Chapter One: Dromund Kaas

'I will never be your assassin, you weak schutta.'

The lightening is all around me and all through. Every small crevice, every part, everything screams in pain. Everything except my mouth. It lifts me off the ground and I float in white, crackling pain that blinds my vision.

And then it stops. I land on my feet, with one less life. The pretend lord collapses from the strain. I leave her bleeding and gasping, my back straight and chin proud. Once around the corner, once out of sight, I collapse to the ground. I let out the breath I had been holding in a loud cough, blood and vomit coming out with the air. I vomit again before I can get more air. And only when my stomach is empty can I breathe in the soiled air.

Soft footsteps approach. I attempt to sit against the wall. I attempt to stand. But I can't.

'We have found you. Let us heal you.'

I try to worm away from the bug man but his tranquil movements are faster and hold me in place.

'We felt the attack. We are sorry we could not help,' he apologises as he patches my wounds, his hands light and gentle.

I spit some more blood to the side. 'What are you doing here, Vector?'

'We are here to heal your wounds,' he explains with a mildly perplexed look.

'That's not I meant,' I testily answer as I shakily stand, my hands finding support in the wall.

'We fight for you; we fight for the hive.' He makes it sound like that explains everything. I look into his black, vacant eyes and curse myself.

'That isn't enough, Vector. Don't speak to me again until you can offer me more.' I walk away with as little of a limp and slouch as I can. He silently follows, silently sits next to me in the taxi and silently enters the ship with me. The next day we silently leave together, silently fight together, silently eat together and silently live together. The pattern doesn't end. It will go on for as long as he is here.

I can't share him with an entire hive and Intelligence. I need him to work for me and only me. Yes. That's it. He can't have divided loyalties. It endangers us. Endangers the mission. And tears me apart already.

I'm so fucking screwed.