Private Unknown Territory

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine's hold on the covers only tightened as Cassius chuckled. And she fought to keep hidden, but he won in the end and lifted the blanket enough to join her beneath it. She held her breath as his body slid close the lights dimmed around them. A moment later, his palm was against the side of her face, and his lips on hers. Sabine's lashes fluttered closed as she finally breathed in deep.

And when the kiss ended, Sabine was left wanting more.

As if he knew – or could sense it – Cassius said he'd been looking forward to this, too. Her eyes widened, a rush of excitement blossomed in her chest. Then, he rolled onto his back and mimicked her words. “Oh gosh,” she muttered, and turned her face into her pillow for a moment. She was never going to live this down.

The awkward tension didn't linger for long as they settled on a holo-film or rather, Sabine picked one and Cassius simply agreed. Sabine sat up in bed, propped up against a couple of pillows and the covers drawn up to her chin as she watched Zeltrons in Love. She laughed, but tried to muffle the sound against the blankets to keep from waking Cassius as he slept by her side. He'd been out before the end of the first act, but she didn't mind. She'd stolen several glances at him, the light of the holo-projector illuminating his sleeping features in dim light. And it really hit her then... just how much she liked him.

When the movie was done, she dabbed the tears from her eyes and sighed. So good—such a heartfelt ending. Yeah, it might have been a little cheesy, but that was the best part... wasn't it?

Leaning over to the side, she placed a gentle kiss on Cassius' cheek before drifting off to sleep herself.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

He wasn’t sure when he drifted off to sleep, but he suddenly found himself in a completely black abyss. While there was light on himself and on the inch-deep pool of water he was standing in, there seemed to be no end in sight. While Cassius could acknowledge that this was a dream, something felt strangely… odd. A low rumbling caught his attention – the ground beneath his feet began to vibrate. He looked around, unable to see the source of the disturbance, but as he finally looked down, he saw it.

Below him, past the floor, was a dim, blue light. As whatever it was came closer, the blue light diverged into two, and instinctively, Cassius recognized them as eyes. Empty, glowing eyes that burned with the dark side of the Force. The figure continued to approach from below, and its form became ever clearer. It was silhouetted against clouds blotched with blue light… or perhaps it was an entire nebula. He could begin to see the body, with long arms, stubby legs, and tendrils coming from its jaw, hiding any sort of mouth it might have had.

It was the creature from the statuettes, the one worshipped by the cult they had encountered in the swamp. The figure only continued to grow in size from Cassius’s perspective – it was apparently very far away, and it was impossibly large, larger than any living being Cassius could conceive of. The creature continued to approach, the rumbling only becoming more and more intense. A chant, starting as a whisper but growing louder, could be heard:

“Ph'nglui mglw'nafh khorates potheia wgah'nagl fhtagn.”

Various deep voices seemed to repeat the phrase around him, seemingly distant but coming closer, just like the creature. As the sound became nearly deafening, the rest of the chant faded away as a singular word… a name… was all that was left…

"Khorates… Khorates…”

The creature… Khorates… was coming ever closer, its horrifying, tentacled face becoming more illuminated. Cassius estimated that the head alone was the size of an entire planet.

“Khorates, Khorates, Khorates, KHORATES!”

Cassius’s eyes snapped open and he sat up, breathing heavily. It was almost completely dark in the room – just moonlight pouring through the glass door. Still drowsy, he felt for Sabine, but as his hand hit the mattress, he found her spot empty. Confusion and fear rising, he looked around. He spotted her lithe figure past the glass door, at the edge of their small dock, backlit by the moon. For some reason, he found he couldn’t speak, couldn’t say her name. Suddenly, Sabine was falling backwards off of the dock, arms outstretched.

He reached his hand out to use the Force, bracing against the bed. However, his hand suddenly fell through the bed, as if the mattress was made of some sort of sticky but permeable substance. Before he could react, Cassius’s entire body fell through, and he was surrounded by darkness again, only he was falling now.

The visage of Khorates became clear to him again, and there was no longer a barrier between the two. Cassius fell further and further towards the monster, unable to move. The tentacles around Khorates’s face slowly flapped up, and Cassius started to fall into the creature’s gaping maw….

He jolted awake once more, this time not sitting up like he had before. Instantly, he looked over and felt for his partner, and found Sabine’s hip. Her back was to him, and she was sleeping soundly. Cassius exhaled through his mouth as his heart rate started to slowly descend. His mind and faculties were back – he was really awake this time. Turning over, he cuddled up close to Sabine, wrapping his arm around her stomach and pulling her in, like a child would a stuffed animal. He kissed her shoulder and closed his eyes once more, but found himself unable to sleep.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Spoiler

A smile tugged at her lips in sleep as Cassius hugged her close, and she snuggled into the welcome warmth of his body against hers. And she murmured softly as he placed a kiss on her shoulder. Stirring only slightly, she placed her hand atop his and held it close. But before she drifted away, she sensed something was off. Behind her, Cassius did not relax back into sleep.

Inhaling deeply, her eyes opened to the serene moonlit glow of the water outside their sliding door.

All around them, there was peace. However, a creeping sense of dread came into the back of her mind. Rolling over, she turned to face Cassius. Lingering close, still wrapped in his arm, she pressed her forehead to his gently. And she drank in his presence, knowing instantly that something troubled him. But what had shattered his sleep in this perfect place?

Wrapping her arm around him, she used her presence to blanket him in comfort and safety. Sabine placed a gentle kiss against his forehead.

“Everything okay?” she asked softly, voice still tired.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

He hadn’t meant to wake her – whether it was his physical movements or the disturbance in the Force in the bond between them that had roused her, he wasn’t sure. Regardless, he held her close as he turned to face him, and his breathing slowed considerably when she used the Force to cover him in her presence. His heart rate began to lower, and his eyelids were heavy once more.

For a moment, he wanted to retreat, to guard himself from her, as he didn’t want any of the fear and anxiety to transfer from him to her, but he knew that would only make things worse. So, he let her in, opened the door. Sabine had managed to fight back the demons – her comfort, physical and emotional, was beginning to make those bad things wash away.

His eyes kept closed and rolled up when Sabine kissed his forehead. He lightly stroked her back, and as she asked him if he was okay, he sighed deeply.

“Bad dream,” he said. There was no point in deceiving her – not only would she be able to sense it, but their relationship needed to be built on trust, and she was one of the only people in the galaxy that he could talk to about this. “I saw the creature from the statue. It was… incredibly huge. Bigger than a planet.”

“I heard its name… Khorates.”

It was a word both of them had heard before, but didn’t know the meaning – it had been in the exactly middle of the phrase whispered to them on the desert planet, after Master Galen had defeated the dark presence with Force Light.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine blinked when Cassius said he'd had a bad dream. And as he explained further, her lips pressed together. Khorates. The word took her back to the desert world for an instant. But she snuggled close, keeping herself firmly in the moment.

“Let's talk in the morning,” she said, and gave him a reassuring embrace before rolling over again. She held his arm around her and took comfort in the fact that they were together. For it was a troubling thought, to be sure. Such a creature— if it was real—was beyond this realm.

But could its darkness reach them here?

Sabine woke the next morning as the soft light spilled into their room, across the plush carpeted floor and against the walls. And it was with a shiver that she remembered their brief middle-of-the-night conversation. The air felt colder somehow against her bare shoulders, so she pulled the comforter all the way up and hugged Cassius' arm and kissed his shoulder.

“Morning,” she whispered next to his ear. She didn't ask if he'd slept well, for she had a feeling. Sabine herself had slept soundly, but with an anxious sense that she might wake at any moment. Still, it was a new day—and they were still on vacation. Perhaps they just needed to get back in the mood and get their minds off the little statue and the sense of doom it brought with it.

Outside, a boat-shaped tray bumped softly against their dock, bearing an island breakfast and an invitation to see the sights. Folded up with a napkin was a map to neighboring islands that would welcome them for a day trip. And the hovercraft moored nearby had fishing and snorkeling equipment ready to go.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Cassius took solace in not only Sabine’s embrace, but that she didn’t really want to talk about the possibly dire implications of his dream at that very moment. They were on vacation, after all – all of this mystery and intrigue could wait. When she turned back over, Cassius snuggled as close as he could, his chest against her back. Closing his eyes once more, he was able to drift into a more comfortable and uninterrupted slumber.

In the morning, he woke to the sensation of a warm kiss on his arm. A tingle went down his spine as she spoke softly to him, so close. Stirring, he mumbled a soft greeting back, craning his neck up and kissing her on the forehead. After a deep sigh, he had to fight the urge to let himself sink further into the bed and just let the morning pass the two of them by. Throwing off the covers, he patted her hip.

“Come on,” he said, “let’s get the morning started.”

Stepping past the sliding glass door, he found the little boat with their breakfast on it. Part of him mused whether or not there would be a unique and creative way their breakfast would be delivered every day. Reaching out his hand, he raised the boat from the water and onto the deck. A pre-recorded holomessage, much like the one that greeted them when they first arrived, began playing and explaining the various activities open to them, with a recommendation to visit some of the local islands using their hovercraft.

“That sounds like it could be fun,” Cassius said, popping a piece of meiloorun in his mouth. “What do you think?”

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Just like their previous morning, Sabine was cozy as ever. And she let out a little gasp as Cassius threw the blankets aside. But she smiled as he gave her hip a pat, and she followed suit by forcing herself out of bed. "Okay, okay!"

Outside, the sun was shining on the water and the morning air was still cool. Joining Cassius on their deck, she looked curiously to the small board that delivered their breakfast -- another good-looking spread. This morning, the fruit looked especially good. A brow perked up as the recording played, and she cast a small glance at Cassius. A day out on the water sounded just like what they needed.

“Yeah, let’s do it!” She said, grinning.

Sabine plucked up a few pieces of fruit, and ate a delicious buttery croissant. Hunger satisfied, she disappeared into the refresher to change. She slipped into her bikini and topped it off with the blue dress she bought at the market. The airy cotton would be perfect, and the slit that ran up the right side seam was rather striking.

“This is going to be great,” she started as she stepped back out and stretched her arms out. “I can just relax and sunbathe while my boyfriend drives the hovercraft.”

She nudged him playfully and then walked the length of their dock to the hovercraft that bobbed in the gentle waves. The statuette and the bad dream were just memories now. It was bound to be a good day...

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

She seemed pretty gung-ho about the idea, which was good to hear. It definitely seemed both their speed, too – getting to explore and see the sights without there being any other people around. Out in a small boat, all alone on the water… who knew what could happen?

As Sabine got changed in the refresher, Cassius quickly slipped into his swim trunks and a loose fitting T-shirt. The shirt was tucked into a leather sash that went around his waist, can could be removed easily if he wanted to swim. As he passed by his bags for a moment to walk towards the door, he stopped. The strangest feeling came over him – something, an instinct, told him to get his lightsaber. There was no immediate danger, but… the Force was telling him he might need it today.

Picking up the weapon, he placed it securely on his belt so it wouldn’t swing around. He smiled at Sabine as she emerged from the refresher, chuckling a little as she made him the designated driver. “Oh, I get to be the responsible one?” he playfully asked, following her out the door and making sure it was locked. “Just don’t get mad at me when I start doing donuts in the water.”

The hovercraft itself was rather small, only around three meters long. The back had the power generator and some storage capacity, flanked by cylindrical engines one might find on a landspeeder. A few seats lined the sides, leading up to the front of the craft, where there was a small seat and some controls for operating the vehicle. The cockpit was partially enclosed, with a transpirasteel shield for operating the vehicle at high-speeds without the wind hitting the operator in the face.

Cassius hopped on, noting that the hovercraft was surprisingly stable. He hugged Sabine from behind, pressing up against her and kissing her neck before giving her a long, deep kiss the lips – always a good way to start a trip. He used the Force to call the map provided to them by the resort to his hand, giving it to Sabine before heading to the front and sitting down. “Alright, navigator,” he said to Sabine, “where are we going?”

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine glanced over her shoulder at Cassius, “Well, you are very responsible, after all.” And she laughed when he mentioned doing donuts. She hopped into the hovercraft and looked around. It was small, but it'd be just fine for the two of them. However, it did sorely lack a co-pilot's chair like she had on the Spectre Melody.

Before she could get settled, she found his arms around her as Cassius hugged her from behind. She drew in a deep breath and held it when he placed a kiss on her neck. Then, as she turned to face him, their lips met. Sabine's arms went up around his neck, and she nearly melted on the spot. When he handed her the map, she was still swooning – moderately worried she'd simply fall over the side of the hovercraft... and he expected her to read this now?

“Erm,” she cleared her throat, and glanced down at the map.

There was a big island across the water, and the highlights indicated it was a hiking destination with caves and lagoons to explore. Sure, they did trek across some mountainous terrain when they were searching for ancient ruins, but hiking for fun would be a nice change of pace. Of course, they wouldn't be too far from the creature comforts they'd expect here, with little food stands and vendor stalls for all the tourists -- and an island feast, with meat roasted over an open fire pit.

As it wasn't terribly far, they'd have all afternoon to wander and they could be back by dark.

Moving up behind the driver's seat, she held the map out for Cassius to see. “There,” she pointed. “To Agwe Cove, if you please,” she said, adopting a polite tone. “Engage!” Sabine added, pointing at the horizon. It was like something she'd seen in a holo-drama before, and she chuckled. Her palms settled atop his shoulders, and she gave a little squeeze.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

He got settled in the pilot’s seat, flipping on all of the systems. There were considerably less buttons to push and things to check with this vessel, as it appeared to be designed to be operated by almost any skill set. There was a small tutorial holo that could be activated, and even some robust auto-pilot features, but Cassius knew what he was doing.

As Sabine told him where to go, he patched that into the holographic navigation system. It was very cut and dry – much easier than traveling through hyperspace, for sure. His eyebrow quirked up and he cocked his head in her direction as she gave the order, but not enough to turn all the way around and look at her. Engage? He chuckled a little bit at that. She’d certainly never said that on the Spectre before.

“Aye aye, captain,” he said in that same tone he used to use back in his patrol days, only putting a little bit of a playful edge to it.

Like he’d done so many times before, he pushed a silver handle forward – the thrust, and the hovercraft slowly pulled out of the dock. “Hmm,” he hummed. This was much slower than he was expecting. He had to remind himself that this vessel was for tourists, and the hovercrafts were probably not allowed to go much faster than a top speed, or accelerate too fast.

“Looks like it’ll take us a little bit to get there,” he said, turning his seat around so he could face her. “You know, there may not be a co-pilot’s seat, but there’s still a seat for you up here.” He smiled and patted his thigh.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine laughed as Cassius called her captain, and she grinned as he pulled away from the dock. Watching as Cassius eased the trust forward, she braced against the chair, ready to feel the wind in her hair. But their hovercraft plotted along at a rather leisurely pace. Well, she supposed that was the point -- a lazy day out at sea.

“Oh, really?” She asked, canting her head to the side at his offer to sit with him in the pilot’s chair. Sabine couldn’t stop the grin that formed, nor the blush that colored her fair complexion. Her eyes shifted to the bench-seating that lined the side of the hovercraft, it didn't half as inviting.

Lowering herself to sit, she perched lightly on his lap, her back facing him. But she soon shifted to sit sideways and made herself comfortable by putting her arms around his shoulders. Breathing a content sigh, she couldn’t help but stare. He was ever so handsome at the controls of the Spectre Melody, and it was true even for this little hovercraft. And she was still giddy from the kiss he'd given her just a few moments ago.

Her heart gave a little jump, just being so close to him.

“This really is the best seat,” she said, nodding. “I’ll never let you have the pilot’s seat to yourself again.”

She pulled him closer until their lips touched, hoping to completely distract him from driving… for a moment or two at least.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

He slid his arms around her waist as she sat, his heart rate rising from the close proximity of her body. This was all so new and exciting, yet, was starting to feel comfortable and familiar. It probably helped that they had practically lived together for a year at this point, and intimately knew each other through a growing bond they shared in the Force.

She made a quip about not letting him sit alone on the Spectre again, and of course he had a witty reply queued up, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment. Instead, his hold on her tightened as she pulled him in. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, his hands moving to her back and side. With the Force, he pulled the throttle back a little – they didn’t need to be in a hurry.

When the time felt right to pull back, he kissed her neck and chest before squeezing her tight. He took in a deep breath before letting it out, enjoying the moment. It was almost as if they hadn’t left the bed yet, only they were traveling at a couple knots across the water.

“You know, it might not be a terrible idea to have a house on a planet like this,” he said as he looked out at the various islands that dotted the horizon. “Could be on the beach, or maybe even on a cliff side over-looking the water.” They could spruce up the Spectre Melody all they wanted, but it wouldn’t exactly be as much of a home with all of the amenities they’d want.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Though the two of them had never kissed before this trip, his lips felt quite at home against hers. His touch was growing familiar on her skin. And being wrapped in his embrace was much more than just warmth – it was safety, too.

When their lips parted, she gazed into his eyes for a moment. So much of their bond had gone unspoken, and Sabine found words forming on the tip of her tongue. But she was content to keep them there, for now. After giving Cassius a squeeze, she turned her gaze out towards the horizon. The blue water and sky stretched out before them.

Sabine blinked as Cassius spoke and looked at him with wide eyes.

It was unexpected. But a smile instantly appeared on her lips to know that he was thinking about the future – their future. Sure, they could – and probably would – go back to living aboard the Spectre Melody, but moving into a house together felt like forward motion. And it would be nice to have a place to return to, a home.

“I'd love that,” she said, nodding. “I could see living on a cliff side house.” She squinted out at the little islands, as if imagining a place out there waiting for them. Though, she did love it here – and she'd always have the fondest memories of this place – she had a feeling they'd eventually seek someplace secluded.

A place that could truly be their own.

“I've never had a home before,” she said, suddenly stricken by how odd that seemed. During her travels with her father, they never stayed for too long in any one place. And she gained such experience that way, but something had always been missing. She felt it when they'd joined the Silver Jedi, and when she left to travel with Cassius. And she realized – he was the constant, her sense of home was with him.

“I think I'd be happy anywhere – as long as we're together,” she said.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

He could feel her excitement at his suggestion of them owning a home together. Already, the wheels in her head were turning. Cassius was thinking about it to, as the thought hadn’t really occurred to him until just now. They would need somewhere to settle down, of course. Not only that, but with the amount of research they did, eventually they would run out of space with all of the artifacts they collected.

“I haven’t had a home for a while either,” Cassius said. “After I left Rinn, I just kinda bounced around, from Commenor, Deneba, Kashyyyk… and then I just lived on my ship.” Then, she said something incredibly sweet – he smiled as he kissed her once more before whispering, “I feel the same.” He stroked her jaw with his thumb, with his forehead pressed against hers.

With his passenger still secure in his lap, he pressed the throttle forward once more, taking the craft to its full speed – not exactly an enthralling pace, but it
wouldn’t take them all day to get to their destination, either.

Eventually, they reached the large island. A tall rocky mountain covered in dark green foliage was the main feature, with a path that wound its way up the spire. A few settlements could be seen along the path – tiny little villages, cut into the rock. Quaint wooden docks dotted the beach, where only a handful of hovercraft were secured.

“I suppose we’ll just see as far as we get before getting tired,” Cassius said, noting how between them, they weren’t exactly dressed for a hike – more like a leisurely stroll.

That’s what a vacation was for, though: leisure.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine smiled as Cassius pressed his forehead to hers, and she drew a deep breath. This was going to be a brilliant new start for them, something like their next 'chapter,' she supposed. And Sabine was already looking forward to what the future had in store for them.

As their hovercraft sped towards their destination, she remained comfortably cuddled-up in Cassius's lap. The sun was pleasant at this hour, not too hot, but she did make a mental note to put on some sunscreen when they got to shore. And by the time they reached the island, the temperature was starting to rise.

A smile formed on her lips as she watched the villages and tropical foliage come into view. Sabine nodded, hopping out of the craft and helping to secure it to the dock.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “And we can grab something for lunch soon.”

Even though, they'd had a rather fancy and filling breakfast before leaving, Sabine was still rather eager to try more of the local cuisine. She needed to collect some recipes, things they could make for dinner... at their new home. Her heart fluttered at the thought and she couldn't stop smiling. When Cassius joined her on the dock, her hand instantly found his – and off they went down the dock.

Along the way, she could already see a few little shops situated up ahead. These almost looked like little bungalows, quite similar to the one they were currently staying in. And from what she could see, these island goods had a bit more charm than some they'd seen at the market. The items on display had a handmade look, and there was a very curious table full of little wooden statues.

“Oh,” Sabine gave a little gasp. “Aren't these cute? We should get one to put in our new house!” She grinned at Cassius. Really, could he resist?

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Cassius’s feet hit the dock and Sabine’s hand wove into his – he looked over to her and smiled. He could really get used to this. The fact that his lightsaber was secured to his belt was a faraway thought. Despite the creepy encounter they had yesterday, that all seemed behind them now. Plus, the physical distance away from the island where the statue now sat on the Spectre seemed to help.

Like the other island where they were staying, the mood was rather relaxed. A few dozen tourists and guests were spread out around the first little town they came across, and it felt just busy enough while not feeling crowded at all. The first stall they came to had some wooden statues that resembled oblong heads above some sort of criss-crossed stand.

Sabine seemed keen on one, and the owner of the stall slinked forward with a sly smile on his face. “Ah, yes! A display of this on your home would indicate you’re seeking jamaharon.”

Cassius quirked an eyebrow. “What’s… jamaharon?”

The owner’s smile grew wider. “It’s a ritual native to our planet. It’s very… pleasurable.” Their eyebrows waggled up and down a few times.

Cassius cast a glance over at Sabine, then to the price written on a wooden plank. Digging into his belt, he pulled out the requisite amount of credit chips and put them on the table before picking up one of the statues and casually handing it to Sabine before continuing down the street.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine smiled down at the little wooden statues, but stepped back when the stall's owner appeared before them. And she blinked a couple of times when he said the word jamaharon. Glancing to the side at Cassius, who voiced the question on both of their minds.

A rosy hue found her cheeks when the vendor mentioned it represented a very... pleasurable ritual native to their world. But the man's waggling eyebrows made Sabine chuckle. And she was surprised when Cassius paid for one of the statues and handed it to her.

She stood there for a good long moment, watching as Cass continued down the street.

Glancing down at the statue and then over to the vendor. He had a pretty telling smirk on his face. Sabine's blush deepened as she was left wondering, if by handing her the statue this was somehow the beginning of their island ritual. She tucked the statue into the crook of her arm, and started off after Cassius.

A rather tan and shirtless man smiled at Sabine from the doorway of a shop, and he winked when she happened to glance in his direction. She sped up, power-walking until she was back at her boyfriend's side – well, almost. Sabine turned at the last moment as she spotted a vendor selling some delicious-looking icy drinks. When she had two slushy blue drinks in hand, complete with straws and little umbrellas, she walked over to Cassius and held one out to him.

“See anything good?” she asked as she took a sip. The mix of tropical flavors was quite refreshing.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Cassius had posted himself up by a small seating area that overlooked the water below. He sat under an umbrella that adequately shielded him from the sun. He saw as a man winked at his girlfriend, but he managed to suppress the jealousy that had started to rise in his chest. After all, he’d be able to tell if Sabine was interested in another man… right?

After all, Cass knew he had better muscle definition than that guy. And he was a Jedi Knight. And a great pilot.

He smiled as Sabine brought him a drink. Taking a sip, he marveled at the favor for a moment – his taste buds couldn’t quite figure out what sort of fruit was used to make the slushie. Perhaps it was something completely alien to him. The frozen nature of the drink was also quite nice. While the temperature of the planet was nearly perfect, getting a little cold kick helped balanced him out.

“There’s a couple of stands and such,” he nodded to some food stalls that were similar to what they’d seen on the boardwalk at the main island. “Part of me wonders if there are any more sit-down places further up the mountain. Could be nice after a long hike.”

After a moment, he cast a glance down to the statue, then smirked at her. “You like your gift?”

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine squeezed onto the little bench seat next to Cassius and cuddled up close to him, glued to his side. She relaxed as his presence mingled with hers, as if the few moments they spent apart had been too much to bear. She sipped her drink and glanced towards the mountain path as Cassius wondered aloud about the possibility of finding a sit-down restaurant there.

“I'm sure we'll find something,” she said with a nod.

She drew in a deep breath of the fresh air and then arched a brow as Cassius asked about the statue. Sabine nodded a couple of times, and she couldn't stop the grin that formed on her lips. “I do,” she said, reaching out to angle the little statue towards them as it sat on the little tabletop. “I like it very much, in fact. And... maybe we need to experience this... jamaharon ritual,” Sabine said with a flirty giggle.

And as the little statue stood as their witness, she drew Cassius closer into a kiss.

***

After a day of hiking, Sabine was ready to return to their island. The two of them had enjoyed the afternoon doing normal date stuff – joking around, holding hands, stealing affectionate glances, and indulging in fresh island food. The sun was now starting its afternoon trek towards the horizon, they'd have just enough time to get back before it was completely dark.

Sabine let Cassius board first as she walked to the end of the dock to untie their craft. And when she was done, she leapt off the dock and into his arms.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Cassius wrapped his arm around Sabine’s shoulder as she got close. He sipping on his drink as she fussed with the statute to help break the smirk on his lips. He quirked an eyebrow and a burning feeling resonated through his chest as she mentioned that they needed to experience this ‘mysterious’ ritual that the statue indicated.

“Maybe we do,” was all he said before Sabine pulled him in. Inhaling deeply, Cassius cradled Sabine’s face in his hand as he was now oft to do.

~~

As the sun began to set on yet another seemingly perfect day, the couple made their way back to the docks. Cassius felt tired, but in a good way, as if he’d done a good amount of work or accomplished a great task. Only, he hadn’t done really any work – just a lot of cutesy stuff. Is this what it really felt like to be… happy? To be normal? He’d been asking himself that a lot the past few days.

Stepping onto the hovercraft, he untied the rope that held them in place, tossing it back inside of a small box that housed it during transit. He barely had time to stand up to full height before Sabine was suddenly on him, her arms wrapped around his neck. A surprised grunt escaped him as he in turn wrapped his own arms around her waist, and then he chuckled a bit.

“You’re lucky we didn’t fall off the side,” Cassius said before giving her a quick peck on the neck. Stepping towards the control area, he set course for an area that was between the main island and the one they were at now – somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and they could have some privacy. Watching the sunset from the water would be a pretty nice end to the day.

Back on the island, beyond the perception of the two lovebird Jedi Knights, a man clothed in all black watched from under a tree, arms crossed, eyes piercing.

Sabine Galen