Chapter Two

On board the shuttle Dreaming Knight Tahiri sighed as she walked into her little quarters. They were smaller than the ones that she’d had at the academy. She shook her head as she went to the sleeping mat and sat down. She shut her eyes as she crossed her legs on the mat and let out a slow breath. She reached out to the force to try and calm herself. Master Skywalker wasn’t too happy about her leaving the academy for the Smuggler’s Heart but he didn’t tell her to stay either. She knew that he wouldn’t bee happy until she’d finished her training, but how was she to do that when she couldn’t even keep her mind on it? She took a deep breath then let it out slowly. She repeated this step six more times. Finally she couldn’t take it anymore. She let go of her concentration and shook her head. “Why do I even bother?” She asked as she stood up leaving her bag behind she headed out the door, shutting it tightly behind her.

She walked down the passageways just looking around the shuttle. She walked into the lounge and went to sit at a free table. She looked around the room a bit and wondered what the Heart would be like. She’d heard rumors that it was a giant super star destroyer. Other rumors said that is was a base on some distant planet that only the Solo family and their dearest friends new of, yet others still said that it was a code name for an asteroid that the empire had dug into to hide their Bounty Hunters. Whatever the case, and whatever it was, she was heading right for it now. It would be her new home. Funny thing about “homes” She thought. I always find a new one even if the old one isn’t that bad. I’m always running from something. She smiled sadly as she looked at the man who had just walked into the lounge.

He was six-two with long reddish-brown hair that was pulled back. He was dressed in a pair of baggy black pants and a plain white muscle shirt with what appeared to be a dark blue silk shirt over it. She watched as he stopped and raised the sunglasses that he was wearing and looked around the room. She made sure that by the time his eyes reached her, she wasn’t looking in his direction anymore. She looked at the table in front of her and started thinking about what life on the Heart would be like. She was so deep in her thoughts that she’d failed to notice that the man had walked up and asked her something.

“Are you being rude on purpose or are you deaf?” He asked as he waved a hand in front of her face.

She jumped and looked up at him. “Oh I’m sorry but I didn’t hear you. What did you say?” She said in a soft voice. She wasn’t really sure about how to act around this stranger, so she just tried to be as polite as she could.

“I asked if this seat was taken?” He said.

She shook her head. “No.” She said and watched as he smiled and sat down. She looked around the room there was another empty table. She wondered why he hadn’t sat there.

“So, where are you headed?” He asked as he leaned his back against the wall, stretching his legs out on the rest of the bench. He looked at her and smiled again.

She smiled back as she answered. “I’m heading to see some friends.”

“Oh that’s cool. What planet are you getting off on?” He asked still smiling at her.

What’s up with the smile? She thought as she replied. “I’m not going planet side. I’m on for the long haul to the Smuggler’s Heart.” She looked at him then looked back at the table.

He smiled again as he tapped his fingers on the tabletop. “Hey what do you know so am I.” He laughed softly as he watched her. “So what’s your name?” He asked.

She looked up at him. “Tahiri.” She said then looked away again.

“Tahiri…nice name. Is that all?” He watched her carefully.

She brushed strand of her long blonde hair out of her face as she sighed. “Veila. That’s my last name. Tahiri Veila.” She said as her fingers ran over the still healing scars on her forehead. She bit her lip to keep from making any sound as the pain shot through her. Looking up she noticed that he was watching her intently. “Can I help you?” She snapped, not meaning to be so rude.

He looked at her, not even phased by the anger in her voice. “I was just wondering if you were okay?” Then he smiled softly and extended his hand. “Name’s Homicide. I’m heading for the Heart too.” He looked at her and waited for her to shake his hand.

Not trying to be rude anymore than she already was she took the hand in her own and shook it. “Nice to meet you. Sorry about me snapping like that. It’s just that…”

Homicide held up a hand. “Don’t mention it. I bet you get a lot of people looking at you strangely. I would snap too if I had those marks.” He shook his head slowly. “Their really nasty looking. Mind if I ask how you got them?”

She shook her head slowly, not really sure if she really wanted to talk about it with a total stranger. “I guess not.” She said slowly then sighed. “Well I’m sure you know about the war between the Galactic Republic and the Yuuzhan Vong right?” When he nodded she continued. “Well I was on one of the planets the got attacked and taken over by them. I got caught and taken captive. While in their care I was taken before what they called Shapers. They implanted me with their coral growths. I was saved after they royally messed me up. Thankfully the Medics were able to get the stuff out of my skin, but they left behind these nasty scars.” She said touching them lightly so as not to make them hurt.

He nodded when she’d finished speaking and sighed softly. “Sorry to hear that. What planet did you say this happened on again?”

She looked at him for a second. “I didn’t say.” She replied then looked away.

The two of them sat there for a while, neither saying anything as they left each other to their own thoughts. After a while Homicide started to laugh. Tahiri looked back at him wondering what was so funny. “Are you alright?” She asked.

He nodded as he smiled at her. “Sorry, it’s just that I was thinking about something.” He sighed as he reached into a pocket and pulled out a picture and looked at it. He looked at her then showed it to her.

In the photo there were two girls who stood the same height with the same smile. They both had long hair, one silver while the other had black. One had fiery blue eyes while the other had fiery purple ones. The one with the silver hair was holding on to a tall man. It took her a moment to notice that the man was Homicide. Both of them were dressed identical, slightly baggy black pants, white under shirts, a dark blue over shirt, Homicide was wearing sunglasses. The other girl was holding on to a man who looked to only be a few inches taller than she was. She was dressed in all black from top to bottom. She was looking up at the other man who had long reddish-brown hair too that was tied back as well. His fiery brown eyes shined as he looked at the girl next to him. He was dressed like Homicide in baggy black pants and a white shirt but he had a deep purple over shirt on.

She looked up at him. “You’re family?” She asked.

He nodded. “Yeah, they’re my twins. The girl with the silver hair is my sister Tai. The other girl is Beauty. The man next to her is Fury. I’m heading to meet up with them on the Heart too.”

She smiled back as she handed him the photo back. “It must be nice to have a family.” She said. She looked around the room and noticed that it had emptied out quite a bit. She sighed a bit and rubbed her eyes. She was tired and could do with some sleep.

He noticed how tired she looked and smiled. “Yeah it’s nice when everyone gets along at least. Hey it’s late why don’t you get some sleep. When I came aboard the captain said that it would take three standard days to get to the Heart.” He said as he stood up and offered her a hand up.

She took it and smiled. “Thanks. I guess I could use some sleep”

He nodded. “Yeah so could I. I guess I’ll see you in the morning then.” He smiled as he turned and walked off down the opposite hallway.

She sighed as she headed to her room, once inside she shut the door tightly and locked it. She even went so far as to place the small chair that was sitting at the desk in front of the door and placed her bag on it. Should anyone try to get in she’d know and be ready for them. Walking over to the sleeping mat she lay down and was quickly asleep.
 

Reviews

[Charisma Moonfairy]

Awww she made a friend

[Charisma Moonfairy]

It just keeps getting better and better the more it goes on my love.