Lok. A barren, dusty planet in the Mid Rim covered with sulphur pools, lifeless rivers and volcanoes. Home to the Kimogilla lizard, supposed kin to Tatooine's Krayt dragons and to numerous other dangerous beings, smaller in size but no less deadly. The lone figured grinned as she stepped off the shuttle in Death's Company Stronghold. Bracing herself against dying sandstorm her gaze swept northwards. In the near distance, storm clouds gathered. Her smile broadened.
"Miss, you sure you going to be okay here?" she glanced back over her shoulder at the shuttle pilot.
"A little sand never hurt anyone." She stepped from the platform to the waiting vehicle compound.
"Its not the sand that concerns me." The young man sighed, "people go out there and never return."
"It's the same everywhere," the woman shrugged as she adjusted her cloak.
"Not like this.."
A whisper of wind caressed her face with a familiar edge. She closed her eyes and reached with the force, smiling at the feelings she found there. She turned back to the pilot who shuffled nervously.
"You delivered the passenger and she left. You did not see where she went. Count to ten and return to your shuttle."
His eyes glazed momentarily, his jaw falling open. Checking through the vehicles, she found what she was looking for and eased her swoop from the garage. A quick examination told her it was in full working condition. As she eased away from the shuttle port, the small shuttle took off. Heading in the direction of the growing storm.
"I'm home." She whispered, before gunning the engine and roaring off.
The bunker looked old and derelict, half buried in sand. Her hand caressed the outside of the structure. Lightning flashed across the sky causing her to chuckle and shake her head softly.
"I am here my Lord."
The door slid silently open. A warmth wrapped itself around her, holding her. Invisible fingers caressed her face and horns. The door closed behind her, beeping once as the dim lights flickered to life in the tiny entrance way. Just on the edge of her hearing, she heard the storm die away. The service lift opened, its light a shade brighter than the entrance hall. It sank deeper into the building's depths.
The door opened to a hive of mechanical activity. Three sorts of droids went about their duties. Flashing lights indicated the way she should go, but the woman was following a different set of instructions. The lights veered off to an audience chamber, she continued on.
"Identify yourself!" the metallic drone from a security droid as it stepped in her path.
She pushed back her hood. A single braid of black hair from above her forehead to the nape of her neck. Orange markings on her face, brighter orange eyes and a crooked but sexy grin on her lips. A tall figure loomed behind the droid, capturing her full attention. She stepped forward. Whatever the droid had been about to do ended abruptly in sparks as the newcomers hand moved behind the droid. The same hand reached for the woman's and pulled her closer. Holding her against the wall of muscle that was his chest, his head dipped a little as she rose of tiptoes. Their lips met, then parted as their tongues caressed each other while they kissed.
"Hello my Darkness."
One of his hands held her head as they kissed, the other wrapped about her waist, pulling her closer. Her arms snaked about his neck, as she answered his kiss with her own.
"You have been away from me for quite some time." his voice velvet-soft in her mind.
Their kiss ended. She nodded.
"I am sorry my Lord." She whispered against his lips.
"Don't let it happen again Alanza." He growled, pulling her into another kiss that swallowed her reply. "I missed you terribly."
Alanza smiled at her lover as her fingers stroked his cheek tenderly. His arms and lips left her, but she could still feel his presence wrapped about her like a second-skin, the feel of his mouth on hers made her tingle.
"I've installed some more security droids ... seems too many uninvited people run around in here." He entered the room behind him, she remained one step away and to his left.
"Yes, I had noticed the droids." She smiled, her gaze sweeping the room.
A well-beaten cloak was on the floor of one of Orotho's four holding cells. Alanza's brows knotted. What had occurred in her absence.
"Oro, have you been torturing people while I've been away?" she pointed to the cloak.
