Beyond the Stars 1

"Beyond the Stars"

'Chapter One'

By: BaffledFox and AngelNocturne


Bit remained draped over KT's chair, her slender talons playing with the end of the looped antennae. She had smirked to the gasp the other Irken emitted but soon grew unsure of the reaction as KT remained just sitting there.

Her smirk fell to a contemplative frown, unsure how to take the situation.

Bit didn't have a complex mind; never had, and even though nearly ten years had passed since then and now she still didn't have too deep of a thought process.

Whatever she wanted to do she would do, not matter how asinine or crazy. Whatever she wanted to say, she would say, no matter the consequences. It was how she had always been and such a thing hadn't changed despite her newfound adulthood and hardship. A part of her was still the same; the same blunt determined Irken from the academy, dim-witted and hell-bent on her single friend.

There had been no doubt in her mind that once she returned KT would accept her right back again, smile and say all those nice things she used to say back when they were little.

She had been so set on the other Irken; in all honesty she had been the only reason she even survived Trax. Childish affection from her memories had morphed with her adult mind, and every thought of her old friend sparked a possessive desire that turned into the insane obsession that had actually helped her survive her banishment.

Without a goal, without a reason to live, without KT – she would have never made it off that horrible rock.

KT had been a huge part of her isolated life, even though the Irken had never physically been there with her, and she couldn't even fathom that the other wouldn't feel the same.

The current reaction was boggling her; unable to comprehend that in the passing years KT might've moved on, forgotten, or even would have no interest in her coming back at all.

Such thoughts caused a possessive anger to flare up her spine and her frown turned dark. She slowly drew her nails away from the captured stalk, instead moving her body a bit more over the chair to try and peer at the stunned Irken's face.

"KT," She said in a growling purr, "Did you hear me?" She asked, her deformed antennae perking as best they could, "…you do remember, don't you?" Her tone wasn't as hard as usual, a weak flutter of self-doubt itched in her chest before it was gone; her posture and expression exerting a type of dominating sure air that didn't entirely reach her core.

KT's eyes watched as the owner of the voice appeared above the chair, having released her antenna. Something akin to panic was stirring inside her with just that voice-it was strong, powerful, and dark, a tone she'd rarely heard on female Irkens, mostly because there weren't that many to begin with, and the chances of meeting another woman was rare, let alone one with that kind of authority.

The fact that she was visible over the seat meant the stranger was tall-way taller than anyone she had to deal with within the last few years, save the Tallests and their advisors. Instantly the smaller Irken sank into the chair, feeling the unwanted but instinctual need to cower at the seemingly angered presence, antennae wilting meekly against her head.

She'd never heard a female voice quite so angry, quite so commanding, and yet there was something in it that pulled up memories of a person she'd given up hope for.

It couldn't possibly be…!

Amber eyes focused on the face above her, the first thing popping out to KT in her confusion was the bright, lime-green hue of the female's eyes. The lashes were long, dark and full, just barely draping over the emerald orbs as they glared at her intently. Jade lips were pulled into a scowl, and atop her head twin antennae were twisted into strange tangles and curves, jutting off on either side so haphazardly.

Those were her eyes, even if they were narrowed and glowering. Those were her feelers, the same crazy structure, even if they looked well weathered and were a bit longer than she remembered.

This was her.

It couldn't be but…there was no doubt, it had to be, it was-

"… Bit…." The name escaped her mouth before she had a chance to think otherwise, but that was all it took for the realization to solidify. She stared up at her old friend, eyes wide, mouth agape beneath her upturned collar.

This couldn't be…

Bit was dead.

Maybe she'd fallen unconscious again from the fatigue and was having one of those mental episodes… what were they called? The dreams. Maybe this was all in her head… Tallest only knows how long she'd think about Bit back when she was still an Invader, worrying about her. It would figure her PAK memories would simulate a false meeting during a lack of consciousness.

If she was even experiencing a dream.

Suddenly everything felt surreal. She wanted to get up from the chair but couldn't, still feeling the innate need to lay low beneath the other woman.

She was alive. She hadn't died after all. But how? After so long, how? Why?

KT continued to stare at Bit, afraid to look away in case it all just vanished. "You're… here." Her need to submit made her want to answer the questions growled to her, but shock still had a grip that refused to surrender. "You're really… here, right…?"

At the question Bit's lips twisted into a smile; though it lacked the friendly warmth of her youth, it was a sad comparison, nearly maniacal as her zipper-like teeth were exposed for the moment. She slowly came from behind the chair, rounding into KT's work space.

She stood before the smaller female, her eyes still narrowed and deviously intent, the bright lime green a harsh contrast to her blue-tinted green skin. She stood as confident as ever; pleased with the shock present, but not so pleased with the evident fear.

She didn't like seeing fear from KT; it twisted her heart in a bad way, a way she was unfamiliar with

"I'm here." Bit finally confirmed her tone still as jagged as ever.

As far as Bit was concerned there were no other Irkens in the room, no one aside from KT. All the stares, the whispers, the movements – they were all dead in the void around them.

Bit took in the sight of KT's appearance, her stout curled antennae to her pasty skin to the sickly blue color that shadowed the space under her shocked gold-brown eyes. Bit's eyes drifted to her uniform, different than what she remembered; it covered nearly all of her save for a portion of her legs. Bit's eyes lingered on the exposed skin a moment before she flicked her intense eyes back to KT's.

Without much warning she popped the officer's personal bubble, leaning forward, one hand setting on KT's lap; a single talon touching the bare flesh of her leg. Her other hand lifted towards her face, a claw slipping under the fold of the fabric covering the lower half of the female's face.

She grinned to herself, her lime colored eyes dancing, "I want to see your face." She said simply, pulling down the mask.

KT felt the clawed fingers flick beneath the material around her jaw, bringing the dark magenta cloth down to rest around her pale neck. There was a hand upon her legs, one sharp finger positioned along the smooth uncovered stretch of jade skin and the contact sent a shiver though her-she had not been touched much, certainly not in an intimate way, since her time at the academy, and that was merely from Bit snuggling with her when they had nothing else to do.

The advent of so much contact back then had worn down her original resolve; it was a part of Irken society and its teachings to not display physical affection, that it was considered weak. Perhaps there was something wrong with her-she never felt weak when Bit held her. On the contrary, she used to gain strength when the smaller would clutch her waist, like she was ten feet taller than everyone else with Bit's trust on her shoulders.

She didn't feel strong now… but what she was feeling was certainly not terrified weakness either.

Touch. This Bit was touching her. She was real then, as real as the sharp talons situated on her lap. KT's gold eyes took in the rest of the much taller Irken, immediately noting the lack of a shirt and flushing a little at the sight. The scar stood out like a neon sign and it caused her heart flutter-it looked severely painful, so long and jagged running down the entire front of Bit's chest. Her gaze slipped downward, below the defined abs curved into her torso and it was there that the KT's eyes widened-around Bit's waist was her shirt, her beloved purple shirt that she wore without fail in the academy, tattered, the color washed to a frail lavender and the grey face almost completely disintegrated. The striped tights were present beneath that, stretched over lithe legs that seemed to go on forever.

Her gaze returned up to Bit, seeing the zipper-like grin. It was nothing like the one that used to adorn the Irken's countenance-all goofy and adorable and full of mirth-but at least it wasn't a scowl and that lifted some of KT's anxiety. Her antennae flicked up slowly, eyes absorbing every detail of the other.

She waited… how long had she waited for? She'd given up, just gave up, years ago, but… even when the hope died, the guilt remained. That was what kept her working, day after day after day, because if she stopped to think she'd think of that and then… buried beneath the busy routine and the tiredness she still missed Bit, still hurt because she'd let her only friend down.

But Bit was here. Bit was alive, with her, right now.

The tiny barriers she'd made to manage herself couldn't take the pressure-the sudden press of reality on her fragile defenses and self-concocted illusion.

Tentatively, a gloved hand reached up from the arm rest, coming to cup around Bit's cheekbone, down the side of her face. The entire communication wing was there but the officer lost sight of that.

Bit hadn't flinched when KT had finally moved her hand to touch her, her eyes intent on the other's amber gaze as she felt the gloved fingers roam over her cheek and cup her jaw. After a brief moment she closed her eyes, leaning into that hand, her guard down in this unspoken moment as she merely savored the warmth coming from KT's palm.

KT stared, unable to find the words at first, so caught up in the solidness of the Irken in front of her that it was a miracle she found her voice at all. "… I-I'm sorry…." She nearly choked on the syllables, her throat feeling so tight. So did her chest, that long-ago ache returning with a vengeance. "I'm s-so sorry…." She didn't think for a moment, hysterical with pent-up relief, what she was doing when she leaned up. Her arms slid around Bit's taunt waist as she stood out of her chair, burying her face into the other's bare chest, feeling the scar and it only made her hold on more, albeit weakly, continuing to babble into Bit's warm torso. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, oh Irk I'm so sorry Bit, I'm so…I can't believe you're alive!" She felt something hot running along her cheek and it took a moment to register as tears. "I should've stayed with you, I should've, I should've known, I just-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…!"

Bit's antennae perked to attention at the choked words, her eyes half-lidded as they flicked back to the female with interest. One brow furrowed slightly, confused by her apology, not understanding its meaning.

However, just as quickly as the confusion came KT had jumped into her chest, holding her firm and it took a moment for Bit to recover. She wrapped her arms around KT's smaller body, feeling warm liquid on her chest and for a moment she was alarmed before she scented the tears and that same bubbling confusion washed back up.

…sorry?

Sorry for what?

Bit was unable to make any connections since she had been sent to the planet alone and there was no way for KT to know where she went – or even a way for her to follow. An Invader went to a soon-to-be-conquered planet alone so her babbling didn't make sense.

Bit nuzzled the top of KT's head in a comforting gesture, a low growl-like purr emitting from the back of her throat as she nipped at the base of KT's curled stalks before she trailed her attentions down the curve of her face to nip along her jaw.

It was then a thought struck her; actually taking reference to her words, a distant memory to their academy days, to when she first step foot on the Trax. She remembered they hadn't said goodbye, perhaps she was thinking about that?

Bit nudged KT's head gently, trying to dislodge it from being buried against her. She emitted gentle clicks of her tongue; a comforting tone, one unused by usual standards, but then again Bit had spent years and years alone and natural civilized behavior had sort of been over-ridden with primitive wants and gestures.

"You don't have to be sorry." She said in a low tone, her green eyes attempting to catch KT's. "No need for goodbyes now."

KT had been in the midst of her apologetic ramblings when Bit took to nibbling along her antennae, sending pleasurable shudders through every muscle of the smaller's form. Her gibberish became laced and finally broken with muffled chirps, unable to fade the heated blush forming on her face as the lips found her jawbone. The Irken's head tilted up unconsciously at that, hands finding feeble purchase along Bit's shoulder blades. She was too distraught to be completely aware of Bit's idea of 'consoling', but the tiny drop of mindless ecstasy was too agreeable to turn down, especially when she wasn't exactly emotionally stable.

There was a soft clicking sound in her feelers that was oddly soothing, though she had little mind to register it when Bit was nudging on her head. The wet tear marks stained her cheeks, reflecting the monitor lights in long thick streaks against her sallow green skin as she looked up to find intense jade orbs looking for hers, to accompany the words spoken.

KT's chest throbbed like she'd been stabbed with a spider limb, and her eyes glistened anew, threatening to spill more tears. She was too exhausted, too relieved and yet also too distressed to remember to stay together. Despite the confusing swirl of emotions her lips somehow curved into a tender smile, so warmed by the statement-her throat felt too tight to say anything, the Irken only managing a shaky nod in return.

She still didn't half believe any of this was really happening, but it was, and Bit was okay, alive, and every ounce of guilt she had… it wasn't gone completely, but she felt so ridiculously relieved, though still too shocked to understand it.

Dax was also shocked, though not in the same way as the female Irken. The tiny officer was glued to his seat, paralyzed by the sight of the tall, ferocious-looking woman who just strode onto the main deck without so much as a greeting… unless he counted the fondling of KT's antennae as one.

Did KT know this hostile Taller?

The violet-eyed male was close enough to be privy to the entire conversation, though the obvious affectionate gestures were certainly not lost on the rest of the crew. Around them Dax could sense the other pairs of eyes, watching, too short to do anything in fear of incurring this stranger's wrath.

Who was she? Was she some rogue Irken, perhaps working for the Resisty to claim the ship's snack supplies for their troops, or something even more devious?

The giant scar running across her naked chest and the muscle definition in her limbs and torso told a very frightful tale to the inexperienced communication officer. She looked capable of killing them all with a single stare.

And yet she was standing there, so very blatantly seducing KT… and the smaller female was physically involving herself without hesitation, she was even crying…! Dax had never seen anything more than a sigh out of her, KT was always one to stay barred against extreme emotional displays, maintaining normality.

What on Irk was going on here?!

Was it some secret love affair?

He couldn't help but stare at the soft rise in color to KT's cheeks, and the way the other woman nipped gently on the smaller's curved stalks, inducing such sounds… Dax's tiny face lit up like a purple light bulb, gloved claws gripping the upholstery of his chair a little too tightly.

He didn't like the maniacal grin on the stranger's face.

She was trouble, lots of it. He just knew it.

He couldn't let KT get involved with such a dangerous woman.

Bit's skin heated up from the soft chirps KT had emitted; one hand slipping lower on the Irken's spine before resting at the base of it. She looked down into KT's bright watery eyes; her gaze softer than it normally was, her lengthy lashes covering up the majority of her eyes as she offered the Irken a slight grin in return to her smile.

KT's eyes had lit up at the sudden appearance of Bit's grin-that, combined with the soft look in her eyes, had such an essence to her old Bit. She'd seemed so rough and surly, not at all like the Invader KT remembered but… it was there. A little tougher around the edges, but still present.

The moment's pause, with their eyes meeting, gave KT a chance to recall that they weren't exactly in the best place for a reunion. Her antennae fell slightly-how exactly would she explain this to Jyn, or Dax, or everyone else watching? And Bit would surely get in trouble for her not-so-subtle lack of proper attire.

She would have to fix this sticky predicament somehow.

Bit noticed the dark purple blush on KT's cheeks, the feel of her smaller frame still tucked up against her, and her unique scent she had nearly forgotten. It was all so intoxicating; her need to possess and claim mounting as she tilted her head back up and ran her purple tongue along the curve of a feeler in an obscenely intimate gesture in such a crowded room. Her hand had finally dropped completely, pushing the smaller Irken into her, forcing the other alien to straddle her hips. Her free hand had already ran up the curve of her back, balancing her weight at the base of her Pak.

KT opened her mouth to ask Bit how she found out where she was, parting her lips just as Bit's violet tongue brushed up against her antennae. The sensation of the wet muscle on her stalk demolished all pre-determined statements, instead producing a stifled moan in the back of her throat as a response. Her flush brightened, feeling warm all over as she was made to straddle the taller, whose height still held an effect as KT's legs limply complied to the movement, becoming lax in submission towards the other's dominating nature.

Bit groaned lowly in the back of her throat as she parted her lips to take in the captured antennae when an unwanted voice broke the moment.

Summoning what little courage he had, Dax stood up, his legs quivering beneath him. He puffed out his chest, attempting to add whatever he could add to his five foot, three inch frame, before opening his mouth to make his demands.

"…U-Uh, um, a-ahem."

Well, that was a failure. Dax's shoulders drooped in time with his antennae as he tried to cough out what he could, violet eyes watching the taller female nervously. "M-M-My Taller, I-I don't wish to offend you in a-any way, but I d-don't think you should b-b-be here right now…y-you need c-clearance, I think…"

Her claws dug into the fabric of KT's uniform possessively, almost attempting to hide her as her vicious green eyes glared a sharp glare down at the small Irken that dared interfere. It had been obvious from the start Bit didn't give a damn about the others in the room – let alone clearance or anything else this one was babbling about.

She had spent ten long years trying to get to this moment.

…and this…

This tiny little thing was trying to ruin it for her?

Her antennae pulled back in a hostile way; her expression dark though she didn't make a move to attack as usual – mainly because she was so reluctant to let KT go. "Clearance?" She scoffed, "What about it?" She nearly snarled, baring her teeth at him, "Are you going to do something?"

Touch, contact… she'd never shared that with any other Irken, the experience was solely Bit's, and while familiar in that regard, the possessive way the other growled into her stalks was all too new… all too intense. Her claws feebly clutched at Bit's back for support, for something steady as sensory information piled on distractingly, making her head spin and her vision blur and forming a heat in the pit of her spooch that stirred a need in her beyond submission-

And then it stopped, though it took a few moments for KT to collect herself. Bit's hands were at her back, nestling her close while a growled voice-Bit's voice-was addressing someone. Limp stalks languidly perked up as she pulled her head slightly away from the other's chest, eyes finding Dax as Bit snarled at him in challenge.

That was about all the tiny male could handle as his knees buckled beneath him, the tone of the newcomer's voice not just commanding but feral, like she could rip him apart without even caring. The raw anger sent tremors through his little form and he crumpled back into his chair, unable to look away from how those bare arms encircled KT but also unable to speak a word in protest. Whatever bravery he once conjured was instantly dissolved beneath the surge of natural fear and instinctive deference.

"N-N-No, my Taller, nothing at all, n-not a thing, p-please forgive m-my impudence." Just don't kill me, he wanted to squeak, but his mouth knew better than his PAK what to say at that moment, to try and gain mercy from the tenacious Irken.

KT watched Dax's surrender. She'd forgotten he was there for a moment, with everything happening. Hesitantly she attempted to untangle herself from Bit's grasp but failed miserably, frail even compared to a third of the taller's strength. "Bit…? Bit, it's okay, this is only Dax," she said, hoping to prevent whatever murderous intent lay in those lime-green eyes. The hostile air made her uneasy, antennae dropping down against her head. "He's just following protocol, its fine."

Of course she realized it wasn't fine-Bit had been dead for several years, or so the Empirical database had declared. There was no way for Bit to have any sort of legal clearance to be on the ship… the entire security wing must have been looking for her.

They would try to get her off the ship, or take her to the Massive for questioning.

KT bit her lip, a flutter of panic blossoming in her chest. Her grip on the other tightened-she couldn't let Bit get taken, couldn't let her get away after so many years. The female was suddenly alive before her after so long. She couldn't have them separate again, not after the last time.

Bit lifted her chin, her snarl fading into an almost smug grin as the little violet-eyed one had sat back in his chair; his shaking and his obvious scent of fear placated Bit's original rage.

Dax?

Bit flicked her eyes back to the Irken in her arms, almost not even registering the fact that she had attempted to get free; obviously having no intention on breaking contact. Her antennae twitched, her mind working slowly, unsure what she was feeling as she flicked her eyes back to the quaking male before they turned back to KT.

Without much thought Bit sat back, sitting on the control panel, shifting the other Irken to rest in her lap, not even conscious of the fact that KT's skirt had hiked up quite a bit from the positioning. The clawed hand on her back began to wander in slow sensual circles, her head tilting up as her eyes fell half-way. "Is he important?" She purred in a curious way, her other hand resting deliberately on the female's thigh, inching its way up her skirt.

Bit hadn't noticed when the communication room door opened; the hiss of metal sounding in the quiet space, but all her attention was on the one perched over her; her hand roaming over her Pak to run her talons over the back of her neck.

A single communication drone stood near the opened door, his nervous green eyes flicking towards the hallway and hoping the head officer would get there sooner. The taller male had been following, but obviously didn't seriously think they had a threat on the ship.

Who would try and sneak aboard the Tallests personal snack ship?

Vixi ran his hands nervously together, his antennae perked straight up and down as he glanced nervously around the crowded room; noticing the two Irkens tangled together on the main control board.

"In here sir!" He squeaked as the head officer came into view, trying to keep his voice low for fear of alarming the stranger inside.

There was the sound of boots clicking along the metal floor, and a male Irken a good head taller than Vixi strode in from the doorway. Several heads turned with the advent of Jyn as the head communication officer calmly approached the center of the room, with four security drones flanking him. Blue eyes, as clear as sapphire despite his slight collection of years, didn't have to search long to find the source of the commotion-he looked at the pair atop the consoles, recognizing the smaller as one of his leading officers… and then falling on the one possessively holding her.

An eye ridge quirked up at that. He'd been told there was an intruder on board, possibly a rogue Irken with connections to the Resisty, and… well, he'd been expecting something different than the sight in front of him; perhaps a little more bloodshed and a little less… blushing.

Hmm. You certainly didn't see this every day.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat, still calmly standing several feet away from the entangled couple. "Would someone care to enlighten me as to what's going on here?"

Dax whipped his head to look at the new arrival, feelers shooting up instantly. "M-My Taller!" he piped up, relief evident in his voice as he saw Jyn standing with some of the security. KT turned to face her superior as well, her blush lighting anew at the current situation.

This had to look so terrible-her uniform was hiked up, revealing every naked inch of chartreuse thigh as she straddled Bit, who was tracing her talons along the nape of KT's neck in such a way that little shivers played along her flesh.

Her feelers practically plastered themselves against her skull. How exactly was she going to explain 'this'…?

"Taller Jyn, sir, I…," the words caught in her throat for a moment. "I-well, you see, um-I-I apologize, this is all a misunderstanding-everything's okay, I mean, she's not a threat or anything, she-I didn't know she-please forgive me, I'll be clear, just… this looks different than it is… sort of." Inwardly she cursed at her sudden humiliation-the male always seemed to hold her in high respect. He couldn't possibly think that now, seeing her like this. The entire crew must have been watching by now, though KT's eyes stayed glued to Jyn-or more precisely his feet, having lost the ability to meet his gaze half-way through her rambles-and she couldn't see everyone, but she could feel their eyes, their stares. Calculating stares, discerning the scene... they surely must have been thinking of how weak she was.

Or how threatening Bit seemed.

Bit wasn't a danger, she wasn't there to hurt anyone… it probably didn't look quite that way.

Or maybe it did, their poses were after all very… apparent.

Vixi had immediately got out of the way as Jyn walked in with the security officers. His plain green eyes viewed the scene, still nervously wringing his hands, hoping attention had not been drawn to himself.

It had taken every bit of courage in his small body to even sneak out of the communication wing and run to get Jyn. He almost stayed riveted like all the rest; but somehow he had found himself in front of his commander and he was oh-so-grateful nothing bad had really happened while he was gone.

As far as he knew KT had been taken…captive more or less; rather unsure the stranger's motive behind the action, not having been present for the nearly obscene display earlier to even realize that it was another matter entirely.

Bit's antennae perked slightly as she heard the deliberate cough. She turned her green eyes on the blue-eyed male as well as the security drones flanking him. She caught the flurry of words from KT and didn't enjoy the humility in her voice. After all, KT was revered as high as a Tallest in the eyes of the sharp-edged female, and she didn't understand that consequences were going to befall her from the situation she had put them in.

Her plans had been so simple.

Get to an Irken ship, find KT, then show the Irken just how much she meant to her – show her she had not forgotten her no matter how long it had been.

All these other Irkens were screwing up her plans.

Bit didn't like the situation, her body tense as her antennae pulled back. She eyed the group a long hard moment as if weighing them up before she untangled herself from her female; moving to stand in front of KT as if attempting to protect her. Her hands were pulled taut; showing the sharp curve of the talons as she hunched her shoulders in an obvious challenge. She looked ready to charge at any moment – not at all deterred by the fact she was outnumbered.

Bit's lips twisted into an unusual grin, her eyes intent on the leader of the group. "I've come for KT." She said, her tone harsh, her bright eyes narrowing to slits as she flexed her claws, "She's mine."

The challenge hung in the tense air; obvious that Jyn's next words would either provoke or placate a possible attack.

Bit merely felt threatened, not liking the calm stares from the security drones, nor the serious blue eyes of the leader. She didn't like feeling trapped, and all of a sudden the room was feeling too small. The thought to flee never entered her mind – she never fled. She'd fight every last one of them if she had to; if they were going to attempt to separate her from KT again.

She was not going to be taken away again.