The Backdrafts (Book 4)

[Akirapryde]

At Water's Edge
Wited'etee
Outer Rim

It had been months passed since the failed mission to conquer Origin and secure the Sword. The battle was a costly one for the army that Rose had so tirelessly built in complete secrecy. The opening hours of the battle had gone just as Rose had predicted it would have. The locals natives were no match for their firepower, skills, or numbers. Though a bit of orbital bombardment didn't hurt either. As the last bit of leadership of the natives had fallen, victory seemed nearly assured. However, they were to be denied victory at the very last moment. Jedi Weapon Master Uris Chun and his band of do gooders surprised the attackers at the verge of their final victory. Some how he even managed to enlist the help of Aral and her sister. Orchid knew that Aral was powerful but never imagined how much her powers and control over the Dark side had grown. Orchid and her apprentice Lotus were simply no match for the person who now claims the title Dark Lord of the Sith.

Orchid had tried every trick in the book to get the upper hand on Aral however nothing she could come up with seemed to work. Aral was just to powerful. As the battle raged, Aral called on reinforcements but they were stretched too thin as it was. Rose's plan was clever but she didn't take in to account Chun and his allies shown up. As Rose's death was felt and all seemed lost still Orchid still tried to defeat the Sith Lord. In the end, Orchid was bound to be defeated in this battle. Aral must have sensed the coming end of their decade old rivalry as she moved to finish off the pair of want a be Sith Lords. However, Lotus denied Aral of her final victory and the pleasure of killing Orchid. Orchid had her doubts about Lotus before and did not completely trust her, however all that was about to change. Orchid was spent and wounded, Lotus could have left her to die. But she didn't. Lotus flagged a speeder and got Orchid out of Aral's clutches.

The next few weeks they spent fleeing Aral from Origin. They had their own ship, however that changed when they stumbled across the Crusade again. If the beating on Origin was not bad enough for them, Orchid learned that the Crusade doesn't forget anything. The Crusade had laid a trap from Orchid and nearly wiped them out. Once more Orchid and Lotus were able to flee with a few 'trusted' companions. Then once more, they crossed paths with Aral thanks to a leak within their own ranks. The betrayal was almost the end of the two of them except for a streak of luck. They were once more able to escaped with their lives and not much else. As Orchid's ranks continued to shrink, Aral was building a sizable force in the Out Rim while taking full advantage of the Jedi Civil war and the confusion of peace that soon followed.

Not long after the signing of the Peace Treaty and the end of the Jedi Civil war, Orchid and Lotus had found them selves down to just a few loyal droids and a small ship. For months their lives had been running from Aral or the Crusade or both at the same time. Orchid even tried to seek safe haven at some of their old safe harbors only to find the Crusade waiting for them. Even pirate fleets who had been forced to serve Rose had set their sights on Orchid. The rumors throughout the Outer Rim was that Rose had stashed a weapon's cache that could easily match even the Azgards. Many believed that if anyone knew where this hidden cache was, it would be Orchid. There was simply no safe haven for them to go. When word slipped out that Aral had been drawn away to face one of Roses former darkside lieutenant, Caravis, Orchid took her chance to slip below the radar and vanish. Even the Crusade wasn't able to locate Orchid as a second shadow war slowly consumed the Outer Rim.

Caravis was a loyal, bold and able leader of Rose's forces. Many suspected that the two were lovers to some degree. Rose was many things in her life and stupid wasn't one of them. She knew that getting the Sword was only part of the larger goal of ruling the Galaxy. She had to crush the crusade before they figured out a way to stop her. So during the years she worked for them, she learned as much as she could about how they operate and how to counter the massive force. She also started building an Army of darkness that was only loyal to her. Lord Caravis was the first dark sider she recruited right from under the Jedi's noses. He was her most trusted and because of that she allowed him to command her forces while she took a third with her to Origin. Now that it was clear the Sith Lord Rose was no more, Lord Caravis laid claim to Rose's throne and started to pull the fractured forces together once more.

While the Jedi civil war continued to rage another war slowly took up steam in the shadows of the Outer Rim. A war to fill the void left behind by powerful Dark Queen, Rose. Without Orchid to step forward and claim her rightfully place as Rose's successor, the other commanders from Rose's army fought and plotted between each other to gain the upper hand on the others. It was not as devastating or even as wide spread as the Jedi Civil War, but the battles between these dark forces were nonetheless intense. Within the deep shadows on this shadowy war were the fingers of the Crusade pulling strings. A galaxy under the control of the Sith was far worse than the Jedi controlled galaxy. They made ever chance to ensure that the waring factions were engaged with timely and helpful information of other factions actions. Playing the dark forces against each other was much easier than plotting the Jedi Civil War.

However Lord Caravis' claim to the Dark Lord of the Sith was his own undoing. It was a bold move that Aral couldn't ignore. She was laying her own ground work for rebuilding a Sith Empire of her own. There was simply no room for any other Dark Lords of the Sith. She was forced to address this foolish act before others saw it as a weakness within her and challenged her. While Aral was capturing Lord Caravis and his family and plotting their very public murders, orchid and Lotus took full advantage to flee. They dropped under everyone's radar and literately vanished from sight. Even the Crusade was unable to track them as they slipped from the normal underworld locations.

Lotus rolled over in their joined sleeping bags as the brisk morning was just getting underway. She smiled as she looked at Orchid's closed eyes. Her hand through her lover's hair soft brown hair as she watched Orchid sleep soundly. The black tattoo across her lover's eyes mirrored the suffering she had gone through in the past. Lotus had somehow found a place in Orchid's heart that was still free from torment and still able to love. Lotus could remember the first time they had met so long ago and how their feelings had chanced over the years. She slowly moved her body closer to Orchid's as she softly brushed hair from her face. She lowed her face toward Orchid's until her limps touched the soft tender lips of Orchid's. She could taste the sweet tender lips and feel the warmth of her lover's breath as she kissed her. Lotus slowly pulled back some resting her head on her hand as Orchid's eyes slowly opened. "Good morning lover" Lotus said with a smile and added, "sleep well?"

Orchid smiled softy as she wiped the sleep from her eyes, "oh god yes. You were right this was a great idea." Orchid said while yawning “I can't remember when we last slept on solid ground.” Then reaching over Orchid added, “But I would prefer a bit more.” She pulled Lotus in to a deep passionate kiss. Orchids arms coiled around Lotus while the pair rolled and their naked bodies crossed each other. Their tongues softly licked as they slowly pulled away from their kiss. "That just never gets old" Orchid finally said looking up in to Lotus' eyes as she looked down at her.

Lotus smiled as she nodded, "nope, it doesn't." She slowly got up form the sleeping bag and walked across the small tent. Hanging from the center support pole as Lotus crossed it, three lightsabers hang from a cord that was tied to the pole. Lotus walked playfully across the tent teasing Orchid with her full hips and well formed body. She came to a small table where some boxes and bottles were. She picked up a bottle of spirits and opened it as she turned to Orchid who was now sitting up on the sleeping bag. Lotus smiled as she took a drink from straight from the bottle.

"Is he still alive" she asked about the body of the young half naked Jedi healer on the ground.

Lotus moved the body with her foot and noticed him groan and move a bit. "Yeah, but I don't think he will be much good for a while" she said with smile as the memories of the night before flashed in her mind. The pair loved each other, but last night was about carnal pleasure. From them, he was just something to help them achieve their own pleasures. Lotus looked down at the wounds they had inflicted on the young Jedi. She really didn't feel anything for him. He preformed as expected and that was all she cared about. "Why do you keep them" she added as she took another drink while looking at the young Jedi and recalled the others in their ship.

Orchid motioned for the bottle and caught it when Lotus tossed it to her, "Mother always said, 'you never know when a good Jedi Healer will come in handy. Always keep a few on hand.'" She explained as she slowly got up. She stretched upward and giving Lotus a full view of her toned and lightly tanned body. "I guess the lesson was never forgotten. I have always found keeping a few handy has paid off." She said while stretching, "plus they make for grreat play things” she said rolling her 'r' like as if she was a cat.

Lotus laugh as she caught the bottle after Orchid took her second drink, "want to take a dip?" She asked as she walked for the door of the tent. “Then I will show you how my mother taught me to cook Gil Fish. Trust me, it will make for a great breakfast.”

Orchid smiled checking out Lotus' long legs with a playful glimmer in her eyes, "Sounds delicious, though I would like more of that.” She said as she tossed a small pillow at Lotus' rear. “I'll be right out sexy" she added as Lotus winked back as she kicked the pillow back on the bed.

Lotus smiled and swatted her bare rear, "you know where to find it." She walked out of the tent and across the sandy shore of the lake side camp site. Lotus slowly took in the majesty of her surroundings as she paused just on the other side of the tent door. The whole area seemed to take her back to more simpler days. When she saw this place as they searched the planet for live, she knew they had to come back here. Something drew her to this lake and she could still feel its draw on her now. She glanced at their ship resting under its camouflage and nodded. The whole place just seemed so simple and prefect. However there was something simply not seem right also. Just beyond her senses, she could feel a strange draw but she could put her finger on it. Shaking off the feeling she walked down to the water's edge slowly as she took in the vast lake and the surrounding mountains.

Carefully stepping closer she shivered, "crap its COLD!" She yelped out as a wave washed over her feet.

"I bet" Lotus heard all too close behind her. Spinning just in time to see Orchid rushing at her. With a leap, both young darksiders flew back towards the ice cold water. The water blew up in to the air as both landed in the water. They soon vanished beneath the waves.

Orchid was the first of the pair to surface with joy in her heart and laughter escaping from her lungs. Lotus followed shortly holding her arms tightly to her body, "You are SO evil!" She said half laughing and half freezing.

Orchid laughed more and splashed her, "somebodies lights are on brights!" She said playfully as she stepped back getting ready for the counter strike she knew was coming.

Trying in vain to avoid the slash, Lotus jerked at the new rush of cold water washing over her. "So are yours!" She yelled back and splashed the water back at Orchid. The two were evenly matched in this battle of splashes. Within seconds it was a full scale splashing war between the two dark lovers which lasted for minutes. Their laughter echoing across the mountain lake as they continued to splash and play. In the distances their echoed laughter were being heard by another group of hunters.

Orchid wasn't expecting the cheating move from Lotus, so when she was lifted out of the water while Lotus drew on the force Orchid was truly surprised. "Lotus! Don't you dare!" was all Orchid could get as Lotus dumped her head first back in to the water with a loud splash. Lotus laughed in victory as she paraded around with her hands held high. As Orchid was coming up for air, she was about to attack Lotus with her own Force attack but stopped before she started. She took noticed to Lotus looked concerned and focused across the lake. “Lotus?” she asked fearing the answer. 'Had Aral found us already?' she thought fearfully.

Lotus continued to try to clear her mind and push her senses to the very limits of her training. “I” she said then paused, “I, I sense someone out there.” She lowered herself in the water a bit as if looking under something, “a feeling I hadn't sensed in a long while.....DAZ!” she warned.

Orchid knew she could take Daz but not if he had brought his entire team. “How many” she questioned as she started to searched the far bank of the lake. Not being able to spot the targets she turned and drew on the force and ripped their lightsabers from their resting place. Orchid caught hers as Lotus pulled hers own towards her.

“I am not sure, two maybe more. Its hard to tell from here.” Lotus said calmly.

“Right, we will leave everything behind. Lets get out of here.” she said as she started to rush out of the water.

“No wait, I don't think they know were are here. I am not sure but I simply don't sense danger from this.” Lotus said as she turned and faced Orchid, “Lets not do anything stupid that will get them to suspect us.”

Orchid nodded, “Okay” then turned her head to the young Jedi as he tried to crawl out of the tent. “Don't you dare. Keep your mouth shut or else you will watch the others die a very slow and painful death.” Orchid warned the young male then added, “remember what I did to your Master.”

He looked down in defeat. They had been captured for only a few weeks and it already seemed like a life time in hell. He looked out over the lake as sense of hope came over him. He knew that the Order would not give up on them. He never doubted that they would be rescued. The fact that the Order sent Daz and his team after them only secured his faith in the Order. He dared to smile as he sent a telepathic message to the others, 'found'. He knew that they would understand as so many of his companions had given in to despair that they had been lost forever.

Orchid walked up on to the shore, “Retards!” she yelled to the droids who came out from the ship. “Break camp normally and prep to depart” she said as she walked up to the young Jedi smiling as he looked to the distant shore. She slapped him so hard he nearly rolled over, “Get on the ship and secure yourself.”

He knew better then to disobey. He got up and walked over to the ship. He walked passed the droid as they argued, “how do you break camp normally?” he heard one of the droids asking. He didn't pause, he had to tell the others that soon they would be free once more and this nightmare would be over. He took one last look at the distant shore with his eyes full of hope. He nodded as he figured it would take them just a few minutes to dispatch the pair of darksiders. He turned and vanished in to the ship.

Sadly, there would be no rescue for the eleven Healers. Within an hour and a half, the camp was broken down and the ship was made ready. As the door closed and the engines fired up, hope turned to despair. Despair turned to depression as the ship lifted off and climbed for space. Even the pair of darksiders couldn't believe that they had gotten away from Daz and his team. The ship climbed for the heavens as the planet and hope for rescue slipped beneath them. With a blast the ship vanished in to hyperspace leaving behind the remaining hope that the group of Healers could muster. Their spirits finally broken in that moment. Their whimpers and soft cries brought smiles to Orchid and Lotus as once more they had escaped death.