Chapter 3

New Corusant Republic Base. Trooper Quarters. 0340 Hours

The torrents of freezing water came down upon Gun like frozen needles. It didn't matter, he couldn't feel it. He felt so exhausted, so numb; he just wanted to collapse and sleep. The previous mission ended badly. The hostages they were supposed to rescue was killed. The worst part about it was when they had to retrieve the bodies. One in particular was a little girl. She had bled to death from a blaster wound to the leg. He could remember her cold pale skin and how limp and lifeless her tiny body had been. And her eyes. Her accusing eyes. They drilled deep into him and filled him with guilt and sadness. He just wanted to sit there and cradle the little girl. In her final moments she must have been terrified and alone. Although her mother had died a few feet away from her, the autopsy technician said she had died about thirty minutes earlier. They did manage to catch the man responsible. If he was still alive was questionable. Gun had gutted the man after resisting arrest and killing another trooper.

His eyelids drooped. They felt like they were chained to the floor and he struggled hard to keep them open. His entire body felt they way. He wanted so badly to lie down and sleep. He shocked himself awake. Best not be thinking of that, you have appointments to meet, the voice in his head growled.

"W-what do you want?"

The voice laughed. It wasn't a cheerful one, like Scooby's, it was so full of malice. It's grating sound reminded him of a blender filled with all sorts of durasteel items.

I'm just trying to keep you alive so I would exist also... isn't that a good thing?

"No! Get out!"

Gun glanced down at the puddle of water that collected at his feet. His distorted reflection seemed to sneer back at him.

You can't get rid of me, I'm the part of you that enjoys the bloodlust of battle. You need me... you can't exist without me.

"N-no..."

You're weak. That's why you created me in the first place, you can't handle the exhilaration of combat. Maybe you're afraid you might like it. What's wrong with that?

"I-it's not the J-jedi...", he stammered.

Ha!. Jedi. Don't even start. They're nothing but scum.

"You're lying!"

But am I ? They were the ones that abandoned you in the first place. Rejected you. You're not a real trooper. You're only half. That's what makes you incompetent. That's why the Jedi didn't train you to be one of them.

"I was angry. I wasn't stable enough. I..."

Save your pathetic excuses. Jedi way. Its for weaklings.

He got out of the shower and stumbled towards the sink. Gun tripped and would have almost fell face first if he hadn't caught the sink counter. He pulled himself up and looked into the mirror. His shadowy reflection taunted him with a cruel smile.

I'm just trying to help you realize your potential. The darkness is what gets you through not the light. It makes you vunerable.

"NOOO!",Gun yelled.

He swung at the mirror with all his might. He cried out as the silver fragments of glass shattered upon him like bits of shrapnel. Gun fell to his knees and let the blood flow freely from his clenched fist. The scarlet drops stained the once clean floor.

"Guuunnny! You okay in there?", a familiar voice called out.

It took him a few seconds to answer. He wanted to say something that wouldn't give away what had just happened. But his voice betrayed him.

"Yeah... I'm alright...", he said quietly.

"Good! You better hurry up! Cody's gonna bore me to death with one of his lectures if I don't take a shower soon!" Scooby apparently didn't take notice. This relieved Gun but it went away as soon as it came. He felt a cold wave of numbness wash over him.

You lied. I like that, you're finally learning. Come your victims await.

Gun began to smile a very cold smile.

Scooby wondered what was taking his friend such a long time. He looked behind him to make sure Cody wasn't there. The guy was too uptight, he had to get out more. Maybe he'd take him to the Outlander sometime; couple of drinks wouldn't hurt. Or drag him, Scooby mused. He knew that he wouldn't go. Besides being a neat freak, he would recite the code of conduct and the manual if he caught them doing something that wasn't "allowed". Even Jangotat would get irritated by him. Gun on the other hand was a little bit psychopathic. Maybe a little bit was an understatement. Scooby would sometimes catch him sitting by himself in their cramped quarters talking to, well, himself. He was amazed that they were the best of friends in the squad. Well, they were all friends; actually brothers was more like it. But he sometimes had the feeling that Gun didn't feel accepted, like he belonged to the squad. He would sometimes stare into space, not a peaceful kind , it was troubled. It usually occurred before missions they went on and ended up with one of their squad nearly bleeding to death or if their mission went horribly wrong.

Scooby thought that he was merely getting lucky. Right now he wasn't going to be if Cody catches him and starts yammering on about how a trooper should be always neat and presentable. He didn't give a damn. Besides they were always out getting mud and whatever on their armour anyways so it didn't matter.

"Heeeey! Guuuun! I can hear Cody coming! Pleeeasse! You've been in there for an hour already!", Scooby pleaded.

When Gun didn't respond, Scooby decided to lure him out.

"I bet you look like a dikut'la vegetable from one of those fragging star freighters!",he taunted.

Slam! The door swung open nearly hitting Scooby. Gun walked past him without greeting. Scooby was confused as to why he didn't greet him like he normally did. He shrugged and went into the bathroom. The mirror was gone! He rolled his eyes and sighed. Gun probably shattered it. It was probably the millionth time he destroyed one. Eh, it was the base's problem now; they'll be leaving and might be transferred to another base. At least he had a backup so he could shave without nicking himself. But first a shower. It was gonna be a nice long one because he assumed by Guns attitude that this mission was gonna be a long one.