They came across a group of rakghouls quickly.

Liri leapt and he paused to watch her land, slamming into the ground with a force that looked odd for her small size.

One of them tried to leap on her back and he got it right through the eyes. Everything pressing fell away except the feel of the blasters in his hand, the woman he loved tearing her own swath through the rakghouls. The creatures kept coming and years of careful training took over as he fired again and again. At a lull, the bodies were piled high and he heard growls that meant there were more on the way. His blood was racing.

"I missed this," he took the time to say before the next wave was on them.

The ground was soaked with gore by the time the rakghouls stopped coming. Andronikos could feel his heartbeat in his fingertips. Adrenaline made him pant and he wished they'd picked a different planet. He couldn't exactly shove her up against a tree here.

Liri looked more relaxed also, although she was covered head to toe in blood and who knew what else.

"Shower?"

"Never sounded better," she answered. "We should go tell Pella and Decimus."

They marched back and let the pair know. Judging by the way they looked at each other, Andronikos had no wish to be there when they started the torture back up.

He and Liri headed back to the base. They handed their speeders off to a droid and headed to the shuttle. Finally on the ship, Liri handed her garments off to Twovee. Andronikos stripped off his jacket as well to give to the droid. They took a quiet shower together. Then he poured them both a drink and they sat next to each other on her bed.

"You shielding?"

"Yeah, and we're far enough from Decimus that he won't notice."

"Liri, a Jedi vision?"

"I know." She shook her head. "I have to meet with him. I have to know what he's seen."

"How do we arrange that?"

"I don't want to risk you in Republic space."

"Oh please, like I'd let you go alone." He thought a minute. "Why do we have to go to Republic space?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nar Shaddaa or Hutta."

She shuddered, "Not Hutta."

"Neutral ground. We go for a vacation or some time off together."

"Our honeymoon?"

Andronikos grinned, "Two birds with one stone. I get you to marry me properly before we figure this out."

She sighed at him, exasperated. "How do you always end up getting exactly what you want?"

"I'm just that good." He grinned and took a sip of his drink.

"Won't this alert Decimus that something is up?"

"What, moving this up? No. Just tell him you lost a game with me."

"I lose every game with you."

"Which is why it's believable."

She nodded, then bit her lip. "Rev, what do they want with me?"

"I don't know, but whatever it is, I come with you. Okay? No turning me away, not now, not ever."

"I can't be without you again," she said softly. Then she got angry, "And stop telling me not to leave you! I only did it the once."

"The once that turned me into a vicious, alcoholic shell of a man."

Her thoughts turned down another track, "Rev, did you ever... On your raids. Did you ever..." She wasn't finishing her statement, but he could guess.

"No," he said quietly. "I never raped anyone."

"Just paid for slaves." He winced.

"I can't justify that to you, not ever."

They sat quietly for a minute.

"Rev," she whispered. "What if there is a life for us in the Republic?"

He looked down into his glass. "I'm been in both, Lir and they're the same at the core. I want us to be apart from that. Not pawns, not being used, a life, kids..."

"No kids."

"We'll talk about it later." He grinned at the familiar argument. "If we're truly free, your reasons don't hold up."

She gaped at him.

"We have a wedding to plan, Sith. Get to it."

She sighed and lay down on the bed, "Do you care about any of it?"

"I'm not wearing some crazy suit of ceremonial Sith bullshit and you aren't either."

Her lips quirked.

She repeated him, "Ceremonial Sith bullshit?"

"Like when you got inducted into the Council and you had to wear that stupid robe."

"I don't know; it was pretty hot when you bent me over my desk and hauled that up."

Andronikos grinned at her. "You keep talking like that and I'll find something new to bend you over."

The hatch slammed at that point. Decimus and Pella's voice filtered in. Pella peered around the corner, "Oh good, you're vertical."

"That doesn't mean we aren't-"

Pella held up a hand, "You're vertical and not touching." She jumped on the bed and bounced up. "Want to know what we found out?"

"Of course."

Decimus' voice sounded from the doorway, "They're trying to get Liri into Republic space, but we have no idea why and he didn't either. I've got a call in to find a new SIS agent to question."

"Disappointing, but I'm not surprised," said Andronikos. "We knew it would take awhile." He leaned back against the headrest, "Want some good news?"

"I want you to close your robe better," said Decimus.

Andronikos shrugged. Decimus rolled his eyes, "Fine, what?"

"Liri has agreed to marry me now."

Pella squealed piercingly and clapped her hands. Liri shook her head, her finger in her ear, "Really, Pella?"

"I'm so excited!" She ran down the hallway, calling back, "Let's get back to the fleet!"

"Why were you two shielded?" Decimus asked.

"I convinced in her a way that's none of your business." Andronikos made himself smirk and shifted so the robe opened more.

"I officially don't want to know, then." Decimus glared at Andronikos and left.

Liri caught his hand and squeezed it. "So. Wedding," she murmured.

"I already know what I'm getting you."

"Like a gift?"

"An actual gift. Not like one."

She tackled him to the bed and shocked him. "We can talk about it later," he grinned.