Disclaimer- I do not own the rights to Star Wars Kotor 1 and 2 or their characters and likeness.

Ch. 9

"There he is Atton. Lower the ramp and keep the ship steady, I'm going to get him." Brianna ran and jumped off of the ship, to go rescue the man she loved. "Andrew wake up." She tried shaking him but he did not respond. So Brianna swung Andrew's arm around her shoulder and attempted to pick him up, however, he was too heavy for her to lift. "Come on you selfish jerk get up, you promised me you wouldn't die out here. I don't care if I have to drag your ass all the way across, I'm not leaving you behind."

"You mean, we're not leaving him behind" said Visas as she walked over to Brianna from the loading ramp of the Ebon Hawk. "Here let me help you." Brianna unsurely nodded, and both women flung Andrew on their shoulders, and carried him onto the ship.

"Atton let's get out of here, Bao Dur signal your remote to activate The Mass Shadow Generator, Mira help me and Visas treat Andrew's wounds in the med-bay."

The three women laid Andrew facedown on the operating table, and Mira proceeded to examine him. "It looks like he took a direct hit from a lightsaber to his back . We'll have to remove his tunic to see how serious the injury is." Visas grabbed a small knife from the workbench in the corner and started cutting the cloth away from Andrew's body, while Mira further assessed the damage he sustained. "Alright the good news is there doesn't seem to be any nerve damage, however, he was cut pretty deep and he is most likely in a lot of pain right now."

Brianna found herself fighting back tears as she stepped next to Mira to look down at Andrew. "Is there anything we can do for him?"

"Well none of us are proficient enough with force healing to just fix him right up and simple medpacs are too weak to have any effect on this kind of injury. So what were going to have to do is apply a pure kolto extract onto the burn." Mira then pulled a small glass container filled with a silvery looking liquid out of the inside of her padawan robe. "We're just lucky I happen to have some. Don't ask me how I got it, I don't want your perception of me to go down."

"Will it mend the damage done to him?" Brianna asked concerned.

"Yea the kolto should heal him up just fine, but the downside is Andrew will most likely develop a scar when this is all said and done."

Brianna grabbed Andrew's hand that was hanging off the side of the bed. "That's ok. As long as he's still alive and breathing I don't think it will bother either one of us." Suddenly there was a loud bang, and the ship was violently rocked and shook "What was that?"

Atton yelled from the cockpit "That was us barely getting out of the blast range of Bao Dur's Armageddon machine. You could have waited till we got a little further away from the planet before pulling the trigger you know."

"So Malachor has been destroyed?" Visas asked looking at Mira who had fallen to the ground.

"Unless that rock can withstand two big hits from a gravitational super-weapon like that. I would say it's no more than space dust now."

Brianna offered a hand to Mira so she could get up. "Good, that's one evil no one will ever have to face again."

Mira smiled at Brianna and accepted her help. "Yea that's true, now let's get back to patching up our fearless leader." She opened up a small container of an oozy liquid, and spread it all across Andrew's back. "Brianna make sure to apply this to him every hour or so, and you should start to see improvement. I'm going to the cockpit to keep Atton company. If Andrew's condition gets worse seek me out." Brianna nodded and Mira left the room.

As Brianna ran her hand through Andrew's short blonde hair and felt the softness of it brush past her fingers, she felt her nerves begin to subside. Kreia and Malachor were now dead, and there was no longer any immediate threat to the galaxy. Andrew was here in front of her once again, and all she wanted to do was be at his side and comfort him as much as she could "Do not worry, you are safe now here with me sweetheart." That last word made Brianna feel warm inside. She had never used it before, but yet it came out so naturally when she said it to him. It was strange but all she knew was that she liked the sound of it, and that she was going to be calling him that a lot more often.

"You really do love him don't you." Visas said. She had not yet withdrawn from the room, and was currently observing Brianna fondle Andrew's head.

Brianna chuckled a bit, not moving her eyes away from him. "Is it that obvious?"

"I was not aware it was supposed to be a secret. You two are always together and are never afraid to show your affection towards one another, especially in front of others."

Brianna's happy demeanor had diminished, and her attention was now fully on Visas. "Is this about what happened in the docking bay at Citadel Station? I'm sorry I made such a scene. I was emotional at the time, I had almost died, and until an hour beforehand I thought Andrew was dead. I didn't want there to be anything to go unsaid between us before he jumped right back into another dangerous situation."

"Oh yes, I completely understand feeling the need to get something of ones own chest to another person. To let there be full and total honesty between two individuals, it can expand relationships and broaden feelings for one another. However, it can also leave someone open to be hurt and wounded by the other person."

Brianna understood the message Visas was trying to send. "Visas, Andrew told me about what you said to him when you were all coming to Telos to rescue me and also what you tried to do on the Ravager. I'm sorry that it happened this way and that you got hurt in the way you did. If you want to let out some of your frustration towards me than go ahead; I completely understand and I won't resist."

However, Visas stood where she was not making any sign of lashing out. Her composure remained calm, and all she did was ask a question. "Sister of the Echani is he precious to you?"

Although surprised by the question, Brianna did not hesitate to answer. "Yes, ever since I joined up with him on this journey I have cared for him. I would find myself watching him, hoping he'd look back and notice me. When he would go out to search a planet I'd be saddened if he didn't take me along, because all I wanted was to be around him. I loved this man so much that I broke an oath to the woman whom I had known my entire life and let him teach me the ways of the force only so I could have something in common with him. To answer your question, Andrew Masi is everything to me. I know how you feel about him, but I'm sorry to say I'm not giving him up to anyone."

There were no words between the two of them for a few moments, then Visas put her hand on Brianna's shoulder and grinned. "No one deserves to have something that important to them taken away." Without waiting for Brianna to reply, Visas walked out of the med-bay.

Now Brianna was the only one that remained with Andrew in the room. She leaned down, kissed him on the cheek, and sat down in a chair that was beside the bed. "Well we're finally alone now." She looked over at his face to see that his features were still and silent. She giggled a little bit and said "You're cute when you're unconscious." Brianna turned to the side table, took a warm wet rag, and pressed it against Andrew's forehead. "If you can hear me I hope you know I meant every word I said to Visas. I care deeply about you, and I don't want to ever leave your side." Then Brianna became a little more solemn. "I didn't tell anyone this, but I felt it. When we got back to the ship I felt an agonizing sharp pain in my back, and I knew that it must have meant you were in trouble. That's when I got scared." Suddenly Brianna dropped the rag to the floor and tears started streaming down her face. "I got scared that you may die and I would never see your face, hold your hand, or kiss your lips ever again. If you left me for the next world, I hope you realize I wouldn't be that far behind. Any day I have to spend without you would be like living without air." She wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her brown padawan robe and a small smile broke out. "Luckily Bao Dur and T3 had already finished the necessary repairs when we returned, or else we wouldn't have been able to come back for you." Brianna once again took Andrew's hand into hers and held it as tight as she could. "I love you with all my heart and all my soul, and there is nothing in this galaxy to convince me otherwise. I will always be there for you." She gives him a soft kiss and whispers in his ear "Always."

Three hours passed and Mira walked back into the med-bay to see Brianna asleep in the chair. She nudged her slightly on the shoulder. "Hey lover girl wake up."

Brianna swatted at Mira's hand. Stop it, I was only resting my eyes." She began to stir and stretch out. "I was just about to give Andrew his fourth application of kolto. How does his burn look so far?"

"It was looking good last time I checked, he's in the cockpit talking with Atton right now."

Brianna's eyes shot wide open. "He's what? When did he wake up?

"A few minutes ago, I assumed you already knew."

"Well I didn't, I'm going to see him." Brianna got up, pushed past Mira through the doorway, and walked down the hallway. When she arrived in the cockpit she saw the two men deep in discussion

Atton was in his usual pilot position pushing buttons and flipping switches, but to the left of him was Andrew leaned against the Navicomputer. "That's where it's going to happen Atton."

"Where what is going to happen" she said softly entering the room.

Before Brianna could say another word she was embraced with a hug by the tall blonde man whom she had spent the last few hours looking after. "Brianna I'm so glad to see you again. I was just telling Atton that we are going to Tatooine to see Bastila."

"Bastila?" Brianna was puzzled at first on why he would want to go see her, but then she remembered the promise the both of them made to her before leaving Telos. The promise that they would go and search for Revan. "You nearly died a few hours ago. Are you sure you want to jump right into your next adventure?

"Well of course not, I'm not going to get ahead of myself. We're going to visit with her for a while and let my wounds heal up, then after that I hope to examine our future plans in more detail."

She nodded at him, and then glanced down at his back. "Speaking of wounds, how are you feeling?"

Andrew turned around and showed her a faded line from the top of his right shoulder to the bottom left part of his back. "I can still feel a warm sensation coming from it, but the pain for the most part has faded. Within a few weeks I should be back to my normal self again."

Brianna ran her hand down the scar, trying not to get emotional. "I'm just glad that injury wasn't worse and that it didn't take your life."

He shifted his body to face her and grasped the hand that she was just stroking his back with. "Well I did make a promise to someone very dear to me that I wouldn't die today, and I assure you I never break my promises."

"Very smooth " Atton piped up from his seat. "I wish I was more of a sweet talker with the ladies. Maybe then I could finally find some of my own love."

"Shut up Atton" both Andrew and Brianna said in unison.

Suddenly Mira was heard from the doorway. "Don't worry Atton I like it when guys act like smart asses. It means they're not afraid to say what's on their mind."

"Who you calling a smart ass? I'll have you know a fine amount of people value my opinion." Atton then got out of his seat, and stepped towards Andrew and Brianna. "To be serious for moment, I'm glad you two are happy together. It's not very common to find something this special this day in age."

The two of them smiled and Andrew put his arm around Brianna's shoulder and pulled her in close. "We are happy, and maybe someday you can be to Atton." said Andrew who rolled his eyes over to Mira who had now commandeered the copilot seat.

A small grin appeared on Atton's face, and he acted like he hadn't noticed what Andrew was trying to imply. "Love will find me one day but listen I need to ask you to do something. If you are telling the truth about never breaking promises, I want you to promise me that you will never let that beautiful girl beneath your arm go."

Brianna tilted her head up at Andrew who was already looking down at her. His blue eyes stared into hers. They were filled with longing, compassion, and most importantly affection. She loved these moments where she could get lost in his gaze and just feel safe knowing he's there. Without breaking away she said to Atton "Why would I ever want to leave." She drew closer to Andrew and placed a light kiss on his lips, then pulled him by his arm out the door. "Come with me sweetheart, you need to get more rest."

"When did you start calling me sweetheart?"

A small giggle came from the former Handmaiden, as she led Andrew back to his room not saying another word.

...End of Ch 9...