Another installment... (sorry it's been so long)
The morning was bright and sunny. It totally contradicted Etek’s mood. He wasn’t looking forward to seeing Pois again. Part of him dreaded the thought, another part of him was oddly thrilled by the idea. He wanted to quash the latter thought.
He dressed in his armour once again and headed outside. He went to the hanger bay to prep the shuttle he’d be taking to Onderon. He’d decided that was where he would deliver Pois to. She wanted to go there and he didn’t want her here. It made perfect sense.
Etek was going through the final checks when he heard footsteps on the permicrete. He stopped as he saw two soldiers escorting Pois towards him, her hands bound. It seemed the Commander had assumed that Etek would fly her out. He smiled to himself at the thought.
“Leave her,†Etek told his fellow soldiers and they complied. Etek took her bonds in his fist and pulled her close. “Looks like you get your wish. We’re going to Onderon.â€Â
The corner of Pois’ mouth lifted slightly but the smile didn’t touch her eyes.
Etek didn’t dwell on her reaction, he was still mad as hell. He was partly contemplating throwing her out of the hatch once they were in Onderon’s orbit but he knew he wouldn’t.
Dragging her behind him, Etek boarded the ship and shoved her roughly into the co-pilots chair. He strapped her seatbelt in and was very focused on avoiding contact with her.
Then he got into the pilot’s chair and started the remaining flight checks. Beneath his helmet his jaw twitched, he was angry but he still wanted to look at her and that only infuriated him more. He let out a long breath and continued the checks.
-
Pois decided that silence was the best option for now. She could practically feel the angry waves rolling of Marsden. He was paying way too much attention to his pre-flight checks.
So it seemed that she still had an effect on him, even if it had changed from affection to rage. She could still work with that, although she was feeling a slight touch of regret. She mentally shook herself, now was not the time to get soft.
Finally Marsden finished his methodical checks and launched the shuttle. Pois waited until they were out of Dxun’s orbit before she spoke. “I suppose you want an explanation?â€Â
Marsden body was facing forward but she saw him tense at her words. She waited a moment but he didn’t speak.
“My life has been a hard and complicated one.†Pois began.
Marsden turned to look at her. “Theft from a Hutt is hardly the work of a hard done by peasant.â€Â
Pois nodded calmly. So he knew her situation, it wasn’t surprising, his Commander would have informed him of her confession. This complicated things. “I started small but I found I had a talent, unfortunately it was one that there are laws against.â€Â
Marsden shook his head. “Admit it, you like what you do.â€Â
Pois smiled, “Yeah I do. It’s a challenge and I live for the thrill of the moment.†She looked up at Marsden, hoping her eyes locked with his beneath the helmet. “I’m sure you live for the moment too.â€Â
“I don’t steal.†Marsden pointed out.
“But you kill.†Pois pointed out in turn.
Marsden leant forward sharply. “I have only killed in the heat of battle, never simply for the thrill of it.â€Â
“You want to kill me now though, don’t you?†Pois said pointedly.
Marsden sat back. “No I don’t.â€Â
Pois felt a wave of relief wash over her. Then she looked up at Marsden, “What do you want to do with me then?â€Â
Once again Marsden was silent. Pois had put a touch of sultry in her tone but Marsden wasn’t biting. She sat back into her chair and looked at the dark sky. “Do you ever wonder if there’s a better life out there?â€Â
“I’m a Mandalorian, I stay with my kind. Unlike you I understand loyalty.†Marsden said sharply.
Pois blinked, that actually hurt her. She hadn’t had any loyalty from anyone she’d ever know. Marsden seemed to believe that loyalty was something easily given. Such a thing had never been the case for her. “And unlike you, I’ve never had the luxury of loyalty.â€Â
“Going for the sympathy angle now, are you?†Marsden growled.
This time it was Pois who was feeling angry. “No, if I was I’d do a better job then that.â€Â
Marsden actually laughed. “Wow, I think you might actually be telling the truth.â€Â
Pois crossed her arms in annoyance. “I’ve told the truth to you more often than you think.
Marsden’s helmeted head turned slightly to the side. “Sure you did.â€Â
“Honest! I did. I only covered up about my small misadventure with Boba Fett.†Pois pouted.
Again Marsden laughed, “Small misadventure? I don’t think there’s such a thing if Boba Fett is involved. You don’t really think you’ll get away from him, do you?â€Â
Pois chewed her bottom lip. “No I don’t think I can evade him forever. I just want to be able to avoid him until the bounty drops.â€Â
Marsden shook him head, “You stole from Zorba the Hutt, he’s more likely to increase your bounty the longer you’re missing.â€Â
Pois felt a chill go through her body. She knew what he said was true but she couldn’t let go of the hope of escape. She moved her arms back and allowed her elbows to rub against the secret pocket in her vest that contained the stolen gems. “Sometimes our emotions get the best of us. I got too greedy.â€Â
Marsden’s voice was quiet in reply. “Our emotions can mislead us.â€Â
Pois blinked, it seemed that she was actually getting through to Marsden and amazingly it was with the truth. She would never have believed such a thing in the past. “Marsden,†she said quietly.
He turned to look at her.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have betrayed your trust.†Pois said, actually meaning it.
Marsden snorted. “I’m sure you are.â€Â
Pois shook her head, “No, I didn’t mean it they way you think. I am genuinely sorry. It’s not often that I meet someone who is so… so…â€Â
“Gullible,†Marsden finished for her.
“No, I was going to say nice.†Pois said and dipped her head feeling a little embarrassed by the admission.
Marsden’s voice turned cold. “Lay off it. I’m sick of your chatter. Be silent until we reach Onderon.â€Â
Pois opened her mouth to protest, however Marsden took her chin in his gloved hand. His grip was not gentle. “I do have tape. I can force you to be quiet.â€Â
Pois closed her mouth and let out a harsh breath. Yet she remained silent. She would wait for him to talk.
-
Etek could still hear the echo of Pois saying his name. She’d said it so tenderly that he’d wanted to believe her apology. He’d been so close to caving in that he’d had to get her to stop talking.
Even now he was uncomfortably aware of her presence beside him. He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to believe that she really was sorry and thought he was nice. But Boba Fett couldn’t be wrong. Helif Pois was not what she seemed.
Yet Etek wanted to forgive her. He wanted to believe that she wanted him, because as much as he wanted to deny it, he did want her. “Are you part Falleen?†He found himself asking.
“I thought you wanted me to remain silent?†Pois countered.
Etek glared at her beneath the helmet. “Just answer the question.â€Â
“No,†she simply replied. “Why do you ask?â€Â
“No reason.†Etek said sternly.
He noticed Pois smile out of the corner of his eye. “What’s so amusing?â€Â
“You are. You’re trying to justify why you find me attractive aren’t you?†Pois smirked.
Etek shook his head, annoyed that she was so astute, though his question had been pretty obvious to read. He wished he’d remained silent. “Fine, yes I was wondering how I could I possibly be attracted to scum like you.â€Â
Pois looked astonished. “You think I’m scum? I’m offended by that.â€Â
“Good, now maybe you’ll leave me alone.†Etek snarled.
Pois looked him up and down. “If you wanted to get away from me you could have got one of your soldier buddies to drop me off. I’m sure you’re not the only soldier on the planet that can fly a shuttle.â€Â
That made Etek bristle, he hit the autopilot button and stood up. He hit the release on her seatbelt then grabbed Pois by the shirt front and pulled her to her feet. “You’ve got a lot of nerve. You’re the one tied up here.â€Â
“Physically maybe, but you’re the one tied in knots inside. Admit it Marsden, you don’t know what you want right now. There’s a part of you that wants to throttle me and another that would like to do something more pleasurable.†Pois told.
Etek dragged her away from the co-pilot chair and pushed her against the bulkhead. “Why do you taunt me? It’s clear that your feelings aren’t genuine.â€Â
Pois’ face turned serious. “My feelings might not have been genuine in the beginning, but I do find you extremely attractive. I wish you’d take your helmet off.â€Â
“I’m sure you do. It’d make it a lot easier for you to attack me.†Etek snarled.
Pois raised her tied wrists. “I haven’t mastered the art of fighting with my hands bound.â€Â
“That’s easy for you to say.†Etek growled. He took of his helmet against his better judgement.
Pois’ eyes softened as they roamed over the contours of his face. “You haven’t shaved.†She said raising her hands, her fingers touching his stubbled jaw.
He flinched away. “No I didn’t. I was too angry.â€Â
Pois moved closer. “It suits you.â€Â
“Being angry?†Etek queried.
“No, having stubble. Makes you look more appealing.†Pois said moving closer. The scent of her skin filled Etek’s senses and as he attempted to move away Pois managed to lift her bound hands over his head and wrap them around his neck. She pulled him close and kissed him.
Etek felt as if his knees were going to buckle beneath him. She tasted so good and her lips were wild yet tender against his. He found himself returning her embrace and then her kiss. He quivered as she ran her tongue across his top lip.
He actually groaned as she pressed her body closer to his, her soft breasts pressed against his chest-plate and Etek felt his heart pound faster and wondered why he hadn’t pursued a woman before now.
Feeling bold Etek slid his hand from Pois’ waist to her firm backside, pressing her even closer to him. She responded by deepening their kiss and grinding her hips against him.
It was the proximity alert that brought Etek back from the brink of making a potentially fatal mistake. He removed Pois’ arms from his neck and shoved her back into her seat as he returned to his and made the adjustments for landing.
“You haven’t fastened my seatbelt.†Pois said as she indicated to harness hanging beside her.
Etek paused and then moved to strap her back in. He didn’t miss the fact that she sat forward so his hand brushed against her breast as he moved the harness into place. Once he was done he returned to the pilots chair and prepared to land.
After a brief exchange with the Onderon authorities, Etek was designated a landing platform and landed the shuttle with practiced ease.
“So what happens now?†Pois asked.
Etek sighed. “I take you to a motel, untie you and you do whatever you want to do.â€Â
A cheeky grin spread across Pois’ face. “You say whatever I want to do, does that involve you?â€Â
Etek felt himself blush at the suggestion. “You’re trying to lead me astray.â€Â
“I think you want to be led.†Pois told.
“Possibly, let’s get this over with.†Etek said as he stood. He released Pois’ seatbelt and allowed her to stand.
She raised her hands. “You can untie me now.â€Â
Etek shook his head. “I don’t think so. You’re likely to steal the shuttle on me.â€Â
Pois smiled and shrugged. “Well I am a thief.â€Â
“Exactly, now let’s go.†Etek said as he pointed her towards the exit.