Problem Solving

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

She saw the drink by her place setting she at this moment really wanted to down it all. This day had been proving to be more than she ever dreamed off.

There were still arrangements to be made for the trip and the eventual removal of some pirates from the trade routes.

Right now she was apprehensive about having changed the menu, not that it was an issue for her but that it was acceptable to Zye.

The bowls were placed with care the servants nodded and stepped out of the room. They would be back in about 20 minutes. Give or take a few.
She saw Zye dipped his spoon into the bowl. She held her spoon over her own bowl the smell of a fowl mixed with broth and herbs had an inviting smell to her.

Oh a moment of panic hit her when she saw him hesitating. Ooo she thought it's the wrong kind of blood? To her blood was blood but perhaps to him. As she sat there debating her own ideas of what blood was she suddenly caught the movement that Zye was out of his chair.

Shocked. She started to ask a question until her crushed her lips with his, he held her hard almost possessively as he kissed her again and again until the moment he took her breath away with a final fiery kiss and a gracious thank you. "you're welcome" somehow managed to make it out in between.

Just as quickly as it started it ended and she was quite out of breath. She swallowed hard and tried to breathe in and out her eyes fell to her soup.

He asked a question

What did he say?

OH the soup..her soup.."it's a broth soup make from water and the bones of fowl. Its quite lovely" She dipped her spoon in and raised it to her lips.
She finally realized something about [member="Zye Woden"] what he had been missing was kindness. Kindness something offered without expectation, something that came with no price he was much like the children she took in.

It pleased her though that she had made him so happy. Least in the next course her bantha was cooked.

"After dinner we will walk and I'll show you your rooms so you can settle in for the next couple nights while we prepare the rest of the things needed. As well as build on the ruse we are pulling off." She knew that she would be spending a lot of time with Zye.

Tailor.
Weapons.
Ship.
Trip.
Get rid of pirates.

Mel had her list.

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Spoonful by spoonful, Zye consumed the soup. He wanted to pick the bowl up and drunk from it like a glass--it was how they did it back on the estate, but he wasn't sure what the manners were here and he wanted to be a good house guest.

His kiss and sudden display of affection seemed to throw Mel off a little. It pleased him. He liked being able to give her such great feelings. And he had meant it. There weren't many beings that would go so far out of their way to accommodate his needs. Especially on such short notice. As he took each drop, Zye could feel himself getting stronger. While he wasn't at his full strength, he was getting there. It had been incredibly long since he had been at that level again, but the clean spice-free blood helped.

"That sounds flavorful," he said at Mel's explanation of the broth. He pushed his empty bowl away with a satisfied sigh. "We had something like that back on the estate the slaves would eat. It was one of their most common meals," he took a sip from his glass, "usually we added vegetables to the mix, and some sort of meat to give them more nutrition and a heartier meal."

And of course, it was cheap and easy to make in bulk. That was a crucial detail Zye neglected to mention. He nodded as Mel mentioned the other rooms. "A tour of the palace," he smirked, "But really I think there's only one room your interested in showing me." He took a more serious note as she mentioned preparing, "As a part of that, do you have any combat training? I am ready to teach you what you need to know in what little time we have before then."

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

It seemed a weight had been lifted from his shoulders a bit more relaxed a tiny spark to his eyes amazing what a little bantha blood could do for someone. She was pleased that she had been able to help.

"There are many rooms in this house to see some filled with ancient pictures, others that haven't seen use in sometime. Yes there is a room I would like to show you, the armory." She nodded agreeing to his question.

"As for my skills. I am capable I don't know that I would say I am proficient." She had work to do yet and she was growing tired it had been a long day for her.

"Zye I have some communications I must complete for the Queen Mother and I'd like to petition her to pay for some of the expenses to rid the lanes of the pirates." She knew how much money was in the coffers of the Consortium. She had arranged for some of the payments from companies she made deals with to fill it. But she did not use the funds without the Queen knowing.

"As her Commerce and Finance Minister I tend to have some long days. Longer than the light lasts. There is coming a time that it will be dark here and I will need to rest." Long days short nights and the desires of the flesh to fill her thoughts. The exertion would of helped her sleep but why be frivolous right now. In time perhaps.

There was a motion to her right her head turned Isaac stood half in the room half out. His eyes looking to Zye and then to Mel. Something it seemed had pulled him out, she could already hear Jas coming to get him. He turned looked and dashed out to Mel.

She instantly turned to pick him up giving him a kiss to the forehead. "Prince Woden this is Isaac." She stroked his head for a moment and decided maybe now would be a good time to explain.

"There are five children in the house, I have taken in 5 children whose parents were killed with the Sith came to Consortium space. They live here with me, I see to their schooling, and ensure that they are given opportunities that their parents would have gotten for them if they had lived. Isaac is the youngest of them. And he has a condition an allergy to the sun." She knew she shouldn't be partial to any of them but it was evident how much she loved Isaac. His beautiful little face, that smile that melted hearts, and a gentleness that she had never found in another Hapan.

She hugged Isaac for comfort for him and herself. "He doesn't speak a lot but they tell me he can speak if he wants." She kissed his head again, "Can you go tell Jas we are ready for the next plate. Isaac...did you eat?"

Sometimes he didn't, sometimes he did.

He shook his head yes and Mel wondered how much.

She looked back to Zye, "I guess that's my secret that no one knows." Her attachment to the children.

[member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Zye nodded. He didn't expect her to completely shift her life to him. He wondered for a moment if she thought he did. He wasn't a demanding man, if anything He was used to neglect and purely professional relationships.

"You are a busty--I mean busy--woman," he agreed. "With a lot of responsibility. I would think less of you if you ditched them all to pander to an exile like me."

He half saw the child move out of the corner of his eye. Zye wasn't good with children, he was rarely exposed to them. Before Mel explained, Zye began to draw a radically different conclusion, especially how close they apparently were. He nodded as she explained Isaac's life to him. It made sense. All the war recently, there was a lot of death and a lot of orphans. Zye had forgotten to mention his age, but that might have been for the best. In the past few decades the violence spiral had grown with nations rising and falling almost over night--and that wasn't just for his age that was for anyone's.

He leaned in towards the small child as Mel mentioned his allergy to the sun. "The light is a monster, isn't it? It burns me too." Zye wasn't good with children but he was trying. All he had for reference were the times his father and mother did their best to make him vengeful and afraid. "You want to know a secret? Shell spider silk clothes, gloves and a cloak. It makes it easier to cover your body that way."

She gave him that. It was something that the most deranged and evil beings could use against her. His father would but Zye certainly wouldn't.

"I'm not very good with children," he admitted at last. "They are foreign objects to me. But I'm glad they mean something to you. I want to be good with them because of that."

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

"I think you have established that for me in the community that I am a....well endowed woman who is busy." There she incorporated both his responses. He had announced to the staff in the garden the fact that she indeed had 'knockers' what an odd word. Anyhow.

[member="Zye Woden"] "I cannot have my own" there it was now said not hidden in the shadows. Isaac looked up and smiled he didn't know any better he looked over to Zye, "yes sir" Isaac turned his eyes said he was ready to get down Mel said nothing to react to him answering he might never say anything again. But she was so pleased and shocked at the same time. She swallowed hard.

She then put him down and off he went to tell Jas to bring dinner and eat whatever morsel he would take in. "I think he saw his parents I think that is why he doesn't talk much. I don't know and his condition is rare the doctor think its a genetic mutation I just don't know. But I protect him and I'll look into the clothing for him. I'm afraid of giving him a cloak he might think he's a superhero of some kind." She smiled

"Thank you for your kindness with him. Are you feeling alright?" She believed he did but it was best to ask.

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Zye chuckled, rubbing his chin like he was trying to recall the situation, "Did I? Perhaps I need further data to draw a conclusion on whether that's the case or not."

It all made sense now. He hurt for Mel confessed she couldn't have her own. He wanted to fix that, no matter how. He was sure she had tried medicine before and science, so clearly that hadn't worked. He could try his own hand at using the Force to try that, but he had never done anything like that. He heard the myths that the troublesome being they called Anikin Skywalker had been concieved that way, but he didn't know if his skills were that good. Then, his mind went to giving her some of his blood. It could bring the near dead back to health and made them a new species entirely. However, he had never tried to use it to make someone fertile--and few survived the procedure at all.

He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. There were no words to console or help at this point. He swallowed. "I am truly sorry. I've never had any of my own, I've never met anyone worth having children with."

For a second the cynical ​passing on genetic templates with a viable partner​ dissapeared, and he was more gentle about it, even sentimental. He watched the boy run off into the next room.

"The trauma," Zye nodded as she talked about the boy's speachless nature. "I've seen it many times with the survivors. Back home, we call it Spawnface​--its the face you have after watching your family brutally murder your family in front of them. As for why he is allergic to the sun, you might not be gaguing it along the right information," he grabbed his glass and quickly drained it in a single gulp. He took the knife from beside his plate and quickly pricked his palm, dropping several drops of the dark red blood into it before his palm healed up again. "Test it against mine."

It was a mixed question she asked that he had a mixed answer to. His face contorted into a grimace before he confessed, "I am--uncomfortable--with children. They scare me, I never know what to say. I wasn't raised around other children, and I haven't had the chance to interact with many except a few slaves," he gave a sad smile, "Pathetic, isn't it? The big, scary, powerful monster killer is terrified of childern."

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

[member="Zye Woden"]

"Me either that is I never met anyone I wanted to have children with, I just never thought about it." She half smiled now they were alone again.

She looked at Zye, "it's been a day full of discoveries I can't help but wonder what lies ahead. " She tried hard not to laugh but she couldn't help it. If Only a span of a few hours brought about this much revelation and emotionally charged subjects what would happen in a week, a day,..she shook her head.

For a moment she was unsure of why he was picking up the knife then yes what he suggested made sense. "We can do that thank you for offering. It could prove to be extremely helpful for him." She didn't know what it would answer but it was possible at least for a comparison to see what was in common and what wasn't. Or was it possible Isaac was a half-ling. What then? She couldn't entertain that idea right now.

"A lot of people are afraid of children. They are small, ask a lot questions, and require attention. You have to be ready to be with them." She sighed, "Are you still hungry?" She asked as she felt the need to move around and all of this talking was more than she had done in a month on the Council.

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Zye was glad she undersood. He was also glad that so far, Mel hadn't found anyone that was worthy of her attention. It was a lot easier to come in to a clean room than to have to pick up the peices of an appartment someone else had wrecked. He didn't know quite why he was thinking like that, but he was.

"Indeed," he said rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "To be fair, I'm not sure my body could withstand too many more ​discoveries​ of this nature. Maybe we could find a few discoveries of a different kind."

All of his bluster was just a front. Just enough to ease his lack of feeling of control. It was just as much for himself as it was for her. He did mean every word he said, but he would have kept his hand much closer to his chest if he had been with anyone else. Why was something he would have to delve into in the coming days, most likely.

Zye visibly relaxed as she understood why he was afraid. He smiled, genuinely. "Exactly. No, I am alright," he offered his hand, "shall we retire to your room?"

Even though he was confident that nothing would happen, it would help build their ruse they had.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________​

Zye gently pressed the detonator deep into the permiable thermite. The remote controlled pill-size metallic bead was soon gone, hidden in the tan explosive that was neatly tucked in the corner. He stepped back and admired his handywork before going back down the bullwark. His boots hit the deck with loud, heavy clomps. He leaned his head into the passenger bay where Mel would be, "The charges are set, we should be clear."

They had set up a finely-worked plan. Across the ship there were weapons hidden in case they ran out of ammo, and there were explosive fail-safes to keep the things under control incase they stopped being in control. The plan was like a massive web weaved to capture the pirates. But even the best laid plans went well. Even within his plan there were contengencies on contegencies, most he hadn't told Mel about. She didn't need to know. They were calculated, and many were horrific in nature. If she knew how dark that side of him was, she might never want to see him again.

He crossed the deck, careful to not set off the trip wire he laid across the door. The moment it was triggered, whoever was on the other side would be met with a nasty face of flechette. He smiled at Mel, enjoying the few moments he had still without a helmet. His hands went over her armor, making adjustments, checking straps, and seems. He was nervous and his hands needed something to do, "How are you feeling?"

He was nervous for her sake. He could survive all of this without a scratch on him, but she was mortal. Mel was fragile. And they were getting closer too over these few days, that made him even more nervous than anything. If she was lost, he knew it would hurt. He wanted to run from her, to dissappear, to vanish. They had woven another web of lies about connections, passions, and feelings. He was afraid of falling into that and was preparing contegencies Mel didn't need to know about yet. Would those hurt him? Beyond anything in the galaxy. But nothing could hurt like the idea of getting close to her and losing her. Or dissapointing her.

His hand stopped, tugging on a harness across her chest, his voice was soft as Zye said, "Remember, Mel, if anything goes wrong, get behind me. If I get hit, don't stop. Keep shooting. Don't tend to me. I can heal, you can't. If they overwhelm us, leave me behind," his eyes met her's, "I can't have anything happen to you, understand?"

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

He spent nights in her room, on the couch sometimes on the bed with a blanket between them. It was an odd situation. The household staff wasn't sure what was going on but the maid noted the condition of the covers and knew whatever was going on it didn't involve a deep level of intimacy. The closeness however invited other women of the Consortium to seek him out to make him offers. She knew about the offers her spies told her. They wanted her to know it was their way of using position and power to their advantage. They saw Zye as an opportunity to find out more about Mel and her position. No doubt a power play was coming.

Having a man in her bed wasn't going to give them much power over her, but what the man knew about her weaknesses now THAT could be used to push her buttons.

They spent a week sending out messages, and making appearances throughout the Rifle worlds. She introduced him as Prince Woden the tailor had done an exquisite job in meeting his clothing needs. Weapons had been obtained and secured on the first day to the ship. The only other person who had an idea of what they were up to was the Queen and that was only because Mel had petitioned her for a little assistance.

Were they closer now than before on many levels they were exposing themselves to each other so quickly had left them feeling raw and vulnerable. He had not broken his word and neither had she. She kept his secrets he kept hers. In the Consortium that was a rare occurrence. But where was it leading them?

On the day of their departure she promised the children she would be back that it was no different from any other trip and they were to study hard and when she got back they would do something special.

She was waiting on the results of the blood comparison of Zye and Isaac. She still had questions about that but had not found the timing to ask. She didn't believe Isaac was a vampire or a half-ling she really believed he just had a condition.

The plan as they had laid it out was working about three days into their trip a ship had begun to skim the outer edge of Consortium space. Mel and Zye watched in anticipation of what it would. It bore the markings of a Hapan ship but it did not act like a Hapan ship. It had to be them.

Then it happened the ship crossed the border and was bearing down on them in one of the most isolated regions of the trade route. All the adrenaline shot through her as emotions that had not ever been touched rose up. The Pirates wouldn't suspect what awaited them. A shot rocked the ship.

Zye was standing in front of her making sure she was ready. He was also reminding her of what the plan was, what she was supposed to do and the added tidbits of what he expected her to do. "Haven't you learned by now I do what I want." She stared at him he was reminding her because....she wasn't sure. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Or the fear.

"I can't have anything happen to you." She repeated back to him. Her brown eyes looked up at him she realized he was preparing for the worse while she was preparing for the best. She wouldn't entertain failure.

She wouldn't admit to the three fears she had right now. Failure. Capture. Loss. She wanted only success.

He was a man, a foreigner, and replaceable right?! No. She didn't believe that anymore who would have thought that someone so different from herself would help her to see a different view. A problem solver.

"I'm ready" she lied. She was armed with a gun of command, a blaster, a blade, and several grenades. Greater odds needed things like sticky grenades. Her ancestors had always dealt with intruders swiftly and lethally. She planned on doing the very same thing but she would try not to lose the ship. They were expensive.

For some reason just then a thought crossed her mind a quote from a book her father loved 'those who are about to die we salute you' her father would be proud of her right now. She smiled now she was ready.

[member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Zye smirked at her statment. She did what she wanted, it was an admirable fighting spirit, it was the difference between life and death in the toughest situations, and it was also dangerous. It was the maverick, raw desire to survive but it was also creative and innovative. It could be the death of him, but it was also what made him irrisistably attracted to her. He caressed her face, "You think that'll ever stop me?"

The ship rocked again, the lights flickered. The shields were down, the guns were offline. It wouldn't be much longer till the pirates landed. He felt the clarity-giving feeling that fell over him right before the fight. Everything was so much simpler and easier in this side of the world, instead of the world of murky politics he had found himself in recently. He leaned in, giving Mel a soft kiss on the lips. It could be the last chance he ever had to kiss her. He wrapped her in his arms, holding her close. He savored the moment, memorzing the way her body felt pressed against his, the curves of her soft lips, and the warmth of her body. He would have stayed there forever, if he hadn't felt the shudder of the ship being focibly boarded.

Zye reached behind himself, grabbing her helmet. He eased it on her form, locking it on. She couldn't have anything happen to him. He didn't smirk or smile as he locked the pressurizing seal on her helmet.

"I don't care," he said. His voice was cold, the stone cold voice of the hunter he had been for hundreds of years. The sound of footsteps clamboring closer through the halls was steadily getting louder. He could hear the pirates kicking down doors, screaming and shouting at each other as they looked for loot or slaves.

"I'm expendible. I'm no one, this is about your people. And taking care of you."

The steps grew louder. Zye didn't take his eyes off her as he unclipped his helmet from his belt. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She was his number one priority right now. Before he didn't care if he was the sole survivor of any mission, it was a strange feeling for Zye this time. As he lowered his helmet over his head, the door to their cabin was kicked open. A flechette round lowered from the ceiling, reducing the first pirate's face to a mass of blood and tissue in the explosion. At the sound of the blast, Zye snapped over into his cold killer mode.

Zye twisted on his heel in time to see the first pirate shove past the new corpse. The man didn't have time to be surprised at the only two beings standing in the passenger cabbin. Zye's right hand ficked, drawing the man towards him. As the helpless man rushed towards him, Zye drew his shord sword, its tip met the pirate in the throat, shearing through into the back of his skull, he didn't even feel the contact of the durasteel. His compatriots brought down a barrage of blaster fire at the pair, Zye twisted the corpse to take the full blow of the ranged attack. Suddenly a shock wave of the Force sent them all clamboring back through the passage they came.

​"Come," Zye ordered, dropping the dead body, riddled with blast marks, "Its time to push them back."

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

"Nope I'm not expecting it to stop you from doing anything, you be who you are I will who I am." that is what at this moment made all of this work he needed to let her defend herself let her take on the pirates with his help. She wasn't thrilled about and she wasn't exactly prepared mentally but she wanted these pirates off the trade routes and wanted them to stop taking their people.

This little demonstration of their determination was going to make them think twice about the Rifle Worlds. She might not stop them anywhere else but here near her home they'd get the message.

She wobbled as the ship rocked again, "yep they are coming, let em come" She put on the brave face the determined one. She took a breath prepared her mind remembering that the pirates only understood lethal. They had proven that over and over now was payback.

The helmet locked in place she could hear him I don't care if she said she didn't believe him it would change the momentum he seemed to be creating within himself, as much as she gave her own pep talk internally he was speaking outloud but she really wished she knew what he was thinking.

"You are not expendable" that she wouldn't tolerate, "but yes its about my people" It was she had to admit that she had to make herself understand what he was doing. He was doing the job she hired him to do. She had hired him to do this, to put his life on the line and die. It suddenly occurred to her that it would be her fault if he did die. Oh Feth she thought.

She stared at him their eyes locked this was it this is what all the deception was for, the the coaxium was for....and suddenly she wished she had never made the deal. Kark.

The pirates were through the door and only when Zye turned away did she look at the pirates. They looked like roughians loud boisterous and uncaring.

The first pirate was shredded by Zye for a moment she was appalled and then she remembered these people sold her people like bantha. She could feel her own anger at them bubbling within, when the second one fell she drew her blaster and was ready to follow.

"Let's go" She followed him out the door and the hunt was on.

[member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

There had always been a reason behind every horrible thing done to Zye. Every beating, every hard word, everything that pushed him over the edge, was like a hammer beating down on him. It took Zye from a metal block and shaped him into a razor-edged sword. It made him full of hate, but also fully in control of that hate. All it took was a flip of the switch for him to remember.

As he marched towards the wrenched-open door, that was incredibly clear. The pirates had been sprawled out on their backs by the Force blast, but they were slowly coming too. As the first pirate raised his head, Zye hurrled his blade at it. The edge tore through his skull, splitting it in two. A thick spray of crimson hissed from the wound, flooding the floor. To Zye's extended hand lept a blaster pistol from his belt. He pulled the trigger, firing a single shot with pin-point accuracy and unhuman speed. Soon the hall was full of ten corpses that never had a chance to rise to their feet.

"Clear," Zye said in a stone cold tone. He tossed his pistol's depleated energy cell to the ground, popping another in. It was easy, even for a mindless rabble like this. This couldn't be all of them. "Stay sharp. I sense more beings on this level."

Almost to prove his point, pirate sprang from of the nearby rooms as Zye stepped by it. As its notched vibroblade came, Zye side stepped the attack. It hissed through the air where the vampire's head had been a milisecond before. The man stumbled, but recovered with a roar aiming a second swing towards Mel's throat. Zye grabbed the pirate's arm, halting it just in time in mid-swing.

"Take the shot," he grunted, giving the massive man a knee to the kidney. The hulk of a man fought back, almost pulling Zye off his feet.

As the two wrestled, from the other end of the hall came four more of the pirates, three with blaster rifles, one with a pair of blaster pistols. They immediately began laying down a barrage of wildly-aimed shots at the pair of defenders.

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

[member="Zye Woden"]

Mel stood with her mouth open did she just see him put the blade through someone's skull???!!!! holy feth. She swallowed hard she had to know that there was going to be blood but kark. Ok get yourself together they are coming!

Stay sharp she looked ahead of course there were more, but how many more? She peered around taking the blaster and holding it level ready to fire if anyone came down the hall. Her caramel colored brown eyes stared ahead taken off guard by the pirate jumping from one of the rooms Mel jumped. MY GOD they are treacherous creatures she thought, immediately she looked down the hall....where were the others...what was taking them so long?!

Mel kneeled down and took the shot towards the one wrestling with Zye, as Zye had pulled back preparing to make a move it left a minor opening where she could get him square in the lower chest. Might piss him off, kill him, but anything it would slow him down and give Zye the chance to finish it. "There, end it I'm moving forward". The last image she saw was the pirates shirt smoking with the blaster had burned thru.

She then turned her attention to the coming forces moving to the doorway where the last pirate had come out of Mel fired she needed something more than this there were how many four...she pulled back as another shot ricocheted towards her. She leaned on the doorway she pulled from her belt the sticky grenade pulling the pin she counted 1 2 3 and threw it.

There were shouts of GRENADE!!! the sound of feet then the explosion when she looked down the hall she had caught one but the other three had fled the hall. It wouldn't take long they'd figure out what it was and be back. She inched down the hall making sure to check the rooms as she went she was nearing the door where the pirates had come in jumping up and moving to the right of the doorway she peered down there. The lights were in emergency mode emergency mode on this ship was not dimly lit it was bright so that Hapans could see.

Something told her they were waiting. "There's no hiding we'll find you...this ends now. You cannot take my people"

She looked back she fretted over Zye did he finish the wrestler, or was he still subduing him.

There was a deep laugh from the corridor, "Is that Lady Dallamore?" Mel stood straight they knew her name. "it is" She didn't have a need to hide.

"There's an offer on your head dead or alive....dead is easier" A shot came from the third door up on the right. Mel bit her tongue she wanted to say something, "Tell me the name of your benefactor and I'll be sure she gets your body back" Again laughter. Mel had to stay put, do not lose focus she reminded herself. Now she wanted the pirate..and not for tea and crumpets.

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Zye dropped the body of the large pirate to the ground, its corpse had a large hole through the chest where Mel had taken the shot. He stepped over one of the corpses, the sword leapt to his outstretched hand, drops of blood fell from the tip onto the plasteel flooring. He could feel the danger in the ship lurking nearby. Through the red lighting, his eyes scanned across the deck plan.

Zye heard Mel's voice coming from down the hall. He followed after it, taking each step carefully. The pirates had realized they were facing something a lot more prepared than they had anticipated and were a lot more careful. One of the pirates swung out from a passage behind Zye, stabbing at Zye's kidney. The Vampire twisted, dodging the attack in time. He brought his blade around for a slice, severing the man's windpipe. Choking on his own blood, the pirate fell back against one of the plasteel walls as he grabbed at his own throat. He looked to Mel, checking to feel how safe she was. He didn't sense anyone around her, but they were getting closer to the pirate they were looking for.

"Brath!" shouted another, his voice full of pain and agony. He charged at Zye, bringing a barrage of blaster shots from his mismatched pistols.

Zye grunted as a round landed squarely on his left leg. Another three pirates sprang out after the first attacker, sending more shots his way. Zye jumped clear, sliding to a stop behind a trio of plasteel crates. Blaster rounds peppered around him, sending molten flakes of Plasteel into the air.

"Damn it," Zye muttered, pushing himself up against the crates. He felt a tinge of regret for dropping his awareness just long enough for these goons to get the drop on him. He looked at his leg, it was just a flesh wound. It was healing, but he still needed time before it would be back to full functionality. "Mel, you alright?"

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

Shots came from the hall, from the door ways Mel backed into one of the rooms she was preparing to move further when the lighting changed. Red lights. Emergency lighting. Feth she thought to herself. She wasn't afraid of the dark not in the way a child fears it but that the pirates now had an advantage.

She was blind she cursed her species shortcomings she needed the brighter lights to see. She heard Zye call her name ask if she was alright. She didn't dare yell back the pirates would know where to find her. Instead she hoped that one of his vampire skills was amplified hearing she whispered, "I'm alright"

In the darkness her other senses started to react she could hear someone moving, she could smell the one closest to her how to see to shoot at them. Where the sounds seemed strongest she knew she would have to be close to them but they had the advantage they could see.

They'd have to be equal in the dark, "all the lights need to go out" she whispered again. Course if Zye didn't hear her it was all moot.

Somewhere to her left someone was moving she held her breath trying not to give them something to track.

She inched back further holding the blaster out in front of her waiting, listening.and yes saying little prayers that her mother had taught her.

[member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Zye strained to hear Mel's words over the blaster fire that had him pinned down. He didn't know that the red lighting had her blinded but he was sure that if he took the lights out, that would more than blind her. He wasn't sure if he heard her right, but Zye knew that often the best plans were the most unexpected.

"Got it," he shouted back.

Zye pulled one of the thermal detonators from his belt, thumbing the timer on. In the cockpit turning the lights off wouldn't be harder that a flick of the switch. There was one sure fire way to knock the power out from here, it was dangerous And expensive but it could work.

Using the force, Zye tossed the explosive with precision. It bounced off one of the walls into the nearby passages. After skipping and rolling down the hall it landed at the foot of the door. The grenade exploded in a ball of flames. The door and walls were enveloped in a massive flame. The generator behind it was partially destroyed by the blast, the rest of it shut off as a safety measure. The entire half of the ship was plunged into darkness. The artificial gravity shorted out, getting weaker. Zye was temporarily pulled up, suspended in mid air at the lack of gravity. He grabbed the corner of the hall, pushing off it into the middle of the passage. Even though he couldn't see his enemy he could hear them cursing and smell their filth. With a flick of his wrist, a shockwave was sent, crushing their bodies against the bulkhead. The sound of their bones snapping under the weight of the force filled the air. Zye dropped to the ground as a weaker form of the artificial gravity kicked back in.

He had a feeling he would have to apologize to Mel later for the expensive solution. Zye rose to his feet and began stalking through the dark halls. He was silent with each movement. It was just like the Midnight Forest on Iridonia. Mel was his primary concern. He had to find her. Blade in hand, he stalked after her, following the trail of her scent.

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

Got it....her message? She could only hope. She knew already that there was someone standing no more than one crate away she closed her eyes and listened. Where was he the air seemed to stir.

She could hear something bouncing about...what was that noise? Had...oh...grenade. She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face into her knees protecting her body as much as she could. She felt herself rising off the floor it caught her totally unaware, "OH!"

There was no time to take them back and now the one she had been closing in on would know where she was. But it was dark her hearing was better. She pushed against the wall to go forward the filters of her suit did not keep out the smells. She could smell iron thick heavy iron. She caught her hand on the door jamb and steadied herself. She was moving about to get into the hall when the gravity came back dropping her to the floor.

She could hear boots running down the hall.... she picked up her blaster the sound was in front of her Zye was behind her somewhere...she fired into the darkness.

All that was heard was a thump to the deck plate. Had they gotten them all?

[member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

Zye didn't stop as he came up to Mel. He could smell her, he felt her presence right in front of him, but he felt the being beyond her that had fallen in the darkness. This being had put her in danger. Professionalism was gone, war was gone. This was personal. For the first time in many years, Zye's rage got the better of him. He slid past Mel, using the lowered gravity easily propel himself forward. As he moved his hand gripped the collar of the still breathing, shot being. Twsting his body weight, Zye moved the momentum, hurling the pirate against the bulkhead.

"God damn," the pirate wheezed, clutching his chest.

Zye's left foot touched the ground, he bound off it, his fist landed across the pirate's jaw in an explosive blow, three teeth pinged off the duraplast plating like bullets. Even in the dark, Zye's two-thousand-year-old training was just as accurate as ever. With a roar he grabbed the man's red hair, bringing the skull down into his knee with a nose-shattering blow, blood was sent everywhere. The man's hands went up instinctively, pleading for mercy. The vampire grabbed one, windmilling the pirate over his shoulder and into the deck plating again. As the criminal's chest hit the ground with a heavy thud, Zye's boot landed on its shoulder. With a hard twist and pull, the shoulder snapped out of its socket with a sickening pop.

"Oh my God, mercy, please! Mercy!" the pirate begged from his bloody lips.

Zye jerked the pirate into the air, grabbing his throat. Through the darkness, Zye's eyes burned with a dark yellow and red glow of the darkside. His rage was strong, it had taken over. Just under his skin, his blood gave of a red-hot glow like magma.

"You want mercy?" Zye hissed as his fangs extended. He twisted, slamming his elbow into the pirate's cheek bone. A crisp slice from the impact appeared across the pirate's face. "Did you ever show the girls mercy?" Zye brought his hand back around, backhanding the pirate from the other side. "When they begged? When they pleaded? When they cried and whimpered? When they prayed to their gods? When they cried for their mothers?"

With each question he landed another blow. The lights came up at last, flickering with a bright glow. Zye stood with the pirate suspended, boots dangling over the deckplating, barely alive. Its blood dripped in a pool under. The scorch mark on its chest from Mel's shot would have been enough to ensure his death without treatment soon. But Zye's blows ensured a more painful way to go. Patches of his skull were visible under the tatters of sliced and torn skin. One eye was swollen shut, already blistering in a hideous purple. The other was more dead than alive. Both of his arms hung by the pirate's side, too tired and limp to even struggle for his life with the one good arm he had left. His chest was heaving, fighting against the grip Zye had on the pirate's throat to survive, even for a few more seconds of suffering.

But the true nightmare was in Zye's face. His eyes looked at the pain, the anguish with fury but also satisfaction. There was satisfaction at the deepest turmoil he was causing this being. It wasn't just about the women and children, this monster had tried to touch Mel--his​ Mel. It made him feel deeper rage that Zye even knew existed. It wasn't just business. The blaster shot in his leg that he had grossly underestimated didn't matter. It was sending pain through him with every moment he remained standing, the blast scorching didn't matter. He could lose an entire leg for all he cared right now. Mel needed to be safe. And those who threatened that deserved to pay with greater suffering than any mortal could know existed.

"I will show you the same mercy,"​ he hissed, extending his arm completely. "A long, painful death."

His shoulder flexed to hurl the pirate into the deck. If he landed, it would be hard enough to dent the plasteel, just like the wall and shatter the pirate's legs. He had to be stopped. Not just for the pirate, but for himself. For whatever was left of his soul.

 

[Melanctha Dallamoor]

The voices carried through the halls to where she was hidden away. She had played many games as a child in the dark she learned to conquer most of her fears moving through the darkness cautious in an unfamiliar place she knew she could be hurt fatally.

She was following the voices though she heard Zye's voice it was filled with...angry, hate followed by another sound but her gear didn't give her enough of it for her to know what it was. She could another, and another as Zye's voice grew louder, another voice one filled with fear answered.

She was making sense of it Zye had one of the pirates.

As she stepped into the hall she moved forward, "Zye" she called out loudly. She needed to find him. She understood that he knew how to handle pirates and spawn things but the intensity of his voice chilled her blood. Something sounded wrong.

As she took another step the lights suddenly came up, she turned her head away giving her eyes time to refocus what she saw was disturbing. She moved to Zye's side, "Zye" she called again softer, "we need him alive..." She saw the fangs my god they were sharp. They could easily puncture anything. She licked her lips trying to keep herself calm and not allow her own fears rule her.

It was the Hapan game, she could play it, hide your emotions.

"Zye...please... look at me..." Could she get him to look could she break his concentration and change the intent.

She didn't want mercy for the pirate but she wanted him to be so afraid that he went back to the others and scared them enough to not come back to these trade routes. It was hard for her not to have Zye kill him but she knew it would defeat their purpose and her intent.

[member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

[member="Melanctha Dallamoor"]

He hadn't heard Mel's voice the first time, his rage was too strong. His emotions were too powerful for him to fight them. It was probably for the better that she didn't touch him. His emotions were too strong, he might have lashed out and shoved her onto the deck. But her soft words broke into his concentration for just a moment. His head turned to the side to see her. She was innocent, and he was exposing her to this side of him.

Zye instantly felt a pang of regret. Even though she hid it well, her face and demeanor held nothing of the terror she rightly felt at his handiwork, he felt it through the Force. She was terrified of him. And she probably should have been. He swallowed, gaining control again. She was right. They needed him alive. He looked at the filthy monster in his hand, drawing it close.

"Pay attention," he growled. "The next time you and your filth decide to venture into this space, the next moment you believe you should raid these poor people, the next chance you file on this ship and believe in taking another daughter into slavery--think about this moment. Think about how I battered your body like a twig. Think about how I killed your allies without a problem. Think about it. And remember these people are protected by me.​"

Zye dropped the pirate, who didn't hesitate to scurry away as fast as he could. Zye watched, feeling the being flee into his own ship. He was the only survivor, but he would do enough to spread terror. Zye looked at his hands, pursing his lips. They were coated in blood. For him this was too familiar for him to even feel anything. But it was not feeling anything that bothered him right now. Mel was terrified of him, and he felt none of that.

The pain shot through his leg once more, Zye stumbled back against the wall, propping himself against the plasteel. He still badly needed to heal up. He couldn't even look at Mel because of the sheer guilt he felt.

"Sorry you had to see that," he said quietly. "I understand if you want to never see me again after this is done."