Chapter 18: Wreckage

The old tramp freighter shuddered as it exited hyperspace; it limped its way slowly toward one of the many docking ports. In its hold, Avaryss pulled her hood up farther, hiding her features. No one here would recognize her, she was sure of that, if anything the hood was more for her at this point then it was for them.

She could not imagine a more embarrassing way to arriving for a mission. Even the ship that had taken her to Tatooine had been in better shape than this thing. Of course, the people that came to places like as this were often desperate, or straight up had nothing to lose.

They likely didn't care what shape their transport was in, as long as they reached their destination.

Which they had…luckily.

The ship shuddered under her feet as it finally came to rest on the deck, two nights and a day stuffed into the damp rust covered hold had only served to irritate her.

Avaryss sighed heavily and rose from her small corner of the deck.

She had finally reached the station.

Now, it was time to burn it down.

She made her way towards the now lowering ramp, one of many people that had been stuffed into the cargo hold, the sights and sounds of the place floated in to greet her, as the world became a din of unwashed alien bodies, and the squeak, purr, and squawk of many raised inhuman voices.

The young Sith clad in a plain unadorned dark gray robes, looked around seeing both with her eyes and with the Force.

This place was clearly no Dromund Kaas; it was amazing that it could support so many people.

It was amazing it could still function period.

The station that Darth Terrog's data card had brought her to was quite old, even the dark lord had not been sure who had built it, it was near Hutt space so most assumed that the slugs had seen to its construction, but that had never been verified. Since falling under the control of the Exchange some twenty odd years ago, trade and travel had almost tripled here. The exchange thugs that ran this place did not post the high port fees that the Hutts were famous for, and the chaos of the last war between the Empire and the Republic had set many people travelling, many of such had washed up here.

This place is falling apart, Avaryss realized, the exchange clearly has no interest in keeping it maintained. They'll likely use it up, and abandon it just before it suffers that final systems failure that blows the entire place to atoms.

She shook her head.

No wonder the locals called this place: "The Wreck."

She slipped away from the crowd as soon as she got her feet on the station's deck. Already exchange hired thugs were approaching to assess the new arrivals and…tax them accordingly.

Avaryss had no desire to be stopped by them, she had business with the station's boss, and though presenting herself to these men might speed up that meeting she had chosen against it.

These people had stolen from a Darth; clearly they must know what the consequences of that are... If word reached them that a Sith was here, they might panic, and try to run.

She had no desire to waste any time on this business, these criminals were simply another link in a very long chain.

She would end this quickly, and move on to the next one, the next rung on the ladder.

Eventually, she would reach the top, and the person behind all the Empire's troubles.

She was eager to have that meeting, to say hello to the troublemaker…hello…and good bye.

It was not hard for one such as her to slip unnoticed through the crowd, she moved with a speed beyond the norm for humans. It had been simplicity itself to slip past what passed for dock security and make her way into the station proper.

She wrinkled her nose as she emerged onto the stations main promenade.

She shook her head.

Unsurprising, it was as bad in here as it was in the docking bay.

The map she had found for this place showed it to look from the outside like a giant mushroom, the capped dome contained a city scape that was about ten city blocks wide, and six long. The central tower that rose from the center was used as both offices and control for the stations many functions, the reactors, atmosphere processors, and sanitation control was all beneath them, protruding like some long metallic horn from the stations bottom.

Long spokes stuck out from the central tower and into the domed outer shell, these were private launch tunnels for any Exchange vessel that came to the station, none of the criminals wished to risk the lives of their guests or business associates on the street she supposed.

It would be through one of these that she would make her exit when all was said and done. According to the floor plans, those launch bays were big enough to fit a ship the size of her interceptor. When this mission was complete she would summon Mister Rink with the beckon call she carried.

They would leave this place behind, a broken monument to those that opposed the Empire, or at the very least worked against it for profit.

It would serve as an example to others.

For now though, the station still teemed with life, noisy, dirty, and dark.

The sights and sounds of the cityscape here offended her senses.

Perhaps this was not such a good idea after all.

IOI

When she had first brought the data card to her master, she had thought she would be coming here in force, perhaps from the bridge of his dreadnaught. Avaryss imagined standing on the bridge and watching as Sith guns, gutted this place. She would have enjoyed that, and then, she would have boarded, leading troops through the landing bays, sweeping away any resistance in her master's name.

Darth Feer, and Warmaster Feore, had other ideas.

"And what would we tell the dark council when they asked why we attacked the place?" her master had inquired.

"That we were dealing with enemies of the Empire," She replied, "Is it not our way to make sure that such enemies never rise against us again?"

"True, but at the same time, we need to be cautious. We have enough to worry about with the Republic; we do not need to make the Exchange an enemy of the Empire too."

Her master shook his head.

"No," he said, "No, no, no, subtlety is the key here. You will go in alone and deal with the exchange boss. He will tell us what he knows, and then you may exterminate him."

Darth Feer smiled.

Avaryss did not, her eyes were angry, angry and disappointed.

She had thought she had earned the right to command her master's forces.

Did he not trust her, after everything she had done in his name, so far…?

…Did he still not trust her?

Her master chuckled.

"You will get your chance to lead my armies in war soon enough, my child, be patient. Plus, never forget where you got this information, apprentice," he reminded her, "Terrog knows my temper; he may have wished me to strike hard at the station, to make an example of it."

"What if the station was rigged to explode if attacked," Warmaster Feore had added, "We could lose the bulk of our ships. A single agent will be able to accomplish just as much as a frontal assault."

Avaryss nodded.

She had not considered the dark lord using such a trap, but it made sense. For all she knew Terrog had agents already there, that this could all be some lure to draw their forces in.

She could already imagine the report that Terrog would deliver to the dark council. How Darth Feer had lost his fleet trying to settle an old grudge, and risked angering not only the Exchange, but their Hutt allies as well.

If this was a trap, it would be a good one.

Both Lord Feer and the Warmaster were right.

Subtlety was indeed the key if they were to be successful.

The old pure blood handed her a data card.

"Destroying the place should prove simple enough, according to our agents; its reactors are old and poorly maintained. You should have no problem destroying the station if that is your wish.

Avaryss nodded.

Again the old man spoke wisely.

She was tempted to believe that her master simply did not want her building a reputation with his soldiers, winning their loyalty. It was likely true on some level, still…

"As you command, master," she said bowing her head, "I shall be discreet."

And so she now found herself alone, wading through the filth and mire that was the Wreck, citizens of the doomed station made way for her as she passed. She may not have been wearing Sith robes or colors, but the wise could clearly sense that the one in their midst was no prey, but a predator on the prowl.

She reached out with the Force, seeking to project just that. As she made her way forward, her mind drifted back to the pleasures that she and Taya had enjoyed only a few nights ago.

It was a distraction, yes, but it was a good one.

Even the predators here seemed to sense that they were in the presence of an even greater one.

They made way for her, even if they did not completely understand why.

That understanding gave her time to reflect on what had happened with her old friend.

She was not entirely sure what to make of it.

Perhaps she never would.

IOI

By the time she had returned to the Nexus Room, Taya had already had the two young Sith eating out of her hand.

Avaryss had grinned.

It was always nice to know that you had someone you could depend on.

FimmRess and Urtel, that had been the two boys' names, had been most impressed to be in the presence of two such accomplished and beautiful Sith. The fact that Avaryss was an apprentice to a Darth intrigued them, and Taya, given her looks and sweet demeanor was even harder to resist.

Fimm had gone with Taya, while Avaryss had chosen Urtel. The four had enjoyed a most intriguing evening. They had been perfect gentlemen to Avaryss and Taya, who easily played the roles of two enchanted young girls.

At least until they had all grown board with all that, when the two ladies decided that they had enough playing the enchanted girls, and the boys finally realized that girls on their arm no longer wanted them to be gentlemen.

Fimm had access to a room owned by his master, a suite used to entertain the dark lord's powerful and wealthy guests. It was there that he and Urtel had brought them after a lovely time in the cantina.

It was then that the real fun had begun.

It was then that they finally decided to get down to what they really wanted.

Avaryss had remembered almost drowning in Urtel's dark crimson eyes. She remembered the feel of lips on her bare neck, sighing and shuddering with delight under his gentle yet firm touch. He took his time, undressing her slowly and firing her passions. She had been so lost in that touch that she had barely noticed that Taya and Fimm had already found their way into one of the suite's bedrooms. The sounds coming from that room had been more than enough to motivate Avaryss' new friend to get down to business himself.

He proved to be…a most magnificent lover that night. So much so that she had taken him twice more before dawn, pulling that large, muscular body to her, awakening him and his passion with soft whispers of need and desire.

As he had her, she could not help but imagine using him in her work. She imagined watching the light fade from his eyes, only to return, and with it the spirit of her beloved. It was not hard for her to imagine using the boy to bring back her beloved Fehl.

She had thought to use a pure blood body, but why limit herself?

As long as the body was strong in the Force what would Fehl care? He would live again, and she would be responsible.

He would surely be grateful for that. Urtel wouldn't, but by that point, he would be beyond caring.

Such thoughts only fired her passions again, she awoken him with a kiss and a gentle caress, it was all she could do not cry out Fehl's name as she finally found her release.

She doubted Urtel would understand, so it was good that she restrained herself.

Never the less, he was clearly enjoying their time together, so much the better.

Perhaps when they parted in the morning, she would give him a way to stay in contact with her, or ask for the means to seek him out again. Urtel was handsome, fierce, and strong in the Force.

Fehl would no doubt enjoy being him.

She had awoken before the dawn, slipping out of Urtel's strong arms, pausing just long enough to drink in his body in all its natural splendor. He laid on his belly, breathing contently, his bare dark skin still slick with passion sweat.

She smiled.

He, or perhaps someone like him, would be perfect. They would be the perfect new Fehl.

She welcomed that day, the day her love returned to her for good and all.

It would be a most glorious day indeed.

She heard noise from the adjoining bedroom; Taya emerged, running her fingers through her mussed hair, a sly contented smile on her face.

The two girls got dressed and slipped out of the suite together. They said nothing to each other until they were back on the street.

Both were supremely pleased with themselves.

"Mm," Taya sighed, "That was nice."

Avaryss had nodded

It certainly had been good.

The two boys had proved to be the perfect party favors.

Avaryss looked up at the cloudy sky of Dromund Kaas; it would be dawn so enough.

She yawned and stretched.

Taya giggled.

"I guess neither of us got much sleep last night."

"Only an hour or two," Avaryss replied, "My master will not expect me back until this evening."

She chuckled, feeling perfectly relaxed, and one with the galaxy.

"I suppose I should find someplace to crash for the next few hours. I doubt my master would let me rest if I returned to the Citadel or the estate right now."

Taya blushed slightly; Avaryss sensed only warmth from her through the Force.

"My master has a place not far from here," she offered, "We could spend the morning there. We could rest and…regain our strength."

Avaryss turned to her friend; you did not need the Force to know what it was the other girl was truly offering her.

"Are you inviting me back to your place, Tay?

The blonde girl's blush darkened.

"What if I was?"

Avaryss smirked.

"Didn't you have enough…fun last night?"

Taya smiled warmly.

"Last night was nice, Fimm, even more so."

She took Avaryss by the hand, gently backing her into the shadows.

"But Fimm was not the only thing that I desire," Taya purred in a husky voice, "We are Sith, aren't we Avy? We should go after the things we want?"

"Of course, Tay," she had answered.

The blonde smiled.

"I was hoping you would say that."

When they were mostly out of sight, and all but lost in the shadows. The blonde moved in and, to Avaryss' surprise, took what it was she had wanted.

She leaned in and kissed her old friend and ally. It was a soft kiss, gentle and chaste. After the initial surprise, Avaryss found herself kissing her back. It was a chaste kiss, mostly, and soon she found herself letting Taya take the lead. Her friend pulling her into her arms, embracing her like she was the most precious thing in the galaxy.

They spent the next few hours in Taya's master's place, the two of them sleeping in each other's arms. They did nothing but sleep, but that was okay.

For Avaryss it had been a sweet end to a good evening. Taya was simply happy that she was here; perhaps she had feared that Avaryss would resist her advances, and for the moment she was willing to take things slow.

Tay had nothing to fear. Avaryss was more than willing to do what she could to keep her friend and ally happy.

She was too useful to simply let go, her wealth and connections too valuable.

No…Avaryss was prepared to do what was needed.

What she had not expected was the contentment she had found in that moment. It was rare that she felt safe enough to let go and simply let go, and lay in the arms of another. Only Fehl had ever given her such release, and for a time, she had feared she would never know such again.

It had been nice to know she was wrong.

Once it was over, the two girls had left without another word. Taya needed to report back to her master, Lord Goss, and Avaryss needed to return to the estate, bring the data card she had gotten from Terrog's slave to Darth Feer.

It had been a nice interlude, but now it was done.

It was once again time to get back to work.

IOI

She took her time trying to find a way into the Wreck's central tower. Despite the state of disrepair the Exchange left the place in, it was clear that they still prized both their privacy and security. She saw no less than ten state of the art war droids protecting the towers three entrances, that and at least a hundred bully boys in full combat suits and reinforced armor.

She kept to the shadows, of a darkened alley. She watched the place with slitted angry red eyes.

Avaryss frowned.

…So much for keeping things quiet.

Her master may have desired subtlety, but she was starting to doubt that would be possible for much longer, not if she truly wanted to breach the tower.

Security was too tight here. Any attempt to gather information using a hand scanner was resisted, it seemed that the exchange had some kind of jamming system in the tower, not that she had expected anything less.

They may not have cared much for the people here, but the merchandise in the tower, that was something else.

Avaryss' eyes narrowed her hand drifted to the lightsaber clipped to her belt.

She found herself at that moment wishing that she possessed the talent of Force persuasion; that would have made this so much easier. She could have simply walked up to the tower, and entered with a wave of a hand and few choice words for one of the guards.

Sadly, that was not her way; her talents lay in another direction.

She sighed, and pulled her weapon, feeling the cold lethality of the hilt in her hand.

This direction.

She sighed.

Very well…, she thought.

…The hard way then.

She was about to leap into action when she heard the shifting of trash behind her, she spun ready to ignite her weapon, fearing that she had been noticed, perhaps activating some dormant security droid.

"Whoooa there," a human voice slurred.

"Easeeeee."

She barely stopped herself from beheading the man, not wishing to alert the guards of the tower with such a random murder.

He crawled out of the shadows; stood on wobbly legs, barely able to find his feet.

He is nothing, she thought, just some gutter rat,

She felt the fool for being startled.

"Who are you?" she snarled, "What are you doing in there?"

"Seeping," the man said, he stepped into the light, letting her get her first real good look at him.

She was not impressed.

He was human, or at least of a human-like species, older, perhaps in his mid to late forties, he was pale skinned with gray eyes, and dark hair that was greying at the temples. He was dressed like some down on his luck spacer, dirty and stained, wearing a black shirt and trousers, with a nerf hide jacket.

Avaryss cursed under her breath.

She had not even sensed the fool sleeping there. He did not feel like a threat but.

"I asked you a question man," she hissed, "Identify yourself."

"Jay," he murmured, trying to keep his feet, he stank like the floor of a Corellian brewery. She was amazed he was even able to remain upright.

"Jussst, Jay."

He blinked and squinted, trying to see through the intoxicant induced haze he was clearly lost in.

He stayed just far enough back that she could not kill him with a single swipe of her lightsaber.

"Wow," he said, noticing the lightsaber in her hand for the first time.

"Yoooou a red blade, lady?" he asked.

Avaryss sneered.

Red blade.

She had heard the term before, mostly used by people who were not smart enough to truly respect the power of the Sith. She was tempted to teach him that respect, but for the moment she was still trying to keep a low profile.

End him quickly, the darkness whispered, strangle him to death with the Force, and move on.

She was just starting to raise her hand, to end his life with a single gesture, when he said something that surprised her.

He gave her a wide sloppy grin.

"Wanna go into the tooower, lady?" he asked, "Jay knooows how."

Avaryss paused.

"You do," she asked suspiciously.

He nodded exaggeratedly.

"Used to mooove freight here," he informed her, "Got fired for seeping during my shift; the boss' boooys caught meee."

He blinked and shook his head.

"Days ago," he said, "What day is it, again?"

Avaryss smiled.

"The day you showed me the way into the tower," she said, putting her weapon away. She could still kill him if it came to that.

The man was nothing to her, but he did have some value, if he could show her a way in, an undetected way in...

…So much the better.

"I have a hundred credits for you if you show me how to get in, unnoticed" she informed him.

The man giggled.

"'Undred, huh? 'Kay, you follow ole' Jay okay, Red Blade."

He cackled excitedly.

"Looks like thisss is my lucky daaay."

Avaryss smiled, imagining what it would look like when she took this fool's head. She wondered how many times it would bounce off the ground before finally coming to rest.

"Lucky for both of us," she purred.

"Most lucky indeed."

IOI

She followed the man's erratic path, despite being barely able to stand; he set a surprisingly quick pace.

Avaryss tried to stay close. This was her one lead; she did not wish to waste it.

He led her away from the tower, away and down several dark corridors off the main promenade. At first she suspected that he might be up to something, her hand once again drifting to the blade at her side.

She could hear the old drunk cackling to himself, commenting on how lucky it was that she had found him.

She remained silent, focused, reaching out for the Force, and making sure that he was not leading her into a trap.

So far, so good, she thought.

She felt nothing from the drunken fool.

He was barely worth her notice.

He led her down into a large chamber below the promenade; she noticed several large fans spinning overhead, a few large ones along the back wall, pulling air through a large tunnel on the other side.

Avaryss grinned.

The man gestured her forward, he stood before one of the fans that looked to be broken, grinning proudly.

"Use to sneak out here all the time," he informed her, "Good place for a nap down here, nooo one knows about it, never bothered to fix the fan."

Avaryss nodded.

So the lazy fool would come down her to escape his shift in the tower?

"This duct leads inside then?" she asked.

Jay nodded again.

"It'll get yooou inside; no one will be the wiser."

"Good," Avaryss said reaching for her belt.

Jay grinned excitedly; she could almost see the greed flickering in his eyes.

How do I reward you, she wondered, with credit or with my lightsaber?

It was an interesting dilemma.

She would be done and gone from here before the man's credits ran out. He would not have time to sell her to anyone else. Of course, her lightsaber would guarantee his silence permanently.

She was still debating the pros and cons of both when the entire chamber shook, distantly, down the air duct, she heard a loud boom.

Avaryss frowned.

That…that sounded like an explosion?!

What in the Emperor's name?

"Here," she said dropping a hundred credits on the ground, she did not even wait to see if the fool picked them up; she dashed forward, her weapon in hand, disappearing down the broken ventilation duct.

Distantly, she thought she heard the man speak.

"Looks like you are not the only one interested in the tower, red blade."

She did not bother to respond, she was already too far away, rushing forward.

She had come here for information, and from the sound of it, someone had beat her to it.

Her red eyes flashed with anger.

She would be damned before she let a prize slip through her fingers.

It would not happen.

IOI

The duct was a straight shot into the tower; she had no need for a map and would not have used it if she had.

She was following the Force now, sensing the mayhem up ahead. She emerged into the tower to the wailing of alarms, and harsh voices shouting back and forth over a loud speaker.

Whatever was going on was not over yet, she realized.

Good.

That meant that she still had time to salvage this.

She used her lightsaber to cut through the grate that was sealing off the air duct; she leapt down from it, and found herself in a world of chaos.

She encountered no one as she made her way up, she saw neither guards nor droids until she was two or three levels above the main entrance.

It was then that she finally encountered the first signs of what was happening.

What she saw made little sense.

Two war droids lay broken beside one of tower's security doors, not destroyed by any weapon, but crushed as if by some strong grip. The doors that should have been able to keep out a full attack squad lay bent and broken like some giant had struck it with his fist.

Avaryss rushed forward reaching out with the Force, but at the same time keeping her lightsaber off, not wishing to draw attention at least not yet.

Guards and workers rushed past her, not even noticing her presence, overhead alarms continued to wail, commands came over loud speaker, telling the guards to head to this level or that.

Avaryss did not bother listening, she knew where the trouble was coming from; she could sense it through the Force.

She now was following it, like a beacon.

What she felt, well, she could not describe it.

She could feel the violence up ahead. It rippled down and outward from the Force, what she did not sense, was the death and destruction that she should have been feeling. She passed several fallen guards on the way up, most of them still drew breath, but their weapons were destroyed, and they were injured, not fatally perhaps, but they were out of the fight, and would likely need medical attention.

She passed two more destroyed battle droids. These showed signs of…damage, their limbs had been removed, the cuts were clean and straight through, the metal still hot from the strike.

Lightsaber damage, she recognized.

Avaryss growled.

It seems that Darth Terrog had sent an apprentice after all, was this the trap her master thought awaited her?

If this was a trap for her master or her, why had the apprentice not waited, why strike early?

She could not say

She reached out again with the Force trying to sense the dark side, to find her fellow Sith. She felt nothing, only a sense of grim determination.

She was left puzzled.

A fellow Sith should have been reveling in the destruction. Why was she feeling nothing?

Once again, she could not say.

She turned another corner, and suddenly, she heard a sound, a familiar hum that made her heart quicken.

The sweet sound of a lightsaber, followed by the popping sound as the blade found its mark.

She slowed, adopted a hunter's tread, she would not be surprised by whatever it was that Terrog had decided to put in her way. She would be…

She stopped cold.

The sound of battle ceased, the only sounds was the blaring of alarms, and the hum of her enemy's lightsaber.

Avaryss blinked.

What in the Emperor's name?

Her enemy was crouched over a broken war droid, its dark skin flushed with both battle and excitement; she could sense the Force singing inside the fighter, but it was not the familiar tune of the darkside.

The young Sith's eyes narrowed.

The one responsible for all, the one that was turning the Wreck into wreckage, was a girl.

It was a small alien girl.

She was young, perhaps Avaryss' age, maybe a year or two younger, she had a long solemn face, and large dark brown eyes flecked with gold. Had she been standing she likely would have been a head shorter than Avaryss her long brown hair pulled into pony tail, with a single small braid dangling down the right side of her head.

The girl was clearly not human, not fully human anyway, Her ears were long and pointed, and what the young Sith had mistaken for dark skin was actually a very short velvet-like fur. Avaryss could see that she wore no boots; her feet were large and wrapped in cloth. As she kneeled over, large toes helped the girl balance on her powerful legs. Avaryss would not be surprised if this one was an astonishing jumper, even without the Force. The hands that gripped the lightsaber were equally thick and large, each digit ending with a thick yellow claw.

The lightsaber the creature wielded was not fiery red, but emerald green, it blazed brightly, hurting Avaryss' damaged eyes. She wore a gray combat suit with a long tan colored robe over it.

The creature glared at her; if looks could kill she would be ash at that moment.

Avaryss lit her blade and raised it as she dropped into a fighting stance.

"Jedi," she hissed, though the creature felt like no Jedi she had encountered before.

She heard a low growl emerge from the beast girl, a low dangerous sound from back in her throat.

She could sense the light within her, but it seemed muted, held back by a will like iron, that and the feral determination of a predator.

Because that is what this creature was a pure predator.

It knew what Avaryss was, even without her lightsaber it would recognized her.

"Sith," the Jedi growled, "I should have known."

Her features started to shift, her nose seemed to extend, her jaw too, long fangs flashed white in her muzzle, her features becoming more beast like by the second.

Avaryss blinked.

What kind of creature was this? She wondered, some sort of changeling?

She had never heard of any kind of alien like this?

"Where is your master, Sith," the monster growled, "Where is Darth Terrog?"

Avaryss blinked.

"Terrog is not here," she said, "But I'm sure I can…"

"ARRROOOOOOOOOH!"

The girl threw back her head and howled. It was a terrible sound, loud and keening, had Avaryss not been so deep in the dark side at that moment, and wearing her sonic dampeners, she might have fled in terror.

The beast girl leapt the distance between them, in two steps she had closed the distance between them, her eyes and teeth flashing, hungry for Sith blood.

Their blades clashed in a flash of light, and a shower of sparks. Avaryss fell back as the Animal-Jedi rained down blows upon her.

The attack was vicious, quick too, but once again she did not feel the dark side, and she should have, considering how aggressive this girl was being.

There was no emotion in what the creature was doing; only a sense of grim determination, she was in the beast's way, and its only desire was to see her removed.

The Jedi whirled, attacking fiercely, Avaryss only just blocked one of its blows, only to nearly be ripped open by a swipe of a clawed hand.

This was no mere Jedi, she thought, it was a storm of teeth, claws, and a lightsaber!

Avaryss continued to fall back.

What had Terrog sent her into?

Why did this thing want him dead?

She had no time to answer. The dance of death continued.

It was all she could do to keep up with the steps.

Someone will pay for this, she thought; I will make sure of it.

She growled and tried to go on the attack. The beast-girl parried her strikes with considerable skill.

Avaryss blinked, this was not going to be easy.

She fought on.

Someone will answer for this, she thought….

…If I survive.