What's Past is Prologue

[Adelaide Kasperian-Kazaar]

SIX MONTHS AFTER: Lonliness


To an outside observer, Adelaide had not changed all that much over the past six months. If one had seen her then, sitting in the bar of "The Jewelled Ithorian" they would have seen her much as she is now - only looking a little better kept and not quite so pallid. She still had, however, that haunted look about her, especially in the eyes. A restless and uneasy quiet in her expression, as if she was just barely holding on. Which was, in fact, the actual truth of the matter.

While Novus Kota had been a lifeline to a drowning woman - taking her into his protection and training her how to fight, (as only those who've lived and prospered on the mean streets of Ord Mantell know how to) - He had not been able to banish to relentless grief and obsessive need for retribution her personal loss had possessed her of. He had, in his wisdom, nurtured it instead.

His training had been therapeutic. The gruelling daily workouts were both physically empowering and mentally restorative. Adelaide gradually clawed her way back out from depression, channelling her anger and hurt through endless rounds of boxing, weightlifting, cardio, hand-to-hand fighting, into a productive and focused objective. Adelaide was preparing to kill a man. And, in a short time, a days' time in fact - she would be leaving Ord Mantell to go find that man. To kill that man.

The last session with Novus had been particularly strenuous. He had pushed her hard, to the point of breaking. He'd wanted to see her crack, to loose her cool and make mistakes. He'd taunted her, mocked her and even though she understood what he was doing, she felt herself growing angry with him for doing it. She'd thrown him in a move that counter-balanced her own weight against his so that her smaller frame and his were equalized and the difference in strength was momentarily negated. She'd followed up with a fist to his throat, stopping just short of a blow that could have crushed his larynx. Kota had laughed, pleased with her performance, but Adelaide had only asked if they'd finished for the night.

Stepping now from the refresher, after having eaten a solid meal and washed it down with a cool beer, Del brushed her teeth and crawled into bed.

"Only one more night to go...It's going to be good to finally play the role of the hunter." She rolled into the curve of his back and wrapped her arm affectionately over him. The familiar smell of him made her murmur contentedly and as she smiled, her lips brushed his skin. "Y'know I was already asleep, woman" he said with mock irritance. "Liar" she answered, "You snore when you sleep, Aurelias"

The morning came quickly, as it always did and Adelaide dressed with methodic calmness.

Next stop, Imperial Center and the Russard Estate.