> The Zann Corporation announced today that their Zephyr Combine in the Mid Rim is meeting its goal of increasing commerce and economic resiliency. The partnership, formed a little more than eight months ago with planetary governments and mercantile concerns across sectors throughout the Rim, provides secure transshipping services using Zann Corporation transports and armed escorts to combat piracy.

>

> In the statement, Zephyr's Managing Director Anais Sykes called the Combine 'a model for public-private partnerships that will improve the lives of billions.'. When questioned about potential ties between the Zephyr Combine and underworld activities of the Zann Consortium, Sykes flatly rejected any connection, and referred GHN to Zephyr's corporate counsel while suggesting that promoting such 'libelous rumors' might result in legal action.

>

> -Galactic HoloNews Feed

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41:03:13 GrS

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A knock at the door woke Sera. She rubbed her eyes and checked her wrist link as Constable Tolfer entered, followed by...

"Rei-sha!" Sera leaped from the couch despite her aching body and gathered Reiko into a tight embrace before kissing her hard on the mouth. Drawing back, she smiled, her green eyes soft and relieved. "I'm glad you're here, my love."

Reiko's surprise at seeing Sera and Lyra asleep together on the sofa nearly evaporated as soon as Sera caught her up in her strong arms. "Goddess, I missed you!" Rei cried, stretching up to kiss Sera again. She touched the patch on Sera's jaw. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

"I'm fine, Rei-sha, just sore."

Beside them Taz smiled a greeting at Sera while he dug into his medbag for an injector and pressed it to her bicep. "That'll help with the pain."

"Thanks, Doc. We're both happy to see you." She glanced toward the couch.

Lyra stood and stretched before she joined them. She tried to act casual as she approached, even though she ached for the kind of welcome from him that Sera had given Reiko.

Taz's smile brightened when he took her hand. "Ensign Nimor."

"Officer Oktos," she said with more fervor in her voice than she'd anticipated. She gripped his hand hard and held onto his pale blue eyes, refusing to relinquish them.

"How'd you know to come here?" Sera asked, wrapping her arm around Reiko's shoulder.

"Kalli gave us the sitrep when we got in-system," answered Rei. "I was worried sick when I heard about Allegra. She got pummelled, didn't she?"

We gave those sketworms a good thrashing, though," said Lyra, letting the residual fury at the pirates dispel her depression.

Taz screwed up his mouth. "I know you did. If we'd been here with the Skipjack Chimera—"

"Skipjack?"

"Odd name," Sera added.

"Yeah, what's a skipjack anyway?" Rei pondered aloud.

"It's an old word for an upstart," answered Lyra.

Sera chuckled. "Upstart, huh? Suits you perfectly, Nimor."

"Shut up, Rendix."

Taz squeezed Lyra's hands. "Well, she's our ship. I hope you like her."

"She's one of a kind, a lot like Allegra!" Rei put in.

Tolfer cleared his throat. "Ranger Renosi is ready for you now."

"Finally!" Lyra exclaimed. The rest had restored some of her energy, and with it, her pique.

The constable's expression blended equal parts apology and annoyance as he led them back to the sprawling squad room. It was jammed with beings, mostly Humans, but a dozen other species too. The combined voices, the sounds of transcription droids, and fingers tapping keyboards lent an unordered din to the place. They threaded their way through the crowded aisles until they reached Renosi's desk, deep in the middle of the room.

The ranger looked drained but she regarded all of them with an amused head tilt. "You seem to have multiplied."

"This is Rei and Taz, the other members of our crew."

Renosi gave Reiko a welcoming nod and smiled at Taz, showing her sharp fangs. "Taz, is it?" she asked, perking up. She leaned across her desk and drew a clawed finger along his cheek. "You're not completely repulsive."

"Thanks." Taz drew back and gently pushed her hand away. "I'm pretty sure that's not an appropriate way for a ranger to introduce herself, though."

"Well, you're no fun," she pouted, glancing at the other three. Her eyes stopped at Lyra, who glared daggers at her. "You've claimed him?"

The anger Lyra felt was like erupting lava. "No! That's none of—"

"Mmm, territorial too." Renosi laughed, then sat back in her chair and waved them toward the bench on the other side of her desk. She pointed a playful finger at Lyra. "I like you more and more, Miss Nimor." She arched her back gracefully and made a very feline-looking yawn. "It's been a long day. I was just lightening the mood."

"You're a Neablu, aren't you, Ranger Renosi?" Taz said, patting Lyra's hand and drawing her down to the seat next to him. He extended his hand across the desk. "Taz Oktos, from Filve."

Lyra forced herself to calm down. But if she touches you again, I swear I'll—

"Call me Naktiya, Mr. Oktos. I'm surprised you've heard of us. My people don't leave our homeworld very often."

Taz flashed a smile. "I like to read about the species we share the galaxy with." He glanced at Lyra and the others. "Neablu are from the Urdath system in the Palamut Sector. They have a penchant for... promiscuity, you might say."

The ranger grinned broadly. "You Humans, always applying your own biases to everyone's behavior." She didn't seem offended though. "We almost never form emotional ties to our sexual partners. For us it's transactional; sometimes for reproduction, but mostly for fun!"

Lyra was still hot. "Get your fun somewhere else, Renosi."

"Message received, Miss Nimor," Naktiya answered with a bright smile that didn't indicate she was in any way deterred. "Though now that I know he's yours, I might pursue him even harder."

Sera cleared her throat. "If we could get to the matter at hand, Naktiya? I still need to see to my ship and pick up my cargo."

"Of course, Captain Rendix." She tapped away at her data terminal, completely unruffled. "Let me get your file."

Lying next to the keyboard was a transparent bag smaller than Sera's palm, marked with the word EVIDENCE in stark letters. It was full of tiny beads with a pinkish sheen. "What's that?" Sera pointed at the bag.

"We found it on the Hrakian, or what was left of him. We think it's a new drug that's hit the streets but we're having trouble analyzing some of its chemical components."

"What kind of drug?" Taz asked. To Renosi's inquiring look he added, "I'm a medtech."

"Oh. It's called Breeze. It's supposed to be highly addictive and induces the kind of mindless aggression and physical effects Folbaash displayed. We hadn't seen it on Lantillies before today, though, and none of the reports said anything about users going boom." She mimed an explosion with her hands.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Mind if I take a look, Naktiya?"

"Go ahead, just don't open the package."

Taz picked up the thin plastic pack and rubbed the granules between his fingers. Something tugged at the edge of his perception and made his fingers tingle uncomfortably, like he'd thrust them into a blast freezer. He opened his mind to the Force and was surprised to find a resonance there. Flashes of awful feelings and emotions assaulted him—rage, pain, terror. It felt repellent but there was a seductive undercurrent to it as well.

This power and more can be yours.

Cast off the shackles that restrain you.

Embrace your true destiny!

He put it back on the table and had to work to make his hand stop caressing it. It was the kind of power he'd felt before, after he killed Vaniel Ruatha, and sometimes when he longed for Lyra. He let out a slow breath and tried not to show his discomfort.

"Do you recognize it?" the Neablu woman asked.

Taz shook his head. "Doesn't look like anything I've seen before." He caught Sera watching him out of the corner of her eye.

Naktiya hailed a forensics droid, then quizzed Lyra and Sera again over the details of the fight at the Griffon before getting biometric and genetic scans.

"Is that necessary?" Lyra asked when the boxy droid approached on its miniature repulsors.

"It's standard procedure," Renosi replied. "Is there some reason you don't want to have your identity verified?"

Lyra glanced around at her crewmates, feeling embarrassed, even a little ashamed. "I never formally surrendered to the New Republic. Since I was an officer in the Imperial military, that makes me a war criminal under the terms of the treaty."

Taz covered her hand with his. "Is that why you're always so reluctant when we go to Republic installations?"

Lyra answered with a nervous shrug.

Sera chuckled. "I think the New Republic has bigger problems than tracking down junior officers from Imperial Customs." Seeing Lyra unmollified, she gave her shoulder a squeeze. "We'll talk to General Numarkos. I'll bet her staff can get that cleared up for you."

Renosi shrugged. "Unless you have an outstanding warrant it's not my business. The plenary arrest warrants for Imperial officials expired months ago. Bigger prey to stalk, you know. I hear the New Republic even has an amnesty program going. Some kind of reintegration training, I think."

"I'm integrated just fine," Lyra scowled but put her hand in the droid's scanner. She felt a probe scrape epithelial cells from her palm and a little pinprick on her finger that made her wince. The droid beeped affirmatively and she withdrew her hand, sucking at her finger.

"Thank you both for your cooperation and your assistance," said the ranger. "I'm sure you saved my life and probably many others if what I've heard about Breeze is true." She escorted them toward the exit. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience. You're free to go. My office will contact you if we need to follow up." She took data cards from her jacket pocket and handed one to each of them. "If you're ever in trouble, call me."

"Mind if I ask a personal question?" Sera asked, palming the card.

Naktiya put on a big smile. "Is it about getting together later? Because I find Human females as much fun as males." She gave Taz another hungry look. He responded with a frown.

"Haha, no," Sera laughed in response while Reiko suddenly gripped her arm and leaned in possessively. "As you can see, I've been claimed too." She gave Rei a quick kiss on the top of her head.

"Oh." Naktiya looked crestfallen. "What's your question?"

"I was just wondering why a sector ranger is at the precinct station of a local constabulary. I thought you worked in teams and investigated trans-system crimes?"

"We do, normally." Renosi smiled, but it was a thin expression, without any of her typical conviviality. "I'd like to say that I'm on temporary duty working an important case but the truth is... my commander assigned me here. She said I didn't fit in. Too much of a maverick. 'You're not a team player, Renosi!' were her exact words." She finished by mumbling, "Dried up old creche-matron."

Sera grinned at her. "Sorry to hear that." She put out her hand and Naktiya took it. "You seem like a good officer. I hope things turn out better for you soon."

"Thanks," she answered as Tolfer appeared with their weapons and gear. Naktiya waved as they exited the facility. "Call me if you need anything. Or if you change your mind!"

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On the verge of tears, Reiko whimpered as she and Yuzu inspected the damage to Allegra's Heart. Nevertheless, she undertook a detailed interior and exterior survey, double-checking the initial damage report Yuzu had compiled. Then she joined the others in the cockpit, a glum look plastered on her round face. "She took a fair beating."

Lyra extended her datapad. "If they'd have been smarter pilots we might've been in real trouble. I've logged all the damage I found."

"The starboard engine could use a complete rebuild. As it is we'll struggle to get out of the gravity well." Reiko tapped Lyra's pad and scrolled through the list. "Repulsors, thrusters, air handlers, power converters, batteries, sensor and comm arrays." She looked at Sera. "Even the primary water tank took a hit. She could really use an overhaul, top to bottom."

Sera nodded. "I suspected as much. Do you think we could patch her up enough to get to Sansone Five Twenty-one?"

"What's that?"

"An asteroid that hosts repair facilities. The Corellian Merchants Guild runs the place."

"CMG, that nest of seditionists?" exclaimed Lyra with a sour scowl.

Sera gave a shrug. "You Imps sure thought so. I just want someplace to get Allegra fixed up right. Sansone's what, eighteen hundred light-years away?"

"Why not just stay here?" Taz asked.

"Gribolin City's not a bad spaceport but they aren't known for the quality of their repair facilities," Lyra stated.

"You've been here before?"

"I did a five-month rotation in this sector for my cadet cruise." She turned back to Rendix. "Since when do you have a guild membership?"

"Corellian, ship, Corellian captain." Sera twirled her finger in the air and tapped herself on the chest. "Seemed like the natural thing to do."

Reiko thought for a minute. "With Yuzu and Taz to help we can get her spaceworthy in four hours or so, but a full overhaul is probably at least a week of work."

"We have to pick up that ceraglass within the next—" Lyra consulted her wrist link— "six hours, or we'll default. That Nikto agent won't be happy."

Sera frowned. "We won't be able to get Allegra repaired in time."

"Then I guess it's a good thing we have another ship," Taz piped in. "We can take the cargo aboard the Chimera then fly with you to the guild's depot. What's the destination for the ceraglass?"

"Enarc, in the Alui sector."

Taz's eyes lit up. "That's practically next door to Inusagi! You want to go, don't you?" He gave Lyra a beseeching look.

Lyra scowled. Despite his enthusiasm, she wasn't letting him back her into any corners. "Let's complete the contract, then we'll see."

"First things first," Sera intoned, "Repairs."

Reiko shook her head. "Nope. You and Lyra both look wrung out. Yuzu, Taz, and I can handle the repairs." She took Sera's hand and slid off the bench seat, pulling the freighter captain with her. "You need to get some rest, and no objections!"

Taz added, "Rei-aktuu's onto something there, Sera. The meds are going to be a lot more effective with some real sleep."

"Alright, Doc," Sera relented. She gave Lyra's shoulder a squeeze and let herself be led into her cabin.

Lyra and Taz barely waited until Sera and Rei disappeared into the captain's stateroom before entangling themselves in each other's arms. For a few moments, the only sounds in the lounge were the lovers' kisses and muffled moans.

Finally Lyra breathed, "By the two moons, I missed you, Taz Oktos. More than I wanted to."

Taz looked delighted. "I missed you too." He brushed his fingers against her cheek while she settled her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to go through that alone. I should've been there for you instead of running off to buy a toy."

"I was scared out of my mind." She trembled with the remembered terror and wept against his shoulder, clinging to him. "Rendix..." She took a shaky breath and let it out through her teeth. "She got me through it."

"Sera looked after me plenty of times." Taz flashed a grin that was tempered with frustration. "If I'd been here—"

"You couldn't have known any of this would happen. Besides," she sniffed, feeling more like herself, "we can handle things ourselves without having a man around to save us all the time."

"I know you can," Taz blurted. "I didn't mean—"

"It was a joke, Oktos." She smiled at him through her dark lashes, buoyed by his arms wrapped around her.

"Oh," he said, sounding relieved. "You're fierce and strong and amazing, I know that. But it doesn't stop me from worrying about you."

"I know," said Lyra, pressing close.

"All I could think about on the way here was how I was going to show you how much I missed you." His voice grew husky, filled with simmering passion. "The captain's cabin on the Chimera is really comfortable."

"Sounds nice," she hummed.

"Almost as nice as visiting Inusagi." To her indifferent look, he added, "I'd really like to see it with you." His eyes were intense and they seemed even bluer than usual.

"I... shouldn't let you have your way," Lyra responded, but she found herself unable to summon much resistance.

He leaned in. "Yes you should." He took her lips and she let out a pleasant sound as his fingers tangled in her frosted hair.

Their kiss was interrupted by a quiet cough. Reiko stood a few steps away, looking sheepish. "Sorry, but—"

Taz leaned back with a sigh. "I know, Rei. Coming." He kissed Lyra again, looking regretful.

In a near whisper, she said, "You can show me that captain's cabin when you're done." Her copper eyes smoldered, echoing the same desire and disappointment she saw in his ardent expression, but she waved him toward Reiko. "Have fun with the repairs, you two."