"What the hell?" Stinger looked out the glass to see the Orion drifting. He hailed the ship, looking at Andy with alarm as he received no response.
Andy frowned, "Maybe Jark Matter didn't take a day off..."
Stinger cursed for several minutes in Scorpius, then cut autopilot so he could maneuver into the bay. "Be on alert until we understand the situation."
Andy nodded quietly.
The scorpion opened the door, slowly making his way toward the inner door. His tail was poised to strike and his eyes roamed the area incessantly.
She put Shadow down, "Stay here, little one." She then followed Stinger, pulling out a kunai just in case.
Just as he got to the door, it slammed open, knocking him back. A stun beam hit him and he crumpled to the deck with a cry.
Andy growled and threw the kunai at the person who fired the stun beam.
It avoided the kunai with a laugh, emerging from the door. It was tall and fat, hard green skin glowing in the light. "So the two missing kyurangers return. I love having a complete set."
Andy pulled out another kunai and ran forward, trying to attack.
The malistrate calmly flicked a switch on the gun he held and aimed it at Stinger. "I will kill him if you don't surrender."
She stopped, lowering the kunai, "Don't hurt him."
The malistrate waved a swarm of indavers toward them. "Bind and put them with the others while I decide what to do."
Andy sighed as she was tied up, trying to think of a way out.
The indavers picked Stinger up, prodding her toward the door with a sword point.
She went where the indavers pushed her. Her eyes began glowing and she looked back at the indavers preparing to drain them.
The malistrate appeared behind her. "We know your tricks. Do it and everyone's life is forfeit."
She took a deep breath and looked down, the glowing ceasing.
"Very good."
Tet looked up as they appeared in the brig and were pushed into the cell with the others. He was sporting a black eye, busted lip and there was drying blood on the back of his shirt collar. "Got you too I see."
Andy sighed and nodded as she moved to sit against the wall.
Stinger was dropped on the floor as the indavers cut both their bonds before stepping out of the cell and activating the force field.
Andy checked Stinger over, gently resting his head in her lap.
"He alright?" Tet watched them anxiously.
She nodded, "Just stunned."
The half breed nodded and she suddenly noticed he was sitting protectively in front of an unmoving Kai.
"Is he alright?"
Tet shook his head. "I think he's dead. But I can't be sure since monks are taught some tricks to avoid situations like this."
Andy nodded slowly, "I can see what I can do."
Tet slowly moved aside, wincing silently.
Andy went to Kai and checked him over.
His breaths were barely visible, his heartbeat almost imperceptible. Several broken ribs and a serious concussion appeared on her scan. His face was a mass of cuts from the punches he'd taken.
Andy focused a while, healing up the cuts and bones before trying to work on the concussion.
"Is he alive?" Tet knelt beside them.
She nodded, "I healed up a lot of his injuries, he should be better now."
"He tried to protect me. He wouldn't go down."
Andy sighed before looking at the others and making sure they were okay before going back to Stinger.
"What happened?" He was blinking hazy eyes open.
"You were stunned and the whole crew is in the brig."
"Shit. Everyone alright?" He sat up holding his head.
"Pretty much."
"Why aren't we getting the bastard and shoving him out the airlock?"
Andy sighed and shook her head.
"What did he threaten you with?" Stinger gazed at her.
"First to kill you, then to kill everyone else. They know what I can do now, I don't know if they've made anything like a barrier to prevent me from draining them.."
He sighed, then growled as the malistrate entered with a gleeful smile.
"I'm guessing you're happy because you get to kill us." Tet glared at the creature.
"Not at all. You're all going to the slave markets. Well, not all of you." His eyes moved to Stinger.
Andy growled quietly in response.
The malistrate motioned to the indavers beside him. "Bind him. Take him to the surface."
The indavers turned off the force field, reaching in and dragging Stinger out.
He fought back until the malistrate stuck a needle in his neck. He sagged and the indavers quickly bound him tightly and carried him out.
Andy fought to get out of the cell, her eyes beginning to glow in her anger.
"Now now. You want them to live right? Or would you rather die with him slowly and painfully?"
"I'm going to kill you," She growled.
He smiled and nodded to the indavers left in the room. "Take her as well. Let her die with him."
Tet snarled, starting to rise.
Andy struggled against the indavers, managing to take a couple out before they got a good hold on her.
The malistrate calmly shot both Tet and Andy with the stun gun, then reactivated the force field before following the indavers out.
Andy woke slowly, confused about where she was.
The air was freezing cold, chilling her lungs and making her shiver.
She soon noticed Stinger beside her and checked him over before looking around to see where they were. Ice and snow surrounded them. She lifted Stinger and tried to find somewhere a bit warmer. Finally, she found a small cave and took Stinger inside before pushing some energy into him to try to warm him up.
"I'm..sorry, sweetheart." His voice was weak, his eyes barely open.
"Don't worry about it," she said softly, wrapping her arms around him before continuing to push energy.
He shook his head. "You're going to watch me die. I only hope you find a way back to the ship."
"You know I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you don't die," she whispered.
"Unless you can make the ice suddenly melt, it's a lost cause. My species can't survive this weather." He shivered slightly, his lips beginning to turn blue.
"I can't make the ice melt, but I can keep trying to regulate your temperature." Her eyes began glowing as she gathered more energy in to help him.
He sighed. "You can't stay awake forever. Sooner or later, you're going to pass out." He looked at her. "You should drain me and get off this planet somehow."
"I'm not leaving you," she said quietly.
"I don't want you to watch me die. That would torture me more than freezing to death."
"I'm not going to watch you die or kill you. I'm going to keep you alive," she continued to work on warming him, fighting the freezing temperatures. Her own body was getting colder by the minute but she continued to focus on him.
"Save your energy.." His voice was fading, his eyes starting to close. His lips were fully blue now and he'd completely stopped shivering, his skin almost as icy as the wind.
Andy moved away for a moment, finding a few sticks. She used a jutsu to create a small fire. She moved Stinger closer and put him between her and the fire to try to keep him warm as she went back to trying to warm him with energy. She felt herself growing weaker from the cold but continued to work.
"Sweetheart..stop. Please. Just hold me." Stinger gently lowered her hands.
Andy held him close, starting to feel her hands and feet go numb.
"You'll love me forever, right?" His voice was soft.
"Of course."
"That..makes me happy." His eyes closed as he whispered "I hope you survive…"
She shivered violently, the fire starting to burn out entirely.
Stinger forced himself to kiss her hand a final time, then went limp in her arms as his breathing became fainter.
She held him tightly, the few tears that managed to drip instantly froze on her cheeks. She began to still, the shivering becoming less and less. She closed her eyes and focused on listening to him breathing.
It finally ceased, his body still in her arms.
She continued to hold him tightly as she prayed the team was doing better than her and Stinger.
"ANDY! Can you hear me?" Tet's voice was almost unheard over the wind.
She struggled to open her eyes, trying to locate the noise.
Suddenly the half breed was in her face, shaking her hard. "Open your eyes. Please…"
Her eyes slightly cracked open to see him.
"Thank the gods. I need you to let go of Stinger so we can get you two out of here."
She weakly moved her arms, not feeling much in them.
Tet gave her a tight smile before removing Stinger from her. The half breed disappeared, replaced by Kai, who picked her up and cradled her gently before moving toward his voyager.
She struggled to keep her eyes open, her consciousness threatening to fade.
"Hold on, Andy. We'll be home soon." The former monk wrapped her in a warm blanket before setting course to the Orion.
Andy closed her eyes, beginning to shiver a bit as she warmed. Once on the Orion, she struggled, looking around for Stinger.
"Just relax." Kiba inserted an IV of warm saline. "You need to stay still until you warm up more." He replaced her blanket with a warm one and brushed her hair back. "Just rest."
She nodded slowly, leaning back against the pillow as her body tried to warm up. Soon though, she noticed Stinger being laid in a nearby bed. Her eyes began glowing as she pushed herself up. She shoved a massive amount of energy into Stinger, warming his body up until he finally sucked in air. She gave a small smile before collapsing to the ground unconscious.
Kai sighed, picking her up and laying her back into bed before sitting beside her.
She eventually opened her eyes and glanced at him tiredly.
"Feeling better?"
"A bit." She looked thoughtful for a moment, "Can you go get Shadow? She was in Stinger's voyager last I checked.."
"She is in your room, happily eating leftovers." He grinned. "I'm glad you like her."
"She's so cute," she gave a sleepy smile before shivering.
"Go back to sleep. Everything is fine."
She nodded slowly before her eyes shut and she passed out again.
A hand was slowly carding through her hair.
She moved into the touch for a few moments before becoming conscious enough to open her eyes.
Stinger gave her a soft smile, his eyes twinkling.
She smiled, "You're okay?"
"Thanks to you, I hear. I'm not a hundred percent, but I'm alive."
"I'm glad."
He wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you for staying with me."
"Of course. I wouldn't ever leave you."
He chuckled softly, then kissed her. "Sleep, sweetheart."
She smiled softly as her eyes shut once again.