Waves lapped up on shore, echoing quietly through the open window as Cymbrecia lounged in the large bathtub. Hot water pruning her tanned skin as a breeze wafted through a white curtain to her left. Paradise.
"That looks comfortable," Kiryk's deeper voice stated and prompted her to glance at him as he walked into the bathroom, then crouched beside her.
"It is," she grinned. "Could use some company though."
Gently, he ran his fingers through her soaked, long hair. "Be time for that later. Actually, I need to ask you a few things first."
"Of course."
He nodded. "Your mom know about this place?"
Brow furrowed. "You kidding? I don't need her or my step-dad showing up here."
"Okay, cool." His eyes caressed her body beneath the water slowly, then returned. "How about your brother?"
Cymbrecia's mood hardened. "What are you so worried about? No one is coming here. Relax."
He grinned. "You serious? Two of your relatives are jedi. Your godmother is a jedi. And we're career criminals. Those two things don't go well together, last I checked."
She leaned into him and kissed him for a long moment. "No one is coming for a visit. Not to this world," she kissed him again. "Trust me. I don't need them in my hair any more than you do."
Kiryk looked into her eyes, not inches apart now, then nodded again. "Good, 'cause I'm not going back. Got it?"
Cymbrecia smiled. "I didn't risk my life and that of my crew for nothing, babe. No one knows where we are right now." Her desires prompted her to lean in again as the familiar report from blasters exploded downstairs. Immediately, she jumped from the tub and ran into the room to dress and grab her own weapon belt as Kiryk ran to the door and yanked it open, then disappeared. Yells echoed from the stairwell as she frantically pulled on her pants, a shirt and then boots. Once done, she sprinted towards the hallway and strapped on her gunbelt, body still soaked and cooling as she ran.
Downstairs, she noticed a pair of booted feet on the floor, laying into the living room. Quickdrawing her pistol, she moved to the continued sound of combat which had moved outside and recognized Sewer's body as she ran passed.
Kiryk intercepted the ship pilot and grabbed her. "Stop. Cymbrecia, stay in here," he pressed, strong arms around her waist and shoulders.
Blue eyes found Galen and Curry hunkered at the landing gear of her ship, firing at someone to her left and in the treeline. Armand and Korentin were still missing however. "What's going on," she asked, trying her best to pull away from him and get to the open doorway.
"Nothing," he continued pulling her from the entry. "Damn, relax woman."
Blue eyes turned and strained to see Kiryk. "Let me go! They're my friends."
"This is over here," Cosmo replied from the kitchen as he moved towards them, rifle in hand. "I'm only letting you live for his sake, otherwise I'd have your ass buried with them. Now shut the f*** up and stay out of the way."
In an instant, she raised her pistol and shot him squarely, even through the tight grip that her boyfriend had on her. As the target fell backwards, Kiryk spun her away from him.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
"Let me go!" She leaned forward, trying to pry herself from his grip and found herself falling forward. Now freed, she reached out with both hands and caught herself on a nearby table before hitting the floor as blaster bolts continued flying outside. As she turned, a punch caught her in the jaw and sent sparks flashing in her eyes, then darkness as she hit the floor.
* * *
"Damnit," Kiryk exclaimed to himself as Cymbrecia landed hard on the off-white, tile floor. He sighed, then picked her up and carried his girlfriend to the couch, then laid her down as the shooting outside finally stopped. Straightening, he glanced to the body on the kitchen floor. How was he going to clean this up now?
Not only was Sewer dead, but now also the nephew of his own boss. Shadows elongated in the entryway and he turned to see Aryl walk in. One of the syndicate's many lieutenants, this particular one had the ear of Meron and wasn't known for leniency.
Aryl glanced to his left and noted the body of Cosmo, then cold steel-blue eyes turned to Kiryk as two more of his thugs walked in, rifles couched. "Want to tell me what the hell happened?"
Kiryk sighed. "Must've been a stray shot," he shrugged. "I was upstairs with my girlfriend and we heard you guys arrive. I kept her upstairs like you said, then we came down here and found them," he motioned to Sewer as well.
Nodding skeptically, the tall, strongly built lieutenant in darker clothing then noticed Cymbrecia on the couch. "And what about her?"
"She was getting out of hand, so I had to knock her out. It's not easy watching your friends get smoked."
Aryl turned to him. "Is she going to be a problem?"
He shook his head. "No way. She's under thumb, don't worry about her."
"Better be."
"I got it," he tried to sound convincing.
Aryl sighed and walked over to the one that had called them here and glanced down to Cosmo. "He's not going to be happy about this."
"Just tell him that one of those guys shot him. It's the truth. The large one even got in a fight with him on the way here."
"Oh," steel-blue eyes turned back to him. "Over what?"
Kiryk shook his head. "Just being stupid. Mercs and ex-cons are always doing s**t like that. Can't be under the same roof for too long, apparently."
Motioning to the duo at the door, Aryl walked back towards the entryway as they moved to carry the body out to their awaiting ship. "Come with us, we got work to do. Let her sleep it off."
Kiryk nodded, glanced to the slumbering, raven haired beauty on the couch and hoped that she got over this by the time he saw her again. As he followed the two mercs, he closed the door and left.
Sounds from the forest outside woke Cymbrecia to the night. Waving gently like the long robes of a ghost, the drapes danced with the seabreeze and didn't abate the soreness in her jaw. How did she get in her room? The last thing she remembered was watching....
She pushed herself up, threw the blanket aside and raced out of the room. Turning to the right, golden light poured out of the living room and through the opening in the den below her. "Kiryk," she called as she raced downstairs, then rounded the banister to note two familiar females sitting on the couch to the right that bordered the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks as Ilana approached, smiling.
"How you feeling, honey," hazel brown eyes looked into hers and suddenly Cymbrecia felt lost.
"Okay," she replied quietly as her 'aunt' hugged her tightly. For a moment she felt safe, just like when she and Kaliman used to visit Ilana, Alrek and Dara when they were younger.
"Good," Ilana replied in a motherly tone, then kissed her on the forehead. The older brunette backed a step as Dara hugged Cymbrecia also.
"Where are the guys," she finally asked and quickly noted the happy smiles turn somber. A reaction that made her heart sink and she felt angry tears well.
"We took care of them," Ilana stated. "I'm sorry."
"S**t," she replied quietly as the echo of the gun battle earlier returned.
"I'm just glad you're alright," Ilana hugged her again. "Any idea who did this?"
Vision now clouded, she closed her eyes and nodded. "Yeah." They allowed her some time to grieve and walked her to the kitchen. She remained in Ilana's arms as Dara made her something light to eat, then brought it to her as they sat in the dining room. Not feeling like eating much, she picked at it as they quietly waited.
"You can come with us," Ilana finally broke the silence. "You're apparently not safe here any more."
Blue eyes looked up at the one stable thing in her sordid life. As much as she wanted to, there were still some things to tend to. "Not yet. My boyfriend should be back in a few days. I'd like to wait for him to get back first."
Ilana leaned back in her chair. "Okay," she nodded and suddenly Cymbrecia grew nervous.
* * *
Three days later, Cymbrecia worked on one of the cleaning droids which had broken down again. It was time to make a run to Marcino, apparently. Wiping sweat off her brow, she sat atop a small stool and thought about the beach and water that was calling her name. Ilana and Dara had already gone out for a swim and she agreed to join them once this was done.
As she replaced the servo into the small area it was meant for, she heard the familiar sound of a repulsor engine arrive, then wind down. Fingers worked faster as she pressed to finish the task, hoping Kiryk had finally returned home. Light poured in from the open garage door, but she remained hidden behind a large toolbox and a long workbench covered with tools and other assorted cans, parts and ripped packaging as footsteps approached.
"Hey," Kiryk's familiar voice called and she glanced up and to the right to notice the one she had longed to see again.
"Hey," she straightened and smiled. "Everything go okay?"
He nodded and glanced to the droid, it's side panel missing and revealed it's confusing mass of machinery and wires. "Yeah, got another contact for the future and a little more spending money." Brown eyes looked at her. "How you doin'?"
"Fine," she sobered, then went back to finish tightening the screws. Once done, she returned the panel to the supporting frame and latched it down.
"Good," he crouched at her side and placed a hand on her right forearm. "I'm sorry about the other day. I just didn't want you to get hurt, that's all."
Blue eyes glanced at him as she flicked the 'ON' switch to the droid and nodded. "You hungry?"
"Starving," he stood as she rose and returned her tools to their places in each drawer of the tall box. Shadows walking towards the front of the house prompted her to lean to the left and notice Ilana and Dara. Both dressed in shorts and tanktop, their presence also stiffened Kiryk's demeanor.
"Who the hell is that," he asked defensively.
"Friends."
He looked at her and his returned grip on her forearm tightened. "You serious? Get rid of them."
Cymbrecia turned to him as she shoved the drawer closed. "No. This is my house too."
"Bulls**t. I paid for this place with all the money from the bank heist. You're here because I want you here. Deed's in my name, babe."
"You must be Kiryk," Ilana greeted and they both looked to the mature females now standing at the end of the bench.
"You're just leaving," Kiryk stated coldly. "We're talking here. Pack your s**t."
"Kiryk," Cymbrecia scolded.
"You'll first be taking your hands off of my neice," Ilana replied, her hazel brown eyes narrowed as she stepped closer. "Understand me?"
"Ilana, it's okay."
"No, it's not okay," the ex-assassin returned, eyes still locked with Kiryk's.
"I don't know who you think you are, but I run things here, b***h." With a flash of movement, Kiryk's jawbone crunched and he collapsed to the floor in a heap.
"Come on," Ilana's smooth voice directed as Cymbrecia looked down at the man she had wanted to spend her life with, blood slowly pooling near his lips onto the dark grey, permacrete floor. "Anyone that treats my niece that way isn't deserving of you. Now let's go."
Cymbrecia couldn't believe the turn of events, even though she was pissed at him for what he had helped do to her crew. A conflict of emotions roiled in her mind. She sighed and looked up to Ilana as Dara moved around and stood in full view, then glanced down to the man.
"He made you watch as his friends killed your crew," Ilana reminded. "You can't stay hooked to this dirtbag. He's only using you and when it comes down to you or him, you're out. And I can't stand by and let that happen. I won't. I made your father a promise and I intend to keep it."
Brow furrowed, Cymbrecia didn't remember any promise. "When did you promise anything to Dathan?"
"I meant your real father."
Cymbrecia watched quietly as the dark blue of Genesia fell away from the navigator's seat behind Ilana in the pilot's seat. She hated that her life of adventure was now over. How had it come to this?
Light blue atmosphere turned to black and soon, the tiny sparks of light elongated and disappeared.
She remained in her seat, head leaned back on the taller rest of padded leather. Now for another chapter to begin. But where? She agreed to leave her ship behind. Ilana's reasoning made sense. It was a sure way to be tracked by this syndicate that now was an enemy. Kiryk remained incapacitated on the floor of the garage when they left and she found herself losing any compassion for him. Their years together were shallow, now that she had a chance to sit back and evaluate it. Nothing like Ilana and Alrek had, or even Kaliman and Serena.
Maybe one day.
"This is the Mark Two," she heard an older voice say from the comm station as Ilana half turned her chair to face Dara in the copilot seat. "What's up, girl?"
"Hey," Ilana replied. "How are things?"
"Good. Staying busy. Always another target to take out, you know how it goes."
"Yeah," hazel brown eyes glanced to Cymbrecia, then back to the voice. "Along that line, you have some free time to take on a project for a friend?"
"For you? Always."
"Good. A certain crimelord from Genesia has made life complicated for someone and he needs to be taken down a notch or two. Thought you might be interested."
"Okay. Got a name?"
"Meron Val Kel Myr."
Cymbrecia's body grew rigid at the sound of the name and her eyes widened as she leaned forward to look at Ilana directly.
"No problem. Name sounds familiar actually. I take it you're too busy?"
"Yeah," she glanced at Cymbrecia and touched her hand lovingly. "I have some precious cargo that I have to get to safety, so."
"You bet. But, you owe me one," preceded a light chuckle.
"Whatever," Ilana playfully chided. "Happy hunting."
"See you soon."