The Holocomm controls were cold under her hands and Kaliana hesitated. Should she do this? She had the frequency, a... Gift of sorts he had given her before they had parted ways. And he intrigued her, in a way no one else ever had before.

But there were many, many problems. For a start, she suspected, much to her embarrassment, that the intrigue wasn't something anyone was supposed to make her, a Jedi, feel. And then there was the fact that she didn't know him very well. An accident, they had met by accident, at when she had too much to drink at a party she hadn't even wanted to attend.

Besides, he was an Imperial. A Jedi knight shouldn't be contacting an Imperial.

But... She didn't finish that thought, she couldn't. There was no logical reason to overlook all this. So why was she already tapping out the frequency he had given her?

Time seemed to slow down as she waited for an answer. Then his image popped up in front of her, a surprised look on his face, "My Lady! I mean, Miss Kaliana! It's... Unexpected of you to call, but good to see you again. I take it you had a safe journey home?"

She smiled softly, "Hello again, Talos. Yes, thank you, I did. And then I thought it would be nice to see you again..." She trailed off, suddenly nervous for a reason she couldn't put her finger on. She didn't flinch in battles, but talking to someone she was... Well, developing some kind of connection to, made her feel quite anxious.

It was some small comfort that he seemed to feel the same way, looking down nervously, then giving a nod, "It is nice to see one another, isn't it Perhaps..." Now it was his turn to falter.

"Yes?" She asked, instantly curious.

"Perhaps we should meet up again. In a neutral spot, of course. There are some quite nice resturants on Alderaan..." He suggested.

"I would like that, yes." She agreed, feeling a sudden rush of heat to her face as she accepted the invitation and mentally scolding herself for being so silly. It was only dinner with a friend...

"Really? Wonderful! Are you free tonight?" He asked her.

"Oh, yes, it's quite quiet on Tython, really," She told him.

"Then I'll meet you at the spaceport."

"I'll look forward to seeing you then," She smiled as his image began to fade.

With the Holo shut off, the panic set in. Tonight! She had to get ready for tonight. But how? She was far from experienced with this kind of thing. She would need a babysitter for her daughter, and time to pick an outfit...

A voice behind her snapped her out of her daze, "Hey, Kali, I don't suppose you've seen Anna?" Alina Talon, her relative and the chief troublecauser in her life, had somehow wandered into her quarters.

"Your sister? No, not today. Now, kindly leave. I have much to get on with." She replied.

Alina peered at her. "You sure? You look a bit flustered..."

She sighed. She was going to regret confiding in Alina, no doubt, but the other wasn't going to leave without an explanation now. "I have had a call to meet a friend of mine for dinner on Alderaan this evening. But I have no time to get ready and no one to leave Kilma with..." She began.

"Dinner on Alderaan, huh? It's not a date, is it?" Alina began to interrogate her, bringing on the instant regret.

"No! Well, no exactly, but I... I guess it is the nearest thing I have ever had. Which is why I am worried," She admitted, expecting Alina to tease her mercilessly, but generally against lying anyway.

The Zabrak Jedi's reaction was surprisingly nice, "I'll help you! I can look after Kilma for a bit tonight, and I'm sure with my help, you can get ready," She offered.

"Thank you," Kaliana nodded, accepting simply because she could see no alternative.

"No problem," Alina swung her arm around her shoulders and steered her into the bedroom. "Let's look for something for you to wear then," She encouraged.

Kaliana sighed and opened her wadrobe. All this revealed was several rows of Jedi robes. Alina groaned, "Seriously? Okay, this isn't going to work. You'll have to borrow something of mine."

"Something of yours?" She asked doubtfully, "Something appropriate, I trust?" Alina's clothes weren't usually to her taste.

"More appropriate than going on a date in Jedi robes, sure." Alina had a point.

So, Kaliana surrendered to her dubious 'friend' and allowed herself to be steered to Alina's room. There, they went through various outfit choices that she vetoed as too 'out there', until she ended up in a pale blue silk gown that Alina had bought for a senate function she had been reluctantly dragged to.

"There! It suits you," Alina smiled.

"Thank you," Kaliana replied. "Now, I better pick Kilma up from class early so I can explain to her," She said, thinking of how clingy her daughter often was. She headed for the door.

Alina caught her arm. "Wait! I'll pick her up and explain. You need to sit down and let me do your make-up," She insisted.

"Alina, you know I do not wear make-up," Kaliana sighed.

"It's your first date. Trust me, here," Alina urged.

She sighed again, and reluctantly sat down. Alina fussed around her for a little while, then thrust a mirror in her face. She didn't think she looked herself, but had to admit it was nice. "Okay, maybe you were right. Thank you. But I better go, it's getting late."

"No problem. Have fun!" Alina called after her.

The journey was only mildly stressful and soon, Kaliana was on Alderaan. She stepped off her ship and into the spaceport, looking around for any sign of Talos.

He was waiting near the doorway and looked up at her as she came over, looking a little stunned. "Wow... You look lovely tonight,"

She flushed, "Why, thank you."

He held out his arm to her, "Shall we go?"

"Of course," She nodded, taking it a little hesitantly. This was all new to her, but somehow, it felt right.

While they walked to the resturant, they chatted a little. Kaliana enquired about her sister, with whom he worked. It had been a shock, learning Darth Nox was her sister, but she was accepting it. Now, she couldn't help but interrogate him about how they had met, the rest of her sister's crew, and what it was like.

By the time they reached the resturant, she had almost dragged his life story out of him, and sitting down to eat, felt a little embarrassed when he noted this, "Well, I've told you everything about me. What about you? Of course, I've heard some of your research, but there must be more to you than that..."

Despite her embarassment, she did begin to spill the details, enjoying herself after a while.

Meanwhile, Alina had picked up Kilma and by now, had put the child to bed. This left a little bored, and a michievous idea crept into her mind.

She picked up her personal holocomm and called up Kitty's number.

The Sith appeared in front of her in a few seconds, "Well?" She demanded to know.

Alina rolled her eyes. That was Darth Nox for you. All manners. "I have some information for you," She grinned.

"Oh?"

"You know your little Imperial friend, Talos. He and your sister are on a date," She told her. She had dragged the name of Kaliana's 'friend' out of her during the makeover session.

"They're what?" The Sith Lord thundered.

And so it was that the date came to be interrupted. Kaliana's personal comm began to bleep, and she looked guilty. "I'm sorry, this may be Jedi business, I should answer."

"Understandable," He nodded.

She took the call, and gasped aloud when she realised it was a very grumpy Sith instead. "What in the-"

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" Sarcasm dripped from Nox's voice.

"Yes!" Kaliana insisted, turning scarlet.

"No, my Lady," Talos lied nervously.

"My informants work quite quickly, you see, and I need a word with you both if this little... Relationship is to continue."

They exchanged glances, both embarrassed by the Sith's presences, let alone her use of the term 'relationship'. "Go on..." Kaliana told her hesitantly, hoping that she would hurry up and leave.

"Firstly, Talos, I think of myself as a friendly boss. We have an understanding, yes?" He nodded silently, looking mildly terrified, "But that is my sister. Hurt her and I will... Well, you know what I do to my enemies."

He did. That much was obvious from his expression as he nodded mutely.

Kaliana rolled her eyes, "Really, Kitty, you don't have to be so-"

The Sith turned on her. "And you, Jedi, should know that my crew are very important to me as well. Don't mess up. Got it?"

"Of course," Kaliana nodded hastily.

"Great! Well, have fun!" The Sith was suddenly cheerful as she signed off.

Once she had gone they looked at one another nervously. Eventually, Kaliana broke the silence. "Is she always like that?"

"I'm afraid so. You should have seen the fuss she made about the Emperor's Wrath's partner... The poor man," He sighed.

"Well... I suppose if she's telling us not to mess up, she approves of our dating, at least?" Kaliana hazarded.

"Happily, it would seem that way," He nodded.