalenne grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, well. I was excited.” She turned toward the consoles at the great raised circle. “Now let’s fix this.” And with that, she picked a button at random and pressed it.

 

“…why that one, my lord?”

 

“You don’t want to know.”

 

Judging by the sudden wave of disapproval, Nalenne guessed that Quinn understood her reasoning.

 

“I guess I should say now, just in case this thing goes berserk and kills us both, that I love you, too.”

 

Other buttons around the circle flickered and lit up. And then a holo image formed above the circle. Heck of an old holoterminal. I gotta get me one of these.

 

The image that showed up flickered through multiple species before resolving into a Rakata. “Child. I am Ashaa,” it said in a gentle feminine voice.

 

“Nalenne, sister of Niselle. You remember her?”

 

“How could we forget? It was Niselle’s kindness that loosed us from our restraining bonds.”

 

“Did you just put ‘Niselle’ and ‘kindness’ in the same sentence?”

 

“Something is wrong here,” muttered Quinn.

 

Ashaa smiled beatifically. “She called to tell me of your coming. You need my help?”

 

“Yes, uh.” Nalenne dug out her sample case. “You see this guy here, and how noncorporeal he is. I was wondering…if you could take Niselle apart piece by piece and put her back together, and you could generate your own species apparently from scratch or at least just from DNA, can you reassemble him?”

 

Ashaa considered. “Perhaps. We will require the sample you carry, and to save the pattern for our own research.”

 

“Save anything you want.”

 

Quinn shifted ever so slightly. “Is that…wise, my lord?”

 

“At worse she uses it to construct a super race of genius tacticians for her own inscrutable purposes. What could go wrong?”

 

“I don’t think I need to answer that.”

 

Nalenne turned back to the hologram. “Just like that? Take DNA and a ghost nobody can figure out, and you can just…?”

 

“I am a powerful program, child. And creating life from incomplete beginnings is what I was made to do.” She looked to Quinn. “Please, child. To the chamber at the top of those stairs.”

 

Nalenne placed her sample case in a recess that had lit up a couple of consoles over, then ordered herself to hold back. Quinn looked to her, nodded once in his best stoic-soldier way, then climbed a steep staircase to a chamber no larger than a stasis cell.

 

“This will probably work,” said Ashaa, and thrust her hand forward, shooting an impossibly strong arc of lightning to a contact at the top of the chamber.

 

Nalenne’s stomach dropped. “Probably?”

 

The storm scorched the air, shook the floor, flashed a blinding white, and lowered a coruscating column to hit Quinn. It actually seemed to hit him, as in interact, as in inflict pain.

 

“UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, I WANT YOU TO STOP DOING THAT.” Nalenne squeezed her fists, hard, and watched. Quinn fell to his knees, then hands. Still the lightning spat and streamed.

 

The instant the storm subsided, Nalenne sprinted to his side and knelt. She reached for him and found solid flesh. She hoped it was flesh. Any other material could get really gross, really fast.

 

Quinn coughed and struggled to breathe. Nalenne resisted the urge to pull him close; disrupting the first few breaths he had taken in a year was probably a bad idea. Instead she looked over to Ashaa’s projection. “I owe you,” she said. “A lot.” Probably, assuming this isn’t one huge mass of cancer or something.

 

The figure smiled. “A mother gives to her children without thought for reward. There is nothing you have that I need. And really, do I look like I have anything better to do with my time?”

 

“Wow. I won’t argue.”

 

“Good. Still, one-time deal. It was a toss-up between helping you and throwing you into the Esh-kha arena for some blood sport, I never did like your species. You’re lucky your sister called ahead.”

99. In which Nalenne and Quinn verify things (VII/VII)

 

This entry and seven-part series contains spoilers for the Sith Inquisitor Belsavis line. Overall class arc significance has been omitted.

 

 

A long wait may batter hope flat

And drive home frustration, at that.

Once free, love’s less aery

And more sublunary,

But let’s not blame John Donne for that.

 

 

With some effort, Quinn pushed back up onto his knees. And immediately started tugging at his uniform collar to make some mystifying adjustment. “I really thought that was going to drive me insane,” he muttered. “This whole time, I couldn’t fix it.”

 

“Malavai?” she hazarded.

 

He seemed briefly surprised to see her there. His hands stayed on his collar. “Nalenne. Does the piping on this side line up with – “

 

She slammed into him and kissed him, hard, marveling at his familiar scent and feel and – she checked – taste. No use wasting time. “If you’re going to argue, make it fast,” she told him, doing her level best to pull off his uniform while maintaining maximum continuous body contact.

 

“Ashaa?”

 

“I can leave,” said the AI, and its image vanished.

 

“Good,” said Nalenne. “Piping’s definitely not lined up. Any other objections?”

 

Quinn somehow dismantled the better part of Nalenne’s body armor faster than she herself knew how to do, a feat made doubly impressive by the fact that he had never had the chance to touch this particular mass of plates and buckles before. “No.”

 

“Great. Make it rough.”

 

*

 

In time the two of them returned to the Helicarrier. The crew was gathered in the reading nook when they arrived. Nalenne reached for Quinn’s hand and squeezed while everybody looked up at them.

 

“Bloody hell,” growled Pierce

 

“Yes! Pay up,” Jaesa told him, in a tone of supreme satisfaction.

 

“I knew the death thing was too good to last,” sighed Vette.

 

“Sith clan is whole,” said Broonmark. “Alas, dumb and all.”

 

“Welcome home,” said Nalenne, turning to beam at Quinn.

 

“If you’ll excuse me,” said Quinn. “If I’m returning to live status, I have a great deal of paperwork to do.” He hurried toward the bridge.

 

“Malavai. Not yet.”

 

He turned around and gave her a troubled look.

 

“I want to talk. You know, about some unsaid stuff that maybe we can say now.”

 

His gaze flicked toward the bridge and back. “My lord…”

 

“My quarters. Talking. Now.”

 

“My lord, I am not yet quite physically ready for one of our traditional arguments.”

 

It was a moment before Nalenne worked that out. “Oh! We can fight properly now! Um, not right right now. But in general. Yes!”

 

Vette made a face. “I am not hearing this.”

 

“Quiet, you. Malavai, I’ll try to be nice. And I’ll let you go in time to file your stuff before close of business, Kaas City local time. Okay?”

 

Quinn raised his eyebrows. “You will?”

 

“I will. Promise.”

 

He seemed relieved. “Thank you, my lord. Lead the way.”

 

Once they were safely sequestered in Nalenne’s quarters, Pierce sighed and slouched. “Vette,” he said.

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Get our ice cream back to the secret cooler, eh? Otherwise you know the captain’ll be at it within hours, and probably right back to blaming you.” (*)

 

“Good thinking.”

100. Epilogue: In which things are no longer normal

 

The bleeding hearts swear that it’s true,

The whole’s more than all parts can do.

They say to belong

Makes man and group strong…

They clearly weren’t watching this crew.

 

 

“You’re settling in okay?”

 

“It is strange to have to eat and sleep again, my lord. My productivity has plummeted.”

 

“I could kill you again if you liked it better that way.”

 

“No! I will adapt to the new work schedule.”

 

“Good. Don’t you forget the advantages of the mortal coil.”

 

“I don’t think you would let me, my lord.”

 

“Mmm, correct.”

 

*

 

Pierce stood up from his seat in the mess, stretched, and swung his arms wide. One huge hand impacted with Quinn’s face. “Oops,” said Pierce. “Keep forgetting you’re actually there.”

 

Quinn rubbed his nose and scowled. “Your forgetfulness will be noted in your personnel file. The Wrath has applied for my commission to be restored, you know. I expect that to come through any day now.”

 

“Maybe you’ll outrank me again, Quinn, but you’ll always be outclassed.”

 

“Forgetful and delusional. Noted for your file, Lieutenant.”

 

“Screw off, Captain.”

 

*

 

“Vette.”

 

“Quinny?”

 

”Stop that.”

 

“Take it up with the boss.”

 

“I was going to say, I’ve started work on a project that may interest you, though I regret it already. It’s a difficult task, but given time, I or one of my contacts may be able to construct something to emulate your slave collar code long enough to get it off of you.”

 

“Wow. You would do that for me?”

 

“Of my own accord? No, of course not. But I am somewhat indebted to the Wrath, and she asked.”

 

“This…may be the first time I have ever been glad of your existence.”

 

“You’re lucky she made it a direct order.”

 

*

 

Jaesa walked up to Quinn and hugged him, hard.

 

He stood stock-still. “What are you doing, Jaesa?” he asked coldly.

 

“Indicating my affection and my happiness that you’re back with us. It’s something humans do.” She backed off and smiled winsomely. He glared at her. “Things around here are a lot less awful when the Wrath is happy, you know. And that’s when she’s with you.”

 

“Don’t tell me about how I’m improving your Jedi life.”

 

“Of course, captain.”

 

“One more thing. The holovid nights in the Wrath’s bed will stop.”

 

“You could join us.”

 

“You will stay out of her quarters!”

 

Jaesa only smiled. “That’s the captain I remember.”

 

*

 

Broonmark jumped out to block Quinn’s path in the hallway. “Brrroglkgl blorp blogggg.”

 

Quinn frowned up at him. “I still have no desire whatsoever to understand what you’re saying.”

 

“He’s saying that if you hurt me again he will rip you limb from limb and find somebody to devour your soul,” explained Nalenne, coming up behind Quinn.

 

“I’m going to have to ask the crew to stop making death threats against me. If I am to effectively run the ship in your absence…”

 

Nalenne leaned around Quinn. “It’s okay, Broonmark. He hurts me, you kill him.”

 

“My lord!”

 

“The problem won’t come up, now will it?”

 

He seemed about to object some more, but he stopped himself, clenched his jaw, scowled at her. “Of course not.”

 

“Thought not. Come on, I came to say the bridge console’s bringing in a job from one of your military friends.”

 

They hurried together to read over the assignment. Nalenne laid her hand on Quinn’s as they read, and he moved to catch her thumb with his. When she finished the briefing and looked up, she found him simply watching her with the faintest suggestion of a smile.

 

“Ready, Malavai?”

 

“Always, my lord.”

 

- fin -

And there you have it! Nalenne has finally ejected the undead guy from her life…er, ejected the undead but welcomed the guy, or something…anyway, she can finally return to the comfortable binary of "Everybody I know is either dead and out of the way or alive and capable of being killed."

 

And I finally invented a set of circumstances under which I would allow that snake back onto my ship.

 

From here, Nalenne’s going back to work, once again driven by a love of violent action and directed by a strategist who is considerably more level-headed than she is. Will Niselle try to make her life hell? (Yes.) Will wacky legal complications arise as everybody who ever disliked Quinn attempts to sabotage his official reintegration into society? (Yes.) Will Pierce be mysterious, Vette be benignly manipulative, Jaesa be conflicted, and Broonmark be smarter than the people who’ve seen his crazed blood frenzies give him credit for? (Yes.) Will Jedi Master Rho continue to threaten the cruel ideals of the Empire? (Yes.) Will Nalenne and Quinn struggle as their mutual admiration seeks to override the frequent disagreements stemming from the fundamental discord between passion-oriented and responsibility-oriented value systems? (Yes.) But the details of those stories are a concern for another day, if ever. What matters now is that Nalenne finally got back what she had before that whole mutually botched murder thing. And Quinn can finally requisition and wear an up-to-date uniform.

 

You know that expression "I didn’t start out to write a novel, but…"? That’s me. Figured I was biting off four or five sketches a month ago. Just finished chewing a hundred. It’s been fun!

 

Thanks for reading, and may the Force free you!

/applause

 

Brava!! Brava!!

 

Thank you for making a good chunk of my reading time very enjoyable

Take a bow! That was incredible.

Standing ovation!! Masterful work! Loved every passage!

Well done!! I am glad Quinn finally came back in full. Well written, funny to the end. I do hope you write a sequel.

This is truly amazing work. I have enjoyed the story development very much. You are an extremely talented writer.

A masterpiece! AUTHOR! AUTHOR!

Hate to see this end, but really enjoyed the ride! And, everyone loves a happy ending

Woot, for a mostly happy end. It was definitely a fun read.

This was some amazing work. I hope to see you write some more stories.

 

I was really hoping to see a little more in depth with Lenny's relationship with Jaesa. Mostly because how funny it was to read.

Appendix: Alternate Endings

 

In case you wonder what my creative process looks like, here are some story endings I seriously considered:

 

 

• Rocks fall, everyone dies. Including Quinn.
   
  
• Rocks fall, everyone dies. Except Quinn. This can branch into either “hilarious misadventures of a ghostly officer returning to traditional duty in the Imperial military” or “the dark and gritty destruction of a psyche that has lost all hope in this senseless, cruel galaxy.”
   
  
• Quinn gets re-embodied. Music swells. Choirs of angels sing. Awesome sex is had, followed by a triumphal walk back toward the ship. On the way out, rocks fall, Quinn dies. (THIS WAS SO TEMPTING)
   
  
• Quinn, re-embodied or not, dies from exposure to the proper flame/sunlight/chemicals/Force effect/lightsaber/water (wow, ‘I’m melting’ would be a great end for him)/radiation/missiles/discovery of some nonregulation Imperial setup so horrible it destroys his very soul on sight.
   
  
• Quinn sticks around forever, author goes slowly insane because I need a sense of resolution at some point.
   
  
• Nalenne and Quinn discover a re-embodying solution and develop a portable device for it, trading off who is alive at any given time during tough ops and using the alternate dead-and-invulnerable/live-and-powerful status for tactical hilarity.
   
  
• Niselle poaches both Quinn and the Helicarrier, and we transition into a second series wherein Nalenne and Andronikos team up for mayhem and revenge while Niselle locks Quinn in a closet, congratulates herself on making Nalenne miserable, and continues on her merry scheming way. Quinn gets his own story arc about trying to get out of the closet. Childish innuendo ensues.
   
  
• Nalenne comes to her senses and commences getting it on with Pierce. Every other consideration in the galaxy becomes irrelevant; series ends or alternately turns into something I’m not allowed to post here. (Possibly the second most tempting alternate ending. I do love me some Pierce.)