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Imperial Spaceport, Docking Bay 12
Karina and Pam had found a table in a small café in front of a large, picture window. Karina watched the bustling city, while Pam shamelessly flirted with Stephen. Karina thought that Pam was so much like Miranda it was disgusting. Only Miranda was a little more subtle.
Karina tried not to make a face as Stephen ever-so-casually dropped an arm around Pam’s shoulders. Resting her chin in her hand with a sigh, Karina tried not to make a face. Why was she being so moody? It couldn’t be that Stephen’s sparkling hazel eyes, or the wry curve of his lips reminded her of Henrick Lichtenstien.
Henrick... even after a year she could still close her eyes and see him perfectly in her mind’s eye. Her thoughts drifted back to hear his warm laugh, feel the strength of his arms tightening around her waist, and the fire that raged through her at the deepest touch of his lips upon hers.
But the most vivid memory of him was the pain his death had knifed through her heart, casting the love they had shared into darkness. Her father declared it an accident, that Henrick had been caught in a riptide while swimming in the ocean.
The problem with that theory was that Henrick was an excellent swimmer; he’d been a deep sea fisherman his whole life. He knew better than to swim near riptides, and had even tried to teach Karina a technique to get out of them.
His death couldn’t have been an accident, she was sure of it, but had no way to prove it. Her father had disapproved of their dating from the onset, and had told her as much. Henrick wasn’t good enough for her, he didn’t make enough money, he didn’t hold a high enough position. Her father took his position as Baron of New Naboo quite seriously, exalting himself above the average citizen and expecting his daughter to do the same. That included altering her circle of friends, leaving behind those he considered beneath them, especially Henrick.
When she refused to stop seeing him, her father forbade it. A week later, Henrick was dead. Karina shuddered, remembering the look of his cold, lifeless body.
"Karina." Pam’s voice interrupted her reverie.
"Yes?" Karina blinked, her mind drifting back to the present.
"Are you OK?" she asked, concerned.
"Of course," Karina said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Why do you ask?"
Stephen leaned toward her. "That’s the third time she’s called your name."
"Oh." Karina’s cheeks flushed. "Well," she smoothed her hair back, "what do you need?"
"Just making sure you’re following the conversation," Pam replied with an easy smile. "Good thing I checked."
Karina offered her an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry, what were we discussing?"
Stephen cocked his head. "You see that big, triangular shaped building down the street?"
Karina nodded. "Yes, what about it?"
Pam leaned forward, her pale green eyes sparkling. "We were just beginning to discuss the rumors circulating about the place."
"Rumors?" Karina asked, studying the building. "What kind of rumors?"
"That it’s haunted," Stephen said softly.
"Haunted?" Karina asked incredulously. "What did it used to be?"
Stephen shrugged his shoulders. "No one knows." He dropped his voice. "That is what makes it so interesting."
***
Armand and Derk followed Lainey and Miranda. Derk was so obviously enchanted with for Miranda that Armand couldn’t help but smirk at his friend. Not that he could blame Derk. Miranda was very attractive, and very bold. He’d never met a girl like her. He was used to refined Ladies who would never dream of being so forward. He got the feeling she was not a serious dater, that she just wanted to have fun. She was also very self assured, an admirable trait, but she wasn't his type now. Maybe five years ago, when he'd first started courting and had the same attitude. Lainey was the complete opposite of Miranda not only physically, Miranda was blonde while Lainey was a brunette, but also personality wise. Miranda could talk the ear off a Gungan, Lainey would probably let one talk her ear off, and still have nothing to say. Miranda was also very open and friendly, always smiling. Armand had yet to catch Lainey smile, she was very introverted, offering small comments in their conversations, usualy only when addressed. She was pretty, though, especially when she looked at him.
Following the group a few steps behind, Lainey was watching everything but him. Armand knew she was probably just shy, but it bothered him that she showed so little interest in him. Deciding to take the initiative, he fell back a few steps and walked next to her. "So," he began. "How do you like Jedi training so far?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "It’s alright."
Armand raised an eyebrow. "Just alright?"
"I’ve only been at it for five days," Lainey explained, not mentioning the fact that she’d been in the infirmary the whole time. She stole a quick glance at him, feeling her cheeks flush when he met her gaze. A smile touched his lips that succeeded only in deepening her blush. Uncomfortable with the feelings he was creating in her, she decided to change the subject. "So, what about you?" she asked. "How do you like working here?"
"I like it a lot, actually," Armand replied truthfully. "Especially when I get to work on the ships." His lips quirked into a half smile. "You get really dirty though, smelly even. I never thought I’d like that, but I do." His dark brown eyes turned far away. "Mother would hate it."
Lainey blinked. "You mean she doesn’t know?"
"Not at all. She knows I am on Coruscant, to..." He paused, hesitating at even telling the slightest white lie. But it was necessary, and he’d been telling people half-truths ever since he’d arrived on planet. "Go to work," he finished quickly. "Be independent of my parents." He waved his hand, his dark eyes sparkling. "See the Galaxy." His tone turned wistful. "By myself." Well, kind of by himself. His guards were here, but they didn’t follow him around as they would have on Naboo. Instead, they watched him from a distance, some getting jobs at Spaceport Security, and the rest at the Hotel.
But he pretended they were not there, creating a false sense of independence.
Lainey was staring at him, this time keeping her gaze on him for longer than two seconds, not even shying away when their eyes met. "Coruscant isn’t the Galaxy, you know," she finally said, her tone vaguely teasing.
"It might as well be," he replied. "Everyone comes here. I bet that there is at least one person from every world in the New Republic here."
"Possibly," she said, surveying the different sentients bustling about the spaceport. Her gaze swept over a small café, immediately recognizing Pam and Karina at one of the tables. She touched Armand’s arm to stall his steps. "Miranda," she said, drawing her friend out of the small talk she’d been having with Derk. "Pam and Karina are over there." She pointed to the café.
Miranda turned her head, her long blonde hair swaying. "So they are," she replied, after studying the group at that table. "And they seem to have found a friend."
Armand scrutinized the "friend" and immediately recognized it as Stephen. He looked at Derk, whose lips had dropped into a frown. He probably saw him as yet another challenge to Miranda’s attentions, perhaps even more so than Armand. Stephen was known for his roguish behavior, and talent for charming the ladies. "I know him," Armand said finally. "He’s Stephen Falcourt, an acquaintance of mine."
"Well." Miranda favored all of them with a bright smile. "Shall we join them?"
Copyright 2002 by Luney.
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