Chap. 4 Carth:
Still breathing, always a good sign. I should have been happy to be alive, but the disgust seemed to overwhelm any good feelings. I had never seen an enemy aim at escape pods before. There was so sense in gunning down unarmed men fleeing for their lives that I could see. I guess that's why I'd never join the Sith. A low groan escaped as I touched the forming goose egg above my left eye. I silently continued my mental checklist. Legs, two and still working. Two working arms, one hell of a bruised rib and a lovely headache.
"Hey sister, how're you feeling?" I asked, turning to my companion. Out cold. I couldn't help but chuckle. The poor girl was obviously a fresh recruit. Her face had changed an entire rainbow of colors on our descent to the planet. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had simply passed out from fear.
"Well, we have to get out of here at any rate." Gathering her into my arms, my hand immediately became wet and sticky. "Oh damn it, no!"
Her short black hair was slicked with blood. She looked like she was peacefully sleeping, and there was a part of me that wished that I didn't know any better. There was a certain frailty about her. I didn't want to touch her. If I didn't, then my fears would never have to be realized. But that was nonsense, because if I didn't and she were still alive, I'd just be feeding her to the Sith.
There was a faint pulse. Don't you die on me. The thought came from nowhere and I quickly suppressed it. I pulled her close, clutching her tightly to my chest so that I could feel her every shallow breath.
"I'm going to get you out of here." I told her. I had the lurking impression that I spoke more for my sake than hers.
I kicked the escape pod's door open and staggered into the night, the small broken body in my arms.
