Take Off The Mask

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric shuffled a little bit away from the crazed woman, deciding to take up position at the end of the closet.

For a few moments he simply looked at Danger, then he slowly panned back towards the keycard. Pocketing it, Alric stood up, grasping the bundle and slipping two of the blades into the bundle as well. Alric didn't know how to use the weapons, or the force pike, or any weapon, but it could come in handy at a later time.

“Riiight.” He said to her taking a step back. “Rest of the rooms then 'fresher?”

Alric walked passed her, carefully avoiding the pike, then stuffed what he had grabbed so far in his backpack. Without the bundles of stick in there the thing had more than enough room. Slinging the thing on his back he walked over towards the exit door, still watching Danger play with her new toy.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Hmm?" her thumb would switch the Force pike off, glancing over at him with a seriously questionable devilry in her eyes. Finally what he said registered.

"Oh, right." Danger gave a quick nod. Although she didn't miss the wide half circle he'd take to avoid her.

Good.

That little bit of victory was enough to twist the corner of her mouth in smug pleasure. She took a moment to put what she found away, that wince coming back at the pinch of the backpack. Once she was done, she would set the backpack back on. A wiggle and a sway and then a small adjustment set it well on her bruised shoulders again.

A gesture from her free hand would wave him to led on.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

The rest of the rooms contained similar items.

A few articles of clothing here, some blasters there, perhaps some pictures, another journal. That was about it. Nothing else useful was found, and Alric found himself cursing that not one of these Imperial Schmucks had a single backpack or something more useful. In the end it was just as well however, and he quickly lead Danger down into the depths of the Star Destroyer.

The lights began to flicker more as they moved into the stairwell.

“I wonder if any of them made it out of the desert.” Alric said quietly as he moved through the ship, putting on the sunglasses to avoid the annoying flicker of light above him.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

From behind him, Danger's voice would mull her thoughts aloud in explanation.

"They say that about two hundred years ago.." Danger began, also placing the aviator glasses on to quit her eyes from spazzing at the flickering light.

"There was a sandstorm that lasted for what felt like months." A crash like that onto the planet from an ISD would pick enough debris and sand to start a chain reaction of the worst kind.

"Twin suns light still made it through, keeping in the warmth some... but rumor has it." they'd turn a corner towards another corridor. Thankfully the flickering wasn't too bad. The hum of the air conditioning was a bit louder here though.

"...It might have snowed."

There was a small pause, her boots a slow steady beat against the floor.

"If they did....well...then they lived knowing they did what conviction told them was right." she was referring to the mutiny to prevent the use of the Alpha Red.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He shifted slightly as they moved down another flight of stairs. A sandstorm for months huh? That sounded about as hellish as he could ever imagine.

Though the last sandstorm her had been in hadn't been so bad.

A smirk touched his lips.

Not bad at all.

“Lets hope it doesn't happen again.” Alric said quietly when they finally reached the floor that the 'freshers were on. His step quickened, and he found the door locked. With a smile, he pulled the Keycard out from his pocket and swiped it. The door slid open with a satisfying hiss. He knew the thing would come in handy.

With a spring in his step Alric lead Danger into what had once been a crowded hallway.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Thankfully, there were no lingering mummified corpses here. However, it appeared that one half of the hallway was barely lit; half the lights were gone. She'd give a frown, walking forward through the threshold.

As a precaution, the lumistick was soon in her right hand with the Force Pike on her left. Danger would then start to slowly walk forward, tossing back in a passing quip, "Doubtful, unless the more die-hard of Abrion's decide to crash a shipyard onto Tatooine."

Druckenwell. It went unsaid; the tragedy that befell there had been of morbid proportions. Danger was only content that he had managed to evacuate as many souls as she could.

The redhead would keep walking, fully expecting to use the illumination of the lumistick to go further. There were items scattered upon the floor from the crash. The beam of her light would sweep across the gunmetal grey walls, catching on the reflective sigils that would relay the direction of the communal refreshers.

"This way then," truth be told, she couldn't quite hide the excitement in her voice.

Refreshers; how such a small everyday thing can sounds like the sweetest of melodies in the 'verse when facing nearly a weeks worth of Tatooine sand, grime, and blood.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He followed alongside her.

Truthfully, refreshers sounded like the most glorious thing he could think of right now. Of course they would be sonic in nature. Star Destroyers did not waste water for showers and baths, but they would still be there, still provide a sense of cleanliness and sanitation. That was what he looked forward to the most.

The desire for that feeling was almost overwhelming.

He could feel the same from her.

“Lets hope they didn't get damaged in the crash.” He said probably jinxing it. “Otherwise its another ten minute walk.”

There were dozens of these communal refreshers all around the Star Destroyer, one of them was bound to work, he just hoped that this one did.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"At this point, I doubt ten more minutes really makes a difference." They had walked several kilometers under the hot Tatooine suns.

Another ten minute walk in an airconditioned ruin of a ghost ship was a cakewalk after that.

They went a few more feet before the corridor would curve to the left. She would shine the lumistick front, the beam catching against the wide double doors that would lead to the communal refreshers.

"Hrm," she'd mull, slowing her walk until she would come to a halt in front of them. "Time to see if that key works here."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric took out the keycard, smiling at her then walking over towards the door. He slid the card across its scanner and with no surprise the door opened.

The room behind was taken with complete darkness. It seemed that none of the lights within actually worked, though Alric refused to give up. He stepped inside, dragging Danger along with him. The lumi-stick cast a pale glow over the scene. In one corner there was a line of sinks with mirrors, in the other there was a large space set away with some curtains running through them.

It was there that Alric stepped.

On the wall was a series of switches, he stepped over to one of them, closing his eyes and flipping it.

Just as he did the silent near inaudible thrum of one of the sonic showers began to echo in his ears. At that moment he could have cried.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Inari the Reviver!" came the subsequent elated exclamation at the beautiful thrum. With that, she was pretty much set. Her expression would soften and her shoulders would sink as if a great weight had been lifted. Granted, she still had that blasted pack on her back.

She wouldn't hesitate.

With a focused mind set, Danger would start to sling the heavy backpack off. Hell she didn't need to take off her clothes for a sonic shower, she could just jump in as she was to get everything cleaned! Thud! Went the pack right on the floor. She was a woman on a mission.

Specifically, to get the past four days off of her.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric only smiled at her.

For a few seconds he didn't move, he didn't follow, he simply watched Danger as she practically skipped into the shower. Her clothes were still on, not really something that mattered with a Sonic shower unless you wanted to get really deep into the cleaning, something that Alric desperately knew he needed himself.

Yet it was still a pleasant sight.

He watched for a few seconds, then dropped his backpack and did the same, stepping into the sonics right besides her and simply letting his head sink back into the near silent thrum.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

It would start off without a care of how silly she would appear. As long as she could get as much of the sand, grit, and grime off the better.

Unfortunately, she didn't realize just how much gunk she had caked on. To get to work better, she untied her over coat belt. It went clattering on the floor, followed by the sound of her lightly shaking her robes in an attempt to get as much of the sand off.

Her hair would start reveal its former shine, and the longer she stood under the sonic refresher, the more she felt better. She kept up with the shaking until a slight grimace drew over her face.

A sharp pain over her shoulders would sting, right over the bruises she was sure that had likely been rubbed raw.

Feth.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He eyed her as she shook her robes, completely unimpressed with the act. No, he didn't bother with modesty, he didn't bother trying to shake out his clothes or even trying to keep anything on him at all.

Alric simply began to strip.

He didn't care.

It didn't matter to him. She had seen him naked and he her. He was tired, he was exhausted, and his mind told him to get clean. There would be no cute little dance and shake from him. His boots went first, shoes thrown halfway across the room, then his socks, his pants were next, still crusted with blood and gore, dirt caking on top of that.

Then the bandages atop him went, unwrapped and thrown to the side.

Alric stood for a moment in his underwear, until they too were thrown to the side.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

It wasn't modesty.

It was efficiency. Getting her clothes clean meant that she could very well put these on later without the layer of blood, sand, sweat, and grime that had caked on it.

Not to mention, she had been carrying that heavy backpack the past day. Her arms and shoulders were sore and bruised. Meanwhile, Alric had been tended to for his own injuries; Danger had not.

She paid him no mind, choosing to keep her herself and simply trying to be efficient as she could. A roll of her shoulders would prompt another wince, but once she was satisfied that her outer robe was clean enough, she began the slow and slightly painful tug and pull up and over her head.

It really didn't matter anyways. With the dimlight one could likely barely make much of what was there. Or could they? In the midst of her undressing, she thought back to the cave. While sight had been taken from them, the other senses had blazed with vivid clarity. An unconscious shiver would take her, but she would blame it on air conditioning and the freeing sensation of taking the rest of her clothes off.

They'd land lightly to the side, cleaner than before along with her boots and socks. A slow spin on the balls of her feet would have her facing towards the wall, her head dipping forward as the pulsing sonic waves would begin to shake off the grime she had on her skin. A deep set weariness would take her, prompting the lift of her hands to brace her palms against the wall.

There under the dim glow, she was a pale vision of curves scattered with a constellation of bruises and cuts.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

The silent thrum pressed against his ears.

He could feel dirt, blood, and sand slowly being pushed from him skin. Vibrated off of him with the frequencies that pulsed over his naked body. It was refreshing. Perhaps less so than a warm shower, but after five days of being covered and caked in dirt, this was more than he ever could have hoped for, more than he ever could have dreamed about.

This entire body relaxed.

His mind became at ease, thoughts of days passed melting away.

A strange phantom sensation crawled over his back. A slight tickling, a light touch that caused his eyes to open and fall towards the only other person in the room. He saw here there, leaning against the wall, an outline of her body presented perfectly to him.

For a few seconds he watched, his eyes following not so subtle curves as she breathed in and out. For a moment he paused, then he began light steps towards her.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Hours later, Danger awoke with a slow start.

Consciousness came in degrees; the dim glow of the overhead lights coming into slow clarity. She was in a bed, with sheets lingering with the scent of ancient cedar surrounding her. A frown drew over her face, coming to terms with her surroundings

The hum of the air conditioner made her believe for a few moments that she was on an Arceneau ship. Curious, her gaze would drift over the gunmetal gray bulkhead, past the walls, then to -- the sight of the man sitting quietly beside the bed quickly and promptly shut that theory out. Her eyes would widen, and she'd give a sudden start as everything came back.

Heat flushed her face as sore and worn muscles would heavily protest her sudden start.

Everything came back.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Alric had been awake longer than Danger.

His hair was a mess of bedhead and his beard was shaggy, his clothes were those that she had found for him earlier. Not exactly desert garb, but bright tan loose fitting clothes that would feel better once they were back in the aching sun.

Unsurprisingly, Alric felt better than he had in days. There was a glow to him, even as he simply sat there reading. A confidence hung around him, one that told of pleasures wrought and received. A small smile still crooked his lips, and as his tongue licked his index finger a familiar taste came to him.

He turned the flimsy page and shifted slightly.

Alric had found another leather bound Journal within this small room. It had belonged to a junior officer and had contained a bed just big enough for the both of them. When he had awoken he had immediately searched the room for anything of value, a small pile of clothes and other things lay on the floor, only a foot away from where he sat.

He was so engrossed within his reading he did not notice Danger stirring.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

He did not notice her stir.

Well there were perks in that. The least being that she was able to gather her bearings without being too completely out of her element. Quietly, she would rise to a sitting position, holding the bedsheet against her chest. Oh it wasn't due to any sense of modesty as much as second nature.

Her muscles would protest in a dull, and as much as she would hate to admit it, delicious ache. She felt great, if not a bit more relaxed. Parts of her were still bruised, but others more satisfyingly so.

A few seconds would tick by as Danger would make the most of this opportunity. She would study Alric, a slight frown drawing over her brow in inquisitive confusion.

He was an enigma to her; equal parts bastard as much as charismatic charm. And there was no denying the wickedness and completion the native of Tatooine had felt under the ministrations of the take charge Alric Kuhn.

It bothered her. It bothered her as much as it interested her. Just who was he?

Finally, after a couple of seconds, she would break the silence and with luck, his concentration on the sheets of filmsi he read.

"Does that journal so happen to have information on the Alpha Red?" came the query, cast in a neutral tone.

She didn't know exactly what to expect.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

He jumped slightly.

Her words startled him out of the deep concentration that he had been sitting in, and he nearly dropped the book he was holding. After steadying himself, and taking a deep breath, Alric turned his head up, swiveling his eyes so that he could meet Danger's. His expression was still rather pleased, pleased with Danger, pleased with himself.

“Kind of.” He answer her finally, taking a hand off the book and running it through his hair.

“Nothing after the mutiny, I assume he died on impact.” That was a depressing thought to wake up to in the morning. “But lots of information on the ship. It seems this thing was specifically upgraded to carry the Alpha Red. It has a vault, extra weapons, its power core is upgraded and apparently...It carries a new type of shielding on board.”

He seemed particularly interested in that bit, flashing a dangerous smile at her as he said it.

“The Ardent was made to transport Alpha Red.” That should have concerned both of them.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Well that got her attention.

"Specifically commissioned for it?" came her question, slowly sliding her legs from under the sheets to touch the floor. Again, a faint grimace of soreness. Well there was no questioning the reasons for that, she'd muse.

Her mind began to race. "That means there could very well be other advanced technologies. Not to mention, it would guarantee a fail safe to ensure it's destruction if compromised."

Well that certainly put her a bit more at ease.

"Question is where, and how does it exactly does it work?" a thought came to her, "Also means that it would have the proper precautionary measure to ensure that the Alpha Red wouldn't get compromised to easily. Measures to ensure it would stay secure."