Standard Disclaimer: Neither Star Wars nor Knights of the Old Republic
belong to me. All are George Lucas' and Lucas arts, etc. The only thing I'm
claiming is the impressions of the main characters and, in later chapters,
the A/U plot. Which, believe me, isn't all that original to get all
bothered about. "Things Left Behind" is a Sequel to "Unbalanced" and "There
is no Peace but Passion". They are only connected through time, one can
definitely be read without the other. I wanted.
Things Left Behind
Chapter 7 - Give them Shelter
The island wasn't very big. It seemed that the wars of generations gone by had done such damage to the landscape in general that all the planet had the heart for was spattered bits of land lost amid the oceans. A ridge loomed in the distance, but that was the only feature readily visible.
Carth led as they began to make their way into the interior. Revan was watching him closely at first, concerned. He wasn't moving with his typical ease of stride. However, she was willing to bet that she had lost a bit of grace as well. In fact, as she stumbled a second time, she realized that now would be a very good time to stop.
"Hold on," she said, putting a hand out to a tree and drawing up short. She began to pull on the gloves. "Can't stand this any longer."
"Need any help?"
Revan couldn't help but smirk as her tired mind ran through the most inappropriate responses available. She was only grateful that she had the common sense not to blurt them out. The last time she'd gone for the throat with her flirting instincts, he'd backed so far off so quickly she thought he'd end up in the next quadrant.
However, him backing up now wouldn't be such a bad thing, now would it? Here he was, all smiles and acting like the world was fine and good and grand. Maybe it was, for him. Saul was dead. Malak was dead. He could pretend all was happy again and act like he'd not treated her like a damn pariah.! She could feel her eyes narrowing. And she smiled sweetly.
"Why, Carth! I'm shocked at you. Do I really seem like the type of girl who'd let you take her clothes off. without buying me a drink first?" She made her voice low, close to a purr.
Carth barked a short laugh. "Ahh, let's really not go there."
A glove came off, then the other. She shook her head wryly. There, better now. Keep your distance and we'll be just fine, Republic Boy. She unzipped the suit. "Then stop asking to help me take off my clothing and we'll be fine." She said lightly. He didn't say anything and she glanced up to find him staring at her chest. She raised her brows, "Carth. I'm up here."
"Yeah. And the blood's there."
She glanced down to see the criss-cross patterns of the safety harness outlined in pink and red. "Shit."
Carth drew a knife that she didn't remember him carrying and walked over, "We'll cut it off. Don't argue."
"We might need it later." She argued.
"Then heal yourself and we'll take it off. But we both know its going to hurt like hell to try and take it if you don't," he was very reasonable. She shook her head. She was tired. And the place where the Force dwelt in her mind, along the edges of her fingertips, ached almost as badly as the strap marks.
"It'll be fine," she repeated. She began to edge out of the suit. He scowled at her. She bowed her head a little, the better to hide her expression. Impassive wasn't going to happen, no matter how much she wished it. Her shoulder shifted backwards and she drew in a breath as her arm caught.
"Here." And Carth's hand was on her shoulder and tugging on the sleeve. She swayed forward a little, the action bringing his neck, sand spotted, that much closer to her mouth. She took a breath again and moved to free herself of the other sleeve. Why did he keep winning?
+++++++++++
Why was she being so damn stubborn? He pulled back to look at her. Neither of them would be winning any prizes for looking their best. But if she was forgoing using the Force she had to be more worn out than she was letting on. That made him a bit angry with her.
"Come on then. Stand up."
"I'm not ." Revan snapped, and then shut her mouth.
"Not what?" he offered his hand to her as she took off the bulky pants and boots.
"Nothing. Look. Let's just find some shelter, alright? We'll get a bit of rest and I'll see what I can do about fixing us both up."
"Sounds fine with me. Just leave the stuff here for now, I don't think we've got to worry about someone running off with it."
She started to stalk off, leaving him a bit pressed to keep up with her. He gritted his teeth, but didn't say anything. Sand turned to dirt and sand, then gave way to vegetation. She stopped and looked from left to right.
"That way." She muttered and began pushing foliage out of their path. He spluttered as ferns smacked him in the face.
"You got a plan here, or you just wandering aimlessly?" he asked.
"Told you the plan. Find shelter and get some rest."
"Oh, really? I forgot." He didn't even bother to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
She didn't deign to answer.
However, within a moment they'd broken free into what seemed to be a path. The trees were only about half height, grass not as high. Smooth and straight out in front of them it wended. A nice pre-made trail that led. somewhere. His hand rested near his blaster as he walked. Revan didn't seem to notice.
"Looks like we aren't the first people to have been here." Carth said quietly.
"I don't think..they've left." She responded back. She began to slow down and his eyes were drawn forward.
They'd obviously had more control in their descent, or perhaps better luck, when they had fallen from space. They'd hit the island, though only after carving their way through it. It was hard to tell how long the space ship had lain there with what sand and time had done to it. However, it was immediately obvious that it might have been better for them to have hit the water instead. The tumble of cloth and white half fallen out of a twist airlock had once been a living person. Humanoid.
Carth and Revan stood there for a moment. Then he moved forward, "Come on. We'll see what the rest of the ships like. Give these guys a decent burial when we can."
"We should do it now," She said flatly.
He stared at her. "Sure. If you feel up to it. I don't know about you, but I don't have a shovel handy and I'm not exactly feeling my greatest after crash landing and getting sucked out of my ship."
She sniffed, shooting him a dirty look. She stalked for the interior of the ship. Metal creaked under her step, but held solid. He hesitated in following her, but swearing under his breath, he quickly took up a guarding stance. He drew his weapon, just in case, and followed after.
The ship was small, only a few compartments. There was a huge tear along the starboard side, and a tree had made mild headway staking a claim on that shattered room. The cockpit was structurally fine. However, the plates were seared black, charred and scoured out by what must have been an intense fire. The body that was melted to the seat did not seem like it would be easily moved, so they quickly moved to the last. A storage room, cargo containers thrown a dozen ways. Revan sat down quickly on one, then faced away from him, drawing up her legs as if she could get comfortable and rest on such a surface. He shook his head and simply lay on the ground. He exhaled.
"Somehow I got the feeling that this is not going to be fun."
For once, she didn't argue with him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sorry about the long delay guys! Finals. Bad. Evil. James Joyce. Enough said (
Akasha15 - Yeah, I know what you are saying about the irony. However, I get the feeling that Carth can be a bit. shall we say. ignorant of how his decisions can effect other things. At this point I think he thinks its very logical to feel relieved and less paranoid than before. I guess we'll find out if he's right ;) As for Revan? Even if one choose to make him/her have the pristine background, and not the smuggling. the knowledge that your hands did some nasty stuff has to have its effect. And, thanks for the idea about a scene to do. In fact. I think that makes quite a nice place to try and aim for next. if not right next, then soon next ;) Glad you're feeling better!
Schally - Here you go. And again, my apologies. Never meant to make you drool! Well, okay, that's not entirely true. but never meant to make you wait. :)
Things Left Behind
Chapter 7 - Give them Shelter
The island wasn't very big. It seemed that the wars of generations gone by had done such damage to the landscape in general that all the planet had the heart for was spattered bits of land lost amid the oceans. A ridge loomed in the distance, but that was the only feature readily visible.
Carth led as they began to make their way into the interior. Revan was watching him closely at first, concerned. He wasn't moving with his typical ease of stride. However, she was willing to bet that she had lost a bit of grace as well. In fact, as she stumbled a second time, she realized that now would be a very good time to stop.
"Hold on," she said, putting a hand out to a tree and drawing up short. She began to pull on the gloves. "Can't stand this any longer."
"Need any help?"
Revan couldn't help but smirk as her tired mind ran through the most inappropriate responses available. She was only grateful that she had the common sense not to blurt them out. The last time she'd gone for the throat with her flirting instincts, he'd backed so far off so quickly she thought he'd end up in the next quadrant.
However, him backing up now wouldn't be such a bad thing, now would it? Here he was, all smiles and acting like the world was fine and good and grand. Maybe it was, for him. Saul was dead. Malak was dead. He could pretend all was happy again and act like he'd not treated her like a damn pariah.! She could feel her eyes narrowing. And she smiled sweetly.
"Why, Carth! I'm shocked at you. Do I really seem like the type of girl who'd let you take her clothes off. without buying me a drink first?" She made her voice low, close to a purr.
Carth barked a short laugh. "Ahh, let's really not go there."
A glove came off, then the other. She shook her head wryly. There, better now. Keep your distance and we'll be just fine, Republic Boy. She unzipped the suit. "Then stop asking to help me take off my clothing and we'll be fine." She said lightly. He didn't say anything and she glanced up to find him staring at her chest. She raised her brows, "Carth. I'm up here."
"Yeah. And the blood's there."
She glanced down to see the criss-cross patterns of the safety harness outlined in pink and red. "Shit."
Carth drew a knife that she didn't remember him carrying and walked over, "We'll cut it off. Don't argue."
"We might need it later." She argued.
"Then heal yourself and we'll take it off. But we both know its going to hurt like hell to try and take it if you don't," he was very reasonable. She shook her head. She was tired. And the place where the Force dwelt in her mind, along the edges of her fingertips, ached almost as badly as the strap marks.
"It'll be fine," she repeated. She began to edge out of the suit. He scowled at her. She bowed her head a little, the better to hide her expression. Impassive wasn't going to happen, no matter how much she wished it. Her shoulder shifted backwards and she drew in a breath as her arm caught.
"Here." And Carth's hand was on her shoulder and tugging on the sleeve. She swayed forward a little, the action bringing his neck, sand spotted, that much closer to her mouth. She took a breath again and moved to free herself of the other sleeve. Why did he keep winning?
+++++++++++
Why was she being so damn stubborn? He pulled back to look at her. Neither of them would be winning any prizes for looking their best. But if she was forgoing using the Force she had to be more worn out than she was letting on. That made him a bit angry with her.
"Come on then. Stand up."
"I'm not ." Revan snapped, and then shut her mouth.
"Not what?" he offered his hand to her as she took off the bulky pants and boots.
"Nothing. Look. Let's just find some shelter, alright? We'll get a bit of rest and I'll see what I can do about fixing us both up."
"Sounds fine with me. Just leave the stuff here for now, I don't think we've got to worry about someone running off with it."
She started to stalk off, leaving him a bit pressed to keep up with her. He gritted his teeth, but didn't say anything. Sand turned to dirt and sand, then gave way to vegetation. She stopped and looked from left to right.
"That way." She muttered and began pushing foliage out of their path. He spluttered as ferns smacked him in the face.
"You got a plan here, or you just wandering aimlessly?" he asked.
"Told you the plan. Find shelter and get some rest."
"Oh, really? I forgot." He didn't even bother to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
She didn't deign to answer.
However, within a moment they'd broken free into what seemed to be a path. The trees were only about half height, grass not as high. Smooth and straight out in front of them it wended. A nice pre-made trail that led. somewhere. His hand rested near his blaster as he walked. Revan didn't seem to notice.
"Looks like we aren't the first people to have been here." Carth said quietly.
"I don't think..they've left." She responded back. She began to slow down and his eyes were drawn forward.
They'd obviously had more control in their descent, or perhaps better luck, when they had fallen from space. They'd hit the island, though only after carving their way through it. It was hard to tell how long the space ship had lain there with what sand and time had done to it. However, it was immediately obvious that it might have been better for them to have hit the water instead. The tumble of cloth and white half fallen out of a twist airlock had once been a living person. Humanoid.
Carth and Revan stood there for a moment. Then he moved forward, "Come on. We'll see what the rest of the ships like. Give these guys a decent burial when we can."
"We should do it now," She said flatly.
He stared at her. "Sure. If you feel up to it. I don't know about you, but I don't have a shovel handy and I'm not exactly feeling my greatest after crash landing and getting sucked out of my ship."
She sniffed, shooting him a dirty look. She stalked for the interior of the ship. Metal creaked under her step, but held solid. He hesitated in following her, but swearing under his breath, he quickly took up a guarding stance. He drew his weapon, just in case, and followed after.
The ship was small, only a few compartments. There was a huge tear along the starboard side, and a tree had made mild headway staking a claim on that shattered room. The cockpit was structurally fine. However, the plates were seared black, charred and scoured out by what must have been an intense fire. The body that was melted to the seat did not seem like it would be easily moved, so they quickly moved to the last. A storage room, cargo containers thrown a dozen ways. Revan sat down quickly on one, then faced away from him, drawing up her legs as if she could get comfortable and rest on such a surface. He shook his head and simply lay on the ground. He exhaled.
"Somehow I got the feeling that this is not going to be fun."
For once, she didn't argue with him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sorry about the long delay guys! Finals. Bad. Evil. James Joyce. Enough said (
Akasha15 - Yeah, I know what you are saying about the irony. However, I get the feeling that Carth can be a bit. shall we say. ignorant of how his decisions can effect other things. At this point I think he thinks its very logical to feel relieved and less paranoid than before. I guess we'll find out if he's right ;) As for Revan? Even if one choose to make him/her have the pristine background, and not the smuggling. the knowledge that your hands did some nasty stuff has to have its effect. And, thanks for the idea about a scene to do. In fact. I think that makes quite a nice place to try and aim for next. if not right next, then soon next ;) Glad you're feeling better!
Schally - Here you go. And again, my apologies. Never meant to make you drool! Well, okay, that's not entirely true. but never meant to make you wait. :)