Emalda stared wide-eyed at Tylip as the Investigator stood immovably in the doorway. Beneath her, Ben had gone completely still. She couldn't even feel the movement of his chest as he breathed, though his heartbeat maintained a steady rhythm that never faltered. Emalda's own heartbeat thundered in her ears. This man had tried to blow her and Ben into atoms. He had blasted Yulana's ship into a wreck.
"Investigator," she said, anger burning in her chest and choking her throat.
Tylip's tongue flickered out to taste the air as he focused unfriendly eyes on her. He moved forward into the infirmary, the door falling shut behind him. It was only then that she noticed the blaster in his hand. The anger in her throat froze into a lump as she realised that both she and Ben were unarmed.

Ben's arms clamped around her waist in a painfully tight grip and rolled them both off the bed. Tylip was firing as they moved, blaster bolts scorching the sheets. As Emalda rolled over the top of Ben, a blaster bolt clipped the end of one of her braids. Her hair sparked and caught fire, stinging as it bounced against her cheek. She landed hard on the floor behind the bed, Ben pressed on top of her. She battered her burning braid into the ground with a free hand, smothering the flames as two more blaster bolts passed overhead. The blaster bolts hit the lockers on the far side of the room. One of the locker doors was blown from its hinges, scattering spare bedding and bandages across the floor.
"You think you can get away with it?" shouted Tylip.
"Get away with what, you overgrown bantha ass?" Emalda shouted back.

Tylip's footsteps approached the bed and Ben scrambled off her, hooking her by the elbow and dragging her across the floor behind him. He was heading for the next bed in the row. Emalda got her own feet underneath her and launched herself forward to land beside him as more blaster bolts peppered their original position. She couldn't see Tylip but she could hear him coming.
"I know," shouted Tylip. "And you won't get away with it, I promise you."
"Still don't know what you're talking about, you festering slimeball," Emalda bellowed back.
Ben caught her arm gently and signaled to the right. Emalda nodded and gathered herself for a dash.

Ben waved a hand sharply through the air and the pastry tray soared in a graceful arc towards Tylip's head. Emalda was already gone, diving to the next bed. There was a harsh ringing as Tylip fired a bolt at the incoming tray, easily deflecting the thin metal serving dish away. The hot pastries somersaulted off it and splattered across Tylip's head and neck. As the Kuhd growled in surprise rather than true pain, Ben launched himself feet-first over the bed towards Tylip. Tylip saw him coming but had no time to take aim with the blaster, managing only to twist his gun-arm out of the way of Ben's boots. Instead of their intended target, Ben's feet smashed into Tylip's chest and knocked them both to the ground.

Winded, Tylip tried to raise the blaster again only to have Ben pin the weapon in place with his knee. Tylip scowled as he realised that Ben's reflexes were faster than he had expected. Changing tactics, Tylip discarded the blaster and rolled himself on top of the Jedi knight. Ben got in several well placed blows before grunting as Tylip leaned most of his weight onto Ben's chest. The Kuhd weighed at least twice as much as Ben and knew how to use that to his advantage in a fight. The air was forced from Ben's lungs and Tylip kept trying to pin Ben's hands. Tylip seemed to have every intention of smothering him.

Ben twisted enough in his thrashing to knee Tylip in the side. Tylip lurched but managed to stay on top, wrapping solid fingers around Ben's neck. Emalda scrambled out from behind the bed towards the fight, tripping on the blankets strewn across the floor. She landed hard on her hands and knees on the ruined locker door. It was only about half the length of her arm but thinner than a hand. She heaved it into her arms awkwardly, staggering sideways until she found her balance.
"FILTHY SMUGGLERS!" roared Tylip. "DIRTY BEASTS! I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITH IT!"
Ben could only croak in response, unable to draw in a breath.

Emalda, ignored by both men, swung the locker door like a club into the back of Tylip's head. Metal met skull with a sickening crack and Tylip flopped bonelessly forward. Emalda shoved at Tylip's side as Ben crawled out from under him. Emalda discarded the locker door and checked Tylip for a pulse. She was disappointed to find one. She crouched beside Ben, who was sprawled on the ground and taking several shuddering breaths.

"You alright?" she asked, wrapping a tentative arm around his shoulders.
Still out of breath, he smiled and nodded.
"Good... job...," he panted.
"You did most of the work," said Emalda, kissing his temple.
He smiled wryly and leaned into her touch.
"Well, it wasn't my most impressive fight ever," he admitted.
"I promise not to tell anyone," said Emalda, in the most serious tone she could manage.

She had an urge to laugh madly and start crying again. Instead, she reached over and kissed him on the lips. He kissed her back, reaching up to cup her cheek in his hand. She pulled back to look him in the eyes.
"Tylip's still alive," she said.
"Good," said Ben. "I'd rather not be responsible for the death of a law enforcement officer."
"Well, technically, I was the one who knocked him out."
"That's true," said Ben, tugging at her arm until she sat beside him.
Ben traced her jawline with his index finger, distracted.
"At least now Tylip has a real reason to be afraid of doors," said Emalda, smiling smugly.
Ben laughed and kissed her again. He ran a hand through her hair, rubbing her burnt braid through his fingers. She raised her hands to support his head as the kiss deepened.

The door opened and they turned to see the doctor and Qui-Gon standing in the doorway. Ben dropped his hand from her hair and pulled back. Qui-Gon's face fell in disappointment and Ben couldn't meet his gaze. The doctor stood, staring at her ruined infirmary in shock.
"What happened?" asked Qui-Gon, his tone stern.
"Investigator Tylip just tried to kill us," said Emalda, slipping an arm around Ben's waist and helping him stand.
Qui-Gon's hand moved reflexively to the bulge of his hidden lightsaber. The doctor backed away from all of them, nervously.
"I'm calling ship security," she snapped, and fled the room.
"Terrific," said Ben flatly. "That's just what my day needed."