How did we end up here?

[Simone]

Simone noticed the difference, noticed the fatigue around him and knew that there was nothing she could do to help him except get the job done. She regarded him for a moment, pondering words of ecouragement and settled with silence as she accepted the datapad. She'd never been good with words. She turned away, kept him behind her, what she couldn't see couldn't distract her from her own focus.

Though she could barely feel the pain, she still limped through the station, relying on the sound of Khal's footsteps and breathing to know that he was still with her. She swapped her eyes between the map on the datapad to the path in front of her, avoiding stepping on or tripping over droids. They passed through an arch and onto a bridge, without barriers. Simone stopped and admired what she saw. The control center was set in the hollow of the station, above and below the bridge stretched a tunnel too long to see either end. Great thick cables ran along it, disappearing into the walls as they reached out to each level.

"Look," Simone said, unable to keepo the awe and excitment from her voice. "Automated defense turrets. I count...seven, maybe eight." She glanced at either end of the bridge. "Bridge retracts too. Feth its like every slicers dream fortress." She glanced at him. "You'd be fethed without me, you know that right?"

She continued forward to a set of blast doors which appeared to have no controls outside. Handing the data pad back to Khal, she began to run her hands over the panels around the door, tapping them and listening for a hollow. Stopping when she found it she held her breath and pushed it gently.

Two things happened.

Firstly, the panel let out a low hiss and slid aside, revealing a complex control panel.

Secondly, the bridge began to retract.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“I am being reminded about that daily, dear.” the reply would come dryly. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]As she started to tinker around with the panel, Khal leaned back against the wall and kept an eye out for anything that would or could make their day even worse than it had already turned out. The retracting bridge only solicited a raised eyebrow, but in the grand scheme of things it was only a good tactical preposition.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Meant that nobody could take control manually and that nobody could walk up, and shoot them in the face while they were at it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]In the distance Khal could hear shouting and the rumbling familiarity of boots thunking against durasteel, which meant that the pirates had probably decided to come knocking after all. He wondered briefly if Simone would be quick enough with her slicing efforts to start cutting them down on the spot by their own automated systems.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Now that would be a sight for the ages.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Pretty sure we are gonna get company soon, Sie.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Just a statement, he wasn’t really worried anymore at this point. Might be the darkness influencing him or something else, but Khal was getting slightly giddy at the prospect of a fight.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

"Well," she said with a frown as she worked to get the door open. "They can't get to us, so unless they're a really good shot..." she trailed off as the panel went green and the blast doors slid open in front of them. "Or can fly..." she was grinning from ear to ear as she almost skipped into the room. Letting out a low whistle as she reached the centre and turned.

The room was circular and blinking with different light. A third of wall supported a floor to ceiling view of the city. Every street every back alley and dark corner was visible of camera. Unless you were 'inside', the control centre could see everything, including the second ship in the hangar. The other was a blinking display on consoles, each playing their own light display. A chair in the center of the room was set on a rail, allowing the user to move between screens with ease.

Simone was utterly lost for words and for a few minutes all she could do was take it in. To dream of the possibilities and the power that was at her fingertips. "Close the doors, Khal." she murmured slipping into the chair and running her eyes over each console. Defense systems, life support, environment controls, shields, sensors. Everything that this station had could be controlled from here. There were other control points, allowing the systems to be delegated elsewhere but this was the place to be. She realised for a moment, that she'd stopped breathing and let out a long breath.

"Ok, lets get these schutta's locked out."

She started with the basics, finding their own control codes and wiping them. Creating new ones, temporary ones. She'd set everything up properly for the two of them when this was over, but for now, this would have to do. Then, she started at the hangar bay, activating defense systems and targeting the pirate ship and the couple of crew members left behind to guard it. After that, it was down to the droids to eliminate them. She rose from the chair and stood in front of the camera screens to watch the show, slipping a hand into Khal's.

"I think we need to discuss a pay rise."

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal squeezed her hand, before realizing his mouth had been wide open.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]He closed his mouth.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]In theory the man had been in control of Nar Shaddaa, but it had been given to him by Cryax and his control had only been [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]allowed[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] by the Red Ravens. Could he have unleashed a civil war on their heads that would probably have broken their spines?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]More than likely.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]But it hadn’t been the same, not like [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]this[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]. Not like realizing that you had just found a whole city, a whole new world carved into an asteroid and it was yours. To be done with as they pleased, control it, reshaped it and turn it into something glorious.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]For the Exchange, for his family… for himself.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]A new place to call home.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“What about a new cell of operations all to yourself?” Khal coughed softly and then looked at her, a little smile playing on his lips. “I think you have deserved something more than a simple pay rise.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]She would get her own cyber-division within the criminal syndicate, her own people, her own assets and gear. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]This he could give to her.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone smiled and tore her eyes away from the screens as the last pirate fell victim to the droids to settle them on Khal's face, just to make sure he was being serious. After a moment she squealed with delight and pulled him into a tight hug that would probably cause more damage to his already broken form.

"We did it." she breathed in his ear.

"We've got a new home."

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]She wasn’t wrong.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Moment Simone started squeezing Khaleel’s focus left him and the pain hit him like a hammer in the head, it was only by sheer determination not to spoil the moment for her that he didn’t cry out or fell to the ground like a little shutta. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Gritting his teeth he simply stroked her back. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“W-we are gonna turn this place back into what it’s supposed to be.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal blinked, vision swimming just a little bit before flecks of black started appearing all around him, waving in and out of the view he started to feel his legs giving out of him. Already leaning hard on Sie, he coughed hard.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Can’t… pretty sure… medic?” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Consciousness was lost a moment after.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]It would be a while again before Khaleel was fully operational again, but eventually he would get over himself again. Probably just needed a snack or two - or so Simone kept telling him while he was laying in one of those medical facility’s beds, pretty steril stuff though. Cleanest environment Khal had slept in for a long while too.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]After Khal felt better he left Simone on the asteroid, so she could keep poking around the systems, the thing was absolutely huge. Which meant that every moment she found something new and exciting about the places, so it had only been logical for her to stay behind while he was gathering up the initial resources to start fixing up the place.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Took him a few days, but eventually a little flotilla broke hyperspace and entered the system of the asteroid city.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khaleel hailed the city.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Captain Bullet-time to TechnoLady69, over.”[/SIZE]​

 

[Simone]

There was something both terrifying and exhilarating at being left behind on a space station that had tried very hard to kill her. She didn't waste anytime though, collecting supplies from her ship in the hangar, she holed herself up in the control center with a several weeks worth of caff and snacks to keep her going. While Khal was off finding the initial resources, Simone was utilising what was already available. The droids it appeared had multiple uses and she set them to repair what they could and clean up the mess they'd left.

She got the station fully lit, with the life support functional in all areas and even managed to uncover some seriously corrupted files that she believed could be the station's history. She was in the midst of trying to repair these files when the comms chirped and Khal's voice rang across the room. With a grin and shake of her head she rose from her seat and fixed the comm into her ear so she could wander down to the hangar bay and still talk.

"Technolady to Bullet-time, go feth yourself." as she spoke, the initial defenses lowered to allow them to land "Hangar bays one through five are prepped for your arrival. Please don't break anything."

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]We will do our best, Technolady. Over and out[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px].” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]The shuttles would enter the bays, whilst the escorts positioned themselves all across the system to make sure the leading position was somewhat secured. There wasn’t anyone here, but who knew how many of those pirates there had actually been?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Had they actually been able to kill all of ‘em or where there more coming later?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]All kinds of questions that had made Khal increasingly more wary about their new home, they needed it to be as safe as possible, if they wanted to make it into anything that would last more than a few weeks before it broke down again. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Engineers, workers and mercs started to file out of their shuttles, already got their designated stations and jobs planned out.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Good ol’ efficiency.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Simone, how we doing here?[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]” the Underlord would comm to his friend.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone paused at an access panel on her way and tinkered with it slightly as Khal piped up in her ear. "Well," she began jumping slightly as a spark hit her hand making it numb. "Feth." she muttered, forgetting the comm was still open. "There's a few glitches in the defense system. While everyone is here its safer that its down until i get the programme rewritten, teach it to recognise friend from foe. Was fine while you weren't here as it was only me but...yeah, it'll take some time."

She left the panel and continued on her way to meet him, flexing her hand as she went. "Life support is fully functional, four of the hangar bays need serious repairs before they can be used, some of the droids went down because of age, so they'll need updating or replacing. I've got a full system diagnosis running to iron out anymore kinks we might have..." She rounded the corner to the bay and grinned at him.

"All in all, we're getting there." she said, pulling him into a hug. "I'm almost inclined to say I missed you but I'm afraid what that might do to your ego." She drew back and scanned the faces of the people he'd brought with him. "You bring me anything of use?"

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]The hug was a surprising development.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Part of him had thought that with some time apart, with the shock wearing off that they would fully return towards how they had been in the past. Slightly distanced, mostly snarking away and working at a reasonably professional capacity.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]But perhaps that had been a naief ponder, when people go through the ordeals that they had gone together? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Wasn’t strange when the dynamic got changed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Yah, we have had some… [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]changes[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px], while you were working here.” Khal would say with a frown on his face, he brushed past her and gestured for her to follow him. “Let’s step into the [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]office[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] and I will brief you on the happenings outside of our fortress of solitude.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Chiasa was gone, the Ravens were breaking apart.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Brave New World indeed.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone wasn't sure she liked the sound of that, what with the frown on his face. "Part of me thinks I would be better off remaining ignorant." She commented, following him away from the bustle of the hangar bay, waiting till they were well out of earshot. She pulled a datapad from her pocket, one she'd set up with a direct link to the mainframe to allow her to monitor things on the go. She flicked through the camera's absently before glancing sideways at him.

"Is this gonna be a long chat that will require some alcohol to take the edge off?"

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

“Naw.”

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]He thought about it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Well, maybe to celebrate?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]It was a difficult situation really, which is usually how situations were in the real world. There ain’t only a good side for things, always had your pros and cons, always had your downsides. But comparatively one could say that this was a good thing in the long run.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Chiasa has disappeared.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px][member="Simone"] never had much contact with the Ravens, specifically because Khaleel had made it so. None of the Exchange people, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]his[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] people, had been much in contact with the Ravens. They weren’t theirs, their way of doings things hadn’t been to Khal’s taste, so even if he had achieved some kind of rank there? It had always been a separate job from the Exchange.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]But she would know that Chiasa was the Prez and that with her gone, Khal was officially in charge now.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

"Disappeared?" she stopped to look at him. Presidents didn't just disappear. Presidents were either killed, or forced by unseen circumstances to find a dark hole to hide in. She slipped her thumbs through her belt loops and looked down, forehead creasing into a frown as she contemplated it. Khal made sure she and the others in the Exchange never crossed with the Ravens, so she was limited on her intel. He wanted to celebrate and all she could think about was how and why.

"Wait," she said looking up suddenly. "You're Vice..." She brought a hand to her mouth eyes lighting up. "Well I'll be damned. You leave me for a few days and rock up with a whole hunk of resources at your fingertips, and a presidency. That's insane!" She had to resist the urge to squeal like a fangirl and jump up and down. "Well, Mr. President, you're most definitely right that we need to celebrate!"

She gasped "We could have a party! A congratulations to you and a grand opening-" the datapad in her hand beeped and she looked down at it. "Feth, someone's upset a droid." Absorbed again in her work she worked quickly to shut it down, and looked back up at him. "Maybe not here."

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]They had come a long way.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]From the first meeting on a random bench when he had tested her, to fighting off the Fringe on a number of worlds during the Netherworld, to finally finding this place [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]together.[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] They had been through a lot, and most of the times was filled with snarky remarks of one level or another, but in the very end they had always had each other backs.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]A rare thing to contemplate when you were a man who didn’t have a lot of [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]friends[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px].[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]And when most of those friends would gladly shove a shiv up your wares if you weren’t paying a lot of attention - that’s what Nar Shaddian hospitality was called, no less. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Khal had promised himself to be more careful, but as those blue eyes wandered over to her, as she brushed back some hair behind her ear and checked the datapad once again? The man found himself moving before he even knew himself what happened.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]One hand would brush past her side and pull her into a kiss, his lips pressing themselves on hers.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Celebrate?[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone had looked up as his hand brushed her waist pulling her in. She'd wasn't expecting the kiss, so absorbed in the work in her hand, in the news he'd given her that she'd missed any and all signals. The datapad slid from her finger and clattered to the floor and she planted her hands on his chest and pulled away. She didn't say a word, suddenly the ability to talk totally evaded her, she simply looked at him, trying to read his face, trying to understand where this had come from and how the hell she'd missed it.

It wasn't that she didn't want it, completely the opposite in fact, but she never thought for one minute that it would ever happen. "I...um..." she was panicking, wall's he'd broken down rising rapidly by instinct not choice. She fumbled to pick up the datapad from the floor, it's shattered screen passing unnoticed as she shoved it into a pocket. It was written all over her face, in her voice. Her hands trembled slightly and she folded her arms. "Khal..."

What the hell was wrong with her!? Why had she suddenly lost the ability to form a coherent sentence? She closed her eyes and uttered a long string of curses. "Damnit Khal!" she snapped finally stamping her foot. "You are such a...I don't even know what you are!"

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“A bastard?” Khal supplied helpfully.[/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone made a noise of disgust, rolled her eyes and turned on her heel to walk away.

"I'm not entirely sure that covers it."

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]But Khaleel wasn’t going to let her go like that. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]He wasn’t going to claim that he loved her or anything as silly as that. Love didn’t exist in this Galaxy of theirs, but there was affection, there was respect and there was [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]lust[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px].[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Swift movement made him pull her by the hand back to him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Don’t go, please?” [/SIZE]

 

[Simone]

Simone licked her lips nervously as she was tugged back into close proximity and she snatched her arm away from him. "Stop it." she pleaded weakly, though she hadn't taken a step back from him. She was fixed where she was staring into those blue eyes of his. "You're only going to complicate matters."

Was she telling him that, or herself?

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Simone"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Life’s full of complications and it’s too short to keep worrying all the time.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]His eyes briefly brushed her lips, before returning to meet her eyes. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Steel, duster and gruff, but even the Underlord was a man behind the mask.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]His face came closer this time, not kissing her, just… closing the distance.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“Will you let me kiss you?”[/SIZE]