Passion, it lies in all of us. Sleeping, waiting, and though unwanted, unbidden, it will stir. Open its jaws and howl.
It speaks to us, guides us. Passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have?
Passion.
Looking out the window and seeing only the distant city that surrounded the Per’Agthra, Jasmine Darksword was at peace. As intergalactic war raged there could be no peace anywhere and yet she found it here, resplendent in the glory that was Hapes. Relaxed, but sensing something slightly different, although not necessarily wrong, on the horizon, the Queen Mother moved quickly as her courtesans prepared her for bed. Her husband, the royal consort, was due to return tomorrow and so now the Queens only duty was to relax and get some rest.
Flicking off the bedside lamp, she lay there quietly, the large bed seeming to make the most powerful woman in the galaxy nothing but a small form, her ragged breaths slowing until eventually they reached an even rhythm. She was asleep. Finally.
Had she been awake now she would have seen something that would have made her heart leap up in her throat. At her window Lupercus Darkswords face could be seen, trademark smirk and all.
Climbing into the room he quickly made his way to the bed, Jasmines prone form none the wiser to the danger that closed in. Standing over her he couldn’t help but lean over to brush away a stray fragment of blonde hair that fell down upon her forehead. Sitting softly on the bed now, Lupercus himself was forced to wonder what things could have been like if everything had gone a little differently.
Could he have been happily married as the ruler of the cluster? Could he have been satisfied with a life more ordinary, instead of the other way around? Such idle speculation had never troubled the Sith until now for it was fruitless, but in his position, the ruler of the Consortium within in grasp, he couldn’t help but wonder…
The dawn came and went, the chirping of birds waking the Queen from her long slumber. She did not wish to get up, but knew today Dakkon would arrive home and as such she forced her mind into action, yawning and stretching until the desire came to get up. Rolling in the bed she turned, noticing something strange.
An envelope lay by her head on her pillow, the matriarch had long taken to sleeping on her husbands side of the bed when he was gone. A little confused but excited since today was the date of Dakkons return she pulled it open to reveal a folded up piece of A4 paper. Furrowing her heavenly brow she unfolded the page, her eyes widening in horror as the meaning of the ‘gift’ became apparent to her.
On the paper was a drawing, done in pencil and sketched well. It was a picture of Jasmines face as she lay sleeping in her bed and it had not been there the night before. On the bottom left hand corner was a single symbol that clued the Queen in.
A small ‘L’.
“He was in our room.”
“Who?” Dakkon looked up bemused as he poured a cup of java. He had returned only moments before his wife had awoken and was currently in the Queen mothers dining room. With them was Morpheus and Ayanna, the Princes cousins.
“Lupercus.
He was in our room last night…”
“Are you sure?” Dakkons face immediately creased with worry as he moved over to his wife.
“Postive. When I woke up I found a picture he had left me on my pillow.”
Morpheus smirked now, remarking. “You know I think there may be a valuable lesson here about how not to spare your brother next time you get the chance…”
Dakkon shot his cousin a displeased look.
“There has to be some way we can stop him having free reign over the Cluster. It’s hard enough that you’re twins.
Perhaps a ‘no heart, no go’ policy or something?” She was kidding, but the fact remained she was right.
Dakkon nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts immediately turning to possible solutions. “You’re right, of course. I’ll check with Zakharov, see if he can come up with something.”
Suddenly two cleaning droids appeared from nowhere, immediately hustling about the room doing their function. Not enjoying the interruption the group looked and each other, then stood and left. Eventually they found their way to the open cloisters that lead from the dining room.
“So, Lupercus has decided to step up his harassment of you?”
Ayanna, walking ahead with Morpheus, replied. “By sneaking into her room and leaving stuff at night?
Why doesn’t he just slit her throat or, strangle her while she’s sleeping or, cut her heart out?”
She looked to Morpheus for support, who just smiled and shook his head.
“What, I’m trying to help?”
“Yes, of course…”
Pausing for a moment Dakkon returned his attentions to Jasmine.
“Its classic battle strategy to throw ones opponent off his game.
He’s just trying to provoke you, to taunt you, to goad you into some mishap of sorts.”
Morpheus interjected now. “The Nahnanahnanahnha approach to battle!”
“Yes, Morpheus, once more you’ve managed to boil a complex thought down to its simplest possible form.” Dakkon smiled, although personally was not amused that his wife was a subject of jokes at such a dangerous time.
Morpheus spoke up now, his commission in the Royal Intelligence Unit allowing him to have a great insight into Lupercus’s mindset.
“His files show that when he was obsessed with Drusilla the first thing he did was to kill her family…”
Jasmines hand shot to her mouth in alarm. “My mother!”
“I know.” Dak was quick to respond. “I’ve had a unit watching your parents since we married. I’ll increase the contingent immediately. Perhaps until then you should invite them to stay here.”
“I’ve got to tell them something about it, otherwise they won’t understand. The truth?”
Dakkon paused for a second then shook his head.
“No. You can’t do that.”
Morpheus piped up now. “Yeah, the more people who know the secret, the more it cheapens it for the rest of us!”
They all smiled now, glad that the situation had been broken with laughter. It was Dakkon who dragged them back on topic.
“I know you’re concerned, but its imperative that you keep a level head throughout this.
As the Queen Mother, you don’t have the luxury of being a slave to your passions. You mustn’t let Lupercus get to you. No matter how provocative his behaviour becomes.”
She shrugged, stopped to lean on the edge of the cloister.
“So what you’re saying is just ignore him and maybe he’ll go away?”
Dakkon stopped, thinking about the analogy.
“Yes… Precisely.”
Morpheus spoke up again.
“Hey, how come Jasmine doesn’t get a snotty ‘once again you boil it down to the simplest form’ thing?” He looked at Ayanna for support before acting hurt.
“Chume’Dai’s pet!” he added, turning to leave.
“I’ve brought something for you!” She declared as she walked into the room her black coat trailing the floor perfectly matched to her red body hugging dress. As she entered she pulled a small dog from behind her back, its whimpering immediately irritating Spike.
“Poor thing, she’s an orphan!” Dru put the dog up to her face playfully. “Her owner died…
Without a fight.” She smirked. “Do you like her?”
She smiled as she present the dog to Spikes vision.
“Hmm?” She had reached him now and she knelt by his side, sliding her hand down inside his black shirt to rub his chest causing him to sigh slightly. “I brought her especially for you, to cheer you up!” As she spoke she pulled her self up using his shirt for balance.
“And I’ve named her… Sunshine!” She cooed at the puppy playfully.
“…Open wide!” Dru pouted childishly as she presented the dog to Spike. Angry, he simply turned his head away.
“Come on love, you need to eat something to keep your strength up!
Now, open up for mummy!”
She smiled, bringing the small animal up towards Spikes face as if to feed him.
“I won’t have you feeding me like a child dru!”
He pushed her away, rolling his wheelchair forward to push Dru away to the side.
“Why not? She already bathes ya, carries ya around and changes ya like a child!”
Lupercus emerged now, smug smirk plainly evident upon his face.
“My angel! Where have you been? The sun is almost up and it can be so hurtful!
We were worried.”
Dru smiled, happy her corruptor had returned, Spike had been so antsy lately, with the injuries and all.
“No we weren’t.” Spike stated, making his displeasure at the Hapans return apparent.
“You must forgive Spike, he’s just a bit testy tonight.
Doesn’t get out much anymore…”
Her voice was slightly mournful, as if yearning for the good old days of widespread degredation.
“Well maybe next time I’ll bring you with me Spike. Might be handy to have you around if I ever need a really good parking space!” Lupercus quipped tactlessly.
“Have you forgotten you’re a bloody guest in my bloody home?” Spike spat venomously, his continued displeasure at the hapans arrogance growing immensely.
Lupercus smiled now.
“And as a guest, if there’s anything I can do for you, any responsibility I can assume while you’re,” he gestured at Spikes chair “spinning your wheels.
Anything,” his eyes immediately darted to Dru “I’m not already doing that is!”
“That’s enough!” Spike snapped, striking a hard push against the Sith Lords chest sending him away from his position leaning above the crippled man. Lupercus cackled manically as he did.
“Aww!” Dru reached around, her hand on his neck as she kissed Spike as if to remind him of her true standing in that regard.
“You two boys,” she started to wander playfully around the room, “fighting over me and all!
Makes a girl feel…” Suddenly the playful look disappeared from her face and was replaced by a look of horror, pain and fear. She squealed in anguish, her face ashen as her breath came in gasps. Lupercus started to move towards her as Spike sat, unmoved.
“Dru, what is it pet?” Spike asked.
She seemed to be staring into nothing as she spoke, almost as if relaying a message.
“The air, it worries!
Someone, an old enemy is seeking help. Help to destroy our happy home!”
She wailed and moaned, leaning on a nearby long backed chair for support.
It speaks to us, guides us. Passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have?
Passion.
Looking out the window and seeing only the distant city that surrounded the Per’Agthra, Jasmine Darksword was at peace. As intergalactic war raged there could be no peace anywhere and yet she found it here, resplendent in the glory that was Hapes. Relaxed, but sensing something slightly different, although not necessarily wrong, on the horizon, the Queen Mother moved quickly as her courtesans prepared her for bed. Her husband, the royal consort, was due to return tomorrow and so now the Queens only duty was to relax and get some rest.
Flicking off the bedside lamp, she lay there quietly, the large bed seeming to make the most powerful woman in the galaxy nothing but a small form, her ragged breaths slowing until eventually they reached an even rhythm. She was asleep. Finally.
Had she been awake now she would have seen something that would have made her heart leap up in her throat. At her window Lupercus Darkswords face could be seen, trademark smirk and all.
Climbing into the room he quickly made his way to the bed, Jasmines prone form none the wiser to the danger that closed in. Standing over her he couldn’t help but lean over to brush away a stray fragment of blonde hair that fell down upon her forehead. Sitting softly on the bed now, Lupercus himself was forced to wonder what things could have been like if everything had gone a little differently.
Could he have been happily married as the ruler of the cluster? Could he have been satisfied with a life more ordinary, instead of the other way around? Such idle speculation had never troubled the Sith until now for it was fruitless, but in his position, the ruler of the Consortium within in grasp, he couldn’t help but wonder…
-----
The dawn came and went, the chirping of birds waking the Queen from her long slumber. She did not wish to get up, but knew today Dakkon would arrive home and as such she forced her mind into action, yawning and stretching until the desire came to get up. Rolling in the bed she turned, noticing something strange.
An envelope lay by her head on her pillow, the matriarch had long taken to sleeping on her husbands side of the bed when he was gone. A little confused but excited since today was the date of Dakkons return she pulled it open to reveal a folded up piece of A4 paper. Furrowing her heavenly brow she unfolded the page, her eyes widening in horror as the meaning of the ‘gift’ became apparent to her.
On the paper was a drawing, done in pencil and sketched well. It was a picture of Jasmines face as she lay sleeping in her bed and it had not been there the night before. On the bottom left hand corner was a single symbol that clued the Queen in.
A small ‘L’.
-----
“He was in our room.”
“Who?” Dakkon looked up bemused as he poured a cup of java. He had returned only moments before his wife had awoken and was currently in the Queen mothers dining room. With them was Morpheus and Ayanna, the Princes cousins.
“Lupercus.
He was in our room last night…”
“Are you sure?” Dakkons face immediately creased with worry as he moved over to his wife.
“Postive. When I woke up I found a picture he had left me on my pillow.”
Morpheus smirked now, remarking. “You know I think there may be a valuable lesson here about how not to spare your brother next time you get the chance…”
Dakkon shot his cousin a displeased look.
“There has to be some way we can stop him having free reign over the Cluster. It’s hard enough that you’re twins.
Perhaps a ‘no heart, no go’ policy or something?” She was kidding, but the fact remained she was right.
Dakkon nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts immediately turning to possible solutions. “You’re right, of course. I’ll check with Zakharov, see if he can come up with something.”
Suddenly two cleaning droids appeared from nowhere, immediately hustling about the room doing their function. Not enjoying the interruption the group looked and each other, then stood and left. Eventually they found their way to the open cloisters that lead from the dining room.
“So, Lupercus has decided to step up his harassment of you?”
Ayanna, walking ahead with Morpheus, replied. “By sneaking into her room and leaving stuff at night?
Why doesn’t he just slit her throat or, strangle her while she’s sleeping or, cut her heart out?”
She looked to Morpheus for support, who just smiled and shook his head.
“What, I’m trying to help?”
“Yes, of course…”
Pausing for a moment Dakkon returned his attentions to Jasmine.
“Its classic battle strategy to throw ones opponent off his game.
He’s just trying to provoke you, to taunt you, to goad you into some mishap of sorts.”
Morpheus interjected now. “The Nahnanahnanahnha approach to battle!”
“Yes, Morpheus, once more you’ve managed to boil a complex thought down to its simplest possible form.” Dakkon smiled, although personally was not amused that his wife was a subject of jokes at such a dangerous time.
Morpheus spoke up now, his commission in the Royal Intelligence Unit allowing him to have a great insight into Lupercus’s mindset.
“His files show that when he was obsessed with Drusilla the first thing he did was to kill her family…”
Jasmines hand shot to her mouth in alarm. “My mother!”
“I know.” Dak was quick to respond. “I’ve had a unit watching your parents since we married. I’ll increase the contingent immediately. Perhaps until then you should invite them to stay here.”
“I’ve got to tell them something about it, otherwise they won’t understand. The truth?”
Dakkon paused for a second then shook his head.
“No. You can’t do that.”
Morpheus piped up now. “Yeah, the more people who know the secret, the more it cheapens it for the rest of us!”
They all smiled now, glad that the situation had been broken with laughter. It was Dakkon who dragged them back on topic.
“I know you’re concerned, but its imperative that you keep a level head throughout this.
As the Queen Mother, you don’t have the luxury of being a slave to your passions. You mustn’t let Lupercus get to you. No matter how provocative his behaviour becomes.”
She shrugged, stopped to lean on the edge of the cloister.
“So what you’re saying is just ignore him and maybe he’ll go away?”
Dakkon stopped, thinking about the analogy.
“Yes… Precisely.”
Morpheus spoke up again.
“Hey, how come Jasmine doesn’t get a snotty ‘once again you boil it down to the simplest form’ thing?” He looked at Ayanna for support before acting hurt.
“Chume’Dai’s pet!” he added, turning to leave.
-----
“I’ve brought something for you!” She declared as she walked into the room her black coat trailing the floor perfectly matched to her red body hugging dress. As she entered she pulled a small dog from behind her back, its whimpering immediately irritating Spike.
“Poor thing, she’s an orphan!” Dru put the dog up to her face playfully. “Her owner died…
Without a fight.” She smirked. “Do you like her?”
She smiled as she present the dog to Spikes vision.
“Hmm?” She had reached him now and she knelt by his side, sliding her hand down inside his black shirt to rub his chest causing him to sigh slightly. “I brought her especially for you, to cheer you up!” As she spoke she pulled her self up using his shirt for balance.
“And I’ve named her… Sunshine!” She cooed at the puppy playfully.
“…Open wide!” Dru pouted childishly as she presented the dog to Spike. Angry, he simply turned his head away.
“Come on love, you need to eat something to keep your strength up!
Now, open up for mummy!”
She smiled, bringing the small animal up towards Spikes face as if to feed him.
“I won’t have you feeding me like a child dru!”
He pushed her away, rolling his wheelchair forward to push Dru away to the side.
“Why not? She already bathes ya, carries ya around and changes ya like a child!”
Lupercus emerged now, smug smirk plainly evident upon his face.
“My angel! Where have you been? The sun is almost up and it can be so hurtful!
We were worried.”
Dru smiled, happy her corruptor had returned, Spike had been so antsy lately, with the injuries and all.
“No we weren’t.” Spike stated, making his displeasure at the Hapans return apparent.
“You must forgive Spike, he’s just a bit testy tonight.
Doesn’t get out much anymore…”
Her voice was slightly mournful, as if yearning for the good old days of widespread degredation.
“Well maybe next time I’ll bring you with me Spike. Might be handy to have you around if I ever need a really good parking space!” Lupercus quipped tactlessly.
“Have you forgotten you’re a bloody guest in my bloody home?” Spike spat venomously, his continued displeasure at the hapans arrogance growing immensely.
Lupercus smiled now.
“And as a guest, if there’s anything I can do for you, any responsibility I can assume while you’re,” he gestured at Spikes chair “spinning your wheels.
Anything,” his eyes immediately darted to Dru “I’m not already doing that is!”
“That’s enough!” Spike snapped, striking a hard push against the Sith Lords chest sending him away from his position leaning above the crippled man. Lupercus cackled manically as he did.
“Aww!” Dru reached around, her hand on his neck as she kissed Spike as if to remind him of her true standing in that regard.
“You two boys,” she started to wander playfully around the room, “fighting over me and all!
Makes a girl feel…” Suddenly the playful look disappeared from her face and was replaced by a look of horror, pain and fear. She squealed in anguish, her face ashen as her breath came in gasps. Lupercus started to move towards her as Spike sat, unmoved.
“Dru, what is it pet?” Spike asked.
She seemed to be staring into nothing as she spoke, almost as if relaying a message.
“The air, it worries!
Someone, an old enemy is seeking help. Help to destroy our happy home!”
She wailed and moaned, leaning on a nearby long backed chair for support.