Anger manifested itself in Lana until she felt it explode out of her. The head of the skytrooper she was using as a target exploded off until the lightening was cut short.
"Damn," Lana muttered, gripping her arm where the fresh wound lay.
"You're not going to let one little scratch hold you back?"
Lana turned at the sudden intrusion, and relaxed marginally when she saw Darth Nox leaning against the bulk head.
"Certainly not," Lana agreed. Proving a point, she shot another bolt at the skytrooper before walking over.
"Any one in particular you picture?" Amusement danced in the Inquisitor's voice and eyes.
"It varies depending on my mood, it's very therapeutic."
"You certainly have no shortage on enemies to choose from," the pureblood agreed companionably, but said nothing else.
"What brings you down here, my Lord," Lana prodded.
"Can't I just want to check on an old friend," Nox asked, expression innocent.
Lana felt her defenses rise and mental shield snap into place. "We were never friends."
The smile on Nox's face went sharp, "Old ally, then."
"Anything in particular," Lana questioned, tired of the dance.
"Koth Vortena."
"I understand your reservations about working closely with a Zakuulan…"
"I'm more concerned with your relationship with him, my Dear," Nox interrupted. Lana's jaw snapped shut, and Nox was amused as she tried to think of a response. "It was no secret among those were on Rishi and later Ziost your relationship with the Republic major. If you no longer share any affection for her, you may wish to inform her."
"My personal business is not your concern," Lana replied darkly.
"True enough," Nox agreed lightheartedly, not deterred by the threat in Lana's eyes. "Until it becomes my concern. I may not know Koth or Maj. Horner as you, but neither strikes me as the type to enjoy sharing. I would encourage you to make a decision regarding them sooner rather than later, before tensions get too high," the Sith advised as she left Lana alone with her thoughts.
"Make sure they have food, I haven't eaten in 5 years," Brooke shouted as Senya departed.
"There's plenty to be found in the marketplace," Senya shot back as she walked away. "Just stay away from the gorack."
"I'll keep it in mind," the Jedi said with a laugh. She heard HK approach, he was to accompany her in search of Koth's missing engineer. "You ready to head out?"
"Let's get this over with," was the curt reply. Brooke glanced behind her to see Maj. Horner standing next to HK. She was out of the knight's armor and wearing something more civilian looking, black pants and jacket with a white undershirt, with a blaster rifle strapped to her back. Wise move, considering the locals were made up of Zakuulan exiles. Brooke had also changed out of her Jedi robes for similar attire, except going for a longer red jacket to hide her lightsaber from view.
"Should you be moving around already," she asked concerned.
"I'm not spending all day on a fucking cot in a med bay," the major shot back without any real heat. "Now we gonna find this chick or what?"
"Addendum: It would be wise to get moving if her temper is as bad as Master Vortena has implied."
"All right," Brooke sighed, "but if you get hurt again, you're dealing with Lana." Just as she turned to head out, she heard a muttered, 'Coward.'
"What was that," Brooke asked her with a raised brow.
"You heard me. You can face down the Emperor of the Eternal Empire but not Lana. She's not that intimidating."
"First off, I wasn't alone facing off against him. Second, look where it got me. Third, when the right mood strikes she looks as if she wouldn't hesitate to eviscerate someone and feed them their own entrails. Fourth, she doesn't have a soft spot for all of us like she does with you."
"Excuses," the major replied, waving her off as a ghost of a smile appeared on her face and in her eyes. It was an echo of the one Brooke first saw years ago on Rishi, but it was clear she was trying to bring it back. The Jedi smiled back in response as they headed out in search of the engineer.
"You could have knocked," a Weequy huffed at Brooke as she and HK entered. "It took my boys hours to set that up."
"I like to make an entrance," she replied, lightsaber still raised. The major was making sure they weren't about to be ambushed and had yet to enter.
An obnoxious laugh rang out in response to her comment, causing HK to turn and say, "Identification: That snort was issued from the brilliant engineer we were sent to rescue, master."
"What she to you," the Weequy demanded.
"Someone I'm not leaving without," Brooke answered.
"You took out my competition, that inclines me towards gratitude, but the girl tried to rob me. That's bad for business."
"Charging 50,000 credits for a hundred thermal detonators? That's robbery!"
"You also insulted my mother."
"I said she's uglier than a bantha with lipstick. It's not an insult if it's true."
"My mother died putting me on a refugee ship to Nar Shadda. I grew up an orphan," he ground out angrily.
"Boo-freakin'-who didn't," Tora taunted. "Join the club."
"See why I have to kill her," he said with barely restrained fury.
"What about a favor for old times' sake Vik," Maj. Horner asked, materializing at the Jedi's side.
"Ha, knew you weren't dead," he said with a laugh.
"Yeah, lucky me," she replied dryly. "Here's the deal, you let her go, you get the benefit of everyone seeing the infamous Outlander owing you a favor. All your competition is dead, so it'll let everyone know who you're shaking up you're not to be messed with."
"Yeah, don't think so boss," Vik declined, face hardening.
"I wasn't asking," she replied, crossing her arms. "See I still have records of all the deals you did under my command and all the people you fucked over. It'll only take a few calls to let them all know you're hiding out here and all your boys will get to see you fight off a hoard of angry gangsters. How many do you think will follow you into that slaughter?"
His eyes narrowed angrily as he said, "You do that you die too."
Her laugh was as empty as her eyes as she asked, "Does it really look like I give a fuck if I live? I wonder if Rogan the Butcher still uses the same holo frequency?"
They stared each other down for a bit before he grumbled, "Fine, but that bitch's buying privileges are revoked. Now if there isn't anything else…"
"Actually, I need information," she interrupted.
"Are you serious," he demanded.
"Yup. Someone with knowledge of Zakuulan family heraldries."
"That's a specific need," he responded.
"If you're saying you can't handle, I'll look for someone who can," replied, raising an eyebrow.
"No, I know a guy. But it's gonna cost you."
"I know the drill," she sighed before turning to Brooke. "I'll catch up. Let me know over the comm. if you need help with Senya's contacts."
"Be careful," Brooke warned as she took off with Vik.
It wasn't long after meeting up with Senya Brooke regretted not having the major for back up. Being attacked by Scions is not what she expected, a showdown between them and practically half the Gravestone's inhabitants even less so. At least by that point Aneira joined up with Lana and Koth ready to fight if needed.
"You have no more secrets to show me," their leader said as he approached Brooke. "I now know why your path was dark to me before. Our Immortal Emperor lives within you!"
She winced at his enthusiastic declaration and could feel the tension fill the room.
"Well, it would have come out eventually," Lana sighed.
"Wait, you knew and didn't tell me," Koth demanded.
"Can you blame me?"
"There's one last secret to revel," Senya announced, dragging everyone's attention to her. "The real reason I joined you. I wanted to meet the Outlander, the one who would take on my son and daughter."
As she looked on in shock, Brooke heard Valkorion laugh, "She told you? How delightful!"
She really hated that laugh.
"You didn't think to share that little bit of info sooner," Koth demanded of Senya once everyone was back on the Gravestone. They had all clustered on the bridge while Tora and her crew worked on repairs
"It changes nothing," she deflected. "They must be stopped."
"And we're supposed to believe you'll stand against your own children?"
"Enough, this fighting is getting us nowhere," Lana interceded.
"You're right, we just need to get Valkorion back on the throne and everything will be right again."
Moving quicker than anyone expected, Maj. Horner grabbed Koth and threw him into a nearby bulkhead. Before he could recover she was on him, pushing on his neck with her forearm. "I'm only going to warn you once so listen up shit stain. Everything that fucker has ever touched has gone to hell. He created an unending war for my people and then destroyed my home by turning all living things to dust. If that wasn't enough, I just spent the last 5 years as his daughter's fucking plaything, and I mean that statement as literally as your nightmares will let you imagine." Senya winced at Maj. Horner's words. "You make any move to put that genocidal sociopath back in power and I'll make you face fuck the hyperdrive at full power, understand?" When he choked out a yes she let him go and he slid to the ground coughing. "You," she said, pointing at Brooke. "You ever stop fighting his control you'll wish you were face fucking the hyperdrive."
Without waiting for the Outlander's response, she grabbed a full liquor bottle off a nearby console.
"Hey, that's mine," Tora protested, angrily facing the major. Without hesitating, Aneira whipped out the pistol from her belt and leveled it at her face. Something in the soldier's eyes must have rattled the engineer, because she immediately backed down, raising her hands in surrender and saying, "But you can have it."
Everyone watched as she stormed off the bridge. "Thanks for pulling her off me," Koth said angrily.
"It's not as if you deserve any less," Senya quipped.
"Enough," Lana ordered. "we're getting an incoming transmission from T7…"