How did we end up here?

[Simone]

Simone's anger flared and she rubbed her throat where the droid had grabbed her, swinging a kick at its crumpled form to vent her frustration. She wasn't built for a fight, sure she could hold her own, just about, in close quarters. That was necessary, something she'd trained with an Echani Jedi to do so that she could defend herself when worst came to worst. A firefight? No she was not equipped for that.

"Feth you." she snapped at Khal. She knelt over the droid, flipping it onto it back and sighing. She'd hoped to access its memory, see what information she could gain, but Khals fire and fried everything. She covered her face with her hands, a stream of unlady like curses spewing from her mouth. Alright, breath Simone, she told herself, breath and think. She pulled the map up on her computer and began scanning it. The image flickered and changed, corridor to corridor she went along those closest to their location.

"There." She said finally. "Three blocks up, there's an access point. I can shut them out from there, shut down the droids, but it will only be temporary. From there we'll need to get to the control centre for me to completely gain control. Which means there is likely to be a fight." she looked at him "So I suggest you stop whining, because its only going to get worse."

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Guy can’t even get shot while rescuing your ass without getting some sass.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal would grunt out, as he got back on his feet and took a good wide look around them. Seemed that for the moment at least the situation was in the clear, with no more droids trying to creep up on them, he was pretty sure that by the end of this day he would be having a phobia for those metallic bastards.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Breathing in and out he allowed the Force to flow through him, steadying his resolve and reinforcing his body against the worst pain. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]He would be fine.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Then he checked his revolver one last time, he still had some ammo left. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]They would be fine.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Let’s go, I am fine.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Repeat it long enough and you might even believe it, Khal. Some part of him wondered if this was all because they had partied too soon, because they had dared to enjoy a little moment of ecstasy and that some kind of poetic justice was being established right now.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Who knew.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

"You say that like you're surprised." she retorted, getting to her feet as he did. "Will it make you feel better if I promise to be less of a queen when this is over?"

She wouldn't...well she might. Who knew? Simone certainly didn't, less than fifteen minutes ago, she was willing to confess her reasons for being so cold. To open up to a man she barely knew because...well who else? Now, she had an excuse to keep quiet, to remain cocooned in her hard shell of sass. She scooped the shotgun and brought it to rest across her torso.

"Scrap that, i'll never stop being a queen. If we survive this though...i'll make it up to you." She managed a smile before turning away and taking point on what seemed a longer journey than it was.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Only the smallest part of him wondered with a smug feeling what she would do to [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]make it up[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] to him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Most of his parts were too busy screaming in pain to really take heed of the heat rising up to the skies though and perhaps it was better that way, there was one real thing that could put a damper in every love story and that was getting killed by some murderous rogue droids. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Love story though?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal grunted once again, before setting his jaw and started to follow her. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Gotta admit though, nice ass.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Yeah, yeah. Believe it when I see it.” Khal would mumble, checking over his revolver a final time.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]In the back if his head he was already pondering though, meticulous planning ahead of what they could do with a station such as this one. It was gargantuan, a city in its own right, and they could use it as a base perhaps.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Maybe… [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal pondered on. [/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone felt slightly guilty as they continued on, slowing down so she was walking next to him and glancing sideways at his wounds. He had saved her life. Twice and all she could do was offer him abuse. She had her reasons, right? Early life had taught her some simple lessons. Rely on no one but yourself, never borrow money and never trust a man that offers an easy smile.

She tore her eyes away from him, her earlier anger had long burnt out, leaving her feeling a little hollow. "Here." she said touching his arm to get him to follow her out onto the main street. She rested her gun against a wall and ran her hands over a metal panel that had been fixed in place over the console. She slid her fingers into the gap and tried to pull it off to no avail.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]At that point in time Khaleel was leaning against the wall, keeping an eye out for any surprises that might decide to pop up outta the woodworks. Because the last thing he wanted was to get her shot up after he had already saved her ass once and twice, that ain’t exactly on his menu right now, wasn’t what he wanted from this mission.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Mission it was, they could salvage this, turn this around and make it into something grand.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Eyes fluttered as Khal realized that she wasn’t having much luck with the panel, he grunted softly and gritted his teeth into the realization that he would have to do something about this. That was the main problem with being [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]In the end it all came down to him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Wounded or not.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Only a kid or not.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]So he put the gun down and looked at the panel. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Take a few steps back, please.” Khal would say, before rubbing his jawline.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Ain’t exactly what he had trained for, but telekinesis was telekinesis; no matter if it was a bullet or a metal panel keeping them away from victory.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Hand twisted into a fist and jerked away to the side, the metal whined and with a sudden force flew away.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“There.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Then he leaned back against the wall, gun in his hand and on the look out. Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead, vision swimming randomly.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Shouldn’t have done that, Khally. There is always a price to pay.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone watched Khal carefully as he leaned back against the wall. They were out in the open and he was visibly struggling, sweat and hard blinking gave that away. She bit her lower lip and stepped to the console. What could she do? Demand they turn back and run? She had no idea what would be waiting for them in the hangar. She wasn't equipped to be a medic either, so she did the only thing she could do.

"Once they realise they can't shut me out remotely, they'll start sending droids this way." she told him and she connected her own computer to the console. "Khal..." she said softly, pausing again and looking at him. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't work out what. What was it people said to give other strength when they were facing terrible odds. She snorted and shook her head. "Don't fall asleep on me." was all she could manage.

She focused on the computer and began to slice back into the systems, aiming for programming and facing firewall after firewall. It was fifteen minutes before she spoke again. "I'm in!" She said triumphantly "Ok, right. Now to shut these damn things down." A distant whir and clank could be heard.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal sniffed and gave out a snort of his own. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“I will try, honey pie.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]It were a long, long fifteen minutes in which plans were made, discarded and made anew. In general it became very clear to him that this was a place worth dying for, a place that would solve most problems if not every single one of them.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Headquarters, a place for the Exchange to thrive without having to be in the territory of a different faction which came with all of its own problems and quandaries. Space City filled with commerce, a shadowport for their influence to grow and expand further.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Possibilities were endless.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khaleel blinked twice, vision blurring over before returning back to focus. He wouldn’t ever admit it, but he had dozed off for just a moment there. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Good job.”[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

The clank and whir of droids drew closer and Simone did her best to ignore them, wiping sweaty palms on her jeans occasionally as she worked. She became acutely aware of everything, every little details around her as she worked through codes. She could here Khal's breathing, slow and unsteady as he jolted himself awake. This was her fault, if she hadn't frozen, if she'd paid attention instead of wallowing in self pity he'd never have been shot.

Focus, Simone.

Eyes flicked left to right, sweat beaded on her forehead and she rubbed it away on the sleeve of her jacket. The droids steps were almost on top of them now. "Khal?" she said without looking at him. "You still with me?" she glanced at him and a blaster bolt exploded above her head. "FETH!" She couldn't move, if she moved from the console they'd hit it and all she'd have to start again. She wished herself smaller, trying to block out the noise as blaster fire whizzed by her head, hissing so close it seared her skin. She didn't count the minutes, she just kept working, relying on Khal to keep the worst of it from her until she pulled the plug.

Pain seared across the back of her thigh, then again on her shoulder. "Feth you, and may the makers take you all to hell." she growled, hitting a key fiercely. She turned as the droids began to deactivate, leaning against the wall and sliding down it, adrenaline wearing off.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Using the gun had been a way for him to focus his energy. You always hear the stories of Mace Windu and his legendary Vaapad style, how it had been a way for Windu to channel his inner-darkness into something good, something worthwhile. Khal wouldn’t ever compare himself to an ancient Jedi Master, but for him the gun had been much the same.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]You could understand guns, the bullets. Dismantle them into their basic components and they were simple things that need no explanation. Using the Force through those bullets? It had been cathartic to a degree, cleansing, because you didn’t channel the Force through yourself.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]The darkness within himself had never found a proper medium to express itself, but that changed as the last bullet was spent and he had ripped off the lid for the gal.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]As he jerked his arms, ripping the droids apart with his mind, literally dragging off their durasteel limbs… he found the darkness and it found him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Then the droids shut down, one by one and Khaleel couldn’t feel his legs anymore, slumping down to the ground, back against the wall.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“I…” he coughed softly. “am still awake.”[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone inched her way over to him, leaning her head against his shoulder breathing heavily and allowing her eyes to slide shut. She could feel herself going cold as shock set in. Every time she moved, fabric that had melted to the wound on her leg and shoulder tugged. She bit her lip to stifle a whimper. They still had so much to do, but the idea of sleep was so satisfying. Just rest for ten minutes, then she could face...

"No!" she said suddenly, jerking herself from his shoulder. She forced herself to her knees and twisted to face Khaleel. "Khal, we have to get up. We have to move. They will only stay off for an hour."

I will not die here.

She grabbed his shirt and tried to stand and pull him up with her, but her leg crumpled beneath her.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal sniffed again, closing his eyes and trying to weigh his options here.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]The Sith are beasts of passion, Khal. They use their emotions and in turn those emotions rule them, some of them are able to fuel their strength with the pain they experienced - this… makes them into formidable opponents in a fight. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]There were still portions left, a few traces that could lead him back to that little fringe where he was barely edging against the line, it was a difficult path. But a path that made them avoid the darkness to a larger degree.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]It would not save him here.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]And so Malvern picked a different road, diving into his own self and breaking down those last few barriers that still existed within himself. He [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]felt[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] the slick oily sensation washing over him as the Dark side glimpsed through the cracks.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Use the pain, Khal.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Energy started to trail through his body, weakened limbs gaining new traction, the pain in his side washing away into a soft, rumbling background noise. He set his jaw and lifted up Simone, arms holding her beneath her knees and back.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Then he stood. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]The pain was distant, it roared and it felt [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]good.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]We ain’t here to give up, love.” the Underlord would finally rumble. “Let’s assume control.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Then he started walking.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

She didn't fight him, she didn't have the energy to fight him. Her head lolled against his shoulder as she fought to maintain consciousness, fingers clinging to his shirt collar for security. Her world flickered between darkness and a graveyard of droids.

A cool breeze touched her face as the passed by an air vent, bringing to her attention that her cheeks were wet with tears. Everything hurt, not just her wounds, but her head, her chest her back. She ached from head to toe and there was nothing she could do about it except cry silently. She was ashamed, ashamed to have to be carried when seh'd done nothing but give Khal crap from the moment he first saved her life. He'd been struggling most of the way and now she faltered, he was carrying her.

"I'm so sorry, Khal." she whispered, biting against a sob.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“You never have to apologize to me.” the Underlord replied almost immediately, holding her just a little bit tighter while those cold blue eyes wandered across the halls, noting the disabled droids and other defensive emplacements that weren’t operational right now. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal realized that they weren’t nearly done yet, the droids might have been disabled for a while, but that would only draw questions from those that had remotely activated it in the first place. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]They would have to die, of course.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Can’t allow them to harm his and expect to live.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“We are family, Sie.” [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]and part of being a family meant accepting each other’s shet, even when ya don’t like it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khaleel hummed a little bit to himself, pondering some more, before realizing he [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]would[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] need her help regardless of the pain both of them felt. He was good, true, but he wouldn’t be able to get all of them if he was worrying about her.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“If I manage to get you a stimpack, will you be able to fight?”[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone forcced herself to open her eyes to look at him. No had ever said anything like that to her before, she needed to see if he was serious. There was no glint in his eye that suggested mischeif, his expression was almost deadpan, focused on the matter at hand. Looping her arms round his neck she pulled herself up slightly to kiss his cheek.

"Get me a stimpack and then to the control center."

She didnt say yes, because in truth she didn't know. There were somethings however she did know. If, whoever had activated the defenses, was in the mainframe, they'd have to fight. If they weren't, which, considering the dlay in the defenes activation, she suspected as much, then Khal wouldn't have to lift a finger.


[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]A nod would come as the answer. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal was trying to conserve the heat, the pain and the strength that he was deriving from it. Something inside of him was scared that if he would let go of that pain, if he would decide to just spread his focus a little bit, that he would slump against the wall again and sleep for a lifetime.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]It was a good thing they had taken the datapad with him, after she managed to sync it to the security system they were able to pull up the schematics of the plan.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]A rough map, to be sure. But it was better than nothing.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]He took a turn, aiming for the medical facility that was located along the way towards the mainframe that would grant them total control over the city and all its security defenses. Because her plan was better than his.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Slaughter all of them by themselves? Or let the security handle it?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Ain’t a tough choice. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Eventually they would reach the medical facility, he carefully set her down on one of the seats and started rummaging around for a stimpack or anything that [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]looked[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] like a stimpack.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone was there, but not really. With her eyes half closed, her head resting on the back of the chair she was somewhere else entirely, locked in a reply of memories. Some bad, very very bad. Memories that gave her half the emotional scars she had. Some of them... some of them her mom was smiling, some of them they were happy.

"I should've gone to the funeral." she said aloud to herself. "Should've said goodbye." She forced her eyes open, forced herself to focus as pain jolted her from her memories. Had she spoken aloud? Her eyes watched Khal rummage through the room inexpertly. She clicked her tongue.

"Khal," she called weakly, lifting an arm to point at a set of drawers near a bed. "Top drawer." Stims needed to be in easy access of a patient.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

He turned around to look and noticed the top drawer, which was followed by a blink.

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Of course, it’s gotta be easy for patients to get access.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Probably should have known that, but his physiology never seemed to [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]need[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] it all that much. Oh, Khal got hurt alright, all of the time with wounds that would have killed any reasonable human being. But whilst it hurt like a fether and would incapacitate him eventually?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]It all healed by itself.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Used to be Khal didn’t have any resources to dedicate towards research. [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Why was he like he was, why could he survive things that normal people couldn’t?[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] Perhaps it was time to figure it out, if this time he wouldn’t be tested too much.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Thanks.” he simply replied, before walking over and taking one of the stimpacks. Before coming back and started to treat [member="Simone"] with it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]She wasn’t in any state to do it herself at this point.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Had Khal heard the things she had said? Probably, but he knew better than most people that some memories were better left unspoken, better left in a private sphere. If she ever wanted to talk about it she would come to him herself.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]No need to press her for her personal life.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

The stim-shot hissed as it dispensed into her bloodstream and the effects were almost instantaneous. Simone drew in a sharp breath as the darkness that lurked at the edge of her vision and the room around her sharpened rapidly. The pain that she felt was pushed to the back of her mind as her heart picked up speed. For a moment, she simply sat there, breathing through her nose, curling and uncurling her fingers as she got used to the sensation.

"Well feth me," she said softly "I'd forgotten how well they work."

She got to her feet, testing her leg gingerly before looking at Khal and grinning. "Lets go take control."

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal had been leaning against the wall while looking periodically at the datapad - making sure that they weren’t having any boogies incoming while healing up here. Sie spoke and he looked up in time to notice the grin flashed at him, he answered it with one of his winks.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Though it seemed less genuine this time around.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Probably because Malvern was still contending with his own wounds, general tiredness and without her knowing the Dark side trying to take over his entire being. All at the same time, wasn’t exactly a fun rollercoaster being him at this point in time. But a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, so he nodded in agreement.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Let’s.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Before extending the datapad over to her and gesturing towards the door.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“After you, ma’am.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Maybe there was just a little of Khal left after all. [/SIZE]