He's fallen three times and his lungs are on fire, but Sheev refuses to slow down. He must get back to his ship to get off-world as soon as possible.
His comlink is still charged because he hasn't used it once since he arrived. It's linked to his ship, so he can activate the pre-flight warmup cycle remotely. By the time he reaches his craft on the far side of the forest, it should be primed for takeoff. But none of that prep will matter if Lilith gets him first.
So, once again, Sheev throws his head over his shoulder. Is there anyone behind him? No. He's still not being followed.
It's nighttime, but between the flashlight on his comlink and the moonlight he can see reasonably well. He's past the difficult rocky terrain that surrounds Lilith's bower. Currently, he's skirting the edge of the forest. Most of the adult witches are at the meadow party so there is no one around to witness his panic.
Again, Sheev glances behind him. Good. There's still no one there. He goes back to monitoring the blinking map on his comlink that serves as a homing beacon to guide him to the ship.
But no matter how fast he runs or how far he flees, Sheev cannot escape his humiliation. He can still hear Lilith's contemptuous cackle ringing in his ears. He can picture her standing smug and triumphant at his utter dismay. She made a fool of him, and Sheev will never get over it.
In due time, he will get his revenge. If the Jedi don't level Dathomir, he vows, then the Sith surely will. But for now, he needs to escape. Killing Maul can wait. Self-preservation is paramount. He'd rather return to his Master a failure and accept his punishment than end up a mortal casualty of a fight with the Mother Witch.
Soon, he'll be safe in lightspeed. That's when he will take the longest shower of his life to scrub off the smell of Lilith Talzin. The bitch witch of Dathomir is more mysterious than ever to him in the wake of their ill-fated tryst. Her ichor power is too bizarre for Sheev to categorize and too overpowering for him repel. Better to flee the field of battle, he judges, and live to fight another day.
He's getting close now. He can smell the acrid scent of warming ion engines on the evening breeze. He's about two hundred meters from his destination. The ship should be just over that ridge and beyond a copse of trees.
Again, he looks behind him. Is he being tailed? No. She's letting him go. That likely means Lilith got what she wanted. Or perhaps, she figures she still has a use for him. Sheev can't be sure. The Mother Witch is an enigma.
Finally, he reaches his ship. The lights are on. The engines idle at a soft purr. The ramp lowers as he arrives. Everything looks to be in good working order. But out of precaution, panting Sheev stalks the perimeter of his vessel to scout for signs sabotage. He knows now not to trust the witches.
Wait-someone's here! He whirls.
Whenever he's threatened, his senses become keenly attuned. It's how he instinctively knows that someone is skulking about his ship. He concentrates for a moment, and the Force betrays the interloper. They're hiding in the bushes. Lying in wait.
Sheev is in no mood for delays. He lights his sword and stands his ground. He's ready to kill whomever or whatever Lilith has sent after him. It would be just like her to arrange an ambush, he thinks grimly.
Brandishing his buzzing saber, Sheev snarls, "Show yourself!" into the opaque gloom. "I know you're there!"
With that challenge, he summons his full power, crouches ready on the balls of his feet, and waits for his opponent to make his move.
There is the flapping of wings as a bird takes flight. The sudden movement nearby makes him flinch. His reflexes are a hair trigger right now. His intent is deadly Dark.
Next, the bushes rustle. Then, they sway. Is that the breeze? No. The foliage parts as a shadowy person emerges.
It's a little person. A child.
"Maul!"
This is a completely different sort of ambush, and it could be the stroke of good fortune that Sheev desperately needs.
"Lord Sidious," the boy calls respectfully as he approaches. His hands are upraised in a posture of submission. "Did I scare you? I didn't mean to scare you . . ." the flustered boy babbles an apology. Maul's eyes are fixated on his lit weapon as he explains, "I was just hoping to see you and your lightsaber once more before you leave. I really like your lightsaber. Well, I like your spaceship, too . . ."
Sheev nods and relaxes. He senses no guile in eager Maul. The kid is acting like he's the one who got caught.
Encouraged, the boy angles hopefully, "Mother once said that you might ask me to take a ride in your ship . . ."
"She did?"
Maul's chin pumps up and down. "Mother said I should say yes. She said you'd take me to the Republic."
Take him to the Republic? Sheev blinks at this artless reveal. Does the Mother Witch actually want him to run off with her kid? Maybe so, since she did seem very certain that Maul would leave the Coven.
"But you're going away now, so I guess I won't get the chance." The kid's face looks woebegone in the moonlight. His disappointment is clear. So too is his nascent hero worship.
And now, Sheev feels a frisson of anticipation in the Force. It's the subtle charge to the air that signifies imminent change. Something is going to happen . . . something meaningful. So much so that the universe is awash in dread and excitement over it.
Fate. This meeting with Maul is fate, Sheev realizes. And by fate, he means destiny as it unfolds through the actions of the Force's favorites. What he decides now could alter his future, Maul's future, Lilith's future, and the future of the galaxy. Lives are about to be rearranged. History will be rewritten.
It all depends on what he chooses.
It's a prospect that's as intriguing as it is intimidating. For Sheev has had a peek at his future, and he wouldn't mind tinkering with it.
He now considers the opportunity the Force is presenting to him. Here is the chance to complete his mission. He can slaughter the defenseless boy and return obedient to his Master. It would be fitting payback for Lilith's treachery. It will also eliminate a potential future enemy.
But is this scrawny, happy-go-lucky witch kid the loyal Apprentice he needs? Training Maul would place the biggest threat to the Sith firmly under Sith control. It would also place the biggest threat to Darth Plagueis under his own personal tutelage. Plus, Sheev would much rather train Maul than mentor that hulking bad attitude Lord Vader he saw in the cave. So, perhaps mercy is in order tonight . . . He does genuinely like Maul, as well.
But is clemency a foolhardy impulse? What happens if the unassuming kid is the fearsome Chosen One prophet who will restore balance to the Force? That will upset the carefully constructed plans of the Sith. And then, he might never rule the galaxy.
It all depends on what he chooses. Choose wrongly, and all might be lost.
Sheev thinks now of the Coven members' apocalyptic visions. Lilith downplayed them, but he wasn't fooled. Could Lilith tacitly be encouraging him to take Maul in order to save the boy from whatever disaster will occur? Is Lilith ushering the best and brightest youngling of the Coven off-world with the Sith for safekeeping? Could the Mother Witch figure it's better for Maul to be Dark than dead?
Or maybe, Sheev frets, the Mother Witch is betting that Maul will never be Dark. Lilith is so confident in her Old Ways, after all. Does she think that by giving her kid to the Sith, she will create the sleeper agent Apprentice who will be the Dark Side's eventual undoing? Sheev had assumed that keeping custody of Maul would give the Sith leverage over Lilith. But could he have it backwards? Could he be giving Lilith leverage over the Sith?
Fuck! Sheev has no answers, only questions. Puzzling over them seems futile, for sly Lilith's intentions are unknowable.
The future is unknowable as well. Well, except for that scary stuff in the cave which Sheev is desperate to change.
Really, there's only one thing he feels completely certain of: he can't kill Darth Plagueis on his own. And with Lilith unlikely to volunteer to assist, her overpowered boy might be the only person left to help him. And so, in the end, Sheev's self-interest wins out over fear and caution.
He'll take the kid and take his chances.
Please, he silently beseeches his maker, in this choice, may the Force be with him . . .
With a hard gulp, Sheev commits to kidnapping Lilith Talzin's only child. He flashes his most winning smile. The one he beams from his Senate podium when the cameras are on. Then, he starts laying on the charm.
"Maul, my boy, you surprised me. I thought you might be one of those rancors." Deactivating his weapon to deescalate the situation, he beckons to the kid. "Would you like a ride on my ship? I'll take you for a ride. Come on board," he invites.
"Are you sure?" The boy hangs back. He clearly noted his earlier haste. "I don't want to delay you."
"Nonsense. Come." Sheev shoos Maul up the ramp. "It will be fun," he announces brightly, adding the insidious twist, "Do as Mother says."
Good-natured and biddable as always, Maul complies.
"I'll take you to the Republic," Sheev promises as he retracts the ramp behind them and shuts the hatch. "I've seen your home. How about I show you mine?"
Maul nods and smiles. His initial nervousness is subsiding. Enthusiasm has overtaken it. This is what he was hoping for, after all, by waiting in the bushes.
"Follow me into the cockpit. You can be my copilot."
"I won't touch anything-I promise!" the kid yelps.
"Yes, let me do the flying. You'll get the chance when you're a bit older."
"Will I really?" Maul's mouth gapes.
"Of course."
"I'd like that." The boy grins up at him.
Sheev finds himself smiling back genuinely.
In the cockpit, young Maul has to be shown where to sit. The excited boy perches on the edge of his seat as Sheev begins the takeoff process. Maul watches intently. The kid misses nothing.
For his part, Sheev wastes no time in their escape. Any second now, Lilith could show up and there might be an ugly fight. Hoping to avoid a confrontation that he's not sure he can win, he gets the ship aloft immediately. It quickly ascends and pulls away from Dathomir's atmosphere.
Maul's eyes-big as saucers-are glued to the view beyond the window. "It looks so small . . . " he wonders aloud.
Distracted from fiddling with the navicomputer, Sheev looks up. Taking in the awed look on the kid's face, he nods approvingly. "You've just taken your first steps into a much larger world." Sheev assures his new ward, "There is much more to the galaxy than Dathomir."
"That's what Mother says." Maul tears his eyes away from the window and looks to him. "Mother said you would come. She knew you would come and might leave with me."
Sheev puts his own spin on his actions. "She knew I would have much to teach you. Your mother is a very wise woman. She knows you are meant for more than being a Brother in the village."
"Does this mean I will be Lord Maul someday?" the boy asks.
"I hope so," Sheev answers truthfully. Seeking to comfort the bewildered kid, he coats his next words with a heavy dose of Force to make them extra convincing. "Your destiny lies with me."
The boy blinks and nods slowly. "I know. Somehow," he whispers, "I think I've always known . . ." In a small, horrified voice, he worries, "I'm not ever going home again, am I?"
Hell, no. But Sheev prevaricates just to make things easier. "You never know," he answers lightly, making a determined effort to be upbeat about his kidnapping.
"Strap yourself in." Sheev demonstrates with his own seat harness so the boy will learn. "I'm going to make the jump to lightspeed."
"Lightspeed?" The concept is unknown to the boy. "Is that fast?"
"Yes. Very fast."
"Where are we going so fast?"
"Home to Naboo."
"Naboo." Maul's tongue stumbles over the unfamiliar name.
"It's my home world in the Republic. You'll like it. It's very green. My estate has many trees," Sheev offers, and that seems to reassure the kid.
Maul lets out a soft "oh" when the ship makes the jump to lightspeed. He is momentarily transfixed by the sight of the blue eddies and swirls of hyperspace energy.
"Like them?" Sheev asks, feeling charmed by the boy's reaction.
"I've seen them before," Maul answers.
"Where?"
"In dreams."
"So you have foreseen this," Sheev beams approvingly at his new Apprentice. "That's good, very good," he commends.
"Mother said that when I left, it wouldn't be on a whale. She said that the Jeddai stopped flying whales long ago."
"We are not Jedi," Sheev corrects him sternly. "We are the Sith. And space whales are Jedi fairytales. They don't exist. Technology is how people travel through systems. Maul, I will teach you to fly a ship like this. You will learn to use all the modern conveniences. Life in the Republic is not like the Coven."
"Will I get a laser sword?" the boy wants to know.
"Absolutely."
That promise seals the deal. For the first time, Maul truly brightens. "Mother said that too," he confides.
"She wants this for you," Sheev lies with smooth practice, warming to his theme that he's agreed to an adoption scheme with Lilith. "She wants me to have you. She trusts me to teach you."
The boy's unguarded response confirms what Sheev suspects: "I know."
In fact, the more earnest, guileless Maul keeps talking, the more the boy stokes Sheev's suspicions that the Sith have been lured to Dathomir for the very purpose of stealing the Mother Witch's firstborn son. All Lilith's prayers in the Force that Darth Plagueis overheard now seem a bit too self-serving to Sheev's mind.
Did Lilith know all along that he was sent here to kill Maul? Was her offer of an Apprentice a means to plant the seed that the Apprentice be her son? Were Lilith's efforts to impress him personally and with the Coven a ploy to get him to respect the potential of young Maul? More and more, Sheev realizes that he has been expertly played from the moment he set foot on the witch world. For, in the end, who has been manipulated? Was it the Sith? It sure doesn't seem like it was the Mother Witch.
Well, whatever. Sheev decides that his sojourn to Dathomir is a win-win for all involved. He gets an Apprentice. Lilith gets her kid safely off-world. And Maul gets a far better future than he might otherwise have had. But that's all provided, however, that his Master doesn't immediately kill the kid. Darth Plagueis will need to be convinced.
Sheev ruminates on that thorny topic during the two-day flight back home. In between teaching Maul a few life skills-the kid has never seen a flush toilet-Sheev thinks through his best arguments. Just how upset will his Master be when he shows up with the kid he was supposed to assassinate? Sheev is unsure. He decides on a strategy to intrigue the Muun with Maul's future possibilities. That will be a tricky task. Because if he presses too hard, he will alarm his already spooked Master. Sheev will need to present Maul as an opportunity that is worth some risk.
Will his Master go for it? He might. Darth Plagueis' overconfidence is his weakness. The Muun has a huge blind spot for his own hubris. He also has a contrarian's love of subverting expectations. He never likes to make the obvious choice. Moreover, Plagueis is rigorously rational. His Master weighs the merits of an issue before he makes an objective decision. Plagueis is never capricious or led by emotion, and that makes him persuadable to a point. But still . . . Sheev knows he will need to make a compelling case for why Maul should live.
On the ride home, he and Maul play simple games so he can assess the boy's Force. As expected, Maul's innate abilities are considerable. The youth has a natural talent for telekinesis. He can do simple telepathy as well. But what really impresses Sheev is Maul's uncanny ability to visualize and then manifest simple objects into existence. Maul does a trick where he literally conjures a flower out of the Force. Sheev doesn't know what to think about it-the power is neither Light nor Dark. It seems more primal than either categorization connotes, and it verges on an act of creation itself. Sheev is certain that the feat will make a big impression on his Master.
Sheev also probes Maul for information. He wants to know about the child's formal education, which turns out to be as meager as anticipated. But the boy is undeniably bright. With the right tutors, Sheev judges that Maul will catch up quickly and ultimately excel academically. But that's just book smarts. When it comes to street smarts, Maul is well ahead of his years. Life in the Coven has taught him lots of real-world experience. As a result, Maul is more adept at risk assessment, prioritizing, and decision making than many Republic adults. Sheev is convinced that by maturity, Maul will be sufficiently responsible, quick thinking, and flexible.
He doesn't bother assessing the boy's physical aptitude. Sheev has watched Maul turn enough cartwheels and summersaults to know that he has plenty of athleticism. Once the boy gets a sword in his hand, those flips will make him a formidable opponent. Remembering how interested Maul was in the Brother witches' warrior ethos, Sheev decides that combat training will be an easy sell to his new pupil.
Knowing of his snobby Muun Master's patrician preferences, Sheev feels compelled to ask Maul about his parentage. "Do you know who your father is?"
The Muun will want to know which Brother witch sired this kid, just in case the guy surfaces in the future and becomes a complication. Plus, Sheev knows from personal experience that killing your kin is an important milestone in a Dark Apprenticeship. No doubt Plagueis will send Maul home to Dathomir for some patricide at some point in the future.
But Maul's answer raises other issues. "Mother says that my father is a Jeddai."
"A Jedi?" Sheev chokes. What the fuck?
"Yes," the boy affirms. "The last Jeddai who came to visit—the man who came before you—he is my father."
Well, shit. This is unwelcome news. "What is his name?"
"I don't know his name. Mother just calls him the Jeddai."
"Okay," Sheev exhales warily. He wonders if this Jedi is the Lord Tyrannus fellow Lilith told him about. She did imply that she slept with the mysterious Tyrannus, but she seemed to consider him a Sith, not a Jedi.
"So, you've never met your father?" Sheev presses for more information.
"No. He never came back. Mother says that's a good thing. She doesn't want him to return. She never wants the Republic or the Jeddai to come to Dathomir." Maul must perceive that the news of his parentage troubles him because he volunteers, "I'm not a Jeddai, my Lord. Mother promised that I will never be a Jeddai. I will always be a Brother . . ."
Sheev's hoping Maul will become a Sith Lord and that he will leave the Coven far behind. As far as he's concerned, Maul stopped being a Brother the moment he left Dathomir. But he's instinctively paranoid about the unknown Force user who begat his new student. Might that parentage mean that the boy could become the Jedi Chosen One after all? And will his genetics give Maul a weakness for the Light? Could Maul one day become curious about the Jedi Order and go searching for his biological father? That would be a disastrous move for a Sith Apprentice.
"I will always be a Brother—Mother promised," Maul whines. "I'm not a Jeddai. The Jeddai are the enemy," he announces firmly.
That's the most direct that Sheev has heard any witch state their views about the Jedi Order. Lilith was always so cagey about her disdain for the Light Side in general. Well, she was cagey about her views on the Dark Side as well . . . She used her word 'Jeddai' a little too interchangeably for Sheev's comfort, too.
"The Jedi are indeed our enemy," Sheev pats the boy on the back to endorse his wisdom even as he inwardly keeps second guessing himself. Is he a fool to be recruiting a Jedi's bastard to be his accomplice? The mystery of Maul's biological father explains a lot about his Force abilities. It's a juicy tidbit that Sheev will need to avoid disclosing to Plagueis if his plot to keep Maul will have any chance of success.
His mind keeps racing as he digests the implications of Maul's news. In one respect, it makes taking Maul as his Apprentice all the more appropriate. For once long ago, the Jedi stole a child from him. And now, Sheev will steal one back. But news of a visitor to Dathomir fathering a child gives Sheev some additional personal trepidation. Because did he himself just sire a child with Lilith? That's a scenario that makes Sheev queasy. He puts the possibility out of his mind completely. The issue at hand is Maul. Sheev decides that he has made his choice, and he's sticking to it . . . for now.
Seeking to foster trust and admiration from his new Apprentice, Sheev tells the boy, "Forget that visiting Jedi ever existed. I will be your father."
"Really?" Maul looks positively elated by the prospect. He happily chirps, "Will that make me Lord Maul?"
"Sure." Darth Maul is a cute pet name for the kid. And maybe it will help him feel invested in the future Sheev plans for him. The nickname won't stick, of course. When the times comes, they will pick a more appropriate Darth moniker for Maul's formal Sith title.
He and the boy get along famously during the flight home. The kid is very curious. He has lots of questions. But instead of getting annoyed by them, Sheev finds that he enjoys explaining things. He has lots of opinions—most of which he cannot proclaim openly—so it's nice to have someone to impart his true personal views to. The whole parent thing is surprisingly fun. In fact, by the time their ship drops out of hyperspace into the Naboo system, Sheev has a long list of topics-from saber lessons to Maul's first kill-that he is looking forward to. Adopting this kid might just be the new project he needs. It will certainly perk his life up, Sheev muses.
He transmits his Senate diplomatic credentials to the Naboo orbital cops. As usual, they provide an official escort for his craft to bypass the regular interplanetary space traffic. That makes the final leg of their journey expeditious. It's ten minutes total from the time their ship exits lightspeed until it starts the landing cycle.
"That is your new home." Sheev points out to Maul the sprawling Palpatine family estate that is nestled deep in a wooded park. It's been in his family for generations. "You'll see it better tomorrow by daylight." They are arriving during the evening local Naboo time. It's very dark.
But the ship's flood lights activated by the landing cycle illuminate the landing pad somewhat. And that's how Maul excitedly notices, "There's another spaceship here!"
"Yes. Indeed, there is." But Sheev doesn't need to see the fancy hot rod shuttle to know what its presence portends: he can sense through the Force that its equally eye-catching owner is in residence. It is a surprise, to be sure. But a welcome one. Sheev's heart starts beating fast.
Part of him is absolutely elated.
Another part of him is enormously relieved.
But mostly, he's nervous. Because unfortunately, his Muun Master is not the only impediment to his scheme to groom Maul as his Apprentice. His estranged wife might just be the harder sell, Sheev worries. Will Cresta be in the mood to accommodate him? He hopes so.
She knows he's arrived. Cresta prances out onto the landing pad with her brandy glass in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. She stands there puffing coolly as she waits for his ship to set down and the ramp to lower. She's too far away and it's too dark to read her expression. But the Force tells him that she has a lot of strong and conflicting emotions about this reunion. It's just like he feels.
Cresta is dressed in her pajamas and she's barefoot. She has her hair twisted up in the dancer's topknot that she can do perfectly without a mirror. The hairdo tells Sheev that she's been doing her nightly stretches before bed. Even though her onstage career is over, his ballerina wife is meticulous about maintaining her turnout. In her own way, she has ruthless self-discipline.
"Give me a moment alone with her," Sheev mutters to Maul at the top of the ramp. Then, he strides down to greet his longtime wife who demanded a divorce the last time they spoke.
Who talks first? Does he talk first? Suddenly, Sheev feels uncharacteristically tongue tied. Nervous, he blurts out what matters most to him in this moment: "You came home . . ."
Does this mean they're back together?
Has she forgiven him?
Cresta looks him over, takes a long drag on her cigarette, and lifts her chin. She snarls,
"Where the fuck have you been?"
It's not an encouraging opener, and she doesn't bother waiting for him to answer. Her eyes flit past him to Maul who stands atop the ramp behind him.
"Who is that?" she points her cigarette at the boy accusingly.
"Maul," Sheev beckons the shy kid forward. This isn't how he planned to break the news about his ward, but it's time to make the introductions. "Come meet my wife," he calls. "This is Cresta Cole. She's Missus Palpatine, although she's not publicly known like that."
Cresta kept her own name for her dance career, and they have been living apart off and on for years. And that's not unlike many members of the Senate who have spouses back home who have opted not to play any adjunct role in politics. But it's also the specific decree of his Muun Master who thoroughly disapproves of Cresta. Darth Plagueis long ago made clear that his wife's public association with him must be limited to a one sentence entry in his lengthy holonet bio essay. Missus Sheev Palpatine is a nameless, faceless personal fact at the end of his extensive public resume of accomplishments and associations.
Coven-bred Maul doesn't understand the term 'wife.' He squints at Cresta, who though she is extremely petite, still manages to command every situation she's in. That innate confidence signals authority to Maul, and female authority connotes one thing to him. "She's the Mother, right?" Maul guesses.
Er . . . sort of. But Sheev goes with it. "Yes! Maul, meet your new Mother."
"Your new mother . . . " Cresta softly echoes his words. She's confused. And alarmed.
"He's ours," Sheev assures her brightly. He starts trying hard to talk up his surprise adoption. "I brought him home from Dathomir. I was just there on an outreach mission for the Senate. His name is Maul, and he's going to live with us."
"Us . . ."
"Yes. With us. As our ward."
"Our ward?" Cresta's jaw drops. Her eyes blink wide with surprise. "What does that mean exactly?"
"The lawyers will need to handle the paperwork. But basically," Sheev improvises, "we'll be a family."
Cresta doesn't immediately react. She takes another long drag on her cigarette. And while she ought to be studying Maul as the newcomer, instead she's eyeing him.
Sheev is relentlessly positive. "It will be you, me, and Maul. We'll raise him as our son."
Cresta takes another drag on her cigarette. Then, she tells Maul, "Kid, get in the house." She points to the open door behind her. "Wait for us while we have a little talk."
Shit. She's not going for it.
Maul looks to him for direction. "Do I go in, Lord Sidious?" he asks.
The use of that particular honorific immediately gets Cresta's attention. She scowls.
"Yes, Maul," he answers, shooing the boy out of earshot. "Go inside and get comfortable. We'll join you shortly."
Maul does as he is told.
When the door slides shut behind him, Cresta turns to him and hisses, "Sheev, what have you done?"
"Red," he holds up his hands to forestall the explosive argument he knows is coming. "Hear me out. That kid is just what I need. He could be the answer to everything!"
"He knows you're Darth Sidious. He better not be Jedi!"
"He's not. He's a witch."
"A what?"
"He's a witch and he's got the Force, and he's going to help me kill the Muun."
"He's eight years old!"
"Ten. He's ten. He's small. But he'll grow. I'm going to train him as my Apprentice and together we'll kill my Master."
Cresta is wholly unimpressed with this plan. "That will never work." She takes a large swallow of her liquor before she tersely orders, "Turn around and take him back."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I stole him."
"Stole as in . . .?"
"Kidnapped."
"For real?"
"Yes." Sheev shrugs and confesses, "At this point, it's either keep him or kill him." There's no going back to Lilith.
"You're serious . . . " Cresta realizes.
He nods. "Those are the options. But if you won't let me keep him . . ." Sheev lets his voice trail off ominously.
"You can't kill him! I won't let you kill him!"
"So, we're keeping him?"
Fuming Cresta realizes she's just been successfully manipulated. Irritated, she shrieks, "Sheev, you asshole, what the FUCK have you done?" And now, their argument begins in earnest.